RTHK: At least 21 dead in flooding in US state of Tennessee

Devastating floods after record rainfall in the southern US state of Tennessee have left at least 21 people dead and at least 20 more missing, local officials said Sunday in what they warned was a preliminary toll.

Tennessee was hit Saturday by what meteorologists called historic storms and flooding, dumping as much as 17 inches (38 centimeters) of rain.

Rural roads, state highways, bridges and hundreds of homes were washed out and widespread power outages affected thousands of people.

In Humpreys County, about 90 minutes from country music hub Nashville, the downpour on Saturday broke a 24-hour rainfall record for Tennessee, the National Weather Service said.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee described "picture of loss and heartache" in Waverly, a hard-hit town of around 4,500 where 20 of the victims died.

"Our hearts and our prayers need to be for those folks in that community, many of them who have suffered not only the loss of their homes but the loss of family members and friends," he said in a televised press conference Sunday after touring the wreckage.

Police chief Grant Gillespie said the other death was in a more remote area of the county.

Initially, about 40 people were reported missing, but by late afternoon that number had been halved.

"We're hopeful that we're getting to the end of that list," Gillespie told reporters.

Authorities have imposed a nighttime curfew amid efforts to account for the missing.

Gillespie also urged Waverly residents to remain inside after 8 pm because of "problems with a small amount of looting and trespassing".

Search and rescue operations were continuing Sunday, with workers going from home to home to search for victims or those needing assistance.

The rising water had struck Waverly so quickly that some people were unable to escape, local officials said.

Karen Phair, 61, told local newspaper The Tennessean that Waverly looked like "a war zone".

Humphreys County resident Rickey Larkin, 62, told the New York Times he and his wife had to cling to a mattress as a life raft after "an ocean" engulfed his home.

"We came about a foot from drowning. I thought we were gone," he said.

The Waverly Department of Public Safety posted on its Facebook page a list of names of missing people, and asked for the public's help finding them.

In Washington, President Joe Biden began an afternoon press conference by expressing his "deepest condolences for the sudden and tragic loss of life" in Tennessee.

"I've asked the FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) administrator to speak to Governor Lee of Tennessee right away," Biden said.

Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis told a CNN affiliate that the dead included two toddlers. Davis himself lost a friend to the floods.

"They just went and got one of my best friends and recovered him. He drowned in this," the sheriff said. "It's tough, but we're going to move forward."

Half a dozen children are among the missing, he said.

Photos posted on social media showed a row of homes nearly submerged in brown floodwater, cars flipped over or piled on top of one another and roads covered in mud and debris.

"The news media has been very focused on what's happening in other areas - Haiti, Afghanistan, hurricanes coming into the northeast - but I think that we need to understand that the devastation here in Tennessee has been every bit as significant," said US Senator Bill Hagerty after visiting a flood-devastated school.

The Piney River in nearby Hickman County crested nearly 12 feet (3.6 meters) above its historic record high, a local National Weather Service office said. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2021-08-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
South Africa: Didiza calls on agricultural sector to vaccinate

Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister, Thoko Didiza, has called on the agricultural and agro-processing sectors to ensure that they go out and vaccinate.

There is a promising improvement in the countrys vaccination programme, with over 10% of the population having been vaccinated already. I wish to call on all role players in the agricultural and agro-processing sectors to ensure that they are vaccinated because that will go a long way in ensuring continued food production in the country, Didiza said.

Echoing President Cyril Ramaphosas sentiments, Didiza said the fight against COVID-19 forms part of the core of the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan of government.

This sector is important in terms of jobs as the sector has consistently maintained more than 750 000 jobs over the medium term. Based on its potential on economic growth and job creation, it has been identified as one of the key economic sectors to drive the economic recovery in the country, and that is why all of us in the sector need to be fully vaccinated, so that we continue to play our important role.

Over nine million vaccines have been administered in the country to date, with over seven million people partially vaccinated, and over four million fully vaccinated. It is pleasing that the vaccination of persons aged between 18-years and 34-years has started from Friday, and I hope this TikTok brigade will flock the vaccination sites in numbers, Didiza said.

The Minister also urged the public not to pay attention to unfounded and misleading conspiracy theories about vaccines.

Scientific evidence confirms that vaccinated people stand a better chance of surviving COVID-19 than unvaccinated people. I encourage all unvaccinated people, especially in our sector to get vaccinated because vaccines protect us from getting seriously ill from COVID-19 and it saves lives.

She further commended the citrus industry for leading the way in terms of sector vaccination initiative, which has seen public and private health practitioners conducting on-site vaccination on-farm and in pack houses around the country.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-08-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
South Africa: Law enforcement on high alert amidst threat of national shutdown

Law enforcement agencies are on high alert and ready to ensure the safety and security of South Africans, amid threats of a National Shutdown on Monday.

National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NatJOINTS) spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Netshiunda said that law enforcement agencies have, through the NatJOINTS, put measures in place to ensure the safety and security of citizens.

The NatJOINTS is aware of inflammatory messages on various social media platforms advocating for violence. Those behind these messages are warned that inciting violence is a criminal offence. Members of the public are cautioned against spreading such divisive messages.

Equally, a different set of messages is also doing the rounds where people are mobilising to respond to the supposed shutdown. The public is urged not to respond to calls for violence and criminality, and are thus discouraged from participating in activities that seek to defy the rule of law and undermine the authority of the State, Netshiunda said in a statement.

NatJOINTS also called on Community Police Forums (CPF) and related sub-forums to work with the police and to mobilise the community against any form of lawlessness.

Law abiding citizens should be at ease knowing that the NatJOINTS is not taking these threats lightly. Security forces are on high alert and ready to maintain stability in the country, and ensure the safety and security of South Africans, Netshiunda said.

The NatJOINTS also reminded the public that South Africa is still on Adjusted Alert Level 3 Lockdown, and called for maximum adherence to the Regulations and COVID-19 health protocols.

Outdoor gatherings are currently limited to 100 persons.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-08-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
South Africa: Nzimande conveys condolences to Mtebeni family

Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Blade Nzimande, has conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of a fourth year law student at the University of Fort Hare, who was allegedly murdered by her boyfriend.

The Minister conveyed his condolences to the family of Nosicelo Mtebeni whose body was found mutilated in a suitcase in the suburb of Quigney in East London.

She was 23-years-old.

Nzimande has condemned barbaric and shameful acts committed against women, both in institutions of learning and in society in general.

Our society cannot continue harbouring such disgraceful people and criminals, who are hell-bent to tear the moral fibre of our society apart. What is so even saddening is that the suspect would even commit such a gruesome act as we mark and celebrate Womens Month, Nzimande said at the weekend.

He said that he trusted that the criminal justice system will ensure speedy prosecution. This as a suspect has since been arrested and is expected to appear in court on Monday.

The Minister said the department remains committed to creating a safer and caring post-school education and training environment, with a concerted focus on safety and protection of all in the campuses, in particular female students and staff.

He said the department has also mandated HIGHER HEALTH - an entity of Higher Education and Training responsible for implementing programmes against gender-based violence (GBV) in university and Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college campuses - to work together with the University of Fort Hare to provide psychological support to students and all affected parties.

The Minister also expressed his gratitude to the leadership demonstrated by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Sakhela Buhlungu, for considering ways to best honour Mtebeni and for offering emergency trauma debriefing sessions to students.

He further urged all institutions to vigorously implement the framework for gender equality, as developed by his department and the sector.

By working together, by confronting difficult challenges, and by mobilising everyone in and around our institutions, we shall create a society where everyone, especially women, feel safe and are safe at all times and in all places, Nzimande said.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-08-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
South Africa: Instruments to strengthen GBV Policy Framework

HIGHER HEALTH, through the Department of Higher Education and Training will release a set of instruments that will further strengthen the realisation of the sectoral Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Policy Framework.

Published by Minister Blade Nzimande in July 2020, the Policy Framework intends to assist post-school education and training (PSET) institutions address the occurrence of GBV, and to provide a monitoring instrument to the department to assess the implementation of the Policy Framework.

The Policy Framework aims to:

Conceptualise GBV and define its manifestation in terms of existing laws and policies;

Detail the international and national regulatory framework compelling institutional and departmental responses to GBV;

Provide guidance around the structures, mechanisms and processes that PSET institutions must put in place to address GBV;

Compel PSET institutions to both create awareness of GBV, related policies and prevent incidents of GBV; and

Set out a framework for oversight of the Department and PSET institutions development and implementation of GBV policy to address GBV in PSET system.

These instruments, which will be released on Friday, were developed by the PSET Gender Based Violence Technical Task Team, which is led by HIGHER HEALTH.

The task team comprises student leadership; vice chancellors of 26 public universities; rectors of 50 Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges; the Commission of Gender Equality, Department of Women, Youth and People with Disabilities; South African Police Services; SA Medical Research Council; and the executive leadership from the department of Higher Education and Training, amongst others.

Over 50 000 students accessed GBV support services

HIGHER HEATLH Chief Executive Officer,Proffessor Ramneek Ahluwalia noted that during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020/21, over 50 000 students accessed GBV support services, including personal risk assessments and referrals to professional health services.

Over half a million young people have completed a curriculum on GBV prevention and mitigation. About 20 000 mental health crises were handled by HIGHER HEALTH mental health and psychosocial services, Ahluwalia said.

While he acknowledges significant measures and achievements, Professor Ahluwalia said much more needs to be done in terms of strengthening and promoting the services, in order to avert violence and prevent deaths due to murder and suicide.

We honour every individual whom we enable to recognise that they are at risk and whom we empower with knowledge and practical interventions so they become more confident, protected and safer in their place of study and residence.

Improving the mental health and wellness of our students and staff and protecting them from GBV are battles we must win. We will do so by recognising that mental health is a legitimate concern, which must be addressed, and by uniting to condemn and stand up against gender-based violence. We will also persevere with initiatives that ensure the adoption and rollout of youth-friendly, easily accessible services and programmes across our universities and colleges, he added.

Psychologists deployed to Fort Hare University

Meanwhile, HIGHER HEALTH is assisting the University of Fort Hare (UFH), through the deployment of a team of experienced HIGHER HEALTH staff.

This follows the death of two law students last week, Nosicelo Mtebeni, who was brutally murdered, allegedly by her boyfriend, and another student who died after falling from a high-rise building.

These seven psychologists, social workers and counsellors will provide counselling and care to affected students and staff with immediate effect. We are working closely with Professor Sakhela Buhlungu, the Vice Chancellor of UFH, and with the South African Union of Students and appreciate their support for our involvement, Ahluwalia said.

Ahluwalia highlighted other existing interventions and services, including the HIGHER HEALTH toll free-24-hour student helpline 0800 36 36 36, have been scaled up to help the UFH community, and the mobile clinic service is on alert and on site to manage health emergencies, including mental health counselling and COVID-19 testing and related referrals.

HIGHER HEALTH conveyed its condolences to the university, families and friends of the deceased.

We have lost two bright young South Africans who had so much to contribute to the legal profession which they were about to enter, and to the higher education sector and our entire country. We lost Nosicelo to gender-based violence, and it is likely that we lost her peer to unbearable mental strain, Professor Ahluwalia said.

This dark hour underscores the fact that GBV and mental health are co-epidemics striking at our youth. It is essential that we continue to build infrastructure in all our universities and colleges so they can provide easy access to services and assistance to all students, Ahluwalia said.

HIGHER HEALTH is an entity of the Department of Higher Education and Training. HIGHER HEALTH works in seven key areas to promote the health and wellbeing of students across South Africas public universities and technical and vocational training colleges. SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-08-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
South Africa: Taxi owner shot dead over the weekend

This story has been published on: 2021-08-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.

Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister, Thoko Didiza, has called on the agricultural and agro-processing sectors to ensure that they go out and vaccinate. There is a promising improvement in the countrys vaccination programme, with over 10% of the population having been vaccinated already. I wish to call on all role p... See more
Hong Kong: National plan brings opportunities: CE

Chief Executive Carrie Lam today said the National 14th Five-Year Plan will bring vitality and golden opportunities to Hong Kong.

Mrs Lam made the statement at a talk held by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government on the national plan.

Every word in the National Five-Year Plan carries enormous weight, she pointed out, adding that she was confident in Hong Kongs implementation of the plan.

This is because, with the support of the Central Peoples Government, the overall situation of the Hong Kong SAR has witnessed fundamental positive development in the past year or so.

Addressing the event, Mrs Lam expressed gratitude for the countrys unwavering support in the plan for Hong Kongs development in various key areas, and for sending a delegation comprising officials from a number of government offices to Hong Kong to brief different sectors, enabling them to accurately grasp the opportunities presented by the plan.

Themed Actively Seizing the Opportunities of the National 14th Five-Year Plan, Hong Kong to Proactively Integrate into the Countrys Overall Development, the event consisted of a speech session and a dialogue session, and was attended by over 200 prominent guests including a delegation led by Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office Deputy Director Huang Liuquan, as well as Liaison Office of the Central Peoples Government in the Hong Kong SAR Director Luo Huining.

The dialogue session covered topics such as Hong Kongs development into an offshore renminbi hub and an international innovation and technology hub under the National 14th Five-Year Plan backdrop.

The delegation led by Mr Huang will meet Legislative Council members, the business community and young people to introduce the contents of the plan and its relationship with Hong Kong.

This story has been published on: 2021-08-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Interview: HKMA chief says Hong Kong resilient as global financial hub

Xinhua) 08:05, August 23, 2021

HONG KONG, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong remains resilient as a global financial hub favored by investors and businesses from around the world despite external uncertainties and challenges, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority Eddie Yue has said.

Yue told Xinhua in an exclusive interview recently that Hong Kong's financial strength is attributed to the unique advantages from "one country, two systems."

Under the arrangement, Hong Kong will be able to grasp the opportunities from a rapid-growing mainland economy and at the same time retains a globally-recognized financial system that makes it an effective bridge between the mainland and overseas markets, he said.

Yue stressed that Hong Kong has held up well against unfavorable conditions over the past years, including social unrest, so-called U.S. sanctions, and the COVID-19 epidemic.

Some 50 billion U.S. dollars flowed into Hong Kong last year, and the stock market here was the second largest worldwide. Hong Kong's foreign exchange reserves are abundant, and the linked exchange rate system performs well. The banking system also operates stably with sufficient capital and low risk.

The International Monetary Fund recently released a report that reaffirmed Hong Kong's position as an international financial center.

According to the World Investment Report 2021 released by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, Hong Kong remained the world's third-largest destination for foreign direct investment in 2020.

Yue believes foreign investors remain optimistic about Hong Kong's prospects.

Thanks to the enactment of the national security law in Hong Kong, stability and tranquility were resumed, which has provided a stable business environment and made financial institutions at ease here, he said.

A year ago, some foreign investors were concerned as the national security law began to take effect, but now they are only interested in how to seize the emerging opportunities in Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland, especially financial technology and green finance, Yue said. "They actually consider putting more resources and expand business here."

Looking ahead, Yue believes Hong Kong's financial markets will continue to prosper due to increasing closer ties with the mainland, citing more opportunities for various financial institutions from banks to asset management companies.

Currently, about 60 percent of purchases of mainland bonds and two-thirds of stocks by foreign investors are made through Hong Kong's connect programs, Yue said.

Yue expects the upcoming southbound trading of Bond Connect and the wealth management connect in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area will bring even more impetus to Hong Kong's financial system.

"Despite challenges in the past two years, Hong Kong's financial industry is still stable. Its international financial center status does not diminish but has become even stronger," Yue said, noting that with the strong backing of the mainland, Hong Kong's financial development will continue to be resilient and investors will remain confident.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
More early COVID-19 cases of humans, animals need to be tested for virus origins tracing

Global Times) 08:09, August 23, 2021

A staff member handles nucleic acid testing samples at a novel coronavirus detection lab in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Feb. 22, 2020.Photo:Xinhua

China's stance on next-phase #virusorigins tracing: Investigations should be carried out in countries such as where horseshoe bats & pangolins reside, those with virus-positive animal data and who supplied Wuhan Huanan market through cold-chain logistics. Editor: Yang Ruoyu/GT Graphic: Xu Zihe/GT

While the World Health Organization (WHO) is planning its next phase of COVID-19 origins study, China has made it clear that the next-phase study should be carried out in multiple places worldwide, including places outside China where samples of human and animal before the Wuhan outbreak were tested positive for COVID-19.

Liang Wannian, team leader of the Chinese side of the WHO-convened joint expert team on the origins tracing said in a recent press briefing attended by more than 160 representatives and ambassadors from international organizations and embassies that the next-phase study should be conducted in multiple places worldwide covering countries where horseshoe bat and pangolins reside, nations that lack sufficient testing, places with animal and human samples that have tested positive for COVID-19, and who supplied the Wuhan Huanan market through cold-chain logistics.

The proposal came as evidence in countries such as the US and Italy has mounted to suggest that the COVID-19 cases already existed in multiple countries before the outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

And the WHO has started working with some countries including Italy on testing of early samples. In a statement published on August 12, 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."

For example, in Italy, WHO facilitated an independent evaluation by international laboratories from the findings of one such study, which included the blind retesting of pre-pandemic blood samples, WHO said.

A WHO spokesperson told the Global Times that the agency is in contact with the researchers who published the study suggesting early circulation of COVID-19 among asymptomatic individuals in Italy several months before the first patient was identified, and collaboration with partner laboratories has been set up for further testing of available samples from Italy during that period.

The study, mentioned by WHO, was released in November 2020 by the National Cancer Institute (INT) in Milan which showed that COVID-19 antibodies were detected in the blood samples of 111 of 959 individuals enrolled in a lung cancer screening trial between September 2019 and March 2020.

Not just in human beings, but early infection involving animals such the US white-tailed deer were also reported frequently.

A Chinese member of the WHO-China joint study team on virus origins tracing told the Global Times on the condition of anonymity that two possible paths can be taken to help locate the source of the virus: one is to find early human cases and test animals that those early cases had contacted; and the other is to test a wide array of animals susceptible to the coronavirus, including cats, deer, and mink.

Peter Forster, a geneticist from Cambridge University, told the Global Times that he is not surprised that there might be cases earlier than those in China.

Forster suggests it is useful to think of the three stages in the origins of the virus: When and where did it cross the species barrier from bats to humans and when and where did it start spreading among humans.

"My dating suggests sometime between September and December 2019," said the geneticist.

Early human cases

Italy was the first Western country to be severely hit by the epidemic, with the first known case reported in the Lombardy region on February 21, 2020. But a recent paper under the project of Preprints with The Lancet by a group of researchers from universities in countries including Italy and US indicated that they found evidence that the virus was circulating in Lombardy from late June to early August 2019. The paper has not been peer-reviewed.

The paper investigated 156 out of 435 samples, isolated RNA from throat swabs and urine samples, then put them on Sanger sequencing, a method for determining the nucleotide sequence of DNA, and detected mutations to estimate the time of emergence of the virus.

The paper, however, didn't tell of the origins of the virus, Sayaka Miura, an associated professor at Temple University's department of biology, who also co-authored the paper, told the Global Times. Yet she pointed out that "the finding of the virus in Italy in summer 2019 means that the virus was already spreading at least in Italy much earlier than the outbreak in China."

She admitted that more data from 2019 are needed, and more retrospective studies from many different countries will help to better understand the early history of the virus spread.

Researchers of the paper compared the obtained sequences to the strain found in Wuhan, and found that sequences from October 2019 already carried variants that were absent in the first sampled strains reported from Wuhan.

The comparison of samples in Italy and China showed that the infected cases in Italy were not patient zero and that the two variants had the same progenitor but due to complicated symptoms of COVID-19, it's difficult to locate patient zero, the anonymous Chinese scientist said.

The scientist said that's why more countries should jointly work on finding the early samples and in tracing the patient zero.

A study of more than 24,000 samples taken for a National Institutes of Health (NIH) research program in the US between January 2 and March 18, 2020 suggest that seven people in five states - Illinois, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin - may have been infected well before the country's first confirmed cases were reported in January 21, 2020.

Since early 2020, people in various countries including the US and UK have been saying on social media they had symptoms similar to COVID-19 back in December or even November 2019, before the Wuhan outbreak.

American public figures have also shared their experience. Michael Melham, the mayor of Belleville New Jersey, said he believed he was sick with the virus in November 2019 and suffered from chills, hallucinations, and a "skyrocketing temperature" after he left a conference in Atlantic City, local media northjersey.com reported in April 2020.

The mayor tested positive for the antibody later, and he advocated for more people to do the antibody tests.

However, some American media distorted his statement and some claimed his statement was "unfounded."

Clearly US media noticed that many Americans tweeted that they had symptoms similar to those of COVID-19 as early as December 2019 or January 2020, but what those media outlets did was ask these people to stop, prompting speculations that they were hiding something by not encouraging people to talk about it.

A New Jersey local news outlet, nj.com, in May published an op-ed titled "Stop saying you think you had coronavirus."

Even the mayor was suspecting, asking in a tweet whether any reputable media outlets consider a story on American people who believed they had COVID-19 before January 2020.

"What about just on the ones with positive antibody tests? What's the secret? Who's hiding what and why?" he asked.

It's certainly worth looking into these people who listed their symptoms similar to COVID-19, the scientist said, noting that the US should conduct serum tests on all possible patients as China has done serum detection on samples before December 2019 but did not find any that tested positive for the nucleic acid or containing antibodies.

Animal samples

David L Robertson, a professor at MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, told the Global Times that the available data supports COVID-19 being caused by a natural virus that probably emerged from horseshoe bats and, much like SARS, this was probably through contact with infected intermediate host animals in markets in Wuhan.

Sampling over wider geographical areas for horseshoe bats is very important if we're going to find the origin of SARS-CoV-2 and prevent the risk of a future spillover, he said while commenting on a new paper he co-authored, which said horseshoe bats are dispersed widely from East to West China, and in Southeast Asia and Japan.

The anonymous scientist also urged countries where a reported large number of certain animal infections in early 2020 or late 2019 to carry out more nucleic acid tests on animals and analyze sequences to find the possible animal that first passed the virus on to humans.

So far, many types of animals such as mink, cats, tigers, and deer were reported to have had virus infections. A recent study showed the white-tailed deer in four US states in 2021 was found to have SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, indicating that they had been exposed to the virus.

However, the US closes its doors to origin-tracing in the country, and demands another round of origin-tracing probe in China.

As the Joe Biden-set deadline for the 90-day investigation into the virus' origins draws to a close, the US is stepping up its efforts to manipulate American media outlets to discredit China, coerce China's neighbors to participate in its campaign to smear China as the "source of the coronavirus." It also allegedly used vaccine aid, talent training and industrial investment as bait, and is pressuring WHO and rallying the US' allies, including the EU, Australia and Japan to promote a "second-phase origins tracing" probe on China despite its own research institutions and allies believing that the virus was almost certainly not created via artificial means, sources told the Global Times previously.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Taiwan defense authoritys special missile budget futile to change status quo, to bring trouble on island: experts

Global Times) 08:15, August 23, 2021

A cluster of attack helicopters attached to a brigade under the PLA 81st Group Army lift off successively and fly to a predetermined operational area at ultra-low attitude during a live-fire combat training exercise on July 28, 2021.(Photo/China Military)

The defense authority on the island of Taiwan is reportedly proposing a huge special budget for missile manufacturing capabilities with the aim of "coping with threats from the Chinese mainland" amid the fear that the US would give up the island as it did with Afghanistan.

Despite the budget, the island lacks the technologies needed to develop advanced missiles that can change the power balance across the Taiwan Straits, and the budget will backfire as the missiles will become priority targets of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), Chinese mainland military experts said on Sunday.

Taiwan's defense authority is proposing a special budget totaling NT$200 billion ($7.14 billion) to boost the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology's missile manufacturing capabilities, the Taipei Times reported on Sunday, citing an anonymous source.

It is hoped that the institute can use the funds to expedite the mass production of missiles with precision and long-range capabilities, the report quoted the source as saying.

The special budget is proposed to "deal with threats from" the Chinese mainland, Taipei-based newspaper the Liberty Times reported on Sunday.

Citing analysts on the island, the Liberty Times said that the island of Taiwan could become an unsinkable aegis ship equipped with all types of missiles. The missiles could be used to hit key locations in the Chinese mainland if the PLA launches an attack on the island, and this could disrupt a PLA attack, the report claimed, noting missiles are more cost-efficient than warplanes.

However, Chinese mainland military experts said that this is just another futile attempt by Taiwan secessionists to resist reunification by force.

With the Chinese mainland in mind, the island of Taiwan has been developing missiles for a while, but its technologies are not sufficient to develop advanced missiles that are meaningful enough to change the military power balance between the mainland and the island, Song Zhongping, a Chinese mainland military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times on Sunday.

For the armed forces on the island, this will only draw fire onto themselves, because the missiles will very likely become the first targets the PLA attacks if a conflict breaks out, Song said.

No matter what kinds of weapons and equipment the island develops, they will not be enough to change the power balance status quo, Song said.

In a recent live-fire exercise, the PLA Rocket Force launched two new-type conventional short-range missiles that hit well-protected targets and paralyzed the opponents' key information nodes in their defense systems, China Central Television reported on Saturday.

Experts said that the PLA will make use of the new missiles, along with all the other missiles it has at its disposal in a potential conflict across the Taiwan Straits, and the island, even reinforced by foreign forces, has no chance of winning this missile fight in both quality and quantity terms.

On Tuesday, the PLA Eastern Theater Command dispatched warships, anti-submarine warfare aircraft and fighter jets in maritime and aerial areas near the southwest and southeast directions of the Taiwan island for military drills including joint live-fire assaults.

The PLA's exercises took place right after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan following the US' troop withdrawal, and this would be a strong shock to Taiwan secessionists who are now weighing the reliability of the US, observers said, noting that the special missile budget reflects their fear.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Giant panda cub celebrates 1st birthday at US zoo

China Daily) 08:28, August 23, 2021

While the COVID-19 pandemic has made gatherings almost impossible, the giant panda cub drew hundreds of visitors to the National Zoo to celebrate his first birthday.

Xiao Qi Ji, or "Little Miracle", first savored a specially made fruitsicle cake prepared for his mother, Mei Xiang, early in the morning at their outdoor habitat. The frozen cake was decorated with sweet potato, apple, carrot, pear, sugar cane, banana and bamboo.

The cub apparently enjoyed the treat. Near the end of the first course of his breakfast, he lay on his back and held the heart-shaped top of the cake with his little paws, licking and sucking the frozen diluted apple juice.

After about 45 minutes, the pair walked over to Xiao Qi Ji's cakea bigger one. It was adorned with a giant, red number 1 on top. The cub's father, Tian Tian, was in the neighboring habitat.

Visitors enjoyed watching the mother and son tucking into the treats, with many streaming the scene live on social media accounts, and the zoo screened the show for the public through its Giant Panda Cam.

Well-wishers included Qin Gang, Chinese ambassador to the United States, who made a special video clip to wish Xiao Qi Ji a "very happy and fabulous birthday".

"You came into the world last year during the pandemic. At such a difficult time, your arrival and every bit of your growth have given us joy and hope. For us, you are a miracle, and that's why you are called Xiao Qi Ji," Qin said.

"You have truly added a splash of color to the exchanges between Chinese and American people," the envoy added.

Giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji (right) and his mother Mei Xiang enjoy a panda-friendly fruitsicle cake at Xiao Qi Ji's first birthday party at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute on Saturday. [Photo by Zhao Huanxin/China Daily]

Brandie Smith, acting director of the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, said the panda cub is more like his mother than Bei Bei, a cub that was born and lived at the zoo previously.

"He's a lot more cautious, he's a lot more thoughtful. And it's been so great to see him develop and his personality come out," said Smith, who has worked at the zoo for 13 years, starting as curator of giant pandas.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the zoo staff members have been working safely, wearing masks and keeping a distance from one another.

"One of the great things of working with pandas is a chance to work with our colleagues in China, and with a pandemic, we haven't been able to visit them in person," Smith told China Daily.

Instead, the zoo and Chinese colleagues had email exchanges and video calls. "The information goes back and forth, but it will be nice when we can finally see our friends again in person," she said.

Under a new agreement that the zoo signed with China, Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, the giant panda couple, will stay at the zoo along with their son for another three years, after an earlier deal inked in 2015 expired last December, according to the zoo.

"We signed a contract last year, and it kept pandas here. It keeps pandas here through 2023, and then we'll start talking. Actually, we just began our meetings to talk about the next steps when this contract ends," Smith said.

As a public health precaution due to COVID-19, the zoo had been temporarily closed since March last year, but it reopened in late April this year when infection cases dwindled in Washington, DC.

Effective July 30, all visitors age 2 and older are required to wear a mask in all indoor spaces at the zoo, regardless of their vaccination status.

Bryan Amaral, senior curator of animal care science at the zoo, said that the pandas will not have noticed much difference during the pandemic other than people wearing masks.

"We've been really successful as far as how we've adapted to the pandemic; nothing's really affected us, which is the great news," he said.

Giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji (left) and his mother Mei Xiang enjoy food at Xiao Qi Ji's first birthday party at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute in Washington on Saturday. [Photo by Zhao Huanxin/China Daily]

Among the visitors was Karen Wille, who works for Pandas International, a US nonprofit organization, who said she has visited pandas in China eight times.

"They're just amazing, magical animals that have captured the hearts of so many," she said. "It inspires people to learn about conservation, and also to help protect other animals as well."

The National Zoo has cooperated with China to study, care for and save the giant panda for nearly half a century.

Xiao Qi Ji is the fourth surviving cub born at the zoo in more than four decades since the first pair, Ling Ling and Hsing Hsing, arrived in April 1972, weeks after then-US president Richard Nixon's historic China visit.

Over the next 20 years, that pair produced five cubs, but none survived more than a few days.

The arrival of Mei Xiang and Tian Tian in 2000 changed the situation. Since 2005, Mei Xiang, age 23 now, has given birth to four surviving cubs.

In China, the number of giant pandas has increased from 1,100 in the wild 40 years ago to more than 1,800 now. The species is no longer listed as "endangered".

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Heavy rainstorm hits China's Shaanxi

Xinhua) 08:31, August 23, 2021

XI'AN, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Heavy rainstorm has lashed northwest China's Shaanxi Province since Saturday with precipitation up to 220.7 mm, according to the provincial weather bureau.

From 6 a.m. Saturday to 6 a.m. Sunday, 1,658 meteorological stations in 94 counties and districts in the province witnessed rainfall. Among them, 42 registered precipitations over 100 mm, and 382 recorded over 50 mm of rain. Ten stations reported hourly precipitation of more than 50 mm.

Starting from Saturday, Mianxian County of Hanzhong City in the province has seen a maximum precipitation of 237.7 mm, a record high for the county, while its hourly rainfall reached up to 72.5 mm during the same period.

As of 4 p.m. Sunday, about 60,000 people in the county have difficulties in reaching water and electricity supply.

Currently, all the affected in the county have been relocated to safer places. Rescue and repair efforts are still underway to resume traffic, electricity and communication.

Shaanxi meteorological observatory issued an orange alert for rainstorms on Sunday morning, with heavy rain expected to continue in the province.

Mountainous areas are at risk of floods and mountain torrents, while water logging is expected in low-lying urban areas, said the observatory.

China has a four-tier color-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow and blue.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
China's Heilongjiang reports robust foreign trade growth in Jan-July

Xinhua) 08:35, August 23, 2021

Aerial photo taken on March 31, 2021 shows Suifenhe Railway Port in Suifenhe, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)

HARBIN, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province saw its foreign trade total 109.72 billion yuan (about 16.88 billion U.S. dollars) from January to July this year, up 19.8 percent year on year, Harbin Customs has said.

Heilongjiang's exports reached 23.71 billion yuan in the first seven months of 2021, up 15.5 percent year on year, and its imports amounted to 86.01 billion yuan, up 21.1 percent.

In the same period, the province's trade volume with Russia topped 71.07 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 23 percent, accounting for 64.8 percent of the province's total foreign trade.

Its imports from Russia hit 65.48 billion yuan, an increase of 24.5 percent, and its exports to Russia totaled 5.59 billion yuan, an increase of 7.5 percent.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Centenarian Chinese doctor dedicates herself to treating leprosy

People's Daily Online) 10:01, August 23, 2021

Li Huanying (Photo/CCTV News)

Li Huanying, a world-famous leprosy specialist who is now 100 years old, has made legendary strides through her unremitting devotion over several decades to the cause of leprosy eradication in China.

Li was born in Beijing in 1921. After graduating from Johns Hopkins University in the United States, she served as an official venereal disease expert with the World Health Organization (WHO).

In 1958, after working for the WHO for seven years, she came back to China and got engaged in the research of skin diseases at the Academy of Medical Sciences in Beijing. I wanted to contribute the best of my years to my motherland, Li said.

Being transferred to the Beijing Tropical Medicine Research Institute of Beijing Friendship Hospital in 1978, Li began working full time on leprosy control and research.

About one year later, Li went to leprosy villages in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture in southwest Chinas Yunnan province in order to bolster efforts towards the prevention and control of the disease. In rural areas, patients suffering from leprosy were perceived as akin to demonic figures in the past.

(Photo/CCTV News)

Since then, Li has trudged along rugged mountainous roads to almost all the leprosy villages in 59 counties situated in seven prefectures and cities in Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan provinces. And she never gave up despite injuries and losses suffered due to car crashes, shipwrecks, and all the other mishaps along her way.

To help people dispel their stigma and discrimination, Li shook hands with leprosy patients, which shocked local officials and villagers. She also checked patients condition at their homes without wearing any specialized quarantine clothes. She once picked up a patients shoes and put her hands inside to ensure that there was no nail or loose sand in the shoes so as to prevent the patient from getting any skin injuries. Li also donated money to help poor patients.

(Photo/CCTV News)

She demonstrated to patients and other people that leprosy has limited infectivity and is curable. As doctors, we have no fear, so it was never a problem for me to deal with the disease, Li said.

Li took the lead in conducting short-duration combined chemotherapy involving 24 monthly doses in leprosy patients, which proved highly effective for the treatment of the disease and was eventually promoted by the WHO in 1994. Li also spearheaded a collaborative leprosy control program across the country.

Li Huanying (L) shakes hands with a leprosy patient at a leprosy village. (Photo courtesy of Beijing Friendship Hospital)

She has played a big part in reducing Chinas leprosy patients to less than 10,000 from 110,000. Moreover, the annual relapse rate was only 0.03 percent, far lower than the standard for international institutions at 1 percent. All the leprosy patients in Mengla county, an area severely afflicted by the disease in Yunnan, were cured.

The sincere joy when I help cure patients suffering from leprosy cant be overtaken by others, Li said while remembering her past.

Li won the first prize in the State Scientific and Technological Progress Award of 2001, for her strategies, prevention technologies and study on measures for controlling and basically eliminating leprosy in China.

(Photo/CCTV News)

She also received an award for lifetime attainments concerning the prevention of leprosy in the country at the 19th International Leprosy Congress, which was held in September 2016 in Beijing.

Li Huanying (front) and other members of the Communist Party of China take an oath of admission before the Party flag in 2016. (Photo courtesy of Beijing Friendship Hospital)

In the same month, Li submitted the application letter to join the Communist Party of China. I feel myself as qualified finally for joining the Party, the woman said. One year later, she became a Party member at the age of 96.

Her goal is to eliminate the disease from the country. I still would like to spend my life working for the Party and the people to achieve a world without leprosy, Li said.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Chinese mainland reports 21 new COVID-19 cases, all imported

Xinhua) 10:37, August 23, 2021

A medical worker administers a dose of COVID-19 vaccine to a girl student at the Hangtian Campus of the Beijing Yuying School in Beijing on Aug. 21, 2021. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

BEIJING, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland on Sunday reported 21 imported COVID-19 cases but no new locally transmitted cases, the National Health Commission said in its daily report on Monday.

Among the imported cases, five were reported in Guangdong, four in Shanghai, three each in Tianjin and Yunnan, two in Beijing, and one each in Shanxi, Zhejiang, Henan and Sichuan.

One suspected case arriving from outside the mainland was reported in Shanghai on Sunday.

No new deaths related to COVID-19 were reported Sunday, said the commission.

A total of 8,105 imported cases had been reported on the mainland by the end of Sunday. Among them, 7,371 had been discharged from hospitals following recovery, and 734 remained hospitalized. No deaths had been reported among the imported cases.

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases on the mainland reached 94,652 by Sunday, including 1,695 patients still receiving treatment, 23 of whom were in severe conditions.

A total of 88,321 patients had been discharged from hospitals following recovery on the mainland, and 4,636 had died as a result of the virus.

There was one suspected COVID-19 case on the mainland on Sunday.

A total of 16 asymptomatic cases, all imported from outside the mainland, were newly reported. There were a total of 507 asymptomatic cases, of whom 420 were imported, under medical observation by Sunday.

By the end of Sunday, 12,057 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 212 deaths, had been reported in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), while 63 cases had been reported in the Macao SAR, and 15,926 cases, including 828 deaths, had been reported in Taiwan.

A total of 11,766 COVID-19 patients in the Hong Kong SAR had been discharged from hospitals following recovery, while 59 had been discharged in the Macao SAR, and 13,580 had been discharged in Taiwan.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Online Chinese study program well-received by British students

People's Daily Online) 13:58, August 23, 2021

The 2021 Chinese Bridge Mandarin Excellence Programme (MEP) Virtual Intensive Study, an online Chinese-language studying summer camp for British middle school students which ended the other day, helped participants improve their fluency in Chinese and better understand Chinese culture, winning high praise from the British side.

Teachers of the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE) and staff members have a group photo after the online tour to Houhai (Photo/UIBE)

The two-week program, co-organized by over 50 MEP schools and 14 Chinese host institutions in 10 cities, was attended by over 1,400 British students.

The Chinese partner institutions offered diverse Chinese-language courses and cultural experience programming with localized features for British students. The University of International Business and Economics (UIBE) in Beijing, for example, arranged an online tour to Houhai, a scenic area in the city. The university sent an anchor to Houhai, who explored ethnic arts and crafts in the network of alleyways, including traditional Chinese fans and Lord Rabbit, a local handicraft symbolizing happiness and good luck. Meanwhile, another anchor in a studio relayed relevant information about the arts and crafts to the students. Despite the physical distance, the participants enthusiasm was able to be ignited, and they raised questions one after another.

The UIBE also organized a session on the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games, which is about six months away, including relevant vocabularies and topics, and a dialogue with members of the preparatory working group for the Winter Olympics. They introduced the construction of the venues, preparation work, and the countrys efforts in advancing coordinated regional development.

British students homework after online learning. (Photo/UIBE)

Another Chinese institution, Zhejiang Normal University in east Chinas Zhejiang province, prepared an online shopping session for the students and offered them a virtue tour to Hangzhou, capital of the province, which enabled them to visit stores selling intangible cultural heritage products and appreciate local folk songs.

MEP programs play an important role in improving Chinese teaching in the UK and British students Chinese language proficiency, and deepening exchanges between the younger generations, as well as building friendship and trust between both countries, said Hong Junjie, vice president of the UIBE.

An official from an MEP school called the program a unique opportunity for the British students, as it helped them to break out of their conventional thinking, make more friends, and find more job opportunities.

While some MEP students said they felt proud of participating in the program, others voiced their willingness to continue to learn Chinese, as learning Chinese is very worthwhile and brings new opportunities for them.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
China, Arab states seek to boost e-commerce trade under 'online Silk Road'

(Global Times) 15:13, August 23, 2021

Photo taken on Aug. 18, 2021 shows the main venue of the fifth China-Arab States Expo in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua)

Though the energy sector has been underpinning China-Arab trade ties, cross-border e-commerce has increasingly been turned to as a vital thoroughfare linking Arab states and their largest trading partner, according to participants in a major interregional expo, which concluded on Sunday in Northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, a trailblazer in building the "online Silk Road."

Cross-border e-commerce was arguably among the most attention-grabbing topics at the fifth China-Arab States Expo, which was held both in-person and online for the first time amid the COVID-19 pandemic, with over 1,000 domestic and overseas businesses registering as exhibitors this year.

"Cross-border e-commerce has been developing rapidly, and I think it can be a very efficient way for Lebanese products to be sold in China," the Xinhua News Agency reported over the weekend, citing Joseph Tannous, economic attache of the Lebanese embassy in Beijing.

Among the Arab businesses attending the expo online were 15 Lebanese firms, which showcased items including red wine and olive oil.

"At the moment, we are working to create the first Lebanese online cross-border e-commerce shop in China. We hope this boutique will regroup many of Lebanon's high-quality products in China," Tannous said. "I hope in the near future more and more Lebanese products will find their way to Chinese consumers."

As the permanent host of the interregional expo, Ningxia has been positioned to pioneer efforts to build the online Silk Road as part of the Belt and Road Initiative, especially after a pilot zone for cross-border e-commerce was approved in the autonomous region in late 2019.

The pilot program has attracted cross-border traders as well as incubated many start-ups that are eager to capitalize on the burgeoning trade via multiple cross-border conduits, Sun Zhenghao, commercial manager of the Xingqing Digital Economy Industrial Park in Yinchuan, told the Global Times on the sidelines of the expo.

Over 180 cross-border e-commerce companies have been either introduced or incubated in Ningxia, with transactions having topped 300 million yuan ($46.14 million).

Preferential policies in the autonomous region, where an economic inland pilot zone was approved in 2012 with the establishment of a comprehensive bonded area in Yinchuan, capital of Ningxia, are considered to have laid the groundwork for Ningxia's rise as the online Silk Road hub.

The bonded area adjacent to the international airport in Yinchuan netted 9.34 billion yuan in exports and imports in 2019, up 28.5 percent year-on-year, accounting for 38.81 percent of Ningxia's total foreign trade, official data showed.

The local government went a step further, green-lighting the creation of an international express distribution center within the bonded area at the end of 2016. The distribution center became officially operational in May 2017.

The availability of such facilities put an end to sending international shipments from Ningxia to other provinces and cities for customs clearance, according to Sun, counting on efficient customs clearance as a springboard for a cross-border e-commerce boom expected between China and Arab states.

At a booth where medical supplies such as face masks were displayed during the expo, Zhao Bin, general manager of Guangdong Jiayongyuan International Trade Co, told the Global Times that his company has plans to foray into the Saudi Arabian market, where a rising number of Chinese businesses eye a foothold via localizing their operations.

"Saudi Arabia, exemplifying the Arab community, takes a realistic stance when it comes to its China policy, having extensively cooperated with China, notably in energy," Zhao said, describing cross-border trade as one of the arenas beyond energy where businesses from the two countries can team up.

The availability of broad-ranging products from Chinese traders appeals to the Saudi Arabian market and such traders, if capable of tying up with local partners and building physical footprints in Saudi Arabia, would have access to local financing programs that are quite cost-effective and could easily scale up their operations, Zhao noted.

Buoyed by such inspiring prospects, Hao Xueqiong, a Yinchuan-based cross-border e-commerce veteran, told the Global Times that his company, whose overseas outreach now focuses on Latin America, is turning attention to Arab states in hopes of getting a tailwind from the online Silk Road.

An expansion into Arab states - where traditional Chinese medicine herbs have become increasingly popular - also prompted interest of Chao Zhuduo, founder of a company in Pengyang county of Guyuan in Ningxia, which specializes in mugwort cultivation and processing.

His company employs roughly 2,000 people including local farmers attending to mugwort cultivation, Chao told the Global Times inside the company's booth at the expo, where various mugwort-based healthcare products were on show, rendering it one of the most-visited attractions.

The company raked in about 60 million yuan in output in 2020, mainly through domestic online vendors and livestreaming channels, he disclosed, expecting his mugwort business to make a fortune in the Arab world via cross-border e-commerce.

Demand for traditional Chinese medicine is on the rise, especially in Saudi Arabia and Yemen, with an average annual growth rate of nearly 15 percent, media reports said.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Children play interactive games with robots in the daycare class in Hefei, capital of East China's Anhui province, July 21, 2021.Yaohai district of Hefei city launched a pilot project to provide free daycare services for the students during the summer holiday to ease the pressure on working parents who have to take care of their children at this time. [Photo/Xinhua] This summer vacation, Guo Qile, a third-grader in East China's city of Shanghai, attended classes almost every day. Despite this, Guo enjoyed it a lot. "The teachers are so nice, and I have many friends here to play with. I'm having so much fun!" Guo said. What Guo attends is actually a daycare program initiated by a local community. In Shanghai, these programs are offered in the entire city this summer vacation. In 2021, with the support of the Chinese government, summer vacation daycare is booming. Many students went back to school during this summer vacation - not for regular classes but for activities such as watching films, group games, and painting. Favorable policies Summer vacation daycare, a new option for busy parents, became a trend this year after Chinese education authorities mobilized to offer more choices for school-age students during their summer vacation. In early July, the Ministry of Education issued a notice asking local authorities to encourage qualified schools to provide these childcare services. Solid progress was made in many places, including Shanghai, for example. From July 5 to Aug 13, 543 daycare programs were set up across the municipality, benefitting nearly 40,000 students. Among the programs, 407 were held on school campuses. Similar programs have been in place for years in many areas with encouragement from local education departments. Since 2017, the Jiyang District of Sanya, South China's Hainan province, has set up public welfare summer childcare courses. The courses have been well received by parents, many of whom are migrant workers with no time to look after their children, said an official with the district's education bureau. Addressing parents' needs "Small children aren't able to look after themselves, and we parents find it unnerving to leave them alone at home," said Li Yan, a parent from Shandong province. From Li's perspective, daycare programs provided by schools are a great solution for parents who have such worries. To meet the needs of more parents, the scale of the childcare program in the Jiyang district has expanded year by year, with the number of students participating increasing from 600 in the first year to more than 2,600 this year. The country's education authorities have stipulated that daycare programs ought to be, in their nature, a public service that doesn't create financial burdens for parents. Organizers across the country have strictly adhered to this principle. For instance, in Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi province, a summer vacation daycare service is provided at a reasonable price of 50 yuan per day. Students from families with financial difficulties can attend daycare courses for free. Pooling efforts of society With daycare programs gaining popularity, daycare program organizers are pooling society's efforts to boost the quality of the services they provide. In Shanghai, this summer, more than 12,000 college student volunteers were recruited, and each of them attends to no more than five children. Thus, all children can receive adequate attention and care. For the future development of vacation-time daycare services, there is still room for improvement, experts said. "Organizers of daycare programs should be familiar with the traits of students at different ages and understand what they need most," said Yao Zongling, the headmaster of a middle school in Tai'an, Shandong province. Yao proposed dividing children into different groups based on their age and abilities and design courses accordingly, instead of organizing one-size-fits-all activities. In the meantime, having their children attending daycare programs doesn't mean parents are free of responsibilities, said Lyu Yugang, an official with the Ministry of Education. He called on parents to balance their children's daycare hours and leisure hours.
Public sanitation an example of pursuing advanced development in the new era Coupled with the rapid growth of its economy over the past decades, China has been striving to improve public sanitation as it upgrades infrastructure across the country. The phrase "toilet revolution" often accompanies headlines about China's efforts to improve the state of its public restrooms as well as improving rural toilets and sanitation, and the issue is a serious matter to the country's leadership. President Xi Jinping has been consistently working to improve people's living standards via the introduction of modern toilets, irrespective of whether some critics may think discussing such a matter is beneath his presidential status. On his nationwide inspection tours, Xi often asks residents whether they use pit latrines or flush toilets and he stresses the importance of clean toilets. "A small toilet has big significance to people's quality of life," he said. Analysts said that behind China's emphasis on the toilet issue and the positive measures to improve both urban and rural hygiene conditions, is the people-centered development philosophy of the Communist Party of China, which it has been upholding in governing the country. It is also an insight into Xi's leadership in pursuing high-quality development in this new era. Zhu Yilong, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's top political advisory body, said that the toilet revolution is a major issue in China that matters to people's well-being. Improving sanitation conditions is directly related to people's health and ecological conservation. It also has great relevance to the image of a city and even the entire country, Zhu said, adding greater efforts are still needed to advance the campaign to improve people's quality of life. The country's public toilets used to be described as unhygienic, filthy, crude, anxiety-inducing, and, they were often in short supply. Despite China's status as the world's second-largest economy, it still faces the contradiction of unbalanced and inadequate development and the people's ever-growing needs for a better life. Toilets in poorer rural areas are often little more than makeshift shelters surrounded by trees and shrubs, while others are open pits next to pigsties, which can potentially pose health risks to villagers. Even in urban areas, many toilets give off offensive odors that can be detected well beyond bathroom doors. Xi's personal championing of the toilet revolution began as a campaign by the National Tourism Administration to improve public washrooms nationwide, but its scope has since been expanded to become part of the country's broader rural development strategy. "Toilet improvement is not a trivial matter," Xi said in an instruction in November 2017. "It's key to the building of urban and rural civilization. It should not be limited to scenic spots or urban areas, but should also be extended to rural areas as part of efforts to vitalize the rural areas and improve rural living conditions." In an instruction released on July 23 about advancing the toilet revolution in rural areas, Xi said that making clean, flushing toilets accessible to rural residents should be part of the country's plan for rural vitalization, which is the country's new goal after its victory in eliminating the absolute poverty in rural areas. He stressed that the quality of the toilets is always more important than the numbers. More than just a singular issue of improving public bathrooms, the toilet revolution is also a way to examine how the central government takes account of public opinions and how agencies can effectively implement national policy campaigns, observers said. "All eyes are on China as it seeks to revolutionize the toilet by increasing access to sanitation for all," Kelly Ann Naylor, associate director for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene at UNICEF, wrote in an article published on the organization's website. "What happens today in China has the potential to impact not just its 1.4 billion citizens, but billions of others in the world." The toilet revolution's success in China has been due largely to strong political leadership, healthy financial investment, and prioritization at a local level, Naylor wrote. China is one of more than 190 countries working toward achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which include the goal for everyone to have access to a "safe toilet" by 2030. According to the World Toilet Organization, a global nonprofit body committed to improving toilet and sanitation conditions worldwide, 40 percent of the world's population does not have access to toilets. Thanks to years of hard work, China's toilet revolution has delivered huge benefits for rural and urban communities alike. In 2019 alone, the central authorities set aside 7 billion yuan ($1.1 billion) for toilet projects. As of the end of last year, 68 percent of villages now have well-managed public toilets, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. Hong Guobao, a farmer of Shangdian village in Wanqiao township of Dali Bai autonomous prefecture, Yunnan province, started using the flushing toilet in his home in April thanks to the local toilet revolution program. Like him, all of his fellow villagers have clean, safe bathrooms in each household. "This is not only a toilet use issue, but also a change of lifestyle for us," Hong said.


The number of infected computers controlled by trojans or botnets on the Chinese mainland has surged dramatically  soaring by more than 45 percent year-on-year to 4.46 million in the first half of 2021. According to the China National Vulnerability Database, most of the cyberattacks came from overseas domains. In the digitalization era, the data security of internet platforms is not only the concern of individuals, but is also vital to national security, including national defense and financial security. Therefore, it is imperative to strengthen the supervision of internet platforms, and countries are trying to regulate data-rich companies. Unite States President Joe Biden signed an executive order in June to protect personal data from foreign adversaries, while the General Data Protection Regulation  one of the strongest pieces of legislation globally to govern the collection and use of personal data  took effect in the European Union in 2018. China's data security law will be enforced on Sept 1 to create a basic system for data management, data security review and risk assessment. Regarding internet-based transportation platforms, Zhang Bohui, associate director of the Shenzhen Institute of Data Economy, said leakage of high-definition mapping data, personal information of specific users and organizations could become major national security risks. Zhang, who is also director of the Research Center for FinTech and Social Finance at the Shenzhen Finance Institute, told China Daily that cross-border analysis of data on these platforms, along with those acquired from other conduits, such as satellite data, could reveal much detailed information. And these don't require very complicated computing techniques. Besides risks involving key institutions, and military and infrastructure projects, there are financial risks, involving national security, as well as enterprises themselves. "If the transportation statistics of a raw materials provider suddenly surge, it could indicate that demand for the materials is rising in China," he explained. "Such information could become an important leverage in international business negotiations." Top internet-based recruitment companies could also reveal a significant amount of business information, as intensive recruitment for a position could indicate a firm's key research and development direction, Zhang said. Various industries in the energy, education, medicine and public services sectors possess sensitive data, and companies whose user base accounts for 20 to 40 percent of a region's total population could deliver crucial local messages, he noted. According to academic research, the volume of a company's data on cloud platforms and express delivery could present an accurate portrait of the enterprise. However, Zhang pointed out that more international fundraising alternatives, including IPOs and mergers and acquisitions overseas, will benefit investors and the companies involved. Therefore, regulations are needed to safeguard and promote the global development of the digital economy. He urged private companies to set up risk management mechanisms to deal with data that is either generated from their operations or obtained from customers, and create "data firewalls" accordingly so that they could take prompt action to deal with data-related issues.
China's National Meteorological Center on Sunday renewed an orange alert for rainstorms in several regions.

From 8 am Sunday to 8 am Monday, heavy rains are expected in parts of the Sichuan, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Henan, Hubei, Anhui, Jiangsu, Shandong and Heilongjiang provinces, as well as Chongqing municipality.

In particular, parts of Henan's central areas are forecast to be hit by torrential rains, with rainfall of 250-350 mm, according to the center.

It suggested schools and kindergartens take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of children, and reminded drivers to watch out for waterlogged roads and traffic jams.

China has a four-tier color-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow and blue.




From August 9 to 13, the joint exercise Zapad/Interaction-2021 was held at the coordination tactical training ground of the PLA Army in Tsingtungxia, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of China. Since 2005, China and Russia have held a series of joint military exercises such as the Peace Mission , Joint Sea under the bilateral and multilateral frameworks. In the Zapad/Interaction-2021, the Russian military has for the first time dispatched an organic troop unit to take part in an exercise of military strategics and campaigns led by the Chinese side.

Tsentr (Center) - 2019 and Kavkaz - 2020 Major General Jin Yinan, an expert of the National Defense Strategy Committee of China Development Strategics Association at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and professor of the Department of Strategic Education and Research at the PLA National Defense University (NDU), observed the exercise at the training ground. He believed that this exercise marks a new high of cooperation between the two armed forces.

China and Russia: Joining hands to build peace

A slogan of the exercise reading China and Russia: Joining hands to build peace demonstrated the political significance of the exercise, Jin said in an interview.

In the exercise, focusing on jointly safeguarding regional security and stability, the Chinese and Russian participating troops were mixed into groups, made drilling plans together and carried out joint operations. In addition, a special operational command information system for both militaries was put into function in the exercise for the first time, making the mixed grouping of the participating troops of the two militaries possible. Under the special operational command information system, the two militaries accomplished coordination between their air and ground forces, unified the combat rules of both sides, and established a united operational system including the battlefield information system.

During the exercise, the Russian troops used a large number of weapon ssystems provided by the Chinese side and spoke highly of them in terms of both the operational and tactical performance and practicalities, Jin said.

China and Russia stand hand in hand to build peace. The cooperation between the two countries has a long history. Jin said that in the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, the Chinese Peoples Volunteers (CPV) received substantial assistance from the Soviet Union, for example, the Soviet Union offered a large number of armaments for CPVs land and air forces. The history of cooperation between China and Russia to jointly safeguard regional peace should date back to the cooperation between China and the Soviet Union in the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, Jin concluded.

Laying a firmer foundation for cooperation

The favorable situation of China-Russia cooperation does not pop up in recent years. In fact, China and Russia have been in good and successful cooperation since a long time ago, now, through joint military exercises, the two countries have laid a more solid foundation for deeper cooperation under new conditions. This joint exercise was featured with an effective integration and coordination between the land and air forces, the next joint exercise will be staged between the Chinese and Russian navies, Jin said.

In his opinion, the effective coordination between the Chinese and Russian land and air forces in the joint exercise Zapad/Interaction-2021 has truly demonstrated to the world that the two countries have capability to jointly safeguard regional peace, instead of fighting alone. To safeguard regional peace has been a consensus between China and Russia, Jin believes that the cooperation between the two countries to jointly safeguard peace will be a new area and will create new capabilities in their strive for peace.
By Xu Shiwei

At the first press conference held by the Taliban after it occupied the capital city of Kabul, its spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said the return of the Taliban meant that the Afghan people were regaining national power, and the Taliban would form an inclusive government and develop friendly relations with other countries.

Judging by the current situation, the change of regime in Afghanistan is a fait accompli, although it is generally believed that taking state power is just the beginning, and the Taliban will face multiple tests both internally and externally in that position.

Internally, will the Taliban win the peoples support? The organization is rooted in rural areas, but now that it steps from backstage to the forestage, it will have to face different groups, classes and forces. How to reposition itself and win the peoples support is a major challenge faced by the Taliban.

The most immediate problem is how to quickly recover the economy and resettle the refugees in an impoverished country that has long been ravaged by war. Then there is the issue of ensuring civil rights. When the Taliban was ruling Afghanistan last time, it set too many restrictions on civil rights, which were particularly harsh on women. This time it has acted more practically and flexibly when trying to seize political power, not only posting reassurance notice as soon as it occupied Kabul but also claiming to protect womens rights. However, to what extent will its future policies meet the Afghans expectations remains unclear. Besides, there are so many political factions in Afghanistan that the Taliban has to not only deal with oppositions including former government officials and the Ahmad Massoud force based in Panjshir, but also balance and coordinate the reformists and conservatives within its own organization  this is an enormous test for Taliban leaders.

Internationally, its uncertain whether the Taliban will be recognized widely. It was only recognized by three countries when it seized the power in Afghanistan in 1996. Recently Taliban has been making diplomatic efforts by visiting countries like Russia and Iran, which has yielded some results, but there is still a long way to go before it is generally recognized in the international community, which is on the wait-and-see right now in hopes of Taliban honoring its commitments.

Moreover, western countries, represented by the US, generally reckon that the Taliban is too closely and intricately associated with terrorist organizations, and they even view the Taliban itself as an extremist organization. As the Taliban retook the throne, several countries issued statements urging it to curb terrorism and crimes. Although the Taliban has pledged to crack down on extreme terrorist forces, what it will do next is still to be seen.

At last, will the Taliban be able to handle the possible backstabbing from the US? Talibans comeback put the US in an awkward position and triggered intense criticism of the Biden administrations withdrawal policy, which Washington will not let go. While its unlikely for Washington to send troops to attack the Taliban again, it will foreseeably use other means, including political and diplomatic, to suppress the newly established regime. Therefore, it remains unclear whether the Taliban can break through Americas suppression and quickly gain recognition on the international stage.
BEIJING, Aug. 23 -- On August 20 and 21, local time, the Chinese team participating in the Military Rally event of the International Army Games (IAG) 2021 carried out pre-contest adaptive training in the Kyzyl region of the Republic of Tuva, Russia.

As the Chinese team is at the end of the competition order according to the draw, its crews are likely to drive on a bumpy track pocked with potholes left by repetitive crush of preceding vehicles. According to the competition regulations, the Russia-made Tiger-M armored trucks, KamAZ-65225 military tank transporters and Ural-63708 tractor trucks will be used in the competition. In order to get familiar with the venue environment and equipment performance as soon as possible, the Chinese team conducts a detailed study on the competition regulations, carries out adaptive training of off-road driving and firepower shooting with the equipment provided by the Russian side. As of August 21, local time, the Chinese team has successfully completed all preparations before the competition.
By Yang Tianhao, Xiao Juanjuan and Li Yishan

On the morning of July 1, 2021, the ceremony marking the centenary of the Communist Party of China was solemnly held in the Tiananmen Square in Beijing. The Department of International Training (DIT) of the Army Engineering University of PLA invited the cadets of 2018 and 2019 to watch the celebration. All the cadets felt refreshed and encouraged, and spontaneously conducted in-depth study of President Xis important speech delivered at the ceremony.

Staying True to Our Original Aspiration   Standing Firm with the People

Javier, a cadet from the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, was deeply impressed by the word people: I noticed that President Xi has been repeating a word in his speechpeople. President Xi said, The people are the true heroes, for it is they who create history.' This country is its people; the people are the country. When the teacher told us about the history of the Communist Party of China last semester, she also said that the purpose of the Communist Party of China is to serve the people wholeheartedly. The three years of personal experience in China has given me a deeper understanding of this sentence, because China has really been doing so. The development is for the people, and the fruits of development are shared by the people, and this sharing is not only for the Chinese people, but also for the people of the world.

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, China has always put the people and life above everything else, protecting peoples lives and health at all costs. In the face of the severe international epidemic situation, China has actively provided as much anti-epidemic assistance as it can to countries in need. On February 10 this year, China provided my country with a batch of COVID-19 vaccines, which was greeted by our Vice President Mangue personally at the airport. Equatorial Guinea is the first country in Africa to receive Chinas COVID-19 vaccine assistance.

Equality and Cooperation   Writing a New Chapter of A Major Country

When talking about the 100-year journey of the CPC depicted by President Xi, Second Lieutenant Camara of the Guinean Army had his own in-depth understanding of following the path with Chinese characteristics: The Communist Party of China (CPC) can always adapt to the new situation and come up with new ways. The process of leading the Chinese people to carry out the revolution is not plain sailing. In the face of enemies who were much stronger than itself, the CPC could always actively think and explore, innovate methods, and deal with various challenges flexibly. The ever-changing strategy of Chairman Mao leading the Red Army to cross Chishui River four times during the Long March, which the teacher told us in the class of Introduction to Chinese History, is a good testament to this point.

As to how to embark on the new journey, Camara strongly agrees with the importance of international cooperation: No one can pick up a pen with one finger, on the global stage, the relationship between countries is very close, so we should advocate mutual cooperation and mutual benefits, just as President Xi said in his speech, we will continue to champion cooperation over confrontation, and we must continue working to promote the building of a human community with a shared future.

Speaking of cooperation, Camara emphasized: Equal exchanges are the basis of cooperation between countries. All countries, big or small, strong or weak, should be treated equally. Todays China is very strong, but it has not invaded others, nor has it sought hegemony. Instead, it respects every country and conducts dialogue and exchange with every country on an equal footing. Therefore, equality is very important!

Joseph, a Tanzanian cadet, mentioned the cooperation between Tanzania and China when talking about the international cooperation in the new era. President Xi said in his speech that China has always worked to safeguard world peace, contribute to global development, and preserve international order. There is a railway between my country and Zambia called TAZARA, and we also call it Uhuru Railway (Freedom Road). This railway has a total length of 1860.5 kilometers and was built for us by China. It provides a new access to the sea for landlocked African countries, Joseph said. I especially like to communicate with Chinese, and during chatting with some senior Chinese, I learned that many of their generation had ever taken part in engineering construction projects aid by China in African countries. Whenever they mentioned the railway, I would proudly say, Im from Tanzania! I am here now, which is a favorable witness to the friendly cooperation between China and Africa and between China and Tanzania!
The recent series of training operations conducted by the People's Liberation Army obviously had a strong message to send to the Taiwan secessionists and Washington.

The coordinated joint assault drill conducted by the PLA Eastern Theater Command in the airspace and southwestern and southeastern waters off the island of Taiwan last week was of special significance as it demonstrated that the PLA has the capability to encircle the island and cut off support from the outside at the same time.

Earlier this month, the PLA Rocket Force launched two short-range missiles of a new type that can accurately hit positions hundreds of kilometers away. According to analysts, such missiles would be capable of paralyzing the airborne early warning and control system on the island and its vicinity in an instant.

With the PLA continuously improving and enhancing its combat capabilities, any attempt to seek the island's independence is tantamount to dancing at the point of a sword. As such the PLA drills also served as a stern warning to the United States that playing the "Taiwan card" is risky and a misstep could prove costly.

The US has been colluding with separatist elements in Taiwan, making waves in the Taiwan Straits and heightening tensions in the region in an attempt to contain China's rise and development.

In July, a US military transport plane landed in Taiwan, contravening what had been agreed in the three communiques that underpin diplomatic relations between the US and China. And earlier this month, the US State Department approved an arms deal with China's Taiwan region worth $750 million, marking the first arms sale to the island by the US administration under Joe Biden.

The US is only using Taiwan as leverage in its strategic competition with the Chinese mainland. Many observers have repeatedly warned the Taiwan authorities that the US will not sacrifice any US lives for the island. If pro-independence forces still indulge in the fantasy that they can count on the US support to realize that objective, they do not need to look any further than Afghanistan to know that the US will cut and run whenever it decides it has had enough of its costly game.

Both the Taiwan authorities and Washington should not miscalculate the situation and underestimate Beijing's determination and capacity to safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. No matter how many tricks they play, it cannot stop the process of China's reunification.

As China's defense ministry has repeatedly warned, the PLA will resolutely oppose anyone attempting to separate Taiwan from China and safeguard national unity at all costs.
The findings were on par with separate statistics reported last week by Israel's Maccabi health care provider, one of several organizations administering booster shots to try to curb the delta coronavirus variant.

The data were presented at a meeting of a ministry panel of vaccination experts on Thursday and uploaded to its website on Sunday, though the full details of the study were not released.

A third dose of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine has significantly improved protection from infection and serious illness among people age 60 and older in Israel compared with those who received two shots, findings published on Sunday by the Health Ministry showed.

Breaking down statistics from Israel's Gertner Institute and KI Institute, ministry officials said that among people age 60 and older, the protection against infection provided from 10 days after a third dose was four times higher than after two doses.

A third jab for the older than 60-year-olds offered five to six times greater protection after 10 days with regard to serious illness and hospitalization. That age group is particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 and in Israel was the first to be inoculated when the vaccine drive began in late December.

In recent weeks, the health ministry has said immunity has diminished over time for seniors and younger people as well. Most vaccinated people who fell severely ill in Israel were older than 60 and with underlying health conditions.

Israel started administering the third shot to those older than 60 on July 30. On Thursday it dropped the age of eligibility for a booster to 40, and included pregnant women, teachers and health care workers below that age. Third doses are given only to those who received their second shot at least five months ago.

The United States has announced plans to offer booster shots to all Americans, citing data showing diminishing protection. Canada, France and Germany have announced booster campaigns.

Fighting an outbreak of the delta variant since June, Israel presently has one of the world's highest infection rates per capita. Close to 1.5 million people out of the country's 9.3 million population have taken a third jab.


Tropical storm Henri made landfall in the Eastern U.S. state of Rhode Island Sunday.

The storm, recently downgraded from a hurricane, knocked out power in tens of thousands of homes, as much of the region braced for possible flooding from increased rain.

The National Hurricane Center said that New York's Long Island and southern New England should prepare for dangerous storm surges and flooding rainfall.

Even though Tropical Storm Henri was hundreds of kilometers away on Saturday night, it forced an early end to New York City's "Homecoming Concert" in Central Park. According to Mayor Bill de Blasio, the event was meant to "really tell people New York City was back, to tell the whole world."

Barry Manilow was cut off midsong and concertgoers were told to calmly but quickly exit the park. Other scheduled performers included Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon, Jennifer Hudson, Carlos Santana, LL Cool J and Andrea Bocelli.
President Joe Biden plans to nominate veteran U.S. diplomat Nicholas Burns to serve as U.S. ambassador to China, the White House said Friday, signaling the administration may be looking for the envoy to play a more central role in the increasingly fractious relations between the two global rivals.

The White House also announced Biden's intent to nominate Rahm Emanuel, a former U.S. lawmaker who served as chief of staff to former President Barack Obama and as mayor of Chicago, to be ambassador to Japan, a U.S. ally increasingly at odds with Beijing.

The choice of Burns, a retired career foreign service officer who served as undersecretary of state from 2005 to 2008, marks a shift for the role of the ambassador to Beijing, the ranks of which over the past decade have been filled by former politicians, not seasoned diplomats.

If confirmed by the Senate, Burns would head to China as the two countries' ties are at their lowest point in decades, and fill a post left vacant since October, after former President Donald Trump's envoy to China, Terry Branstad, stepped down.

The United States and China, the world's No. 1 and No. 2 economies, are at odds over issues across the board, including trade, technology, the coronavirus, Taiwan, and Chinese military activities in the disputed South China Sea, with each accusing the other of deliberately provocative behavior.

A new headache Burns would have to deal with is fallout from the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan and the chaotic U.S. evacuation from Kabul, which has raised questions about the Biden administration's ability to swiftly shift focus to the Indo-Pacific region and countering China.

China has not officially recognized the Taliban as Afghanistan's new rulers, but its foreign minister, Wang Yi, last month hosted Mullah Baradar, chief of the group's political office, and has said the world should guide and support the country as it transitions to a new government instead of putting more pressure on it.


Moderna has promised Korea to deliver 7.01 million doses of its coronavirus vaccine to Korea by the first week of September, with the first batch of 1.01 million arriving Monday.

The government on Sunday claimed credit for persuading Moderna to send a "much larger" amount than it had promised to deliver in August. It will bring the total to 8.31 million doses, including 1.3 million doses that already arrived on Aug. 7.

But in fact that is still 190,000 doses fewer than the government claimed Moderna promised to supply in August and does not include 1.96 million doses that were not delivered in July either.


Financial authorities in April told them to keep the increase in household loans at under six percent a year. The total amount of household debt has surpassed W1.7 quadrillion and is increasing at breakneck speed, but drastic measures like stopping all lending would also be catastrophic (US$1=W1,183).

Woori Bank last week said it suspended loans for jeonse or Korean-style deposit lease until late September due to exhausted limits, while Standard Chartered decided to suspend part of housing loans and NH Nonghyup Bank halted housing loans altogether until November.

Banks and second-tier lenders are tightening lending rules under pressure from the government as housing prices and household debt spiral out of control.

"There's a spike in household loans, but the government's attempts to control it exceed its bounds," said Prof. Shin Se-don of Sookmyung Women's University. "Consumers will bear the brunt if banks suspend loans and even second-tier lenders tighten lending rules."

Those who had been planning to borrow or whose loans are expiring soon are getting jitters. Last Thursday, a person put a petition on the Cheong Wa Dae website calling for an end to loan curbs. "Individuals in a capitalist society have the freedom to manage their funds based on their own judgment of risks and opportunities," the petitioner wrote.

But financial authorities believe that household debt is the main cause of skyrocketing property prices. They are determined to deflate the loan-fueled real-estate and stock market bubbles.

Household loans jumped from W1.61 quadrillion in the first quarter of last year to W1.68 quadrillion in the third quarter and W1.77 quadrillion in the first quarter of this year.

Loan limits could be curtailed drastically as the Financial Supervisory Service recently told banks to reduce limits on under-W100 million credit loans from the double the size of borrowers' salary to the size of their salary.

Yoon Min-seop of the Korea Financial Consumers Protection Foundation said, "It makes no sense to put a limit not just on new loans but also overdrafts of faithful borrowers with a good credit rating."

"End-users will more likely suffer if the government implements a coarse-grained policy like suspending loans altogether instead of gradually trying to reduce household debt," he added.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris spoke of what she called a "shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region" as she visited Singapore at the start of a short trip to Southeast Asia.

Speaking to reporters alongside Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Harris stressed U.S. commitment to the region and working with allies to "uphold the rules-based international order and freedom of navigation, including in the South China Sea." "The reason I am here is because the United States is a global leader, and we take that role seriously," Harris said.

Monday's talks included extensive focus on the climate crisis, Harris said, along with the need for cooperation to end the coronavirus pandemic and to prevent future ones from occurring. "The pandemic has highlighted the importance of working together as partners on the issue of global health," she said.
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The number of active COVID-19 cases in Comal County eclipsed 1,400 on Monday, setting yet a new record, while local hospitalizations remained at high levels, with the vast majority of those patients unvaccinated.

County health officials reported 187 new cases and 110 recoveries Monday, bringing the number of active cases to 1,454, an increase of 77 compared to the Friday's report and 128 from a week ago. Of the new cases, 133 are confirmed and 54 are probable.

Most of the new cases reported Monday are people younger than 50.

Forty-two of the new cases, including an infant under 12 months of age, are people under 20, 25 are in their 20s, 64 are in their 30s and 40s, 41 are in their 50s and 60s and 15 are older than 70.

US regulators give full approval to Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine WASHINGTON (AP)  The U.S. gave full approval to Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine Monday, potentially boosting public confidence in the shots and instantly opening the way for more universities, companies and local governments to make vaccinations mandatory.

No deaths were reported Monday. There have been 354 fatalities since the pandemic arrived locally in March of 2020.

State officials on Friday reported 11,762 new confirmed cases and 3,581 new probable cases, an increase of 3,466 cases compared with the seven-day average a week ago.

Thirty-one Comal County residents were hospitalized with the virus on Monday, unchanged from Friday and down five from a week ago.

Of those hospitalized, one is aged 18 or younger, two are 19 to 29, three are in their 30s, four in their 40s, seven in their 50s, nine in their 60s, 10 in their 70s and one older than 80.

The number of patients in local hospitals was 88 on Monday, unchanged from Friday and down 15 from a week ago, with 22 of those patients in intensive care and 13 on ventilators. According to health officials, about 91% of those patients are unvaccinated.

Local hospitals have cared for a mix of county residents and those from outside the area since the pandemic began, and some local patients have been treated in outside hospitals.

As of Saturday, 13,106 Texans were hospitalized for the virus, an increase of 1,554 patients compared with a week ago.

The percentage of hospital beds being used by COVID patients across the 22-county region that includes Comal and Guadalupe counties rose to 20.89% on Monday from Friday's rate of 20.36%. The rate was 18.36% a week ago.

State health officials reported 664 available staffed hospital beds in the region, including 57 available staffed ICU beds. The region's hospital capacity is 6,730 beds.

State health officials on Saturday reported 7,632 available staffed hospital beds, including 372 available staffed ICU beds statewide. COVID-19 patients currently occupy 20.5% of total hospital beds.

The county's seven-day positivity molecular rate on Monday was 17.6%. The antigen rate was 11.64%. The rates are broken down by the type of COVID test that is used.

Texas Department of State Health Services figures show that 67.13% of Comal County residents over the age of 12 have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 57.01% are fully vaccinated as of Friday. The statewide rates stand at 66.73% and 55.42%, respectively.

The vaccination rates in Guadalupe County, which includes a portion of the city of New Braunfels, stood at 60.21% with one dose and 51.21% fully vaccinated.

The Comal County Public Health Department continues to offer vaccination appointments for those over the age of 12. The Moderna vaccine is used for those 18 and older, while the Pfizer is used for those between the ages of 12 and 18.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday gave full approval to the Pfizer vaccine, which will now be marketed as Comirnaty, for individuals 16 years of age and older. The vaccine also continues to be available under emergency use authorization, including for individuals 12 through 15 years of age and for the administration of a third dose in certain immunocompromised individuals.

There are no approved vaccines for those under the age of 12. Those interested in receiving a vaccine can call 830-221-1150 to schedule an appointment.

Residents can visit covidvaccine.texas.gov to find a provider in Comal County and surrounding areas.

Residents can also utilize TDEM's State Mobile Vaccine Program by calling 844-90-TEXAS and selecting Option 3 to schedule a mobile vaccine clinic to vaccinate groups of friends, families, employees and volunteers.

Homebound Texans can also call 844-90-TEXAS and choose Option 1 to request a mobile vaccine team to come to their home.

Curative Labs has temporarily closed its testing facility in the New Braunfels City Hall parking lot, but those needing a COVID-19 test can call their primary care physician or visit a local pharmacy, such as Walgreens or CVS.

DSHS provides a map of testing locations available at https://covidtest.tdem.texas.gov/.

The Texas Tribune contributed to this story.
Woburn, MA (01801)

Today

Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain for the afternoon. High 74F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Periods of rain. Rain may be heavy late. Low around 60F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 2 to 3 inches of rain expected. Localized flooding is expected.
Woburn, MA (01801)

Today

A few showers early becoming a steady rain for the afternoon. High 74F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Periods of rain. Rain becoming heavy at times overnight. Low near 60F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 2 to 3 inches of rain expected. Localized flooding is expected.
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Over the past years some music stars have wowed the crowd at concerts, not only by playing some of their most popular hits, but also by inviting some VIPs to share the stage. Find out which live performances had the most unexpected appearances here...
HAMMOND  Critics of the state takeover of Garys public schools are renewing their attack in a new federal court suit.

Gary attorney Tracy Coleman is demanding a federal judge return control of the Gary Community School Corporation back to Gary residents.

Coleman filed suit in U.S. District Court over the weekend, claiming Indiana officials violated Gary residents' civil rights in 2017 when they took over the debt-ridden schools.

Coleman alleges the Indiana Distressed Unit Appeals Board  whose members are all white  discriminated against Garys black population when it replaced locally-elected school administration with a private management firm.

She further alleges the management firm illegally put a referendum before Gary voters last November to raise city taxes by more than 21 million over eight years to help run Gary schools.

Gary residents approved the referendum to raise their taxes by a 13,901 to 9,146 vote.

Coleman also is suing the Lake County Voter Elections and Voter Registration Board, which placed the referendum on the 2020 general election ballot.

It is the second time, in less than a year, the federal court has been asked to deal with how the state is running Gary schools.

Gary activist Robert Buggs and Larona Carter, a Gary resident, complained last year to local election officials the state-imposed Gary school officials dont have the authority to conduct referendums.

Paige McNulty, Garys emergency school manager, asked a federal judge to rule against Buggs complaint, but the federal judge refused to get involved and sent the case back to the Lake County elections board in Crown Point where the matter is being debated.

Coleman said Monday she filed her new suit to guarantee a federal judge will rule on the constitutionality of the state's takeover of Gary schools.

Merrillville attorney Alfredo Estrada, who represented McNulty in the previous federal case, said Monday he cannot comment on the new suit at this time.

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U.S. District Court Judge Theresa L Springmann was assigned Monday to preside over Colemans latest demands for a declaratory judgement that civil rights are being violated and an injunction to remedy the matter.

Colemans 19-page complaint sets out a review of racial discrimination and decline of the Gary school system.

It states Garys public education system has long been burdened by racial segregation. Some 23 schools had all white or a majority of white students and 17 had all black or a majority of black students in the early 1960s.

The flight of white and black Gary residents because of discrimination and unemployment has caused Gary school enrollment to plummet from more than 49,000 students in the early 1960s to less than 5,000 last year.

Coleman complains the state also permitted privately-run charter schools to open in Gary to compete with the public school system for the dwindling number of students.

Coleman argues declining enrollment and state mandated reductions in property taxes on U.S. Steel and other heavy industry starved public education of needed revenues.

The Times reported in 2017 Gary schools were running an annual budget deficit of $22 million. State officials justified its takeover of city schools from local officials as necessary to impose fiscal responsibility on the school district.

MGT Consulting, a Tampa, Florida-based for-profit corporation took over school operations.

State officials reported earlier this year they have reduced both the annual budget deficit as well as the districts long-term debt.

Coleman said Monday that Garys public schools remain in a financial and academic crisis that should be put in the hands of Gary voters to elect a local school board.

Parents need local school board members they can speak to and which would be conduct business in a constitutional and transparent way.

Currently Gary residents are being taxed without representation in their schools, Coleman said.

Gallery: Recent arrests booked into Lake County Jail
Press Release

August 23, 2021 Dispatch from Crame No. 1130:

Sen. Leila M. de Lima on Duterte "advising" COA to 'reconfigure' audit reports 8/23/21 Instead of ordering his Cabinet secretaries to shape up their agencies to assure COA that the people's money is not being misspent, wasted or stolen, Duterte would rather corrupt the COA itself. Duterte wants COA to "reconfigure" its report. Whatever dictionary he is using, that word definitely does not bode well for COA. In the first place, never in the history of the post-EDSA Republic did a President even dare to tell COA what to do. But that is only because past Presidents, even Gloria Arroyo, knew their limits and had shame. Duterte does not. He has no qualms destroying institutions and taking the country down with him. Kung hindi ka ba naman mapapamura, sila na nga ang magnanakaw, sila pa ang makapal na magsasabi sa COA na hayaan lang silang magnakaw. Napaka-walanghiya naman talaga. Hindi ko lubos na maisip kung ano ba talaga ang kasalanan ng bansang ito para dapuan ng ganitong klaseng malas na magkaroon ng isang napakawalanghiya at napakamakasariling pangulo. It looks like the Filipino people really have to pray hard for all this shameful, self-centered and messy governance to end soon. I know Duterte only has 10 months left in office. But the Filipino people might not have that much time to survive him. Let us pray. Let us pray for this curse that has befallen our country to be lifted while we still have the chance to save our land.### Access the handwritten version of Dispatch from Crame No. 1130, here: https://issuu.com/senatorleilam.delima/docs/dispatchno1130
Press Release

August 23, 2021 De Lima 'beyond grateful' to Drilon, Iloilo for re-election support Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima is grateful to individuals from different sectors of Iloilo, as well as fellow public servants, particularly Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, for supporting her campaign for re-election. In a message read by her niece, Renzel Star Estellena, during the launch of campaign network #LabanLeila2022 in Iloilo today (Aug. 23), De Lima thanked all the individuals and groups from Iloilo who continue to stand by her amidst government persecution. "Maraming salamat, Laban Leila Iloilo. Maraming salamat, Senator Drilon for your trust and unfailing support. I am honored to be fighting the good fight with you," she said. "Thank you for believing in my innocence and for courageously declaring your support. Thank you for fighting with me. I am beyond grateful. Tuloy ang laban," she added. Local leaders, artists, youth, religious, LGBTQI community, and various sectors attended the launch of #LabanLeila2022 in Iloilo from 10:00 am to 11:30, with other participants joining online via Zoom and Facebook Live. In his recorded message, Drilon stressed that the nation needs De Lima, adding that the lady Senator from Bicol "is able to fulfill her mandate and continues to fight for the welfare of every Filipino" despite her unjust detention. "Like all of us Ilonggos, who are known for our resilience and courage, Senator Leila shows courage every day. Her resolve to fight injustice in our country is an inspiration to all of us," he said. "Hence, my beloved Kasimanwa, I count on each of you that we will continue to stand behind Senator Leila. Let us continue to pray and call for the immediate release of Senator Leila," he added. Aside from Drilon, messages from Former Rep. Lorenzo "Erin" Tanada III and artists like Agot Isidro and Cherrie Pie Picache, among others, were shown during the launch. De Lima said she has no qualms running a reelection campaign from her detention cell in Camp Crame because there are people "who continue believing in me, who soldier on in our shared causes so that my story will not be reduced to irrelevance and obscurity." "It has become a part of our people's continuing struggle for truth and justice. A part of a far greater narrative," said De Lima. "I owe it to my family and to the memory of my father to clear our name. I owe it to the brave women who first came to my rescue when I was being maligned at the House of Representatives." "I owe it to the mothers, widows and orphans of EJK victims who vowed to fight with me, even as they grieve the loss of their loved ones. I owe it to the young, the poor, and the workers, mostly strangers, who continue to write me letters of hope. I owe it to all of you," she added. Last July 21, De Lima confirmed that she would seek reelection in the 2022 national elections in an indictment letter addressed to Mr. Duterte, where she stressed that the political persecution she has been subjected to by the Duterte administration only strengthened her resolve to fight for her advocacies. Prior to the launching in Iloilo, #LabanLeila2022 initially kicked off in Cebu last Aug. 22, and will likewise be launched in Bicol and NCR on Aug. 24 and 26, respectively.
Press Release

August 23, 2021 GORDON SUMMONS EX-DBM EXEC TO APPEAR BEFORE BLUE RIBBON PROBE NEXT WEEK Senator Richard J. Gordon, Chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee, has signed a Subpoena Ad Testificandum, approved by Senate President Vicente Sotto III, requiring the attendance of former Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Undersecretary Lloyd Cristopher Lao to the next hearing of the Committee on Wednesday, August 25, into the 2020 Commission on Audit (COA) report on the Department of Health (DOH). Lao, who resigned last June, was head of the Procurement Service of the DBM at the time when bulk purchases of masks and face shields were undertaken by the government due to the Covid-19 pandemic. "He will be asked to explain the circumstances of such procurement. It is important that he appears because there are so many questions that need answers especially, he was previously investigated over procurement of overpriced medical supplies and equipment as Usec. Canda said," Gordon stated. In a press briefing, Lao said he is willing to attend the hearing next week "to shed light on the matter", adding that the most appropriate avenue is the Blue Ribbon Committee. "Mr. Lao is still in the Philippines, or at least, has not left the country, as certified by the Bureau of Immigration. This is a good sign that can only mean to indicate that he is not fleeing and can help us in our investigation in bringing light to the seemingly murky processes of government procurement," said Gordon. A subpoena ad testificandum compels the person so summoned to appear before it to answer questions regarding the matter being heard and discussed. Refusal or failure to appear can be subject to a contempt citation, which the Committee of the Senate has previously, and on occasion, imposed. In order to ensure that the subpoena is served, the Blue Ribbon sought the assistance of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
Press Release

August 23, 2021 PRIVILEGE SPEECH OF SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS ON COMMISSION ON AUDIT

August 23, 2021 Mr. President, I rise on a quick point of privilege. I rise to express my concern and to put on record my serious reservation as a member of the minority and also as a Senator of the Republic about the statement that the President made on August 21, 2021, to effect that the Commission on Audit should, and I quote, "reconfigure everything" and, to quote again, "sabihin mo agad there is no corruption here, there is no money involved." I take exception, Mr. President, hindi lang dahil sa gitna ng pandemya kung gaya ng pinag uusapan po natin limited ang ating resources lalo't higit nagiging mahalaga ang trabaho ng COA, pero dahil ito mismo ang sinasaad ng Saligang Batas. It is not only that the COA is supposed to be independent, the Constitution -- and here I am quoting the Supreme Court itself - "grants the COA the exclusive authority to define the scope of its audit and examination and establish the techniques and methods therefor." If there is anything to configure or reconfigure, it is solely at the discretion of COA at hindi pwedeng makialam ang Presidente. Also, why is the President telling the COA to reconfigure? Why should the COA say there is no corruption here? Why should it preempt any investigation on fraud, graft and corruption, and other such malpractices? Sa totoo lang, to a layperson, to "reconfigure everything" sounds like a directive to doctor the books or doctor the data. COA red flags are there to tell us how to govern better, but they can also tell law enforcers where to look, and which trail to follow. In many instances in the past, ang COA report ay smoking gun or material evidence of corruption. It cannot stand on its own, but on many occasions, it is an integral part of the chain of evidence that can lead to conviction. Ako din po ay labis na nababahala sa sinabi ng Pangulo noong gabi ding iyon na "I will stand for Duque, even if it will bring me down." But as the country logs record-breaking COVID-19 cases gaya ng sinabi ni Majo (Majority Leader Zubiri) kanina 18, 332 today, the highest tally since the pandemic started with 3 laboratories unable to submit data, so totoo understated pa ito na 18 thousand plus, and with a 25% positivity rate - it may be accurate to say that Secretary Duque has mostly been ineffectual. The Secretary suffers from a serious case of incompetence. Halimbawa nalang itong usapin ng mga expiring medicines na higit 95 million pesos. Kapansin-pansin din na sa press release ng DOH noong August 16, bukod tanging ang issue ng expiring medicines ang hindi nito tinugunan. Mr. President, ito ang isa pang dahilan kung bakit ako ay naiiskandalo dito sa usapin ng mga expiring drugs. According to UN Women, in the various consultations that they have held over the course of the pandemic with at-risk groups of women all over the country, isa sa pangunahing daing ay ang kakulangan ng mga gamot at non-COVID health services na nakakarating sa rural areas. Sa datos na inilabas ng Center for Global Development, kumpirmado ang pagbaba ng access ng essential health care services, partikular sa mga sakit gaya ng hypertension, gastroenteritis, dengue fever, asthma, tuberculosis, atbp. So concerning is this issue of access to medicines to us that the Philippines is one of the proponents of the Draft World Health Organization (WHO) Resolution, along with 28 other member-states, calling for a global effort to improve the availability of essential medicines in the midst of the health crisis. Kaya nga ang ating mga local government officials, lalo na ang mga nasa malalayong lugar, ay galit at nagsusumamo. Bakit, tanong nila at tanong ko rin, sa kabila ng kakulangan ng non-COVID medicines and essential health services, may nabubulok na gamot sa mga warehouse? Bakit sa kabila ng DOH Administrative Order 9-B, series of 1998 na sinasabing ang expiration date should not be less than two years from the date of manufacture and not less than one and a half years from the date of delivery, mayroon pa ding biniling ganitong mga gamot? At bakit kahit sinita na ng COA ang DOH noong 2019 for this very same issue, inulit pa din sa 2020? Ito ang mga nais kong matugunan sa lalong madaling panahon. Hindi pwedeng habang nahihirapan ang mga kababayan natin sa walang katapusang lockdown, ang Secretary of Health ay sitting pretty at protektodo. Salamat po.
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The consortium of Chinese investors who had agreed to buy a majority stake in an expressway project in Turkey is looking to terminate the deal after failing to agree on the terms of the transaction, Zawya reports.

The disagreement, the media notes, stems from failure by the consortium to reach an agreement on the terms of refinancing with one of the investors. The refinancing relates to a previous loan of $1.6 billion that was used to construct the bridge in 2013.

The consortium has been in talks since 2019 to buy 51 per cent of the project for $689 million from the bridge operator the Turkish construction company IC Ictas.

Per the original agreement between the two sides, IC Ictas and the Chinese consortium would undertake the financing, design, construction, operation, and maintenance and repair of the Northern Marmara Motorway Odayeri-Pa?akoy Section (including the Third Bosphorus Bridge) located in Istanbul, Turkey.

With the disagreement, IC Ictas has instructed the consortium to begin talks relating to the termination of the deal. The investors group, Zawya notes, is made of China Merchants Expressway Network & Technology Holdings Co., Limited; China Merchants Union (BVI) Limited; Jiangsu Expressway Company Limited; Zhejiang Expressway Co. Limited; Anhui Expressway Company Limited; and Sichuan Expressway Co, Limited.
Katherine Oyieke is a general paediatrics consultant and neurologist at Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi.

She narrates how she juggles between her demanding career and her personal life.

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Im one of the lucky ones who manage to get a full eight hours of sleep. I go to bed at around 9.30 pm and get up at 6 oclock. Im usually out the door by 7 am and get to work an hour later.

As a paediatric neurologist, I specialise in disorders of the brain in children. Oftentimes when I get to work I start with ward rounds and later outpatient clinic, which runs through most of the day and is interspersed with meetings.

I am also in the academic field so I still have to make time to teach and mentor my fellows and residents. These academic activities tend to happen towards the end of the day, around 4 pm to 6 pm. At which point it occurs to me that I havent had lunch and Ill grab a snack before making my way home.

Because my days are hectic during the week, over the weekend, unwinding is all about rest. When I get the opportunity, I like to travel and take long drives.

My favourite travel destination is northern part of Kenya. I find the vast, open spaces calming. I value this because my work is usually high energy and emotionally charged.

The drive up there also affords me the opportunity to do some off-road driving, one of the new activities Ive picked up. I also recently started a photography course. I like my music.

I have a few friends who have been in a band since we were very young. Sometimes we get together for jam sessions in someones backyard. I love spending time with my family too.

The pandemic gave me an opportunity to figure out what nourishes my soul and invest more time in that. To me thats family. Spending time with them is food for my soul.

I always admired healers and I always felt the need to uplift others. Thats how I ended up in my profession. What I love most about it is the transparent engagements.

When dealing with children, what you see is what you get. There are no preconceived notions, no bias, no manipulations. Children come to you and if theyre suffering, they show you that theyre suffering.

If they are pleased, they express joy. My greatest joy is when we send children home and theyre recovered and their parents are pleased.

Growing up, the life of a doctor looked more glamorous than I have found it to be. Initially I thought the biggest challenge would be the hard work or the intensive nature of dealing with illness.

But what I am finding difficult is the social aspect of it, especially in my field where I deal with children. It is intense because I also have to deal with their parents and the various social dynamics that influence those relationships.

My biggest challenge is detaching from the personal and private lives of my patients because we get investedespecially with the long and difficult cases, and many times people want to carry that relationship further.

They want, for instance, to take your private number so that they can access you at any time. Drawing boundaries and at the same time still ensuring that my patients safety is put at the forefront is quite a difficult thing to juggle.

A colleague shared with me what works for her in terms of setting boundaries and I find that it is helping me too.

At the first meeting with new patients and families, we agree on goals, set targets and limits, discuss all possible outcomes and not just about the condition but also how we will manage follow-ups.

We also agree in how much of my time I can give, and what is reasonable to expect of me. It sounds like a harsh and tough discussion to have, especially if youre meeting someone for the first time.

But it is important to discuss that in the beginning. When people see that youre young and potentially inexperienced and naive, they can exploit that.

Not because they mean you harm, but because they need their needs met. The openness and transparency are eventually appreciated and it works for everyone. It allows me then to be in control of my time. Im still not good at it, but were getting there.

Self-care is something I am only learning now how to do. Granted, I am still very young in my profession, but it is something that is not adequately enforced in our training.

We are taught to always push, and so divesting from that mode of thinking becomes very difficult for doctors  especially young and female doctors.

We rarely give ourselves the needed rest and relaxation and I am finding that every now and then I need to take a step back.

Unfortunately, this is usually prompted by times when I am overwhelmed or burnt out. I am slowly discovering that I need to schedule it into my days, and that is why I have taken up new hobbies.

I am also finding that allocating specific times to switch off my phone, even if its for two hours on a Saturday afternoon, is beginning to work well for me.
The 31-year-old shared his career path with the Sunday Nation.

I am the second last born in a family of eight  three brothers and four sisters  with a strong and amazing mother. My father passed on in 1993. I grew up in Nairobis Umoja estate. My brothers played a major role in molding me to be the man I am today. My childhood was stable because I was raised in a loving environment. Making mistakes was not an option, and this was like a manual on how to stay with people around me.

I started my education at Fadhili Junior School in Umoja Two. I was admission number 5. I keep bragging about this and we all laugh about it as a family. This was the best decision my guardians could have ever made because it gave me an amazing foundation. I schooled at Fadhili up to class one and then transferred to Tumaini Primary School in Umoja Innercore, where I stayed till class five.

In 2002 I transferred to Nyaundi Primary School in Kisumu County, where I sat my Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCPE) examination. I then joined Sawagongo High School in Siaya County for my secondary education.

After high school, I joined Kenya Polytechnic University College  presently known as the Technical University of Kenya  for a Diploma course in Technology, Journalism and Public Relations. I majored in broadcast and graduated in 2014.

This course equipped me with theoretical knowledge and practical skills in journalism, TV production, communication, public relations, conflict resolution, negotiation among other PR learning skillset. Thereafter I enrolled to study a number of electives including units such as photojournalism, news writing, editing and publishing, cinema, and television.

After the three-month course, I was absorbed by the Standard Media Group as a production assistant in the converged newsroom before being elevated to a TV producer position and later a news director.

I then decided to enroll in a local university here in Nairobi for Bachelors Degree in TV Production. This course was going to help me gain knowledge in creative TV production and directing. Unfortunately, I dropped out due to financial constraints.

With time I developed an interest in digital media. I embraced new forms of storytelling, creative camera shots composure, stress management through working with absolutely tight timelines, and creative programme directing.

In 2019 I enrolled for an online undergraduate course in Contemporary Media Practice and Film Production at the University of Westminster, United Kingdom. Hopefully, I graduate in December 2022. After Im done with my bachelors degree, I hope to pursue a Masters degree in Cinematography, probably in France.

My career journey has been bumpy but quite interesting. I fell in love with film production in 2002. I used to watch amazing films on TV and thats when I knew that I wanted to pursue that as a career. In high school, I wasnt an A student in high school, but I wasnt a poor student either.

After clearing college, I specifically looked for a course that would help me achieve my dreams. That is how I landed an internship opportunity at the Standard Media Group as a production assistant in 2014. My job description included operating the teleprompter for anchors and ensuring the studios were clean and well arranged. Getting a job proved difficult after my first internship ended, so I found myself interning at the MP Shah Hospital six months after I left the Standard Media Group.

One evening, my former boss at the media house called me and told me about an opportunity. I went for an interview, passed, and landed my first job as a production assistant with starting salary of Sh15,000. This was later raised to Sh21,000. One year later I was promoted to an assistant TV producer, then to a TV producer, and finally to a TV director.

I fell in love with directing when I was still very green in this field. It was a baptism by fire kind of thing. I knew the industry was very competitive so I had to push myself to be the best. Everything Im doing today, I learned from the best in the industry.

I later founded Ayoo Films Limited, where Im currently the CEO. Im also a film critic at Rotten Tomatoes. As a film critic, Im responsible for viewing, taking notes and analyzing the acting, plot development, writing, directing, editing, and cinematography of films. I basically use my writing and analytical skills to craft a professional review that can help audiences determine whether or not they should watch the film.

Some of the films I have reviewed so far include Tom Clancys Without Remorse, Guy Ritchies Wrath of Man, and The Hitmans Wifes Bodyguard. Writing for Rotten Tomatoes has taught me the importance of looking at films with a third eye and answering questions that no one will ever ask.

Tell us about your career progression over the years.

My career has taken an amazing curve from being a TV director and producer to starting my own company in 2018. I always knew that I would be a filmmaker but I never imagined myself having my own company. Ayoo Films Limited has been a baby that I have been nurturing for the last three years.

The journey hasnt been easy. I learn new things every single day. My dream is to create employment because I know how difficult it is to get employment, more so in this media industry. Sitting in a management class has helped me grow my leadership, decision-making and management skills.

What is the most memorable thing about your career journey?

The passion and stubbornness in me could not allow me to remain in one place  I always wanted more. I could ask news directors on shift to allow me to direct their bulletins as I operated the teleprompter. If you have been in a news production setup, youd understand how technical this could be and probably the riskiest idea. A very bad idea!

In fact, the people who saw me grow remind me how hard I worked to be where I am today. As a production assistant in the morning shift we used to be picked up at 3 am. I have to confess that I would pray that the director on duty oversleeps so that I could just get an opportunity to direct the show. May God forgive me for this!

What has been a key driver of your growth? Any lessons learnt, success and failures?

Passion is my main drive! The belief that I want to be the best version of myself in everything I do and everywhere I go kills me every day. I have always wanted to leave a positive impact in everyones life. I keep affirming myself that I am the best producer and director that ever lived.

I have learnt to be the hungriest person in the room. Hunger to know more. Hunger to learn. I have also learnt to be patient, humble and a good listener. Listen to critics and know when to take in critics. I always strive to be innovative and creative and never take a no for an answer.

I really celebrated registering a film company at the age of 27. I have been able to create employment for three people on a contractual basis. This motivates me to work harder every single day. Being the youngest film critic at Rotten Tomatoes is one achievement I have always been proud of.

One of the habits that have kept me going and helped to stay afloat is a reading culture that I have cultivated in my life. I have thrived by reading a book a month. This has helped me to jog my imagination, change my train of thought and even change how I view life.

Persistence has also helped me get this far. I have grown to believe that you are as good as your last production. So I always try as hard as I can to make each production better than the last one.

Anyone who was helpful in your career growth?

My family. I owe it all to my family. Theyve supported me through it all. I can not also forget the boss who gave me a chance to intern and work at Standard Group. Then of course there is the late Edwin Audi, a friend, and brother who believed in me. He introduced me to amazing people in this industry. These are the people Ayoo Films Limited owes its existence.

Key decisions you might have taken along your career?

Every decision you make, from your choices to how you respond to the circumstances of your life, shapes your destiny. A decision you make today could affect your life tomorrow, a week from now or 10 years now. Destiny is the ripple effect of every decision you make over a lifetime.

The decision I made to pursue an online undergrad course at the University of Westminster has changed the way I look at my career. Taking an online course in management has helped me look at business differently. It is steadily sharpening my skills in business management, calculation of risks, and even how to approach the business of filmmaking.

What would you tell your younger self?

Be kinder to yourself. Always know your worth. The world is bigger than you think it is and your worries arent as important as you think they are, just be you. Dont worry if you look different, or feel you look different, from most other people. You are where you are because God wants you to be there. No matter what you are going through, kindly know that the rains will come, the sun will shine and the grass will grow.

Your advice to the youth?

Its not all about how much money you make, its all about how much change you make. A business that makes nothing but money is a poor business. So you have a choice to make about what your life is all aboutYour passion or your paycheque. Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. Choose a job you love and you will never have to work your whole life.

Future plans?
Dr Joseph Mburu is the Programmes Evaluator and Reporter at the Ministry of immigration in Canada. He spoke to the Nairobian about his personal and career growth.

Education: Tabani Primary School, Lukhuna secondary school for O- Level, and Malava boys for A-Level. I joined the University of Nairobi to study Political Science, then University of York (UK) for Masters in Public advancement and Relations and a PhD in Public Administration and International Relations.

Experience: I started as a secondary school teacher, then a lecturer before joining the Office of the President and later the finance ministry. I came to Canada as a lecturer and am currently an officer at the ministry of Immigration in Canada.

First job/salary: I worked as a sugarcane harvester back in the village earning Sh500 per month. It was a backbreaking job but it taught me patience.

Worst/best job: Honestly, I dont consider any job bad, since both were putting food on the table despite the challenges.

First /current Neighbourhood: I first lived in Dandora and all my household things were stolen on the first day. Now, I live in Canada.

Worst mistake: Trusting people too much. Most have turned to be my main detractors. I have learned a big lesson.

Missed opportunity: I was denied a promotion due to tribalism and nepotism.

Biggest regret: I missed a chance to further my studies and find my horizons in time.

One thing you cant give away: My family, my job, and my relationship with God.

Best advice ever: You are your greatest resource, keep going, and dont give up. This advice came from my father, who is my inspiration.
Adan Mohamed, the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of East African Community and Regional Development, fielded questions from the public via Sunday Nation.

Sir, even as Kenya races to make it easy to start and run businesses in the country, it could be that the government is sabotaging itself with a sustained high cost of electricity, corruption and a high tax regime which only gets worse. How do you intend to get to your destination with these factors unresolved, and probably only getting worse? Japhter Muriuki, Germany

The government has been increasing access to electricity and also reducing the cost of electricity through full implementation of the last mile connectivity programme, which on completion, is expected to affordably connect every household to the national power grid. It has also set up an industrial zone in Naivasha where cheap, green energy for industries is being made available for heavy industries.

Under the Ease of Doing Business agenda, the government has been automating and digitising a number of critical government services to the public, in effect reducing costs and improving revenue collection hence reducing wastage of public resources. A majority of services are now on digital platforms.

There are recent and ongoing initiatives on the tax front, such as simplified tax procedures through the i-Tax system. There is enhanced transparency by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and the National Treasury in ensuring a more predictable tax regime and the balance needed to provide crucial government services that call for sustainable tax collection vis-a-vis the prevailing tax rate, which is comparable to other jurisdictions in sub-Sahara Africa.

The government is currently the biggest domestic borrower, thereby locking out SMEs (small and medium enterprises) and other investors and making cost of credit very high. How has this affected the ease of doing business in the country? Given that this is a macro-economic problem, what measures has your team proposed to address the issue? Janerose Akumu, Nairobi

Access to finance is a critical enabler to doing business in every economy. Overall, the banking sector loan book to the private sector is in excess Sh3 trillion. You will also be pleased to note that due to our strong financial markets and groundbreaking initiatives such as the Movable Properties Securities Rights Act of 2016, which has enabled the use of movable assets to access credit, we have seen over Sh1.6 trillion so far on movable collateral credit registered by financial institutions.

The credit information sharing mechanism through Credit Reference Bureaus is another initiative that supports access to credit, as well as funding schemes by government targeting SMEs. We also have the recent credit guarantee scheme, among other key reforms implemented by the government in collaboration with the private sector.

You will be surprised to note that we are ranked fourth globally by the World Bank on access to credit. Of course, there is room to do more, especially for SMEs that are still viewed as riskier by lenders.

Bureaucracy is a hindrance to ease of doing business in this region. The sum total of this is the thriving and deep-rooted corruption that is manifested in various forms. What are you doing to address this menace, together with the multiplicity of fees, levies, charges and taxes on import and export of goods and services within the community? Dan Murugu, Nakuru

A lot has been done in the region to facilitate trade and reduce corruption. The implementation of the Single Customs Territory, for example, has enhanced the interconnectivity of customs systems leading to maximised efficiency.

The establishment of the One-Stop Border Posts (OSBPS) in the region has facilitated trade, movement of people, and improved security. In an OSBP, border crossing formalities are undertaken in one place by the regulatory agencies of adjoining jurisdictions. An OSBP eliminates the need for travellers and goods to stop twice at borders for border-crossing formalities.

On the elimination of non-tariff barriers (NTBs), the EAC has put in place mechanisms to report and resolve such barriers through the national monitoring committees and regional monitoring committees that meet quarterly.

On multiplicity of fees, levies, charges and taxes on imports and exports within the community, a regional task force has been formed to identify such fees and propose harmonisation or elimination.

Small businesses in this country are going through many challenges. Among the reforms initiated to improve the Ease of Doing Business in Kenya, what is the place of small businesses? Owen Muta, Nairobi

SMEs play an integral role in driving the economy of our country and the national government has made deliberate efforts to cater to this segment of businesses by undertaking various targeted initiatives.

The Ease of Doing Business Agenda is primarily meant for SMEs. For instance, the Companies Act of 2015 is targeted at single owner companies with few requirements, making them faster and efficient to set up. There have been numerous waivers of fees for SMEs such as court filing fees for commercial disputes of up to Sh1 million, National Construction Authority (NCA) fees, National Environmental Management Authority (Nema) fees, and land search and registration fees. The Judiciary has also established the Small Claims Courts tasked with resolving SME disputes within 60 days of filing in order to free up capital currently tied in disputes.

The Department of Business Reforms and Transformation remains available to receive more feedback and proposals on how it may better serve and impact SMEs.

From my random research on the Ease of Doing Business Reforms project, a lot of focus is on Nairobi, Kisumu, Mombasa and a few other counties with urban centres. Why is that the case, yet there are millions of other small businesses at county level that need to feel the difference? Grace Mburu, Lamu

The national government, under the Ease of Doing Business agenda, has adopted a phased approach in rolling out reforms in the country. In the current phase, reforms are being rolled out in the 10 counties of Garissa, Kakamega, Kajiado, Kisumu, Laikipia, Machakos, Mombasa, Nakuru, Nairobi and Uasin Gishu. The government will build on the successes and lessons learnt during this phase to roll out similar initiatives in other counties.

All the six Regional Development Authorities (RDAs) under your ministry have put a lot of focus on agriculture for food security enhancement. Even the dams they have constructed are meant to help with irrigation. Despite this, the impact of these RDAs across the country is hardly felt in so far as food security is concerned. What could be the problem? Jackton Mwamba, Kakamega

The river basins which define RDAs are endowed with various natural resources with huge potential. In exploiting the agriculture potential in Kenya, RDAs have developed small-scale and large-scale irrigation schemes in the Tana, Athi, Yala, Nyando and Nzoia river basins. Irrigation schemes developed by RDAs include Yala, Wei Wei, Napuu, Tana Delta, Kimira-Oluch, Challa, Chakama and Boji. These projects have increased irrigated areas across the regions and enhanced food security.

In manufacturing, RDAs made a concerted effort in promoting value addition to minimise wastage and increase the quality of products and their shelf life. Among value addition projects implemented by RDAs are rice milling, mango and honey processing, leather manufacturing and tomato processing.

The proposal to admit the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to the EAC has been in the works for some time now. How is Kenya going to benefit from this expanded membership? Is the volatile nature of that country likely to have adverse effects? Komen Moris, Eldoret

The admission of DRC into EAC will be of mutual benefit for the existing EAC Partner States and DRC. This is because the two sides are already cooperating in various fields, including cross-border movement, trade and transport. Indeed all the EAC Partner States, except Kenya, share a border with DRC. For Kenya, DRC is a significant trading partner. Kenya exports products worth over Shh14 billion annually to DRC. If DRC is admitted into EAC, there is a high potential for growth in this trade under the EAC Customs Union which allows free movement of goods among members. In addition, Kenya will benefit from importation of cheap products from DRC.

On stability issues, joining EAC will significantly contribute to the ongoing initiatives under other regional and international bodies including the African Union. Ensuring peace and stability will open up the economy for development initiatives.

All the East African Community (EAC) partner states belong to more than one regional trading block with varying customs measures. At the same time, Kenya recently signed the Economic Partnership Agreement with the United Kingdom to the exclusion of other EAC member states. How are all these affecting the implementation of the EAC Common External Tariff, and generally the integration within the EAC? Doris Wambua, Isinya

EAC is a Customs Union and trade among the Partner States flows tariff-free, and regardless of which country in either Partner State imports a product, the same tariff is paid and this is what is called EAC Common External Tariff. As a Customs Union all customs measures are uniform and have been agreed upon. It is practically impossible to belong to more than one Customs Union.

All Partner States belong to other regional trading blocs but they are Free Trade Areas (FTAs) and Common External Tariff is not applicable. For example, if SADC member country imports a product from SADC and Kenya imports the same product from COMESA the Customs duty not need to be same. Kenya recently signed the Economic Partnership Agreement between Kenya and the United Kingdom and the agreement is largely similar to the EAC-EU- EPA and does not conflict the EAC Common External Tariff.

It has always been remarked that true leadership is brought to the fore during moments of crisis. When Covid-19 struck in 2020, the dysfunction of EAC was exposed and indeed trade came to a standstill. Sir, what lessons did your Ministry pick from the crisis? How can the situation be remedied in the future? Komen Moris, Eldoret

The Covid-19 pandemic indeed disrupted the international trade chains for both goods and services in a manner that had not been experienced before. The test for countries that are ports of entry for land-linked countries was even greater as it placed an obligation on these countries to ensure that supply chains especially for essentials such as health supplies and food, kept flowing. This required well-coordinated response plans that enhanced trust that the market will supply essentials and that imports did not pose health risks.

Key lessons that will support sustainable mitigation going forward include:

Enhanced dialogue and coordinated response among partner states to manage and prevent tensions and reduce mobility restrictions for essential goods and service providers.

Development of strong and transparent information bases on national responses plans that keep transnational trade flowing without imposing new restrictions.
According to information published by the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) on August 21, 2021, Klewang-class fast attack craft KRI Golok was launched by PT Lundin Industry Invest.

Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link

KRI Golok-388 Trimaran (Picture source: Twitter account of Jatosint)

KRI Golok-688 Trimaran has a length of 62.53 meters, a width of 16 meters, a draft of 18.7 meters, a weight of 53.1 tons. A maximum speed of 28 knots and a cruising speed of 16 knots.

Klewang-class fast attack craft is the futuristic design and stealth wave-piercing trimaran carbon fast attack craft made by PT Lundin Industry Invest. The class is also armed with Type 730 CIWS and four C-705 surface-to-surface missiles and she is capable of carrying 25 crew members.

Type 730 is a Chinese seven-barrelled 30 mm Gatling gun CIWS. It has a PLA Navy designation H/PJ12. It is mounted in an enclosed automatic turret and directed by radar, and electro-optical tracking systems. The maximum rate of fire is 5800 rd/m, and the effective range is up to 3 km.

North Sea Boats is an international boat building company specialized in building craft for military, law enforcement, SAR, commercial, and high-performance applications. The company has a presence in Sweden, Singapore, and Indonesia, with its headquarters located at Banyuwangi, East Java, Indonesia. North Sea Boats was founded in 2003 by John and Lizza Lundin as a trading name for PT Lundin Industry Invest.
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Auburn students are invited to submit questions in advance of A Conversation with Nick Cave. The internationally renowned sculptor, performance artist and artist is coming to the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art at Auburn University on Thursday, Sept. 9.

Students can send in questions at aub.ie/ask and register for the event at aub.ie/cave. The program begins at 6 p.m. with a light reception and concludes at 8 p.m. Auditorium seating is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis.

His engagement is presented in conjunction with Crafting America, organized by the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas. On view through Sunday, Sept. 12, the exhibition features 90-plus works of contemporary craft from 1940 to the present, including one of Caves Soundsuits.

Submitted by: Charlotte Hendrix
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Taneshia W. Albert has been changing perspectives all her life.

She convinced her family that interior design was a better career choice for her than being an attorney. She persuaded contractors and architects to consider her expertise and, together, they reshaped a New Orleans hospital ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. After consulting for a Black-owned architectural firm in St. Louis, she was inspired to enter academia and encourage young people to reflect their power and value in their designs.

To me, teaching is an extension of practice, said Albert, an assistant professor of interior design in Auburns College of Human Sciences. Good design helps you be more of who you are, and I want to make our students more capable than they think they are. That is my purpose.

They are my little social justice warriors, and they are going to go out and make our world better.

The American Society of Interior Designers, or ASID, has taken notice of Alberts career and named her to its 2021 Ones to Watch program award winners, an honor bestowed on only 20 interior design professionals. She is one of only two academics on the list and one of eight award winners to be recognized as a Ones to Watch Scholar.

Albert, who came to Auburn in 2019, called it an amazing honor and insane to be recognized by ASID and even crazier to be on its Scholars List. The distinction means she gets to participate in a two-year leadership development training program.

According to ASID, scholars first learn to leverage and embrace their unique perspectives and backgrounds to excel in their careers, and then transition to thought leaders and subject matter experts by creating learning content and serving as mentors to the next class of ASID Ones to Watch Scholars.

Albert is the first person at Auburn to earn the recognition since ASID started the program in 2017.

Its a great thing for them to do, but I dont see myself as a leader. And in academia? What? It cant be, said a positively skeptical Albert.

But then a grateful Albert realized the Ones to Watch program is meant to recognize industry professionals who, as ASID says, represent authenticity, innovation, leadership, inclusion and a dedication to the profession. The society prioritizes participants whose backgrounds are currently under-represented in management roles within the interior design industry, including women, members of racial and ethnic minority groups, LGBTQ and persons with disabilities.

I am pleased to see that a professional design organization is telling others to open their eyes and see us, said Albert. Its great for ASID to recognize and lift us up.

Its what Pam [Ulrich] and the Auburn interior design faculty do for me now.

Giving credit

Albert gives much credit to her new colleagues, most of whom she has only known for two years, one of which was under quarantine because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

She was well-acquainted with one person, however. Lindsay Tan, the W. Allen and Martha Reimer Reed Associate Professor, met Albert when the two were in the same masters program at Florida State University.

The pair have collaborated on research projects for some time, including their recent work on the Slave House on Goree Island, which was published in the Journal of Interior Design.

Albert had met some of the faculty at a conference not long ago. Although she remembered feeling instant chemistry with them, she didnt consider joining their team.

However, after much prodding from Tan, Albert applied. When she interviewed with Ulrich, head of the Department of Consumer and Design Sciences in the College of Human Sciences, she told her she should not hire her.

Albert confessed to being a difficult employee, who is hard to manage because she will push her students and herself.

I cannot sit still. My eight hours every day have to matter for something, she said. I work and think at a different pace, and I wont take no for an answer. Some may find that hard to handle.

Turns out, that kind of resolve is a trait Albert was born with and one Auburn is happy to have.

Pride of the family

Albert grew up in California after her family left the south region as part of the Great Black Migration. At seven years old, she was certain she would grow up to be a lawyer. She said she knew the U.S. Constitution and legal jargon, unlike the rest of her peers, because she spent much time after school at the law school library in the Oak Park region of Sacramento.

With the familys approval, Albert worked hard in school and decided to attend Dillard University back in New Orleans. She studied international business, Spanish, public policy and finance.

During her junior year, Albert participated in a fellowship program with the Institute for International Public Policy, a part of the United Negro College Fund Special Programs Corporation, so she could work as an international corporate attorney, helping Spanish-speaking countries get out of debt.

The program is aimed at addressing minority and diversity recruitment in global affairs.

Between time at Clark Atlantic University and the University of Maryland, Albert had a revelation.

It really did start me thinking about policy, how it relates to everything, even design, she said. It changed my life.

When Albert studied abroad in Spain, she first recognized the connection between architecture and the self, and how design could connect with a community. This convinced her to pursue interior design.

Albert graduated from Dillard as planned in 2005becoming the first person in her family to become a college graduatebut her future would no longer involve the law.

She joked that her decision did not exactly sit well with the family. They considered it foolish to give up a promising legal career to fluff pillows for the rest of your life, she said.

Albert would eventually prove them wrong, but with a college degree and no job, she was not sure how to start this new journey.

Changing plans

Fortunately, she found a program at Florida State that helped people without a bachelors degree in interior design acquire an advanced degree in the discipline. The program no longer exists, but it helped Albert earn a Master of Fine Arts in interior design.

By the time she finished, Albert was married with a child. Another degree and no job, she stayed at FSU and volunteered for no pay, helping the leasing department convert old drawings into computer-assisted design. She would also assist the design and construction area of the facilities department.

Eventually, because of the quality of work she did, they created a paid-contract position for her. The experience led to a full-time interior design position at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.

Albert later returned to New Orleans as an interior designer at Ochsner Health Systems, working on their largest project at the timemoving their womens and infant services to Ochsner Baptist Hospital, which was still significantly damaged from Hurricane Katrina.

She worked together with hospital staff, construction workers and local architects to establish a facility that met the varying needs of staff, patients and visitors. They even established an alternative birthing unit in the Orleans Parish hospital.

Albert said she learned about everything in the hospitalfrom anesthesia to surgical units to where bodies and supplies are storedto be the best designer possible.

A construction document is essential, but do the plans work? A half of a second in a space like this can be the difference between life or death, she said.

I was hired to see it all.

Albert was primed to utilize the new birthing unit herself, but about a month and a half before her second child was born, the family moved to St. Louis, Missouri. A firm had recruited her to be a design director.

That move lasted about 18 months, when a former FSU professor and mentor encouraged Albert to apply for a teaching job at Illinois State University in Bloomington-Normal. Just as she accepted the new role, she joined WA Architects Inc. in St. Louis as a consultant.

Albert worked for the Black-owned firm until the assistant professor job started and beyond. She said the experience opened her eyes further to the struggles of Black architects and designers than any experience she had.

I hadnt seen lot of Black architects or designers before, not even in school, she recalled. It was really amazing to work at WA and see others like me.

WA Principal Wade Price became an unknowing mentor, encouraging Albert to explore the design and architecture of St. Louis and learn what had been done by those who came before her.

It was everything for me to learn from him, she said. You dont think about yourself in design until someone tells you to think about yourself, your cultural background and how it pushes your design perspective. You also realize how alone you are until you are no longer the only one.

In the classroom

Albert may have felt a little out of place teachingshe had some experience as a graduate teaching assistantbut she relied on her personal and professional experience to inspire her students to be competent and capable in their work.

My job as an educator is not to shove stuff down their throats, but to help them build their toolbox, she said.

Albert had moved to St. Louis several months before Michael Brown, an unarmed Black teen, was shot and killed by a white police officer in nearby Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014. The incident was still on her mind when she began teaching in 2016.

I encouraged my students to open their eyes and see the world around them, she said.

Albert was again challenged when she was faced with the death of her mother in 2016 and mother-in-law two years later. She coped by remembering all the strong Black women who supported her in her life and used their wisdom to inspire others.

Albert came to realize that, besides many strong Black women, there were certain people throughout her career whose mentorship shaped her into the woman she is today. As part of the Ones to Watch program, Albert will be a mentee and a mentor.

I believe in mentorship, she said. Right now, Veena [Chattaraman] is my mentor. She is everything I want to be when I grow up.

Chattaraman is a colleague and professor with the apparel merchandising, design and production management program in the Department of Consumer and Design Sciences.

She is shaping my career, making me stronger and stronger in academia, Albert said. If I can do for someone else what she has done for me, then I can sleep well at night.
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Specialists from the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicines Southeastern Raptor Center and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources were on hand Friday at Pyne Road Park on West Point Lake near LaGrange, Georgia, to release a young bald eagle rehabilitated at the center.

The eagle, which hatched in early spring, was transferred to the raptor center in April after being found on the ground near Keysville, Georgia. For unknown reasons, it did not fare well once it fledged from the nest. Slightly underweight on its arrival at Auburn, the eagle was also diagnosed with internal parasites.

While at the center, the young raptor was housed with an adult bald eagle to help it learn natural behaviors. During its rehabilitation, it was treated for parasites, passed all its flight tests and was medically cleared by veterinary clinician Dr. Seth Oster as ready to return to the wild.

The Southeastern Raptor Center sees a larger influx of young, rescued birds in the spring, particularly nestlings or fledglings, according to Stephanie Kadletz, a raptor rehabilitation specialist at the center. On average, she said, the center admits approximately 50 orphaned or injured nestling or fledgling raptors each year and more than 350 total raptors annually from across Mississippi, Georgia and Alabama.

The centers mission is to rehabilitate and release injured and orphaned raptors when possible, educate the public about these magnificent birds of prey and research raptor-related issues. Approximately 35% of the raptors brought annually to the center are rehabilitated and released back into their natural habitats.

According to Dr. Bob Sargent, a program manager with Georgia DNRs Wildlife Resources Division, this eagle release is another important milestone in the gradual recovery of the bald eagle population in Georgia.

In 2015, surveys recorded more than 200 active bald eagle nest territories in the state, a remarkable improvement from the 1970s when no successful nests were recorded, and a testament to the importance of banning the use of DDT pesticide in the U.S. and protecting the species under the Endangered Species Act, Sargent said. However, the bald eagle is still listed as threatened by the state of Georgia because of its rarity and other factors, so there is still work to be done.

Along with habitat improvements, nest monitoring and legal protections, the availability of veterinary and rehabilitation services for injured eagles is a vital part of eagle conservation efforts. The raptor center at Auburn serves an essential role in this respect and consequently is an especially valuable partner with the DNR.

The juvenile eagle was released at West Point Lake because the lake supports a population of eagles throughout the year, especially during the hot summer months.

It will be able to hone its hunting skills by observing other eagles, Sargent said. Additionally, West Point Lake is relatively close to Auburn, so this minimized potential travel-related stress.

Kadletz said the Southeastern Raptor Center team is honored to have this opportunity to work with Georgia DNR to give injured, ill and orphaned raptors a second chance at living a full life back in the wild.

Its a privilege to continue to contribute to the wild populations of raptors in Georgia and across the Southeast, said Kadletz, part of the team that helped ready the bald eagle for release. Its especially important with such species as the majestic bald eagle that was once endangered in the U.S.

(Written by Mike Jernigan)
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Alleged Ukrainian spy arrested in Russias Tula

 RAPSI

10:51 23/08/2021

MOSCOW, August 23 (RAPSI)  A citizen of Ukraine has been arrested in Russias town of Tula on suspicion of collecting classified information on advanced weapons, the Federal Security Services (FSB) press service reports.

According to the FSB, the foreigner ordered by Ukraines intelligence services searched for individuals with access to state secrets working at Russian defense enterprises and attempted to recruit them in order to receive secret information on the development of rifle armament.

A criminal case over espionage is launched against him.
Fifteen sentences overturned by Russian Supreme Court in first half of 2021

 RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov

11:43 23/08/2021

MOSCOW, August 23 (RAPSI)  The Supreme Court of Russia overturned sentences against fifteen convicts in the first six months of this year, the courts press service told RAPSI on Monday.

Eleven cases were sent to reconsideration including ten guilty verdicts and one acquittal. One sentence was overturned on exonerative grounds and another one was reversed on other grounds. Sentences against two more persons were vacated and returned to prosecutors. Rulings to drop criminal proceedings for reasons other than exoneration were overturned as two four persons.

Sentences against forty-three individuals were changed, charges against three people were changed with further mitigation of punishment, also sentences against forty persons were softened. Moreover, verdicts of guilty were overturned with the return of cases to prosecutors against 6 persons due to new or newly discovered circumstances, the statement reads.

Also, the highest instance overturned appeal ruling against ten people.




Pskov court to hand down ruling in case over locals murders during WWII

 RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov

12:06 23/08/2021

MOSCOW, August 23 (RAPSI)  The Pskov Regional Court is to hear oral arguments and proclaim the judicial disposition of the decision in a genocide case over the massacres of civilians committed in the region by the Nazis during the Great Patriotic War, RAPSI has been told in the courts press service.

The hearing concerning recognition of newly revealed crimes committed during the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 on the territory of the Pskov and Velikiye Luki (from 02.10.1957 - Pskov) regions by unidentified persons from among the Nazi criminals and traitors against the civilian population and prisoners of war as war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide is scheduled for August 26, 2021 at 10 o'clock, the press service said in a statement.

Within the framework of the No Statute of Limitations project, in July - October 2020, mass graves of civilians and prisoners of war perished during the Great Patriotic War were discovered on the territory of the Pskov region. During the war, these areas were under German occupation.

During the occupation of the Pskov region by the Nazis and their accomplices, 42,537 civilian Soviet citizens were shot, 776 were hanged, 7,629 people died as a result of torture or were burned alive, 329,455 Soviet prisoners of war were exterminated, the Prosecutor General's Office has noted earlier.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin's Regular Press Conference on August 23, 2021

2021/08/23

CCTV: The Chinese side said that there are still a few Chinese citizens in Afghanistan. Are they in safe situation?

Wang Wenbin: China pays great attention to the safety of Chinese institutions and personnel in Afghanistan. At present, the Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan is working normally. Most of the Chinese citizens in Afghanistan have returned home under the arrangement of the embassy. The embassy maintains close contact with the few individuals who choose to stay there, instructing them to enhance security awareness and precautions and coordinates with relevant parties in Afghanistan to provide security guarantee in earnest.

The Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan has issued several safety alerts recently. For Chinese citizens in Afghanistan who have not yet touched base with the embassy, please inform the embassy of their address, itinerary, and the contact information of themselves as well as their relatives in China. Detailed information can be found on the homepage of the Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan.

AP: As Vice President of the US Kamala Harris is in Singapore and Vietnam this week, and some Chinese state media have written some editorials about it. I wonder if you could tell us what China's thinking is and do you have any comment on her visit to Southeast Asia?

Wang Wenbin: We always hold that exchanges between countries should be conducive to promoting mutual trust, and peace and stability in the region and the world at large.

Associated Press of Pakistan: Afghan Taliban spokesman said that they will soon announce a government framework. Do you have any comment on that?

Wang Wenbin: We noted relevant report. China's position on Afghan issue is consistent and clear. We hope that Afghanistan will form an open, inclusive, and broadly representative government, adopt moderate and prudent domestic and foreign policies and conform to the aspiration of its people and the common expectation of the international community.

Shenzhen TV: According to reports, US Secretary of State Blinken in a phone call with Lithuanian Foreign Minister Landsbergis on August 21 underscored ironclad US solidarity with its NATO ally, and its firm support of Lithuania in the face of China's coercive behavior. Does China have any comment?

Wang Wenbin: The ins and outs of the diplomatic spat between China and Lithuania are very clear. I would like to reiterate that China has the right to respond with resolute and necessary actions to provocative moves that seriously infringe upon China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

I also have this solemn message for the US: China won't coerce any country and won't be coerced by any country, either. The US had better keep the label of "coercive diplomacy" for itself.

Global Times:It is reported that, on August 20, the UK and the US imposed sanctions on Russian intelligence operatives and relevant agencies that are suspected of poisoning of Navalny. On the same day, the US Government announced to slap sanctions on one Russian vessel and two Russian individuals involved in the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. Do you have any comment?

Wang Wenbin: Regarding the the issue of Navalny, China has stated the position that it is entirely Russia's domestic affair on multiple occasions. It is unfair for the relevant parties to presume guilt of the Russian side before investigating thoroughly for the truth. Still less should they impose unilateral sanctions with presumption of guilt.

As for the Nord Stream 2 project, the US side slapped unreasonable sanctions on normal cooperation between two sovereign states under its domestic law. What the US has done tramples on international law and the basic norms governing international relations, and fully exposes the long-term hegemonic mentality and bullying practice of the US side, which will gain no support and surely face rejection by the international community.

Bloomberg: In an interview, Afghanistan's exiled central bank chief Ajmal Ahmady said that Taliban may try to go to other countries such as China and Pakistan for financing to replace the US. Does China plan to provide financing?

Wang Wenbin: I want to stress that the US, the important perpetrator and the biggest external factor of the Afghan issue, should not simply walk away. The US side repeatedly and explicitly pledged to help Afghanistan to maintain stability, forestall turbulence, and promote peace and reconstruction. However, we have seen continued reports about the insincere, dishonest and unscrupulous acts of the US side. We hope that the US will match its words with deeds, and shoulder its due responsibility in Afghan issue, and honor its pledge to assist Afghanistan in areas including development and reconstruction, and humanitarian assistance.

China always pursues a friendly policy toward the entire Afghan people. For a long time, China has provided much assistance in economic and social development in Afghanistan. China hopes to see an early end to turbulence and restoration of economic and financial order in Afghanistan. China stands ready to continue to play an active role in promoting peace and reconstruction in Afghanistan, and helping the nation to enhance the ability to achieve self-development and improve people's livelihood.

Beijing Daily: It is reported that more than 20 Asian-American groups in the US sent a joint letter to the US President Joe Biden on August 19, urging the administration to pause the China Initiative implemented by the Justice Department. They stated that the initiative was said to be carried out to investigate and prosecute trade secret theft and economic espionage activities, but in fact subjects Asian immigrants, particularly scientists of Chinese descent to "racial profiling, surveillance and wrongful prosecutions". Does the Foreign Ministry have any comment?

Wang Wenbin: We noted relevant reports. Previously, the US media revealed that the so-called China Initiative unfairly placed targets first, and carried out investigation accordingly. Such acts, in total disregard of judicial justice, will only result in wrongful convictions. Facts have proven that the China Initiative implemented by the former US administration, is in essence a tool for a handful anti-China politicians to abuse the concept of national security and go all out to contain and suppress China. It not only exerts severe impact on China-US relations, but also exacerbates racial discrimination in the US, severely harming Asian-American groups.

The US should earnestly correct its above-mentioned wrong practices, and stop perceiving China as an imaginary enemy, stop making up excuses to slander and suppress China, and stop interfering in normal exchanges and cooperation between China and the US in areas such as science and technology, and people-to-people exchanges.

AFP: Does the foreign ministry have any response to news that Nicholas Burns has been appointed the US ambassador to China?

Wang Wenbin: We noted relevant reports that the US president Joe Biden nominated Nicholas Burns, former Under Secretary of State, to serve as the US ambassador to China. China hopes that the newly nominated US ambassador to China will work for the friendship and cooperation between China and the US, and play a constructive role in promoting sound and steady development of our bilateral relations.

Beijing Youth Daily: The fifth China-Arab States Expo concluded yesterday. Could you talk about the outcomes as well as the significance of this event?

Wang Wenbin: The China-Arab States Expo is an important platform for joint efforts by China and Arab states to advance the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Altogether 50 foreign guests including the Moroccan Prime Minister, Kazakhstan's First Deputy Prime Minister, Tunisian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad, the UAE's Minister of State for Foreign Trade, and Assistant Secretary-General at the League of Arab States (LAS) addressed the 4-day event through recorded messages or video link. The expo saw 277 deals worth an approximate total of 156.67 billion yuan inked, ranging from electronic information, clean energy, new materials, green food, capacity cooperation, "Internet plus health care" and tourism cooperation. These attest to the vibrant China-Arab cooperation to pursue common development, safeguard peace and development, deliver mutual benefits, and promote the high-quality BRI development.

President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter as the event opened. It fully demonstrates that China attaches great importance to developing China-Arab strategic partnership, which injects confidence and impetus into our joint efforts to forge ahead and create a bright future together.

Since the establishment of a future-oriented strategic partnership of comprehensive cooperation and common development between China and Arab states over three years ago, the two sides have expanded cooperation to more areas and reaped more tangible outcomes. Trade between the two sides reached nearly $240 billion in 2020, which makes China Arab countries' largest trading partner. China has signed BRI cooperation documents with 19 Arab states as well as the LAS. Work and production at key China-Arab BRI projects is being resumed in an orderly manner. Cooperation in high tech areas like 5G, big data, AI, space and aviation is burgeoning. Chinese products, technologies and standards are being recognized more and more in the region. Working hand in hand, China and Arab countries have built the highest skyscraper in Africa, the world's largest solar thermal power plant, and the first Middle East's cleanest coal-fired power plant, among other achievements. The two sides also signed the Cooperation Initiative on Data Security, contributing to the formulation of global digital economic rules.

In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Arab countries have fought should to shoulder, becoming an exemplar of mutual assistance in difficult times. At the expo, delegates spoke highly of how China and Arab countries share weal and woe in the fight against the pandemic. To date, China has shipped nearly 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Arab states in the form of assistance or exports. We are working with the countries including UAE and Egypt in joint filling and production of vaccines. In the post-pandemic era, China and Arab countries will continue to deepen investment cooperation in health sectors including medical supplies procurement and joint vaccine production to boost regional countries' efforts to overcome the virus and revitalize their economies.

The two sides agreed in July 2021 to hold the inaugural China-Arab summit. China stands ready to work together with Arab countries for a successful summit and make sure the China-Arab community with a shared future can take root, contributing more to fostering a community with a shared future for mankind.

Bloomberg: An attack on a convoy of vehicles carrying Chinese nationals in southwest Pakistan claimed the lives of two children and injured three others including a Chinese national. Protests have also broken out in Pakistan over the weekend of last week over China's presence in the region. Does the foreign ministry have any comment?

Wang Wenbin: On August 20, a motorcade of the Gwadar East Bay Expressway project was attacked by a bomber on the way to the construction site. One Chinese national suffered minor injuries, and multiple local personnel were injured or killed. China is shocked by and condemns this incident, mourns for the Pakistani personnel killed in the attack, expresses sympathy to their families and the injured, and urges the Pakistani side to hold the perpetrators accountable as soon as possible and severely punish them. The Pakistani side has properly treated the wounded Chinese national, and expressed that all-out effort will be taken to ensure the security of the Chinese personnel and projects. China will continue to work with the Pakistani side, to jointly counter the threats of terrorism and earnestly protect the safety of Chinese personnel, institutions and projects in Pakistan.

Terrorism is a common enemy for mankind. China firmly opposes using terrorism to seek geopolitical gains by any force, and calls on regional countries to work together to eradicate all terrorist groups to safeguard security and development interests of all countries.

As for the protests you mentioned, what you said is not in line with facts.

The Paper: Lately there has been much attention on the University of North Carolina's biological laboratory and Professor Ralph Baric, known as the "Coronavirus Hunter", especially Baric's advanced technique in artificial synthesis of coronaviruses, the UNC lab's poor safety records and the unusual cooperative relations between Baric and Fort Detrick. Does China have any comment on this?

Wang Wenbin: For quite some time, the US has been persistently hyping up the so-called "Wuhan Institute of Virology lab leak theory" in disregard of the conclusion in the WHO-China study report that "a laboratory origin of the pandemic was considered to be extremely unlikely". It has gone so far as to ask the intelligence community to fabricate a so-called report on origins investigation. However, the US cannot whitewash itself by smearing China. The US keeps alleging that the virus came from a lab leak, but actually, no one merits a proper investigation more than the US.

First, the US was the first to start research in recombinant virus and possesses unrivalled strength in this area. It has also funded and conducted more research in coronaviruses than any other country. According to reports, Professor Baric started researching recombinant coronaviruses back in 1990. His team has long acquired and honed the capability to recombine and modify coronaviruses. Baric said in an interview with Italian media outlet PresaDiretta in September 2020 that "it is possible to engineer a virus without leaving a trace". Therefore, an investigation into Baric's team and lab is all it takes to clarify whether coronavirus research can create or has created novel coronavirus.

Second, the US also has the world's worst bio-lab safety records. From January 2015 to June 2020, the UNC reported 28 lab incidents involving genetically engineered organisms to the NIH. Six of these incidents involved coronaviruses including SARS, MERS and novel coronavirus, many of which had undergone genetic engineering. Altogether 8 researchers may have got infected. A scientist underwent 14 days of self-quarantine at home after a mouse bite caused potential exposure to a strain of SARS-CoV-2 in April 2020. Other than that, all staff who were faced with potential infection went on with their work and life as usual. Besides, key details like the nature of the genetic modifications and how the incidents were handled were deliberately removed from the incident reports.

Baric has close collaboration with the two institutes that engage in research involving high-risk viruses and coronaviruses at Fort Detrick, the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), and the Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick (IRF-Frederick). His rich coronavirus resources and modification technique have been widely used at Fort Detrick through such cooperation. However, in the fall of 2019 before the outbreak of COVID-19, Fort Detrick-based USAMRIID's research was temporarily shut down after a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) investigation found serious safety incidents there.

The US has been going to great lengths to try to prove that the novel coronavirus was leaked from the WIV. However, WHO experts have paid two visits there and concluded that a lab leak from a Wuhan lab is extremely unlikely. I wonder when the US plans to invite WHO experts to investigate the UNC bio-lab and USAMRIID? We suggest that the US stop slinging mud at others and instead find out what happened in its own labs first.
The findings of a new study by the University of Liverpool provides further evidence of an approximately 200-million-year long cycle in the strength of the Earth's magnetic field.

Researchers performed thermal and microwave (a technique which is unique to the University of Liverpool) paleomagnetic analysis on rock samples from ancient lava flows in Eastern Scotland to measure the strength of the geomagnetic field during key time periods with almost no pre-existing, reliable data. The study also analysed the reliability of all of the measurements from samples from 200 to 500 million years ago, collected over the last ~80 years.

They found that between 332 and 416 million years ago, the strength of the geomagnetic field preserved in these rocks was less than quarter of what it is today, and similar to a previously identified period of low magnetic field strength that started around 120 million years ago. The researchers have coined this period "the Mid-Palaeozoic Dipole low (MPDL)."

Published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the study supports the theory that the strength of the earth's magnetic field is cyclical, and weakens every 200 million years, an idea proposed by a previous study lead by Liverpool in 2012. One of the limitations at the time was the lack of reliable field strength data available prior to 300 million years ago, so this new study fills in an important time gap.

The Earth's magnetic field shields the planet from huge blasts of deadly solar radiation. It is not completely stable in strength and direction, both over time and space, and has the ability to completely flip or reverse itself with substantial implications.

Deciphering variations in past geomagnetic field strength is important as it indicates changes in deep Earth processes over hundreds of millions of years and could provide clues as to how it might fluctuate, flip or reverse in the future.

A weak field also has implications for life on our planet. A recent study has suggested that the Devonian-Carboniferous mass extinction is linked to elevated UV-B levels, around the same as the weakest field measurements from the MPDL.

Liverpool palaeomagnetist and lead author of the paper, Dr Louise Hawkins, said: "This comprehensive magnetic analysis of the Strathmore and Kinghorn lava flows was key for filling in the period leading up the Kiman Superchron, a period where the geomagnetic poles are stable and do not flip for about 50 million years.

"This dataset compliments other studies we have worked on over the last few years, alongside our colleagues in Moscow and Alberta, that fit between the ages of these two locations.

"Our findings, when considered alongside the existing datasets, supports the existence of an approximately 200-million-year long cycle in the strength of the Earth's magnetic field related to deep Earth processes. As almost all of our evidence for processes within the Earth's interior is being constantly destroyed by plate tectonics, the preservation of this signal for deep inside the Earth is exceedingly valuable as one of the few constraints we have.

"Our findings also provide further support that a weak magnetic field is associated with pole reversals, while the field is generally strong during a Superchron, which is important as it has proved nearly impossible to improve the reversal record prior to ~300 million years ago."

The research is part of the University's Determining Earth Evolution from Palaeomagnetism (DEEP) group that brings together research expertise across geophysics and geology to develop palaeomagnetism as a tool for understanding deep Earth processes occurring across timescales of millions to billions of years.

Top talent departs Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin as NASA lander fight escalates https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/20/jeff-bezos-blue-origin-losing-top-talent-during-nasa-lander-fight.html

DEEP is based in the University's world class Geomagnetism Laboratory and supported through the Leverhulme Trust and the Natural Environment Research Council.

The paper ` Intensity of the Earth's magnetic field: evidence for a Mid-Paleozoic dipole low' (doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2017342118 ) is published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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Christian Parenting Network has a Podcast for Every Parent

With Over Two Million Downloads in Eleven Months, Christian Parenting Network Offers Practical Help and Spiritual Help for Parents



NEWS PROVIDED BY

Denison Ministries

Aug. 23, 2021



DALLAS, Aug. 23, 2021 /Standard Newswire/ -- With over two million downloads in less than one year since its creation, the Christian Parenting Podcast Network, a leading online resource for parents from ChristianParenting.org, offers a podcast for every parent.



Now featuring 16 shows with three more to release by December 2021, it all began with the well-known Pardon the Mess Podcast with Cynthia Yanof launched in 2015. After seeing the success of Pardon the Mess and the demand for more, Christian Parenting launched the Christian Parenting Podcast Network September 2020 with 13 shows including Living Wholehearted with Jeff and Terra Mattson, The Journey with Jonathan Pitts and The Boy Mom Podcast with Monica Swanson.



"The Christian Parenting Podcast Network curates the best parenting podcasts to help you leave perfection at the door and help you to become perfectly imperfect parent God has called you to be," said Christian Parenting spokesperson and cohost of the Living Wholehearted Podcast, Terra Mattson. "We have seen such incredible growth, just eleven months in to the network and have already surpassed the two million downloads mark."



With an active, engaged and loyal audience, the Christian Parenting Podcast Network of influence includes top-tier leaders in film, ministry and publishing  with support from such well-known names as Candace Cameron Bure, Jess Connolly and Ashley Abercrombie. The network will add three new shows before the year's end, including Raising Sinners (Sept. 2), Be Love. Do Good (Sept. 15), Turn It Over (Oct. 7).



"Wherever parents are in their parenting journey we want to come alongside them with resources offering practical help and spiritual encouragement," said Christian Parenting spokesperson and host of The Journey podcast, Jonathan Pitts. "We truly have a podcast for every parent and it's an honor to be apart of this network."



Christian Parenting is a ministry of Denison Ministries, which exists to create culture-changing Christians who are committed to advancing the kingdom through their sphere of influence.



Denison Ministries reaches 5.5 million Christians every month. Their audience is experiencing God through a daily devotional (First15.org), daily cultural commentary (DenisonForum.org), practical and spiritual parenting resources (ChristianParenting.org), and in depth studies of God's word (FoundationsWithJanet.org). https://www.christianparenting.org/podcasts/



SOURCE Denison Ministries



CONTACT: Katie Bell, katie@epic.inc


Dubai Industrial City has signed a strategic agreement with Emirates Development Bank (EDB) to provide innovative financing and banking solutions to small and medium-sized enterprises and support the growth of vital national industries.

Signed by Saud Abu Al-Shawareb, Managing Director of Dubai Industrial City, and Shaker Zainal, Head of Business Finance at EDB, the strategic agreement seeks to support Dubai Industrial Citys efforts to develop the industrial sector in Dubai and the UAE, provide new opportunities to attract local and international manufacturing companies, and offer financial solutions to develop state-of-the-art infrastructure, a WAM report said.

The agreement also aligns with EDBs continuous efforts to enable the industrial transformation and economic diversification agenda in the UAE, build a knowledge-based economy, increase global competitiveness and sustainable growth, and support startups and SMEs, which are key drivers of the national economy.

"Through this agreement with Dubai Industrial City, we will offer the right support to finance SMEs. We are always keen on cooperating with related entities, especially in terms of financing small and medium-sized enterprises, and we believe that this collaboration with one of the regions largest industrial hubs will help us reach potential customers and study the possibility of funding them. We will also work together on developing entrepreneurship and awareness programmes and sharing industrial knowledge," said Zainal.

Noting the role to be played by Dubai Industrial City, a member of Dubai Holding Asset Management, Al-Shawareb said: "Todays strategic partnership reaffirms our efforts to transform Dubai Industrial City into a world-class business destination for manufacturing and logistics. The partnership will galvanise our business community, unlock new investment opportunities, create skilled jobs and consolidate Dubais position as a business-friendly hub for trade and commerce.

With additional capital expenditure, we hope the SME sector will be empowered to play an even greater role in advancing the UAEs national industrial transformation and building a knowledge and innovation-based economy. We look forward to working in partnership with EDB on this imperative initiative."

Providing a convenient and cost-effective work environment for manufacturing and industrial activity, plans offer an enabling ecosystem, including industrial and commercial land, retail showrooms, warehouses, office buildings, open yard storage, and residential accommodations.

The site is also strategically located near Jebel Ali Port and Al Maktoum International Airport, providing an opportunity to reach two-thirds of the worlds population in eight hours.-- TradeArabia News service
DIFC-based Introspect Capital has received approval from the DFSA to conduct Financial Services through an Islamic Window.

Introspect Capital has also launched the Introspect Islamic Fund in order to provide Sharia-compliant professional investors with access to Introspects concentrated, absolute-return focused investment strategy.

The Sharia-compliant Fund invests in listed equities in the Middle East and North Africa, which are identified through a consistent, research-focused, bottom-up process.

Introspect Capital is an independent asset management firm based in Dubai, focused on investing in the Middle East and North Africa. It follows an absolute return, concentrated, bottom-up investment process, and since its launch, has been gaining new mandates and increased allocations from investors both across the region and internationally.

Were very excited to be entering the Islamic Finance space, commented Kareem Hamza, CEO and lead Portfolio Manager at Introspect. The demand for Islamic investment solutions is growing, and our licence endorsement and first Islamic fund demonstrate our commitment to offering competitive financial products to Sharia compliant investors.

Introspect Capital has partnered with Shariyah Review Bureau for the provision of Sharia governance of its Islamic business. Commenting on the partnership, Kareem said: "Joining forces with Shariyah Review Bureau, who are experts in their field and one of the largest scholarly platforms in the industry, supports our commitment to creating a truly Sharia compliant offering."

Shariyah Review Bureau supports firms by addressing Sharia governance challenges including the assignment of Sharia Boards, providing Sharia audit capabilities, and Islamic equity screening services. Equity funds can gain access to Islamic finance expertise through our Sharia advisory engagements, said Yasser S Dahlawi, CEO of Shariyah Review Bureau. Our approach allows us to respond to a growing need in the investment management space and we believe our offering of a deeply integrated scholarly network, with strong controls over certification and technical expertise in Sharia assurance, is unmatched, he said.

Commenting on the recent assignment with Introspect, he added: We look forward to working with Introspect by supervising their Islamic window operations and helping them maintain Sharia compliance successfully in the years to come.-- TradeArabia News Service
The first and second phases of Khasab port development project in Omans Governorate of Musandam have been completed at a cost of RO1.6 million ($4.14 million), reported Oman News Agency (ONA).



After converting part of the transport port to a fishing harbour, its area became 92,000 sq m, including the port basin with an area of more than 87,000 sq m, stated the report citing Juma Suleiman Al Shehhi, Head of Khasab Fishing Port.



The port provides an opportunity for the region's economic growth. It also facilitates the fishing profession for fishermen and provides all basic services and facilities, in addition to boosting the fish industries and related activities, said Al Shehhi.



The Khasab Port serves 2,100 local fishermen and the villages in the wilayat. It hosts 1,100 boats, 41 fishing vessels and 59 fish transport vehicles, he added.
Dake Rechsand, a Dubai-based company offering sustainable solutions in desert farming, plans to develop green cover in deserts using the innovative Miyawaki forest model and the companys ground-breaking technology: Breathable Sand.



Dake Rechsand has partnered with management consulting firm Investment Hub for a presentation, where sustainability advocates, thematic investors, and CSR-focused companies will be offered an opportunity to be part of a potential green revolution in the Middle East.



Developed by renowned Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, the eponymous model revolves around the regeneration of forests through shrubs, trees, and canopy layers; using a methodical approach involving soil analysis, resource analysis, and maintenance plan for the short term.



Following successful implementation, practitioners can achieve a green cover that is 30 times denser and grows 10 times faster than a typical meadow.



In addition, a matured Miyawaki forest boasts high survival rates, and can harbour 18 times more biodiversity, compared to the average achieved using conventional methods. These figures have been substantiated by more than 3,000 real-world instances of forests grown globally, using the Miyawaki model. However, due to arid climate, desert conditions, soil salinity, and water scarcity in the Middle East, this model was not considered feasible in the region; but this was before the emergence of Breathable Sand.



The water-retentive properties of Dake Rechsands Breathable Sand reduce irrigation requirements for optimal plant growth, by nearly 80%, when compared to conventional practices. At the same time, its air-permeability ensures sufficient oxygenation of roots; optimizing nutrient supply, and reducing the amount of fertilizer used. In fact, Breathable Sand has been used to successfully green around 2,000 sq km in one of the worlds most arid and hot deserts, in China.



Chandra Dake, CEO and Founder of Dake Rechsand said: The Miyawaki model holds the answers to some of the pressing issues in the Middle East, and the world at large. It will enable the sustainable expansion of green cover at a scale previously unimaginable. And, in doing so, it will make a massive contribution to offsetting GHG emissions, and addressing climate change. Our goal for this year is to plant 200,000 trees, and follow up with another two million trees by 2022.



With increased investor participation and multi-stakeholder engagement, we can scale up to ten million trees, which will have a profound effect on regional and global sustainability parameters.



The impact of a fully-matured Miyawaki forest is as follows:



 It has the potential to reduce local temperature by two degrees Celsius

 It can result in a noise reduction of 10dB

 A forest cover in an area of 5,000 square meters with 15,000 plants can absorb 300-350 tons of CO2 per year

 The CO2 absorption is 30 times compared to monoculture plantation, hence more lucrative for carbon trading



Roy Malmberg, Founder of Investment Hub, said: Dake Rechsands Ghaba drive, using the Miyawaki model, is an attractive alternative investment avenue, which has great long-term growth prospects. Investors have an option to buy the assets, retain direct ownership, generate carbon credits, and rake in returns; or diversify their holdings over time. With a rising ESG focus refashioning the portfolios of a rapidly growing segment of investors, this presentation is a particularly timely event, for the market.



The investor presentation, titled Ghaba: Miyawaki Forests can grow in deserts with Breathable Sand, is scheduled for September 8, at 18:00 CET, a company statement said.  TradeArabia News Service
Six students of Khalifa University (KU) have completed an innovative online internship programme coordinated by Japan International Cooperation Centre (JICE) with four leading Japanese companies in the fields of advanced science and technology.

The eight-week internships started on May 31, 2021, and focused on technologies and specialisations including advanced agriculture, machine learning and artificial intelligence.

The internship programme has been held since 2012 to promote industry-academia collaboration between Japanese companies and UAE universities through joint research. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the programme moved online for the first time to accommodate the needs of both students and companies, and to provide an alternative education stream when in-person study was not possible.

Participation in an eight-week internship is a graduation requirement for the university students, and the flexibility of the host companies and coordination by JICE meant that the students were able to fulfil all requirements through virtual participation.

Shihab Alfaheem, UAE Ambassador to Japan, commended both host companies and students. It is wonderful to have achieved the completion of online internships with leading Japanese organisations despite the pandemic, and I share my congratulations with all involved. I hope that more such opportunities will increase in the future to further enhance the cooperation between our two countries and encourage more learning opportunities, he said.

Despite being in an online format, the internships were structured to include hands-on experience and remote site tours, bringing the learning to life through interactive experiences.

20 highly talented students applied for the six available spots on this online programme, with four of the successful candidates being women.

One of the participants, Ms. Ayesha Mohamed Rashed Aldharif Alshamsi, a senior biomedical engineering major at Khalifa University, completed her internship with Mebiol Inc., a company specialising in advanced agricultural development, and thinks that it was a great experience. Before starting of the online programme, Mebiol sent a plant-friendly superabsorbent material to Ayesha in the UAE, and she successfully experimented with growing baby leaves with it.

Exchanging ideas with someone from a different cultural background and expertise helped me to learn more, and by exchanging ideas Mr. Hiroshi Yoshioka, President and Chief Executive Officer, I was able to see how Mebiols water retention technologies could be applied to great benefit in regular households in the UAE where water resources are limited, says Alshamsi.

Rawdha Hussain Ibrahim Mohamed Alhammadi, a senior computer engineering major at Khalifa University, also participated in the internship, focusing on 2D and 3D renderings and casual prediction for time series data at IHI Corporation, a comprehensive heavy-industry manufacturer based in Japan, specialising in four main areasResource, Energy and Environment; Social Infrastructure and Offshore Facilities; Industrial Systems and General-purpose Machinery; and Aero Engine, Space and Defence.

The eight-week internship programme provided me with a great opportunity to gain experience in the areas of machine learning and artificial intelligence, says Alhammadi. I was worried at first that I might not learn as much due to the programme being remote, but Riku Sakamoto, Researcher of Advanced Control and Intelligent Sensing from the Technology Platform Centre, held meetings with me almost daily along with constant reviews and guidance, and thanks to this I dont feel I missed anything.

If the Covid-19 situation continues to improve, there are hopes that it may be possible to coordinate a visit to Japan by the interns as a follow-up to the online programme.-- TradeArabia News Service
In a touching tribute to the UAEs frontline warriors, top Indian actor Mohanlal today (August 23) visited Abu Dhabi's Burjeel Medical City to personally meet the frontline warriors and convey his gratitude to them, especially the nurses for their relentless service in the fight against the coronavirus.

Last year, on International Nurses Day, he had called several nurses working in different emirates to commend them for their role in combating the pandemic.

During one such telephonic conversation with the actor, registered nurse Sonia Chacko had a special request. When are you coming to meet us in the UAE, Laletta? she had asked the Malayalam superstar who is fondly called Lalettan (Big brother) by his fans.

To which the actor had replied: "I will visit the frontliners, including you, once the pandemic is under control and the travel restrictions are eased."

A year later, Mohanlal has made good on his promise by visiting the nurses who have been bravely battling the pandemic from the frontlines.

The 15 nurses that he spoke to last year are thrilled to bits. While some of them travelled from Sharjah, Dubai and Al Ain to meet him, the others interacted with him on the big screen.

Chacko can barely contain her excitement. "When he called last year to wish me on International Nurses Day, I had requested him to meet us the next time he comes to the UAE. I cant believe my wish has come true. This is indeed a memorable occasion for all of us nurses. Such gestures inspire us and fill us with positivity," she said.

The actor interacted with the medical staff in an event organized by VPS Healthcare, which owns Burjeel Medical City. John Sunil, Regional Chief Executive Officer, Burjeel Hospitals, welcomed the actor to the event.

The actor, among the select few Indians who have been granted the UAEs Golden Visa, spent some time interacting with the nurses.

Lauding their service, Mohanlal said: "Nurses and doctors are the real heroes in these challenging times. I am happy that I could come here and greet you all. You have been dispensing an invaluable service to the community at a difficult time like this. I appreciate your courage and sacrifices and thank you from the bottom of my heart.

The actor also thanked Dr Shamsheer Vayalil, Chairman and Managing Director of VPS Healthcare, for inviting him to the event.

When registered nurse Sinu from Burjeel Royal Hospital, Al Ain, asked him how he handles work stress, he said: "This is my 44th year in movies. If you have commitment, gratitude, the fire to succeed and most importantly, the grace of God, you can overcome such pressures. I wish that all of you are abundantly blessed with these qualities."

For Maria Du Plooy, registered nurse at Burjeel Medical City, who had only heard of Mohanlal from her colleagues, meeting the actor was a special moment.

The superstar was impressed with the giant floral carpet that the organizers had readied for Onam along with another one made in his image.

Mohanlal concluded the session by saying that he hoped the situation would get better soon and that next years Onam festival could be celebrated in the usual manner.-TradeArabia News Service
Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of Abu Dhabis Etihad Aviation Group, has reclaimed 90 per cent of its pre-Covid destinations and recorded a 20% increase in tonnage compared to the same period in 2019.

The award-winning UAE carrier, which is looking to facilitate a global trade recovery and restore distribution confidence in international markets, currently services 72 network destinations across the Middle East, Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Its active fleet of 65 aircraft operate 430 weekly rotations, in addition to charter flights which service demand across non-network destinations.

Etihad Cargo has maintained network operations throughout the pandemic and provided appropriate capacity to cater for demand on key routes, which has resulted in a significant increase in tonnage being carried across the global network, explained Martin Drew, Senior Vice President Sales & Cargo, Etihad Aviation Group.

The commitment to expanding operations and provision of additional support to customers where there have been capacity shortages has seen Etihad Cargo carrying more on fewer routes than pre-pandemic. During the coming months, capacity growth is expected to continue, supported by the reintroduction of Etihad Airways passenger flights.

In the past month, Etihad Airways introduced flights to Malaga, Mykonos, Santorini, Phuket and Vienna, providing additional belly-hold capacity between Europe and Asia.

Charter operations and a cabin loading initiative  which saw the carrier modify five of its Boeing 777 aircraft by removing seats to provide additional capacity on key routes such as Dhaka and Ho Chi Minh City  have enabled the Abu Dhabi-based carrier to service increased Asian demand.

Record loads have recently been achieved on a number of Asian flights, including more than 58,000 kg from Dhaka and 52,000 kg from Ho Chi Minh, added Drew. These loads, with increased capacity enabled by cabin loading, were bound for Middle Eastern and European destinations via Etihad Cargos Abu Dhabi hub  a clear demonstration of the carriers determination to continue facilitating a global trade recovery.

Year-to-date, Etihad Cargo has operated over 200 charter flights to 30 destinations not serviced through its network, 20 per cent of which were on behalf of the UAE Government. Since January 2021, Etihad Cargo has operated charter services to countries including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Comoros, Equatorial Guinea, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Senegal, and others across Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas.-- TradeArabia News Service
The UAE is emerging as a growing investor in Indias textiles sector even as India steps up its efforts to quadruple the exports of handloom textiles in the next three years, according to a Wam report.

The Ministry of Textiles here today set up a high-level, eight-member, experts committee to double the production of handlooms and boost exports. The committee has been tasked with preparing a roadmap to achieve these targets, an announcement said.

Investments from the UAE in Indias textiles sector, a new area of entrepreneurial interest, amounted to $23.09 million in the last five years and is growing, the Ministry said in a statement on foreign direct investments, which covered the period up to 31st March 2021, which marks the end of the financial year in India.

The UAE topped the chart of investors from the GCC in the textile sector with Oman and Qatar in second and third places.

The high-level committee is headed by Sunil Sethi, Chairman, Fashion Design Council of India. It has been asked to submit its report in 45 days.

Simultaneously, the government has released funds worth Indian rupees 1.25 billion ($16 million) for eight Centres of Excellences in textile research across India, the Ministry announced.

In addition, 10 new Handloom Design Resource Centres are to be set up by the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) "with the objective to build and create design-oriented excellence in handlooms to facilitate exports," the Ministrys statement said.

The NIFTs 17 campuses across India have been serving as "knowledge service providers in the area of design development and positioning of handlooms." These initiatives have been occasioned by the National Handloom Day, which falls in August.

The Minster of State for Textiles, Darshana Jardosh, said on this occasion that "handlooms are a symbol of Indias rich and varied cultural heritage." She said this sector is also a vehicle for womens empowerment since more than 70 per cent of all weavers and allied workers in India are women.--TradeArabia News Service
Saudi Arabia's Cabinet has decided to extend the grace period offered to violators of the anti-concealment law for an additional six months, starting from August 23, 2021, until February 16, 2022, a Saudi Press Agency report said.

Welcoming the decision Minister of Commerce and Chairman of the Supervisory Committee of the National Anti-Concealment Program, Dr Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi, expressed his gratitude to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and HRH His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense.

Al-Qasabi said: "The Cabinets extension approval reflects the state's keenness to provide an opportunity to those in violation of the relevant regulations to rectify their status and encourage them to apply for correction requests to benefit from the offered incentives."

The minister revealed that several large and medium-sized enterprises, whose annual revenues exceeded more than SR6 billion, benefited from the corrective period in the first phase of the program. It gave two options: allowing the entry of a non-Saudi partner into a business, or registering the ownership of a facility in the name of a non-Saudi.

He added that the ministry has been examining correction requisitions of establishments in various activities and sectors from all parties (Saudis and non-Saudis) since the beginning of the grace period which started 6 months ago.

According to the National Anti-Concealment Program data, the correction requests received by the Ministry of Commerce included various economic activities, most notably: wholesale and retail trade, contracting, accommodation and food services, manufacturing industries, transport, and storage, as well as other service activities.
Professional accountants, with their explicit and long-standing commitment to ethical practices, are well placed to guide organisations along a responsible path for Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption, a report said.



ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) and Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) reveal in the new report titled Ethics for sustainable AI adoption: Connecting AI and ESG the pressing need for the accountancy profession to make the necessary connections between AI and its relationship to environmental, social and governance (ESG) dimensions.



Polling over 5,700 respondents across 21 countries and geographies, the research reveals a cautious tone, with fewer than half (43%) believing that the impact of AI on their rights as an individual is positive  such as safety and personal security, and levels of fairness, choice and transparency.



This presents a wake-up call for the accountancy profession to lead the way and become the super connectors needed to ensure an ethical approach. Their management of the transition to mass usage of AI in an ethical, responsible manner is essential if sustainable long-term value is to be secured from it.



The reports nine recommendations include the need to set tone at the top on AI adoption by prioritising an approach that is consistent with organisational values such as diversity and inclusion in considering the impact of AI on under-represented groups, or fairness when it comes to recruitment or surveillance of employees; and transparency such as appropriately disclosing AI use to customers.



Another recommendation for the profession is to challenge greenwashing and seek insights from AI tools to help with professional scepticism in examining whether the organisation's claims about sustainability, such as on achieving net zero targets, are matched by its performance. Suspect claims need to be challenged.



Helen Brand, chief executive of ACCA said: AI adoption must consider the needs of all, especially the under-represented and vulnerable in society. Thats why one of our recommendations is to ensure the profession exercises its professional judgement, because AI may create previously unseen situations. We recommend that professional accountants need to avoid over-reliance on simplistic checklist-based approaches which dont give the full picture or leave space for unintended consequences.



Ainslie van Onselen, chief executive of CA ANZ added: Our report found that in order to ethically and sustainably adopt AI, organisations need effective governance mechanisms. This starts with setting the right tone and culture at the top and covers a range of areas from oversight and delivery procedures, to regulation and data governance.



AI is a strategic endeavour that should be spearheaded by leaders who know and execute on the difference between what we have a right to do and what is the right thing to do. Its important to build knowledge and skills at the intersection of AI, ethics and sustainable development. This aligns well to the accountancy profession which can play a key role in driving responsible adoption.



Key findings from the research amongst accountancy and finance professionals show that:



 66% believe that their leaders prioritise ethics as highly as profits.

 64% believe that the impact of AI on overall standard of living in society is positive, but only half that proportion (32%) consider its impact on levels of inequality to be positive. On the latter with 28% recording negative impact, the net positive balance was just 4%.

 Three in four reports being effective / very effective at managing confidentiality, and two in three at managing data quality.

 Just over half (51%) believe that the impact of AI on their ability to live according to their values is positive, while 31% are aware of AI use within their industry. Fewer than half (48%) have a basic understanding of how an AI algorithm works.  TradeArabia News Service
The Boeing Company has announced the appointment of Alexander Feldman as the new president of the companys Southeast Asia business, effective August 27, 2021.



Feldman will be based in Singapore and oversee the companys strategy and operations as Boeing expands its regional presence. Feldman will also become director and chairman of Boeing Singapore and president director of Boeing Indonesia. He succeeds Ralph Skip Boyce, who is retiring after more than 13 years at Boeing in Singapore.



Previously, Feldman was president and CEO of the US-ASEAN Business Council (US-ABC) for over 12 years and also served as its chairman in 2020-2021, helping steer the Council through the COVID-19 pandemic. At the US-ABC, Feldman represented 170 of the largest US businesses, including Boeing, and managed seven offices in Southeast Asia. He regularly consulted with the presidents, prime ministers and cabinets of the ten ASEAN nations as well as with senior US Government officials across three presidential administrations.



We are excited to have Alex join Boeing as he brings to the team a strong combination of diplomatic and business skills garnered during his more than 30 years in the private and public sectors in the region," said Sir Michael Arthur, president of Boeing International. We are really sorry to see Skip leave and thank him for having done a tremendous job leading and growing the Boeing operation and presence across the region and which now includes newly-opened offices in Jakarta and Hanoi. We wish him the very best in retirement.



Boeings presence in Indonesia and Vietnam will support the companys growth objectives across its commercial airplanes, defence and services businesses. Earlier this month, Boeing made a US$500,000 donation from the Boeing Charitable Trust to CARE in support of Covid-19 relief efforts in Indonesia. Feldman drew upon his extensive experience to help assemble a government and industry coalition to provide financial and medical support for Indonesia and the broader region in order to address the surge in coronavirus cases.



I am proud to join Boeing, one of the worlds iconic brands, and a strong and growing partner to one of the fastest-growing and most consequential markets in the world: Southeast Asia, said Feldman. With over 380 million people under the age of 35, Southeast Asia will bolster Boeings growth for decades to come and support hundreds of thousands of American jobs as well as countless others across the region.  TradeArabia News Service
Help India!



A twenty-five-year old Muslim bangle seller from Uttar Pradesh was beaten by a mob in Indore, Madhya Pradesh for selling bangles in a Hindu area. After a video of the incident went viral on social, it drew ire from Congress leaders who criticized Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The police have filed an FIR and as per latest reports arrested two people.

Aas Mohammad Kaif | TwoCircles.net

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MADHYA PRADESH  After a mob in Indore, Madhya Pradesh attacked a young Muslim bangle-seller for selling bangles in a Hindu locality, the victim said he feels terribly scared.

A video of the incident, which has gone viral on social media, shows a group of men attacking the youth and beating him. The video shows some people slapping, and kicking the Muslim bangle-seller and demanding him to never enter any other Hindu area.

The bangle-seller identified as twenty-five-year-old Taslim said that his only fault was that he was Muslim.

The video shows the victims belongings being vandalized as he is getting beaten. I was warned that no Muslim should come to sell goods in a Hindu locality, he said.

After the video was circulated on social media, the Congress Minority Department President Imran Pratapgarhi responded strongly to the attempted mob lynching incident. He has instructed the local Congress workers of Indore to help the young man. Meanwhile, the Congress MLA Arif Masood got an FIR registered against the mob.

At the time of filing this report, two persons have been arrested.

Taslim is a resident of Biraj Mau in the Hardoi district of Uttar Pradesh and works as a hawker selling bangles in Madhya Pradesh.

On August 22 at around 2:30 p.m., he had gone to the Banganga area of Indore in Madhya Pradesh to sell bangles. Reportedly, he was selling bangles when five to six men approached him, led by a man clad in yellow clothes.

According to Taslim, the man in yellow attire started beating him saying Being a Muslim [you] sell goods in a Hindu locality and took away all his belongings. The assailant, who called himself a Hindutva leader, also asked people to stay away from buying from the bangle-seller, reports said.

Even though the video of the incident was widely circulated on social media, the police registered a case against unknown persons.

I have committed no crime. I am from Uttar Pradesh and I am working here to sell bangles, Taslim said.

He said that he was questioned by the mob why was he (a Muslim) selling bangles in a Hindu area. The leader in yellow clothes was asking people to beat me up. Is it a crime for me to be a Muslim? I was selling bangles to feed my family. I was not doing anything wrong. I feel very upset, Taslim said.

Reacting to the incident, Congress leader Imran Pratapgarhi said that he was shocked by the incident and he could not sleep through the night. Local activists had sent him a video where Taslim was being attacked and beaten. In the video, the innocent Tasleem is being openly tortured just for being a Muslim. The worst thing is that a man is saying that one should kill everyone. A minor child is also trying to kill a mazlum youth, Taslim! After all, what kind of hate is this? Shivraj Sarkar of Madhya Pradesh should understand that this video is not from Afghanistan but from the heart of Indore city. This incident is shocking, Pratapgarhi said.

The residents of Indore have condemned the incident. A resident of the area Naval Kishore told TwoCircles.net that the incident will be remembered as a stigma for Indore.

The culture of Indore is of cooperation and brotherhood and the people who cultivate hatred have done the work of sabotaging this brotherhood. This is completely wrong. Nobody supports this, he said.

Commenting on the incident, the Superintendent of Police (East) said that 16 people have been identified in this case, in which mainly the role of Rakesh Tomar, Rajkumar Bhatnagar, Vivek Vyas has been revealed.

They have instigated people. Action will be taken against all the culprits based on the video. FIR was earlier registered in unknown but now we have identified. We will take strict action in this matter. A case has been registered under serious sections. We will arrest everyone very soon, SP East added.

Commenting on the attempted mob-lynching incident, Madhya Pradeshs Home Minister Narottam Mishra on Monday said the man was selling bangles using a fake Hindu name. He further said that the investigation is underway.
A plan to undertake all-round efforts to promote sinicisation is announced at a ceremony marking 70 years of Chinese rule over Tibet. The Dalai Lama is targeted for his separatist activities. The event is an opportunity to boost the cult of personality surrounding President Xi Jinping who is seeking a third term in office after limits were lifted.

Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies)  China plans to undertake all-round efforts to promote the complete Sinicisation of Tibet and the extensive use of the Chinese language, spoken and written, a top Chinese official said.

Wang Yang, member of the Politburo and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, spoke at a ceremony marking 70 years of Communist rule over Tibet held at the Potala Palace in Lhasa, the Tibetan capital, once the seat of the Dalai Lama and a symbol of Tibetan Buddhism.

The event provided an opportunity to strengthen the "cult of personality" that surrounds President Xi Jinping who, according to well-placed sources, is seeking a third term as president

In his speech, Wang stressed that all Tibetans must share what he described as the cultural symbols and images of the Chinese nation. In his view, Tibet can only develop and prosper under the party's leadership and socialism. China, he pointed out, has made great efforts to improve the local economy.

For pro-Tibet activists and critics, Chinas policy of extending its cultural and social influences is in reality a "threat" to Tibet's traditional Buddhist culture, which Beijing has condemned.

For Chinas leaders, the Dalai Lama, Tibets traditional religious who lives in exile in neighbouring India, is a separatist leader.

In his speech, Wang stated that separatist and sabotage activities committed by the Dalai (Lama) group and hostile external forces have been crushed.

In concluding his address, he said that since 1951, Tibet had taken a path from darkness to brightness, from backwardness to progress, from poverty to prosperity and from autocracy to democracy.

Meanwhile, the propaganda campaign to bolster President Xis leadership continues, focusing on his speeches and images, as he prepares to remain in office for a third term after the National Peoples Congress lifted terms limits in March 2018.

At the ceremony in Lhasa, a large portrait of the leader was displayed alongside another image showing five past leaders, overlooking the platform where Wang made his speech.

At the 60th anniversary of Chinas invasion of Tibet, then Vice-President Xi cited the various leaders of the past, including Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. This time, Wang just mentioned and praised the current leader.

This means that Xi Jinping will definitely be re-elected to a third term in office by the 20th Party Congress next year, said Hu Ping, the US-based editor-in-chief of Beijing Spring magazine.

That's the message that's being sent.
Nasrallah announces the departure "within a few days" of a second boat loaded with crude oil. The pro-Tehran Shiite movement on the ground to "alleviate" the suffering of the population. Openings to the Ayatollahs risk exacerbating regional tensions. Green light also for aid from Egypt and Jordan, but it will take "months to materialize".

Beirut (AsiaNews/Agencies) - A second ship loaded with fuel which has set sail from Iran will arrive "within a few days" in the ports of Lebanon, announced Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah yesterday.

Her was speaking during a televised address to commemorate Abbas al-Yatama, military commander of the pro-Tehran Lebanese Shiite movement who died last week.

Our first ship has become at sea, our second ship will sail within days and more ships will follow, Nasrallah said in a televised speech commemorating Abbas al-Yatama, a Hezbollah military commander who died a week ago.

We are seeking to alleviate the suffering and what we will bring will be for all Lebanese and all those living on Lebanese soil. It will not be for one Lebanese region without the other, Nasrallah noted.

We are not an alternative to the state in this matter or in any other matter. We cannot be so and we are not an alternative to the companies that import oil, Hezbollahs leader pointed out.

The announcement of the head of Hezbollah comes at a time of very serious difficulties for the Land of the Cedars, at political, economic and health level. A crisis that has also affected the fuel sector and that has triggered a recent protest against the end of oil subsidies and is at the origin of the accident in Tleil, where a powerful explosion in a clandestine fuel depot has killed several people.

In his remarks, Nasrallah then added that " We are not supposed to bring Lebanon's full demand of gasoline and diesel but rather good quantities that alleviate pressure off the companies and the stations. Commenting on the U.S. opening on gas from Egypt and electricity from Jordan, he then stressed that any further additions to stocks " important."

Regarding the U.S. administration, he hopes for a change of course and that "it stops preventing other countries [read Iran] from helping Lebanon" also because aid from Cairo and Amman "will take months to materialize."

Finally, Hezbollah's leader concluded by commenting on the issue of offshore oil and gas exploration by issuing a challenge. "If (foreign) companies fear Israel and sanctions, we are willing to bring an Iranian company to extract gas and oil in the seas. And let Israel bomb it, too."

Nasrallah's position - harshly criticized even by the Maronite patriarch - on Iran risks exacerbating even more the internal tensions that have been blocking the formation of the government for a year, with repercussions on the entire region.
by Melanie Manel Perera

Card Ranjith has urged fellow Sri Lankans to display the symbol of mourning in protest against the governments failure to find the truth about the 2019 bombings. Many civil society groups back the prelates request, but for others it is half-hearted. At least 25 people have been charged in connection with the attacks, but the authorities have failed to identify the principals.

Colombo (AsiaNews)  The Archbishop of Colombo, Card Malcolm Ranjith, is urging Catholic and non-Catholic Sri Lankans to display black flags in every house, church and shop in protest against the Sri Lankan government led by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and in memory of the victims of the Easter terrorist attacks of two years ago that killed 269 people and injured more than 500 at three churches and three hotels.

Last Saturday, 28 months after the attacks, prayers were held, bells rang at 8.45 o'clock and lamps were lit to commemorate the victims. However, while some people heeded the request, others were critical.

After such a long period, simply hoisting black flags and holding a silent protest against the government is not enough," some people told AsiaNews. Even some non-Catholics have called the gesture half-hearted.

There is no point in displaying flags to show our opposition to this government which allowed innocent people to be killed while they were in church, some said.

For others, Cardinal Ranjith should take more decisive action so that the government continues with its investigations to find those responsible for the tragedy.

Last week 25 people were charged in connection with the attacks, but the archbishop asked that the principals be found, not just the people who collaborated.

The selfish arbitrariness of the authorities allowed so many people to die, the cardinal said. Even today, from time to time we try to cover up the truth that God points to. But we pray God to expose the great political conspiracy behind this tragedy.

Many secular and Catholic civil society groups back Archbishop Ranjith's call. The Negombo Citizens' Committee, the Center for Society and Religion (Csr), and the Justice Foundation joined the peaceful protest.

Failure to answer the Churchs request and not reveal the truth will not prevent citizens from pointing the finger at the government, said one protester. President Rajapaksa was elected thanks to the votes of many Catholics because he had promised that he would do justice.
The anniversary was celebrated on Saturday in the peninsula and in Rome with the first ever solemn Mass in Korean in St Peter's led by Archbishop Lazzaro You Heung-sik, the new prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy. In a message, the pope thanked Seoul Catholics for sending anti-COVID-19 vaccines to poor countries.

Rome (AsiaNews/Agencies)  Koreas Catholic community on Saturday marked 200 years since the birth of Saint Andrew Kim Tae-gon, the first Korean-born priest who was killed in hatred of the faith in 1846 at the age of 25.

Eucharistic liturgies were held in South Koreas 1,750 churches to commemorate the anniversary, along with the first solemn Mass celebrated in Korean in Romes St Peter's Basilica.

Last Saturday afternoon, Archbishop Lazzaro You Heung-sik led the service in the presence of representatives of Romes Korean community. A few weeks ago, the former head of the Diocese of Daejeon was appointed the new prefect of the Congregation for the clergy in the Vatican.

On the occasion of Saint Andrew Kims birth, Pope Francis released his own message to Korean Catholics, which Archbishop You read during Mass.

in addition to praising the heroic testimony of the martyr Andrea Kim, the pontiff publicly thanked Korean Catholics for donating anti-COVID-19 vaccine doses to the poorest countries through the Vatican. This is a strong invitation for a greater commitment to the cause of the least of the world, Francis said.

The pope also urged those working for reconciliation between North and South Korea to "continue with renewed commitment to be good peacemakers.

The celebrations at the Solmoe memorial, the site where the Diocese of Daejeon commemorates the birth of Saint Andrew Kim Tae-gon, also focused on reconciliation between the two Koreas.

A video message from Archbishop You Heung-sik was screened during the service led by the Auxiliary Bishop Augustinus Jong-soo Kim in the presence of Card Andrew Yeom of Seoul.

"I sincerely hope that the South and the North will open their hearts and talk to each other so that true peace can dwell on the Korean Peninsula," Archbishop You said.

It is the greatest misfortune that the two Koreas have been separated for more than 70 years. I continue to pray for peace, he added.

The Korean Catholic Church is also marking the bicentenary of the birth of Saint Andrew Kim with a jubilee year centred on the question Are you a Christian faithful?, which the martyr asked to his persecutors two centuries ago.

John Paul II canonised Andrew Kim along with 102 other Korean martyrs in a ceremony held in Seoul on 6 May 1984.
by Mathias Hariyadi

For President Said Agil Siroj, the situation in Afghanistan is likely to fuel "a new wave of radicalism". The appeal to army and police leaders to guarantee security and preserve the values of pluralism and unity in diversity. The evacuation of Indonesian personnel from Afghanistan continues, the diplomatic representation transferred to Islamabad.

Jakarta (AsiaNews) - The fall of the "legitimate" Afghan government, the hasty flight of President Ashraf Ghani and the rise to power of the Taliban, which today controls a large part of the nation, risk "giving rise to a new wave of radicalism in Indonesia," warns Said Agil Siroj, president of Nahdlatul Ulama (Nu).

The NU president fears repercussions in his own country following the victory of the Taliban in Kabul. In a message published on August 21, he warns that Indonesian extremist groups will find a "moral charge" in the Taliban victory.

The Nahdlatul Ulama is one of the most prominent moderate Islamic organizations in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation. In the past it has distinguished itself in inter-religious dialogue and collaboration in major initiatives and projects, including with Christians, and has always maintained a line of extreme rigor and firmness against confessional fundamentalism, supporting pluralism and unity in diversity.

For Siroj (pictured), Indonesian extremist movements could claim the success of the Koranic students, saying that it is "Allah's will that helped them" and allowed them to "achieve their [political] goals". Hence the appeal to the government and the military leadership in Jakarta to ensure control and security, safeguarding the ideals of the country just days after the celebrations for the 76th anniversary of Independence, which took place on August 17.

"We are called," continued the Nu leader, "to remain alert and remain vigilant," especially "the armed forces and the police" who are the first bastions to defend "national unity.

"Whoever dies in defense of the nation," he adds, "will be considered a holy warrior. Moreover, despite having studied at Ummul Qura University in Mecca, the Indonesian Muslim leader calls for defending and promoting the values, culture and wisdom typical of the nation and its people. "You can study in Saudi Arabia but that doesn't mean you have to import Arab traditions and culture (in terms of dress and customs). You can import technology from the West and the Far East (Japan, Korea and Australia) but this does not mean you have to make their habits and lifestyles your own."

In the meantime, evacuation operations from Afghanistan continue: in these hours an air force plane from Jakarta has repatriated several fellow citizens, taking on board also five Filipinos in response to a request for help from Manila. Also on board were two Afghans married to Indonesian nationals. The aircraft had to wait for two hours on the runway before being allowed to take off. The Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi confirmed that the diplomatic mission has been transferred from Kabul to Islamabad for security reasons.
The opposition-backed alternative executive launched its first broadcast on August 20, but the military is restricting access to anti-junta information. Since Feb. 1, the Tatmadaw has killed more than 1,000 people. The violence may be considered crimes against humanity. Because of Covid-19, people are dying on the steps of hospitals that are no longer admitting patients.

Yangon (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Myanmar's military junta is confiscating all radios and restricting their import after the shadow government set up its own radio channel. Some members of the National League for Democracy (Aung San Suu Kyi's party ousted in the Feb. 1 coup) who formed the Government of National Unity on Aug. 20 launched their first broadcast, which will now air daily for 30 minutes at 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Several witnesses saw regime troops raiding electronics stores in a Yangon shopping mall to collect all radios. According to sources reported on the independent website The Irrawaddy, police and village leaders will be instructed to seize electronic equipment from citizens. In April the Tatmadaw (the Burmese army) had confiscated satellite antennas in order to limit the population's access to independent and anti-junta news.

Meanwhile, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Aapp), more than 1,000 people have been killed by the regime since February 1. "We have seen how there has been an escalation in terms of violent and arbitrary attacks by the military junta," reads an Aapp statement. "At first, the military used rubber bullets and tear gas. When this did not produce the desired submission to their dictatorial command, a campaign of terror began in March." More than 7,400 people have been arrested by the Tatmadaw and at least 106 have died from torture by the soldiers.

According to the latest report by Human Rights Watch, the Burmese army's violence perpetrated against the population in the last six months amount to crimes against humanity. Arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, rape and other sexual violence, torture and severe deprivation of liberty: these are not general violence inflicted by individual soldiers, but actions committed knowingly by a state organization in a systematic and widespread manner against civilians.

Meanwhile, the third wave of Covid-19 is raging in the country.

Myanmar health experts report within the next two weeks at least half of the 55 million inhabitants will have been infected with the alpha or delta variant. The population could shrink significantly as a result of the pandemic, other estimates warn. According to Mary Callahan, a professor at the Henry Jackson School of International Studies who has worked in Myanmar for more than 30 years, "some of those infected with Covid die on the front steps of hospitals that reject them. No doubt they are not tested: they have certificates that probably read 'pneumonia' as the cause of death." According to the few testimonies coming from the country, the population is unable to get concentrated oxygen, which remains in the hands of the military.

Official government data in the last week reports just over 2,000 cases per day.
Mary Corey, a Maryland native who passed away in 2013 after a long battle with breast cancer, started her own career at The Sun as a college intern. Upon her graduation from what is now Notre Dame of Maryland University, she was immediately hired by The Sun as an editorial assistant. She rose through the ranks as a reporter, editor and national correspondent, and in 2010 was named senior vice president and director of content for The Baltimore Sun, making her the first woman in The Suns long history to lead the newsroom.
The more it can be integrated into day-to-day life, the more it can be integrated into grocery stores and drugstores and hospitals and doctors offices, the easier its going to be, said Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar with the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. All of that is a reflection of the fact that COVID is not going anywhere and it is going to be a threat we deal with year in and year out.
But the state has not been immune from the summer surge of the virus. Infections, hospitalizations and the testing positivity rate, which fell to record lows in June and July, have since surged, fueled by the more contagious delta variant that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers more adept at penetrating the vaccines protective shield. The CDCs latest genomic surveillance data shows that nearly all U.S. COVID-19 cases are linked to delta now.
The Walters encompasses three buildings, of which the 1974 Centre Street building that houses the visitors entrance is the most modern. Marciari-Alexander said the same sealant was used last winter to repair the roof of the Palazzo building, which opened in 1909, long before the advent of modern building codes. There were no complaints about odors during that roofing project, she said, so Walters officials didnt anticipate the vapors would be a problem during the Centre Street repairs.
Porter, who lives in Eldersburg and works in quality assurance, conceived of Local Bucket after dealing with leftover materials from various repairs he did around the house. He didnt have a truck, but needed a way to transport the materials to the dumpster. It would be convenient, he thought, if there were an easy way to contact and pay someone in the area to handle the materials for him.
Hare and Sean Almony, the second-in-command of the Aryan Brotherhood, testified against their gang boss. Almony, also known as Sean Almond, detailed six different assaults he witnessed Leissler approve or order himself in a five year period. Almony was granted immunity for his testimony in three separate trials for OSullivans murder, meaning he is exempt from being charged for any crimes he admitted to while on the stand.
On Oct. 4, 2017, Westerman was at a bar in White Marsh, according to charging documents. A woman passed out in her car, and had planned to wait there until she was sober enough to drive before Westerman and her female friend knocked on her car window. Westerman told the woman he would arrange an Uber to take the two women back to the second womans home, the charging documents said.
Police say a 27-year-old resident of the home, which serves adult men who require living assistance, assaulted Sigala and caused his death. The resident has been charged with second-degree murder and is in jail as he awaits a bond hearing.
Judge Jonathan G. Newell, the countys former longtime top prosecutor, has been missing from the bench since his home was raided by police in late July. The judiciary confirmed the extension and has said judges from other counties have been filling in to hear cases in Caroline.
During the onset of the pandemic, we created two staff teams that worked alternating shifts so if one of our employees came down with COVID-19, we could quarantine half the staff while still producing beer. This change caused our staff costs to increase, further hurting our business as our beer sales declined. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we had to close our taproom from March 2020 until May 2021. For small brewers like Heavy Seas, our taprooms allow us to try out new beers with our customers to see how they will fare in the marketplace. Also, taprooms are the most profitable part of the brewery, because we can sell beer directly to customers without needing to package the beer. Having to close our taproom for fourteen months meant that we lost the most profitable part of the brewery and missed the opportunity to see how customers would react to the new beers we had been crafting.
Eighteen people were killed with fireworks in 2020 in the U.S. and over 5,000 were injured, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Most large counties in Maryland have outlawed fireworks. If what I am experiencing are illegal fireworks then we are doing a terrible job enforcing the law. Baltimore County has no trouble fining speeders and should be able to control the danger from fireworks as well.
While the anti-maskers and anti-vaxxers disproportionately occupy precious hospital beds, where will vaccinated and masked citizens needing care unrelated to the COVID-19 pandemic go? And what how about the potential deluge of children and parents needing care who contract COVID from unmasked school children?
In the video, Owens says she is not an investigative journalist, and could not confirm any of the criminal allegations she makes against Klacik. But she went on to accuse Klacik of money laundering, tax fraud and campaign fraud, as well as paying vendors to move money off the books and working to recruit strippers for a strip club Owens says Klaciks husband owns, according to the lawsuit.
In the savage partisanship of today, Mfume said, there is far less informal dialogue across the aisle. He said members may have been surprised to see him hugging a Republican  Upton  when he arrived back on the floor last year. Mfume said he had bonded with Upton in part because the Michigan lawmakers wife is from Baltimore.
Dental, civil engineering programs among top 10 in nation, according to Shanghai rankings

Communication, library and information science, and transportation science ranked among top 100 worldwide

I am extremely gratified that the remarkable accomplishments of our faculty, students and staff are recognized in this latest Academic Ranking of World Universities. 

BUFFALO, N.Y.  University at Buffalo programs in dentistry and civil engineering are among the top 10 in the United States, according to the 2021 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects by the Shanghai Ranking Consultancy.

The rankings, regarded as one of the most prestigious and influential global rankings in higher education, place programs offered by UBs School of Dental Medicine at No. 8 in the nation and No. 9 worldwide.

Civil engineering, which is part of the Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, was ranked No. 4 in the nation and No. 17 worldwide.

The Global Ranking of Academic Subjects are largely based on university research outcomes, and institutions are scored on the number of articles published in influential academic journals, the impact and citation of research, the amount of prestigious scientific awards presented to faculty, and the volume of international collaboration on research.

Joseph J. Zambon, dean and SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor in the School of Dental Medicine, said the ranking shows the dedication and innovation of individuals within the dental school.

I am extremely gratified that the remarkable accomplishments of our faculty, students and staff are recognized in this latest Academic Ranking of World Universities. And were very happy that our ranking supports the goal of UB President Satish Tripathi and Provost A. Scott Weber for the University at Buffalo to become one of the top 25 public research universities in the country, he said.

Joseph F. Atkinson, professor and chair of the Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, lauded faculty members, whose research is key to the ranking.

We're very proud of our researchers whose work has helped propel and maintain the department in the top five civil engineering departments in the country in each of the last four years. The Shanghai Rankings are particularly significant since they are based on real metrics that characterize faculty accomplishments, he said.

Additional UB programs ranked within the top 100 globally include:

Communication ranked within Nos. 51-75.

Library and information science ranked within Nos. 51-75.

Transportation science and technology ranked within Nos. 51-75.

Biomedical engineering ranked within Nos. 76-100.

Other programs ranked among the top 150 globally include: computer science and engineering, education, electrical and electronic engineering, geography, management, medical technology, nanoscience and nanotechnology, nursing and psychology.

More than 4,000 universities are ranked in the Global Ranking of Academic Subjects in categories that span the natural, life, medical and social sciences and engineering.

For a full list of rankings by subject, visit the Global Ranking of Academic Subjects website.
Today

Cloudy. High 78F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph.

Tonight

Cloudy early with some clearing expected late. Low 52F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.

Tomorrow

Generally sunny despite a few afternoon clouds. High 77F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.
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Dakota graduated from Bret Harte in 2013 and went to Davidson College, NC where she earned a bachelor's degree in Arab studies. After spending time studying in the Middle East and Europe, she is happy to be home, writing about the community she loves.

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Ospreys, like bald eagles and falcons, were nearly wiped out because of pesticide use more than 40 years ago, but they have made a comeback  including in the D.C. region, experts said  as part of widespread conservation efforts. Federal wildlife officials said there are about 2,000 nesting pairs of ospreys in the Chesapeake Bay area. They often nest on top of lights or utility poles, experts said. At the Calvert park, they had made a nest in the pole that overlooked a ballfield.
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I too will be joining in this important march. I will always remember what my late mother, who died at the age of 104 used to always tell me: Son, America is worth fighting for. Sometimes it doesnt live up to all those things it should, but we must keep pressing on.
The Republican candidate in Ward 8, Rockford Toews, has lived in Annapolis since the early 1990s. Records show he first voted in the 1997 general election and again during the 2001 general, but didnt vote in 2005 or in the 2007 special election that saw Arnett first claim his seat on the council. In 2009, the last time Toews ran for City Council, he told The Capital he thought he cast a ballot in both elections, saying, As far as I know, I did participate.
Congress MP Manish Tewari on Monday slammed Punjab Congress Chief Navjot Singh Sidhu's advisors Dr Pyare Lal Singh and Malwinder Singh Mali for their comments on "sensitive national issues" like Kashmir and Pakistan.

Speaking to ANI, Tewari said that the unanimous resolution of Parliament of India in 1994 that was reiterated in 2012 declared Jammu and Kashmir as an integral part of India and the only unfinished business of Partition was to reclaim the areas occupied illegally by Pakistan like Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and northern areas.

"If someone is questioning this resolution, forget about the party, do such people even have the right to stay in the country?" he asked. Tewari's comments came in response to reported remarks of Dr Pyare Lal Garg questioning Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh's criticism of Pakistan as well as the earlier controversial statement of Malwinder Singh Mali on Kashmir. Both of them were recently appointed by Sidhu as his advisors.

Tewari further said that dissent has certain limits and such comments manifest serious questions. "How can you support Pakistan- the country that sends arms, drugs and drones in Punjab? Many people from Congress sacrificed their lives in the fight against terrorism in Punjab and Kashmir. Such statements are a mockery of their martyrdom," he said.

He further requested Congress General Secretary in charge of Punjab Congress Harish Rawat to take actions against such people that make comments against India's national interests. Earlier in the day, Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit also condemned Sidhu's advisor Malwinder Singh Mali for posting a controversial sketch of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi saying that such actions were objectionable. He also advised Sidhu to distance himself from such advisors. "You should not keep any political relations with such people. I have no objection if you want to have personal relations with them but such people cannot be a part of Congress," he said.

He added that Sidhu should take responsibility for his advisors and reprimand them for their comments on issues they don't understand. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Daljit Singh Cheema also reacted to the poster controversy and took a dig at Sidhu. "Who extended a hand of friendship towards Pakistan Prime Minister when the nation was against Pakistan? Who hugged Pakistan Army Chief? Navjot Singh Sidhu. When he's like that, why to complain about his advisors," he said.

Meanwhile, Punjab CM Amrinder Singh on Sunday took a strong exception to the recent statements of Sidhu's advisors and slammed them for their comments that are "potentially dangerous to the peace and stability of the state and the country".

(ANI)
Border Security Force (BSF) on Monday apprehended five Bangladeshi nationals, including four women, when they were trying to cross India-Bangladesh International Boundary (IB) here in West Bengal.

BSF troops of the 99 Battalion conducted a special operation on the basis of the information of the Intelligence branch.

"The three women, who came out of the prostitution swamp and were crossing the IB illegally were aged between 27-29 years. Friends had pushed all three women into the quagmire of prostitution by promising to get a job in India," informed the BSF.

"In an interrogation, they revealed that Indian tout Tameez Mandal and Bangladeshi tout Jamir Bhai had fixed Rs 20,000 to cross International Boundary," BSF further informed.

Two other Bangladesh nationals identified as Ashiq Ali (22), resident of Laskarpur in Bangladesh, along with Rashida Khatoon (20), a resident of Namwar Pada village in Bangladesh, were arrested.

All the apprehended persons were handed over to the concerned police stations for further legal action.

(ANI)
Last week, the Singapore government presented its plan for relaxing safe distancing rules as well as gradually reopening the country to business travellers and tourists.

This is in line with its earlier stated strategy to treat COVID-19 as an endemic disease and slowly easing its population into safely living with the virus.

With a remarkably high rate of vaccination, Singapore is in the process of cautiously returning its residents lives to some form of normalcy. As of August 21, 78 percent of Singapore residents have received two doses of COVID-19 vaccines and it projects that this number will reach 82 precent in two weeks.

Unlike most of its Asia-Pacific neighbours who are still embracing a "zero-COVID" strategy, Singapore which has no domestic market or natural resources sees this not only as a way to getting ahead of regional countries but also as a matter of survival.

At a virtual media conference last week, Singapore's Transport Minister S. Iswaran said that the border closures induced by the COVID-19 pandemic have exacted a heavy toll on the aviation sector and related industries, which employ more than 190,000 people. He added that the longer Singapore remains closed, the greater the risk of lasting damage to its economy and its status as an aviation hub. At the same time, he assured residents that the Singapore government is reopening in a cautious manner as it wants to minimise the risk of imported cases as much as it can.

Singapore's roadmap to reopening is being closely watched by other countries who may consider changing their strategies to see if it's possible to live with the virus safely and a means to reopening their economies.

Singapore is now allowing up to 50 percent of workers to return to their offices and increased event sizes to 1,000 fully vaccinated people.

It also announced a plan which took effect from midnight on August 21 to group countries and regions into four categories based on their risk profiles. Category One covers countries with the lowest risk and Category Four countries are those with the highest risk.

Travellers from Category One countries can enter Singapore without having to spend time in quarantine or isolation. They will be subject only to an on-arrival Covid-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) swab test and can go about their activities if they test negative.

The prior 21 days travel history of those entering Singapore will be taken into account with the most stringent criteria based on the countries visited being applied.

Countries in Category One include China (excluding Jiangsu province), New Zealand, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau.

Category Two countries comprise places with similar COVID-19 risk profiles to Singapore. Travellers from places in this category will be required to undergo seven-day isolation at an accommodation of their choice.

Singapore citizens, permanent residents and long-term pass holders may serve their seven-day isolation at their place of residence if conditions are suitable. Australia, Brunei, Canada and Germany are in this category.

Travellers from countries and regions with higher risks will have to undergo minimum of 14-day stays at dedicated facilities or may be barred from entering.

As part of its plan to cautiously reopen the country, Singapore also announced a vaccinated travel lane (VTL) with Germany and Brunei for all types of travellers including tourists.

This means anyone travelling from Germany and Brunei to Singapore do not have to quarantine. The VTL which will start from September 7 comes with certain conditions.

Travellers under this scheme will have to take four COVID tests, one within 48 hours before departure, one upon arrival and another two on day three and day seven.

In addition, they must travel on designated VTL direct flights, must have been in Brunei or Germany 21 consecutive days before departure and use Singapore's contact tracing app.

Although Brunei remains closed to leisure travel Germany already allows vaccinated Singapore residents to enter free from quarantine.

If the VTL is fully taken up, it would add up to 2,000 travellers coming into Singapore a week.

Business leaders are encouraged by the move and believe this will help companies as well as improve the city-state's economic outlook.

Victor Mills, chief executive of the Singapore International Chamber of Commerce was quoted by The Straits Times as saying, "This is good news for incoming travellers based on differentiated treatment for vaccinated people."

How will this affect visitors from India especially those travelling for business?

Singapore and India have enjoyed robust trade relations over the years. Recently, Singapore has been the top source of foreign direct investments into India. Furthermore, India has been a top ten trading partner to Singapore for many years.

According to data from Singapore's Department of Statistics, Singapore and India bilateral merchandise trade has been averaging around USD18 billion per year in total value in the last five years prior to COVID. However, in 2020, total trade fell about 20 percent.

Unfortunately, at the moment, in line with current restrictions, individuals who are not Singaporeans or permanent residents that are travelling from Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, are unable to enter Singapore.

However, if the Germany and Brunei VTL works, Singapore plans to expand the scheme to more countries. It is hoped that at some point in the near future, travel regulations between Singapore and India will be less restrictive.

(ANI)

Also Read: Joe Biden when asked if he believes Taliban: 'I don't trust anybody'
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Clay Center, KS (67432)

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Some clouds this morning will give way to generally sunny skies for the afternoon. High 86F. Winds ESE at 10 to 20 mph..

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Curtis said theres a part of her that wishes things would return to the way they were before the pandemic, but she doesnt think thats going to happen for a long time. While restaurants that were battered by the pandemic are seeing business pick up as restrictions have lifted, the industry is still at a crossroads. Many workers arent planning to come back, menu prices are soaring, and the COVID-19 delta variant threatens to derail the progress thats been made.
In the U.S., Disney has been working with Target, which began adding scaled-down Disney shops to its stores in 2019. On Monday, Target said it plans to have Disney shops in more than 160 stores by the end of the year, roughly triple the number it has now.
We have to rely on what we know, and what weve learned, and what we do know is that masks are highly effective in preventing the transmission of COVID-19, and wearing masks allowed schools to remain open nearly 100% of the time last spring, Kociolek said. Vigilance is better than fear, and we can live our lives fully and safely if we defer to the opinions of the experts.
Forever began when a Jewish couple opened the shop on Homan Avenue and what was then called 12th Street, now Roosevelt Road. Hy and Rose, whose surname has been lost to time, named the restaurant for their son, according to Fountain and the legacy customers who have shared their oral histories with her over the years.
It was a tragedy that this happened, because the people who live here are people who can ill afford to live anywhere else, said Landry, a 72-year-old retiree whose second-floor home was spared from the flooding from the overflowing Hop Brook. It has never been this bad. Ive lived here 40 years.
So we started the process with CTU, really, at the end of the school year in June. I think were close, Lightfoot said. Theres no dispute that everyone agrees were going to open up next week, on Monday, Aug. 30, five days a week, in person. Theres no dispute that teachers and other staff of CPS will be vaccinated, as a requirement, starting Oct. 15. So the big picture issues, were all in alignment on. I think there are a few other details that need to be worked out. But were ready to open up next Monday.
They also were among at least 46 people shot over the weekend, six fatally. Chicago police are also investigating the fatal stabbing of a woman Sunday morning. And Illinois State Police, the agency that handles attacks on expressways and interstates that run through Chicago, responded to a fatal shooting that led to a fatal crash early Sunday in the Lawndale neighborhood, bringing to eight the total deaths from violence.
We will rally until Johnson is free, said Jonathan Wilson, one of the campaigns organizers who also said that there is no substantial evidence that Johnson committed the crime. Wilson said he used to teach at West Englewoods now closed Harper High School, a school mentioned by the speakers as an example of disinvestment.
The statement outlined resources available to students: We understand this comes as a shock to many of our students. If they are feeling anxious or have other mental health concerns, Counseling and Psychological Services is available to help them. ... As we mourn this loss in our community, we will keep the students family and friends in our thoughts.
Two years ago, a 55-year-old woman named Tamara Clayton was shot and killed while driving on Interstate 57 near Cicero Avenue while on her way to work. In the wake of Claytons death, Gov. J.B. Pritzker, state representatives, including Sen. Jacqueline Collins, and gun violence activist Andrew Holmes argued for newer cameras to help reduce crime. That July, the Tamara Clayton Expressway Act was signed to instruct state police to install the updated cameras on highways that could help police identify shooters.
A few minutes later, another vehicle appeared. One witness got out of the car and asked the woman if she was OK, DeGroot said. The woman apparently indicated that she was and began running away from the defendant, at which point the witness reentered the vehicle and drove away.
The Collaborative is a coalition of a number of organizations, from local nonprofits and churches to hospitals and health care providers, said member Tara Dabney, the director of development and communications for the Institute for Nonviolence Chicago. It was the driving force behind the project, while the mayors office was in more of an assist mode, Kerr said. The diversity of groups in the Collaborative meant that each had the capacity to bring a different demographic to the table.
Theres one simple reason we have fallen so far behind the rest of the industrialized world when it comes to high-speed rail. You get what you pay for, and since World War II, Washington has prioritized funding for highways and aviation over passenger rail. Since 1949, Congress has invested over $2 trillion in highways and over $777 billion in aviation. Meanwhile, Congress has provided roughly $100 billion toward passenger rail, with just $8 billion dedicated solely to high-speed rail development, according to a report from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Considering its turbulent history, the people of the island and their relatives in the Haitian diaspora, particularly in Miami, deserve praise for their often tireless efforts to help their fellow Haitians. In recent years, the money sent back to Haiti in remittances  a record high of $3.8 billion last year, according to the Haitian Times  accounts for at least a third of the islands economy.
I think so many people who may have been hesitant, wondering whether it was approved too quickly, now, literally almost a year later, we now have so much research to show these work, he said. I think that that means many more people will choose to get vaccinated.
Over the next few years, Michael had the mansion on and off the market at lower prices, including for $5.5 million and then $5 million in the mid-2010s, and then for just below $3.95 million from 2017 until 2019. He also offered the mansion for rent for $10,000 a month for a time. After a foreclosure action, a bank assumed ownership of the mansion, and cut its asking price to $3.249 million at the start of 2020 and then to just under $3 million in March 2020. The bank then got aggressive, reducing it to $2.95 million in May 2020, $2.5 million in June 2020 and finally $2.25 million in August 2020.
Authorities say the woman was six to seven months pregnant. She is described as five-feet-four and weighing between 150 and 170 pounds. She had brown eyes and black hair that might have been tied into a bun. Her fingernails and toes were manicured and painted white, and she was wearing a pink summer dress, officials say.
The woman filed a police report in surrounding Marion County on June 4, 2019, saying Malone threatened to kill her, his brother and himself, the affidavit states. He was bi-polar and schizophrenic she said in the report. He was transported to the hospital to be evaluated, according to police.
You are here: China

Heavy rainstorm has lashed northwest China's Shaanxi province since Saturday with precipitation up to 220.7 mm, according to the provincial weather bureau.

From 6 a.m. Saturday to 6 a.m. Sunday, 1,658 meteorological stations in 94 counties and districts in the province witnessed rainfall. Among them, 42 registered precipitations over 100 mm, and 382 recorded over 50 mm of rain. Ten stations reported hourly precipitation of more than 50 mm.

Starting from Saturday, Mianxian County of Hanzhong City in the province has seen a maximum precipitation of 237.7 mm, a record high for the county, while its hourly rainfall reached up to 72.5 mm during the same period.

As of 4 p.m. Sunday, about 60,000 people in the county have difficulties in reaching water and electricity supply.

Currently, all the affected in the county have been relocated to safer places. Rescue and repair efforts are still underway to resume traffic, electricity and communication.

Shaanxi meteorological observatory issued an orange alert for rainstorms on Sunday morning, with heavy rain expected to continue in the province.

Mountainous areas are at risk of floods and mountain torrents, while water logging is expected in low-lying urban areas, said the observatory.

China has a four-tier color-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow and blue.
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U.S. President Joe Biden said on Sunday that extending troops deployment for the evacuation mission in Afghanistan beyond the Aug. 31 deadline has been under discussion.

Biden gave updated remarks about the ongoing evacuation at the White House Sunday afternoon.

"There are discussions going on among us and the military about extending, our hope is we will not have to extend," said Biden when asked about the Aug. 31 deadline. "But there are going to be discussions, I suspect, on how far along we are in the process."

Biden in July ordered the U.S. military to end its mission in Afghanistan by the end of this month.

The United States has been scrambling to evacuate Americans and its Afghan partners from the country since the Taliban entered the capital Kabul on Aug. 15.

The U.S. military had moved approximately 3,900 personnel out of Afghanistan over the last 24 hours, and the U.S. and coalition aircraft have evacuated about 28,000 people since Aug. 14, said Biden.

He said the United States is executing a plan to move Americans to the Kabul airport compound and had extended access and the safe zone around the airport.

The president also noted the security environment is changing rapidly on the ground. "We know that terrorists may seek to exploit the situation and target innocent Afghans or American troops," he said, pointing to potential terrorist threats from ISIS-K, the local affiliate of the Islamic State.

Earlier in the day, the Pentagon ordered commercial airlines to support the evacuation missions.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin had ordered the Commander of U.S. Transportation Command "to activate Stage I of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF)," which provides the Pentagon access to commercial air mobility resources to support evacuation from Afghanistan, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said in a statement.

The statement added that the commercial planes would not fly into Kabul airport. U.S. Military aircraft will focus on operations in and out of Kabul, and commercial planes "will be used for the onward movement of passengers from temporary safe havens and interim staging bases."

This is the third time in history the U.S. military has activated the CRAF, according to the Pentagon. The first was for the Gulf War and the second for the Iraq War.
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Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi on Sunday demanded Japan liberate its assets frozen in Japanese banks in a meeting with visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi.

"The delay in the release of Iranian assets in Japanese banks cannot be justified," Raisi told Motegi, according to a report published on the Iranian Presidency's official website.

Some 3 billion U.S. dollars in Iranian assets mainly from oil and gas exports have been frozen in Japanese banks since the United States unilaterally withdrew from the Iran nuclear agreement and re-imposed sanctions on Iran and on any third party dealing with the Iranian banking system.

In response to U.S. sanctions, Iran has gradually stopped implementing parts of its commitments to the deal since May 2019, and six round of talks in Vienna between April and June have so far failed to revitalize the deal.

Addressing the situation in neighboring Afghanistan, Raisi welcomed the efforts of Japan and other countries in the region to help establish peace and stability in the Asian nation and in the region.

For his part, Motegi congratulated Raisi on his inauguration as president of Iran, and expressed Japan's interest in developing its relations with Iran.
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Nineteen civilians were killed and two others wounded on Friday in an attack by unidentified armed men in the village of Tem, located in Anzourou commune in western Niger's Tillabery region, Niger's Ministry of the Interior and Public Security announced on Saturday evening.

The attack, which targeted civilian populations on Friday around 9 p.m. local time when they were performing their prayers, was perpetrated by unidentified "individuals who came on foot," according to a press release read by public authorities.

"We reinforced the existing security arrangements in the area, a judicial investigation is underway to find the perpetrators of this purely cowardly and criminal act," said the ministry.

The region has in recent years seen a growing number of deadly attacks against the country's armed forces and civilians.

Thirty-seven civilians were killed and four others wounded on Monday afternoon in an attack by unidentified armed men in the village of Darey Dey, located in Banibangou department, Tillabery region, security source said. The attack was carried out by several heavily armed individuals riding motorcycles against civilians working in their fields, the same source said.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday strongly condemned Monday's attack by unidentified gunmen on civilians in the region, said his spokesman.

Guterres expressed deep concern about the cumulative impact of these frequent attacks on the humanitarian situation in the region, where already more than 100,000 people have been displaced and 520,000 are in need of humanitarian assistance, said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman, in a statement.

The secretary-general reiterated the commitment of the United Nations to continue supporting Niger in its efforts to counter and prevent terrorism and violent extremism, promote social cohesion and achieve sustainable development, it said.
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Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett warned on Sunday that Israel will retaliate attacks on its soldiers, a day after an Israeli soldier was injured during clashes with Palestinians near the Gaza border.

Addressing his weekly cabinet meeting, Bennett said that Israel "will settle the score with those who harm our soldiers and civilians."

Referring to a possible escalation with Gaza's Hamas rulers, Bennett said the military is "ready for any scenario."

Overnight, the Israeli air force carried out airstrikes in the Gaza Strip. An Israeli military spokesperson said in a statement that war jets struck four weapons manufacturing and storage sites belonging to Hamas.

Hundreds of Palestinians participated in the demonstration on Saturday, which was organized by Hamas in order to protest the Israeli blockade on Gaza. Some of the demonstrators approached the fence, torched tires and hurled stones and explosives toward the Israeli soldiers.

According to the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza, at least 24 Palestinians were injured by Israeli gunfire. According to the Israeli military, a Border Police officer was shot and critically wounded.

The violence came amid Egyptian-brokered efforts to achieve a long-term ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.

A fragile ceasefire in May halted the most recent war between Israel and Hamas after the 11-day fighting that claimed the lives of 260 Palestinians and 13 people in Israel.
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Nuclear envoys of South Korea and the United States met on Monday on humanitarian aid to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), urging Pyongyang to return to the dialogue table.

Sung Kim, the U.S. special representative for the DPRK who arrived in Seoul on Saturday for a four-day trip, held a meeting with Noh Kyu-duk, South Korea's special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs.

"We discussed possible humanitarian assistance to the DPRK," Kim was quoted by Yonhap news agency as saying in a press conference after the meeting.

Kim reaffirmed U.S. support for inter-Korean dialogue and engagement, saying that the United States will continue to lend support to inter-Korean humanitarian cooperation projects.

Noh told reporters that the two sides discussed ways to cooperate with the DPRK in humanitarian areas, including healthcare, quarantine against infectious diseases, drinking water and hygiene, as well as the humanitarian support for the DPRK through international organizations and non-governmental bodies.

The U.S. envoy renewed his call for the resumption of dialogue with the DPRK, saying he continued to stand ready to meet with his DPRK counterparts "anywhere, at any time."

During his visit to Seoul in June, Kim said the United States can meet with the DPRK "anywhere, anytime without preconditions."

After the meeting with Noh, Kim reportedly met in Seoul with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov who arrived here on Saturday for a six-day trip.

Morgulov will hold a meeting with his South Korean counterpart on Tuesday to discuss bilateral cooperative ways for substantive progress in the complete denuclearization of and the permanent peace settlement on the Korean Peninsula, according to the South Korean Foreign Ministry.
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Journalists visit the venue of the 2021 Smart China Expo in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Aug. 22, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]

Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the China-Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Forum on the Digital Economy Industry and the Smart China Expo 2021, which both opened Monday in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality.

The world has entered a period of rapid growth in the digital economy, in which new technologies, business patterns and platforms such as 5G, artificial intelligence and smart cities have sprung up and greatly influenced scientific innovation, industrial structure adjustment and economic and social development across the globe, Xi said in the letter.

In recent years, China has actively promoted digital industrialization and industrial digitization to push for deep integration between digital technologies and economic and social development, he noted.

On the occasion of the 20th founding anniversary of the SCO, China is willing to, together with other SCO member states, carry forward the Shanghai Spirit and get deeply involved in international cooperation on the digital economy, Xi stressed.

Digitization, networking and intelligence shall provide more momentum for economic and social development, he said, calling for breaking new ground in digital economy cooperation.
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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Monday congratulated Ismail Sabri on assuming office as Malaysia's new prime minister.

In his congratulatory message, Li said China and Malaysia are traditional friendly neighbors facing each other across the sea.

Bilateral relations have maintained a good momentum of development for a long time and cooperation in various fields has been close and deep, which have brought tangible benefits to the peoples of both countries and made positive contributions to regional stability and development, he added.

Li said he is looking forward to working with Prime Minister Sabri to further deepen bilateral cooperation in fighting COVID-19 and development, promote pragmatic cooperation in key areas to achieve more results, and continuously lift the China-Malaysia comprehensive strategic partnership to higher levels.
Wealth captures our trust by opening opportunities and fulfilling many of our needs, but so often the love of money leads to an unhealthy view of the world. This disturbingly broad trust in wealth doesnt just blind us to our obligations to each other, but also creeps into Christian worship of God.

Wealth lures, sometimes for the right reasons



The pursuit of wealth leading to corruption is seen fairly frequently. Im sure there are examples you can think of at both a political level as well as at a community, social or familial level. However, the danger of pursuing wealth extends also to our ability to relate to God.

Jesus says, You cannot serve two masters  you cannot serve both God and money. (Matthew chapter 6 verse 24)

I think a large part of wealths lure is that it appears to provide prosperity and protection. When I think of raising a family, the question of whether I will be able to provide for them and pay any medical bills or other sudden expenses quickly comes to the fore.

Further, I feel pressure to give any future children the kinds of opportunities my own parents were able to give me (even though times are different, and it seems unlikely I could). Even this is clearly a warping of my own viewpoint in that the most important thing my parents tried to help me reach was a firm faith in God. Wealth will not help in the latter.

This is a marker of how wealth doesnt help where it matters most. Yet I see people (sometimes including myself) trusting in wealth where we should be trusting in God.

God provides, but do we give?



God is the one who provides, yet we choose so often to rely on our own strength. I often think of the harsh words of Malachi to the Israelites when they were reluctant to follow their duties in the Old Covenant to give to the temple and to the priests:

Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, How have we robbed you? In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. (Malachi chapter 3 v. 810, ESV trans.)

Testing God is normally considered a bad thing in the Bible, as it is a mark of distrust towards God. Psalm 78 points to this as the cause Gods anger towards the wilderness generation in Exodus: They tested God again and again and provoked the Holy One of Israel. (verse 41, ESV trans.).

Yet here it seems to me that God is saying it would be better to put God to the test than to be as tight-fisted as the Israelites were being in Malachis time. They lacked generosity and charity, failing to uphold their duties in the Old Covenant to care for the priestly Levites.

Although our situation is different in many ways, I wonder if there is a similar lack of trust in God sometimes when we choose to forgo contributing to the work of the church.

Limits to giving?



There are reasons not to contribute. In Israels context, Gods laws for them put a great deal of weight on being socially just. Looking after community, even including sojourners and other foreigners, was part of their worship of God. In our context this is similar, if not extended.

If someone does not look after their brother or sister when they are in need, but gives to the church, how does this reflect Gods love? I think it is more likely to bring Gods name into disrepute. Many already see the Church as merely a set of greedy institutions conning people with fairy tales.

Our actions should not confirm this view, and far worse if our actions displease God while we are at it.

Additionally, while the challenge in Malachi pushes us to give and trust that God will provide. Provision from God is rarely mystical. As mundane as toiling for the means to live can be, it is generally how we are provided for and how we provide for others.

However, giving to the Church is not only bound by our duty to provide for ourselves and others. Jesus notes a widow in the temple who clearly gives based on a different metric:

Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on. (Luke Chapter 21 verses 14, ESV trans.)

This widow gives beyond her means, but Jesus does not criticise this as irresponsible. It appears that this widows actions are commendable and that Jesus followers are to take after her actions far more than the others in the temple that day.

I dont think it is easy to fully understand what this means for us. Perhaps we are called to be more radical in giving than I am comfortable to recommend. However, whatever the case, we need to give with the right motives.

Watch your motives



There are many wrong motives we could have, though the most common form I see seems to be the God as vending machine problem. Our inputs do not determine Gods actions. He has more independence, will and character than we can fully comprehendmore personhood than people.

We shouldnt use our giving to try to manipulate God. Bargaining is not the right way to relate to God, and attempting to force Gods hand into providing for us is sinister. Several of the prophets to Israel warned that their offerings were repugnant to God. Giving out of the wrong motives is deeply offensive. If we are trying to control God through giving, it would be better to not give at all.

God provides for us and is our truest protection in life. We cannot afford to live life with wealth as our master and cannot expect it to rule over God either. Wealth can give us the means to look after ourselves and those around us, including the Church, so use it wisely.
We eat our dog food, why don't you? A survey carried out by fresh dog food company, Butternut Box, shows that dog owners think most dog food is "disgusting." But that hasn't stopped Butternut Box from confidently serving up their fresh take on dog food to Londoners for lunch. LONDON, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --A New research has revealed that 25% of dog owners have considered tasting their dog's food - but only 7% have actually tried it themselves. The findings, unveiled today by Butternut Box, the leading fresh dog food subscription service in Europe, follow the brand's recent social experiment in which it served up its own fresh take on dog food to hungry Londoners as part of its Taste Test Challenge. Butternut Box, a company founded on principles of taste-testing its own dog food, carried out the survey to demonstrate the low standards consumers expect from the pet food industry. Of the 400 respondents, 68% of UK dog owners have never considered eating their dog's food. Quoted responses as to why not ranged from: "smells awful," "sounds gross," and "because it's disgusting," to "because it could harm me" and "not sure if it's OK for human consumption." Charlotte McCormack, Butternut Box's Head of Product Development, who has over a decade of experience in the pet food industry, said of the findings: "It's part of our quality-assurance process to taste-testA our meals and we actually enjoy doing it because all of our fresh recipes use tasty, human-grade ingredients. You won't find many other pet food companies that are willing to regularly eat their own food." Last month, the leading subscription-based fresh dog food brand in Europe, who recently announced it had raised A40m of primary capital, challenged London to eat their dog food. Over 250 park-goers took the Taste Test Challenge held in Victoria Park over two weekends in July. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with one park-goer even declaring "It's delicious, tastes just like Shepherd's pie!" View the video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPqzO_r8BsY. Kevin Glynn, Butternut Box co-founder, says: "Good enough for your dog means good enough for us. We started Butternut Box to deliver health and happiness to dogs and their humans. We always ensure we're serving healthy and quality ingredients that we happily eat ourselves." Co-founders Kevin Glynn and David Nolan delivered their first fresh meal in 2016. Butternut Box has since grown to become Europe's leading direct-to-consumer fresh dog food brand. Butternut's innovative "fresh" dog food has since been challenging expectations for the quality of ingredients used by the dog food industry. "When we say human-quality, we mean it," says David Nolan, Butternut Box co-founder. "No nasties, no grains, what you see is what you get. That's what Butternut Box was founded on, fresh home-cooked meals. Our customers really see and notice the difference." About Butternut Box Butternut Box is a UK-based startup, founded by two friends, KevA and Dave. The two started the company after seeing the benefits that home-cooked food had on Dave's poorly rescue dog, Rudie. Butternut's mission is to deliver health and happiness to dogs and their humans all over the world. For more information, visit www.ButternutBox.com. Company: Butternut Box

Contact: Khadeeja Paul, Brand Manager

Email: khadeejapaul@butternutbox.com

Phone: +44 (0)7512 365018
Litchfield, CT (06759)

Today

Rain. High near 65F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

A steady rain. The rain will be heavy at times. Low 57F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 3 to 5 inches of rain expected. Localized flooding is expected.
Police gave few details of what happened, but said theyre looking for a dark-colored vehicle that drove off after the boy was hit around 8:15 p.m. near Bunker Hill Avenue and Jillson Circle.
Just over half of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated. Vaccinations in this country bottomed out in July at an average of about a half-million shots per day, down from a peak of 3.4 million a day in mid-April. As the delta variant fills hospital beds, shots are on the rise again, with a million a day given Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Flooding on I-91 in Hartford led to several collisions Sunday, said state Trooper Matthew Cashman. The accidents were cleared, but as troopers were out there investigating crashes, more and more crashes started happening because of the flooding, Cashman said. At 3 p.m., state police closed the northbound side of the highway between Exits 25 and 26. It was later reopened.
We had all hoped that the vaccination in and of itself would be a major equalizer, and while we still believe that it is, it is not allowing the planning to go how we thought, he said. We now realize there is more of a potential for spread among vaccinated individuals, so we have to modify.
One of the drivers were seeing cause an increase in school enrollment is the young families moving into existing homes and renovating them, he said. What youre having is an older couple no longer interested in taking care of a home  theyre moving on to a condo or some other part of the country  and a family is coming in with three people or even four.
We cannot allow wrongdoers to misuse the bankruptcy code to shield their wealth from justice, Tong said last month. Connecticut will not sit on the sidelines while the Sacklers raid their own charity funds and walk away with their personal wealth intact. This plan represents an unprecedented legal maneuver to try to force states to give up our strong claims against the Sacklers. This plan is a far cry from justice, and we will not give up our fight for justice and accountability.
The cafe will feature sandwiches, salads, milkshakes and smoothies. The bar, complete with 15 seats and six taps, will focus on craft beer and wine. Truong hired 16 employees as of Aug. 20 and says the cafe and bar will be a tip-free restaurant. Everyone will make at least $9.50 an hour to start, and a 15% service charge on bills will be distributed to staff depending on how many hours they work, he said.
The Taliban have pledged amnesty to those who worked with the U.S., NATO and the toppled Afghan government, but many Afghans still fear revenge attacks. There have been reports in recent days of the Taliban hunting down their former enemies. Its unclear if Taliban leaders are saying one thing and doing another, or if fighters are taking matters into their own hands.
Were gonna try our very best to get everybody, every American citizen who wants to get out, out, Austin said in the interview. And weve got -- we continue to look at different ways to -- in creative ways -- to reach out and contact American citizens and help them get into the airfield. He later said this included non-Americans who qualify for evacuation, including Afghans who have applied for Special Immigrant Visas.
The impact of the crash caused the Honda to catch fire and become engulfed in flame. The driver of the Honda, Jahsani Jean-Baptiste, 18, died at the scene. Jean-Baptiste was track athlete from Western Branch High School in Chesapeake and had received a scholarship to Wingate University in North Carolina, according to an obituary.
Around 2:13 a.m. on Monday, police received a call about a vehicle matching the description of Carsons vehicle  a 2013 Toyota Corolla. The car was slightly damaged and driving slowly near the first block of Marcella Road.
So, we know that some places  California and rural Virginia, for example  are growing slowly, if at all. Thats a new predicament for California, but not for the less populated regions of the commonwealth.
Students walk through the Student Union Building as they exit their classes on Oct. 26, 2020. The Student Union Building has set up regulations regarding social distancing, masks and capacity for the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lubbock, TX (79409)

Today

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The LIC will offer a 20 per cent late fee concession up to Rs 2,000 if the total received premium is up to Rs 1 lakh. (Twitter)

Mumbai: Public sector behemoth Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) is launching a two-month special revival campaign, from Monday August 23 to October 22, for individuals to revive specific policies at concessional rates, excluding term insurance and high value covers.

Under this Special Revival Campaign, policies of specific eligible plans can be revived within 5 years from date of the first unpaid premium subject to certain terms and conditions. High risk plans like term assurance and multiple risk policies are not eligible for the concession, said a statement from LIC.

In view of the prevailing circumstances, concessions are being offered in late fee... There are no concessions on medical requirements. Eligible health and micro insurance plans also qualify for the concession in late fee, the insurer said.

The LIC will offer a 20 per cent late fee concession up to Rs 2,000 if the total received premium is up to Rs 1 lakh. For policies with total receivable premium of Rs 1 lakh to Rs 3 lakh, a 25 per cent concession in late fee will be given with maximum concession of Rs 2,500. For policies in which a premium of Rs 3.01 lakh and above is paid, the late fee concession would be 30 per cent, or up to Rs 3,000.

Policies which are in a lapsed condition are eligible to be revived in this campaign.
As per the government notification, the onus of obtaining HUID number is on the manufacturer, and others in the supply chain, including the retailer, need not worry about it. (DC Image)

Chennai: Small jewellers and goldsmiths have termed Monday's jeweller strike against implementation of HUID on assayed jewellery as "absurd" and an attempt to protect vested interests.

The All-India Jewellers and Goldsmith Federation (AIJGF) said that small jewellers of the country are not involved in the strike. "The strike on August 23 is absurd and an attempt by certain big fishes to serve their vested interests by tarnishing the jewellery trade of the country," it said.

According to the federation, there are about six lakh jewellers in the country and of them about 10 per cent are big jewellers while the rest are smaller traders. About 20 lakh artisans also work in this business. While giving a strike call, the 10 per cent big jewellers are using smaller ones as a cover for their vested interests, said Pankaj Arora, national president, AIJGF.

"Those who are on strike are misleading lakhs of small gold traders of the country and calling hallmarking and HUID (six-digit Hallmarking Unique ID) as anti-trade. They do not want their business activities to come under the government scanner," he said.

As per the government notification, the onus of obtaining HUID number is on the manufacturer, and others in the supply chain, including the retailer, need not worry about it. The AIJGF termed it as a welcome step, which will not only instil confidence in the minds of the customers but also increase the availability of pure gold in India.

The All-India Gem and Jewellery Domestic Council (GJC) had called for the token strike on Monday. The organisation alleged that HUID is a tracking mechanism and has nothing to do with the purity of gold. HUID is also against data privacy and "business secrecy" of individual citizens, the GJC said.
With no adequate infrastructure facilities available in the government procurement centres for purchasing, transportation and storage of paddy stocks, farmers are forced to sell their produce for prices lower than the MSP to private players. (Photo:PTI)

HYDERABAD: The Telangana government's record paddy procurement for MSP (minimum support price) has failed to save farmers from incurring losses due to a glut-like situation in the market.

With no adequate infrastructure facilities available in the government procurement centres for purchasing, transportation and storage of paddy stocks, farmers are forced to sell their produce for prices lower than the MSP to private players.

The unseasonal rains during the procurement season every year are adding to the woes of farmers. Paddy is getting damaged in procurement centres due to lack of tarpaulins to protect stocks from rains. This apart, there is a shortage of gunny bags and hamalis for loading and unloading of stocks and trucks for transportation.

All these factors are forcing farmers to sell their produce to private traders for prices below MSP instead of taking the risks at government procurement centres for want of MSP.

In the recent rabi procurement, the state government procured a record-high of 90 lakh tonnes of paddy at the MSP out of estimated production of 1.35 crore tonnes.

Farmers had to sell 45 lakh tonnes to private traders and rice millers with no adequate facilities in the government procurement centres. The state government had planned to implement regulated farming two years ago to avoid excess sowing of any particular crop, especially paddy, but backtracked later fearing resistance from farmers.

Although the government urged farmers not to go for paddy this kharif to avoid glut-like situation in the market, resulting in crash of prices below MSP, it did not make much impact with paddy sown area witnessing higher levels as usual.

Official sources in agriculture department said, "The data gathered from all districts until August 18 shows that paddy was sown over an area of 39.40 lakh acres in the state this kharif against 44.62 lakh acres sown last kharif. With more than one month left for kharif to end, the crop sown area is expected to touch last year's level again. The government encouraged farmers to sow cotton instead. But cotton was sown in 50.24 lakh acres against 58.60 lakh acres last year."

The crop sown area of jowar, red gram, black gram, groundnut, castor, soybean and sugarcane have registered lower than targeted levels as farmers preferred paddy over them.
Guwahati: The Gauhati High Court granted bail to a student of the IIT-Guwahati, accused of raping a fellow student, calling both of them "the state's future assets".

Hearing a bail application by the accused BTech student, Justice Ajit Borthakur said there is a clear prima facie case as alleged against the petitioner based on all the evidence.

"However, as the investigation in the case is completed and both the informant/victim girl and the accused are the state's future assets being talented students pursuing technical courses at the IIT, Guwahati,...continuation of detention of the accused...if charges are framed, may not be necessary," the order said.

The court in its order on August 13 noted that both are young -- in the age group of 19 to 21 -- and further, they hailed from two different states.

"A perusal of the list of witnesses too, cited in the charge-sheet, this Court finds no possibility of the accused tampering with their evidence or influencing them directly or indirectly, if released on bail," it added.

Accordingly, the high court granted bail to the accused for Rs 30,000 bond along with two sureties.

The court also said, "It is pertinent to be mentioned that it is judicially well settled that while dealing with a bail application, the Court is not called upon to discuss the merits or demerits of the evidence available against the accused.

"...but some reasons for prima facie concluding while bail is being granted need to be indicated in brief."

On the night of March 28, the accused had allegedly raped the girl, who was rescued the next day and admitted to the hospital. The accused was arrested on April 3.
Many farmers had shifted to commercial crops in kharif 2021 as they suffered losses in paddy cultivation.  Representational image/DC

Adilabad: Paddy farmers in old Adilabad district who suffered huge losses due to pest attack on their crops shifted to commercial crops like cotton and soya during kharif season.

Many paddy farmers cultivated the fine paddy variety Telangana Sona Masuri promoted by the state government in Khanapur, Kadam and Nirmal areas. Paddy cultivation is less in Adilabad district and more in Mancherial and Nirmal districts where irrigation facility is available.

A farmer who suffered huge loss with pest attack on paddy in his 10-acre land at Kanakapur village in Mamada mandal burnt the paddy as he was disappointed with the loss.

Farmers wanted to prevent the pest from spreading to the neighbouring fields.

They cultivated the Telangana Sona Masuri variety paddy following Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Raos appeal but it suffered from pest attack and there was no yield. The farmers say the seed variety promoted by the state government was not pest-resistant.

Many paddy farmers shifted to commercial crops like cotton and soya after incurring losses with the cultivation of a fine quality of rice under controlled agriculture method, though the state government announced MSP Rs 1,880 for grade-I and Rs 1,850 for grade-II quality paddy.

Sangepu Borranna, district president of Rythu Swarajya Vedika said many farmers had shifted to commercial crops in kharif 2021 as they suffered losses in paddy cultivation.
Hyderabad: Finance minister T. Harish Rao on Monday made best use of successful implementation of Kaleswaram lift irrigation scheme and other irrigation projects to project that the countrys most expensive direct benefit transfer (DBT) scheme of Dalit Bandhu is indeed doable.

Dalit Bandhu is for providing Rs 10 lakh cash assistance in the form of grant to all the 7 lakh Dalit families in the state, and requires at least Rs 1.7 lakh crore in the next three years for Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao to fulfil his promise.

Asked about the availability of funds, the minister said the Opposition parties and experts expressed doubts when the Chief Minister announced the Kaleswaram project. I was the irrigation minister then, he said adding that the government made it possible thanks to the determination of Chandrashekar Rao. He will find a way for Dalit Bandhu also, said the minister.

Harish Rao also defended sale of lands to mobilise revenues in contrast to the claims of the states prosperity. The funds thus accrued are spent for states development, he pointed out. We are building Kaleswaram and distributing sheep to the poor, he said adding that both initiatives had yielded the desired results.

The minister referred to the drop in farmers suicides, record production of paddy and other crops and massive growth in the gross value of output (GVO) for livestock as symbols of success. The Opposition questioned distribution of sheep but the gross value of output of meat grew by three times from Rs 8,000 crore to Rs 26,000 crore. New water sources helped in doubling the GVO of inland fish and prawns, he added.
I had written a couple of weeks ago about how Indias middle class has completely stopped growing in recent years. The leading indicators of our economy  the sales of residential properties, cars, two-wheelers, consumer durables (fridges, washing machines, televisions)  have been flat. The borrowing by businesses of money from banks has been at less than a third of what it was a decade ago. The governments periodic labour force survey released a few weeks ago showed that, for the first time, more people were employed in agriculture than in the previous period. Meaning that people had left their jobs in manufacturing or in services, or they had been sacked, and had gone to work on the farm.

Manufacturing jobs in the formal sector have reduced rather than increased in the last few years. Perhaps in a parallel development, tens of thousands of dollar millionaire Indians, meaning those worth `7 crores or more, have left India in the last four years. I have examined the things above in my next book and have written about this in this column too. The other interesting aspect of recent years is the introduction of new laws that have taken India in a particular direction. The Gujarat high court criticised some parts of a so-called love jihad law a few days ago. But similar laws have been enacted in several states since 2014. The laws are aimed at making marriage difficult if not impossible between Hindus and Muslims by criminalising conversion, which is ostensibly a fundamental right of all Indians.

These are the Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion Act 2018, the Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act 2019; the Uttar Pradesh Vidhi Viruddh Dharma Samparivartan Pratishedh Adhyadesh 2020 (Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance); Madhya Pradesh Dharma Swatantreya Adhyadesh 2020; and the Gujarat Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Act 2021.

All these laws have come in BJP-ruled states, all of them have come in the last three years and none of them has been justified by any data.

Before this, the BJP states were passing laws against beef possession. The laws were the Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act 2015 (passed by the Devendra Fadnavis government); the Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Act 2015; the Gujarat Animal Preservation (Amendment) Bill 2017; and the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Ordinance 2020.

In Gujarat, the punishment for cow slaughter is life imprisonment. No other economic crime attracts this sentence, and Indian law says cow slaughter is not a religious crime but an economic one. Once again, all these laws came after 2014 and in this instance began a spate of lynchings of Muslims that the world noticed.

Readers may have heard of the UAPA law under which Stan Swamy was jailed and died in custody. The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act 2019 allows the government to categorise any individual as a terrorist, on suspicion. Such an individual need not have any affiliation with any terrorist organisation to be called a terrorist and jailed. The amendment defines a terrorist act as one which causes injuries to any person, damage to any property, an attempt to overawe any public functionary by means of criminal force and any act to compel the government or any person to do or abstain from doing any act etc. It also includes any act that is likely to threaten or likely to strike terror in people, giving absolute power to the government to brand any citizen or activist a terrorist without these acts being actually committed.

The Gujarat Prohibition of Transfer of Immovable Property and Provision for Protection of Tenants from Eviction from Premises in Disturbed Areas Act 2019 is a law that keeps Gujarati Muslims segregated and ghettoised. People are required by law to reveal their religion while selling and purchasing property. In areas that were declared disturbed by the state, Hindus cannot sell to Muslims and vice versa without government permission. The amendment that was cleared in 2019 gave the district collector the authority to determine if the sale of a property would lead to the improper clustering of Muslims.

It also gave the government further powers to review the decision of the collector, even if the buyer and seller made no appeal. In effect, even foreigners can lease and buy property in those parts of Gujarats cities where Indian Muslims cannot. These laws are used in India quite freely, and there is no real restriction or curbs on the government because misuse is not punished and there is no accountability even for deaths in custody.

I do not know how many readers are familiar with these laws, and if they are, whether they are surprised by these changes that have come to India since 2014.

The curious thing for me as a writer is that there is no real debate on what these laws have done to this country. There is not even any comment on them in our newspapers. This is similar to the facts and data on the economy.

These numbers quoted above are not disputed by the government or by anyone who supports it. They are merely not commented on, and it is assumed to be fine that Indias middle class has stopped growing. Similarly, it is assumed to be fine that since 2014, India has left its moorings as a pluralist, modern, secular state because that is how the BJP would like it to be.
The government has ordered around 16 million doses of AstraZeneca Plc and Moderna Inc vaccines for this year but as yet only around 4 million of them have arrived. (Bloomberg)

Taiwan begins administering its first domestically developed Covid-19 vaccines Monday as it seeks to rely more on local options after struggling to secure sufficient supply of the major international shots.

President Tsai Ing-wen was among the first on Monday to get the vaccine developed by Taipei-based Medigen Vaccine Biologics Corporation. The company is yet to complete phase-3 trials for its vaccine but has been granted an emergency use authorization to begin inoculations.

The move to accelerate its domestic vaccine rollout comes as the economy remains depressed after the government enforced a soft lockdown in May to counter the islands worst outbreak since the novel coronavirus first emerged. Buying enough vaccines for its 23.5 million population has proven a challenge, and only 3% of the population was fully vaccinated as of Wednesday, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control -- one of the lowest rates among developed economies worldwide. Just under 40% of the public has received one dose.

It remains unclear whether a significant proportion of the public will agree to get the Medigen shot, and Tsais high-profile public vaccination is meant to encourage uptake. The government has ordered 5 million doses from the company in total with just over 600,000 available starting from Monday. All but 30,000 have already been allocated to recipients.

The Medigen technology is a recombinant protein-based vaccine similar to the one developed by Novavax Inc., which was shown to be 90% effective in a nearly 30,000-person trial in the U.S. and Mexico.

The company says the vaccine has generated a level of antibodies more than three times higher than those elicited by the AstraZeneca vaccine and also exceeded a threshold mandated by Taiwans health authorities.Antibody levels are seen as a proxy of a vaccines ability to fight the virus but do not equate to actual efficacy. Large clinical trials are the only way to determine if an experimental immunization helps reduce the occurrence of Covid among vaccinated people compared with those who are unvaccinated. Medigen hasnt yet completed its trials.

Doubts remain about locally developed solutions. A panel of experts convened to evaluate Medigens emergency use authorization in July. Out of the 20 experts who voted, two declined to approve the vaccine, according to a statement from Taiwans Food and Drug Administration.

A similar panel declined to grant an EUA for Taipei-based United Biomedical Inc.s vaccine last week for failing to produce enough antibodies. The FDA said United Biomedical can appeal its decision after the company called for its vaccine to be given a second chance, according to a report by Taipei-based Central News Agency.

The government has ordered around 16 million doses of AstraZeneca Plc and Moderna Inc vaccines for this year but as yet only around 4 million of them have arrived. The U.S., Japan and Lithuania between them have donated an additional 5.9 million jabs.

Taiwan has been forced to rely on assistance from the corporate and civic sectors to buy vaccines from BioNTech after months of convoluted negotiations proved fruitless earlier this year, with officials blaming the German companys Chinese distributor, Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group, for obstructing the deal. Shanghai Fosun denied any wrongdoing and expressed a willingness to sell the vaccines to Taiwan.

A deal was eventually concluded only after Taiwans largest company, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. founder Terry Gou and the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation offered to step in to act as intermediaries with Shanghai Fosun. Each purchased 5 million doses they will donate to the government.
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The Afghan withdrawal: Far more painful than heroin withdrawal By Greg Strange

As with every other left-induced debacle in contemporary America, the debacle of the Afghan withdrawal leaves rational patriotic Americans shaking their heads in disbelief and disillusionment. As with all the other debacles  COVID response, open borders, mollycoddling violent criminals, pushing socialism, transgender madness, out of control trillion, zillion spending  they are left to ask the question: How can all of this be happening in the greatest country in the history of mankind? But lets focus on Afghanistan for now, while keeping in mind the context of an America in severe decline. Look, whether we had twenty years or a thousand years, there was never going to be a way for us to fix Afghanistan. Why, we could no more fix whats wrong with Afghanistan than we, apparently, can fix whats wrong with . . . Portland! Or San Francisco! Or Baltimore! Or Chicago! Or you name the ruined, Democrat-run American city. Or for that matter, you name the particular section of the ruined American heartland, which is fast and deliberately being filled up with endless illegals. So, maybe it was time to get out of Afghanistan (though an argument can be made for maintaining a minimal presence to prevent total chaos). But how do you get the withdrawal so colossally, breathtakingly, catastrophically wrong? We all knew the Taliban would soon take over again, but how do you not get all of the thousands of Americans out first? How do you leave behind billions of dollars worth of equipment and weapons (including, reportedly, helicopters, tanks and drones) for the Taliban to scoop up? How do you abandon those Afghans who helped us to the tender mercies of the Taliban? As with seemingly everything else in America these days, depravity reigns supreme and this withdrawal is no exception. Look at our leadership. First, surreal doesnt even begin to describe the circumstances in which a doddering, diminished codger like Biden  who was wrong about everything even in his prime  could have been chosen to lead the most dynamic and consequential country in the world. And whether it was voter fraud or not that got him into office, the fact remains that approximately half of American citizens preferred him along with all the destructive insanity that comes with the Democrat Party. In other words, our citizenry has become unimaginably degraded. When that happens, you get depravity, both domestically and internationally. But what about our vaunted military leaders? When you have guys like Mark Milley serving as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff . . . Well, lets just say our enemies  even backward primitives like the Taliban  have a distinct advantage. Remember this guy, Milley? He was more interested in our soldiers reading the neo-Marxist ravings of Ibram X. Kendi than instructing them on how to defeat our enemies. Commentator Mark Steyn referred to him as Thoroughly Modern Milley. I wish Id thought of that, but Ill take the liberty of bumping it up a notch: Thoroughly Post-Modern Milley, given his obsession with critical race theory and trying to understand white rage. Hes also down with every gender-bending, intersectionally nuanced absurdity masquerading as Homo sapiens who, bizarrely, want to join the military because its all just so fabulously inclusive and tolerant. (And because ones sex reassignment surgery can be paid for by the government.) Conservatives used to console themselves when fretting about a civil war by assuring themselves that the military would be on their side. That all seems so quaint now. That was so pre-Obama, who filled the leadership ranks with rank leftists. And now the chickens have come home to roost. These guys are fast turning the military, like our schools and corporations, into laboratories of leftist social experimentation. The rainbow flag is now just as important, if not more so, than the stars and stripes. And why not, since the latter represents endless oppression, racism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia and Islamophobia. Again, the Afghan withdrawal debacle should be seen in the context of an America in freefall. Every institution has been infected with and corrupted by the woke virus. As long as that virus has a hold on us, nothing will ever function properly because it destroys all common sense, all perspective on history, all appreciation of timeless wisdom and all gratitude for everything we have. So, while Americans at home  at least the white ones  are systematically being taught to hate themselves, their history and their civilization, terrified Afghans were clinging to the outside of an airplane taxiing for takeoff without much consideration for the survivability of such a desperate gambit. They just wanted to get to America, which they believed to be infinitely better than their own country, but unaware that half of Americans dont agree with them and vote for policies that arent far removed from what amounts to nihilism. So here we are, another humiliating, catastrophic mistake, compliments of the woke gang that couldnt shoot straight. Consequently, we get a Taliban spokesman saying, We have defeated a great power. Actually, no, you havent. Dont even begin to flatter yourself that way. Your graveyard of empires is nothing more than a backwater of illiterate, squabbling tribes who have nothing better to do than wage endless war against each other and anyone else who wanders onto your hapless antediluvian land. The great power could still effortlessly incinerate your crap-hole of a country. The great power could have continued to dominate you until doomsday with a few airplanes and a handful of its magnificent troops on the ground. On a civilizational scale from Neanderthal to the space age, you barely register. No, the reality is the great power has defeated itself and your gang of retrograde Islamic losers gets zero credit for that. You are the lucky recipients of Americas cultural, spiritual and moral decline, the result of which is personified in our current inept president and woke military leadership. And by the way, Taliban, that didnt happen because America is an infidel relative to Islam. It happened because America has become an infidel relative to Judeo-Christianity, which is what made it great to begin with. Without that incomparable foundation, everything eventually crumbles, as we are seeing all around us. Well, at least were finally out of the quagmire of Afghanistan, right? Unfortunately, our military, along with the rest of our society, is currently neck deep in a quagmire of cultural Marxism, identity politics and social justice, from which it may not be able to extract itself anytime soon, if ever. And thats to the absolute delight of our enemies around the world who are going to be like pigs in slop for as long as it lasts. The foreign policy consequences of this botched and craven withdrawal could be earth-shaking. To say that bad actors on the international stage have been emboldened is the understatement of the post-Trumpian world order. For instance, if I lived in Taiwan right now Id be shaking in my boots. Likewise if I lived in any region formerly terrorized by Isis, al-Qaeda and the like. Likewise if I lived in any former Soviet Republic that Vladimir Putin takes a shine to in his delirious desire to reconstitute the fallen Soviet empire. Likewise on down the line. Oh well. But at least we know well take the House back in 22, right? And then well say, Take that, President Harris! Greg Strange can be reached at gpstrange30341@yahoo.com . (c) 2021 Greg Strange. Home
Battle of Appomattox: Understanding General Lee's surrender

By Sam Jacobs



The Battle of Appomattox Courthouse is considered by many historians the end of the Civil War and the start of post-Civil War America . The events of General Robert E. Lees surrender to General and future President Ulysses S. Grant at a small town courthouse in Central Virginia put into effect much of what was to follow.

The surrender at Appomattox Courthouse was about reconciliation, healing, and restoring the Union. While the Radical Republicans had their mercifully brief time in the sun rubbing defeated Dixies nose in it, largely in response to the Southern "Black Codes," they represented the bleeding edge of Northern radicalism that wanted to punish the South, not reintegrate it into the Union as an equal partner.

The sentiment of actual Civil War veterans is far removed from the attitude of the far left in America today. Modern day woke-Americans clamor for the removal of Confederate statues in the South , the lions share of which were erected while Civil War veterans were still alive. There was little objection to these statues at the time because it was considered an important part of the national reconciliation to allow the defeated South to honor its wartime dead and because there is a longstanding tradition of memorializing defeated foes in honor cultures .

The Events of the Surrender at Appomattox Courthouse

Long story short, the Battle of Appomattox Courthouse was a last ditch effort by General Lees Army of Northern Virginia to meet up with the remaining Confederate forces to consolidate their efforts. The Greys failed and General Lee surrendered to Grant which effectively ended the war.

For ceremonial purposes, General Lee waited for General Grant in a white uniform. Grant, who suffered from migraines, noticed his headaches end once he and Lee had negotiated a ceasefire. Grant, in his magnanimity, allowed Lee to choose the place of his surrender  Lee famously chose the Appomattox Courthouse.

General Grants generosity extended beyond allowing Lee to choose the location of his surrender. Lees men were allowed to keep their horses, sidearms, and personal effects, including their mules Grant recognized the importance of the mules for the upcoming plowing season. Grant went so far as to give Lees men rations for their journey home. Lee could not have hoped for much more and certainly would have been satisfied with far less.

The terms of surrender were dictated to Grants assistant, a Seneca Indian by the name of Ely S. Parker . Lee commented at the time that "It is good to have one real American here," to which Parker replied, "Sir, we are all Americans." Indeed, this was perhaps truer than it had ever been in American history.

A particularly poignant moment followed when Lee exited the courthouse and Grants men applauded in celebration but were quickly rebuked by their commanding officers. He immediately ordered an end to any celebration, remarking that The Confederates were now our countrymen, and we did not want to exult over their downfall."

General Custer and other officers purchased furnishings from the room where the surrender took place as souvenirs. General Grant went out to visit General Lee and other Confederate soldiers. The two sat on the porch of the McLean House , where the two talked before setting off for their respective capital cities. Generals Longstreet and Pickett also made an appearance.

Grant was not the only one willing to make concessions in the name of national unity  the very idea of a ceremony of surrender was anathema to much of the top brass in the Confederacy.

General Joshua Chamberlain , a celebrated figure among some of the most hardcore Unionists, ordered a salute of arms to the defeated Confederates at the surrender, an act that he could justify using the plausible deniability that he was saluting the lowering of the Union flag. His words on the matter are powerful and speak to prevailing moods of the time:

Before us in proud humiliation stood the embodiment of manhood: men whom neither toils and sufferings, nor the fact of death, nor disaster, nor hopelessness could bend from their resolve; standing before us now, thin, worn, and famished, but erect, and with eyes looking level into ours, waking memories that bound us together as no other bond;was not such manhood to be welcomed back into a Union so tested and assured

General George Meade is reported to have cried out, "it's all over," when he received news of the surrender. While 175,000 Confederate troops remained in the field, they were starving, exhausted, and spread thin. It was all over but for the shouting.

Over 650,000 Americans died in the Civil War, which is the equivalent of six million men today. Because the militaries were organized by location, many towns were left with no young men, only young children, old men, and widows. Part of this can be attributed to innovations in firepower. Due to advances in rifling, men had guns that could hit the side of a barn door at 100 yards for the first time in history.

Reconciliation in Post-Civil War America

After the war, most Americans were eager to reconcile with one another, which included the Southern states honoring their war dead with statues and the naming of military bases after Confederate heroes. The idea here is that both sides were Americans, both sides were brave, and both sides fought valiantly in the war. Slavery was de-emphasized because it was a moot issue slaves had been freed and slavery wasnt coming back. The nation wanted to move forward.

It is not difficult to separate the cause from the men who fought for it. However, there is little reason to believe that slavery and the dubious benefits of which were only enjoyed by a third of the population were motivating factors for the men in the Confederate Army. To put this into perspective, how eager would you be to fight for the holdings of Citibank or Amazon? Slavery was, by and large, an institution for elites, and even the majority of slaveholders were not big plantation owners, but small farmers who owned a slave or two.

This is not to excuse the institution of slavery which is both morally reprehensible and socially corrosive. We are simply attempting to provide important historical context that is sorely lacking from the current discourse on slavery, the Civil War, and the Confederacy. Much of the current discussion surrounding Civil War monuments in the South is centered around erasing history rather than understanding, appreciating, and learning from it.

Honoring the Confederate dead does not imply support for the Confederate cause. These statues are an acknowledgment of the tragedy of war and the bravery of individuals whose only crime was valuing their homeland and family over abstract principles. Currently, the left is attempting to paint this as simple Lost Cause -ism, but nothing could be farther from the truth as honoring the dead does not require accepting the Southern cause as noble or honorable. There were brave and moral men on both sides of the conflict, and each is worthy of reverence and respect for doing what they thought was right. Reconciliation began in the 1880s and 1890s, and during these years, Civil War monuments were built in the North and South alike.

In April of 1898, a statue was completed in Wisconsin of a soldier rescuing downed regimental colors from a fallen comrade. The statue was not greeted with ire by the South, but admiration. A Virginia Congressman wrote a letter to the local paper stating, a soldier of the Old Dominion in the war between the states, a representative of the suffering and heroic people of Richmond, Va., wishes you success in commemorating your heroic slain."

Likewise, when Virginia unveiled a large equestrian statue of General Robert E. Lee, largely seen as the embodiment of Southern values, the North did not kick up a fuss but sent similar regards to the city in honor of Lee. The New York Times wrote that "There is no question at all that his conduct throughout the war, and after it, was that of a brave and honorable man.

It's worth noting that the erection of statues came after the Black Codes, Radical Reconstruction, and the KKK  the tumultuous period following the War's end. Nor was every Confederate statue made for men of Lee's stature, many are for more obscure local figures and lesser lights. But the generation of young men who fought the Civil War, now entering old age, were firmly in control of the country and the culture.

The goal was not to justify slavery or rebellion, but rather it was, as President Lincoln put it, to bind up the nations wounds.

What We Can Learn from the Surrender at Appomattox

Lincolns famous remark, With malice toward none; with charity for all, largely sums up the prevailing, mainstream attitudes of the time. Americans had just suffered through four years of war that literally tore the country apart. The cliche about brother against brother was true especially in the border states that were hardest hit by the conflict, as many families had members on both sides of the conflict.

The war took an immense physical, psychological, and financial toll on the nation. Few were eager to see the conflict extended any further than it needed to be, despite knowing that there was still some work to be done regarding the integration of former rebellious states back into the Union.

The men who were most directly involved in the final battle of the Civil War were not eager to boast or punish the South for their rebellion. Although part of this can surely be ascribed to the fatigue coming from years of open warfare, there is something else going on here that is hinted at by General Chamberlains words. There was respect due to any group of brave men who can lose honorably and maintain their dignity, but there is also the knowledge that many of these men were not fighting to preserve slavery.

We will not attempt to pull out the old chestnut that the Civil War was not about slavery. It was about slavery, but it was also about much, much more. The United States prior to the Civil War was effectively a northern industrialized nation and a Southern agrarian nation shackled together. American history between 1776 and 1861 is largely about repeated attempts to cobble these two nations together. The key difference was between industrialized free labor and agrarian bonded labor, but there was a myriad of other social and cultural differences.

It is also worth pointing out that the North did not attempt to use the war to end slavery until several years in and then half-heartedly at that. President Lincoln once famously remarked that "If I could save the union without freeing any slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that."

The North fought to keep the Union intact and everything else was just a window dressing. While it would be disingenuous to say that no one in the South was fighting to preserve human bondage, this was not the motivation for all, nor even for most men fighting what they called  The Second American Revolution .

It is somewhat fashionable today on the left to refer to the Southrons fighting for the Confederacy as traitors, but we should examine what we mean when we say this word. To whom does ones allegiance belong  homeland and family or to the federal bureaucracy? For the lion's share of Confederate soldiers, their fight was not for slavery but for Virginia, or Mississippi, or Arkansas. Thus, fighting the Union was not an act of disloyalty, but quite the opposite.

During the Civil War, the North and the South shared a common set of political principles that were exemplified in the Constitution. The Confederates copied the Constitution almost word for word, however, they added verbiage to justify and protect slavery and enshrine state sovereignty. Confederate courts even used United States Supreme Court decisions as precedent.

It is unlikely that the current rift in the United States can be reconciled in the same way as the Civil War. Americas two main political factions  let's call them liberals and conservatives for simplicity's sake  do not share a common set of political principles or social goals which leaves no room for compromise.

The men who fought in the Civil War had less animosity toward one another than leftist college students have toward Confederate soldiers today. If the brave men there that day at Appomattox Courthouse werent angry enough to stop the former Confederates from honoring their war dead, how can we take seriously the caterwauling of far-left students and activists? The attack on Confederate war monuments and history has nothing to do with outrage over events taking place 150 years ago and everything to do with attacking and erasing American history and heritage.

Sam Jacobs is a writer for Ammo.com where this originally appeared.
Biden's blowup: Back to the future of Islamic terrorism

By Mark Alexander



Where to start on the disgraceful failure of Joe Biden's retreat from Afghanistan?

First and foremost, with prayers for the people of this harsh and war-torn nation, particularly the men, women, and children who will be slaughtered in the wake of Biden's catastrophically failed retreat. And prayers for the families of American service members who died in Afghanistan or are living with severe injuries  some visible, some not.

My perspective on Islamic extremism is informed by both personal experience in Muslim countries and many years of analytical security and counterterrorism evaluations over the last three decades. I volunteered for military service in 1979, after Jimmy Carter had enabled the Islamic revolution in Iran. I did so believing that the future of our national interests, the future of American Liberty , would be in peril from Islamic threats for generations to come. I had no idea then how much peril.

The last time I was in the Afghan region was as part of an official delegation during Bill Clinton's tenure in office  just before the 9/11 Islamist attack on our nation. My lasting impression is one of a vast geographic wasteland hosting enormous human suffering, a country culturally stuck in the sixth century  basically what it is today after the Taliban resurgence  except the Taliban terrorists now have much better caches of U.S. weapons than those the Soviets left the Mujahideen in 1989.

Afghanistan was, is, and always will be, irreparably, what President Donald Trump would call a "sh-thole country" as long as its Islamist rulers persist.

So, how we did we get here, where are we now, and where has Biden left us for the future?

The 9/11 Islamist attack on our nation has its origin with Clinton's malfeasance, specifically his failure to capture or kill Islamist Sheik Osama bin Laden  twice .

Of the first missed opportunity, Clinton declared, "At the time, 1996, he had committed no crime against America, so I did not bring him here because we had no basis on which to hold him, though we knew he wanted to commit crimes against America." But bin Laden's leadership role with al-Qa'ida terrorists, and his association with those who carried out the first World Trade Center attack in 1993, was well documented. Clinton could have opted to kill him, if he had taken the al-Qa'ida threat seriously  as clearly our intelligence and military communities did.

Of the second failure to take out OBL, Clinton would later admit : "I could have killed him, but I would have to destroy a little town called Kandahar in Afghanistan and kill 300 innocent women and children, and then I would have been no better than him. And so I just didn't do it." Actually, according to intel sources and the special operators who would have pulled the trigger, destroying Kandahar was not the only option for killing bin Laden.

Consequently, OBL's terrorists started entering our country on Clinton's watch, and months after he left office, they would carry out OBL's 9/11 attack . Declining to kill OBL, when we had him in our sights , would have dire consequences for our nation over the next 20 years.

In response to the al-Qa'ida attack, President George W. Bush launched Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) to take the battle to our enemy's turf. But Bush failed to get bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahiri, and others once they had escaped to the Tora Bora Mountains and beyond. Thus, predictably, mission creep.

Barack Obama asserted it was in our " vital national interests " to alter the focus of OEF from primarily counterterrorism to primarily nation-building, starting with assistance to help the Afghans build a self-defense capacity, and committing more than 100,000 American service personnel to carry out the task. Most American deaths in Afghanistan occurred under Obama's watch. Obama would then pursue a peace agreement with the Taliban.

It was Donald Trump who finally exhibited the political will to formulate an exit plan and bring most Americans home while committing a small stability contingent ongoing, as well as enough air assets to keep the Taliban's undivided attention.

As it stands today, there is no evidence that the Taliban ever broke with al-Qa'ida, and there is every assurance that al-Qa'ida will rise again under the Taliban protectorate.

In a casual conversation last March with a former colleague, a national security adviser at a Middle East desk, he asked (rhetorically) how long I thought the Taliban " peace treaty " would last. I responded: "Long enough for the Taliban to resupply and reload. What else do they have to do?"

I added that with the rise of Sirajuddin Haqqani as the number-two thug in Taliban command, given his close alliance with al-Qa'ida, what could go wrong?

For the record, another key Taliban leader now is Khairullah Khairkhwa, one of the " Taliban Five " who were freed by Obama/Biden in an obscene 2014 exchange for the return of Army deserter Bowe Bergdahl  the search for whom cost numerous other American service personnel their lives. And the Taliban have now freed their most violent adherents from Afghan prisons to enforce the Haqqani/Khairkhwa reign of terror.

Obama's secretary of defense, Leon Panetta, strongly advised against the Taliban exchange. Panetta now compares Biden's Afghan failure to John Kennedy's " Bay of Pigs " fiasco, adding, "I strongly recommend to President Biden that he take responsibility and admit the mistakes that were made."

Weeks before the Taliban had overrun Afghanistan, we noted national security analyst Thomas Joscelyn's assessment that the situation on the ground there was much worse than what the Biden administration was portraying. According to Joscelyn: "Just two weeks after President Biden announced on April 14 his decision to withdraw all American forces from Afghanistan by September 11, the Taliban launched a massive offensive. Since May 1, the jihadists have captured a large swath of the country, laying the groundwork for the resurrection of their Islamic emirate. America and its allies have remained mostly indifferent  retreating from the battlefield as the jihadists advance. This is what a lost war looks like."

In the end, Joscelyn elsewhere notes : "Biden wasn't ambivalent about the war either. He was willing to watch the jihadists resurrect the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. And so they have."

At the same time, political analyst Dinesh D'Souza acknowledged that Afghanistan was lost, if not how fast that would occur, writing : "The war wasn't lost by brave American soldiers who carried out their missions and endured the hardships of surviving and fighting in a distant country. Rather, the war was lost by their leaders, who set impossible goals and then developed strategies that were destined to fail. We can only hope that our country's leaders will get the message this time and prove a little less utopian, gullible, and inept when America once again dispatches its armed men and women abroad."

Now, after some 2,448 American military deaths (though not one in the last 18 months), thousands of debilitating injuries, and $978 billion in treasure, the withdrawal under Joe Biden is an unmitigated disaster  because Biden himself is an unmitigated disaster  and spineless, feckless, and incompetent, too.

When then-candidate Biden was asked in February of 2020 if he bore any responsibility for the rise of the Taliban, Biden responded, "Zero responsibility." But the most knowledgeable national security analysts concur that the failed Obama/Biden strategy in 2014 to end Operation Enduring Freedom, which immediately empowered the rise of the Islamic State in Syria and a resurgence of al-Qa'ida elsewhere, is largely responsible for the unfolding tragedy that is Afghanistan today.

Biden is still taking zero responsibility , though his failed exfiltration plan is responsible for the catastrophe now unfolding .

Sidebar: Recall that at a 2010 White House signing ceremony for the so-called Affordable Care Act , Biden embraced Obama, and was caught on a live mic saying, "This is a big fing deal." Ten years later, speaking to a Demo operative during the 2020 primary, Obama said, "Don't underestimate Joe's ability to f things up." Apparently, more than half of American voters, if you include all the unverified bulk-mail ballots , grossly underestimated that ability last November.

Memo to Joe: This is a big fing deal, and you have fed it up.

As the Taliban was overtaking Kabul this week, Biden took a break from his vacation to pass the buck in an address to the nation . Most notably, he blamed Trump , and he blamed the Afghans he'd abandoned .

It was just a month ago that Biden declared : "The Taliban is not the south  the North Vietnamese army. They're not  they're not remotely comparable in terms of capability. There is going to be no circumstance where you see people being lifted off the roof of an embassy in the  of the United States from Afghanistan. It is not at all comparable."

But the blame is on Biden, and his deflection won't work .

Biden knew the risks , and he didn't send thousands of rapid-deployment troops into Kabul over the last few days to ensure the Taliban would behave. He did so to ensure the American retreat would be covered  and the Taliban knew this. On the other hand, if Trump were in office...

Our national security analyst, Gen. B.B. Bell (USA, Ret.), was NATO's Land Component Commander responsible for manning its International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan, during the Bush (43) administration. Gen. Bell notes : "The internal and external national security risks to your once-proud country have just skyrocketed. It is difficult to describe the stunningly negative position the United States finds itself in following the cataclysmic fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban. President Joe Biden's ill-fated and hapless decision to summarily short-notice withdraw all remaining U.S. troops from Afghanistan will forever be known as the day America's position in the world order cascaded behind that of China, and for that matter Russia and the European Union as well."

Biden insists: "Our mission in Afghanistan was never supposed to have been nation-building. It was never supposed to be creating a unified, centralized democracy," but nation-building is precisely what he and Obama set about doing in 2014. In 2002, then-Sen. Biden cosponsored massive nation-building legislation for Afghanistan. According to Biden, "In some parts of [the Bush] administration, 'nation-building' is a dirty phrase," adding, "But the alternative to nation-building is chaos  a chaos that churns out bloodthirsty warlords, drug-traffickers, and terrorists."

Biden said, "Our diplomacy does not hinge on having ... U.S. boots on the ground." But keeping a few thousand troops in the regions seems to have worked well in the last few years. He added: "Our true strategic competitors  China and Russia  would love nothing more than the United States to continue to funnel billions of dollars in resources and attention into stabilizing Afghanistan indefinitely." Not as much as they are loving the message you have sent to the world with this botched retreat.

Biden declared himself brilliant for getting Americans out ahead of the Taliban surge  but it is Biden who empowered the Taliban surge by abandoning the Afghans . He has been asleep at the wheel and ignored the warnings from Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley from as far back as March.

And Milley is now warning members of Congress that Biden's previous estimate of how long it will take terrorist organizations to reconstitute, given the circumstances, will be greatly reduced. Meanwhile, Biden remains fully focused on those terrorist Trump supporters .

There are already many reasons Milley should be fired  demonstrating his ineptitude leading the Afghan retreat is just the latest.

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan insists that Biden "is taking responsibility for every decision the United States government took with respect to Afghanistan." Sullivan added, "We, as a national security team, collectively take responsibility for responsibility for every decision..." Thank you for the clarification. Now you can all resign.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell understood the risk : "I was in a number of these briefings over the last couple months, it was pretty obvious to me what was going to happen. I know for a fact that the president's military leaders argued against this decision. It is a sad day for the United States of America."

Indeed it is.

McConnell added: "We spend less than 1% of our military budget to keep the lid on Afghanistan. It will cost America much more now."

On the other hand, according to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA): "The President is to be commended for the clarity of purpose of his statement on Afghanistan and his action. The Taliban must know the world is watching its actions. We are concerned about reports regarding the Taliban's brutal treatment of all Afghans, especially women and girls. The U.S., the international community and the Afghan government must do everything we can to protect women and girls from inhumane treatment by the Taliban."

Meanwhile, as the Biden/Blinken State Department is calling on the Taliban to form an " inclusive and representative government ," the terrorists are going door to door, killing Afghan security forces and civilians who assisted Americans, and Afghan women not wearing burkas .

The bloodbath is just beginning.

Former president Donald Trump declared: "[Biden] surrendered to the Taliban, who have quickly overtaken Afghanistan and destroyed confidence in American power and influence. The outcome in Afghanistan, including the withdrawal, would have been totally different if the Trump Administration had been in charge. Who or what will Joe Biden surrender to next? Someone should ask him, if they can find him. It is time for Joe Biden to resign in disgrace for what he has allowed to happen to Afghanistan..."

That raises a key question: What would this withdrawal look like if Trump was still president?

We'll never know what would have happened if the American troop drawdown had occurred under Trump's watch as CINC  but we can estimate the consequences with great accuracy. We do know how strong Trump was in holding the line against Russia and China, particularly in regard to holding China responsible for the ChiCom Virus pandemic .

But here's a hint of what the Taliban could have expected under Trump: Obama/Biden slept as Benghazi burned . Biden/Harris slept as Kabul fell.

However, unlike the " deal " that Obama and Biden brokered with Iran, when Trump found out Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani was planning an attack on our embassy in Iraq, he dropped a bomb on Soleimani's head . And that sent a message to every tyrant in the region.

As for Biden's chronic malfeasance, recall that former Defense Secretary Robert Gates noted , Biden "has been wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue over the past four decades." He even opposed Obama's approval of the military raid to kill bin Laden.

As Biden's Leftmedia sycophants are busy celebrating the Afghan withdrawal and the carnage and rubble Biden leaves in Afghanistan, there is one searing video image that irrevocably captures the desperation of the Afghan people in the wake of Joe Biden's catastrophically failed exit plan, and it should haunt him, VP Kamala Harris, and their Beltway political cadre until they draw their last breaths. Desperate Afghan people, clinging to the outside of a C-17 military transport as it departed Kabul, fell to their deaths .

As we approach the 20th observance of the 9/11 Islamic attack on our nation , an attack planned in Afghanistan, the Kabul images are reminiscent of those horrible images of Americans plunging to their deaths from the World Trade Center towers.

In Biden's rush to complete the American retreat in time for that 20th observance is a disaster.

Biden's incompetence was finally being noticed by a broader swath of Americans before the Afghan spectacle, but his job approval ratings have now cratered .

And even his blind lemming support among his fawning Leftmedia fans is beginning to crack . Can you imagine how this disaster would have been covered if Trump was still president? Of course, it would not have happened on Trump's watch.

In addition, there are between 15-20 thousand American citizens stranded around Kabul and other regions . They are unable to obtain safe passage to a point of departure  though Biden insists he has assurances from the Taliban for safe passage out.

Further, Biden is confident the Taliban will not align itself with terrorists . The Taliban are terrorists.

There are serious concerns about whether American citizens will become Taliban hostages . Our sources on the ground in Kabul indicate they do not believe that the Taliban wants further direct confrontation with the thousands of military personnel Biden has rushed in, and would prefer for the U.S. to depart and be done. However, there are numerous Taliban factions of al-Qa'ida terrorists that could well act outside the sketchy chain of command and take hostages or kill Americans .

Beyond the implications in the Middle East, the Taliban sweep has sent a loud message to the world, particularly to Iran and Iraq, and especially to Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, confirming what they thought to be true: that tyrants can act with impunity under Biden. Thanks to ChiCom Joe , the Red Chinese are already weaponizing Biden's impotence , warning Taiwan and Hong Kong that they can't depend on America.

Meanwhile, back home, the Democrats are endeavoring to accelerate the financial, cultural, and moral bankruptcy of America  doing much more damage than al-Qa'ida could ever hope to do.

Mark Alexander is the executive editor of the Patriot Post.
George Grants children  lament for Canadian lives By Mark Wegierski

Thoughtful conservatives in Canada face a dilemma. Already in 1965, in his famous book, Lament for a Nation: The Defeat of Canadian Nationalism, Canadian traditionalist philosopher George Parkin Grant had pointed to the impossibility of conservatism in Canada. His writings have proved increasingly prophetic. Nevertheless, there are some thoughtful conservatives left in Canada, who could be called George Grants children. Their lives in Canada have been difficult  certainly at the psychological level  as they have been profoundly alienated from virtually every aspect of the current-day Canada, and virtually every aspect of the current-day Conservative Party of Canada. The recent discoveries of unmarked graves at former Indian Residential Schools, can be seen as further undermining any notions of a decent, traditional Canada. The ambition of the woke Left which is driving all these protests and cancelling, appears to be to move Canada to Year Zero  where literally nothing from the Canadian past is seen as worthwhile. Now, the arch-liberal Justin Trudeau has been predicted to win a majority in the upcoming federal election, which would be yet another blow to a more traditional Canada. Another possible outcome, with a strong, left-wing New Democratic Party supporting a Liberal minority government, would hardly be better. What is Canadian identity? There have been at least two, very different Canada's -- the one that existed before the 1960s, and the one that exists today. Traditional Canada was defined by its founding nations -- the English (British) and the French (the latter mostly centred in what became in 1867 the Province of Quebec). The two nations long pre-existed Canadian Confederation. The founding document of the Canadian State (then frequently called the Dominion of Canada) was the British North America (BNA) Act, which was approved by the British Parliament in London in 1867. The Aboriginal peoples were included insofar as they were traditionally considered to be under the special protection of the Crown. An understanding of the deep extent to which the British Canadian identity was formerly held  and a less negative view about its past role in Canada  are probably beyond the ken of most people in today's New Canada, or Canada Two -- the post-1960s Canada whose main architects have been the Liberal Prime Ministers Lester B. Pearson (1963-1968), and Pierre Elliott Trudeau (1968-1984, except for nine months in 1979-1980). It could also be called the Trudeaupia. Among the leading figures critical of current-day Canada are William D. Gairdner (who has brought out in 2010 a new edition of his ground-breaking book, The Trouble with Canada: A Citizen Speaks Out -- originally published in 1990), and the late Ken McDonald, whose best-known book is, probably, His Pride, Our Fall: Recovering from the Trudeau Revolution (1995). Current-day Canada is officially defined as a multicultural society. A putative Canadian identity is said to be constituted out of the mosaic or kaleidoscope of various heterogeneous cultures. The upholding of current-day multicultural and gender politics orthodoxy is policed by various quasi-judicial tribunals, including the so-called Human Rights Commissions, which can sharply punish speech deemed critical of various minorities and current-day political arrangements. Their operations have been pointedly described in Ezra Levants Shakedown: How Our Government is Undermining Democracy in the Name of Human Rights (2009). There are also in Canada today varieties of separatism. One of these arises out of the French/English duality of what were very traditionally called the two founding peoples of Canada. The Quebecois sovereigntists mostly view the Canadian State with antipathy. Also emerging since the 1960s, radical Aboriginal separatism looks with deep disdain at Canada. The idea is since the land was all "stolen" anyway, the Canadian State has no inherent legitimacy. There is also a tendency among such archetypically Canadian institutions as the taxpayer-funded CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation), to "read out" certain groups of people as "un-Canadian." The CBC views people who hold what are considered "reactionary" or "mean-spirited" social and cultural outlooks as simply not part of "the Canadian Way". The so-called cultural industries in Canada are also mostly government (i.e., taxpayer) subsidized, especially the so-called CanLit (Canadian literature). Unfortunately, many of these so-called public cultural institutions pride themselves on their total and pristine exclusion of anything smacking of traditionalism or conservatism. There are, in fact, multifarious techniques today for rendering almost all of the traditional Canada to appear as utterly hideous to so-called decent human sensibilities. Today, except for certain residues in political institutions, the British Canada has been all but annihilated. Nevertheless, it could be argued that Canada still remains in the penumbra of the WASPs, as many of them  whether in corporate or governmental structures -- have taken on the role of being one of the most "progressive", most politically-correct groups in Canada. Thereby, their elite enjoy lives of enormous material comfort and cushy sinecures, even as the New Canada conceptually vitiates all that their ancestors once held dear. The alienation of thoughtful conservatives from current-day Canada is very deep and profound. Mark Wegierski is a Toronto-based, Canadian writer and historical researcher, published in Alberta Report, Calgary Herald, Ottawa Citizen, and The Hill Times (Ottawa), among others. His article about Canada was reprinted in Annual Editions: World Politics, 1998-99 (Dushkin/McGraw-Hill, 1998). Home
After the Taliban victory: An alliance of moderation for the Middle East By Amb. Dore Gold

Ambassador Dore Gold wrote Israel Enters the Arab World in the summer 2021 edition of the journal Sapir: A Journal of Jewish Conversations. This article is based on a Zoom interview with Amb. Gold by journal editor-in-chief Bret Stephens on August 16, 2021. For all of the countries that have been under the wings of the American eagle, this is a very tough time. Events in Afghanistan will affect events on the Jordan River which is 3,000 kms. away. The enemies of America watched this moment with great joy. The friends of America are very concerned and wonder what are the assumptions in the American foreign policy community today as it goes forward in trying to protect American interests. Power is a big factor in the Middle East. But when America unilaterally pulls out, and everyone understands the position the U.S. was in, it leaves us with a lot of concern for the future. A New Security Consensus for the Middle East We have to team up with our Sunni Arab allies  and I use the word ally with great confidence  to bring the data we have about the region to Washington, New York, London, and Berlin so that were all on the same page because lately we havent been. And maybe then we have a shot at reforming a new security consensus for the Middle East with our Western allies. We Israelis have to work with the elected government of the United States. Although we may differ strongly with that government depending on the policies they decide to pursue, we have to make it work. One is a superpower, one is a small state, and a small state has to live with its superpower ally. After Prime Minister Netanyahus 2015 speech to Congress, what happened was not a revolutionary change in the policy of the Obama administration, but rather a whole new approach that became visible to us in the Sunni Arab world. Slowly but surely, communications between Israel and the Sunni Arab states increased and it became clear that they understood the dangers of the Middle East the same way we did. And the basis for a real alliance between former enemies became very real. So maybe thats not what those who wrote the speech had exactly in mind, but that is certainly what evolved. Changes in Saudi Arabia When I wrote the book Hatreds Kingdom: How Saudi Arabia Supports the New Global Terrorism in 2004, we had overwhelming evidence that Saudi charities were involved in moving serious money to jihadi organizations like Hamas. We were in the middle of the second intifada, which produced buses blowing up in the heart of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Haifa. When we found the financial links, we spoke about it and I wrote about it. But today, how much of the Hamas budget comes from Saudi Arabia? Zero, nothing. Their policies have changed. They just sentenced a whole group of Hamas operatives in Saudi Arabia. This was unthinkable when I wrote the book. So the world has changed. Ideologically, the body that was busy exporting an extreme form of Islam around the world from Indonesia to Kosovo was the Muslim World League. In 2020, the Secretary General of the Muslim World League, Dr. Mohammed al-Issa, took a delegation to Auschwitz. So you cant look at Saudi Arabia through a 9/11 prism. Saudi Arabia is a different country and we in Israel have to find ways to reach out to Saudi Arabia, as well as its other neighbors, to build an alliance of moderation for the Middle East against the forces that are threatening us today. Saudi Prince Turki Al Faisal was director general of Saudi Arabias intelligence agency, as well as ambassador to the UK and the U.S. I had an interaction with him at a meeting of the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Bahrain. I approached him and laid the facts on the table as you would to the head of an intelligence agency. I said, You guys were helping out Hamas, now youre not, and therefore Ill do everything in my power to convey that fact around the world. I wanted him to know that in many respects, the underlying assumptions of Hatreds Kingdom no longer apply. In fact, theyre wrong  and I wanted him to hear that from me. Cooperation between Jerusalem and Riyadh in terms of intelligence and security is vastly greater than what is generally acknowledged publicly. We have had an ability to communicate with most of our neighbors. And now it becomes clear that we have to find areas of cooperation. Some of them are in the military security sphere, some are in the economic sphere, and some are in other areas. But they really show that Israel and the Arab states are on the same side of the fence. The Iranian Threat: What Ever Happened to Trust but Verify? Some see Iran as the true ally of the West, that those who attacked on 9/11 were Sunnis, not Shiites. Those who take this position misread Iran completely and they dont understand the full implications of Iran with nuclear weapons, which we may find out about very soon. I have never been a big believer in diplomacy with the current Iranian regime. I have been acutely aware of Iranian violations of all the deals they ever made with the West and with the United States, certainly since 2003. And the violations were so transparent For example, when the Iranians would start digging up an alleged nuclear site and taking out the earth six feet down of an area that we in the West believe was a vital portion of the nuclear program and destroying that or dispersing that dirt, this was done to hide very clear work that they had done. This went on at a number of Iranian nuclear sites. The first and most important thing in an arms control deal is being able to trust the other side and certainly verify everything that theyre doing. I didnt see President Reagans adage trust but verify being possible in the Iranian context. So I became very concerned because I understood Irans intentions. Iran seemed determined to get a nuclear weapons capability to threaten the existence of the State of Israel and we had to behave as though that was the case. The Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, which I head, has a number of experts who can do research in Farsi (Persian). From their research it became clear that the Iranian defense doctrine is very much influenced by Shiite religious considerations. If, for example, the Jewish population in the world is destroyed, that will accelerate the arrival of the hidden imam known as the Mahdi, the 12th imam. That is the world in which we are living. Unless the Iranians can convince us that that is a misinterpretation of what is ideologically motivating them, a nuclear Iran is completely unacceptable, and any of the models that might be put forward at the Kennedy School at Harvard which sound very reasonable and rational are simply too dangerous for us to live with. Their goal is not just simply to create a copy of the Soviet-American deterrence model. Were talking about something far more dangerous. In addition, as nuclear proliferation spreads in the Middle East, the chances that we are living with a hair trigger system across our region increases and the region becomes very unstable. That is yet another reason to do everything in the power of the Western alliance to prevent either a nuclear Iran or a threshold nuclear Iran. The Disintegration of Lebanon Lebanon today is really a branch of Hizbullah and Hizbullah is a branch of the Iranian security forces. That should be the guiding perspective as Israel looks at its northern neighbor. Lebanon used to be one of the great countries of the Middle East and Beirut was one of the great cities. Its a terrible shame that Iranian expansionism has led to such a degradation of the Lebanese state. France doesnt have the will or the power to assert its interests there and the United States is not in a position which it was in 1958 when President Eisenhower sent the marines into Beirut, so Lebanon suffers. Yet Lebanon remains a country with tremendous potential and creativity. It has the ability to make a great contribution to the Middle East. But as long as it is under the thumb of Iran, that is not going to happen. A History of Sunni Acceptance of the Jews The mutual suspicion between parts of the Sunni world and parts of the Shia world is much more intense than the Arab-Israel conflict. We should expose the public in the Arab world to how the Jewish people and the Sunni world have worked together in the past and can work together again. When I get into debates over Jerusalem, I remind Middle Eastern audiences of the fact that after the fall of Jerusalem to the Romans, for 500 years Jews were forbidden from living in our holy city, and when the second caliph of Islam, Umar ibn Al-Khattab, came into Jerusalem, he reopened the city to the Jewish people. That is not a permanent arrangement that we should aspire to, but we should remember that Sunni Arabs have been able to ideologically accept our presence. This repeated after the Crusades as well. So we should expose each side to those higher points in our history and use that as an inspiration for the future. The narrative is there, its in our history. Seeking Bipartisan U.S. Support for Israel Israel must base itself on bipartisan support in the United States. But what if thats not available? Then Israel should just do what we believe is right. When I was director general of the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, one of the things I doggedly sought was to get a breakthrough with South Africa. I took delegations to South Africa and negotiated agreements with the South African government in Pretoria, which we signed. I asked our spokesmans office to put out an announcement that while Israel was called an apartheid state on campuses in the United States, the current post-apartheid government of South Africa is signing agreements with Israel. I did this because I wanted to reach out to the liberal side of the American political spectrum so they should know. Israel can have a discussion with liberals and progressives even if our security assumptions might seem very conservative. We have to reach out to both sides. We have to make the effort. Turkey Has Been Pursuing a Hostile Policy toward Israel The president of Turkey says things about Israel which are not true and he seems to want to pursue a policy which is neo-Ottoman, resurrecting the Ottoman empire. But at the same time, he has reached out to Israel when he needs Israels support. I was a negotiator with the Turks. I met with very professional, well-trained members of the Turkish foreign ministry including its director general. But we shouldnt kid ourselves. We have to understand that Turkey has been pursuing a hostile policy toward Israel, though not in the same way as Iran, and we have to bring it around to a different approach to us. We have to talk to them about their concerns. I believe that we can have a policy towards Turkey which might bring about a change, but right now its its a good thing we have allies in Cyprus and in Greece. The Role of Diplomacy Is to Break Down Barriers The whole apartheid accusation is a danger. When I visited South Africa with a foreign ministry team, I visited the place where Nelson Mandela spent a great deal of his time. I learned that outside of Johannesburg in another location he would hide out from the apartheid police in a home owned by a Jewish family. And while he was there he read the books in the home. One of the books was The Revolt by Menachem Begin. I was stunned. Months later, at the UN General Assembly, I requested a meeting with the foreign minister of South Africa. I had been told she was a radical extremist, but I told her the story of Nelson Mandela reading Begins book. I said, The head of your national movement read a book written by the head of my national movement. It was clearly an effort to break down barriers and create some kind of new dialogue that didnt exist before. Thats what we have to do with diplomacy. Power can be supported by diplomatic action and thats what will help to protect our security in the future. Ambassador Dore Gold has served as President of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs since 2000. From June 2015 until October 2016 he served as Director-General of the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Previously he served as Foreign Policy Advisor to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israels Ambassador to the UN (1997-1999), and as an advisor to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Home
This is manifestly not Andy Rooney: A few minutes with the high cost of inaction By Charlotte B. Cerminaro

The facts and figures cited below are only estimates. The real toll, in destruction and loss of life, is vastly under-reported. Even as a kid I remember always wanting to watch the last segment of 60 Minutes. When I heard the words "...And now for 'A Few Minutes with Andy Rooney'", I would come running from wherever I was, to hear his straightforward words of unvarnished, uncontaminated reality. He was often humorous, irreverent, sometimes tinged with a tongue-in-cheek sarcasm, but always deadly serious. Nothing was off limits, no topic forbidden and no person beyond reproach. Even with something so mundane that most people didn't think about, he was a thought-provoking breath of fresh air and a sorely missed one, at that. Last week when US Secretary of State Antony Blinken responded to the growing number of comparisons to Saigon in the recent rooftop evacuations at the US Embassy in Kabul, his answer not only dismissed valid concerns, but evaded the real point of the question. We all know this is Kabul 2021, not Saigon 1975. However, recent footage of helicopters hovering over the Embassy building in Kabul where groups of people were clearly seen on the roof awaiting evacuation, provoked strong visual deja-vu for many of those who saw these events in Saigon. President Biden, addressing these concerns earlier in July, remarked, "Absolutely not, there's going to be no circumstance where we see people being lifted from the rooftops of a US Embassy in Afghanistan." It's not only happening, but the striking similarities to the withdrawal from Saigon 45 years ago makes the analogy viable, the outcome predictable and avoidable. When a stabilizing force is removed suddenly, their absence leaves a vacuum which is quickly filled by those with the path of least resistance. Long before US forces arrived, the Taliban held power and they've been biding their time these 20 years. Intelligence sources reported that they were gaining momentum very quickly and evacuation of civilians should be underway well before the withdrawal of military forces. The shut-down of an impenetrable airbase in Northern Afghanistan left the US-trained Afghan air force unable to access fleets of fighter jets. Though they were well-prepared to own the air and defend against the Taliban, they were left to fight, and die, without much of what they were trained to fight with. Thousands of US citizens are now stranded and an estimated 18,000 Afghans who were employed by the US government are now in danger of reprisal. This human crisis is occurring precisely because viable information wasn't taken seriously. The very real dangers were downplayed and minimized by either ignorance or overconfidence; current reality is trivialized by cliches and benevolent phrases. That all these personnel, military and administrative, were taken by surprise at the rapidity of Taliban forces, strains incredulity to the breaking point. Several thousand US troops that were pulled out only weeks ago have been redeployed to aid rescue efforts. It would be just a monumental political embarrassment if there weren't a human toll. Over 2,000 US soldiers lost their lives in this war. Thousands of Afghan military and civilians lost their lives; in some areas, reporting casualties of war is inconsistent or absent and where there are war crimes they're often hidden. All told, the United States spent well over one trillion dollars attempting to recruit, arm and train an Afghan army strong enough to protect the populace, in addition to their attempts at establishing a solid, centralized government built on democracy. And now it all appears to have been in vain, in a bungled escape that "Is manifestly not Saigon." No, it certainly isn't; it's probably worse. While talking with a friend who is a front-line healthcare worker in a large, regional medical center a few weeks ago, I was reminded of another human tragedy, one with neither withdrawal date nor end in sight. My friend's remarks were a wake-up call--the problem is spreading, no longer relegated to undeveloped countries and isolated, uneducated people. A major factor in its incursion is that the problem is couched in familiar benevolent phrases, obfuscated by cliches and outright lies. It advances largely unopposed into educated areas disguised as a "cultural tradition". The subject itself is generally uncomfortable to discuss for non-medical people, which further lends itself to the "silence betokens consent". If more feminist activists tackled this issue it could no longer be ignored, and activists would be backed by complete medical legitimacy. But it's neither expedient nor readily profitable--and even though the WHO has declared it "A crime against humanity and a violation of the most fundamental human rights" it continues today. This practice is now called FGM (female genital mutilation) which is a much closer approximation than its previous name. To be fair, some groups in some areas do practice a "female circumcision" that is similar to traditional male circumcision but this practice isn't what those who promote FGM are referring to when they euphemistically call it this, and neither is it the deadly scourge that is FGM. Most countries around the globe have outlawed the practice; nevertheless it continues--not just in certain west African nations, but in Asian and Middle Eastern countries such as Indonesia and Pakistan. Those who practice this violence often simultaneously or interchangeably refer to it as a "cultural tradition" and a "religious ritual", though there isn't one mention of it in any monotheistic religious text, including Islam, Judaism or Christianity and neither is it a recognized cultural practice in the majority of the countries where it's done. Most females are "cut" before the age of 15 and though our civilization regards it as blatant human cruelty, child abuse, gender discrimination and gender violence at its worst, many turn a blind eye and would rather think of the benign, non-confrontational term "female circumcision". The World Health Organization, Unicef and the UN estimate that over 3 million girls and women, each year, are at risk for mutilation and that at least 200 million females living now have been subjected to the practice. These same groups have also calculated the very real cost and burden of this unthinkable violence, in human terms, which they agree is likely an underestimate: Every year, healthcare costs from complications and treatment, lost wages and lost lives, amounts to well over 1.4 billion US dollars. The risks to life and health are both immediate and chronic: young girls sometimes die right away from shock and hemorrhage, followed shortly by sepsis, infections of the wounds, chronic urinary retention, stenosis and infection, severe pain, infertility, sexual dysfunction, and if they do manage to get pregnant the risks go up, with a significantly higher maternal and infant mortality rate than their "uncircumcised" peers. It's nearly impossible to fight a war when we don't have the facts and can't pinpoint the source of the problem. The usual patterns emerge--those of disinformation, ignorance, political agenda, misdirection, miscommunication, lies, watered-down facts, misleading terms and cliches that are more publicly palatable and, of course, fear--fear of the unknown, fear of offending someone, fear of violence. But if we accept certain facts, these fears soon dissipate: It's impossible to avoid offending people, no matter how two-faced and saccharine one becomes; there's no such thing as the "unknown", only things that someone hasn't seen or experienced yet; violence is all around us, whether we've experienced it personally or know someone who did. We can live in relative safety and make wise choices but the world is still going to have a lot of violence, stupidity and ignorance. It's inevitable and ubiquitous--sort of like, well, death and taxes. Charlotte B. Cerminaro is a Juilliard-trained classical musician who, in addition to being a studio and orchestral musician, enjoys writing and has a degree in Molecular Biology.  2021 Home
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

President Widodo Should Revoke Award for Human Rights Violator



Committing Crimes Against Humanity is Not for Celebration



Saturday, 14 August, 2021

Contact: John M. Miller, Coordinator ETAN, +1-917-690-4391

Graphic via IndoLeft.org London, New York, Berlin - TAPOL, ETAN and Watch Indonesia! strongly condemn President Joko Widodo's decision to grant 'Bintang Jasa Utama', one the highest national awards, to Eurico Guterres on Thursday, 12 August 2021.



Guterres, an anti-independence militia leader in Timor-Leste, was one of the key figures who led and participated in a series of massacres and destruction in his homeland prior to and in the aftermath of the 1999 referendum, in which the vast majority of Timorese voted for independence from Indonesia. In close collaboration the militias and the Indonesian military committed multiple atrocities, killing over 1,400 civilians and leaving a trail of destruction in an attempt to subvert the referendum. For many years afterwards, Guterres encouraged the continuation of the humanitarian crisis of Timorese refugees in Indonesia.



In 2003 he and ten others were indicted for crimes against humanity by the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET). He was one of only two people convicted of crimes against humanity by the Indonesian Ad-Hoc Human Rights Tribunal, although the conviction was overturned due to political pressure from the Jakarta elite. Two decades later Guterres and the Indonesian military officials ultimately responsible for the atrocities he committed, such as Wiranto and Prabowo Subianto, continue to enjoy impunity while holding positions of political power. Guterres' 'career' as a militia leader continued in 2003 when he established 'Laskar Merah Putih', an Indonesian militia group to counter self-determination movements in West Papua and Aceh.



Honouring a perpetrator of crimes against humanity with one of the highest national awards affirms the impunity of state-backed crimes. "With Guterres on such a pedestal, President Joko Widodo's hollow promises to pursue accountability for past human rights violations vanish even quicker. However, we shall not forget that Indonesia was and has been enabled by Western governments with their support to the occupations in East Timor and West Papua," says Steve Alston of TAPOL. Impunity remains not just for Eurico Guterres but so many others, including those who have gone on to commit crimes in West Papua. This is an affront to the victims in Timor-Leste and across the Indonesian archipelago, and yet another setback in Indonesia's efforts to democratise." .



John M. Miller of the East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN) also emphasizes, "Impunity remains not just for Eurico Guterres but so many others, including those who have gone on to commit crimes in West Papua. This is an affront to the victims in Timor-Leste and across the Indonesian archipelago, and yet another setback in Indonesia's efforts to democratise."



"Rewarding Guterres not only symbolises the legitimisation of state- cum military-backed human rights crimes of the past and endows the perpetrators with impunity. Given the political weight of notorious military agents and the recent escalation in West Papua, it also conveys the chilling message that current and future perpetrators will enjoy government protection as well," states Christine Holike from Watch Indonesia! "It is our responsibility to remind our respective governments to stop enabling human rights violations," she adds.



Contacts:



info@tapol.org



etan@etan.org



watchindonesia@watchindonesia.de

See also

ETAN Human Rights page

Masters of Terror database: Eurico Guterres
On Sunday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken did not deny that the US has to seek the Taliban for permission to leave Afghanistan.

Biden Has an Agreement With the Taliban

In a recently published article in MSN News, on Sunday, Biden's National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told a news outlet that the president has reached an agreement with the Taliban under which the group will allow all American citizens to access the evacuation site, including through any checkpoints along the way to Hamid Karzai International Airport.

However, critics of the Biden administration raised many questions if this is really occurring, particularly since Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated over the weekend that Taliban militants are abusing and assaulting Americans in Kabul including the Afghans who worked with the American troops as interpreters.

Biden and his staff have told Americans stuck in Afghanistan many times that the Taliban has agreed to allow them to go to the airport provided they have the proper documentation and passport, according to a recently published news article in CBS News.

Read Also: Blinken Sees Taliban Advancement in Afghanistan as 'Deeply Troubling'

The U.S. Secretary of State Admits the Agreement and Negotiation

Secretary of State Antony Blinken did not deny the U.S. government or Pres. Joe Biden asked permission from the Taliban officials to allow the American citizens to have safe passage in their checkpoints to reach the Kabul International airport.

Blinken explained that Taliban has the full control in Kabul and that means that they need to negotiate with the militant group. Furthermore, Blinken continued to explain that his main focus right now is to evacuate American citizens and Afghans who worked with the U.S. troops safely, according to a published report in Daily Mail.

Furthermore, Blinken's remarks are unexpected given the current administration's strong condemnation of President Donald Trump's team for talking with the Taliban about pullout conditions during his presidency. This is after Blinken said that there is a need to contact the Taliban group amid the chaos in Afghanistan.

Blinken Defended the Negotiation Between Biden and Taliban Group

In a recently published article in Mogaz News, Blinken justified the administration and Pentagon's need to communicate with Taliban commanders to arrange evacuations, saying that the Taliban now govern Afghanistan is justifiable.

However, when asked if there is legitimacy in the negotiation between Biden and the Taliban group, Blinken answered that this does not give the group legitimacy. He emphasized that this only happened because the Taliban has full control in Kabul.

Blinken explained they have had communication with the Taliban for a long time, both on a political level in Doha dating back many years and now on the ground in Kabul, to deconflict and work through any issues with passengers getting to the airport.

It has been critical in ensuring that the U.S. can really promote its own interests in terms of getting people out as securely and efficiently as possible. So that is the nature of Biden's connection with the Taliban organization in terms of negotiations.

Related Article: Joe Biden Cancels Holiday As Liberal Media Turned on Him for Poor Performance Amid Taliban Rise in Power



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As he defended his handling of the crisis, President Joe Biden claimed once more that pulling US troops out of Afghanistan was "the right decision."

Following the Taliban's swift seizure of the war-torn country after 20 years of battle, the President has faced a massive backlash. Despite considerable criticism, Biden stated today in a live address to the nation that he remains "convinced" that withdrawing US troops was the right decision.

US troops withdrawal deadline will be discussed

Thousands of Americans and Afghan refugees remain stranded in Kabul following the Taliban's ascendancy after Biden ordered US troops to flee the country, and he met with members of his national security team today to examine the situation ahead of the speech.

President Joe Biden stated on Sunday that the government is discussing extending the timetable for the US withdrawal from Afghanistan through August 31 due to worries that the evacuation of Americans and Afghans still stranded in the country will not be completed on time. Despite problems some face traveling to the airport, Biden showed faith in those still detained in Afghanistan during a speech at the White House, saying there are "discussions going on" in the military regarding an extension.

Earlier on Sunday, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan estimated that "several thousand" Americans remain in Afghanistan, with tens of thousands of Afghans who supported the US also waiting to leave. Biden stated that the US military has increased the perimeter surrounding Kabul's Hamid Karzai Airport, which has been plagued by rowdy crowds and terrorist threats and is "executing a strategy" to bring passengers there securely, as per Forbes.

On Friday, Biden reiterated his August 31 timeline for the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan, while he hinted that troops would stay longer. According to Biden, between 10,000 and 15,000 Americans remain in Afghanistan. However, Robert Charles, a former assistant secretary of state under President George W. Bush, said there could be up to 40,000 Americans in the country.

Per Fox News, State Department spokesman Ned Price said approximately 13,000 people were evacuated by US military aircraft between August 14 and August 20, but K.T. McFarland, former President Donald Trump's deputy national security adviser, noted that not all Americans in Afghanistan live close to Kabul.

Read Also: China's Xi Jinping Puts Wealthiest Citizens on Notice to Give Back to the Society, Signals Stricter Regulation of Incomes

Joe Biden's decision to pull out troops boosts militant Islam

In a shocking tirade against the president, a former US ambassador to Kabul said that Joe Biden's disorderly pullout from Afghanistan has "given a great boost to militant Islam everywhere." Ryan Crocker, who served as Obama's ambassador to Afghanistan, called the situation a "disaster" that squandered 20 years of effort and suffering.

Biden's lack of strategic patience in Afghanistan has harmed allies, encouraged foes, and increased the security danger to the West, according to the 72-year-old, who was regarded by former Secretary of State Colin Powell as "one of our very best foreign service officers."

Crocker blamed the disarray on a lack of strategic patience at vital periods, notably from President Biden, in an essay for the New York Times. Former Prime Minister Tony Blair agreed, saying that the choice to leave the country had elicited cheers from every Jihadist organization in the world.

Blair, who sent British forces to Afghanistan after the September 11 attacks 20 years ago, wrote in a long essay published over the weekend that the Taliban's recapture of power destroyed everything that had been accomplished in Afghanistan over the previous two decades.

"In obedience to an imbecile political slogan about ending the forever wars, as if our engagement in 2021 was remotely comparable to our commitment 20 or even 10 years ago," Blair said of US President Joe Biden. With mid-term elections coming up next year, there is growing concern among Democrats about how the mishandling would be perceived by voters, The Daily Telegraph via MSN reported.

Related Article: Joe Biden Threatened With Impeachment If He Leaves Americans, Allies in Afghanistan as Blunders May Expose US to Terror Attacks

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White House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who is a firm advocate of mask mandates amid the coronavirus pandemic, has been shown on footage speaking to an outdoor crowd during a fundraiser, where people were not wearing facial coverings or keeping a safe distance.

During the Democrat's address in Napa Valley, video footage and Twitter posts showed the audience in close proximity. Democratic Party donor and winemaker Kathryn Walt Hall uploaded the recordings and criticized the event.

Pelosi's Maskless Fundraiser

While waiters during the fundraiser were seen wearing face masks as they served people from different tables, the attendees were seated elbow-to-elbow. In a tweet, journalist Glenn Greenwald noted that nearly every single one of the "white, rich crowd of DCCC donors" was not wearing facial coverings.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) labeled Napa Valley as a coronavirus hotspot, saying it was given a "high" designation for the level of transmission it showed. Medical experts warned that "high" was the most worrisome designation, the New York Post reported.

In a warning, the CDC said that while it was not generally needed to wear a mask during indoor settings, it should be considered due to the possible threats of leaving themselves vulnerable. The agency posted on its website, saying that wearing face masks in crowded outdoor settings and for activities with close contact with other people who were not fully vaccinated is highly recommended.

As Pelosi has been an advocate for face masks amid the pandemic many GOP members have expressed their criticism of the Democrat's apparent hypocrisy. White House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy took to Twitter to slam the house speaker.

Read Also: Joe Biden Cancels Holiday As Liberal Media Turned on Him for Poor Performance Amid Taliban Rise in Power

Massive Infrastructure Bill

The incident comes after a weekend standoff between Pelosi and Centrist House Democrats over the decision of when to vote on a nearly $1 trillion infrastructure bill. The incident risked the chamber's ability to advance a sweeping segment of United States President Joe Biden's agenda in votes that are expected to come early this week, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Pelosi's DCCC event was the campaign arm of her caucus and tickets for the fundraiser were sold for $100 to $29,000. During one video recording, Pelosi could be heard saying, "The question was asked this morning by [former US] Ambassador [to Spain Alan] Solomont about young people, and how we are reaching out to young people."

Recently, Democrats are looking to take the first steps on Monday towards a massive $3.5 trillion spending plan that would make sweeping changes to the country's health care, education, and tax laws. However, the legislation created disparities among lawmakers that threaten to stop the bill's advance.

The bill includes most of Democrats' pledges to expand Medicare, discuss immigration laws, and spend funds to battle against climate change, which has caused devastating effects in recent months.

On Saturday, Pelosi sent a letter to politicians, once again making her case for swift action on the budget plan as well as infrastructure before September ends. She argued that any delay in passing the budget resolution could threaten the timetable of providing assistance that Democrats shared, the Washington Post reported.

Related Article: $1,400 Stimulus Check: Here's How To Qualify for the Payment

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Following months of further safety and effectiveness data, the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine may be the first to get full FDA clearance.

Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Could Receive Full Approval This Week

In a recently published article in CNET, the US Food and Drug Administration may grant Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine final clearance as soon as Monday. On Friday, regulators were said to be trying to complete documentation and talks with the business.

Pfizer's two-dose vaccination is presently being administered in the United States under an emergency use license issued in December. In May, Pfizer and its partner BioNTech applied to the FDA for full clearance. Meanwhile, the other COVID-19 vaccines administered in the country are also under emergency use authorization.

Moreover, with the "imminent" complete approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine anticipated, physicians predict that more companies will issue vaccination requirements to help avoid the Delta strain from dragging the country farther behind in this pandemic. However, a top government official stated that permission is "imminent" although no date has been given, according to CNN News.

Read Also: Pfizer Developing COVID-19 Booster Shot Against Delta Variant; Delta Variant Expected to Cause Surge in Cases in Fall

Why Is the Full Approval Important?

The surgeon general, Vivek Murthy, said on Sunday that full government clearance of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine would allow companies and institutions to mandate immunizations, encouraging reluctant Americans to receive the vaccine.

Murthy believes that this decision by the FDA will actually assist companies and institutions go ahead with vaccination mandates in order to create safer environments for people to work and study in, according to a published article in The New York Times.

On the other hand, companies do not need full FDA clearance to require the COVID-19 vaccination. According to the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, they already have the legal power to do so. However, complete consent may reduce the strength of any legal challenge.

MIllions Have Been Inoculated; CDC, FDA Sign off a Third Shot

According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 203 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine have been given in the United States. The FDA and CDC approved a third dose of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccinations for certain immunocompromised individuals last week.

On Wednesday, Biden administration health officials said that fully immunized individuals who got the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines would be eligible for a booster injection beginning next month. Moderna is also pursuing FDA clearance for its COVID-19 vaccine, but a decision is expected to take several weeks longer.

Needless to say, statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that over 1 million doses were given out on Saturday for the third day in a row. Since the first week of July, it was the highest number of doses given.

However, it is important to note that the vaccinations take two weeks to completely take effect following the last dosage. According to the CDC, a vaccinated person should continue to take all measures until he or she is completely vaccinated. This means that wearing of facemask, social distancing, and handwashing should still be observed and practiced at all times.

Related Article: Booster Shots of Pfizer and Moderna's COVID-19 Vaccines Will Begin on September



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Osama Bin Laden thought of assassinating Barack Obama but had a change of plans when he realized his then-Vice President Joe Biden is incompetent enough to hobble America. This revelation becomes a reality as the events in Afghanistan make Biden the worst leader the US has ever sat in the White House.

Bin Laden's plan mentioned in declassified documents of his layout to kill President Obama to allow Biden to cause America's downfall.

Almost eleven years after the former Al-Qaeda chief has died, with the rise of Joe Biden, everything fell into place as his incompetence and cluelessness were foreseen by one of America's worst enemies.

Bin Laden was correct in his assessment

In 2010, Bin Laden was alleged to have concocted a plot to use Joe Biden as a weapon to cause innumerable problems as today. Like the critics of now President Biden, Bin Laden said that he would be clueless and incapable, reported the Sun UK.

One of the first-reported documents during 2012 said Obama's death would cause then-Vice President Biden to be the next US president. The terrorist leader engineered the 9/11 attacks in 2011. He shared his plans to aide Atiyah Abd al-Rahman on how he wants to use Biden against the US.

These came to be realized last week, with the fall of Kabul to the Taliban forces with Biden saying the conquer would be impossible. US troops and key bases pulled out, leaving the Jihadis time to surge and hold thousands hostage due to Washington's ineptitude.

Read Also: Joe Biden Ignores Classified State Department Memo on Rapid Taliban Takeover, Denies He Screwed Up

This miscalculation is not very unstable as the entry of the Taliban might host terrorist attacks against the US and the world. ISIS and Al-Qaeda could relaunch a worse 9/11 style attack, all because of Joe Biden.

Even his party has condemned how inept the White House did the US pullout, and the Republicans have fired salvos at his incompetence. It was a failure that would have heads roll at the humiliation faced by the administration, noted TW News.

The US president is now condemned by NATO and his own country

It is another humiliating defeat of the US that brought echoes of Saigon when the US embassy fell in Kabul last Sunday.

According to Thomas Gift, an expert in US politics said Biden did everything wrong, and the White House has sullied the trust in America's reputation forever.

Gift added that Joe Biden brashly boasted that America is back noted by the Star Tribune, during the G7 meeting. US allies are saying that it's an awful joke that laid low the US foreign policy.

Gift added that Afghanistan would be the utmost and defining decision, his utter failure.

As a result of the defeat, people tried to get to Kabul airport, with Taliban beating even children and women, keeping every from the airport gates as coalition soldiers watch it happening.

Even babies were handed over to soldiers over the wall, like the Fall of Saigon, which Joe Biden claimed would never happen. British and US military were putting children on flights, while the POTUS remained mum as events unfold.

As the Oval Office denies deaths over last Monday's chaos, desperate Afghans were seen clinging to C-17's, preferring risk than to be left behind there; two hung on to the plane during takeoff.

The fall of Afghanistan because of Biden's incompetence, as stated in Osama Bin Laden's declassified notes, shows how the militants rapidly captured the government, which may lead to terrorist attacks on the US and the world.

Related Article: Joe Biden Cancels Holiday As Liberal Media Turned on Him for Poor Performance Amid Taliban Rise in Power

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Russian President Vladimir Putin recently announced that his country would not accept Afghan refugees fleeing Afghanistan, which has recently fallen to the hands of the Taliban, saying he does not want to deal with "militants" disguising themselves as asylum-seekers.

The Eastern European nation's leader also criticized other countries for letting Afghan refugees into their territory. He especially slammed those near his border that have allowed the victims to find their new homes.

Denying Entry of Afghan Refugees

In a statement, Putin said, "Does that mean that they can be sent without visas to those countries, to our neighbors, while they themselves don't want to take them without visas? Why is there such a humiliating approach to solving the problem?"

During his address, Putin said he would not accept militants showing up in his country hiding under the cover of refugees. The incident comes as the United States has negotiated with other countries to temporarily provide shelter to Afghan refugees who were forced to flee their country, the New York Post reported.

Russian officials refused to join international efforts to shelter thousands of Afghan refugees desperate to escape from the clutches of the Taliban. In contrast, they have praised the militant group for allegedly "restoring order" to the war-torn country.

Read Also: Joe Biden Reveals Talks of Extending August 31 Afghanistan Withdrawal, Defends His "Right Decision" Amid Catastrophic Situation

Sergei Lavrov, the foreign minister of Russia, said, "We are seeing the statements the Talibs made about ceasing combat actions, an amnesty for all those involved in the confrontation, about a need for a nationwide dialogue. They are being implemented."

The situation comes amid Russia's continued acceptance of ex-Soviet Central Asian refugees despite not having visas, Yahoo News reported. Putin said he did not want a repeat of the 1990s to the mid-2000s where hostilities were born in the North Caucasus.

Chaotic Situation in Kabul

The airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, has become the epicenter of a desperate and deadly scramble to flee the cruelty of the Taliban. More than 20,000 people in and around the facility have been trying to board flights. Recently, another seven residents were killed, being crushed, in one of the largest airlifts in history.

The refugees include international workers, Afghan interpreters, and women, who now face uncertainty under the rule of the militant group. As of Sunday morning, the number of residents waiting to be lifted out of the airport has risen to 18,500, with another 2,000 waiting behind the gates, eager to get in.

Panic ensued after authorities decided to issue electronic visas to Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applicants, without names or document numbers. These were later copied and sent as screenshots to thousands of other Afghans who were not yet eligible to gain access to the airport.

The gates that provided entry to the airport were partly closed on Sunday and there were reports of families being separated from each other during the chaotic situation. "Don't know what they were doing but there is still local staff struggling at the gates and not even being able to get in," a source close to the situation said during an interview, CNN reported.



Related Article: Biden Negotiates With the Taliban To Allow the American Citizens Pass the Checkpoints

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The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) deadline of August 30 is approaching, and further stimulus checks and unemployment benefits might hit your bank account in September.

The IRS is set to begin sending additional stimulus checks on August 13 and again on September 15. August 30 is the last day to sign up for the September 15 payment.

For the adjustment to take effect in September, anyone wishing to get their next mid-month child tax credit check must notify the IRS with any updated information by midnight on August 30. President Joe Biden's American Rescue Plan, which was signed into law in March, includes the increased funds.

The payment is the second in a series of six that will be paid to qualifying families. Many Americans, on the other hand, are wondering if they will receive a fourth stimulus check and, if so, how much it will be worth.

Some lawmakers have advocated for $2,000 monthly payments to be issued to all Americans, but a fourth stimulus check is unlikely. Even while coronavirus infections are on the rise and calls for more stimulus money persist, unemployment benefits will expire next month.

On September 6, the relief package, which has been in existence for around 18 months, will come to an end. When the payments, which are worth $300 a week, stop in a few weeks, around 7.5 million Americans are expected to lose out, as per The Sun.

Next stimulus check coming in September

The IRS wants receivers to be aware of one unusual "issue." Some people who received their first child tax credit payment via a direct transfer in July received their August payment as a paper check, and it's unclear why. The paper checks, on the other hand, take a little longer to arrive. According to the IRS, less than 15% of direct deposit recipients in July were affected by the problem.

According to the IRS, the problem should be resolved by the time September payments are given out. This will occur on September 15. Individuals who have been affected do not need to take any further action to have their payments returned to direct deposits.

Families can check the Child Tax Credit Update Portal to see if they'll get a direct transfer or a paper check this month. There is one additional item to keep in mind. Because the third child tax credit stimulus payment is due in less than a month. Any changes to the information the IRS has on file for you must be made by August 30. If you want your next stimulus check to arrive on time, you must do so.

This might entail double-checking your banking information, for example, so that your payments, which will be sent by direct transfer, will arrive sooner. You will be given a stimulus check if you qualify. According to BGR, you are not required to take any action.

However, you must be mindful of the August 30 deadline in certain instances. For example, if you haven't yet filed your tax return, this will result in a spike in the cost of collecting these payments. The IRS determines your eligibility and payment amount based on your most recent tax return.

For people whose income is too low to file taxes normally, the Non-Filer Sign-Up facility is available until October 15. Go to the update portal link above if you need to make any changes, such as changing your bank account details. The IRS notes, "changes made before August 30 at 11:59 p.m. ET will take effect with the September payment."

Read Also: Here are States Giving New Stimulus Check Despite Federal Government's Unclear Possibility of Handing Out Fourth Round of Payments

Update your details through the IRS portal

Per CNET via MSN, you can also use the Child Tax Credit Update Portal to add any changes that have occurred since you last filed your taxes. If you had a new baby in 2021, or if you added a qualified dependent, or if your income changed lately, the IRS would not have that information on file yet. The IRS plans to expand the portal's functionality by the end of 2021.

You may use the site to update your banking and mailing details right now. You'll be able to add or remove qualified children later this summer, record a change in your marital status or income, and re-enroll in monthly payments if you are previously unenrolled.

If you filed your taxes by the May 17 deadline, you should have automatically received the July 15 advance monthly payments. Families that do not file income tax returns on a regular basis can register with the IRS and receive payments through an IRS nonfiler portal. The tool, however, has been criticized for being difficult to use, especially on a smartphone.

Related Article: Stimulus Check Update: Got The Wrong Amount From Child Tax Credit or Denied From Previous Payment? Here's What to Do!



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Former United States President Donald Trump got booed by supporters after he told them that he recommended getting the vaccine against the coronavirus pandemic while delivering his speech at a Saturday rally in Alabama.

During his speech, Trump said that while he believed and respected everyone's freedom regarding their decision not to take the vaccines, he recommended the treatment. He said that he took the vaccines and that they were good.

Trump Gets Booed

Some people in the crowd immediately began booing the former president, the majority of whom were not wearing face masks. Despite the negative comments, Trump echoed rhetoric from opponents of mask and vaccine mandates. He also said that if he got infected by the coronavirus, he would let the people know immediately.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been surging in the southern parts of the United States, causing more hospitalizations, mainly due to the Delta variant. Trump hosted the rally in Cullman, which is an area that has experienced a surge in cases, matching its previous peak recorded in late December. City officials declared a COVID state of emergency on Thursday to provide emergency support for Republican's rally, CNBC reported.

Alabama is known to have the lowest vaccination rate in the United States, having only 36% of its residents fully vaccinated against the disease. State Governor Kay Ivey has called the people who refused to take the treatment the sources of the resurgence of the infection in the region.

Read Also: Joe Biden Reveals Talks of Extending August 31 Afghanistan Withdrawal, Defends His "Right Decision" Amid Catastrophic Situation

More and more Republicans have slowly started to encourage residents to get vaccinated against the coronavirus as the Delta variant continues to spread. The new strain has caused a surge in the number of cases, deaths, and hospitalizations during a new phase of the health crisis.

In late July, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said, "These shots need to get in everybody's arms as rapidly as possible, or we're going to be back in a situation in the fall that we don't yearn for, that we went through last year. Ignore all of these other voices that are giving demonstrably bad advice," Newsweek reported.

Complete Turnaround of Perspective

The announcements are a drastic turnaround from the anti-COVID-19 lockdowns, masks, and vaccine perspectives that the Republican Party has been a part of for some time. Skepticism was rampant among GOP lawmakers before the Delta variant spread, which now accounts for about 95% of all cases in the United States.

During his speech, Trump also criticized Joe Biden for his handling of the Afghanistan situation where hundreds and up to thousands of residents are in chaos due to the Taliban rule. He said that the Democrat's actions and decisions have led to the haphazard evacuation of American troops and allies from Afghanistan.

Trump added that the situation has become a "great stain on the reputation of our country." The statements come after a year when the Republican politician stuck a deal with the Taliban to withdraw all U.S. troops in Afghanistan by May 2021. Trump's presidency watched the dwindling of American forces in the war-torn country drop to their lowest levels in history, Fox News reported.



Related Article: Biden Says US Troops to Remain in Afghanistan Until Evacuations are Completed

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German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned that further penalties against Russia may be applied if Moscow exploits a disputed gas pipeline against Ukraine.

Germany Calms Down Ukraine Over Russia's Gas Pipeline

In a recently published article in Financial Times, Chancellor Angela Merkel tried to soothe and calm down Ukrainian worries over the almost finished Nord Stream 2 pipeline with her statement that Germany will not allow Russia to weaponize the gas corridor.

Merkel informed Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky on her last visit to Kyiv before leaving office that she understood his worries over the Nord Stream 2 project. Zelensky opposes the pipeline, which he claims presents a security danger to Ukraine. It will travel under the Baltic Sea and increase Russian gas supplies to Germany by double.

Ukraine is concerned that the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which is being built by Russia, would tighten Moscow's hold on the region's energy supply and increase its influence. Zelensky characterized the proposal as a geopolitical weapon of the Kremlin that would be destructive for all of Europe at a joint news conference on Sunday, according to a published article in MSN News.

Read Also: US, Germany Reach Preliminary Agreement on Gas Pipeline Deal Amid Rising Tensions

Merkel said Gas Cannot Be Used as a Weapon

The building of NS2, which would transport Russian gas over the Baltic Sea to western Europe, is of particular concern to Kyiv, which stands to lose $2 billion in transit fees if Moscow stops supply via Ukraine. Critics argue that the $11 billion pipeline would exacerbate Europe's reliance on Russian energy exports.

However, Merkel said on Sunday after meeting Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukrainian president, in Kyiv that gas cannot be used as a weapon. She also added that Russia will face sanctions if they will do it. However, she did not give much details, according to a published report in Irish Times.

Merkel met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow two days before the Zelensky summit. She emphasized that Russia had signed a deal requiring it to continue delivering gas via Ukraine until 2024 and that the arrangement can and should be extended at that time.

Merkel and Putin Held Talks

Merkel, who is stepping down as Germany's chancellor after 16 years in office this fall, said Berlin and Washington agreed that Nord Stream 2 should not be used against Ukraine. If gas was "used as a weapon," she added, sanctions might be employed against Moscow under a German-US accord.

When the contract to transport Russian gas via Ukrainian pipes expires in three years, Zelensky expressed worry about what might happen. The loss of billions in transit fees would be devastating to Ukraine's economy, according to a published article in France24.

Meanwhile, Merkel pledged to contribute more than a billion dollars to assist Ukraine's renewable energy industry to grow during discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday. Russia now provides approximately 40 percent of EU gas, just ahead of Norway, which is not a member of the EU but participates in its single market. The new pipeline will boost the quantity of gas that passes under the Baltic to 55 billion cubic meters per year.

Related Article: US-Germany Relations on the Line as Biden, Merkel Discuss Key Global Issues [UPDATE]



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On Saturday, tensions in Haiti mounted over a lack of relief to rural areas severely damaged by the terrible earthquake that struck the poor Caribbean island last week, killing 2,207, according to the country's Civil Protection Agency. Many Haitians who lost their homes and livelihoods in the magnitude 7.2 earthquake on August 14 said they didn't know where to begin rebuilding.

Exasperation with the length of time it takes for relief to arrive began to boil over on Friday, with citizens storming aid trucks in several towns around the country. Former President Michel Martelly was also involved in a brawl after visiting a hospital in the city of Les Cayes, where one of his employees left an envelope of cash behind, sparking a riot.

Earthquake survivors in Haiti left miserable

Another food delivery was halted at a church near Les Cayes' airport on Saturday afternoon after an enraged crowd became aggressive, forcing charity workers to abandon the operation.

On Sunday, a Haitian gang leader offered a truce and assistance to villages devastated by the earthquake, perhaps providing a respite for a relief operation beset by hijacked aid trucks and disarray. Many Haitians resumed worship in or outside damaged churches for the first time since the magnitude 7.2 earthquake on Aug. 14, sometimes for the first time since the quake, CBC News reported.

It was unclear how significant the cease-fire offer would be: While formidable, Jimmy Cherizier, alias "Barbecue," is far from the sole gang leader in Haiti, and widespread social media rumors of a previous gang truce failed to prevent attacks on the aid operation. Roads have been blocked, assistance trucks have been hijacked, and supplies have been taken, forcing relief workers to carry supplies by helicopter. Desperate crowds have squabbled over food packets in several instances.

The death toll rose for the first time since the authorities placed it at 2,189 late Wednesday. According to the authorities, 344 people are still missing, 12,268 people have been injured, and approximately 53,000 homes have been ruined as a result of the earthquake

Hundreds of Haitian earthquake victims fought over - and scooped from the muddy ground - rice and chicken that spilled from plastic food containers as they waited for hot meals delivered to a scorching makeshift camp this week.

Read Also: PHOTOS: Troops in Desperate Situation, Helping People in Kabul Airport as Evacuees Struggle to Escape Chaos in Afghanistan

Politicians send aid efforts to help Haitians

In the absence of a coordinated government response, famous Haitian politicians have stepped in to help, transporting injured people out on private planes, giving medical supplies and food, and even handing out cash. With general elections looming, their projects have taken on political connotations, and the epicenter has effectively turned into a campaign launchpad for some of Haiti's presidential and congressional candidates.

The politicians' efforts in the capital, Port-au-Prince, have prompted thorny concerns about the delicate line between providing desperately needed relief and cynically exploiting the misery. Politicians in the country have a history of profiting from natural calamities, as per the NY Times.

Following Hurricane Matthew's landfall in Haiti in 2016, which coincided with the presidential election, candidates inundated the area with donated water bottles and boxes of matches with their faces pasted on them. President Jovenel Mose, who was killed at his house last month, extended his campaign lead by delivering a cargo of rice to storm victims only days before the election. The bags of rice were emblazoned with his party's slogans, which enraged community leaders.

According to the US Geological Survey, the quake struck at a depth of 10 kilometers near the town of Petit-Trou-de-Nippes, some 125 kilometers west of the capital, Port-au-Prince. Partly as a result of the quake's damage to roads and bridges, as well as the subsequent deluge by a tropical storm, aid has trickled into the area.

However, gangs have assaulted convoys and kidnapped trucks, sabotaging efforts to provide water, food, and medical supplies. Per Voice of America, since President Jovenel Moise was slain in his house on July 7, the country has been in turmoil. Martine Moise, his wife, was injured in the crime.

Related Article: Tropical Storm Batters Haiti After Deadly Earthquake, Complicates Recovery Efforts as Heavy Rains Deluge Devastated Nation



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Prince Harry has been branded a "total hypocrite" when it was revealed that he flew home on a private jet from a polo match, only three months after declaring climate change to be one of society's "most important challenges."

The Duke of Sussex flew home from a charity event in Aspen, Colorado, on his $60 million private jet, which is only two hours away from his property in Montecito, California.

Prince Harry's use of private jet ridiculed

On social media, royal critics and members of the public labeled Prince Harry a "hypocrite" for his outspokenness on the impact of the problem of climate change, which he earlier termed as one of the "most important crises we are facing."

A single private jet can produce up to two tons of carbon in just one hour, according to a survey by Transport & Environment. Private jets emit up to 14 times more pollution per passenger than commercial flights, although they are twice as likely to be utilized for short trips of less than 500 kilometers, as per The Independent.

"I know plenty of individuals out there are doing the best they can to try and fix these difficulties, but that whole sort of comparison of walking into the bathroom with a mop when the bath is over-flooding, rather than just turning the faucet off," Prince Harry told Oprah Winfrey in May.

TV presenter rants about Prince Harry, Meghan Markle's over-exposure

Mercy Muroki, a British television presenter, delivered a stinging indictment about how unavoidable Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have become. Muroki is a member of the GB News team in the United Kingdom, and she slammed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on the air last week for their constant public appearance.

Since deciding to leave their roles as senior royal members and relocate to Los Angeles, it appears that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have become more visible than ever, Fox News via MSN reported.

While much of this is due to continual media attention, which the Duke and Duchess have attempted to challenge in court through libel cases, the British TV pundit says the couple hasn't done enough to distance themselves from the public eye due to lucrative TV, podcast, and book deals.

The royal couple is said to be unsurprised that Queen Elizabeth has not taken "full ownership" of some of the comments they made during their explosive tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey in March, according to Muroki.

Read Also: US Prosecutors Consider Prince Andrew as Person of Interest in Jeffrey Epstein's Sex Trafficking Investigation

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex lose followers

According to recent data, the Sussexes have been losing Instagram followers while the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's popularity continue to grow. In the last year, 700,000 people have stopped following Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Instagram account, according to British data research firm Hypeauditor.

People have become bored of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's attitude, according to royal experts. The publication's research indicates only 66% of Harry and Meghan's followers are actual people, with the rest presumably being bots who mass follow celebrities, as per Daily Mail.

However, it's unclear how many bots followed Cambridge's Instagram account, which was last updated on Friday, August 20. Since they stepped down as senior royals in March 2020, the Sussex couple's popularity has risen and fallen.

Following Prince Philip's funeral on April 17, it was claimed that Harry and Meghan's popularity continued to plummet, reaching new lows. The couple's reputation had previously dropped during an explosive appearance with Oprah Winfrey in which they accused the Royal Family of racism.

They haven't regained popularity with the British public since, with Prince Harry's popularity dropping three points following the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral on April 17, according to a YouGov poll. Despite his return home for his grandfather's death, public perception of Prince Harry remained mostly negative, according to the data collected from almost 1,700 Britons between April 21 and 22.

Related Article: Prince Harry's Memoir: Royal Family Fears Spark as Publishers Demand Untold Gossip; Duke Confirms $1.5 Million Charity Donation

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Hundreds of nursing home patients around the coast were evacuated as a precaution on Sunday due to Tropical Storm Henri. Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont says they had teams ready to go in if there were power outages in those elderly areas, which were not endangered by flooding but by power outages.

It will take a few days to get everyone back into the nursing homes, according to workers. They are not in a hurry and want to ensure that everything is done properly

Meanwhile, the state of Connecticut has been cleared for a presidential pre-landfall emergency declaration, according to the governor. The proclamation was made ahead of Tropical Storm Henri. On Sunday at 1 p.m., Gov. Ned Lamont gave a storm update.

President Joe Biden's permission means the federal government will assist with the storm through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, according to Lamont. As the effects of Storm Henri wore off, floodwaters slowly climbed in sections of Connecticut.

Emergency declaration made in Connecticut

Crews were out all day around the state working to restore power. At one point on Sunday, almost 28,000 Eversource customers were without power. As service was restored, that number continued to drop throughout the evening.

Gov. Ned Lamont said Sunday evening that he was still concerned about flash floods, but that the outages would be brief. Georgia Power crews were dispatched to Connecticut to aid in the restoration of power.

Flooding occurred in the parking lot of the East Norwalk Boating & Yacht Club in Norwalk at noon due to high tide and storm surge. The parking light at the Harbor Lights restaurant was filled with water. When CBS2's Tony Aiello came at 9:45 a.m., there was no water.

The storm surge caused roughly two feet of water in some buildings along the Norwalk River and the Long Island Sound during Superstorm Sandy. That is not, however, what is expected as a result of Henri.

More than 20,000 people were without electricity as a result of this. After a poor reaction to Tropical Storm Isaias, Lamont claims the state has been hounding electricity firms to improve, and they've told him they're ready for whatever Henri delivers.

Hardwick, a municipality in Worcester County, had the greatest percentage of customers without power, at 28 percent, according to a map of outages in Massachusetts. Henri was downgraded to a tropical depression on Sunday night, according to the National Hurricane Center, as it loses strength as it passes through Southern New England.

The storm was forecast to bring severe rain and floods to regions of Southern New England through Monday, as per Boston Globe. The National Hurricane Center warned in a late Sunday update that heavy rain from Tropical Depression Henri will continue to cause flooding in parts of southern New England and the northern Mid-Atlantic.

The storm's strong rainfall could cause significant flash, urban, and small stream flooding. According to the center, minor to isolated moderate river flooding might occur in parts of Long Island, New Jersey, New England, New York, and northeast Pennsylvania.

Read Also: Haiti Despair, Anger Mount as Earthquake Toll Rises; Gangs Offer to Help Aid Efforts

Tropical Storm Henri socked the Northeast

As it made landfall on the shore of Rhode Island on Sunday, tropical storm Henri slammed into the Northeast with powerful gusts and lashing bands of rain, knocking out power to over 140,000 homes and producing deluges that shuttered bridges, flooded roads, and stranded some people in their cars.

Before approaching New England, the storm was downgraded from a hurricane, allowing many to breathe a sigh of relief, but the National Hurricane Center cautioned that the slow-moving storm will continue to drop heavy rainfall across large swathes of the region far into the weekend.

Per ABC News, persistent rainfall flooded areas as far southwest as New Jersey for two days, even as the storm was upgraded to tropical depression status. Overnight, the storm was expected to stall near the New York-Connecticut line before pivoting east and pushing out into the Atlantic Ocean on Monday.

Inland areas were likely to receive the most rain. Early on, there were few reports of serious coastal damage caused by wind or waves. President Joe Biden stated on Sunday that the federal government will assist residents in the affected states. The president declared disasters in much of the region, allowing the federal government to help with recovery efforts.

Biden had already expressed his condolences to the people of Tennessee, following severe floods caused by a separate storm that killed at least 22 people, including children and the elderly, and left scores more missing.

Related Article: Tennessee Flooding: 22 Dead, 60 Missing After Heavy Rainfall

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New Zealand's outbreak of COVID-19 cases caused by the more contagious Delta variant has surpassed 100 on Monday, prompting officials to extend a new wave of lockdowns.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Monday announced an extension to the country's strict nationwide COVID-19 lockdown amid the spread of the Delta virus. During a news conference, the prime minister also warned against more cases, noting that the new wave of cases has yet to peak.

New Zealand's COVID Outbreak

"The safest option for all of us right now is to hold the course for longer," Ardern said at a news conference, according to Reuters. "If the world has taught us anything it is to be cautious with this variant of COVID-19."

The cluster of cases began last Tuesday after New Zealand officials detected the first community case in nearly six months in a 58-year-old man from Auckland. The total number of confirmed infections has now grown to 107 cases, with 35 more people testing positive on Monday.

New Zealand health officials are now investigating more than 320 locations of interest linked to the people who tested positive for COVID-19, including bars, nightclubs and churches. More than 13,000 contacts are also being investigated by officials.

"My heart just sank. Virtually every high risk, indoor environment was on that list," Michael Baker, an epidemiologist, told The Guardian.

The lockdown would remain until midnight Friday for provinces outside of Auckland while the epicenter of the outbreak would remain on the highest level of lockdown until Aug. 31.

Read Also: Pfizer's COVID-19 Vaccine May Get Full Approval from FDA this Week; Why Does It Matter?

New Zealand previously adopted a "Covid zero" elimination strategy, which has helped the nation reduce its COVID-19 deaths to 26 throughout the pandemic. However, this strategy was questioned by Chris Hipkins, the country's COVID-19 response minister, who worries that the strategy may not be viable against the more transmissible Delta variant.

Stomping Out the Infection

"Our plan has worked before and together we can make it work again," Ardern defended, according to Yahoo News.

The prime minister added that they plan to relax all coronavirus-related restrictions next year when the country's vaccination rates are higher. As of Monday, only 20% of the country's total population have been fully vaccinated against the virus.

Shain Hendy, a scientist who heads the Te Punaha Matatini research center in New Zealand, said they are expecting to see a decline in COVID-19 cases towards the end of the week, according to Axios.

The outbreak comes as the Delta variant virus outbreak in Sydney threatens to go out of control, with health officials reporting more than 600 new infections consecutively in the last four days. The outbreak in Sydney is also said to be the origin of the outbreak in New Zealand.

Officials in Sydney have now extended their lockdown through September on Friday. Tougher COVID-19 restrictions were also announced, including a curfew and mandatory wearing of face masks.

Sydney has been placed in lockdown since June 26, which came nearly two weeks after an unvaccinated limousine driver tested positive for the Delta variant, according to ABC News.



Related Article: New Zealand's Delta Outbreak Spreads, Raises Concerns Among Residents as Lockdown is Extended

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German exporters are facing increasing pressure in their home market from Chinese exports to the European Union, according to a study by the Cologne Institute for Economic Research.

Chinese exports to the region include increasingly complex industrial goods -- such as machinery, pharmaceuticals and automotive products -- that have long been seen as the preserve of German manufacturers. The share of such products in all EU imports from China rose from 50.7 percent in 2000 to 68.2 percent in 2019, according to the study, reported by The German newspaper Welt am Sonntag.

The figures are a warning to German politicians and businesses, who are already facing growing questions about the country future economic success. The fabled German car industry is wrestling with the end of the internal combustion engine and competition from the likes of Tesla, its technology sector is lagging behind European rivals and manufacturers are agonizing over the cost of the energy transition.

"With China, Germany sees strong export competition not only globally, but also in its home market in Europe," Welt am Sonntag quoted IW economist Juergen Matthes as saying.

At the same time, some analysts say China is increasingly looking to Germany economic model as a guide to its future success. Beijing "Made in China 2025" plan, inspired by Germany Industry 4.0 blueprint, focuses on increasing manufacturing in the technology sector. China recent regulatory crackdown has also led some to draw parallels with Europe largest economy.

Still, others say China success in emulating the German economic model could be hampered by its uncertain policy environment.

Achim Wambach, president of Germany ZEW Institute, told Bloomberg last week: "To build structures, you need to make sure that economic policies are predictable and clear so that companies can invest." "What we are seeing in China right now is the opposite -- there a lot of uncertainty, speculation and sudden changes in policy. This is the opposite of what Germany has always thought about economic policy."

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Kim Jae-kyung played the character Oh Jin-joo in tvN's "The Devil Judge" Courtesy of Namoo Actors



By Lee Gyu-lee



Kim Jae-kyung, who debuted as a member of now-disbanded K-pop girl group Rainbow in 2009, has made a successful transition into that of an actor since landing the lead role in JTBC's short series "Monster." Since then, she has been building a steady portfolio, from crime series "Life on Mars" to rom-com "The Secret Life of My Secretary."



Recently taking on the supporting role in the legal mystery series "The Devil Judge," which ended Sunday with an 8 percent viewership rating, Kim expressed that the series has encouraged her to take another step forward into becoming a better actor.



"When I first decided to take part in this project, I made a promise to myself that if I ever face obstacle or difficulties (in portraying my character) with this series, I will push myself to face it and to get to the end of it," she told The Korea Times during the video interview, last Thursday.



"When your height grows, there are growing pains that accompany your growth. And this series was like my 'growing pains,' because I've spent more agonizing time while working on this than any other series. So it allowed me to go through the pain to help grow and become a better actor."





A scene from the series / Courtesy of tvN



"The Devil Judge," created and written by judge-turned-writer Moon Yoo-seok, who is behind the JTBC series "Ms. Hammurabi," is set in a fictional dystopian Korea, which had been swept by a mysterious plague.



The country implements a new justice system in which court trials are broadcasted live to the public and makes rulings based on the citizens' votes.



Kang Yo-han (Ji Sung) is the star senior judge of the new system, who ruthlessly punishes those found guilty. Though many see him as a just, crusading judge, his methods and legal boundaries are questioned when rookie judge Kim Ga-on (Jin Young) comes into his life.



Kim plays the character Oh Jin-joo, one of the three presiding judges, along with Yo-han and Ga-on. Despite her passion to serve justice, she has been seated as the judge for her looks as the charming face of the show-biz style courtroom.



The actress said that she had difficulty portraying an optimistic and energetic character in such a heavy, serious series.



"Jin-joo loved her work and wanted to help as many people as she can as a judge. So I tried to focus on that part of the character. But I also worried her upbeat, energetic character would stand out too much in the overall tone of the series," she said. "I had to find ways to make it convincing while portraying her passion for work and not to exaggerate."





The series ended on Sunday with an 8 percent viewership rating. Courtesy of tvN
A pedestrian passes by the headquarters of Upbit cryptocurrency exchange in Seoul in this file photo. Yonhap



Fears grow over Upbit monopolizing domestic market



By Park Jae-hyuk



Both the ruling and the opposition lawmakers are pressuring financial authorities to prevent the "annihilation" of small-size cryptocurrency exchanges in the domestic market, following the enforcement of tougher regulations taking effect next month, which could result in an oligopoly or even lead to a monopoly.



Financial authorities are hoping to see rationalization of the domestic cryptocurrency market. While there are possibilities that a new order could prevail in the country's crypto-world thanks to sustained efforts for regulators towards the path, the market rationalization could lead to a single dominant player having a monopoly in the worst-case scenario.



Rep. Yoo Dong-soo of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) told The Korea Times that the party's taskforce members will meet representatives from the Financial Services Commission (FSC) sometime next week, after Friday's confirmation hearing on FSC Chairman nominee Koh Seung-beom. Yoo is leading the ruling party's taskforce on virtual assets.



The taskforce members have held several meetings with experts and representatives from exchange operators over the past few months.



Overall issues regarding the new regulations, including allowing banks to be exempt from responsibilities for illegal acts involving their affiliated cryptocurrency exchanges, will be discussed in the forthcoming meeting, according to the two-term lawmaker.



"We will listen to the government's opinion about the Act on Reporting and Use of Certain Financial Transaction Information, in addition to its understanding about virtual assets," he said by telephone.



The new law is forcing exchange operators to submit reports on their names, locations and CEOs to the Korea Financial Intelligence Unit commissioner until Sept. 24, after forming partnerships with commercial banks that enable operation with real-name accounts.



However, the banks have remained reluctant to provide minor exchanges with real-name accounts in order to avoid taking responsibility for the exchanges' possible misconduct.





Bithumb Korea's customer service center in Seoul / Yonhap
US special representative for North Korea Sung Kim / Reuters-Yonhap



Vice Unification Minister Choi Young-jun will meet with the visiting U.S. nuclear envoy later Monday to discuss a coordinated approach to North Korea, the ministry said.



Unification Minister Lee In-young will also hold a breakfast meeting with the U.S. envoy, Amb. Sung Kim, Tuesday to discuss ways for bilateral cooperation on denuclearization and improving inter-Korean relations, according to the ministry.






Noh Kyu-duk, right, Korea's chief nuclear envoy, and his U.S. counterpart Sung Kim announce the outcomes of their talks at a Seoul hotel, Monday. Yonhap



Envoy assures US commitment to Korean Peninsula amid Afghan chaos



By Kang Seung-woo



The United States made clear its commitment to inter-Korean humanitarian projects, Monday, a step forward from its previous stance, as South Korea is seeking to find a breakthrough in its ties with North Korea.



In addition, Washington also reaffirmed its commitment to the defense of South Korea, as the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan is leaving Seoul anxious about whether it can trust its longtime ally.



The commitment came after Sung Kim, the U.S. special representative for North Korea, had talks with his South Korean counterpart Noh Kyu-duk in Seoul. Kim is on a four-day trip to Seoul ending Tuesday.



"We discussed possible humanitarian assistance to the DPRK," Kim said following his meeting with Noh. DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the official name of North Korea.



"I reaffirmed U.S. support for inter-Korean dialogue and engagement stipulated by the joint statement between our two leaders in May and will continue to render our support to inter-Korean humanitarian cooperation projects."



Noh went into further detail about the humanitarian assistance.



"South Korea and the U.S. discussed various areas of humanitarian cooperation with the North, including healthcare, quarantine against infectious diseases, drinking water and hygiene," Noh said.



"We also discussed humanitarian support to the North through international organizations and nongovernmental organizations."



Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic started to sweep the world early last year, the South Korean government has been reaching out to the North Korean regime offering humanitarian assistance as part of its efforts to get stalled inter-Korean relations back on track, but no progress has been made due to Pyongyang's lack of response.



"What is different from the previous U.S. stance is that Sung Kim talked about the U.S. support for inter-Korean humanitarian aid in more detail," said Park Won-gon, a professor of North Korean studies at Ewha Womans University.



"Although it did not mean that the U.S. will fully roll up its sleeves for the humanitarian assistance, he showed the U.S.'s determination toward South Korea helping its northern neighbor in humanitarian aid."



Following the U.S. troops' withdrawal from Afghanistan and consequent chaos in the country, questions have risen here whether the U.S. Forces Korea may leave the Korean Peninsula while North Korea still remains a threat.



Kim stepped up efforts to ease the concerns and growing doubts over the U.S. commitment to Korea, following remarks by U.S. President Joe Biden last week that allies like South Korea are fundamentally different from Afghanistan when it comes to U.S. security commitment.



"On the importance of the U.S.-Republic of Korea alliance, I cannot put it better than President Biden himself who called the U.S. commitment to defense of the ROK 'sacred.'" Kim said.



Park said, "Sung Kim's trip was also aimed at easing growing concerns here about the U.S. commitment to the defense of South Korea against North Korea in the wake of the crisis in Afghanistan."



However, the U.S. envoy came short of delivering a new message that would bring North Korea back to the negotiating table, instead repeating he was ready to meeting his North Korean counterpart anywhere and anytime, the same stance he shared two month ago during his first visit to Seoul as nuclear envoy.



On Tuesday, Noh plans to meet Igor Morgulov, who doubles as Russia's chief nuclear envoy and is visiting Korea for talks with his South Korean and U.S. counterparts. Kim reportedly called for Russia's full implementation of anti-North Korea sanctions and cooperation in resuming nuclear talks with the North.


An owner of a Chinese restaurant in Seoul's Yangcheon District posts a notice, Sunday, about vaccine incentives announced by the government that allow private gatherings of up to four including two fully vaccinated people at restaurants and cafes after 6 p.m., starting Monday. Yonhap



By Jun Ji-hye



The government's vaccine incentives, including allowing private gatherings of up to four people at restaurants and cafes after 6 p.m. if two are fully vaccinated, are causing confusion and complaints among people, as the incentives are applied only to gatherings at such locations but excluding gatherings at home.



Controversy is growing as the incentives are putting people into situations where they have a greater risk of exposure to COVID-19 at crowded restaurants or cafes compared to in the privacy of a residence.



The government disclosed the measure, Friday, when announcing its decision to maintain the highest Level 4 distancing rules for the Seoul metropolitan area and Level 3 for most other regions for another two weeks until Sept. 5, as the fourth wave of infections here has yet to come under control.



According to revised rules applied from Monday, restaurants and cafes in regions under Level 4, which also include Busan, Daejeon and Jeju Island, are required to close at 9 p.m., an hour earlier than the previous 10 p.m. curfew. Only takeout and delivery services are available after that time.



The government also maintained a ban on private gatherings of three or more people after 6 p.m. for the regions. But it decided to allow gatherings of four at restaurants or cafes even after that time if two fully vaccinated people are included.



The government said the measure is meant to incentivize vaccination, but was actually considered a means aimed at allaying anger of small business owners who have suffered from falling sales amid the continued distancing rules.



But many people criticized the measure, claiming that applying the vaccine incentives only to restaurants and cafes does not make sense, as this seems to mean that four people including two fully vaccinated ones cannot meet at a home.



"I don't understand the government's intention. So, is the government encouraging people to go out and take the risk of spreading the virus, rather than holding gatherings at home?" one internet user wrote on Naver's news section.



Another user wrote, "Such incentives would result in people flocking to restaurants or cafes, which would increase the risk of infections."



In response, the government said it had to remain cautious about applying the incentives to private home gatherings, as it could result in such gatherings behind closed doors getting out of hand.



"If we apply the vaccine incentives to gatherings at home, more people will want to visit their elderly parents. In this case, people will stay at the same place for a long time, rather than leaving the place after a short meeting," Sohn Young-rae, a senior official from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, said during a media briefing, Sunday.



He said the government will consider expanding application of the incentives after monitoring developments in the virus situation and the country's vaccination rate.


A screen installed on a truck shows a message of protest by soon-to-be married couples against the government's social distancing rules, in front of Seoul City Hall, Aug. 19. Yonhap



Limit on number of guests mars once-in-a-lifetime event



By Bahk Eun-ji



A wedding is one of the most important life events for an individual and their family. Soon-to-be-married couples are usually busy planning their wedding ceremony while delivering the happy news to their relatives and friends but, these days, such joy is gone and planning a wedding has become a huge headache for couples as the protracted COVID-19 pandemic and resultant social distancing rules have forced them to give up most of their plans.



A major hurdle is the limit on the number of guests that may attend the ceremony.



Under the national Level 3 and Level 4 social distancing regulations, the maximum number of guests at a wedding ceremony has been set at 49, excluding the bride, groom and their parents.



Even before the four-tier system was introduced in July, Seoul and the surrounding metropolitan area, where the largest percentage of infections has taken place, had been under the same restriction of less than 50 people.



Those planning to marry say the distancing rule is excessively stricter for wedding venues than other multi-use facilities where a large number of people gather: For places of worship, up to 99 people are allowed; for a concert hall, up to 2,000; and for department stores or discount stores, there is no limit.



"For a wedding ceremony with 49 people, family members and close relatives account for the majority and only one or two friends can be invited," said Lee Jee-ahn, a 35-year-old office worker living in Incheon, who has already postponed her wedding twice since last year.



"A wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event, and who would want to have such a big ceremony in such a shabby way?" she asked.



Besides being unable to invite as many guests as they want, would-be married couples also face financial losses because most wedding venues require a non-refundable deposit for a minimum number of guests, and the minimum numbers are usually between 100 and 200  meaning couples must pay for 200 guests even though they are only permitted to invite up to 49 guests.



Jung Hyun-seok, 39, an office worker living in Songpa District in Seoul, said he plans to file a lawsuit against a wedding hall operator. Jung and his fiancee paid a deposit to cover meals for 100 people before the strict distancing rules were applied. When the couple asked for a refund for the 51 guests excluded by the policy, the operator refused.



"The cost of feeding each guest is between 40,000 won ($34) and 50,000 won per person, but they want us to pay for the additional 51 people, which amounts to at least 20 million won," Jung said.





Chairs are placed at a wedding hall in Seoul, Sunday, allowing people to sit together in accordance with the government's social distancing measures. Yonhap




The U.S. special representative for North Korea, Sung Kim, was set to hold separate talks with his South Korean and Russian counterparts in Seoul on Monday to discuss joint efforts to resume dialogue with North Korea, Seoul officials said.







Kim's meetings with Seoul's chief nuclear envoy, Noh Kyu-duk, and Moscow's Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov, come as tensions have flared anew with Pyongyang reacting furiously to the ongoing South Korea-U.S. military exercise.







During their talks, Noh and Kim are expected to explore ways to encourage the North's return to dialogue through humanitarian initiatives or other means, amid concerns that the recalcitrant regime could provoke on the pretext of the allied exercise.







The two sides held their last in-person meeting in Seoul in June, during which Kim said Washington had offered to meet with Pyongyang "anytime, anywhere without preconditions" in a renewed overture for dialogue.







After the talks, Kim will meet Morgulov, who doubles as Russia's chief nuclear envoy. Kim is expected to call for Russia's full implementation of anti-Pyongyang sanctions and cooperation in resuming nuclear talks with the North.







Both Kim and Morgulov arrived in Seoul on Saturday.







Last month, cautious optimism emerged for inter-Korean cooperation, as the two Koreas reactivated their communication lines, some 13 months after the North severed them in anger over activists sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border into the North.







But the cross-border ties chilled again, as the North has repeatedly castigated the South Korea-U.S. exercise, calling it the "most vivid expression of the U.S. hostile policy" toward the North and warning of a "serious security crisis."







Nuclear talks between Washington and Pyongyang have remained stalemated since the Hanoi summit between then U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ended without a deal in 2019. (Yonhap)


A group of Afghans residing in Korea hold banners asking the Korean government to evacuate their family members who helped Korea's mission in the country, during a rally in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in central Seoul, Monday. Yonhap



Citizens showing negative reactions outnumber supporters



By Nam Hyun-woo



Korea has been divided over whether the country should allow the U.S. to house Afghan evacuees on U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) bases. Politicians and citizens are having heated debates over how much of a role Korea, as an advanced nation, should play in the now global issue, while some raise fears of radical Islamists hiding among the refugees, and others point to Korea's poor rate of accepting asylums seekers.



Minister of Foreign Affairs Chung Eui-yong said during a National Assembly meeting, Monday, that Korea and the U.S. had a "rudimentary discussion on the possibility" of housing Afghan evacuees in USFK bases here, though "it was not serious discussion and talks are not proceeding currently."



Chung's remark came a day after the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday that the Pentagon is "looking at American bases in Japan, Korea, Germany, Kosovo, Bahrain and Italy," as existing housing sites in Qatar and elsewhere are filling up quickly, citing unidentified sources.



It remains unclear whether those evacuees will be staying at USFK bases temporarily or not, triggering debates over the evacuees' potential asylum claims in the future.



Rep. Song Young-gil, chairman of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), showed skepticism on Sunday to the report, saying, "The U.S. has not discussed the issue with the Korean government, and it is unrealistic because the evacuees may head to closer countries due to the transportation issue. I question whether it is an appropriate plan."



DPK lawmaker Park Yong-jin also said, "The issue of establishing refugee camps should be considered thoroughly because it may violate the agreements between Korea and the USFK."



The agreements Park referred to include the U.S.-Korea Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), which obliges USFK personnel to respect the laws of Korea. Since Korea's Immigration Act stipulates that evacuees seeking to enter Korea are required to receive permission from the justice minister, the U.S. needs Korean government's consent to use USFK bases as refugee camps. Otherwise, depending on interpretation, the plan could be seen as a violation of the SOFA.









Minister Chung also stressed, during the Assembly meeting, that the Korean government's permission is required for housing Afghan evacuees in USFK bases.



The conservative main opposition People Power Party said the nation needs to positively review the plan from a humanitarian perspective and based on the Korea-U.S. alliance, but also that Korea "needs to be very careful about giving them a status allowing settlement in Korea," according to party spokeswoman Rep. Her Euna.





In this image courtesy of the U.S. Air Force, a U.S. Air Force aircrew, assigned to the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, assists qualified evacuees aboard a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircraft in support of the Afghanistan evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, Aug. 21. AFP-Yonhap
Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae, right, talks with a student at Gocheok Elementary School in Seoul, Monday, during her visit to inspect quarantine measures there. Most elementary schools start their second semesters this week, and schools across the country are providing in-person or online classes according to the social distancing rules applied to their respective regions. Yonhap
gettyimagesbank



By Kwon Mee-yoo



An appellate court has upheld a lower court decision that gave a 76-year-old man a suspended prison sentence on charges of raising five children in an unclean, moldy house and keeping one son from attending elementary school.



The appellate department of the Chuncheon District Court in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, said it upheld the lower court ruling that sentenced the man to six months in jail suspended for two years on charges of child abuse and neglect in violation of the Child Welfare Act. He was also ordered to attend 40 hours of education on child abuse prevention.



According to the court, the man married a woman of Cambodian nationality in 2008 and has five sons from two to 10 years old.



He is accused of allowing one son not to go to elementary school from Nov. 14, 2017 to May 23, 2018, depriving the son's right to education. According to the court, he told his son he wouldn't attend school until he reached middle school age.



The father claimed that his son didn't want to go to school at first and his truancy was unintentional, but the court said the father, as a guardian with parental rights, should have talked with his child to find the reason and convince him to go to school, instead of letting him stay home from school.



"The father blamed the school for his son's truancy and turned down the request from the local community center to send his son to school citing his own educational philosophy. He violated the victim's right to be educated," the court said.



He is also accused of raising his children in an unsanitary environment. He did not clean his house from September 2016 to May 2018, resulting in a moldy and foul-smelling bedroom, bathroom and kitchen.



The father did not provide his children with recommended vaccinations and the children suffered from dental diseases as he did not teach them to brush their teeth, claiming toothpaste was harmful to their health.



The court said the father denied support and advice from related agencies such as a community center that contacted him about his son returning to school and offered to clean his home.



The court rejected the father's appeal, saying that the harm would have been greater and longer-lasting if state agencies had not intervened when they did.


The Korea Times and The Asia-Pacific Leadership Network (APLN) will co-host an essay contest with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the theme: "Youth, Disarmament, and Peace in the Asia-Pacific Region."



We invite not only Korean but all international students  graduate and undergraduate  to submit essays for the contest, which aims to foster a new generation of scholars committed to examining nuclear issues.

Applicants should submit their essays (of between 800 and 1,000 words) in English, and include the following details: name, major area of study, year-level, email and phone number. All submissions will be placed in the same judging pool.

Essays must address one of the following major themes:

1. The Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) and international nuclear governance

2. Emerging nuclear trends (new technologies, the future of arms control, big data, etc.)

Submission deadline: Sept. 30, 2021

Submission instructions: submit your essay to

Announcement of winners: November 2021

Award Ceremony: Late November 2021 (Tentative)

* Subject to change depending on COVID-19 situation Sept. 30, 2021submit your essay to apln@apln.network with the subject line "APLN-KT Essay Contest_Name" with your name placed where it says "Name."November 2021Late November 2021 (Tentative)* Subject to change depending on COVID-19 situation

Prizes

Winners will receive awards from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, The Korea Times, and the APLN Chairman. They will receive monetary prizes and certificates and their work will be published by APLN and The Korea Times.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Award (1): 2 million won

The Korea Times Award (1): 1 million won

APLN Award (1): 1 million won

Honorable Mention (3): 500,000 won
Seoul's chief nuclear envoy, Noh Kyu-duk, left, and the U.S. special representative for North Korea, Sung Kim / Yonhap



The top nuclear envoys of South Korea and the United States held talks in Seoul on Monday to discuss joint efforts to resume dialogue with North Korea amid renewed tensions with Pyongyang over the allies' ongoing military exercise.



The talks between Seoul's chief nuclear envoy, Noh Kyu-duk, and the U.S. special representative for North Korea, Sung Kim, came as Seoul and Washington have been exploring ways to encourage Pyongyang's return to dialogue through humanitarian initiatives and other means.



"I'm grateful to have this opportunity to engage you and other senior members of the Korean government at this important time," Kim said at the start of the talks.



"I think my visit here is another indication of Washington's determination to maintain the closest possible cooperation with the Republic of Korea government on all issues related to North Korea," he added.






Six subway labor union groups hold a press conference in Seoul to demand the government scrap its restructuring plan, among other things, Aug. 23. Yonhap



The labor union of Seoul Metro, the operator of Seoul subway system, warned Monday that it would stage a walkout next month if the authorities' plan to fire workers as part of restructuring measures is not withdrawn.



The union said at a press briefing, which was attended by five other subway union groups nationwide, that it will go on strike from Sept. 14 if the central and Seoul governments do not accept their demands for the withdrawal of the plan, state subsidies for lost income and new hiring.



"Our fight is to stop wrong policies, not to stop subways," the union said, "We will carefully consider a walkout, taking into consideration the inconvenience it will cause and concerns over the virus spread arising from busier trains."



"But we will have no choice but to go on strike if our demands are not met and our efforts to talk are denied," it warned.



The labor union has demanded the Seoul city government scrap its layoff plan aimed at solving increasing deficits and the central government make up for financial losses, which they argue are caused mainly by free rides for the elderly aged 65 or older and a freeze on subway fare since 2015.



All six subway systems have been suffering from financial difficulties, exacerbated by declining ridership and growing work-from-home culture amid the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.



Seoul Metro, which expected to see 1.6 trillion won (US$1.36 billion) in deficit this year, has proposed a 10 percent reduction in workforce and a pay freeze, which the union squarely denied, calling the measures "passing the buck (of failed management) to workers."



The labor unions in Seoul and four other cities overwhelmingly voted for a walkout, while the one in the southwestern city of Gwangju has yet to vote.



The groups plan to hold a one-person rally at 650 subway stations around the country Thursday and will continue to hold various campaigns to raise public awareness of their demands.



The Seoul city government said it was doing its best to "minimize any inconvenience to people" and "solve structural problems." (Yonhap)


Korea needs to join global humanitarian efforts



A series of heartbreaking news updates are pouring out from the chaotic scenes of Afghanistan after the Taliban's rapid takeover of the war-torn country. One of the most tragic is the footage showing some Afghan parents tossing their babies to American soldiers over a high wall topped with barbed wire at Kabul's airport, desperately asking for the safety of their loved ones. There are also reports about the Taliban's brutal retaliations and human rights abuses. Sadly enough, women have become most vulnerable to those misdeeds.



The international community should make concerted efforts to prevent such mishaps. In this regard, we expect much from the special session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), scheduled for Tuesday in Geneva, Switzerland, to discuss the Afghan issue. Participants should endeavor to present practical and feasible measures from a humanitarian perspective, regardless of the interests of each nation.



The Taliban promised to refrain from retaliating against opponents, ensure human rights of women and maintain peaceful relations with other countries in a press conference Aug. 17 it held for the first time since it seized Kabul. However, skepticism is growing over its pledges, particularly the one regarding women's rights. Yet, it is worth noting that the Taliban is  to a certain degree  wary of international criticism over its notoriety for violence and repression.



The international community should take all possible means to make the Taliban abide by its pledges to set up an "open and inclusive" government. Yet, what is most urgent is how to protect vulnerable Afghans and effectively help their evacuation. Though the United States has so far taken a leading role toward that end, other nations should also proactively join such humanitarian endeavors.



South Korea, for its part, should roll up its sleeves as it dispatched medical and engineering units since 2001 to help with reconstruction of the war-devastated country. Given this, it is welcome that both the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and opposition People Power Party (PPP) stressed Monday the need for the government to accept fleeing Afghans who helped Koreans with their work.



The Ministry of Foreign Affairs should focus on grasping the reality facing those Afghans and take measures to help their evacuation by issuing proper visas for them, for instance. U.S. President Joe Biden said Sunday the United States is working with 26 countries to help the Afghans. The Wall Street Journal Saturday reported the U.S. is considering using military bases in South Korea and other countries to accommodate them.



Washington needs to have close consultations with Seoul before making any decision in this regard, to prevent any possible misunderstandings or disputes between the two allies. In case the U.S. bases are used to house Afghan refugees, the Biden administration should clearly specify the exact number of the evacuees and the duration of their stay.



The Korean government should positively consider extending all humanitarian assistance to the Afghans. This is an essential duty the country must fulfill as a responsible member of the international community. Moreover, such assistance could serve as an opportunity to strengthen the Korea-U.S. alliance.


The Port of Incheon, circa 1945-49 / Robert Neff Collection



By Robert Neff



On Sept. 8, 1945, American soldiers began arriving in Incheon. Everett Shipley informed his parents in a letter home that his unit arrived in the port at about 3 p.m. and were greeted by the Japanese who provided them with trucks and other logistical support to off-load their equipment.



The following morning, American soldiers were transported by train to Seoul, where, upon arrival, they marched in silence to their positions at Bando Hotel and the Japanese headquarters in Yongsan. Donald Clark, in his book "Living Dangerously in Korea," notes that while the soldiers marched in silence, American "planes roared overhead 'providing striking demonstrations of power that could hardly have failed to impress both Japanese and Koreans.'"



Later that afternoon, at around 4 p.m., General Hodge and Admiral Kincaid arrived at the Government-General Building and, after a short speech  "listened glumly to by the Japanese"  Hodge accepted Japan's surrender.





Welcoming the Allied Forces, The Korea Times, Sept. 5, 1945 / Robert Neff Collection



Shipley simply wrote that after the official surrender, they "pulled down the [Japanese] flag and raised Old Glory. It looks better than any flag in the world." However, an English-language newspaper bearing the name The Korea Times (with no relation to this paper founded five years later), went to some length in describing the event:



"American soldiers were lined up around the tall flag-pole, and multitudes of Koreans gathered outside of the building ground, expecting a dramatic event to take place. There, the Japanese flag, long a symbol of autocracy and wickedness, was lowered, and amidst the resounding tune of the Star Spangled Banner played by the American Army Band, and whilst some forty American planes were encircling the scene high up in the sky, the American flag, an emblem of justice and liberty, a standard banner of peace and goodwill, slowly and slowly soared up. Deeply moved by the scene and overjoyed, the assembled crowds outside cheered 'Mansei! Mansei!  America Mansei, Korea Mansei!'"



Shipley and his unit were housed in a "Japanese barracks within 50 yards of the capital building." Prior to moving in, the buildings were hosed down and then disinfected by the American medics making them "O.K." for the soldiers to dwell in.





Shy Korean children encounter an American soldier with a camera in Seoul circa 1947-48 / Robert Neff Collection



Shipley was quite impressed with Seoul:



"This is the nicest city I have seen in the East. The population is one million. They have standard gauge railroads and street cars, as well as a few automobiles. The streets are paved and kept cleaner than in some of the towns in the States."



He, and his fellow soldiers, were, however, a little unsettled by the attention they were receiving from their Korean hosts.



"These people surely like to stand around and stare at us, but I guess we are as much of a novelty to them as they are to us."



Shipley also described seeing Russians in the city but did not elaborate on his encounters with them. Perhaps they were members of the Soviet Consulate  at the time, Consul-General Alexander Poliansky was the "only remaining Western diplomat" in the city.





The Seoul Times, Sept. 14, 1945 / Robert Neff Collection



The Russians were also welcomed by the population. An editorial in the first edition of The Korea Times declared: "Russia has been a great neighbor and trusted friend of Korea. Thousands of our patriots found their safe shelters and their field of activity in Russia and hundreds of thousands of our famers driven out by the Japanese received from the hands of the Russians every opportunity for their peaceful living and progress."



It noted that the Russian influence on the Korean youth in recent years was overwhelming but encouraged every Korean to "open the ice-free ports of his warm heart in order to receive the best of all ships  even the Russian friendship." This was obviously in reference to Russia's perceived attempts in the 19th century to obtain an ice-free port on the Korean Peninsula.



Over the next couple of weeks, the animosity towards the Japanese continued to increase. At a large demonstration, Japanese police  under American orders to keep the peace  shot and killed two Korean students of Choson Christian College (today's Yonsei University).





Russians in Northern Korea in 1945-46 / Robert Neff Collection



On Sept. 12, their funerals were held at a middle school in Seoul that, despite the rain, was "attended by the students of all the institutions in Seoul." The students accompanied the funeral carriages "carrying banners inscribed with 'Down with Japanese imperialism,' 'Cheers for the Korean People's Republic' and 'Cheers for Free and Independent Korea.'"



A careless comment from General Hodge turned some of the demonstrators' anger from the Japanese to the Americans. According to Donald Clark, "General Hodge was quoted as having said that he saw Koreans and Japanese as 'the same breed of cat.'" Military authorities later explained that the general was "referring only to Korean collaborators as being 'the same breed of cat,' as the Japanese, and not all Koreans."



Hodge's speech on Sept. 12 sought to reassure the Korean people that the peninsula would once again become independent but it could not be done in one or two days or even weeks  it would take some time. He also cautioned:



"Young people of all nations like to get out into the streets and march. But the enthusiasm of parades I often misunderstood. I ask you to keep down your demonstrations in number and sizeThe best demonstration is that of good citizens working at their tasks."





Japanese soldiers are searched in Busan before being sent back to Japan, September 1945. / Robert Neff Collection



Over the next couple of months, the two English-language newspapers in Seoul  The Korea Times and The Seoul Times  were filled with articles praising the Allied Forces and denigrating Japan. On Sept. 28, The Seoul Times reported that disarmed Japanese forces were being transported back to Japan from Busan at the rate of 4,000 men daily. The Japanese soldiers were only allowed to take with them their personal equipment and 10 days' worth of food and medicine.



Later, The Korea Times reported that as of Oct. 25, just over 110,000 Japanese soldiers and a little over 70,500 Japanese civilians had been returned to Japan. It announced that two additional trains would begin to operate between Seoul and Busan so that another 30,000 Japanese in the vicinity of Seoul could be deported within three days. The paper also noted the imbalanced numbers of repatriations: On Oct. 25, almost 9,300 Japanese were returned to Japan but only 1,821 Koreans were returned to Korea.



Comparing the two newspaper, The Korea Times was, for the most part, a weaker newspaper than The Seoul Times. It published less frequently and seemed more directed towards the American soldiers as evidenced by its propaganda-like descriptions of American soldierKorean civilian encounters and articles describing Korean culture and historical sites. It did, however, publish an editorial in October titled, "Why a Dixie Line in Korea?"





Korean police in Seoul with horse and bicycle, circa 1947-48 / Robert Neff Collection



The editor assured the readers that Korea was grateful to the Allied Forces which had suffered great losses of men in helping Korea regain its independence, but



"Joyful and grateful as we are, it is very difficult for us to understand why Korea has been divided into two.Why a Dixie Line in Korea? The inquiry comes not merely from the wailings of millions in the Northern party of Korea, but from common sense and statesmanship. Korea has been racially and culturally homogeneous."



The editor then claimed (somewhat loosely) the Korean people had not been divided in over a millennium and he wondered what wrongs the Korean people had done to deserve this punishment. Was it because the country was too weak and helpless to assist in its own independence? Surely "this could not be the cause for such a curse."



He argued that the northern part of the peninsula had all the important resources including coal, dams, chemical fertilizer factories and timber  all of which were now unavailable to those living in the south. He warned, "The winter is approaching. Unless some sagacious statesmanship is displayed in solving this tragedy the Koreans are bound to starve and freeze this winter."





The Seoul Times, March 24, 1946 / Robert Neff Collection
gettyimagesbank



National Assembly asked to update relevant clauses for Korea's 'sustained' national security effort



By Kim Bo-eun, Kim Yoo-chul



There have been growing calls for Korea to take a more detailed regulatory approach to preventing illicit transfer of core technologies involving semiconductors, electric vehicle batteries and displays, which are being considered key technologies of national importance.



The calls came as Korea is lagging behind in attempts to update its legislation to support its own strategic industries that underlie advanced technologies that could become the engines of economic growth and prosperity, including driverless electric vehicles (EVs), quantum computing and AI.



The United States and other countries have supported legislation and moves to revitalize their respective manufacturing of chips and batteries, in efforts to stabilize their supply chains and prevent their technologies from falling into the hands of rival national or corporate interests.



Governments around the world are stepping up their efforts for domestic protection of various technologies key to their respective economic vitality, as technology theft has become rampant. Taiwan has revised relevant regulations to require government approval when workers of core technology sectors pursue careers in China.



Korea's lawmakers are also seeking to revise related regulations, to give the government a greater say in the sale to foreign entities of domestic firms belonging to crucial tech sectors, and to make it more difficult for personnel in key research roles to leave for positions offered abroad. These moves are ongoing, as existing regulations have proven to be ineffective in protecting local technologies, especially in the case of workers moving away to foreign firms.



Some employees at the country's top-tier companies have been arrested for allegedly trying to leak advanced technologies for OLEDs to China in violation of the Industrial Technology Protection Act.



Given Korea's edge over China in EV batteries, displays and semiconductors, Chinese companies have actively been hiring researchers away from Korean companies involved in these segments in particular. Headhunters of Chinese firms reach out to employees at Korean companies by visiting websites containing their online profiles, and contacting them with job offers promising high salaries.





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DB HiTek's chip-making plant in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province / Courtesy of DB HiTek



Top conglomerates keeping eye on Korea's No. 2 foundry chipmaker



By Baek Byung-yeul



As semiconductors, electric vehicle (EV) batteries and displays are classified as national strategic industries, many governments are actively investing in these high-technology industries.



Among the core strategic items, an ongoing semiconductor supply shortage issue has been a worldwide headache as various data indicated that vehicle production could be disrupted until next year due to lack of semiconductors.



"As new cars, including EVs, are released in the second half of this year, standby demand for new cars will recover compared to the previous year's level, but sales performance will remain sluggish because the semiconductor supply shortage continues," a Korea Automotive Technology Institute report said Monday.



Due to the lack of chips, the importance of the foundry business is particularly highlighted and industry officials said there are a few companies including SK hynix, LG and Hyundai Motor Group that are aiming to acquire DB HiTek, Korea's second-largest contract-based chip manufacturing company.



"SK hynix, LG and Hyundai Motor Group are seen as potential acquirers for DB HiTek. However, they may try to acquire the foundry business company at a lower price. Also, it is questionable whether DB Group, which still wants to have a manufacturing business, will make a decision to abandon the foundry unit," a high-ranked official in a related industry told The Korea Times.



Dongbu HiTek develops analog and mixed-signal processing technologies. It sells chips on a contractual basis and produces system-level chips at between the 80- and 90-nanometer levels. As IT gadget sales have increased in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the company has seen soaring demand for producing analog chips used for measuring temperature and heart rate as well as OLED driver chips.



In the second quarter, DB HiTek recorded sales of 274.7 billion won ($234 million) and operating profit of 81.4 billion won, the highest ever in its history. The market sees the value of DB HiTek, which has a market capitalization of 2.58 trillion won, at around 4 trillion won to 5 trillion won when accounting for management rights of the company.



However, DB HiTek has been dogged by its foundry semiconductor business divestment scenario, as the company has been hesitant about whether to increase investment in the foundry business due to a concern that the ongoing soaring chip demand may end soon.



DB Group denied reports that it was considering selling its 17.38 percent stake in DB HiTek, valued at around 800 billion won. Despite the company's denial, industry officials are still weighing the possibility of DB selling its semiconductor unit as there had already been an official move to sell the company in the past.



Back in 2014, Dongbu Group, the previous name for DB Group, tried to sell the foundry affiliate as part of its group-wide restructuring, but the group failed to attract a potential acquirer. Though the selling of the foundry unit fell through, there was public opinion in Korea that DB HiTek should be prevented from being acquired by overseas companies given the importance of the foundry business to the country's economy.



Another industry official said SK and LG may come up as potential buyers of DB HiTek as the former wants to improve its competence in the growing and lucrative foundry business and the latter, specifically, aims to expand into the vehicle components business, but what matters is the price.



"LG and SK may be interested in acquiring DB HiTek but the current price is too high. LG is going to bet a huge drive on the automotive component business in the future, which is considered to have high potential. SK, which had a lot of fun with the acquisition of Hynix, is also very willing to strengthen its foundry capability. However, the amount of money is expected to determine whether the firm is sold or not," the official said.



Regarding that, SK hynix, LG and Hyundai Motor all denied the possibility of acquiring the semiconductor company.



"In order to expand our capacity in the foundry business, SK hynix is considering various measures such as expanding its local production or M&As, but nothing has been confirmed," an SK hynix official said.


Vietnamese soldiers spray disinfectant on the streets of Hanoi, May 12. EPA-Yonhap



By Kim Bo-eun



Samsung Electronics is set to see further fallout based on a COVID-19 lockdown in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, following pandemic-related damage at its smartphone factory in the country earlier this year.



Vietnam has restricted the movement of citizens in Ho Chi Minh City, a measure which is set to last through Sept. 15. The military will be mobilized during the lockdown to deliver food, in a measure to curb the spread of the virus, as Vietnam has seen cases of new infections spiral to over 10,000 in recent days.



Samsung's TV and home appliances production plant in Ho Chi Minh City had already been operating for more than a month under a lockdown applied to all factories in Saigon Hi-Tech Park. Workers at the Samsung plant have been sleeping on-site and in adjacent spaces at schools and other facilities secured by the company.



"This will inevitably leave workers in a tiring situation, given they will not be able to return home for almost another month," an industry official familiar with the matter said, Monday.



The Ho Chi Minh plant, employing 7,000 workers, produces TVs, washing machines, refrigerators and vacuum cleaners for markets in Southeast Asia, Europe and the U.S. The plant has been operating at 30 percent to 40 percent of total capacity in recent weeks under the lockdown.



"We are doing all we can to minimize impact (of the lockdown), but given the workforce has been reduced, the plant cannot be run at full capacity," a Samsung Electronics official said.



Samsung's production fallout is projected to affect sales on Black Friday, the U.S.'s biggest shopping holiday coming in November.



A shutdown of the Ho Chi Minh plant is estimated to result in up to 17 billion won in losses in one day.



Production disruptions occurred in May at Samsung's smartphone factory in Bac Ninh Province in the northern region nearby Hanoi, after the factory was placed under a lockdown following a COVID-19 outbreak. This resulted in Samsung losing the global No. 1 smartphone sales ranking to its Chinese competitor Xiaomi in June. Samsung's plants in Bac Ninh and the adjacent province of Thai Nguyen manufacture about half of the vendor's global smartphone production.



Samsung said its smartphone plant's operations have been normalized and it has been unaffected by the lockdown of Hanoi. While factories have run on reduced capacity, there have been no cases of complete shutdowns at any plants, the official said.




Illustration of an outdoor area at Lotte Department Store Dongtan in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province / Courtesy of Lotte Shopping





Retailer fails to launch Louis Vuitton, Chanel boutiques



By Kim Jae-heun



It has only been three days since Lotte Department Store opened a new branch in Dongtan, part of the largest shopping mall in Gyeonggi Province, but it is already embroiled in a number of controversies.



Lotte said a security guard at the store tested positive for COVID-19. He had worked there for three days from Aug. 18 to Aug. 20 in front of the department store's entrance. No additional cases are confirmed yet, but Lotte is planning to test all workers at the store for the virus.



Restaurants and coffee shop owners in the town have already expressed concerns regarding the large crowds at the department store on the first day of its grand opening.



Lotte Department Store's Dongtan branch has also been criticized for its similar interior design to that of Hyundai Department Store's The Hyundai Seoul in Yeouido that opened in February. Some visitors at Lotte's new store said they instantly thought of The Hyundai Seoul when they entered the building.



It turned out that a Canadian firm Burdifilek had participated in both projects for the interior design of both Lotte and Hyundai's stores.



Lotte acknowledged that adopting a large void in the middle of the building with white color walls and floor designed in circular shapes is the global trend and people can naturally think that its new branch's interior design looks similar to that of The Hyundai Seoul.



Dongtan branch fails to launch popular luxury brands



Lotte's Dongtan branch has not yet opened any shops of Louis Vuitton, Chanel or Hermes, which are the three most popular luxury brands in Korea.



The three French boutiques are a must for retailers looking for high revenue and to attract a large number of customers to their stores.



Other locally favorite luxury brands like Christian Dior, Bottega Venetta and Gucci also did not open boutiques at the Dongtan store.



Lotte Shopping, operator of Lotte Department Store, said it is in negotiations with various luxury firms. Louis Vuitton is reportedly at the top of its list.



"We don't know when we will have Louis Vuitton, Chanel or Hermes stores open at our Dongtan branch but we are in talks with them. Many luxury brands believe that apart from Seoul and Busan, the purchasing power of customers in other local cities is low," a Lotte Shopping official said.



In general, the three French firms limit the number of boutiques they operate in a country. The only department store in Korea to offer Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Hermes stores on its opening day was Shinsegae Department Store in Busan. There are only seven department stores here that have all three brands.



The brands also prefer to see the business performance of a department store before opening their stops there.



Louis Vuitton boutique at Shinsegae Derpartment Store in Gangnam, Seoul / Courtesy of Shinsegae Department Store
In most countries, the principle of "common prosperity for all" would be as close to a political cliche as you could get. What more could a modern democratic leader possibly promise?



But for China, and particularly the Communist Party, last week's call for gongtong fuyu carries a distinct significance.



It harks back to the party's egalitarian origins and the vision championed by Mao Zedong after the party captured power in 1949. It alludes to the social and political contract engineered by Deng Xiaoping's leadership as it encouraged people to get rich.



It reflects the party's abiding anxiety to bolster its legitimacy  and legacy  in the absence of a fully-fledged democratic mandate.



Most of all, it reflects anxiety that the party should not become a victim of its success. Yes, it has lifted more people out of abject poverty than any government in history, and delivered basic living standards on a scale and speed most international economists thought impossible.



But the very speed of this success has come at a price: the endemic danger of corruption and an inequality so extreme it arouses fears of severe political instability.



This new political mantra pulls together threads that go back to Xi Jinping's 2013 election as China's president and his crackdown on corruption, which has swept up an estimated 2 million "tigers and flies" over the past eight years, including at least 120 high-level officials and billions of dollars in corrupt gains.



At the end of last year, Xinhua said the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection had "solved" 375,000 cases of "hedonism and extravagance" and punished over 320,000 people.



While corruption remains a problem, the most recent threads arise from increasing anxiety over inequality, which London School of Economics economist Branco Minanovic describes as China's "Achilles' heel", pointing to the yawning threefold to fourfold income differences between urban and rural areas, and between rich and poor provinces.



The richest top 10 per cent in China account for 41.7 per cent of national income, according to the World Inequality Database. The top 1 per cent accounts for 14 per cent  almost the same as the bottom 50 per cent at 14.4 per cent.



China is minting billionaires at an unprecedented rate, adding more than 250 last year alone. The Hurun Global Rich List 2021 says China boasts 1,058 billionaires  50 per cent more than America's 696  when around 600 million Chinese people live on less than 1,000 yuan ($132) a month.



This wealth explosion is largely due to private enterprises, which by 2000, accounted for an estimated 66 per cent of China's economy and 80 per cent of its growth, said Dr Lee Jones at the Queen Mary University of London in a January 2020 Transnational Institute report.



China has 135 companies in the latest Global Fortune 500 list  more than America's 122  and its corporate elite has significant clout outside China as well as inside it.



But Dr Jones raises an important concern: "It is also unlikely that any private enterprise could have become a giant like Huawei, Alibaba or Xiaomi without party-state patronage."



These tough-to-trace links between the astonishing private-sector growth and the Communist Party are a rising concern for the party, both as a source of potentially corrupt power in the party, and a potential threat to public support.



Bring these threads together, and the past year's events form a clearer picture, beginning with the cancellation of Ant Group's $37 billion initial public offering, and subsequent investigations into Tencent Holding and Pinduoduo for "uncompetitive behavior", as well as other tech companies.



The recent pressure on Didi Chuxing to delay its $4.4 billion listing provided insights into government thinking. While the Ministry of Transport insisted there should be upper limits to Didi's commission rates, a People's Daily article noted that ride-hailing should be a "quasi public service". "It's time for ride-hailing platforms to give up the fantasy of making high profits," it said.





In this July 29 file photo, students and parents walk after attending a private after-school education in Haidan district of Beijing. AFP-Yonhap
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, right, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel attend a joint news conference following their talks at the Mariinsky palace in Kyiv, Ukraine, Aug. 22. German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrived to Kyiv for a working visit to meet with top Ukrainian officials. AP-Yonhap



Chancellor Angela Merkel sought to move forward stalled peace efforts for eastern Ukraine on Sunday and stressed Germany's commitment not to let Russia use a new gas pipeline as a "weapon" as she made what is likely her last visit to Ukraine as Germany's leader.



Merkel's trip came two days after she went to Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The chancellor is not running in Germany's national election next month and is nearing the end of her almost 16-year-long leadership of Germany.



Speaking at a joint news conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday, Merkel advocated working to get a leaders' meeting between Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France on the situation in eastern Ukraine, the first since late 2019.



"That in my opinion would bring us progress, if we can work out a good agenda  our advisers should do that," she said. "I am glad that President Zelensky is prepared to do this."



The fighting between Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed rebels has killed more than 14,000 since 2014. Germany and France have worked to help broker a peaceful settlement to the conflict, including an often-violated 2015 cease-fire agreement reached in Minsk, Belarus.



Zelensky said Kyiv is seeking a permanent cease-fire in eastern Ukraine, a prisoner exchange, open crossings at the line of contact and to ensure Red Cross access to the conflict zone. He supported the idea of a meeting, but urged Kyiv's Western partners to exert pressure on Russia in order to achieve progress in eastern Ukraine.



"As long as there is no progress, the pressure on Russia should continue. We want to see active efforts of our Western partners," Zelensky said.



Merkel noted that some of the goals named by Zelensky, like "the opening of further crossings on the line of contact or other humanitarian questions, have not yet been implemented, and that weighs down the process a great deal."



"However, one has to say again and again: that at present, we have no other format in which can discuss these things, and so work should be continued here," Merkel said.





A handout photo made available by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, right, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, left, attend their meeting at the Mariinsky palace in Kiev, Ukraine, Aug. 22. EPA-Yonhap
Palestinian protesters evacuate an injured youth amid clashes with Israeli security forces following a demonstration by the border fence with Israel, east of Gaza City, denouncing the Israeli siege of the Palestinian strip, Aug. 21. AFP-Yonhap



Israeli warplanes bombed Gaza Saturday after clashes between its troops and Palestinian protesters left dozens injured, including an Israeli border policeman and a 13-year-old Palestinian boy who were both critically wounded.



The Israeli military said it carried out air strikes against four weapons sites and that it had reinforced its Gaza division with additional troops.



The escalation came exactly three months since Israel and the enclave's Islamist rulers Hamas reached a truce following their deadliest fighting in years.



Israeli troops fired at Palestinian protesters who gathered near the Gaza border wall, the army and Palestinian witnesses said.



A Palestinian gunman fired at Israeli troops through an opening in the wall and crowds of young protesters hurled explosives over the barrier and tried to scale it.



The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry said the injured included a 13-year-old boy left in a critical condition after being hit in the head.



"Forty-one civilians were wounded with various injuries," the ministry said in a statement, with Hamas saying "thousands" of protesters had taken part.



The Israel Border Police said a 21-year-old sniper in its undercover unit was critically wounded when he was shot by a Palestinian protester.



"His condition is critical and there is a risk to his life," it said of the wounded officer.





Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz attends the weekly cabinet meeting, in Jerusalem, Aug. 22. AP-Yonhap



Hamas called for protest



Israeli police commissioner Kobi Shabtai in a statement vowed the force would "continue to act firmly and with all our might against those who want to harm us."



Defense Minister Benny Gantz had warned that "these are definitely extremely serious events that will have a response."



Shortly after his comments, the Israeli Air Force said on Twitter that its "fighter jets struck four weapons manufacturing and storage sites belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization." There were no immediate reports of any casualties from the strikes.



Hamas had called a protest Saturday to mark the burning 52 years ago of Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third-holiest site in Islam.



"Al-Aqsa Mosque is a red line, and any attack on it will be met with valiant resistance from our people," the movement said in a statement.



Late Saturday, Hamas and other groups in Gaza issued a joint statement in which they "saluted the heroic youth" who clashed with Israeli forces.



The violence is some of the worst since the May 21 ceasefire came into force. Over 11 days in May, Israel pounded Gaza with air strikes in response to rockets fired from the enclave.





A Palestinian amputee protester participates in clashes near the border between Israel and Gaza Strip, in the eastern Gaza Strip, Aug. 21. Forty one Palestinians and one Israeli soldier were injured during the clashes near the border east Gaza City. EPA-Yonhap
1. Comedian Amanda Seales (of HBOs Insecure) is about to take you to school. Sick of the stereotypes about African Americans in media and the overall lack of knowledge of black history, Seales mixes humor and her doctorate in African American studies with her love of games and music to cr


Join our energetic team to make a difference in the world, and have fun by providing children ages 5 and under with excellent nutrition. Planning breakfast and snack within the guidelines of the Federal Food Program. Serve lunch, document food service, data enter food service on spread sheet, clean kitchen, and do Food Roll Over log sheet. We also need assistance during naps.

Essential Responsibilities and Duties

In addition to complying with child care licensing rules, applicants will write creative weekly menus, work with children on fun and simple goals and maintain both child portfolios and progress documentation. Each teacher gets to monitor the classroom while singing and playing, attend engaging monthly trainings, and take education classes that correlate with accreditation standards. Providers are responsible for the direct supervision of children in their care. They are responsible for paperwork associated with progressing children on individual goals. They must be able to work with diverse populations and communicate with parents daily. Keeping a clean classroom and serving food is necessary. In addition to complying with child care licensing rules, applicants must write a weekly menu, plan Friday lunches, and attend staff meetings. Applicant must serve lunch, and help set out cots. They must be able to work with diverse populations and keep classroom clean.

Essential Responsibilities and Duties Continued

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with food service. Food Handlers Permit Experience with the food program.

Minimum Qualifications

Must be a minimum of 18 years old Must read and write in English Must Pass a Background check Must be able to pass a basic physical. Must be able to bend and lift children. Must be able to pass at tuberculosis test.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Ability to communicate effectively with a broad range of diverse people, ability, culture, ethnic background, to maintain good working relationships across the College. Ability to work with all groups in a diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural and ethnic background of community college students, faculty and staff, including those with disabilities.

Non-Essential Responsibilities and Duties

Special Instructions

This is a semester by semester position. Time slots are generally 11 am-3pm, Monday-Friday, although we are willing to work with students on class schedules on a limited basis. Salt Lake Community College may complete a criminal background check on the finalist. Please indicate on your resume if your work experience is full time or part time.

FLSA Non-Exempt

SLCC Information

Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) is fully committed to policies of equal employment and nondiscrimination. The College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, disability, religion, protected veteran status, expression of political or personal beliefs outside of the workplace, or any other status protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. SLCC is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems (URS). This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check.

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Salary $60,257.60 - $119,724.80 Annually Location Arlington *METRO-accessible*, VA Job Type Full-Time Department Human Resources Department Job Number 1511-22A-HRD-BL Closing 9/2/2021 11:59 PM Eastern Position Information This position will be filled on either a full-time or part-time basis. Applicable pay and benefit rules will apply.



Are you a self-starter, problem solver, and team-player who also works well independently? Are you detail-oriented, with strong interpersonal and customer service skills? Are you looking for an opportunity to make a difference?



Arlington County, Virginia, one of the country's most progressive local governments, is seeking an Assistant to the Director of Human Resources to join our Human Resources team. Located just outside the Nation's Capital, the County offers an excellent compensation and benefits package and promotes a family-friendly environment and flexible work schedules.



This position will provide executive management support to the Human Resources Director, Senior Leadership Team and Human Resources Department. This highly visible, front-line position interacts extensively with senior management, employees from other departments, and the general public.



Specific duties include: Providing management support to the HR Department and leadership by preparing and organizing materials for meetings, presentations; coordinating time and attendance; maintaining the Director's online calendar; scheduling and resolving meetings and conflicts that arise; and taking initiative to research and resolve issues and providing information and recommendations to the Director;

Assisting with maintaining HR department-wide data and plans and department-wide performance measurement data;

Assisting with managing the accounts payable function and serving as a backup on financials for the department;

Serving as HRD's human resources liaison which includes managing recruitments, conducting onboarding and off boarding activities and assisting with FMLA, compensation and County HR policies issues within the department;

Assisting with the planning and management of County-wide events including various employee appreciation events and the County Manager's Excellence Awards;

Serving as HRD's legislative liaison which includes providing a cursory review of all legislative bills received for HRD comment and routing them to the subject matter expert in HRD;

Editing and updating HRD Web pages and internal communications; and

Assisting the HR Director with other special projects as assigned. The ideal candidate will have the ability to analyze and process routine information and resolve issues; strong communication skills; and the ability to work collaboratively with business partners to facilitate projects and processes.

Selection Criteria Minimum: Bachelor's Degree in Public/Business Administration, Human Resource Management or a related field plus: Highly responsible program support/administration involving the compilation and analysis of information; research and resolution of issues; delivery of program support to senior management and extensive communication with all levels within organizations;

Working in financial and human resources functional areas;

Using computer applications, software, and tools for data analysis and/or troubleshooting; and

Assisting leadership with implementing policies, regulations, and legal process requirements Substitution: Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for required education on a year-for-year basis.



Desirable: Preference may be given to applicants with one or more of the following:

Experience dealing with confidential information; Experience working in a Local Government or Public Sector environment;

Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, PowerPoint) or similar software;

Experience working with a Human Resources Information System (HRIS); and/or

Experience with financial/accounting-related transactions.

Special Requirements Please provide a cover letter addressed to the Director of Human Resources that highlights how your background reflects the minimum qualifications stated in the Selection Criteria section of the job announcement for the position. Note: your specific role as well as accomplishments related to providing high level program support and program administration.

Additional Information Work Hours: This is a 30-40 hours per week position, the selected applicant may be hired on a part-time or full-time basis. Flexible and telework options typically between the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.



This position will be filled on either a full-time or part-time basis. Applicable pay and benefit rules will apply.



An online application is required. Each section of the application must be completed. A resume will not substitute for the completed application. Your responses to the Supplemental Questionnaire are considered part of the selection process. Please do not enter "see resume" as a response to the questions. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Arlington County Government employee benefits depend on whether a position is permanent, the number of hours worked, and the number of months the position is scheduled.



Specific information on benefits and conditions of employment can be found on the Arlington County Human Resources Department website: (see application details)



Permanent, Full-Time Appointments

All jobs are permanent, full-time appointments unless otherwise stated in the announcement. The following benefits are available:



Paid Leave : Vacation leave is earned at the rate of four hours biweekly. Leave accrual increases every three years until eight hours of leave are earned biweekly for twelve or more years of service. Sick leave is earned at the rate of four hours biweekly. There are eleven paid holidays each year.



Health and Dental Insurance : Three group health insurance plans are offered - a network open access plan, a point-of-service plan, and a health maintenance organization. A group dental insurance plan is also offered. The County pays a significant portion of the premium for these plans for employees and their dependents. A discount vision plan is provided for eye care needs.



Life Insurance : A group term policy of basic life insurance is provided at no cost to employees. The benefit is one times annual salary. Additional life insurance is available with rates based on the employee's age and smoker/non-smoker status.



Retirement : The County offers three vehicles to help you prepare for retirement: a defined benefit plan, a defined contribution plan (401(a)), and a deferred compensation plan (457). The defined benefit plan provides a monthly retirement benefit based on your final average salary and years of service with the County. You contribute a portion of your salary on a pre-tax basis to this plan. General employees contribute 4% of pay; uniformed public safety employees contribute 7.5% of pay. Employees become vested in the plan at five years of service. The County also contributes to this plan.



For general employees, the County also contributes 4.2% of pay to a defined contribution plan (401(a)) . The County also matches your 457 contribution, up to $20 per pay period, in this plan. The 457 deferred compensation plan allows you to set aside money on either a pre-tax (457b) or post-tax (457 Roth) basis up to the IRS annual limit. New employees are automatically enrolled with a pre-tax contribution equal to 2% of your base pay.



Other Benefits: The County also offers health, dependent care, and parking flexible spending accounts; long-term care insurance; tuition assistance; transit and walk/bike to work subsidies; a college savings plan; wellness programs; training opportunities; and a variety of other employee benefits.



Permanent, Part-Time Appointments:

Part time employees who work ten or more hours per week receive paid leave and benefits in proportion to the number of hours worked per week.



Limited Term Appointments:

Benefits are the same as permanent appointments except that the employees do not achieve permanent status.



Temporary Regular Appointments:

Temporary regular employees who work 30 hours or more per week are eligible for health, dental, and basic life insurance as described above. They are also eligible for vacation, sick leave, and paid holidays.



Temporary Seasonal and Occasional Appointments:

Temporary employees who work on a seasonal basis or variable hours receive sick leave, but do not normally receive other paid leave or benefits. Exceptions are noted in individual announcements.


Camino Real Community Services, a non-profit local mental health authority is hiring a program director for the mental health department. Seeking a responsible individual with a strong background in program oversight in a mental health service environment. Must have a degree in a social services field with at least 8 years of experience working in a Texas Community Center system and a proven work history with management of numerous employees and a good working knowledge of clinical operations.

Apply at 19965 FM3175 N Lytle, Texas 78052, or submit resume to Camino Real Community Services, Attn: HRS, P.O. Box 725, Lytle, Tx. 78052; fax 830-772-4304 Visit www.caminorealcs.org for details. EOE

Camino Real Community Services offers a wide array of services designed to meet the needs of individuals with mental illness. These services include Screening, Assessment, Referral, Case Management, Medication Related Services, Counseling, Crisis Intervention, and a full range of Rehabilitative Services, and Family Support. Camino Real serves persons of all ages.

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Continuous Integration Technologies - Web Engineer Santa Clara Valley (Cupertino) , California , United States Software and Services Summary

Posted: Aug 18, 2021 Weekly Hours: 40 Role Number: 200279153 Continuous Integration Technologies is looking for an extraordinary full stack engineer to work on tools and services which enhance the development process for Apple engineers and the Apple developer community. This is a rare opportunity to work with engineering teams on the latest OS technology and deeply impact the quality/efficiency of software delivery at Apple. Key Qualifications Enthusiastic about great design

Be a considerate, helpful contributor

Experience designing and using web service APIs

Excellent communication skills to drive interaction with engineering teams, management, and other organizations within Apple

A passion for driving modern software engineering practices Description The Continuous Integration Technologies team is seeking a self-motivated full stack engineer to help us build the future of developer technologies at Apple. You will join a focused and ambitious group of engineers responsible for building new features and services that will power platforms like Xcode Cloud, Apple's new continuous integration and delivery system. You will collaborate with Apple's internal software engineering teams to take Apple's own software to the next level, as well as providing great new features to Apple's external developer community. The ideal candidate will have a strong passion for streamlining and automating developer workflows, a thorough understanding of Computer Science fundamentals, and an appetite to learn (and sweat) the details of our domain. This is a highly collaborative role that will require working with many different teams and internal customers in a fast paced environment. You will need to be self-motivated and able to work cross functionally to find the right solutions for our customers, sculpting our products to meet their needs. You will be part of an agile team and take part in every aspect of the product, from planning to design to implementation and documentation. Ultimately the work you do will affect thousands of engineers at Apple and subsequently millions of Apple customers. Education & Experience B.S. in Computer Science or equivalent experience Apple's most important resource, our soul, is our people. Apple benefits help further the well-being of our employees and their families in meaningful ways. No matter where you work at Apple, you can take advantage of our health and wellness resources and time-away programs. We're proud to provide stock grants to employees at all levels of the company, and we also give employees the option to buy Apple stock at a discount - both offer everyone at Apple the chance to share in the company's success. You'll discover many more benefits of working at Apple, such as programs that match your charitable contributions, reimburse you for continuing your education and give you special employee pricing on Apple products. Apple benefits programs vary by country and are subject to eligibility requirements. Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We take affirmative action to ensure equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Apple is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to applicants with physical and mental disabilities. Apple is a drug-free workplace. Additional Requirements Experience in the following areas are nice to have, but not required:

- Distributed computing and enterprise systems

- Developing cloud software services and an understanding of design for scalability, performance, reliability, and security

- Modern web frameworks like React/Vue/Angular

- SQL and NoSQL databases (like Postgres, Cassandra, Redis)

- Writing maintainable testing infrastructure

- Developing software for Apple's native platforms is a plus








Open Rank Extension Educator - 4-H Youth Development (Phelps County)

University of Nebraska-Lincoln



Do you have the drive to help us make a positive difference in young people's lives? Do you have the drive to help us create engaging learning opportunities for youth and adult volunteers? Can you be a strong regional expert and develop focused learning experiences that inspire young people to expand their capacity in STEM along with other opportunities to help young people achieve their potential? University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension is an organization that values individuals who excel, adapt easily, exhibit passion for helping others, and are excellent communicators. As a member of the UNL Extension team you will collaborate with research and extension faculty who are leaders in their field. You will work with high performing teams to create and deliver world class, innovative learning experiences that empower Nebraskans to improve their lives around critical issues. We have an excellent opportunity for a full-time faculty position located in Holdrege, Nebraska and serving Phelps and Gosper Counties in Nebraska. The focus of this position will be 4-H Youth Development with an emphasis on STEM and community leadership. This extension educator will demonstrate expertise in Positive Youth Development through engagement with youth, training staff and volunteers, and partnerships with other organizations and departments. They will develop, coordinate and deliver a robust STEM and leadership program using a variety of methods including out-of-school programs, special interest groups, 4-H clubs, school enrichment and other creative strategies that engage youth. We want individuals who are self-directed and able to work in a flexible environment.



Recognizing that diversity within a context of inclusivity enhances creativity, innovation, impact, and a sense of belonging, the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) and Nebraska Extension are committed to creating learning, research, Extension programming, and work environments that are inclusive of all forms of human diversity. We actively encourage applications from and nominations of individuals from underrepresented groups.



Required Qualifications:

" Master's degree required; one degree in youth development, community development/leadership, education, agricultural economics, entrepreneurship, or closely related field. Master's degree must be completed by start date.

" Successful experience teaching in a formal or non-formal setting.

" Demonstrated ability to communicate (i.e. publications, presentations, web, and social media).

" Experience and demonstrated ability in working with youth and youth organizations, including understanding of positive youth development and youth program management.



Preferred Qualifications:

" Demonstrated ability to effectively manage multiple priorities and programs.

" Experience in working with individuals, coworkers, and teams to accomplish individual and/or group goals, as evidenced by college, career, and/or community activities.

" Outstanding leadership skills as demonstrated by roles in college, career, and/or community activities.

" Ability to engage diverse and underserved audiences.



Employment-based permanent residency sponsorship is not available for this position now or in the future.



As an EO/AA employer, qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation. See http://www.unl.edu/equity/notice-nondiscrimination.



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PURPOSE OF YOUR JOB POSITION

The primary purpose of your job position is to administer and supervise the day-to-day nursing activities of the facility during your shift. Such supervision must be in accordance with current federal, state, and local standards, guidelines, and regulations that govern our facility, and as may be required by the Director of Nursing, to ensure that the highest degree of quality care is maintained at all times.

DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY

As a Charge Nurse you are delegated the administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability necessary for carrying out your assigned duties.

JOB FUNCTIONS

Every effort has been made to make your job description as complete as possible. However, it in no way states or implies that these are the only duties you will be required to perform. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or is a logical assignment to the position.

PERFORMANCE EVALUATION

A criteria-based performance evaluation will be done using components of this job description and documentation of your daily activities.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS

1.1 Direct the day-to day functions of the Certified Nursing Assistants in accordance with current rules, regulations and guidelines that govern the long-term care facility.

1.2 Participate in the maintaining, and updating of our written policies and procedures that govern the day-to-day functions of the Nursing Department as requested.

1.3 Ensure that the Nursing Procedures Manual is followed by nursing employees, and that it reflects the day-today nursing care procedures used by this facility.

1.4 Assist in coordinating nursing services with other Resident services to ensure the continuity of the Residents' total regiment of care.

1.5 Ensure that all nursing employees are following their respective job descriptions as is possible.

1.6 Perform administrative duties such as completing medical forms, reports, evaluations, studies, charting, etc., in accordance with policies, rules and regulations in a timely manner.

1.7 Participate in the maintenance and implementation of the facility's Quality Assurance Improvement Program for the Nursing Department as requested.

1.8 Participate in surveys (inspections) made by authorized government agencies as requested.

1.9 Make written and oral reports/recommendations to the Unit Manager as necessary/required, concerning the operations of the Nursing Department.

1.10 Periodically review the department's policies and procedure manuals, job descriptions, etc. Make recommendations for revisions.

1.11 Participate in planning the department's services, programs and activities.

1.12 Interpret the department's policies and procedures to employees, Residents, visitors and government agencies as required.

1.13 Admit, transfer and discharge Residents as required.

1.14 Complete accident/incident reports as necessary and in a timely manner according to the policy of Saint Simeon's.

COMMITTEE FUNCTIONS

2.1 Attend various committee meetings of the facility (i.e., Infection Control, Policy Advisory, Pharmaceutical, Quality Assurance Performance Improvement, etc.,) as requested.

2.2 Implement recommendations from established committees as instructed by the Department Director.

EMPLOYEE FUNCTIONS

3.1 Ensure that a sufficient number of nursing assistants are available for your shift to ensure that routine nursing care is provided to meet the daily nursing care needs of each Resident.

3.2 Develop work assignments for Certified Nursing Assistants when appropriate.

3.3 Delegate to each Charge Nurse the administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability necessary to perform their assigned duties.

3.4 Make daily rounds of the Nursing Department to ensure that all nursing employees are performing their work assignments in accordance with acceptable nursing standards. Report adverse findings to the Unit Manager.

3.5 Monitor absenteeism to ensure that an adequate number of nursing care employees are on duty at all times. Report problem areas to the Unit Manager. Record call-ins as appropriate and be responsible to staff the oncoming shifts if call-ins occur.

3.6 Review complaints and grievances made or filed by department employees. Make appropriate reports to the Unit Manager as required or as may be necessary.

3.7 Ensure that disciplinary reports are recorded fairly and without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, age, sex, religion, handicap, or martial status.

3.8 Develop and maintain a good working rapport with inter-department employees, as well as other departments within the facility to assure that nursing and activities can be adequately maintained to meet the needs of the Residents.

3.9 Assure that department employees, Residents, and visitors follow the departments established policies and procedures at all times, including dress codes.

3.10 Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest and positive emphasis, as well as a calm environment throughout the unit and shift.

3.11 Meet with your shift on a regularly scheduled basis to assist in identifying and correcting problem areas, and/or the improvement of services.

3.12 Review and evaluate your department's work force and make recommendations to the Unit Manager.

3.13 Participate in determining your shifts staffing requirements, employee performance evaluations, and making recommendations to the Director concerning employee dismissals, transfers, etc.

NURSING CARE FUNCTIONS

4.1 Inform nursing employees of new admissions, their expected time of arrival, room assignment, etc.

4.2 Ensure that rooms are ready for new admissions.

4.3 Greet newly admitted Residents upon admission. Escort to room as necessary. Complete assessment and admit forms.

4.4 Complete nurses' notes to ensure that they are informative and descriptive of the nursing care being provided and that they reflect the Resident's response to the care (i.e., complete problem-oriented charting as described in the Nursing Department policy and procedure manual, as well as weekly and monthly documentation).

4.5 Make daily rounds with physician. Encourage attending physicians to record and sign progress notes, physicians' order, etc., on a timely basis and in accordance with current regulations.

4.6 Make Resident rounds to observe and evaluate the Residents physical and emotional status.

4.7 Monitor medication passes and treatment schedules to assure that medications are being administered as ordered and that treatments are provided as scheduled.

4.8 Review MAR for completeness of information, accuracy in the transcription of physician order, and adherence to stop order policies. Assist Unit Manager with end of month MAR reviews.

4.9 Provide direct nursing care as necessary.

4.10 Report problem areas to the Unit Manager. Assist in developing and implementing corrective action as requested.

4.11 Keep the Unit Manager informed of the status of Residents and other related matters through written/oral reports.

4.12 Ensure that our written procedures for the administration, storage, and control of medications and supplies are being followed by all on your shift.

4.13 Meet with Residents, and/or family members, as necessary. Report problem areas to the Unit Manager.

4.14 Assist in arranging transportation for discharged Residents as necessary.

4.15 Inspect the nursing service treatment areas daily to ensure that they are maintained in a clean and safe manner.

4.16 Consult with the Resident's physician in planning Resident care, treatment, rehabilitation, etc., as necessary.

4.17 Notify the Resident's attending physician and next-of-kin when there is a change in the Resident's condition.

4.18 Work with the facility's consultants and implement those changes authorized by the Unit Manager.

4.19 Call funeral homes when requested by the family.

4.20 Authorize the use of restraints when necessary and in accordance with our facilities policies and procedures.

4.21 Make independent decisions concerning nursing care, request consultation as necessary to make good decisions.

4.22 Obtain sputum, urine and other lab tests as ordered.

4.23 Take temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressures, etc., as necessary.

4.24 Admit, transfer and discharge Residents as necessary.

4.25 Monitor the seriously ill Residents.

4.26 Inform family members of the death of Resident as necessary.

STAFF DEVELOPMENT

5.1 Participate in the development, planning, conducting and scheduling of in-service training classes that provides instructions on "how to do the job", and ensures a well-educated nursing department. This includes providing in-services to the nursing staff on nursing care issues.

5.2 Provide leadership that includes the administrative and supervisory principles essential for your Certified Nursing Assistants.

5.3 Assist support services in developing, implementing, and conducting in-service training programs that relate to the Nursing Department.

5.4 Attend and participate in continuing educational programs designed to keep you abreast of changes in your profession, as well as to maintain your license on a current status.

SAFETY AND SANITATION

6.1 Assist the Safety Officer in developing safety standards for the Nursing Department as necessary.

6.2 Monitor your shift's employees to assure that they are following established safety regulations in the use of equipment and supplies.

6.3 Ensure that nursing work areas (i.e., nurses' stations, medication rooms, etc.,) are maintained in a clean and sanitary manner.

6.4 Ensure that all Resident care rooms, treatment areas, etc., are maintained in a clean, safe and sanitary manner.

6.5 Ensure that all nursing employees follow established departmental polices and procedures.

6.6 Ensure that nursing employees participate in and conduct all fire safety and disaster preparedness drills in a safe and professional manner.

6.7 Ensure that nursing employees follow established infection control procedures when isolation precautions become necessary.

6.8 Participate in the implementation and maintenance of the procedures for reporting hazardous conditions or equipment.

6.9 Ensure that nursing employees follow established hand-washing techniques in the

EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES

7.1 Recommend to the Unit Manager the equipment and supply needs of the department.

7.2 Assure that a stock level of medications, medical supplies, equipment, etc., is maintained on premises at all times to adequately meet the needs of the Resident.

7.3 Assist the Director of Environmental Services in maintaining the Nursing Department's equipment and supplies in a safe and operable manner. Report problems in a timely manner.

7.4 Participate in the implementation of the procedures for the safe operation of all nursing equipment.

7.5 Ensure that only trained and authorized employees operate the department's equipment.

7.6 Ensure that all employees operate nursing equipment in a safe manner. Monitor nursing procedures to ensure that nursing supplies are used in an efficient manner to avoid waste.

CARE PLAN AND ASSESSMENT FUNCTIONS

8.1 Participate in the development of written preliminary and comprehensive assessments of the nursing needs of each Resident as necessary.

8.2 Participate in the development of a written plan of care (preliminary and comprehensive) for each Resident that identifies the problems/needs of the Resident, indicates the care to be given, goals to be accomplished, and which professional service is responsible for each element of care. Assist with the ongoing evaluation of the plan.

8.3 Insofar as is practical, encourage the Resident to participate in the development and review of his/her plan of care.

8.4 Review care plans periodically for appropriate Resident goals, problems, approaches, and revisions based on nursing needs.

8.5 Encourage that all employees involved in providing care to the Resident to be aware of the care plan and that care plans are used in administering daily care to the Resident.

8.6 Ensure that nurses' notes reflect that the care plan is being followed.

BUDGET AND PLANNING FUNCTIONS

9.1 Keep abreast of economic conditions/situations, and recommend to the Unit Manager adjustments in nursing that ensure the continued ability to provide quality care.

9.2 Recommend to the Unit Manager the equipment needs of the Nursing Department.

RESIDENT RIGHTS

10.1 Maintain the confidentiality of all Resident care information.

10.2 Monitor nursing care to assure that all Residents are treated fairly and with kindness, dignity and respect.

10.3 Ensure that all nursing care is provided in privacy and that nursing employees knock before entering the Resident's room.

10.4 Ensure that all nursing employees are knowledgeable of the Residents' Rights and Responsibilities.

10.5 Review complaints and grievances made by the Resident and made a written/oral report to the Director indicating what action(s) were taken to resolve the complaint or grievance.

MISCELLANEOUS

11.1 Assist the Unit Manager in planning clinical supervision for Certified Nursing Assistants in training.

11.2 Assist the Infection Control Coordinator in identifying, evaluating, and classifying tasks that involve potential exposure to blood/body fluids.

11.3 Provide information to the Quality Assurance and Assessment Committee as requested.

11.4 Assure that nursing employees follow established procedures in the use and disposal of personal protective equipment.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Works in office area(s) as well as throughout the nursing areas (i.e., medication rooms, nurses' stations, Resident rooms, etc.).

Sits, stands, bends, lifts and moves intermittently during working hours.

Is subject to frequent interruptions.

Is involved with Residents, employees, visitors, government agencies/employees, etc., under all conditions and circumstances.

Is subject to hostile and emotionally upset Residents, family members, employees, and visitors.

Communicates with nursing employees and other department employees.

Works beyond normal working hours, on weekends and holidays, and in other positions temporarily, when necessary.

Is involved in community/civic health matters/projects as appropriate.

Attends and participates in continuing education programs.

Is subject to falls, burns from equipment, odors, etc., throughout the work day.

Is subject to exposure to infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc., including the AIDS and Hepatitis B viruses.

Maintains a liaison with the Residents, their families, support departments, etc., to adequately plan for the Residents' needs.

Must be able to work the hours required of the position.

Must be able to adhere to all policies of Saint Simeon's including absenteeism or tardiness as well as all approved policies.

EDUCATION

Must possess, as a minimum, a Nursing Degree from an accredited college or university, or be a graduate of an approved LPN/LVN program.

EXPERIENCE

Experience in a long term care facility or other related patient care situation is preferred.

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

Must possess a current, unencumbered license as a RN or LPN/LVN in this state.

Must be able to read, write, speak and understand the English language.

Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.

Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with employees, Residents, family members, visitors, government agencies/employees, and the general public.

Must be a minimum of twenty (20) years of age.

Must be knowledgeable of nursing and medical practices and procedures.

Must possess leadership and supervisory ability and the willingness to work harmoniously with professional and non-professional employees.

Must possess the ability to plan, organize, develop, implement, and interpret the programs, goals, objectives, policies and procedures, etc., that are necessary for providing quality care.

Must have patience, tact, a cheerful disposition and enthusiasm, as well as the willingness to handle difficult Residents.

Must be willing to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing nursing practices.

Must be able to relate information concerning a Resident's condition.

PHYSICAL AND SENSORY REQUIREMENTS

(With or Without the Aid of Mechanical Devices)

Must be able to move intermittently throughout the work day.

Must be able to speak and write the English language in an understandable manner.

Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position.

Must be able to see and hear or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately to assure that the requirements of this position can be fully met.

Must function independently and have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with Residents, employees, and support agencies.

Must be in good general health and demonstrate emotional stability.

Must be able to relate to and work with the ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and, at times, hostile people within the facility.

Must be able to lift or assist in moving more than own body weight.

Must be willing to perform tasks that may involve exposure to the Resident's blood/body fluids.

Must be able to assist in the evacuation of Residents.


Position Summary



Provides support to the Vice President in matters of administrative operations including oversight and management of operating and personnel budgets within the division, administration responsibilities including monitoring of all activities within the office; assists the Vice President with special projects as assigned.



Essential Duties, Tasks and Responsibilities Coordinates, collects and prepares budget-related materials and provides preliminary review of budget requests; prepares budget information for Vice President for Research and Economic Engagement and departmental management; monitors expenditures made against all salary and operating budgets and maintains records of such expenditures, as required. Ensures the accuracy and legitimacy of all expenditures within the division to adhere to university policy and procedure. Makes budget recommendations to the Vice President relative to budget allocations to other units. Collects data to prepare a budget analysis and advises the Vice President on short-term and long-term financial planning.

Provides primary executive support to the Vice President and as needed, his divisional management. Responsible for administrative operations and the scheduling of meetings: handles problems, resolves issues keeps supervisor informed of problems and subsequent resolutions: responsible for correspondence to various internal and external constituencies.

Plans, implements, and monitors the division's communications strategy to increase awareness of BGSU's activities and accomplishments in research and economic engagement; working in close collaboration with Marketing & Communications, develops, writes, and updates content for all of the division's websites and print materials; interacts with faculty and academic departments to identify stories to be told.

Prepares and coordinates faculty and staff contract addenda, supplemental payment forms and bonus forms, including obtaining appropriate signature in collaboration with Human Resources, Sponsored Programs & Research, Grants Accounting and the Payroll Office.

Performs day-to-day operational duties including P Card transactions and entries, Chrome River entries, Falcons Purch transactions, entries and requisitions, etc. Inventories and orders supplies for division.

Other duties as assigned. Knowledge, Skills or Abilities Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Excellent interpersonal skills

Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills

Strong customer service orientation

Ability and commitment to work effectively with diverse constituencies, including faculty, staff, community leaders, donors

Proficiency with computer software applications, including graphics, databases, word processing, publication and presentation software

Knowledge of and experience with online accounting systems (FMS, WRL) Diversity Statement In addition to your cover letter and resume, you will be required to upload a written response to the diversity and inclusion question listed below. The Diversity Statement should not exceed 1 page that is double-spaced with 1-inch margins, using 12pt. font. Reflect on a time when you advocated for something related to equity, diversity, and/or inclusion. Minimum Qualifications Bachelors degree in Business, Communications, Public Relations or related field required. Degree must be conferred at the time of application.

The following experience is required: 3 years experience in an administrative operations position (communications, budgeting, and/or project management) The following experience is preferred: 1 year experience working in higher education preferred Salary Full-time, Administrative staff position available. Administrative Grade Level 355. Salary is commensurate with education and experience. Full benefit package available. Deadline to apply: September 7, 2021

To Apply For a complete job description & to apply for this position visit https://bgsu.hiretouch.com/ or contact the Office of Human Resources at (419) 372-8421. BGSU. AA/EEO/Disabilities/Veterans. In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Bowling Green State University, please call 419-372-8421.

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Tupelo, MS (38804)

Today

Partial cloudiness early, with scattered showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon. High 88F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Partly cloudy skies. Low 68F. Winds light and variable.
Magnolia, AR (71754)

Today

Mostly sunny. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 99F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 73F. Winds light and variable.


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 We will redistribute products to other locations in the area, Bimbo Bakeries USA said in the statement. Our consumers can still enjoy all their favorite baked goods and are encouraged to use our outlet locator to find their nearest location. All associates who worked at the Allentown outlet have been directed to other employment opportunities at Bimbo Bakeries USA.
An average of 25,141 vaccinations are being administered to Pennsylvania residents each day, according to CDC data. Of those, 15,358 are first doses. The number of total vaccinations per day is up 19.4% over the last 30 days. The number of first doses being given per day is up 42.7% over the last 30 days.
There are very few good things about the last 18 months, but one is that we all got more time with our pets, Colony Meadery CEO and co-founder Greg Heller-LaBelle said in a news release. And people should go adopt more pets, because they are awesome.
In an interview last week, Haaf said even if the goal was to pull out sooner rather than later, the U.S. didnt take a smart approach. The Afghan government as it existed was too corrupt and weak to last on its own  something American leaders should have known after two decades. The Taliban would have needed to become a part of the solution by becoming a legitimate political party that ended its military operations. Haaf said the Good Friday Accords, which ended the troubles in Northern Ireland, could have served as a template.
To be sure, there were some parents and students who were [still] not comfortable with being in school in-person, Schlert said, which is why all schools continued having a virtual option. There were relatively few disruptions in our school schedules due to positive coronavirus tests, and relatively few cases in our schools overall. Each time there was an occurrence, school leaders acted quickly to notify the appropriate authorities and take the appropriate steps.
In Northampton and Lehigh counties, the storm flooded streets and basements  some with up to 2 feet of water  but more serious damage happened in Monroe County, where many residents in hard-hit Stroudsburg were chased from their homes for a time early Monday morning and saw their cars submerged almost to the hoods.
The chase began at 7:30 a.m. at Cedar Crest Boulevard and Tilghman Street as police tried to pull over Knauss, who is a suspect in a criminal investigation in another jurisdiction, according to a news release from Allentown police.
Do not drive past barricades, cones, flares, illuminated emergency vehicles, or signs. Do not park on closed bridges. Do not ask for specific information on residents. We are working the incident and will make contact with every resident in the inclusion area, the post said, noting the inclusion area as 9th St West to Dreher and Sarah Street south to Ann Street.
A German artillery barrage killed Sgt. George Peddle and wounded more than a dozen Ghost Army soldiers. According to dads Bronze Star citation, he calmly treated a group of wounded men as shells exploded all around them, saving their lives. One of his fellow soldiers called him an angel of mercy. He often told me war stories of his time in Europe, but he never talked about the lives he saved or used the term The Ghost Army. For him, his service was his duty, his job. He loved his platoon members and enjoyed telling me the back story of each one. Hed bring the Bronze Star out of its box on occasion, but he was humble about it, feeling as though he received an honor that should have been shared with others. They all deserved it, he said.
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-23 12:25:31|Editor: huaxia

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Afghan refugees ride on a donkey-cart on the outskirts of Islamabad, capital of Pakistan, Aug. 22, 2021. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal)

ISLAMABAD, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Naimat Khan, 24, a university student in Pakistan's east Rawalpindi district, is resettled in Pakistan as a registered Afghan refugee with his family.

Over the years he has seen his motherland going through ups and downs, he hopes that the new authority will work to end the miseries of the Afghan people.

"Afghanistan suffered a lot during the last 20 years, but I hope that the Taliban will take good steps to end the worries of people. They should think about creating business opportunities to give financial relief to the cash-strapped people and will work on improving the law and order of the country," Khan told Xinhua.

He said the new authority will have to face many challenges, but the Taliban should realize that the people of Afghanistan have suffered a lot since the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan, and now they want a sigh of relief so they should give them time to adapt to the new laws.

Pakistani experts believe that the irresponsible and hasty withdrawal of the U.S. troops from Afghanistan has not only made things tough for the people of Afghanistan but also created a refugee crisis by displacing over half a million Afghans.

"The United States should shoulder the responsibility of refugees and provide them financial support in order to somewhat clear the mess it has created. It should realize why the people are suffering," former Foreign Minister of Pakistan Hina Rabbani Khar told Xinhua.

About 2.7 million Afghan refugees have been living in Pakistan for decades, some of them were born here and had never been to Afghanistan, but like their parents, they also want to see a peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan.

Zahir Khan, a Pakistan-born Afghan refugee, is a cab driver in Islamabad. He lives in a refugee camp on the outskirts of the capital, and like other people in the camp, he also hopes that the Taliban will bring harmony and openness to join the ranks of modern nations of the world.

"We all are hopeful that the situation will improve. All schools and colleges will be opened. We have hopes from the Taliban that girls will be able to go to school. And the females will be allowed to perform their jobs and duties, under the Sharia Law (the Islamic Law), as Taliban claimed," Khan told Xinhua.

Pakistani experts opine that due to the multi-ethnic nature of the Afghan society, it is necessary for the Taliban to form an inclusive government with representation from all groups.

Rustom Shah Mohmand, a former diplomat and political scientist of Pakistan, said the Taliban came with absolute power this time. They took control of Kabul without any violence and are now trying to solve the Panjshir issue which means the resistance, through talks. "This is commendable."

"For a sustainable peace in Afghanistan, the Taliban should also make an inclusive political structure with due representation of all ethnic groups, besides working on social warfare, health, education and other projects to improve the lives of the people of Afghanistan," he added.

Since the U.S. troops started to pull out of Afghanistan on May 1, the Taliban has been advancing quickly on the battlefield. During the past two weeks, the group has captured most parts of Afghanistan, including the capital Kabul. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-23 15:36:33|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on Aug. 22, 2021 shows the venue of the 2021 Smart China Expo in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao)

BEIJING, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the China-Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Forum on the Digital Economy Industry and the Smart China Expo 2021, which both opened Monday in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality.

The world has entered a period of rapid growth in the digital economy, in which new technologies, business patterns and platforms such as 5G, artificial intelligence and smart cities have sprung up and greatly influenced scientific innovation, industrial structure adjustment and economic and social development across the globe, Xi said in the letter.

In recent years, China has actively promoted digital industrialization and industrial digitization to push for deep integration between digital technologies and economic and social development, he noted.

On the occasion of the 20th founding anniversary of the SCO, China is willing to, together with other SCO member states, carry forward the Shanghai Spirit and get deeply involved in international cooperation on the digital economy, Xi stressed.

Digitization, networking and intelligence shall provide more momentum for economic and social development, he said, calling for breaking new ground in digital economy cooperation. 
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-23 16:05:09|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee will release a key publication on the Party's mission and contributions.

The key publication, titled "The CPC: Its Mission and Contributions," will be released at 10:00 a.m. Thursday.

A press conference will also be held on the publication. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-23 19:17:05|Editor: huaxia

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Primary students read in the morning session at a school in Changchun, capital of northeast China's Jilin Province, Aug. 23, 2021. Primary and middle schools in Changchun greeted their new semesters on Monday. (Xinhua/Zhang Nan)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-23 21:42:30|Editor: huaxia

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Luo Huining, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, addresses the first of a series of activities on the introduction of the outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for national socio-economic development in Hong Kong, south China, Aug. 23, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Shen)

With the implementation of the 14th Five-Year Plan and the establishment of the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035, Hong Kong is facing a new round of historic development opportunities, thus it must seize them tightly, said Luo Huining, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR.

HONG KONG, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Luo Huining, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, on Monday urged Hong Kong to firmly seize a new round of historic opportunities from the national development for its long-term prosperity and stability.

Luo made the remarks when addressing the first of a series of activities on the introduction of the outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for national socio-economic development.

A central government delegation started Monday its special tour here to help various sectors in Hong Kong to better understand the national 14th Five-Year Plan and grasp the fresh opportunities from the national development scheme.

The 14th Five-Year Plan sets out major requirements for Hong Kong's development in a full-spectrum of areas including politics, economy and culture, which reflects the central authorities' strategic consideration that combines both the international and domestic situations, and promotes Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability, he said.

Hong Kong's economic status as an international financial, trade and shipping center and a global hub for offshore renminbi business lies in its geographical position of being connected to the mainland and its favorable investment and business environment, Luo said, pointing out that the biggest opportunity for global development lies in China, and the biggest opportunity for Hong Kong's development lies in the mainland.

With the implementation of the 14th Five-Year Plan and the establishment of the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035, Hong Kong is facing a new round of historic development opportunities, thus it must seize them tightly, he said.

"Development is an eternal theme and the gold key of solving all kinds of problems," Luo said. "Over the past year and more, Hong Kong's efforts to set things right have been aimed at safeguarding and developing the fundamental well-being of the Hong Kong residents, achieving long-term prosperity and stability in Hong Kong, and advancing the steady and long-term implementation of 'one country, two systems,'" Luo said.

The Chinese central authorities have been paying close attention to Hong Kong's economic development and the improvement of people's livelihood, he said, adding that as the 14th Five-Year Plan has once again defined the orientation of Hong Kong's development and provided more policy support, it is necessary for the Hong Kong society to take further actions, he said.

The delegation is composed of officials from central government departments including the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Science and Technology and the People's Bank of China.

The activities are aimed at helping Hong Kong comprehensively and accurately grasp the spirit of the outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan, reach social consensus, and better integrate into the overall development of the country.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-24 00:30:35|Editor: huaxia

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-- The Chinese mainland reported zero new local cases for the first time in over a month on Sunday, marking an initial success in containing the most severe COVID-19 outbreak since the beginning of this year.



-- The latest resurgence since mid-July, caused mainly by the highly contagious Delta variant, has prompted resolute actions, including targeted lockdowns, travel restrictions, mass testing, and swift medical actions to contain its spread.



-- China's measures, widely supported by the public, have brought previous and its recent outbreak under control. What lessons could be drawn from China's combat against the latest Delta outbreak?

BEIJING, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland reported zero new local cases for the first time in over a month on Sunday, marking an initial success in containing the most severe COVID-19 outbreak since the beginning of this year.



The mainland Sunday reported 21 imported COVID-19 cases but no new locally transmitted cases, the National Health Commission (NHC) said in its daily report on Monday.

The latest resurgence since mid-July, caused mainly by the highly contagious Delta variant, has prompted resolute actions, including targeted lockdowns, travel restrictions, mass testing, and swift medical actions to contain its spread.

"Practices have proven that our prevention measures are effective. We must continue to implement these measures, strengthen weak links, and consolidate work in key areas," said Ma Xiaowei, head of the NHC, in a recent interview with Xinhua.

China's measures, widely supported by the public, have brought each outbreak under control. What lessons could be drawn from China's combat against the latest Delta outbreak?

Staff members check a passenger's identity information and health code at Nanjing Railway Station in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, Aug. 23, 2021. Nanjing cleared all medium- and high-risk areas for COVID-19 on Aug. 19. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)

IS LOCALIZED LOCKDOWN NECESSARY?

Local Chinese governments have taken swift measures to stem the spread of COVID-19. Measures such as timely medical treatment of confirmed cases, concentrated quarantine of close contacts, closed-management of residential communities, and suspended passenger traffic, have proven effective in rapidly controlling the epidemic, said Yu Chuanhua, an expert in epidemiology and health statistics at Wuhan University.

China's measures to control COVID-19 follow the basic principles of infectious diseases prevention and control, and have brought the epidemic under control in a short period, said Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist with the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

This strategy has proven effective in rapidly controlling more than 20 imported outbreaks since the epidemic began. It is the most effective way to control acute infectious diseases like COVID-19 while controlling the economic cost, said Wu.

The latest Delta epidemic affected more than half of the provincial-level regions on the mainland. East China's Jiangsu Province reported a total of 818 local confirmed cases in this round, the most among the affected provinces.

"We have invested a lot in manpower and material costs, and the control and prevention measures have kept most of the Chinese provinces, regions, and cities free and open," said Wu. Wu added that "without the 'local control,' there would likely be a nationwide loss of control."

Volunteers and security staff deliver necessities ordered by residents under home quarantine at a community in Haidian District, Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 3, 2021. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

DO WE STILL NEED TO WEAR MASKS?

The entire world is still struggling to cope with the crisis. Although China reported zero new local cases, the possibility of another imported outbreak is still high, warned Wu.

"Therefore, we must always adhere to the prevention and control measures of COVID-19 regularly. Previous practices have proven that vaccination, wearing masks, frequent hand-washing, maintaining social distancing, and avoiding crowds are effective," said Wu.

"If the virus mutates again, as long as you wear a mask, wash hands frequently, and keep social distance, the prevention effect will be good," Wu added.

Wu's opinions were echoed by Zhu Liguo, with the Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Zhu said mask-wearing and washing hands frequently could help reduce the transmission of the highly infectious Delta variant, which is also transmitted through respiratory systems.

Aerial photo taken on Aug. 14, 2021 shows "Falcon" air-inflated testing labs for COVID-19 nucleic acid testing at Yangzhou International Exhibition Center in Yangzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Xinhua/Li Bo)

HOW EFFECTIVE ARE THE VACCINES?

More than 1.94 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines had been administered in China as of Sunday, data from the NHC showed Monday.

Preliminary studies on the latest COVID-19 outbreak in south China's Guangdong Province show that China's homegrown vaccines are effective against the Delta variant. Top epidemiologist Zhong Nanshan shared China's experience in epidemic prevention and control via videolink on Aug. 20.

According to Zhong, the overall protection efficacy of China's domestic vaccines is close to 60 percent against the Delta variant and 100 percent against severe cases.

The latest data showed that antibody levels increased more than 10 times when a third dose of the domestic vaccine is given six months after the second dose, Zhong added.

"With more than 80 percent of the population vaccinated, the country could achieve an effective herd immunity," said Zhong, adding that the vaccination rate in China will likely reach more than 80 percent at the end of this year.

HOW CAN MASS TESTING STOP THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS?



Qiu Haibo, an expert with the State Council joint COVID-19 prevention and control mechanism team, said China has been able to control the epidemic faster and faster since the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province. It is mainly because rapid nucleic acid testing can identify the infected and control the source of infection.

The existing nucleic acid testing method can detect the Delta variant in time, said Zhu Liguo.

In the mass testing and testing among key population groups, the country continued to use nucleic acid testing technology and increased the testing frequency to maximize the timely detection of all infected persons, said Zhu.

Zhu Shida, director of a nucleic acid test laboratory named Huoyan, or Fire Eye, which was established by the Shenzhen-based biotech company BGI Group, said mass testing in China has now generally adopted a ten-in-one mixed testing approach.

On the premise of ensuring scientific sensitivity, this method reduces the detection amount by 90 percent compared with single tube detection, which dramatically reduces cost, said Zhu.

Wang Yaru (2nd R) and other staff celebrate the birthday of a woman under medical observation at a quarantine site in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province, Aug. 18, 2021. (Xinhua/Li An)

WHAT RESULTS WOULD THERE BE IF THERE IS NO CONTROL?

"As the virus mutates and spreads faster, we must respond faster. If we loosen control measures, all our efforts in the past year will go to waste, and we will have huge losses and unimaginable consequences," said Wu Zunyou.

"Our current anti-epidemic measures have avoided many infections at a relatively small cost. Thanks to our accurate and regular measures, most of the production activities in all walks of life have resumed, and economic development is positive," said Yu Chuanhua.

China's prevention and control measures reflect the value of "people first and life first." The measures are effective for safeguarding the lives of millions of people and their families and boosting economic growth, noted Wu. 
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-23 01:05:46|Editor: huaxia

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TRIPOLI, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- An Islamic State (IS) suicide bomber attacked on Sunday a security checkpoint belonging to the eastern-based army in the southeastern Libyan town Zalla, without causing any casualties.

"An IS suicide bomber attacked the Zalla checkpoint with a car bomb, causing no human casualties," the spokesman of the eastern-based army, Ahmad al-Mismari, posted on his official Facebook page.

"The terrorist was confronted and seriously wounded, after which he died in the hospital," he added.

Al-Mismari posted photos showing the bomber bleeding from his wounds.

Ever since the fall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011, Libya has been suffering insecurity and chaos.

Despite the appointment of a new executive authority of a unity government and a presidency council in February after years of political division, Libya's security situation remains weak, as security breaches and kidnappings still occur in different parts of the country. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-23 18:46:07|Editor: huaxia

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ABUJA, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Nine people were killed by unidentified gunmen in a village in Nigeria's restive northwestern state of Kaduna over the weekend, a local official said on Monday.

The attack on Saturday took place in Ungwan Dooh, a village in the state's Zangon Kataf area, Samuel Aruwan, commissioner for internal security and home affairs in Kaduna, said in a statement.

He said the military responded to distress calls by locals and rushed to the area, and that the attackers fled when they saw the advancing troops.

The death toll might go up as an ongoing search and rescue operation could lead to the discovery of more victims, Aruwan said.

There have been a series of gunmen attacks in Nigeria in recent months, leading to deaths and kidnappings. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-23 21:27:39|Editor: huaxia

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NAIROBI, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Kenya will leverage Chinese-built Lamu port to become a regional transshipment hub, stimulate local manufacturing and create additional jobs, senior officials have said.

Ukur Yatani, cabinet secretary of the National Treasury and Planning, said the mega port at Lamu archipelago consisting Lamu Island where Lamu Old Town, a World Heritage Site, is located, on the coast of East Africa about 350 km north of Mombasa, is strategically positioned to become a transit point for bulk cargo destined overseas.

"The port is capable of comfortably docking Panamax and post Panamax vessels with a capacity of over 10,000 TEUs," Yatani said in a statement released Sunday after a tour of Lamu port. "We are encouraging shipping lines to bring vessels to this strategically located facility."

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on May 20 commissioned the first berth of Lamu port, developed by China Communications Construction Company Ltd., which is part of Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia-Transport (LAPSSET) corridor.

The Lamu port on July 15 received the first commercial ship MV AMU 1 owned by a local shipping line and a few days later a foreign bulk cargo vessel, affirming its strategic position as transshipment hub serving the greater eastern African region.

Yatani said the mega port, which will have 32 berths upon completion, has met globally recognized threshold to handle bulk goods and revitalize logistic business in the country.

According to Yatani, the government will soon dispatch a high-powered delegation to landlocked neighboring Ethiopia and South Sudan to market the facility.

He said that upgrading of road arteries connecting to the port has been fast-tracked to boost seamless transportation of bulk cargo to the Kenyan hinterland.

John Mwangemi, acting managing director of Kenya Ports Authority, said that Lamu port has been installed with state-of-the-art facilities to facilitate clearance of cargo destined for neighboring countries.

He said the facility has eased congestion at Mombasa port besides unleashing socio-economic benefits in the coastal region including emergence of new businesses and jobs, adding plans are in the works to connect Lamu port by road and rail to the central African region. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-23 22:06:14|Editor: huaxia

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ADDIS ABABA, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia on Monday morning received 300,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses donated by the Chinese government.

The COVID-19 vaccine doses were received at the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport by Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia Zhao Zhiyuan, Ethiopia Minister of Health Lia Tadesse and Getahun Mekuria, Ethiopia Minister of Education.

"Today we're here to receive the third batch donation of around 300,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccine, which is going to really enhance our effort to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic as a country," Tadesse told reporters.

"This support and donations come at a very critical time where we need to really enhance our strategy of prevention in addition to our non-pharmaceutical interventions which is rolling out vaccines especially to those who need it the most," she further said.

The Ethiopia health minister also commended China for the comprehensive anti-COVID-19 support it has provided Ethiopia so far.

"The government of China has been really supporting the country's efforts in mitigating the pandemic since the beginning of the pandemic in many ways, not only in vaccine support but also in Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs) supplies, supply of test kits and technical support from the experiences they've had," Tadesse elaborated.

Ethiopia, Africa's second-most populous nation, has so far reported the highest COVID-19 caseload in the East Africa region.

The east African country has as of Monday morning reported 295,804 COVID-19 cases and 4,561 COVID-19 related deaths.

The Ethiopia Minister of Education Getahun Mekuria also commended China for providing the latest batch of COVID-19 vaccines, which will mainly be administered to those engaged in the education sector.

"What makes me very happy today is that this vaccine which we're receiving from the Chinese government is focused primarily for the education sector and I would like to say that I am representing all of my 700,000 teachers to say thank you very much," said Mekuria.

The Ethiopia education minister also said the COVID-19 pandemic has affected Ethiopia's education sector in multiple ways.

"During the last one year when the COVID-19 pandemic impacted Ethiopia one of the major sectors hit hard is the education sector. It's not only the interruption of the education sector, but also we've lost a large number of our teachers," he said.

The Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia Zhao Zhiyuan, disclosed the Asian country has provided about 1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Ethiopia so far underscoring strong commitment to help the east African country's health sector.

"Up to now, China has provided a total of 1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Ethiopia, which have been widely used in health, defense and other fields," Zhao said.

"China is committed to deepening cooperation with Ethiopia on education and public health capacity, and tackling the challenge of the pandemic in solidarity with Ethiopia," he further said.

Zhao also underlined the two countries' health sector partnership as an example of multifaceted bilateral cooperation.

"As the comprehensive strategic cooperative partner of Ethiopia, China will continue to help Ethiopia fight the virus through various channels and try our best to provide support," Zhao said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-23 23:37:40|Editor: huaxia

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KAMPALA, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Uganda has started the process of recruiting 10,000 local defense personnel to boost the country's security, the military said on Monday.

Flavia Byekwaso, a military spokesperson, told Xinhua by telephone that the exercise which started on Monday will run for five days.

"The offices of the Resident District Commissioners have started receiving applications from candidates," she said.

"Unlike the previous recruitments where candidates would be received at designated centers by our personnel, this time we are avoiding crowds because of COVID-19," she added.

Byekwaso said after screening the candidates, successful individuals will be contacted for interviews.

In 2019, the military recruited 13,000 local defense personnel. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-23 23:45:22|Editor: huaxia

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TRIPOLI, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Monday said that 374 illegal immigrants were rescued off the Libyan coast in the past week.

From Aug. 15 to 21, 374 migrants were rescued or intercepted at sea and returned to Libya, IOM said.

So far in 2021, a total of 22,419 illegal immigrants, including women and children, have been rescued, while 392 died and 632 went missing off the Libyan coast on the Central Mediterranean route, according to IOM.

Libya has been suffering insecurity and chaos since the fall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, making the North African country a preferred point of departure for illegal immigrants who want to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-24 00:21:45|Editor: huaxia

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ABUJA, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian police on Monday confirmed that four persons were killed and 50 others abducted by unidentified gunmen who attacked a town in the northwestern state of Zamfara on Sunday.

A large number of gunmen rode on motorcycles into Goran Namaye, a town in the state's Maradun local government area, and began to shoot at the residents late Sunday, said Mohammad Shehu, a spokesperson for the state police.

Shehu told reporters at a press conference in Gusau, the capital city of Zamfara that tactical operatives of the police have been deployed to the area to restore normalcy, adding that a joint search and rescue operation is underway to rescue the kidnapped persons.

According to Shehu, the security agency has also begun an immediate search and rescue operation for the victims.

There have been a series of gunmen attacks in Nigeria in recent months, leading to deaths and kidnappings. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-24 00:27:51|Editor: huaxia

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LAGOS, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian troops thwarted an attempted kidnap by gunmen and rescued 15 persons in northwest Nigeria's Kaduna state on Sunday, according to an official on Monday.

Samuel Aruwan, commissioner for internal security and home affairs in the state, said in a statement a group of gunmen attacked on Sunday two vehicles in Jagindi village of Jema'a local government area of the state, in an attempt to kidnap 15 passengers on board.

After receiving a distress call, troops of the Operation Safe Haven mobilized swiftly to the location. "They repelled the bandits, enabling the rescue of the abducted persons," Aruwan said.

Nigeria has witnessed a series of attacks by armed groups in recent months, leading to deaths and kidnappings. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-23 19:14:16|Editor: huaxia

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KIEV, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Kiev is counting on Germany as its key ally regarding a peaceful settlement in Donbass and the restoration of sovereignty and territorial integrity, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said following a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel here on Sunday.

Zelensky, as quoted by his press service, pointed to the importance of having a consolidated position of Ukraine, Germany and France within the Normandy Four on the plan to establish peace in Donbass.

The Ukrainian president also stressed that the agreements reached at the last summit of the leaders of the Normandy Four countries in 2019 in Paris have not lost their relevance.

"We strive for a full and comprehensive ceasefire, holding an exchange of persons, an opening of the checkpoints into the temporarily occupied territories, and long-awaited access to these territories by representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross," said Zelensky, underlining the need for a Normandy Four summit.

The German chancellor also announced her expectation of hosting another summit of the leaders of the group's member countries with a meaningful agenda.

"I would also like to hold another summit at the level of heads of state, at the highest political level ... I think it's possible," said Merkel.

Merkel held the meeting with Zelensky as part of her official one-day visit to Kiev on Aug. 22.

The ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine, which has claimed the lives of some 14,000 people and left as many as 40,000 wounded, began in April 2014.

The Normandy Four is a diplomatic group aiming to bring peace to the region. It is composed of Ukraine, Germany, Russia and France. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-23 16:42:36|Editor: huaxia

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LOS ANGELES, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Caldor Fire burning in California's El Dorado County has spread to 104,309 acres (42,212 hectares) with only five percent containment, authorities have said, adding that more homes and businesses were threatened since the fire jumped Highway 50.

The currently most active fire in California cut a 40-mile (64.3 km) stretch of the Highway 50 in the Sierra Nevada Mountains area, said the Inciweb, an interstate incident information system, in an update on Sunday.

As a transcontinental road in the United States, the California portion of Highway 50 is a busy route linking the state's capital city and Lake Tahoe, one of the most famous tourist attractions in the country.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) said in a Sunday briefing that they do not anticipate reopening Highway 50 in the near future as the blaze still posed a threat to the communities along the road and those traveling on that road.

As of Sunday, Cal Fire said 328 structures had been confirmed destroyed, and 13,114 structures remain threatened.

A video from the local KCRA 3 news channel showed that Grizzly Flats, a once wooded area which roughly 1,200 people called home, was hardly recognizable now after being burned through by the fire last Tuesday. Many of its neighborhoods and businesses were torched down, leaving mostly debris.

Deputies with the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the Grizzly Flats and nearby areas to patrol after receiving several reports of looting, the report said.

In total, 1,618 firefighters are battling the fire, which started on Aug. 14, and two people were seriously injured, Cal Fire said.

Cal Fire on Sunday said that containment remained low for the fire, which was intentional because the crews' main focus had been reducing the active threat to structures in the path of the fire's spread. Enditem
Anti-sanctions activist Mr Gregory C Turner, who in 2015 was sentenced to 15 months in prison in the United States for lobbying for the unconditional removal of sanctions has died.

After his unjust imprisonment, Mr Turner, an American citizen, relocated to Zimbabwe and remained a strident critic of the illegal and amoral sanctions that have over the last two decades bled the country of billions of dollars.

He passed away yesterday at St Annes Hospital in Harare due to Covid-19-related complications. He was 81.

In her condolence message, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Monica Mutsvangwa said the death of Mr Turner is a painful loss to the people of Zimbabwe.

Greg Turner loved Zimbabwe most dearly. He was vehemently opposed to the ZIDERA (Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act) sanctions against Zimbabwe. He viewed them as a bloat and assault at the core of existence and well-being of Zimbabwe, Africa and its Diaspora.

He took his fight against ZIDERA right into the American Black Congressional ranks. He actually organised a delegation of Chicago-based Civil Rights luminaries to Zimbabwe in the early 1990s, she said.

Because of his efforts in fighting for the removal of sanctions, Mr Turner , who hailed from Chicago, was found guilty by a federal jury of violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

In addition his co-defendant, Prince Asiel Ben Israel, also of Chicago, who was sentenced to seven months in prison after pleading guilty to violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

For his efforts he incurred the wrath of the American Federal Bureau of Investigation. They shadowed him in cahoots with G40 cohorts.

They snooped on him leading to his arrest, trial and sentencing in an Illinois Federal Court for lobbying activities that broke the ZIDERA statute. He was subsequently incarcerated for two years.

On release he relocated to Zimbabwe, where the Zanu-PF party and the Zimbabwe Government welcomed him with open arms.

Until his death Mr Turner tapped into his lifelong Pan-African activism and extensive continental reach to build bridges between Africa and its Diaspora.

Mr Turner, working with Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa and her deputy Kindness Paradza, recently invited the Grammy Award winning musician, Robert Kool Bell to Zimbabwe to help market Victoria Falls as a tourist resort.

The invitation was also meant to promote young Zimbabwean music talent. He was also actively working with Ambassador Kwame Muzawazi of the Institute of African Knowledge and Museum of African Liberation.

He secured a section in the museum for the story of TransAtlantic slave trade and the 1960s civil rights movement. Herald


President Mnangagwa and Zambian president-elect Hakainde Hichilema, who will be sworn-in today, held a long telephone call on Sunday during which they agreed to work together in the development of the two sister republics.

The President, who arrived here in for the swearing-in ceremony of Mr Hichilema, told media that since the election, he has been in constant touch with the major protagonists and was happy with the acceptance of the result by outgoing President Edgar Lungu.

This outcome and the peaceful transition, that will be completed today, is a lesson to Sadc and Africa at large for losing contestants to accept electoral outcomes.

I grew up here and I am very proud that this is the seventh time that Zambia has changed Presidents and they have done it so smoothly.

I believe that the SADC region and also other African countries should take pride that we have countries on the continent whose transition of power after elections is happening smoothly. We are very proud.

The President, who did his tertiary education during the liberation struggle in the then Northern Rhodesia, said he has always enjoyed close relations with Zambian presidents, particularly the countrys founding father, the late Kenneth Kaunda.





I in particular, am a friend of almost all presidents of Zambia from Kenneth Kaunda to the incoming President Hichilema that we know each other very well. I congratulate my brother for being chosen overwhelmingly by the people of Zambia, the President said after touching down at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport late afternoon yesterday.

The President revealed that he had a telephone conversation with Mr Hichilema, while he was at his farm in Kwekwe on Sunday.

The president-elect phoned me while I was at my farm in Kwekwe inviting me and we discussed so many issues in Tonga. I realised we are related. In fact his wife, Mutinta Hichilema and I grew up in the same town of Mumbwa, west of Lusaka, President Mnangagwa said.

The President cracked jokes while speaking about Zambia which he described as his second home.

President-elect Hichilema will be inaugurated together with vice president-elect Mrs Mutale Nalumango.

The event is strictly by invitation and only invited guests are expected at the National Heroes Stadium, with the rest expected to follow proceedings at home or work places on their television sets.

President Mnangagwa, who is accompanied by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Frederick Shava and senior Government officials, will join other Heads of State and Government at the ceremony today.

Other invited guests include South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera, Angolan President Joao Lourenco and the Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi.

The programme is expected to start in the morning with the inspection of the guard of honour and the arrival of invited guests, with the swearing in taking place at around 11am.

The incoming president is a businessman and politician. After having contested five previous elections in 2006, 2008, 2011, 2015 and 2016, he won the 2021 presidential election with over 59 percent of the vote. He has been the leader of his party, the United Party for National Development.

Previously, Zimbabwe and Zambia have been described as Siamese twins due to the deep relations between the two countries.

Zambia played a pivotal role in the liberation of Zimbabwe, hosting the liberation movements that were waging a war for independence. Herald
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa leaves Zimbabwe today to join other Heads of State at the inauguration of new Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema in Lusaka tomorrow.

President-elect Hichilema won the recent Zambian presidential election, beating former President Edgar Lungu by almost one million votes. He garnered 2 810 757 votes, while Mr Lungu trailed with 1 814 201 and conceded defeat, committing to hand over power peacefully.

Last week in his congratulatory message President Mnangagwa wished the new Zambian leader well during his presidential term and pledged to work with him closely in strengthening ties between the two countries.

President Mnangagwa assured President-elect Hichilema that Zimbabwe would, in its relations with Zambia, build on the deep historical ties forged between our two nations during Zimbabwes liberation struggle, as well on the partnership maintained by outgoing President Edgar Lungu.

As you assume your term of office, I wish to assure you of my availability to work closely with you to solidify and deepen the cordial relations that exist between our two sister republics for the mutual benefit of our two peoples.

I also wish to assure you of my readiness to work closely with you at the regional, continental and international levels as we seek advance the ideals of development peace and stability, he said.

Deputy Chief Secretary-Presidential Communications in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Mr George Charamba, said President Mnangagwa had warmly accepted President-elect Hichilemas invitation to his inauguration tomorrow in Lusaka in the spirit of Sadc collegiality.

He said this was also a recognition of the role President Mnangagwa played in stabilising the potential volatile post-election in Zambia last week.

The president-elect reached out to President Mnangagwa and he was able to communicate his fears over the smooth transition to the President, as the outgoing member of the organ troika.

President Mnangagwa then reached out to the outgoing President Lungu to respect the wishes of the Zambian people. That way both the victor and loser opened channels of communication, thereby securing the peace that is prevailing in Zambia post-election.

Mr Charamba also said Sadc Heads of State are all behind President-elect Hichilema as he had won the election.

When the President was in Malawi last week, All Sadc heads in attendance agreed that they must attend the inauguration ceremony as part of their support for the political and election process in Zambia, which after all is the cradle of liberation movements in Southern Africa, he said.

Mr Hakainde Hichilema is a Zambian businessman and politician.

After having contested five previous elections in 2006, 2008, 2011, 2015 and 2016, he won the 2021 presidential election with over 59 percent of the vote. He has led the United Party for National Development.

After he was announced as the winner last week, President-elect Hichilema pledged that his government would deliver on the promise of change.

Rebuffing political smear campaigns based on tribe and ethnicity, he urged the public to mark his scorecard after he names his first cabinet in just over a weeks time after his inauguration.

We want to send a signal to reunite this country under the One Zambia, One Nation motto. Jobs shall be given on equal merit without looking at ones surname, appointing them with an eye on the public interest, he stated.

He extended an olive branch to every political opponent and citizen that did not vote for him, saying he will be a President for all Zambians and promised not to gag media and civil society.

Zimbabwe and Zambia have been described as Siamese twins due to the deep relations among the two countries. Zambia also played a pivotal role in the liberation of Zimbabwe.

During the liberation struggle, Zambia played host to thousands of sons and daughters who left their homes to liberate their country from colonial bondage. Herald
Staff of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) who leak names or identify whistle-blowers will face jail terms of up to six months, along with ordinary disciplinary action under legal amendments proposed by ZACC itself.

At the same time, ZACC will not protect those who maliciously make false reports against others, pretending to be whistle-blowers.

ZACC differentiates between reports made in good faith, even if they are found to be wrong after investigation, but does not wish to be used as a tool in personal vendettas or disputes.

The proposed draft amendment to the Act under which ZACC operates, which has since been sent to the Office of the President and Cabinet, seeks to promote a culture of reporting all corrupt activities without fear of victimisation and with full protection for whistle-blowers.

The confidentiality of the whistle-blower identities should stop the problem faced by whistle-blowers and State witnesses in high profile graft cases at parastatals under ZACC investigation being harassed through suspension, transfer, at times being charged on frivolous allegations to cripple ZACC investigations.

At a recent ZACC annual general meeting, the commissions executive secretary Ms Sukai Tongogara said victimisation of whistle-blowers and witnesses was a cause for concern and there was need for a law that protects them.

Our main challenge, in terms of investigation is victimisation of witnesses. We have had our witnesses in several cases victimised for testifying in corruption cases or for coming to ZACC offices to have their statements recorded.

We have made arrests in terms of the Prevention of Corruption Act for victimisation of witnesses, but Zimbabwe has no harmonised law for the protection of whistle-blowers and witnesses.

This is where we are appealing to the powers be, that we have referred a draft lay Bill to the Office of the President and Cabinet for whistleblower protection and we hope the powers be will deal with this issue as a matter of urgency because this is the biggest challenge we are facing, said Ms Tongogara.

Highlights of the whistle-blower provisions in the draft Bill prepared by ZACC define a whistle-blower as any person who makes a report to the Anti-Corruption Commission about the commission, attempted commission or suspected commission of an illegal corrupt practice by a person in a public or private organisation.

Whistleblower provisions in the draft lay Bill, according to ZACC encourages informants to reports all corrupt activities in line with President Mnangagwas anti-graft stance.

The purpose of the whistleblower provisions is to encourage persons who have knowledge of the commission of illegal corrupt practices to report such practices to ZACC and to provide protection to persons against any reprisals, prejudicial action or penalisation of such persons for having reported the commission of an illegal corrupt practice in a public or private organisation.

The draft Bill provides that where any person has evidence of the commission or attempted commission of an illegal corrupt practice or believes on reasonable grounds that an illegal corrupt practice has being or is being committed, that person may make a report about the illegal corrupt practice to the Anti-Corruption Commission.

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission must ensure that the identity of that person is kept confidential and is not disclosed without the consent of the person making the report, except where a person has committed the crime of maliciously making a false report.

The provisions of the draft lay Bill make it an offence for any commissioner, officer or employee of ZACC who discloses the identity of a whistleblower to any other person within the commission who is not authorised to receive this information or to anyone outside Commission without the consent of the whistleblower.

An offender found guilty will be liable to a fine of level 3 or 6 months imprisonment or both, reads a summary of the draft Bill. While those making malicious false reports will not be protected, those who act in good faith, even if wrong, will be.

Any person who makes a report of a suspected illegal corrupt practice to the ZACC in good faith and on reasonable grounds, according to the draft, will have immunities from criminal or civil liability.

The draft lay Bill provides that ZACC may establish a system of rewards for the supply of information about corruption provided that information leads to the conviction of the corrupt person or recovery of the proceeds of corruption.

The commission, according to the draft, must take all necessary steps to protect a whistleblower against being subjected to prejudicial action for having reported corruption with the protection given before and after the trial.

The draft Bill also provides that any person who suffers loss as a result of reporting a corrupt practice is entitled to recover such losses by way of an action for damages or by way of compensation from a compensation fund set up for this purpose.

The Herald understands ZACC has complained over actions which seem to at least verge on victimisation of employees who had passed on information about where they worked and who were key witnesses in cases under investigations.

Some witnesses were arrested on questionable grounds by other investigating arms engaged by the top management, which affected corruption cases being investigated by ZACC.

Others were moved from the head office to faraway stations, making it difficult to provide ZACC with the most wanted information to prosecute the corrupt.

Some were made to work night shifts only while others were suspended from work after their identities were disclosed to the employer as whistleblowers.

President Mnangagwa, the champion of the anti-graft fight, personally intervened in a case of Zesa staff by ordering their reinstatement after they were dismissed for being whistleblowers on corruption that was threatening to ground the power utility.

He made the call at a launch of the Tripartite Negotiating Forum Act to pave way for the establishment of a platform of social partners  the Government, labour and business  to discuss pertinent issues affecting the economy.

The eight Zesa workers were victimised for exposing a corruption saga during the time of former Zesa chief executive Engineer Joshua Chifamba.

The workers in question are Florence Taruvinga, Gibson Mushunje, Admire Mudzonga, Ackim Mzilikazi, Given Dingwiza, Tariro Shumba, Stephen Moyoweshumba and Joanes Chingoriwo.

The whistleblowers had given information that allegedly linked the management and former Minister of Energy and Power Development Samuel Undenge to a public relations project involving Oscar Pambuka and Psychology Maziwisa.

Other issues raised by the workers included the awarding of the Gwanda solar project without allegedly where they suggested that Zesa had not followed laid-down procurement procedures and that a payment of the US$5 million was given to the proposer without bank guarantees.

ZACC investigations were also reportedly hampered at the Red Cross Society where some bosses were being accused of corruption. Some whistleblowers were identified and fired, which affected ZACC investigations.

At the Registrar Generals office, ZACC also cried foul after some witnesses were demoted while others were transferred upon disclosure of their identities. Herald
Just over half of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Vaccinations in this country bottomed out in July at an average of about a half-million shots per day, down from a peak of 3.4 million a day in mid-April. As the delta variant fills hospital beds, shots are on the rise again, with a million a day given Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
According to sources, the lieutenant, who The News is not naming, was strongly against the COVID vaccine and rarely wore a mask to work. Hes been in critical condition on a ventilator at NYU Langone Hospital for the past six days, the sources said.
Real estate agents say the ban by the Centers for Disease Control is a dramatic overreach that is costing them millions in fees. They say it is an economic policy decision that has little to do with public health.
In New Zealand, which has reported 26 COVID deaths since spring 2020, prime minister Jacinda Ardern extended a strict, nationwide lockdown until at least Friday as a delta variant outbreak grew to 107 in several days. But health authorities say theyve found links among most of those cases, many of which are centered in the city of Auckland, giving them hope they can quash the outbreak. Authorities said theyve tested about 3% of the nations entire population over the past six days.
Q. My 90-year-old father has a green card, but he has been stuck in Spain for more than a year. A U.S. consular official in Madrid told him he can travel to the United States and Customs and Border Patrol will admit him. The official said because of his age and the COVID situation, he shouldnt have a problem. I thought that after a full year abroad, he needed to get a special immigrant/returning resident visa before going back to the United States. What is your opinion?
Our thoughts are with the lieutenant and all who become sick from COVID. That fact is COVID-19 remains a risk for vaccinated and unvaccinated New Yorkers alike, and the lack of consistent mask wearing in our courts, despite the mandate to wear them, will only continue to exacerbate spread and infection, said Tina Luongo, Attorney-In-Charge of criminal defense at Legal Aid.
The cops were trying to stop us. The guy dropped the hammer, Rosado said. As soon as I saw the hammer drop, I chased him. He tried to turn the corner but I grabbed him before he could turn the corner and threw him on the ground. Then one of the cops took me and threw me against the car. They didnt know what was happening so I dont blame them. They thought we were just jumping an old man.
With more people getting vaccinated, people are starting to go on with their lives and they are looking toward Times Square, Harris said. Were seeing New Yorkers and tristaters coming back to the area. And when Broadway returns we are going to see those numbers take off. We very much think that in the near future its going to be a lot better than it is now.
When things cooled down in the evening, national park staff were able to safely complete the recovery, the statement said. While the apparent cause was heatstroke, Stanbacks cause of death was being investigated by the Inyo County Sheriffs Office and Inyo County Coroner.
For now, the full approval is effective only for people 16 and older getting their first or second shot. The vaccine will remain available under emergency-use status for children 12 through 15 years old and for a third dose in individuals with certain underlying medical conditions, according to the FDA. Pfizer and BioNTech said they will seek full approval for young teens and the third dose once they have enough safety and efficacy data.
The man apparently had an argument with the victims, went back to his car and ran over some signs outside the Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. He then struck both employees and fled the scene before cops arrived, deputies told news outlets.
The off-duty officer, 41-year-old Everett Briscoe, was sitting outside Grotto Ristorante in Houston around 5 p.m. Saturday when two armed robbers approached the customers and demanded their belongings, according to police. The group complied, but one of the gunmen fired his weapon at some point during the attempted robbery, striking Briscoe and another man, witnesses told police.
Proud Boys boss Enrique Tarrio has been sentenced to more than five months in jail for burning a Black Lives Matter banner that belonged to a church as well as bringing ammo to Washington, D.C., in the days before the violent Jan. 6 uprising at the U.S. Capitol.
I do not agree that I am violent or a lying person. I am not blaming the way I am on anything. It is you who asked me what a normal person would do if they decided a loved one was missing, he testified.
Jimmy Dunn, 49, woke up his wife to tell her about the car as the water rose past 6 feet, forcing them into the attic. Hes ill with cancer and she is an amputee, so they could not reach the roof, they told the newspaper. They were finally rescued by a bulldozer crew who raised the bucket to their attic window, The Tennessean said.
Severe weather in southern Arizona appears to have damaged parts of the border wall erected by the Trump Administration. The Tucson Sentinel reports that U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents have confirmed historic flooding at the nations border with Mexico is to blame for the destruction. That appears to include several wide-open metal gates separated from their hinges and in some cases, stuck in mud and detritus.
More and more New Yorkers are returning to work and they deserve to be able to do their jobs without being exposed to COVID-19, a group of unions and advocates including the New York Immigration Coalition and New York State Nurses Association, wrote to Hochul. With school reopenings around the corner, it is crucial that the common-sense basic safety standards promised under the NY HERO Act be implemented in order to avoid unnecessary illness and death and another statewide shutdown.
The boats used as part of the new service are much smaller than the ferries that have serviced Staten Island and lower Manhattan for years and are more comparable in size to the ferries used in routes between lower Manhattan and Rockaway in Queens, Soundview in the Bronx and Bay Ridge in Brooklyn.
Rather than depend on the U.S. Postal Service, Im sort of like Paul Revere, he said in a news conference that he streamed on Facebook. I came up the New York State Thruway in the rain and will personally deliver the letter wishing Gov. Hochul the best of luck.
We didnt need to do it. We chose to do it. We did it in obedience to an imbecilic political slogan about ending the forever wars, as if our engagement in 2021 was remotely comparable to our commitment 20 or even ten years ago, and in circumstances in which troop numbers had declined to a minimum and no allied soldier had lost their life in combat for 18 months, he continued.
As Brooklyn borough president these past eight years, Adams has generally encouraged development in the citys fastest-growing county. But there are troubling exceptions. This year, he opposed the construction of an 18-story residential tower in Prospect Heights on the site of an Atlantic Ave. McDonalds, set to add 300 apartments, including 95 affordable ones. (We know the vegan harbors no special feelings for the fast-food giant.) Last year, Adams opposed the construction of a modest four-story mixed-use building in Vinegar Hill amid complaints that it was somehow out of scale and character.
A year ago last week, he was a prime-time speaker on the first night of the Democratic National Convention. The next day his ill-fated COVID book was announced. We immediately questioned the propriety and the timing and urged that any advance money go to COVID relief. He didnt listen and it cost him far more than the earnings from the publisher. It felt like a victory lap in the middle of a race, a race with many hurdles. He trotted out a styrofoam mountain and commemorative poster that purported to congratulate the state on its achievement but actually celebrated Cuomo himself.
This overture would seem to blend well with everything I know of Hochuls style. Her previous successes as an administrator in Buffalo, a member of the House of Representatives, and a member of the previous governors team provide evidence of an understanding of how to work with her colleagues in a way that can only benefit the quality of life in New York State.
I am a clinical psychologist in private practice in Alabama. As part of my practice, I see children and teenagers on a regular basis. In fact, I have seen hundreds of youth during this pandemic, and I made notations as to whether they wore a mask to the session and what their perspective was about masking up. I went back and looked at the last 100 children and teenagers I have seen since March 2020. Ninety-one percent of these children and teenagers wore masks to their sessions with me. Ninety-seven percent of them made positive comments about their masks.
According to The Independent, the actor was found outside the G Hotel in Galway with serious facial injuries in the early hours of last Sunday. Keoghan was reportedly taken to Galway University Hospital and treated for serious facial injuries before he was released.
This has been snakebit from the beginning, Jackson said of Count 5, speaking outside the courtroom after the hearing. Its simply out of statute. Whatever they try to do, whatever iteration they try, eventually is going to come back to bite them.
The 50-year-old actor was pulled over when police say they spotted him driving erratically in his silver Dodge Journey last week, as first reported by TMZ. Brendon, who played the title characters zany sidekick Xander Harris in the Buffy series, was said to have been sweaty and out of sorts when cops pulled him over in Vigo County, Ind.
One workers girlfriend came along and hung out inside of the house, playing with her phone, Faehn said. The foreman sent Faehn out to buy Bubble Wrap and boxes. When Faehn objected, saying those supplies were supposed to be part of the move, the foreman got angry and insisted that she go. He became angrier still when Faehns neighbor came over to keep an eye on the house while she was gone.
While Orlando was one of the top Florida markets for new construction during the last decade, only 5% were starter homes, Freddie Mac chief economist Sam Khater said in an email to the Sentinel. [T]he share of new starter homes have been declining since the 1970s when starter homes accounted for over 40% of new construction in Orlando.
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said Monday, the Food and Drug Administration's decision to finally approve Pfizer-BioNTechs COVID-19 vaccine ought to change the minds of some reticent people. If you were one of the people who were sitting on the fence because of that, you should be getting off the fence at this point and getting vaccinated, he said. So well just have to see if that was really the reason why people were sitting on the fence or there was some other reason they were using and that was just a means to create confusion and conflict. (Photo by Frank Weber) (Courtesy)
People will see that he and his life were so much more than what you saw in 30 minutes of a Joy of Painting episode, or for younger people, that hes so much more than a meme, he said. This is really a sort of a fully dimensional, fully realized human being who had flaws and who was wonderfully empathetic and deeply sort of conflicted.
The DeSantis administration is fighting the districts that have bucked his order and plans this week to start withholding some state money from Alachua and Broward county school districts  the first to adopt the mandates. The controversy has prompted a war of words between Floridas Republican governor and the Democratic administration of President Joe Biden. Bidens education secretary has told the districts they can use federal COVID-19 relief to make up any loss of state funds.
Portrait of Advent Health employee Rebecca Desir who started the non-profit, The Black Health Commission in Orlando, Fla., Friday, Aug. 13, 2021. Desire, who helps to manage the grant budget at Advent Health, started the Black Health Commission as an Instagram page where she has amassed more than 11,000 followers. Last year, as data started to show that Black COVID patients were dying at higher rates, she turned the social media campaign into a non-profit dedicated to creating more equity in healthcare through education. The goal of the event is to celebrate Black Joy in the face of all the Black pain that has been on display for more than a year. She will host a Black Joy Festival event to celebrate Black Joy in the face of all the Black pain that has been on display for more than a year. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel) (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel)
Does it go to the Bush, Obama or Trump administrations for mishandling the war? To the Biden administration for bungling the pullout, creating a deadly calamity by misreading the speed with which Taliban forces would overrun the nation? To Afghanistans hapless government, which we spent over $2 trillion and more than 2,000 American lives to install, maintain and defend? Should it go to the Afghan army, 300,000 men trained and equipped at a cost of $83 billion, which melted away like a sandcastle in the waves when faced with a ragtag force one-quarter its size? Or to U.S. military leaders who kept assuring us things were going well when, clearly, things were not?
Whats in the works is a high-end bar as if travelers were on a yacht-class spaceship. For those that venture into the space, it will be as if theyre leaving the Disney cruise ship and boarding a vessel in that galaxy far, far away. That includes a promised sliding door with a signature, whooosh sound.
Madrid, Spain (PANA) - Morocco is a "reliable and solid" partner of the European Union (EU) in the management of migration flows, according to the European Border Control Agency (Frontex)
Washington, DC, US (PANA)  As climate change accelerates a global water crisis, rainfall variability is expected to be one of the contributing forces in migration, according to a new World Bank report released on Monday
PARLAMENTUL REPUBLICII MOLDOVA

 2010

The Moldovan Parliaments website design was supported by the Democracy Support Programme in Moldova"  an initiative financed by the European Union and implemented by the Council of Europe
News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism.
Iran Reports Increase In Child Marriages

08/23/21

Source: RFE/RL

Iranian officials have reported an increase in the overall number of child marriages last year compared to 2019. According to the Statistics Center of Iran, the marriage rate of girls aged 10-14 last year increased by 10.5 percent compared to 2019. It says 31,379 girls in that age bracket were married in 2020 compared to 28,373 cases the previous year.



Source: Iranian daily Shahrvand

The legal age for marriage in Iran is 13 years for girls and 15 years for boys, though it is acceptable for children younger to be married with a father's permission.

The statistics for child marriages are only those that were officially registered with the Civil Registry Office. The actual number is believed to be higher as many such marriages are unregistered.

The Statistics Center of Iran reported that about 5 percent of all the registered marriages in Iran in 2020 involved children under the age of 15.

Javaid Rehman, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Iran, called for "immediate reforms" in the Islamic republic's treatment of women and girls in a report to the UN Human Rights Council in March, citing the prevalence of child marriage as a major issue.

Rahman said that "[Iranian] women and girls are still treated as second-class citizens."
Source: The American Conservative

By James Carden

When the old order begins to fall apart, many of the vociferous men of words, who prayed so long for the day, are in a funk  Eric Hoffer, True Believer

Current Ukrainian PM Arseniy Yatsenyuk rallies protesters in Ukraine last fall. Ivan Bandura / Flickr

The news of late out of eastern Ukraine is laden with irony. Those of us possessed of a realist dispositionI use the term disposition advisedly, for as the theologian Reinhold Niebuhr noted in his essay Augustines Political Realism, definitions of realists emphasize disposition, rather than doctrinesare not terribly surprised that the recently installed regime in Kiev has set in motion a revolution it now finds itself unable to control. As history shows, thats the trouble with revolutions: once begun, efforts to predictmuch less controltheir path are often fruitless.

What we are seeing taking place in the eastern provinces of Ukraine shouldnt be terribly surprising, after allthe erroneous, yet seductive phrase one Ukrainian people that has been uttered over and over again by American and European diplomats, was always a fiction. So the new regime in Kiev finds itself in an analogous position to the one the Yanukovych government found itself in late 2013-early 2014; it faces popular dissatisfaction that expresses itself in the street (we have thankfullythus far anywaybeen spared the term the Ukrainian street).

There are a few differences between the oft-praised Euro-Maidan and the pro-Russian demonstrations now taking place across the East; the first being that the latter have actually been peaceful (so far). The nature of the regimes against which the respective protests were aimed are different as well; one, Yanukovychs, was democratically elected in 2010, the government headed by Arseniy Yatsenyuk (or, as he was referred to in honeyed tones by Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland, Yats) was imposed by acts of violence and coercion. Another difference can be spotted in the reactions of the American media to the two movements. Proving the American media is nothing if not nimble, solidarity for the aspirations of the Ukrainian people during the Maidan riots has now morphedin nary a blink of an eyeto scorn for protesters in the east who are obviously tools of the Kremlin.

And so if the protagonists of the Ukrainian revolution and their Western cheerleaders arent in a funk, perhaps they ought to be, for developments are not proving very favorable at present. In addition to the restive populations in urban centers like Donetsk and Kharkiv, Vladimir Putin is playing a strong hand well. He recently issued a letter to 18 European leaders urging them to provide Ukraine with financial assistance to avoid a shutdown of Russian gas supplies to Europe; economic leverage is joined by military leverage: Russia has amassed over 40,000 troops on its western border with Ukraine; and last but not least, Russia is busy consolidating its hold over Crimea. Indeed, this week the Russian government announced it was exploring the possibility of investing upwards of $1 billion toward developing the Crimean wine industry.

The Western response to all this has been to issue a handful of visa bans and to sanction a smallish Russian private bank. Calls by some of our more martial-minded elected representatives (read: John McCain) to arm the new Ukrainian regime have been met with little enthusiasm from the State Department.

Yet in the face of all this, neoconservative enthusiasm for ever deepening American involvement continues unabatedthe Russian government has accused the military contractor Greystone of sending mercenaries to assist the Kiev regime, and neoconservative prodigal son David Frum bravely parachuted into Kiev to assure the readers of The Atlantic that concerns over fascist and neo-Nazi elements within and without the new Ukrainian government are baseless; his message: theres nothing to see here folks.

The problems associated with promoting democratic revolutions go unremarked upon by the Washington establishment. Yet even a casual student of history knows that the problem with revolutions generally is thatlike any ordinary street brawlone never really knows for sure how things will end. A question that we might do well to ponder in the coming days: Why is it that so many American journalists and politicians favor provocation over prudence, and conflict over conciliation regarding the continuing crisis in Ukraine?
Readers of the peer-reviewed article were told late-stage cancers and deaths were lower in the group of patients assessed using the companys diagnostic

( , ) ( ) said a three-year follow-up of a large-scale clinical trial involving its EarlyCDT Lung blood test has delivered encouraging results.

The pre-publication data reveal the number of late-stage cancers and deaths were lower in the group of patients assessed using the companys diagnostic.

Crucially, all-cause mortality, as well as cancer-specific and lung cancer mortality, was reduced.

"The key to cancer survival is early detection, said Oncimmune chief executive, Dr Adam Hill.

With thousands fewer patients being referred for lung cancer tests since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, the early detection of lung cancer has never been more important.

The Early detection of Cancer of the Lung Scotland or ECLS trial is believed to be the largest randomised controlled trial for the detection of cancer using blood-based biomarkers. The update was published in medRxiv.

This paper demonstrates the impact a simple blood test in combination with volumetric imaging can have on cancer mortality, said Oncimmune CEO Hill.

Cancer-specific mortality was significantly lower in those tested with EarlyCDT Lung.

Assuming the three-year survival from lung cancer is 80% in those tested, this would suggest 472 people need to be tested in order to save one life, which is comparable with other established, and widely available screening programmes for other cancers.

For further information click here
Tom Plant has been appointed chief financial officer while Nathan Bartrop is the new company secretary.

( ) has enhanced the financial and corporate skillset of its board through appointing Tom Plant as chief financial officer (CFO) and Nathan Bartrop as company secretary, effective immediately.

These appointments are expected to facilitate the companys transition to a 150,000-200,000 ounces per annum gold producer in West Africa and progress the proposed demerger of the Goulamina Lithium Project.

Outgoing CFO and company secretary Eric Hughes will remain as an adviser supporting the finalisation of the Firefinch-Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium Co Ltd incorporated joint venture at Goulamina and demerger of Goulamina Holdings Pty Ltd into a separate ASX-listed entity to be named Leo Lithium Ltd.

Tom Plant's experience

Tom Plant, who holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Western Australia and an MBA from INSEAD, will bring his background in investment evaluation, project finance and corporate transactions.

A highly experienced senior finance executive, Plant has worked on a number of successful corporate debt and company transforming transactions, including several demergers over his career spanning more than 25 years.

Most recently, he spent 10 years with ASX-listed global mineral sands producer Iluka Resources Limited and as treasurer was responsible for group corporate finance activities, financial risk management and treasury operations.

After beginning his career with Arthur Andersen as a Chartered Accountant, Plant has also held various corporate finance and investment banking positions with Macquarie Group, Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein and Arthur Andersen Corporate Finance in Australia and the UK.

Nathan Bartrop's expertise

Nathan Bartrop is a corporate governance professional with more than 10 years of experience in ASX Listing Rules compliance, corporate advisory and corporate governance.

As company secretary, he has assisted numerous listed and dual-listed entities across a wide range of industries.

During his career, Bartrop has also worked as an ASX listings compliance adviser at ASX in Perth and Sydney, where he was involved in the new listing of companies on ASX and advising listed entities on their compliance with ASX listing rules.

He holds a Bachelor of Laws and Commerce from the University of Western Australia and a Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance from the Governance Institute of Australia. He is also a Fellow and WA State Council member of the Governance Institute of Australia.
In step with the Corporations Act 2001, former auditor BDO Australia has stepped down from its work with Calima, with Pricewaterhouse Coopers taking up the reigns from today.

( ) has appointed professional services firm Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) as its new auditor.

The multinational company will provide statutory audit services to the oil and gas stock after a competitive tendering process and former auditor BDO Australias resignation.

This auditor changeover comes after Calima merged with private company Blackspur Oil Corp earlier this year, acquiring its producing oil and natural gas assets within Alberta, Canada.

Owing to its expanded operations, Calima appointed PwC to its accounts because of the firms ability to coordinate audits in Canada and Australia.

Calima's assets.

Blackspur merger

In late February, CE1 acquired Blackspurs Alberta oil and gas assets in a C$17 million deal.

The energy stock maintained the acquisition would position its business as a high-margin oil & gas producer leveraged to West Texas Intermediate (WTI) pricing.

The company is aiming to produce more than 5,500 barrels of oil equivalent per day by December 2022.

Alongside the asset takeover, Calima retains exposure to rising natural gas prices via its strategic holdings in the Montney Formation.

At the time, Calima chairman Glenn Whiddon said: The merger with Blackspur creates an emerging oil and gas producer with production and current operating cashflow of around C$1.8million/month in addition to a substantial reserve and resource base for future growth.

At US$50 WTI the growth model is self-funding (including debt repayments) on the path to 5,500 barrels of oil equivalent/day and operating cashflow of around C$3.5 million/month.

The Montney acreage offers material upside exposure to rising gas prices from the growth of the LNG industry in Canada and North American demand.

We look forward to combining with the Blackspur team and growing the company for all shareholders going forward.
"With highly encouraging results from all holes in this RC drilling campaign, we are eagerly awaiting to see the geology and the potential mineralisation in the drilling from the diamond tails currently being drilled at Crusader, says MD.

Diamond drilling is now underway on four reverse circulation tails at Crusader.

( ) continues to deliver the goods at Crusader prospect within the Wallbrook Gold Project in the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia with results of up to 10 metres at 5.49 g/t.

Along with the result from 224 metres, the reverse circulation hole ended in mineralisation with the company now extending it with a diamond tail.

The RC drilling intersected further broad and high-grade gold with mineralisation extended at depth and along strike.

Crusader mineralisation has now been intersected over an extensive +600 metres of strike and down to +500 metres deep while the Crusader/Templar mineralised corridor extends over 1.6 kilometres of strike.

Excellent continuity

Nexus managing director Andy Tudor said: These high-grade results from the Crusader Prospect have again shown excellent continuity of mineralisation with broad, high-grade gold intersected.

Within the 10-metre intersection was 4 metres at 12.49 g/t and other high-grade results from Crusader are:

12 metres at 3.60 g/t, including 4 metres at 7.45 g/t within 28 metres at 1.99 g/t from 176 metres;

4 metres at 4.66 g/t within 16 metres at 2.90 g/t from 196 metres;

4 metres at 2.97 g/t from 180 metres; and

4 metres at 2.88 g/t from 216 metres.

The new results follow the previous results of:

14 metres at 8.80 g/t, including 3 metres at 21.59 g/t within 19 metres at 6.57 g/t from 141 metres;

10 metres at 6.42 g/t, including 1-metre at 41.23 g/t within 17 metres at 3.97 g/t from 182 metres;

8 metres at 3.51 g/t within 24 metres at 1.32 g/t from 144 metres; and

3 metres at 5.13 g/t within 7 metres at 2.43 g/t from 221 metres.

Mineralisation in all holes

Nexus 2021 RC and diamond drill program at Crusader is testing for depth and strike extensions to the mineralisation intersected in previous Nexus drill campaigns.

The holes drilled were to test the zone from 150 to 300 metres below the surface, and below known mineralisation, with every one of the seven RC drill holes completed intersecting mineralisation.

Encouragingly, the gold mineralisation tenor and width remain consistent.

Tudor said: "With highly encouraging results from all holes in this RC drilling campaign, we are eagerly awaiting to see the geology and the potential mineralisation in the drilling from the diamond tails currently being drilled at Crusader.

Diamond tails

Four of the holes will now have diamond tails added to them with the aim of intersecting further mineralisation at depth.

Future Crusader drilling will test for depth extensions to the mineralisation, as well as testing for further strike extensions to the Crusader/Templar mineralised corridor that extends over 1.6 kilometres of strike, constrained only by the extent of drilling completed by Nexus to date.

"The RC drilling program focus now moves to Templar where the current 6,000-metre program is nearing completion and results from the initial 50% of the program expected in a couple of weeks, Tudor added.
"This is vindication of the opportunity we have to build a world-leading manufacturing facility of battery metals which will be a game-changer for nickel laterite processing, says MD & CEO.

( ) has received a strong vote of confidence in its TECH Project in North Queensland with the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) progressing to detailed due diligence of the Strategic Assessment Phase (SAP).

This progression comes after QPM received written confirmation that the Strategic Assessment Phase (SAP) of the NAIF Application process was completed successfully.

Key milestone

It represents a key milestone in QPMs engagement with NAIF and overall funding strategy and is an important step in identifying the optimum funding sources required to build the TECH Project.

The decision follows QPMs extensive engagement with NAIF and the provision of detailed technical and

financial information regarding the project, its associated infrastructure requirements and benefits that will flow to local communities in and around Townsville.

Vindication of opportunity

QPM managing director and CEO Stephen Grocott said: I am delighted that NAIF has accepted the TECH Project to move into the due diligence stage.

"This is vindication of the opportunity we have to build a world-leading manufacturing facility of battery metals which will be a game-changer for nickel laterite processing, whilst also delivering significant benefits to Townsville and Greater North Queensland.

"I would also like to express my appreciation to the NAIF team for their professionalism in understanding the TECH Project and its technical and commercial elements.

Benefits to Townsville

The SAP outlined the benefits of the TECH Project to Townsville and surrounding North Queensland regions including employment opportunities, indigenous engagement and flow on effect to supporting industries.

QPM now intends to submit a formal investment proposal to NAIF and will work with NAIF to provide the required information to complete its due diligence investigations regarding participation in the debt facilities that will (partially) fund the TECH project.

NAIF has not made any decision to offer finance or made any commitment to provide any financial accommodation and there is no certainty that an agreement will be reached between the parties.

Key step in financing process

QPM is actively working on securing its debt and equity financing solutions that are required to reach Final Investment Decision.

NAIFs decision to progress to due diligence stage is a key step towards attracting other debt financiers and building the optimum debt syndicate.

QPMs TECH Project also fits in the Federal Governments National Manufacturing Priorities  critical minerals processing to produce essential battery metals for the Electric Vehicle sector.
Initial results from recently completed drilling reinforce the significance of high-grade graphitic mineralisation identified in previous exploration work at the project in Madagascar.

Core from 27.6 to 31.8 metres in drill hole NW09-A that returned 29.7 metres at 17.6% total graphitic carbon from 5 metres.

( )s recently completed diamond drilling program has confirmed the presence of a high-grade zone at Razafy Northwest, which is close to the Maniry Graphite Projects Razafy resource in southern Madagascar.

The company is encouraged by the initial results from the drill program, which reinforce the significance of high-grade graphitic mineralisation identified from previous exploration.

They also point to the potential that exists for further high-grade discoveries within the Maniry Graphite Project area.

Broad, high-grade results

The ASX-listed graphite developer has received assay results from the first 10 diamond drill holes of the campaign, which comprises a total of 21 drill holes for 974 metres drilled.

High-grade graphite was intersected over wide intervals in line with previous trenching results with best intersections of:

29.7 metres at 17.6% total graphitic carbon (TGC) from 5 metres, including 15.3 metres at 25.2%;

16.1 metres at 16.2% TGC from 3 metres, including 11 metres at 18.6%;

10.7 metres at 15.8% TGC from 22 metres; and

5.1 metres at 18.9% TGC from 22 metres.

Into high-grade category

BlackEarth managing director Tom Revy said: The board is very pleased with these results as it places our project into the high-grade category of global graphite developers.

The graphite industry is heavily differentiated by (potential) revenue stream which in turn is driven by both grade and proven quality/high-value product(s). BlackEarth ticks both boxes.

Key outcomes

The key outcomes of the drilling to date include the discovery at Razafy Northwest of the thick, outcropping, high-grade horizons hosted by felsic gneissic rocks, similar to that encountered at the nearby Razafy resource.

The company has also detected early signs that indicate continuity of horizons that may exist through the Razafy Northwest zone and further assay results are expected to confirm this finding.

Initial grades received within the horizons are consistent from hole to hole and from section to section while previous and ongoing surface sampling (trenching) has proven to be an accurate guide as to the expected TGC grades in the sub-surface.

Assays awaited

Three remaining batches of samples are outstanding, two are with Intertek Perth with the final lot due to arrive next week from Madagascar.

Further assay results are subject to laboratory scheduling and will be released to the market when received over the coming weeks.

These will include the graphitic intercepts not yet assayed from the first 10 holes in the southern part of the deposit.
The discovery of idronoxil's anti-inflammatory mechanism adds a high-profile and potentially high-value drug target for the companys subsidiary Pharmorages emerging pipeline.

TBK1 also is the subject of considerable big pharma attention because of its potential involvement in autoimmune diseases.

( ) has discovered Veyonda's active ingredient idronoxil has an anti-inflammatory mechanism of action that provides a major opportunity to develop TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) inhibitors for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.

The discovery further reinforces the relevance of Veyonda as a preventive treatment for cytokine storms driven by RNA virus infections, including COVID-19, and makes Veyonda the first TBK1 inhibitor to be tested in the clinic.

TBK1 adds a high-profile and potentially high-value drug target for the companys subsidiary Pharmorages emerging pipeline.

Applications in other diseases

Its partnership with Hudson Institute of Medical Research has also led to the important discovery about the anti-inflammatory mechanism of action of idronoxil - TBK1, as the molecular target of idronoxil in terms of its anti-inflammatory properties.

The discovery is not yet peer-reviewed in a scientific publication but submission is anticipated in two months.

TBK1 has been proposed as a potential drug target in blocking COVID-19 disease progression, including the development of long-lasting COVID-19 symptoms.

However, beyond COVID-19, TBK1 also is the subject of considerable big pharma attention because of its potential involvement in autoimmune diseases

The discovery also flags two other opportunities:

 A potential use in blocking inappropriate inflammation to respiratory RNA viruses other than coronaviruses, including influenza viruses and respiratory syncytial virus; and

 The creation of potential new therapeutic opportunities in the areas of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases for Noxopharm subsidiary, Pharmorage, in partnership with Hudson.

First TBK1 inhibitor to be tested in clinic

Noxopharm group chief scientific officer Dr Olivier Laczka said: This discovery, which is the result of a great collaborative effort between Noxopharm and experts in the field, further reinforces the relevance of Veyonda as a preventive treatment for cytokine storms driven by RNA virus infections, as is the case with COVID-19, and this to our knowledge makes Veyonda the first TBK1 inhibitor to be tested in the clinic.

Pharmorage also is set to benefit considerably from this discovery.

With a focus on new generation treatments for inflammatory conditions and autoimmune diseases, TBK1 adds a high-profile and potentially high-value drug target for Pharmorages emerging pipeline.

Long COVID-19 symptoms

Hudson Institutes associate Professor Michael Gantier, Head of the Nucleic Acids and Innate Immunity Laboratory, said: TBK1 is a point of convergence of many inflammatory pathways, and a target under significant investigation by several big pharmaceutical companies.

Our latest findings, which are being prepared for publication, demonstrate that idronoxil may have applications in a range of diseases where TBK1 facilitates aberrant inflammation.

Critically, TBK1 also directly controls production of interferon-beta, a cytokine associated with long-COVID symptoms.

This suggests that idronoxil may not only be useful to prevent progression of COVID-19 patients from mild to severe disease, but also may decrease the risk of long-lasting post-infectious symptoms, seen in up to half of COVID-19 patients.

TBK1

TBK1 is a key protein in cells through which immune and inflammation signals pass in response to the detection of viruses and cancer.

TBK1 has become the subject of considerable industry attention because it could control a form of immune dysregulation that has been incriminated in the development of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and motor neuron disease.
The companys consumer business trades under the LIFX brand and has established a leading market position as a provider of smart lighting solutions.

Amazon and LIFX have agreed to initiate a promotional campaign for Amazon customers in Australia.

( ) is launching a promotional bundle with Amazon to pair each companys products in Australia and New Zealand JB Hi-Fi stores (and amazon.com.au).

The retail and marketing execution of this promotion will be funded by Amazon and will feature in various advertising campaigns.

Buddys consumer business trades under the LIFX brand and has established a leading market position as a provider of smart lighting solutions.

The companys suite of Wi-Fi enabled lights are currently used in over a million homes and is considered to be the no.2 brand of smart lights globally.

Joint retargeting campaign

Amazon and LIFX have agreed to initiate a promotional campaign for Amazon customers in Australia that have an Echo device but have not yet attached a smart home product to it.

Executed by Amazon to their customers, the promotion will feature a special offer to purchase a discounted LIFX product to help consumers better understand the power of smart home & smart lighting integration with the Alexa voice assistant service.

The promotions, which are profitable for Buddy, will commence in Australia on August 26 2021, will run through January 31 2022.

New Zealand television campaign

JB Hi-Fi in New Zealand will be featuring a LIFX product in a national television campaign that is expected to launch at the conclusion of New Zealands current lockdown.

The advertisement is expected to show just three products being promoted, with the first being the LIFX product.

In New Zealand, the promotion will commence on September 9 2021 and will run through January 31 2022.
The TECH Project will be a modern and sustainable producer of a critical chemicals.

Queensland Pacific Metals Ltd (ASX:QPM), (formally Pure Minerals Ltd), is the 100% owner of the Townsville Energy Chemicals Hub (TECH Project).

Queensland Pacific Metals welcomes NAIF decision to proceed to due diligence for TECH Project

Queensland Pacific Metals Ltd (ASX:QPM) has received a strong vote of confidence in its TECH Project in North Queensland with the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) progressing to detailed due diligence of the Strategic Assessment Phase (SAP).

This progression comes after QPM received written confirmation that the Strategic Assessment Phase (SAP) of the NAIF Application process was completed successfully.



Key milestone

It represents a key milestone in QPM's engagement with NAIF and overall funding strategy and is an important step in identifying the optimum funding sources required to build the TECH Project.

The decision follows QPM's extensive engagement with NAIF and the provision of detailed technical and

financial information regarding the project, its associated infrastructure requirements and benefits that will flow to local communities in and around Townsville.
Credit Suisse downgraded its call on shares in the utility

Shares in the utility ( , ) ( ) have been downgraded to underperform by the London team of a leading international investment bank, prompting a 3.8% drop in its value.

( ) (CS) essentially suggested the stock has been overbought.

It said it is expensive compared with both the sector and the FTSE 100, pointing out that it trades at a 43% premium to the regulated asset base (RAB), which it said is at extremes for the industry.

It also points out the dividend yield of 3% is at historic lows.

CS said it prefers ( ) PLC ( ) here in the UK, which it rates outperform with a price target of 1,075p.

It values Pennon at 1,020p, or 19% lower than the current share price of 1,265p.
DGTL Holdings Founder John Belfontaine joined Steve Darling to share news the company has signed a definitive agreement to acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of EL or ( ). Belfontaine telling Proactive why they made the move and how EL will enhance what they do at DGTL.

Engagement Labs is a data and analytics firm that provides social intelligence for Fortune 500 brands and companies. They feature the TotalSocial platform which has a focus on the entire social ecosystem by combining social media and word of mouth data with predictive analytics.
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
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar along with a 10-member all-party delegation from the state on Monday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to press the demand for a caste-based census.

Leader of opposition in the Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Yadav, former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, ministers in the Bihar government Janak Ram, Mukesh Sahani and Vijay Kumar Choudhary, Leader of Congress Legislature Party Ajit Sharma, Suryakant Paswan of the CPI, Mahboob Alam (CPI-ML), Akhtarul Imam (AIMIM), and Ajay Kumar (CPI-M) were part of the delegation led by Nitish Kumar.

It is learnt that during the meeting both Kumar and Yadav strongly pressed for the caste-based census.

After the meeting, Nitish Kumar said that the Prime Minister listened to the points of every leader.

"I was the one who addressed the Prime Minister first. I said that the proposal regarding caste-based census came from the leader of opposition in Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Yadav and we all agreed on it. The Prime Minister listened to the points of every member of the delegation. We are expecting a positive outcome from the Prime Minister," Kumar said.

When asked about the Prime Minister's stand on the issue, Kumar said, "He (Modi) did not deny it (caste census) and heard everyone patiently. A caste-based census will help in formulating various development plans effectively."

Tejashwi Yadav was the second leader who addressed Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the meeting. While interacting with the media, he said: "We are hopeful that the Prime Minister will allow conducting a caste-based census.

"Caste-based census should happen not only in Bihar, but in the entire nation. It will help proper diversion of resources. It is inevitable. It will be a historic measure in helping the poor. If animals and trees can be counted, then why not people on castes. When the government has no scientific data on the population, how can it make welfare policies," said Yadav.

When reporters asked Tejashwi whether the Prime Minister would turn down their call, CM Nitish Kumar intervened and said, "It is too early to come to a conclusion. Let's wait for the decision of the Prime Minister."

The issue of a caste-based census has been a longstanding demand of the political parties in Bihar. The Bihar legislature had twice unanimously passed resolutions for the caste-based census in 2019 and 2020. On both the occasions, all BJP MLAs had also voted in support of a caste based census.

Caste-based Census other than for SCs and STs has not been undertaken in the country after 1931.
Three Sri Guru Granth Sahib and 46 Afghan Hindus & Sikhs with Indian passport holders are expected to arrive India on Monday amid growing tension in Afghanistan.

The source has confirmed that the stranded Indian nationals and 46 Afghan Hindus & Sikhs, with 3 Sri Guru Granth Sahib, are currently inside the Hamid Karzai International Airport at Kabul and will reach India by Monday night. They are being escorted to the Indian Air Force aircraft.

Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the government is committed to the safe return of all Indian nationals from Afghanistan. Prime Minister Modi has asked the foreign ministry to brief floor leaders of political parties on developments in Afghanistan.

India is evacuating stranded Indian Citizens from Afghanistan and has been allowed two flights per day from Kabul.

External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar tweeted, "In view of developments in Afghanistan, PM Modi has instructed that MEA brief Floor Leaders of political parties. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi will be intimating further details."

India on Sunday evacuated 168 passengers including 107 Indian nationals through Indian Air Force's C-17 aircraft which landed at the Hindan IAF base in Ghaziabad.
Amid reports of infighting in Chhattisgarh, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and state Health Minister T.S. Singh Deo will meet former Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday in the national capital, a party leader said.

According to the Congress leader, Baghel and Deo will meet Rahul Gandhi at his residence on Tuesday and will discuss several issues. The two state leaders will also meet Chhattisgarh in-charge P.L. Punia and others. The meeting assumes significance following the exit of the Mahila Congress chief Sushmita Dev from the party recently. The Congress has earlier faced similar situation in Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, and some northeastern states.

There were several reports of differences between Baghel and Deo, with the latter lobbying hard for months to replace Chief Minister Baghel. On July 27, Deo walked out of the Assembly saying "it is too much" after the opposition created an uproar demanding a House panel probe into Congress MLA Brihaspat Singh's charge that the Minister was behind an attack on him.

Deo and Baghel have been making several trips to the national capital. Deo, for the record, maintains that "Sonia Gandhiji and Rahul Gandhiji will decide." Following his visit, Baghel also rushed to the national capital in July this year.

During his Delhi visit, Baghel said he would abide by the decision of the leadership and returned to Raipur in the same plane with Deo.

After the 2018 Assembly elections, names of Baghel, Deo, Charan Das Mahant and Tamradhwaj Sahu were doing rounds for the post of the chief minister in the state. However, Baghel emerged as the winner after having several meetings with the Congress top leadership.

There also have been reports that Congress had adopted CM post-sharing formula to accommodate Baghel and Deo. The Congress has completed two and half years in the state in June this year.


Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal will on Monday inaugurate Indias first-ever smog tower at Baba Kharak Singh Marg in the Connaught Place area to help combat rising air pollution in the national capital. The Delhi cabinet gave approval for the project in October 2020. Environment minister Gopal Rai said last week that the 20-metre-long structure, which has been set up to improve air quality in a radius of around one kilometre, will function at full capacity after the monsoon season. The structure, which is over 20-metres-tall, is expected to clean the air around a 1-kilometre radius. The tower, built at a cost of 20 crore tower, has been funded by the Delhi government. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will inaugurate the smog tower on August 23. Thereafter, experts will ascertain its impact on pollution. Based on the results, we will take a decision on installing more equipment, he said. The smog tower will be able to purify 1,000 cubic metres of air per second, Gopal Rai said. A two-year pilot study will be undertaken to ascertain the effectiveness of the smog tower after it becomes operational, an official said. A control room has been set up at the site to monitor the working of the smog tower. Another smog tower in Anand Vihar is expected to become operational from August 31, officials of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) said.




Former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's brother Hashmat Ghani Ahmadzai has sworn allegiance to the Taliban.

Hashmat Ghani, who is also head of the Grand Council of Kuchi (nomads) in Afghanistan, did not have any official position during the eight-year tenure of Ashraf Ghani.

In a video clip aired from the ceremony in Kabul, it is seen that Hashmat Ghani is pledging allegiance to Khalil-ur-Rahman, a key member of the Taliban, Afghan media reported.

Earlier, Afghan government provincial governor and national police commanders had also promised to be cooperating with the Taliban as they grabbed control over Afghanistan.
Reacting to the chaotic situation at the Kabul airport, a senior Taliban official has held the US responsible for the panic.

Amir Khan Muttaqi on Sunday accused the West of seeking "to create panic and chaos" in Afghanistan, following the Taliban's takeover of the capital Kabul.

Muttaqi claimed that the only place in chaos right now is the Kabul airport, where people, he alleged, are being shot and killed, the BBC reported.

He further claimed that the US was trying to hide its defeat by creating an "evacuation drama".

Meanwhile, the US, amid growing calls to extend evacuations beyond the end of August, has drafted commercial airlines to help with the evacuation efforts.

As per reports, aircraft from Delta, United Airlines and others will help fly those already evacuated from Afghanistan to final destinations. The planes will not fly into Kabul, but will instead be used to help transfer passengers transiting in third countries.
The Taliban have extended their amnesty to deposed Afghan President and Vice President Ashraf Ghani and Amrullah Saleh, respectively, allowing the two to return to Afghanistan if they so wished.

In an exclusive interview with Geo News, senior Taliban leader Khalil ur Rahman Haqqani said "there is no enmity" between the group and Ghani, Saleh and former National Security Advisor, Hamdullah Mohib.

"We forgive Ashraf Ghani, Amrullah Saleh and Hamdullah Mohib," said Haqqani, adding that enmity between the Taliban and the three was only on the basis of religion.

"We forgive everyone from our end; from the general (who fought in the war against us) to the common man," he said.

Haqqani urged people fleeing the country not to do so, adding that the "enemy" was spreading propaganda that the Taliban will exact revenge on them.

"Tajiks, Balochs, Hazaras and Pashtuns are all our brothers," he added.

Haqqani said the Taliban were not the ones who went to war against the US, adding that the group had decided to take up arms against the US after it invaded their homeland and fought against its culture, religion, and country.

"The Americans were using weapons against us, on our homeland," he said, adding that God gave the Taliban American weapons as the spoils of war.

He said that the Taliban had achieved a huge victory over their enemies, adding that the Afghanistan Army consisted of 350,000 troops and was supported by the US, NATO and other countries.

Haqqani said the Taliban wanted all Muslim countries to reconcile with one another. He advised countries worldwide to provide due rights to their citizens, adding that an inclusive Afghan government will be formed in Afghanistan.

"Highly capable, educated people will form the government in Afghanistan," he vowed. "People who unite the masses will be included in the new government."

Promising a government that would represent all groups within Afghanistan, Haqqani said people from all schools of thought were pledging their allegiance to the Taliban.
The Talibans Alemarah Twitter feed said hundreds of fighters were heading towards Panjshir "after local state officials refused to hand it over peacefully". The tweet came along with a 14-second video clip showing a column of captured trucks with the white Taliban flags moving along a highway.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Massoud, whose forces control the last significant anti-Taliban holdout, said on Sunday he hoped to hold talks peacefully with the group that seized power in Kabul a week ago but that his forces were ready to fight.

We want to make the Taliban realise that the only way forward is through negotiation, he told the Reuters news agency by telephone from his stronghold in the Panjshir Valley, where he has gathered forces made up of remnants of regular army units and special forces as well as local militia fighters.

We do not want a war to break out.

Massoud, son of Ahmad Shah Massoud, one of the main leaders of Afghanistans anti-Soviet resistance in the 1980s, said his supporters were ready to fight if Taliban forces tried to invade the valley.

They want to defend, they want to fight, they want to resist against any totalitarian regime.
Sri Lanka's medical experts on Monday said the Delta variant of the Covid-19 which is spreading across the country has acquired four mutations due to the high transmission rate but did not have any effect on vaccine efficacy.

Head of the Department of Immunology and Molecular Sciences of the Sri Jayawardenapura University, Professor Neelika Malavige said while the four mutations were found following gene sequencing, there was no urge to panic until the implications of the mutations were established, reports Xinhua news agency.

"One of the Delta mutations (A-222V) is seen in many countries, another (A-1078S) is found in Sri Lanka and Malaysia, while the other two (A-701S and R-24C) are only found in Sri Lanka. These are just mutations in the virus and that does not make these viruses new variants," Malavige was quoted by a local newspaper as saying.

"We had identified many other mutations in the previous Alpha variant and in our variant of the Sri Lankan lineage (responsible for the second wave), which were of no significance. Therefore, although some of the Delta variant viruses seen in Sri Lanka might have certain unique mutations, there is no reason to be alarmed," Malavige added.

Malavige said that these mutations were highly unlikely to have any effect on vaccine efficacy and requested people to get vaccinated against Covid-19.

Sri Lanka is presently facing a rising wave of Covid-19 infections, suspected to be caused by the Delta variant with authorities declaring a nationwide quarantine curfew since August 20 which will be lifted on August 30.

Hospitals are exhausted with rising admissions while oxygen dependency has also risen among the patients.

The country has recorded over 7,000 deaths and 390,000 Covid-19 infections.
The Indian Muslims for Secular Democracy (IMSD) has said that it rejects the very idea of a theocratic state anywhere in the world.

It also questioned the legitimacy of the 'Islamic Emirate' the Taliban seek to impose on the people of Afghanistan.

"We are deeply disturbed by the euphoria evident among a section of Indian Muslims, including religious leaders such as the office-bearers of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, Maulana Umrain Mahfuz Rahmani and Maulana Sajjad Nomani, and the Jamaat-e-Islami-Hind, over the Taliban's capture of power," a statement issued by the IMSD said.

"It is nothing but sheer opportunism and hypocrisy to stand in support of a secular state in a country like India where Muslims are in a minority and applaud the imposition of Shariah rule wherever they are in a majority. Such rank double-standard gives legitimacy to the Sangh Parivar's agenda for a Hindu Rashtra," it added.

IMSD respects the views of the growing tribe of Islamic scholars, religious leaders and Muslim intellectuals across the globe who argue that the very notion of an "Islamic state" is antithetical to the core teachings of Islam, it said.

According to IMSD, the core values of Islam are not in conflict with the basic principles of a secular-democratic state and religious pluralism.

IMSD stands in solidarity with the beleaguered millions of Afghan women and men who for too long have been trapped between the corrupt-to-the-core puppet governments propped up by the occupying American and Nato forces and the regressive Taliban who during their earlier rule had trampled over the most basic rights and freedoms of the people of Afghanistan, it said.

It is one thing to welcome the ouster of the occupiers and the overthrow of their puppets, and quite another to celebrate the return to power of those, who with their barbaric version of Islam, have contributed in no small measure to the demonisation of Muslims and their faith across the globe.

Some leaders of the Taliban have been making appropriate noises about general amnesty, press freedom and women's rights even as other leaders are asserting that it will be "Shariah law and not democracy" in Afghanistan.

However, heart-wrenching images of panic-stricken women, men and children being broadcast across the world, and news reports of house-to-house hunt for journalists and dissenters tell their own story, IMSD said.

"We call on the global community to launch a 24x7 Afghanistan Watch' to mount decisive pressure on the Taliban to ensure and show to the world that, unlike their earlier brutal rule which had turned Afghanistan into a veritable hell on earth, especially for the women, this time they will respect the liberties and rights of all its women, men and children," the statement said.

The IMSD also called upon the democratic world in general and the US in particular to open its borders to Afghans who are forced to flee from their country.

It called upon the BJP-led Union government to immediately sign the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention and its 1967 protocol and act in consonance to that convention.

India must open its doors to all Afghan refugees, irrespective of religion, it said.
New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/23/2021 -- COVID-19 research has been a vital part of the progress that has been made in combating the virus and bringing its spread under control. Now, investigators from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have taken this a step further by creating a COVID multidimensional dataset that can be shared in real time. The dataset is called the COVIDome dataset and originates from patients who have been hospitalized with the virus versus negative controls. The data is being made publicly available in real time via an online portal to help enable more prevention, diagnostic and therapeutic tools to be developed to improve the way that COVID-19 is being managed on a clinical level. The speed of research into the virus has often been held back by a lack of widely accessible public datasets and the move by the Anschutz Medical Campus is one step further towards putting this right.



Technology and pharmaceutical research and development recruitment is a vital part of helping to ensure that challenges like COVID-19 can generate the innovative, swift response that is required. EPM Scientific specializes in technology and pharmaceutical research and development recruitment, as well as hiring for a number of other fields in life sciences, including regulatory, medical affairs, safety and pharmacovigilance, commercial and medical communications. The team understands the need for ongoing technology and pharmaceutical research and development recruitment, given the speed at which opportunities evolve in life sciences, and provides a range of permanent, contract and multi-hire solutions that are designed to support organizations looking to evolve and grow. The firm has established a database of more than a million mid-to-senior professionals and is committed to enabling talented people when it comes to taking career-defining next steps. Agility and a flexible workforce have allowed EPM Scientific to continue to provide comprehensive support even during the turbulent times of the past 12 months.



Key to this has been the quality of the people internally at EPM Scientific. The firm was first established in 2012 and has worked hard to build a team of passionate professionals with an in-depth understanding of the issues that surround technology and pharmaceutical research and development recruitment, as well as hiring for other vital life sciences fields. Consultants are trained on an ongoing basis and work with best-in-class recruitment technology and strategies. The firm's presence across the USA ensures that opportunities are not missed - this includes being active in a range of cities including New York, Chicago, Boston, Dallas, Charlotte, Los Angeles and San Francisco. In addition, EPM Scientific is able to bring a unique international dimension to the work that it does, being part of a global network that extends to 60 countries and a recruitment partner of choice for hundreds of industry-leading enterprises as part of the Phaidon International group. There are many different opportunities available through the firm today, including Head of Formulation, QA Associate and Automation Engineer.



"Like many sectors, 2020 marked a defining moment for recruitment. Challenged by uncertainty, but unwavering in our commitment to our clients, we enter 2021 with a sense of duty to clients and candidates", commented Kieran Behan, Managing Director at EPM Scientific. He went on to say, "as we reflect on the challenges of virtually securing and retaining talent, we're inspired by a team who have demonstrated a remarkable ability to adapt and continue to help all our clients secure top talent on a global scale."



To find out more about Technology and Pharmaceutical Research & Development Recruitment visit https://www.epmscientific.com.



For any media inquiries please contact Gary Elliott at Iconic Digital  020 7100 0726.



For all other inquiries please contact EPM Scientific USA: +1 646 759 4560.



For more information about EPM Scientific services, please go to https://www.epmscientific.com.



About EPM Scientific USA

EPM Scientific USA partners with organizations across the fast-expanding pharmacovigilance sector. The firm's 1000+ employees support growth and development among enterprises where innovation and insight will be crucial to both current and future generations.
As the race is on to give out the COVID-19 vaccine, it is, understandably, a massive undertaking. In order to roll out the vaccine to millions of people across the US, it demands coordination with the best solutions, not just as far as the rollout is concerned, but a variety of other components as well. BurstIQ is leading the way for tracking COVID-19 vaccines; how are they doing this?

Who is BurstIQ?

BurstIQ is providing help to the health industry with technologies to allow health data to be connected in a variety of ways. Their vision is about having access to data and owning it. Healthcare businesses need to have access to end-to-end enabled systems to deal with the combination of components involved in health data. From computing to data exchange, as well as big data management, BurstIQ are working with health companies and businesses within the industry to integrate their platforms into one seamless practice, therefore streamlining their approaches and benefiting every part of the chain. Operating through a blockchain-enabled network, BurstIQ enables businesses to share data across organizations. As the blockchain is a decentralized component, data is firmly in the hands of the owners.

"Reports of vaccine distribution errors underscore the vital role that connecting data plays in responding to this phase of the pandemic. BurstIQ is connecting services in a way that data can be trusted by patients, payers, manufacturers, and governments. Trusted data brings together all the context of that data and is critical to success in battling the pandemic." -Frank Ricotta

How is BurstIQ Helping With Vaccine Tracking?

As time is of the essence, the administrative components of managing the vaccine demand a streamlined approach to allow health departments and providers to help roll the vaccine out through a simple structure:

Inventory Management

The importance of managing the vaccine comprises a number of components. From the serial number to the lot number, as well as the available inventory, inventory management conducted through BurstIQ allows health organizations to track serial numbers, the temperature needed for the specific vaccine, and receive notifications from the CDC and FDA database.

Point of Administration

The vaccine demands a comprehensive approach to the most basic of processors. To provide total care continuity and collaboration, the data is sent to an EMR. In addition, if it helps patients utilizing the database automatically to check for essential notifications. There is no room for administrative errors in the vaccine's rollout, whether this is in relation to the dose of the vaccine or if people are missed from getting their jab. The point of administration automatic database checks provides a comprehensive and detailed practice.

Scheduling and Follow-Up Components

For the patients to receive a COVID-19 vaccination, it comprises a number of different elements to flow together effectively. Scheduling the appointments, notifying the patients on how they should conduct themselves just after the vaccine, and symptom tracking and illness tracking, are all key elements. As a patient needs to understand every step of their journey before, during, and after each dose of the vaccine, scheduling becomes vital at this juncture.

Patient Monitoring

While the race is on for the vaccine, this means that there's a lot of focus on the numbers, but we cannot underestimate the importance of the individual. The BurstIQ vaccine tracking system helps to identify patients for recalls or events by sending an e-card. It also notes any unique issues regarding the individual patient, for example, if they need additional care or are hospitalized. Because of the need for one system, this provides a streamlined effort for health organizations while also ensuring the patient doesn't get lost in the cracks. With healthcare systems existing on a variety of platforms, this can dramatically compound the risk of human error. In healthcare, human error is not acceptable, in the midst of a pandemic, it means a patient could be vulnerable to specific side effects of the vaccine, or may not get it at all.

Telehealth Features

Telehealth, delivering healthcare services via telecommunication or electric technology, has proven invaluable throughout this pandemic. BurstIQ's vaccine tracker system also incorporates telehealth scheduling. This allows for patients or professionals to schedule future appointments. Using a scheduling system that comes directly from the platform means easy access for both patients and medical professionals. This allows continuity, as both sides are aware of how their individual case is progressing.

BurstIQ is a company looking to streamline and simplify the healthcare industry. This has never been needed more than in the midst of a pandemic. When the Spanish Flu hit in 1918, the only option was to communicate through snail mail or, at best, a telephone if it was available. Now we are facing the most significant threat for 100 years. Organization and continuity have never been more essential, and now as the vaccine rollout is in full force, it demands a system to keep track of every single component.
Equity and justice are driving force in todays society and Simon Fraser University researchers are at the forefront of the movement in the academic world.

From ensuring digital democracy and food security, to addressing racism, climate change, the opioid overdose crisis and gender discrimination, faculty at Canadas engaged university are harnessing their knowledge toward these two ideals.

The Presidents Faculty Lectures returns September to shine a light on the research excellence at Simon Fraser University. Hosted by SFU president Joy Johnson, these free public lectures celebrate cutting-edge research and researchers that engage with communities and mobilize knowledge to make real-world impacts.

Providing a stage for our faculty to share their knowledge and being able to engage in thought-provoking conversations with them are always a highlight of our Presidents Faculty Lectures and the themes of equity and justice this year are so timely, says Johnson. I invite anyone who is interested in hearing about some of the latest, most socially-important research coming out of SFU and seeing how its helping to build toward a better world to tune in.

Approaching this theme from a variety of disciplines, each short lecture will be followed by a conversation with Joy Johnson and an audience Q&A session, livestreamed from the Djavad Mowafaghian World Art Centre at SFUs Goldcorp Centre for the Arts.

The Presidents Faculty Lectures run from September 2021 to March 2022. For full event details, visit the event page here.

Presidents Faculty Lecture line-up

Wendy Chun | Canada 150 Research Chair in New Media; Director, Digital Democracies Institute

Discriminating Data

Tuesday, September 28, 2021 | 6:308:00 p.m.

Event information and registration



Tammara Soma | Assistant Professor, School of Resource and Environmental Management; Research Director, Food Systems Lab

Setting the Table for Food Justice: The Role of Community-Engaged Research

Tuesday, November 23, 2021 | 6:308:00 p.m.

Taco Niet | Assistant Professor of Professional Practice, School of Sustainable Energy Engineering

Just Climate Policies: Modelling for Evidence-Based Decision Making

Tuesday, January 25, 2021 | 6:308:00 p.m.

Vaibhav Saria | Assistant Professor, Gender, Sexuality, and Womens Studies

Care and Crisis in India

Wednesday, February 2, 2022 | 6:308:00 p.m.

Kanna Hayashi | Assistant Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences; St. Paul's Hospital Chair in Substance Use Research

Harm Reduction in an Unprecedented Overdose Crisis

Wednesday, March 2, 2022 | 6:308:00 p.m.

June Francis | Associate Professor of Marketing, Beedie School of Business; Chair, Hogan's Alley Society; Special Advisor to the President on Anti-Racism

Tuesday, March 22, 2022 | 6:308:00 p.m.
System error

error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.

context: ... 21: </%method> 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: </%perl> 28: <table width="90%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> 29: <tr> ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25

/usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951

/var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17

/usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149



Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f6392fc8b78)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f6392fa0350)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f6392fc8b78)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f6392fa0350)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f6392fd0ce0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f6392fa0350)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f6392fa0350)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f63926b6338)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f6392fca9b0)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f6392fca9b0)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0
System error

error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.

context: ... 21: </%method> 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: </%perl> 28: <table width="90%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> 29: <tr> ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25

/usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951

/var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17

/usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149



Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f6392f6c4d8)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f6393162558)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f6392f6c4d8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f6393162558)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f63930c8370)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f6393162558)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f6393162558)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f63921ec6e8)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f6392b7bfe8)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f6392b7bfe8)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0
System error

error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.

context: ... 21: </%method> 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: </%perl> 28: <table width="90%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> 29: <tr> ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25

/usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951

/var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17

/usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149



Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f6392c1e140)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f639336d1c0)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f6392c1e140)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f639336d1c0)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f639332fca0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f639336d1c0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f639336d1c0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f63926b65d8)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f639332fbb0)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f639332fbb0)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0
System error

error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.

context: ... 21: </%method> 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: </%perl> 28: <table width="90%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> 29: <tr> ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25

/usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951

/var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17

/usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149



Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f6392fe8c48)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f6392fced18)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f6392fe8c48)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f6392fced18)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f6392f87448)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f6392fced18)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f6392fced18)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f63926b6650)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f6393085390)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f6393085390)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0
System error

error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.

context: ... 21: </%method> 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: </%perl> 28: <table width="90%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> 29: <tr> ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25

/usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951

/var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17

/usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149



Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f6392ff8020)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f6392f9cfc8)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f6392ff8020)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f6392f9cfc8)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f639300bf90)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f6392f9cfc8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f6392f9cfc8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f63926b5d08)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f639300bf30)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f639300bf30)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0
Mother of Humanity Under the able and dynamic leadership of development friendly Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh is on the highway of development today with the touch of her outstanding prudence and efforts.

by MD Pathik Hasan

Bangladesh is one of the developing economies of the world. In 2015, Bangladesh graduated from LDC status and came out from the status of the least developed country and became a low middle-income country. We hope that soon Bangladesh will become one of the middle-income countries in the world. Today, Bangladesh is moving forward at a relentless pace in various indicators of the economy. Today, Bangladesh is rapidly advancing in the areas of national growth, per capita national income, export income, foreign exchange reserves, electricity, communication, economic and social infrastructure, essential for development, etc.

Despite the global epidemic of corona, the per capita national income of Bangladesh is positive. In the fiscal year 2019-2020, the per capita income of Bangladesh was 2064 US dollars. And in the fiscal year 2020-2021, this income has increased to 2228 US dollars. In the fiscal year 2018-2019, the GDP growth of Bangladesh was 8.15 percent. And in the fiscal year 2019-2020, this growth has been 5.24 percent. According to ADB report, in the 2020-2021 and 2021-22 fiscal year, this growth is expected to be 6.8 percent and 7.2 percent respectively even in this Covid-19 pandemic.

Mother of Humanity Under the able and dynamic leadership of development friendly Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh is on the highway of development today with the touch of her outstanding prudence and efforts. Today, Bangladesh's development-oriented galloping horse is moving towards fulfilling the desired goal at a fast pace, surpassing various countries in South Asia. So today Bangladesh is a role model of development in the world.

In the meantime, Bangladesh has fulfilled the various conditions of the United Nations and in accordance with the criteria set by them, they have passed their examinations twice in a row in 2016 and 2021 and have qualified to enter into the list as a developing country. According to the 2020 survey, Bangladesh is the 41st largest economy in the world. Bangladesh is one of the 11 countries in the world today that are considered as emerging agars for future development.

According to the Center for Economic and Business Research (CIBR), a British economic research institute, Bangladesh will be the 34th largest economy by 2025, 26th by 2030 and 25th by 2035 if the current economy continues to grow and develop.

While the global economy is in the grip of the Corona epidemic, where the global economy is stagnant, where the world's GDP and GDP and per capita income are stable or negative, Bangladesh's economy is moving forward, albeit at a relatively slow pace. And one of the strengths or factors behind this move is the growth of its overall export earnings, the growing inflow of remittances and the positive flow of per capita national income.

According to a survey by the World Bank's Multi Donor Trust Fund the Global Knowledge Partnership and Development, Bangladesh ranks 8th among the top ten countries in the world in terms of remittance flows by 2020. At present, Bangladesh's remittance reserves are over 45 billion US dollars and Bangladesh ranks 45th in the world in terms of remittances. According to an EPP statistic, in the first ten months of the 2020-2021 fiscal year, Bangladesh's export earnings were 32.07 billion dollars, an increase of 8.75 percent over the same period last year.

This rise and progress of Bangladesh's economy is now a surprise to the whole world. People all over the world are now amazed at this progress of Bangladesh. State thinkers, economists and big newspapers of different countries are now praising Bangladesh. They are monitoring our economic development strategy. Some countries are also considering whether this development strategy can be followed or implemented in their countries.

According to a reliable source, Nicholas Christoph, a well-known columnist for the New York Times, recently advised US President Jo Biden to learn from Bangladesh on ways to alleviate poverty. It is understood that the development strategy of Bangladesh has aroused response among the policy makers and thinkers of the United States.

Another US daily, the Wal-Mart Journal, recently wrote that Bangladesh's economy is now the most 'fast horse' in South Asia. Mike Hard, a commentator for the Washington Post, writes that at one time South Korea was cited as an example of development. Now Bangladesh has occupied that place.

The remarkable success that has been achieved in the field of economy of Bangladesh in recent years has been beautifully and brilliantly reflected in various reports published in various news outlets in the country and abroad. Before presenting their 2021-2022 budget, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman of Bangladeshs neighboring country, India, said in February that there was a lot to learn from Bangladesh on how to increase export earnings in certain sectors. The Economic Survey presented by him commented, Bangladesh has emerged as an important exporter in the international arena. Between 2011 and 2019, the country's compound annual growth rate was 7.8 percent, 0.9% higher than India and 0.4% higher than the rest of the world.

India has also been attracted to the growing per capita national income of the people of Bangladesh. By the end of 2020, the IMF had forecast that Bangladesh would surpass India in terms of per capita national income. Towards the end of 2020, the IMF predicted that Bangladesh would surpass India in terms of per capita national income. And that has really happened. On June 1, Blumberg headlined, "South Asia now needs to look at the region's stars." Needless to say, this star is Bangladesh. '

According to a report in The Print on May 26, Bangladesh has built up deep ties with its neighbors, from sending India's Covid-19 epidemic relief supplies to Sri Lanka's economic crisis through loan assistance.

Note that Bangladesh recently agreed to exchange 200 million US dollars with Sri Lanka. This money will go a long way in strengthening the Sri Lankan economy. The currency exchange process will also help Colombo overcome the huge debt crisis. Through this initiative, it is clear to the outside world that Bangladesh is currently on a strong economic footing.

Moreover, Bangladesh is one of the 40 countries that sent relief twice in the second wave of coronavirus to India. On May 8, Bangladesh sent 10,000 medicines to India. Later on, May 16, Bangladesh also sent 2,072 boxes of antiviral drugs and covid protection materials to India.

The rise and development of Bangladesh's economy has also attracted the attention of Pakistani intellectuals. According to a source in the daily, Abid Hassan, a former adviser to the World Bank's Pakistan program, compared the situation in Pakistan with Bangladesh's economic rise in an article in a leading Pakistani daily. He said even 20 years ago, it was unthinkable that by 2020, Bangladesh's per capita GDP would be higher than Pakistan's. According to him, if Pakistan maintains its disappointing performance, it may have to seek Pakistan's cooperation from Bangladesh by 2030. If Bangladesh can pay 20 million US dollars to Sri Lanka, waive the IMF's Bangladeshi share of money from Somalia and Sudan, help Indonesia with Covid-19 medical equipment, shelter a large number of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, but also financially in Pakistan. Can help. This requires a change in Pakistan's mentality. Bangladesh is a humanitarian state in South Asia.

The Canada-based International Forum for Rights and Security, a think tank, recently published a report on Bangladesh and Pakistan. It has been shown there that Bangladesh is ahead in all areas of the index. Many economists have called on all countries to follow the Bangladesh model in the development of South Asia.

So, it is expected and confirmed that if the Bangladesh government can handle the Covid-19 epidemic in the same way in the future as it has done in the past, then in 2035 Bangladesh will be the 25th largest economy in the world and in 2041 it will be Bangabandhu's developed and prosperous golden Bangladesh.

Writer: MD Pathik Hasan, Dhaka based NGO activist and freelance writer
The only goal of the Taliban has been to take full control of Afghanistan and impose a Taliban constituted Islamic rule which is comical.

by Anwar A. Khan

Afghanistan has been witnessing more blood with every sunrise. The Talibans thirst for blood keeps growing and the state of insurgency seems like a never ending story. The USA, NATO, Russia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and other parties have battled for years in Afghanistan but the situation keeps worsening only. Understanding the current events, one question comes naturally. Who is responsible for the Afghanistan insurgency? Why, after the intervention of so many nations, is the situation still out of control? With whom help, how did the Taliban gain control of a major part of the country? How other states have only taken advantage of Afghanistan and left the country to burn?

Afghans listen to Khalil al-Rahman Haqqani, a leader of the Taliban affiliated Haqqani network, brother of its former leader Jalaluddin Haqqani, and a US designated terrorist with a five-million-US dollar bounty on his head, give a sermon at the Pul-I-Khishti Mosque in Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, Aug. 20, 2021.

Tuesday, September 11, 2001, in the morning, two commercial planes American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 crashed into the north and south towers of the world trade center in Manhattan, USA. Both 110-storeyed towers collapsed, taking down other surrounding buildings along with them. In the same morning at 9:37, a third plane American Airlines Flight 77, bumped into the west side of the Pentagon. Fourth plane, United airlines flight 93 which was heading towards Washington D.C. with the possible target of White house or Capitol building got diverted and hit the ground in a field in Pennsylvania.

This was the biggest terrorist attack by far and reaction was obvious. All four planes were hijacked and all fingers pointed towards the terrorist group Al-Qaeda running from Afghanistan and its leader Osama Bin-Laden. Then British prime minister Tony Blair met George Bush and helped him convince the other nations to support USA against terrorism. Many European nations, Australia and NATO pledged to assist the USA militarily.

On October 7, 2001, the war in Afghanistan began with aerial bombings on possible Taliban and Al-Qaeda hideouts. Even Iran sent its Quds force to fight along with the USA in the war that was never going to end. US fighter planes and drones attacked on targets but they also blew up more than half of the Afghanistan that was already burning. They couldnt kill Osama Bin-Laden until 2011 but the goal of abolishing the Taliban was never achieved. Afghanistan is now even witnessing its worst insurgency caused by the Taliban.

Mohammad Sardar Daoud Khan overthrew the royal family of Afghanistan in 1973 and declared it a republic. He revoked the constitution and started some reforms as well. But he could not enjoy the power for long. A Marxist Leninist political party named Peoples Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) seized power and Mohammad Daoud was assassinated. PDPA was established in 1965 influenced by the USSR involvement which was begun a few years earlier. Afghanistan people enjoyed democracy under the PDPA regime too but they slowly started implementing Marxist-Leninist ideology that was quite different from their local and Islamic identity.

Extreme implementation of these policies created a stir among people. The USSR helped the PDPA government financially and sent contractors to make hospitals, roads, schools etc. in Afghanistan as the government brought socialist reforms and moved to state atheism. PDPA went too far to curb religious practices and jailed several religious leaders, preachers and followers. They reportedly killed thousands of people who just simply wanted to follow their religion in their own way. Rather than applying a systematic process PDPA used aggressive and violent measures to turn the whole population to liberal and atheist from their Islamist ideology. These moves kept making the government unpopular and forced religious people to come together forming groups and fight against these atrocities.

As the repression of the government increased, more and more people stood against the regime to restore their Islamic identity. An open war has begun between Islamic groups and the government. Now the Soviet Union decided to intervene and sent its Red Army to Afghanistan in 1979. Over 100,000 Soviet troops invaded Afghanistan with the support of the Afghan military. A term Afghan Mujahideen came into light to represent various rebel fighters struggling against Soviet Union and Afghan military.

They were groups of many tribes united under the banner of Islam. The military intervention of Soviet Union triggered the USA who did not want Afghanistan to become a Soviet Union territory. Amidst the escalating cold war, the USA took this as an opportunity to make a dent in rising USSR supremacy and establish themselves closer to the USSR. They started sending weapons and other support to the Islamist groups Afghan Mujahideen.

Saudi Arabia too supported the cause, who was interested in establishing an Islamic rule in Afghanistan to gain advantage against Iran. Pakistan took this opportunity to come closer to the USA for more funding and let them use assets of their spy agency ISI. Afghan Mujahideen now were no longer rebellion tribal fighters, and with the major support from USA, Saudi and Pakistan they grew stronger and more structured. It was the origin of a so-called Islamist organisation that later branched into Taliban. Now they could face Soviet and Afghan army with the latest US weapons and eventually Soviet withdrew in 1989.

First the Soviet invasion and then the USA intervention turned out to be major turning points that altered the history of Afghanistan and the whole world.

Now an official date has been announced by Joe Biden and 31st August will be the end of Americas combat involvement in Afghanistan. The announcement has come at the time when the Taliban has become deadliest in years. They have taken control of a major part of the country including several border crossings.

The only goal of the Taliban has been to take full control of Afghanistan and impose a Taliban constituted Islamic rule which is comical. There is a small fraction of Taliban who want this to happen with peace by signing treaties with the USA and other countries and a large part of the Taliban want to acquire power with force. Either with the force or with talks, the outcome will be horrible for the world and for Afghanistan.

Worlds most advanced military power, the USA, pledging in front of their citizens to win every war with any nation if needed could not overthrow a militant group in 20 years. Sorry to say that but there is no hope for a bright future for Afghan people in near terms. Everybody played its part in Afghanistan to take more and more strategic advantage over their rival nations and the Taliban grew stronger with every passing year.

The same leaders of Afghanistan, USA supported against the USSR nurtured the Taliban that grew stronger with the Saudi and Pakistan support that years later outlined the deadliest and biggest attack on the USA by far. It is ironic that the US fought in Afghanistan for more than a decade to cut the same tree which they nourished when it was a mere seed. That tree has now become so deep rooted since 2001 that it could swallow whole Afghanistan.

Afghanistan has witnessed the footsteps of Neanderthals to the glorious Indus valley civilization. It became the cradle of several religions as Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam. They were also influenced by Iranians, Indians, Mongols, Turks and Greeks under their rule. The diversification of this kind led them to divide into several tribes that could never unite as a nation even until the modern times. That gave advantage to the Taliban and other groups to impose their atrocities.

The USA had started a war against the Taliban in 2001. Since then, they killed several big leaders of the militant group, but even after 20 years they could not win this fight. Domestic pressure forced the USA to withdraw its forces and the process was already started in the Obama period.

In Afghanistan, the past  the darkness of Medieval age is back but with more ferocity  for using or selling of religion - Islam, but in their own manufactured brand of Islam  Talibani Islam, once again...Sorrows and sufferings for Afghan people will be knowing no bound. Who will control these terrible Talibani people?

In fact, Afghanistan is now a terrified inhabited place! I feel Sahraa Karimi and other Afghan families wailing from deep-down of my heart. How shall I and where shall I pray for their safety?

-The End 

The writer is an independent political analyst based in Dhaka, Bangladesh who writes on politics, political and human-centred figures, current and international affairs.
The home of Tamil nationalism must be Tamil Nadu, not Sri Lanka, contrary to what the handful of racists among ordinary Sri Lankan Tamil politicians claim on behalf of the barely 4% of the global Tamil population that live in little Sri Lanka.

by Rohana R. Wasala

Definitions

I would be the last to use the words nation and race interchangeably in the modern Sri Lankan context as some appear to do nowadays. There was a time in the past when in most countries, the two words could be used as synonyms. Each state was formed by a particular race, on territory fully or preponderantly inhabited by that race speaking the same language and following the same religious tradition.

The modern idea of nation state is the culmination of centuries of evolution, particularly in Europe, that resulted in defining a distinction between race and nation, as nation came to mean a unification of a population belonging to diverse races, religions, and political ideologies, inhabiting the same geographical territory. The word racism means unfair treatment of people of a particular race in a society especially to the benefit of people of another race,... the belief that certain races of people are superior to others according to the online Merriam-Webster Dictionary. The same source gives a similarly negative, but curiously contradictory, definition of the word nationalism: loyalty and devotion to a nation especially : a sense of national consciousness  exalting one nation above all others and placing primary emphasis on promotion of its culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations or supranational groups. Unfortunately, this is the entirely negative supremacist and aggressive nationalism that certain big powers of the world pursue, while persecuting smaller nations for their belief in a non-aggressive nationalism based only on the ideal of loyalty and devotion to their nation/people, especially,on their sense of national consciousness or national identity (e.g., the innocuous independent nationalism that the nationalists of Sri Lanka are pursuing at present; it is inclusive, multiracial, non-aggressive and non-discriminatory towards minorities. But this form of praiseworthy nationalism is given a negative definition by the American Merriam-Webster Dictionary, because that is what Americans say it is: radical nationalism, i.e., independent nationalism not under U.S. control (as Noam Chomsky cynically points out in his Who Rules the World?, p.151).

By the way, the primary definition of the word supranationalism given in the Merriam-Webster online dictionary is the state or condition of transcending national boundaries, authority, or interests (which needs to be related to different contexts as appropriate, I think, such as global economics, politics, etc). Isnt this similar to or identical with a newer version of globalization such as neoliberalism, that is overtaking the world, and that is spelling disaster to the political and economic survival of the Sri Lankan state, among others caught up in the same predicament. Id like to leave it to specialists to decide if my man-in-the-street conjectures are valid.

Importance of a sense of national consciousness

Back to the point. Can any people develop or modernize, or at least physically survive on the face of the earth without a proper sense of national consciousness, that is, a sense of national identity? The nationalism that accommodates this is a positive thing in my opinion. No one criticises America for having left the replica of the American flag on the moon after its moon landing in 1969; neither does anyone blame China for claiming national honour for successfully trying to pioneer the exploration of the far side of the moon that humans normally never get to see from the earth. Who will find fault with Israel for celebrating, if they choose to do so, their own unique genius as a nation, for having invented the Iron Dome air defence system that so successfully intercepted and destroyed hundreds of rocket strikes from Gaza recently, thereby saving the lives of innocent Israeli citizens?

History of the national identity of the Sinhalese

A racial groups ancestral language is the most basic distinguishing feature of their identity. The Sinhalese are separated from other races on the basis of their language, Sinhala, which is confined to Sri Lanka, where it originated. It is not found as a native language in any other country. The phonology of Sinhala (its vocal sound system - vowels, consonants, etc) is not like that of any other language. Its morphology (how its words are formed), and its syntax (rules that govern the arrangement of words in forming meaningful phrases and sentences) are unique to it. The Sinhala vocabulary (the total range of words the language possesses, and enters in its dictionaries), like the vocabulary of other languages, comprises both its own original words, new coinages, and borrowings and adaptations from other languages that its speakers have come into contact with. Sinhala came to enrich its vocabulary with borrowings from Sanskrit in ancient times.

The nelum part of botanical name of what is called the Indian lotus Nelumbium speciosum or Nelumbo nucifera comes from Sinhala. Nelum is the Sinhala word for the lotus even today; it is also a name for a girl. Although Sinhala has such a long history, and is still a living language spoken and used by nearly 17 million Sinhalese, it is a minority language on a global scale.

Because of its specific individuality, the linguists classification of Sinhala as an Indo-Aryan or an Indo-European tongue, is problematic, but not difficult to understand. One reason for it may be the preponderance of Sanskrit-derived words in the Sinhala vocabulary. That categorization might support the myth given in The Mahavansa or the Great Chronicle (composed in the 5th century CE) that the ancestors of the Sinhalese came from the Vanga Desha in northern India in the 6th century BCE. Prince Vijaya is said to have landed at a region then called Thambapanni (place of copper coloured sand; thamba in Sinhala means copper) from which the Greek name for the whole island Taprobane came. The Vijayan legend has been subjected to questioning by the recent discoveries of local and foreign historians and archaeologists. But the place known in ancient times by that name in the north-west of Sri Lanka still has coppery sands. Evidence of a pre-Vijayan civilization found during excavations carried out in the inner city of Anuradhapura in 2009 suggests that the race of people known as Yakkhas, the original dark skinned inhabitants of the island, were the real ancestors of the Sinhalese. The Yakkhini (feminine form of Yakkha) that features in the Vijaya legend, Kuveni, was no doubt a mythical reincarnation of some powerful matriarch from the local ruling family of the time. Some sort of an invasion by a lighter skinned tribe from north India probably took place and created trouble for the indigenous Yakkha community. Thus, the Yakkhas and Yakkhinis that the Mahavansa author fictionalized as fearsome supernatural beings or demons were the true ancestors of the Sinhalese. Archaeological finds currently being studied in the hilly interior parts of the country (like those dug out by Professor Raj Somadeva of the University of Kelaniya) support this hypothesis.

The Mahavansa

The Mahavansa itself as a valuable source book for the study of the islands history is not invalidated by its fictitious delineation of the origin of the Sinhalese. Modern concepts of historiography or archaeology, or the advanced scientific modes of analysis of available historical and archaeological data emerged only very recently. Given the antiquity of the Mahavansa, the intellectual sophistication that its author has evinced in its compilation, and the care he has taken to record the stories as he had heard them are truly astonishing. We have to read the details carefully, and read between the lines, as it were, to determine what approximates the truth. The Mahavansa is a refined Buddhist literary masterpiece, a poem in the Pali language, which works at three levels: a history, a homily, and a heuristic lesson for the contemplation on the dhamma. As a history, it records the services the Buddhist kings rendered for the advancement and assured survival of the Buddha Sasana; it hardly focuses on the economic and political struggles that occupied the monarchs, amidst internal and external challenges to their rule. The stories are told in a spirit of illustrating Buddhist moral truths concerning the unsatisfactoriness of human existence, the necessity of compassion towards all beings, the brevity of life, and fickleness of royal fortunes, etc. The Mahavansa was written for the serene joy and emotion of the pious (as a phrase that recurs at the end of each chapter of the book declares).

Emperor Asoka versus King Devanampiya Tissa

In Chapter 11 of the Mahavansa, we have details of how Devanampiya Tissa, the grandson of Pandukabhaya the first indigeous king of the country after the alleged coming of Vijaya, sends an embassy to king Dharmasoka, following his installation as king. King Dharmasoka answers with his own embassy to Lanka with instructions and the wherewithal to anoint Devanampiya Tissa a second time as king of Lanka, which suggests an empire versus vassal relationship between the two countries.

Be that as it may, although he depicts the meeting of the monk and the monarch at Ambatthala (Chapter 14) while the latter was engaged in the royal sport of a hunt, as an unannounced initial step towards the introduction of Buddhism to the people of the island, details given in Chapters 12 and 13 of the monks preparations prior to his departure from Videha in Jambudvipa (India) to the island, and his arrival there, suggest that the Lankan king had already received the gift of the three treasures (Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha) from the mighty king Dharmasoka, who ordered the mission to the island under his own son Mahinda Thera. So, the Mahinda mission was probably a more wide-ranging follow-up. It is possible that through strengthening the Buddhist cultural ties between the island and India, emperor Dharmasoka was affirming his imperial authority over the island state. Before he came to Lanka, Mahinda Thera groomed himself in the language of the islanders.

According to Chapter 14 of the Mahavansa, Mahinda Thera preached to the people in the language of the land (Hela basa/Elu/Sinhala). This means that even by the time Mahinda Thera arrived in the island in 236 BCE, the Sinhala language had reached an advanced state of development that was adequate for it to function as a medium for the communication of the profound philosophical doctrine of Theravada Buddhism to ordinary people. It was in the first century CE that the Pali language Three Pitaka (The Three Baskets/the tripartite scriptures of Buddhism, Sutta, Vinaya and Abhidhamma) which, until then, had been transmitted down the previous four or five centuries since the Paribbana (demise) of the Buddha, through oral tradition, was committed to writing at a Buddhist shrine in central Lanka during the reign of king Valagamba in the first century CE, as shown later in this essay. And the writing was done in the Sinhala script. (Incidentally, according to matadornet.com, the Sinhala characters form the second most aesthetically pleasing script in the world, the place going to the Burmese script Of Myanmar).

Kingdom of Sinhale of antiquity

In ancient history of the world, the kingdom of Sinhale, Lanka, or Taprobane occupied a conspicuous place. One reason for this was because of the islands location. It was an important port adjacent to the ancient trade routes joining the east and the west. The island population then consisted of four tribes called Yaksha, Raksha, Naga and Deva. The Yakkhas were probably the majority ruling tribe and they spoke an ancient form of what we know as Sinhala today. Their language must have been adopted by the other tribes as well. The four tribes had a common identity as dipe danan (people of the land).

A nation is a large body of people united by common descent, history, culture, or language, inhabiting a particular country or territory (google.com). The people of Sinhale had achieved that status by the time of the arrival of Buddhism in 236 BCE during the time of emperor Asoka of Bharata (268-232 BCE). Incidentally, the Mahavamsa provided some information required as data for dating emperor Asokas reign in the subcontinent. Mahinda Thera addressed the people of the island in their own language, which was an early form of Sinhala. The Pali Tripitaka was committed to writing at Matale Alu Vihare in central Sri Lanka during the reign of Valagamba of Anuradhapura (89-77 BCE) using Sinhala characters (which implies that Sinhala already had a developed orthography by then). Archaeological evidence was unearthed in 2009 of a pre-Vijayan civilization in Anuradhapura during excavations carried out with the assistance of the University of Berlin under the supervision of distinguished archaeologist Dr Shiran Deraniyagala (who was then Advisor to the Department of Archaeology). The traditional story of Vijaya as the progenitor of the Sinhala race contained in The Mahavamsa cannot be true. The Sinhalese were not migrants from another country, although they were probably temporarily subjugated by an invading force from a territory (fabled to be called Vanga) in northern India in the 6th century BCE. The local princess that features in the story, Kuveni, was probably a fictitious invention of a story teller, modelled on a real princess who had belonged to the ruling Yakkha (Hela or Sinhela) people of the country then. They were the native Hela people who spoke the Hela language (the prototype of Sinhala). The ancestors of the Veddas and the Sinhalese were contemporaries and were even genetically identical relatives, who probably had escaped to the jungle after fleeing foreign invasions. European scholars identified the Veddas as aborigines, because they wrongly assumed that the Veddas were a distinct race that had lived in the island before the alleged arrival of the Sinhalese from somewhere else. No, the Sinhalese are as indegenous to the island as the Veddas. The history of Sinhalese and Vedda relations remains to be studied by a self-respecting new generation of independent native historians, archaeologists and anthropologists, who are not content with parroting their predecessors, the deracinated colonial clones of the mid-20th century.

Curse of colonial clones and the duty of the educated youth

The last mentioned were culturally estranged from their own people through their Western education; their minds had been colonised. They were trained to look at the latter as the ignorant ungrateful beneficiaries of the goodies of colonization, while, at the same time, belittling the efforts of patriots like Anagarika Dharmapala as those of native troublemakers who obstructed the alleged English-initiated modernization that they themselves believed in. Some Sri Lankans of my generation who, as adolescents in the 1960s, had developed a certain iconoclastic attitude towards traditional heroes and the beliefs and values that they represented and championed, were temporarily enamoured of those West-oriented false prophets. It is a pity to note that a significant proportion of todays educated youth are still stagnating at that immature stage of a broader political awareness and engagement that is expected of them by a resurgent nation. This is particularly regrettable at a time when a handful of decrepit old racists among minority politicians are holding the majority Sinhalese community to ransom by aligning themselves with global superpowers who are bent on destabilizing the Sri Lankan state in relentless pursuit of their geostrategic goals in the region. Politicians representing these powers follow a supranationalist agenda while being narrowly focused on purely nationalist interests within their own countries, which they cant ignore, lest they be rejected at the polls. It is the national duty of our educated young people, especially the English educated, to stand by the silently suffering majority of Sri Lankans comprising all communities, who are at the receiving end of persecution by both local and foreign politicians, at the current critical juncture instead of hurrahing their oppressors.

So-called Tamil nationalism in Sri Lanka

Tamil Nadu, located in the southernmost part of subcontinental India, is the historical homeland of Tamils. According to the Unique Identification Aadhar India (updated December 31, 2020), the T.N. population is currently estimated to be 78.8 million individuals, inhabiting an area of over 130,000 km. Sri Lanka that lies to the south of India separated from it by the sea (the Palk Strait) is equal to half of Tamil Nadu in area (i.e.,65, 610 km) with a population that is significantly less than one third of T.N.s (i.e., almost 22 million by now as could be projected based on the general census of 2012). Sri Lankas current Tamil minority which accounts for 15% of Sri Lankas population consists of two groups of Tamils who came to the island in different periods in the countrys history: Ceylon (Sihela) Tamils in the northern parts, whose ancestors settled there permanently just over 800 years ago (from the middle of 13th century CE/Ref. A History of Sri Lanka by K.M. de Silva in repeated editions from 1985 to 2005) after having arrived as traders, adventurers, invaders, mercenaries, and visiting scholars, etc., are 11% of the island population, while the rest 4% consists of estate or Indian Tamils, subjects of the British empire, who were brought to the southern interior parts as indentured workers to toil on the rubber, coffee, and tea plantations owned by Europeans from the mid-19th to early 20th centuries. Over four million Tamils live outside Tamil Nadu scattered in other countries across the world including Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan Tamil community, who share Sri Lanka with the Sinhalese (75%) and Muslims (9%) as their common homeland, formed 15% (about 3 million) of the islands total population in 2012 (as already stated).

(My claims about the history of Tamils in Sri Lanka are based on extant authentic historical, literary, epigraphical and archaeological evidence found across the length and breadth of the island; but these are sure to be disputed by those who rely on the false assertions of certain biased historians and academics who have been deliberately distorting history in the service of the Tamil separatist cause. A glance at the Wikipedia will show anyone interested the plethora of distortions of Sri Lankas history concocted by hired fake academics in support of the separatist project.)

A circumstantial discrepancy

There is a seeming contradiction between Sri Lanka the inalienable only homeland of the Sinhalese and Tamil Nadu the undisputed homeland of the Tamils in terms of their relative current status: while the small island of (Ceylon) Sri Lanka is an independent sovereign state, enjoying membership of the United Nations as such, Tamil Nadu is only one of the 29 states that constitute the single sovereign state of the (federal) Republic of India, whose constitution does not allow separation. The Republic of India occupies a seat in the United Nations. The disgruntled Tamil nationalists (who cant open their mouths to talk about Tamil nationalism in their own Tamil Nadu homeland, the Indian constitution obliges them to accept Indian nationality, and embrace Indian nationalism) appear to be taking their frustration out on the hapless Sinhalese, who are actually a global minority, over this perceived injustice. Paradoxically, the Sinhala speaking Sri Lanka president Mahinda Rajapaksa was probably the first head of state to address the UN General assembly in Tamil in its history. This was in September 2008. He urged the global Tamils to trust him to deliver justice to Sri Lankas Tamil minority in the context of overcoming the armed separatist terrorism that was plaguing his country then. Even the imperial British had ruled the vast landmass that they called India including what we know today as the independent sovereign states of Pakistan (created in 1947) and Bangladesh (created in 1972), as a single entity. The British ruled Ceylon and India as separate countries.

Unrealisable Tamil aspirations and Indias duplicity

Tamils might naturally aspire to have their own sovereign state, and since Tamil Nadu has been their historical homeland for countless millennia, that is where they ought to have it. It is inconceivable that they will be allowed to have that separate state elsewhere, where they are domiciled after having migrated from Tamil Nadu or from any other country they have long been resident in as an immigrant minority. The home of Tamil nationalism must be Tamil Nadu, not Sri Lanka, contrary to what the handful of racists among ordinary Sri Lankan Tamil politicians claim on behalf of the barely 4% of the global Tamil population that live in little Sri Lanka.

But Indians do not want to have a Tamil separatist problem within their own country. Indian politicians and diplomats are intelligent enough to understand that an independent sovereign state in the north and east of Sri Lanka will be a convenient stepping stone to eventual secession of Tamil Nadu from federal India. That will definitely be a thorn in the flesh for that country. So, what they have effectively done over the past few decades is to export the separatist problem to hapless Sri Lanka, while hypocritically demanding for the Tamil minority in the island what they will not allow Tamil Nadu Tamils themselves within the Republic of India! For example, Tamils in Tamil Nadu are required to sing Jana Mana Gana the Indian national anthem which happens to be in the Bengali language. According to the Wikipedia, the people of Tamil Nadu also have a state song in Tamil in the form of an Invocation to Mother Tamil in addition to the Indian national anthem Jana Mana Gana. But this could only be cold comfort for the Tamil nationalists. In Sri Lanka, under the previous yahapalanaya, the Tamil version of the constitutionally appointed Sinhala language national anthem was sung at national events in the name of fake reconciliation. Though India would not tolerate Tamil nationalism with separate sovereign identity being accommodated within its territory, it seems ever ready to use it in Sri Lanka in order to promote its own expansionist goals. India apparently wants to control, among Sri Lankas other resources, its seaports and airports.

In 1987 India had friendly relations with Russia. So, to spite the then president UNPs JR Jayawardane who followed West-leaning foreign policies, India surreptitiously groomed Prabhakaran and trained his rebel followers in military facilities on Indian soil to mount terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka against the state. When the government troops were on the point of capturing Prabhakaran, and thus putting an end to his terrorism, India interfered in a highhanded manner (a la the infamous parippu-drop operation) to rescue him. This condemned innocent Sri Lankans of all communities to nearly three decades of fratricidal civil war, that they finally brought to an end at great cost, not only in terms of lives lost whose value is beyond count, and much material damage, but in terms of prolonged economic stagnation. Now India is with the Americans as demanded by its own national interest, and it wants Sri Lanka to be its ally against China, which is also a world power. How can Sri Lanka abandon the friendship of China that has been supporting it through thick and thin at all times, without at all interfering in Sri Lankas internal politics unlike the West and India?

(To be concluded)
Leanna Hayes checking her opponent during the Black Squares Chess Bootcamp at the Lincoln University Cooperative Extension. The students held a competition on the last day and Leanna took third after only learning to play in less than a week.
David Satcher, M.D., Ph.D., was the 16th Surgeon General of the United States and was also Secretary for Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Thus far, Avelo does not appear to have plans to link its east and west route networks with transcontinental flights. Besides California, the western states served include Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Oregon and Utah. But on Sept. 15, it is suspending service to Grand Junction, Colo., and Bozeman, Montana, due to insufficient demand, according to Travel Weekly.
This is an imaginative dessert shop with sweet and savory Mexican treats. The owner says she makes all her own paleta flavors with about 40 different fruits as options. You can also dive into other treats like their very Instagramable pina loco. Its a halved pineapple filled with other fruits and topped with sweet and spicy additions like salsa valentina, and chile and lime powder. Or try other traditional treats including mangonadas (a blend of Mexican ice with tangy fruit flavors) made fresh each day. They have no website, but you can see them on Instagram.
What people are most upset about is youre taking public land and putting a private condo on it, Hollywood activist Cat Uden said. A lot of people are skeptical about whether the city will be able to negotiate a good deal. If its a 99-year lease its not us that will have to deal with it. It would be our kids or grandkids.
Building recertifications are required every 40 years by Broward and Miami-Dade counties, but no such requirement exists in Palm Beach County, where buildings get approved before construction and then inspected only if complaints are filed. Palm Beach County is in the process of drafting a program, but its implementation is likely months away, according to the county commission.
Though it appeared that Darth bit down and dragged Bull into the water tank, she said she got in tank with him because if he began to roll and she didnt move with him, she might lose her hand.
The fact that someone pulled their kids out of school just shows you they feel strongly about being able to make that decision. I just ultimately think the parents have the best understanding, and I think if they think its something thats harmful and oh by the way, none of these districts that are violating state law, none of them recognize immunity conferred from prior infection. That is anti-science, he said.
There arent many options for current renters, forcing many of them to stay where they are and stretch their budgets to make rent. Florida law does not limit how much landlords can raise rent each year. And with demand as high as it is, they have little incentive.
On 23 August 1991, Tim Berners-Lee, famously the inventor of the World Wide Web, opened the very first website to the public. It was the first time a web page was accessible to the whole world.

Developed in Switzerland, the professor was in charge of establishing, for the first time, communication between client and server using HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol), which at its most basic level forms the basis for how web pages are communicated from the web server to the user's browser.

Despite doubts around the official date of the internet's launch, CERN (the European Organisation for Nuclear Research) recognises 23 August, at the very least, as a day of celebration of the internet.

As the web was originally invented as a information-sharing tool for universities and institutions around the world, the first page was actually created on 6 August, but only available for members of the CERN. Still found today at http://info.cern.ch, almost thirty years after its creation, the first ever public web page gave users basic instructions on how the web worked, including how to access documents, set up their own server and a Frequently Asked Questions page.

Over the past thirty years, the internet has grown to become one of the most important and significant inventions of our society, enabling everyday citizens to connect with the rest of the world, share data and find information at the drop of a hat.

A 2017 survey by Nominalia found that more than 31 million people in Spain connect daily to the internet, with 40 per cent spending more than three hours on it each day and 14 per cent spending more than five hours a day online. According to data carried out by the AIMC (Association for the Investigation of Social Media), 45 per cent of Spaniards said they could not live without the internet.

The current global leader in terms of web page visits is unsurprisingly Google which on average receives over 40,000 searches a second, followed by fellow internet giants YouTube and Facebook in second and third place, respectively.

In an age where the internet dominates society, and it is increasingly difficult to decipher truth from fiction online with the growth of so-called fake news, it is hard to imagine Berners-Lee ever envisioning his tiny web page being the start of the internet we know today, and the first of more than 130 trillion individual web pages that are now in existence.
Germany, one of the most important international markets for holidaymakers on the Costa del Sol, has lowered it coronavirus travel risk list for five regions in Spain, but has not included the Andalusian region.

The German governments Foreign Ministry said, Currently there are warnings against unnecessary tourist trips to Spain. But, from August 22, 2021, it no longer applies to the autonomous regions of the Asturias, Castilla-La Mancha, Catalonia, the Valencian Community and the Canary Islands.

The rest of the country, including Andalucia, continues in the high-risk tourist areas classification while the five regions mentioned become simply risk areas, which means that travellers, over 12 years old, from these regions will no longer have to quarantine for ten days when returning to Germany. However, when entering the country, the presentation of a negative test or a vaccination certificate will continue to be mandatory.
The crisis in Afghanistan has become the key to open communication channels between Spain's prime minister and the United States. Pedro Sanchez and Joe Biden had their first, proper conversation on Saturday night, since the American president came to power on 20 January, to address the chaotic evacuation situation at Kabul airport.

Until now, the only contact between the pair had been limited to a brief, one-minute informal chat in the corridors of NATO headquarters in Brussels on 14 June.

The US president did not include Sanchez in his round of meetings with some thirty leaders from other countries after his inauguration seven months ago, something that led the opposition to accuse Spains Prime Minister from lacking international weight.

It was a "fruitful" conversation, Sanchez wrote on his Twitter account after the 25-minute telephone chat at the weekend. A statement, from Madrid, said that both leaders reaffirmed their "willingness to continue cooperating closely in order to continue facilitating evacuation operations in Afghanistan."

They also agreed "to use the Rota and Moron bases to temporarily host America's Afghan collaborators in transit to other destinations."

Sanchez greets Biden in Brussels in June. / SUR

The White House also issued a statement, noting that Biden "praised Spain's leadership in seeking international support for Afghan women and girls." He also thanked the Sanchez government for its collaboration with Afghan refugees heading to the United States.
Atlantic, IA (50022)

Today

Some clouds this morning will give way to generally sunny skies for the afternoon. High 79F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

A few passing clouds. Low around 60F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph.
On the morning of Saturday, Aug. 21 students and their families returned to College Station to begin moving into their on-campus residence halls.
With the fall semester quickly approaching and the COVID-19 delta variant on the rise, the measures Texas A&M will take in order to protect its students will be called into question.
Texas A&M's Student Government Association will make history during the 2021-2022 academic year with the first all female cabinet.
Despite a rise in delta variant COVID-19 cases across the Brazos Valley, Texas A&M University is set to return to operation at full capacity with the fall semester beginning on Monday, Aug. 30.
If you already subscribe to our print edition, sign up for FREE access to our online edition. Thanks for reading The Henderson News.
MBABANE  Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo is calling for a formal private sector engagement within SACU.

Eswatini is a member of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) alongside Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa. Minister Khumalo was this past Thursday part of the meeting of the SACU Ministers of Trade and Industry. The meeting was held in Gaborone, Botswana, and featured the other ministers from the region. The key objective of the meeting was to update ministers on the SACU industrialisation agenda. It began with the delivery of opening remarks by SACU Chairperson Mmusi Kgafela. It was followed by remarks from the SACU Executive Secretary Paulina Mbala Elago and the delivery of a progress report of the technical committee of senior officials on industrialisation, export and investment promotion. On the outcomes of the sectoral roundtables held between March and July 2021, it was highlighted that they were geared towards considering export and investment-related opportunities, taking into account the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), constraints, as well as policy-related issues for the respective sub-sectors.

The roundtables further aimed to identify the development potential and challenges faced by the industry as well as propose appropriate recommendations for consideration by the ministers. This was preceded by the completion of a value chain mapping exercise under the five priority sectors of leather and leather products, fruits and vegetable products, meat and meat products, textiles and clothing, as well as cosmetics and essential oils. Following a decision by the SACU Council to narrow down the scope of the pharmaceutical and chemical sub-sector to pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and essential oils in order to achieve tangible outcomes and build manufacturing capacity in the region, ministers were updated that a workshop to gather information on the sector and how to actualise developmental approach was now planned for August 24, 2021.

Ministers were also expected to finalise the date for the ministerial investment roundtable, which was initially scheduled for August/September 2021 and later rescheduled to October/November this year, taking into account events across member States including the Dubai 2020 EXPO. However, after discussions, the ministers agreed that focus should be directed to the five priority projects to be presented at the roundtable before deciding on the actual date. The objective of the ministerial roundtable was to showcase and profile the regions investment and export opportunities in targeted key priority sectors. It further provided a unique opportunity for engaging the private sector and industry players about the policy and regulatory frameworks conducive to enable the development of cross border value chains.
Sir,



Let me first and foremost forward my heartfelt condolences to families, friends and relatives that are continuously affected by the eruption and spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is shattering in every sense of the word! May their beautiful souls repose in Christs love. At the heart of the rampaging COVID-19 pandemic, taking its toll with each passing day; hordes of people are vanishing from the face of the earth like dew honouring the presence of the sun. The number of positive people continues to rise; what a time to be alive!

Condolence

It is such a time where the word condolence has been regularly used as our loved ones are dying due to the virus. Not only does it leave some fainthearted but it also brings fear and agonising consequences on others for the untimely demise of their loved ones. Apart from the pandemic, the political unrest has resulted in schools, mostly in the rural areas, being burnt down or rather destroyed; we never had thought that Eswatini would someday reach such malicious levels. Some people are even regretting to live with some murmuring and mumbling. As usual the future seems blur for pessimists. This is a time that will forever be recorded in the history books of Eswatini; the deadly virus in particular that has affected the countrys economy and social welfare.

Time

We never imagined a time where learners would be skeptical of the future and some kept calm by the virus at the comfort of their respective homesteads. This is unhurriedly but verily creating a sore that will take time for the blood cells in the body to fight against. What use is healing when the following day will bring forth heart-wrecking occurrences? Respect is currently the word of the past; children dont respect their peers and their parents. How would that even be so possible if adults, I mean old citizens of the country dont respect one another? Enmity has fallen and swerved families and friends; this too is a virus! We are waiting in agog for a time where everything will cruise back to normal. Where laughter will be the order of each day  where people will love and cherish one another, where the word enemy will be a fairytale. Where children will honour their parents and parents, on the other hand, will reciprocate that. A time where respect instead of being demanded, will be earned.
MBABANE  Former unionist Jabulani Nxumalo fully supports Mangololo Eswatini.

Although he did not confirm being an official member of the newly-formed movement that is against multiparties in the kingdom, he said he was in support of all what they stood for. He said Mangololo seemed to want peace, national cohesion and transformation as life was a continuous process of improvement. I understand and I am in favour of their movement. I also think they have taken long to get established as their movement is very necessary, said Nxumalo. According to Nxumalo, what the country needed was implementation and making hard decisions on policies that the kingdom had. He said the international relations needed to be strengthened to articulate where the country came from, where it was currently and where it was going.

What I follow in Mangololo is that they are trying to answer the questions of investment policy, economic policy and direction. This is something tangible that they are talking about and they raise the need to intensify investment, job creation which is all brilliant and what is most important is that they are addressing the youth who are the future, he said.

Aggressive

Nxumalo said the youth needed an aggressive absorption into the labour market. In his view, Mangololo Eswatini was giving them hope. He said if people would take some time to listen to Mangololo Eswatini, they would notice the great ideas that they were bringing forward. The implementation of decentralisation, which means taking government services to the people while absorbing the youth into self-determination and self-reliance, is very important, he said. He said Mangololo also talked about maximum usage of resources, including youth funds. Recently, a Member of Parliament moved a motion to say that we need to change the regulations and make it easier for people to have access to the Regional Development Fund. It is not easy to gather 10 people to share the same views, hence an individual should be able to approach his constituency and sell his idea to get funds for development, said Nxumalo. He said it was also important to notice that the movement also spoke about international relations with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and beyond.

The other fact that I really appreciate about Mangololo Eswatini is that they are saying let us talk issues without emotions but respect. They say we need to talk about issues that impact the people positively, said Nxumalo. He further highlighted that it was important not to dwell on the past but focus on the future. I plead and pray that Mangololo Eswatini does not change their mission and goal. I hope that they do not end up being a vehicle that will want to take power and start discussing regime change, said Nxumalo. The former deputy mayor further expressed hope that Mangololo would not get tempted to change but needed to continue being an auxiliary vehicle for national cohesion and national development as well as an investment vehicle, while giving confidence to investors.

They need to resolve all issues like it happens in industrial relations where you resolve issues. I like what Mangololo stands for, they are saying that as a nation we are interrelated and there is no justification for me to hurt the next person, he added. Nxumalo said he was also impressed by the fact that Mangololo agreed that there was no perfect situation in life and people improved in time. He added that what was important was how one improved the situation. I wish they would be given more time to be heard, people need to give them a chance to express their views and mission, he said.

Peacefully

He added that Mangololo was preaching what the nation needed to transform and progress peacefully without losing its identity. He highlighted that the idea of technology was a benefit to everyone but it should not be used as a tool for distraction. A cellphone is now being used as a weapon. Other people have taken advantage of the young minds that are economically viable and able to do several things that will benefit the nation, he added. Nxumalo said some people had taken advantage of the world economic meltdown and raised intangible reasons to fight; stressing the importance of research on issues similar to what the new movement seemed to be focusing on. There is a worldwide phenomenon according to Mangololo Eswatini and the question is how to rebuild the economy without hurting ourselves. Destroying infrastructure or the next person simply means hurting yourself, he further stated.
MBABANE  Washington Khumalo, the suspended Central Transport Administration (CTA) General Transport Manager (GTM) is not going down without a fight.

Khumalo has since written to the Chairperson of the Civil Service Commission (CSC), Simanga Mamba, calling upon him to recuse himself as chairperson of his disciplinary hearing with immediate effect. The correspondence calling for the recusal of the chairman is annexed to the application, where Khumalo is vigorously challenging his suspension from work. These are allegations contained in one of the annexures in the answering affidavit filed by government in the matter. Through his attorney Meluleki Ndlangamandla from MLK Ndlangamandla Attorneys, Khumalo alleged that the learned chairperson (Mamba) knew the GTM personally, having approached him with Naniki Mnisi asking Khumalo to allegedly avail two posts for Mambas relatives at the CTA Workshop. Naniki Mnisi is the Under Secretary at the Ministry of Public Works and Transport.

Khumalo alleged that this was around the year 2015 and Mamba together with Mnisi were both aggrieved when the GTM directed that proper channels should be followed as he had no authority to employ people. The learned chairperson is close friends with the under secretary in the ministry who is one of the complainants at the hearing, reads the letter. It was alleged that Mamba would always be influenced or conflicted by the existing friendship with the undesecretary.

Influence

Such influence has already manifested and same will be demonstrated at the hearing, it was submitted. The letter further states that Mamba had allegedly already exhibited actual bias through the finding guilty of Khumalo for several acts in 2021, under the disguise of a mini hearing termed suspension hearing. The chairperson in finding our client guilty of the alleged acts, alluded to by the complainants exhibited actual bias and it is without a doubt that the learned chairpersons mind has already been made up about our client and will not thereafter bring an impartial mind to bare, wrote Khumalos attorney. The application for recusal, according to the attorneys letter, shall be premised inter alia on the grounds that the chairperson was bias or that he had already exhibited bias acts. He said from inception, the hearing had been presided over by the former CSC Chaiperson, Peter Mamba. This, therefore, disqualifies the current learned chairperson from simply taking over a process commenced with by a wholly differently constituted coram here, it was alleged.

Disqualified

The attorney further wrote that the current chairperson was even disqualified to make any pronouncements within a process presided over by another chairperson, in particular in a bias manner. Meanwhile, Khumalo, who is challenging his suspension in court, said he had been prejudged as having committed misconduct on several occasions even before the main hearing and such was an apparent miscarriage of justice. Khumalo has moved an urgent application in the Industrial Court where is seeking an order lifting his suspension sanctioned on July 21, 2021, with immediate effect. The Civil Service Commission had through the fatally flawed and prejudicial process which they termed suspension hearing elected to punish me for certain misconducts allegedly committed by me between March to May 2021 by issuing punitive disciplinary sanction of suspension towards completion of the main hearing, he argued. The CSC, its chairperson, principal secretary in the Ministry of Public Works and Transport and the attorney general are respondents in the matter.

Khumalo also wants the Industrial Court to declare his suspension in the middle of the main disciplinary hearing which commenced in October 2020, as an unfair labour practice. It is further his plea to the court that it should declare that his suspension was grossly, irregular, null and void from the date of issuance. Appearing for the commission are lawyers from the chamber of the attorney general.
MBABANE  It is expected to be a long day in court today for Members of Parliament, Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube.

This is because today marks the beginning of their trial. Their pre-trial conference, which was supposed to be conducted on Friday, was postponed after the MPs, who are accused of inciting members of the public to riot against government, objected to the proceedings taking place virtually. It remains to be seen today whether their objection will be upheld. The MPs are opposed to either the pre-trial conference or the trial itself being conducted virtually. They insist on being physically present in court during any proceedings that touch on their case. When Judge Mumcy Dlamini delivered the judgment on their initial bail application on August 9, 2021, and when they appeared for what was their last remand hearing on the same day, the proceedings were held virtually.

Virtual

According to their then lawyer, Sifiso Charlie Jele, Mabuza and Dube had indicated that they were opposed to the virtual appearance and wanted to be in court physically. The pre-trial conference has since been rescheduled and will now be conducted today, which is coincidentally the first day of the trial of the two legislators. According to their notice of trial, the matter will be heard over 15 consecutive days, beginning from today. Mabuza and Dube were served with the notice of commencement of their trial on August 12, 2021. It has been reliably gathered that the accused persons were previously not physically brought to court due to security reasons. This publication has also established that the legal representatives of both parties are not certain if the accused persons will be brought to court today.

Supporter

When the MPs last appeared in court in person, on August 9, 2021, some of their supporters were turned back at the High Court and they demonstrated at the Mbabane Bus Rank. Others were turned back by police at some of the roadblocks that had been mounted along different routes leading to the city centre. Police advised the MPs supporters that the courtroom in which the case was to be heard, was already full and in compliance with COVID-19 regulations, they were advised to go back. Those who demonstrated near the bus rank were dispersed with the use of tear gas by the police. According to the police, the demonstrators did not have a permit to march on the streets of the capital city.
MBABANE  The new bail application filed by MP Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and MP Mthandeni Dube is being met with resistance from the Crown.

The director of public prosecutions (DPP) has since filed a notice of intention to oppose the application. The DPP is expected to file detailed papers outlining why the State is opposed to the release of the duo from custody. The MPs filed a second application for bail after their initial one was dismissed by Judge Mumcy Dlamini on August 9, 2021. In the latest application, the MPs told the court that new facts and circumstances had since arisen. Mabuza submitted that apart from being an elected Member of Parliament, he was the Managing Director of Baceth Investments (Proprietary) Limited, trading as Baceth Hardware, which had10 branches in the country. He said the company employed 400 workers. He said as the primary contact between the company and its suppliers, the latter had anticipated that he would be released on bail. He told the court that regrettably, since he was denied bail, the suppliers questioned whether it was too risky or worthwhile to continue doing business with his company.

Mabuza submitted that the suppliers had indicated that they were hopeful that their bail application would be granted, but now had doubts about continuing to do business with his company because he dealt with them directly. Mabuza also told the court that while awaiting the outcome of their bail application, the suppliers, both locally and outside the country, had committed to doing business with Baceth Hardware but the denial of bail has equally dampened their spirits. Since the judgment refusing bail was delivered on August 9, 2021, many of our suppliers have communicated to me and the management that it is risky for them to continue supplying the company as they are doubtful that in my absence the company will be able to honour its credit obligations to them, said the MP.

Suppliers

He further said upon being informed by the companys management about the developments, he called the suppliers from prison and they made it categorically clear that in my absence as the managing director, and with what they see as the risks associated with my imprisonment, they will, therefore, not be able to continue supplying the company with stock and will not make credit facilities available. He said as a result of the decision of the suppliers, many of his hardware stores did not have adequate stock and were unable to service the public as they did prior to his arrest. By extension, this has had a severe impact on the companys ability to service its customers. By extension, this will result in staff layoffs or dismissal and or closure of some of the companys stores. Mabuza told the court that due to the prevailing situation, his management decided to close the Lomahasha and Mpolonjeni branches.

We have decided to close these stores on August 14, 2021, starting with the Mpolonjeni store with effect from August 21, 2021. We are working in closing down the Lomahasha shop soon if the incarceration continues. Meanwhile, Dube told the court that he would not go to exile if released on bail. Dube said he intended to defend himself fully against the charges levelled against him. He further submitted that he and Mabuza were committed to seeing through their term as elected Members of Parliament.
MANZINI  Ill hand myself over to the police tomorrow (today), said Pastor Sikhumbuzo Shongwe in an interview that was conducted around 4:30pm yesterday.

The pastor said this after being contacted by this reporter to establish his whereabouts and what had happened resulting in the shooting of his wife. Sikhumbuzo alleged that while at his residence, about four people who were in the company of his wife Jabulile Nkonyane  arrived. He purported that upon their arrival; they took positions in the entrances of the house while his wife entered and sought to engage him. While this was happening, Sikhumbuzo said he requested to engage with his wife in private and went into their bedroom. While at the bedroom, he claimed that there was an altercation. He purported that given the altercation, he suspected that his life could be in danger following threats he had received before. He supposed that there was a man who wanted to kill him. He claimed the man was known to him and his wife. For that reason, he said he took his gun to protect himself. However, Sikhumbuzo said he could not recall everything that happened as things became intense.

Attacked

I believe I was attacked as four unknown people to me, stood at the entrance of my house. My wife had not set foot at our residence for about four months and when she finally did, she was with four men, Sikhumbuzo claimed. He purported that at some instance, they (him and Nkonyane) fought over the possession of the gun. He suspected that it could have been at this instance that she was shot. However, he retained that he could not recall much of what happened. The man of the cloth further reiterated that he would hand himself over to the police as he was a law abiding citizen. Worth noting is that his lawyer, Mathokoza Mbhamali, was seen at Shongwes residence at around 3pm, where he was given clothes by Nonkululeko Shongwe, an elder sister to Pastor Sikhumbuzo. It was gathered that he had made arrangements to hand his client over to the police, which he also confirmed. Mbhamali said they would be cooperating with the police and arrangements were already being made. When asked about the whereabouts of Pastor Sikhumbuzo at the time, he said: No comment.

Meanwhile, Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati said the police were still looking for Sikhumbuzo. She said they were looking for him so that he could assist them with their investigations into what transpired during the shooting. When asked if Sikhumbuzo possessed a licensed gun, she said: We are still investigating and the gun that you are referring to is still with Shongwe.
MANZINI  It is believed that Pastor Sikhumbuzo Shongwe fired five gunshots at his wife Jabulile Nkonyane yesterday, who is currently critical at the Manzini Clinic.

The domestic squabble which left Nkonyane critical happened around lunch hour at the couples residence at Moneni. As the shots were fired, it was gathered that three of them hit Nkonyane and were lodged in her body. One of the shots was said to have been lodged in her head, another in her arm while the last was lodged in her torso. Another shot was alleged to have injured a male who was with Nkonyane in the arm. According to Ncamiso Mlahleli, 23, who was with Nkonyane when the incident happened, they were accompanying her (Nkonyane) with another male, whom he referred to as a brother to Nkonyane. Mlahleli alleged Nkonyanes mission was to collect some documents. He said upon their arrival, Nkonyane entered the house where she found Shongwe with other people.

Engaged

After exchanging pleasantries, he said, Nkonyane engaged Shongwe, who in turn requested that they engage in private as he walked towards their bedroom. While all this was happening, Mlahleli said he was standing at the doorway and he heard a brief argument between the couple, which was followed by gunshots. He approximated the gunshots to have been five. As he entered to ascertain what had happened, he claimed to have seen a pool of blood as Nkonyane laid on the floor. The witness claimed that Nkonyane was shot in the head, torso and arm. Meanwhile, Agnes Msibi, 60, who is a domestic helper at the Shongwe residence, said Nkonyane arrived in the company of her brothers. Msibi, who was still visibly shaken by the incident, narrated that she was inside the couples bedroom when Nkonyane arrived.

I was changing the babys clothes when the couple then walked into their bedroom and I excused them, Msibi said. She supposed that there was an altercation between the pair. Msibi said she was not certain, but she supposed to have heard Nkonyane seeking certain documents which included their marriage certificate. However, after exiting the bedroom and going outside to proceed with the laundry, she said the pair went into the lounge. As they went there, she alleged, the couple was arguing; but it was then muffed by gunshots. At this instance, Msibi said she was with the couples one-year- old child while the other minor, aged four, was playing in a nearby house. According to Msibi, when seeking to establish what happened, she found Nkonyane covered in blood all over the face, arms and stomach. At this instance, Msibi said Nkonyane was rushed to Manzini Clinic at Lugaganeni, about three kilometres from the scene of the shooting.

According to information gathered at the scene, Nkonyane was rushed to the Manzini Clinic by Mlahleli while her brother was taken to the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital. At the time of compiling this report, Nkonyane was said to be critical despite that the bullet that was said to have been lodged in her head had been extracted by doctors. Meanwhile, at Shongwes residence, it was gathered that his father, Bishop Nash Shongwe, had visited the scene in the company of his wife and church members. It was gathered that Bishop Nash had left with the couples children as their fathers whereabouts were unknown as some witnesses supposed that he left the scene after the alleged shooting incident. He was said to have left with his gun.
Arab Banking Corporation (Bank ABC) has announced the appointment of Amr Tharwat as new MD and CEO of its Bank ABC Egypt franchise, following the Board of Bank ABC Egypts approval of the appointment.



Tharwat brings to the role over 26 years of substantial local and regional corporate and investment banking experience gained from a variety of senior positions in Mena and Turkey (MENAT). He joins from HSBC, where he has worked for over 15 years, out of which he spent seven years in Egypt as the Head of Global Banking, and the remainder based in Dubai covering the region.



He was most recently the MD, Deputy Head of Global Banking and Head of Corporate Banking MENAT for HSBC out of Dubai.



Tharwat holds a Masters degree in Finance from Cass Business School in London and is a graduate of the American University in Cairo with a major in Economics and a minor in Political Science.



He joins Bank ABC Egypt at a pivotal moment of growth, amid the final stages of Bank ABC Groups acquisition of BLOM Bank Egypt. The acquisition was closed on August 11, 2021; the Bank is now working towards the integration of BLOM Bank Egypt into Bank ABC Egypt.



Bank ABC Egypt Chairman, Dr Yousef Al Awadi said: Amr brings a diverse strategic and operational perspective to Bank ABC Egypt. He has an excellent track record, and we are confident that he will be a great addition to our team in Egypt.



Tharwat is expected to begin his tenure on September 26, 2021.  TradeArabia News Service
Sinnad, a fully owned subsidiary of The Benefit Company has joined Mastercards Fintech Express accelerator programme in Bahrain in a partnership designed to unlock Fintech opportunities.

Established in 2009, Sinnad  a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Benefit Company - provides fully developed third party card services to support banks and fintech innovators in Bahrain, the Gulf and the wider MEA region.

Becoming a Mastercard Fintech Express partner will enable Sinnad to support smaller fintech actors in Bahrain as they seek to go live with their Mastercard issuing business in record time  a key enabler of market entry and expansion.The programme supports digital payment innovators by making it simple to collaborate with Mastercard and its partners to launch new fintech products. It is designed for fintechs looking to add payment solutions to their suite of products, tech-savvy startups looking at serving a new segment as well as established players with ambitions to innovate through partnerships.

Explaining the transformational potential of the partnership, J K Khalil, Country Manager, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Levant, Mastercard, said: Mastercard is delighted to welcome Sinnad to Fintech Express in Bahrain. This is an important strategic partnership that will make it much easier for fintech innovators in Bahrain to go to market, expand their operations, contribute to the kingdoms growing Fintech ecosystem and enhance the countrys journey towards becoming a financially inclusive cashless society.

Commenting on the Mastercard partnership, Rana AlMaeeli, General Manager at Sinnad, said: We are delighted to be joining Mastercards Fintech Express programme as a key strategic partner. It is a partnership that will enable Sinnad to support and develop the fintech ecosystem in Bahrain and the wider region, drive business in line with the Kingdom of Bahrains economic vision and empower industry players to create innovative and forward-looking fintech products. -- TradeArabia News Service
Bringing its biggest pavilion in 150 years to the UAE from October 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022, Thailand will use this stage to explain the concept behind Digital Thailand, its technologically-driven, economic vision.

With less than two months to go until the launch of Expo 2020 Dubai, the Southeast Asian nation is giving a peek inside its pavilion intending to use the event to forge new connections and make significant steps towards creating a more sustainable future.

Hosted under the theme of Connecting minds, creating the future, the organisers of the global gathering promise an enriching experience unlike anything the Middle East has ever seen.

For Thailands participation in the global expo, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DE) has assigned the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa) responsible for the nations representation, according to a statement.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Digital Economy & Society (MEDS), and the Commissioner General of Section for Thailand Pavilion Ajarin Pattanapanchai said: We are excited to present our future plans and connect with the rest of the world at Expo 2020.

"We are committed to creating a strong and sustainable environment for future generations to enjoy, and by showcasing and celebrating our achievements, we hope to demonstrate that there really is no limit to what can be accomplished.

"Im proud to present our multi-talented ambassadors, who each give our Pavilion a personal touch and also our Thai Pavilion mascots, Rak and Mali, who will be popping up and around the city in the lead up to Expo 2020.

Primarily organised by Index Creative Village, Thailands well-known creative company, UAE-based consultancy OP3 Expo and contractors Arcade Star, the Pavilion will provide an environment for discussion and collaboration.

As well as connecting Thailand to the rest of the world, the Pavilion aims to showcase authentic Thai culture. The Miracle of Smiles pavilion has pulled out all the stops to create an uplifting and enlightening journey through the true essence of Thailand.

The Pavilion will be covered with 500 artificial Thai good luck flowers, with each interwoven to represent the nations continuous growth and development. These blooms will also be celebrated every evening with the Dok Rak Light and Sound Show.

Guests can experience the best of Thai culture, business and technology through the Pavilions six-month programme of special events. Highlights include Thai Authentic Food & Health Week, Thai National Day, Thailand Digital and Innovation Festival and the Festival of Happiness.-TradeArabia News Service
Saudi Arabia is again well ahead of other Arab countries in research share, and the only country alongside UAE to make the top 50 global countries in the Nature Index 2021 Annual Tables, as measured by the metric, Share. The kingdom is placed 29th and the UAE 44th.

Like many larger nations including the US and UK, Saudi Arabia has managed to slow the decline in research output of the previous year, and maintain its position globally as the highest contributor to research share in the Arab World and second highest in both Western Asia and MEA countries on this year index.

It is also the only other Arab country alongside UAE to make the top 50 countries in all four specialties of the measured natural science journals, and the highest contributor in respective research share.

This years Nature Index Annual Tables include 17 Arab countries with Saudi Arabia, UAE and Egypt still holding the top three positions respectively since 2017, and the kingdom delivering 64% of the overall research share in the Arab World. Egypt maintains its first position in North Africa2 and second in Africa.

The Nature Index 2021 Annual Tables show that despite the challenges and limitations due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the institutions that were strong in 2019 remained strong in 2020. Among those in the Arab countries by far the top performer is the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (Kaust) that moved up in both among all institutions and academic institutions, from 131st to 125th place, and 118th to 113th, respectively.

Kaust has had the highest research share in the Arab countries for the past five years and accounts for more than 50% of Arab institutions shares combined. This demonstrates the significant amount of high-quality research being published by this institution and makes it an undisputable leader in both Saudi and regional research shares.

David Swinbanks, Founder of the Nature Index, said: Despite the impact of Covid-19 in terms of lab closures and disruptions to experiments, our analysis indicate continued strength of research output in the Arab World with article share maintained or increased for the majority of countries in the region. Saudi Arabia continues to lead the Arab countries, and Kaust continues to outshine all other institutions in the region with its rapid rise up the global ranks.

The performance of Kaust is truly remarkable. Since 2016, this academic institution alone has been delivering more than 75% of the Saudi institutions shares combined. Particularly in Chemistry, it remains the most prolific university in Western Asia and MEA regions and the only one in the top 100 institutions with a jump of 20 positions up and an 11.7% growth in adjusted Share. This shows the adaptability of Kaust to perform extremely well alongside some of their more established and larger peers in challenging conditions.

Another two Saudi academic institutions worth monitoring closely are King Faisal University (KFU) and King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS). KFU is now fifth in the academic institutional list across the kingdom after delivering a great growth in adjusted Share in 2020 that equals six times the value in 2018.

KSAU-HS has maintained a steady growth albeit small in its entire research share, research count and adjusted Share for the fourth year in row.

The list of achievements of Saudi Arabia and Kaust includes 

o Saudi Arabia

(with the highest Arab country share in each subject)

*29th top 50 global countries in research share

*25th top 50 global countries in Chemistry

*30th top 50 global countries in Physical sciences

*31th top 50 global countries in Earth and Environmental

*37th top 50 global countries in Life sciences

o Kaust

(as the only institution from the Arab countries)

*113th top global academic institutions in research share

*125th top global institutions in research share

*77th top institutions / 68th academic institutions  Chemistry

*86th top institutions / 70th academic institutions  Physical sciences

By academic institutions in Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (Kaust) is first, followed by King Abdulaziz University (KAU), King Saud University (KSU) and King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), which maintained their second, third and fourth positions respectively over the past four years despite the decline in their adjusted Share in 2020.

King Faisal University (KFU) is in fifth place followed by Alfaisal University in sixth, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS) in seventh and Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University (IAU) in ninth place in share. New comers to the top ten list are Najran University in eighth place and Taif University in tenth.

On the Nature Index 2021 Annual Tables, the top 10 Arab countries in order of research share are Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Qatar, Oman, Morocco, Lebanon, Tunisia, Algeria and Kuwait.

The top fifteen academic institutions in the Arab countries, in order of research share, are: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (Kaust)  Saudi Arabia, Khalifa University of Science and Technology  UAE, King Abdulaziz University (KAU)  Saudi Arabia, King Saud University (KSU)  Saudi Arabia, American University of Beirut (AUB)  Lebanon, University of Nizwa  Oman, Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU)  Qatar, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM)  Saudi Arabia, British University in Egypt (BUE)  Egypt, United Arab Emirates University (UAEU)  UAE, Ain Shams University  Egypt, Cairo University (CU)  Egypt, American University in Cairo (AUC)  Egypt, University of Carthage (UCAR)  Tunisia, and Sultan Qaboos University (SQU)  Oman.

The top ten African countries in order of research share are South Africa, Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Tunisia, Uganda, Ethiopia, Algeria, Cameroon and Rwanda. Morocco maintained its fourth place while Tunisia moved up five positions to fifth and Algeria from seventeenth to eighth place.

At a global level, the institutions that have retained their positions at the top of the tables include the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Harvard University, the Max Planck Society, the French National Centre for Scientific Research and the Stanford University.

Swinbanks noted: While the annual tables are a good indicator of high quality research output in the natural sciences, we encourage readers to use the findings alongside other measures such as metrics that encompass research fields beyond the natural sciences as well as other scientific outputs such as data, software and intellectual property when considering research quality and institutional performance.-- TradeArabia News Service
Schneider Electric, a leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, and Aveva, a global leader in industrial software, driving digital transformation and sustainability, are powering the unification of operations for Vale, a global natural resources and mining company.

Vale ranks among the top five largest mining companies in the world. Headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the worlds leading producer of iron ore, pellets and nickel employs a global workforce of over 170,000 people in 38 countries.

The Mariana Complex and Itabira Complex are two of Vales major iron ore production sites, located in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Together, the complexes are responsible for more than 75% of the production data from Vales Minas Gerais mining operations.

The combination of Aveva and Schneider Electric software, technology and mining domain expertise is providing Vale with the ability to integrate, centralise and remotely monitor operations across its Mariana and Itabira complexes in Brazil.

While primarily implemented to improve safety through remote operations, digitalization is critically important to driving efficiency and sustainability in mining.
Omans National Detergent Company (NDC) has achieved Reach certification by The European Community Regulation Standards Authority for its range of OmSurf brand of chemical products.

The certification recognises the high standards for production and the quality of chemical products made in Oman said Bill Hunt, CEO of the National Detergent Company.

With this new certification, NDC can develop new business in Europe for our products. This is a great achievement and a first for NDC, said Ajay Kaul, Manager for the Basic Chemicals Business Unit of NDC.

This is a large market opportunity and this adds to our success developing business in the US, Canada, Central America and North Africa as well as the current business in the GCC, Kaul added.TradeArabia News Service
LOreal Middle East has declared an uptick of up to 750% across e-commerce sales since 2018, driven by an innovative direct-to-consumer (D2C) e-commerce and e-distribution partnership with Dubai-headquartered CNNB Solutions.



The partnership includes development and optimization of websites, inventory management, marketplace negotiation, stock planning and warehousing, and delivery logistics via key partner Aramex. The successful strategy has been deployed across UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and Egypt.



Founded by e-commerce and online shopping experts Charbel Nasr and Nicolas Bruylants, CNNB Solutions built a bespoke suite of turnkey services for LOreal Middle East. It also includes an e-distribution model, where CNNB Solutions purchases inventory from the company, becoming fully invested in maximising online sales.



The strategy has paid off, with LOreal Middle East also recording an increase in average order value of 12%, a 17.5% improvement in delivery rate and a 235% increase in customer lifetime value (CLV), across the selected brands since the start of the partnership.



Mehdi Moutaoukil, Chief Marketing Officer at LOreal Middle East said: We are always looking for new ways to innovate and serve our consumers in the most efficient way. With growing demand for convenient online shopping, CNNB Solutions has streamlined our approach across the GCC region, putting the consumer experience at the forefront of our strategy. The results have been hugely successful in terms of sales growth and consumer satisfaction, delivering a win-win for our business and stakeholders.



Nicolas Bruylants, CVO and co-founder of CNNB Solutions said: We have more than 15 years of experience developing home and online shopping platforms in Mena, so we truly understand each country market and its consumers. Were delighted that our insights, expertise and operations have helped towards the success of LOreal Middle Easts D2C e-commerce strategy.



CNNB Solutions also handles all consumer enquiries and support, while ensuring all stages maintain rigorous LOreal standards. This approach has seen tremendous success in terms of consumer satisfaction. The NPS score (net promoter score, which rates the willingness of consumers to recommend a companys products or services to others) has increased by 15% and consumer retention rate has increased by 21%.



So far, this D2C strategy has been deployed across a range of LOreal brands, including LOreal Paris, Maybelline New York, Garnier and Kerastase, a LOreal statement said.  TradeArabia News Service
About 86% of customers in Bahrain have become digital converts since the pandemic and want to keep buying everything online, said Sitecore, a global leader in digital experience management software, in a new report.



The research, conducted by YouGov Mena, surveyed more than 650 IT decision-makers across 12 countries in the GCC, the Levant, and Egypt.



Boosted by the stay-at-home economy of Covid-19, the Middle Easts e-commerce market reached $12.1 billion in 2020, representing 53.8% year-over-year growth, according to a recent report by MarketLine. Electronics and retail accounted for $5.2 billion or 42.5% of the total market.



As e-commerce continues to grow, customers are placing greater emphasis on the customer experience. Since the pandemic, 86% of Bahrain IT decision-makers said their customers will navigate away from a site and choose an alternative if they cant find what they need in just a few clicks.



Furthermore, 100% of Bahrain respondents agreed that their customers have less patience with slow or poorly functioning websites.



With 86 percent of Bahrain customers being digital converts to e-commerce, the country is seeing a rapid transition from bricks and mortar stores to hybrid and e-commerce models, said Mohammed Alkhotani, Area Vice President  Middle East and Africa, Sitecore.



Millennials and Generation Z customers have quickly shifted their significant spending power online. Pressure will continue to mount on retailers until they can deliver an experience that delights.



Brands in Bahrain are taking a variety of actions to improve the shopping experience. The majority, 85%, ranked an online app or website that works well on mobile devices as among their top three choices.



Also scoring highly in the top three choices were brands remembering customers shopping history and preferences (58%), giving preferential treatment in the form of exclusive offers and invitations (42%), and knowing the name during login or customer service (43%).



Brand loyalty has evaporated and there is no margin for error from browsing through to delivery, added Mohammed Alkhotani. Brands in Bahrain are already ahead of the curve in prioritizing mobile apps and websites to personalize online experiences.  TradeArabia News Service
Bentley Systems, Incorporated, the infrastructure engineering software company, is set to host a virtual open digital twin event as part of The Bentley Infraweek for the Middle East and Turkey.

The panel session will bring together leaders and experts from the oil and gas sector to share their insights on the use of digital twins for safer, more reliable, efficient, and resilient operations, said the statement from Bentley.

Several global industry experts are likely to join the event include professionals and leaders from large end-users, utility companies, owner-operators, engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) companies, national oil companies, energy institutes and associations, and integration solution providers.

The list of headline speakers include top Bentley experts - Frederik Verhoef, Regional Director, Asset Performance; Christian Huber, Vice President, Regional Executive; Mehreen Javaid, Digital Integrator, Business Development, PlantSight and Klaus Hatle, Principal Consultant, Energy in addition to Denis Marshment, Vice President, Digital Twins, Worley; Wassim Ghadban, Vice President, Digital and Global Innovation, Kent and Andreas Gaarder, Vice President, EMEA, FutureOn.

The discussions will cover the role of digitalization in business transformation and sustainability as well as the opportunities digital twins can bring to the oil and gas sector, said the statement from Bentley.

Part of the discussion will also focus on the regions infrastructure community and how it responds to current challenges as well as smarter ways to advance infrastructure development, it added.-TradeArabia News Service
The Middle East is witnessing green hydrogen projects being pursued in an industry projected to reach $700 billion by 2050, said Arthur D Little, a leading management consultancy firm in a new report.



Green hydrogen (H2) has become a key agenda topic for policymakers and industrial players, driven by global decarbonization efforts and the commercial opportunities that could follow, according to the report titled Paving the way for green hydrogen: Key considerations for green H2 deployment



Although ambitious targets are now being pursued through related projects, the possibilities that accompany the green H2 economy depend on several conditions across policy, supply, infrastructure, and demand.



The report examines the role green H2 will have in the future, elaborating on promising use cases and the next steps needed for successful deployment.



Decarbonization has been raised again on top of worlds agenda and countries are actively seeking to lower emissions and transition to clean energy sources, explained Carlo Stella, Partner at Arthur D Little Middle East.



The 2015 Paris Agreement has instigated widespread action, with leaderships encouraging technology-backed decarbonization in the years since. Green Hydrogen has been identified as a key technology to bridge decarbonization ambitions, if the basic conditions and some pressing requirements are met in the short term.



Many governments in the Middle East, especially Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, are currently exploring opportunities that can be exploited in this field, as green hydrogen helps reduce economic dependence on hydrocarbons and contributes to economic development and diversification of energy supply.



Furthermore, foreign policy and bilateral agreements are also reinforcing the green H2 economys importance. Already in 2021, Saudi Arabia has announced a strategic green H2 development alliance with Germany to generate, process, use, and transport clean hydrogen, representing a significant stride as the Kingdom seeks to produce greater volumes of green H2.



Similarly in the UAE, a green H2 project was inaugurated at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai this past May. In collaboration with Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), Expo 2020 Dubai, and Siemens Energy, the project is the first solar-driven green H2 producing facility in the Mena region.



Strategic alliances are certain to be impactful as countries and industry players work together to realize their shared and mutual green H2 objectives, said Eddy Ghanem, Principal at Arthur D. Little Middle East. That being said, the complex nature of green H2 production cannot be overlooked, and having dual sources of renewable energy is another necessity for sustained decarbonization success.



While many locations have no shortage of single renewables sources, few are currently capable of meeting minimum requirements in terms of multiple sources. One example is NEOM in Saudi Arabia, where the worlds largest green H2 plant is being developed. Upon completion, the availability of both solar and wind renewable energy in NEOM is expected to yield a combined electricity cost of $2-3 ct/Kwh, which will reduce the total cost of green H2 production to approximately $2/kg.



The report indicates three conditions necessary for the success of green hydrogen generation projects: cost-competitive production, reliability of production and supply, and hedging of risks to attract investors. Potential hydrogen demands are also examined, while decision-makers are provided with valuable opportunities analysis, risk limitation, and other risks and conditions related to policies and infrastructure.



Although green H2 projects are being pursued and more investments finalized, this momentum can only continue if thriving conditions are secured in the areas of policy, supply, infrastructure, and demand, concluded Carlo Stella.



Through a collective effort based on transparency, collaboration, and innovation, interested parties can deliver on companies and countries decarbonization commitments, successfully deploying green H2 to usher in a new chapter of renewable energy transformation.  TradeArabia News Service
Sharjah International Airport remained resilient during the pandemic and staged a remarkable performance defying negative trends by adding new destinations and attracting more airlines in the first half of this year, said its top official.

Sharjah Airport Authority has successfully tackled the Covid-19 challenge to continue on the path of growth in all areas, stated its Chairman Ali Salim Al Midfa.

"We have successfully launched regular flights of 11 new airlines during the first half of this year. This is in addition to seasonal flights by six airlines as well as three new air cargo flights," Al Midfa told Khaleej Times

He said some of the airlines now operating from Sharjah International Airport include Oman Air, SyrianAir, Qatar Airways, Go Air and Vistara Airlines.

"We are constantly communicating and working with various regional and international authorities to attract new airlines to the Emirate and offer connectivity with new destinations and regions," Al Midfa said.

He pointed out that Sharjah's flagship airline Air Arabia, which operates from both the emirate and Abu Dhabi, has also added several new destinations to its flight network. It launched regular services to Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt, Phuket in Thailand and another airport in Istanbul.

"Air Arabia is working to restore the operating rates of its regular flights to East Asia and Europe in the near future that will further increase the air traffic activity to and from Sharjah, offering UAE travellers a more extensive network of regional and international destinations," Al Midfa said.

The emirate, considered the Cultural Capital of the Arab and Islamic World with several tourist attractions and landmarks, continues its efforts to consolidate its position on the global travel map by partnering with new airlines and destinations.

"The airport witnessed a significant growth in the number of passengers and the volume of air cargo over the past few years due to increasing interest among tourists to visit Sharjah and the UAE," Al Midfa said.

"We have been keen to develop our services, simplify procedures, and attract new airlines. It has contributed to strengthening the position of Sharjah as an attractive shopping and business destination for both tourists and investors," he said.
New Delhi, Aug 23 (UNI) A multi-party delegation of political leaders from Bihar, which included Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday.

Kumar later described the meeting as being "positive".

The Chief Minister, who led the delegation of ten political parties from Bihar, met the Prime Minister and urged him to implement caste based census to find out numbers of backward classes across the country.

Speaking to the media after the meeting outside the South Block, the Chief Minister said all the political parties and the people of Bihar are of the opinion that caste based census should be held, and this was conveyed to the Prime Minister in details.

We are grateful to the Prime Minister for listening to us. Everybody in the delegation put forth their point of view on caste based census, he added.

Terming the meeting with the Prime Minister Positive, he said, We are expecting that the PM will deliberate upon issues and take a decision on it".

He said, 'We decide to meet the PM after the statement given by government that Centre would not enumerate the population according to caste.

Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav said, "Our delegation met the PM today not only for the caste census in Bihar but in the entire country because it will be a historical step and all the poor will benefit.

He added, "When animals and trees are counted, then why not people... When the government has no scientific data on the population of backward classes, how will it make welfare policies".



Commenting on the recently passed OBC bill in Parliament, which empowered the state to make their own OBC list, he said, When states will have caste data, only then it will be able to include castes in the state OBC list. If caste Census will lead to unrest, then the same logic applies to religion as well".

Asked about any future plan to tie up with the JDU, Yadav said, for his party has always stood up for the "national interest".

"We have always stood with the government even during the Covid-19 pandemic, we had offered our support to the Chief Minister," he said.

The meeting was attended by the leaders of 10 political parties at South Block on Monday.

The demand for a census to count other backward classes was raised during the debate on a constitutional amendment Bill to restore states' power to have their own OBC lists.

BJP's ally in Uttar Pradesh, Apna Dal leader and Union Minister Anupriya Patel is among the leaders who demanded a caste census, which is likely to come up as an issue in upcoming polls in the state.

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Biden, Johnson discuss Afghanistan ahead of G7 meet

Washington, Aug 23 (UNI) US President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke on Monday about Afghanistan, ahead of the G7 meeting called on Tuesday by the UK to discuss the situation in the country following the Taliban takeover and efforts at evacuating their people.

The two leaders discussed the ongoing efforts by their diplomatic and military personnel to evacuate their citizens, local staff, and other vulnerable Afghans.

They also discussed plans for the G7 virtual leaders meeting tomorrow, underscoring the importance of close coordination with allies and partners in managing the current situation and forging a common approach to Afghanistan policy, a White House statement said.
Doctors' teams deployed in districts affected by foot-and-mouth disease in animals: Tripat Bajwa

Chandigarh, Aug 23 (UNI) Taking serious note of the reports of outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in some districts of Punjab, Animal Husbandry department had immediately deployed teams of veterinarians and doctors in the affected districts and the ring vaccination of 100 per cent livestock within a radius of 5 to 10 km of the affected villages has been completed.

Stating this here on Monday, Animal Husbandry Minister Tripat Rajinder Singh Bajwa said that as per the reports, some animals in Ludhiana, Moga and Muktsar Sahib districts of Punjab have contracted foot and mouth disease. He said that the government has taken immediate action to distribute the dosage of foot and mouth disease to all the affected districts.

He said that for prevention of foot and mouth disease 81 thousand doses were distributed to the affected districts for ring vaccination. He said that he was personally collecting daily reports from the affected districts.
Kabul, Aug 23 (UNI) Heavy fighting was reported between the Taliban and the forces of Ahmad Massoud in Panjshir in northeastern Afghanistan on Monday, where Amrullah Saleh, who has declared himself the caretaker President, is holding out against takeover by the Taliban.

Videos on social media showed many casualties lined up inside a truck. The Taliban and the resistance forces have both suffered casualties, according to reports.

Taliban spokesperson Zabehullah Mojahid in tweets said that they have retaken Banu, Pol-e-Hesar and Deh Salah districts of Baghlan, while the Taliban has surrounded the forces of Massoud, who is the son of late Afghan leader Ahmad Shah Massoud.
Moscow, Aug 23 (UNI) Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Oleg Syromolotov on Monday said Moscow is not in a hurry to recognize the new leadership in Afghanistan and does not plan to remove the Taliban from its terror list.

"We do not intend to rush to exclude the Taliban movement from the Russian list of terrorist organizations, or to recognize the new Afghan authorities. We will focus on the practical steps of the new Afghan authorities and the relevant decisions of the UN Security Council," news agency Sputnik quoted Syromolotov as saying.

The Deputy Foreign Minister further pointed out that it is important that the Taliban has guaranteed amnesty to the Afghan security forces and promised that there would be no purges.

"We also consider as important the assurances of the Taliban movement that it will not allow the use of the territory of Afghanistan against third party countries," Syromolotov said.

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New Delhi, Aug 23 (UNI) Bihar BJP leader and Minister Janak Ram, who was a part of an all-party delegation that met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to demand caste census, said whatever decision is taken by the Prime Minister will be acceptable to all.

Janak Ram, Minister of Mines and Geology in Bihar government, attended the meeting along with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav, and other leaders, said Prime Minister gave a patient hearing to their demand. The leaders demanded counting citizens from backward classes in the Census of India.

"Prime Minister listened to us like a family. He is our leader, it is for him to take a decision," Janak Ram told UNI.

Asked if the Prime Minister gave a positive response, he said: "Just like people of Bihar left the matter in the hands of Nitish Kumar, the people of India have left the matter in the hands of Narendra Modi ji. Whatever he will do will be in the best interest of the country," he said.

Senior BJP leader from Bihar Sushil Kumar Modi had tweeted on Sunday night that the BJP is not opposed to caste census.

"BJP has never been against caste census," Modi said, adding that the party had supported the resolution supporting it in the Bihar assembly.

The demand for a census to count other backward classes was raised during the debate on a constitutional amendment Bill to restore states' power to have their own OBC lists.

Fresh demand from the Bihar leaders came after the Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai announced in Parliament that there would not be a caste census. Rai had said only data of the caste-wise population of SCs and STs would be collected during the Census 2021.

BJP's ally in Uttar Pradesh, Apna Dal leader and Union Minister Anupriya Patel is among the leaders who demanded a caste census, which is likely to come up as an issue in upcoming polls in the state.

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UW in the News

State, national and international media frequently feature the University of Wyoming and members of its community in stories. Here is a summary of some of the recent coverage:

Attorneys say they are not expecting the U.S. Department of the Interior to announce an immediate oil and gas lease sale after the agency said that it will proceed with leasing following a federal court injunction. UW law Professor Sam Kalen was among attorneys interviewed by Bloomberg Law.

Newsweek teamed up with Make:, publisher of Make: magazine and books, to name UW as one of the Best Maker Schools in Higher Education. Make: is considered the global leader of the maker movement.

A new analysis suggests researchers often test mice, nocturnal creatures, during the day, which could alter results and create variability across studies, according to Scientific American. UW zoology and physiology Assistant Professor William Todd was interviewed for the article.

Wyoming News Now and The Wyoming Tribune Eagle published UWs release noting that recent UW Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources graduate Megan Andersen, of Sturgis, S.D., was the lead author of a new study that explores the ecological role of American badgers.

A proposed nuclear reactor in Wyoming was the focus of a recent WyoFile article. The story noted that UW does not have a nuclear energy program, but the universitys School of Energy Resources could facilitate the training necessary to develop workforces for constructing and operating the facility.

With the energy market changing, the Wyoming Energy Authority team is tasked with finding solutions to the states future, according to a Casper Star-Tribune article. UW economist Rob Godby was interviewed for the article. He said the state is long overdue for an energy strategy that looks at the future as its going to be.

UW Professor Christine Porter, a Wyoming Excellence Chair, was interviewed for a Mountain West News Bureau story, titled As Delta Variant Spreads, Conservative Leaders In The Rural West Continue To Sow Distrust. Wyoming Public Media published the story.

WyoToday Media and Wyoming News Now published UWs media release announcing that masks are now required inside most UW buildings where 6-foot social distancing isnt possible. Cowboy State Daily published a related article. Sheridan Media noted that mandatory COVID-19 testing for the UW community continued through the weekend.

Wyoming Public Radio interviewed several UW students on their opinions on mandatory vaccinations.

An effort by UW Extension and Wyoming 2-1-1 to increase COVID-19 vaccination rates in Wyoming is appealing to the states individualism. Laramie Live and Wyo4News published UWs announcement.

WalletHub interviewed UW finance Assistant Professor Tim Zhang for an article on balance transfer credit cards.

The Wyoming Small Business Development Center Network, based at UW, received a $125,000 grant to provide specialized training, mentoring and technical assistance for research and development-focused small businesses. Sheridan Media and Laramie Live published UWs release on the announcement.

Wyoming News Now published UWs release noting that three College of Health Sciences faculty members were awarded funding to develop a partnership with the Wyoming Life Resource Center in Lander. They are Erin Bush, an associate professor in the Division of Communication Disorders; Michelle Jarman, an associate professor in the Wyoming Institute for Disabilities; and Sandy Leotti, an assistant professor in the Division of Social Work.

Karen Vaughan and Linda van Diepen are the first two tenured female soil scientists at UW. Wyoming Public Radio interviewed them on their achievements.

The first phase of a bighorn sheep habitat improvement project near Dubois will begin today (Monday), WyoToday Media reported. UW was among several entities that contributed to a collaborative public process that resulted in a new management plan for the Whiskey Mountain bighorn sheep herd.

The Laramie Boomerang interviewed several incoming students last weekend at UW.

IMPACT Sheridan announced the kickoff of the 2021 Sheridan Start-Up Challenge with the opening of the application period Aug. 16. The Sheridan Press reported on the entrepreneur competition, which is sponsored by IMPACT 307, located at UW.

KGAB Radio published UWs release noting that UWs Nordic ski team will host the annual Trash 2 Treasures fundraiser this Saturday.
Astrologer NANCY BLACK continues her mother Linda Black's legacy horoscopes column. She welcomes comments and questions on Twitter, @LindaCBlack. For more astrological interpretations, visit Linda Black Astrology go to www.nancyblack.com.

(c)2016 bY NANCY BLACK. DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.


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Fort Polk, LA (71446)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 95F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Partly cloudy skies. Low 74F. Winds light and variable.
SHREVEPORT, La- A Shreveport family is looking to the City of Shreveport and the State of Louisiana for help after a car crashed into their home. It happened, Sunday, Aug.15. This incident was the worst, but not the first.

"By the grace of God, nobody was killed or nobody was injured," said Tanny Days. Tanny lives with her husband and son on the corner of N. Market St. and North Lakewood Dr. Sunday, Aug.15 an 18-year-old crashed into their den in their home, according to Days.

"Normally, my husband is sitting in there late at night, watching westerns, but he got up and walked out," said Tanny. "I had just walked out of there, and then all of a sudden, he comes around the corner. He says, Tanny, the hot water heater busted. I said, there's a vehicle in the den and I'm looking at the headlights."

Tanny and her family have been living with family since it happened, as their house is currently unlivable.

They found the gas meter out in the yard. The AC unit was flat as a pancake, which ended up in the den. A gas leak called for them to wait across the street for their safety.

"When he hit that, to be honest with you, our household and his car was supposed to explode," said Kendall Days, who lives with his parents. "All four of us, plus him, are supposed to be dead right now, to be honest with you, but by the grace of God we still here." Kendall said he is tired of his parent having to worry about getting something done.

Tanny recalled about six different situations where drivers crashed onto their property. Several times, the family had their fence replaced. Their vehicles were damaged from cars that crashed onto their property.

Over the past years, Tanny contacted officials from Shreveport City Council to State Representatives and the Louisiana Department of Transportation with no progress.

Erin Buchanan with the DOTD commented on their situation. Buchanan said the DOTD cannot support removing the crosswalk as it would remove any safe option for residents to cross. In Buchanan's e-mail response, she did comment on the use of the crosswalk stating: "Recent field studies show that pedestrians do cross LA 1 (N. Market St) in the vicinity of N. Lakewood Drive, though they arent always using the crosswalk that is there for their safety. We cannot remove the crosswalk without legislative action and support from the City of Shreveport and other stakeholders. Additionally, removing the facility would eliminate any safe option for crossing LA 1, and DOTD cannot support that action,"

Katrina Henderson is the North Lakewood Neighborhood President. Henderson would like to see the family helped. The crosswalk was put up after her son was hit by a car and died in 2007. Henderson said the crosswalk was not placed far enough down the road, and it should have been placed past the Days home, near a store and a library where residents need to cross.

"The concern is that they are speeding through here, causing havoc on our neighborhood," said Henderson. "Because they're having wrecks, it affects everybody because when they're hurt, we're hurt. When they hurt them, it blocks us from getting into our neighborhood, and that's a concern to me."

Tanny requested a guard rail to protect their home. Buchanan said those are normally installed to block hazards to motorists located 30 feet from the travel lane. Buchanan said the fencing of the Days home is about 65 feet away from the street.

KTBS asked what would deem it necessary for something to be done. Buchanan said they will review the latest crash report and incident to determine what actions may be appropriate based on the pattern of crashes at the location.

In a final statement Buchanan stated: "It truly is unfortunate that this keeps occurring, and well certainly do what we can within our resources to provide assistance with the situation. We would suggest that the family have a professional come out and provide some options for them."

Some might ask, why not move? Tanny said they own their home and have lived there since 1987. She is retiring soon and her family isn't looking for a house note. Right now, the family is waiting on an estimate to get their house fixed. A timeline for them to move back home is not set.

"There have been a lot of accidents, and it's all because people hit that crosswalk," said Tanny. "I can see if they're not gonna take the crosswalk up, fine, but at least put a barrier there so that they don't end up on our property."
Paducah Murder Suspect Turns Himself In

By West Kentucky Star Staff

PADUCAH - A man charged with a shooting death last month has been arrested after turning himself in.The Paducah Police Department said 25-year-old Areion Jones turned himself in just before 1:00 p.m. on Sunday.Jones is charged with shooting and killing Justin Crabtree on July 22 at a home on North 12th Street.Authorities said there was an argument between Crabtree and two others on North 13th Street. Crabtree returned to his home after the argument and was shot a short time later.Crabtree later died at a Nashville hospital.Jones is charged with murder and possession of a handgun by a convicted felon. He was also served a warrant for a parole violation.
Comer to Speak at Chamber Breakfast

By West Kentucky Star Staff

PADUCAH - The September 2 Power in Partnership Breakfast, hosted by the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce, will feature U.S. Congressman James Comer.Comer has served Kentucky 's 1st Congressional District since he was elected in 2016. He's currently the Republican Leader of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, and a member of the House Committee on Education and Labor.The breakfast begins at 7:30 a.m. at the Julian Carroll Convention Center and pre-registration is required. The cost is $20. Pre-registration is required by noon, August 30. Register at paducahchamber.org or call 270-443-1746.Safety protocols to be followed at the breakfast include masks requirments except when eating and drinking; tables will be spread out with fewer seats at each table; boxed meals will be served; and hand sanitizing stations will be available. The Chamber asks that you do not attend if you are feeling ill or have recently been exposed to COVID-19.The breakfast will also serve as the kick-off to the Chambers annual Membership and Total Resource Campaign, which will run until October 14. Cory Hicks, Business Services Director for Four Rivers Nuclear Partnership and Chair-Elect of the Paducah Chamber Board of Directors, will lead the campaign as Chairman and will introduce the 2021 Campaign Team Captains.
Kentucky Lake Paddle-up Event Moved to October

By West Kentucky Star Staff





CALVERT CITY - The Kentucky Lake Paddle-up event originally scheduled for Saturday, August 21 has been postponed to October 9.The KY Lake Paddle Up is a family-friendly paddle event in partnership with the City of Calvert City, Kentucky Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Tennessee RiverLine.Bring a kayak, canoe, or any other worthy paddle craft for a trip from Sledd Creek to Kentucky Dam Village Boat Ramp.Beginning between 8:00-8:30 am, meet at Kentucky Dam Village New Beach Pavilion (Old Paddle Boat Area) for a short safety overview then groups will be shuttled to Sledd Creek boat launch for a leisurely group paddle four miles downriver back to Kentucky Dam Village Boat Ramp. Expect to be on the water for 2-3 hours. Lunch will be provided to all pre-registered paddlers by Buns Out Hot Dog Cart and includes a free t-shirt.For those who do not own a kayak but want to participate, 12 kayaks are available to reserve. Bring your own, or use one of the rentals for this fun-filled event on Kentucky Lake.All paddlers are required to wear a life jacket and know how to swim.
FDA Approves Pfizer Vaccine for COVID-19

By The Associated Press





WASHINGTON - The U.S. gave full approval to Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine Monday, potentially boosting public confidence in the shots and instantly opening the way for more universities, companies and local governments to make vaccinations mandatory.The Pentagon promptly announced it will press ahead with plans to require members of the military to get vaccinated amid the battle against the extra-contagious delta variant. Louisiana State University likewise said it will demand its students get the shot.More than 200 million Pfizer doses have been administered in the U.S. under special emergency provisions  and hundreds of millions more worldwide  since December. In going a step further and granting full approval, the Food and Drug Administration cited months of real-world evidence that serious side effects are extremely rare.President Joe Biden said that for those who hesitated to get the vaccine until it received what he dubbed the "gold standard" of FDA approval, "the moment you've been waiting for is here.""Please get vaccinated today," he said.Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla called the FDA's action "an important milestone that I think will unlock some of the more skeptical minds."Pfizer said the U.S. is the first country to grant full approval of its vaccine, in a process that required a 360,000-page application and rigorous inspections. Never before has the FDA has so much evidence to judge a shot's safety.The formula, jointly developed with Germany's BioNTech, will be marketed under the brand name Comirnaty.Moderna has also applied to the FDA for full approval of its vaccine. Johnson & Johnson, maker of the third option in the U.S., said it hopes to do so later this year.Just over half of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated. Vaccinations in this country bottomed out in July at an average of about a half-million shots per day, down from a peak of 3.4 million a day in mid-April. As the delta variant fills hospital beds, shots are on the rise again, with a million a day given Thursday, Friday and Saturday.Full approval of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine means it meets the same "very high standards required of all the approved vaccines we rely on every day," said Dr. Jesse Goodman of Georgetown University, a former FDA vaccine chief. That should help "anyone who still has concerns gain confidence" in the shots.Earlier this month, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he would seek the president's OK to make the vaccine mandatory by mid-September or once the FDA grants final approval, whichever comes first. On Monday, after the FDA acted, the Pentagon said guidance on vaccinations will be worked out and a timeline will be provided in the coming days.The approval also opened the way for swift action by colleges to require vaccines and solidified the legal ground for hundreds of universities that have already issued mandates for students and staff.LSU, with over 30,000 students, acted amid a surge in Louisiana that has repeatedly broken records for the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19. Some major college systems such as the University of Minnesota said they were waiting for FDA approval before making vaccinations mandatory. But some states forbid universities to require shots, including Texas and Florida."Mandating becomes much easier when you have full approval," said Dr. Carlos del Rio of Emory University. "I think a lot of businesses have been waiting for it."On the same day the FDA decision came down, New York City announced that all public school teachers and other staffers will have to get vaccinated.Earlier this month, New York City, New Orleans and San Francisco all imposed proof-of-vaccination requirements at restaurants, bars and other indoor venues. At the federal level, Biden is requiring government workers to sign forms attesting that they have been vaccinated or else submit to regular testing and other requirements.Anxious Americans increasingly are on board: Close to 6 in 10 favor requiring people to be fully vaccinated to fly or attend crowded public events, according to a recent poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.The delta variant has sent cases, deaths and hospitalizations soaring in recent weeks in the U.S., erasing months of progress. Deaths are running at about 1,000 a day on average for the first time since mid-March, and new cases are averaging 147,000 a day, a level last seen at the end of January."For weeks we have watched cases go up at an alarming pace among individuals who are not vaccinated while the vaccinated are largely protected," said Dr. Tomas J. Aragon, director of California's public health department. "If you are not vaccinated, let this be the milestone that gets you there."The FDA, like regulators in Europe and much of the rest of the world, initially allowed emergency use of Pfizer's vaccine based on a study that tracked 44,000 people 16 and older for at least two months  the time period when serious side effects typically arise.That's shorter than the six months of safety data normally required for full approval. So Pfizer kept that study going, and the FDA also examined real-world safety evidence.Pfizer's shot will continue to be dispensed to 12- to 15-year-olds under an emergency use authorization, until the company files its its application for full approval.Normally, doctors can prescribe FDA-approved products for other reasons than their original use. But FDA's acting Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock strongly warned that the Pfizer vaccine should not be used "off-label" for children under 12  a warning echoed by the American Academy of Pediatrics.Both Pfizer and Moderna have vaccine studies underway in youngsters, and they are using lower doses than those available for people 12 and older.Pfizer's Bourla said he expects study results from 5- to 11-year-olds by the end of September, but data for those younger than 5 will take a couple of months.Also, Woodcock said health providers are offering COVID-19 vaccines under agreements with the government that should preclude using Monday's approval as a pretext for offering booster shots to the general population.Currently, the FDA has authorized third doses of either Pfizer's or Moderna's vaccine only for certain people with severely weakened immune systems, such as organ transplant recipients. For everyone else, the Biden administration is planning for boosters starting in the fall. But the FDA is evaluating that question separately.In reaching Monday's decision, the FDA said serious side effects remain very rare, such as chest pain and heart inflammation a few days after the second dose, mostly in young men.As for effectiveness, six months into Pfizer's original study, the vaccine remained 97% protective against severe COVID-19. Protection against milder infection waned slightly, from a peak of 96% two months after the second dose to 84% by six months.Those findings came before the delta variant began spreading, but other data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows the vaccine is still doing a good job preventing severe disease.
FILE - In this July 10, 2020, file photo healthcare workers test patients in their cars at a drive-thru coronavirus testing site in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher, File) PHOTO:AP Photo/John Locher/File

It's Healthcare Heroes Appreciation Week in KY

By The Associated Press

LOUISVILLE - Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has declared the week of Aug. 22- 28 as Healthcare Heroes Appreciation Week,.The declaration is in honor of the doctors, nurses, hospital and clinic staff, and others who have helped the Bluegrass State during the COVID-19 pandemic.Beshear urges businesses and community members to find ways to show gratitude for healthcare workers. He adds that the most important way, is to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-11 03:42:36|Editor: huaxia

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Workers walk past a poster about King Khufu's solar boat at the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, Egypt, on Aug. 10, 2021. Egyptian officials highlighted on Tuesday the recent successful transportation of a huge fragile 4,600-year-old pharaonic boat from an old museum to the new Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) nearly 10 km away. The 42-meter-long and 20-tonne solar boat was discovered in 1954 beside the Great Pyramid of Giza that belonged to King Khufu. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

CAIRO, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian officials highlighted on Tuesday the recent successful transportation of a huge fragile 4,600-year-old pharaonic boat from an old museum to the new Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) nearly 10 km away.

The 42-meter-long and 20-tonne solar boat was discovered in 1954 beside the Great Pyramid of Giza that belonged to King Khufu.

"It is considered one of the most important events in Egypt's history, especially in archeology, because the artifact is considered one of the biggest and oldest organic artifacts ever discovered," El-Tayeb Abbas, assistant minister of Tourism and Antiquities for Archaeological Affairs at the GEM, told Xinhua following a press conference held at the massive museum.

"We have taken all necessary procedures to secure the artifact, including radar scanning of the whole area and the path of the boat, in addition to securing the body of the boat with a wooden cage inside a steel cage," Abbas explained.

The boat was brought to a special building in the GEM before it is completed, because the staff had to place it inside the building first then construct the roof of the building later.

"We plan to finish the building by the end of this year and then we will start removing the steel cage gradually when the environmental control system inside the building is prepared," the official pointed out.

The idea of relocating the boat was raised by the Egyptian culture ministry in 2002 and later by the antiquities ministry, but after studies they concluded that it was too risky to relocate the fragile artifact.

In his remarks, Atef Moftah, supervisor general of the GEM project, clarified that the purpose of relocating the boat was to get rid of the visual disturbance caused by the old museum at Giza Plateau and provide a better view of the southern side of Khufu's pyramid.

Moftah explained how hard it was to move the ancient vessel that was placed inside the steel cage and carefully position it by a crane on top of two self-propelled modular trailers (SPMTs). "It was like a 16-story building lying down on a trailer."

"The two SPMTs and the steel cage weighed together about 300 tonnes and had to cover a distance of 8.5 or 9 km in very steep slopes," said the GEM project chief, noting that they conducted two complete trials before moving the boat.

The GEM's conservation center was in charge of dismantling the removable parts of the boat, such as its 12 paddles, ahead of relocation.

"Our conservation center is one of the largest worldwide. Its team leads the archeological works inside Khufu's boat, in terms of restoration, sterilization, dismantling and packing the paddles," Eissa Zidan, head of antiquities conservation and transportation affairs at the GEM, told Xinhua.

There is another boat of King Khufu discovered near the first one back then, yet its pieces remained in their hole for decades and the conservation center is currently working on restoring them in cooperation with foreign experts.

"As for the second boat, extracting all the wooden parts from the hole was completed. They are 1,700 wooden pieces so far, of which 1,600 have been restored and 1,300 have been moved to the conservation center," Zidan said.

He added that the second boat will be assembled soon after the building is completed, so that both boats will be displayed side by side. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-16 05:18:18|Editor: huaxia

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A staff member replaces a new face mask as required at the entrance of the Aviva Center during the 2021 National Bank Open in Toronto, Canada, on Aug. 15, 2021. Canada's new COVID-19 cases continue rising, bringing the cumulative total to 1,451,211 cases, including 26,700 deaths, as of Sunday afternoon, according to CTV. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua)

OTTAWA, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Canada's new COVID-19 cases continue rising, bringing the cumulative total to 1,451,211 cases, including 26,700 deaths, as of Sunday afternoon, according to CTV.

At the national level, the Delta variant currently accounts for the majority of recently reported variant cases in the country.

Ontario, the most populous province in Canada, reported 511 new cases on Sunday.

Of the cases added, 350 were recorded in individuals who are unvaccinated and 67 were in those partially vaccinated. The remaining 94 cases were found in fully vaccinated people.

Meanwhile, Saskatchewan confirmed 143 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, bringing active cases up to 1,043.

Canadian Transport Minister Omar Alghabra announced on Friday that the federal government will soon require that all public servants be vaccinated -- a mandate that he said will also be implemented by state-run corporations and other federally regulated businesses in the coming weeks.

There are more than 300,000 federal public servants and tens of thousands more people are working in industries that fall under the federal labor code. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-20 05:43:28|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Thursday called for efforts to continue to fight terrorism in Afghanistan so as to prevent it from again becoming a paradise for terrorists.

For 20 years since the war on terror in Afghanistan started, the threat of terrorism has not been eliminated. Instead, the number of terrorist organizations in the country has increased from single-digit to more than 20 with close to 10,000 foreign terrorists in the country, said Dai Bing, the charge d'affaires at the Chinese Permanent Mission to the United Nations.

Security Council committee monitoring teams have issued reports repeatedly this year, pointing out that terrorist organizations, such as the Islamic State, al-Qaida, the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, and the Pakistani Taliban, have multiplied and gathered in Afghanistan, he told the Security Council.

The current situation in Afghanistan has undergone major changes, and terrorist organizations are likely to take advantage of this chaos, warned Dai.

"Afghanistan must never become a paradise for terrorists again. We hope the Taliban will completely cut off ties with all terrorist organizations. All countries should cooperate with each other in combating all sorts of terrorism in accordance with international law and Security Council resolutions so as to bring a hope of peace to Afghanistan," he said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-22 18:05:23|Editor: huaxia

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A freight train bound for Kazakhstan leaves Nanning international railway port in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, March 13, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhang Ailin)

NANNING, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region saw a surge in China-Europe freight train trips in the first seven months of this year, according to Nanning Customs.

From January to July, there were 400 inbound and outbound China-Europe freight trains via the region's Pingxiang port, which borders Vietnam, up 80.2 percent year on year.

A total of 12,286 TEUs of goods were transported by China-Europe freight train service, tripling the figure from the same period last year.

The province has so far launched 10 China-Europe freight train routes, with increasing varieties of goods being imported and exported, said Li Donghui with an international railway logistics company based in Nanning. 
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-22 18:24:57|Editor: huaxia

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Afghans gather near a gate of Kabul airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, Aug. 22, 2021. Seven Afghan civilians were killed amid chaos near the Kabul airport as people swarmed the area in hopes of boarding an evacuation flight following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, Britain's Ministry of Defense said Sunday. (Xinhua/Rahmatullah Alizadah)

LONDON, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Seven Afghan civilians were killed amid chaos near the Kabul airport as people swarmed the area in hopes of boarding an evacuation flight following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, Britain's Ministry of Defense said Sunday.

The ministry did not elaborate when they were killed or if the latest death toll is on top of the four women reportedly crushed to death in a stampede in front of the airport on Saturday.

"Conditions on the ground remain extremely challenging but we are doing everything we can to manage the situation as safely and securely as possible," it said in a statement.

British Secretary of Defense Ben Wallace told British newspaper The Daily Mail on Sunday that "no nation will be able to get everyone out" before the Aug. 31 deadline set by the United States for a total withdrawal from Afghanistan.

"Perhaps the Americans will be permitted to stay longer and they will have our complete support if they do," Wallace said in a veiled plea for Washington to extend the deadline.

The United States on Saturday issued a security alert urging its citizens to avoid the Kabul airport amid concerns about the potential for attacks by the Afghan branch of the Islamic State group.

Leaders of the Group of Seven will meet online early next week to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, as the rift between Washington and its European allies seems to have widened over the former's hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-22 23:50:07|Editor: huaxia

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Pedestrians walk in the rain caused by tropical storm Henri, in Times Square in New York, the United States, on Aug. 22, 2021. The hurricane warning for Long Island, the southern coast of New England and Block Island in the northeast of the United States has been changed to a tropical storm warning, said an updated advisory from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) on Sunday morning. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

NEW YORK, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- The hurricane warning for Long Island, the southern coast of New England and Block Island in the northeast of the United States has been changed to a tropical storm warning, said an updated advisory from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) on Sunday morning.

Tropical storm Henri is expected to land in southern New England or on Long Island later Sunday morning or early in the afternoon, said the NHC.

As of 11 a.m. Sunday, tropical storm Henri is around 15 miles in the east of Montauk Point of Long Island and around 50 miles in the south-southwest of Rhode Island's Providence while moving north-northwest at a speed of 12 miles per hour.

Still, a storm surge warning and a tropical storm warning are still in effect in Long Island, part of Massachusetts and other areas.

New York State declared a state of emergency Saturday for over 20 counties as Henri was heading toward the city's Long Island as a Category 1 hurricane.

New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo also activated 500 National Guard troops for deployment to Long Island and the Hudson Valley region to help localities with storm response.

A voluntary evacuation order was issued on Saturday afternoon in Suffolk County on Long Island encouraging people from Fire Island to leave on the same day. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-22 23:54:23|Editor: huaxia

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Workers are ready to pick up watermelons in a planting base in Panggezhuang Township of Daxing District in Beijing, capital of China, April 24, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

BEIJING, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Watermelons have brought Beijing farmer Li Wanbo 300,000 yuan (about 46,200 U.S. dollars) this summer alone, a great leap from when he worked in the city proper with a monthly salary of 4,000 yuan.

"I grew up with watermelons," said the 29-year-old man from Panggezhuang, a township in southwestern Beijing famous for its sweet and crispy watermelons. "My father grew the flowering plant when I was a child, selling them near our home."

According to Li, new developments in technology have enabled increased melon yields, as well as more ways to sell them.

"We now sell the fruit online through live-streaming shows to consumers across the country and deliver them via convenient express networks," he said.

Panggezhuang is now home to 6,500 watermelon farmers like Li. Located on the alluvial plain of the Yongding River, the township boasts fertile soil with plenty of the trace elements required for growing watermelons, and has long enjoyed the reputation of China's "Land of Watermelons."

The annual output of watermelons in the township can hit 110 million kg, with the sales volume reaching 230 million yuan a year, according to the local agricultural service center.

In recent years, Panggezhuang has been stepping up efforts to build its own brand featuring small varieties.

"Look at our Panggezhuang watermelons. They are only the size of two fists. The skin is very thin. You can peel it and eat it upon twisting the melon off the vine. It's juicy and sweet," said a live-streamer nicknamed Xiaojinge, as he displayed the small fruit on his show.

There has been a significant change in watermelon planting in Panggezhuang since 2000, with larger numbers of small watermelons weighing from 1.5 kg to 2.5 kg, rather than the traditional big ones weighing from 6 kg to 8 kg, said Chen Zongguang, an official of the local agriculture service center.

Now 90 percent of Panggezhuang farmers grow small varieties. "Relatively small watermelons sell better, as they can be eaten up at one time, which helps maintain freshness while reducing waste," Chen said.

Last year, to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic, the township government took the initiative of connecting 10 watermelon cooperatives in Panggezhuang with an e-commerce sales platform, boosting sales both online and offline.

From January to December in 2020, professional cooperatives sold more than 4.56 million kg of watermelons online through e-commerce platforms such as JD.com and Taobao, registering a sales volume of nearly 45.25 million yuan. Meanwhile, over 10.99 million kg of watermelons were sold offline, with a sales volume of 71.616 million yuan.

"The small watermelon represents a big industry," Li said. "The watermelon has allowed us to construct buildings, buy new cars and be better off." 
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-23 00:42:25|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on Feb. 19, 2020 shows the Pentagon seen from an airplane over Washington D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has asked U.S. airlines to provide the Pentagon access to commercial air mobility resources to support evacuation from Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin ordered U.S. airlines to provide 18 aircraft to support evacuation missions from Afghanistan, the Pentagon said on Sunday.

Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said in a statement that Austin has ordered the Commander of U.S. Transportation Command "to activate Stage I of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF)," which provides the Pentagon access to commercial air mobility resources to support evacuation from Afghanistan.

"The current activation is for 18 aircraft: three each from American Airlines, Atlas Air, Delta Air Lines and Omni Air; two from Hawaiian Airlines; and four from United Airlines," said the statement.

The statement added that the commercial planes would not fly into Kabul Airport. U.S. Military aircraft will focus on operations in and out of Kabul, and commercial planes "will be used for the onward movement of passengers from temporary safe havens and interim staging bases," it said.

This is the third time in history the military has activated CRAF, according to the Pentagon. The first was during the Gulf War and the second the Iraq War.

The United States has been scrambling to evacuate Americans and its Afghan partners from the country since Taliban forces entered the capital Kabul on Aug. 15. 
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-23 01:27:35|Editor: huaxia

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STOCKHOLM, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said on Sunday that he will step down in November as party leader and prime minister.

The unexpected announcement by the leader of the Social Democratic Party was made during his annual summer speech.

"I have been party chairman for ten years, and prime minister for seven," he was quoted by local media as saying, adding: "But everything has an end, and I want to give my successor the very best conditions."

In July, Lofven became prime minister for the third consecutive term shortly after becoming the first Swedish prime minister to be forced to resign following a no-confidence vote.

Following his unexpected announcement on Sunday, he told Swedish Television that until recently he was set on continuing for the next mandate period and that he only made the decision to step down during the summer.

He said his decision is meant to give his party better chances in the next general election scheduled for September 2022.

It was not yet clear who would replace Lofven. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-23 04:56:18|Editor: huaxia

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RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Brazilian government on Sunday sent a plane carrying humanitarian aid and 32 firefighters specializing in rescue to Haiti to help with search and reconstruction efforts after a 7.2-magnitude earthquake hit the Caribbean country on Aug. 14.

According to the Ministry of Defense, a KC-390 Millennium freighter from the Brazilian Air Force left early on Sunday for Port-au-Prince, the Haitian capital.

The aircraft is carrying more than 3.5 tons of medicines and other aid from the Brazilian Ministry of Health, including stretchers, neck braces, insulin, and other items.

A total of 32 military firefighters and a representative from the Ministry of Regional Development make up the Brazilian team.

According to Haiti's civil protection agency, the earthquake left at least 2,207 dead, 344 missing and 12,268 injured, and destroyed 52,923 homes and damaged 77,006 others. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-23 09:27:44|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland on Sunday reported 21 imported COVID-19 cases but no new locally transmitted cases, the National Health Commission said in its daily report on Monday.

Among the imported cases, five were reported in Guangdong, four in Shanghai, three each in Tianjin and Yunnan, two in Beijing, and one each in Shanxi, Zhejiang, Henan and Sichuan.

One suspected case arriving from outside the mainland was reported in Shanghai on Sunday.

No new deaths related to COVID-19 were reported Sunday, said the commission. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-23 12:04:26|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- China's Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) has ordered the arrest of Song Liang, former vice governor of northwest China's Gansu Province, for suspected bribe-taking.

Song's case was transferred to procuratorial authorities for prosecution following an investigation by the National Supervisory Commission, the SPP said Monday.

The handling of the case is currently underway. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-23 13:33:52|Editor: huaxia

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HONG KONG, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Luo Huining, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, on Monday urged Hong Kong to firmly seize a new round of historic opportunities from the national development for its long-term prosperity and stability.

Luo made the remarks when addressing the first of a series of activities on the introduction of the outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for national socio-economic development.

A central government delegation started Monday its special tour here to help various sectors in Hong Kong to better understand the national 14th Five-Year Plan and grasp the fresh opportunities from the national development scheme.

The 14th Five-Year Plan sets out major requirements for Hong Kong's development in a full-spectrum of areas including politics, economy and culture, which reflects the central authorities' strategic consideration that combines both the international and domestic situations, and promotes Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability, he said.

Hong Kong's economic status as an international financial, trade and shipping center and a global hub for offshore renminbi business lies in its geographical position of being connected to the mainland and its favorable investment and business environment, Luo said, pointing out that the biggest opportunity for global development lies in China, and the biggest opportunity for Hong Kong's development lies in the mainland.

With the implementation of the 14th Five-Year Plan and the establishment of the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035, Hong Kong is facing a new round of historic development opportunities, thus it must seize them tightly, he said.

"Development is an eternal theme and the gold key of solving all kinds of problems," Luo said. "Over the past year and more, Hong Kong's efforts to set things right have been aimed at safeguarding and developing the fundamental well-being of the Hong Kong residents, achieving long-term prosperity and stability in Hong Kong, and advancing the steady and long-term implementation of 'one country, two systems,'" Luo said.

The Chinese central authorities have been paying close attention to Hong Kong's economic development and the improvement of people's livelihood, he said, adding that as the 14th Five-Year Plan has once again defined the orientation of Hong Kong's development and provided more policy support, it is necessary for the Hong Kong society to take further actions, he said.

The delegation is composed of officials from central government departments including the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Science and Technology and the People's Bank of China.

The activities are aimed at helping Hong Kong comprehensively and accurately grasp the spirit of the outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan, reach social consensus, and better integrate into the overall development of the country. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-20 03:32:44|Editor: huaxia

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NOUAKCHOTT, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Forty-seven migrants were found drowned on Aug. 16 off the coast of Nouadhibou, northwest Mauritania, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) announced in a joint statement.

According to the statement received on Thursday by Xinhua, a boat carrying the migrants left on Aug. 3 from North Africa's Atlantic coast for the Canary Islands and was carrying 54 people, including three children.

"After two days at sea, an engine failure left the passengers stranded without food or water for almost two weeks. When they were spotted by the Mauritanian coast guards on Aug. 16, only seven people were still alive, four of them in critical condition," the statement said.

The tragedy came 10 days after the death of 40 other migrants on the same route, the two agencies added. According to the IOM, in January 2021, more than 350 people died, while more than 8,000 refugees and migrants reached Spain via this sea route.

Since October 2020, more than 1,200 people have been rescued off the Mauritanian coast and received medical assistance as part of a first aid program set up by the IOM.

The IOM and UNHCR are appealing for more support to be able to continue their lifesaving interventions, including screening and medical and psychosocial aid. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-23 07:18:50|Editor: huaxia

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ACCRA, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- At least 10 people died and dozens were injured in a road accident in southern Ghana on Sunday, an official confirmed.

Winneba Municipal Fire Officer Henry Asiedu said the accident happened when two buses traveling in opposite directions collided at Gomoa Mampong, a fishing community near the Accra-Cape Coast highway.

"It was fatal, and we had to take our time to collect the bodies. About 10 people have died, while the rest are receiving treatment at the Winneba Trauma and Specialist Hospital," Asiedu said.

Asiedu added that some passengers had been trapped in the wreckage, but the fire service personnel managed to rescue them.

An investigation into the cause of the accident is underway. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-23 10:04:47|Editor: huaxia

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CANBERRA, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government has warned of scams targeting people relying on COVID-19 disaster payments.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) recently revealed that along with major banks, it has identified a slew of scams related to coronavirus support payments.

According to the ACCC, 69 scams have been reported and in four cases more than 37,000 Australian dollars (26,401 U.S. dollars) were stolen.

Linda Reynolds, the Minister for Government Services, described scammers targeting vulnerable Australians amid widespread outbreaks of COVID-19 as a "low act".

"The agency is acutely aware of the unfortunate risk of scams and provides secure ways of claiming online," she said, according to The Canberra Times on Monday.

"Services Australia will never contact customers about a new claim for payment if they have not applied first online, over the phone or in a service center."

The federal COVID-19 disaster payment is worth about 750 Australian dollars (535.3 U.S. dollars) per week for full-time employees who are unable to work due to lockdowns.

Some of the reported scams involved criminals purporting to be from the government and asking for a victim's financial details.

Recently, about half the Australian population in New South Wales(NSW), Victoria, and the Australian Capital Territory(ACT) are in lockdown as the country continues to battle the third wave of COVID-19 infections.

Ben Young, head of fraud at Westpac bank, said isolation made people more prone to scams.

"Being separated from others while in lockdown, experiencing changes to your employment and spending more time transacting online can make us more vulnerable to scammers," he said.

"Our research shows that in the last year, self-employed Australians and those who were looking for work were twice as likely to have been scammed." Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-23 11:43:52|Editor: huaxia

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CANBERRA, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Monday that the country "cannot hold back" in reopening when a majority of adults are fully vaccinated.

He warned the state and territory leaders that they cannot be afraid of coronavirus case numbers rising after 70 percent of adults have received two vaccine doses.

The National Cabinet, which is made up of the prime minister and state and territory leaders, in July, signed off on a four-phase pathway out of the pandemic that will see lockdowns used more sparingly when 70 percent of adults are inoculated.

"Once you get to 70 percent of your country that is eligible for the vaccine and 80 percent, the plan sets out that we have to move forward, we cannot hold back," he told reporters in Canberra.

"We must adjust our mindset. Cases will not be the issue ... Dealing with serious illness, hospitalization, ICU capabilities, our ability to respond in those circumstances, that will be our goal."

He also said that the lockdowns "are taking an extremely heavy toll", in both the aspects of the mental and physical health of Australians and on the economic success.

Australia on Monday morning reported 905 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 - the second most of any day since the start of the pandemic.

As many as 818 of the new cases were in New South Wales (NSW), Australia's most populous state with Sydney as the capital city.

Victoria, the second-most populous state with Melbourne as the capital city, reported a further 71 new cases and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) recorded another 16 where the nation's capital Canberra had entered its second week of lockdown.

So far, about half the Australian population in NSW, Victoria, and ACT was still in lockdown.

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr on Monday announced a plan to fast-track vaccinations in Canberra, inviting Canberrans aged 16-29 to register for vaccinations.

"This is a race, and we do need more people to come forward," he said.

As of Sunday afternoon, there had been 44,028 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Australia, and the number of cases reported in the previous 24 hours was a record-high of 917, most of which were locally acquired, according to the latest figures updated from the Department of Health. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-23 12:31:18|Editor: huaxia

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SEOUL, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Nuclear envoys of South Korea and the United States met here on Monday on humanitarian aid to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), urging Pyongyang to return to the dialogue table.

Sung Kim, the U.S. special representative for the DPRK who arrived in Seoul on Saturday for a four-day trip, held a meeting with Noh Kyu-duk, South Korea's special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs.

"We discussed possible humanitarian assistance to the DPRK," Kim was quoted by Yonhap news agency as saying in a press conference after the meeting.

Kim reaffirmed U.S. support for inter-Korean dialogue and engagement, saying that the United States will continue to lend support to inter-Korean humanitarian cooperation projects.

Noh told reporters that the two sides discussed ways to cooperate with the DPRK in humanitarian areas, including healthcare, quarantine against infectious diseases, drinking water and hygiene, as well as the humanitarian support for the DPRK through international organizations and non-governmental bodies.

The U.S. envoy renewed his call for the resumption of dialogue with the DPRK, saying he continued to stand ready to meet with his DPRK counterparts "anywhere, at any time."

During his visit to Seoul in June, Kim said the United States can meet with the DPRK "anywhere, anytime without preconditions."

After the meeting with Noh, Kim reportedly met in Seoul with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov who arrived here on Saturday for a six-day trip.

Morgulov will hold a meeting with his South Korean counterpart on Tuesday to discuss bilateral cooperative ways for substantive progress in the complete denuclearization of and the permanent peace settlement on the Korean Peninsula, according to the South Korean Foreign Ministry. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-23 15:35:01|Editor: huaxia

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TOKYO, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Japan will send three Self-Defense Forces planes to Afghanistan to evacuate Japanese nationals and local staff who worked for the Japanese embassy and other organizations, the top government spokesperson said on Monday.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said the government will first send one C-2 transport aircraft on Monday and two C-130s on Tuesday to Afghanistan for the evacuation mission.

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party had criticized the decision to evacuate Japanese embassy staff via a British military airplane last week.

After the closure of the Japanese embassy in Afghanistan on Aug. 15, the Japanese diplomats were evacuated to Dubai last Tuesday, but some Japanese nationals working for international organizations have not left yet. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-23 16:41:24|Editor: huaxia

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Bangkok, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's tourism hotspot Pattaya may delay its planned reopening to vaccinated travelers on Sept. 1, as the city is dealing with insufficient vaccinations among locals and a spike in new infections.

Local media on Monday quoted Apichai Chatchalermkit, deputy governor of digitalization research and development at the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) as saying, the authorities are still committed to reopening the resort city within October, in line with the government's plan to fully reopen the country in near future.

A similar message has also been announced on Aug. 21 by Bun-anan Phatthanasin, president of Pattaya Business and Tourism Association, as he indicated that the city needs to get at least 70 percent of its population vaccinated against COVID-19 before reopening to inbound foreign travelers.

The vaccination rate in Chon Buri province where Pattaya is located just reached 33 percent of its population, a long way to go before achieving the proclaimed target of 70 percent.

The authority is also dealing with a surge in daily infections, which has exceeded 1,000 cases since the end of July. The city has ramped up active case tracking in order to provide treatment to people infected with the virus.

Thailand planned to gradually reopen 10 popular tourist destinations including Phuket, Koh Samui, Pattaya and more to foreign tourists by the end of October. Some of these places such as Phuket and Koh Samui have already successfully reopened to international tourism.

In 2019, Pattaya city welcomed around 9.44 million foreign visitors, of which the majority were from China and Russia. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-23 20:05:35|Editor: huaxia

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JAKARTA, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Jakarta Corruption Court on Monday sentenced Indonesia's former social affairs minister Juliari Batubara to 12 years in prison and required him to pay a fine of 500 million rupiahs (about 34,500 U.S. dollars) for a corruption case of COVID-19 social aid.

The court stated that Batubara was proven guilty of receiving bribes of 32.48 billion rupiahs (about 2.25 million U.S. dollars) from his subordinates who got the money from a number of contractors that supplied COVID-19 food aid packages for people in need.

The court also revoked his political right to be elected as a public official for four years, and required him to pay compensation of 14.59 billion rupiahs (about 1.01 million U.S. dollars).

Shortly after his arrest, Batubara resigned from his post. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-23 21:26:47|Editor: huaxia

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JAKARTA, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will foster evidence-based policy planning in the future to achieve inclusive and sustainable development in the region amidst imminent changes and emerging trends, according to the ASEAN Development Outlook (ADO) released Monday during an online forum here.

Being the first cross-sectoral and comprehensive assessment on ASEAN social and environmental development, the flagship report was developed by ASEAN in cooperation with China and brings new perspective to achieve inclusive and sustainable development.

The ADO, themed Inclusive and Sustainable Development, captures the successes and challenges of ASEAN's development to date and offers critical look at possible ways forward to achieve inclusive and sustainable development in the region amidst imminent changes and emerging trends.

In his opening remarks, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Socio-cultural Community Kung Phoak said that the ADO and its innovative perspectives will foster evidence-based policy planning and greater ASEAN policy ownership. He hoped that with policy options, recommendations and grounded solutions, the ADO will help assist policy makers in safeguarding development gains in this challenging time.

Chinese Ambassador to ASEAN Deng Xijun shared that as ASEAN and China celebrate the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-China dialogue relations and ASEAN-China Year of Sustainable Development Cooperation in 2021, the ADO is a landmark outcome of ASEAN-China partnership especially in sustainable development cooperation.

The findings of the report emphasise that direct engagement with the social and cultural spheres of development through participatory methods will ensure individual voices across different cohorts of society are included.

The report calls on a more thorough and inclusive approach in enhancing capabilities of human being, while taking advantage of utilizing foresight approach to development. Moreover, rather than looking out to global practices, the ADO advocates for approaches that are rooted in ASEAN in term of design, implementation and evaluation. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-24 00:25:19|Editor: huaxia

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Lew Chuen Hong, Chief Executive of Singapore's Infocomm Media Development Authority, delivers a speech at the China-Singapore (Chongqing) International Dedicated Connectivity (IDC) Forum, in Singapore, Aug. 23, 2021. The forum is part of the Smart China Expo 2021 held in Chongqing in western China. The China-Singapore (Chongqing) International Dedicated Connectivity (IDC) launched in 2019 has enabled companies in ASEAN to better provide digital services for Western China via the connection through Singapore and vice versa, a Singapore official said here Monday. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua)

SINGAPORE, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The China-Singapore (Chongqing) International Dedicated Connectivity (IDC) launched in 2019 has enabled companies in ASEAN to better provide digital services for Western China via the connection through Singapore and vice versa, a Singapore official said here Monday.

Lew Chuen Hong, Chief Executive of Singapore's Infocomm Media Development Authority, made the remarks while delivering a speech at the Singapore venue of the International Dedicated Connectivity (IDC) Forum, which is part of the Smart China Expo 2021 held in Chongqing in western China.

Being the first point-to-point Internet connectivity between China and a foreign country, IDC links Singapore with seven districts across Chongqing.

He noted that IDC links the two sides with "high speed and low latency", adding that the sectors that stand to benefit range from media to video conferencing, education and healthcare.

The forum is not only attended by representatives from Chongqing and Singapore, but also those from western China's Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan provinces and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Moreover, it also drew participants from other ASEAN countries, including Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia and Thailand, said Lew.

He encouraged all participants to embark on the journey to digitally connect ASEAN and the western China region, which will benefit their businesses and countries.

A Memoranda of Understanding was signed between Singapore and Chongqing Businesses at the expo, with a view to furthering cross border digital collaborations in areas including manufacturing, trade and logistics, and healthcare.

One MoU was inked to facilitate the collaboration between Singapore startup EyRIS Pte Ltd and Beijing's Aurora International Trading to provide autonomous screening of retinal diseases faced by an ageing population through the indigenous use of AI algorithms.

EyRIS' Senior Vice President for Business Development Steven Ang K. H. said that IDC enables them a better access to apply their technology on the data so as to improve the performance of their system and allows them to explore the delivery of other products into China. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-24 01:08:50|Editor: huaxia

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Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi (C) speaks during a press briefing in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan, on Aug. 23, 2021. Qureshi said Monday that Pakistan wants the international community to keep interacting with the Afghan Taliban. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal)

ISLAMABAD, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Monday that his country wants the international community to keep interacting with the Afghan Taliban.

Addressing a press briefing here, Qureshi said that the countries which were in contact with the Taliban or visited by a delegation of Taliban leaders should continue it.

Taliban have a huge responsibility to work for peace in Afghanistan and make sure that its soil is not being used against anyone, he said.

He reiterated that his country is supporting peaceful Afghanistan and will help to work in that direction, hoping that other regional countries will also do the same.

The Pakistani foreign minister also said that he will visit regional countries including Iran, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan to discuss lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan. Enditem
Addis Ababa  Sudan's repeated call to broker the Ethiopian government with the TPLF rebel group could not be taken seriously as the former should first withdraw its troops from Ethiopian territories before playing any negotiation role, an expert in the field said.

Speaking to local media, International Security Expert and Lawyer, Bilen Mamo stated that Sudan lacks the trust due to its army's incursion into Ethiopian territory and the issue should be thoroughly addressed before the latter facilitating the deliberations.

"The Sudanese government has not been able to stabilize the country and it is still ravaged in civil war. In my view, Sudan lacks impartiality, commitment to constructive engagement and capacity to direct the mediation process in the right path."

She further highlighted that Sudan's military invaded Ethiopia and illegally controlled the latter's territory, taking the law enforcement operation in Tigray as a good opportunity. Also, Sudan has begun the construction of war villages within Ethiopia's territory and pursued a destructive campaign against the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

"Sudan has formed a strong military alliance with Egypt and their military training is largely aimed to pressure Ethiopia. It is also evident that the country has been TPLF's ally since its establishment and how on earth the terrorist faction's staunch friend turns into a credible negotiator?"

By the same token, Sudan sheltered and trained more than 30,000 members of the TPLF-affiliated criminal youth group, Samri, who committed killings of over 1,500 ethnic Amharas in Mai Kadra, Bilen noted.
analysis

The rising status of Lagos as an emerging megacity and a commercial nerve centre in sub-Saharan Africa has come with a number of challenges. One of these is the safety of buildings.

Building collapses are common in Lagos - hardly a year passes by without cases. Some have resulted in the loss of many lives. For instance, it was reported that 115 buildings, mostly residential, collapsed in Lagos between 2005 and 2016. And about 4,000 families have been left homeless and traumatised.

I undertook a study to analyse the trends and causes of this problem in Lagos. I wanted to understand the disaster risk reduction measures put in place by the state government to prevent and respond to building collapse. My aim was to provide information for a policy response to prevent and mitigate these disasters.

It emerged that lapses from both private developers and the government contributed to the problem. The solutions lie in awareness, skills, following regulations and making sure there are consequences for failures.

Building collapse

I obtained data from built environment professionals such as architects, builders, structural engineers, town planners, estate surveyors and valuers. These professionals were from the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority, Lagos State Building Control Agency, Lagos State Safety Commission, and those in private practice. I chose these respondents to get professional insights on the subject matter through in-depth interviews.

Data presented in my recent article showed that buildings collapsed yearly the state. The highest number of cases in Lagos were reported in 2011, 2012 and 2019, when 19, 14, and 17 buildings, respectively, collapsed.

Out of 152 buildings that collapsed in Lagos between 2005 and 2020, 76.6% were residential, 13% were commercial and 9.4% were institutional. Most of the buildings that collapsed are typically multi-storey buildings.

These cases of building collapse were due to:

Unqualified or unskilled builders.

Substandard building materials.

Illegal conversion or alterations to existing structures.

Lack of maintenance.

Respondents I interviewed said that collapses were directly linked to greed and ignorance of the developers in charge of building construction in the state. They also stated that ineffective monitoring of building development was a contributor. This was because of lack of manpower and insufficient tools. Corruption of government officials in charge of building plan approval was also a leading factor that respondents mentioned.

Disaster risk reduction practices

The Lagos state government set up four agencies to monitor building development from design stage through construction to completion. They are: Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority, which was established in 1998; Lagos State Building Control Agency, which officially started in August 2012; Lagos State Material Testing Laboratory, established in 2006 and Lagos State Safety Commission which was inaugurated in 2009.

But some of the building environment professionals I interviewed told me that the agencies in charge of building development were short staffed. They also said the agencies did not have enough vehicles to adequately monitor construction projects in Lagos State.

The 2010 urban and regional planning and development law of Lagos empowers the state government to take possession of a property where a building collapse has occurred. The affected property will, however, not be taken over by the government if the owner can prove that the fault is the developer's poor judgement.

The government also has powers to prosecute the building developers and construction engineers; and require that the professional bodies seize or withdraw the licences of erring professionals. The implementation of these penalties, however, remains questionable. There is little or no evidence that such penalties have been meted out to defaulters in the past.

I concluded that building collapse is caused by lapses from both the private developers and the government.

Way forward

Citizens, built environment professionals and government must act to prevent the common problem of building collapse in Lagos, and Nigeria generally. The responsible government agencies and professional bodies must create awareness of the need to obtain planning permission before building. They must also insist on the need to engage professionals in the construction of buildings.

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State governments must fund all the agencies in charge of building. They must also ensure that capable and qualified professionals are employed to ensure implementation of building code regulations. This would go a long way towards effective and efficient building development in the entire country. Equally important is the provision of modern facilities such as drones and GPS for effective monitoring and enforcement of building regulations.

I also suggest that punishment such as heavy fines, forfeiture of property and jail terms should be meted out to any professionals or property owners who contravene building control regulations or engage in unethical practices that could lead to the collapse of buildings.

Olasunkanmi Habeeb Okunola, DAAD ClimapAfrica postdoctoral fellow at the Global Change Institute, University of the Witwatersrand
analysis

Nigeria is sitting on a demographic goldmine which could transform the economy. About 60% of Nigeria's 200 million people are under the age of 25, and that number is expected to increase significantly by 2050.

Instead of being an asset, the country's burgeoning youth population has become an albatross. It poses risks for the economy and social cohesion.

Among Nigeria's economic challenges, youth unemployment remains the most formidable. The World Bank estimates Nigeria's youth unemployment at 17.7% in 2019 compared with 10.8% for Africa. Nigeria's youth unemployment rate is double the national rate of unemployment.

Official statistics on unemployment in Nigeria often underestimate the severity of the problem. For example, they don't account for the fact that over 80% of Nigerians with primary education or more who are regarded as employed are grossly under-employed in low-productivity informal-sector work.

Activities in this sector typically consist of street hawking, petty trading, tailoring, shoe mending, domestic work, roadside food vending, transportation and subsistence agriculture.

The federal and state governments have introduced various measures to address youth unemployment. These include social investment programmes that encourage youth entrepreneurship and support for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. Others are skills development programmes, direct labour for public works projects, loans for agriculture and various initiatives to spur entrepreneurship. Despite all these efforts 65 million young Nigerians, or one in three, are expected to be unemployed in the next four years.

In a recent report the World Bank proposed strategies for addressing youth unemployment in Nigeria.

One is the creation of safe and legal labour migration pathways for young Nigerians to seek job opportunities in other countries. This would be in contrast with the current illegal and perilous migration patterns.

The proposals are laudable, as there are acute shortages of skilled workers in some developed countries. The US, Canada and the UK have introduced special visas for attracting skilled workers from other countries. Workers from Asia, especially India, have benefited from these opportunities.

The World Bank proposes that countries of destination looking to fill labour shortages provide high-quality and industry-relevant training to potential migrants and nonimmigrants in Nigeria. This, it argues, would increase the global stock of workers and contribute to a brain gain.

The onus would need to be on the companies. This is because many young Nigerians lack 21st century skills desired by global corporations.

This proposal is theoretically sound. But it poses a number of questions.

What's missing

Innovation and disruptive technologies have become salient components of industrialised economies. Robotics, 3-D printing, precision machining, data analytics, bioinformatics, digital imaging, design and animation all feature prominently. Not many young Nigerian possess these frontier skills.

This lack of skills is not only a Nigerian problem; it is pervasive across Africa. This explains it why much of labour migration - about 80% - in Africa is intra-regional, rather than international. It consists mainly of unskilled workers.

Global corporations are looking for workers with "productive capacities" that can be used in manufacturing, science and technology-intensive sectors, as well as information technologies.

The World Bank proposal is based on the old paradigm of competition in which labour abundance is a major driver of competitive advantage. But this is no longer the case, as technology, knowledge, innovation and skills have replaced labour as the major pillars of competition. The World Economic Forum suggests that 85 million jobs worldwide will be at risk because the current job holders lack relevant skills.

Thus, attempts at addressing youth unemployment in Nigeria should focus on raising the skills and productive capacities of young Nigerians.

Local opportunities

In addition to exploring opportunities in the global labour market, the World Bank has suggested the creation of domestic job opportunities. This may be accomplished if Nigeria is able to attract employment-intensive global corporations.

But Nigeria is not very attractive to global value chains and foreign investors. Foreign direct investment in the country has been declining inexorably, from 6% of GDP in the mid-1990s to about 0.5% in 2019.

Why do global IT and pharmaceutical corporations prefer to locate in India and not in Nigeria? Why does Apple manufacture iPhones and iPads in Taiwan? Why do global textile corporations prefer Vietnam, China and the Philippines? Why has Malaysia, and not Nigeria, become a major hub for solar equipment manufacturing?

The answer is simple: their young people possess a critical mass of the needed scientific and technical skills.

The way out

Creating safe and legal pathways for the migration of young Nigerians will only be effective if the following measures are taken.

First, the ongoing de-industrialisation of the Nigerian economy must be reversed. Over the past four decades there has been a steady decline in manufacturing value added in Nigeria - from over 20% of GDP in the early 1980s to less than 10% in 2019.

As a result many young Nigerians have not had the opportunity to acquire industrial, technological and innovative capacities.

Another effect of de-industrialisation is that it has foreclosed opportunities for students in Nigeria's tertiary institutions to apply their classroom learning in industrial contexts. In a survey of companies in Nigeria, 81% said they had difficulty finding workers with the relevant skills. It is also a reason why global corporations do not find Nigeria an attractive location.

The problem with proposed solution

The World Bank proposes a model in which the private sector and the government in destination countries would provide high-quality and industry-relevant training to potential migrants and nonimmigrants within Nigeria.

This proposal is theoretically sound. But it poses a number of questions.

First, how would this training be financed? There may be political resistance by taxpayers in destination countries to finance training programmes that benefit the private sector and foreign countries.

Second, private enterprises are often reluctant to invest in training new workers. Investment in training is costly. In addition, it would be difficult to prevent trained workers from taking newly acquired skills to other enterprises or destination countries that did not incur the training costs.

Third, industrial and technical training is a long-term process, but firms are more interested in short-term returns on investment.

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Finally, given the bureaucracy and inefficiency of Nigeria's public sector, it may be challenging to implement a training partnership between firms in destination countries and the Nigerian government.

The World Bank report also notes that Nigerians with relevant skills have found their way to the US where they thrive in various fields. This suggests that the problem of youth unemployment is more about increasing the number of young Nigerians with 21st century skills, and not just about creating more legal migration routes.

Nigeria's "informal-sector trap" needs to be addressed before promoting a pathway to jobs abroad. Easy entry into the informal sector disincentivises young people from acquiring high-order skills to enable them to obtain high-paying formal-sector jobs.

Young people are attracted to the informal sector because there are no skills requirements. This can be a blessing and a curse. It is a blessing in that it easily absorbs the teeming population of Nigeria's unemployed and underemployed young people. But it's a curse because it provides only a temporary succour, and young people are unwittingly discouraged from acquiring skills desired by global corporations.

Nigeria's outdated tertiary educational system should be revamped. Tertiary institutions in Nigeria produce thousands of scientists, engineers and technologists every year, but many end up unemployed. This is because their training and education are not relevant in the contemporary labour market.

Without addressing the problems of skills mismatch and the lack of digital skills, young Nigerians will continue to miss out on opportunities in the global labour market.

Stephen Onyeiwu, Andrew Wells Robertson Professor of Economics, Allegheny College
"I want to give you the assurance that 5G communication network is in the pipeline."

The Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy says it will soon deploy the Five Generation network (5G) in Nigeria for increased connectivity.

The Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, disclosed this in Abuja when he featured on FORUM, a special News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) interview programme.

The minister said that the decision to deploy the 5G network followed an outcome of thorough investigations, research and trial absolving it of posing security or health threat.

According to him, the work on the national policy on 5G stands at 95 per cent done and will be presented to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in due course.

Mr Pantami, who said that the primary concern of the government was to ensure the security and welfare of Nigerians in their utilisation of services in the telecommunications sector, blamed the delay in the deployment of the 5G network on conspiracy theories.

NAN recalls that there were concerns that COVID-19 was associated with the deployment of the 5G communications network.

"Our government is a listening one; so we listen to constructive criticisms, respect it and appreciate it and at least we value it.

"We'd reached advanced stage of 5G, then, an issue came up that 5G was related to COVID-19; many people including the educated ones started circulating it without verification.

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"Naturally, people are a bit scared and sceptical about technology.

"So we gave enough time to do more consultation, creating awareness in local languages so as to engage our citizens to address all the challenges.

"We set up a technical team that accommodated security, health and environmental institutions and the public sector so that we can be on the same page.

"I want to give you the assurance that 5G communication network is in the pipeline."

Mr Pantami said that the ministry had started discussions with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) concerning spectrum for commercial purposes.

"From that spectrum, NCC will give it to mobile operators to start deployment; so, the policy is almost ready.

"I went to the National Assembly, I defended our presentation and they have accepted and they have also endorsed the deployment of 5G.

"They have also encouraged us to learn from other countries that have deployed 5G and we have already done that.

"The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a statement that there is no relationship between 5G network and COVID-19 and that addresses the health issue.

"Similarly, the International Communications Union (ICU), which is an arm of the UN, also issued another statement debunking any implications from the 5G," Mr Pantami said.
opinion

President Muhammadu Buhari made one of the most down-to-earth statements of his presidency last Thursday, though by proxy. After meeting Nigerian security chiefs at the Aso Rock Villa, the National Security Adviser, (NSA) Babagana Monguno, claimed Buhari said that he dreaded failure in office, so much; and I dare literalize it, like leprosy. "And (President Buhari) also made it very, very (italics, mine) clear that he's not ready to exit government as a failure," Monguno said.

It was an opportunity for Monguno to thump the Buhari government's chest. President Buhari, said Monguno, is very happy about the "tremendous success" he has achieved in the fight against insecurity. "It is evident that a lot of successes have been recorded," Monguno, known for his bombasts, announced. He based these "successes" on what he called the "large numbers of people surrendering in the north-east as a consequence of the relentless efforts of the armed forces, intelligence and security agencies." Monguno went further: The president had also been "briefed" on the "emergency situation" of the ravaging hunger in the land.

"As far as he is concerned, it's also an emergency situation that people should not be left to wallow in hunger, and in despair, this is something that he's also going to look into. And he's going to use all the necessary, all the relevant tools at his disposal to address the issue of widespread hunger," said the Nigerian topmost security chief.

Monguno is taking us to class this morning as he has provoked the need to interrogate the concept of failure. What is failure? At what point in life is someone said to have failed? Is it ennobling to fail or, put differently, is failure noble? Is there any aesthetics in failure? In other words, should those who fail see some glamour in failure, or more succinctly, is there a philosophy of failure?

Ivan Moris, in his The Nobility of Failure: Tragic heroes in the history of Japan, examines what leadership failure means. Originally published in 1975, the book is a biography, the chronicle of the lives and deaths of nine Japanese, notable figures through the ages, who lived between the 4th to the 20th centuries. Historical individuals they were, confronted by overwhelming life travails, rather than continue to glamorize a slipping life, they each took the easy exit out by each taking one of three options. One, accepting that life was cruel in its unpleasant verdict against them, some chose to be executed in the hot battleground; others elected to be eliminated by ritual sacrifice, while some gave selves up to wither off in exile.

The Nobility of Failure is a narration of the rise and fall of some greats, figures who towered and still tower over Japanese historical and literary landscapes. It began with a tragic tale similar to Shakespeare's Hamlet, of the story of Prince Yamato Takeru who died amidst a royal riddle. From it, Morris examined the death of kamikaze pilots during the World War II, down to individuals who straddled the Japanese world like a typhoon, like Saigo Takamori. Most of the stories that engage the book are of power struggles that involved powerful clans in Japan. They range from narrations of tragic heroes who made huge success at war fronts but who, at the end of the day, suffered huge casualties in betrayals. The downfall of many of them was also due to the fact that they found themselves on the wrong sides of history while many others fell so poignantly because they surrounded themselves with fawners who merely told them what titivated their egos.

While examining what yardstick Nigerians will or have been using to determine who is a failed leader, the Japanese model should be interesting to us. Most of the stories examined by Morris were marked by the fickle nature of those close to these leaders and how they brought destruction their ways. From the book, you will get away with the impression that Japanese seem to prefer a noble loser to a vindictive winner, no matter the wrong side of history they belonged. Splattered all over the book are narrations of the exploits of warriors who though won wars but who, ages after, are labeled villains, reviled and scorned by their people.

Now, using the Monguno claim of a Buhari who doesn't want to end his tenure of office a disaster, a tenure soon to end in less than two years time, how feasible is this claim? My departing point of analysis is this famous song by late pop diva and ex-Regent of Ikogosi in Ekiti State, Bunmi Olajubu. Sang in the early 1990s and entitled Bata Mi A Dun Ko ko Ka, this song articulates what, in grim terms, are the features of success and failure, especially in the cosmology of the Yoruba people.

In the enviable world of the been-tos of the 1960s and 1970s Nigeria, what distinguished this class of people, who were just arriving Nigeria from their search for the golden fleece abroad, among others, was their stiletto shoes which made ko-ko-ka sound as they approached. This was markedly different from the uninspiring noise made by the salubata slippers of those who had no attainment, who didn't go to school and whose approaching walks as they plodded on, in Olajubu's song, was signified by the mere onomatopoeic perere noises of their slippers.

Olajubu's measurement of failure and success can be broken down to the philosophical cause and effect. If a child goes to school and aspires as his peers were doing, in the Yoruba of the time's explanation of the roots of success, his shoes will ultimately produce the ko-ko-ka sound. If, on the reverse, the child neglects this ancient wisdom and joins bad gangs, his slippers will invariably bellow out the uninspiring and irritating perere noise. This Olajubu song, whose patent belonged to pre-colonial Nigerian Yoruba homes, was one of the teaching aids deployed during this period to inspire children to go to school. Another was also Minister of Lands and Labour in Western Nigeria in 1952 under Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Joseph Folahan Odunjo's poems in the Alawiye series which moulded most children of this period. These poems contained similar nuggets. If you see a multitude scorning education, don't pattern your life after them; woe will betide such child, tears await a wandering child; so wrote Odunjo.

Using Olajubu as a paradigm and taking into consideration the Monguno's claim of Buhari's aversion for ending up in 2023 as a colossal failure, are the president's shoes already sounding ko-ko-ka, making the perere noise or will ultimately do so?

Recently, I read Femi Adesina, Special Adviser on Media's eulogy of his boss' infrastructural interventions, which he relishes as sine non qua non among the contemporary Nigerian presidency. If you travel with Adesina on this route, you may easily be infected by this adumbration of what success is, assuming it to be the true meaning of success. Passengers who travel in Buhari's commendable railway trains cannot but become prisoners of this mindset. For decades, successive governments watched the Nigerian railway system die.

Forget the insinuations that China is on a second slave raid of Africa and Nigeria is one of its captives with the multiple of billions incinerated to get these railways. Forget also that, judging by the age-long symbiotic graft culture of China and Nigeria, billions in graft must have lined the pockets of those entrusted the task of these railway projects. Forget also that though there is a railway route from Kaduna to Maradi in Niger Republic, there is not even a functional railway in Nigeria's southeast, Buhari the master finisher, in the words of Adesina, has finished Nigeria with railways. Same suffices with the Second Niger Bridge, Lagos/Ibadan expressway and many others, a la Adesina. The question to ask is, are these what define a president as successful? Are they the indices, the observance of which makes a leader to escape being called a failure?

The truth is, as individuals, as a nation, as a state, as leaders, we determine whether we want to be successful, ab initio. In some other cases, we determine in our minds to be successful but unconscionably tread the path of failure. Take for instance the circumstance of young Muhammadu. History tells us that he started off as a cow boy, a herdsman if you like in today's Katsina state. At a point in his life, he decided to tread a different route from his herder peers. He enrolled to go to school and passed out of secondary school. As he vied to write the Nigerian Army Qualifying exam in 1961 at age 18, his choice was to be a success as a military man. Coup had become Africa's pastime then, with the overthrow of Togo's Sylvanus Olympio and Nigeria's Tafawa Balewa. Perhaps Buhari had in mind that someday he would be a General in the army and become a military Head of State. He was a success in this regard as he achieved the two ambitions. Many of his herder mates of the period in the village today cannot unbuckle his sandals and are spent and broken That is success.

Having been ridden roughshod upon in 1984 and torn off power like you do a sodden rag by Ibrahim Babangida and his coupist colleagues, Buhari apparently wanted to come back to power. Thrice when he was denied, he wept like a melancholic baby. Those who believed in him thought the tears were shed for Nigeria's loss of his kind of leadership. Six years down the lane after he became president, the narration has assumed a teary dimension. The twine that binds Nigeria's three dominant but fissiparous ethnic groups together has lost its tether under Buhari. Nigeria had never been this divided along ethnic fault lines since amalgamation and the challenges of the country had never received this level of ethnicisation.

It will be selfish and uncharitable to lay all blames by the feet of Buhari. Nigeria was not wired to be peaceful by Britain. All that the colonialists wanted us to do, in the word of Immortal Bob Marley, was to "keep on fussing and fighting." From Tafawa Balewa to Goodluck Jonathan, Nigerian rulers worsened the British quicksand Nigerian superstructure. But pre-2015, Nigerians still retained some modicum of affection, love and admiration for one another. All these things bright and beautiful, all our togetherness great and small, all the Nigerianness that were bright and beautiful, Buhari smashed them all into pieces. How did he do it?

His body language. Buhari is grossly insensitive to Nigeria's diversity. First is that, most likely because he has complex for A-list aides, associates and ministers, his choice of cabinet members and aides is less than meritorious. He lusters in an assemblage of aides and advisors who have no minds of their own. Even Jonathan, with his burnished ignorance, didn't possess that level of complex and surrounded himself with people who could hold their own in the world.

Second is Buhari's rabid tribal bigotry. Pass mark for appointment into critical offices, for him, is region and religion. Daura is A-pass mark for Buhari. These less than forward-looking people he surrounds himself with, coupled with his limited oeuvre, is what signify what is called gravitation towards the path of failure. You cannot oscillate among a combine of failure and you won't fail. For you to qualify to climb high in Buhari's mind, you have to first and foremost be Fulani, from the North, then a Muslim. Thus, it is not unlikely that you will see passion-full people from Daura and environs clapping and saying rankadede to Buhari while he made a spiffy show of walking on Daura streets during Sallah.

The Controller General of Immigration, Muhammed Babandede, from Jigawa State, will be going on retirement on September 21, 2021, after initial extension of office by Buhari. Since its inception, the North has appropriated headship of that organization. When Buhari appoints Babandede's successor presently, it will be another rankadede. That is how ethnic bigotry defines appointments into offices under Buhari, in contravention of global indices of adjudging leadership.

The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) and the Harvard Kennedy School in the United States, for instance, have concluded that Nigeria is at a point of no return and manifesting all signs of a failed nation. By extrapolation, Buhari is a failed leader, they insinuated. In the research conducted by their senior fellow and former U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, John Campbell and founding director, Robert Rotberg of the Harvard Kennedy School's Programme on Intrastate Conflict and president emeritus, World Peace Foundation, they even maintained that Nigeria under Buhari was in its final phase and would eventually collapse.

Many of the afflictions that today plague Nigeria under Buhari are unexampled in modern history. Naira is far becoming a replica of the Zimbabwean dollars under Bob Mugabe, falling unaided like an acrobat. Hunger, which Monguno referred to, is wracking the bellies of Nigerians and lack had never been this pervasive. Forget that chest-thumping by Monguno, insurgency has almost crippled the north, with some parts of Nigeria in the hands of these jihadist bombers. So when Buhari and his commissars flaunt infrastructure as index of his success in office, they are either talking out of naivety or plain wickedness.

If Buhari didn't construct a single meter of railway, no single kilometer of road, nor even a length of bridge but strengthened our togetherness as a people, even if he, like those Morris' Japanese tragic heroes, was regarded as an infrastructural failure, he would be a noble failure. If this then is so, Nigerians, like Japanese, would be said to prefer a noble loser to a vindictive loser.

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Why did Expensive 'back the entrance'?

With a feeling of revulsion and melancholy, the people of Akure, Ondo State, looked forward to marking the date, August 16. Thirty eight years before then, specifically on that day in 1983, the creme de la creme of the city had been murdered in cold blood in the federal elections of that year. Chief Robert Agbayewa, National Party of Nigeria (NPN) chairman; Babatunde Agunbiade, Majority Leader, Ondo House of Assembly; Olaiya Fagbamigbe, renowned publisher and member of the National Assembly, were all literally barbecued in daylight inferno due to their political leaning. Scores of houses were also torched at the heat of the inclement political anger against a suspected heist of election outcome. Since then, the people have carried the visible scars everywhere they went.

How were the people to know that another son of theirs, in the mould of these 1983 political colossuses, would be torched by the fire of death, right before their eyes? Isaac Adedayo Omolafe, a.k.a. Expensive, a member of the House of Representatives representing Akure North and South, had suddenly slumped and died. He had woken up the day before hale and hearty, went on a round to inspect his piggery and by 3 a.m. the following morning, had been wheeled into the morgue.

I knew Expensive about 30 years ago at the Obanla area of the state capital, while I was a student of the University of Lagos, being friend to one of his cousins. He bestrode that particular area like a panjandrum. Gradually, he grew into a household political name. By the time he became an elected council chairman of Akure South, Expensive's grassroots reach had become legendary. Folks say that his strides in that council have not yet been surpassed. This renown was to later earn him a slot in the national parliament.

If Akure was granted its own governorship, Expensive sat on that seat. Affable and avuncular, he was loved by all due to his unequalled philanthropy and concern for the other person. No wonder our monarch, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi shut markets in his remembrance. Seldom had any death shaken Akure to its nadir like Expensive's.

For Ooye Development Initiatives, (ODI) Akure's combine of Young Turks, Expensive's death was another mortal blow, coming after this year January's sudden departure of its president and icon, Muyiwa Esho. In December 2020, at the Headmaster's House, Akure people's unofficial secretariat in Ishopo, Esho and a few of us had sat at nocturne, presiding over the decapitation of some roasted venison. Momentarily backing the entrance, he suddenly stood up and gave all gathered a nugget: Never ever back the entrance. It could be lethal. Esho and Expensive seemed to have backed the entrance and thus allowing death to sneak in on them.

May the souls of these great sons of Akure rest in peace.

Festus Adedayo is an Ibadan-based journalist.
The Federal Government and the United States of America have agreed to sign a bilateral agreement stopping illicit trafficking in cultural property and artefacts.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed disclosed this in Washington DC after a closed door meeting with the U.S. Acting Assistant Secretary of State on Education and Culture, Mr Mathew Lussenhop.

Briefing the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) after the meeting, the minister said the agreement which would be signed in Nigeria soon, would expand cooperation between the two countries in the area of cultural property.

Specifically, the minister said the agreement would prevent stolen artefacts in Nigeria from getting into the U.S. to prevent the harrowing experiences passed through in retrieving looted Benin bronzes from Germany.

He said the agreement included capacity building for Nigerians and the country was the second in Africa to enter into it with the U.S. after Mali.

"We agree on the final draft of the MoU which will be ready after vetting by our Ministry of Justice, and anytime soon, there will be a signing ceremony in Nigeria.

"The agreement is to prevent artefacts and cultural property that people want to illicitly ship to the U.S.

"In addition to artefact, the agreement also extends to illicit drug trafficking and the FBI is involved," he said.

Mohammed said that there were few stolen artefacts that Nigeria was expecting mostly from private museums in the U.S.

"They have invited us and the National Commission for Museum and Monument is working hard on this.

"In particular, there are about two or three private collectors who had voluntarily surrendered the artefacts which they believed were either illegally trafficked or stolen from Nigeria," he said.

The minister recalled that he was in Germany in July on the trail of thousands of artefacts looted from Benin Kingdom during the 1897 British expedition. (NAN)
The released students spent 48 days in captivity.

Fifteen more abducted students of Bethel Baptist High School, Maraban Damishi, Kaduna State, have regained their freedom, after 48 days in captivity.

John Hayab, the state chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), said this when he spoke with newsmen in Kaduna on Sunday.

"Fifteen more students were released on Saturday night and 65 students are still with the bandits, " Mr Hayab, a reverend, said.

Mohammed Jalige, spokesperson for the police command in the state, also confirmed the release of the students.

Mr Jalige, assistant superintendent of police, however, said the police were not in the picture of whether ransom was paid by the parents before the students' release or not.

"We are not aware of that," he said.

Bandits had in the early hours of July 5, invaded the school and kidnapped an unspecified number of students.

Schools, especially in the north-west and north-central parts of the country, have become easy targets for bandits who invade the schools and kidnap students and staff alike in exchange for ransom.

While some of the abducted students have been released, several others are still in captivity.
The new king praised some Itsekiri sons and daughters who made the coronation possible despite efforts to thwart it

The Olu of Warri, Atunwase III, on Saturday, addressed the issues of the kingship tussle and the missing crown that unfolded ahead of his inauguration.

In his first speech after the coronation, Tsola Emiko, the new king, noted that there were concerted efforts to thwart his coronation since the Idaniken (the traditional isolation period of 90 days for the king-designate) was performed last May.

He singled out eight chiefs for "special recognition."

"We must express our profound gratitude to the proud Itsekiri sons and daughters who stood up to be counted when it appeared that the foundation of our collective patrimony was under threat," he said.

The chiefs included Johnson Atseleghe, Gabriel Awala (who crowned the king), Brown Mene, Roland Oritsejafor, Charles Ikomi, Edwin Olley, Robinson Ariyo, and Eugene Ikomi.

After the 20th Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli, passed away last December, there was a tussle within the royal family for his replacement. While one group supported the emergence of Tsola Emiko, who is the eldest son of the 19th Olu, Atunwase II; the other, led by Ayiri Emami, the traditional prime minister of the kingdom, thought otherwise.

Mr Emami, who has been suspended from his position, was conspicuously absent at Saturday's coronation.

While Mr Emami had filed a suit challenging the succession plant to the throne, Onyowoli Emiko, the eldest son of the 20th Olu, instituted a legal action challenging the emergence of Tsola Emiko as the new king.

On August 6, Bikoro Okolosi, a judge of the Delta State High Court, began hearing on a case challenging the emergence of Tsola Emiko as the new Olu. The judge, however, adjourned the matter till August 12 for mention.

"Interestingly, just before this precious moment in time which has brought us to where we are today, that age-long tendency that has always sought to distort and abort our greatness wanted to rear its ugly head in an attempt to truncate our glory and restoration to our original, God-given identity," the king began, in his inaugural speech.

"We avow before you all today that we were not and were never offended at any point in time during the process that culminated to this day, that has seen me ascend the throne of my fathers.

"This is, in every ramification, a very special day. One that has been predestined and divinely ordained by the most high God. He and He alone could have determined that three months after our Idaniken began in May, our coronation will take place today, the only Saturday in this year 2021 that occurs on the 21st day of the month.

"There is no part of this that has been my own doing, it was and remains God's divine project. And as a result, the mischief that some had intended, God has used it for good."

Missing crown

A few days before the coronation, the king's crown disappeared. The police declared two princes in the kingdom wanted in connection with the incident. According to the police, Onyowoli Emiko, 30, and Omatsuli Emiko, 27, broke into "the secret apartment of the HRM Olu of Warri" and stole the royal crown.

Last month, social media was awash with photos of Onyowoli Emiko embarking on Idaniken.

After his coronation, Atunwase III said the missing crown was replaced with a more befitting one.

"Our Yoruba brothers have an expression: when the palace of the king burns down, it is because a more beautiful one wants to be erected in its place," he said.

"The taboo that was done by the desecration of our most prized crown jewels made a way for a more beautiful one, fashioned by our own royal person while staying true to the inspiration of the one that came way back in the 17th century.

"Before then, however, Olu Ginuwa I brought a coral-beaded crown from the source in Benin. And that crown adorned the heads of the first six Olus. Olu Atunwase I brought a pearl of silver crowns that would adorn the heads of the next 14 Olus.

"By the special grace of God, we have the privilege to introduce a new pearl of gold and silver crowns to the already rich and beautiful history of attire of the Olu of Warri.

"And as the progression of our crown is symbolic for all to see: from coral to silver and now to gold, so shall there be a spiritual, physical, social, and economic manifestation of the progress of our kingdom and our people."

Reversing a curse

The new king also took the opportunity of his first speech to reverse a curse placed on the federal government by Olu Erejuwa II who was deposed by the NCNC-led regional government in 1964. He was, however, reinstated two years later.

"While not seeking to reopen old wounds, it is pertinent to recall the fact that following the grave injustice meted out to Olu Erejuwa II, he visited his royal majesty, Oba Akenzua II of Benin, and recounted his ordeal," Atunwase III said.

"In a reaction, a curse was placed on the land by both of them. It is not recorded that Olu Erejuwa II reversed the curse over the land. Neither is it recorded that Oba Akenzua II did the same. Most probably, the issue was never revisited. As a firm believer in the intricate interconnectedness between the spiritual and the manifestation in the physical, it is our firm belief that the matter needs to be addressed.

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"As the spiritual, cultural, political, and traditional ruler of this land, I, Oghiame, Atunwase III, the 21st Olu of Warri, I hereby reverse the curse placed on the land.

"In its place, I release forgiveness and healing to the federal government of Nigeria whose might was used to propagate that offence and I decree unprecedented and uncommon peace, progress, prosperity, development upon this land.

"I bring down the government of heaven onto this land and I direct it to flow as a force that can neither be sabotaged, slowed, nor stopped. It goes out as a strong ripple effect emanating from this kingdom to the rest of the Niger Delta, to the rest of the Nigerian nation, and even the African continent.

"Africa has always been shaped as a gun, with Nigeria as its trigger. Today, that gun has been fired and full restoration comes out of the barrel. This land begins to yield its riches to us, all that has been hidden hitherto comes to the surface and the world shall marvel at how we have defied projected economic trends, and this time around we shall be the ones to chart the course of our own destiny.

"We boldly declare that the kingdom of Warri has become the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ and he shall reign forever and ever."
The move is expected to drastically reduce estimated billing by the Distribution Companies (Discos).

The Nigerian government has said that it will provide up to 4 million meters to Nigerians in the second phase of its National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP)

A statement from the office of the Special Adviser on Infrastructure to the President, Ahmad Zakari, said arrangements to commence the metering process have been completed.

The move is expected to drastically reduce estimated billing by the Distribution Companies (Discos).

The statement noted that the next phase of the initiative will ensure consumers are billed appropriately for the electricity they consume by installing meters free of charge in households and business premises that are currently unmetered.

The government said the mass metering programme, funded by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), is "unprecedented" because it has led to the supply of meters to many Nigerian homes.

The first phase of the initiative, tagged 'Phase 0', was launched in December 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a target of 1 million meters across the country.

The statement claimed, however, that it has led to the distribution of about 750,000 meters nationwide in about eight months.

"This is a marked improvement in terms of the speed of installation of meters compared to its predecessor (the Meter Asset Provider-MAP programme) which recorded 350,000 meter installations in just over 18 months. Essentially the Nigerian meter industry has increased local installation capacity by a multiple of five," Mr Zakari said.

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"In preparation for the second phase (known as Phase 1) of the NMMP, the Nigerian electricity sector regulator, NERC, has conducted extensive consultations and stakeholder management, and has revised its metering guidelines. This phase will provide up to 4 million meters and shall also use a similar financing mechanism as phase 0."

The statement said that there are new meter factories in Lagos and in Kaduna, while the refurbishment of a number of other defunct metering companies is ongoing.

It said: "This development in the meter assembly space is driven by the Central Bank's commitment to support local meter assembly/manufacturing as only local companies will be allowed to participate in the bidding process for the upcoming phase of the programme.

"This promises to increase the job creation impact of the programme which has already attained appreciable heights with over 10,000 direct jobs created as a result of the phase 0 of the program."

The statement explained that the Minister of Power had emphasised the administration's commitment to eliminate the metering gap by 2023, adding that the continuation of the NMMP is in line with the federal government's agreement with organised labour on electricity sector reform.
The federal government yesterday recanted its position that it would not prosecute repentant members of Boko Haram and Islamist State for West Africa Province in line with global practices.

The apex government, however, clarified that repentant insurgents and terrorists could be prosecuted contrary to reports in the public domain.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, made this clarification in Washington DC. Yesterday.

Mohammed had defended the decision of the federal government not to prosecute repentant insurgents and terrorists on Friday during engagement with global media outlets, think-tanks and influencers.

During the engagement, the minister had said: "I personally spoke to the military authority before I left Nigeria and they said what they were doing was what the global practice dictates about soldiers that surrendered; that they should be treated as prisoners of war.

"You cannot just shoot them because there are international conventions that give rights also to prisoners of war. What the military is doing is that, when they surrender, they profile them to ensure that they are genuine and reintegrate them into the society," he gad said.

Faulting the report yesterday, Mohammed clarified that he was misrepresented in a report that claimed the decision of the federal government not to prosecute repentant insurgents was in line with global best practice

The minister reiterated his position that the call for the shooting of the repentant insurgents without profiling and prosecution was against best global practice.

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The minister said his words were unambiguous and repeated what he said in the report.

"I personally spoke to the military authority before I left Nigeria and they said what they were doing is what the global practice dictates about soldiers that surrendered that should be treated as prisoners of war.

"You cannot just shoot them because there are international conventions that give rights also to prisoners of war.

"What the military is doing is that, when they surrender, they profile them to ensure that they are genuine and reintegrate them into the society," he said.

He reiterated his position that the fact that the country was witnessing insurgents submitting in droves calls for commendation of the President Muhammadu Buhari and military for their doggedness.
Ahora | El presidente @PedroCastilloTe, junto con los titulares de @pcmperu, @CancilleriaPeru y @MINCETUR, participa en la ceremonia de presentacion del Peru en la Expo 2020 Dubai.

?? En vivo: https://t.co/jLubGi6XWE
YEREVAN, AUGUST 23, ARMENPRESS. President of the National Assembly of Armenia Alen Simonyan issued a congratulatory message on the occasion of the 31st anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by Armenia. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the parliament of Armenia, the message runs as follows,

''The Declaration on Independence of Armenia adopted on August 23, 1990 was the cornerstone of the independent statehood. The Armenian people was going to fulfill its long-standing dream just one year after that historical reality, to have an independent and self-sovereign state. The new phase of our history began with this step. The opportunity opened by this window of communication with the civilized world today is ours, we are obliged to develop the culture of the way of thinking for independence.

We are the witness and bearer of the development following the Declaration on Independence until nowadays. But our endurance and will never leave us, well continue to live and create in the Independent Armenia. Our bowing and respect to the people who have fought for declaration on independence in all times. Peace and long live to the Republic of Armenia, the NA Presidents message says'.
YEREVAN, AUGUST 23, ARMENPRESS. Defense Minister of Armenia Arshak Karapetyan participated in ''Army-2021'' military-industrial exhibition and the opening cermeony of the International Army Games on August 23 at Russia's Patriot center.

As ARMENPRESS was ifnormed from the press service of the Defense Ministry of Armenia, Arshak Karapetyan held a number of meetings with the heads of the major Russian military-industrial companies, discussed issued of bilateral interest.

Afterwards, the Armenain Defense Minister discussed the entire scope of military-technical cooperation with Director of of Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation of the Russian Federation Dmitry Shugaev and General Director of Rosoboronexport Alexander Mikheev.
India and Russia recently finalized a deal for immediate off-the-shelf procurement of 70,000 new 7.6239mm AK 203 assault rifles, according to a report by ThePrint, citing sources from the Indian defense industry. These rifles will replace the aging 5.5645mm INSAS (Indian Small Arms System) that the army, navy, and air force currently use. The weapons are expected to arrive in India beginning in November.

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Kalashnikov AK-203 in Russian basic configuration that includes a fixed buttstock and Picatinny rail, unlike the forthcoming Indian standard model (Picture source: Kalashnikov)

This off-the-shelf purchase appears to be an emergency decision: on 22 January 2021, Army Recognition reported that India was finalizing a joint Russian-Indian program to produce Kalashnikov AK-203 7.62 mm assault rifles at the Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) enterprise in Korwa (Uttar Pradesh). Chief of the Indian Army (IN) Staff Gen M M Naravane told the Economic Times that the negotiations on the in-house manufacturing of the AK-203 had almost been completed. According to the general, the abovementioned negotiations are at an advanced stage and the project was being finalized. He also expressed hope that the contract would be signed soon. The enterprise in Korwa is set to produce approximately 700,000 AK-203 assault rifles under license, the newspaper reported.

The AK-203 is a deeply modernized variant of the renowned Kalashnikov AK-103 7.62 m battle rifle. The new firearm is manufactured by the Kalashnikov Group. The weapon fires 7.6239 cartridges and weighs 3.8 kg without ammo. The assault rifle is accurate at 800 m and is fed by 30-round polymer magazines. Compared to its predecessors, the AK-203 features an upper Picatinny (MIL-1913-STD) rail for optical/red dot/electronic sights and a handguard with a lower Picatinny rail for tactical grips, laser pointers, and flashlights.

The above-mentioned JV will be a profitable enterprise for India, as Russia is planning to transfer almost all technologies for licensed manufacturing of AK-203 to India. The company is also believed to have decent export potential.

The Indian Armed Forces now operate the INSAS (Indian Small Arms System) 5.56 mm assault rifle as their primary infantry weapon. However, the countrys troops (especially those deployed in mountain areas and rugged terrains) need a robust, reliable, easy-to-handle, and easy-to-maintain firearm chambered for more powerful cartridges (for instance, 7.6239 M43 or 7.6251.308 Winchester). AK-203 and its derivatives fit that niche very well.

The production deal is said to be a joint venture among the Ordnance Factory Board, the Kalashnikov Concern, and Rosoboronexport, the Russian state agency for military exports. This deal was initially announced in 2018. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the production facility at the Korwa Ordnance Factory in Uttar Pradeshs Amethi district in March 2019.

Since then, the project has experienced several production delays. The contract was expected to be finalized in 2020, with Russian President Vladimir Putins visit to the country planned that year. However, the visit was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kalashnikov AK200 family

The Kalashnikov AK200 series assault rifles are in line with all current trends in small arms development while retaining the best qualities of the AK-47, the legendary brainchild of the great Russian gunsmith Mikhail Kalashnikov, whose 100th anniversary of the birth was marked in 2019. "The Kalashnikov AK200 series rifles are our strategic product in the export area", commented Vladimir Dmitriev, Director General of Kalashnikov Concern.

It should be mentioned that Russia has dramatically upgraded its small arms portfolio in recent years. Previously, it primarily consisted of Kalashnikov AK-100th family of assault rifles and carbines, Dragunov 7.62 mm sniper rifles (SVD), Kalashnikov PKM and Pecheneg 7.62 mm general-purpose machineguns (GPMG), and Kalashnikov RPK light machineguns (LMG). Now, this portfolio includes both brand new and upgraded weapons. The current spectrum of Russian-made export-oriented firearms comprises of (Kalashnikov AK200th family of firearms (namely, AK200 and AK205 5.45mm assault rifles, AK201 and AK202 5.56mm assault rifles, and AK203 and AK204 7.62mm assault rifles), cutting-edge AK-15 7.62mm assault rifle, the upgraded Dragunov sniper rifle (SVDM), and 6S8 12.7mm anti-material rifle. However, some of those export-oriented weapons fire traditional Russian ammunition, in particular, 5.4539 (AK200 and AK-12), 7.6254R (PKM and Pecheneg GPMGs and SVDM sniper rifle), and 12.7108 (6S8 anti-material rifle).
The United Nations in Afghanistan flew 120 people from Kabul to Kazakhstan's Almaty in view of the "security and other constraints," the second such flight in the past week, the spokesperson for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has said, news.am informs, citing the Indian Express reported.

August 23, 2021, 11:45 UN evacuates another 120 personnel, others from Afghanistan

STEPANAKERT, AUGUST 23, ARTSAKHPRESS: Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the Secretary-General, said in a note to correspondents on Sunday that the 120 persons included UN personnel and members of several non-governmental organisations that serve as implementing partners of the UN in Afghanistan.

The UN in Afghanistan flew the people from Kabul to Almaty on August 22, just days after the UN moved about 100 of its personnel from Afghanistan to Kazakhstan in view of the "security and other constraints" in Kabul, he said.
The Taliban (outlawed in Russia) has issued a blanket amnesty to all Afghan government officials, including President Ashraf Ghani, pledging that they can return to and live in Afghanistan, senior Taliban leader Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani said in an interview with Pakistans Geo TV, Tass informs.

August 23, 2021, 12:30 Taliban pledges not to persecute Ghani, saying he can return to Afghanistan

STEPANAKERT, AUGUST 23, ARTSAKHPRESS: According to him, "theres no enmity" between Talibs and deposed President Ashraf Ghani, Vice President Amrullah Saleh and National Security Advisor Hamdullah Mohib. "We forgive everyone from our end; from the general [who fought in the war against us] to the common man," the TV channel quoted him as saying on Monday.

He also called on Afghans fleeing the country to stay, adding that the propaganda claiming that the Taliban will seek revenge against them "is disseminated by enemies." The Taliban official vows that all ethnicities of Afghanistan can feel safe in the country. "Tajiks, Balochs, Hazaras and Pashtuns are all our brothers," he pointed out.

Nevertheless, Pakistani media outlets underline that there are still many people seeking to escape Afghanistan. Moreover, there are around 800 Pakistanis in Afghanistan who want to leave the country.

After the US announced it was withdrawing troops from Afghanistan and wrapping up its military operation, the Taliban launched a rapid offensive on government forces, entering Kabul without a fight on August 15. President Ashraf Ghani fled the country. Western countries are evacuating their nationals and embassy staffers.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will urge U.S. President Joe Biden this week to extend the evacuation deadline from Afghanistan, but even if one is agreed, the West will also need the approval of the Taliban, a defence minister said, Reuters reports.

August 23, 2021, 11:49 UK's Johnson to push Biden for Afghan deadline extension

STEPANAKERT, AUGUST 23, ARTSAKHPRESS: Johnson will host a virtual meeting of leaders from the Group of Seven advanced economies on Tuesday to discuss the crisis in Afghanistan where thousands of people have descended on Kabul airport in a bid to flee the Taliban.
If Australia acts now to help big industries cut emissions, the goal of net zero emissions by 2050 has a better chance of being achieved, a report has found.

The independent think tank Grattan Institute has called for a taxpayer-funded Industrial Transformation Future Fund to support practical ways to reduce emissions.

The industrial sector is responsible for 30 per cent of Australia's emissions, with 80 per cent from just 194 large facilities.

Instant asset write-offs to replace older industrial equipment with newer, lower-emissions plant and machinery are also recommended in a report released on Monday, to help achieve large-scale industrial transformation.

State governments are urged to expand energy savings schemes at thousands of smaller industrial sites, building on the success of residential and commercial schemes.

Net zero by 2050 is Prime Minister Scott Morrison's preferred policy, and the Grattan report says curbing emissions from the biggest emitters will increase the likelihood of success.

"The climate clock is ticking," Grattan director Tony Wood said.

"Just about every capital investment decision the industrial sector makes from now on will have repercussions for emissions in coming decades."

He said governments need to send the right signals now, so these decisions don't lock in emissions.

Policies to ensure access to finance for investments in low- and zero-emissions industry could include a public-private investment fund, the report suggests.

State governments - some already developing renewable energy zones to support industrial parks and homes - could support "catalyst organisations" to help identify and solve infrastructure and energy supply bottlenecks.

The existing federal safeguard mechanism sets baselines for big industrial emitters, which the institute says should be beefed up.

"Do not exempt any facilities," the report said.

Existing facilities should be encouraged to reduce their emissions using technologies that are available now.

Story continues

New and replacement facilities should meet emissions benchmarks substantially better than existing ones.

"Net zero by 2050 is a tough target," Mr Wood said.

"It requires an unprecedented pace of asset replacement and renewal, starting now."

November's international climate conference in Glasgow will bring together many countries seeking to agree to more ambitious emissions reduction targets.

Energy Minister Angus Taylor is proposing a safeguard mechanism using existing structures, as recommended by a panel led by ex-Origin Energy boss Grant King.

"The existing safeguard mechanism provides a framework for Australia's largest emitters to measure, report and manage their emissions," Mr Taylor said in a statement.

"It applies to more than 150 businesses across the industrial, manufacturing, mining, transport and oil and gas sectors."

Mr Taylor on Monday invited industry to have a say on the design of a mechanism which will provide a credit to business that reduce their emissions, measured off an agreed baseline that critics say is not ambitious enough.

The 2021/22 federal budget allocated $279.9 million to establish the new mechanism recommended by the King review and to support investment in emissions abatement projects.
With 18,000 hits upon launch, the Cayuga County restaurant voucher program sold out all of its online inventory in six minutes.

The Cayuga Counts program went live at 1 p.m. Monday, offering 50% discount vouchers for 40 participating local restaurants.

The heavy demand for the vouchers from the public overwhelmed the third-party website used to administer the program, Legislature Chairperson Aileen McNabb-Coleman told The Citizen.

"Cayuga County unexpectedly overwhelmed the system," she said.

Cayuga Counts is funded with a small portion of the federal COVID-19 relief funds the county is receiving.

Those who successfully downloaded vouchers can now bring them to the restaurants and match that value with their own money to purchase a gift card. For example, a person who downloads a $50 voucher would take it to the restaurant, pay $50 to the restaurant and then receive a gift card valued at $100.

There will also be vouchers set aside exclusively for residents 65 or older who can register for vouchers via phone or email if they do not have access to the internet or just aren't computer-savvy. Those residents can call (315) 253-4569 or email cayugacounts@cayugacounty.us to ask for a voucher.
The Cayuga County Health Department reported two COVID-19 deaths over the weekend  the first virus-related fatalities in two weeks.

A man in his 70s and a man in his 60s tested positive for COVID-19 and were hospitalized at the time of their deaths, according to the health department. No other information was released about the deceased individuals.

Cayuga County's COVID-19 death toll is up to 93. There have been three virus-related deaths in August.

The deaths occurred as COVID-19 cases continue to surge in Cayuga County. The health department said there were 64 new cases in a three-day period from Friday through Sunday. In the last seven days, the county has reported 211 new cases.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified Cayuga County as an area with a high level of transmission, which means that the case rate is at least 100 per 100,000 people. Based on the latest CDC data, the county's 7-day average case rate is 300.36 per 100,000 people. According to the state Department of Health, Cayuga's 7-day average positivity rate is 6.4%  one of the highest among New York's 62 counties.

Active cases dipped slightly since Thursday. The health department said there are 231 positive cases in isolation, down from 237 three days ago.
For more than 30 years Rahm Emanuel has been a faithful servant of the Democratic Party. On Friday, President Joe Biden nominated Emanuel to be ambassador to Japan.

From his days as a senior adviser to President Bill Clinton, to being President Barack Obama's chief of staff, Emanuel's breadth of political experience makes him an attractive person to add to the Biden administration.

Except for one tiny thing: Based on Emanuel's time as mayor of Chicago, adding him is a slap in the face to people who voted to have a Biden administration.

Where do we start?

How about the time Emanuel engineered the largest number of school closings in the city's history. In 2013, he shuttered 49 schools all at once, presumably because of low enrollment. Most of these closures were in poor Black neighborhoods. Emanuel said the money saved would be used to invest in better schools for those children, most of whom lived in poverty.

Instead, researchers in Chicago found the school closures had negative effects on the neighborhoods, families and students. In the following years, Emanuel's efforts to build and improve schools disproportionately benefited white middle-class families.

This is just one of many reasons Emanuel was nicknamed "Mayor 1%."
Saudia Arabia has invested in the Italian hypercar manufacturer Pagani. The investment has been made through Saudi Arabia's investment fund known as PIF. It has purchased a minority stake in Horacio Pagani SpA, which is the owner group of the famous hypercar brand. The controlling stake of the

Italian car brand will remain in the hands of the Pagani family.

Also Read: Lewis Hamilton breaks promise of driving only EVs, spotted driving Pagani Zonda

This investment is claimed to help the automaker's future vehicle developments. Pagani is expected to use the fresh fund to improve its technology and later to expand the lifestyle segment. Interestingly, this is not the first time PIF invested in a car manufacturer. Previously, it invested in electric car manufacturer Lucid.

Talking about the deal with PIF, Horacio Pagani, the founder of Pagani said to Arab News that it is a key step in the auto company's long-term growth strategy. "A key step in our long-term growth strategy, which envisages significant investments to ensure that our next hypercars will keep conveying unique emotions," he further added.

Pagani was founded in the early 1990s by Horacio Pagani, a long time Lamborghini employee. The automaker was initially the source of prototype and carbon fibre components for Lamborghini. However, besides the consulting business, Pagani was also working on its own car design.

The design materialised into the Pagani Zonda C12, one of the greatest hypercars of all time. It used chassis and aerodynamic kits from Dallara and the V12 engine was sourced from Mercedes-AMG. The Pagani Zonda was refined over time and a total of 30 unique special editions were introduced later.

Pagani now continuing its excellence in hypercar manufacturing through the Huayra. Pagani Huayra debuted in 2011 replacing Zonda. This hypercar has found its own place in the highly competitive hypercar segment.
Denso Corp., Toyota Motor Corp.s top supplier, says production at the automaker should recover swiftly, leaving Denso on track to beat its own profit forecast for the current fiscal year.

Denso will likely take a profit hit of about 20 billion yen ($182 million) to 30 billion yen

in September due to Toyotas production cuts, Chief Financial Officer Yasushi Matsui said. But that loss is more than covered by the 75 billion yen in potential losses Denso had earlier worked into forecasts for the fiscal year ending March, he said.

(Also read | Toyota forced to cut down vehicle production globally by 40% due to chip crisis)

There are automakers that cant up their production after stumbling, but if Toyota says it will recover, it really will," Matsui said in an interview at the companys headquarters south of Tokyo on Friday. For Denso, which issued a relatively conservative profit outlook for the current fiscal year of 440 billion yen last month, its likely well exceed this," Matsui said.

Toyota on Thursday said supply-chain snarls caused by Covid-related disruptions in Southeast Asia, particularly Vietnam and Malaysia, as well as the ongoing chips shortage would cut output by around 40% next month, a reduction of about 360,000 cars. Some 27 lines in all of its 14 plants in Japan will be impacted, affecting production of models from the RAV4 to Corolla, Prius, Camry and Lexus RX. Especially in Southeast Asia, the spread of Covid and lockdowns are impacting our local suppliers," Toyotas Purchasing Group Chief Officer Kazunari Kumakura said.

(Also read | Toyota, Honda beat profit estimates but are wary of extended chip crunch)

The Japanese automaker also has a large production base in Thailand, where Covid cases have just blown past 1 million. Thailand this week launched a pilot program to test, vaccinate and isolate factory workers to limit Covid-related disruptions to its export-driven manufacturing industry.

The news took investors by surprise -- shares in Toyota slumped as much as 4.7% on Thursday, the most since March 2020 -- even though Toyota kept its annual operating profit outlook steady earlier this month, maintaining its forecast for 2.5 trillion yen for the fiscal year through March, versus analysts average projection for 2.95 trillion yen. Stock in Denso decreased 4.3% on Thursday and tumbled another as much as 9.7% on Friday, its biggest intraday drop since March last year, before erasing some of those losses to close down 8.8%.

(Also read | Toyota launches virtual showroom owing to pandemic)

Toyota fell again on Friday, although by a smaller amount to close 4.1% lower, and at least one analyst expressed confidence the worlds No. 1 carmaker, renowned for its generally good supply-chain management, can weather the upset. Toyota seems to be expecting things to get back to normal in October" even though theres a possibility the disruption wont end in September, Koji Endo, an analyst at SBI Securities Co., said.

Its a great time to buy the stock as prices have fallen," he said. Generally, output reductions caused by the supply side, not the demand side, wont impact stock prices in the long run, or if they do, they recover quickly."

The reaction in credit markets was relatively subdued with the spread on Toyotas $1 billion dollar-denominated notes due 2026 widening to 41 basis points on Friday, the highest since early May. The cost to insure Toyotas yen debt rose by 1 basis point Thursday, according to CMA data.

Denso, the worlds second-largest parts and systems provider in terms of sales, said while there are continued risks such as the spread of Covid in Southeast Asia, it has a strong stockpile of inventory it deems risky. Looking ahead at the months from October through November, Denso isnt planning to shut any of its plants due to parts shortages, Matsui said.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.
TVS Motor Company on Monday announced that it has launched the NTORQ 125 Race Edition scooter in Bangladesh for those looking to buy performance-oriented two-wheeler. With Smart Xonnect technology, it has become the country's first Bluetooth connected scooter.



The TVS NTORQ 125 Race Edition features a sharp and aggressive design language.

It gets signature tail and LED headlamps, an aggressive headlamp cluster, a sporty stub muffler and a textured floor board. The scooter rides on diamond cut alloy wheels, giving it a distinct style statement. Its wide 110/80*12 tubeless tyres along with telescopic suspension make it suitable for all kinds of terrains.



(Also read | TVS Ntorq 125 scooter crosses 50k sales milestone in Nepal)



Along with the 'Race Edition' emblem, the scooter features chequered flag graphics on the exterior. It is offered in two colours - Metallic Red and Metallic Yellow. The TVS NTORQ 125 Race Edition also boasts features such as dual side steering lock, parking brakes and engine kill switch. It also gets external fuel fill, USB charger, large under-seat storage and a patented EZ centre stand.



The Smart Xonnect Bluetooth technology on the scooter can be paired with the TVS mobile app. Its fully digital display enables commuters to benefit from navigation assist, top speed recorder, in-built lap-timer, phone-battery strength display, among others.



(Also read | Glamour Xtec to Ntorq 125: Most affordable two-wheelers with turn-by-turn Nav)



The TVS NTORQ 125 Race Edition comes equipped with new generation CVTi-REVV 124.79cc, single-cylinder, 4-stroke, 3-valve, air-cooled SOHC engine that puts out 6.9kW and 9.4 PS at 7,500 rpm, and 10.5 Nm at 5.500 rpm. The race edition scooter can sprint from 0 to 60 kmph in nine seconds and gets a top speed of 95 kmph. The additional valve in the engine boost the performance of the scooter.



The scooter has gained a lot of traction across the globe and the company hopes that same will be witnessed in Bangladesh as well. (TVS NTORQ 125) smart scooter promises to create best-in-class ownership experience. (It) is a one-of-its-kind offering, designed to meet the desires of the youthful customers," said J Ekram Hussain, Managing Director, TVS Auto Bangladesh.


HOZON Auto achieves 60,000-unit production volume milestone

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- HOZON Auto, a Chinese startup having the EV brand NETA, saw its 60,000th new vehicle roll off the assembly line on August 21 at the Tongxiang-based factory, only three and a half months after the birth of the 40,000th one.



Photo credit: HOZON Auto



It took the automaker only 17 months to hit the 10,000-unit outputs milestone since the first NETA-branded vehicle came off the production line. The cumulative production volume reached 40,000 units in May this year.

HOZON Auto said its monthly new car deliveries rocketed 492% year on year to 6,011 units in July, 90% of which were handed over to private users. For the first seven months of 2021, the startup delivered 27,115 vehicles in total, representing a 481% year-over-year hike.

There are two mass-produced models under NETA brand. The NETA U Pro, positioned as a compact all-electric SUV priced around 150,000 yuan ($23,110), features a range of up to 610km under NEDC test cycle. The company has currently backlogged orders of over 10,000 NETA U Pros and its plant is working at full capacity to satisfy users' demands.

Since the market launch in November 2020, the NETA V was continuously recording over 25% growth in monthly deliveries, said the automaker. In late June, two new versions of the NETA V, namely, the Co-loli and the Co-sport, were launched to attract more young consumers.

Besides, the NETA S, a new B-segment coupe built on a fire new car platform, is scheduled to go on sale at the end of next year.
Gasgoo Daily: Geely launches industrial internet platform

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.

Geely launches industrial internet platform

Today, Chinese automaker Geely launched its industrial internet platform Geega, the first one in Chinas automotive industry. The platform will introduce five solutions to provide digital transformation services for the whole industry.

Photo credit: Geely

FAW Group, Wanda enter into cooperation



Chinas FAW Group and Wanda Group signed a strategic cooperation agreement to create automotive service ecosystem. Both parties will make innovations in brand marketing, channel expansion and cross-border cooperation.

Photo credit: FAW Group

Shanghai H1 NEV production volume surges 220% YoY

In the first half of this year, Shanghai produced a total of 228,000 new energy vehicles (NEVs), representing a year-on-year increase of 220% and accounting for one sixth of Chinas total NEV production volume in the period.

Daily production of Tesla Model Y reaches 1,000 units

Tesla is reportedly producing 1,000 Model Y units per day in its plant in Shanghai.

XPeng sets up sales company in Nanning

XPeng set up a new sales company in Nanning, the capital and largest city by population of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region with a registered capital of RMB 10 million.

Yutongs H1 net profit up 130% YoY



Yutong Bus had a net profit of RMB145 million in the first half, surging 130.01% year on year, but had a loss of RMB99.25 million after deducting non-recurring gains and losses.

Changans Avatar to add new investors for expansion of NEV business

Avatar Technology, a subsidiary of Chongqing Changan Automobile Co.,Ltd. (Changan Auto), plans to add 2 to 5 new investors for capital increase and share enlargement, the automaker said in an announcement. And an IPO is also an option for Avatar.



BYD Semiconductor IPO plan halted due to probe into advisory law firm

BYD's plan to list its semiconductor unit has been suspended due to a regulatory investigation into the adviser to the proposed initial public offering (IPO), according to Shenzhen Stock Exchange's ChiNext Market.



HOZON Auto achieves 60,000-unit production volume milestone

HOZON Auto, a Chinese startup having the EV brand NETA, saw its 60,000th new vehicle roll off the assembly line on August 21 at the Tongxiang-based factory, only three and a half months after the birth of the 40,000th one.



Huawei teams up with Joyson Electronics subsidiary for smart cockpit R&D

Huawei Technologies Co.,Ltd. and JOYNEXT, the smart vehicle solutions arm of the Chinese automotive component supplier Ningbo Joyson Electronics, recently entered into a cooperation agreement to co-work on R&D and innovation of intelligent automotive cockpit, according to a press release from JOYNEXT.

BMW, State Grid EV Service step up cooperation on charging tech R&D, service promotion

BMW Group and State Grid Electric Vehicle Service Co., Ltd. (State Grid EV Service) announced in recent days they have cemented their collaboration on the promotion of charging services & products and new energy vehicle (NEV)-used electric power, and the R&D and innovation of charging technologies.

XPeng P7s cumulative outputs amount to 50,000 units

XPeng announced via its WeChat account the 50,000th P7 sports sedan officially came off the assembly line on August 23 at XPeng's Zhaoqing plant.




Evergrande confirms preliminary talks with Xiaomi

Beijing (Gasgoo)- Evergrande Group confirmed that it had preliminary talks with Xiaomi as it tries to find strategic investors for its electric vehicle business, but both parties didnt enter into advanced discussions.

Photo credit: Hengchi, EV brand of Evergrande Auto

On Thursday, the property conglomerate was reportedly in talks with Xiaomi, NIO, XPeng about selling the stake in its electric vehicle business, but no final decision has been made.

Xiaomi said that it has talked with many exterior teams for its automobile business, but it hasnt made final decision for cooperation. The tech giant will not comment on any rumor, it added. And there are also reports that say Xiaomi will build vehicles by itself and that the location may be officially announced next week.

Earlier this month, Evergrande Group announced it is in talks with several independent third-party investors about selling its partial assets, including part of its interests in China Evergrande New Energy Vehicle Group Limited (Evergrande Auto) and Evergrande Property Services Group Limited.

Since the announcement of its foray into the electric vehicle industry, Lei Jun, CEO of the group, has visited numerous automakers and suppliers, such as Changan, GAC Group, SAIC GM Wuling, Great Wall Motor, CATL and Bosch.
FAW Group boosting demonstration of Hongqi intelligent cars

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- To promote the demonstration of Hongqing-branded intelligent cars, FAW Group is vigorously pushing ahead with the construction of the second phase of its intelligent-connected vehicle (ICV) pilot project in Changchun, the capital of Jilin province, and quickening the R&D and deployment of Hongqi intelligent cars, the Chinese state-run automaker said on Aug. 19.



Hongqing intelligent cars for pilot operation; photo credit: FAW Group



The building of the aforesaid ICV project phase  will be conducted in two years and will be supported by Jilin provincial government, Changchun municipal government, and local authority of Changchun Automobile Economic and Technological Development Zone. The facility will embrace main downtown areas in Changchun and cover multiple scenarios including closed and semi-closed industrial parks, city roads, expressways, and airports.

FAW Group said it plans to deploy around 100 ICVs in the yet-to-be-completed pilot zone to technically boost the human-machine cooperative driving mode and explore commercial mix-flowed operation models.

Currently, the constructor is soliciting bids for engineering design projects about 52.7-km smart roads, 20 Hongqi E-HS9s with Level 4 intelligent features, a self-driving operation center, a data center, and a factory dedicated to scenarios research.

For the first phase of the Changchun-based ICV pilot project, FAW Group has constructed 10.5-km smart roads, deployed 4 Hongqi E-HS3 Level 4 intelligent cars, built a cloud-based autonomous driving platform, and started pilot operation of smart mobility services. As of now, the ICVs deployed there have run for nearly 30,000 kilometers.
SINGAPORE (AP)  Vice President Kamala Harris asserted Monday that the U.S. must maintain its focus on evacuating Americans and vulnerable Afghans and shouldnt get distracted by questions over what went wrong in the chaotic U.S. exit from Afghanistan.

Speaking at a news conference in Singapore, Harris repeatedly declined to engage when asked what she felt should have been done differently in the withdrawal.

Theres no question there will be and should be a robust analysis of what has happened, but right now theres no question that our focus has to be on evacuating American citizens, Afghans who worked with us and vulnerable Afghans, including women and children, she said.

Harris took questions alongside Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong after the two met for about two hours to discuss issues ranging from the COVID-19 response to cybersecurity and supply chain cooperation. The news conference was dominated by Afghanistan, after the messy U.S. withdrawal sparked concerns about Americas commitments to its allies globally.

Harris visit to Singapore and Vietnam this week is seen as the first real test of the Biden administrations ability to reassure key allies of its resolve.
The U.S. should not limit its help to Afghans who were on the U.S. payroll and are now eligible for special immigrant visas. It should actively aid, evacuate and help resettle Afghans trying to escape from the Taliban regime. It should grant temporary protected status to Afghans, as it has done with nationals of more than 20 other troubled nations, including Venezuela, Syria and Somalia.

Afghan Americans already have strong communities in the U.S. because, tragically, they were displaced from their homeland following the Soviet invasion in 1979, and because this nation embraced them. Thousands established a presence in communities around the country, notably here in Los Angeles, in Fremont (in Californias East Bay), in Chicago and northern Virginia. They have become as integral to American life as the millions who came before them  the Vietnamese, Laotians, Cambodians, Hungarians and Cubans, among the many waves of refugees and immigrants, colonists, slaves and Indigenous people who built, and are building, the nation.

The U.S. cannot resettle every woman in every nation who is denied the right to an education, or every person whose treatment falls short of what can reasonably be deemed acceptable. We went into Afghanistan to remove the Taliban and stayed in the misguided notion that we could bestow on others the freedom and abundance with which we have been blessed. We have learned, and unlearned, and learned again that we cannot save the world with military invasion. The best we can do is to clean up after our failures, and that includes taking in not merely those who helped us  again, thats the easy part  but those in the most immediate danger in those nations where we failed.

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Thats a deal-breaker, he said on a day off after 18 straight days of 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. shifts on a wildfire in Washington state. Im not putting people at risk.

Actually putting out these large fires, or labeling them controlled, will require cold weather combined with rain or snow, weeks away for many states.

I'd say pray for rain because that's the only thing that's going to get us out of this fire season," Idaho's state forester, Craig Foss, told Republican Gov. Brad Little and other state officials this week during a discussion of the wildfire season.



HAVE WILDFIRES CHANGED?

Kuo has been fighting wildfires for 30 years with the U.S. Forest Service, spending the first part of his career as a frontline firefighter with groundcrews, the backbone of any effort to stop a wildfire. At the time, wildfires of 150 square miles (390 square kilometers) were uncommon. Now blazes reach fives times that size and more, getting large enough to create their own weather.

Thats kind of redefining what the new normal is, said Kuo. We get these megafires."



IS WILDFIRE SUPPRESSION IN THE PAST PLAYING A ROLE NOW?
A dance show demonstrating the unique aesthetics of the Song Dynasty (960-1279) will be staged at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing, capital of China between Aug. 20 to 22.

The show, entitled Poetic Dance: The Journey of a Legendary Landscape Painting, salutes A Panorama of Mountains and Rivers, a masterpiece of traditional Chinese painting from Wang Ximeng (1096-1119), a genius painter from the Song Dynasty.

As a researcher from the Palace Museum in Beijing unfolds the painting inch by inch, the man, who has devoted himself to the study of the masterpiece, travels back in time to watch the process the ancient painter used to painstakingly create the work, decoding the secrets behind the inherent uniqueness of the painting.

The show will guide the audiences to explore the legendary world of traditional Chinese art by drawing an emotional connection between the ancient painting and modern-day people.
Fudan University has concluded, after investigation, that doctorate dissertation of Zhang Wenhong, a top infectious disease expert, does not make up as academic misconduct, whisking off online accusation of the experts' 20-year-old paper.

Although some parts of the doctorate paper of Zhang, which was writen in 2000, did not follow academic standard, it does not affect its scientific achievements, nor does it constitute as academic misconduct, Fudan University announced on Monday.

Fudan launched an investigation on Zhang's paper on August 15, after some netizens took to China's Twitter-like platform Sina Weibo saying that Zhang's doctorate paper is suspected of academic fraud. The netizens said Zhang cited a paper by Huang Hainan, from Qilu Institute of Technology, which was published in the Chinese Journal of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases in 1998, without quotes, notes, or an acknowledgement.

Media platforms pointed out by careful comparison of the two articles that the overlapping part concentrated mainly in literature review part, which consists about 3,300 words. Zhang's 95-page doctorate paper, accounts roughly 70,000 words.

The hashtag "Zhang Wenhong's paper doesn't make up as academic misconduct" was soon trending on Sina Weibo, with more than 280 million reads within less than two hours. Zhang is a leading infectious disease expert in Shanghai who is also dubbed as "China's Fauci."

Before Zhang was mired in the plagiarism controversy, he was attacked by some netizens after his "coexist with coronavirus in the long run" remarks were misinterpreted and sparked debate about China's anti-epidemic strategy.

Zhang said on Sina Weibo post on July 29 in response to the COVID-19 flare up in Nanjing, that the "world needs to learn to coexist with the virus."

The remarks soon sparked debates after some Chinese netizens, as well as foreign media outlets, misinterpreted Zhang's opinion as a proposal for China to depart from its current "zero tolerance" strategy, which has proved successful as it has timely reduced viral contagion and helped the economy to quickly rebound.

The criticism against Zhang further escalated after Gao Qiang, China's former health minister, published an article advocating for the continuation of stringent COVID-19 prevention policies and dismissed ideas of a laissez-faire attitude by abandoning the harsh epidemic control measures, as some Western countries did.

Yet, an official from China's Center for Disease Control and Prevention, who requested anonymity, told the Global Times that "there is no fundamental dispute among officials and experts on China's model of fighting the epidemic, as saying to 'coexistence with the virus' shouldn't be interpreted out of context, given the characteristics of the virus such as variants and transmissibility."

Before Zhang, a similar view was expressed by numerous experts, including China's top epidemiologist Zhong Nanshan, Chinese Center of Disease Control Director Gao Fu, and renowned Chinese respiratory specialist Wang Chen.

In a move to clear off misinterpretation, Zhang wrote a long post on Sina Weibo on Wednesday night, saying that China still faces great challenges from COVID-19 "but we must have steadfast faith. Our country's current anti-epidemic strategy is what suits us the best. Only the one who wears the shoes knows if the shoes fit."

Global Times
Humanitys ideas of alien existence often says more about us than the little green men we envision. Our conception of life beyond Earth reflects our collective hopes and fears about the unknown and about technology, as well as our knowledge of the larger universe  which changes dramatically as time goes on.

No medium has more vividly captured and utilized scenarios of extraterrestrial life better than film. Aliens first appeared on screen in 1902, in Georges Meliess A Trip to the Moon. After 1947  in which civilian pilot Kenneth Arnolds UFO sightings and the discovery of a mysterious flying disc near Roswell, New Mexico occurred  a subculture devoted to otherworldly creatures called ufology emerged, leaving a lasting mark on cinema.

As America dealt with the Red Scare in the 1950s, influential alien films like The Day the Earth Stood Still and War of the Worlds used intergalactic characters to reflect citizens fear of Communism and other outsiders, as well as humanity's penchant to destroy itself from within. Extraterrestrials were also common sci-fi horror monsters, ranging from the titular alien in Ridley Scotts 1979 classic to the shape-shifting arctic creature in The Thing. However, in the 1970s and 1980s, friendlier and sometimes lovable aliens were also reflected in movies such as Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, and Cocoon. These days, otherworldly characters appear in a wide range of roles, from the alien force that mutates biological creatures in Annihilation to the more kindly, time-bending heptapods of Arrival.
Smith's attorney, Palmer Hoovestal, told the Associated Press that the handgun part of the reported incident "didn't happen" and that he has witnesses who say that a restaurant employee initiated the altercation.

Smith has pleaded not guilty to the charges. A trial was set for the end of this month, but in the meantime, the county attorney, Leo Gallagher, received a July 26 letter from Knudsen's office, citing the AG's statutory authority over county attorneys and ordering him to deliver all the files in the Smith case to the AG's office and to "take no action" in the case "without first consulting the Department of Justice."

When Gallagher contacted the AG's office early this month, saying as per instruction he had done nothing yet to prepare for Smith's trial, he was ultimately informed that the AG's office had completed a review of the case, and then he was ordered to dismiss the gun-related charges against Smith.

Gallagher replied that he "cannot in good conscience move to dismiss these counts and comply with my oath of office." He then asked that the Department of Justice assume the case.

The Attorney General's Office told Gallagher he was free to prosecute if he wished on the other counts.
Up to 17 inches (43 centimeters) of rain fell in Humphreys County in less than 24 hours Saturday, shattering the Tennessee record for one-day rainfall by more than 3 inches (8 centimeters), the National Weather Service said.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee toured the area, calling it a devastating picture of loss and heartache." He stopped on Main Street in Waverly where some homes were washed off their foundations and people were sifting though their water-logged possessions. All around the county were debris from wrecked cars, demolished businesses and homes and a chaotic, tangled mix of the things inside.

Shirley Foster cried as the governor walked up. She said she just learned a friend from her church was dead.

I thought I was over the shock of all this. Im just tore up over my friend. My house is nothing, but my friend is gone, Foster told the governor.

The hardest-hit areas saw double the rain that area of Middle Tennessee had in the previous worst-case scenario for flooding, meteorologists said. Lines of storms moved over the area for hours, wringing out a record amount of moisture  a scenario scientists have warned may be more common because of global warming.
The U.S. is also presumably anticipating that strengthened airport screening and more sophisticated surveillance can be more effective than 20 years ago in thwarting an attack. But experts worry that intelligence-gathering capabilities needed as an early-warning system against an attack will be negatively affected by the troop withdrawal.

An added complication is the sheer volume of pressing national security threats that dwarf what the U.S. government was confronting before the Sept. 11 attacks. These include sophisticated cyber operations from China and Russia that can cripple critical infrastructure or pilfer sensitive secrets, nuclear ambitions in Iran and an ascendant domestic terrorism threat laid bare by the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

FBI Director Chris Wray has described that home-grown threat as metastasizing, with the number of arrests of white supremacists and racially motivated extremists nearly tripling since his first year on the job.

My concern is that you cant compare 2001 to today, said Bruce Hoffman, a terrorism expert at Georgetown University. There's a much vaster and better organized bureaucracy, he said, but it's burdened with demands not specifically tied to terrorism.
I know Ive had a lot of drivers that dont believe in that and dont want to have to deal with that, Redford said.

For parents, school bus headaches are coming at an especially difficult time.

Monica Huff was at home in quarantine with a likely case of COVID-19 on Wednesday when she learned that her 14-year-old sons school bus didnt show up at his stop in suburban Houston.

I was worried. I was scared. ... I didnt know where he was, she said. She felt especially helpless because she couldn't leave to get him herself without putting others at risk of infection.

Eventually she learned that the elementary-school bus driver had picked up the older kids and brought them to the high school. She was relieved to know he arrived at school, though his late start time was also a concern since hes still making up some ground in his studies after falling behind during remote learning early last year.

Theres enough to worry about this year with people getting angry about masks, she said.
Located 23 miles south of Libby, the land surrounding the Libby Creek area has been of interest to prospectors since the early 1860s, when it was home to up to 600 miners working at a camp known as Libbysville.

By 1876, only one miner was reported to be working the creek, but a second gold rush in 1885 brought another wave of miners to a new camp known as Lake City or Oldtown. A store in the mining camp was supplied by a packstring that brought supplies via a trail from Thompson Falls. Mining on the Creek hit its peak from 1889 to 1909.

Hydraulic mining operations began around 1909 and continued until the late 1940s, when mining activities in the area began to trail off.

The current gold panning area was acquired through a land exchange in 1987 and opened to the public the following year.

With their claim just a short walk from Libby Creek, the Northwest Montana Gold Prospectors are continuing a 160-year tradition of prospecting in the area.

The Northwest Montana Gold Prospectors started as a local group of mining and prospecting enthusiasts, but over the years it has seen hundreds of members from across the country. These days, it has about 60 active members.
With the number of people testing positive for COVID-19, we have not been able to meet our goal of making initial contact and follow-up within 24 hours, said RiverStone Health VP of Communications Barbara Schneeman. Currently we do not have the capacity to do the contact tracing that results from a case investigation.

On Monday, St. Vincent Healthcare had 41 COVID-19 inpatients and six COVID-19 patients in the ICU, six of which were intubated.

Over the weekend, three COVID-19 patients died at Billings Clinic with the youngest being 58 years old. Billings Clinic also admitted a 24-year-old and a 37-year-old with severe COVID-19 illness, underlining that in the fourth wave of infections, younger people are coming down with serious illness.

As of Monday, Billings Clinic had 40 inpatients with COVID-19 and about two-thirds of them were under 60 years old, much younger than in the past, said Nancy Iversen, director of patient safety and infection control at Billings Clinic.

Though the number of inpatients seems to have stabilized in the few weeks, Iversen said there is a constant flow of patients with some being released as more are admitted.
Dear Sen. Daines: You voted against the bipartisan infrastructure bill written by five Democrats, five Republicans, including Montanas Sen. Jon Tester.

Montana newspapers reported this bill contains $2.8 billion for Montana highways, $144 million for Montana airports; funds for Montana broadband and Montana wildfire reduction, $1 billion for Montana water projects, more.

You cited the deficitwithout mentioning your vote for the tax cut in 2017. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimate of the impact of the Trump tax cut on the deficit: $1.8 trillion to $2.3 trillion over 10 years. CBOs estimate for the impact of the infrastructure bill  that you cited as unacceptable  $250 billion over 10 years.

Those tax cuts lowered taxes for incomes over $1 million by about 30%, for incomes of $20,000 to $50,000 by about 2%. Over 60% of the benefits went to the top 20% of incomes. Far from the promise that it would more than pay for itself in growth, tax revenues decreased by about 16%, substantially increasing the deficit. In 2019 the economy grew  before COVID  at the same rate as it did in 2015  2.9%.

Sen. Daines, who are you working for? Clearly, its not the thousands of Montanans who will get good jobs for fixing our highways and more.
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) has provided Montana with a once in a generation opportunity to make the investments that our state needs to drive a strong economy, while training and employing Montanans in high-wage jobs.

ARPA will provide Montana with nearly $3 billion in additional funding for our local governments, schools, workers, and those impacted by COVID-19.

ARPA funds are intended to restore those hit hardest by COVID-19 but also present Montana with the opportunity to address longstanding economic barriers that the pandemic exposed and worsened. To maximize the benefits to working people, Montana should invest in longstanding and successful training programs to ensure our workers have the skills needed for today and tomorrow; mandate businesses receiving ARPA dollars comply with labor laws; fund workplace rights enforcement; and mandate community benefit agreements that require employers to pay good wages and respect workers right to join a union.

Directing benefits where theyre needed most to enable Montanas workers to reach their full economic potential requires wise policy decisions. There are proven programs ready to go now that can get workers retrained into better paying jobs in growing industries.
Its in those areas where drought is more predominant, said Scott Thompson, Region 6 wildlife manager, mainly near Glasgow and Malta.

In areas that saw more moisture, such as Hunting Districts 650 and 670, fawn numbers ranged from 60 to 70 per 100 does.

Drought

Low fawn survival may be blamed on poor forage conditions this spring and summer, the biologists speculated. A mild winter meant most pronghorn does went into the spring birthing season in pretty good physical condition. However, by the time fawns were born, the country was already drying out leaving less to eat and reducing hiding cover for the fawns to avoid predators like coyotes, eagles and lions.

This summers drought conditions could also result in lower fawn production next year. It all depends on whether this fall is wet enough to provide some green growth across the state, providing pronghorns with good forage before winter hits. Right now, their body condition isnt great.

We need moisture, Paugh said.

If we have an average winter we could see some higher than normal over-winter mortality in does and fawns, he added
North Dakota's Game and Fish Department is encouraging hunters to take note of map tools available to identify electronically posted private land before venturing out in the field this fall.

Map resources, mobile apps and printable maps can be found on the departments website, at gf.nd.gov.

Each have different strengths, such as some require cell service while others can work offline, others offer the ability to determine who posted the land or a point of contact, Game and Fish Business Operations Manager Brian Hosek said. And you can still pull down that print material for those who do not prefer to use these technologies.

The 2021 Legislature passed a law making electronic posting equal to physical posting and penalties, and defining a "fence." It also allows only lawful hunters and anglers to access fenced, unposted land, for hunting and fishing activities only.

About 7,000 landowners posted 3.75 million acres -- about 8.3% of North Dakota's area. In Burleigh and Morton counties, landowners posted a cumulative 79,249 acres and 153,694 acres.
Throughout this pandemic Gov. Noem has remained focused on governments proper role, as well as her own authority, he said in a statement.

However, whether or not the governor calls a special session may have little bearing on the deadlines employers throughout the state have set for employees to be vaccinated. In order to cause any passed bill to take immediate effect before the deadlines, it must gain a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate. With some in Senate leadership already opposed to the mandate bans, that is unlikely.

Nearly 56% of people eligible for a vaccine in the state have received one, according to the Department of Health.

Meanwhile, cases of the virus have resurged to their highest levels since February. The Department of Health reported 331 new cases Monday. New cases in the state have more-than-tripled in the last two weeks, according to Johns Hopkins researchers.

The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 statewide climbed to 127, leaving about 42% of hospital beds open. Sanford Health is preparing for a fresh wave of the virus over the next four to six weeks, the Argus Leader reported.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
The safety and well-being of our GABR families, volunteers and riders is our highest priority. For that reason, we are replacing the in-person event with a virtual celebration, said Sara Haugen, executive director of the Sanford Health Foundation. To celebrate, we encourage our past and current participants to share stories and photos on the Great American Bike Race GABR Community Facebook page as we take a look back at 25 years of supporting our families across the region.
MATHER, Calif. (AP)  More than 13,500 firefighters were working Monday to contain a dozen large California wildfires that have destroyed hundreds of homes and forced thousands of people to flee to safety.

After an extensive review of fire damage, Gov. Gavin Newsom requested a presidential major disaster declaration for eight counties, Mark Ghilarducci, director of the California Office of Emergency Services, told a briefing near Sacramento.

If approved, the declaration would provide a wide range of assistance including housing, food aid, unemployment and governmental emergency costs, Ghilarducci said.

Nearly 43,000 Californians were under under evacuation orders and more than 500 households were in shelters, he said.

New concerns were developing at the explosive Caldor Fire southwest of Lake Tahoe, the famed alpine lake straddling the California-Nevada state line and surrounded by peaks of the Sierra Nevada and resort communities.

The Caldor Fire, just 9% contained, has become the nation's number one priority for firefighting resources, said Chief Thom Porter, director of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
There was no further information and it wasnt known who the attackers were. The Taliban, who are manning the outside perimeters of the Kabul airport, have until now not opened fire on NATO or Afghan troops within.

Mondays incident took place after at least seven Afghans died in a panicked crush of people trying to enter Kabuls international airport on Sunday, the British military said. Thousands were still trying to flee the country in a chaotic exodus a week after the Taliban takeover.

The German Defense Ministry said Monday that the countrys military has evacuated more than 2,700 people from Kabul since the evacuations started, with people of 38 nationalities among those taken out. German A400M transport aircraft are shuttling between Kabul and Tashkent, Uzbekistan.



COPENHAGEN, Denmark  A plane with Norwegian citizens from Afghanistan, others with links to Norway and also other foreign nationals landed in Oslo on Monday, the fourth flight in the past days to have landed in Norway.

The Scandinavian countrys foreign ministry declined to say how many were on the plane or give details for safety reasons, the Norwegian news agency NTB said.
This is Up and Down, where we give a brief thumbs up or thumbs down on the issues from the past week.

Up

A 12-person jury and two alternates performed an important civic duty during the past three weeks while serving on the Chad Isaak quadruple murder trial. North Dakota does not often see high-profile criminal trials of that magnitude. Spending three weeks serving on a jury is a significant sacrifice. In addition, jurors had to view many graphic photographs of the grisly crime, images that will likely stick with them long after their service is over. The jurors deserve to be commended for their service.

Down

The delta variant of the coronavirus has helped push North Dakotas active COVID-19 cases to about 1,500, more than tripling since the beginning of August. The 14-day rolling average test positivity rate surpassed the state target of 5% last week for the first time since December. Hospitalizations have increased to more than 50. State data is showing low numbers of staffed hospital beds in Bismarck. The numbers reinforce the importance of getting vaccinated and following safety protocols such as wearing a mask and social distancing.

Up
Families benefit when the economy of their state or nation is robust and free, and economies also benefit when its participants embody civic and moral values. []

Families and free market economies: On the surface, they seem unrelated. We associate family with game nights, holiday traditions, and cute baby photos, while the economy is associated with the stock market, cold-hearted businessmen, and bloated corporations.

What these stereotypes fail to recognize is that the health of the family, as a social institution, and the health of the economy are inherently intertwined. Families benefit when the economy of their state or nation is robust and free, and economies also benefit when its participants embody civic and moral values.

Three indices related to economic freedom and pro-family policies and culture demonstrate the positive relationship between families and free economies on a global scale. Nine nations rank consistently and highly ranked for their support of the traditional family: Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Germany, Estonia, Belgium, France, and the Netherlands, based on Acton Institute analysis of the Independent Global Index on Family (IGIF) 2016 Report , data from UNICEF and the Heritage Foundations 2021 Index of Economic Freedom.

One of the ways that countries can support family is through robust parental leave policies. In the United States, parents are given 12 weeks of unpaid leave by the Family and Medical Leave Act. However, Sweden gives parents a total of 480 days of paid leave which can be divided between the two parents. Women in the Netherlands receive 16 weeks of paid leave, and both parents are entitled to 26 weeks of unpaid leave.

Another type of pro-family policy is child or family allowances. Belgium offers birth grants of 1,000 euros for each child and a monthly allowance that continues until the child turns 18. Estonia has similar allowance policies, first established in the Child Benefit Act of 1992, and Iceland also introduced universal benefits for all children under the age of 7.

Additionally, childcare can be a considerable cost to families. Thus, many countries find ways to reduce the financial burden. In Denmark, childcare is seen as a means of empowering children and supporting the development of their identities, while transmitting cultural values and encouraging their integration into society. All children between six months and five years old are given access to subsidized childcare facilities, and over 90% of children between one and five years old are enrolled in day care. In Germany, public childcare is provided by non-profit organizations, many of which are associated with Protestant and Catholic churches. More than 90% of children ages three to five attend some form of childcare. Norway even allows parents to claim childcare and kindergarten costs as tax deductions. Last but not least, France, which has the second highest birth rate in Europe, has a calibrated income tax system that allows families with more children [to] pay less.

Compared with other nations, these nine, pro-family nations have some of the best and freest economies on the globe. Eight out of nine of these countries are ranked within the top 40 on Heritages Economic Freedom Index. When examined by their GDP, five (Germany, France, Netherlands, Sweden, and Belgium) were ranked within the top 25 economies in the world.

These data show a significant correlation between pro-family policies and greater economic freedom. On one hand, pro-family policies, such as paid maternity/paternity leave, may be the result of a stable and developed economy which can afford to offer its employees such benefits. However, data also show that providing paid leave to employees will motivate them to remain with the company and continue working in the long run, thus benefiting the organization and the overall economy.

On a universal level, it is evident that cultural beliefs will affect how individuals view and interact with the economy. World Finance reports that one cultural factor that impacts economic development is the populations willingness to engage in markets, whether through investment or employment. To assess this willingness to participate in markets, economists will sometimes look at the prevalence of social trust in a given community. Many studies have associated increased social trust with higher rates of trade, innovation and development in a countrys financial sector.

Promoting the family helps foster a culture of connectedness, social integration, and trust, which can lead to a greater engagement in the marketplace. We cannot sacrifice the moral and civic role of the traditional family without simultaneously impairing the overall economy. But we also cannot undermine the economy for the sake of the family, because doing so will reduce the familys ability to engage with and fulfill their role within society.
 Michael Morgan 63

 Season ticketMichael 

Michael 

A letter from Dina:

It is with a breaking heart that we inform you that Michael Morgan, Music Director and Conductor of Oakland Symphony since 1991, died peacefully today, August 20, 2021 at Oakland Kaiser where he had been admitted last week for an infection. He was 63.



In May of this year, Michael Morgan underwent successful kidney transplant surgery at UCSF. He resumed conducting last month for the San Francisco Symphony and Bear Valley Music Festival.



Micahel was born in Washington, D.C., where he attended public schools and began conducting at the age of 12. While a student at Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, he spent a summer at the Berkshire Music Center at Tanglewood, studying with Gunther Schuller and Seiji Ozawa. He first worked with Leonard Bernstein during that same summer. His operatic debut was in 1982 at the Vienna State Opera, conducting Mozarts The Abduction from the Seraglio. In 1986, Sir Georg Solti chose him to become the Assistant Conductor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, a position he held for seven years under both Solti and Daniel Barenboim. In 1986, he was invited by Leonard Bernstein to make his debut with the New York Philharmonic. As guest conductor, Morgan has appeared with most of Americas major orchestras, as well as the New York City Opera, St. Louis Opera Theater, and Washington National Opera.





In addition to his duties with the Oakland Symphony, Maestro Morgan served as Artistic Director of Oakland Symphony Youth Orchestra, Music Director at Bear Valley Music Festival, and Music Director of Gateways Music Festival. He was Music Director Emeritus of the Sacramento Philharmonic and Opera and was on the boards of Oaktown Jazz Workshops and the Purple Silk Music Education Foundation.





In 2020, he began an association with the San Francisco Symphony as the first curator of their Currents online series, and he recently led the Orchestra on July 23 at Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco in what the San Francisco Chronicles Joshua Kosman said, Some conductors use a guest appearance with a major orchestra as an opportunity to show what they can do. Michael Morgan uses it to show what the orchestra can do. I like his way better.









"Our entire organization is grieving a profound loss, Jim Hasler, the Symphonys Board Chair said. Michaels impact on our community and the national orchestra field cannot be overstated - and he has left us too soon. We have been blessed over the past 30 years, as Michael built the foundations of an Oakland Symphony dedicated to diversity, education, artistic collaboration and a celebration of music across genres and cultures. His vision of orchestras as service organizations was a beacon locally and nationally. This vision is his legacy, and the Oakland Symphony, Chorus and Youth Orchestra will renew his commitment for years to come.



This is a terribly sad moment for everyone in the Oakland Symphony family. We have lost our guiding father, said Executive Director Mieko Hatano. Michaels plans and ambitions were set for several seasons to come. He made his Orchestra socially authentic, demanded equality, and he made his Orchestra our orchestra. He fashioned a unique, informed artistic profile that attracted one of the most diverse audiences in the nation. His music reflected his beliefs: reverence for the past, attuned to the future, rooted in his adopted home of Oakland. His spirit will always guide the enduring future of the Oakland Symphony.



Michael Morgan is survived by his mother Mabel Morgan, and sister Jacquelyn Morgan. A memorial service will be announced in the near future.



If you would like to give in support of Michael Morgan and his legacy, please His programming engaged new audiences and many returned for subsequent concerts. Notable personalities like W. Kamau Bell and Dolores Huerta were invited to share the Playlist of music that shaped their lives and values. Michaels Notes From concerts explored the music and musicians of such specific communities as Vietnam, Korea, Native American and LGBTQ+. Lost Romantics gave deserving, neglected works of the late 19th century a new hearing. And American Masterworks presented performances of such seminal stage works as West Side Story, Candide, Street Scene, Porgy and Bess, and Show Boat. The San Francisco Chronicle proclaimed, "In his 30 years as music director of the Oakland Symphony, Morgan has made that orchestra a vibrant hotbed for innovative programming."Our entire organization is grieving a profound loss, Jim Hasler, the Symphonys Board Chair said. Michaels impact on our community and the national orchestra field cannot be overstated - and he has left us too soon. We have been blessed over the past 30 years, as Michael built the foundations of an Oakland Symphony dedicated to diversity, education, artistic collaboration and a celebration of music across genres and cultures. His vision of orchestras as service organizations was a beacon locally and nationally. This vision is his legacy, and the Oakland Symphony, Chorus and Youth Orchestra will renew his commitment for years to come.This is a terribly sad moment for everyone in the Oakland Symphony family. We have lost our guiding father, said Executive Director Mieko Hatano. Michaels plans and ambitions were set for several seasons to come. He made his Orchestra socially authentic, demanded equality, and he made his Orchestra our orchestra. He fashioned a unique, informed artistic profile that attracted one of the most diverse audiences in the nation. His music reflected his beliefs: reverence for the past, attuned to the future, rooted in his adopted home of Oakland. His spirit will always guide the enduring future of the Oakland Symphony.Michael Morgan is survived by his mother Mabel Morgan, and sister Jacquelyn Morgan. A memorial service will be announced in the near future.If you would like to give in support of Michael Morgan and his legacy, please click here



With Hope,

Dina
In Nordelta, an upscale suburb of Buenos Aires, Argentina, capybara's have been finding a new home. Capybara's are giant South American rodent species weighing roughly 120 lbs. and 3 feet in height and hordes of them have decided they would like to share the neighborhood with the people, mostly because there is no place else to live.

via AP:

But resident Gabriel Iglesias said the area's relationship with the capybara had soured from "friendly" to "complicated".

Since 2019, residents have reported incidents related to the expansion of the capybara population, including road accidents and attacks on pets.

Sebastian Di Martino, a conservation director at the Rewilding Argentina Foundation, said the rodents were being driven into urban areas by the degradation of their wetland habitats.

In 2020, fires devasted more than 300,000 hectares of wetlands in the Parana River delta.

Di Martino added there were also fewer predators to keep the capybara population in check.
For decades, approximately half of Americans rejected the theory of evolution. But finally the University of Michigan reports that in the last few years, the tide has (slightly) turned and "the level of public acceptance of evolution in the United States is now solidly above the halfway mark." Why? According to lead researcher Jon D. Miller, it's all about (gasp) education. From the University of Michigan:

"Almost twice as many Americans held a college degree in 2018 as in 1988," said co-author Mark Ackerman, a researcher at Michigan Engineering, the U-M School of Information and Michigan Medicine. "It's hard to earn a college degree without acquiring at least a little respect for the success of science."

The current study consistently identified religious fundamentalism as the strongest factor leading to the rejection of evolution. While their numbers declined slightly in the last decade, approximately 30% of Americans continue to be religious fundamentalists as defined in the study. But even those who scored highest on the scale of religious fundamentalism shifted toward acceptance of evolution, rising from 8% in 1988 to 32% in 2019[]

As of 2019, 34% of conservative Republicans accepted evolution compared to 83% of liberal Democrats.
Since losing a bid to help NASA with the next mission to the moon, Blue Origin has lost a lot of senior staff and senior engineers.

CNBC:

At least 17 key leaders and senior engineers have left Blue Origin this summer, CNBC has learned, with many moving on in the weeks after Bezos' spaceflight.

Two of the engineers, Nitin Arora and Lauren Lyons, this week announced jobs at other space companies: Elon Musk's SpaceX and Firefly Aerospace, respectively.

Others quietly updated their LinkedIn pages over the past few weeks.

Each unannounced departure was confirmed to CNBC by people familiar with the matter. Those departures include: New Shepard senior vice president Steve Bennett, chief of mission assurance Jeff Ashby (who retired), national security sales director Scott Jacobs, New Glenn senior director Bob Ess, New Glenn first stage senior director Tod Byquist, New Glenn senior finance manager Bill Scammell, senior manager of production testing Christopher Payne, New Shepard technical project manager Nate Chapman, senior propulsion design engineer Dave Sanderson, senior HLS human factors engineer Rachel Forman, BE-4 controller lead integration and testing engineer Jack Nelson, New Shepard lead avionics software engineer Huong Vo, BE-7 avionics hardware engineer Aaron Wang, propulsion engineer Rex Gu, and rocket engine development engineer Gerry Hudak.

Those who announced they were leaving Blue Origin did not specify why, but frustration with executive management and a slow, bureaucratic structure is often cited in employee reviews on job site Glassdoor.
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Developer Paul Bliss to invest $20 million in two projects in Amherst, Cheektowaga Bliss, owner of Bliss Construction Co., bought the Creekview Court Apartments near University at Buffalo's North Campus in Amherst last week, paying $9.68 million for the former Ramada Inn and Conference Center.

Additionally, there would be six four-unit, two-story townhome buildings, with 24 detached units among them. Most would again be two-bedroom units, ranging from 1,400 to 1,600 square feet, with attached garages. Rents in the complex would range from $1,700 to $2,400 per month.

The easternmost portion of the site would remain as permanent greenspace.

The project is located in the town's major arterial, commercial and restricted business zones, and will need a variance from the Clarence Zoning Board of Appeals for the third floor of the bigger building, as well as for having nine more apartments than permitted by the code's density rules. Bliss will provide access to the site from both Roll Road and Highland Farms Drive, to benefit from two traffic lights.

The proposal also will be referred by the Town Board to the Planning Board this week for further review. Bliss and Hopkins said they also are planning to schedule a neighborhood meeting for the community as soon as possible. Already, feedback from the town prompted Bliss to reduce the number of units from 67.

Hopkins also said the team is trying to shift more of the units that would be allowed in back to the front instead, to create more of a buffer in the rear.
Pfizer said the U.S. is the first country to grant full approval of its vaccine, in a process that required a 360,000-page application and rigorous inspections. Never before has the FDA has so much evidence to judge a shot's safety.

The formula, jointly developed with Germany's BioNTech, will be marketed under the brand name Comirnaty.

Moderna has also applied to the FDA for full approval of its vaccine. Johnson & Johnson, maker of the third option in the U.S., said it hopes to do so later this year.

Just over half of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated. Vaccinations in this country bottomed out in July at an average of about a half-million shots per day, down from a peak of 3.4 million a day in mid-April. As the delta variant fills hospital beds, shots are on the rise again, with a million a day given Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Full approval of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine means it meets the same very high standards required of all the approved vaccines we rely on every day, said Dr. Jesse Goodman of Georgetown University, a former FDA vaccine chief. That should help anyone who still has concerns gain confidence in the shots.
Rupert Murdoch never owned the Buffalo Bills in real life, though he did own them for one season in the reel-to-reel life of Gossip Girl.

It was the worst investment I ever had, he said.

OK, so the character who says this on the HBO Max show is actually named Roger Menzies. But hes meant to be Murdoch, or someone very like him: a media mogul who owns various right-wing outlets  and who worries, comically, that his offspring want to off him. If that sounds like the plot of Succession, another HBO show, it is surely by design.

Menzies is played with wicked glee on Gossip Girl by Malcolm McDowell, who looks less like Murdoch than he does like Logan Roy, the Murdoch stand-in on Succession, who in turn is played with glowering malevolence by Brian Cox.

As it happens, Buffalo is mentioned often in this Gossip Girl reboot. (The original last aired in 2012.) Zoya Lott, a main character, has moved from our fair city to New York to enroll at Constance Billard, the fictional rich-kids school on the Upper East Side around which both TV iterations of Gossip Girl revolve.
The exoneration of Walker and Boyd was among her causes. The men spent more than two decades in prison and were among five teenagers implicated in the 1976 death of William Crawford.

By Grant's count, she has written around 40 articles about the Buffalo five over the past five or 10 years. She also has gone beyond a reporters normal boundaries by speaking at rallies and protests for Walker and Boyd to win public support for them.

Grant and her editor said theyve talked in the past about issuing Grant, who is a contributor and not an employee, a Challenger ID. But it never came to pass because they werent having a problem. Grant said she was allowed to sit in the press gallery during court hearings on the appeal and never had to show credentials.

Flynns press aide, Kaitlyn Munro, said the office has asked for credentials for high-profile news conferences at which out-of-town reporters are expected. She cited the news conference in 2018 when Valentino Dixons murder conviction was overturned, after he spent 27 years in prison.
When it comes to expensive government projects, certain things are all but guaranteed to stir the ire or the curiosity of the citizenry. Highway repairs. Recreational opportunities. Constructing or razing public buildings.

Passions seem to ebb, however, when the subject is sewer systems.

But because of their importance, Erie County is preparing to spend $32.7 million of its first batch of American Rescue Plan money on county sewer system improvements, more than any other infrastructure spending category. The reason is simple if not paradoxical: The boring old sewers hardly anyone thinks about are a matter of life and death.

"To be blunt, people live longer because of sewers," said Joseph Fiegl, the county's deputy commissioner of sewerage management, in his address to the Erie County Legislature last month. He noted that they are a complex network of pipes, pumping stations and treatment plants that serve as the key to clean water, healthy rivers and lakes, and the elimination of waterborne diseases for many living things, including people.

"Our lakes and our waterways have advanced past their horrible conditions over the last century because of this infrastructure," he said. "Sewers are needed for businesses to develop and to grow."
"She's such a compassionate person and feels people's pain," Peoples-Stokes said. She believes that will make the future governor more sympathetic to the dire situation tenants and landlords face as the eviction moratorium comes to an end.

But it's not just an ability to empathize.

She believes Hochul will be more open and more accessible to everyone.

"It's like the door is open," Peoples-Stokes said. "A door has opened for me to have ongoing conversations about the people who I represent," Peoples-Stokes said.

Assemblywoman Monica P. Wallace said Hochul is already showing a new leadership style.

She liked that Hochul signaled in her appearance on the "Today" show that she will likely require masks for all schoolchildren in the fall. Cuomo had punted that decision to local governments and school districts for this school year, frustrating education leaders and parents.

"Moms need to go back to work. They need their kids back in school to do that. ... She's already said: 'I don't see how we avoid it.' That's more than we've gotten from our governor," Wallace said.
"She was every place, just like now," Connolly said. "She advocated for a lot of community involvement and community events."

She pushed for the renovation of the old Wanakah Water Works building into a Seaway Trail visitors center, led the town's Rejuvenation Project that reviewed town codes and sponsored the annual townwide cleanup, and she instituted the town's Blast at the Beach, a daylong series of family activities in July at Hamburg Town Beach, ending with fireworks.

"She was very strong about making sure that commercial did not intrude upon residential, while allowing commercial to develop," Connolly said.

Another former board member remembers Hochul pulling on a pair of boots to walk through a field to see how a new development would affect an existing community.

"Kathy loves public service. She loves listening to people and she likes to see how the decisions that are being made affect people," Quatroche said.

And she was not one to back down to developers.

We're trying to be a bit progressive and visionary here ... and you're telling us to take a hike," Hochul told a developer who objected to a rezoning.
In Buffalo and across the nation, socialist ideas are on the rise. As an American citizen born in Sweden, a country hailed by American socialists, the idea of voting in a democratic socialist for mayor should be considered with caution.

Sweden abandoned ideas of socialism long ago, is a market economy with low corporate tax  and in some sectors, has more private ownership than in the U.S.

Without a doubt, Sweden has generous social welfare systems: early childhood education, free higher education (with high-performance entry), family leave and universal health care. They also have a well-funded, well-trained and respected community-oriented police force.

Most of the reforms associated with the Swedish welfare state were created by the social democrats (who are not democratic socialists) during the 1970s and 1980s. There was a brief period when Sweden experimented with socialism, for example, implementing a gradual transfer of ownership of private businesses to the public. This program, along with high taxes, a narrow wage spread, and expanded social security that diminished incentives to work resulted in an exodus of companies and one of Sweden's most significant protests.
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and President Biden are taking the right and necessary action in requiring nursing home staff be vaccinated against Covid 19  but its not quite enough. While 85% of longterm care facility (LTC) residents have taken the vaccine to protect themselves only about 60% of staff has done the same.

In some areas of Western New York, the number of vaccinated nursing and LTC facilities staff members is even lower. Our goal must be 100% vaccination for all staff of nursing homes with no exceptions, no negative test option, no shaming or name calling. If our common goal is to protect our vulnerable senior women and men living in longterm care facilities our government leaders must partner with facility owners, operators and employee representatives.

Vaccine mandates for health care workers is a positive and necessary step towards protection for our senior residents, but only part of the solution. The aids and nurses providing the most intimate care to our senior residents are essential caregivers who our seniors and their families count on all day/every day and yet they are the least compensated.
Union Minsiter Hardeep Singh Puri (File Photo/ANI)

New Delhi [India], August 23 (ANI): The astounding statements made by Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu's advisors draw inspiration from his "Jhappi-Pappi" speech at the opening of Kartarpur Sahib Corridor in 2019, said Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas and Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri on Monday.

This comes after Sidhu's advisors Malwinder Singh Mali and Dr Pyare Lal Garg made remarks supporting Pakistan and a controversial statement regarding Kashmir.

Taking to Twitter, Puri posted a video of Sidhu's speech in which he can be heard favouring his close aide Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and wrote, "One wonders if Mr Sidhu's advisers who have now made astounding statements on Kashmir have drawn inspiration from the Japphi-Pappi speech at opening of Sri Kartarpur Sahib Corridor on 9 Nov 2019 in which Mr Sidhu extolled the virtues of his friend PM Imran Khan!"

Hitting out at the Congress leader Sidhu said that "Japphi-Pappi politics doesn't work."

"Time for Mr Sidhu and Congress Party to introspect their stand on developments in our neighbourhood. They clearly have no understanding of the current political & security situation in our volatile neighbourhood. Japphi-Pappi politics doesn't work," he said.

After the remarks sparked a controversy, Sidhu on Monday summoned his advisors to his residence in Punjab to discuss the matter.

Garg had questioned Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh's criticism of Pakistan while Mali made a controversial remark on Kashmir. Mali also posted an objectionable poster of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on social media.

The two advisors were slammed by many Congress leaders including Punjab Chief Minister who stated that their comments were "totally misplaced and antagonistic" to the stated position of India and the Congress on Pakistan and Kashmir.

Earlier in the day, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Daljit Singh Cheema also took a dig at Sidhu by stating that the PPCC chief was himself friendly with the Pakistan Prime Minister and Army Chief, so his advisors were just following suit. (ANI)
Representative image

New Delhi [India], August 23 (ANI): The National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), under the Ministry of Home Affairs, has warned of a third COVID-19 wave peak in October in its recent report to the Prime Minister's Office.

The NIDM's report quoted the Reuters' opinion survey of 40 experts that forecasted that the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to hit India between July 15 and October 13, 2021.

On whether the Delta-Plus Variant will be the driver of the third wave, NIDM said the Delta-Plus variant formed due to the mutation in the B.1.617.2 (Delta variant) that drove the fatal second surge in India. This new variant of concern is a sub-lineage of the Delta variant that has acquired a spike protein mutation 'K417N' which is also

found in the Beta variant (first detected in South Africa).

"Though there is not enough evidence as of now to designate the Delta Plus variant as more dangerous than Delta, according to NCDC, as of August 2, 2021, this variant has been detected in 70 cases across 16 states from the 58,240 samples that have been sequenced so far in India," it said.

Emphasising the effect of the potential COVID third wave on children, the report said the Indian Academy of Paediatrics found that there is no biological evidence that the current and the new Delta Plus variant will affect children more than adults.

The report further said that Lancet COVID-19 Commission India Task Force concluded that there is no current evidence that an anticipated the third wave will target children specifically.

"A serological survey (March 15-June 10, 2021 from over 45,000 samples across 4 states) by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) suggests that the hypothesis of a future wave specifically targeting children (two years and above) is unfounded. The study noted a serological prevalence of 55.7 per cent in ages 2-17 years and 63.5 per cent among adults which clearly determines that there was a statistical difference in prevalence between adults and children," the report mentioned. (ANI)
The first Afghan refugees have arrived at Fort McCoy, one three military installations in the United States approved by the Department of Defense for temporary housing.

Sunday afternoon, special immigrant visa applicants, their families and other individuals at risk arrived, according to a press release from the base.

This is in addition to a small number of Afghans currently finalizing their processing at Fort Lee, Va.

Fort McCoy officials expect these arrivals to continue throughout Sunday and the coming days. U.S. Northern Command is working to build additional capacity at the Wisconsin base, as well as at Fort Lee, Fort Bliss in Texas and potentially other military locations as required.

Approximately 1,000 service members from multiple units of the U.S. Army and U.S. Army Reserve have begun to assemble at Fort McCoy to provide support to Operation Allies Refuge.

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U.S. Northern Command is the Department of Defenses lead combatant command for this mission in the continental United States and is providing oversight in support of the Department of State. U.S. Army North, as U.S. Northern Commands Joint Force Land Component Command, is the lead operational command for this mission.
The nonprofit groups said they dont have the resources to fight multiple law firms now representing Huebsch, the utilities and the PSC over discovery, the formal process for parties to review any evidence that will be presented during a trial.

Mr. Huebsch has already won his appeals, they wrote in a brief to the court of appeals. Not because hes right on the merits  he isnt  but because of the collective burden that he, the transmission companies, third-party executives and representatives of the transmission companies, and the PSC, represented by ten law firms and groups of attorneys, have imposed on non-profit DALC and WWF.

At the request of the power line opponents, Frost on Friday withdrew his order compelling Huebsch to turn over his phone, prompting the court of appeals to dismiss Huebschs appeal as moot.

While Huebsch had sought an appeals court ruling on the underlying issue  noting the likelihood he could be called to testify in court  his attorney Ryan Walsh said they are pleased to see the subpoenas dropped and Frosts order withdrawn.

This result confirms that Plaintiffs bias claim is baseless, Walsh wrote. Mr. Huebsch shouldnt have to spend one additional minute responding to Plaintiffs allegations.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 23)  The Department of Health has asked hospitals to deploy "step-down" facilities to free more beds as new coronavirus infections continue to rise and threaten to overwhelm the healthcare system.

The "steady increase" in new COVID-19 cases across the country is draining hospitals anew, Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega told CNN Philippines' News Night.

"We've been telling the hospitals and different institutions, both public and private, that they must come up with waysa step-down facility where recuperating patients will be monitored and get the rehabilitation, instead of hospitals," Vega said. "This is one way to decongest hospitals."

Outside the capital, Vega said the healthcare utilization rate is high in Regions 2, 3, and 4A, adding that the government has been asking hospitals to increase the number of their intensive care units.

"We have increased our intensive care units (beds) by 1,300 plus as of this day," Vega said. "There will be more modular hospitals for moderate, severe, and critical cases."

On Monday, the Philippines recorded a new all-time high in its COVID-19 daily tally with 18,332 new infections.

The DOH also declared community transmission of the highly contagious Delta variant in Metro Manila and Calabarzon.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 23)  Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez, Jr. said Monday that pharmaceutical firms Pfizer and Moderna may apply for full authorization soon.

Once na-approve na sa mga countries nila, they will also apply to us. Most likely ang nakikita namin dito, if they will have September (approval) sa kanila, they will apply in October. Maybe sa December or first quarter (next year), there will be full commercialization of the vaccines, said Galvez in a Palace briefing.

[Translation: Once they are approved in their countries, they will also apply to us. Most likely, what we see here, if they will be approved by September in their country, they will apply in October. Maybe in December or first quarter next year, there will be full commercialization of the vaccines.]

Later in the day, the United States FDA granted full approval to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for people at least 16 years of age.

Moderna, also an American drugmaker, has already applied for full authorization in the U.S.

Both brands have only been allowed emergency use by Philippine authorities. If their full authorization applications are approved in the country, Food and Drug Administration director general Eric Domingo told CNN Philippines in a text message that their vaccines will be available for commercial use.

This means hospitals can also procure their own vaccine supply and the vaccines will be more accessible to the public, he added.

Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, both American drugmakers, have already applied for full authorization in the United States.

Both brands have only been granted emergency use authorization by Philippine and U.S. authorities.

The national government earlier said it is considering prioritizing the procurement of more vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna.

Some private companies have already bought Moderna vaccines for their own employees. A deal is also in the works for companies to purchase up to a million doses of Pfizer for their employees dependents amid the threat of the Delta variant.
(CNN)  If you thought Apple computers were expensive, you haven't seen what their manuals go for.

Boston-based RR Auction on Thursday sold an Apple II manual signed by the company's late co-founder Steve Jobs for a whopping $787,484.

The computer's 196-page manual is signed and inscribed opposite the Table of Contents: "Julian, Your generation is the first to grow up with computers. Go change the world! steven jobs, 1980."

It's also signed by Mike Markkula, an early investor in Apple and the company's second CEO.

The manual was signed while Jobs and Markkula were in the United Kingdom promoting Apple, RR Auction said in a statement announcing the sale. The recipient was Julian Brewer, the son of an entrepreneur who worked with Apple to distribute their products in the UK.

"I was sitting in my bedroom writing games on my Apple II when Dad called me down to meet some guests," Brewer said. "To my amazement it was Steve Jobs and Mike Markkula. I had the manual with me and only later understood how rare it was for Jobs to sign anything, let alone to write an inscription like this. He got on well with Dad, so I feel the inscription was made with care."

Launched in 1977, the Apple II was the company's first successful product and is generally regarded as one of the first computers made for the mass market. The first computer spreadsheet, VisiCalc, was written for the Apple II in 1979 and expanded the computer's popularity to the business market.

"Whereas the Apple I was primarily for hobbyists, with less than 200 units made, the Apple II truly 'changed the world' by giving around 6 million homes and businesses their first taste of personal computing. Apple II's revenues supported Apple's successful floatation, the biggest tech IPO of the time," RR Auction said.

Jim Irsay, owner of the Indianapolis Colts, placed the winning bid for the manual.

"When we think of the greatest, most innovative minds of the past two centuries, Steve Jobs must certainly be included among them," Irsay said in a statement provided to the auction house. "Jobs was a truly transformative figure who changed the way in which human beings think, do business and interact on a daily basis."

RR Auction also sold other items related to Jobs and Apple, including a signed letter from Jobs in which he ironically states: "I'm afraid I don't sign autographs."

It sold for $479,939.

This story was first published on CNN.com 'An Apple II manual signed by Steve Jobs just sold for nearly $800,000'
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 22)  The Department of Budget and Management is confident it will be able to come up with funds for the much-delayed allowances of health care workers.

The development comes after President Rodrigo Duterte gave the DBM and the Department of Health 10 days to give the medical frontliners their due benefits and other compensation.

According to Budget Undersecretary Tina Canda, the Special Risk Allowance will be sourced from the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund of the 2021 National Budget.

"Our mandate is to find a funding source to cover the requirements of DOH. So initially we already identified that. In fact, during the discussion with the President, I made mention that it will probably be charged against the miscellaneous personnel benefits fund as far as SRA is concerned and probably some of that will be charged in the year budget that could be identified," says Canda.

Meanwhile, vaccinators and other human resources in health (HRH) will be given benefits identified from contingent funds of the DOH.

Canda said these are all still subject to the approval of the President. Once approved, only then can they release the amount.

"Subject to approval of Office of the President and then we will be releasing an amount. Part of it will be coming from contingent fund and part of it we have identified from savings available -- these are 2020 funds from DOH which they can tap for the purpose," said Canda.

Meantime, health groups are relieved by the President's pronouncement, saying the benefits and allowances for the frontliners are long overdue.

"Matagal na nag-aantay ang mga health workers. Pagod na pagod na at yung mga benepisyong nakabinbin na yan ay maibigay na talaga sa kanila para maramdaman nila sa panahon ng krisis ngayon, may pantustos sila sa pang-araw-araw," said Robert Mendoza, president of the Alliance of Health Workers.

[Translation: Health workers have been waiting for the longest time. We are getting tired and the benefits we are bound to receive will greatly help during this crisis, in meeting our daily needs.]

"Nakakatuwa naman na binigyan ng aksiyon ni President Duterte ang issues ng ating mga healthcare workers, and hopefully the Department of Health and Department of Budget and Management respond fast para maibigay ang benepisyo para sa ating health workers," says Melbert Reyes, president of the Philippine Nurses Association.

[Translation: We are happy that the President has acted on the issues affecting our health workers, and hopefully the DBM and the DOH can respond fast so that they can give our health workers their due benefits.]
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 23)  The chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines on Monday said he has tested positive for COVID-19.

Lt. General Jose Faustino confirmed the news in a statement, saying he found out after receiving the result of his RT-PCR test this afternoon.

"I will remain in command of the AFP but will continue to follow the prescribed isolation protocol to ensure the safety of those I work with and my family. In fact, I intend to join virtually the Western Mindanao Command Change of Command Ceremony tomorrow," he said.

Faustino added he was "fully vaccinated and in high spirits."

Before taking the reins of the AFP in July, Faustino was commander of Joint Task Force Mindanao, acting Army chief, and commander of the AFP Eastern Mindanao Command.

He is the 10th AFP chief appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte, succeeding Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, who has retired.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 23)  The Department of Budget and Management on Monday submitted the 5.024 trillion proposed budget for 2022 to leaders of the House of Representatives.

The expenditure plan is 22.8% of the countrys economic output and higher by 11.5% than the 4.5-trillion budget for this year, DBM said.

Under the 1987 Constitution, the President is required to hand over to Congress the budget proposal within 30 days from the opening of every regular session. The 18th Congress opened its third regular session last July 26.

The education sector gets the biggest chunk in the proposed budget for next year in terms of agencies  the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, Technical Education and Skills Development, and state universities and colleges are slated to receive 773.6 billion in 2022.

Social services will again get the largest slice of the budget pie in 2022 sectors-wise, with 1.922 trillion assigned for it or a 15.2% year-on-year increase.

This will fund health-related services such as the continued implementation of the Universal Health Care Act, purchase of COVID-19 vaccines, procurement of personal protective equipment, and others, said the DBM.

In terms of expenditure classification, the department said the bulk of the proposed budget will go to spending on Personnel Services at 1.456 trillion  a 29% jump from this year's allocation.

This will cover the hiring of healthcare workers and teaching personnel, the implementation of the third tranche of the Salary Standardization Law V, and the requirements of the 2018 Military and Uniformed Personnel pension arrears, among others, it added.

In a separate statement, House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco said the lawmakers are ready to carefully scrutinize the budget which contains at least 240.75 billion in COVID-19 response measures.

This officially signals the start of the budget season in Congress or the legislative process of evaluation, debate and amendment which we hope could lead to the timely and decisive passage of the 2022 General Appropriations Act, he said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 23)  Malacanang expressed hope the recent round of lockdowns will be the last amid the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that economic growth may not be achieved with a return to stricter measures.

Let's just say that we are hoping. Kasi alam niyo naman, kada lockdown natin [Because as you know, for every lockdown we have], we have to adjust again our economic forecast, said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque in his regular briefing.

President Rodrigo Dutertes economic team recently slashed growth targets for 2021 again as main economic hub Metro Manila and select provinces reverted to the strictest enhanced community quarantine due to a Delta variant-driven surge in COVID-19 cases.

The new 4-5% target band is a far cry from the prior 6-7% range, which itself was a downgrade of the Development Budget Coordination Committees original 6.5-7.5% forecast for this year.

So far, positive pa rin po ang inaasahan nating [were still hoping for a positive] economic development within the year of 2021. Pero another lockdown, baka po di na natin makamit ang positive growth, said Roque.

[Translation: But with another lockdown, we may not be able to achieve positive growth.]

The Philippine economy grew by 11.8% year-on-year from April to June, shifting from a 3.9% dive in the first three months of 2021. However, economic output dwindled by 1.3% on a seasonally adjusted quarter-on-quarter basis.

The capital region is currently under the milder modified ECQ status from Aug. 21 to 31.

Roque has frequently emphasized that it will take days before the effects of a hard lockdown can be seen, while also reiterating the importance of a stronger implementation of the governments prevent, detect, isolate, treat, and reintegrate (PDITR) strategy and a faster COVID-19 vaccine drive.
(CNN)  Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison hinted at an end to the country's zero Covid-19 infections strategy in an opinion piece published Sunday, warning Australians to expect a rise in infections as restrictions relax.

Morrison's article comes as Sydney, Australia's largest city, recorded 830 confirmed Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours, its highest number of daily new infections yet, despite being in a strict lockdown since late June.

Australia has been one of a number of countries, including China and New Zealand, which have attempted to completely eradicate Covid-19 inside their borders, and until recently the strategy had been largely successful. To date, Australia has seen just 44,026 confirmed Covid-19 cases and 981 deaths.

But several major Australian cities, including Sydney, Melbourne and the capital Canberra, are under lockdown as authorities struggle to contain an outbreak of the Covid-19 Delta variant.

On Saturday, thousands of Australians took to the streets of Melbourne and Sydney to protest against the long lockdowns, leading to hundreds of arrests. At least seven police officers were injured during violent clashes.

In his opinion piece published by news.com.au on Sunday, Morrison said he recognized the "heavy toll" that the strict coronavirus prevention measures had inflicted on Australian citizens and businesses, but said it was "darkest before the dawn."

"(The lockdowns) are sadly necessary for now, and we will keep providing health and income support to get people through, but they won't be necessary for too much longer," he said.

Morrison said the Australian government intended to shift its focus from reducing case numbers to examining how many people were getting seriously ill from Covid-19 and requiring hospitalization.

"After all, this is how we manage all other infectious diseases," the Australian leader said, adding the country's public health system was strong enough now to cope with an increase in coronavirus cases.

While Morrison didn't give a strict timeline of when the new strategy would be implemented, he said once Australia reached its national vaccination targets of 70% and 80%t "we can start claiming back what Covid has been taking away from us."

"This is what living with Covid is all about. The case numbers will likely rise when we soon begin to open up. That is inevitable," he said.

Morrison's approach stands in stark contrast to neighboring New Zealand. On August 12, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced a plan to tentatively re-open to vaccinated travelers from low-risk countries from early 2022 but said she did not want to see large outbreaks of the virus inside New Zealand.

"Principle number one will remain ... maintaining our elimination strategy to stamp out the virus, so we can maintain our hard won gains and keep our options open," she said at the time.
JE M'APPELLE HENRI  WHY DO I SHARE A NAME WITH A STORM?

These storms have human names courtesy the World Meteorological Association, which draws up a list of 21 names for each Atlantic hurricane season.

WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS NEEDED FOR AN HENRI (OR BOB OR GLORIA)?

There are two ingredients needed for a storm to track this far up north: a tropical system itself and steering currents. Most tropical systems in the northern hemisphere run out or recur before they can make their way north, according to the National Weather Service.

OK, SO THIS IS PRETTY RARE. IS HENRI'S PATH CONNECTED TO CLIMATE CHANGE?

It's just a tropical weather phenomenon, the National Weather Service says. But at the same time, climate change isn't off the hook when it comes to tropical weather  global warming exacerbates hurricanes, making them stronger and wetter.

HOW DOES HENRI COMPARE TO SANDY?
Source: Adobe Stock / AlekseyIvanov

Bitcoin (BTC) may have broken through the key USD 50,000 barrier, but crypto investors might be wise to keep their champagne on ice  with United States politicians and regulatory bodies possibly gearing up to the crash the celebrations later this week.

The token is now trading just over USD 50,000 at the time of writing, per CoinGecko data. But as the last full week of summer begins, Washington officials appear to be planning action that could well impact the sector.

The Federal Reserve will not be holding an in-person summit this year, with the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City instead announcing that it will host its 2021 Economic Policy Symposium virtually. The highlight of this event will be Chairman Jerome Powells August 27 speech entitled Macroeconomic Policy in an Uneven Economy.

Also known as the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium, the summit usually sees attendees address important and pressing matters of policy.

In 2016, the symposium attempted to tackle the impact of a worldwide recession, while in 2018, it spoke about ways to check the power and influence of domestic tech titans like Google, Facebook, Amazon and Apple.

Mati Greenspan, the Founder and CEO of Quantum Economics, warned in a post late last week that an unwinding Fed could present more than a few problems to the crypto sector.

However, he opined that the possibility that the central bank will announce any pivotal changes seems strikingly low, adding that the Feds messaging would more likely amount to saying COVID-19 is still out there and we need to remain vigilant with our foot firmly on the gas pedal of the money printer.

Greenspan added that Powells speech would likely be the main focus of all financial markets throughout the course of next week, with heavy volatility expected.

Meanwhile, Powell could be set to win a second term at the head of the Fed after winning the Treasury Secretary Janet Yellens support, Bloomberg reported.

The media outlet claimed the Treasury chief had told senior White House advisers that she supports reappointing Powell, citing people familiar with the matter.

These same sources claimed that the move increases his chance for a second term, but added that President Joe Biden hasnt made a decision yet and is likely to make his choice around Labor Day [September 6].

Powell has spoken about crypto in withering terms this year, stating variously that tokens are vehicles for speculation, and that they have failed to perform as forms of payment.

Some are concerned that the involvement of the Treasury in any form could be an ominous signal, even if Yellen does not have the crypto sector directly in her sights.

In a newsletter, Ryan Selkis, the CEO of the crypto researcher Messari, wrote:

[The] Treasury is not your average bumbling government adversary. They can do real damage.

Selkis added that the much-maligned infrastructure bill and the political and economic fallout of the fall of Kabul could spell bad times ahead for crypto enthusiasts.

He concluded:

While there's a lot to be excited about in crypto, now is not a good time to be sanguine about the industry's future prospects. If it doesn't feel like wartime yet, it will soon.

____

Learn more:

- Regulators are Coming for the DeFi Goose and Its Golden Eggs

- Last-gasp Infra Bill Compromise May not Come Fast Enough to Save US Crypto

- Bitcoin 'Innovation Is Real' & 9 Other Key Takeaways From Speech By SEC Chair

- US Fed Inactivity May Lead Bitcoin to Moon, But a Negative Impact is Possible

- A Debt-Fuelled Economic Crisis & Bitcoin: What to Expect?

- Bitcoin Is More Public Money than Central Bank-Issued Fiat Currencies
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Cumberland County

Sunoco hit with another fine in latest pipeline settlement, including drilling spills in Cumberland County

Jason Malmont, The Sentinel A marker for the Sunoco pipeline sits in front of a mobile home park on Appalachian Drive, Silver Spring Township.

Contamination of streams in Cumberland County was part of the latest settlement assessment between state regulators and Sunoco Pipeline, for which Sunoco was fined $85,666.

The settlement, entered Aug. 5, is at least the eighth such agreement under which Sunoco has consented to pay penalties to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, according to DEP records, in order to conclude investigations of damage done by the construction of the Mariner East II and IIx pipelines.

This months settlement was small relative to some earlier instances, such as the February 2018 agreement under which Sunoco paid $12.6 million to resolve environmental damages and have the DEP reinstate its construction permit.

Most of the settlements, including the most recent, cite instances in several counties across the state where Sunoco has violated construction regulations  most commonly by leaks of drilling fluid and mud from the pipeline boring path into local waterways and wetlands. Such events are referred to as inadvertent returns.

DEP collects $497,000 in penalties from Sunoco for Mariner East 2 pipeline work The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Thursday ordered Sunoco Pipeline LP, which operates numerous petroleum and natural gas pipelines in Pennsylvania, to pay $497,000 as a result of a consent order and agreement for violating the Clean Streams Law, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Code, and the Dam Safety and Encroachments Act.

This months settlement cited 13 instances of inadvertent return that occurred in the spring and summer of 2020, seven of which happened in Cumberland County.

One leakage occurred in a tributary of Locust Creek in Lower Frankford Township; the other six occurred in Middlesex Township in Letort Spring Run and its tributaries and surrounding wetlands. The largest return was estimated at 200 gallons, according to the DEPs exhibit.

The incidents along Locust Creek impact the properties of several homeowners in Upper Frankford and Lower Frankford townships who have been fighting Sunoco for greater transparency for years.

Wilmer Baker, the property owner whose self-represented case before the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission forced Sunoco to hold public meetings in the county, said he was glad to see some further recompense for the environmental damage in his area.

Its been an awful hard couple years on nature, Baker said.

Sunoco shows up at Lower Frankford meeting, three years after absence sparked controversy Sunoco representatives focused their presentation on the safety measures the pipeline uses to detect any leaks or hazards, and the training it provides to local first responders.

The Mariner East II and IIx lines transport liquefied gases from hydrofracking sites in western Pennsylvania to the refinery in Marcus Hook, near Philadelphia, that is also operated by Sunoco Pipeline and its parent company, Energy Transfer.

Through most of the state, the new lines run on the same right-of-way as Mariner East I, a pipeline originally constructed in the 1930s for petroleum products. The squeezing of additional lines into the decades-old right-of-way has caused friction with a number of property owners, including Baker and his neighbors.

Drilling fluid and silt settling on pastures has ruined farmland, and residents have questioned how much oversight has been exerted over Sunocos construction methods. The pipeline operator says its practices exceed federal standards  although during Bakers court proceedings in 2019, Sunoco indicated that many parameters, such as pipeline spacing and cover, were industry guidelines and not legal regulations.

Such issues came up again earlier this year after Administrative Law Judge Elizabeth Barnes, the same judge who had heard Bakers PUC challenge, found Sunoco in violation of safety standards in a case brought by residents in Delaware and Chester counties.

DEP: Sunoco's Mariner East 2 construction caused accelerated erosion, sedimentation in Cumberland County The DEP issued two Consent Assessments of Civil Penalty that total more than $313,000 for violations during construction of the Mariner East 2 pipeline project in Cumberland County, as well as elsewhere in the state.

Both cases featured similar issues  allegations that pipelines had been built too close together and with insufficient ground cover, and that Sunoco had routed the lines near public buildings, including schools, without fully explaining the hazards of leaks or explosions.

During Bakers 2019 hearing, as well as during the resulting public meeting in Lower Frankford Township this past June, Sunoco has stressed that its procedures to detect pipeline failure along the line are state-of-the art.

The company has thus far rejected calls by Baker and residents of the rural townships, many of whom are elderly or disabled, to install some type of alarm system along the pipelines route, saying it would be impractical.
I understand personal choice, I understand personal freedom. But when it comes to public health, we should all be looking out for each other, Riyanto said. The best protection so far is to mask up and vaccinate.

Others say masks shouldnt be forced upon children.

Kim Oldfield, who lives in rural Jessieville, Arkansas, said masks are unpopular in her area. She opposes the idea of a mandate and says it should be up to families to decide. In her local school district, masks are optional this fall.

America is supposed to be the land of the free, said Oldfield, 70. And when the government starts getting into your personal life and making you do things that you dont want to do, people dont like that.

Parents are slightly less likely to support mask requirements than the broader population, the poll shows. Fifty-two percent of parents with school-age children said they supported a mandate for kids, while 28% opposed it, with a similar split over mandates for teachers.

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There were also differences by race: About two-thirds of Black parents said they back mask mandates for teachers and students, compared with about half of white and Hispanic parents.
The fight over redrawing political maps is just ramping up in state legislatures and nonpartisan commissions around the country. But both Republicans and Democrats already are planning for major showdowns in the courts.

For months, Democrats and Republicans have been laying the groundwork for a complex, 50-state legal battle over the once-a-decade process of redistricting. Both parties are preparing for a changed legal climate  where federal courts are newly hostile to claims of unconstitutional partisan gerrymandering and state courts could create a patchwork of rulings. And it will all play out in a tightened timeframe, thanks to pandemic-related delays.

Experts say that adds up a challenging landscape for Democrats, who have in the past won major court victories by proving Republicans deliberately used maps to disenfranchise Democratic voters. Some are predicting far fewer dramatic court interventions, despite plans for a more aggressive strategy.

There will be a lot of litigation, but in a lot of ways the tools will be less sharp than they used to be, said Michael Li of the Brennan Center for Social Justice in New York City.
We knew, when we reopened, we were not going to be able to be open six or seven days a week because staffing and business wasnt going to be there, said John Stephenson, Hathornes owner. I knew that I wanted to utilize the space.

A Nashville chef for decades, Stephenson knew a number of chefs who were trying to stay afloat during the pandemic with projects like creating take-out dinners or starting food trucks, he said.

The first pop up at Hathorne started in October, with a Mexican theme from Julio Hernandez centered around his homemade tortilla. It was a success, and more pop ups followed. Currently, Hathorne hosts Michael Hannas focaccia-based pizza company, St. Vito Focacciaria, every Sunday.

Hanna and his staff get work and it keeps people coming in our doors, Stephenson says. The arrangement with St. Vito is long-term, so he hired Hanna as a chef. Hanna gets a percentage of the Sunday sales; Hathorne pays for all products and labor.

Stephenson said he plans to keep on having pop ups even after the pandemic wanes rather than reopening full time.

Pop-ups can be a way to attract attention for new projects. William Eick bought a building to start his own restaurant earlier this year, but initially had trouble finding investors.
The worlds largest operating steam locomotive will travel through the St. Louis region starting this weekend, and you can get a good look at it downtown on Sunday.

Union Pacifics Big Boy No. 4014 is scheduled to roll into Poplar Bluff at 4:30 p.m. Friday. It leaves at 8 a.m. the next morning for Scott City, Missouri, by 11:15 a.m. then Chester, Illinois.

It arrives in St. Louis at 7:45 p.m. Saturday but there will be no public access at that point in time.

It will be on display in St. Louis from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday at Poplar and South 16th streets downtown, near the St. Louis Gateway Transportation Center, or the train station. There, visitors can have the opportunity to buy souvenirs and visit the Experience the Union Pacific Rail Car, a multimedia, walk-through experience about the Big Boy and railroading history.

The Big Boy then travels west, arriving at the train station in Kirkwood at 9 a.m. Monday and staying there until 9:30 a.m.

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It continues west with stops in Pacific at 10:15 a.m., Washington at 11:30 a.m., Hermann at 1:15 p.m., and Jefferson City at 3:30 p.m.

It makes its way across Missouri and stops in Kansas City on Tuesday evening.
An area man faces several felony charges after allegedly stealing multiple firearms from a Washington County home on three separate occasions.

Thomas John Coleman, 30, whose address is listed as Davisville, was charged in Washington County on Wednesday with three counts of first-degree burglary and four counts of stealing a firearm.

According to a probable cause statement from the Washington County Sheriffs Office, Coleman entered a residence located on Highway 32 near Caledonia and stole firearms from the homeowner between the end of June and early July.

The report states Coleman admitted to entering the residence three separate times and taking a total of four firearms. At the end of June, the man allegedly went into the home and stole one gun before returning and stealing two more firearms a week later. He reportedly returned to steal the fourth firearm a couple of days later.

The guns reported stolen included a Revelation pump action 12 gauge shotgun, valued at $125; a Springfield pump action 12 gauge shotgun, valued at $180; a Marlin bolt-action .22 magnum rifle, valued at $500; and a Winchester Model 94 30-30 caliber lever-action rifle valued at $650.

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The state's School Nurses Association and the state chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics also supported the decision.

California has called for a similar vaccination requirement, but with an option for testing. Washington state also has a vaccination requirement, but the governor has said teachers could risk losing their jobs if they don't comply. Connecticut teachers and state workers must get regular test if they don't have a religious or medical exemption.

The mandate comes as the contagious delta variant is leading to higher positivity rates across the country. There are more cases and hospitalizations in New Jersey as well, but far lower than at the peak in the spring of 2020.

Health officials have also said that most of those going into the hospital with COVID-19 are unvaccinated.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Q: And I understand Isabela was doing her own stunts, too.

Merced: I think the only reason I did most of my stunts in this movie was because of the amazing stunt team. It was all about the trust that created between each other.

Momoa: Thats where I felt most like a dad to her. Like I knew she could act, I knew she was beautiful, I knew she would play this role great, but I didnt know she could fight like that at that level. I was just blown away. Im extremely excited for her career and for people to see this movie because shes a little force. And thats coming from me, who pretty much only does action. You cant just teach that. You have to have that fire in you.

Q: Jason, you produced this, and its been a bit of a passion project. Why did you want to throw your weight behind it?

Momoa: Im not in too many contemporary pieces. I wanted to play a bit of an everyday man. And it tackles some amazing topics, and it has a phenomenal twist. And it gave me the opportunity to put all my resources of 20 years into it, from stunts to wardrobe down to the casting. It was a wonderful, smooth-running production.
Unilever officials are looking at different methods of refilling, from bulk containers at grocery stores to deposit-return setups. While eyeing ways to decrease packaging, officials also noted that the growing consumer concern is a business opportunity.

This is a really exciting area and one where were aiming to take a leading role, said Richard Slater, Unilevers chief research and development officer, in a statement. Were trailing various approaches to tackle the issue, as there is unlikely to be a one-size-fits-all solution. Were determined to make a real difference on the plastics challenge, and so well continue to experiment and to test, learn and refine.

For Stauntons Refill Renew, the concept has already has proven itself. After almost three years in business, the shop is expanding into Charlottesville, where it already has loyal customers. The store is expected to open the first week of September.

About three years ago, Staunton eliminated their plastic recycling program and it was the impetus for us to get into this game, said Mandy Drumheller, of Refill Renew. We knew there had to be a better way to get products into your home without having to throw plastic away.

The store has a combination of specialty bulk products and brand-name products.

Its been a very successful run here in Staunton, which is the whole reason we wanted to move into other places. If it works in downtown Staunton, it will work in bigger cities, Drumheller said. Charlottesville is close enough that I can run two stores at the same time. We also have loyal customers who for years have come over the mountain to shop with us and fill their bottles. It only makes sense to open a store thats close to where they are.

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Among Senexs arguments that Urbanski did not find persuasive was the claim that the firm was not a debt collector. Senex contended that notices it sends on behalf of its landlord clients are, as a matter of law, the landlords notices and not Senexs, and by sending them it performs only ministerial tasks on behalf of the landlords.

Urbanski wrote that the court sees little material difference between the present case and the Crawford case, and in both, the plaintiffs allege that Senex drafts, prepares, prints and sends the notices directly to the tenants.

Here, the court again finds that more factors suggest Senex acts as a debt collector when it transmits the notices, Urbanski wrote. As in Crawford, the notices instruct the tenants to contact the landlord concerning the unpaid rent, and the complaint does not allege that Senex has the authority to settle disputes on behalf of the landlord. However, the complaint alleges  and the notices themselves state  that Senex drafts the Notices, meaning that Senex was certainly substantially involved in the drafting of the [notices.]

However, Urbanski also wrote that he was unpersuaded by the plaintiffs argument that Senexs use of landlord letterhead and landlord signatures was false or misleading given the other text and instructions included on the notice.
Tests that provide rapid results arent as accurate and give a false positive about 50% of the time, Vergales said.

All the other layered mitigation schools are doing are drastically more important than the test, because the test is [like finding] a needle in the haystack, he said. But you are better off from a mindset standpoint just assuming that every single kid that walks in that door has COVID because you are going to double down on the mitigation strategies to reduce the likelihood of spread.

Testing programs are more effective and feasible when officials are trying to create a COVID-free bubble, similar to the strategies used for in-person classes by the Blue Ridge School, a private boarding school, Vergales said. However, for schools where students and staff are leaving school each day and going back out in the community, a bubble is not not possible.

The only ones that really have been successful are the ones that are smaller and spent a lot of money to bring in companies to help them do their own testing, he said.

He added that random testing is a more effective tool when the prevalence of the disease in the community is around 3% to 5%.
Hochul will need to quickly build her own team of advisers to steer the administration for at least the next 16 months.

Hochul, who said she didnt work closely with Cuomo and wasnt aware of the harassment allegations before they became public, has vowed no one will ever call her workplace toxic.

I have a different approach to governing, Hochul said Wednesday in Queens, adding, I get the job done because I dont have time for distractions, particularly coming into this position.

She announced the planned appointments Monday of two top aides: Karen Persichilli Keogh will become Secretary to the Governor and Elizabeth Fine will be Hochuls chief legal counselor.

She plans to keep on Cuomo-era employees for 45 days to allow her time to interview new hires, but said she will not keep anyone found to have behaved unethically.

Hochul, who has already said she plans to run for a full term next year, is expected to pick a left-leaning New York City politician as her lieutenant governor. Hochul once represented a conservative Western New York district in Congress for a year and has a reputation as a moderate.

State Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs praised Hochul as formidable.

Shes very experienced and I think shell be a refreshing and exciting new governor, he said.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
It was an innovative move back in 2011 and would also prove beneficial nine years later. Germannas approach after the earthquake helped prepare the community college for when the COVID-19 pandemic forced classes to move online, said Mike Zitz, special assistant to the school president.

It went well then, and spectacularly well last year, he said. It was a bold decision to go completely online. Germanna was one of the few colleges where enrollment went up in the pandemic.

Geologists also gleaned benefits from the 2011 earthquake, as a study was launched that helped bring more understanding about how East Coast quakes unfold and the impacts they can cause.

The earthquake was significant in raising awareness of East Coast earthquake hazards and the importance of research to understand when and where earthquakes can occur, David Applegate, the U.S. Geological Surveys associate director for natural hazards said in a news release. Damaging earthquakes do not strike the eastern U.S. often, but the potential consequences of not understanding and planning for such events with their widely distributed shaking could be severe. The next significant earthquake on an eastern U.S. fault may not occur for hundreds of years, yet there is a small chance it could happen at any time.
FORT MONROE, Va. (AP)  Theres a grassy spot on the southwestern side of Fort Monroe National Monument that looks out across the expansive waters of the Chesapeake Bay. Its a place where people gather under a shady tree for a picnic lunch, or linger along the seawall to gaze at the massive cargo ships coming and going and delight in the playful dolphins leading the way.

But if you stand just so on this grassy spot, facing the bay at an angle, with the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel over your right shoulder, your sightline takes an imaginary leap to the other side of the world, a leap that symbolizes a very real journey that ends on the shores of Angola on the southwestern coast of Africa.

These two points, Fort Monroe and Angola, are thousands of miles apart, yet forever linked to one of the darkest narratives in American history.

This grassy spot at Fort Monroe will become the site of the African Landing Memorial, a space to honor the area where some 20. and odd African individuals, as documented by colonist John Rolfe in a 17th-century letter, arrived in English-speaking North America for the first time in 1619.

The efforts are being led by the Fort Monroe Authority, which oversees the fort and its daily operations, and in partnership with the Hampton-based Project 1619.
Former Gov. Terry McAuliffe and Glenn Youngkin are in a close contest in Virginias race for governor, with Democrat McAuliffe receiving 40% and Republican Youngkin 37% among likely voters in a new Virginia Commonwealth University poll.

The margin of error was plus or minus 5.23 percentage points, making the race about even.

The poll was done by landline and mobile phone numbers of 823 adults and was conducted between Aug. 4 and Aug. 15.

It was conducted by the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs.

Wilder, the nations first elected Black governor, said in a news release that this years governors race is a dead heat, but factors that will influence it include upcoming debates and how the COVID-19 pandemic affects turnout and enthusiasm.

McAuliffe leads Youngkin in Northern Virginia, 51% to 24%, while Youngkin leads 52% to 32% in western parts of the state.

The survey found that 23% of those polled were undecided or unwilling to vote for either candidate. Liberation Party candidate Princess Blanding also is on the Nov. 2 ballot in the race for governor but was not included in the poll.
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Namibias market leader MTC (Mobile Telecommunications) has been cleared for a public listing by the main board of the Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX).

In a statement confirming the public offering, MTC explained that state holding firm Namibia Post and Telecommunications Holdings Limited would retain its 51% stake in the operator, with the general public invited to bid on the remaining 49% of ordinary shares. Local news outlet New Era notes that this is the largest proposed listing by a Namibian firm since the inception of the NSX.

MTCs statement said that the listing represented an opportunity for all MTC customers, staff, stakeholders and the public, in general, to acquire MTC shares and participate in the ownership of MTC.

The operator added that it expects the prospectus to open on 20th September 2021, with the shares listed before the end of November 2021. TeleGeography reports that if the listing is oversubscribed, shares will be allocated to previously disadvantaged Namibians as a priority, then to MTC staff and customers, Namibian citizens, corporations and finally local institutions, SADC, and international investors.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has outlined its plans for auctioning 1800MHz and 2100MHz spectrum in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan regions.

According to a Memorandum of Understanding issued by the regulator, 216MHz of 1800MHz spectrum will be made available for bidding (two holdings of 25MHz and five of 21.2MHz), along with 230MHz of 2100MHz spectrum (split into six 25MHz blocks).

The PTA acknowledged that the 1800MHz holding in particular was not contiguous, stating that it would attempt to rectify this following the auction via a rationalisation process.

CommsUpdate reports that both frequencies had their reserve price set at US$870,000 per MHz, meaning a 25MHz block would have a base price of US$4.35 million and a 21.2MHz holding US$1.04 million. The licences have a validity period of 15 years.
Following in the steps of China Telecom, another Chinese state-owned telecom behemoth and the worlds biggest mobile operator, China Mobile, is set to list on the Shanghai Stock Exchange soon, in what would be the biggest IPO for the A-share market in nearly 10 years.

China Mobile filed a prospectus for its listing with the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) last week.

According to local media, its targeted sum is slightly higher than China Telecom aimed for in its listing, with the latters shares set to begin public trading in the country imminently.

The telco did not share the details of that prospectus in its English language statement, but according to the South China Morning Post, it aims to raise around 56 billion yuan (US$8.62 billion) from the flotation, which will be the largest in mainland China in over a decade.

China Mobile said that it would use the funds for new infrastructure, new factors of production and new drivers, and to advance the development of infrastructure, 5G networks, and cloud computing resources.

The issued shares, which will be equivalent to 4.5% of China Mobiles enlarged capital base. China Mobile may increase its offering by 15% if its two sponsors, CICC and Citic Securities, exercise an overallotment option, also known as a greenshoe option, in the event of strong demand.

The telecoms giant has nearly 1.8 trillion yuan in total assets, while telecommunications services revenues reached 393.2 billion yuan in the first half of 2021, rising by 9.8% compared to the same period last year to hit a ten-year high.
Russia's biggest mobile operator Mobile TeleSystems (MTS) reported a profit jump in the second quarter - its group net profit increased 46.5% to 17.2 billion roubles ($232 million).

MTS said in a media release that its Q2 2021 consolidated group revenue increased by 10.6% year-on-year to RUB128.6 billion (USD1.7 billion) on the back of growth in all key segments: core connectivity, fintech, retail sales, B2B cloud & digital solutions, and media services, driving operating income before depreciation and amortisation (OIBDA) up by 10.2% to RUB57.2 billion.

Given its sustained performance, the Company upgraded its full-year 2021 outlook to high-single-digit growth in revenue as well as OIBDA growth of at least 5%, while expected Cash CAPEX for the year was reaffirmed at approximately RUB 100-110 bn.

Vyacheslav Nikolaev, President & CEO, said: Operationally, we made robust progress across key segments of our digital ecosystem, reflected in strong customer acquisition and retention in all segments. In Media, the number of OTT TV viewers (rebranded as KION in 2021) nearly tripled year-over-year to 3.2 million, while MTS Bank added around 100,000 new clients during the quarter."

"Overall, the number of MTS ecosystem customers grew by almost a million in Q2, reaching 7.4 million. Our ecosystem approach unlocks new opportunities to capture incremental revenue from our mobile subscriber base, which in Q2 increased to 78.6 million  a level was last seen in 2019 prior to the pandemic," Vyacheslav added.

In Q2 2021 Russia mobile service revenue increased 5.3% year-over-year to reach RUB 85.5 bn for the quarter, it said.

The country's three-month active mobile subscribers notched upward by more than 230,000 quarter-on-quarter (+0.3%) to 78.6 m  reaching a level last seen in 2019 prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The MTS retail network footprint remained essentially stable standing at 5,338 owned/ franchised stores in Russia at quarter-end.
Vodafone Ukraine, the second-biggest mobile carrier in the Ukraine market, has announced plans to enter the fixed broadband market.

The company says it intends to acquire 99.99 percent of the shares of the private joint stock company Farlep-Invest, which operates under the Vega brand, as well as at least 95 percent of the authorized capital of another company, Cable TV-Finance LLC.

Farlep-Invest provides fixed access internet and telephone communication services. Cable TV-Finance provides fixed access to internet services.

Vodafone Ukraine adds that the two companies own a frequency resource in the 2.3 GHz range (15 MHz in six regions), as well as in the 2.5-2.7 GHz range.

If the deal is closed, Vodafone Ukraine plans to continue carrying out the same types of economic activities as the companies it acquires have done, further developing its communications business, especially in the fixed line area.

In a press release announcing the deal, Vodafone Ukraine insists that this transaction will not lead to monopolization or any restriction of competition in the market.

Nevertheless, a Vodafone Ukraine spokesperson made it clear that entering the fixed broadband market is a strategic priority for the company, which aims to provide converged services, meeting customer demand for multiple services from one source.

Certainly, with well over 100 percent mobile penetration of a population estimated at around 45 million, diversifying its offering may be a reasonable move for the company.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave full approval to the Pfizer vaccine on Monday for those ages 16 and older. The vaccine can still be administered to ages 12-15 under the FDAs emergency use authorization. The emergency use also allows a third dose to be administered to those who are considered to have weakened immune systems.

A release from the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) said the FDAs full approval should give people increased confidence to get vaccinated.

Harris added that for those individuals who have only received one dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines and have delayed completing the two-dose series, it is not too late to get their second dose.

Free doses of vaccine are available at retail pharmacies, hospital clinics and other providers in more than a thousand locations throughout the state. While appointments are preferred due to the availability of staff, many pharmacies welcome walk-ins.

The Moderna and Johnson and Johnson vaccines are authorized for adults age 18 and older under emergency use authorizations. Visit www.vaccines.gov or contact a provider to check which vaccines are offered.
Now, if a person can just say, I am not in jail or prison for a felony conviction, then that person can register and they can vote freely, said Stanton Jones, one of the plaintiffs lawyers.

Bell, the panel's chief judge, said Monday that the majority's reasoning for the injunction would be explained in their order. The state election board said Monday was its deadline to change registration forms for the fall, and that county boards must immediately begin to permit these individuals to register.

Dennis Gaddy, co-founder of Community Success Initiative, a Raleigh-based organization that helps ex-prisoners and another plaintiff, said his group and others would have a statewide registration drive.

The wait is over, and Im excited to be a part of this transformation, said Gaddy, who was once behind bars and unable to vote for seven years after his release because he was on probation.

The North Carolina Constitution forbids a person convicted of a felony from voting unless that person shall be first restored to the rights of citizenship in the manner prescribed by law. The 1973 law, approved by a Democratic-controlled General Assembly and written in large part by Black legislators, eased restoration requirements.
Last year saw a record-low flu season in the U.S., the result of mask wearing and increased social distancing and hygiene. This year, however, experts warn the U.S. could see a twindemic with soaring flu and COVID-19 cases filling doctors offices and hospitals. Vaccinations could help blunt that, however, and you can get jabs for the flu and COVID on the same day, according to the CDC. The ...
Workers at a garment factory in the southern province of Long An make face masks. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

Garment exporters in Vietnam are likely to experience a turbulent in H2 with labor shortages, disrupted supply chains, and surging freight fares, market observers say.

According to securities firm VnDirect, because of the social distancing rule imposed in several southern localities, many garment and textile have been unable to transport materials and were also facing a shortage of workers.

The Vietnam Textile & Apparel Association said 30-50 percent of garment and textile factories, mostly small- and medium-size enterprises, have had to close down because they could not implement the stay-at-work mode. Eventually, some firms have failed to fulfill orders, to deliver goods on time, or to have contracts canceled. Some of their clients have shifted orders to foreign countries, the association said.

The association predicted that garment and textile producers and exporters would face bigger difficulties in August and hurt their bottom lines.

Association vice chairman Truong Van Cam said if the pandemic was not contained soon, Vietnam could fall short of its annual export turnovers target of $39 billion. The export turnovers may reach only $33-34 billion this year.

Meanwhile, logistics costs, which account for some 9 percent of production costs of Vietnamese garment and textiles, have increased sharply. According to VnDirect, container rentals trebled within the first half of this year.

Even if Covid-19 is controlled late August, garment and textile enterprises will see the number of employees drop by 35-40 percent.

"The labor shortage will become very severe in the coming time," association chairman Vu Duc Giang said.

Many garment and textile firms have made plans to transport materials from the south to the north to prevent supply chains from breaking. But their plans are not very promising because they have to shoulder high transportation fees, Giang said. He said the most feasible solution now was to speed up vaccination among garment and textile workers in industrial parks and industrial complexes.

However, there is still room for Vietnamese garment and textile firms to compete and increase their market share in the U.S. and South Korea, given that major competitors like India and Myanmar are also struggling in their Covid-19 fight, VnDirect said.

Vietnams garment and textile posted an export turnover of nearly $23 billion in the first seven months of this year, up over 50 percent year-on-year, surpassing Bangladesh to become the worlds second biggest garment and textile exporter after China, according to the Vietnam Textile & Apparel Association.
HCMC chairman to take on new position

Ho Chi Minh City's chairman Nguyen Thanh Phong has been moved to the Central Economic Commission.

The Communist Party's decision making body, the Politburo, named Phong, 59, deputy head of the Central Economic Commission on Friday, the Communist Party of Vietnam online newspaper said.

The assignment means he will stop serving as HCMC chairman and deputy secretary of the city Party Committee, it said.

A native of Ben Tre Province in the Mekong Delta, Phong had served as deputy secretary of the city Party Committee from March 2015. He was voted as People's Committee chairman for 2016-21 in October 2015, while holding the Party position.

He was recently reelected as chairman for the 2021-26 term.

Phong is also head of the Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control in HCMC, the epicenter of the latest wave to hit Vietnam, and it is not clear who will replace him.

The city of 13 million has recorded nearly 176,000 Covid cases and 6,538 deaths in the new wave.
The United States and countries around the world have accused the Peoples Republic of China, or PRC, of conducting and participating in malicious activities in cyberspace, including ransomware attacks, as well as theft of intellectual property and information that would directly benefit Chinese companies.

The United States is deeply concerned that the PRC has fostered an intelligence enterprise that includes contract hackers who also conduct unsanctioned cyber operations worldwide, including for their own personal profit. The PRCs pattern of irresponsible behavior in cyberspace is inconsistent with its stated objective of being seen as a responsible leader in the world.

As an example of intellectual property and information theft, a federal grand jury in San Diego, California, indicted four nationals and residents of the Peoples Republic of China in May, charging them with conducting a campaign to hack into the computer systems of dozens of companies, universities, and government entities in the United States and abroad between 2011 and 2018.

The indictment, which was unsealed by the U.S Justice Department on July 16, states that the attacks were largely focused on gathering information that would benefit Chinese companies and commercial sectors. Of particular interest to the conspiracy was information that would enable the circumvention of lengthy and resource-intensive research and development processes.

Ding Xiaoyang, Cheng Qingmin and Zhu Yunmin, were Officers in the Hainan State Security Department, a provincial arm of Chinas Ministry of State Security that coordinates, facilitates and manages computer hackers and linguists at MSS front companies to conduct hacking for the benefit of China and its state-owned and state-sponsored instrumentalities. Wu Shurong was a computer hacker who, created malware and hacked into computer systems operated by foreign governments, companies and universities, and supervised other Hainan Xiandun hackers.

The hacking campaign targeted victims in the United States, Austria, Cambodia, Canada, Germany, Indonesia, Malaysia, Norway, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

These malicious cyberattacks took place despite a 2015 agreement between the United States and the PRC to curb cyber-related theft.

These criminal charges once again highlight China continues to use cyber-enabled attacks to steal what other countries make, in flagrant disregard of its bilateral and multilateral commitments, said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco.

As evidenced by the indictment of three MSS officers and one of their contract hackers, said Secretary Blinken, the United States will impose consequences on PRC malicious cyber actors for their irresponsible behavior in cyberspace.
Health officials said Tuesday that they are confident the country remains on track to quell the outbreak.

Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield says most of the new cases appeared linked and officials arent seeing an exponential rise in infections.

New Zealand is scheduled to remain in lockdown until at least Friday, while the city of Auckland where most of the cases have been found will stay in lockdown until at least the end of the month.

The outbreak is the first in New Zealand in six months.



SYDNEY  An Australian state leader is indicating that a slight easing of pandemic restrictions is coming for Sydney after achieving a vaccination milestone.

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said Tuesday she will announce before the weekend a new freedom for fully vaccinated people now that 6 million vaccine doses have been administered across the state. She said that equates to 60% of the population having at least one dose of Pfizer or AstraZeneca and 32% being fully vaccinated.

Australias most populous state is in lockdown because of the virus outbreak, as is Victoria, which is the countrys second most populous state.
ROCHESTER, Minn. (AP)  Igor Vovkovinskiy, the tallest man in the United States, has died in Minnesota. He was 38.

His family said the Ukrainian-born Vovkovinskiy died of heart disease on Friday at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. His mother, Svetlana Vovkovinska, an ICU nurse at Mayo, initially posted about his death on Facebook.

Vovkovinskiy came to the Mayo Clinic in 1989 as a child seeking treatment. A tumor pressing against his pituitary gland caused it to secrete abnormal levels of growth hormone. He grew to become the tallest man in the U.S. at 7 feet, 8.33 inches and ended up staying in Rochester.

His older brother, Oleh Ladan of Brooklyn Park, told the Star Tribune of Minneapolis that Vovkovinskiy was a celebrity when he arrived from Ukraine because of his size and the flickering Cold War of the late 1980s. But Ladan said Vovkovinskiy "would have rather lived a normal life than be known."

Vovkovinskiy appeared on "The Dr. Oz Show" and was called out by President Barack Obama during a campaign rally in 2009, when the president noticed him near the stage wearing a T-shirt that read, "World's Biggest Obama Supporter." In 2013, he carried the Ukrainian contestant onto the stage to perform in the Eurovision Song Contest.
WHAT ARE SWAMP CEDARS? WHAT DO THEY MEAN?

In the Spring Valley, the soil and water near ground level nurture the trees where tribal people gather to celebrate and pray.

The trees themselves  Rocky Mountain juniper  are an anomaly. Typically, the species grows on dry mountainsides. But in Spring Valley, the trees provide shelter from wind and sun on the valley floor.

In 2017, tribes applied for and received National Park Service recognition to declare it a traditional cultural property. The application included documentation of massacres in the area in 1859, 1863 and 1897.

Hundreds of people were said to have been killed in the 1859 incident  placing it among the deadliest massacres in U.S. history. Tribal members see the trees as a living connection to the people who were killed.

Its a place to celebrate, sing and pray to honor those lost.

Everything has a spirit: Each plant. Each bush. Each tree has their own spirit, and they have a lot of power, Steele said.
Editor:

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Robert noticed something else wrong and we contacted Chuck Novak from Superior RV Service LLC. and he recommended Smith Power Products. Kevin Hughes, Branch Manager at Smith Power, went over and above to help us. He was AWESOME.
Several states in the US have introduced a provision according to which the teachers and other school staff have been or will be provided with an extra amount of stimulus checks. It is said to be a one-time bonus gesture and a way of thanking teachers for their efforts during the coronavirus pandemic.

Extra stimulus checks for teachers

Teachers who are eligible for the extra stimulus checks will not have to carry out any particular activity in order to receive it. The said money will be included in their paychecks. Governor from the state of Florida, Ron DeSantis, made a statement saying that the teachers working in the state could expect the check to be made available in the month of August.

California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Tennessee, and Texas are the states that have approved the extra stimulus checks. According to reports, the "Berkeley Unified School District" of California will distribute a total of $2.8 million to the teachers for 2022.

Florida provides payment

Georgia provided the money in March of this year. Florida will send money to principals and teachers but have excluded other staff members from receiving the payment. Michigan sent about $500 as a bonus and $250 to the staffers. This took place in February, 2021. Tennessee and Texas are yet to distribute the money.

It has been a tumultuous 18 months for the profession and the checks are seen as a way of showing appreciation for the teaching efforts, and also to help retain teachers and staff.

State bonus figures

California: The Berkeley Unified School District will spend $2.8 million in 3.5% teacher bonuses for the upcoming year

Colorado: The state will be giving out $1,000 bonuses

Florida: 175,000 teachers and 3,600 principals will receive $1,000 checks. The program excludes the states 120,000 school staff members, as well as first responders.

Georgia: Approximately 230,000 K-12 public school teachers and staff received $1,000 checks in March

Michigan: The state sent out $500 in hazard bonus and $250 for staffers in February

Tennessee: Will be giving $1,000 bonuses if the Senate agrees on the move in lieu of a permanent pay rise

Texas: The state will be giving $1,000 bonuses
For only the third time in history, the Biden administration ordered commercial airlines to assist with the evacuation of Americans and Afghans from Afghanistan. The speed of it has increased in recent days, but there are still thousands of people needing to be flown out of Kabul before the deadline of August 31. There are still big questions marks over what will happen after that and the Taliban have said they will not tolerate a US extension, which has yet to be ruled out.

How many people have been evacuated so far?

Since 14 August, 37,000 have been taken from the Kabul airport, said US Army Major General Hank Taylor. The US has evacuated 16,000 Afghan people in just the past 24 hours alone, but they still want the pace to increase.

"Were taking this day by day. Wed like to see the numbers rise, but were taking it day by day," said military spokesman John Kirby.

Will they be flying in to Kabul?

The commercial airlines will not be needed for direct flights into Kabul and will be focused upon moving rescued people out of other countries. Several countries said to the US that they would be able to assist, such as Albania, North Macedonia and Uganda. President Biden said a series of "processing stations" had been established.

"These civil reserve flights will help facilitate the safe transport [of evacuees] to third countries," Mr Biden said on Sunday. "None will be landing in Kabul."

"We will welcome these Afghans who have helped America to their new homes because that's who we are," Mr Biden added.

Full screen U.S. Marines provide assistance at an Evacuation Control Checkpoint (ECC) during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Afghanistan, August 22, 2021. US Marines (via REUTERS)

What will happen after August 31?

US allies have been pushing Biden to extend the evacuation operation beyond the deadline in order to make sure everyone is out.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told reporters that discussions had begun between Germany, the US, Turkey and the Taliban with the aim of "facilitating a civil operation of Kabul airport to enable the evacuation of people beyond August 31".

Britain said their evacuation can only go ahead if US forces remained to defend the airport. The window is closing and there are still many thousands of Americans and Afghans who need to be evacuated.

However, Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser, told CNNs State of the Union several thousand Americans were still in Afghanistan.

How have the Taliban reacted?

The Taliban are adamant that there will be no extension beyond August 31. A spokesperson for the Taliban, Suhail Shaheen, said the deadline for withdrawal of US troops is a "red line".

"If the US or UK were to seek additional time to continue evacuations, the answer is no," Suhail Shaheen told Sky News. He went on to say that there will be "consequences" if the deadline for withdrawal is extended.
BEIJING, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- COVID-19 origins tracing is a scientific question that requires the collaboration of scientists around the world and joint efforts and cooperation of governments and people of all countries, Chinese Ambassador to Denmark Feng Tie has said.

Feng made the remarks in an article published Wednesday on the website of The Copenhagen Post after Denmark's TV2 television channel aired a documentary on origins tracing.

"This documentary, full of specious assumptions and vague inferences, is not based on facts but presuppositions and aims to smear China and politicize the origin studying issue by misleading the audience," the Chinese ambassador said in the article.

Attaching great importance to the study into the origins of the virus, China has actively participated in global cooperation with an open and science-based attitude, and has been firmly supporting and coordinating with the World Health Organization (WHO), said Feng.

The WHO-China joint report "has been proved to be a valuable and authoritative report that can stand the test of science and history," said the ambassador. "Any attempt to overturn or distort the conclusions of the joint research report is a result of political manipulation and disrespect to science and scientists from different parts of the world."

Meanwhile, the article noted that Peter Ben Embarek, head of the WHO origins-tracing mission to China, said the relevant media distorted his views by publishing his words out of context online.

Embarek "has been always upholding the China-WHO joint mission report on origin study," said the article. Enditem

Editor: Zhang Zhou
YINCHUAN, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Participants at the ongoing China-Arab States Expo in Yinchuan, capital of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, called on the two sides to focus on COVID-19 prevention and control, and deepen anti-pandemic cooperation.

A report regarding the development of economic and trade cooperation between China and Arab states released at the expo noted how the two sides helped each other during the severe battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the most difficult moment of the Chinese people's fight against COVID-19, Arab states did their best to provide support, while the Chinese government also rendered assistance after the outbreak of the virus in Arab states, which demonstrated the profound friendship between the two sides, said the report.

Tunisian Foreign Minister Othman Jerandi thanked China for its support to Arab states in terms of anti-pandemic experience sharing and assistance through vaccine and medical supplies. Speaking via video link he said that the international community should work together to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic on people and the economy.

In the post-pandemic era, public health cooperation would be an important focus for China and Arab states. Both sides would deepen investment cooperation in the healthcare sector, such as medical supply purchase and vaccine production, said Chinese Vice Commerce Minister Qian Keming via video link at the expo.

"Vaccine is a powerful weapon to defeat the pandemic and promote economic recovery, therefore, all parties should build closer ties in terms of health cooperation, and strengthen global cooperation on vaccines to address the problem of imbalance in vaccine distribution," said Sun Ping, vice president of the Export-Import Bank of China.

After the COVID-19 outbreak, China and Arab states have provided mutual assistance and demonstrated their brotherly bond at trying times through concrete actions, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a press briefing on Thursday.

"To date, China has shipped nearly 100 million doses of Chinese vaccines to Arab states in the form of assistance or exports. We are working with the United Arab Emirates and Egypt in joint filling and production of vaccines, which has provided strong support to Arab states in their fight against the virus," she added. Enditem

Editor: Zhang Zhou
Cargos containing the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines are seen upon arrival in Manila, the Philippines, Aug. 20, 2021. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte thanked China for supporting the fight against COVID-19 after a batch of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines donated by the Chinese government arrived in Manila on Friday. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali)

MANILA, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte thanked China for supporting the fight against COVID-19 after a batch of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines donated by the Chinese government arrived in Manila on Friday.

"My deepest gratitude goes to China for the various COVID-19 assistance extended in the past, including the donation of vital medical supplies and equipment and the provision to the technical support of COVID-19 response," Duterte said in a speech at the virtual ceremony welcoming the vaccines.

"These initiatives are indeed a testament of the goodwill of the Chinese government and the deep, strong relations between the Philippines and China," he added.

Duterte said the additional Sinopharm doses would boost the Philippines' efforts to ramp up its vaccination rollout.

"We are receiving these life-saving vaccines with much gratitude and high hopes as we continue our fight against the COVID-19," Duterte added.

Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian vowed to continue to help the Philippines fight the COVID-19.

"This difficult time highlights our friendship and partnership between our two nations and two peoples," Huang said, adding that China is "committed to continuing this cooperation with the Philippines and providing more vaccines to help defeat the virus and revitalize the economy."

China was the first to deliver coronavirus vaccines to the Philippines. It donated the first batch of CoronaVac to Manila on Feb. 28, allowing the country to kick off its vaccination drive on March 1. As of Friday, China has been the biggest supplier of COVID-19 vaccines to the Philippines.

The Philippines now has over 1.8 million confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 31,198 deaths. On Friday, it recorded 17,231 new COVID-19 infections, the highest ever daily tally since the outbreak began in January last year.

The Philippines has administered over 29 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, with nearly 13 million people having been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 so far. The government aims to vaccinate up to 70 million people this year. Enditem

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Editor: Zhang Zhou
Screen image taken at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Aug. 20, 2021 shows Chinese astronauts Nie Haisheng and Liu Boming waving their hands after conducting extravehicular activities (EVAs) out of the space station core module Tianhe. (Xinhua/Tian Dingyu)

BEIJING, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese astronauts have completed their extravehicular activities (EVAs) and returned to the space station core module Tianhe, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) on Friday.

This was the second time that the astronauts conducted EVAs during the construction of the country's space station. The CMSA has declared the EVAs a complete success.

Astronauts Nie Haisheng and Liu Boming left the core module in the morning and completed all the scheduled tasks after approximately six hours of EVAs.

They returned to the space station core module at 2:33 p.m. (Beijing Time), about one hour ahead of schedule, according to the CMSA.

Astronaut Tang Hongbo has been staying inside Tianhe in cooperation with Nie and Liu for their EVAs.

The scheduled tasks of the EVAs, including extravehicular extended pump sets installation and panoramic camera lifting, were accomplished with close coordination between space and the ground, as well as between the astronauts inside and outside the spacecraft.

The EVAs further tested the performance and function of the new-generation homemade extravehicular mobility units and the coordination between the astronauts and the mechanical arm, as well as the reliability and safety of related EVA supporting equipment, said the CMSA.

The three astronauts were sent into space onboard the Shenzhou-12 spaceship and entered Tianhe on June 17. Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo completed the first EVAs on July 4.

The Shenzhou-12 spaceship crew will continue to carry out the scientific and technological space experiments before their planned return in the middle of September.

Before their return, the Shenzhou-12 spaceship will conduct circumnavigation and radial rendezvous tests, the CMSA added. Enditem

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Editor: GSY
Tourists visit Yunshuiyao ancient town in Nanjing County, southeast China's Fujian Province, Aug. 17, 2021. Relying on Tulou, the unique residential architecture of Fujian Province which was inscribed on the UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2008, Nanjing County has found a sustainable way to develop the rural tourism industry and boost the local economy. (Xinhua/Song Weiwei)

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Ukraine still hopes for supplies of weapons from Germany, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

"We have contacted the German government regarding the supply of weapons [to Ukraine] and we received denials in this or that form, and therefore I would really like, and we are really working, in exercises, in the NATO exercises," Zelensky told a press conference following talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Kyiv on Sunday.

"Indeed, Europe and Germany support us. However, we need very substantive things. And we know in what directions Germany could support us. And we all really do hope for that and expect that," he said.

The president said he would not like to state all important things now. "However, under our agreements with Germany and cooperation with NATO Ukraine also expects sniper rifles, and many other things, except for the fleet, and military boats, which we would like to receive from our partners. There will be a big and long talk," the president said.

Zelensky said the supply of weapons to Ukraine from Germany had not been addressed during his meeting with Merkel.

"We will probably raise this issue at lunch," the president said.
Ukraine, Germany and France should have a consolidated position on the Donbas peaceful settlement plan, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said at a briefing following his meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday.

"The process of peaceful settlement in Donbas was a priority issue in our talks today. It is important that Ukraine, Germany and France should have a consolidated position on the peaceful settlement plan, which should be based on clusters," Zelensky said.

"The Paris [summit of the leaders of the Normandy format, held in Paris in December 2019] order also remains in place, it has to be implemented," he said.

"We are looking to achieve a stable and lasting ceasefire, exchange of held persons, opening of checkpoints on the side of the temporarily occupied territories, and access to the temporarily occupied territories to representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross," he said.

"Ukraine's position on the need to hold a Normandy Four summit remains unchanged, but as long as there is no progress the pressure on Russia should stay and Ukraine would like to see active efforts of the Western partners," he said.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine has initiated consultations with the European Commission and Germany on the construction and commissioning of the Russian Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

Zelensky made the relevant statement during a press conference following a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Kyiv on Sunday, August 22.

"According to the Association Agreement, we have initiated holding consultations with the European Commission and the Government of Germany in the near future," the President said.
The United States has asked the Ukrainian authorities for assistance in carrying out an operation to evacuate a number of people at risk from Afghanistan, the presidential press service reports with reference to the Foreign Ministry.

"Ukraine has agreed to provide logistical assistance in evacuating people from Kabul with their subsequent movement to the United States and other countries. This operation does not provide for the provision of shelter to evacuees in Ukraine," the message says.

It notes that Washington, in turn, is helping Kyiv in operations to evacuate Ukrainian citizens from Afghanistan.
Germany wants the agreement on the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine to be prolonged as soon as possible, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said.

"Our cooperation in the sphere of energy is very important. It already exists, but it will continue, also because there will be further traffic through the Ukrainian gas transport system from Russia to Europe. I have spoken about that with the Russian president [during the visit to Moscow on August 20] that we want to prolong the agreement, which is in effect until 2024, as soon as possible. We will also speak about that in Europe and with the companies that are associated with that here," Merkel said at a press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Sunday.

Germany will also have its own special envoy on transit issues, Merkel said.

"We agree with the Americans that gas cannot be used as a weapon. And therefore, we will be holding these talks with the Americans," Merkel said.

"It has to be said that Nord Stream 2 is not a German-Russian project, there are companies from Germany, the Netherlands, and France there. And therefore it's a European-Russian project, it is subject to European law, it is subject to the law of the Third Energy Package because we are not fully free in regulation, but should cite exactly that, therefore we didn't hold these talks from the German side, but we supported that on the European side," she said.

Merkel said Ukraine needs to develop in the direction of climate neutrality.

"We will export gas from Russia to Europe after 2024, and it's important here that Ukraine should stay a transit country, and it's important that this agreement should stay, and then step by step - it's very important to Russia - Ukraine should also develop in the direction of climate neutrality. Germany should achieve that by 2045. That is why gas consumption will decrease, and then gas will not go on Nord Stream or via Ukraine's gas transport system, and then Ukraine should be ready for what can be done then," Merkel said.

One of the possibilities is partnership in the sphere of green energy, namely on hydrogen, she said.

"But it's not a problem that can replace transit via the Ukrainian gas transport system from 2024. However, due to the renewable sources of energy, which can be expanded in Ukraine, it is possible to help here to produce green hydrogen by means of hydrolysis, by means of green energy from renewable sources of energy and use it," the chancellor said.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she wants to hold a meeting in the Normandy format at the level of the presidents.

"We have spoken about the Normandy format. Honestly speaking, we are not making headway here as we would like to. Unfortunately, meetings of the Trilateral Contact Group are not being held, as we would like them to. I would also like to hold [a meeting] once again at the level of the presidents, on the highest political level, and invite the presidents of Russia, France and Ukraine, and if we can come up with a good agenda, then I think it's possible," Merkel told a press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Sunday.
The issue of the Crimean peninsula annexed by the Russian Federation should not disappear from the international agenda in the coming years, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has said.

"We are not holding this summit for the sake of another summit. The issue of Crimea should not disappear from the international agenda for another seven years. Therefore, we propose today to focus on practical work and coordination of efforts on very specific issues, among them, first of all, the strengthening of sanctions, and the protection of human rights, and overcoming the environmental and economic consequences of the occupation, ensuring freedom of navigation in the Black and Azov Seas," Zelensky said at the inaugural summit of the Crimea Platform in Kyiv on Monday.

He called on the countries to identify their authorized representatives who will liaise with the created office of the Crimea Platform and coordinate its work.

"The Crimea Platform should become the center for development and adoption of key international decisions on Crimea. From today, we, in fact, begin the countdown until the liberation of our land, the Ukrainian peninsula, and it is quite possible that August 23, 2021 will go down in history as the day of the beginning of de-occupation of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol. The occupation of the Crimean peninsula began in Moscow, we will definitely start de-occupation of Crimea in Kyiv," Zelensky said.
President of Poland Andrzej Duda is convinced that the decisions made at the inaugural summit of the Crimea Platform will be able to convince the international community of the need to combat the consequences of the annexation of Crimea.

Duda said on Monday at the inaugural summit of the Crimea Platform in Kyiv that today's meeting is an occasion for us to say clearly: we are not indifferent to the issue of Crimea. None of us present here will be indifferent to the violation of international law and the territorial integrity of Ukraine (...) We will not be indifferent to illegal detention, deportation, torture, he said.

According to him, the Crimean peninsula is militarized, military propaganda is used on its territory.

The Polish President said that Crimea is Ukraine, everyone who has gathered today in Kyiv knows this. He is sure that the decisions that will be made today will convince the international community of the need to fight the consequences of the annexation.

He also assured that Poland would be an active participant in the Crimea Platform, since the Polish people understand the feelings that Ukrainians have because of the occupation of their own country.
Lithuania to work to strengthen sanctions against Russia until Ukraine resumes its sovereignty over Crimea  President Nauseda

Lithuania will work on strengthening sanctions against Russia until Ukraine resumes its sovereignty over Crimea, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has said.

Nauseda said at the inaugural summit of the Crimea Platform in Kyiv on Monday that they are united by the idea that the rights of Crimea residents must be fully renewed in accordance with international law. They all remain loyal supporters of Ukrainian territorial integrity and sovereignty. They will work to strengthen sanctions and international efforts until Ukraine resumes its sovereignty over the territory of Crimea.

The President expressed the hope that the Crimea issue will be on the list of the main issues on the international agenda.

Lithuania will never recognize the occupation of Crimea. For every Lithuanian it is extremely clear that Crimea is an integral part of independent Ukraine, Nauseda said.

He also stressed that Lithuania supports all efforts to strengthen Ukrainian state institutions and the rule of law, as well as to ensure fair competition in the market.
The Crimean peninsula is an integral part of Ukraine, and its illegal annexation by the Russian Federation is a blatant violation of international law, Moldovan President Maia Sandu said.

Sandu said at the inaugural summit of the Crimea Platform in Kyiv on Monday that she is here to reaffirm Moldova's unwavering support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders. Crimea is Ukraine, and its illegal annexation is a blatant violation of international law.

She assured that Moldova was and remains a reliable partner of Ukraine.

Sandu pointed out that Moldova supports the resolution of the UN General Assembly on territorial integrity of Ukraine. We are not going to support historical disputes, we want to reach new fair relations. We stand for a political solution to problems, we want a joint solution to regional security threats and we want to reach the creation of a common path to a future that will be sustainable, peacefully prosperous, the President stressed.
Federal Chancellor of Austria Sebastian Kurz congratulated Ukrainians and personally Mayor of Kyiv, leader of the UDAR party Vitali Klitschko on the Independence Day of Ukraine, the press service of Kyiv City State Administration reported.

"Dear ladies and gentlemen, dear mayor, dear Vitali! I am glad to congratulate you on the 30th anniversary of Ukraine's independence! Ukraine has a majestic history. Especially in recent years in Kyiv and other cities of the country, much has been done to modernize the state, reforms, so that Ukraine can move in the right direction," Kurz said in an address posted on the website of the UDAR party.

The Federal Chancellor also assured that Austria has always been a reliable partner of Ukraine, and stressed that it will be so in the future.

"I want to congratulate all Ukrainians on the 30th anniversary of Ukraine's independence and wish you all the best for the future and for the development of your country. All the best and good luck!" Kurtz said
Another plane has departed from the airport of Kabul (Afghanistan) with more than 100 Ukrainian citizens on board.

The relevant statement was made by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba during the inaugural summit of the Crimea Platform in Kyiv on Monday.

"Now, while we are discussing the issue of Crimea, another Ukrainian plane took off from Kabul. There are more than 100 Ukrainian citizens on board," Kuleba said.

On the morning of August 22, the Ukrainian military transport aircraft Il-76MD of the Ukrainian Air Force, which took off from the Afghan airport of Kabul the day before, arrived in Boryspil. On board there were 83 passengers, of whom 31 were citizens of Ukraine.
U.S. Secretary of Energy: We hope Crimea Platform to convey idea that Crimea is Ukraine, Russia should be held accountable for its aggression

U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm expressed hope that the Crimea Platform will convey to everyone the idea that Crimea is Ukraine and that Russia should be held accountable for its aggression.

Granholm said at the inaugural summit of the Crimea Platform in Kyiv on Monday that they will continue their diplomatic efforts, which they use together with their allies and partners to resolve the conflict in eastern Ukraine. They want to put Russia in its place and they want to achieve an end to its intervention in eastern Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea. They are absolutely committed to helping resolve this conflict. They believe that the Crimea Platform will really convey to everyone the long-awaited idea that Crimea is Ukraine and that Russia should be held accountable for its aggression.

She stressed that the United States is proud of the opportunity to be in Ukraine and support the Crimea Platform.

I want to say right away: we, together with Ukraine, with all of you, we unanimously condemn the illegal annexation of Crimea, Granholm said.

She stressed that the United States is proud to have been with Ukraine for three decades.

This relationship will be further strengthened next week when the two presidents meet in Washington, DC. On behalf of President Biden, we want to declare our support for Ukraine, its reforms, your work regarding North Atlantic aspirations. We support your fight against corruption and, in a larger sense, your more serious fight against Russian aggression. Our support will be concrete, substantial, Granholm said.

The U.S. Secretary of Energy assured that this support will continue in the future.

We will provide support to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in particular with regard to protective weapons and equipment that Ukraine needs in the fight against Russian aggression, she said.
German Economic Affairs Minister Altmaier: We will not allow Crimea to be turned into blind spot on map

German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Peter Altmaier said that Germany will not allow Crimea to be turned into a blind spot on the map.

Altmaier said at the inaugural summit of the Crimea Platform in Kyiv on Monday that Germany did not and will not recognize the illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia. Germany is based on territorial integrity and sovereignty. They understand that the annexation has created a big problem in the region, which is why the EU imposed sanctions and extended them many times. It is the continuation of these actions that is the justification for the continuation of sanctions.

He stressed that the annexation of Crimea is an outrage against the rule of law.

We see what threats this brings, in particular, to the Crimean Tatars and other residents. We will not allow Crimea to be turned into a blind spot on the map. We are absolutely together with Ukraine, together with it, and we together condemn this annexation, and we call for new negotiations, to the renewal of state borders, Altmaier said.

The Minister expressed hope for continued efforts to cooperate with Ukraine in the framework of decarbonization, combating climate change, energy efficiency, and ensuring reliable energy supplies.

We would like to state that gas transit through Ukraine will continue after 2024, Altmaier added.
The wife of the President of Israel wished the participants of the Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen in Kyiv productive and successful work. The First Lady of Israel Michal Herzog wished a successful and productive first in the history of Ukraine Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen, which takes place on Monday in Kyiv. The corresponding video address of the wife of the President of Israel Yitzhak Herzog Michal Herzog was published on the page of the Embassy of Ukraine in Israel at Facebook.

I am honored to be with you today. I believe that my biggest challenge, as the incoming First Lady, is to do as much as possible to bring together the different groups of Israeli society. We are gone through two challenging years, both internally and externally, not to mention COVID-19. And I see my role in being a unifying force. As First Lady, I aspire to be a person that the people of Israel can turn to. I wish a successful and productive summit, - Herzog said.

It is known, the wife of the President of Ukraine Olena Zelenska initiated the Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen. The event took place on the same day as the Crimean Platform Summit, on the eve of the 30th anniversary of Ukraine's Independence.
UK Minister for European Neighbourhood: We believe Crimea Platform to become important tool that will bring Russia to justice

British Minister for European Neighbourhood and the Americas Wendy Morton expressed hope that the Crimea Platform will become an important tool that will bring Russia to justice.

Morton said at the inaugural summit of the Crimea Platform in Kyiv on Monday that they believe that Russia's behavior in Crimea remains hostile and irresponsible. This is the same as what it is doing in eastern Ukraine with absolute disrespect for international law, and they believe that the Crimea Platform will become an important tool that will bring Russia to justice.

She stressed that the UK is ready to ensure the success of the Crimea Platform.

We declare our solidarity with all Ukrainians: from West to East of the country, to the last piece of land in the very south of the Crimean peninsula. Crimea is Ukraine, Morton said.
An influential official and businessman from Saudi Arabia, Abdulrahman Alolaya, arrived in Ukraine on an unofficial business visit.

He is the CEO of the TaibahVally investment campaign and one of the leaders of the national investment program "Saudi Vision 2030", which is looking for the most profitable and innovative areas for investment. The Sovereign Wealth Fund of Saudi Arabia, which finances the program, is one of the largest investment funds in the world.

The meeting took place at the Ministry of Digital Transformation. The guest was told about the developments in the field of digital state. Alexander Bornyakov, Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation for IT Development, promised to provide a list of the most successful Ukrainian startups and promote cooperation in every possible way.

"Ukraine is very interesting for us, because it has a lot of experience in modern technologies, there are highly qualified personnel and interesting startups. At the same time, the investment market is in the early stages of development and this is a good period for investing, said Abdulrahman Alolaya.

Abdulrahman Alolaya also visited the offices of several Ukrainian technology companies, including UNITCity.

Ukraine has a large number of interesting IT services. However, the weak marketing of these services to the Arab market leads to the fact that they do not know about it. We want to fix it, said Ukrainian businessman Oleksandr Chechuga. He and his partners invited an Arab investor to Ukraine. Dmitry Buravel and Alexander Chechuga are co-owners of the Ukrainian company BlockHunter, which work with block chain technologies, develops electricity storage systems; Roman Movchan is the owner and CEO of PrimeBerry, one of the largest producers and exporters of berries. These companies have already managed to enter the Saudi market and are ready to help other Ukrainian startups.

More guests from Saudi Arabia were interested in Ukrainian developments in the fields of education, block chain and digital government services.
U.S. Marines and Norwegian coalition forces assist with security at an Evacuation Control Checkpoint ensuring evacuees are processed safely (Photo : Marine Corps/Staff Sgt. Victor Mancilla)

With thousands of desperate Afghans and foreigners crowding into Kabul airport in the hope of fleeing Afghanistan's new Taliban rulers, pressure grew on U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday to extend the deadline for the evacuation operation.



Biden on Sunday warned that the evacuation was going to be "hard and painful" and a lot could still go wrong. U.S. troops might stay beyond their Aug. 31 deadline to oversee the evacuation, he said.



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Two U.S. officials said the expectation was that the United States would continue evacuations past Aug. 31. A senior State Department official told reporters https://www.reuters.com/world/new-flight-carrying-at-risk-afghans-arriving-us-later-monday-official-2021-08-23 the United States' commitment to at-risk Afghans "doesn't end on Aug. 31".



The White House National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, said the United States was in daily talks with the Taliban and was making "enormous progress" in evacuating Americans and others.



Asked if Biden would extend his deadline, Sullivan said the president was "taking this day by day, and will make his determinations as we go".



British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's office said he and Biden agreed to work together to ensure all those eligible to leave Afghanistan were able to do so, even after the initial evacuation phase ended.



The difficulties at the airport were underlined on Monday morning when a firefight erupted between Afghan guards and unidentified gunmen. German and U.S. forces were also involved, the Germany military said.



The security situation around Kabul airport has become increasingly dangerous, a senior Canadian government official told reporters.



"Crowds are intense, violence is becoming more common and Taliban checkpoints in surrounding areas are preventing many from reaching the airport area," said the official, who spoke on the condition he not be identified.



Canadian special forces are operating outside the airport in an effort to bring as many eligible people as possible through security gates, the official added.



Britain and France were among those calling for the deadline to be eased. But a Taliban official said foreign forces had not sought an extension and it would not be granted if they had.



And a local Taliban militant, speaking to a large crowd in Kabul, urged Afghans to remain in the country.



"Where has our honour gone to? Where has our dignity gone to?" the unidentified militant said. "We will not let the Americans continue to be here. They will have to leave this place. Whether it is a gun or a pen, we will fight to our last breath."



The Taliban seized power just over a week ago as the United States and its allies were withdrawing troops after a 20-year war launched in the weeks after the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States by al Qaeda in 2001.



Panicked Afghans and foreigners have thronged the airport for days, clamouring to catch a flight out. Many fear reprisals and a return to a harsh version of Islamic law that the Taliban enforced while in power from 1996 to 2001.



Twenty people have been killed in the chaos, most in shootings and stampedes, as U.S. and international forces try to bring order. One member of the Afghan forces was killed and several wounded in Monday's clash, the U.S. military said.



A flight carrying evacuated at-risk Afghans will arrive in the United States later on Monday from Ramstein air base in Germany, a senior State Department official said, adding that the pace of flights from transit hubs housing evacuees will ramp up.



The official dismissed reports that only Americans could get through to Kabul airport while others were blocked.



Germany said it had airlifted almost 3,000 people originating from 43 countries from Kabul, including 1,800 Afghans.



G7 TALKS



Biden said the security situation was changing rapidly and remained dangerous.



"Let me be clear, the evacuation of thousands from Kabul is going to be hard and painful," Biden said on Sunday.



A government spokesperson said Britain still wanted to fly out thousands of people, but British evacuations could not continue once U.S. troops leave.



France's foreign minister said more time was needed. "We are concerned about the Aug. 31 deadline set by the United States," Jean-Yves Le Drian said.



German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said a virtual summit of the Group of Seven wealthy nations on Tuesday needed to agree on whether to extend the deadline and how to improve access to the airport.



The airport chaos is also disrupting aid shipments.



Some 500 tonnes of medical supplies were stuck because Kabul airport was closed to commercial flights, a senior World Health Organization official said.



He said empty planes should divert to Dubai to collect the supplies on their way to pick up evacuees in Afghanistan.



Leaders of the Taliban, who have sought to show https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/taliban-seek-present-moderate-face-they-take-control-afghanistan-2021-08-15 a more moderate face since capturing Kabul, have begun talks on forming a government, while their forces focus on the last pockets of opposition.



Taliban fighters had retaken three districts in the northern province of Baghlan and surrounded opposition forces in the Panjshir valley, a spokesman for the group said, but there were no signs of fighting on Monday.


A sign of China's e-commerce company JD.com is seen at its shop at a mall in Shanghai, (Photo : REUTERS/Aly Song)

Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com Inc on Monday told investors they do not expect any business impact from a wave of regulations hitting Chinese industry, after beating analysts' expectations for the quarter through June.



"Undoubtedly, we believe that the introduction of regulatory policies on the internet industry recently is a good thing for the long term and healthy development of industries," said Xu Lei, chief executive of JD Retail, the company's main e-commerce division, on an earnings call.



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Xu added that the company "completed a round of internal self-review and rectification" and foresees no major business impact due to the regulations.



The company's strong results come amid a crackdown on the tech industry by Chinese authorities that has led to an upheaval in sectors such as e-commerce, gaming, ride-hailing and cryptocurrency.



Since last year, regulators have announced new policies aimed at improving privacy, data-security, and market competition and penalized companies who have violated rules.



Most notably, China's anti-monopoly regulator fined rival Alibaba a record $2.5 million dollars in April for anti-competitive behavior. Alibaba later missed its revenue estimates for that quarter.



In December, regulators fined JD.com 500,000 yuan for pricing irregularities.



In April, the China Shanghai stock exchange terminated a planned IPO for JD Digits, JD's fintech division, citing a request from the company to withdraw it. The pullback came after authorities abruptly blocked the listing of Alibaba's financial affiliate Ant Group



On the JD's earnings call, executives said that the company added new merchants to its platform following authorities' banning of a practice known as "two-choose-one," wherein e-commerce sites ban merchants who list on rival platforms.



They added that the company is in compliance with an upcoming data security law, and highlighted how drivers in its logistics division are employed full-time and receive social and commercial insurance.



When asked about reported changes to preferential tax policies for tech companies, executives said the company has received no notice that such policies will be retracted, and added it expects no impact should a retraction occur as none of its subsidiaries has applied to become a key software enterprise.



Despite the ongoing regulatory tightening, the company added a record 32 million users over the quarter and delivered growth in its logistics and marketplace divisions.



Excluding items, the company posted a profit of 2.90 yuan per American depositary share (ADS), compared with analysts' expectations of 2.35 yuan.



Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders fell to 794.3 million yuan ($122.48 million) from 16.4 billion yuan ($2.53 billion) a year earlier. Non-GAAP net income to ordinary shareholders fell to 4.6 billion yuan compared to 5.9 billion yuan a year earlier.



Net revenue at JD.com rose about 26% to 253.8 billion yuan ($39.14 billion) in the second quarter ended June 30. Analysts had expected revenue of 249.27 billion yuan, according to IBES data from Refinitiv.



($1 = 6.4841 Chinese yuan renminbi)


Serbias Foreign Minister Nikola Selakovic sat down for an interview with Al-Ahram during his recent visit to Egypt, the goal of which was to intensify efforts between Serbia and Egypt to improve their level of cooperation and deepen the bonds between the two countries, which stretch back to Egypts khedival era.

Selakovic spoke to Al-Ahram about his visit and the invitation he extended to President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to attend the Non-Aligned Movement Summit, which will be held on the 60th anniversary of the founding of the movement on 11 and 12 October this year in Belgrade.

Al-Ahram: At first, we would like to welcome you to Cairo, and we want to hear from you some details about the purpose of your visit and its most important topics.

Nikola Selakovic: It is my great honour and pleasure to visit Egypt, a large and important country with which we are bound by friendship and a tradition of diplomatic relations since 1908, when the Kingdom of Serbia began cooperation with the Egyptian khedivate, through the time of Presidents Tito and Nasser and their joint support for the peoples of Africa and Asia, who fought for freedom from colonial oppression, and until this day, when in the time of serious statesmen like President Vucic and President El-Sisi, we are laying the foundations of our future cooperation, which I am sure will have a serious perspective.

During my visit to your great country, special attention was paid to my capacity as a special envoy of the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, on whose behalf I have the honour to extend an invitation to President El-Sisi to enhance the conference of the Non-Aligned Movement with his presence, which will be held on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the movement on 11 and 12 October this year in Belgrade.

Egypts participation is particularly important given the key and historical role of your country in founding the movement, as well as Egypts activities at the international level, where it acts as a strong promoter of the basic principles on which the movement is founded in order to create a more just world in which the principles of multilateralism, peaceful cooperation, equality, integrity, and sovereignty of countries are respected.

AA: Are there plans after this visit to prepare reciprocal visits between the leaders of the two countries in the coming period?

NS: Our leaders meeting is vital to improving our relations. They give new energy to the unity of Serbia and Egypt and encourage all levels of our societies to cooperate internally and fight for common interests in the international arena.

In that sense, there is an open invitation from the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, and it would be a special honour for us to host the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, His Excellency Mr. Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, who enjoys an exceptional reputation among the citizens of the Republic of Serbia.

AA: What are your expectations for the meetings of the Egyptian-Serbian committee which are scheduled for next October, and the most prominent memoranda of understanding that will be signed between the two countries on the economy?

NS: In addition to making preparations for the presidential visit to Serbia, an important goal of my visit to Egypt is the preparation of the session of the Joint Committee on Economic, Scientific, and Technical Cooperation (JC), co-chaired by the ministers of foreign affairs of Serbia and Egypt, which is scheduled to take place by the end of this year in Cairo.

Serbia and Egypt are seriously preparing for the upcoming session of the JC, and they have an ambitious agenda. I am pleased to point out that the preparations for this session have been very successful so far.

AA: Your government is preparing to provide incentives for homeowners to use solar panels. Do you have plans to cooperate with Egypt in the field of clean energy given that Egypt has a wonderful model in this context?

NS: Serbia has started work on the reform of legislation relating to the field of renewable energy sources by adopting the Law on the Use of Renewable Energy Sources.

We are interested in exchanging experiences in the fields of solar and wind energy, and with the new law, we are creating a stimulating business environment for investing in the field of renewable energy sources through direct investments or public-private partnerships.

Egypts experience in the development of renewable energy sources is important to us and we are ready to accept any kind of cooperation that is in the common interest.

AA: With regard to trade exchange, what are the Egyptian exports that Serbia needs the most, and what are the goods or products that Egypt can benefit from?

NS: Serbia wants to further develop and expand its economic relations with Egypt, which includes increasing trade, which is now below realistic possibilities.

Economic relations are generally developing well, but there are potentials for further development and improvement in numerous areas such as agriculture, tourism, health, telecommunications, construction, machine industry, mining, and scientific research projects.

It is difficult to define all the goods that Serbia could export to Egypt, because the list is long, and includes products from almost all industries. Given Egypts good relations with Russia, China, and the UAE, the possibility of various trilateral ties in economic projects is not ruled out.

Additionally, the Egyptian and Serbian economies are networked in broader free trade systems, which include markets much larger than the national ones, which certainly represents an opportunity for businessmen to use the markets of Egypt or Serbia as a springboard to conquer new markets.

We are also aware of the importance of holding a Joint Business Council (JBC). We follow the news about the reforms and economic progress of Egypt with attention and admiration, the cause of which are the numerous visionary megaprojects that President El-Sisi started that will essentially and forever transform Egypt into a prosperous, modern, and developed country.

Serbia is considering the possibility of its involvement to a certain extent in the implementation of investment megaprojects, and in this regard, we are seriously considering the Egyptian proposal to store a certain amount of grain in new silos in Suez as a new and expanded logistics centre in Egypt from which our products could be transported to their final destinations.

A significant contribution to the development of our relations is given by the enthusiasm and energy of your ambassador in Belgrade, Amr El-Jowaily, who is an exceptional professional and our sincere friend.

AA: Through the outcome of the meetings held by the Ambassador of Egypt in Belgrade, Amr El-Jowaily, with Serbian officials and ministers, we saw an interest in giving priority to cooperation in the field of small and medium enterprises, what is your opinion on that?

NS: Small and medium enterprises are carriers of economic development. We agree with the assessment that the establishment and expansion of cooperation between small and medium enterprises in Serbia and Egypt could significantly improve economic cooperation between the two countries, increase trade, and positively affect economic development and employment.

We expect that the signing of the memorandum of understanding between the Development Agency of Serbia and the Agency for Small and Medium Enterprises of Egypt will make a key contribution to the development of this cooperation.

Additionally, it is necessary to work on better mutual acquaintances and establishing contacts between such companies in both countries. The preparation and holding of the session of the already mentioned JBC, whose holding is planned in parallel with the holding of the JC, will certainly contribute a lot to that.

AA: How can cooperation and coordination between Egypt and Serbia be strengthened on regional issues, especially the situation in Libya, and the related phenomenon of illegal immigration from North Africa to Europe through the Balkan crossing?

NS: We are following the developments in the Middle East and North Africa region very closely and I look forward to the opportunity to exchange views with Egyptian partners, whose role in resolving these regional issues is very active, significant, and irreplaceable.

Serbia highly respects Egypts position and actions in solving regional problems in a way that contributes to peace and stability in the region and beyond.

At the same time, the attitudes of friendly Egypt help us greatly to better understand the situation and, in complex circumstances, serve as a kind of guideline for our positioning.

We support the Egyptian principled approach that is based on international law and the fundamental principles of the UN that crises in the region should be resolved on the principle of respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of states, with the establishment and effective operation of unified national institutions.

Conflicts and instability in the region of the Middle East and North Africa have caused a refugee and migrant crisis, the consequences of which were directly felt by Serbia as a transit destination. Unlike some other countries, Serbia tried to treat refugees and migrants humanely, with the awareness that most of them were people who were forced to leave their homes.

Relevant international organisations, as well as the EU, assessed the position of Serbia during the migrant crisis as extremely responsible, humane, and solidary. For example, we have provided adequate reception centres with many benefits, and with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccination of migrants has been made possible.

AA: What about cooperation in the fight against terrorism between the two countries?

NS: The Republic of Serbia and the Arab Republic of Egypt act in solidarity, unity, and coherence when it comes to the fight against terrorism and, in that sense, our competent services achieve appropriate cooperation.

For us, Egyptian experiences in the fight against terrorism are valuable. We are impressed by the results and efficiency of the Egyptian security services in the fight against this plague, which is never limited to one country, which knows no borders, and represents one of the biggest transnational threats.

Egypts defence against terrorism is at the same time a defence against that evil of the region to which Serbia belongs.

AA: Serbia has been waiting since 2012 for the European Union to respond to its application to become a full member of the EU. However, the EU recently said that the stalemate in negotiations brings Serbia ever closer to Russia and China, how do you comment on this?

NS: Regardless of its priority interest for EU accession, Serbia pursues a multi-vector foreign policy, which is never directed against third party countries and is never to the detriment of the interests of cooperation with traditional friends and partners, but serves to promote peace, stability, and cooperation.

Such is our policy in the region to which we belong, as well as towards the countries of the region to which Egypt belongs. We have close cooperation with other partners outside the region, especially with China and the Russian Federation.

The close ties between Serbia and Russia can be attributed to centuries of historical and cultural cooperation and the connection between the two peoples. Cooperation with China is very intensive, both politically and economically. Just as Germany is one of the largest investors in the Serbian economy, so is China one of the largest investors in the infrastructure and mining sector in Serbia.

The countries of the Arab world and Africa remain a particularly important place for us, and I am convinced that our commitment to them will only rise in importance in the future.

In the last week, I had the opportunity to visit several countries in southern Africa with the goal of donating vaccines against COVID-19. In meetings with my colleagues, I was convinced of how great the potentials for our cooperation are because they are based on sincere friendship, openness, and commitment to the same values.

Dont forget, Serbia has 14 embassies in the territory of Africa, and all former Yugoslav republics together have four embassies.

AA: Can we say that Serbian society was able to overcome past conflicts after the painful memories of the war, or that the multi-ethnic file still represents a combustible crisis at any time?

NS: It is of key interest for the Republic of Serbia to preserve stability in the region and the orientation of all countries in the region towards more intensive cooperation in all areas, because only such a region enables the sustainable development of Serbia itself.

In that sense, the improvement of good neighbourly cooperation, which is in the interest of everyone in the region, represents a fundamental and unchangeable starting point of the overall foreign policy of Serbia.

Serbia is aware that inherited problems, especially with some of its neighbours, are very serious and difficult. With our steady and constructive attitude, we have contributed and continue to contribute to the relaxation of relations. We are determined to promote a positive agenda oriented towards the future in our relations with our neighbours and countries in the region.

Thus, in order to help its neighbours who did not start the vaccination process, Serbia has donated a part of its vaccine supply to neighbouring countries: North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro.

In relations with our neighbours, we have focused on the development of economic cooperation, which can contribute to a more favourable climate for resolving open issues from the past.

In this regard, President Vucic, together with the prime ministers of North Macedonia and Albania, launched the Open Balkan Initiative, which aims to deepen the regional economic market and facilitate the movement of people, goods, services, and capital, following the four freedoms of the EU, reducing costs and increasing competitiveness.

AA: Serbia is the second country in terms of the number of tourists coming to Egypt. Are there opportunities to increase the number of Serbian tourists to Egyptian beach resorts in the coming period?

NS: Egypt has become one of the most popular tourist destinations for Serbian tourists, who also visited Egypt during the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to being able to enjoy the beauties of your country, they feel welcome, safe, and very comfortable in Egypt.

I am convinced that the trend of increasing the number of Serbian tourists in Egypt will continue, and this is the result of the improvement of the economic situation in Serbia and the rapid rise in living standards.

During the previous seven years, Serbia has embarked on a path of stable progress, the key contribution to which has been the visionary policy of President Aleksandar Vucic. I am convinced that our relations will have an even greater impact on the increase of tourist exchange in the future.

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Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said his country is keen to foster cooperation with Egypt, particularly at the investment level, in a phone call with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi on Sunday evening.

Sanchez expressed Spains urge to enhance the success of Spanish projects in several sectors in Egypt, such as transport, renewable energy, and other developmental domains.

The phone call dealt with a number of regional and international issues of common interest along with increasing cooperation between the two countries, according to a statement released by Egyptian Presidential Spokesman Bassam Rady.

President El-Sisi heaped praise on Egypts friendship with Spain, asserting Cairos keenness on achieving a quantum leap in the levels of cooperation in various domains.

El-Sisi also pointed out that the two countries have huge potentials to achieve a comprehensive development partnership, Rady added.

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Egypt detected its first case of the new Delta Plus COVID-19 variant in a 35-year-old Egyptian woman in July, but she had shown very mild symptoms and therefore did not require hospitalisation, stated the countrys Health Minister Hala Zayed on Monday.

Some other cases of the new variant were also detected in Egyptian travellers and non-travellers alike recently; however, these cases did not require hospital care, Zayed continued.

According to the World Health Organisation, the Delta Plus variant contains a new mutation in the spike protein the virus uses to enter human cells. Since it is closely linked to the Delta variant, it has been called Delta Plus rather than another letter in the Greek alphabet. So far, the Delta Plus variant has been found in relatively low numbers.

The Delta variant first surfaced in India in March and is currently the cause of many cases worldwide; it does not cause severe symptoms, but its risk lies in being highly contagious, the minister explained during a press briefing on the situation of the pandemic.

Minister Zayed said Egypt is seeking to widen vaccination coverage, as the daily coronavirus infection tally began to increase starting last week.

Egypt expects a fourth wave of the coronavirus around the end of September or the beginning of October.

Zayed underscored that Egypt is well prepared for the new wave with its intensified vaccination process and highly efficient treatment protocol for the detected cases.

The minister urged Egyptians to register their data on the vaccination website in order to receive their doses, adding that the country has increased the number of coronavirus vaccination centres nationwide to avoid any crowding, and deployed several mobile teams at industrial zones and governmental workplaces to administer the vaccines.

The vaccines reduce death and hospitalisation rates by 90 percent, Zayed said.

According to Zayed, 10 million citizens have already registered to receive the shots, and around 7.5 million of have already been vaccinated.

Egypt has announced that vaccination is mandatory for students, staff, and workers aged 18 or above who are involved in the pre-university or university sectors.

Egypt has locally produced 15 million doses of the Chinese Sinovac vaccine through the production lines of the country's drugmaker VACSERA, which has a production capacity of 15-18.5 million doses monthly, Zayed announced during the briefing.

The first 1 million doses will be supplied to vaccination centres nationwide starting Tuesday, she added.

The step is part of a wider deal with the Chinese company to produce a total of 40 million doses by the end of the current year. Egypt seeks to export the surpluses to the region.

The minister also said that a new partnership with a Western pharmaceutical company to manufacture vaccines in Egypt is expected soon, without providing further details.

Egypt is due to receive 5.2 million doses of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines in September, Zayed noted.

Millions of doses of Sinopharm, Sinovac, Sputnik, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines have already been received.

"With the available vaccines, we can protect many lives during the fourth wave," she stressed.

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Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi instructed the government on Monday to foster efforts to develop the mining sector in alignment with the Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS): Egypt Vision 2030, presidential spokesman Bassam Rady said.

President El-Sisi gave the instructions during his meeting with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt Tarek Amer, Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister Tarek El-Molla, Supply Minister Ali El-Moselhi, Finance Minister Mohamed Maait, Presidential Adviser for Financial Affairs Mohamed Amin and Director General of the National Service Projects Organisation (NSPO) of the Armed Forces Walid Abul-Magd.

President El-Sisi ordered introducing a comprehensive system to ensure the good management and optimal exploitation of the country's natural resources, especially when it comes to contracting with foreign partners.

The meeting also covered partnerships with foreign companies which have experience in the mining sector and mineral exploration and development.

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Egypt extended its most sincere condolences to the Sudanese government and people over the victims of floods, which claimed the lives of a number of citizens and damaged houses in some Sudanese states.



In a statement on Monday, the Foreign Ministry expressed its deepest sympathies to the families of the victims, stressing Egypt's full solidarity with Sudan in such hard circumstances.



It voiced trust in the ability of Sudan and its people to overcome this crisis.

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All teachers, staff will be allowed into schools only after getting Covid-19 vaccine

Hegazy pointed out to the education ministry's cooperation with the Health and Population Ministry to achieve the goal nationwide
"The government of Eritrea rejects, both in letter and spirit, the utterly baseless allegations and blackmail directed against it," the Eritrean foreign ministry said in a statement.

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President Joe Biden has invited Prime Minister Naftali Bennett to Washington next week to discuss Iran as well as Israel's relationship with the Palestinians, the White House said Wednesday.

The long-expected visit with Israel's new prime minister will take place Aug. 26 amid tensions with the Islamic Republic and Israel's fragile truce with militant Hamas group following its 11-day offensive on Gaza Strip.

The meeting will underscore the United States unwavering commitment to Israels security, according to the statement from presidential spokeswoman Jen Psaki. The leaders, she said, will discuss critical issues related to regional and global security, including Iran.

Bennett, meanwhile, described the upcoming meeting as important. His office said Bennett and Biden will discuss a series of diplomatic, economic and security issues, especially the Iranian nuclear program.

The meeting next week will be the first between the American and Israeli leader  and Bennett's first diplomatic trip as prime minister  at a sensitive time for the security of the Middle East.

Politically, both men want to show a steady hand at the helm of their respective governments in the wake of Israeli's offensive on Gaza and the collapse of Afghanistan's government on Biden's watch.

Both nations want to put the brakes on Iran's conduct in the region and on its nuclear program. But they diverge on the key question of reinstating the 2015 nuclear accord. Former President Donald Trump pulled America out of that agreement in 2018.

Biden campaigned on restoring the deal, with changes to address Iran's conduct. Bennett and his predecessor, Benjamin Netanyahu, staunchly oppose the accord and have vowed that Israel will act against Iran on its own if need be.

For Bennett, strengthening Israel's relationship with its strong ally, the U.S., is especially important as he leads a coalition government of eight parties from across the political spectrum. Under the coalition deal, Bennett, a founder of the Israeli settlement movement, will step down in 2023. Centrist Yair Lapid, now Israel's foreign minister, will then take the top job.

For Biden, it's a chance to change the subject from the Taliban's blitz across Afghanistan and the collapse of the U.S.-backed government there after 20 years.

While Bennett, who leads a small hard-line party that opposes major concessions to the Palestinians, made no mention of the Palestinians, the White House did  a reflection of human rights concerns for Palestinians among some in Biden's party.

The visit will also be an opportunity for the two leaders to discuss efforts to advance peace, security, and prosperity for Israelis and Palestinians and the importance of working towards a more peaceful and secure future for the region, the White House said.

There have been no substantive talks between Israel and Abbas' government in over a decade. With relations chilly, and the Palestinians divided between rival governments, the prospects for resuming negotiations appear slim.

But Bennett has indicated he would like to improve ties and bolster the Palestinian economy. This week, Israeli authorities postponed a meeting in which hundreds of new homes in West Bank settlements were to be approved.

It was unclear if the delay was the result of American pressure.

The 11-day Israeli offensive inflicted heavy damage on Gaza.

Some 254 Palestinians were killed, including at least 67 children and 39 women, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Twelve people, including two children, were killed in Israel, along with one soldier.

*This story was edited by Ahram Online.

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A charter flight arrived at a Belgian air base outside Brussels on Monday carrying 193 people escaping the chaos in Kabul.

The Air Belgium jet brought the escapees -- including Belgians and Afghans who worked for international missions -- from an Islamabad base acting as a staging post for Belgium's military airlift from the Afghan capital.

AFP and other media at the Belgian air base saw people disembarking from the plane and heading to four waiting grey military buses. Many of the women wore headscarves and there were several small children.

Foreign Minister Sophie Wilmes said Sunday that Belgium's Operation Red Kite has already brought 400 people from Kabul's airport, which has been secured by US and allied troops, to Pakistan.

Monday's charter was the first evacuation back to Belgian soil.

The arrivals were to be transferred from the Melsbroek base, home of Belgium's 15th Air Transport Wing, to a military base in Peutie for health checks and security screening.

Belgium is one of several NATO and EU member states that are scrambling to rescue vulnerable foreign staff and Afghan allies from Afghanistan since the Taliban overran the capital just over a week ago.

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In the U.S. departure from Afghanistan, China has seen the realization of long-held hopes for a reduction of the influence of a geopolitical rival in what it considers its backyard.

Yet, it is also deeply concerned that the very withdrawal could bring risk and instability to that backyard  Central Asia  and possibly even spill over their narrow, remote border into China itself and the heavily Muslim northwestern region of Xinjiang.

The Talibans takeover could certainly present political and economic opportunities for China, including developing Afghanistans vast mineral riches, and Beijing has said it is ready to help rebuild the impoverished nation. But stability will be required to reap most of those benefits, and the immediate result of the American withdrawal has been more instability, not less.

I think Beijing will play up the narrative of American fecklessness and decline of Empire, painting this as evidence of why Beijing will be a better steward for the Eurasian heartland, said Raffaello Pantucci, an expert on the region at the Royal United Services Institute in London. But in reality, I am not clear that I see that many huge upsides for Beijing at the moment.

Like many nations, China is concerned about the risk of terrorism from a Taliban-led Afghanistan. Beijing has repeatedly told the Taliban that the country cannot become a breeding ground for militants to launch attacks in Xinjiang, much as Osama bin Laden used it as a base to prepare his 9/11 attacks on the U.S.

A more proximate threat may be the spillover of militancy into Pakistan and Central Asia, where China has invested heavily and sought to build alliances.

The Afghan Taliban have promised that they will break from international terrorist forces, but we still havent seen how they will do this because they are not officially in power, said said Li Wei, an international security expert retired from the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations.

The Taliban could be an incongruent partner for China since their religion-based philosophy is diametrically opposed to Beijings vision of atheist rule under the Communist Party that puts social stability and economic development above all. That, however, has not prevented Chinas ultimately pragmatic leaders from reaching out to them.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi hosted a delegation led by the Talibans political leader, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, late last month and pressed Chinas hopes for stability and an end to violence and terrorist threats.

Chinese officials and state media have been critical of what they call Americas hasty retreat from Afghanistan. Talibans rapid victory embarrasses U.S., smashes image, arrogance, read a headline in the state-owned Global Times newspaper.

Despite the rhetoric, Wang told U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken that China was willing to work with the U.S. to promote the soft landing of the Afghan issue.

However, he added that the U.S. cannot, on the one hand, deliberately curb and suppress China to damage Chinas legitimate rights and interests, and on the other hand, count on China to offer support and coordination.

President Joe Biden has said leaving Afghanistan will prepare America to deal with bigger potential threats, including from China.

Our true strategic competitors  China and Russia  would love nothing more than the United States to continue to funnel billions of dollars and resources and attention into stabilizing Afghanistan indefinitely, he said this week.

Yin Gang, a researcher in Middle Eastern Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the two countries share a common interest in a stable Afghanistan.

If Afghanistan achieves stability, it will make the U.S. look good and China will be invited to participate in reconstruction, Yin said.

China has chased commercial ventures in Afghanistan, but the prospects of such projects reaching fruition appear no closer now than they were over the past 20 years of the U.S. presence.

A consortium led by China Metallurgical Group Corp. bid $3 billion to develop what is one of the worlds largest copper deposits at Mes Aynak, promising also to build a power plant, railway and other infrastructure. Years later, work has yet to start, largely because of insurgent activity in surrounding Logar province.

Chinas state-owned National Petroleum Corp. suspended oil drilling in the Amu Darya basin because of a delay in the signing of a transit agreement with Uzbekistan to allow crude oil to be trucked to China. The Afghan government later voided the drilling agreement.

China has invested heavily in Pakistan, which borders Afghanistan, in hopes of extending its Belt and Road Initiative to broaden Chinas overseas reach by improving trade routes, but Afghanistan appears far from ready to serve as a link in that chain.

Chinas extensive economic interests in Pakistan and Central Asia could clearly be impacted by any terrorist resurgence in Afghanistan, said Henry Storey, a political risk analyst based in Melbourne, Australia,

At the same time, China is loath to get involved with any boots on the ground presence, as it does not want to repeat the mistakes of the U.S.  or be distracted from more pressing issues like Taiwan, Storey said, referring to the island China claims as its own and threatens to invade.

Chinese scholars echoed the government line that China will not insert itself into Afghanistans domestic affairs, regardless of how the situation develops. At a briefing this week, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said China would provide assistance to Afghanistan within its means.

While hawkish Chinese state media have portrayed events in Afghanistan as a win for Beijing and loss for Washington, that reflects a false sense of confidence, said Meia Nouwens, a China expert with the International Institute for Strategic Studies

China might not be as interested in exploiting the U.S. withdrawal as an opportunity to engage economically with Afghanistan as some have suggested, she said, noting that Beijing has been slowing its foreign infrastructure investment.

The question of how to safeguard security of Chinese investment and personnel also looms large.

For the moment ... Beijing will do the same as most other countries, she said. Wait and see how things develop in Afghanistan.

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Scores of firefighters battled to contain two new wildfires in Greece on Monday, as winds fanned the blazes and forced several villages and neighbourhoods to be evacuated.

Both fires erupted not far from the site of devastating wildfires that swept parts of Greece earlier this summer, forcing thousands from their homes and destroying property, wildlife and livestock.

Scientists have warned that extreme weather and fierce fires will become increasingly common due to man-made global warming, and Greece's prime minister has linked the blazes to climate change.

The first fire broke out in the early hours Monday on southern Evia island, northeast of the capital Athens, and the Greek fire brigade said the blaze was largely contained at noon but had not been brought under control.

Two neighbourhoods were evacuated and several boats were offshore to offer help to contain the fires.

A second fire broke out Monday in Vilia, some 60 kilometres (37 miles) northwest of Athens, in an area of thick forestland.

Greek police blocked traffic on a nearby highway as winds fanned the blaze, while two villages were evacuated in the area as a preventative measure.

"The battle against the fires continues wherever there is a front," government spokesman Yiannis Oikonomou said Monday.

"We have already started repairing damage and providing practical support to those affected," he added.

The civil protection authorities had warned Sunday a "very high risk" of fire for many areas of Greece on Monday.

Since July, wildfires have ravaged the islands of Evia and Rhodes as well as forests to the north and southeast of Athens and parts of the Peloponnese peninsula. Three people have died in the fires.

An earlier fire in Evia burned for more than 10 days, decimating swathes of land, while another blaze that hit Vilia lasted six days was only declared under control on Saturday.

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France is seeking to evacuate more than 1,000 Afghans who are fleeing the country following the Taliban's lightning takeover a week ago, one of a number of nations scrambling to pull out vulnerable individuals.

"We are concerned about the deadline set by the United States on August 31. Additional time is needed to complete ongoing operations," Le Drian told reporters at the UAE's Al-Dhafra air base, where France has set up an air bridge for people evacuated from Kabul.

France had "sheltered" nearly 1,200 people leaving Afghanistan between August 17 and 22, including approximately 100 French nationals and 1,000 vulnerable Afghans, as well as dozens of other nationalities, the French delegation said.

Le Drian said that access to Kabul airport was the main issue facing evacuation operations.

"We still need to increase our coordination locally, with the United States and with our partners present on site," he said.

Defence Minister Florence Parly said Paris had a pre-approved plan to protect its citizens and Afghans who had worked alongside France.

"We started planning airlift operations before the fall of Kabul," she said.

By Monday evening, France had evacuated "nearly 1,700 people" since August 17, Le Drian said, and estimated that this number should rise to 2,000 on Tuesday.

Those brought out so far are 90 French citizens, other EU nationals and "more than 1,500 Afghans", he said.

"Each flight is a feat," Le Drian said, because of the chaos at Kabul airport.

- Confusion in Kabul -

US President Joe Biden has set an August 31 deadline for the chaotic airlift organised by thousands of temporarily deployed US troops -- but has left the door open to an extension if needed.

Since August 14, roughly 25,100 people have been evacuated from Afghanistan aboard aircraft flown by the US and its allies, according to a White House estimate.

Britain said Monday it would urge the United States at a virtual G7 summit to extend an end-of-the-month deadline to complete evacuations of Western citizens and Afghan colleagues from Kabul.

Germany also said it was in talks with both NATO allies and the Taliban about keeping Kabul airport open beyond August 31.

But a spokesman for the Taliban, Suhail Shaheen, told Sky News that the hardline Islamist group would not agree to any extension of the deadline, calling this a "red line", with any delay viewed as "extending occupation".

Nearly 200 Afghans arrived in Abu Dhabi late Monday aboard a French military transport aircraft from Kabul, many still shocked by their ordeal and some with only a small backpack of possessions.

"Physically, I'm fine. But mentally I'm really sick. The world has to help us, especially us women," Shukriya, who works for a Swedish NGO, told AFP.

Le Drian and Parly held a video conference with French Ambassador to Afghanistan David Martinon.

He highlighted the confusion in Kabul and difficulties in carrying out the evacuations, with thousands of Afghans clamouring for admission to the airport.

"They spend hours and hours in the sun, in the dust," Martinon said of people who arrive with the proper paperwork to be evacuated to France.

Sometimes those forced to wait outside are targeted with rubber bullets, the ambassador said.

"But once they get through it, everything goes really fast," he added of the evacuation process.

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KYODO NEWS - Aug 23, 2021 - 21:17 | All, Japan

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said Monday he regrets the defeat of his close ally in the previous day's Yokohama mayoral election, a result that points to public frustration at his government's response to the coronavirus pandemic.

But Suga also said he will continue to lead the efforts to contain the virus, reiterating his intention to seek reelection as president of the Liberal Democratic Party, as the ruling party is preparing for its leadership election, possibly in late September.

In the Yokohama election, Suga backed Hachiro Okonogi, a former public safety chief who got support from some LDP members, only to see his defeat against opposition-backed Takeharu Yamanaka.

"It is very regrettable. The people made their decision, and I would like to humbly accept the outcome," Suga told reporters while adding, "There is no change in my view that it is natural that I run in the (LDP presidential) election when the time comes."

The LDP is planning to hold the election on Sept. 29, with campaigning starting on Sept. 17, party sources have said. It will finalize the schedule on Thursday.

The focus is on former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba, both of whom contested last year's leadership race against Suga.

Kishida will decide soon whether to run, sources close to him said. Meanwhile, Ishiba has been keeping mum about the subject.

Asked about the possibility of his government's coronavirus response affecting the local election results, Suga only said, "What's most important is to do my all in preventing the rapid spread of the infections and help restore the normal life we had."

Suga's term as LDP president expires on Sept. 30, and the party is expected to hold a presidential election the same month.

A general election is also looming as the term of the House of Representatives members runs out on Oct. 21.

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KYODO NEWS - Aug 24, 2021 - 03:37 | All, World, Japan

Japan on Monday dispatched Self-Defense Forces aircraft to Afghanistan to evacuate Japanese nationals and local staff working for the Japanese Embassy there and other organizations amid the political crisis after the Taliban militant group seized power in the country.

One C-2 transport aircraft left for a third country, which the government has declined to name, and two C-130 planes are expected to depart Tuesday. Up to several hundred people will be evacuated in the mission, a diplomatic source said.

It will be the first time the SDF has evacuated foreign nationals from a country, according to the Defense Ministry.

"Securing the safety of Japanese people (in Afghanistan) is our top priority, and we also deem it important to secure the safety of local staff of the embassy and JICA remaining there as they include those who wish to leave the country," the top government spokesman, Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato, said.

But there remains a question of safety as evacuees will have to go to the Kabul airport.

A firefight broke out at one of the international airport gates early Monday, and an Afghan security force soldier was killed by "unknown attackers," The Associated Press reported citing German officials, as people are trying to flee the country in a chaotic exodus.

On Saturday, the United States told its citizens in Afghanistan to avoid traveling to the airport.

The three SDF aircraft will initially stand by at an airport in a third country near Afghanistan, the ministry said. As soon as coordination is made with U.S. forces in Afghanistan, which have taken control of the airport, the two C-130s will make round trips for evacuations.

The C-2 plane is carrying equipment, supplies and hundreds of personnel from the Ground and Air Self-Defense forces. Most of the staff will be based in the third country, according to the ministry.

As for the duration of the operation, Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said he expects it to continue until the end of the month when the United States plans to pull its military out from Afghanistan.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga will join a Group of Seven nations' online summit on Tuesday over the situation in Afghanistan, Kato added.

Japanese diplomats were evacuated to Dubai last Tuesday after the embassy in the capital Kabul was shut on Aug. 15, with the Taliban regaining control of the country 20 years after it was ousted from power by U.S.-led forces, but some Japanese working for international organizations remain there.

There are also believed to be dozens of local staff for the embassy as well as the Japan International Cooperation Agency and other Japanese organizations yet to be evacuated. A Defense Ministry advance team has departed for Afghanistan to gather information for the mission.

Other countries, such as the United States and Britain, have been evacuating their nationals and local staff via their military aircraft.

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party criticized the decision to evacuate Japanese Embassy staff via a British military airplane last week, saying an SDF plane should have been dispatched instead.

In 2016, an ASDF transport aircraft was dispatched to South Sudan amid a deteriorating security situation to evacuate Japanese Embassy staff to a neighboring country.

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KYODO NEWS - Aug 23, 2021 - 23:15 | All, World, Japan

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi on Monday urged Iran's next foreign minister, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, to ensure the safety of vessels in the Persian Gulf and surrounding waters, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said.

Abdollahian, who is set to succeed Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif under the new administration of anti-U.S. hard-liner President Ebrahim Raisi, told Motegi in their meeting in Tehran that his country will spare no efforts for maritime safety, according to the ministry.

Motegi's request comes after a Japanese-owned tanker operated by an Israeli company was attacked off the coast of Oman in July. The United States and Britain suspect Iran's involvement in the incident that killed three crew members.

Keeping shipping lanes safe in the region is crucial for Japan, which relies on the Middle East for around 90 percent of its crude oil.

The meeting follows Motegi's talks with Raisi and Zarif Sunday.

The Japanese minister also called for Iran's early return to a multilateral nuclear deal, as he did in Sunday's talks with Iran's new president. Under the deal, Iran and six major powers agreed to limit Tehran's nuclear activities in return for sanctions relief.

Raisi's administration is calling for the lifting of U.S. sanctions on Iran, which have been strengthened since 2018 when then President Donald Trump pulled his country out of the 2015 deal.

Also Monday, Motegi traveled to Doha where he and his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation beyond the field of energy and discussed the crisis in Afghanistan following the militant Taliban's regaining of power in the country.

Motegi then wrapped up his 10-day trip that also took him to Egypt, the West Bank for talks with Palestinian leaders, Israel, Turkey and Iraq.
KYODO NEWS - Aug 22, 2021 - 22:20 | All, Japan

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi on Sunday urged Iran's new President Ebrahim Raisi to return to a multilateral deal over Tehran's nuclear program, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said.

Motegi filed the request in a meeting with Raisi, an anti-U.S. hard-liner who took office earlier this month, in the Iranian capital.

Since Japan has established friendly relations with Iran while also being allied to the United States, Motegi's visit was expected to pave the way for promoting dialogue between Iran and the West.

Motegi and Raisi affirmed they will try to strengthen the traditional relationship between Japan and Iran.

Topics also high on the agenda were to prevent further deterioration of the crisis in Afghanistan, where the militant Islamist Taliban have taken control, from becoming a destabilizing factor for the international community, the ministry said.

It was the first time Raisi had held talks with a major democratic country after taking over of reins of power in the country.

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KYODO NEWS - Aug 23, 2021 - 22:55 | All, Japan, Coronavirus

Japan's health ministry along with the Tokyo metropolitan government asked hospitals in the capital on Monday to secure beds and accept as many COVID-19 patients as possible in the first such state-level request, as a recent resurgence in infections outstrips the city's medical system.

To further relieve strain on hospitals in Tokyo, the metropolitan government started operating the same day a facility to provide oxygen support to COVID-19 patients with relatively mild symptoms.

As the Japanese capital has been witnessing record levels of coronavirus cases in recent weeks, health minister Norihisa Tamura and Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike held a meeting and decided to take stronger measures on medical institutions by making the request to the hospitals under a revised infectious disease law.

Under the law revised in February, the ministry and Tokyo government can expose the names of hospitals that do not have a valid reason, such as lack of medical staff, for noncompliance to the request in securing beds.

"Infections driven by the Delta variant are unlike anything we have seen before," Tamura told reporters after the meeting. "I would like to ask for (the hospitals') help to get through this difficult situation."

While 4,034 COVID-19 patients have been hospitalized as of Monday, the Tokyo government aims to add about 600 hospital beds to raise the total to 7,000 beds available for such patients.

Still, the effect of the latest step remains unclear.

"As many hospitals are already in a difficult situation to proactively accept patients who may become seriously ill, it would be hard to change their policy even if the names of hospitals are made public," said Tetsuya Matsumoto, a professor of infectious diseases at International University of Health and Welfare.

Tamura and Koike also decided to ask hospitals, universities with medical departments and nursing schools to dispatch staff who will be stationed at facilities such as an oxygen station to treat COVID-19 patients.

The 24-hour oxygen station set up by the metropolitan government in the capital's Shibuya Ward has 130 beds and is staffed by three doctors and 25 nurses.

It is designed to treat patients who have been asked to recuperate at home but who experience concerns over breathing. Stays are likely to be short term, such as one or two nights.

The station was opened in the former site of the National Children's Castle, a complex that contained play and educational facilities for children.

As of Sunday, more than 39,000 patients in Tokyo are recovering at home or elsewhere without hospital admission, underscoring the urgent need to expand the support system in the capital.

Meanwhile, the central government is currently considering whether there is a need to expand a COVID-19 state of emergency to other areas beyond Tokyo and 12 other prefectures, government sources said.

The government's top spokesman Katsunobu Kato said at a press conference Monday the governors of Aichi, Gifu, Mie and Hokkaido have asked the central government to declare the emergency in their areas.

In Osaka Prefecture, also under the state of emergency, a site opened to provide AstraZeneca Plc's COVID-19 vaccine at Shiromi Hall, a multipurpose hall in Osaka Castle Park in Osaka city. The move came as the prefecture has seen daily infections top 2,000 since Aug. 18, with the city accounting for some 40 percent of the cases.

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare approved the AstraZeneca vaccine in May, but the government initially withheld supplying the doses, taking into consideration reported rare cases of blood clots among young people overseas.

It began supplying it to prefectures most in need of additional doses such as Tokyo and Osaka earlier this month for use on people aged 40 or older, and those aged 18 or above who cannot take the Pfizer or Moderna doses due to reasons such as allergic reactions. The two shots are administered with a gap of eight weeks.

The city government is planning to open another vaccination site at the Osaka City Air Terminal building from Aug. 30.

Kawaguchi in Saitama Prefecture neighboring Tokyo also started on Monday AstraZeneca shots in principle to those aged 40 or above. Reservation slots of 500 per day have been filled up for the entire week.

Japan's inoculation rate still lags far behind other advanced economies, with roughly 51 million people, or just over 40 percent of the population of 125 million, having received two doses as of Monday.

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KYODO NEWS - Aug 23, 2021 - 10:37 | World, Feature, Coronavirus

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen received a locally developed coronavirus vaccine at a hospital in Taipei on Monday as the self-governed island began rolling out the Medigen vaccine the same day.

By becoming the first to receive the jab, Tsai hopes to demonstrate that the new vaccine, developed by local vaccine maker Medigen Vaccine Biologics Corp., is effective and safe, in a bid to improve inoculation rates.

The rollout began as Taiwan struggles to secure vaccine doses from overseas.

Even though community cases began spreading on the island from mid-May in the latest wave, the government has since succeeded in curbing the virus's spread through strict measures including a total ban on restaurant dining.

But the government plans to continue enforcing the level-two COVID-19 alert, the third-highest of four levels, for the time being as the highly contagious Delta variant has spread abroad and the rate of vaccinations among the Taiwanese has been slow.

Roughly 40 percent of the population had received at least one dose of vaccine by Friday, according to the Health and Welfare Ministry. About 600,000 people have signed up to be inoculated with Medigen.
New Delhi:

Interpol president Meng Hongwei, who was reported missing in his native country, has been detained in China for questioning as a part of an investigation against him, according to reports on Saturday.



Meng landed in China last week, and was soon taken away for questioning by discipline authorities, Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post quoted a source as saying.

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Sixty-four-year-old Meng is the first Chinese head of the Interpol, the international law enforcement agency. He is also a vice-minister at Chinas Ministry of Public Security. Recently, his wife reported to the French Police that he had gone missing.

Last week, he landed in China amid the mystery surrounding his disappearance. Meng was last seen in France on September 29, according to reports from France.

It was not immediately clear why he is being investigated or where he is being held, sources said.

Also Read | India rejects Pakistan's claim of using chemical weapons on civilians

(With inputs from agencies)

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Patna:

In an unprecedented move, the Bihar government on Thursday issued orders prohibiting its officials from carrying mobile phones at 'high-level' meetings, according to a government circular.

"It has often been noticed that while attending high-level meetings, officials keep talking over mobile phones. This prevents the meetings from proceeding smoothly," the circular released by the Nitish Kumar government read.

"After due consideration, it has been decided that at high-level meetings, carrying of mobile phones will henceforth be banned," it added. The circular is signed by Aamir Subhani, the principal secretary of general administration department in Bihar.

Read | Mobiles to influence 70 per cent of fashion accessory buys by 2022

In view of it, no official will be allowed to carry their mobile phones in crucial meetings chaired by the chief minister, department ministers, chief secretary, development commissioner and other senior officials.

In early June, Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy directed all officials and government staff not to use mobile phones during his meetings in order to avoid hindrance in smooth conduction of the meetings.

In 2017, a group of officials were seen playing games and using internet on their phones while attending a seminar addressed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and then Director General of Police PK Thakur.

Read | Checking phones in lectures may cost students grades

The Prime Ministers Office had in 2016 also banned mobile phones in Cabinet meetings to prevent officials from leaking confidential information outside.
New Delhi:

At least 36 girls of a residential school in Bihars Supaul district were allegedly assaulted after they resisted the attempts of some local boys to sexually harass them, the police said.

The Darbhanga zonal Inspector General told news agency ANI that the girls used to go to a playground nearby where some boys would write obscene words on walls. The girls would rub them off. This happened for 2-4 days.

The girls, aged between 10 and 14 years and are studying in Classes 6 to 9, of Kasturba Gandhi Girls Residential School, Triveniganj in Supaul district were admitted to a local hospital following the incident on Saturday.

On Sunday, the police arrested four youths in connection with the attack. Supaul district magistrate (DM), Baidynath Yadav said more arrests would be made soon.

Yesterday, they asked a boy to stop doing that. After that the boy, his mother and some other women beat them up. At least 14 children are still being treated at a hospital. The accused have been identified and an FIR has been registered, The Darbhanga zonal IG said.

Girls used go to a playground nearby, some boys used to write obscene words on walls.Girls used to rub it off.This was happening since 2-4 days: Darbhanga zonal IG on at least 30 schoolgirls of a govt school in Supaul thrashed by miscreants for allegedly resisting sexual advances pic.twitter.com/M0wYhUV7VZ  ANI (@ANI) October 7, 2018

Reports suggest some of the miscreants were armed with batons and they also beat up some teachers of the school when they tried to intervene and save the girls.

One of the girls, beaten up by the miscreants, said: The boys often used to write obscene words on the walls. We stopped them from doing that and they thrashed us. There were some women with them who beat us up too and manhandled our teachers.

The incident triggered protests from several social organisations and also raised a question mark on the security at the government school, reported Hindustan Times.

Opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav condemned the government in strongest terms. In a series of tweets, Tejashwi Yadav said Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has "totally surrendered himself in the hands of goons & Deputy CM is begging mercy to hardened criminals".

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New Delhi:

A couple of days after the Central governments decision to cut the Value Added Taxes (VAT) on fuel prices by Rs 2.50 and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled states additional relief of Rs 2.50, fuel prices witnessed a marginal hike yet again as petrol price in Delhi was marked at Rs 81.68 per litre with an increase of Rs 0.18, while diesel was priced at Rs 73.79 per litre, increasing by Rs 0.29. Mumbai witnessed the petrol price surge to Rs 87.15 per litre with an increase of Rs 0.18, while diesel was priced at Rs 76.75, decreasing by Rs 0.70.

Petrol and Diesel prices in #Delhi are Rs 81.68 per litre (increase by Rs 0.18) and Rs 73.79 per litre (increase by Rs 0.29), respectively. Petrol & Diesel prices in #Mumbai are Rs 87.15 per litre (increase by Rs 0.18) and Rs 76.75 (decrease by Rs 0.70), respectively, reported News Agency ANI.

Petrol and Diesel prices in #Delhi are Rs 81.68 per litre (increase by Rs 0.18) and Rs 73.79 per litre (increase by Rs 0.29), respectively. Petrol & Diesel prices in #Mumbai are Rs 87.15 per litre (increase by Rs 0.18) and Rs 76.75 (decrease by Rs 0.70), respectively. pic.twitter.com/lZNsqxfkNa  ANI (@ANI) October 6, 2018

Meanwhile, the Bihar government on Friday announced that it would be reducing excise duty on both petrol and diesel while making it cheaper by Rs 2.52 and Rs 2.55 per litre respectively.

In Patna, petrol was marked at Rs 85.28 per litre, while diesel was at Rs 76.30 per litre.

BJP-ruled states of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh Thursday announced a reduction in Value Added Tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel prices by Rs. 2.5 per litre,

Haryanas Finance Minister Capt. Abhimanyu on Friday made the announcement of state government's decision to reduce VAT on both petrol and diesel by Rs 2.5 per litre.

The state government has decided to reduce VAT on petrol and diesel by about Rs 2.5 per litre. The revised rates would be effective from today mid-night. After reduction, the revised rates of diesel in Haryana would be about Rs 71 per litre and petrol would be about Rs 79 per litre. This would cause an annual burden of Rs 1,920 crore on state exchequer, he had said.

On Saturday, Gurgaon witnessed the petrol to be priced at Rs 80.37 per litre, while diesel was marked at Rs 72.14 per litre.

The Jharkhand government also levied an additional relief of Rs 2.50 per litre on petrol, making it Rs 78.05 per litre, while diesel stood at Rs 74.81 per litre.

The Devendra Fadnavis-led government in Maharashtra on Friday decided to slash the price of diesel by Rs 1.56 per litre, making it Rs 76.75, whereas petrol was marked at Rs 87.15 in Mumbai.

Meanwhile, in Kolkata, petrol was priced at Rs 83.52 per litre while diesel was marked at Rs 75.09 per litre.

In Bhubaneswar, Odisha, petrol stood at Rs 80.51 per litre, whereas diesel was priced at 78.59 per litre.

Congress-ruled Punjab is yet to decide on the fuel price cut, however, Haryana announced a cut of Rs 1.50 on both petrol and diesel.

"Chandigarh Administration reduces petrol and diesel prices by Rs.1.50 per litre," a statement read.

As a result, petrol was marked at Rs 77.12 per litre, while diesel was priced at Rs 69.69 per litre in Chandigarh.

Gujarats Gandhinagar witnessed the petrol price to be at Rs 78.85 per litre, while diesel was at Rs 76.72 per litre.

Meanwhile, in Patna, petrol got up to Rs 85.28 and diesel to Rs 76.30 per litre.

In Guwahati, Petrol stood at Rs 81.56 whereas diesel was priced at 74.07 per litre. Whereas Bengaluru witnessed the petrol price surge to Rs 82.32 with diesel being at Rs 73.61.

Madhya Pradeshs Bhopal saw the price of petrol being marked at Rs 84.87, while diesel stood at Rs 74.63 per litre.

On Thursday, Finance Minister Arun Jaitely announced marginal relief for commuters by slashing the oil duty by Rs 1.50 and another Re 1 drop in what the government charges from Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs).

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced marginal relief for citizens with an oil duty cut of Rs 1.50 and another Re 1 drop in what the government charges from Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs).

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Raipur:

A 19-year-old student of a livelihood college was allegedly abducted and killed by naxals in Chhattisgarhs Sukma district, police said on Sunday. The body of Kunjami Shankar, who went missing late Saturday night from his village Kundanpal under Kukanar police station limits, was found lying in a pool of blood Sunday in a nearby forest, Sukma superintendent of police Abhishek Meena told PTI over phone.

The motive behind the killing is not known yet, he said.

Read More | LIVE | Jammu and Kashmir municipal polls: Voting underway amid tight security, mobile services suspended

As per preliminary information, Kunjami was picked up by a group of armed ultras from his house in Kundanpal, around 500 km away from here, when he was alone, he said.

Prima facie, he was hacked to death. The deceased was a student of Livelihood College in Sukma town.

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The state government facilitates large population of unemployed youth/tribal population living in remote and under-served areas to undergo livelihood training to increase their employability by providing them residential training facilities through livelihood colleges.
New Delhi:

India and Japan have held the second meeting of their Act East Forum, during which they agreed to boost cooperation on connectivity projects in the northeast, a Japanese Embassy statement said.

The meeting of Japan-India Act East Forum was held on October 8 under the co-chairmanship of Japans Ambassador Kenji Hiramatsu and Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale.

Ambassador Hiramatsu emphasised on cooperation in the northeast region, ranging from connectivity to people-to-people exchanges and the need to come up with concrete projects, the statement said.

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The forum witnessed lively discussions, in which the representatives from relevant ministries and states of the NER shared their views, the statement said.

As a result of the meeting, future orientation of cooperation in northeast was confirmed, ranging from the road and bridge connectivity projects; forest management projects in states of Tripura and Meghalaya; a new initiative to utilise bamboo which is abundant in the region; and to enhance people-to-people exchanges, it said.

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New Delhi:

The Ministry of External Affairs, India, Friday rejected Pakistan's allegations about the purported use of chemical weapons by Indian security forces on the civilians, calling it "unfounded".

"India has repeatedly stated its complete opposition to the use of chemical weapons by anyone, at any time, and anywhere in the world. India is an original signatory to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC)," MEA spokesperson said in a statement.

"The international community has recognised India's abiding commitment and contribution to the CWC which is the universal multilateral instrument prohibiting the use of chemical weapons," Kumar added.

Kumar was replying to the Pakistan Foreign Office's statement in a weekly press briefing on Friday. According to a report by The Nation, Pakistan Thursday accused India of using chemical weapons on citizens of Jammu and Kashmir. India, however, dubbed Pakistan's claim as "false accusations".

Read | Vladimir Putin impressed by GST reform in India; to implement in Russia soon

We reject allegations made by Pakistan about reported use of chemical weapons by Indian security forces against Indian citizens. Such allegations aren't new & totally unfounded.India has repeatedly stated its opposition to use of chemical weapons by anyone,at anytime,anywhere:MEA  ANI (@ANI) October 5, 2018

The MEA said that Islamabad is acting irresponsibly in order to make the international community believe these allegations.

"It is, therefore, a matter of deep concern that Pakistan repeatedly tries to make such false allegations. They are acting in a highly irresponsible manner with the sole purpose of repeating untruths in the vain hope that the international community will start believing in their falsehood," Kumar said.

Read | Pakistan cancels Indian High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria's lecture at Lahore institute



Such malicious attempts to deflect international opinion away from the terrorism emanating from Pakistan shall not succeed," he reiterated.

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New Delhi:

The Election Commission (EC) on Saturday announced the dates for the Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram Assembly polls. While Chhattisgarh will go to the polls in two phases on November 12 and 20, the Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram Assembly elections will be held on November 28.

Polling in Rajasthan and Telangana will be held on December 7, announced Chief Election Commissioner (CEO) OP Rawat. Counting of votes will be held across all the five states on December 11, he said.



Election Commission to announce dates of the upcoming assembly polls in a press conference later today pic.twitter.com/k5UNlRRRKe  ANI (@ANI) October 6, 2018

Read | Rajasthan: PM Modi to address rally in Ajmer today, around three lakh people expected to join

In the run up to the elections ahead and in an effort to woos voters, all major parties have started holding public rallies in the poll-bound states - Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram.

Also Read | Will Stalin pass the acid test posed by-elections to Tamil Nadu Assembly?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is addressing a BJP rally in Ajmer, Rajasthan, while BJP president Amit Shah has visited Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Congress president Rahul Gandhi also visited Madhya Pradesh and is addressing election rallies in several cities in the state on Saturday, party sources said.

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On October 4, the Union Home Ministry had ordered the deployment of 25,000 troops for election duty in the poll-bound states. These paramilitary and state police personnel, part of the additional 250 companies to be sent in for the polls, have been asked to take position by October 15 in states assigned to them.

While 50 fresh companies each have been marked to be sent to Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the highest of 150 such teams have been earmarked by the ministry to be sent to Chhattisgarh that has its southern part affected by a high-level threat of Maoist violence.

EC announces poll dates for Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram, Telangana | LIVE UPDATES:

15:53 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In "We haven't received any such complaint from Madhya Pradesh. If any complaint is received, EC will take action, FIR will be lodged. Nobody can do anything with fake ID. It's checked at every level for identification," CEC OP Rawat on fake IDs being allegedly used in Madhya Pradesh.







We haven't received any such complaint from Madhya Pradesh. If any complaint is received, EC will take action; FIR will be lodged. Nobody can do anything with fake ID. It's checked at every level for identification: CEC OP Rawat on fake IDs being allegedly used in #MadhyaPradesh pic.twitter.com/JeSl1QrkJJ

 ANI (@ANI) October 6, 2018



15:43 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In By-polls in Shimoga, Bellary and Mandya in Karnataka to be held on November 3: Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat

15:30 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Counting of votes to be done on December 11 for Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram, Rajasthan and Telangana state assembly elections.

15:27 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Rajasthan and Telangana assembly elections to be held on December 7.

15:24 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram assembly elections to be held on November 28.

15:23 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Phase 1 voting for the state assembly election in Chhattisgarh to take place on November 12, voting for phase 2 on November 20.

15:31 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Model of conduct to come into force in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram with immediate effect: Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat in Delhi.







Model of conduct to come into force in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram with immediate effect: Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat in Delhi pic.twitter.com/db5PLnNGb9

 ANI (@ANI) October 6, 2018



15:14 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Simultaneous elections will be held in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram, before December 15: CEC OP Rawat in Delhi

15:12 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In EC apologises for delaying announcement of poll dates for Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram

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New Delhi:

As both the Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP) and the Samajwadi Party (SP) announced to contest upcoming Assembly elections on their own, the talks of the opposition unity failing apart started making rounds in the political corridors.

The ruling BJP mocked the Congress party saying the coalition was not in its DNA and claimed that the so-called unity among the opposition parties against the BJP stood exposed.

The Congress party, however, feels the other way and its spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala denied all the claims and expressed hope to have an alliance at some stage with Mayawati.

Also Read | After Mayawati, Akhilesh Yadav dumps Congress in Madhya Pradesh

These claims that the opposition unity is falling apart are baseless. The Lok Sabha election is still a bit far away. The number of seats demanded by the BSP in Chhattisgarh was not suiting the electoral seat sharing requirement, Surjewala said.

But we hope to have an alliance with Mayawati at some other stage, he added.

The Congress leader was optimistic that the Opposition parties would join hands together at the national level as far as the 2019 Lok Sabha elections were concerned.

"We are fighting against the Left in Kerala but on various issues, at the national level we have set aside our differences and have worked together, he added.

Also Read | Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls: Akhilesh's Samajwadi Party releases list of six candidates

The statement from Surjewala came after Akhilesh Yadavs SP gave up to the waiting and decided to go solo in 2018 mid-term elections.

"We have waited too long for the Congress. How much longer should we wait? We will now consult the Gondwana Gantantra Party (GGP), with which we had an alliance, and the BSP for the coming assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh," Akhilesh was quoted as saying by PTI.

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New Delhi:

Low-cost carrier IndiGo on Saturday announced the launching of its new international flight services to Male and Phuket from November, an official said.

The Gurgaon-based carrier IndiGo will be connected to Male (Maldives) from Mumbai, Bengaluru and Kochi, while services to Phuket (Thailand) will be operated from Delhi from November, the official said.

The carrier will operate daily Kochi-Male flights and five-times a week from Mumbai-Male, the airline said, adding the services on the Bengaluru-Male route will be operated twice a week.

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Meanwhile, the airline said it will operate six weekly flights from Delhi to Phuket.

Alongwith the new flight services, IndiGo has also announced special inaugural fares starting Rs 5,799 for the new flights.

Male will be the 13th and Phuket will be the 14th international destination for IndiGo as part of its overseas expansion, the airline said.

IndiGo Chief Commercial Officer William Boulter told reporters, We are pleased to announce Male and Phuket as our 13th and 14th international destination effective November. We will operate direct flights to Male from three key cities of Mumbai, Bengaluru and Kochi. And we will also operate non-stop flights between Delhi and Phuket.

Read More | CEC OP Rawat announces poll dates for Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Telangana

"The new flights are designed to cater to business and leisure travellers from these cities, who are constantly on the lookout for new and affordable flying options," the release said.

IndiGo will continue to expand its network to meet the requirements of both business and leisure travellers wherever they demand it, he added.

With the announcement of new overseas flight services, IndiGo now see great potential to boosting tourism in India, as both Male and Phuket are key markets for the airline, it said.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Washington:

Pakistan wants the US to facilitate talks with India as the two nations are not engaging bilaterally, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said, warning that the absence of dialogue could lead to escalation of tension.

But the Pakistani request on the facilitation of the talks has been rejected by the US, the top Pakistani leader told a Washington audience on Wednesday, a day after he had meetings with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and National Security Advisor John Bolton, during which he raised the issue only to be pushed back by the Trump administration.

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India is opposed to any third country mediation in its relations with Pakistan. Pakistan has continuously sought mediation to sort out the differences, including over Kashmir.

When we asked the US, to play facilitating role... Why do we ask Simply because we are not engaging bilaterally. And that bilateral disengagement is a distraction. We want to focus, we want to move on the western side of the border, which we are not being able to because we have to watch our back from eastern side (of the border with India). That is not a healthy situation to be in, Qureshi said in response to a question at the US Institute of Peace, a US Congress-funded top American think-tank.

Now can you (United States) facilitate. The answer from them is no. They wanted bilaterally. But there is no bilateral movement, Qureshi said warning that this could lead to escalation of tension between the two South Asian countries.

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If that lack of facilitation leads to escalation and some of the statements that have come out of late have not been very helpful, the Pakistani foreign minister said in an apparent reference to the remarks by Indian leaders.

The new government of Prime Minister Imran Khan, he claimed, is not shy of engaging. Referring to the cancelling of his meeting with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in New York, he alleged that India backed off.

However, he quickly skipped Indias reasons for this glorification of terrorists by issuing postal stamps and brutal killing of the Indian security personnel.

If the Indians have a better option, share it with us. If disengagement, if not talking to each other will resolve and stabilise the region, fine. If thats their analysis fine, Qureshi said.

Qureshi, who left for Pakistan after his meetings with the Trump administration officials, said it is unfortunate that the two countries are not engaging.

Its unfortunate. Thats the way it is. Now. What does this government want? We want normalisation. We want co-existence. Youve got to recognise the reality. Pakistan is a reality. So is India. We have issues. How do we resolve them? he asked.

After coming to power, the first speech made by the Prime Minister Khan was that every step you (India) take towards peace, we will take two. And he meant it. It wasnt just because it sounded good. It wasnt to please anyone. He is too blunt a person to please people. He can be very straight and he can be very blunt. But he said that because he feels that way, Qureshi said.

India has said that Pakistan created the conditions for cancellation of the talks ? due to issuing of postage stamps glorifying terrorists and brutal killing of its three security personnel.

The Pakistan foreign minister did not mention that in his answer and only said that the stalled dialogue process is not good for the two countries and the region.

Responding to a question on Indias stand that talks and terrorism cannot go together, a view which is shared by Washington too, Qureshi referred to a statement by Khan while he was an opposition leader and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a trip to New Delhi that there would always be spoilers.

There will always be spoilers. There will always be elements that will scuttle the process of peace. But when they do that, let re-engage to fight them. They will push us back. But we have to see what is in our interest, what is in the regional interest. Whats in Pakistans interest, Qureshi said quoting what Khan had told Modi.

Soon, he raised the Kashmir issue.

They have to realise, and I think they were being simplistic, if they feel that everything thats wrong on the Indian side of Kashmir is all of Pakistans making, that is an unrealistic approach, he said.

India, he said, should also revisit its policies and see why and how people have been alienated.

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Banihal:

At least 20 people were killed and 13 injured when a minibus fell into a deep gorge along the Jammu-Srinagar national highway near here, a senior police officer said on Saturday.

So far, 10 bodies were retrieved from the accident site, while 15 people rushed to hospital, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Doda-Kishtwar-Ramban range, Rafiq-ul-Hassan told PTI.

ALSO READ: EC to announce poll dates for Rajasthan, MP, Meghalaya, Chhattisgarh

Jammu & Kashmir: A mini bus on its way from Banihal to Ramban fell into a deep gorge at Kela Moth on Jammu Srinagar National Highway. Rescue operations underway. More details awaited  ANI (@ANI) October 6, 2018

SSP, Ramban, Anita Sharma said the jam-packed minibus was going to Ramban from Banihal.

On reaching Kela morh near Maroof, the driver lost control and the vehicle rolled down into the 200-feet-deep gorge, she said.

According to the Deputy Inspector General of Police, the death toll might go up as the rescue operation was still in progress and the condition of some of the injured was stated to be critical.

He said police and Army personnel, along with local volunteers, are engaged in the rescue operation.

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New Delhi:

On the occasion of Mahatma Gandhis birthday, Prime Minister Narendra Modis website released an itinerary of the events that he will attend to mark the launch of the 150th anniversary celebrations of the Father of the Nation. The website said, Events related to sanitation and renewable energy shall be the focus of the Prime Ministers engagements on Gandhi Jayanti. The Prime Minister began his day by paying floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat, following which he visited Vijay Ghat to pay homage to former prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on his birth anniversary.

Read More | Kisan Kranti Padyatra to reach Delhi today, heavy security deployed

PM Modi attended the closing ceremony of the four-day international conference, Mahatma Gandhi International Sanitation Convention (MGISC) at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre. At the event PM Modi, accompanied by Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, launched commemorative postage stamps on Mahatma Gandhi, and a medley CD based on Mahatma Gandhis favourite hymn  Vaishnav Jan The Swachh Bharat Awards were also distributed on this occasion.

#WATCH PM Modi and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at an exhibition during Mahatma Gandhi International Sanitation Convention, at Rashtrapati Bhavan pic.twitter.com/SFBAWKoPJM  ANI (@ANI) October 2, 2018

Also Read | Mahatma Gandhi: India celebrates Father of Nation's birthday today

"So many countries coming together for a cleanliness campaign is an unheard of event. I pay tribute to Bapu on everyone's behalf," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at the Mahatma Gandhi International Sanitation Convention.

So many countries coming together for a cleanliness campaign is an unheard of event. I pay tribute to Bapu on everyone's behalf:PM Modi at the Mahatma Gandhi International Sanitation Convention. #Gandhi150 pic.twitter.com/Gsi0TmXBpo  ANI (@ANI) October 2, 2018

Later in the day, the prime minister will inaugurate the first Assembly of the International Solar Alliance at Vigyan Bhawan.

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New Delhi:

One person died and five others were injured after a barrel containing acid fell on them from the under-construction Shiv Vihar Metro station in the national capital on the Delhi Metro Pink Line on Wednesday. A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.

The barrel fell on six people, who were rushed to the hospital. One of them succumbed to his injury on Thursday morning, according to the police

(Further details awaited)
New Delhi:

In yet another tragic incident, at least 20 people were dead and 16 others injured after an "overcrowded passenger minibus slipped into a deep gorge along a mountainous road in Indian-controlled Kashmir this morning. The mishap took place around 9:55 am after the driver apparently lost control over the vehicle near Ramban district, leading it to plunge off the Himalayan mountain.

The driver lost control over the "overcrowded" vehicle which rolled down the 200-ft-deep gorge at Kela Morh near Maroof, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Doda-Kishtwar-Ramban range, Rafiq-ul-Hassan was quoted by reporters as saying.

The deceased include four women and the driver of the 22-seat minibus, which was carrying at least 36 passengers while on its way to Ramban town from Banihal. The injured, including 10 in critical condition were rushed to Army hospital at Udhampur while two others to Jammu.

Read | Jharkhand: One pilgrim killed, 47 injured after bus overturns in Dumka

"The critically injured persons were airlifted to Army hospital at Udhampur and Government Medical College hospital Jammu for specialized treatment," the DIG added.

Soon after the incident, local volunteers launched a rescue operation and were shortly joined by the quick reaction teams of police and Army. The rescue team has been awarded with Rs 50,000 for their significant contribution to the operation.

Showkat Aijaz Bhat, the district collector of Ramban has also announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the keen of deceased and Rs 50,000 those injured. They praised the rescuers for reaching the accident victims "in the shortest possible time", thus saving many lives.

A minibus had fallen into a deep gorge at Kela Moth on Jammu Srinagar National Highway while it was going from Banihal to Ramban, earlier today. #JammuAndKashmir https://t.co/r0XhNPJSac  ANI (@ANI) October 6, 2018

Read | Bihar: Three coaches of Darbhanga-Kolkata Express derail near Darbhanga
Bengaluru:

Tamil Nadu is witnessing heightened political drama ahead of the crucial by-elections to two assembly seats  Tiruvarur and Tiruparankundram  likely to be held along with general elections to five states. Why the two by-elections are crucial, though the outcome will not have any impact on the government of the day in the state, is because they will test the leadership skills of the newly anointed DMK president MK Stalin.



More important, the person who inherited the political legacy of his father, the towering Dravidian and national leader, K Karunanidhi, will have to retain the Tiruvarur seat the DMK patriarch held till his death.

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Here, Stalin is facing trouble from his elder brother MK Alagiri, who has vowed to wreck his brother and his leadership.



For Stalin personally, a victory at Tiruvarur is a must as a victory at Tiruparankundram is a must for rebel AIADMK leader, TTV Dhinakaran to stay relevant in Tamil Nadu politics.



It is with the two by-elections in mind, Dhinakaran and his supporters have unveiled a strategy to create confusion in AIADMK ranks and drive a wedge between the Chief Minister Edapaddi Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam.



It is as part of this strategy, Dhinakaran lobbed a bombshell that Deputy Chief Minister Panneerelvam was ready to stab his boss and partner in power, Palaniswami and for this OPS was in constant touch with him. What Dhinakaran gains from this revelation is to increase mistrust between the leaders, who are pulling on despite their differences to ensure the government completes its term.

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AIDAMK deputy coordinator R Vaithalingam asserted that the CM and DCM were working in tandem and there were no differences. TTV Dhinakaran is adopting a divide and rule strategy by making allegations that OPS met him. TTVs tricks will fail as the two leaders are working together, he said.



I see the current allegation of TTV over OPS meeting to remove EPS and the timing of the expose as an attempt to damage OPS and EPS equation, besides trying to take advantage for the by-polls, felt perception strategist John Arokiaswamy. While one of the seats going to by-polls Tiruparangundram will be a triangular contest between the AIADMK, DMK and TTV Dhinakaran the Tiruvarur constituency will see sibling rivalry out on the streets.



But DMK is expected to romp home if it fields a heavy candidate, Arokiaswamy felt. But political analyst Prof Ramu Manivannan of the Madras University said the DMK cannot take Alagiri lightly even though Tiruvarur is the partys bastion represented till his death by party patriarch Karunanidhi.



However, on a day of fast-paced political developments on Union Minister of State, Pon Radhakrishnan met the chief minister and also

Governor Banwarilal Purohit. The chief minister is also slated to meet the Governor and then next week visit Delhi to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

ALSO READ: KCR may rue decision to prepone polls in Telangana

Now, all this flurry of activity has given rise to speculations of a snap poll in Tamil Nadu too, possibly to be timed along with the Lok Sabha general elections. Chief Minister Edapaddi Palaniswamy could, party sources indicate, play ball with the BJP and he feels frustrated by the constant bickering within the party.



All this hectic politicking also comes ahead of a crucial Madras High Court decision on the disqualification of 18 MLAs belonging to the AIADMK. A decision in favour of the disqualified MLAs could mean curtains for the government which will be in a minority. Then there is a resolution to remove Speaker P Dhanpal moved by a supporter of Dhinarakan. Given that the assembly has over two years of life, the DMK would welcome any chance to fell the government.

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Port-Au-Prince (Haiti):

A 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck just off the northwest coast of Haiti late on Saturday, killing at least 11 people and causing damage to buildings in the Caribbean nation, authorities said. The epicentre of the quake was located about 19 kilometre (12 miles) northwest of the city of Port-de-Paix, the US Geological Survey reported.

Government spokesman Eddy Jackson Alexis told news agency AFP that 11 people were so far reported dead, adding that a disaster response task force had been set up.

Read More | Rafale will be game changer for IAF: Air Marshal Nambiar

The quake struck at 8:10 pm (0010 GMT Sunday) at a shallow depth of 11.7 kilometre.

The tremor was felt in the capital Port-de-Prince, sparking emotion among residents still shell-shocked from the massive 2010 earthquake that left at least 200,000 people dead and 300,000 more wounded.

President Jovenel Moise took to Twitter to urge Haitians to "remain calm," and said local and regional authorities were assisting those in need.

"The injured are being treated at area hospitals," Haiti's civil protection agency said late Saturday, noting that some of the injuries were sustained when people panicked after the quake.

Also Read | 'He'd bury his face in my neck and breathe in the smell of my hair,' reveals Kangana Ranaut on Vikas Bahl controversy

Images of damaged homes and partially destroyed buildings were circulating on social media, but AFP was not immediately able to confirm their authenticity.

Haiti's Nord-Ouest department is the poorest part of the impoverished country, with many isolated areas due to the dire state of the roads. Port-de-Paix is the capital of the department.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

Expressing happiness at the #MeToo movement has finally taken off in India, Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi on Monday said that she hopes that it doesnt go out of control and that it should not be used to "target people who have offended us in some way".

She also said that she has asked the Law Ministry to not keep any age limit to report child sexual abuse, allowing people to complain about what has happened to them even "10-15 years later".

Read More | Gujarat: 50,000 migrant workers from UP, Bihar leave after protests over rape; 35 FIRs lodged

Asserting that one doesnt forget the perpetrator and that the anger at sexual molestation never goes away, she said that the WCD Ministry has written to the Law Ministry that one should be allowed to complain without any time limit," Gandhi told reporters.

Under Section 468 of the CrPC, any offence, including child abuse, which can lead to a prison term of three years has to be reported within three years of the incident.

According to Section 473 of the CrPC, a court may take cognisance of an older case if it is in the "interest of justice" or if the "delay has been properly explained". However, victims of child sexual abuse often face problems in registering an FIR once they are 18 or more.

Also Read | Rafale deal: Supreme Court to hear plea on October 10

Gandhi had earlier proposed that child sexual abuse victims be allowed to register complaints until they are 30.

Discussing the #MeToo movement, the minister said, "I hope it does not go out of control in a way that we target people who have offended us in some way but I think women are angry at sexual molestation."

Gandhi had earlier expressed her support for actor Tanushree Dutta, who has levelled allegations of sexual misconduct against Nana Patekar during the shooting of a film 10 years ago. She had said harassment of any kind will not be tolerated.

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New Delhi:

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday addressed a rally at Morena of poll-bound Madhya Pradesh and said the "government made false promises to turn black money into white". He is on a day-long tour of the state where he will perform the Narmada Puja and address public gatherings at Jabalpur after Morena. Upon his arrival in Jabalpur, Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to perform Narmada arti at around 2.30 pm before attending a road show from Rampur chowk to Shivaji ground, Congress spokesperson Narendra Saluja told reporters.

Tribals and farmers in massive numbers gathered at Morena stadium ground for Adivasi Ekta Parishad meeting. During his roadshow in Jabalpur too, the Congress chief has been greeted by thousands of people. A sea of humanity has taken part in the rally and extended their love and supports to the Gandhi scion.

Rahul Gandhi in Jabalpur HIGHLIGHTS:

18:15 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Congress Party believes that the Panchayats should be empowered... The Modi Govt, on the other hand, has actively weakened the Panchayats: Rahul Gandhi in Morena



Congress Party believes that the Panchayats should be empowered... The Modi Govt, on the other hand, has actively weakened the Panchayats: Congress President @RahulGandhi in Morena. #CongressSankalpYatra pic.twitter.com/9WqSvlBw1Q

 Congress (@INCIndia) October 6, 2018



18:00 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In A sea of supporters gathered to extend their love and support to Congress president Rahul Gandhi during a road show in Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur this evening.



A sea of supporters gathered to extend their love and support to Congress President @RahulGandhi during a road show in Jabalpur today.#RahulGandhiInJabalpur #CongressSankalpYatra https://t.co/eceo2DiGmv pic.twitter.com/hO1NJrJtjz

 Congress (@INCIndia) October 6, 2018



14:42 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Today, farmers, Aadivasis, Dalits and minorities are exploited. One by one their rights are being taken away from them. On one side there is BJP, on the other side are the marginalised & the Congress party standing with them: Rahul Gandhi



Today, farmers, Aadivasis, Dalits and minorities are exploited. One by one their rights are being taken away from them. On one side there is BJP, on the other side are the marginalised & the Congress party standing with them: Congress President @RahulGandhi #CongressSankalpYatra

 Congress (@INCIndia) October 6, 2018



14:42 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Farm loan waiver will provide relief to farmers but it will not end their woes. The solution is to transform the lives of farmers with the Green and white revolution, says Rahul Gandhi



Farm loan waiver will provide relief to farmers but it will not end their woes. The solution is to transform the lives of farmers with the Green and white revolution: Congress President @RahulGandhi #CongressSankalpYatra

 Congress (@INCIndia) October 6, 2018



14:42 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In When we come to power, we will bring the tribal bill into force. I have always thought of people's rights in all my actions, says Rahul Gandhi



When we come to power, we will bring the tribal bill into force. I have always thought of people's rights in all my actions: Congress President @RahulGandhi #CongressSankalpYatra pic.twitter.com/e20NxsWZhI

 Congress (@INCIndia) October 6, 2018



14:41 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In We stand with you and fight for your rights. BJP does not even want to have a conversation. We brought in Tribal Bill, but BJP does not want to implement it: Rahul Gandhi



We stand with you and fight for your rights. BJP does not even want to have a conversation. We brought in Tribal Bill, but BJP does not want to implement it: Congress President @RahulGandhi #CongressSankalpYatra pic.twitter.com/rT1JIp95L0

 Congress (@INCIndia) October 6, 2018



14:41 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Vijay Mallya stole 10,000Cr. He fled to London the day after he met FM Arun Jaitley. No action is taken against Nirav Modi or Vijay Mallya, but a farmer protesting for a piece of his land is jailed: Rahul Gandhi



Vijay Mallya stole 10,000Cr. He fled to London the day after he met FM @arunjaitley. No action is taken against Nirav Modi or Vijay Mallya, but a farmer protesting for a piece of his land is jailed: Congress President @RahulGandhi #CongressSankalpYatra

 Congress (@INCIndia) October 6, 2018



14:40 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Rafale deal given to HAL would've created hundreds of jobs in India. But PM Modi steals this from HAL and gives the 30,000Cr contract to a private firm: Rahul Gandhi

13:34 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Tribals & farmers in large numbers gather at Morena stadium ground for Adivasi Ekta Parishad meeting, to be addressed by Congress President Rahul Gandhi, later today.



MP: Tribals & farmers in large numbers gather at Morena stadium ground for Adivasi Ekta Parishad meeting, to be addressed by Congress President Rahul Gandhi, later today. The tribals are demanding land, home under 'Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana' & implementation of Forest Rights Act pic.twitter.com/DgymaT3CBT

 ANI (@ANI) October 6, 2018



13:33 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Posters were spotted in Jabalpur ahead of Rahul Gandhi's visit.



Madhya Pradesh: Posters seen in Jabalpur ahead of Congress President Rahul Gandhi's visit, where he will perform the Narmada Puja, today. He will also address a public gathering in Jabalpur. pic.twitter.com/5WE6TSOxGf

 ANI (@ANI) October 6, 2018



13:32 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In The day-long tour will be Gandhis third visit in the poll-bound state in a span of 20 days.

13:32 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Tight security arrangements have been made in the view of Rahul Gandhis visit.

The Madhya Pradesh assembly polls are due by the year-end. BJP is in power since 2003 in the state.

13:32 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Madhya Pradesh Congress president Kamal Nath, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh and Congress state-level poll committee chairman Jyotiraditya Scindia are expected to be present on the occasion.

13:32 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In On October 2, a large number of people of the Adivasi Ekta Parishad have begun a foot march from Gwalior to seek land rights for the farmers and tribals.

We have embarked on a foot march from Gwalior on October 2 for Delhi. The Congress president will arrive at Morena tomorrow to listen to our problems and to tell us how these problems will be solved in the event of his party coming to power at the Centre, Adivasi Ekta Parishads national convener P V Rajgopal said.

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Mumbai:

Wiping off early losses, benchmark indices rebounded to trade in the positive zone in late morning trade on Monday as banking, oil and gas, auto, healthcare and FMCG shares witnessed fresh spells of buying and short-covering by investors.

The BSE Sensex was trading higher by 118.92 points, or 0.35 per cent, at 34,495.91 at 1125 hours. The gauge had touched a low of 34,031.98 points in early trade.

In the previous three sessions the gauge had plunged by 2,149.15 points.

Read More | Sabarimala Temple Verdict: National Ayyappa Devotee association files review petition in Supreme Court

The broader Nifty also reclaimed the 10,300-mark by recovering 40.25 points, or 0.39 per cent, to 10,356.70.

Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) bought shares worth Rs 1,902.07 crore on Friday, provisional data showed.

Yes Bank emerged top Sensex gainer by rising 4.63 per cent, followed by RIL gaining 4.08 per cent.

Other gainers include, Hero MotoCorp, Coal India, SBI, Asian Paints, Kotak Bank, ONGC, ICICI Bank, Bajaj Auto, Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, ITC, Infosys, Sun Pharma and Adani Ports, rising up to 3.31 per cent.

In the auto space, Bajaj Auto, Tata Motors and M&M, too, were in keen demand largely on the back of encouraging sales data for September and gained up to 1.51 per cent.

Also Read | Fuel prices rise again; petrol up at Rs 82.03 per litre, diesel at Rs 73.82 in Delhi

The BSE oil and gas index gained the most by surging 2.86 per cent, while PSU index rose 1.20 per cent.

Bankex, infrastructure, auto, FMCG, healthcare, capital goods, too, were trading in the positive terrain, rising up to 0.87 per cent.

Meanwhile, foreign investors pulled out over Rs 9,300 crore (USD 1.3 billion) from the Indian capital market in the last four trading sessions.

Elsewhere in Asia, Hong Kongs Hang Seng was down 51.30 points, and Singapore benchmark SGX shed 21.80 points. Chinese markets which opened after a long holiday were also down, with Shanghai Composite Index and Taiwan trading lower.

For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

In an Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) scam case, Delhi's Patiala House Court on Saturday granted interim bail to Rabri Devi, Tejashwi Yadav and other accused present at the hearing after the Rashtriya Janata Dal's (RJD) Bhola Yadav announced that the doctors at The Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) have declared Lalu Prasad Yadav as physically unfit to travel and thus, he will not be able to appear before the court. The Delhi's Patiala House have fixed November 19 as the next date of hearing and have directed Lalu Prasad Yadav to appear before the court via video conferencing.

IRCTC scam case: Delhi's Patiala House Court grants interim bail to all accused present in the court in the case filed by Enforcement Directorate. All accused have to furnish a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh with one like amount surety.  ANI (@ANI) October 6, 2018

IRCTC scam case: Delhi's Patiala House Court fixes 19th November as the next date of hearing. Accused Lalu Yadav to appear via video conferencing. https://t.co/YP1TMrZI3u  ANI (@ANI) October 6, 2018

He is admitted at RIMS, Ranchi, the doctors have declared him physically unfit to travel. Jail authorities have informed the court of his inability to appear before it today, said RJD's Bhola Yadav, on RJD Chief Lalu Yadav summoned by Delhi's Patiala House Court in IRCTC scam case.

He is admitted at RIMS, Ranchi, the doctors have declared him physically unfit to travel'. Jail authorities have informed the court of his inability to appear before it today: RJD's Bhola Yadav, on RJD Chief Lalu Yadav summoned by Delhi's Patiala House Court in IRCTC scam case pic.twitter.com/j01hRhqga5  ANI (@ANI) October 6, 2018

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) have opposed the bail of Rabri Devi, Tejashwi Yadav and other accused present at the Patiala House Court and said that the regular bail will hamper the case investigation, according to News Agency ANI.

ALSO READ: IND vs WI 1st Test, Day 3 LIVE

Tejashwi Yadav and Rabri Devi arrive at Delhi's Patiala House Court for hearing in IRCTC scam case. RJD Chief Lalu Yadav will not appear before the court as doctors have declared him physically unfit to travel pic.twitter.com/PJLuuTwFBv  ANI (@ANI) October 6, 2018

The Delhi court had summoned Lalu Prasad Yadav, his son Tejashwi Yadav and his wife Rabri Devi as accused in relation to the IRCTC scam case on September 17.

Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Arun Bharadwaj, while acting on the charge sheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had directed the accused to appear before the court on October 6.

The court had also summoned RJDs PC Gupta and his wife Sarla Gupta along with IRCTCs then MD PK Goyal, Lara Projects firm and 10 others as accused under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

ALSO READ: Rajasthan: PM Modi to address rally in Ajmer today, around three lakh people expected to join

In the report which stated that Prasad along with some IRCTC officials had allegedly misused their power and position by granting sub-lease of two railway hotels at Puri and Ranchi to Sujata Pvt Ltd.

Delhi: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) opposes the bail of Rabri Devi, Tejashwi Yadav and others at Patiala House Court in IRCTC scam case; says 'regular bail will hamper the case investigation'. Court had earlier granted them interim bail  ANI (@ANI) October 6, 2018

The said company possessing valuable chunk of land gradually got transferred to Rabri Devi and her son Tejashwi by way of share purchase at nominal prices, the charge sheet stated.

The funds used to acquire the land had dubious origin and had been laundered through 151 group of companies belonging to P C Gupta by using an NBFC named Abhishek Finance Company Limited.

The shares of Delight Marketing Company Private Limited were apparently acquired by Rabri Devi and Tejashwi at way less than that of the market value.

ALSO READ: Rahul Gandhi set to visit poll-bound Madhya Pradesh today, to perform 'Narmada arti'

It is noteworthy that the funds used for the acquisition of shares by Rabri Devi are questionable and individuals from whom Tejashwi had purchased shares denied any knowledge of holding them, it said.

Earlier, the court had already summoned Yadav, his son, and wife as accused over a CBI charge sheet in this case.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Jammu Kashmir: Border Security Force personnel (BSF)on Monday opened fire at a flying object that was spotted along the International Border in Arnia sector of Jammu district on Monday, an official said."At about 0530 hours, a blinking red and yellow light in the sky was observed by our forward troops in Arnia sector near the IB", the official said. It is further added that Troops opened fire at the flying object following which it went towards Pakistan side. The area is being on search with the help of police

On July 24, Jammu & Kashmir Police claimed they shot down a Pakistani drone carrying a 5 kilo improvised explosive device in Kanachak area of Akhnoor sector. Kanachak is a border area in Jammu district. Drones have frequently been spotted in the region since June 27 when they were used to target the Indian Air Force base in Jammu with explosives which left two personnel injured.

The attack was the first such case in point of suspected Pakistan-based terrorists deploying unmanned aerial vehicles to strike at vital installations in India. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is investigating the case. Jammu & Kashmir Police DGP Dilbag Singh said the drones come from across the border.

Tamil Nadu govt extents Unlock restriction: Theatre, Beaches, Reopen With 50pc Capacity

Covid Overview: Jammu & Kashmir reports 107 new cases, 100 recoveries, 1 death

Delhi Metro substitutes existing conventional lights with LED units
Foreign minister-designate Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in a statement said that Iran is willing to engage in "reasonable" negotiations that serve the Iranian people's interests.

While addressing Parliament on Sunday, Amir-Abdollahian said,"We will never run away from a reasonable negotiation table where there is authority and wisdom, but we will not tie the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the 2015 nuclear agreement." His speech was speech aimed at gaining the parliament's confidence in a vote in the next few days, according to reports.

He also headed Iran's negotiation delegation at an Iran-Iraq-US trilateral meeting in Baghdad in 2007. He was picked by President Ebrahim Raisi as the country's top diplomat to replace Mohammad Javad Zarif. The president's nomination still awaits the approval of Parliament. Abdollahian promised that, if his nomination was approved, he would do his best to neutralise the effects of the US unilateral sanctions and have them lifted eventually. He also noted that he would not waste time in "erosive negotiations" or negotiations that fail to serve the Iranian people's interests.

Born in 1964, Amir-Abdollahian is a veteran diplomat who served as the Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs.

United Nation agencies call for 'humanitarian airbridge' to extend help to Afghan

Taliban set to announce framework for new Afghan government soon

Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven to step down in November
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said further sanctions may be imposed on Russia if it uses a controversial gas pipeline against Ukraine. Mrs Merkel, on her final visit to Kyiv before leaving office, told Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky she understood his concerns over the Nord Stream 2 project. It will run under the Baltic Sea and double Russian gas exports to Germany.

Ukraine fears that the Russian-led Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline will tighten Moscow's grip over the region's energy supply and strengthen its influence. During a joint press conference on Sunday, Mr Zelensky described the project as a "geopolitical weapon of the Kremlin", which he said would be "dangerous for all of Europe". But Mrs Merkel, who is standing down as Germany's chancellor this autumn after 16 years in office, said Berlin agreed with Washington that Nord Stream 2 should not be used against Ukraine. She said sanctions could be used against Moscow under an agreement between Germany and the US, if gas was "used as a weapon".

Mr Zelensky said he was concerned about what would happen in three years when the contract to deliver Russian gas through Ukrainian pipelines runs out. The loss of billions of dollars in transit fees would hit Ukraine's economy hard. Mrs Merkel, who held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, promised to provide more than a billion dollars to help expand Ukraine's renewable energy sector. Russia already supplies about 40% of the EU's gas - just ahead of Norway, which is not in the EU but takes part in its single market. The new pipeline will increase the amount of gas going under the Baltic to 55 billion cubic metres per year.

PM Modi hails India's junior wrestlers after they bagged 11 medals at World Championships

India brings back 146 of its evacuated nationals from Qatar's capital Doha

Israel Launches Official Probe Into Jewish Festival Stampede
Paul Rusesabagina, the "Hotel Rwanda" hero turned government critic, was denied access to the Kigali prison where his client is being held pending the verdict of his trial for terrorism and deported to Belgium. According to Rwandan authorities, Vincent Lurquin was deported and declared persona non grata for violating immigration laws. The Rwanda Bar Association raised a complaint because Lurquin was not accredited to practice in Rwanda. He claims he has not been able to see his client for the past year.

"I have not seen my client, that is the whole problem. They refuse to let me see my client, I went to see the President of the Bar who did not want to see me, I went to see the Attorney General who did not want to see me, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Justice. But in Belgium, the Minister of Foreign Affairs contacted his counterpart. The Federal Prosecutor's Office has also done so and they don't want to answer us, they don't want me to see him," Vincent said. The Rwanda Bar Association raised a complaint because Lurquin was not accredited to practice in Rwanda.

Authorities said that Vincent came through a visitation visa and was not allowed to work in Rwanda with the said document. A Rwandan court will deliver next month its delayed verdict in the terrorism trial of Paul Rusesabagina, the judiciary announced on Friday. Initially, a decision in the highly watched case against the 67-year-old Rusesabagina had been due on Friday but it was delayed without any reason given. The Rwandan judiciary said on Twitter that the court would now announce its verdict against Rusesabagina and his 20 co-accused on September 20 at 11 am.

Match abandoned after player hit by bottle

Russia must not use gas pipeline as weapon, says Merkel

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Sweden: Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said that he will step down in November. The unanticipated announcement by the leader of the Social Democratic Party was made on Sunday during his annual summer speech, according to reports.

Following his unforeseen announcement on Sunday, Stefan Lofven told Swedish Television that until recently he was set on continuing for the next mandate period and that he only made the decision to step down during the summer. "I have been party chairman for ten years, and Prime Minister for seven," he was quoted by local media as saying, "But everything has an end, and I want to give my successor the very best conditions," Lofven added.

In July, Lofven became Prime Minister for a third successive term shortly after becoming the first Swedish premier to be forced to resign following a no-confidence vote. He said his decision is meant to give his party better chances in the next general election scheduled for September 2022. It was not yet clear who would replace Lofven.

Thailand tourism industry strives to attract more quality visitors

The US mulling to extend Afghanistan evacuation mission: Jeo Biden

Defense secretary commands US airlines to assist Afghanistan evacuation
KABUL: Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid announced that discussions on the formation of a new government with Afghan political leaders were in progress and that a new government will be announced soon. "Our political diplomats met with leaders here in Kabul, their views are significant, discussions are moving, there is hope for an announcement on the government soon, according to report.

Meanwhile, members of the Taliban's political office on Saturday met in Kabul with a number of politicians including former President Hamid Karzai and Abdullah Abdullah, the head of High Council for National Reconciliation (HCNR), and discussions focused on the overall political situation including the formation of an inclusive government. Abdullah in a Facebook post confirmed the meeting with the Taliban leaders, saying that discussions were focused on the political process and the formation of an inclusive government. Some Afghan political leaders, meanwhile, criticized the way the talks are taking place, saying that the political process should be inclusive.

Atta Mohammad Noor, the former governor of Balkh, said that the next government will not be acceptable if it is not inclusive. "The war has not ended, we have a long way to go, we will test them (the Taliban), we will emerge again either to resolve it through an inclusive government or war."

Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven to step down in November

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Thailand tourism industry strives to attract more quality visitors
BANGKOK: Over 1.5 year since the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, Thailand's tourism industry is now struggling to survive and trying to shift from mass tourism to attract more quality visitors. The country received some 40 million international visitors in 2019, and the number came down to only 6.7 million in 2020, according to reports on Monday.

For 2021, the Tourism Authority of Thailand predicted that even in the best-case scenario, there will only be around 1-2 million foreign tourists visiting the country. Some believed that this figure is still considered too optimistic given the current vaccination rate and rising number of daily cases in the country.

"The government's tourism-revival strategy is to target big spenders that are seeking for privacy and social distancing during their stays, especially during and post Covid-19 world," Tourism Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said, adding that "the sector will try to attract high-end travellers, rather than a large number of visitors like what we have been relying on in the past".

Focusing on high-end tourism has always been an ambitious target for Thailand. The authorities now believe that Thailand must use the pandemic as the catalyst to overhaul the industry, as this is the only way that the sector can survive and navigate through the crisis.

The US mulling to extend Afghanistan evacuation mission: Jeo Biden

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Defense secretary commands US airlines to assist Afghanistan evacuation
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Sunday said that developments in Afghanistan are the reason why the enactment of the citizenship Amendment Act is necessary. He made the comments after a special Indian Air Force (IAF) repatriation flight ferrying 168 people from Kabul landed at Ghaziabad Hindon airbase.

Sharing his strong emotion on social media, the Union Minister tweeted, Recent developments in our volatile neighbourhood and the way Sikhs and Hindus are going through a harrowing time are precisely why it was necessary to enact the Citizenship Amendment Act.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, which had been passed on 11 December 2019, aims to grant citizenship to illegal immigrants for six non-Muslim minorities, from 3 of India's neighbouring countries of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, too, had reiterated the ministry's statement, assuring help to members of the Hindu and Sikh communities in Kabul.

Kejriwal to inaugurate country's first smog tower at Connaught Place in Delhi

PMs Big Fan from Srinagar: 28-year-old walking from Srinagar to meet P M Modi

Border Security Force opens fire at flying object in Jammu and Kashmirs Arnia
In 1995, cultural expert Purushottam Lochan Shrestha was one among the many people who took out a cow around the city. It was in memory of his late father and the day was Gai Jatra (also spelt as Gaijatra).

According to Shrestha, the traditions of Gai Jatra have changed in the Kathmandu Valley in the past three decades. He observes the practice of celebrating the festival with a child dressed as a cow or cow-like structure made from bamboo as a symbol has increased. But, to retain the original culture of Gai Jatra, he remembers people of his neighbourhood in Bhaktapur used to bring the cow from Duwakot.

Gai Jatra is now being (mis)understood as a festival in which people parade cow-like structures or wear costumes in the name of a deceased relative. But, it is not just that, says Shrestha.

So, what is it anyway?

The 600-year-old history

People escorting a cow to mark the occasion of Gai Jatra at Hanuman Dhoka, Kathmandu, on August 4, 2020. Photo: Chandra Bahadur Ale

This festival is called saaparu in Nepal Bhasa. It is said to have been introduced by King Pratap Malla to console his bereaved queen, who lost her son, by asking those who lost family members in a years time to parade to the palace.

But, scholars say that the Gai Jatra festival started even before Pratap Mallas reign. The scholars argue the festival is at least 600 years ago as there is no mention in Gopal Rajbansawali or any manuscript or inscription, prior to that. And here, cultural experts Shrestha and Om Dhaubhadel think that this shows Gai Jatra started even before the said time.

Cultural experts consider Gai Jatra to be a festival that is an amalgamation of mourning and celebration. Shrestha says it symbolises that Nepali culture is there in both grief and laughter.

The changes

While Gai Jatra must have begun earlier, Shrestha says Pratap Malla introduced humour to the festival in the medieval period as the queen was still not consoled by the message of the parade that death is a universal truth.

During the Shah monarchy, another change took place in this festival.

After the death of Rani Kantivati, Rana Bahadur Shah had ordered to get all the children out of the three cities from Nepal Mandala so that the children also avoid death due to kala-azar. Then, the families moved to Banepa, Panauti and Pokhara among other places and, thereafter, Gai Jatra was celebrated outside the valley too.

File Photo: Masked locals dancing at Bhaktapur durbar square on the occasion of Gai Jatra.

Hence, the song gave rise to the song Kachi macha vai yaa kegu ya yakhu meaning what a cruel king to throw away even a newborn baby.

Time for mourning or a festival?

In an ancient manuscript, there is the mention of the festival as saa yaa(t) or gai yatra that means journey of the cow. It was during the time of Jayasthiti Malla, around 600 years ago.

But, it was during the reign of Pratap Malla in Kathmandu, Jagat Prakash Malla in Bhaktapur and Siddhi Narsingh Malla in Lalitpur that the Gai Yatra turned into a pilgrimage and a festival, with musical instruments, which was the start of Gai Jatra we see today in Kathmandu.

Earlier, the funeral rites were completed after people roamed the city with a cow, then musical instruments were also added. And, this festival shifted from being a yatra to jatra in the medieval period.

Bhaktapur was the capital of Nepal for 367 years from the reign of King Ananda Dev to Yaksha Malla. After the time of Yaksha Malla, the Kathmandu valley was divided into Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur with differences in language and culture, which one can observe even today.

Shrestha explains it is customary to exhibit songs, plays, khyals, etc at dabalis and toles of Bhaktapur, starting from Gai Jatra to Krishna Janmashtami. Jagat Prakash Malla, the fifth generation king after Yaksha Malla, added dancing and singing at the suggestion of a Brahman, Chandra Shekhar. Since then, the procession has been celebrated with much fervour, he says.

Gai Jatra. Image: Sanjeep Shrestha, Dolakha

Symbolic journey of the deceased

According to Dhaubhadel, in the Garuda Purana, it is mentioned that on the 11th day of the death rites, people have to perform brishotsarga (releasing an ox/bull), with a belief if the family donates a live bull/ox and necessary land, the deceased soul will get peace.

But, it cost a lot of money. So Gai Jatra was celebrated as an alternative on the day of Bhadra Krishna Pratipada when the deceased can cross over to heaven by grabbing the tail of a cow over the Vaitarani river, says Dhaubhadel.

On the day of Gai Jatra, the deceaseds family decorate the house in the morning. As people started building cement houses, the focus shifted to performing purity rituals. Many make cow-like bamboo structures, either on the eve of the festival or the same morning.

At the main gate of the house, they spread red mud and cow dung. They invite a priest for shraddha karma (mourning ritual) and families perform a godaan (a ritual to donate a cow), in the name of the deceased. At this time, the women of the house are expected to go inside and cry. They have to cry while walking around the city with a cow, with an incense stick in her hand.

The appearance, however, is different. In Bhaktapur and Lalitpur, it is customary to take a symbolic cow around the city, made of four bamboos. In Kathmandu, some children are even seen walking around, disguised as Krishna-Radha and Shiva-Parvati. Inspired, such a trend is seen even in Bhaktapur too.

However, one can see profession-wise differences in this culture. Where a farmers family makes bamboo cows, other affluent families disguise their child(ren) as a cow in the parade.

In the past, to identify the deceasedman, woman or childpeople used signs. If it was a dead child, a makeshift cow made of doko (bamboo basket) used to be seen while if the deceased was a woman, red and blue clothes were used. If the deceased woman was pregnant, a small cow (calf) would be brought along. Nowadays, a picture of the deceased is placed on a symbolic cow.
Kathmandu, August 23

The Ministry of Health and Population has informed that Nepals Covid-19 tally has reached 829,443 as of Monday afternoon.

The ministry said 1,801 new cases were confirmed in the country in the past 24 hours.

In this period, 8,704 swab samples were tested in the RT-PCR method, of which 1,548 returned positive. Likewise, 2,622 people underwent antigen tests for the virus, of which an additional 253 tested positive.

Of total tests, 17.78 per cent of the PCR and 9.64 per cent of antigen samples returned positive, keeping the overall per-day positivity rate at 15.90 per cent.

As of today, there are 38,351 active cases across the country. Of them, 3,219 are hospitalised, 679 in intensive care units and 176 on ventilators.

In the past 24 hours, 1,924 people have achieved recovery whereas 24 deaths have been reported.

Of the total cases so far, 700,097 people have achieved recovery. Likewise, 10,533 died, according to the ministry. The countrys recovery rate is 93.5 per cent and the death rate 1.5 per cent.

Likewise, 3,857,598 people have received their full dose of the Covid-19 vaccine while 4,943,732 have received their first dose. Today, 12,344 people were vaccinated throughout the country.
Workforce

OPM's new rules for student hiring

Agencies will be able to appoint qualified college and graduate students directly into certain competitive service positions for up to four years under new regulations from the Office of Personnel Management.

Proponents hope the new hiring authority, meant to help fill administrative and professional positions, will build a pipeline of prospects for federal employment in an aging government workforce. If participating students meet requirements, agencies will be able to appoint them into permanent positions after they graduate.

"This hiring authority will allow agencies to cultivate top talent, bring new perspectives and skills into the federal workforce, and encourage early career individuals to make their mark in federal service," said OPM's Kiran Ahuja in a statement about the new regulations.

OPM published a new interim final rule with request for comments on Tuesday. The changes will go into effect on Sept. 16.

Students working towards their baccalaureate or graduate degree will be eligible if they meet any OPM or agency-specific minimum qualification standards for the position they're applying to.

Agencies will be able to bring them in via time-limited temporary or term appointments to positions at general schedule level 11 or lower, effectively giving them a paid internship while they attend school.

Participants can sign up either for temporary appointments for less than a year, if they're expected to finish their degrees in that time frame, or for term appointments that last between one and four years.

Although requirements to post these positions on USAJOBS are waived for this program, according to the regulations, agencies will still need to give public notice, abide by merit system principles and recruit "in a manner that provides for 'diverse and qualified' applicants."

Students can't be promoted in the program, but those working more than one year who meet requirements for a higher pay grade can be converted to a new temporary appointment at a higher pay grade.

OPM's new regulations also facilitate conversion of these students into the permanent positions. Individuals in the student program for one to four years can be converted to permanent appointments at the same agency after they finish their academic requirements, so long as they meet the qualifications for the position they're being moved into. The rule also sets limits on program participation.

The Biden administration has already made clear its intentions to renew the federal government's shrinking intern pool. The number of paid internships dropped from over 60,000 in 2010 to 4,000 in 2020, according to the FY 2022 budget proposal, which stressed that agencies should revive their internship programs.
Workforce

Biden names slate of FSIP appointees

President Joe Biden announced a list of 10 nominees for the Federal Services Impasses Panel, which resolves disputes that arise during negotiations between unions and agencies, on Aug. 23.

The panel, part of the Federal Labor Relations Authority, has been without members since Biden pushed out former President Donald Trump's FSIP appointees in February 2020.

Biden tapped Martin Malin, a longtime professor at Chicago-Kent College of Law at the Illinois Institute of Technology, to serve as FSIP chair. Malin also served on FSIP from 2009 to 2017 after being appointed twice by former President Barack Obama.

For members, Biden has chosen Wynter Allen, Jeanne Charles, Howard Friedman, Edward Hartfield, Marvin Johnson, Mark Pearce, Pamela Schwartz, Joseph Slater and Tamiko Watkins.

Allen, Charles and Slater come with labor and employment law backgrounds.

Friedman is a former president of the National Treasury Employees Union Chapter 245 at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Schwartz is also a veteran of the federal labor management space, where she's held leadership positions in the Patent Office Professional Association, including union president.

Hartfield was previously appointed to FSIP by Presidents Obama and Clinton, and Johnson has also already served three terms as a member of FSIP. Pearce is a former chair of the National Labor Relations Board.

Finally, Watkins is coming to this role after working as an Assistant General Counsel at the Millennium Challenge Corporation, where she is the senior legal advisor on employment and administrative law.

Since clearing the panel, Biden has faced pressure from some employee unions to appoint members to the panel. In a letter dated July 23, the Federal Workers Alliance, which represents over 15 unions with federal workers, pressed him to fill the panel.

"A growing FSIP backlog halts progress on critical workplace issues and leaves both employees and agencies in limbo as they wait adjudication," the letter said.

During the Trump years, the panel was subject to lawsuits from federal employee unions charging that the board members' appointments were unconstitutional because they weren't Senate-confirmed.

Unions have also said that the Trump-appointed panel was biased against unions in its work.

In a statement about the new nominees, however, National Treasury Employees Union President Tony Reardon said that "their experience in federal labor-management relations makes them well-qualified for their role in reaching fair resolutions to bargaining impasses."

"During the previous administration, the FSIP was often hostile toward the role unions play in federal government operations and issued an overwhelming majority of opinions that favored management," he said. "The FSIP was in dire need of objective labor relations professionals and this new list of appointees meets that standard. We look forward to the FSIP returning to its role as a neutral mediator in federal sector bargaining, just as Congress intended."

At FLRA, Biden has replaced the chairman with a Senate-confirmed board member and appointed another member and the general counsel who are awaiting confirmation.
(Adds quotes, detail)

By Nandita Bose

SINGAPORE, Aug 23 (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris said on Monday during a visit to Singapore that the United States was focusing on evacuation efforts taking place in Afghanistan and that there would be plenty of time to analyse the context of the troop withdrawal.

Harris met with Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and President Halimah Yacob during a trip aimed at bolstering ties with partners in the region as part of Washington's efforts to counter China's growing economic and security influence.

"There is going to be plenty of time to analyse what has happened and what has taken place in the context of the withdrawal from Afghanistan," Harris said during a joint news conference with Singapore's prime minister.

"But right now we are singularly focused on evacuating American citizens, Afghans who have worked with us and Afghans who are vulnerable, including women and children and that is our singular focus at this time," said Harris.

U.S. President Joe Biden has faced criticism at home and abroad over his handling of the withdrawal of U.S. forces and the chaotic evacuation after the lightning takeover by the Taliban.

"We hope Afghanistan does not become an epicentre for terrorism again," said Lee, adding that Singapore had offered transport aircraft to help with evacuations.

Part of Harris's task during the trip will be convincing leaders in Singapore and Vietnam that Washington's commitment to Southeast Asia is firm and not a parallel to Afghanistan.

"Today, we are in Singapore to stress and reaffirm our enduring relationship to this country and in this region, and to reinforce a shared vision of a free and open Indo Pacific region," Harris said.

Singapore's Lee said that perceptions of U.S. resolve and commitment to the region would be determined by "what the U.S. does going forward, how it repositions itself in the region, how it engages its broad range of friends and partners and allies..."

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Singapore is not a U.S. treaty ally, but remains one of its strongest security partners in the region with deep trade ties. However, it also seeks to balance its relationships with the United States and China by not taking sides.

The country is home to the biggest port in Southeast Asia, and supports continued free navigation in the area, where China is growing increasingly assertive - a concern U.S. officials plan to address during Harris' visit to the region, which also includes a trip to Vietnam.

"I reaffirmed in our meeting the United States' commitment to working with our allies and partners around the Indo Pacific to uphold the rules based international order, and freedom of navigation, including in the South China Sea," said Harris.

The disputed South China Sea, a strategic waterway with potential oil and gas riches, has competing claims by China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei.

SECURITY, CYBER AGREEMENTS

The United States and Singapore reached security agreements on Monday that reaffirm America's presence in the region through "rotational deployments of U.S. P-8 aircraft and littoral combat ships to Singapore," according to a fact sheet of the meeting shared by the White House.

The United States and Singapore also agreed to expand cybersecurity cooperation in the financial sector, the military and enhance information exchange on cyber threats, according to details shared by the White House.

Cybersecurity has risen to the top of the agenda for the Biden administration after a series of high-profile attacks https://reut.rs/381vyis that affected fuel and food supplies in parts of the United States.

Other initiatives include starting a U.S.-Singapore dialogue on building supply chains.

The Biden White House is tackling a severe supply shortage of semiconductor chips in the United States that has seriously hurt car manufacturers and contributed to inflation.

The countries also struck a partnership to fight COVID-19 and prepare for the next pandemic and agreed to tackle the global climate crisis, promote smart cities and green building standards throughout ASEAN.

Harris will also visit Singapore's Changi Naval Base and tour the USS Tulsa combat ship during the trip to Singapore. (Reporting by Nandita Bose; Additional reporting by Aradhana Aravindan and Chen Lin in Singapore; Editing by Susan Fenton, Ed Davies and Michael Perry)
Company also recognized in Innovation and Excellence in Direct Purchase for outstanding performance in 2020

SAO PAULO, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Axalta (NYSE: AXTA), a leading global supplier of liquid and powder coatings, was named Best Supplier by CAOA Chery in Brazil. This award is Axalta's second win in as many years. In addition, the company was also recognized for Innovation and Excellence in Direct Purchase.

Axalta was recently awarded the Best Supplier Award by CAOA Chery in Brazil. (PRNewsfoto/Axalta Coating Systems Ltd.)

Both awards reinforce Axalta's commitment to providing the best, most innovative coating solutions and helping customers exceed productivity goals. The fifth edition of the Best Supplier Awards was held virtually and recognized 14 companies whose products and services have outstanding quality, performance and technology.

"At Axalta, we work hard every day to deliver high-quality products, technology and services to help our customers achieve their business objectives," said Mateus Aquino, President of Axalta in Brazil. "We are honored to receive this recognition from CAOA Chery. We look forward to strengthening our longstanding partnership and working together for many years to come."

"The Best Supplier Award is the hallmark of service within the automotive sector. It is a testament to CAOA's top-performing suppliers and partners. We recognize their outstanding service each year," says Ivan Witt, Director of Shared Services at CAOA Group.

CAOA is a manufacturer with the license to produce car and SUV models for Hyundai and Chery in the Brazilian market.

To learn more about Axalta, visit www.axalta.com.

About CAOA

Founded in 1979, CAOA is a reference in the Brazilian automotive sector. It currently employs over 6,000 people and has dealerships of the Ford, Hyundai, and Subaru brands, besides being the exclusive importer of the Hyundai and Subaru brands in Brazil since the late 1990s. CAOA is also a vehicle manufacturer with a plant in Anapolis, GO. Currently CAOA has a network of 240 Concessionaries and also operates with CAOA CHERY, at the Jacarei (SP) plant, where the Tiggo 2, Tiggo 3x, Arrizo 5 and Arrizo 6 models are produced. Learn more about CAOA and its products at www.caoa.com.br.

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About Axalta

Axalta is a global leader in the coatings industry, providing customers with innovative, colorful, beautiful, and sustainable coatings solutions. From light vehicles, commercial vehicles and refinish applications to electric motors, building facades and other industrial applications, our coatings are designed to prevent corrosion, increase productivity, and enhance durability. With more than 150 years of experience in the coatings industry, the global team at Axalta continues to find ways to serve our more than 100,000 customers in over 130 countries better every day with the finest coatings, application systems and technology. For more information, visit axalta.com and follow us @axalta on Twitter.



Media contact:

Karen Perez

D +55 5068 2894

karen.perez@axalta.com

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SOURCE Axalta Coating Systems Ltd.
(Bloomberg) -- The U.S. military is speaking with the Taliban several times a day, as the group warn of consequences if the U.S. delays withdrawing all troops from Afghanistan past an end of month deadline.

Its a red line, Qatar-based Taliban spokesman and negotiator Suhail Shaheen said in an interview with Sky News. If the U.S. or U.K. were to seek additional time to continue evacuations the answer is no. Or there would be consequences, he added.

U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson will push U.S. President Joe Biden to delay the departure of U.S. troops beyond the deadline to allow for more and safer evacuations of foreign nationals and their Afghan staff, a person familiar with the matter said.

Taliban Name Obscure Official Central Bank Chief as Crisis Looms

Johnson has called for a virtual meeting of Group of Seven leaders on Tuesday to discuss the crisis. Biden has hinted the U.S. may extend the deadline as Americans struggle to reach Kabuls airport.

On the ground, some militants wanted by Islamabad have been freed from jail in Afghanistan, Pakistans interior minister said. The militants are from Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a group that has previously carried out attacks in Pakistan. And an Iranian official said Afghan local officials have asked traders to increase supplies of fuel as they grapple with a spike in gasoline prices triggered by the Talibans seizure of power.

Key stories and developments:

Taliban Name Obscure Official Central Bank Chief as Crisis LoomsTaliban Seek Hike in Iran Fuel Imports as Prices JumpHarris Looks to Assure U.S. Allies Over Chaotic Afghan ExitThe World Asks What U.S. Commitments Are Worth: Balance of PowerA Conversation With Ajmal Ahmady, Afghanistans Former Central Bank ChiefHere Are the Shadowy Taliban Leaders Now Running AfghanistanWhy Taliban Triumph Revives Fear of al-Qaeda Revival: QuickTakeWhat Will the Taliban Do to a $22 Billion Economy?: Editorial

All items are in Eastern Time:

Story continues

More Than 230 Aircraft Committed to Evacuation, U.S. Says (3:53 p.m.)

The U.S. Air Mobility Command said more than 230 aircraft have been committed to the Afghanistan evacuation effort. C-17s and C-130s are being used to airlift evacuees from Afghanistan to intermediate staging bases, and in some cases, other aircraft like the KC-10 aerial refueling tankers and C-5 are being used to transport them to the U.S., in concert with recently activated aircraft from commercial airlines.

General Steve Lyons, the head of U.S. Transportation Command, told reporters that aircraft departing from Kabul are now carrying an average of 450 evacuees per flight. Lyons said that at least three babies have been born during the evacuation. -- Tony Capaccio and Dan Flatley

Sullivan Says U.S. on Track To Evacuate Americans (3:06 p.m.)

The U.S. is on track to evacuate all Americans from Afghanistan by the Aug. 31 deadline for its withdrawal from the country, Bidens National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said.

Sullivan said roughly 37,000 people have been evacuated in the past week, but didnt say how many of those were U.S. citizens. The number of Americans in Afghanistan has been difficult to track, he said, because some never registered with the U.S. embassy and others failed to unregister when they left.

Sullivan also said the U.S. hasnt stipulated a precise number of Afghan asylum seekers it will accept into the country. -- Josh Wingrove

U.S. Military Talking Several Times a Day With Taliban (11:52 a.m.)

American military officials are talking with the Taliban several times a day to coordinate evacuation efforts at the Kabul airport, according to Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby.

Operations at the airport does involve communication and de-conflication with the Taliban, Kirby said, adding that U.S. officials have seen the statements from the Taliban about Aug. 31 being a red line for the group.

I think we all understand that view, Kirby said, declining to comment about extending the deadline beyond saying that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and President Joe Biden will discuss options when the time comes. --Daniel Flatley

Germany Says Kabul Airport Situation Has Grown More Chaotic (11:40 a.m. ET)

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said the government in Berlin is holding talks with the U.S. and Turkey to plan for extending civilian operations at Kabul airport after the departure of U.S. troops to enable further evacuations. This includes current negotiations with the Taliban.

Maas said an early-morning firefight that killed an Afghan security personnel and involved German troops showed how dangerous the situation at the airport is.

The situation at the airport has only grown more chaotic over the last few hours, Maas told reporters in Berlin on Monday. The situation remains dangerous. --Patrick Donahue

Iran Restarts Afghanistan Fuel Exports on Taliban Tax Cut: Reuters (8:00 a.m. ET)

Iran resumed exports of gasoline and gasoil to neighboring Afghanistan a few days ago after a request from the Taliban, Reuters reported, citing an interview with Hamid Hosseini, spokesman for the Iranian Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters Union.

The Taliban contacted Iran after gasoline prices spiked, and cut tariffs on imports of Iranian fuel by up to 70%, Reuters said. -- Patrick Sykes

Taliban Appoint Central Bank Governor (7:00 a.m. ET)

The Taliban appointed Mohammad Idris as acting governor of Da Afghanistan Bank, the countrys central bank, the groups spokesman Zabihullah Mujahed said on Twitter. Hell address the looming banking issues and the problems of people, he said. Idriss appointment comes as the countrys banks are shut and ATM machines have dried up since the groups takeover of the capital, Kabul, on Aug. 15. -- Eltaf Najafizada

U.S. Evacuates 10,400 People in 24 Hours (6:35 a.m. ET)

U.S. military flights have evacuated approximately 10,400 people from Kabul in the past 24 hours, a White House official said. In addition, 61 coalition aircraft evacuated approximately 5,900 people. -- Catherine Larkin

Russia Says Developments Raise Terror, Drug Risk (6:15 a.m. ET)

Developments in Afghanistan present real risks for the entire Eurasian region and the world in general from terrorism and drug trafficking, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on a conference call.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and other leaders in the region expressed concern that Islamic State retains a strong position in Afghanistan, at a summit Monday of the Collective Security Treaty Organization of former Soviet republics. Theyll resume talks on Afghanistan at a Sept. 16 summit, Peskov said. -- Ilya Arkhipov

U.K. Evacuates 1,800 in 24 Hours (5:30 a.m. ET)

The U.K. has evacuated 1,821 people in eight flights from Kabul over the past 24 hours, with nine more flights planned over the next day, Armed Forces Minister James Heappey told ITVs Good Morning Britain show. The total evacuated over the past week is 6,631 people, including both British nationals and Afghans, he said. -- Alex Morales

U.K. Minister Warns of Suicide Bombers (3:50 a.m. ET)

U.K. Armed Forces Minister James Heappey told BBC Radio theres a very real threat posed by Islamic State in Kabul, and that theres absolutely the risk of a suicide bombing in the vicinity of the airport.

One of the most remarkable things about what our troops are doing is they know that there is the real threat of a suicide bomber or some other sort of threat or attack, Heappey said. That means that with one hand they have to have their finger on the trigger, and in the other hand theyre holding peoples babies.

Heappey also said that people in Kabul who are on the U.K.s no-fly list have tried to get on British evacuation flights, highlighting the need to thoroughly check credentials, because there are people trying to take advantage of this process to get into the U.K. to cause us harm. -- Alex Morales

Harris Assures Allies on Afghan Exit (3:15 a.m. ET)

Vice President Kamala Harris sought to reassure U.S. allies in Asia over Americas commitment to the region, as she faced a volley of questions on Afghanistan during a visit to Singapore.

The vice president mentioned that the U.S. was focused on successfully completing the evacuation in Afghanistan. Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong offered to help the U.S. with the evacuation effort. -- Muneeza Naqvi

Johnson Wants Biden to Delay Exit (2:40 a.m. ET)

U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson will push President Joe Biden to delay the departure of U.S. troops from Afghanistan beyond the end of August in order to allow for the evacuation of more foreign nationals and their Afghan staff, a person familiar with the matter said.

Johnson will use a virtual meeting of G-7 leaders on Tuesday to make the request, as the U.K. seeks to pull thousands more people out after Kabuls fall to the Taliban, the official said.

Foreign Office Minister James Cleverly appeared to confirm the U.K. approach, telling BBC radio late on Sunday the more time that weve got, the more people we can evacuate and thats what were pushing for. -- Alex Morales

Taliban Fighters Gather Near Area of Resistance (2:15 a.m. ET)

Taliban are massing hundreds of fighters around the last pocket of resistance to their rule, even as they negotiate with the leaders holding out, Zabihullah Mujahed, the militant groups spokesman, said in a phone interview Monday.

The northern Panjshir Valley is currently being held by Ahmad Massoud, son of assassinated warlord Ahmad Shah Massoud, who battled the Taliban during their five-year rule from 1996 to 2001. Massoud is backed by Amrullah Saleh, the former vice president, who fled when the militants took over Kabul.

The Islamic Emirate makes its best effort to peacefully resolve the issue through negotiation. Those efforts are underway, Mujahed said, adding that representatives of Massoud and Saleh had also met top Taliban leaders in Kabul.

In an op-ed in the Washington Post last week, Massoud had written that his fighters were prepared to once again take on the Taliban but added that their stores of weapons and ammunition would run out unless our friends in the West can find a way to supply us without delay.

Taliban Seeks Cooperation With South Korea (1:50 a.m. ET)

The Taliban wants to meet with South Korean leaders and business people and strengthen economic cooperation, Yonhap News Agency said Monday, citing its interview with Abdul Kahar Balchi, a member of the militant groups cultural commission.

Afghanistan has abundant underground resources including lithium, and South Korea, a leading electronics manufacturer, can benefit from cooperating with Afghanistan, Balchi said in the interview, which was conducted via text messages. -- Seyoon Kim

U.S., German Soldiers Drawn Into Firefight (1:30 a.m. ET)

American and German soldiers were drawn into a firefight between Afghan security forces and unknown assailants at the northern end of Kabul airport, Germanys armed forces said on Twitter Monday. Some troops of the U.S.-trained Afghan military are present at the airport alongside Taliban fighters.

One Afghan security force member was killed and three others were wounded in the skirmish, which occurred at 6:13 a.m. local time. None of the German soldiers deployed at the airport was harmed. -- Alexander Pearson

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A trial of Nexxiots maintenance-free, wireless sensors conducted by Europes largest consortium of truck and rail terminals demonstrates the safety enhancements and trackability benefits for cargo shipping containers

ZURICH & FRANKFURT, Germany, August 23, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Agora Intermodal, Europes largest consortium of intermodal terminal operators, has issued a strong statement of support for Nexxiot AGs proprietary wireless Kingpin Monitor sensors designed specifically for cargo shipping containers, saying they are convinced by the efficacy and reliability of Nexxiots game-changing technology.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210823005658/en/

A field test of Nexxiot's wireless Kingpin Monitor sensor takes place in Hamburg in June. Photo credit: VTG AG.

Agora Intermodal comprises truck and rail intermodal terminal and transport operators from Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy and The Netherlands, and represents about one-third of central European handling volume. The consortium is named for the ancient Greek marketplace, representing its members exchange of ideas and technology.

In June 2021, Nexxiot presented its proprietary Kingpin Monitor in collaboration with VTG, the largest private railcar company in Europe. The Kingpin maintenance-free sensor set is designed to improve safety in intermodal transport activities. When semi-trailers are being loaded onto railcars, the display's LED lights provide employees with a clear visual indication of the loading status. Representatives of AGORA Intermodal Terminals were given a detailed impression of the Nexxiot innovation during a trial loading under working conditions at the DUSS terminal in Hamburg-Billwerder. The participants were particularly convinced by the excellent implementation of the display and the easy handling of the Kingpin Monitor system.

Antje Falk, founding member of AGORA and Managing Director of Baltic Rail Gate GmbH, said: "We were impressed by the excellent readability of the Nexxiot display. Due to the unique angle at which the display is mounted on both sides of the railcar, the LED on the display can be seen even in direct sunlight and from a great distance. This feature is especially important for crane operators who have to move the semi-trailers. We would like to see this display become a European standard in the future as well as being able to be activated remotely."

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Kristian Kolsche, also Managing Director at Baltic Rail Gate GmbH, added: "Safety is a number one priority at the terminals. It must also be guaranteed if more goods are transported by rail in the future. Therefore, we welcome any technological innovation, such as the Nexxiot Kingpin Monitor, that brings more safety to operations."

Stefan Kalmund, CEO of Nexxiot, said: "For us, external validation from the industry and independent organizations is very important in the development of new solutions. Our sensors are the first of their kind and are intended to make work at the terminal easier and bring more safety and transparency to all processes. That's why the feedback from AGORA Intermodal Terminals encourages us as we roll out the Kingpin Monitor." He added: "The field tests are almost completed. Therefore, we are confident that we can start the roll-out this November, as planned."

The handling of semi-trailer cargo containers on railcars requires great diligence. Adverse conditions, such as high winds or other extreme weather conditions, or an incorrectly placed kingpin, can compromise loading safety if not checked carefully. Nexxiot's Kingpin Monitor solution uses technology to address these challenges. The Kingpin sensor detects whether the kingpin is engaged and whether the hitch status is open or locked. This provides real-time information on the status of the semi-trailer to employees on site as well as to dispatchers and decision-makers who have access to the data via the Nexxiot Logistics Cloud.

About AGORA Intermodal Terminals:

The AGORA Intermodal Terminals Working Group was established in 2011 as a result of an EU project. The approach of the working group is to bring together terminal operators in order to promote the exchange of information and ideas and joint learning with regard to "good practices" in terminal management, increasing terminal capacities and improving interaction with cargo terminal operators, rail transport companies and other cargo terminal stakeholders. The current 18 member companies operate more than 40 cargo terminals with a total capacity of about 5 million loading units. AGORA terminals achieved a handling volume of around 3.8 million loading units in the "Corona year" 2020 and expect a further increase in traffic in 2021. The office of AGORA is managed by KombiConsult GmbH, Frankfurt am Main. https://www.intermodal-terminals.eu/

About Nexxiot:

Nexxiot is a driver of the TradeTech solutions of tomorrow. An industry leader in the digitalization of asset and cargo transportation, Nexxiot empowers global shipping companies and suppliers to harness the power of their data through proprietary, cutting-edge technology and integrated data solutions to track, find and protect cargo from more than 167 countries around the world and across 450 network roaming partners to ensure accountability, security and efficiency. Headquartered in Zurich, Nexxiot operates throughout Europe and the U.S., employing people from 22 countries. The companys secure, industry leading Cloud comprises data from over 2.5 billion travelled miles. Committed to sustainability through corporate and social responsibility, Nexxiots goal is to enable a five percent reduction in worldwide carbon dioxide emissions in the logistics industry by increasing cargo transport efficiency and eliminating waste caused by empty runs and inefficient routes. https://nexxiot.com/

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210823005658/en/

Contacts

Press:

Nexxiot AG

Kevin Hohmann

914.262.2950

dsimpson@lakpr.com
The year 2020 was marked by significant changes in the way European businesses operate and serve customers. The COVID-19 pandemic forced many people to leave their traditional workplaces and move to work-from-home setups to comply with social distancing mandates and limit the spread of the virus.

New York, Aug. 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Frost Radar: European UCaaS Market, 2021" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06130368/?utm_source=GNW





In addition to continuing to adequately serve customers, European organizations are compelled to seek ways to keep employees engaged, motivated, and productive.Digital technologies and cloud communications and collaboration services, in particular, have provided a solution to European businesses and public sector organizations looking to bridge physical distances across employees, customers, suppliers, and partners. Flexible consumption models, mobile-ready solutions, and collaboration-rich user experiences have proved their value at a time of unprecedented physical disconnectedness.To grow revenue above historical levels, unified communications as a service (UCaaS) market participants must create a robust growth pipeline incorporating strategic imperatives in the post-pandemic world to empower a globally connected organization, a demographically diverse workforce, and digital-native customers. Increasing competitive pressures in the European UCaaS market are driving continued mergers and acquisitions among European providers seeking to scale their operations and diversify or solidify their portfolios. However, market fragmentation is perpetuated by the continued entry of US-based providers seeking new growth opportunities as the US market matures.Going forward, UCaaS provider success will be determined by both scale and ability to offer a differentiated value proposition. Service providers core capabilities will need to be augmented by effective technology partnerships and reseller channels. The radar reveals the market positioning of companies in an industry using their Growth and Innovation scores as highlighted in the radar methodology. The document presents competitive profiles on each of the companies in the radar based on their strengths, opportunities, and a small discussion on their positioning. The analyst examines hundreds of companies in an industry and benchmarks them across 10 criteria on the radar, where the leading companies in the industry are then positioned.

Author: Robert Arnold

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06130368/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________

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CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001




By Joanna Plucinska, Matthias Williams and Andrius Sytas

WARSAW, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Belarusian lawyer Mikhail Kirilyuk says he received an unsettling text message in October from an acquaintance linked to the countrys security services.

The acquaintance urged Kirilyuk, who had defended anti-government protesters and publicly criticised President Alexander Lukashenkos rule, to leave the country. According to Kirilyuk, who said the text was sent via an encrypted messaging app and described its content to Reuters, the message also contained a warning: The attorney faced arrest and revocation of his license to practice law.

Kirilyuk left that month with his parents and young children for Poland, which has long been critical of Lukashenko. In February, the justice ministry revoked Kirilyuks license, according to an April Minsk court document relating to his unsuccessful appeal. The ministry said in a February press release that Kirilyuk had made unacceptable public statements that contained rude and tactless comments about state representatives, without identifying them.

Speaking with Reuters from Warsaw, 38-year-old Kirilyuk said he believed the action against him was politically motivated because of who he had represented and his public critical comments. He said he left because he didnt want to get arrested and that he wont return home until Lukashenko is out of office.

Kirilyuks account fits with what more than half a dozen Belarusian lawyers as well as international organizations representing the profession and human-rights groups say is a pattern of intimidation and suppression of attorneys by Belarusian authorities. Those actions include criminal and disciplinary proceedings against lawyers and disbarment, they say.

Seven lawyers interviewed by Reuters say their licenses were removed after defending protesters, speaking out against authorities or resisting what they said was pressure on their profession. Several of them allege that authorities monitored confidential client meetings or obstructed their work. Reuters was unable to independently corroborate their assertions or the text message described by Kirilyuk.

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Lukashenkos office didnt respond to requests for comment. The president in March said there was a need to "put things in order" in the legal profession, according to comments published in the state-controlled Belarus Today news outlet.

The justice ministry, in response to Reuters questions, said its oversight of the legal profession is implemented in accordance with the principle of independence of advocacy and non-interference in the professional activities of advocates.

It said statements by disbarred lawyers about the persecution of the profession and interference by the justice ministry are not supported by facts and documents, are unfounded and are based on the statements of the violators themselves.

The ministry said it has the power to terminate legal licenses in circumstances stipulated by law. It added that decisions to terminate the licenses of a number of lawyers this year was because they had committed gross violations of licensing legislation, licensing requirements and conditions, or engaged in conduct that discredit the legal profession. It didnt name the lawyers but said it included those Reuters asked about in its questions.

Authorities in this former Soviet state have conducted a broad crackdown on dissent since last August, when the long-standing president declared himself victor in an election that many Western countries deemed fraudulent. The targets have included opposition politicians, activists and the media. In an episode that shocked the West, a plane flying over Belarus was grounded in May and a dissident journalist on board was arrested.

On Aug. 9, the first anniversary of the contested election, Lukashenko said https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/defiant-belarus-leader-shrugs-off-sanctions-says-athlete-was-manipulated-2021-08-09 he won the vote fairly and saved Belarus from a violent uprising. In a news conference in the capital Minsk, the president said that an Olympian sprinter, who defected to Poland https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/exclusive-belarusian-sprinter-decided-defect-way-airport-family-fears-about-2021-08-05 at the Tokyo Olympic Games, had been "manipulated" by outside forces.

At least 23 Belarusian lawyers have been disbarred since last summer, according to the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), a Paris-based non-governmental organization. The federation said Belarus has in the past used retaliatory measures against lawyers; what was new, the FIDH said, is the scale of repression and that it now included criminal action.

The disbarment of all but one of the lawyers identified by FIDH has been confirmed by statements on the justice ministrys website or the state-run Belta news agency. The other lawyer confirmed to Reuters their license had been revoked.

That figure includes three lawyers that the justice ministry on Aug. 11 said had been disbarred because they had performed their professional duties improperly and displayed an unsatisfactory level of knowledge of the legislation necessary for carrying out advocacy work.

A new law approved by 66-year-old Lukashenko in June stipulates, among other things, that only candidates approved by the justice ministry can practice law, which some attorneys say is intended to control their profession.

Until now, bar associations chose trainees for the obligatory internships and all candidates were required to pass the bar exam before becoming a lawyer. Under the new law, the justice ministry coordinates the composition of the interns and people who have served as members of the police or other investigative agencies, if nominated by their respective state institutions, need only undergo a three month internship and an oral exam to become a lawyer.

Justice Minister Oleg Slizhevsky has said the aim of the new law, which comes into effect at the end of this year, is to raise the quality of legal professionals and improve their advocacy.

CRIMINAL CHARGES

Mass street protests swept Belarus after Lukashenko claimed victory in last summers presidential elections. The unrest was the biggest challenge to his rule since taking office in 1994. Authorities responded with a sometimes violent crackdown on protesters; many political opponents were arrested or went into exile. The response prompted Western sanctions.

Belarusian authorities have described the actions of law enforcement as appropriate and necessary.

A key moment for some lawyers and rights activists was the arrest in September of lawyers Maxim Znak and Illia Salei. They represented Maria Kolesnikova, one of the leaders of mass street protests.

Earlier this month, Znak and Kolesnikova went on trial https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/maria-kolesnikova-face-belarus-street-protests-goes-trial-2021-08-04 on criminal charges of extremism and attempting to seize power. Both deny the charges.

The authorities charged lawyer Salei with making public calls for action to harm national security. Salei, who denies wrongdoing, is on bail while the investigation continues, according to his father, who is acting as his lawyer.

Two other lawyers representing protest leader Kolesnikova were disbarred.

Siarhej Zikratski, a lawyer for Znak, lost his license in March after appearing before a panel established by the justice ministry to vet aspiring lawyers that can rule on disbarring existing ones.

Zikratski said the panel compiles information on lawyers media interviews, social media posts and petitions they have signed. The lawyer added that during his appearance before the panel, it questioned him about media interviews he had given and specific parts of the Belarusian legal code.

"We discussed why I gave the media interviews and why I did not have the right to speak out," Zikratski told Reuters in June from his current base, the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius. He now represents exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.

PEOPLE WERE FRIGHTENED

The United Nations has said Belarus lawyers handling politically sensitive human rights cases have been harassed and intimidated. In a May report, the UNs Special Rapporteur on human rights in Belarus said interference in the work of lawyers is systemic and that lawyers were often denied access to clients and faced disbarment or detention or arrest.

Belarus, in response to a UN resolution citing the May report, said the UNs decisions have long failed to reflect the real human rights situation in the world and serve as a pretext for pressure and sanctions of the collective West against states that do not obey its diktats."

Kirilyuk specialized in commercial law. But after security forces began detaining people in the mass protests, he and other lawyers faced a deluge of inquiries from people seeking legal help, he said. "We had 10, 20, 30, or 50 calls a day because people were frightened. They had been tortured in prison and didn't know what to do," said Kirilyuk.

Kirilyuk said he took on cases related to the protests, including that of Yelena Leuchanka, a Belarusian basketball star who authorities detained after she took part in protests calling for Lukashenko's resignation. Leuchanka was sentenced in September to 15 days in jail https://www.reuters.com/article/us-belarus-election-basketball-idUSKBN27D1QS for taking part in protests demanding the president resign.

Kirilyuk said the police refused to tell him where Leuchanka was being held; he and colleagues had to call around police stations before tracking her down at a detention centre in Minsk. The lawyer said he was initially denied access to his client and then only got 10 minutes with her before her court appearance.

Reuters was unable to independently confirm Kirilyuks assertions about torture or the specifics of Leuchankas case.

The interior ministry, which oversees the police, referred questions seeking comment to the foreign ministry. The foreign ministry didnt respond to a request for comment.

During a visit to another client in detention in August last year, Kirilyuk said he noticed a camera during what was meant to be a confidential meeting. When the lawyers COVID-19 mask slipped under his nose, a telephone that was in the room rang and when he answered it a voice told him to push it back up, Kirilyuk said.

Such tactics, he said, have a chilling effect. "It's such a simple way to show you that 'we hear you, we're watching you, and everything that you say to your client is on camera,'" Kirilyuk said.

(Reporting by Joanna Plucinska in Warsaw, Matthias Williams in Kyiv, and Andrius Sytas in Vilnius; additional reporting by Natalia Zinets in Kyiv, Dmitriy Turlyun in Moscow and Robert Muller in Prague; writing by Matthias Williams and Andrew Osborn Editing by Cassell Bryan-Low)
SHANGRAO, China, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. ("JinkoSolar" or the "Company") (NYSE: JKS), one of the largest and most innovative solar module manufacturers in the world, today announced that it plans to release its unaudited financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2021 before the open of U.S. markets on Wednesday, September 15, 2021.

JinkoSolar's management will host an earnings conference call on Wednesday, September 15, 2021 at 8:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time (8:00 p.m. Beijing / Hong Kong the same day).

Dial-in details for the earnings conference call are as follows:

Hong Kong / International: +852 3027 6500 U.S. Toll Free: +1 855-824-5644 Passcode: 44003482#

Please dial in 10 minutes before the call is scheduled to begin and provide the passcode to join the call.

A telephone replay of the call will be available 2 hours after the conclusion of the conference call through 23:59 U.S. Eastern Time, September 22, 2021. The dial-in details for the replay are as follows:

International: +61 2 8325 2405 U.S.: +1 646 982 0473 Passcode: 319341396#

Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the Investor Relations section of JinkoSolar's website at http://www.jinkosolar.com.

About JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd.

JinkoSolar (NYSE: JKS) is one of the largest and most innovative solar module manufacturers in the world. JinkoSolar distributes its solar products and sells its solutions and services to a diversified international utility, commercial and residential customer base in China, the United States, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, Chile, South Africa, India, Mexico, Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, Italy, Spain, France, Belgium, and other countries and regions. JinkoSolar has built a vertically integrated solar product value chain, with an integrated annual capacity of 22 GW for mono wafers, 11.5 GW for solar cells, and 31 GW for solar modules, as of March 31, 2021.

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JinkoSolar has 9 productions facilities globally, 22 overseas subsidiaries in Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, India, Turkey, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, United States, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Australia, Portugal, Canada, Malaysia, UAE, Denmark, and global sales teams in China, United Kingdom, France, Spain, Bulgaria, Greece, Ukraine, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Morocco, South Africa, Costa Rica, Colombia, Panama, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, Poland and Argentina, as of March 31, 2021.

To find out more, please see: www.jinkosolar.com

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements constitute "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends, "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, the quotations from management in this press release and the Company's operations and business outlook, contain forward-looking statements. Such statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in JinkoSolar's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form 20-F. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

In China:

Ms. Stella Wang

JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd.

Tel: +86 21-5180-8777 ext.7806

Email: ir@jinkosolar.com

Mr. Rene Vanguestaine

Christensen

Tel: + 86 178 1749 0483

Email: rvanguestaine@ChristensenIR.com

In the U.S.:

Ms. Linda Bergkamp

Christensen, Scottsdale, Arizona

Tel: +1-480-614-3004

Email: lbergkamp@ChristensenIR.com

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SOURCE JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd.
WICHITA, Kan., Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The proposed Kansas Health Science Center  Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine (KHSC-KansasCOM), currently under construction in downtown Wichita, recently appointed three additions to its faculty: Angela Carrick, DO, as associate dean of pre-clinical education, assistant professor of emergency medicine; Eva Shay, DO, as professor, department chair of Osteopathic Principles and Practice; and Terence Ma, Ph.D., as professor and chair, Anatomy and Biomedical Science.

(PRNewsfoto/Kansas Health Science Center)

Angela Carrick, DO, is a board-certified Emergency Medicine physician who recently worked at Norman Regional Health Systems in Norman, Oklahoma. Her roles there included serving as an emergency department attending physician, co-director of the Stroke Program, and as Associate Program Director of the Norman Regional Emergency Medicine Residency. She is a fellow of both the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) and American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians (ACOEP). Among the many committees she serves, Dr. Carrick is Chair of ACOEP Women's Committee and in 2020 was Chair of the Council of Residency Directors (CORD) in Emergency Medicine National Physician Suicide Awareness Day which occurs yearly on September 17. She is passionate about mentorship and serves both as a panelist for the American Academy of Emergency Medicine's Virtual Mentorship Program for Osteopathic Medical Students and a participant in Oklahoma Osteopathic Association's Medical Student Mentorship Program.

Eva Shay, DO, comes to the proposed KHSC-KansasCOM from William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where she had been on faculty since 2015, most recently as chair of the Department of Osteopathic Principles and Practice and associate professor of clinical sciences. She was also a faculty advisor for several student groups, including the inaugural chapter of the Student Association of Military Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons, is involved on numerous committees and is on the board of directors for Education Congo (North American Liaison Bureau). While serving in the U.S. Navy for 12 years, Dr. Shay was a general medical officer for the Naval Hospital Corpus Christi. She is certified in family medicine and osteopathic manipulative treatment by the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians, and neuromusculoskeletal medicine  osteopathic manipulative medicine by the American Osteopathic Board of Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine.

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Terence Ma, Ph.D., M.B.A., was most recently chief executive officer of PlaceNets Consulting in Boston where he was a thought leader on medical education competencies, assessments, and program evaluations, and advised medical schools on educational technology. Dr. Ma has three decades of experience as a faculty member in medical education including the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, California Northstate University College of Medicine, Touro University Nevada, and the University of Mississippi Medical Center. He has spent his career educating health science professionals as a faculty member, course director, assistant dean, and associate dean. He has also served as a Chief Information Officer. In addition, Dr. Ma reviews for journals and conferences, writes book and software reviews. Because of his extensive knowledge, Dr. Ma is regularly invited to give presentations nationally and internationally, and serves on numerous committees on medical education, educational technology, and competency standards.

With the goal of opening for the 2022 academic year, the proposed KHSC-KansasCOM is working through the accreditation process. The school is currently under construction, remodeling 116,000 square feet of the historic building at 217 N. Douglas to include state-of-the-art technology and learning spaces, an osteopathic skills training center, standardized patient teaching rooms, large lecture halls, small group study rooms, a virtual anatomy lab, and much more.

About Kansas Health Science Center:

Kansas Health Science Center is a nonprofit organization committed to training well-prepared physicians and health care leaders who will positively contribute to the overall well-being of our communities. With the goal of opening the proposed Kansas Health Science Center - Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2022, KHSC strives to positively impact the health landscape in Wichita and the state of Kansas through directly addressing the disparity in access to healthcare. Learn more at kansashsc.org.

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SOURCE Kansas Health Science Center
Q2 2021 revenues of $2.8 million, up 68% YoY

Medical cannabis revenues reach $825,500, up 47% sequentially, with sales in Colombia, Germany, UK, and Peru contributing to gross medical cannabis profit margin of 88%

European medical cannabis sales growth of 280% sequentially, representing over 25% of total medical cannabis revenues

Medical cannabis expected to become dominant revenue stream, with monthly revenues forecast to increase to over $1 million by Q1 2022, on top of expected $1 million in health services

$9.4 million in cash as of June 30,2021, a decrease of $3.2 million from march 31st 2021, and proforma Q2 2021 cash balance of $20.6 million, including estimated net proceeds from the Company's July 2021 offering

TORONTO, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Khiron Life Sciences Corp. ("Khiron" or the "Company") (TSXV: KHRN) (OTCQX: KHRNF) (Frankfurt: A2JMZC), a vertically integrated cannabis leader with core operations in Latin America and Europe, today announces its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2021. These filings are available for review on the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. All financial information in this press release is reported in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise indicated.

Khiron Life Sciences Corp Logo (CNW Group/Khiron Life Sciences Corp.)

Summary of Key Financial Results



3 Months 3 Months 3 Months

ended Jun ended Jun ended Mar Canadian dollars 30 2021 30 2020 31 2021

$ $ $ Revenues ('000s) 2,803 1,670 2,837 Medical Cannabis 826 25 563 Gross profit before fair value adjustments ('000s) 1,046 319 1,090 General and administrative costs ('000s) 4,428 4,531 5,592 Net loss ('000s) (4,796) (5,713) (5,494) Adjusted EBITDA (1) ('000s) (3,850) (3,855) (4,019) Net loss per share (basic and diluted) (0.03) (0.05) (0.04) Weighted average shares outstanding ('000s) 151,027 116,546 150,718

(1) Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization or in this case loss) is a non-International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") measure calculated as net loss before tax as reported under IFRS and adding back share-based compensation expense, transaction fees, unrealized gain on changes in fair value of biological assets, depreciation and non-recurring items. Refer to the "Non-IFRS Measures" note below for further information and the Company's MD&A for a reconciliation.

Key Operating Statistics

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3 Months 3 Months 3 Months

ended Jun ended Jun ended Mar

30 2021 30 2020 31 2021 Medical Cannabis





Revenue generating countries (#) 4 1 4 Latin America (Units) 11,058 380 7,969 Europe (Grams) 42,890 N/A 11,080 Health Services





Patient interactions (#) 32,984 19,151 32,331 Wellness Units (#) 3173 3,064 2,758

Management Commentary

"In Q2, we continued to achieve strong results within our Medical Cannabis segment, reporting 47% sequential growth and margins of over 85% for the fourth consecutive quarter. With revenues increasing across all markets, our medical cannabis segment contributed 29% of revenues and 70% of gross profits, showcasing how our medical cannabis business can fundamentally shift margin profiles as revenues increase," comments Alvaro Torres, Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Company.

Mr. Torres continues, "In Q2 and subsequently, we achieved a number of very significant milestones. With the start of sales in Brazil in July, our sales presence has expanded to five of our six target markets. In addition, we are making strides toward launching our Zerenia clinics in Mexico this year, and recently expedited our entry into Mexico by several months with the receipt of a high-THC extract export quota from Colombia. We continue to expand patient access within our core markets, partnering with the Colombia Cancer League and 21 leading medical institutions to deliver 3,000 medical cannabis consultations at no cost to patients. In June, we also opened our first clinic outside of Colombia in Lima, Peru, which is expected to have a positive impact on prescription volumes going forward. Finally, in Europe we expanded our product offerings in both the UK and Germany, and delivered our largest shipment to date, resulting in a significant revenue contribution from Europe during the second quarter."

"With these milestones behind us, we expect to increase sales of medical cannabis products across all markets over the coming 12 months. As we continue to expand our clinic and patient networks, partnerships with insurance providers, and distribution channels, we anticipate that global medical cannabis revenues will reach $1 million per month by Q1 2022. In addition, we anticipate that revenues from Health Services will stabilize at $1 million per month, consistent with levels achieved in March 2021," continued Alvaro Torres.

Q2 2021 operating highlights and subsequent events

Medical cannabis revenues increased 47% from the prior quarter, reaching over $825,000; in total, medical cannabis products contributed 29% of total revenues and 70% of gross profits.

Driven by growth in medical cannabis, the Company achieved a gross profit margin (before fair market value adjustments) of 37%, or $1.0 million, reflecting a 228% improvement over the prior year.

Latin America

Insurance coverage in Colombia continues to be a catalyst for growth, with more than 10,600 prescriptions filled in Q2 2021, a 40% increase from Q1 2021. The percentage of prescriptions issued in Colombia and covered by insurance also increased from over 40% in Q4 2020 to over 50% in Q2 2021.

Returning medical cannabis patients in Colombia reached nearly 50% in Q2 2021, providing a more stable Medical Cannabis revenue base.

With more than 24,000 prescriptions filled year-to-date in Latin America and continued month-over-month growth, Q3 2021 continues to build on Q2 2021 levels.

In June 2021, the Company opened its first Zerenia clinic outside of Colombia, in Lima, Peru, a city of over 10 million and home to a third of the country.

In June 2021, Khiron was awarded high-THC medical cannabis quotas for exports to Mexico from Colombia.

In July 2021, Khiron successfully exported medical cannabis into Brazil under an import authorization from the Brazilian health authority, ANVISA. Also, Dr. Eduardo Faveret was appointed Medical Director for Khiron Brazil, positioning the Company to expand its Zerenia clinics in key cities in Brazil.

Khiron recently partnered with the Colombia Cancer League to deliver an additional 3,000 medical cannabis patient consultations during the month of June, in collaboration with 21 leading medical institutions in 11 cities throughout Colombia.

Europe

Q2 2021 sales in the UK and Germany increased significantly, up 475% and 265%, respectively, from the prior quarter, driven by expanded medical cannabis products lines and increased product availability. As a result, Europe accounted for over 25% of Q2 medical cannabis sales.

In the UK, the Company's medical cannabis e-learning certification, Khiron Academy, received accreditation for Continuing Professional Development credits in the UK.

In Q2 2021, the Company recorded gross profits for European medical cannabis of $214,573, representing a gross margin of 100% thanks to our business strategy in that region

Discussion of Operations for the Three Months Ending June 30, 2021

During the second quarter of 2021, the Company reported revenues of $2.8 million, a 68% increase as compared to Q2 2020 due to normalized clinic operations and the growth of medical cannabis sales. Relative to Q1 2021, second quarter revenues were relatively consistent as a result of a 13% decline in Health Services revenues, offset by a 47% increase in Medical Cannabis Product sales, which reached $825,500 in the quarter, as the Company benefited from significant growth in Europe and a growing patient base in Colombia. While health services were impacted by rising COVID-19 cases and foreign exchange rates during the quarter, clinic revenues are expected to stabilize at $1 million per month, consistent with March 2021 levels.

At $1.0 million, or 37% of revenues, the Company's gross profits benefited from increasing Medical Cannabis Product sales, which offset margin compression within Health Services. Medical cannabis margins remained high at 88% of revenues, while health service margins decreased quarter-over-quarter to 15% of revenues, as a result of geo-political events and a surge of COVID-19 cases in Colombia which impacted clinic volumes and service mix. Q2 2021 health services margins were consistent with prior year levels.

Overall, the Company recorded a net loss of $4.8 million in the second quarter, which compares to a net loss of $5.7 million in the prior year and $5.5 million in the prior quarter. Adjusted EBITDA losses for Q2 2021 were $3.9 million, compared to the prior quarter loss of $4.0 million and prior year loss of $3.9 million.

The Company reported $9.4 million in cash as of June 30,2021, compared to $12.5 million in cash at the end of Q1 2021 and $21.6 million in cash at the end of 2020. On a proforma basis, the Company's Q2 2021 cash balance was $20.6 million, including estimated net proceeds from the Company's July offering.

Webcast Details

Khiron invites individual and institutional investors, as well as advisors and analysts, to attend the Company's Second Quarter 2021 Conference Call, followed by a Q&A session.

DATE: August 23, 2021

TIME: 10:00am ET/7:00am PT/4:00pm CET

PRESENTERS: Alvaro Torres, Khiron Chief Executive Officer and Director, Joel Friedman, Khiron Chief Financial Officer, Franziska Katterbach, President Khiron Europe and Chris Naprawa, Chairman of Khiron Board of Directors

FORMAT: Live 60-minute presentation & Q&A session

REGISTER LINK:

https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/3368735/FAE8C9703BB105D1B088594F064C2FCD

About Khiron Life Sciences Corp.

Khiron is a leading vertically integrated medical cannabis company with core operations in Latin America and Europe. Leveraging wholly-owned medical health centres and proprietary telemedicine platforms, Khiron combines a patient-oriented approach, physician education programs, scientific expertise, product innovation, and agricultural infrastructure to drive prescriptions and brand loyalty with patients worldwide. The Company has a sales presence in Colombia, Peru, Germany, UK, and Brazil and is positioned to commence sales in Mexico in 2021. The Company is led by Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Alvaro Torres, together with an experienced and diverse executive team and Board of Directors.

Visit Khiron online at investors.khiron.ca and on Instagram @khironlife.

Cautionary Notes

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All information contained herein that is not historical in nature may constitute forward-looking information. Khiron undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third-parties in respect of Khiron, its securities, or financial or operating results (as applicable). Although Khiron believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements in this press release are reasonable, such forward-looking statement has been based on expectations, factors and assumptions concerning future events which may prove to be inaccurate and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond Khiron's control, including the risk factors discussed in Khiron's Annual Information Form which is available on Khiron's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and is made as of the date hereof. Khiron disclaims any intention and has no obligation or responsibility, except as required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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 press release.

Investor Contact:

Paola Ricardo

E: investors@khiron.ca

T: +1 (647) 556-5750

Media Contact:

Elsa Navarro

Vice President, Communications

E: enavarro@khiron.ca

Khiron Europe:

Franziska Katterbach, President

E: fkatterbach@khiron.ca

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SOURCE Khiron Life Sciences Corp.
LOS ANGELES, August 23, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz announces an investigation of General Motors Company ("GM" or the "Company") (NYSE: GM) on behalf of investors concerning the Companys possible violations of federal securities laws.

If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.

On August 4, 2021, GM announced that its second quarter 2021 financial results were negatively impacted by "warranty recall costs" of $1.3 billion, including approximately $800 million related to the Chevrolet Bolt EV.

On this news, GMs share price fell $5.16, or 8.9%, to close at $52.72 per share on August 4, 2021, thereby injuring investors.

Then, on Friday, August 20, 2021, GM announced that it was "voluntarily expanding the current Chevrolet Bolt EV recall to cover the remaining 2019 and all 2020-2022 model year vehicles, including the Bolt EUV" because the batteries may have two manufacturing defects that "increase[] the risk of fire."

On this news, GMs share price fell during intraday trading on Monday, August 23, 2021, thereby further injuring investors.

Follow us for updates on Twitter: twitter.com/FRC_LAW.

If you purchased GM securities, have information or would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Frank R. Cruz, of The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz, 1999 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 1100, Los Angeles, California 90067 at 310-914-5007, by email to info@frankcruzlaw.com, or visit our website at www.frankcruzlaw.com. If you inquire by email please include your mailing address, telephone number, and number of shares purchased.

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/20210823005563/en/

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Aug 23 (Reuters) - The Papua New Guinea government and U.S. oil giant ExxonMobil intend to re-engage in negotiations on the Pnyang project, nearly two years after their talks came to a standstill, Oil Search Ltd announced on Monday.

In November 2019 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-papua-exxon-mobil-lng-idUSKBN1XW0AS, the country's government had flagged a standoff in talks with Exxon Mobil tied to a $13 billion gas expansion, saying the U.S. oil giant was unwilling to negotiate on the countrys terms.

PNG Minister for Petroleum, Kerenga Kua said if all goes well, "we can expect to sign a P'nyang Heads of Agreement around the end of this next month and a Gas Agreement thereafter."

"We look forward to further progress in these negotiations and will support the PRL3 Operator through our 38.51% interest in the joint venture, said Diego Fettweis, Oil Searchs executive vice president for commercial.

Earlier this month, Oil Search announced its intention to recommend a buyout offer from Santos Ltd, worth A$8.4 billion ($5.99 billion), in a deal that would create a top-20 global oil and gas company.

($1 = 1.4015 Australian dollars) (Reporting by Indranil Sarkar in Bengaluru; Editing by Tom Hogue)
The Global Vegan Awards, Hosted by LUXlife, Celebrates Companies Providing the Best Products and Delivering a Positive Impact

VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 23, 2021 /CNW/ - Rritual Superfoods Inc. ("Rritual" or the "Company") (CSE: RSF) (FWB: 0RW) (OTCQB: RRSFF) is thrilled to announce that the Company's product line has been nominated on the shortlist for the Global Vegan Awards 2021, hosted by LUXlife.

Rritual Superfoods Inc. Logo (CNW Group/Rritual Superfoods Inc.)

The Global Vegan Awards 2021, showcase "truly remarkable global businesses and professionals who have brought about positive change through a plant-based lifestyle." The awards are based on "industry excellence, overall performance, client experience/feedback and incredible innovation."

"At this early stage of our development, Rritual Superfoods is really excited to be recognized by LUXlife and shortlisted for the Global Vegan Awards 2021," said Mr. David Kerbel, Rritual CEO and Director. "With a strong reputation and significant platform, this is an opportunity to increase awareness and instill confidence in new and existing markets for the Rritual Superfoods product line."

LUXlife has a circulation of 238,000 professionals globally, spanning over 170 countries, delivering significant reach through its platform for brands to gain awareness amongst its global readership.

About LUX Lifestyle

LUXlife Magazine is a premium lifestyle publication which was founded in 2015 by the publishing company AI Global Media Ltd. Distributed to a circulation of 238,000 globally, LUXlife focuses on a range of topics within the luxury lifestyle industry, featuring articles on; fashion, beauty, fine dining, travel, luxury real estate and much more. Within our pages you'll find everything from product news and reviews, to in-depth pieces on trends, features and comment; all designed to inform, entertain and inspire.

About Rritual

Rritual is a fast-growing functional superfood company that creates natural wellness products which support a holistic approach to a healthy lifestyle. The company is poised to dominate a segment where demand and sales are growing exponentially. Under the executive leadership with over 100 years of CPG pedigree, Rritual has launched distribution to major retailers and is positioning itself as a leader in the functional health and wellness industry as a superfood platform. Rritual markets organic wellness products in the United States through initial retail rollout which includes over 10,000 points of sale and through www.rritual.com.

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Follow Rritual on Twitter , LinkedIn , Facebook , and Instagram .

Functional Foods Market

According to Grandview Research*, it is estimated that the global functional food market is projected to reach $275 billion by 2025, growing at 7.9% each year with consumers putting more emphasis on health and wellness.



*https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-functional-foods-market



Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements") that relate to Rritual's current expectations and views of future events. Any statements that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, through the use of words or phrases such as "will likely result", "are expected to", "expects", "will continue", "is anticipated", "anticipates", "believes", "estimated", "intends", "plans", "forecast", "projection", "strategy", "objective" and "outlook") are not historical facts and may be forward-looking statements and may involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. No assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release. In particular and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the Company's plans to leverage third party manufacturing and logistics, the Company's broader retail distribution plans and the Company's other plans, focus and objectives.

Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Rritual's control, which could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the impact and progression of the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors set forth under "Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in the final long form prospectus of the Company dated February 26, 2021 and available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Rritual undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Rritual to predict all of them or assess the impact of each such factor or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Any forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

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Cision

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Once he was done with high school, Compton headed off to Richmond Professional Institute to study business and was drafted into the Army in 1958. Fortunately, he said, a number of the bases where he was stationed had planes, so he was able to maintain his aviation enthusiasm in the service.

Once he was discharged, he continued his aviation education on the GI Bill, returned to Orange and purchased his first plane.

Ive owned an airplane since the early 1960s, he said. The model I have now is a 1985 model and Ive had it since 1987.

Even though he had a plane, there was no place to store it at the Orange County Airport.

I was working for the National Bank of Orange, and the president, Pete Austin, was a retired Air Force colonel and he was very instrumental in getting things done at the airport, he said.

Compton and 49 others signed a promissory note to build the first airport hangar in 1969 at a cost of $300,000.

Compton later left the bank and started his own insurance agency, which he operated for 37 years before selling it in 2000.
She spent two days looking for the two birds that came down with the nest after a tornado churned through.

Wobig, part of Tidewater Wildlife Rescue, said she easily found and recovered one eagle on her first day of searching, on a dock of a tree the nest tree had toppled across.

Initially, I thought the other eagle might have been trapped in the nest in a part of the tree that ended up underwater, she said.

But she didnt give up looking, and on a second day of searching came across the second young bird. Even injured, the eagle tried hard to evade Wobig, though she was eventually able to get a towel over the birds head to calm it.

Wobig said that because many eagle rescues dont end happily, its important for animal rescue folks like her to be there when one does.

Clark, who along with the medical staff at the Wildlife Center of Virginia has been a strong proponent of hunters replacing lead ammunition with copper, noted that both birds Wobig rescued had lead poisoning.
A 31-year-old Fremont man was sentenced to five to six years in the Nebraska State Penitentiary for drug possession with intent to deliver and possession of a firearm Monday.

Ryan C. Sorenson also pleaded no contest to the two counts in the Dodge County District Court before being found guilty by Judge Geoffrey Hall.

On May 21, a Dodge County Sheriffs Office deputy was notified of a domestic violence situation in the parking lot of a north Fremont hotel. Deputies went to the vehicle and made contact with Sorenson and Victoria E. Solberg, 31, of Fremont.

Both parties were actively engaged in an altercation when the deputies had contact with them, Deputy Dodge County Attorney Emily Beamis said. Deputies ran the parties through dispatch, and both had active warrants out for their arrest.

Sorenson, a convicted felon, and Solberg were placed under arrest and an inventory search was made on the vehicle, Beamis said.

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A deputy located under the trunk 455.5 grams of a green leafy substance that was roughly over a pound, she said. ... Deputies also located an AR-556 with two loaded magazines in the trunk as well.
James White has been named Detroits police chief after serving since June 1 as an interim replacement for James Craig who retired and is looking at a possible run at Michigan governor.

Mayor Mike Duggan announced Monday that the job now belongs to White pending approval by the City Council.

Duggan was given three candidates to consider by the Board of Police Commissioners following a national search.

White, 53, is the latest in the line of about a dozen Detroit chiefs since 1990. Several had been forced out amid allegations of wrongdoing.

He stepped down as chair of Michigans Civil Rights Commission to take over as interim chief.

To have quit that, come back here on an interim basis knowing what he had to go through, going through the (interviewing) process like everybody else with the Board of Police Commissioners, I think it just shows how much he loves the city, how much he loves this department, Duggan said.
The Taliban has warned that it will not accept any extension to the August 31 withdrawal for international forces after the United States and other Western countries said the chaotic evacuation of thousands of people seeking to flee Afghanistan may require keeping troops on the ground past the deadline.



The stark warning from the militants on August 23 came after one Afghan guard was killed and three were wounded in a firefight at Kabul airport as the exodus of tens of thousands of people seeking to escape Taliban-run Afghanistan continues.



Two NATO officials at the airport said the situation was under control after the shooting death. The Taliban has deployed fighters outside the airport, where they say they have tried to help enforce some kind of order.

Twenty people have been killed in the chaos at the airport, mostly in shootings and stampedes, as U.S. and international forces try to move citizens and vulnerable Afghans out of the country following the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan.

President Joe Bidens national-security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said that the United States was in talks with Taliban leaders "on a daily basis," and that Biden would take a "day-by-day" approach on whether to extend the August 31 deadline.



"Our focus is on getting this done by the end of the month," according to Pentagon spokesman John Kirby.



He said that if commanders on the ground said an extension was needed it would be passed to the U.S. president, but he added: "We just aren't there right now."

U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to press Biden at an emergency meeting of Group of Seven leaders on August 24 to extend the Kabul evacuations, while France's foreign minister said Paris agreed that more time was needed to complete the process.

Germanys foreign minister said discussions had begun between his country, the United States, Turkey, and the Taliban with the aim of "facilitating a civil operation of Kabul airport to enable the evacuation of people beyond August 31."



However, Kirby said he was "not aware of specific conversations weve had in respect to the deadline."



Earlier, Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen told Sky News in an interview broadcast on August 23 that such a move would create "mistrust" and "provoke a reaction."

"It's a red line. President Biden announced that on 31 August they would withdraw all their military forces. So if they extend it that means they are extending occupation while there is no need for that," Shaheen said.

"If the U.S. or U.K. were to seek additional time to continue evacuations -- the answer is no. Or there would be consequences," he added. He did not elaborate on what the consequences may be.

With just over a week left before the Taliban says it will stop allowing foreign troops to facilitate the exodus, Biden and Johnson "discussed the ongoing efforts by our diplomatic and military personnel to evacuate their citizens, local staff, and other vulnerable Afghans," the White House said in a readout of their call on August 23.



"They also discussed plans for the G7 virtual leaders' meeting tomorrow (August 24), underscoring the importance of close coordination with allies and partners in managing the current situation and forging a common approach to Afghanistan policy," it added.



According to Johnson's office, Biden and the British prime minister "discussed the ongoing efforts by the U.K. and U.S. to coordinate the rapid and safe evacuation of our nationals and those who previously worked with our governments from Kabul International Airport."



The two leaders "also agreed to continue working together to ensure those who are eligible to leave are able to, including after the initial phase of the evacuation has ended."



Johnson and Biden noted the importance of concerted diplomatic engagement to secure the progress made in Afghanistan and to prevent a humanitarian crisis, the office said in a statement.

The Pentagon said on August 23 that around 16,000 people had been evacuated through the Kabul airport over the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of people relocated from Afghanistan to 37,000 since the intense airlift operations started on August 14.



A U.S. military spokesman said the firefight outside the north gate of Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport appeared to have begun "when an unknown hostile actor fired upon Afghan security forces."



"The Afghans returned fire, and in keeping with their right of self-defense, so too did U.S. and coalition troops," Captain William Urban said in a statement.



"One member of the Afghan forces was killed by the hostile actor; several Afghans were wounded during the exchange," he added.

The United States has voiced concerns about a possible threat from Islamic State militants in Afghanistan known as ISIS-K, a foe of the Taliban, around the airport. White House national-security adviser Jake Sullivan called the threat "real and acute" in remarks to CNN.

The U.S. military has been in constant contact with the Taliban to facilitate the evacuations. Biden has said the group has been "cooperative in extending some of the perimeter" around the airport as thousands gather in the area.

WATCH: There were chaotic scenes at the evacuation center outside Kabul airport on August 21 as footage from British broadcaster Sky News showed soldiers covering the bodies of people crushed trying to flee the country.

Thousands of U.S., British, and allied troops have secured Kabul's airport, and struggled to keep crowds at bay and away from tarmacs as military and civilian aircraft take off carrying foreigners and Afghans.

The situation inside the country remains perilous as well.



A top World Health Organization official said the agency only has "a few days left of supplies" for Afghanistan and wants help to ferry in 10 or 12 planeloads of equipment and medicine for its beleaguered people.



Rick Brennan, who heads WHOs eastern Mediterranean region, which includes Afghanistan, said the UN health agency was negotiating with the United States and other countries to help efforts to replenish strained stockpiles.



"We need a consistent humanitarian air bridge into the country ASAP," he said, to bring in emergency kits and essential medicines for treatment of chronic diseases.

Growing security threats have prompted U.S. military planes to do rapid, diving, combat landings at the Kabul airport and other aircraft have been seen shooting flares on takeoff, apparently in an attempt to confuse possible heat-seeking missiles.

Taliban leaders have reportedly begun talks on forming a government as Kabul residents complained that the public and telecom services are still being disrupted and banks remained closed more than a week after the militants seized the capital.



"We have no money. Banks are closed. There is no money. There are no credit cards, a resident who didnt give her name, told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi over the phone.



Mobile phones do not work properly. The Internet does not work. Poor teachers have not received their salaries. All government employees are unpaid. It is not known when the banks will open. Everyone is worried," she said.

With the Taliban trying to consolidate its control over Kabul and establish law and order, Farzana Kochai, a member of the Afghan parliament who has not fled Kabul, told Radio Azadi that she was "worried" about her safety and that of other women and youths.



"I hope that they can be safe and will not be harmed physically and mentally because of their past and current thoughts and opinions," she said.

In an apparent attempt to push back against their reputation earned during their 1996 to 2001 rule when the militants placed heavy restrictions on organized sports, the group posted a photo on its Arabic-language Twitter account showing political leaders meeting with the captain of the Afghan national cricket team, Hashmatullah Shahidi.



Participants in the meeting spoke about "future programs and ways to improve the performance and standard of the team," the tweet said.



The Taliban faced a new challenge in the northern Panjshir Valley, north of the capital, from fighters who refuse to recognize the Talibans claim to power.

Remnants of government troops and special forces have reportedly gathered in the Panjshir Valley -- long known as an anti-Taliban stronghold -- and joined local militiamen in forming a National Resistance Front.

The Taliban said its fighters had retaken three districts in northern Baghlan Province that neighbor Panjshir Province -- Banu, Pol-e Hesar, and Deh Salah.



But local sources told Radio Azadi on August 23 that clashes were going on in two of those districts between popular uprising forces and the Taliban.



Local forces recently claimed that three districts were "freed from Taliban control."

Amid European concerns that the situation in Afghanistan may create a new influx of migrants into the continent, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called on the European Union to "support the countries close to Afghanistan in order to make sure that we won't have additional flows in Europe."



Mitsotakis told European Parliament Vice President Roberta Metsola that Greece has managed to stop mass migration in the past and will do so "with the same policy" this time.

Meanwhile, Spain said it had agreed to temporarily host 4,000 Afghans who worked for the United States at two bases used by the U.S. military in the south of the country.



The agreement allows the Afghans to stay in Spain for up to two weeks, Defense Minister Margarita Robles said.



U.S. officials have said they were setting up eight transit hubs across six countries that will have the combined capacity to process approximately 15,000 people.

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, Sky News, The Wall Street Journal, dpa, AP, and AFP
Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa said the EU will not allow a surge of Afghan migrants, as the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan has stoked fears of a repeat of Europe's 2015 migration crisis, when more than 1 million people fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East arrived in the bloc.

"The EU will not open any European 'humanitarian' or migration corridors for Afghanistan. We will not allow the strategic mistake from 2015 to be repeated," Jansa wrote on Twitter on August 22.

The EU will only accept individuals who helped the NATO mission in Afghanistan and will otherwise bolster the bloc's external border, Jansa said.

Slovenia currently holds the EUs six-month rotating presidency, which gives the small nation an important role in setting the EU agenda and resolving differences between the 27 member states.



A spokesperson for the Slovenian EU presidency said on August 23 that it called a special meeting this week to discuss the situation in Afghanistan.



The meeting aims to discuss "the EU response to current developments in Afghanistan also from the home affairs aspects, including possible impact on migration, migration cooperation, and assistance with key neighboring countries, and security related issues," a spokesperson said.



The meeting is to be held at the ambassadorial level on August 26, followed later by a meeting of justice and interior ministers.

As thousands of Afghans rush to Kabul airport hoping to exit the country, the Taliban is urging people to stay and has offered a generally amnesty.

While fear of harsh Shari'a law and retaliation prompts some Afghans to flee, grinding poverty, drought, and a deteriorating economy threaten to potentially motivate a flood of migrants seeking a better life in Europe or elsewhere.

The Taliban has closed key border points, but the EU is bracing for increased migratory pressure in the longer run stemming from Afghanistan.

Several EU countries are calling for refugees to be guaranteed safety in countries neighboring Afghanistan before the EU considers taking in migrants, except for those that worked with international forces and some at-risk individuals.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who will step down after a September 26 federal election, last week called for coordinated, "controlled" EU action on migration.

Merkel told reporters in Berlin on August 17 that people fleeing Afghanistan should be helped in neighboring countries in coordination with the UN refugee agency.

"Then we can think about, as a second step, whether especially affected people can be brought to Europe in a controlled way," she said, noting that refugee issues have deeply divided the 27-member bloc in recent years.

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz on August 22 said his country was not willing to take in any Afghans.

"I am not of the opinion that we should take in more people in Austria, but quite the opposite," Kurz said in an interview with the television channel PULS 4.

With more than 40,000 Afghans already living in Austria, Kurz said they represent a "particularly difficult integration" problem.

"Taking in people who then cannot be integrated is a huge problem for us as a country," Kurz said.

Greece and non-EU member Turkey are also concerned about a new migration wave to Europe and have begun to coordinate a response.

Turkey hosts nearly 4 million Syrian refugees and 300,000 Afghans, in addition to migrants and refugees from other parts of the world.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on August 19 that Turkey had no responsibility to be "Europe's refugee warehouse."

Greece became a front-line state during the European migration crisis, although arrivals from Turkey have dropped since 2016, when the EU reached a deal with Ankara to stem the flow in exchange for billions of dollars of financial support.

Turkey and Greece have recently hardened their borders. Turkey is erecting walls and ditches along the border with Iran as well as electronic monitoring systems amid concern about Afghan refugees.

Greece said on August 20 it had completed a 40-kilometer fence on its border with Turkey and a new surveillance system to stop possible asylum seekers.

According to the UN, more than 5 million Afghans have already been displaced outside the country since the 1979 Soviet invasion and subsequent waves of violence. Ninety percent of them live in Iran or Pakistan.

With reporting by AFP, dpa, and Reuters
U.S. President Joe Biden has held talks with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on coordinating plans for the evacuation of thousands of people in Afghanistan with just over a week left before the Taliban says it will stop allowing foreign troops to enable the exodus.



"They discussed the ongoing efforts by our diplomatic and military personnel to evacuate their citizens, local staff, and other vulnerable Afghans," the White House said in a readout of the call on August 23.



"They also discussed plans for the G7 virtual leaders' meeting tomorrow (August 24), underscoring the importance of close coordination with allies and partners in managing the current situation and forging a common approach to Afghanistan policy," the statement added.

According to Johnson's office, Biden and the British prime minister "discussed the ongoing efforts by the U.K. and U.S. to coordinate the rapid and safe evacuation of our nationals and those who previously worked with our governments from Kabul International Airport."



The two leaders "also agreed to continue working together to ensure that those who are eligible to leave are able to, including after the initial phase of the evacuation has ended."



The crisis has prompted Western leaders to consider keeping foreign troops at the Kabul airport beyond an August 31 deadline saying it may be necessary to ensure the safety and freedom of thousands of locals who worked alongside foreign troops over two decades of conflict in the war-torn country. Many fear retaliation from Taliban militants for their work with the West.



Earlier on August 23, a Taliban spokesman said the group would consider an extension a provocation that could spark "consequences."
Allyson Reneau, a mother of 11 and an expert in U.S. space policy, welcomed the Afghan girls' robotics team when they traveled to the United States in 2019 for a technology conference. In mid-August, as Taliban militants descended on Kabul, Reneau leapt into action to help the young engineers flee the country. Ten of the girls aged 16 to 18 have now escaped to Qatar, and Reneau is still at work trying to help others reach safety.
As Afghanistan's last major bastion of anti-Taliban resistance gears up for new fighting against the hard-line Islamist group, there has been an outpouring of support for the effort from residents of the Panjshir Valley.



But they are also concerned about the prospect of a prolonged siege of their mountainous region, some 115 kilometers northeast of Kabul, depriving them of essential goods and sparking health crises.



"A war would result in human and financial loss, it would cause the displacement of people," says Mohammad Baath, a 31-year-old resident of the Rokha district, home to some 25,000 people, according to the latest government estimates. "The Taliban might even impose an economic embargo on the province, cutting off supply routes from all sides."



The Taliban says it has sent hundreds of fighters to capture Panjshir, the only one of Afghanistan's 34 provinces that remains outside its control.



In Panjshir, Ahmad Masud -- the 32-year-old son of Ahmad Shah Masud, a legendary commander who fought the Soviets in the 1980s and the Taliban in the 1990s -- has gathered thousands of armed men "ready to fight."

Masud, however, has said he doesn't want a "war to break out." Instead, he said, he would prefer negotiations with the Taliban, who entered the Afghan capital, Kabul, on August 15 after a lightning-quick string of territorial victories across the country as government forces buckled and U.S.-led forces withdrew.



"We want to make the Taliban realize that the only way forward is through negotiation," Masud was quoted by Reuters as saying on August 23. He called for a broad-based central government that represents all of the country's diverse ethnic groups.



Masud's forces consist of local militiamen and former government soldiers who retreated to Panjshir, reportedly bringing along weapons, hundreds of Humvees and armored vehicles, and five military helicopters.

Alongside Masud is also Amrullah Saleh, a vice president who declared himself the "legitimate caretaker president" as resistance gained momentum after President Ashraf Ghani left the country on August 15.



A native of Panjshir, the 48-year-old Saleh enjoys widespread popular support in the province.

Historically Wary



Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed on August 23 that Taliban fighters have surrounded the area. "The enemy is besieged inside Panjshir," he tweeted, but added that the Taliban was "trying to resolve this issue peacefully."



Mujahid also said that the Banu, Deh Salah, and Pol-e Hesar districts in the neighboring Baghlan Province "have been completely cleared of the enemy."



However, other sources say the three districts remain under the control of local anti-Taliban forces who recently recaptured them from the militants.



Many residents of Panjshir hope that resistance to the Taliban spreads from Panjshir to the neighboring Badakhshan, Baghlan, Kapisa, Parwan, and Takhar provinces, where ethnic Tajiks compose local majorities.



They have historically been wary of the Taliban movement, which is dominated by ethnic Pashtuns.



Unconfirmed reports also say that "thousands" of mainly ethnic Uzbek militiamen led by Yar Mohammad Dostum are joining the resistance in Panjshir. Yar Mohammad Dostum is the son of Abdul Rashid Dostum, an ethnic Uzbek warlord who led troops against the Taliban two decades ago before spending various stints in senior government defense positions and other posts.



"The Taliban will continue losing districts that surround Panjshir, and there will always be supply routes for us through these areas," said a Panjshir resident who is close to the resistance forces.



"Anti-Taliban sentiment is very high in this area and it will be extremely difficult for the Taliban to keep them under control," he said on condition of anonymity.

Others are busy bracing for an uncertain future, including the possibility of a prolonged blockade with ensuing price hikes and shortages of food, medicine, and other necessities.



"Panjshir is a mountainous region and is not [self-sufficient], and we are going to face many economic difficulties if fighting continues," Faiz, a Panjshir resident, told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi on August 23.

'Tired Of War'



The older generation in Panjshir remembers a previous Taliban siege lasting for more than five years when the group unsuccessfully tried to capture the province in the 1990s.



In the preceding decade, Soviet troops had failed to enter Panjshir in the face of fierce resistance led by Ahmad Shah Masud. It's the only Afghan province that has never been seized by any outside force in the country's past four decades of war.

In the Rokha district, 42-year-old Jamshid recalls hardships in late 1990s when food prices skyrocketed, "with a pack of salt selling for about $7" in local bazaars.



Jamshid is also worried about people getting killed or maimed by new fighting.



"We are tired of war, but we already have experience living under a Taliban siege and we will do it again if necessary," Jamshid told Radio Azadi. "We will resist anyone who tries to impose misery, injustice, and chaos upon us."



International forces are continuing their accelerated military pullout and feverish evacuations, including of some locals who might otherwise be targeted in the kind of revenge killings that have followed Taliban territorial gains.



The militant group has reportedly begun talks on forming a government as it seeks to consolidate power in Kabul after two decades of fragile central authority in a UN-backed government that took over after the U.S.-led ouster of the Taliban in 2001.

Written by Farangis Najibullah with reporting by RFE/RL Radio Azadi correspondents in Afghanistan whose names are being withheld for their protection.
A week after the Taliban established near complete control over Afghanistan, its leaders want to assure international audiences that they are considering an inclusive political system and would not let the country again become a hub for terrorists.

But the Islamist group's attempts to gain widespread legitimacy are meeting significant obstacles, with few Western countries seemingly willing to recognize a Taliban government in what would be a repeat of its 1996-2001 rule.

But Pakistan, Iran, Russia, and China seem prepared to work with the new government, which might prevent the Taliban from again becoming an international pariah. Its previous regime was recognized only by neighboring Pakistan as well as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.



Western leaders dangle recognition as an incentive for the Taliban to rein in its behavior, but the economic costs are rising. The U.S. government has frozen billions of dollars in Afghan central bank reserves and the International Monetary Fund said it will withhold $450 million in aid due to be sent to Kabul.



"The Taliban do understand, at least at the leadership level, the absolute necessity and significance of international aid, and they also know that those aid flows cannot happen unless the Taliban regime has international legitimacy," Hameed Hakimi, a research associate at London's Chatham House think tank, told RFE/RL's Gandhara. "The Taliban are very keen on international recognition because they want to clear up their international image."

Janan Mosazai, a former Afghan ambassador to Pakistan and China, agrees.



"[The Taliban] have made it clear that they have made mistakes in the past and that they have learned from those mistakes and they want to take actions this time that would not repeat those mistakes," he said. "One of those mistakes was that they governed in a way that repulsed the international community, which won them very narrow recognition."

Well-Oiled PR Machine



Mosazai added that the Taliban cannot gain international recognition by making promises.



"They must show their genuine commitment to the establishment of what they call themselves an inclusive representative Islamic government that will have representation from all the ethnic and linguistic groups -- the rich diversity of Afghanistan."



The Taliban's well-oiled PR machine is intent on honing this message.



"We are working toward setting up an inclusive government -- [this] means that we do notwant a monopoly of power," Suhail Shaheen, a Taliban spokesman, told TRT World as senior Taliban leaders held talks with top political leaders, including former Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Abdullah Abdullah, the head of Afghanistan's national reconciliation commission in the recently ousted government.



The Taliban has declared a general amnesty for soldiers and anyone who worked for the government, and thus far has largely refrained from targeting senior former officials or other opponents.



"We want Afghans of all ethnicities to be united and be a part of the government as now is the time to build Afghanistan after the foreign forces have left," Shaheen added.

"You will not be harmed [by anyone based on] our soil," Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said as he reiterated that the militant Islamist group would not allow Afghanistan to become a safe haven for terrorists.



Like other Taliban leaders, Mujahid emerged from two decades of hiding. He also claimed responsibility for thousands of Taliban attacks while telling Afghanistan's independent media that the militants were "committed to letting women work in accordance with the principles of Islam."



But just more than a week since it took control of the capital, Kabul, the Taliban is under mounting international scrutiny.

'Existential Crisis'



Under fire for his decision to withdraw and its poor execution, U.S. President Joe Biden has indicated that Washington is working with its Western allies to pressure the Taliban into meeting tough conditions in exchange for recognition and the legitimacy that comes with it.



"It will depend on whether they get help -- based on whether or not and how well they treat women and girls, how they treat their citizens," Biden said on August 20.



He had indicated earlier that the Taliban was going through "an existential crisis about [whether] they want to be recognized by the international community as a legitimate government."

But the Taliban's alleged violations of human rights and possible links with transnational militants have prompted Britain to reportedly push for sanctions during this week's Group of Seven summit.



"It would be a mistake for any country to recognize any new regime in Kabul prematurely or bilaterally," U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said last week. "Those countries that care about Afghanistan's futurework toward common conditions about the conduct of the new regime before deciding, together, whether to recognize it and on what terms."



In the European Union, leaders remain on speaking terms with the Taliban but are withholding their recognition.



"The Taliban [has] won the war, so we will have to talk with them," Josep Borrell, the EU's top diplomat, said on August 17. "In order to engage in a dialogue as soon as necessary to prevent a humanitarian and potential migratory disaster."



Together with Japan, Australia, and other allies, the United States and the EU were the leading donors in Afghanistan. Their economic and humanitarian assistance will be key in preventing an economic crisis.



But Hakimi said the Taliban leaders' presence on UN sanctions lists and the freezing of the country's assets put the group in a tight spot.



"For the Taliban [to gain] legitimacy and the ability to govern, they have to show that they can manage the economy and the governance system."



"Remember, the Afghan government has been the largest employer in the country, so if it is now sanctioned, you are talking about hundreds of thousands of families affected," he added. "The West sees [aid] as a leverage point against the Taliban. The more vulnerability they see in the Taliban, the more they could be reluctant to [give aid] in order to change the behavior of the Taliban."

Afghanistan's influential neighbors -- Pakistan and Iran -- and global powers China and Russia, however, are taking another approach. As Western diplomats left in the last few weeks when the Taliban swept across Afghanistan, they have kept their embassies open.



Pakistan is eager to recognize the Taliban government after hosting the movement's leadership and bankrolling the insurgency for nearly two decades.



Senior politicians in Islamabad speaking on condition of anonymity told Gandhara that Pakistan's powerful military leaders have told the country's political parties to demand their government recognize the Taliban's administration. They requested anonymity because of possible reprisals.



But publicly, Islamabad is pushing for a regional and international consensus in recognizing the Taliban.



"We are in touch with our friends, both in [this] region and internationally, and we will decide accordingly," Pakistani Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry recently said of his government's efforts to secure a consensus before recognizing the Taliban.



China is reportedly ready to recognize the Taliban government once it is formally announced.

"We hope the Afghan Taliban can form solidarity with all factions and ethnic groups in Afghanistan and build a broad-based and inclusive political structure suited to the national realities, so as to lay the foundation for achieving enduring peace in the country," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told journalists on August 16.



In recent months, Beijing has made it clear that it will support the future Afghan government with investment and infrastructure projects in return for cooperation in battling the East Turkistan Islamic Movement, a Uyghur separatist group.



Russian President Vladimir Putin, however, has publicly stated that the Kremlin will recognize the Taliban government.

"The Taliban now controls almost the entire territory of [Afghanistan], including its capital. This is the reality, and we must proceed from this reality as we strive to avoid the collapse of the Afghan state," he told journalists on August 20. "It is imperative to put an end to the irresponsible policy of imposing outside values on others."



Like China and Russia, Iran has cultivated and nurtured contacts with the Taliban for years and is looking at its return to power with optimism.

"The military defeat and the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan should offer an opportunity to restore life, security, and lasting peace in that country," new Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi reportedly told his outgoing Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on August 16.



Hakimi said that in addition to external and internal pressures, the Taliban's actions might be motivated by a desire to change its image from an ultraradical group bent on grabbing power through force.



"For the past 20 years, the world has closely watched Taliban actions, and the Taliban are aware of that baggage," he said. "They are now very keen on clearing that image."
Vice President Kamala Harris has vowed that the United States will continue its "enduring engagement" in Southeast Asia amid concerns triggered by its hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan and the chaotic rush of thousands of civilians fleeing the war-wracked country.

Speaking on August 23 during a visit to Singapore as part of U.S. efforts to counter China's growing economic and security influence in the region, Harris offered reassurances of Washington's commitment to Southeast Asia.

"Our administration is committed to enduring engagement in Singapore, into Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific," Harris said.

"The reason I am here is because the United States is a global leader, and we take that role seriously."

U.S. President Joe Biden has been subjected to criticism at home and abroad over his handling of the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan and the evacuation after a blitz takeover by the Taliban.

Singapore is one of the United States' strongest security partners in the region, with deep trade ties.

The country is home to the biggest port in Southeast Asia, and backs continued free navigation in the area, where China is growing increasingly assertive.

Harris will also visit Vietnam as part of her trip to the region.

Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP
Northrop Grumman plans to hire 250 people by the end of 2022 for its Colorado Springs operations specializing in missile defense and ballistic missiles, a top company official said Monday.

The Virginia-based defense giant expanded this month into nearly 100,000 square feet of office space in the former Quantum manufacturing plant in the InterQuest business area of northern Colorado Springs to make room for the additional employees. The company is moving employees from two of the three operations that have been based in Northrop Grummans 130,000-square-foot complex near the Colorado Springs Airport, which had reached capacity, said Greg Manuel, vice president and general manager of Northrop Grummans Strategic Deterrent Systems Division.

The InterQuest office features advanced engineering, research labs, software development facilities and a high-speed secure communications network. Blake Larson, a Northrop Grumman vice president who heads the companys Space Systems operations, said the new space will better enable us to deliver innovation solutions that help to protect and defend our nation and its allies. He made the comments as the company celebrated moving into the new facility.

All three of our divisions in Colorado Springs are expanding, so we took two of the divisions and moved them here (the InterQuest office) and that will leave space for the other division to expand as well, Manuel said. We want to hire locally, but are recruiting nationally. Were looking for engineers of all types  STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) on steroids  technologists, cyber, security, software development as well as employees in business management and finance.

Much of Northrop Grummans local growth comes from two programs: its longtime work on missile defense, where it is either the prime contractor or subcontractor on $2.8 billion in contracts, and a $13.3 billion contract the defense giant won last year to modernize the nations ballistic missile program. While the ballistic missile system contract is based in Utah, plenty of work will be done in Colorado Springs and across missile sites in northern Colorado, southwest Nebraska and southern Wyoming. Employees in both programs will be based in the InterQuest building, with the move expected to be complete by years end.

Northrop Grumman, which employs 550 in the Colorado Springs area and 2,200 statewide, lists on its website nearly 60 openings in the Colorado Springs area and about 50 others in Aurora and Boulder. The companys Strategic Deterrent Systems division works on the ballistic missile contract, while the Missile Defense Solutions division works on several contracts with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency at Schriever Space Force Base and the Payload and Ground Systems division works on several Space Force contracts.

Contact Wayne Heilman 636-0234 Facebook www.facebook.com/wayne.heilman Twitter twitter.com/wayneheilman
Six years after turning a nearly vacant former railway station into a hub for space and technology startups, Kevin O'Neil has even bigger plans for his Catalyst Campus business park.

Construction is expected to begin early next year on a sixth office building in the 12-acre business park on the eastern edge of downtown Colorado Springs to house its growing collection of space-focused startups and defense contractors. Work was scheduled to begin last year on the 50,000-square-foot building on West Pikes Peak Avenue, but was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, O'Neil said.

That's just the first step in O'Neil's ambitious plan to expand the campus during the next 10 years from eight buildings totaling 200,000 square feet that house 30 companies and 700 employees, to structures totaling 1 million square feet that will house dozens of companies employing thousands of people along much of downtown's southeast side. He also wants to open up to 10 satellite locations in other cities by 2026.

"Five years ago, everything here was almost entirely vacant. Now there is no vacancy, property values have gone way up and there is nothing for sale," O'Neil said. "Catalyst Campus was built as an economic driver for downtown. We did this investment to create jobs in downtown Colorado Springs. Small businesses that we helped to succeed and grow have since been acquired by large public companies."

Limited liability companies affiliated with the O'Neil Group, acquired land and buildings near the campus to give it room to grow. During the past 2 years, the limited liability companies have paid $9.15 million for buildings totaling 60,000 square feet at 545 E. Pikes Peak Ave., 422 E. Vermijo Ave. and 117 S. Wahsatch St. as well as 4.5 acres of former railroad right-of-way near Shooks Run Creek.

O'Neil wants to move tenants and demolish most of the three buildings on the land his company is acquiring to expand the campus and is still trying to buy more adjacent land for future expansion. He plans to put old railroad cars on the former railroad right-of-way, similar to the way Red Leg Brewery has used small metal shipping containers to house restaurants and food vendors to create an atmosphere that will attract talented engineers and other workers similar to the Lower Downtown (LoDo) and River North (RINO) areas of Denver.

The campus opened in 2015 with a focus on space and cybersecurity, and now its helping the Department of Defense bring technology developed by space-related startups into military programs more quickly. O'Neil Group affiliates bought the former Santa Fe railroad station and two adjacent buildings in 2014 for $4 million. It has spent more than $20 million remodeling and upgrading to make Catalyst Campus one of the most technologically advanced business parks in Colorado.

"We are providing an environment where the government has access to the traditional defense industry base, non-traditional commercially focused companies and academia to help accelerate the delivery of national security solutions to stay ahead of the evolving threat," Catalyst Campus CEO Patrick Barrett said. Recent testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee shows top military brass believe that model is working.

Gen. Glen Van Herck, commander of U.S. Northern Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command, cited the Pathfinder program at Catalyst Campus as a "best practice for innovation at the Department of Defense." Engineers working for startup companies at the campus are developing Pathfinder as a prototype for a new air command and control system that will replace six existing systems.

Catalyst Campus also is expanding into new locations beyond Colorado, opening a satellite office near the University of Maryland-College Park campus in February with plans to expand with more space in May 2022. The software "factory" is designed to bring new capabilities to the Navy using the same model of hosting teams from the defense industry, small business, government and academia that Catalyst Campus developed in Colorado Springs.

A third Catalyst Campus location is planned to open this fall in Ogden, Utah, near Hill Air Force Base, University of Utah, Utah State University and Weber State University. No location or timetable has been set for a fourth location, but Barrett said Catalyst Campus has a "long list" of communities that want to host the next location.

One of the newest tenants of Catalyst Campus is ONE Dev, a defense contracting company set up by the O'Neil Group and headed by Kevin O'Neil's brother, Ken O'Neil, and Rob Patterson, a former top Braxton Science & Technology Group executive. Kevin O'Neil said ONE Dev will use the same strategy O'Neil Group used while it owned Braxton  buy defense companies and move them to Colorado Springs. O'Neil Group sold Braxton in October to Parsons for $300 million.
Tips

Colorado Parks and Wildlife offers these tips for wildlife viewing:

 Go in the early morning or early evening, when animals are most active.

 Observe from a distance for the safety of you and the animal. Use binoculars and zoom functions of camera.

 Move slowly and causally, never directly toward wildlife. Stay quiet and still.

 Leave pets at home. They could provoke.

 Do not feed animals.

 Wear earth-tone clothes, such as gray, khaki and olive green that better blend into natural surroundings.

 Look to landscape edges, such as where trees meet meadows. Animals spend time in these edges.
ARBOLES  In the rural outskirts between Pagosa Springs and Durango, time seems to stand still.

The eye sees mostly untamed land, fields of sage and high cliffs where the Ancestral Puebloans made home and left their marks. Chimney Rock National Monument tells their story. Along Colorado 151, those twin spires rise and then recede in the rearview mirror en route to Navajo Reservoir.

However beautiful, the reservoir is a troubling symbol of time never standing still, a 15,600-surface-acre reminder of progress.

Colorados answer to Lake Powell, state park managers describe Navajo, its waters stretching 35 miles to the mesas and canyons shared with New Mexico, where the dam was built in 1962.

With Powell, Navajo shares the burden of drought  a fact made startlingly clear this year.

For the first time, Navajo is being drained to support the downstream reservoir that has reached historic lows. Blue Mesa and Flaming Gorge reservoirs, fellow units of the Colorado River Storage Project, are being pulled as well for Powell.

After scheduled releases for November and December, Navajo is projected to drop 2 feet, said Brian Sandy, park manager. This comes amid a century that has seen the reservoirs lowest levels ever.

To Sandy, it appears levels wont drop to the record plateaus of 2003. Amid climate change, though, the future outlook remains bleak.

The realist in me knows that as long as we remain in this drought pattern, we will continue to see low water levels, Sandy said.

That will mean continued strain for the Navajo Nation that largely depends on the namesake reservoir, along with other tribes and municipalities over the state line, including Gallup and Farmington.

As for Colorado boaters, anglers and outdoor enthusiasts who have come to love the reservoir? The way the parks boat ramp is situated, even at exceptionally low water levels, as long as the river flows are adequate, (visitors) could still launch, Sandy said.

Their numbers have been greater in recent years. In 2020, in line with increases seen across Colorados outdoors during the pandemic, Navajo State Park counted close to 390,775 visitors. That was up 36% from the prior year.

It underscored, as Sandy put it, the difficult balancing act he and rangers expect to wage for years to come  an act between rising demand and preservation.

Still, theres plenty of room along the reservoir that is the largest in Colorado Parks and Wildlifes portfolio. No other affords quite this experience, where one seamlessly drifts between two states, between rugged narrows, wide-open mountain views and posh marinas. Fishing is highly regarded below the dam, where bass, northern pike and Kokanee salmon lurk.

This is the lake that some of your friends forgot to tell you about, reads a park brochure. They want it all to themselves.

Said Sandy: We often hear visitors say they never knew this was here.

Look around, a sign implores them. Look for evidence of times past.

There is evidence of the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad, which forged west in the 1880s, toward the rapidly expanding mines in the San Juan Mountains. By then, families had migrated north to carve a living, drawn to the river as Natives before them. They settled a town called Arboles, Spanish for trees.

The trees were uprooted, as were some 50 families, when the dam was built and the valley was flooded. Today, evidence of those people is hard to find.

Though, the ground they walked has reemerged. It was muddy this visit, as if the water had just retreated. Smoke clung in the air, fires burning around the West. A distant train could be heard.

But it was quiet at an overlook, a pavilion perched high and away from the reservoir. Look, a sign implored. Listen. Listen to the river.
A right-wing group whose 2018 annual conference in Colorado Springs was canceled days after a deadly white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va., has failed to show that a statement from the mayor caused the cancellation.

The federal appeals court based in Denver ruled on Monday that VDARE, which the Southern Poverty Law Center has labeled a white nationalist hate group, had not shown that Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers violated its free speech rights and retaliated against it when he issued a statement pledging no city resources to the conference.

"What VDARE wanted, it had no right to demand  municipal resources to monitor a private entitys private event," wrote Judge Gregory A. Phillips for a three-member panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit.

In response, Suthers said the lawsuit lacked merit from the beginning.

"Just as any organization has the right to express its views, any individual, including an elected official, has the right to express disagreement with those views," he said.

On Aug. 11-12, 2017, a Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville that hosted racist and neo-Nazi groups resulted in the murder of one counter protester, Heather Heyer. VDARE had already booked the Cheyenne Mountain Resort for its 2018 conference, but on August 14, Suthers issued a statement in apparent reference to community outcry over the VDARE event.

"The City of Colorado Springs does not have the authority to restrict freedom of speech, nor to direct private businesses like the Cheyenne Mountain Resort as to which events they may host. That said, I would encourage local businesses to be attentive to the types of events they accept and the groups that they invite to our great city," he said.

"The City of Colorado Springs will not provide any support or resources to this event, and does not condone hate speech in any fashion," the statement continued. "The City remains steadfast in its commitment to the enforcement of Colorado law, which protects all individuals regardless of race, religion, color, ancestry, national origin, physical or mental disability, or sexual orientation to be secure and protected from fear, intimidation, harassment and physical harm."

The following night, the resort cancelled the conference.

VDARE filed a lawsuit in December 2018 against Suthers and the city. The group alleged Suthers put participants in danger by promising there would be no help if they were attacked or threatened by protesters, amounting to the government targeting VDARE for its message. It also claimed Suthers retaliated against VDARE for its views and prompted the cancellation.

VDARE described itself and the website it runs as being concerned about "the unsustainability of current U.S. immigration policy and second, whether the U.S. can survive as a nation-state." (On the same day the 10th Circuit released its decision, VDARE had tweeted, among other things, that "Blacks tend to be America's hot potato, and liberal northern cities are increasingly adept at dumping their hot potatoes off on the south.")

A lower court judge dismissed the lawsuit in March 2020. The judges of the 10th Circuit's panel tried to understand the meaning of the mayor's promise to "not provide any support or resources."

"You take that ... to mean, 'We've got mayhem out there at the resort, but the mayor's declared the police shall not respond,' which is a huge leap," said Phillips to VDARE's attorney. "Instead, when I read that, I say, 'Oh, ok. The police department's not going to be the private security for this event.'"

Chief Judge Timothy M. Tymkovich agreed, saying Suthers seemed to suggest the city was "not going to declare VDARE Memorial Day or we're not gonna provide the welcome wagon for the conference. You go from zero to 100 and say, 'Oh, he's saying that the city's not going to respond to a 9-1-1 phone call if there's a risk of violence.'"

Frederick C. Kelly, representing VDARE, countered that the city cannot threaten to withhold police protection for an event because the government does not approve of the organizers' message.

"What that would mean is we have murder and mayhem and the mayor has said he won't respond," Phillips pushed back. "And that's not what this language says."

The city attorney's office told the panel that there was no allegation the mayor or any city representative had a role in Cheyenne Mountain Resort's decision. The resort was "concerned with their brand," William Lamphere said. He called Suthers' statement "an appeal to the conscience of business owners."

Writing for himself and Tymkovich in the panel's majority opinion, Phillips explained that the city had not provided significant encouragement to cancel the conference, and that Suthers's statement contained no threat to VDARE.

"The Statement didnt mention VDARE, and VDARE hasnt alleged that the City ever communicated with it or the Resort or treated it differently than groups with different speech content, such that it was 'singled out'," Phillips wrote. "Again, the court cannot just adopt VDAREs subjective interpretation."

VDARE had likened its predicament to that of a 1963 U.S. Supreme Court case, Bantam Books, Inc. v. Sullivan. In that instance, a state commission in Rhode Island threatened legal action against the distributors of indecent printed material in an effort to stamp out juvenile delinquency. The Supreme Court ruled that such actions amounted to censorship, but the 10th Circuit's panel found there to be a vast difference between Rhode Island's official regulatory actions and Suthers' statement encouraging businesses to be mindful of the events they host.

The panel determined the mayor was entitled to qualified immunity, which shields government employees from liability unless they violate a clearly-established constitutional right.

The third member of the panel, Judge Harris L Hartz, authored a dissenting opinion. Although he said Suthers was entitled to immunity, Hartz felt his colleagues discounted the inpact of the mayor's statement.

"It is one thing to refuse to provide police protection," Hartz wrote. "It is quite another to announce far in advance that police protection will not be provided."

Jeremy Loew, a criminal defense attorney in Colorado Springs who spoke out against VDARE's conference in August 2017, recalled being one of a small group of people who did not want "racists and anti-Semites" in the city.

"People were more angry that Cheyenne Mountain Resort, which has always been kind of a pillar of the southwest Colorado Springs community, felt it was appropriate to hold some kind of rally, some kind of an event for a group that pretty openly promoted hated speech," he said on Monday. "Colorado Springs has somewhat of a libertarian reputation, but at the end of the day, Colorado Springs is also filled with really good people who will continue to say, 'not in our backyard.'"

An attorney for VDARE did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The case is VDARE Foundation v. Colorado Springs et al.
City Editor

Tom Roeder is the Gazette's City Editor. In Colorado Springs since 2003, Tom has covered the military at home and overseas and has covered statehouses in Denver and Olympia, Wash. His main job, though, is being dad to two great kids.
Radian Inc. project designer Grey Waletich, left, shows Interfaith Alliance consultant Jennifer Lopez the inside of one of the tents set up in the parking lot at First Baptist Church on Dec. 4 in Denvers Capitol Hill neighborhood.
INDUSTRY INSIGHT

Protecting citizen-facing staff from phishing starts with a people-first approach

As government agencies formalize their workforce plans for the remainder of 2021 and beyond, one ongoing concern for both the traditional office and remote locations is email security.

As weve all seen over the past 18-months, digital communications and online activity have skyrocketed, which has created more opportunities for bad actors to prey on citizens, school districts and state and local governments. In Illinois, for example, scammers recently sent out a number of phishing messages to residents posing as the Illinois Department of Transportation in the hopes of securing drivers license numbers, dates of birth and Social Security numbers so they could steal residents identities. Earlier this summer, Albuquerque, N.M., fell victim to a phishing attack that almost cost it $1.9 million in ransom.

For government agencies, the risk of not being able to provide access to services for residents is not worth taking, so its time to protect agency employees with self-learning cybersecurity solutions that give users confidence to work and communicate online freely.

While phishing has been around for quite some time, success rates have been rapidly increasing as the techniques have matured thanks to the increased availability of a user's history and behavior online. Additionally, online pockets of organized criminal groups are sharing stolen data and even selling access to critical information. These crime-as-a-service offerings can include the selling of access to the tools, expertise and information required to create sophisticated phishing campaigns  and often includes organizations email and contact lists.

Phishing attacks have traditionally targeted individuals as cybercriminals looked for access to personal information such as banking records, but criminals are also turning their attention toward larger organizations such as state, local and federal agencies. Within the government sector, phishing attacks were responsible for 70% of all government data breaches over the past year. Phishing has also led to a significant rise in ransomware cases, with attacks in North America up 158% and a specific focus on government agencies and utility providers.

Why this new focus? From what we see, it is twofold. First, people continue to be organizations greatest vulnerability and provide the easiest path to network access. Second, it is thought that government agencies are more likely to pay a ransom due to the critical nature of the services they provide their local residents.

With so many hacking attempts taking place, it is imperative that all public-sector security leaders add a human layer to their cybersecurity efforts in order to prevent the next take down of local services.

Growth in online communication for state and local governments

The majority of citizen engagements take place over traditional email, with federal, state and local governments sending or receiving hundreds of millions of email communications every year. These inquiries, questions and resolutions require a personal evaluation to provide constituents with the information they are looking for. This takes time and also requires that government employees trust that the emails they receive are safe and not the latest phishing tactic being leveraged by potential criminals.

With all of the investments made to increase cybersecurity, agency employees may have a false sense of security and assume that they are safe when engaging with inbound inquiries. With the high number of communications taking place, staff may also accidently (or intentionally) send sensitive information to the wrong recipients, because no monitoring or filtering system can prevent simple mistakes.

Why a human approach to cybersecurity

As government agencies continue to adopt a digital-first approach, they must focus on the No. 1 vulnerability: their employees. As mentioned earlier, people make mistakes. They can also get hacked and break the rules. These three facts have contributed to a rise in phishing scams and ransomware attacks across all levels of government. That is why agencies must now turn their attention to enabling employees to work freely and confidently, while being protected.

Intelligent solutions that adopt a zero-trust model can analyze the content and context of each email before it reaches the employees inbox. Using natural language processing technology, advanced solutions can go beyond the capability of traditional secure email gateways to detect even the most sophisticated attacks. NLP can accurately determine the senders authenticity, even detecting when cybercriminals are using compromised accounts to impersonate trusted contacts, such as colleagues. Agencies can also protect their employees who share data with machine learning technology that can understand individual users behavior to effectively prevent outbound incidents, too.

Increasing confidence for local citizens

Because of the close relationship between constituents and state and local government, agencies have the responsibility to retain the taxpayers trust that whenever communication takes place, steps and protocols are in place to protect their information.

By empowering the employees on the front-line of citizen engagement to conduct their jobs in a secure fashion, agencies can not only increase productivity but also fight off cybersecurity attacks. Keeping services online and communications open and secure provides the greatest service to local residents.
Price tag on NYs vaccination app keeps rising

First announced in March, the digital vaccine verification app generates a QR code that can be stored on a smartphone 15 days after a persons second shot. It is gaining popularity in the state as more public- and private-sector organizations are requiring proof of vaccination.

According to The New York Times, the costs of the Excelsior Pass may approach $27 million. When the program was first announced in March, it was expected to cost $2.5 million to develop. A June review of the contract estimated a total cost of $17 million over three years, and a late June contract update added another $10 million.

The Times worked with the advocacy group Surveillance Technology Oversight Project to review the states contract with IBM, the apps developer.

We always said that Excelsior Pass would be a high-tech distraction from real public health measures, but we had no idea the price would go up this high, the groups Executive Director Albert Fox Cahn told The Times. Even as New Yorkers find themselves on the hook for millions more, the app still isnt able to do a lot of the basics.

To verify a persons vaccination record, the app checks the name, date of birth, ZIP code and county of vaccination against the states vaccine registry, and nearly all information must match exactly. Engineers have already fixed issues related to outdated phone numbers, accessibility for the visually impaired, foreign language capabilities and incorrect error messages and crashes, The Times said.

On Aug. 4, a second phase of the program launched. The QR code used for the Excelsior Pass Plus includes the date, place and type of vaccination, instead of just verifying that a person has been vaccinated, allowing for broader use of the app.

A third phase, which is projected to cost $6.7 million, will allow the app to track third doses and include data from residents of New Jersey and Vermont.

According to the paper, the governors office said the state had only spent $4.7 million and would only spend the full amount if the program continued to be successful. Additionally, the money so far spent on the program was expected to be reimbursed by the federal government, the governors spokesman said.

Meanwhile, the Utah Department of Health has been experimenting with using the Docket app to give residents access to their immunization records as more businesses require proof of vaccination.

To retrieve their vaccination record, users download the app, enter their first and last names, date of birth and gender, and the Health Department sends a PIN to the phone number or email address it has on file. Docket provides access to a users complete vaccination record, not just to COVID immunizations.

"[Businesses] are using the information from the state registry over the COVID-19 card because there have been so many issues with COVID-19 cards, with people losing them, even some fraudulent ones out there," Jon Reid, the Immunization Program Manager with the Utah Department of Health, told Fox 13 News.

Docket is also working with New Jersey.

Illinois Department of Public Health launched the Vax Verify immunization portal that will allow residents to access their COVID-19 vaccination record online. The state is working with the credit reporting agency Experian to verify the records. After users register, they can see their immunizations in the Illinois Comprehensive Automated Immunization Registry Exchange.

Residents of Arizona, the District of Columbia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Dakota, Washington and West Virginia can use myIR Mobile to download their official state immunization records.

Residents of Louisiana can also add an electronic version of their COVID-19 vaccination records added to their LA Wallet, the states digital drivers license app.

In Virginia, people who have received vaccinations can download and print a version their COVID immunization records from Vaccinate Virginia website. Californians can also access their records online.
Works from an artist with North Iowa roots are currently on display at the MacNider Art Museum in Mason City, and a speaker will visit the museum Thursday to educate others about her life and her art.

Atlanta C. Sampson, a teacher turned artist from Toeterville, which lies several miles north of St. Ansgar, "was not 'discovered' as an artist until much later in her life," a press release from MacNider Art Museum said.

The featured artwork in the exhibition is on loan from the Unionhurst Gallery and consists of a variety of media she created over the span of her career.

On Thursday, Aug. 26, Kurtis Meyer, a North Iowa native and art collector/enthusiast who met Sampson several times, will speak about her life and art.

Meyer has served for six years on the Iowa Board of Humanities and has served as a consultant to several art museums over the years; early in his career, he served as executive director of the AAM Museum of Art in Wisconsin, the press release noted.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 6 p.m. in the museum's Salsbury Room, and seating will be available on a first come, first served basis.

The exhibition in the museum's Kinney Lindstrom Gallery will remain on display through Oct. 6.
Everist, who is vaccinated, chose to wear a mask her first day of classes to set an example to fellow classmates and because of her concern about rise in cases.

Im a little nervous about it but Im choosing to wear a mask because I wanted to set an example, said Everist. I want to protect those who are unvaccinated or immunosuppressed.

Despite concerns of the COVID-19, both Millsap and Long are excited to be back and seeing students faces again.

I always know an indicator (of excitement) is when my adrenaline starts going up at the start of the year. I know Im excited to have the kids walk in today, it has been awesome, said Long.

I think its always very exciting. Youre nervous that something will go crazy. Something will happen but youre also excited just to see the kids, especially after the summer, said Millsap.

John Adams Middle School Principal Jerry Siglin said the first day back felt normal right as the final bell for the day rang.
At the time of his death on March 20, 1999, Hobson "Hob" Mason had a resume that any musician could be proud of.

Born in Jackson, Mississippi, in 1924 but a decades-long resident of the North Iowa area, the jazz pianist and band leader had Mose Allison's personal phone number in his address book, played with Count Basie and hung out with B.B. King.

"Theyd come out and jam. Wed play all night, just having fun, you know?" Hob said in a 1998 article from the Globe Gazette about his being named the grand marshal of that year's North Iowa Band Festival. For Hob, who played endless gigs at no-longer-existing venues such as the All Vets Club in Clear Lake, the Red Lama in Mason City and the Chart House steak house (which closed in March 1982), also in Mason City, getting that Band Fest honorific was one of the greatest achievements of his life.

11 tunes

Another particularly proud moment for Hob was cutting an album with the trio bearing his name at Sound 80 Studios in Minneapolis.

Coming in at just a shade under 45 minutes, Hob on piano, Carroll Stephenson on bass, Harry Egli on drums, and Bill Mahone as a guest clarinet/sax/vibraphone player journey through 11 tunes including jazz standards such as "Mood Indigo," "Watermelon Man" and "Take the A Train." The third song on the A-side of the record, "Seventh Son," bears a particularly heavy groove marked by insistent drumming and sax bleating underneath simple vocals about being "the one they call the seventh son."

The bookends of "Saturday Night at the Chart House," "Take the A Train" and "Perdido," both begin with Hob tickling the ivories before the rest of his band joins in. On the latter track, Hob gets to stretch out for a solo around the 1 minute, 27 second mark where he makes run after run up and down the piano. He does it with the kind of ease that only comes from decades of refining a craft first learned from a Catholic school nun named Sister Amadea. As a student, though, Hob mostly stuck with classical until he got close to the end of his high school career. That's when he first started tinkering with the kinds of jazz standards he'd eventually record for the album.

Hob's son, Morris Mason, suggested the albums were mostly bought by friends and people who went to see him play. His daughter, Denise Hennigar, thinks there could've been about 100 or so copies of the album that were pressed and sold for about $10 a pop. Nowadays, there's likely a better chance of winning the Powerball jackpot than finding a vinyl copy of "Saturday Night at the Chart House" in the wild.

Googling the record, the most pertinent hit for it is on the Discogs website, which is sort of like Amazon but for buying and selling all physical forms of music. There's one listing for "Saturday Night at the Chart House" for $74 from a seller out of Chicago known as Wild Prairie. They picked it up, sealed, in Austin, Texas.

"Someone said it was $79 and I started laughing because Im like: Its 10 bucks," said Denise, who's kept one album back for herself.

Morris said that he has digital copies of the album so that he can listen to it in the car whenever he wants.

"It does take me back," he said. "It's one of those things that's going to live on forever."

Never a disparaging word

While copies of "Saturday Night at the Chart House" are scarce, at best, there's never been a dearth of people in North Iowa with kind words to say about Hob.

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In that article about the 1998 Band Fest, one resident said: "Ive never heard him say a disparaging word about anyone."

Tom Thoma, who drummed with Hob and now serves on the Mason City Council, said that he was great as a band leader and people loved to follow Hob around. In fact, a 1978 story from the Des Moines Register recounts that two couples traveled 102 miles to hear Hob play in Mason City one night.

According to Thoma, people came to Hob because the road life wore on him.

"He had a band at one time and they traveled around and one time the bus they were using went in a ditch during a snowstorm and Hob said: That was it. He wasnt going to do it anymore. Wasnt going to tour anymore," Thoma said.

Despite years of not traveling, Denise said that Hob was liked enough that he could even show up on Bourbon Street in New Orleans and at least one person would know him.

Elaine Bennett, the former wife of Bill Mahone, said that Hob was a calm and quiet person.

"(He was) not overtly passionate about anything but he loved riding his bike around the lake and flying kites -- sometimes simultaneously!" she wrote in a Facebook message. According to Morris, Hob was good enough with a kite and a flashlight that when a strong wind was blowing at night he could make visitors think they were seeing a UFO.

Within the past year, Morris said that a former classmate told him that they were once having a particularly rough time and Hob had such a good conversation with them that it turned their life around.

"Totally changed my perspective of who my dad was," Morris said.

When she turned 21, Denise said that her dad made a performance out of it.

"He brought me a birthday cake on my 21st birthday, on the beach, and sang to me," she said.

Work ethic

Even about a year before he died, Hob could be found playing shows at the Prime N Wine.

"He had the work ethic where if a tornado landed in Clear Lake, he got in his car and went to work," Denise said.

When he wasn't playing shows at venues, Hob would also play at friends' houses, weddings and funerals. Almost exclusively in North Iowa, for 30-plus years.

"I never really felt like going anywhere else once I got here," he once said.

Denise said that she never got to see Hob playing at a place like the Chart House, so the album is her only connection to that time in her father's life. For that, she's still thankful.

"I keep his music alive because I miss him a lot."

Jared McNett covers local government for the Globe Gazette. You can reach him at Jared.McNett@globegazette.com or by phone at 641-421-0527. Follow Jared on Twitter at @TwoHeadedBoy98.

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Relations between the U.S. and China deteriorated sharply under Bidens predecessor, Donald Trump, and the two sides remain at odds over a host of issues including technology, cybersecurity and human rights.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin made their first overseas trips to Japan and South Korea. Austin traveled to Singapore, Vietnam and the Philippines last month and he vowed U.S. support against Beijings intrusions in the South China Sea.

Harris is expected to emphasize the need for a free and open Indo-Pacific region in her conversations with Singapore's and Vietnam's leaders.

Alexander Feldman, president and CEO of the US-ASEAN Business Council, said Harris will have to be careful in her conversations with Singapores leaders not to focus too heavily on China, but to emphasize a positive, productive U.S. relationship with Singapore and Vietnam.

Where she could fall into a trap is really trying to pit this as a U.S. versus China trip. it should be a U.S. trip to our friends and partners in in Southeast Asia, Feldman said.

If China becomes the main focal point, he said, that makes it harder for our friends to move forward across the region, not only in Singapore and Vietnam but beyond that.
Reynolds has spoken extensively about her concerns illegal immigrants are bringing drugs into the country and increasing COVID-19 rates. Coupled with her criticism of Democratic President Joe Bidens border policy, some Republicans have speculated she may be interested in higher office.

On June 10, the same day Abbott and Ducey sent their letter requesting help, Reynolds issued a news release saying she and Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee demanded congressional hearings on the border crisis.

Bayens forwarded that release to Paul Feddersen, assistant director in charge of the departments Division of Narcotics Enforcement, with the note FYSA, which likely means for your situational awareness. Feddersen replied, Interesting.

Interim Iowa Homeland Security Director John Benson wrote an email June 11 to Blake DeRouchey, the Homeland Security legislative liaison. There is considerable interest in possible EMAC requests from states along the southern border. Please keep a close eye out for any and all EMAC requests. If we do receive some through the system let me know as soon as possible so I can inform the Governors Office.

DeRouchey replied June 14 that he had looked that morning and had seen a new posting from Texas, but no formal request providing details.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP)  Recreational vehicle and boat manufacturer Winnebago Industries is moving its corporate headquarters from Iowa to Minnesota, the company said in a statement.

Based in Forest City, Iowa, since its founding in 1958, the company said Thursday that the shift to Eden Prairie, Minnesota, will be effective Dec. 1.

The companys executive offices have been in Minnesota since 2016 when CEO Michael Happe, former head of Eden Prairie-based lawnmower maker Toro Co., became president and CEO of Winnebago and remained there instead of moving to Iowa. No job losses are planned as a result of the official change and manufacturing locations will remain the same, the company said.

Over the past several years, through strategic growth investments, we have expanded our companys footprint to now include locations in Iowa, Indiana, Florida and Minnesota. Our Twin Cities location has been and will continue to be an effective resource for executing our vision as a premier outdoor recreation enterprise, as it supports the growth of all of our strong brands," Happe said in a statement.

Winnebago Industries employs about 6,500 employees, about 100 of whom are based out of its Eden Prairie office.
Solomon Stratton's service as a soldier in the Union Cavalry, and his service to and friendship with Lt. Carlos Verbeck would provide opportunities and prospects that are still viable and measurable to this day yet afforded to very few Black men of that time.

Having survived Gettysburg, the actions of the 8th Illinois in its aftermath brought home a hope of possibly making it out of the war alive.

On December 18, 1863, Private/Saddleryman Solomon Stratton was mustered out at Alexandria, Virginia and transported back to Illinois. He had served the Union for over 2 years and was now ready to work the Iowa land that would be his own, to become a family man and a gentleman farmer.

Yet, this nation could just not deliver its appreciation and respect deserving to Sol Stratton without the ignominy and abasement of forcing him and many other Black Union soldiers to ride in the stock cars with the excess horses and jackasses, oxen and pack animals.

When he arrived at Elgin, Illinois, Sol was met by Luther Verbeck, the father of his Civil War comrade. The elder Verbeck handed him an envelope containing all the necessary authorizations and legal documents drawn and sealed and notarized for the land in Iowa and to provide him standing and legitimacy.
Republication Virginia attorney general candidate Jason Miyares made a campaign stop in Danville on Monday afternoon at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research.

Speaking to a small crowd of local small business owners and current and former law enforcement officials and attorneys, Miyares outlined his plan to keep Virginia safe if elected.

Miyares, the son of a Cuban immigrant, is a former criminal prosecutor in Virginia Beach who has served eight years in the General Assembly. He is asking voters if they feel safer today than they did eight years ago when Mark Herring took office.

I like to say that common sense isnt very common in Richmond right now, Miyares said explaining the attorney general in Virginia is considered both the top cop and the top lawyer in the state.

Right now we have a very different Democratic party then what we had yesteryear, Miyares related when speaking about social justice.
Virginians caught possessing more than an ounce of marijuana, the states legal limit, but less than a pound of the drug, stand to face a light, $25 civil penalty. The potential repercussions jump drastically after the 1-pound benchmark to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

A government watchdog says that approach is not gradual enough and instead proposed that Virginia follow the lead of other states and create a criminal misdemeanor charge for possession above 2.5 ounces.

The proposition is facing criticism from some civil rights advocates, who say creating additional penalties goes against the goal of decriminalization and could disproportionately penalize Black Virginians, as other marijuana laws have.

The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission presented the proposal to lawmakers during the first meeting of the legislatures Joint Commission on Cannabis Oversight, which will take a leading role in crafting marijuana policy. Two key Democratic lawmakers on the cannabis oversight panel said they thought the creation of the misdemeanor charge would be unpopular among their caucuses but didnt rule it out.

Whether to adjust penalties for possession of marijuana above the legal limit is one of myriad issues lawmakers will have to settle when they return to Richmond in January.
Probably not on both counts. Individual lives tend to get ground up in the giant gears of geopolitics and history. Last week, the process was under way even before the bodies hit the ground, the punditocracy united in debating the question that, for many, was foremost in importance: Who gets the blame for this debacle?

Does it go to the Bush, Obama or Trump administrations for mishandling the war? To the Biden administration for bungling the pullout, creating a deadly calamity by misreading the speed with which Taliban forces would overrun the nation? To Afghanistans hapless government, which we spent more than $2 trillion American and more than 2,000 American lives to install, maintain and defend? Should it go to the Afghan army, 300,000 men trained and equipped at a cost of $83 billion, which melted away like a sandcastle in the waves when faced with a ragtag force one quarter its size? Or to U.S. military leaders who kept assuring us things were going well when, clearly, things were not?

Well, the answer is: Yes, all of the above. The answer is also, who cares?

Not that those are not critical questions. Not that they do not demand answers and accountability. Not that there are not grave geopolitical implications here.
And that includes us.

We wont pretend to be prophetic; we dont know what could have been done differently in Afghanistan or what should be done now. Once we and our NATO allies invaded in 2001, there were never any good options  only slightly less horrible options. All we can do is follow the news and try to stay informed. Wait patiently. Those who pray can pray for peace and for mercy.

And we can stand by those who stood by us.

Translators, drivers, diplomats and others who helped U.S. forces during our time there are in line for special punishment from the Taliban. Some have already been executed in retaliation for helping us.

But many have been evacuated by U.S. forces and more need to be. For the sake of our nations reputation, in anticipation of the cooperation well likely need in the future and for the sake of sheer decency, weve got to continue the evacuation of Afghans who assisted American forces.

We can also still support our military personnel. They did everything we asked of them and more. Even as they leave, they do so heroically.

But we should know by now, for certain and forever, that military might has its limitations.
RALEIGH  The North Carolina Museum of History is excited to host Dressing the Abbey, a costume exhibition that highlights fashion from one of the most widely watched television dramas in the world, Downton Abbey. The exhibition will be on display at the North Carolina Museum of History from Oct. 23, 2021, through Jan. 17, 2022.

If youre already thinking about holiday gifts, winter birthdays, and unique anniversary gifts, place Dressing the Abbey on your shopping list. Pre-sale for tickets will start after Labor Day on Sept. 7, 2021. Tickets can be purchased online at ncmuseumofhistoryshop.com, in person, or over the phone at 919-814-6970.

 $15 for general admission

 $12 for seniors (62 and up), military, and educators

 $10 for members (plus the first ticket is free)

 $10 for ages 7 to 17

 Children ages 6 and under are free

This traveling exhibition will be open to visitors during normal museum hours. For more information regarding visiting the museum, please refer to https://www.ncmuseumofhistory.org/about/plan-your-visit.
The decision sparked heated protests. Parents and others on both sides of the issue held placards during Union County Board of Education meetings and outside in the parking lot.

Out-of-pocket money

For Gendron, masks are no debate. They help stop the spread of the coronavirus, along with hand sanitizer, disinfectant, air purifiers, social distancing and other equipment and measures, she said.

And she wanted her library to be prepared, she said. Gendron spent at least $300 of her own money on masks  for anyone entering the library who wanted one  and cleaning supplies. Her school administration OKd her leaving the masks in baskets, she said.

But air purifiers alone cost hundreds of dollars, and she needed several for the 4,500-square-foot library.

Shipments of supplies, including at least 1,500 masks from Jones, began arriving Tuesday. Gendron created a large Free Masks poster that also thanked Jones.

Social media trend

Jones, who couldnt be reached by the Observer, has joined other celebrities helping teachers and other school staff #ClearTheList.
MONROE TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP)  Residents across the waterlogged Northeast began clearing mud and tearing out sodden carpets Monday after deluges dropped by Tropical Storm Henri, whose remnants threatened further flooding in New England as the system made a slow trek back to the sea.

The smell of sewage filled the air as residents of Rossmoor, a retirement community in central New Jersey's Monroe Township, returned to soaked homes and ruined possessions after Henri turned their streets into rivers.

Roseann and John Kiernan said theyd have to likely toss their appliances, tear up walls and carpets and replace their car after their house filled with nearly 2 feet of water on Sunday.

This is what we were left with. Nothing, nothing, lamented Roseann Kiernan. They told us that everything has to go.

A few miles away from Monroe, the whirring of portable pumps split the air on the main street in Jamesburg, another hard-hit New Jersey community.

Luke Becker, who operates the Four Boys ice cream stand along with his three brothers  one of six the family owns  said nearly 4 feet of water rushed into the shop, dislodging a tall cooler and leaving 3 inches of mud behind.
She couldnt be happier and at peace to be able to experience painting on a live, moving canvas for the very first time, and for a special cause, she said.

Its super special for me to be able to expand on a theme that means a lot to me as an artist and conservationist and also getting the opportunity to do it with this beloved horse in order to raise money for youth homes in Missoula, I mean what could be better? she said.

As an environmental conservationist, Emery was excited to be able to paint and bring to life some of the things shes most passionate about, which are rivers and birds, she said.

I wanted to celebrate the Bitterroot River, and the Free Rein theme was just perfect because it allowed me to celebrate the life that the river harbors, she said. I wanted to highlight some of the important bird species that live along the riparian area of the river.

Riparian habitats are where rivers or streams meet the land, such as river bottoms, black cottonwood and willow areas.

Emery spends a lot of her time exploring the Bitterroot River and the types of fauna that flourish and benefit from the river ecosystem.
Q: My childrens father has a very bad temper. Over the years my kids have asked me, Dont tell Dad, for fear he would get angry. I have kept a few minor things in confidence, but now my 15-year-old daughter has debilitating cramps when she is on her period, and her doctor has prescribed birth-control pills to control the problematic symptoms she faces each month. She has asked me, Dont tell Dad. She does not want to discuss her period with him, and she thinks he wont believe the pills are to control her periods but that they're to prevent pregnancy. My daughter is not sexually active, she's embarrassed, and I dont know how to handle this. I think her father has the right to know, but if I tell him, I will be betraying my daughter. Whats good ex-etiquette?
NEW YORK  James W. Loewen, a Decatur native whose million-selling Lies My Teacher Told Me books challenged traditional ideas and knowledge on everything from Thanksgiving to the Iraq War, has died. He was 79.

Loewen's publisher, New Press, announced that the author died Thursday at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland. A professor emeritus at the University of Vermont who lived in Washington, D.C., he had been diagnosed two years ago with Stage IV bladder cancer, enough time for him to post Notes toward an obituary on his website.

Telling the truth about the past helps cause justice in the present," was his guiding principle, he wrote. "Achieving justice in the present helps us tell the truth about the past.

He was born in Decatur, his father a doctor and his mother a teacher and librarian. Loewen was a 1960 graduate of MacArthur High School as well as a national merit scholar. He also attended Dennis School and Woodrow Wilson Junior High School.

His Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong was published in 1995 and became a favorite of students and former students as it challenged what Loewen considered a white, Eurocentric view of the past and the stale prose and bland presentations of classroom books.

He based his findings on his research while on fellowship at the Smithsonian Institution, where he spent two years looking through textbooks. He gave his chapters such headlines as The Truth About the First Thanksgiving, Gone With the Wind: The Invisibility of American Racism in American Textbooks and See No Evil: Choosing Not to Look at the War in Vietnam."

Loewen prided himself on pointing out the socialist beliefs of Helen Keller or the diversity of American Indian culture. He chastised textbook authors for ignoring the history of labor unions and leaving students with the impression that the mistreatment of workers was something that happened long ago, like slavery, and that, like slavery, was corrected long ago.

In a 2018 interview with NPR, he said that inspiration for Lies My Teacher Told Me came while he was teaching at the historically Black Tougaloo College in Mississippi, and asked his students for their thoughts on Reconstruction.

And what happened to me was an 'A-ha' experience, although you might better consider it an 'Oh-no' experience: 16 out of my 17 students said, Well, Reconstruction was the period right after the Civil War when Blacks took over the government of the Southern states. But they were too soon out of slavery and so they screwed up and white folks had to take control again.

My little heart sank.

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Loewen's book won the American Book Award and was sometimes likened to Howard Zinn's A People's History as an alternate text for progressives. A Publishers Weekly review called Lies My Teacher Told Me a politically correct critique of 12 American history textbooks that was sure to please liberals and infuriate conservatives.

He continued the series with Lies My Teacher Told Me About Christopher Columbus, Lies Across America: What Our Historic Sites Get Wrong and Lies My Teacher Told Me: Young Readers Edition" and revised the original work in 2018, during the Donald Trump administration. His other books included Teaching What Really Happened, The Mississippi Chinese: Between Black and White and the memoir Up a Creek, With a Paddle. The New Press will publish a graphic edition in 2023 of Lies My Teacher Told Me, which Loewen had been working on with artist Nate Powell, who had collaborated with Rep. John Lewis on his acclaimed March graphic trilogy.

Loewen is survived by his second wife, Susan Robertson Loewen; children Nick Loewen and Lucy Loewen McMurrer; four grandchildren and his sister, Mary Cavalier.

Fathering was his happiest role, Loewen wrote in his prepared obituary.

While studying sociology at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, during the height of the civil rights movement, he spent the early part of 1963 auditing courses at Mississippi State University, while also visiting Tougaloo College and the Tuskegee Institute.

He enjoyed all three Southern colleges but felt a particular kinship with Tougaloo, where students actually bought and read books not assigned them in courses, a rarity at MSU, Loewen wrote on his website.

Before establishing himself as an author, Loewen co-wrote a textbook which helped lead to a legal battle that anticipated current debates over how race should be taught. In 1974, he and Dr. Charles Sallis published Mississippi: Conflict and Change, an intended corrective to what they saw as the racially biased information that his Tougaloo students had been assigned for a required 9th grade course on the state's history.

The book won the Lillian Smith Award for nonfiction, presented by the Southern Regional Council, but officials in Mississippi voted to reject it for classroom use, alleging that Mississippi: Conflict and Change devoted too much time to Black history. Loewen and others sued. In 1980, U.S. District Court Judge Orma Smith ruled in the plaintiffs' favor and ordered the book placed on the approved list.

The city declared Oct. 8 James William Loewen Day in Decatur in 2019, when he spoke at the Decatur Public Library about being an author.

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DECATUR  Carl E. Harvey II, who installed a security system in a Decatur mans home and then disabled it so he could steal more than $100,000, was sent to prison for six years.

Harvey, 39, pleaded guilty to a charge of residential burglary when he appeared in Macon County Circuit Court Wednesday. He had taken a plea deal negotiated by defense attorney Chris Amero that saw a further charge of theft dismissed. The case had been scheduled for a jury trial to begin August 16 before the defendant took the plea deal.

Sworn Decatur Police affidavits said Harvey had gone on a spending spree with the loot after the burglary in July 2020 and a large chunk of the stolen cash was still missing. As part of his sentencing, Judge Jeffrey Geisler ordered Harvey to repay more than $69,000 to the homeowner victim.

Detectives said Harvey had fallen under suspicion immediately after the burglary to a home in the 2400 block of East Logan Street. The homeowner had told police that, after Harvey installed the security camera system, he was the only other person who knew the location of the safe holding much of the stolen cash.

Detective Chad Reed had said in the affidavit that the homeowner remembered Harvey telling him: ... All a person has to do is take the recording device and there would be no video left on the security system.

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Reed said the recording device had indeed been taken in the burglary but Harvey was still out of luck: police were able to pull footage from neighbors security cameras which showed him arriving and leaving the victims house at the time of the burglary.

Harvey, who had also been wanted on unrelated domestic violence charges, had been caught within a week of the burglary after he was pulled over by Macon County Sheriffs Office deputies.

During a probable cause search of Harveys vehicle, deputies observed several bundles of older $20 notes, said Reed. Knowing Harvey to be a suspect in this incident (the burglary) deputies contacted DPD detectives.

In the week he was in possession of the stolen cash, Harvey had treated himself to a used pickup truck valued at $7,500 and a new four-wheeler off-road vehicle that cost $14,720.

Reed said the bundles of cash in the truck added up to more than $6,800 and Harvey had used stacks of used notes to pay for the vehicles and splashed another $600 on clothing items.

Contact Tony Reid at (217) 421-7977. Follow him on Twitter: @TonyJReid

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CARBONDALE  Keeshanna Jackson, a Southern Illinois University freshman, has been identified as the student fatally shot during the overnight hours Sunday just after the first week of classes for the fall semester.

The Carbondale Police Department is investigating the shooting, which occurred at 501 W. Cherry, according to an email alert sent by SIU's Department of Public Safety.

Police responded at 3:12 a.m. Sunday to the area in response to shots fired at a residence where a party was taking place, according to a news release from the Carbondale Police Department.

SIU students and non-students were in attendance at the party, police said.

Officers said they found a gunshot victim  later identified as Jackson  and attempted to save her life, but she was later pronounced dead at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale.

While officers were at the hospital, three other gunshot victims came into the ER with gunshot wounds that were not life threatening, officers said. The victims came on their own to the ER and from the same location as the shooting, police said.

The girl's family has been notified, according to the SIU campus police alert.

Zachary Romero, a neighbor who said he witnessed the shooting from his window, said he saw a group of people gathered around a car on the corner and then heard two separate volleys of gunshots.

Then the people by the car started screaming and freaking out and I heard people say 'call the cops', Romero said.

Romero said he called 911 at 3:10 a.m. and that police showed up minutes later. He said there were around 20 people gathered near the car.

SIU Chancellor Austin Lane released the following statement to The Southern regarding the incident:

We are heartbroken to lose a member of the Saluki family and extend our deepest condolences to her family and friends," Lane said.

He said SIU is assisting police with the investigation.

"We understand this will come as a shock to many of our students. If they are feeling anxious or have other mental health concerns, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is available to help them, and our counselors in residence will be available today until 9 p.m. in Baldwin Hall and 3-9 p.m. in Grinnell Hall for immediate walk-in appointments. As we mourn this loss in our community, we will keep the students family and friends in our thoughts," Lane said.

The chancellor said he met with the family, along with Jennifer Jones-Hall, interim vice chancellor for student affairs and dean of students, and Wendell Williams, associate chancellor for enrollment management, according to Kim Rendfeld, director of communications for SIU.

The university will have a commemoration this week, and the chancellor will attend that event, Rendfeld said.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the City of Carbondale Police Department at (618) 457-3200. You may also call the Carbondale/SIU Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (618) 549-COPS (2677) or the Murphysboro/Jackson County anonymous tip line at (618) 687-COPS (2677).

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KICKAPOO  A "person of interest" has been taken into custody near Springfield in connection with the shooting death of a woman in rural Peoria County early Sunday.

Around 1 a.m., deputies from Peoria County were called to the intersection of U.S. Route 150 and Philander Chase Lane northwest of Kickapoo and found a woman in the ditch with multiple gunshot wounds, Peoria County Sheriff Brian Asbell said in a news release.

She was transported to OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria, where she was later pronounced dead.

Asbell said in the same news release Sunday morning that a person of interest in the case was located at a rest stop near Springfield. Illinois State Police and the Sangamon County Sheriff's Office were at the scene.

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Officers from the Springfield Police Department also responded to the call, and the rest stop was closed for serval hours.

Shortly after 1 p.m. Sunday, Asbell confirmed the person had surrendered at the Railsplitter Rest Area and was in state police custody. Neither state police nor Asbell's office released additional information Sunday about that person's identity or connection to the case.

The investigation into the woman's death is ongoing, and her name is expected to be released by Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood after her family has been notified.

Reporter Steven Spearie of the (Springfield) State Journal-Register contributed.

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All that happened on Aug. 22, 200417 years agoand on the other side of the world, but the 42-year-old and his wife live with the aftermath every moment of their lives.

And that brings us back to the topic that make him smirk, just a little. Jernigan proudly announced that both bathrooms in the new house have urinals, something he needs because he has a target acquisition problem.

You can quote that, his wife chimed in.

Asked how that makes him different from any other man in the world, the veteran roared and said: Ive got a built-in excuse to have a urinal, right? Because Im blind.

Everybody laughed. But fellow veteran Danique Masingill, who met the couple several years ago at an event for servicemembers, knows how hard KimberLee lobbied for that particular accessory. It was a matter of preserving her husbands dignity, and she didnt want him to take it sitting down.

She fought for that urinal and borderline yelled, Hes a Marine, he fought for this country, he deserves the right to stand up to pee,  Masingill recalled.
In both countries, we also were myopic. We placed all our faith in the regimes we had installed without strong efforts to develop offsetting power centers and the robust civil society necessary for liberal democracy to survive. We acted in Vietnam as if only communists could oppress their people. Similarly in Afghanistan, we obsessed about radical Islam as the only enemy worthy of consideration, ignoring the corruption and strife that gave rise to the Talibans sway in the first place.

Indeed, once we deposed the Taliban we quickly lost interest in favor of the invasion of Iraq. By the time we refocused, the regime that the U.S. installed had irretrievably destroyed its credibility.

Sadly, we are repeating these mistakes on a much grander scale in the Middle East. Obsessed alternatively with fighting Sunni Muslim extremists and countering Shiite Muslim Iran, we act as if corrupt authoritarian regimes like that of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Sisi are the only alternative.

Just as the corrupt regimes we backed in Vietnam and Afghanistan never achieved popular support or staying power against the communists or radical Islamists, the regimes we are backing in the Middle East will not provide a long-term defense against radical Islamic groups hostile to human rights, the preservation of Israel and other U.S. interests.
President Joe Bidens defense of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan was callous, self-serving and deeply unconvincing. Above all, it was beside the point. The question is no longer whether U.S. troops should have stayed. Its how the U.S. can minimize the damage caused by this grievously bungled exit.

Some of the gloating among U.S. rivals is overdone, but theres no doubt U.S. credibility has suffered a crippling blow. Abandoning loyal Afghan allies to their fate will haunt future U.S. interventions around the world. Friends have been snubbed. Rival powers will take heart. Terror groups that were always going to be hard to target from afar are now set to grow bigger and faster than before. Recovering from this debacle will require long, painstaking effort.

It must start with telling the truth. So far, the president has refused to recognize this misadventure as a failure. If a mess of this order doesnt qualify, its hard to know what would. Biden needs to be honest, not blithely unyielding in his own defense.
We are always honored to host our local, state and nationally elected officials to our campus in conjunction with our higher education partners, said Hinshaw. Catawba Valley Community College  as part of the statewide Carolina Cyber Network  will be establishing an intensive focus on health-care cybersecurity by utilizing the unique assets of our ValleySim Hospital to assist the health-care industry in improving on the protection of the systems and personal information that they are responsible for. It will take a commitment from the local, state and national partners to assure that we maximize the benefit for our stakeholders, and we are excited that those partners are already seeing the value in what we will be doing in the future.
Miami-Dade schools, the nations fourth-largest district with 340,000 students, began classes Monday with a strict mask mandate. Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said the district would wear any state punishment as a badge of honor.

I know it (wearing masks) is an inconvenience but it is a necessity considering the explosive nature of COVID-19 transmission, Carvalho said.

The largest school district in Florida that hasnt imposed a strict mask policy is Orange County, where parents and teachers protested Monday outside district headquarters demanding that Superintendent Barbara Jenkins and the board make masks mandatory.

Sarasota County implemented its new mandatory mask policy Monday. Masks were optional the first two weeks of classes, but outbreaks districtwide prompted the school board to impose a strict mandate. Only students who provide a doctors note will be excused, an opt-out mirrored by other districts with mask requirements.

Ive struggled with wearing a mask. I know a lot of my friends have, too, Mya Mamazza, an 11th-grader, told the Sarasota Herald-Tribune outside school Monday. I have asthma, so its really hard for me.

She wants the district to offer online classes if masks are mandatory, so she wont have to wear one.
Some farmers say that their greatest assets on the operation are their equipment, land, and animals. While these are all necessary components, Emily Krekelberg, a farm safety and health educator with the University of Minnesota Extension, said that farmers most prized asset should be their people. Whether it is family, employees, or themselves, farmers must prioritize the safety of all those present on the farm.

At a forage field day hosted by the Midwest Forage Association, Krekelberg shared her history with farm safety. Growing up on a dairy, she always was familiar with the necessity of safe practices and was well aware of the devastating scenarios that can occur.

Nearly 50 years ago, her father lost his leg in a farm accident. Then, in 2016, her brother lost his arm in a farm-related tragedy. She stated that her father and brothers accidents happened while they were doing routine tasks. We all consider ourselves experts in farm safety, but farm safety is a lifelong journey, Krekelberg said.

From the experiences she and her family endured, she knows firsthand that people must come first on the operation. She shared, People are the labor on the farm and the decision makers on the farm. Without all the workers, a farm could not run smoothly and effectively.

I am often asked, What is the biggest cause of farming accidents? Krekelberg said. My answer is always the same. Its people. Tractors, bulls, and PTOs can be involved, but it is most likely that a person is not behaving appropriately or safely.

She stated that people are the farms most important asset yet biggest liability. Most accidents happen when people are doing their regular chores and automatically go through the motions without thinking about their actions.

Provide the right tools

Farmers are the safest when they are analyzing their work. To help farm employees stay aware of their actions, Krekelberg recommended that managers walk around their operation regularly to look for possible obstacles that could lead to an accident.

Basic measures can also be added to the farm to help prevent injuries. Precautions like hearing protection, safety vests, and eye wear can help keep those on the farm safe. Its a small investment for the safety of your farm, she said. You need to make sure that you are providing yourself and the people on the farm with the tools to be safe.

Farm safety is not just for those directly on the farm. She noted that industry professionals are responsible for promoting safety. Demonstrate safe practices. Show what you want people to do, she commented. When visiting a farm, be an example of safety.

Krekelberg shared that when she visited one farm, she walked around a wagon hitch after a farmer stepped over it. She mentioned there was no reason to step over it when walking around only takes a couple more seconds. When returning to the farm, she noticed that the farmer then walked around the wagon hitch.

She stated that employees are people, meaning they come to work with their personal baggage and needs. She encouraged farmers to make the work environment comfortable enough that workers can stand up for their wants and bring up when they dont feel confident performing a risky task.

Ultimately, accidents on the farm can be prevented when people are being conscientious of their actions and taking the extra step to stay safe. It sounds simple, and it really is, Krekelberg noted. You dont want to get that phone call that someone in your family, company, or on the farm has been injured. For more information on farm safety, visit www.extension.umn.edu

To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com.

(c) Hoard's Dairyman Intel 2021

August 19, 2021
When it comes to caring for our animals, dairy farmers overwhelmingly believe in the science backing up vaccinations. If Americans had the same mindset in obtaining vaccinations against COVID-19, the pandemic would be in our rearview mirror.

Dairy farmers have issued a strong vote of confidence for vaccines throughout the decades. In a 2001 Hoards Dairyman survey, 90.2% of our readers vaccinated their calves, heifers, and cows. In our annual survey to 3,000 readers 10 years later, vaccination rates climbed to 94.6%. When we asked that identical question during the heart of the pandemic, vaccination rates remained within decimal points of that earlier figure. The only metric that changed is that dosage levels climbed to an all-time high in 2021.

The majority of the medical community believes we need to achieve vaccination rates over 70% in the human population to achieve herd immunity against COVID-19. The term herd immunity most certainly stems from the veterinary and farming communities that have long relied on vaccines to keep viruses at bay.

Vaccines are not perfect. Vaccines foster immunity by training the body to recognize a virus more quickly and mount a defense against the invaders. Those who have been vaccinated are often sick for shorter durations and suffer far fewer side effects.

Its mind boggling to us that vaccination rates for the human population in major dairy states dont even come close to vaccination rates found on our farms. While its true that nationally 70% of Americans have one shot in the arm against COVID-19, a mere 50% have received a second dose. That means few states can lay claim to herd immunity, and as a result, the virus will run rampant through the human population.

Among the top 10 dairy states, California, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington rank among the best in the nation, with COVID-19 vaccination rates over 63%. Wisconsin, Texas, Michigan, and Minnesota stood in the middle of the pack between 56% and 59%, according to the Mayo Clinic. Regrettably, only one state, Mississippi, ranks lower than Idaho, with vaccination rates against COVID-19 at 41.5%.

Many of us in the dairy community clearly believe in vaccinations  if we didnt, we would not be spending the money to vaccinate our dairy herds. It behooves all of us to lead by example and get our vaccinations. Then we should share that story with our staff, friends, and neighbors as the benefits of vaccinations far outweigh any consequences.
Vanguard Renewables

Many dairy farms have successfully tackled the question of how to find additional revenue streams when other family members want to join the business. Some operations add cows, others expand their land base, and a growing number take the leap into dairy product processing.

The Goodrich family of Salisbury, Vt., chose a path that was a bit different  they installed a phosphorus management system and what is now the largest anaerobic digester in New England.

Danielle Goodrich Gingras joined the August 18 Hoards Dairyman DairyLivestream to discuss her familys journey through the process of expanding the dairys enterprises. She and her brother, Chase, returned to the home farm in 2009 after they both graduated from college and took over the operation from their father, Ernie.

As soon as we came back, we knew we needed to come up with some long-term goals that were going to make us viable and sustain our farm for years to come, Gingras explained. They also knew that they wanted to be a valuable member of their community, not only by producing high-quality and nutritious dairy products, but by having a positive impact on their environment. The farm is not far from Lake Champlain, a freshwater lake that makes up part of Vermonts border with New York and also reaches into Canada.

A positive partnership

Goodrich Farm is also only about 7 miles from Middlebury College, which was interested in powering its campus with renewable natural gas (RNG) around the same time the siblings took over the business. One of Gingras professors from Vermont Technical College thought her familys farm could be a great fit for that need and connected them with the RNG developer.

Understandably, there were doubts in the early conversations. There was some risk in taking this leap, Gingras admitted. We were completely out of our element, and we knew it was going to be a long construction and permitting process. We knew that we would continue to have to mold our farm around this project no matter how long this took.

However, the more they talked with their eventual partners on the project  Vanguard Renewables, Vermont Gas, and Middlebury College  they felt they had made the right choice. Their goals for the project were in line, and the other partners recognized the value of the farm to the whole system, both of which were extremely important to Gingras and her family. It also allowed each organization to do more than they would have singularly.

We were so excited to embark on this journey that was so environmentally beneficial but allowed us to do what we came home to do, which was work with our family and care for our cows and land, Gingras said. She noted that especially at first, the scope and details of the project were a little overwhelming.

It made me extremely grateful and lucky that my part in this project was to continue to do what I did best, and that was take care of my cows and make sure that I was continuing to provide manure for the project. For me, that was easy enough.

Cutting costs

The farm had already added cows before the siblings came back, and today, they are milking about 900 cows and farming 2,400 acres. The digester processes 100% of the manure produced on the farm as well as food waste.

In addition to the RNG, it produces about 80,000 tons each year of low-carbon, low-odor digestate. This, along with the phosphorus removal system, allows the farm to apply nutrients to their fields more precisely and purposefully. Knowing that were contributing to cleaner water for the next generation is extremely humbling, Gingras described.

Those tools are already saving the farm about $200,000 a year in fertilizer costs, with the ultimate goal of eliminating 80% to 85% of commercial chemical use. But the benefits dont stop there. My favorite part of the project is the bedding, the separated solids that come from the manure, herd manager Gingras said. Cows are comfortable, and somatic cell counts have remained low. Without having to worry about purchasing sawdust, they are saving about $50,000 a year and are able to bed stalls more frequently because the solids are readily available.

And of course, there are the environmental benefits of mitigating methane emissions and conserving nutrients. Thats the overarching accomplishment Gingras is proud of, and what earned them a U.S. Dairy Sustainability Award this year.

We took a position of wanting to be the best stewards of the land as possible, and this digester allows us to do that, she said. We wanted to work on tackling climate change, and we knew the best place to start was right at the community level and using things that we had an abundance of, which was waste.

To watch the recording of the August 18 DairyLivestream, go to the link above. The program recording is also available as an audio-only podcast on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, and downloadable from the Hoards Dairyman website.

An ongoing series of events

The next broadcast of DairyLivestream will be on Wednesday, September 15 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 23, 2021
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With Cabarrus County Schools opening for the school year Monday, Kopicki will start to see how his plans are working soon. For now they are opening schools with masks required and putting in place the protocols and procedures recommended by the Cabarrus Health Alliance and the state of North Carolina.

The districts new superintendent will get to see both the data he is collecting on paper, but also hell get to see the schools first hand as he plans to meet everyone he can and get to as many campuses as possible as he starts his brand new job.

I will be heading out to schools over the next month. Im going to meet all of the faculty, Im going to be in all of the buildings over the next month, he said. Youll see me at events, youll see me at athletic events, extracurricular events, youll see me as a presence in the community. I encourage people to reach out to me, introduce themselves to me. I want to be involved and engaged in the community and I forward to it, so I will be a presence in the Cabarrus County School system, but I also plan to be a resident of the Cabarrus County community.

Getting to know the community, his employees and his students is priority No. 1 for Kopicki, but keeping everyone informed and learning as much as he can about what he can along the way is important to him as well.

I want to become astutely informed to improve and grow the Cabarrus County School system, but I have to seek to understand that first, he said. I want to know what other people are thinking. I want to reach out and understand what kind of partnerships are out there. I want to build relationships, develop relationships, make sure that were doing all the right things to provide the access to opportunity and resources for all of our children so that when they leave here theyre ready to walk out of the Cabarrus County School system and change the world.
Probably not on both counts. Individual lives tend to get ground up in the giant gears of geopolitics and history. Last week, the process was under way even before the bodies hit the ground, the punditocracy united in debating the question that, for many, was foremost in importance: Who gets the blame for this debacle?

Does it go to the Bush, Obama or Trump administrations for mishandling the war? To the Biden administration for bungling the pullout, creating a deadly calamity by misreading the speed with which Taliban forces would overrun the nation? To Afghanistans hapless government, which we spent more than 2 trillion American dollars and more than 2,000 American lives to install, maintain and defend?

Should it go to the Afghan army, 300,000 men trained and equipped at a cost of $83 billion, which melted away like a sandcastle in the waves when faced with a ragtag force one quarter its size? Or to U.S. military leaders who kept assuring us things were going well when, clearly, things were not?

Well, the answer is: Yes, all of the above. The answer is also, who cares?

Not that those are not critical questions. Not that they do not demand answers and accountability. Not that there are not grave geopolitical implications here.
Skinship by Yoon Choi (Alfred A. Knopf)

With fine attention to detail, Yoon Chois fictional debut Skinship welcomes readers into the lives of immigrant and first-generation Korean Americans.

The collection of short stories examines characters of various circumstances. From a school-aged student making her first friend in America to an autistic piano teacher, each chapter is a different take on how life, culture and language interact as characters navigate unfamiliar places.

Choi opens with a piece on disillusionment and longing. Readers follow a young Soo as she reunites with her husband, Jae, in New Jersey after several years apart. Soo remained in Korea as Jae attempted to forge a better life for the couple in the new country. Soos excitement fades on a long car ride from the airport to a run-down convenience store  Our store, Jae tells her. An older Soo later wonders about the life she would have had if she had chosen to stay in Korea and marry someone other than Jae.
WASHINGTON  In 2014, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., took to the Senate floor to deliver a blistering speech opposing Antony Blinkens nomination as deputy secretary of state. Noting his years working for then-Vice President Joe Biden, McCain declared that Blinken was not only unqualified but also would be dangerous to America and to the young men and women who are fighting and serving our country.

As evidence, McCain cited a 2013 speech in which Mr. Blinken discussed a number of the administrations achievements, including, one, ending the war in Iraq responsibly; two, setting a clear strategy and date for the withdrawal from Afghanistan. To call these achievements, McCain said, was Orwellian. The senator then went on to cite a series of Blinken statements that McCain said were so divorced from reality, one can only draw one of two conclusions: either that Mr. Blinken is abysmally ignorant or he is simply not telling the truth. He quoted Blinken boasting how many predicted that the violence would return and Iraq would slide backward toward sectarian war, but that those predictions proved wrong. And he cited Blinken declaring that in Afghanistan. The war will be concluded by the end of 2014. We have a timetable, and that timetable will not change.
There are currently a few open spaces in the Sprague Street and Kernersville sites for fully vaccinated adults, age 60 and older, who would like to join the program. For more information visit seniorservicesinc.org/services/senior-lunch-program or contact Sharon Calloway at 336-721-6937.

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Q: Our family may need to apply for guardianship of my oldest brother. Where do we start?

 DB

Answer: The decision to apply for guardianship of a loved one is seldom an easy choice. The first step is to understand what guardianship is and consider whether there are other options that may be a more appropriate solution for your familys situation.

According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), guardianship is a legal relationship in which someone (the guardian) is authorized by the clerk of superior court to be a substitute decision maker for an adult who is incompetent (the ward). Incompetence is determined in a court proceeding and means that an adult is unable to manage his or her own affairs or is unable to make important decisions. Its important to remember that sometimes, a person may make decisions that loved ones and/or caregivers do not agree with, but that does not mean that the person is incompetent.
He admitted to using Kik to look at child pornography and also admitted to sharing it with other users, according to the search warrant. In his interview T Elliot Welch (the indictments spell his name Elliott) stated that he would download the Kik application, view the child pornography and then delete the application once he got his release.

Welch told investigators that he made new accounts and usernames and that there were possibly multiple accounts that were tied to him, the search warrant said.

T Elliot Welch couldnt remember the names of his accounts because he stated there were so many, but that they did not all incorporate pastor into the name like the previous Cyber Tip, the search warrant said. Also during the interview with T Elliot Welch he admitted to viewing (child sexual abuse material) approximately a couple of days before we served the search warrant on his residence.

Welch had been senior pastor at Stanleyvilles First Baptist Church since February 2020. Before that, he served as associate pastor and minister of students from September 2014 to January 2020, according to the churchs website.
Some local students are starting the year in quarantine, however, McManus said Monday morning that she didnt know exactly how many.

The community transmission level remains high in Forsyth County and the rest of the state.

School board chairperson Malishai Woodbury agreed that the school district needs the communitys help to keep kids in the classroom.

We are talking all the necessary precautions, but I do ask the community to be patient with us and work with us to keep the community as a whole safe, she said.

Woodbury and McManus spoke about the school year at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new Lewisville Middle School, the first new school to open in the local district since Smith Farm Elementary School in 2013.

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The new middle school, located near the intersection of Lewisville-Vienna and Robinhood roads, was built to alleviate overcrowding at Meadowlark and Jefferson middle schools. Built for $27 million with bond money approved by voters in 2016, the middle school has an enrollment of about 670 students with a capacity for 800.

For the first year, the school is open to residential students. Next year, it will be part of the districts school-choice program.
Today is Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. Let's get caught up.

Here are today's top stories, celebrity birthdays and a look back at this date in history:

TOP STORIES

Gunfire at Kabul airport kills 1 amid chaotic evacuations

KABUL, Afghanistan  A firefight at one of the gates of Kabul's international airport killed at least one Afghan soldier early Monday, German officials said, the latest chaos to engulf Western efforts to evacuate those fleeing the Taliban takeover of the country.

The shooting at the airport came as the Taliban sent fighters north of the capital to eliminate pockets of armed resistance to their lightning takeover earlier this month. The Taliban said they retook three districts seized by opponents the day before and had surrounded Panjshir, the last province that remains out of their control.

Gunfire broke out near one of the airport's gates, where at least seven Afghans died a day earlier in a panicked stampede of thousands of people. The circumstances of the shooting, which occurred around dawn, remained unclear.

***
President Joe Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said at the White House that talks with the Taliban are continuing as the administration looks for additional ways to safely move more Americans and others into the Kabul airport.

We are in talks with the Taliban on a daily basis through both political and security channels, he said, adding that ultimately it will be Biden's decision alone whether to continue military-led evacuation operations beyond Aug. 31. That's the date Biden had set for completing the withdrawal of troops.

California Democrat Rep Adam Schiff, chairman of the House intelligence committee, told reporters after a committee briefing Monday on the Afghanistan withdrawal it was hard for me to imagine wrapping up the airlifts by the end of the month. He also said it was clear there were any number of warnings to the administration of a very rapid takeover by the Taliban.

After more than a week of evacuations plagued by major obstacles, including Taliban forces and crushing crowds that are making approaching the airport difficult and dangerous, the number of people flown out met  and exceeded  U.S. projections for the first time. The count was more than twice the 3,900 flown out in the previous 24 hours on U.S. military planes.
There are now about 62.1 million Latinos in the United States, who make up 18.7% of the U.S. population, which is just over 333 million people. That means nearly 1 in 5 Americans is Latino. Thats a big deal.

And an even bigger deal is on the horizon, given that demographers have long predicted that the United States will be one quarter Latino by 2040.

As go Latinos, so goes America. The largest and most steady gains in the U.S. population over the last decade were among Latinos. According to analysis of the Census figures, that group doubled its share of the U.S. population over the past three decades. It also accounts for half of the nations growth since 2010.

The other big story from the census reveal was the growth of the Asian and Pacific Islander population, which now numbers 25.6 million people and represents a little more than 7% of the U.S. population.

Heres an attention-grabbing headline: The United States is no longer Black-and-white. Now, increasingly, the new paradigm will be Latino-and-Asian.

Together, the two groups represent more than 25% of the U.S. population. In California, they make up  combined  nearly 60% of the state population.
Biden fumbled the ball, but Trump is a dumpster fire. His (final) Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with the Taliban and made a deal without including the Afghan government. Trump wanted to invite Taliban leaders to Camp David. Judging by Trumps relationship with Kim Jong-un, its not unreasonable to think that Trump would be praising the Taliban if he were in office right now. Hed claim that they were running things right and our Afghan allies were getting what they deserved. Hed probably invite them to the next State of the Union.

Hed be supported by Republican Reps. Matt Gaetz and Lauren Boebert, who have both been praising the Taliban on Twitter. And he would have said that our Afghan allies were getting what they deserved.

Im so glad Biden, a man of conscience, is our president!

Rodney Page

Winston-Salem

Intervention needed

After the 2016 election, I bought a used Prius because I felt that as far as mitigating fossil fuel use goes, we would have to do it ourselves. A year ago I put solar panels on my house. As a result, both my gasoline bill and electricity bills, plus greenhouse gas emissions, are significantly lower.
On Monday, Immanuel announced plans to require its employees to get vaccinated. The Omaha-based company, which owns three Lincoln senior living communities, said all employees, unless they qualify for a medical or religious exemption, will have to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 1.

We did not come to this decision lightly nor without much thought. We respect the rights of our employees to choose, but the people we serve have entrusted us to protect them. Immanuel has to make a choice that is in the best interest of the seniors we serve and those we serve alongside of, Dr. Devin Fox, Immanuel medical director, said in a news release.

Hospitals and long-term care centers have unique situations that can put their staffs and those they care for at higher risk for COVID-19, making mandating vaccination necessary, experts say.

A few other companies and organizations, including some private universities in Nebraska, have mandated vaccination, but getting the Pfizer shot past emergency use authorization is likely to make more feel comfortable requiring it.

"I think FDA full approval will be a threshold that will lead more employers to require the vaccine," said Dr. Bob Rauner, president of the Partnership for a Healthy Lincoln and chief medical officer of OneHealth Nebraska.
A young woman, who is now 19 and not related to the 10-year-old, told investigators that Hopper raped her at his house in late 2017, when she was 15, according to the warrant. Russell wrote that the girl knew Hopper and had gone to his house after getting drunk, fearful that her mother would be upset if she went home.

The woman told police that Hopper had sex with her at least one more time after that, in a park somewhere near the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, according to Russell.

Nine years before the 2017 incident, in 2008, the same girl had told employees at the child care she attended that Hopper had sexually assaulted her, according to the warrant.

The girl was 6 years old at the time. Lincoln police interviewed Hopper in 2008, according to the warrant, but he wasn't arrested.

His next contact with law enforcement on the matter appears to have come Monday, when investigators with the Lincoln-Lancaster County Fugitive Task Force knocked on the door of the apartment he was staying at.

Houchin said members of the task force arrived at the apartment at 9:14 a.m. There, the tenant  who was not Hopper  gave investigators permission to enter the unit.
When Joe Biden took office, he increased the number to 62,500. Biden has said he intends to raise the cap to 125,000 in the next fiscal year.

The initial drop to 50,000 admissions began a dismantling of many refugee resettlement agencies in the U.S., said Lacey Studnicka, a refugee advocate who previously worked for Lutheran Family Services in Omaha. Two local agencies said they have fared OK.

The hard part right now, there is a will from the federal government to resettle, but the systems have been dismantled, she said. Its going to take a lot of effort across the country and the world really to get that machine back in order.

Pentagon officials said Saturday that about 3,800 civilians had been evacuated from Afghanistan over the past day, amid widespread logistical challenges and backlogs at waystations in the Middle East and Europe.

Army Maj. Gen. Hank Taylor, Joint Staff deputy director for regional operations, said that of the 17,000 people evacuated since Aug. 15, just 2,500 have been Americans. U.S. officials have estimated there are as many as 15,000 Americans in Afghanistan but acknowledge they dont have solid numbers.
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There is no clear plan for background checks. There is no clear vetting plan ... There is no clear plan for health screenings. There is no clear plan for potentially necessary quarantines or vaccinations.

Testin went on to refer to the refugees as 10 to 20 thousand potentially unidentified, potentially unvetted, potentially unhealthy people as they pour into rural Wisconsin.

However, most other elected leaders have welcomed the refugees.

On Aug. 20, state Rep. Greta Neubauer, D-Racine, stated: Now is the time for us to welcome and support the Afghans whose lives have been upended by the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan. It is imperative that we approach this situation with empathy and welcome our new neighbors into communities across Wisconsin ... Our new neighbors are leaving behind their homes, belongings, and communities in search of safety. They deserve all the respect, compassion, and patience that they shared with us in Afghanistan ... Their path forward is not clear, but it is our job to walk that path with them.
The city has about 2,000 rentals spread among 110 buildings, including both apartment properties and single-family homes.

Guidry told members of the city council that the new program would help identify neglected and deteriorating properties. The city responds to complaints now, but Guidry said some landlords have pressured tenants not to report problems.

Theyre being threatened, he said of the tenants. Guidry said that landlords have threatened tenants, telling them Do not call Gregory, or you will be evicted, which is illegal.

Some aldermen questioned whether the problem with neglected rental properties might stem from a relatively small number of landlords.

Guidry estimated that he receives eight to 10 complaints a year about substandard rental conditions. Other tenants might be afraid to turn in their landlords, or they might be unaware that city inspectors can enforce property standards, he said.

City council torn

Although aldermen expressed reluctance about a citywide initiative, some agreed that rental properties in Burlington are in poor condition.
Meeting

WHAT: Discussion regarding potential site locations for the Youth Development and Care Center  City of Racine / Village of Caledonia

WHEN: 5:15 p.m. Tuesday

WHERE Racine County Board Chambers in the Ives Grove Office Complex, 14200 Washington Ave.
Aug. 16-20

This list is not comprehensive. Municipalities are listed as they appear on the criminal complaint. Suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. To see mugshots of the accused, visit journaltimes.com/gallery. Additional information about the complaints can be found at: journaltimes.com/news/local/crime-and-courts.

Thomas L Ayers, Villa Park, Illinois, burglary of a motor home or trailer home, misdemeanor theft, uttering a forgery, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, receiving stolen property (less than $2,500).

Ronald S Badillo, 1200 block of Erie Street, Racine, possession of an electric weapon, possession of drug paraphernalia.

David L Becker, 1200 block of Ellis Avenue, Racine, strangulation and suffocation (domestic abuse assessments), misdemeanor battery (domestic abuse assessments), resisting an officer, disorderly conduct (domestic abuse assessments).
By the numbers

Per 100,000 unvaccinated people, there were 1.1 deaths due to COVID-19 and 18.2 hospitalizations in the month of July in Wisconsin. Per 100,000 vaccinated people, there were only 0.1 deaths and 4.9 hospitalizations.

53.7% of Wisconsin residents have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose

64.6% of Wisconsin adults (ages 18 and up) have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose

50.3% of Racine County residents have received at least one vaccine dose

61.7% of Racine County adults (ages 18 and up) have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose

6 deaths per day due to COVID-19 is the average across Wisconsin as of Thursday, Aug. 19.

Less than 1 death per day due to COVID-19 was the average across Wisconsin one month ago, as of July 19. (The average grew to 1 per day on July 23, but didn't reach 2 per day until Aug. 9.)

54 deaths per day due to COVID-19 in late November in Wisconsin was the highest average reached since the beginning of the pandemic.

 According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services
A head-on vehicle collision on Interstate 94 resulted in a vehicle operator with severe injuries transported to the hospital via Flight For Life on Sunday.

According to a news release from the Racine County Sheriffs Office, deputies were dispatched to a report of a red vehicle southbound in the northbound lanes of I-94.

While deputies were en route, the Racine County Communications Center was notified of a head-on collision involving the wrong-way driver at mile marker No. 335, just before the off ramp to Highway 11.

Upon arrival, deputies saw the wrong-way driver was in a red Kia Soul with extensive damage.

The driver, who was the single occupant of the car, was entrapped and required extraction. The driver, a 30-year-old female from Waukegan, Ill., sustained severe injuries.

Alcohol is believed to have been a factor in the incident.

She was transported by Flight For Life to Froedtert Memorial Hospital.

The other vehicle involved was a Chevrolet Equinox; all of its multiple occupants sustained minor injuries, the press release said.

The accident closed all northbound lanes of I-94 at Highway KR until about 10:30 p.m. Sunday.
The first Afghan refugees have arrived at Fort McCoy, one three military installations in the United States approved by the Department of Defense for temporary housing.

Sunday afternoon, special immigrant visa applicants, their families and other individuals at risk arrived, according to a press release from the base.

This is in addition to a small number of Afghans currently finalizing their processing at Fort Lee, Va.

Fort McCoy officials expect these arrivals to continue throughout Sunday and the coming days. U.S. Northern Command is working to build additional capacity at the Wisconsin base, as well as at Fort Lee, Fort Bliss in Texas and potentially other military locations as required.

Approximately 1,000 service members from multiple units of the U.S. Army and U.S. Army Reserve have begun to assemble at Fort McCoy to provide support to Operation Allies Refuge.

U.S. Northern Command is the Department of Defense's lead combatant command for this mission in the continental United States and is providing oversight in support of the Department of State. U.S. Army North, as U.S. Northern Command's Joint Force Land Component Command, is the lead operational command for this mission.
1. Yes. An unvaccinated worker is a potential health liability for the entire workforce.

2. Yes. But it should only be required in some businesses, like health care or food service.

3. No. The requirement shouldnt be forced on employees; its a discriminatory practice.

4. No. Not only should they not require COVID shots , but no proof of vaccination either.

5. Unsure. Its a hard choice between public safety concerns and personal freedoms.

Vote

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Broadband service also is a top issue for Axtell farmer Steve Nelson, the immediate past president of Nebraska Farm Bureau. He said broadband service is vital to ag producers because the technology now exists to remotely monitor many things on farms and ranches.

Improvements also are needed to more traditional infrastructures such as roads, bridges, railways and river structures that are vital to move agriculture products and other goods across the country. Nelson said thats particularly important to Nebraska because one-third of its agriculture products are exported.

Other issues

Tax issues that could make transitions from one generation of farmers and ranchers to the next even more difficult also is at the top of Thompsons list. He said the tax threats come from a Biden Administration plan to change the step-up basis, which could increase inheritance or death taxes.

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He added that the threat comes at a time when it already is difficult to encourage young people to return to their families ag-related businesses.
The difference (between the two states) is scope and size, Thompson said, noting that Pennsylvania farms probably average 300 acres.

For the most part, we dont irrigate ... Certainly not to the scale that Nebraska does.

Nebraska Farm Bureau hosted Thompsons two-day tour that included Friday stops at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center at Clay Center and the Chief Ethanol Fuel plant at Hastings.

Saturdays focus was on why irrigation is vital for to Nebraska farmers ability to consistently produce grains and meat for the nation and the world.

Nebraskas NRDs

He (Thompson) doesnt have much background in irrigation, so we wanted to highlight our unique system of natural resources districts, said Tri-Basin NRD General Manager John Thorburn of Holdrege. ... He was very interested, particularly, in our groundwater quality methods to control nitrates.

There is nothing really comparable in the United States or anywhere in the world, said Greg Ibach of Sumner, a former Nebraska Department of Agriculture and USDA undersecretary in the Trump Administration, said about the 23 watershed-based NRDs.

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Gonzalez completed his internship at Wind Cave National Park in southwest South Dakota.

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Established in 1903, Wind Cave is one of Americas oldest national parks. It spans 10,522 acres and features more than 30 miles of hiking trails with views of the beautiful Black Hills scenery. Bison, elk, pronghorn and many other animals roam the rolling prairie grasslands and forested hillsides.

The parks top attraction is Wind Cave, one of the longest and most complex caves in the world. Named for the barometric winds at its entrance, this maze of passages is home to an array of formations, including boxwork, a honeycomb-shaped calcite structure thats rarely found elsewhere.

As a summer intern, Gonzalez spent the majority of his time leading tours through Wind Cave and operating the visitor center. Using his on-site training and background from UNK, he developed his own program, creating a tour thats both educational and entertaining for park guests.

Pretty much everything involves talking with people, so you get pretty used to talking all the time, said Gonzalez, who wasnt a big fan of public speaking before this summer.

With three tours a day, that changed pretty quickly.
Longo served as interim dean of the College of Natural and Social Sciences for two years and oversaw a successful merger with the College of Fine Arts and Humanities, which created the College of Arts and Sciences in August 2018. He was interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences during its first year of existence.

Longo also served as director of the UNK Honors Program, interim dean of student affairs, chair of the Department of Political Science for a total of 15 years and interim chair of the Department of Criminal Justice.

Hes collaborated with colleagues from across campus and throughout the NU system, including the University of Nebraska at Omaha College of Public Affairs and Community Service, Nebraska College of Law and University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Public Health. Additionally, hes the editor of Great Plains Research, a natural and social sciences journal produced by the Center for Great Plains Studies.

Hes influenced, inspired, mentored and nurtured countless students at UNK, and I would add that he inspires his colleagues and community members by his example, Tye said.

Theres no one who cares more about the success of UNK students than Dr. Peter Longo.

MARTONIA GASKILL
One year ago today, Jacob Blakes life was forever changed. While we are grateful Jacob survived his injuries, we also know Jacob, his kids, and his family have and will face challenges they never imagined having to endure. We also know the families and friends of Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber are undoubtedly grieving and mourning the loss of these young men this week. Kathy and I are thinking of Jacob and his loved ones, as well as the families and friends of Joseph and Anthony today, and we ask Wisconsinites to join us in extending our prayers for peace and healing.
The Conservatory for the Performing Arts students will present Lysistrata, a fresh, fast-paced comedy inspired by the Aristophanes play, and Everybody, a unique play in which the actors roles are decided by lottery before each show, with 120 casting possibilities.

Three musicals being featured are Tony Award-winning The Pajama Game, rock musical Carrie (based on Stephen Kings best-selling novel), and the world premiere of The Elephant Speaks Jazz. In addition, Viterbo Universitys music department will present I Have a Song to Sing!, A Viterbo Christmas, and A Night at the Opera.

Viterbo Universitys Platinum Edition show choir will return to the Main Theatre stage this fall with Halloween-themed Spooktacular, and again in the spring with Celebration 2022. Both performances will feature a fun-filled evening of song and dance.

Two Special Performances are included this year. The first kicks off the On Stage season Wednesday, Sept. 15 with Some Enchanted Evening by New York pianist and La Crosse native Dave Marck. This free concert will celebrate the music of Rodgers and Hammerstein. La Crosse Dance Centre will present their 32nd annual showing of the Nutcracker Ballet at the Fine Arts Center Main Theatre for the second Special Performance in December.
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Our goal ultimately is to welcome these individuals safely and efficiently while taking appropriate safety and public health measures, an official said.

Refugees are also being housed at Fort Bliss, Texas, and Fort Lee, New Jersey. The official said the situation is fluid and couldnt say how many refugees are expected to go through any of the three installations or how long they will be there.

There will be movement in, and there will be movement out, an official said. We are quite conscious about not overtaxing any particular facility, any particular community.

An official said the federal government has reached out to resettlement organizations that specialize in helping people in this type of situation begin new lives in America.

Civic leaders in La Crosse met last week to discuss economic and spiritual support for the new arrivals.

State Sen. Pat Testin, R-Stevens Point, raised the issue of local impacts Friday in an open letter to Gov. Tony Evers.

Refugees are eligible for Medical Assistance, BadgerCare, W2, and cash assistance, Testin wrote. Has your administration calculated the added cost to Wisconsin taxpayers of 10-20,000 individuals who will doubtless be enrolled in these programs?
The village of Gays Mills will host a free workshop to train homeowners in basic tree care. The workshop will be held Saturday, Sept. 11, from 9 a.m. to noon. Pre-registration by Sept. 4 is requested to ensure adequate materials are available. Participants can start gathering at 8:30 a.m. in the Gays Mills Community Commerce Building, 16381 State Hwy. 131, to network, look at tree care equipment, and enjoy a treat.

Workshop participants will learn how to do basic tree care themselves  from selecting the right tree through how to plant, mulch, water, prune for strong structure, and protect from common sources of damage. They will learn when a tree care professional should be called. Resources to help landowners keep their trees healthy, sound, and providing many benefits for the long term will be identified.

Weather and time permitting, portions of the workshop may be conducted outside. Come dressed for the weather and prepared to walk short distances. Masks are strongly encouraged for all indoor portions of the workshop.
Those who build a home through Habitat need to go through an extensive application process that includes meetings with a committee, an 18-page questionnaire and 40 hours of classes. In addition to a down payment and monthly mortgage payments based on 28% of a familys gross income, homeowners are also required to put in 375 hours of sweat equity, stretched out over nine to 12 months, toward the building of their home.

Habitat has more than 30 employees and an annual budget of over $7 million but relies on a team of over 3,200 volunteers to assist homeowners and contractors with construction work. The organization also operates two Habitat ReStores at 4207 Monona Drive and 5906 Odana Road, and has done a market study for a third store in Sun Prairie.

The 48 Habitat homes built in Sun Prairie since 2000 serve 119 children, 68 adults and have added $7.2 million to the citys tax base.

Were real excited that we did the right things years ago by making sure we had enough land in our land bank and now were just raising money and getting the homes built, Hanrahan said. This is a little different. Were the developer and weve had to deal with all of the infrastructure and the costs associated with that before we can start our building.
Keely Childers Heany woke up in tears Friday morning.

She was crying because the night before, the Manheim Township school board voted to require masks indoors to start the 2021-22 school year with COVID-19 cases rising at an alarming rate. The Columbia Borough school board did the same.

The problem is Childers Heanys 8-year-old daughter doesnt attend either of those districts. She attends Eshleman Elementary School in the Penn Manor School District.

Im just so happy and relieved for those parents, Childers Heany said. At the same time, it was just another reminder that our school board here in Penn Manor does have the power to do the same thing to protect our kids and just simply refuses to even bring it to a vote.

Childers Heany is one of the many Lancaster County parents feeling overwhelmed as they enter yet another school year full of uncertainty surrounding COVID-19. Most county school districts are beginning the school year with mask-optional policies, abandoning a measure that, health officials have said, contributed to limited virus transmission in schools last year.

School starting as cases surge

Cocalico, Columbia Borough, Conestoga Valley, Donegal, Elizabethtown Area, Hempfield, Lampeter-Strasburg, Lancaster, Manheim Township and Pequea Valley school districts start school this week. Eastern Lancaster County, Ephrata Area, Manheim Central, Penn Manor, Octorara Area, Solanco and Warwick school districts start next week.

Meanwhile, over the past week, Lancaster County has averaged more than 100 new COVID-19 cases per day, up from 43 at the start of the month and from a pandemic low of just three to four new cases per day in early July. The number of people hospitalized here with COVID-19 has tripled in the past two weeks and it stood at 50 on Friday, after running in single digits for most of July.

The numbers are comparable to last fall, when schools were mandated to require masks, among other mitigation strategies.

Considering the rapid spread of the COVID-19 delta variant, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics have recommended schools enforce universal mask policies indoors, regardless of vaccination status, entering the school year. There are no mandates, however, other than one requiring masks to be worn on public transportation  including school buses.

Three of 17 county school districts are heeding the recommendations of those health agencies: Columbia, Manheim Township and Lancaster.

Thats left many concerned parents to question whether its safe to send their children to school likely surrounded by unmasked peers  many of whom are under 12 and therefore arent yet eligible for vaccination.

Parents face tough choices

Nobody has the right to choose to endanger and possibly kill innocent, unvaccinated children, Childers Heany said.

Childers Heany, 39, a business owner from Millersville, said shes still vacillating back and forth daily on whether to send her rising third-grader for in-person instruction. On one hand, she said, her daughter needs social interaction and to be taught by an actual teacher. On the other, she said, the unknowns surrounding COVID-19 and the highly transmissible delta variant  including potential sickness and school shutdowns  loom over her decision.

As of Friday, she was keeping her daughter in-person.

Jen Hartmans daughter, a rising junior at Hempfield High School, is vaccinated, and shell wear a mask in school. But that wont prevent potential disruptions to in-person learning, especially because many others likely wont be vaccinated or wearing masks, Hartman said.

With 7,000 students, Hempfield is the second-largest county school district, and the largest not requiring masks.

Hartman, 47, works as a customer service representative for Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health. She said its illogical to begin the school year mask-optional.

To me, masking is such a simple thing that we can do, Hartman said. It increases the likelihood of staying (in-person) the whole time.

Hartman said her daughter, who learned online all of last school year, is a strong student. By the end of last school year, however, it became difficult for her daughter to wake up for school and get motivated. For students with special needs, the impact could be even more substantial, Hartman said.

It wont be nice, Hartman said of a potential shutdown. And itll be frustrating because it could have been preventable.

On Friday, Conestoga Valley parents got a letter from Superintendent Dave Zuilkoski outlining what health and safety measures the district is taking. Masks will be optional, unless on buses, Zuilkoski said. The district will continue to promote proper hygiene, be cognizant of social distancing and employ appropriate cleaning techniques. And contact tracing will take place  unless close contacts dont show symptoms, Zuilkoski said, meaning a parent could choose to keep their potentially infected child in school.

That letter might have been the straw that broke the camels back for M.E. Rickard, a 39-year-old stay-at-home mother of two kids, a rising ninth-grader and kindergartener, from East Lampeter Township.

We dont want her to get sick, Rickard said of her oldest child. Shes had the vaccine, but we know that even people whove been vaccinated are catching it with the delta variant, so we dont want her to get sick, and we dont want to get anybody else sick as well.

Rickard said she lives with disabilities, and her youngest child has a birth defect, so it could potentially be life-threatening if either of them would contract COVID-19.

Rickard said shes been making pros and cons lists and trying to factor in local health data and listening to medical experts. One concern she has is if she enrolls her oldest child in virtual school, then her child cant access some of the gifted courses she could take in-person. For that reason, Rickard said shes considering getting a lawyer to challenge the districts decision to, she said, essentially limit accessibility due to health reasons.

Whats made this situation worse is the lack of empathy some people seem to have for those wanting to protect their children, Rickard said. On the Conestoga Valley Facebook page, one anti-mask commenter threatened to cough on her if she didnt like the fact that he wasnt vaccinated.

Its hard when we disagree with our neighbors, she said, but we can still love our neighbors.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)  Opposing rallies that drew hundreds of people in Portland, Oregon, sparked clashes on Sunday.

The two groups had gathered in different parts of the city after a far-right group changed the location of its event.

The right-wing rally drew about 100 people in a parking lot of a former Kmart store and clashes began as it wound down, KOIN-TV reported. A van tried to drive into the parking lot, but crashed and the driver ran away. Demonstrators then began igniting fireworks and similar devices. It was not immediately clear whether anyone suffered serious injuries.

Later, shots were fired near demonstrators downtown. Dustin Brandon Ferreira, 37, a left-wing activist, told The Oregonian/OregonLive he was with others Sunday evening when a man used a slur against a Black man in the group and then fired multiple rounds in their direction.

Portland police said the man was arrested. No one was injured.

Demonstrations associated with anti-fascists had earlier drawn more than 200 people downtown.

The plans for the opposing demonstrations had prompted Portland police to call in all available police personnel.

Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell said Friday that despite expecting clashes, police will not necessarily be standing in between opposing groups.

Lovell and Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler did not name the groups expected to gather that may choose to confront one another.

Oregon State Police, the sheriffs office and other local partners were also helping address the situation.

Similar events in Portland between groups with differing political ideations or affiliations have resulted in violent clashes. Sundays event falls on the one-year anniversary of a particularly violent political clash in which the opposing groups brawled on the street next to police headquarters for hours.
SINGAPORE (AP)  Vice President Kamala Harris asserted Monday that the U.S. must maintain its focus on evacuating Americans and vulnerable Afghans and shouldnt get distracted by questions over what went wrong in the chaotic U.S. exit from Afghanistan.

Speaking at a news conference in Singapore, Harris repeatedly declined to engage when asked what she felt should have been done differently in the withdrawal.

Theres no question there will be and should be a robust analysis of what has happened, but right now theres no question that our focus has to be on evacuating American citizens, Afghans who worked with us and vulnerable Afghans, including women and children, she said.

Harris took questions alongside Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong after the two met for about two hours to discuss issues ranging from the COVID-19 response to cybersecurity and supply chain cooperation. The news conference was dominated by Afghanistan, after the messy U.S. withdrawal sparked concerns about Americas commitments to its allies globally.

Harris visit to Singapore and Vietnam this week is seen as the first real test of the Biden administrations ability to reassure key allies of its resolve.

Prime Minister Lee offered his countrys support for the U.S. decision to withdraw, however, and said Singapore was grateful for the U.S. efforts to combat terrorism in Afghanistan. He also offered the U.S. the use of the Singapore Air Forces transport aircraft to help with the evacuation, and said the country is now watching what the U.S. does next.

What matters is how the U.S. repositions itself in the Asia Pacific, engages the broader region and continues to fight against terrorism, because that will determine the perceptions of the countries of the U.S. global priorities and of its strategic intentions, he said.

Harris Southeast Asian trip, which brings her to Singapore and then later to Vietnam this week, is aimed at broadening cooperation with both nations to offer a counterweight to Chinas growing influence in the region.

On Monday, the vice presidents office announced a series of new agreements with Singapore aimed at combating cyberthreats, tackling climate change, addressing the COVID-19 pandemic and alleviating supply chain issues.

On cybersecurity, the Treasury and Defense Departments, as well as the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, have each inked a memorandum of understanding with their Singapore counterparts expanding information sharing and training to combat cyberthreats.

The two nations agreed to cooperate more closely to track COVID-19 variants and engage in research on coronavirus treatments. And the Department of Commerce is joining with the Singapore Ministry of Trade and Industry to create a partnership focused on strengthening trade throughout a handful of key industries.

The White House announced additional agreements between the two nations fostering cooperation on space exploration and defense issues as well. The announcements came Monday after Harris met with Singapore President Halimah Yacob and Prime Minister Lee.

Later Monday, speaking to sailors on a U.S. Navy combat ship at Singapores Changi naval base, Harris expressed gratitude for the U.S. soldiers and embassy staff working in an incredibly challenging and dangerous environment to evacuate Afghanistan.

On Tuesday, Harris will deliver a speech outlining the Biden administrations vision for the region, and meet with business leaders to discuss supply chain issues. During her remarks at Changi naval base, Harris seemed to preview her Tuesday speech, describing the Indo-Pacific region as critical to the security and prosperity of the United States.

"I do believe a big part of the history of the 21st century will be written about this very region where you now serve. And we want to be the ones who are helping to shape and dictate that history," she said.

The trip marks Harris second foreign trip in office  she visited Guatemala and Mexico in June  and will be the first time a U.S. vice president has visited Vietnam.

Singapore is the anchor of the U.S. naval presence in Southeast Asia and has a deep trade partnership with the U.S., but the country also seeks to maintain strong ties with China and a position of neutrality amid increasingly frosty U.S.-China relations.

Relations between the U.S. and China deteriorated sharply under Bidens predecessor, Donald Trump, and the two sides remain at odds over a host of issues including technology, cybersecurity and human rights.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin made their first overseas trips to Japan and South Korea. Austin traveled to Singapore, Vietnam and the Philippines last month and vowed U.S. support against Beijings intrusions in the South China Sea.

Alexander Feldman, president and CEO of the US-ASEAN Business Council, said Harris will have to be careful in her conversations with Singapores leaders not to focus too heavily on China, but to emphasize a positive, productive U.S. relationship with Singapore and Vietnam.

Where she could fall into a trap is really trying to pit this as a U.S. versus China trip. It should be a U.S. trip to our friends and partners in Southeast Asia, Feldman said.

If China becomes the main focal point, he said, that makes it harder for our friends to move forward across the region, not only in Singapore and Vietnam but beyond that.

Indeed, Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said in a recent interview that Singapore will be useful but we will not be made use of in its relations with both countries, and the nations prime minister previously warned the U.S. against pursuing an aggressive approach to China.

Beijing, however, has seized on Harris trip, with Chinas official Xinhua News Agency issuing an editorial Saturday on the visit portraying it as part of a drive to contain China.

Visits to Southeast Asia by senior Biden officials are aiming to woo these countries to form a ring of containment against China. But Southeast Asian countries are reluctant to choose sides between China and the United States, and Americas wishful plan will end in failure, Xinhua said.

The U.S. approach is based on outdated Cold War thinking and is intended to provoke troubles in their relations with China, create division and confrontation, and try to create a ring of containment, the editorial said.
Todays teachers face issues their predecessors did not have to worry about, including the ongoing threat of students and teachers contracting COVID-19 in a partially vaccinated society. But teaching in classrooms in the 1800s also presented challenges.

Benjamin Danner, a young man with limited formal education but a desire to teach others what he did know, presided over Manheim-area one-room schools from 1854 to 1877. His detailed accounts of what he encountered remain lively reading.

Ginger Shelley, a retired librarian and researcher of one-room schools, and Kathy Brabson, a retired teacher and administrator, have written about Danner's experiences in the latest edition of the Journal of Lancaster Countys Historical Society.

Danner made detailed notes on his work, including comments about individuals and their progress. He found both bright and dim students among the Pennsylvania Dutch scholars in rural schools surrounding Manheim. Discipline was rarely a problem  until he began teaching in Manheim itself.

He tried employing the kindness and moral persuasion he had previously used, but found he sometimes had to resort to embarrassing students in front of the class or even corporal punishment. Students repeatedly tried his patience at the Manheim Grammar School in 1864, when he was 30 years old.

Danner said that before his first day of school in Manheim, I never knew what wicked scholars are. Several boys repeatedly rebelled. I did not think it possible to make order out of this mob, the teacher reported.

By the end of his second year in Manheim, Danner had decided to use a whip to bring order to the classroom so those students who wanted to learn something would have the opportunity.

After his third year, he reported that about one-half of the scholars require treatment suitable for oxen. They are scarcely manageable. If they would be expelled from the school it would be a delight to teach the remaining half, for they are all most excellent scholars.

Whipping and suspending students did little to change the situation. Near the end of his teaching career, Danner observed that some Manheim students were incorrigible.

One cannot think of love when surrounded by such brutish scholars as some of the Manheim children are, he wrote. Hyenas and rattlesnakes are more susceptible to moral suasion.

Nevertheless, Danner persisted and never lost his love of the profession.

Many of his students eventually saw the light and led successful lives. Danner taught until he died of tuberculosis in 1877.

School teaching has its trials and its pains and the teacher's career is not strewn with roses, he observed, yet I thank God that I am a school teacher.

Meylins gun shop

The Aug. 8 Scribbler column said Long Rifle Road is named for the gun shop that Martin Meylin built along that road in 1719. That is true.

The Scribbler also said Meylin made the first known Pennsylvania Long Rifle. That is debatable.

Early Lancaster historians believed that Meylin did, indeed, make the first Pennsylvania Rifle at that gun shop. A state historical marker at the site claimed he did.

But later historians said there was no proof Meylin ever made a gun and, in any case, not one but several gun makers working at the same time created what eventually became the Pennsylvania (and later Kentucky) Rifle.

Millersville University archaeology professor Timothy Trussell excavated Meylin's shop site in 2005. He found gunsmithing potentially could have occurred there but did not definitively prove that it was a gunshop.

Jack Brubaker, retired from the LNP staff, writes The Scribbler'' column every Sunday. He welcomes comments and contributions at scribblerlnp@gmail.com.


A severe lack of rain is drying up rivers and water supplies needed to produce clean energy in several countries. In some cases, governments are depending more on fuels that can pollute the environment.

Countries, including the United States, China and Brazil, are beginning to have problems with producing hydropower from hydroelectric dams. Scientists and energy experts say these problems are likely to continue as climate change causes more unpredictable weather.

Lack of rain, or drought, could also threaten international efforts to fight global warming. The International Energy Agency says that hydropower is the world's top way to produce clean energy. Nearly 16 percent of the worlds electricity comes from hydroelectric dams.

This year, droughts have caused problems for hydropower generators in the western United States and Brazil. China is still recovering from the effects of last year's drought in Yunnan province on its hydropower production.

Those effects have forced power suppliers to depend on natural gas or coal fueled power. They are also asking businesses to cut their electricity use to prevent outages.

Shutdown at Lake Oroville

In California recently, the State Water Project was forced to temporarily close a hydroelectric power plant at Lake Oroville that could produce 750-megawatts of electricity. Low water levels caused the first closure since the dam was completed in 1967. In good years, the plant can power half a million homes.

Cary Fox is a team leader for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's operations in California. Fox said power production at Lake Shasta, part of the federal government's Central Valley Project in California, was about 30 percent less than usual this summer.

At Hoover Dam, on the Colorado River at the border of Nevada and Arizona, production was down by 25 percent last month, the agency said.

California Governor Gavin Newsom answered the power shortage in his state by suspending some environmental rules. He gave an order on July 30 to permit industries to use diesel fuel generators that give off more carbon gases linked to warming temperatures. The order also permits ships at ports to use generators instead of using local electricity. He also lifted restrictions on the amount of fuel natural gas plants can use to generate power.

Environmental activists have criticized those moves. They say they will pollute the air in California and weaken the state's efforts to fight climate change.

Tim Welch is director of hydropower research at the U.S. Department of Energy. He said the department is studying ways for dams to store water more effectively during rainy periods so it can be used during droughts.

Hydropower plants in the United States are usually able to supply about seven percent of the countrys total energy production, Welch said.

Drought in Brazil

In Brazil, hydroelectric power is the top provider of electricity. Drought recently cut water flows into hydroelectric dams to a 91-year low, the country's mines and energy minister said.

To replace the loss of power from hydroelectric plants, the country is seeking to use natural gas. This threatens to increase the release of carbon gases linked to climate change. The cost of power has increased by nearly 100 percent for some users since July.

Jose Marengo is a climate scientist at Brazils disaster observation center. He said severe weather events like the current drought will become more common with climate change. He said Brazilians will need to change their thinking about water. "People always thought that water is unlimited, but it really isn't," Marengo said.

Bento Albuquerque is a minister of mines and energy for Brazil. He said the ministry is building power lines to send electricity where it is needed. He added that moving away from hydroelectric energy to solar and wind energy will help the country deal with such events and prevent the need to restrict water use.

However, Brazil will remain dependent on hydropower for years. By 2030, the energy ministry predicts about half of electricity will come from dams. The country is also planning to build more hydroelectric dams with neighboring countries.

Effect of dams

Last year's drought in China's Yunnan province cut hydroelectric power generation by nearly one third during the first five months of 2020. Officials say there is about 10 percent less power produced there this year.

Yunnan usually produces 25 percent of China's total hydroelectric generation. Industries in the area use a lot of power. Some had to temporarily close when their power was cut earlier this year.

But storing more river water in China could worsen droughts in other places, experts say. For example, water held behind dams on the upper Mekong River in Yunnan has been blamed for affecting water in Thailand, Cambodia and Myanmar.

Im Jill Robbins.

Sharon Bernstein, Jake Spring and David Stanway reported on this story for Reuters Jill Robbins adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor.

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

generator n. something (such as a machine) that produces a product (such as electricity); generate v. to produce something (such as electricity)

province  n. any one of the large parts that some countries are divided into

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Electric vehicle companies are racing to become the next Tesla, but want to avoid Elon Musk's early problems with production.

So, companies like Arrival and Fisker are taking very different roads to overcome such issues.

A few have found investors who are willing to spend billions to finance their startups. Rivian has raised around $10.5 billion from Amazon.com and Ford Motor Company. It is set to begin production on electric vans, trucks and SUVs.

Startup companies without enough investment money need less costly ways to produce a lot of vehicles in a short time. If they cannot, they risk having the problems Tesla had in its early years.

The remarkable thing is that Tesla was not ruined financially in reaching mass production, Musk told Reuters news agency.

The traditional method of many carmakers has been to spend above $2 billion on a big factory to build 240,000 or more vehicles each year.

Arrival has chosen instead to build electric van and bus "microfactories. They are small factories that cost $50 million and have fewer pieces of expensive equipment. Arrival does not need special equipment to paint its vehicles because they are made of lightweight colored plastic. Painting equipment can cost hundreds of millions of dollars.

Arrival plans microfactories close to major markets around the world. This will let them hire local workers, and lessen shipping costs.

The money a company must raise "to do this the traditional waykeeps startups from coming forward with new ideas," said Mike Abelson. He is the North American head of Arrival.

The company raised about $660 million from selling shares of its company in its March public offering. Now, it is building two U.S. plants. One is in North Carolina and will make vans. The other is in South Carolina and will make buses. In addition, it is building a factory in Spain. Abelson said Arrival will announce more factories later this year.

Production in microfactories

Arrival's first microfactory in Bicester, England, will serve as the model for other plants. The lack of painting equipment is just one way the company will avoid the costs of traditional vehicle making.

The startup's engineers have built molds for plastic vehicle parts costing thousands of dollars. That is far less than the millions of dollars needed for traditional metal equipment. Arrival's engineers have also designed their own molding machines.

Abelson said Arrival needs around 70 robots for each microfactory. And it is buying only commonly used, basic robots from long-time car industry suppliers.

Going small means that Arrival can produce 10,000 vans each year in each microfactory rather than 100,000, Abelson says. Also, each microfactory will create around 250 jobs. That is not close to the many thousands of jobs created by larger plants in the past.

"That means if a plant doesn't work out, it's not a disaster for a local economy," Abelson said. "A major car plant closing is a big hole to fill."

Work our way backwards

Electric vehicle maker Canoo has taken a similar path. But leader Tony Aquila said Canoo will build a larger microfactory to serve as a center for smaller future factories.

Electric Last Mile Solutions plans to launch a small electric van in the United States later this year. At first, it will reassemble prefinished vehicles made in China at an old General Motors plant in Indiana. There, it will add new safety features to meet U.S. regulations.

Company head James Taylor said this will at first save hundreds of millions of dollars on equipment. As profits grow, it will add in more American parts over time. "We'll work our way backwards," Taylor said.

Other startups are doing production overseas to cut costs.

Israel-based REE is looking at agreements with American Axle and Mitsubishi to help build its electric platforms.

Both REE and Fisker have also teamed up with Canadian car supplier Magna International to build their electric vehicles. Fisker has a similar agreement with Taiwan's Foxconn Technology.

Im Alice Bryant.

Reuters news agency reported this story. Alice Bryant adapted it for Learning English. Susan Shand was the editor.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

Startup  n. a new business

Van  n. a vehicle that is used for transporting goods and that is closed in on all sides

SUV  n. a large vehicle designed to be used on rough surfaces but that is often used on city roads or highways

Mold  n. a container that is used to give its shape to something that is poured or pressed into it

Reassemble  v. to put the parts of something back together

Platform  n. a usually raised structure that has a flat surface where people or machines do work


Students who are working toward a masters degree in education at the University of Washington are required to take a technology class. Before last year, that technology class was not seen as especially important. Then the coronavirus health crisis hit. Schools across the country went to online learning. Suddenly, materials from the class were being included in other classes.

Its become so relevant, and its staying that way, said Anne Beitlers. She directs Washingtons masters program for secondary education.

The pandemic is already creating lasting effects on the education of future teachers. Many U.S. educator preparation programs are including more information about digital tools, online teaching and mental and emotional wellness in their classes.

School system leaders across the U.S. are hoping to offer in-person teaching as widely as possible this year. But education experts say the increased focus on technology will improve teacher quality no matter what happens with the pandemic.

The education school at Iowas Drake University has introduced a class about best practices in online teaching. Other schools say they have added digital tools, videoconferencing and educational technology to their classes. They aim to help future educators do the same.

Jennifer Krawec is director of teacher preparation programs at the University of Miami in Florida. She said, I think its our responsibility to train teachers to be able to do that, and if they find themselves teaching face-to-face, nobodys hurt by additional information about teaching online.

Officials at Columbia Universitys Teachers College say its students will continue to get training in skills that became increasingly important during the pandemic. These skills include designing digital teaching materials and finding ways to keep the attention of children in virtual or combination learning environments.

Southern Methodist University in Texas plans to make sure those who complete its education program get trained using Google Classroom. Teachers at New York University have become more purposeful about explaining how and why they choose to use certain digital tools.

At North Carolina State Universitys College of Education, instructors are trying to include remote learning methods and tools that can still be used in face-to-face teaching, said Erin Horne, an official at the school.

Horne said the college's instructors have also been including more class time to discuss social-emotional learning and trauma-informed care. Those issues are getting increased attention at programs across the country.

Phillip Rogers leads the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification. He said he believes skills in virtual instruction will one day become a more common part of teacher training. However, there are so far no major changes among states to require it in teacher preparation programs.

Im Ashley Thompson.

The Associated Press reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for VOA Learning English. Susan Shand was the editor.

_____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

relevant - adj. relating to a subject in an appropriate way

digital - adj. relating to a subject in an appropriate way

certain - adj. used to refer to something or someone that is not named specifically

remote - adj. connected to a computer system from another place

trauma - n. very difficult or unpleasant experience that causes someone to have mental or emotional problems usually for a long time
When I was 10, I was programming in Logo after being introduced to it in my school's required computer class. Our teacher did not once call this programming; it was just another project among ones that usually weren't programming. I generalized almost every exercise - something that most of my classmates weren't interested in doing, and also something that can be tricky, but useful, when writing software. Instead of a teacher pointing out that I handled the assigned non-generalized exercise well, I was criticized for playing around with generalization because it was "harder to grade." Meanwhile, male classmates who wrote very similar code to my non-generalized versions were praised for their work. This was the only programming opportunity I was made aware of for the next few years, despite telling my teacher I wanted to do more things like writing in Logo. I also tried to search online for related things to do, but since I didn't know the term "programming," searching the internet circa 1999 to 2003 didn't yield much.

My second introduction to programming happened when I turned 13. Like many other teenagers, I started a blog. Even back then, blogs had some amount of a social aspect, so I ran across other blogs frequently. I fell in love with some of their designs and discovered that you could highly customize a blog's look and feel. Customization ended up being far more exciting to me than actually writing posts, and I got really into it: I learned a lot about HTML and CSS markup, then expanded my knowledge to PHP so I could write a dynamic content site that served me well. At the time, I was unaware that this was another form of programming. Forums didn't tend to refer to these skills as web programming - it was simply the task of "creating a website."

I came across my third programming opportunity at 16. Some of my high school's student advisers asked a friend and me to develop an internal registration system because we had strong math and logic backgrounds. They called this a "programming project": it was the first time something I had worked on was referred to as "programming." Despite my shouldering a significant amount of work, he got almost all of the praise. This lack of recognition was discouraging and made me feel like programming was not something people thought I could pursue. Not everything in my life was like this, however: I felt very encouraged by my mathematics and economics teachers to pursue my dreams in those fields, so that's what I initially went to college to study.

The end of my freshman year in college was the first time that anyone reacted to my interest in programming - or, as far as I could see, to anyone's interest - with something other than indifference or discouragement. I slowly realized that the negativity surrounding my previous experiences wasn't because the world was apathetic about programming; the cause was people's unease towards working with an interested young woman. This newfound constructive environment got me really fired up about the subject, and I changed my majors from math and economics to math and computer science. I finally found out about how programming was a part of a broad field known as "computer science and software engineering," a respected field full of awesome people and interesting problems. This turned out to be a fantastic decision for me, and I am eternally grateful for the friends (all male) who encouraged me to do so.

I found out a few months after graduating college that I'd secretly been hacking since I was 10. I don't mention this to many people, in part because it doesn't occur to me to do so. In fact, it was only after finishing the first draft of this post that I remembered that writing assembly on the TI-83+ in high school also counts. It was certainly valuable experience, but I guess this is is a sign that I don't tend to think of these experiences as though they were "hacking." My friends call me a "hacker," and I begrudgingly agree, but I still don't feel proud of those experiences or reflect positively on them. I feel awkward writing about them.

It also turns out that I had more opportunities than many women who were of similar age at the time, and my experiences were not positive ones, but ones that made me feel discouraged. Many women who grew up when I did were never aware that programming and "hacking" were things that they, or their male counterparts, could do. It was a field that was completely invisible to them - even as one of the lucky ones who stumbled upon opportunities early on, I still perceived the field as exclusionary at worst and invisible at best. I am not going to claim that the perceived invisibility is unique to women - for example, I grew up just outside of Chicago where there were people with software engineering jobs, but in rural areas, the field is far less represented. Still, I imagine that this is unfortunately more common among women due to the ongoing sexism surrounding the field and the effects that this has on young, impressionable women. Despite how invisible the field was to many people I know, a good number of these people, both male and female, have grown to be software engineers I respect immensely, even though they were not the "hackers" that got an early start.

Every so often, I think that the invisibility of software engineering and the sexism within the field have virtually gone away - or at least that they are going away. It certainly has in many places I frequent these days: I live in New York City, I've opted out of the SF/Silicon Valley startup scene for the time being, and I have found equal footing by being a software engineer and data scientist at a high-frequency trading company. But sadly, these problems haven't gone away. One such reminder of the gender gap is pointed out in Paul Graham's interview with The Information:

God knows what you would do to get 13 year old girls interested in computers. [...] We can't make these women look at the world through hacker eyes and start Facebook because they haven't been hacking for the past 10 years.

I don't think he deserved the flaming that he received for this statement - his statement is true. Women often haven't been "hacking for the past 10 years." The same thing can be said about a lot of male software engineers. I admit that some women and arguably more men were lucky and had the opportunities to start becoming a "hacker" early on. I am among those lucky women, but I didn't know it at the time. Now, I know it, but it's surrounded by mixed feelings. I personally feel qualified to take on the title of "hacker" because of my early in life and broad experiences with programming, but simultaneously feel that I'll never truly be one because I don't fit the stereotype and am okay with that: I wear dresses and heels instead of hoodies and sneakers, I keep a regular sleep schedule, and most of all, I'm not male. I feel like I might be earning extra respect because of my extra years of experience, but I find that advantage extremely unfair to the many spectacular "non-hacker" software engineers out there. Actually, I might not even be getting that advantage - I didn't notice I was a "hacker" for so long, so why would anyone else see it? I have to wonder how many other women who've been programming for the past 10 years also were, or still are, unable to notice it.

It's important to understand that the underrepresentation of women among "hackers" doesn't mean women had the option to become them but were uninterested. The issues of invisibility and sexism illustrated above have systematically been leaving women behind or even pushing them out of the pool. I don't have all the answers about how to "get 13 year old girls interested in computers," but I know that it has to start with the field becoming visible to them. The issues surrounding women who did not have these opportunities at a young age compound on top of the issues that I mentioned the woman "hacker" faces. In addition to being unable to self-identify with the "hacker" stereotype, starting to write code at a later age necessitates working twice as hard to "catch up" to the "hacker." Actually, doubling up on the work is becoming increasingly necessary not just to compete with the "hacker," but also to succeed at all as a software engineer. Many women, and "non-hacker" men, really spend the time needed to catch up: an impressive achievement. Unfortunately, some of these hard-working "latecomers" face impostor syndrome in the face of the desirable "hacker" stereotype - we simply haven't figured out time travel yet, so they still feel powerless compared to the stereotype.

The prevalence of the "hacker" stereotype hurts those who don't identify with it, such as women; in turn, this hurts everyone. "Hacker" doesn't equate to the best software engineer, the best founder, or much of anything other than having benefited from a longer period of time to gain experience - extra time that may or may not have been used effectively to gain additional knowledge. But that's not the really disappointing part: it's the alienating connotations the term carries. Those who haven't been given the title of "hacker" are often ignored or pull themselves out of the competitive pool because it's a term they can never earn as the time frame for doing so has passed. This rejection might even discourage bright minds from seeking to start an equivalent "hacker" training at a time some might call years too late. Wouldn't it be better for everyone if the people from all backgrounds were given the opportunity to succeed on merit and grow without overcoming unnecessary hurdles instead of focusing all our energy on the exclusionary "hacker" stereotype?
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Pocan said using those Pentagon dollars on an international vaccination effort is in itself a defense mission. China is already using some of its defense dollars to send vaccines worldwide, and this would allow us to be more competitive with China in a diplomatic way, he added.

Defense isn't just F-35s and funding private contractors, he told us. It's also protecting us from pandemics and fighting climate change, all of which present dangers to the country.

"At a time when America spends more on its military than the next 11 closest nations combined, we should be able to sacrifice a little over 1% of that to save lives, build global goodwill and actually make the world a safer, healthier place," he declared in a press release announcing his bill.

We asked him what the new Census figures and the pending redistricting is going to do to his 2nd District.

He revealed that his district, because of Dane County's healthy growth, will need to shrink in size, and the districts population, which currently is a bit less than 800,000, will be reduced by about 55,000. That means that some of his constituency will be moved to either western Wisconsin's 3rd District or southeast Wisconsin's 1st District.
We cant really tell him that he cant check them all out. We were very fearful that they would not return, that they would be damaged when they got back, Kerrigan said. All of the books were returned unharmed within a week, she said.

While he had the books, the childrens display sat empty, she said.

Kerrigan recently graduated from River Ridge High School. She describes herself as a fervent advocate for the LGBTQ community. She said she rarely backs down from confrontation. But she said she went home after work that day angry and crying.

When I got home I told my parents: I dont feel safe at work anymore, she said.

It was very upsetting to have a kid who is never scared  she always says, Theyre not going to scare me, theyre just being a bully, whatever. For her to say, I dont feel safe at work, said Kerrigans mom, Rita Trautsch, that was very scary.

Kerrigan said her fear was heightened because the librarys staff is almost all women.

I was terrified that he would be outside, that there would be a collection of people outside waiting for me, waiting for anyone else, she said. We were terrified.

More outrage
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, the Rochester Republican who has ordered an investigation into the 2020 Wisconsin election in which Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump, said Saturday that he spent the day with the former president.

Vos said he is going to be keeping Trump, who has not stopped claiming he won the 2020 election despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, updated on our investigation.

In a statement, Vos said: It was an honor to be invited to travel by private plane with President Trump and top staff to attend his rally in Alabama. During that rally, Trump was booed briefly by his supporters after encouraging vaccinations and saying he too had been vaccinated.

That meeting comes about two months after Trump publicly lambasted Vos by name, as well as other Wisconsin Republican leaders, for not investigating the 2020 election with more force. Trumps statement in June accusing Vos and other state GOP leaders of working hard to cover up election corruption, led to a small faction of Republicans to call for Vos to step down.

Vos has vowed that the investigation he ordered into the 2020 election is not seeking to overturn it. In his Saturday statement, Vos said: I provided him (Trump) details about our robust efforts in Wisconsin to restore full integrity and trust in elections.
Probably not on both counts. Individual lives tend to get ground up in the giant gears of geopolitics and history. Last week, the process was underway even before the bodies hit the ground, the punditocracy united in debating the question that, for many, was foremost in importance: Who gets the blame for this debacle?

Does it go to the Bush, Obama or Trump administrations for mishandling the war? To the Biden administration for bungling the pullout, creating a deadly calamity by misreading the speed with which Taliban forces would overrun the nation? To Afghanistans hapless government, which we spent over $2 trillion American dollars and over 2,000 American lives to install, maintain and defend? Should it go to the Afghan army, 300,000 men trained and equipped at a cost of $83 billion, which melted away like a sandcastle in the waves when faced with a ragtag force one quarter its size? Or to U.S. military leaders who kept assuring us things were going well when, clearly, things were not?

Well, the answer is: Yes, all of the above. The answer is also, who cares?

Not that those are not critical questions. Not that they do not demand answers and accountability. Not that there are not grave geopolitical implications here.
Some of the biggest puzzles out there, in my opinion, involve what comes first, the egg or the chicken? Roeser said. When it comes to housing, how do you get housing into these rural areas so people move there, before the people come? You need the housing in place, but you do not have developers willing to invest in areas unless people are going there.

Thats not to say all rural areas struggled.

The city of Twin Falls grew by 17.4% over the last decade. Caldwell grew by 29.8%. Kimberly grew by 41.7%.

Those areas all have some combination of affordable housing, jobs and access to retail, services or recreation.

But even some large cities in Idaho struggled.

Pocatello, the eastern Idaho city home to Idaho State University, experienced modest growth of 3.8% over the past decade, well below the state average of 17.3%.

Pocatello is just a little surprising to me. It has nice foothills around it like Boise and some people think it could really attract people, especially with recreation close by, Roeser said. But a lot of the retail and housing has moved to Idaho Falls. Thats where people are going.

How does this affect redistricting?
Opinion: Like 90% of Americans, I was in favor of the war in Afghanistan. We were fighting the fight against terrorism and we were going to win.

So, what the hell went wrong?
Two Laurel Park Middle School students have been diagnosed with COVID-19, Henry County Public Schools Superintendent Sandy Strayer informed families in an email on Monday.

The email said that the students were on school property on Friday and did have contact with others at the school. The positive tests were sent to the district on Monday, and those individuals directly affected were notified.

The area(s) where the student visited are being deep cleaned and sanitized, Strayer wrote in her email. Those individuals with direct exposure were notified as soon as we knew of a possible exposure and are currently quarantining.

Her email did not specify how many students or staff members are quarantining.

She did say the school would remain open  HCPS had to shut down individual schools during the brief period last fall when they tried to reopen  and officials would continue contact tracing for potential exposures.

If you or your child are identified as having been potentially exposed, the Virginia Department of Health will contact you to ask that you please stay home and monitor for symptoms of cough, shortness of breath, or a temperature higher than 100.4 degrees and practice social distancing for 14 days from your last contact, she said in the email.
I remember Irene and media outlets outside Vermont brushing it aside as if no big deal while it hit Vermont, Robert Welch, a podcaster, tweeted Sunday. Ill relax when I see it at sea on radar.

In one of his final appearances as governor before he is set to step down at the end of Monday over a sexual harassment scandal, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the states primary concern were inland areas like the Hudson River Valley, north of New York City, which was projected to get inches of rain over the next few days.

In the Hudson Valley you have hills, you have creeks, the water comes running down those hills and turns a creek into a ravaging river," Cuomo said.

Major airports in the region remained open as the storm approached, though hundreds of Sundays flights were canceled. Service on some branches of New York Citys commuter rail system was suspended through Sunday, as was Amtrak service between New York and Boston.

Power outages affected power to 130,000 homes across Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York.

Connecticut's largest electric utility said it had restored 20,000 customers but thousands like Linda Orlomoski, who lives in Canterbury, remained without power.
Satellite imagery of Africa. Credit: Public Domain

Adolescent girls in sub-Saharan Africa are vulnerable to early unintended pregnancy, HIV, child marriage, sexual violence, female genital mutilation, and related mortality and disabilities. This is particularly the case for those from the poorest homes.

Three quarters of new HIV infections among 15-19 year-olds are in sub-Saharan Africa. Pregnancy-related complications and AIDS are the leading causes of death among adolescents in the region.

The high burden of poor sexual and reproductive health is a threat to the immediate and future health and socioeconomic well-being of the region's young people. Improving the health outcomes of sub-Saharan African adolescents is a priority of many governments, researchers and development partners.

Governments in the region have made several commitments to improving adolescent sexual and reproductive health. These include the Maputo Protocol, the African Union's Agenda 2063 and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.

But many of these commitments haven't been implemented at a national level. We believe this is, in part, because of the absence of the evidence required to inform policies. Political leaders can be suspicious of foreign-driven research intended to inform local strategies.

In general, research on adolescent sexual and reproductive health has increased remarkably over the past decade. But who is driving it?

In our recent paper we examined the body of research on adolescent sexual and reproductive health in sub-Saharan Africa. No study has systematically mapped this existing body of knowledge. We wanted to see how much of the research was conducted and led by African scientists, and some of the common topics covered.

We found that research was patchyheavily concentrated in only six countries. It was also patchy by subject mattersome subjects got a lot of attention, like HIV and gender based violence, while others received virtually none. We also found a very low representation of African-based researcher as lead writers.

Our research

We looked at research on adolescent sexual and reproductive health in sub-Saharan Africa between January 2010 and December 2019. There was an increase in research in this field over this period. But our review reveals significant gaps in the geographical coverage of these studies.

Most sub-Saharan African countries had limited research. The bulk of the research was done in six of the 46 countries in the region (South Africa, 19.2%; Kenya, 12.1%; Nigeria, 9.1%; Tanzania, 8.0%; Uganda, 8.0%; and Ethiopia, 7.5%). Ten countries had no adolescent sexual and reproductive health publication, and five had only one paper each.

Issues like HIV, sexual behaviours, access to sexual and reproductive health services, sexual and gender based violence, adolescent pregnancy, and child marriage received significant research attention.

But limited attention was given to other topics. Among these were other sexually transmitted infections, comprehensive sexuality education and age-appropriate services. Menstrual hygiene, gender norms, early adolescence (1014 years), programme interventions and policy evaluation were also under-studied.

We also found a low representation of African-based researchers in the lead author position.

One in six articles did not include any local authors. And local researchers led a little over half of the research. When African authors collaborated with researchers from Europe and the US, they were less likely to be the lead author. These findings are consistent with previous research.

The low representation of Africa-based authors in the lead author position may reflect their limited access to research resources as well as power imbalances in knowledge production.

But representation in publications, especially in lead authorship positions, is important to researchers. It can help secure jobs, promotions or leadership positions in academics and research institutions. When researchers in sub-Saharan Africa are excluded as authors or lead authors in research they contributed to, their chances of benefiting are limited.

But it's worth noting that the research may simply not happen without the US-based or EU-based authors. This is because the primary funding for adolescent sexual and reproductive health studies in sub-Saharan Africa comes from the US and Europe. And authors from these countries are more likely to receive these research funds.

In most cases, they come with the funding and have the expertise and design the research. So it is not surprising that foreign authors led much of the research in the region.

Need for change

Research is particularly needed to assess existing policies and inform efforts to implement them better. Local evidence should drive policy debates, advocacy and decisions. Funders and researchers should, thus, prioritise topics and settings where research is scarce. It is also critical to develop the research ecosystem and experts in countries where research is thin.

Under-representation of African scholars as lead authors perpetuates power imbalances in knowledge production. Funders, journals and research institutions should develop policies and principles that address the imbalances and give local researchers more prominence. This would go some way to meeting the call to decolonise global health.

Lastly, if Africa is to achieve its transformative agenda, its research ecosystem needs significant investment. Meeting the 1% of GDP commitment to research is an important first step.

Explore further Health care providers missing opportunities to talk about sexual health with young people

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
It's no surprise to hear that women's fertility wanes as their biological clock ticks away.

But do men have a biological clock, too?

New research shows it's not exactly the same, but their likelihood of fathering a child does appear to decline, even with assisted reproductive technology, once they're past age 50.

Research completed among potential fathers both above and under age 50 in the United Kingdom found that even with in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), the chance of achieving a live birth significantly declined once a man was over 50. However, that paternal age did not independently affect risk of miscarriage after assisted reproductive technology.

It "wasn't too surprising in that it demonstrated that older men have worse assisted reproductive technology outcomes, but it's still an evolving area of research," said Dr. Bobby Najari, director of the Male Infertility Program at NYU Langone Health, in New York City. "I think it definitely contributes significantly to our understanding of this particular area of reproductive health."

The study authors, who included Dr. Guy Morris, of the Centre for Reproductive and Genetic Health in London, noted that delayed parenthood is becoming more common for both men and women around the world. Among babies born in 2016 in England and Wales, for example, 15% had a father over 40.

The father's age may also impact the health of the child, the study noted, citing a U.S. study that found when a father's age was over 45, it increased the odds of gestational diabetes in the mother, preterm birth and neonatal seizures. Child outcomes in another review found an association between advancing paternal age and several neuropsychiatric disorders and other adverse health outcomes.

With IVF, man's age also matters

The latest study was conducted at the Centre for Reproductive and Genetic Health in London. All the couples had primary or secondary infertility and were undergoing either IVF or ICSI using a semen sample from the male partner. The study included 4,271 men and 4,833 cycles. About 41% of the cycles resulted in a live birth. The probability of a live birth was 33% lower for men older than 50.

The findings were published online Aug. 17 in Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica.

Existing data suggests that older men have higher rates of DNA fragmentation, which is a measure of how well packaged the DNA is inside of sperm, Najari explained. Other studies have demonstrated that higher rates of DNA fragmentation can be associated with worse IVF outcomes, particularly early miscarriage or poor fertilization, he said.

That is one potential reason why older men may have worse IVF outcomes, Najari said. The other relevant finding is that older men do seem to do worse in terms of sperm movement and sperm count.

"Even before you get to the IVF standpoint or assisted reproductive technology standpoint, older men might have some difficulty with fertility as a result of just lower numbers or lower health of sperm," Najari said.

But while there is a relatively steep decline in fertility and reproductive health for women, it seems to be more gradual for men, Najari said.

"The definition of advanced paternal age, I think if you look at the American Urological Association guidelines, would suggest that you counsel couples when the man is over the age of 40 about these potential adverse health outcomes in offspring," Najari said. "But different studies use different definitions. For example, this one uses 50 as the definition of older age and I think [that's] because there is no one age where above this age there's a very high risk and below this age there is no risk."

Lifestyle changes can boost odds of live birth

Though age can't be changed, a man would still want to be evaluated by a male reproductive specialist to identify reversible factors that can contribute to something like elevated DNA fragmentation, Najari said.

This might include smoking, abnormalities in anatomy (such as a condition similar to varicose veins in the scrotum) or an infection in the genital area.

A man who is concerned about his fertility can take a number of common-sense steps, said Dr. Robert Brannigan, professor in the department of urology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, in Chicago.

In addition to seeing a physician who specializes in male reproductive health and addressing any underlying biological issues, lifestyle changes can improve fertility for some, he said.

Brannigan said he doesn't think the study should hinder couples from thinking about pursuing a pregnancy even if a man is over 50.

"I think it's very important for the couple to undergo an evaluation. When they're finding that they're struggling in their efforts to conceive for a very long time, the burden has really been on the female partner for the diagnostics and therapeutics," he noted.

"Very often we find that there are opportunities in the male to optimize their health," Brannigan added. "And it may be in a less invasive way than the therapies and treatments that are offered to the female."

Explore further Does delaying fatherhood reduce fertility?

More information: Guy Morris et al, Paternal age over 50 years decreases assisted reproductive technology (ART) success: A single UK center retrospective analysis, Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica (2021). Journal information: Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica Guy Morris et al, Paternal age over 50 years decreases assisted reproductive technology (ART) success: A single UK center retrospective analysis,(2021). DOI: 10.1111/aogs.14221

Copyright  2021 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
A color-enhanced image showing a clump of prostate cancer cells. Credit: Annie Cavanagh, Wellcome Image Awards 2008. CC BY-NC 4.0

Talazoparib, a new precision drug, can keep cancer in check in some men with advanced prostate cancer who have run out of options, a phase II clinical trial shows.

The targeted druga type of treatment called a PARP inhibitor, which specifically targets cancer cells with faulty DNA repair genesslowed down tumor growth in some patients with advanced prostate cancer.

Men with BRCA mutations responded particularly well to talazoparibaround half of patients with BRCA2 or BRCA1 defects responded to the treatment, which halted tumor growth in some cases, demonstrating the effectiveness and safety of the drug for the first time in prostate cancer.

The TALAPRO-1 trial was led by Professor Johann de Bono at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust. The trial involved more than 100 patients with advanced prostate cancer whose tumors had alterations in one or more of 11 DNA repair genes and who had been previously treated with chemotherapy and enzalutamide and/or abiraterone.

Treatment response

The latest results of the study, funded by Pfizer, are published in The Lancet Oncology and highlight how crucial it is to carry out genomic testing in prostate cancer patientsin order to identify different patient groups based on their genetics and to tailor treatment accordingly.

Almost a third of all patients31 out of 104 (30 percent)  who received talazoparib as part of the trial responded to the drug. Men with BRCA mutations had the highest response rates46 and 50 percent of those with BRCA2 and BRCA1 alterations, respectively, responded to the treatment.

Although the drug's anti-tumor effect was most remarkable against tumors harboring BRCA alterations, some men with tumors harboring mutations in PALB2 or ATM also responded to talazoparib.

Kinder than chemotherapy

The researchers also found that using talazoparib delayed disease progression by an average of 11.2 months in men with prostate cancers with faulty BRCA genesextending the time before prostate cancer had a chance to spread further.

Overall, for men with any of the 11 faulty DNA repair genes who were given talazoparib, the length of time before their cancer got worse was, on average, 5.6 months.

The most frequent adverse effect was anemia, but few patients discontinued talazoparib because of the side effects. Overall, talazoparib was well-tolerated, and since it is a targeted treatment, it is a much kinder option for patients than chemotherapy.

PARP inhibitors like talazoparib work by stripping cancer of its DNA defenses. Cancer cells with DNA repair gene faultssuch as BRCA, ATM or PALB2already have a defective DNA repair system. By using a drug to block PARP, which helps repair DNA when it is damaged, we can render cancer cells unable to repair themselves.

A team of ICR researchers, led by Professor Alan Ashworth, first described the sensitization of BRCA tumors to PARP inhibition. Talazoparib was approved by the EU in 2019 for some patients with advanced breast cancers and researchers now hope it will join olaparib in becoming one of the first genetically targeted treatments for prostate cancer too.

'Helping men who have run out of options'

Study leader Professor Johann de Bono, Professor of Experimental Cancer Medicine at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, and Consultant Medical Oncologist at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, said:

"These results are yet another demonstration that PARP inhibitors work well in some men with prostate cancerdelaying the spread of the disease and extending their lives so they can have more quality time with their families.

"Men with advanced and heavily pre-treated prostate cancer, who also had faults in DNA repair genes, responded very well to the targeted drug talazoparib, especially those who had BRCA mutations in their tumors.

"A follow-up phase III trial, TALAPRO-2, is ongoing and I hope talazoparib will become a new precision medicine for prostate cancer, helping men who have run out of options, including some patients with non-BRCA mutations."

Explore further Researchers identify new relevant target for PARP inhibitor talazoparib

More information: Johann S de Bono et al, Talazoparib monotherapy in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer with DNA repair alterations (TALAPRO-1): an open-label, phase 2 trial, The Lancet Oncology (2021). Journal information: Lancet Oncology Johann S de Bono et al, Talazoparib monotherapy in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer with DNA repair alterations (TALAPRO-1): an open-label, phase 2 trial,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/S1470-2045(21)00376-4
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

An extra 267,000 infants will likely have died in 2020 in low and middle income countries as a result of the economic downturn caused by COVID-19, finds a modeling study, published in the online journal BMJ Open.

This toll is 7% higher than expected for the year, say the World Bank economist authors.

The global economy is expected to have contracted almost 5% in the first year of the pandemic, increasing the numbers of people living in poverty by 120 million.

And unlike economic crises in high-income countries, these shocks in low-income countries generally increase deaths among vulnerable groups, such as young children and the elderly.

Previously published projections of the likely impact of the pandemic on indirect deathsthose not caused by COVID-19 itselfhave focused on the extent of assumed disruptions to essential health services.

The authors of this study looked instead at the impact of the aggregate 'income shock' represented by the projected fall in Gross Domestic Product (GDP)the total value of a country's annual goods and serviceson the survival of children aged up to 12 months in low- and middle-income countries.

They linked data on GDP per head of the population to 5.2 million births, reported in Demographic and Health Surveys between 1985 and 2018. Most (82%) of these births were in low- and lower middle-income countries.

They then applied International Monetary Fund economic growth projections for 2019 and 2020 to predict the effect of the economic downturn in 2020 on infant deaths in 128 countries.

Their calculations indicated that an additional 267, 208 infants in low- and middle-income countries died in 2020, corresponding to just short of a 7% increase in the number of infant deaths expected for that year.

The highest numbers of estimated excess infant deaths were in South Asia (8 countries), totalling 113,141, with more than a third of the excess projected to be in India (99,642). India has the highest number of annual births (24,238,000) as well as a particularly large projected economic shortfall of 17.3% for 2020.

The authors note that 28,00050,000 excess infant deaths were estimated for Africa after the financial crisis in 2009. This compares with an estimated figure of 82,239 for 2020, reflecting the larger estimated shortfalls in GDP caused by the pandemic.

They accept several limitations to their projected figures, including that their calculations drew on retrospective data, and that they only considered the short-term impact of GDP fluctuations on infant death rates.

And the difference between October 2019 and October 2020 economic growth projections was interpreted to represent only the effects of the pandemic, even though some countries have experienced other major shocks, such as natural disasters or political crises, that may also have affected national income levels, they explain.

"Regardless of the exact number of projected deaths, the large number of excess infant deaths estimated in our analysis underscores the vulnerability of this age group to negative aggregate income shocks, such as those induced by the COVID-19 pandemic," they write.

"Several mechanisms are likely driving this increase in mortality among children 01 year of age: impoverishment at the household level will lead to worse nutrition and care practices for infants and reduced ability to access health services, while the economic crisis might also affect the supply and quality of services offered by the health systems," they explain.

While they focused on the likely impact on infant survival, other vulnerable groups are likely to have been affected, they add.

"As countries, health systems, and the wider global community continue efforts to prevent and treat COVID-19, we should also consider resources to stabilize health systems and strengthen social safety nets in order to mitigate the human, social, and economic consequences of the pandemic and related lockdown policies," they conclude.

Explore further Study finds almost 1 million extra deaths in 29 high income countries in 2020

More information: How many infants may have died in low-income and middle-income countries in 2020 due to the economic contraction accompanying the COVID-19 pandemic? Mortality projections based on forecasted declines in economic growth, BMJ Open (2021). Journal information: BMJ Open How many infants may have died in low-income and middle-income countries in 2020 due to the economic contraction accompanying the COVID-19 pandemic? Mortality projections based on forecasted declines in economic growth,(2021). DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-050551
In this March 2, 2021, file photo, pharmacy technician Hollie Maloney loads a syringe with Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine at the Portland Expo in Portland, Maine. The U.S. gave full approval to Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File

The U.S. gave full approval to Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine Monday, potentially boosting public confidence in the shots and instantly opening the way for more universities, companies and local governments to make vaccinations mandatory.

The Pentagon promptly announced it will press ahead with plans to force members of the military to get vaccinated amid the battle against the extra-contagious delta variant. The University of Minnesota likewise said it will require its students get the shot, as did Louisiana's major public universities, including LSU, though state law there allows broad exemptions.

More than 200 million Pfizer doses have been administered in the U.S. under emergency provisionsand hundreds of millions more worldwidesince December. In going a step further and granting full approval, the Food and Drug Administration cited months of real-world evidence that serious side effects are extremely rare.

President Joe Biden said that for those who hesitated to get the vaccine until it received what he dubbed the "gold standard" of FDA approval, "the moment you've been waiting for is here."

"Please get vaccinated today," he said.

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla called the FDA's action "an important milestone that I think will unlock some of the more skeptical minds."

Pfizer said the U.S. is the first country to grant full approval of its vaccine, in a process that required a 360,000-page application and rigorous inspections. Never before has the FDA has so much evidence to judge a shot's safety.

The formula, jointly developed with Germany's BioNTech, will be marketed under the brand name Comirnaty.

Moderna has also applied to the FDA for full approval of its vaccine. Johnson & Johnson, maker of the third option in the U.S., said it hopes to do so later this year.

Just over half of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated. Vaccinations in this country bottomed out in July at an average of about a half-million shots per day, down from a peak of 3.4 million a day in mid-April. As the delta variant fills hospital beds, shots are on the rise again, with a million a day given Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

In this Feb. 5, 2021, file photo, the Pfizer logo is displayed at the company's headquarters in New York. The U.S. gave full approval to Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File

Full approval of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine means it meets the same "very high standards required of all the approved vaccines we rely on every day," said Dr. Jesse Goodman of Georgetown University, a former FDA vaccine chief. That should help "anyone who still has concerns gain confidence" in the shots.

Earlier this month, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he would seek the president's OK to make the vaccine mandatory by mid-September or once the FDA grants final approval, whichever comes first. On Monday, after the FDA acted, the Pentagon said guidance on vaccinations will be worked out and a timeline will be provided in the coming days.

The approval also opened the way for swift action by colleges to require vaccines and solidified the legal ground for hundreds of universities that have already issued mandates for students and staff.

The public university systems in Louisiana and Minnesota had been waiting for FDA action before making vaccinations mandatory. Louisiana has become a COVID-19 hot spot, repeatedly breaking records for the number of people hospitalized with the virus. But certain other states forbid universities to require shots, including Texas and Florida.

"Mandating becomes much easier when you have full approval," said Dr. Carlos del Rio of Emory University. "I think a lot of businesses have been waiting for it."

On the same day the FDA decision came down, New York City announced that all public school teachers and other staffers will have to get vaccinated.

The delta variant has sent cases, deaths and hospitalizations soaring in recent weeks in the U.S., erasing months of progress. Deaths are running at about 1,000 a day on average for the first time since mid-March, and new cases are averaging 147,000 a day, a level last seen at the end of January.

Elizabeth Nichols, 18, of Akron, Ohio, said she felt "a rush of relief" after hearing the news of the FDA's approval. She already was on her way to get her first vaccine shot Monday morning after months of hesitation.

"I had an internal battle of whether I should get the shot or not," Nichols said in an email. "It can be scary subjecting yourself to something that is unapproved." But she added: "The authorization proves how safe it is."

The FDA, like regulators in Europe and much of the rest of the world, initially allowed emergency use of Pfizer's vaccine based on a study that tracked 44,000 people 16 and older for at least two monthsthe time period when serious side effects typically arise.

President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the full FDA approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine, in the South Court Auditorium on the White House campus, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021, in Washington. Credit: AP Photo/Evan Vucci

That's shorter than the six months of safety data normally required for full approval. So Pfizer kept that study going, and the FDA also examined real-world safety evidence.

Pfizer's shot will continue to be dispensed to 12- to 15-year-olds under an emergency use authorization, until the company files its application for full approval.

Normally, doctors can prescribe FDA-approved products for other reasons than their original use. But FDA's acting Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock strongly warned that the Pfizer vaccine should not be used "off-label" for children under 12a warning echoed by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Both Pfizer and Moderna have vaccine studies underway in youngsters, and they are using lower doses than those available for people 12 and older.

Pfizer's Bourla said he expects study results from 5- to 11-year-olds by the end of September, but data for those younger than 5 will take a couple of months.

Also, Woodcock said health providers are offering COVID-19 vaccines under agreements with the government that should preclude using Monday's approval as a pretext for offering booster shots to the general population.

Currently, the FDA has authorized third doses of either Pfizer's or Moderna's vaccine only for certain people with severely weakened immune systems, such as organ transplant recipients. For everyone else, the Biden administration is planning for boosters starting in the fall. But the FDA is evaluating that question separately.

In reaching Monday's decision, the FDA said serious side effects remain very rare, such as chest pain and heart inflammation a few days after the second dose, mostly in young men.

As for effectiveness, six months into Pfizer's original study, the vaccine remained 97% protective against severe COVID-19. Protection against milder infection waned slightly, from a peak of 96% two months after the second dose to 84% by six months.

Those findings came before the delta variant began spreading, but other data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows the vaccine is still doing a good job preventing severe disease.

Explore further FDA to prioritize full approval for Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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In a paper published today in JAMA Internal Medicine, Mount Sinai researchers describe a troubling increase in the numbers of homebound older adults, likely driven by the pandemic, from 5 percent in the previous decade to 13 percent of the population in 2020. Homebound rates were highest in non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic/Latino populations, who also reported poorer health and less digital access.

The researchers gathered data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study 2020, which publishes annual surveys of homebound status, household, health, and digital access, reviewing a total of 10,785 records of older adults from 2011-2020.

"What was most striking to us as we reviewed the data was the dramatic increase in homebound status among Blacks and Hispanics, and secondly, by comparison we noticed that Hispanics reported much greater rates of depression, anxiety, and dementia, while also lacking strong digital tools and connections. We are greatly concerned about all of our patients who are both homebound and poorly connected, particularly among Hispanic populations in light of their higher levels of poor health and self-reported anxiety and depression," says corresponding author Claire Ankuda, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor, Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

"Much lower rates of technology use among Hispanics and Blacks likely heighten barriers to accessing digital supports, such as health care through telemedicine and signing up for vaccine registrations as well," says Dr. Ankuda.

The study found the following data points for 2020:

Those reporting "fair/poor health" included 65.3 percent of Hispanics, versus 43.6 percent of Blacks and 35.3 percent of whites.

Those reporting depression included 43 percent of Hispanics, versus 24.5 percent of Blacks and 26.3 percent of whites.

Those reporting that they did not have a computer included 76.9 percent of Hispanics, 57.9 percent of Blacks, and 41.6 percent of whites.

Those reporting they "did not email/text" included 67.8 percent of Hispanics, 55.4 percent of Blacks, and 45.1 percent of whites.

The study, titled "Association of the COVID-19 Pandemic with an Increased Prevalence of Homebound Older Adults in the United States, A Comparison of 2011-2019 and 2020," is available online. The researchers note that "homebound" is characterized as rarely or never leaving the home. Homebound status can be associated with negative health outcomes including increased mortality, and is presumed to affect both physical and mental health.

"We've known that the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted older adults from communities of color in terms of illness and death, but this study shows the large disparities in rates of being homebound. While this may represent wise adherence to social distancing recommendations and be reflective of the strong regional differences in communities impacted by COVID-19, it is important that we understand the impacts that being homebound might have for years to come," says Dr. Ankuda.

In the last decade more Americans were homebound than living in nursing homes, a trend that could mean older Americans were getting their wishesto stay at home later in lifebut in a way that might warrant greater scrutiny to ensure health and well-being. According to Katherine Ornstein, Ph.D., MPH, senior author of the study and Director of Mount Sinai's Institute for Care Innovations at Home, "Aging in place in the community is a goal for Americans and their families. But we must make sure that our health and long-term care systems can support the needs of homebound patients and their caregivers so they can be safe and comfortable at home. This includes access to home-based medical care and expanded resources for caregiving families."

Explore further Racial disparities persist in multiple myeloma care, outcomes

More information: Claire K. Ankuda et al, Association of the COVID-19 Pandemic With the Prevalence of Homebound Older Adults in the United States, 2011-2020, JAMA Internal Medicine (2021). Journal information: JAMA Internal Medicine Claire K. Ankuda et al, Association of the COVID-19 Pandemic With the Prevalence of Homebound Older Adults in the United States, 2011-2020,(2021). DOI: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2021.4456
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

The novel hormone irisin has the ability to drive the cognitive benefits of exercise, and therefore holds great promise for treating cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease, scientists at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) have found. In a study published in Nature Metabolism, the team reported that irisin, secreted by the muscles during exercise, could be an effective therapeutic for addressing deficits of the brain that result from Alzheimer's disease.

"Preserving cognitive function is a major challenge in an increasingly aging population," says Christiane Wrann, DVM, Ph.D., leader of the Program in Neuroprotection in Exercise at MGH and senior author of the study. "Exercise is known to have positive effects on brain health, which is why identifying key mediators of those neuroprotective benefits, like irisin, has become such a critical goal of research."

Using mouse models, the team showed that genetic deletion of irisin impairs cognitive function in exercise, aging and Alzheimer's disease, which was in part caused by alterations of newborn neurons in the hippocampus. The hippocampus is the compartment of the brain that stores memories and is the first to show signs of Alzheimer's disease. At the same time, the MGH study found that elevating irisin levels in the bloodstream improved cognitive function and neuroinflammation in mouse models for Alzheimer's disease.

"What makes this study particularly strong is that we show irisin's effect on cognitive function in not one but four different mouse models," states Bruce Spiegelman of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, who discovered irisin in 2012 and is a co-author of the current paper. Researchers were further encouraged by the fact that irisin treatment was effective in Alzheimer's disease mouse models even after the development of significant pathology. "This could have implications for intervention in humans with Alzheimer's disease where therapy typically starts after patients have become symptomatic," Wrann says.

Another important finding of the study is that irisin protects against neuroinflammation by acting directly on glia cells in the brain. Co-author Rudy Tanzi, co-director of the McCance Center for Brain Health at MGH, explains that "it's hard to imagine anything better for brain health than daily exercise, and our findings shed new light on the mechanism involved: protecting against neuroinflammation, perhaps the biggest killer of brain neurons as we age." Wrann adds that "since irisin does not specifically target amyloid plaques, but rather neuroinflammation directly, we're optimistic it could have beneficial effects on neurodegenerative diseases beyond just Alzheimer's."

Explore further How exercise may protect against Alzheimer's

More information: Mohammad R. Islam et al, Exercise hormone irisin is a critical regulator of cognitive function, Nature Metabolism (2021). Journal information: Nature Metabolism Mohammad R. Islam et al, Exercise hormone irisin is a critical regulator of cognitive function,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s42255-021-00438-z
A graphical comparison of screening rates for colorectal cancer between the two groups in the study and in general population based on data available from the 2019 Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions. Credit: Fujiwara Masaki from Okayama University

Cancer is a leading cause of mortality in patients with mental illnesses. Although individuals with mental illnesses are equally vulnerable to cancer as the general population, they are at a much higher risk of cancer-related mortality. Owing to a lack of early screening in most cases, such patients are often diagnosed when the cancer has progressed to a much-advanced stage, thereby limiting their treatment options and prognosis.

Schizophrenia is one such mental illness in which rational and coherent thinking in the affected individuals is often adversely affected. This has implications for accurate disease diagnosis in these individuals, including cancer. In fact, the evidence for cancer screening in patients with schizophrenia is scarce, with disparities across different cancers. It is thus imperative to develop programs that encourage such patients to undergo early cancer screening. To this end, in a first-of-its-kind study, researchers from Okayama University, Japan, have conducted a randomized trial to assess the benefits of interventions for early cancer screening in patients with schizophrenia.

Giving further insights into their study published in Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, lead scientist, Assistant Professor Masaki Fujiwara, says, "Although municipalities have been approaching populations to participate in cancer screening, mortality rates remain high among people with severe mental illnesses. Therefore, we developed a case management approach with particular focus on colorectal cancer screening, for patients with schizophrenia in psychiatric outpatient clinics."

One hundred and seventy-two patients with schizophrenia across two psychiatric hospitals in Japan were randomly assigned to receive either assistance for cancer screening in addition to their usual treatment, or only the latter. A case management team was recruited from among the hospital personnel to inform and assist the patients towards the colorectal cancer (CRC) screening procedure. Primary outcome was assessed as participation in colorectal cancer screening involving a fecal occult blood test, while secondary outcomes included screening for other cancers including breast, gastric, lung, and cervical cancers. Three counseling sessions were conducted for the group receiving assistance for cancer screening. Patients were educated about the importance of early cancer screening, assisted to make an appointment, and helped to avail free screening where necessary. Case managers also helped patients navigate ways to resolve problems that they faced during the process through telephonic follow-up counseling sessions.

Notably, 47.1% patients from the counseled group underwent CRC screening, compared to merely 11.8% patients who received only the usual treatment. A significantly higher proportion of the counseled patients also underwent screening for other cancers, compared to the usual treatment group.

These findings suggest that patients with schizophrenia can participate in cancer screening to the same extent as the general population, albeit with some assistance. Implementing such support services at psychiatric centers can help improve awareness and participation in early cancer screening among patients with mental illnesses. Moreover, a comprehensive follow-up process can ensure that patients suspected of having cancer from the primary screening are encouraged to undergo colonoscopy and seek further treatment if required. Efforts in this direction can help decrease cancer-related mortality and improve patient outcomes in such populations.

"The dissemination of this intervention into routine clinical practice may help bridge the gap between early detection of cancer and mortality across people with schizophrenia and the general population," Dr. Fujiwara concludes.

This will indeed be a positive step towards ensuring the delivery of healthcare equally among members of a population, irrespective of mental health conditions.

Explore further Financial barriers to cervical cancer screening

More information: Masaki Fujiwara et al, Encouraging participation in colorectal cancer screening for people with schizophrenia: A randomized controlled trial, Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica (2021). Masaki Fujiwara et al, Encouraging participation in colorectal cancer screening for people with schizophrenia: A randomized controlled trial,(2021). DOI: 10.1111/acps.13348
Two visitors peer into the room of a COVID-19 patient in the intensive care unit at Salem Hospital in Salem, Oregon, on Friday, Aug. 20, 2021, as a nurse dons full protective gear before going into the room of another patient. The hospitalization rate of unvaccinated COVID-19 is breaking records and squeezing hospital capacity, with several running out of room to take more patients. Credit: AP Photo/Andrew Selsky

Oregon was once the poster child for limiting the spread of the coronavirus, after its Democratic governor imposed some of the nation's strictest safety measures, including mask mandates indoors and outdoors, limits on gatherings and an order closing restaurants.

But now the state is being hammered by the super-transmissible delta variant, and hospitals are getting stretched to the breaking point. The vast majority of hospitalized COVID-19 patients are unvaccinated.

The intensive care unit at Salem Hospital in Oregon's capital city is completely full, with 19 of the 30 beds occupied last week by COVID-19 patients, the youngest only 20 years old. It's the same at a hospital in Roseburg, a former timber town in western Oregon. A COVID-19 patient died in its emergency room last week while waiting for an ICU bed to open, an event that was deeply distressing to the medical staff.

"We need your help, grace and kindness," the staff of CHI Health Medical Center said on Facebook. They are reeling "from the extraordinary onslaught of new cases and hospitalizations."

Oregon is among a handful of states, including Florida, Arkansas and Louisiana, that have more people hospitalized with COVID-19 than ever before.

"This is really a dire situation," said Jeff Absalon, chief physician executive for St. Charles Health System in Bend. National Guard troops were deployed to the mountain town's hospital last week to assist medical workers.

In this Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021, photo, EMTs bring another patient to the Emergency Department in the Critical Care Unit at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center in Grants Pass, Ore. Only essential staff are permitted in the zone, and those who enter a patient's room must don various articles of Personal Protective Equipment. The hospitalization rate of unvaccinated COVID-19 is breaking records and squeezing hospital capacity, with several running out of room to take more patients. Credit: Mike Zacchino/Pool Photo via AP

Some 1,500 guard troops have been dispatched to hospitals around the state by Gov. Kate Brown, who warned of the "seriousness of this crisis for all Oregonians, especially those needing emergency and intensive care."

Oregon keeps breaking records for the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients, reaching 937 on Monday. That's a 50% increase over last year's record, when vaccines were not yet available. More than 90% of Oregon's adult hospital and ICU beds are currently full.

And on Monday Legacy Health, a hospital system in Portland that includes six hospitals, said it was pausing all non-urgent surgical procedures for two weeks to create bed capacity.

Lisa, a nurse in Salem Hospital's ICU, told a small group of visiting journalists Friday that she is both frustrated and sad to see a record number of COVID-19 patients, even though vaccines are widely available. She spoke on the condition that her last name not be used, because the pandemic and how to fight it have become highly politicized.

A nurse talks to a patient in the emergency room at Salem Hospital in Salem, Ore., on Friday, Aug. 20, 2021, with gurneys lining the hallway behind them, ready to take patients if needed. Sometimes patients must stay in hallways because of a lack of available rooms. Credit: AP Photo/Andrew Selsky

"We've been dealing with the second wave when we thoughtI guess we hopedit wouldn't come. And it's come. And it's harder and worse, way worse, than before," she said. Hours earlier, a COVID-19 patient died in the ICU.

As she spoke, a patient's heart monitor beeped. A mechanical ventilator occasionally added a higher-pitched tone. Fifteen of the COVID-19 patients were on ventilators. The hospital's wellness department, which normally recommends yoga and deep breathing for relaxation, recently set up a booth and filled it with dinner plates for a different kind of stress relief.

"We put on safety glasses," Lisa said. "And we took plates and we shattered them. And I kept going back. I kept going back, and they told me I had enough turns."

She said one advantage over last year's surge is that she's vaccinated, so she is not as scared of dying. Another improvement is that there are plenty of masks, gowns and other personal protective equipment.

In this Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021, photo, a staff member treats a patient at the Critical Care Unit at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center in Grants Pass, Ore. The hospitalization rate of unvaccinated COVID-19 is breaking records and squeezing hospital capacity, with several running out of room to take more patients.Credit: Mike Zacchino/Pool Photo via AP

Other than the beeping monitors, the ICU was quiet. The COVID-19 patients are heavily sedated and behind closed doors. Outside their rooms stand poles draped with IV bags, the tubes running through a crack in the door so nurses can change the bags without exposing themselves to the virus.

Beds outside the unit can be upgraded to ICU-level care by adding monitors and life-support machines, said Martin Johnson, the ICU medical director. A rapid-response team composed of an ICU nurse and an ICU-level respiratory therapist provide backup support, he said, stressing that the hospital can still take in patients.

After conferring on each patient's medical status, ICU team members, who have spent a year and a half trying to keep COVID-19 patients alive, stand in a circle, sometimes holding hands, and try to come up with positive things to say.

In this Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021, photo, signs delineating the "Hot Zone" are posted at the Critical Care Unit at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center in Grants Pass, Ore. Only essential staff are permitted in the zone, and those who enter a patient's room must don various articles of Personal Protective Equipment. The hospitalization rate of unvaccinated COVID-19 is breaking records and squeezing hospital capacity, with several running out of room to take more patients. Credit: Mike Zacchino/Pool Photo via AP

"Sometimes it's, 'Their oxygen needs are less, or their fever is gone,'" Johnson said. "At other times, it's 'The patient opened his eyes and squeezed my hand.'"

When there is no improvement, staff will instead express gratitude for each other or for the support of patients' relatives.

Oregon's early success against the virus may have helped fuel the delta variant's toll on the state, because the aggressive measures to curb the first surge left many population pockets with no immunity. And though some 72% of adults statewide are at least partially vaccinated, that number drops to less than 50% in 10 of Oregon's 36 counties.

Oregon's low immunity level, considering previous infection rates and the number of unvaccinated people, creates a high risk for new infections, said Renee Edwards, chief medical officer at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland.

In this Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021, photo, the staff works inside the Emergency Department at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center in Grants Pass, Ore. The staff has seen a higher patient load than any time in the past year, attributable to the surge of patients suffering from COVID-19. One nurse said they hit the floor running and are slammed their entire shift. The hospitalization rate of unvaccinated COVID-19 is breaking records and squeezing hospital capacity, with several running out of room to take more patients. Credit: Mike Zacchino/Pool Photo via AP

In this Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021, photo, a staff member works in the Critical Care Unit at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center in Grants Pass, Ore. The hospitalization rate of unvaccinated COVID-19 is breaking records and squeezing hospital capacity, with several running out of room to take more patients.Credit: Mike Zacchino/Pool Photo via AP

In this Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021, photo, a member of the environmental services staff cleans a glass door inside the Emergency Department of Asante Three Rivers Medical Center in Grants Pass, Ore. The hospitalization rate of unvaccinated COVID-19 is breaking records and squeezing hospital capacity, with several running out of room to take more patients. Credit: Mike Zacchino/Pool Photo via AP

In this Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021, photo, nurses at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center wear specific personal protective equipment to safely work in the Critical Care Unit at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center in Grants Pass, Ore. Only essential staff are permitted in the zone, and those who enter a patient's room must don various articles of Personal Protective Equipment. The hospitalization rate of unvaccinated COVID-19 is breaking records and squeezing hospital capacity, with several running out of room to take more patients. Credit: Mike Zacchino/Pool Photo via AP

A medical personnel with full protective gear is shown at Salem Hospital in Salem, Oregon, on Friday, Aug. 20, 2021. COVID-19 cases are surging across Oregon, and many hospitals are filled to capacity. Credit: Kristyna Wentz-Graff/Pool Photo via AP

In this Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021, photo, an unidentified patient is monitored at the Critical Care Unit at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center in Grants Pass, Ore. The hospitalization rate of unvaccinated COVID-19 is breaking records and squeezing hospital capacity, with several running out of room to take more patients.Credit: Mike Zacchino/Pool Photo via AP

Compounding the problem: Oregon has, along with Washington state, the lowest per-capita supply of hospital beds in the nation. The two states each have only 1.7 beds per 1,000 residents, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit focusing on national health issues. South Dakota ranks first, with 4.8 beds per 1,000.

It will be a race against time to see if Oregon's health care system can withstand the current surge before it eases off. Oregon Health & Science University predicts the peak will be Sept. 7.

Explore further Oregon hospitals near breaking point as COVID-19 surges

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Following on full U.S. regulatory approval of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, the Pentagon announced on Monday that all military personnelincluding 1.3 million active-duty troopsmust get their shots.

According to the Associated Press, Department of Defense spokesman John Kirby said Pentagon officials are preparing to issue guidance to require vaccination, although no exact timeline was given.

The Pentagon announcement is of little surprise: Earlier in August, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a memo that he would "seek the president's approval to make the vaccines mandatory no later than mid-September, or immediately upon" licensure by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, "whichever comes first," the AP reported.

Monday's full approval of the two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine should open the floodgates to more widespread action aimed at getting vaccine-hesitant Americans to line up for their shots.

Besides the Pentagon, the nation's largest school system, in New York City, announced that it would now move to mandate that all education staff be vaccinated, The New York Times reported.

The FDA announced its long-awaited decision early Monday.

"The FDA's approval of this vaccine is a milestone as we continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic," Acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock said in an agency news release. "While this and other vaccines have met the FDA's rigorous, scientific standards for emergency use authorization, as the first FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine, the public can be very confident that this vaccine meets the high standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality the FDA requires of an approved product."

"While millions of people have already safely received COVID-19 vaccines, we recognize that for some, the FDA approval of a vaccine may now instill additional confidence to get vaccinated," Woodcock added. "Today's milestone puts us one step closer to altering the course of this pandemic in the U.S."

The approval is likely crucial for greater vaccine uptake.

For example, as students prepare to return to college campuses across the country, some, like Indiana University, already require vaccines for students. But others, like the University of Memphis, will likely only pursue a vaccine mandate when coronavirus vaccines gain full federal approval, the Times reported.

Speaking to CNN on Sunday, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy said he thought full FDA approval would definitely have a significant impact on millions of Americans who remain vaccine-hesitant.

"This may tip them over toward getting vaccinated," he said, adding that he expected companies, governors and schools to use the full FDA approval to impose vaccine mandates. "We already know that there are many businesses and universities that have moved toward vaccine requirements."

About 60% of eligible people in the United States are now fully vaccinated, according to figures from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Three in 10 unvaccinated adults said they would be more likely to get vaccinated if one of the vaccines currently authorized for emergency use were to receive full approval from the FDA, according to a June poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

For the 45 percent of unvaccinated Americans who have steadfastly said they will not get the vaccine, full approval will likely prompt new restrictions, including limitations on employment and an increase in health insurance premiums, the Times reported.

Some states and municipalities could follow the lead of New York City, which will soon require at least one vaccine dose for those seeking to enter indoor restaurants, gyms or cultural events.

The FDA updated its authorizations of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines last week to allow third "booster" doses for some immunocompromised people, a decision backed by the CDC.

Regulators are still reviewing Moderna's application for full approval for its vaccine, and a decision could come at least several weeks after the one for Pfizer. Moderna is planning to submit its data in support of a booster shot in September, the Times reported.

Explore further FDA to prioritize full approval for Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine

More information: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on COVID-19

 2021 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
In this Feb. 5, 2021, file photo, the Pfizer logo is displayed at the company's headquarters in New York. The U.S. gave full approval to Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File

Pfizer is spending more than $2 billion in cash to buy a drugmaker focused on cancer treatments.

Pfizer will pay $18.50 for each share of Trillium Therapeutics Inc., or more than double the stock's 60-day weighted average price.

Trillium has no products on the market. Its potential treatments include biologics that aim to prime a patient's immune system to detect and destroy cancer cells.

Its two lead candidates are in early-stage testing and focus on hematology. That includes blood, bone marrow and lymph node cancers like leukemia or lymphoma.

The deal announced Monday will need approval from Trillium shareholders.

Pfizer, based in New York, invested $25 million in Trillium last September, and one of the leaders of Pfizer's cancer research was named to Trillium's scientific advisory board.

Pfizer Inc. said last month that its COVID-19 vaccine brought in nearly half of its second-quarter revenue, but cancer treatments also have been a growing sales generator for the company.

Cancer treatments brought in $10.9 billion in revenue last year, and Pfizer's oncology products include treatments for breast, colorectal, blood and lung cancers.

Pfizer's stock climbed almost 3% at the opening bell. Shares of Trillium, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, nearly tripled to $17.73.

Explore further Pfizer to buy Array BioPharma in deal worth $11.4 billion

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Rush University Medical Center demonstrates the awake prone positioning of a patient who uses high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy. Credit: Rush University Medical Center

A six country clinical study of more than 1,100 hospitalized COVID-19 patients who required high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy suggests that prone positioning (rotating patients with severe breathing issues so they are face down) soon after admission can significantly reduce the need for mechanical ventilation.

While critical care specialists have for years rotated intubated patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome onto their stomachs, this study provides clinical evidence needed to support the use of prone positioning for patients with COVID-19 requiring high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy.

The findings, published today in the Lancet Respiratory Medicine, are from the meta-trial conducted in medical centers in the United States, Mexico, France, Canada, Ireland, and Spain onseverely ill patients with COVD-19 between April 2020 and January 2021.

"Breathing in the prone position helps the lungs work more efficiently," explained the study's lead author Dr. Jie Li, associate professor and respiratory therapist at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois, United States. "When people with severe oxygenation issues are laying on their stomachs, it results in better matching of the blood flow and ventilation in the lungs which improves blood oxygen levels."

Li noted that several interventions are available to improve oxygenation in critically ill patients. However, there is little outcomes-focused clinical evidence to show that prone positioning prior to mechanical ventilation is beneficial.

In this innovative trial, the authors hypothesized that prone positioning effectively lowered the need for mechanical ventilation in critically ill patients with COVID-19. Adult patients with COVID-19 who required respiratory support from a high-flow nasal cannula, and agreed to participate in this clinical trial, were randomly assigned to the supine or prone positioning groups. They were asked to stay in that position for as long as they could tolerate. Both the supine and prone positioning groups received high-flow oxygen therapy and standard medical management.

Patients were continually monitored to determine if mechanical ventilation was needed. This study's data showed that the prone positioning group were significantly less likely to require mechanical ventilation(33% in the awake prone positioning group vs 40% in the supine group).

Another study lead author, Stephan Ehrmann, MD, Ph.D., from Tours, France said that "for the clinical implications of our study, awake prone positioning is a safe intervention that reduces the risk of treatment failure in acute severe hypoxemic respiratory failure due to COVID-19. Our findings support the routine implementation of awake prone positioning in critically ill patients with COVID19 requiring high flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy. It appears important that clinicians improve patient comfort during prone positioning, so the patient can stay in the position for at least 8 hours a day."

Reducing the need for mechanical ventilation means that resources can be most effectively utilized. "Ventilators can indeed save the lives of people who are no longer able to breathe on their own. That said, we now have strategies to keep patients off the ventilator, saving those devices for the sickest patients who truly need them." Li added.

The meta trial approach: Global approach, timely results

The study also demonstrated a unique design, a meta-trial, which is an original way to combine the efforts of several investigators to speed up necessary research during a pandemic. Traditional multicenter or international trials need a long setup time to implement agreements for the study. The meta-trial approach achieves the goal quickly without losing the rigor of a conventional international randomized controlled trial. A meta-trial combines the features of international prospective randomized controlled trials and a retrospective meta-analysis.

Li lauded the collective, global effort this study represents. "As clinicians and researchers dedicated to helping people breathe, the COVID-19 pandemic has been haunting and demoralizing. But I am very proud and hopefulthe healthcare profession has saved so many lives and simultaneously worked to create the science and evidence-based approaches to patient carewhich will save more lives in the future. Science is stronger than fear."

Explore further Wuhan study shows lying face down improves breathing in severe COVID-19

More information: Stephan Ehrmann et al, Awake prone positioning for COVID-19 acute hypoxaemic respiratory failure: a randomised, controlled, multinational, open-label meta-trial, The Lancet Respiratory Medicine (2021). Journal information: Lancet Respiratory Medicine Stephan Ehrmann et al, Awake prone positioning for COVID-19 acute hypoxaemic respiratory failure: a randomised, controlled, multinational, open-label meta-trial,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/S2213-2600(21)00356-8
A new AP-NORC poll finds parents somewhat less likely than the broader population to favor requiring teachers and students at K-12 schools to wear masks, though only about a quarter are opposed.

As COVID-19 cases surge around the country, a majority of Americans say they support mask mandates for students and teachers in K-12 schools, according to a new poll, but their views are sharply divided along political lines.

About 6 in 10 Americans say students and teachers should be required to wear face masks while in school, according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Similar shares say teachers and eligible students should also be required to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

Masks have been a point of contention as U.S. schools reopen amid rising numbers of coronavirus cases. Questions about whether to require them have caused turmoil among parents and politicians, with some Republican governors banning mask mandates even as President Joe Biden threatens legal action against them.

In a reflection of that polarizing debate, the poll finds a wide partisan divide. About 3 in 10 Republicans said they favor mask requirements for students and teachers, compared with about 8 in 10 Democrats. There was a similar split over vaccine mandates in schools.

Some of the nation's largest school districts will require masks for all students and staff this fall, including in New York City. That's fine with Budhiono Riyanto, 37, of Queens, who will be sending his 7-year-old son, Gabriel, back to school next month.

In this Aug. 17, 2021, file photo, wearing masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19, elementary school students line up to enter school for the first day of classes in Richardson, Texas. As COVID-19 cases surge, a majority of Americans say they support mask mandates for students and teachers in K-12 schools, but their views are sharply divided along political lines. Credit: AP Photo/LM Otero, File

"I understand personal choice, I understand personal freedom. But when it comes to public health, we should all be looking out for each other," Riyanto said. "The best protection so far is to mask up and vaccinate."

Others say masks shouldn't be forced upon children.

Kim Oldfield, who lives in rural Jessieville, Arkansas, said masks are unpopular in her area. She opposes the idea of a mandate and says it should be up to families to decide. In her local school district, masks are optional this fall.

"America is supposed to be the land of the free," said Oldfield, 70. "And when the government starts getting into your personal life and making you do things that you don't want to do, people don't like that."

Parents are slightly less likely to support mask requirements than the broader population, the poll shows. Fifty-two percent of parents with school-age children said they supported a mandate for kids, while 28% opposed it, with a similar split over mandates for teachers.

In this Aug. 18, 2020, file photo, students return to Greenbrae Elementary School in Sparks, Nev., for the first time since March 2020 with mandatory masks and social distancing to help guard against the spread of the coronavirus. As COVID-19 cases surge, a majority of Americans say they support mask mandates for students and teachers in K-12 schools, but their views are sharply divided along political lines. Credit: AP Photo/Scott Sonner, File

There were also differences by race: About two-thirds of Black parents said they back mask mandates for teachers and students, compared with about half of white and Hispanic parents.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended universal mask-wearing for teachers and students inside school buildings this fall, citing the rapid spread of the delta variant.

In some areas with school mask mandates, tensions have flared in recent weeks. Protesters opposing mask requirements have filled school board meetings from Maryland to California, in some cases disrupting meetings and forcing them to postpone.

Most states allow school districts to set their own mask policies, but some including California, Illinois and Louisiana are requiring masks for students and teachers statewide. At least eight Republican-led states have moved to ban universal mask mandates in schools, including in Texas, Florida and Tennessee.

In this Aug. 17, 2021, file photo Leandra Walker, center, helps her daughter Mila Walker, 5, with her mask before she enters school with her siblings Olivia, 7, left, and her twin Max for the first day of classes in Richardson, Texas. A new poll finds that a majority of Americans support mask and vaccine mandates for students and teachers in K-12 schools. The poll from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds that about 6 in 10 Americans say masks and vaccines should be required in schools. Credit: AP Photo/LM Otero, File

In Land O' Lakes, Florida, Gail Jackson worries about sending her 12-year-old grandson to a school where masks are optional. Her grandson, Zahkai, wears a mask, she said, but some of his classmates don't.

"I don't know how it's all going to play out in the end," said Jackson, 74, who is Zahkai's legal guardian. "My prayer is that somehow or another, an angel passes over and these kids are allowed to grow and mature without finding themselves in a hospital on a ventilator."

Compared to mask mandates, school vaccine requirements have been rare. Some states and local districts have required vaccines for teachers, saying those who refuse must face regular virus testing. Some others have taken a harder stance, including Washington state, which says teachers must be inoculated or face dismissal.

Last week, the Culver City Unified district near Los Angeles was believed to be the first in the U.S. to require vaccines for all eligible students this fall. But student vaccine mandates are still uncommon, and the shots are not yet approved for children below age 12.

In this July 27, 2021, file photo, Health Commissioner Dr. Dave Chokshi, center, joins with students at Lehman High School for a roundtable discussion about the COVID-19 vaccine. As COVID-19 cases surge, a majority of Americans say they support mask mandates for students and teachers in K-12 schools, but their views are sharply divided along political lines. Credit: AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File

The poll shows 59% of Americans support vaccination requirements for teachers and nearly as many55%say the same for students age 12 and over, who are eligible to be vaccinated. Among parents, support was lower, with 42% backing vaccine mandates for students.

Vaccinated parents were more likely to support mask and vaccine requirements than unvaccinated parents.

Jeff Hicklin in Falmouth, Maine, said he supports mask and vaccine mandates for teachers and eligible students. He says it's the best way to protect those who are too young to be vaccinated, including his 7-year-old son, Oscar.

"We need to do everything we can to keep schools open and safe," said Hicklin, 40, an accountant.

In Menomonie, Wisconsin, Erik Pederstuen has been vaccinated and plans to have his 9-year-old daughter inoculated once she's eligible. But Pederstuen, a technical college instructor, said he doesn't think coronavirus vaccines should be a requirement.

In this Aug. 11, 2021, file photo, California Gov. Gavin Newsom sits with students of a second grade classroom at Carl B. Munck Elementary School in Oakland, Calif. Gov. As COVID-19 cases surge, a majority of Americans say they support mask mandates for students and teachers in K-12 schools, but their views are sharply divided along political lines. Credit: Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via AP, Pool

In this Aug. 12, 2021, file photo people listen to the Salt Lake County Council before their vote to overturned the health department's "order of restraint" that would have required K-6 students to wear masks. A new poll finds that a majority of Americans support mask and vaccine mandates for students and teachers in K-12 schools. The poll from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds that about 6 in 10 Americans say masks and vaccines should be required in schools. Credit: AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File

"I'm not an anti-vaccine person at all, I've just never liked the idea of it being forced," said Pederstuen, 40. "I think everyone should get it, but I think it should be your choice."

Explore further Iowa school districts with strong teachers unions more likely to adopt mask mandates

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Credit: Tokyo University of Science

Thanks to science and modern medicine, we know a lot more now about the early signs of certain diseases and which biomarkers to check. Most importantly, we have the necessary devices and techniques to conveniently sample and analyze these biomarkers in clinical settings so that doctors, patients, and caregivers can act accordingly. In the ever-evolving field of healthcare technology, wearable electronics and biosensors are seen as potential game changers, as they allow both medical staff and non-medical people to remotely monitor relevant bodily variables.

In the specific case of diabetesa relatively common diseasemonitoring blood sugar levels is crucial. Fortunately, urine sugar levels provide indirect information about blood sugar levels and can be used as an alternative biomarker to avoid drawing blood constantly. Moreover, to measure urine sugar levels in elderly or long-term care patients, sensors can be embedded directly into their diapers. By wirelessly transmitting the acquired data, diaper sensors can greatly simplify caretaking and health monitoring tasks. However, both sensors and wireless transmitters require an energy source to function and putting batteries in diapers may be a questionable solution from both environmental and practical standpoints.

Fortunately, scientists from Japan have worked out a solution to this problem. In a recent study published in ACS Sensors, Associate Professor Isao Shitanda, Professor Masayuku Itagaki, and Mr. Yuki Fujimura from Tokyo University of Science (TUS), Japan, present a promising approach to realizing self-powered diaper sensors that can generate energy directly from urine. This work was done in collaboration with Associate Professor Seiya Tsujimura from the University of Tsukuba, Japan. Worth noting, this work is in line with other research efforts of Dr. Shitanda and his colleagues to develop self-powered biosensors like a lactate sensor energized entirely by sweat.

But how does one generate enough electricity from urine to power a sensor? The answer lies in electrochemistry. The scientists developed a paper-based biofuel cell that, through a pair of reduction-oxidation reactions, outputs electrical power proportional to the amount of glucose in the urine. Important considerations in the design of such biofuel cells are the amount of urine needed to generate enough power and the overall stability and durability of the device. With this in mind, the scientists developed a special anode, the negative terminal of an electrochemical cell, using a process known as "graft polymerization" that allowed them to firmly anchor glucose-reactive enzymes and mediator molecules to a porous carbon layer, which served as the base conductive material.

The scientists tested their self-powered biosensor in diapers using artificial urine at various glucose concentrations. They used the generated energy to power up a Bluetooth Low Energy transmitter, and remotely monitored the measured concentration using a smartphone. They found that the biofuel cell could detect urine sugar in a very short time (within 1 second).

"Besides monitoring glucose in the context of diabetes, diaper sensors can be used to remotely check for the presence of urine if you stock up on sugar as fuel in advance. In hospitals or nursing care sites, where potentially hundreds of diapers have to be checked periodically, the proposed device could take a great weight off the shoulders of caregivers," comments Dr. Shitanda.

In short, the sensor that Dr. Shitanda's team has engineered can not only prevent diabetes, but also make diaper management more efficient and responsive without compromising the environment. "We believe the concept developed in this study could become a very promising tool towards the general development of self-powered wearable biosensors," says Dr. Shitanda.

More information: Isao Shitanda et al, Self-Powered Diaper Sensor with Wireless Transmitter Powered by Paper-Based Biofuel Cell with Urine Glucose as Fuel, ACS Sensors (2021). Journal information: ACS Sensors Isao Shitanda et al, Self-Powered Diaper Sensor with Wireless Transmitter Powered by Paper-Based Biofuel Cell with Urine Glucose as Fuel,(2021). DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.1c01266
Histopathological findings of spontaneous sialadenitis (left) and vasculitis (right) in salivary glands of McH-lpr/lpr-RA1 mice. Infiltration of inflammatory cells, and destruction of salivary gland tissue and vascular structures can be seen. Credit: Tohoku University

Sjogren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease that attacks the tear system in the eyes and salivary glands, leading to patients experiencing extremely dry eyes and mouth. Current treatment options for Sjogren's syndrome are lacking. But a new animal model may help elucidate the pathogenic mechanisms behind the disease, leading to better therapeutic methods.

Professor Tetsuya Kodama, from the Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering for Cancer, at Tohoku University's Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, led a research group that reported on how McH-lpr/lpr-RA1 (McH/lpr-RA1) mice can act as a Sjogren's syndrome animal model.

McH/lpr-RA1 mice are inbred strains of mice. Dr. Shiro Mori, a lecturer at Tohoku University Hospital, and his colleagues have been cultivating them for many years as disease models for the spontaneous development of severe autoimmune arthritis, sialadenitis, and vasculitis.

Kodama, Mori, and Dr. Keiichi Saito, an assistant professor at the Liaison Centre for Innovative Dentistry at Tohoku University's Graduate School of Dentistry, collaborated to analyze the pathogenesis of this mouse model. Their research revealed that the McH/lpr-RA1 mice spontaneously developed autoimmune inflammation in the salivary gland tissue and blood vessels.

Further observations of the McH/lpr-RA1 mice unveiled extensive infiltration of inflammatory cells (mainly lymphocytes) in the salivary gland tissue and destruction of the existing salivary gland structure (Figure 1). In addition, inflammation occurred at the foot and knee joint and blood vessels in the kidneys (Figure 2).

Aquaporin 5, a protein that is critical for saliva production and its secretion, was absent or weakly expressed, indicating an inhibited salivary secretomotor system in the mouse model. The study also suggests that the significant inflammation of salivary glands, along with tissue destruction, contributes to Aquaporin 5 expression being suppressed.

The research group is hopeful the relationship between Sjogren's syndrome and malignant lymphoma could be investigated in the model mice since vasculitis has been associated with malignant lymphoma development in patients with this disease.

Kodama believes that McH/lpr-RA1 mice are a superior disease model for autoimmune sialadenitis when compared to other model mice since they do not develop nephritis and have a longer life span.

With the McH/lpr-RA1 mouse now registered at the RIKEN BioResource Center in Tsukuba, Japan (BRC No. RBRC11160), Kodama and his team are ready to provide this mouse model to researchers who need it for their research. "We believe the McH/lpr-RA1 mouse will reveal more about inflammation in the salivary glands and blood vessels, leading to new treatment methods for Sjogren's syndrome," said Kodama.

Explore further Infections linked with an increased risk of developing Sjogren's syndrome

More information: Keiichi Saito et al, McH-lpr/lpr-RA1 mice: A novel spontaneous mouse model of autoimmune sialadenitis, Immunology Letters (2021). Keiichi Saito et al, McH-lpr/lpr-RA1 mice: A novel spontaneous mouse model of autoimmune sialadenitis,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2021.06.003
(HealthDay)Schools are reopening as the Delta variant surges across America, a scary prospect for educators and parents alike.

But experts representing teachers and doctors say reopening must happen for the sake of students, and a combo of vaccination and safety measures will help keep kids and staff safe.

Kids have suffered during the pandemic, and they need in-person schooling this year, Dr. Angela Myers, division director of infectious diseases with Children's Mercy Kansas City, said in a HealthDay Now interview.

"What we know from the data is that when kids were in school full-time, they learned better and their mental health was better," Myers said. "We know what the right thing to do is, and we know how to keep kids safe and keep kids healthy and keep them where they need to be, which is in school."

The problem is that the Delta variant is much more contagious than the original COVID-19 strain, Myers noted. One infected person will typically spread Delta to five others, as opposed to two others with earlier strains.

"Early on in the pandemic, kids made up a very small proportion of people getting infected," Myers said. "It was around 2%, and then we saw it grow over the course of the year. In most recent weeks, it's been around 15% of infections have been in children. That's a huge difference."

Kids still are less likely to get the kind of severe illness that adults endure, but it's a numbers game, Myers said. Children and teens are one of the largest unprotected populations in the United States, which means they are likely to become infected in larger numbers.

"When you see more kids getting infected because the virus is more contagious, you're going to see more children in the hospital, more children with severe disease in the ICU, and you're going to see an increase in deaths," Myers said. "That just stands to reason."

Vaccination is key to keeping school kids safe, particularly those younger than 12 for whom no shot is approved yet, said Myers and American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten.

In fact, America's two largest teachers' unions are now backing vaccine mandates for staff as the school year draws near.

Support for vaccine mandates

The 3-million-member strong National Education Association has announced its outright support for vaccine mandates, while the AFT is encouraging representatives of its 1.7 million members to work with employers regarding policies that require either vaccination or regular COVID-19 testing.

"We initially thought the best way to do this was voluntarily, and if you look at it 90% of educators have gotten vaccinations in a volitional way," Weingarten told HealthDay Now. "But the circumstances have changed because of the Delta variant, and we know that vaccines are the single most important way for people to be safe."

The Broward County School Board is considering a vaccine mandate for staff, in the wake of three educators dying from COVID-19 within 24 hours about a week before reopening, local school board member Debra Hixon said in a separate HealthDay Now interview.

"We are actually looking into the legalities of being able to mandate vaccines at this time for our staff," Hixon said. "There's a little question on if that's possible because the vaccine does not have a full approval by the FDA."

That could soon change, with full FDA approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for people ages 12 and older expected on Monday.

But the lack of a vaccine approved for kids younger than 12 means that COVID-19 shots can't join the list of other vaccinations required for school, Myers and Weingarten said.

"I don't see that happening before it's approved," Myers said. "There are multiple vaccines that are required for school, and those have been shown over decades to save lives. Millions of lives have been saved by requiring kids to get the MMR vaccine, for example, for measles and mumps and rubella."

Educators and pediatricians must continue to promote vaccination for kids 12 and older, fewer than half of whom have taken the shot, Myers added.

"What I would really like to stress is, there's still time," Myers said. "Get your vaccine. You may be starting school before you're fully vaccinated, and that's OK. You're going to be using your mitigation measures. But please, please consider getting the vaccine now, because the sooner you get it the sooner you're protected, and you're protecting your peers at school."

Schools also should enforce masking and social distancing measures to keep everyone there safe, Myers and Weingarten said.

"No one wants to wear a mask," Weingarten said. "I'm an asthmatic. I know how labored it is to breathe with a mask. But if we know this is what's going to help stop or eradicate or stem the tide of transmissibility with this contagious disease, then we have to do that to keep people safe. And the more we do that now, the faster we might be able to get rid of our masks."

Schools plan for quarantines

Weingarten is confident that most schools have the ability to create social distancing of at least three feet in classrooms.

"Most classrooms can actually accommodate three-feet physical distancing," Weingarten said. "We should just be ingenious about using different spaces to be able to do that. Let's have a can-do problem-solving approach, as opposed to a can't-do."

School districts also need to create contingency plans for outbreaks, and make sure that parents are fully informed of those plans, the experts said.

"We have to make sure parents know what the protocols are if there's an outbreak," Weingarten said. "They want to know. They need to know that. We need to make that clear and we need to make it transparent."

For example, Broward County has a protocol in place for children who must quarantine, Hixon said.

"We have a learning plan in place for them. There will be cameras on in the classroom, so if a student is in quarantine they can still watch their teacher, although the teacher won't be able to interact," Hixon said. "If a whole class has to quarantine, then the teacher would go back to that remote teaching that we had prior to the school year so that we can continue learning with our students."

It's understandably a bit deflating to be where Americans are now, Weingarten admitted.

"I think we had hoped July 1 that we were full-speed ahead and COVID was in the rear-view mirror," Weingarten said. "But one thing we've learned about COVID is that the uncertainty of it is there each and every day."

But she stressed that all kids truly need to get back to school, so officials have to do everything it takes to ensure a safe reopening.

"We have to make sure we make it safe and healthy for our school communityfor our kids, for our parents and for our educators," Weingarten said. "I think that if we can do that, then we're going to see a real change in this country from the fear and agitation we have right now to a sense of confidence that we are taking care of our kids."

Explore further 4 out of 10 parents have no plans to get child vaccinated for school: poll

More information: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about schools and COVID-19

Copyright  2021 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

The British government said on Monday it had warned dozens of domestic private medical testing companies over "misleading prices" for coronavirus travel tests, following a review of costs and standards.

The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) said more than 80 firms would be issued a "two-strike warning" and could be removed from the government's online database of test providers if they fail to accurately advertise their prices.

It added that the companies would now also face regular spot checks to ensure prices are accurate and providers are legitimate.

As many as 82 firmsaround 18 percent of the databasewere identified as displaying lower prices on the list than are actually available on their website at the point of checkout, according to the ministry.

It launched the review amid a public backlash over the cost of compulsory COVID-19 tests after returning to the UK from abroad.

The government currently requires a range of tests depending on where the traveller has come from, with even fully vaccinated UK residents required to take at least one test two days after their return.

"It is absolutely unacceptable for any private testing company to be taking advantage of holidaymakers and today's action clamps down on this cowboy behaviour," said Health Secretary Sajid Javid.

"We are also introducing regular spot checks this week to make sure all private providers follow the rules and meet our high standards of transparency."

Companies will be removed from the government's database if they fail to take action within three days of receiving a "strike one" warning, the DHSC said.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) regulator is also carrying out a review of the market amid the concerns about the high cost of PCR tests for travel.

Earlier this month, the DHSC said the cost of tests supplied by the state-run health service for international arrivals would be reduced from 88 to 68 for fully vaccinated travellers or those not required to quarantine under the travel rules.

Meanwhile the cost for people arriving from certain countries while not fully jabbed was reduced from 170 to 136 for two tests.

Explore further Mandatory COVID tests in quarantine for UK arrivals

 2021 AFP
(HealthDay)While the COVID-19 pandemic has had a big impact on the economy and jobs, it didn't result in fewer Americans having health insurance.

The number of 18- to 64-year-olds in the United States without health insurance held steady at 11% between March 2019 and April 2021, according to a survey by the Urban Institute, a social policy research organization.

"Unlike the last recession, losses in employer-sponsored insurance during the pandemic did not lead to growth in the number of uninsured," said Michael Karpman, a senior research associate at the institute.

"Medicaid and the health insurance marketplaces provided many people with a safety net that allowed them to maintain coverage during difficult times," he said in an Urban Institute news release.

The Affordable Care Act helped states to expand access to Medicaid, as well as establish these marketplaces to provide affordable health coverage to more people.

What did change was how people were insured, an analysis of the survey found.

The number reporting public health insurance coverage rose about 7.9 millionfrom 13.6% to 17.5%.

Meanwhile, about 5.5 million fewer adults were covered by employer-sponsored health insurance, a drop from 65% to 62.3%.

The analysis also found that the percentage of adults who had public coverage in states that expanded Medicaid rose from nearly 15% to 19.2%. In states that did not expand Medicaid, that grew from 10.7% to 14.3%.

The uninsured rate in April 2021 in nonexpansion states was 18.2%, more than double the rate in expansion states. More than 1 in 3 low-income adults in nonexpansion states were uninsured in 2021, compared with about 1 in 7 in expansion states.

"Those who suffered the most from the economic fallout associated with COVID were low-wage workers, so the loss of job-related coverage was less than in previous recessions," said Katherine Hempstead, senior policy adviser at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which funded the study.

"The enhanced safety net provided by the [Affordable Care Act] was critical in keeping people covered, especially in states that expanded Medicaid," she said in the release.

The study relied on data from an online-based survey of 18- to 64-year-olds. About 9,000 to 9,500 adults participated in each round of the survey, which was conducted in March 2019, March/April 2020 and April 2021.

Explore further Uninsured rate among young adults has plummeted in the last decade, report finds

More information: The U.S. National Center for Health Statistics has more information on The U.S. National Center for Health Statistics has more information on health insurance coverage

Copyright  2021 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Credit: University of Michigan

With a new school year three weeks away and cases of COVID-19 on the rise again, vaccination rates in the households of school-age children will play an important role in how school districts weigh their options for returning to the classroom.

A new University of Michigan survey finds that only about one-third (34 percent) of Detroit adults living with children between the ages of 12 and 17 report that they have either gotten their child/children vaccinated or are likely to get their child/children vaccinated against COVID-19.

When asked about the likelihood of getting younger children vaccinated once they are eligible, just over 1 in 10 adults (13 percent) living in households with children under age 12 say they are comfortable having their kids vaccinated once they are eligible.

The discomfort that many adults feel toward vaccinating the children in their household is also evident in their willingness to obtain a COVID-19 vaccine for themselves. Adults living in Detroit households with children are about half as likely (38 percent) as adults living in Detroit households without children (70 percent) to report that they have been vaccinated against COVID-19.

Equally notable is the large share of adults living with children in Detroit that have no intention of getting vaccinated. Adults living in households with children are about twice as likely (31 percent) to say they are unlikely to get vaccinated, relative to adults without children in their household (16 percent).

Since 2016, U-M's Detroit Metro Area Communities Study has been conducting a state-of-the art, panel survey of a representative sample of Detroit households. This study stands apart from many others in that participants are randomly selected from a list of validated Detroit addresses, permitted to take the survey online or over the phone with a live interviewer, and compensated for their participation. Final responses are weighted to reflect the city's demographics. This allows DMACS to reach and reflect the voices of populations that are often hard to reach and therefore not included in other data on public preferences.

"This DMACS survey gives us new information about just how vulnerable the environments of school-aged children are to COVID-19. The degree of vaccine hesitancy we are seeing among households with children in Detroit has serious implications for public health officials and educators as they consider how to safely return students and staff to the classroom," said Jeffrey Morenoff, one of the faculty research leads for DMACS, professor of public policy and sociology, and research professor at U-M's Institute for Social Research.

Many states and school districts have already begun debating whether they will add COVID-19 vaccines to the list of vaccinations that students are required to have prior to enrollment.

According to U-M's DMACS survey, 56 percent of Detroit adults support requiring vaccines for students to attend K-12 schools in person, once they are eligible. Twenty-four percent of Detroit adults oppose requiring COVID-19 vaccines for K-12 school enrollment, and 19 percent remain unsure. These levels of support are similar to those expressed for vaccine requirements in other public activities, including attending large events, flying on an airplane, using public transit, attending school (college or K-12) in person, and working outside the home.

The support for vaccine requirements is largely driven by Detroiters who have already gotten vaccinated. Detroiters who have gotten at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine are twice as likely to be in favor of vaccine mandates as unvaccinated residents. For example, while 74 percent of vaccinated Detroiters support requiring proof of vaccination to attend a K-12 school in person, just 33 percent of unvaccinated residents support such a requirement.

While adults living in Detroit households with children are significantly less likely to get a COVID-19 vaccine for themselves or their children, the reasons behind the decision not to vaccinate are similar to those of households without children. Both groups listed concerns about the safety (78 percent) and side effects (78 percent) of the vaccine as a reason behind their choice.

Explore further Poll shows Floridians favor vaccine requirements for employees
Average number of smoke days per year. Credit: Heft-Neal et al. 2021, Environmental Research

Exposure to wildfire smoke during pregnancy increases the risk that a baby will be born too early, a new Stanford University study suggests.

The study, published Aug. 14 in Environmental Research, finds there may have been as many as 7,000 extra preterm births in California attributable to wildfire smoke exposure between 2007 and 2012. These births occurred before 37 weeks of pregnancy when incomplete development heightens risk of various neurodevelopmental, gastrointestinal and respiratory complications, and even death.

Wildfire smoke contains high levels of the smallest and deadliest type of particle pollution, known as PM 2.5. These specks of toxic soot, or particulate matter, are so fine they can embed deep in the lungs and pass into the bloodstream, just like the oxygen molecules we need to survive.

The research comes as massive wildfires are again blazing through parched landscapes in the western U.S.just a year after a historic wildfire season torched more than 4 million acres of California and produced some of the worst daily air pollution ever recorded in the state. During the 2020 fire season, more than half of the state's population experienced a month of wildfire smoke levels in the range of unhealthy to hazardous.

This year could be worse, said Stanford environmental economist Marshall Burke, a co-author of the new study. And yet much remains unknown about the health impacts of these noxious plumes, which contribute a growing portion of fine particle pollution nationwide and have a different chemical makeup from other ambient sources of PM 2.5, such as agriculture, tailpipe emissions and industry.

One possible explanation for the link between wildfire smoke exposure and preterm birth, the authors say, is that the pollution may trigger an inflammatory response, which then sets delivery in motion. The increase in risk is relatively small in the context of all the factors that contribute to the birth of a healthy, full-term baby. "However, against a backdrop where we know so little about why some women deliver too soon, prematurely, and why others do not, finding clues like the one here helps us start piecing the bigger puzzle together," said co-author Gary Shaw, DrPH, a professor of pediatrics and co-primary investigator of Stanford's March of Dimes Prematurity Research Center.

Extreme wildfires

The new results show wildfire smoke may have contributed to more than 6 percent of preterm births in California in the worst smoke year of the study period, 2008, when a severe lightning storm, powerful winds, high temperatures and a parched landscape combined for a deadly and destructive fire seasonone that has now been dwarfed by the record-setting infernos of 2020 and ongoing blazes like the Dixie fire in Northern California.

"In the future, we expect to see more frequent and intense exposure to wildfire smoke throughout the West due to a confluence of factors, including climate change, a century of fire suppression and construction of more homes along the fire-prone fringes of forests, scrublands and grasslands. As a result, the health burden from smoke exposureincluding preterm birthsis likely to increase," said lead author Sam Heft-Neal, a research scholar at Stanford's Center on Food Security and the Environment.

The research provides new evidence for the value of investing in prescribed burns, mechanical thinning, or other efforts to reduce the risk of extreme wildfires. Given that premature births cost the U.S. healthcare system an estimated $25 billion per year, even modest reductions in preterm birth risk could yield "enormous societal benefits," said Burke, an associate professor of Earth system science at Stanford's School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences (Stanford Earth). "Our research highlights that reducing wildfire risk and the air pollution that accompanies it is one way of achieving these societal benefits."

'No safe level of exposure'

The researchers analyzed satellite data of smoke plumes from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to identify smoke days for each of 2,610 zip codes. They paired these data with estimates of ground-level PM 2.5 pollution, which were developed using a machine learning algorithm that incorporates data from air quality sensors, satellite observations and computer models of how chemicals move through Earth's atmosphere. They pulled additional data from California birth records, excluding twins, triplets and higher multiples, which commonly arrive early.

After accounting for other factors known to influence preterm birth risk, such as temperature, baseline pollution exposure and the mother's age, income, race or ethnic background, they looked at how patterns of preterm birth within each zip code changed when the number and intensity of smoke days rose above normal for that location.

They found every additional day of smoke exposure during pregnancy raised the risk of preterm birth, regardless of race, ethnicity or income. And a full week of exposure translated to a 3.4 percent greater risk relative to a mother exposed to no wildfire smoke. Exposure to intense smoke during the second trimesterbetween 14 and 26 weeks of pregnancyhad the strongest impact, especially when smoke contributed more than 5 additional micrograms per cubic meter to daily PM 2.5 concentrations. "If one can avoid smoke exposure by staying indoors or wearing an appropriate mask while outdoors, that would be good health practice for all," Shaw said.

The findings build on an established link between particle pollution and adverse birth outcomes, including preterm birth, low birth weight and infant deaths. But the study is among the first to isolate the effect of wildfire smoke on early births and to tease out the importance of exposure timing.

"Our work, together with a number of other recent papers, clearly shows that there's no safe level of exposure to particulate matter. Any exposure above zero can worsen health impacts," said Burke, who is also deputy director of the Center on Food Security and the Environment and a senior fellow at Stanford's Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies. "While as a society it will be extremely difficult to fully eliminate all pollutants from the air, our research suggests that further reductions in key pollutants below current 'acceptable' levels could be massively beneficial for public health."

Explore further Wildfire smoke exposure linked to increased risk of contracting COVID-19

More information: Sam Heft-Neal et al, Associations between wildfire smoke exposure during pregnancy and risk of preterm birth in California, Environmental Research (2021). Journal information: Environmental Research Sam Heft-Neal et al, Associations between wildfire smoke exposure during pregnancy and risk of preterm birth in California,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111872
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern holds a map of New Zealand during a COVID-19 update press conference in Wellington, New Zealand, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. New Zealand's government on Monday said it was extending a strict nationwide lockdown until at least Friday as it tries to extinguish a growing coronavirus outbreak. Credit: Robert Kitchin/Pool Photo via AP

New Zealand's government on Monday said it will extend a strict nationwide lockdown until at least Friday as it tries to extinguish a growing coronavirus outbreak.

The news came as health authorities reported 35 new local infections of the fast-spreading delta variant, the highest number of daily COVID-19 cases in New Zealand since April last year.

First discovered last week, the outbreak has grown to 107 cases. But health authorities say they've found links among most of those cases, giving them hope they can quash the outbreak. Authorities said they've tested about 3% of the nation's entire population over the past six days.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the lockdown will continue until at least the end of the month in Auckland, where most of the cases have been found.

"We do need more information. We need more certainty. We don't want to take any risks with delta," Ardern said. "If the world has taught us anything, it is to be cautious with this variant of COVID-19."

Ardern said modeling suggested the outbreak should peak in a few days' time, and then decline.

One of the reasons lockdowns are considered essential in New Zealand in that inoculation rates remain low, with only about 20% of people fully vaccinated. The strict lockdown means most people must remain at home, leaving only to buy groceries or medicine, or to exercise.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern holds a map of New Zealand during a COVID-19 update press conference in Wellington, New Zealand, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021.New Zealand's government on Monday said it was extending a strict nationwide lockdown until at least Friday as it tries to extinguish a growing coronavirus outbreak. Credit: Robert Kitchin/Pool Photo via AP

Ardern also announced that the government has decided to suspend regular Parliament sessions for a week, a move that drew criticism from opposition lawmakers.

"At a time when New Zealanders have the harshest lockdown in the world and have lost our freedoms because of the government's failure to vaccinate and secure the border, this move by Jacinda Ardern is unfathomable," said Judith Collins, the leader of the opposition.

While New Zealand was maintaining its strategy of trying to wipe out the virus completely through lockdowns, neighboring Australia appeared to have conceded that lockdowns would not be able to eliminate the delta variant entirely and could only slow its spread.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said lockdowns are were "not a sustainable way to live in this country." He said states must open their borders once vaccination rates reach 80% of the population aged 16 years and older.

His remarks came as an outbreak in Sydney grew by more than 800 cases, near record levels. Health authorities said an outbreak centered in Melbourne also grew by 71 cases and another in the capital, Canberra, grew by 16 cases. All three cities remained in lockdown.

But in Western Australia, where there are no community infections, Premier Mark McGowan said his government wouldn't reopen at the 80% vaccination level if it meant reintroducing the virus.

About 24% of Australians are fully vaccinated.

Explore further New Zealand extends Delta outbreak lockdown

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Standingrock then returned to the car with the third party. Standingrock and the third individual made the victim write them a note making it look like he was agreeing to rent out his car to Standingrock for $400 a week so the victim couldnt claim it was stolen, according to court documents. The victim told officers Standingrock then loaded a firearm and put the barrel into the victims mouth while threatening the victim about contacting police.

Standingrock proceeded to drop the victim off, but took his cell phone and kept his car as a tax on the money the victim allegedly owes him.

Police found the car Standingrock was driving and arrested him.

When officers interviewed the third person Standingrock met with during the incident, he reported Standingrock was at his house on Friday, charging documents said.

He further explained the two were together with the victim in the victims car, where Standingrock was waving a gun around angrily while the three men were driving around, saying it was clear Standingrock was angry with the victim.

Later in the investigation, officers found the victims phones and a firearm matching the description provided by the victim.
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP)  Additional programs have launched aimed at providing pandemic aid to Tlingit and Haida tribal members and to shareholders of an Alaska Native corporation whose shareholder base is of Tlingit and Haida descent.

One of the programs, from the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, is offering up to $1,000 in aid to tribal members who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The other, from Goldbelt Inc., is making available up to $2,600 per shareholder. Shareholders must be U.S. citizens and be able to show a financial impact from the pandemic to be eligible, KTOO Public Media reported.

Nathan Johnson recently applied for one of the $1,000 grants. He used to work seasonal jobs in Angoon, but the pandemic hit the economy there hard, and he moved to Juneau for work opportunities. Grandparents in Angoon have been looking after his three children, who he wants to bring to Juneau.

He has been working at a restaurant and saving for an apartment for his family. He said $1,000 would be a big help, and said submitting his application felt like a "big mountain off his shoulders.
His voice was loud, he was aggressive, he had his finger jabbing into (the book) constantly, Trautsch said. She described the situation as very uncomfortable, threatening.

Van Orden repeatedly demanded to know who set up the display so he could teach them a lesson, she said. She had set up the display but was too afraid of him to tell him, she said.

He was full on shouting at this point and he kept aggressively shoving the books around, she said.

Van Orden ended up checking out every book from the display except one a library patron was already reading, she said. She went home and told her parents that she didn't feel safe at work anymore.

I was terrified that he would be outside, that there were be a collection of people outside waiting for me, waiting for anyone else, she said. We were terrified.

Trautsch said she was afraid that Van Orden wouldn't return the books or would return them damaged, but they came back within a week unscathed.

In response to an interview request from the Tribune, Van Orden issued a statement in which he said he supports equal rights for all Americans, including members of the LGBTQ community.
Weather prevented a recovery on Saturday, so Sunday morning the Yellowstone County helicopter was used. Sheriff Mike Linder, Gary Blain (helicopter pilot and owner of Billings Flying Service) and McQuillan flew the area to attempt to locate Morell. After that Two Bear Air, a Kalispell-based search and rescue air support organization, recovered her body and in the early afternoon Sunday it was transported to the airport in Red Lodge.

The sheriff said it was difficult to estimate in the mountains, but that Morell may have been a half mile from her camp site at Shadow Lake. He said Whitetail Peak is within the search area for Morell.

Red Lodge Fire Rescue was working on a press release about the recovery, McQuillan said Sunday afternoon.

"It's been a very exhausting search. And in one aspect we're grateful that she was located, that we're able to get her home for family and also closure for the first responders that have been working on this since she was first reported missing," McQuillan said. "There have been a lot of people involved in this in one aspect or another."

Morell had not been heard from since the night of July 1, when she contacted family using a Garmin InReach satellite communicator. Efforts to get a signal from the satellite communicator or a cell phone were unsuccessful. In addition to sending search and rescue crews on foot, search dogs were also inserted into the Beartooth Mountains and helicopters were used to scope out areas where she might be.

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ROME (AP)  An Italian-Moroccan student has been freed by Moroccan authorities after she was detained on blasphemy charges after she arrived in June to visit relatives, Italian officials said Monday.

Italy's Foreign Ministry said Ikram Nazih, 23, had been convicted of offenses against religion for having shared a satirical cartoon on Facebook in 2019. The Italian newspaper Domani, which had championed her cause, said the cartoon had transformed a verse of the Quran into a verse about whisky.

A lawmaker with the right-wing League Party who had brought Nazihs case to Parliaments attention, Massimiliano Capitanio, rejoiced over her release. He said he had taken up the case not only because Nazih is an Italian citizen from Vimercate, a Milan suburb he represents, but because a 23-year-old young woman cannot be incarcerated because of a Facebook post.

Our young people have the right to a future of freedom and serenity, he added in a Facebook post.
I wish I could vote for Daniel Carlino for Missoula City Council, as Im not in his ward. Carlino has the courage and vision to face what too many of us are ignoring.

His proposed actions for Missoula are realistic and attainable:

Electrifying heat systems and prohibiting fracked gas heating in new buildings.

Strengthening energy efficiency standards and requiring renewable energy in new government buildings.

Priortizing preservation of Missoulas natural landscapes in new developments.

Expanding and connecting Missoulas bicycle and pedestrian trails.

And very important, zone for mixed-use neighborhoods so we dont have to travel as far in the city from our homes to stores, businesses and recreation.

We are still using far too much fossil fuel in our daily living. For our children and future generations, we must change the way we live to heal our one home, the Earth.

Claudia Brown,

Missoula

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In the 1870s and early 1880s, the principal entry into Butte from the south and west was on Washington Street. The road came from Nissler Junction, where the routes split, with one heading south to Monida Pass and Idaho Falls and the other west, to Anaconda after it was established.

When the road neared Butte, at about the intersection of Iron and Clark today, there were two ways into town. In 1884, the southern road approximated todays Aluminum Street and took you past Speckarts Soda Water & Ginger Ale Manufactory and Beer Bottling Works and on past the Centennial Mill to hit Washington Street between todays Platinum and Aluminum Streets. Washington there held a tight cluster of homes and cabins, more than most such outlying neighborhoods.

The northern branch of the road to Butte curved northeast past the massive Dexter Stamp Mill built in 1876 southwest of the Travona Mine, and past the Travona itself approximating todays Platinum Street, which intersected Washington at Cameron & Aikens Butte Foundry and Machine Shop. There was also a branch that connected up to Porphyry, because Washington Street did not go through in the section where Gold and Washington run today.
Mere numbers cannot tell the story of what George Mulcaire-Jones has meant to Butte.

And vice versa.

Still, the numbers are significant: Mulcaire-Jones has delivered somewhere around 3,000 babies during his 30-year career as an obstetrician here. And in return, the people of Butte helped him launch Maternal Life International, a nonprofit dedicated to reducing maternal and infant mortality in some of the poorest places in the world.

Which means that for every mother and baby Mulcaire-Jones has helped in Butte, it's probable that another baby or mother has been saved elsewhere. And even though the obstetrician is ending his practice in Butte after 30 years, his work with Maternal Life International will continue.

*

His grandfather emigrated from what is now Slovenia to East Helena to work in the smelter, and so Mulcaire-Jones grew up in a predominantly Slovenian neighborhood. "We only had one Irishman on the block," Mulcaire-Jones says with a twinkle in his eye.

Where, he is asked, did his incredible compassion and desire to help those less fortunate come from?

His Catholic faith, he replies simply.
Carlsons bill, HB 702, prohibited not just government entities, but private businesses from deciding whether their employees or customers should be vaccinated. The law applies not only to COVID, but includes other vaccines that protect against transmissible diseases, such as measles, hepatitis, and even the flu. Medical professionals, hospitals and other health care groups argued strongly against it. Even nursing homes and other long-term care facilities in Montana have to let unvaccinated employees treat their elderly patients, according to a new state ruling.

Carlsons law is not only bad health policy, but, while offered in the name of freedom, it is an attack on the freedom of private businesses to protect their employees and customers in ways that work best for their business. Montana now has the dubious distinction of being the only state in the country that prohibits private businesses from making their own decisions about vaccinations. For companies considering whether to locate or hire in Montana, this anti-business stance could push them to set up shop or hire workers in any state but ours.
One year ago: A white police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin, shot a black man, Jacob Blake, seven times as officers tried to arrest Blake on an outstanding warrant; the shooting left Blake partially paralyzed and triggered several nights of violent protests. (Blake, who was shot as he was about to get into an SUV with a pocketknife that had fallen from his pants, later said hed been prepared to surrender after putting the knife in the vehicle. Officer Rusten Sheskey was not charged.) Demonstrators in Portland, Oregon, hurled rocks, bottles and fireworks at officers and set fires in the streets as they marched on a precinct station; police used tear gas to scatter the demonstrators. President Donald Trump announced emergency authorization to treat COVID-19 patients with convalescent plasma; some health experts said the treatment needed more study. Kellyanne Conway, one of Trumps most influential and longest serving advisers, announced that she would leave the White House at the end of the month. Takuma Sato won his second Indianapolis 500; it was held in front of empty grandstands because of the pandemic.
HUDSON, Ill. (AP)  The Hudson dive team typically doesnt perform flooding rescues, but this hasnt been a typical year.

Down in McLean, we had a semi in a creek that all you could see was about that much of the exhaust sticking out, said Bob Wills, training officer for the MABAS Division 41 water rescue dive team, holding his hands about a foot apart. And the driver was sitting on top of the cab.

Near the semi, which was swept off the roadway during the June storms, a woman was clinging to a tree awaiting rescue.

The MABAS, or Mutual Aid Box Alarm System, team, which is stationed at the Hudson Fire Protection District, is the only all-volunteer dive team in Illinois, and as a Homeland Security asset, the team can be called to assist with water-related disasters nationwide, The Pantagraph of Bloomington reports.

Scott Voorhees, dive team leader, said most of their calls are recoveries, whether thats evidence for criminal cases, abandoned vehicles or, most often, bodies.
We Drank Our Tears nominated for Best Made in the Marianas at film festival
Australia: New farm working visa to begin next month, providing pathway to permanent residence for foreigners
Testing by MyBroadband revealed that Duracell Optimum batteries offer better performance than other alkaline batteries, but it is not significant enough to influence purchasing decisions.

In July, Duracell South Africa issued a press statement to promote its Duracell Optimum AA and AAA batteries which is now widely available in South Africa.

Duracell South Africa said Optimum is a new kind of alkaline battery technology that delivers breakthrough performance benefits.

Its re-engineered cathode technology with added new ingredients produces the most powerful Duracell alkaline battery, the company said.

Battery-powered devices can be divided into two groups  high- and mid-energy demand, and low energy demand.

Motorised toys are typical representatives of the first group. For them to work optimally, they need a lot of power quickly.

Game controllers or remote controls are typical representatives of the second group. To make them work best, they need less power, but for a longer period.

Duracell Optimum responds to these energy needs with the new technology by providing either extra life or extra power, depending on which device the battery is used in, the company said.

Duracell South Africa marketing director, Chris Rood, said the new Optimum technology would set the new benchmark for alkaline batteries.

Apart from promising extra life or extra power, Duracell South Africa has not made any other claims regarding its Duracell Optimum batteries in its press statement.

However, the Duracell South Africa website states that its Optimum AA batteries offer up to 200% extra life or extra power.

The first thing you notice when buying Duracell Optimum batteries is the excellent packaging. It looks and feels like quality.

The Duracell Optimum pack is sturdy with a box design that is associated with expensive items. It is a welcome change from the usual plastic container on top of a piece of cardboard.

The container can be recycled or can be used as a collection box for spent batteries.

MyBroadband performed two discharge tests on the Duracell Optimum AA batteries and compared them to other brands.

The first test was at a constant current draw of 0.2A  a low current to simulate common household devices.

The second test was performed with a constant current draw of 1A  closer to what something like a powerful flashlight would consume.

The tests were done in an air-conditioned office with a computerised battery analyser to ensure accurate and comparable results.

Each battery was drained to 0.8V under load, which is a voltage at which many consumer products would stop working. It is a common standard to which most manufacturers rate their batteries.

During each test, the voltage was constantly monitored and recorded to calculate the batterys total watt-hours capacity. This is the total power that the battery provided during the test.

The results revealed that Duracell Optimum outperformed other alkaline batteries included in the test at both 0.2A and 1A current draws.

The chart below provides an overview of the performance of different battery brands at a lower and higher current draw.

These tests should, however, not be taken as absolute measurements but rather as a relative comparison between batteries.

Price and performance

Duracell Optimum AA batteries outperformed other alkaline batteries, but they also come at a higher price.

A single Duracell Optimum AA battery cost R24,50, which was higher than the other batteries, which cost between R7.50 and R19.75 per battery.

MyBroadband calculated the price per watt-hour for each brand, which showed that Verbatim Premium offered the best value-for-money.

The chart below shows the price per watt-hour for each brand.
Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter said that if South Africa clings to coal power generation, it will face the same kind of isolation and sanctions as during Apartheid, Netwerk24 reported.

Speaking at the Hendrik van der Bijl Memorial Lecture last week, De Ruyter reportedly said that ignoring the global shift to green energy will accelerate South Africas deindustrialisation.

De Ruyter said that, per capita, South Africas economy is 25% more carbon-intensive than Chinas  and double the global average.

South Africa accounts for roughly half of all of Africas carbon emissions. Of that, Eskom accounts for 44%.

For this reason, South Africa cant simply ignore its carbon footprint.

Besides, the world is now heavily penalising carbon emissions, said De Ruyter.

According to the report, De Ruyter said that aside from South Africas societal and moral responsibilities to transition to green power and a low carbon economy, it is not economically sustainable to not do it.

Like in the Apartheid era, South Africa will find itself economically punished if it refuses to move to greener forms of energy.

De Ruyter said it is becoming basically impossible to secure financing for new coal power plant projects.

Insurers also target large carbon emissions with penalties or simply refuse to provide cover because they aim to curb the main source of increased claims due to climate change.

De Ruyter argued that accelerated industrialisation is the only solution for South Africas poor economic growth and record-high unemployment.

If the country does not adapt and go green, it will not be able to trade with the worlds biggest markets due to the carbon penalties they will impose.

He said that if the European Union (EU) accepts a proposal to implement carbon export taxes by 2023, it will impose tariffs on carbon-intensive industries like steel.

Countries with lower environmental standards than the EU will then face carbon penalties on their goods.

De Ruyter noted that the South African automotive industry exports 64% of its vehicle production. Carbon penalties would hit such export-dependent industries hard.

The Eskom CEOs remarks follow news of the utilitys plan to raise $10 billion (R152 billion) to shut off most of its coal-fired plants by 2050.

De Ruyter said that Eskom is proposing a multi-lender loan facility from development finance institutions that would be paid out in segments over several years.

Eskoms plan to raise money to adapt or shutter its coal plants comes amid South Africas goal to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

De Ruyter said that Eskom would retire 22,000 megawatt of its coal power plants over the next 14 years as they reach the end of their lifespan.

This represents around 45% of its total fleet.

De Ruyter said South Africa must transform the vicious circle of deindustrialisation and unemployment into a positive reinforcement loop that creates local investment opportunities and jobs.

This is more than an opportunity  it is an economic, societal, and environmental imperative, he said.

Now read: Eskom suspends 8 senior staff over Medupi explosion
The current internet price war is in full swing and is heating up with every new deal that is announced and Fibre Network Operator (FNO), Evotel, is joining in with new and sustainable pricing and packages with no smoke-and-mirror promotions. These changes are here to stay!

Evotel has taken its time to make sure that lowering its prices will be sustainable in the long run and not simply for a short period of time on a special offer.

As a result, Evotel is announcing that it will also be reducing its fibre rates, up to 18% in some cases.

Though we might have been late to the party, we are dedicated to providing customers with fast and reliable fibre that is affordable. We care wholeheartedly for the people of South Africa and will continue to provide them with exceptional service at the drop of a hat.

We have taken our time about reducing our rates as we dont want to be in a position where the rates are only valid for a short period of time before reverting to a previous price or as seen on occasion, prices going up.

Our way of doing business is through full transparency without any smoke and mirrors, says Bradley Bekker, Head of Business Development at Evotel.

With Evotel, what you see is what you get and you know immediately what you are signing up for. The company ensures that there are no hidden costs and you dont need to expect any surprises.

In the past couple of months, FNOs have offered Internet Service Providers (ISPs) lowered wholesale prices, with the hope that the ISPs will pass the discounts on to consumers who are looking for faster internet connectivity.

Evotel has followed suit in order to not only give their clients better price options along with its customer service attitude but also to enhance its service delivery.

Evotel is an open-access FNO, meaning that any ISP is able to partner with the company for the fibre infrastructure while the ISP will provide the internet service to customers.

Clients are therefore in control and are free to choose which ISPs service they would like to retain.

With this in mind, Evotel has partnered with Axxess, Afrihost and Goldfields as the first ISPs to bring the reduced rates to market with other ISPs following suit soon to ensure the same for their customers.

When Evotel informed us of their decreased prices, we immediately jumped onto the opportunity of passing these savings onto the most important role player in our business: the client.

Wed therefore like to thank Evotel for their continued support and innovation and look forward to a mutually prosperous and beneficial business relationship, says Juan de Meillon, Head of Sales and Marketing at Goldfields WiFi and Computers.

It is great to see Evotel reducing their prices. We have seen a fantastic response to the decreased pricing on the Evotel network from customers.

Fibre pricing and coverage are important to benefit consumers and the more coverage you have the more you can offer people, so it is great that Evotel is providing both the coverage and affordable pricing, says Dale Moulton, General Manager at Axxess.

Evotel also simplified its offerings and have cut down the number of broadband packages it provides to only six easy to comprehend uncapped options  all in the effort to reduce the complexities for consumers to choose a fibre solution.

Evotels new packages are as follows:

10Mbps download ()/2Mbps upload () 20Mbps  /10Mbps  50Mbps  /50Mbps  100Mbps  /100Mbps  200Mbps  /200Mbps  1000Mbps  /1500Mbps 

Says Afrihost: We welcome any changes to fibre that benefit our clients. The introduction of the 10Mbps and 20Mbps Evotel package makes it a lot easier for our clients to get connected. Best of all, our existing clients also benefit from this price reduction. Without open-access fibre, like that which Evotel provides, many ISPs and subscribers would be left out of fair competition and affordable pricing.

Because we truly believe in helping consumers and providing Fibre for Everyone, it is very important for us to bring prices down for users and make it more affordable for everyone in the long run.

The lowering of rates is a big deal for any company and we are proud to be able to provide packages and pricing that customers find welcoming rather than as barriers. We will continue to find ways and means to make fibre affordable to all, Bekker stresses.

The company focuses on residents in smaller towns in the provinces that are not as affluent as those in cities and major metropoles. Large FNOs mainly operate in these affluent communities, but Evotel is dedicated to providing fiber coverage to out-of-the- way communities that are often overlooked and forgotten about  fibre that is uncomplicated and affordable, without unwanted surprises.

New ISP Pricing

Below are the new rates from Evotel partners Goldfields, Axxess and Afrihost for the six available uncapped broadband packages available on the Evotel network.

Goldfields

Goldfields Network Opperator Download Speed Upload Speed Price Evotel 10Mbps 2Mbps R559 Evotel 20Mbps 10Mbps R699 Evotel 50Mbps 50Mbps R850 Evotel 100Mbps 100Mbps R999 Evotel 200Mbps 200Mbps R1,199 Evotel 1000Mbps 500Mbps R1,399

Axxess

Axxess Network Opperator Download Speed Upload Speed Price Evotel 10Mbps 2Mbps R595 Vumatel    Openserve    Metrofibre        Evotel 20Mbps 10Mbps R695 Vumatel 20Mbps 10Mbps R695 Openserve 25Mbps 25Mbps R645 Metrofibre 25Mbps 25Mbps R695     Evotel 50Mbps 50Mbps R855 Vumatel 50Mbps 50Mbps R895 Openserve 50Mbps 25Mbps R805 Metrofibre 50Mbps 50Mbps R875     Evotel 100Mbps 100Mbps R1,025 Vumatel 100Mbps 100Mbps R995 Openserve 100Mbps 50Mbps R935 Metrofibre 100Mbps 100Mbps R1,095     Evotel 200Mbps 200Mbps R1,095 Vumatel 200Mbps 200Mbps R1,145 Openserve 200Mbps 100Mbps R1,135 Metrofibre 200Mbps 200Mbps R1,295     Evotel 1000Mbps 500Mbps R1,395 Vumatel 1000Mbps 500Mbps R2,295 Openserve    Metrofibre 300Mbps 300Mbps R1,495

Afrihost
The number of new Covid19 cases in South Africa has stopped declining and is trending sideways.

South Africas third wave of the Covid19 pandemic is going nowhere, slowly, CSIR researcher Ridhwaan Suliman said on Twitter over the weekend.

The National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) reported on Sunday that there were 10,748 new Covid19 cases identified in South Africa, representing a 20.7% positivity rate.

Citing figures from the National Department of Health, 170 Covid19 related deaths were reported yesterday, bringing South Africas official death toll due to the coronavirus to 79,421.

The following chart, posted by Suliman, shows the strange trajectory of South Africas third wave compared to the first and second.

Suliman noted that South Africa is not the only country seeing such a pandemic curve.

The trend of cases in the UK looks very similar, as one example, he stated.

In a summary of the statistics for the week ending 22 August 2021, Suliman said it was a mixed bag.

While hospitalisations were under control and decreasing nationally, cases and deaths continued to climb.

Suliman said that he believes the larger, higher-burden provinces such as Gauteng and the Western Cape are the biggest contributors to the national decline in hospitalisations.

The NICD noted that most new cases on Sunday were from KwaZulu-Natal (31%), followed by Western Cape (22%).

The Eastern Cape accounted for 16% of new cases, while Gauteng accounted for 10%.

The other provinces were: Mpumalanga  6%; Free State and Northern Cape  5% each; North West  4%; and Limpopo  2%.

Suliman provided summaries of South Africas weekly performance, including average daily Covid19 cases, hospitalisations, and deaths.

Average daily Covid19 cases per week

New Covid19 hospital admissions per week

Average daily Covid19 deaths per week

Ridwhaan Suliman Twitter update
Wine industry association Vinpro has launched a legal challenge against South Africas ongoing restrictions against alcohol sales, which is scheduled to be heard in the Western Cape High Court from 23 to 26 August 2021.

Vinpro said that despite all of the setbacks the South African wine industry has endured over the past 17 months, it has not backed down from the fight to fully reopen and rebuild the industry.

Since the start of this pandemic, we have argued that the provinces, not national government, should decide whether or not to impose liquor restrictions and should do so with reference to provincial circumstances, including the need to preserve capacity in trauma units in hospitals in the province, said Vinpro MD Rico Basson.

We know provinces are affected differently by the pandemic. Therefore we believe a differentiated approach in handling the crisis is needed to limit the economic impact of a lockdown.

Under the current adjusted Alert Level 3 lockdown regulations, alcohol sales for off-site consumption are limited to between 10:00 and 18H00, Mondays to Thursdays.

Restaurants are allowed to serve alcohol daily until 20:00, and the evening curfew starts at 22:00.

Health minister Joe Phaahla has stated that the Department of Health would not be recommending that South Africas lockdown level be relaxed as the country still finds itself in the throes of the third wave.

Vinpro launched its legal application during the second wave in January this year and said it has now also approached the court to include evidence for how the blanket liquor ban missed its purpose during the third wave.

While we have challenged governments decision by way of an urgent interdict application and hearing on 21 July 2021, the matter was subsequently rendered academic because the ban was partially lifted four days later, Basson said.

In an interim application, we now ask that this evidence should also be taken into account.

Basson said that the national governments respondents have vehemently opposed the application to introduce such further evidence.

This opposition is mainly based on their argument that Vinpros application is moot since the ban has been lifted.

However, we have seen how Government has dealt with the previous liquor bans. A blanket ban is imposed repeatedly, and with a fourth wave likely to hit the country in December, this issue most certainly is not moot.

The industry supports 80,183 people working at farm and cellar level and 188,913 people working further down the wine value chain, said Basson.

This industry has built a strong brand reputation as a unique asset for the country. The South African wine industry is more than a drink. Its a livelihood. And it is our responsibility to make sure we save this industry for future generations.

One of the reasons put forward by the government for restricting alcohol is to limit the number of trauma cases in hospitals when the number of daily new Covid-19 cases is high.

CSIR researcher Ridhwaan Suliman published an analysis of South Africas weekly Covid-19 statistics on Sunday, noting that the number of hospitalisations were under control and decreasing nationally. However, cases numbers and deaths continued to climb.

Suliman said that he believes the larger, higher-burden provinces such as Gauteng and the Western Cape are the biggest contributors to the national decline in hospitalisations.

The National Institute of Communicable Diseases reported on Sunday that there were 13,510 people currently hospitalised with Covid-19 in South Africa  6,370 in private hospitals and 7,140 in public hospitals.
The Napa County Airport Land Use Commission's last word on a proposed Oat Hill condominium development in American Canyon may be simply restating its dissent.

Commissioners previously determined part of Oat Hill is in Zone D, an area around Napa County Airport that's supposed to be off-limits to new homes. Fifty-one units of a proposed 291-unit condominium development could be built there.

American Canyon on July 20 stated it intends to override the commissions finding so it could potentially allow the 51 units. The city said the countys airport land-use plan is outdated and this section of Oat Hill shouldnt be in the no-home zone.

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Last week, the Airport Land Use Commission approved a letter objecting to this turn of events. And that might be that.

Ultimately, the city of American Canyon is the decision-maker on the project, county Supervising Planner John McDowell said on Wednesday. They have the authority to overrule.

Oat Hill is an American Canyon landmark, less for its 250-foot height than its location as the only substantial hill in the city west of Highway 29. R. H. Hess Development wants to build a three-story condominium development on its slopes.
The late Aug. edition of the Journal provides details about the tragic event. It initially reported, Max Bollinger, employed at the Henry Brandlin ranch in the Napa Redwoods (the Mt. Veeder area), had narrowly escaped from death and lies in the Victory Hospital with burns which are of a critical nature, but which are not expected to prove fatal, in the opinion of the physician attending him.

The article also mentioned that, for reasons unknown, Bollingers workmans cottage caught on fire. Bollinger, who was working in a nearby shed, rushed into his burning residence in hopes of saving some of his personal belongings. But, while he was inside the building, the fire rapidly intensified, trapping Bollinger inside.

Somehow he managed to escape. Unfortunately, he received extensive and severe burns on his arms, hands, and torso as well as had his hair and eyebrows burned off.

To add to his misery, Bollinger was alone on the property and had to walk two miles for help. From a neighbors ranch, Bollinger was transported to the local hospital via private vehicle. In the meantime, a solo rural fire department firefighter extinguished the blaze.
CHICAGO (AP)  The Rev. Jesse Jackson, and his wife, Jacqueline, remained under doctors' observation Sunday at a Chicago hospital and were responding positively to treatments for COVID-19, their son told The Associated Press.

The couple, married for nearly six decades, were admitted to Northwestern Memorial Hospital a day earlier. Physicians were carefully monitoring their condition because of their ages, Jonathan Jackson, one of the couple's five children, said in a statement.

Jesse Jackson is 79, and Jacqueline is 77.

Both are resting comfortably and are responding positively to their treatments," Jonathan Jackson said. My family appreciates all of the expressions of concern and prayers that have been offered on their behalf, and we will continue to offer our prayers for your family as well.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP)  Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says he has tested negative for COVID-19, just four days after testing positive.

I'm told that my infection was brief and mild because of the vaccination that I received, Abbott said in a video clip posted on his Twitter account on Saturday. So I encourage others who have not yet received the vaccination to consider getting one.

When the Republican governor announced Tuesday that he had tested positive for the virus, his office said he was in good health and experiencing no symptoms. Abbott said Saturday that he will continue to quarantine as recommended by doctors.

Abbott, who was vaccinated in December, has refused calls to reinstate mask mandates as the highly contagious delta variant surges in Texas.
PLACERVILLE, Calif. (AP)  A wildfire burning for a week in Northern California continued to grow out of control, one of about a dozen big blazes in the drought-stricken state that have destroyed hundreds of homes and forced thousands of people to evacuate.

There was zero containment Sunday of the Caldor Fire, which had charred nearly 154 square miles (399 square kilometers) of trees and brush in the northern Sierra Nevada after breaking out Aug. 14. The cause was under investigation.

Firefighters hoped to take advantage of calmer weather and cooler temperatures a day after gusts pushed the fire across U.S. Route 50, threatening more remote communities in El Dorado County.

Erratic winds sent embers flying into tinder-dry fuel beds, starting new ignition points and challenging crews trying to chase down the flames in rugged terrain.

We know this fire has done things that nobody could have predicted, but thats how firefighting has been in the state this year, Eldorado National Forest Supervisor Chief Jeff Marsolais said.

Multiple large wildfires have incinerated at least 700 homes, many in and around the Sierra Nevada communities of Greenville and Grizzly Flats. About 13,000 residences remained under threat in communities tucked away in scenic forests.
Queen Elizabeth referred to 1992 as an Annus Horribilis as the marriages of her children fell apart amid much bad press. We find ourselves in another such year.

First, it was President Trumps deplorable behavior in January. Then the COVID-19 vaccine distribution was marred by so many among us thinking that their right not to be vaccinated is more important than their duty to society to help put an end to the pandemic.

And now we have another deplorable event, the absolute and complete failure of the president and his staff to properly think through the evacuation of our troops, leaving not only the Afghans who had helped us in the lurch but also our NATO allies as well, including the country that has long been our most important ally, the United Kingdom.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and both his political allies and opponents almost uniformly decried President Bidens behavior in a session of Parliament.

We are on the verge of being deemed a nation that cant be trusted. Will Taiwan trust us to help in the event of a Chinese invasion? Whats going on in the minds of the Middle Eastern countries we persuaded to recognize and normalize relations with Israel? What do opponents like Russia, China, and Iran think about the strength and will of the United States?
Members of Veterans of Foreign Wars groups from across Kentuckys 5th Congressional District, including Pikevilles Post, met on Aug. 18 with U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers and talked on several topics of interest to veterans.
Caucasus Heritage Watch: Azerbaijanis destroy Makun Bridge in Karabakh

Russias Lavrov: Armenia is our ally

Soldier, 39, killed after Azerbaijan opens fire on Armenia positions

Russia, Azerbaijan deputy FMs discuss implementation of Karabakh agreements

Armenia army General Staff chief meets with 3-month training camp reservists

Armenia health ministers adviser appointed deputy head of UCLA Promise Armenian Institute

Prosecutor's Office: Numerous injuries found on Artsakh citizen returned by Azerbaijan

Artsakh President appoints new labor, social, migration affairs minister

Armenia national airline to be named Fly Arna

Armenia defense minister pays working visit to some military units

Pashinyan: I am convinced that Armenia-Uzbekistan mutual relations will further develop

615 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Moody's leaves Armenia sovereign rating unchanged

Russia peacekeepers ensure order, security in Karabakh on Knowledge Day

Psaki: US partners with Turkey, Qatar on Kabul airport

Artsakh to mark Independence Day anniversary for first time without Armenia top leadership attendance

President to Armenia students: Learn to overcome challenges, to pursue dreams without despair

Five missing after US Navy helicopter crashes off California coast

Armdaily.am: Armenia President reacts to recent events taking place in Syunik Province

Newspaper: Azerbaijan carrying out large-scale construction in Artsakhs Shushi

Newspaper: Armenia authorities compile 'blacklist' of opposition MPs

Biden calls Afghanistan evacuation mission extraordinary success

Armenian Foreign Minister and CSTO Secretary General discuss Armenian-Azerbaijani border situation

Merkel says that Germany is trying to establish contact with Taliban

Digest: More on COVID-19 in Armenia, armed robbery takes place in Yerevan

Russia FM calls on Azerbaijan to unconditionally release Armenian POWs

Russias Lavrov: Rhetoric of both sides of Karabakh conflict needs to be moderated

Armenias Mirzoyan: We will respect Afghanistan peoples choice

Armenia FM: No negotiations on peace agreement with Azerbaijan underway

Eurasian Development Bank wants to become one of largest creditors of Armenia economy

Armenia Investigative Committee: Man found dead with gunshot wound inside car in Yerevan

Lavrov: In talks with Armenia FM we will separately discuss Nagorno-Karabakh situation

Opposition MP: Positive signals being exchanged with Turkey are new trap for Armenia

Armenia FM: Tense situation in region is consequence of Azerbaijan's destructive policy

ECtHR ruling: Ambassador to Sweden, Iceland to get compensation from Armenia government

Armenia, Russia FMs hold tete-a-tete meeting

Armenia ex-president Kocharyan, former deputy PM Gevorgyan case court hearing not held

Ombudsman: Azerbaijan MOD aims to cover up their criminal acts against Armenia civilian population

Fallen soldiers family stages protest outside Armenia government building

No electricity in court where Armenia 2nd president Kocharyan, ex-deputy PM Gevorgyan criminal case is heard

Armenia ex-president Kocharyan, former deputy PM Gevorgyan criminal case court hearing resumes

524 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

OSCE Minsk Group new Russian Co-Chair visits Azerbaijan

Armed robbery occurs at bank branch in Yerevan shopping mall

37,000 first-graders start school in Armenia

Armenia PM congratulates Kyrgyzstan President on Independence Day anniversary

Some 30,000 people evacuated in California due to wildfires

Russia peacekeepers hold humanitarian action for Nagorno-Karabakh children

Dead body of man, 37, with gunshot wound is found in car in Yerevan

Newspaper: Artsakh independence anniversary to be celebrated without Armenia top leadership for first time in history

Newspaper: Armenia authorities trying to cause rift among parliament opposition factions, MPs

Armenia PM goes on short vacation

UN Security Council adopts Afghanistan resolution

Pentagon announces US completion of evacuation out of Kabul airport

Armenia ombudsman reaffirms Azerbaijan soldiers deliberate starting fire near Sotk, Kut villages of Gegharkunik

Ukraine and Armenia to cooperate in attracting investments

Armenian Ministry of Education and French Embassy sign cooperation agreement

Israeli Defense Minister meets with the President of Palestine

Uzbekistan completely closes border with Afghanistan

IAEA: North Korea seems to have restarted nuclear reactor

EU recommends restoring restrictions on US tourists

Digest: Turkey talks normalising relations with Armenia, soldier injured in Karabakh

Dollar drops in Armenia

Azerbaijans Aliyev calls Karabakh Armenians hated enemy

Azerbaijan president: Current course of events shows that Karabakh conflict would never be resolved peacefully

Divine Liturgy served in Armenian church of Turkeys Malatya for first time since 1915 (VIDEO)

Economist: Armenia exports growth connected with external factors

Opposition Armenia Faction MPs health grows worse in prison

Moscow Armenian Theater actor dies during performance

Artsakh FM: Azerbaijan, with Turkeys complicity, sending militants from Afghanistan to occupied part of Karabakh

Opposition Armenia Faction MP summoned to Special Investigation Service

Officer charged with Azerbaijans capturing of 62 Armenia soldiers in Artsakh: They were forces 15 times greater

FM: Armenian captives in Azerbaijan are subjected to torture

Lawyer of Armenia officer accused in 62 Shirak residents case: How was connection cut off on day of Azerbaijan attack?

Health ministry: 275,138 people so far vaccinated in Armenia against coronavirus

Russia peacekeepers in Karabakh carry out actions to find drones

Confusion arises during Armenia appellate court hearing of case of ex-President Kocharyan, others

Armenia 2nd president Kocharyans lawyer submits to appellate court motion to cancel or reduce bail

Prosecution in case on Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan, others: Charge should be re-qualified

Artsakh Investigative Committee: Azerbaijan soldier who entered Martakert city apartment is arrested

275 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia appellate court continues considering lawyers, prosecutors appeals in ex-President Kocharyan, others' case

Armenia FM to pay working visit to Russia

Coronavirus casualties worldwide exceed 4.5m

One dead, 2 injured after road accident in Armenia town

Brazil unveils largest Buddha statue in country

Unidentified gunman opens fire inside Toronto shopping mall

Explosions occur in Kabul Monday morning

Armenia ombudsman: Azerbaijan soldiers deliberately set fires near Sotk, Kut villages

Biden declares major disaster in US State of Louisiana

Death toll rises to 7 in US missile strike in Kabul

US hits Kabul territory

At least 30 people killed in airstrike on a Yemeni military base

Turkey speaks about normalising relations with Armenia

Pentagon confirms US attacked car in Kabul due to ISIS threat

Macron talks revival of ISIS activity in Iraq and Syria

Turkish MFA says it cannot accept refugees from Afghanistan

Central Bank of Afghanistan limits withdrawals to $ 200 per week

US evacuates nearly 2,000 people from Afghanistan over past day

Taliban kill Afghan singer
Pakistan and India, after a break of more than two years, have resumed the provision of work visas to each other's diplomats, The Express Tribune reported referring to the Pakistani Foreign Ministry.

Pakistan in August granted visas to 33 Indian diplomats, while India - seven employees of the Pakistani embassy in New Delhi, reports TASS.

The resumption of the visas issuance could be the first step towards normalizing Pakistani-Indian relations to the level that preceded the sharp weakening of bilateral ties in 2019. This became possible after a secret meeting between the military of Pakistan and India held in Dubai in January this year with the mediation of the UAE government, at which a roadmap was drawn up for the normalization of relations in the near future. Its implementation was served by the agreement concluded in February between the Armed Forces of Pakistan and India on a ceasefire in Kashmir.

Diplomatic relations between the two neighboring states were frozen in 2019 after a suicide bomber from Islamabad-backed radical groups in India attacked an Indian military convoy in Jammu and Kashmir state, killing 44 members of the security forces.

India and Pakistan have disputed the territory of Kashmir since 1947, when British India, after gaining independence, was divided into two states along religious lines. At the moment, there is no state border in the region: its territory is divided by a line of control. In the Indian part, groups are actively working, seeking its separation from India. New Delhi accuses neighboring Pakistan of supporting extremists; Islamabad denies these accusations.

On August 5, 2019, New Delhi announced a decision to abolish the state of Jammu and Kashmir and create two union territories in this region - administrative units with fewer rights than the state. To this end, the Indian Parliament approved the abolition of the 370th article of the constitution, which endowed the state with a special status. Islamabad condemned this decision and refused to recognize it as an internal affair of India. In protest against the abolition of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan lowered diplomatic relations with India and expelled its ambassador.
YEREVAN.  The opposition should boycott the work of the Armenian parliament. The first ombudsperson of Armenia, human rights activist Larisa Alaverdyan said this at a press conference on Monday.

According to her, the parliamentary opposition should take such drastic actions if it does not receive clear answers to the questions it raises.

Also, she noted the inadmissibility of holding debates at the level of demagoguery in the National Assembly at such a crucial moment for Armenia. "When are we going to talk about ensuring the safety of the people? The opposition should not have gone to parliament. What they say is unattainable for the supporters of the current authorities; they do not listen to them," Alaverdyan added.

And referring to the persecution against the heads of the communities of Syunik Province, she noted that the authorities are not able to resist the aggression of the Azerbaijanis, and they use force against those who fought against the enemy.

"Those who are take action against these people are contributing to the completion of the Armenian Genocide plan," the human rights activist said.
All flights to and from Kabul airport have been suspended until further notice due to the large crowds in the air harbor wishing to leave Afghanistan, TASS reported.

All flights at Hamid Karzai International Airport have been suspended until further notice. Passengers wishing to fly to various regions of the country, as well as abroad, will be notified in advance of the resumption of flights. Such measures are being taken in order to prevent crowds and disorder in the air harbor, stated in a statement published on the agency's Facebook page.

The report also noted that the aviation authorities of Afghanistan are actively working to ensure that domestic and international flights to and from the Kabul airport resume as soon as possible.

A tense situation arose in the capital's air harbor after militants of the radical Taliban movement entered Kabul on August 15 without a fight and within a few hours established full control over the Afghan capital.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said he was leaving the country to prevent bloodshed. Vice-President of the Republic Amrullah Saleh said that in the absence of the head of state, he becomes the acting head of the country according to the constitution, and called for armed resistance to the Taliban. Several countries began to evacuate their citizens and embassy staff at once.

The 24-hour operation of the Kabul airport is now provided by about 800 civilian representatives of NATO states, the order is maintained by the military from the United States, Great Britain and Turkey. Thousands of people are trying to fly out of the country. To disperse the crowd on the runway, the military had to use tear gas and shoot into the air. People clung to the landing gear and fuselage of aircraft to leave the Afghan capital.

According to the latest data, at least 20 people died as a result of these incidents during the week. In addition, one Afghan security official was killed on Monday in a shootout between Afghan security forces and unidentified persons. The radicals blame the United States for the situation in the air harbor.
Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) State Minister Artak Beglaryan, Human Rights Ombudsman Gegham Stepanyan, and Minister of Foreign Affairs David Babayan participated in an online discussion held with Baroness Caroline Cox, Member of the House of Lords of the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and members of the Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust (HART) organization, Ombudsman Stepanyan informed on Facebook page.

During the online meeting, they touched upon the humanitarian situation created as a result of Azerbaijani-Turkish aggression, the humanitarian measures taken by the Artsakh government and international organizations, the situation of protection of the rights of the people of Artsakh, as well as the resumption of work on the settlement of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship.

The representatives of Artsakh thanked Baroness Cox, her team for their efforts in protecting the rights of the people of Artsakh, and expressed readiness to continue the close cooperation on various programs.

Baroness Cox expressed her commitment to continue the struggle to inform international organizations about the atrocities and war crimes committed by Azerbaijan, to make the voice of the people of Artsakh heard, as well as to support the settlement of humanitarian issues, added the Human Rights Ombudsman of Artsakh.
Risk of helpers bringing in Covid is limited: expert

Risk of helpers bringing in Covid is limited: expert

Infectious disease expert Joseph Tsang said on Monday that the government has to make sure a centralised quarantine system is in place for thousands of domestic helpers who are expected to start flying in from the Philippines soon.



His comments came after reports that at least 3,000 fully inoculated Filipino helpers may be allowed to come work here as early as next week, as long as they can provide vaccination certificates issued by the country's Bureau of Quarantine.



Theres been a shortage of helpers in Hong Kong after flights from the Philippines and Indonesia were banned since April and June following a surge of coronavirus cases in the countries.



Tsang said the risk of the helpers bringing Covid-19 to the community is limited, as they will be fully vaccinated, and will be tested repeatedly when they undergo quarantine upon arriving in Hong Kong.



Speaking on an RTHK programme, the expert agreed with the governments plan to designate hotels especially for helpers quarantine.



In case there are [Covid-19] cases, it would be easier for us to conduct contact tracing. In terms of resource allocation, for example in collecting specimen, cleaning, or monitoring the hotels facilities, especially ventilation, we can make sure the work is highly centralised, he explained.



He said the government should limit the number of helpers who can come in at the initial stage, and increase the quota gradually, to make sure quarantine hotels can cope.
HONG KONG--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MSCI Inc. (NYSE: MSCI), a leading provider of critical decision support tools and services for the global investment community, announced today that it has signed a license agreement with Hong Kong Futures Exchange Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX), to allow HKEX to launch an index futures contract based on the new MSCI China A 50 Connect Index, subject to regulatory approvals.

This new agreement will add to the suite of MSCI Asia and Emerging Market futures and options launched by HKEX in 2020, and underscores the ongoing strategic partnership between MSCI and HKEX.

Henry Fernandez, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at MSCI, said, The importance of China in global investment portfolios is growing, evidenced by the countrys market capitalization weight in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index increasing from 18% in December 2009 to 34% in August 2021. The investment industry is undergoing significant transformation and investments are becoming more complex and diversified, leading to a rise in demand for enhanced trading and risk management solutions. As part of our commitment to empowering global investors to better manage their portfolios, we are very pleased to expand our partnership with HKEX through this new license agreement.

Nicolas Aguzin, HKEX Chief Executive Officer, said, Todays announcement marks a key step forward in furthering our plans to build an offshore Mainland China equities derivatives suite in Hong Kong. This exciting news further strengthens our long-term partnership with MSCI and reflects our commitment to developing Hong Kong as Asias premier derivatives hub, expanding the breadth and depth of product offering in Hong Kong. As the global markets leader in the Asian timezone with a unique role connecting China and the world, we believe this new product will act as key risk management tool for investors in managing their A-share equity exposure.

As the latest addition to the MSCI China Index series, the MSCI China A 50 Connect Index (the Index) is designed to capture the performance of the 50 largest securities across all 11 Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) sectors, offering broad diversification reflecting the Chinese economy.

Using an innovative sector-neutral approach and based on the Stock Connect program, the Index mirrors the sector weight allocation of its parent index, the MSCI China A Index, and aims for sector balance by including the two largest securities from each GICS sector.

The Index can serve as the basis for index-linked investment products, such as exchange traded funds (ETFs), exchange traded notes (ETNs), mutual funds, structured products and other indexed vehicles.

About MSCI Inc.

MSCI is a leading provider of critical decision support tools and services for the global investment community. With over 50 years of expertise in research, data, and technology, we power better investment decisions by enabling clients to understand and analyze key drivers of risk and return and confidently build more effective portfolios. We create industry-leading research-enhanced solutions that clients use to gain insight into and improve transparency across the investment process.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or performance and involve risks that may cause actual results or performance differ materially and you should not place undue reliance on them. Risks that could affect results or performance are in MSCIs Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year ended on December 31 that is filed with the SEC. MSCI does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements. No information herein constitutes investment advice or should be relied on as such. MSCI grants no right or license to use its products or services without an appropriate license. MSCI MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR OTHERWISE WITH RESPECT TO THE INFORMATION HEREIN AND DISCLAIMS ALL LIABILITY TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.
Afghanistan

More than 130 LGBTQ+ rights groups have signed a letter to support the protection of vulnerable populations in Afghanistan, especially LGBTQ+ people, women, and children.

Taliban fighters entered the Afghanistan capital of Kabul on August 15, resulting in a mass exodus of foreign government officials. The Afghan president, Ashraf Ghani, also fled the country. Since the Talibans quick takeover of the capital, rights groups have grown troubled due to the groups extremist views and its history.

Besides LGBTIQ people and people of diverse SOGIESC (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics), women, persecuted religious minorities, journalists and human rights defenders have come under threat, and many have gone into hiding out of fear, the letter says.

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The groups write that they are concerned over the Talibans understanding of Sharia Law and how the group will apply it  especially as it relates to womens rights in the country.

We are saddened to see the decades of progress made by womens groups be potentially reversed suddenly and disastrously, the statement reads. The signed groups demand the Taliban allow women to access education.

LGBTQ+ people have already been fearful of living openly in the country, the groups say, and the Talibans rule may lead to further criminalization and persecution. For instance, one Taliban judge has already said gay men will be stoned.

The organizations call for the Taliban to adhere to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and overall international human rights norms. The signed parties also call on the Taliban to work with vulnerable people through whatever negotiations may take place between them and the Afghan government.

The letter urges countries to open their borders to those who are fleeing Afghanistan and the Talibans rule.

We call on everyone to work together to provide support in their own capacity. We call on individuals and groups to make donations, donors to make emergency funding available, and for organizations to assist in coordinating the collection and distribution of funds, noting the lack of LGBTIQ organizations in Afghanistan, the letter states.

The crisis in Afghanistan is complex and difficult, but we remind the international community that it has a moral obligationparticularly those who have played a role in the development of the issueto ensure that the political crisis is diffused via a solution that prioritizes the self-determination of the Afghan people while protecting vulnerable persons from harm and violence.
If autumn 2021 is anything like last year, hordes of Angelenos will flock to the beach in mid-October, seeking refuge from a heat wave. Some will trek north, to Malibus high bluffs and boulder-lined shores; others south, to the picturesque La Jolla seaside.

And some people will head downtown, to the Museum of Contemporary Art's Geffen Contemporary.

Sun & Sea, the climate-crisis opera that earned the top prize at the 2019 Venice Biennale, will make its West Coast premiere at the Geffen Contemporary on Oct. 14. The L.A. production  part contemporary opera, part crowdsourced performance art, part diorama come to life  is a joint presentation of MOCA, the Hammer Museum and the Center for the Art of Performance at UCLA. Directors of all three organizations  Klaus Biesenbach, Ann Philbin and Kristy Edmunds, respectively  joined forces to bring the work here as part of a U.S. tour.

The piece  directed by Rugile Barzdziukaite, written by Vaiva Grainyte and scored by Lina Lapelyte, all Lithuanian women  addresses climate change in what could best be described as an operatic lament about the disintegration of our planet. Audience members will watch the performance from a U-shaped balcony, looking down onto a beach bathed in high noon sunlight  the Geffen Contemporary, transformed with 10 to 20 tons of locally sourced sand. Thirteen singers and eight non-singing performers, all part of the Lithuanian company Neon Realism, will relax on towels, slather on sunscreen, play badminton, nibble on snacks and build sandcastles as they perform the libretto, translated from Lithuanian into English. A live dog and several children fill out the crowd, and theres plenty of ambient beach noise  chatter and laughter, the crinkling of food wrappers, a popping volleyball  layered over the recorded musical soundscape and live singing.

Soloists  playing societal archetypes such as a wealthy family, a retired couple, a single 20-something woman  wax anxiously poetic about the destruction of Australias Great Barrier Reef, the warming Earth and species extinction as well as global tourisms effect on the planet. The result is a disquieting tension between the happy-go-lucky, voracious and profitable leisure industry and looming environmental catastrophe, conveyed with somewhat ironic levity by a panoply of swimsuit-clad characters in an otherwise merry setting.

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Its sending a message that is so profound, Philbin says. But in the subtlest, most beautiful way that its disturbing.

The staging of the opera is particularly fluid, like the weather. The production is an hour long but repeats for a five-hour stretch without any pause, from 4 to 9 p.m., for three days. Audience members stay for just one presentation, but for the performers, its endurance art, as Biesenbach puts it  they dont stop singing, even as the audience members swap out.

The performers can leave the beach-stage at any point during the five hours for a bathroom break or a snack, but when they return, they will be soaking wet  the implication being that theyve taken a dip in the ocean. Meantime, audience members can wander around the balcony, viewing the production from different vantage points. A QR code will provide access to the program and lyrics.

The production is especially top-of-mind now, after the recent release of a U.N. report on climate change that was characterized as "a code red for humanity.

The company is very aware of the fires in California, the flooding and the hurricane spillover on the East Coast, heat waves in Arkansas," Edmunds says. It doesnt change the lyrics, but it allowed them to feel knowledgeable about the things were facing.

The audience's vantage point  a bird's-eye view  is critical.

Looking down suggests youre looking at the Earth, Philbin says. "And it's about the Earth."

Youre a witness but youre in it also, Biesenbach says.

"As if you are an animal, flying over," Edmunds adds.

Theres a charged collegiality among the directors as they offer a tour of the soon-to-be-transformed Geffen. Its partly due to their passion for the project  each saw different iterations of it in Italy or Lithuania but all were moved, they say  and partly because of the fast-paced, last-minute execution of the project. They partnered up only in May.

MOCA's Klaus Biesenbach, left, the Hammer's Ann Philbin and CAP UCLA's Kristy Edmunds teamed up to bring "Sun & Sea" to L.A. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Sun & Sea debuted at the National Gallery of Art in Lithuania in 2017 before premiering at the Venice Biennale in 2019, where people waited in hours-long lines for performances. The production won the Golden Lion for best national presentation, generating yet more buzz. A European tour kicked off in March 2020 and is still underway.

Philbin had dreamed of bringing the opera to Los Angeles, but its an unconventional and complex production to stage, even in pre-pandemic times, and after COVID-19 hit, it didnt seem realistic. Then she learned, in May, that the U.S. tour had a spot open.

She reached out to Edmunds, who runs a sister organization at UCLA, but the two soon realized they needed a large, flexible warehouse-like space with soaring ceilings. The Geffen was a natural fit.

I was in New York, for Frieze [art fair], Biesenbach says of getting Philbin's call. I was just screaming, in a taxi. But it was so joyful.

I didnt even finish my sentence, Philbin adds, and he went: Im in!

The Hammer took on an administrative and fundraising role; CAP UCLA handled the logistics around live performance; and MOCA took on the transformation of the Geffen space.

The collaboration itself was very much in the spirit of the opera.

The feeling, when you see it, is: Were in this together, Biesenbach says. And this is the one thing  ecology  we have to work together on.

The U.S. tour kicks off in mid-September at the Brooklyn Academy of Music before heading to Philadelphias Arcadia Exhibitions at Arcadia University as part of the citys Fringe Festival in late September. It then goes to the Momentary, a satellite space of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Ark., in early October before arriving in L.A.

In previous stagings of Sun & Sea, local volunteers from the public joined the cast on the beach. They didnt sing; they simply added to the background activity, improv-style. The upcoming Brooklyn, Philadelphia and Arkansas stagings will include community participation.

In Los Angeles, the community participation role will be filled by 10 members from the choral ensemble Tonality.

We felt that it was important  especially in COVID and especially after performance makers have had zero income for over a year  that the local folks we incorporate be artists that perform, can collaborate with this international company and that we cover the payment for them, Edmunds says.

She helped cast Tonality  a BIPOC-forward, social justice professional chorus of Angelenos, as she describes it  for the opera, with an eye toward adding authenticity to the beach scene.

Different races, ages, body types, gender identities, sexual identities  Youll see a snapshot across the very diverse Los Angeles that we understand, she says.

Which wasnt the case in Venice, Philbin adds. It reflected a more European crowd.

The sand will come from an Irwindale quarry. Although sourcing and transporting it does have an environmental footprint, as do performers and other creatives traveling internationally on tour, the climate-minded production is thinking about sustainability. After the production ends, the sand will be given to local schools and playgrounds to replenish sandboxes.

Edmunds' team will collect rocks, shells and driftwood to round out the Geffen beach, giving it a local feel.

Core costume and set design elements, however, are uniform city to city. The color palette of performers beachwear is a spectrum of pastels  rose, sage, light yellow  and there are no bright colors or logos on towels and umbrellas. The result is a muted, nostalgic feeling.

Under the harsh, faux-noon sunlight, performers exposed skin appears in ever-present danger of being sunburned, both a commentary on ozone depletion and UV exposure as well as a theatrical device adding an undercurrent of threat.

The light is kind of brutal and makes you feel vulnerable, Biesenbach says. It doesnt soothe  it feels like it hurts you.

The soundscape  a recorded mix of electronic music and nature sounds along with the live singing  is a living sonic sculpture, Edmunds says. Sixteen speakers are tucked under the balcony scaffolding and elsewhere, so that the experience feels immersive.

The production overall is marked by interdependence, the directors say  among the three Los Angeles institutions, for one, and between tour organizers and local venues. Between performers  adults and children, humans and canines  and their participating audiences. Even within the notes of the opera itself.

The opera isnt standing arias of operatic frill, Edmunds says. Its the singing voice that is continuously present throughout the community. Everyone in the cast steps forward when someone leaves. Theres an interdependence through the music.

Ultimately, she adds, the artists behind Sun & Sea are practicing a deep ethic of optimism with the production.

They wouldnt make something dark or full of lamentation or provocation that is emotionally difficult, she says, if it didnt also create something cathartic.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
One year after more than 400 people marched to have police removed from schools, Isiah ThoughtPoet Veney stood at a busy intersection in West Englewood and addressed a crowd holding signs saying People Power PEACEWALK and Mutual Aid.

When you talk about (communities like) Englewood, said Veney, an activist and photographer, theres a certain beauty that only people who live in those communities can relate to.

Particularly, he said, in terms of how residents help each other by filling in the gaps in hygiene, food and other resources. People that live in Englewood understand that its extremely hard to survive.

Veney, in collaboration with GoodKidsMadCity, the Chicago Teachers Union, and other groups, organized Sundays peace walk and aid giveaway to shift what he characterized as a negative image of Englewood, which has gotten worse over the past couple of weeks after the shooting of Chicago police Officer Ella French, who was killed while conducting a traffic stop in West Englewood on Aug. 7.

According to Omari Moore, executive director of NeighborScapes, a nonprofit that works to create affordable housing, Englewood is often presented in news reports as someplace dark and violent, ignoring that it is also a neighborhood full of families.

Veney, who also works for NeighborScapes, said he wanted to highlight that increasing funds for the police department is not the solution, inviting other activists to speak at the event, including Miracle Boyd, an organizer who had her teeth knocked out by a police officer at a protest last year.

Today we are here to bring peace to our community once again, said Boyd. We are asking that (Chicago Mayor) Lori Lightfoot disinvest 2% of CPDs budget to fund wraparound services, mental health, and transformative justice in schools.

Speakers took turns with the megaphone, some reading poems or singing, including Oscar Sanchez, co-founder of the Southeast Youth Alliance who took part in a 30-day hunger strike against the construction of a scrap shredder on the Southeast Side in February.

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Another speaker, Eva Maria Lewis, founder of anti-gun violence nonprofit The Free Root Operation, led people in song and stressed the importance of imagination and remembering how important it is to imagine a community that isnt plagued by trauma and grief, said Lewis.

The event included a walk down South Ashland Avenue to 59th Street, where participants stopped outside a shuttered CVS pharmacy. Traffic and a couple of police cars tailed those walking.

Outside the pharmacy, organizers set up tables where they gave away items ranging from water and canned food to toothpaste, diapers and hand sanitizer.

Veney, who was raised in the Chatham and Burnside neighborhoods, noted that people in the area used to rely on the pharmacy for basics, but its been closed for around 2 years.

Theres no nutrition here, he said, adding that the Family Dollar opposite had some things but not enough. If you dont got a car, youre not gonna be able to get the nutrition you need.

Also present were those working for the campaign #FreeMohawk, an effort to get rapper Jeremey Mohawk Johnson,released from jail.

Johnson was arrested last August at a protest to defund the police that saw violent clashes between demonstrators and the police, and is now on house arrest after being charged with aggravated battery of a peace officer for allegedly hitting a police officer with a skateboard.

We will rally until Johnson is free, said Jonathan Wilson, one of the campaigns organizers who also said that there is no substantial evidence that Johnson committed the crime. Wilson said he used to teach at West Englewoods now closed Harper High School, a school mentioned by the speakers as an example of disinvestment.

The only thing that changes these situations is public pressure, said Wilson. They (city officials) are trying to play a waiting game.

There are plans for the peace walk to become a yearly event, according to NeighborScapes Moore.

Next year, Moore said he hopes for more turnout, more organizations represented, and most importantly, more children and young people.
American Airlines, which is based in Fort Worth, was one of six airlines called on Sunday by the Pentagon to help evacuate Afghanistan refugees.

Starting Monday, the airline will send three aircraft to the Arabian Peninsula and Europe to help with the emergency evacuation of U.S. citizens and refugees in Kabul, the airline said in a statement. American Airlines is part of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet, a group of airlines that is committed to help the U.S. Department of Defense when needed.

The airline said it is proud to fulfill its duty to help the U.S. military scale this humanitarian and diplomatic rescue mission.

The images from Afghanistan are heartbreaking, the statement said. The airline is proud and grateful of our pilots and flight attendants, who will be operating these trips to be a part of this life-saving effort.

The airline said it will work to minimize the impact on customers as it removes the three airplanes from civilian operation.

People have been forced from their homes in Afghanistan since the beginning of the year, according to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). About 80% of nearly a quarter of a million Afghans forced to flee since the end of May are women and children, the organization says. The refugee crisis has only worsened since the Taliban overtook Kabul, forcing many to flee in order to escape Taliban rule.
The NRF says it wants to pursue peaceful negotiations before fighting

An anti-Taliban resistance group in Afghanistan says it has thousands of people ready to fight.

Ali Nazary, head of foreign relations for the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan (NRF), told the BBC they want to pursue peaceful negotiations.

But, he added, "if this fails... then we're not going to accept any sort of aggression".

Meanwhile, the Taliban say they have surrounded the group's Panjshir valley stronghold and put them under siege.

Resistance figures have also said the Taliban are now advancing in the region, northeast of the capital Kabul.

Amrullah Saleh, who was vice-president in the government ousted by the Taliban and is now based in Panjshir, tweeted that the Taliban had massed forces near the entrance to the valley.

The Panjshir region - in particular the Panjshir Valley - is famous for having successfully fought off invasions, including from Soviet forces during the Soviet-Afghan war from 1979 to 1989, and the Taliban in the 1990s.

Now, the region is still under the control of the NRF, which was founded by Ahmad Massoud - the son of Afghan resistance hero Ahmad Shah Massoud.

Ahmad Massoud, the son of resistance icon Ahmad Shah Massoud, founded the NRF

Ahmad Shah Massoud was a powerful guerrilla commander who led the resistance against the USSR, and then went on to lead the Afghan government's military wing against rival militias in the 1990s. After the Taliban gained control, he was the main opposition commander against their rule, until his assassination in 2001.

Mr Nazary told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that Panjshir had had a recent influx of local resistance forces from across the country, who have joined fighters they had already trained locally.

He said the group had "thousands of forces ready for the resistance" - although the BBC has not independently verified this claim.

"However, we prefer to pursue peace and negotiations before any sort of war and conflict," the spokesman added.

Map

The NRF's ultimate goal is a decentralised form of governance in the country.

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"The NRF believes that for lasting peace we have to address the underlying problems in Afghanistan," he continued. "Afghanistan is a country made up of ethnic minorities, no one is a majority. It's a multicultural state, so it needs power sharing - a power-sharing deal where everyone sees themselves in power."

Having one group dominating politics will lead to "internal warfare and the continuation of the current conflict," he said.

"We prefer peace, we prioritise peace and negotiations," Mr Nazary added. "If this fails - if we see that the other side is not sincere, if we see that the other side is trying to force itself on the rest of the country - then we're not going to accept any sort of aggression.

"And we've proven ourselves, our track record in the past [40 years] has shown that no-one is able to conquer our region, especially the Panjshir Valley.

"The Red Army, with its might, was unable to defeat us... I don't think any force right now in Afghanistan has the might of the Red Army. And the Taliban also 25 years ago... they tried to take over the valley and they failed, they faced a crushing defeat."
Watch: Protesters yell abuse at Channel 4 News anchor Jon Snow

A group of anti-vaccine protesters have stormed the ITN building in London before harassing veteran Channel 4 News anchor Jon Snow.

More than 100 demonstrators occupied the front of the building on Grays Inn Road on Monday afternoon.

Police officers at the scene blocked the protesters from getting further into the building in an effort to protect journalists and staff.

More than 20 police officers have cordoned off the entrances to the building.

Dozens of protesters entered the ITN building in London. (Carl Nasman/Twitter)

A video circulated on Twitter showed protesters yelling abuse at veteran Channel 4 News anchor Jon Snow as he tried to make his way inside.

Multiple police vehicles are on standby and helping to stop the protesters disrupting the traffic.

Independent Television News is the company that produces ITV News, Channel 4 News and 5 News.

Anti-vaccine protesters at the offices of ITN on Grays Inn Road, London. (PA)

The Metropolitan Police said: Officers are responding to a demonstration at a private premises on Grays Inn Road where people have unlawfully gained access to the building.

Officers are on scene engaging with building security and removing those who have gained entry.

Earlier this month, anti-vaccination protesters stormed what they thought was a major BBC building.

Watch: Anti-vax protesters storm ITN building in London

They were apparently unaware that the BBC had largely moved out of the premises at Television Centre in west London almost a decade ago.

The site is mainly used by ITV to shoot shows such as Good Morning Britain, This Morning and Loose Women.

A group of anti-vaccine protesters stormed the offices of ITN in London. (PA)

The BBC largely left the building in 2013 and the vast majority of its staff and its news operation are at Broadcasting House in Portland Place, central London.

In June, BBC Newsnight political editor Nick Watt was chased by anti-lockdown protesters outside Downing Street. A man was later charged over the incident.

Watch: How the world could be better after COVID
Pope Francis

The Vatican is concerned that The Pillar, a newsletter-based publication run by anti-LGBTQ+ members of the Churchs hierarchy who outed a priest using Grindr data last month, is just getting started.

In its initial report, the newsletter claimed that Monsignor Jeffrey Burrill, the highest-ranking American cleric who is not a bishop, was likely having sex with men he met through Grindr and had been doing so for years. Burrill resigned as general secretary shortly after the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) was informed of the coming report.

In subsequent reports, the newsletter alleged that it has obtained further online dating app data that implicates high-ranking officials in the Catholic church as engaging in gay sex. Although it has stopped short of outing anyone specific, the concern is that the reports go beyond leaders here in the U.S. (a second report claimed the publication had data showing dating app use within the Archdiocese of Newark, N.J.) but potentially to the highest ranks of the Vatican.

According to a third report, at least 16 mobile devices emitted signals from the hookup app Grindr and 16 other devices showed the use of other location-based hookup or dating apps, both heterosexual and homosexual from within the non-public areas of the Vatican City State in 2018, The Pillar alleges.

The series of allegations has left the church on edge according to The New York Times. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni confirmed that officials met with The Pillar in June, but elected not to respond to the report. He did not indicate if the Vatican planned to investigate the claims.

The Pillar reports also highlight the culture war within the church between supporters of Pope Francis and his conservative critics, according to the Times. Church officials are in the awkward position of being stuck between an inflexible vow of celibacy and the use of private cell phones to publicly shame and police priests' behavior.

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If someone who has made a promise of celibacy or a vow of chastity has a dating app on his or her phone, that is asking for trouble, Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin of Newark said during a Zoom panel, the Times reported. I would also say that I think there are very questionable ethics around the collection of this data of people who allegedly may have broken their promises, he added, referring to The Pillars practices.

Catholic liberals are also criticizing The Pillars report for attempting to conflate homosexuality and pedophilia. The use of this harmful stereotype is part of an ongoing effort by Catholic conservatives  like those behind the publication  to blame the churchs sexual abuse scandal on gay men within the priesthood.

While the church isnt currently investigating the claims, Grindr has initiated an inquiry into how its data was obtained. Were hyper-aware of the risks of our users, Grindr CEO Jeff Bonforte told LGBTQ Nation. We not only have information about industry risks, but were also very aware of all the challenges the queer community faces around the world.

In a blog post titled In Response To A Small Blogs Homophobic Witch Hunt To Out A Gay Priest, the hookup app outlined the possible methods in which The Pillar may have obtained the anonymous data, none of which involve a breach of Grindr itself.
Courtney Pedroza

The final draft of the pro-Trump Arizona election audit commissioned by the states Republican Party was supposed to arrive on Monday. Unfortunately, the firm hired to conduct the so-called review of Maricopa Countys election results had to call in sick with COVID-19.

Today we are receiving a portion of the draft report from the election audit analysis team, Arizona Senate President Karen Fann, a Republican, said in a Monday statement. The team expected to have the full draft ready for the Senate today, but unfortunately Cyber Ninjas CEO Doug Logan and two other members of the five-person audit team have tested positive for COVID-19 and are quite sick.

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Fann also claimed that outside of the conspiracy-peddling Logan and others becoming ill with coronavirus, the Senate didnt receive images of the ballot envelopes from Maricopa Country until this past Thursday, further blaming that on the delay of the final report long-promised for Monday.

The GOP Senate leader went on to say that the Senate legal team will meet on Wednesday to review its report and, once the Cyber Ninjas submit the remainder of its draft, the chamber will hold another meeting to check for accuracy, clarity, and proof of documentation. Fann has previously boasted that shes been in contact with Trump and Rudy Giuliani about the audit and had their support.

Right-wing media and former President Donald Trump himself have hyped this audit for months, promising that the review of Maricopa County, which President Joe Biden won by 45,000 votes, would finally prove widespread election fraud in the 2020 election.

Trump lost the state by roughly 10,000 ballots, but he and other MAGA personalities have suggested the audit could flip the state back to him and lead to GOP-led audits in other states reinstating him in the White House.

Despite county officials finding no irregularities in multiple audits after the 2020 presidential election, Arizona Senate Republicans hired Cyber Ninjas and two other firms to conduct another audit of Maricopa County in March.

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The company, however, had no prior election auditing experience before Fann tapped them to lead the process. Furthermore, Logan had publicly embraced Trumps baseless conspiracies that the election was rigged for Biden and millions of votes were stolen from the ex-president. Additionally, multiple pro-Trump dark money groups have funded the $6 million audit, including a non-profit founded by two hosts for far-right network One America News, which has frequently peddled election lies on its airwaves.

Election experts across the political spectrum have decried the audit as a sham, saying there are too many flaws in the way this review was conducted to trust it and citing a series of red flags, such as the auditors chasing down bizarre conspiracy theories.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Many employees who've been able to work remotely for more than a year have discovered the benefits of the arrangement  and a lot of them are hoping to continue doing so. But that doesn't mean their employers are on board.

If you count yourself among those advocating for remote work and could use some advice on how to approach the conversation, you've come to the right place. TMRW asked several workplace experts to share their tips to help you head into a discussion with confidence about continuing to work from home.

How to ask to work remotely full-time

Whether you enjoy not having to commute, love that extra hour of sleep in the morning or just simply find that you're more productive from home, it's totally normal to prefer to work remotely. If your company wants you back in the office, but you're not on the same page, you can still try to negotiate your own unique working arrangement with the following tips:

Do your research: "Was remote work part of company's policy pre-pandemic? What are your job functions and how do those interplay with the rest of the team/company? How was communication during the pandemic? Make sure to include the good and the bad!" SoFi career expert Ashley Stahl suggested asking yourself and others.

Focus on the benefits for your company: "Employees should discuss how working remotely will positively impact their performance. They should highlight any increases in productivity, efficiency and other key work areas theyve experienced as a result of working remotely to highlight how this will benefit the company as well as the individual employee," said Massimiliano Tirocchi, co-founder and CMO of Trafilea, an entirely remote e-commerce group.

Start the conversation early: "Schedule a meeting with your manager and have your research ready. Its not ideal to wait for this conversation until (people begin returning to the office), when many will also be having it. Approvals for these are very much so in purgatory, and that is an opportunity for you to grab approval before any more rigid policies come into place," Stahl said.

Mention any environmental benefits: "Have you experienced an environmental savings in decreased emissions and energy consumption? Office equipment consumption is twice as much as home office equipment. Note these benefits if your company has an environmental platform," Stahl said.

Toot your own horn a bit: "List all of your accomplishments and come up with a case for how your work is better for the company as well when youre remote," Stahl recommended.

Related: Vaccination remains a hot-button and politicized issue for many Americans, which can make inquiring about someones inoculation awkward.

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What if your manager says no?

If your manager isn't completely sold on the idea of you working remotely full time, the conversation doesn't have to end there. You can continue the negotiations in a respectful manner by taking the following steps:

Ask for a trial period: "Ask if theyre open to exploring a 1-3 month trial of working solely from home. At the end of the trial period, if things are going great, reopen the negotiation to make working from home permanent," Stahl said.

Schedule a follow up: "Ask to revisit the conversation in one month while also negotiating a partial work-from-home situation (three days at home, two days in the office)," Stahl suggested.

Keep your options open: "Be prepared to leave your job, but do not threaten this in your negotiations. Remember, things are changing fast. It just might be that employers revert to working from home after bringing everyone back to the office," Stahl said. "You never know and you don't want to burn bridges. Only let an employer know youre willing to leave if youre actually prepared to go right then and right there."

Related: Could the pandemic really force our busy-is-better society to slow down?

How to make the most of working from home

If your manager is open to you working remotely full time, congratulations! Now that you're officially a permanent member of the working-from-home club, there are a few ways you can make the most of your working arrangement and stay engaged with colleagues.

Be visible: "Just because you work from home, doesn't mean you can keep your head down. Be sure to interact daily with colleagues at the office. Ask colleagues what problems they are having and how you can help," Stahl recommended.

Take interest in your coworkers: "Make a point to set aside that extra time to get to know your colleagues," Stahl said. "Stay connected using virtual communication tools such as Zoom. Even a quick 5-10 minutes of face time goes a long way."

Let your work speak for itself: "If there is an objective system in place to measure performance, the company is transparent enoug, and the leaders are actually aware and in charge, they will notice. Good performance is always noticeable. Make sure to utilize all of the amazing benefits working remotely provides to your advantage and work as efficiently as possible," Tirocchi said.

Ask your manager for help: "Engaging remote workers requires that the particular challenges related to working off-site be addressed. Specifically: possible isolation of the employee from other team members, challenges in communication, obstacles to meaningful collaboration and opportunities for optimizing the remote worksite," XpertHR legal editor Marta Moakley, J.D., said. "An employer should proactively address the situation by investing in health and wellness programs, supervisor training and collaboration tools, as well as ensuring compliance with wage and hour laws for remote work."

Related:
By Renju Jose

SYDNEY (Reuters) -Australia can proceed with its reopening plans when the country reaches 70%-80% vaccination levels, the government's pandemic modelling adviser said, even as some states hinted they may not ease border curbs if Sydney fails to control its Delta outbreak.

The Melbourne-based Doherty Institute said the country's focus must shift to limiting the number of COVID-19 deaths and hospitalisations, from its current zero-cases strategy, when at least 70% of the country's population above age 16 is fully vaccinated.

"This level of vaccination will make it easier to live with the virus, as we do with other viruses such as the flu," it said in a statement late on Monday. "Once we reach 70% vaccine coverage, opening up at tens or hundreds of cases nationally per day is possible."

Currently, 30% of Australia's adult population has been fully vaccinated while 53% have had at least one dose.

Australia in July unveiled a four-stage plan https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/sydney-under-strict-new-lockdown-rules-cases-soar-2021-07-29 back to greater freedoms with higher vaccination rates. But Queensland and Western Australia states flagged they may not stick with the agreement as it was framed when case numbers in Sydney were much lower.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison acknowledged the concerns of some states from the Sydney outbreak but said "forever lockdowns" will do more harm than good to the country.

"It doesn't matter whether it's 30 cases or 800 cases, the conclusions are the same, and that's what the Doherty Institute said ... we can do this safely and we do need to do it," Morrison told Nine News on Tuesday.

VACCINE PIVOT

Australia has suffered less from the coronavirus pandemic than many other developed countries with about 44,600 cases and 984 deaths. But a third wave of infections from the Delta variant has plunged Sydney and Melbourne, its largest cities, and capital Canberra into a weeks-long lockdown.

Story continues

Sydney, the worst-affected, has reported rapid growth in new case numbers as state officials pivot to a faster vaccine rollout strategy as more than two months of stay-at-home orders have failed to stop the spread of Delta.

"Let us focus on the vaccine rates because that is what will determine how we can live moving forward," New South Wales (NSW) state Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.

Berejiklian, who had promised more freedoms for the fully-vaccinated once total doses topped 6 million, said the state has crossed that milestone and changes will be announced later this week. Some 59% of people in NSW have had at least one dose, while 31% are fully vaccinated, slightly above the national numbers.

A total of 753 cases were reported in NSW, down from 818 on Monday, although daily infections continue to linger near record levels. Seventy-four deaths have been reported from the latest outbreak, although the rate of deaths has slowed from last year.

Neighbouring Victoria, struggling to contain its outbreak, expanded access to the Pfizer shots from Wednesday to anyone over the age of 16 to help reach a goal of a million doses over five weeks. Fifty new locally acquired cases were detected in the state on Tuesday, down from 71 a day earlier.

(Reporting by Renju Jose; Editing by Lincoln Feast and Richard Pullin)
Image via Getty/Smith Collection/Gado

The world witnessed a heartbreaking scene in Kabul, Afghanistan last week when a video went viral of Afghan civilians chasing down a US C-17 plane, as the country fell to the Taliban.

Now, a report has emerged that a woman gave birth to a baby girl aboard a plane that was escaping Afghanistan for Germanys Rammstein Air Force.

During a flight from an Intermediate Staging Base in the Middle East, the mother went into labor and began having complications, the U.S. Air Forces Air Mobility Command tweeted on Saturday. The aircraft commander decided to descend in altitude to increase air pressure in the aircraft, which helped stabilize and save the mothers life.

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When the plane landed, a team of medical professionals delivered the baby in the planes cargo bay on Saturday. The mother and baby are healthy and recovering in a local medical facility.

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Since the Taliban invaded Afghanistan, President Ashraf Ghani has fled to Tajikistan and all U.S. diplomats and representatives have been evacuated. In the meantime, the organization is reportedly gearing up to announce the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan from the presidential palace in Kabul. Additional reports have also surfaced in the past week that says the organization has been going door-to-door to find and kill wanted people.

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The first ever film in Afrikaaps - a dialect of Afrikaans, with words from other languages as well - is making waves in South Africa, trying to change the often one-dimensional, negative perception of Cape Town's mixed-race community.

Barakat, which means blessings in Arabic, was filmed in the Cape Flats - a vast low-lying area to the south-east of Cape Town's city centre, where many disenfranchised people were forcibly moved by the former apartheid government in the 1950s.

Amy Jeptha, a multiple award-winning director, says she embarked on producing the movie to show there is also a more hopeful side to the area - not just crime, gangs and drugs.

Barakat tells the story - in the rich Cape-flavoured dialect - of a widowed Muslim mother who finds a new love, a Christian man, whom she wishes to marry.

However, she finds difficulty in gaining the approval of her four sons, who are still coming to terms with the loss of their father.

Jeptha says the portrayal of the rich heritage of language and culture of the local communities was a major factor for doing the movie.

Both Christians and Muslims speak Afrikaaps.

"There is a commonality between the Muslim and Christian cultures on the Cape Flats, the communities are so integrated," she says.

"In the communities I know, Christian people would be part of the annual Labarang [Eid] celebration in the same way that Muslim kids would often celebrate Christmas."

With her dad being Muslim and her mum Christian, Jeptha believes she has a great vantage point from which to relate the long and harmonious coexistence between the two communities.

"I'm half-half, like many children on the Cape Flats are. My upbringing was an intersection of two religions so I was raised in a house in which Islam was practised," the film director says.

Barakat in Afrikaaps means taking home a gift, normally confectionary or food, that is left over from a party.

But Jeptha says that some imams told her that "a barakat can also come in a form of a person in disguise".

Story continues

"Blessings come in different forms and can come unexpectedly," she says.

She kept the dialogue in the film in Afrikaaps in order to promote the language.

"Afrikaaps used to be called Kombuis [kitchen] Afrikaans - but that's a term I prefer not to use because it makes it feel like it's a lesser version of Afrikaans which it's not," Jeptha says.

"Afrikaaps is a legitimate, creolised form of the language."

Afrikaans is one of South Africa's 11 official languages. It has its roots in Dutch, but includes words that are variants of Malay, Portuguese and Indonesian, as well as the indigenous Khoi and San languages of South Africa.

Afrikaaps also includes Afrikaans words that have a peculiar Cape Flats pronunciation as well as words derived from English and Malay, which has died out in South Africa but was spoken by slaves whom the Dutch had brought to the Cape in the 17th and 18th Century.

Dr Quentin Williams, director of the Centre for Multilingualism and Diversities Research at the University of the Western Cape, is equally excited about the growth of Afrikaaps and wants to see more films like Barakat.

"In most cases where children grow up on the Cape Flats they are socialised in Afrikaaps - but the moment they get to school the system tries to beat it out of them through the standardisation of Afrikaans.

"Movies like Barakat push the narrative towards the emancipation and empowerment of Afrikaaps speakers. The majority of Afrikaaps speakers are working class," says Dr Williams.

The academic attributes the resurgence in Afrikaaps to a movement by the younger generation wanting to assert their identity.

"This generation is now recognising that they require better agency and voice so that they too can represent their culture and the place where they come from - the Cape Flats - in a more positive light."

Dr Williams is confident that Afrikaaps will be recognised as an official dialect, and "this might come sooner than people think".

Plans are also under way to come up with an Afrikaaps dictionary.

"What I'm trying to do is to capture it to make sure that we don't lose words, that they don't die out," he says.
By Joanna Plucinska, Matthias Williams and Andrius Sytas

WARSAW (Reuters) - Belarusian lawyer Mikhail Kirilyuk says he received an unsettling text message in October from an acquaintance linked to the countrys security services.

The acquaintance urged Kirilyuk, who had defended anti-government protesters and publicly criticised President Alexander Lukashenkos rule, to leave the country. According to Kirilyuk, who said the text was sent via an encrypted messaging app and described its content to Reuters, the message also contained a warning: The attorney faced arrest and revocation of his license to practice law.

Kirilyuk left that month with his parents and young children for Poland, which has long been critical of Lukashenko. In February, the justice ministry revoked Kirilyuks license, according to an April Minsk court document relating to his unsuccessful appeal. The ministry said in a February press release that Kirilyuk had made unacceptable public statements that contained rude and tactless comments about state representatives, without identifying them.

Speaking with Reuters from Warsaw, 38-year-old Kirilyuk said he believed the action against him was politically motivated because of who he had represented and his public critical comments. He said he left because he didnt want to get arrested and that he wont return home until Lukashenko is out of office.

Kirilyuks account fits with what more than half a dozen Belarusian lawyers as well as international organizations representing the profession and human-rights groups say is a pattern of intimidation and suppression of attorneys by Belarusian authorities. Those actions include criminal and disciplinary proceedings against lawyers and disbarment, they say.

Seven lawyers interviewed by Reuters say their licenses were removed after defending protesters, speaking out against authorities or resisting what they said was pressure on their profession. Several of them allege that authorities monitored confidential client meetings or obstructed their work. Reuters was unable to independently corroborate their assertions or the text message described by Kirilyuk.

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Lukashenkos office didnt respond to requests for comment. The president in March said there was a need to "put things in order" in the legal profession, according to comments published in the state-controlled Belarus Today news outlet.

The justice ministry, in response to Reuters questions, said its oversight of the legal profession is implemented in accordance with the principle of independence of advocacy and non-interference in the professional activities of advocates.

It said statements by disbarred lawyers about the persecution of the profession and interference by the justice ministry are not supported by facts and documents, are unfounded and are based on the statements of the violators themselves.

The ministry said it has the power to terminate legal licenses in circumstances stipulated by law. It added that decisions to terminate the licenses of a number of lawyers this year was because they had committed gross violations of licensing legislation, licensing requirements and conditions, or engaged in conduct that discredit the legal profession. It didnt name the lawyers but said it included those Reuters asked about in its questions.

Authorities in this former Soviet state have conducted a broad crackdown on dissent since last August, when the long-standing president declared himself victor in an election that many Western countries deemed fraudulent. The targets have included opposition politicians, activists and the media. In an episode that shocked the West, a plane flying over Belarus was grounded in May and a dissident journalist on board was arrested.

On Aug. 9, the first anniversary of the contested election, Lukashenko said https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/defiant-belarus-leader-shrugs-off-sanctions-says-athlete-was-manipulated-2021-08-09 he won the vote fairly and saved Belarus from a violent uprising. In a news conference in the capital Minsk, the president said that an Olympian sprinter, who defected to Poland https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/exclusive-belarusian-sprinter-decided-defect-way-airport-family-fears-about-2021-08-05 at the Tokyo Olympic Games, had been "manipulated" by outside forces.

At least 23 Belarusian lawyers have been disbarred since last summer, according to the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), a Paris-based non-governmental organization. The federation said Belarus has in the past used retaliatory measures against lawyers; what was new, the FIDH said, is the scale of repression and that it now included criminal action.

The disbarment of all but one of the lawyers identified by FIDH has been confirmed by statements on the justice ministrys website or the state-run Belta news agency. The other lawyer confirmed to Reuters their license had been revoked.

That figure includes three lawyers that the justice ministry on Aug. 11 said had been disbarred because they had performed their professional duties improperly and displayed an unsatisfactory level of knowledge of the legislation necessary for carrying out advocacy work.

A new law approved by 66-year-old Lukashenko in June stipulates, among other things, that only candidates approved by the justice ministry can practice law, which some attorneys say is intended to control their profession.

Until now, bar associations chose trainees for the obligatory internships and all candidates were required to pass the bar exam before becoming a lawyer. Under the new law, the justice ministry coordinates the composition of the interns and people who have served as members of the police or other investigative agencies, if nominated by their respective state institutions, need only undergo a three month internship and an oral exam to become a lawyer.

Justice Minister Oleg Slizhevsky has said the aim of the new law, which comes into effect at the end of this year, is to raise the quality of legal professionals and improve their advocacy.

CRIMINAL CHARGES

Mass street protests swept Belarus after Lukashenko claimed victory in last summers presidential elections. The unrest was the biggest challenge to his rule since taking office in 1994. Authorities responded with a sometimes violent crackdown on protesters; many political opponents were arrested or went into exile. The response prompted Western sanctions.

Belarusian authorities have described the actions of law enforcement as appropriate and necessary.

A key moment for some lawyers and rights activists was the arrest in September of lawyers Maxim Znak and Illia Salei. They represented Maria Kolesnikova, one of the leaders of mass street protests.

Earlier this month, Znak and Kolesnikova went on trial https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/maria-kolesnikova-face-belarus-street-protests-goes-trial-2021-08-04 on criminal charges of extremism and attempting to seize power. Both deny the charges.

The authorities charged lawyer Salei with making public calls for action to harm national security. Salei, who denies wrongdoing, is on bail while the investigation continues, according to his father, who is acting as his lawyer.

Two other lawyers representing protest leader Kolesnikova were disbarred.

Siarhej Zikratski, a lawyer for Znak, lost his license in March after appearing before a panel established by the justice ministry to vet aspiring lawyers that can rule on disbarring existing ones.

Zikratski said the panel compiles information on lawyers media interviews, social media posts and petitions they have signed. The lawyer added that during his appearance before the panel, it questioned him about media interviews he had given and specific parts of the Belarusian legal code.

"We discussed why I gave the media interviews and why I did not have the right to speak out," Zikratski told Reuters in June from his current base, the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius. He now represents exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.

PEOPLE WERE FRIGHTENED

The United Nations has said Belarus lawyers handling politically sensitive human rights cases have been harassed and intimidated. In a May report, the UNs Special Rapporteur on human rights in Belarus said interference in the work of lawyers is systemic and that lawyers were often denied access to clients and faced disbarment or detention or arrest.

Belarus, in response to a UN resolution citing the May report, said the UNs decisions have long failed to reflect the real human rights situation in the world and serve as a pretext for pressure and sanctions of the collective West against states that do not obey its diktats."

Kirilyuk specialized in commercial law. But after security forces began detaining people in the mass protests, he and other lawyers faced a deluge of inquiries from people seeking legal help, he said. "We had 10, 20, 30, or 50 calls a day because people were frightened. They had been tortured in prison and didn't know what to do," said Kirilyuk.

Kirilyuk said he took on cases related to the protests, including that of Yelena Leuchanka, a Belarusian basketball star who authorities detained after she took part in protests calling for Lukashenko's resignation. Leuchanka was sentenced in September to 15 days in jail https://www.reuters.com/article/us-belarus-election-basketball-idUSKBN27D1QS for taking part in protests demanding the president resign.

Kirilyuk said the police refused to tell him where Leuchanka was being held; he and colleagues had to call around police stations before tracking her down at a detention centre in Minsk. The lawyer said he was initially denied access to his client and then only got 10 minutes with her before her court appearance.

Reuters was unable to independently confirm Kirilyuks assertions about torture or the specifics of Leuchankas case.

The interior ministry, which oversees the police, referred questions seeking comment to the foreign ministry. The foreign ministry didnt respond to a request for comment.

During a visit to another client in detention in August last year, Kirilyuk said he noticed a camera during what was meant to be a confidential meeting. When the lawyers COVID-19 mask slipped under his nose, a telephone that was in the room rang and when he answered it a voice told him to push it back up, Kirilyuk said.

Such tactics, he said, have a chilling effect. "It's such a simple way to show you that 'we hear you, we're watching you, and everything that you say to your client is on camera,'" Kirilyuk said.

(Reporting by Joanna Plucinska in Warsaw, Matthias Williams in Kyiv, and Andrius Sytas in Vilnius; additional reporting by Natalia Zinets in Kyiv, Dmitriy Turlyun in Moscow and Robert Muller in Prague; writing by Matthias Williams and Andrew Osborn; Editing by Cassell Bryan-Low)
Pro-mask-wearing demonstrators at the Cobb County School Board Headquarters on August 12 in Marietta, Georgia. AP Photo/Mike Stewart

States including Florida have tried to bar schools from imposing mask mandates.

Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida has threatened to withhold funds from schools that require masks.

Education Secretary Miguel Cardona in a Sunday interview called education a "fundamental right."

See more stories on Insider's business page.

States that bar schools from introducing mask mandates could face civil-rights investigations, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said Sunday.

"We are prepared to launch investigations with our Office for Civil Rights to ensure that all students have access to this fundamental right of education," Cardona told NBC's "Meet the Press." "And it's sad that we're talking about this now."

Coronavirus infections are surging in the US with the rise of the highly transmissible Delta virus variant. The Tampa Bay Times reported Saturday that in Florida, a quarter of all cases over the past week were in people younger than 19.

On July 31, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order that prohibited mask mandates in Florida schools. Earlier this month, DeSantis also threatened to withhold paychecks for school-board members in districts that impose masks.

Cardona said schools that did instate mask mandates couldn't be denied federal funds. "We have to do everything in our power to keep them safe," Cardona said of the Alachua and Broward County school districts in Florida.

The state's Board of Education threatened to withhold funds from the districts if they didn't comply with the governor's executive order.

"I spoke to the superintendents of those two communities, and I let them know that we have their back," Cardona said. "And yes, they can draw down on the funds that were promised to them so they can safely reopen schools."

Read the original article on Business Insider
By Jan Wolfe

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President Joe Biden's administration on Monday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to leave in place a COVID-19 pandemic-related federal ban on residential evictions while the justices consider a challenge by landlord groups to the ban's legality.

In a court filing, U.S. Justice Department lawyers said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) acted within its lawful authority this month when it renewed the moratorium through Oct. 3 after it had lapsed at the end of July.

Groups representing landlords have sought to lift the moratorium, pointing out that even Biden administration officials have conceded it may not be lawful.

The CDC first issued an eviction moratorium in September 2020, with agency officials saying the policy was needed to combat the spread of COVID-19 and prevent homelessness during the pandemic.

Realtor groups in Alabama and Georgia were among those challenging the moratorium.

Related video: Biden admin. ordered to respond to eviction ban challenge

Under heavy political pressure from Biden's fellow Democrats, his administration on Aug. 3 issued a slightly narrower eviction moratorium three days after the prior one expired. Biden initially had said that congressional action was needed to renew the moratorium, but his administration reversed course.

The current moratorium, due to expire in October, covers nearly 92% of U.S. counties, but that could change based on COVID-19 conditions.

(Reporting by Jan Wolfe; Editing by Andy Sullivan and Will Dunham)
President Biden made his clearest plea yet to employers to require the COVID-19 vaccine for their employees, on the day that the Food and Drug Administration announced its full approval for Pfizer and BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine to be given to Americans as young as 16. It's the first COVID vaccine to receive full FDA approval, and health officials hope the new status will encourage more people to get the vaccine.

"If you're a business leader, a nonprofit leader, a state or local leader who has been waiting for full FDA approval to require vaccinations, I call on you now to do it, require it. Do what I did last month, require your employees to get vaccinated or face strict requirements," Mr. Biden said Monday in remarks after the FDA decision.

The U.S. military is making the vaccine mandatory for active duty troops, and the federal government is requiring employees to get the shot or be tested regularly. Many companies are doing the same, and a number of employers announced new mandates on Monday alone. The FDA approval could set into motion a new wave of vaccine requirements among employers and universities as cases and deaths rise to the highest levels in months. The FDA had initially authorized the Pfizer vaccine on an emergency use basis.

"So let me say this loudly and clearly: If you're one of the millions of Americans who said that they will not get the shot until it has full and final approval of the FDA, it has now happened. The moment you've been waiting for is here," the president said.

The president called the FDA's approval the "gold standard," and emphasized that vaccines are free, safe, easy, effective and convenient. He also stressed that the vast majority of hospitalizations and deaths are taking place among the unvaccinated.

"There is no time to waste," Mr. Biden said, warning about the risks of the Delta variant and stressing that this is a pandemic of the unvaccinated.

Story continues

The vaccine has yet to be approved for emergency use in children younger than 12. Since that's the case, the president said best way for children to remain safe at school is for kids to wear masks.

"While millions of people have already safely received COVID-19 vaccines, we recognize that for some, the FDA approval of a vaccine may now instill additional confidence to get vaccinated. Today's milestone puts us one step closer to altering the course of this pandemic in the U.S," said acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock.

The other two vaccines authorized for emergency use are still working on submissions for full approval. Moderna said it plans to finish its application this month, and Johnson & Johnson, which is currently gathering data from trials of two-dose regimens, also plans to file for full approval this year.

White House expedites evacuations out of Afghanistan as August 31 withdrawal deadline approaches

FDA fully approves Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine as U.S. vaccination pace slows

Capitol Police clear officer in fatal shooting of January 6 rioter Ashli Babbitt
President Joe Biden on Sunday said he still hopes to complete the "heartbreaking" evacuation from Afghanistan by the end of the month but warned of potential terrorist attacks against the crowded Kabul airport.

As the numbers of evacuees steadily rose, despite a volatile situation on the ground and enormous logistical difficulties, Biden said he was aiming to complete the task by August 31, the date agreed with the Taliban.

Speaking in the White House, he said his "hope is we will not have to extend."

"We'll see what we can do," he added, when asked by reporters what his reply was to foreign leaders asking for more time.

The White House said late Sunday that since last weekend, when the Taliban completed their victorious sweep across Afghanistan by capturing Kabul from the fleeing national government, the US "has evacuated and facilitated the evacuation of approximately 30,300 people on military and coalition flights."

Biden acknowledged the searing scenes of Afghans crowding the airport in desperation to escape the militants but said this had to be accepted, given the situation.

"There is no way to evacuate this many people without pain and loss and heartbreaking images you see," he said.

Underlining why US officials are keen to complete the mission as soon as possible, Biden warned that Islamic State extremists known as ISIS-K pose a constant threat.

"We know that terrorists may seek to exploit the situation," he said. "It's still a dangerous operation."

- Civilian aircraft join flights -

In an effort to ramp up the airlift, the US government ordered six airlines -- American Airlines, Atlas, Delta, Omni, Hawaiian and United -- to provide 18 passenger planes, supplementing an armada of Air Force cargo planes.

The rarely invoked Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF) order will increase the flow of people once they get out of Afghanistan to US bases in Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates and are then flown on to third countries in a rapidly expanding global operation. The civilian airliners will not be required to fly to Kabul itself.

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Thousands of US troops have been flown in to secure the Afghan capital's airport, while the Taliban control the surrounding city.

The guerrilla army took over the country so rapidly that the US-led international forces previously propping up the now defunct Afghan national government were caught by surprise -- and apparently unprepared to evacuate foreign nationals and Afghan allies.

Biden has faced a torrent of criticism. However, in his remarks from the White House he again defended what he said had been a hard but necessary decision to order the immediate evacuation of Americans, even at the short-term cost of chaos.

"At the end of the day, if we didn't leave Afghanistan now, when would we?" he asked.

- Access to airport questioned -

Up to 15,000 Americans need to be removed from Afghanistan, according to Biden, who says the administration wants to get at least 50,000 Afghan allies and their family members out of the country.

There have been reports of the Taliban intimidating and beating people trying to reach the airport but Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said the militants had largely been letting American passport holders through safely.

Britain said Sunday that seven Afghans had died in the chaos near the airport, and the situation was further complicated on Saturday when the US government warned its citizens to stay away from the area because of "security threats."

In the 12 hours to 3:00 pm Sunday (1900 GMT), eight US military flights evacuated around 1,700 people, while approximately 3,400 were flown out on 39 coalition aircraft, the White House said.

The law ordering government use of civilian airliners has only been invoked twice -- to fly troops for the 1990-91 Gulf War and again in 2002-2003 for the Iraq invasion.

ft-sms/dw/ch
President Joe Biden raised the specter of a terrorist attack at or near the Kabul airport, which could be carried out by the Islamic States affiliate in Afghanistan, known as ISIS-K, as the U.S. military continues its massive evacuation in a city now controlled by the Taliban.

I want to say again just how difficult this mission is, and the dangers it poses to our troops on the ground. The security environment is changing rapidly. There are civilians crowded at the airport  although weve cleared it of thousands of them, Biden said during a Sunday speech from the White House. We know that terrorists may seek to exploit the situation and target innocent Afghans or American troops. We are maintaining constant vigilance to monitor and disrupt threats of any source, including the likely source being ISIS-K.

The U.S. Embassy had to be abandoned a week ago, and Hamid Karzai International Airport erupted into chaos as crowds of Afghans attempted to flee when the Taliban marched into Kabul last Sunday following an ill-planned U.S. military withdrawal.

Thousands of U.S. troops had to be sent back into the country to assist with the evacuation and to protect the airport, with the Taliban just outside the perimeter and with thousands of Americans and Afghan allies stuck outside. There have been numerous reports of the Taliban preventing U.S. citizens and Afghan allies from reaching the airport, including by beating them.

Biden added on Sunday: Were under no illusions about the threat.  Every day, we have troops on the ground, these troops and innocent civilians at the airport face the risk of an attack from ISIS-K from a distance  even though were moving back the perimeter significantly.

Biden declined to outline the specific "plans" relating to the United Statess evacuation of Afghanistan, citing "security reasons  including terrorist threats.

BIDEN KEEPING AFGHANISTAN EVACUATION 'PLANS' UNDER WRAPS OVER FEARS 'TERRORISTS MAY SEEK TO EXPLOIT THE SITUATION'

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The president said that 11,000 people were evacuated from Kabul this weekend, which he said brought the total to 28,000 evacuees since Aug. 14 and a total of 33,000 Americans, Afghans, and third-party nationals evacuated since July.

Bidens national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, made similar comments Sunday morning, describing the threat of an ISIS attack in Afghanistan as real, acute, and persistent.

It is something were focused on with every tool in our arsenal, Sullivan explained during an interview on CNN. Our commanders on the ground have a wide variety of capabilities that theyre using to defend the airfield against a potential terrorist attack. Were working hard with our intelligence community to try to isolate and determine where an attack might come from.

It is something that we are placing paramount priority on stopping or disrupting, and well do everything that we can as long as were on the ground to keep that from happening. But we are taking it absolutely deadly seriously, Sullivan added.

The threat of an attack by ISIS was reportedly the impetus behind an alert from the U.S. Embassy in Kabul warning of "potential security threats" outside the gates of the city's airport on Saturday.

"We are advising U.S. citizens to avoid traveling to the airport and to avoid airport gates at this time unless you receive individual instructions from a U.S. government representative to do so," the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan wrote.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby declined to comment on "specific details about the threat environment" in Kabul at a Saturday briefing, only noting that "the situation in Kabul ... in the whole city, is fluid and dynamic."

"We're also keeping a close watch on any potential terrorist threat at or around the airport, including from the ISIS affiliates in Afghanistan who were released from prison when the prisons were emptied. And because they are, by the way, to make everybody understand that the ISIS in Afghanistan are the  have been the sworn enemy of the Taliban," Biden said in his remarks to the nation on Friday.

Taliban, al Qaeda, and ISIS-K fighters are believed to have been among the thousands of prisoners freed from the Parwan Detention Facility when the Taliban entered Kabul last weekend. The prison is right next to Bagram Airfield, which the U.S. quietly abandoned in July.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

The ISIS affiliate in Afghanistan often attempts to recruit Taliban defectors and has clashed with the Taliban in the past.

When Biden said Friday that al Qaeda was "gone" from Afghanistan, he was quickly contradicted by Kirby, who said "that we know that al Qaeda is a presence, as well as ISIS, in Afghanistan, and weve talked about that for quite some time. Biden officials have since tried to clean up Bidens remark.

The lead inspector general for Operation Freedom's Sentinel released a May report warning that ISIS-K was strengthening itself in 2021, saying, "After a string of major defeats and setbacks last year, ISIS-K regained strength this quarter. According to media sources, the group has maintained a steady operational tempo and retains the ability to carry out terrorist attacks in Kabul and other major cities."

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Tags: News, ISIS, Taliban, Afghanistan, Joe Biden

Original Author: Jerry Dunleavy

Original Location: Biden raises specter of ISIS-K attack at Kabul airport
President Joe Biden urged private sector companies to step up COVID-19 vaccine mandates on Monday, hours after the FDA granted full approval to the Pfizer vaccine.

Today Im calling on more companies in the private sector to step up the vaccine requirements that will reach millions more people, Biden said.

If youre a business leader, a nonprofit leader, state or local leader who has been waiting for full FDA approval to require vaccinations, I call on you now to do that, he added.

The president also called on unvaccinated Americans to get inoculated.

If youre one of the millions of Americans who said they will not get the shot until it has full and final approval of the FDA  it has now happened, Biden said. The moment you were waiting for is here. Its time for you to go get your vaccination.

Bidens call to action came hours after the FDA announced full approval for the Pfizer shots for individuals 16 years and older.

Last month, the president announced that federal employees will be required to sign forms attesting theyve been vaccinated against COVID-19 or else be subject to rules on mandatory masking, weekly testing, distancing and more.

Do what I did last month, Biden said Monday. Require your employees to get vaccinated or face strict requirements.

After the FDA approved the Pfizer vaccine on Monday, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said the Department of Defense will issue new guidelines requiring vaccines for members of the military.

Mandatory vaccination has been given renewed consideration as concern grows over the highly contagious delta variant. The new variant is spreading rapidly in areas with low vaccination rates.

According to the CDC, 71 percent of Americans 12 years and older have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 60.2 percent are fully vaccinated.

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SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  U.S. President Joe Bidens special envoy for North Korea said Monday hes ready to meet his North Korean counterparts anywhere and at any time as he held discussions with South Korean officials over stalled nuclear talks with the North.

Sung Kims visit to Seoul comes amid declining expectations for a quick resumption of talks and new tensions over ongoing U.S.-South Korean military exercises. North Korea has described the exercises as a rehearsal for an invasion and has threatened unspecified countermeasures that would cause a security crisis for the U.S. and South Korea.

After meeting with senior South Korean diplomat Noh Kyu-duk, Kim reiterated that the Biden administration has no hostile intent toward North Korea and that the joint drills are routine and defensive in nature.

Kim and Noh told reporters they discussed possible ways to facilitate diplomacy, including humanitarian cooperation with North Korea in providing anti-virus resources, sanitation and safe water. They did not announce any specific plans.

Kim also is to meet Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov, who is also visiting Seoul.

The United States does not have hostile intention for (North Korea, Kim said. He said the joint U.S.-South Korea military exercises are long-standing, routine and purely defensive in nature and support the security of both our countries.

I continue to stand ready to meet with my North Korean counterpart at anywhere and at any time, Kim said.

Talks between the United States and North Korea have stalled since the collapse of a summit between former President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in 2019, when the Americans rejected the Norths demand for a major easing of economic sanctions in exchange for a partial reduction of its nuclear capabilities.

Kim has since pledged to bolster his countrys nuclear deterrent while urging his people to stay resilient in a struggle for economic self-dependence in the face of U.S. pressure. His government has so far rejected the Biden administrations overtures for talks, demanding that Washington abandon its hostile policies first.

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North Korea has closed its borders since the start of the pandemic, but it will eventually have to open itself to humanitarian assistance and dialogue with the United States to carry out vaccinations, said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul. That doesnt necessarily mean it will abstain from a missile test during or after the U.S.-South Korea drills, Easley said.

While North Korea has yet to report any coronavirus infections, experts have expressed skepticism about its claim of a perfect record, given its poor health care system and the porous border it shares with China. Edwin Salvador, the World Health Organizations representative to North Korea, told The Associated Press last week that the North has yet to complete the technical requirements that are needed to receive vaccines under the U.N.-backed COVAX program.

The atmosphere for diplomacy deteriorated further this month when Kims powerful sister released a statement saying the drills were the most vivid expression of the U.S. hostile policy toward North Korea and that the North will work faster to strengthen its preemptive strike capabilities.

The United States and South Korea are conducting a nine-day joint military exercise that began last Monday which Seouls Defense Ministry says is mostly computer-simulated and doesnt involve live field training. There have been no known missile tests by North Korea since the start of the drills, although South Korean military officials have said the North is currently staging its own summertime exercises.

North Korea has long bristled at U.S.-South Korea military drills and often responds to them with its own weapons demonstrations. The allies in the past few years have canceled or downsized some of their joint training exercises to provide space for diplomacy or because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some analysts say North Koreas recent threat may signal a resumption of its weapons testing. North Korea ended a yearlong pause in ballistic tests in March by firing two short-range missiles into the sea, continuing a tradition of testing new U.S. administrations with weapons demonstrations aimed at measuring Washingtons response and wresting concessions.

There havent been any known test launches since then as Kim has focused national efforts on fending off the coronavirus and salvaging a broken economy damaged further by pandemic border closures and food shortages.
The military might not be considered the hub of innovation, but put the head of the Air Forces Air University together with an inventive pilot and you might just pull water out of thin air.

And now that retired Lt. Gen. Steven Kwast and his former aide-de-camp David Stuckenberg have done just that, they are quickly becoming the talk around Washington, the nation, and the world for producing the first green energy water maker.

Using new technology that mimics how Mother Earth makes water, their Genesis Systems WaterCube is set to debut next month and promises to deliver water just about anywhere, even the desert.

One champion of the system, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, told Secrets, If the Genesis System can be produced at scale for a sustainable price, it will revolutionize access to water. He added, With all the water shortages emerging in California, this could be a historic breakthrough.

With his wife Shannon as Genesiss president, Stuckenberg and his team raised $9.5 million for development.

Orders are already rolling in, from Californias BarrelHouse Brewing to the Alabama Air National Guard and the Port Authority of San Antonio. Eventually, they plan for single-family houses to have a version.

Its a big deal. Stuckenberg said NASA rocket scientist Phil Sumrall told him, I think what you are working on is far more important than the work I did at NASA to put man on the moon. Im qualified to say this because I helped do it. And the Air Forces chief innovation officer has endorsed it.

Stuckenberg said he first thought up the idea while flying over water-starved Afghanistan in 2016. Over the next few years, he took several key posts where he saw the importance, and costs, of moving water.

Then, in 2019, he participated in a military exercise in which water was the weapon of war. Let me tell you, if used this way, water, or the lack of it, can impact as many people as a [weapon of mass destruction], he said. But he added that exactly zero investment on generating it has been done. Water has always just been taken for granted, Stuckenberg said.

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He recalled telling Kwast about his idea during a flight together. I remember he got quiet. At first, I thought he was upset. But I now know he was mapping a future with no water scarcity and what that might look like, Stuckenberg said.

For Kwast, the potential for making water was personal. He grew up in Cameroon and said many of the children he knew are now dead from a lack of clean water. Now, he sees a solution to that and the greater crisis of some 6,000 children per day dying due to bad or no water.

He said that, for several years, Genesis kept the development secret, in part, because its easier to show how it works than explain the process of using nanofluid to attract water from the air like a sponge and then a tickle of energy to ring it dry and start all over again.

Its like the Wright brothers trying to tell people that you can have something heavier than air fly, and they think youre crazy  until they built it, said Kwast, who is also concerned about whipping up foes.

Now he and the Stuckenbergs are serving glasses of their water from their truck-sized WaterCube at their Tampa headquarters and even adding healthy electrolytes as they prepare for the Sept. 14 public rollout.

Come on down for a taste, Kwast urged.

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Tags: Washington Secrets, Newt Gingrich, water, Pentagon

Original Author: Paul Bedard

Original Location: Bigger than the moonwalk: New system pulls water from thin air
BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said on Monday that he will ask his health minister to set a date to end the use of face masks as a means of reducing transmission of COVID-19 in Brazil.

Mask have become a political issue in Brazil, with Bolsonaro long ranting against their use and frequently refusing to wear one in public despite a legal requirement to do so.

In the radio interview, the president argued that with much of the population already vaccinated or having caught the virus, masks are not needed.

But epidemiologists say it is too early for such a move, especially due to the rise of the Delta variant in Brazil. Although nearly 60% of Brazil's population have received their first dose, only 25% are fully vaccinated.

Bolsonaro said he had also commissioned a study into the use of mask wearing with a view to recommending an end to their widespread use.

At over 570,000, Brazil has the world's second highest coronavirus death toll behind only the United States, propelled - according to epidemiologists - by a lack of coordinated national social distancing measures.

Bolsonaro said he hoped a date for ending the widespread use of masks could be set later on Monday.

Any such move could prove to be largely moot, however, with states and municipalities free to set their own COVID-19 restrictions in Brazil. Any federal government position on the matter would likely only function as a guideline, though it would be considered a victory by Bolsonaro's far-right base.

(Reporting by Lisandra Paraguassu; Writing by Ana Mano; editing by Stephen Eisenhammer and Chizu Nomiyama)
The Daily Beast

HRH Princess Charlene/InstagramThe narrative of a love match between Prince Albert of Monaco and his bride, former South African Olympic swimmer Charlene Wittstock, so relentlessly marketed by the tiny principality, has long struggled to maintain credibility when confronted with reality.Even before their wedding, there were extraordinary stories that Charlene tried to thrice flee the statelet only to be intercepted and brought back to the palace by the local security service.One of her escape at
MATHER, Calif. (AP)  More than 13,500 firefighters were working Monday to contain a dozen large California wildfires that have destroyed hundreds of homes and forced thousands of people to flee to safety.

After an extensive review of fire damage, Gov. Gavin Newsom requested a presidential major disaster declaration for eight counties, Mark Ghilarducci, director of the California Office of Emergency Services, told a briefing near Sacramento.

If approved, the declaration would provide a wide range of assistance including housing, food aid, unemployment and governmental emergency costs, Ghilarducci said.

Nearly 43,000 Californians were under under evacuation orders and more than 500 households were in shelters, he said.

New concerns were developing at the explosive Caldor Fire southwest of Lake Tahoe, the famed alpine lake straddling the California-Nevada state line and surrounded by peaks of the Sierra Nevada and resort communities.

The Caldor Fire, just 9% contained, has become the nation's number one priority for firefighting resources, said Chief Thom Porter, director of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

It is knocking on the door to the Lake Tahoe basin, Porter said. We have all efforts in place to keep it out of the basin but we do need to also be aware that is a possibility based on the way the fires have been burning.

Porter said he personally did not believe the fire would get into the basin but that he could be proved wrong.

The Caldor Fire has incinerated nearly 180 square miles (466 square kilometers) of El Dorado National Forest and continuing assessments showed 447 buildings destroyed. More than 17,000 structures were still under threat.

Two police officers from the Sacramento County city of Galt were in critical condition after a head-on traffic collision while they were headed to the Caldor Fire under a law enforcement mutual aid deployment, Ghilarducci said.

To the north, containment increased to 40% at the Dixie Fire, which has burned more than 1,130 square miles (2,926 square kilometers) in the northern Sierra Nevada and southern Cascades. Ongoing assessments showed 1,259 buildings destroyed, including 678 single-family homes, Cal Fire said. Nearly 13,000 structures remained threatened.

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In Nevada, public schools in the Reno and Sparks area and parts of Lake Tahoe were closed Monday due to wildfire smoke, affecting 67,000 students.

In Northern California, where most of the blazes are burning, there were no red flag warnings for critical conditions but the seven-day outlook called for moderate fire danger. In Southern California, meanwhile, moist ocean air has been keeping skies cloudy and temperatures cooler than normal well into each day.

Porter said that meant there was low potential for large new fires in Southern California, allowing firefighting resources to be surged from south to north.

While Southern California has so far escaped large-scale wildfires this year, Los Angeles officials on Monday urged residents to be aware of whats going on in the north because the regions high fire season is typically late in the year when dry, gusty Santa Ana winds blast out of the interior and flow toward the coast.

That awareness is going to help us when it happens here in Southern California, Los Angeles Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas said during a briefing to display the citys fleet of firefighting helicopters at Van Nuys Airport.

The mix of spring growth dried out by summer heat and high winds creates a dangerous condition that could lead to large, fast-moving brush fires, he said.

Californias fires were among more than 90 large, active blazes in the U.S. on Monday, according to the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho.

In Oregon, officials said a firefighter died Monday while battling a wildfire southeast of Eugene.

Bryan Cutchen, Oakridge city administrator and acting fire chief, said the death is suspected to have been caused by a tree falling on the firefighter, The Register-Guard reported.

Climate change has made the 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.
(Reuters) - Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson and his wife are "responding positively" to treatments after catching COVID-19, their son said in a statement on Sunday.

Physicians at the Northwestern University Memorial Hospital in Chicago are carefully monitoring Jackson, 79, and his wife, Jacqueline, 77, because of their ages, a day after the two were hospitalised, their son Jonathan said https://bit.ly/3gk30p1 in a statement issued by the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, a group founded by his father. [

"Both are resting comfortably and are responding positively to their treatments," he said.

Jackson, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2017, has been a leader of the U.S. civil rights movement since the mid-1960s and was with Martin Luther King when he was assassinated in 1968.

Jackson sought the Democratic presidential nomination twice in the 1980s, but fell short of becoming the first Black major party White House nominee.

He was awarded the Legion d'Honneur by French president Emmanuel Macron in July, one of France's highest honours, in recognition of what he called "a long walk towards emancipation and justice".

(Reporting by Bhargav Acharya and Jahnavi Nidumolu in Bengaluru; Editing by Gerry Doyle)
On 4 August, New York Citys Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa joined a protest demanding the resignation of Governor Andrew Cuomo, whom the Guardian Angels founder has called his nemesis. (AP)

There are currently 16 cats in Curtis Sliwas 320-square-foot Manhattan apartment.

And people like to make fun of that, he tells The Independent. As the population of the world grows, as were running out of space, depleting our resources, were going to have to do more with less. And thats how we live our lives  with 16 cats.

Mr Sliwas ubiquity over the last five decades of New York life, politics and tabloids has forged him into something of a local institution, fuelled by relentless self-promotion and the presence of his Guardian Angels, his volunteer street and subway patrol group in their signature bomber jackets and tracksuits with matching berets.

He wears his red beret every day, paired with a suit and tie, on the campaign trail as the Republican candidate running for New York Citys next mayor, the logical next step and biggest yet in a career spent vying for the citys attention.

After defeating Fernando Mateo in the citys Republican primary election, he will face Democratic candidate Eric Adams  the well-financed Brooklyn borough president and former police officer  in a general election in November.

Mr Silwa casts himself as a populist, arguing that his chance to get on the ballot with a third party was effectively eliminated under campaign finance laws supported by his decades-old nemesis Andrew Cuomo.

So now what party do I join? I join the Republican party, he says. In this race so far, even though its more of a coronation for Eric Adams, while hes spending all his time in the suites  fundraisers, wining and dining, getting his pockets lined  Im in the streets and subways.

Mr Mateo attacked his opponent for disloyalty to Donald Trump; Mr Silwa did not support him in 2016 or 2020, nor does he support his baseless narrative that the 2020 election was stolen from him. Still, he welcomed the endorsement of election lie proponent and former mayor Rudy Giuliani and joined his son Andrew Giuliani to protest the citys Covid-19 vaccine requirements.

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His campaign has reintroduced the city to his brand of charismatic bluster, with a suite of catchphrases (I can go into neighbourhoods where the only Republican theyve ever seen is Abraham Lincoln on a $5 bill) to place himself in stark contrast to city and state leadership he has long accused of becoming warped by special interest groups and wealthy donors and out of touch with the working class.

Its also a long shot  the citys registered Democratic voters outnumber Republicans roughly seven to one.

Mr Sliwa, meanwhile, lives in his 320-square-foot Upper West Side apartment with his wife, spends his days on the subway after decades patrolling them, and has stomped throughout New Yorks neighbourhoods on the campaign trail to point out Mr Adamss absence in them.

Ron Kuby, a criminal defence attorney and political commentator who co-hosted WABCs Curtis and Kuby programme with Mr Sliwa for more than a decade, told Gothamist that his run for mayor is the latest in a career of publicity stunts.

Theres not an end goal in this, Mr Kuby said. People are paying attention, theyre listening, theyre quoting him. Theyre talking about him. Hes having a fantastic time.

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Mr Sliwas campaign also has reintroduced his organisation, criticised throughout the decades as made up of violent reactionaries, racist thugs and aimless vigilantes targeting young Black and brown New Yorkers, or welcomed as heroes to a violent city that Mr Silwa often illustrated with grim, often-fantastical anecdotes.

Following his decades with the Guardian Angels, Mr Sliwas campaign  in addition to running one of the most-prominent animal welfare platforms for a candidate vying for office in one of the countrys largest cities  is largely concerned with public safety, combatting crime and supporting police.

Though he avoids the culture-war grievances stirring GOP campaigns across the US, he is promoting a means-tested universal basic income pilot programme  that would pull money from a beleaguered city-run mental health initiative  and he supports a broken windows theory towards policing that has been largely abandoned by criminal justice advocates.

His pilot proposal for a $6.6m universal basic income programme would send $1,500 a month to 500 New Yorkers for two years, though their spending would be tracked by the city, which would determine whether people lack self control to spend it wisely to maintain themselves, he says.

Distribute the money  obviously most of it would be directed to poor or impoverished areas, and lets follow it, Mr Sliwa says. Then we track them. If theyre willing participants theyll allow us to see what exactly youre doing with the money.

He wants to end what he calls the warehousing of people experiencing homelessness without first addressing addictions and mental health issues, though his solution to flatten crime in the citys young, largely Black and brown neighbourhoods is in behaviour modification.

We have dysfunction in homes, we have dysfunction in neighbourhoods, we have dysfunction in schools  were not addressing it. You have to have behaviour modification, he says. Theres a line you dont cross or there are consequences.

The citys rates of violent crime, particularly on its subways, have dissolved from their highs in the 1980s and 1990s. But recent spikes, sensational coverage and uprisings in the wake of the police murder of George Floyd and cries to defund the police have centred public safety as a national priority, one that reflects the compounded crises from the coronavirus pandemic and socioeconomic disparities.

Now facing a former NYPD captain in the mayoral race, Mr Sliwa  who says he has been on the receiving end of police wooden shampoos and concrete facials  has championed himself as their biggest ally. He has vowed to refund the department after the New York City Council approved a budget that shifted $1bn from its $6n operating budget, the most expensive in the US.

His first order of business if elected: Every lobbyist  Im kicking their ass out of City Hall, the city council chambers and the city council offices across the street.

Their priorities is different than what government priorities should be, he says. Do the people have a lobbyist? The answer is no.

Following the resignation of now-former Governor Cuomo after a growing number of sexual harassment allegations against him and threat of a weeks-long impeachment investigation, Lt Governor Kathy Hochul has ascended to the executive office, now helmed by a woman for the first time in the states history.

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That change in leadership will likely adjust the dynamic between Albany and New York Citys next mayor, though Mr Sliwa  who staged protests calling for Mr Cuomos resignation  is thrilled to see him go. He travelled to Albany on his last day in office to request custody of Captain, Mr Cuomos dog, following reports that the former governor would be leaving him behind.

Hes been my nemesis for over 20 years, he says. There is no love between me and Andrew Cuomo.  This is like the sixth family of organised crime, the way he runs government  the Genovese, the Gambinos, the Lucchese, the Colombos, the Bonannos, and you got Andrew Cuomo and the executive chamber in Albany. Its all intimidation. Its fear, fright and hysteria.

He also criticised golden boy media coverage that contrasted Mr Cuomos daily pandemic briefings with Mr Trumps chaotic response despite thousands of New Yorker deaths and a probe into Covid-19-related nursing home deaths.

The lesson we learn here is no person should be put up on a pedestal. All persons running for elected office should have their feet and hands kept to the fire by the media, Mr Sliwa says. It should be adversarial, it should not be friendly. Thats the only way we get to the truth.

Curtis Sliwa grew up the southeastern Brooklyn enclave of Canarsie, where he worked as a paperboy and a junk man recycling neighbourhood trash. His grandfather kept cats in the basement to prevent pests and dogs in the yard as security. His uncle kept pigeons on the roof.

After moving to the Bronx, where he managed a McDonalds in the Fordham Heights neighbourhood, he initiated a graffiti clean-up crew, a predecessor to his Magnificent 13 Subway Safety Patrol  later named the Guardian Angels.

Unarmed, no weapons, in America, are you kidding? he remembers his critics saying. Youre just gonna get shot and killed. Youre not gonna make any difference. Youre probably gonna become a gang.

Within the groups first 13 years, Mr Sliwa was locked up 76 times when the cops viewed me as a hells angel, vigilante, gang member, he says.

In a 1979 television segment, a then 23-year-old Silwa said: Im not just gonna sit home. I love my city and Im gonna do something about it.

Following a wave of anointing press and favourable marks from criminal justice chiefs at City Hall, his profile grew, though he repeatedly clashed with transit police officers.

On 19 June 1992, during an early-morning cab ride to his radio programme, a gunman shot Mr Sliwa five times, what prosecutors said was an execution attempt by a powerful organised crime family.

After his recovery, he admitted to embellishing or lying about several attacks against Guardian Angels, including a story about being abducted by an off-duty transit police officer  a confession that stung his reputation but that he readily admits as being in the wrong.

The admission prompted the president of the transit police union to write I told you so! in The New York Times.

But the group continues to expand internationally, with safety patrols spanning more than a dozen countries and nearly half the US.

I travel by myself many times, Im on the subway, campaigning by myself, going place to place by myself, Mr Sliwa tells The Independent. Ive always said the moment Im afraid to travel by myself in a city where I was birthed, its time for me to retire to the sixth borough of the city of New York  Boca Raton, Florida  or get a job hanging wallpaper. The moment I have any fears or trepidations, its over. I trust people. I dont trust politicians.

But it wasnt until his experience with the citys animal shelter system that pushed him to make a run for office.

His wife Nancy, who has helped care for feral cat colonies in Sunset Park and directs the Guardian Angels Animal Protection programme, was on her way to adopt a cat named Peanut Butter when she learned a city-run shelter had euthanised the animal.

She pulled the vehicle over to the side on Woodhaven Boulevard and started pounding on the dashboard, he says. Thats when I told her, Look, Im gonna run for mayor. If theres one thing I can do, its no-kill shelters.

His animal welfare platform would eliminate shelters that euthanise animals, expand shelter capacity across the city, and create animal sanctuaries upstate.

His campaign has also directed attention to emaciated carriage horses and the plight of pigeons  he has mulled banning bird spikes on ledges that impale them, or implementing population control measures.

He would also make pigeons the citys official bird.

The pigeons follow me wherever I go. They follow the red beret, he says. I realise there are people who hate pigeons  they view them as flying rats, and they have all kinds of torture devices they put on their windowsills to basically keep birds away, and they end up getting impaled. The pigeon has been here before any of us. Theyll continue to be here.
Democrats will put their entire spending agenda up for a key test vote Monday night, and it will require near-total cooperation from all party lawmakers, including unhappy centrists who want faster consideration of a bipartisan infrastructure bill.

The House will likely vote Monday night on whether to advance a $1.2 trillion infrastructure package as well as a $3.5 trillion spending resolution.

Both measures will be considered separately but have been combined in a resolution that sets the rule that will govern debate on both.

UPDATE: CAPITOL POLICE SAY ASHLI BABBITT SHOOTING MIGHT HAVE 'SAVED' MEMBERS OF CONGRESS

Only Democrats are expected to vote for the combined rule, thanks to universal GOP opposition to the $3.5 trillion spending package.

But Democrats control a very slim majority. They can afford to lose the support of three party lawmakers if every Republican and Democrat votes.

A group of nine centrist Democrats is already balking at the plan to postpone consideration of the infrastructure bill until later this year, after the Senate has passed the $3.5 trillion spending legislation.

Moderates want the House to vote on the infrastructure package first, before considering the second and much larger spending package.

Opposition from the group of centrist Democrats could sink the rule, blocking further consideration of the entire spending agenda touted by Democrats and President Joe Biden.

We cannot hold a major priority, like the bipartisan infrastructure bill, hostage, Rep. Josh Gottheimer, a New Jersey Democrat, said Monday. The House should vote on the bill, send it to the president's desk ASAP, and then immediately turn to the budget resolution, which I will support. The creation of 2 million jobs a year is on the line.

Biden helped craft the infrastructure package with a group of Senate Republicans and Democrats, promoting it as a critical bill that would create jobs and boost the economy.

The infrastructure measure would make historic federal investments in roads, bridges, and waterways and would also expand broadband access.

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But liberal Democrats, who make up most of the House and Senate caucuses, say they wont pass it until they get Senate centrists to approve the $3.5 trillion package.

The legislation would provide funding for a broad array of social welfare programs, including free universal preschool and community college, expanded Medicare services, and more. The bill would also provide a pathway to citizenship for millions of farm workers in the country illegally.

Liberal Democrats want centrists to vote for the massive social spending bill before they put up the votes for the bipartisan infrastructure package.

The $3.5 trillion measure also extends the child tax credit and introduces paid family leave.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, in a letter to Democrats Monday, said it would be essential to keep the historic leverage for the children by passing the budget bill first.

The success of each bill, Pelosi told Democrats, contributes to the success of the other.

Democrats will have to negotiate with each other for the next several months in order to pass the entire package.

If the House passes the rule Monday, it is expected to pass the budget resolution as early as Tuesday. The resolution sets the framework for the larger spending bill, leaving it up to the committees to hammer out the details in spending legislation.

Two centrist Senate Democrats have already stated the $3.5 trillion package is too expensive, and without their support, the legislation cannot pass the evenly divided Senate.

No Republican will support the $3.5 trillion plan, and Senate Democrats plan to use a budgetary tactic to pass the bill with only 51 votes instead of the usual 60. Vice President Kamala Harris can cast a tiebreaking vote in the Senate, but only if every Democrat agrees to support the bill.

Sen. Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat who balked at the high price tag of the $3.5 trillion measure, urged House Democrats Monday to pass the infrastructure bill, which has bipartisan support, first.

The Senate approved the bill earlier this month, and a House endorsement would clear the measure for Bidens signature.

It would send a terrible message to the American people if this bipartisan bill is held hostage, Manchin said.

House Democrats will begin considering the rule for both bills Monday night, following a closed-door caucus meeting that party leaders hope will push reluctant centrists to advance the rules package.

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Rep. Peter DeFazio, an Oregon Democrat who chairs the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, urged all Democrats to vote for the rule, saying he aimed to bring up the infrastructure package by the end of September.

In a veiled warning to moderates, DeFazio said the House must pass the $3.5 trillion budget resolution this week in order to kick off the process that would lead to passage of the infrastructure bill.

Any delay on the budget resolution puts enactment of our shared priorities at risk, DeFazio warned.

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Tags: News, Congress, Budget, Infrastructure, Nancy Pelosi, Joe Manchin

Original Author: Susan Ferrechio

Original Location: Democrats spending agenda on the line in Monday vote
An aerial view of Lake Casitas near Ojai in Ventura County shows a receding waterline on June 22. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

As sweltering drought conditions continue to worsen throughout California, Ventura and other Southern California counties have shifted from "extreme" to "exceptional" drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor Report.

Along with Ventura County, northwest Los Angeles County, most of Kern County and the eastern portion of San Bernardino County are also in the federal report's highest range, signifying "exceptional drought." Almost all of California is facing detrimental drought conditions, with 50 of the state's 58 counties under a state of emergency amid excessive drought conditions.

In Ventura County, Calleguas Municipal Water District officials have declared a water shortage, continuing their call to residents to conserve water.

"The boards action urges residents, businesses and agencies in Metropolitans 5,200-square-mile service area to lower the regions water demand to stave off more severe actions in the future, which could include restricting water supplies to Metropolitans 26 member agencies," officials said in a statement Tuesday.

Officials at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which supplies imported water to Calleguas Municipal Water District, said the state's water supply has been "increasingly stressed by the extreme drought."

Last week, the MWD issued a supply alert, calling on all of Southern California to conserve water amid the continued drought, a move that brings the states largest population center closer to tough water restrictions that have been imposed on communities elsewhere.

The alert came one day after U.S. officials declared the first-ever water shortage on the Colorado River, a key source of water for the region and one that supplies the Calleguas Municipal Water District, which serves approximately 75% of Ventura County.

In a statement released by MWD, board member Gloria D. Gray said the water management district has needed to begin tapping into its stored reservoirs, and continued to urge residents to conserve water.

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"We don't know what next year will bring. We must all find ways we can save even more so we have the water we need if this drought continues," Gray said.

Last month, Gov. Gavin Newsom's office called for all California residents to voluntarily reduce their water consumption by at least 15%.

Metropolitan General Manager Adel Hagekhalil echoed Newsom's call to residents to save water, stressing the need for California to come together to solve its water crisis.

"We are working with the governors office and water agencies throughout California to maximize available supplies," Hagekhalil said. "We encourage Southern California to step up again, just as we have in the past, to do our part to reduce our regions water use."

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Andrea Henson delivers supplies to people living in a homeless encampment along a freeway in Emeryville on March 26, 2020. (Josh Edelson/For the Times)

Encampments are everywhere in a state that, at last count, had 161,000 homeless people. A humanitarian crisis that has been building over many years has metastasized in recent years, frustrating residents, business owners and all Californians of good conscience.

So it makes sense that the recall candidates seeking to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom have questioned his record on the issue. However, none have anything to offer beyond sweeping but ill-conceived plans that would swoop up homeless people into shelters and force them to confront their mental illness or substance abuse issues.

Why is that so wrong? Because forcing people into any place they dont want to go, or any place without a certain amount of privacy and autonomy, is ineffective. People wont leave pets, partners, or bags of their belongings to go to a group shelter with curfews and strict rules (and some shelters have had COVID outbreaks).







And government cant compel people to enter shelters. It can merely force them off sidewalks.

Here is what the leading candidates, most of them Republicans, propose to do.

San Diego businessman John Cox would force people to accept mental health or substance abuse treatment as a condition for placement in any kind of government-financed shelter or housing. This unwisely subverts the long-accepted, successful Housing First model, which is based on the philosophy that people need the stability of a place to live before they can find a job or address demons like mental illness and dependency on drugs or alcohol.

Housing First doesnt work for every homeless person, but it has worked for tens of thousands in Los Angeles County who now live in permanent supportive housing which comes with services they can accept (or not) on their own timetables.

L.A. Homeless Services Authority officials say that 90% of people who go into permanent supportive housing in L.A. County are still housed a year later.

The ultra-conservative radio talk show host and lawyer Larry Elder also does not believe in the Housing First approach, saying that housing doesnt help people until they can deal with the underlying reasons for their homelessness  which he believes are drug use and mental illness. He would enlist the help of churches in reaching out to homeless people.

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Kevin Faulconer, former mayor of San Diego, says there should be a right to shelter across the state and an obligation to take it  or face being rousted off a sidewalk by police. But all that will do is force municipalities to divert tens of millions of dollars from creating permanent housing to building shelters. Yes, some cities need more shelter, but what is more desperately needed is permanent housing. Fortunately, Faulconer said he would continue to fund state efforts to create more housing for homeless people.

Kevin Paffrath, a young social media influencer and one of the few Democrats on the ballot, would create 80 convention center-style shelters across the state to house about 2,000 people each. But transitioning out of homelessness is not like recovering from a hurricane, where you sit in a convention center shelter and wait for insurance adjusters to help get you back into housing. To Paffraths credit, he doesnt buy into the trope that homelessness is the result of mental illness or addiction. He says its the result of evictions and lack of jobs and opportunities.

Assemblyman Kevin Kiley also believes in building more shelters. While he says mental health and substance abuse problems account for a large share of the problems that led people to homelessness, he acknowledges that financial troubles also contribute.

Based on demographic surveys during the 2020 homeless count, officials in L.A. County estimate that about 25% of homeless people have a serious mental illness and 27% have a substance abuse problem. (41% have one or both.) But whether people need services or not, trying to force them to accept treatment or a shelter bed doesnt work.

And no governor can simply declare that anti-camping laws across the state must be enforced against anyone who refuses to take a shelter bed. Thats a tough-talk soundbite but in fact, enforcement of laws like that is carried out at a local level.

What works is housing. Even acutely troubled homeless people can be housed. A study by researchers at University of California, San Francisco, provided permanent supportive housing in Santa Clara County to 169 homeless people who were seen frequently at emergency rooms for psychiatric care or were jailed repeatedly. All were offered intensive services which they could take or not. We intentionally chose the most complicated people, said study author Margot Kushel, a professor of medicine and director of the UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative. Researchers found that the overwhelming majority have stayed housed for several years. There is no medicine as powerful as housing, she says.

All the candidates say they support creation of more housing and reform of the California Environmental Quality Act  which is sometimes used by NIMBYs to quash low-income or homeless housing projects  but none of them has a clear plan for doing either. Nor did they say they were willing to support two controversial bills in the state legislature that would make it easier to build more densely in single family neighborhoods.

By and large, people in California have become homeless because so little affordable housing is available. That's a crisis that developed over the decades as elected state and city officials  pressured by NIMBY homeowners  fought density and did nothing to make it easier or affordable to build in this state. None of these candidates has offered clear solutions on how to change that  particularly because what would be required (rezoning, greater density, higher property taxes) is so politically volatile.

Gov. Newsom has directed billions toward the acquisition of hotels, motels and apartment buildings to turn into housing for homeless people. He isn't perfect, but at least he's looking for creative ways to increase housing supply, not shelters.





This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Elizabeth Olsen called Scarlett Johansson "tough" in a new interview with Vanity Fair.

Johansson is suing Disney over the release of "Black Widow," which she says breached her contract.

Olsen starred as Scarlet Witch in Marvel's first Disney+ show, "WandaVision."

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Elizabeth Olsen offered words of support for Scarlett Johansson amid her lawsuit against Disney in a joint interview with Jason Sudeikis for Vanity Fair.

Last month, Johansson filed a lawsuit against the entertainment giant alleging that the simultaneous release of "Black Widow" on Disney+ as well as theaters violated her contract and compromised her total box-office earnings.

Johansson's salary was largely based on box-office performance, and a copy of the lawsuit obtained by Insider claimed that Johansson's contract for "Black Widow" said the film would be an exclusive movie-theater release.

When asked about the lawsuit and the impact of the coronavirus on streaming, Olsen, who starred as Scarlet Witch in three "Avengers" movies, "Captain America Civil War," and Marvel's first Disney+ show, "WandaVision," told Vanity Fair that she was "worried" about the future of theaters and how they would survive if streaming became more popular.

Olsen on season one, episode six, of "WandaVision." Chuck Zlotnick/Marvel Studios

As for the lawsuit, she said: "But when it comes to actors and their earnings, I mean, that's just, that's just all contracts. So it's either in the contract or it's not."

"I think she's so tough and literally when I read that I was like, 'Good for you, Scarlett.'" Olsen continued.

Sudeikis said he was "worried" about Johansson and described Colin Jost, her husband, as his "comedy brother."

"Well, I mean, it is appropriately badass and on-brand," he said.

A source told The Wall Street Journal in July that Johansson expected to miss out on more than $50 million because of the discrepancy; Disney previously said the film earned $60 million from streaming sales in its opening weekend. The theatrical release earned $158 million in its opening weekend.

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An email included in the lawsuit indicates that Marvel's chief counsel, Dave Galluzzi, assured Johansson and her team in early 2019 that the film would have an exclusive theatrical release and Johansson would be consulted if those plans changed.

Scarlett Johansson in "Black Widow." Disney

A company representative told Insider there was "no merit whatsoever" to Johansson's lawsuit and said the filing was "especially sad and distressing in its callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the COVID-19 pandemic."

In early August, three of Hollywood's most prominent women's advocacy groups condemned Disney's response in a joint statement.

"While we take no position on the business issues in the litigation between Scarlett Johansson and The Walt Disney Company, we stand firmly against Disney's recent statement which attempts to characterize Johansson as insensitive or selfish for defending her contractual business rights," the statement said.

Read the original article on Insider
By Manuel Mucari

MAPUTO (Reuters) -South Africa will extradite former Mozambique finance minister Manuel Chang to his home country, its justice department said on Monday, where a criminal trial over the $2 billion debt scandal that crashed its economy has now begun.

Chang, who denies wrongdoing, and 19 others including state security officials and a former president's son face charges including blackmail and embezzlement for their alleged roles in the disappearance of hundreds of millions of dollars in government-backed loans.

A total of $2 billion in borrowing was ostensibly raised for a project spanning tuna fishing, shipyard development and maritime security. But vast sums were paid out in kickbacks, authorities say, while many promised benefits never materialised.

Chang, who signed off on the loans during his 2005-2015 term as finance minister, has been held in South Africa since 2018 after being arrested at the request of the United States, which also opened a criminal case over the affair.

Mozambique also subsequently requested his extradition, prompting a court battle that ultimately left the decision in the hands of Ronald Lamola, the justice minister.

Lamola decided to return Chang to Mozambique after concerns over whether he was immune from prosecution were resolved, Lamola's ministry said in its statement.

"The accused will therefore be handed over to Mozambican authorities to stand trial," it continued.

It was not immediately clear if Chang could join this phase of the trial, which got under way on Monday, or would be tried separately.

Chang's lawyer did not respond to a request for comment.

'DISCREDITED'

The case has had a deep impact on the economy. Not all of the loans were disclosed to parliament or donors like the International Monetary Fund. When the full extent of the borrowing was revealed in 2016, it prompted donors to cut off support and triggered a currency collapse.

Mozambique, one of the world's poorest countries, currently remains on the hook for the money.

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Ana Sheila, representative of Mozambique's national prosecutor, said the prosecution was seeking harsh punishments for the other 19 accused and $2.9 billion in compensation, including interest.

"The defendants' acts left the country in a grave financial situation and internationally discredited," she told a makeshift courtroom crafted from a canvas tent in the grounds of a maximum security prison outside the capital, Maputo.

Defence lawyers for six of the 19, including Armando Ndambi Guebuza, son of former president Armando Guebuza, who will later give evidence, said their clients denied wrongdoing.

Others, who have not yet had chance to speak directly to the accusations against their clients, had earlier argued for their release and said they were acting on behalf of the state.

(Reporting by Manuel Mucari in Maputo and Emma Rumney in Johannesburg; Writing by Emma Rumney;Editing by Promit Mukherjee, Jonathan Oatis and Alison Williams)
A mock 2021 guest list for the Met Gala is full of influencers who aren't even rumored to attend. Instagram/@_metgala2021

The 2021 Met Gala was rescheduled for September 13 and influencers are rumored to be invited.

Page Six reported that Emma Chamberlain and Addison Rae Easterling would be there.

But a fabricated influencer guest list has gone viral, sparking outrage over unverified information.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Fake 2021 Met Gala seating charts and guest lists full of influencers have gone viral, prompting outrage that TikTok stars and controversial creators could score invitations to the prestigious fashion event attended by A-list celebrities.

Several graphics have gone viral on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok that have a watermark for an Instagram account with the handle "_metgala2021." The account didn't respond to a direct message sent by Insider asking for comment, but its bio says, "Not affiliated with the Met Museum," and there's no evidence suggesting that information shared by the account is accurate.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York hosts the annual event, which was canceled in 2020 during the pandemic and is slated for September 13.

Despite the account clearly identifying its posts as speculative, it has triggered viral outrage and accrued more than 11,500 followers. But the posts have traveled to much bigger audiences on TikTok, where one video featuring the list has over 100,000 views, and Twitter, where "James Charles" trended on Monday due to his inclusion in the mock seating chart.

Other influencers mentioned on the fabricated seating plan include Addison Rae, Emma Chamberlain, Bretman Rock, Charli D'Amelio, and Dixie D'Amelio.

Viral Met Gala misinformation started spreading after a Page Six report about influencers

On August 14, Page Six reported that agents and publicists for A-list celebrities were disappointed that influencers had been invited to this year's Met Gala. The outlet wrote that TikTok star Addison Rae Easterling and YouTuber Emma Chamberlain were both rumored to be invited.

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On August 17, the Met Gala fan account posted its first speculative guest list, which includes all the celebrities named in the Page Six article - including those the outlet said were rumored to be skipping this year.

According to the account's history on Instagram, it was created in May 2019 and was originally a Kardashian fan page with handles like "kimklook" and "kardashianclubs."

The Instagram account went from receiving hundreds of likes per post to thousands overnight after posting the first guest list. As of publication, the account appears to be selling other Instagram accounts on the Met Gala account's story - advertising accounts with between 56,000 and 96,000 followers for between $400 and $800 dollars.

The "@_metgala2021" Instagram account appeared to start advertising for other pages, which the account says are for sale. Screenshot Instagram/@_metgala2021

On August 19, the page posted the second list of influencers, none of whom were referenced by Page Six.

This list included Charli D'Amelio, who is 17 and won't turn 18 until May 2022. Children under the age of 18 haven't been allowed at the Met Gala since 2017, Stylecaster reported.

There are also capitalization and spelling errors with several influencers' names, including the D'Amelio sisters and Loren Gray. The name of the event is also spelled incorrectly.

The names of stars like Ryan Reynolds, Idris Elba, Sarah Jessica-Parker, and Jennifer Lopez, also had spelling errors.

In the early hours of August 23, the account posted a purported seating plan for the event. Although the post reiterates that "nothing is confirmed here," disgraced YouTuber James Charles was included at the same table as stars like The Weeknd, Lana Del Rey, and Taylor Swift. Charles' name started trending on Twitter.

While some users expressed outrage that Charles, as a YouTuber, would be granted access to such an event, others complained that given his recent controversies, he does not deserve to go to the event. Charles admitted to "flirting" with two minors whom he said lied about their age and has been accused of sexting with more.

Representatives for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Charles, Easterling, Chamberlain, and the other influencers who were speculated to attend this year's Met Gala didn't immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment.

Read more stories from Insider's Digital Culture desk.

Read the original article on Insider
The Telegraph

When I was young, carefree and skinny, I was proud that my blood pressure was at the lower end of the healthy range, no matter how much salt I poured onto my chips. Now Im 58, a bit fatter and a lot more stressed, its crept up a bit. But, at around 122/85, my blood pressure is still regarded as normal. In fact, the average adult in the UK has blood pressure similar to mine and Ive certainly never considered taking medication for it.
BERLIN (Reuters) - Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) industrialised countries need to coordinate evacuation efforts from Kabul airport and whether they should continue beyond the Aug 31 deadline set by the United States, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Monday.

At their summit on Tuesday, G7 leaders will also discuss how to improve access for evacuees to Kabul airport, Maas told reporters in Berlin, adding Germany has been looking at options for keeping the airport running beyond Aug 31 for days.

"We are talking with the United States, Turkey and other partners with the aim of facilitating a civil operation of Kabul airport to enable the evacuation of people (beyond Aug 31)," Maas said. "We will also have to continue to talk with the Taliban about this issue, and that's what we are doing."

(Reporting by Sabine Siebold; Editing by Michael Nienaber)
An Afghan guard was killed and three others wounded in a "firefight" with "unknown attackers" at Kabul's airport  which also involved German and U.S. security forces, Germany's military said Monday.

Of note: The incident happened as thousands of Afghans and foreigners seeking to leave Afghanistan were at the airport's north gate, per Reuters.

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The statement from the German military did not say whether the guard killed at the Afghan capital's airport was a Taliban fighter.

The U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan issued an alert Saturday, warning Americans against going to Kabul's airport "because of potential security threats."

The big picture: There have been chaotic scenes at the airport since the Taliban took control of Kabul on Aug. 15, with several people losing their lives as they tried to flee Afghanistan. Taliban fighters "beat back crowds" at the airport Sunday, Reuters notes.

President Biden has sought to step up evacuation efforts and said Sunday that this could be extended beyond the Aug. 31 U.S. troop withdrawal deadline.

What they're saying: Vice President Kamala Harris told reporters in Singapore Monday that getting American citizens and Afghan allies safely out of Afghanistan was the Biden administration's "singular focus at this time."

The U.S. is using commercial airlines to help bring evacuees to the U.S. from "staging locations," such as Qatar and Germany, or a third country, Biden said. The airlines won't fly into Kabul's airport, he added.

What to watch: Biden was due to attend a virtual G7 leaders' meeting on Tuesday to discuss Afghanistan.

The Biden administration did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.

Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.

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By Joseph Nasr

BERLIN (Reuters) - With just five weeks to go before Germany holds an election that decides who succeeds Chancellor Angela Merkel, Syrians on asylum visas are concerned that an Afghan migrant crisis could fuel an anti-immigrant vote and block their path to citizenship.

Some leaders of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party are warning about a possible influx of Afghan refugees, seeking to draw voters fearing a repeat of the 2015 migrant crisis when Merkel opened Germany's borders to almost one million asylum seekers.

The Taliban's lightning takeover of Afghanistan has sparked a chaotic flight of thousands of Afghans and foreigners from Kabul airport this week, raising fears of a larger exodus across land borders as the Islamist militants impose sharia law.

Germany's scramble to evacuate thousands of local helpers from Afghanistan, along with its own citizens, has turned immigration into a big issue in the election: a poll last week showed that two thirds of Germans fear a repetition of 2015.

Anas Modamani, among the close to 800,000 Syrians who fled the war back home and resettled in Germany, is still waiting to qualify for citizenship. Now he is afraid the Afghan crisis could harden German voters against immigration and prompt the next coalition government to adopt tougher policies.

Modamani describes Merkel, with whom he posed for a selfie at a Berlin migrants shelter in September 2015, as a "hero" thanks to her decision that year to open Germany's border to almost one million asylum seekers, mainly Syrians.

"I'm worried about what immigration policies will come our way once she's no longer chancellor," said Modamani, 24, as Merkel prepares to step down after Germany's Sept. 26 election.

His picture with Merkel became a symbol of her decision in 2015 to gamble her political capital on welcoming 1 million unscreened migrants, mainly from Syria. But her conservative Christian Democrats now vow there can be no repeat of 2015.

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The far-right party has urged the government to institute a moratorium on asylum applications, hoping its tough line will draw voters fearing a spike in asylum applications.

"I know that most Germans will not vote for the AfD," said Modamani. "But a small part of me is like: what if the AfD are just a bit stronger and the next government responds by making it harder for us to apply for German citizenship, for example?"

'THREAT'

Karl Kopp, director of the Pro Asyl charity for asylum seekers, said concerns about a possible hardening of Germany's immigration policy are widespread, not just among Syrians, but also the wider migrant community, especially Afghans desperate to bring in family members stuck in Afghanistan.

"The tragic events in Afghanistan have resulted in a toxic discussion about immigration," said Kopp. "When refugees hear the negative narrative that 2015 should not repeat itself, they worry about tougher immigration rules after the election. Their fears are justified."

More than 800,000 Syrians have been granted protection in Germany since war broke out in Syria a decade ago. The vast majority do not yet have German citizenship but hope to get it in the next few years when they meet residency criteria.

Opinion polls put support for the AfD at 10% or slightly more, just below its result at the last election in 2017. The major parties have all ruled out sharing power with the AfD but migrants worry it could influence policy when Merkel goes.

AfD co-leader Tino Chrupalla has rejected calls by the ecologist Greens to take in Afghan asylum seekers beyond those who helped the German army, saying such plans would constitute "a threat to the population."

Fawaz Tello, a Syrian dissident who is also waiting for citizenship, said: "If the AfD wins two or three points more, whoever succeeds Merkel could say 'let's suspend the right for refugees to bring immediate family members.' Look at Denmark."

Many Syrians in Germany have been unsettled by neighbouring Denmark's decision this year to deport Syrian asylum seekers to parts of Syria that the government of centre-left Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen considers safe.

Five weeks before the election, Merkel's conservatives have a razor-thin lead in polls. Their candidate to succeed her as chancellor, Armin Laschet, has seen his ratings slump since he was seen laughing on a visit to a flood-stricken town.

Modamani, who should be entitled to German citizenship next year, said if he could vote in September he would cast a ballot for Laschet because of a sense of awe for Merkel. "I can't imagine life in Germany without her," he added.

(Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)
Aug. 23Mayor Rick Blangiardi published a draft of his for the $386 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds that he must submit to the Honolulu City Council for approval. It is the first official public glance into how the funds might be used.

The federal government awarded states and municipalities millions of dollars of relief funds meant to combat the public health and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Honolulu was awarded $386 million to be received in two installments. The city received the first $193 million in June, and the rest of the money is expected in 2022.

Blangiardi's proposal asks the Council to approve the expenditure of all $386 million in ARPA funds, not just the tranche that the city has already received.

During the budgeting process, which ended in June, only about $28 million of ARPA funds were allocated to specific projects. It is now up to the Blangiardi administration to present the Council a plan for the rest of the funds which they will have to vote on.

City Managing Director Michael Formby said the mayor can technically use the funds without the Council's approval. However, the administration is committed to making the process as collaborative as possible, noting that when the first influx of COVID-19 relief funds came into the city through the CARES Act, the city Council was largely cut out of the process by former Mayor Kirk Caldwell.

In Blangiardi's proposal to the Council, only about $137 million, or 35 % of the full amount of funds, has been allocated to specific programs. Formby said that is on purpose.

"Our preference, still to this day, is that we keep the spending by category broad until we collectively agree how we want to implement and spend money, " he said. "It gives us more flexibility to do things quickly."

Formby pointed to the spike in COVID-19 cases on the island and the prevalence of the delta variant as the type of changing situation that will require city funds. The city will likely need to use ARPA funds to purchase test kits for community testing in the coming days, so instead of going through the formal process, the administration will notify Council Chairman Tommy Waters about the purchase. In a formal budgeting process, the full Council would have to vote on the expenditure.

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In the breakdown of the amount of funds allocated to specific projects, the most money was funneled to an $11 million agricultural grant to support local farmers, a $9.5 million update to the Department of Planning and Permitting's permitting system and two $10 million COVID-19 programs related to vaccine incentives, increasing testing and the creation of isolation facilities.

Other notable allocations are $10 million for small-business /nonprofit grants and technical assistance, $1.5 million for enforcement positions in DPP to investigate illegal vacation rentals and $3 million for Crisis Outreach Response and Engagement, the 911 diversion program that would send social workers instead of police to some nonviolent emergency calls.

Office of Housing and Homelessness Director Anton Krucky said the program should be starting in September.

However, Formby emphasized that the list is a "living document " that can be changed as needs arise.

"We can go to Council at any time, if they want to schedule monthly hearings or if they want to schedule quarterly hearings and say, 'We would like you to do this program or do that, '" he said.

"All we have to do is listen to them, put in the recovery plan amendment."

Although it has been emphasized as a top priority by both the Council and the administration, any allocation of ARPA funding to actually build housing is notably missing.

Waters drafted his own unofficial plan for the full $386 million of ARPA funding as an example the administration could use that incorporates many of the other Council members' requests for ARPA funding. In his plan, $40 million of the ARPA funds would be directly used for affordable housing, and $50 million would go to building the island's infrastructure, one of the most expensive components of any development project on the island.

That allocation is not reflected in the mayor's version, but Formby pointed to the amount of funds that was allocated in the formal budget for similar purposes. During the formal budgeting process, the Council added about $170 million to support affordable housing, in addition to the $40 million the mayor originally allocated.

"You have to use those (Council-approved ) funds in two years. It's very difficult to use $210 million in two years, because land acquisition, the planning, the design workall of the things that we have to go through take time, " Formby said.

In comparison, the ARPA funds can be spent over the course of four years, giving the administration more flexibility.

During a Council committee meeting in early August on ARPA funding, Waters urged the administration to be as specific as possible with its allocation.

"Typically, the resolution is submitted to the Council by the administration, and it has specifics on how that money is going to be spent, " he said.

"If you put specifics in there, the administration can always come back and amend it."

The city is required to send the U.S. Treasury Department by the end of the month a formal plan on how it plans to spend the funds. That plan can be broad and will not need any formal hearing from the Council.

The mayor's resolution regarding the use of the ARPA funds was transmitted to the Council two weeks ago, and will likely be heard by the Council in the coming weeks.
JAKARTA (Reuters) -Indonesia will start reopening restaurants, malls and places of worship in some areas including the capital Jakarta, President Joko Widodo said on Monday, as new coronavirus cases have fallen sharply from their peak and vaccinations rise.

Starting Tuesday, restaurants and places of worship in parts of the world's fourth most populous country will be able to operate at 25% capacity and shopping malls at 50%, Widodo told a virtual press conference.

"Since July 15, cases have fallen 78%. The recovery rate is also higher than new positive cases," he said. "Seeing that several indicators are starting to improve, the government will consider making gradual adjustments to some restrictions."

For the first time since mid-June, Indonesia reported fewer than 10,000 new coronavirus cases on Monday. Daily deaths were also under 1,000 for the first time in more than a month.

While cases have declined in Jakarta and some parts of Java, the highly contagious Delta variant of the virus continues to surge on other islands in the Indonesian archipelago, including in parts of Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi and remote Papua.

Senior minister Luhut Pandjiatan told a separate press conference later on Monday that Indonesia's system of social mobility restrictions - called PPKM - will stay as long as the coronavirus remains.

The government will assess the situation every week or two and tweak the severity of the restrictions accordingly, he said.

"PPKM will continue to apply throughout the pandemic."

COVID-19 restrictions on the popular holiday island Bali meanwhile, will remain in place, Pandjiatan said, but could be eased in the coming weeks.

Earlier on Monday, Jakarta's deputy governor said that the Indonesian capital had reached herd immunity, as a majority of the city's residents were fully vaccinated. [L4N2PU16F]

Nationally, just over 11% of the population have been fully vaccinated since the Southeast Asian nation began its inoculation programme this January.

(Reporting by Agustinus Beo Da Costa; Writing by Fathin Ungku; Editing by Susan Fenton and Mark Heinrich)
DUBAI (Reuters) -Iran said on Monday it is ready to ship more fuel to Lebanon if needed, a day after the leader of Lebanon's Iran-aligned Hezbollah group said more vessels carrying Iranian fuel would sail soon to help ease the country's fuel shortage.

"We sell our oil and its products based on our own decisions and the needs of our friend. Iran is ready to send fuel again to Lebanon if needed," Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh said in an online weekly news conference.

"Certainly we cannot see the suffering of the Lebanese people."

On Sunday Hezbollah's Hassan Nasrallah said the first vessel shipping Iranian fuel to Lebanon, which last Thursday the group announced was about to leave Iran, had already sailed.

Last week Iran's semi-official Nournews news website reported that the fuel shipments to Lebanon were all purchased by a group of Lebanese Shi'ite businessmen.

"We announce our readiness to sell fuel to the Lebanese government in addition to the fuel purchased by the Lebanese Shi'ite businessmen, if the Lebanese government is willing," said Khatibzadeh.

Hezbollah's foes in Lebanon have warned of dire consequences from the purchase, saying it risked sanctions being imposed on a country whose economy has been in meltdown for nearly two years.

U.S. sanctions on Iran's oil exports, reimposed in 2018 when then-President Donald Trump exited Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with six powers, aim to cut its crude sales to zero.

Hezbollah, founded by Iran's Revolutionary Guards in 1982, has also been targeted by U.S. sanctions.

(Writing by Parisa Hafezi; Editing by Jan Harvey)
By Bozorgmehr Sharafedin and Julia Payne

LONDON (Reuters) -Iran resumed fuel exports to Afghanistan a few days ago following a request from the new Afghan government, which feels empowered by the U.S. withdrawal to buy the sanctioned nation's oil more openly, an Iranian official told Reuters.

The Sunni Muslim group seized power in Afghanistan last week as the United States and its allies withdrew troops after a 20-year war.

The price of gasoline in Afghanistan reached $900 per tonne as many Afghans drove out of cities, fearing reprisals and a return to a harsh version of Islamic law the Taliban imposed when in power two decades ago.

To counter the price spike, the new Taliban asked Shi'ite Iran to keep the borders open for traders.

"The Taliban sent messages to Iran saying 'you can continue the exports of petroleum products'," Hamid Hosseini, board member and spokesperson of Iran's Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters' Union, in Tehran, told Reuters.

The Taliban sent messages to Iranian traders and to an Iranian chamber of commerce, which has close links to the government.

As a result, the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA), which is a part of the government, lifted a ban on fuel exports to Afghanistan, which had been in place since Aug. 6 because of Iran's concerns about the safety of trading in the country.

Those concerns have been eased by the Taliban's attitude, Hosseini said.

He also cited the Taliban's decision to cut tariffs on imports of fuel from Iran and other neighbouring countries and shared with Reuters an official document issued by Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan - the name by which the Taliban refers to itself.

The document specified a 70% discount on tariffs on imports of gasoline, diesel and LPG from the neighbouring countries to Afghanistan.

IRAN-TALIBAN COOPERATION

Iran sits on the worlds fourth-largest oil reserves, but the latest round of U.S. sanctions imposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump in 2018, has significantly reduced Iranian oil exports.

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Iran has nevertheless managed some trade, notably by trucking fuel to neighbours such as Afghanistan, and the U.S. troop withdrawal has made leaders of both Iran and Afghanistan less nervous about dealing more openly, Hosseini said.

The main Iranian exports to Afghanistan are gasoline and gasoil. Iran exported about 400,000 tonnes of fuel to its neighbour from May 2020 to May 2021, according to a report published by PetroView, an Iranian oil and gas research and consultancy platform.

Iranian fuel flows have been vital to Afghanistan in the last few years, according to traders and an Afghan government report, seen by Reuters.

Between March 2020 and March 2021, Iran accounted for $367 million of imports, mostly of fuel, according to the report compiled by the Afghan ministry of finance, chambers of commerce and data from private enterprises.

The next two most important oil suppliers are Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan with trade, mostly oil, valued at $257 million and $236 million respectively.

A source with direct knowledge of the matter, who asked not to be named, said more than 1 million tonnes per year, or over 20,000 barrels per day, of Iranian fuel goes to Afghanistan.

EXPANDING COOPERATION?

The main destinations of Iran's fuel have been eastern provinces near the Iranian border, and southern regions like Kandahar and Nimrooz where the Taliban had a strong influence even before the push of recent weeks, Hosseini said.

"I think the new Iranian government will significantly expand cooperation with the Taliban government. Iran can easily double its trade with Afghanistan. The government of (Ashraf) Ghani was always trying to limit cooperation with Iran since Iran was under U.S. sanctions," Hosseini said.

Afghanistan has not developed an oil industry of its own. The country has six mini-refineries that only produce several thousand barrels per day of refined products each.

They run on light oil from Turkmenistan whose two refineries also directly supply diesel and jet fuel.

Uzbekistan's two main refineries also supply refined products by rail and truck.

The source with direct knowledge said supplies of Turkmen condensate (light crude oil) has ceased a month ago because of the security situation, but predicted it would resume in about two weeks' time.

"The problem is the banks stopped working three days ago so we might be back to bags of cash," the source said.

(Reporting by Bozorgmehr Sharafedin and Julia Paynein London; Editing by Edmund Blair and Barbara Lewis)
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett will introduce a new Iran policy when he meets with President Biden on Thursday.

Why it matters: With nuclear talks stalled and the White House consumed by the crisis in Afghanistan, Israeli officials worry that Iran will continue to develop its nuclear program without any pressure from the U.S. or its European allies.

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The state of play: Efforts to return to the nuclear deal are now in limbo with a new hardline government in Tehran and no talks for several weeks.

Israeli officials worry that the U.S. and its European allies aren't working on a "Plan B" should diplomacy fail.

Bennett's government feels that a return to the 2015 deal is already useless because the Iranian advances in enrichment and nuclear research and development will mean a revived deal won't provide the same non-proliferation benefits, an Israeli official told reporters on Thursday.

Bennett intends to register those concerns while also signaling a break from his predecessor Benjamin Netanyahu's policies.

What they're saying: We got a very difficult inheritance from the previous government about Iran. After all of the rhetoric (by Netanyahu), Iran is closer than ever to a nuclear weapon. There was a disconnect between the previous governments rhetoric and the results," the Israeli official said.

The new Israeli government has just completed an Iran policy review and developed "a holistic strategy" to deal with Irans uranium enrichment, nuclear weaponization efforts and regional aggression, the official said.

It's unclear exactly how the policy differs from Netanyahu's, though Bennett has been far more cautious about picking a public fight with the U.S. administration.

Driving the news: Bennett will arrive in Washington on Tuesday evening for his first visit as prime minister.

Story continues

He faces growing criticism at home for his handling of COVID-19. President Biden, meanwhile, is focused on the Afghanistan crisis.

Bennett wanted to make the trip now, despite those challenges, because of the sense of urgency around Iran's nuclear acceleration in recent months, the Israeli official said.

When efforts to arrange the meeting began, it appeared that a U.S. return to the 2015 nuclear deal was imminent. That seems increasingly unlikely under Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, according to the official.

Bennett believes there is now an opportunity for the U.S., Israel and other regional players to work together to counter Iran, the official noted.

What's next: The Prime Minister is not automatically continuing with the past policies regarding Iran. The enrichment rate is at a worrying and concerning pace. Iranian aggression is everywhere. This will be the heart of the discussion with the president," the official said.

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Israel is giving some members of its population a third dose of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine, and it seems to be working.

Health Ministry data has shown that the booster shot has significantly improved protection from infection and serious illness among people aged 60 and older in the country.

That's compared to those who have had just two doses of the vaccine.

Authorities say that among the over 60s, protection against infection provided from 10 days after a third dose was four times higher than after two doses.

It also offers five to six times greater protection after 10 days against serious illness and hospitalization for those in that age group.

The findings were made available online on Sunday, though the full details of the study were not released.

They were on par with separate statistics unveiled last week by Israel's Maccabi healthcare provider, which has been administering booster shots to try to curb the highly contagious Delta variant.

Over 60s are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19. They were the first group to be inoculated when the vaccine drive began in late December.

Most vaccinated people who fell severely ill in Israel were over 60 and had underlying health conditions.

Israel started giving over 60s third jabs at the end of July.

But last week, it dropped the age of eligibility for a booster to 40, and included pregnant women, teachers and health care workers below that age.

Third doses are given only to those who received their second shot at least five months ago.

Around 1.5 million people out of the country's 9.3 million population have taken a third jab as of Monday.
On Last Week Tonight With John Oliver Sunday, Oliver joined the growing chorus of voices condemning some in right-wing media for discouraging the acceptance of Afghan refugees in the U.S. Oliver specifically called out Fox News hosts Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingraham, both of whom spent last week disparaging the very notion.

Were in the midst of a massive humanitarian crisis, Oliver said, and we have a clear obligation to take in Afghans who are now vulnerable, and not just those that worked with U.S. troops, but those, like Fatima and her children, whose lives are now at grave risk. Although, some conservative commentators are already trying to get way out ahead of that.

While Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), who came to the U.S as a Somali refugee when she was a child, responded last week by saying she was not surprised by the anti-refugee sentiment among some conservatives, Oliver had a much more colorful response.

Oliver played a clip of Carlson comparing Afghan refugees coming to the U.S. to an invasion, and a clip of Ingraham saying, The lesson of this 20-year war cannot be that every time we turn a country upside down or make huge mistakes, our immigration laws, our refugee laws no longer apply.

Straight out of the clips, Oliver said, OK, first, f**k off, you tag-team racial panic goblins. Second, the notion of every time we turn a country upside down is an incredible thing to just blow past. Maybe that's the lesson here, Laura. Maybe don't keep turning countries upside down in the first place.

As the U.S. struggles to remove every Afghan attempting to flee the Taliban, Oliver believes its our obligation to help people in a bad situation that we had a big part in creating, despite what immigration and refugee laws say.

As for our refugee laws no longer apply, we are a big part of why those people are refugees, Oliver said. Helping them now isn't charity, it's doing the bare minimum. Refusing to help a neighbor whose home just burned down is sh***y. Doing it when you helped start the fire is f**king monstrous.

Story continues

Afghan refugees have begun arriving in the U.S., and Oliver gave a call to action to ensure it continues and government leaders dont start pushing back due to pressure from people like Carlson and Ingraham.

To the extent that any hesitation about doing this is due to fear of political blowback thanks to idiots like these, Oliver said, gesturing to images of Carlson and Ingraham, call your representatives and tell them that you care about this. Because if they think that you don't, it is not going to happen.

Last Week Tonight With John Oliver airs Sundays at 11 p.m. on HBO.

Watch Ilhan Omar respond to 'hateful rhetoric' by Fox News hosts about refugees: 'Not surprising':

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Northampton, MA --News Direct-- Keysight Technologies

SANTA ROSA, Calif., August 23, 2021 /3BL Media/ - Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: KEYS), a leading technology company that delivers advanced design and validation solutions to help accelerate innovation to connect and secure the world, announced that the company has ranked 32nd on Fast Company's third annual list of the 100 Best Workplaces for Innovators, honoring businesses and organizations that demonstrate a deep commitment to encouraging innovation at all levels.

Committed to fostering a workplace culture in which all employees feel inspired to innovate, Keysight has implemented a wide range of internal initiatives and programs, including:

Keysight's MyVoice surveys take the pulse of employees and allow them to prioritize the responses of their colleagues through dynamic ranking.

Keysight's MyInsight Idea Lab program encourages employees to share ideas for a better, faster, stronger and more competitive Keysight.

Keysight's Digital Strategy Activation Sprints & Insight Tournaments facilitate employee engagement, understanding of business strategy and alignment while offering an opportunity for employees to ask questions and provide innovative ideas.

Keysight's NextGen is an employee network group designed to provide new employees, particularly those who are new to the professional workforce, a way to connect with one another, develop professional skills, contribute to their local community, and pioneer innovative approaches for employee engagement within the company.

Keysight Technical Conference Inspiring Innovation, held every three years, is a gathering of the company's engineers and developers to boost social capital through face-to-face and virtual innovation sessions aimed at turning leading-edge technologies into customer-focused innovations.

Developed in collaboration with research firm Accenture, the 2021 Best Workplaces for Innovators ranks 100 winners from a variety of industries, including computer science, biotech, consumer packaged goods, nonprofit, education, financial services, cybersecurity and engineering. Working together, Fast Company editors and Accenture researchers scored nearly 1,500 applications and a panel of eight eminent judges reviewed and endorsed the top 100 companies.

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"These leaders and teams created cultures of innovation and sustained them, even as remote work extended into 2021," says Stephanie Mehta, editor-in-chief of Fast Company. "This newest list of the Best Workplaces for Innovators honors those organizations that found ways to collaborate and invent despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, ensuring employees were at the forefront."

Fast Company is the world's leading progressive business media brand, with a unique editorial focus on innovation in technology, ethical economics, leadership and design. Written for, by, and about the most progressive business leaders.

"At Keysight we are driven to innovate to enable the development of breakthrough technologies and the success of our customers," said Ron Nersesian, chairman and CEO of Keysight Technologies. "We aim to foster an environment where all innovators can thrive. We are honored to be recognized for our ongoing efforts and this differentiated aspect of our culture."

About Keysight Technologies

Keysight delivers advanced design and validation solutions that help accelerate innovation to connect and secure the world. Keysight's dedication to speed and precision extends to software-driven insights and analytics that bring tomorrow's technology products to market faster across the development lifecycle, in design simulation, prototype validation, automated software testing, manufacturing analysis, and network performance optimization and visibility in enterprise, service provider and cloud environments. Our customers span the worldwide communications and industrial ecosystems, aerospace and defense, automotive, energy, semiconductor and general electronics markets. Keysight generated revenues of $4.2B in fiscal year 2020. For more information about Keysight Technologies (NYSE: KEYS), visit us at www.keysight.com.

Additional information about Keysight Technologies is available in the newsroom at https://www.keysight.com/go/news and on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Keysight Technologies on 3blmedia.com

View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/keysight-technologies-ranks-32nd-on-fast-companys-third-annual-list-of-the-100-best-workplaces-for-innovators-896584281
(Reuters) - Here's what you need to know about the coronavirus right now:

U.S. COVID-19 tests again in short supply as infections soar, schools reopen

U.S. companies are scrambling to boost production of coronavirus tests increasingly in short supply as COVID-19 cases soar and schools and employers revive surveillance programs that will require tens of millions of tests, according to industry executives and state health officials.

Test manufacturers in recent months scaled back production of rapid COVID-19 tests, which can produce results on-site in minutes, as well as test kits that are sent to laboratories for analysis. Now, with the Delta variant pushing U.S. COVID-19 cases well above 100,000 per day, test makers are working to quickly reverse course.

Contaminant in Moderna vaccines suspected to be metallic particles, NHK says

A contaminant found in a batch of Moderna Inc's COVID-19 vaccines delivered to Japan is believed to be a metallic particle, Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported, citing sources at the health ministry. NHK, in a report published late on Thursday, cited ministry sources as saying the particle reacted to magnets and was therefore suspected to be a metal. Moderna has described it as "particulate matter" that did not pose a safety or efficacy issue.

Spanish pharma company Rovi, which bottles Moderna vaccines for markets other than the United States, said the contamination could be due to a manufacturing issue in a production line and that it was conducting an investigation.

Biden shedding support from independent voters as Delta variant spreads, polling shows

President Joe Biden is shedding support from independents, a crucial voting bloc that helped Democrats win the White House and Congress last year, as a resurgence of COVID-19 cases slows the country's return to normal from the pandemic, Reuters/Ipsos polling shows.

The pandemic has surged anew in the United States, especially in populous Republican-led states such as Florida and Texas that have resisted new restrictions to hamper the spread of the Delta variant of the virus.

Story continues

Mexican researchers say they have created a mask that neutralizes COVID-19

Researchers at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) have created a mask using silver and copper nanolayers that neutralizes SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, the university said in its official gazette on Thursday.

UNAM said that if the viral concentration was high, the virus disappeared by more than 80% in about eight hours and if the viral load was low, in two hours none of the virus RNA was detected.

(Compiled by Karishma Singh and Nick Tattersall; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)
Nick Kyrgios pulled out of the ATP Winston-Salem Open on Sunday night, paving the way for Andy Murray to breeze into the second round with a dominating win over lucky loser Noah Rubin.

After a slow start to the first set, the former world number one Murray found his form and cruised through his opening match, beating Rubin 6-2, 6-0 in just 58 minutes.

Murray was initially scheduled to face Kyrgios but the Aussie withdrew just before the start of their match, throwing Sunday's schedule into chaos.

Murray will next face 13th seeded Frances Tiafoe, who received a bye into the second round.

Organizers gave Murray several different scenarios before finally deciding he would face American Rubin, who had to play back-to-back matches with just an hour rest between them.

"It was a strange 45 minutes before I played this match," said the Scot. "I didn't know if I would be playing tonight.

"They said I would play a qualifier and wouldn't play until tomorrow. And then they said I would play a lucky loser. So my opponent change three times in 45 minutes.

"Unfortunately for (Rubin) he had to play a tough match in the heat and then had to come out again."

Rubin took the court after falling to France's Lucas Pouille in a two-hour qualifying final.

The 34-year-old Murray has had to battle injuries of his own, with his latest one being a groin problem. But that didn't seem to be a factor against Rubin as Murray blasted 11 aces and had just three double faults.

Kyrgios withdrew saying he had been bothered by pain in his left knee for some time. He said he would rather rest for the upcoming US Open than aggravate it at a regular tournament.

"Obviously I had to look after my body and with a Grand Slam next week," he said. "I have been dealing with knee pain the last couple of weeks.

"With the US Open just around the corner I just didn't feel this was worth the risk of going out there and possibly making it worse."

Story continues

Kyrgios and Murray were set to square off for the seventh time overall with Murray holding a commanding 5-1 series lead.

"I have been in Florida rehabbing and training and I came here excited to play Andy Murray one of my good friends," said Kyrgios, who stood for his new conference with a cloth medical wrap on his left knee.

Kyrgios' only win over Murray came in their most recent match three years ago at the Queen's Club, where Murray made his return following his first hip surgery.

"I had a bit of a hit to see how it is today," Kyrgios said. "I got another week now (until the US Open)."

Kyrgios retired from his third-round match at Wimbledon with an abdominal injury. He opted out of the Olympics in part because of lack of fans.

He lost in his opening matches at Washington and Toronto in recent weeks and this would have been his fifth tournament of the year outside of Australia.

gph/ch
HONOLULU  Hawaiis governor is urging residents and potential visitors to limit travel to the islands to essential business while the state struggles to control outbreaks of the delta variant of the coronavirus.

Gov. David Ige wants to curtail travel to Hawaii through the end of October. In his words, It is a risky time to be traveling right now.

He says restaurant capacity has been restricted and there is limited access to rental cars.

But Ige is stopping short of last years strict travel rules that required quarantining and essentially shut down Hawaiis tourism industry. He notes the CDC says fully vaccinated people can travel domestically.

Hawaiis seven-day average of new daily cases hit 671 on Monday, more than triple the level four weeks earlier.

___

MORE ON THE PANDEMIC:

 Lockdowns or vaccines? 3 Pacific nations try diverging paths

 U.S. mask, vaccine conflicts descend into violence and harassment

 Pandemic fiction: Fall books include stories of the virus

 The Rev. Jesse Jackson, wife Jacqueline, hospitalized for COVID

 Hurricane Henri thwarts Central Park concert hailing NYC virus rebound

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Find more AP coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine

___

HERES WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:

WELLINGTON, New Zealand  New Zealand has reported 41 new coronavirus infections, which is the countrys highest daily total since an outbreak of the delta variant last week prompted the government to put the nation into a strict lockdown.

Health officials said Tuesday that they are confident the country remains on track to quell the outbreak.

Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield says most of the new cases appeared linked and officials arent seeing an exponential rise in infections.

New Zealand is scheduled to remain in lockdown until at least Friday, while the city of Auckland where most of the cases have been found will stay in lockdown until at least the end of the month.

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The outbreak is the first in New Zealand in six months.

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SYDNEY  An Australian state leader is indicating that a slight easing of pandemic restrictions is coming for Sydney after achieving a vaccination milestone.

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said Tuesday she will announce before the weekend a new freedom for fully vaccinated people now that 6 million vaccine doses have been administered across the state. She said that equates to 60% of the population having at least one dose of Pfizer or AstraZeneca and 32% being fully vaccinated.

Australias most populous state is in lockdown because of the virus outbreak, as is Victoria, which is the countrys second most populous state.

Government leaders hope the lockdowns will end in October once 80% of people 16 years and older are fully vaccinated. Only 24% of the Australian population is fully vaccinated.

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FRANKFORT, Ky.  Kentuckys governor says a flood of COVID-19 patients is stressing the states hospitals and intensive care units.

Gov, Andy Bashear said Monday that more than 20 Kentucky hospitals are confronting critical staffing shortages and some hospitals are converting space to treat the influx of ICU patients.

Beshear says Kentucky reported 2,596 new coronavirus infections Monday  a pandemic high for any Monday so far. He says there were 17 deaths related to COVID-19.

More than 1,890 patients with COVID-19 were in hospitals, including 529 in intensive care units. A record 301 virus patients were on ventilators.

The surge comes as the legislature assumes considerably more control over Kentuckys response to the pandemic. The state Supreme Court on Saturday cleared the way for laws limiting the governors emergency powers.

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SAN RAMON, Calif.  Chevron Corp. is requiring some of its employees to become vaccinated against the coronavirus as the oil industry struggles with rising infections among its unvaccinated workers.

The oil giant is requiring its workers who travel internationally, live abroad or work on its offshore platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, as well as some onshore support staff, to be vaccinated.

A spokeswoman for the San Ramon-based oil and gas company said Monday that vaccinations are the strongest safeguard against the virus, and the company will continue to carefully monitor medical data and guidance of health authorities to protect its workforce.

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OLYMPIA, Wash. -- The head of Washington states wildfire response is urging federal agencies to require coronavirus vaccinations for their wildland firefighting forces.

State Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz also called on Monday for the deployment of federal resources to make vaccinations available at all fire camps on federal land.

The Washington Department of Natural Resources is making vaccines available within its jurisdictions at fire camps amid the rapidly spreading delta variant. Franz on Monday directed all his agencys employees including firefighters to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 18.

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HONOLULU  Honolulu's mayor says he will restrict indoor gatherings to 10 people and outdoor gatherings to 25 in an effort to control the coronavirus as the highly contagious delta variant spreads in the community.

Mayor Rick Blangiardi says the rules take effect Wednesday and will cover weddings and other events.

The citys emergency management director cites a mathematical modeling tool from the Georgia Institute of Technology to illustrate risks the community faces from large gatherings.

The modeling says there is a 20% chance that someone in a group of 10 will be infected, based on the number of cases on Oahu now. It says that in a group of 100, there is a 90% chance someone will catch the virus.

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SPRINGFIELD, Mo.  One of Missouris biggest hospital systems says it require its employees to get vaccinated against the coronavirus now that the FDA has given full approval to Pfizers vaccine.

CoxHealth has several hospitals in southwestern Missouri and it said hours after the FDAs announcement Monday that its workers will be required to have at least one dose of a vaccine by Oct. 15. CEO Steve Edwards says in a statement that careful consideration will be given to requests for exemptions for religious or health reasons, and that anyone granted an exemption will be required to undergo regular testing for the virus.

CoxHealth officials say about 70% of its employees are already vaccinated, including more than 90% of its physicians.

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VICTORIA, British Columbia  The Canadian Pacific coast province of British Columbia is bringing in a vaccine card for residents to get access to restaurants, clubs, sporting events and other activities.

Premier John Horgan says the card will give people the confidence to attend events and businesses knowing that others are protected around them.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says starting Sept. 13 a new order will require proof of having had a single dose of a vaccine to access certain social and recreational activities, as well as businesses. After Oct. 24, Henry says entry to the same settings will require those 12 years and older to be fully vaccinated.

The French-speaking province of Quebec already announced a similar measure while Ontario, Canadas largest province, has declined to introduce a vaccine passport.

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RICHMOND, Va.  Democrat Terry McAuliffe urged all Virginia employers on Monday to require the coronavirus vaccine for their workers who are eligible, sharpening a policy debate in the closely watched governors race over how best to deal with the pandemic.

McAuliffes call followed a decision by federal regulators to give full approval to Pfizers vaccine and marked an escalation of his advocacy for obligatory vaccines as a condition of employment. The former governor now seeking a second term has previously urged Virginia health systems and school divisions to issue mandates, and required his own campaign staff to be fully vaccinated.

McAuliffe is facing Republican Glenn Youngkin, a former business executive and political newcomer, in the November general election. Youngkin, who is vaccinated, has consistently urged Virginians to get the shot but has said he opposes vaccine or mask mandates.

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SIOUX FALLS, S.D.  South Dakota House lawmakers have tried to pressure Gov. Kristi Noem to call a special session to pass a ban on employers requiring COVID-19 vaccinations even as virus cases climbed on Monday.

Several Republicans in the House of Representatives have circulated drafts of bills that would stop employers from mandating vaccinations against the virus, stepping up pressure on Noem to call a special session for them to approve the bills. But she has resisted those calls, saying there is not widespread support for a special session.

The issue has Noem, who has carved out a nationwide following for her hands-off approach to the virus, being pushed from the right to intervene on the states largest employer, Sanford Health.

House Speaker Spencer Gosch said late Friday he wanted the governor to call a special session as he released a draft of a bill that would make COVID-19 vaccination status strictly confidential medical information that would be off-limits to employers.

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PORTLAND, Maine  Some emergency medical service workers in Maine spoke out against a coronavirus vaccine mandate because of concerns it will lead to ill-timed staff shortages.

The Maine Board of Emergency Medical Services held a public hearing on the subject Monday. Gov. Janet Mills announced new rules earlier in August that require all health care workers to be vaccinated against the virus by Oct. 1.

More than 600 people participated in the virtual meeting, and most who spoke were against the mandate. A common concern among the speakers who opposed the mandate was that would exacerbate emergency worker shortages.

Mills has said the health worker mandate is about protecting health care workers, their patients, including our most vulnerable, and our health care capacity.

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BATON ROUGE, La.  The announcement that Pfizers coronavirus vaccine received full federal approval triggers new vaccine and testing mandates in Louisiana.

Louisianas universities will soon start requiring tens of thousands of students to get the shots. Gov. John Bel Edwards intends to begin mandatory, regular COVID-19 testing for thousands of state workers who arent immunized.

But just how many people the vaccine and testing mandates will cover and when theyll take effect remains uncertain.

University inoculation requirements may not be enforced for months on campuses, and students will be able to seek exemptions.

Meanwhile, the Edwards administration said its crafting its testing plans, uncertain when theyll be released.

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WICHITA, Kan.  Debates about mask mandates and vaccine requirements are intensifying in Kansas as the delta variant sends cases soaring.

In the Topeka area, board members for the Auburn-Washburn district voted 6-0 Sunday to approve a mask mandate, effective immediately, for all students, staff and visitors inside district facilities.

Meanwhile, Sedgwick County Commissioners on Friday voted down a mandate along party lines after a heated debate in which an anti-mask activist said that he and other opponents would show up outside commissioners homes with megaphones if they passed the measure.

More companies, universities and local governments are expected to require vaccinations now that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has given full approval to Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine.

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WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden is celebrating the full FDA approval of Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine and is urging the unvaccinated to go get their inoculations.

Biden on Monday addressed those who were waiting on the full approval and declared it is now happened, the moment youve been waiting for is here.

He also used the moment to call on private companies to require their employees to get vaccinated. The president made clear: its time to get your vaccination and warned that the highly contagious delta variant of the coronavirus was causing COVID cases to rise nationwide.

The FDA had previously approved three vaccines  Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson  under an emergency use authorization. Pfizer is the first to receive full FDA approval, which Biden dubbed the gold standard.

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JACKSON, Miss.  Mississippi Poison Control officials say they are receiving an influx of calls from people trying to treat COVID-19 by using anti-parasite medicine purchased at livestock stores.

At least 70% of recent calls to the Mississippi Poison Control Center have been related to ingestion of livestock or animal formulations of ivermectin purchased at livestock supply centers, Mississippi Department of Health officials said.

Some of the symptoms associated with ivermectin toxicity include rash, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, neurologic disorders, and potentially severe hepatitis requiring hospitalization.

No hospitalizations have been reported. Most callers  85%  have had mild symptoms, according to the Department of Health. One individual was advised to see a physician because of the high dosage they reportedly took.
Hasan Piker at the 2018 Streamy Awards Randy Shropshire/Getty Images

Twitch streamer Hasan Piker recently purchased a nearly $3 million Los Angeles home.

Some are criticizing the self-described leftist for purchasing the expensive commodity.

Piker has shrugged off the criticism, tweeting that "everyone needs to calm down."

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Hasan Piker, one of Twitch's leading political commentators, is facing a wave of criticism after purchasing a home in West Hollywood, as followers accuse the self-described "leftist" of being hypocritical.

The 3,800-square-foot home with five bedrooms and 5.5 bathrooms located in the Beverly Grove neighborhood cost $2.74 million, according to the real estate news website Dirt.

Piker's Twitch channel, which is called HasanAbi, has accumulated over 1.5 million followers since he started streaming in 2018. He's made a name for himself as one of Twitch's most popular pundits and in 2020 streamed "Among Us" with New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Piker has promoted socialist views and publicly supported Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who has called himself a "democratic socialist," in his presidential primary bids. In a 2020 interview with Mel Magazine, Piker answered affirmatively when asked whether he was trying to "create the persona of the hyper-masculine socialist" in his streams.

On August 13, Dirt broke the news that Piker had purchased the mansion in Los Angeles County. Four days later, it was picked up by the conservative news site Breitbart, which is known for spreading right-wing misinformation. Creator Steve Bannon described the site in a 2016 interview with Mother Jones as "the platform for the alt-right."

Social media users started to criticize Piker for the purchase, alleging that his purchase put him at odds with the socialist movement. The streamer's name began trending on Friday afternoon.

Alexis Isabel, a socialist activist, tweeted, "it's just flat out unethical to be profiting off of socialism and buying yourself a 3 million dollar home in a state that has one of the highest homelessness rates in the country." California has 28% of the entire US homeless population according to a report by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The median home price for Los Angeles County is $775,000 according to the LA Times.

Story continues

Conservative commentators like Tim Pool and Lauren Southern criticized Piker for identifying with socialism and owning an expensive piece of property.

Others like music critic Anthony Fantano, commentator Noel Miller, and podcaster Ethan Klein, defended Piker and his purchase on Twitter.

Over the weekend, tens of thousands of people tweeted about Piker's house, as memes also flooded Twitter.

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Piker tweeted about the situation on Friday, saying that "everyone collectively needs to calm down" and calling the housing market in Los Angeles "f-----." Piker also posted a few memes on the situation, as well as tweeting, "ONCE IM DONE BEING STUNLOCKED BY THE DUMBEST TAKES WE'LL GET BACK TO THE REAL NEWS."

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A representative for Piker did not respond to an inquiry regarding the controversy.

Kieran Press-Reynolds contributed reporting.

Read more stories from Insider's Digital Culture team.

Read the original article on Insider
A student at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music rests during a rehearsal in May. As the Taliban takes over the country, Afghan cultural practices sit on the brink. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

"I am heartbroken today and there is not a shred of hope left in my life."

So begins a Thursday social media post by an Afghan photographer in Kabul. The accompanying image shows an armed Taliban fighter walking past a billboard bearing the faces of women that have been hastily obscured with blobs of black spray paint.

"Today is World Photography Day," she continues, "and as an Afghan woman, I am not allowed to use my camera. With the arrival of Taliban in Afghanistan, everything changed."

For the sake of her safety  her post was a private one  I will leave her unnamed.

A Taliban fighter on Wednesday walks past a beauty salon showing images of women that have been obscured in Kabul. (Wakil Kohsar / AFP via Getty Images)

The last week in Afghanistan has been vertiginous. The withdrawal of the United States military from the country has led to the lightning-fast collapse of the U.S.-funded government of Ashraf Ghani and the triumphant march of the Taliban into Kabul  complete with scenes of armed fighters occupying the presidential palace.

This has left thousands of Afghans who worked for the U.S. stranded and vulnerable to Taliban retribution. Already, there are reports of the Taliban going door to door in search of interpreters and other workers who collaborated with Western governments or media organizations.

Also vulnerable: artists, musicians, filmmakers, academics and other cultural workers, who now find themselves the targets of Taliban orthodoxies that typically proscribe music, the representation of the human figure and the free movement of women.

Mohsin Taasha, an Afghan painter who has shown his work internationally  including documenta, the quinquennial based out of Kassel, Germany  was able to leave Afghanistan a few days prior to the fall of the Ghani government and is now in France. But he says the situation remains critical for those left behind.

"The artists in Afghanistan today risk their lives, because [of] their [beliefs], because of their thoughts, and because of their existence as free men and women," he tells me via Whatsapp.

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Filmmaker Shahrbanoo Sadat, who won the top Directors' Fortnight award at Cannes in 2016 for "Wolf and Sheep," and who was in Kabul when the Taliban marched into the city, told the Hollywood Reporter's Alex Ritman that the situation on the ground is grim. Getting approved for evacuation is an ordeal; so is making it to the airport, which is ringed by Taliban checkpoints and has been a scene of chaos and violence. "If I survive this and I have the chance to make more films," she told Ritman, "my cinema will have changed forever."

It appears that Sadat will be around to make those films. On Monday morning, a press representative for the director announced that she and nine family members had made it to the airport and out of Afghanistan thanks to assistance from the French government.

Sahraa Karimi, who in 2019 became the first woman to lead the national cinema organization, Afghan Film, issued a plea for assistance to the international film community on Twitter: "Everything that I have worked so hard to build as a filmmaker in my country is at risk of falling. If the Taliban take over they will ban all art. I and other filmmakers could be next on their hit list."

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"The most important thing [Western] cultural institutions can do for the artists who fear for their lives in Afghanistan due to threats by Taliban," Taasha tells me, "is to help them relocate in safe places."

The threats of violence are such that most of the Afghan artists and cultural workers I contacted while reporting this story  both in and out of the country  declined to be interviewed on the grounds that it could endanger their own lives, or those of their families and friends. One cultural worker, who is now out of the country, says he's already heard of at least one instance in which an artist's family home has been searched by the Taliban.

"The people under threat," he says, "are the normal citizens."

Taliban fighters used gunfire and other weapons on a crowd of thousands of people who had assembled around Kabul's airport. A woman and a boy, shown above, were among those injured in the confrontation. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

'A question of days'

"Cultural institutions need to lobby their government," says Ixone Sadaba. "It's a professional and personal duty."

Sadaba, an artist from Spain, is the founder, along with human rights lawyer Ignacio Rodriguez Tucho, of a four-year-old organization called Moving Artists, based in Bilbao. It works to connect Western artists and institutions with artists living in conflict zones such as Afghanistan and Iraq. In the past, this has meant helping Iraqi artists secure the necessary paperwork and visas to participate in residencies abroad, or facilitating workshops and residencies by European artists in cities such as Kabul and Sulaymainyah, in Iraqi Kurdistan.

The organization is lobbying the Spanish government to include Afghan artists, filmmakers and academics on evacuation lists  and to maintain some semblance of security around Kabul's airport so those who are approved are able to leave the country. The window in which to accomplish this, she says, is growing ever smaller. "It's now a question of days."

All of this makes it a critical moment for Western cultural institutions to lobby their political leaders. "People need to pick up the phone."

Taliban flags fly in a traffic circle in the city of Ghazni, southwest of Kabul. (Gulabuddin Amiri / Associated Press)

In the United States, the Afghan American Artists and Writers Assn. has called for the processing of P2 visas (performing arts visas) to be expedited and the definition broadened to include other vulnerable groups, such as women and members of the LGBTQ community.

Gazelle Samizay is an Afghan-born, San Francisco-based artist who is helping run a crowdfunding effort on behalf of the association to support more than half a dozen artists who need assistance to get out of the country. She says it is critical for Western cultural institutions to maintain pressure on their respective governments to cut the red tape for artists. Many artists, she notes, have made work that directly criticizes the Taliban. "This further puts them in danger."

Independent curator Muheb Esmat, an Afghan national who lives in New York, says that if there were ever a moment for U.S. cultural centers to offer residencies or guest artist spots to Afghans, that time is now. "Universities, they can give artists visas and residencies," he says. "These institutions can provide them with ways to get out."

"The lives comes first."

What's at stake

In 1996, when the Taliban took over Kabul the first time, the artist Yousef Asefi managed to talk his way into the country's National Gallery, where, armed with nothing but a paintbrush and some watercolors, he got to work painting over dozens of human figures in the collection's paintings. The Taliban had implemented an edict against the representation of the human figure in any form. By covering them up, Asefi was hopeful that the paintings would evade destruction.

Fast forward half a dozen years, to the spring of 2002, about six months after the U.S. invasion had installed Hamid Karzai as Afghanistan's interim president, when Asefi  at a ceremony held to mark the reopening of the National Gallery  delighted the assembled crowd, including Karzai, by washing the watercolor off of an oil painting, revealing the human figures underneath.

"This is more, so much more, than the reopening of a museum," Karzai said in his remarks at the time.

It was a rare moment of continuity for Afghan culture amid a tumultuous decades-long period that had seen a Soviet invasion and withdrawal, as well as coups, an insurgency and iconoclasm in between.

A museum may be an important repository of valuable objects, but it's a nation's artists who function as its most valuable keepers of memory  both official and unofficial.

An Afghan student looks at a display of Buddha heads at the National Museum of Afghanistan in Kabul in 2012  the sort of cultural happening that would have been forbidden under the first Taliban regime. (Bay Ismoyo / AFP via Getty Images)

Over the last 20 years of U.S. intervention, those memory keepers have included a generation of contemporary artists and filmmakers that have emerged both in Afghanistan and in an Afghan diaspora atomized between Europe, Australia and the United States. It's an important, if fragile, cultural network that has helped preserve ideas in a country where the Taliban has done its best to obliterate them.

"Those voices," says Sadaba, "we have to preserve them." To abandon them now would be to abandon the good that has come out of the last two decades.

After the fall of the Taliban, art in Kabul began to blossom. A group of cultural workers, led by artist and writer Rahraw Omarzad, established the Center for Contemporary Arts Afghanistan, an art school in Kabul intended to engage fresh ways of thinking.

The city also played host to a variety of happenings. The Afghan branch of the Institut Francais arranged exhibitions by local artists organized by curator Guilda Chahverdi (who, in 2019, curated a group show of contemporary Afghan art at Mucem in Marseille). In 2012, the city was a featured location for documenta 13  an exhibition that drew 27,000 people.

During this time, there was also activity abroad. In 2005, artist Lida Abdul, who was born in Afghanistan but has been living in Los Angeles for more than a decade, represented Afghanistan at the 51st Venice Biennale  the first and only time the country has had a pavilion at the exhibition. Featured was Abdul's video piece "White House," which shows the artist painting the ruins of the former presidential palace in Kabul a bright shade of white  a comment on U.S. intervention but also Afghan attempts at renewal.

"Her work goes beyond nationalistic boundaries," says Sara Raza, founder of a New York-based curatorial studio called Punk Orientalism. She has worked with Abdul since 2003 and contributed an essay for the Venice Biennale's catalog. "It's about cinema. It's about architecture. It's not just Afghanistan. It could be any country that undergoes a traumatic period. Kabul could be be comparable to Beirut or parts of the former Yugoslavia."

Abdul is despairing about the situation now facing many artists in the country: "All doors appear to have shut for young artists, especially for female artists," she states via email. "But I remain hopeful that art will stay alive in Afghanistan despite the challenges."

Time to step up

If the disintegration of the Afghan government came as a surprise to the nattering nabobs on TV, it certainly came as no surprise to the country's artists, who have been contending with escalating violence for years. In 2014, a theater performance about terrorism at the Institut Francais was attacked by a suicide bomber, killing several people.

The Center for Contemporary Arts Afghanistan hasn't updated its Facebook page since February and its website no longer functions. Attempts to reach Asefi via social media were unsuccessful. Already, those who have been able have relocated to other countries.

Esmat, who last visited Afghanistan in 2019, says the growing number of threats had long been "behind every cultural worker's mind." The government, weak as it was, could offer little in the way of support. "Artists were left to their own devices," he says.

Now they face persecution.

In 2001, the Taliban dynamited the great Buddhas at Bamian, monumental works built between the 3rd and 5th centuries. The area, seen here in 2016, represented a fusion between Buddhist and ancient Greek art. (Massoud Hossaini / Associated Press)

As the Taliban takes over, Afghanistan's cultural legacy  its museums, its artifacts and its monuments  once again is in the crosshairs. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Taliban famously destroyed thousands of artifacts, as well as the towering Buddhas at Bamian, structures built in the pre-Islamic era, between the 3rd and 5th centuries.

Now, objects that survived the first Taliban rule may not survive a second. An anonymous Afghan museum curator interviewed by Martin Bailey of the Art Newspaper was pessimistic about the future of the country's heritage. "Do leopards change their spots?" he says of the Taliban. "One only has to look at the command structure of the Taliban and their supporters to feel that there won't be much of a change from 2001  and it might well be worse."

Also at risk are more ephemeral traditions, known as intangible cultural heritage, which includes practices such as storytelling, dance, poetry and music  traditions often handed down from one person to the next.

In July, my colleagues Nabih Bulos and Marcus Yam produced an extensive report on the grim future faced by the musicians who play and fabricate the rubab, an ancient Afghan instrument akin to the lute. "Afghans call it 'the lion of instruments,'" writes Bulos. "Its picking and strumming can mirror the ebbs and flows of ghazal song poems, or if its heard solo, its strings resonate across the spectrum of a virtuosos improvisations."

That intangible cultural heritage is about to be silenced, its memory erased.

A man holds an Afghan rubab in his workshop in May. The instrument is a mainstay of Afghan classical music. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

In a self-portrait posted to Instagram on Saturday afternoon, filmmaker and photographer Roya Heydari is seen sitting alongside the Kabul airport tarmac. "I left my whole life, my home in order to continue to have a voice," she writes. "Once again, I am running from my motherland. Once again, I am going to start from zero. I took only my cameras and a dead soul with me across an ocean."

It's time for Western cultural leaders to speak up. Human lives  and legacies of a centuries-old culture  are at stake.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga. (AP)  The board that oversees a park near Atlanta voted Monday for a new logo that excludes the parks giant mountainside carving of Confederate leaders.

Its another change by the Stone Mountain Memorial Association to address criticism of the parks Confederate legacy and shore up its finances.

The board voted in May to relocate Confederate flags from a busy walking trail up the side of the mountain and create a museum exhibit that acknowledges the sites connection to the Ku Klux Klan.

The previous logo included a picture of the famous carving of Confederate President Jefferson Davis and generals Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee. The new logo includes an image of a lake inside the park and a side of the mountain where the carving isnt visible.

Critics have called on the board to remove the colossal sculpture from the mountains northern face. Completed in 1972, it measures 190 feet (58 meters) across and 90 feet (27 meters) tall. It is the largest Confederate monument ever crafted and has special protection in Georgia law.

The changes come amid a national reckoning on race that brought down dozens of Confederate monuments last year.

Work on the Stone Mountain sculpture languished until the state bought the mountain in 1958 for a park. Finishing the monument gained renewed urgency amid resistance from Georgia and other Southern states to the civil rights movement and efforts to end segregation.

Today, the park 15 miles (25 kilometers) northeast of downtown Atlanta markets itself as a family theme park rather than a monument to the Confederacy.

The exhibit approved by the board is supposed to tell the history of the carving, including its roots in efforts to maintain segregation. It will also reflect the sites role in the rebirth of the Ku Klux Klan. The group marked its comeback with a cross burning ceremony atop the mountain on Thanksgiving night 1915.

Bill Stephens, Stone Mountain Memorial Associations CEO, has said the seven-member committee tasked with creating the exhibit will include community leaders and historians. The original plan was for the team to be assembled before Mondays meeting, but that did not happen.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Stephens said Monday that the memorial association is in final discussions with two historians and an announcement could be made within about two weeks.

Were still working on that, and hopefully in the near future well have everybody in place to go forward, board chair Rev. Abraham Mosley said.
Associated Press

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam granted posthumous pardons Tuesday to seven Black men who were executed in 1951 for the rape of a white woman, in a case that attracted pleas for mercy from around the world and in recent years has been denounced as an example of racial disparity in the use of the death penalty. Cries and sobs could be heard from some of the descendants after Northam's announcement. The Martinsville Seven," as the men became known, were all convicted of raping 32-year-old Ruby Stroud Floyd, a white woman who had gone to a predominantly black neighborhood in Martinsville, Virginia, on Jan. 8, 1949, to collect money for clothes she had sold.
A majority of the public favors sending back illegal immigrants who test positive for COVID-19, along with other government restrictions to slow the spread of the virus, according to a new Echelon Insights poll commissioned by the Washington Examiner.

About 72% strongly or somewhat support immediately deporting those caught illegally at the southern border who test positive, versus only 17% who strongly or somewhat oppose.

Respondents supported, 74% to 21%, the government requiring unvaccinated people to wear masks in indoor public places. They also supported, 61% to 33%, requiring everyone, regardless of vaccination status, to wear masks indoors. Support was also high for requiring children to wear masks in schools, 67% to 27%, and prohibiting large gatherings such as concerts, 61% to 33%.

The survey included 1,016 registered voters from Aug. 13-18.

MOST VOTERS DON'T WANT BIDEN OR TRUMP TO RUN IN 2024, POLL FINDS

The results were divided by party affiliation. Only 45% of Republicans supported masks in indoor public places for everyone regardless of vaccination status, versus 85% of Democrats. Likewise, requiring schoolchildren to mask up garnered more support among Democrats than Republicans, 88% to 45%.

Still, a substantial majority of Democrats, 65%, supported sending back illegal immigrants who tested positive for COVID-19. But the measure was still more popular among Republicans, at 83%.

The poll also found substantial support for employers enforcing vaccine mandates.

Almost two-thirds of respondents either strongly support or somewhat support private companies requiring their employees to be vaccinated or tested for the virus regularly. Only 28% either strongly or somewhat opposed the idea.

FULL APPROVAL OF PFIZER VACCINE EXPECTED TO GENERATE WAVE OF MANDATES

Respondents also favored companies firing employees who did not get vaccinated, with 58% supporting versus 36% opposed. By a margin of 61% to 32%, respondents supported requiring vaccines for activities such as eating indoors at restaurants or going to the gym.

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The question of mandates also split the two parties, with 84% of Democrats but only 40% of Republicans supporting companies firing employees who did not get vaccinated. Likewise, only 46% of Republicans supported employers requiring vaccines or testing for employees, versus 89% of Democrats.

The public remains anxious about the pandemic, and that seems to be driving the support for mandates. Twenty-three percent of those polled said the pandemic was the most important issue facing the country today, making it the top pick. The second was jobs and the economy at 16%, and third was immigration at 11%.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Four in 10 respondents were either extremely or very concerned about someone in their family becoming infected with the coronavirus, while 46% feared the worst of the pandemic is yet to come. People were more concerned about reopening the country too quickly and thus allowing the virus to spread versus waiting too long to reopen and damaging the economy, 53% to 17%.

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Tags: Healthcare, Coronavirus, Vaccination, Mandate, Pfizer, Delta Variant, Republican, Democrat, Immigration, Face masks, Polling

Original Author: David Hogberg

Original Location: Majority support deporting illegal immigrants who test positive for COVID-19: Poll
U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., and his girlfriend Ginger Luckey enter "Women for American First" event, Friday, April 9, 2021, in Doral, Fla. Gaetz eloped to Southern California marrying Ginger Luckey in a small ceremony on Catalina Island. The 39-year-old Republican announced the Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021 wedding on his personal Twitter page. He exclaimed I love my wife! along with a photo of them together. AP Photo/Marta Lavandier, file

Gaetz and Luckey met in March 2020 at the Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida, Luckey told the Daily Mail.

Gaetz is currently under federal investigation for sex crimes across multiple states.

Former Rand Paul staffer Sergio Gor officiated the ceremony.

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US Rep. Matt Gaetz announced on Twitter that he and Ginger Luckey eloped to Southern California over the weekend, sharing a picture of the pair with the caption, "I love my wife!"

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Luckey, 26, works as an analyst for biotech company Apeel Sciences and is the sister of Palmer Luckey, founder of Facebook-acquired Oculus VR, who supported and hosted fundraisers for former President Donald Trump. She met Gaetz in March 2020 at Trump's Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida, where they eventually got engaged 10 months later, Luckey told the Daily Mail.

Read more: Matt Gaetz's campaign paid $25K to a Manhattan criminal defense lawyer who represented Jeffrey Epstein, new records show

Following a few campaign stops in the Midwest with US Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Gaetz and Luckey tied the knot in a small ceremony on Catalina Island, just 22 miles off the coast of Southern California, Vanity Fair reported.

Only a few dozen attended, including former Rand Paul staffer Sergio Gor, who was both the officiant and DJ. Other attendees included Palmer Luckey and his wife, "Bannon's War Room" hosts Raheem Kassam and Natalie Winters, and Nestor Galban, Gaetz's adopted son, according to Vanity Fair.

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Gaetz, a Republican who has represented Florida's 1st Congressional District since 2017, is currently being investigated as part of a sex trafficking probe alongside his former right-hand man, Joel Greenberg. The New York Times reported that the inquiry is focusing on their interactions with "multiple women who were recruited online for sex and received cash payments" across multiple states.

Greenberg was indicted on 33 criminal counts and struck a plea deal in May, pleading guilty to six felony counts of sex trafficking, wire fraud, identity theft, conspiracy, and stalking.

Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged with a crime.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Nicole Kidman and Asher Keddie star in "Nine Perfect Strangers." Vince Valitutti/Hulu; Vince Valitutti/Hulu

Nicole Kidman said American investors were reluctant to cast Asher Keddie in "Nine Perfect Strangers."

The financiers viewed Keddie, an Australian actress, as an "unknown," Kidman told Marie Claire.

Kidman, an executive producer and star, pushed back and championed Keddie to play Heather Marconi.

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On Hulu's "Nine Perfect Strangers," Russian wellness guru Masha Dmitrichenko carefully selects the guests staying at Tranquillum House for a transformative 10-day health retreat. Nicole Kidman, like her character Masha, had her own hand in curating the group.

Kidman, whose production company Blossom Films acquired the film and TV rights to Liane Moriarty's novel in 2018, pushed for Asher Keddie to play Heather Marconi after American financiers repudiated the suggestion of casting "an unknown," she recalled in Marie Claire's 25th birthday issue.

"When you get to this point in your career, it becomes your greatest joy," the Oscar winner, who also served as an executive producer on David E. Kelley's series, said of using Blossom Films to champion local women's talent.

She continued, "Part of my mission is to give chances to creatives, women especially, who haven't really had the opportunity; it's my greatest thrill."

"Nine Perfect Strangers" is streaming on Hulu. Vince Valitutti/Hulu

Keddie wasn't exactly new to the TV circuit when she auditioned for "Nine Perfect Strangers."

The Melbourne-born star, 47, has predominantly acted in Australian productions, save a brief appearance in "X-Men Origins: Wolverine." Her most notable role as Nina Proudman on the Australian comedy-drama "Offspring" has landed her seven Logie Awards, including the prestigious Gold Logie. Over the years, she had met Kidman, a fellow Australian, "a couple times," she told The Sydney Morning Herald.

When Keddie auditioned to play Heather, a mother that checks into Tranquillum House with her husband (Michael Shannon) and daughter (Grace Van Patton) on the three-year anniversary of her son's suicide, the actress was already familiar with Moriarty's writing. Out of all the author's complex characters, Heather stood out to Keddie.

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And after securing the part, she felt both "thrilled" and "frightened" to put herself in the grieving mother's shoes.

"I felt afraid of really diving into the kind of grief of having lost a child to suicide," she explained, later adding that Heather's loss was "unimaginable" to her as a mother of two young sons.

Napoleon Marconi and Heather Marconi on "Nine Perfect Strangers." Vince Valitutti/Hulu

After shooting the eight-part series alongside a star-studded, international cast in Byron Bay during the pandemic, Keddie said she aspires to continue expanding the scope of her work.

"I would like to work anywhere, whether it is the US, the UK, Canada, or Europe," she told The Sydney Morning Herald.

She added, "What I'm hoping for is that the next 10 years feels really rich in terms of work and life and that's me being able to travel again, like all of us. For my children to be able to explore the world. For it not to feel small."

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Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio was sentenced to five months in prison Monday for setting a Black Lives Matter banner on fire in Washington as part of protests backing president Donald Trump.

A key figure in the extreme right movement that played a leading role in the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, Tarrio was arrested two days before that event for tearing down the banner from a Black church in Washington on December 12 and burning it, according to the Justice Department.

He was charged with destruction of property, due in part to a photograph he posted on social media posing with the banner and a lighter in his hand.

Tarrio was also charged with possessing two high-capacity firearm magazines, which are illegal in Washington.

The 37 year old had organized rallies for Trump and against the Black Lives Matter racial justice protests that had swept the country for much of 2020 following police killings and shootings of African Americans.

Late last year he actively drummed up support for the January 6 uprising, which saw hundreds of Trump supporters, including members of violent right wing militia groups like the Proud Boys, invade the halls of the US legislature to stop its certification of Joe Biden as presidential election winner over Trump.

"We are looked at almost like soldiers of the right wing," said Tarrio in a podcast in the runup to January 6. "This stuff is real. We are in a war."

But as he arrived in Washington two days earlier, he was arrested on the charges relating to the December 12 event, and was ordered to stay out of the city until his court hearing.

In July he pleaded guilty to the charges in a plea deal.

He was sentenced to 155 days in jail and a $1,000 fine, as well as $347 in restitution to the church.

pmh/dw
A report detailing the results of the much-maligned and partisan audit of 2020 election results in Arizona has been delayed after members of the Florida-based company hired to conduct it contracted COVID-19.

Karen Fann, the Republican president of the Arizona state Senate, announced the news on Monday afternoon.

Today we are receiving a portion of the draft report from the election audit analysis team, said Fann. The team expected to have the full draft ready for the Senate today, but unfortunately Cyber Ninjas CEO Doug Logan and two other members of the five-person audit team have tested positive for COVID-19 and are quite sick.

Contract workers for Cyber Ninjas examine and recount ballots from the 2020 general election in Phoenix. (Courtney Pedroza/Getty Images)

The audit, which began in May, has sparked a feud between Republicans who believe former President Donald Trumps baseless claims that the 2020 election was stolen and officials in Maricopa, the county where most Arizonans reside, who have repeatedly verified that the 2020 results were accurate.

The unofficial review cannot overturn the results of the election and has been referred to as an adventure in never-never land by Jack Sellers, the Republican chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.

If you havent figured out that the election in Maricopa County was free, fair and accurate yet, Im not sure you ever will. ... There was no fraud, there wasnt an injection of ballots from Asia nor was there a satellite that beamed votes in our election equipment, Sellers wrote in an Aug. 2 letter.

Logan, who was hired to conduct the audit by the GOP-controlled state Senate, has been pushing false claims of fraud in the 2020 election. According to reporting by Politico, Cyber Ninjas was unknown even among seasoned Florida GOP operatives, and has had no prior experience conducting election audits. Funding for the operation has come almost exclusively from supporters of Trump who believe the election was stolen.

The counting began on April 23 and Logan expected it to take 16 days, but it has instead been ongoing all summer. Cyber Ninja contractors have, among other things, inspected the ballots for traces of bamboo, which supporters of the audit say would prove they were smuggled from China.

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Former President Donald Trump at a rally on Saturday in Cullman, Ala. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Theres accusations that 40,000 ballots were flown into Arizona and it was stuffed into the box, OK? said John Brakey, who is helping oversee the audit, in an interview with a local CBS affiliate earlier this year. And it came from the southeast part of the world, Asia, OK? And what theyre doing is to find out if theres bamboo in the paper.

Joe Biden narrowly won Arizona in November, becoming the first Democrat to do so since Bill Clinton took the state in 1996.

Polls indicate that most Republicans believe Trumps claims about the 2020 election, despite an absence of evidence. A Yahoo News/YouGov survey released earlier this month found that 66 percent of Republicans continue to insist that the election was rigged and stolen from Trump, while just 18 percent believe Joe Biden won fair and square.

In the weeks following the election, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, which is controlled by Republicans, validated that the machine count was accurate. Courts in the state, meanwhile, dismissed a lawsuit calling the election results into question.

On Nov. 30, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, a Republican, certified the results of the presidential election after receiving approval from county officials and state Attorney General Mark Brnovich, who is also a Republican. In January, the Maricopa County supervisors authorized an audit of the election equipment, and no irregularities were found.

Fann, the state Senate president, said the full report would go to the Arizona Senate Judiciary Committee before being released to the public.

____

Read more from Yahoo News:
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia reported 19,454 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, the first time the daily tally has dipped below 20,000 since June 23 as authorities blamed a case surge on the infectious Delta variant.

The government coronavirus task force also reported 776 coronavirus-related deaths in the last 24 hours nationwide.

(Reporting by Anton Kolodyazhnyy and Maxim Rodionov; Writing by Tom Balmforth; Editing by Catherine Evans)
Sean Penn. Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images

Sean Penn said he believes COVID-19 vaccines should be mandatory.

He said they should be required "like turning your headlights on in a car at night."

And he said not being vaccinated is like going "around pointing a gun in somebody's face."

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Sean Penn said coronavirus vaccines should be mandatory, comparing being unvaccinated to "pointing a gun in somebody's face."

The actor was speaking to CNN's Michael Smerconish on Saturday about leaving the set of his film "Gaslit" because not all cast and crew members were required to be vaccinated.

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"Actors are protected, but if a stagehand is working alongside a stagehand who is not protected then they can get sick," he said.

"I didn't want to feel complicit in something that was just taking care of one group and not the other."

"And I do believe that everyone should get vaccinated," he said.

"I believe it should be mandatory, like turning your headlights on in a car at night, but obviously that's not going to happen tomorrow and yet - at least it can happen in some areas and businesses, a lot of businesses are starting to take the lead on that."

He said he would return to "Gaslit" when "I can be assured that 100 percent of the crew has gotten vaccinated."

He also compared being unvaccinated to pointing a gun at somebody.

"With something like this, you can't go around pointing a gun in somebody's face - which is what it is when people are unvaccinated."

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Milkos / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Currently, 45 million people are carrying student loan debt, adding up to about $1.7 trillion total. Many borrowers might feel like theyre drowning; some cant imagine a future where all their debt is paid off.

Fortunately, there are some viable methods to have student loans forgiven so youre no longer left with debt looming over your life. Read on to find out if you meet the criteria to have your student loans discharged.

Find Out: These Elite Colleges Went Virtual  But Raised Tuition Anyway

Learn More: Most and Least Educated Cities in America

Income-Driven Repayment

When standard payment plans are set up for federal student loans, most of them are figured over the course of 10 years. However, if the monthly amount to pay back the student loan over 10 years is too great, you can apply for an income-driven repayment plan. These plans structure repayment over 20-25 years, and the most taken out of your monthly income would be 15%. If youve made all of your payments, the rest of the loan is forgiven after the predetermined pay period.

Say your plan is set up for 10% of your monthly take-home pay for 20 years starting in 2021. If youve made every payment come 2041, no matter how much is left on your loan, you wont have to pay it. You do have to declare how much you make at the start of every year, so if you start to make more money, your monthly payments will go up, but it wont affect the other terms of the loan.

Check Out: The Worlds Most In-Demand Jobs That Dont Require a Degree

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Depending on your line of work, you might be able to have your Direct Loans forgiven. If youre employed by the government, work for a nonprofit, or serve in the military and are already enrolled in an income-driven repayment plan, you can apply for public service loan forgiveness. This requires that youve made 120 qualifying payments already, and that youre working full-time for your employer.

Important: 15 College Degrees That Wont Make You Money

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Teacher Loan Forgiveness

Teaching is another occupation that can potentially save you money on your loans. In order to qualify, you must have a bachelors degree and full state certification and teach full-time for five complete and consecutive academic years in a low-income elementary school, secondary school, or educational service agency. If you meet all the requirements, you can have up to $17,500 of your Direct Loan or Federal Family Education Loan forgiven. If you dont meet all of these stipulations, you might still be eligible to get up to $5,000 forgiven, so its worth looking into.

Whoa: 20 Jobs Where You Can Make $60,000 Out of College

Closed School Discharge

If the school you attended closed while you were enrolled, were on approved leave, or within 120-180 days of your withdrawing (depending on the year you were granted a loan), youll be provided with an application to have the loan discharged, according to the Federal Student Aid website. Some loans may also be subject to an automatic discharge based on when funds were disbursed and depending on whether a student has attended another institution that offers federal loans within three years of the school closure.

Choosing a Career? High-Paying Jobs at Apple, Facebook and Google That Dont Require a Degree

Perkins Loans

If you have a Perkins loan, you could be eligible for 100% forgiveness, depending on your job. If you have worked full-time in a public or nonprofit elementary or secondary school system as a teacher who serves mostly students from low-income families, a special education teacher or a teacher in a field that is determined to have a shortage of qualified teachers, you can file for loan forgiveness.

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Total and Permanent Disability Discharge

Certain loans are forgiven if youre found to be permanently and totally disabled. Documentation from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the Social Security Administration or a doctor is required to file for the discharge.

For more information on eligibility information and how to apply for loan forgiveness, visit studentaid.gov.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Have Student Loans? Its Possible To Have Them Forgiven
As schools strategize their fall opening, COVID-19 challenges are never far from the classroom door: Will in-person classes be safe? What if schools need to pivot back to virtual classrooms and overwhelmingly digital learning materials? But another challenge also belongs on schools planning radar: How to regain a balance between digital and print reading.

New research underscores the critical role of print in students own eyes, especially given their prolonged slog with distance learning because of the pandemic. After so much enforced reading on screen, students perspective about digital reading can be summed up in one word: boring.

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For many years, researchers have compared students comprehension when reading in print versus on a digital device. (Bottom line: With linear, informational text, print scores are higher.) Yet students also have much to say about their learning process. Research that my colleagues and I did at the secondary and university levels demonstrated students strong beliefs that they concentrate  and learn best with print. However, we are a technological society. Digital reading in education has become increasingly common and will remain so. But the pandemic has stretched the bounds.

Collaborating with my colleagues Anne Mangen in Norway and Kim Tyo-Dickerson and Frank Hakemulder in the Netherlands, we surveyed 118 middle and high school students at an international school in the Netherlands this past spring to gauge the impact of intensive digital reading during the pandemic.

We asked these students about their ability to concentrate and to learn when reading in print versus on a digital platform. As with our prior surveys, the students from Amsterdam clearly judged their concentration and learning were better with print.

But this time, we probed an issue that had bubbled up in open-ended comments, especially from secondary school students, in our earlier surveys: the extent to which each particular medium was entertaining or boring. Our aim was to assess how and whether all the digital reading during the pandemic was influencing students perspectives.

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According to our research, which has not yet been published, the answer was a resounding yes, and not in a good way. When we explicitly asked the Amsterdam students if they felt reading in print was boring, 10 percent agreed. But when asked whether reading on a digital screen was boring, nearly three times as many  28 percent  said it was. Additional questions reflected the same lopsided assessment. While roughly 25 percent agreed they got tired of reading a lot of print, the response jumped to 66 percent for reading on a screen. Whats more, when we asked the group what they liked most and least about reading in print and reading digitally, no one wrote that reading digitally was entertaining. (This is a change from prior surveys, where some students volunteered that reading digitally was entertaining.)

The reason these new findings should alarm educators is that if students are bored, theyre not concentrating. And if theyre not concentrating, theyre not learning. Given the overwhelmingly digital learning environment during the pandemic, these results should not be surprising. Screen fatigue is real.

Equally real are the learning losses children have suffered, including in reading. A recent Stanford University study found that second- and third-graders lagged about 30 percent behind the reading fluency gains they would have made in a normal academic year. A Dutch study of 8- to 11-year-olds revealed learning losses in math, spelling and reading comparable to about one-fifth of a school year.

The causes of this learning loss are complex, running the gamut from lack of social contact to inadequate home learning space or internet access. But a persistent theme we cannot ignore is the reading platform.

Reading digitally can be challenging, especially with material calling for mental focus. We are apt to read electronic texts more quickly (even sometimes assuming digital is somehow shorter than the print equivalent). We slip into a shallow reading mindset, of the sort reasonable for perusing social media status updates but not for careful analysis. And we are far more likely to multitask. In the Amsterdam study, 84 percent of students said they seldom or never multitask when reading in print. When reading on a computer? A sparse 36 percent reported they avoided multitasking. If youre multitasking, its hard to concentrate or learn.

As the new school year opens, schools need to find ways to harness the lessons students are teaching about reading platforms and learning. Obviously, both print and digital have their strengths. The problem is that because of the pandemic, the mix became badly skewed. Its up to us to redress the balance.

When in-person learning is possible, schools should strategize where to reintroduce print, especially in contexts in which its important for students to take their time, to reread, to analyze, to make connections, to imagine. Should concerns about the Delta variant drive students back to virtual learning, this time, schools must get some print materials into their hands before sending them home. Parents who choose to homeschool their children need to be made aware of the pros and cons of print versus digital reading.

The school year ahead will demand adaptability and creativity in the face of evolving unknowns. But amid these uncertainties, there is an opportunity to build upon the clear message students are sending about how they learn when reading. By listening to students, well get through this together.

Naomi S. Baron is professor emerita of linguistics at American University and author of How We Read Now: Strategic Choices for Print, Screen, and Audio.

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By Suleiman Al-Khalidi

AMMAN (Reuters) - Syrian army units aided by pro-Iranian militias have staged a major assault on an opposition enclave in the southern border city of Deraa in a bid to retake the last opposition stronghold in southern Syria, residents, army and opposition sources said.

Troops amassed around the sprawling government-held city sought to advance into the area known as Deraa al Balaad, which has particular significance in the Syrian conflict as it was centre of the first peaceful protests against Assad family rule in 2011 which were met by deadly force before spreading across the country.

Opposition fighters said they had repulsed the attack from the western side of the enclave, which has been under a two-month siege during which the army has prevented food, medical and fuel supplies coming in but opened a corridor for civilians to leave, residents and local figures said.

Pro-Iranian army units led by the elite Fourth Division who have also encircled the enclave poured in new fighters and set up new checkpoints on the main Damascus highway leading to the Jordanian border crossing, a senior army source said.

Another army source said fighting was continuing, but did not elaborate. State media have in recent days said the army was preparing to end a "state of lawlessness and chaos" and reimpose army control.

There was no indication of casualties in the latest incident.

The Syrian army, aided by Russian air power and Iranian militias, in 2018 retook control of the province of which Deraa is the capital and which borders Jordan and Israel's Golan Heights.

ROAD MAP

Local negotiators from both sides say Moscow, which plays a leading role in maintaining security in the region, had so far held back the army from a military offensive, which they say Iranian-backed army units who have a major presence in Deraa have been pushing for.

Russian generals who on Aug. 14 presented local leaders and the army with a road map that averts a military showdown are trying to win over the opposition, some of whom fear the plan reneges on a deal brokered by Russia three years ago.

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The deal at the time forced thousands of mainstream Western- backed rebels to hand over heavy weapons in 2018 but kept the army from entering Deraa al Balaad.

Moscow's plan seen by Reuters offers ex-rebels a pardon but allows the army to gradually take over the enclave, while offering safe passage to former rebels who oppose the deal to leave for opposition areas in northwest Syria.

Residents say Russian military police have stepped up their presence in the city and its outskirts, where they often act as mediators between locals in disputes with the army and security forces.

The enclave until recently had a population of some 50,000 but most had fled in the last two weeks, so the area has become a virtual ghost town with several thousand rebels dug in.

The enclave and other towns in southern Syria have, since the state regained control of the province, held sporadic protests against President Bashar al Assad's authoritarian rule that are rare in areas under state control.

"They want to stamp out the remaining voice of the revolution in southern Syria," said Abu Jehad al Hourani, a local civilian leader in the enclave.

(Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi; Editing by David Holmes)
Every recent morning, when Marzia Babakarkhail wakes up, she has found her phone full of desperate text messages and voice notes from friends in Afghanistan.

As a human being, its not easy, Babakarkhail said. Its really hard to cope with.

Babakarkhail, a former judge in a country that had largely confined women to their homes, has lived in the United Kingdom since 2008, seeking refuge after Taliban militants tried to kill her twice because of her work advocating for women.

The first attempt on her life was made a day after the group last seized control of her home province, Baghlan, in 1997.

Decades have passed since, but Babakarkhail believes the Taliban of today will rule and operate in the way they did in the 1990s, persecuting women for going to work or trying to get an education.

People are worried, and I have no hope  not just for women, but for the new generation and [all of] Afghanistan, she said.

Marzia Babakarkhail, who was formerly a judge in Afghanistan, fled the country after the Taliban tried to attack her on two separate occasions. (Courtesy of Marzia Babakarkhail)

One of the audio messages Babakarkhail has received is from a prominent female politician in the country, whom she requested not be named out of fears for her safety. She played the message to Yahoo News during a video interview. Over a grainy line that breaks up every few seconds, the woman could be heard sobbing and whispering between breaths: Im scared, I cant do this anymore.

Babakarkhail said shes been receiving dozens of such desperate pleas from women activists on a daily basis since the Islamic militant group seized the capital, Kabul, and declared victory on Aug. 15. In a publicity blitz, the Taliban has vaguely promised to respect womens rights, but activists like Babakarkhail are not convinced.

The movement that women [were working on] in Afghanistan was brilliant, she said, but suddenly we just lost everything overnight. Its not easy to say, its difficult to accept.

Many of her friends are trying to leave the country, she said, recounting her own experiences of escaping from the militants some 20 years ago.

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I think it was the worst day of my life, Babakarkhail, who was born in Pul-e-Khumri, in the north of the country, said.

Babakarkhail works at her desk in Afghanistan in the 1990s. (Courtesy of Marzia Babakarkhail)

A large car carrying nine Taliban militants armed with guns pulled up outside her home, she said. They broke down the door, screaming, and began searching every corner of the house.

She managed to hide behind a door outside the building for five hours, barefoot, trying to remain silent as she sat in the dirt.

They slapped my mother in front of everybody, Babakarkhail said, recalling the incident. They put my entire family in a dangerous place.

The militants were desperate to find her, because she was a family court judge and had set up a school and shelter for refugees  activities that Taliban fighters deemed unacceptable.

Babakarkhail thought that when she qualified as a judge, life would be perfect. She was one of very few female judges in the 1990s.

But life in the court was controlled by restrictive legislation that prevented her from fairly making decisions on cases, she said. So she set up a group in 1994 to help women and change attitudes in the country.

The organization provided training for women and helped rehabilitate women fleeing from arranged marriages and domestic abuse. It also made Babakarkhail a target for the Taliban.

Taliban fighters patrol the streets of Kabul on Monday. (Getty Images)

During their previous regime in Afghanistan, between 1996 and 2001, the Taliban introduced harsh rules and punishments under their strict interpretation of Sharia, or Islamic law. The law acts as the fundamental religious moral code of Islam and sets out holistic rules that apply to all areas of life, including religious obligations, daily routines and personal beliefs.

The restrictions forced women to wear burqas and prohibited most girls from going to school. Unaccompanied women venturing into public places could be beaten.

The day after militants ransacked her house, Babakarkhail and her family managed to flee to neighboring Pakistan, where she lived for several years, before returning in 2007, years after Taliban militants lost control of the country.

She began working again in Kabul. Then her mother was admitted to the hospital, and as she started to visit her regularly, she began to feel in danger once again.

During that time I received letters that said, I will kill you tomorrow, Babakarkhail said.

Her mother told her she must flee, so she packed her belongings in a small briefcase that she used for her work. She was walking down a street near the hospital when a car traveling at high speed hit her.

They left me for dead, Babakarkhail said. I was in hospital for six months. My teeth were broken, my gums, my back, my legs. [The Taliban] tried to attack me twice. Sometimes Im asking myself, what did I do wrong?

After her recovery, Babakarkhail remained in Kabul, but she continued to receive death threats from the militants, so she applied for asylum in the United Kingdom, which she was granted in 2008.

____

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A federal judge presiding over a major legal challenge to President Joe Bidens immigration policies lashed out Monday at Justice Department attorneys, accusing them of trying to rush him into making a key decision in the case.

U.S. District Judge Drew Tipton castigated federal government lawyers for declaring that they planned to seek emergency relief from an appeals court by 2 p.m. Central Time if he did not rule by then on a request to stay an injunction he issued last week prohibiting the administration from continuing to use immigration enforcement priorities rolled out shortly after Bidens inauguration in January.

Whose idea was it to impose a 2 p.m. deadline on the court? Tipton asked, repeatedly demanding to know who at the Justice Department decided to tell him that theyd go to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals at that hour if he hadnt ruled on the stay request.

Adam Kirschner, the DOJ Civil Division attorney speaking for the federal government at the video hearing, didnt answer Tipton directly.

This is the view of the United States, Kirschner said. I cant speak to internal deliberations. It shows the urgency that we have and the great irreparable harm posed by the injunction.

Tipton, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, wasnt satisfied with that answer.

Whos idea was it? he demanded. Were you involved in it?

Kirschner said that as counsel of record in the case, he was part of those discussions. But he declined to name others for the judge, saying that would divulge privileged information about the departments work.

Tipton pointed out that he had scheduled a hearing on the case for 3:15 p.m. Central Time Monday and he said trying to force the courts hand just before that hour was bad form. Its not a good look  to have a hearing set for 3:15 to address these issues and then to get a deadline, the judge complained.

Kirschner said the Justice Department wanted to get Tiptons injunction lifted as soon as possible and that the department was concerned that waiting until after the scheduled hearing would not leave it enough time to seek emergency relief from the 5th Circuit on Monday. The Justice Department filed its initial appeal of Tiptons order on Friday, just hours after his ruling.

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This was not an attack at you or an attack at the court, Kirschner said. We thought if we were to wait until after the hearing it would be another day lost.

The judge eventually relented, but not before again expressing his displeasure. That did not make my week, he said.

The courtroom drama came as Bidens immigration policy objectives are not only encountering opposition in Congress but the rocky prospect of a judicial terrain brimming with conservative jurists.

Earlier this year, Tipton blocked a 100-day deportation moratorium Biden imposed after he was sworn in. And earlier this month, another judge ordered the administration to reimpose Trumps controversial remain-in-Mexico policy for asylum seekers. Late Friday, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito stayed that order until Tuesday night as the justices consider the administrations request for relief.

During the remainder of Mondays nearly hourlong hearing, Tipton sparred with the government on other topics, chiefly about interpretation of the preliminary injunction he issued last week in the suit brought by the states of Texas and Louisiana. The suit claims that in directives issued last January and February, the Biden administration defied Congress by effectively declaring that certain immigrants who entered the U.S. illegally would not be detained despite criminal records.

The Biden administration claims Congress mandate for detention involving certain types of crimes applies only to immigrants placed in formal deportation proceedings. However, Tipton ruled last week that Congress direction applies to any immigrant encountered by Border Patrol or Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

The Justice Department has argued that Congress hasnt appropriated sufficient funding to detain every immigrant with the kinds of criminal records mentioned in the statute. But Texas and Louisiana dispute that and contend the administration isnt using the so-called bed space it has.

Kirschner said the judges ruling would have a major impact on immigration enforcement by wiping out the existing enforcement guidelines.

This injunction will cause public safety harm. It will cause harm to the country, the DOJ attorney said. The injunction completely upends the entire system the agency is operating under.

However, Tipton argued that the federal governments response to his order was overly alarmist. He asked Kirschner if the injunction required that the Department of Homeland Security deport anyone.

No, your honor, Kirschner replied.

Tipton described his ruling as a negative injunction against the existing policy and said the governments suggestion that he was unleashing chaos was off-base. I cant imagine a circumstance where I would order a detention  I just cant, he said. Im not micromanaging DHS.

While standing by his legal interpretation, Tipton ultimately granted the federal governments request for a stay of his injunction, allowing the Justice Department until Aug. 30 at noon to get relief from the 5th Circuit or perhaps from the Supreme Court.

Tipton also modified a requirement he imposed on the federal agencies to prepare reports on how many immigrants with criminal records they are detaining and releasing. He delayed the date for the filing of the first report from September until October and said hes only seeking information DHS has readily available.

The judge said he shouldnt have made those reporting requirements part of his injunction ruling last week, but should have issued them separately as a way to seek information for the suit as it moves forward.

In retrospect, I wish Id put them in a different order, Tipton said.


By Josh Smith and Hyonhee Shin

SEOUL (Reuters) -The United States has no hostile intent toward Pyongyang and is open to meeting any time and any place, Washington's special envoy for North Korea said on Monday during a visit to South Korea.

Sung Kim arrived in Seoul on Saturday for a four-day visit.

The visit comes as a brief thaw in inter-Korean relations in July gave way to a new standoff over U.S.-South Korean military exercises that North Korea has warned could trigger a security crisis.

"The United States does not have hostile intent toward (North Korea)," Kim told reporters after meeting with his South Korean counterpart, Noh Kyu-duk.

"The ongoing (U.S.-South Korea) combined military exercises are longstanding, routine, and purely defensive in nature and support the security of both our countries."

Noh said the two discussed possible humanitarian aid to North Korea, as well as ways to restart stalled denuclearisation talks.

"We agreed to work together to resume dialogue with North Korea as soon as possible," he said.

On Sunday Kim met with Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong at the minister's residence, where they discussed ways for a speedy resumption of the peace process on the Korean peninsula, a foreign ministry official said.

In an interview with KBS, South Korea's national broadcaster, Kim urged Pyongyang to return to dialogue, saying Washington was ready to address its concerns.

"We are willing to address the full range of issues and concerns including those that are of importance to DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea)," Kim said. "Given the opportunity we will be able to make substantial progress."

The U.S. envoy is expected to meet with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov on Tuesday in Seoul.

The nine-day joint military exercise began on Aug. 16, with silence so far from North Korean state media despite fears that the country could conduct a missile test or take other actions to underscore its disapproval.

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North Korea has said it is open to diplomacy, but that the American overtures appear hollow while "hostile acts" such as the drills continue.

U.S. President Joe Biden's administration has said it will explore diplomacy to achieve North Korean denuclearisation, but shown no willingness to ease sanctions.

The United States supports efforts to improve ties between the two Koreas and remains open to direct talks with Pyongyang, Kim said.

"I continue to stand ready to meet with my North Korean counterparts anywhere at any time," he said.

(Reporting by Josh Smith and Hyonhee Shin; Additional reporting by Cynthia Kim; Editing by Michael Perry and Tomasz Janowski)
US Marine Corps Gen. Frank McKenzie, the commander of US Central Command, enters a plane evacuating people, at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Afghanistan, on Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021. (Capt. William Urban/U.S. Navy via AP

The US evacuated 10,400 people on Sunday, the largest number yet over a 24-hour period.

Another 61 coalition flights evacuated around 5,900 people, CNN reported.

Evacuation flights have gone to Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Italy, Spain, and Germany.

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The US evacuated 10,400 people from Kabul on Sunday - the most in a 24-hour cycle yet, Maj. Gen. Hank Taylor said on Monday.

Twenty-eight US military flights left from Sunday at 3 a.m. ET until Monday at 3 a.m. ET, while at least 61 coalition flights got nearly 6,000 people out, CNN reported.

The US evacuated and facilitated the evacuation of around 37,000 people since August 14, the report said.

Meanwhile, Afghans who applied for special immigrant visas to the US were told to stay away from the Kabul airport, the network said, as a source close to the situation told CNN that current policy right now is to only let US and NATO citizens into the airport.

The source told the network that there is hope to soon permit applicants for the Special Immigrant Visa program, which is a way that Afghans who worked with the US military and agencies can leave the country, and also the US embassy's local staff.

"We are currently prioritizing American citizens and legal permanent residents for entry," John Johnson, public affairs officer for the US embassy, told the network on Monday. "Due to a deteriorating security environment we are asking all others not to come to the airport at this time - the gates remain closed."

So far, American and Afghan evacuees have been sent from Kabul to countries all over the Middle East, Central Asia, and Europe. The Pentagon on Sunday ordered 18 commercial planes from six airlines to facilitate with the global evacuation effort.

The commercial planes won't fly into Kabul, but rather will help transport Americans and Afghans from US military bases in Qatar, Bahrain, and the UAE to locations in Europe like Germany, Italy, and Spain. Then, commercial flights will ultimately bring many people to the US, The New York Times reported.

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As for evacuees arriving in the US from Afghanistan, Southwest Airlines said it will begin chartering domestic flights so people can reach their destination cities.

Chaos has plagued the Kabul airport since the capital city fell to the Taliban last weekend, with scenes of violence and desperation as Afghans and foreigners try to flee Afghanistan.

According to CNN, the number of people waiting to evacuate Afghanistan in and around the airport was as high as 20,000 over the weekend, but was down to 13,000 on Monday.

This story is developing. Please check back for updates.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Inoculating the planet from COVID-19 presents an unprecedented logistical challenge like none weve seen before. Mobilizing for a world war may be the closest comparison  but in this case, the enemy is invisible and everywhere.

Some of the vaccines require super-cold storage at virtually all points along the journey until they reach someones upper arm. And the vaccines are primarily being produced in wealthier countries, though the need  especially now  is greatest in the poorest.

While many rich countries such as Israel, Canada and those of the U.K. have managed to inoculate most of their citizens, the vast majority of people overall have yet to receive a single dose.

I have been studying global supply chains for over two decades, including those for drugs and other health-related products. To illustrate the process and how complicated and challenging it is, Ill take you on the journey of a single dose of Pfizer  which received full Food and Drug Administration approval on Aug. 23, 2021  all the way from a factory in Missouri to an arm in Bangladesh.

From Missouri to Massachusetts to Michigan

Even though its commonly known as the Pfizer vaccine, it was actually developed under a partnership with BioNTech, which is based in Germany.

It is one of two vaccines that use new mRNA technology, which provides genetic instructions that encode a viral protein. Once the vaccinated persons cells start making the coronavirus protein, it prompts their immune system to design powerful antibodies that can neutralize the virus if they ever encounter it.

A vaccine doses 60-day journey to distribution starts with raw ingredients in a Pfizer factory in Chesterfield, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis. This factory produces the key raw material called plasmids, which are basically strands of DNA that contain the genetic instructions for building coronavirus proteins.

Bottles of the DNA material are frozen, bagged, sealed and packed into a container and shipped to Andover, Massachusetts. There, the DNA is processed into mRNA, which is the active ingredient in the vaccine  also referred to as the drug substance.

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The mRNA is packaged in plastic bags  each containing enough material to produce 10 million doses  frozen and shipped to Kalamazoo, Michigan, where the vaccine reaches the last stage of the process: formulation and filling.

First, the drug substance is combined with lipid nanoparticles  basically fat  to protect the mRNA and help it enter the human cells. Next, the combination is squirted into glass vials, six doses per vial, packaged and frozen for distribution.

Here I have presented a simplified three-step process. Making a vaccine, however, is more much complex, requiring more than 200 different materials supplied by factories spread across the world.

Keeping vials super-cold

While awaiting distribution, the Pfizer vaccine vials must be stored at temperatures from minus 112 F to minus 76 F (minus 80 C to minus 60 C) in ultra-cold freezers.

To put this in perspective, the average annual temperature at the South Pole is about minus 58 F (minus 50 C). Ice creams and frozen steaks are kept, during storage and transport, below minus 20 F (minus 29 C).

Pfizer designed its own custom cooler box to make it easier to transport its vaccines across the U.S. and around the world. Vials are placed into trays, with 195 vials per tray. Each box can fit five trays. Each box of 5,850 doses has a GPS tracker and contains a monitor that keeps a log of the temperature.

Pfizers custom boxes dont require any other specialized equipment to transport the vaccines, and the ultra-cold temperature in the cooler boxes is maintained during transport using dry ice that needs to be replaced every five days.

A problem with the dry ice is that its carbon dioxide in solid form. The dry ice gradually turns from solid to gas, which can be dangerous without proper ventilation.

Once it has a shipment ready for delivery to a given destination, Pfizer contacts one of the global freight carriers its partnered with, such as UPS or DHL, which picks up a designated number of boxes and ships them directly to the country in need within one or two days.

A vials last mile

For a country to receive Pfizer vaccines, it needs to have the capacity to store ultra-cold medical items.

While this isnt a problem for wealthier nations, poorer countries are less likely to have the necessary infrastructure in place.

Upon arrival in a country, the shipment goes into a deep freezer, typically at the airport or a central storage facility, until it is ready to be used. The vaccine has to be kept in ultra-cold storage until within about a month before its injected into someones shoulder.

In poorer countries that do have the right infrastructure, such as Bangladesh, distribution still needs to be restricted to a few select hospitals in large urban areas where there are ultra-cold storage facilities. For example, Bangladesh will use Pfizer vaccines at seven hospitals in its capital city, Dhaka.

The frosty journey of the Pfizer vaccine itself is just one part of getting people their jabs. Ancillary supplies needed for vaccination include special syringes delivering a 0.3-milliliter (mL) dose, needles, sterile alcohol pads and personal protective equipment for the health care worker delivering the shot.

Preparing the injection of the Pfizer vaccine requires a complex dance. First the nurse thaws the vaccine in a refrigerator to a range of 36 F to 46 F (2 C to 8 C), where it can be held for up to 31 days. Just before vaccination, the nurse brings the vial to room temperature of 36 F to 77 F (2 C to 25 C), at which it can survive no more than six hours.

Because the Pfizer vaccine is shipped as a concentrate, the nurse needs to dilute it with 1.8 milliliters of saline, resulting in a mixture sufficient for six doses.

Theres a further complication in that many low- and medium-income countries use syringes that ensure a fixed maximum dose and are automatically disabled after single use. This takes away the guesswork and prevents mistakes. UNICEF is responsible for delivering these extra supplies to poorer countries that are getting their vaccines through COVAX, the global initiative set up to distribute COVID-19 vaccines to low- and middle-income countries.

A monumental achievement

Other vaccines have much less demanding cold supply chain requirements, dont require dilution and use syringes with standard dose sizes, allowing more countries to use them, including in rural areas.

Most of the COVID-19 vaccines approved for use by the World Health Organization, such as those made by AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson, require only standard cold storage of 35.6 F to 46.4 F (2 C to 8 C).

I focused on Pfizer in part because it makes up the lions share of doses donated by the U.S. to COVAX.

As of Aug. 22, 2021, a total of 4.97 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses had been administered, a feat unimaginable in the fall of 2020. But global coverage has been highly uneven. While a little over half of the population in high-income countries have been vaccinated, only 1.4% of low-income populations have received theirs. Many of these countries are in Africa.

The development of several vaccines, 10 of which are WHO-approved, many within a year, was a monumental achievement of science and global collaboration  especially since it previously took on average a decade.

But creating supply chains to deliver all those lifesaving vaccines to people all over the world will be an equally remarkable accomplishment.

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This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. It was written by: Ravi Anupindi, University of Michigan.

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Ravi Anupindi does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
HANOI (Reuters) -Vietnam deployed soldiers on Monday to help enforce a strict COVID lockdown in Ho Chi Minh City, its biggest urban area and current epicentre of its worst coronavirus outbreak to date.

Vietnam implemented movement restrictions in Ho Chi Minh City in early July, but announced its harshest curbs last week as infections have continued to surge. Authorities have said enforcement of recent curbs has not been sufficiently strict.

After containing COVID-19 for much of last year, Vietnam has recorded 358,456 infections and at least 8,666 fatalities. Ho Chi Minh City has recorded over 180,000 infections - half the country's total - and 7,010 deaths, making up about 80% of the nation's fatalities, according to the health ministry.

Most of those cases have been recorded in Ho Chi Minh City and its surrounding industrial provinces, where the Delta variant of the virus has sent numbers soaring since late April.

The government said on Friday a tighter lockdown would begin on Monday, prohibiting people from leaving their homes, even for food, and said the military would step in to help.

The announcement, later amended so that people in some areas could still shop for food, was subsequently reverted to a total ban, triggering confusion and panic-buying at supermarkets in the city over the weekend.

Witnesses said soldiers were delivering food to residents of the city on Monday and images broadcast by state media showed armed soldiers manning checkpoints and checking documents.

Vietnam has over recent weeks sent 14,600 additional doctors and nurses to the city and its neighbouring provinces to support its overwhelmed medical system, the ministry said.

Patients with mild or no symptoms have been told to self isolate at home.

The government said on Friday it would send 130,000 tonnes of rice from state stockpiles to Ho Chi Minh City and 23 other cities and provinces. People in the city's Phu Nhuan and Go Vap districts told Reuters they had received packages of rice, meat, fish and vegetables from the military.

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Vietnam received two shipments of 501,600 AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine doses from Poland and 200,000 Sinopharm doses donation from China on Monday, the government said.

In total, the country has secured over 23 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines but just 1.8% of its 98 million people have been fully vaccinated - one of the lowest rates in the region.

(Writing by James Pearson; Editing by Ed Davies, Ana Nicolaci da Costa and Bernadette Baum)
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Retailer Woolworths Holdings said on Monday it will continue to operate without a chief executive for its South Africa operations when incumbent CEO steps down, as it streamlines its operations.

Zyda Rylands, who is also an executive director of the group, has decided to retire on Sept. 30 for personal reasons, but at the request of the board has agreed to remain with the group through to 2024, Woolworths said.

"For the remainder of her tenure, she will focus her energies and her passion on leading the WSA (Woolworths South Africa) Foods business, which she has been instrumental in growing and positioning as an industry-leading food retailer," it added.

Not retaining the South Africa chief executive position follows the group's review of its leadership structure for the home business, Woolworths, which also sells clothes in South Africa and Australia said.

(Reporting by Nqobile Dludla; Editing by Tomasz Janowski)
He loves them and he nurtures them and he meets them on their level, he said. In that way, he takes out any barriers that they might perceive and they feel comfortable as if Park View is their home and were their family. And hes the linchpin in that.

Joyner said the organization has a hiring committee looking to fill the executive director role by Oct. 11.

Harpers hope for the nonprofit is not that it grows bigger, necessarily, because its already doing so much, but that it continues to push harder to meet the needs of the people in the community.

Im very comfortable stepping away at this time and Ill continue to support the staff and that will never end and I hope to come back and serve with them, he said. But the hope is that they continue to think of ways to serve.

Those served at Park View are amazing people going through difficult circumstances, he said.

I always tell people, these programs are here for me and you both, and Im just blessed right now not to have to access those resources, but its here for all of us, he said. But the people that come here have some extreme challenges and we just want to love and care for them and be there for them.

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Convenience store operator Seven & i Holdings will launch delivery services across Japan as early as 2026, Nikkei has learned.

The operator expects to be able to deliver food and dairy products to homes in around 30 minutes from its 20,000 7-Eleven stores. It intends to start offering the service in fiscal 2026 and compete with e-commerce giants such as Amazon.com.

The move comes amid a slump in Japan's convenience store market. According to a Nikkei survey, industrywide sales fell 6.1% to around 11.8 trillion yen in 2020, marking the first decline since 1981.

At the same time, Japan's e-commerce market grew 22%, to around 12.2 trillion yen, partly thanks to the rise of stay-at-home consumption. E-commerce sales surpassed those of convenience chains for the first time in 2020.

Seven expects deliveries to catalyze growth. The company currently offers delivery services from around 550 stores, in Tokyo, Hokkaido and Hiroshima Prefecture. It will start offering deliveries from almost all of its 21,000 convenience stores across Japan.

By using stores that are close to consumers as delivery bases, Seven will offer "last mile" deliveries in as few as 30 minutes.

"Stores are not only a place to buy products but also a place to store inventory," President Ryuichi Isaka told Nikkei. "The service can be expanded in a short time without capital investment."

Consumers can order via a website or an app. Around 3,000 food items and daily products will be available. Every purchase should be worth more than 1,000 yen ($9), with an additional delivery fee of 330 yen. The service will be available until 11 p.m.
When a 13-year-old girl in Aichi Prefecture received a vaccination voucher mailed to her home at the end of July, her father wasnt sure if she should be inoculated.

Would it be all right for a child still going through puberty to be vaccinated? To be honest, I was worried, he said.

The father looked into the possible side effects on the health ministrys website and explained what hed read to her.

But she had already made up her mind. I want to get it, she said, adding that she didnt want to miss school by getting the virus.

She received both vaccinations in July. Her arm was sore after the first dose and she ran a fever of 38 degrees Celsius after the second jab, which went away after a few days.

The health ministry lowered the age of eligibility to 12 for COVID-19 vaccines manufactured by the pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Moderna.

While the infection is spreading again in many areas, children are said be more likely to suffer from side effects of the vaccine than adults. With this in mind, many parents are wondering what they should do.

What do parents need to know when deciding whether or not to vaccinate their kids?

Its important to know that in general, younger people who are infected with COVID-19 are less likely to experience severe symptoms. For example, as of Aug. 4, one out of every seven people in their 80s or older has died from the disease, while just one out of every 25,000 people in their 20s suffered a similar fate. There have been no cases in Japan of someone in their teens or younger dying of COVID-19.

Considering these figures and the fact that COVID-19 vaccines are meant to prevent people from developing symptoms or becoming severely ill, the benefits of vaccination for children could be limited.
Authorities have released the name of a Iowa Department of Corrections Fourth Judicial District Correctional Officer who was involved in a shooting with parole violators on Friday.

Officer Mike Brown is on paid administrative leave pending the completion of the investigation following an incident involving parole violators Brandon Hines and Kelsey Hanna, according to the Iowa Department of Public Safety.

According to the department, on Friday corrections officers were searching for Hanna and Hines on warrants for alleged parole violations. Shortly after 1 p.m., officers saw the pair leave a house and get into a black Ford SUV near 27th Street and Avenue G in Council Bluffs. The officers attempted to stop Hines and Hanna from leaving the area.

As officers approached the Ford, Hines put the vehicle in reverse and backed into a secondary officers vehicle, the department said. Hines put the SUV in drive and drove towards and struck one of the officers. One officer fired his service weapon striking Hines.

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After a pursuit Hines was apprehended in Omaha by the Nebraska State Patrol. He was taken to Nebraska Medicine, where he was treated for non-life threatening injuries before being released and taken into custody on a Nebraska warrant. Hanna was arrested without incident, the department said.
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North Platte is among seven Nebraska communities chosen to participate in a Building Healthy Families program designed to reduce childhood obesity.

The University of Nebraska Medical Center and the University of Nebraska at Kearney received a $2.5 million grant from the Centers for Disease Controls Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration Project to adapt, test, and package their Building Healthy Families program, designed to reduce childhood obesity, with a focus on rural communities.

North Platte was chosen to offer the program partially because of the communitys previous work with FitKids, part of the Platte River Fitness Series wellness initiative.

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Building Healthy Families is a pediatric weight management program for children ages 6-12 and their families. It is an adaptation of Leonard Epsteins research and has been implemented in Kearney, where it achieved clinically and statistically significant reductions in childrens BMI, according to a press release. It uses the Epstein Traffic Light Eating Plan, considered the most studied and successful pediatric weight management intervention program to date.
Photo: Jeenah Moon/AP/Shutterstock

Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul just made history by becoming New Yorks first female governor, but most of the state wasnt awake to witness it.

Thats because Andrew Cuomo officially left office at 11:59 p.m., with Hochul sworn into office just after midnight in a private ceremony conducted by the states chief judge, Janet DiFiore. A ceremonial swearing-in will take place at the Capitol at 10 a.m. on Tuesday.

The late-night ascension seems to be another quirk of Cuomos decision to remain in office for two weeks, after announcing his resignation in the wake of the state attorney generals investigation, which found he sexually harassed 11 women, in and out of state government. (Cuomo denies any wrongdoing.)

In her first press conference after Cuomos announcement, Hochul said the 14-day delay to the beginning of her term was not what I asked for, but that she was looking forward to the smooth transition that he promised. On Monday, Hochul announced that she will appoint Karen Persichilli Keogh to secretary to the governor and Elizabeth Fine as the governors counsel, which places women in the three most powerful positions of the executive branch.

However, in the waning days of his decade-long tenure as governor, Cuomo seemed determined to soak up the last few hours of limelight. As Hurricane Henri barreled toward Long Island, he took the lead at a storm briefing the day before, providing updates and warning residents about potential flooding.

When asked why he was heading up storm preparation instead of Hochul, who would be be left to deal with the aftermath and cleanup from the storm in her first days succeeding him, Cuomo offered a blunt answer.

I am governor today, and I am in charge, he said.

Hochul was still not in attendance at a subsequent storm briefing on Sunday. Cuomo insisted that his team was keeping her informed on Henri which, by that point, had been downgraded to a tropical storm.

The lieutenant governor has been briefed on all of this, and were in constant communication, he said.

He also confirmed that he would still be leaving the governors office on the same day he planned.

Yes, my final day is tomorrow  Tuesday morning, Cuomo said. The outgoing governor was busy in his final hours in office, granting six acts of clemency (including a commuted sentence for a Weather Underground member who is the father of the San Francisco district attorney); defending himself against reports that he was trying to ditch his dog; and finally getting around to submitting his resignation letter.
Taliban fighters. Photo: Str/Xinhua via Getty Images

After nearly 20 years, the U.S. presence in Afghanistan is about to come to an end. Taliban fighters have taken control of every major city in the country, the Afghan president has fled, and U.S. and Afghan personnel are quickly being evacuated under the watch of thousands of American troops. Below are updates on this unfolding situation as it develops.

Biden Wont Acknowledge Any Errors

In an interview with ABCs George Stephanopoulos, President Biden said there was no way the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan could have happened without significant chaos erupting, and he did not acknowledge any errors in his administrations handling of the situation.

EXCLUSIVE: Pressed on whether the U.S.'s exit from Afghanistan could have been handled better, Pres. Biden tells me, "The idea that somehow, there's a way to have gotten out without chaos ensuingI don't know how that happens." https://t.co/j2MYMUJcdKpic.twitter.com/ua9T2q9wal  GeorgeStephanopoulos (@GStephanopoulos) August 18, 2021

When Stephanopoulos asked Biden whether what happened on the ground had been a failure of intelligence, planning, judgment, or execution, Biden began to say it wasnt a failure, before pointing to the fleeing of the Afghan president and the collapse of the Afghan troops we had trained as the proximate cause of the problems.

When Stephanopoulos asked how he had reacted to pictures of the chaotic scenes at Kabuls airport, Biden snapped that the scenes depicted had happened four days ago, five days ago (it was actually two), and that the problems had hardened the resolve of American troops to restore order to the airport, which they have.

And asked if the whole affair could have been handled any better, Biden offered a flat no. The idea, somehow, that there was a way to get out without chaos ensuing, I dont know how that happens, he said.

The Supposedly Gentler Taliban Fires Into a Protest Crowd

After seizing control of Kabul on Sunday, the Taliban took pains to signal that their rule of Afghanistan this time around would be a less repressive version of the reign of terror they inflicted when they were last in control of the country, from 1996 to 2001. They began talks with ousted leaders from previous national governments and promised an open, inclusive Islamic system. And they made noises about respecting womens rights  at least to a degree. The group has said, vaguely, that it would respect womens rights within the framework of Islamic law.

But there were early signs that this would not be a kinder, gentler kind of rule.

On Wednesday, Taliban forces violently broke up a protest against their rule, killing one and wounding six. The AP reports that the public show of dissent took place in Jalalabad, where a group of Afghans lowered a Taliban flag that had been raised, and put up a national one in its place. The Taliban fired into the crowd and struck people with batons; a local reporter said that he and his cameraman had been beaten.

The outlet also reported that groups of armed men have been going door to door inquiring about Afghans who worked with the Americans or the deposed government. It was unclear whether they were under official Taliban orders, or were merely taking advantage of the chaos.

And The New York Times reports that in some areas, the Taliban  whether or not they were acting on top-down orders  had already turned back the clock for women. In some provinces, women were forced to stay in their houses unless accompanied by a male relative.

Many women around the country are bracing for an inevitable return to old ways.

JUST NOW: Remarkable images from the fearless @clarissaward on the streets of Kabul. She shows us a store now doing a booming business in burqas.pic.twitter.com/w4J1zdJsWv  John Berman (@JohnBerman) August 17, 2021

As many as 15,000 Americans remain in Afghanistan

The Washington Post reports that Biden administration officials told Senate aides Tuesday that as many as 15,000 Americans are still in Afghanistan. Currently, there isnt a plan for evacuating those who are outside of Kabul, due to the Taliban checkpoints surrounding the capital. Later on Tuesday, national security adviser Jake Sullivan said that the Taliban informed us that they are prepared to provide the safe passage of civilians to the airport, and we intend to hold them to that commitment. According to White House officials on Tuesday, 3,200

NYT: Intelligence agencies had bleaker outlook on Afghanistan

The New York Times reports that assessments from intelligence agencies had painted a bleak outlook on the chances that the Afghan military would collapse, in contrast with the optimistic tone that the Biden administration had taken publicly. One report from July indicated that the Afghan government was unprepared for an attack from the Taliban.

The outlet found that the agencies predicted that should the Taliban seize cities, a cascading collapse could happen rapidly and the Afghan security forces were at high risk of falling apart.

A number of decisions that were crucial to the American withdrawal from Afghanistan were made prior to July, according to administration officials, and the intelligence consensus at that time was that a potential Taliban takeover could take more than 18 months to occur.

Inside a plane taking off from Kabul

Pentagon says Kabul airport is secure

U.S. Army Major General Hank Taylor provided an update to the situation in Afghanistan during a briefing at the Pentagon Tuesday morning.

Yesterday, the U.S. military footprint in Afghanistan started at about roughly 2,500. And by the end of today, there will be more than approximately 4,000 troops in Kabul, Taylor said.

During the briefing, it was revealed that the airport in Kabul is now secured and that evacuation flights have resumed.

Throughout the night, nine C-17s arrived, delivering equipment and approximately 1,000 troops, Taylor said. Additionally, seven C-17s departed. These flights lifted approximately 700-800 passengers and, we can confirm, 165 of these passengers are American citizens. The rest are a mix of SIV applicants, third country nationals.

Taylor said that the speed of evacuations is currently at one plane in and out per hour, but that the hope is that the rate will increase.

We predict that our best effort could look like 5,000 to 9,000 passengers departing per day. But we are mindful that a number of factors influence this effort and circumstances could change, Taylor said.

Taylor also said that there have been no hostile interactions from the Taliban.

We remain vigilant, he said.

U.S. has plans to accelerate refugee relocation

On Monday, the Department of Defense confirmed that the U.S. would accept more Special Immigrant Visa applicants following the Afghan governments collapse. At a briefing, a Pentagon spokesperson said that plans are in motion to evacuate 20,000 to 22,000 SIV applicants in Afghanistan. These refugees could then be flown potentially to either Fort McCoy in Wisconsin or Fort Bliss in Texas. There may be other sites identified if services are needed, if additional capacity is needed, the spokesperson added.

The announcement came a little less than 24 hours after U.S. forces temporarily halted the Afghan civilian evacuation in order to prioritize Americans in-country. Around 2,000 SIV applicants have already been evacuated, but advocates estimate that there are still 50,000 SIV candidates still in Afghanistan. The U.S. currently has 34,500 slots available in its SIV program. In his address on Monday, President Biden added that the U.S. would extend refugee access to many Afghans in danger who worked for NGOs and news agencies and are not already eligible for the SIV program.

Biden: I stand squarely behind my decision.

President Biden returned from Camp David to the White House Monday to address the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban. He did not sound any notes of regret regarding his decision to completely withdraw U.S. forces from the country.

We went into Afghanistan almost 20 years ago with clear goals: get those who attacked us September 11, 2001, and make sure Al-Qaeda could not use Afghanistan as a base from which to attack us again. We did that, Biden said.

He continued, Our mission in Afghanistan was never supposed to have been nation building. It was never supposed to be creating a unified, centralized democracy. Our only vital national interest in Afghanistan remains today what it has always been: preventing a terrorist attack on the American homeland.

Biden emphasized that the withdrawal of American troops began under President Trump, saying he inherited a deal that the former president negotiated with the Taliban, which had the U.S. leaving Afghanistan by May 1. He said he had to make a choice to follow through on that agreement or prepare for more fighting with the Taliban without the protection of the agreement.

It was only a cold reality of either following through on the agreement to withdraw our forces or escalating the conflict and sending thousands more American troops back into combat in Afghanistan, lurching into the third decade of conflict, Biden said.

He continued, I stand squarely behind my decision.

Biden acknowledged that the situation in the nation did unfold more quickly than we anticipated, but did not attribute it to American actions or lack thereof.

Afghanistan political leaders gave up and fled the country. The Afghan military collapsed, sometimes without trying to fight, he said.

He continued, American troops cannot and should not be fighting in a war and dying in a war that Afghan forces are not willing to fight for themselves.

Taliban spokesman claims Afghanis who aided Americans wont be harmed

A Taliban spokesman said in an interview with MSNBC that the group will not go after Afghanis still in the country who have previously aided Americans.

We will not punish them and we will not force an arrest for them, for their property and for their life, he said.

Biden Orders More Troops to Kabul

President Biden ordered an additional 1,000 U.S. troops to the Hamid Karzai International Airport to help maintain control of the complex, which has become the final redoubt for American forces as they prepare to fully depart from the country. The move came after at least seven deaths at the airport, where desperate Afghans massed on runways Monday morning, clinging to planes as they tried to find a way out of the country.

Afghans Cling to Departing Planes in Surreal Scenes

As the last U.S. forces prepare to leave Afghanistan, desperate Afghanis crowded Hamid Karzai International Airport, which is still controlled and fortified by American soldiers, in a last-ditch effort to find any flight out of the country.

Videos emerging on Monday show dozens of Afghan men running alongside an Air Force plane as it nears takeoff, in a surreal, disturbing scene.

Insane. Dont have any other words.



The Kabul Airport.



pic.twitter.com/ylraJsDyme  Ragp Soylu (@ragipsoylu) August 16, 2021

In a subsequent video, multiple objects could be seen falling from the departing plane as it rose above the airport. It was unclear whether these were human beings.

In the aftermath of this chaos, American forces temporarily suspended operations at the airport.

The Biden administration had previously made clear that for the time being, it was prioritizing the evacuation of American personnel over the many Afghans who had helped U.S. forces over the countrys long occupation.

U.S. pauses most evacuation flights for Afghan citizens

Amid the chaos of the evacuation, CNN reported that the U.S. has curtailed the number of government-sponsored evacuation flights to the United States for Afghans who worked alongside the US for the time being as it prioritizes the evacuation of American personnel from the country. Though earlier on Sunday, the Departments of State and Defense issued a joint statement vowing to accelerate the evacuation of thousands of Afghans eligible for U.S. Special Immigrant Visas, the last planned flight with SIV applicants and their families has reportedly taken off already. According to one SIV applicant who spoke with the International Refuge Assistance Project, they were told that due to present security conditions, we are unfortunately unable to offer you relocation on this flight. Please DO NOT report to the airport. Continue to shelter in place.

Meanwhile, the rush to the airport was under way on Monday morning:

Video from Monday morning, as people rushing to the airport in Kabul.pic.twitter.com/9L9BxTMaHt  Hesamuddin Hesam (@hhesam_) August 16, 2021

The U.S. boosts troop levels again to support the exit

Weeks ahead of the deadline for U.S. withdrawal, the Pentagon announced last week that an additional 4,000 troops would be stationed at the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul to secure the withdrawal as the Taliban swept across Afghanistan. On Sunday, the Pentagon announced that an additional 2,000 troops would be sent to Kabul over the next 48 hours. U.S. forces will also take over air traffic control at the airport during that period.

The American flag has reportedly been lowered at the U.S. embassy in Kabul

According to a State spokesperson who spoke to CBS News, all embassy personnel have been evacuated and have been relocated to a facility on the grounds of the Kabul airport. While the U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan remains in country, the American flag has been lowered at the embassy.

Afghan president flees, government collapses

AJ shows Taliban inside Kabul presidential palace pic.twitter.com/9iaOgMzAaY  Catherine Philp (@scribblercat) August 15, 2021

President Ashraf Ghani has fled the country to Tajikistan, a senior Afghan official told Reuters. Afghan peace negotiator Abdullah Abdullah has also announced Ghanis departure. In the meantime, Taliban leaders are reportedly ready to announce that they have taken control of the entire country from the presidential palace. There does not seem to be any chance of any kind of transitional government at this point.

Earlier, a Taliban spokesperson had said that the groups fighters had fully entered the city in order to secure it against looting as the Afghan security forces abandoned their positions. The spokesperson also claimed that Our forces are quietly entering the city, they wont bother anyone, government employees both civilian and military should be assured that no one will harm them, no Mujahid is allowed to enter peoples houses, or hurt or bother anyone.

Back from the western outskirts of Kabul, where this evening there were extraordinary scenes of Taliban fighters leaving the capital in captured Humvees and police trucks, brandishing M16s, cheered on by crowds of bystanders, chased by packs of children.  Matthieu Aikins (@mattaikins) August 15, 2021

The scene at Kabuls international airport

This video appears to show U.S. Afghan allies being loaded onto a Boeing C-17 to be evacuated on Sunday night:

Scene of the evacuation from Hamid Karzai International Airport a little more than half an hour ago. pic.twitter.com/MYqBO8QG3Y  Evan Hill (@evanhill) August 15, 2021

Reuters reports that NATO officials have shut down commercial air traffic from Kabuls airport, permitting only military planes to operate there.

From the New York Times report about the ongoing evacuation:

A frenzied evacuation of U.S. diplomats and civilians kicked into high gear, while Afghans made a mad dash to banks, their homes and the airport. Crowds of people ran down the streets as the sound of gunfire echoed in downtown Kabul. 

The runway of the airport was filled with a constellation of uniforms from different nations. They joined contractors, diplomats and civilians all trying to catch a flight out of the city. Those who were eligible to fly were given special bracelets, denoting their status as noncombatants. On the civilian side of the airport, a long line of people waited outside the check-in gate, unsure if the flights they had booked out of the country would arrive.

For millions of Afghans, including tens of thousands who assisted the U.S. efforts in the country for years, there were no bracelets.

Earlier, a U.S. Embassy security alert went out warning: There are reports of the airport taking fire; therefore we are instructing U.S. citizens to shelter in place.

People line up outside AZIZI Bank to take out cash as the Bank suffers amid money crises in Kabul, Afghanistan, on August 15. Photo: Haroon Sabawoon/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Taliban fighters have entered Kabul, but group is reportedly awaiting peaceful transfer of city

The Associated Press reports that Taliban fighters have entered three districts of the capital, according to Afghan officials. The militant group told Al Jazeera that has instructed its fighters to remain outside the city and to avoid violence while awaiting a peaceful transfer of Kabul city  which it apparently expects to be an unconditional surrender.

There have been no reports of fighting in the city, as of yet. After encircling the city, the Taliban released a statement claiming residents had nothing to fear from them.

Around Kabul, Im witnessing government forces put on plainclothes and walk away from their posts, heading home to find loved ones. Streets are peaceful, mostly empty.  Matthieu Aikins (@mattaikins) August 15, 2021

Where there used to be checkpoints, soldiers & scrutinizing police, are now empty roads & traffic circles. Cant see any Security forces on the roads in Kabul that we have passed through this evening. There is a strange calmness across the city as the prayer call rings out.  Marcus Yam  (@yamphoto) August 15, 2021

U.S. Embassy evacuated

Within hours of the Talibans capture of the nearby city of Jalalabad, numerous flights of Boeing CH-47 Chinook and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters began shuttling people away from the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, in addition to departures of armored diplomatic SUVs. The Associated Press reports that smoke could be seen rising from the roof of the embassy building, as U.S. staff burned sensitive documents. Other nearby embassies were reportedly doing the same.

And so it goes. The end. pic.twitter.com/PaoTLei8S9  Yaroslav Trofimov (@yarotrof) August 15, 2021

According to the New York Times, a core group of U.S. diplomats who had been planning on remaining in the country no matter what has been transferred to a facility at the citys international airport  though its not clear how long they intend to remain there.

NEW: US AMBASSADOR HAS LEFT THE EMBASSY IN #KABUL. He and the flag are at the airport, per @CBSNews.  Ruffini (@EenaRuffini) August 15, 2021

Negotiations between Afghan and Taliban officials under way

Afghan interior minister Abdul Sattar Mirzakwal announced in a recorded video on Sunday that there will be a peaceful transfer of power to a transition government, and Afghan officials are still reportedly attempting to negotiate the terms of that transition. Al Jazeera reports the Afghan president Ashraf Ghani has not fled the country, at least not yet, as had been rumored.

Bagram air base surrenders

The longtime epicenter of the U.S. war effort, until American forces abandoned the base early last month, is reportedly now in Taliban hands  and the group has released the 5,000 prisoners who were being housed there.

Taliban claim theyve taken Bagram airbase and freed their prisoners, evacuating them to a safe place. I was told previously there were more than 5k taliban prisoners inside, including senior leaders.  Richard Engel (@RichardEngel) August 15, 2021

This post has and will be updated.
Heres why East Alabama Medical Center recently moved its COVID-19 infusion center into the space previously occupied by the hospitals ICU waiting room, increasing the infusions it can administer each day from 48 to 64:

Since December, EAMC has administered 1,765 infusions at its infusion center and in its three emergency rooms in Opelika, Auburn and Valley, as of Thursday.

All of these patients were considered to be high risk for hospitalization. Risk factors include a body mass index of 35, which has since been lowered to 25, an age of 65 and up, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, pregnancy, cancer, being immunocompromised, or being 55 years or older and having cardiovascular disease, hypertension or COPD.

When someone tests positive for COVID-19 at EAMC, he or she is screened for these high-risk factors and if identified as high-risk, is able to go ahead and receive an infusion. Patients may also be referred to the infusion center by their private physicians.

According to studies, between 20% and 40% of high-risk COVID patients will be admitted to the hospital, compared to between 4% and 5% of high-risk COVID patients who receive infusions.

Chuck Beams, EAMCs executive director of pharmacy services, breaks down the numbers.
The threat is real, it is acute, it is persistent and something were focused with every tool in our arsenal," said Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan.

Sullivan said on CNN's State of the Union that 3,900 people had been airlifted out of Kabul on U.S. military flights over the past 24 hours. A U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity to provide details not yet made public, said those people were flown on a total of 23 flights  14 by C-17 transports and nine aboard C-130 cargo planes.

That represents an increase from 1,600 flown out aboard U.S. military planes in the previous 24 hours, but remains far below the 5,000 to 9,000 that the military says it has the capacity to airlift daily. Sullivan also said about 3,900 people were airlifted on non-U.S. military flights over the past 24 hours.

The Biden administration has given no firm estimate of the number of Americans seeking to leave Afghanistan. Some have put the total between 10,000 and 15.000. Sullivan on Sunday put it at several thousand.

Speaking on ABCs This Week, Austin said that as Bidens Aug. 31 deadline for ending the evacuation operation approaches, he will recommend whether to give it more time. Tens of thousands of Americans and others have yet to be flown out of the country.
Washington, PA (15301)

Today

A steady rain this morning. Showers continuing this afternoon. High 68F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a half an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Slight chance of a shower throughout the evening. Low 52F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.
Noooooooo! I love this dude. He's such a great actor. I was JUST talking about him the other day after watching him in The Green Knight.



Edited at 2021-08-23 01:19 pm (UTC)

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very few actors can eat spaghetti the way he does.



i hope he recovers soon, wishing him all the best. and i wish the worst for whoever assaulted him

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Im glad its nothing too serious. Hope he recovers quickly.

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Omg wtf? Poor guy why are people like this :(

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Damn what? Whats wrong with people.

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I'm glad the injuries aren't too serious. Especially for an actor, facial injuries are no joke.

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Fuck, he is 28!

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this is awful and I hope he recovers, but I really just came here to say I stayed at this hotel a few years ago and it was gorgeous. get better Barry!

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WTF, that's awful. He's so talented, hope he's okay.

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jesus that's awful. hope he has a speedy recovery

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Anything involving knives scares me. One time I was sitting on the aisle seat of a bus in Bogota and next thing you know, a guy came on the bus, suddenly pulling out a knife and pushing it towards the throat of the guy sitting right next to me (window seat) because he wanted that guys iPhone. Like he just leaned right over me with his stretched out arm and the knife in his hand. Ive almost never felt more scared but also invisible in my live at the same time. In my head I was like ARE YOU FOR REAL ?!? but I couldnt speak.



Edited at 2021-08-23 02:35 pm (UTC)

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Holy shit that's terrifying!

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Jesus Christ thats horrifying

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what the SHIT

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Wow, thats scary! Hope hes recovering well.

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Is Galway a particularly dangerous place? I know knife crime is big in the UK but I am not sure if that is also true in Ireland?

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Its been a few years since I was there but I dont think so. Although there was the All-Ireland hurling match yesterday, so maybe people were out and extra drunk?

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I've been and it's a fairly quiet small-ish town/city. Like marywebgirl, I'd assume it was more of a post-sports drunkenness thing.

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Knife crime is only an issue in the really big cities.

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Idk if a tourist's opinion can count as accurate but I was shocked to see Galway as the town.

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His Insta bio is Fuck you  



Not judging, just acknowledging.



I didnt realize that I had seen him in things before the (final) Eternals trailer came out.

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More to the retort: What the fuck is the entirety point of your reply? 

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the F word is a no-no word

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wait...what? it's not even close to true. and what spice did he mean?

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"Curry" rme

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it's wrong on every level lol



and didn't we just have the curry cultural conversation?

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That's what I assume he means- and he clearly doesn't know or care that "curry powder" has a bunch of different spices, etc.

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He refers to curry in his blurb about Indian food so people are interpreting him to also think curry is a single spice or even all curries having the same mix of spices/single spice.



He also rants about balsamic vinegar being named balsamic, a word he says didnt exist/have any meaning so he claims its a trick to make it fancier as if naming things to distinguish them isnt like a normal thing. What is ketchup before ketchup was invented? He is a dumbass humour columnist.

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That confused me too. Curry is a mix of spices and it varies depending on who's cooking. I read it like five times because I didn't realize he thinks curry is a single spice.

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Right? lol just watch one video of an actual Indian person vs. some white person making their food on YT and they'll use like, a dozen spices per dish.

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He literally meant curry as if its a spice.

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White tongues really out there with three taste buds that run off in different directions.

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And always wagging like they fucking know or are proud not to 

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Get him Padma. Hasn't this guy been a little turd for many, many years? I'm yet again ashamed to be American. Highly recommend Dave Chang's 'Ugly Delicious' episode titled "Don't Call it Curry." Really informative and gives perspective on why British and Americans call it 'curry.'

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Thanks for info on the UD ep - I just put it on my watchlist (never watched UD before.) 

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Oh man you haven't watched Ugly Delicious yet?! You're in for a real treat. The episode I mentioned is a banger, and so apropos.

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He can't handle the flavour of hazelnut? Hazel nut? Too strong, sir?









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Oh man, I feel triggered lol. hazelnut is too strong for me, I love the smell of hazelnut coffee but it gives me a headache. I can't tell if it's the smell or the taste that triggers it (I always forget to test if it's the smell & drink right away), but I've tried to drink a few different brands and I always end up with a headache after a few sips. Regular coffee doesn't bother me.

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Could this be a slight intolerance to hazelnuts? I don't think I'm allergic because it never escalates, but whenever I eat more than two pieces, I get an uncomfortable, scratchy feeling in the back of my throat and my tongue feels numb. So maybe you get headaches?

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That's hazelnut plus coffee; do you have the same experience with the (roasted) nut?

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Im sensitive to tannins and any tea/wine that I drink with it makes me feel like I have low blood sugar and I get headaches.

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My friends sister finds capsicums too spicy. Idek

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"Perspective" of a man who only eats chicken tenders and calls them "chicken nuggies".

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this triggered me for a trauma i didn't even realize i had

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Who needs to eat them with a large glass of milk due to finding the honey mustard sauce too zesty.

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nooo you can't bring this image to my mind before LJ gets a vomit emoji react 

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I bet he thinks salt is spicy.

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He shortens it to "nugs", 'cause he's fun like that.

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Lol the same kinda man who yells at you saying hes an American and its his American right to eat a hamburger every day.

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only time i call them that is when i'm asking my cats if they want some lol

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I mean apart from it being horribly racist and untrue , Indian cuisine has enormous variation based on locale, urban or rural, class, religion and so many other factors. Like what the fuck?

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I can't with people who have an endless list of foods they "can't" eat (allergies and medical needs aside, obviously), especially if most of the foods are vegetables and other whole foods. Not surprisingly, they tend to be the same people who don't know how to cook beyond ordering out or throwing something in the microwave.

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Even then, how can you not like any Indian food?



My stepdaughters ate like, five things when they were young. One night, my husband was making chicken tikka masala. We had nuggets for the kids because we never thought they would like something so spicy, but they loved it and still get excited for it, six years later.

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Yeah exactly, ive never met someone who doesnt at least like butter chicken or something  theres a variety of flavour combos and dishes i cant believe someone would say with their whole chest they dont like ALL indian cuisine

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my brother is extremely picky but he loves paratha. That's basically the only Indian food I can get him to eat though.

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My 4 year old is picky as fuck but he randomly loves Indian food, especially butter chicken, biryani, and naan.

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These are the people who go to NYC, eat at the Appleby's in Times Square and consider it an authentic NY experience

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I get not liking individual ingredients, but ruling out an entire cuisine based especially based on inaccurate information is ridiculous.

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This is reminding me of receiving a reply back to my wedding, and the intolerance and allergy section was filled with cramped handwriting, listing all of the things this person didnt like to eat (not things they couldnt eat).

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Can anyone tell me what spice make certain curry dishes really pungent or smelly? Curry dishes are like the top 1 food that I hate because of the overpowering smell. Japanese curry is a no no for me, too aromatic. Korean curry as well. I would assume indian curry also has the same thing. Philippine chicken curry, I also hate. They all have that same consistent smell/taste that I dont like and I dont know what that is. Indonesian sate also has this ingredient. Even some Mexican food has this spice and I dont know which spice is that? Its too overpowering for me and has horrible aftertaste.



Im so confused because theres a lot of curry dishes, and Thai has a very different curry which I surprisingly like. Philippines kare kare is also mostly peanut sauce, so it doesnt have that ugly pungent smell that I hate so I can tolerate it.



Im a semi picky eater. I love korean and japanese food, just get that curry away from me.



Im an open minded eater. I actually gave curry so many chances, but its the only related dish that I couldnt grow to like except for Thai curry.



It seems to be that there are curry dishes out there without this ingredient because I can tolerate them. I dont know! I think theres a million curry dishes out there and Im just lost in all of it.



Edited at 2021-08-24 07:13 pm (UTC)

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How can you not like curry? Also every Indian dish Ive ever had was delicious and I want to try more. Any suggestions?

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I recently got slightly adventurous with my Indian order and got a paneer dosa. It's this amazing thin crepe that's kind of nutty stuffed with potatoes, onions and paneer cheese. Served with a side of soup to dip it in. Absolutely INCREDIBLE.

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omg yum, I need to see if my local place has that!

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omg that sounds so good. I've never had a dosa.

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Mmm, dosas are the best. I havent had paneer with dosa, but it sounds good.

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Super late, and I'm not sure how your local place does it but the soup that comes with the dosa is actually a curry :) We eat it with rice!



If you're feeling more adventurous, I'd recommend trying out more South Indian cuisine, it's than milder than North Indian food!

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When I was just a vegetarian, I went to a restaurant and had a curry with cheese in it.



No idea what it was, but it worked. I didnt expect it to work so well.

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Here to stan dal makhani (delicious lentils) - sorry if I got the spelling wrong.

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if you like meat, try nihari, food of my peoples~

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Shahi paneer is one of my faves! Also sholay (usually called channa masala in restaurants).



And for sweets you can't beat a fresh hot gulab jaman.

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I def recommend trying to find some South Indian foods/recipes! Most Indian food in North America is North Indian, and South Indian has different spices and dishes most people haven't tried.

I recommend a Kerala style fish curry (v. hot!) or chicken chicken chettinad, and as another person said, dosas!

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try everything. many have lunch buffets where you can taste a bunch of stuff. or when things are normal again, go with a bunch of friends and share.



my biggest tip is that most indian places that cater to americans might have 1000 things on the menu, but the menu is actually pretty simple. most curry dishes are a sauce and an ingredient (protein, potato, okra, etc.) so play around with the combinations to find what you like.



not gonna do specific recs because i don't know you or what you like :)

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my favorite dish is baingan bharta



from wiki:



 Baingan bharta (mashed eggplant) is a South Asian dish prepared by mincing grilled eggplant (baingan) and mixing it with tomato, onion, herbs and spices. Grilling the eggplant over charcoal or direct fire infuses the dish with a smoky flavour. Mashed eggplant is then mixed with cooked chopped tomato, browned onion, ginger, garlic, cumin, fresh cilantro (coriander leaves), chili pepper, and mustard oil or a neutral vegetable oil.[1]



its incredible lol



Edited at 2021-08-23 09:35 pm (UTC)

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She has great recipes for homestyle sabzi, chaat, as well as restaurant-style dishes.

My favorite thing to recommend is golgape! It's also called pani puri and looks like this:







it's a crispy little ball filled with potatoes and chickpeas. You fill it with a spicy water and eat it in one bite. You can find kits at Indian grocery stores to make them at home, and a lot of casual restaurants serve them too. This website is my go-to: https://www.vegrecipesofindia.com/ She has great recipes for homestyle sabzi, chaat, as well as restaurant-style dishes.My favorite thing to recommend is golgape! It's also called pani puri and looks like this:it's a crispy little ball filled with potatoes and chickpeas. You fill it with a spicy water and eat it in one bite. You can find kits at Indian grocery stores to make them at home, and a lot of casual restaurants serve them too.

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I don't like curry (the spice). I also was not a fan of chicken tikka (no masala as my mom doesn't eat tomatoes) & lamb rogan josh  but I guess it could have been the restaurant we ordered from.



I do not eat cheese so paneer stuff is out for me.



I do like naan & samosas.

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I am an incredibly picky eater - that doesn't mean I lump an entire nation's food into the "avoid at all costs" column. I will ALWAYS find something to eat.

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Same. I'm so picky, but that's my issue, not others. I never stop people from going to a restaurant. If I can't find something to eat, I won't eat, but I can still enjoy the company. My limited palate is on me, and I'm damn sure not going to lecture others on what I don't like.

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Same - I went to Korean BBQ with colleagues and they ordered a bunch of spicy stuff. I literally sat there and ate plain rice.

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I HEREBY CONDEMN HIM TO A SPOONFUL OF DA BOMB. He doesnt deserve taste buds lbr.

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tablespoon (not teaspoon). he deserves to burn at both ends.

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OH YOU KNOW ITS A TABLESPOON

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what a blatantly ignorant and racist thing to say.

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Why would anyone want a picky eater's opinion on food anyway?

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lmao my white ass can't tolerate anything spicier than salt and even I love Indian food. That graphic of him dressed like a fussy toddler is so accurate.

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Lol so people argue over the best curry because they all essentially have the exact same flavour?

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I'm from the border so I had never had Indian food and i couldn't eat it at first (it would give me a migraine), but once my body got used to the new, different spices omg i fucking love Indian

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the border of what?

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What You Need to Know: Health & Safety Plans at ASSP Safety 2021

The American Society of Safety Professionals has outlined an extensive plan to keep Safety 2021 attendees safe and healthy at the conference and expo this year.

Conferences for safety professionals have so many benefits. Theres the education, networking and exploring new products on the expo floor that make your time away from the office or worksite worth the trip. For many, however, the ongoing pandemic continues to make travel plans uncertain.

For safety pros looking to head to Austin, Texas for the American Society of Safety Professionals Safety 2021 Professional Development Conference & Exposition this year, you might be interested to learn what policies and procedures they have in place to ensure the safety and health of all of those who decide to choose the in-person attendance route.

According to ASSPs Policies & Procedures, the Society has set up thorough Health & Safety Plans to mitigate the risk of infection during the in-person event. For all individuals planning to attend the conference, in order to pick up your badge you will need to provide proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within 48 hours prior to checking in. The ASSP will ask attendees to wear a face covering when inside the convention center as well as follow good hygiene practices, including washing hands frequently, using hand sanitizer and maintaining physical distancing when possible.

The ASSP will also be doing a few things to help keep the conference as safe and healthy as possible, including contactless badge printouts, spaced seating in sessions, regular cleaning at the convention center and communicate clearly with attendees about any updates about protocols regarding COVID-19.

The Society also thought it best to not provide a traditional conference lunch as part of the event. Instead, ASSP will be directing attendees to a variety of food trucks that will provide plenty of food options for individuals to enjoy outdoors. The conference timeline has been adjusted to allow for adequate time for lunch each day.

In order to minimize the risk of transmission, ASSP will not be holding board, council or committee meetings, nor will they be hosting any lounges, receptions, dinners or retreats. Educational sessions will be limited to a specific capacity limit and seating will be based on a first come, first-seated basis.

The ASSP made it a point on their website to say that the pandemic is a very fluid situation and that they will remain in tune with the national and local news regarding the virus to shift policies and procedures closer to the event.

Keep an eye on the ASSP Safety 2021 website for more information.
As Brazils oil industry looks set to soar over the next decade, with the potential to provide almost a quarter of the worlds offshore oil by 2025, Big Oil is betting big on the oil-rich state.

Unlike the rest of the world, which reined in oil production in 2020 as demand stagnated in the wake of a global pandemic, Brazil actually increased its output. These sustained levels of production put it on route to double its output by 2030, making it the worlds fifth-largest exporter, a target that appears realistic thanks to its low cost-oil giving the country a competitive advantage over many OPEC+ states.

In fact, Brazil could contribute as much as 23 percent, around 1.3 billion bpd of oil, by 2025 if its ambitious new oil projects go as planned. At present, 29 crude developments are expected to commence operations between 2021 and 2025, including key projects in Bacalhau, Buzios V (Franco), and Lula Oeste.

As the rest of the world speaks of energy transitions, from fossil fuels to renewable alternatives, Brazil is steadfast in its position on the black gold, it will drill for as long as there is demand.

Experts point to the not-so-distant future in which oil and gas demand will diminish as renewable energy production becomes more mainstream. Meanwhile, Brazil is pumping money and labor into its already well-established oil industry, with a government that strongly supports the exploitation of the countrys natural resources in support of the national economy.

While oil majors may no longer be pursuing huge expansion projects like those seen in Brazil in a decade or so, while demand remains high Big Oil is looking to the Latin giant to propel the industry forward before this momentum is halted.

With Venezuela looking to put itself back on the map as an oil giant, pending the easing of U.S. sanctions, and Big Oil is investing heavily in significant offshore projects in Guyana and Surinam, Latin America appears to be committed to pursuing its oil future. As European powers and the U.S. push for greener policies and a gradual movement away from fossil fuels, Latin America and the Caribbean are finally seeing its time to shine as the world still needs oil to survive during this long transition period.

While the push for greater exploration is strong, leading the government to predict another oil boom in the coming years, experts are less certain. Many believe that the exploration projects currently underway will simply sustain Brazils crude production levels, rather than enhance them. However, several oil majors are taking this bet as TotalEnergies and Chevron both announce plans to ramp up their operations in the country.

This week, TotalEnergies announced that it expects to triple its oil production in Brazil by 2025, investing in its stake in several pre-salt oil developments in the country. Total has a current output of around 50,000 bpd of oil in Brazil, mainly from the Lapa pre-salt field. TotalEnergies Brazil managing director Philippe Blanchard stated to a panel at the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, We expect to achieve production rates of 150,000 bpd by 2025, with the contribution from fields such as Mero, Iara and Gato do Mato.

Shell-operated Gato do Mato, a pre-salt development is expecting its first oil production in 2024. Petroblas is also hoping for production to commence in a similar time frame in its Iara cluster, which consists of the Berbigao, Sururu, and Atapu pre-salt fields.

Chevron also voiced its interest in developing its pre-salt oil discoveries in Brazil at the Houston conference. Chevrons Brazil country manager stated the significance of the companys pre-salt chapter, saying we want a piece of that in reference to Brazils pre-salt oil finds. Since 2018, Chevron has held interests in 11 deepwater projects in the countrys Campos and Santos basins.

The government of Brazil is expected to hold an auction in December for licenses in two blocks of the pre-salt area, showing the potential for further growth in this sector. However, regulatory uncertainty and high license fees put companies off from bidding on the Sepia and Atapu blocks in 2019, a challenge that the government hope will be resolved by the next auction thanks to greater interest in the pre-salt area.

Senior Oil & Gas Analyst at GlobalData, Effuah Alleyne, highlighted the significance of Brazils crude and condensate production from pre-salt fields. While Saudi Arabia dominates liquids production globally, mostly from already producing projects, Brazil leads crude and condensate production from upcoming/new projects. Brazils prolific pre-salt layer in the Santos Basin has produced a strong portfolio of offshore projects operated mainly by Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. (Petrobras), the main national oil company in the country. 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, she stated.

As countries across the rest of the world fight for international favor as energy transition leaders, Brazil recognizes the importance and ongoing necessity of its strong oil industry. With so much potential still untapped, particularly in its pre-salt area, Big Oil is looking to this Latin giant for the future of oil in a world of uncertainty.

By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
ir Winston Churchill once admonished leaders to never let a good crisis go to waste, and Big Oil has rarely failed to heed the advice. Under normal circumstances, energy downturns have created perfect opportunities for deep-pocketed oil and gas heavyweights to land prime assets on the cheap. A good case in point: the last oil bust of 2016 was followed by a sizable number of huge M&A deals in the sector including the $60B tie-up between Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE:RDS.A) and BG Group, Canadian Oil Sands and Suncor EnergyEnergy, as well as a handful that fell through including the proposed merger between Halliburton (NYSE:HAL) and Baker Hughes (NYSE:BKR).

But Big Oil has now ditched that old playbook and appears largely disinterested in some M&A action this time around.

The current year is shaping up as one of the slowest in the oil and gas industry as far as mergers are concerned. According to data compiled by Bloomberg, so far there's been $86 billion of takeovers announced, pending or completed in the current year, on track for one of the most lackluster years for energy tie-ups in two decades.

Source: Bloomberg

M&A disaster

Oil executives appear too gun-shy to pull the trigger on the numerous distressed assets that have become available after the latest oil downturn--and for a good reason.

After all, the last M&A wave turned into a disaster for many of the acquiring companies.

Last year, Royal Dutch Shell cut its dividend from US$0.16 per ordinary share to US$0.4, good for a 66% cut. That marked the first time the company cut the dividend since WWII, a testament of just how severe the oil massacre has been, which is what Shell blamed in its press release. However, there could be another culprit to blame for the dramatic cut: the company's 2016 acquisition of BG Group, which set it back $60B.

Occidental Petroleum's (NYSE:OXY) $55B leveraged purchase of Anadarko has become the poster-child of oil and gas mergers gone bad. The deal has turned into a complete disaster, leaving the company in deep distress over its mountain of debt and water cooler wisecracks of how it could itself get acquired at a fraction of what it paid for Anadarko.

Big Oil's high debt levels are also to blame; Cowen has pointed at BP Plc. 's (NYSE:BP) extremely high debt, though it might have less to do with its 2018 merger with BHP Billiton for $10.5B and more to do with its Deepwater Horizon oil spill which has cost it a staggering $65B in clean-up costs and legal fees over the years.

BP's debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87 is way higher than the oil and gas sector's average of 0.47, and the highest among the oil supermajors.

BP is hardly alone in the debt conundrum.

Whereas Chevron (NYSE:CVX), Shell (NYSE:RDS.A), and TotalEnergies (NYSE:TTE) all have all announced a return to stock buybacks during the current earnings season, ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM) has opted to pay down debt rather than reward shareholders. Exxon suspended buybacks in 2016 as it went on one of the most aggressive shale expansions, particularly in the Permian.

WSJ Heard On The Street's Jinjoo Lee says Exxon has less flexibility than its peers thanks to years of overspending followed by a brutal 2020. This has left the company in a vulnerable position, and now Exxon has little choice but to lower its debt levels which have recently hit record highs.

Luckily for XOM shareholders, CEO Darren Woods has reassured investors that reinstating buybacks is "on the table," though he has reiterated that "restoring the strength of our balance sheet, returning debt to levels consistent with a strong double-A rating" remains the top priority.

Source: Y-Charts

Cowen, though, says that oil majors like Chevron and Total with relatively strong balance sheets could go for cheap assets such as GALP Energia (GALP.Portugal) or BP's stake in a gas project in Oman.

Capital discipline

Instead of mergers, oil and gas companies are preferring to maintain the all-important dividend or cut capex in a bid to preserve liquidity. This is a trend we clearly witnessed during the last earnings season.

The world's oil and gas companies have continued to hold back from raising their capital spending budgets as they try to maintain capital discipline.

According to RBC, the aggregate investment budget for the 190 oil and gas companies tracked by the firm is forecast to grow by 4% to $348B from $334.7B in 2020, but a good 25% below 2019 levels of $461.7B spent.

Top spenders Saudi Aramco (ARMCO) and PetroChina (NYSE:PTR) are expected to spend a combined $170.3B this year, up 12% from 2020 levels but 3.4% below 2019 levels.

Combined spending by the seven global oil supermajors is expected to total $78.2B in 2021, just 1% more than the $77.8B spent in 2020 and 20% lower than $110B spent in 2019.

Not everybody shares Cowen's bearish M&A outlook, though.

Goldman Sachs analyst Michele DellaVigna says the highly fragmented U.S. shale industry could still be a candidate for a spate of consolidations.

DellaVigna has conceded that we are not likely to see a repeat of the mega-mergers of the 1990s; however, he says there's a financial case to be made for mergers, especially in a sector like U.S. shale that has previously lacked cost discipline:

"The oil industry has delivered its best corporate returns in periods of consolidation, financial tightening and rising barriers to entry. We believe this environment (and shareholder pressure for de-carbonisation) could engender a similar phase of consolidation and capital discipline, as in the late '90s."

By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
South America continues to feature prominently among petroleum industry headlines. Offshore Brazil and Guyana have become the focal point of what is shaping up to be the continents two biggest oil booms, while Venezuelas once mammoth oil industry has nearly collapsed. Ongoing wrangling within OPEC plus over production cuts, with the United Arab Emirates disagreeing with Saudi Arabia at the last meeting, is putting considerable pressure on oil prices. The international oil price benchmark Brent has lost 16% since soaring to over $78 per barrel in early July 2021 primarily due to uncertainty over OPEC plus production and the impact of the coronavirus delta variant on global energy demand. These latest events, however, are not deterring big oil from investing in South America.

Argentinas hydrocarbon sector, notably the exploitation of the vast Vaca Muerta shale oil play, is gaining considerable momentum after national oil company YFP, which is leading the charge, narrowly avoided a debt default earlier this year. Even the latest market ructions have done little to blunt spending and activity in the Vaca Muerta. Earlier this year Omar Gutierrez, governor of Neuquen province, where most of the shale play is located, stated that the Vaca Muerta will attract $3.8 billion of investment. Such a significant injection of capital will progress the exploitation of the shale formation which Buenos Aires views as a silver bullet for Argentinas economic woes.

It is national oil company YPF that is spearheading the exploitation of the Vaca Muerta budgeting $1.5 billion in Neuquen province alone to be spent on exploration and development activities to boost oil reserves and production. Big oil is also investing heavily in the Vaca Muerta, including developing vital energy infrastructure such as pipelines and processing facilities.

This includes energy supermajor Shell which earlier this year committed to drilling 100 wells in the shale formation during 2021 and 2022. The integrated energy company also allocated $80 million to construct a 120,000 barrel per day pipeline connecting its Sierras Blancas block in the Vaca Muerta to the town of Rio Allen. Shell also commenced a 30,000 barrel per day processing plant on its Vaca Muerta acreage during June 2021. Growing investment in the Vaca Muerta saw Neuquens governor announced he anticipates provincial oil production by the end of 2021 of 235,000 barrels per day which represents a 47% year over year increase. That will further cement Neuquen as being Argentinas leading hydrocarbon producing province which for the first half of 2021 pumped 36% of the Latin American nations crude oil and 55% of its natural gas.

Momentum is even picking up in Colombia where the economically crucial oil industry has suffered a series of setbacks since the March 2020 oil price crash. Recent nationwide anti-government protests, an emerging security crisis, growing political uncertainty, and the pandemic have all impacted the beaten-down hydrocarbon sector hard. Investment during 2020 fell by 49% year over year to $2.05 billion while annual crude oil production declined by nearly 12% to an average of 781,300 barrels per day. By June 2021 petroleum output had plunged to an average of 694,151 barrels per day, the lowest level in over a decade, because of heightened political turmoil and nationwide anti-government protests.

Despite these problems and a sharp decline in production the national government in Bogota as well as the leading industry body, the Colombian Petroleum Association (ACP  Spanish initials), are optimistic regarding the future of Colombias economically vital oil industry. The ACP stated in early (Spanish) 2021 that investment in Colombias beaten down petroleum industry could reach up to $3.45 billion or a notable 68% greater than a year earlier. Even recent anti-government protests and an emerging security crisis will not deter that significant uptick in investment, particularly with the international benchmark Brent trading at over $65 per barrel well above Colombias average breakeven price.

Earlier this year Colombias hydrocarbon regulator, the National Hydrocarbon Agency (ANH  Spanish initials) unveiled its 2021 bid round (Spanish). A total of 32 hydrocarbon blocks comprised of 23 onshore and 9 offshore contracts are being offered. Colombias energy minister Diego Mesa believes this will attract much-needed investment to boost urgently required oil reserves and production. Bogota is focused on promoting offshore drilling in the Caribbean Sea to offset aging onshore oil fields with high decline rates where production is regularly interrupted by community blockades and pipeline outages, usually caused by acts of sabotage. For those reasons, Mesa expects Colombias oil production to rebound and average around 790,000 barrels per day during 2021. While that appears ambitious, if drillers arent roiled by the latest decline in oil prices, it is feasible with output averaging 729,808 during the first six months of 2021 and the rig count steadily rising to 19 operation drill rigs at the end of July.

The Guyana-Suriname basin is attracting considerable attention with new offshore oil discoveries being since the start of 2021. The former British colony of Guyana is on track to become a leading regional oil producer with Exxon and its partners Hess and CNOOC experiencing outstanding success in the offshore Stabroek Block. Exxon has identified around nine billion barrels of recoverable oil resources and late last month made its 21st discovery in the Stabroek Block at the Whiptail-1 well. The energy supermajors Liza Phase One operation reached full capacity pumping around 130,000 barrels per day during March 2021. Exxon is in the process of developing Liza Phase 2 and the Payara projects which will see it pumping around 750,000 barrels per day from the Stabroek Block by 2026.

The former Dutch colony of Suriname is fast becoming one of South Americas hottest offshore drilling locations. TotalEnergies, which is the operator, and partner Apache has made five quality medium-to-light grade crude oil discoveries in offshore Block 58. The latest being the Sapakara South-1 well 4 kilometers south-east of the Sapakara West-1 discovery. Next for TotalEnergies is targeting the Bonboni prospect in Block 58. It is estimated that Block 58 contains up to 6.5 billion barrels of recoverable oil resources and production will commence in 2025 with Surinames crude oil output expected to hit 650,000 barrels daily by 2030. Surinames national oil company and industry regulator Staatsolie recently awarded three shallow-water contracts with Chevron winning block 5 and TotalEnergies with partner Qatar Petroleum being awarded blocks 6 and 8. That will generate further investment and exploration activity in offshore Suriname.

Related: Japans Strategic Plan For LNG May Be Unrealistic



Brazil, Latin Americas largest oil producer, should not be forgotten. In the space of a decade, the regions largest economy has expanded its oil output by nearly 40% from 2.17 million barrels per day in 2011 to 3.03 million barrels daily during 2020. Brazils oil production continues to expand at a steady clip as national oil company Petrobras and foreign energy majors ramp up investment. Toward the end of 2020, Petrobras announced plans to invest $55 billion from 2021 to 2025 to develop Brazils subsalt oil fields with the company estimating that oil production will reach 2.7 million barrels per day by 2025.

Key to that plan is developing the 210,000-acre Buzios oilfield which has an installed capacity of 600,000 barrels per day and is pumping around 569,648 barrels of sweet medium grade crude oil daily. Demand for Buzios grade crude oil has grown at a rapid clip since the introduction of IMO 2020 in January last year significantly reduced the sulfur content of marine bunker fuels. This has seen it become particularly popular among refiners in China, which is a major global shipping hub.

The low carbon intensity of Brazils sweet medium and light crude oil grades makes the countrys offshore pre-salt fields particularly attractive for energy majors, especially in a world where there is growing pressure to decarbonize the global economy. TotalEnergies, which holds a 20% interest, announced in early August 2021 that along with its partners Petrobras (40%), Shell (20%), and CNOOC (10%) it was proceeding with the development of the Mero 4 project in the Libra Block. On completion of the Mero project in 2024, the Libra Block will have an installed capacity of 720,000 barrels per day. For these reasons, Brazil is now one of the top global destinations for investment in crude oil projects. That, according to energy minister Bento Albuquerque, will see Brazil pumping 5.3 million barrels per day by 2030, which is 75% higher than 2020, making Latin Americas largest economy the worlds fifth-biggest oil exporter.

South America is fast emerging as one of the worlds hottest drilling locations with offshore exploration and projects in Guyana, Suriname and Brazil set to drive reserves and production higher. The high-quality low sulfur content oil found in offshore South America is particularly attractive to oil majors seeking to reduce their carbon footprint and reach emissions goals to please investors. The continent, even if Venezuelas oil industry fails to recover, could be pumping more than nine million barrels per day by the end of this decade, with Brazil the leading producer.

By Matthew Smith for Oilprice.com

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As Oil Price readers know, the tiny activist hedge fund, Engine No. 1, challenged management and won three seats on Exxons board of directors back in late May. There is nothing unusual in the fiercely competitive US corporate world about hedge funds managers trying to influence top management to increase their and other shareholders wealth more expeditiously. But because of Exxons size and its large number of shareholders, it is difficult to launch this type of attempt at shareholder democracy. To make the task more difficult, Exxons management. led by CEO Darren Woods strongly opposed the competitive slate of four nominees despite all of them possessing long and impressive energy resumes.

And yet the Engine No. 1 backed insurgents won three board seats out of twelve total. Reading most press descriptions of this upset victory you would think that the young Swedish Activist Greta Thunberg herself was now seated on Exxon's board. And as a result, this electoral upset was touted as some type of victory for the environmental movement. In our view nothing could be farther from the truth. We see two powerful sources for this investor discontent.

First, as an investment Exxon has done poorly. From its price peak of almost $103 in 2014, Exxons share price declined by almost two-thirds, to $37, in the depths of the first quarter of 2021. Since then the share price has rebounded to about $53. But for long-term investors their holdings are currently valued at about half of what they were more than five years ago while over this same period the US stock market has risen 150%. This is the first source of investor annoyance with existing managementa profound underperformance of the stock price.

But there is a second part to investors discontent and maybe worry, namely Exxons hefty dividend, now yielding a relatively high 6.6%. All of the oil supermajors have seen global oil demand battered by the ongoing pandemic with subsequent partial recovery. But Exxon, like Chevron, has paid and often raised its common stock dividend without interruption for over thirty years. For yield-seeking investors this is an enviable club to belong to. We believe in voting for a dissident board slate that investors were also strongly expressing their views with respect to maintenance of the dividend.

At the senior management level, maintenance of dividend involves an inherent conflict between those who advocate for a fortress balance sheet versus those willing to let short-term leverage run a bit higher in the name of investor stability (i.e financing the dividend out borrowings as opposed to earnings). There are relatively few pockets of high dividend yields remaining in our current equity markets. As a result, our interpretation is that Exxons newest dissident board members represent in part the revenge of the yield seekers. Related: Oil Sinks As Demand Outlook Worsens

But what else should we expect in the way of corporate machinations by the so-called activists at Engine No.1? An extensive study of corporate activism was published last year by the Strategic Management Journal, titled Disentangling the Effects of Hedge Fund Activism on Firm Financial and Social Performance. The studys two authors, Mark DesJardine and Rudolphe Durand, listed several key findings, the most important being that companies targeted by activists tended to put a halt to the socially responsible efforts of the companies. Investing for long-term sustainability, apparently, conflicted with the need to maximize short-term profit potential. As a result, targeted companies spent less on ESG (environment, social and governance) issues and also spent less for corporate research and development.

There is nothing to suggest, despite the vague pro-environment statements of Engine No. 1 that they or their board nominees will behave differently than the other activist targeted companies cited above. There were four key items that Engine No.1 requested of Exxon: add new board members, improve long-term capital allocation discipline, establish a strategic plan for sustainable value creation, and finally, overhaul management compensation. The good news for investors is that targeted companies, according to DesJardine and Durand, did on average get a nice near-term increase in their stock prices but nevertheless underperformed their non-targeted peers longer term, suggesting the eventual limits of cost-cutting.

Activists claim they are attempting to wake up a sleepy, highly compensated senior management. Existing managers resist these efforts on the grounds that they amount to a hollowing out of the targeted entity. Perhaps both are right. The interesting thing about Engine No.1 is how it effectively harnessed shareholder discontent versus Exxon, an oil supermajor and done so while only owning an insignificant number of Exxon shares and riding on the ESG bandwagon.

In conclusion, Engine No. 1s board additions at Exxon may create shareholder value via a solid bump in the stock price. The existing common stock dividend level may also be safe for a while at least. But we might also expect that long-term environmental and sustainability goals to take a back seat to the more pressing concerns regarding increased profitability. Finally Engine No. 1 recently raised about $100 million in a new ETF listing with the stock ticker VOTE. A cursory look at the ETFs holdings suggests that it resembles a capital-weighted version of the S&P 500 with a lot of vague discussion about partnering with management. Whatever happens with Exxon, these folks will do just fine.

By Leonard Hyman and William Tilles for Oilprice.com

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Europe will no longer need Russian gas in twenty-five years, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said at a meeting with Ukraine's president, Vladimir Zelenski.

"Europe will need to achieve climatic neutrality step by step by 2050," Merkel said, as quoted by TASS. "It means that in 25 year[s] no gas, or very small volumes of gas, will be supplied to Europe from Russia."

At the same time, the German Chancellor told her Ukrainian partner that Germany will make sure Russia continues shipping natural gas through Ukraine even after Nord Stream 2 enters into operation. In case Russia tries to use the pipeline as a weapon against other countries, Merkel said, Germany would propose EU sanctions against Moscow.

The Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which will double the capacity of the already existing gas pipe under the Baltic Sea to Germany, has become a major bone of contention in Europe, with the U.S. also joining the fray.

The European Union and the United States have opposed the Nord Stream 2 project, citing concerns about Russia using gas sales and its gas monopoly Gazprom as a political tool. Poland, several other EU countries, and the United States have seen Nord Stream 2 as further undermining Europe's energy security by giving Gazprom another pipeline to ship its natural gas to European markets. Germany has looked at the project from a business perspective mostly.

But last month, the United States and Germany said they had reached a deal over the controversial pipeline, clearing the way for the completion of the project and handing Germany a decisive victory in the matter.

The U.S. and Germany said that their "commitment is designed to ensure that Russia will not misuse any pipeline, including Nord Stream 2, to achieve aggressive political ends by using energy as a weapon."

Russia has insisted that the pipeline is a purely business venture, and Gazprom's chief executive Alexei Miller has reiterated that the company will continue transiting gas through Ukraine. If Merkel is correct, however, and Europe will need no more gas in 25 years, Ukraine would do well to diversify its revenue streams. Merkel advised Zelenski to bet on green energy.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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On Friday, the Biden administration announced new sanctions against one Russian ship and two Russian individuals involved in the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline that will connect Russian and Germany.

The new sanctions come after the US reached a deal with Germany on the completion of the pipeline. The Biden administration chose not to sanction the company running the project and appeared to be backing off trying to block the Nord Stream 2 from being finished. The pipeline is said to be about 98 percent complete.

The new sanctions were imposed under the Protecting Europes Energy Security Act of 2019, which requires the State Department to submit a list of people and entities involved in Nord Stream 2 and then sanction them.

Fridays sanctions are seen as symbolic measures that will have no effect on the construction of the pipeline. The sanctions could just be an effort by the Biden administration to placate critics in Congress of the deal reached with Germany.

The US claims that Russias desire to expand its trade relationship with Germany is a "threat" to Europe. Ukraine isnt happy about the deal because it stands to lose money from natural gas transportation fees. Under the US-Germany deal, Berlin agreed to invest in Ukraine.

"Even as the administration continues to oppose the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, including via our sanctions, we continue to work with Germany and other allies and partners to reduce the risks posed by the pipeline to Ukraine and frontline NATO and EU countries and to push back against harmful Russian activities," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

Separately, the US and UK slapped sanctions on seven Russians for the alleged poisoning of Alexei Navalny, which Moscow denies it was responsible for. There was hope for an easing of tensions between the US and Russia after Biden and Putin met in Geneva in June. But the sanctions show that the US is still determined to pursue a hostile policy against Moscow.

By Zerohedge.com

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Libya will have to raise by 40 percent its oil productionits major and almost exclusive foreign revenue streamnext year in order to meet its expenditures and start restoring the economy crippled by 10 years of civil war, Central Bank governor Sadiq Al-Kabir told Bloomberg in an interview published on Monday.

[I]t is of course imperative that production rates in 2022 have to go higher, said Al-Kabir of Libyas oil output, which is around 1.3 million barrels per day (bpd) at present.

According to the central banks governor, the OPEC member currently exempted from the OPEC+ cuts has to raise its oil production to 1.8 million bpd in 2022.

Such production levels, if stable, could generate $35 billion in oil revenues for Libya in 2022 if oil prices average $60 a barrel, Al-Kabir told Bloomberg.

This year, amid relatively stable oil production (so far), Libya could generate $25 billion in oil revenues, the central banks governor said. This would be a major improvement from the $3.6 billion the country received in 2020 when its oil exports were offline for eight months due to a blockade of its oil export terminals.

Libya, however, could find it difficult to raise its oil production by that much.

The country could boost its oil production to 1.6 million bpd by the middle of 2022 if the industry has the necessary funding, Libyas Oil Minister Mohamed Oun told Italian news agency Agenzia Nova in an interview published last month.

But lack of funds for restoration and maintenance of oil infrastructure, as well as a conflict brewing between the minister and the long-serving chairman of the National Oil Corporation (NOC), Mustafa Sanalla, could hamper Libyas attempts to raise production to the 1.6-million-bpd level it last pumped under Muammar Gaddafi more than 10 years ago.

Oun has recommended to the government of national unity that it replace Sanalla in a board reshuffle, Argus reported last week, citing a Libyan source.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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The Mexican government has banned commodity trading majors Vitol and Trafigura from doing business with state-owned oil and gas major Pemex on allegations of corruption, Bloomberg reported, citing Energy Minister Rocio Nahle.

In an interview for the news agency, Nahle said the ban will be in effect until the end of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obradors term. Other commodity traders are not safe, either, as the official said the government is reviewing their conduct, too.

Those who are carrying out corruption shouldnt be in Mexico, Nahle told Bloomberg. We are working to leave a country with good practices.

An Argus report, however, cited the energy ministry as saying no new formal bans on any commodity trading firms have been issued. The ministry added, however, that Pemex will only do business with companies that have not been accused of corruption.

Vitol was accused of corruption by U.S. and Mexican authorities. The company agreed to settle bribery allegations for the U.S., Mexico, and Brazil earlier this year, paying $164 million.

Trafigura has denied any wrongdoing and strongly refutes any allegation or suggestion of corruption, according to a spokesperson who spoke to Bloomberg. However, last month Pemexs commercial arm suspended business with the Swiss firm amid investigations into allegations about corruption.

At the time, all other divisions within Pemex were allowed to continue doing business with Trafigura.

Corruption allegations aside, the move could also be seen as part of broader government efforts to restore Pemex as the chief player on the Mexican energy market, which have also included hefty tax relief and legislation against competitors.

The lower house of the Mexican parliament earlier this year passed a controversial piece of legislation that would remove a stipulation from an earlier law that requires the state energy market regulator CRE to prioritize fuel sales from private companies as a way of leveling their playing field with Pemex.

At the same time, the government has granted billions in tax relief to the state company, including $3.6 billion for this year alone. Additional support measures have included a reduction in Pemexs profit-sharing obligations.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Smoke from wildfires has reduced the amount of energy that solar panels can generate in southern Alberta this year, as particulate matter pollution prevents more sunlight from reaching the panels.

Residents in Calgary, for example, report as much as a two-thirds decline in solar power generation of their rooftop installations, also due to the smoke from wildfires blocking the sun, Dave Dormer of CTVNewsCalgary.ca reports.

The city of Calgary said in a statement to CTV News that in July 2021 solar power output was lower by 14 per cent compared to the four-year average.

Wildfires are not the only reason for lower power generation, but may have contributed to the decline in solar output, the city says. Other reasons include a lack of rain last month and higher temperatures during the day. Rain typically acts as a natural way to clean solar panels, while high temperatures reduce the efficiency of the solar panel generation.

The wildfire problem of solar panels is not limited to southern Alberta, though.

Last year in August and September, the wildfires raging in California reduced the average solar-powered electricity generation by almost 30 percent, according to figures from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

The small, airborne particulate matter particles in wildfire smoke reduced the amount of sunlight that reaches solar panels, decreasing solar-powered electricity generation, the EIA noted.

In July 2020, daily solar-powered electricity generation averaged 113 gigawatthours (GWh) for the entire month. Daily solar-powered generation began declining as large wildfires broke out in mid-August, reaching a low of 68 GWh on August 22 before returning to around 100 GWh by the end of the month. Solar-powered generation began declining again as wildfire activity rose in September, falling as low as 50 GWh on September 11 as particulate matter smoke pollution increased, the EIA said.

This year, Californias clean power generation is being challenged not only by the massive wildfires. The state had to shut down earlier this month the Hyatt Power Plant at Lake Oroville after water levels hit a record-low, in a first such move since the hydroelectric plant became operational in the 1960s.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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The government of Uganda has suspended 54 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for non-compliance with local regulations, including organizations fighting to protect peoples rights from planned oil projects in the African country.

Uganda says the suspended organizations have been meddling with local politics.

Uganda signed earlier this year an agreement with Tanzania and two oil majors to construct a $3.5-billion pipeline that will carry Ugandan oil to the Tanzanian coast, from where it will reach international markets.

The East-African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project will be a 1,443 kilometer-long (897 miles) pipeline expected to transport oil from Uganda to the Tanga port in Tanzania. TotalEnergies subsidiary Total East Africa Midstream is the developer of the project, says the French supermajor, which continues to pursue advantaged oil and gas resources in Africa despite ambitions to become a net-zero emissions business in Europe by 2050.

Following Ugandas suspension of the 54 NGOs, one of them, Africa Institute for Energy Governance (AFIEGO) said in a statement that AFIEGO takes note of the fact that seven of the organisations whose operations the NGO Bureau says that it has halted are AFIEGOs partners. AFIEGO and its partners have been targeted because they play key human as well as environmental rights protection roles in the oil and gas sector.

AFIEGOs partners are operating legally and comply with relevant laws, the organization said, adding that it would use all the available legal options to end the intimidation of CSOs [civil society organizations] and the hostile civic space in which CSOs operate.

This is political persecution. When you do work that they dont like you become their enemy number No. 1., AFIEGO head Dickens Kamugisha told Reuters.

Uganda, which holds an estimated 6.5 billion barrels of crude oil, has been working hard to encourage more foreign investment recently as the country aims to develop its oil and gas industry significantly over the next decade. At present, 1.4 billion of these barrels are thought to be economically recoverable.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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U.S. oil and gas supermajor Chevron has started to require thousands of its employees to get COVID-19 vaccinations. Chevron is also considering whether it will make vaccines mandatory for its broader workforce, The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing people with knowledge of the plans.

Employees who travel internationally, employees on U.S.-flagged ships, and expatriate employees are now required to receive vaccinations, Chevrons spokesman Braden Reddall told the Journal.

In addition, Chevron will also require offshore workers in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, as well as some support staff onshore, to have vaccinations by November 1, Reddall said.

Chevron is committed to protecting the health of our people, and vaccinations are the strongest safeguard against this virus, the companys spokesman told the Journal.

Chevron is also evaluating whether vaccine mandates can be implemented throughout all business units, depending on the availability of vaccines in the countries where the company operates and the risk of infections at the various business units, according to the Journals sources.

Chevron, which has around 47,000 employees, saw the latest wave of COVID-19 infections delay its plans to return employees to offices in California and Texas.

Chevron is one of the first companies in the oil and gas industry to require vaccinations as the sector has been grappling with work and rotation delays on offshore platforms due to COVID outbreaks since the start of the pandemic.

But Chevron is not the only one. Hess Corporation and Valero Energy also have some vaccination requirements: Hess for offshore workers in the Gulf of Mexico to be vaccinated by November 1 and Valero for new hires, according to the Journal.

Refiner Phillips 66 does not require vaccinations, although it strongly encourages employees to get a vaccine, CEO Greg Garland told the WSJ.

In the UK, the offshore industry body OGUK said in June that it encourages all members of the workforce to take the vaccine when offered.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Health-med-fit

Long hinted at, COVID booster shots prompt debate

First, federal health officials announced that certain immune-compromised people, including organ transplant recipients and people receiving cancer treatment, should get a third shot of COVID-19 vaccine.

Last week, they said most Americans should receive a booster shot eight months after receiving their second inoculation, beginning as early as late September.

Health officials stressed that the vaccines used in the U.S. continue to be remarkably effective in reducing risk of severe disease, hospitalization and death, even against the widely circulating and highly infectious delta variant.

New data from the U.S. and other nations, however, indicates that protection against the virus begins to wane over time. With the delta variant, federal Health and Human Services officials said in a joint statement, theyre beginning to see evidence of reduced protection against mild and moderate disease. Based on current information, they project that the current protection against severe hospitalization and death could diminish in the coming months as well, especially among those at higher risk and those vaccinated in the early phase of the vaccine rollout.

But the plan has become the subject of debate nationally. While booster doses long have been expected at some point, some scientists have questioned the need for boosters for most fully vaccinated people at this time.

World Health Organization leaders have criticized wealthy nations for offering a third shot to some citizens, while millions in less affluent nations have yet to receive a first shot.

Federal health officials, meanwhile, have said the logistics of a rollout are too complex to wait until the last minute. White House officials also noted that the U.S. has donated 115 million doses to 80 countries, more than all other nations combined.

Several other countries, Reuters reported, also have decided to offer boosters to older adults as well as to people with weak immune systems. Among them are Israel, France and Germany.

Dr. James Lawler, a co-executive director of the University of Nebraska Medical Centers Global Center for Health Security, said providing boosters now to fully vaccinated people who are not immune-compromised will expend a lot of energy and doses for a modest benefit in protection.

If you think about it from an epidemiological perspective, we are much better off spending that energy and those vaccine doses vaccinating people whove never been vaccinated, he said. We will clearly tamp down community transmission, ultimately resulting in fewer cases, if we do that.

Booster COVID shots available for some in Douglas County starting next week Booster doses of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines will be available next week through the Douglas County Health Department for immunocompromised people.

On a global level, he said, reducing spread also limits opportunities for the virus to mutate and for new variants like delta to arise.

But Dr. Bob Rauner, president of Partnership for a Healthy Lincoln, noted that the U.S has an abundant supply of vaccine. Tens of thousands of doses are due to expire in the coming months. Once distributed, doses cannot be returned to federal stockpiles or shipped overseas.

Lets just get them in arms, he said.

Indeed, while the pace of vaccination had lagged over much of the summer, it has now picked up, particularly in hard-hit Southern states. Nebraska, too, has seen an uptick in recent weeks. However, some 40% of Americans eligible for shots, those ages 12 and older, still have not gotten a first dose.

Local health officials stressed that there is a clear distinction between the two recent recommendations.

Dr. Renuga Vivekanandan, an associate professor at Creighton University and chief of infectious diseases at Creighton and CHI Health, said the recommended third shot for certain immune-compromised people should be viewed as the completion of their primary series of shots rather than as a booster.

Lawler said third doses for immune-compromised people are strongly supported by data.

A lot of those folks just never get to adequate levels of immunity with two doses, so a third dose is warranted in that small segment of the population, he said.

The process of administering shots to that group already has begun.

David Kohll, a pharmacist with Kohlls Rx, estimated the local pharmacy chain has administered more than 1,000 third shots to people who meet the federal criteria. Interest, he said, has been high.

The Douglas County Health Department will begin offering third shots to immune-compromised people this week. The shots are free, and a doctors approval is not required.

Kohll said hed like to keep a waiting list of non-compromised people who could get leftover doses as booster shots, like the lists many vaccine-givers maintained early in the vaccine rollout to avoid wasting doses. But hes still awaiting federal approval of the booster plan.

Nebraska Corrections reports COVID-19 outbreak at intake facility According to Corrections, 33 inmates have tested positive for COVID-19 at the Diagnostic and Evaluation Center in Lincoln. The news comes less than a week after two inmates died after testing positive.

Before it can take effect, that plan is subject to a determination by the Food and Drug Administration that a third dose of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines is safe and effective. It also requires a review and OK from a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advisory panel.

Federal officials say they also anticipate a need for booster shots of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. More data is expected on that in the next few weeks.

Pending those approvals, federal officials are preparing to offer boosters beginning the week of Sept. 20, according to the HHS statement. At that time, those who were vaccinated earliest in the rollout likely would be eligible for the shots, including health care providers, nursing home residents and other seniors. Federal agencies also would begin efforts to deliver boosters to residents of long-term care facilities, as they did with the first two doses.

Vivekanandan acknowledged that she is conflicted about the boosters.

She said she recognizes the need to get shots to people who arent vaccinated to prevent spread and head off new variants. But she said shes also worried about frontline health care workers and first responders, people who were among the earliest to be vaccinated and who face repeated exposure. Protecting them is an important step in protecting the frontline workforce. Those in congregate settings, such as homeless shelters and prisons, also may need to be prioritized.

On the other hand, she said, preventing breakthrough infections, the vast majority of which are mild, might also prevent transmission.

Some vaccinated people who have developed such infections recently have been found to have as high a viral load as unvaccinated people, according to recent studies, and some may be able to spread it. Transmission by the vaccinated, however, appears to be a small part of overall spread of the virus.

Vivekanandan, the mother of two children under age 12, said shes also eager for approval of the vaccine for those youngsters, which is expected yet this fall.

It appears there will be plenty of vaccine for that group. White House officials announced in July that the federal government bought an additional 200 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine for inoculating kids under 12 and for possible boosters, Kaiser Health News reported.

Judging from the scramble for the first round of shots, its likely that a significant number of people will line up to get the boosters. When The World-Herald posed the question on Facebook, several people said they would happily get a third shot. Several others, however, said theyd had their two and were done.

Vivekanandan said the fully vaccinated people she has spoken with welcome booster shots. They like the fact that theyve been staying healthy, she said. If they have to do a booster at eight to 12 months, theyre OK with that.

Even with limited data for last week, it's clear Nebraska continues to see increase in COVID cases Nebraska's COVID case growth now exceeds the U.S. average, though the per-capita case rate remains well below national figures and ranks 36th among states.

Indeed, Lawler said the need for eventual boosters should come as no surprise. Scientists have been saying for some time that they would be needed. And few vaccines provide perfect, lifelong protection with one or two doses.

Five doses of the Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) vaccine, for instance, are required for baseline immunity. And adults still need a tetanus booster every 10 years.

Dosing schedules also can make a difference in vaccines performance, Lawler said. Often, spacing shots over a longer interval can deliver longer-lasting immunity. In some ways, the three- and four-week spacing for the Pfizer and Moderna doses was driven by the urgency of getting enough people vaccinated to slow the spread and providing short-term protection rather than looking at long-term coverage. That, he said, was the right decision.

Were seeing really high efficacy of these vaccines in preventing hospitalization and death, he said. The vaccines are working. We just need to get more people vaccinated. If I were king for a day, thats where Id be focusing my energy. If we get 80 to 85% of the population vaccinated, most of these problems go away.

Douglas County Health Director Lindsay Huse said she envisions that it will take a two-pronged approach to continue vaccinating the unvaccinated, including the under-12 crowd, and to provide boosters.

With waning immunity, and a more infectious virus, it makes sense to start boosting protection, she said. The unvaccinated, however, should be a priority.

At the same time, the Health Department already is planning for boosters.

Unlike last winter, however, when health officials faced the bottleneck of limited vaccine, a rush of vaccine-seekers and few providers that could give shots, the vaccine now is widely available at pharmacies, doctors' offices and clinics, Huse said.

There will be multiple places that can assist in getting this done, she said.

This report contains material from the Associated Press.
In 2005, coastal residents jammed freeways and gas stations as they rushed to get out of the way of Hurricane Katrina, which was headed toward
Using a pickup truck and chain to drag away an automated teller machine has become a more common tactic among thieves, but banks are taking steps to better protect their ATMs.

First National Bank of Omaha, for example, recently began installing free-standing posts called bollards, linked by a horizontal metal bar, around their ATMs. A sign on the bar warns would-be thieves This ATM is protected by a hook and chain block.

The banking industry has seen an increase of ATM burglaries over the past couple of years, said Kevin Langin, a First National spokesman. The biggest threat, he said, has been via hook-and-chain burglaries, which use chains and hooks attached to a large vehicle to rip off the front of the ATM and expose the vault.

According to ATM Marketplace, about 50 ATM thefts happen per day around the country. Allowing $2,500 for the ATM and $10,000 for repairs and loss of business, the cost of crash-and-grab theft comes to $625,000 per day, $19 million per month and $228 million per year.

On Aug. 9, an ATM at a Cobalt Credit Union office in Bellevue was ripped off its base with a hook and chain pulled by a pickup truck. The ATM alarm was activated and the thieves fled in the pickup truck without taking any money, Bellevue police said.
ATHENS, Greece (AP)  Despite strong winds, firefighting aircraft and ground forces in Greece gained the upper hand late Monday over two new blazes that broke out in areas already scarred by major wildfires this summer.

The first broke out Monday morning in the southern part of Evia, Greece's second-largest island, whose north was devastated earlier this month by a blaze that burned for more than 10 days. The second wildfire erupted in Kaza, in the Vilia area northwest of Athens where a major blaze was brought under control Friday after burning for five days.

The fire service said late Monday the Kaza blaze was on the wane and the fire on Evia was contained.

Earlier, authorities had issued an evacuation order for Vilia, 60 kilometers (37 miles) from the Greek capital. Some residents hosed down their gardens and homes, hoping to save them, while police halted traffic on a nearby highway. At least half a dozen buildings were severely damaged in the area.

The fire department sent 167 firefighters as well as 60 vehicles, 14 helicopters and 14 aircraft to fight the flames.
Telecommunications firm, MTN Ghana has disclosed that persons who use their mobile money accounts to engage in fraud will be blocked across all networks in the country.



According to Chief Executive of the company, Selorm Adadevoh, the move is aimed at curbing the increasing menace of mobile money fraud among telco providers.



Addressing journalists at a media forum held on Friday, August 20, 2021, the MTN CEO said So what we have done is that today if you commit fraud with a particular phone, that phone within a matter of hours will be blocked across all networks in Ghana, not the SIM but the phone.



So, if you are a fraudster, what that means is that you will keep buying phones and thats very costly. In addition to that, we are working with the Ghana Police Service to arrest fraudsters so they go through the prosecution process, Adadevoh stressed.



He added that his outfit in collaboration with the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications and other relevant stakeholders are committed to curbing the incidence of mobile money fraud.



So far weve all seen and Im sure you can attest that the complaints of MoMo fraud have gone down and this is due to a number of things we have done like collaborating with our partners the Ghana Telecoms Chamber and together we have formed an alliance and created a barrier that makes being a fraudster very hard, he concluded.



Data released from the Cyber Crime Unit of the Ghana Police Service revealed that in 2019, over 300 mobile money incidents were reported which culiminated in financial losses.

Source: ghanaweb.con









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A 45-year-old farmer, has handed himself over to the police after allegedly shooting his wife to death.



Yaw Muntom of Lele, a suburb of Prang in the Bono East Region, told the police that a quarrel ensued between him and his wife, Abena Jayon, 30, leading to the alleged murder.



Muntom allegedly told the police that in the course of the quarrel, he went to his room for his single barrel gun and shot her.



After his arrest, he led the police to the crime scene -his house- where he pointed to the police his deceased wife, lying in a pool of blood with the gun beside her.



An examination of the body by the police revealed gunshot wound on her left shoulder close to the neck with an empty BB cartridge found in the gun chamber.



The body has been deposited at the Matthias Catholic Hospital Morgue, Yeji, for autopsy as Muntom is in custody.



The police have confirmed the story.

Source: GNA









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The Ranking Member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education, Mr Peter Nortsu-Kotoe says it is time for public universities to wean themselves of government subventions.



He said universities should be able to generate enough revenue to at least undertake some infrastructure development and set up foundations to seek sponsorship to fund their research and other programmes.



According to him, the continuous dependence on the government for subvention for most of their projects was making the universities not to think outside the box and always wait on the government for most of their infrastructure development.



Tour



Mr Nortsu-Koe, who is also the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Akatsi North, stated this when members of the committee toured some of the Technical Vocational Education Training institutions in the Ashanti Region last Wednesday.



He was impressed with some of the investments made by the Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED) and the Kumasi Technical University (KsTU).



For instance, the AAMUSTED has built a 1000 capacity lecture hall and an ICT incubation centre, while the KsTU has also put up a classroom block at its Built Environment Technology campus at Adako-Jachie, all from Internally Generated Fund (IGF).



That is what we expect them to do, he stated.



Expensive



Mr Nortsu-Kotoe admitted that running a university was a very expensive endeavour but noted that universities are not for teaching alone but for research and development as well.



So, what is important is that the universities, particularly the technical universities, can generate a lot of revenue and make sure they are able to stand on their own, he suggested.



According to him, most of the traditional universities in the country were unable to develop because they do not market themselves and said it was high time they became innovative and generated enough revenue to undertake most of their infrastructure development.



Salaries



In Ghana for instance, he said since the government was absorbing the salaries of lecturers and other staff, the universities could also help by generating enough funds for most of their expansion programmes and not necessarily wait on the government for subventions.









Source: graphiconline.com









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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is to hold discussions with global vaccine manufacturer Pfizer-BioNTech for the establishment of a Vaccine Institute in Ghana.



The meeting, to be held in Germany, on the sidelines of the President's official working visit to the European nation this week, will also consider modalities for the procurement of more of that manufacturer's vaccine for Ghana's COVID-19 vaccination programme.



The President left Ghana Sunday to Germany at the invitation of the German Chancellor Angela Merkel.



Mr Eugene Arhin, Director of Communications at the Presidency, who disclosed this to the Presidential Press Corp at the maiden edition of the Jubilee House Weekly Press Briefing, said the discussion with the vaccine manufacturer would form a major component of the President's visit to Germany.



Whilst there, the President is expected to hold further engagements with his German counterpart aimed at deepening Ghanas economic and diplomatic relations with Germany.



He will participate in the G20 Compact Initiative Programme established by the German Chancellor to promote investments in African countries, including Ghana.



President Akufo-Addo is also expected to deliver a speech at the 75th-anniversary celebration of the formation of the North RhineWestphalia state.



He is scheduled to address a ceremony at the North-Rhine Westphalia Academy of International Politics in Bonn as the guest of honour.



He will meet with the German investment community to promote Ghana's investment opportunities.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Mr Abuga Pele, a former Member of Parliament for the Chiana-Paga Constituency in the Upper East Region, has expressed gratitude to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for the Presidential pardon granted him to get out of prison.



The President granted Mr Pele, also a former National Coordinator of the defunct Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Development Agency (GYEEDA), a Presidential pardon on grounds of ill-health.



The former GYEEDA Coordinator was sentenced to six years in prison on February 23, 2018, for his involvement in a GH4.1 million GYEEDA scandal.



I thank God for my release, I thank the President, the people of Nakolo, I thank all those who were instrumental in getting me out of prison. Another day will come for me to explain a lot of things, he said.



Mr Pele expressed gratitude when he spoke for the first time at Nakolo, a community in the Kassena-Nankana West District of the Upper East Region, after his release.



The former MP was given a rousing welcome into the Constituency by his Constituents as they displayed on motorbikes on the major streets of the town.



Mr Pele said the people of the Chiana-Paga Constituency had supported him since he became an MP, adding that For 16 years, they have kept their support for me. They actually supported me when we were in opposition from 2000 and 2004.



So to imagine that this Constituency will stick to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in spite of the fact that we were in opposition tells you a lot about the love of the people. My only problem is, I always think I have not done a lot for my people.



He was, however, hopeful that others would continue from where he left off with the development of the area and prayed for Gods blessings for his family and all the people of the Constituency.



I pray that this town will continue to grow from strength to strength.



In an address delivered on behalf of his family, Mr Michael Gantera said, Our depleting hope is restored and we have every reason to be happy and jubilant.



We want to use this platform to extend our sincerest and heartfelt gratitude to the President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for the presidential pardon granted our father, husband and friend. God bless you graciously Mr President, the family said.



The family also extended gratitude to all those who contributed in diverse ways to the release of Mr Pele.



Mr Gantera also extended gratitude to the media, especially TV3 and Citi FM, who kept in touch with the family on issues that concerned Mr Pele.

Source: GNA









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The Ghana Health Service (GHS) will from Monday to Friday September 3, this year, begin a Mass Drug Administration (MDA) for onchocerciasis (river blindness) in endemic regions in the country.

The five-day programme is targeting 4,740,039 people in 66 districts across 13 regions at no cost to the beneficiaries.



The regions include Ahafo, Ashanti, Bono, Bono East, Eastern, North East and Northern.



The rest are Oti, Savannah, Upper East, Upper West, Western and Western North.



At a media briefing on the MDA in Accra yesterday, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, said the exercise, which was done annually, formed part of national interventions at eradicating the public health condition, latest by 2030.



Dosage is by height for all people above five years with height more than 90 cm using a measuring pole and administered directly under supervision. During the period, Community Drug Distributors (CDD) would visit every household to register and give out mectizan/Ivermectin tablets to eligible individuals, he said.



Dr Kuma-Aboagye said MDA for river blindness was done twice every year to ensure that every eligible person living in a defined geographical area, regardless of whether or not they were infected or not, received a single dose of the Ivermectin drug.



He assured the public that the drugs that would be administered had been proven locally and internally to be safe and effective and pleaded with all eligible persons to make themselves available for the exercise.



Onchocerciasis/River blindness



Onchocerciasis is one of the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) caused by a parasitic worm called Onchocerca volvulus.



It is spread through repeated bites of an infected blackfly known scientifically as Simulium.



Onchocerciasis is also called river blindness because the blackfly that transmits the infection breeds in rapidly flowing rivers and streams and causes blindness, which make people living in the enclave of such water bodies more vulnerable to the disease.



People with heavy infections usually develop conditions such as unrelenting itching, unsightly skin disease, nodules under the skin, or eye disease which results in severe visual impairment and blindness.



Control



Dr Kuma-Aboagye said the country had been endemic to onchocerciasis since the early 1960s, and had been involved in its control since the inception of a WHO-led programme known as the Onchocerciasis Control Programme, which operated for 28 years (1974-2002).



Although the interventions focused mainly on vector control, several other approaches including mobile community treatment and later community-directed treatment with Ivermectin (CDTI) became the main control strategy in the country, he said.



He said this year, the GHS was collaborating with some development partners to embark on the MDA against onchocerciasis in all affected districts in the country.



This is a programme that has been implemented annually since 2007 through the technical and financial support of programme partners, he said.



Dr Kuma-Aboagye said MDA was the provision of therapeutic dose of an effective NTD medicine to the entire target population, irrespective of infection status or symptom.



He said it was a strategy for combatting the disease and was currently recommended by the WHO as a key strategy for the interruption of transmission.



He said by treating the entire communities with safe and effective medicine, additional infections could be prevented among healthy individuals.

Source: graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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More than 12 million people in Syria and Iraq are losing access to water, food and electricity, 13 aid groups warned in a report as they called for urgent action to combat the severe water crisis.



Rising temperatures, record low levels of rainfall, and drought are depriving people across the region of drinking and agricultural water, said the report, published on Monday. Syria is currently facing its worst drought in 70 years.



Compiled by a group of international organisations, including the Norwegian Refugee Council, the Danish Refugee Council, CARE, Action Against Hunger, and Mercy Corps, among others, the report warned higher temperatures caused by climate change increased the risks and severity of droughts in the region.



The changes in the climate also disrupted electricity as dams ran out of water, which in turn impacted the operation of essential infrastructure including health facilities, they said.



The total collapse of water and food production for millions of Syrians and Iraqis is imminent, said Carsten Hansen, regional director for the Norwegian Refugee Council.



With hundreds of thousands of Iraqis still displaced and many more still fleeing for their lives in Syria, the unfolding water crisis will soon become an unprecedented catastrophe pushing more into displacement, he added.









Source: Aljazeera









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament will, from Monday (August 23, 2021), commence a 13-day zonal public hearing to consider four Auditor-Generals reports that have been referred to the committee for consideration.

The hearing, which will begin on August 23 and end on September 4, 2021, will allow the 25-member committee to consider the report of the A-G on Polytechnics and Senior High Schools (SHS) for the year ended December 31, 2017.



The committee will also consider the A-Gs report on the management and utilization of District Assembly Common Fund (DACF), other statutory funds as well as accounts of district assemblies (IGF) for the same period.



Institutions



The institutions that are billed to appear before the committee from August 23 to August 28, 2021, in Tamale are the Tamale Technical University, Bolgatanga Polytechnic, Wa Polytechnic as well as other SHS in the Northern Savannah and the North East regions.



Besides, all metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) in the Upper West and Upper East regions that had also been cited in the A-Gs report will also appear before the committee the same day.



From August 30 to September 4, 2021, the institutions that are to appear before the committee in Sunyani are the Kumasi Technical University and the Sunyani Technical University, various second cycle schools as well as all assemblies in the Bono, the Bono East and the, Ahafo and the Ashanti regions.



Doorstep of Ghanaians



Briefing the Daily Graphic on the committees zonal hearing, the Chairman of PAC, Mr James Kletus Avedzi, said the hearings were meant to bring the work of the committee to the doorstep of Ghanaians in other parts of the country to enable the people to observe the sittings of the committee live.



That, he said, would also help to reduce significantly the cost the government incurred in bringing various public officials from all the regions to Accra to answer to questions raised by the Auditor-General in his report.



Bringing all witnesses from the various regions to Accra will cost the government in terms of accommodation, hotel bills and many other expenditures. But, if the committee should go to them and group all of them in one area, it will reduce the cost to the government, he said.



He expressed the hope that by the end of September, the committee would have considered the four reports by the A-G to prepare a report for Parliament for consideration



Impact



Mr Avedzi said the impact of undertaking zonal public hearings had contributed largely to saving cost for the various MMDAs as well as the senior high schools.



It also gives the opportunity for the local people to listen and watch to the committees work and this expands education as people understand the work of the PAC. This leaves positive impression of those who come to witness our sittings, he said.

Source: graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Drama is unfolding in the case involving the six aggrieved pastors of the Light House Chapel International (LCI) days after their lawyer mounted a spirited defense against the alleged $12 million settlement demand on the church.



In the latest twist to the circus, it is emerging that part of the said controversial amount was allegedly set to be used as legal fees for Kofi Bentil, Vice President of Imani Ghana and lawyer for the 6 Ex Pastors.



Deep throat sources insist that the Imani Lawyer was allegedly hoping to line his pocket from his clients - the six pastors - if they could get the 12 million dollars they demanded from the church.



Mr. Bentil had in a statement on Friday flatly denied the supposed demand of the said amount by his clients.



According to him, the figure is a figment of the imagination of the defendant, Lighthouse Chapel.



Myjoyonline, in an August 20, 2021 interview quoted Mr. Bentil as saying that the only claim his clients have made is for the reimbursement of all funds owed them by the church and nothing more, unless otherwise decided by the Court.



We have categorically denied it in a statement that we put out. We have not made such a request of them, he emphasised.



But some witnesses described as The Eminent Clergymen are said to have been present in the meeting where the said $12M settlement request was made by the six pastors.



The men of God are: Bishops Anyani Boadum of Jesus Generation Ministries, Tackie Yarboi of Victory Bible Church and Gideon Titi-Offei of Pleasant Places Church.



According to Rev. Kwesi Dei of the LCI, Rt. Rev Dr. Anyani Boadum personally delivered this message of the $ 12 million demand to the church leadership as part of the settlement discussion, and added that they also learnt that Kofi Bentil was hoping to reap $ 1.57 million dollars from this deal.



It seems Bentil, the one who constantly calls people predatory elite", is the one here allegedly hunting for a big breakthrough in legal fees of $1.57 million dollars.



According to Rev. Kwesi Dei, the $ 12million was calculated and explained by Kofi Bentil to the 3 Eminent Clergymen in a meeting in which all 6 renegade pastors were present.



The Clergymen were dumbfounded by the demand and asked them whether they really wanted them to deliver such a message to the LCI. Bentil and plaintiffs were reportedly adamant and insisted that is their demand and did not budge. The 3 men of God left the meeting disappointed and dismayed.



Contradictory Denial In Court by Kofi Bentil



It is to be recalled that on 3rd August 2021 when the $ 12 Million bombshell was dropped by Rodney Heward-Mills, counsel for LCI, Kofi Bentil appeared to speak from two sides of his mouth.



He first denied his clients ever demanded that amount, and then added that even if they did it does not matter.



Why Cant Bentil Tell The Public What Transpired?



Kofi Bentil claims there were weeks of settlement talks but is unable to give details of the talks. The devil is indeed in the detail.



He and his clients have only come out to deny the demand for $12 Million but have not told the world what demands they made and what transpired during the weeks of settlement talks.



Displaying the content of Clients Reliefs on Social Media



Kofi Bentil and his clients have displayed the reliefs sought by his clients on social media and said there is no $12 million mentioned in the writs and that LCI cooked up that $12million figure.



LCIs response to that is that the church never said the $12 million figure is in their writs. The figure came up during settlement talks and popped up in court when the judge asked for feedback from the parties on settlement since he had earlier recommended that the matter, if possibly, be settled out of court.



It is therefore a disingenuous, mischievous and not too smart a campaign of misinformation for the plaintiffs to display the writs on social media and say see .. see.. look at .look at there is no $12 Million in our writs. That is a very infantile attempt at misinformation and propaganda knowing that the narrative is that the demand was made during settlement and not in their writs.



A Blackmail Suit?



The LCI has observed that this suit has all the characteristic of a blackmail suit. Kofi Bentil and his clients embarked on a mission to sue the church, bastardize the church on social media, browbeat the church into submission and extort outrageous sums of money from the church knowing that the LCI has a policy of not engaging in media banters and would ordinarily, not want to fight in court; much so with former pastors of the church.



And true to their prediction, the LCI has been silent on the matter since last April when it came out. Now it is looking like Kofi Bentil and his clients have pushed the church to the limits and have compelled LCI to come out to speak.



LCIS Call To Kofi Bentil before Writs Were Issued



The Church says it is a blackmail suit because before the plaintiffs issued the writ, the church heard about the grievances of the plaintiffs and was told that Kofi Bentil is their lawyer.



LCI therefore instructed their lawyers to speak to Kofi Bentil to know the grievances of the plaintiffs. The lawyer for LCI called Kofi Bentil on 15th March 2021.



During the conversation the lawyer from LCI told Kofi Bentil to write formally to the church on all the grievances of his clients as is standard practice for lawyers in such matters so that he presents it to the LCI after which a meeting can be held, but Kofi Bentil reportedly said categorically that he will not write to LCI.



Kofi Bentil rather allegedly issued threats that LCI needs to settle this matter or else if it hits the media it will be electrifying..



While the conversation was on-going, Kofi Bentil told the LCI lawyer he is being distracted by some noise around him so he would call back in 30 minutes. The LCI lawyer waited the whole day but Kofi Bentil did not return the call.



The following day which was the 16th of March 2021, LCI instructed its lawyer to send Kofi Bentil a text to ask him to contact him since LCI did not hear from him the day before. The lawyer sent the text which was delivered to Kofi Bentils phone on Tuesday 16th March 2021. Our reporter has seen the text and it read as follows:



Good morning Mr. Bentil . I trust you are well. This is Counsel for Lighthouse. We didnt finish talking yesterday. You said you were going to get back to me in 30 minutes but I didnt hear from you. You can call anytime today when you are free. Thanks. Nice day.



Kofi Bentil never got back to the LCI. The next time the LCI heard from Kofi Bentil was the 6 writs issued by him on behalf of the 6 ex pastors and served on LCI on 23rd April.



It is to be noted that even though the writs were filed on Monday 19th April 2021 it was not until Friday 23rd April 2021 that LCI was served with them.



Before LCI received the writs, social media was already awash with defamatory publications in an article titled Darkness in A Lighthouse and the article made copious reference to the writs concerning LCI, even though LCI had not been served with them.



The ex-pastors have continued with their vile campaign and disparaging assault on the church on social media even though the matter is in court, all in the bid to hammer LCI into settlement talks and extort money from the church with intimidation and blackmail.



Kofi Bentil and his clients were not interested in settlement talks from Day 1. Or else why will Kofi Bentil flatly refuse to follow standard legal practice in matters such this to simply write to LCI as requested for talks to begin? Why did he refuse to call back the LCI lawyer? Why did he refuse to reply the text from the LCI lawyer to call him the following day to contact him?



LCI states that the $ 12 million demand from the Ex-Pastors is factual. Kofi Bentil reportedly did that calculation and explained same to the 3 Eminent men of God who tried to broker peace. This calculation included his legal fees of $1.57 million. The figure was so outrageous that the Senior Clergymen abandoned any hope of settling this matter amicably.



The 6 Ex-Pastors have sued the LCI for among other things the alleged non-payment of their SSNIT contributions.



The six pastors are Bishop Larry Odonkor, Bishop Oko Mensah, Rev. Edward Laryea, Pastor Seth Duncan, Pastor Edem Amankwah and Pastor Faith Makafui Fiakojo.

Source: The Ghanaian Publisher









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Some commercial drivers, farmers and residents of Pwalugu in the Talensi District in the Upper East Region have called on the government to urgently consider rehabilitating the Pwalugu Volta bridge on the main Tamale-Bolgatanga highway.



They describe the bridge as weak and vibrates anytime heavy duty trucks, particularly, use it. They further observed that there was the need for the height of the bridge to be raised to prevent flooding, especially during the rainy season and whenever there was spillage from the Bagre Dam in Burkina Faso.



The Pwalugu Volta bridge was constructed in 1975. It is a triple span truss bridge with two walkways and it is about 120 meters long.



During the rainy season last year, some motorists and commuters, using the Pwalugu bridge stretch of the Tamale-Bolgatanga road, had difficulty wading through floodwaters and some community volunteers had to guide them to avoid any disaster.



Commercial drivers, farmers



Three commercial drivers, Messrs Ayinguda Atiah, Musah Kadiri and Dominic Awuni, all of whom have been driving between 15 and 24 years on the Accra-Paga-Ouagadougou highway, stressed that it was equally important for the authorities to take a second look at the weight and load levels of heavy duty trucks, to save the bridge from collapsing.



Another suggestion they made was that the bridge should be fixed with stronger and more durable materials to be able to carry more loads.



Mr Awuni, who has been an international driver for the past 24 years and pleaded to speak off-camera, noted that it was also important to rehabilitate the Nasia bridge in the North East Region.



A 57-year-old farmer and trader, Mr Zacheus Aleda, who is also known as Nkomode, said he was born and bred at Pwalugu and that he witnessed flooding last year that slowed down both vehicular and human traffic in the Pwalugu bridge area.



Since I was born, I have never seen a thing like that before to the extent that motor riders and other travellers could not wade through the floodwater to cross the bridge and for me it means the government has to do something fast to raise the height of the bridge before any disaster strikes in the future, he stated.



Mr Aleda, who cultivates watermelon, yellow melon, tomatoes and onion, further indicated that it was important for the bridge to be rehabilitated because he realised that anytime vehicles with heavy loads used the bridge, it vibrated. He observed that pedestrians using the walkways provided at both sides of the bridge experienced the vibration anytime heavy duty trucks used it and this is quite scary".



The farmer also said that recently some two vehicles crashed into the bridge, which had further weakened some of the metal frames holding the bridge.



When you are on the pavement walking and there is a vehicle passing, you can feel the bridge shaking; in fact, the irons used to construct the bridge are gradually giving up," Mr Aleda pointed out.



Pipeline project, bridges



On May 23, 2021, a press briefing, held by the Ministry of Roads and Highways, captured the construction of a bridge over the White Volta River on the Tamale-Bolgatanga highway under pipeline projects.



However, experts say rehabilitation of the Pwalugu Volta bridge or the construction of a new one should be done urgently.



When contacted, the Upper East Regional Director of the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA), Mr Philip Samwini, suggested that the Pwalugu bridge was weak and it must be fixed now.



He explained that the bridge was located on an international route and was very important in ensuring that medical supplies, food stuff and other consumable items, were conveyed to serve a huge population including those in the Sahelian region.



Mr Samwini indicated that if nothing was done to fix the bridge and it eventually collapsed, it would cut off significant parts of the Upper East Region.



He further advised stakeholders, including those constructing the Pwalugu multipurpose dam, to liaise with the GHA and other relevant institutions to find ways of upgrading the Pwalugu bridge.



He said if that was done, in the event that the dam failed and it could no longer contain the large volumes of water, the bridge would not be flooded and perhaps be damaged by flood water.



Every engineering structure can fail and so those things must be put into consideration; bolts and nuts can fail and when there is load it can lead to collapse of the bridge," he further stated.



Touching on other bridges in the region, Mr Samwini intimated that four bridges were being provided by the government. They are located at Kulungugu, Tamne in the Garu District, Doninga and Santedjan over River Sisili in the Builsa South District.









Source: graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), is no longer investigating the Chief Justice, Kwasi Anin-Yeboah, as demanded by Pro  NDC pressure group, Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability, ASEPA.



According to CHRAJ, it took such a discretionary action because it realized that the group had also petitioned the presidency over the same issue.



Since the matter is pending in the appropriate constitutional forum, the commission, in the exercise of its discretion under Section 13 of Act 456, hereby ceases to investigate the complaint any further as the invocation of the Article 456 proceedings has effectively taken the matter out of the forum of the commission, CHRAJ said in a letter addressed to ASEPA.



ASEPA petitioned CHRAJ on July 12, 2021, asking the commission to investigate allegations of bribery and corruption against the Chief Justice under Article 218(a) and (e) of the 1992 Constitution.



Whilst the Commission was conducting preliminary investigations into the instant complaint, it was brought to its attention that the complainant [ASEPA] has also petitioned the President of the Republic under Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution for the removal of the Respondent as Chief Justice, grounding the petition on the same allegations of bribery and corruption. The said petition was submitted to the Office of the President on the 13th of July 2021, a day after the instant complaint was lodged with the commission.



CHRAJ, in the letter signed by its Commissioner, Joseph Whittal, said because the group was seeking the removal of the Chief Justice from office, the appropriate forum for such demands to be met is the Presidency.



Whilst it may be conceded that the complainant in the instant matter before the commission did not claim, as a specific relief, the removal of the respondent, it is discernible from its invocation of Article 146 that, that is the ultimate destination of the complainant. The procedure for the removal of a Chief Justice having been specifically provided for in Article 146, it is our considered view that the provisions of the said article take precedence over the general provisions of Article 218, the commission noted.



CHRAJ further defended its action for refusing to probe the Chief Justice, saying, the law governing its work gives it the discretionary power to decide what to do when confronted with situations like this.



Section 13(1) gives discretion to the Commission when confronted with a situation such as this, where there is provision of law, as set out in Article 146 to deal with matters of this nature, and the complainant has taken advantage of it as evidenced by its petition to the President under the said Article, to refuse to investigate the matter.



Background



ASEPA petitioned the President in July 2021 to initiate an impeachment process against Chief Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah, following bribery allegations made against him by a Kumasi-based lawyer, Akwasi Afrifa.



The bribery allegations against the Chief Justice were contained in a response Mr. Afrifa, a lawyer, gave in a petition filed against him by his client, Ogyeedom Kwesi Atta IV at the disciplinary committee of the General Legal Council.



Ogyeedom IV dragged Mr. Afrifa to the GLC, alleging that the lawyer collected $100,000 from him with a promise to help get a favorable judgment on his behalf.



Ogyeedom Atta IV asked the Council to order Mr. Afrifa to refund the $100,000, saying the lawyer failed to deliver on his promise.



In a response dated July 8, 2021, Mr. Afrifa denied the claims by Ogyeedom Kwesi Atta, further alleging that he was asked to refund $300,000 in legal fees to enable his client to raise a $5 million bribe to be paid to the Chief Justice to get a favorable decision in the legal dispute.



Justice Anin-Yeboah has already denied the bribery allegations made against him.



Council Of State.



The President subsequently referred the petition to the Council of State. The Council on Friday, August 20, 2021, presented its report to the President.



President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on his part said he will study the report and announce his decision to the public.



I will apprise you [Council of State] of my findings on the matter. I am hoping that my consultation will establish that there is unanimity between you and me on this matter before we can go on.









Source: Daily Guide









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The Agbogbloshie site that was cleared by the Greater Regional Minister Henry Quartey, will be used to build one of the hospitals under the Agenda 111 project.



On Friday August 20, the Agenda 111 team joined the Greater Accra Regional Minister Mr Henry Quartey to inspect the site for work to start.



Commenting on this development in a tweet, a leading member of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) Mr Gabby Otchere Darko said Today the Agenda 111 team joined the Greater Accra Regional Minister to inspect the Agbogbloshie cleared site.



West Africas biggest slum and major health hazard zone now becoming a place to heal the sick! Watch out for the Ablekuma Central District Hospital at Agbogbloshie!





President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Tuesday August 17 commissioned the Agenda 111 project which will ensure the construction of 111 hospitals across the country.



During the commission of the project in Trede in the Ashanti Region the President said among other things that the project will be providing 20,000 jobs for health professionals when completed.



He said the Ministry of Health is going to recruit more doctors, nurses and pharmacists when the project is done.



He also said that more indirect jobs are also going to be created by the project implementation.



The president further indicated that the Covid-19 pandemic has exposed years of under investment in Ghanas health sector.



To that end, he said his administration is improving on the investment in the health sector of the economy.



He said I am glad that the biggest ever investment in the nations healthcare is being made .We have met this morning because of the ravages of Covid 19 which has affected every country on the planet . For us in Ghana not only has the pandemic disrupted our daily lives, but it has also exposed the deficiencies with our healthcare system because of the years of under investment and neglect



Health Minister Kwaku Agyeman-Manu has said during the event that the surest way for the government to improve on the healthcare delivery is to provide infrastructure.



To that end, he said the government is committed to providing the needed health infrastructure.



He said As you know, a healthy people guarantee a healthy nation and government being mindful of this fact has proved to show to the people its commitment to improve the health status of all residents in the country.



The surest way to improve healthcare sis through providing new infrastructure or improving just existing ones across the length and breadth of the country.



On Sunday August 15, Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah revealed that an amount of $100million has been budgeted for the Agenda 111 project to provide 88 hospitals across the country.



He announced that the government has secure 88 sites as part of the move to construct new hospitals, adding that the titles to the parcel of lands have also been secure.



Addressing a press conference in Accra on Sunday August 15, Mr Oppong Nkrumah who is also Member of Parliament of Ofoase Ayirebi said The agenda 111 project which aims at providing 111 district hospitals will commence on Tuesday 17 August 2021. The project will also see to the provision of two specialized hospitals, one for the middle belt, one for the northern belt. These are psychiatric hospitals and then the redevelopment of the Accra Psychiatric hospital.



There will also be the development of the six new regional hospitals and one extra regional hospital for the Western region. The district hospital project as you recall was first announced in April 2020 by President Akufo-Addo during his 8th Covid update to the nation. It is programmed to take between twelve months to complete each one from the point of commencement Since this announcement the project implementation committee chaired by Chief of Staff Madam Akosua Frema Osei Opare has been delivering a number of objectives



One, to secure the physical location of 111 sites. Currently, they have secure 88 of those 111 sites. Not just the physical location but also securing title to the parcels of land. 88 out of 111 so far each of these parcels is about 15 acres.



They have also been procuring the services of consultants. The master project itself has its consultant then for every one of the 111 sites, like it is done in every construction project you need the consultant and the contractors working on it, they have also been delivering on this. They have also been working to secure funding for it and commencement funding of $100million dollars has been made available to the project through the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund. For the project themselves, it is budgeted US$17million for each of the district hospitals, the district and specialized hospitals are being funded by the government of Ghana.



President Nana Akufo-Addo in his eighth Covid-19 address to the nation last year announced the construction of hospitals in some 88 districts across the country.



There are 88) districts in our country without district hospitals; we have six (6) new regions without regional hospitals; we do not have five infectious disease control centres dotted across the country; and we do not have enough testing and isolation centres for diseases like COVD-19. We must do something urgently about this. That is why Government has decided to undertake a major investment in our healthcare infrastructure, the largest in our history. We will, this year, begin constructing 88 hospitals in the districts without hospitals, he said.



President Akufo-Addo also reiterated the governments plans of building regional hospitals in the six new regions to boost healthcare delivery in the country.



Each of them will be a quality, standard-design, one hundred bed hospital, with accommodation for doctors, nurses and other health workers, and the intention is to complete them within a year. We have also put in place plans for the construction of six new regional hospitals in the six new regions, and the rehabilitation of the Effia Nkwanta Hospital, in Sekondi, which is the regional hospital of the Western Region.



Infectious disease control centers



Additionally, President Akufo-Addo gave an indication that work will soon commence on three infectious disease control centers for each of the zones of the country to improve Ghanas testing capacities with regards to contagious illnesses.



We are going to beef up our existing laboratories and establish new ones across every region for testing. We will establish three infectious disease control centers for each of the zones of our country, i.e. Coastal, Middle Belt and Northern, with the overall objective of setting up a Ghana Centre for Disease Control. The recent, tragic CSM outbreak, with over 40 deaths, has reaffirmed the need for ready access to such infectious disease control centres, even though, in our time, nobody should die of the disease.







Source: 3news.com









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THE sacked Central Regional Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), now Social commentator, Bernard Allotey Jacobs, has disclosed how some members within the opposition (NDC) are planning his death with.



Mr Allotey Jacobs however refused to mention names, rather disclosed in a Facebook post that those threatening his life are Ewe boys.



According to him, his decision to make peace with some individuals he maligned when he was a member of the NDC, is what has triggered some boys to threaten his life.



He explained that the said boys have been attacking and hauling insults at him whenever he appears on radio stations to comment on national issues or posts anything on Facebook.



In reaction to the threats, however, Mr Allotey Jacobs who could not fathom why the Ewe boys want him dead, indicated he has a God to protect him.



Read his full [unedited] Facebook post below:



I want Ghanaians to listen to me. I left the NDC party in two weeks the party said they have sacked me. It, therefore, means that am no longer a member of the party. I decided to make amends with people I have maligned they came to insult and threaten my life. I am no longer an NDC member but when I am doing my radio commentary they will come and insult me. When I post anything on Facebook page na wahala.



He added that Especially Ewe boys will come threatening me with death threatening me with ewe gods. Well God is my Protector.

Source: Facebook/D-Guide









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The 2020 Vice-Presidential Candidate of the Peoples National Convention (PNC), Pastor Dr Divine Ayivor has reiterated the need for all members of splinter Nkrumaist parties and groupings to come together to form a force that will liberate Ghanaians from bad governance in the country.

According to him, it was only a united Nkrumaist party that can put the country on the right path of progressive development.



Speaking at the Volta regional public interaction of the United Nkrumaists Front (UNF) in Ho yesterday, he said both the two dominant parties, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC) had ridden on the back of members of the Nkrumaist party to build their parties.



The forum was on the theme, Uniting without verity is no better than conspiracy.



Nkrumah Ideology



Dr Ayivor noted that the ideology of Nkrumah was dying because of the existence of splinter groups and the abysmal performance in elections.



We cannot continue to get lotto results during an election and expect to win power, he stated.



He noted that the Nkrumaist parties had not been able to make impact in rescuing the country because of greedy leadership who sold the parties to the two biggest political parties, leaving members to struggle in vain.



The secretary of the UNF, Mr Michael Nketiah, said the UNF was pre-occupied with uniting Nkrumaists under one political entity to contest and win in future elections.



He said the UNF had a vision to support Ghanaians to achieve their highest potential through quality education with science, creative arts, technology and patriotism at the foundation.



The administrator of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP), Nii Adjetey Sowah, disclosed that the leadership of the CPP and other leaders of the Nkrumaist tradition have held series of meetings with a focus on the name, symbol and signing of a memorandum of understanding for a united Nkrumaist party.



Unity



The South Dayi Chairman of the Progressive Peoples Party (PPP), Mr Explo Nani-Kofi said unity was possible and that his constituency had set the pace by bringing four parties together in presenting one parliamentary candidate for the 2020 election, leading to a good performance.



He urged all other constituencies to follow the example to make the unity dream a reality. We can come together and choose quality leaders that will represent us and bring us victory.



The South Dayi regional secretary of the Ghana Union Movement (GUM), Mr Charles Dela Egbadewoe, said the move was to liberate Ghanaians and ,therefore, all must embrace the UNF for the progressive development of the country.









Source: graphiconline.com









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The Chief Imam of Larabanga in the Savanna Region, Alhaji Mahama Mumuni Zankawah, has offered prayers for success for former President John Mahama.



According to him, just as the Holy Prophet Muhammad overcame trials to achieve success, so would he be successful in his endeavours.



Prophet Muhammad, when his own people neglected him and he moved from Mecca to Medina, from Medina he succeeded and came back to Mecca. Now the whole wide world is full of Muslims. So, as the prophets did, so shall you be.



The spiritual leader of Larabanga made the remarks through a translator when the former President and his entourage paid a courtesy call on him as part of the 2020 NDC Presidential Candidates nationwide tour to thank Ghanaians for their support for him and the NDC Parliamentary Candidates.



Referencing the disputed 2020 elections, he said the setback was merely an indication that Allah was preparing him for future success.



When they push you aside small, it doesnt mean they push you out of the way. They want you to stand behind or aside and see the straightness of the road, and if you go back small, you know Im supposed to pass here. So NDC has been shifted a bit but eventually it will come back he announced.



The Imam further requested that when Mr. Mahama attains success, he should not forget the people of Larabanga.











Source: kasapafmonline.com









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Former National Communication Officer for the largest opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Solomon Nkansah is highly optimistic of his party's chances of regaining power in the 2024 general election.



He based his conviction on the fact that, in Ghana, conventionally, political parties are given two terms to run the affairs of the country and after that, the electorate votes for another party to take over.



Speaking on Okay FMs 'Ade Akye Abia' Morning Show on Monday, 23rd August 2021, Solomon Nkansah asserted that Ghanaians gave President Akufo-Addo the first term and he forcefully took the second term.



But the NDC is coming back to power in 2024. We have even arrived at the doorstep of power. You know that in Ghana, conventionally, it has been made that every government is given two terms (8 years) to rule, he asserted.



Commenting on his benefit from the largest opposition NDC, Solomon Nkansah noted that even though he did not get an appointment when the NDC government was in power, he still owes the party in diverse ways as he has benefited from the party even without an appointment.



He indicated that he is neither poor nor too rich in life; thus, he is experiencing dry season as his party [NDC] is not in power, making him a strategic spender in order not to suffer as he waits for the party to come back to power in 2024.

Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com









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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has described as unwarranted and unmeritorious, the petition brought before him by the Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA) seeking the removal of the Chief Justice, Kwasi Anin-Yeboah, from office.



Calls for the removal of the Chief Justice (CJ) followed an allegation by a private legal practitioner, Kwasi Afrifa that he had demanded a $5million bribe to deliver a favorable judgment in a case involving his client; an allegation the CJ has denied.



Council of State



Last Friday, members of the Council of State presented their findings on the petition to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.



The report was sealed and its contents were not made public. It is believed to have contained findings of whether a prima facie case has been established against the Chief Justice or not.



ASEPA



The Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA) had petitioned the President for the removal of the Chief Justice for allegedly collecting a bribe of $5 million.



The Chief Justice, Justice Anin Yeboah, has since denied the allegation and called on the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to investigate the matter.



"Unmeritorious"



But President Akufo-Addo, after studying the report, established that no prima facie case has been established, thus curtailing the process.



In a statement, the President threw out the petition saying it is "devoid of any basis warranting the setting up of a committee under Article 146 (6) to undertake the very serious business of removing a Chief Justice from office.



the Supreme Court in interpreting article 146 (6) had in mind unmeritorious and unwarranted petitions such as the instant one. The petition is dismissed accordingly, the statement dated August 20, 2021, added.



"Embarrassing"



Meanwhile, The Executive Secretary of ASEPA speaking in an interview on Joy News, fired back describing the President's statement as "embarrassing".



Read the President's full response below:

Your browser does not support iframes.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Fast-rising Ghanaian musician and businessman Gambo, has paid a surprise visit to Cofie Eshun, the father of the late

hiplife legend, Theophilus Tagoe who was popularly known in showbiz as Castro Under Fire.



The visit formed part of activities of his Takoradi media tour.



Gambo embarked on the Takoradi tour to promote his 'New Era' Extended Play (EP).



https://ffm.to/gambo-newera-ep



The 'Drip' hit maker says he thought it necessary to pay his respect to the family of one of the greatest Ghanaian musicians that ever lived.



Castro's father was highly thankful for Gambo as an up and coming musician to do the needful by visiting him.



Mr. Eshun observed how other musicians visit Takoradi to do their media tour but do not bother to pay him visit upon all that his late son did for the Ghanaian music industry.



He prayed for God's blessings upon Gambo's music career just as he would have done for Castro if he were still alive, expressing how he deeply misses his son.



Gambo was humbled by the kind words and prayers from Castro's father.



He was also humbled by the great reception he enjoyed in Takoradi, saying his overall experience in Takoradi has been one of the best so far in his tours.



He expressed gratitude for the great support he enjoyed in Takoradi.



Castro Under Fire disappeared on the 6th of July, 2014 at the Beach in Ada during a jet ski with Janet Bandu, a female friend.



Reports indicated at the time that the two, while on holiday with the Gyan brothers opted for a jet ski cruise at a resort close to the Ada estuary and they never returned jetting but their jet ski was later found with a life jacket hanging on it.







Gambo is poised to become the face of Ghana music in the new future, with the release of his New Era Extended Play.The New Era EP was launched on June 18, 2021 and has seen Gambo featuring the likes of veteran rapper, Ayigbe Edem, Strongman, Medikal and Sefa.There are five tracks off the New Era EP. The EP is dominated by current trending stars in Ghana.D-Blacks Black Avenue Muzik label signee, Sefa, who is currently dominating local charts with her latest hit single E Choke (which features Mr Drew) was the only female star recruited for the EP.Songs on the EP include: No Stress produced by Goodboi; Beautiful featuring Sefa and produced by DJKwamzy; We Move featuring Strongman.The Beautiful song speaks about the heartbreak Gambo suffered in the hands of his ex-girlfriend.Gambo is deeply emotional about the song.According to him, the song is one that anyone who has experienced a broken-heart can listen to and console themselves.The track is off his Extended Play (EP).He recorded the song when he was in love and suffered a brutal broken-heart.Earlier this year when Gambo released the Dripofficial video believed to be the most expensive music video for 2021 so far, Gambo made it clear that there was a song for everyone on his upcoming EP.Drip saw Gambo recruiting the services of celebrated Ghanaian recording artist, Ayigbe Edem.Drip was premiered at 4syte TV premises in Accra on Friday, February 26, 2021 and is well positioned to take the Ghanaian music industry by storm.The premiere attracted several A-list artists, with live performances from Kechi and others.Drip was the first song off Gambos Extended Play. The banger is available on all major streaming platforms including YouTube, Audiomack.The EP was launched on April 9, 2021.Drip was produced by popular Ghanaian record producer, Fortune Dane.Starring in Drip official video are curvaceous Ghanaian actress, Moesha Boduong, and social media sensation, Shugatiti.Moesha and Edem were both in attendance at the premiere, which saw music lovers thrilled to great songs and performances from Gambo himself and other artists who came to support him.Drip official video was shot on the seventh floor of the leading hotel in Ghana, Kempinski Hotel, Accra.The video perfectly showcases the luxurious side of Ghana, and is comparable to music videos of top American recording artists.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Late Kumawood actor, Agya Manu was laid to rest over the weekend.



Known in private life as Samuel Manu, the actor died on Tuesday June 15, 2021 of an undisclosed ailment. He was 54.



Previous reports suggested that he was battling with diabetes and pressure before he met his untimely death.



He was laid to rest on Saturday, August 21, 2021 after a funeral ceremony held at the Arts Centre in Accra.

The event saw many Kumawood actors and actresses coming through to pay their last respects to their colleague.



Among them were Agya Koo, Kwadwo Nkansah Lil Win, Bill Asamoah, Christiana Awuni, Matilda Asare, Salinko, Akyere Bruwaa and a host of others.



Agya Manu was a prominent actor well known for his talent in Kumawood and beyond.

He appeared in movies like Bragoro, Di Asempa, and Ohia akwantuo.



He also acted alongside celebrated actors as Agya Koo, Lil Win, Kwaku Manu, Akrobeto, Akyere Bruwaa, and Rose Akua Attaa Mensah (Kyeiwaa).

Source: Daily Guide









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Researchers from the University of Melbourne and University of Queensland have analysed negative attitudes towards Asian people in both the United States and Australia to better understand the factors that contribute to these prejudices.

The findings suggest that race-hatred in the United States can be correlated to political opinion, with more Republican voters expressing negative attitudes towards Asian people, whereas in Australiaa country that is less politically dividedprejudice took on a greater socio-economic dimension.

Instances of anti-Asian hate crime soared during the beginning of coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in both the U.S. and in Australia following news that the virus originated in Wuhan, China. The important research, published in the Australian Journal of Social Issues demonstrates the need to investigate and understand the driving forces behind prejudice, and to untangle the factors that drive divisions in society.

Whilst anti-Asian sentiment had been present in previous disease outbreaks and has origins in past colonial and racist policies, the authors noted that there was a lack of understanding how this sentiment is expressed across different socio-demographic groups, and whether these patterns differ across nations.

The research notes both the different political contextwith more overt scapegoating of China taking place from then U.S President Donald Trumpand the difference in disease spread and economic consequences in both countries.

Using both direct and indirect questions to assess anti-Asian sentiment, the research involved a YouGov survey covering the period of 31 August9 September 2020 and included 1,375 Australian and 1,060 U.S. respondents.

University of Melbourne lead author Dr. Monica Tan said it was important to ask indirect questions as respondents are less likely to express their discriminatory attitudes toward racial groups, fearing consequences.

"We added a list experiment analysis to our survey to look for unconscious bias. This task involved asking respondents whether they would be concerned about attending certain restaurants and listed a range of cuisines, including Chinese."

This data was then linked with a range of socioeconomic factors to demonstrate how anti-Asian sentiment is associated with: political affiliation, age, gender, education, employment status and income groups.

Contrary to the researcher's hypothesis, their study found that there was not a higher prevalence of anti-Asian sentiment in the U.S. when compared to Australia.

Co-author sociologist, Associate Professor Leah Ruppanner said: "Australia and the US were relatively on par when it came to the amount of anti-Asian sentiment within those countries. However, the big difference was in which demographics expressed these opinions. Interestingly for us, whilst Republicans were far more likely than Democrats in America to display anti-Asian sentiment, they were less likely to say that they would avoid Chinese restaurants on health grounds. This could be because whilst President Trump produced very anti-Chinese rhetoric, many Republicans were suspicious of COVID-19 as a legitimate health concern."

In contrast to the U.S. where there was a strong relationship between political affiliation and anti-Asian sentiment, in Australia these negative attitudes were more closely associated with three factors suggesting that women, less educated individuals and individuals in the middle-income bracket were more likely to share anti-Asian bias.

"These results may reflect the greater economic hardships that these groups faced during COVID-19 lockdowns," said Professor Ruppanner.

"The results show that anti-Asian bias is associated with economic conditions, political rhetoric and media contextand this helps us to see what areas need to be focussed on to create a more tolerant society.

"Our study shows that there is work to be done to reduce instances of anti-Asian behaviors," said Professor Ruppanner.

"There is a need for anti-discrimination policies and greater resources for policing and bystander training, and community-centered approaches to increase awareness. It's also important for work to be done on removing false or misleading information, especially on social media platforms, and that may help to curb misleading information about Asians and COVID-19."

Explore further COVID-19-related xenophobia

More information: Xiao Tan et al, Profiling racial prejudice during COVID19: Who exhibits antiasian sentiment in Australia and the United States?, Australian Journal of Social Issues (2021). Xiao Tan et al, Profiling racial prejudice during COVID19: Who exhibits antiasian sentiment in Australia and the United States?,(2021). DOI: 10.1002/ajs4.176
The global action area map shows geographical disparities in the use of social media despite worldwide utilization. Credit: Toyohashi University of Technology.

A research team led by Shiori Hironaka, a project assistant professor of Computer Science and Engineering at Toyohashi University of Technology, collected big data on social media in ten countries and analyzed the relationship between connections and the behaviors of people on the Internet. The researchers found that the users had the same characteristics in follow ratios, which reflect the behaviors of users regardless of country. Discovering common characteristics and differences in data that reflects social diversity may help people effectively use data according to their cultural differences, for instance, for marketing and the effective sharing of information.

The team collected data on the activities of more than 4,000,000 Twitter users in ten countries (Japan, the U.S.A., Brazil, the U.K., Philippines, Turkey, Indonesia, India, Mexico, and Saudi Arabia) and statistically analyzed the online relationships between the connections and behaviors of users. This is the first analysis of this type of data in the world.

The use of social media data for a diverse array of surveys and analyses is becoming more prevalent as more people use social media. This is because social media data is seen as an indirect observation of social situations. However, the nature of the data varies by country due to cultural differences and other factors, even though the data is similarly observed on social media. User behaviors are believed to reflect the cyberculture of the group the user belongs to. Therefore, it is important to know properties of social media in order to use them in various surveys.

The team analyzed the connections between users, focusing on the nearness of the areas where they act. Because the purposes for using social media may be closely connected with the nearness of the action areas of the users who are connected via social media. To be specific, action areas tend to be close if a social media service is used for exchanges with friends. If the purpose is reading celebrities' posts or news, the nearness of action areas does not matter. Having examined the relationship between the nearness of action areas and user behaviors on social media, we compared the characteristics of different countries.

As a result, we identified ten countries with common points regarding user characteristics related to the nearness of action areas. One characteristic is the follow ratio. It is the ratio of those a user is following to the followers of the user. If the follow ratio is high, it is believed that a user is accessed by people wishing to read the user's posts. We also found that the users with longer profiles tend to be farther from the action areas of the connected users. However, the ten countries do not necessarily have this in common.

Essentially, data on social media connections can express information about users around the world in the same way. However, this may not ensure the expected precision for such functions as friend recommendations and attribute estimations as the nature of the data individually differs due to cultural differences. The identified characteristics are expected to help provide the best information to users of different countries and cultures.

The study was published in IEEE Access.

Explore further Finding friends of friends on social media

More information: Shiori Hironaka et al, Cross-Country Analysis of User Profiles for Graph-based Location Estimation, IEEE Access (2021). Shiori Hironaka et al, Cross-Country Analysis of User Profiles for Graph-based Location Estimation,(2021). DOI: 10.1109/ACCESS.2021.3086523
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

We are collectively failing to conserve the world's biodiversity and to mobilize natural solutions to help curb global warming. A new study carried out by the Nature Map Consortium shows that managing a strategically placed 30% of land for conservation could safeguard 70% of all considered terrestrial plant and vertebrate animal species, while simultaneously conserving more than 62% of the world's above and below ground vulnerable carbon, and 68% of all clean water.

In November, governments will convene in Glasgow under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Natural climate solutions for mitigation and adaptation will be high on the agenda, as illustrated by the recent G7 Nature Compact and the Leaders' Pledge for Nature signed by 88 heads of government. In 2022, China will host the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity to agree a new Global Biodiversity Framework, including proposed targets to conserve at least 30% of land and the ocean by 2030 and to apply integrated biodiversity-inclusive spatial planning to address land- and sea-use change.

To stop the decline of nature and meet the Paris Agreement objectives, strategies need to be designed and implemented for better managing land use for agriculture, infrastructure, biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation and adaptation, water provision, and other needs. As underscored by the draft Global Biodiversity Framework and current efforts in Costa Rica, China, and other countries, this requires spatial planning to assess where biodiversity conservation would bring the greatest benefits to other policy objectives.

To support such integrated strategies, a paper by the Nature Map consortium just published in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution presents an approach for spatial planning. The paper set out to determine areas of global importance to manage for conservation to simultaneously protect the greatest number of species from extinction, conserve vulnerable terrestrial carbon stocks, and safeguard freshwater resources. This effort is the first of its kind to truly integrate biodiversity, carbon, and water conservation within a common approach and a single global priority map. Another distinct novelty of the work is the consideration of a comprehensive set of plant distribution data (about 41% of all plant species) in the analyses, and the setting of species targets for extinction risk.

"To implement post-2020 biodiversity strategies such as the Global Biodiversity Framework, policymakers and governments need clarity on where resources and conservation management could bring the greatest potential benefits to biodiversity. At the same time, biodiversity should not be looked at in isolation. Other aspects such as conserving carbon stocks within natural ecosystems should be considered alongside biodiversity, so that synergies and trade-offs can be evaluated when pursuing multiple objectives," explains lead author Martin Jung, a researcher in the IIASA Biodiversity, Ecology, and Conservation Research Group.

"The new global priority maps developed as part of the study show that when it comes to identifying new areas to manage for conservation, such as protected areas or community-managed forests, quality (location and management effectiveness) is more important than quantity (global extent). To aim for quality of conservation and achieve the goal of safeguarding biodiversity, government and non-government agencies should be setting objectives and indicators for what they want: conserving species, healthy ecosystems and their services to people, and identify areas to conserve accordingly. Our study provides guidance on how to do that," adds study coauthor Piero Visconti who leads the Biodiversity, Ecology, and Conservation Research Group at IIASA.

The researchers note that conserving a strategically located 30% of land could yield major gains for conservation, climate, and water provisioning. Specifically, it would safeguard more than 62% of the world's above and below ground vulnerable carbon and 68% of all fresh water, while ensuring that over 70% of all terrestrial vertebrate and plant species are not threatened with extinction. As the work shows, meeting these objectives will require strategic placement of conservation interventions using spatial planning tools like Nature Map and, crucially, require enabling their stewards to effectively manage these areas.

Global areas of importance for terrestrial biodiversity, carbon, and water and implications for prioritizing biodiversity and water protection over carbon. Credit: Adam Islaam, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA)

"This type of approach can support decision makers in prioritizing locations for conservation efforts, and shows just how much both people and nature could gain. To be successful long-term, these areas must be managed effectively and equitably. That includes respecting the rights of, and empowering indigenous peoples and local communities," says co-author Lera Miles, Principal Technical SpecialistPlanning for Places, UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC).

"Maps for integrated spatial planning, as called for in the draft Global Biodiversity Framework, are necessary for meeting climate and biodiversity objectives. They are also critical for financing natural climate solutions, improving carbon markets, and greening supply chains," says Guido Schmidt-Traub, an author of the paper who has also written a related commentary in the same issue of Nature Ecology and Evolution.

The study demonstrates that optimizing jointly for biodiversity, carbon, and water maximizes synergies that can be gained from conservation compared to placing emphasis on any individual asset alone. Through strategic action in selected locations, significant benefits can be achieved across all three dimensions. Conservation efforts however need to be greatly scaled-up by all actors in society to meet global biodiversity and climate objectives.

Jung points out that the analysis identifies the upper potential value of any given area to be managed for conservation at global scale. The team by no means suggests or implies that all areas with high value are to be placed under strict protection, recognizing that these management choices are decided by national and local stakeholders.

The team's analyses also quantitatively confirm many areas earlier described as biodiversity hotspots, which were previously based on expert opinion alone. By including selected data of the global tree of life that have so far been ignored in global prioritizationssuch as reptiles and plantsthe team identified new areas to be considered as important for biodiversity at a global scale. These include, for instance, the southeastern United States and the Balkans. The research has also been useful in updating and improving the information on all areas of global importance for biodiversity conservation.

"Our methods, data, and the global priority maps are meant to be used as a decision support tool for major conservation initiatives. Furthermore, the study lays the groundwork for a new generation of integrated prioritizations and planning exercises that all actors can use to inform conservation choices at the regional, national and sub-national levels," Jung concludes.

The global priority maps can be explored interactively on the UN Biodiversity lab to support decision makers and generate insight and impact for conservation and sustainable development.

Explore further Measuring conservation in a way that counts

More information: Areas of global importance for conserving terrestrial biodiversity, carbon and water, Nature Ecology and Evolution (2021). www.nature.com/articles/s41559-021-01528-7 Journal information: Nature Ecology & Evolution Areas of global importance for conserving terrestrial biodiversity, carbon and water,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41559-021-01528-7
The ESCAPADE Mars mission will consist of two identical satellites"Blue" and "Gold"that will study how the planet's ionosphere and magnetic field interact. Credit: Rocket Lab

An interplanetary mission led by the University of California, Berkeley, to put two satellitesdubbed "Blue" and "Gold"into orbit around Mars has been officially authorized to prepare for launch in October 2024.

The announcement last week by NASA means that by 2026 the spacecraft will likely be exploring the red planet's atmosphere and its interaction with the solar wind.

Called the Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers (ESCAPADE) mission, it is the culmination of two years of intense work by scientists at UC Berkeley's Space Sciences Laboratory (SSL) to show that relatively inexpensive spacecraftthe design, build, test, integration and launch will cost less than $80 millioncan be assembled in a short period of time to explore other planets. Typical NASA planetary missions often require more than a decade of preparation and can exceed $1 billion in costs.

"ESCAPADE and two other NASA missions recently approved are experiments to see whether advances in the space industry over the last five to 10 years can translate to a much better bang for the buck in terms of science per dollar," said mission leader Robert Lillis, SSL's associate director for planetary science and astrobiology. "Sending two spacecraft to Mars for the total cost of under $80 million is just unheard of, but current NASA leadership is taking the risk."

The UC Berkeley team will work with Rocket Lab, a space contractor based in Long Beach, California, which will supply two Photon spacecraft to house and support the instruments. The academic/industry collaboration is an example of what NASA hopes to encourage with its Small Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration (SIMPLEx) program, designed to fund compelling planetary space science with small satellites and provide more opportunities for flight experience to the science community.

These missions represent "a new commercial, higher risk, high reward way of doing things," Lillis said. "Instead of spending $800 million for a 95% chance of success, can we spend $80 million for an 80% chance? This is what NASA is trying to find out with these missions."

The mission's goal is to collect data that could help reconstruct the climate history of Mars and determine how and when it lost its atmosphere, which was once dense enough to allow for running water, including rivers, lakes and possibly oceans. ESCAPADE also will study the ionosphere of Mars, which can interfere with radio communications on the surface and between Earth and Mars colonists.

"With simultaneous two-point observations of the solar wind and Mars's ionosphere and magnetosphere, ESCAPADE will bring us the first 'stereo' picture of this highly dynamic plasma environment," Lillis said.

"This constellation of two satellites at Mars will answer big questions about the atmosphere and the solar wind in real time," said Shannon Curry, project scientist for the mission at UC Berkeley.

The twin ESCAPADE satellites should arrive at Mars in 2026, where they will circle the planet in complementary orbits to sample the hot ionized plasma (cross section in yellow and green) and magnetic fields (blue lines) to understand how Marss atmosphere escapes into space. Credit: UC Berkeley / Robert Lillis

Rocket Lab, which teamed with UC Berkeley in June, has been building rockets and spacecraft platforms since 2006 for civil, defense and commercial customers. NASA evaluated the mission's preliminary design and project plan and determined last week that both UC Berkeley and Rocket Lab had met all milestonescalled key decision pointsnecessary to prepare for launch. The next steps include the final design of the mission and building the instruments.

"ESCAPADE is an innovative mission that demonstrates that advanced interplanetary science is now within reach for a fraction of traditional costs, and we're proud to make it possible with Photon," said Rocket Lab founder and CEO Peter Beck in a statement. "Passing the key decision point is a critical milestone in ESCAPADE's development and is testament to the world-class science and engineering work of the UC Berkeley and Rocket Lab teams. We are delighted to receive the green light from NASA to proceed to flight."

The mission builds on decades of experience at SSL in building satellite instruments and fleets of spacecraft to explore regions around Earth, the moon and Mars, specializing in magnetic field interactions with the wind of particles from the sun. Each of the two satellites, named after UC Berkeley's school colors, will carry instruments built at SSL to measure the flow of high energy electrons and ionized oxygen and carbon dioxide molecules escaping from Mars, magnetic field detectors built at UCLA and a probe to measure slower or thermal ions built at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida.

With twin satellites, it is possible to measure conditions simultaneously at two places around the planet, Lillis said, allowing scientists to connect plasma conditions at one site to the escaping ion flux at another. Over the course of the mission, the two satellites will change positions to map the upper atmosphere and magnetosphere of nearly the entire planet from an altitude of between 150 and 10,000 kilometers.

When selected by NASA in 2019 to receive $8.3 million for a conceptual design, ESCAPADE was scheduled to piggyback aboard a rocket that was launching another mission, called Psyche, in August 2022. But that opportunity evaporated when the launch vehicle was changed, and NASA looked for another option. The agency eventually deciding to launch ESCAPADE as a secondary payload aboard a different, as-yet-unselected commercial rocket

"For ESCAPADE, we're evaluating a number of rideshare options to enable this critically important science while also lowering costs," said Alan Zide, program executive for the mission at NASA headquarters, in a blog post on NASA's website.

As a result, while the instruments remain unchanged, they have to be reconfigured to fit the Photon platform.

"The instruments haven't changed, the science objectives haven't changed, but everything from the launch pad to the orbit in space is completely different," Lillis said. "We are going with a brand new contractor, a different propulsion system and a very much shorter mission plan in getting to Mars."

The trip to Mars will take about 11 months, after which Blue and Gold will separate and start their mission.

Lillis said that his reaction to NASA's decision was "just unbridled joy and happiness," but admitted that he won't rest easy until early in 2026, "when we get our first data from orbit around Mars."

Explore further Small satellite concept finalists target moon, Mars and beyond
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

In a year marked by record-breaking wildfires, extreme heat and unprecedented water shortages, California lawmakers say there's anotherseemingly distant, but just as urgentclimate catastrophe the state cannot afford to ignore: sea level rise.

This oft-overlooked threat is the focus of more than a dozen new bills and resolutions this yeara remarkable political awakening mobilized by years of research and piecemeal efforts across the state to keep the California coast above water.

There's Senate Bill 1the very first measure introduced this legislative sessionthat confronts sea level rise adaptation head on. Another bill proposes an innovative buyout program that sets the stage for a different, more proactive approach to the difficult choices that have long paralyzed coastal communities from taking necessary action.

These proposals are a paradigm shift in the way officials are now addressing the social, economic and environmental pressures looming over the state's eroding coastline. Experts say this surge of political interestand willpowercame not a moment too soon.

Across the state, rising water is already flooding homes. Major roads, utility lines and other critical infrastructure are dangling ever closer to the sea. At least $8 billion in property could be underwater by 2050, with an additional $10 billion at risk during high tides. In just the next decade, the ocean could rise more than half a footwith heavy storms and cycles of El Nino projected to make things even worse.

Legislative analysts, in an urgent report, recently made the case that any actionor lack of actionwithin the next 10 years could determine the fate of the California coast. All told, more than $150 billion in property across the state could be at risk of flooding by 2100 if business continues as usual and global temperatures continue to rise.

"The future of California's coast is in jeopardy ... Now is not the time to drown out scientists or put our heads in the sand," said California Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, a San Diego Democrat whose extensive measure, SB-1, clarifies legal and bureaucratic obstacles that have often made large-scale planning a nonstarter.

The bill, supported by seven co-authors, also proposes a significant amount of money: $100 million each year for sea level rise adaptation, plus additional funding specifically earmarked for coastal communities that are disproportionately burdened by industrialization and pollution.

"It's easy to ignore the problem in front of you until it is a crisis," Atkins said. "But if we don't act now, taxpayers, homeowners, businesses, local communities and the state will face massive losses in just a few short years."

But what exactly this action looks likeand who pays and who benefitsremains a tough balancing act. There are only so many ways to protect critical infrastructure, homes, beaches and entire communities from the rising sea, and each option comes with sacrifices and its own set of controversies.

Take seawalls, for example. While effective in protecting beachfront homes and infrastructure in the short term, they disrupt the erosion and natural replenishment of sanddrowning beaches until they narrow or vanish altogether.

Managed retreatrelocating properties and critical infrastructure far enough from the coast to make room for the next few decades of sea level risehas also been fraught. This option often pencils out as the most cost-effective and forward-thinkingbut the logistical challenges of translating short-term interests (preserving property values) into long-term planning (getting out of harm's way before the water arrives) has been a political quagmire.

One creative idea that has recently emerged is a revolving-loan program introduced by state Sen. Ben Allen, a Santa Monica Democrat. Senate Bill 83 essentially proposes giving local governments the ability to buy up properties at risk of falling into the ocean in the next decade or twoand then rent them at market value to recoup the costs. When the time comes, the city could then demolish the property and perhaps restore the land as a public park or some form of natural protection from the sea.

This voluntary program would give homeowners the chance to move on their own termsand sell their beachfront properties while they still have value. Taxpayers, in turn, won't be burdened with the shocking costs of cleaning up after an emergency. Studies show that society as a whole saves $6 in avoided costs for every $1 spent to acquire or demolish flood-prone buildings before disaster hits.

"We don't want this to be a net loss to taxpayers. In some cases it could even be a gain ... The whole idea of this proposal is: It pays itself off because we're getting on top of this early," Allen said. "Think about the cost and lives that could've been saved if California had taken more action decades ago to better mitigate against the threat of today's wildfires."

Much of this is uncharted. Allen and his staff did not have any case studies to model this program after, so they consulted researchers at UCLA, coastal planners, as well as their colleagues in Sacramentowho helped refine the details of the bill through legislative hearings this year. The proposal so far has received bipartisan support and no registered opposition.

If passed by the full legislature this month, the bill will head to Gov. Gavin Newsom's desk for final approval.

Longtime experts in the climate adaptation field have been following these discussions with great interest. This year's proposals mark a fundamental shift in the oft-held view that responding to sea level rise is a one-time action, rather than an ongoing process that requires bigger-picture planning with the community, said A.R. Siders, who has been studying managed retreat and its equity implications at the University of Delaware's Disaster Research Center.

"How do you navigate that middle space where people don't need to move today, but they will need to move eventually? So many places have been trying to figure out this transition," Siders said. "That's where everyone's strugglingand that's where I think this lease-back plan is a really interesting one. It has the potential to really help people figure out that middle space."

Sara Aminzadeh, a commissioner on the California Coastal Commission, said all the legislation this year felt like a major turning point. For the past 10 or so years, the (relatively few) sea level rise bills that have popped up have largely focused on studying the problem, understanding the science and gathering more information to put on a central website.

Now, in addition to the buy-and-rent-back proposal and SB-1, which creates a framework for agencies across the state to work together on more unified goals, other bills this year include measures to improve regional planning, developing an early warning system for coastal landslides, and reducing costly barriers to nature-based adaptation projects. There has also been much discussion with the governor's office on how to dedicate more of the state budget to building coastal resilience.

"We're seeing some really significant reforms. ... We're no longer merely trying to wall ourselves against the rising sea, and saying: 'How long can we stick this out?'" Aminzadeh said. "We're thinking in a more fundamental way about the things that we care about as Californiansand how to ensure a future in which we still have beaches and coastal parks and access for all."

Ultimately, the success of any of these proposals depends on the detailsand whether they're implemented in a fair and equitable way.

For Charles Lester, who has been pushing for more substantive sea level rise planning for more than a decadefirst as the executive director of the Coastal Commission, and now as director of UC Santa Barbara's Ocean and Coastal Policy Centerthese increasingly focused discussions have been encouraging.

"The legislation shows that we understand that adaptation will cost a lot, but that it is an important investment that society needs to make," he said, noting that many costsand priorities on where to invest this new infusion of fundingstill need to be worked out.

This is just the beginning, he said, "of what will be a huge undertaking for many decades to come."

Explore further California must act now to prepare for sea level rise, state lawmakers say

2021 Los Angeles Times.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Wheat harvest in India. A study reports that weed infestation has a negative effect on wheat production. Credit: Scott Wallace/World Bank (https://flickr.com/photos/worldbank/14114547220/), CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Climate-smart agriculture practices such as research-backed crop rotation, along with precise water and nutrient management, can safely and significantly suppress weeds that decrease cereal productivity, says a new study.

Published on 5 August in Scientific Reports, the study recommends maizewheatmungbean rotation as a promising climate smart alternative to the conventional ricewheat system for better weed management in the north-western Indo-Gangetic Plainsamong the world's most intensively farmed areas.

Hanuman S. Jat, lead author of the study and principal scientist at the Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal, India, says continued cultivation using the same cropping system for the last five decades allowed certain weed species likePhalaris minorto strongly establish their presence and adversely affect absorption of light, water and nutrients.

"Weed infestation negatively influences wheat production, particularly under conventional wheat management systems. It also gains resistance against numerous common herbicides and makes chemical control less reliable," Jat tells SciDev.Net.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations estimates that weeds cause a 10 percent loss in crop yields overall, with the loss in cereals amounting to 200 million tons. Losses can reach 30 percent in developing or emerging countries.

A study published in May had also focused on the value of crop diversification to reduce weed density. "The best strategy for developing a resilient and sustainable production system is adopting diversified farming with ecological weed management options.

One study estimates yield losses in India due to weeds in grain crops at US$11 billion. However, farmers are reluctant to adopt a diversified cropping system because of the requirement of varying skill sets and higher initial investment.

S.K. Suresh, agricultural scientist and managing director of the Kerala State Farming Corporation, says that continuous mono-cropping with the rice-wheat system would help weeds to grow rapidly. He tells SciDev.Net: "Weeds use the nutrients provided to the main crop and sometimes dominate the main crop. Some weeds are noxious and harmful for both humans as well as animals. Studies show that herbicides used to control weeds have many ill-effects on the soil and water, besides polluting the environment."

An earlier study said that continuous mono-cropping of rice-wheat system with conventional tillage-based management practices have led to decline in soil health, groundwater table and farmers' profit in north-west India.

Farmers are reluctant to introduce crop rotation for better weed management because they see it as financially risky. R. Sreedharan Pillai, a small-scale farmer in Kollam district, Kerala state, says that farmers are "more likely to agree to implement crop rotation systems if the government provides guarantees or subsidies."

More information: Hanuman S. Jat et al, Climate-smart agriculture practices influence weed density and diversity in cereal-based agri-food systems of western Indo-Gangetic plains, Scientific Reports (2021). Journal information: Scientific Reports Hanuman S. Jat et al, Climate-smart agriculture practices influence weed density and diversity in cereal-based agri-food systems of western Indo-Gangetic plains,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-95445-1

Provided by SciDev.Net
Change in sibling conflict during and after the first COVID-19 lockdown. Note. The y axis corresponds to the response options on the questions about sibling conflict (0 = never, 1 = less often [than every few months], 2 = every few months, 3 = approximately once a month, 4 = approximately once a week, 5 = most days). Credit: DOI: 10.1111/bjep.12451

Conflict amongst siblings increased during the first UK lockdown according to a new study of children with special education needs and disabilities (SENDs).

The study, from the University of York, explored sibling conflict during and after the first UK lockdown (23 March 2020) in families with at least one SENDs child.

The research revealed that over half of parents and carers reported that their child with SENDs was picked on or hurt at least once by their sibling during the first month of lockdown, which increased to nearly three-quarters of children by the third month of lockdown.

But the study shows that the conflict wasn't one-sided. Four out of five young people with SENDs were also reported to be picking on or deliberately hurting their siblings throughout the first lockdown.

A total of 504 parents and carers of a child or young person with SENDs took part in online questionnaires one or more times between 23 March 2020 and 10 October 2020.

Prolonged commitment

Lead author, Dr. Umar Toseeb from the Department of Education said: "Siblings are an important part of children's lives.These relationships can have a positive effect on children's development but they can also be characterized by conflict and bullying."

"During the first UK lockdown school closures meant most children were spending almost all of their time at home with their family. We wanted to investigate if this prolonged confinement was associated with more conflict amongst siblings."

Parents and carers answered questions relating to their SEND child about age, birth order, verbal ability, what sort of school they attended and what their specific needs were. The parents were also asked how often their children hurt and picked on each other.

Most of the respondents were mothers (92 percent) and half came from low-income. The SENDs children were aged between five and 18 years old with most being of white British ethnicity (89 percent) male (70 percent) and having good verbal ability (84 percent).

Evidenced-based support

Dr. Toseeb added: "It's not unexpected that spending long periods at home during lockdown meant that there were more sibling arguments and fights. In fact the study found that once schools had fully reopened for face-to-face teaching in September 2020 sibling conflict reduced.

"The scale of this problem, however, is a cause for concern as persistent sibling conflict is associated with poor mental health. Future research should explore the longer-term impact of lockdowns on both children with SENDs and their siblings to provide evidence-based support for these families."

Explore further Study finds children with autism more likely to be bullied at home and at school

More information: Umar Toseeb, Sibling conflict during COVID19 in families with special educational needs and disabilities, British Journal of Educational Psychology (2021). Umar Toseeb, Sibling conflict during COVID19 in families with special educational needs and disabilities,(2021). DOI: 10.1111/bjep.12451
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Companies are always looking for ways to get teams to innovate more and find creative answers to problems. New research co-authored by Myeong-Gu Seo at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business finds one way to do so is to encourage employees to bare their feelingsboth positive and negativeto team members.

Seo collaborated with Maryland Smith Ph.D.s Michael R. Parke (now at the Wharton School of Business) and Sirkwoo Jin (now at Merrimack College), and Xiaoran Hu of the London School of Economics on the study featured by Organization Science as "The Creative and Cross-Functional Benefits of Wearing Hearts on Sleeves." They decided to study the link between emotions and creativity after Seo visited a global tech company lagging its competitors in innovation.

"I immediately noticed that it was about the emotional climate," Seo says.

Seo has extensively studied emotions in the workplace. "There are a lot of organizational level consequences to bringing your emotions to work," he says. "In this study, we focus on team-level outcomes when emotions are displayed in the workplace. We see whether 'affect climates'  especially whether a team really allows for authentic expression of emotion versus notcan really predict team creativity."

Seo explains that affect climate is established by team members' shared expectations about what emotions are appropriate and expected to share, and whether showing those emotions is rewarded or punished. There are many expectations that naturally form in different teams, based on the climate. And just because a team seems to get along well, doesn't mean the climate is ideal, Seo says. "There could be a very positive climatebut even if you don't like an idea, you feel like you have to nod and smile. You can laugh, but you cannot disagree."

In this study, Seo and his co-authors focused on authenticity. "It didn't matter whether teams were positively or negatively oriented. We only focused on whether the team members felt they could express their true emotions. Or not, if they felt they had to suppress emotions or pretend."

Through two field studies and two lab-based experiments, the researchers show that the level of authenticity in a team's climate is the key to having an innovative, creative team.

When people feel they can open up, it creates room for more free expression and more exploration of ideas, says Seo.

"That emotional space actually opens up a lot of information elaboration and sharing in teams," Seo says. "Particularly in the early stage of the creative process, where ideas are generally intuitive and crude in nature and lack clear logic and precise articulation, people rely more on feelings and emotions than logical explanations in generating, communicating and evaluating those ideas. Thus, by encouraging free expression and exploration of their emotional reactions, team members can generate and use more and richer information for generating, exploring, evaluating and elaborating creative ideas. But when you kill emotional expression altogether, you kill all other information processing. That's why it suppresses the creative process and outcomes."

And positive and negative emotions both are important in the creative process for teams, he says.

"This is kind of contrary to a lot of teams and leaders, who think only positive emotions are good, which is not true. Sometimes negative emotions play a very important role. They help teams evaluate options and help other people to deeply think about the drawbacks of any ideas. Consistently, we find it doesn't matterpositive, negativeall emotions are important."

Interestingly, Seo and his co-authors found the effect strongest in cross-functional teams, where team members often have very different knowledge backgrounds, world views and cultural norms, and may not be able to clearly communicate with each other. "Emotions can allow them to communicate with each other, in spite of other barriers, more efficiently and easily in a rich manner," Seo says.

Using the research

Organizations and managers should take note, says Seo, because teams are often formed specifically to come up with creative and innovative solutions. With some big tech companies' amenity-heavy corporate campuses, and now the rise of remote and flexible work, organizations have become more strategic about developing their workplace environments to maximize productivity. For organizations that want to boost creativity and innovation, Seo says part of the strategy should focus on cultivating more authenticity in teams' emotional climates.

His advice to managers: "One thing that I can strongly recommend to managers and team leaders, or even a team member on a leaderless team: How they behave sets the tone. They should freely express their emotions and invite others to do so. Show empathic responses and encourage more exploration of ideas. That kind of behavior can start to create a more authentic affect climate and has very important and good team outcomes that they can cultivate later."

When you're on a team, you can model behavior for a more authentic affect climate, says Seo, but realize change won't happen overnight. "You can work on strengthening your relationships with team members so you feel more comfortable working to change the climate. It might take more time, and it's not that easy and automatic, but it is doable for teams to develop a more healthy, functional affect climate in teams even if you're not a team leader."

The biggest thing, says Seo, is to make sure all team members are on the same page.

"It's like team emotional intelligence. They collectively may express and regulate emotions togethernot just one person regulating their emotions. We really can see now that this makes for an authentic affect climate, which makes people more empathetic and more responsive to team emotions. When that happens, there is more motivation, more creativity and innovation."

Explore further Leader effectiveness may depend on emotional expression

More information: Michael R. Parke et al, The Creative and Cross-Functional Benefits of Wearing Hearts on Sleeves: Authentic Affect Climate, Information Elaboration, and Team Creativity, Organization Science (2021). Journal information: Organization Science Michael R. Parke et al, The Creative and Cross-Functional Benefits of Wearing Hearts on Sleeves: Authentic Affect Climate, Information Elaboration, and Team Creativity,(2021). DOI: 10.1287/orsc.2021.1448
A predator doesn't need to have the quickest speed or reflexes to catch a bird. In a paper publishing August 23 in the journal Current Biology, researchers report the first documented evidence of a tortoise going in for the kill: biting the head of, killing, and eating a tern chick. This is the first time such behavior has been captured on camera, and it's likely not the only case of tortoise bird slaughter that's occurred.

"I couldn't believe what I was seeing," says corresponding author Justin Gerlach, Director of Biology Studies at the University of Cambridge's Peterhouse College. "It was horrifying and amazing at the same time."

In the videofilmed in the woodlands of Fregate Island in the Seychelles, an archipelago off the coast of East Africa in the Indian Oceanan adult female tortoise makes a direct beeline at normal walking pace toward its target: a tern chick stranded on a log. "It was looking directly at the tern and walking purposefully toward it. This was very, very strange, and totally different from normal tortoise behavior," says Gerlach.

Slow and steady, the tortoise stalks closer. When it gets within biting distance, it reaches out with its mouth open. The chick tries to defend itself by pecking at the tortoise, but its efforts are futile. Once the chick reaches the end of the log with nowhere else to go, the tortoise crushes its jaws directly on the head of the chick.

This videofilmed in the woodlands of Fregate Island in the Seychelles, an archipelago off the coast of East Africa in the Indian Oceanis the first documented evidence of a giant tortoise biting the head of, killing, and eating a tern chick. Credit: Anna Zora

The limp chick plummets from the log. The tortoise climbs down and swallows it whole. The entire process takes seven minutes.

Though people often associate the tortoise's speedor lack thereofwith simple and benevolent herbivorous habits, this isn't the first report of tortoises consuming meat or calcium-rich animal parts like bones or shells in the wild. "But previously, it's always been impossible to tell if the tortoise had directly killed the animal, or if it had just happened to sit down on one and find it conveniently squashed dead," says Gerlach. "Why turn down a bit of free protein?"

This video taken by Anna Zora, the island's deputy conservation and sustainability manager, offers some of the first definitive evidence of a deliberate, planned attack. For one, the tortoise approaches the chick with its jaws open and tongue retracted, which Gerlach says is typical for aggressive tortoise behaviorlike the tern was something to be killed, rather than simply something to eat.

In addition, the tortoise appeared to have experience in capturing chicks on logs. Terns are tree-nesting birds. When chicks fall, their instinct is to avoid the ground at all costs: this is likely why the chick remained on the log even while the tortoise crept closer. Gerlach says, "It looked to me like that individual had hunted successfully before; it seemed to know what it was doing."

While this tortoise appears to be an experienced hunter, questions remain about how many tortoises hunt, how often they do it, how much nutrition they get from it, and if this is happening in other locations too. "Could we be seeing a population of tortoises that is developing a new type of behavior with evolutionary implications, or is it just an interesting observation at the moment?" Gerlach wonders.

He suspects that the conservation efforts on Fregate Island could be part of what is driving the emergence of this unusual behavior. Though seabird and tortoise populations have been on the decline for the past few hundred years, efforts on the island have revived the population of both to create a very unique combination of high bird and high tortoise populations. Gerlach says, "We're recreating conditions for natural behaviors that people haven't seen for hundreds of years."

It's also possible that tortoises' palates aren't just limited to birds. As long as it's slow enough to catch, why not eat it? "There's a lot of stories of tortoises eating snail shells for the calcium to make their own skeletons, but I don't see why they couldn't also systemically eat snails, too," he says.

Despite all these unknowns, Gerlach says one thing is certain: "It's clear that they enjoy eating terns. Compared to the ease of eating plants, they're going to quite a lot of trouble."

Explore further Galapagos island gets 36 endangered giant tortoises
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, stay-at-home orders and other restrictions drastically affected how people lived and worked, resulting in social isolation and economic instability. Now, researchers show that some people turned to a variety of drugs for relief. Using wastewater analysis, the team identified a spike in consumption of easily abused prescription opioids and anti-anxiety sedatives, while some illicit drug use plummeted, between March and June 2020.

The researchers will present their results today at the fall meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS).

Previously, Bikram Subedi, Ph.D., and his research group used residues in wastewater to study illicit drug consumption in rural communities. With the onset of COVID-19 restrictions, the team turned to wastewater again. "We hypothesized that some of the drug profiles would be different, and personal drug use behavior would be altered due to isolation, loss of jobs and loss of life," says Subedi, who is the principal investigator on the project.

By June 2020, about 40% of adults in the U.S. were struggling with their mental health, and 13% of those had started or increased their substance use, according to survey results published in an August 2020 paper by another team. So, to get an idea of community-wide habits and anxiety levels at the start of the pandemic, Subedi's team at Murray State University used wastewater epidemiology. They calculated per capita consumption for a diverse set of drugs based on their presence in sewage entering treatment plants. With this technique, the researchers developed comprehensive and nearly real-time patterns of prescription and illicit drug use, which are important to public health authorities, law-enforcement and other agencies.

The researchers collected raw sewage samples from treatment facilities in two towns in western Kentucky and northwest Tennessee, says Alexander Montgomery, a graduate student who is presenting the work. Back in the lab, they measured the levels of easily abused prescription medications, illicit drugs and their metabolites. As Montgomery explains, the team took extra precautions with these samples because no one knew if SARS-CoV-2 could survive in wastewater. "I had to be extremely careful with every step of the extraction and handling process," he says.

Their results showed that consumption of hydrocodoneone of the most abused prescription opioidsspiked by 72% from March to June 2020. The researchers suggest the change was because people had easier access to doctors as they switched to telemedicine appointments. Conversely, the use of illicit stimulants dropped by 16% for methamphetamine and 40% for cocaine. The researchers suggest that travel restrictions limited interstate and international trafficking of these drugs. "Our results match with all of the sources that we could find pertaining to other drug estimations in the community," says Montgomery, including declines in city and state police methamphetamine and cocaine seizures. And now, even more recent data released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that nationwide, drug overdose deaths increased by nearly 30% from the prior year with the majority caused by opioid overdoses. Overdose deaths from fentanyl-laced illegal stimulants also increased in 2020.

At the same time, the prevalence of benzodiazepinesanxiety-related sedativeswas elevated by nearly 30% and antidepressants increased by 40%. In a related project that is also being presented by Subedi's team at ACS Fall 2021, they examined the same wastewater samples for isoprostaneshormones that indicate oxidative stress and anxietyand found their levels rose significantly. "That tells us as people's anxiety levels increased, the levels of prescription drug consumption also increased," Subedi says, aligning with additional interventions recommended by health professionals to treat elevated mental health issues.

"The trends that we are reporting are only for the first four months of the early COVID-19 pandemic, and they may not be true for an extended period of time," Subedi says. Although the pandemic is now receding in some parts of the world, the team continues monthly wastewater sampling. Subedi notes that monitoring the trends of drug use and community-level anxiety post-pandemic will help explain the overall effects that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on people's lives.

Explore further Cannabis use rises during Australian COVID lockdown, but less meth on the streets

More information: Trends in drug consumption during COVID-19 pandemic using wastewater-based epidemiology, ACS Fall 2021.
A new study calls attention to the need to track forced labor in global food supply chains. Credit: Dave Alexander, Pixabay

A new study in Nature Food calls attention to the need for better systems to track forced labor in food supply chains. The studya methodological advancereports on the development of a new scoring system that identifies the risk of forced labor for fruits and vegetables sold in the United States. It finds a high risk of forced labor, but also scattered and incomplete data sources that limit action.

The study, published August 23, 2021, was led by Nicole Tichenor Blackstone in the Agriculture, Food and Environment program at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science & Policy at Tufts, and Jessica Decker Sparks, who leads the Ecosystems and the Environment Program at the University of Nottingham Rights Lab.

"Sustainability research on the food supply typically focuses on promoting human health and protecting the environment," said first and corresponding author Blackstone. "But social sustainability provides a different perspective on our food sources, including issues of labor rights and equity. Globally, agriculture has one of the highest incidences of forced labor."

The study developed a new forced labor risk scoring method that draws upon original data compiled by the authors as well as a range of governmental and non-profit data. The research team then coded each food and country-of-origin combination as either very high risk, high risk, medium risk, or low risk for forced labor having occurred at some point in the growing and harvesting of each item. Previously, there have been short lists of commodities suspected of being produced with forced labor, or case studies of foods produced in one country, such as Mexico.

"What we've done, for the first time, is to look at all of the major fruits and vegetables consumed in the U.S., as well as all of the countries these foods come from, including the U.S., and assess the possibility that somewhere in the production process forced labor could have been involved," said Blackstone.

The scoring method is not meant to be a consumer tool but could help industry and policy makers interested in the development of systems and protocols for the responsible procurement of foods.

The final data set included 93 fruits and vegetables in 307 food-country combinations. The results of the qualitative coding show that most food-country combinations were coded as high risk (85%) for forced labor at some point. Seven percent were coded as very-high risk, 4.5% were coded as medium risk, and 3.5% were coded as low risk.

"This is an extraordinary percentage at high risk, but it reflects that there are very limited or coarse data," said senior author Sparks. "There are major structural issues with how agricultural labor is set up that make workers vulnerable. To us, this reflects systemic issues in food supply chains that have not been addressed. Our findings point to the need for policymakers, farmers, and food companies to engage with farm workers to address the systemic issues."

Some of the variables that factored into the scoring were:

documented history of forced labor for a given food in a given country;

a country's record on monitoring forced labora good record lowered the score and vice versa; and,

whether a given food is harvested by hand or by machine.

Agricultural work often takes place in remote and isolated environments with demanding labor requirements. There are typically inadequate legal protections, with piece-rate pay systems tied to productivity, and reliance on migrant labor.

As defined by the International Labor Organization, "forced labor can be understood as work that is performed involuntarily and under the menace of any penalty. It refers to situations in which persons are coerced to work through the use of violence or intimidation, or by more subtle means such as manipulated debt, retention of identity papers or threats of denunciation to immigration authorities."

"Forced labor in agriculture is a threat to the sustainability of food systems. However, the scarcity of data noted limits holistic analysis and action. Future research should prioritize data and model development to enable analyses of forced labor and other labor-related social risks (e.g., wages, child labor) across the life cycles of a wide range of foods. These efforts can help ensure that the rights and dignity of "the hands that feed us" are centered in the transformation of food systems," concluded the authors in the study.

Explore further Thousands of ocean fishing boats could be using forced labor  we used AI and satellite data to find them

More information: Risk of forced labour embedded in the US fruit and vegetable supply, Nature Food (2021). www.nature.com/articles/s43016-021-00339-0 Journal information: Nature Food Risk of forced labour embedded in the US fruit and vegetable supply,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s43016-021-00339-0
New U.S. Army-funded research uses gene editing to render certain male mosquitoes infertile and slow the spread of diseases like Zika and yellow fever. Credit: University of California Santa Barbara

Mosquitos spread viruses that cause potentially deadly diseases such as Zika, dengue fever and yellow fever. New U.S. Army-funded research uses gene editing to render certain male mosquitoes infertile and slow the spread of these diseases.

Researchers at the Army's Institute for Collaborative Biotechnologies and the University of California Santa Barbara used a gene editing tool known as CRISPR-Cas9 to target a specific gene tied to fertility in male mosquitoes. CRISPR-Cas9 is a genome editing tool that is creating a buzz in the science world, according to yourgenome.org. It is "faster, cheaper and more accurate than previous techniques of editing DNA and has a wide range of potential applications."

Researchers experimented with the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which are found in tropical, subtropical and temperate regions throughout the world. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, discerned how a mutation can suppress the fertility of female mosquitoes.

"This is yet one more important and exciting example of how synthetic biology tools are demonstrating unparalleled utility," said Dr. James Burgess, ICB program manager for the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, now known as DEVCOM, Army Research Laboratory. "In this case, it's a precision increase from chainsaw to a scalpel leading to the correct biochemical outcome that could substantially reduce the population of a very infectious mosquito."

To manage populations, scientists use a vector-control practice called the sterile insect technique in which they raise a lot of sterile male insects and they then release these males in numbers that overwhelm their wild counterparts. Females that mate with sterile males before finding a fertile one are themselves rendered infertile, thereby decreasing the size of the next generation.

Repeating this technique several times has the potential to crash the population because each generation is smaller than the last; releasing a similar number of sterile males has a stronger effect over time.

The sterile insect technique is effective in managing a number of agricultural pests, including the Mediterranean fruit fly, a crop pest in California. It has also been attempted with Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, but with limited success.

In the past, scientists used chemicals or radiation to sterilize male Aedes aegypti, but the chemicals or radiation impacted the mosquitos' health to such an extent that they were less successful in mating with females, which undercuts the effectiveness of the sterile insect technique.

The research team wanted to identify a more targeted approach with less collateral damage, mutating a gene in mosquitoes that specifically caused male sterility without otherwise impacting the insects' health.

"When CRISPR/Cas9 came out several years ago it just offered new opportunities to do things that you couldn't do before," said Dr. Craig Montell, distinguished professor at UC Santa Barbara. "So, the time seemed right to for us to start working on Aedes aegypti."

Using gene editing in male Aedes aegypti, researchers found that the mutant male mosquitos produced no sperm, and unlike in previous efforts, the sterile studs were otherwise completely healthy; however, the team wasn't sure whether sperm, albeit defective sperm from the sterile males, was needed to render female mosquitoes infertile, or whether the transfer of seminal fluid was all it took.

In one experiment, researchers introduced 15 mutant males into a group of 15 females for 24 hours. Then they swapped the males for 15 wild-type males, and left them there.

"Essentially, all of the females remained sterile," Montell said. "This confirmed that males could suppress female fertility without producing sperm."

Next the researchers set out to determine how timing played into the effect. They exposed the females to mutant males for different lengths of time. The scientists noticed little difference after 30 minutes, but female fertility quickly dropped after that. Montell noted that females copulated twice on average, even during the first 10 minutes. This indicated that females have to mate with many sterile males before being rendered infertile themselves.

Combining the females with the males for four hours cut female fertility to 20% of normal levels. After eight hours the numbers began leveling out around 10%.

According to Montell, Aedes aegypti populations could easily bounce back from an 80% drop in fertility. The success of sterile insect technique comes from subsequent, successive releases of sterile males, where each release will be more effective than the last as sterile males account for an ever-growing proportion of the population.

The team plans to continue investigating mosquito mating behaviors and fertility. They are devising a way to maintain stocks of males so they are only sterile in the wild and not in the lab. In addition, they are characterizing male mating behavior to uncover new ways to suppress mosquito populations.

"We've become very interested in studying many aspects of behavior in Aedes aegypti because these mosquitoes impact the health of so many people," Montell said. "There is a pandemic every year from mosquito-borne diseases."

Explore further Sterilizing skeeters using CRISPR/Cas9

More information: Jieyan Chen et al, Suppression of female fertility in Aedes aegypti with a CRISPR-targeted male-sterile mutation, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2021). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Jieyan Chen et al, Suppression of female fertility in Aedes aegypti with a CRISPR-targeted male-sterile mutation,(2021). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2105075118
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Rain fell at the highest point on Greenland's ice sheetpossibly for the first timein an event Danish scientists on Monday said was most likely driven by climate change.

The rain was observed for several hours on August 14 at a measuring post more than 3,000 metres (9,800 feet) up on the sheet, the US Snow and Ice Data Center reported.

For rain to fall, temperatures must be above or just slightly below zero degrees Centigrade, signalling the risk that rising temperatures pose to the world's second-largest ice sheet after Antartica.

"This is an extreme event as it may never have happened before," Martin Stendel, a researcher at the Danish Meteorological Institute, told AFP.

"It's probable that this is a sign of global warming."

Temperatures have risen above freezing at the peak of the sheet only nine times in the past 2,000 years, he said.

Three of those events have been in the past 10 yearsbut on the previous two occasions, in 2012 and 2019, there was no rain, he said.

"We cannot prove whether it rained or not at the six occasions before but it's very unlikely, which makes the rainfall we observed even more remarkable," Stendel said.

The rain comes after a summer in which northern Greenland has experienced record-setting temperatures of more than 20 degrees.

This heat wave has seen the rate of melting of the ice sheet accelerate further.

Its retreat, which began several decades ago, began to speed up in 1990.

With a surface area more than three times that of France, the ice sheet covering Greenland locks up enough water to raise global sea levels by up to seven metres.

The melting is causing concern among scientists, as warming in the Arctic is faster than the global average.

According to a European study published in January, the melting of the Greenland ice sheet is expected to contribute to the overall rise in sea levels by 10 to 18 centimetres by 2100, 60 percent faster than the previous estimate.

Explore further Heatwave causes massive melt of Greenland ice sheet

 2021 AFP
If you've ever suffered from a sore jaw that popped or clicked when you chewed gum or crunched hard foods, you may be able to blame it on your extinct ancestors.

That's according to a Duke University-led study of the chewing mechanics of an ancient human relative called Homo floresiensis, which inhabited the Indonesian island of Flores before our species arrived there some 50,000 years ago.

Not much more than three feet tall, the hominin's diminutive size earned it the nickname "the Hobbit," after the characters in J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings." For the new study, which was published Aug. 13 in the journal Interface Focus, the researchers wanted to understand how the Hobbit's skull behaved while it ate its food.

However, thousands of years of fossilization had left its skullthe only one that has been found so fardamaged and misshapen. Before the researchers could test it out, they had to restore it as close to its original shape as possible. Collaborators at Italy's University of Bologna created a 3D virtual model, built from X-ray CT scans, digitally filling in the missing pieces to reconstruct what the skull of Homo floresiensis might have looked like when it roamed the island some 100,000 to 60,000 years ago.

From that, they used computer simulations and a technique called finite element analysis to give the virtual skull characteristics that mimic the real thing, such as the stiffness of the bones and the pulling action of the muscles. Then they had the virtual skull chomp down with its back teethpremolars and molarsand analyzed the forces at work with each bite, essentially subjecting it to a digital crash test.

The researchers mapped the strains within their digital model of the Hobbit's facial bones during biting, comparing the results to similar simulations for earlier human relatives called australopiths that lived some two to three million years ago in Africa, along with chimpanzees and humans living today.

A computer simulation of a Homo floresiensis cranium shows the pattern of stress and strain in the bones of the face during biting. Areas under high strain are shown in white, pink and red. Credit: Ledogar lab, Duke University

The team determined that the Hobbit's bite could have exerted around 1300 Newtons of force, comparable to the chomping power of modern humans and several of our extinct cousins. But had it bitten down too vigorously on a hard nut or a tough hunk of meat, the findings suggest Homo floresiensis would have been at greater risk than our earlier human kin of straining its facial bones, or dislocating the joint where the lower and upper jaws meet.

"We don't really know what Homo floresiensis ate," said first author Rebecca Cook, a doctoral student in evolutionary anthropology at Duke. Patterns of wear on the teeth, combined with pygmy elephant bones and other animal remains unearthed from the same cave where the Hobbit was found suggest that it ate at least some meat.

But the results suggest that exceedingly hard or tough foods, which would have been no problem for an australopith to gnaw on or crack open, might have given the Hobbit a TMJ headache.

"Similar patterns are observed in modern humans," Cook said.

Millions of years of human evolution gave us smaller teeth and more lightweight skulls, because cooking our food and slicing and pounding it with stone tools, and probably also eating meat, made having overbuilt skulls unnecessary.

But years after the Hobbit's discovery its facial features remain a puzzle. Its skull had a curious mix of traits, some of whichlike its heavyset lower jaware similar to our earlier and more ape-like ancestors, while otherslike its small delicate faceresemble humans today.

"This can make it confusing as to where this species falls on the family tree of hominin evolutionary relationships," Cook said.

The new study suggests this shift to smaller faces, weaker bites and achey jaws evolved early, before the common ancestors of Homo floresiensis and modern humans went their separate ways.

Justin Ledogar, Duke researcher and senior author of the study, says the next step is to do similar analyses on earlier members of the genus Homo, including Homo erectus. The first known hominin to use fire and cook food, this species also had smaller teeth, jaws and faces than earlier hominins, and is thought by some to be the ancestor of Homo floresiensis.

The researchers say the work could help answer lingering questions about where Homo floresiensis came from, how it lived and how it fits into the human evolutionary tree.

"This study is just one small piece of a much larger puzzle," Cook said.

Explore further Origins of Indonesian hobbits finally revealed

More information: Rebecca W. Cook et al, The cranial biomechanics and feeding performance of Homo floresiensis, Interface Focus (2021). Rebecca W. Cook et al, The cranial biomechanics and feeding performance of Homo floresiensis,(2021). DOI: 10.1098/rsfs.2020.0083
The Michelson interferometer installed at the Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum. Credit: [image supplied from the paper]

Gravitational wave scientists have designed and built an interactive science exhibit modeled on a real-life gravitational-wave detector to explain gravitational-wave science. It was developed by an international team, which includes researchers now at the OzGrav ARC Centre of Excellence for Gravitational Wave Discovery (OzGrav).

The recently published research paper is now featured in the American Journal of Physics and the exhibit, which is called a Michelson interferometer, is on long-term display at the Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum in the UK. The project has a lasting international impact with online instructions and parts lists available for others to construct their own versions of the exhibit.

Observations of gravitational wavesripples in the fabric of space and timehave sparked increased public interest in this area of research. The effect of gravitational waves is a stretching and squashing of distances between objects. Real-life observatories are large complex devices based on the Michelson interferometer that use laser light to search for passing gravitational waves.

In a Michelson interferometer, laser light is split into two perpendicular beams by a beam-splitter; the beams of laser light travelling down the detector arms reflect off mirrors back to the beam-splitter where they recombine and produce an interference pattern. If the relative length of the arms changes, the interference pattern will change. The exhibit model cannot detect gravitational waves, but it's extremely sensitive to vibrations in the room!

The Michelson interferometer installed at the Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum. The touch screen provides access to videos, images and text and the four arcade buttons allow users to input a simulated gravitational wave to the interferometer. Credit: [image supplied from the paper]

The Michelson interferometer exhibit has an attractive high-shine design, using lab-grade optics and custom-made components, drawing people in to take a closer look. A list of all the parts used in the intricate design is available on the official websitethe creators are continuing to investigate low-cost designs using laser pointers and building blocks.

At science fairs, experts are normally present to explain the items on display; however, this is not the case in a museum. "Exhibits need to be easily accessible with self-guided learning," explains OzGrav postdoc Dr. Hannah Middleton, one of the project leads from the University of Melbourne.

"We've developed custom interactive software for the exhibit through which a user can access explanatory videos, animations, images, text, and a quiz. Users can also directly interact with the interferometer by pressing buttons to input a simulated gravitational wave, and produce a visible change in the interference pattern."

The gravitational-wave exhibit provides a lasting engagement in the city of Birmingham's family science museum and was exhibited in London at the 2017 Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition. The project led to further engagement opportunities including Gravity Synth, a musical instrument based on a Michelson interferometer. The Gravity Synth was developed through a collaboration between Birmingham-based audio-visual artist Leon Trimble and gravitational-wave researchers, including OzGrav researchers Dr. Aaron Jones (University of Western Australia) and Dr. Hannah Middleton (University of Melbourne).

Dr. Jones explains: "After this project, I was inspired to break down traditional barriers between arts and science and develop an art-science experience for our mutual benefit." The Gravity Synth EP is available here and the project was included as part of the LIGO Magazine's special feature on art, music and gravitational waves.

Explore further An interactive gravitational-wave detector model designed to educate at museums and fairs

More information: S. J. Cooper et al, An interactive gravitational-wave detector model for museums and fairs, American Journal of Physics (2021). Journal information: American Journal of Physics S. J. Cooper et al, An interactive gravitational-wave detector model for museums and fairs,(2021). DOI: 10.1119/10.0003534
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Why do women over 35 have more difficulty getting pregnant? After discovering one of the causes of age-related female infertility, researchers at the University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre (CRCHUM) suggest that it will be possible in the future to improve the quality of the eggs of older patients by intervening on the cell cycle level.

In a study published in the journal Developmental Cell, CRCHUM researcher Greg FitzHarris and Aleksandar Mihajlovic, a postdoctoral fellow in his lab and first author of the study, reveal in aged mouse eggs (oocytes) that some chromosomes are slower to move during meiosis, a crucial phase of cell division.

These laggards contribute to an uneven chromosomal distribution and therefore to the formation of cells with an abnormal number of chromosomes. This abnormality, called aneuploidy, is one of the major causes of infertility, and explains in part why older women have difficulty becoming pregnant and carrying a pregnancy to term.

"To give the slowest chromosomes time to reach their destination, we artificially prolonged meiosis with a chemical. Using high-definition imaging techniques, we found that this slowing down before cell division limited aneuploidy," says Greg FitzHarris, a professor at Universite de Montreal.

In the medium term, this discovery, which is still in the basic research stage and conducted in the laboratory on mice, could be used in the clinic to increase the performance of eggs used during in vitro fertilization. Extensive efficacy, safety and security testing will be required before such an approach is adopted.

Almost one in six Canadian couples is affected by infertility. This number has doubled since the 1980s.

Explore further Ladies, this is why fertility declines with age

More information: Aleksandar I. Mihajlovic et al, Distinct classes of lagging chromosome underpin age-related oocyte aneuploidy in mouse, Developmental Cell (2021). Journal information: Developmental Cell Aleksandar I. Mihajlovic et al, Distinct classes of lagging chromosome underpin age-related oocyte aneuploidy in mouse,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2021.07.022
A new forest fire has broken out on the southern part of Greece's Evia island, less than two weeks after an inferno decimated its northern part.

Scores of firefighters battled to contain two new wildfires in Greece on Monday, as winds fanned the blazes and forced several villages and neighbourhoods to be evacuated.

Both fires erupted not far from the site of devastating wildfires that swept parts of Greece earlier this summer, forcing thousands from their homes and destroying property, wildlife and livestock.

Scientists have warned that extreme weather and fierce fires will become increasingly common due to man-made global warming, and Greece's prime minister has linked the blazes to climate change.

The first fire broke out in the early hours Monday on southern Evia island, northeast of the capital Athens, and the Greek fire brigade said the blaze was largely contained at noon but had not been brought under control.

Two neighbourhoods were evacuated and several boats were offshore to offer help to contain the fires.

A second fire broke out Monday in Vilia, some 60 kilometres (37 miles) northwest of Athens, in an area of thick forestland.

Greek police blocked traffic on a nearby highway as winds fanned the blaze, while two villages were evacuated in the area as a preventative measure.

"The battle against the fires continues wherever there is a front," government spokesman Yiannis Oikonomou said Monday.

"We have already started repairing damage and providing practical support to those affected," he added.

The civil protection authorities had warned Sunday a "very high risk" of fire for many areas of Greece on Monday.

Since July, wildfires have ravaged the islands of Evia and Rhodes as well as forests to the north and southeast of Athens and parts of the Peloponnese peninsula. Three people have died in the fires.

An earlier fire in Evia burned for more than 10 days, decimating swathes of land, while another blaze that hit Vilia lasted six days was only declared under control on Saturday.

Explore further Greece wildfires: Winds fan 2 new blazes outside of Athens

 2021 AFP
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Seemingly, half the world population now uses social media to share their thoughts and to experience the thoughts of others. There is no topic left unrepresented by users from opinions about technology, politics, society, celebrities, sport, music, cinema, health, war, religion, sex and beyond. Nothing is taboo.

Extracting the collective emotional responses to social events from the local to the international scale from social media updates remains a goal of computer science and those it aims to assist in making use of the semantic and emotional data that might be extracted from social media.

An Italian team writing in the International Journal of Metadata, Semantics and Ontologies, discusses an approach to investigating emotional reactions to social events.

"Social media has become a fulcrum for sharing information on everyday-life events; people, companies, and organizations express opinions there," Danilo Cavaliere and Sabrina Senatore of the University of Salerno, in Fisciano explain. They add that studying and identifying different feelings and emotions, as represented by social network updates, such as so-called "tweets" on the microblogging platform known as Twitter requires handling big data and being able to understand the underlying emotional character of the updates in context.

The team has taken an approach that allows them to home in on a particular topic based on specific keywords, highlighted in tweets with a # symbol and commonly known as hashtags. They have built a glossary of emotions having extracted the semantics from a sample database of updates and refer to this as an "emotional concept ontology."

The team then demonstrates how their ontology can be used to train a database classification tool (Support Vector Machine) to "understand" the emotional character and content of new tweets with which an algorithm built on this training is presented. They have demonstrated proof of principle successfully with sample datasets even with complicated, multifaceted tweets.

Explore further Spotting and stopping online abuse

More information: Danilo Cavaliere et al, An ontology-driven perspective on the emotional human reactions to social events, International Journal of Metadata, Semantics and Ontologies (2021). Danilo Cavaliere et al, An ontology-driven perspective on the emotional human reactions to social events,(2021). DOI: 10.1504/IJMSO.2021.117104
Credit: Thyssenkrupp

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has made clear there's little time left to reach net zero emissions and hold the global temperature rise to 1.5C.

If Australia is to do its bit, emissions need to fall across the economy.

The states and territories all have net-zero targets for 2050, and the prime minister says the national target is also net zero emissions, preferably by 2050.

2050 feels a long way off. It's ten election cycles for prime ministers, seven for state premiers. Does that mean there's plenty of time to come up with mechanisms to get us there?

Unfortunately, no. Here's why.

For net zero, 2050 is sooner than you think

Around 30% of Australia's emissions come from the industrial sectorfrom facilities such as coal mines, liquefied natural gas platforms, steel smelters, and zinc processing plants.

These facilities have long operating lives up to 30 to 40 years, sometimes more.

This means facilities that start up tomorrow will probably still be operating in 2050. Older facilities have only one replacement cycle between now and 2050.

Companies don't have ten chances to get on the pathway right. They have one.

Planning to replace an aging asset starts well before it is due to end its life, and companies can only consider realistic options.

They can't assess costs and risks on technologies that are still in the lab.

If low-emissions technologies aren't available or commercially feasible when decisions are made, what firms do install will lock in decades of future emissions.

Decisions made today will extend beyond 2050

Consider a coal-powered cement plant that will reach the end of its design life in 2030. The owner is considering three options

Grattan analysis of public data for various Australian cement facilities. Credit: Towards Net Zero: practical policies for the industrial sector

like-for-like replacement that still uses coal but is slightly more efficient, with costs and risks well understood

a new plant that uses gas as well as coal, whose costs and risks can be forecast with some certainty

an experimental ultra-low-emissions technology, expected to be commercially ready in 2040, with hard to quantify costs and risks, and bigger upfront cost

Taking the third option (waiting) might mean squeezing another 10 years out of an aging plant, with a risk it might not make the distance.

This chart shows emissions between now and the end of the new plant's life for each option.

Like-for-like replacement locks in considerable emissions between 2030 and 2050, and the risk of having to buy carbon offsets between 2050 (when Australia moves to net zero) and the end of the plant's life in 2070.

A changed fuel mix reduces the lock-in and the likely burden of offsets, but they are still material.

Waiting until 2040 (and running the risk that the old plant might not have an extra 10 years life in it) will mean less emissions after 2040 and less liability for carbon offsets, but much more emissions before then.

From an emissions perspective, the best decision may be a halfway houserunning the old plant for an extra five years, and installing the new technology before it is fully commercial, if someone else is willing to share the risk.

Without a signal from either a state or federal government the cement plant owner is likely to go with option one or two.

Government can help

Our report, Towards Net Zero: practical policies for the industrial sector, outlines three things the federal government can do now to tilt companies' decisions in favor of something like option three.

First, it can signal that it expects all new facilities to avoid locking in long tails of emissions.

The best way to do this would be to fulfill its 2015 commitment to set best-practice benchmarks for new facilities. They were meant to be in place by 2020.

Second, it should set up an Industrial Transformation Future Fund in order to share the risk of new technologies with industry.

Third, it should adjust its safeguard mechanism under which big emitters have to report and adhere to emissions intensity standards to require them to start cutting emissions immediately.

This would level the field between new and old facilities. It would mean some older facilities closed earlier than planned, but it would mean they would be replaced by cleaner facilities.

It is important these policies start now. Every decision we make from now on will affect our chance of reaching net zero and escaping catastrophic climate change.

Explore further Japan's ANA aims for carbon neutrality by 2050

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Figure 1. Schematic images of gamma-ray production from cosmic-ray protons and electrons. Cosmic-ray protons interact with interstellar protons such as molecular and atomic hydrogen gas. The interaction creates neutral pion that quickly decays into two gamma-ray photons (hadronic process). Cosmic-ray electrons energize interstellar photons (mainly Cosmic Microwave Background; CMB) into gamma-ray energy via inverse Compton scattering (leptonic process). Credit: Astrophysics Laboratory, Nagoya University

Astronomers have succeeded for the first time in quantifying the proton and electron components of cosmic rays in a supernova remnant. At least 70% of the very-high-energy gamma rays emitted from cosmic rays are due to relativistic protons, according to the novel imaging analysis of radio, X-ray, and gamma-ray radiation. The acceleration site of protons, the main components of cosmic rays, has been a 100-year mystery in modern astrophysics, this is the first time that the amount of cosmic rays being produced in a supernova remnant has been quantitatively shown and is an epoch-making step in the elucidation of the origin of cosmic rays.

The origin of cosmic rays, the particles with the highest energy in the universe, has been a great mystery since their discovery in 1912. Because cosmic rays promote the chemical evolution of interstellar matter, understanding their origin is critical in understanding the evolution of our Galaxy. The cosmic rays are thought to be accelerated by supernova remnants (the after-effects of supernova explostions) in our Galaxy and traveled to the Earth at almost the speed of light. Recent progress in gamma-ray observations has revealed that many supernova remnants emit gamma-rays at teraelectronvolts (TeV) energies. If gamma rays are produced by protons, which are the main component of cosmic rays, then the supernova remnant origin of cosmic rays can be verified. However, gamma rays are also produced by electrons, it is necessary to determine whether the proton or electron origin is dominant, and to measure the ratio of the two contributions (see also Figure 1). The results of this study provide compelling evidence of gamma rays originating from the proton component, which is the main component of cosmic rays, and clarify that Galactic cosmic rays are produced by supernova remnants.

The originality of this research is that gamma-ray radiation is represented by a linear combination of proton and electron components. Astronomers knew a relation that the intensity of gamma-ray from protons is proportional to the interstellar gas density obtained by radio-line imaging observations. On the other hand, gamma-rays from electrons are also expected to be proportional to X-ray intensity from electrons. Therefore, they expressed the total gamma-ray intensity as the sum of two gamma-ray components, one from the proton origin and the other from the electron origin. This led to a unified understanding of three independent observables (Figure 2). This method was first proposed in this study. As a result, it was shown that gamma rays from protons and electrons account for 70% and 30% of the total gamma-rays, respectively. This is the first time that the two origins have been quantified. The results also demonstrate that gamma rays from protons are dominated in interstellar gas-rich regions, whereas gamma rays from electrons are enhanced in the gas-poor region. This confirms that the two mechanisms work together and supporting the predictions of previous theoretical studies.

Figure 2. Maps of gamma-ray intensity Ng, interstellar gas density Np, and X-ray intensity Nx. Credit: Astrophysics Laboratory, Nagoya University

"This novel method could not have been accomplished without international collaborations," says Emeritus Professor Yasuo Fukui at Nagoya University. He led this project and has accurately quantified interstellar gas density distribution using the NANTEN radio telescope and Australia Telescope Compact Array since 2003. Although the gamma ray resolution was insufficient to perform a full analysis at that time, Professor Gavin Rowell and Dr. Sabrina Einecke of the University of Adelaide and the H.E.S.S. team dramatically improved the spatial resolution and sensitivity of gamma rays over the years, making it possible to compare them precisely with interstellar gas. Dr. Hidetoshi Sano of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan led the X-ray imaging analysis of archival datasets from the European X-ray satellite XMM-Newton. Dr. Einecke and Prof. Rowell worked closely with Prof. Fukui and Dr. Sano on making the detailed studies that examined the correlations across the gamma-ray, X-ray and radio emission. "This novel method will be applied to more supernova remnants using the next-generation gamma-ray telescope CTA (Cherenkov Telescope Array) in addition to the existing observatories, which will greatly advance the study of the origin of cosmic rays."

Figure 3. Three-dimensional fitting of a flat plane expressed by an equation of Ng = a Np + b Nx, where a and b are constants. The data points are colored by the code in the figure according to Ng and are shown by filled and open symbols for those above and below the plane. The blue, green, yellow, and red represent Ng is less than 1.2 counts arcmin2, 1.21.7 counts arcmin2, 1.72.2 counts arcmin2, and greater than 2.2 counts arcmin2, respectively. The blue, green, orange, red, and purple dashed lines on the best-fit plane indicate 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 counts arcmin2, respectively. Credit: Astrophysics Laboratory, Nagoya University

Explore further Most precise measurements of cosmic ray proton and helium spectra above TeV

More information: Yasuo Fukui et al, Pursuing the Origin of the Gamma Rays in RX J1713.7-3946 Quantifying the Hadronic and Leptonic Components, The Astrophysical Journal (2021). Journal information: Astrophysical Journal Yasuo Fukui et al, Pursuing the Origin of the Gamma Rays in RX J1713.7-3946 Quantifying the Hadronic and Leptonic Components,(2021). DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/abff4a
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Low and uneven turnout is a serious problem for local democracy. However, simply moving off-cycle, local elections to be held on the same day as statewide and national contests doubles voter turnout and leads to an electorate that is considerably more representative in terms of race, age, class and partisanship, according to new University of California San Diego research.

Zoltan Hajnal, professor of political science at the UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy, lead the study, which looked at all local elections held in California over an eight-year period. The findings could have major implications for state's recall election on Sept. 14.

"What our results tell us is that the more unusual we make the timing of an election, the fewer people are going to turn out to vote and the more unrepresentative those votes are going to be," Hajnal said. "With a recall election that is on an unexpected date, we are essentially making it more difficult for voters to participate. As a result, we might see lower turnout that is less representative of the California populace."

He added that when local elections are not held on the first Tuesday of November with other statewide and national contests, it can create barriers because local voters need to learn the date of their local election, find their polling place and make a specific trip to the polls just to vote on local contests.

Disproportionate power dynamics are in play during off-cycle elections

The study, published in American Political Science Review, finds that voters in California during off-cycle elections are 67 percent White on average, but that number drops to 57 percent during statewide or national elections. By contrast, the share of voters who are Hispanic increases almost 50 percent during on-cycle, local elections (growing from 18 percent of the vote to 25 percent), while the Asian-American share of the vote increases by 30 percent (shifting roughly from 8 percent to 10.3 percent).

Effects are even more pronounced in terms of voter age. Older Americans represent more than two times as many voters in off-cycle elections as they do adult city residents. But that overrepresentation is reduced by roughly half in on-cycle contests. Finally, Democrats are generally slightly underrepresented in off-cycle elections, but moving to concurrent local elections produces a near proportional turnout of both parties. The paper also finds significant effects for class, which is measured by income and wealth.

The findings reveal that in some places, off-cycle elections lead to politically active conservative, wealthy, older, white voters having a disproportionate sway over local government.

"The result is that an extraordinarily unrepresentative set of residents determines how local governments distribute services and spend the almost $2 trillion that local governments control," Hajnal said.

Local governments provide many of the core functions that help make residents' lives better, such as education, public safety and transportation.

The study analyzed 2,000 elections of roughly 500 California cities from 2008 to 2016. Municipalities, such as San Diego that moved election timing during this period drove the results of the study.

In San Diego, mayoral elections held during off-cycle dates have turnouts that are much lower. For example, turnout in the last mayoral election held off-cycle on Feb. 11, 2014 was 290,192. By contrast, turnout in the most recent mayoral election on Nov. 3, 2020 was 619,549.

Though outside the study's time period, the results are even more dramatic for the City of Los Angeles. It experienced a 400 percent increase in voters casting ballots in local elections for the city's first on-cycle election in March 2020, compared to the last off-cycle election in March 2015. In the 2020 primary elections, 604,000 more people cast ballots in city races compared to the stand-alone, city primaries in 2015.

On-cycle races can lead to policies that are more responsive to the broader public

In addition to considering the number of voters in each election, the study's demographic data was provided by Catalist Llc., a national microtargeting vendor, which supplies a variety of racial, demographic and political information on each voter.

While the paper focuses on California, Hajnal and co-authors did the same analysis in Florida and found similar effects. Although the magnitude is slightly smaller in Florida, when cities moved to on-cycle elections, it increased their representativeness in terms of race, age and income.

"Across the nation, about 70 percent of all city elections are off-cycle, so the vast majority are under a system that essentially minimizes and skews turnout," Hajnal said. "On-cycle elections likely will not lead us all the way to proportional participation, but they get us much closer."

More information: Zoltan L. Hajnal et al, Who Votes: City Election Timing and Voter Composition, American Political Science Review (2021). Journal information: American Political Science Review Zoltan L. Hajnal et al, Who Votes: City Election Timing and Voter Composition,(2021). DOI: 10.1017/S0003055421000915
Credit: Shutterstock

If you think your manager treats you unfairly, the thought might have crossed your mind that replacing said boss with an unbiased machine that rewards performance based on objective data is a path to workplace happiness.

But as appealing as that may sound, you'd be wrong. Our review of 45 studies on machines as managers shows we hate being slaves to algorithms (perhaps even more than we hate being slaves to annoying people).

Algorithmic managementin which decisions about assigning tasks to workers are automatedis most often associated with the gig economy.

Platforms such as Uber were built on technology that used real-time data collection and surveillance, ratings systems and "nudges" to manage workers. Amazon has been another enthusiastic adopter, using software and surveillance to direct human workers in its massive warehouses.

As algorithms become ever more sophisticated, we're seeing them in more workplaces, taking over tasks once the province of human bosses.

To get a better sense of what this will mean for the quality of people's work and well-being, we analyzed published research studies from across the world that have investigated the impact of algorithmic management on work.

We identified six management functions that algorithms are currently able to perform: monitoring, goal setting, performance management, scheduling, compensation, and job termination. We then looked at how these affected workers, drawing on decades of psychological research showing what aspects of work are important to people.

Just four of the 45 studies showed mixed effects on work (some positive and some negative). The rest highlighted consistently negative effects on workers. In this article we're going to look at three main impacts:

Less task variety and skill use

Reduced job autonomy

Greater uncertainty and insecurity

1. Reduced task variety and skill use

A great example of the way algorithmic management can reduce task variety and skill use is demonstrated by a 2017 study on the use of electronic monitoring to pay British nurses providing home care to elderly and disabled people.

The system under which the nurses worked was meant to improve their efficiency. They had to use an app to "tag" their care activities. They were paid only for the tasks that could be tagged. Nothing else was recognized. The result was they focused on the urgent and technical care taskssuch as changing bandages or giving medicationand gave up spending time talking to their patients. This reduced both the quality of care as well as the nurses' sense of doing significant and worthwhile work.

Research suggests increasing use of algorithms to monitor and manage workers will reduce task variety and skill us. Call centers, for example, already use technology to assess a customers' mood and instruct the call center worker on exactly how to respond, from what emotions they should deeply to how fast they should speak.

2. Reduced job autonomy

Gig workers refer to as the "fallacy of autonomy" that arises from the apparent ability to choose when and how long they work, when the reality is that platform algorithms use things like acceptance rates to calculate performance scores and to determine future assignments.

This loss of general autonomy is underlined by a 2019 study that interviewed 30 gig workers using the "piecework" platforms Amazon Mechanical Turk, MobileWorks and CloudFactory. In theory workers could choose how long they worked. In practice they felt they needed to constantly be on call to secure the best paying tasks.

This isn't just the experience of gig workers. A detailed 2013 study of the US truck driving industry showed the downside of algorithms dictating what routes drivers should take, and when they should stop, based on weather and traffic conditions. As one driver in the study put it: "A computer does not know when we are tired, fatigued, or anything else [] I am also a professional and I do not need a [computer] telling me when to stop driving."

3. Increased intensity and insecurity

Algorithmic management can heighten work intensity in a number of ways. It can dictate the pace directly, as with Amazon's use of timers for "pickers" in its fulfillment centers.

But perhaps more pernicious is its ability to ramp up the work pressure indirectly. Workers who don't really understand how an algorithm makes its decisions feel more uncertain and insecure about their performance. They worry about every aspect of affecting how the machine rates and ranks them.

For example, in a 2020 study of the experience of 25 food couriers in Edinburgh, the riders spoke about feeling anxious and being "on edge" to accept and complete jobs lest their performance statistics be affected. This led them to take risks such as riding through red lights or through busy traffic in heavy rain. They felt pressure to take all assignments and complete them as quickly as possible so as to be assigned more jobs.

Avoiding a tsunami of unhealthy work

The overwhelming extent to which studies show negative psychological outcomes from algorithmic management suggests we face a tsunami of unhealthy work as the use of such technology accelerates.

Currently the design and use of algorithmic management systems is driven by "efficiency" for the employer. A more considered approach is needed to ensure these systems can coexist with dignified, meaningful work.

Transparency and accountability is key to ensuring workers (and their representatives) understand what is being monitored, and why, and that they can appeal those decisions to a higher, human, power.

Explore further How do you motivate workers who are managed by an algorithm?

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
The leader of the Proud Boys extremist group was sentenced to more than five months in jail on Monday for burning a Black Lives Matter banner that was torn down from a historic Black church in downtown Washington and bringing two high-capacity firearm magazines into the nation's capital days shortly before the Jan. 6 riot.

Enrique Tarrio told the court he was profusely sorry for his actions, calling them a grave mistake.

What I did was wrong, Tarrio said during the hearing held via videoconference.

Tarrio, from Miami, was arrested as he arrived in Washington two days before thousands of supporters of then-President Donald Trump  including members of the Proud Boys  descended on the U.S. Capitol and disrupted the certification of the Electoral College vote. Tarrio was ordered to stay away from Washington, and law enforcement later said Tarrio was picked up in part to help quell potential violence.

Authorities say Proud Boys members stole the banner that read #BLACKLIVESMATTER from the Asbury United Methodist Church on Dec. 12 and then set it ablaze using lighter fluid and lighters. Tarrio posted a picture of himself holding an unlit lighter to his Parler account and admitted days later in an interview with The Washington Post that he joined in the burning of the banner.
SALIDA, Colo. (AP)  An unused .22-caliber round was found next to the bed of a Colorado woman who disappeared last year and whose husband is charged with killing her, and a tranquilizer gun and accessories were also found in the couple's home, investigators testified Monday.

Prosecutors also showed body camera footage of Barry Morphew with deputies at the couple's home on May 10, 2020, the day his wife Suzanne Morphew was reported missing by a neighbor, during the third day of a court hearing to determine if he will stand trial, The Denver Post reported.

The deputies were looking for an item of Suzanne Morphew's clothing to help tracking dogs find her. It was the first time Barry Morphew had been in the house in the mountains of southern Colorado since his wife was reported missing and he acted oddly and did not try to look around for her, Chaffee County Undersheriff Andy Rohrich testified.

Hes not even trying to call her phone, he said. This is the last place, according to his testimony, that hes seen his wife alive and hes not asking any questions.
Coastal resilience means building the ability of a community to bounce back after hazardous events such as hurricanes, coastal storms and flooding, according to the National Ocean Service (an office within the U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration).

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Last month, Atlantic City was selected as one of four coastal communities in the state to create artwork for the New Jersey Coastal Resiliency Art Program along with Asbury Park, Port Norris and Passaic. The program is aimed at raising awareness about coastal risks and hazards in a more creative way.

I believe that artists really have a crucial role to play in supporting and building community awareness, Schultz said. I work directly with scientists and they have said we have the information, but its hard to get it across to people ... and art breaks things down, you really can experience something by looking at a piece of art. So its a window into learning and thinking more about these issues.

The program was funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Coastal Management Program.

David Rosenblatt, chief resilience officer for NJDEP, said the idea to create the artwork came after the state released its report on climate change in 2020.
The township has previously approved the project by Herman and Marsha Zell for the project, which would be built on 24 acres. The Coastal Area Facility Review Act (CAFRA) Individual Permit application will be decided by the state Department of Environmental Protection following a review and public comment period. Comments may be sent to the NJDEP, Land Use Regulation Program P.O. Box 420 501 E. State Street Trenton, NJ 08625-0420.

Hamilton Township hearing on veterans tax exemption: Township committee will hold a public hearing Sept. 7 on an ordinance that would amend its taxation code to establish the qualifications under which local veterans and or their spouses would qualify for a Totally Disabled Veterans Property Tax Exemption.

Upper Township watershed management plan: The township recently awarded a one-year, $17,222 contract to the Coastal Research Center at Stockton University for development of a township-wide watershed management plan. Watershed management plans are designed to address water quality issues through an assessment of causes and sources of pollution, and allow communities to process restoration and protection of these resources, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
He said Inferrera told him he taught himself to swim using YouTube videos and that he had dreamt of becoming a lifeguard.

Over the weekend, Hurricane Henri brought towering waves to Cape May, but on Thursday, conditions were not severe, Back said, certainly not enough to keep a trained lifeguard out of the water. Guards routinely train on the surf boats, he said, and use them to travel between beaches as well.

Inferrera was alone in the boat when it overturned. He was knocked unconscious and badly injured.

Fellow lifeguards quickly pulled him in to the beach and began resuscitation efforts while the ambulance responded, according to Voll. Inferrera was taken to Cape Regional Medical Center before being transported by helicopter to the trauma center at Cooper University Hospital in Camden.

The city and the Inferrera family announced his death Saturday morning.

No words can express the sadness suffered by all of our Beach Patrol family, Mullock said in the citys prepared statement.

A funeral mass is planned for Inferrera at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Teresa of Avila Parish, 1260 Trooper Road in Norristown, Pennsylvania, Voll stated on Monday. Details are expected to be announced soon about a viewing set for Thursday evening.
As of Monday, 5.5 million New Jerseyans have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

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There were 1,443 new positive PCR tests reported and 316 new positive antigen tests, as well as three new COVID-related deaths as of Monday afternoon.

Persichilli said that vaccinating children 12 and older is a priority as the positive cases rise and the school year begins.

We are in a race against time, Persichilli said, of the spread of variants of COVID-19 such as delta, which is more contagious than the original strain of the virus.

The Department of Health is working with municipal health and school officials on a major back-to-school push to expand vaccine access for adolescents, Persichilli said. She said that part of that push is 120 popup and 20 static sites located in schools and expanding the Pfizer vaccine to vaccine sites located in close proximity to schools. Atlantic City and Vineland are among the schools that have vaccine sites set up already, she said.

Persichilli also urged pregnant women to get vaccinated as they are at an increased risk of severe illness.

There continues to be a limited number of COVID-19 breakthrough cases among the vaccinated.
"The only thing I'm certain of is I wouldn't be going through anything like this, or nearly as bad, if I had been vaccinated," Fischer said.

With the more transmissible delta variant of COVID-19 the predominant strain in central Illinois and nationwide, St. John's and Memorial Medical Center continue to see sharp increases in COVID-19 hospitalizations.

As the virus continues to spread, there have been additional "breakthrough" cases of COVID-19 in fully vaccinated individuals, but more than 85% of hospitalizations in Springfield involve unvaccinated patients such as Fischer, hospital officials say.

At St. John's and the eight other Hospital Sisters Health System hospitals in Illinois and six in Wisconsin, there were about 50 patients with COVID-19 two weeks ago.

The number of hospitalized patients since then has more than doubled, to 135, according to Dr. Marc Shelton, HSHS senior vice president and chief clinical officer.

St. John's had 36 COVID-19 inpatients late last week  almost a 50% increase over the past two weeks.

"This is unfortunately consistent with what other hospital systems have seen, as well," Shelton said. "My fear is that we have not seen the peak in our communities yet."
Ed Cook, the agencys lead attorney on redistricting, explained that the most important criteria is population equality across those districts. The goal is to make districts as nearly equal as practicable, he explained.

In preparing previous plans, the agency never has had a deviation from that standard of more than 1 percent. Any greater deviation would have to be justified by the Iowa Legislature.

So for congressional redistricting, it's a matter of combining 99 counties in whatever combination you can come up with to get to that equal population requirement, he said, comparing it to working on a 99-piece puzzle.

The process gets more challenging as the agency creates legislative districts that are equal in population, split as few political subdivisions as possible and maintain compactness and continuity, he said. No consideration can be given to where incumbents live, election results or demographic information except as how the Voting Rights Act would apply.

The only information on our computer will be population, Cook said. Population is absolutely the most important standard, but its not the only consideration. Providing a plan that best blends the various standards does not lend itself to any precise mathematical calculation.
Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Monday hailed the federal Food and Drug Administrations decision to grant full use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine and said he believed it would lead to more unvaccinated people to take the shot, though he stopped short of a widespread mandate.

Speaking at the University of Illinois in Urbana to tout state infrastructure investments for the U of I system, Pritzker also credited university researchers for developing the Shield saliva-based coronavirus test, 28 of whom were awarded presidential medallions by system President Timothy Killeen.

At this point now, today, as a result of what the FDA has done, there are reams and reams of research that has now been done to prove these vaccines are effective, especially the mRNA vaccines like Pfizer, and so Im very happy about that, Pritzker said.

I think so many people who may have been hesitant, wondering whether it was approved too quickly, now, literally almost a year later, we now have so much research to show these work, he said. I think that that means many more people will choose to get vaccinated.
Afghan Americans already have strong communities in the U.S. because, tragically, they were displaced from their homeland following the Soviet invasion in 1979, and because this nation embraced them. Thousands established a presence in communities around the country, notably here in Los Angeles, in Fremont (in Californias East Bay), in Chicago and northern Virginia. They have become as integral to American life as the millions who came before them  the Vietnamese, Laotians, Cambodians, Hungarians and Cubans, among the many waves of refugees and immigrants, colonists, slaves and Indigenous people who built, and are building, the nation.

The U.S. cannot resettle every woman in every nation who is denied the right to an education, or every person whose treatment falls short of what can reasonably be deemed acceptable. We went into Afghanistan to remove the Taliban and stayed in the misguided notion that we could bestow on others the freedom and abundance with which we have been blessed. We have learned, and unlearned, and learned again that we cannot save the world with military invasion. The best we can do is to clean up after our failures, and that includes taking in not merely those who helped us  again, thats the easy part  but those in the most immediate danger in those nations where we failed.
To identify Dills remains, scientists from DPAA used anthropological analysis. Additionally, scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial DNA and Y chromosome DNA analysis.

Axt said helping to identify Leaman's remains was a family undertaking.

"Several years ago, my two brothers sent their DNA in and, evidently, they traced it more to the maternal side of the family, and it ended up coming to me," Axt said. "The Navy has been amazing to work with and has been so helpful. It's been stressful and tearful, but it's been quite a journey."

Leaman's remains were transported back to South Dakota. On Monday, he received full military rites at Black Hills National Cemetery. He will be interred where his once empty, white tombstone is located at the cemetery.

"I came in here once with my mom and dad because there is a marker for Leaman that was put in there in about 1959, I believe," David Dill said. "I've stopped here a couple of other times and I was just in here in April and visited his headstone for a few minutes and moved on up the road, not knowing that any of this was going to happen. So, this is a wonderful, wonderful thing."

Leaman Dills name is recorded on the Walls of the Missing at the Punchbowl, along with the others who are missing from World War II. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.

Contact Nathan Thompson at nathan.thompson@rapidcityjournal.com.

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Before the pandemic, Ledbury operated three retail stores  downtown Richmond, the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington and on Bleecker Street in New York Citys West Village  and had plans to open more.

The Georgetown store closed recently after its five-year lease expired, but the company is actively looking for another location in the Washington region to open in 2022, he said.

The Manhattan shop opened in December 2019 and closed about three months later in the early days of the pandemic. The company was able to get out of that lease, he said.

We see Short Pump as our first step into engaging in the retail strategy that we believe in, he said. Our philosophy is lets continue to open stores where it makes sense.

The company looked at seven or eight markets two years ago and is re-evaluating those areas and others to see if Ledbury could perform well there.

And so lets do Short Pump and have something that we feel like really will be additive [to our sales] and introduce ourselves to kind of a whole new market, and then look at D.C., which we are currently doing, and then look further afield from there as to where it makes sense to do that, Trible said.
After a sudden school closure Friday due to critical staffing shortages that affected both virtual and in-person instruction, Hopewell City Public Schools reopened Monday.

The district said last week that the abrupt cancellation of classes Friday was because of COVID-related absences, whether positive cases or quarantines related to those positive cases.

In a statement released Sunday, the city school district said a closure was necessary since staffing was so short, it would impact its ability to safely operate school. After consulting the Virginia departments of health and education, the district decided it best to reopen on Monday.

The district also had a mass COVID-19 testing event Friday, and Superintendent Melody Hackney was tested. Fewer than five people who attended the event tested positive, Hackney said. She said more than half of the staff showed up.

Upon review of anticipated staff absences on Monday, the numbers are much better and more realistic for adequately staffing classrooms, the district said in a statement Sunday.

During a special School Board meeting Monday to discuss vaccination protocols, Hopewell voted to require employees to either provide proof of vaccination or submit to weekly COVID testing with a negative result.
VCU also announced it will require its employees to be vaccinated. Currently, 87% of the workforce have confirmed their vaccination status.

In keeping with our public health responsibilities, we continue to monitor COVID-19 infection rates in the Richmond metro area, and there is no doubt that the delta variant is a serious threat, VCU President Michael Rao wrote to employees earlier this month.

The University of Virginia said Friday that it disenrolled 238 students, which is less than 1% of the student body, who did not report their vaccination status. Of those students, only 49 had registered for classes, so it was possible the remaining 189 never intended to return to school regardless of their vaccination status, a university spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, the Pfizer vaccine received full approval from the Food and Drug Administration on Monday, triggering the University of Richmonds vaccine requirement for students and staff. As of last week, 96% of UR students have reported their vaccination status, and 93% of them are fully vaccinated; 98% of employees have reported their vaccination status, and 92% of them are fully vaccinated.

A UR spokesperson said Monday that the university is still considering its next step to ensuring all students and staff get the shot.
Hanover County is inviting residents to make history with us on Saturday as part of ongoing 300th birthday celebrations.

Originally planned for 2020 but postponed due to COVID-19, the county is hosting a public party from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday on the lawn area behind the historic courthouse wall.

The day will feature kids activities, food trucks and live music; re-enactments by the Parsons Cause acting troupe; and more to celebrate the countys founding on Nov. 26, 1720.

The first 500 individuals in attendance that day receive a gift.

A rain date is planned for Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.

Among the events taking place Saturday is the opening of the Hanover County Museum of History & Culture. A ribbon-cutting at 9:30 a.m. kicks off the festivities, followed by museum tours, antique photo opportunities and more.

The museum is located inside the historic clerks office at the government complex along U.S. 301.

It will feature a traveling Smithsonian exhibit called Crossroads: Change in Rural America, with Hanover being the first of six sites around Virginia to host the five-week exhibit.
It was very embarrassing to be in the national news for something so terrible, said Del. Marcia Price, a Democrat from Newport News, which was ranked fourth nationally for evictions.

I dont want to say the conversations started with that, but it definitely helped amplify the work and the voices of those who were speaking up, said Price, who has authored eviction-related legislation. Everybody knew something had to be done.

Lawmakers ramped up attention on possible solutions, many of which came to fruition during the pandemic.

For instance, the state is temporarily requiring landlords to give tenants 14 days instead of five to make payments on late rent before landlords can file for eviction. The extra time is crucial for people who are paid every two weeks, housing advocates say. Some lawmakers hope to make the provision permanent.

Virginia also was one of the first states to create a statewide rent relief program using federal coronavirus relief money.

From January through May, Virginia distributed more dollars than any other state from the first round of the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, according to U.S. Treasury figures. By the end of June, Virginia ranked second only to Texas.
In the end, many key elements of our original plan were in the final amendment, so much so that we even agreed to co-chair last years ballot campaign. Despite the modifications, we knew that it represented a vast improvement over the closed-door, hyperpartisan process of the past. In spite of early challenges, we still do.

Put simply, the referendum itself was forged in compromise. We wanted nonpartisan, some opponents wanted it entirely partisan and we ultimately got bipartisan. This significant progress should not be overlooked.

Now, we feel the VRC should live up to this spirit of compromise. This applies to all factions of commissioners  citizens and legislators of both parties.

For the first time, Virginia citizens have a front-row seat to something weve known for decades: Redistricting is messy, difficult, oftentimes frustrating work work. But the VRC isnt alone in this struggle. Indeed, every state utilizing similar commissions is faced with the same tough votes and lively debates. We suspect a citizens-only commission would have had its share of fireworks as well.
Smallpox had been known and feared for some time when Onesimus told Mather around 1716 about an inoculation method to prevent smallpox that had been used on him as a child in Africa. Onesimus most likely came from Ghana, which had been ruled by several Islamic dynasties, and Arabic medical science had developed several methods aimed at preventing smallpox by the 17th century.

According to Mather, Onesimus explained that scraping the skin of an uninfected person with a thorn dipped in juice from a smallpox vesicle of someone already infected could protect that person from dying. Mather struggled to accept a slaves wisdom. He verified this recounting by speaking with other Africans, and with other ministers who had heard similar reports from enslaved people they owned or interviewed. Mather also learned that the inoculation method Onesimus had described was common throughout the Middle East, the Far East and Africa.

In a letter to what then was called the Royal Society, Mather called Onesimus a pretty Intelligent Fellow. Mather soon became a believer in inoculation, advocating for it from his pulpit and in his writings. This drew the ire of his fellow white Bostonians, who resented the idea that knowledge obtained from a so-called uneducated, uncivilized African could be useful.
Manifold Mining, a small company that sells cryptocurrency mining machines, plans to invest in a Craig County facility.

The Craig County Economic Development Authority announced last week that Manifold would invest approximately $420,000 for a center of operations to be housed in a former furniture manufacturing plant in New Castle known as the Crown Building. The company is expected to create at least 15 jobs within five years.

Jacob McDaniel, the CEO and co-owner of Manifold Mining, said most of the companys inventory is used equipment, much of it from China, that it refurbishes and resells.

McDaniel, who is a student at the University of Virginia, where he studies computer science, is one of two full-time employees at Manifold Mining.

The company was founded in 2019 with a focus on software development but in the last nine months or so shifted into the mining equipment sales business, said co-owner Ryan McDaniel, who is Jacobs father.

Weve experienced an incredible surge of demand and we need the space, frankly, Jacob McDaniel said. We need a workplace where we can continue to add more people to the company and continue to expand.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  Advocates for Ohio children cared for by adult relatives have asked a federal appeals court to hear their claims that an improper gap exists between the payments those relatives and licensed foster care parents receive.

At issue are relatives who arent licensed caregivers but are approved to care for children taken from their parents. The arrangement is often referred to as kinship care.

Child advocates argue the state must follow a 2017 federal appeals court decision ordering equality in payments to kinship caregivers, and in November sued to force adherence to that ruling.

Republican Gov. Mike DeWine signed a bill into law late last year providing a partial fix. The plan authorizes a $10.20 per child per day payment for kinship caregivers for up to nine months.
Katie Jones, of Buchanan, was the only speaker wearing a mask at the recent Botetourt meeting. She spoke in favor of school policies that respect gender identify and race, and she is not alone in her feelings about those topics, she said after the meeting.

I think that we would have had more people come to the meeting had it not been a pandemic, Jones said. It was close quarters, I knew that people werent going to be wearing a mask. ... I didnt ask anybody else to come, simply because were in a pandemic.

She and her husband have three kids, two of whom are in county schools. Jones said her 10th grader and sixth grader are doing OK with wearing masks.

We did virtual all last year, so this was a big step for them, she said. They do say that some of the kids arent wearing their masks properly. I ask if theyre going to say something [to school authorities], and of course theyre not going to say something.

Jones, a member of the Army Reserve, said that she disagreed about issues of diversity and masking with most of those who were at the meetings, but they did have at least one common viewpoint: The board should hold the meetings in a larger space, given the recent interest in public speaking.
Bohn, the District A Board of Supervisors incumbent, is running unopposed in the general election, but had to overcome a challenge from Liam Watson in a Democratic primary earlier this year.

The MCEA is a local chapter of the Virginia Education Association, an organization that represents tens of thousands of teachers and school employees across the state.

Among a number of other issues, local MCEA members have over the years been heavily involved in efforts to push for better teacher pay at Montgomery County schools. Last school year, many members advocated for more conservative approaches to school reopenings due to worries over whether the coronavirus had been brought under enough control.

Hudson and Williams each said that they are honored to have received backing from the MCEA.

They trust me to speak on behalf of those teachers in making decisions, Hudson said, adding that he sees the support as a significant boost to his campaign.

Williams, on the MCEA endorsement, said: For starters, Im honored and humbled that they endorsed me for this position  [the MCEA] is such a valuable group of people and such a valuable resource to have around and tap into.
Roanoke County Administrator Dan ODonnell on Monday announced his retirement, effective February 2022, after more than 21 years working for the local government.

Working alongside our dedicated employees has been rewarding and we have accomplished so much together for the betterment of our community, ODonnell said in a news release. I am honored to have had the support of the Board of Supervisors and privileged to serve the citizens as their administrator. Im now looking forward to the next phase of my life.

ODonnell has worked in public management for 35 years. He began as an assistant county administrator in 2000 and then was appointed county administrator in January 2019.

Prior to coming to Roanoke County, he served as the administrator for counties in New York and West Virginia.

ODonnell oversaw development of Roanoke Countys first-ever Community Strategic Plan to guide policy, budget decisions, and service delivery choices.

He served as the project manager for the $30 million Green Ridge Recreation Center and the $28 million Public Safety Center construction projects.
In the well-established tradition of UVa student groups, the Future Medical Professionals for Life set up tables on Grounds in hopes of changing minds.

With COVID restrictions, we couldnt be out too much. In April, when restrictions were eased, we did some tabling. We had some interesting conversations. We had some good conversations and some terrible conversations. We had one person come by who said abortion was just health care and we invited them over to have a conversation about it, but they just took off, flipping us off and calling us names, Oxley said.

What we wanted to do was have a conversation. We wanted to find out what other people thought, explain what we think and have a discussion, he said. We had people who talked with us and changed their opinions on abortions after 20 weeks because they learned about when viability starts and that theres no reason to kill a child that can be independent outside of the womb.

The effort won the health students the New Students for Life Group of the Year from the Students for Life of America.
To get all traces of lead out of the body, Clark said the eagle was treated by a process called chelation  the same way human beings with lead poisoning are treated.

Its a calcium compound that is injected into the bloodstream, he said. The lead will bind with calcium. If its still in the bloodstream, we can inject the calcium compound, lead binds with that, and then the calcium can be eliminated through urates through the kidneys and take the lead with it.

As for where the teams rehabbed bald eagle was finding lead, and where other eagles can still find it, Clark believes the eagles are scavenging animals or remaining animal parts left in the field by hunters.

Clark described himself as not anti-gun, but rather anti-lead, and said one of the biggest dangers to the species is the fragments of lead ammunition in any animals abandoned by hunters that scavenging animals can then consume.

Switching to non-lead projectiles could help the eagles, as well as other species in Virginia and throughout the United States.
In Ohio, we are making access to broadband internet a priority. Projects throughout the region received Appalachian Region Commission (ARC) POWER funding, and in 2020, Ohio projects totaled $2.68 million in awards. Through the Office of BroadbandOhio, we are taking a local, collaborative approach, engaging local leaders and industry partners. We know what works in Marietta may not work in Coshocton, but working together, we can find the right solutions.

Further, with more than $200 million in the state budget, we recently launched the Residential Broadband Expansion Grant, which will help service providers increase access in unserved and underserved areas of the state. Access to broadband internet is important to Ohios future, and the ARC and statewide efforts are positioning the region for better access.

Workforce and economic development are key priorities for our state, and our business assistance programs have focused on building success in the Appalachian region. Our Small Business Development Centers provided services to more than 2,000 businesses and entrepreneurs in Appalachia in the most recent program year, and our Export Assistance Network and Procurement Technical Assistance Centers have local offices in the 32-county area.
Every four years Virginians have to put up with a charade  an election for lieutenant governor.

The governor is important because the governor, well, governs.

The attorney general is important because that office is full of lawyers to advise state agencies on whats legal and whats not  and go to court to sue somebody.

But then theres the office of lieutenant governor. Every four years, the candidates will tell Virginians why they want this office, and what theyll do with it that others havent done before.

Wait long enough and theyll all propose bold action and innovative thinking.

Yet not a single candidate for lieutenant governor has ever proposed the one thing that would truly be bold and innovative. Not a single one has ever proposed to abolish the position of lieutenant governor.

We dont expect either candidate this year  Hala Ayala for the Democrats, Winsome Sears for the Republicans  to do so either.

And yet the question remains: Why do we need a lieutenant governor? Or a vice president, for that matter? Yes, yes, our state and federal constitutions require them, but why?
Once the excitement of taking over a country settles, such as checking out the presidential gym and enjoying some fun on bumper cars, Afghanistans new Taliban authorities will face the same issues any other government will: how to finance the country.

Following the Taliban's takeover of the country last weekend, many international financial institutions have blacklisted the new government, and the currency is in freefall.

On Thursday, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) decided that Afghanistan would no longer be able to access its resources.

The lender said that resources of over $370 million had been set to arrive later this month. The funds were approved last November and intended to support Afghanistans recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, anchor economic reforms, and spur donor financing.

An IMF spokesperson said it was due to "lack of clarity within the international community" over recognizing a government in Afghanistan.

The IMFs decision follows a letter of more than a dozen GOP lawmakers to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen expressing alarm over IMF funds heading to the Taliban.

The potential of the Special Drawing Rights (SDR) allocation to provide nearly half a billion dollars in unconditional liquidity to a regime with a history of supporting terrorist actions against the United States and her allies is extremely concerning, they wrote.

Earlier this week, the Biden administration also announced that central bank assets the Afghan government has in the U.S. would not be made available to the Taliban, who remain on the Treasury Departments sanctions designation list in the aftermath of the 9/11 attack.

According to the media, the U.S. has frozen nearly $9.5 billion in assets belonging to the Afghan central bank and stopped shipments of cash there.

Reuters cited an Afghanistan official saying that the country's central bank, Da Afghanistan Bank (DAB) is thought to hold foreign currency, gold and other treasures in its vaults--most of which is said to be held outside Afghanistan.

In addition to that, Western Union has also suspended money transfer services to Afghanistan "until further notice".

According to data compiled by Bloomberg, the country's currency Afghani has fallen as much as 4.6% to 86.0625 per dollar on its fourth day of decline.

The Taliban wont be able to easily finance Afghanistan on its time-honored trade of opium poppy farming, which it has pledged to ban. Afghanistan is estimated to be responsible for around 80% of global opium and heroin supplies.

According to a UN report from June, the "primary sources of Taliban financing remain criminal activities," including "drug trafficking and opium poppy production, extortion, kidnapping for ransom, mineral exploitation and revenues from tax collection in areas under Taliban control or influence."

But the alleged new and improved Taliban have promised not to be a drug-dealing cartel any longer (along with pledges to respect womens rights to some extent and to cease retaliatory violence). It would hardly behoove the IMF to fund the worlds biggest heroin operation.

Following this week's IMF and U.S. financial intervention, and considering that some 75% of public spending is financed through international aid grants, many believe that without opium, the Taliban cant survive.

So far, there is no evidence of any change of heart.



Dozens of reports have emerged claiming that those failing to comply with Sharia law or Taliban virtues are being beaten up and tortured, mostly women and those who cooperated with U.S. forces in the country.

The United Nations has warned that the Taliban are searching for people who worked with U.S. and NATO forces and are going door to door to find them.

On Thursday, hundreds of demonstrators came out in the capital, Kabul, and other cities to protest the Taliban regime. Those protests were quickly squashed.
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Caslen graduated from West Point in 1975 and spent the next 43 years serving in the U.S. Army. For his last five years in the Army, Caslen served as superintendent of West Point. After his retirement from the military, Caslen served for five months as the chief accountability officer at the University of Central Florida.

Its very difficult to come from a completely different walk of life, Pastides said. You dont need to be a president, but you ought to know what its like. You ought to know about that.

The second criteria Pastides listed was knowing South Carolina. He gave two examples: knowing how to correctly pronounce Beaufort and knowing more about the state than that it was home to South of the Border.

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You need to know the state, Pastides continued. It took me a long time to get to know the people, the places, the smiling faces, the beautiful landscape, the Congaree forest, all the stretches from the mountains and the rivers. Its a phenomenal place. Dont hire someone whos never been here. The honeymoon that they would need is probably longer than the honeymoon they would get.

Caslen appeared to have no connection to the state before being interviewed for the presidency position.
 What exactly is going on at the federal prison in Atlanta? | Main | Nova Scotia Court says "historic factors and systemic racism" should be considered in sentencing an African Nova Scotian offender 

I am very excited to be back to school this week with the extra pleasure and honor of teaching a (small section) of 1L Criminal Law (though I am frustrated that this semester will now be the fourth beset with COVID challenges). My very first class  way back in Fall 1997!  was a small section of Criminal Law to 1Ls, and I surely want to believe I have done more good than harm in well over a dozen iterations of this great class. However, this notable new Inquest essay by Shaun Ossei-Owusu should perhaps lead every criminal law professor to give some thought to whether and how we are just "Making Penal Bureaucrats." This essay builds on some points he made in a recent law review article, "Criminal Legal Education," and here are excerpts:

Many lawyers play a central role in creating and sustaining mass incarceration; and many will leave law school with the ability to do the opposite. The high-profile death [of George Floyd] confirmed the brutality, inequality, and, for some, irredeemability of the very things many professors teach. And criminal legal educators, some believe, need to read the room and offer instruction that better conveys the unjust realities of our legal system. Alice Ristroph, a professor at Brooklyn Law School, may have offered the most forceful of these critiques, arguing that the detachment from reality and supposed race-neutrality of criminal-law teaching produces pro-carceral lawyers who help sustain mass incarceration.

My own work, published and forthcoming, moves in a similar direction, but also examines the race, poverty, and gender oversights in criminal legal education more broadly. Some fellow academics will take issue with the idea that law professors have a hand in mass incarceration, to say nothing of other social ills, while others will applaud and nod in approval. Whatever side theyre on, the undeniable reality is this: Law professors have trained and will continue to educate public defenders, prosecutors, and judges. The legal education of these penal bureaucrats matters in the larger conversation around criminal justice policy and its deep, structural failings. And so the obstacles to changing legal education are really obstacles for the effort to tear down the legal edifice that made Floyds murder possible in the first place. As history shows, those challenges are not insignificant. To overcome them, we need a clear-eyed sense of what the precise obstacles are standing in the way to a more justice-oriented legal education.

Simply put, we cant afford to ignore curricular reform in this moment, as navel-gazing as such a project may seem to those outside of law school. I dont profess to have all the answers. Instead, I hope to sketch some issues we must confront if legal educators hope to meaningfully leverage this new energy in favor of effective curricular reform. There have been various proposals and calls for action, but it seems necessary to raise questions that are sometimes muted or skipped over in the rush to reform a curriculum that has real shortcomings. The answers to these questions might lead us closer to capturing what legal historian Bob Gordon has described as the motors of curricular change....

With the exception of untenured faculty, law professors enjoy considerable latitude in their classrooms. A dean or administration has some carrots and sticks at their disposal, but few are game changers. These professors can be fussy and persnickety about teaching, and rightfully so. Teaching comprises a substantive portion of professorial duties (the other two standard activities being research and service). As one professor observed in 1968, I have seen law teachers, who have no peers in nitpickery, verge on purple apoplexy in debate over the curriculum. The whole academic business is fraught with vested interests, gored oxen, ground axes, pet peeves, visionary schemes, and intractable inertia.

All this power-wielding exists in a context where there are competing ideas about the role of the professor. A mere transmitter of what the law is? A camouflaged activist who blends instruction with the inculcation of a particular set of values that makes students want to improve the criminal justice system, independent of how many people actually want to go in that line of work? An instructor whose teaching discourages students from certain kinds of work as undesirable  where progressive prosecution and indigent defense alike are system-reifying?

In view of this morass of challenges, it is no wonder that urging legal instructors to talk more about racism, poverty, sexism, homophobia, and transphobia in their classrooms  even if they engage those topics already  is no stroll in the park. Looking to the broader aim of criminal legal reform, explaining why the rest of the public should care or enter this discussion at all is tricky. Law schools can be cordoned off from their local communities. The key here is to recognize that this is a site of struggle where change-oriented people and organizations can develop allyships with like-minded students and faculty to help craft solutions to the multilayered problems of our penal system.

For students, I hope that identifying these challenges will clarify two things. The first, which is something that Ive consistently argued, is that legal education is unlikely to provide students with the kind of social justice-oriented training that some are demanding. Self-led learning and organizing by student groups within and across law schools may have to be the second-best option. But this is not simply nudging students toward neoliberal self-help. My second hope, instead, is for students to better understand these constraints  and in the process, to get a better sense of how to organize for and demand desired changes from their institutions. Issues such as faculty composition, faculty governance, the professional pathways of graduates, and ideological variation within student bodies are some of the many issues that shape what they learn in a criminal legal education course. But these factors may not be readily apparent to students who dont have a sense of the backstage of legal education. The short-term nature of legal education  three years, or two if you do not count the overbearing first year or a third year some students often check out of  demands cooperation with change-minded people outside of law schools and intentional strategies that withstand law schools running out the clock on curricular change and hoping that the next cohort of students does not notice.

My fellow legal educators are likely to understand where Im coming from. For those who care about this issue, my desires are also twofold. First, I hope that these reflections will spur them to honestly assess where they might fit on a rough spectrum of this kind of curricular reform: active implementer, passive supporter, or outright adversary. I have my own beliefs on the desirability of revamping criminal legal education; and yet I think there are principled justifications for each of these dispositions. Let us just be intellectually honest about where we stand. Second, I hope that we can all see that we are part of a vocation that has long professed ideas about intellectual curiosity, social justice, and equality under the law. Nevertheless, our field has not been fully responsive to longstanding appeals to include legally relevant conversations about social inequality in our teaching. Our response to this moment will partially dictate whether our profession can march closer toward social justice-oriented legal education  one that could mold not only the next generation of penal bureaucrats but also the change agents who will engage them and help to build new decarceral futures. Or whether that curricular goal will simply result in yet another round of panels, symposia, and hashtags that merely scratch the surface.
 Deep thoughts about "criminal legal education" as we head back to school | Main | En banc Sixth Circuit preserves death sentences in Kentucky in two big en banc rulings 

A helpful reader made sure I saw this interesting story about a notable new ruling in Canada headlined "Nova Scotia Court of Appeal rules to consider history of racism, marginalization in cases." Here are the details:

The sentencing of Black offenders in Canada is on the verge of a dramatic change after Nova Scotias top court ruled that, as with Indigenous offenders, trial judges need to consider the history of racism and marginalization that shaped them, and do their utmost not to put them behind bars where appropriate.

The Criminal Code has spelled out since 1996 that incarceration is a last resort for Indigenous offenders. It does not refer to any other racialized group. But it does say that sentences are meant to fit both the offence and the offender. The Nova Scotia Court of Appeal, in a ruling last week, became the countrys first appeal court to draw on that principle and require a judge-made, as opposed to legislated, approach to the sentencing of Black offenders.

The moral culpability of an African Nova Scotian offender has to be assessed in the context of historic factors and systemic racism, Justice Anne Derrick wrote in a 5-0 ruling. The ruling illustrates the sharp turn that will now be demanded of Nova Scotias judges -- a change in approach that could well spread to other provinces. Ontarios top court is expected to decide a case soon on whether to require a similar approach.

Like the reports written on some Indigenous offenders, known as Gladue reports, in-depth documents that tell a judge at sentencing about a Black offenders history of exclusion and marginalization should be done from here on, or the appeal court may overturn the sentence, Justice Derrick warned. The reports on Black offenders are known as an Impact of Race and Culture Assessment (IRCA).

The ruling was applauded by Roger Burrill, a lawyer for Rakeem Anderson, the offender in the Nova Scotia case, who was sentenced to two years of house arrest, to be followed by two years of probation for illegal gun possession. I think its impactful for the whole country, on the basis that systemic racism is completely, totally, unequivocally recognized as a factor in dealing with the principles of sentencing, Mr. Burrill said in an interview.

It was also applauded by the Criminal Lawyers Association, based in Ontario, which intervened in the case. Not to suggest colonialism is the same as what happened to Blacks in Canadian history, Daniel Brown, a vice-president of the group, said in an interview, but there has been a history of slavery, a history of segregation. All of that has contributed to many of these challenges they face today....

The IRCA report on Mr. Anderson, co-authored by social worker Robert Wright and by Natalie Hodgson, said the offenders best friend was killed by violence. Ms. Hodgson testified gun possession was an accepted cultural norm in the North End of Halifax, where Mr. Anderson, in his 20s, had lived in substandard housing, surrounded by poverty and crime. Many Black males arm themselves with guns, not because they have plans to harm someone, but rather they feel the need to protect themselves in case, Ms. Hodgson testified.

Mr. Wright, the author of the first IRCA in Nova Scotia in 2014, testified that certain behaviours arise from a communitys trauma and difficulty, and that harsh treatment will neither reform the individual nor deter others from their community. His report said: Rakeem was thrown into the world as a young adult lacking the skills and knowledge to thrive and survive; no resources, supports or interventions, without therapy for trauma and loss, and a very low elementary-level education.

Chief Justice Williams said she had spent many hours agonizing over a just sentence. Mr. Anderson, a father of four young children and said to have a good heart, in some ways did not appear a good candidate for rehabilitation. He had done little to address his education and training deficits while his case was before the court. Ultimately though, the judge agreed with Mr. Wright and sentenced Mr. Anderson to two years of house arrest, with a 10 p.m. curfew and conditions that he attend Afrocentric therapy to address trauma, attend literacy and education programs with an Afrocentric focus and perform community service. Punishment does not change behaviour when the actions are rooted in marginalization, discrimination and poverty, Chief Justice Williams said, while adding that those who endanger society must be separated from it....

The 1996 Criminal Code provision singling out Indigenous offenders for more lenient treatment has not stemmed an increase in the prison population. Indigenous peoples now make up 31.5 per cent of federal prisoners, while they are just over 5 per cent of the countrys population.
A Taiwanese team competing in the Le Mans 24-hour race said it was told to remove the island's national flag from its car

A Taiwanese team taking part in the Le Mans 24-hour race was told to remove the island's national flag from its car before competing, local media and organisers said Monday.

The team's owner Morris Chen received a request from organisers to replace Taiwan's flag with its Olympic version before the race started, according to Taiwan's Central News Agency (CNA).

It came after China's Tencent decided not to livestream the event because a "racing team from Taiwan, China used the non-Olympic flag on their car hood", CNA quoted a message posted on Chinese social network Weibo as saying.

Authoritarian Beijing views democratic Taiwan as its own territory and has vowed to one day seize it, by force if necessary.

It baulks at any use of Taiwan or its official title the Republic of China on the world stage lest it lends the island international legitimacy.

As a result, Taiwan must often compete under the name "Chinese Taipei" and is not allowed to use its flag or national anthem at the Olympics and other sporting events.

International bodies that do not use Beijing's preferred name risk angering the government and being turfed out of its huge, lucrative market.

The Automobile Club de l'Ouest, which organises the Le Mans race, said it "reserves the right to ask competitors to use the IOC (Olympic) banner in order not to open any political debate".

"In perfect agreement with the team concerned, the IOC flag was on the car," the club told AFP in a statement.

AutoHub, the Taiwanese team competing at Le Mans, declined to comment.

Pictures the team posted on their Facebook account earlier in the week showed AutoHub's Porsche with a small Taiwanese flag above the bonnet.

By the time of the weekend race, it had been removed.

Beijing has ramped up diplomatic, military and economic pressure on Taiwan since the 2016 election of President Tsai Ing-wen as she rejects its stance that the island is part of "one China".

Story continues

It has also pressured a growing number of international companies to refer to Taiwan as Chinese Taipei or "Taiwan, China" in recent years.

Taiwan said earlier this month it had demanded a correction after Venice Film Festival organisers listed two films representing the island as being from "Chinese Taipei", allegedly under pressure from Beijing.

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As a lifelong public safety and civil rights leader, who served until recently as a US Senator from California, Kamala D. Harris is the first woman and woman of colour to be elected US Vice President.

The second black woman ever elected to the US Senate, Kamala Harris has worked to reform the American criminal justice system, raise the minimum wage, make higher education tuition free for the majority of Americans, and protect the legal rights of refugees and immigrants.

To celebrate the Madam Vice President's visit to Singapore, we've curated these items below so you can be inspired by Harris' tenacious spirit, style and her personal anecdotes about life.

The Truths We Hold: An American Journey

The Truths We Hold, S$20.84

The Truths We Hold. (PHOTO: Book Depository)

Learn about Harris' California upbringing and her journey to becoming a US Senator.

Kamala Harris Colouring Book

Kamala Harris Colouring Book, S$18.56

(PHOTO: Book Depository)

This Kamala Harris Colouring Book honours Harris in recognising her mother's wisdom: "Kamala, you may be the first to do many things, but make sure you are not the last."

I'm Speaking Coffee Mug

I'm Speaking Coffee Mug, S$28.43

I'm Speaking Coffee Mug. (PHOTO: Etsy Singapore)

Start your day with a fresh cuppa of coffee.

Timberlands Classic 6-inch Leather Boots

Timberland Classic 6-inch Leather Boots, S$179

Known for her pragmatic shoewear, Harris turned up in these Timberlands during her US campaign trails and when she visited firefighters in Fresno, California, who battled raging wildfires. Her kick game is strong!

Converse Unisex Chuck Taylor All Star

Converse Unisex Chuck Taylor All Star, S$75.90

Converse Unisex Chuck Taylor All Star. (PHOTO: Shopee)

Commonly seen in the no-nonsense blazer with comfortable sneakers, Harris is one who does not shy from taking sartorial liberties and making it her own. Step out in style just like Harris, in these unisex Converse shoes.

Story continues

Adidas Stan Smith shoes in Cloud White

Adidas Stan Smith, S$140

Adidas Stan Smith. (PHOTO: Adidas)

These shoes turn any look into a classic one.

Pomelo Oversize Double Breasted Blazer

Pomelo Oversize Double Breasted Blazer, S$47.92

Get suited up like Harris!

Kamala Harris Sweatshirt

Kamala Harris sweatshirt, S$45.51

You could even personalise the sweatshirt with "2020," "VOTE," or "I'M SPEAKING."
The National Weather Service recorded what could be the wettest hour ever in Central Park, with 1.94 inches of torrential rainfall pelting the park between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. Saturday.

In one of his final appearances as governor before he is set to step down at the end of Monday over a sexual harassment scandal, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that with the threat to Long Island diminishing, the states primary concern were inland areas like the Hudson River Valley, north of New York City, which was projected to get inches of rain over the next few days.

In the Hudson Valley you have hills, you have creeks, the water comes running down those hills and turns a creek into a ravaging river," Cuomo said.

Major airports in the region remained open as the storm approached, though hundreds of Sundays flights were canceled. Service on some branches of New York Citys commuter rail system was suspended through Sunday, as was Amtrak service between New York and Boston.

Power outages affected power to more than 130,000 homes across Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York.

Connecticut's largest electric utility said it had restored 20,000 customers but thousands like Linda Oski, who lives in Canterbury, remained without power.

I havent seen any trucks at all in my neighborhood but the opposite end of my road had their power restored before 6 p.m. So close and yet so far! she said. Its supposed to get nasty hot and humid again on Tuesday so if we still have no power by then, that will be miserable.

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HONOLULU  Hawaiis governor is urging residents and potential visitors to limit travel to the islands to essential business while the state struggles to control outbreaks of the delta variant of the coronavirus.
Sweet corn and briny clams could be the most classic of American pairings. Hundreds of years before Europeans arrived on New England shores, Native Americans created the clambake by digging pits in the sand to steam them with lobster. Add water and cream to the mix, and chowder would follow soon after.

To honor this summertime tradition at Milk Street, we pair the two in a chowder, of sorts, that you can eat with your hands. Or maybe its a brothy clambake. Either way, the recipe from our book COOKish, which limits recipes to just six ingredients without sacrificing flavor, elevates the combination with the substitution of two flavor-packed ingredients.

First, rather than the typical potatoes, we opt for fresh fennel bulb, which adds notes of anise as well as contrasting texture. And second, we finish with a small measure of creme fraiche (or whole-milk yogurt) instead of cream. The tanginess pairs beautifully with the briny-sweet liquid released by the clams to become a subtly creamy broth thats as delicious as the clams themselves.

If you can, use corn kernels cut from freshly shucked ears (youll need two good-size ears to get the 2 cups kernels called for in the recipe), but frozen corn works in the off-season. Serve with oyster crackers, or with crusty bread for mopping up the broth.
SIOUX CITY -- A Sioux City man stands accused of second-degree murder after he reportedly shot and killed his roommate Sunday morning.

Robert D. Buel, 52, of Sioux City, was booked into the Woodbury County jail and held on $200,000 bond.

At around 9:28 a.m. Sunday, police responded to a report of a shooting that occurred in a home on the 200 block of 21st Street.

When officers arrived, they found an adult male who had been shot and died from his injuries. Officers also located Buel at the residence.

The victim has been identified as Jason L. Lafferty, 41, of Sioux City.

Sioux City Police Sgt. Jeremy McClure said Buel and Lafferty were acquaintances and roommates at the residence.

The shooting occurred after Lafferty and Buel got into an argument. Lafferty went to the garage. Buel reportedly also went to the garage, armed with a shotgun and handgun, pointing the shotgun at Lafferty.

Buel then set the shotgun down and shot the victim with the handgun, McClure said in a statement, released Sunday night.

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SIOUX CITY -- Forced to work at home and unable to go out to a movie or dinner for much of 2020, many people turned to one of the few places left that wasn't closed: outdoors.

Nature didn't shut down. It provided someplace safe to go and something to do. Hiking, camping, biking, bird watching -- all basically have built-in social distancing.

The COVID-19 pandemic is full of negative aspects. The discovery, or in some cases rediscovery, of nature by many people was a definite positive.

"It was kind of a beautiful thing that people began noticing the world around them. For the most part, people were realizing that we are part of nature and there is a lot of urban wildlife," said Dawn Snyder, education programs director at Sioux City's Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center.

Snyder received an increased number of calls last spring and summer from people asking about the animals and birds they were seeing in their backyards, creatures that probably had always been there, but no one was home during the day to see them. Snyder saw more people walking the trails at the Nature Center and nearby Stone State Park. Kayaks, tents, bikes and other outdoor gear became harder to find in stores.

"They were turning to nature because it was one of the only things they could do," Snyder said.
SPIRIT LAKE, Iowa -- A man charged with killing a Lake Park, Iowa, woman has pleaded not guilty of murder.

Justice Berntson, 24, entered his written plea Monday in Dickinson County District Court to charges of first-degree murder, second-degree theft and conspiracy to commit second-degree theft. His trial was scheduled for Sept. 21.

An arraignment for his co-defendant, Allison Decker, was continued from Monday after her attorney withdrew from the case. District Judge Shayne Mayer rescheduled the arraignment for Sept. 7 and appointed Edward Bjornstad, of Spirit Lake, to represent Decker.

Decker, 26, who like Berntson is listed in court documents as having no permanent address, faces the same charges. Both remain in custody in the Dickinson County Jail on $1 million bonds.

They are accused of killing 25-year-old Angel Bastman, whose body was found Dec. 22 at her home at 104 Maple Ave. According to court documents, Bastman was killed at approximately 5 p.m. Dec. 21. Authorities have declined to comment on the cause of death.
Melissa Stockwell, who will appear in Sioux City on Sept. 30, will be one of two American athletes carrying the U.S. flag into Toyoko Stadium Tuesday morning during the opening ceremony for the 2020 Paralympic Games.

Stockwell, 41, and wheelchair rugby player Chuck Aoki, a two-time Paralympic medalist, were selected as Team USAs flag bearers for the opening ceremony in Tokoko. Aoki and Stockwell, chosen by a vote of fellow USA athletes, are the first duo to share the honor of leading the delegation during the ceremony.

I am so honored and humbled to be chosen by my peers as one of the flag bearers for Team USA," Stockwell said in a statement. "As a veteran, carrying the American flag and representing my sport (triathlon), my country, my Paralympic family and my team  that is an incredible honor. The Paralympics are a showcase of what we can overcome with the power of the human body and the human spirit, and Im just so proud of where my story has brought me."

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Three weeks after she was deployed to Iraq in March 2004, she lost her left leg above the knee after a roadside bomb struck her Humvee when she was leading a convoy in Baghdad. The first woman in the armed services to lose a limb in active combat, she was awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.
Some in the group had specific duties, according to the indictment. From 2017 to 2020, Kryscuk allegedly manufactured guns while Collins allegedly stole military gear and equipment, including magazines for assault-style rifles. Collins took the military gear and gave it to the others in their group, federal authorities said.

In previous filings, prosecutors said that Collins and Duncan were formerly enlisted members of the U.S. Marine Corps assigned to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. Hermanson was still enlisted in the Marines at Camp Lejeune at the time of the alleged crimes.

From 2017 to 2020, Duncan was gathering a library of information  some public documents and some military-owned information  on guns, explosives and even nerve toxins, before sharing the information with Kryscuk and Collins, according to the newest indictment.

The group also allegedly plotted to destroy power transformers using homemade thermite, a material that burns at over 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Collins allegedly asked others to each buy 50 pounds of Tannerite  a type of binary explosive that can be purchased in the United States  in order to make the thermite.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The U.S. gave full approval to Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine Monday, a milestone that could lift public confidence in the shots and spur more companies, universities and local governments to make vaccinations mandatory.

The formula made by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech now carries the strongest endorsement from the Food and Drug Administration, which has never before had so much evidence to judge a shot's safety.

Keep scrolling for the latest vaccination and virus numbers from our state and the US

More than 200 million Pfizer doses have been administered in the U.S.  and hundreds of millions more worldwide  since December. But up to now, they were dispensed in this country under what is known as emergency use authorization from the FDA.

"The public can be very confident that this vaccine meets the high standards for safety, effectiveness and manufacturing quality the FDA requires of an approved product," acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock said in announcing full approval, which comes as the U.S. battles the most contagious coronavirus mutant yet, the delta variant.
Airlines are covered by federal laws and regulations, Brnovich wrote, and currently are not allowed to refuse service unless a person actually is sick, a risk to other customers and can't get a medical certificate that outlines preventative measures.

It will be difficult for a carrier to establish that proof of vaccination is now a required preventative measure for COVID-19 when airline service has continued throughout the COVID-19 pandemic with masking and ventilation as the primary preventative measures, the opinion said.

In a statement and summary accompanying the legal opinion, Brnovich argued that the coronavirus is a threat to constitutional rights.

"We must hold the Constitution close in times of crisis because thats when our rights are most at risk, Brnovich's statement said. In all medical and health decisions, Americans have the right to try and the right not to try; we cannot have one without the other.

The attorney general also gave himself some political cover for the parts of the opinion where he says private businesses in many cases can require vaccines, a position vocally opposed by some in his own party.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden honored the 2020 WNBA champions Seattle Storm on Monday, celebrating their success on the court and hailing the four-time title holders for changing lives with their activism.
Corman maintains the Senate's aim is not to turn Trump's defeat into victory, but to "getting to the bottom of everything that went on.

We as the oversight body of elections have to ensure that people feel confident that elections were done fairly," Corman said on the radio program. I dont think, I know they dont feel confident in that now, and we need to provide that stability moving forward and if our work leads to someone else taking that work into a court of law, and changing those results, then so be it.

In recent days and months, Trump allies have held up Corman as an obstacle, even drawing Trump's wrath on Twitter in June, saying Corman is fighting as though he were a Radical Left Democrat. Democrats, meanwhile, say Corman is too cowardly to stand up to right-wing conspiracy theories about the election.

One question Corman's office has been unable to answer is how to pay for an Arizona-style audit without private donations.

Senate GOP officials are concerned about the legality of funding the undertaking with private money, Corman's office said.
Kiley has raised close to $1 million, mostly in small amounts from thousands of contributors across the state and has pledged to not accept money from special interests. But it takes many millions to mount the kind of statewide media campaign that can raise his name recognition in a Republican field that includes talk radio host Larry Elder, ex-Olympian Caitlyn Jenner and former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer.

Voters have two choices in the Sept. 14 election: Should Newsom be removed from office and who among 46 candidates should replace him? If a majority votes to oust Newsom, whoever gets the most votes on the second question will be governor. With so many candidates dividing the votes it's likely a winner could emerge with 25% or less.

Jon Fleischman, former executive director of the California Republican Party, is among GOP observers who say Kileys campaign is more about the future than pulling an upset next month. No Republicans hold statewide office in California and the party is desperate to find new political leaders to rally around.

The state is home to 5.3 million registered Republicans  more than the total populations of more than half the states. Jon Fleischman, publisher of the Flash Report, a conservative news website, said many people forget that reality because Democrats have such a stranglehold on power in the state.
LANSING, Mich. (AP)  Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Monday proposed spending more than $1.5 billion in federal pandemic rescue funding to help boost the business climate, redevelop polluted sites and take steps such as accelerating the development of electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

The proposals are the latest offered by the Democratic governor since Congress and President Joe Biden approved an unprecedented $6.5 billion in discretionary aid for the state, half of which can be allocated now. She and the Republican-led Legislature have not allotted any of the funds. Some could be negotiated as they work to finalize the next state budget before October, though much of it may not be approved until later.

Under Whitmer's plan, about $700 million would be used to redevelop brownfield properties, rehabilitate vacant buildings, prepare sites for business development, create more energy-efficient homes and bolster regional economic resiliency plans. Roughly $350 million would go toward fostering a business environment that the governor said would be more conducive to high-tech, high-growth startups, preparing manufacturers for opportunities in emergency industries, speeding up charging infrastructure for electric cars and expanding an internship program for science, technology, engineering and math students.
An Associated Press analysis found that Republican politicians used census data after election victories 10 years ago to draw voting districts that gave them a greater political advantage in more states than either party had in the past 50 years. Voters in Ohio have some of the nation's most gerrymandered maps, the AP found.

Those voters approved constitutional amendments in 2015 and 2018 that created a new process for drawing both state legislative and congressional district maps this year and set up the independent commission.

Some in the audience heckled Hach as he was speaking and one man called him out for not wearing a mask, prompting a visit by security. Later, Chibuzo Petty, 31, of Middleburg Heights, though an advocate for fairer districts, said it was wrong for the group to chide Hach and that the timing and location of the daytime hearing meant it was dominated by liberal elites who are either retired or have the privilege of taking a day off work.

Christos Ioannou, 20, of Shaker Heights, likened his feeling living in a majority-Democratic area represented mostly by Republicans to a scene in Twilight Zone, where a man sees a gremlin on the wing of a plane and no one else does.
RACINE  A 40-year-old man died Sunday after saving two children who were in distress in the water near the pier north of North Beach and Zoo Beach, Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling said early Sunday evening.

Schmaling called the man "a hero.

The man entered the water to save the children, who were related to him, at about 3 p.m., Schmaling said in an interview. The children got out of the water thanks to the man, whom Schmaling said was from Missouri, but he was unable to get out.

Emergency responders  including lifeguards and emergency personnel from the South Shore Fire Department, City of Racine Fire Department, the Racine County Dive Team of the Racine County Sheriff's Office  found the man at about 4 p.m. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

There were three drowning deaths on the Racine lakefront in June: A 10-year-old girl, a 17-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl.


4:45 p.m.

Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee says the state is already moving into the recovery and assessment phase after Tropical Storm Henri, with the top priority being restore power to tens of thousands of residents and businesses.

The Democratic governor says National Grid already has crews out working on restoring electricity, and the goal is to get everyone back online by Tuesday.

We are expecting temperatures in the 90s beginning Tuesday ... and that is why getting power restored is critical for the health and safety of our residents, our economy, and our small businesses, he said at state emergency management headquarters in Cranston.

Terence Sobolewski, the president of National Grid Rhode Island, said it is expected to take a couple of days to get power fully restored.

The state has also started the process of assessing damage to get maximum reimbursement from the federal government, McKee said. He said on his tour of the state during the height of the storm, he did not see any major damage.



4:30 p.m.
At the third and final stop, the officers again approach with guns drawn, and Amaya standing in front of the drivers door. When the car starts to move, Amaya opens fire. Seconds later, when the car begins moving again, both Amaya and Vinyard fire multiple shots.

Fahey said the officers acted within the bounds of their training. He noted that the officers' supervisor was aware of the chase and never advised them to call it off. He also said that the officers' decision to approach Ghaisar with guns drawn was based on training they'd received that traffic stops are inherently dangerous. He said Park Police officer are taught when in doubt, pull it out when it comes to drawing your weapon.

There are only a handful of cases under which officers were not allowed to invoke immunity from state prosecution and they involve far more egregious conduct that what occurred in Ghaisar's shooting, Fahey said. He said those examples include officers who were drunk on duty.

At Monday's hearing in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, prosecutors seeking to move ahead with a manslaughter trial said the officers' lawyers are overstating the bounds of immunity. Michelle Kallen with the Virginia Attorney General's Office said recent Supreme Court precedent emphasizes the state's right to protect public safety as it sees fit without interference from the federal government.
He employs eight people at Victory Too, and they often spend a big chunk of time every day waiting for things to load, sapping productivity.

The lost time could cost Burger as much as $6,000 a year in wages, he said.

While work in Nebraska has focused on improvements, and the state used some CARES Act funds to shore up rural broadband, the ideal solution would be to have fiber-optic internet to every home, Bliss said.

But that's an uphill battle, said Christopher Mitchell, director of the community broadband networks program at the Institute for Local Self Reliance.

The challenge is that most Americans really only have the choice of getting service from the biggest internet companies," Mitchell said, which sets up functional monopolies in many areas of the country.

Local governments are closest to the problem, he noted, but many don't have the power to take on the massive corporations that control internet access.

On the state and federal levels, consumer protections on broadband have been similarly toothless, he said, because while providers have considerable funds and political power, there is no centralized lobbying group for rural internet consumers that has enough power to fight back.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  The guard in a control room at Iran's notorious Evin prison springs to attention as one by one, monitors in front of him suddenly blink off and display something very different from the surveillance footage he had been watching.
CANBERRA, Australia  Australia's prime minister says Australian and New Zealand officials evacuated more than 650 people from Kabul Airport over Monday night.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Since the Taliban seized the Afghan capital on Aug. 14, more than 82,000 people have been evacuated from Afghanistan in one of the largest U.S. airlifts in history. While the pace has picked up in recent days, its still a chaotic scramble as people seek to escape. Afghans trying to reach the Kabul airport face a gauntlet of danger, and there are far more who want to leave than will be able to do so. Those who do make it out will face the many challenges of resettlement, either in the U.S. or somewhere else.
WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden is raising concerns that the Islamic State poses a threat as American troops seek to evacuate thousands of U.S. citizens and Afghan allies from Afghanistan.
Vietnam managed to keep the infection rate relatively low up until April this year, with only 35 deaths. Last year it was praised for keeping the virus under control, an accomplishment generally attributed to the discipline of being a single-party communist state with tight controls at all levels.

But with the spread of the delta variant of the virus, the country is experiencing its worst outbreak by far, with more than half of the countrys 98 million population under lockdown orders.

The visit by Harris to boost bilateral relations is sure to spotlight the aid Washington has been able to offer Vietnam during the health crisis.

The U.S. has been Vietnams largest donor of vaccines, sending 5 million doses of Moderna. Separately, Vietnam has signed commercial agreements with American vaccine makers Moderna and Pfizer to secure at least 80 million doses of vaccine toward its effort to inoculate 70% of the population with at least one shot by the first quarter of next year.

Like many of its Southeast Asian neighbors, Vietnam has been lagging in vaccinating its population, and has administered 17.5 million jabs to date. However, about 60% of people over 18 years old in Ho Chi Minh City have received at least one shot.
HANOI, Vietnam (AP)  Vietnams largest metropolis, Ho Chi Minh City, went into a tightened lockdown Monday to battle its worst outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, just a day ahead of the arrival of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris on a state visit.
1.5 or 2 degrees Celsius of additional global warming: Does it make a difference?

Posted on 23 August 2021 by Guest Author

This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Bruce Lieberman

Remember these: Severe heat waves in U.S. Pacific Northwest and in British Columbia and Siberia;

And this: Historic flooding in Germany and other parts of Western Europe;

These too: Oregon, California, Montana, and other parts of the West experiencing searing wildfires;

And this: New York City, Philadelphia, and the Nations Capital and other parts of the eastern seaboard shrouded in western wildfire smoke;

And keep this in mind: Rising concerns of a megadrought across several western states.

And these are just in the first half of one year, 2021. Collectively, they all point to a world in the grip of weather extremes fueled by the continuing rise of emissions of human-made (technical term: anthropogenic) atmospheric carbon dioxide.

Approaching November 2021, when the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) is to convene in Glasgow, Scotland, amid continuing global pandemic concerns, the reality is that the number and severity of extreme weather events are overtaking efforts to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.

Climate change is moving faster than we are, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said back in 2018 in his address to the UN General Assembly  a statement that in hindsight now rings especially true.

At more than 420 parts per million, atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are the highest in recorded history  and still climbing.*

The essential goal of the Paris agreement of 2015 has been to limit the rise in average global temperatures to no more than 2C above pre-industrial levels  a time period centered roughly on the mid-19th century. The aspirational or wished-for objective of the agreement is to strive for a rise in temperatures that doesnt exceed 1.5 C (an increase of 1.5C = about 2.7F of additional warming, an increase of 2C = about 3.6F).

But with carbon dioxide levels in the global atmosphere topping 420 parts per million  the highest level in recorded history  the 1.5C target appears to many experts to be out of reach. A United Nations report in 2018 concluded as much, saying back then that average global temperatures will likely reach 1.5C above pre-industrial levels sometime between 2030 and 2052 if emissions continue rising as they have been.

As the planet perhaps inevitably closes in on and goes beyond that 1.5C target, its reasonable to wonder how a world with just that degree of warming would compare with a world where global temperatures rise by 2C or more above preindustrial levels. (Keep in mind that theres no science suggesting that the warming of the planets atmosphere will magically stop at that 2C limit; indeed, just the opposite).

Still, with a focus solely on those 1.5C and 2C global temperature increases, what difference does it make in a practical sense in terms of impacts?

It ends up that the differences are significant.

There are clear benefits to keeping warming to 1.5C rather than 2C or higher. Every bit of warming matters, Petteri Taalas, of the World Meteorological Organization, and Joyce Msuya, of the United Nations Environment Programme, wrote in the forward of the 2018 report.

The widely publicized 1.5C Report, as its come to be known, offered a straightforward comparison between the consequences of a 1.5C future and a 2C future. Here are some highlights (only some of which included a specific by-this-time estimate):

Extreme heat

With a 1.5C increase, extreme hot days in the mid-latitudes will be 3C hotter (5.4F) than pre-industrial levels.

With a 2C increase, extreme hot days in the mid-latitudes will be about 4C hotter (7.2F) than pre-industrial levels.

A study on extreme heat published around the same time as the U.N. report projected that about 14% of the worlds population would be exposed to extreme heat waves once every five years if global temperature increases are held to 1.5C. That percentage would jump up to 37% with a rise of 2C. The massive temperature increases seen in British Columbia in the summer of 2021, where temperatures reached an all-time high of 121F, show clearly that huge spikes in temperature can persist where they are least expected. Numerous areas above the Arctic Circle, including parts of Siberia, also experienced extreme heat waves in the 2021 summer.

Rising sea levels

With a 1.5C increase, sea levels are projected to rise by 2100 by 0.26 to 0.77 meters (0.85-2.52 feet) relative to 1986-2005.

With a 2C increase, sea levels are projected to rise by 2100 by 0.36 to 0.87 meters (1.18-2.85 feet) relative to 1986-2005.

One wildcard when it comes to sea-level rise is ice sheet instability in Antarctica and Greenland. An irreversible loss could result in a multi-meter rise in sea level over hundreds to thousands of years, according to the 1.5C report. Greenhouse gas emissions are not the only actor here, however: An 18.6-year cycle in the moons orbit around the Earth is projected to make tidal flooding even worse in the mid-2030s.

Declining biodiversity

With a 1.5C increase, 6% of insects, 8% of plants, and 4% of vertebrates are projected by 2100 to lose more than half of their climatically determined geographic range.

With a 2C increase, those percentages double or triple: 18% of insects, 16% of plants, and 8% of vertebrates are projected by 2100 to lose more than half of their climatically determined geographic range.

With a 1.5C rise, about 4% of Earths terrestrial land area is projected to undergo a transformation of ecosystems from one type to another. With a 2C global temperature rise, about 13% is projected to undergo a shift. Across the American West, ecosystems stressed by diminished snowmelt, drought, insect infestations, and wildfire are changing forests from the Rockies to the Sierra Nevada. Ten percent of iconic Giant Sequoia trees died in wildfires in the Sierra Nevada in 2020.

Melting Arctic sea ice

With a 1.5C increase, scientists project that the Arctic Ocean will become ice-free in the summer about once every 100 years.

With a 2C increase, the Arctic Ocean could become ice-free in the summer once every 10 years.

An ice-free Arctic can lead to accelerated warming as dark blue sea (as opposed to white ice) absorbs more heat from the sun, through a process known as the albedo effect. Melting sea ice in the Arctic also injects cold water into the Atlantic south of Greenland, upsetting Atlantic Ocean circulation. Scientists reported in 2021 that Atlantic Ocean circulation, which includes the Gulf Stream that brings warm weather to the northeastern U.S. and to Europe, is now at its weakest in more than 1,000 years.

At-risk coral reefs

With a 1.5C increase, coral reefs around the world are projected to decline further by 70-90%.

With a 2C increase, coral reefs are projected to decline by more than 99%  marking an irreversible loss in many marine and coastal ecosystems.

Declining global fisheries

With a 1.5C increase, one global model cited by the U.N. report projects a decrease in global annual catch for marine fisheries of about 1.5 million tonnes.

With a 2C increase, the same model projects a decrease of more than 3 million tonnes.

Rising poverty

Particular populations around the world are especially vulnerable to the consequences of continued warming. These include some indigenous peoples, local communities dependent on agriculture, and those dependent on coastal resources for their livelihoods. Especially vulnerable places include Arctic ecosystems, dryland regions, small island developing states, and the worlds least developed nations. Limiting warming to 1.5C could reduce the number of people worldwide who are exposed to climate-related risks and resulting poverty by hundreds of millions of people  compared with a rise of 2C.

Health impacts

With a 2C increase, compared with a 1.5C increase, the number of heat-related deaths and the number of people infected with vector-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue fever are projected to increase. A 2C increase could also potentially lead to shifts in and expansion of the geographic range of vector-borne diseases.

Food impacts

A 2C increase is projected to lead to increased declines in yields of maize, rice, wheat, and potentially other cereal crops. This outcome is particularly true for sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and central and South America. Livestock are also projected to be adversely affected.

Two trajectories

Global greenhouse gas emissions in 2019 totaled 59.1 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, and while they fell significantly in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the decline was temporary. The International Energy Agency in Paris has projected that emissions will reach a new all-time high in 2023.

The IEA reported that as of the second quarter of 2021, only 2% of all government recovery spending in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic (about $380 billion in US dollars) is funding clean energy measures. This amount of money is only about one-third of the amount the IEA says is needed to put the world on track to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

According to the U.N.s 1.5C report, the worlds countries emitting the largest amounts of carbon dioxide have to turn things around soon: To limit warming to 1.5C, global net greenhouse gas emissions from human activity must decline by about 45% from 2010 levels by 2030, and reach net zero by 2050. To limit warming to 2C, emissions must decline by about 25% by 2030 and reach net zero by about 2070.

Despite the great challenge ahead, IEA chief Fatih Birol remarked recently that clean energy investments can still shift the world on to a pathway to net-zero emissions by 2050.

The path is narrow but still achievable, he said, if we act now.

Some additional resources on the 1.5 vs. 2 degrees C warming impacts

2021

* How 1.5 degrees became the key to climate progress (April 21, 2021)

* What does a 1.5-degree warming limit mean for China? (April 22, 2021)

* The 1.5-degree global warming limit is not impossible  but it soon will be (May 3, 2021)

2020

* The sad truth about our boldest climate target (January 3, 2020)

* Whats the Deal with the 2-Degree Scenario? (February 25, 2020)

* Climate math: What a 1.5-degree pathway would take (April 30, 2020)

* Worrisome Signs Emerge for 1.5-Degree-C Climate Target (July 10, 2020)

* Earths warming is closing in on a crucial limit, U.N. report says (September 9, 2020)

2019

* Why is 1.5 degrees the danger line for global warming? (March 18, 2019)

* A degree of concern: Why Global Temperatures Matter (June 19, 2019)

* 1.5C vs. 2C  a world of difference (July 31, 2019)

* UN emissions report: World on course for more than 3 degree spike, even if climate commitments are met (November 26, 2019)

2018

* What does 1.5C mean in a warming world? (October 2, 2018)

* Half a Degree and a World Apart: The Difference in Climate Impacts Between 1.5?C and 2?C of Warming (October 7, 2018)

* Why half a degree of global warming is a big deal (October 7, 2018)

* The scariest parts of the new climate change report: The goals the world set are inadequate, and the track were on is disastrous (October 8, 2018)

* IPCC says limiting global warming to 1.5 C will require drastic action (October 8, 2018)

* Whats in a Half a Degree? 2 Very Different Future Climates (October 17, 2018)
Last month, Harvey Weinstein was in the news again following his extradition to Los Angeles, where he faces additional charges of sexual assault. I am a Weinstein survivor. My case falls outside the statute of limitations and therefore will never be prosecuted. But because I have been public about my experienceand also because I have made a career of training and writing related to traumaI can usually expect requests from media for my thoughts on the latest updates.

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I am usually happy to oblige. But after one recent interview, I realized that for some time now, my interlocutors have drawn me into a narrative thats foreign to me. Again and again, I am asked the same questions about whether survivors like me are angryand what I hope will happen to Harvey. And then in the three-minute-or-less segments of network news, I eventually supply the sound bite that makes everyone happy: Harvey should rot in jail.

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Who is this vengeful woman, calling for punishment and retribution? Its not me, but rather an archetypal version of me that interviewer and viewer alike have been conditioned to expect. Even the word the media tends to use for survivorsaccuserssuggests pointing fingers, or terrifying old women with snakes for hair emitting fiendish cries. Despite the cultural reckoning after women around the world embraced #MeToo, our understanding of the myriad feelings a female sexual survivor may have about her abuser seems to be restricted to a stale stereotype that is as old as ancient Greece.

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In life away from the camera, a survivors feelings toward their abuser may range from forgiveness to retributionand anywhere in between. Most of us have complicated feelings because sexual assault is complicated, and when the abuser was someone you knew or even loved, your history together may include memories that are positive. In my case, even though I never had more than a passing acquaintance with Harvey, I still experience a twinge of compassion when I see him bowed over, hobbling into court on a walker. The skeptics will snort and say Weinstein is playing to the gallery with shameless bids for sympathy. Maybe. Or maybe my reaction is less about Harvey and more about my own capacity for pity, even if these displays of frailty are just a calculated attempt to avoid spending the rest of his life in prison. Regardless, a survivors response is ever nuanced, sometimes unexpected, always personal, and never for others to judge.

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Many seem intent, however, on propagating a one-size-fits-all response among survivors of sexual assault. It would be easy to point to continued male dominance in media as the reason for this lack of imagination, but in my experience, female interviewers are no less prone to posing questions that presume survivors are angry and bent on revenge.

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Even when women get the chance to create a different sort of survivor with a more complex set of reactions, we often find female-written and female-directed dramas driven by rape-revenge fantasy. Such is the case with Promising Young Woman last year and the last season of The Handmaids Tale. The emphasis on bloody revenge makes me wonder whether these women writers are not sexual assault victims and are imagining what would be cathartic for a survivor or, conversely, if that is exactly who they are, and it is their revenge fantasies that were seeing.

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While there is no correct reaction to trauma, and anger and revenge are perfectly understandable responses to sexual assault, Judith Herman, a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, offers this note of caution in her classic book, Trauma and Recovery:

Though the traumatized person imagines that revenge will bring relief, repetitive revenge fantasies actually increase her torment. Violent, graphic revenge fantasies may be as arousing, frightening, and intrusive as images of the original trauma. They exacerbate the victims feelings of horror and degrade her image of herself. They make her feel like a monster. They are also highly frustrating, since revenge can never change or compensate for the harm that was done.

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If writers of rape-revenge dramas are drawing on their own unprocessed trauma, they may unintentionally reinforce the vengeful woman stereotype, with all the limitations and impediments to recovery that Herman suggests. And if this one-note view of the varied and nuanced ways women respond to sexual assault and its aftermath is all popular culture offers survivorswhether on the news or in prestige dramasno wonder we feel obliged to play along and bury our more complex and confusing feelings.

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The complicated truth is that, like many trauma survivors, I never know what Im going to feel on any given day. When Weinsteins lawyers offer ridiculous excuses for why he should be given special treatment, such as the demoralizing effect of incarceration, I grow angry for all the women who were not merely demoralized after being assaulted by Harvey, but whose lives and careers were destroyed. But absent such provocation, I can feel sad about what Harveys life could have been, the help he could have afforded the young women who looked up to him. After all, I met with other powerful male figures in the movie industry when looking for mentorship at the beginning of my career; many chose to help me, and all of them managed not to assault me. My sadness at lost potential extends also back in time to the little boy Harvey, who suffered his own trauma. To simply dismiss Harvey as a monster would discount my understanding of the impact of adverse childhood experiences.

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This is not what many people want to hear. But when we resort to oversimplified narratives about what a sexual assault survivor should or should not feel toward their abuser, we shut down the full range of responses a human being experiences. The mythical Furies terrified the people of ancient Greece and were meant to act as a deterrent against horrific crimes, such as murder. I hope that Harveys reckoning also provides a deterrent to powerful men who believe they can get away with sexual misconduct. But I dont want to become an archetype rolled out to scare unscrupulous men into better behavior. I deserve the dignity of my full humanityevery irreducible, unabridged part. I am looking forward to that person showing up in future interviews.
Growing up in utopia is a good way to make you an incrementalist, Akash Kapur writes wryly in his new book Better to Have Gone: Love, Death, and the Quest for Utopia in Auroville, which is simultaneously an unsparing investigation and a love letter to the utterly unique place where he was born.

Kapur was raised in Auroville, an intentional community near the city of Pondicherry in southern India. Auroville was founded in 1968 by followers of the French mystic Mirra Alfassa, referred to as the Mother, herself an acolyte of the Indian guru Sri Aurobindo. Auroville was intended to be a site of material and spiritual researches for a living embodiment of an actual human unity and the project attracted idealists and spiritual seekers from around the world. These included Kapurs parents, as well as the parents of his wife, Auralice, who are this books protagonists. John Walker was a privileged scion of Americas elitehis father was the first director of the National Gallery and a cultural power player in Kennedy-era Washington. Diane Maes was a rebellious hippie raised in much humbler circumstances in Belgium. They would find each other and build an unlikely family together in Auroville.

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As often happens with utopian projects, Auroville took a dark turn in the 1970s and 80s, as bitter and sometimes violent rifts over governance and ideology tore the community apart. John and Dianes own story ended in seemingly senseless tragedy, as they died of likely treatable conditions for which they steadfastly refused to receive medical treatment.

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Given this history, and his ambivalence about utopian projects in general, it might seem surprising that Kapur and his wife, after years of living in the U.S., decided to move back to Auroville in 2004. He describes the decision in the book as motivated by a mix of homesickness, disillusionment with post-9/11 America, and a desire to get the truth about what really happened during Aurovilles dark years. Today, Auroville sounds like a mellower place. With more than 3,000 residents from 59 countries, its become a popular tourist draw for its spiritual vibes and thriving foodie scenedevelopments about which Kapur has mixed feelings.

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I spoke recently with Kapur about Aurovilles evolution, how the writing of the book changed his feelings about the community where he still lives, and whether we still have something to learn from dreams of utopia. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

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Joshua Keating: Its sort of a big question, but how close would you say the Auroville, as it exists today, is to what either the Mother or the first generation of Aurovillians envisioned at the outset?

Akash Kapur: That is a big question. In some ways, its the core of the book: the gap between ideals and reality. People very much come with their own inherent biases or feelings about these types of projects. Its very easy to say, Oh, come on. All these promises made, all these ideals, and its just a morass of humanity that just has not lived up to it in any ways. I understand that perspective, particularly if people come to it with a naturally skeptical bent. As I write in the book, I often have a naturally skeptical bent. So, that would be a reasonable position to take.

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On the other hand, you can also look at these places and say, Look at what they have achieved and look at what they have tried. You could ask yourself, Well, if a community sets itself lofty goals, and, lets say, it achieves only 30 percent or even 40 percent of those goals, do we denigrate them for the 60 percent that they failed? Or do we praise them and admire them for the 30 percent theyve achieved? I dont have an answer to that question. I really think it comes down to individual temperament.

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I think a lot of us, when we hear about intentional communities like this, we have this idea that in order to live there, you have to fully buy in to the project and everything about it. But on the other hand, wed never assume that someone who is a Catholic, or an American for that matter, has to be 100 percent on board with everything about those institutions to feel a part of them. So, when you made the decision to move back, was it more just the community that you were attracted to? To what extent was it that the original ideals of the project were something that you wanted to be part of?

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You dont look at America and because there are QAnon elements say the whole of the country is a crazy cult, right?  Akash Kapur

Yeah. So let me just reply to the first part of that question first, because I do think that that is a key thing and one of the greatest misunderstandings. I get it. People like to categorize things into known categories and known types of places. You see comparisons of Auroville to a cult. I think thats a complete misunderstanding of the nature of the community. As I try to explain in the book, and as I think the fact that I wrote this book as a member of the community itself proves, its a much looser place than that.

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By no means am I denying that there are fanatical elements in the community or that there are elements in the community that would even possibly take it in a cultish direction. But I think the way I see it is that its a much more organic, nonhomogenous entity where there are just many strands coexisting, as you might have in most societies. You dont look at America and because there are QAnon elements say the whole of the country is a crazy cult, right? There are elements of that in the country, they coexist, and they jostle for preeminence and authority and power with the other elements. Thats the way I see the community.

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On the question of our coming back, again, I think that this faith and ideals in the community, the way I see it, it exists on a spectrum. There are people who are all-in and believe in what you might call the letter of the law or the letter of the idea. And then there are people who are more attracted to the sense of, Well, were trying to build something different. Trying to build a new world. Trying to live in a different way, as vague and as squishy as that might be. My attraction to Auroville has always been that its trying to build something different. It is a different world with all its failures and warts and all.

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Auroville was born out of this 60s moment of fascination in the West with Indian and Asian spirituality. A lot of times, you see that tendency mocked today as cultural appropriation, or spiritual tourism, or what have you. But your book seems to make the case that there were some important redeeming qualities in that moment as well. Is that fair to say?

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I mean, I do. I certainly see why it would get mocked also. I think there was certainly an element of Orientalism to that 60s Indian flower power trip. It often ended badly in many ashrams and cults and things.

But I think the redeeming quality was in people who were trying to build a different world, and set out in search of it. Obviously, there may have been elements of Orientalism in the way they went about it and the way they approached local culture. I do think that, in general, the relationship between Auroville, which is about 50 percent Indian, and the surrounding Indian context has been complicated over time. But I think its much too simplistic, as some people have done, to categorize Auroville as a neocolonial project. I think that strand may exist, but theres also just been a much more positive interaction. I mean, you put people together, not just Indians and Westerners. You put people together from more than 50 countries, all kinds of stuff plays out.

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You talk in the book about how bureaucracy and institutionalization have inevitably creeped into Auroville over time, and it occurred to me as I was reading that theres some parallel there to the way in which practices like yoga and mindfulness meditation have become more commercialized in the West, maybe a bit more institutionalized as opposed to transcendence that the earlier Western practitioners might have been seeking.

Yeah. The problem that keeps coming up in these intentional communities is the run-up of ideals against human nature. There seems to be something in the way humans are, whether its the institutionalization of yoga, whether its bureaucracy [in Auroville] or turning spiritual teachings into religion.

These are human tendencies and you dont just see them playing out in Aurovillemany of the worlds great religions, as far as I can tell, began quite differently. From a writers perspective, from a researchers perspective, one of the most fascinating things is to see these age-old things that have always played out, playing out in this very condensed small town.

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The book is also an investigation of the deaths of these two people, of John and Diane. You seem to leave it a bit ambiguous, but I know both of their families seemed to hold the community responsible for those deaths, for the way that they died. Im curious if, after doing this deep dive into their story, where you come down on that question of whether Auroville, as a community, has some responsibility for what happened to them?

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I do feel ambiguous about that. I think its pretty simplistic to blame the community for what was clearly a very strong individual choice. To the extent communal forces were to blame, again, you would say certain factions or certain groups within the community rather than the community at large.

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Probably a fair criticism is that as John is lying there dying, nobody informed his family. I think thats a very specific criticism and I know the people that were there at the time regret that to some extent. So if you were going to blame anybody, it would be the immediate neighbors or the immediate circle of friends that did that.

But on the other hand, we deal with questions about suicide and assisted suicide in the West too. If an adult has very clearly chosen a path in life, doesnt want his family to be informed, and doesnt want his path to be interrupted, Im not sure where the line is. Im not sure where somebody should step in.

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And by the way, I should also say, because you were talking about the families, that over the course of the research and after she read this book, Johns sister, Gillian, came down in quite a different place. She understands what her brother was up to, what he was doing there, very differently, and I think has much less anger toward the community.

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That is interesting. The anger she expressed in the book made me wonder how she felt about you and your wife moving back there.

I think that probably it began with a certain amount of bafflement maybe, but there was a moment when she visited us actually. I think her position on this has changed somewhat. I mean, Im obviously very close to Gillian because she collaborated a lot with this book and we learned a lot together. I think her position has changed.

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Again, this is not to absolve elements that were fanatic in the community and may have pushed her brother in a radical direction. Its not to condone a lot of the stuff that happened. But I think theres a little more nuance and a little less anger in the way we all see what happened in those years.

One thing that surprised me reading it was the degree to which the shadow of World War II hung over the beginning of the Auroville project. One of the important figures in the story was born in a Japanese internment camp in the U.S. Another survived a Nazi concentration camp. How do you think that the war informed the way this project developed early on?

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Yeah, thats also something that I found really fascinating as I was talking to people. Some of it is just probably that that the war was the formative experience of that generation and of a certain age group. But I think, more generally, one of the things I learned while writing this book was while we say that Auroville is a product of 60s hippiedom, I think hippiedom itself probably came, to some extent, out of the moral breakdown of the Second World War.

I think that you see this throughout history, these periods where society breaks down and all institutions are revealed to be somewhat hollow and morality is revealed to be hollow. They give rise to these urges for something radically different and to a different world. In America, after the Civil War, there was this huge outpouring of intentional communities that emerged out of a similarly dark moment. And in some ways, I think were living through that now. Theres this sense of having hit a wall, the old solutions dont work. So you see more casting about for radical change, for what you might think of as utopian solutions, and even an interest in things like communal living and co-living.

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Do you think it would be possible to build something like Auroville today, or was it just such a product of its time?

Well, I think that specific incarnation was probably a product of its time. I think these things surface over and over throughout history and they are always echoes of their time. Or maybe echo isnt even the right word because they often emerge in opposition to the dominant narrative of their time. So I think it would probably have a different shape. I could imagine a virtual intentional community coming up or something like that.

I think theres still a very strong interest in intentional living. I certainly see in the conversations Ive had with people over the last month and in recent years that theres a lot of interest in utopianism that I hadnt felt earlier in my lifea lot more defense and sympathy for utopianism. I mean, Im, to some extent, shaped by the biggest utopian failure in history, which is the collapse of communism. For much of the 80s, the 90s, and maybe the early 2000s, utopianism was basically a dirty word.

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I wrote a piece a few years ago in the New Yorker, which was a skeptical take on utopianism partly, obviously, informed by my own background and upbringing. Some of the response to it, particularly by the younger generation, was very skeptical of my take. It was like, What we need now are utopian solutions, and this old denigration of utopianism is outdated. I was pretty struck by that.

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It seemed to me that the biggest question raised by the story of Auroville, as you tell it, is whether it is possible to build a different type of society, or whether attempts to do so always end up just resembling the larger society outside. Which of those do you think is the bigger takeaway?

I think its really tough. I think that, put it this way, attempts to counter human nature just keep running up against human nature. I think its certainly possible to build improvements on human society and to build better versions of human society. But I think attempts to build ideal human societies or perfect worlds are not likely to succeed.

And thats one of the reasons why, as I say in the book, I say that Im much more of an incrementalist. I think if I look at the elements of Auroville that I most admire and that I think are most successful, they were things that werent planned out. They werent the most radical visions and the most dramatic ideas for change. They were things that emerged more organically from lived life of the community, by having a number of very idealistic, very committed people come together, and then channel those energies in unanticipated, unplanned ways.
In 2013, in a fit of righteousness, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo proudly announced that he was convening a panel, known as the Moreland Commission, to conduct a sweeping investigation of political corruption. It would be totally independent, he said, and anything the commission wanted to look at, they can look atme, the lieutenant governor, the attorney general, the comptroller. By the time he made that last promise, in just the second month of the commissions existence, investigators were already exasperated by Cuomos repeated attempts to interfere with their work whenever the commission examined groups with ties to Cuomo. Less than a year after convening the commission, and halfway through its intended life span, Cuomo quietly disbanded it with no advance notice. He defended the move by erasing the idea of the entitys independence: Its my commission, he said. I cant interfere with it, because it is mine. It is controlled by me.

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Despite Cuomos attempts to thwart the commission, it still found evidence of malfeasance. The corruption began and ended at his doorstep, one of the commissions co-chairs recently told the New Yorker. According to the panels chief of investigations, He obstructed, he lied, he bullied, he threatened. None of this was all too shocking, even then. Cuomos political styleoften called aggressive, although it could also have been described as abusivewas widely known, and had been known for years. Cuomos primary tool for governing is to create fear, Karen Hinton, a communications consultant who worked with Cuomo in the Clinton administration, told the New York Times. This winter, Cuomo was found to have deliberately undercounted the number of COVID-related deaths in New Yorks nursing homes to hide the true toll of the disease on his watch. Democratic Assemblyman Ron Kim reported that the governor called him in a rage and threatened to destroy Kims career if he did not participate in the cover-up.

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Cuomo is not the only man in power whose abuses were tolerated until they included sex.

Until the harassment allegations, few people seemed seriously troubled by Cuomos abuses. Many still hoped he would run for president, maybe even because of his brash nature. Until now, none of this left a lasting mark on the governor, Rebecca Traister wrote for New York magazine. If anything, it burnished his reputation: Cuomo was a bully, but he was our bully. When Donald Trump was bungling the COVID pandemic, Cuomo played leader of the resistance. He had enjoyed overwhelmingly positive approval ratings. The Times, which documented Cuomos strategic interference with the Moreland Commission, still endorsed Cuomo in his 2018 run against primary challenger Cynthia Nixon. It was only this monthafter New Yorks attorney general found credible the claims of sexual harassment, intimidation, and retaliationthat the editorial board of the Times called for Cuomos resignation. It was only the sexual allegations that had the power to end his tenure.

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Its not that the sexual harassment allegations arent seriousthey areor that they dont deserve our full attentionthey do. But the prior misconduct was no less serious, and it barely registered.

Cuomo is not the only man in power whose abuses were tolerated until they included sex. For some powerful men, bullying is acceptedeven celebrated, at timesuntil that bullying turns sexual. Harvey Weinstein, for example, was fired from Miramax and expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences only after allegations of sexual abuse broke in October 2017. But Paul Webster, a former head of production at Miramax, told the Guardian that the sex allegations [were] just the particularly rancid tip of the iceberg. Other senior executives described an atmosphere of psychological abuse and sadism. One called it a cult. This behavior, they said, was an open secret that had gone unchallenged for decades.

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This pattern is not limited to left-wing circles. Roy Moore was removed from his position as chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court for defying a federal court order to remove a statue of the Ten Commandments that he had placed in the rotunda of the Alabama Judicial Building. He was later elected to the same post again, only to be suspended after refusing to comply with the U.S. Supreme Courts ruling allowing same-sex marriages. But neither of these acts of defiance ended his career. Only sexual allegationsthat he had molested teenage girls when he was a state prosecutorwere powerful enough to cause Alabama, one of the most conservative states in the country, to send a Democrat to the U.S. Senate instead of Moore.

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In Cuomos case, the public spent years ignoring not only dubious interpersonal misconduct, but also bad governing that at times bordered on cruel. Kim was not the only recipient of an after-hours threatening call from Cuomo: Such browbeatings were common, and, apparently, well-known in New York political circles. Cuomos rivalry with New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio was so fierce and so petty that during the first wave of the pandemic, after de Blasio announced plans for a strict lockdown, Cuomo publicly rebuked him and held out for five days before issuing a similar order. That delay is estimated to have cost 17,500 lives. In early 2021, when states were prioritizing those at highest risk to receive the vaccine first, Cuomo announced that those living in congregate settings should be on the listand then delivered a list that included field investigators working for the State Liquor Authority but not incarcerated people. The state began offering the vaccine to people serving time only after Bronx Supreme Court Justice Alison Y. Tuitt forced it to do so, calling the exclusion of incarcerated people irrational, arbitrary and capricious, and an abuse of discretion.

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Why is a sex scandal the only thing that seems capable of stopping men who abuse their power? Is it simply that these stories are salacious enough to drive clicks and retain attention? That sexual misconduct is the only line that enough people agree should not be crossed? When nonsexual abuses are exposed, some people object, but others are attracted to what they see as strong leadershipJosh Vlasto, Cuomos former chief of staff, told the New York Times that Cuomos combativeness is part of a broader perception of him that the voters like and are comfortable with.

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In late 2017, just as the #MeToo moment was taking off, Traister wrote that a limited understanding of the movementseeing it as only a response to sex crimeswould contribute to a comfortably regressive understanding of women as perpetually passive victims of mens animal sexuality run amok. An exclusive focus on sex also lets us off the hook, permitting us to look away from broader horrors, whole complex systems of disempowerment and economic, professional vulnerability for women. These predictions have, in many ways, come to pass. Weve focused more on the line between bad sex and assault than we have on the experiences of women driven out of their chosen fields by everyday misogyny.

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The sexual allegations against Cuomo are subtler than those against, say, Weinstein. Rather than rape or assault, the attorney generals report finds he engaged in unwelcome and nonconsensual touching and made numerous offensive comments of a suggestive and sexual nature that created a hostile work environment for women. Rooting out this behavior, in addition to outright assault, is certainly progress.

But Cuomos downfall highlights another kind of toxic figure that cultural movements have failed to tear down: the powerful bully. By failing to take seriously abuse and bad governance that is not sexual in nature, we end up tolerating it. We accept, over and over, that boys will be boys and you have to break a few eggs, etc. Some have begun to ask if Cuomos resignation signals the end of the era of toxic male power. Until we begin to care about bullying that does not come with lurid, sexual headlines, the answer will be no.
I asked Guy Marzorati, who covers politics for KQED in California, what are the odds that, one month from now, there will be a new governor in the state. I think the odds are still in our current governors favor to keep his job, but at this point, the recall race is a whole lot closer than I think we ever thought it would be. Certainly closer than Gavin Newsom would like, he said.

You might say Gov. Gavin Newsom has become the physical embodiment of that How it started/How its going meme. Thats because a little over a year ago, the headlines about the governor were glowing. The L.A. Times editorial board declared Newsom the leader California needs; the Guardian marveled at how the coronavirus crisis gave Gavin Newsom his leadership moment. But life comes at you fast. And now, after more than a million Californians signed a recall petition against him, hes fighting for his political lifeagainst 46 candidates. Its a bit of a circus. One of the leading contenders in the recall race was subpoenaed on stage at a debate this week, Marzorati said.

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Mostly, Californians are just feeling confused by this whole process. On Mondays episode of What Next, I spoke with Marzorati about whether this confusion will add up to a change in leadership for the Golden State. And if it does, who could be running things? Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Mary Harris: There are 19 states where a governor can be recalled by the voters themselves. But in California, its easier than almost anywhere else to get a recall started. Advocates need just 12 percent of the raw number of voters in the previous election from at least five counties to sign a petition in order to trigger a recall election. But thats still no small task. More than 50 recalls have been initiated in California, but this is only the second time a recall has come to a vote.

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Guy Marzorati: Youre talking about a massive state. Even getting the 1.5 million signatures is hard. And even in this campaign, without a four-month extension that this recall campaign got from a judge back in November, theres no way they would have been able to collect that many signatures in time. Yes, California has a low bar compared to the rest of the country, but historically, its been rare. You could make an argument that might change in this era of hyperpartisanship. This could result in a situation where anytime theres a Democratic governor under these current circumstances going forward, they might face a recall challenge like this.

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Although Newsoms approval rating in the state is in the 50s, the momentum is on the pro-recall side. In state polling, the no vote is only 4 points ahead of the yes vote to recall. Thats within the margin of error. Combine that with a pretty convoluted voting process and you have a recipe for an upset. Everyones being mailed a ballot, is that right?

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Thats right. So voting is actually going on right now. The deadline to mail out ballots was the 16th. And voters now have their ballot in their hand. They can mail it back, they can drop it off in a drop box, and there still will be in-person voting. But the last day to vote is Sept. 14.

So what does the ballot look like?

It breaks down into two questions. The first one is the simple one: Should Newsom be removed from office, yes or no? And then the second question is, if Newsom is removed from office, who should then be governor? And youre given a list of 46 candidates to choose from. Newsom is not on that second list. And theres no real opportunity to write in a candidate. You cant write in Newsom. You cant write in another Democrat.

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Because voters cant cast a ballot for Newsom, the governors campaign has made this strategic choice: tell supporters to vote no on that first question about the recall. And then for that second question, where you can pick a replacement governor, Newsom is saying, leave that blank. Is that a good strategy?

I question it. No. 1, the reason hes doing it is to simplify the messaging. All along, he wanted to make sure there was no Democrat who ran on that replacement ballot who might tempt voters to say, Usually I would vote to keep Newsom as governor, but I really like fill-in-the-blank progressive and Im going to vote to recall Newsom and pick this other guy. Now, the question is: Will this just lead to more confusion from voters, or in the worst-case scenario, will it leave Democrats with no Plan B? If Newsom is recalled from office, there is no high-profile Democrat on the replacement ballot. All signs point to if Newsom gets removed from the governors office, itll be a Republican who takes over running the state. So in that sense, it might have been a risky strategy on the part of the Democrats to pursue this. And well just have to see how it plays out.

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I just keep thinking about Newsoms position, which is so weird, because he has to turn out the vote right nowbut for an election he doesnt want to be in. And hes asking people to kind of vote in the negative for him. Its a weird thing to do.

Its a really strange place to be. People use the catchphrase An elections not a referendum. You know, a candidate can always turn the spotlight back on their opponent. And thats a lot harder in a recall when it really is a referendum, when voters are being directly asked: Newsom, yes or no?

When do you even expect to have results?

If the 2003 recall is any indication, it could be pretty quickly. We had a picture of that on election night. And California is a big enough state that for a lot of these statewide results, we would have enough votes for the Associated Press or other news organizations to make a call that evening. But if it ends up that the replacement ballot is a lot closer than we expected, if Newsoms recalled, theres a possibility we dont know exactly who has the most votes on the replacement ballot. My expectation would be that this is not a race that drags on and on and on. But if Im wrong, you can play this back in late September.

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Part of what I think is so hard about this election is that its kind of unprecedented. Even though theres been a recall like this in the pasteveryone remembers with Gray Davis being recalled and Arnold Schwarzenegger taking the helmthat election was so different, where Gray Davis approval ratings were way down and Arnold Schwarzenegger was a big star. Is it worth talking about that and how thats playing in and factoring in to the Democratic response in particular as they try to figure out what they know and what they dont know here?

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This is shaping out very differently in that there is no candidate like Schwarzenegger. Newsom could get 49 percent of the vote and lose his job to someone who might only get 20 percent of the vote on the replacement ballot. Thats not what happened in 2003. The recall got 55 percent of the vote to toss Davis out of office. And Schwarzenegger ended up getting 48 or 49 percent of the vote on the replacement ballot. So he had a lot more of a mandate going into office. I think its likely if Newsom is removed in this election, there wont be a candidate that can claim that. Youre going to see a candidate get maybe 20, 25, 30 percent of the vote on the replacement ballot, which I think does raise more questions of legitimacy around the entire process.

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Lets talk about the people who are running against Gavin Newsom. My understanding is that neither the Democrats nor the Republicans are endorsing a candidate, which is interesting, because it creates this vast field with a lot of people vying for attention.

Well, its strange because there havent been endorsements, as you said. The Republican Party felt like lets not anoint any specific candidate. Lets let every candidate bring their constituency to the first question. And so the field has stayed wide open. There have been a few debates. Larry Elder, whos been the leading candidate, a Republican, hasnt showed up to any of the debates. And I think he feels like at this point hes led every poll. He might feel like he doesnt need to interact with the other candidates at this point.

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Larry Elder is a longtime libertarian talk radio host from Los Angeles, known for inflammatory rhetoric about everything from reproductive rights to race. Elder is Black, by the way. He calls himself the sage from South Central. Its important to note that front-runner is a loose term here. Elder is polling at only 19 percent of likely recall voters. But should Newsom lose the referendum, that would be enough to hand Elder the governorship.

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Its been a static field since Elder got in. He had a remarkable rise. The moment he got in the race, he skyrocketed to the top. And hes gotten a lot of support from grassroots Republican voters. I saw a figure that was fascinating: Hes only been in the race three or four weeks, and hes already gotten more small-dollar donations than the last three Republicans who have run for governor in California combined. So he definitely has the grassroots Republican energy at this point. And I think he feels like he just has to run out the clock on these other candidates.

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Larry Elder is on the record saying things like Roe v. Wade was one of the worst decisions that the Supreme Court ever handed down and that the dangers of secondhand smoke have been overblown by professional victims. More recently, serious allegations have come to light that he threatened an ex-fiancee with a gun, made her fear for her safety.

But he brought in a large following from his years on the air in Southern California and as a nationwide syndicated host. And he also has brought in more of the Trump feeling than many of these other candidates, who have tried to paint themselves as more moderate Republicans. Elder has questioned climate change. Hes said there should be a zero-dollar minimum wage. Hes definitely created the most controversy. And its been hard for any of the candidates to get their name out there ever since Elder got in this.

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There are a lot of greatest hits from Larry Elder in terms of things he says that are spicy and get people talking. The thing about him is he seems like a cartoon villain of a Republican. And in some ways I look at him and Im like, does this actually help Gavin Newsom? Because he can basically say, You dont want this guy, so vote for me. And it drives his base.

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And thats exactly the strategy the Newsom campaign has pivoted to in the last couple of weeks. Theyre now running advertisements where you only see Larry Elder. You dont see any of the other Republicans in the field. Its a discussion of Newsom and the mandates that hes pursuing around coronavirus preventionvaccine mandates, mandates for kids to wear masks in schooland then immediately pivoting and saying, if I lose this recall, Larry Elder will be governor and he will take away the vaccine mandate and he will take away these mask mandates. And so its really making this one-on-one case, which I do think helps Newsom. Its framing this as an either/or and not just a do you like me or not? question. Its a lot better place for him to be.

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If someone does end up beating Gavin Newsom, theyll be up for reelection in just a year, right?

Right, the next primary is in June of 2022. Its a top two primary, so the two candidates who get the most votes advance to the general election in November. So itll be a short period of time in which theyll govern and theyll be doing it with a Democratic supermajority in both the Assembly and the Senate.

I guess the argument among folks who are against Newsom but maybe a little wary of Larry Elder could be How much harm could he do? Its just a year. What would you say to that?

I would say weve seen over the past year the amount that a governor can do just with executive power. Through large stretches of the pandemic, the Legislature was literally not in session, and Newsom was running the states pandemic response solo. And then theres the big wild card, which is the Senate seat currently held by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who, if she, for one reason or another, cannot hold that seat, the governor of California would pick the replacement. And I think thats kind of the break-glass argument you hear from Democrats, which is Larry Elder could be picking the states next U.S. senator if hes the governor.

So whats your strategy for the next month. Youve got 46 candidates, 47 if you count the governor himself; youve got a crazy ballot. How do you even begin to cover it?

For the next month, the top thing is getting information out about how to vote. That is absolutely paramount. Its important for us in a normal election year, but certainly in a year like this, when there just is so much confusion about how this ballot works. Were getting calls from people saying they wrote in Gavin Newsom as the second choice or they are doing all types of things with their ballot that is not actually per the rules. So my real focus will just be trying to get out information about how to navigate this recall process, which might seem simpleits two questions. But its a really novel ballot for a lot of California voters and a really unique election.

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Retired Adm. Mike Mullen, the top U.S. military officer under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, who strongly supported the nation-building war policy in Afghanistan, now says we should have pulled out our troops a decade ago, soon after Osama bin Laden was killed.

Mullen is thus far the only senior officer from that period who has publicly admitted that the U.S. policyand he personallywas deeply mistaken. Its hard to deny the evidence in front of you, Mullen said to me in a phone interview Monday morning.

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Mullenwho was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from October 2007 till September 2011first admitted his mistake on this past Sundays episode of the ABC News show This Week. On the show, he also gave credit to thenVice President Joe Biden, who at the time opposed the troop surge and a switch to a nation-building strategy. Biden had it right back then, Mullen said, and I give him credit for that.

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In our phone conversation the next morning, Mullen acknowledged that, back in 2009, he and all the other top officers and officials advised Obama to send 40,000 more troops to Afghanistan and to adopt a nation-building strategy. Biden was alone in calling for merely an extra 10,000 troops and to restrict their activities to training the Afghan army and fighting terrorists along the Afghan-Pakistani border. He got it right, Mullen said of Biden. It would be hard to argue that [Bidens proposal] wasnt the right way to go.

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Mullen said that he and his fellow officers got two big things wrong. First, he said, We underestimated the impact of corruption.

Keeping al-Qaida at bay was clearly in U.S. interests, but it was not a reason to stay.

Even at the time, Mullen stressed the importance of stopping corruption within the Afghan government. At a Senate hearing back in September 2009, a few months before Obama decided on a war policy, Mullen testified, The Afghan government needs to have some legitimacy in the eyes of the people. The core issue is the corruption.  Its been a way of life for some time, and its just got to change. That threat is every bit as significant as the Taliban. Sen. Lindsey Graham, noting that the Taliban were gaining ground because of this corruption, asked, We could send a million troops, and that wouldnt restore legitimacy in the government?* Mullen replied, That is correct.

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The corruption never ended, yet Mullen continued to support the war effort. In our interview, he recalled a 2011 scandal at Kabul Bank, in which Afghan insiders embezzled $850 millionall U.S. taxpayers moneyand spent it on personal luxuries. We had the goods on them, Mullen recalled. An anti-corruption agency, led by U.S. officials, had been created to go after these sorts of crimes. But the administration chose not to prosecute, he said. I realized right then that this was politically going nowhere.

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And yet, he admits, he continued to support a war strategy that depended, among other things, on wiping out corruption in order to win the hearts and minds of the Afghan people.

The other big mistake, Mullen said: We underestimated the significance of our presence, in all that we were doing. First, American trainers created an Afghan army in their own image, heavily reliant on U.S. close-air support, intelligence, logistics, helicopter transport, repair, and maintenance. When this combat support was withdrawn, he said, collapse was almost inevitable. There was a more intangible side of this dependency as wellthe confidence they got by having us there. He added, Their soldiers foughttens of thousands died. When they saw that we were leaving, the wind went out of them, and so they made deals with the Taliban or simply fled.

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And yet, Mullen admits, he sat at the pinnacle of the U.S. military machine back when this dependency was molded.

Most of Mullens colleagues from the Bush and Obama era have continued to defend the decision to escalate the war; none have taken responsibility for any strategic miscalculations. Retired Gen. David Petraeus, former commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, has said that, if wed pull out the troops after killing Osama bin Laden, al-Qaida would simply have returned.

Asked about this claim, Mullen said that Petraeus, with whom he worked closely at the time, makes a legitimate point. But, he went on, by 2012, it was widely believed that al-Qaida was pretty significantly diminished, and thats where theyve stayed. Mullen added, Keeping al-Qaida at bay was clearly in U.S. interests, but it was not a reason to staythat is, it was not a mission that required a continued U.S. combat presence, much less a sharp escalation.

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Mullen, who now heads a private consulting firm, said that hes received tons of email, much of it from people he barely knew, thanking him for his remarks in the ABC News interview. A junior officer wrote me, saying how refreshing it is, hearing someone in a senior position to admit he got it wrong.

I asked whether hed heard from any of his fellow senior officers. The rest of the silent crew? he said, with a slight chuckle. No, I havent heard from them.
For the past few years, the main geopolitical power struggle in Asia has been the trade and military conflicts between its two largest nations, China and India. Other regional players, including Nepal and Sri Lanka, have been defined on the world stage by their relationships with one or the other country, while farther-off powers like the United States and Australia have been willing to partner with India to form an alliance against Chinas authoritarian rise. But the two sides of this struggle have never been neatly definedand that was the case even before the Taliban took back control of Afghanistan. With its return to power, the militant group stands ready to shake up the entire balance of power across Asia, just as it did the last time it held power.

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To understand why, its worth going back a few decades, to the years just before the Soviet Unions incursion into Afghanistan. For all the current buddy-buddy goodwill between the U.S. and India, relations between the two were much more strained during the Cold WarIndia remained staunchly neutral when it came to the Soviet Union vs. the U.S. This shifted in the early 1970s, when nationalist Bengali rebels in what was then East Pakistan began a revolt to create a new nation named Bangladesh, with aid from India and its Soviet-purchased weapons. Richard Nixons administration backed Cold War ally Pakistans efforts to crush the rebellion.

While that effort failedIndia won the war, and Bangladesh is now 50 years oldthis mess would establish which country took which side when the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979. The Carter and Reagan administrations funded the Afghan mujahedeen rebels who battled the Soviets, fueling a war that displaced millions of people, many of whom fled to neighboring Pakistan. The military government in Islamabad supported the refugees and prominently stood against the Soviets; for this effort, it received formal financial aid from the U.S., Saudi Arabia, and even China, which by that point had severed relations with the Soviets. Throughout the 1980s, Pakistan served as a conduit for intelligence trading and arms sales between the anti-Soviet fighters and the U.S., and trained tens of thousands of Afghan rebels within its borders. India, meanwhile, was willing to establish relations with the Soviets puppet government in Kabul, in part as a matter of opposition to the fundamentalist ideologies of mujahedeen factions.

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After the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1989, many of Pakistans trainees would find a new cause: India and Pakistans fights over control of the Jammu and Kashmir region, a decadeslong land dispute dating back to independence from Britain. Some of the soldiers who fought in Afghanistan went on to form a splinter group known as Hizbul Mujahedeen, a militant political faction fighting, with the support of Pakistans intelligence services, to bring Jammu and Kashmir under full Pakistani control. Hizbul Mujahedeen ramped up its insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir during the early 1990s, displacing numerous Kashmiris and sparking military countermeasures from the Indian government. Other militant groups spun off from or inspired by the Afghan mujahedeen, including Al-Badr Mujahedeen and Jaish-e-Mohammed, would keep up the fight to wrest Kashmir from India, either by merging it with Pakistan or forcing its full independence. The conflict continues to this day.

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By the time the Taliban, founded and led by Pakistan-trained militants and ex-mujahedeen troops, took over Afghanistan in 1996, this history would lead the group to a shaky alliance with Pakistan and, resultingly, enmity with India. The latter, which had already been fighting off mujahedeen splinter cells, was worried about how a government-powered Taliban could further work with Pakistani intelligence to bolster groups that could attack India across the Indo-Pak border; thus, the Indian government never formally recognized the Talibans power. Meanwhile, Pakistan and Afghanistan worked closely together, while Afghan Sikhs and Hindus, who had a long history within the country but were religious minorities, fled persecution by fundamentalist rulers. Taliban-India tensions flared up multiple times, such as when the group hijacked an Indian Airlines flight near the turn of the millennium and held the passengers hostage in exchange for three terrorists who were detained in India.

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This power balance was shifted again by the 9/11 attacks, after the U.S. invaded Afghanistan to oust the Taliban and began drone strikes within Pakistan in its fight against al-Qaida and Osama bin Laden. These war on terror dynamics, which positioned the U.S. against the regions Islamist fundamentalists, also brought its government closer to India as a strategic military, economic, and democratic power. This also helped sour the U.S. further on China, which, due to its own long-standing border conflicts with India, had remained an ally of Pakistan throughout these war-torn years (though not, notably, of the Taliban specifically). Meanwhile, India spent billions supporting the U.S.-backed Afghan government and staying close to its leaders.

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Two decades after U.S. occupation commenced, were back to Taliban rule in Afghanistan. But its not the Cold War or 1996 anymore, and there are far different stakes now.

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Over the years, the Afghan Taliban have softened their vitriol against India, but the subcontinent is right to still worry about their return to power. After all, theres no reason to think a theocratic Afghanistan wont be a safe space for jihadi groups and spinoff cells, or that it wont encourage Pakistani radicals, or that it couldnt reinvigorate now-limp terrorist factions that target their hostility toward India. It was only two years ago that the mujahedeen-influenced Jaish-e-Mohammed carried out a fatal bombing in Indian Kashmir, killing dozens and nearly reengaging India and Pakistan in war; Taliban support could further empower such groups and further ignite the Kashmir crisis.

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As for Pakistan, it now has an uneasy friend in Taliban-run Afghanistan. While Pakistani intelligence could work with Taliban militants for mutual benefit, the countrys government has a lot to worry about: Afghan refugees emigrating to their neighboring country, as well as a resurgence of even more extreme Taliban splinter groups that seek to take over the Pakistani government.

Nevertheless, these concerns could potentially be superseded by the fact that both Afghanistan and Pakistan may have a friend in China, depending on how future developments pan out. The ruling Communist Party is concerned that the Taliban could influence militants in Xinjiangwhich borders both Afghanistan and Pakistanand that the groups mass displacement of Afghans could spur refugees to the Chinese border. However, China is still edging toward establishing relations with the new Afghan government, incentivized as it is by the potential advantages of pairing with the Taliban.

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What are those advantages? Lets start with the diplomatic: China is going to keep sparring with India over disputed territories, Himalayan and Indus River access, traded goods, cybersecurity, and cultural influence. In this case, it will help not only to stay close with Pakistan, which will forever lock horns in India over matters of land and regional dominance, but also with Pakistans friends. Plus, Pakistan is willing to keep its mouth shut on the genocide of Chinas Uyghur Muslims and even crack down on Uyghur refugees within its borders. And maybe, ties with Afghanistans Islamist government will deter the Taliban from inspiring uprisings from other religious fundamentalists within China. As for the economic: Now that the Taliban own the Afghan territory, they have control over the lands rich mineral deposits. Its been estimated that Afghanistan has trillions of dollars worth of rare earth metals, including and especially lithium, that are a major component of green technology ranging from electric vehicles to solar panels. China, as a leader in climate-tech manufacturing and distribution (even while emitting carbon at alarming levels), will find this feature of an Afghan partnership advantageous.

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None of this is a guarantee, of course, that the Taliban and the CCP will be staunch allies. Still, no matter how the two regimes ultimately align, one thing is for sure: Chinese enemy India has little to celebrate. The subcontinent reacted quickly throughout the past two weeks: sending transport to evacuate its citizens from Afghanistan, shuttering its consulates there, and establishing a six-month emergency e-visa for Afghan nationals who want to come to India, per the Tribune India (which, controversially, appears to prioritize Sikh and Hindu refugees over Muslims, in an echo of the Islamophobic 2019 Citizenship Amendment Act). It kept its embassy in Kabul running until Aug. 16, when the Taliban, in spite of their usual hostility toward India, peacefully escorted the countrys diplomats out of the embassy building to the citys airport.

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A reempowered Taliban is of concern to Indias power ambitionsand the countrys leaders know it. Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, in conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, claimed it was imperative that Afghanistan must neither be home to terrorism nor a source of refugees, but its already too late for the latter, in spite of reported promises by Taliban leaders to provide domestic Sikhs and Hindus safety and security, and perhaps only a matter of time for the former. Plus, considering how India has treated Rohingya refugeesas well as its domestic Muslims in generalits unlikely the nation will be hospitable to potential Afghan refugees who find themselves persecuted by both the Taliban and the Pakistani government. So now, India has resigned itself to working with the Taliban, opening communication with the group as it also sees ostensible friends like Russia embrace Afghanistans new rulers. It may all be a portent for the inevitable future of the India-China fight: The former, already outweighed in military and manufacturing strength by the latter, will steadily have to compromise more and more with other great powers as China and Pakistan find more friends in Indian neighbors, and India loses more of its own.
Beginning as soon as Sept. 20, booster Moderna and Pfizer shots will become available all over the U.S. As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention pointed out, vaccines effectiveness wanes over time, so U.S. health authorities now urge everyone to get a booster shot eight months after being fully vaccinated. (At first, the recommendation was issued only for immunocompromised people). And while some argue about whether there is a real need for booster shots, particularly when other countries havent had enough vaccines for a first round, others are hesitant because of the potential side effects. After all, many people experienced rough side effects from their second shotand not everyone can afford to take a couple of days off to recuperate. So, what do we know about side effects from a third dose of the COVID vaccine?

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Since only a few countries (Israel, Russia, and Hungary) offer booster jabs right now, information about possible risks is limited. But what we do know is promising. So far, reactions reported after the third mRNA dose were similar to that of the two-dose series: fatigue and pain at the injection site were the most commonly reported side effects, and overall, most symptoms were mild to moderate, the CDC says. Other common side effects include redness and swelling around the injection, tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, fever, and nausea. In a survey from Israel, where adults over 60 become eligible for the booster shots from the end of July, 88 percent of Pfizer vaccine recipients said that after the third dose, they felt similar or better than how they felt after the second dose. According to the CDC, as with the two-dose series, serious side effects [after the third shot] are rare but may occur.

Some lucky people didnt have any reactions to first and second shots, and many might not experience any problems with a booster jab as well. Those who get unpleasant symptoms should recover in a few days. If symptoms last longer or redness and tenderness around the injection get worse, the CDC recommends calling a doctor. To reduce discomfort, medics advise exercising an arm and drinking a lot of fluids. Personally, before I get a booster, Ill be stocking up on electrolyte water, which was very helpful after my second shot.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
AstraZeneca country director: We can now see which countries made the right decisions

There is always the issue in health care that all knowledge and findings are not implemented in real life how they should be.

Kuuno Vaher, the AstraZeneca's Cluster Country Director for Central Europe. (Source: Courtesy of AstraZeneca)

Top stories
Slovakia wont recognise illegal annexation of Crimea, its PM said

Eduard Heger attended the inaugural summit of the Crimea Platform, initiated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

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Slovakia will never recognise the illegal annexation of Crimea.

The countrys PM Eduard Heger (OLaNO) made this statement at the inaugural summit of the Crimea Platform held on August 23 in Kiev. An initiative of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the summit should return the 2014 annexation of Crimea by Russia to discussions among the international community.

The summit is happening while Ukraine is commemorating the 30th anniversary of its independence from the Soviet Union, attended by top representatives of 46 countries and international organisations, including European Council President Charles Michel.

Sanctions will continue

Slovak politicians call for de-escalation of tension at the Russian-Ukraine border Read more

Heger welcomed the creation of the platform and promised that Slovakia would be engaged in it.

More than seven years ago, Russia breached international law and illegally annexed part of Ukraines territory, he said, as quoted by TASR. Time will not relieve Russia of its responsibility for its actions, and neither will it relieve the international community of the need to pay attention to Ukraine.

He also stressed that Slovakia will never recognise the enforced change of borders, and supported Ukraine in its diplomatic efforts to restore its sovereignty and territorial integrity, as reported by TASR.

The Slovak PM said sanctions against Russia will last as long as it occupies Crimea.

Declaration signed

Meanwhile, Zelensky said that they will do everything they can to get Crimea back. The country is ready to use all political, legal and diplomatic tools possible, as reported by TASR.

Ukrainian president praised Slovakia for not recognising annexation of Crimea Read more

After the summit, the participants signed a declaration condemning the violence and systematic undermining of the human rights of Crimea's inhabitants. The declaration also called on adhering to the basic principles of law and freedoms of people.

The politicians supported freedom of press, and agreed that the militarisation of the Crimean peninsula undermines the safety and stability of the Black Sea region, as reported by the SITA newswire.

23. Aug 2021 at 17:50 | Compiled by Spectator staff
Nearly 75 percent of older people immunised in the capital. Travel conditions to Montenegro and Northern Macedonia will change. Slovak director wins award at international film festival.

Good evening. The Monday, August 23, 2021 edition of Today in Slovakia is ready with the main news of the day in less than five minutes. We wish you a pleasant read.

New app for checking customers now available

Green passes can now be checked by a new state app. (Source: SME)

It took nearly two weeks for the state to launch an app necessary for checking green passes, although some owners of facilities and organisers of mass events needed the app last Monday.

At the time, the new alert system, known as the Covid automat, came into effect and the first districts were classified as orange, meaning the rules were stricter than in the rest of the country. For example, there were greater limitations on restaurant owners who wanted to let people into their premises, as only people who are fully vaccinated, have a negative Covid test result or have recovered from Covid can enter their indoor spaces.

To check the confirmation, including the EU Digital Covid Certificates (or green passes), they can now use the OverPass app developed by the state-run Slovensko IT company. First, the company started offering the download on its website last Friday, and then it appeared in the Google Play store during the weekend.

Altogether 12 districts are in the orange tier from today, meaning stricter rules are applied. This includes wearing a mask indoors and also outdoors when attending a mass event, and restrictions on shops, regardless of what they decide to require from customers.

For a deeper insight into current affairs in Slovakia, check out our Last Week in Slovakia, published earlier today. You can sign up for the newsletter here.

Other coronavirus and vaccination news

Bratislava can soon achieve the 75-percent vaccination rate among people aged 50 and upwards. (Source: SME)

11 people were newly diagnosed as Covid positive out of 943 PCR tests performed on August 22. The number of people in hospitals remains unchanged at 72 people. The vaccination rate is at 42.67 percent , 2,347,118 people having received the first dose of the vaccine. More stats on Covid-19 in Slovakia here.

were newly diagnosed as Covid positive out of performed on August 22. The number of people in hospitals remains unchanged at 72 people. The vaccination rate is at , 2,347,118 people having received the first dose of the vaccine. More stats on Covid-19 in Slovakia here. As many as 74 percent of Bratislavans aged 50 years and upwards have received at least the first Covid vaccine shot, Mayor Matus Vallo said. If the rate achieves 75 percent, the capital with its five districts will be able to move two spots down in the Covid automat alert system, meaning that it will not be worse than the red tier. As a result, the strictest measures will not be applied in Bratislava.

have received at least the first Covid vaccine shot, Mayor Matus Vallo said. If the rate achieves 75 percent, the capital with its five districts will be able to move two spots down in the Covid automat alert system, meaning that it will not be worse than the red tier. As a result, the strictest measures will not be applied in Bratislava. Slovakia will donate the Covid vaccines by AstraZeneca to Ukraine and Montenegro , said Foreign Affairs Minister Ivan Korcok (SaS nominee). Ukraine will receive 60,000 vaccine doses and Montenegro 10,000 vaccine doses.

, said Foreign Affairs Minister Ivan Korcok (SaS nominee). Ukraine will receive 60,000 vaccine doses and Montenegro 10,000 vaccine doses. The July protests against vaccination in the capital were for the most part initiated by a small contingent of anonymous Facebook sites, but their success would have been impossible without political support. This stems from the findings of the Infosecurity.sk project and the Investigative Centre of Jan Kuciak, which analysed who initiated the protests, what information and misinformation they used, and what goals the participants wanted to achieve.

Travel information

Starting on Tuesday, August 24, everybody entering Montenegro from Slovakia has to show a negative Covid test result (PCR no older than 72 hours or antigen no older than 48 hours) or a confirmation of receiving at least the first Covid vaccine shot. Incomers can also show a positive PCR test result older than 14 days but no older than 180 days to prove they recovered from Covid, according to the Slovak Foreign Affairs Ministry.

People coming to Northern Macedonia from September 1 will have to show a certificate of vaccination or a negative PCR test result no older than 72 hours, or a confirmation of recovering from Covid. If they fail to do so, they will have to self-isolate for 7 days, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said.

If you like what we are doing and want to support good journalism, buy our online subscription. Thank you.

Picture of the day

When the Berlin Wall  a notorious symbol of German division during the Cold War - was built 60 years ago, it impacted the lives of nations and families for decades to come. To highlight the stories of those families and individuals, a new open-air display organised by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation has been placed on Hviezdoslav Square in Bratislava, until August 31.

The Berlin Wall exhibition is held in Bratislava until August 31, 2021. (Source: Michal Petrik)

Feature story for today

More than 20,000 people have registered for the mid-September visit of Pope Francis in the first week since registration was launched, with nearly half planning to go to Sastin.

The pope plans to visit the east as well, with one stop being a segregated Roma settlement, the Lunik IX housing estate in Kosice. Although some experts on Church matters have said the Pontiffs choice to visit the estate is unsurprising given his focus on people from marginalised communities, there has been surprise that the head of the Roman Catholic Church will visit a place that many in Slovakia still see as a disgrace.

Lunik IX. The infamous, misunderstood housing estate Pope Francis plans to visit Read more

In other news

Weather warning

Several districts in northern Slovakia and nearly the entire east of the country should prepare for heavy rainfall in the coming hours. The first-level warning against rainfall will be in place from 22:00 until 9:00 tomorrow.

At the same time, a first-level warning against floods was issued for five northern districts.

SHMU warnings against rainfall for August 23-24, 2021. (Source: SHMU)

More on Spectator.sk today:

AstraZeneca country director: We can now see which countries made the right decisions Read more

Green means go: to Stara Lubovna Castle Read more

If you have suggestions on how this news overview can be improved, you can reach us at editorial@spectator.sk.

23. Aug 2021 at 18:39 | Radka Minarechova
Champagne Phil was a fitting winner on Harness The Hope Day in rein to Natasha Day, who wore pink silks for the featured race on Sunday afternoon (August 22) at Clinton Raceway.

Adore Him and Travis Henry established the lead in the $5,500 Harness The Hope Pace with Champagne Phil and Day third through a :28.2 first quarter. As the field rounded the turn and raced in front of the grandstand for the first time, the favoured Life Is Better moved first-up from fourth for J Harris with Streakazana and Tyler Moore following the cover.

Adore Him rolled past the half-mile mark in :58 and continued to lead to three-quarters in 1:27 while Streakazana backed away and Champagne Phil was able to pick up the cover on the backstretch.

Day then sent Champagne Phil three-wide into the stretch and the 11-year-old gelding flew by with the pink silks flashing across the wire as he stopped the clock in 1:56.4. The late-closing Heza Handy Man, driven by Mike Horner, finished 1-1/4 lengths behind in second while Life Is Better edged out Adore Him for third.

Champagne Phil, the 3-1 second choice, returned $7.90 to win. Trained by Ken Oliver for ICR Racing, the son of Shanghai Phil has won back-to-back races and four of his 12 starts this year. Lifetime, he boasts 47 victories and $616,926 in purse earnings.

Founded by the Dustin Family 16 years ago, Harness the Hope is an event hosted by Ontario racetracks that aims to raise funds, awareness and support for programs that help those affected by cancer. Proceeds benefit the Breast Cancer Society of Canada and the Pink Pearl Foundation.

Each Harness the Hope Day features a Best Dressed in the Backstretch Contest for racing participants to take part in. Prizes are awarded to each winning Best Dressed Horse and Best Dressed Groom who display as much pink attire as possible. Patrons attending each event will also be entered to win prizes if they wear pink as a show of support.

Harness The Hope will head to Hanover Raceway on Saturday, Aug. 28 and Leamington Raceway on Sunday, Oct. 17.

To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Clinton Raceway.
Tioga Downs hosted two divisions of the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) for two-year-old filly pacers on Sunday (August 22).

Reenactment ($35.40) and driver Scott Zeron prevailed in a wild finish in the $53,100 first division.

Patsville (Mark MacDonald) led to the first quarter in :26.4 before A Girl That Twirls (Dan Dube) took control with one lap to go. She was first to the half in :56.1.

Joyride Hanover (Dexter Dunn) made her move first-over down the backstretch and battled for the lead as A Girl That Twirls led to three-quarters in 1:24.

As they made the turn for home, Joyride Hanover wrestled the lead away. American Ticket (Yannick Gingras) came three-wide as Reenactment came flying four-wide causing a three-way photo. When the dust settled, it was Reenactment winning in a lifetime-best 1:52.3. American Ticket finished second as Joyride Hanover had to settle for third.

Reenactment is a filly by Huntsville out of Living History. She is trained by Linda Toscano for owners Let It Ride Stables, Maurice Chodash and Barry Cohen. She earned her second career victory from five starts.

Gotthegreenlight ($6.90), driven by Dexter Dunn, popped the pocket to get the win in the $53,100 second division.

Gotthegreenlight went right to the front and led to the first quarter in :28, but Just Divine (Yannick Gingras) went on by with a circuit to go. She was first to the half in :56.4.

Hamptons Babe (Jason Bartlett) came first-up to challenge as they headed to the final turn. Just Divine led to three-quarters in 1:25.4.

Just Devine shook off Hamptons Babe as they reached the stretch. Gotthegreenlight got an opening in deep stretch and popped the pocket to get up just in time to win in 1:53 flat. Just Devine had to settle for second. Throw The Dice (Scott Zeron) was third-best.

Gotthegreenlight is a filly by American Ideal out of Bet On Luck. Richard 'Nifty' Norman is the trainer for owners Patricia Stable and Kovach Stables. She now has five wins, including another NYSS division at Yonkers earlier this month, from six career starts.

Live racing continues at Tioga on Saturday, Aug. 28, starting at 6:15 p.m.

(With files from Tioga Downs)
Off the strength of wins in a pair of six-figure events, the Clara Barton and the Lady Liberty, Threelyonsracing's Lyons Sentinel ($2.60) rolled into Harrah's Philadelphia on Sunday (Aug. 22) to take on a new challenge  male rivals. And she made sound work of them, circling from third-over to post a 1:50 win in the afternoon's featured $22,500 Winners-Over Pace.

The four-year-old daughter of Captaintreacherous landed fifth in the field of six while Breeders Crown winner Sandbetweenmytoes and driver Montrell Teague clicked through early splits of :26.2 and :55.2. Heading for the far turn, Tim Tetrick angled Lyons Sentinel third-over into an outer flow led by Alluneedisfaith N and worked to within three lengths of the lead as the pace quickened to three-quarters in 1:22.3. The champion mare circled three-wide off the home turn and shifted into another gear off the corner, using :26.4 closing speed to surge three-quarters of a length clear at the winning post. On The Cards N lifted up the open stretch to narrowly claim second over Sandbetweenmytoes.

Jim King Jr. trains Lyons Sentinel, who has won 17 of her 39 starts and has banked over $1.5 million in her career.

Tim Tetrick led all drivers with five wins on the 14-race program; Art Stafford Jr. recorded a hat trick.

Racing returns to Harrah's Philadelphia on Wednesday afternoon (Aug. 25), with another 14-race card slated to commence at 12:25 p.m. (EDT).

(Harrah's Philadelphia)
Students from Culpeper Countys Eastern View High School and Culpeper Middle School recently took part in the leadership conference of the nations top career and technical student organization.

More than 2,500 members and advisers from across the country took part in the first hybrid National Leadership Conference of the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America.

Eastern View had nine students and Culpeper Middle had one student attend virtually. The conference was held in Nashville from June 27 through July 2.

Culpepers local FCCLA chapters hosted watch parties for participants that included climbing at State Climb Theater on Main Street, a paint night by Culpepers Art Buzz Kids, and a glow party with games.

Participating in STAR Events virtually this year was an adjustment, but also presented some positives, Eastern View senior Kendall Richtarski said in a statement. My team and I knew we would face obstacles, but made the most of it by getting as many people involved as possible by providing a fun and easy volunteer opportunity for students.
A 30-year-old Omaha man who had come to Lincoln "to meet somebody else" instead encountered an 11-year-old Lincoln girl who had run away from home and sexually assaulted her on Saturday, according to Lincoln police.

Officer Erin Spilker declined to say why exactly Miguel Lupersio Jr. drove to Lincoln on Saturday morning. While here, Spilker said he encountered the girl sometime after 9:30 a.m. when she ran away from home, sexually assaulting her and then briefly holding her against her will.

Police fielded their first call regarding the girl at around noon on Saturday, when witnesses said the 11-year-old said "help me" before she entered a car, Spilker said.

Later, at a gas station in north Lincoln, witnesses told police the 11-year-old entered the store and said she was being held against her will by a man who sexually assaulted her and threatened her, according to police, before leaving in a green vehicle.
Werner brought their Operation Freedom truck out thats just dedicated to veterans from all the different branches, Grisham said. Its also kind of a good opportunity to put that out on display with the kids, all things considered.

Bryan Shirley, who has driven around 3 million miles for Werner during his 30-year career, was one of the drivers taking part in the FMS tour.

I showed them the inside where we sleep at, where we work at, how we drive, all the electronics, how many computers are on the truck, about the brake system, the airbag system, he said. We talk about everything, blindsides, everything.

Shirley said he believes the tours makes children more knowledgeable of the different types of trucks that can be driven.

They enjoy the blowing of the horn, of course. Its the biggest thing, he said. But they like the interesting things about the tires and stuff and what we haul and all of that.

Aside from honking the horn, Henkenius said the students enjoyed learning more about trucking with the tour.
JACKSON, Wyo. (AP)  Erika Jostads baseline for what Grand Teton National Park is like in the summer is skewed by 2021, easily the busiest year in the parks 92-year-and-running history.

Teton Parks incoming permanent chief ranger has been in the job for months on an interim basis, during which time shes overseen some 60 incident responses to fire  and thats with a couple months of wildfire season remaining. The more general emergency call caseload has ballooned, too, outpacing gains in visitation and increasing nearly 70% over the average from the past five years.

One of the things Ive heard a lot about is that more people are coming to national parks, who are maybe not traditional park visitors, Jostad told the Jackson Hole News&Guide. Its wonderful that were reaching new audiences and developing their support, but theyre also less experienced with things like camping, hiking, backcountry travel and river travel. And so its a possibility that theyre the ones who are more likely to get in trouble.
Daniel Bowker, the forest and fire project manager for the Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed, said the experience has him reconsidering the idea of wilderness. While he supports saving some areas of human development, he wonders if it might be necessary to make exceptions in an era of rapid climate change.

We have to take an active role in the management of these landscapes. Just standing back and doing nothing is a management technique. Its just not the one we need, Bowker said.

The group outlined a $31 million project for aerial mulching across about 11,000 high-priority acres. So far, its cobbled together funding from local, state and federal resources to pay for about half of the project. Its now hoping to finalize an additional $5.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agricultures Emergency Watershed Protection Program. However, the federal funding would still leave a $7 million shortfall, according to Chambers.

And if it doesnt come through, he expects the helicopters will be forced to stop flying on Aug. 24.

 A Proven Balm For Burn Scars

While the financing remains uncertain, Chambers is far more confident the mulching process will work.
But she always felt at home in the Tank. Opening it to others, she believed, could lead to mutual understanding and deep connection. Zadra, another local, felt the same way.

The Tank shows us where we have common ground, she says. You come into a space like this, I dont care who you are, I dont care what your background is, I dont care whether this becomes something you come back to. But we all experience the power of the Tank.

With funds raised, savvy locals offered support to help bring the Tank up to code. One offered to build a proper road up the hill. Another offered electrical expertise. A local restaurant added a Tank pizza to the menu, with sales benefiting the nonprofit.

The experimental concerts of recent years dont appeal to most of Rangely, Zadra admits. But between events and recording sessions, locals often mingle in the Tank with outsiders  country people and city hippies exploring sound together.

Ive had groups of strangers go in, and one will start humming, another will start humming, and in about 10 minutes, they sound like a celestial choir, says James Paul, the Tanks executive director.
Friday afternoon, Misjudged was No. 167 overall, regardless of genre, on Amazons Kindle store, and No. 39 in the thriller genre. It also ranked No. 1 in financial thrillers, No. 2 in legal thrillers, No. 3 in mystery series and No. 3 in political thrillers. One and Done was No. 450 overall, No. 7 in legal thrillers, No. 6 in mystery series and No. 5 in political thrillers.

Its kind of surreal to see books that I wrote up there with people that are household names, that are well-known in the field, (like) the Grishams and the Connellys, he said.

Secret identity

Starting out, Phillips didnt do much at all in terms of promoting his book, because he didnt want to be seen as using his position as a judge as a way to sell books.

But earlier this year, he contacted a national commission on judicial ethics to get some guidance on whether it was OK for him to reveal his identity. The group issued an opinion saying he could release his name, as long as he wasnt using his day job to increase his sales with his judgeship.

I can use my name as long as Im not using my position to sell books, he said. I wouldnt do a book signing wearing a robe or anything like that.
Editors note: Information is provided by the Cowlitz County Corrections Department and local law enforcement agencies. Each individual named in this report is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Voyeurism, assault  Longview police Friday arrested Michael James Guarderas, 37, of Longview, on suspicion of voyeurism and fourth-degree assault.

Malicious mischief, reckless driving  Kelso police Friday arrested Michael Alan Paul Johnson, 37, of Longview, on suspicion of second-degree malicious mischief, reckless driving and driving with a suspended license.

Fugitive  Kelso police Saturday arrested Micah Andrew Shea, 40, of Kelso, on suspicion of being a fugitive from justice.

Harassment, trespassing  Longview police Sunday arrested Chad Lewis Bagley, 31, of Longview, on suspicion of felony harassment and first-degree criminal trespassing.

Assault  Longview police Sunday arrested David Jason Brown, 38, of Longview, on suspicion of first-degree assault.

Harassment  Kelso police Sunday arrested John Derill Perdue, 41, of Kelso, on suspicion of felony harassment.
ISABELLA, Minn. (AP)  Authorities ordered more evacuations Monday near a quickly spreading wildfire that's one of several burning in northeastern Minnesota.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office said the new evacuations were happening near Grouse Lake and Mitewan Lake because of the growing Greenwood Lake fire, about 15 miles (24 kilometers) southwest of the town of Isabella in the Superior National Forest. Around 50 homes and cabins were covered by the order.

The evacuations follow the clearance of more than 100 homes and cabins in the area last week. The lightning-caused fire, which was first detected Aug. 15, had burned around nearly 14 square miles (36 square kilometers) as of Monday morning, which was unchanged from Sunday. But Clark McCreedy, public information officer for the interagency team managing the fire, said there was substantial fire growth Monday afternoon.

Th Greenwood Lake fire is one of several fires burning within the Superior National Forest. They prompted the closure of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Saturday for the first time in 45 years. Authorities said the closure allows crews to focus on existing and new fires and not camper safety. Rangers continued Monday to paddle and hike out to visitors in the vast wilderness area to alert them of the closure, which is scheduled to run at least through Friday.
Politte was held in juvenile custody for four years before he was tried as an adult in January 2002.

The state did not provide a motive for Politte to kill his mother, and its case rested largely on testimony from fire investigators who said the fire was started by an accelerant and that Politte had gas on his shoes  the only physical evidence linking him to the killing.

Those findings were based on fire investigation techniques that have since been discredited, and the state has conceded in the intervening years that Politte did not have gas on his shoes, according to the petition.

During the trial, Politte's attorney presented only half a day of testimony from three witnesses. No experts were called to debunk the fire and gasoline evidence, or to refute the state's arguments that Politte did not show any remorse about his mother's death. Politte's friend was not called, and the attorney persuaded Politte not to testify.

Tammy Nash was a Washington County deputy sheriff in 1998 who helped investigate the killing and also worked in the jail where Politte was initially held. She said in an affidavit that investigators were split on whether Politte was guilty and her doubts grew as she got to know him while he was in jail.
Today, we got the surprising news that ZTE Malaysia (still alive, apparently) will be officially launching the ZTE Axon 30 Ultra 5G in Malaysia. It will exclusively be on sale from RM3599 during Shopee's 9.9 Special Sales period with premium gifts that are worth RM499.

From the product page, it seems the Axon 30 Ultra model that we are getting is using 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The gifts are quite impressive too, offering a powerbank, a headphone set, mini webcam, RM50 voucher by KFC and an 18-month warranty. The pre-order gift is already available starting today and until 9.9 and if you wait until 25 August from 12 AM until 2 AM, the phone will be at a special price of RM3299.

To refresh your memory, the Axon 30 Ultra actually doesn't feature a second-generation under-display camera like the Axon 30. ZTE opted for a 16MP front camera as a punch-hole at the top centre of the 6.67-inch AMOLED display. The display also supports FHD+ resolution and 144Hz refresh rate so that's great for viewing pleasure. For the quad rear camera, it consists of 64MP (main) + 64MP (ultrawide) + 64MP (portrait) + 8MP (periscope) sensor.

In the interior tech specs, the Axon 30 Ultra features the latest Snapdragon 888 chipset and runs on MyOS11 which is based on Android 11 out of the box. The battery pack is 4600mAh supporting Qualcomm Quick Charge 4+ with 65W. While it lacks an under-display camera, at least it has an under-display fingerprint sensor.

So what do you think of the Axon 30 Ultra? Do you think ZTE should have sent in the vanilla Axon 30 first instead? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Another day, another massive data breach claimed by hackers. Days after a breach at T-Mobile exposed about 53 million people's personal information, a hacking group known as ShinyHunters announced that it was auctioning 70 million sets of sensitive data purportedly stolen from AT&T.

The information offered for sale was similar in both breaches, including full names, addresses, birth dates and Social Security numbers. In short, it's the foundation for identity theft.

AT&T responded Friday by casting doubt about the claim by the prolific ShinyHunters cabal, stating that "based on our investigation today, the information that appeared in an internet chat room does not appear to have come from our systems."

Regardless of where the data came from, though, if it's valid it could be a nightmare for anyone whose sensitive information is exposed. Here's a quick guide to the risks you may face and some of the things you can do to protect yourself.

What are the risks?

Social Security numbers are widely used by the federal government, banks, investment companies, government benefit programs and insurers to verify your identity. Your stolen Social Security number can be used to open fraudulent credit card accounts, divert or fraudulently collect benefits and commit workplace fraud, among other forms of deceit. Throw in your name, birth date and email address (which the ShinyHunters claim to have stolen too), and it's significantly easier for someone to pretend to be you.

Identity thieves could use that information to target both you and the banks, insurers and other companies you do business with. For example, they could use it to make phishing emails seem more realistic, helping to persuade you to give up additional sensitive information such as a password or personal identification number (PIN). Or they could use it to dupe your bank into letting them change the password on your account, giving them access to your money.

The T-Mobile breach also exposed the phone numbers, device identifiers and SIM-card numbers for more than 13 million of its current customers. That creates an opening for at least one more malign possibility: a SIM-swap attack. That's where someone persuades your mobile phone company to transfer your number to a different device, which he or she then uses to try to break into the accounts that you've tied to your phone number.

It's increasingly common for people to use their mobile phone numbers as a way to verify their identityfor example, when they log into their online banking account, or when they want to reset their password. But that convenience can backfire if your number is hijacked, then used to impersonate you online.

Why do phone companies want your Social Security number?

Because it's the easiest way to check your credit rating. Companies like AT&T and T-Mobile want to know if you have a record of paying your bills on time before agreeing to provide you an account or to sell you a phone in monthly installments. And the major credit rating agencies use Social Security numbers to match people to their credit histories.

"The SSN is the only unique universal identifier across the entire population," explained Francis Creighton of the Consumer Data Industry Association, which represents the credit agencies. "There's nothing else that can replace it in today's market."

Social Security numbers also help guard against people setting up fraudulent credit reports, Creighton said. And while there are ways to establish a credit score that don't rely on your Social Security number, he said, the first step is for a lender or service provider not to ask for it. You can't be compelled by a phone company or other private-sector business to reveal your number, but in California and most other states, the business can refuse to serve you as a result.

Once you've paid off your new phone or switched carriers, though, your mobile company will no longer be filing reports about you to the credit bureaus, Creighton said. Nevertheless, the hackers behind the latest T-Mobile breach were able to steal Social Security numbers for former T-Mobile customers that the company held onto for some reason.

For the last decade, tech companies have been developing alternative ways of identifying people to make it easier to guard against identify theft, said Andre Ferraz, chief executive of Incognia, one of those tech companies. Ideally, Ferraz said, companies would supplement identifiers that cannot be changed, such as Social Security numbers, with identifiers based on a person's unique behaviors, which evolve over time. Unfortunately, those solutions haven't been widely adopted yet.

How do you protect yourself?

The single best thing to do is to put a freeze on your credit files, which will prevent anyone from opening a new account. It's free to place a freeze and to lift it for your own needs. But you have to contact each of the three major credit bureaus individually, which you can do online. Cybersecurity expert Brian Krebs also suggests freezing the credit files maintained by a handful of smaller, specialized agencies. You should also check your credit score regularly, which is a good way to detect fraud after it happens.

Credit- and identity-monitoring services, which typically carry a monthly fee, can also help reveal the work of identity thieves. They provide tools to prevent you from phishing and other forms of hacking combined with scanning services that look for your Social Security number or email address in places online where it doesn't belong.

T-Mobile is offering two years of McAfee's monitoring service for free to anyone affected by the breach. It has set up a website suggesting more steps people can take to guard against fraud. Anyone with a smartphone would be wise to take them:

Create a PIN for your mobile phone account to provide an extra layer of security against unauthorized changes in your account, such as a malicious SIM swap. If you're a T-Mobile customer and you have a PIN, set a new one.

Activate T-Mobile's "account takeover protection" feature, which provides an extra layer of protection on top of the PIN. Verizon goes further, automatically blocking SIM swaps by shutting down both the new device and the existing one until the account holder weighs in with the existing device.

Change the password you use to get into your mobile phone account online. Changing passwords periodically is a good practice for all your accounts. And if you have trouble remembering dozens of passwords, try a password manager app that can keep track of them for you.

On the plus side, two-factor authentication is becoming the standard online, and that's improving security across the web. But too many sites encourage you to make that second factor a text message sent to your phone number, which encourages SIM swap fraud. Wherever possible, use an authentication app instead.

2021 Los Angeles Times.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
College of Coastal Georgia students are back on campus for their fall semester, and the college is continuing to encourage all on campus to get vaccinated and to wear face masks amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
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What the Times describes as giant clouds of haze filled with health-damaging particles are now flowing across the country. The Times says, Californias fires and high ozone levels have turned the air in Salt Lake City and Denver into some of the dirtiest in the world, more harmful than Delhis or Beijings on many recent days. ... Smoke from wildfires across western Canada, Oregon and California has stained the skies and fouled the air as far away as Iowa, Minnesota and even New York City.

As Mary Prunicki, the director of air pollution and health research at the Sean N. Parker Center for Asthma and Allergy Research at Stanford University, explains to the Times, recent research suggests that the smoke gets worse with age. It may grow more toxic as it undergoes chemical changes and reacts with sunlight and other molecules floating in the air. Over time, this smoke may form reactive compounds that can be especially damaging to the body once they are inhaled.

If nothing else, the COVID-19 pandemic has made all of us more consciously aware of the air we breathe. What appears clear is that, when the threat of contracting the coronavirus is someday well behind us, the threat posed by air pollution is destined to remain. The escalating threat posed by wildfire smoke is but the most current reminder.
The pandemic rage has coincided with a surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, a growing movement to require vaccines and a new round of mask requirements, most notably in schools where exhausted families had hoped the worst days of the virus were over. Now, the country is averaging nearly 1,000 coronavirus deaths a day.

Anger from parents over masks has been simmering in rural Amador County in Northern California, and it reached a peak earlier this month when for the first time a teacher was attacked. A father became irate when he saw his daughter come out of school wearing a mask but teachers in a lounge were unmasked. Vaccinated staff are allowed to take off their masks if students aren't present, said Amador County Unified School District Superintendent Torie Gibson. The father was told this and left, but returned later to speak with the principal.

A concerned male teacher went to the principal's office. An argument ensued and the father struck the teacher.

The teacher had some lacerations and bruising on his face and a knot on the back of his head, Gibson said.

He was treated at a hospital and returned to work the following day. Still, the incident has shaken teachers and the community.
The cost in American military lives has been about 2,500 while we spent something around $2.2 trillion. What you found in Washington was largely thumb-twiddling.

You cant say Biden twiddled his thumbs, however. He lately announced we were getting out and that he had been advised this would be pretty much safe and sound  which is the opposite of what his advisers actually said, according to press reports. He has blamed inhumane mishaps on President Donald Trumps evacuation deal, which is as bogus as saying he improved Trumps southern border program.

Responding to the virtual invitation, the Taliban did not wait for the Sept. 11 evacuation date, but said here we come. The terrorists quickly took over practically the whole country while thousands trembled and hid or fled, or tried to flee, as in grabbing the outside of an American military plane and falling to their deaths.

The Afghan military  supported by $82 billion from the United States  was very, very strong, Biden had said, strong to the tune of barely showing up, it turned out. The government crumbled and the Taliban replacement is making promises it is already breaking.
YORK  When the York County Commissioners meet in regular session this week, they will consider the purchase of land in Benedict for building a new maintenance area for the roads department.

The land parcels being considered are lots 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8 in the original town of Benedict.

The existing road department maintenance facility is in bad condition, as discussed earlier this year by the county commissioners. It was during that earlier conversation the idea of just constructing a new building rather than trying to save the dilapidated existing building was born. Building a new facility would also allow for the addition of a restroom which is lacking in the current building.

Also on Tuesdays agenda:

 The board will consider a grant application filed with the York County Visitors Bureau for funds toward the Peyton Parker Lane Playground. The request is for money from the visitors improvement fund (which comes from local lodging taxes). The money is collected, put into the visitors improvement fund, the YCVB board reviews and recommends grants  it is up to the county board to make final decisions on those awards.
Supporters of an effort that would require Nebraska voters to show photo ID at the polls say its necessary to ensure elections here stay free and fair.

Opponents frame it as an unnecessary requirement that would serve as a barrier to the ballot box, especially for people already at the margins of access.

Underlying opponents argument is that there doesnt seem to be a single documented case of the presumed problem voter ID laws aim to address  Nebraska voters trying to impersonate other voters.

When The World-Herald asked a sponsor of the initiative, an opponent, a historian, a longtime state elections official, and two political scientists at state universities, none of them knew of an example of a Nebraska voter convicted of impersonating another voter.

Nor did they contend that voter fraud of any sort is widespread in Nebraska or the U.S., generally.

The thing I can say about widespread voter fraud is: Both proponents and opponents of voter ID laws have looked really hard for evidence of widespread voter fraud, and neither side has found it, said University of Nebraska-Lincoln political scientist Kevin Smith.

Thats not to say nothing illegal ever happens.
Starting Sept. 1, Texans ages 21 and older will be allowed carry handguns without training or a license as long as they are not legally prevented from doing so. Gov. Greg Abbott said the law protects American gun rights. Some law enforcement officers worried the law may increase crime rates while putting officers and civilians in danger. Do you support Texas becoming a constitutional carry state?

You voted:
Her cousin, Javiana Boyd, also a freshman at SIU, said Jackson was funny as hell, could make anyone laugh and wanted to do everyones nails.

We just got here a week ago and this done happened to my cousin. Since diapers, we been in this since diapers, graduated eighth grade together, graduated high school together, we were trying to graduate college together but y'all took her from me, Boyd said.

Boyd was with Jackson when she was shot. She said authorities waited four hours to tell her that her cousin died.

When I heard [them] say that, my whole heart dropped, Boyd said. That was my girl [...], that was my best friend, my dawg, my homie, my everything I could tell her anything, everything. She would bring joy in your life everyday just by making you smile.

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Her friends say she left Chicago to get away from the violence.

We left Chicago to avoid all of this, all of the gun violence stuff like that and then its crazy because in college you shouldnt have to think about, Oh my god if I go to this party is it going to get shot up? said one friend in attendance at the vigil who knew Jackson in high school.
CARBONDALE  Keeshanna Jackson, a SIU freshman, has been identified as the student fatally shot during the overnight hours Sunday just after the first week of classes for the fall semester.

The Carbondale Police Department is investigating the shooting, which occurred at 501 W. Cherry, according to an email alert sent by SIU's Department of Public Safety.

Police responded at 3:12 a.m. Sunday to the area in response to shots fired at a residence where a party was taking place, according to a news release from the Carbondale Police Department.

SIU students and non-students were in attendance at the party, police said.

Officers said they found a gunshot victim  later identified as Jackson  and attempted to save her life, but she was later pronounced dead at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale.

While officers were at the hospital, three other gunshot victims came into the ER with gunshot wounds that were not life threatening, officers said. The victims came on their own to the ER and from the same location as the shooting, police said.

The girl's family has been notified, according to the SIU campus police alert.
"Risk-on sentiments largely followed through with the positive lead from U.S. indices overnight. Some catchup growth may be on watch, considering that Asian markets have been diverging in performance from their Western counterparts since June. Ongoing Covid-19 risks continue to be prevalent," said Yeap Jun Rong, market strategist at IG in Singapore.

On Wall Street on Monday, the S&P 500 rose 0.9%, lifted by technology, communication and financial stocks, after spending much of the day within striking distance of its own record high. The benchmark index ended less than 0.2% below its all-time high set a week ago.

Pfizer rose 2.5% after the Food & Drug Administration gave full approval to its COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine had been under an emergency use authorization since December, but the full approval could convince some reluctant Americans to now get their shot and will likely give local authorities the legal backing to impose mandates.

BioNTech, a German drug manufacturer which developed the vaccine with Pfizer, jumped 9.6% on the news. Moderna, which developed a similar vaccine that uses the same technology, vaulted 7.5%.
Investigators are searching for the gunmen who robbed two Orangeburg discount stores, according to Orangeburg County Sheriff Leroy Ravenell.

We can see in security footage there is a weapon used in each of these robberies, Ravenell said. Were aggressively pursuing these individuals before someone is hurt.

The first Dollar General was robbed on Aug. 16.

An armed and masked male entered the Five Chop Road business demanding money. The store employees fled to a room adjacent to the sales floor where they locked the door behind them.

The gunman fled after locating cash behind the counter.

The gunman was described as a black male wearing all black and white gloves.

A second robbery occurred at a Dollar General on Stonewall Jackson Boulevard on Sunday night.

Employees said two gunmen entered the business demanding money.

The gunmen took cash and fled, the sheriffs office said.

One gunman wore a white shirt and the second wore a dark hoodie.
We cant come together now that something has happened, say a prayer and then tomorrow go back to doing the very thing we did before, he added.

He said his grandmother used to say, Sometimes youve got to put some legs on your prayers.

He called for continued support by clergy, parents, churches and the community for O-W and students throughout the county.

Were here to wrap our arms around these students, he said. This is a great place to live, full of great people doing great things.

Im tired of people not seeing the greatness we have at our front doors, he said.

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Foster said the leaders of O-W and the school district are excited to have our students return on Monday.

Orangeburg-Wilkinson is an outstanding school, said Principal Rahim El-Amin, whos an alumnus of the school.

In reflecting on the shooting incident, El-Amin stated, That one situation does not represent what we do here at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School and it will not represent what we do here at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School.
What can we expect in the months ahead in this vacuum of U.S. leadership under Biden? The Taliban is planning to reimpose Islamic law, as they style it. During a Tuesday press conference, a Taliban spokesman reportedly pledged its new government would protect womens rights within the limits of Islam, according to Sky News and other outlets.

In practice, for many Muslim countries, sharia law for women means forcing women to wear a veil in public, saying that a wife should always obey her husband, having no right to initiate divorce against her husband, and denying sons and daughters equal inheritance rights. The number of so-called honor killings in Afghanistan  at least hundreds annually now  will likely rise under Taliban rule. This is the murder of a woman or girl by male family members, due to the perpetrators belief that the victim has brought dishonor or shame upon the family reputation. Human Rights Watch reports a woman can be targeted by her family for refusing to enter into an arranged marriage, being the victim of a sexual assault, seeking a divorce  even from an abusive husbandor committing adultery.

Biden and the lefts silence on misogyny in the Muslim world is deafening. Conservatives who do so are often labeled as Islamophobic. But working against the oppression of women in Afghanistan is not Islamophobic  its pro-human rights.
Job Title: Designer

Organisation: Ogilvy Africa

Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda

Reports to: Creative Director

About US:

Ogilvy Africa is the largest network agency on the continent catering to 40 countries with a team of ~900 people across Central, East and West Africa. Headquartered in Nairobi  Kenya, Ogilvy Africa manages a portfolio of over 100 brands for clients such as AB Inbev, Airtel, Africa CDC, Coca-Cola, Diageo, Distell, Equity Bank, Exxon Mobil, Kenya Airways, Mondelez, NCBA, Nestle, Philips, PWC, SAB Miller, Sanlam, Total, UNICEF, Unilever and WWF amongst others. Ogilvy is a leading global creative network of WPP. Launched by David Ogilvy over 70 years ago, its referred-to as the Agency of Giants, by several industry experts.

Job Summary: The Designer is mainly responsible for the visual style of digital campaigns. They are involved in creating a campaign that has an instant, positive impact on the consumer in order to promote the product or brand being advertised. Digital graphic designer is responsible for creative ideas, graphic content design for social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube etc.) in collaboration with the Content Managers.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Graphic Design

As graphic designer, you know the visual nature of social platforms and you are able to create content that has the thumb stopping quality and works in the social media platforms.

You also understand the brand boundaries and guidelines and are able to bring the best out of the brand in digital platforms.

You create graphics and edit photos that bring the brand essence to life in digital platforms.

In addition to static content, you can also create short-form videos and GIFs.

Creativity

As the member of content team, you will be part of the creative process in creating content that resonates at the speed of culture.

You develop creative ideas, suggest new innovative ways of delivering digital content and keep up to date with the latest digital marketing trends.

With social media listening, you will be creating content that is tapping into current trends and making the brand matter in real-time.

Teamwork

Great communicator & team player who is able to work with the team assigned to create and develop digital campaigns.

Able to work from a brief with a Content Manager & Community Manager, generating ideas to present to the client

Working on designs to produce an effective advertising campaign.

Collaborating with the team assigned & Content Excellence to commission specialists, such as artists and photographers, to work on projects

Managing projects and working within specified timelines with minimal to no supervision









Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

4+ years of content creation experience to digital channels including, but not limited to, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

Digital native understanding characteristics and nuances of different platforms

Passionate about technological advancements in social

Thinking out of the box and pushing the boundaries on how to use digital channels

Ear to the street: keen understanding of local Internet trends and memes

Quick to execute, but also serious about the craft of the of the content

Loving to hustle and work in fast-paced environment

Exceptional Client management and communication skills

High attention to detail.

Ability to work without supervision

Organized & able to maintain & manage meetings, calendars, tasks assigned

Great team player

How to Apply:

All candidates should download this template, Download Here and kindly forward your application to Human.Resources@wpp-scangroup.com indicating the job title as the subject. Please also share your motivation for the role along with your updated CV.

Deadline: 27th 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
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The total number of coronavirus cases in Wyoming grew by 894 on Monday, with the number of confirmed cases rising by 724 and the number of probable cases rising by 170, according to the Wyoming Department of Healths daily update.

Additionally, 890 new coronavirus recoveries were announced.

Numbers to know

Active cases: 2,099 (2,899 including probable cases)

Hospitalized patients: 165 (up from 140 Friday)

Deaths: 809 (16 announced this week, 33 announced this month)

Total vaccine doses received: 505,455 (246,255 Pfizer, 230,900 Moderna, 28,300 Janssen)

First vaccine doses given: 216,456

Second vaccine doses given: 193,713

One-time vaccine doses given: 17,543

(Vaccine data is as of Monday.)

Are we trending up or down?

The states 14-day average in total new cases is 418.9 per day. That number is up 289.9 from a month ago.
Two-thirds of University of Wyoming students and nearly 90% of employees say theyve been vaccinated against COVID-19, the school said Monday.

The results came from an anonymous survey preformed over a five-day testing period that preceded Mondays start of the fall semester. The survey found that a higher percentage of students and staff were vaccinated than what was indicated by self-reporting to the schools Student Health Service and Human Resources.

The testing, meanwhile, turned up 42 positive cases of COVID-19 among students and staff. The tests were performed as the school prepared for in-person instruction to resume.

Were encouraged by the results of this one-time testing event and the related survey on vaccination, UW President Ed Seidel said in a statement. While the numbers are incomplete, they show that were beginning the semester in conditions that will allow us to proceed with in-person classes and activities.
Tulsa Welding School (TWS) was founded in 1949 in Tulsa, Okla. and has trained thousands of individuals to become professional, entry-level welders for more than 60 years. Students learn hands-on, technical competencies and skills in labs, workshops and classrooms, with a curriculum designed to meet employers needs. TWS offers Professional Welder and Pipefitting programs. Upon program completion, TWS graduates are equipped to start entry-level careers in a variety of industries, ranging from automotive to manufacturing. TWS is an ACCSC accredited school and licensed by OBPVS. For more information, including graduation rates and the median debt of students who complete TWS programs, visit www.weldingschool.com/GEdisclosure or follow along on Facebook and Twitter.
I can say that if their view of the law is correct, that a public body could launder public funds through a private entity for ill purposes and the public would have no way of knowing about it.

This is actually the second lawsuit seeking access to the records held by Cyber Ninjas about its activities in conducting the audit.

The state Court of Appeals already has ordered the Senate to surrender all records related to the audit. And the appellate judges have said that includes records held by Cyber Ninjas, which has physical custody of the Senates public records.

But Cyber Ninjas is not a party to that case. And that raises the question of whether the Supreme Court will  or can  order the Senate to take possession of those records and then release them publicly.

We have not had a request from the Senate for these records, Wilenchik acknowledged to Hannah on Monday.

In this case, however, Cyber Ninjas is a defendant. And that gives Hannah the option to directly order the firm to surrender those documents itself to the public rather than relying on Senate production.

Bodney said there are reasons for him to do that.
From car accidents and house fires to near-drownings and overseas combat, countless humans owe their lives to their dogs, a neighbor's dog or even a four-legged stranger. Here are 10 examples.
MOAB, Utah (AP)  Residents of a Utah tourist town near the campsite where a newlywed couple was recently gunned down say theyre puzzled and concerned as the police investigation unfolds.

Crystal Turner and Kylen Schulte were found dead last week at a campsite near Moab, a desert town where they were living that draws visitors from around the world to its sweeping red-rock vistas.

Investigators believe someone killed the women and fled the area, KUTV reported. No firearms have yet been recovered.

We do think it was an outside party, Grand County Sheriff Steven White said.

The sheriff's office has also said there's no further danger to the public. But that leaves unanswered questions for locals now nervous to be alone.

Until they can give us more than that, we are not safe, said friend Cindy Sue Hunter. She said she ventured to the campsite after they didn't return as planned earlier this month and she called police.

Schulte's aunt Bridget Calvert previously said the couple told friends that a creepy guy was making them uncomfortable in the days prior to their deaths.
Johnson and others, including French President Emmanuel Macron. are pushing Biden to extend his self-imposed Aug. 31 deadline for the total withdrawal of U.S. forces in order to ensure the evacuation of all foreign nationals as well as Afghans who worked for or otherwise supported the American-led NATO operation that vanquished the Taliban in 2001 and has now accepted defeat.

On the eve of the meeting, the White House said Biden and Johnson had spoken by phone and discussed the ongoing efforts by our diplomatic and military personnel to evacuate their citizens, local staff, and other vulnerable Afghans as well as the importance of close coordination with allies and partners in managing the current situation and forging a common approach to Afghanistan policy.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said she expected questions about the Afghanistan evacuation timeline to be part the G-7 meeting. Psaki would not predict any announcements from the meeting but said the focus would be to evacuate Americans and Afghan allies as quickly as possible.

White House aides have said they think the meeting could grow contentious, as U.S. allies have looked on with disapproval at the tumultuous American drawdown.
ROCHESTER, Minn. (AP)  Igor Vovkovinskiy, the tallest man in the United States, has died in Minnesota. He was 38.

His family said the Ukrainian-born Vovkovinskiy died of heart disease on Friday at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. His mother, Svetlana Vovkovinska, an ICU nurse at Mayo, initially posted about his death on Facebook.

Vovkovinskiy came to the Mayo Clinic in 1989 as a child seeking treatment. A tumor pressing against his pituitary gland caused it to secrete abnormal levels of growth hormone. He grew to become the tallest man in the U.S. at 7 feet, 8.33 inches (2 meters, 34.5 centimeters) and ended up staying in Rochester.

His older brother, Oleh Ladan of Brooklyn Park, told the Star Tribune of Minneapolis that Vovkovinskiy was a celebrity when he arrived from Ukraine because of his size and the flickering Cold War of the late 1980s. But Ladan said Vovkovinskiy would have rather lived a normal life than be known.
CHICAGO (AP)  Civil rights leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson and his wife, Jacqueline, remained hospitalized Monday after testing positive for COVID-19, family members said.

Jesse Jackson, 79, has been fully vaccinated, receiving his first shot in January at a public event where he urged others to do the same. But Jacqueline Jackson, 77, has not been vaccinated, according to longtime family spokesman Frank Watkins. He declined to elaborate Monday.

The couple, married nearly 60 years, were admitted to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, family members announced Saturday, with their age as a factor. A day later, their son Jonathan Jackson said both parents were resting comfortably at the hospital and responding positively to their treatments.

The status of my parents has not changed, Jonathan Jackson said in a Monday statement. We are ever mindful that COVID-19 is a serious disease and we ask that you continue in prayer for my parents, as we remain prayerful for yours.

Jacqueline Jackson is also a civil rights activist who has traveled worldwide to advocate for causes. The couple has five children together.
The Utah lawsuit was filed against Republicans Gov. Spencer Cox and Attorney General Sean Reyes, who both declined to comment.

Utah schools were open for in-person learning with a statewide mask mandate last year, but after the mandate ended the GOP-dominated Legislature decided individual school districts couldn't require face coverings on their own.

Without masks and other protective steps, coronavirus infections could spread rapidly among kids who are too young to get vaccinated and could bring it home to their families, experts have said. Masks are an effective tool against the spread of the coronavirus, but work best when everyone uses them, research has found.

Even as the delta variant has surged in Utah, filling hospitals beyond capacity, just one small school district has navigated the legal hurdles to require masks in the southern Utah tourist mecca of Grand County. An attempt to require masks in Salt Lake County was overturned by the Republican-controlled county council.

Many schools are encouraging students to wear masks, though, and in some parts of the state many are doing so.
OPINION: Arizona water issues, Afghanistan, the pandemic and more is what is being discussed in Letters to the editor. Join the discussion by submitting a letter at tucson.com/opinion.
I read Charles Cole's response to the idea of pumping sea water from Mexico. I agree with all of his objections to the plan. I agree that Tucs
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP)  Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is extending a welcome mat for refugees from Afghanistan.

In a letter to President Joe Biden on Thursday, Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan offered to to work with the federal government to continue Minnesotas history of welcoming refugees by assisting with the resettlement of people fleeing Afghanistan.

Minnesota has a strong tradition of welcoming those who seek refuge and supporting them to rebuild their lives and become part of our communities, their letter said. Minnesota is eager to uphold that tradition by welcoming families and children and providing the stable foundation they need to rebuild their lives, achieve their highest potential, and contribute to our state."

Tens of thousands of Afghans have been trying to flee their home country since the Taliban takeover, with desperate crowds thronging Kabuls airport.
There arent many positives to incarceration, but one of them is you have time to evaluate your life. Going forward, Joddi decided to major in things that gave him joy  ink (tattoos) and music.

Joddi said he was still kind of homeless and wandering after being released from jail. He was working at a McDonalds in Roland when he met a guy from Iowa who was doing music. Want to go?

And, again, Im just kind of a nomad, dude, Joddi said. I was like, whatever, lets go. So I took my last little check and I came up here about 15 or 16 years ago.

Joddi was determined to turn a page and live a different life in Iowa. He said he was embraced by people there. Among them: his wife of 15 years. Don Murl of Body Graphix, a tattoo shop, gave Joddi a chance to be a professional tattoo artist and he said hell forever be grateful.

The name of Joddis online site (tattoomuzik.com) is reflective of his passions. He said the universe kept throwing tattoos and music in his face. Might as well go with it.
Police officers patrolling the city also targeted any vehicle matching the description in traffic stops.

Eight days after the abduction, Webb was pulled over in east Tulsa. His information was gathered, including his pickups VIN, and his vehicle matched all nine specifications, but he was released at the scene due to there still being a large number of potential suspect vehicles, a police affidavit states.

Detectives continued narrowing the list for several weeks, at one point getting it down to nine potential suspects in Tulsa and surrounding counties.

We spent the next month focused on (Webb) and everything we could find out about him, Adams said.

A mid-July search warrant on Webbs phone number reportedly showed that his cellphone had pinged in the area of the kidnapping during the approximate time of the crime.

Detectives also noted in the affidavit that Webbs vehicle matched that described in a March 26 field interview report in which an 11-year-old girl and her friend reported that a man in a pickup had pulled around to address the girls while they were on a walk in east Tulsa, calling them cute before attempting to block them with his vehicle. The girls escaped to a home, the affidavit states.
The Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence has named Jenks Public Schools Cassaundra Walker the 2021 BancFirst ESL Teacher of the Year, which is presented annually to an outstanding teacher who works with students who are English language learners.

Previously an English as a second language teacher at Bixby Middle School and that districts ESL coordinator, Walker was recently appointed the Title III English Language Development Coordinator at Jenks Public Schools.

Back to school: Thursday is the first day of classes for Allen Bowden, a district on Sapulpas north side.

Shot clinic: The Washington County Health Department will have a free walk-in COVID-19 vaccination clinic on Thursday at Bartlesvilles Madison Middle School open to anyone age 12 or older.
I just thought that itd be better to get that personal connection with everyone else around us  instead of just seeing new faces in every class, like a big university that has big lecture halls with hundreds of students.

Located on the OSU-Tulsa campus, 700 N. Greenwood Ave., College Park courses will be taught by TCC and OSU-Tulsa faculty.

Classes meet on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Students will have five classes the first semester  one 16-week class and four eight-week classes.

Addressing the group, Goodson said, Dr. Fry came to us about two or three years ago with the idea to create a four-year student experience in Tulsa. We are doing that, and we are so excited that you all have stepped up and have some interest.

Fry talked about the value of the cohort model, which allows groups of students to go through the program together.

It just makes it more fun, first of all, she said. But you also at some point will need networking. Its really important to have those connections with your faculty members and your peers.

You are starting your professional network right now.
A court order told him to move out 24 hours ago, but Benjamin Masterson came downtown to tell a judge why he was still living in a Tulsa apartment despite not paying rent for several months.

I have nowhere to go, he said outside the courthouse before last weeks hearing. I would be homeless.

A brief gap in a federal eviction moratorium allowed local courts to move forward this month on some cases that had been pending for as long as a year. President Joe Biden initially said he wouldnt extend the moratorium, which had been in place in one form or another since summer 2020, then changed his mind just three days later, despite federal courts suggesting that it would likely be declared unconstitutional.

Masterson, having lost a job during the COVID-19 shutdowns, had been covered by the moratorium before, and hoped to be covered by it again. But it protects only tenants who say they cant afford to pay rent because of the pandemic. It doesnt cover other alleged violations of a lease.

This time, Masterson was being evicted for not renewing his lease.

I want to renew it, he said, but the landlord wont let me. Its just a way to get around the moratorium.
Leon, which has 32,000 students, initially had backed off on such a mandate after DeSantis and Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran said districts could only impose a mask mandate if parents can opt out their children on their own. They have threatened to cut funding from districts that impose stricter mandates and impose sanctions against their elected officials.

Hanna said he is in total favor of individual rights and freedom and the rights of parents, but that does not include the right to endanger the health of others.

I dont believe that masks are necessarily the end-all, be-all, but we know they make a difference. The vast majority of health care experts tell us they make a difference, Hanna said in a statement broadcast on Facebook.



WASHINGTON -- U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy says he wouldnt be surprised if the Food and Drug Administrations full approval of Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine comes soon and he expects that it will spur more vaccine mandates by schools and businesses.

Murthy said Sunday he didnt want to get ahead of the FDAs announcement but didnt disagree it could happen this week. He cited a wealth of data showing Pfizers two-dose regimen is safe and effective.
FAIRLAND  After months of dealing with threats and accusations from a town trustee, the Fairland police chief and eight officers resigned, according to Fairland Mayor Trevor Berger.

Police Chief Aaron Richardson, a 25-year career law enforcement officer, tendered his resignation on Wednesday, Berger said. In his one-page resignation letter, Richardson cited a hostile work environment and said slanderous allegations made about me by a member of the board of trustees has made it unattainable for me to continue to serve the town.

Richardson was unavailable for comment.

Since Richardsons resignation, four police officers and four reserve officers have resigned, leaving three officers to provide police protection for the Ottawa County community of approximately 1,025 people.

Berger said a special town meeting is called for 7 p.m. Tuesday at Fairland City Hall to discuss pressing issues in connection with police coverage for the community. Berger said there is an agenda item for public comments.

He declined to comment on Richardsons resignation, citing the advice of the town attorney.
Thompson said when the U.S. initially went into Afghanistan, it was on the heels of the Sept. 11, 2001, attack on the United States.

The mission grew, he said.

It became clear that the U.S. need to train and equip the Afghanistan military so terrorists didnt feel comfortable to launch operations, Thompson said.

They didnt perform the way all of us thought, Thompson said.

He said no one felt the country would fall as quickly as it did to the Taliban.

When service members return from deployments, they are met with red, white and blue and balloons, Thompson said.

They then go and deal with unresolved emotions, said Thompson.

When soldiers return from deployment, they are not expected to compartmentalize and go back to daily living. It is important to focus on mental well being, he said.

If we have got soldiers struggling or who need help, we have people that can reach out to them, Thompson said.

Thompson asked for prayers for those who served, those who were lost and Gold Star families.
The takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban cannot be blamed on any American president or party.

For 20 years and at the cost of billions of dollars and thousands of American casualties, we tried our best to build up the Afghan government and military to where it could fight off terrorists and maintain social and economic freedoms in that country.

But in they end, the moderate people in Afghanistan just did not have the resolve to win.

We built them some of the best military bases, left them the best of military equipment and trained a large modern army, but it only lasted as long as American troops were there to back them up.

Twenty years is long enough.

In the end, they had to fight for the freedoms in their country, and they just couldn't do it. But it is not because any American president, general or politician didn't try.

Alexander the Great, the Persian Empire, the Roman Legions, the British Raj and the Red Army have all tried to subdue Afghan rebels in the past and failed.

We kept them at bay for 20 years but couldn't run that country any longer, so we turned it over to the Afghan people, and they failed. I don't think anyone will ever be able to rule Afghanistan.
Read what is in the news today:

Politics

-- U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris arrived in Singapore on Sunday at the start of a seven-day visit to the Southeast Asian region, which will also include a trip to Vietnam, according to Reuters.

Society

-- Unusual hail hit several parts of Ho Chi Minh City and southern Dong Nai Province on Sunday evening.

-- The Ho Chi Minh City High Command officially deployed 310 working groups, including reinforcements from the 7th Military Region, at 11:00 pm on Sunday to support the transportation of aid packages, provide food, and shop for food for local households during a stay-put order to stall COVID-19 transmission.

-- Vietnam Vaccine Joint Stock Company (VNVC) officially handed over a batch of 1,209,400 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine under a purchase contract of 30 million doses between VNVC and AstraZeneca PLC to the Ministry of Health on Sunday morning.

-- Nearly 3,000 additional health workers were mobilized to assist the fight against COVID-19 in Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Dong Nai, and Long An Provinces on Saturday and Sunday, according to the Ministry of Health.

-- The Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu urgently switched from social distancing measures under the prime ministers less stringent Directive No. 15 to extensive Directive No. 16 at 3:00 am on Monday following the detection of new local coronavirus cases.

-- Many residents of Hancorp Plaza apartment building in Cau Giay District, Hanoi have had to resort to stairways as the elevator service has been suspended over management fee disputes.

World news

-- Taiwan will on Monday begin administering its first domestically-developed COVID-19 vaccine with top leader Tsai Ing-wen leading the way in getting the shot, according to Reuters.

-- Tropical Storm Henri slammed into Rhode Island on the U.S. east coast, knocking out power to thousands of Americans, uprooting trees and bringing record rainfall before weakening as it moved across New England on Sunday, according to AFP.

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Nearly 3,000 additional health workers were mobilized to assist the fight against COVID-19 in Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Dong Nai, and Long An Provinces on Saturday and Sunday, according to the Ministry of Health.

Some 1,800 officials, lecturers, and students of medical and pharmaceutical schools had volunteered to join forces with those in Ho Chi Minh City as of Sunday evening.

Of them, 750 students from Bach Mai Medical College arrived in the city on the same night to participate in on-site sampling for COVID-19 testing in the community from Monday morning.

A combination of 1,050 other volunteers come from Hanoi Medical University, the Hanoi University of Pharmacy, the Vietnam University of Traditional Medicine, the Thai Binh University of Medicine and Pharmacy, and the Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy.

Eight hospitals run by the Ministry of Health have also prepared about 450 to 500 experts, doctors, nurses, and medical technicians as reinforcements for the pandemic prevention and control mission in the southern region.

At the same time, some 750 health workers from different localities have been mobilized to Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Dong Nai, and Long An Provinces.

The added personnel will join the existing functional forces in the aforementioned coronavirus hotspots in collecting samples, conducting COVID-19 tests, and treatment activities, according to Nguyen Hong Son, head of the Ministry of Healths Department of Organization and Personnel.

We are continuing to mobilize more health workers to ensure manpower for these four localities to fight the pandemic, Son said.

As of Saturday noon, the number of medical personnel arriving in Ho Chi Minh City and the pandemic-hit localities had reached 14,543.

In order to help Ho Chi Minh City conduct a super-fast COVID-19 testing campaign, the health ministry has also provided the city with ten testing vans along with personnel and equipment, capable of analyzing 3,000 testing samples per day.

As of Sunday evening, Vietnam had documented 348,059 COVID-19 cases, with 147,667 recoveries and 8,277 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health.

The country has detected 343,972 domestic transmissions in 62 out of 63 provinces and cities in the current fourth bout that began on April 27.

Ho Chi Minh City is taking the lead with 175,994 patients, followed by Binh Duong Province with 70,242, Long An Province with 17,805, and Dong Nai Province with 17,688.

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The High Command of Ho Chi Minh City has deployed 310 military units to assist in COVID-19 prevention and control efforts in the southern metropolis.

Ceremonies were organized in 21 districts and Thu Duc City at 11:00 pm on Sunday to officially mobilize military officers for pandemic response missions.

More than 30,000 officers under the High Command of Ho Chi Minh City have been put in charge of participating in the efforts.

"This is a strategic battle. The army, police, and local authorities are determined to work together to stamp out the COVID-19 pandemic, said Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Nam, commander of the Ho Chi Minh City High Command.

Residents in each neighborhood should be provided with contact information of corresponding militia units so that assistance can be given in a prompt manner, Nam continued.

Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Nam (L, 2nd), commander of the Ho Chi Minh City High Command, talks with officers at the police headquarters in Ward 11, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City, August 22, 2021. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre

According to Hoang Tung, chairman of the Thu Duc Peoples Committee, the deployment of military units will help further tighten social distancing regulations and make sure residents stay where they are.

They will assist in patrolling local streets, performing duties at COVID-19 checkpoints, and penalizing violators of pandemic prevention and control regulations, Tung added.

Officers attend a ceremony at the military command in Ward 10, Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City, August 22, 2021. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

During an interview with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper earlier the same day, Lieutenant General Ngo Minh Tien, deputy chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam Peoples Army, stated that soldiers will also coordinate with relevant units to deliver food and supplies to local residents.

Meanwhile, officers under the military medic force will take part in treating COVID-19 patients, the official said.

Officers are pictured during a ceremony at the military command in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, August 22, 2021. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre

All military personnel participating in the fight against COVID-19 in Ho Chi Minh City have received at least one vaccine shot, he continued.

They had undergone COVID-19 testing prior to their deployment and will be tested once every three days while on duty.

Officers attend a ceremony at the military command in Vo Thi Sau Ward, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, August 22, 2021. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre

Ho Chi Minh City is currently the countrys largest epicenter with nearly 176,000 local infections recorded since the fourth wave began on April 27.

The city has undergone various levels of social distancing since May 31, but daily infections are reaching thousands, with cases detected in the community on the rise over the past few days.

The municipal authorities have asked people to stay where they are from August 23 to September 6, as part of drastic measures to push back the serious pandemic.

Military officers patrol a street in District 4, Ho Chi Minh City, August 22, 2021. Photo: Tu Trung / Tuoi Tre

Military officers patrol a street in District 4, Ho Chi Minh City, August 22, 2021. Photo: Tu Trung / Tuoi Tre

Officers attend a ceremony at the military command in Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City, August 22, 2021. Photo: Minh Hoa / Tuoi Tre

Military officers patrol a street in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, August 22, 2021. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre

Officers prepare to patrol local streets in Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City, August 22, 2021. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

A COVID-19 checkpoint in Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City, August 22, 2021. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre

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Ho Chi Minh City and neighboring Dong Nai Province experienced unexpected hail, with hailstones measuring up to five centimeters in diameter, amidst the rainy season on Sunday evening.

The hail was recorded in the eastern part of the southern city and many areas in Dong Nais Bien Hoa City, with a number of hailstones having diameters from three to five centimeters, the Southern Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting reported.

Hailstones are formed when the air disturbances push the moisture up to meet the low temperature zone, Le Dinh Quyet, deputy head of the station, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Sunday.

Unusual hail hits Linh Xuan Ward in Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City, August 22, 2021.

A subtropical high-pressure area has been pushing moisture from the ocean onto land, causing rains and strong air disturbances in the southern region, he explained.

Hail usually occurs in May and June or at the end of the rainy season, so it is unusual in this period.

In Dong Nai, while heavy rains covered many parts of the province on Sunday evening, hail took place in many wards of Bien Hoa City that borders Ho Chi Minh City to the west.

Hail often appears at the beginning of the rainy season, but this years rainy season is erratic, said Nguyen Phuoc Huy, director of the Dong Nai Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting.

Rains have appeared irregularly and there have been periods in which scorching heat was recorded in daytime while rainstorms and lightning occurred at night, Huy said.

Large hailstones from Bien Hoa City, Dong Nai Province are seen in this photo taken on August 22, 2021. Photo: N.D.N. / Tuoi Tre

People should limit being outdoors during thunderstorms and should not stand near metal windows or objects when indoors, for such things may serve as lightning conductors, the director advised.

From Monday, the southwest monsoon will get stronger so the southern region will have sunshine in daytime and scattered showers in the evening and at night, with heavy rains and rainstorms likely hitting some areas, said the Southern Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting.

Wind gusts, whirlwinds, and lightning may occur during thunderstorm rains from Wednesday onward, the center forecast.

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Supermarket chains in Ho Chi Minh City, including Satra, Saigon Co.op, AEON, and MM Mega Market, have stated their commitment to maintaining food distribution to residents by partnering with special ward-level response teams during this elevated social distancing mandate.

The municipal authorities have asked people to stay where they are from August 23 to September 6, underlining each home, company, and factory should be an anti-virus fort.

It is the most assertive measure yet that authorities have taken to curb the serious fourth outbreak.

According to their announcement, city residents will not be allowed to go out for food and must rely on local task groups to deliver the items they need.

As a consequence, supermarkets will close their in-person shopping operations, only taking orders from authorized officers.

Buyers queue before entering Co.op Mart supermarket in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Bong Mai / Tuoi Tre

Combo packages

Big supermarkets, such as Satra, Saigon Co.op, AEON, and MM Mega Market, have confirmed their plan to keep up operation, with a multitude of new essential item combos announced to local-level special cohorts on Sunday.

Grocery store chain Satrafoods will keep 120 out of its 188 locations open since Monday, according to a company representative.

These stores are located in green zones and red zones  two out of the citys area classification system that includes red, orange, yellow, and green zones, with the warmer colors representing more serious levels of infections.

Meanwhile, other stores are closed due to their incapability to mobilize employees for the 'three-on-the-spot' model, where workers do job tasks, have meals, and rest after work in the same place to reduce COVID-19 transmission.

The store chain has also devised six combo packages, offering necessities such as vegetables, meat, and eggs at an average price of VND300,000 (US$13) before presenting them to customers on Sunday.

Based on these combos, volunteer groups of each neighborhood will collect orders from households so that the ward-level officers can quantify local demand before 9:30 am every day.

These orders will subsequently be sent to the supermarkets, which will pack items and get them ready for delivery before 11:30 am.

Customers can collect and pay for their items when the delivery arrives the next morning.

Buyers queue before entering Big C Supermarket in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

Satrafoods' rival Lotte Mart is also operating in the combo-exclusive model during the next two weeks of shelter-at-home.

Since the supermarkets must operate following the three-on-the-spot mode as required by authorities, we must carefully distribute our manpower, a Lotte Mart representative said.

According to the staff, 10 percent of Lotte Mart staffers are allowed to travel for item delivery during the citys movement curb hours from 6:00 pm to 6:00 am the next day.

The firm is also liaising with authorities to outline its capability to appease market demands in the upcoming weeks.

In the meantime, retailer AEON Vietnam is working with the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade, as well as leaders of Tan Phu and Binh Tan Districts to complete the last preparation steps.

The supermarket brand has halted its retail delivery channels via phone calls, messages, and shopping apps in Ho Chi Minh City until further notice.

Though it had yet to receive orders from ward-level officers on Sunday, MM Mega Market Vietnam has declared continued operation during the stay-at-home period, showing its readiness to fulfill item demands from ward authorities.

The demand for grocery combo packages will pick up a few days into the stay-at-home mandate, as residents will have used up their stocks by then, an MM Mega Market representative anticipated.

According to the economic office of District 8, five retail distributors, including San Ha, Bach Hoa Xanh, Saigon Co.op, and Satra, will stay open to fulfill grocery demands for the whole district during the next weeks.

According to statistics, the locale is home to 108,000 households, with 47,000 considered financially struggling during the pandemic who will benefit from relief packages during the stay-at-home bout.

The remaining 61,000 households will have the choice to use authority-operated food delivery services, which will offer 12 combos in categories of veggies, spices, tube roots, fish, cleaning supplies, and household items.

Distributors will quote the same price for items in the same category, as it will help streamline administrative work for officers when they collect orders from residents, the representative stated.

District 8 is prepared to fulfill 4,000 combo orders per day, he added.

Buyers queue before entering Bach Hoa Xanh grocery store in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

Grocery supply

As per Ho Chi Minh City's guidelines, the government-run grocery shopping services will be carried out by the local logistics team, the community COVID-19 prevention team, local volunteer forces, police forces, and the military.

Pre-empting the mandate, many suppliers have stocked up on essential items such as rice, eggs, and meat.

According to Nguyen Ngoc An, director of food company Vissan, the firm has increased fresh meat supply to 80 metric tons per day to appease market demand and may hike their outlets even more, as their meat supply and reserves are steady and their workers are back to work.

According to An, relevant authorities should speed up the approval and issuance of a travel pass for essential workers so that firms can realize their delivery and production plans.

The supply will become stable once local authorities assist in delivering grocery from retailers to consumers, An said.

Other store chains have also promised a stable supply of essential items, as well as a capability to respond to market fluctuations.

An employee of grocery supplier Bach Hoa Xanh revealed that although the supply is secured, the chain may distribute less fresh food with short shelf lives to measure market demand before deciding to increase the stock.

Stores in their chain can also share their reserves to match the realistic buying power in each area.

Other stores pointed out that the working procedures in many locales are still complicated and ineffective.

"The city must provide more guidance for the delivery plan to work during the next 14 days of social distancing, a supermarket staff said.

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The Ministry of Health recorded over 10,000 local coronavirus cases on Monday, alongside nearly 7,000 recoveries and 389 deaths.

Thirty-nine provinces and cities reported 10,383 domestic cases whereas another six infections were imported from abroad, the health ministry said.

The health ministry had reported 11,346 locally-infected patients on Sunday.

Over 6,000 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 logged 4,251 of the new domestic infections, up by 58 patients; Binh Duong Province 3,183, down by 612; Dong Nai Province 623; Tien Giang Province 459; Long An Province 388; Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province 154; Da Nang 152; Dak Lak Province 128; Khanh Hoa Province 125; Nghe An Province 111; Dong Thap Province 100; Hanoi 40.

Since the fourth COVID-19 wave began in Vietnam on April 27, the country has confirmed 354,355 community transmissions in 62 out of its 63 provinces and cities.

Ho Chi Minh City is in the front with 180,245 patients, followed by Binh Duong Province with 73,425, Dong Nai Province with 18,311, Long An Province with 18,193, Tien Giang Province with 7,743, and Dong Thap Province with 6,061.

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 announced 6,945 recoveries on Monday, taking the total to 154,612 recovered patients.

The death toll has increased to 8,666 after the health ministry reported 389 fatalities the same day, including 340 registered in Ho Chi Minh City and 34 in Binh Duong Province.

The Southeast Asian country has detected an accumulation of 358,456 cases since the COVID-19 pandemic first hit it on January 23, 2020.

Health workers gave 298,376 vaccine doses on Sunday.

Almost 17.4 million vaccine shots have been administered in Vietnam since the country rolled out vaccination on March 8, with over 1.8 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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Not for the first time, a personal tragedy back home reached a contestant on the set of Australian Survivor, when Flick Palmateer was told of the death of her mother, Pauline.

Viewers watched as Flick took a call in outback Queensland, learning that her mother had lost her battle with early onset dementia.

But with her familys blessing, she made the decision to stay in the competition, saying it was what her mother would have wanted.

She also told her tribe mates due to the crippling illness she felt like she had already said goodbye to her mother some time ago.

Saying her brothers Luke and Alex encouraged her to stay, she told the Daily Telegraph, If it wasnt for them telling me to stay, it would have been incredibly hard. And I just wanted to do her proud.

She also previewed the show with her family ahead of it airing and producers Endemol Shine dedicated the episode to her mother, Pauline.

Last year Lee Carseldine chose to leave the All Stars season in Fiji following news that his mother had suffered a stroke.

dementia.org.au
Netflix has co-commissioned new drama Irreverent to be filmed at Mission Beach, Queensland.

The 10 episode drama, set in Australia and produced by Matchbox Pictures, is co-commissioned with Peacock in the United States.

The series centres around an American crook who screws up the heist of his life and is forced to hide out in a small Australian reef community in Far North Queensland posing as the new church Reverend.

Created by Paddy Macrae (Wanted, The Family Law), the writers also include Andrew Knight (Rake, Jack Irish), Andrew Anastasios (Wentworth, Jack Irish), Angela McDonald (Operation Buffalo, Doctor Doctor), Darlene Johnson (The Redfern Story, Crocodile Dreaming).

Que Minh Luu, Netflix Director of Content for ANZ: We were drawn to Irreverent by its warmth, optimism and celebration of community with a uniquely Australian sense of humour  like Northern Exposure in Far North Queensland. Were thrilled to work with NBCUniversal International Studios and Matchbox on bringing this premium drama series to life for our ANZ Netflix members.

Alastair McKinnon, Managing Director, Matchbox Pictures: Irreverent is a rollicking fish out of water story that is sure to charm audiences around the world with its quirky characters and spectacular tropical Queensland location. We are so fortunate to be partnering with Peacock and Netflix along with a stellar creative team to bring Paddy Macraes original idea to dazzling life.

Executive Producers are Debbie Lee (Hungry Ghosts, Safe Harbour, The Heights) & Andrew Knight with Tom Hoffie, Paddy Macrae as producers. Set up director is Jonathan Teplitzky.

Filming in Australia has been made possible with the support of the Federal Governments Location Incentive program. Screen Queensland is supporting Irreverent through the Queensland governments Production Attraction Strategy.

Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts Paul Fletcher: The Morrison Governments $540 million Location Incentive program is working very effectively to support the Australian screen sector to take advantage of the global boom in high-end content production, attracting substantial international series like Irreverent to our shores, generating more than $1.89 billion of expenditure into the Australian economy.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk: This is one of the three landmark Universal Studios Group productions lured by the Queensland Government via Screen Queenslands Production Attraction Strategy in 2020. Securing these three productions is a critical part of Queenslands economic recovery, contributing hundreds of millions to the local economy and importantly creating thousands of local jobs

Speaker of the Queensland Parliament and Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt: The Far North is an incredibly diverse backdrop for screen productions. Having productions like Irreverent film here, not only boosts the local economy and creates local jobs, but it shows off our spectacular region. The natural beauty of Queenslands Far North will be streamed into living rooms across the world, affirming the regions status not only as a production paradise but also a bucket-list destination for future travel.

Casting is yet to be announced.
Annual industry conference Screen Forever has postponed its planned November event on the Gold Coast to March 2022, due to the evolving COVID-19 situation in Australia.

The event will now take place on 28  30 March 2022 as an in-person event at The Star Event Centre with all necessary safety measures in place.

This follows last years event having to pivot to a virtual event.

The changes announced by Screen Producers Australia are with support by principal partner, Screen Queensland.

Qld Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said, Supporting the screen industry is a critical part of our Economic Recovery Plan and I am pleased to see Screen Forever return to the Gold Coast  home to so many domestic and international productions.

My Governments recent $71 million screen industry budget boost includes investment in productions by home-grown producers as well as Hollywood heavyweights like Ron Howard, and is continuing to support the growth of a strong, sustainable local sector over the long term.

In order to accommodate the increasing international demand, the SPA Connect market will be expanded, with an international focused marketplace taking place digitally.

After 18 months of continued uncertainty, content markets such as Screen Forever play a crucial role in the production ecosystem, facilitating the flow of creative ideas and the brokering of crucial co-production, financing and distribution deals, said SPA CEO Matthew Deaner.

The feedback we have received from industry is that there is a strong desire to conduct such deals in person, and with its award-winning cast, crew, and facilities, there is no better location for such an event than Queensland.

However, the health and wellbeing of our delegates, staff and the wider community remains our number one priority. While we are saddened to not be reunited with our esteemed colleagues and friends this November, we look forward to re-connecting on the Gold Coast next March, he said.

Screen Queensland CEO Kylie Munnich added, This is how our industry does business best  networking in person, pitching new ideas, learning from the experts and gaining insights from both national and international commissioners, broadcasters and studios.

As travel to international markets continues to be restricted, we anticipate that screen practitioners from around the country will jump at the chance to come together in person at The Star next March.

Tickets go on sale later this year.
"Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker."
Dalton Brewer and Emilee Fenton conspired to possess and use the means of identification of other persons, including names, social security numbers, and dates of birth, in connection with the theft of government money, aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, theft of mail, and fraudulent use or possession of identifying information.
A charter flights carrying Afghan refugees arrives at a Midlands airport (SAC Samantha Holden RAF/MoD) (PA Media)

Taliban fighters told a British medical student we would shoot you dead if we werent under pressure from the international community as he tried to get into Kabul airport.

The threat is a chilling foretaste of what could await those who have helped the British and American troops if they are unable to get on the last evacuation flights, the student said.

The 25-year-old, who asked not to be named, was born in Afghanistan but moved to the UK in 2010 and was granted citizenship in 2015, and is now going into the third year of his medical studies.

He had travelled to his home country to marry and had intended to sponsor his wife to join him only once he had completed his studies and had his own home and a job.

Instead the couple were forced to flee the Taliban, finally managing to leave the country on their fourth attempt at getting into Kabul airport following an eight-hour wait at a Taliban checkpoint.

They are now quarantining in a hotel in south London, and have no idea what they will do once the 10 days is up as they cannot afford accommodation.

The student told the PA news agency: The Taliban were just firing aimlessly in the air  there were gunshots to scare people off, they were treating everyone like a herd of sheep, not as humans.

He added: Because they couldnt manage the crowd they would whip women, the elderly, the children, whoever was in their way.

I think the Taliban hasnt changed, they are the same.

The evacuation at Kabul airport (LPhot Ben Shread/MoD/Crown Copyright) (PA Media)

One fighter told the student: If we were not under pressure from international society we would have shot you dead because of your passport.

Those already in the airfield said their families had already faced intimidation and threats from the Taliban because of their links to the British, he said.

The interpreters and security forces who had worked alongside the British soldiers, they told me Now the Taliban are looking for us, they have knocked on our doors, they have asked our relatives where we are, the student said.

Story continues

Thankfully the British did their job, and kept the promises they had made to save their lives.

He added: The soldiers were very welcoming and we felt safe once they allowed us to go into the camp.

The servicemen and women made us feel safe and they did all that they could given the situation.

It took another 24 hours of waiting in the airport before the young man and his new wife, 23, were able to get on a flight to Dubai and then on to Greece before touching down in Birmingham.

Watch: Ex-Marine says bid to fly animals out of Kabul blocked by MoD

I have 0% confidence in the Taliban to show even 1% mercy to anyone who supported the Afghan Government.

But he fears for those with links to the British once the last flight has left.

I think the Taliban will start to ask them, Why did you leave your country? Why are you planning to go to another country? You dont like us? So now you are at our mercy and we can do whatever we want, he said.

Now the student is convinced the Taliban will slip back into the same brutal regime as their previous reign 20 years ago.

I have 0% confidence in the Taliban to show even 1% mercy to anyone who supported the Afghan government that was financially supported by the US, by Britain and by Nato, he said.

I think they will search every home to find people, and they might pay people and give them reward in order to identify who worked for the British or the Americans.

The student praised the British forces who made us feel safe (LPhot Ben Shread/MoD) (PA Media)

The student compared Taliban rule to closing the door and pulling the curtains on a room, saying it was likely that they would cut off the internet and deny girls access to education.

These things are rely on electricity, if the Taliban cut of the power people will have no access to internet, he said.

They can block access to the internet and social media, they can create a closed society.

He added: They have no feelings towards human beings  all they care about is just power.

The man said the world is tired of Afghanistan, and would not continue to scrutinise the Taliban or spend money trying to protect its citizens.

I think what the international community will do is just bury their head in the sand  they must be ashamed of what they have done, he said.

He continued: The world is not prepared to spend so much again, because history repeats itself in Afghanistan.

It was the Russians who left and the Afghan government collapsed  but that took two years for its collapse, with the Americans it was two days.

I think the world is tired of Afghanistan, thats how it looks. The people who are in power have turned their faces away from reality.

Watch: Local council volunteering to take in five Afghan families

Read More

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle donate to Afghan womens charity

Government security convoy for aid workers replaced with Taliban  Unicef

Gunfight at Kabul airport raises fears of a terrorist resurgence
The current and overwhelming chip leader in Event #1 is Chris Brewer, out of California. Brewer, a former collegiate runner with the Oregon Ducks, has been making a splash in the high-stakes poker world as of late with some big results.

PokerNews' Matt Hansen spoke with Brewer at the US Poker Open back in June to discover more about his journey to the highest stakes. Learn all about the high-stakes poker pro in the interview below.

Read the interview with Chris Brewer
As University of North Georgia (UNG) students step back onto campus and resume in-person classes and activities this fall, faculty and staff are ready to greet them during Weeks of Welcome (WoW).

"Weeks of Welcome is the university introducing itself to new and returning students," Stacie Rowley, associate dean of students, said. "It is designed to help them reconnect with each other, introduce them to faculty and staff, and become acquainted with UNG resources, opportunities and expectations."

The various social activities and educational programs happen during the first two weeks of the semester. Social activities include a glow party on UNG's Dahlonega Campus, a luau on the Gainesville Campus, goat yoga on the Oconee Campus, a cookout on the Blue Ridge Campus and a Student Resource Fair on the Cumming Campus. All campuses also are holding Student Convocation events.

The events supply students with places and programs they can access to help with college-level work. Social activities will allow students to meet new people and find leadership opportunities.

The perk this year is most will be in person. Last year, activities were conducted digitally because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We are excited to do these events face to face," Rowley said, explaining some virtual elements will remain. "While our student organizations will hold in-person events, they can offer them online to allow students from other campuses to participate, too."
Since the United States withdrew its troops from Afghanistan, the Taliban (banned in Russia) have taken control of power more quickly than expected. Chaos reigned at the Kabul airport as Afghans desperately tried to flee the country.

U.S. President Joe Biden emphasized that the U.S. has no vital national interest in Afghanistan, aside from preventing a terrorist attack on American homeland. American troops cannot and should not be fighting in a war and dying in a war that Afghan forces are not willing to fight for themselves, Biden said, The Diplomat writes.

Biden said in an interview with ABC News on Thursday that there is a fundamental difference between Taiwan, South Korea and NATO and we made a sacred commitment to Article Five that if in fact anyone were to invade or take action against our NATO allies, we would respond. He added that it applies to South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan (although administration officials later clarified that Biden misspoke when he included Taiwan, which does not have formal relations with the U.S., on the list). Jake Sullivan, Bidens national security advisor, also made clear that Afghanistan and South Korea are fundamentally different and emphasized that Biden has no intention of drawing down forces from South Korea.

Seoul has not officially expressed concerns over the possibility of U.S. troops withdrawing from South Korea. However, some conservative hawks and politicians have expressed concerns that South Korean President Moon Jae-ins peace process on the Korean Peninsula may finally lead to the withdrawal of the U.S. troops and may create a vulnerability in national security. They are asking the government to build a much stronger relationship with the U.S. under the blood alliance.

The U.S. will not withdraw a significant number of troops from South Korea anytime soon, Leif-Eric Easley, associate professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, told The Diplomat. He added that the situations in South Korea and Afghanistan are not comparable. In addition to shared interests for U.S.-South Korea security cooperation regarding North Korea, Washington wont pull its troops off the peninsula anytime soon because that would be perceived as geopolitically ceding Asia to China, Easley said.

Experts and the majority of South Koreans believe that South Korea would not be the next Afghanistan, but some analysts still moot the need for preparing for the worst-case scenario  a U.S. troop withdrawal and a Second Korean War triggered by North Korea.

Some have repeatedly stated that the country needs to consider the redeployment of strategic nuclear weapons if U.S. troops disengage from the country. However, experts say that it would not be a realistic bargaining chip to negotiate the denuclearization of North Korea, nor an effective measure to entice China to take a key role on North Korea issues.

The current South Korea-U.S. joint defense posture would remain even if the U.S. withdraws its troops from South Korea. It is a completely different situation now than it was in the Korean War, Kim Young-jun, a professor of national security affairs at Korea National Defense University and a member of National Security Advisory Board for the presidential Blue House, told The Diplomat. The existence of U.S. troops in South Korea has no decisive impact in the current situation, where the South Korean military already recognizes the signs of [a hypothetical] North Korean attack with aviation and satellite surveillance assets, Kim said.

In a statement from Kim Yo Jong, sister of the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, published last week, she implied that the U.S. troops in South Korea are the root cause of tension on the Korean Peninsula. Kim Yo Jong criticized the South Korean-U.S. joint military exercises even though her brother had expressed his understanding of the necessity of the U.S. military presence and joint military exercises between the U.S. and South Korea in summit talks with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in 2018.
On August 22 from 20:47 to 22:50, the Armenian armed forces units from the positions in the Yukhari Shorzha of the Basarkechar region using assault rifles, and machine guns periodically subjected to fire the Azerbaijan Army positions in the direction of Zeylik and Yellija settlements of the Kalbajar region, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said in a statement.

According to the statement, the opposing side was suppressed by retaliation fire.

"There are no losses among the military personnel of the Azerbaijan Army. The Azerbaijan Army Units control the operational situation," the ministry noted.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will chair a meeting of G7 leaders on August 24 for urgent talks on the situation in Afghanistan.

It comes as Nato confirms 20 people have died in and around Kabul airport during a complex operation to airlift people out of the Taliban-controlled city.

U.S. troops are due to withdraw on August 31, putting intense pressure on Western allies to evacuate people rapidly and leave enough time to get military personnel out.

The prime minister said: It is vital that the international community works together to ensure safe evacuations, prevent a humanitarian crisis and support the Afghan people to secure the gains of the last 20 years.

The UK is president of the group in 2021. It includes the US, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and Italy. There are signs the UK could look to put pressure on the US to maintain it troop presence on the ground in Kabul beyond the end of the month to allow the evacuation mission to continue, Metro reported.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed that the Operation Pitting evacuation mission is being supported by 1,000 British troops  including Paras from 16 Air Assault Brigade  with nearly 4,000 people repatriated from Afghanistan since August 13.
Turkeys president Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed bilateral relations and regional issues with his Ukrainian counterpart Vladimir Zelenskiy in a phone call on Sunday.

Erdogan told Zelenskiy that Turkey will continue to develop its strategic cooperation with Ukraine in all areas, including security, defense, tourism, and trade, according to a statement by Turkeys Communications Directorate.

He congratulated Zelenskiy on the 30th anniversary of Ukraine's independence, Anadolu Agency reported.

Erdogan also thanked the Ukrainian leader for Kievs immediate and comprehensive support  in Turkeys fight against the recent forest fires in the country.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had a detailed discussion Sunday with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the crisis unfolding in Afghanistan.

The two leaders also spoke of the importance of cooperating together with the international community to bring peace and stability to Afghanistan following the takeover of the country by the Taliban and to ensure that evacuations continue without any serious incidents.

The prime minister spoke to Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan today about the crisis in Afghanistan. They discussed the importance of the international community working together to stabilize the situation and support Afghans in the country and in the region, said a statement from Downing Street.

The leaders shared the view that any new government must be representative of Afghanistans diverse population and protect the rights of women and minorities, and that the Taliban would be judged by their actions, not their words, on this, the statement added.

The two leaders also agreed that nations must commit themselves to burden-sharing on aid and refugees following the Talibans takeover, as well as the anticipated mass migration of many Afghans. Johnson and Erdogan also agreed on the importance of the United Nations in coordinating any efforts to prevent a human rights catastrophe, Anadolu Agency reported.

The UK PM and Turkish president also discussed bilateral ties and agreed to intensify UK-Turkey cooperation in trade and leading the fight against climate change ahead of the COP26 conference which will be held next month in the UK.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed an order on awarding employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations who fought wildfires in Turkey.

According to the document, with the aim of awarding the employees involved in extinguishing the fires in Turkey, 1 million manat ($588,200) was allocated from the presidents reserve fund to the ministry.

The Ministry of Finance of Azerbaijan was instructed to provide financing in the amount specified in this order, and the Cabinet of Ministers - to resolve issues arising from it.
Claims that the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline will increase Europes dependence on the supplies of Russian gas have no grounds, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with the Hungarian newspaper Magyar Nemzet, published on Monday.

"We see the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline as an entirely commercial, mutually advantageous project. Allegations that it will make Europe more dependent on gas supplies from Russia are groundless. It would be more correct, in our opinion, to speak about positive interdependence, since Russia is also interested in seeing Europeans buy its products, energy resources in this case," the foreign minister noted.

The commissioning of the pipeline will ensure the diversification of gas transit routes without increasing the amount of it supplies at the present moment, the minister noted. "It will be possible to make sustainable gas supplies to European consumers via the shortest route, which will reduce the ecological footprint from its transportation," the minister said.

"Besides, we are not giving up on the existing agreements on the supplies of Russian gas to Europe, at the same time the transit countries will have to compete in the future for the right of transit, instead of trying to dictate their own terms," Lavrov noted.

He also stressed that Nord Stream 2 will strengthen strategic energy security of Europe for decades to come. "That is exactly why the European capital cities interested in the project are strongly in favor of the completion of the gas pipeline construction," TASS cited the diplomat as saying.
Russia and Europe are continuing cross-border cooperation despite the existing frigid relations between Moscow and Brussels, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated in his video message to the participants of the Frontiers of Russia: Geopolitics, Regional Studies, Historical Memory conference.

The top diplomat also noted that the development of cross-border and interregional ties met Russias foreign policy interests.

"Despite a certain cooling in our official contacts with the EU, the implementation of cross-border cooperation programs with EU member states is underway, with the Kaliningrad Region also actively taking part in it," the Russian foreign minister emphasized.

Lavrov praised the relevance of the issues brought up for discussion, connected with the development of border municipalities and regions, their role in strengthening Russias international clout as well as enhancing good-neighborliness. "Today, as the world undergoes global changes <...>, unleashing the potential of border and interregional ties fully meets our foreign policy interests," according to the top diplomat.

Furthermore, Lavrov stressed the importance of engaging Russian regions in the implementation of a unified foreign policy course set by President Vladimir Putin. "For example, regional cooperation with Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan in various fields already has significant stability and offers serious prospects for further development," the Russian chief diplomat noted. He also mentioned that interregional ties with countries from the Asia-Pacific zone, the Arctic, Barents and Baltic Sea Regions were being vigorously carried out.
Members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) need to promptly develop a common position on the situation in Afghanistan, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said at an emergency session of the CSTO Collective Security Council on Monday, according to the BelTA news agency.

"We need to skip the formalities and arrive at a common position before the Dushanbe summit (scheduled for mid-September)," Lukahsenko pointed out. "As for Tajikistans border with Afghanistan - in fact, it is the CSTOs border - we are already late, lets face it. So we need to make up for lost time," he emphasized.

The Belarusian president noted that Afghans were now joining refugees from Syria, Iraq and Lybia. "Even if they eventually head to the West, their journey will still take them through our countries," Lukashenko stressed.
The Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline should not be used as a weapon, otherwise Germany will call for sanctions, German Chancellor Angeea Merkel said on Sunday after talks with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky.

"We gave to understand that we will stand for new sanctions within the European framework if we see that the pipeline is used as a weapon," she said, adding that Nord Stream 2 is not a Russian-German project, but a European one.

She stressed that gas transit via Ukraine should be continued after 2024 and it is time to begin talks on this matter. "I told the Russian president that ideally we should promptly extend the agreement that is in force until 2024," she said, adding that her country bears "special responsibility" in terms of ensuring further gas transit via Ukraine. "I am very serious about Kievs concerns," she stressed.
Russia should not let militants from Afghanistan disguised as refugees enter its territory, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday.

The head of state added that the Russian authorities would contacts the Western states to do their best to ensure stability in Afghanistan.

"We dont want militants under the disguise of refugees to appear here [in Russia] again. We will do everything, in particular in contact with our Western partners, to ensure stability in Afghanistan as well. But we do not want us to at least somehow repeat the situation of the 1990s and early 2000s. At that time, we were actually fighting in the North Caucasus. These horrors we see on the territory of Afghanistan now, we saw on our territory not so long ago. Now everything is stable and quiet. There are still some problems, but this is not comparable to what happened before," Putin said on Sunday at a meeting with representatives of the United Russia party.

The President reiterated that Russia does not need "such elements [militants] on its territory, neither from Afghanistan, nor from any other country.

"Why are we dealing with Syria? In order to prevent Syria from turning into some kind of Afghanistan, from turning into a hotbed of terrorism," the head of state explained.

He added that he very much hopes that the Russian Foreign Ministry, with the support of the parties represented in parliament, will continue to responsibly deal with issues of national security. Putin expressed gratitude to the United Russia and all parties in parliament that "make decisions about national security.".
Vaccination is the best instrument to stop the coronavirus pandemic, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday at a meeting with activists of the ruling United Russia party, TASS reports.

Touching on the economic situation in the country amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the president noted that it "has practically revived to the pre-crisis level, but for some aspects that are to be in focus of specialists."

"Of course, the so-called lockdowns, when entire enterprises suspended operation, did big harm to the economy and peoples incomes. In this environment, we must spare no effort to stop the pandemic. And the best instrument for that is vaccination," Putin stressed, adding that it is not about a concrete person, "it is about the entire population of the country, about all citizens." "Ask specialists what a pandemic is. It doesnt matter whether a person works or not, or where he or she lives. It has its own laws and no disease can be transmitted in case of vaccination," he noted.

He expressed the hope that vaccination of the population "will be continued and it will influence the economy, production, jobs, peoples incomes." "After all, incomes depend on the economys efficiency, on its modernization and renovation, on the implementation of the plans that have been set and will be realized in the near future, in the middle-term and a longer perspective," Putin stressed.
A new contract with Turkey on the delivery of Russian-made S-400 medium-to-long-range anti-aircraft missile systems may be signed soon, CEO of the state arms exporter Rosoboronexport (part of the state tech corporation Rostec) Alexander Mikheyev said at the Army-2021 international military-technical forum said on Monday.

"The consultations continue and are at the final stage. We will start formalizing a contract with our partners soon," the chief executive said.

Certain successes were achieved at the IDEF 2021 international defense industry show held in Turkey in August, he said.

"The exhibition was a success and our delegation brought back a fairly good program of requests," Mikheyev said.

Moscow and Ankara inked a deal in 2017 on the delivery of the Russian-made S-400 air defense system to Turkey, thereby making it the first NATO member to purchase this air defense missile system from Russia.

Ankaras decision to purchase the Russian-made system infuriated the United States and NATO. So far, Washington has not abandoned its efforts to make Turkey give up the Russian air defense system.

The Army-2021 international military-technical forum is running at the Patriot Congress and Exhibition Center outside Moscow on August 22-28.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk held a meeting with Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade Sardor Umurzakov in Tashkent on 21 August, according to Uzdaily.

During the meeting, a wide range of issues of trade, economic, investment and transport and logistics cooperation were discussed.

Speaking about strengthening investment ties, the parties placed special emphasis on the development of interregional cooperation. It was announced that in preparation for the II Forum of Interregional Cooperation, 42 mutual visits of the leadership of the administrations of various regions of Uzbekistan and the Russian Federation will be organized in order to work out solid investment and trade agreements.

Following the results of the I Forum of Interregional Cooperation between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Russian Federation, held in 2018, agreements worth $2.7 billion were reached, of which the amount of agreements on the implementation of investment projects amounted to $1.5 billion, and trade agreements  $1.2 billion.

The parties noted the relevance of establishing cooperative ties between manufacturers of the two countries, in the context of which the preparation for the "Made in Uzbekistan" industry exhibition in Moscow, which will become the largest exposition of Uzbek-made products ever held in the Russian Federation, was reviewed.

The report of the responsible leaders on the current results of the activities of the joint Project Office was heard. An agreement was reached to intensify joint work on the implementation of agreed investment projects included in the Economic Cooperation Program, totaling $5.8 billion.

The parties also considered the current status of the implementation of the agreements reached during the meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation (IGC) held in October 2020 and discussed issues of preparation for the next meeting of the IGC.

As a result of the meeting, a "Road Map" was signed for the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding in the development of logistics corridors. The document outlines the priority measures to create the necessary infrastructure and organize the appropriate logistics service.

The document defines the format of bilateral interaction to improve customs, sanitary and phytosanitary procedures, simplify the procedure for the movement of goods between the two countries, develop interaction between the state bodies of the two states in the field of digitalization, and also contains specific practical measures for the implementation of infrastructure projects, in particular, on creation of agrological and wholesale distribution centers. One of these measures is the organization of a regular block train "Agroexpress" according to the principle of "green corridor", which ensures the maximum delivery time for agricultural products from Uzbekistan to the Russian Federation, not exceeding five days.

Following the meeting, the parties outlined further steps for practical interaction within the discussed areas of cooperation and agreed to maintain close contacts at all levels in order to promptly resolve emerging issues.
Sending troops to Afghanistan is not in Moscow's interests, Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Oleg Syromolotov said

He added that the Taliban terrorist organisation (banned in Russia) does not need anybody's military support, Sputnik reported.

"Such phrasing of the question is not relevant," Syromolotov said when asked about the possibility of Russia sending troops to Afghanistan. "Such a step would not be in our interests. In addition, the new Afghan authorities have started to restore order in the country and do not need anyone's military support," Syromolotov stressed.

Taliban fighters entered Afghanistans capital of Kabul on August 15, meeting no resistance and took control of the entire city within a few hours. Later, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani stepped down and fled the country. Vice President Amrullah Saleh declared himself caretaker president, calling for armed resistance to the Taliban. Western nations are now evacuating their citizens and diplomatic personnel from Afghanistan.
Russia confirmed 20,564 COVID-19 cases over the past day, which is the lowest figure since June 27, the anti-coronavirus crisis center told reporters on Sunday, TASS reports.

In relative terms, the number of cases grew by 0.31%.

Since the start of the pandemic, the total case tally has reached 6,747,087 people.

St. Petersburg reported 1, 481 daily coronavirus cases and the Moscow region registered 1,184 cases. The Sverdlovsk region reported 522 cases, the Nizhny Novgorod region - 498, the Rostov region - 487.

Currently, as many as 551,577 people are undergoing treatment in Russia.
The Taliban (outlawed in Russia) has issued a blanket amnesty to all Afghan government officials, including President Ashraf Ghani, pledging that they can return to and live in Afghanistan, senior Taliban leader Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani said in an interview with Pakistans Geo TV.

According to him, "theres no enmity" between Talibs and deposed President Ashraf Ghani, Vice President Amrullah Saleh and National Security Advisor Hamdullah Mohib. "We forgive everyone from our end; from the general [who fought in the war against us] to the common man," the TV channel quoted him as saying on Monday.

He also called on Afghans fleeing the country to stay, adding that the propaganda claiming that the Taliban will seek revenge against them "is disseminated by enemies." The Taliban official vows that all ethnicities of Afghanistan can feel safe in the country. "Tajiks, Balochs, Hazaras and Pashtuns are all our brothers," he pointed out.
The Taliban radical movement (outlawed in Russia) said on Sunday it sends its fighters to Panjshir to take control of this Afghan province that refuses to recognize the Taliban rule.

According to a tweet on the account of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, hundreds of its fighters have been sent to Panjshir because the local authorities refuse to hand over control of the region peacefully.

A source in Panjshir said on Saturday that Ahmad Massoud, a son of Ahmad Shah Massoud (1953-2001), an influential leader of Afghanistans Tajik community, had embarked on talks with the Taliban on the establishment of an inclusive government and on settling political contradictions, TASS reported.

Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation and a member of the coordination council on peaceful transition of power in Afghanistan Abdullah Abdullah said on Friday that talks had begun with the Panjshir province leaders.
Though COVID-19 has brought challenges to the coffee industry, businesses can nevertheless seek to adapt by exploring innovative and value-added ideas for Vietnamese coffee.

A Da Lat-based La Viet Coffee in Hanoi. La Viet Coffee wants to promote its products with the tourism model across Vietnam when travelling resumes after the pandemic.  Photo courtesy of the firm

Coffee experts gathered at the RMIT Universitys International Business Forum 2021 last week to share how to promote the local commodity to the world.

According to the experts, Vietnam has consistently ranked among the worlds largest coffee producers and exporters in recent years. Even before COVID-19 and later throughout the crisis, many Vietnamese coffee businesses have made efforts to diversify their export markets, improve quality, leverage the potential of specialty coffee, and expand online marketing and distribution channels.

RMIT International Business Senior Lecturer, Abel Alonso, said: Responding to the current crisis through value-adding efforts and activities is crucial for Viet Nams coffee industry. Besides the established coffee house culture, many hospitality and tourism activities are making coffee their central product, especially in the post-COVID era.

Stakeholders in this industry should understand that future development requires increased focus on value-adding activities and raising awareness of Viet Nams specialty coffee, as success stories from other countries like Peru demonstrate, he said.

Based on a couple of recent studies related to Vietnam's coffee industry, RMIT Tourism and Hospitality Management lecturer Vu Thi Kim Oanh emphasised the efforts made by Vietnamese coffee stakeholders in the journey to bring Vietnamese coffee to the world.

Many stakeholders in the industry have taken specific actions to contribute to bringing Vietnamese coffee to the world. For example, tour companies, hotels, and coffee businesses have collaborated to build an experience model of a "coffee path", from farm to cup", or "from seed to cup" for visitors, Oanh said.

Sharing experience from Les Vergers du Mekong company, known for its Folliet coffee brand, General Director Le Van Dong said that strong market knowledge, a focus on reducing adverse environmental impact, and technology application have been key to their sustainable success for the past two decades.

We manage our supply chain very carefully. For instance, we have designed a traceability app, and frequently hold workshops and provide support to farmers so that our international quality standards are maintained. We also use eco-friendly packaging and are piloting organic farming. These are the basis for our competitive advantage and high sales, Dong said.

Speaking at the forum, Tran Nhat Quang founder and CEO of Da Lat-based La Viet Coffee, highlighted the potential of in-country export. When building their factory in Da Lat, La Viet combined their production facilities with a coffee shop in one space, so that visitors can enjoy their coffee while learning through visitation about the production process and products.

We have a two-hour tour of our factory and the roasting and brewing experience. We also have a one-day tour, which offers an in-depth experience for international tourists interested in local farming. This tourism model was very successful prior to COVID-19, and we intend to continue with it when travelling is enabled again, Quang said.

Quang now has coffee stores in the most tourists in Vietnam in Da Lat, Hanoi and HCM City.

According to Nguyen Van Minh, Deputy Chairman of the Vietnam Farms and Agricultural Enterprises Association, the coffee industry has been and will continue to be a mainstay in Vietnams international business.

Vietnam is gearing towards a smart, organic and value-adding agricultural sector. The coffee industry is part of this trend. Vietnam can improve the value of its coffee gradually by innovating, applying technology and creativity in new products, and attracting prestigious investors, he said.

The International Business Forum is organised by RMIT annually since 2017 to bring together leading international and Vietnamese experts, policymakers and academics to discuss key themes in international business with a Vietnamese context.

Initiated by RMIT Associate Professor Nguyen Quang Trung and chaired by Dr Abel Alonso, the annual forum aims to enhance the exchange of knowledge, useful experiences and best practices among domestic companies, multinational corporations, and key stakeholders in international business in Vietnam.

Source: Vietnam News

Coffee shop chains increase presence Despite the pandemic restrictions, the race to open more shops between coffee brands continues full steam ahead.
The HCM City Department of Industry and Trade has released guidance on safe production in the conditions of the fight against Covid-19 pandemic. There are six options:

Enterprises organize production in accordance with the three on-the-site principle  working, eating and resting on the site.

Three on-the-site solution

Enterprises organize production in accordance with the three on-the-site principle  working, eating and resting on the site.

The solution is suitable for enterprises of small and medium scale. However, enterprises will have to spend a lot to compensate workers, because they have to stay at the same place for a long time.

Not all businesses in the city have sufficient human and material conditions to meet the "3 on-site" requirements required by the HCM City authorities to maintain operations.

This is the solution which has the lowest risk for virus spread.

Three on-the-site according to working shift

Enterprises organize production and isolation of workers on the site in rotation, according to production shifts.

There would be at least two production shifts in rotation, with 50 percent of workers for each shift. Workers, after a certain number of working days, will have a rest and they will be replaced by the other shift.

All members of production shifts must test negative before joining the production process and before returning to their accommodations. Enterprises will determine the time for working and resting.

Companies will have to regularly test workers after every production shift and have a solution to control workers at their accommodations.

The solution allows enterprises to reduce allowances to be provided to workers who follow the three on the site regime.

This is believed to be a solution with medium risk.

The one route, two places solution

Only one route would be used to carry workers from their accommodations (dorms, hotels, concentrated houses for workers) to workplaces. Enterprises have to organize the transportation of workers between the two points.

With this solution, workers are not allowed to use their private vehicles and must not leave the concentrated accommodations.

Workers have to be tested every week and positive cases will be put under quarantine, and contacts will be traced.

Enterprises will have to find accommodations large enough for their workforce.

If implementing this solution, enterprises will be able to save money and time compared with the three on the site solution.

This plan has medium risk.

The expanded one route, two places solution

Enterprises have to organize concentrated accommodations in many locations, and organize the transport of workers from many different accommodations to the workplace.

Workers are not allowed to use private vehicles and cannot leave the concentrated accommodations. Enterprises will have to supervise the accommodations.

Workers have to be tested every week and positive cases will be put under quarantine, and contacts will be traced.

With the solution, enterprises can also cut the allowances for workers. Workers can return to accommodations after work. It improves productivity and is better for mental health.

This solution has a risk at a medium level.

Four green solution

The four green include green workers, green production areas, green accommodations and green routes.

Green workers mean that workers are vaccinated and test negative once every seven days.

Green production areas are areas where green workers strictly observe the 5k principle. Independent production areas are arranged to satisfy the requirements on pandemic prevention and control.



Green accommodations are residential quarters where green workers meet the requirements on pandemic prevention and control. All the people living together are vaccinated, have tested negative, and satisfy the requirements on green zone.

If the green accommodations no longer meet the requirements on green zone, workers will have to report to the enterprises immediately for re-arrangement.

The green routes are where where green workers can travel with their private means of transport between the green production zone and green accommodations in accordance with green routes, without stopping or staying. They must not go into high-risk areas.

This is a complex solution and enterprises need to control workers to be sure they always strictly observe the rules on pandemic prevention and control after they return to accommodations.

The solution allows enterprises to save time and money, ensures production capacity and maintains the workforce. It is better for psychological health and improves productivity.

However, the solution has a relatively high risk level.

The combined solution

Enterprises can apply all the above mentioned solutions in a flexible way. During the implementation process, they will need to mobilize different resources to serve production. They also need to ensure the separation of production units and the circulation of workers to ensure safe production.

Enterprises have to register their production solutions with the appropriate agencies of the city for approval.

Quang Dinh

'Three on-the-site' model to be adjusted to maintain production in the south 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.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has directed local authorities to perform rapid testing on a large scale. HCM City will conduct Covid-19 test for the entire population during the social distancing period to detect F0 cases as soon as possible.

Soldiers go to Ho Chi Minh City and the southern provinces to help fight the Covid-19 pandemic.

On August 22, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh signed a telegram on strengthening social distancing and measures to prevent and control the Covid-19 epidemic.

The telegram was sent to the Party Secretary and Chair of HCM City, and the provinces of Binh Duong, Dong Nai and Long An, Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, and government agencies; National steering committee for Covid-19 prevention and control; and the Government's special working group on prevention and control of the Covid-19 epidemic.

The epidemic situation is still very complicated in many provinces. With the view of putting people's lives and health first, the Prime Minister asked people and agencies above to focus on leading, directing and organizing thorough, strict, and drastic implementation of social distancing measures to prevent and control the Covid-19 epidemic.

The Prime Minister noted that communes, wards and towns are "fortresses", while people are "soldiers" in epidemic prevention and control who should explain, persuade, and request people not to go out.

The people's participation and compliance with regulations play a decisive role in epidemic prevention and control. This is the responsibility, duty and right of each citizen to protect the health of themselves, their families and the community. Victory over the epidemic is the victory of the people.

The Prime Minister requested the highest support in terms of human resources, medical materials, military and police forces and other necessary forces of the central government and localities for Ho Chi Minh City and the province of Binh Duong, Dong Nai, and Long An.

The Prime Minister stressed to ensure that people have the fastest access anytime and anywhere to healthcare services. Accordingly, healthcare services must be brought to the people. Timely supply of food and essential services to people in the area where social distancing measures are being strengthened, especially weak and vulnerable groups, was also emphasized.

The Prime Minister has called for rapid testing on a large scale in the above provinces and testing of the entire population of Ho Chi Minh City during the period of social distancing to detect F0 cases as soon as possible and promptly prevent the spread of the disease. The highest priority will be given to Ho Chi Minh City in vaccine allocation.

The Ministries of Health, Defense, Public Security, Industry and Trade, Agriculture and Rural Development, Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs, Transport, Information and Communication, Finance and relevant ministries and branches have been asked to give maximum support to the localities above.

Thu Hang
The World Bank (WB) has projected Vietnams GDP to expand by 4.8 percent in 2021, two percentage points lower than its previous prediction in December 2020.

The figure was released at a press conference held on August 24 to announce the latest edition of Taking Stock  the WBs biannual update on Vietnams economic performance.

The update highlights impacts on the economy associated with the most recent COVID-19 outbreak and the mobility measures adopted by the government to contain the pandemic.

Whether Vietnams economy will rebound in the second half of 2021 will depend on the control of the current COVID-19 outbreak, the effective vaccine rollout, and the efficiency of the fiscal measures to support affected business and households, and to stimulate the recovery, Rahul Kitchlu, World Bank Acting Country Director for Vietnam, said in the WB's press release on August 24.

While downside risks have heightened, economic fundamentals remain solid in Vietnam, and the economy could converge toward the pre-pandemic GDP growth rate of 6.5 to 7 percent from 2022 onward, Kitchlu added.

The report suggests that the authorities should address the social consequences of the COVID-19 crisis by improving the depth and effectiveness of social protection programmes. They should also watch out for rising risks in the financial sector, while greater attention should be given to fiscal policy since policymakers will need to find the right balance between the need to support the recovery of the economy and the necessity to maintain a sustainable level of public debt.

In addition to analysing the recent trends of the economy, this edition, titled Digital Vietnam - The Path to Tomorrow, focuses on what Vietnam needs to do to realize its ambition of becoming one of the most advanced digital economies in the world. The COVID-19 crisis has accelerated the digital transformation of the local economy as an increasing number of businesses in Vietnam are now offering their services online. The government has also enhanced the digitalisation of its procedures and databases./.

Source: VNA
HCM City has established a wellbeing center and prepared at least 2 million support packages for people in difficult circumstances.

A needy woman in Ho Chi Minh City receive financial aid.

According to Pham Duc Hai, deputy head of the HCM City Steering Committee for Disease Prevention and Control, the city has administered more than 5 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines. The city has established an additional 400 mobile medical stations in areas with high numbers of Covid-19 patients, providing first aid and medical care at home.

Regarding the preparation and supply of goods to people, there are two groups: the "green and yellow" and the "orange and red" groups.

There will be different support for each group. People in green and yellow areas are also divided into two groups: people who are allowed to go to the market once a week and people with difficult circumstances who will receive support packages from the welfare center.

For the orange and red areas, there are also two groups: those who can afford to go to the market once a week, and those in difficulties who will receive the welfare package, which will be delivered to their door by a special working group.

The city has provided people with nearly 3,000 shopping addresses. Along with the implementation of Resolution 86 and the Resolution of the HCM City People's Council, wards and communes in the city will provide additional support to the disadvantaged according to the provisions.

"The army will not distribute goods, but the special working group will deliver goods to the door," said Hai.

If there is a shortage of goods in any area, the city will send goods to the areas by trucks.

Regarding business activities, Hai said that enterprises would keep operating under the previous direction of the municipal People's Committee.

The city has tried its best, and has anticipated various plans and solutions. However, if there are any issues, people should immediately call the working group.

Ho Van
Thousands of soldiers, doctors and medical students have traveled to the South to support the fight against the Covid-19 epidemic with a high determination to stamp out the disease.

Nearly 300 medical staff and students of the Hanoi-based Military Medical Academy have departed to HCM City to assist southern provinces.

They are divided into 60 mobile medical teams with a total number 113 doctors, 2 officials, and 180 fourth year medical students. In the coming week, there will be more than 100 other medical teams to go to Ho Chi Minh City and the southern provinces and cities.

From August 21 to 23, it is expected that 1,000 officers, military medical staff and equipment will be transported to the South by air.

Lieutenant General Do Quyet, director of the Military Medical Academy, emphasized the spirit of "fighting the epidemic like fighting the enemy" at the farewell ceremony on August 21.

On the same day, 310 officers and soldiers of the Central Highlands Mobile Police Regiment, Ministry of Public Security, went to Ho Chi Minh City with the spirit of "The whole country unites, joins together, and emulates to fight against and win the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Ministry of Public Securitys mobile police force will coordinate with the Ho Chi Minh City Police and the Criminal Police Agency on duty at 12 gateway checkpoints. Each checkpoint will have 30 police officers, divided into three shifts to guard 24/7.

On August 21, the Logistics Department of the Ministry of Public Security also held a ceremony to send 11 chefs and 20 service staff to Ho Chi Minh City. They will work at the kitchens of the field hospital in Phuoc Loc commune, Nha Be district, Phuong Nam guesthouse and Phuoc Loc civil service house.

Also on August 21, nearly 200 students and lecturers of Bach Mai Medical College left Hanoi to HCM City. They are the first of 1,500 people who volunteered to go to the South to help the fight against pandemic. The remaining people will leave Hanoi on August 22 and 23. Most of them helped Bac Giang and Bac Ninh in the third wave of pandemic.

Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long said that, since the 4th wave broke out, the Ministry of Health and the provinces and cities in the North and central regions have sent more than 13,000 health workers to the south.

At the same time, five directors of central hospitals, namely Cho Ray, Bach Mai, Viet Duc, Hue Central and HCM City University of Medicine and Pharmacy, have been assigned to be the directors of the 1,000 bed Covid-19 resuscitation hospital in Ho Chi Minh City and four 500 bed Covid-19 intensive care centers of the Ministry of Health in Ho Chi Minh City.

Hanoi-based Bach Mai Hospital has sent many delegations to HCM City, most recently on August 18 with 200 medical staff, raising the total to about 500 people.

On August 21, 250 officers and soldiers of the Central Region Mobile Police Regiment based in the central province of Quang Nam went to the southern province of Binh Duong, one of the two largest epidemic centers in Vietnam.

This force will coordinate with the Binh Duong Provincial Police Agency to guard gateway checkpoints of districts and towns, and patrol to ensure security and order.

Previously, from May 15 to June 25, the Central Coast Mobile Police Regiment sent 120 officers and soldiers and 50 more soldiers on August 2 to Thua Thien - Hue Province to ensure security and order and prevent and control the Covid-19 epidemic.

Ho Chi Minh City has asked for Military Region 7 to send 2,060 military medical staff, including 400 doctors, 1,600 other medical staff, 30 ambulance drivers and 30 medical staff in ambulance to help the city. At the same time, the city proposed that major agencies of the Military Region 7 send 4,000 officers and soldiers and 30 ambulances to participate in the fight against the epidemic.

According to the HCM City High Command, since the epidemic broke out in HCM City, more than 30,000 officers, soldiers, militiamen and self-defense staff have participated in supporting the prevention and control of the Covid-19 epidemic in the city.

Nearly 300 medical staff and students of the Hanoi-based Military Medical Academy have departed to HCM City to assist southern provinces.

Officers and soldiers of the Central Highlands Mobile Police Regiment

Thousands of soldiers, health workers go to South to fight epidemic

Officers and soldiers of the Central Highlands Mobile Police Regiment.

Military forces participate in epidemic prevention and control in Ho Chi Minh City.

A bus carrying medical workers from Hanoi to HCM City on August 21. Photo: Hoang Anh

Thu Anh
And they accuse the government of a slow and disorganized response to the Afghanistan crisis. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab was on vacation in Greece as the Taliban swept toward the Afghan capital, returning a day after Kabul fell on Aug. 15.

Johnson spoke to Biden by phone on Aug. 17, two days after the fall of Kabul. In a bland statement after the call, Johnsons office said they resolved to continue working closely together on this in the days and weeks ahead to allow as many people as possible to leave the country. British media reported it took Biden 36 hours to return the British leaders call.

U.K. Armed Forces Minister James Heappey acknowledged that Britain would have liked a more conditions-based U.S. withdrawal, but he insisted the special relationship remains strong.

Of course when you disagree with your closest friend it hurts, it causes consternation on both sides of the relationship," he told Sky News. "But absolutely nobody should think that the U.S and the U.K. have anything but the deepest and strongest of relationships.
The Polish government said last week that 2,100 migrants had tried to enter Poland illegally from Belarus so far in August. Almost 800 of them got in and have been placed in state-run centers.

In response to the migrants' arrival, Poland said it had deployed over 900 soldiers to the border with Belarus and was reinforcing the border with 150 kilometers (93 miles) of barbed wire. On Monday, Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said more soldiers would be sent and a fence 2.5 meters (8 feet) tall would be erected on the border.

Blaszczak said the new border fence would be modeled on the one Hungary erected against migrants years ago on its border with Serbia, which is reinforced with coils of razor wire.

We are dealing with an attack on Poland. It is an attempt to trigger a migration crisis, he said at a news conference at the border.

Noting that Lukashenko's regime has ties to the Kremlin, Blaszczak said: We will not allow the creation of a route for the transfer of migrants via Poland to the European Union.
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.
NAVY

Navy previews $2.5B shipboard network recompete

The Navy has given industry a first glimpse at how the service branch plans to recompete its estimated $2.5 billion contract vehicle for hardware, software and other types of products and services for networks onboard surface ships.

A solicitation for the next Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services contract is anticipated to be released by the end of this current federal fiscal year on Sept. 30 or the fiscal quarter after that, the Navy said in a contracting notice. The new contract will have a 10-year base period.

CANES is intended to act as a tactical system that consolidates and modernizes five shipboard legacy networks for command, control, intelligence and logistics applications.

Round one of awards for the CANES effort took place in August 2014 and those went to BAE Systems U.S. subsidiary, General Dynamics, Global Technical Systems, Northrop Grumman and Serco Groups U.S. subsidiary.

CGI Federal and Leonardo DRS joined the program in January 2015 following protests by both companies.
CONTRACTS

Rite Solutions books new work with Navy's undersea warfare center

A Rhode Island-headquartered small business has won a five-year, $20 million contract to support submarine communications for the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division in Newport.

Rite Solutions will provide engineering and technical services to support submarine communications networks, including the Submarine Local Area Network and the Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services for all Navy submarines that fall under the warfare center in Newport.

Both SubLAN and CANES are enterprise submarine network systems that manage internal and external communications.

Specific services from Rite Solutions include systems engineering, in-lab integration and certification testing, onboard software installation, in-service engineering support, software and hardware configuration management, and system administration.

This contract will have us working directly with NUWC and our Submarine Forces as we support NUWC in providing the best possible network systems and solutions, says Laura Deady, senior vice president and director of engineering services at Rite-Solutions. It also adds talented personnel to our growing team of subject matter experts in all facets of submarine warfare, especially in our ability to support NUWC for these leading-edge communication systems.

The win is one of several Navy contracts the company has won in recent months.
PEOPLE

Sigma Defense Systems board adds former CACI tech chief

Sigma Defense Systems said Monday that its board of directors has elected a new member in Deborah Dunie, former chief technology officer at CACI International.

Deb's expertise in analyzing state-of-the-art technologies and her experience with integrating, building, and maturing rapidly growing platforms will be a very significant asset as we execute our go-forward plan, Sigma President Matt Jones said in a release.

Founded in 2006, Sigma is backed by private equity firm Sagewind Capital concentrates on integrating systems and sensors into broader technical solutions for ISR missions.

Dunie was CACIs technology chief from 2006 to 2014 and also is a member of the boards at Axient and Peraton.

Prior to CACI, Dunie served as director of plans and analysis in support of the defense deputy undersecretary for counterintelligence and security.

Her career in government also includes roles such as director of the business transformation office at what is now known as the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.
With Republicans fully opposed to the president's big plans, the Democratic leaders were trying to engineer a way out of a potentially devastating standoff between the party's moderate and progressive wings that risks Biden's agenda.

Pelosi's leadership sought to sidestep the issue by persuading lawmakers to vote to simply start the process and save the policy fight for the months ahead, when they will be crafting and debating details within the full $3.5 trillion budget proposal.

One by one, powerful committee chairmen urged their colleagues to move forward.

Theres a long way to go on legislative issues that are going to play out over the next month. But for the moment the argument here is about: Shall the House proceed," said Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass., the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.

It was unclear if the moderates were fully on board and as soon as one meeting broke, another private session was convened with them for further discussion. What had been a night of scheduled votes came to an unexpected standstill.
As Gov. Kim Reynolds prepared in June to announce she was sending Iowa State Patrol employees to the nations border with Mexico, the states top public safety leaders raised concerns whether her commitment would leave enough staff for law enforcement obligations in Iowa and run up a significant cost for sending personnel out of state, according to records obtained by The Gazette.

Further, the records reveal, the Republican governor and other top officials knew sending troopers to Texas could cost the state up to nearly $400,000  but they didnt share that information with legislators or the public for weeks.

On June 24, when Reynolds announced the deployment  which she said was in response to pleas from Republican Govs. Greg Abbott of Texas and Doug Ducey of Arizona  she asserted in a public statement she had been assured the move would not jeopardize public safety in Iowa.
BOSTON (AP)  Federal authorities announced Monday that men from Massachusetts and New Hampshire have been charged in connection with their alleged roles in a scheme that used stolen identities to fraudulently obtain more than $450,000 in disaster loans from the Small Business Administration.

About $250,000 of that money was used to purchase iPhones that were then resold, according to a statement from the U.S. attorney's office in Boston.

Edwin Acevedo, 35, of Acton, Massachusetts, and Hector Garcia, 49, of Manchester, New Hampshire were arrested last week and charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Garcia was also charged with aggravated identity theft.

Acevedo is being held pending a detention hearing. Garcia is scheduled to make an initial court appearance on Sept. 3.

An email seeking comment was left with Acevedo's attorney. Court records did not list a lawyer for Garcia.

Garcia used the stolen identity of a U.S. citizen to open a fraudulent bank account, which was linked to other fraudulent bank accounts set up to receive the loans, prosecutors alleged.
PHOENIX (AP)  The delivery of a report on the 2020 vote count to Arizona state Senate Republicans was delayed yet again Monday after the Donald Trump supporter hired to lead the effort and several others involved contracted COVID-19 and are quite sick, the Senate GOP leader said.

Republican Senate President Karen Fann said she still expects to receive a portion of the report Monday. She did not give a date for delivery of the full draft.

It's the latest delay for the unprecedented partisan review, which has so far taken more than double the 60 days it was originally supposed to take.

The report was commissioned by Senate Republicans and funded mostly by Trump allies promoting his unsupported election fraud narrative. It will not immediately be made public. Rather, two senior Republican senators will review it along with their lawyers and advisers to decide whether the findings are supported by evidence.

Fann said anything lacking sufficient backing will be removed.

We want to see their proof, their documentation, everything to make sure that the report that goes out is fully accurate," he said.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)  Opposing rallies that drew hundreds of people in Portland, Oregon, sparked clashes on Sunday.

The two groups had gathered in different parts of the city after a far-right group changed the location of its event.

The right-wing rally drew about 100 people in a parking lot of a former Kmart store and clashes began as it wound down, KOIN-TV reported. A van tried to drive into the parking lot, but crashed and the driver ran away. Demonstrators then began igniting fireworks and similar devices. It was not immediately clear whether anyone suffered serious injuries.

Later, shots were fired near demonstrators downtown. Dustin Brandon Ferreira, 37, a left-wing activist, told The Oregonian/OregonLive he was with others Sunday evening when a man used a slur against a Black man in the group and then fired multiple rounds in their direction.

Portland police said the man was arrested. No one was injured.

Demonstrations associated with anti-fascists had earlier drawn more than 200 people downtown.
A pair of young brothers had to take control of their SUV and steer themselves to safety when their dad was fatally shot Friday night while driving on a Texas freeway.

Their father, a 29-year-old man, had been driving a Toyota Sequoia on Interstate 10 in Houston with his sons, ages 8 and 6, when he was shot just before 11 p.m., Houston Police Department (HPD) Public Information Officer John Cannon told CNN.

The victim's sons then steered the SUV off the freeway to a strip mall parking lot where one of the children got out of the car and ran to get help, Cannon said.

Their father was pronounced dead at the scene and both boys were unharmed, he added.

Police are looking for the shooter and investigating a motive while piecing together what led to the fatal shooting.

"We don't know if it was targeting or road rage," Cannon said, adding that it may have been something else.

HPD is looking for a "white passenger vehicle," Cannon said.

Investigators will canvas the area to look for any witnesses and will review video footage from the cameras on the freeway to "see if this was captured at all," Cannon said.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP)  A prosecutor says an Iowa man seen in a videotaped confrontation with a police officer during the Capitol insurrection should be returned to jail until trial because he violated terms of his release by watching anti-government internet videos about the Jan. 6 attack.

Douglas Jensen was released in July after spending six months in jail. At the time, Jensen told a judge that he had been duped by QAnon conspiracy theories, saying he bought into a pack of lies and had since experienced a wake-up call.

Thirty days later, on Aug. 13, a pretrial services officer found Jensen in his garage in Des Moines listening to the news on a video-sharing website similar to YouTube that features anti-vaccine and anti-government content, according to a court filing Thursday.

Acting U.S. Attorney Channing Phillips wrote that the swift violation confirms what the government and the judge suspected all along: that Jensens alleged disavowal of QAnon was just an act.

Jensens defense attorney Christopher Davis declined to comment and said he planned to file a reply on Monday.
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We should call it The Rise of the Sociopath & Psychopathic era!

Theyre only give or take together about 4%, actually less of the total population, but that gives them 10 to 13 million strong in just the U.S.A alone (300,000,000 in the world basically) and they are allowed to control the other 96%. They fight among themselves to determine who gets to lead which organizations. With no empathy nor conscience, nothing gets in their way. Algorithms and AI are just power tools to use against the unsuspecting non-sociopaths/psychopaths

It has always been such, yet never in history has so much power been allowed Sociopath & Psychopathic tendencies and it has been allowed while we watch and go about our daily lives. This has been done through propaganda, governmental ordains, social media, main stream news, churches/religion and War

Why?

At our disposal are all the tools to make a world that never in history has been possible. Much of this is due to technology advances, yet our mindset has stayed in the medieval times. Another era that allowed social and psychotic running amok to prevail. These tools that we have and they are wondrous tools to behold are nothing more for the most part, toys for a small population to have and behold. Us peasants get some dangling carrots and are expected and literally we do, follow the trinkets until we die

After all, the iPhone clearly beats even one of the most famous  and a lot more recent  supercomputer that ever existed: IBMs 1997 Deep Blue supercomputer which beat Garry Kasparov in a historic chess showdown.

Source: Smartphone is millions of times faster than NASAs 1960s computers

We walk around with super computers in our hands all day long and all we can do is watch porn videos and play games, with a smidgen on news tossed on top.what does that tell you? This is only a small example of a single tool and that tool is minor compared to others we have at our disposal

Why Again?

I believe that sociopaths and psychopaths are with all their faults, much more able to focus and obtain their goals than whom we consider normal. Normal means just leave me alone.an invite to the few to compromise and manipulate that situation of just leave me alone. The look away and hope it goes away, the bury your head in the sand and hope it passes over, the ignore what you just saw and being scared of repercussions.is all an invite for tool users to use them against us

When you are faced with a person that has no remorse, no compassion, no care, no desires of normality and they do not fear anything, except failing at what they want.you either stop them dead in their tracks and or live with the repercussions of your ignoring what they do. The perfect example is, we have allowed something as simple as real biological facts to be manipulated as in

Understand everything from intersex to gender-expansive.

Source: How Many Genders Are There?  Gender Identity List

Then you stop to realize that normal is a dead aspect of life and we allowed it to happen. All the while we worried about the latest movie star scandal, the social and psychopaths were silently manipulating our world to meet their expectations.using the tools that we take for granted and never use properly ourselves

All those molehills that we see everywhere have become one huge mountain and it is supported by falsified and propagandized basics of life. Thanks to our own governments and social media whom are all there for us people. Right?

The reason I talk about this is:

I look around me and see what is and has happened. I also look at all of it and realize that if we spent the same energy focusing upon food, peace, comfort, knowledge, health and many other basics of life.instead of war, control, power, games, money and our own self-desires against the norm. Just think about what kind of world we could have?

Trillions of dollars spent on wars? Yet if we spent that on health? This is actually a basic example and should strike you as how far from the path we should be on, we have wandered

The Social and psychopaths are in charge of the hen house and we act like a bunch of chickens that have had their heads cut off

Running around, trying to figure out what happened and will find ourselves as dinner on the table sooner than later!

WtR
Ian Dagnall Commercial Collection / Alamy Stock Photo

En espanol | At 10:03 a.m. on Sept. 11, 2001, United Airlines Flight 93  headed from Newark, New Jersey, to San Francisco  crashed into a remote field just outside of Shanksville, Pennsylvania, a small borough of approximately 313 people located 60 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. And while the Flight 93 National Memorial provides a minute-by-minute look at what happened that day in Pennsylvania and around the nation, it never lets visitors forget that the real story is found in the heroism of the 33 passengers and seven crew members who gave their lives to protect others.

The memorial, run by the National Park Service, pays tribute to those brave souls who, facing certain death, chose to stop four terrorists intent on diverting the plane to Washington, D.C., with the goal of crashing it into the U.S. Capitol. Realizing that the plane had been hijacked, the passengers and crew made an agonizing decision. They took a vote to try to take the plane back, says park ranger Robert Franz, describing the events of that day. This memorial honors their courage and their strength, and the deep love that they had for others.

The memorial was established by Congress in 2002 and built in stages, after an international design competition that drew some 1,100 entries, by Paul Murdoch Architects and Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects. Ground was broken in 2011, and the visitor center complex finally opened in 2015, on the site of a former strip mine. It sits at the edge of a serene, bowl-shaped field that's encircled by a crescent of 40 groves of 40 maple and oak trees, radiating outward.


Drill Rig On Site at Horse Well

Melbourne, Aug 23, 2021 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Cohiba Minerals Limited ( ASX:CHK ) is pleased to announce that Titeline Drilling's rig has arrived at the Horse Well Project and is about to commence drilling (Figure 1*).Highlights:- Titeline Drilling on site and ready to commence deep, angled, follow-up drill hole from same collar location as HWDD_04 to test previously encountered mineralisation.- Two angled diamond drill holes will be drilled at Pernatty C, commencing early September.- Work on the Warriner Creek Project (Farm-In with Tigers Dominion Group) has commenced with EPEPR documentation, heritage survey planning and final drill hole locations.- The EPEPR for up to 12 additional deep drill holes at Horse Well is nearing finalisation with a heritage survey (lead by the Kokatha) the final step prior to site preparation and deployment.Following extensive investigations on the drill core from HWDD_04 it was decided that an additional deep drill hole from the same collar location was entirely warranted to further investigate the mineralisation encountered in the original hole. The follow-up hole will be drilled at a declination of 80deg to basement and then progressively shallow to around 65deg by 1,200 metres, with a planned total hole length of around 1,600 metres.The Company also intends to commence drilling at Pernatty C in early September 2021 where the drilling will target both a shallow conductivity anomaly trend identified from the Induced Polarisation survey as well as an IOCG magnetic target associated with a magnetic anomaly trend. The first two holes (PSDDH01 and PSDDH02) will be angled holes (70deg declination) drilled to the west-south-west (Figure 2*). It is expected that PSDDH01 will be drilled to around 900m while PSDDH02 will be drilled either to basement or the base of the Tapleys Hill Formation (THF) depending on observations made as the drilling progresses. These results will be assessed prior to making any decisions on further drilling.The Company has received positive feedback from the DEM SA regarding the EPEPR document for a new program of work at Horse Well which comprises up to 12 deep (+/- 1,500m) drill holes. A heritage survey is being organised with the Kokatha Aboriginal Corporation and their nominated anthropologist.Cohiba Minerals, Tigers Dominion Group (TDG) and Euro Exploration met to plan the roll-out for the first round of drilling on the Warriner Creek Project. All groups will work on the EPEPR documentation and TDG will manage the delivery of the heritage survey and any associated work.Cohiba's CEO, Andrew Graham said, "After several delays out of the Company's control we are pleased to have secured a quality drilling company in Titeline Drilling to undertake this strategic drill hole at Horse Well to further test the presence of mineralisation encountered in hole HWDD_04. In addition we will commence drilling at Pernatty C in early September with 2 angled holes that will target both a shallow conductivity anomaly trend identified from the Induced Polarisation survey and an IOCG magnetic target associated with a magnetic anomaly trend. The Company has also progressed the Warriner Creek Project with Tigers Dominion Group with key roles and responsibilities identified and agreed upon and planning for a 2 - 3 drill hole program already underway."*To view tables and figures, please visit:About Cohiba Minerals Limited

Cohiba Minerals Limited (ASX:CHK) is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange with the primary focus of investing in the resource sector through direct tenement acquisition, joint ventures, farm in arrangements and new project generation. The shares of the company trade under the ticker symbol CHK.

The Company recently acquired 100% of the shares in Charge Lithium Pty Ltd, which holds exploration licences in Western Australia.
PROMOTIONS

Yahima Hernandez has been promoted to director of operations at Total Management Systems, Inc. Hernandez began her career in the country of Cuba at the Nacional de Cuba hotel and has 19 years of experience in the hospitality industry, seven of which have been with Total Management Systems. In her new role, she will provide operational support to the company. Currently she is the general manager at the Home2Suites in Downtown Albuquerque. Total Management Systems is a New Mexico-based hotel management company that specializes in hotel management for Hilton, Marriott, Best Western and Choice properties throughout the state.

Amy Miller has been promoted to onboarding and Marriott peer advisor at Total Management Systems, Inc. Miller has 27 years of experience in hospitality and was named general manager of the year with La Quinta Hotels in 2008. She sits on New Mexico State Universitys School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management board of advisors and the Las Cruces Public School Readiness Committee. Miller is currently working as the general manager of the Courtyard Marriott Las Cruces at NMSU. Total Management Systems is a New Mexico-based hotel management company that specializes in hotel management for Hilton, Marriott, Best Western and Choice properties throughout the state.

Vince Van Ness has been promoted to senior vice president of flight operations at CSI Aviation, Inc. Van Ness will replace Curt Carlson, who is retiring. Van Ness formerly managed operational Defense Department contracts for L3 Communications and had a successful military career in the U.S. Army and Coast Guard. He was inducted into the U.S. Coast Guard Aviation Hall of Fame in August 2020. He has been with CSI Aviation for five years and before the promotion worked as the vice president of government services.

Heather Bogue has been promoted to premium audit manager at New Mexico Mutual. Bogue received her bachelors of business administration from the University of New Mexico Anderson School of Management and is currently working toward an associates in premium auditing designation. She has more than 20 years industry experience such as auditing, underwriting, general management and sales. She was with Associated Insurance Professionals of Albuquerque for 16 years before joining New Mexico Mutual in 2014. NM Mutual is the states largest writer of workers compensation insurance.

WELCOME

Abenicio Baldonado has been hired as the first education reform director at Think New Mexico. A New Mexico native, Baldonado earned his bachelors degree in political science and master of public affairs degree from New Mexico Highlands University. He taught government, economics and history in public school and later chaired the board of a charter school in Santa Fe. Most recently, Baldonado spent three years as the legislative liaison for the New Mexico Public Education Department. He has served as an ethics officer for the secretary of states office under both Democratic and Republican administrations and as legislative liaison at the PED under both political parties. In his new position, Baldonado will be focusing on developing and advocating for data-driven state and local education policies that are in the best interest of New Mexicos public school students. Think New Mexico is a nonpartisan think tank based in Santa Fe.

Andrew Hollinshead has been hired as the new technology innovation manager at New Mexico Mutual. Hollinshead earned a masters of business administration from Clarkson University and a bachelors of science in management from Siena College. He is a certified project management professional, and holds LEAN Six Sigma Black Belt and ScrumMaster certifications. He has 18 years of project management experience and previously worked as a program manager at SunTrust Banks, Inc., and as an IT project manager with General Electric both in New York and Atlanta. New Mexico Mutual is the largest writer of workers compensation insurance in the state.

Dave Nezzie has been hired as the food and agriculture policy officer by the Thornburg Foundation. Nezzie received his juris doctor from the University of New Mexico and is completing a masters in agriculture and food law at the University of Arkansas School of Law. He most recently served as a field representative for U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, focusing on food and agriculture work in Northern New Mexico and co-leading the offices response to COVID-19 in tribal communities. As policy officer he will lead the strategic initiative focused on food and agriculture policy concentrating on the advancement of policy reforms, planning efforts, research and other work to modernize food and agriculture in New Mexico. In his role he will be responsible for developing and managing a multi-year grant making portfolio averaging $1 million per year. Thornburg Foundation is a Santa-Fe based organization that makes grants in the areas of good government reform, early childhood education, agriculture reform, water policy and community funding.

Richard Draper has been named the state director for New Mexico at Comagine Health. Draper has worked as a corporate public affairs director for Intel Corporation and as a broadcast journalist in New Mexico, Oregon, Colorado and California. He served for several years as a board officer on Comagines board and cofounded Sandoval Health Collaborative. Draper will work with Comagines health board to will identify health needs, priorities and opportunities for NM communities, Comagine Health and its collaborators. Formerly Qualis Health and HealthInsight, Comagine is a national nonprofit health care consulting firm.

ETC.

REDW has announced its continued partnership with New Mexico United through the 2023 season. REDW first became a partner in 2019 and now adds the title of the teams official CPAs and advisors for Uniteds accounting, business and financial needs. REDW is a Top 200 Accounting Firm headquartered in Albuquerque with offices in Phoenix and Edmond, Okla.
The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, released recently, confirmed that human activity is warming the globe, primarily through emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Meanwhile, New Mexico regulators are considering adopting clean-car standards that require up to 10% of new cars sold in New Mexico produce zero carbon emissions in 2025.

So it makes sense that hydrogen fuel cells for powering trucks and vehicles are gaining renewed attention, particularly when considering that transportation accounts for about 40% of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.

Fuel cells provide all the benefits of electric power, including zero emissions from the tailpipe, and offer extended ranges and shorter refueling times, which is better for heavy trucks, trains and airplanes. A few technological challenges have hindered widespread adoption of this clean power source, but 40-plus years of research by Los Alamos National Laboratory and others, with funding from the Department of Energy (DOE) Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office Million Mile Fuel Cell Truck consortium, is on track to solve them.

For example, one barrier to large-scale adoption of hydrogen fuel cells has been the limited number of fueling stations  just about 50 nationwide. Furthermore, on the technology side, while fuel cells cars are available, they still need durability improvements for the life required for heavy-duty trucks.

If we can fix that problem, trucks make sense for establishing fuel cells as renewable power for transportation. Collectively, long-haul trucks account for about a third of the greenhouse gas emissions from transportation. As a transitional step, converting the fleet to run on hydrogen produced from natural gas would slash those carbon emissions by 40%, and those emissions can be captured and permanently stored underground to reduce the emissions to near zero. Producing hydrogen from renewable energy  the ultimate goal  would also reduce emissions to zero.

On the practical side, trucks run on regular routes, simplifying the initial build-out of hydrogen fuel stations  picture a string of them along Interstate 40, for starters. Those stations would make it easier for car drivers, as well, which would help develop the market in personal transportation.

The durability technological problem stems from degradation of the platinum-coated membrane in the middle of a fuel cell. To address that, at Los Alamos we are developing materials to make fuel cells more viable for long-haul trucking. Its part of our work as co-leader of the Million Mile Fuel Cell Truck consortium, which is aligned with DOE H2@Scale vision for clean and affordable hydrogen across multiple sectors in our economy.

New Mexico is in a great position to benefit from a hydrogen economy. In the short-term, natural gas facilities could be tapped to make hydrogen, keeping jobs in our energy-producing communities. In the long term, the states abundant solar and wind resources can be harnessed to separate hydrogen from non-potable water, with no negative environmental impacts. In making this transition, we can help reverse global warming while building a strong, sustainable energy sector for the states economy. Nothing short of our future is at stake.
Its 103 degrees and my son, Nelson, and I are in El Paso to meet Eva Moya, an associate professor in the Department of Social Work at the University of Texas at El Paso and to buy a freezer for a migrant shelter in Juarez named Respettrans. Originally a shelter for transgender migrants, there are roughly 240 migrants there now, mostly families.

And they have only one freezer.

Moya is part of an extraordinary program called Dignity Mission, which was started by Jack and Cheryl Ferrell in Placitas. When I last visited their home, they were loading a U-Haul van with roughly three tons of food and clothing to take to El Paso and unload in her garage. Moya and her volunteers would then take everything across the border to different shelters.

For the past decade, with an exception for COVID, Ive been making monthly trips to the border both to document conditions there and to assist a variety of local humanitarian programs.

In late 2018 when the migrant surge began, my wife and I began to also assist migrant shelters. So when I heard about Dignity Mission and Moyas role, I went to Respettrans with her and the need for the freezer became obvious.

At Home Depot we find two very helpful employees, Turi and Victoria, who find the Magic Chef freezer for us.

Then we head to Juarez in the dense Friday afternoon traffic. A Mexican customs officer notices the huge load in my car and stops us, but when I flash the Home Depot receipt he just waves us through. Nonetheless, crossing through Mexican customs is always the most nerve-wracking part of these trips.

The multi-story Respettrans building is close to the border bridge, and there is a narrow street next to its entrance where we can park in the shade  but its still 103 degrees. Most of the migrants here are from the Central American countries of Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, but we also meet a family from Ecuador and several from the state of Michoacan in Mexico. There are 24 newly arrived families, and Moya gives each one a backpack filled with basic hygienic items.

Grecia Herrera, the manager, joins us in a moment of extreme happiness as the Magic Chef is carried inside and these newly arrived families open their backpacks. I want to stay and wait for the first ice cubes to appear, but the heat has ground us down and night is coming. Its time to get back in the air-conditioned Subaru and head for El Paso.

Buying the Magic Chef is just a drop in the bucket compared to the needs of these migrants, but its a positive, visible gesture. Nelson, Moya and I feel a moment of satisfaction, even knowing that there is more to do.

Vice President Kamala Harris has now visited the border, former U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar will make a fine ambassador to Mexico, and the Biden administration will ease its restrictions. Nonetheless, humanity on the border will always depend on individuals like the Ferrells, Moya, Herrera and their many volunteer supporters. Its an honor to be able to work with them.

Morgan Smith, of Santa Fe, has been writing about border issues for the last decade and can be reached at Morgan-smith@comcast.net.
Fred Nathan Jr., founder of Think New Mexico, was always a bit on the serious side.

Ill paint a picture for you: I was the only kid in my elementary school who came to school every day with a briefcase, he says.

A recovering lawyer, Nathan started the think tank in 1999 in an unusual format  it is not associated with any political party or viewpoint and it doesnt just sit back and think. Instead, it works to translate its deep research into bipartisan approval for change.

Nathans latest victory was last years passage of the New Mexico Work and Save Act, which allows workers without access to a retirement plan to contribute to one through automatic payroll deductions.

Nathan says he was motivated to start Think New Mexico after working in then-Attorney General Tom Udalls office to pass landmark drunken-driving laws.

Fatalities dropped by nearly 20% in the following two years, and it demonstrated for me how laws can really  save lives, says Nathan, who won a Humanitarian Award this year from the Jewish Community Center.

But the seed was planted much earlier, when Nathan watched his mother become active in the pro-choice movement after her own experience trying to get an abortion in her home state of New York.

Nathans younger brother was developmentally disabled, and when his mother got pregnant again, his parents knew they wouldnt be able to care for a fourth child.

However, Frances Elson Nathan couldnt get a legal abortion unless she had letters from two doctors testifying that she was insane. She was definitely not insane, but she did get the needed letters, along with a sense of outrage about the fact that low-income women likely did not have such connections and had to resort to back-alley abortions.

She plunged into a life of activism, leading teams of women to Albany to successfully lobby for legalized abortion, becoming active in Planned Parenthood and founding the state chapter of the National Abortion Rights Action League, now called NARAL.

I can remember coming home from elementary school and sitting at our dining room table with my mother and a group of women as they put out a mailer and talked politics, Nathan says. My job was to seal the envelopes, which meant that I couldnt talk because my 10-year-old mouth was occupied. But I did a lot of listening.

So what was in the elementary school briefcase?

Often it was empty or carried a candy bar. Sometimes there was a book. I have four very close friends from back then, and they always find ways to remind me of this. They never pulled me aside and said. You know, you look ridiculous  with the briefcase.'

Is there a Think New Mexico project youre particularly proud of?

I would say our first project to make full-day kindergarten accessible to every child in the state. Back then  this was 1999  it was half-day kindergarten. It was really a misnomer, because it was only about 2 hours long. I remember explaining to legislators in the rural parts of New Mexico that kids were actually spending more time on the school bus going to and from school than they actually were in the classroom. The hero of full-day kindergarten was really Dee Johnson (now deceased wife of then-Gov. Gary Johnson), who became our biggest ally and I think was very helpful in helping to change the governors mind. He had said he was going to veto it, but had a change of heart.

How did you get to New Mexico?

Quite by accident is the short answer. The first time was in the summer of 1977  right before my junior year of high school, and I signed up to work with a wonderful non-profit called the American Jewish Society for Service. They sent me to San Miguel  west of Las Cruces, where they were building a park for a migrant community that didnt have any place for their children to play. We had the weekends off, and we traveled the state in this old school bus. Having grown up in New York, I was absolutely mesmerized by the beauty of the state and how friendly people were. I actually still am. And after law school, I decided to return. My parents back East told their friends, You know, Freddie, hes going through one of his stages. And that was 34 years ago, so its been a very long stage.

Whats on your bucket list?

Theres only one thing on my bucket list. My father worked until he was 90, and I probably will, too. But maybe when Im 80, Id like to scale up the Think New Mexico model and see if it might work in other states.

Do you have any hidden talents?

None. I am colorblind and tone deaf.

Whats a splurge for you?

I was raised by two Depression-era parents who taught me the difference between needs and wants. So splurging for me is two scoops of ice cream. Wait. I want to amend that answer. Two scoops of butter pecan ice cream.

Do you ever get to see a direct impact Think New Mexico has had on an individual?

Yes. For example, many of our summer interns now come from public schools and tell us they were one of the guinea pigs  the first people to encounter full-day kindergarten.

Have you had any failures that haunt you?

One that weve been working on for six years has been New Mexicos unique way of funding public infrastructure projects. Weve failed on making it a more merit-based process to prioritize and fully fund the states most urgent infrastructure needs. Its clearly needed, and weve struggled to gain traction, but were persevering. We never give up, so well keep bringing that idea up until its enacted.

Whats the best compliment youve ever received?

This humanitarian award, which I suppose (shows that) every dog has his day. Its nice to have our work recognized, but its especially meaningful when the award is coming from a group like the JCC thats done so much for so many. My wife is having a lot of fun with it. It used to be, Honey, please take out the trash, which has now become, Would the great humanitarian be willing to get off the couch long enough to take out the garbage? Ill never live it down.

FRED NATHAN, JR.  EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THINK NEW MEXICO

THE BASICS: Frederic da Silva Solis Nathan Jr., 60, born in New York City; married to Arlyn Eve Simon since 1999; three children, Arielle, 20, Asher, 16 and Aviva, 16; one dog, Witkin a mutt; law degree, Northwestern University, 1987; bachelors degree in political science, Williams College, 1983.

POSITIONS: Founder and executive director, Think New Mexico, since 1999; special counsel, New Mexico Attorney Generals Office, 1991-1998; associate, Sutin, Thayer & Browne, 1987-1990.OTHER: Board member, Think New Mexico; board member, Santa Fe Preparatory School, since 2015; legislative committee chair, New Mexico Foundation for Open Government, since 2017; trustee, Thornburg Foundation, since 2017; masters in public policy advisory board, University of New Mexico, 2017-2019.
Henning Jacobson was born in Sweden in 1856, but grew up in America.

He attended a Lutheran seminary in Illinois and was ordained in Kansas, only to be called to found a church in Cambridge, Massachusetts., an example of the Midwest civilizing the wild Northeast.

The New England Historical Societys website reports that Jacobson did more than conduct services in Swedish. He met arriving immigrants at the docks and brought them to Cambridge, where he found them work and places to live. For Swedish immigrants to Massachusetts, he was the social safety net.

He was also an anti-vaxxer.

In 1901, smallpox broke out in the Boston area. Smallpox carried a mortality rate of 30% in unvaccinated persons, according to Medscape. It blinded some victims. Survivors were often badly scarred.

As the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts observed: It is a fact of common knowledge that smallpox is a terrible disease whose ravages have sometimes swept away thousands of human beings in a few weeks.

The court added: It is equally well known that a large majority of the medical profession and of people, generally, consider vaccination, repeated at intervals of a few years, a preventive of the disease.

But a large majority isnt quite all. In Jacobsons time, as in ours, a few doctors could be found to question whether vaccinations helped at all, or might even be more harmful than the disease.

Today we know the vaccine was so effective it eradicated smallpox entirely. We cant fault Jacobson for lacking the benefit of that hindsight, of course.

Still, he seems a bit of a crank.

When the Cambridge board of health ordered that all adult citizens be vaccinated or face a $5 fine, Jacobson sued. He kept his suit going with the perseverance of a true believer, losing every step of the way. By 1905, his fight over the $5 fine had reached the United States Supreme Court.

That court, in an opinion by Justice John Marshall Harlan (namesake of one justice, grandfather of another), voted 7-2 to uphold Cambridges program of compulsory adult vaccination.

The opinion is chock full of quotable maxims, such as: Upon the principle of self-defense, of paramount necessity, a community has the right to protect itself against an epidemic of disease which threatens the safety of its members.

It also contains a pithy summation of libertarian thought: Even liberty itself, the greatest of all rights, is not unrestricted license to act according to ones own will. It is only freedom from restraint under conditions essential to the equal enjoyment of the same right by others.

Earlier this month, the federal Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals drew national attention for its rejection of a request for preliminary injunction by eight students of Indiana University who challenged the universitys vaccination mandate.

The IU website states bluntly: All IU faculty, staff and students are required to get vaccinated before returning to campus.

Exceptions are granted for religious or medical reasons, but the unvaccinated are required to wear masks and get tested twice a week.

Importantly, IU is a state university, so its actions are those of the state. States are restricted by the Constitution in a way private companies are not.

The Seventh Circuits opinion, written by a Reagan appointee, Frank Easterbrook (brother of journalist Gregg Easterbrook ), and joined by two Trump appointees, got straight to the point.

If Cambridge could require all adults to be vaccinated against smallpox, as the Supreme Court held in Jacobson v. Massachusetts, then there cant be a constitutional problem with vaccination against SARS-CoV-2.

Easterbrook pointed out that if the plaintiffs didnt like IUs precautions against COVID-19, they were free to attend college elsewhere. That sounds sensible until you consider just how difficult it is to transfer from one university to another.

Saying the plaintiffs could avoid the universitys mandate by enduring a massive disruption to their education isnt really the killer argument Easterbrook seemed to think it was.

The judge also pointed out that universities already require partial waivers of many constitutional rights as a condition of attendance. For instance, writing assignments infringe on your right to free speech. Your freedom of association is compromised by attendance requirements.

Being a student means choosing to give up some rights in exchange for education. To the extent a vaccine mandate implicates a constitutional right, then, its just one more trade-off among many.

The judge saved his best argument for last: Few people want to return to remote education  and we do not think that the Constitution forces the distance-learning approach on a university that believes vaccination (or masks and frequent testing of the unvaccinated) will make in-person operations safe enough.

Joel Jacobsen is an author who in 2015 retired from a 29-year legal career. If there are topics you would like to see covered in future columns, please write him at legal.column.tips@gmail.com
Unemployment rates are expected to dip back into the low single digits in the second half of 2021.

With the likelihood of a continued drop into 2022 and beyond, organizations need to have focused talent pipelining activities embedded in their strategic plans in order to be sustainable, let alone grow.

Targeting an often-overlooked subset of youth  those from marginalized communities who are committed to remaining the New Mexico  with paid internships is a powerful strategy that creates competitive advantage. Done right, such programs are a bona fide investment that pays off by helping leaders maintain full teams in the long term, while also strengthening the local community.

Creating competitive advantage entails moving first, thinking outside the box and investing in the future. Albuquerque has an abundance of later high schoolers and recent graduates searching for ways to establish career pathways that will move them beyond low-wage jobs. Work-based learning intermediaries, such as Future Focused Education in Albuquerque, can connect employers with these youth. Whether yours is a large or small business, establishing internship opportunities is a proactive move with immediate and long-term payback.

Heres why: People pigeon-hole young adult work into limited options  fast food, parks and rec, retail, and manual labor. Because of this, few other organizations are scouting the young adult labor pool. Doing so creates an exclusive talent pool of future employees that understands your role(s) and your culture.

The interns perform actual work, so they contribute to productivity immediately.

These interns are hungry to be part of work team. They have sincere appreciation for the opportunity provided, see a future not contemplated before and become more confident in a business setting, which often puts their productivity and passion into overdrive  for you.

On completion, you have trained, properly oriented candidates potentially ready for hire. Your interns are warmer and more informed than traditional candidates.

These interns are likely to accept your offer of a subsequent internship or permanent employment. You have become their employer of choice.

Getting there

How do you create an internship program for targeted youth at your organization? Embrace the fact that internship programs are not purely altruistic in nature. There is bona fide ROI for your organization. Its worth it.

Engage a partner organization to manage the program for you. Future Focused Education is local to New Mexico and offers turnkey capacity to manage the entire program for you. We will:

 Identify positions that blend learning opportunity for the interns and work that you need done today.

 Train and support your lead workers or supervisors who work beside and mentor the interns.

 Manage timekeeping, performance evaluation, and pay and benefit administration for the interns on your behalf.

You are likely familiar with the friends and family approach to internships  its not a long-term strategy and its certainly not scalable; HR and operational teams do not have extra bandwidth to create and manage these types of experiences, and, actually, you should not do it alone.

It is best practice to partner with such organizations as FFE that have requisite expertise, protocols and support systems that minimize your administrative work from start to finish. They engage schools and work with their staff to identify youth with the aptitude and aspiration to successfully complete an internship assignment at your organization. They also provide training to the interns that supplements your on-the-job training, while also training your mentors to be successful in their role. Their oversight and comprehensive management services optimize results for the interns, the mentors and your organization.

Mike May is director of Workforce Learning at Future Focused Education, a local work-based learning intermediary. May leads the X3 Internship team, creating ecosystems in Albuquerque and beyond in which marginalized local youth and young adults are supported in accessing pathways to industry exposure, training and employment. For more information, visit https://futurefocusededucation.org/x3-internship/. The executives desk is a guest column providing advice, commentary or information about resources available to the business community in New Mexico. To submit a column for consideration, email gporter@abqjournal.com.
In the classic 1967 movie, Cool Hand Luke, Strother Martins character, Captain, explained to Paul Newmans character, Luke Jackson, What weve got here is failure to communicate.

Like many more esteemed people than me, I have called for increased resources to the IRS to help close the tax gap. Republicans in Congress have blocked closing the tax gap as a means of funding infrastructure.

Giving the benefit of the doubt to the IRS funding detractors, perhaps the problem is that what weve got here is failure to communicate.

The tax gap is the difference between the amount collected by the tax system, currently about $3.6 trillion per year, and the amount that would be collected with full compliance with the law. Estimates range from about $585 billion to $1 trillion or more each year.

Perhaps a reasonable objection to added IRS funding to close the gap is fear that the agency will subject ordinary Americans to unwarranted examinations. This might be the case if new funding were used only to increase enforcement.

Circling back to these more esteemed people than me, former National Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olsen, and former IRS Commissioner Fred Goldberg, have pushed for added IRS resources to help close the tax gap.

To counter failure to communicate problems, Olsen and Goldberg provide some facts about how IRS resources should be used to deal with the gap issue.

Noncompliance with the tax laws is not the same as deliberately trying to evade taxes. The complexity of the law itself makes compliance challenging. Taxpayers need help, including IRS customer service.

In the old days, which included the early years of my tax career, people could call an IRS hotline and get answers to basic tax questions. These calls helped get the return right. Calling for IRS help is no longer an option.

Current audits are largely letters from the IRS. These letters are incomprehensible to the average taxpayer. People who get these letters usually dont know what the problem is or how they could resolve the issue.

Calls for added IRS resources include heavy investments in information technology and customer service. Both will help taxpayers to comply with the law in a non-threatening way.

Noncompliance includes paying too much tax because taxpayers lack information to properly report tax basis of assets sold. Use of modern information technology can allow IRS to help with the overpayment problem.

Modern data analytics can allow IRS to use artificial intelligence to create a feedback loop that looks for patterns of noncompliance. The system can learn from false positives that currently waste taxpayer and IRS time running down nonexistent fraud or identity theft.

Olsen and Goldberg say that matching reported income against documents provided to IRS and using a rule-based audit approach is low hanging fruit. These approaches will do little to close the tax gap.

Olsen also notes that less than 2% of the $3.6 trillion currently collected comes from IRS enforcement action. Voluntary compliance with the law is important. A change in approach that treats people in a way that reduces their desire to comply will likely lead to less revenue collected.

There is a knowledge gap between IRS employees and tax practitioners. This is a function of greatly reduced funding for IRS training. Olsen said that her 2,000 employees had to be trained on a base training budget of $20,000 annually.

Tax practitioners tell stories of excessive hours spent on IRS audits due to lack of training of IRS agents. Similar stories abound of hours wasted on hold on the phone. The same for trying to demystify and resolve computer-generated audit inquiries.

Olsen believes that added resources can be used to simulate the old face-to-face interaction with IRS personnel by using the video conferencing everyone uses on their smart phones.

Studies show taxpayers will show up for appointments with IRS personnel, even if done by computer or cell phone video. IRS letters with deadlines to reply are often ignored.

Maybe Congressional opponents of IRS funding are victims of failure to communicate. Unfortunately, I fear funding opponents may instead think its just their job to oppose the IRS. Cool Hand Luke said, Callin it your job dont make it right.

Jim Hamill is the director of Tax Practice at Reynolds, Hix & Co. in Albuquerque. He can be reached at jimhamill@rhcocpa.com.
Prior to the outbreak of the Mexican Revolution in 1910, wealth had become so concentrated in Mexico that an estimated 500 families controlled 80% of the nations land.

This factor helped push the country to a bloody revolution that lasted more than a decade.

An eerily similar statistic exists today in Mexicos export statistics. It is now estimated that 500 companies account for approximately 80% of the countrys exports to the world.

This is not a good statistic, as it reveals that the vast majority of Mexicos micro-, small-, and medium-sized companies, often referred to by the acronym mipymes (micras, pequenas y medianas empresas in Spanish), are not taking advantage of the world market.

I try to help Mexican entrepreneurs as much aspossible, because successful businesses south of the border help create jobs, wealth for owners/investors, reduce poverty and keep desperate Mexicans from being forced to migrate.

Just recently, I was speaking to a colleague who is involved in economic development in Mexico. He was lamenting the various challenges there are in assisting the mipymes. Not surprisingly, the challenges are similar on both sides of the border, however with some unique situations in Mexico.

Access to capital and financing is a concern for both Mexican and American small businesses. However, there are a myriad of financing and loan guarantee programs in the U.S., administered by various agencies such as the SBA. In Mexico, any types of these programs that are available at the federal level tend to be sporadic and can vary greatly by presidential administration. This is the same case at the individual state level. This results in the inability of smaller Mexican businesses to grow.

Counseling and education in marketing and logistics for mipymes is a tremendous challenge in Mexico. I have worked connecting Mexican mipymes with U.S. small businesses via programs in the State of Chihuahua that I considered to be very effective. However, every gubernatorial administration has its own economic development goals, and often programs get defunded, absorbed into larger bureaucratic agencies, or outright scrapped. This is very frustrating because when tangible progress is being made, a business can be left in the lurch.

Venturing into a foreign market such as the U.S. is a whole new ballgame for mipymes. For a few years, I have assisted a festival for Mexican arts in the U.S. Mexican artists who want to export their goods to the U.S. jump at the opportunity to participate. However, they need to be counseled on labeling requirements and customs procedures. There are certain materials, such as animal skins, that might be restricted or prohibited for import in the U.S. This requires a careful review of individual products and making sure they are in compliance before they reach U.S. Customs and Border Protection. If not, items can be confiscated or even destroyed, which is always a blow to a small business. More often than not, these small businesses are not aware of these requirements.

Mipymes usually do not have a clue about the logistics of getting their product from their point of origin in Mexico to the final consumer in the U.S. Many rely on friends or family members in the U.S. for advice, which oftentimes leads to problems. A knowledge of distribution channels, costs at each stage of logistics, and critical items such as insurance is necessary for success. A bad initial experience can dissuade a small, Mexican business from ever attempting to export its products/services.

Equally important is knowing how to financially conduct a transaction. Is the company capable of accepting credit cards or bank transfers? Does the company have a website through which orders can be placed? How should a transaction be conducted  50% down upon having the order placed, and the remaining 50% when the product is delivered?

Avoiding problems by conducting due diligence ahead of time is the best approach. However, if problems do occur it is imperative that a small business knows what resources exist in order to work through these. Does the company have anybody in charge of customer service who can speak English or who has access to an interpreter? I have spent a lot of time translating business deals between American and Mexican small businesses. A lack of understanding of what the other side is communicating is a recipe for disaster.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, small companies account for 98% of all exporting firms and 33% of total U.S. exports. This demonstrates how important small businesses are to the nation. Mexico needs to reverse its low percentage of smaller businesses that export to the world. Trade fairs, programs and marketing materials will help. Especially important are the establishment of effective and sustainable counseling programs to get the products/services of its smaller businesses into foreign markets and to sustain these exports.

Small business challenges to exporting are very similar in both Mexico and the U.S. However, Mexico faces a much steeper climb in placing its small businesses firmly in the global market.

Jerry Pacheco is the executive director of the International Business Accelerator, a nonprofit trade counseling program of the New Mexico Small Business Development Centers Network. He can be reached at 575-589-2200 or at jerry@nmiba.com.
Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA ROSA  As a former certified nursing assistant, Dennis Ryan understands the importance of adequate staffing to help care for residents in nursing homes.

Sometimes, he said, a person wants more than just help addressing physical needs.

Theres nothing wrong with sitting on the edge of the bed and shooting the bull, he said in a recent interview.

Ryan, 75, is a resident at Vecino Sanos Assisted Living Center in Guadalupe County, where a confidential complaint in June, state officials say, raised concerns about health and safety. Since then, residents interviewed by the Journal say theyve seen improvements.

State officials cite the changes at Vecino Sanos  including the appointment of a temporary administrator to complement the existing staff  as an example of the importance of getting more eyes and ears inside facilities that care for some of New Mexicos most vulnerable residents, especially as the states population of older adults grows.

They are hoping that as New Mexicans visit friends and relatives in nursing homes and similar facilities, theyll alert the state to any potential problems.

To support that effort, the state Aging and Long-Term Services Department is aiming to expand its network of volunteer ombudsmen from 50 to 200 to help better cover the state.

Once trained, volunteers are assigned to a specific facility within their area and asked to commit to three hours a week.

The ombudsmen serve dual roles  comforting residents while strengthening accountability at long-term care facilities, officials say.

Changes at Vecino Sanos, for example, came after a complaint came through the ombudsman program, state officials said.

Volunteers are an essential aspect of the ombudsman program, said Gigi Greco of the ombudsman program.  If you see something, say something.

When complaints come in, the Department of Health investigates by reviewing records, conducting interviews and doing observations. The person who filed the complaint isnt identified in any statement of regulatory violations issued to the facility, according to the state.

The state has the option of pursuing receivership, a legal process that allows the Department of Health to take over a facility temporarily.

That wasnt the case for Vecino Sanos, where the governing board agreed voluntarily to make changes, according to state officials.

In fact, Rebecca Maes, administrator at Vecino Sanos, said she sought help from state agencies before the June incident that triggered a broader state response.

Smaller communities in New Mexico, she said, need more resources, especially for mental health care.

In any case, Maes said that she is thankful for the state help and that Vecino Sanos will continue providing unconditional loving care to the people who live there.

The residents are being taken care of, she said. Theyre in safe hands.

Purvi Mody, special director for the Department of Health, said the state is pushing to build a cooperative relationship with long-term care facilities. In some cases, she said, the cooperation can allow residents to stay in their home facility rather than be moved to a new one.

The state has a lot of resources to help a lot of these small communities, Mody said in an interview.

But Katrina Hotrum-Lopez, secretary of the Aging and Long-Term Services Department, said the state will step in more aggressively when needed.

The pandemic left many residents feeling isolated, she said, underscoring the need to monitor conditions in long-term care facilities.

New Mexico moved quickly during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic to restrict visitors at nursing homes and long-term care facilities. Most visits were banned for about five months.

A county-level system of varying restrictions was later imposed. In June this year, the state issued new rules allowing in-room visits between fully vaccinated residents and guests without social distancing.

Now that were opening back up, Hotrum-Lopez said, we want the public to know our goal is to protect every single resident in a facility.

The push to expand monitoring in group homes comes as New Mexicos population is skewing older.

Over the past decade, the number of older adults in New Mexico climbed while the under-18 population shrank, according to analysis by the Legislative Finance Committee.

At Vecino Sanos, resident Leella Baker, 77, said she has seen workers doing repairs at the facility, which she appreciates.

Its a nice place, she told the Journal. All the nurses are really nice.

Ryan, the Air Force veteran, said the key to more improvement is the hiring of additional aides to help the residents.

Thats been the main sore spot at this place, he said, not having enough help.

Volunteer program

 Call 1-866-451-2901 to learn more about volunteering for the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program.

 Call 1-866-654-3219 or 1-505-476-4912 if you suspect an adult is being abused, neglected or exploited.
Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

Congress is gearing up to approve the largest federal investments in infrastructure and social programs since the Great Depression in the 1930s, and New Mexico could reap huge benefits.

A two-day visit to New Mexico last week by U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm highlighted some of the local industries and communities that could directly benefit from billions in new federal investment in everything from highways, bridges and water infrastructure to transmission development, clean energy projects and environmental remediation.

Its all part of President Joe Bidens plan to rebuild national infrastructure to better compete in the global economy and fight climate change at every level. At its core is a clean energy revolution that could transform the countrys electric grid to 100% non-carbon generation by 2035, while setting the entire economy on a path to carbon neutrality by mid-century.

As the countrys third-largest oil-producing state, New Mexico will confront immense challenges in the shift away from fossil fuels, and Bidens investment plans are by no means guaranteed. The president faces huge hurdles in Congress, with Republicans firmly united against much of the massive spending proposed by Democrats. And Democratic legislators themselves are divided over many of the federal initiatives, making the amount of funding that could emerge from Congress uncertain.

But the U.S. Senate already approved a $1.2 trillion infrastructure investment package in a broad bipartisan vote supported by 19 Republicans. And if approved by the House, that package alone would generate billions to shore up New Mexico infrastructure and help diversify the local economy away from its traditional dependence on fossil fuels.

A huge part of all new investments would specifically benefit local communities most affected by the transition to clean energy and most affected by adverse environmental consequences from decades of fossil-fuel production. Thats also at the core of Bidens plan under an executive order he issued in January known as the Justice40 initiative, which requires federal agencies to direct 40% of all climate and clean-energy spending going forward to marginalized, underserved communities in rural and urban areas.

Secretary Granholm highlighted that commitment during her two-day visit last week, which included stops in a low-income community in Albuquerques International District, as well as meetings with businesspeople, economic development professionals and political and tribal leaders in the Four Corners area.

The president is focused on environmental justice, Granholm told residents at an International District community project thats turning low-income renters into homeowners. Those are not just words, but a clear part of the agenda.  The goal is to get 40% of investments into front-line communities that have experienced the worst impacts from climate change.

Where the rubber hits the road

The community project, spearheaded by East Central Ministries, has assisted 13 families in developing a cooperatively run housing program in which residents make an average monthly mortgage payment of $600 on their homes.

Albuquerque-based Prosperity Works is now heading a project to provide free energy-efficiency upgrades to those homes. That lowers energy consumption, reducing monthly bills and emissions while improving indoor air quality, said Prosperity Works founder Ona Porter, who led Granholm on a tour of one housing unit.

Weve already provided energy upgrades for 300 homes in the South Valley, Porter told the Journal. This is a new phase of the project in the International District.

The Senate-approved infrastructure investment bill includes $3.5 billion for similar home-weatherization programs, Granholm told community members. And Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., who accompanied Granholm, is pushing a new Zero-Emission Homes Act that could provide $10 billion more for energy-efficiency efforts nationwide.

The long-term goal is to electrify homes and buildings everywhere, replacing appliances and heating and cooling systems that use fossil fuels such as natural gas with electric-based systems that draw power from renewable energy sources, Heinrich said.

This project is an excellent example at the local level of what were doing at the national level, Heinrich told community residents.

Democratic House Rep. Melanie Stansbury, who also joined Granholm, said the International District program reflects the type of Justice40-focused investments that will benefit low-income neighborhoods everywhere. Apart from home energy efficiency, federal investments will also upgrade public transportation, water infrastructure, and climate resiliency in underserved communities.

This is where the rubber hits the road, Stansbury said. This shows how efforts to address climate change touches down in our communities and inside our homes.

Four Corners investment

Apart from low-income urban neighborhoods, the Justice40 investment focus will especially benefit the Four Corners area, where closures of coal mines and coal-fired power plants threaten to eliminate thousands of jobs and local tax revenue.

Granholm held a community round table in Farmington to discuss those issues, and also met with Navajo Nation President Jonathon Nez and members of his Cabinet. The tribe is particularly affected by the shutdown of mines and plants, which employ hundreds of tribal members.

San Juan County is one of 25 coal-heavy regions across the nation that a federal interagency working group is targeting for investment to assist in the transition away from fossil fuels. The group has identified $38 billion in potentially available funding. And in July, the U.S. Commerce Departments Economic Development Administration allocated $300 million for the targeted coal regions, plus $100 million for tribal communities, using money approved in March for pandemic-relief efforts.

Federal investment could help finance clean energy projects in the Four Corners area, particularly efforts to convert the region into a hydrogen production hub. The Senate-approved infrastructure bill would provide $25 billion for clean energy demonstration projects, including billions for advancing hydrogen technology to lower the costs of production, and to set up at least four hydrogen hubs around the country.

Private investors are already pursuing some large-scale initiatives in the Four Corners that could receive DOE funding. And during her visit, Granholm toured two businesses in Farmington and Albuquerque that are marketing newly developed hydrogen technology.

Well have billions of dollars to fund the hydrogen hubs, Granholm said. We want to develop a whole hydrogen supply chain.

Cleanup, wind development

The Four Corners and the states oil patch in southeastern New Mexico will benefit as well from $21 billion in new federal funding to plug orphan oil and gas wells on federal and tribal lands nationwide, clean up abandoned mines, and remediate brownfield and Superfund sites. There are an estimated 708 orphan wells across New Mexico eligible for funding, according to the DOE.

In addition, the infrastructure bill includes $60 billion for transmission development and grid modernization, something that New Mexico is aggressively pursuing to open up the states gusty eastern plains for a lot more wind generation.

Transmission is the foundation to get to 100% carbon-free generation by 2035, Granholm said during a roundtable discussion on that issue with industry leaders in Albuquerque.

Apart from the infrastructure bill, Congress is also debating a much bigger, $3.5 trillion investment package for education, health care and expanded clean energy programs. It remains to be seen how much will actually be approved, but that bill could include up to $300 billion in new tax incentives for solar, wind and other non-carbon generation, which could spur a lot more renewable development across New Mexico.
Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

Q: Whats it all about?

A: The U.S. Senate passed a $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act on Aug. 10 that, if passed by the U.S. House of Representatives, would represent the largest national effort to modernize the countrys infrastructure in decades. Most of the money comes from reauthorizing previously approved spending on existing public works programs and redirecting unspent pandemic relief money. But it also calls for about $550 billion in new spending on everything from roads, bridges and water projects to electric grid modernization, broadband development, climate change resilience and environmental remediation. Its considered the first step in President Joe Bidens plan to modernize national infrastructure to better compete in the global economy. At its core is a clean energy revolution that could fundamentally transform the countrys electric grid, the transportation system, industrial production and commercial and residential consumption away from fossil fuels to combat climate change, potentially creating a non-carbon economy in the U.S. by midcentury.

Q: What is the reconciliation bill?

A: Simultaneously with the infrastructure bill, the Biden administration is seeking congressional approval for a much larger, $3.5 trillion spending package that would significantly expand clean energy and climate-related investments while also pouring billions into social programs such as education, health care and anti-poverty efforts. On the energy front, the bill could potentially include:

 Up to $300 billion in tax incentives for new solar, wind and other clean energy investments.

 Payments to utilities that work to rapidly transition their grids to non-carbon generation  and fines for those that dont  to reach 80% non-carbon generation by 2030.

 Import tariffs on products based on the carbon intensity of manufacturing them.

 Fines on oil and gas producers who leak greenhouse gases from production infrastructure.

 Consumer tax credits for electric vehicles, rebates for energy-efficient home products and appliances, and expanded low-income assistance to weatherize homes and upgrade energy systems.

On the social front, the bill could include things such as paid family and medical leave, subsidized child care, expansion of child tax credits, universal prekindergarten, tuition-free community college for up to two years, broadening of Medicare to cover things like dental and vision, and a reduction in prescription drug costs by allowing Medicare to negotiate prices.

Senate Democrats will seek to pass the bill through a process called reconciliation which allows legislation to be approved with a simple majority rather than the 60 votes needed for other bills. Republicans criticize the reconciliation bill for excessive spending that would contribute to the federal deficit while relying on new taxes on the wealthy to pay for much of it. No Republicans are expected to support it in either the Senate or the House.

Q: Whats in it for New Mexico?

A: An initial White House analysis of state-level impact from the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act shows that, if approved by the House and signed into law by Biden, New Mexico would receive nearly $4 billion in new money over the next five years just based on federal formula funding. That includes:

 $2.5 billion for highway programs, plus $225 million for bridge replacement and repairs.

 $366 million to improve public transportation.

 $38 million to expand electric vehicle charging stations.

 $100 million to improve broadband coverage statewide.

 $38 million to protect against wildfires, and $13 million to defend against cyberattacks.

 $355 million to improve water infrastructure.

 $90 million for airport-related development.

Those totals, however, are conservative, because New Mexico would also be able to compete for funding under various multibillion-dollar grant programs included in the act. That includes $12.5 billion in grant money for bridge investments, $16 billion for major projects that deliver substantial economic benefits to communities, $2.5 billion for electric vehicle charging infrastructure and $25 billion for clean energy demonstration projects.

Many New Mexicans can also benefit from $3.5 billion in new federal funding for home weatherization and energy-efficiency upgrades.

In addition, the reconciliation bill could bring far more investment to New Mexico if approved by Congress. But its still uncertain how much funding will actually be passed by Senate and House Democrats, who are now debating the contents of that bill. And approval likely wont happen until the fall.
SANTA FE  New Mexicos top education official during the pandemic headed into his final hours in Santa Fe saying outdoor classrooms could have allowed more in-person instruction when schools were closed last year and may be key to addressing parents masking concerns.

Education Secretary Ryan Stewarts last day was Friday, two years into his term, after he resigned, citing the need to be near family as his father faces serious illness.

Earlier this month, Stewart spoke with The Associated Press about the Public Education Departments accomplishments under his tenure and what he would have done differently during the pandemic.

As a former director of education innovation, first at a Philadelphia school district and later a nonprofit based in the same city, Stewart was brought to New Mexico to bring sweeping institutional change.

Before the pandemic, he oversaw the elimination of teacher assessment systems long criticized by Democrats for being punitive in a state that struggles with teacher recruitment and retention. His department also digitized more aspects of the educational bureaucracy and pioneered a new funding system to target poverty at the individual school level.

Most reforms have been blunted, slowed or eclipsed by the urgency and scope of the pandemic, which left thousands of students isolated, their only education facilitated through paper packets. The true scope of technological deprivation during the pandemic, as well as unfinished or lost learning, has yet to be fully documented.

Stewart said he has been pushing for outdoor learning, telling education leaders he could fund shade structures, furniture, and staff training.

Ive been pushing on all of these calls. Im like, Hey guys, masks are a big issue in your community. You dont want to wear them? Well help you. And let us know what you need. Lets get an outdoor learning program going. Then your kids dont have to wear masks. And they like being outside,' Stewart said.

He said there werent any takers among state superintendents.

School districts with 100 students or less were allowed to stay open, with regular COVID-19 testing.

Some private schools also offered classes in person. The United World College, a residential high school with around 200 students, kept the virus under control by isolating from the surrounding community. The Tutorial School in Santa Fe held outdoor classes.

Officials at Santa Fe Public Schools said last year they were ordering shade structures with their own funds as part of an existing outdoor learning plan. But outdoor classes never happened on a large scale.

Stewart urged superintendents to consider outdoor schooling again, as parents keep kids out of school due to concerns about rising infections and, conversely, protests over masking requirements.

While the pandemic shut down some attempts at innovation, it drove others by forcing teachers to catch up to the 20th century.

From Las Cruces to Santa Fe and Farmington, the 2020 fall semester started with some teachers not having at-home internet or their own computers. Some didnt really use email, let alone videoconferencing.

Weve moved everybody up to a baseline of understanding email, videoconferencing and learning management systems, Stewart said.

Many students didnt have computers until December or later, missing direct engagement with teachers through the entire fall semester. Supply chains were strained across the globe, with every school ordering laptops at about the same time.

In Lovington, a small district in eastern New Mexico, Stewart will be remembered for his role in securing laptops for students after a vendor fell short on promises to deliver them by September.

Still, he acknowledges there were areas where the state could have moved faster.

Stewart leaves New Mexico with unfinished business ranging from the lowest education outcomes in the country to an unresolved long-standing lawsuit over a lack of adequate educational opportunities for Indigenous and Hispanic children.

The Public Education Department continues to challenge a 2018 court judgment that found education in the state falls short of constitutional requirements for up to 80% of the children  Native Americans, English language learners and those in low-income households.

Stewart says he developed a blueprint to address the lawsuit, but it wont be released until after he leaves. PED consulted with dozens of education and other advocacy groups for the draft but didnt include the plaintiffs who could ultimately agree to close the case.

Since the case is still pending, Stewart said that complicates efforts to work directly with the plaintiffs attorneys.

Stewart cited progress in Native American education, from a seismic shift in funding to schools in Indigenous communities to increased funding for Indigenous language education.

Its possible that Stewarts largest contribution to New Mexicos school system is one of the least known.

Working with the state tax department, education officials created a new way to target poverty-stricken schools by creating a detailed index of family income. Stewarts innovation was to tap into data that his department is not allowed to see  tax returns  and get it aggregated by school area.

With some $30 million set aside for around 100 schools serving the poorest communities, the pilot project will generate data that the Legislature could use to consider expanding the funding formula.

Im super-proud of the Family Income Index. I think that its a really good (example) of state agencies coming together to try to work and solve a problem, Stewart said. I think were going to look back in five years and say (were) really glad we did that and other states are copying us.
PHOENIX  Police in Phoenix are investigating a series of unrelated weekend shootings that left four people dead and others seriously wounded.

The dead include a 16-year-old boy who was shot early Sunday while leaving a party that had been broken up and one of two men shot inside a hotel near Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport before dawn Sunday, police spokesman Sgt. Andy Williams said.

No one has been arrested in any of the four fatal shootings reported since Saturday afternoon.

The first shooting happened at about 1 p.m. Saturday in south Phoenix. Williams said arriving officers found a wounded man and he was pronounced dead at a hospital. The man apparently got into an argument with a group of people that ended in the shooting. The gunman fled.

The second incident happened at about 8:30 p.m. Saturday in west central Phoenix. Officers found two men with gunshot wounds. One was dead at the scene and the second is hospitalized in critical condition. Its unknown what led to the shooting.

The teen boy was shot as a party in north-central Phoenix broke up at about 1:40 a.m. Sunday, Williams said. Officers found him wounded near the party and he died at a hospital.

The hotel shooting happened at about 5 a.m. and officers found two men, one dead and one critically wounded. Williams said witnesses heard yelling and an argument before the gunfire erupted.
NEW YORK  A superstar-laden Central Park concert meant to celebrate New York Citys recovery from the coronavirus was cut short because of severe weather as Hurricane Henri approached.

Officials asked concert-goers to leave the park during Barry Manilows set amid the threat of lightning. New York City police on Saturday night told concertgoers via Twitter to calmly move to the nearest exits and proceed to areas outside of the park. This is NOT an emergency.

After some confusion over whether the concert might resume, Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted, While its disappointing that tonights concert had to end early, the safety of everyone in attendance had to come first.

The highly promoted Homecoming Concert featured Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon, Jennifer Hudson, Carlos Santana, LL Cool J and Andrea Bocelli among the performers.

Saturdays event came after a series of hip-hop concerts in the last week at outdoor venues around the city.

The concert kicked off amid worries about the contagious delta variant of COVID-19.

New York City over the past week has averaged just under 2,000 new cases of COVID-19 a day, according to state statistics. Thats up from just under 200 cases per day in late June. Only about 54% of all city residents are fully vaccinated against the virus.

Those who attended the concert, the majority of tickets for which were handed out for free, had to show proof of vaccination.
AMARILLO, Texas  A man was fatally shot by Amarillo, Texas, police after opening fire on officers who approached him while looking for a different man on felony drug charges, police said Saturday.

George Michael Mireles, 34, died at a hospital where he was taken following Fridays shooting at an apartment complex, Police Chief Martin Birkenfeld said in a statement.

Officers had approached Mireles because he resembled the man they were searching for, police say. Birkenfeld said police later learned Mireles was wanted on a felony drug charge.

Police say they later found the man they were looking for and arrested him.
CANBERRA, Australia  Australias prime minister says Australian and New Zealand officials evacuated more than 650 people from Kabul Airport over Monday night.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that Tuesday five flights had left the airport in the busiest day of Australian involvement in evacuations since the Taliban took control of the country.

Morrison told Nine Network television that the evacuated people included Australians, New Zealanders and Afghans.

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MORE ON THE CRISIS IN AFGHANISTAN:

 Deadly gunfire at airport; Taliban insist on US pullout date

 UK struggles for influence as Afghan crisis strains US ties

 Kabul airlift is accelerating but still hampered by chaos

 When the music stops: Afghan happy place falls silent

 For Afghan refugees in India, hopes dim for returning home

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 Find more AP coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/afghanistan

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HERES WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:

CAIRO  Egyptian state media say the government has evacuated more than 40 of the countrys citizens from Afghanistan.

The official MENA news agency says a military plane carrying Egyptian citizens from Afghanistan landed in Cairo late Monday.

The 43 evacuees include the staff from the Egyptian Embassy in Kabul and clerics from Al-Azhar, which is the Sunni Muslim worlds foremost religious institution.

A local TV station showed footage for the returnees carrying Egyptian flags as they landed in an airport in Cairo. They were received by military and health officials.

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BOCA RATON, Florida  Senior U.S. military officials in Afghanistan say U.S. Special Operations retrieved 16 American citizens from outside the Kabul airport early Monday morning.

The military officials would not detail where in Afghanistan the Americans were rescued from but they said it was about two hours outside the Hamid Karzai International Airport. The Americans were brought back to Kabul for evacuation processing.

The officials, who commented only on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations, said the rescue missions that go beyond the walls of the Kabul airport require the approval of a four-star officer and are handled on a case-by-case basis.

On Monday, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby confirmed that the U.S. military had launched at least one additional rescue by helicopter but declined to offer further details. Its unclear if Kirby was referring to Mondays special operations mission or a separate flight.

On occasion, as needed, our commanders have the authority they need to use their assets and their forces to help assist Americans who need to get to the airport, get to the airport, on a case-by-case basis, said Kirby.

The Associated Press first reported on the sortie flights outside Kabul airport on Friday. The officials would not detail where these airlift sites were for security reasons.

In a video conference last week, President Biden and White House officials spoke with commanders in Afghanistan about sortie flight missions outside the Kabul Airport. The president said he wanted to avoid a Black Hawk Down' incident, according to U.S. military officials on the conference call and briefed on what was said.

U.S. military officials described President Bidens demeanor as calm and pleasant during discussions about the progress that had been made in evacuating both Americans and Afghan nationals. Biden negatively commented on how quickly the Afghan government fell apart and told commanders he wanted them to be focused on beefing up security at Hamid Karzai International Airport.

On Sunday, the AP reported that potential Islamic State threats against Americans in Afghanistan are forcing the U.S. military to develop new plans to get evacuees to the airport in Kabul. U.S. Central Command on Monday said an exchange of gunfire at the airport broke out at the north gate of the Kabul Airport. No U.S. or coalition forces were hurt, but one member of the Afghan security forces was killed. The Pentagon said they do not know at the moment if the gunman was a member of the Taliban or ISIS.

Last week, the Defense Department publicly disclosed that three Army chinooks picked up 169 Americans just outside the walls of the Kabul Airport. The AP also reported that a helicopter from the 82nd Airborne Division airlifted Afghans from Camp Sullivan, near the Hamid Karzai International Airport.

 By James LaPorta

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PARIS  French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin has ordered five men who were evacuated from Afghanistan placed under surveillance in France for possible links to the Taliban.

France is human but it is also vigilant, the minister tweeted Monday, along with a story by the French news agency quoting him about the suspicions.

One man in particular slipped through the cracks during the chaotic evacuations in Kabul but admitted working for the Taliban. He arrived over the weekend with three of the other men now under watch. According to a ministry official contacted by The Associated Press, the mans wife and children also were on the flight, but not under suspicion.

The man admitted to belonging to the Taliban and to bearing arms at a blockade in Kabul that was under his responsibility, Agence France-Presse, which saw the ministers written decision, reported.

Even if this person very widely helped in the evacuation of the French Embassy, we think this person may be linked to the Taliban, the minister was quoted as saying. It was not immediately clear if his responsibilities went beyond manning a blockade. The French Embassy has served as a holding area for evacuees waiting to make the trip to the Kabul airport, where the French ambassador and a reduced staff now work.

Given the extremely tough difficulties of making security checks of people to be repatriated, French authorities accepted to board this person and his family, the minister said. The security checks were done, instead, in Abu Dhabi, where the French have transferred evacuees before the onward journey to Paris. The other men were not, for now, directly suspected.

The fifth person concerned came on a separate flight but had links to the family, Darmanin said.

The five men are currently under surveillance in a hotel in the Paris region where they are in quarantine, like all evacuees who arrive in France without having been fully vaccinated, the Interior Ministry official said. He was not authorized to speak to the press so could not be identified by name.

Darmanin, clearly seeking to assure the French about potential risks concerning arrivals, said in his tweet that the government will continue to take all needed measures to ensure the security of the French.

By Tuesday, 2,000 people will have made the journey out, mainly Afghans, Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Monday during a visit to the base in Abu Dhabi with Defense Minister Florence Parly.

 By Elaine Ganley

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GENEVA  A top World Health Organization official says the agency only has a few days left of supplies for Afghanistan and wants help to ferry in 10 or 12 planeloads of equipment and medicine for its beleaguered people.

Dr. Rick Brennan heads WHOs eastern Mediterranean region that includes Afghanistan. He said from Cairo that the U.N. health agency is negotiating with the U.S. and other countries to help efforts to replenish strained stockpiles.

We estimate weve only got a few days left of supplies, Brennan said, alluding to a distribution center in Dubai that has whats needed. We have 500 metric tons ready to go, but we havent got any way of getting them into the country right now.

Brennan said U.S. and other authorities have encouraged WHO and partners to look to other Afghan airports than Kabuls, which is facing a crush of thousands of people trying to get out of Afghanistan after a Taliban takeover.

He said those authorities have suggested that itll be too difficult a logistics exercise and security exercise to bring supplies into Kabul, where teams would be required to unload planes and allow in trucks to carry out the supplies  which could complicate the evacuations.

Needed supplies include emergency kits and essential medicines for treatment of chronic diseases, like diabetes, WHO said.

Were cautiously optimistic that we might need to get something done in the coming days, Brennan said, before adding: We need a consistent humanitarian air bridge into the country ASAP.

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BERLIN  German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas says the majority of local staff who worked for his country in Afghanistan havent yet been evacuated.

The German government has granted about 10,000 local staff and family members in Afghanistan the right to come to Germany, but so far only about 1,800 have made it out.

We dont currently know how many days we can keep flying (people) out, so we want to use those days effectively, he said Monday.

Maas called Tuesdays G-7 meeting on Afghanistan very important for discussing international access to the Kabul airport beyond Aug. 31, the day when the U.S. plans to pull its last troops out of Afghanistan.

Coordinating aid for migrants from Afghanistan would be another key issue at the meeting, he said.

Maas said the firefight overnight at Kabul airport showed once more under what dangerous conditions our soldiers and the embassys core staff on the ground are working.

The situation around the airport had become more chaotic in recent hours and he said Germany doesnt currently recommend that anyone make their own way to the site, he said.

Germany will continue to fly out as many people as it can, said Maas, but added that we know the current evacuation operation isnt open forever.

Among the measures being pursued and discussed with the Taliban is the possibility of enabling civilian flights from Kabul once the last U.S. troops leave the country, he said.

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WASHINGTON  White House officials say every Afghan being newly granted admission to the United States is undergoing biometric and biographic security screening at stops overseas before arrival in the United States.

The officials spoke Monday on condition of anonymity to brief reporters on details of the processing. From the single arrival point of Dulles International Airport, new Afghan arrivals were going on to military bases around the United States for further processing. They do not include U.S. citizens, green card holders or their families.

Each person was undergoing a COVID-19 test on arrival in the U.S. and officials were working on arranging COVID vaccinations for those who want them. Each new Afghan arrival was being connected to a refugee organization that would help them resettle in homes around the United States.

 By Robert Burns

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MADRID  The Spanish government says it has evacuated more than 800 Afghans from Kabul, among them more than 100 Afghans who have worked with the United States and who will stay in Spain temporarily.

More than 550 Afghans have arrived in Spain so far, the statement from the prime ministers office said Monday, with a flight of 260 more due to land at the Torrejon de Ardoz air base near Madrid in the next few hours.

Around 560 of the arrivals, including those on the arriving flight, are Afghans who worked with Spain in their home country, while 150 were attached to the EUs External Action Service. A hundred worked with Americans in Afghanistan.

On Saturday, President Joe Biden thanked Spains Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez for the assistance in temporarily housing Afghans at risk who are bound for the United States.

According to the El Pais newspaper, hundreds more Afghans who worked with U.S. military and diplomatic outfits in Afghanistan are expected to arrive in Spain in the upcoming days.

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ISLAMABAD  Pakistans foreign minister has urged the Taliban and other leaders in neighboring Afghanistan to try to reach an inclusive political settlement as soon as possible.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi issued the appeal Monday at a news conference ahead of his upcoming visit to several regional countries.

Qureshi will leave for Uzbekistan on Tuesday on a trip that will also include stops in Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Iran to discuss the situation in Afghanistan. He said he had already spoken with officials in China by phone.

Qureshi said it was a good sign that the Taliban were already talking to some other Afghan leaders, including former president Hamid Karzai. Qureshi said Pakistan will continue to play its role for a peaceful and politically negotiated solution of the Afghan issue.___

MADRID  Spains defense minister says there is a real risk of a terror attack against Western troops helping to evacuate people at Kabuls international airport.

Defense Minister Margarita Robles said Monday the hasty withdrawal of military forces from Afghanistan has been an unmitigated failure.

Both the U.S. troops and our soldiers are reckoning on that (threat of attack), because it exists, she said.

Robles said in an interview with Spains La Sexta television channel that both NATO and the European Union should learn lessons from their 20-year presence in Afghanistan.

She recalled that 102 Spanish troops had given their lives during NATOs operation.

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MILAN  The Italian charity Pangea says all of its dozens of female activists and over 200 family members have reached safety inside the Kabul airport, and some have boarded planes for Italy.

Pangea says they all were in the airport by dawn Monday.

The activists of Pangea are strong and resisted. They fought like lionesses to enter in that airport, the charity said in an Instagram post.

Pangea founder Luca Lo Presti has been working for a week to evacuate the activists and their families, saying their work to provide microloans to female-run businesses was a direct threat to the Taliban.

The women identified themselves to Italian military at the Kabul airport by writing a P on the palm of their hands as a password. Video posted by Pangea shows some of the women boarding a military transport filled with men, women and children, some strapped into seats but many more seated on the floor.

Pangea said in all some 30 activists and over 200 family members were being evacuated.

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BERLIN  Germanys top military commander says he believes that about 5,000 people are waiting at the Kabul airport to be flown out.

Gen. Eberhard Zorn said Monday the figure has declined from about 7,000 at the weekend. He says: We are now trying internationally to reduce this number as far as possible to make room for others  and above all, ultimately to cushion somewhat the precarious accommodation and waiting situation there.

Zorn said he couldnt say what proportion of people at the airport are children or families. But he said on Germanys flights, about 50% of the Afghans evacuated were women.

Germany flew in supplies Sunday in an effort to help improve the situation inside the airport. Zorn said they included diapers, pacifiers and cuddly toys for small children, as well as food for children. More supplies are in the pipeline.

The situation in front of the gates remains difficult, Zorn said. I would also call it dramatic, because the accumulation of people interested in getting into the airport grounds is enormously high (and) additional potential for violence is arising on the ground in this group.

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PARIS  Frances foreign affairs and defense ministers have arrived at a military air base in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, where French planes are carrying people evacuated from Kabul.

Jean-Yves Le Drian and Florence Parly are to meet with diplomats, soldiers, police officers and other staff involved in evacuation operations, the ministries said in a statement Monday.

More than 1,000 Afghans, almost 100 French and more than 40 people from other nationalities have been evacuated by France over the past week, authorities said.

A seventh plane landed in Paris airport Monday, carrying 246 Afghans and five French.

The ministers trip is also aimed at praising the support of the UAE, where France has a permanent military base, the statement said.

Le Drian and Parly are to meet with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Abu Dhabis crown prince, to have talks over the situation in Afghanistan and how to preserve the regional security and stability.

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KABUL, Afghanistan  The Talibans longtime spokesman has urged imams in Afghanistan to give assurances to Afghans about their security and safety.

Zabihullah Mujahid said Monday at a gathering of clerics in the capital Kabul that they are responsible for keeping their constituents calm.

He also urged them to clear the baseless propaganda he says is being disseminated by the U.S. about the Taliban.

He says: Imams, keep your people calm, we should indoctrinate people to support the Islamic government and Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan.

Mujahid said government employees will soon be able to return to work and Afghans will remain safe under a previously announced amnesty.

The Taliban have pledged amnesty to those who worked with the U.S., NATO and the toppled Afghan government, but many Afghans still fear revenge attacks. There have been reports in recent days of the Taliban hunting down their former enemies.

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AMMAN, Jordan  Jordans Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it will allow 2,500 Afghan nationals fleeing the Taliban takeover of the country to transit through its territory en route to the U.S.

Ministry spokesman Ambassador Daifullah Al-Fayez said Monday the decision was made for purely humanitarian reasons to help with the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

He said arrangements for the transit of Afghan citizens who are evacuated through Jordan have been agreed upon with the U.S.

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ROME  Some 662 people fleeing Afghanistan have arrived at the U.S. naval air base in Sicily. The U.S. is working to ramp up evacuations following the Taliban takeover of the country by using overseas military bases as temporary transit points.

A U.S. Air Force KC-10 Extender, followed by two C-17 Globemaster III, arrived Sunday at the Sigonella air base from Qatar, according to a statement from the U.S. base. Located on Sicilys eastern coast near Catania, Sigonella is home to an Italian and NATO base as well as the U.S. Naval Air Station, the U.S. Navys only overseas air station.

The U.S. statement said Sigonella was being used as a transit location for evacuees before they are transferred elsewhere and it quoted the base commander, Capt. Kevin Pickard, as saying the Afghans will be joining our American family.

The evacuees for now were being housed in two barracks on the base, where anti-COVID-19 measures are being followed, and are being provided with medical care, Halal food, religious and recreation areas, the statement said.

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BERLIN  Germany says it has evacuated 2,725 people from Afghanistan as of Monday  1,787 Afghans, 282 Germans and the rest from elsewhere. The people it has evacuated come from 43 nations in total.

Two more flights, with 198 and 180 evacuees on board respectively, left Kabul on Monday afternoon, the military said.

The government said it cant say precisely how many Germans are left in Kabul because there is no obligation for Germans abroad to register with their countrys authorities, and also no obligation for people evacuated by other means  or who are also citizens of another country  to inform German authorities.

But Foreign Ministry spokesman Christofer Burger said we believe at the moment  this is an estimate  that a low three-digit number of German citizens is still in Afghanistan.

Interior Ministry spokesman Steve Alter said there have been a few cases  fewer than 10  in which people have turned out on arrival in Germany to have been on polices radar.

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MOSCOW  Russia says it will not interfere in the stand-off between the Taliban and their opponents in Afghanistan.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that leaders of the Collective Security Treaty Organization member states discussed the standoff and its implications of another civil war in Afghanistan. He says that, Of course, no one is going to intervene in these events.

Taliban spokesman said Monday the groups forces have surrounded Panjshir, the only one of Afghanistans 34 provinces that has not yet fallen to the Taliban. Several Taliban opponents have gathered in Panjshir.

They include Amrullah Saleh, the vice president in the toppled government who claims to be the acting president, and Ahmad Massoud, son of the slain commander of the Northern Alliance militias that partnered with the U.S. to drive the Taliban from power in 2001.

The Collective Security Treaty Organization includes Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

Moscow fought a 10-year war in Afghanistan that ended with Soviet troops withdrawal in 1989 and has made a diplomatic comeback as a mediator, jockeying with the U.S. for influence in the country. It has hosted several rounds of talks on Afghanistan, most recently in March, that involved the Taliban  even though Russia has labeled them a terrorist organization.

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COPENHAGEN, Denmark  A 23-year-old man who had been deported from Denmark because of several criminal convictions, managed to sneak back on an evacuation plane from Afghanistan by pretending he was his brother.

Danish broadcaster DR said the man, who was not identified, was recognized by police for being member of an outlawed criminal gang, and arrested on arrival in Denmark. He is faces preliminary charges of violating an entry ban.

The man who was sent back to Afghanistan in July, was among the last people to have been deported from Denmark, DR said.

The BT newspaper said the man arrived in Denmark on an evacuation plane on Sunday and was arrested then. The DR and BT reports said he faced a pre-trial detention hearing on Monday.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Monday that Denmark has evacuated some 650 people from Kabul.

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ISLAMABAD  Pakistans interior minister says the Taliban have assured his country they will not allow the outlawed Pakistani Taliban  a separate militant group from the one in Afghanistan  to use Afghan soil for attacks against Pakistan.

Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said on Monday that his ministry has information that amid the Taliban sweep across Afghanistan, some of the leaders and members of the Pakistani Taliban, or Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, were freed from Afghan prisons.

Ahmed said Islamabad was in contact with the Taliban over the matter.

The Pakistani Taliban have claimed responsibility for several past attacks, including the 2014 deadly attack on a Peshawar school that killed 154 people, mostly schoolchildren.

Islamabad alleges the Pakistani Taliban have been hiding in Afghanistan for the past several years, after fleeing military operations launched against them inside Pakistan.

Ahmed also said that since last week, Pakistan has helped more than 2,000 foreigners and Pakistanis leave Afghanistan by air and land routes. Pakistan is issuing visas upon arrival to all diplomats, foreigners and journalists seeking to leave Kabul over security concerns.

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THE HAGUE, Netherlands  Dutch authorities say that a temporary accommodation center for Afghan evacuees at an army barracks in the northern Netherlands is full and a second location is being opened.

The government agency that houses asylum seekers said on Monday that the camp in the remote village of Zoutcamp reached its capacity on Sunday night, with the arrival of 178 Afghan evacuees.

A new accommodation center is being opened to house more Afghans at another military barracks in the central town of Zeist.

The Dutch defense ministry says it has completed nine flights out of Kabul to airports in the region since the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan. Six flights carrying evacuees from Afghanistan have arrived in the Netherlands carrying a total of more than 800 people. That number includes Dutch nationals, Afghans and citizens of other countries.

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BEIJING  China is once again criticizing the United States over Afghanistan, saying America cannot simply abandon the war-torn country.

The United States is the root cause and the biggest external factor in the Afghan issue, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Monday. It cannot just run away like this.

He called on the U.S. to help maintain stability, avoid chaos and rebuild Afghanistan.

I hope the U.S. side can match its acts with words, take on its responsibilities in Afghanistan and put into practice its commitments to Afghanistan in terms of development and reconstruction, and humanitarian assistance, he told a daily briefing.

China has expressed readiness to work with all parties in Afghanistan, including the Taliban, to rebuild the war-torn nation.

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WARSAW, Poland  A deputy foreign minister says Poland has so far evacuated over 400 people from Kabul, including Poles and Afghans who worked for Polands diplomatic mission or pro-democracy efforts, with their family members. More flights are planned.

Marcin Przydacz said on Polish Radio 24 Monday that the situation at the Kabul airport was getting ever more tense, adding further pressure on the evacuations.

The International Monetary Fund thanked Poland for a successful evacuation of its staff from Kabul, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Twitter, following a phone call with the IMF managing director, Kristalina Georgieva. Poland is also to evacuate some 300 staff working for NATO in Afghanistan.

Seven planes have already brought evacuees to Poland and another one, with some 70 Afghan evacuees, was expected in Warsaw on Monday, according to Morawieckis top aide, Michal Dworczyk.

Dwroczyk said the plane was delayed in Uzbekistan for several hours due to problems at the site, which he did not describe.

Another passenger plane is on the way to Uzbekistan, a stopover on the evacuation route. Evacuees from Kabul are brought there on military planes and then flown to Warsaw by the national carrier, LOT.

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LONDON  Britain is urging the United States to extend its evacuation effort in Kabul beyond the current Aug. 31 deadline, saying without the Americans other countries will have no choice but to stop their own operations to help people fleeing the Taliban takeover.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson plans to press President Joe Biden at an emergency meeting of Group of Seven leaders on Tuesday convened by Britain.

Some U.K. military leaders have said Britain should keep troops at Kabul airport to continue the evacuation effort even if the Americans leave. But Armed Forces Minister James Heappey said Monday that there is a hard reality that there would be no international airlift without the way that the U.S. are underpinning it.

He said that whether or not the U.S. can be persuaded to stay is a matter for the prime minister tomorrow in the G-7 meeting. He said that an agreement from the Taliban would also be needed for an extension.

Biden has not ruled out extending the airlift beyond the Aug. 31 deadline he set before the Talibans swift takeover in Afghanistan, but he said he hoped it would not be necessary.

Britain says its forces have evacuated more than 5,700 people  chiefly U.K. citizens and Afghans  from Kabul in the last 10 days, 1,821 of them in the past 24 hours.

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UNITED NATIONS  The U.N. agency for children expects the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan to worsen due to a severe drought, the onset of winter and the coronavirus pandemic.

UNICEF says 10 million children in Afghanistan already survive on humanitarian assistance and around a million are expected to suffer from life-threatening malnutrition this year. It says some 4.2 million children, including 2.2 million girls, are out of school.

Afghanistan was a poor country, reliant on international aid, even before the Taliban took over earlier this month.

UNICEF director Henrietta Fore said in a statement on Monday that this is the grim reality facing Afghan children and it remains so regardless of ongoing political developments and changes in government.

She says the agency is committed to remaining in Afghanistan and is scaling up its operations. UNICEF hopes to provide aid in areas that were unreachable because of the ongoing war.

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KABUL  Frances envoy to Afghanistan says French special forces backed by the U.S. army have helped 260 Afghans who worked with the European Union delegation to get to Kabul airport.

Ambassador David Martinon said in a tweet early on Monday that they have been welcomed at the French Embassys waiting area prior to boarding. Bravo to the EU.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell says around 400 Afghans who worked with the blocs delegation are to be granted protection in Europe. Theyre being sent to Spain for screening before being shared out among EU countries willing to grant them visas.

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BERLIN  The German military says a firefight broke out at the Kabul airports north gate early on Monday between Afghan security forces and unknown attackers.

The military said in a tweet that one Afghan security officer was killed and another three were wounded in the early morning incident. It said that U.S. and German forces then also got involved, and that there were no injuries to German soldiers.

Later, the German military clarified that the Afghan officer was a member of the Afghan army  Afghan troops who are involved in securing the airport as part of the multinational operation.

There was no further information and it wasnt known who the attackers were. The Taliban, who are manning the outside perimeters of the Kabul airport, have until now not opened fire on NATO or Afghan troops within.

Mondays incident took place after at least seven Afghans died in a panicked crush of people trying to enter Kabuls international airport on Sunday, the British military said. Thousands were still trying to flee the country in a chaotic exodus a week after the Taliban takeover.

The German Defense Ministry said Monday that the countrys military has evacuated more than 2,700 people from Kabul since the evacuations started, with people of 38 nationalities among those taken out. German A400M transport aircraft are shuttling between Kabul and Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

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COPENHAGEN, Denmark  A plane with Norwegian citizens from Afghanistan, others with links to Norway and also other foreign nationals landed in Oslo on Monday, the fourth flight in the past days to have landed in Norway.

The Scandinavian countrys foreign ministry declined to say how many were on the plane or give details for safety reasons, the Norwegian news agency NTB said.

In neighboring Sweden, Foreign Minister Ann Linde said Monday that more than 170 people have been evacuated from Afghanistan. I am pleased that we can now welcome local employees, at the same time as we continue to work to evacuate more local employees, she said.

Denmark too has been active in evacuating people from Afghanistan. Finland said that so far the total number of its evacuees was at 110. They include citizens from Finland and people with permanent Finnish residence, along with other persons who have been working for Finland, the EU and NATO, together with their families.
Instagram Music

The 'Good as Hell' hitmaker and her collaborator Cardi B get cheeky as they fire back at the online trolls and gossip mongers in a new single titled 'Rumors'.

Aug 23, 2021

AceShowbiz - Lizzo climbed up the chart as she collaborated with Cardi B on a new single titled "Rumors". It marked her first release in over two years since her third studio album "Cuz I Love You" in 2019. "Cardi B is the ultimate. She, to me, has always done it right," Lizzo gushed.

The "Good as Hell" hitmaker addressed online haters and gossip mongers while name-dropping Drake in the new single. "While you're spendin' all your time, tryna break a woman down/ Realer sh*t is goin' on, baby, take a look around," so she took a jibe at the internet trolls.

It didn't take look for the song to reach No. 1 on the YouTube Trending for Music Chart. With over 1.5 million opening-day streams in the U.S. alone, it broke into top 3 on the US Spotify chart and top 4 on the daily US Apple Music Chart. It additionally entered top 30 on Mediabase pop radio airplay chart.

Unfortunately, the success was marred by the online trolls targeting Lizzo. While she admitted she was hurt by the mean comments, she refused the let haters win. "I'm gonna keep on bringing this music out and I'm gonna keep on doing what I wanna do. It's just an honest moment. I'm OK," she told her followers. "Have a good day. Stream Rumors. F**k the haters. That's what this song is all about... God bless you."

Cardi B was quick to come to Lizzo's defense, "When you stand up for yourself they claim your problematic & sensitive (sic). When you don't they tear you apart until you crying like this (sic). Whether you skinny, big, plastic, they going to always try to put their insecurities on you. Remember these are nerds looking at the popular table (sic)."

The "Bodak Yellow' MC added, "Let the numbers do the talking," as she revealed that the single sold over 100,000 units Stateside and became the fastest selling release of the week.
YouTube Celebrity

The 'Crime Scene Investigation' actor is recuperating after he was rushed to a hospital over the weekend when he became sick while filming the 'CSI: Vegas'.

Aug 23, 2021

AceShowbiz - "CSI" star William Petersen was rushed to hospital after suffering a health scare on Friday (20Aug21), but he's now been discharged and is recovering.

The actor, who is reprising his role of crime scene investigator Gil Grissom for the new "CSI: Vegas" series, fell ill and asked to stop filming, TMZ reported on Sunday.

His condition was apparently serious enough to warrant being taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital, though the actor's representative told the outlet the action was taken out of an "abundance of caution."

No further details have been released, but Petersen has since been released from hospital.

His rep attributed the health scare to "overexertion or exhaustion" as the "To Live and Die in LA" actor has been hard at work on "CSI: Vegas" for the past 12 weeks.

Petersen played Grissom for the first nine seasons of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation", which debuted on U.S. network CBS in 2000, and he later returned several times throughout later seasons.

Last month, CBS bosses announced "CSI: Vegas" will premiere on 6 October (21).

Original "CSI" stars Jorja Fox and Wallace Langham will also be returning for the series revival. They are joined by new cast members Paula Newsome, Matt Lauria, Mel Rodriguez, and Mandeep Dhillon.

The original "CSI" show concluded in 2015 after 15 seasons. It starred William Petersen, Jorja Fox, Marg Helgenberger, George Eads, Ted Danson, Laurence Fishburne, and Elisabeth Shue.

The spinoffs include "CSI: Miami" starring David Caruso, "CSI: NY" starring Gary Sinise, and "CSI: Cyber" starring Patricia Arquette.
Instagram Celebrity

The American activist and his spouse Jacqueline receive medical treatment at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Illinois following Covid-19 diagnosis.

Aug 23, 2021

AceShowbiz - American civil rights leader Jesse Jackson and his wife have been hospitalised after testing positive for COVID-19.

Despite being vaccinated, the reverend - a two-time U.S. presidential candidate - and his wife of 59 years, Jacqueline, both came down with the virus and are being treated at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Illinois.

Representatives for Jackson's nonprofit organisation, the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, released a statement on Saturday (21Aug21) which reads, "Doctors are currently monitoring the condition of both."

The famed civil rights activist, who was a protege of the late Rev. Martin Luther King and was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2017, received his first coronavirus jab in January (21) at a public event and has been vocal in encouraging communities of colour to seek out vaccinations.

King's daughter, Bernice King, was among those sending the Jacksons well wishes. On Saturday (21Aug21), she tweeted, "Praying for Rev. Jesse Jackson and Jacqueline Jackson," and added a praying hands emoji.

Movie director Ava DuVernay responded to Bernice's Instagram post with a praying hand emoji as well.

Texas congressman Joaquin Castro also offered support as he wrote on Twitter, "Sending strength and prayers to Rev. Jesse Jackson and his wife Jacqueline."

Reverend Al Sharpton also posted a similar message, "Let us all pray for Rev. and Mrs Jesse Jackson. They need our sincere and intense prayers. Prayer changes things!!!"
Instagram Music

To be part of the upcoming Exceptional Sale at Christie's in New York City in October, the iconic instrument is being offered up at auction by Paul's son, Gene, and engineer and producer Tom Doyle.

Aug 23, 2021

AceShowbiz - The earliest approved model of the Gibson Les Paul guitar, owned by Les Paul, is going under the hammer at auction.

The instrument, which the guitar god called "Number One", will be part of the upcoming Exceptional Sale at Christie's in New York City in October.

Paul and Gibson bosses developed the guitar in the early 1950s as a rival to Fender's new Telecaster, the first mass-produced solid-body electric guitar. The Gibson Les Paul would become the most popular guitar ever made.

"Number One" is being offered up at auction by Paul's son, Gene Paul, and engineer and producer Tom Doyle, who tells Rolling Stone, "Les brought his idea to Gibson and they initially dismissed it outright, but Les was dogged. He held strong to his ideas and his beliefs, knowing that someday they would see the light."

"Les kept tinkering and inventing, and making his concept better and better. Then finally, after about 10 years and after lots of trial and error, the good folks at Gibson presented this very guitar to Les. He was smitten, and he was overjoyed... and the rest, as they say, is history."

Gene Paul adds, "This was the most historically significant, valuable, pivotal, and important guitar to my father, his crowning achievement."

Christie's consultant and Musical Instruments Specialist, Kerry Keane, also weighs in on the iconic guitar. "In any creation narrative there are always multiple protagonists, but the name Les Paul ranks at the pinnacle when discussing the electric guitar," he states.

"His development of multi-track recording, and audio effects like delay, echo, and reverb all profoundly influenced how music is reproduced and heard. Yet his lifelong search and development in perfecting the electric guitar would forever change the instrument," Keane continues.

"That transformation is responsible for the successful careers for generations of guitarists that performed on the Les Paul guitar. This guitar physically embodies his endless passion that produced the most iconic musical instrument in popular culture."
Instagram Celebrity

Less than a year after he's released from prison, the 'Talk to Me' hitmaker is sent behind bars after his Uber driver gets pulled over by the police officers in Los Angeles.

Aug 23, 2021

AceShowbiz - Rapper Drakeo the Ruler had another run-in with the law. Less than a year after he was released from prison, the "Talk to Me" rapper was arrested for riding in an Uber with tinted windows.

The 28-year-old musician was busted in Los Angeles on Sunday, August 22 while he was in the vehicle with his toddler son. After his driver got pulled over by the police officers, he went on to launch an Instagram Live session.

During his Livestream, Drakeo, whose real name is Darrell Caldwell, explained that he was sitting in the backseat of an Uber when he and the driver had been pulled off the road by the cops for allegedly having tinted windows. Seeing that the vehicle apparently belongs to the Uber driver and not Drakeo, it's expected that the authorities would have spoken to the operator of the car.

Drakeo, on the other hand, claimed that he was requested to step out of the vehicle. Following a back-and-forth with the police officers, he said he was arrested for unknown reasons. It remains unclear whether the Uber driver was also detained.

While other details about Drakeo's arrest are still unavailable, it's believed that the LAPD pulled over the Uber car carrying the rapper and his son about 11 A.M. It's also claimed that the incident was the result of authorities monitoring his every move following his release.

"Free Drakeo. The LAPD pulled him over for riding in the back of an Uber with tinted windows. He was with his son. A set up if I've ever heard of one," writer Jeff Weiss tweeted shortly after Drakeo was busted. "Who ever heard of someone getting pulled over on a Sunday morning at 11 a.m. with their toddler son, while riding in the back of an Uber, whose only visible crime was having tinted windows? It would be ridiculous if it wasn't so glaringly sinister."

Writer Jeff Weiss offered more details of Drakeo's arrest.

Back in November 2020, Drakeo agreed to a plea deal that resulted in his release after spending more than two years behind bars. The "Flu Flamming" rapper was cleared of murder and attempted murder charges in July 2019. However, shortly after his release, a district attorney re-filed charges of criminal gang conspiracy and shooting from a car. He then spent another year in jail before the DA's office offered him a plea deal which led to his freedom.
Instagram Celebrity

The frontman of the heavy metal band, however, says in his message on Facebook that he 'should be okay' and he is 'not worried' because he has got the jabs.

Aug 23, 2021

AceShowbiz - Corey Taylor has tested positive for COVID-19 despite having been fully vaccinated against it. Appearing in a Facebook video to reveal his current health situation, the Slipknot frontman admitted he is "very, very sick," but he is "not worried" because he has been inoculated.

"I wish I had better news. I woke up today and tested positive, and I'm very, very sick," he said with a raspy voice in the video message posted on the Astronomicon Facebook page on Friday, August 20. "So I'm not going to be able to make it this weekend," he added, referring to the Astronomicon, a pop culture convention, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. "I am absolutely devastated."

Corey went on assuring his fans, "I should be okay. It's just [like] the flu. I'm vaccinated, so I'm not worried." He explained, "But I certainly wouldn't want to spread it to anyone else," before concluding his message, "So, everybody be safe out there. And thank you so much. And I will see you again, I promise."

Corey has been vocal about his support of vaccinations and criticized those who are against it. "People act like getting a vaccine is signing a deal with the devil," he told Consequence in a recent interview. "It's been so politicized and spun out of control in these conspiratorial echo chambers that people forget that you can go find all the info you want online to educate yourself about everything about these vaccines."

He continued, "The fact that [vaccines] have been demonized, almost to the point of these gnarly conspiracy theories, no wonder why people are afraid of it - because they're listening to the wrong people."

The 47-year-old also weighed in on the debate whether vaccination proof should be a requirement to attend concerts. "Do I think it should be a requirement for people to be vaccinated to go to shows? Yes and no," he said.

He further elaborated his stance, "Here's the thing: there shouldn't be a mandate, but guess what, man, if you're going to put people at risk of getting sick, you shouldn't want to go to a show. That's common sense. And if you do put people at risk, then you're a f**king asshole, and you shouldn't be let in anyway."
Instagram Celebrity

The former 'Modern Family' star also includes a picture of him giving a humorously pained look while showing his fiancee Lindsay Schweitzer's new engagement ring.

Aug 23, 2021

AceShowbiz - Eric Stonestreet is set to be walking down the aisle with his lady love. The 49-year-old actor is engaged to be married after he proposed to his longtime girlfriend Lindsay Schweitzer.

The comedian, best known for portraying Cameron Tucker on ABC's sitcom "Modern Family", made use of Instagram to announce his engagement on Sunday, August 22. Through his account, he shared several pictures to let out the news while giving a look at his fiancee's new engagement ring.

In the first picture, Eric gave humorously pained look while holding Lindsay's left hand, which is now adorned with the huge sparkler. The ring features an oval-shaped diamond on a silver band. The second snap captured the soon-to-be groom looking adoringly at his fiancee while both of them flashed a smile.

The last image had Eric looking fired up while he pointed to the ring on Lindsay's hand. He included a witty caption in the post, writing, "She said, 'She'd have her people call my people.' "

The couple was quickly showered with congratulatory messages from his famous pals. One in particular was Gwyneth Paltrow, who wrote, "YAY!!! We are so happy for you." Zachary Levi commented, "Congrats duuuuuuuuuuude!!!"

Michael Buble gushed, "Congrats you beautiful couple you," adding a string of heart emojis. Meanwhile, Bethenny Frankel, who previously was romantically linked to Eric, simply commented, "YES."

Eric started dating Lindsay, a pediatric nurse, over three years ago after they met at a fundraising event dubbed Big Slick Celebrity Weekend in Kansas City in June 2016. Back in 2017, he opened up to Ellen DeGeneres about his relationship with Lindsay.

After Ellen told Eric it's good that Lindsay is a nurse "because you're a hypochondriac," the two-time Emmy winner replied, "I'm a big baby, too!" He went on raving about his girlfriend, "She calms me. She calms my nerves! I'm a very high-strung person."
Instagram Celebrity

Before suddenly passing out, the 'Full of Dat S**t' hitmaker could be seen struggling to walk with his shaky legs after performing at the 213 Lux Lounge in Roanoke, Virginia.

Aug 23, 2021

AceShowbiz - Rapper Webbie is reportedly "doing better" after collapsing from a terrifying "medical emergency" during the show. As confirmed by his spokesperson, the "Full of Dat S**t" hitmaker was already given permission to leave the hospital.

A representative of the "How You Ridin'" rapper told TMZ that the musician is currently stable after he was rushed to a hospital following his health scare during his recent show at the 213 Lux Lounge in Roanoke, Virginia. Though the cause of his shocking incident remains unclear, his rep stated that the doctors believed it wasn't a sudden seizure.

In a short video obtained by the publication, Webbie, born Webster Gradney Jr., looked unwell and appeared to walk on very shaky legs towards a door after performing on Friday, August 20. Right before the 35-year-old rapper could exit, he suddenly passed out. He was then immediately surrounded by staff who attempted to carry him out before he was rushed to a hospital.

Fans who witnessed Webbie's scary collapse after the show said that the "Give Me That" rapper seemed to be fine before he went down. In the minutes before the unexpected health scare, fans also reported that he was still behaving normally.

Webbie's sudden collapse came just a few weeks after his Louisiana concert, held at The District nightclub on August 8, turned into the scene of a chaotic shooting. Following the incident, a man, Dashawn Batiste, was killed while a woman was hurt and suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

According to reports, Webbie performed at the club without any drama. Shortly after patrons were gathered outside, an argument erupted between two groups. The gunfire erupted at around 2 A.M. local time, but it's unclear if the incident happened between patrons at the parking lot or when people shot at a moonlighting city officer and he fired back.

"There's no way to know who shot who," Louisiana State Trooper Thomas Gossen said of the tragic event. "There were so many people shooting that we have no clue. It was only one officer involved." The cop added, "There were several parties shooting at each other across the parking lot. There was an active shooting going on before the officer basically engaged them. The whole parking lot is a crime scene."
Instagram Celebrity

The TV host takes to her Instagram account to introduce her new boyfriend, whose identity remains unknown so far, in a new post as she celebrates his son's 21st birthday.

Aug 23, 2021

AceShowbiz - Wendy Williams has found new love. On Saturday, August 21, the TV host took to her Instagram account to introduce her new boyfriend in a new post as she celebrated his son's 21st birthday.

"The Wendy Williams Show" host shared a picture of her and her new man inside a car. "My son's 21st birthday party on the yacht in #Miami was everything he wanted! Even my boyfriend," so she captioned the image.

While Wendy didn't disclose the identity of his boyfriend, her famous friends left congratulatory messages in the comment section. "Congratulations! Well done Moma," Karen Huger wrote. Tamar Braxton also left two heart emojis and two fire emojis to show her support.

Prior to this, Wendy dated Maryland contractor Mike Esterman. They, however, called it quits due to the distance as well as their hectic schedules. The former couple apparently didn't end things amicably as Wendy shaded him while addressing their split in May.

"I didn't say anything [publicly about it] because I'm that grown," Williams said on her show in May after Esterman talked to Page Six. "We would've had this discussion way behind the scenes. I am not embarrassed because I'm that grown. But since childish ones - Mike - well he's giving quotes!"

In response to that, Mike said, "Of course she has to have the last word, and because she is the kind of person that she is; she's the only thing that will make herself look best."

Wendy's shade at Mike came after he opened up to Page Six that the two of them were "never an item after 3 dates." He, at the time, explained, "I had placed all work-related tasks aside to get to know her on a personal level, no angles or hidden agendas. I can only wish her the best as we both continue the search at our own paces and remain friends in the process."

The 56-year-old TV host echoed the reasoning in the May 12 episode of her talk show. "Mike is in Maryland. You guys keep asking, 'Where is Mike?' I'm like, Mike has a job, he's a contractor slash social influencer and whatever he has going on, whatever he does," she said. "Mike is a nice guy, but we are too geographically far from each other."
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Despite finishing in 9th place at the Prefontaine Classic following her disqualification from the Tokyo Olympics, the sprinter states that she is 'not upset with [herself] at all.'

Aug 23, 2021

AceShowbiz - Sha'Carri Richardson knows exactly how to deal with online trolls. After one critic claimed that he/she could beat her in a running competition, the sprinter clapped back at the individual and shut him/her up for good.

Taking to Twitter on Sunday, August 22, the 21-year-old retweeted the user's post that read, "I feel I coulda beat Sha carri and all yes." Alongside the tweet, she dared, "I'll triple your whole year salary if you can," adding several crying laughing emojis.

This was not the first time Sha'Carri hit back at her haters. Just days earlier, she penned on Twitter, "I wish the people that talk mess about me was cute at least."

Sha'Carri has drawn backlash after she got disqualified from the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Team in July for a positive marijuana test. The athlete reportedly turned to cannabis in the wake of her estranged mother's death.

Sha'Carri finally returned to the track on Saturday, August 21 when competing at the Women's 100-meter race at the Nike Prefontaine Classic in Oregon. Her comeback, however, did not meet fans' expectations as she finished in 9th place. She then pulled herself out from Saturday's 200-meter competition.

Despite her loss, Sha'Carri claimed she's "not upset" with herself. "I wanted to be able to come and perform having a month off... Not upset at myself at all. This is one race. I'm not done. You know what I'm capable of," she said in an interview with NBC.

"Count me out if you want to. Talk all the s**t you want, 'cause I'm here to stay. I'm not done. I'm the sixth-fastest woman in this game, ever. And can't nobody ever take that from me," the Texas native further emphasized. "Congratulations to the winners. Congratulations to the people that won, but they're not done seeing me yet. Period."
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Ye posts and deletes a photo of Drizzy's home address in Canada after the 'Toosie Slide' hitmaker shades the 'Donda' artist on Trippie Redd's new song 'Betrayal'.

Aug 23, 2021

AceShowbiz - Kanye West has pulled an unexpected move amid his reignited feud with Drake. The Atlanta native has leaked his nemesis' home address in Canada after he responded to Drizzy's diss on Trippie Redd's "Betrayal".

Being at his pettiest, the "Wash Us in the Blood" spitter posted on Sunday an image of the Canadian superstar's address on his Instagram page. He later quickly deleted the photo, though not before his followers took a screengrab of his sneaky post.

Baffled by Kanye's latest antics, one person dubbed him "Savage." A second user remarked, "Kanye is such a troll." Another said of Kanye's act, "Stuff like this is so tacky!!" A fourth commenter called out the Yeezy designer, "Leaking people's address is a new low Kanye. You taking it too far."

Another chimed in, "Lmfaooo petty asf !!!! Why he do that !!!! If drake didn't have all that surgery I'd pull up myself !!!!" Someone likened the beef between the two rappers to "the girls fighting," while another claimed it won't affect Drake much as everyone allegedly already knows where he lives in Canada, "Everyone in Toronto knows where he lives, there's security outside the estate and he was building it for years. This won't do nun but who does that? Smh."

For the record, it was Drake who reiginited the beef with Kanye as he throws shade at the "Donda" artist on Trippie Redd's new song "Betrayal". "All these fools I'm beefin' that I barely know/ Forty-five, forty-four (Burned out), let it go/ Ye ain't changin' s**t for me, it's set in stone," reads Drizzy's verse which appears to be directed at Ye.

Ye then seemingly hit back at Drizzy by posting a screenshot of a group chat of eight people where he added Pusha T. In the chat box, the estranged husband of Kim Kardashian could be seen sending an image of Joaquin Phoenix as Joker. Alongside the snap, he wrote, "I live for this. I've been f**ked with by nerd a** jock n***as like you my whole life. You will never recover. I promise you."

Coming to Kanye's defense, Consequence tweeted, "F**k a Betrayal. It's the Disrespect for me dawg. Wit Trippie Redd Shotgun." The 44-year-old MC then added, "Respect my team. It's party time."
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In newly unsealed court documents, the former star of '19 Kids and Counting' denies the allegations that he has problems with child pornography despite having more than 200 images of children on his computer.

Aug 23, 2021

AceShowbiz - Josh Duggar has refused to admit that he had any issues with porn addiction. In new court documents, the former star of "19 Kids and Counting" denied the accusation despite previously apologizing for his "wrongdoing" after he sexually abused five underage girls, including his sisters Jill Duggar and Jessa Duggar.

According to newly unsealed legal documents obtained by Radar, the probation officer who interviewed the 33-year-old reality star claimed that he denied that he had a problem with porn. Currently, he pleaded not guilty in court and is required to stay with third party custodians, Lacount and Maria Reber, as he awaits his upcoming trial on November 30.

Josh, whom prosecutors believe had more than 200 images of children on his computer, was arrested by the U.S. Marshals and held at the Washington County jail on April 29. His arrest was just less than a week after he and his wife Anna Duggar announced that they were expecting their seventh child. The father of six, however, cannot return to his Arkansas home where his children live, but he is allowed to have unlimited contact with his kids as long as his wife is present after he's released on bond.

Back in 2015, Josh himself appeared to confirm the molestation allegations in a Facebook post. "Twelve years ago, as a young teenager, I acted inexcusably for which I am extremely sorry and deeply regret. I hurt others, including my family and close friends," he wrote at the time. "We spoke with the authorities where I confessed my wrongdoing and my parents arranged for me and those affected by my actions to receive counseling."

"I understood that if I continued down this wrong road that I would end up ruining my life. I sought forgiveness from those I had wronged and asked Christ to forgive me and come into my life," Josh continued in his apology note. "I would do anything to go back to those teen years and take different actions. In my life today, I am so very thankful for God's grace, mercy and redemption."

In the same year, Josh also revealed that he cheated on his wife Anna and admitted to struggling with an addiction to pornography after Gawker reported about his active accounts on Ashley Madison, which is a website that helps facilitate extramarital affairs.
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The UNHCR Special Envoy slams President Joe Biden for 'abandoning our allies and supporters in the most chaotic way imaginable' as she notes the sufferings inflicted on women by the Taliban.

Aug 23, 2021

AceShowbiz - Angelina Jolie has called out President Joe Biden's decision to pull out American troops from Afghanistan. Taking aim at the "chaotic" manner of the troops withdrawal, the actress says she is "ashamed" as she describes it as a "betrayal" to the Asian country.

The 46-year-old mom of six shares her take on the withdrawal in an on-ep published on Time magazine. "Whatever your views on the war in Afghanistan, we probably agree on one thing: it should not have ended this way," so she begins writing.

Jolie continues, "Giving up the idea of a peace agreement between the Afghan government and the Taliban, appearing to cut and run, and abandoning our allies and supporters in the most chaotic way imaginable, after so many years of effort and sacrifice, is a betrayal and a failure impossible to fully understand."

Noting that "America seems to have lacked the will to plan this transition in a managed way," she stresses that "it was never going to be easy or perfect but could have been better, more decent and safer."

"I believed that we were doing the right thing, that we stood shoulder to shoulder with Afghans, and that we were fighting in a noble cause," the "Eternals" star adds. "As we fade away from Afghanistan, it is hard to hold on to that trust."

Jolie, who is a Special Envoy to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, goes on to highlight the sufferings inflicted on women by the Taliban. "As an American I am ashamed by the manner of our leaving. It diminishes us," she admits.

The Oscar-winning actress continues condemning the government's handling of the situation, "We have lost leverage to influence what now happens in Afghanistan. We lack a strategy to monitor and support women and civil society in Afghanistan, who the Taliban have a history of targeting -banning girls from school, confining women to the home, and inflicting brutal physical punishments, including public lashing, on any woman perceived to have stepped out of line."

She goes on claiming, "Our allies are rightly upset, blaming the U.S. for a precipitate, unilateral withdrawal that missed the opportunity for any coordinated plan to preserve some of the gains made in the country."

Jolie previously shared a letter written by a distraught Afghan teen as the Taliban resumed power in the country. In her lengthy caption, she wrote, "Right now, the people of Afghanistan are losing their ability to communicate on social media and to express themselves freely. So I've come on Instagram to share their stories and the voices of those across the globe who are fighting for their basic human rights."

Biden, meanwhile, has addressed the withdrawal of U.S. forces from the country after a 20-year occupation earlier this month. "The likelihood there's going to be the Taliban overrunning everything and owning the whole country is highly unlikely," he said. The president has been criticized for the manner of the withdrawal, with allegations of poor planning for the evacuation of Americans and Afghan allies.
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The 'Follow God' rapper and the Russian model have reportedly called an end to their brief romance as 'he doesn't have time to date,' but 'they remain friendly.'

Aug 24, 2021

AceShowbiz - Kanye West and Irina Shayk are no longer pursuing a relationship with each other. Two months after they were first rumored dating, the eccentric rapper and the model have reportedly ended their summer fling.

"It was never a serious thing that took off," one source tells PEOPLE. As for the reason why their relationship didn't work out, a second source dishes, "Kanye has been busy working and spending time with his kids. This is his focus. He doesn't have time to date right now."

Noting that it was amicable, the second source claims, "They remain friendly," as it's additionally noted that "he finds Irina amazing."

ET Online, meanwhile, reports that Kanye and Irina were never officially a couple in the first place. According to the site, the two were having a good time seeing each other "without any strings attached."

Echoing the claims, a source tells Us Weekly of the pair, "Kanye and Irina are over, but they never really started, there's nothing going on there." The so-called insider offers another reason of the decision to call it quits, saying that the Russian beauty realized "they aren't great romantic partners" and have since called it quits.

Kanye and Irina were first seen together as she joined the rapper to celebrate his 44th birthday in France in early June. In July, reports emerged that the 35-year-old model friend-zoned Kanye after she didn't come to Paris for a couture show with him.

"She likes him as a friend, but doesn't want a relationship with him," a source told the New York Post's Page Six at the time. "She doesn't want the association that they are dating, which is what would have run in the press if she showed up (in Paris with him). It would have been another month of news saying that they are dating."

However, the breakup news was debunked by a source who told PEOPLE, "Irina is so upset at the lies about her and Kanye." The source went on assuring, "They are very much still dating."
Note to journalists: Please report that this research will be presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.

A media briefing on this topic is available at www.acs.org/acsfall2021briefings.

ATLANTA, Aug. 23, 2021  At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, stay-at-home orders and other restrictions drastically affected how people lived and worked, resulting in social isolation and economic instability. Now, researchers show that some people turned to a variety of drugs for relief. Using wastewater analysis, the team identified a spike in consumption of easily abused prescription opioids and anti-anxiety sedatives, while some illicit drug use plummeted, between March and June 2020.

The researchers will present their results today at the fall meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS). ACS Fall 2021 is a hybrid meeting being held virtually and in-person Aug. 22-26, and on-demand content will be available Aug. 30-Sept. 30. The meeting features more than 7,000 presentations on a wide range of science topics.

Previously, Bikram Subedi, Ph.D., and his research group used residues in wastewater to study illicit drug consumption in rural communities. With the onset of COVID-19 restrictions, the team turned to wastewater again. We hypothesized that some of the drug profiles would be different, and personal drug use behavior would be altered due to isolation, loss of jobs and loss of life, says Subedi, who is the principal investigator on the project.

By June 2020, about 40% of adults in the U.S. were struggling with their mental health, and 13% of those had started or increased their substance use, according to survey results published in an August 2020 paper by another team. So, to get an idea of community-wide habits and anxiety levels at the start of the pandemic, Subedis team at Murray State University used wastewater epidemiology. They calculated per capita consumption for a diverse set of drugs based on their presence in sewage entering treatment plants. With this technique, the researchers developed comprehensive and nearly real-time patterns of prescription and illicit drug use, which are important to public health authorities, law-enforcement and other agencies.

The researchers collected raw sewage samples from treatment facilities in two towns in western Kentucky and northwest Tennessee, says Alexander Montgomery, a graduate student who is presenting the work. Back in the lab, they measured the levels of easily abused prescription medications, illicit drugs and their metabolites. As Montgomery explains, the team took extra precautions with these samples because no one knew if SARS-CoV-2 could survive in wastewater. I had to be extremely careful with every step of the extraction and handling process, he says.

Their results showed that consumption of hydrocodone  one of the most abused prescription opioids  spiked by 72% from March to June 2020. The researchers suggest the change was because people had easier access to doctors as they switched to telemedicine appointments. Conversely, the use of illicit stimulants dropped by 16% for methamphetamine and 40% for cocaine. The researchers suggest that travel restrictions limited interstate and international trafficking of these drugs. Our results match with all of the sources that we could find pertaining to other drug estimations in the community, says Montgomery, including declines in city and state police methamphetamine and cocaine seizures. And now, even more recent data released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that nationwide, drug overdose deaths increased by nearly 30% from the prior year with the majority caused by opioid overdoses. Overdose deaths from fentanyl-laced illegal stimulants also increased in 2020.

At the same time, the prevalence of benzodiazepines  anxiety-related sedatives  was elevated by nearly 30% and antidepressants increased by 40%. In a related project that is also being presented by Subedis team at ACS Fall 2021, they examined the same wastewater samples for isoprostanes  hormones that indicate oxidative stress and anxiety  and found their levels rose significantly. That tells us as peoples anxiety levels increased, the levels of prescription drug consumption also increased, Subedi says, aligning with additional interventions recommended by health professionals to treat elevated mental health issues.

The trends that we are reporting are only for the first four months of the early COVID-19 pandemic, and they may not be true for an extended period of time, Subedi says. Although the pandemic is now receding in some parts of the world, the team continues monthly wastewater sampling. Subedi notes that monitoring the trends of drug use and community-level anxiety post-pandemic will help explain the overall effects that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on peoples lives.

The researchers acknowledge funding from the Kentucky Biomedical Research Infrastructure Network.
COFFEE CREEK, Calif. - Some people in Coffee Creek in Trinity County are sharing their concern about firefighting on the River Complex in their area.

The Haypress Fire, part of the River Complex, is burning mostly in the Klamath National Forest. Some of it has burned into the Trinity Alps Wilderness area. Coffee Creek is considered one of the primary gateways to the Trinity Alps.

Action News Now reporter Ryan Kanne went to Coffee Creek over the weekend to talk to people who have been trying to fight the fire themselves. Some expressed frustration over the Forest Service firefighting operations, saying they had community volunteer firefighters sent away, and have had to fight smaller spot fires themselves, with their own equipment.

Bill Hartman, part of the family that owns the popular Coffee Creek Ranch on Coffee Creek Rd., said, "We've gone up and helped neighbors to save their houses and stuff like that, because there's not one water tender on this whole side of the fire in the Shasta-T, the Haypress Fire."

"So, I volunteered my time with my water truck to save certain houses up there and friends," he said. He told Kanee at times he was turned away from his efforts by the federal firefighters. He said others in the area have experienced the same thing. They keep saying they have no resources, but there's people here that have resources that want to help -- but they are pushing them away, basically, and it's just pretty sad," he added.

The federal firefighters acknowledge that there have not been very many resources on the Trinity side of the River Complex/Haypress Fire over the last few weeks, but he said on Sunday fire crews will be shifting over there. Resources for firefighting in California are in limited supply.

River Complex Public Information Officer Nick Hollaway met with our reporter to discuss the firefighting efforts.

"This fire is under a full suppression strategy, using direct and indirect tactics -- and so we shift resources around wherever priorities are on any given day," Hollaway said.

Bill Hartman and his family said they are thankful for all that firefighters are able to do, and hope they can help keep their community safe.

Ruth Hartman, who is Bill Hartman's mother, explained, "This is an ancient Indian site on Coffee Creek Ranch. It's also been the site of the historical town of Coffee, California -- so we don't want to see it destroyed and we don't want to see anybody come in and destroy it for us, let alone a fire."

As the fire continues to spread, many people in Coffee Creek are also defending their homes by creating and expanding their own containment lines and keeping their properties and buildings watered down.

CLICK HERE to find the latest information on the River Complex.
Update 10:08 a.m. Monday - Hospital CEO Steve Starks said he could not confirm if the man was admitted because of privacy restrictions.

The hospital's western entrance was closed until CAL FIRE said it was clear and there was no hazard.

CAL FIRE said the liquid was not hazardous.

--

GRIDLEY, Calif. - The CAL FIRE Butte Unit Haz Mat Team is busy Sunday afternoon investigating a mysterious substance that was brought to Orchard Hospital in Gridley by a Butte County man.

According to a CAL FIRE official, their Haz Mat team was sent out at approximately 2:20 p.m. to investigate a mysterious liquid that was inside of a car in the Orchard Hospital parking lot. The west entrance to the hospital was closed, and part of the parking lot, but the hospital has remained open.

The Haz Mat team went through the process that they use to identify mysterious substances, but by approximately 4:30 p.m. they said they had been unable to identify it. Captain John Gaddie told Action News Now that the man may still have to be decontaminated, even though they have not yet been able to identify the mysterious liquid.

The Haz Mat crew has been sent out to the man's home on Palermo-Honcut Highway so that they can find out more about the mysterious liquid at the reporting man's home.

This is a developing story. Please check back later for more details.
The festival of Raksha Bandhan holds a special place in the hearts of all Indians. Commemorating the occasion in a remarkable way, BIG FM, one of Indias largest radio networks, once again joined hands with Gulf Superfleet Turbo Plus Truck Engine Oil for the third edition of their highly lauded campaign Suraksha Bandhan. The initiative aimed to recognize the relentless efforts of the truck drivers and showcase gratitude for their work also emphasized on their health and safety, which is the need of the hour. While Season 1 of the campaign witnessed the truckers being united with their sisters in a heartfelt manner and Season 2 saw the festival being marked with innovative Suraksha Rakhis (carrying soap strips) amidst the pandemic, Suraksha Bandhan season 3 takes a step forward this year by getting the drivers vaccinated at a place of their convenience.

The trying times that we have been facing over the last one year now, staying protected and healthy has been the utmost priority of every citizen. As the entire country is getting back on its feet slowly, getting vaccinated is the only solution to fight this grave battle. Truck drivers, especially since the onset of lockdown, have been tirelessly traveling from one state to another to deliver goods, essentials, and medical supplies including oxygen cylinders and medicines which has been the topmost priority. To ensure their safety, it is crucial for them to be vaccinated and help them in the process as they may not be as technologically savvy. Understanding the importance of this and the challenges they may face, BIG FM, TV9, and Gulf Superfleet Turbo Plus Truck Engine Oil embarked on the mission to help over 10,000 trucker friends to get their Suraksha Ka Tika.

With leading RJs of the network helping spread the word, the campaign was also conducted in partnership with TV9 Network. The 15-day long free vaccination drive received words of support and encouragement from the Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Nitin Gadkari during the launch. He appreciated the efforts of this campaign, emphasized on the importance of vaccination and encouraged the trucker community to join the drive to ensure their safety.

Speaking about the campaign, Mr. Sunil Kumaran, Country Head, Product, Marketing and THWINK BIG, BIG FM, said, At BIG FM, our endeavor has always been to prioritize campaigns that help bring about a positive change in the society whilst also ensuring tangible outcomes. As India continues its fight against the deadly virus, it is important to look out for our trucker friends, who are on the move 24x7, and ensure their safety as well. Vaccination is the need of the hour and we are glad we are using the power of radio to spread awareness and reach out to the trucker community once again through this initiative. We are also thrilled to partner with Gulf Oil for the third consecutive year and successfully culminate the campaign.

Commenting on the campaign, Mr. Ravi Chawla, MD & CEO, Gulf Oil Lubricants India Ltd., said, Truck drivers have gone above and beyond their call of duty to make sure the wheels of the nation stay running through this difficult period. Speaking and listening to them through our strong on-ground network, we realized that their own safety remained a huge concern for them and their families. The promise of our brand, Gulf Superfleet Turbo+ is protection and that is precisely what we are ensuring through this campaign. We are happy to extend a helping hand to them and take an active step towards their protection through this vaccination drive. Going by the success of our past associations with BIG FM, Suraksha Bandhan Season 3 is yet another collaborative effort and we are thankful to them for helping spread this message to a huge audience through their vast network. We would also like to thank TV9 Network for their support.

For a seamless execution of the campaign, BIG FM & TV9 tied up with reputed hospitals and truckers associations for the vaccination drive across 11 cities including Mumbai, Ghaziabad, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Faridabad, Lucknow, Indore, Ahmedabad, Baddi, Delhi & Ambala. In order to create further awareness around the initiative, they also invited stories from the Truckers where they spoke about the current situation and how difficult it has been for them. Throughout the duration of the campaign, the radio network also hosted doctors and experts to address questions, bust myths & hesitancy pertaining to the vaccination. The entire campaign was further amplified on the brands social media platforms reaching out to millions across the country.
SVF Brands collaborated with Century Plyboards to launch the 'Century Promise ad' to promote a one of kind unique initiative by the latter. Century Plyboards (India) Ltd., last month announced the launch of Century Promise app, an initiative which will provide further peace of mind to its customers by ensuring whether the buyer is spending on genuine or a fake plywood brand. The programmatic creative service solutions will provide details on the genuineness of all CenturyPly products through an embedded QR code  a first-of-its-kind initiative in the industry taken by any Indian plywood manufacturer.

In order to promote this initiative, Century Ply brings SVF Brands on board to make a new digital video to make consumers aware of the new app and its process to check the authenticity of Century Plywood. The film features renowned actors Rajat Kapoor and June Malia who with their natural charisma connects with the audience to spread the message of bringing CenturyPly products home without worrying on its genuineness. The ad has been directed by the Guptodhon series director, Dhrubo Banerjee, who have gifted us with many other beautiful digital ads like 'Sunlight Jiboner Rong' etc. The advertisement conceptualised by Wunderman Thompson and produced by SVF Brands, is digitally launched to ensure that target consumers are aware of this pioneering advancement brought in wood panel industry by CenturyPly.

The digital ad has been released on 10th August and now streaming across SVF Brands' official social media platforms.
In a massive development, the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has officially recognised the News Broadcasters Federation (NBF)s self regulatory body. The granting of official status by the MIB to the NBF makes the body the only institution of its kind in the entire nation to get the accreditation from the Government of India.

The NBFs self-regulatory bodys emergence as the sole body to meet all criteria to be granted validation by the Union of India and be the only recognised body regulating the news media sector as on-date once again reiterates the commitment of the largest news broadcasters body to the fundamentals of transparency, accountability and strong self-regulation.

The NBF, which is already Indias largest body of news broadcasters in India, has been relentlessly working with member groups and stakeholders in the industry to strengthen self-regulatory frameworks in the news media sector. With NBFs Professional News Broadcasters Standards Authority (PNBSA) being recognised by the Government of India, the body is set to build a robust system with the highest standards of transparency and accountability, and one that has set an unmatched precedent in the domain of news media vis-a-vis self-regulation.

Presently, the PNBSA is the only body in India that has successfully demonstrated compliance with national standards in the domain of news media. This accreditation is another symbol of high professional standards and excellence with which the NBF and the PNBSA operate. As the only accredited self-regulatory body for news media, the PNBSA has undergone rigorous scrutiny. The NBF has already established itself as a pillar for news media organisations who have chosen to be members of the body and made it the largest-ever group of news broadcasters in India.

On receiving the one of its kind accreditation, the President of the NBF, Mr. Arnab Goswami said, "I want to thank all the members of the Governing Body of the NBF who have worked with me towards making this happen. The media has a pivotal role in strengthening our democracy and taking it to even greater heights. Strengthening the framework of the self-regulation of the media is a big step in that direction. And thats exactly what the NBF has been working round the clock towards. The NBF prides on its democratic structure and roots across the country. Different languages, dynamic formats and varied audiences, but what binds the NBF is our commitment in coming together to strengthen the media pillar of Indian democracy. We look forward to working with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to further strengthen self-regulation in our media."

Secretary General of the NBF, Mr. R. Jai Krishna said, "We are privileged to be the first officially recognised self regulatory body to be registered for TV news broadcasters. We are grateful to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and our members for reposing trust and faith. We ensure that we will take the news broadcasting of the country to great milestones with our democratic structure, excellence in self regulation, and bringing the truth and reflections to the door steps across the country in maximum languages. "

The PNBSA has formally been registered as a Self-Regulatory Body under the new amendments in the Cable Television Network Act. The NBF-PNBSA has been set up in full and complete compliance with the required norms and operates with a strong self-regulatory structure.

The NBF channels presently include 24News, Alamai Sahara, CVR English, CVR Health, CVR NEWS, DA News Plus, DY365, Gulistan News, IBC24, IND 24, India News Gujarat, India News Haryana, India News Hindi, India News MPCG, India News Punjabi, India News Rajasthan, India News UP, Khabar Fast, MHOne, NEWS9, News First Kannada, News Live, News Nation, NewsX, North East Live, North East News, OTV, Prag News, Puthiyathalaimurai, Republic Bangla, Republic Bharat, Republic TV, Sahara Samay, Samay Bihar, Samay Maharashtra, Samay MPCG, Samay Rajasthan, Samay UP, TV5 Kannada, TV5 Telugu, TV9 Bharatvarsh, TV9 Gujarati, TV9 Kannada, TV9 Marathi, TV9 Telugu and V6.
The most loved, crime thriller show, La Casa De Papel (Spanish) - Money Heist, streaming on Netflix for four seasons now, which showed how a mastermind planned the most successful and flawless bank robbery with a team of 'specialists'. The series follows two long-planned heists, one on the Royal Mint of Spain and the other on the Bank of Spain, as told through the eyes of one of the criminals, Tokyo. From breathtaking assaults, to love, emotions and attachments to the thrilling masterplan of the 'Professor' to jaw-dropping suspense and cliffhangers, Money Heist was all over everybody's mind with its iconic song, Bella Ciao to which most of the fans were vibing for very long.

In ten days, La Casa de Papel/Money Heist season 5, volume 1 will be released. As if the theories and ads weren't enough to get you excited for the next season, Netflix India has created a new song called Money Heist Anthem to promote the two-part series finale.

Anil Kapoor, Radhika Apte, Rana Daggubati, Vikrant Massey, Shruti Haasan and other stars in the new song, which is set to Money Heist's renowned Bella Ciao theme and cries 'Come soon' in many languages.

A couple of scenes from Money Heist are recreated in the music video. Shruti channeling Nairobi with a flower in her mouth after the character's death in season 4 and Anil Kapoor dancing on the money bed as Denver did after the first robbery are examples of this.

Radhika appears in the video alongside Vikrant Massey and speaks for all fans when she says she wants Arturo to die in the final season.
Rediffusion, Indias largest independent ad agency, today announced that it will work with fashion brand JJ Valaya. The business was won following a multi-agency pitch

Rediffusion has bagged the creative duties of India's leading fashion pioneers and founder of one of the most respected luxury fashion and lifestyle houses - The House of Valaya. Today, the brand encompasses Couture, Ready-to-wear, Home and a CSR initiative, The Free Spirit Foundation (FSF).

JJ Valaya enjoys the reputation of being a part of the pioneering group of Indian fashion designers who started the style revolution for Modern India. He is a founding member of the Board of Governors of the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) and the first official brand ambassador for global crystal giant Swarovski, a brand he continues to work with passionately.

JJ Valaya's enviable legacy of 28 years has earned him the title 'Czar of Indian Couture'. No words perhaps better describe the Valaya brand than the one made by the Maharani of Kapurthala on a visit to his atelier: "You are truly the future of the past."

Speaking on the partnership, JJ Valaya said,There is immense substance to the fact that both Rediffusion and JJ Valaya are legacy brands with over 78 years of excellence and endurance between us. What unfolds out of this intrinsic experience based knowledge of value creation combined with a progressive modern approach to strategy is something that I am truly looking forward to. 

Dr.Sandeep Goyal, Managing Director, Rediffusion Brand Solutions, said, "It's a moment of pride for all of us at Rediffusion to partner with one of India's most flamboyant couturiers and fashion icons. JJV's admirable journey of 28 years in the world of luxury fashion and lifestyle is truly inspiring, and we are excited to take the brand to the next level."

Adds Kalyani Srivastava, Executive Vice President of Rediffusion who will be leading the relationship, JJ Valaya has all our creative team so excited. The visual extravagance of Valaya, the royal texture and weave of his fabrics, the dreamy creation of his apparels makes JJ Valaya a dream for any creative person to work on and communicate. Our digital team too is looking forward to amplifying the JJ Valaya brand on social media: there is much anticipation around all the new launches that are in the pipeline.
Thought leadership is, put simply, a way to build transparency and credibility with your audience as a resource and expertise in your chosen topic or industry. In a world massively disrupted by the global pandemic, thought leaders are whom the industry is looking up to, to provide some direction in charting out the road ahead. These unprecedented times have required a lot of reworking of strategies, some out-of-the-box thinking and a huge dose of innovation. A well-planned thought leadership campaign can help in heightening brand awareness, boost traffic and generate sales. It also helps in building the brand and strengthening its equity in the market.

Coming as a timely beacon in these challenging times is Adgully4ms latest endeavour  THOUGHT LEADERSHIP SERIES  which is designed to engage with some of the best leaders from the industry in the business of Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations.

Held on Saturday, August 21,, 2021, the third edition of the Thought Leadership Series saw Vipul Sabharwal, Managing Director, Luminous Power Technologies, and a highly skilled Sales and Marketing leader, with over three decades of experience spanning across FMCG, Telecom and White Goods industries in a scintillating conversation with host R Sridhar, where he highlighted the strategic direction and marketing skills required to become a thought leader. The warm camaraderie between the two industry leaders was evident throughout the conversation as the back and forth banter between the two kept the audience engaged.

On being asked by Sridhar to share his experience on working with different companies, Sabharwal replied, Companies like Whirlpool, Johnson & Johnson are actually a creation around World War ll. They have people who have worked in the army, and have built a strong culture. They had a great structure in what they wanted to do, good leadership, appetite for risk, and hierarchy at points which brought them a phenomenal result. Their core aim was to lead for technological advancement and have always built a regime of discipline, regime of process not to change it, but to learn the process, master it and then make the tweaks of one degree turn around the organisation and bring innovation into place.

The world of Nokia was a new age company coming out of Finland and there was a meeting held to discuss what should be the values of the company and what they built from the bottom. From every country there were a certain set of people who went up to this global meeting to discuss what should be the value of the company. They were more open, more engaging and their dimensionalisation of engagement was very different from other companies. It also depends on where you are starting from, what you want to do, what is the culture today and their adaptation power, he observed.

This is an edited excerpt. For this and more interesting insights, catch the full conversation here:
Pune-based SAVA Healthcare has appointed WATConsult, the globally awarded hybrid digital agency from the house of dentsu India, as the digital marketing partner for its new herbal formulation business, SAVA Herbals. SAVA Healthcare is an Indian multinational and one of the fastest-growing pharmaceutical companies. Within a decade, the company has established a strong footprint globally as well as in India with its human and veterinary pharmaceuticals.

As per the mandate, WATConsult will oversee Social Media Management, Media Planning & Buying, Online Reputation Management and Search Engine Optimisation for the brand.

The key focus of the agency will be to drive the brand growth and complete execution of the strategies across all leading digital and social media platforms generating a high engagement rate and overall connection with the audience.

Speaking on the partnership, Vinod Ramchandra Jadhav, Chairman, SAVA Group said, SAVA Healthcare has always believed in providing customers with the best quality pharmaceutical products. SAVA Herbals is an extension of the capabilities that we have built over the years in manufacturing herbal extracts of highest purity. We truly believe that our association with WATConsult will help us grow and set new benchmarks as we promote our brands philosophy of making life feel good.

Dr Sriram Padmanabhan, Head  R&D, SAVA Healthcare added, The products that are being launched by SAVA Herbals have been developed in-house and tested for clinical efficacy and safety in patients, which is very significant. WATConsult will help us spread this message and reach out to customers across.

Commenting on the association, Heeru Dingra, CEO, WATConsult said, Healthcare is of paramount importance especially in todays times and so are companies like SAVA that intend to help improve peoples lives. Armed with a lot of new-age thinking and a digital-first approach, we are looking forward to helping the company further scale its efforts and accelerate business growth.

Through SAVA Herbals, SAVA Healthcare will be launching clinically proven herbal product offerings across various therapy areas. The company has plans to launch more products in the next few months.
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

Bern, 23.08.2021 - The Ambassadors and International Network Conference will be held in Bern from 23 to 26 August. Besides current foreign policy issues, this year's conference will focus on the use of digital technologies and their potential. The other members of the Federal Council as well as the state secretariats will also take part in various workshops, the aim of which being to strengthen coherence in the implementation of Swiss foreign policy.

Earlier today, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis opened this year's Ambassadors and International Network Conference at Wankdorf stadium in Bern. The four-day event will focus on digital diplomacy and provide a platform for debating, among other things, the opportunities that new technologies present and the challenges they pose for Swiss foreign policy. Around 170 participants will attend the event, coming from within the country and from Switzerland's representations abroad. Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, the conference will also be held live online.

Geneva as a leading hub for debate on digitalisation and technology

"Digital technologies offer new opportunities for diplomacy, poverty reduction and the promotion of sustainable development in line with the 2030 Agenda," said Cassis in his opening address. He went on to say he intends to focus more sharply on this key issue in the coming year. The Federal Council has set out digitalisation as one of the four priorities of Switzerland's Foreign Policy Strategy 202023. In this thematic area, Switzerland is pursuing the goal of further developing its digital foreign policy with the involvement of all relevant actors, positioning International Geneva as a leading hub for debate on digitalisation and technology. In doing so it advocates for an open and secure digital space, with a focus on people's needs and respect for international law. "International Geneva has an important role to play here as a hub for digital governance and as a platform for dialogue between science and diplomacy," said Cassis.

Foreign policy concerns not only the FDFA

Foreign policy does not only concern the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), as other federal departments also deal with international economic, scientific and migration issues. In order to ensure a uniform, coherent approach to these issues within the Federal Administration, members of the Federal Council and representatives of the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI), the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) and the State Secretariat for International Finance (SIF) will also be taking part in various workshops and discussions during the conference.

A platform for exchange of views

Every year the Swiss ambassadors, consuls general and honorary consuls, and heads of international cooperation come together with the head of the FDFA. At the heart of this tradition, which dates back to 1887, is an exchange of views on topical foreign and economic policy issues. The main topic of the 2020 conference was the FDFA's response to COVID-19, while in 2019, the participants discussed the drafting of the Foreign Policy Strategy and Switzerland's 2028 Foreign Policy Vision (AVIS28).

Address for enquiries

FDFA Communication

Federal Palace West Wing

CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland

Tel. Communication service: +41 58 462 31 53

Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55

E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch

Twitter: @SwissMFA

Publisher

Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html




Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

Bern, 23.08.2021 - Cooperation for peace and stability and recent developments in the Middle East were the focus of the talks between Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis and Oman's Foreign Minister, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Al Busaidi, who was visiting Ticino. Tomorrow, the two foreign ministers will take part in the fourth Middle East Mediterranean Summer Summit, organised by the Universita della Svizzera italiana (USI).

As part of an official visit to the Middle East in April, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis visited Oman, which is an important partner for Switzerland in the region, especially in terms of peace and stability. During talks held today in Lugano with Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Al Busaidi, the head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs reiterated Switzerland's willingness to support dialogue between countries of the region. "Only through dialogue," explained Ignazio Cassis, "is it possible to ease tensions and improve security in the Middle East".

Switzerland and Oman pursue a neutral foreign policy and are both known for their good offices and role as mediators in conflicts. They support efforts to revive the peace process in Yemen and to improve relations among the conflicting states in the region. The ministers also discussed potential opportunities for Swiss companies in Oman and furthered the dialogue begun in the spring on cooperation in the areas of healthcare and vocational education and training for young people. Technical-level meetings between Swiss and Omani delegations have already been scheduled for the run-up to the World Expo in Dubai from October 2021 to March 2022.

Focus on the Middle East and North Africa at USI



Tomorrow, the two foreign ministers will take part in the fourth Middle East Mediterranean Summer Summit, organised by Switzerland's Italian-speaking public university, the Universita della Svizzera italiana. Mr Cassis will take part in a panel discussion with young people from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, a priority area for Switzerland's foreign policy. Creating prospects for younger generations is at the heart of the Federal Council's MENA Strategy.

Address for enquiries

FDFA Communication

Federal Palace West Wing

CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland

Tel. Communication service: +41 58 462 31 53

Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55

E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch

Twitter: @SwissMFA

Publisher

Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html




As long as I have lived on this farm, which is 31 years, the swallows have occupied the same spot in my shop every summer and produced two bat
During the month of August, spring wheat prices have kept moving higher, and ass the ongoing drought continues to take its toll on this years spring wheat crop, it has also helped to push prices higher.

Weve seen all three futures markets for wheat push toward new contract highs, but as we approached the middle part of August weve seen a little bit of consolidation, and thats to be expected as the market is trying to work higher on a shorter crop,  said Jim Peterson, market director for the North Dakota Wheat Commission. When it gets the perception that things are worse than they realize, they get a pretty sharp run-up and then you get some reality set in that maybe things arent quite as severe as they thought and set back.

Nonetheless, all three futures markets havent held at the new contract levels, he continued. For Minneapolis wheat, $9.44 was the previous high. For September futures, we broke the $9.50 range, but now weve slipped back below that. The test will be if we can take it to that next level higher.

Whats driving the market is that in early August USDA came out with its August production report, as well as its supply and demand report, which had bullish U.S. numbers. But probably even more bullish or price supportive were numbers from the world front, namely a 24 percent reduction in the Canadian crop and about a 15 percent reduction in the Russian crop since July, according to Peterson.

While the market was anticipating some cuts, I think they were surprised by the level of reduction that USDA made, he said.
Harvest in North Dakota is surging ahead as spring crops finish maturing and fall crops wait for timely rains.

Peas are three-fourths cut, ahead of the average, while lentils are nearly half finished. Spring wheat harvest is nearly half completed, well ahead of the average, and barley is 57 percent harvested, also ahead of the average.

Rainfall was been spotty over the first two weeks of August. In the eastern region of the state, a light rain fell from Aug. 8-11. In many western areas of the state, under a tenth of an inch of rain fell during that same time  or none at all.

The U.S. Drought Monitor shows the extreme drought category has widened in the state and all the state remains in some category of drought. Exceptional drought continues to be located mostly in the north central region.

Timely rains are needed for fall crops. Soybeans are currently trying to fill pods while other soybeans are at full seed.

Corn is mostly done silking and nearly half of the corn crop is in the dough stage.

According to NASS, percentages of crops in good-to-excellent condition include: sunflowers, 22 percent; soybeans, 14 percent; corn, 20 percent; spring wheat, 12 percent; canola, 19 percent; and malting barley, only 8 percent, which is unusual for the state.

Brian Zimprich, NDSU Extension agent in Ransom County, said his county has not received any rain so far through the first half of August.

With the dry conditions, producers in Ransom County have finished harvesting small grains.
https://www.aish.com/ci/s/The-Bishop-who-Saved-1500-Jews.html

Pavel Peter Gojdic suffered mistreatment and humiliation for his outspoken defense of Jews during the Holocaust.

This is the story of a righteous gentile and his unsaintly nemesis. Pavel Peter Gojdic, a humble Catholic monk, was born in 1888 in Slovakia, where he served as resident bishop during World War II and a friend of the Jews who saved many lives.

Nazi Germany occupied the region in 1938 and quickly went about issuing anti-Jewish orders. Local authorities cooperated, limiting Jews freedom of movement and excluding Jewish children from non-Jewish schools.

Pavel Peter Gojdic

At personal risk as apostolic administrator, Gojdic openly spoke up in favor of Jews from the beginning of their persecution in Slovakia. On January 25, 1939, two days after the establishment of a special committee by the Slovak autonomist government charged with defining the program for the solution of the Jewish question, the bishop wrote a special letter addressed to all parishes in his Presov diocese, wrote Yad Vashem, Israel's Holocaust museum.

 In this letter he warned about disastrous results which might be caused by these discriminative policies. He reminded people of the basic principles of their belief  that every human being has equal rights when he faces God. He also warned of the consequences of Nazi ideology and racism.

Gojdic's activities did not sit well with the fascist Slovak state. Fellow priests turned on him. In the summer of 1939 they wrote a memorandum expressing their dissatisfaction with Gojdics actions. He resigned a few months later.

In 1940 the Vatican accepted his resignation from the position of apostolic administrator, but at the same time appointed him as bishop of the Presov, Slovakia, diocese. This only increased the tension between him and the government.

Nemesis Condemns Slovak Jewry to Destruction

Meanwhile, Slovakias new president, Jozef Tiso  also a priest  began expropriating Jewish property and deporting Jews to German-occupied Poland. He resisted most pressure from the Vatican and Jewish groups to end deportations.

Historian James Mace Ward, a visiting Fellow at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, cited a conversation in which Tiso regretted exempting 18,000 Jews from expropriation and deportation, due to his belief that they were sabotaging the economy.

Tiso Hanged

Wards research portrays Tiso as a man who helped condemn Slovak Jewry to destruction. Ultimately, Tiso met a violent fate himself. After World War II ended, a reunified Czechoslovakia convicted and hanged him for treason, suppression of freedom and crimes against humanity.

Despite posthumous efforts to brand Tiso a saint, Ward concluded that he was no saint.

On the other hand, Bishop Gojdic helped refugees, prisoners and inmates of concentration camps, and became known as the man with a heart of gold. He is credited with directly or indirectly saving as many as 1,500 Jews.

Righteous Gentile Saved Countless Lives

In 2007 Yad Vashem recognized Bishop Gojdic as one of its Righteous Among the Nations. Its webpage about him reports: On October 26, 1942, the Slovak Security Services informed the 14th Department of the Ministry of Interior about a high number of fictitious conversions taking place. The report pointed out several cases when only one member of a Jewish family converted to Christianity in order to defend his whole family. Out of 249 Jewish families only 533 Jews converted to Greek Catholic or Russian Orthodox faith in order to rescue another 1500 members of their families, who did not convert. Apart from that, most of those who had converted continued to actively pursue Judaism either in an open or a hidden manner.

Refusing to renounce his religion, he was given a life sentence for treason by the Communist state,Czechoslovakia.



Though he survived the Nazis, Bishop Gojdic endured a life sentence in prison when the Communist regime made the Greek Catholic Church illegal. The many letters written by Jews who were grateful for his work had no effect on this sentence. He died from cancer in the prison hospital of Leopoldov Prison in 1960, on his 72nd birthday.
Afghanistan is a mess, despite vain attempts by Democrats and the media to spin it otherwise. We left behind a trove of weapons and intelligence secrets in our abandoned airbases and embassy. This was a gift to the Taliban, overnight making them one of the best-equipped military forces in the world. They reminded America and the world of this fact by recreating the famous photo of US soldiers raising the American flag during the Battle of Iwo Jima.

People were left behind as well, American civilians, contractors, and other support staff necessary for the 20-year war which President Joe Biden surrendered, waving the white flag in a manner that not even France would do.

Our military, formerly the best in the world, has not received orders to, or is incapable of or unwilling to, rescue American citizens stranded in Kabul, one day telling them to head to the airport, the next day telling them not to, in the flip-flopping manner of Dr. Fauci and his latest masking recommendations. Yet the French, caricatured as the surrender brigade, are bravely rescuing its citizens from Kabul, along with the British.

YouTube screen grab

We see articles and headlines like this one from CNBC, More than 18,000 people have been flown out of Kabul since the Taliban took over Afghanistans capital, a NATO official said on Friday. Notice how they say people without specifying in the article who these people are.

The AP is also vague regarding these people. Pentagon says that about 3,800 civilians have been evacuated from Afghanistan over the past day. Who are these civilians? Further in the article, they get more specific, Of the 17,000 people evacuated since Aug. 15, just 2,500 have been Americans. U.S. officials have estimated there are as many as 15,000 Americans in Afghanistan but acknowledge they dont have solid numbers.

The US military is certainly evacuating people but why are only 15 percent of evacuees Americans? Who are the other 85 percent? Obviously not Americans.

The Daily Mail is more specific, Hero airmen reveal they flew 823 Afghans out of Kabul including 183 kids after scrapping red tape to cram record number of people on C-17 jet. Any Americans or just Afghans? They went on, The US has removed 9,000 people since Sunday but only around 1,000 of those are US citizens. It seems Americans are not high on Bidens evacuation priority list.

The Daily Mail also claims, The State Department doesn't know how many Americans are still in the country. Are they looking? It didnt take long for the FBI to round up hundreds of January 6 insurrectionists, mostly innocents wandering around the US Capitol as the Capitol Police acted like tour guides, letting them in, giving them directions, and chatting in a friendly manner. Yet the State Department claims ignorance of how many Americans are in a war-torn country that America just deserted.

Did the Biden and the military plan for this? For the Afghans, the answer is yes. Operation Allies Refuge is, A massive eleventh-hour airlift to ferry thousands of Afghans who worked for the U.S. out of Afghanistan before they are subject to retribution from advancing Taliban forces.

Was there a similar plan to rescue Americans? Yes, until Biden scrapped it. The Trump administration created a Contingency and Crisis Response for this purpose which Bidens State Department canceled. Americans last, not first, the theme of the Biden presidency.

President Biden, reading from his teleprompter, vowed to get out any American in Afghanistan who wants to leave the country. As USA Today reported, On Thursday alone, about 5,700 people were evacuated by military transport planes. That includes 350 U.S. citizens, family members, special immigrant visa applicants and their families and other vulnerable Afghans, according to a White House official.

This evacuation was 6 percent American. Who are the other 94 percent? We certainly have a moral obligation to help Afghan nationals who helped the US war effort, but not at the expense of American citizens.

President Trump, in his interview with Sean Hannity, mentioned a figure of as many as 40,000 Americans in Afghanistan. At that 6 percent ratio, by the time we evacuate 40,000 Americans, we will have evacuated 651,000 Afghans.

Did we have that many Afghans helping us in our war efforts, and should they be prioritized over Americans? Bidens Operation Allies Refuge plan was for evacuating thousands of Afghans, not half a million. Who are the extras?

How will those half-million plus be vetted to be sure they mean America no harm? Will the US State Department be asking the Taliban for background checks on all these individuals? Or will it be like the US southern border, anyone from anywhere is welcomed into the US, a permanent guest of the US taxpayer?

What could go wrong? Ask Austria, Austrian authorities have arrested three Afghans as suspects in the rape and killing of a 13-year-old girl. That was last month. Or ask Germany, from a year ago, Outrage in Germany after Afghan migrant who was arrested for raping an 11-year-old was released after 12 days then raped another girl, 13.

It seems these evacuations are a concerted plan to flood the US with unvetted migrants, Cloward-Piven style, some of whom may hurt or kill Americans. Are there any Taliban or ISIS fighters among those being evacuated? Why travel halfway around the world to Mexico to cross into America when Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin sends a plane for you.

Biden will resettle these migrants across America, not in Marthas Vineyard or Chevy Chase, but in your town. And you or your elected officials wont be able to do anything about it as Biden rescinded Trumps executive order giving jurisdictions veto power over resettled migrants.

Watch how the media frames the evacuations. People are being evacuated and only if you read into the meat of the article will you see how few Americans are actually part of the evacuation. If you question this, you are a racist.

This is how the media treats sex scandals based on political party affiliation. Compare two headlines and notice which one mentions the political party of the accused.

From MSNBC, Why the scandal surrounding the GOP's Matt Gaetz is so very odd. And from NPR, Conyers resigns amid sexual harassment allegations. One headline reminds readers which party the accused belongs to, one does not.

Its the same for evacuations, describing people rather than Americans in a transparent attempt to hide the fact that Biden is more concerned about loading up America with migrants, which some Republican governors are eager to host in their states, rather than moving heaven and earth to get American citizens out of harms way and back home, as other countries are doing for their citizens.

So much for America and Americans first. Once again, the Democrats are screwing Americans in favor of the rest of the world. And the media is dutifully providing cover.

Brian C Joondeph is a physician and writer. He is on sabbatical from social media.

To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here.
People will put up with a little absentmindedness or occasional faux pas. But when creeping senility puts lives at risk and national interests in jeopardy, thats entirely different.

When it was clear Joe Bidens victory would stand up, it was obvious to me that Bidens mental troubles, to frame it gently, would result in him being out of office one way or another within six months of his swearing-in. By then, the Trojan Horse would have served his purpose. Democrats would control all three branches of government and have pushed through many fundamental changes.

Biden did his share. He signed a record number of executive orders, many of questionable constitutionality. But now, as has been so painfully and obviously illuminated by the Afghanistan debacle, the presidents competence and reliability are dramatically compromised by clearly advancing symptoms of old age.

Consequently, we are about to witness a genuine insurrection that will put Jan. 6, 2021, into proper perspective. The unruly mob that stormed the Capitol was weak tea. Even its most militant participants never intended to overthrow the government. Their purpose was simply to have votes recounted and verified, which still hasnt been done.

What looms today is far more serious, infinitely more calculated, and definitely more likely to achieve its goal: to replace a sitting president in mid-term, probably against his will. It aint gonna be pretty. It has the real possibility of resembling a banana republic coup d'etat.

Getting him up in Marine One with Nancy sitting behind him might be one way....

YouTube screengrab

Many people note that the 25th Amendment to the Constitution permits the yanking of a president out of the Oval Office against his will, but consider the obstacles for replacing the vice president to ensure a Senate tie-breaking vote for Democrats. Recall how little the Constitution and laws have meant in recent years with the 2020 election improprieties, the politicizing and weaponizing of the FBI and Justice Department, nationwide illegal lockdowns and mandates, the wide-open southern border and, of course, the blind eyes turned to the Clinton attempts to frame Donald Trump. And consider this: Democrats really have no other option that works for them.

The motivation for a such drastic move is that the situation already is urgent and grows more dire by the day. No longer can Democrats trust Biden to stick to talking points rehearsed beforehand, or even to read from teleprompters or cheat sheets he carries to the podium. And when he goes off-script, Biden is at best unpredictable, often contradicting his own administration and frequently spewing outright lies that have even CNN blanching. At any moment, the president is liable to veer into forbidden territory with a devastating flourish.

As fascinating as it may be to consider, playing hide the pea with the president of the United States is unrealistic. Mrs. Edith Wilson fooled the world, while her president husband, Woodrow, finished his term disabled by a stroke hidden from the public. That wont happen today. Not in this 24/7 intense news cycle world. Not in the age of the nuclear briefcase.

Biden has finished his seventh month. But hes on borrowed time. Everyone knows it.

As any observer can verify by watching and listening, Joe Biden has ceased to be the president of the United States. Someone is pulling his strings and has been for quite some time. That is clear to everyone. What is unclear to nearly everyone is, who exactly is in charge.

We may be about to find out because whoever it is will be confronted by any number of challengers seeking to gain control over the next puppet-in-chief, Kamala Harris.

Theres not much use speculating about how Democrats will jettison Biden. It will be done in plain view. The real game will be how the media and the varied factions with interest in the office of the presidency publicly deal with the ouster and replacement.

For any student of government and any subscriber to the theory of the Deep State, this stuff is not new. Rule #1: whoever wins serves at the pleasure of others. And were not talking about the voters pleasure.

So, America, prepare for all the unpleasantries from House of Cards and Advise and Consent to play out in real-time, prime time even. Political jockeying for the inside track always is cutthroat but normally out of view. It will be nearly impossible to keep the jostling sub-rosa once the media and political antagonists smell Bidens blood in the water. The shark frenzy looms. Slow shark dies.

When it becomes clear that Biden is on his way out, none of those interested in controlling the new titular figurehead will be reserved when making their move. Unlike normal times, such as the assassination of JFK and the forced resignation of Richard Nixon, there wont be time for politics as usual. Behind-the-scenes subtleties will give way to high-profile public power plays. The players know they need to win the public to their cause and time is short.

Ousting an unstable president unlikely to go quietly is fraught with landmines. Imagine a public setting in which the magnitude of what his own party is doing to him pushes Biden beyond the limits of his self-control. Thats not hard to imagine, is it?

Theres a reason Biden is ushered away from the podium and news cameras. Prolonged exposure risks embarrassment. And worse.

Weve already seen him lose control with the media, who Biden barks at sarcastically, and even with voters, who he insults to their face (You lyin dog-faced pony soldier!).

But what happens when the President of the United States insists on going out for an ice cream cone, then unexpectedly is triggered and launches a public rant captured by news and cellphone cameras? What happens when Secret Service agents are unpersuasive and Biden shrugs off their grasp and continues his rant?

How many such outbursts will the public tolerate before realizing such instability threatens national security. Afghanistan withdrawal already has severely reduced the publics faith in Bidens competence. The normally fawning press already complains that he doesnt make himself available or answer their questions. Even pre-screened reporters with pre-approved questions are beginning to rebel. They want the truth, not Joes scripted lies.

Professional incompetence and a series of public rants signaling mental instability. What could be more worrisome in a leader?

Anyone who ever has dealt with a loved one suffering from senility or Alzheimers knows the routine. When angry, they cannot be reasoned with. They become more adamant, not more reasonable. And louder. And less and less concerned that they may be creating a scene. Indeed, making a loud, disruptive scene may be intentional. Its a sign of emotion trumping reason. Another undesirable trait for a leader.

Now imagine such a person is the most powerful man on the planet, the Commander in Chief, the man to whom every federal agency answers. Restraining that person becomes exponentially more difficult. When the president says, Dont do that! do press aides persist? Do Secret Service agents back off? When he resists direction, does anyone forcibly and physically change his mind? In public?

What if the president feels he is being conspired against, which in fact he will be? What if he feels his closest advisors are in on it? Which they will be. What if he summons Oprah, a Senator or his barber or his brother so he can unload on them about the injustice. Then the secrets out.

Imagine the tabloid headlines: President a prisoner in the White House!

Such missteps can be deadly to the cause. The partys cause, that is.

Imagine the public reaction. Then imagine one or more crises erupting simultaneously in the South China Sea or Israel versus Iran or Russian aggression in Ukraine. Or another purposely released virus.

Are you beginning to feel the urgency? You can bet Democrats do. How long will they wait?

Year of Capitol incident corrected

Mark Landsbaum is a Christian retired journalist, former investigative reporter, editorial writer, and columnist. He also is a husband, father, grandfather, and Dodgers fan. He can be reached at mark.landsbaum@gmail.com.

To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here.
In Afghanistan, America is experiencing its own Dunkirk, but without rescue boats or a Churchill on the horizon.

While pundits, pooh-bahs, and political prophets presently are in finger-pointing mode over the debacle, one lesson is apparent. For decades, American foreign policy has been committed to a failed political and military philosophy. Afghanistan is the symbolic and real indicator of the total collapse of the liberal/left Weltanschauung.

During America's twenty years' war and occupation of Afghanistan and well before that enterprise, somewhere along the way, the definition and goals of the war radically changed. The idea of military objectives surgically carried out and missions accomplished was tossed in the trash bin in favor of a transition to what euphemistically has been termed "soft power."

As Kevin Ofchus, an associate fellow of the think-tank Narrative Strategies notes in his book Delegation of Blame: Insurgent Violent Extremism, after the failure of intelligence brought on by the Snowden revelations and the institution of the drawdown, soft power became the chosen policy in Afghanistan. He writes:

The paternalistic soft power mantra ... went something like, "Look people, we can bomb the hell out of the insurgency but the whack a mole strategy hasn't defeated the enemy's ideology which outlives those we kill, our best bet is to try and provide resources and stabilization inspiring ideological change from within instead of forcing a solution by threat or mandate from the outside."

To put it another way, a "soft war" was meant to address the root causes of social disturbances that led to discontent and then to violence, which led in turn to terrorism. Boiled down to its philosophical essence, the change from hard military policy to soft power reflected the mantra "it takes a village." Military policy became much like LBJ's War on Poverty and all the other "wars" aimed at social improvement.

But the soft power policy put in place in Afghanistan blurred a critical distinction between the enemy and American and allied soldiers. Seeing the enemy as a victim of societal pressures that could be relieved by an occupying force with social justice ideals meant the loss of the original ideals of soldiery. The idea of robust soldiery expressed in the rousing lyrics of the Marine Corps hymn was replaced with ideas similar to the Coke commercial's soothing words, "I'd like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony."

In the abstract, the idea of changing hearts and minds by nation-building via changing hearts and minds seems a noble goal. But no government should try to put the equivalent of a Marshall Plan in effect until after the enemy is defeated. One does not institute the Marshall Plan while the Wehrmacht is still in control. One does not attempt nation-building in 1940, while the outcome of the battle is not clear and the enemy still has enormous strongholds of power. One waits until 1948.

The danger to the U.S. military and to those contractors engaged in soft-power "nation-building" has always been apparent. During the years he was in Afghanistan, Ofchus and his co-workers recognized they were in continual danger. He prophetically wrote (italics mine):

My concern was for the safety of our employees first and foremost. If the environment did deteriorate into chaos, we had at least attempted to mitigate civilian casualties. Even with proper planning, if things turned really bad, we (among many others) were likely going to have to fight our way on the ground to safe zones either at Bagram or at the RS airfield on the other side of the Kabul International Airport. No one was going to come and get us.

He continued:

Bottom line: There was a stunning lack of continuity, adaptability, and singular oversight, coinciding with a massive output in tax dollars on noble objectives but positioned within a policy objective which had no unified coherent strategy. At the very least not a strategy recognizable matching the resiliency and mutability of IVE terrorism[.] ... Crippled largely by blind arrogance ignoring the host nation frame of reference from the beginning, the foundation for counter-IVE (terrorism) stabilization was cracked when it was poured.

In other words, the abstract ideals of leftist liberalism did not consider the fact that the people soft power was supposed to convert did not wish to be converted to the liberal Western viewpoint, as many of the beliefs of leftism are absolute anathema to Muslim Afghanis' cultural norms. The attempt to gradually change the hearts of people committed to a religious worldview that repudiates leftist/liberal Western ideals was not a winning military strategy.

Who was even thinking about and understanding the Muslim theology foundational to the worldview of those who are in charge of and living within Muslim-dominated countries? Who really considered the fact that the average Muslim is diametrically opposed to ultra-liberal mores, just as many Christians and others in the West also are opposed to leftist beliefs such as same-sex "marriage," abortion on demand, and gender-bending ideology?

In brief, most Muslims do not wish to be and will not ever be converted by soft power to "woke" ideology, even though many repudiate or at least resist the harshness and cruelty of the extremists among them  namely, the Taliban and like-minded terrorists.

The "woke" mentality that has guided the disastrous efforts in Afghanistan has long roots  roots that need to be cut now.

As Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn notes in his book Leftism Revisited, the American left has continued to follow the disastrous political philosophy of Woodrow Wilson, who turned WWI from a "conflict among nations to a crusade for democracy," thus changing the goals and philosophy of war for one hundred years. Like present soft power, Wilson's abstract goals depicted wholesale conversion of nations to democratic ideals that were to replace narrow national self-interest. One might say Wilsonian political zeal was a secularized version of conversion efforts by the deeply religious.

Kuehnelt-Leddihn added that prime minister of Victorian England, Benjamin Disraeli, noted that zealous leaders of England drew the country into complicated messes that did not serve the true interests of Great Britain (italics mine):

You looked on the English Constitution as a model form. You forced this constitution in every country. You laid it down as the great principle that you were not to consider the interests of England or the interests of the country you were in connection with, but that you were to consider the great system of liberalism, which has nothing to do with the interests of England, and was generally antagonistic with the interests of the country with which you were in connection.

Kuehnelt-Leddihn continues: "How easily one could substitute 'democracy' for 'liberalism' and address these sentiments to American as well as British leftists who served neither the real interest of their country nor of the countries which they saddled with representative governments of democratic character."

He added that though millions were killed and billions spent, in the end, not only was democracy defeated and the ideologies of fascism and communism facilitated but far worse happened  namely, "the destruction of the liberal principle of personal freedom."

In other words, the missionary zeal of liberals led by Wilson, who wanted to make the entire world "safe for democracy," was and still is a failure in times of peace and war, as it always leads to endless conflict.

What is needed at this time of national humiliation?

What is necessary is a complete rejection of the philosophy that has been the root cause of the domestic and foreign disasters in which America is currently entangled. Leftism must be repudiated in all its forms.

But to begin with, American leaders need to realize that the military arm of the United States is primarily for the defense of the United States against her sworn enemies. It is foundational to success to articulate and put into action a winning strategy: identify the enemies who are attempting to destroy us, cordon them off, and then annihilate them.

Those strategies employed by WWII military leaders such as General Patton are why the United States helped win the war. It is also why since abandoning them, the country has lost its way concerning the true purposes of our mighty military force. Soldiers and officers are not social workers. They are not nurses, schoolteachers, or counselors for those who are struggling with identity issues. They are soldiers.

The policy of soft power must be utterly rejected and a return to hard power embraced. Foreign and domestic actions deliberately aimed at hurting America and her people must be met with military force. Enemies must be defeated, and governments harboring or assisting terrorists must be punished. America requires more of a Churchillian attitude toward enemies and less of the Chamberlain attitude that we may achieve "peace in our time" by futile soft power.

Such changes will require a drastic reorientation away from leftism and the soft power/woke mentality presently infecting the government and the military. The changes will be difficult and disruptive. But that critical reorientation must be made. Otherwise, America will continue to suffer enormous consequences as her military might proves useless because of the wrongheaded non-strategy of soft power.

Fay Voshell holds a M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary, which awarded her the prize for excellence in systematic theology. Her thoughts have appeared in many online magazines. She may be reached at fvoshell@yahoo.com.

Image: stevepb via Pixabay, Pixabay license.

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Former Secretary Clinton set the tone back in 1992: "I'm not sitting here some little woman standing by my man like Tammy Wynette."

It looks as if we are watching Kamala's version of Hillary's line. Of course, Hillary was talking about standing by her husband, the candidate. Kamala refuses to stand by her man, the president.

What do you do when you get tired of standing behind Joe Biden wearing that mask? Well, you can use your eyes or body language to tell the world that Willie Brown was right about this thing called the vice presidency. Or you can take a fancy plane out of town and tell everybody in Asia that the U.S. is as firm as ever in supporting our allies.

Well, we will see how this trip goes, but the lady vice president is on her way:

The vice president is expected to use the trip to communicate U.S. views regarding China's growing power and influence in the region  including the communist regime's efforts to take control of the South China Sea. Harris' Sunday plans following the long journey were not immediately clear. On Monday, she is scheduled to speak by phone with Singapore President Halimah Yacob and participate in a bilateral meeting with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, according to The Associated Press. Harris and the prime minister are expected to field questions from reporters during a joint news conference, the AP reported. She is also scheduled to deliver a speech aboard a U.S. combat ship in Singapore, the report said.

We will see how the men and women on that combat ship react. I'm sure that they are watching their brothers in arms defending the Kabul airport.

To be fair, vice presidents take foreign trips. V.P. Harris is not the first. At the same time, I can't recall the last time that a #2 had a scheduled visit to the place that everyone is comparing Afghanistan to  i.e., Vietnam.

I can't believe they couldn't reschedule this one on the grounds that the V.P. needs to stay in Washington because there are urgent matters on the agenda. On the other hand, maybe President Biden was happy to see her go, given how unhappy she looks behind him.

"Stand by your man" not a song on the V.P. Harris playlist!

PS: You can listen to my show (Canto Talk).

Image: Lawrence Jackson.

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Australia's New South Wales has gone stark, raving mad. Eleven days ago, it renewed complete lockdowns, including barring people from speaking to each other, thanks to a few hundred new cases and the deaths of two men in their 90s. These new cases were on top of the 12,588 cases and 91 deaths since last February, out of a population of 5.3 million  in other words, numbers that aren't even a statistical blip.

That, it turns out, was the beginning. The state shepherded tens of thousands of children into arenas and injected them with vaccines, it's arresting people for leaving their homes, and it's shooting dogs. No wonder Australians are starting to riot.

On August 12, I wrote about the decision in New South Wales (which is the most populous state and home to Sydney, Australia's largest city) to reinstate lockdowns. For a disease with a >98% survival rate, people were told they could leave their homes only to get food, go to work, or get medical treatment. Even worse, aside from telling people to refrain from all social interactions, the premier, Gladys Berejiklian, told people to inform on each other, a classic totalitarian move that destroys familial and social bonds.

Meanwhile, Canberra, Australia's capital city, has announced that there's a goal for the lockdown: it will continue until the virus is gone. Of course, viruses are never gone, especially viruses that have been manufactured in a lab to go directly to a human host, without the necessity of an intervening animal. Even if Canberra temporarily gets to zero cases, the moment people from the outside world enter (and they will), COVID comes right back again.

Believe it or not, it got worse after that.

By August 16, the new rule was that if you wanted to drink alcohol outdoors (perhaps on your patio, given how locked in everyone was), you had to keep your mask on. Maybe there's some logic behind that but I don't see it.

The Australian government also went after the children. The Health Minister announced that 24,000 children would be herded into a stadium  without their parents  and injected:

AUSTRALIA- 24,000 children will be vaccinated in a stadium next week. No parents will be allowed access.



Er#COVID19 #CovidVic #NoVaccinePassports pic.twitter.com/TMGUOB2xwz  Elanders Voice (@Elanders_Voice) August 16, 2021

Think about this: we know that children almost never get or give COVID. They are less likely to die from COVID than they are from the annual flu. We also know that the vaccine doesn't work, and, worse, it seems to make people more vulnerable to COVID variants. Also, the vaccine seems to trigger heart problems in young people, especially teen boys. And that's just what the various government agencies around the world will admit to. Parents, though, have no say, since Australia has incredibly punitive vaccination laws that do not allow conscientious objections.

But even that isn't where Australia's madness ends. In New South Wales, they're now slaughtering all shelter dogs lest the people who care for them worry about the fact that, with the lockdown, the dogs in the shelter are starving to death.

While many Australians seem happy living under Big Brother, others are refusing to do so. There've been mass riots, with people pushing through police lines to get even a little bit of liberty:

JUST  Chaotic scenes as protesters break through police barricades in Melbourne, Australia #Melbourneprotest #sydneyprotest pic.twitter.com/vHOXIjtpav  Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) August 21, 2021

Australians have had ENOUGH!!!! pic.twitter.com/2dz32fmOve  Sana Ayesha (@sanaayesha__) August 21, 2021

As they have from the beginning, the Australian police seem very happy with the power that's been handed to them.

This is all terribly ironic in a country that was started as a penal colony to which England shipped its prisoners. At least when the prisoners arrived there, after working out their sentence as indentured labor, they could be free. Now Australia is a true penal colony, with every citizen a prisoner and the children ripe for the state's medical experiments.

It's also worth noting that, if it were not for the Constitution, this is undoubtedly what our American governing class would like to impose upon us. However, as Al Sharpton so memorably said, "Resist we much!" Join Sally Zelikovsky's mailing list, gather with other conservative groups to increase your strength, and refuse to let the wokesters cow you. The Constitution is a magnificent document, and, unlike leftists, we can and will be heard while operating within the rule of law.

UPDATE: Since I wrote the above, New South Wales has increased its COVID lockdown rules, closing more retailers, limiting exercise to 1 hour per day (masked, of course), and authorizing authorities to seal entire buildings, just as the CCP did in February 2020.

Image: Australians making a break for freedom. Twitter screen grab.

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As the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan continues, we hear more stories of the evil of the Taliban. Police being executed in the streets, "rape gangs" going door to door, taking girls as young as 12 from their homes to be used as sex slaves for the soldiers. Even relief organizations working in the region are warning of an increase in attacks on Christians across the nation, saying anyone who is identified as a Christian could be killed for his faith or seriously persecuted.



Clamoring to escape evil they know is coming.

In fact, fear of the evils of the Taliban is so great that people were literally clinging to the outside of airplanes and falling to their deaths rather than live under the terror of the Islamic emirate.

As these horrific stories unfold, I am hearing more and more people say things like "Why would God allow this?," or "How can a loving God allow this kind of evil to be unchecked?" Indeed, this made me think long and hard about this moral and theological quandary. Throughout history, the debate of God's goodness has been held in light of the evil that seemingly is allowed to exist. Even in the recent film The Suicide Squad, the villain the Thinker, when faced with the evil he has brought about, says, "If God existed, wouldn't this be proof that he wasn't good at all?"

In Epicurus's trilemma, he says the following.

If God is unable to prevent evil, then he is not all-powerful. If God is not willing to prevent evil, then he is not all-good. If God is both willing and able to prevent evil, then why does evil exist?

As a Christian, I ask myself this a lot: why does God allow evil? Is it because of free will? Is it to push forward a greater plan? And frankly, I don't have a great answer to these questions. However, the one question that must be asked is this, do we really want God to intervene and stop evil?

Many of you likely have been exposed to the global sensation that is Doctor Who, a television program about a "Time Lord" known as the Doctor, who is immortal and travels forward and backward in time and the universe helping people. It's a fun show, albeit one that does dip its toe into moral and ethical issues that are often debated.

In most of the show, we are showing a fun-loving and caring Doctor; however, in one episode, we are shown a different side, a punitive one. The episode's villain says this after his defeat:

He never raised his voice. That was the worst thing. The fury of the Time Lord. And then we discovered why. Why this Doctor who had fought with gods and demons, why he'd run away from us and hidden. He was being kind.

This episode showed that, yes, the Doctor was kind and loving, but when he was faced with a malignant and aggressive evil, he had no choice but to act and act ruthlessly to put it down. This example of an all-powerful being acting to eliminate evil made me ask: would we want God to be actively involved in our world and stopping evil?

It's popular to say that God is all love and focus on his redemptive side, and while, yes, God wants to redeem and save all, we can't throw out God's other attributes  the God who said, "Vengeance is mine," who flooded the world, who cast Satan out of heaven. God is both redemptive and punitive.

Like a judge, God hands out both mercy and justice, bound to eternal law. If God were actively present in our world, combating and stopping evil, it would not be a very pleasant sight. God is a being of pure good, and thus, he cannot suffer any evil in his presence (hence the reason for Jesus as our mediator).

Like how the Doctor when presented with a titanic evil, was forced to obliterate it from existence, in much the same way, God, if actively in our world, would be forced to obliterate all evil. I then wonder: if this were to happen, how much of our world would be left?

So when people ask me, "How can a loving God allow this to happen?" I respond that perhaps he is being kind.

Byron Lafayette is a journalist and author. He currently serves as Editor in Chief for Viral Hare, follow him on Twitter @ByronLafayette.

Photo credit: YouTube screen grab.

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We Americans focus tightly on our federal elected officials. We become fanatical about our presidential candidates and scrutinize closely our senators and House members. But when it comes to the agencies that really run the government, the best we can do is contact our senators about the officials who need Senate approval. We have no say at all over the vast army of unnamed employees. Trump's presidency, though, revealed how powerful these unelected people are...and how much they hate us. Exhibit A for today is General Michael Hayden, former director of the NSA and director of the CIA  under George W. Bush.

Hayden's Twitter feed reveals how very deeply and profoundly this former military officer and government official hates that half (or more than half) of America that voted for Trump. He shows the same animosity we saw with Peter Strzok when he wrote his married girlfriend that he could "smell" the Trump supporters at Walmart.

Here are some examples of what you'll find on his feed. For one thing, if you don't want to take a vaccine that even the MSM is conceding is potentially dangerous, he wants you out of the country and, preferably, dead:

Good idea https://t.co/pn6xcWTtc8  Gen Michael Hayden (@GenMhayden) August 22, 2021

He thinks it's a wonderful idea to flood America's communities with young Afghan men:

As a reminder, young Afghan men were responsible for the majority of the huge number of sex crimes in Germany and Austria after Angela Merkel invited them into Europe. But Hayden, who probably lives in a leafy enclave safe from poorer neighborhoods, thinks it would be great for them to live in your neighborhood.

And there's that Trump-hatred:

He lies. And lies. And lies. https://t.co/1IMmtVbzVa  Gen Michael Hayden (@GenMhayden) August 12, 2021

Really. Hes an asshole. Pure and simple. https://t.co/LqWugQj4fh  Gen Michael Hayden (@GenMhayden) August 19, 2021

Think about it: General Hayden is saying it's an "a------" idea to protect civilians and equipment before you pull out the military (without even bothering to notify your allies). I'd expect more from someone with a prior military background.

And while Hayden is still obsessed with hating on Trump, he doesn't have a bad word to say about Biden, the architect of the unfolding disaster in Afghanistan.

When J.D. Vance, who is running for Congress, said Americans should come first, Hayden essentially cursed his congressional chances:

Thats amazing. Youre not gonna be in Congress. https://t.co/gTfm4WHLcu  Gen Michael Hayden (@GenMhayden) August 19, 2021

He reads race into South Carolina's governor signing into law the new "Open Carry with Training Act":

Any reason for an all white audience? https://t.co/0IAnn9aZFG  Gen Michael Hayden (@GenMhayden) August 14, 2021

27.3 percent Black in the state https://t.co/0IAnn9aZFG  Gen Michael Hayden (@GenMhayden) August 14, 2021

What in the world does race have to do with this?

And of course, Hayden calls Tucker Carlson a Nazi:

He looks like a Gestapo agent https://t.co/IBQB4jXewc  Gen Michael Hayden (@GenMhayden) August 12, 2021

But here's the thing about Hayden: this guy is not a Democrat. He considers himself a standard-bearer of true Republicanism. He is the perfect reminder that there is a monoparty in Washington, D.C., one that ranges politically from slightly left to far left. Trump challenged that establishment, and the establishment tried to destroy him  and, with January 6 as the weapon, is trying to destroy Trump's supporters, too.

Congress has pretty much abandoned most of its lawmaking functions. After it's picked Americans' pockets by demanding hugely high taxes to fund leftist projects and local boondoggles, it hands the real law-making responsibilities to the various agencies. In addition, agencies such as the DOJ, FBI, CIA, and NSA have extraordinary power over American lives. (E.g., the NSA just admitted to unmasking Tucker Carlson or the DOJ/FBI witch hunt for people who "paraded" on January 6.)

Congress, which we elect, is doing a lousy job looking out for our interests by passing the buck to people who, whether they're Democrat or Republican, hate traditional, core American values. Hayden thinks a congressional candidate who believes in putting his own countrymen first should lose in favor of...another Tlaib? AOC? Omar? All these people would happily kick Americans to the curb.

Next year, during the primaries, make sure you let candidates know that one of the things that's important to you is getting rid of Deep Staters who despise the American people and American values. It's time to make it clear that, under the American constitutional system, we don't work for them; they are civil servants who work for us.

Image: Andrea Widburg using a public domain photo.

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As Joe Biden held his Sunday briefing, advising Americans that all was well and the evacuation from Afghanistan was progressing, the Taliban was listening.

The most critical part of the presser came with the first question, from Associated Press reporter Darlene Superville, who asked Biden if the August 31 deadline might be extended.

NBC News cut that answer off for a reporter's rehash of the brief, just as viewers were leaning in to hear that answer. Some news agencies eventually reported the answer, though.

"Our hope is we will not have to extend, but there are going to be discussions, I suspect, on how far along we are in the process," the president said.

That prompted the Taliban to pounce:

The Taliban has said it will 'provoke a reaction' and has threatened 'consequences' if the US does not leave Afghanistan by August 31 and chooses to extend the deadline for the withdrawal of troops. President Joe Biden wants all Americans to have left the country by the end of the month, in order to stick to the troop withdrawal agreement reached with the Taliban, although he admitted on Sunday night that an extension was under discussion, while this morning UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said the evacuation effort is 'down to hours now, not weeks'. Taliban spokesman Dr Suhail Shaheen said the group will not accept an extension to the deadline and warned of retaliation if Western forces extend their 'occupation' since the group dramatically swept to power.

Seems the Taliban, whom Joe Biden is depending on for a safe American evacuation, aren't negotiating. Negotiations are for losers, nations that beg their embassy not be attacked. The Americans will stick to Joe's stupid Aug. 31 deadline...or else. They've got the power.

Besides not negotiating, they're telling Biden, the putative leader of the free world, what he's going to do.

This ought to prompt an airstrike right there on this filthy terrorist, but thanks to Joe, we've pulled out.

The backstory of this is very much worth looking at.

Former U.S. ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul, a diplomat I enjoy following on Twitter but often disagree with, is pretty sound on this:

Today Biden hinted at staying longer, but did not say so definitively. He said, "there are discussions." People from Afghanistan I trust say that a more definitive commitment to stay for as long as it takes would help to reduce the panic & chaos at the airport gates. https://t.co/3V7Wv9G9ob  Michael McFaul (@McFaul) August 22, 2021

If Biden would say definitively that we will stay for as long as it takes to get everyone out of #Afghanistan who qualifies to leave, then the chaos around the airport would reduce. It's that simple. (People in Kabul are panicked by the artificial 8/31 deadline.)  Michael McFaul (@McFaul) August 22, 2021

Repeatedly, he links the chaos at the airport gates to the artificial deadline, which Joe threw out there on July 8 based on his desire to make it not 9/11. Now he's got chaos at the airport as a huge crush of desperate people seeks not to be left behind. He's got 10,000 Americans in there somewhere, but his troops can't come out of the airport to find them, the way the British, the French, and the German allies are, and while the State Department tells Americans not to come at all, given the danger.

Here's the take from Biden's secretary of state, Antony Blinken, basically telling stranded Americans that Joe's given up:

Blinken: Leaving Americans to get to the Kabul airport on their own is the best way to do this. pic.twitter.com/8Ocom7JsgL  Arthur Schwartz (@ArthurSchwartz) August 22, 2021

Hard deadline, say the Taliban terrorists, plus warnings of an ISIS-plotted attack in that area. And Joe's early warning to rain hell down on them if they interfere with the evacuation has obviously been dismissed.

Meanwhile, nobody can come to the airport - not only are the crowds making it impossible, but the Taliban are going around and beating up Americans trying to get in and stealing their passports.

It sounds as though the Taliban have Biden in a bind, are unperturbed about his past threats, and are now looking for the mother of all hostage crises. They know that Joe won't fight, nor send more troops, nor put up any resistance, nor pay attention to the pleas of allies. His word is worthless, and they don't fear him.

They certainly don't want all the Americans to get out. Besides the big shiny new American aircraft, Humvees, Blackhawk helicopters, night-vision goggles, flight simulators, tanks, rifles, airbase, and all they've taken from the abandoned booty of the Americans, they'd also like a treasure trove of U.S. hostages. Marauders like this don't stop to count the loot.

They've struck hard and fast, knowing they've got doddering Joe backed into a corner. Now they're showing what they're about. They're making it impossible to evacuate all the Americans (and Afghan collaborators) yet demanding the U.S. get out on Joe's early timetable as if that's some kind of obligation of the U.S. to these certified treaty-breakers, and if they don't, then they'll do something evil.

It's disgusting. And it's more disgusting because it's hard to think Joe will call them out, telling them, as any U.S. president ought to do, the hell with their "orders" and send more troops and take back Bagram airbase, as President Trump would have done. What's bad is that this threat will trigger more airport panic, as McFaul described above. Net result? Fewer Americans will be able to get out.

Proud of yourself, Joe?

Image: USAToday video screen shot via shareable YouTube.

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In the wake of Biden's unmitigated catastrophe in Afghanistan, he has been attempting to assuage his incompetence by providing the public with the false choice between leaving and committing America to an endless war.

Even after we leave Afghanistan, we will still be engaged in an ongoing war, for the war with radical Islam does not take two parties. Radical Islam has been at continual war with the West since the hordes of Muslims emerged from the Arabian Peninsula and fought their way into Western Europe to be stopped in France by Charles Martel and centuries later by the Polish cavalry at the gates of Vienna.

Osama bin Laden demanded that Spain (Andalusia) be returned to Islam, for whatever is once Islam's is always Islam's, according to the terrorist who brought down the Twin Towers on September 11.

Even among Muslims who seek refuge in the West, there is a faction that seeks not to assimilate into Western culture but to replace Western democracy with a fundamentalist version of Islam. "To hell with your democracy," read signs held high by fundamentalist demonstrators on the streets of London.

Obviously, these people do not represent Islam in the West, but it only takes two or three radicalized people to foment a terrorist operation and cast a stain on an entire community.

Muslim communities, like all immigrant communities, are divided. The majority seek to go about their business and make a decent place for their families, but there is a segment that feels alienated from life in the old world and unable to surmount the cultural barriers to life in the new. There is a reason that Muslim would-be terrorists are disproportionately not foreign, but home-grown. Many are American citizens.

As long as there are Muslim societies extolling the virtues of terrorism as Islamic virtues, there will be alienated Muslim youths in Western society that will heed the call. Therefore, beyond the strategic consequences of the fall of Afghanistan to the fundamentalist Taliban, Afghanistan will present a signal to those who are susceptible to mobilization by fundamentalist ideology. The Biden administration has been oblivious to both the obvious strategic consequences of its debacle in Afghanistan and the impact a Taliban-dominated Afghanistan will have on mobilizing terrorists in the West.

What will become of the Afghans we resettle in America? Fremont, California holds the largest Afghan population in the Western world. The head of the local state university is himself an Afghan. Fremont also produced the celebrated author of The Kite Runner, a successful physician turned prominent novelist. They represent the successful members of the community, who have integrated into the fabric of American life.

But too many of the community are described as existing in a state of suspended animation between Afghanistan and America. They feel as if they belong to neither culture and are suspicious of outsiders. Every uptick in the war in Afghanistan leads them to question whether the people who gave them shelter are going to be responsible for the grotesque civilian casualties that the fighting has produced.

The lack of assimilation has been attributed to language difficulties. The early refugees were successful, highly educated professionals, who came in the aftermath of the Soviet invasion. These people assimilated. Later, more rural people came, who did not share the same intellectual accomplishments of the first wave of immigrants. These people are the ones caught between two cultures as a function of access to English literacy because they were not highly literate in their own language.

But others have characterized the divisions in the Afghan community as one of a conflict of generations, with the second generation being more alienated, seeing themselves as a generation without a culture.

Discussions of the character of the community almost invariably fall on issues facing the Afghan community. There is almost no discussion of what the larger community can do to facilitate assimilation.

If we simply transport people out of harm's way without attending to their emotional, cultural, and psychological needs, we will have placed into our midst people ripe for exploitation by radical ideology, if not in the first generation, then in the second.

Abraham H. Miller is an emeritus professor of political science, University of Cincinnati.

Image:  .

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Even without military training, I think most people know that when you pull out of a country that will soon have your enemy on the move, you get vulnerable civilians and local allies out first; then you take your machinery and weapons; and lastly, you withdraw your troops. Biden ordered the opposite, with predictable consequences. What's made people really crazy, though, is that, with 5,000 troops returned to Afghanistan, they're not rescuing anybody.

Over at Instapundit, someone with "a lot of military experience" explains that there may be a (sad, pathetic) method to this seeming madness.

One of the most horrific things about the Taliban takeover has been the knowledge that tens of thousands of Americans are trapped in Afghanistan. Those Afghans who aided America or simply bought into more Western values (working women, etc.) are also trapped. Even worse, the military is under strict orders not to recover people for evacuation.

With the military stuck in the airport and the Taliban in control, we know that Americans are being beaten. And God help us, but we also know that the Taliban are hunting down those who worked with the Americans, and when they find them, they're torturing and murdering them, after which they kidnap their daughters and wives as sex slaves. (We can assume, given the sick Afghan habit of Bacha Bazi, or sexual abuse of little boys, that a lot of the boys are vanishing, too.)

What's infuriating is that we're learning that British and French troops are rescuing their own citizens:

As the Defense Department continues to stick to its plans of not reaching out into Kabul to assist U.S. personnel and Afghan helpers evacuate, British and French forces have done so to rescue their citizens, multiple outlets report. The Daily Mail reported that London deployed an additional 300 troops to Kabul specifically to extract trapped British nationals earlier in the week. Within hours of touching down in Kabul, the British troops retrieved some 200 British nationals from around Kabul, the Telegraph reported. Prompting the mission were reports of Taliban hunting down former Afghan government officials, along with Britons stuck behind a web of Taliban checkpoints lining the route to the airport. Additionally, France 24 reports that the French military has been conducting similar operations since Monday. French President Emmanuel Macron thanked French security forces on Twitter for executing a 'sensitive operation' which evacuated more than 200 French and Afghans.

We also know that our troops are champing at the bit to be useful, rather than prisoners of the Kabul airport. We've assumed that their orders to stay put represent more administration cowardice and ineptitude. However, Glenn Reynolds heard from a friend "with a lot of military experience," and it turns out that it's more complicated than that:

The British and French go in at the pleasure of the Taliban, who I suspect are not that interested in them at this time. Except to the extent they may serve as bait to draw in US forces. If US forces did go into Kabul at anything less than brigade strength, it could be Mogadishu. Even at brigade strength, the Taliban will be calling the shots. Shutting off streets. Making use of American hostages and human shields.

That makes a lot of sense. The same person goes on to write that protecting the troops from another Mogadishu doesn't excuse the fact that Biden, the State Department, and the military brass made horrendous errors from one end to another. It just means they are at least trying to avoid this specific error.

If our administration were made up of people who hewed to the Japanese ethos of failure, they would resign in disgrace. Heck, some might think about seppuku (although I believe that's always going too far). As it is, though, Biden has made it plain that he's not firing anyone for these massive failures, nor is he going anywhere.

It must be wonderful to live in a world in which your actions, no matter how poorly conceived or conducted, never have a negative effect on you. Most of us don't get that luxury  and way too many people, both at home and abroad, have suffered mightily because Democrats have no shame and always protect their own.

Image: Troops at Kabul airport. Department of Defense photo.

To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here.
The State Department is currently conducting a "surge" of consular officers into Kabul Airport and other locations in the region to help process the flood of people seeking evacuation. That's right  instead of flying Americans out of Kabul, they are now flying additional American diplomats in! What could possibly go wrong? This "surge" is an insane idea for so many reasons.



Evacuees at Kabul Airport head for their plane.

First, there is the obvious risk of putting more non-combatant civilians into a tactically untenable position, completely surrounded by heavily armed hostile militants and swamped by hundreds of un-vetted local nationals. These new consular officials not only add to the pool of potential hostages but are also high-value hostages. They have security clearances and diplomatic passports.

Second, this plan shows irrational faith that the Taliban have no plan to attack the airport themselves and that they are capable of preventing renegade fighters from attacking it on their own. A few mortar rounds could shut down takeoffs and landings. There is no other way into or out of Kabul. As the saying goes, "Past performance cannot guarantee future results."

Afghanistan is a clan-based, non-hierarchical society where every hamlet and valley has its own headman. Rigid deference to centralized authority is not an Afghan cultural tradition. Even if Taliban leaders wanted to maintain non-aggression, they have limited capability to enforce compliance among their loose collection of followers. Incidents where an individual Afghan fighter becomes violent out of sudden rage or to avenge some perceived slight are commonplace. This is a big reason why ceasefires seldom last very long in this part of the world.

Then there are all those al-Qaeda, ISIS, and other bad hombres released by the Taliban when they stormed the Bagram detention facility. Everyone is walking around heavily armed, many with captured U.S.-provided weapons. Honestly, I am amazed there have been so few shootings so far.

Third, this surge of consular officials indicates that the State Department is still trying to exert control over operations at the airport. What very few people in or out of government realize is that per U.S. statute, the State Department, not the Department of Defense, is responsible for evacuation of U.S. nationals and any other "designated persons." We practice civilian control of the military. The military is not supposed to be telling civilians what they have to do. The ambassador or charge d'affaires can decide who gets evacuated, how and when they get evacuated, how they get processed, the whole thing. DoD's role is only to support and assist DoS unless and until the State Department throws in the towel and cedes control.

The State Department and in particular the Diplomatic Service is tiny compared to DoD. DoS has a paltry fraction of DoD's headcount and budget and has none of DoD's airlift capability or security muscle. Furthermore, the State Department operates with a very different mindset. Diplomats are more comfortable circulating position papers, schmoozing at embassy cocktail receptions, and authoring memoranda. They are not known for rapid decision-making or barking commands at unruly crowds.

It is also far from clear whether evacuee processing is making full use of the military's vast trove of biometric data in Afghanistan. Over the past 20 years, the military collected fingerprints, photos, and retinal scans of over a quarter-million Afghans. Every person detained on suspicion of involvement with the insurgency was scanned. Every Afghan national, third-country national, or U.S. contractor cleared to work on a U.S. base was scanned. This kind of immutable identification data was essential in a land where much of the population is illiterate, where people often go by only one name, use noms de guerre or clan names, and where all names must be transliterated from a non-Western language into a phonetically similar English representation.

Unfortunately, it appears that the Taliban have captured some biometric devices and data. Even so, the biometric database should be a vital tool for screening evacuees at Kabul airport. It should be able to quickly triage evacuees, even those without documentation, into verified OK, verified as suspicious, and unknown  need further processing.

The military has a purpose-built information system for processing evacuees. The NEO Tracking System (NTS) comes in a portable hard-shell case containing a laptop, fingerprint scanner, digital camera, and printer. It will generate passenger loading manifests, sort and total by priority groups, and print bar-coded wristbands.

The time has come for the State Department to step aside and get all embassy personnel out of Kabul. The situation is not suitable for keeping U.S. government civilians on the ground. Move consular processing out to safe havens in Qatar and Kuwait, and leave the initial screening and passenger loading to the military. Redirect State Department focus to persuading more third countries to admit at-risk Afghan refugees. The bottleneck right now is not getting people onto airplanes; it is finding places to put them after they land.

Photo credit: YouTube screen grab.

To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here.
At 4 A.M., most homeowners are fast asleep and pretty darn vulnerable  especially when four armed men kick their door down. However, one Phoenix homeowner wasn't just awake for the assault but also was armed and fired first. The footage showing the assailants stumble away from the hail of bullets reminds us again why the Second Amendment is so important.

I've been brooding all day about something missing from the story, which is an explanation of why the homeowner was standing there waiting when the four bad guys came for him. Did he (or she) have a barking dog? Was he a light sleeper? Did he just come home from the graveyard shift? Was this a gang matter, and he was expecting trouble? The stories don't say.

What we do know is that, at 4 A.M., four armed men went to the home. They tried to disable the security camera, but that failed, which is why we have this amazing footage.

One of the men kicked down the front door. You just know that all four of them, when they imagined the break-in going down, saw themselves storming into the place, perhaps intimidating the inhabitants with their guns to rob them or maybe just firing indiscriminately at anyone they saw.

Whatever their plans were, they didn't last beyond the door bursting open. The homeowner was waiting inside, and he got off the first shots. It turns out that, despite their numeric advantage, when four untrained men face a hail of bullets, they don't think of firing back. All they think of is running away as fast and as far as they can:

It does not appear that any of the men involved have been caught yet.

One of the useful things about the internet is that, for many Americans who've lived fairly sheltered lives, it gives them a chance to see the truth behind the expression that "when seconds count, the police are minutes away." Moreover, the more good guys are out there who can and will use guns defensively, the less incentive there is for bad guys to use them offensively. As another old saying goes, "an armed society is a polite society."

Image: Woman with a pistol by Pexels. Pixabay license.

To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here.
When Heinrich Boll, the German writer and Nobel laureate, was a young man in his twenties, like many able-bodied youths of his time, he joined the Wehrmacht, the German Armed Forces of Nazi Germany. During World War 2, he served all over Europe as well as the Soviet Union.

On November 9, 1939, while fighting in occupied Poland, Boll wrote to his parents back home in Cologne: It's tough out here, and I hope you'll understand if I'm only able to write to you once every two to four days soon. Today I'm writing you mainly to ask for some Pervitin.

Some months later, he wrote to his family again: Perhaps you could get me some more Pervitin so that I can have a backup supply?

Pervitin was Nazi Germanys wonder drug, one that was designed to enable pilots, sailors and infantry troops deliver superhuman performance. Soldiers who took Pervitin stayed awake for days at a time, walked for miles without resting, and felt no pain or hunger. Today we know this drug as methamphetamine, or crystal meth.

Methamphetamine is an awfully potent drug. Even in small quantities, it stimulates the central nervous system releasing loads of dopamine that gives the drug user a prolonged euphoric high, increases alertness and concentration while removing fatigue. Methamphetamine also has a strong aphrodisiac effect that makes it a popular party drug. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime estimates that nearly 25 million people abuse crystal meth throughout the world.

Methamphetamine was first synthesized in 1887, and was originally prescribed to treat ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and obesity (meth causes loss of appetite), and as a nasal decongestant. During World War 2, the German armed forces fed their soldiers copious amount of stimulants including alcohol, opiates and methamphetamine to keep them perpetually high. The German high command believedbased on inputs from the director of the Military Medical Academy and the Institute of General and Military Physiology, Otto Friedrich Rankethat drugging and intoxicating troops would improve their self-confidence, concentration and the willingness to take risks, and at the same time reduce their sensitivity to pain, hunger and thirst, and the need for sleep. Ranke promoted methamphetamine as a miracle drug that would help Germany achieve victory over the Allies.

Pervitin for German soldiers was dispensed in these tablet containers.

Military-issued methamphetamine was available in the form of small pills under the brand name Pervitin, and was used by all branches of the combined Wehrmacht armed forces. The men called them Stuka-Tablets (Stuka-Tabletten) after the German dive bomber Junkers Ju 87, or Stuka, which had become a symbol of German air power. For others, it was Herman-Goring-Pills (Hermann-Goring-Pillen). Those on the frontlines liked to call them "tank chocolate" (Panzerschokolade), a reference to the superhuman strength these small white pills imparted to their selves.

Between April and July 1940, more than 35 million tablets of Pervitin and Isophan (a slightly modified version) were shipped to the German army and air force. The instructions on the package recommended a dose of one to two tablets only as needed, to maintain sleeplessness. But more often than not, soldiers under extreme stress took more than the prescribed dose.

Gerd Schmiickle of the 7th Panzer Division, recalled his observations on the effects of the stimulant after the fighting around Zhytomyr in Ukraine in November 1943:

I could not sleep. During the attack I had taken too much Pervitin. We had all been dependent on it for a long time. Everyone swallowed the stuff, more frequently and in greater doses. The pills seemed to remove the sense of agitation. I slid into a world of bright indifference. Danger lost its edge. One's own power seemed to increase. After the battle one hovered in a strange state of intoxication in which a deep need for sleep fought with a clear alertness.

Otto Ranke himself become addicted to the drug, and was reported to work for 50 hours at a stretch, on Pervitin, without feeling fatigued.

Workers at the Temmler factory in Berlin that manufactured Pervitin for the German army and Luftwaffe.

Norman Ohler, author of Blitzed: Drugs in the Third Reich, believes that the German invasion of France was made possible by Pervitin. No drugs, no invasion, Ohler told The Guardian in an interview.

When Hitler heard about the plan to invade through Ardennes, he loved it. But the high command said: its not possible, at night we have to rest, and they [the allies] will retreat and we will be stuck in the mountains. But then the stimulant decree was released, and that enabled them to stay awake for three days and three nights. Rommel and all those tank commanders were high  and without the tanks, they certainly wouldnt have won.

One of the most fascinating account of this drugs powerful effects comes from Finland, which was at that time fighting alongside the Germans. Finland holds the unusual distinction of starting World War 2 as an Axis member, and then switching sides in favor of the Allies towards the end of the war.

On March 18, 1944, Aimo Koivunen, a Finnish soldier assigned to ski patrol in the terrain of Kantalahti, in Finnish Lapland, was on his third day behind enemy lines when his group was ambushed by Soviet forces. After an intense firefight, the men managed to throw off their pursuers. The group then skied all morning, and by afternoon, Koivunen was extremely tired and on the verge of fainting. Koivunen remembered that he carried the group's entire supply of Pervitin in his breast pocket. He decided to take one. Without stopping, Koivunen dug into his breast pocket but with clumsy winter mittens it was difficult to pick one pill. So he grabbed a handful and popped them all in his mouth. Koivunen would later learn that he had taken all of the Pervitin in his pocketa total of 30 pills.

Aimo Koivunen

Within a few minutes an intense energy surged through his entire body. Koivunen described the sensation like being born a new man. With Koivunens new found energy the group made hasty progress through the snow. But the effects lasted only for a short duration. The overdose of methamphetamine began to get its hold on Koivunen, and he started to slip out of consciousnessthe very thing he wanted to avoid. When he woke up from his trace-like state, Koivunen found himself 100 kilometers away. He had lost his patrol, his ammunition and food. He had no recollection of this phase of his journey.

Koivunen began to ski towards where he believed his lost team members would be waiting, while continuing to fight waves of drowsiness and hallucination. This state of delirium lasted several days, with alternating phases of wakefulness and sleep. After successfully slipping past another Russian partisan force, Koivunen stepped on a land mine and his leg was blown away. Unable to move, Koivunen laid in a ditch for a week at -20 C, waiting for help to arrive. When he was found, he had lost 43 kilos and his pulse rate was at 200 beats per minute. Koivunen had skied for over 400 kilometers surviving on pine buds and a Siberian jay that he caught and ate raw.

A replica of Pervitine medicine box, similar to those issued in the military. These collectibles are available at 12 Euro apiece.

Koivunens riveting account became the first documented case of a soldier overdosing on methamphetamine during combat.

As the war progressed, German doctors became concerned about the detrimental effects of methamphetamine on soldiers health and behavior. In Shooting Up: A Short History of Drugs and War, historian ukasz Kamiensk writes:

A day after the ingestion of the drug soldiers were generally in a much worse physical condition, some experienced health problems like excessive perspiration and circulatory disorders, and in a number of isolated cases death was reported. Also, the number of accidents among the Luftwaffe pilots increased noticeably. A soldier going to battle on Pervitin usually found himself unable to perform effectively for the next day or two. Suffering from a drug hangover and looking more like a zombie than a great warrior At times, the effect of Pervitin was extremely aggressive behavior, which might, to some extent, help explain why Wehrmacht soldiers turned into ruthless murderers, often committing the cruelest massacres of civilians. It also happened that soldiers on speed resorted to violence against their superior officers, which constituted a serious threat to army morale.

The military tried to restrict the largescale use of Pervitin, and classified the drug as a restricted substance on July 1, 1941, under the Opium Law. Still, ten million tablets were shipped to troops that same year.

Toward the end of the war, Germany began testing a new stimulanta pill code-named D-IX. It contained five milligrams of cocaine, three milligrams of Pervitin and five milligrams of Eukodal (a morphine-based painkiller). ukasz Kamiensk says that D-IX gave men an almost machine-like endurance, and Hitlers dream of turning Wehrmacht soldiers into near-robots looked almost real. But before the wonder drug could go into mass production, Germany lost the war.

References:

# Der Spiegel, https://www.spiegel.de/international/the-nazi-death-machine-hitler-s-drugged-soldiers-a-354606.html

# History.com, https://www.history.com/news/inside-the-drug-use-that-fueled-nazi-germany

# The Atlantic, https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/05/pilots-salt-the-third-reich-kept-its-soldiers-alert-with-meth/276429/

# http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n1001/a05.html?5235

# Reddit, https://www.reddit.com/r/warstories/comments/dfhwjm/translation_of_the_story_of_aimo_koivunen_a/

# The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/sep/25/blitzed-norman-ohler-adolf-hitler-nazi-drug-abuse-interview
From the mid to the late-19th century, Chicago was in the midst of a period of rapid growth, and as the city grew it placed enormous strain on the regions natural resources. One of the biggest challenges the city faced was waste management. Like most growing cities of the period, residents viewed rivers as open-air sewers and dumped raw, untreated sewage and other pollutants directly into the river. Human waste and rotting carcasses of dead animals floated downstream into Lake Michigan, which was also Chicagos primary source of drinking water.

Sanitary District trustees and others pose for a photo after breaking the last dam holding the Chicago River back from the Sanitary and Ship Canal on the morning of January 2, 1900. Courtesy of Metropolitan Water Reclamation District

To prevent the pollutants carried by the Chicago River and deposited on Lake Michigan from contaminating the citys water supply, engineer Ellis Sylvester Chesbrough designed an underground intake tunnel, sixty feet under the lake. The mouth of the tunnel opened nearly two mile off-shore into the lake, allowing drinking water to be drawn from farther out, past the contaminating sewage.

But when a tremendous storm in 1885 carried refuse from the river far out into the lake, there were fears that sewage could reach the city's water supply intake and cause devastating water-borne diseases like cholera, typhoid, and diarrhea. This spurred the city into action, leading to the creation of the Sanitary District of Chicago (now the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District) to tackle the problem of Chicagos waste disposal and protecting its water supply.

It was once again Chesbrough who came to the citys rescue. Chesbrough proposed an audacious planreverse the flow of the river away from Lake Michigan. Chesbroughs outrageous plan worked like this: just west of Chicago River lies a barely perceptible ridge called the Chicago Portage, that separates the drainage basin of the Great Lakes from that of the Mississippi River. Rainfall on the west of this divide flows naturally towards the Des Plaines River, which moves southward to converges with the Kankakee River to form the Illinois River, a tributary of the Mississippi. Any rainfall on the east of the divide flows into the Great Lakes. Chesbrough thought that if a canal could be dug through this divide and made it deeper than the water level of the Chicago river and the lake, gravity would cause the Chicago Rivers stinky water to flow backward away from Lake Michigan.

Image credit: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

To put plan into action, Chesbrough instructed that the existing Illinois and Michigan Canal be dredged and deepened to expand its ability to handle the city's sewage, but continued population growth quickly outstripped the canal's waste management capacity. Chesbrough realized that a bigger canal was required, but before the first shovel could hit the dirt, came the civil war followed by the Great Fire of Chicago in 1871. Work on the canal could not begin until 1892, six years after Chesbroughs death.

Eight years later, the 28-mile long canal was complete, cutting through the Chicago Portage to join Chicago River to the Des Plaines River. Historically the canal was known as the Chicago Drainage Canal but now its called the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, for it also functions as a navigation route for ships between the Great Lakes Waterway and the Mississippi River system. The canal was designed to get deeper as it moved west, allowing water to flow from the Chicago River into the Des Plaines. In the subsequent years, two more canals were built to increase the flow of the Chicago Riverthe North Shore Channel was opened in 1910, and the Calumet-Saganashkee Channel in 1922.

Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal being built. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Before the reversal, the North and South Branches of the Chicago River converged at Wolf Point to form the main stem, which flowed eastward and into Lake Michigan. Today, the main stem of the Chicago River flows west from Lake Michigan to Wolf Point, where it converges with the North Branch to form the South Branch, which flows southwest and empties into the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal.

Construction of the Ship and Sanitary Canal was the largest earth-moving operation that had been undertaken in North America up to that time. In 1999, the Chicago Wastewater System was named a Civil Engineering Monument of the Millennium by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).

The eight-year project was originally hailed as one of the greatest engineering marvels of the time, but reversing a river did have environmental costs. The most immediately affected were those communities that resided downstream. The influx of water from Lake Michigan nearly doubled the size of the Illinois River, causing spillage and erosion of the banks, inundation of surrounding farmlands and wildlife habitat up and down the valley. By 1905, nearly 300 landowners in the Illinois Valley filed suit against the Sanitary District of Chicago.

The reversal of the Chicago River also increased the pollution in the Mississippi river, which is the source of drinking water for the city of St. Louis. In 1900, Missouri filed a suit against the Sanitary District, but the case was dismissed when Missouri was unable to prove the pollution in the Mississippi came from Chicago, especially when St. Louis itself was dumping their wastes into the Mississippi River.

Sanitary District attorney Walter E. Beebe, who worked as a claims agent in the Illinois Valley, inspects erosion and flooding along the Illinois River in 1910 on the property of James Gentleman. Photo credit: CityFiles Press

Sanitary District attorney Walter E. Beebe, who worked as a claims agent in the Illinois Valley, inspects erosion and flooding along the Illinois River in 1910 on the property of James Gentleman. Photo credit: CityFiles Press

The Chicago River reversal also connected two of the world's largest freshwater ecosystemsthe Great Lakes and the Mississippi River Basin. In doing so, they created a new pathway for invasive species. Among them is the Asian carp, that migrated through the Mississippi River system and now threatens to ruin the biodiversity of the Great Lakes. Preventing the influx of invasive water species now costs the Great Lakes Region billions of dollars every year.

Chicago and other cities began treating their sewage from around 1920, but progress was slow and the technology was primitive. It wasnt until the passage of the Clean Water Act in 1972 that rivers began to recover. Still, throughout the 1980s, the Chicago river was quite dirty and often filled with garbage. The river underwent extensive cleaning during the 1990s as part of an effort at beautification by Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley. Today, the number of fish species found in the Chicago River has increased nearly ten-fold, from less than 10 to more than 70.

References:

# Gregory D Smithers, Reversing a River: How Chicago Flushed its Human Waste Downstream, Were History

# Floods, Carp, And Crap: The Environmental Impacts Of The Chicago River Reversal, NPR

# The Story Behind The Chicago River Reversal, Chicago Online
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Firefight In Kabul Airport: Tensed Situations All Over:- A firefight broke out today between the Western security forces and the Afghan guards at the North Gate of the Kabul airport today. The news was clarified by the German armed forces and thousands of Afghans along with the foreigners thronged to the Kabul airport. One Afghan guard got killed and three others got injured in the firefight. The security forces of USA and Germany participated in the battle. Since the Taliban took over Afghanistan, there are chaotic incidents reported near Kabul airport. Lakhs of the Afghan locals have been in plans to flee from the country.

The Taliban took over the entire country after they occupied Kabul on August 15th. But they could not take the grip over the Kabul airport. USA along with several other nations tried to evacuate their citizens and the Afghans who are keen to fly away from the country. The back crowds at the airport are beaten by the Taliban and seven Afghans got killed in this incident that took place on Sunday. The Taliban imposed a deadline till August 22nd for the foreign troops to vacate the Kabul airport. American President Joe Biden said that the US troops will have to stay for a longer time to oversee the evacuation process and some of the foreign forces sought extension till August 31st.

Joe Biden said that the security situation in Afghanistan is dangerous and hence their troops will continue to stay in Afghanistan. Biden has directed the State Department to contact the Americans stranded in Afghanistan. The USA also sought the help of six commercial airlines to transport the people from Afghanistan.
(Image source from: Twitter.com/ZeeStudios_)

Thalaivii New Release Date Announced:- Bollywood top actress Kangana Ranaut will be seen in the lead role in Thalaivii, the film that narrates the life story of Tamil Nadu ex-Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. The shooting portions are wrapped up long ago and the trailer impressed one and all. The makers today announced the new release date of the film and Thalaivii will hit the screens on September 10th across the globe in Telugu, Hindi and Tamil languages. Aravind Swami will be seen in the other prominent role in Thalaivii.

With a personality queen size, Jayalalithaa's story has always belonged to the BIG SCREENS!

Embark on her inspiring journey from being a cine star to becoming one of the most influential CMs IN THEATRES near you on 10th September. #ThalaiviiOnTheBigScreen #ThalaiviiInTheatres pic.twitter.com/2M17V7hFQk  Zee Studios (@ZeeStudios_) August 23, 2021

Tamil director Vijay directed the film and the trailer hints that a lot of research has been done before the shoot commenced. Vishnu Vardhan Induri along with Shaailesh R Singh produced Thalaivii. Zee Studios acquired the theatrical rights of Thalaivii for a record price. In Telugu, Thalaivii will head for a clash with Naga Chaitanya's romantic entertainer Love Story. Kangana Ranaut's transformation and her performance are the major highlights of Thalaivii.
Following T-Mobiles data breach, a new report surfaced throwing AT&T into the mix. According to a new report, a hacker stole the personal data of 70 million AT&T consumers.

Personal data of 70 million AT&T consumers has been stolen, allegedly

The hacker is asking for $1 million for the database he stole, as its on sale. This information comes from RestorePrivacy. So, what was stolen? Well, social security numbers, date of birth, name, phone number, physical address, and email address.

RestorePrivacy says that this hacker is actually well-known for his misdeeds. It is said that he is a well-known threat actor with a long list of previous breaches, and goes by the name ShinyHunters.

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Some of his previous hacks include forays into Microsoft, Pixlr. Mashable, Tokopedia, and more. He provided RestorePrivacy with exclusive info just to prove that he did compromise the AT&T database.

That being said, AT&T went out to deny the breach. The company, according to RestorePrivacy, said that no breach took place. To that, the hacker said: they will keep denying until I leak everything.

The source said that it cant prove that the information the hacker provided comes from AT&T consumers, the provided information does seem to be spot on. He shared a piece of it on an underground hacking forum, it seems.

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Some PIN numbers have also been stolen, it seems

To make things worse, the hacker believes that one of the encrypted strings of data he managed to snatch, is actually a list of users PIN numbers. Needless to say, that makes the whole thing even worse.

AT&T denied the allegations by saying the following: Based on our investigation today, the information that appeared in an internet chat room does not appear to have come from our systems.

It remains to be seen what will happen next. ShinyHunters is well-known for his exploits, unfortunately. Something tells us well get more information soon, and lets hope it will be positive.
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(ANSA) - ROME, AUG 23 - A 23-year-old Italo-Moroccan woman who had been in jail in Marrakesh for offending Islam since June has been freed, the foreign ministry said Monday.

Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio thanked Italian diplomacy and European Affairs Undersecretary Enzo Amendola for their work on the case of Ikram Nazih, jailed for three years for sharing a Facebook post on the Koran at the end of June.

Amendola said the student was set to be released on the margins of a hearing earlier Monday.

He said that Nzihi would soon be released from prison, also thanks to an excellent institutional collaboration with the local authorities.

"Our co-national is well, and I send her and her family my best wishes," said Amendola.

He said he had been working on the case with Italian Ambassador to Rabat Armando Barucco and the consulate in Morocco, in concert with Foreign Minister Di Maio and the foreign ministry in Rome.

He said he had started following the case personally earlier this month, speaking with interested parties and going to see Nzihi in prison.

Amendola added: "Solid relations between Italy and Morocco continue, the fruit of a strategic partnership".

Nzihi was jailed for three years in Marrakesh for offending Islam at the end of June.

The young woman was arrested at the airport in the Moroccan city on June 20 after flying from Marseilles, where she is doing law at university, to join her family who live in Morocco.

The student, who was born in Vimercate near Milan in 1998 and who grew up in the province of Monza, was convicted over a 2019 Facebook post that called a Koran verse obliging Muslims to sacrifice "the whiskey verse".

She was found guilty of publicly offending Islam.

Amendola was speaking on the sidelines of her appeals trial.

(ANSA).


307 migrants disembark in 48 hours on Canary Islands Dinghy passengers on verge of sinking saved

(ANSAmed) - MADRID, AUG 23 - Boats carrying migrants continued to land on Spain's Canary Islands the entire weekend.



Emergency services in the archipelago said Monday that at least 307 people had arrived in the previous 48 hours. The landings occurred on the La Gomera, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and El Hierro islands.



In two of the five cases reported, the boats used by the migrants arrived on land without the help of rescue workers.



Especially critical, instead, was the rescue of 65 people sighted before dawn on Sunday off Fuerteventura, according to the news agency EFE.



The fishing boat that saw them warned the Spanish authorities that the dinghy on which they were travelling was about to sink.



Some of the people onboard were rescued by the crew of the this private ship when they had already fallen into the water, while the others were recovered by rescue workers shortly afterwards.



Those rescued then said that they had barely managed to "prevent a tragedy".



Once on Fuerteventura, one man received emergency medical care after almost having drowned, as did a child for minor dehydration. The Caminando Fronteras NGO, which focuses on the migrant route between Africa and the Canary Islands, said that one of the two people who arrived on Fuerteventura said that their travel partner had died during the journey, EFE added.



In recent hours, 14 people were reclude who had been sighted on two small boats in the Gibraltar Strait and the Almeria zone, the new agency was told by the authorities. (ANSAmed).




Another fire near Athens and more flames on Evia Evacuations ordered, highway blocked

(ANSAmed) - ROME, AUG 23 - Another fire has broken out in Vilia, northwest of Athens, where about 50 firemen, 20 vehicles and two units, as well as six helicopters and five airplanes, rushed to put it out on Monday.



The latest fire, in the Kaza zone, has been aggravated by strong winds.



The police have blocked traffic on the Elefsina-Thivon highway near Vilia and the authorities have issued an evacuation order. Meanwhile, another fire has broken out on the Evia island, one of the areas hit the worst by the flames in recent weeks.



Some 46 firemen are using 20 vehicles to try to put out the flames and the residents of the Marmari and Kokkini villages have been asked to evacuate using a Coast Guard ship, a private boat, and two passenger ships. (ANSAmed).




(ANSAmed) - ROME, AUG 23 - An Egyptian court on Sunday extended the pre-trial custody of Patrick Zaki, an Egyptian student of the University of Bologna who has been held in Cairo on sedition charges since February last year, one of his lawyers, Hoda Nasrallah, told ANSA.



The court did not say for how long.



Previous extensions have been for 45 days.



The court will says Monday or Tuesday how long it is this time, the lawyer said.



Amnesty International Italia's spokesman Riccardo Noury called on Italy to lodge a formal protest with Egypt over the case.



He also urged Italian MPs who have voted to grant Zaki Italian citizenship to make their voices heard and to "urge the government to change the failed and failing strategy they have thus far adopted towards Egypt".



For the first time since his arrest in February last year, Zaki was questioned on July 13 about his past activities, the 'Free Patrick' group said on Facebook the day after, July 14, when his latest 45-day extension was announced.



A week previously the Lower House of the Italian parliament voted almost unanimously to urge the government to grant Zaki Italian citizenship in a bid to pressure Egypt to release him.



The Senate had already made a similar call.



The motion, which saw the abstention of the nationalist opposition Brothers of Italy (FdI) party, commits the government to "promptly initiate, via the competent institutions, the necessary assessments in order to confer Italian citizenship on Patrick George Zaki".



It also urged the government to keep monitoring Zaki's case and his conditions of detention.



The government subsequently issued a favourable opinion on the motion.



Zaki marked his 30th birthday in detention in Cairo on June 16, spurring renewed calls from Italy for his release.



The Egyptian Bologna University postgraduate student has been held in Egypt since February 7 last year on charges of "disseminating false news" and "incitement to protest".



Zaki, a 29-year-old Coptic Christian, is pursuing an Erasmus Mundus Master's Degree in Women and Gender Studies at the University of Bologna.



He also conducts research and advocacy on gender issues and human rights for the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), a human rights organization based in Cairo.



Petitions for his release have been rejected on countless occasion.



Zaki was arrested on arriving at Cairo International Airport when he returned home from Bologna for a short family visit.



The Egyptian National Security Agency reportedly arrested Zaki, interrogated him about his time in Italy and his human rights work, and took him to an undisclosed location.



During interrogation, he was allegedly frequently threatened, beaten on his stomach and back and tortured with electric shocks.



The European Parliament, Amnesty International and Scholars At Risk have been among the bodies calling for his release, along with the Italian government. (ANSAmed).


(ANSA) - ATHENS, 23 AGO - The Greek government is concerned that developments in Afghanistan could prompt another huge wave of migration to Europe similar to the one in 2015 which saw Greece at the epicenter as people tried to cross into the country from Turkey.



And after a visit to the area, a government delegation that included Citizen Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis and Defence minister Nicholaos Panagiotopoulos said the border "will remain secure and impenetrable".



The two ministers were inspecting the recent completion of a 27-kilometer-long fence, as well as the automated border surveillance system installed along its length.



"Strong defense, interoperability and synergy with the Hellenic Police and the Fire Service," added General Konstantinos Floros in a tweet.



However, leftist media in Greece have claimed that the statements made by the government can not hide the fact that the border authorities in the area are already under stress with the current situation, and are anxious about the consequences of developments in Afghanistan.



The president of the border guards of Evros, Chrysovalantis Gialamas, told reporters: "The flows of people trying to get across the border have increased a lot lately and especially in the last month. It is typical that within a day we detect up to 15 cases of trafficking." He added: "The neighboring country has not stopped instrumentalizing refugees and immigrants, they are simply doing it on a smaller scale vs a mass scale as in 2015." The president of the Panhellenic Federation of Border Guards, Panagiotis Harelas, shared a similar opinion, adding some detail about the great pressures that Evros is under on a daily basis already.



"Traffic has risen sharply in the region. Traffickers and migrants no longer need boats, as they cross the river on foot," he said. adding: "Especially in the last month, the phenomenon is even more intense; what worries us is the fact that in the event that a new refugee corridor is opened, due to Afghanistan, traffickers' networks will try to bring other people of other nationalities into our country besides Afghans." In related developments, Greece's Migration Minister Notis Mitarakis has lashed out at opposition party SYRIZA's criticism of the perceived insensitive way that the government has communicated about how it will face the potential humanitarian crisis, by tightening border controls and preventing refugees and migrants entering Greece.



"SYRIZA does not stop reminding us of its past, with painful results in all areas. The effects on immigration were devastating for our islands and the country in general," said Mitarakis in the press statement.



"We answer clearly, we are no longer an open vineyard, and we will not accept unreasonable flows of migrants. We are operating new closed and controlled structures from this year, continuing the deportations of those who are not entitled to asylum under international law. Greeks these days remember and compare the Greece of 2015 with the images of hordes of immigrants, with the Greece of today." (ANSA).
Turkey refuses to become Afghan refugee hub Ankara denies reports in British media on migrant centers

(ANSAmed) - ROME, AUG 23 - Turkey has denied that it had received requests from other countries for the creation of a hub for initial reception of Afghan asylum seekers in its territory, a foreign ministry statement said.



The statement referenced reports in British media that that Pakistan was one of the countries involved in this possible initiative.



Turkish authorities said that they would not accept such a request were they to receive it.



In recent days, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated several times that his country has no intention of taking on the burden of a possible wave of migrants from Afghanistan, saying that Turkey did not want to become "Europe's migrant storage unit". (ANSA).




Journalists working for ITN were trapped in their offices on Monday afternoon after a group of anti-vaxx and anti-lockdown protesters forced their way into the broadcasters London headquarters.

The protesters are understood to have forced their way into the building on Grays Inn Road in Camden following an anti-vaccination and anti-lockdown protest in central London.

Images posted on social media by ITN staff showed dozens of people in reception, with police standing between them and security barriers into the main building.

Crowds of police were also gathered on the pavement outside to block any more demonstrators forcing their way in.

A video circulated on Twitter showed protesters yelling abuse at veteran news anchor Jon Snow as he made his way in.

A spokeswoman for ITN said many of its journalist had been told to remain in the building for their safety, adding they had been prevented from being able to go about their newsgathering activities as a result.

Police outside the offices of ITN (Kirsty OConnor/PA)

The protesters eventually left the area at around 3.15pm.

The Metropolitan Police said previously: Officers are responding to a demonstration at a private premises on Grays Inn Road, Camden, where people have unlawfully gained access to the building.

Officers are on scene engaging with building security and removing those who have gained entry.

ITNs spokeswoman said: ITN staff including those working in ITV News, Channel 4 News and 5 News have been advised to either stay in the building or stay away while the situation is being dealt with.

Police outside ITNs headquarters (Nico Hogg/PA)

News organisations have provided a vital source of information during the pandemic.

The abuse of journalists because of their reporting on coronavirus is a worrying development which ITN has been closely monitoring and actively ensuring staff are aware of precautions to avoid coming to any harm.

This action resulted in journalists being prevented from being able to go about their newsgathering activities, something that ITN strongly condemns.

It follows an incident on August 9 when a crowd thought to be made up of anti-vaxx protesters tried to gain access to the BBCs old headquarters in White City, west London.

The premises is now used to film ITVs talk show Loose Women.
Aid officials in Afghanistan face being part of a Taliban security convoy in a new way of working, according to a senior charity figure.

Sam Mort, chief of communications at Unicef Afghanistan, said the government used to provide a security convoy when workers went out on field missions, but now it will be the Taliban.

Ms Mort, from Kingussie in the Highlands of Scotland, said the Taliban has made it perfectly clear that they want Unicef to stay, adding that there is constructive dialogue between the two.

Speaking from the Unicef office in the UN compound in Kabul, Ms Morton told the PA news agency: I havent left all week, since last Sunday in fact.

But typically we would be out in the field, we would be visiting our programmes, we would be talking to the people that were helping, we would be meeting partners, and that has started to happen in the last couple of days.

I will be out on a field mission in the next few days.

Asked how she will feel about going out, she said: Its certainly a new experience.

Previously when we went on field missions the government would give us a security convoy, and now that security convoy is going to be the Taliban.

So thats a new way of working for us, but as I say we have constructive dialogue with them, weve worked with them for some time, so I think for everybody, for them and for us, its just a new way of working and something that we will work out together.

She added: Were just working with the Taliban, as we have for a long time now, in a constructive way, to make sure that we can get access to everywhere that we need and to ensure that our staff are safe when they go out to deliver these programmes.

Unicef executive director Henrietta Fore said around 10 million children across Afghanistan need humanitarian assistance to survive.

She said an estimated one million children are projected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition over the course of this year and could die without treatment, while an estimated 4.2 million children are out of school, including more than 2.2 million girls.

This is the grim reality facing Afghan children and it remains so regardless of ongoing political developments and changes in government.

We anticipate that the humanitarian needs of children and women will increase over the coming months amidst a severe drought and consequent water scarcity, the devastating socioeconomic consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic and the onset of winter.

That is why, after 65 years in Afghanistan striving to improve the lives of children and women, Unicef will remain on the ground now and in the days to come.

We are deeply committed to the countrys children and there is far more work to be done on their behalf, Ms Fore said.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and Unicef have called for the immediate establishment of a humanitarian airbridge for the sustained and unimpeded delivery of aid into Afghanistan.

They are also following up with all UN and international partners to explore options for expediting aid shipments.
The UK has evacuated more than 7,000 people from Afghanistan as part of the rescue mission begun less than two weeks ago.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said Operation Pitting, the military evacuation that began on Friday August 13 has so far extracted 7,109 people out of Kabul.

The figure includes embassy staff, British nationals, those eligible under the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP) programme and a number of nationals from partner nations, the MoD said.

It said Operation Pitting has seen more than 4,226 Afghan individuals and their families evacuated.

More than 1,000 UK Armed Forces personnel have been deployed in Kabul.

The MoD said the evacuation process will run as long as the security situation allows in coordination with the US.

No firm date has yet been set for the end of evacuation flights, it added.

The Mod said the Armed Forces have continued to fly in and distribute aid to support UK and Afghan nationals going through the evacuation process, including providing water, baby wipes and pre-made baby milk, sanitary packs, blankets and colouring books.

Earlier on Monday, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said the Kabul evacuation effort is down to hours now, not weeks as he conceded Britains involvement will end when the US leaves Afghanistan.

US President Biden signalled on Sunday that he did not want US armed forces to stay beyond August.

G7 leaders are due to meet virtually on Tuesday to discuss the situation in Afghanistan.

Speaking to reporters in Fort George, near Inverness, Mr Wallace said: The Prime Minister is, obviously at the G7, going to try and raise the prospect of seeing if the United States will extend.

Its really important for people to understand the United States have over 6,000 people in Kabul airport and when they withdraw that will take away the framework and we will have to go as well.

I dont think there is any likelihood of staying on after the United States. If their timetable extends even by a day or two that will give us a day or two more to evacuate people.

Because we are really down to hours now, not weeks, and we have to make sure we exploit every minute to get people out.

On Monday morning the armed forces minister, James Heappey, said approximately 1,800 UK nationals and more than 2,200 Afghans who helped British forces are the focus of the Governments evacuation efforts from Afghanistan.

Mr Heappey said 1,821 people had been evacuated on eight flights in the past 24 hours.

He added that the numbers of people which the UK wanted to evacuate from Afghan civil society had grown significantly in recent weeks, in an effort to resettle those who may face recrimination from the Taliban.

But the minister also warned the UK will not be able to evacuate everyone it hopes to.

Mr Heappey said: The fact is we will get out as many as we possibly can but we have been clear throughout that there is a hard reality that we wont be able to get out everybody that we want to, and that it is very important that we start to reassure people in Kabul  because I know that people in Afghanistan are acutely aware of what is being said in our media in the UK  that the airlift is not the only route out of Afghanistan, not the only route to the UK.
Police have released the names of the man and woman whose deaths in Westminster last week have sparked a double murder investigation.

Scotland Yard has identified them as 59-year-old Clinton Ashmore and 45-year-old Sharon Pickles.

Officers were called at 9.30pm last Thursday to an address in Ashbridge Street where they found Ms Pickles, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Sharon Pickles (Metropolitan Police/PA)

At 2.15am on Friday police were called to an address in nearby Jerome Crescent after reports of a stabbing. There they found Mr Ashmore, who was also pronounced dead at the scene.

The Met said in a statement the two incidents were being treated as linked and both died from a stab wound to the neck.

On Friday, detectives issued an appeal for information about 49-year-old Lee Peacock who they wanted to locate and speak to about the murders. Police believe he knew both Ms Pickles and Mr Ashmore. He has not yet been found.

Clinton Ashmore (Metropolitan Police handout/PA)

Scotland Yard said: Their families have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.

Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Jolley, from the Mets Specialist Crime Command, said: Firstly my thoughts are with the families of Sharon and Clinton. This is a shocking crime and we will not rest until we bring the person or persons responsible to justice.

Key to that is finding Lee Peacock. We believe he knew both victims and urgently need to locate him to talk to him about their murders.

We have a team of detectives working around the clock to find him, but so far they have been unable to locate him.

Police outside an address on Ashbridge Street, Westminster, where Ms Pickles body was found (Aaron Chown/PA)

I would urge anybody who knows his whereabouts to contact police immediately by calling 999.

If seen, we would urge the public not to approach him, but to contact police as soon as possible.

Information can also be provided to Crimestoppers, anonymously, by calling 0800 555 111.
Josh Willis paid tribute to his wife Samantha, who died from COVID just days after giving birth. (Facebook)

A mother who died from Covid just days after giving birth has been called a superhero by her grieving husband.

Samantha Willis, 35, from Derry, Northern Ireland, died before she had the chance to hold her newborn daughter Eviegrace.

She died at Altnagelvin Hospital on Friday two weeks after catching coronavirus while pregnant. She had not had a vaccination.

Samantha Willis, from Derry, died in hospital a few days after giving birth to her daughter. (Facebook)

She gave birth to the couples third child before passing away surrounded by her family days later.

In a tribute to his wife posted on Facebook, Josh Willis wrote: I never thought I would be writing something like this for years to come, if ever.

Today has been the worst day of my life. I have lost the love of my life Samantha to Covid-19.

Samantha had put up a strong fight for the last 16 days but in the end just wasnt enough.

Whilst in hospital she also had to deliver our newest addition to the family who she has never met properly or held in her arms.

I will make sure that Eviegrace will know all about the mother she will never meet. I will never let anyone forget you and I will remember all the special times and experiences we shared together.

She was a wonderful, loving and caring person and she has been our superhero the last few weeks. She is now our guardian angel and she will remain in our hearts and thoughts for ever more.

To view this content, you'll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here to do so.

In a tweet from his business account, Signed Memorabilia, Mr Willis urged people to get their Covid-19 jab.

I spent hrs in ICU on Thur/Friday with my wife who passed away, he wrote.

Its real, the numbers are real. Get your vaccine so you or your family dont have to go through what I have had to.

As I write this I am laying beside her, she is 35, unvaccinated and in a coffin. Let that sink in.

Northern Ireland currently has the lowest Covid-19 vaccination rate in the UK, as well as the highest infection and death rates.
The federal eviction moratorium, which has allowed struggling renters swamped by the fallout from COVID-19 to remain in their homes but left landlords mostly on the hook for unpaid rent, is starting to draw more fire from both camps.

As the Delta variant drives a resurgence of cases across the country, landlords and tenants alike are speaking out about the shortcomings of the moratorium, which hasnt resolved the fundamental issue of tenants unable to pay back rent  or property owners who arent getting paid and are drowning in mounting costs.

Some 6.5 million renter households are behind on rent, according to U.S. Census Bureau data, with nearly 72% of them owing smaller mom and pop landlords.

That demographic is arguably one of the biggest losers in the current crisis, with the moratorium neither providing them financial relief or facilitating payment of the billions owed in back rent.

The policy is so completely one-sided, that at some point it's going to tip, complained Suzanne Antolini, a Long Island homeowner. Shes now over $50,000 in debt, due to an employed tenant refusing to make rent payments.

Our hands are so tied that there's absolutely nothing we can do, Antolini told Yahoo Finance in an interview.

Trying to get money out the door, with no luck

Chaunda Lee, a single mother of eight who has five children living with her, wears her face mask before she walks into court for her eviction case, presenting the judge with CDC moratorium to stop the eviction, in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. August 19, 2021. Lee was granted a reprieve from her eviction as the extended CDC moratorium was applied to her case, despite the landlord saying in court that she hadn't paid rent for six months after the two months rent free she offered her. REUTERS/Amira Karaoud

Most evictions for unpaid rent have been halted since the early days of the pandemic, but 58% of smaller landlords with fewer than four units say they have tenants that are still behind on rent, according to the National Association of Realtors.

Property owners of all income levels are frustrated about the moratoriums  which some have challenged in court.

One of the big challenges that we hear from our members is non-responsive residents and how to address that problem, Paula Cinco, vice president of construction, development and land use policy at the National Multifamily Housing Council, told Yahoo Finance.

The reality is that rental assistance is not self-executing, she added.

Yet many of the headaches could have been avoided if billions of dollars that Washington allocated to help struggling tenants pay their rent had actually reached them. Treasury Department data shows that only a fraction of nearly $50 billion in federal aid has actually trickled down to tenants and landlords, mired in overwhelming demand, and state and local infrastructure incapable of handling the load.

They're trying to get money out the door, but again, they have had to build an infrastructure to move in this case, a hundred million dollars from scratch and comply with federal regulations, Matt Hill, a Public Justice Center attorney, told Yahoo Finance in an interview, speaking about the rental assistance program in Maryland.

It's not easy. It's going to take some time and dedication. And we're just now seeing these programs start to really come online and start to be able to distribute money at scale.

For months, tenants and housing advocates have been sounding the alarm on the slow rollout of rent relief.

We get dozens of emails and calls from tenants who have applied for money, who are desperate to receive that money, who are scared they're gonna lose their homes if they don't get it in time, but who haven't received that money yet, Diane Yentel, CEO National Low Income Housing Coalition told Yahoo! Finance Live on Friday.

To that end, computer systems in several states have malfunctioned, preventing renters from applying. Some programs have been understaffed and overwhelmed by the volume of applications. And insufficient outreach and strict documentation requirements have also been barriers, advocates say.

There needs to be much more public education at federal state and local levels about the availability of these funds, Yentel said, calling the moratorium a half measure that was failing to address the most urgent needs of tenants.

While the new CDC moratorium does little to remedy the issues of the old one, it begs the question about whats being done to help people in the long term. The infrastructure bill moving through Congress may include over $300 billion for housing investment, which can target low income renters.

Still, all over the country, landlords and tenants alike continue to struggle with the complicated application rules, and how to tap available funding.

No one is listening to us. Theres nowhere for us to go to even present our caseSuzanne Antolini, landlord

The Biden administration has pressured states to work more quickly to get the money out. But the slow rollout continues to whipsaw landlords who are not getting paid, and millions of renters who face the prospect of being dislodged from their homes.

Landlords like Antolini are saddled with thousands of dollars in lost rent  money that her family could possibly never get back.

We're not in the business of putting people out on the street, she explained. She said a tenant who received paychecks throughout the pandemic didnt bother to pay rent, or even file for rental assistance.

We have completely hit a wall and he has no intention of leaving, Antolini told Yahoo Finance. We've tried on numerous occasions to speak with him to come up with some sort of solution. And we're just basically met with you're harassing me.

While renters have been shielded from eviction under the federal ban, the financial challenge facing many tenants is squeezing working class landlords who rely on rent to pay their own bills.

A recent Urban Institute survey showed that 28% of landlords have deferred maintenance on their properties, and 62% said it was because of financial reasons.

Meanwhile, some landlords have hired outside help like an attorney to start the eviction process  but that's also been at a standstill. According to the Eviction Lab at Princeton University, more than 65,000 eviction cases have been filed in New York City Housing court since the start of the pandemic.

While the courts have allowed cases to be filed during the lockdown, most of them are on pause without scheduled hearings until after the moratorium ends. One landlord told Yahoo Finance that NYC courts are handing out dates for April and May of 2022.

Its still too early to estimate how many cases will be on the docket when the court reopens. But over 600 new housing cases were filed last week in New York City, the Eviction Lab estimates, but cases where landlords collect federal rental assistance will not forward in court.

That leaves a growing number of property owners stuck in limbo.

So the fact that there's nobody hearing cases, even though we can prove that this guy has been working and is just gaming the system and hiding behind the moratorium, Antolini said.

No one is listening to us. Theres nowhere for us to go to even present our case, she added.

Dani Romero is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter: @daniromerotv

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YEREVAN, AUGUST 17, ARMENPRESS. A senior analyst of regional affairs is warning on the potential consequences and impacts the developments in Afghanistan could have on Armenia.

It is possible that the ongoing processes in Afghanistan also impact Armenia in some sense, analyst Armen Petrosyan told ARMENPRESS. Specifically, he mentioned that if the situation were to escalate at the Afghan-Tajik border (Tajikistan being a member of the CSTO), then the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) might have to initiate some actions. And Armenia, being a CSTO member, would simply not be able to stay out of those actions, Petrosyan said.

Another concerning scenario mentioned by Petrosyan is in case of the Taliban failing to establish a complete authority in the country, leading to a chaotic situation and subsequent civil war, which would then create serious threats and humanitarian issues for Afghanistans neighbors, including Armenias neighbor Iran, with all its consequences.

In addition, Petrosyan reminded that Turkey is displaying aspirations to have some role in Afghanistan. He reminded that if before the fall of Kabul Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had succeeded in making a deal with the United States and the then-government of Afghanistan around controlling the Kabul airport, now these aspirations of Erdogan are jeopardized because the Taliban has already ruled out Turkeys involvement at the Kabul airport for several times. Petrosyan didnt rule out neither a conflict nor a cooperation between Turkey and the Taliban at this moment.

And next to Turkey, given the increased dependency of Azerbaijan from Ankara after the 2020 Artsakh War, definitely Erdogan will try to ensure also Azeri support for any of its initiatives in Afghanistan. Therefore, this would mean that two hostile countries of Armenia are getting involved in a new adventurism, with very suspicious consequences and results, Petrosyan said. This is the very context in which the analyst sees the greatest threat for Armenia  whenthe international community would divert attention on Afghanistan, it could become an occasion for Azerbaijan  who regularly instigates military tensions  to take advantage of the situation in the Artsakh zone.

This is certainly dangerous for us, because simultaneously both Iran and especially Russia would be more focused on another region, where developments are more unpredictable. And in this scenario naturally attention would be diverted from our region to some extent. And given the Azerbaijani governments unpredictable behavior and indiscriminate conduct when it comes to achieving their own goals, we cant rule out that Azerbaijan would try to take advantage of the situation by increasing the volume of provocations and even launching more substantial and large scale actions, Petrosyan warned.

At the same time, as of this moment Petrosyan believes that the situation in Afghanistan doesnt pose any primary or direct concerns for Armenia, because according to official data there are no Armenian nationals in Afghanistan, and the Armenian peacekeeping contingent completed its mission there back in March.

Interview by Aram Sargsyan

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, AUGUST 23, ARMENPRESS. The Kabul airport saw a shooting on Tuesday morning between Afghan security force officers and unidentified people, one officer was killed, Germanys Bundeswehr said on Twitter, reports TASS.

This morning, there was a shooting between the Afghan security forces and unidentified people near the Kabul airports north entrance. One Afghan security force officer is dead, three more are wounded, the German armed forces tweeted.

It is added that German and American forces also opened fire, none of them were injured.
YEREVAN, AUGUST 23, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian has addressed a congratulatory message on the 31st anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence of Armenia, his Office told Armenpress.

I congratulate on the 31st anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence of Armenia. On August 23, 1990, the Declaration of Independence adopted by the Supreme Council of Armenia signaled the beginning of the process of establishing an independent statehood. The anniversary of the Declaration of Independence is an obliging signal to work and create, be responsible and disciplined, and build a united, really strong country. Lets remain committed to and preserve our independence, our statehood and identity, the message reads.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, AUGUST 23, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has addressed a congratulatory message on the 31st anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence of Armenia.

The message reads:

Dear citizens of the Republic of Armenia,

August 23 marks 31st anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence of Armenia. This historic document for our state and people, which was adopted by the Supreme Council, signaled the launch of the process of establishing an independent statehood. That document was based on the Armenian peoples unbreakable will to have an independent state.

Over the past three decades we have faced many challenges, have had achievements, as well as difficulties and failures. And its important to note that our will to have a firm and sovereign statehood is unbreakable, and that will must be expressed in our daily work on developing and strengthening the state and state institutions.

We are representatives of the generation, who adopted the Declaration of Independence, and this is a historic mission for us to overcome the challenges, strengthen the grounds of our statehood, raise its international reputation, increase investment attractiveness and create unwavering civil responsibility and trust towards the state. This mission puts a special responsibility on each of us.

I congratulate all of us on the 31st anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of Armenia.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, 23 AUGUST, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 23 August, USD exchange rate up by 0.45 drams to 490.56 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 3.03 drams to 575.18 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.04 drams to 6.62 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 3.17 drams to 670.50 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 21.54 drams to 28058.94 drams. Silver price down by 1.79 drams to 365.99 drams. Platinum price up by 77.15 drams to 15393.34 drams.
Indias first real brush with the Taliban came during the December 1999 Indian Airlines IC-814 hijacking

The consistent stand of India, whether it was that of the BJP-led NDA or the Congress-led UPA, was that there are no good Taliban or bad Taliban, and that the Taliban as Islamic terrorists were all bad. Representational Image. (PTI)

There are some genuine problems plaguing Indias relationship with the Taliban, though the Indian strategic games in this matter have been quite clumsy. That the Taliban have been fully supported by Pakistan is the biggest hurdle in all India-Taliban interactions. That is why, in 1996 and later India, bent over backwards to support the Northern Alliance of Ahmad Shah Masoud. Even as the Taliban had control over 95 per cent of Afghan territory in 1996, India was making a desperate bid to prop up the Northern Alliance. India had maintained a military field hospital in Mazar-e-Sharif, and airbases in Tajikistan were also being used to reach Mazar-e-Sharif. Even as some of Indias top strategy experts visited Mazar-e-Sharif, a few Indian journalists travelled to Kabul and saw the emergence of the Taliban. Parliament had roundly condemned the wanton destruction of Bamiyan Buddha statues in March 2001 because the Taliban were indulging in in-your- face fanaticism and cultural terrorism.

Indias first real brush with the Taliban came during the December 1999 Indian Airlines IC-814 hijacking, where the airliner was diverted from Delhi to Lahore to Dubai and finally to Kandahar, as it was refused permission to land in Lahore, a cunning ploy by Pakistan. Kandahar was the base of the Taliban. They did not negotiate because they did not have to. They guarded the plane even as the terrorists bargained for the release of Masood Azhar and the others. When Azhar and the two others were taken to Kandahar, from where his fellow terrorists whisked them away in a jeep, the Taliban played a dubiously neutral role throughout the hijack drama.

India had no means of dealing with the Taliban and then external affairs minister Jaswant Singh had even contemplated seeking Irans mediation to get the help of the Taliban as India could not have asked Pakistan to mediate with the Taliban, barely six months after the May-July Kargil war. It was also clearly implied that the Taliban had facilitated the safe passage of Masood and his fellow terrorists, even as they played a neutral role of safeguarding the plane, allowing the Indian team to land there and arrange for the Indian Airlines aircraft to be flown back. They paid an unacknowledged debt of sorts to Pakistan.

The consistent stand of India, whether it was that of the BJP-led NDA or the Congress-led UPA, was that there are no good Taliban or bad Taliban, and that the Taliban as Islamic terrorists were all bad. The position of all governments was clear: there cannot be any dialogue with the Islamic terrorists. In May 2011, when Osama bin Laden was killed by American special forces in Abbottabad, Pakistan, many Indian diplomats who had been taking part in Track Two discussions had been saying that Islamabad was trying to persuade New Delhi to talk to the Taliban, saying that the Taliban were not what they were in 1996-2001. But India seemed to have stuck to its position of having nothing to do with Islamic terrorists.

Were the Taliban really Islamic terrorists? Strictly speaking, they were a fanatical lot, and though they unleashed a reign of terror against fellow Afghans, they did not carry out terror attacks outside their own land. But India was also not too off the mark to believe that the Taliban were at least partners in Islamic terrorism. After all, their refusal to hand over Osama bin Laden to the Americans after the September 11, 2001, attacks on America proved that. The Taliban now say that they would not allow terrorist organisations to use Afghanistan as a base, perhaps a bitter lesson they have learnt from 2001.

The dilemma for India on how to deal with the Taliban remains even after 20 years. Though the Taliban are the rulers of Afghanistan, they still carry the tag, at least in the context of India-Pakistan relations, of being proxy players for Pakistan. The Taliban are sure to insist that they are only for Afghanistan and that they are not batting for Pakistan. But there is a symbiotic relationship between the two, and it seems that its more with Pakistan PM Imran Khan, a Pashtun himself, in the saddle in Islamabad. Pakistan has already begun to play a mediatory role in trying to convince other nations to recognise the Taliban government in Kabul. Pakistans close ally, China, has taken the initiative of establishing an equation with the Taliban. The Russians are keen to get back to their old role of influencing events in Afghanistan. This time it is a nationalist, traditional Russian Orthodox Church government of President Vladimir Putin that has decided to play ball with the Islamist Taliban, in contrast to the Communist and atheistic Soviet Union of the 1980s. Shia Iran, despite doctrinal differences with the Sunni fundamentalist Taliban, is not averse to keep the links with the Taliban. And because of Russia, Afghanistans northern neighbours, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, are forced to adopt a neutral stance towards the Taliban. India remains isolated once again in Afghanistan, with the Taliban at the helm and Pakistan in a position of advantage.

It is hard to ignore the fact that a majority of educated, urban Afghans are opposed to the Taliban and to Pakistans intrusive role in the countrys affairs through the Islamist organisation, and clearly prefer the benign and democratic presence of India.

Afghanistan has been traditionally friendly towards India, much before the Soviet Union and the United States made it their playground, and Afghanistan has always been wary of Pakistan. It is the refugee problem arising out of the Soviet occupation that gave Islamabad the leverage and opportunity to set up the mujahideen groups with the help of the American government and its CIA and play a subversive role in Afghanistan.

Even after losing ground after the defeat of the Taliban in 2001, Pakistan vigorously opposed Indias role in Afghanistan, especially in security matters. The Americans were thus forced to push India to the margins, confining Indias role to economic reconstruction activities. With the return of the Taliban, transformed or not, and an Imran Khan government leaning towards Sunni fundamentalism, India again loses its toehold in Afghanistan. India will have to bide its time as the people of Afghanistan still look up to democratic India than to a hostile Pakistan.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he will convene a meeting of leaders from the Group of Seven nations on Tuesday

London: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he will convene a meeting of leaders from the Group of Seven nations on Tuesday for urgent talks on the situation in Afghanistan.

In a statement posted on Twitter, Johnson said it is vital that the international community works together to ensure safe evacuations, prevent a humanitarian crisis and support the Afghan people to secure the gains of the last 20 years.

The UK holds this year's presidency of the G-7 nations, which is also made up of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States.
India, the US, Japan and Australia are part of the Quad" alliance, which Beijing considers as an anti-China grouping

Indian Naval Ships Shivalik and Kadmatt arrived at Guam, an Island Territory of the USA, Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021 as part of their on-going deployment to nations in South East Asia and the Pacific Ocean. The two ships are scheduled to participate in the annual Exercise MALABAR-21, between navies of Australia, India, Japan and the USA. (PTI)

New Delhi: The navies of the four Quad nations -- India, the United States, Japan and Australia -- will be conducting the high-profile Malabar exercises in the US Pacific territory of Guam from Thursday, in a clear message to China. The Malabar-21 exercises will be conducted at sea from August 26 to 29. Last year India had invited the Royal Australian Navy to take part in the Malabar exercises. This year once again Australia will participate in the Malabar exercises.

India, the US, Japan and Australia are part of the Quad" alliance, which Beijing considers as an anti-China grouping.

Malabar-21 will witness high-tempo exercises conducted between naval destroyers, frigates, corvettes, submarines, helicopters and long-range maritime patrol aircraft. Complex surface, sub-surface and air operations, including live weapon firing drills, anti-surface, anti-air and anti-submarine warfare drills, joint manoeuvres and tactical exercises will be conducted during the exercise.

Two Indian naval vessels  INS Shivalik and INS Kadmatt -- arrived in Guam on Saturday. The two ships are scheduled to participate in the annual Malabar-21 exercise this year.

The Malabar series of maritime exercises began in 1992 as a bilateral Indian-US naval exercise and has grown in stature over the years to include four prominent navies in the Pacific and Indian Ocean Region. The exercise will provide an opportunity for common minded navies to enhance inter-operability, gain from best practices and develop a common understanding of procedures for maritime security operations.

The participating Indian ships, Shivalik and Kadmatt, are the latest indigenously designed and built, multi-role Guided Missile Stealth Frigate and Anti-Submarine Corvette respectively and form part of the Indian Navys Eastern Fleet based at Visakhapatnam, the headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command. INS Shivalik is commanded by Capt. Kapil Mehta while INS Kadmatt is commanded by Commander R.K. Maharana. The two ships are equipped with a versatile array of weapons and sensors, can carry multi-role helicopters and represent the growth of Indias warship building capabilities.
The incident took place on Friday when a few workers from Mizoram were trying to construct a bridge at Kachurthal

Guwahati: The Assam government alleged on Sunday that Mizoram officials entered its territory in Hailakandi and started constructing a bridge, in a fresh escalation between the two Northeastern states.

The incident took place on Friday when a few workers from Mizoram were trying to construct a bridge at Kachurthal in the Ramnathpur police station area, Hailakandi's Superintendent of Police Gaurav Upadhyay told PTI.

"The Officer In-Charge (OC) of Ramnathpur police station and his patrolling team immediately reached the spot and stopped the construction work, calling it a trespass by Mizoram as they had no authority to build a bridge on the Assam side," he said.

Upadhyay alleged that around 40-50 security personnel from Mizoram reached the bridge site on Saturday and few of them crossed to the Assam side "in complete violation of the joint statement issued by both states on August 5 to maintain peace in the border area".

The local police team from Assam urged the Mizoram security personnel to leave the Assam land, but they refused to do so, he alleged.

"In order to assert the position of Assam and to ask Mizoram forces to retreat from the Assam side of the bridge, a party of around 200 Assam Police personnel and commandos under my leadership and other senior officials reached Kachurthal on Sunday morning," Upadhyay said.

He, however, stated that being a responsible force, the Assam Police did not confront and gave the respective civil administrations a chance to amicably resolve the matter by stopping the construction on the unauthorised bridge and remove the force of Mizoram.

"The allegation of any theft by a disciplined force like Assam Police is absolutely concocted, baseless, malafide and devoid of any facts and is an attempt by Mizoram administration to divert the attention from main issue, that is illegal construction by Mizoram authorities on Assam soil," Upadhyay asserted.

The Mizoram government said that it has filed a case against personnel of the Assam Police for allegedly "stealing" construction materials from the bridge site, which it claimed to be in its territory.

Mizoram's Kolasib deputy commissioner H Lalthlangliana told PTI that personnel of the Assam Police entered the state's territory at Zophai near Bairabi town and allegedly stole some construction materials, including iron rods, from the bridge construction site on Friday.
If anyone wants to see a lady Taliban, he should come to West Bengal, said BJP leader Sayantan Basu

Kolkata: Triggering a fresh controversy, West Bengal BJP leader Sayantan Basu on Sunday called chief minister Mamata Banerjee a lady Taliban and likened the Trinamul Congress rule in the state with that of the Taliban in Afghanistan.

During the Raksha Bandhan celebrations in Salt Lake, near Kolkata, he said: Whatever is happening under the Talibans rule in Afghanistan, be it suppression of opposition or killings, has also been underway in West Bengal.

Referring to Ms Banerjee, Mr Basu then sarcastically added: If anyone wants to see a lady Taliban, he should come to West Bengal. There is no need to book a ticket to visit Kabul. She can be seen in Kalighat. I am talking about the lady Taliban who lives in Kalighat. The chief minister continues to live in her own home in south Kolkatas Kalighat area, that is close to the famous Kalighat temple.

Lashing out at the state BJP general secretary for his offensive remarks, Serampore TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee said: He is not only uneducated but is also uncivilised. His looks and behaviour are the same. He does not know anything about respecting women because this habit does not exist in the BJP. Nothing more can be said about him.

This is, however, not the first time that Mr Basu has made controversial comments. During the recently concluded Assembly elections in the state, he, like state BJP president Dilip Ghosh, had threatened to ensure firing by the Central paramilitary forces, on the lines of the Sitalkuchi killings, on Trinamul Congress workers. This had earned him a show cause notice issued by the Election Commission.
Its a thought that India has been forced to remember by the recent events in Afghanistan

The Narendra Modi government has not said much officially about the way in which the United States has handled the retreat from Afghanistan and its consequences for India, but most foreign policy commentators and the media have been extremely critical. (PTI)

Its a Russian proverb, doveryai no proveryai (trust, but verify), that was made famous by Americas 1980s President Ronald Reagan. That was his reply when asked if he could trust Mikhail Gorbachev and the Soviet Union when he was making the deals he made. Its a thought that India has been forced to remember by the recent events in Afghanistan.

There is a dramatic decline in the publicly expressed Indian trust in the commitment of the United States to its security. The Narendra Modi government has not said much officially about the way in which the United States has handled the retreat from Afghanistan and its consequences for India, but most foreign policy commentators and the media have been extremely critical.

Starting with former President Donald Trumps decision to negotiate the American exit with the Taliban and ending with President Joe Bidens decision to set a date and fly out, there was little prior consultation with India. Indian government sources have been left satisfying themselves with the fact that the US facilitated the return of Indians from Kabul. A media report even quotes Indian diplomatic sources claiming that the US governments cooperation was the key to the evacuation of Indian diplomats and civilians  a testament to the close strategic partnership between the two countries.

For years now Indian diplomacy has diluted the concept of strategic partnership by allowing the political leadership to sign all manner of joint statements with all and sundry. India has signed 30 strategic partnerships, and one recently even with Rwanda! My understanding of the India-US strategic partnership has always been that the US would keep India in the loop on such decisions as Mr Trumps infamous Doha deal and Mr Bidens catastrophic exit plan before these were hatched, given their security implications for India. Arranging safe transit out is about tactics, not strategy.

A report on public opinion about Indian foreign policy, conducted towards the end of December 2020 and published earlier this month by the New Delhi-based think tank Observer Research Foundation, showed that an overwhelming 77 per cent of those surveyed said that they would trust the United States  32 per cent said completely while 45 per cent said somewhat. The survey, conducted in 14 languages, was served to a random sample of urban youth in the age group of 18-35 across 14 cities. A similar poll taken today would perhaps throw up a vastly different number. Whatever the governments media spin now, the fact is that the ignominious retreat of the United States from Kabul ought to dent Indian, indeed global, trust in US leadership of the so-called free world.

Whatever the global and regional consequences and learnings from the United States retreat from Kabul, it will take some effort on the part of the Biden administration to regain this level of Indian trust in Americas commitment to our national security.

Assiduously built over two decades from the time when President Bill Clinton tilted away from Pakistan and towards India in the midst of the 1999 Kargil war and through the historic India-US civil nuclear deal heralded by President George W. Bush, Indian public trust in the US weathered challenges to arrive at the point where it did in late 2020.

By once again exposing India to the renewed challenges of jihadi terrorism, that many believe will be an inevitable consequence of the US retreat and the dramatic victory of the Taliban, President Biden has dealt a blow to Indian national security and to the India-US partnership. To be sure, there has been consistency in US approach to the Af-Pak problem through the presidencies of Barack Obama and Donald Trump, despite all the Indian reservations. President Biden has only bitten the bullet.

This brings one to the question of what the nature of the US-India defence and strategic partnership is exactly? Is it only about confronting China to the east while leaving Indias western flank exposed to the resurgence of jihadi terrorism? Are the two challenges independent of one another? Was there consultation with the Indian authorities on the retreat from Kabul? When US secretary of state Anthony Blinken visited New Delhi and had meetings with external affairs minister S. Jaishankar, national security adviser Ajit Doval and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, did he share the United States withdrawal plans with them? If so, what apprehensions did India convey and what was the US response? The answers to these questions will determine what level of trust India must have in the partnership with the US going forward.

This is important as the ORF opinion poll also shows overwhelming public confidence in the US being a leading partner over the next 10 years. A total of 44 per cent of those surveyed believe the US will be Indias leading partner, while only 21 per cent think it will be Japan and 20 per cent see Russia remaining one. Britain and France get 18 per cent of the vote. In other words, as of the end of December 2020, the US not only garnered the highest votes for trust today but for trust over the next decade. What will the Kabul retreat and the likely fallout of that for India do to those numbers?

Interestingly, the ORF survey places terrorism as a secondary concern overtaken by global pandemics and a secondary priority next to strengthening the economy. This was in December 2020. The Talibans victory and the likely resurgence of radical Islam across the region could once again bring jihadi terrorism into focus.

That would be the price India would pay for the recent turn of events. To deal with the likely challenge of renewed jihadi radicalism and terror, India also needs a domestic policy that helps to unite the country rather than to divide it. The politics of majoritarianism and divisiveness have hurt the country as much as any externally inspired extremism. While remaining focused on the latter, one must also secure control over the former.

As for strategic partnerships, India should make it clear to all its partner countries that one can only be a strategic partner if ones national security concerns are factored into their actions in our neighbourhood. Be it the United States, Russia, Japan or any one of the 30 other countries with whom we have signed such agreements. How can one be regarded as a strategic partner if one is the victim of their strategy and tactics?
A Tesla electric car spontaneously combusted in an underground carpark in the city of Guangzhou yesterday, Nanfang Video reported today, citing a car owner whose BMW was parked next to the Tesla. California-based Tesla said that it will cooperate fully with the investigation. pic.twitter.com/MHSdJJhmb5  Yicai Global ???? (@yicaichina) August 23, 2021

According to the Southern Metropolis Daily, the fire started on August 22, 2021, at around 2 PM local time. The car was parked on the second floor of a fancy residential building on Huacheng Avenue, Zhujiang New Town.A BMW that was right beside the Model S was affected by the fire, which was apparently contained very fast. Despite that, the BMW owner would have shared on Chinese social media that it was no accident and that the years go by with similar cases but that now it affected their car.After firefighters solved the situation, the Tesla PR team in China would have arrived at the scene. They would have called a tow truck to remove the vehicle for inspection at 12:30 AM on August 23. According to Southern Metropolis Daily, when the BMW owner asked the three people from Teslas PR department if the company would pay for the damages in his car, they said they were only there for the Tesla.Neither the Tesla owner nor the BMW driver would have allowed the car to be towed before the local authorities could examine the car. Teslas PR team would have denied that the vehicle caught fire on its own, even after a surveillance video revealed that this was indeed the case. The surveillance video is yet to be seen.The firefighters would also have stayed on the scene for a little longer to investigate what caused the blaze. It is not clear who will investigate the vehicle. So far, it would still be parked in the same place. A charger close to the Model S, belonging to another Tesla, also caught fire. Its owner told Southern Metropolis Daily that Tesla added him on WeChat but made no contact so far.
Pack your bags, the chariot of the future awaits. On paper it does, at the very least. August is Travel Month here on autoevolution, and were looking at some of the most outstanding (real) vehicles and concepts that would make travel better, more comfortable, more luxurious or cost-efficient. Aquas is all these things, packed up nicely in a craft thats also versatile, fast and very convenient.Aquas is a WIG craft, a wing-in-ground marine craft that uses ground effect to hover above the waterline . It looks like an airplane but, since it cant achieve free flight like one, its classified as a marine vessel.The idea for such a craft is not new. We know it as a GEV (ground-effect vehicle), which uses ground effect to hover in close proximity to a flat surface, which can be either the ground or more likely a body of water. The most famous examples of GEV are Howard Hughes 1947 H-4 Hercules (the Spruce Goose), and the Russian Ekranoplan the Caspian Sea Monster, which sank in the early 80s after almost two decades of work on it.Unlike these two, the Aquas is tiny, at just 22.5 meters (74 feet) long. According to RDC Aqualines, the company aiming to bring it to market, it could be perfect to transport up to 12 passengers or cargo (plus two pilots) over short distances, at a maximum speed of 200 kph (125 mph). Cruising speed would be of 180 kph (112 mph), and takeoff will take place at 110 kph (68 mph).Powered by a 600 hp engine, the Aquas would have a maximum range of 600 km (373 miles) at full load, so it would be ideal for short-distance travel. Think of connections between islands, ferrying tourists, or regular transport at other tourist hotspots that have open bodies of water allowing for GEV use. However, it could also be used to haul cargo or as part of search and rescue operations, having the advantage of offering versatile loading and unloading: from a hardstand with ladders, from a berth or directly on water.As a people-carrier, RDC Aqualines imagines the Aquas as a 12-seater furnished elegantly, with emphasis on comfort. The video below, as well as the photos in the attached gallery, offer an insight into the craft, as its envisioned in this stage of development.Now, for the less-than-stellar part: the Aquas was announced in late 2020 and, while DesignBoom notes that it will be available for high-speed travels in 2024 with construction underway in Spain, theres very little on it on the official website. The same media outlet notes that Aquas will either be fully electric or hydrogen-powered.RDC Aqualines boasts of being a multinational company, with offices in France, Singapore and Russia, which specializes in design[ing], development and future production of a new generation of marine transportation vessels, using mainly the ground effect technology. A flying ship, they call it, which is offered in various sizes, from a 3-seater to an ekranoplan-like bike, a hydrofoil speedboat and the ekranoplan-like ferry described above. That said, it doesnt look like development on any of these GEVs is past the render stage.Assuming Aquas arrives to market and that it does so early in 2024, it could still suffer the same fate as its much larger and impressive predecessors. GEVs have plenty of potential, with the most obvious advantage being that they can travel over land and water at high speed. They also have several major downsides, which explains why theyre not widely used, biggest of which are the high fuel consumption, the high production costs, and the fact that they can only operate over calm water.But heres to dreaming of the future.
These Pontiacs are recognizable thanks to their tall, wrap-around front grille, which remained in production for a couple of years before the company switched to a more complex front-end layout. The 1939 Pontaic looks quite fetching too, but the Deluxe coupes built in 1937 and 1938 are as gorgeous as pre-WW2 cars get. They're pure hot rods in the looks department.Sadly, we don't get to see many of them nowadays. At least not in restored, original condition. Most examples are spending their retirement years in junkyards, while some have been transformed into modern hot rods . But once in a while, we stumble across Pontiacs from this era that are still mostly stock.This 1938 example owned and maintained by Halfass Kustoms isn't exactly a Concours-ready classic, but it's a solid Deluxe coupe that still sees public road action more than 70 years since it left the assembly line. And before you argue that it's been repainted in a rather dull brown, keep in mind that most Deluxes were factory-finished in plain hues like this.The folks over at Halfass don't drive the Pontiac daily. In fact, it seems that it barely gets out of the barn a few times a year. The video below shows the Deluxe being taken out of storage after several months, having been parked before last winter hit in late 2020. But the engine starts on the first attempt, runs as it should, and sounds absolutely lovely.If you're a fan of shops that keep track of all the upgrades they operate on this type of classic, then you're in luck. The footage also shows how you can deal with various issues that occur on these old Pontiacs. Like how to do a rear-end ring and pinion swap, how to fix a broken ignition, and how to handle a driveshaft leak.Once all that is done, Halfass takes the Pontiac out for a spin. But not before he invites his dog for a ride in the back seat. And the session isn't just the usual stroll around the block. He actually puts the Pontiac through its paces, letting the engine rev. Sadly, most of the driving footage has music in the background, but you can hear that engine roar for a few seconds from the 25:36-minute mark.And yes, it sounds like a hot rod because it is one. That long front hood hides a 5.3-liter LS V8 , but that's not the only upgrade. The Pontiac also rides on Camaro front and rear ends, while the three-window layout is actually the result of a conversion. This 1938 left the factory with a five-window layout. The roof has also been lowered by four inches.If you're a fan of late 1930s cars, which are the best-looking pre-WW2 vehicles in my book, this video will definitely make your day.
The deal leaves Mister Horacio Pagani as the chief executive and chief design officer of the company that bears his name. The Italians were the only party to issue a statement after the deal, while their new Saudi Arabian partners have decided against that for the time being.Do not expect too many press releases from them, as the investment fund was previously criticized years ago by American media for not naming any of its investments. The sale of thirty percent of Pagani stocks was kept as private as possible, and the Pagani family will remain the majority shareholder. The Italian company retains its existing minority shareholders after the sale, and now the Public Investment Fund is one of those entities.But let us come back to Mr. Pagani , who stated the partnership with PIF, which is the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, is a key step in the company's long-term growth. Fortunately, his statement continued with an interesting phrase, which states that the upcoming hypercars from Pagani will "convey unique emotions irrespective of their powertrain technology."Did you catch that last bit? It means that Pagani could explore new powertrain solutions for its upcoming hypercars. Their neighbors at Lamborghini already have hypercars with supercapacitors in production , so it comes as no surprise as Pagani experiments with electrification.According to the Pagani brand , the deal will allow the company to continue its innovative path in the hypercar industry, while also exploring new growth opportunities in the lifestyle segment. In the case of the latter, the Italian company has launched Pagani Arte, which will oversee its endeavors in that direction.
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Named after the Spirit of Ecstasy (SPOFEC) hood ornament, the tuners sub-brand has given the latest Ghost a carbon fiber makeover, with components made of the lightweight material being found on the outside. The luxury cruiser has larger air intakes up front, air outlets behind the front wheel arches, tailor-made rocker panels, and a few tweaks at the opposite end, including the new lip.Those wheels may look stock, but theyre actually the work of Vossen . The American companys proposal is a set of twin-spoke alloys, with a polished silver finish on the pictured vehicle, 9.5x22 inches at the front and 10.5x22 inches at the rear. The wheels were shod in 265/35 front and 295/30 rear tires and fill out the arches quite fine, even with the new suspension module that lowers the ground clearance by around 40 mm (16 in) up to 140 kph (87 mph) and reverts to the standard level at higher speeds.For the new Ghost, Rolls-Royce has chosen a twin-turbocharged 6.75-liter V12. It pumps out 571 PS (563/ 420) and 850 Nm (627 lb-ft) of torque, yet with Novitecs N-Tronic module, which brings new mapping for the injection and ignition, and increases the boost pressure, it is even punchier. With this upgrade, the engine develops 685 PS (675 HP / 504 kW) and 958 Nm (707 lb-ft) of torque, dropping the 0-100 kph (0-62 mph) by 0.1 seconds, to 4.5 seconds. Top speed remains limited to 250 kph (155 mph).The car also features a stainless steel sport exhaust system with active flaps, and depending on what the customer wants, Novitec can retrim the interior in a wide number of shades, with contrast stitching and piping.
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As children head back to the classroom, a "vocal minority" in the U.S. have resorted to violence or disruptive measures to protest against mask mandates in schools.

Driving the news: While the majority of Americans support the mandates, per a recent Axios/Ipsos poll, back-to-school confrontations across the U.S. have gotten so hot that teachers and other officials have been punched, hit and screamed at.

What's happening:

In Florida, police arrested and charged the father of a Florida high school student with child abuse on Wednesday for allegedly pushing a schoolgirl during an anti-mask protest, per NBC News.

Police said a Fort Lauderdale High School student objected to Dan Bauman filming them as part of his stunt and tried to grab his phone.

The 50-year-old then allegedly pushed a schoolgirl into a fence and twisted her arm "in an aggressive manner" before school officials stopped him.

In Texas, Tom Leonard, the superintendent of Eanes Independent School District, wrote in a note to parents and staff last week that the return to school has been marked by "a few sad moments."

One parent in the Austin-area district allegedly assaulted a teacher by ripping off her face mask, while others yelled at another teacher, claiming they couldn't understand what she was saying due to the face covering.

"This is everywhere," Leonard told NPR, saying that he'd spoken to education leaders in California, Illinois and New York who've experienced similar issues.

In Northern California, a parent allegedly left a teacher bleeding and requiring hospital treatment  after the parent tried to attack the principal over masks and the teacher jumped in, KCRA-TV reported.

The teachers have definitely been on edge. They are fearful because the last thing they want is to have an issue with a parent, Torie Gibson, superintendent of California's Amador County Unified School District, told AP.

In Kansas last week, officials in Douglas County were confronted by angry unmasked protesters who opposed an indoor mask mandate for 2- to 12-year-olds, invoking comparisons to the Taliban and leaders of Japanese internment camps, according to AP.

Even before students headed back to the classroom, school board meetings across the U.S. saw heated confrontations over whether masks should be required for students and teachers.

In Nevada and Pennsylvania, meetings this month devolved into verbal arguments so aggressive that police were called in.

At least 11 protesters who disrupted a Utah school board meeting in July are facing criminal charges, AP reported.

The big picture: Public health measures like mask and vaccine mandates have become a political flashpoint across the country even as COVID-19 cases surge nationwide due to the Delta variant.

Schools districts in Florida and Texas are defying executive orders by their state governors banning such mandates. Schools in Arizona and South Carolina are fighting similar bans.

Some colleges and universities, meanwhile, are instituting disciplinary actions against unvaccinated students.

Go deeper: America's patchwork back-to-school plan

Editor's note: This article has been updated to include details of the arrest at Fort Lauderdale High School.
According to the state-run Armenpress news agency, U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Lynne Tracy said while visiting the countrys Syunik region that the consequences of the recent war in Nagorno-Karabakh have not been overcome and that the conflict remains unresolved because the status of the region remains to be decided.

We will continue to work through our position as an OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair to work towards that goal of bringing down violence, of de-escalation so that we can get to some of the other very critical issues that need to be discussed, the American diplomat told reporters in Syunik, stressing that this includes the elimination of consequences of the war and final settlement of other issues.

The United States has repeatedly called on Armenia and Azerbaijan to return as soon as possible to substantive talks under the auspices of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs to find a comprehensive solution to the issue.

Official Yerevan has repeatedly expressed readiness to engage in such talks. Earlier this month Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian even said that Yerevan was ready for talks at the high and highest levels and expected specific proposals.

Meanwhile, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has repeatedly stated that after last years 44-day war Baku considers the Karabakh conflict resolved and sees no reasons to continue to talk about the regions status as part of the OSCE Minsk Group.

Instead, he has suggested that Armenia and Azerbaijan start working on a comprehensive peace treaty that would include recognition of each others Soviet-era borders, including Karabakh as Azerbaijani territory.

Davit Babayan, who coordinates foreign-policy affairs in the ethnic Armenian administration of Nagorno-Karabakh, considers the U.S. ambassadors statement in Syunik very important.

He said that since the three co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, which also includes Russia and France, believe that the issue of Nagorno-Karabakhs status remains unresolved and that it is still on the agenda, Aliyev cannot achieve the realization of his expansionist plans.

France has said it, Russia has said it several times, Putin has said that the status of Karabakh is a complicated issue and should be left to the future, that is, with that he emphasized that this issue is not closed and is still on the agenda. Now that the U.S. ambassador is stating this, we can say that the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs have the same approach, which is very important. It means that the issue is not closed. It is also a message to Aliyev that the conflict is not settled yet and the issue of the status remains. This is what we have said many times, Babayan said.
In a report on Monday it said that late on August 22 senior lieutenant Artur Davidian left the area of his permanent deployment without the permission of the higher command, after which some time later contact with him was lost.

According to the preliminary information reported by the Armenian side, Davidian may have lost his way in conditions of poor visibility and ended up on the Azerbaijani side.

The press release of the ministry did not indicate the specific location where the incident occurred.

Search and rescue operations were immediately launched; with the mediation of the Russian side steps are being taken to confirm the presence of the serviceman on the Azerbaijani side, the ministry said.

Azerbaijan did not immediately confirm the report about an Armenian serviceman appearing in the territory controlled by its military.

Two Armenian soldiers on duty went missing near the border with Azerbaijan on July 14. The Armenian side then also suggested that they may have strayed into Azerbaijani-controlled territory, launching search and rescue operations and trying to verify the information. The fate of Artur Nalbandian and Aramayis Torozian still remains unclear.

The situation along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border has been tense in recent months, with both sides blaming each other for sporadic skirmishes in which at least one Azerbaijani and five Armenian soldiers have been killed since late July.

Long-running tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh region last fall turned into a large-scale war in which nearly 7,000 people were killed in six weeks of fighting that ended in a Moscow-brokered cease-fire deal.

Under the accord, a chunk of Nagorno-Karabakh and all seven districts around it were placed under Azerbaijani administration.

The agreement also resulted in the deployment of around 2,000 Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh and along the Lachin corridor linking the Armenian-populated region with Armenia.
It hasn't quite been a year since Javier Garcia started offering his Oleander house for rent on the short-term rental platform Airbnb, and des
Bluefield, WV (24701)

Today

Cloudy with periods of rain. High 67F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Showers early with some clearing overnight. Low 53F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
A few weeks ago, Lydia Rodriguez thought her body was strong enough to fight the coronavirus without the vaccine.

But after a week-long church camp, she and other members of her family tested positive for the coronavirus. By the time Rodriguez, 42, changed her mind and asked for the shot, it was too late, her doctor said. A ventilator awaited her, her cousin Dottie Jones told The Washington Post.

Out of options, the Galveston, Texas, mother of four, asked her family to make a promise: "Please make sure my kids get vaccinated," Rodriguez, a piano teacher, told her sister during their last phone call.

Rodriguez died Monday - two weeks after her husband, Lawrence Rodriguez, 49, also died after coronavirus complications. The couple fought the virus from hospital beds just a few feet from one another in a Texas intensive care unit, Jones said.

Lydia and Lawrence Rodriguez, who were married for 21 years, were among the tens of millions of Americans who have not yet received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine, which is available free to anyone over the age of 12. Health officials have stressed that the vaccine significantly lowers one's chance of becoming severely ill or dying of the virus. The now-orphaned children of the Rodriguez family join the millions tragically affected by the sometimes deadly illness.

The case of the Rodriguez family echoes that of other unvaccinated patients who have begged their doctors for vaccine doses before being intubated.

"Lydia has never really believed in vaccines," Jones, 55, told The Post. "She believed that she could handle everything on her own, that you didn't really need medicine."

A neonatal nurse, Jones was familiar with the serious effects covid-19 had on mothers and babies she treated at the Sugarland, Texas, hospital where she worked. She shared with Rodriguez how she had watched patient after patient be connected to a ventilator for weeks without much improvement.

Jones could have gone on and on. But her cousin's silence spoke for itself, she said.

"I knew she would never get vaccinated," Jones told The Post. "I was very concerned."

Rodriguez's husband, who shared her anti-vaccine beliefs, also declined to get the shot. Three of their four children are eligible but have not yet received the vaccine, Jones said.

In early July, days after Rodriguez and the children returned from a Christian church camp, Jones's worst fears became true. One by one, each member of the family - including Rodriguez's husband, who did not attend camp because of work - tested positive for the coronavirus.

The family didn't tell anyone they were sick until Rodriguez's husband drove her to the hospital on July 12 after she began experiencing shortness of breath. Rodriguez was admitted to the ICU, and her husband was admitted to another ward, Jones said.

By then, the rest of the family stepped in to bring groceries and medicine to the couple's four children, who were all infected and quarantining at home. The youngest child was the only one to experience mild symptoms, Jones said. The rest were asymptomatic.

At one point, Lawrence Rodriguez's condition appeared to be improving, but a couple of days after he was admitted, he was rushed to the ICU. He requested a coronavirus vaccine shortly before being put on a ventilator, Jones said, but it was also too late for him. He died Aug. 2.

By then, Lydia Rodriguez was fully dependent on an oxygen mask that prevented her from talking to her children, who called to check in and sing Christian hymns to lift her spirits.

"We are praying for you and taking care of the kids," Jones recounted telling her cousin during her last days. Hospital staff called the family on Aug. 16 to report that Rodriguez had died.

The family has relayed her last wishes about the vaccine to the couple's 18-year-old twins, Jones said. The plan is to schedule an appointment for the 11-year-old daughter as soon as she qualifies, and the couple's 16-year-old son is expected to get the shot soon.

The family has created an online fundraiser to help the Rodriguez children while the courts figure out who will become the guardian of the minors.

Wednesday is expected to be a difficult day for the four siblings, Jones said. Their mom would have turned 43.
Decades of slow growth in Southeast Texas affordable rental and housing markets has come to a head for low-income renters, leaving many that finally have the opportunity to land their own apartment without a place to stay.

The pandemic brought instability to several key parts of the U.S. economy  simultaneously impacting vulnerable families reeling from illness or missed paychecks and driving up housing prices as low-interest rates fuel a buying frenzy.

For Beaumont, that means there are more people approved for federally-subsidized housing and fewer landlords willing to participate in government programs.

Beaumont Housing Authority CEO Allison Landrum said storm damage and slow investments in new construction has been a problem for several years, but there seems to be fewer partnering properties than ever after the prolonged pandemic. This issue is then exacerbated by a federal government policy that only allows housing authorities to pay 110% of fair market value for an apartment  still below what most local landlords expect in the current market.

In our program, we have the capacity to serve about 2,000 people with the funds we have available, Landrum said. Right now, we have about 200 people with a Section 8 voucher in hand that cant find a suitable place to live.

These families searching for rental properties could have for months been waiting for final aid approval from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. But the state of the market could mean they ultimately lose out on the opportunity.

Landrum said people usually have about 60 days after approval to find an apartment, but extensions of up to 120 days are available if they cant find any renter willing to accept their voucher.

There are now approved families reaching that deadline that will have to start over once their time has expired.

Besides potentially starting over the lengthy process, they face another major problem: BHAs waiting list of thousands of applicants is now closed due to the high demand.

BHA does have a plan to solve this short-term crisis, and judging by the number of calls since it began earlier this month, it seems to be paying off, Landrum said.

The housing authority has available money from the CARES Act earmarked for housing that it will put toward incentives for qualified landlords to start accepting Section 8 tenants.

When a potential renter with a voucher negotiates with an interested landlord, they will be invited to participate in the program  potentially landing them a one-time payment of up to $2,500, depending on if its in a HUD-deemed high-opportunity zone. Landlords outside the zone would receive $1,000.

Local government bodies also have been using other federal COVID-relief dollars to keep qualified people in their homes through utility- and rental-assistance programs.

In Beaumont, struggling renters have utilized the emergency rent assistance program by the thousands.

The citys assistance program has been managed since last May by the administrative staff of Some Other Place, a non-profit relief organization formed by local religious organizations and one of the few resources in the city for those facing housing insecurity.

Executive Director Paula ONeal said the program, which is able to cover as much as three months of rent for an individual, has helped around 700 families  so far.

In the beginning, we were overwhelmed by the demand, but it has started to stabilize, ONeal said. The lack of affordable housing really does cause a lot of problems in the community, and it helps contribute to homelessness.

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And theres plenty of aid left to assist more individuals and families, said Beaumont Director of Planning and Community Development Chris Boone.

The third round of funding for the Tenant-Based Rental Assistance Program is well on the way to being completed, Boone said in an email to the Enterprise.

Specifically, around $359,000 remain of the nearly $1.3 million allocated to the program.

Boone said most of the families assisted by the program already have met their aid cap of $3,000. From there, theyre referred to Jefferson Countys program, which has a higher maximum.

Jefferson Countys rental assistance program, which has a budget of around $14 million, is being managed by the Southeast Texas Regional Planning Commission.

jacob.dick@beaumontenterprise.com

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The City of Beaumont needs new firefighters, and nine new ones might be on the way.

Earlier this month, the City Council approved a budget proposal that included, among many other things, additional staffing for the Beaumont Fire Department  and not a moment too soon, officials say.

This last year has been very, very, very challenging for all first responders and health care providers because of COVID-19, said Fire Chief Earl White.

Currently, were experiencing the delta surge, and this communitys not immune from it at all. Our hospitals are full. And were making numerous, numerous calls to COVID patients, in addition to our other calls.

At a glance Qualifications be eligible to attend the Lamar Institute of Technology Fire Academy: Be 18 years or older; Have a GED or high school diploma; and Have a valid state ID . Helpful tips Go to the gym regularly; Be prepared to work hard and listen; and Have a good attitude. Source: John Randall, Lamar Institute of Technology Fire Academy director See More Collapse

Southeast Texas currently has one of the highest COVID-19 positivity rates in the state. And when people cant breathe, they call 911.

Were a 911 provider, White said. So people call 911 and tell us whats going on  fire, medical, car wreck, stroke, finger stuck in a garbage disposal  a myriad of calls. So, you add COVID on top of our regular calls for service  the system is taxed.

White said the stresses on staffing is part of a national trend. Cities across the nation are experiencing a demand for services that is much higher than the supply. Public resistance to masks and vaccine skepticism exacerbate the problem.

At the same time, calls for service unrelated to COVID have increased because of a lack of affordable healthcare and declining personal health, White said.

A tremendous amount of our citizens in most cities are uninsured, and so who do they call? White asked. I would like to have everybody to have health care, which would limit the calls to 911 when they can go see their primary care physician for that backache. Either you provide them some type of insurance, or theyre going to overwhelm our emergency rooms.

Regardless of the reason for the increase in 911 calls, new firefighters are sorely needed to continue responding in a timely fashion. And in Southeast Texas, the Lamar Institute of Technology has stepped in to fill the void. The local community college has a firefighter and an EMS course, which combined takes one year to complete.

The new class of firefighters started school Aug. 16. Its already clear that public safety is calling for these recruits.

Deranda Brown, 25; Madeline Stone, 21; Isaiah Pickens, 19; and Bradley Phillips, 28; are part of the new class of firefighters at LIT.

I like helping people, said Pickens. Ive always wanted to do this.

Growing up, he looked up to lifeguards and first responders. He recalls, one day in middle school, he was at a gathering where two young children were trapped inside a bouncy house as it deflated.

Not thinking, I just ran in and got the kids out, he explained. Ever since then, I was kind of like you know, this is kind of the path I want to take.

Stone, whose father is a firefighter as well, said she is confident she wants to make firefighting her career. She says when she sees something traumatic, she goes into work mode and shuts off her emotions.

In emergency situations, Phillips said he needs to be able to do something to help. He recalled a time when working at a local plant, he saw a coworker having a seizure.

I actually got in trouble for like trying to help because were not allowed to have any interaction, he said. And for me, that feeling of helplessnessit just doesnt sit right. I want to be able to help.

Even though times may get hard, you got to realize that youre possibly the sunshine on a cloudy day  when somebody is going through the worst thing that

they could possibly imagine going through, Pickens said. Youve got to be able to step up, and let them know that itll be all right and try to take care of them.

But White cautions that firefighting is not a job for everyone.

You have to realize that to serve someone else is a big deal, White said. I tell people that you choose public service. Public service didnt choose you. It is a choice.

For those who make that sacrificial choice, the Beaumont Fire Department would be happy to have them.

If youre not afraid of the physicality of this and hard work, and you want to do something that actually makes a difference in the world, you can come to the Fire Academy, said Fire Academy Director John Randall.

Its gonna take a lot of dedication, hard work, youre gonna have to be very focused, Brown said.

But the job is also very rewarding and everything that we sacrifice now is going to be completely worth it in the end.

Its going to be very challenging, but theyre just building us up to go out into the community and help people every single day. And I look forward to that.

rachel.kersey@beaumontenterprise.com

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BEIJING (AP)  Chinas microblogging platform Sina Weibo on Monday closed 145 accounts, some of which had defended pop star Kris Wu over his rape allegations, for publishing what it called information harmful for maintaining social order.

Wu, a Chinese-Canadian pop star, was detained on July 31 for deceiving young women multiple times into having sexual relations with him, according to Beijing police. His arrest came after several women said they were plied with alcohol and then either pressured to have sex with him or sexually assaulted.

Some of the Weibo accounts which were shut down had previously defended such allegations against Wu, according to state-run media outlet Global Times.

It was not immediately clear how many of the 145 accounts were shut down for defending Wu. Several other celebrities, such as debater and media personality Ma Weiwei, also had their accounts suspended after they defended earlier allegations against Wu in 2016, and have since apologized for their actions, according to the Global Times.

Weibo, often described as China's Twitter, said in a post published Monday that the 145 accounts were shut down for publishing harmful information related to current affairs, defined as anything from spreading rumors, disrupting state order and undermining social stability to publishing negative information that breaks the bottom line of social morality and the system.

The shutdown of Weibo accounts highlights how internet and social media platforms are required to strictly comply with content guidelines and censorship rules in China, where authorities dictate what can or cannot be published online.

Authorities in China are quick to censor keywords and search terms deemed politically sensitive or harmful to society, and internet platforms are expected to comply according to the law.

Certain search terms, such as the names of Chinese artist-activist Ai Weiwei or late Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo, turn up no results when searched on platforms like Weibo.

The shutdown of accounts also come at a time when the Chinese government has tightened its grip over the internet and technology sector.

In recent months, authorities have implemented anti-monopoly rules and data privacy laws to curb unfair market practices and prevent companies from unfairly collecting and profiting off users data.
As Southeast Texas sees a spike in cases of COVID-19, it is also seeing an increase in testing  but a drop in sites that will perform the service for free.

Beaumont Public Health Director Kenneth Coleman said the increase in testing is a natural compliment to the increase in positive cases.

At one point the cases were extremely low, now that they have picked up that says that more people are getting tested probably because more people are having symptoms, he said.

Tests remain available, he said, including with some home kits at some department stores.

But theres been a change.

Early on, there was free testing available. And now there are not that many free testing sites available, Coleman said. In the height of COVID, the state was sponsoring testing sites.

That could be an issue for some people who do not have the funds to pay for the test, he said.

Some people who dont have the funds to get tested wont get tested. So, they wont know if it is COVID or not. But when they feel bad, they will go to the emergency room, Coleman said. Once they go to the emergency room, then the emergency room will test you. And Im sure some people are finding out there that it is COVID-related verses something else.

Related: Local hospitals surpass previous COVID hospitalization records

Hospitals in the area have seen an increase in COVID cases. As of Saturday, 240 people were hospitalized with the virus in Jefferson County  64 of whom were in ICU beds, according to data from the Southeast Texas Regional Advisory Council.

They are busting at the seams with COVID patients, Coleman said.

Riceland Healthcare Corporate Healthcare Administrator Robert Jacobs said, with the increase in testing, Riceland Healthcare has seen an increase in positive results as well.

The COVID cases in this area astronomical right now, Jacobs said. Our hospitals are backed up. Our rooms are backed up  and (we are) doing everything we can to take care of our patients in our communities.

Despite the spike, Jacobs said tests availability remains OK, and he doesnt forsee any supply shortages for the time being. Although, he noted that its not outside the realm of possibility if cases continue to rise at this rate.

Were not going to run out of tests, Jacobs said. It has slowed some of the response down to get tests back in a timely manner. But everybody in all of the labs are doing everything they can with the huge influx of testing that is needed.

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However, Coleman said the majority of patients are using a rapid test, which provides results in about 30 minutes.

In general, Coleman still encouraged getting testing if an individual is experiencing symptoms or was in close contact with someone else who tested positive. He said tests are available at multiple locations, including Riceland Healthcare, AFC Urgent Care, Exceptional Emergency Center, Legacy Community Health, Triangle Area Network, CVS, Walgreens and others.

If you know youre positive, then we will hope that they will quarantine to help stop the spread of COVID, he said.

Vaccines also are still widely available, and Coleman said most places are able to offer an appointment the same day.

We just wish more people would get the vaccine, Coleman said. We want to encourage everyone who can medically and if you are age eligible to get the vaccine.

meagan.ellsworth@beaumontenterprise.com

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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP)  A state commission has scheduled three virtual public hearings in September pertaining to Iowa's proposed new electoral maps.

The five-member Iowa Temporary Redistricting Advisory Commission voted Monday to hold the hearings on Sept. 20, 21 and 22. Details on how people can log in will be posted on a later date on the Legislature's website.

The commission decided to meet on Sept. 23 to discuss the report it is required by law to present to the Legislature summarizing the public comments made at the hearings, online and in writing.

The first redistricting maps will be delivered on Sept. 16, beginning the process for redrawing political boundaries for legislative and congressional districts, said Ed Cook, legal counsel for the nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency, which is responsible for providing redistricting maps.

State law gives the commission up to 14 days after maps are drawn to hold public hearings to gather public comment and prepare a report for the Legislature.

Three days after they receive the report, lawmakers may meet in a special session to vote on the maps. Lawmakers may approve or reject two sets of maps without amendment. If a third set of maps is necessary, they can amend them like any other legislation before approving them.

In 2000, the Legislature rejected the first set of maps but approved the second. In 2010, lawmakers approved the first set.
WALLOON LAKE, Mich. (AP)  A village in northern Michigan is planning an art installation dedicated to author Ernest Hemingway who frequented the area during his summers in the state.

The art installation is part of Walloon Lakes yearlong Hemingway Homecoming celebration which also will feature formal dedication of a series of historical signs.
WAVERLY, Tenn. (AP)  At least 22 people were killed and rescue crews searched desperately Sunday amid shattered homes and tangled debris for dozens of people still missing after record-breaking rain sent floodwaters surging through Middle Tennessee.

Saturday's flooding in rural areas took out roads, cellphone towers and telephone lines, leaving families uncertain about whether their loved ones survived the unprecedented deluge. Emergency workers were searching door to door, said Kristi Brown, a coordinator for health and safety supervisor with Humphreys County Schools.

Many of the missing live in the neighborhoods where the water rose the fastest, said Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis, who confirmed the 22 fatalities in his county. The names of the missing were on a board in the countys emergency center and listed on a city departments Facebook page.

I would expect, given the number of fatalities, that were going to see mostly recovery efforts at this point rather than rescue efforts, Tennessee Emergency Management Director Patrick Sheehan said.

The dead included twin babies who were swept from their fathers arms, according to surviving family members, and a foreman at county music star Loretta Lynn's ranch. The sheriff of the county of about 18,000 people some 60 miles (96 kilometers) west of Nashville said he lost one of his best friends.

Up to 17 inches (43 centimeters) of rain fell in Humphreys County in less than 24 hours Saturday, shattering the Tennessee record for one-day rainfall by more than 3 inches (8 centimeters), the National Weather Service said.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee toured the area, calling it a devastating picture of loss and heartache." He stopped on Main Street in Waverly where some homes were washed off their foundations and people were sifting though their water-logged possessions. All around the county were debris from wrecked cars, demolished businesses and homes and a chaotic, tangled mix of the things inside.

Shirley Foster cried as the governor walked up. She said she just learned a friend from her church was dead.

I thought I was over the shock of all this. Im just tore up over my friend. My house is nothing, but my friend is gone, Foster told the governor.

The hardest-hit areas saw double the rain that area of Middle Tennessee had in the previous worst-case scenario for flooding, meteorologists said. Lines of storms moved over the area for hours, wringing out a record amount of moisture  a scenario scientists have warned may be more common because of global warming.

The downpours rapidly turned the creeks that run behind backyards and through downtown Waverly into raging rapids. Business owner Kansas Klein stood on a bridge Saturday in the town of 4,500 people and saw two girls who were holding on to a puppy and clinging to a wooden board sweep past, the current too fast for anyone to grab them. He hadn't found out what happened to them.

Not far from the bridge, Klein told The Associated Press by phone that dozens of buildings in a low-income housing area known as Brookside appeared to have borne the brunt of the flash flood from Trace Creek.

It was devastating: buildings were knocked down, half of them were destroyed, Klein said. People were pulling out bodies of people who had drowned and didnt make it out.

The Humphreys County Sheriff Office Facebook page filled with people looking fo r missing friends and family. GoFundMe pages were made asking for help for funeral expenses for the dead, including 7-month-old twins yanked from their fathers arms as they tried to escape.

The foreman at Lynn's ranch, Wayne Spears, also was killed.

Hes out at his barn and next thing you know, he goes from checking animals in the barn to hanging on in the barn to people seeing him floating down the creek. And thats how fast it had come up, the sheriff said.

A photo taken by someone at the ranch showed Spears in a cowboy hat clinging to a pillar in brown, churning water up to his chest.

Waynes just one of those guys, he just does everything for everybody, if theres a job to do, said his friend Michael Pate, who met Spears at the ranch 15 years ago.

At the Cash Saver grocery in in Waverly, employees stood on desks, registers and a flower rack as the waters from the creek that's usually 400 feet (120 meters) from the store rushed in after devastating the low income housing next door. At one point, they tried to break through the celling into the attic and couldn't, store co-owner David Hensley said.

The flood waters stopped rising as fast just as the situation was getting dire and a rescue boat came by. We told him that if theres somebody else out there you can get, go get them, we think were OK, Hensley said.

At the beginning of a news conference on Tropical Storm Henri's impact on New England, President Joe Biden offered condolences to the people of Tennessee and directed federal disaster officials to talk with the governor and offer assistance.

Just to the east of Waverly, the town of McEwen was pummeled Saturday with 17.02 inches (43.2 centimeters) of rain, smashing the states 24-hour record of 13.6 inches (34.5 centimeters) from 1982, according to the National Weather Service in Nashville, though Saturdays numbers would have to be confirmed.

A flash flood watch was issued for the area before the rain started, with forecasters saying 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 centimeters) of rain was possible. The worst storm recorded in this area of Middle Tennessee only dropped 9 inches (23 centimeters) of rain, said Krissy Hurley, a weather service meteorologist in Nashville.

Forecasting almost a record is something we dont do very often, Hurley said. Double the amount weve ever seen was almost unfathomable.

Recent scientific research has determined that extreme rain events will become more frequent because of man-made climate change. Hurley said it is impossible to know its exact role in Saturdays flood, but noted in the past year her office dealt with floods that used to be expected maybe once every 100 years in September south of Nashville and in March closer to the city.

We had an incredible amount of water in the atmosphere, Hurley said of Saturdays flooding. Thunderstorms developed and moved across the same area over and over and over.

The problem isnt limited to Tennessee. A federal study found man-made climate change doubles the chances of the types of heavy downpours that in August 2016 dumped 26 inches (66 centimeters) of rain around Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Those floods killed at least 13 people and damaged 150,000 homes.

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An earlier version of this story had the incorrect name for a creek. It is Trace Creek, not Trent Creek.

___

Collins contributed to this report from Columbia, South Carolina. John Raby contributed from Charleston, West Virginia.
CANBERRA, Australia  Australia's prime minister says Australian and New Zealand officials evacuated more than 650 people from Kabul Airport over Monday night.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that Tuesday five flights had left the airport in the busiest day of Australian involvement in evacuations since the Taliban took control of the country.

Morrison told Nine Network television that the evacuated people included Australians, New Zealanders and Afghans.

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MORE ON THE CRISIS IN AFGHANISTAN:

 Deadly gunfire at airport; Taliban insist on US pullout date

 UK struggles for influence as Afghan crisis strains US ties

 Kabul airlift is accelerating but still hampered by chaos

 When the music stops: Afghan happy place falls silent

 For Afghan refugees in India, hopes dim for returning home

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 Find more AP coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/afghanistan

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HERES WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:

CAIRO  Egyptian state media say the government has evacuated more than 40 of the countrys citizens from Afghanistan.

The official MENA news agency says a military plane carrying Egyptian citizens from Afghanistan landed in Cairo late Monday.

The 43 evacuees include the staff from the Egyptian Embassy in Kabul and clerics from Al-Azhar, which is the Sunni Muslim worlds foremost religious institution.

A local TV station showed footage for the returnees carrying Egyptian flags as they landed in an airport in Cairo. They were received by military and health officials.

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BOCA RATON, Florida  Senior U.S. military officials in Afghanistan say U.S. Special Operations retrieved 16 American citizens from outside the Kabul airport early Monday morning.

The military officials would not detail where in Afghanistan the Americans were rescued from but they said it was about two hours outside the Hamid Karzai International Airport. The Americans were brought back to Kabul for evacuation processing.

The officials, who commented only on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations, said the rescue missions that go beyond the walls of the Kabul airport require the approval of a four-star officer and are handled on a case-by-case basis.

On Monday, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby confirmed that the U.S. military had launched at least one additional rescue by helicopter but declined to offer further details. Its unclear if Kirby was referring to Mondays special operations mission or a separate flight.

On occasion, as needed, our commanders have the authority they need to use their assets and their forces to help assist Americans who need to get to the airport, get to the airport, on a case-by-case basis, said Kirby.

The Associated Press first reported on the sortie flights outside Kabul airport on Friday. The officials would not detail where these airlift sites were for security reasons.

In a video conference last week, President Biden and White House officials spoke with commanders in Afghanistan about sortie flight missions outside the Kabul Airport. The president said he wanted to avoid a Black Hawk Down incident, according to U.S. military officials on the conference call and briefed on what was said.

U.S. military officials described President Bidens demeanor as calm and pleasant during discussions about the progress that had been made in evacuating both Americans and Afghan nationals. Biden negatively commented on how quickly the Afghan government fell apart and told commanders he wanted them to be focused on beefing up security at Hamid Karzai International Airport.

On Sunday, the AP reported that potential Islamic State threats against Americans in Afghanistan are forcing the U.S. military to develop new plans to get evacuees to the airport in Kabul. U.S. Central Command on Monday said an exchange of gunfire at the airport broke out at the north gate of the Kabul Airport. No U.S. or coalition forces were hurt, but one member of the Afghan security forces was killed. The Pentagon said they do not know at the moment if the gunman was a member of the Taliban or ISIS.

Last week, the Defense Department publicly disclosed that three Army chinooks picked up 169 Americans just outside the walls of the Kabul Airport. The AP also reported that a helicopter from the 82nd Airborne Division airlifted Afghans from Camp Sullivan, near the Hamid Karzai International Airport.

 By James LaPorta

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PARIS  French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin has ordered five men who were evacuated from Afghanistan placed under surveillance in France for possible links to the Taliban.

France is human but it is also vigilant, the minister tweeted Monday, along with a story by the French news agency quoting him about the suspicions.

One man in particular slipped through the cracks during the chaotic evacuations in Kabul but admitted working for the Taliban. He arrived over the weekend with three of the other men now under watch. According to a ministry official contacted by The Associated Press, the mans wife and children also were on the flight, but not under suspicion.

The man admitted to belonging to the Taliban and to bearing arms at a blockade in Kabul that was under his responsibility, Agence France-Presse, which saw the ministers written decision, reported.

Even if this person very widely helped in the evacuation of the French Embassy, we think this person may be linked to the Taliban, the minister was quoted as saying. It was not immediately clear if his responsibilities went beyond manning a blockade. The French Embassy has served as a holding area for evacuees waiting to make the trip to the Kabul airport, where the French ambassador and a reduced staff now work.

Given the extremely tough difficulties of making security checks of people to be repatriated, French authorities accepted to board this person and his family, the minister said. The security checks were done, instead, in Abu Dhabi, where the French have transferred evacuees before the onward journey to Paris. The other men were not, for now, directly suspected.

The fifth person concerned came on a separate flight but had links to the family, Darmanin said.

The five men are currently under surveillance in a hotel in the Paris region where they are in quarantine, like all evacuees who arrive in France without having been fully vaccinated, the Interior Ministry official said. He was not authorized to speak to the press so could not be identified by name.

Darmanin, clearly seeking to assure the French about potential risks concerning arrivals, said in his tweet that the government will continue to take all needed measures to ensure the security of the French.

By Tuesday, 2,000 people will have made the journey out, mainly Afghans, Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Monday during a visit to the base in Abu Dhabi with Defense Minister Florence Parly.

 By Elaine Ganley

___

GENEVA  A top World Health Organization official says the agency only has a few days left of supplies for Afghanistan and wants help to ferry in 10 or 12 planeloads of equipment and medicine for its beleaguered people.

Dr. Rick Brennan heads WHOs eastern Mediterranean region that includes Afghanistan. He said from Cairo that the U.N. health agency is negotiating with the U.S. and other countries to help efforts to replenish strained stockpiles.

We estimate weve only got a few days left of supplies, Brennan said, alluding to a distribution center in Dubai that has whats needed. We have 500 metric tons ready to go, but we havent got any way of getting them into the country right now.

Brennan said U.S. and other authorities have encouraged WHO and partners to look to other Afghan airports than Kabuls, which is facing a crush of thousands of people trying to get out of Afghanistan after a Taliban takeover.

He said those authorities have suggested that itll be too difficult a logistics exercise and security exercise to bring supplies into Kabul, where teams would be required to unload planes and allow in trucks to carry out the supplies  which could complicate the evacuations.

Needed supplies include emergency kits and essential medicines for treatment of chronic diseases, like diabetes, WHO said.

Were cautiously optimistic that we might need to get something done in the coming days, Brennan said, before adding: We need a consistent humanitarian air bridge into the country ASAP.

___

BERLIN  German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas says the majority of local staff who worked for his country in Afghanistan havent yet been evacuated.

The German government has granted about 10,000 local staff and family members in Afghanistan the right to come to Germany, but so far only about 1,800 have made it out.

We dont currently know how many days we can keep flying (people) out, so we want to use those days effectively, he said Monday.

Maas called Tuesdays G-7 meeting on Afghanistan very important for discussing international access to the Kabul airport beyond Aug. 31, the day when the U.S. plans to pull its last troops out of Afghanistan.

Coordinating aid for migrants from Afghanistan would be another key issue at the meeting, he said.

Maas said the firefight overnight at Kabul airport showed once more under what dangerous conditions our soldiers and the embassys core staff on the ground are working.

The situation around the airport had become more chaotic in recent hours and he said Germany doesnt currently recommend that anyone make their own way to the site, he said.

Germany will continue to fly out as many people as it can, said Maas, but added that we know the current evacuation operation isnt open forever.

Among the measures being pursued and discussed with the Taliban is the possibility of enabling civilian flights from Kabul once the last U.S. troops leave the country, he said.

___

WASHINGTON  White House officials say every Afghan being newly granted admission to the United States is undergoing biometric and biographic security screening at stops overseas before arrival in the United States.

The officials spoke Monday on condition of anonymity to brief reporters on details of the processing. From the single arrival point of Dulles International Airport, new Afghan arrivals were going on to military bases around the United States for further processing. They do not include U.S. citizens, green card holders or their families.

Each person was undergoing a COVID-19 test on arrival in the U.S. and officials were working on arranging COVID vaccinations for those who want them. Each new Afghan arrival was being connected to a refugee organization that would help them resettle in homes around the United States.

 By Robert Burns

___

MADRID  The Spanish government says it has evacuated more than 800 Afghans from Kabul, among them more than 100 Afghans who have worked with the United States and who will stay in Spain temporarily.

More than 550 Afghans have arrived in Spain so far, the statement from the prime ministers office said Monday, with a flight of 260 more due to land at the Torrejon de Ardoz air base near Madrid in the next few hours.

Around 560 of the arrivals, including those on the arriving flight, are Afghans who worked with Spain in their home country, while 150 were attached to the EUs External Action Service. A hundred worked with Americans in Afghanistan.

On Saturday, President Joe Biden thanked Spains Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez for the assistance in temporarily housing Afghans at risk who are bound for the United States.

According to the El Pais newspaper, hundreds more Afghans who worked with U.S. military and diplomatic outfits in Afghanistan are expected to arrive in Spain in the upcoming days.

___

ISLAMABAD  Pakistans foreign minister has urged the Taliban and other leaders in neighboring Afghanistan to try to reach an inclusive political settlement as soon as possible.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi issued the appeal Monday at a news conference ahead of his upcoming visit to several regional countries.

Qureshi will leave for Uzbekistan on Tuesday on a trip that will also include stops in Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Iran to discuss the situation in Afghanistan. He said he had already spoken with officials in China by phone.

Qureshi said it was a good sign that the Taliban were already talking to some other Afghan leaders, including former president Hamid Karzai. Qureshi said Pakistan will continue to play its role for a peaceful and politically negotiated solution of the Afghan issue.___

MADRID  Spains defense minister says there is a real risk of a terror attack against Western troops helping to evacuate people at Kabuls international airport.

Defense Minister Margarita Robles said Monday the hasty withdrawal of military forces from Afghanistan has been an unmitigated failure."

Both the U.S. troops and our soldiers are reckoning on that (threat of attack), because it exists, she said.

Robles said in an interview with Spains La Sexta television channel that both NATO and the European Union should learn lessons from their 20-year presence in Afghanistan.

She recalled that 102 Spanish troops had given their lives during NATOs operation.

___

MILAN  The Italian charity Pangea says all of its dozens of female activists and over 200 family members have reached safety inside the Kabul airport, and some have boarded planes for Italy.

Pangea says they all were in the airport by dawn Monday.

The activists of Pangea are strong and resisted. They fought like lionesses to enter in that airport, the charity said in an Instagram post.

Pangea founder Luca Lo Presti has been working for a week to evacuate the activists and their families, saying their work to provide microloans to female-run businesses was a direct threat to the Taliban.

The women identified themselves to Italian military at the Kabul airport by writing a P on the palm of their hands as a password. Video posted by Pangea shows some of the women boarding a military transport filled with men, women and children, some strapped into seats but many more seated on the floor.

Pangea said in all some 30 activists and over 200 family members were being evacuated.

___

BERLIN  Germanys top military commander says he believes that about 5,000 people are waiting at the Kabul airport to be flown out.

Gen. Eberhard Zorn said Monday the figure has declined from about 7,000 at the weekend. He says: We are now trying internationally to reduce this number as far as possible to make room for others  and above all, ultimately to cushion somewhat the precarious accommodation and waiting situation there.

Zorn said he couldnt say what proportion of people at the airport are children or families. But he said on Germanys flights, about 50% of the Afghans evacuated were women.

Germany flew in supplies Sunday in an effort to help improve the situation inside the airport. Zorn said they included diapers, pacifiers and cuddly toys for small children, as well as food for children. More supplies are in the pipeline.

The situation in front of the gates remains difficult, Zorn said. I would also call it dramatic, because the accumulation of people interested in getting into the airport grounds is enormously high (and) additional potential for violence is arising on the ground in this group.

___

PARIS  Frances foreign affairs and defense ministers have arrived at a military air base in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, where French planes are carrying people evacuated from Kabul.

Jean-Yves Le Drian and Florence Parly are to meet with diplomats, soldiers, police officers and other staff involved in evacuation operations, the ministries said in a statement Monday.

More than 1,000 Afghans, almost 100 French and more than 40 people from other nationalities have been evacuated by France over the past week, authorities said.

A seventh plane landed in Paris airport Monday, carrying 246 Afghans and five French.

The ministers trip is also aimed at praising the support of the UAE, where France has a permanent military base, the statement said.

Le Drian and Parly are to meet with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Abu Dhabis crown prince, to have talks over the situation in Afghanistan and how to preserve the regional security and stability.

___

KABUL, Afghanistan  The Talibans longtime spokesman has urged imams in Afghanistan to give assurances to Afghans about their security and safety.

Zabihullah Mujahid said Monday at a gathering of clerics in the capital Kabul that they are responsible for keeping their constituents calm.

He also urged them to clear the baseless propaganda he says is being disseminated by the U.S. about the Taliban.

He says: Imams, keep your people calm, we should indoctrinate people to support the Islamic government and Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan.

Mujahid said government employees will soon be able to return to work and Afghans will remain safe under a previously announced amnesty.

The Taliban have pledged amnesty to those who worked with the U.S., NATO and the toppled Afghan government, but many Afghans still fear revenge attacks. There have been reports in recent days of the Taliban hunting down their former enemies.

___

AMMAN, Jordan  Jordans Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it will allow 2,500 Afghan nationals fleeing the Taliban takeover of the country to transit through its territory en route to the U.S.

Ministry spokesman Ambassador Daifullah Al-Fayez said Monday the decision was made for purely humanitarian reasons to help with the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

He said arrangements for the transit of Afghan citizens who are evacuated through Jordan have been agreed upon with the U.S.

___

ROME  Some 662 people fleeing Afghanistan have arrived at the U.S. naval air base in Sicily. The U.S. is working to ramp up evacuations following the Taliban takeover of the country by using overseas military bases as temporary transit points.

A U.S. Air Force KC-10 Extender, followed by two C-17 Globemaster III, arrived Sunday at the Sigonella air base from Qatar, according to a statement from the U.S. base. Located on Sicilys eastern coast near Catania, Sigonella is home to an Italian and NATO base as well as the U.S. Naval Air Station, the U.S. Navys only overseas air station.

The U.S. statement said Sigonella was being used as a transit location for evacuees before they are transferred elsewhere and it quoted the base commander, Capt. Kevin Pickard, as saying the Afghans will be joining our American family.

The evacuees for now were being housed in two barracks on the base, where anti-COVID-19 measures are being followed, and are being provided with medical care, Halal food, religious and recreation areas, the statement said.

___

BERLIN  Germany says it has evacuated 2,725 people from Afghanistan as of Monday  1,787 Afghans, 282 Germans and the rest from elsewhere. The people it has evacuated come from 43 nations in total.

Two more flights, with 198 and 180 evacuees on board respectively, left Kabul on Monday afternoon, the military said.

The government said it cant say precisely how many Germans are left in Kabul because there is no obligation for Germans abroad to register with their countrys authorities, and also no obligation for people evacuated by other means -- or who are also citizens of another country -- to inform German authorities.

But Foreign Ministry spokesman Christofer Burger said we believe at the moment  this is an estimate  that a low three-digit number of German citizens is still in Afghanistan.

Interior Ministry spokesman Steve Alter said there have been a few cases  fewer than 10  in which people have turned out on arrival in Germany to have been on polices radar.

___

MOSCOW  Russia says it will not interfere in the stand-off between the Taliban and their opponents in Afghanistan.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that leaders of the Collective Security Treaty Organization member states discussed the standoff and its implications of another civil war in Afghanistan. He says that, Of course, no one is going to intervene in these events.

Taliban spokesman said Monday the groups forces have surrounded Panjshir, the only one of Afghanistans 34 provinces that has not yet fallen to the Taliban. Several Taliban opponents have gathered in Panjshir.

They include Amrullah Saleh, the vice president in the toppled government who claims to be the acting president, and Ahmad Massoud, son of the slain commander of the Northern Alliance militias that partnered with the U.S. to drive the Taliban from power in 2001.

The Collective Security Treaty Organization includes Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

Moscow fought a 10-year war in Afghanistan that ended with Soviet troops withdrawal in 1989 and has made a diplomatic comeback as a mediator, jockeying with the U.S. for influence in the country. It has hosted several rounds of talks on Afghanistan, most recently in March, that involved the Taliban  even though Russia has labeled them a terrorist organization.

___

COPENHAGEN, Denmark  A 23-year-old man who had been deported from Denmark because of several criminal convictions, managed to sneak back on an evacuation plane from Afghanistan by pretending he was his brother.

Danish broadcaster DR said the man, who was not identified, was recognized by police for being member of an outlawed criminal gang, and arrested on arrival in Denmark. He is faces preliminary charges of violating an entry ban.

The man who was sent back to Afghanistan in July, was among the last people to have been deported from Denmark, DR said.

The BT newspaper said the man arrived in Denmark on an evacuation plane on Sunday and was arrested then. The DR and BT reports said he faced a pre-trial detention hearing on Monday.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Monday that Denmark has evacuated some 650 people from Kabul.

___

ISLAMABAD  Pakistans interior minister says the Taliban have assured his country they will not allow the outlawed Pakistani Taliban  a separate militant group from the one in Afghanistan  to use Afghan soil for attacks against Pakistan.

Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said on Monday that his ministry has information that amid the Taliban sweep across Afghanistan, some of the leaders and members of the Pakistani Taliban, or Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, were freed from Afghan prisons.

Ahmed said Islamabad was in contact with the Taliban over the matter.

The Pakistani Taliban have claimed responsibility for several past attacks, including the 2014 deadly attack on a Peshawar school that killed 154 people, mostly schoolchildren.

Islamabad alleges the Pakistani Taliban have been hiding in Afghanistan for the past several years, after fleeing military operations launched against them inside Pakistan.

Ahmed also said that since last week, Pakistan has helped more than 2,000 foreigners and Pakistanis leave Afghanistan by air and land routes. Pakistan is issuing visas upon arrival to all diplomats, foreigners and journalists seeking to leave Kabul over security concerns.

___

THE HAGUE, Netherlands  Dutch authorities say that a temporary accommodation center for Afghan evacuees at an army barracks in the northern Netherlands is full and a second location is being opened.

The government agency that houses asylum seekers said on Monday that the camp in the remote village of Zoutcamp reached its capacity on Sunday night, with the arrival of 178 Afghan evacuees.

A new accommodation center is being opened to house more Afghans at another military barracks in the central town of Zeist.

The Dutch defense ministry says it has completed nine flights out of Kabul to airports in the region since the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan. Six flights carrying evacuees from Afghanistan have arrived in the Netherlands carrying a total of more than 800 people. That number includes Dutch nationals, Afghans and citizens of other countries.

___

BEIJING  China is once again criticizing the United States over Afghanistan, saying America cannot simply abandon the war-torn country.

The United States is the root cause and the biggest external factor in the Afghan issue, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Monday. It cannot just run away like this.

He called on the U.S. to help maintain stability, avoid chaos and rebuild Afghanistan.

I hope the U.S. side can match its acts with words, take on its responsibilities in Afghanistan and put into practice its commitments to Afghanistan in terms of development and reconstruction, and humanitarian assistance, he told a daily briefing.

China has expressed readiness to work with all parties in Afghanistan, including the Taliban, to rebuild the war-torn nation.

___

WARSAW, Poland  A deputy foreign minister says Poland has so far evacuated over 400 people from Kabul, including Poles and Afghans who worked for Polands diplomatic mission or pro-democracy efforts, with their family members. More flights are planned.

Marcin Przydacz said on Polish Radio 24 Monday that the situation at the Kabul airport was getting ever more tense, adding further pressure on the evacuations.

The International Monetary Fund thanked Poland for a successful evacuation of its staff from Kabul, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Twitter, following a phone call with the IMF managing director, Kristalina Georgieva. Poland is also to evacuate some 300 staff working for NATO in Afghanistan.

Seven planes have already brought evacuees to Poland and another one, with some 70 Afghan evacuees, was expected in Warsaw on Monday, according to Morawiecki's top aide, Michal Dworczyk.

Dwroczyk said the plane was delayed in Uzbekistan for several hours due to problems at the site, which he did not describe.

Another passenger plane is on the way to Uzbekistan, a stopover on the evacuation route. Evacuees from Kabul are brought there on military planes and then flown to Warsaw by the national carrier, LOT.

___

LONDON  Britain is urging the United States to extend its evacuation effort in Kabul beyond the current Aug. 31 deadline, saying without the Americans other countries will have no choice but to stop their own operations to help people fleeing the Taliban takeover.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson plans to press President Joe Biden at an emergency meeting of Group of Seven leaders on Tuesday convened by Britain.

Some U.K. military leaders have said Britain should keep troops at Kabul airport to continue the evacuation effort even if the Americans leave. But Armed Forces Minister James Heappey said Monday that there is a hard reality that there would be no international airlift without the way that the U.S. are underpinning it.

He said that whether or not the U.S. can be persuaded to stay is a matter for the prime minister tomorrow in the G-7 meeting. He said that an agreement from the Taliban would also be needed for an extension.

Biden has not ruled out extending the airlift beyond the Aug. 31 deadline he set before the Talibans swift takeover in Afghanistan, but he said he hoped it would not be necessary.

Britain says its forces have evacuated more than 5,700 people  chiefly U.K. citizens and Afghans  from Kabul in the last 10 days, 1,821 of them in the past 24 hours.

___

UNITED NATIONS  The U.N. agency for children expects the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan to worsen due to a severe drought, the onset of winter and the coronavirus pandemic.

UNICEF says 10 million children in Afghanistan already survive on humanitarian assistance and around a million are expected to suffer from life-threatening malnutrition this year. It says some 4.2 million children, including 2.2 million girls, are out of school.

Afghanistan was a poor country, reliant on international aid, even before the Taliban took over earlier this month.

UNICEF director Henrietta Fore said in a statement on Monday that this is the grim reality facing Afghan children and it remains so regardless of ongoing political developments and changes in government.

She says the agency is committed to remaining in Afghanistan and is scaling up its operations. UNICEF hopes to provide aid in areas that were unreachable because of the ongoing war.

___

KABUL  Frances envoy to Afghanistan says French special forces backed by the U.S. army have helped 260 Afghans who worked with the European Union delegation to get to Kabul airport.

Ambassador David Martinon said in a tweet early on Monday that they have been welcomed at the French Embassys waiting area prior to boarding. Bravo to the EU.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell says around 400 Afghans who worked with the blocs delegation are to be granted protection in Europe. Theyre being sent to Spain for screening before being shared out among EU countries willing to grant them visas.

___

BERLIN  The German military says a firefight broke out at the Kabul airports north gate early on Monday between Afghan security forces and unknown attackers.

The military said in a tweet that one Afghan security officer was killed and another three were wounded in the early morning incident. It said that U.S. and German forces then also got involved, and that there were no injuries to German soldiers.

Later, the German military clarified that the Afghan officer was a member of the Afghan army  Afghan troops who are involved in securing the airport as part of the multinational operation.

There was no further information and it wasnt known who the attackers were. The Taliban, who are manning the outside perimeters of the Kabul airport, have until now not opened fire on NATO or Afghan troops within.

Mondays incident took place after at least seven Afghans died in a panicked crush of people trying to enter Kabuls international airport on Sunday, the British military said. Thousands were still trying to flee the country in a chaotic exodus a week after the Taliban takeover.

The German Defense Ministry said Monday that the countrys military has evacuated more than 2,700 people from Kabul since the evacuations started, with people of 38 nationalities among those taken out. German A400M transport aircraft are shuttling between Kabul and Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

___

COPENHAGEN, Denmark  A plane with Norwegian citizens from Afghanistan, others with links to Norway and also other foreign nationals landed in Oslo on Monday, the fourth flight in the past days to have landed in Norway.

The Scandinavian countrys foreign ministry declined to say how many were on the plane or give details for safety reasons, the Norwegian news agency NTB said.

In neighboring Sweden, Foreign Minister Ann Linde said Monday that more than 170 people have been evacuated from Afghanistan. I am pleased that we can now welcome local employees, at the same time as we continue to work to evacuate more local employees, she said.

Denmark too has been active in evacuating people from Afghanistan. Finland said that so far the total number of its evacuees was at 110. They include citizens from Finland and people with permanent Finnish residence, along with other persons who have been working for Finland, the EU and NATO, together with their families.
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Tazreena Sajjad, American University School of International Service

(THE CONVERSATION) Images of thousands of Afghans desperately trying to flee their country following a hasty U.S. withdrawal have provoked an international outcry.

As of Aug. 22, 2021, some 6,000 U.S. troops were working to evacuate U.S. military, American citizens and Afghans who are approved for Special Immigrant Visas. SIVs are a special program to protect Afghans who risked their lives working for U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

Germany, France, Italy and the U.K. are conducting smaller evacuation efforts for their nationals and some Afghans.

The pace of these poorly planned evacuations has been slow. They are taking place amid chaos in Kabul, where crowds are being confronted by violence from members of the now-ruling Taliban and U.S. forces and facing checkpoints that are near-impossible to pass.

Shaharzad Akbar, who leads the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, called the situation failure upon failure.

As a scholar specializing in forcible displacement and refugees, I see this harrowing scene unfolding within a broader context of Afghanistans long-standing displacement crisis. This includes an unequal sharing of refugees between the developed world and economically disadvantaged countries.

A muted US role

The U.S. Refugee Act of 1980 standardized the procedures for admitting refugees  people who have fled war, violence, conflict or persecution  and put in place a rigorous vetting process. But over the past 40 years, U.S. acceptance rates for refugees worldwide have fallen significantly  from 200,000 admitted in 1980 to less than 50,000 in 2019.

Over the past 20 years, the U.S. admitted more than 20,000 Afghan refugees  an average of roughly 1,000 per year. But during the 2020-2021 fiscal year, just 11,800 refugees from around the world settled in the U.S.  among them were only 495 Afghan Special Immigrant Visa recipients. That number seems tiny compared to the approximately 20,000 Afghans who are currently in the pipeline waiting for a SIV and the additional 70,000 Afghans  including applicants and their immediate family members  who are eligible to apply.

Europe hosts few Afghan refugees

For decades, Afghans have also migrated or fled to Europe. Between 2015-2016, 300,000 of them arrived on the continent. They were the second-largest group of refugees and asylum-seekers after Syrians. Asylum seekers are people seeking refugee status, but whose claim has yet to be evaluated.

The Afghan population across the European continent remains small and unevenly distributed. Up until the Taliban takeover of Kabul in August 2021, many Afghans were facing deportations. Germany is the largest European host, followed by Austria, France and Sweden.

For the first three months of 2021 about 7,000 Afghans were granted permanent or temporary legal status in the European Union. They are distributed between Greece, France, Germany and Italy, with smaller Afghan contingents in other EU states.

Australia  based on its 2016 census  has approximately 47,000 Afghans who are permanent residents, some of whom began arriving as early as 1979. Approximately another 4,200 Afghans have received temporary protected status.

Displaced within Afghanistan

This still leaves an enormous number of Afghans who are displaced without a permanent home. More than half a million have already been displaced by the violence so far in 2021 according to the U.N. refugee agency. Some 80% of nearly a quarter of a million Afghans forced to flee since the end of May are women and children.

As of 2021 and prior to the current crisis, at least 3.5 million Afghans remained uprooted within Afghanistan because of violence, political unrest, poverty, climate crisis and lack of economic opportunity.

Afghan refugees in Pakistan

The vast majority of Afghan refugees do not settle in the West.

Pakistan, which shares a 1,640-mile land border with Afghanistan, has long absorbed the largest number of Afghan refugees even though it is not a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention or the 1967 Protocol. Within two years of the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, following the conflict ignited by the rise of the Mujahideen, 1.5 million Afghans had become refugees. By 1986, nearly five million Afghans had fled to Pakistan and Iran.

Since March 2002, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, or UNHCR, had repatriated nearly 3.2 million Afghans, but in April 2021, the United Nations reported that more than 1.4 million Afghan refugees remained in Pakistan due to ongoing violence, unemployment and political turbulence in Afghanistan.

Iran also remains a significant host for Afghans, with nearly 800,000 registered refugees and at least two million more who are unregistered. Smaller numbers of Afghan refugees and asylum-seekers are in India (15,689), Indonesia (7,692) and Malaysia (2,478).

Turkey  the worlds largest refugee host, with over 3.8 million registered Syrian refugees  has 980 registered Afghan refugees and 116,000 Afghan asylum-seekers.

As it stands today

The latest figures from the AP show that more than 47,000 Afghan civilians and at least 66,000 Afghan military and police forces have died in the 20-year-old Afghanistan war

The security situation in the country had been deteriorating in recent years. According to Brown Universitys Cost of War Project, an increasing numbers of Afghans have been killed as a result of crossfire, improvised explosive devices, assassinations by militant groups including the Taliban, night raids by U.S. and NATO forces and U.S.-led airstrikes.

Even prior to the Taliban takeover of Kabul, civilian casualties had risen by 29% in the first quarter of 2021 compared with the same period in 2020. A U.N. report from July 26, 2021 found a 37% increase in the number of women killed and injured, and a 23% increase in child casualties compared with the first quarter of 2020.

With the Taliban takeover of Kabul, there is a growing concern for the safety of Afghanistans women and girls, ethnic minorities, journalists, government workers, educators and human rights activists. Many Afghans desperate to leave remain outside Kabul and far from any airport.

U.S. evacuations will likely end once all Americans are out of Afghanistan. A few other western countries have committed to taking in small numbers of refugees, including Canada (20,000) and the U.K. (20,000 over 5 years).

Still, adoption of hard-line policies and anti-refugee sentiments across much of Europe means that relatively few Afghans will find sanctuary on the continent. Austria and Switzerland have already refused to take in large numbers of Afghans. Turkey, already straining with refugees, said it does not want to become Europes refugee warehouse.

Other countries committing to take in Afghans temporarily in small numbers include Albania, Qatar, Costa Rica, Mexico, Chile, Ecuador and Colombia. Uganda, which already hosts 1.5 million refugees, mainly from South Sudan, has also agreed to take in 2,000 Afghans temporarily.

[Get The Conversations most important politics headlines, in our Politics Weekly newsletter.]

Ultimately, most Afghans able to leave the country will do so not in an aircraft, but on foot into Pakistan and Iran. Pakistan, already strained by its own economic and political struggles, will once again likely be the largest host for the most recently displaced Afghans.

But given that border crossings in the region are difficult and dangerous, the vast majority of uprooted Afghans will remain within Afghanistans borders. Their considerable humanitarian needs, economic and political challenges, security concerns and resistance to the Taliban will shape the next chapter of the countrys history.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/where-do-afghanistans-refugees-go-166316.
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Deadly, shooting-filled weekend brings Beloit near past years' gun violence figures

BELOIT  Beloits bloodiest weekend of the year has brought the city near the total number of shootings reported last year, and within one homicide from 2019s high as the Beloit Police Department investigates multiple incidents of gun violence.

As of Sunday, a total of 16 shootings have resulted in people being injured or killed by gunfire in Beloit.

A total of three people died and 15 individuals were injured by gunfire this year in Beloit.

The weekend violence brings Beloits gun violence numbers unfortunately close to the total number of shootings reported in 2020, a year that saw a 157% increase in gun violence from 2019, and surpasses the total number of homicides seen last year and near the total reported in 2019.

Last year, 18 shootings, including two homicides, were investigated by police compared to 2019 when the department investigated seven shootings, four of which were homicides.

Below is a summary of gun violence in the City of Beloit in 2021. For reference, fatal shootings are denoted with an asterisk:

Jan. 17

A 34-year-old Beloit man was injured following a shooting at around 9:40 p.m. in the 500 block of Eighth Street. An hour later officers found the victim in the 700 block of Brooks Street with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.

Feb. 7

A 43-year-old Beloit man was injured following a shooting in a vehicle after a Super Bowl party in Beloit. Znobian AD McAdory, 22, was arrested shortly after the incident that occurred near the intersection of Woodward and Park avenues where he allegedly fired multiple shots into the vehicle, injuring the man later identified through Rock County Circuit Court records as McAdorys step-father.

Feb. 27

A 20-year-old man arrived at the Beloit Memorial Hospital emergency room suffering from a gunshot wound. Beloit police confirmed on March 31 that the unidentified victim was shot within city limits, but did not provide further details.

March 30

Jordan Jefferson, a 33-year-old Beloit man, was shot and died of his injuries following gunfire at around 11:37 p.m. in the 1300 block of West Grand Avenue. The incident marked the first homicide of 2021, and is one of two unsolved homicides in Beloit since October of 2020 when Chelsey R. Payton, 26, of Beloit, was shot and killed near the intersection of East Grand and Park avenues.

April 3

A 25-year-old man was shot while in his vehicle at Fourth Street and Portland Avenue. The victim told police he was in his vehicle when a red Lincoln SUV pulled up next to him and someone shot him. The victim then drove himself to Beloit Memorial Hospital at around 2:42 p.m.

April 4

Less than 10 hours later, a 41-year-old man was shot at around 12:12 a.m. in the 1400 block of Randall Street. The man had been shot while outside on a porch of a residence. He was transported to a local hospital and was treated for his injuries.

April 10

At around 2:42 p.m., officers responded to Beloits near east side where a 20-year-old Rockford woman had been injured by gunfire. Rock County emergency dispatch from the incident in the 1700 block of Royce Avenue indicated the woman had been shot in the head. Police found multiple bullet casings in the area. Multiple individuals and vehicles were reported fleeing the scene in the wake of the shooting, according to Rock County emergency dispatch, and large disturbance reportedly preceded the shooting.

April 23

A 16-year-old Beloit male arrived at to a local hospital suffering from a gunshot wound. The Beloit Police Department later determining that the shooting occurred at around 8 p.m. in the 1700 block of Hemlock Street. A week after the shooting, police said the shooting was a targeted incident. A witness told police a suspect vehicle, identified as a gold, four-door sedan, was seen in the area following the shooting.

May 13

Three teen males were shot on Nelson Avenue near Switchtrack Alley. The victims were ages 16, 18 and 19. The shooting occurred around 5:15 p.m. in the 1300 block of Nelson Avenue, police said. A 15-year-old suspect was taken into custody on three counts of attempted homicide for allegedly shooting the teens, authorities said.

May 16

A 24-year-old Beloit man was shot at around 1:15 a.m. in the 400 block of Harrison Avenue. Officers were in the area following a shots fired complaint that resulted in several vehicles being struck by gunfire, the department said. The man reported the injury to the Beloit Memorial Hospital emergency department for treatment.

June 7

Drevian T. Allen Sr., 25, of Beloit, was shot and killed at around 11:30 a.m. in the 1700 block of Porter Avenue following a verbal dispute over an after-market sale of a vehicle. Three suspects were arrested in the case: Elontae M. Phiffer, 18, Damon E. Allen, 19, and Journee R. Weathers Jr., 19. Weathers is the suspected gunman in the incident, according to records filed in Rock County Circuit Court.

July 6

A 23-year-old man arrived at Beloit Memorial Hospital with a non-life threatening gunshot wound at around 11:30 p.m. following a report of shots fired near West Grand Avenue and Hackett Street. No arrest has been made in the incident.

July 23

At around 11 p.m., a 17-year-old victim reported being outside on his porch on Nelson Avenue when he heard gunshots in the area before being shot. The victim then was shot once in the right hand. The victim was treated at a local hospital and released.

Aug. 20

At around 9:18 p.m., officers responded to the 1800 block of Fayette Avenue and found a male victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. First aid measures were given by police and Beloit Fire Department transported the man to a local hospital where he later died, police confirmed.

Less than two hours later, police responded to a report of gunfire in the 600 block of Woodward Avenue and found a female victim had suffered a non-life threatening gunshot wound.

In a statement, Beloit police said the incidents appeared to be related.

Aug. 21

Less than 24 hours later at around 7:30 p.m., two people were shot in the 1600 block of Dewey Avenue. After a brief police pursuit, three suspects were taken into custody.
In my view, the Talibans victory may indeed revitalize terrorist organizations intention to conduct jihad, but it does not impact any organizations capacity to do so. It is not likely to result in an immediate escalation of activities.

What the Talibans victory might impact, however, is jihadists time horizon. They are likely to conclude that jihad succeeds not in rash bouts of attacks, but in patient strategizing and waiting. Consequently, what Indonesia should look out for after the fall of Kabul is not an increase of jihadist threat in the short-term, but long-term.

Its About Perceptions

One thing is certain  the Talibans victory over the United States in Afghanistan will revitalize many jihadists morale. It marks a clear propaganda victory for Southeast Asian groups. Many Islamists will rejoice in the fact that the Taliban succeeded in outlasting a superpower. Notably, after the fall of Kabul, many jihadists were found to be sharing the Talibans strategy manual across WhatsApp groups; others uploaded posts showing they were euphoric about the events.

This rise in jihadists morale is concerning, as it may revamp a waning commitment to the belief that a group, despite whatever odds, can indeed overpower a nation to establish an Islamic state.

Notably, a similar set of events helped drive what scholar David Rapoport terms the religious wave of modern terrorism. This religious wave, a period which saw the increase of religion-oriented terrorist organizations such as al-Qaeda and its many affiliates, followed two key events. First: the success of the 1979 Iranian revolution in toppling Shah Reza Pahlavi. Second: the perceived success of the Mujahideen in 1989 in pushing the Soviet Union out of Afghanistan.

In both cases, Islamist groups were seen to have defeated secular, even superpower, governments  giving credence to the possibility that such a feat could be replicated elsewhere. It was this possibility that led al-Qaeda, along with other Afghanistan Mujahideen, to internationalize their jihad to other countries and conflict zones.

Similarly, it was also this possibility that attracted many Indonesian jihadists to train in Afghanistan with al-Qaeda  individuals who later formed the militant backbone of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and conducted the 2002 Bali bombing, Indonesias most lethal terrorist attack to date.

Its About Capacity

While the Talibans victory may indeed boost the morale of Indonesian jihadists, this will not directly translate into an increase in their activity in the short term. Notably, the rise of terrorist activities by Indonesian organizations after 1989 was not caused by inspiration alone.

It was also because, at the time, these groups could access vital funding, recruitment, and training resources that enabled them to turn their hopes into reality. Not only did they have access to safe havens such as Mindanao and Afghanistan to train, they also had direct access to funds from al-Qaeda.

There is no indication that the Talibans victory today will open access to resources that would increase Indonesian terrorist organizations capacity to conduct jihad in the immediate term.

This is true for two reasons. First, it is currently unclear that the Taliban will allow jihadist organizations to use their territory as a haven to train and regroup. The Talibans incentive to support international terrorism is low, especially after they lost power for two decades and saw much of their leadership die because they decided to harbor Al Qaeda and do just that. If anything, we should expect to see the Taliban actively trying to prevent groups from crossing their borders  similar to what happened in 1995, when Taliban closed JI camps in Afghanistan.

Second, the Talibans success does not change the fact that in the past three years, Indonesias Special Detachment 88 (Densus 88) has launched massive counterterrorism operations against both JI and Jemaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD), Indonesias largest pro-Islamic State organization. Between 2018 and mid-2021, Densus 88 has captured some 1200 terrorist suspects. In 2021 alone, they have captured 308 suspects, around 37 percent of them JAD personnel and another 37 percent, JI.

For JAD, this has led to a crippling of their central leadership, leading many cells to operate independently with little to no coordination. For JI, it has messed up the rebuilding phase the group envisioned would get underway in 2016, according to court documents from the 2020 trial of JI leader Para Wijayanto.

Its About Time

However, this does not mean that the Talibans success will have no impact on Indonesian terrorist groups. If the fall of Kabul teaches anything to Indonesian jihadists, it is that a successful strategy is one that has a long time-horizon.

The Talibans road to victory winds back many years. Their seemingly swift takeover of Kabul was possible because throughout two decades, they patiently capitalized on the mistakes and lenience of their enemy. They harnessed popular anger over corruption, grievances, and death; they set up shadow governing systems that settled local disputes and provided important social services; and they used unaddressed grievance to increase their support base. When the opportunity arose for them to conduct a final offensive, those efforts paid off.

This lesson will be most likely picked up by groups such as JI which, like the Taliban, have in the past decade patiently built the social, educational, and economic foundation of a community that they could rely on to support their jihad. While JI is currently being pushed back by aggressive counter-terrorism operations, the Talibans success will suggest to them that success is, in the long run, still very much possible.

Alif Satria is a researcher at the Department of Politics and Social Change, CSIS Indonesia. His work focuses on terrorism and political violence in Southeast Asia. The views expressed here are his own and do not reflect the position of CSIS Indonesia or BenarNews.
This handout photo shows Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob sitting at his desk on his first day at the Prime Minister's Office in Putrajaya, Aug. 23, 2021.

Malaysia new prime minister, Ismail Sabri Yaakob, on Monday ruled out including opposition lawmakers in his cabinet, a day after he urged all political parties to work together to ensure the nation recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, lower house deputy speaker Azalina Othman Said, an UMNO member, heeded citizens calls for multi-party cooperation and quit her post on Monday, saying parliament should not have a key official who is a member of the ruling party.

The PM reiterated his offer, announced Sunday, for opposition lawmakers to be part of two bodies focused on pandemic efforts.

There will be no unity government involving the participation of opposition parties in the Cabinet, Ismail Sabri said at a press conference after visiting flood-affected people in the northern state of Kedah on first official day as prime minister.

Cooperation with them [the opposition] does not mean they will be in the cabinet, but they can play their role by channeling their ideas through the Special Committee on COVID-19 and the National Recovery Council, he said, adding that he would announce the line-up of ministers this week.





Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob (in green hat) surveys a flood-hit area of Yan district in Kedah, Aug. 23, 2021. [Photo courtesy Ismail Sabri Yaakob via Facebook]

The first salvo

Ismail Sabri was sworn in by King Al-Sultan Abdullah Riayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah on Saturday, a day after the monarch named the United Malays National Organization vice-president the ninth prime minister of the country. The previous PM, Muhyiddin Yassin, resigned last Monday, having lost support from a majority of lawmakers 12 days before that.

UMNO engineered Muhyiddins downfall and returned to power three years after its first-ever shock defeat in the national polls. It was part of Muhyiddins ruling alliance, but is now receiving support from the former prime ministers Bersatu party and its partners.

In his maiden televised national address as prime minister on Sunday, Ismail Sabri urged all lawmakers to put aside differences and work together to rejuvenate the pandemic-battered country.

Despite this message of unity, tensions in the new ruling alliance were on display as early as Saturday night, with a senior UMNO official firing the first salvo at former PM Muhyiddins coalition, which is called Perikatan Nasional (PN).

UMNO secretary-general Ahmad Maslan said on Saturday that this new government is not a PN government, but it is a Malaysian government.

A day later, Muhyiddins party fired back, saying, To us, its a Perikatan Nasional government. Thats because Muhyiddins alliance had more lawmakers supporting Ismail Sabri than UMNO and its partners, a Bersatu official said.



Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob receives a document from King Al-Sultan Abdullah during his inauguration at the National Palace in Kuala Lumpur, Aug. 21, 2021. [Handout Malaysia Information Department]

Coalition relatively unstable

Amid these verbal tussles, one UMNO member  Azalina  stood apart from the fray by urging a correction of the institutional defects of our parliamentary institutions.

In a Facebook post late on Monday, she said was resigning as deputy speaker of the lower of parliament after having heard the public's loud and clear demand for multiparty cooperation.

Being a member of the ruling party UMNO, she indicated, might come in the way of discharging her functions as deputy speaker.

There is a conflict of roles and responsibilities between being a Supreme Council member of UMNO and as an MP in a ruling coalition, Azalina said.

For their part, opposition parties reacted to Ismail Sabris message about cooperation with caution.

Pakatan Harapan  opposition leader Anwar Ibrahims coalition  said it would play its role as a constructive and responsible opposition.

Lim Guan Eng, secretary-general of the Democratic Action Party, which is part of Pakatan, said his party would consider the new PMs invitation to join the COVID-19 bodies, provided it is not token representation and a mere rubber-stamp for the government's views.

Political analysts issued gloomy prognoses.

Oh Ei Sun, senior fellow with the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, said he mistrusted Ismail Sabris offer to the opposition to join the COVID-19 recovery bodies.

I think this is a very clever and cunning trick, bait from Ismail Sabri that will actually put the opposition in dilemma because on the one hand, if you dont join this committee or recovery council, you will be seen as not thinking about national interest, not nationalistic, rejecting unity and so on, Oh told BenarNews.

But if they accept the offer  and it is very likely this government would end up as a failure, the opposition may also be tainted or soiled by association.

Similarly, Tricia Yeoh, chief executive of the Kuala Lumpur-based research group The Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS), said it was good that the political impasse had ended.

But IDEAS cautions that the political position that the current coalition is in, is relatively unstable, Yeoh said in a statement.

Given that the new prime minister has a slim majority, the prime minister must now work to instill confidence in his new administration in order to secure broad support.

Ismail Sabri has the support of 114 lawmakers, according to a palace statement, and would lose his parliamentary majority if just four of them changed their minds.

Parliament is set to begin Sept. 6 and the new PM has to hold a confidence vote immediately, as per the kings decree.

Meanwhile, various ruling coalition members  touting their support for the new PM  are publicly jockeying for positions in the cabinet.

Hadi Azmi in Kuala Lumpur contributed to this report.
A man carries Taliban flags to sell at the Karte Mamorin area of Kabul, Aug. 22, 2021.

As Southeast Asia worries about ripple effects of the Talibans return to power in Afghanistan, a Philippine military official said on Monday that the country was not at risk from Afghan asylum seekers, while Jakarta said it was perturbed by reports that Indonesian militant suspects were among those freed from a Kabul prison last week.

The Philippine militarys deputy chief of operations, Maj. Gen. Edgardo De Leon, was seeking to calm public fears after a local security expert warned of a spillover of violence in the south of the country, where violent separatist groups have been operating for years.

We dont see any risk because those trying to seek asylum are those people who are peace-loving, who are running away from conflict, De Leon told an online media forum.

President Rodrigo Dutertes spokesman had announced last week that Afghans fleeing their country would be granted asylum, though he did not say when this would occur or how many would be granted entry to the Philippines.

So with regard to the possible risk of a spillover of the Taliban conflict to the country, it is very remote, because we have already substantially reduced the capability of the local terrorists to launch conflict, De Leon said.

Philippine forces had already reduced the threat of terrorism after the 2017 battle of Marawi, in the southern Mindanao island, he added.

In May of that year, Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern fighters linked to the Islamic State (IS) group took over Marawi, beheading Christians and holdings hostage dozens of civilians. The audacious move was meant to transform Marawi  a Muslim city in the predominantly Catholic Philippines  into the ISs regional hub.

The city was heavily bombed by the military, with government forces breaking the siege in October 2017.

We have seen victory over Marawi and the terrorists, De Leon said, adding that the militants had been effectively contained in portions of central Mindanao.

Among the groups active in the south is the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), which has pledged allegiance to the IS. Since January 2021, security forces have captured or slain 131 members of BIFF, the government said.

Meanwhile, in Manila, the foreign department said it had evacuated 182 Filipinos from Afghanistan, but around 27 have yet to be repatriated.

Taliban men march on the street in Qalat, Zabul Province, Afghanistan, in this still image taken from a social media video uploaded on Aug. 19, 2021. [Via Reuters]

Taliban made a lot of positive promises

In neighboring Indonesia, the head of operations at the countrys counter-terror police squad said he was worried about reports that Indonesian militants linked to IS were among prisoners released last week by the Taliban from a U.S. airbase.

Aswin Siregar of Densus 88 said their possible return to Indonesia could spell trouble.

We can't confirm this yet because we have no direct contact with security and prison authorities there. But I think the news could be true, Aswin said.

We are still trying to collect information. What we are worried about is that they may return to Indonesia. We will investigate why they were arrested, how many were released and where they are going.

Densus 88s efforts are hampered, though, because it does not have direct contact with authorities in Afghanistan.

We only monitor as much as possible through existing networks in Indonesia, Aswin said.

As it is, Indonesia temporarily moved its embassy from Kabul to Pakistans Islamabad late last week, although Abdul Kadir Jailani, the foreign ministry's director general for Asian, Pacific and African affairs, said on Monday that the move was not a big deal.

Indonesia on Friday evacuated 26 of its nationals, including its diplomats, for their safety, the countrys foreign minister said.

Meanwhile, new embassy personnel who departed from Jakarta on an air force aircraft couldnt disembark in Kabul because of the unfavorable security situation at Hamid Karzai airport, foreign ministry spokesman Teuku Faizasyah told BenarNews.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said on Saturday that the team assigned to Islamabad consisted of a Temporary Charge dAffaires and three other staffers.

It's just a technical matter and we will eventually return, Jailani told BenarNews.

Indonesia, like other countries, was adopting a wait-and-see attitude, he said.

The Taliban made a lot of positive promises. The international community is hoping that the Taliban will make good on its promises, Jailani said.

Safety is the main consideration. We know what the situation at the airport was like the other day. The situation on the ground is very difficult.

Taliban ties

Jailani said Indonesia would continue to play a role in peace negotiations in Afghanistan.

Since 2014, Indonesia has been involved in Afghan peace initiatives through participation in talks, meetings, capacity building and via invitations to Afghan Muslim clerics to a conference on peace in Indonesia, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In 2017, President Ashraf Ghani visited Jakarta and asked Indonesia, as the country with the largest Muslim population in the world, to play an active role in supporting the peace process in Afghanistan.

President Joko Jokowi Widodo visited Afghanistan in 2018.

Jusuf Kalla, who was vice president in Jokowi's first term from 2014-2019, said he had met the Taliban four times, in Jakarta and in Doha.

Kalla said last week that the Taliban had moderated their views on Islam.

That's why I invited Taliban leaders twice to Indonesia, so that they could see for themselves that Muslims can progress in moderation, he told reporters.

Taliban leader Abdul Ghani Baradar and his entourage met with leaders of the Nadhlatul Ulama, Indonesia's largest Muslim organization, during their visit to Jakarta in July 2019.

Jeoffrey Maitem and Richel V. Umel in Cotabato and Iligan cities in the Philippines, and Tria Dianti and Ronna Nirmala in Jakarta contributed to this report.
U.S. Indo-Pacific Command chief Adm. John Aquilino (left) stands alongside Armed Forces of the Philippines Inspector General Lt. Gen. Franco Nemesio Gacal during a meeting in Manila, Aug. 23, 2021. [Armed Forces of the Philippines Handout]

The United States and the Philippines reaffirmed their military alliance Monday, ahead of the 70th anniversary of their Mutual Defense Treaty later this month.

Washington was committed to peace in the Indo-Pacific region, Adm. John Aquilino, commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, said amid a renewed presence of Chinese ships in Philippine waters in the disputed South China Sea.

Our alliance represents the mutual trust that is central to our enduring friendship, and that trust is a necessity in order to confront the challenges in this theater, Aquilino said in a statement during a visit to Manila, referring to the Indo-Pacific region.

Both of our nations have made it clear that we are committed to the alliance, and that we remain prepared to fight alongside and defend each other using all of our capabilities to preserve the regions peace and stability.

The Mutual Defense Treaty binds the U.S. and the Philippines into helping the other in times of external aggression.

Lt. Gen. Franco Nemesio Gacal, inspector general of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said the visit was an opportunity to advance our mutual security interests as well as show Manilas commitment to the treaty.

Aquilinos trip to the country was his first as the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command chief. He previously visited Manila when he commanded the Pacific Fleet in 2018.

Manilas military chief Lt. Gen. Edgardo de Leon pulled out from a scheduled meeting with Aquilino after testing positive for COVID-19. The two military chiefs meeting would have been their first after Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte last month restored another defense pact with the U.S.

Aquilino also met with Philippines Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, according to a U.S. military statement.

In a visit to Manila last month, Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin met with Duterte and both men announced that the Visiting Forces Agreement was fully back on track  meaning military drills and exercises in Philippine territory involving U.S. troops would proceed unhampered.

That announcement reversed Dutertes February 2020 pronouncement to scrap the 22-year-old pact after Washington had denied a U.S. visa to Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, his former national police chief and main enforcer of his administrations bloody war on drugs.



Philippine soldiers and marines are pictured next to armored personnel carriers and tanks during live fire exercises, as part of the annual U.S.-Philippines joint military exercise at Crow Valley, in Capas town, Tarlac province, north of Manila on April 10, 2019. [AFP]

President Duterte, whose six-year term ends in less than a year, has spent much of his time in office building up Manilas relationship with Beijing while backing off on bilateral ties with Washington.

But in July, the Philippines hailed Washingtons commitment to help defend Manilas South China Sea claims.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken had declared that America would invoke the Mutual Defense Treaty if Philippine ships or aircraft came under attack in the South China Sea  an indirect warning aimed at Beijing, which has vast territorial claims in the maritime region.

Blinkens statement came on the fifth anniversary of a verdict by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in favor of the Philippines and against China over Beijings expansive claims in the contested waterway.

The Philippine Coast Guard that month said it had challenged a Chinese warship that entered the countrys territorial waters in the South China Sea but eventually sailed away.

The latest standoff began in March when Philippine government patrols reported spotting hundreds of Chinese ships in Philippine waters in the South China Sea.

China claims nearly the entire South China Sea, including waters that overlap the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan.

Separately, Philippine military chief de Leon issued a brief statement, saying he would continue to do his job while in quarantine.

I will remain in command of the [Armed Forces of the Philippines] but will continue to follow the prescribed isolation protocol to ensure the safety of those I work with and my family, he said, as he encouraged everyone to support Manilas coronavirus vaccination campaign.

The health department on Monday reported 18,332 new COVID-19 infections, an all-time daily high for the country, bringing to 1.86 million the total number of cases. With 151 new virus-related deaths, the pandemic death toll neared 32,000.
Bennington, VT (05201)

Today

Partly cloudy early then becoming cloudy with periods of rain this afternoon. High near 70F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Rain likely. Low around 55F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected. Localized flooding is expected.
Some members of Congress want protections put in place to address ongoing intergenerational trauma as more information comes to light about the troubled history of Indigenous boarding schools in the United States
A longtime housing advocate and attorney has been appointed a senior advisor to Maine Gov. Janet Mills to help meet the demand for affordable housing in the state
Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey said Monday that Gov. Charlie Baker did the right thing by requiring vaccines for state employees, Healey said she took a similar step in the AGs office by also requiring vaccines
Investigations editor

Larry Parnass joined The Eagle in 2016 from the Daily Hampshire Gazette, where he was editor in chief. His freelance work has appeared in the Washington Post, Boston Globe, Hartford Courant, CommonWealth Magazine and with the Reuters news service.
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.
Reporter

Greta Jochem, a Report for America Corps member, joined the Eagle in 2021. Previously, she was a reporter at the Daily Hampshire Gazette. She is also a member of the investigations team.
Reps. Mike Day of Stoneham and Kay Khan of Newton chatted with an aide outside the Statehouse during an emergency alarm evacuation Tuesday. With a traditional August recess overlapping the COVID-19 pandemic, there were not many occupants to exit the building when an alarm sounded.
DENNIS  One September afternoon in 1938, with the wind howling and the rain thick, my father told us to go in the dining room and stay there.

Putting on his rain gear, he then told my mother he had to go up to the field and see to the dozens of free-range turkeys he was raising for sale at Thanksgiving. It is the only time I ever saw fear on my mothers face. Then the look was gone, and she shooed us into the dining room.

Either before or after these events, an enormous poplar tree fell on our porch and living room, but we were as safe as possible in the room at the center of the house. Other trees went down, fire trucks screamed past, and the power went out. We had no idea, there in our Amherst house, that we were in the midst of a hurricane that would prove historic.

Last week on Aug. 19, we marked the 30th anniversary of Hurricane Bob, right on the same Dennis beach where we had spent that storm in various states of fright and awe. My vote at the time was to leave for safer places while the bridges were still open, but I was powerless in a wave of stay votes  and in a very short time, we were all powerless  no lights, no hot water, no cooking.

We clustered in the big room facing the bay, watched a roof fly off to the east of us and laughed when an upended plastic pool sped by on the beach. The flying trash can seemed a little more dangerous.

We had a lull while the eye went over us, then the world whirled again. And when it was over, we looked out the back windows to find that many trees had toppled. We had escaped a surge of water because it was low tide, but our sandy road was flooded.

When the roads cleared, we found a motel on the south shore with its lights on and rented a room for $25 so we could all shower and feel better about sharing space. Over a hot breakfast in that same lucky neighborhood, it was agreed that the mom was possibly right. We should have left when the leaving was good.

The meteorologists had a pretty good handle on that hurricane at least a day before it arrived. Now they start projecting routes for big storms when circles first form over the warmth of the Caribbean waters. And the experts never agree, so huge populations are on tenterhooks for a week or more while the Euro, American, CLP5, etc., models roll across the TV screen, and we learn terms like the cone of uncertainty  which certainly makes thousands quite uncertain.

Meanwhile, Henri shifts gears with abandon, moving west one hour, east the next. Will he decide to land at Montauk on the eastern tip of Long Island, near our daughters home in southeastern Connecticut, or blow out to sea? As we look over the waving dune grasses to the same beach we were on 30 years ago and marvel at an occasional errant patch of blue sky, we can only wait and see.

This time, the moon is full, the Saturday night tide swooped high on the beach and will do it again while Henri and his accompanying wind and rain pass by. Before that, wary of losing power, this column will be sent to the newspaper. Imaginative readers may write their own ends to the story.
Business writer

Tony Dobrowolski's main focus is on business reporting. He came to The Eagle in 1992 after previously working for newspapers in Connecticut and Montreal. He can be reached at tdobrowolski@berkshireeagle.com or 413-496-6224.
Louisiana rapper Webbie is reportedly on the mend after he staggered off stage on Friday night (Aug. 20) during a performance.

One of Webbies representatives told TMZ a doctor evaluated and cleared the rapper to leave the hospital. The spokesperson dismissed speculations that the rapper had a seizure.

A video posted on Twitter appears to show the moment when several security guards walk alongside a stumbling Webbie and form a protective circle around him in the crowded club.
Relief efforts for Haiti continue after the country suffered a 7.2-magnitude earthquake on Saturday (August 14).

The NFL's New England Patriots joined the relief effort this weekend, sent a plane ferrying supplies and doctors to the devastated island nation.

The earthquake and ensuing tropical storm battered the country in quick succession, destroying buildings and houses, killing more than 2,100 people and injuring millions.

RELATED: Two Doctors Kidnapped In Haiti As Gang Truce Falters

On Saturday morning (August 21), the teams jet was loaded at Logan International Airport, in Boston, Mass. Aboard the 767 jet were hospital beds, IV bags and fluids, oxygen masks, surgical supplies, generators and sterilizers, TMZ reports. Two orthopedic surgeons, 3 physicians, and a nurse were also on flight.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft donated the team plane, while Build Health International put together the relief supplies. In addition to the plane, Krafts family is donating drinking water, PPE gear and surgical masks.

The timing couldnt be anymore perfect, as Tropical Storm Henri calms down as the teams jet was set to take off on Saturday morning. Before its final stop in Haiti, the team stopped in Miami for more supplies.

In May, the teams jet was used to fly COVID-19 vaccines to Central America. Last year, the Kraft family sent the jet to China to obtain N95 masks for the U.S.
News

Caboni announces new vaccination incentives, outlines quarantine rules

Grace Ramey / Grace Ramey Western Kentucky University President Timothy Caboni discusses the start of a new semester, enrollment, actions the campus is taking towards COVID-19 and vaccinations, reparations for Jonesville and other topics on the balcony of Craig Administration Center on Friday, Aug. 20, 2021. (Grace Ramey/photo@bgdailynews.com) Grace Ramey / Grace Ramey Western Kentucky University President Timothy Caboni discusses the start of a new semester, enrollment, actions the campus is taking towards COVID-19 and vaccinations, reparations for Jonesville and other topics on the balcony of Craig Administration Center on Friday, Aug. 20, 2021. (Grace Ramey/photo@bgdailynews.com) Grace Ramey / Grace Ramey Western Kentucky University President Timothy Caboni discusses the start of a new semester, enrollment, actions the campus is taking towards COVID-19 and vaccinations, reparations for Jonesville and other topics on the balcony of Craig Administration Center on Friday, Aug. 20, 2021. (Grace Ramey/photo@bgdailynews.com) Grace Ramey / Grace Ramey Western Kentucky University President Timothy Caboni discusses the start of a new semester, enrollment, actions the campus is taking towards COVID-19 and vaccinations, reparations for Jonesville and other topics on the balcony of Craig Administration Center on Friday, Aug. 20, 2021. (Grace Ramey/photo@bgdailynews.com) Grace Ramey / Grace Ramey Western Kentucky University President Timothy Caboni discusses the start of a new semester, enrollment, actions the campus is taking towards COVID-19 and vaccinations, reparations for Jonesville and other topics on the balcony of Craig Administration Center on Friday, Aug. 20, 2021. (Grace Ramey/photo@bgdailynews.com) Grace Ramey / Grace Ramey Western Kentucky University President Timothy Caboni discusses the start of a new semester, enrollment, actions the campus is taking towards COVID-19 and vaccinations, reparations for Jonesville and other topics on the balcony of Craig Administration Center on Friday, Aug. 20, 2021. (Grace Ramey/photo@bgdailynews.com) Western Kentucky University President Timothy Caboni discusses the start of a new semester, enrollment, actions the campus is taking towards COVID-19 and vaccinations, reparations for Jonesville and other topics on the balcony of Craig Administration Center on Friday, Aug. 20, 2021. (Grace Ramey/photo@bgdailynews.com)

Calling widespread vaccination the only real solution out of the coronavirus pandemic, Western Kentucky University President Timothy Caboni said the university will launch a new incentive program for faculty, students and staff, complete with a lottery and a variety of enticing prizes.

Speaking during a wide-ranging interview with the Daily News on Friday, Caboni said the effort will target those who still have not gotten their coronavirus vaccine.

For students who vaccinate, WKU is giving away five scholarships for full, in-state tuition, along with drawings for iPads, dining dollars, parking passes and book scholarships. On the faculty and staff side, the university is offering $1,000 awards to 25 individuals.

Were really trying to create incentives for our community to be vaccinated, Caboni said.

Those who have received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine will be eligible for the incentive program.

Like all public colleges across the state, WKU will require indoor universal masking regardless of an individuals vaccination status. Explaining that recent change, Caboni told the Daily News indoor masking helps create a comfort level among the community that were taking care of.

He also framed it as the universitys best hope for remaining in-person amid the fast-spreading Delta variant.

I think its crucially important, particularly for our most at-risk students that were back and that were back in person. So were excited about that, Caboni said.

Asked if WKU will eventually lift its indoor mask mandate if it reaches a high enough vaccination rate, Caboni said the rate of coronavirus spread throughout Warren County is more likely to influence that.

When asked for a general estimate of how many students, faculty and staff have received the vaccine, Caboni said WKU will have a better sense of that once its vaccine incentive program is rolled out.

The Daily News also asked if students who remain unvaccinated will be required to get coronavirus tests multiple times throughout the pandemic  as the University of Louisville is doing. Caboni stopped short of stating that will be the case at WKU.

We are going to be as aggressive, if not more so than last year with that contact tracing and quarantining, Caboni said.

Now, for those on campus, our quarantine is going to be a little bit different this year. If you were in close contact  but youre vaccinated  you dont have to quarantine.  If you are a student and if you live within three hours of campus and you test positive, were going to ask you to quarantine at home, Caboni said. So again, get your vaccine, wear a mask and were going to make it through this together.

That said, WKU does have some limited space on campus for students who cannot return home. At this time, Caboni said the university only has enough space on campus for 33 individuals to quarantine, but we also have the ability to expand that space as we need it.

As of Friday, there were 38 individuals who tested positive for COVID-19, Caboni told the Daily News. Of those, nine were faculty and staff and 22 were students. Three students were quarantined on campus as of Friday.

We believe that if we wear masks and we follow the CDC guidelines, were going to be in good shape as a community, Caboni said.

Still, there are challenges ahead for WKU, with much of its success hinging on the kind of experience it delivers to students this fall.

In terms of headcount and enrollment, we wont know those numbers until were deeper into the semester, but it has been an exceedingly challenging year to recruit students to WKU because weve been unable to get into the schools, Caboni said.

Whats unfortunate is the students who most needed to be in person and werent are the ones that were missing out on. So we know our numbers, this number of entering freshmen this fall from first-generation students and low-income students will be off significantly. And the reason is because they have not had an adviser helping them see college in their future, Caboni said, adding that high schools have done everything they can just to get students across the graduation line, let alone thinking about college, amid the pandemic.

Were going to continue to work during the course of the fall and the spring to help create opportunities for those who did not make the decision to come to college, Caboni said, adding that could mean even anything from a certificate to a four-year degree.

WKU also has work to do in terms of faculty and staff compensation, and to that end, the university will roll out a 2% salary pool this academic year. When it comes to exactly how that pot of money will be spent and who specifically will see raises, Caboni said thats still being determined by the universitys college deans.

Caboni has said WKU needs to deal with compression in employee compensation. Its a bit of human resources jargon that generally means that more skilled and experienced employees at WKU havent seen their pay keep up with their counterparts at peer institutions.

Weve managed to have a 6% total increase in our salary pool during the past four years, Caboni said, adding that the university doesnt want to stop at 2% this academic year. Pulling that off depends on a combination of retaining students and the tuition dollars attached to them along with additional state higher education funding. We need to continue that work in the coming years.

 Follow education reporter Aaron Mudd on Twitter @NewsByAaron or visit bgdailynews.com.
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FILE - In this April 7, 2021, file photo, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear speaks to reporters at the Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfort, Ky. The Kentucky governor's efforts to aggressively combat COVID-19 suffered a landmark legal defeat Saturday, Aug. 21, as the state's high court cleared the way for new laws to rein in his emergency powers.
Gabe Heck (Belle Fourche football): Heck had four receptions for 101 yards and he had seven tackles on defense.

Peyton Millis (Spearfish football): Millis had six catches for 176 yards and one touchdown. He also had seven tackles on the night, and he had a total of 20 return yards.

Charles Alberts (Belle Fourche boys soccer): Alberts tallied three goals against Sturgis Brown on Tuesday, which resulted in a 5-1 win for the Broncs. Alberts has scored 19 goals in only five games for the Belle Fourche this season.

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House Bill 4837, Restrict outside groups access to state voter database: Passed 75 to 33 in the House

To restrict access to the state's qualified voter file (QVF) database to the Secretary of State office, other election officials it authorizes, local and county election clerks, and state employees or vendors who do maintenance and security work on the QVF. The bill would remove a provision authorizing access by a designated voter registration agency. Twenty Democrats joined all Republicans in voting 'yes' on this and House Bill 4838.

 97 Rep. Jason Wentworth R - Clare Y

 100 Rep. Scott VanSingel R - Grant Y

 102 Rep. Michele Hoitenga R - Manton Y

House Bill 4838, Ban election day internet connections to state poll books: Passed 77 to 31 in the House

To prohibit the electronic poll book at each election precinct from being connected to the internet on election day until its votes have been tabulated. It would also prohibit connecting an electronic voting system to the internet until after the votes are counted, and then only to upload the results to the appropriate clerk.

 97 Rep. Jason Wentworth R - Clare Y

 100 Rep. Scott VanSingel R - Grant Y

 102 Rep. Michele Hoitenga R - Manton Y

House Bill 4523, Authorize railroad crossing improvement grants: Passed 104 to 4 in the House

To require the Department of Transportation to develop parameters for prioritizing the funding of grant applications for grade separation projects" (road and street railroad crossing improvements) from a segregated state account proposed for this by House Bill 4524, which also passed. House Bill 4522 proposes allocating $30 million for this but has not advanced.

 97 Rep. Jason Wentworth R - Clare Y

 100 Rep. Scott VanSingel R - Grant Y

 102 Rep. Michele Hoitenga R - Manton Y

House Bill 4719, Revise processing of convict upon life without parole murder conviction: Passed 100 to 8 in the House

To establish that an individual convicted of a murder that's subject to mandatory life-with-no-parole provisions must be turned over to the state Department of Corrections for incarceration in a state prison immediately following conviction and before sentencing, rather than left in a local jail at county expense while paperwork is processed.

 97 Rep. Jason Wentworth R - Clare Y

 100 Rep. Scott VanSingel R - Grant Y

 102 Rep. Michele Hoitenga R - Manton Y

House Bill 4712, Retroactively grant potential cash subsidies to particular developer: Passed 87 to 21 in the House

To retroactively make a particular developers project eligible for refundable state business tax credits under a suspended program that authorized actual cash payments from the state treasury to a relative handful of companies and developers approved by state officials.

The bill would also allow the developer to "shuffle" the credits/subsidies that granted between two separate projects in a way that maximizes the subsidy. The House Fiscal Agency estimates this will result in $12.8 million in either state revenue, or in actual cash disbursements to this developer. The 17 Republicans opposing the bill were joined by four Democrats.

 97 Rep. Jason Wentworth R - Clare Y

 100 Rep. Scott VanSingel R - Grant Y

 102 Rep. Michele Hoitenga R - Manton N

SOURCE: MichiganVotes.org, a free, nonpartisan website created by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, providing concise, nonpartisan, plain-English descriptions of every bill and vote in the Michigan House and Senate. Permission to reprint this legislative summary in whole or in part is hereby granted, provided that MichiganVotes.org is properly cited.

Y = Yes, N = No, X = Not Voting
WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden is raising concerns that the Islamic State poses a threat as American troops seek to evacuate thousands of U.S. citizens and Afghan allies from Afghanistan.

Biden in remarks at the White House on Sunday noted that the terror group is a sworn enemy of the Taliban and said that the longer U.S. troops are on the ground increases the chance that the group will attempt to strike innocent civilians and American personnel near the Hamid Karzai International Airport.

The U.S. Embassy in Kabul has been warning Americans to avoid traveling to the airport in part because of concerns about Islamic State fighters.

The extremist group has long declared a desire to attack America and U.S. interests abroad and it has been active in Afghanistan for a number of years, carrying out waves of horrific attacks, mostly on the Shiite minority.

The group has been repeatedly targeted by U.S. airstrikes in recent years, and faced Taliban attacks.

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MORE ON THE CRISIS IN AFGHANISTAN:

 British military: 7 Afghans killed in chaos at Kabul airport

 China both worries and hopes as US departs Afghanistan

 Europe fears Afghan refugee crisis after Taliban takeover

 AP PHOTOS: Two decades of war, and daily life in Afghanistan

 Biden vows to evacuate all Americans  and Afghan helpers

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 Find more AP coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/afghanistan

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HERES WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:

WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden says 11,000 individuals were evacuated from Kabul over the weekend and he remains committed to assisting all Americans who want to leave Afghanistan get out.

Biden added Sunday that his first priority is getting American citizens out of Afghanistan as quickly and safely as possible.

In the presidents words: Were working hard and as fast as we can to get people out. Thats our mission. Thats our goal.

Biden also says he is also activating the civilian reserve air fleet provided by commercial airlines to help move evacuees from third country waystations on to the United States.

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MILAN  Italys defense minister has discussed the massive evacuation under way from Kabul in a phone call with his U.S. counterpart, including access to bases in Italy.

Lorenzo Guerini thanked the U.S. military for securing the airport in Kabul, and he exchanged ideas with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on how to ensure the safe and effective flow of departures from Kabul, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Guerini said that close ties between the countries was key to helping assist compatriots and Afghans who have worked with our institutions and organizations.

The Italian military has flown out of Kabul 2,100 Afghans workers and their families since June, most of those in the last week. Around 1,300 of those have been transferred to Italy.

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BERLIN  The World Health Organization and UNICEF are calling for a humanitarian airbridge to be set up immediately to allow the unhindered delivery of medicines and other aid supplies to Afghanistan.

The two U.N. agencies said in a statement Sunday that they are committed to stay and deliver for the people of Afghanistan.

But they added that with no commercial aircraft currently permitted to land in Kabul, we have no way to get supplies into the country and to those in need. They noted that other humanitarian agencies face similar problems.

The agencies said that, even before the Talibans recent takeover of Afghanistan, the country required the worlds third-largest humanitarian operation, with more than 18 million people needing help.

They said that while the main focus in recent days has been the evacuation of foreigners and vulnerable Afghans, the massive humanitarian needs facing the majority of the population should not -- and cannot -- be neglected.

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LONDON -- Britains ambassador to Afghanistan says British authorities have managed to evacuate more than 5,000 people, with 1,000 in the last 14 hours alone.

In a statement on Twitter, Laurie Bristow said the huge effort to move evacuees out of Afghanistan is gathering pace but that there is still a huge amount of work to do.

Bristow said he is in the evacuation handling center in Kabul where soldiers, diplomats and forces have been working around the clock to get our British nationals, Afghan colleagues and Embassy staff to safety.

In addition to the 4,000 or so U.K. nationals, there are thought to be around 5,000 Afghan allies, such as translators and drivers, who are earmarked for a seat on a British plane.

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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates  Bahrain says its national carrier is flying people to the United States as part of efforts to evacuate people from Afghanistan a week after the Taliban takeover.

The U.S.-allied kingdom said Sunday that a Gulf Air flight will transport people from its Isa Air Base to Dulles International Airport south of Washington, DC.

The official statement said the flight was an affirmation of the Kingdom of Bahrains efforts to protect lives.

Earlier Sunday, the Pentagon activated the initial stage of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet program, asking for 18 aircraft from American carriers to help transport Americans and Afghans who aided the U.S. war effort.

The commercial airlines will be used to transport people from third countries to their final destinations, allowing the U.S. military to focus on evacuating people from Afghanistan.

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PARIS  About 200 people, mostly Afghan nationals, gathered in Paris on Sunday to show solidarity toward evacuees and refugees from Afghanistan, one week after the Taliban took power in the country.

Many were brandishing posters writing Afghanlivesmatter and Evacuation now.

Safi Matiullah, a 33-year-old Afghan who left his country two years ago and has been living in France for about nine months, said we want to bring our family here.

Matiullah said his parents and sisters remained in Afghanistan amid big danger and he was not able to get in touch for two weeks.

Ezat, a co-organizer of the gathering who asked not to be identified by his last name, said the Taliban are taking back all freedoms we had until now and for 20 years.

He called on France to welcome refugees because its not the Taliban who are fleeing the country, its people whose lives are in danger.

Macron said Monday that France would do its duty to protect those who are most at risk, but also said Europeans must protect ourselves against significant irregular migratory flows.

France has evacuated almost 600 people from Kabul since Monday, most of them Afghan citizens who worked with the French government or French groups in Afghanistan.

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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates The worlds largest organization of Muslim nations held an extraordinary session in Saudi Arabia on Sunday to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, with calls for it not to be turned into a hub for terrorism.

The secretary general of the 57-nation Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Yousef al-Othaimeen, pointed to the escalating humanitarian needs in Afghanistan and noted that reconciliation is the key to bringing peace.

The OIC issued a statement after the meeting saying its member states called upon future Afghan leaders and the international community to ensure that Afghanistan is never used again as a platform or haven for terrorists, and not allow terrorist organizations to have a foothold there.

The OIC urged Afghan parties to renounce violence, work together and protect and respect the right to life and security in compliance with tolerant Islamic principles.

Member states agreed on the need to provide humanitarian assistance in areas that need it most, though no new specific commitments were announced. The meeting also called for dispatching a high-level delegation from the OIC to visit Afghanistan to convey the groups message of supporting peace and national reconciliation.

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LONDON  British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he will convene a meeting of leaders from the Group of Seven nations on Tuesday for urgent talks on the situation in Afghanistan.

In a statement posted on Twitter, Johnson said it is vital that the international community works together to ensure safe evacuations, prevent a humanitarian crisis and support the Afghan people to secure the gains of the last 20 years.

The U.K. holds this years presidency of the G-7 nations, which is also made up of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States. The meeting, which will be held virtually, will also address plans to provide humanitarian assistance and support for Afghan refugees.

U.S. President Joe Biden said in a statement that the meeting would seek to help Afghans who aided the war effort and others considered targets under Taliban control of the country.

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MOSCOW -- Russias president has criticized Western nations for seeking to temporarily house Afghan refugees in Central Asian countries, citing security concerns for Russia.

Speaking at a meeting with top officials of the Kremlins United Russia party on Sunday, Vladimir Putin blasted what he described as a humiliating approach by Western states.

The Russian president noted that there are no visa restrictions between Russia and its Central Asian allies, and said that Moscow doesnt want militants appearing (in Russia) again under the guise of refugees.

We dont want to repeat, even in part, something what we had in the 90s and in the mid-2000s, when there were hostilities in the North Caucasus, Putin said.

Thousands of people in Afghanistan have been looking for ways to leave the country after the Taliban took control of Kabul in a swift power grab, seeking to escape what they see as a return to ruthless fundamentalist rule. Hundreds have headed to the Central Asian nations of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, which share a border with Afghanistan.

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WASHINGTON  The Pentagon said Sunday that it is formally seeking airlift help from commercial airlines to relocate evacuees from Afghanistan once they have gotten out of their country.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has activated the initial stage of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet program, asking for 18 aircraft: three each from American Airlines, Atlas Air, Delta Air Lines and Omni Air; two from Hawaiian Airlines; and four from United Airlines.

Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said the Department does not anticipate a major impact to commercial flights from this activation.

According to Kirby, those aircraft will not fly into Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul. They will be used to move passengers from way stations once they leave Kabul, allowing the U.S. military to focus on the Afghanistan portion of the evacuation.

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THE HAGUE, Netherlands  The Dutch military is sending extra troops to Kabul to bolster 62 soldiers already in the Afghan capital to help secure evacuation efforts and protect the countrys consular team.

The ministry said Sunday that the extra forces already are on their way to Afghanistan. It did not say how many troops make up the fresh deployment.

A further company of marines and a company of paratroopers also are available for deployment.

Foreign Affairs Minister Sigrid Kaag tweeted earlier Sunday that she had spoken to her British counterpart Dominic Raab about cooperation of the two countries military forces in Kabul.

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LONDON  Britains Ministry of Defense says the countrys armed forces have evacuated nearly 4,000 people from Afghanistan since Aug. 13.

Though it did not provide further details, its clear that the majority of those evacuated by British troops are Afghans who have helped Britain over the past 20 years.

In addition to 4,000 or so U.K. citizens, there are thought to be around 5,000 Afghan allies, such as translators and drivers, who are earmarked for a seat on a plane. As of last Wednesday, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Britain had managed to get out over 2,000 Afghans and 300 or so U.K. citizens.

Our Armed Forces continue to work tirelessly at Kabul Airport to ensure the safe evacuation of British nationals and Afghan civilians, the ministry said in a statement on Twitter.

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KYIV, Ukraine -- A Ukrainian military plane evacuated 83 more people out of Kabul on Sunday, according to Ukraines foreign minister.

Dmytro Kuleba tweeted that the plane carried 31 Ukrainians back to Kyiv, as well as foreigners  Afghan women and children, human rights activists, journalists working with Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today.

Theyre safe in Kyiv, Kuleba said in the tweet. We dont abandon our people and help others, he said, adding that Ukrainian authorities were working on further evacuations. Last week, a Ukrainian plane evacuated some 80 people out of Kabul.

Thousands of people in Afghanistan have been looking for ways to leave the country after the Taliban took control of Kabul in a swift power grab, seeking to escape what they see as a return of a ruthless fundamentalist rule.

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BERLIN  The U.S. military says an Afghan woman gave birth aboard an Air Force C-17 that flew from the Middle East to Ramstein Air Base in Germany. The base is being used as a transit post for people being evacuated from Afghanistan.

The militarys Air Mobility Command tweeted that the mother began having complications during the flight Saturday. It says: The aircraft commander decided to descend in altitude to increase air pressure in the aircraft, which helped stabilize and save the mothers life.

On arrival at Ramstein, U.S. medical personnel came aboard and delivered the child in the aircrafts cargo bay. The baby girl and mother were transported to a nearby medical facility and are in good condition, the military said.

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THE HAGUE, Netherlands  The Dutch government is donating 10 million euros to fund aid such as food, clean drinking water and medical supplies for Afghans.

The foreign ministry said Sunday the money will go to the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund that can be tapped by United Nations organizations and NGOs working in Afghanistan.

Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Tom De Bruijn says we want to support the Afghan population under these difficult circumstances.

Meanwhile, the Dutch defense ministry said a plane it chartered arrived in the Netherlands on Sunday carrying 160 passengers from Afghanistan. It did not disclose the nationalities of the evacuees.

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MADRID  Spains government says that U.S. President Joe Biden and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez have agreed that the Rota and Moron military bases in Spain used by U.S. forces will temporarily take in Afghans who worked for the Americans and fear Taliban reprisals.

One Spanish plane carrying 64 people who worked for the U.S. landed late Saturday at Spains Torrejon air base near Madrid.

Additionally, Spain has received another 230 evacuees this week from Kabul, mostly Afghans who worked for Spain and for the European Union. Fifty-five of these evacuees have already flown on to other EU countries.

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LONDON  Tony Blair, the British prime minister who deployed troops to Afghanistan 20 years ago after the 9/11 attacks, says the U.S. decision to leave has every Jihadist group round the world cheering.

In a lengthy essay posted on his website late Saturday, Blair said the decision to withdraw troops was tragic, dangerous, unnecessary. He added that Britain has a moral obligation to stay until all those who need to be are evacuated.

He said the exit was not in the West or Afghanistans interest, with the Taliban reasserting itself across most of the country.

He also warned that the decision by the U.S. to keep Britain largely in the dark about the withdrawal risks relegating the country to the second division of global powers.

Blair accused U.S. President Joe Biden of making the decision on the back of an imbecilic political slogan about ending the forever wars.

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KABUL, Afghanistan  The British military says seven Afghan civilians have been killed in the crowds near Kabuls international airport amid the chaos of those fleeing the Taliban takeover of the country.

The Defense Ministry said in a statement Sunday that conditions on the ground remain extremely challenging but we are doing everything we can to manage the situation as safely and securely as possible.

The airport has been the focal point for thousands trying to flee the Taliban, who swept into Kabul a week ago after their lightning advance seized the country.

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ISLAMABAD  The spokesman for Pakistan International Airlines says the airline has suspended flights from Kabul and is not evacuating anyone at the moment.

Abdullah Hafeez Khan says Sunday that the airline has no on-ground arrangements and lacks appropriate facilities at Kabul international airport to operate evacuation flights.

Khan said the suspension is temporary and the airline will resume its operations once the required arrangements are made there.

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NEW DELHI  An Indian official says an air force transport plane has left Kabul for New Delhi carrying 168 people on board.

Arindam Bagchi, the External Affairs Ministry spokesperson, says the plane took off from Kabul on Sunday morning and the passengers include 107 Indian nationals. He didnt give the nationalities of 61 others evacuated from the Afghan capital.

Meanwhile, another group of 87 Indians who were evacuated from Kabul to Tajikistan on Saturday in an Indian air force plane are being flown to New Delhi on Sunday, Bagchi said in a tweet. Two Nepalese nationals also were evacuated on that flight.

India began evacuating its nationals last Sunday after the Taliban swept into Kabul.

The Press Trust of India news agency said around 400 Indians were believed to be stranded in Afghanistan. No official figure was available.

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Watch the latest video at <a href="http://video.foxnews.com/">FoxNews.com</a> By Bill O'Reilly Back in the 19th century there was an American political group known as the "Know Nothings" because they were secretive and pretty much ineffective. Today we have a do nothing government in Washington. Our elected officials generally sit around saying oh they will get to the bottom of it. They will get to the bottom of everything. Claiming they are working around the clock but little is actually accomplished. Let me back it up. When Putin invaded Crimea, America was caught by surprise. When terrorists killed four Americans in Benghazi, Libya, America was caught by surprise. When the V.A. scandal broke in Phoenix Arizona, the administration was caught by surprise. When thousands of children started illegally walking across the southern border it was a surprise in Washington. And now, with Iraq on the verge of collapse, guess what? They are surprised. But the President says they are working hard on the problem. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: My team is working around the clock to identify how we can provide the most effective assistance to them. I don't rule out anything. (END VIDEO CLIP) O'REILLY: The critics of the President say he has known for months that Iraq was in danger. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) BOEHNER: It's not like we haven't seen this problem coming for over a year. And it hasn't -- it's not like we haven't seen over the last five or six months these terrorists moving, in taking control of western Iraq. Now they have taken control of Mosul. They're a hundred miles from Baghdad. And what's the President doing? Taking a nap. (END VIDEO CLIP) O'REILLY: Even though that's a partisan statement, President Obama does appear disengaged from vital problems all over the world and it looks like American voters are starting to understand that. New Gallup poll asks does President Obama manage government effectively: 39 percent say yes; 60 percent say no. Then this question: does President Obama have a clear plan for solving the country's problems -- 34 percent say yes; a whopping 65 percent no. Let me put that number into perspective for you; 34 percent of Americans will approve of whatever Barack Obama does. It doesn't matter to them. They just like him and that's that. So the President is virtually getting a no confidence vote from every other person in the country. That's amazing. Now Talking Points has been very consistent over the past 18 years -- I don't care about party politics. I want problem solvers in Washington and in our state capitals. I want honest people who will think about creative solutions to vexing situations. I have nothing personally against Barack Obama. He has helped us raise a lot of money for Wounded Warriors. He has been respectful to us generally and I support some of his programs like mentoring poor children and raising the minimum wage so more people get off the dole. But there no question at this point in history that President Obama is not effectively running the country. Senator McCain was right yesterday when he said Obama needs to fire his crew. And get some experienced people to it advise him on vital issues. Again, 65 percent of American adults believe the President is not an effective problem solver. And boy, do we have problems. And that's The Memo.' - You can catch Bill O'Reilly's "Talking Points Memo" weeknights at 8 and 11 p.m. ET on the Fox News Channel and any time on foxnews.com/oreilly. Send your comments to: oreilly@foxnews.com. Transcript Show Name: O'Reilly Factor
As we told you last night, President Obama's strategy of arming disorganized Syrians to defeat a well-trained terror army will never work. The president knows that, but he's afraid to tell the American people the truth -- that sooner or later U.S. forces will have to engage ISIS. It's already happening. There are now close to 2,000 U.S. troops on the ground in Iraq, providing support for the Kurds and those Iraqi army units that will actually fight. Believe me, these Special Forces are armed and if they see an ISIS terrorist -- a guy with a black mask -- they're going to take him out. Now we also told you last night that this counter-terrorism strategy is designed to tamp down public opinion. Because Iraq and Afghanistan have been so painful for Americans, there is no public will to deploy American troops once again in chaotic nations. Everybody knows that. But again, it's going to happen ... it's just a matter of when: GEN. MARTIN DEMPSEY, CHAIRMAN, JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF: Our military advisors will help the Iraqis conduct campaign planning, arrange for enabler and logistic support and coordinate our coalition activities. If we reach the point where I believe our advisors should accompany Iraq troops on attacks against specific ISIL targets, I will recommend that to the president. Well there you go. The U.S. and its allies will try to degrade ISIS from the air, but eventually there will be some ground action. The big picture here is that the Islamic jihad is growing in strength. Some people believe by ignoring that, it will go away. That's insane. The more weakness America shows, the worse terrorism will become. As I said before, we are living in a dangerous world and many jihadists are maniacs. They'll do anything. Kill children ... no problem. Enslave women ... all day long. Behead innocent people on camera ... they like it. When you have that kind of a scenario, there is no negotiating. There is only confrontation. The quicker President Obama and the American people come to understand that, the quicker the jihad will be downgraded. Again, we need a Declaration of War and we need President Obama and the Pentagon to develop a smart, tough strategy against these animals. And that's the memo.
Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com Is President Obama misusing his power? That is the subject of this evening's Talking Points Memo. The answer is yes, he is misusing presidential power, but not in the way you might think. In the past, some presidents have misused their power in aggressive ways. Richard Nixon intimidating witnesses in the Watergate break-in, that led to his resignation. Lyndon Johnson misleading the American people about the war in Vietnam. And John Adams trying to suppress a free press using the Alien and Sedition acts. But today we have a president who is misusing his power by not using it to solve vital problems. The evidence is clear on the border. We now know the Obama administration was told a year ago that organized criminals were beginning to smuggle children into the U.S.A. in great numbers. The president could have summoned the countries involved to a conference in Washington. He could have cracked down as soon as the cartels got into the people smuggling business. He did not. And now the U.S.A. will have to deal with about 100,000 desperate children. By the way, this coming Friday the presidents of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador finally arrive in Washington for that conference. A bit late, don't you think? Then we have the ISIS terror army, which has taken over a third of Iraq. It is now persecuting Christians, killing some of them, forcing others from their homes. And what has President Obama done to this ISIS army? Has he bombed their caravans to and from Syria? Has he directed drones at their headquarters? No, he has not. And U.S. intel warned the president that Islamic militants were gathering power in Syria. But he did nothing to stop that. And finally Putin ... there is no question that he armed the terrorists in Ukraine that shot down the Malaysian airplane. Putin did it, just as he annexed Crimea, just as he provides advisors and weapons to these terrorists, who are killing innocent human beings. President Obama has slapped a few sanctions on Putin, but nothing like he could have done. You may remember that Talking Points suggested President Obama meet with American bank leaders and cut off all credit card receipts from Russia. That would have brought Putin to his knees. It is quite clear that Mr. Obama does not want to lead in the traditional way. He apparently wants to ruminate about things, discuss ... create consensus. The signal he consistently sends is that America will not right wrongs, except in emergency circumstances. The problem is the president does not see the border incursion as an emergency. Nor does he see the ISIS army as one. Nor does he see Vladimir Putin as a power-mad villain, who needs to be neutralized. Instead, president Obama wants to ask the German leader Merkel what she wants to do. Add it all up, you get a misuse of the power we the American people bestowed on Barack Obama. Finally let me give you one vivid example of how Presidential power should be used. Mr. Obama calls the Mexican President Nieto. He gently tells him that unless Mexico's southern border is closed to illegal alien traffic, U.S. trade agreements with Mexico will be suspended. And by the way, Marine Sgt. Tahmooressi must be released from prison within 24 hours. That's all Mr. Obama has to do, and two problems would be solved. And that's the memo.
Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com According to a new Wall Street Journal-NBC News poll, 47% of Americans feel the country is less safe than it was before we were attacked on 9-11, 2001.



That number is up from 28% last year, proving that Americans are very worried about President Obama's ability to protect us from harm. The Journal's lead editorial today explains why Mr. Obama's foreign policy has increased anxiety. The President has tried to reason with the Russian tyrant Putin, even pulling missiles out of Poland and the Czech Republic as a gesture of good will. In return, Putin has violated international law, attempting to demean Barack Obama and the West. Mr. Obama refused to help pro-democracy forces in Iran, believing that appeasing the Mullahs would lead to detente. Didn't work. Iran continues to defy the world on nukes. President Obama backed off from taking action against the Syrian tyrant Assad and did not arm moderate forces fighting him. The result? Assad is still in power and the ISIS terror army controls much of rural Syria. Mr. Obama could not convince Iraq to allow U.S. troops to stay under a protected arrangement. The result? We pulled out and the Iraqi government under al-Maliki collapsed, allowing ISIS to occupy much of that country. And finally, by announcing the withdrawal of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, the president has emboldened the Taliban and destabilized hard fought gains made by NATO forces. All over the world the decline of American power is causing chaos. China is on the march. Africa is under siege by Muslim extremists. Egypt, Libya and Pakistan are in chaos. That is the backdrop for tonight's foreign policy speech by the President -- himself under siege by the American people who are finally waking up to the fact that the U.S.A. is not being managed in an effective way. Mr. Obama's poll numbers are cratering. Thus the attempt tonight to convince us he has things under control. Talking Points said months ago that ISIS should be bombed inside Syria and everywhere else: BILL O'REILLY: "Then we have the ISIS terror army, which is taking taken over a third of Iraq. It's now persecuting Christians, killing some of them, forcing others from their homes. And what has President Obama done to the ISIS army? Has he bombed their caravans to and from Syria? Has he directed drones at their leaders in their headquarters? No, he has not. And U.S. intel warned the president that Islamic militants were gathering power and Syria. But he did nothing, nothing to stop that." Tonight the President is expected to announce expanded bombing. I also told President Obama face-to-face that he would get nowhere with radical Muslim groups like the Brotherhood: O'REILLY: "The Muslim Brotherhood, a great concern to a lot of people. Are they a threat to the USA?" OBAMA: "I think that the Muslim Brotherhood is one faction in Egypt. They don't have majority support in Egypt. They are ..." O'REILLY: "Are they a threat?" OBAMA: "But they are well-organized and there are strains of their ideology that are anti-U.S. There's no doubt about it." ((EDIT)) O'REILLY: "Those are tough boys, the Muslim Brotherhood. I wouldn't want them anywhere near that government." And those words prove to be true. No matter what he says tonight, it is doubtful that Barack Obama realizes the danger this country is facing. And The Wall Street Journal lays some of the blame on his enablers. Quote: "Mr. Obama's intellectual and media defenders were complicit ... cheering on his flight from world leadership as prudent management of U.S. decline. Even now some of his most devoted acolytes write that Mr. Obama's 'caution' has Islamic State's jihadists right where he wants them." In this age of high-tech distraction, it takes a lot to wise up many of us. But most Americans now understand that President Obama's world vision is failing. It is up to him to turn that around.



And that's the memo.
Sorry, this column is a bit late but its Henris fault. The hurricane whipped through my backyard in eastern Long Island but did little damage other than scaring Holly the Terror Dog.



While preparing for Henri, I did a metaphorical thing; calculating the odds that President Biden will ride out storm Afghanistan.



Trump and Bush, the younger, would have been decimated by the corrupt media had the Afghan chaos happened on their watches. Most sane people know that. Mr. Biden is getting some jazz from his enablers but, trust me on this, they are looking for a hard news diversion. One will arise soon.



But it really doesnt matter. The American people now know for certain that Joe Biden cannot do his job. And the fact that he refuses to acknowledge any screwups whatsoever just highlights his confused state of mind.



For months, I have been telling you the President is a diminished man. I did not cheap-shot him with dementia allegations or other personal stuff. I simply know he is not able to run this country responsibly. This is not an ideological analysis even though the progressive left controls Biden. Its simple: Joe Biden cannot retain information or absorb details about complicated situations. That is the truth.



So what now? Well, the Republicans should do very well in the midterm elections. That vote in November 2022, is crucial if traditional America is to be saved. Its not that GOP politicians are brilliant or noble. Many are a long way from that. But all this socialism woke fascism, and racial equity will never be a part of the Republican platform.



I dont expect President Biden to be replaced by Kamala Harris. The Democrat leadership understands she will never win over the majority of voters. So, the blue people will ride out Biden, hoping for a miracle.



History does have a way of self-correcting and the United States has always come back strong from disasters. We will this time too, I believe. But not before more pain - express delivered by a federal government which has completely lost its way.



So, its up to "we the people" to save the country once again. No other way out.
Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com When President Obama cancels a fundraising trip, you know things are serious. And that's what Mr. Obama did today, meeting with his cabinet about the growing Ebola chaos in the USA instead of traveling. Late last night, Texas health authorities announced a second healthcare worker at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital has contracted Ebola. She is 29-year-old Amber Joy Vinson, a registered nurse who treated the man who died from Ebola: Thomas Duncan, a Liberian national. That makes two American nurses infected after treating Duncan. The other nurse, Nina Pham, is in isolation. But the latest case is even more harrowing than the first because Ms. Vinson took Frontier Airlines Flight 1143 from Cleveland to Dallas on October 13th. Apparently she was carrying the Ebola virus, so now everybody on that flight has to be monitored, as well as all the people they came into contact with. So you can see how Thomas Duncan coming into the USA on a false premise has led to disaster. As you may know, Talking Points has demanded that U.S. authorities stop admitting West Africans into America right now. We have also called for the resignation of Dr. Thomas Frieden, the head of the CDC, because he opposes that. Last night on The Kelly File, Dr. Frieden was almost incoherent. MEGYN KELLY, FOX NEWS ANCHOR: Why not put a travel ban in place until we've shorn up the system? ((EDIT)) DR. THOMAS FRIEDEN, CDC DIRECTOR: Above all, do no harm. If we do things that are going to make it harder to stop the epidemic there, it's going to spread to other parts of the  KELLY: How is it going to make it harder to stop it over there? FRIEDEN: Because you can't get people in and out. KELLY: Why can't we have charter flights? FRIEDEN: You know, charter flights don't do the same thing commercial airliners do. KELLY: What do you mean? They fly in and fly out. ((EDIT)) FRIEDEN: If we isolate these countries, what's not going to happen is disease staying there. It's going to spread more all over Africa and we'll be at higher risk. Does that make any sense to anybody? Anybody? It's just ridiculous, the man is spouting nonsense. BRIT HUME, FOX NEWS SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: His explanation, like previous ones that have been given for the reasons for not imposing a travel ban in order to keep people from those infected areas out of this country for the time being, I thought makes no sense. And there could be an even more frightening scenario on the horizon. Marine Corps General John Kelly, who's in charge of the U.S. Southern Command, told the National Defense University, that all hell could very well break loose in this country. GEN. JOHN F. KELLY: If Ebola breaks out in Haiti or in Central America I think it's literally "Katy, bar the door" in terms of mass migration of Central Americans into the United States. Sixty-eight-thousand children essentially wondered across our border this year. ((EDIT)) They pretty much get into the country unimpeded. So these populations will move to either run away from Ebola or in the fear of having been infected to get to the United States to get taken care of. Now General Kelly's assessment is speculative, but it is certainly possible. So now, the federal government looks stupid. It underreacted to the Ebola threat. It still isn't imposing a travel ban from West Africa, and our border is still porous in the south. This is what happens when leadership is weak. Dr. Frieden, out of there. He botched it. Period. President Obama, stop the fundraising, pay attention to your country. For everybody else, stay calm but let your Senators and Congress people know you want that travel ban now. And that's the memo.
From the very beginning, the Obama administration has screwed up the Ebola situation. From the very beginning. Let me back that up with the timeline: On December 6, 2013 in the African country of Guinea, the first patient with Ebola was identified. He is called patient zero, a two-year-old child who died. A few months later on March 24, 2014, authorities in Guinea reported 87 suspected cases of Ebola. One week later Liberia confirmed two cases of Ebola. The country of Sierra Leone also reported cases. On April 1st, the organization Doctors without Borders warned that the Ebola contagion was "unprecedented." On that day, April 1st of this year, the Obama administration should have begun formulating a strategy to deal with West Africans coming to the USA from the Ebola regions. The Obama administration did not do that. In fact, the first public mention from the feds came months later, on July 28th: JEN PSAKI, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESPERSON:On Ebola, we continue to closely monitor the outbreak of the virus. ((EDIT)) We're taking every precaution, of course, as would be expected. On June 23rd, Doctors without Borders declared Ebola out of control in West Africa. On August 2nd, American Dr. Kent Brantley, who was treating Ebola patients in Liberia, is flown to Atlanta for treatment of Ebola.



On August 5th, a second U.S. citizen -- Christian missionary Nancy Writebol -- is flown to Atlanta from Liberia for Ebola treatment. Still, no public statement from President Obama, no coordinated strategy to protect Americans. Nothing. In mid-August, Nigeria, Senegal and a number of other African countries closed their borders to Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. Also in August, British Airways and Air France suspended flights to those countries. What did the USA do? Nothing. Finally on September 16th, President Obama musters enough energy to make this statement: BARACK OBAMA: I want the American people to know that our experts, here at the CDC and across our government, agree that the chances of an Ebola outbreak here in the United States are extremely low. Four days later, Liberian national Thomas Duncan enters the USA, flying from Belgium to Washington to Dallas. On September 28th, Duncan is hospitalized in Dallas, where two days later he is diagnosed with Ebola. There were no travel restrictions on Mr. Duncan at all. On October 8th, Duncan dies. On October 12th, one of the nurses who treated him -- Nina Pham -- is diagnosed with Ebola. On October 15th, another nurse who treated Duncan -- Amber Vinson -- is diagnosed with Ebola. Both nurses have been cured, thanks to great medical people. On October 17th, Dr. Craig Spencer, 33 years old, who was treating Ebola patients in Guinea, arrives back in the USA. The CDC reports he passed the Ebola screenings at JFK airport. Dr. Spencer is not quarantined. Let me repeat, Dr. Spencer, working directly with Ebola patients in Africa, not quarantined for 21 days and is allowed to roam around New York City unattended. Yesterday Dr. Spencer calls 911, is taken to Bellevue Hospital, and is diagnosed with Ebola. Now health authorities have to track down all the people with whom Dr. Spencer came into close contact. Three have already been quarantined. Do you get the picture here? The Obama administration simply cannot handle the Ebola situation. The airport screenings are a joke. The lack of a West African visa ban, negligence. That is the truth, but the liberal media, the Obama enablers, will not tell you the truth. Instead, we have a New York Times editorial today that says: "Starting Monday in six states, and rolled out in other states soon after, travelers who visited [the Ebola region] will be required to report their temperature and any other symptoms to state or local health officials daily for 21 days, the maximum incubation period for the disease to develop. The officials will be responsible for finding and possibly detaining anyone violating these rules." Are you kidding? The officials will be responsible for finding these people if they don't call in? They shouldn't be out of isolation. If you have direct contact with anyone in the Ebola region, and you come back to the USA, you should be in quarantine for 21 days. Period. The Times continues: "The new measures surely make unnecessary a harmful ban on all travelers who have been in the three countries." Sure, just ask Dr. Spencer. He went through the screening; it did not work. But that doesn't matter to The New York Times because the countries involved are poor and largely comprised of black-Africans. That's why the Obama administration and the liberal press do not want a travel ban. Now, here's what should be happening. No American airlines go to the Ebola region. Charter flights are allowed. But those coming back to the United States on charter flights have to be isolated for 21 days. You simply cannot have self-reporting. It doesn't work. So medical people, military people, diplomats -- whoever it may be -- have to give up three weeks of their lives when they return from the Ebola region. Otherwise we are going to have more Ebola cases. That's just common sense. It is long past time for the American people to rise up and demand that the federal government do its job, which is to protect us. The feds will not control the borders, they will not confront the ISIS terrorists in an effective way, and now they will not institute simple restrictions against this vicious Ebola virus. Look, Dr. Spencer wore protective gear. So did the two Dallas nurses. This disease is fierce; you don't have self-reporting in a situation like this. I'm sorry, but the Liberians and the people in Guinea and Sierra Leone can't come here for a while. Also, those brave Americans who go over to help the poor Africans, we support them. But part of their sacrifice is being isolated for three weeks when they come back. That's it and the longer the Obama administration delays these common sense protections, the angrier you the American citizen should get. From the very beginning of this horrible story, Talking Points has called for effective restrictions. Now I'm demanding them. Give your Senators and Congress people an earful. Tell them to do their jobs. And that's the memo.
Experts have expressed concerns about the Delta Plus escaping immune response of antibodies against COVID-19

A 63-year-old woman succumbed to the Delta Plus variant of COVID-19 in Maharashtra recently. The woman was diabetic and vaccinated with both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. This has further raised concerns about the efficacy of vaccines against the various existing and upcoming variants. Experts believe the Delta strain was responsible for the second wave of COVID-19, which infected millions and caused the deaths of thousands.

Experts and health officials have also expressed concerns about the Delta Plus escaping immune response of antibodies against COVID-19, infecting people with the disease.

Dr Ann Mary, Consultant, Dept of Internal Medicine, Amrita Hospital, Kochi shared that antibody response could wane off by the end of six months, this has become a concern for major vaccine producers. There is ongoing research on the need for a third booster dose to enhance the efficacy of the vaccines and provide immunity against all the major variants of concern including the Delta Plus variant.

Addressing the issue of booster doses in the future, Priya Abraham, Director, National Institute of Virology, Pune has mentioned that there are ongoing studies overseas and about seven different vaccines have been tested. She also confirmed that there would be recommendations for a third booster dose in the future.

Recently Dr Cyrus Poonawalla, Chairman, Serum Institute of India (SII), Pune along with 7000-8000 employees of SII were administered with the third dose of Covishield. Dr Poonawalla has also expressed concerns about the reduced efficacy of vaccines after six months post the second dose.

As the Delta Plus variant is the most dominant and has spread rapidly across continents, Israel has extended its booster campaign by administering a third dose to curb the spread of this variant. Israels Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has also received the third shot of Pfizer/BioNtechs COVID-19 vaccine.

In recent weeks several countries have decided to offer booster shots to older adults and citizens with weakened immunity, including the US, Germany, and France.

As the second wave has been plateauing in India, lockdown restrictions have been eased, increasing the chances of more infections. Then there are concerns of a third wave which may or may not have the devastating impact of the second wave.

Dr Honey Savla, Internal Medicine, Wockhardt Hospital, Mumbai Central, opines that vaccination is effective to protect against serious illnesses caused by this variant. However, there is a huge difference in the antibody response after vaccination in individuals especially so in the ones with comorbidities.

As further evidence and studies surface on the efficacy of vaccines on more variants of the COVID-19 virus, there may be a need for a third booster dose to help prevent serious illness and mass spread of COVID-19. But whether a third dose will be enough, or more would follow is a question only time can answer.

prabhat.prakash@mmactiv.com
The top 25 Mrs South Africa 2022 finalists were revealed on Friday, 20 August 2021 at a Winter Ball event hosted at Emperors Palace Hotel in Johannesburg.

Mrs SA Top 25 finalists - Image: Supplied

IT ALL GOES DOWN TONIGHT.

Every single woman here has a purpose! Every woman has a reason for entering Mrs. SA 2021.



Tonight we find out who our top 25 finalists will be.#MrsSA #mrssouthafrica2021 #sheisbonafide #pageant #pageantweek #semisweek #interviewoutfit #interview pic.twitter.com/Be9YEQZSCE  Mrs South Africa (@MrsSAPageant) August 20, 2021

Mrs SA judges - Image: Supplied

The top 25 Mrs South Africa 2022 finalists:

Anele Sikakana

Ashton Jansen

Chane Todd

Gwen Taylor

Farrah Rymer

Itumeleng Kekana

Jo Jackson

Jo Judnick-Wilson

Judy Bloomfield

Michelle F. Forsyth

Michelle M. Maharaj

Nadia Bester

Natalie Leach

Nompikazi Mokgatle

Palesa Tsibane

Patricia Vermeulen

Roxy Van Bruwaene

Sandra Zaca

Stacy van den Heever

Tanita van der Merwe

Thammy Young

Thando Mbokazi

Tshego Dludla

Tumi Msimang

Zaza Letsholo

Mrs South Africa offers married women an acclaimed self-discovery programme that aims to celebrate and further develop the skills of the strong, talented and confident female leaders. The organisation provides women with an opportunity to invest in themselves and to play a part in bettering the lives of those around them.With all the semi-finalists embodying the values which the organisation prizes, demonstrating their strength, resilience, and grace throughout the trying times of the pandemic, 25 finalists were selected to proceed to the next stage of the competition. Despite the challenging circumstances brought on by Covid-19, all contestants remained committed to the programme and worked selflessly on various community involvement initiatives, noted Mrs South Africa Chief Executive Officer, Joani Johnson.We pride ourselves on offering our contestants training in a variety of life- and empowerment skills, and I would like to recognise and applaud each of our semi-finalists for all their hard work and their immense personal and professional growth, she said. Mrs South Africa has built a formidable ecosystem of social impact and game-changers who are committed to developing and strengthening their communities. I am equally proud of and honoured by every woman who has made her way through the programme thus far, and who has joined us in creating a movement of positive transformation.The finalists announcement followed three days of intensive deliberations by an expert independent panel of seven judges, including reality TV star Lebo Jojo Gunguluza; former Miss South Africa Tansey Coetzee; public relations expert Madelain Roscher of PR Worx; former Mrs South Africa Jacqueline Ferns; former Mrs South Africa Matapa Maila; and medical doctor and model Dr Fezile Mkhize. Leading audit, tax and advisory firm PKF Oktagon acted as the independent auditors to ensure the integrity of the results are in line with international pageant standards.Owing to strict COVID-19 protocols, the Winter Ball event was attended by a small group of people, with the event livestreamed to a larger audience.The new Mrs South Africa will be crowned at the finals at Emperors Palace on Friday, 26 November 2021.
Glencore Ferroalloys has joined forces with Imbumba Foundation to donate a year's supply of sanitary pads to girls in communities near its operations.

Glencore Ferroalloys, in partnership with Imbumba Foundation, donated sanitary pads to learners at Rauwane Sepeng Senior Secondary School in Rustenburg. | Source: Supplied

Empowering the girl child

6,700 girls to benefit from the initiative

According to statistics, a South African girl child misses up to 50 days of school in a year due to the lack of adequate menstrual hygiene support, and Glencore Ferroalloys partnership with Imbumba Foundation aims to address this issue.The Glencore sanitary pad drive kicked off on Friday, 6 August with the distribution of the first batch of sanitary pads to learners at Rauwane Sepeng Senior Secondary School in Rustenburg.In attendance was Glencore Ferroalloys enterprise development superintendent, Charlin Ntuli, Imbumba Foundation representatives, Proverb fromand Thuthuka Mthembu from SABC 1 drama,. Glencores inhouse nurse Sister Tessa, who provided the girls with menstrual hygiene and puberty education, was also in attendance.Ntuli, who gave the opening address, said that the partnership between Glencore and Imbumba Foundation was in line with Glencores commitment to progress together with communities.As Glencore, we have recognised that we cannot move forward or effect real change unless we can make a meaningful impact in the lives of the people within our communities."Through this partnership we are proud to know that none of the girls in the schools within our communities will have to miss even a day of school because they dont have menstrual pads, Ntuli said.Imbumba Foundation, a non-profit organisation established to bring social change and economic upliftment within rural and economically marginalised communities in Southern Africa, has been supplying sanitary pads through its Caring4Girls initiative.To date, the programme has empowered over 1 million girl children across South Africa and neighbouring countries. Through the Glencore partnership, the initiative is donating 12 packs of sanitary towels to 6,700 girls from schools near the mining companys operations.Both Proverb and Mthembu gave the girls words of encouragement on the day, reminding them not to let their circumstances negatively impact on their bright future.The partnership between Imbumba and Glencore is not just important, it is life-changing ... I hope every young girl present today will feel more empowered because of what Glencore and Imbumba have done, Proverb said.
CSG announced new growth in its partnership with Cape Innovation & Technology Initiative (CiTi) to broaden the organisation's Women in Business programme nationwide, as part of CSG South Africa's commitment to making tech skills accessible and the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE).

The Women in Business program supports female entrepreneurs to implement and adopt digital platforms and programs that up-skill their technological acuity to drive business growth and promote inclusion. This year, 30 female information and communications technology (ICT) entrepreneurs will participate in a ten-week course before three finalists are ultimately selected to continue in a ten-month entrepreneurial program that includes opportunities to connect with CSG women in leadership.Creating space for women and underrepresented voices across the innovation and technology ecosystem is critical to driving economic impact in our communities and diversifying the tech talent pipeline, said Channing Jones, chief diversity and social responsibility officer, CSG. We are committed to supporting work that builds capacity and offers access to leadership skills crucial to success in entrepreneurship to foster a more inclusive economy. CSG is proud to partner with the Cape Innovation & Technology Initiative to expand the Women in Business program across the region.Established in 1999, CiTi works at the intersection of business, government, and society. Its mission is to build a future-fit, inclusive community and shape the future economy through innovation and technology. CiTi's Women in Business initiative is a flagship programme aimed at strategically supporting and developing female entrepreneurs. More than 1,700 women have gone through the program, and over 1,500 more have applied to join."In Africa, women business owners are defying social norms in the face of systemic obstacles including limited access to funding, inadequate scaling resources, and challenges with work-life balance," said Lara Rosmarin, head of incubation and entrepreneurial development, Cape Innovation & Technology Initiative. "Through the Women in Business programme, we help women overcome these hurdles with strategic support, mentoring, peer to peer learning, and networking opportunities that enable them to navigate tough competition and thrive. With CSGs support, we are thrilled to now accept nationwide requests and provide female business owners across all of South Africa with the powerful tools they need to grow their businesses."To be one of the 30 ICT female bosses participating in the fully-funded (free) programme, you have until Tuesday, 31 August 2021 2021 to apply.
In 2017, Verashni Pillay resigned as HuffPost SA editor over the publication of a fake blog. It caused a huge uproar at the time. It represented the worst of where the media had gotten to in terms of misinformation and loss of quality and fact-checking and many were rightly appalled. Pillay spent the next few years doing the work to figure out how things went so wrong, and how to monetise and create quality news for audiences again.
Yesterday I explained why I assume that Britain is trying to incite a new 'Northern Alliance insurgency against the Taliban in Afghanistan.

But as today evolved that project, just three days after it went public, is dead.

Yesterday the anti-Taliban Long War Journal claimed that the insurgents were already making progress:

The nascent resistance to the Taliban that has organized in Panjshir province has launched a counteroffensive against the Taliban and has taken control of four districts in two neighboring provinces. The Panjshir resistance force, which is flying the flag of the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance, took control of Dih Saleh, Andarab, and Puli Hisar districts in eastern Baghlan province, as well as Charikar in Parwan. The resistance is led by former Vice President and National Directorate of Security chief Amrullah Saleh [See FDDs Long War Journal report, After fall of Kabul, resistance to Taliban emerges in Panjshir]. Anti-Taliban fighters captured those [four] key districts and are threatening the Talibans control of the highway to the north, a source within the resistance told FDDs Long War Journal. They also claimed to take all of Andarab back.

The news from Afghanistan about that fight was murky and difficult to confirm. It seems that the insurgents shortly occupied one district center while there was inconclusive fighting around two others. About a dozen Taliban were said to be dead together with a number of insurgents. I would not trust any 'source within the resistance. The Saleh/Massoud gang is already known for making implausible and exaggerated claims:

Just spoke with Ahmad Massoud in Panjshir. He says 000s of Afghan soldiers, special forces, and 47 pilots have taken refuge in the Panjshir valley since last week, bringing with them 000s of humvees, 4 helicopters. Calling for international support. Story soon @TheNationalNews

Still the LWJ authors were cautiously optimistic:

While the Panjshir resistances odds remain long, if it is able to open a lifeline to neighboring countries and receive international support, it stands a chance to not only divert and disrupt Taliban operations but create a groundswell of interest that could lead to a larger campaign with more sustainable momentum.

That a connection to a neighboring country would help the insurgents is, in my opinion, a misperception. Russia and China would come down hard on, for example Uzbekistan, if it would allow its border to be used to support the insurgency. Every neighbor country of Afghanistan now has an interest in a united Afghanistan at peace. That is why any insurgency against the Taliban will have no chance.

The Russian ambassador to Afghanistan agrees:

Russias ambassador to Afghanistan praised the conduct of the Taliban on Friday in the days since its takeover, saying there was no alternative to the hardline Islamist group and resistance to it would fail.

...

Russia wants to ensure that the instability in Afghanistan does not spill over into Central Asia, part of the former Soviet Union it regards as its own backyard, and that the region does not become a launch pad for other extreme Islamist groups.

...

Speaking to Reuters from Kabul by Zoom, Zhirnov said the security situation in the capital was much better than it was before the Taliban took control of it and spoke optimistically about the future. "The mood in Kabul can be described as one of cautious hope," said Zhirnov. "There was a bad regime which disappeared and people are hopeful. They say it cant be worse so it should be better. But this is another test for the Taliban to pass. After they restore order, they should start improving the socio-economic situation," he said.

...

"We cant wave reality aside. They (the Taliban) are the de-facto authorities. There is no alternative to the Taliban in Afghanistan," said Zhirnov. The son of Ahmad Shah Massoud, one of the main leaders of Afghanistans anti-Soviet resistance in the 1980s, has pledged to hold out against the Taliban from his stronghold in the Panjshir valley north of Kabul. Afghan First Vice President Amrullah Saleh has also said he is in Afghanistan and the "legitimate caretaker president" after President Ashraf Ghani fled. Zhirnov said Salehs declaration violated the constitution and that Panjshir-based attempts to resist the Taliban were doomed. "They have no military prospects. There are not many people there. As far as we know they have 7,000 armed people. And they already have problems with fuel. They tried to fly a helicopter but they have no petrol and no supplies," he said.

The tribal elders in Panjshir valley agreed with the ambassador that further fighting would mean doom. A few hours ago Pajhwok News reported (machine translation):

Ahmad Shah Massouds son gives Panjshir leaders a plan to resolve issues with Taliban KABUL (Pajhwok): Ahmad Masood, the son of Ahmad Shah Massoud, has given a plan to the Panjsher elders to resolve issues with the Taliban, a source said on Sunday.

And therewith at least half of the the insurgency packed up and made peace.

Dr. Drexluddin Khan Spiveyzai Kayani (Drexy Baba) @RisboLensky - 10:58 UTC  Aug 21, 2021 Reports that Massoud Jr. agreed not to attack #Taliban forces in #Panjshir surrounding after Abdi-Karzai mediation (possibly Rabbani and other Massouds gave a nod too). But I think that in province Jamiat is not the only group present

---

Paktawal @Paktyaw4l - 11:12 UTC  Aug 21, 2021 There is disunity & verbal conflict between Amrullah Saleh factions & elders in Panjshir advising Massoud junior. #Panjshir

---

 @QOMANDON - 12:14 UTC  Aug 21, 2021 Senior Taliban Commander Jalil Haqqani calls Ahmad Shah Massoud a martyr and hero, and announces that his son Ahmad Massoud gave bayah to the Taliban yesterday

Embedded video

Will the Washington Post print another Ahmad Massoud op-ed in which he announces that?

Without the symbolic figure of Ahmad Shah Massouds son as leader of a new 'Northern Alliance the insurgency will have no chance to gain national or international support. He was the public relations front of the short campaign. But the elders of Panjshir valley told him to end the nonsense and so he did.

The intellectual fraudster Bernard Levy, who has jinxed any resistance he ever supported, will be quite disappointed.
The Pentagons press secretary has just confirmed that  as expected  the DoD will now require all troops across the armed services to get the vaccine.

BREAKING: Pentagon will now mandate all troops be vaccinated against Covid-19, following the FDAs full approval of the Pfizer shot, says @PentagonPresSec  Lara Seligman (@laraseligman) August 23, 2021

Troops who refuse the vaccine could face disciplinary measures, including being dragged in front of a military tribunal that would mete out punishment. Commanders have several options for dealing with troops who refuse mandatory COVID-19 vaccines including issuing them a letter of reprimand or taking other administrative action; using nonjudicial punishment to push them to get vaccinated; referring troops to an administrative separation board for failure to obey an order, or even referring service members to courts-martial, which has already happened in the past when some troops refused to get vaccinated for Anthrax.

We have every expectation that once the vaccines are made mandatory the troops are going to do the right thing, Kirby told reporters at a Pentagon news conference a few weeks ago. But, without speaking to the future, its treated, certainly, like any lawful order, and there could be administrative and disciplinary repercussions for failing to obey that order.

The DoD also make sure that service members who have reservations about getting a COVID-19 vaccine are properly counseled about the risks to their personal health and their units readiness that could arise from them refusing the jab, and that commanders have a range of tools to pressure troops to comply.

Commanders have a range of tools, short of using the UCMJ [Uniform Code of Military Justice] available to them to try to help individuals make the right decisions, Kirby added.

Similar mandates are expected in the private sector as well, with companies like Walmart, along with thousands of smaller businesses, expected to require proof of vaccination for all workers.

* * *

Roughly 8 months after the Pfizer-BioNTech jab was first approved for public use after receiving an unprecedented emergency authorization, the jab has officially become the first to receive full approval by the FDA on Monday, the Washington Post reports.

The news, which was telegraphed days in advance, sent shares of Pfizer and BioNTech surging shortly after the open on Monday.

As the mainstream media immediately pointed out, the approval might prompt some skeptical adults to take the vaccine, while giving businesses the last piece of ammunition they needed to require workers to get the jab, or be fired. According to the CDC, 204MM Pfizer jabs (which will henceforth be known as Comirnaty, the official brand name of the jab) have been doled out since the emergency authorization was first handed down last December.

The vaccine is officially approved for Americans over the age of 16, while the emergency authorization remains in effect for patients between 12 and 15. Notably, the FDA is requiring Pfizer to conduct more research on the risks of myocarditis and pericarditis and other potential side effects. Pfizer will also develop a registry to help monitor outcomes for infants after vaccinated women give birth.

CNBC reports that a survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation found 3 in 10 unvaccinated adults said they would be more likely to get vaccinated if one of the vaccines receives full approval. Full approval is more psychological than anything else, said Dr. Paul Offit, a voting member of the agencys Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee. I mean you already have more than 320MM doses administered. The vaccines already have an enormous safety and efficacy profile.

The FDA will do what it thinks it needs to do to make sure that the American public is safe, he said.

Initially, full authorization was expected to arrive in September, but the Biden Administration has ramped up the pressure in recent days. Full approval opens the door to several activities that were barred under the emergency authorization: Pfizer can now advertise the jab, and it can now continue to vaccinate people even after the COVID emergency is deemed over. Pfizer can also now raise the price of the vaccine. They have already raised the price of the jab in the EU.

Pfizer and BioNTech have both said they intend to generate billions of dollars in revenues (and likely profits) from sales of the jab.

As vaccine proponents celebrate the news, Alex Berenson, a prominent skeptic, has a question: how can a vaccine be fully approved when we dont even know the optimal number of doses?

Hey @us_fda  before you approve the @pfizer vaccine today, I have one simple question: How many doses is the regimen? Two, three, TBD? How can you approve a vaccine  which by its very name is supposed to have a FIXED-DOSE REGIMEN  if you cant even answer that question?  Alex Berenson (@AlexBerenson) August 23, 2021

Heres the full press release from the FDA:

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine has been known as the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, and will now be marketed as Comirnaty (koe-mir-na-tee), for the prevention of COVID-19 disease in individuals 16 years of age and older. The vaccine also continues to be available under emergency use authorization (EUA), including for individuals 12 through 15 years of age and for the administration of a third dose in certain immunocompromised individuals.

The FDAs approval of this vaccine is a milestone as we continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic. While this and other vaccines have met the FDAs rigorous, scientific standards for emergency use authorization, as the first FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine, the public can be very confident that this vaccine meets the high standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality the FDA requires of an approved product, said Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock, M.D. While millions of people have already safely received COVID-19 vaccines, we recognize that for some, the FDA approval of a vaccine may now instill additional confidence to get vaccinated. Todays milestone puts us one step closer to altering the course of this pandemic in the U.S.

Since Dec. 11, 2020, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine has been available under EUA in individuals 16 years of age and older, and the authorization was expanded to include those 12 through 15 years of age on May 10, 2021. EUAs can be used by the FDA during public health emergencies to provide access to medical products that may be effective in preventing, diagnosing, or treating a disease, provided that the FDA determines that the known and potential benefits of a product, when used to prevent, diagnose, or treat the disease, outweigh the known and potential risks of the product.

FDA-approved vaccines undergo the agencys standard process for reviewing the quality, safety and effectiveness of medical products. For all vaccines, the FDA evaluates data and information included in the manufacturers submission of a biologics license application (BLA). A BLA is a comprehensive document that is submitted to the agency providing very specific requirements. For Comirnaty, the BLA builds on the extensive data and information previously submitted that supported the EUA, such as preclinical and clinical data and information, as well as details of the manufacturing process, vaccine testing results to ensure vaccine quality, and inspections of the sites where the vaccine is made. The agency conducts its own analyses of the information in the BLA to make sure the vaccine is safe and effective and meets the FDAs standards for approval.

Comirnaty contains messenger RNA (mRNA), a kind of genetic material. The mRNA is used by the body to make a mimic of one of the proteins in the virus that causes COVID-19. The result of a person receiving this vaccine is that their immune system will ultimately react defensively to the virus that causes COVID-19. The mRNA in Comirnaty is only present in the body for a short time and is not incorporated into  nor does it alter  an individuals genetic material. Comirnaty has the same formulation as the EUA vaccine and is administered as a series of two doses, three weeks apart.

Our scientific and medical experts conducted an incredibly thorough and thoughtful evaluation of this vaccine. We evaluated scientific data and information included in hundreds of thousands of pages, conducted our own analyses of Comirnatys safety and effectiveness, and performed a detailed assessment of the manufacturing processes, including inspections of the manufacturing facilities, said Peter Marks, M.D., Ph.D., director of FDAs Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. We have not lost sight that the COVID-19 public health crisis continues in the U.S. and that the public is counting on safe and effective vaccines. The public and medical community can be confident that although we approved this vaccine expeditiously, it was fully in keeping with our existing high standards for vaccines in the U.S.

* * *

While this is definitely a win for Pfizer, BioNTech and their shareholders, its not the end of the road as far as the approval process is concerned: The FDA is now expected to weigh approval of a booster dose, which the Biden Administration is pushing for before Sept. 20, when it expects to start doling out jabs to the most vulnerable patients.
The Taliban's rise to power was driven in part by their opposition to Afghan tribal leaders' systematic rape of young boys.





CIA officers were bribing aging warlords with Viagra. The Americans knew all about the young boys the tribal leaders kept in their camps; because the sex drug helped Afghan elders rape more boys more often, they were beholden to the agency.



Yes, really.https://t.co/YB0vsPRqLy  Chris Buskirk (@thechrisbuskirk) August 19, 2021



From Tablet Mag:

The reality is that America lost its war in Afghanistan more than a decade ago, roughly around the time when CIA officers began bribing aging warlords with Viagra. The Americans knew all about the young boys the tribal leaders kept in their camps; because the sex drug helped Afghan elders rape more boys more often, they were beholden to America's clandestine service.

The evil of our rulers is beyond belief.



If you're wondering why they call our government "The Great Satan," look no further.





We were putting ppl into power who would do things that were worse than the Taliban, that was something village elders voiced to me. Dan Quinn, a captain who beat up an American-backed Afghan commander for keeping a boy chained to his bed as a sex slave. https://t.co/eOcvpXUZG7  Syrian Girl  (@Partisangirl) August 14, 2021

From 2015: In Afghanistan soldiers and Marines were "troubled that instead of weeding out pedophiles, the American military was arming them in some cases and placing them as the commanders of villages." Taliban banned pedophilia, new gov brought it back. https://t.co/zw2usrDcdR pic.twitter.com/58ubI04YRD  Richard Hanania (@RichardHanania) March 1, 2021







From The New York Times, "U.S. Soldiers Told to Ignore Sexual Abuse of Boys by Afghan Allies":

KABUL, Afghanistan  In his last phone call home, Lance Cpl. Gregory Buckley Jr. told his father what was troubling him: From his bunk in southern Afghanistan, he could hear Afghan police officers sexually abusing boys they had brought to the base.



"At night we can hear them screaming, but were not allowed to do anything about it," the Marines father, Gregory Buckley Sr., recalled his son telling him before he was shot to death at the base in 2012. He urged his son to tell his superiors. "My son said that his officers told him to look the other way because its their culture."



Rampant sexual abuse of children has long been a problem in Afghanistan, particularly among armed commanders who dominate much of the rural landscape and can bully the population. The practice is called bacha bazi, literally "boy play," and American soldiers and Marines have been instructed not to intervene  in some cases, not even when their Afghan allies have abused boys on military bases, according to interviews and court records.



The policy has endured as American forces have recruited and organized Afghan militias to help hold territory against the Taliban. But soldiers and Marines have been increasingly troubled that instead of weeding out pedophiles, the American military was arming them in some cases and placing them as the commanders of villages  and doing little when they began abusing children.



"The reason we were here is because we heard the terrible things the Taliban were doing to people, how they were taking away human rights," said Dan Quinn, a former Special Forces captain who beat up an American-backed militia commander for keeping a boy chained to his bed as a sex slave. "But we were putting people into power who would do things that were worse than the Taliban did  that was something village elders voiced to me."



The policy of instructing soldiers to ignore child sexual abuse by their Afghan allies is coming under new scrutiny, particularly as it emerges that service members like Captain Quinn have faced discipline, even career ruin, for disobeying it.



After the beating, the Army relieved Captain Quinn of his command and pulled him from Afghanistan. He has since left the military.



Four years later, the Army is also trying to forcibly retire Sgt. First Class Charles Martland, a Special Forces member who joined Captain Quinn in beating up the commander.



"The Army contends that Martland and others should have looked the other way (a contention that I believe is nonsense)," Representative Duncan Hunter, a California Republican who hopes to save Sergeant Martlands career, wrote last week to the Pentagon's inspector general.

The Taliban would put to death anyone caught committing "bacha bazi."





"One of the original escalations for the Talibans rise to power in the early 1990s was their unacceptability of Bacha Bazi practice....In areas under the Taliban control, Bacha Bazi became taboo, and men involved in the practice had to go underground" https://t.co/rIqXWYiw1Y pic.twitter.com/BtZyAm4f8A  Richard Hanania (@RichardHanania) March 1, 2021







How many of the military-aged males being flown out of Afghanistan to America as "refugees" are doing so because they're afraid they'll be killed by the Taliban for engaging in this practice?





Afghans trying to get on one of the last planes out of Kabul after the Taliban took over. Where are the women and children? pic.twitter.com/CSeIDc3PHL  Anthea (@Anthea06274890) August 16, 2021

The first people we evacuated. All Afghans. Men outnumbering the women and children 10 to 1, easily. pic.twitter.com/X12sZzY1mc  Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) August 18, 2021



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CBS News published an article Friday claiming global warming was a major factory in the Taliban overrunning Afghanistan and creating murderous chaos throughout the country, rather than political ineptitude.

CBS News argues that global warming created horrible weather conditions that decimated crop production during the past 30 years in the country, and the Taliban fed off the misery experienced by Afghan farmers.

The objective truth is entirely the opposite.

According to the CBS News article, titled How climate change helped strengthen the Taliban,

Rural Afghanistan has been rocked by climate change. The past three decades have brought floods and drought that have destroyed crops and left people hungry. And the Taliban  likely without knowing climate change was the cause  has taken advantage of that pain.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UN FAO) keeps meticulous crop production data for nations throughout the world, including Afghanistan.

In the graph below, the information website The Global Economy presents the UN FAO data on cereal crop yields (corn, wheat, and rice) in Afghanistan, with the left axis showing kilograms per hectare:

Afghanistan crop production, by year

CBS News claims that climate change in Afghanistan during the last three decades  have destroyed crops and left people hungry. As you can see, however, Afghanistan has fully doubled its crop yields during the past three decades. Also, Afghan farmers have set new production records on a regular basis, especially during the past few years.

It may be convenient for CBS News to divert attention from the current deadly debacle in Afghanistan by blaming it on climate change. The objective truth, however, is that Afghan crop production has tremendously benefited from a modestly warming world. If global warming has had any impact on Afghan farmer sentiment throughout the country, it has clearly been to make farmers happier, more prosperous, and less vulnerable to the Taliban.
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Brandon-Souriss Peoples Party of Canada candidate is warning the ridings other candidates not to take him lightly because of his age.

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Brandon-Souriss Peoples Party of Canada candidate is warning the ridings other candidates not to take him lightly because of his age.

The same weekend the election was called, 22-year-old Tylor Baer was acclaimed as his partys candidate.

Twenty-two-year-old Tylor Baer will carry the Peoples Party of Canadas flag for Brandon-Souris in next months federal election. (Submitted)

"After looking at the platform and comparing it to what the (Conservatives) were offering, I felt like it was the right direction for me to go," he said of choosing to run for the PPC.

"The number one message Im getting from people about the (Conservative) party right now is theyre wishy-washy. They flip-flop. I dont think its done on purpose or out of any sort of ill intent. I think that the party is trying too broadly to appeal to everybody and in trying to appease everybody, theyre appeasing nobody."

Originally from Edmonton, Baer lived in Portage la Prairie for the last few years before moving to Brandon at the beginning of 2021.

With his addition to the race, there are now three competitors in Brandon-Souris. Larry Maguire is running to return to Ottawa with the Conservative Party of Canada and Whitney Hodgins for the NDP.

Speaking to the Sun on Sunday afternoon, Baer said he chose a foray into politics over returning to his DJ business because he felt he could make a difference and fight for Canadians personal freedoms.

Those freedoms, he believes, are being severely tested during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Like his partys leader, Maxime Bernier, Baer came out strongly against vaccine mandates and vaccine passports of any kind in the interview.

He said people on the left like to advocate for women making choices about their bodies when it comes to the "a-word"  avoiding saying the word abortion  but those people are strangely silent when it comes to the issue of making vaccinations mandatory. However, his views on the vaccination issue go farther than that.

"This is probably a controversial statement, but I am prepared to say it: when it comes to the point of mandating vaccinations or mandating any other medical procedure by the government, I would consider that ... not just a war crime, but if youre a government body committing a war crime against its own people, to me that is grounds for treason."

The reason for this, according to him, is because vaccine mandates violate the Nuremberg Code  a set of rules for human medical experiments proposed during the trials of Nazi war criminals involved with unethical experimentation after the Second World War. The rules in the code address research subjects being able to give informed consent when participating in experiments.

Although the vaccines have been approved for emergency use in several countries including Canada because of the seriousness of the pandemic, the makers of these vaccines had to submit them for clinical trials and prove to various governments that they are safe for human use.

"In conclusion, the data provided supports favourably the efficacy of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine as well as its safety," Health Canadas approval of the Pfizer vaccine reads. "The efficacy of the vaccine was established to be approximately 95 per cent, the vaccine was well tolerated by participants and has no important safety concerns. The benefit to risk assessment for Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine is considered favourable."

Back in April, Baer responded to a pro-mask mandate meme in the People of Brandon Facebook group. At first, he referred to the meme as "reverse psychology propaganda from communist China" and then likened it to Jewish people being rounded up and murdered en masse during the Holocaust.

When asked if he still felt that way, Baer said its a good comparison to the current situation. He did concede at one point that vaccine mandates arent directly comparable to genocide.

"Rather than being separated by a race, youre being separated by if youre a good person or not a good person, by if youre taking the vaccines or not taking the vaccines," he said. "I believe there is the potential that when we give up these rights and this autonomy over our own body, there is a high potential for government to abuse that."

On the subject of climate change, Baer said that thorium-powered nuclear reactors could present a clean source of energy going forward as the world attempts to wean itself off of coal and fossil fuels. Thorium is both more plentiful and less easy to weaponize than uranium and plutonium.

According to the World Nuclear Associations website, thorium cannot be used as a nuclear fuel by itself and the technology needed to use it as a power source is still in development in China and the United States.

 cslark@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @ColinSlark

BREAKOUT BOX: Westman candidates

Here are the nominated candidates in Brandon-Souris for the upcoming federal election on Sept. 20:

 Conservative Party of Canada  Larry Maguire

 New Democratic Party  Whitney Hodgins

 Peoples Party of Canada  Tylor Baer

Candidates in Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa:

 Conservative Party of Canada  Dan Mazier

 Liberal Party of Canada  Kevin Carlson

 Maverick Party  Lori Falloon-Austin

 Peoples Party of Canada  Donnan McKenna

 The Brandon Sun
OTTAWA - On the eve of a special G7 leaders' meeting, Canadian officials disclosed Monday the military's special forces are operating outside the closed confines of Kabul's chaotic airport to get people on flights out of Afghanistan.

A Taliban fighter stands guard at a checkpoint in the Wazir Akbar Khan neighbourhood in the city of Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Rahmat Gul

OTTAWA - On the eve of a special G7 leaders' meeting, Canadian officials disclosed Monday the military's special forces are operating outside the closed confines of Kabul's chaotic airport to get people on flights out of Afghanistan.

The officials would not provide more details, citing the sensitivity of the security situation, but they said they are having success in getting more Afghans to safety.

They said a Canadian C-17 Globemaster carried 436 people out of Kabul airport on Sunday night, including Canadian citizens and family members, as well as Afghan nationals accepted for resettlement by Canada and its allies  up from the 121 airlifted a day earlier.

"We are having success getting folks into HKIA in significant numbers, which has been a significant improvement over the last few days," said one official, using the acronym for Hamid Karzai International Airport.

"We made the decision to disclose that Canada's special operations forces have been and continue to work outside the confines of HKIA."

The official said the special forces personnel "are working relentlessly" to bring as many Canadian citizens and eligible Afghans through security gates to waiting aircraft.

The disclosure came during a briefing for journalists on Monday that was given by three senior federal officials, on the condition they not be named as per the agreements for such background briefings.

Desperate Afghans who previously worked as interpreters for Western military forces and news agencies, among others, are in hiding, fearing for the safety of themselves and their families after Afghanistan fell to the Taliban last week and exposed them to violent reprisals.

"Our forces on the ground have all the necessary authorizations to do what they feel is necessary to save as many people as quickly as possible," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday in Halifax during a federal election campaign appearance.

The crisis in Afghanistan has featured prominently during the first week of the federal campaign. Trudeau said he will also be taking part in a virtual G7 meeting Tuesday that will be looking at ways to address the crisis.

"When we have our G7 leaders meeting shortly, we will certainly be talking about what more we can do and must do," Trudeau said.

That includes looking at what else can be done to help other vulnerable Afghans, including women and children, as well as human-rights activists, politicians, journalists and others who are now in the Taliban's crosshairs for their democracy-building efforts of the last two decades.

Trudeau said that while the government's focus is on helping Canadian citizens and Afghans and their families with direct connections to Canada  a group that includes interpreters and other workers  he is interested in looking at ways to cast a wider net.

We are also very interested in activists and human rights leaders, journalists and people who over the past many years have fought and delivered improvements for people in Afghanistan. We know those people need to be brought to safety. And we, alongside our allies, will be doing everything we can for all the categories, Trudeau said.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is convening the meeting of G7 leaders, saying urgent talks are necessary. There is widespread speculation that U.S. President Joe Biden will face calls from his allies to extend the Aug. 31 deadline he has set to withdraw U.S. troops from Kabul airport.

British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has called that deadline, set by the U.S. in a deal with the Taliban, a mistake and has urged the Americans to extend the mission for several days. The Taliban has warned that any extension would be viewed as crossing a "red line" and would provoke a reaction.

A senior British official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment on the record, said the G7 talks would encompass "immediate co-operation on the evacuation effort from Kabul and longer-term planning on future engagement in Afghanistan, as well as the humanitarian response and support for refugees."

The official said Johnson would be looking for commitments from his fellow leaders on ways to protect the rights of women and minorities, and to work toward Afghanistan not becoming a terrorist haven once more.

Canadian officials did not immediately have a breakdown of the number of women and children who have been brought out of Afghanistan, including on the latest flight.

The head of the Canadian branch of the organization Save The Children called Monday on world leaders to do more to streamline their processes for evacuating young people from Afghanistan.

"Though Canada has already announced a resettlement program, it is important that evacuation efforts are not hampered due to bureaucratic red tape as the situation demands urgent action," said Danny Glenwright, the organization's president.

Canadian officials said that about 300 Afghans have finished their quarantine and will eventually be resettled in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia.

In all, officials said Canada has evacuated about 1,700 people on 13 flights, which includes four that resumed as of this past Thursday after Canada and its allies managed to secure the Kabul airport after the Taliban took power the previous weekend.

That also includes dozens of personnel from the 12 other countries participating in the American-led air bridge.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 23, 2021.

 with files from The Associated Press
CONTRECOEUR, Que. - A 37-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder in connection with a Montreal-area shooting on Sunday that left five people injured, including a nine-year-old.

A Quebec provincial police vehicle is shown in this Thursday, Jan.16, 2020, file photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

CONTRECOEUR, Que. - A 37-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder in connection with a Montreal-area shooting on Sunday that left five people injured, including a nine-year-old.

Yves Martin Larocque appeared in court Monday in Sorel-Tracy, Que., about 80 kilometres northeast of Montreal, and was charged with seven counts, including one of attempted murder and two counts of aggravated assault. He also faces charges related to firearms and criminal negligence.

Larocque is scheduled to return to court Wednesday to issue a plea and will be held in detention until then.

Provincial police say a car carrying four people was targeted by a shooter around 7:30 p.m. Sunday before the driver skidded into a ditch.

Police said the boy was hit by a bullet as he was standing outside a home in Contrecoeur, Que., northeast of Montreal. The boy's life is not in danger.

The four people inside the car were injured and transported to hospital, and police said the driver's injuries are serious. Police said the suspect hid inside a nearby residence and was arrested around 3 a.m. Monday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 23, 2021.
ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - As universities in Atlantic Canada issue vaccination mandates, students and staff are raising questions about how the health orders will be implemented once classes resume, especially regarding international students.

Newfoundland and Labrador's provincial flag flies on a flagpole in Ottawa, Friday July 3, 2020. The group representing faculty at Memorial University in Newfoundland and Labrador says it welcomes the school's mandatory vaccination policy -- but not without a few qualms. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - As universities in Atlantic Canada issue vaccination mandates, students and staff are raising questions about how the health orders will be implemented once classes resume, especially regarding international students.

On Friday, Memorial University in Newfoundland and Labrador became the latest school in the region to issue a vaccine mandate. COVID-19 shots will be required for all staff, faculty and students, and masks will be mandatory in all public areas where physical distancing cannot be maintained, Memorial's provost said.

The announcement came with few concrete details, and Kat McLaughlin, chairperson for the Canadian Federation of Students Newfoundland and Labrador, said the unknowns have compounded anxieties for students heading into another uncertain year.

"A lot of the conversation has been, 'Are we in support of this, or against it?'" McLaughlin said in an interview Monday. "I think the conversation really should be, 'What does this look like, and how are we going to navigate complications?'"

Universities in Atlantic Canada have taken an uneven approach to vaccine mandates.

Cape Breton University is requiring students living in residence to be immunized, while other Nova Scotia schools like Halifax's Dalhousie University are strongly encouraging vaccines but not requiring them.

The University of New Brunswick, meanwhile, is not mandating vaccines  but they're required at Mount Allison University, in Sackville, N.B., and St. Thomas University, in Fredericton.

"The St. Thomas University Students Union supports this decision," said union president Tyler McGee in an email Monday. "Having said that, we do have the following questions," he wrote, and then listed four questions, including how students' vaccination status will be verified and what will happen for international students.

"How will international students who have not had the opportunity to be vaccinated/students with medical reasons preventing vaccinations be integrated into campus life?" McGee asked. He said he expected more information from the school this week.

McLaughlin said fairness for international students is at the top of her federation's concerns.

"A lot of students in other parts of the world have received vaccinations that are not the vaccinations that are approved here in Canada," she said. "Does it mean they need to get different vaccinations  is it possible to get different vaccinations? Those are questions that we don't really know the answers to."

It's regrettable Memorial announced the policy so late in the summer and so close to the school year, McLaughlin said, adding that many international students have already planned their travel to St. John's and registered for courses. In general, students are already feeling like they don't have enough information about what this upcoming year will look like, and this latest development only adds to the uncertainty, she said.

Memorial University officials said they will provide more concrete details about the mandatory vaccine policy in the coming weeks. The school's faculty association says that information is desperately needed.

"While faculty are ultimately happy with this decision, we are deeply disappointed that conversations on this subject have been taking place for months with no consultation of students, faculty, or staff," association president Bill Schipper said in an email Monday.

"Much of the stress and confusion that members of our community are now facing could have been prevented if conversations were had with all stakeholders more than just a couple of short weeks before the semester begins."

Schipper said the faculty association has been calling on school administration to improve access to vaccine information for students  especially international students  and to offer vaccination clinics on campus.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 23, 2021.
OTTAWA - Canada airlifted another 121 people from strife-ridden Afghanistan on Saturday, including Canadian citizens and family members as well as Afghan nationals accepted for resettlement by Ottawa and its allies, officials said Sunday.

Refugees from Afghanistan and Canadian Citizens board a bus after being processed at Pearson Airport in Toronto, Tuesday, Aug 17, 2021, after arriving indirectly from Afghanistan. Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan says Canada will work tirelessly to evacuate people from strife-ridden Afghanistan "for as long as it is safe to do so." Sajjan tells a news conference today the challenging security conditions in Kabul are changing rapidly, even by the hour, but Canadian personnel are doing everything in their power to get people to safety. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

OTTAWA - Canada airlifted another 121 people from strife-ridden Afghanistan on Saturday, including Canadian citizens and family members as well as Afghan nationals accepted for resettlement by Ottawa and its allies, officials said Sunday.

Canada will work tirelessly to evacuate people from Afghanistan "for as long as it is safe to do so," Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan told a news conference on the frantic effort.

Sajjan said the challenging security conditions in Kabul are changing rapidly, even by the hour, but Canadian personnel are doing everything in their power to get people to safety.

The crowding and violence around the Kabul airport continue to pose a "major challenge" for personnel, he added.

On the election campaign trail Sunday, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh criticized the Liberals for what he described as a sluggish effort to bring residents who previously supported Canada's diplomatic and military efforts to safety.

Pressed on whether Canada was doing enough to get people through the airport gates and on to planes, Sajjan said he had to be circumspect about operational details for security reasons, adding various plans are under consideration.

"We're not discounting anything on what we need to do," he said. "The security situation is extremely dire right now."

Sajjan was joined by Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino, Foreign Affairs Minister Marc Garneau and Women and Gender Equality Minister Maryam Monsef.

"The stories coming out of Kabul are heartbreaking. People are scared. They fear for their lives, and they're taking significant risks to try to get to safety," Garneau said.

"The panic we see in emails and hear during phone calls really drives home the gravity of the situation. We are walking this difficult road with them, helping them step by step to get to safety."

Mendocino said Canadian personnel "have the full operational discretion to take whatever actions are necessary to get as many people into the airport and onto those flights as quickly as possible."

"I've instructed that processing be accelerated, resources be added and that all red tape be cut without compromising security."

He also offered assurances that Canada is in "constant contact" with everybody that has applied under its programs, providing direction on how to stay as safe as possible.

Government officials confirmed on Saturday that Canadians had evacuated 106 Afghans from the Kabul airport on Friday and brought them to a safe third country.

Friday's flight was Canada's second out of Kabul since Afghanistan fell to the Taliban last weekend.

The first left Thursday, with 175 fleeing Afghans and 13 foreign nationals on board.

Officials said the Afghans on Thursday's flight are bound for other countries, while the 106 on Friday's are destined for settlement in Canada.

All of the Afghan evacuees on the first two flights were interpreters and other workers who supported Canada's military and diplomatic efforts in the country, they said.

Monsef, the first Afghan-Canadian elected to Parliament, said the chaos in Kabul had stirred up difficult memories.

She promised to work with colleagues in Canada and around the world to create space for the voices of Afghan women and girls and minorities.

"Their voices must be heard, they must shape Canada's response and the global response," she said.

"The Taliban are the same Taliban of 20 years ago."

A legitimate government would immediately allow for the safe passage of individuals, cease violence and take part in an inclusive peace negotiation that includes women and minorities in a meaningful way, she said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 22, 2021.
TOKYO (AP)  A close ally of Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga was defeated in a high-profile mayoral election in Yokohama, Suga's home turf, in a sharp setback for the already unpopular leader ahead of general elections later this year.

Yokohama mayoral candidate Takeharu Yamanaka poses for a photo after winning in a mayoral election in Yokohama, near Tokyo Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021. A close ally of Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga was defeated in the high-profile mayoral election in Yokohama, Suga's home turf, in a sharp setback for the already unpopular leader ahead of general elections later this year. (Kyodo News via AP)

TOKYO (AP)  A close ally of Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga was defeated in a high-profile mayoral election in Yokohama, Suga's home turf, in a sharp setback for the already unpopular leader ahead of general elections later this year.

Opposition-backed scientist Takeharu Yamanaka comfortably beat Suga confidante Hachiro Okonogi in an eight-candidate race with support from voters critical of the governing party's pandemic response and its backing of plans for a waterfront casino in the city.

The result was very unfortunate, Suga said Monday. I understand it was the voters' judgment over the pandemic and other issues in the city, and I take it humbly.

Okonogis defeat adds another election loss for Suga, whose favored candidates have been winless in local elections since he took office last September. Sunday's result is expected to further weaken his grip on power within the governing Liberal Democratic Party ahead of lower house elections that need to be held by Nov. 28.

LDP candidates lost three parliamentary byelections earlier this year. In the Tokyo metropolitan assembly election in July, the party failed to win back many of the seats it lost to Gov. Yuriko Koikes local party in the previous election.

LDP parliamentary affairs committee chief Hiroshi Moriyama said local elections wont affect national election results, but opposition groups were emboldened by Sundays victory.

We have demonstrated that opposition parties can achieve a landslide victory when we become one solid bloc, said Jun Azumi, a senior lawmaker of the largest opposition group, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan.

Yamanaka, 48, a former professor at Yokohama City University with no political experience, was backed by three liberal-leaning opposition parties: the Constitutional Democrats, the Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party.

Yamanaka has analyzed vaccine efficacy on coronavirus variants and is critical of Sugas lax virus measures. He opposes the citys divisive plan to build a casino on oceanfront property.

Suga has faced criticism for insisting that the country go ahead with hosting the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics despite strong public opposition due to concerns about the pandemic. Recent media surveys show that his public support ratings have slid below 30% from around 70% soon after he took office.

Suga became prime minister by replacing Shinzo Abe, who resigned because of health issues, promising to continue his policies while filling in as party leader until the end of his term in September.

Suga has repeatedly said he plans to run for another term. I have said it is only natural to run when the time comes, and there is no change in that plan, Suga said Monday.

Tokyo has been under emergency measures most of this year, most recently since July 12, but new daily cases have increased more than tenfold since then to about 5,000 in Tokyo and 25,000 nationwide, quickly filling up hospital beds and forcing many people, some requiring supplementary oxygen, to recover at home.
The latest wave of lockdowns around the country will drive cooped up office workers, wary of the mental health impacts of working from home, back into city towers, one of the countrys largest office landlords says.

Charter Hall's 333 George Street in Sydney is seen as a frictionless office.

Charter Hall Group managing director and chief executive David Harrison said: This second wave of lockdowns has massively changed the attitude of workers who, in the early stages of the pandemic, were a bit ambivalent.

I get a fantastic lens into corporate Australia and universally, were hearing people are just sick of being cooped up at home and theres a desire to get back and collaborate. The mental issues of being cooped up are really coming to the fore.

That confidence in the future of premium office towers is driving Charter Hall, whose $22.8 billion office funds host more than 2000 corporate tenants around Australia, to continue developing and investing in new buildings and tenants.
It was the summer of the bushfires; the economy was taking a hit; and their home at the Arts Centre was due to close for renovation. There was also a flood of commercial producers coming into Melbourne. In a way, they did themselves out of a job. The Production Company had done an enormous amount to promote talent as it came out of the tertiary institutions, as they came into the auditions, he says. We could see that to some extent the commercial scene was thriving so much that our role was being reduced. But now, of course, its all changed again. I think coming out of the pandemic theres going to be a real need for a company like The Production Company. There have been very preliminary talks that they might yet bring the company out of retirement, he says: Weve had some inquiries.

We decided [in 2019] that we would cease operations for the time being ... but never say never. Plans for a farewell concert in 2020 were quashed by the pandemic. In a way it feels like they were deprived of a farewell, he says, but hed prefer to remember the life of the company, not the last days. The archive, assembled with company executive director Rachel D Taylor and chair Jeanne Pratt, was partly inspired by one of Mackenzie-Forbes big regrets: that history is increasingly being written by the anonymous scribes at Wikipedia, by commentators and (yes) journalists, but not by those who lived it. And that can mean years of work and achievements lost from the collective memory. For 20 years I was the managing director of Victoria State Opera and I always regretted that after those 20 years there isnt really a real history of that companys life, he says. And I think that a lot of that companys history is currently misrepresented. I was determined that for The Production Company, which was the next 20 years of my life, we would have a permanent record of its achievements.

Chloe Zuel during rehearsals for the Australian production of Hamilton. Credit:Lisa Maree Williams They have compiled show announcements, production photo galleries, a copy of each show program, and even the reviews, as a permanent online resource to honour the artists, creatives and collaborators. It amply demonstrates the companys key role in developing big talents. Mackenzie-Forbes remembers the arrival of Lucy Durack in the audition room. She was destined for big things: Glinda in Wicked, Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, TVs Doctor Doctor. The Production Company provided her first three or four roles. They gave a shot to Chloe Zuel, now Elizabeth Schuyler in the Australian production of Hamilton. She was Sarah in Ragtime, which Mackenzie-Forbes picks as one of his highlights with the company (he had the rights since 2005, but waiting more than a decade before he felt he had the right artists to put it on). And there was Amy Lehpamer, who started with TPCs Follies before going on to Rock of Ages, The Sound of Music and School of Rock.

You could tell straight away that she was a truly gifted, brilliant artist, says Mackenzie-Forbes. Jeanne [Pratt] has an expression: whether an artist comes over the footlights. [Its] an appeal that cuts across, comes through: the voice, the appearance, the energy and the charm or drama that a person is able to express in their performance. Pratt herself was a key to the companys success, he says. She brought great passion for musical theatre but also business nous, calling him every day to talk through issues; every performance night she would say lets go and greet the customers. She made that link between the audience and the company very strong. Loading Mackenzie-Forbes has seen changes in the industry. There has been a remarkable increase in the appreciation of musical theatre, he says, and a big improvement in the quality of training in the tertiary institutions. But that has coincided with a disturbing shortage of career opportunities for graduates, he says  and, of course, the last 12 months have been diabolical.
Tilley tried to arrange the dancers repatriation. He explained the difficulties. Most pensioners dread the thought of being forced to leave a country that they had grown to love and where they have formed close friendships  and they are often even more apprehensive of being sent back home, perhaps into the care of relatives who barely remember them. If they were paid their right pension, theyd be okay, Tilley would storm.

He became a committee member of the International Consortium of British Pensioners. Over the years, the consortium raised the money to sue the UK Government for discrimination through the UKs High Court, later its Appeal Court and then both chambers of the European Court of Human Rights. All efforts were unsuccessful.

He ceaselessly lobbied politicians. He lobbied Bob Carr when he ran into him at his eye doctors surgery. He would point out that the UKs policy was costing Australians billions of dollars annually, both in reduced pension revenue from the UK and the cost to Centrelink of topping up the pensions of long-standing UK retirees to bring them in line with the Australian aged pension.

Meanwhile, he complained that the UK was not only cutting the cost of its pension bill, but saving the age care costs of the tens of thousands of pensioners who had retired to Australia.

His campaigning had an effect, although it benefitted Australia rather than British pensioners. It has introduced legislation that makes it much more difficult and expensive for pensioners to immigrate here. Australia continues to pay its recipients the full, indexed pension wherever they choose to retire.
The highly anticipated trial of a Northern Territory police officer accused of murdering an Aboriginal teenager has been delayed again, and may not come back this year, after an extraordinary intervention from the High Court less than an hour before it was set to begin.

Constable Zachary Rolfe, 30, faces a mandatory life sentence with a minimum of 20 years in jail if he is convicted over the 2019 death of 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker in the remote community of Yuendumu, about 300 kilometres north-west of Alice Springs.

Zachery Rolfe arrives at the Northern Territory Supreme Court on Monday. Credit:Krystle Wright

Mr Walker stabbed Constable Rolfe in the shoulder with a pair of scissors during a police operation to arrest him and was shot three times. He died about two hours later in the communitys police station.

In a nation reckoning with matters of race and power, and against the backdrop of the global Black Lives Matter movement, the trial has taken on emblematic significance.
The CEO of a Sydney private hospital says he may be forced to stand down doctors and nursing staff after NSWs ban on non-urgent surgery left hundreds of beds vacant across the city.

While private surgical hospitals have been recruited into the pandemic effort by NSW Health, operators of rehabilitation facilities, which take in patients from these hospitals, say they could be doing more to assist during Sydneys Delta outbreak.

Dr Harry Pannu, CEO of Arcadia Pittwater rehabilitation hospital, with staff he says he will need to stand down if more private hospitals are not engaged to assist in the pandemic effort. Credit:Edwina Pickles

Last week, NSW Health asked hospitals including North Shore Private, St Vincents Private and Westmead Private to stop performing non-urgent elective surgery to free up staff and resources.

Dr Harry Pannu, CEO of the 85-bed Arcadia Pittwater private hospital at Warriewood, on Sydneys northern beaches, said he expected his rehabilitation facility would have almost no patients by the first week of September after non-urgent surgery stopped at nearby larger hospitals.
Queensland recorded two new virus cases on Monday, both contained in quarantine, as the state government moved to get more food supply chain workers vaccinated to help deal with future outbreaks.

One of the cases on Monday was locally acquired, linked to the recent Indooroopilly cluster, and had spent their entire infectious period in home quarantine.

The other was a returned traveller from the Philippines who tested positive while in home quarantine.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said it was another good result for Queensland, but warned that rising cases in NSW and Victoria meant it was a matter of time before fresh outbreaks happened.
It has been a ghastly week for music journalist Jane Gazzo. She has deleted herself from Twitter after she found herself swept up in an expose of punk muso Ally Spazzy.

Spazzy, real name Alice McNamara, was named in this newspapers investigation into neo-Nazis as a musician who runs a childrens music business, KiddyRock. Ms McNamara, who has been posting neo-Nazi and anti-lockdown propaganda under an online alias, hung up the phone when contacted.

Its been a tough week for journalist Jane Gazzo. Credit:Illustration: John Shakespeare

Campaigning group The White Rose Society then published an expose of McNamaras activities in the unsavoury anti-lockdown chat room on the messaging app Telegram, reporting that another member of the group was Gazzo - who presents the ABC music show The Sound.

While the group was unsavoury, Gazzos posts were mild, and she didnt post any neo-Nazi or racist rhetoric. Still, the company you keep.
Pusey was in April jailed for 10 months for outraging public decency and other charges after filming the dying officers after they were hit by a truck on the Eastern Freeway in Kew on April 22 last year. Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor, Senior Constable Kevin King and constables Glen Humphris and Josh Prestney were all hit and killed when a truck driven by Mohinder Singh, addled by drug use and fatigue, veered into the emergency lane and hit the officers and their stationary vehicles. Loading The officers had pulled Pusey over for speeding at 149km/h in his black Porsche and were discussing impounding his vehicle when they were hit. Pusey was urinating at the side of the road when the truck hit the officers. Singh was this year jailed for 22 years. Pusey was granted bail in October last year over those charges, and went back into custody after he assaulted the woman.

On Monday, he pleaded guilty to unlawful assault and other charges over the incident at his home. Loading He also pleaded guilty to two road-rage incidents, sending menacing emails to a bank worker and dropping a $50 slab of beer in a Fitzroy bottle shop. But defence counsel Carmen Randazzo, SC, said Pusey had served 118 days over the five incidents on top of the 10 months in prison for the charges stemming from the aftermath of the fatal crash. He should receive an aggregate sentence of time served on all these matters, Ms Randazzo said.

Ms Randazzo said two psychologists were prepared to work with Pusey once he was out of jail. Pusey had mental health issues and problems with drugs and alcohol, his lawyer said, but if he was committed to treatment, he can be a contributing member of the community and can be offence-free. She said alcohol and drugs played no part in his offending against the woman on December 27. During the hearing, Pusey told the magistrate he changed his medication five days before the incident. Police are not pushing for Pusey to serve more time in jail unless he refuses to serve a community correction order. Ms McDonnell said the former mortgage broker should be put on an order, with treatment, to deter him from future offending.

Loading But Puseys lawyer said he would not agree to a condition to complete a correction order as he feared that might be setting him up for a fall. The prosecutor countered that if Pusey did refuse to agree to serve a correction order, he should serve more time in prison. Pusey also pleaded guilty to unlawful assault, theft, criminal damage, destruction of property and four counts of using a carriage service to menace, over the other incidents. The court heard that on October 20, 2018, he punched another driver in the body in a dispute over a parking space in central Melbourne. Pusey also stole the other drivers car keys from the ignition.

The victim said he lost sleep over the incident, lost several days of work as a professional driver and had been frustrated at how long it took for the case to finalise. In the other road-rage incident, Pusey used a key to scratch a mans Royal Enfield motorcycle in Richmond on March 26, 2019. The rider was nearly thrown from his motorcycle by Puseys Porsche, and the confrontation came when both men parked their vehicles. Ms McDonnell said the rider claimed the damage bill was $4462, but Ms Randazzo said that figure was quite exorbitant. She said the dispute over the repair bill should be settled in a civil court. On August 27, 2019 Pusey sent abusive and threatening emails to a bank worker amid a dispute over a credit card bill. He called the worker a f---wit c--- and also made a crude reference to the mans wife and mentioned their young daughter by name. The victim was concerned for his and his familys safety, the prosecutor said.
We really are concerned about this ongoing emergence of cases in the Newport area. Victoria records 71 new local coronavirus cases The cases include: 14 cases linked to the Shepparton outbreak

10 cases linked to the Newport cluster

Eight cases linked to the MyCentre Child Care in Broadmeadows

Five cases linked to the Royal Melbourne Hospital

12 cases are household contacts of previous cases

22 are mystery cases SOURCE: COVID-19 response commander Jeroen Weimar August 23 coronavirus update Mr Weimar also warned the state had again seen a spread into more suburbs in Melbourne, including Essendon West, Camberwell, Thornbury, Fitzroy North, and Maidstone. Cases had spread as far as Sorrento and Mansfield, he said. Its no longer a Newport and Glenroy problem, even though there are some challenges there. Loading

Mr Weimar said 29 people were in hospital with COVID-19, including a baby. He pointed out that overall Victorians currently in hospital had a very young age profile, mostly under 50-years-old. Soft lockdown an option for Victoria: epidemiologist Melbourne University epidemiologist Tony Blakely has suggested a soft lockdown could be an option for Victoria if coronavirus cases in the state dont drop significantly by September 2. His modelling showed that, if the state shifted to a soft lockdown in September, the COVID-19 vaccination rate would catch up with case numbers and they would start to go down. A soft lockdown would see your cases peak at about 300 or 400 per day, and then start to come down as you caught it by November, he said on Radio Nationals breakfast program on Monday.

So thats one option. Its really just putting it out there for discussion at the moment. If people, including government officials, are interested in seeing more about these options, we can do the more formal modelling. At this point in time, it was really a mathematical exercise to work through the options. Professor Blakely said the likelihood Victoria would be able to suppress this current COVID-19 outbreak to very low numbers was getting pretty marginal at the moment, with the impact of the states sixth lockdown not as pronounced as the last. Mr Andrews said authorities would look at all options and said the health advice always weighed up factors including physical and mental health.

He said he could not rule out COVID-19 measures like masks or targeted lockdowns, even when 80 per cent of the population is vaccinated. If we had a really nasty outbreak in a vulnerable community in a suburb or part of the state, for instance, in an aged care facility  we might lock down a whole lot of aged care facilities if we had a problem in aged care. Or a disability centre  or a school in October. I cant rule that out. Calls to police about COVID-19 rule breaches increase Victorian Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said there had been a pronounced lift in the number of people reporting potential breaches of COVID-19 rules.

He said the police assistance line fielded nearly 3000 calls on Saturday  the most he has seen in a long, long time, if ever. Mr Patton said that, in addition to those fined for anti-lockdown protests, 130 people were fined for lockdown breaches across the state in the preceding 24 hours. Mr Patton said police had seen an alarming escalation in private gatherings at homes in metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria. The Chief Commissioner described the weekends anti-lockdown protests as probably the most violent protest weve seen in nearly 20 years, with six police officers hospitalised, and one facing leg surgery.

Mr Patton said he was investigating whether public transport could be shut in the lead-up to future protests to prevent large numbers of people from taking part. Mr Andrews described scenes at Saturdays protests as both disgusting and unlawful. Exposure site list for Shepparton swells Victorian health authorities identified new COVID-19 exposure sites in Shepparton on Monday. Loading

They included two tier-1 sites, which require anyone who attended them during the specified timeframes to immediately get tested for COVID-19 and quarantine for 14 days, regardless of the test result. The new tier-1 sites are the Derrimut 24:7 Gym and a Janus Health Hub dance revival class. They are in addition to fresh food shops, a chemist and a university campus in Shepparton, which were added as tier-1 sites on Sunday. Mr Weimar said on Monday that three schools in Shepparton were involved in the outbreak. If youre concerned that your child may not be 100 per cent right, if youre concerned about yourself  the quicker we catch hold of that, the better we can protect the rest of your family, he said. Victorian health authorities also declared two new tier-1 sites outside Shepparton on Monday morning: a BMW dealership in Brighton and the Emmanuel Medical Centre in St Albans.

Mass confusion reined at the weekend over who was eligible to send their children to childcare. Credit:Michel O'Sullivan Rules on childcare clarified after a confusing weekend The updates come after a weekend of confusion and bewilderment for parents as authorities repeatedly gave contradictory advice on the decision to restrict access to childcare centres to essential workers. One school principal told The Age he had struggled all weekend to get clarity and information from government officials about which children would be allowed to attend childcare and kindergarten from Monday. Loading

The Chief Health Officers initial directions, published on Saturday, stated both parents would need to be authorised workers to send their children to childcare or kindergarten. But late on Sunday, Premier Daniel Andrews office announced the directions would be redrafted to say childcare access would be permitted if just one parent was deemed an authorised worker. In a further direction even later on Sunday, the Department of Health said that parents would be allowed to work from home. Victoria recorded no new cases in hotel quarantine over the past 24 hours. With Erin Pearson and Broede Carmody
The state government has stalled a decision on whether recycled water will be added to south-east Queenslands drinking supply, despite predictions mandatory water restrictions could be enforced within months.

In December 2020, Seqwater chief executive Neil Brennan flagged the body would wait until after summer to make a decision on whether to fully restart the controversial Western Corridor Recycled Water Scheme, which would take two years, as part of its drought response.

Beer competitions have been a successful tactic in the US using purified recycled water. Credit:Wolter Peeters

But eight months later, there is no announcement.

Recycled water is wastewater that has been purified to drinking water standards through treatment including through sewage treatment, reverse osmosis and ultraviolet disinfection.
The chaos reflects the degree to which the American government was caught flat-footed by an operation that Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Mark A. Milley described this week as one of the largest civilian evacuations in US military history. President Biden said on Friday that some 13,000 people have been airlifted from Afghanistan since August 14, on top of 5000 in the two previous weeks as Taliban forces carried out their lightning takeover of the country. The flow is expected to continue for weeks. A member of the Qatar Air force walking next to a boy evacuated from Afghanistan, at Al-Udeid airbase. Credit:AFP Officials are straining to beef up capacity of all stages of the evacuee processing system, looking for additional places to land the Afghans they fly out of Kabul, personnel to process them and then secondary locations to take them to. Bill Urban, a spokesman for US Central Command in Tampa, said officials are working with other military bases, the State Department, Customs and Border Protection and third countries to find other places to house the evacuees. They are also rushing more material to the Qatar base, including sanitation facilities and air-conditioned tents. Its a dual effort of improving the conditions there and moving people onward as quickly as possible, he said.

A backlog at any stage of the global chain risks sparking a humanitarian collapse or violence. Fridays pause in evacuations, for example, quickly added to the crowding in Kabul, with more than 10,000 people packed into the military side of the airport at one point early on Saturday, according to a person working with the US government to co-ordinate the evacuation. A Defence official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, said the number of evacuees at the airport grew from about 10,000 on Friday but declined to say how much larger the crowd was on Saturday. Loading Officials closed the gates leading to that section of the airport before planes resumed taking off, said the person working with the US government on the evacuation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment. It was unclear whether the gates had been reopened later on Saturday. The US government official said the gates have been intermittently closed because the airport reached capacity. But, he said, we had procedures in place to receive any American citizens who made it to the gate and notified us of their location. Bahrain announced on Friday that its Isa Air Base will begin receiving evacuees, and the United Arab Emirates said it would temporarily house 5000 Afghans at Washingtons request. The US Ramstein Air Base in Germany tweeted photos of their own preparations for incoming Afghans.

In Doha, officials are trying to load outbound planes to the United States or third countries to keep pace with those landing from Kabul. At least some of the flights have landed at Washingtons Dulles International Airport. Loading For now, the first stop for most Afghans fleeing Taliban violence remains the hangar in Qatar. Coming on crowded military flights, many have arrived without belongings or even passports. Those with US passports were moved through the fastest, according to journalists who witnessed the process, with some being put on buses for outbound flights almost immediately. For others, the process has been slower. Many of those waiting had been in the final stages of securing a Special Immigrant Visa, an expedited path to immigrate to the United States reserved only for those who worked for the US military or government in Afghanistan. Khelwati, an IT worker from Virginia who had been visiting family in Afghanistan, holds a US green card. He was not able to move through the evaluation system for days until Friday, when the pace of processing picked up, he said. After lining up at 6pm, he was interviewed and fingerprinted by 4am on Saturday. He was then moved to a second hangar, less crowded and cooler, to await a flight out.

For some, the discomfort and the waiting was made worse by what they had left behind. Their livelihoods and homes were suddenly lost, and in some cases so were their families. When Samiullah Nasiri, 30, walked into the hangar on Wednesday, he immediately began looking for his wife and kids. They had been separated at a Taliban checkpoint near the airport when his wife was too afraid to proceed. She told Nasiri, who was in danger because of his work at a housing compound for Americans and other foreigners, to go ahead. He had hoped she would find another way. I cried the entire plane ride, he said, standing by the registration table with his childrens ID cards, his shirt still bloody from a tussle with a Taliban fighter. He could find no sign of them. Today my heart was broken, he said. The Washington Post
Washington: The White House is insisting that President Joe Biden, rather than the Taliban, will decide whether American troops withdraw from Afghanistan by the end of the month as planned or stay longer to continue the evacuation mission.

The Taliban has said that the group would consider any extension of the August 31 withdrawal deadline a clear violation of the peace agreement struck between the Taliban and the previous Trump administration and warned of consequences if it is extended.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the pace of evacuations from Kabul was dramatically increasing. Credit:AP

A Taliban spokesman said on Tuesday (AEST) the withdrawal date was a red line that should not be crossed, raising the possibility of violence between the fundamentalist militant group and departing US forces.

If they extend it that means they are extending occupation, spokesman Suhail Shaheen told Sky News UK. If they are intent on continuing the occupation, it will provoke a reaction.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says New Zealand will stick by its COVID-19 elimination strategy as she announced the national lockdown would be extended in a bid to suppress a growing outbreak.

New Zealand will remain in lockdown until at least Friday, while residents in Auckland, at the centre of the outbreak, are under strict stay-at-home orders until at least August 31, leaving home only for grocery shopping, exercise, healthcare or vaccination.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is suspending Parliament. Credit:Getty

Health authorities had earlier on Monday announced that 35 new cases of COVID-19 had been found in the New Zealand community in the previous 24 hours, bringing the size of the nations Delta variant outbreak to 107 cases.

While defending New Zealands elimination strategy, Ardern appeared to leave the door open to future changes, if advice should change.
Lansdale, PA (19446)

Today

Cloudy this morning with thunderstorms developing this afternoon. High 74F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Showers and thundershowers this evening, then cloudy with rain likely overnight. Low around 60F. SE winds shifting to N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 2 to 3 inches of rain expected. Localized flooding is expected.
Lansdale, PA (19446)

Today

Showers and thunderstorms. Isolated tornadoes possible. High 73F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Showers and thundershowers early, then overcast overnight with occasional rain. Low near 60F. SE winds shifting to N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 2 to 3 inches of rain expected. Localized flooding is expected.
Homegrown auto major on Monday said it will launch its mini Punch in the ongoing festive season.

Punch is based on the H2X concept, which had showcased at the Auto Expo 2020. It will be positioned below the company's compact Nexon and is expected to hit the market around Diwali this year.

Slated for "national launch this festive season", in a statement said Punch will offer a mix of "tough utility with sporting dynamics". It, however, did not disclose further details.

Tata Motors President Passenger Vehicle Business Unit Shailesh Chandra said, "Tata PUNCH, as the name suggests, is an energetic vehicle with a capability to go anywhere".

He further said, "True to the genes of all Tata Motors' products and catering to the needs of customers, who are looking for a compact city car with pure SUV characteristics, Punch will be the fourth addition to our SUV family, widening the range of options for all to choose from".

It is the first SUV built on ALFA-ARC (Agile Light Flexible Advanced Architecture) platform, developed under Impact 2.0 design language.

(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.)
ACME Group on Monday said it has signed a land agreement to set up a USD 3.5 billion green ammonia project at at the Port of Duqm in

The agreement was signed with The Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones, a Government authority of Oman, the firm said in a statement.

In March this year, The Company for the Development of the at Duqm (Tatweer) and ACME Group had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to set up a large-scale facility to produce green and green ammonia.

The plant will be an integrated facility using 3 gigawatts peak (GWp) of solar and 0.5 GWp of wind energy to produce 2,400 tonnes per day of green ammonia with an annual production of about 0.9 million tonnes.

"This would be the first facility of this scale to be operational by 2022. The facility is being built to export green ammonia to demand centres like Europe and Asia with an investment of USD 3.5 billion," the statement said.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Manoj K Upadhyay, founder and chairman, ACME Group and Ali Masoud Al Sunaidy, Chairman and Ahmed Hassan Al Dheeb Mahmoud Al Rawahi, Vice Chairman of The Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones.

Upadhyay said, "The signing of land reservation agreement will allow us to kick start pre-construction activities. We have hired environmental consultants and owner's engineers Black & Veatch and we plan to start the construction at as soon we commission our first green and green ammonia plant at Bikaner in India. The plant in Oman would be developed in phases and the first phase is likely to be commissioned by end of 2022."



ACME Group is in the process of commissioning the world's first integrated green and green ammonia plant in Bikaner, Rajasthan.

Green hydrogen will be produced using 5 MWp, expandable to 10 MWp, from the solar plant, which is an integral part of the project.

ACME Group has built a solar portfolio of 6 GWp. Of this, the company currently holds a portfolio of 5.25 GWp that includes 2.2 GWp of operational capacity and another 3.05 GWp is under construction. These are spread across 12 states in India.

(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.)
An Indian court on Monday has given police three weeks to conclude an investigation into claims from a former director who said he co-founded the digital payment platform but did not receive shares owed.

Ashok Kumar Saxena, 71, in legal documents said he invested $27,500 two decades ago in parent One97 Communications but was never allotted any stock, Reuters reported this month.

has said the claim amounts to harassment and cited it under "criminal proceedings" in the prospectus for its proposed $2.2 billion initial public offering (IPO). Saxena, a director from 2000 to 2004, has written to the market regulator urging it to stop Paytm from proceeding with the IPO.

Corporate governance experts said the tussle could spark regulatory inquiries and complicate the approval of an IPO that could value Paytm, backed by Chinese e-commerce leader Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, at up to $25 billion https://reut.rs/2WeMXlg.

On Monday, a Delhi district court judge requested the final report of the police's investigation within three weeks.

"I am directing them to conclude the inquiry as soon as possible," said Metropolitan Magistrate Animesh Kumar.

The police has submitted a status report to the court but is yet to conclude the investigation, senior lawyer Anupam Lal Das, representing Saxena, told Reuters after the hearing.

A official declined to comment. Paytm did not respond to a request for comment.

The heart of the dispute is a document seen by Reuters, dated 2001 and signed by Saxena and current Paytm Chief Executive Vijay Shekhar Sharma, stating Saxena was to own 55% of One97 Communications with Sharma owning the remainder.

Paytm, in a response to a police notice and which was seen by Reuters, denied Saxena was a co-founder and said the document in question was "merely a letter of intent" which "did not materialise into any definitive agreement.

Sharma did not respond to a request for comment.

The case will next be heard on Sept. 13.

(Reporting by Abhirup Roy and Aditya Kalra; Editing by Christopher Cushing)

(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.)
After showing interest in Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL) stake sale through its arm Think Gas, private equity major I Squared Capital has invested approximately $200 million in Singapore-based AG&P City Gas, which is developing twelve city networks in India.

The has been made through ISQ Global Infrastructure Fund III and ISQ Growth Markets Infrastructure Fund, as a first tranche of a $300 million equity raise in AG&P City Gas. I Squared Capital said it is planning to deploy up to $1.3 billion as capital expenditure to develop the distribution networks. AG&P City Gas is present in India under the brand name AG&P Pratham. AG&P City Gas was previously wholly-owned by the Atlantic, Gulf & Pacific Group (AG&P), a Singapore-based downstream liquefied natural gas business.

Along with AG&P, I Squared Capital was one of the early foreign institutional investors in the Indian city gas sector and is committed to helping the country achieve its target of having 15 percent of natural gas in its primary energy mix by 2030. We plan to deploy up to $1.3 billion in Capex to build out the distribution networks, noted Gautam Bhandari, managing partner at I Squared Capital.

In its twelve concessions, AG&P City Gas is responsible for developing and operating Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations for vehicles, piped natural gas to homes, and the distribution of Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) to industrial and commercial customers. City gas projects benefit from marketing exclusivity in their designated areas for 8-10 years and construction exclusivity of related infrastructure for 25 years.

AG&P is privileged to partner with I Squared Capital to expedite the roll-out of these vital gas networks being developed in India by AG&P City Gas. AG&P City Gas will simultaneously continue to build 1,500 CNG stations. AG&P City Gas will give the opportunity for small and large local to use cleaner and more affordable natural gas, mostly for the first time, a big competitive advantage for the Government of Indias ambitious Atmanirbhar (self-reliant) India program, said Joseph Sigelman, chairman and chief executive officer of AG&P Group.

I Squared Capital's arm Think Gas is in the race to buy the government's stake in BPCL, which is also in the CGD space. Think Gas is operating in areas like Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Barnala, Moga, Kapurthala, SBS Nagar in Punjab; Baghpat in Uttar Pradesh; Bhopal, Rajgarh, and Shivpuri in Madhya Pradesh; and Begusarai in Bihar.

The transaction builds upon I Squared Capitals experience in developing city gas infrastructure in India through its THINK Gas platform. The concessions cover some of the fastest growing cities in India such as Jodhpur, Kanchipuram (including what is Southern Chennai), Mysore and Thiruvananthapuram (otherwise known as Trivandrum). AG&P City Gas and THINK Gas are geographically complementary and will operate as independent with separate management teams, said Harsh Agrawal, partner at I Squared Capital based in Singapore.

These two form one of the largest private city gas portfolios in India with eighteen concessions serving approximately 85 million people across nine states with a planned capital expenditure of over $1.3 billion for AG&P City Gas. I Squared Capital will employ the same global best practices and smart technologies that we used for the rapid and successful development of our THINK Gas platform over the last four years, he said.
The (NAA) has agreed to remove the name of Systems India Private Ltd, the licensee of the brand in the country, in a case against the company's franchisee Dough Makers India Private Ltd.

This was informed by a counsel of NAA in the Delhi High Court. This may set a precedent wherever franchisers are named as respondents in a case against franchisees.

Systems counsel Abhishek Rastogi said NAA's move will provide great relief to various franchisers that are not part of the transaction between the franchisee and customers but have been dragged into the investigation process.

This case relates to alleged profiteering by Dough Makers after goods and services tax (GST) was reduced on November 15, 2017. The Authority calculated the profiteered amount at Rs 78,41,754.

Subway Systems was named as one of the respondents in the case, which the company said in its petition to the court was a gross violation of natural justice.

The counsel of NAA handed over to the court a copy of the authority's instructions which says that it has no objection in deleting Subway Systems from the proceedings carried out by the body created under the GST Act.

Earlier, Subway Systems had said the Authority and its investigation wing computed the alleged profiteered amount arbitrarily on the pretext that the franchiser did not provide invoice and item wise data of its franchisee.

The Authority had stated that Subway Systems did not submit records and information that was supposed to be maintained by its franchisee.
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Three copies of Sikh scripture Guru Granth Sahib and 75 people, including 46 Afghan Sikhs and Hindus, are being evacuated from war-ravaged on an IAF plane, people coordinating the evacuation efforts with the Indian government said on Monday.

Nearly 200 more Afghan Sikhs and Hindus are still stranded in Afghanistan, said Puneet Singh Chandhok, president of the Indian World Forum, an organisation coordinating the evacuation efforts with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Air Force (IAF).

"These people have taken shelter at the Karte Parwan gurdwara in Kabul, which is close to the airport," he added.

Announcing the evacuation flight, Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri took to Twitter to say, "Three Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji are being escorted to the IAF aircraft at Airport. Forty-six Afghan Hindus and Sikhs along with stranded Indian nationals are blessed to return on the same flight."



"Seventy-five people are on the flight. Three Guru Granth Sahib ji are also being brought to India," Chandhok said.

Referring to those still stranded in Kabul, he said the 10-kilometre-long drive to the international airport from the Gurdwara Karte Parwan through various checkpoints is one of the biggest challenges in the rescue efforts.

Around 100 more Afghan Sikhs and Hindus are likely to be evacuated in a couple of hours, Chandhok added.

The evacuation of these 46 Afghan Sikhs and Hindus at such a challenging time is a big relief for us, said Manjinder Singh Sirsa, president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, which is also coordinating with the Indian government in the evacuation mission.

"US security forces escorted these people to the airport," he said.

India on Monday brought back 146 citizens on four different flights from Qatar's capital Doha, days after they were evacuated from by NATO and American aircraft amid the deteriorating security situation in the war-torn country.

On Sunday, it had evacuated 392 individuals from on three flights. Among them were 24 Afghan Sikhs, including two Afghan MPs -- Narinder Singh Khalsa and Anarkali Kaur Honaryar -- and their families.

India is carrying out the evacuation missions in coordination with the US and several other friendly countries.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India on Monday brought back 146 of its nationals in four different flights from Qatar's capital Doha, days after they were evacuated from by NATO and American aircraft in view of the deteriorating security situation in the war-torn country.

People familiar with the development said the Indians were flown back to Delhi as part of India's mission to evacuate its citizens and Afghan partners from Kabul following its takeover by the over a week back, they said.

It was the second batch of Indians to be brought back from Doha after their evacuation from Kabul.

A total of 135 Indians were flown back to Delhi from Doha in a special flight on Sunday.

Out of the second batch of Indians who returned home from Doha, 104 people were brought back in a Vistara flight, 30 by a Qatar Airways flight and 11 of them returned by an Indigo flight.

One person returned by an Air India flight, they said.

India on Sunday brought back 392 people including two Afghan lawmakers in three different flights under the evacuation mission amid a continued scramble by various countries to rescue their citizens from Kabul.

The total number of people evacuees included the first batch of 135 Indians who were flown back from Doha.

It is learnt that the to Doha from Kabul were employees of a number of foreign companies that were operating in and they were flown out of Kabul by NATO and American aircraft.

The seized control of Kabul on August 15. Within two days of the Taliban's capture of Kabul, India evacuated 200 people, including the Indian envoy and other staffers of its embassy in the Afghan capital.

The first evacuation flight brought back over 40 people, mostly staffers at the Indian embassy, on August 16.

The second aircraft evacuated around 150 people including Indian diplomats, officials, security personnel and some stranded Indians from Kabul on August 17.

The swept across this month, seizing control of almost all key towns and cities, including Kabul, in the backdrop of the withdrawal of the US forces.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The government has called an all-party meeting on Thursday on the developments in Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said External Affairs Minister will brief the floor leaders of political parties on the present situation in in the in-person meeting.

The government's briefing is expected to focus on its evacuation mission from as well as its assessment of the situation in the war-torn country in the wake of the seizing control of almost all key Afghan towns and cities, including Kabul.

"Floor Leaders of Political Parties would be briefed by EAM @DrSJaishankar on the present situation in Afghanistan, on 26th August, 11 am in Main Committee Room, PHA, New Delhi. Invites are being sent through email. All concerned are requested to attend," Joshi tweeted.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that representatives of her party, the Trinamool Congress, will attend the meeting.

"We will definitely be attending Thursday's all-party meeting on Afghanistan," the TMC supremo told reporters at the state secretariat in Kolkata.

Earlier, Jaishankar said Prime Minister instructed the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)) to brief the floor leaders of the political parties.





ALSO READ: Afghan crisis: Western forces must leave by Aug 31 deadline, says Taliban

"In view of developments in Afghanistan, PM @narendramodi has instructed that MEA brief Floor Leaders of political parties. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs @JoshiPralhad will be intimating further details," Jaishankar said on Twitter.

The swept across Afghanistan this month following the withdrawal of the US forces from the country.

As part of its evacuation mission from Afghanistan, India has already brought back around 730 people including members of the Afghan Sikh and Hindu communities.

India on Monday brought back 146 of its nationals in four different flights from Qatar's capital Doha, days after they were evacuated from Afghanistan by NATO and American aircraft in view of the deteriorating security situation in the war-torn country.

On Sunday, 392 people, including two Afghan lawmakers, were brought to India in three different flights under the evacuation mission. The seized control of Kabul on August 15. Within two days of the Taliban's capture of Kabul, India had evacuated 200 people, including the Indian envoy and other staffers of its embassy in the Afghan capital.

The first evacuation flight brought back over 40 people, mostly staffers at the Indian embassy, on August 16. The second aircraft evacuated around 150 people, including Indian diplomats, officials, security personnel and some stranded Indians, from Kabul on August 17.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Around the world, countries are having to strike a balance between COVID-19 cases and restrictions. In the UK and the US, daily new cases number in the thousands, but restrictions and limitations are being lifted. In contrast, New Zealand has started a short national lockdown to contain just a handful of cases.

For the past 20 months, New Zealand, Australia and several other east Asian countries have pursued tough policies aiming to completely eradicate COVID-19. The hallmarks of these zero COVID approaches are strict border controls and quarantine arrangements as well as the early introduction of lockdowns when discovering cases.

So far theyve helped minimise infections and deaths. The economic impacts experienced by countries adopting these approaches have also been less severe than those who have not. New Zealand has said it intends to continue its COVID-19 eradication strategy indefinitely.

Is this sustainable? In an ideal world, completely eliminating COVID-19 is what all countries would aim to do, and earlier on in the pandemic I supported this strategy. But now the pandemic has evolved, the approach makes less sense.

An impossible dream?

Many countries now have high levels of the virus circulating and arent aiming to eradicate it. And its unlikely countries with few infections, such as New Zealand or Australia, can continue to keep COVID-19 at bay indefinitely in a world where the virus circulates.

There will always be the risk of importation by infected travellers from other regions. And in a globalised world, isolating a country from most others long term would likely be too costly and unpopular to maintain. Plus, it requires a degree of luck. Vietnam, Thailand and South Korea, once cited as zero COVID success stories, have struggled to contain the virus when its been imported despite various border controls being in place.

The fact that the virus is mutating may explain why theyve found it harder to keep it at bay. The virus is becoming better at spreading in humans. The alpha variant is around 50% to 100% more transmissible than the original virus that emerged in late 2019, and delta around 50% more transmissible than alpha. The more infectious the virus becomes, the more that has to be done to enforce suppression.

There are other factors to consider too. The virus can infect both domestic and wild animals. If humans give the virus to animals, such that new viral reservoirs are created, then the virus could then potentially spill back into humans after being suppressed.

On top of this, a large proportion of human infections are asymptomatic. These infections are difficult to detect early and so are likely to spread. Both factors raise the likelihood of COVID-19 being reintroduced at some point  unless high levels of restrictions in zero COVID countries persist.

Dan Himbrechts/EPA-EFE

But how long will people continue to support a zero COVID approach if it means periodically entering lockdown to handle a small numbers of cases? In Australia, people appear to be growing tired of repeated restrictions, especially as the virus seems to be taking hold anyway. Trust in the governments COVID-19 response is waning and stress is building. That said, support is still there for New Zealands strict approach.

The role of vaccines

An important counterpoint is that countries such as Australia and New Zealand still have low vaccine coverage.

Relaxing current policies may see the virus spread quickly and cause large amounts of disruption, illness and death that could be avoided.

And although zero COVID policies are costly, one thing this pandemic has taught us is that in the short term, adopting a stringent approach leads to the least damage to the health and wealth of societies. In countries with low levels of infection and low vaccine coverage, theres a very good case for continuing with maximum suppression.

But its less clear what the optimal long-term solution is. The virus has yet to settle into its ecological niche, so its unclear what behaviours it will eventually fall into. There are several possible outcomes, and they depend on to what degree vaccines block people from catching and spreading the virus, as opposed to simply stopping them from getting ill.

If vaccines protect well enough against infection, and enough of the population is vaccinated, then cases should subside to low levels. It may then be possible to achieve eradication of COVID-19 across much of the world through immunisation, much like measles. There will remain the risk of the virus being reintroduced from areas where cases are higher or of the virus persisting in unvaccinated groups  which is how measles behaves today.

However, its not known how long vaccine protection lasts, and substantial inequity in global vaccine distribution is a significant barrier to widespread suppression of COVID-19. Increasingly, the view of public health experts is that reaching population-level immunity is unachievable at the present time.

The other possibility is that vaccines do not sufficiently block the spread of infection. In this scenario, the virus would continue to circulate, but with severe disease, hospitalisations and deaths reduced. We would see periodic outbreaks and probably seasonal epidemics, similar to flu. This is the more likely scenario. The focus then would be less on trying to stop the spread of infection and more on protecting vulnerable individuals through immunisation.

Accepting that COVID-19 will become endemic  as many already are  and preparing for that eventuality may be the only realistic endgame strategy for all countries. As such, countries with low levels of infection and immunity, like Australia and New Zealand, should urgently immunise their populations. This is key if they want to avoid the considerable COVID-19 mortality and morbidity seen in Europe and the Americas.

But once this is done, continuing with recurrent lockdowns could be both socioeconomically disruptive and challenging to maintain public support for. Together with the virus being more transmissible, the near impossibility of having completely closed off borders long term, and the fact that other countries arent pursuing zero COVID, these factors likely will make completely eliminating the virus unachievable.

Andrew Lee, Reader in Global Public Health, University of Sheffield

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
India on Monday reported a net decrease of 19,474 in active cases to take its count to 333,924. Indias share of global active cases now stands at 1.86 per cent (one in 54). The country is tenth among the most affected countries by active cases. On Sunday, it added 25,072 cases to take its total caseload to 32,449,306 from 32,424,234  an increase of 0.1%. And, with 389 new fatalities, its Covid-19 reached 434,756, or 1.34 per cent of total confirmed infections.

With 795,543 more Covid-19 vaccine doses being administered on Sunday, Indias total count of vaccine shots so far reached 582,549,595. The count of recovered cases across India, meanwhile, reached 31,680,626  or 97.63 per cent of total caseload  with 44,157 new cured cases being reported on Monday.

Now the tenth-most-affected country by active cases, third by deaths, second by total cases, and first by recoveries, India has added 223,793 cases in the past 7 days.

India now accounts for 1.86% of all active cases globally (one in every 54 active cases), and 9.78% of all deaths (one in every 10 deaths).

India has so far administered 582,549,595 vaccine doses. That is 1795.26 per cent of its total caseload, and 41.75 per cent of its population.

Among Indian states, the top 5 in terms of number of vaccine shots administered are Uttar Pradesh (68292590), Maharashtra (57699434), Gujarat (46309187), Rajasthan (44494688), and Madhya Pradesh (42823485).

Among states with more than 10 million population, the top 5 in number of vaccine shots per one million population are Kerala (793478), Uttarakhand (737310), Gujarat (725027), Delhi (714029), and J&K (593980).

Backwards from here, the last 1 million cases for India have come in 27 days.

The count of active cases across India on Monday saw a net reduction of 19,474, compared with 7,942 on Sunday. States and UTs hat have seen the biggest daily net increase in active cases are Jammu and Kashmir (6) and Haryana (1).

With 44,157 new daily recoveries, Indias recovery rate stands at 97.63%, while fatality rate remained unchanged at 1.34%.

The Indian states and UTs with the worst case fatality rates at present are Punjab (2.72%), Uttarakhand (2.15%), and Maharashtra (2.12%). The rate in as many as 14 is higher than the national average.

Indias new daily closed cases stand at 44,546  389 deaths and 44,157 recoveries. The share of deaths in total closed cases stands at 0.88%.

Indias 5-day moving average of daily rate of addition to total cases stands at 0.1%.

Indias doubling time for total cases stands at 896.8 days, and for deaths at 774.3 days.

Overall, five states with the biggest 24-hour jump in total cases are Kerala (10402), Maharashtra (4141), Chandigarh (3004), Tamil Nadu (1630), and Karnataka (1189).

Among states with more than 100,000 cases, the five with worst recovery rates at present are Kerala (95.20%).

India on Sunday conducted 1,295,160 to take the total count of tests conducted so far in the country to 507,551,399. The test positivity rate recorded was 1.9%.

Five states with the highest test positivity rate (TPR)  percentage of tested people turning out to be positive for Covid-19 infection (by cumulative data for tests and cases  are Goa (14.87%), Dadra & Nagar Haveli-Daman & Diu (14.72%), Sikkim (12.82%), Kerala (12.64%), and Maharashtra (12.28%).

Five states with the highest TPR by daily numbers for tests and cases added  are, Chandigarh (142.84%), Kerala (16.41%), Meghalaya (10.82%), Manipur (10.29%), and Sikkim (9.02%).

Among states and UTs with more than 10 million population, five that have carried out the highest number of tests (per million population) are Delhi (1340945), J&K (948653), Kerala (844969), Karnataka (621122), and Telangana (608215).

The five most affected states by total cases are Maharashtra (6424651), Kerala (3766573), Karnataka (2938616), Tamil Nadu (2600885), and Andhra Pradesh (2002340).

Maharashtra, the most affected state overall, has reported 4141 new cases to take its tally to 6424651.

Kerala, the second-most-affected state by total tally, has added 10402 cases to take its tally to 3814305.

Karnataka, the third-most-affected state, has reported 1189 cases to take its tally to 2938616.

Tamil Nadu has added 1630 cases to take its tally to 2600885.

Andhra Pradesh has seen its tally going up by 1085 to 2002340.

Uttar Pradesh has added 19 cases to take its tally to 1709119.

Delhi has added 24 cases to take its tally to 1437317.
The national capital recorded 17 COVID-19 cases, the lowest since March 28 last year, and zero death was reported for the fourth day on the trot on Monday, according to data shared by the health department here.

This is the 14th time since the starting of the second wave of the pandemic that logged zero fatality in a day.

The low number of cases can also be attributed to fewer tests (46,251) conducted the previous day.

With the new cases, the overall infection tally in the city has climbed to 14,37,334. Of this, over 14.11 lakh patients have recovered from the disease. The death toll stands at 25,079, a bulletin issued by the department showed.

Twenty-six people have succumbed to the disease this month so far. The cumulative death toll was 25,053 on July 31.

On Sunday, the city reported 24 COVID-19 cases as the positivity rate stood at 0.04 per cent. On Saturday, the capital had reported 19 cases.

According to covid19India.org, a crowdsourced initiative that collects data on COVID-19 and vaccination in India, had reported nine cases on March 28 last year. On April 15 last year, 17 people were diagnosed with the disease.

There are 374 active cases in at present and 107 of them are under home isolation, while the positivity rate is 0.04 per cent, the bulletin said.

The number of containment zones stands at 228, it said.

Delhi battled a brutal second wave of the pandemic that claimed a massive number of lives, with the shortage of oxygen at hospitals across the city adding to the woes.

On April 20, Delhi had reported 28,395 cases, the highest in the city since the beginning of the pandemic. On April 22, the case positivity rate was 36.2 per cent, the highest so far.

The highest number of 448 deaths was reported on May 3.

The city government has been ramping up health infrastructure to prevent a repeat of the crisis witnessed during the peak of the second wave of in April and May.

Steps have been taken to increase the number of hospital beds to accommodate up to 37,000 cases a day and to become self-reliant in terms of oxygen supply.

According to officials, around 160 PSA oxygen generation plants with a total capacity of 148.11 metric tonnes are being installed at various government and private hospitals in the city.

While 66 plants are being installed in Delhi government hospitals, 10 are being set up in central government hospitals and 84 in private healthcare facilities.

According to government data, 1.24 crore vaccine doses have been administered in the capital since the inoculation exercise started on January 16. Over 35 lakh people have received both doses.

(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.)
Over 15,000 across kept their businesses shut on Monday as they joined the nationwide strike against the implementation of Hallmarking Unique ID (HUID) system, industry stakeholders claimed.

The 'token strike' against HUID was called by the All India Gem and Jewellery Domestic Council (GJC) and supported by various associations across the country, including

In Ahmedabad, nearly 6,000 jewellery shops and showroom owners joined the strike demanding a simpler hallmarking process, claimed Jigar Soni, president of the Jewellers' Association of Ahmedabad.

"The call for strike was received well as majority of the kept their businesses shut," he said.

Besides Ahmedabad, all prominent jewellery markets in Rajkot and various other cities also wore a deserted look since morning as shops remained closed.

Industry stakeholders claimed that around 4,000 units in Rajkot and 3,500 shops and showrooms in the entire south Gujarat, including Surat, remained shut.

Hundreds of in other parts of state also extended their support and refrained from opening their outlets, they said.

"We are not against hallmarking. We are worried about the newly introduced HUID, because it will consume a lot of our time and the process is also not simple," said Arvind Patadiya, a prominent jeweller from Rajkot.

Under this new system, a unique code will be given to every piece of jewellery at the time of hallmarking, he said, adding that the code will help in identifying the jeweller as well as the customer.

"It will take over two weeks just to get an HUID stamp on a piece of jewellery. This will finish our business. Imagine the time and energy we will spend just to get an HUID stamp," he said.

He claimed this system will eventually bring the "Inspector Raj" back.

"To keep a check on benami transactions, the HUID also carries information about customers. We want the government to make the process more simple and fast. I am confident that the Centre would take a favourable decision," said Patadiya.

Surat-based jeweller Dipak Choksi claimed that around 3,500 jewellers from south joined the strike on Monday



He said the HUID will only increase the clerical work of jewellers and it lacks clarity on the modification issue.

"Customers usually want us to incorporate some minor changes even after a jewellery is ready. This is a normal practice. But, there is no clarity in this new system whether such modifications are allowed after the jewellery is stamped with the unique ID," he said.

Choksi expressed confidence that the Centre will take into consideration such concerns and decide in favour of jewellers.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India on Monday evacuated over 70 people, including its citizens and a group of Afghan Sikhs and Hindus, from to Dushanbe in Tajikistan in an IAF aircraft while another batch of near-equal strength is planned to be taken out of the Afghan capital to the Tajik city at the earliest, people familiar with the developments said.

Separately, India brought back 146 of its nationals to Delhi in four different commercial flights from the Qatari capital Doha, days after they were evacuated from by NATO and American aircraft.

With Monday's evacuation, the number of people brought back to Delhi has gone up to around 730 since August 16 when the first group was airlifted from Kabul, a day after the Taliban seized control of the Afghan capital city.

The people cited above said the evacuees, who were taken to Dushanbe, are likely to be brought back to Delhi from the Tajikistan capital in a civilian aircraft on Tuesday.

India has stepped up efforts to evacuate its citizens as well as its Afghan partners from in view of the deteriorating security situation in the Afghan capital and other parts of the country after the Taliban swept to power last week.

Thousands of Afghans have been crowding around the Kabul airport for nearly a week, in a desperate attempt to flee the country fearing the Taliban's brutality.

The people cited above said most of the 146 Indians brought back from Doha were employees of western companies and organisations that were operating in

It was the second batch of Indians that was brought home from Doha. A total of 135 Indians were flown back to Delhi from the Qatari capital in a special flight on Sunday.

Out of the second batch of Indians who returned home from Doha, 104 people were brought back in a Vistara flight, 30 by a Qatar Airways flight and 11 of them returned by an Indigo flight.

One person returned by an Air India flight, they said.

India on Sunday evacuated 392 people including two Afghan lawmakers in three different flights under the evacuation mission amid a continued scramble by various countries to rescue their citizens from Kabul.

The Taliban seized control of Kabul on August 15 after taking over almost all key towns and cities following the withdrawal of the US forces.

Within two days of the Taliban's capture of Kabul, India evacuated 200 people, including the Indian envoy and other staffers of its embassy in the Afghan capital.

The first evacuation flight brought back over 40 people, mostly staffers at the Indian embassy on August 16.

The second aircraft evacuated around 150 people including Indian diplomats, officials, security personnel and some stranded Indians from Kabul on August 17.

India carried out the evacuation missions in coordination with the US and several other friendly countries.

(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.)
Multiplexes and in Chennai and other parts of Tamil Nadu, as well, will start receiving film lovers from August 27, nearly four months after cinema halls were closed owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Theatre and Multiplex Owners Association said on Monday.

With the state government relaxing COVID-19 regulations permitting to re-open from today, theatre owners are bracing for a grand re-opening this week-end hoping to draw a steady trickle of movie lovers.

On Saturday, Chief Minister M K Stalin announced extending the ongoing in the State by another two weeks till September 6 but permitted the re-opening of with 50 per cent occupancy. And along with it, the government allowed beaches and parks to be thrown open to the members of the public from today.

"We have planned to re-open from August 27 throughout the State," said 'Rohini' Panneerselvam, general secretary of the Theatre and Multiplex Owners Association.

Asked if all the staff have been vaccinated against coronavirus, he told PTI that all the staff members have received their first dose of the vaccine.

"All those who ought to receive the second dose will get it soon," he said and indicated that the association members are gearing up for the re-opening. As per the government's SOPs the cinema halls should be disinfected and seating arrangements should ensure social distancing.

Yes, we will strictly implement all the government safety norms on COVID-19," Panneerselvam added.

The previous AIADMK government had ordered the closure of cinema halls from April 26, after they recommenced business in November last year, owing to the second wave. After the DMK stormed to power, the government announced several relaxations in various stages and had allowed the re-opening of theatres from today.

The Theatre and Multiplex Owners Association even made a representation to the new government seeking the early resurrection of the theatres which had been severely affected since the pandemic broke.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Centre on Monday said there was "no impact" of a nationwide strike called by a "very small section of jewellers" against gold hallmarking rules.

However, 350 associations and federations including All India Gems and Jewellery Domestic Council (GJC) which supported the strike said they received a "strong response" as most shops barring big corporates remained shut for the day.

"The strike called by a very small section of jewellers has had no impact," the Consumer Affairs Ministry said in a statement.

The said call of strike was itself based on "untenable grounds" and "an attempt was made to misinform fellow jewellers" about the various provisions of the hallmarking scheme, it said.

"As expected, the misguided attempt by these limited set of persons to disrupt the normal functioning of jewellery business today has failed miserably," it added.

Meanwhile, the ministry also released letters of jewellers' bodies -- All India Jewellers and Goldsmith Federation (AJGF), Swanakaar Sabha, Gems and Jewellery Manufacturer Association Organisation (GJMA), Sarva Swarnkaar Samaj Netrutva Vikas Sanstha which opposed the strike and supported the Hallmarking Unique ID (HUID) system.

For instance, AJGF President Pankaj Arora, in a letter, claimed that the strike had a "partial effect."



"Particularly few of the big jewellery traders and corporate jewellers remained closed. Since there was no justification for the strike, the jewellery traders across the country rejected the strike," he said.

Arora further said "some big and corporate jewellers do not want the government to know their business activities (and) have given a call of strike due to their vested interests".

On the contrary, big corporate jewellery showrooms like Tanishq, Kalyan Jewellers, Malbar Gold and Diamonds, PC Jewellers -- remained opened on Monday as per the photos released by the ministry.

The ministry released photos of some jewellers' shops which remained open in different parts of the country.

PP Jewellers, Heera Panna Jewellers, Talwarsons Jewellers, Lalchnd, Epari Sadashiv Jewellers, Caratlane -- also remained opened as per the photos released by the ministry.

According to the ministry, gold hallmarking is being adopted by a record number of consumers each day. More than 1 crore pieces of jewellery have been hallmarked in few weeks.

"A great many associations of jewellery business have also voiced their concern and opposition to idea of going on strike," it said.

Asserting that gold hallmarking is in the interest of both consumers as well as businesses, the ministry reiterated that it has always been open to constructive suggestions that will help in implementation of mandatory gold hallmarking that has come into force from June 16 in a phased manner.

"Vested interests who fear for the end of decades old opaque and possibly business practices should come forward with open heart and embrace the change like others," it added.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The government is reaching out to 17 companies to withdraw tax cases against them. The payments industry is at a crossroads with the banking regulator on two pressing issues.

Business Standard brings you the top headlines of the day:

Govt approaches 17 companies to settle retrospective tax cases



A couple of weeks after the Income-Tax (I-T) Act was amended to junk the contentious retrospective taxation provision, the government is reaching out to 17 affected companies to withdraw cases from various judicial levels and derive the benefit of the legal correction. Read more...

LIC IPO: Centre plans big push to participation by retail investors

The government and the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) are planning a campaign to give a big push to participation by retail investors, that includes opening of demat accounts for policyholders in IDBI Bank, in the run-up to its initial public offering (IPO). The campaign will aim to make retail investors as well as LIC policyholders aware of Indias largest public offering, said an official. Read more...

Fuel paradox: 6 more pvt players on cards, but price reins still with govt

The Indian automotive fuel market is hotting up with the Union government granting permission to seven entities to retail liquid and alternative fuel. Among those is Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) that needed the government re-approval because of a business restructuring. Read more...

Campuses see jump in dream job offers in post-pandemic hiring

Contrary to popular expectations of a tough year, placements at campuses have begun with a bang, as dream and super-dream job offers rise substantially and companies rush to hire engineers. Read more

Customers in limbo as banks, payments firms, RBI thrash out differences

The payments industry is at a crossroads with the banking regulator on two pressing issues, neither of which seems headed towards an amicable solution. Depending upon which side accommodates the other, customers in India will have to choose between convenience and ironclad safety. Read more...
Union Home Minister on Monday paid tributes to former chief minister Kalyan Singh here, calling the death of the BJP stalwart a "big loss" for the party.

Singh died at the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGI) in Lucknow on Saturday night. He was 89.

"With the death of Kalyan Singhji, the BJP has lost a stalwart. It is a big loss for the party. The void created by Kalyan Singh's death is difficult to fill for a long time," Shah told reporters.

He also paid tributes to Singh at PWD guest house in Atrauli town, where his native village Madholi is situated.

"With his death, deprived, down-trodden and backwards have lost their well-wisher. He was big leader of the 'Ram Janmabhoomi andolan'. For this, he did not hesitate in leaving the government. I spoke to him when the 'Shilanyas' was done and 'Babuji' said that his life's target was achieved with it," Shah said.

The former Rajasthan governor always worked for the development of the state and devoted his life for the poor and wanted to become the best state in the country, he said.

"His life will encourage party workers as how he reached the top position despite coming from a poor family," the Union minister said.

Despite the fact that Singh was not in active politics since long, people, especially the youth, gathered here to pay their last respects, which shows his impact on them, he said.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and other senior leaders were present on the occasion.

The last rites of Singh will be performed later during the day at Rajghat in Narora of Bulandshahr district with full state honours, officials here said.

Earlier, the mortal remains of the BJP leader, which were kept at Ahilya Bai Holkar stadium here, were taken to his Atrauli, where his native village Madholi is situated and from there body will be taken to Rajghat.

(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 U.S. drug regulator on Monday granted full approval to the Inc/BioNTech SE COVID-19 vaccine that earned emergency-use authorization in December, making it the first to secure such Food and Drug Administration validation as health authorities struggle to win over vaccine skeptics.

The FDA approved the two-dose vaccine for use in people over the age of 16. More than 204 million people in the United States have received the vaccine since it was given emergency authorization, based on data from Sunday.

None of the three COVID-19 vaccines given emergency-use authorization by the FDA - also including those made by Moderna Inc and Johnson & Johnson - had previously received full FDA approval.

Public health officials hope it will convince more unvaccinated Americans that Pfizer's shot is safe and effective.

Vaccine hesitancy among some Americans has hindered the United States response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"While millions of people have already safely received COVID-19 vaccines, we recognize that for some, the FDA approval of a vaccine may now instill additional confidence to get vaccinated," said Janet Woodcock, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's acting commissioner.

Roughly 51% of Americans have been fully vaccinated so far, even as a recent surge of infections spurred by the contagious Delta variant ravages parts of the country with low vaccination rates.

The FDA's approval is based on updated data from the company's clinical trial.

"Based on the longer-term follow-up data that we submitted, today's approval for those aged 16 and over affirms the efficacy and safety profile of our vaccine at a time when it is urgently needed," Albert Bourla, CEO of Pfizer, said in a statement.

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will now be marketed under the name Comirnaty, the FDA said.

Some U.S. cities including New York and San Francisco have already imposed rules requiring vaccination to dine at restaurants or work in government offices, among other activities.





Taiwan stocks jump on local vaccine rollout

Taiwan stocks soared over 2 per cent on Monday, as the island rolled out its first locally developed Covid-19 vaccine, while Indonesian rupiah led gains across Asia on hopes that Covid-19 curbs in its capital Jakarta would not be extended. Currency markets strengthened after Dallas Federal Reserve President Robert Kaplan, among the US central bank's most forceful supporters for starting to reduce support for the economy, said on Friday he may need to adjust that view if the Delta variant slows economic growth materially. (Reuters)

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The US is expanding its manufacturing of Covid-19 vaccines to help countries with low access to the lifesaving shots, the nations' top infectious disease expert has said.

"We are now working on greatly expanding the capacity to allow us to donate hundreds and hundreds of millions of doses to the low- and middle-income countries," Dr. Anthony Fauci, medical advisor to President Joe Biden, was quoted as saying to CNBC.

The COVAX programme, the international vaccine-sharing initiative -- coordinated by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and the World Health organization (WHO) -- aims to provide two billion doses worldwide by the end of 2021.

The US has given more than 120 million doses to 80 countries and has donated $4 billion in resources to the COVAX, Fauci said.

"We are doing both," Fauci said of distributing booster shots and helping other countries. "We're very sensitive to the needs of the developing world who need vaccine doses, but we believe we can do both."

Meanwhile, the US is seeing a surge in Covid infections and deaths due to the Delta variant. It continues to be the worst-hit country with the world's highest number of cases and deaths at 3,77,08,064 and 6,28,499, respectively, according to the latest update by Johns Hopkins University on Monday morning.

A continued acceleration of cases could be avoided in the US if more people get vaccinated, Fauci said.

"There's a lot we can do about it," Fauci said, noting that 90 million people in the US are eligible for vaccines but still haven't taken the shots.

"We want to vaccinate the unvaccinated to the highest extent that we possibly can," said Fauci, director of the National Institute for Allergies and Infectious Diseases.

Fauci also noted that it's hard to predict when the current delta outbreak will peak, however, once infections slow down he doubts that Covid -- unlike the flu, which requires annual shots -- will need recurrent boosters to maintain high levels of protection.

"I don't think that's going to be the case. I think this third shot will take us a long way," Fauci said.

--IANS

rvt/dpb

(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.)
West Bengal Chief Minister on Monday said she will accept a nationwide caste-based if all political parties reach a consensus on the matter.

Banerjee's statement came at the backdrop of a 10-party delegation from Bihar headed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi to push for a caste-based

"When there will be a discussion and if a consensus is reached, I will not have any problem accepting it. I will not fight if all political parties and states reach a consensus. Let political parties, the CMs and the Central government reach a consensus," Banerjee said.

She declined to say much on the issue, saying that sentiments differ from one state to the other.

Banerjee said, "Nitish-ji has put up his questions on this issue. Let's see how others react to it."



Statistics about different castes will help in formulating development schemes effectively as many of them have not benefitted so far in line with their actual population, the Bihar CM has said.

The BJP leadership has so far not taken a categorical stand on the issue which has been lapped up by a number of regional parties, many of them its rivals in different states.

With being the Union's prerogative, it is now up to the Centre to take a call on the demand.

There is a view that a caste census will bring the Mandal politics to the centre stage of politics and can be an effective weapon in the hands of regional parties to counter the BJP's Hindutva and welfare planks, the twin issues used by the saffron party to make inroads into the OBC vote bank at the expense of state-based parties.

The caste-based census has not taken place in the country since British rule.

(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.)
Finance Minister on Monday asked IT services provider to fix persistent technical issues in the new tax filing portal by September 15 ahead of the tax returns deadline.

The company was also nudged to ramp up resources to ensure services to millions of taxpayers. Sitharaman summoned Salil Parekh, managing director and chief executive of Infosys, at her office seeking explanation over the companys inability to resolve the snags in the portal even after two-and-a-half-months since its launch.

Within hours of its launch on June 7, complaints had started coming in with users saying they were facing issues such as inability to generate OTP for Aadhaar validation, generate password, link old data for past returns, etc.

The summon to Parekh was triggered by inaccessibility of the portal during the weekend due to some maintenance activities.



Sources say the government has also asked to rework or make some modifications in the back-end of the portal, which is creating issues in data migration and integration. While conveying its disappointment and concerns, the ministry emphasised that there was a need for putting in more resources and efforts on the part of so that the much-delayed delivery of agreed services is ensured, according to the media release issued by the Central Board of Direct taxes. It said Infosys was also sensitised on the difficulties that the taxpayers were facing and the problems that were arising on account of the delays in the functioning of the portal.

The government had extended the due date for filing tax returns for assessment year 2021-22 to September 30 amid the pandemic. However, if the glitches persist, it may consider further extension of the tax filing. During the meeting, Parekh explained that Infosys was doing everything to ensure the smooth functioning of the portal.

He said over 750 team members were working on this project and Chief Operating Officer Pravin Rao was overseeing this project. Infosys was in 2019 awarded a contract to develop the new portal to reduce processing time for returns from 63 days to one day and expedite refunds.
The Centre plans to monetise worth an estimated Rs 15,000 crore, including several housing colonies in the national capital and eight ITDC hotels, under the National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP).

In the 'urban assets' category under the NMP, the government has identified monetisation of seven colonies under redevelopment as well as development of housing/commercial units on 240 acre land in Ghitorni in the national capital.

Eight of ITDC will also be monetised through different routes.

On Monday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a Rs 6 lakh crore National Monetisation Pipeline that will look to unlock value in infrastructure across sectors ranging from power to road and railways.

The NMP lists out and asset classes, under various infrastructure ministries, which will be monetised over a period of time.

As per the document prepared by Niti Aayog, the urban assets have monetisation potential of around Rs 15,000 crore during the financial years 2022-25.

In this category, the government has identified redevelopment of seven General Pool Residential Accommodation (GPRA) Colonies in Delhi.

These seven colonies are located in Sarojini Nagar, Naoroji Nagar, Netaji Nagar, Sriniwaspuri, Thyagraj Nagar, Mohammadpur and Kasturba Nagar. The total estimated investment on redevelopment of these seven colonies is Rs 32,276 crore, it added.

The Centre has also identified development of residential/commercial units on 240 acre land in Ghitorni (Delhi). In this project, 8,000 units of GPRA and 3,000 units for migrant construction workers will be developed. The estimated investment is Rs 15,000 crore.

"Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) owns and manages land through the Land and Development Office (L&DO)," Niti Aayog said in the report.

During the NMP period, seven projects pertaining to redevelopment of colonies are being envisaged.

"PPP based model is recommended for redevelopment of such GPRA projects cross subsidized through sale/lease of commercial BUA (built-up area).

"Proposed projects are real-estate projects which envisage mixed use redevelopment of a vacant tract/brownfield sites at prime locations in Delhi-NCR. They entail development of general pool residential accommodation and commercial office complexes in one of the most prime areas of the country through a self-funded mechanism," it added.

Considering the prime location and attractive commercial potential of the project, Niti Aaayog has recommended the development of these projects through private sector participation.

This will not only enhance the commercial and operational efficiencies but also ensure upfront / periodic consideration to the authority/ Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the report said.

"Under a PPP based model for such projects, the entire land parcel should be transferred into an SPV owned by the Authority with requisite change of land use etc wherever required.

"Multiple statutory clearances are typically required for such Projects which should be pre-obtained by the Authority and housed in the SPV. The SPV should then be bid out under PPP mechanism through a transparent competitive bidding system," the report said.

Under the hospitality assets, the report said that "all 8 hotel assets of ITDC have been considered for monetisation during FY 2022 to 2025."



"Long-term leasing, divestment, long term OMT (operate, maintain and transfer) contract may be explored as potential models for monetisation to be ascertained on a case to case basis as per detailed asset level due diligence," it added.

India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Tourism.

The eight are -- Hotel Pondicherry, Puducherry; Hotel Kalinga, Bhubaneshwar; Hotel Ranchi, Ranchi; Hotel Nilachal, Puri; Hotel Anandpur Sahib, Rupnagar; Hotel Samrat, New Delhi; Hotel Ashok, New Delhi and Hotel Jammu Ashok, Jammu.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The government is looking to monetise 25 AAI-managed airports, including Varanasi, Chennai, Nagpur and Bhubaneshwar, over the next four years, which could bring in worth Rs 20,782 crore.

Further, divestment of Airports Authority of India's (AAI) residual stake in four airport JVs has also been considered under the national monetisation pipeline (NMP) unveiled on Monday. This includes the private sector operated airports in Mumbai (26 per cent stake), Delhi (26 per cent stake), Hyderabad (13 per cent stake), and Bangalore (13 per cent stake).

The total airport assets for monetisation account for 18 per cent of the overall airport assets under management of the AAI. The total value of assets considered for monetisation is estimated at Rs 20,782 crore for FY 2022-25.

Under the ambitious NMP, the government has identified 13 sectors, including airports, which could monetise their brownfield infrastructure assets.

The airports sector contributes 4 per cent to the overall Rs 6 lakh crore NMP unveiled by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday.

As per the NMP document, 25 major AAI airports are considered for monetisation over FY 2022-25.

These airports include Udaipur, Dehradun, Indore, Ranchi, Coimbatore, Jodhpur, Vadodara, Patna, Vijaywada and Tirupati.

"The larger objective is to focus on monetisation of these 25 airports, while bundling of smaller airports may be explored based on market testing of transactions and investor feedback," it said.

During the current fiscal, the AAI has identified six airports in Tier 2/Tier 3 cities namely, Amritsar, Varanasi, Bhubaneswar, Indore, Raipur and Trichy for the purpose of monetisation through brownfield PPP models.

"To ensure commensurate development of non-profitable airports along with the profitable airports with the help of private sector investment and participation, pairing /clubbing of smaller airports with each of the six bigger airports and leasing out as a package is being explored," it said.

The AAI manages 137 airports, including 24 international airports, 10 customs airports, and 103 domestic airports.

The AAI is a statutory body constituted by an Act of Parliament with the responsibility of creating, upgrading, maintaining, and managing civil aviation infrastructure both on the ground and air space in the country.

"Airport monetisation through brownfield PPP models has been boosted in India by the success stories of asset monetisation of four airports Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru. This is primarily in terms of improved user experience and increase in value for all stakeholders," the NMP document said.

During FY 2020-21, six AAI airports were leased out to private sector through PPP based model, namely, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Mangalore, Guwahati, Jaipur and Thiruvananthapuram and the assets are in process of getting handed over to the operator. Further, this is backed by the presence of a strong regulatory and contractual framework which has helped retain investor confidence, it added.

While smaller airports like Bhubaneswar, Varanasi, Amritsar, Trichy, Indore and Raipur is planned to be monetised in the current fiscal, monetisation of bigger ones like Chennai and Vadodara is expected in 2023-24 fiscal.

Calicut, Coimbatore, Madurai, Jodhpur are among the eight airports listed for monetisation in 2022-23 fiscal, while Dehradun, Agartala and Udaipur will be taken up in the last phase in 2024-25 fiscal.

(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.)
Led by strong demand from the US, Europe and United Arab Emirates (UAE), engineering goods exports from India reached an all-time high of $9.14 billion in July, accounting for one-fourth of the country's total merchandise exports.

The engineering goods exports on a monthly basis surpassed the previous record high of $8.8 billion in June 2021, said Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC) today.

The US remained the top importer of India's engineering goods with total exports growing 27.23 per cent in the month under preview to $1,272 million as compared to the same month a year ago.

UAE was Indias second largest export destination for the third time in a row with, the July shipment nearly doubling to $518 million from $269.29 million in July 2020, an EEPC India analysis showed.

Like the previous month, exports to China slipped to the third position and declined 13 per cent to $532 million from the same month last year. Exports of iron and steel to China fell sharply by 55.38 per cent in July this year.

Merchandise exports in July 2021 set a new all-time high on a monthly basis at $35.43 billion by surpassing the previous high of $34.5 billion achieved in March 2021.

As many as 20 out of 25 key nations accounting for 77 per cent of India's total engineering exports recorded positive monthly growth during July 2021 over July 2020.

This significant high share is indicative of the dependence of Indias engineering export on the traditional markets, said EEPC India.

"The record high exports of engineering goods reflect the overall trend in country's merchandise exports and also global trend. While we are bullish, potential risks and uncertainties cannot be ignored. Some of the major economies in developing Asia have been impacted by the pandemic," the release quoted Mahesh Desai, chairman of EEPC India as saying.

While 28 of 33 engineering product groups showed positive growth in July, five posted declines. The year-on-year decline in Zinc and related products was 2.8 per cent. The decline was 8 per cent in electrical machinery and equipment and a 20.8 per cent in ships, boats and floating bodies. The monthly decline in aircraft and spacecraft was 18.4 per cent.

Exports of iron and steel grew 87 per cent in July 2021 over the same period last year. Besides, exports of iron and steel products rose 31.8 per cent in July 2021, resulting in 70.8 per cent growth for the category.

The automobile sector (consisting of two- and three-wheelers, motor vehicles and cars) posted a massive jump 68.2 per cent jump in exports primarily due to spurt in two- and three-wheelers by 99.7 per cent and motor vehicles by 58 per cent.

In cumulative terms, the automobile sector grew more than 140 per cent from $1,295.5 million in April-July 2020-21 to $3,110.3 million in April-July 2021-22.

Mexico, South Africa and Nigeria were top three importers of India's automobiles during April-July 2021 with 12.15 per cent, 11.36 per cent and 5.64 per cent share in Indias global exports respectively over the same period last fiscal.


Commerce and Industry Minister on Monday asked the industry to give feedback on non-tariff barriers in other countries so that the government can take appropriate measures.

The minister urged the industry participants to share their experience on non-tariff barriers in other countries so that India can take appropriate responses wherever feasible, an official statement quoted Goyal as saying.

The minister said the was on its path of revival, with robust foreign direct investment inflow into the country. FDI inflow during May was $12.1 billion, up 203 per cent against May 20 and 123 per cent higher during the same period in 2019.

Goyal was addressing the top industry officials and lobby group to discuss measures to enhance and increase exports. The meeting came days after the Goyal export promotion council, amid the stiff target of exporting goods worth $400 billion in the current fiscal. The target for overall exports goods and services  is at $2 trillion by 2030. Merchandise exports for April 1  August 14, 2021, up by 71 per cent over 2020-21 and up 23 per cent over 2019-20, he said.

He said Indias average applied import tariff dropped to 15 per cent in 2020 from 17.6 per cent in 2019, the sharpest annual fall in about a decade and a half. Besides, Indias applied tariffs are way below the bound rate  permissible limit under the WTO  of 50.8 per cent, he said. According to the CIIs recommendation, the government must avoid hiking tariffs in at least in those sectors where the cross-border global value chain operates, negotiate and operationalise FTAs with major economies to develop strong value chains between FTA partners, modernise port networks, improve hinterland connectivity and develop well-connected coastal manufacturing zone, among others.
With the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) lifting the embargo on on issuing new credit cards, the lender is now looking to get back to its pre-embargo run rate of issuing 300,000 cards per month in the next 2-3 months. Immediately following that, it will look to issue 500,000 credit cards every month beginning February 2022.

is expecting to regain its lost market share in the outstanding credit cards space in the next 3-4 quarters. At the end of last November (pre-embargo), had 15.38 million outstanding credit cards in the market, but this number dropped to around 14.82 million at the end of June 2021.

While HDFC Bank has held on to its spending market share despite the embargo, its market share in outstanding cards dropped 200 basis points to 23.6 per cent from 25.6 per cent. Other issuers have gained market share at the expense of HDFC Bank over the last few months. ICICI Bank has been the biggest gainer as it has gained 140 basis points in outstanding market share and has become the second-largest issuer in terms of spends.

Because of the ban, HDFC bank lost 558,545 credit cards between December and June, while its rivals ICICI Bank, SBI Cards, and Axis Bank gained 1.3 million, 748,707, and 252,145, respectively.

Addressing the media on the credit card issue, Parag Rao, Group HeadPayments, Consumer Finance, Digital Banking & IT, HDFC Bank, said, In the last 8-9 months, with the RBIs embargo on the issuance of new credit cards, we sat back and became introspective about our products and services, looked at our back end processes, looked at what is happening in the marketplace, relooked at some of our strategies, and prepared for whats going to happen in the payments space in the next 2-3 years.

A significant portion of new acquisitions, which will happen in the coming quarters, will come from the banks existing liability base. The bank had ramped up its liability acquisition in the last 8-9 months. It was sourcing in excess of 400,000 accounts every month on the liabilities side. Add to that, the bank already has the 60 million base available with itself, which it can tap into.

We have significant headroom to grow and that is the reason why our strategy will continue to be largely focused on internal customers. Right from the inception of the business, we have always maintained that a large portion of our credit card portfolio will always be our internal customers. So, this strategy will continue, Rao said.

Having said that, the bank management has said, it will work closely with its alliance partners in the ecosystem, cutting across segments, to ensure that they can offer good value propositions to the partners database also. The bank said it has over 20 initiatives that will come to the market in the next 6-9 months, which include co-branded cards with corporate India spanning pharma, travel, FMCG, hospitality, telecom, and fintech. The bank has also revamped its existing range of cards over the past 9 months and is also ready with strategic partnerships with new companies.

The open market customer acquisition pre-embargo was less than 20 per cent for the bank. With the increase in alliances and partnerships, that share may go up to 22-24 per cent. But, the banks strategy will continue to issue cards to the banks own customers.

We see no reason to dilute our credit standards. We will, obviously, adopt our conservative approach to credit. We are not diluting the standards but we will adopt more digital methods to underwrite. Therefore, I do not see any significant stress in the portfolio, notwithstanding the growth ambition, Rao said.

Because of the embargo on Mastercard and Diners club, whats left is Visa and RuPay. So, a large portion of the new sourcing, at least in the immediate future, will happen on the Visa and RuPay platforms. We are in touch with Mastercard and they are closely interacting with the regulator to address the issues, Rao added.





ALSO READ: Will come back with a bang in credit cards: HDFC Bank CEO Jagdishan



Last week, the RBI lifted the ban on HDFC Bank's issuance of new credit cards, after eight months of imposing it. However, the restrictions on new launches on the digital front still continue.

"The lifting of the embargo is a positive step, which is a testament to the fact that the RBI has taken into account the changes that the bank has implemented. And, now we are waiting for the regulator to give us some intimation on the digital initiatives also," Rao said.

The bank has been making a lot of changes to its technology infrastructure after the outages it faced over the years. The bank is making large-scale investments in technology infrastructure, wherein it is bringing new talent, getting into cloud-native stacks--a shift from the traditional monolithic IT infrastructures--and working with strategic partners for better products and services.

The bank management has made it clear that it will do whatever it takes to ramp up its technology infrastructure. The benchmarks are constantly shifting on IT spends and the bank is aware that some of its benchmarks will become global. The management had said in the past that it was modernising the existing bank and also created a vertical within the bank called an "enterprise factory". And, it has created another vertical called the "digital factory", housed with resources focused on building a digital platform for the bank.

In a letter to the employees last week, Sashidhar Jagdishan, managing director and chief executive officer of HDFC Bank, had written, We will not just run the bank but also build the bank as we go ahead, riding on digital and enterprise factories with infrastructure scalability, disaster recovery resilience, enhanced monitoring capabilities, and security enhancements as the key pillars.
The warned of consequences if the US delays withdrawing all troops from past an end of month deadline.

Its a red line, Qatar-based spokesman and negotiator Suhail Shaheen said in an interview with Sky News. If the US or UK were to seek additional time to continue evacuations the answer is no. Or there would be consequences, he added.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will push U.S. President Joe Biden to delay the departure of U.S. troops beyond the deadline to allow for more and safer evacuations of foreign nationals and their Afghan staff, a person familiar with the matter said.

Johnson has called for a virtual meeting of Group of Seven leaders on Tuesday to discuss the crisis. Biden has hinted the U.S. may extend the deadline as Americans struggle to reach Kabuls airport.

On the ground, some militants wanted by Islamabad have been freed from jail in Afghanistan, Pakistans interior minister said. The militants are from Tehrik-e- Pakistan, a group that has previously carried out attacks in Pakistan.

And an Iranian official said Afghan local officials have asked traders to increase supplies of fuel as they grapple with a spike in gasoline prices triggered by the Talibans seizure of power.
The German military says a firefight broke out at the Kabul airport's north gate early on Monday between Afghan security forces and unknown attackers.

The military said in a tweet that one Afghan security officer was killed and another three were wounded in the early morning incident. It said that U.S. and German forces then also got involved, and that there were no injuries to German soldiers.

There was no further information and it wasn't known who the attackers were. The Taliban, who are manning the outside perimeters of the Kabul airport, have until now not opened fire on NATO or Afghan troops within.

Monday's incident took place after at least seven Afghans died in a panicked crush of people trying to enter Kabul's airport on Sunday, the British military said. Thousands were still trying to flee the country in a chaotic exodus a week after the takeover.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chinese bourses have halted processing more than 40 initial public offering (IPO) plans in and amid an investigation into four intermediaries in the deals including a law firm and a broker, according to exchange disclosures.

The Stock Exchange suspended more than 30 IPO plans on Aug. 18 slated for its ChiNext board, including a public share sale application from BYD Co's semiconductor business, according to the official exchange filings.

The Stock Exchange, meanwhile, has pressed the pause button on eight targeting the city's tech-focused STAR Market since Aug. 19, exchange filings showed.

The companies attributed the halt to an investigation by the Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) into Tian Yuan Law Firm in Beijing, Dragon Securities Co, CAREA Assets Appraisal Co and Zhongxingcai Guanghua Certified Public Accountants LLP.

The news was first reported by Chinese media.

Tighter scrutiny on comes as Beijing launches a flurry of regulatory crackdowns against sectors ranging from the internet to tutoring. It also comes as is stepping up efforts to channel household savings into capital to fund innovation and economic recovery.

On Monday, China said it would tighten scrutiny over accounting firms in a fight against financial forgery, vowing "zero tolerance" toward misconduct. read more

Over the weekend, the CSRC said it would require IPO disclosures to be of a higher quality and urged intermediaries to be accountable.

The companies whose IPO process have been suspended by the Stock Exchange include Chongqing Yuxin Pingrui Electronic Co Ltd, Suzhou Future Electrical Company and Beijing BlueSky Technologies Co.

The Stock Exchange has halted processing IPO applications from companies including Guangdong Baihe Medical Technology Co, Jiangsu Gao Kai Precision Fluid Technology Co and Obio Technology (Shanghai) Corp.

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on Monday hinted at stepping up financial assistance to the controlled Afghanistan, saying it will play a positive role in helping the war-ravaged country amid global pushback to stop funding to Kabul until the Afghan militant group modified its hardline religious policies.

In his media briefing on Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin hit out at the US saying it is "main perpetrator" for the Afghan crisis and Washington cannot leave without doing anything for Afghanistan's reconstruction.

Asked for his reaction to comments by Afghanistan's exiled central bank chief stating that the may go to and Pakistan to replace the US for financial assistance, Wang said, "I want to stress that the US is the main perpetrator and biggest external factor for the Afghan issue. It cannot leave the mess without doing anything."



"We hope the US will match its words with deeds and shoulder its responsibility to honour its own commitments in humanitarian assistance and reconstruction," he said.

Despite the chaotic end to its presence in Afghanistan, the US still has control over billions of dollars belonging to the Afghan central bank, money that Washington is making sure remains out of the reach of the Taliban, the New York Times reported last week.

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York held about USD seven billion of Afghanistan's central bank's USD nine billion in foreign reserves and the Biden administration has already moved to block access to that money.

The Taliban's access to the other money could also be restricted by the long reach of American sanctions and influence.

The Monetary Fund said earlier that it would block Afghanistan's access to about USD 460 million in emergency reserves. The decision followed pressure from the Biden administration to ensure that the reserves did not reach the Taliban, the NYT report said.

Money from an agreement reached in November among more than 60 countries to provide USD 12 billion to over the next four years is also in doubt, it said.

Earlier, Germany said it would not provide grants to if the took over and introduced Sariah law and the EU said no payments were going to until officials "clarify the situation."



Wang said, " always adopts a friendly policy towards entire Afghan people" and provided substantial assistance to socio- economic development to Afghanistan.

"We hope there will be an early end to the chaos and wars in the country, it can resume financial order at an early date. China will also play a positive role in helping the country in self capacity building, peace, reconstruction and improvement of peoples' livelihoods, he said.

About Taliban's statement that it will soon announce a political framework for Afghanistan, Wang said, "we noted these report".

"China's position on the Afghan issue is consistent and clear cut. We hope Afghanistan can form an inclusive open broad-based government which adopts a foreign and domestic policy that is prudent and moderate so as to echo and meet the aspiration and shared will of the community and its own people, he said.

Asked about security of Chinese nationals in Afghanistan amid efforts by many countries to evacuate their nationals, Wang said China is closely following the security of the Chinese institutions and personnel in Afghanistan.

"Now our Embassy there is operating normally. Most Chinese nationals in Afghanistan have returned to China beforehand with the arrangement made by our embassy, he said.

"With regards to the few Chinese who stayed there, our embassy has stayed in close contact with them (and) given them guidelines on strengthening the awareness of safety and taken relevant measures coordinated with the Afghanistan side to offer security guarantees for them, he said.

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is investigating Hangzhous top government official for serious disciplinary violations, casting a spotlight on the city that is home to Jack Mas Co. and Group Holding Ltd.



Hangzhou Municipal Party Committee Secretary Zhou Jiangyong, 53, has been placed under investigation for serious violations of party discipline and state law, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection said in a statement Saturday. While the agency didnt elaborate on Zhous suspected offenses, the party watchdog routinely uses such terminology to describe corruption probes.

Following the announcement of the probe into Zhou, Hangzhous Municipal Standing Committee on Saturday held a meeting affirming its commitment to anti-corruption and responsible governance. A separate CCDI statement said the city will undertake a campaign to root out inappropriate government-business ties.

Social media accounts wrote over the weekend that Zhous family bought up shares in a fintech company ahead of its initial public offering in November, before the listing plans were scrapped, according to an article from Chnfund that was published in the Paper, part of the state-backed Shanghai United Media Group. The postings, which didnt name the company, have since been deleted, according to the article.

on Sunday denied that certain individuals purchased shares of the company ahead of its planned IPO last year, as recent online rumors had suggested. The firm didnt elaborate on who it was referring to, adding that it had strictly adhered to all relevant laws and regulations through the listing process. Regulators called an abrupt halt to Ants record $35 billion IPO days before its debut last year, after its founder publicly criticized financial regulators.





fell 3.7% in Hong Kong on Monday even as other technology shares rose. The Hang Seng Tech Index rallied 2.1%, rebounding from last weeks 11% slump.

Hangzhou has grown to become one of Chinas most affluent cities, thanks in large part to and its group of affiliates. The countrys top e-commerce operator contributes billions in local taxes and is one of the top employers in the city, located in eastern Zhejiang province. It has also drawn hundreds and thousands of vendors and merchants to the city, all seeking to do business with Mas sprawling internet empire.

That outsized influence in Hangzhou has fostered a strong relationship with the local government. In 2019, Ma was presented with a Meritorious Hangzhou citizen award by none other than Zhou, the local party boss, who feted the billionaire tycoon for his contributions to the citys economic and social development, according to government statements at the time. Local media have also published photos of Zhou attending Alibabas annual Singles Day shopping festival in 2019.

under Xi Jinping has stepped up a years-long campaign against graft -- considered a major destabilizing force for the Party -- thats ensnared several high-profile officials from Chongqing to Shanxi. Business executives have also come under fire. Last year, Hu Xiaogang, a veteran executive of bad-debt company Great Wall Asset Management Co., was placed under investigation. China Huarong Asset Management Co.s former chairman Lai Xiaomin was executed in January for crimes including bribery.

The investigation into Zhou comes after Zhejiang was recently named by the government as a pilot zone for Xis wealth redistribution efforts. The province, traditionally a crucible for fast-growth private enterprises, has announced plans to raise per-capita disposable income to 75,000 yuan ($11,555) by 2025, a 45% increase within five years. It also wants wages to account for more than half of its gross domestic product. Xi has in recent months emphasized rhetoric about common prosperity as he seeks to reduce poverty, putting the nations wealthiest citizens on notice.



Speculation about Ants involvement in the Zhou investigation adds to an already troubled year for Ma. After its IPO was scrapped in November, the group was ordered to restructure into a financial holding company that would entail more government supervision. Alibaba was also placed under an antitrust investigation and fined a record $2.8 billion for violations such as forced exclusivity arrangements.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett warned that his country will retaliate against attacks from the Gaza Strip.

His remarks on Sunday came a day after an Israeli soldier was injured during clashes with Palestinians near the Gaza border, reports Xinhua news agency.

Addressing his weekly cabinet meeting, Bennett said that "will settle the score with those who harm our soldiers and civilians".

Referring to a possible escalation with Gaza's Hamas rulers, Bennett said the military is "ready for any scenario".

Overnight, the Israeli air force carried out airstrikes in the Gaza Strip.

An Israeli military spokesperson said in a statement that war jets struck four weapons manufacturing and storage sites belonging to the Hamas.

Hundreds of Palestinians participated in the demonstration on August 21, which was organised by the Hamas in order to protest the Israeli blockade on Gaza.

Some of the demonstrators approached the fence, torched tires and hurled stones and explosives toward the Israeli soldiers.

According to the Health Ministry in Gaza, at least 24 Palestinians were injured by Israeli gunfire.

According to the Israeli military, a Border Police officer was shot and critically wounded.

The violence came amid Egyptian-brokered efforts to achieve a long-term ceasefire deal between and Hamas.

A fragile ceasefire in May halted the most recent war between and Hamas after the 11-day fighting that claimed the lives of 260 Palestinians and 13 Israelis.

--IANS

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will send three military aircraft to starting Monday to evacuate Japanese citizens and local staff as security deteriorates following the takeover, officials said.

Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said the planes will pick up Japanese nationals and Afghans who worked for the Japanese Embassy and development agencies.

The local situation is rapidly becoming fluid ... and we are doing everything we can to get them out of the country, Kishi said.

The area around Kabul's airport remains filled with thousands of people trying to flee the country after the takeover.

closed its Kabul embassy on August 15 and set up a temporary office in neighbouring Turkey two days later, but local employees at the embassy and other Japan-related organisations remain in

Kishi declined to say how many people will be evacuated, citing security reasons.

He said plans to finish the evacuation before the August 31 deadline for the US troop withdrawal from

Earlier Monday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said US troops in Afghanistan are conducting aviation controls and flights are operating safely.

He said there is no sign of interference by the so far.

Japan dispatched a military transport plane to South Sudan to evacuate Japanese diplomats during that country's unrest in 2016.

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Pakistan and its intelligence service have played a key role in fostering the and allowing it to eventually take over Afghanistan, a top Republican lawmaker has alleged, stating that it is disgusting to watch Islamabad celebrate the group's victory that will bring "untold brutality" to Afghans.

Congressman Steve Chabot, Co-Chair of the India Caucus, said in his address to the virtual gala of Hindu Political Action Committee on Sunday that he applauds the Indian government for welcoming the Afghan religious minorities who have a good reason to fear persecution at the hands of the and their evil rule.

In contrast, we all know that Pakistan and particularly its intelligence services played a key role fostering the and allowing them to eventually take over. It's just disgusting to watch Pakistani officials celebrate the victory of this group that will bring untold brutality to the Afghan people, Chabot said.

Pakistan's own persecution of religious minorities, however, gets a lot less attention here in America than it deserves. We would do well to educate our fellow citizens about these abuses. Persecution is particularly manifests in the heinous practice of the kidnapping, force conversion to Islam and forced marriage of underage Hindu girls to older Muslim men, he said.

Such allegations are not mere hearsay, he noted.

Major news organisations and human rights groups have documented the practice with so many heartbreaking stories of girls in their early teens taken from their families, and traffic into forced marriages. These abuses are often just ignored, said the Congressman.

In his address, Chabot said that with roughly 6 million Hindus in America, Hindus are unquestionably an integral part of society throughout the United States.

Through strong work ethic and high educational attainment, Hindus exemplify the American dream. These virtues also allow Hindus to take on key roles in communities across the country, and also give back to those communities in so many ways, he said.

That is why the reports of a rise in discrimination against Hindu Americans around the country are so concerning, he rued, adding that there is no place in America for such discrimination.

We must all seek ways to bring it to an end, Chabot added.

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has dispelled speculations regarding visit of Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi to Kabul, according to an official spokesperson.

"No visit by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi to Kabul is scheduled. Any speculation in this regard is baseless," Xinhua news agency quoted Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri as saying on Sunday.

Earlier, the Ministry had said that Qureshi will be visiting Afghanistan's neighbouring countries for consultations on the Afghan issue soon, while reiterating its commitment to work together with the community to advance shared objectives in

On August 21, the Foreign Minister held telephonic conversations with his counterparts in Russia, Germany, Turkey, Belgium and Netherlands to discuss the latest developments in

--IANS

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Prime Minister spoke to German Chancellor on Monday and discussed the unfolding security situation in and its implications on the region and the world, as the leaders emphasised the importance of maintaining peace and security.

The Prime Minister's Office said in a statement that the two leaders held that the most urgent priority is the repatriation of stranded people.

They also discussed bilateral issues, including cooperation in COVID-19 vaccines, development cooperation with a focus on climate and energy, and fostering trade and economic relations.

Modi tweeted, "Spoke to Chancellor Merkel this evening and discussed bilateral, multilateral and regional issues, including recent developments in Reiterated our commitment to strengthening the India- Strategic Partnership."



The PMO statement said, "The leaders discussed the unfolding security situation in and its implications on the region and the world. They emphasised the importance of maintaining peace and security, with the most urgent priority being the repatriation of stranded people."



The two leaders also exchanged views on issues of multilateral interest such as the forthcoming COP-26 meeting and the Indian initiative to promote a dialogue on maritime security at the United Nations Security Council, the statement said.

They emphasised the commonality of perspectives between both sides on promoting inclusive cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.

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US President said that extending the deployment of troops for the evacuation mission in beyond the August 31 deadline has been under discussion.

Biden gave updated remarks about the ongoing evacuation while addressing reporters at the White House on Sunday afternoon, reports Xinhua news agency.

"There are discussions going on among us and the military about extending, our hope is we will not have to extend," said Biden when asked about the deadline.

"But there are going to be discussions, I suspect, on how far along we are in the process."

Biden in July ordered the US military to end its mission in by the end of this month.

The US has been scrambling to evacuate Americans and its Afghan partners from the country since the entered the capital Kabul on August 15.

The US military had moved approximately 3,900 personnel out of over the last 24 hours, and the American and coalition aircraft have evacuated about 28,000 people since August 14, said Biden.

He said the US is executing a plan to move Americans to the Kabul airport compound and had extended access and the safe zone around the airport.

The President also noted the security environment is changing rapidly on the ground.

"We know that terrorists may seek to exploit the situation and target innocent Afghans or American troops," he said, pointing to potential terrorist threats from ISIS-K, the local affiliate of the Islamic State.

Earlier in the day, the Pentagon ordered commercial airlines to support the evacuation missions.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin had ordered the Commander of US Transportation Command "to activate Stage I of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF)", which provides the Pentagon access to commercial air mobility resources to support evacuation from Afghanistan, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said in a statement.

The statement added that the commercial planes would not fly into Kabul airport.

US Military aircraft will focus on operations in and out of Kabul, and commercial planes "will be used for the onward movement of passengers from temporary safe havens and interim staging bases".

This is the third time in history the US military has activated the CRAF, according to the Pentagon.

The first was for the Gulf War and the second for the Iraq War.

--IANS

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On August 15, when her native city fell to the Taliban, 19-year-old Mariam Arzo Nooyar was crying at her house in south Delhi's Bhogal, saying all hope of redemption for her war-torn was replaced by nightmares.

Nooyar, an Afghan refugee, along with her family had moved to India seven years ago in hope of a safer and prosperous future.

"India is our home now and every year August 15 is the day of festivities in the country to mark its Independence Day. But this August 15, when India was celebrating its 75th Independence Day, we lost our, as fell to the Taliban that very day. I was depressed and sad, and cried the whole day in my room," she said with a heaviness in her voice.

She was among the hundreds of Afghan refugees, mostly youths, who gathered and vociferously protested in front of the UNHCR office here amid deepening crisis in in the wake of takeover of the strife-torn nation by the Taliban.

"The Taliban claim to do their acts in the name of Islam. But killing innocent people and curbing rights of women, is it Islam? Today, the Taliban people are hunting those who worked for the US when it occupied and government officials, musicians, artists, journalists. I have no hope left for my Afghanistan," Nooyar said.

Wearing a traditional scarf with the national colours of Afghanistan, she and her friend Kayenat Yusufi, 18, sit in a corner of a streetside near the UN Refugee Agency office in Vasant Vihar, to take a rest.

Yusufi, a class 12 student, points to her pair of black denim which she has paired with her traditional dress on top, accessorised with an Afghani scarf.

"In Afghanistan right now, I cannot even think of wearing this outfit. The Taliban men will beat me with sticks or rods and even shoot at me. I shudder to think what our fellow women and girls are undergoing in Afghanistan," she lamented.

Yusufi and Nooyar shouted slogans during the protest as they are both volunteers of the Afghan Solidarity Committee, an umbrella organisation of Afghan in India, which led the demonstration.

PTI spoke to a large number of female protesters, who hail from different parts of Afghanistan, and had moved to India in the past few years or over a decade ago.

Tamanna,10, came to the protest site along with her mother, Hasala Rahmoni, from an Afghan enclave in Noida. She held up a placard with a solidarity message that read 'please provide practical support to asylum seekers and refugees'.

The young girl aspires to become a doctor, but the recent turn of events in her homeland has broken her heart and left her mother, who was a teacher of Afghan Dari (Persian) language in Afghanistan before migrating to India a few years ago, in a state of depression.

"The Taliban, they kill people and don't allow girls to go to school or women to venture out," the 10-year-old rued.

"My relatives are there in Afghanistan. I am worried about them and women and girls in general. How can we be happy in India, if our Afghanistan and Afghani people live in fear and uncertainty," her mother, Rahmoni said.

Asked if they would ever like to return to their homeland, both mother and daughter said, "No, never. With the Taliban in control now, we can't even think of returning. It's hell right now."



Among women protesters were also people who have lived in India for over a decade now. Zaalasht Akhtari, a resident of Lajpat Nagar, had moved to India 13 years ago.

At Delhi's 'Little Kabul', she lives with her parents, three sisters and a brother.

"I worked in the marketing department in the health sector. But, after the Taliban took over, the entire medical tourism flow from Afghanistan has stopped. Fate of women there, the less said the better. The Taliban, appeasing women to just form a government. They are evil, they will return to their old self," Akhtari said.

Farkhunda Hami, 22, a fashion designing student, and her friend Alnuss Sada, 19, who also sat through the protest, were dejected thinking of the fate of the women and young girls back in Afghanistan.

Amid evaporating hopes and feelings of fear and frustration, many young girls walked around the protest site, wrapped in the Afghan national flag, seeking to inject a sense of optimism amid a sea of pessimism.

Being aware of the current situation, best friends Sadaf Kargar, 14, and Beheshta Niyazi, 13, who hail from Mazhar-e-Sharif and respectively, and now live as in Tilak Nagar, expressed no desire to return to their native country ever, but demanded more support from the Indian government and the UNHCR.

"I can at least walk freely with my country's flag in the streets of India. In Afghanistan, the Taliban will kill me if I even show my flag," Niyazi lamented.

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Shares of zoomed 6 per cent at Rs 720.60 on the BSE in the intra-day trade on Monday after the company terminated the agreement to acquire 51 per cent ownership in Cronus Pharma.

Aurobindo Pharma, on August 12, 2021, had entered into binding agreements with Cronus Pharma Specialities India Private Limited for acquisition of 51 per cent ownership in Cronus Pharma by subscribing to 95 million equity shares of Rs 10 each at a premium of Rs 34.18 per equity share aggregating to Rs 420 crore.

Since August 12, in the past six trading days, the stock of Aurobindo has underperformed the market by falling 21 per cent on the BSE till Friday. It had hit a 52-week low of Rs 677 on August 20, 2021.

"The board of Directors, in its meeting held on Friday, August 20, 2021, has approved the termination of the aforesaid agreements and the parties have mutually agreed and terminated the said agreements", the pharmaceutical company said in an exchange filing.

Cronus is a pharmaceutical company developing, manufacturing and distributing generic veterinary pharmaceutical products. Cronus has a factory at Hyderabad with 67 products in its pipeline, of which 22 have been filed and 6 have been approved by the Centre for Veterinary Medicine, USFDA.

The acquisition would have provided a foothold in the $48 billion global animal health market.

"With the termination of this highly debatable acquisition, the company has, for the time being, avoided further damage. That said, resurfacing of regulatory concerns and intensifying competition in the US are likely to remain an overhang in the near term," ICICI Securities said in a note.
Bitcoin's price surged past $50,000 on Monday for the first time since May, although its rebound from a months-long slump lost a little steam.

The world's largest was last up 1.19% at $49,888. It had risen as high as $50,562 as investors bet that the prospect of more U.S. stimulus spending would lead to further gains, and more mainstream financial services firms made moves in the nascent asset class.

has risen 82% since hitting a yearly low of $27,700 in January.

Meanwhile, the price of rival ether rose 2.71% to $3,329. The virtual coin has risen 91% since slumping to below $1,740 last month.

The recovery comes as some more established financial services companies offer their customers access to virtual coins. PayPal Holdings Inc said on Monday it would allow customers in Britain to buy, sell and hold and other cryptocurrencies starting this week.

Edward Moya, senior market analyst at OANDA in New York, said the late-morning price dip below $50,000 seemed to be profit taking. He pointed out that fears of capital gains taxation has led some traders to hold cryptocurrency as a long-term investment, removing some volatility from the market.

"New investors are the key to this latest rally and all signs show they are comfortable with high risk," he said in an email, adding that bitcoin "could see a fast appreciation here and might not hesitate making a run for $60,000 if appetite for risky assets remain intact."

Others also believe the upswing could have further to go if more retail investors return to the market.

"The last time bitcoin was at $50,000, the Google trends (tracking website showing bitcoin searches) was much higher than what it is now," Marcus Sotiriou, a sales trader at the UK based digital asset broker GlobalBlock, said in a note.

"This suggests that retail euphoria hasn't entered the market yet and bitcoin has a long way to go in this market cycle."

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The of India (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) issued an advisory warning investors on Monday asking them to stay away from unregulated derivative products traded on over-the-counter platforms.

The exchanges said they had noticed some unregulated platforms and websites offering trading in unregulated derivative products called Contracts for Difference (CFD)/Binary Options.

Investors falling prey to the promises of exorbitant returns by these websites and platforms may eventually lose money heavily. Investors are advised to refrain from dealing and investing in such unregulated products offered by such unregulated internet-based trading platforms, the exchanges said in a note on Monday.

These platforms allow trading in currencies, international stock indices, and commodities, but the orders are not routed through the exchanges.

When you buy a CFD, you dont actually own the underlying, but you have a contract with the platform that will give you a payout based on the price change of the underlying. So, the trading costs in terms of taxes and exchange fees is almost nil.
Shares of surged 5 per cent to hit a new high of Rs 1,168 on the BSE in intra-day trade on Monday, after the company said it has signed a contract with Munich Re, one of the worlds leading reinsurers, to create a nextgeneration digital workplace for its workforce.

Building on the successes of its strategic digital transformation partnership with Munich Re, HCL will now modernize and standardize workplace services for more than 16,000 employees in 40 countries, said in release.

The company further said it will adopt a glocal strategy to support Munich Res global workforce in multiple languages, including German, Spanish and Mandarin, from near-shore locations. HCL will also implement a highly personalized service desk solution and leverage the power of automation and self-service capabilities to improve efficiency and enhance employee user experiences, the company said.

Last week, had signed a five-year, end-to-end information technology transformation services deal with Wacker Chemie AG, a German multinational chemical company, to establish a modernized digital workplace and improve its quality-of-service delivery. Wacker currently operates 26 production sites. Wackers engagement with HCL will lead to significant cost efficiencies through modernisation, standardisation and automation. HCL will be using AI-enabled virtual assistants to drive efficiencies for Wacker.

In the past one month, HCL Technologies has outperformed the market by surging 18 per cent, as compared to 5 per cent rise in the S&P BSE Sensex.

The company is confident of delivering good sequential growth over Q2-Q4 on the back of broad-based demand, strong order bookings ($1.7 billion, 37 per cent YoY), and robust deal pipeline (at all-time high). The management has retained its double-digit growth guidance for FY22 and expects growth to further accelerate in FY23.

HCL Technologies has guided for 19-21 per cent EBIT (earnings before interest tax) margin for FY22, factoring in wage hikes, gradual normalization of travel & other costs, and planned investments in leadership augmentation, sales teams in certain geographies and Mode 2 capabilities, analysts at Emkay Global Financial Services said in a recent note on the company. The brokerage firm maintains a 'buy' rating on the stock with a target price of Rs 1,280 at 22x Jun23E EPS.
Arvind Fashions soared 7.75% to Rs 258.50 after the company's board approved the preferential allotment of equity shares worth Rs 439 crore to various marquee investors including promoters at the price of Rs 218.50.

The marquee investors who participated in the fund raise are Akash Bhanshali, existing shareholders including ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund, various foreign institutional investors (including University of Notre Dame Du Lac, GP Emerging Markets Strategies L.P., The Ram Fund L.P.), Ashish Dhawan and other investors. Aura Merchandise, a promoter entity has also participated in the preferential issue for an amount of Rs 40 crore.

With this fund raise, the company said it will significantly strengthen the balance sheet and allow the business to pursue its growth strategy while insulating it from any COVID-19 related uncertainties. With focused strategy of profitable growth, the company is unlikely to require any more funding in near to medium term.

On a consolidated basis, Arvind Fashions reported a net loss of Rs 182.49 crore in Q1 June 2021 as compared to a net loss of Rs 213.13 crore in Q1 June 2020. Net sales surged 343.8% to Rs 319.24 crore in Q1 FY22 over Q1 FY21.

Arvind Fashions is a leading player in apparel brands and retail space with 21 international and Indian brands. It also has a 50:50 joint venture with Tommy Hilfiger in India.

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After opening higher, the key equity indices sharply pared gains in morning trade. The Nifty was currently at 16,500 mark. IT stocks were in demand while metal shares extended recent losses.

At 10:26 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was up 214.08 points or 0.39% to 55,543.40. The Nifty 50 index added 49.60 points or 0.30% to 16,500.10.

In broader market, the S&P BSE Mid-Cap index was down 0.46% while the S&P BSE Small-Cap index fell 1.13%.

The market breadth was weak. On the BSE, 828 shares rose and 2062 shares fell. A total of 130 shares were unchanged.

Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) reportedly sold over Rs 4,300 crore of Indian equities last week as they look to safer havens after the US Fed said it would start tapering. The rupee has dropped to Rs 74.39 against the US dollar. This is also a consequence of the Fed's taper talk.

COVID-19 Update:

Total COVID-19 confirmed cases worldwide stood at 211,816,904 with 4,431,068 global deaths.

India reported 333,924 active cases of COVID-19 infection and 434,756 deaths, according to the data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

Economy:

Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman, will launch the National Monetisation Pipeline on Monday (23 August) at New Delhi.

The National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP) comprises a four-year pipeline of the Central Government's brownfield infrastructure assets. Besides providing visibility to investors, NMP will also serve as a medium-term roadmap for the Asset Monetisation initiative of the Government.

The Union Budget 2021-22 laid a lot of emphasis on Asset Monetisation as a means to raise innovative and alternative financing for infrastructure, and included a number of key announcements.

Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Railways Raosaheb Danve said that railway has suffered a loss of Rs 36,000 crore due to the corona pandemic. Railway is facing a 48% loss in passenger service. He was speaking in an event organised at Jalna Railway station in Maharashtra. Danve said, Mumbai-Nagpur High Speed train project is an ambitious project of the railway ministry and it is on priority list. Doubling of tracks between Manmad and Nanded will also be completed on priority basis. But other railway projects will be done after checking the feasibility of the project.

New Listings:

Shares of Nuvoco Vistas Corporation, India's fifth-largest cement maker, were currently trading at Rs 538, at a discount of 5.61% compared with the issue price of Rs 570 per share. The scrip was listed at Rs 471 per share, at a discount of 17.36% to the initial public offer (IPO) price.

So far, the stock has hit a high of Rs 547.15 and a low of Rs 471. On the BSE, over 4.22 lakh shares of the company were traded in the counter.

The initial public offer of Nuvoco Vistas Corporation received bids for 10.70 crore shares as against 6.25 crore shares on offer, according to stock exchange data. The issue was subscribed 1.71 times. The issue opened for bidding on 9 August 2021 and closed on 11 August 2021. The price band of the IPO was fixed at Rs 560-570 per share.

Buzzing Index:

The Nifty IT index rose 2.06% to 34,038.85. The index had declined 0.29% on Friday. In the past three months, the index has gained 30.20% while the benchmark Nifty has added 8.64% during the same period.

HCL Tech (up 3.42%), Mphasis (up 3.32%), MindTree (up 3.05%), Tech Mahindra (up 2.74%), Wipro (up 2.23%), TCS (up 2.10%), Larsen & Toubro Infotech (up 1.97%), Coforge (up 1.63%) and Infosys (up 0.52%) advanced.

Stocks in Spotlight:

SRF added 0.88% to Rs 8979.95. The company informed that a meeting of the board of directors of the will be held on Tuesday, 31 August 2021 to consider issuance of bonus shares.

Ramkrishna Forgings fell 1.69% to Rs 858.25. The company said that its board will meet on Friday, 27 August 2021, to consider fund raising plans. The funds would be raised via issue of either equity or debt or any other methods or combination thereof, subject to necessary approvals.

Aurobindo Pharma rose 2.24% to Rs 696.70. The company has terminated the agreement to acquire 51% ownership in Cronus Pharma. The company, on August 12, 2021, had entered into binding agreements with Cronus Pharma Specialities India for acquisition of 51% ownership in Cronus Pharma for an aggregate consideration of Rs 420 crore.

Cronus is a pharmaceutical company developing, manufacturing and distributing generic veterinary pharmaceutical products. Cronus has a factory at Hyderabad with 67 products in its pipeline, of which 22 have been filed and 6 have been approved by the Centre for Veterinary Medicine, USFDA. The acquisition would reportedly have provided Aurobindo Pharma a foothold in the $48 billion global animal health market.

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The domestic equity benchmarks managed to close with decent gains after a volatile session on Monday. The Nifty closed just shy of the 16,500 mark. IT stocks climbed while auto and metal shares tumbled.

As per provisional closing data, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, advanced 226.47 points or 0.41% to 55,555.79. The Nifty 50 index gained 37.40 points or 0.23% to 16,487.90.

The broader indices tumbled. The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index fell 0.90%. The S&P BSE Small-Cap index lost 1.50%.

Sellers outnumbered buyers. On the BSE, 786 shares rose and 2464 shares fell. A total of 143 shares were unchanged.

COVID-19 Update:

Total COVID-19 confirmed cases worldwide stood at 21,18,44,766 with 44,31,554 deaths. India reported 3,33,924 active cases of COVID-19 infection and 4,34,756 deaths while 3,16,80,626 patients have been discharged, according to the data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

Economy:

Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman, will launch the National Monetisation Pipeline on Monday (23 August) at New Delhi. The National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP) comprises a four-year pipeline of the Central Government's brownfield infrastructure assets.

Besides providing visibility to investors, NMP will also serve as a medium-term roadmap for the Asset Monetisation initiative of the Government. The Union Budget 2021-22 laid a lot of emphasis on Asset Monetisation as a means to raise innovative and alternative financing for infrastructure, and included a number of key announcements.

Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Railways Raosaheb Danve said that railway has suffered a loss of Rs 36,000 crore due to the corona pandemic. Railway is facing a 48% loss in passenger service. He was speaking in an event organised at Jalna Railway station in Maharashtra.

Danve said, Mumbai-Nagpur High Speed train project is an ambitious project of the railway ministry and it is on priority list. Doubling of tracks between Manmad and Nanded will also be completed on priority basis. But other railway projects will be done after checking the feasibility of the project.

Buzzing Index:

The Nifty IT index rose 1.67% to 33,907.30. The index declined 0.29% on Friday.

MindTree (up 4.90%), HCL Tech (up 4.26%), Larsen & Toubro Infotech (up 2.62%), TCS (up 2.18%), Coforge (up 1.51%), Wipro (up 1.35%), Tech Mahindra (up 1.13%), Mphasis (up 1.05%) and Infosys (up 0.38%) advanced while Oracle Financial Services Software (down 0.49%) declined.

Stocks in Spotlight:

SRF added 0.66% to Rs 8960.85. The company informed that a meeting of the board of directors of the will be held on Tuesday, 31 August 2021 to consider issuance of bonus shares.

Ramkrishna Forgings fell 0.80% to Rs 866. The company said that its board will meet on Friday, 27 August 2021, to consider fund raising plans. The funds would be raised via issue of either equity or debt or any other methods or combination thereof, subject to necessary approvals.

Aurobindo Pharma added 0.23% to Rs 683. The company has terminated the agreement to acquire 51% ownership in Cronus Pharma. The company, on August 12, 2021, had entered into binding agreements with Cronus Pharma Specialities India for acquisition of 51% ownership in Cronus Pharma for an aggregate consideration of Rs 420 crore.

Cronus is a pharmaceutical company developing, manufacturing and distributing generic veterinary pharmaceutical products. Cronus has a factory at Hyderabad with 67 products in its pipeline, of which 22 have been filed and 6 have been approved by the Centre for Veterinary Medicine, USFDA. The acquisition would reportedly have provided Aurobindo Pharma a foothold in the $48 billion global animal health market.

Cadila Healthcare rose 2.09% to Rs 546.40. The pharmaceutical major said that the company has received the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for ZyCoV-D the world's first Plasmid DNA Vaccine for COVID-19.

Arvind Fashions jumped 9.50% to Rs 262.70. The company's board approved the preferential allotment of equity shares worth Rs 439 crore to various marquee investors including promoters at the price of Rs 218.50.

Steel Strips Wheels (SSWL) shed 0.38% to Rs 1700.60. The company announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for close to $105 million from Western Hemisphere. As per the MoU, SSWL will supply steel and aluminium wheels for a minimum period of three years. Supplies of steel wheels will begin from Chennai and Dappar plant by September 2021 and supplies from Mehsana plant for the aluminium wheels will begin by end of December 2021.

Global Markets:

Shares in Europe and Asia advanced across the board on Monday as traders sought to take advantage of last week's selloff while weighing risks from the delta virus strain and China's regulatory curbs.

Major U.S. stock averages rebounded on Friday boosted by tech stocks. Fed officials are set to gather for their annual meeting in Jackson Hole, Wyo., from Thursday. Market participants will be awaiting insights into the Fed's taper talks as many central bankers aim to move away from easy policy.

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HCL Technologies jumped 4.24% to Rs 1,164.5 after the company said it signed a contract with Munich Re to create a next-generation digital workplace for its workforce.

As per of the contract, HCL Tech will modernize and standardize workplace services for more than 16,000 Munich Re employees in 40 countries. HCL will adopt a glocal strategy to support Munich Re's global workforce in multiple languages, including German, Spanish and Mandarin, from near-shore locations. It will also implement a highly personalized service desk solution and leverage the power of automation and self-service capabilities to improve efficiency and enhance employee user experiences.

HCL's Fluid Workplace Solution offers Munich Re the flexibility to rapidly modify remote working practices as business needs evolve to mitigate the risks associated with the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic. In addition, HCL's WorkBlaze solution will provide predictive analytics and AI for IT Operations capabilities, which will help Munich Re proactively enhance user experiences and pave the way toward a self-healing digital workplace.

We've already achieved significant success with Munich Re in modernizing its applications and supporting its core insurance platforms, said Rahul Singh, president of financial services of HCL Technologies. Flexibility and user-experience transformation are now of greater importance, and this deal reflects the growing value organizations like Munich Re see in HCL's innovative Fluid Workplace model. This alliance also represents another significant stride in HCL's growth in Germany, where we continue to invest in expanding our footprint and developing new solutions to support our clients.

Shares of HCL Tech hit an all time high of Rs 1,168 in intraday today. From its 52-week low of Rs 682.80 hit on 1 September 2020, the stock has risen 70.6%.

HCL Technologies is a leading global technology company. 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).

On a consolidated basis, the IT firm's net profit jumped 8.5% to Rs 3,214 crore on 2.2% increase in revenues to Rs 20,068 crore in Q1 FY22 over Q4 FY21.

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Tata Motors Ltd is quoting at Rs 279.7, down 1.2% on the day as on 13:24 IST on the NSE. The stock jumped 130.78% in last one year as compared to a 44.02% rally in NIFTY and a 23.61% spurt in the Nifty Auto index.

Tata Motors Ltd fell for a fifth straight session today. The stock is quoting at Rs 279.7, down 1.2% on the day as on 13:24 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is up around 0.38% on the day, quoting at 16513.5. The Sensex is at 55599.37, up 0.49%.Tata Motors Ltd has eased around 4.59% in last one month.Meanwhile, Nifty Auto index of which Tata Motors Ltd is a constituent, has eased around 3.09% in last one month and is currently quoting at 9904.7, down 0.81% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 177.36 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 280.18 lakh shares in last one month.

The benchmark August futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 280, down 0.9% on the day. Tata Motors Ltd jumped 130.78% in last one year as compared to a 44.02% rally in NIFTY and a 23.61% spurt in the Nifty Auto index.

The PE of the stock is 0 based on TTM earnings ending June 21.

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The mortal remains of former Chief Minister Kalyan Singh will be cremated at the Narora Ghat in Bulandshahr on Monday afternoon.

Aligarh BJP MP Satish Gautam, said: "The funeral procession will begin from the stadium at 9 a.m. on Monday. After a brief halt at Atrauli, it will reach Dibai where the last rites will take place around 3 p.m."

Chandrapal Singh, a close aide of late leader, said: "He always chose Atrauli over Dibai, but maintained that Aligarh is his 'Janambhoomi' while Bulandshahr his 'karambhoomi'. Therefore, he is being cremated in Dibai."

Singh considered Dibai his 'karambhoomi' because he was elected to the Lok Sabha from Bulandshahr once and twice to the state Assembly from Dibai constituency.

Dibai is also the nearest Ganga ghat.

The mortal remains of the late leader were brought to the Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar Stadium on Sunday evening in an air ambulance from Lucknow.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath accompanied the remains.

Thousands queued up to pay their last respects to the late leader and cries of 'Jai Shree Ram' and 'Babu ji Amar Rahen' filled the air.

Singh was a teacher in Atrauli before taking a plunge into He was first elected as MLA in 1967. He won 10 of the 11 Assembly polls he contested.

The BJP's top brass is likely to be present during the last rites, with workers claiming that over 5 lakh people are expected to attend the cremation.

Meanwhile, Abhishek Pandey, chief development officer (CDO) of Bulandshahr, said that the irrigation department's land is being cleaned up for the cremation.

The ground has a capacity to accommodate over 3,000 people but the nearby areas can accommodate a larger crowd.

"The body of Kalyan Singh will be bathed in Ganga before cremation," Pandey said.

Earlier on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP President J.P. Nadda and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had visited the departed leader's Lucknow residence to pay tributes.

--IANS

amita/ksk/

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In the absence of any major domestic triggers, the equity market sentiment this week will be guided by the global trends. Volatility is likely to remain high amid rising global Covid cases and monthly F&O expiry.

In the week gone by, the indices had declined in two of four trading days amid fears of a sooner-than-expected tapering in monetary stimulus by the US Federal Reserve, rising cases of the Delta variant of the coronavirus coupled with China's regulatory crackdown.

On the global front, investors' eyes will also be on US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's address at the Jackson Hole Symposium as concerns over tapering intensified especially after the recent Federal Open Market Committee minutes.

Further, three companies are up for listing this week. Nuvoco Vistas will list on exchanges on August 23 while Aptus Value and Chemplast Sanmar will debut on August 24. All three IPOs had received a tepid investor response. Moreover, a tepid start for CarTrade signals an impact on the listing of these firms.

With the earnings season over, would track movement in rupee, Brent crude and foreign fund inflows to derive further cues, analysts said.

And now, let's take a look at the trade setup for today.

After two days of selling pressure, are likely to gain their mojo back, tracking an upbeat global sentiment. At 7.30 am, SGX Nifty was up 160 points at 16,565, indicating a gap-up start for the benchmark indices.

Globally, Asian stocks rose as traders sought to take advantage of last weeks selloff while weighing risks from the delta virus strain and Chinas regulatory curbs. Japan's Nikkei was up 1.6 per cent, Australias S&P/ASX 200 index added 0.3 per cent and South Korea's Kospi rose 1.43 per cent. US equity futures also traded marginally higher.

On the stock-specific front, shares of Adani Group companies are likely to be in focus after the market regulator Sebi kept the proposed Rs 4,500-crore initial share-sale of edible oil major Adani Wilmar in "abeyance". The company had filed preliminary papers with Sebi on August 3, to raise funds through an initial public offering (IPO).

Aurobindo Pharma said its Rs 420-crore deal to acquire 51 per cent stake in Cronus Pharma Specialities India or Cronus has been cancelled. On August 12, the company had announced that it had entered into definitive agreements to subscribe to fresh equity shares in Hyderabad-based Cronus.

Karnataka Bank plans to raise up to Rs 6,000 crore debt capital during the current financial year, and it will seek shareholders' approval in the ensuing AGM next month.

Troubled with huge NPAs and top-level exits, Ujjivan Small Finance Bank is expected to elevate its head of operations Carol Furtado as an interim chief early this week. The bank's managing director and chief executive Nitin Chugh has resigned on Thursday (August 19, 2021), citing personal reasons.

Eicher Motors' shareholders in its recently held annual general meeting (AGM) have rejected a proposal for re-appointment of Siddhartha Lal as the company's managing director for a period of five years with effect from May 1 this year.

Infra-related stocks could also hog limelight as Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will launch the National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP) on Monday that will include the Centres four-year plan to monetise its brownfield infrastructure assets.
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Heavily indebted developer China Evergrande Group is in talks with several companies to sell its Hong Kong headquarters and a building in Guangzhou, sources told Caixin.

The negotiations show the growing seriousness in which Evergrande is taking a warning from Chinas top financial regulators to resolve debt risks as the property giant struggles under the weight of $300 billion of debt at a time when the country is looking to prevent the real estate industrys enormous liabilities from spilling over into the broader economy.

Potential buyers of the Hong Kong building include two state-owned enterprises in Guangzhou, Caixin learned from a source related to Hong Kong capital market.

Yuexiu Property Co. Ltd., a state-owned real estate developer based in Guangzhou and listed in Hong Kong, is reportedly involved in the sale, according to Redd Intelligence, a think tank based out of New York and Singapore. Yuexiu Property told Caixin late Friday that it doesnt have any information about the issue.

Evergrandes 32,100-square-meter Hong Kong headquarters, located in the heart of Hong Kong Island, is expected to fetch a price of between HK$12.4 billion ($1.59 billion) and HK$13.2 billion, a source active in Hong Kongs commercial property market told Caixin.

The capital market source came up with a lower estimate  between HK$11 billion and HK$12 billion  to take account of the impact of the recent protests and the pandemic on the citys real estate market. However, the source pointed out that the sale wont do much to help Evergrande raise cash because the company took out a HK$700 to HK$900 million mortgage on the property in 2018, which was just extended last year.

Evergrande is also in discussions with several companies to sell its former headquarters in Guangzhou. Since the company moved its headquarters to the neighboring city of Shenzhen, the Guangzhou building is now home to just Evergrandes tourism and health units, as well as a handful of company departments, an industry insider told Caixin, meaning the entire building could be sold off without much trouble.

The 53,000-square-meter property, located in central Guangzhou, might get a price between 6.4 billion yuan ($984 million) and 7.5 billion yuan, a source familiar with the market told Caixin.

However, this assumes Evergrande can afford to wait for the right buyer. The market source pointed out that almost no deal for an office building has closed in the area over the past two years. If Evergrande needs to sell it off quickly, the price would have to be much lower, the source said.

On Thursday, the Peoples Bank of China and the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission summoned Evergrandes senior management in for a talk, where the executives were told to maintain stable business operations and resolve debt risks.

As the regulators are getting more serious about Evergrandes gigantic debt load, the company is accelerating efforts to raise cash to comply with the three red lines requirements.

Evergrande plans to sell its real estate assets since early June, according to Caixins previous reporting. On Aug. 10, it started trying to sell stakes in electric-vehicle and property services. It disclosed to the public (link in Chinese) on Friday that its electric-vehicle unit has held preliminary talks with Xiaomi Corp. to seek a strategic investment.

No deal has been announced.

Contact reporter Manyun Zou (manyunzou@caixin.com) and editor Michael Bellart (michaelbellart@caixin.com)

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St. Johnsbury, VT (05819)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun early followed by cloudy skies this afternoon. High 72F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Cloudy this evening with showers after midnight. Low 52F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
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(En francais)

BAMAKO, MALI (Aug. 23, 2021)  The Carter Center, which serves as the Independent Observer of Malis 2015 peace agreement, today released a new report that notes improved dialogue between the agreements signatories in recent months, while also highlighting the lack of progress on the most important issues and suggesting ways to make headway on implementing the agreement.

The report cautions that, despite better relations between the agreements signatories, they remain divided on some fundamental issues that must be resolved during the remaining tenure of the transitional government. These include the lack of agreement on a comprehensive process for the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of ex-combatants; the need for concrete development projects in the north and other areas of Mali; the importance of addressing justice and reconciliation issues; and the completion of institutional political reform and decentralization, as called for by the agreement.

Also of concern is the publics growing skepticism toward the agreement, which threatens successful implementation. To combat this, the parties must live up to their commitment to increase inclusivity and transparency throughout the process.

The report praises two recent initiatives by the parties: holding monitoring committee meetings outside of Bamako and integrating women into the work of the monitoring committee. These improvements represent a promising first step toward a renewed approach to implementation, which will be necessary if it is to succeed and produce concrete benefits for the people of Mali.

The report also underlines the need for more active engagement from the international community to spur progress in the implementation process.

Download the full report (PDF) 

Background: The Carter Center was designated as the Independent Observer in late 2017. According to Article 63 of the 2015 agreement, the Independent Observers job is to impartially identify blockages in the implementation process and recommend steps for enhancing implementation. The Centers role as the Independent Observer was recognized by the United Nations Security Council in resolutions 2391 (December 2017), 2423 (June 2018), 2480 (June 2019), 2541(June 2020), and 2584 (June 2021) and it assumed its role in January 2018. This report, intended for the Malian parties, the international community, and the public, is the ninth from the Independent Observer.

Translations

LObservateur Independant au Mali: La periode de transition est decisive pour progresser dans la mise en uvre de lAccord de Paix

Contact: In Atlanta, Soyia Ellison, soyia.ellison@cartercenter.org

In Bamako, Deo Mbuto, deo.mbuto@cartercenter.org, +223.72.35.57.43.

The Carter Center

Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope.

A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, The Carter Center has helped to improve life for people in over 80 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; and improving mental health care. The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide.
UPDATE 1:30 p.m.

The B.C. government will soon require proof of vaccination to access a wide variety of events and activities.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said the BC Vaccine Card will launch on September 13, the date anyone above the age of 12 will need to have at least one dose to access many settings.

By October 24, entrance will require both doses of the vaccine.

Impacted settings include:

indoor ticketed sporting events

indoor concerts

indoor theatre/dance/symphony events

restaurants (indoor and patio dining)

night clubs

casinos

movie theatres

fitness centres/gyms (excluding youth recreational sport)

businesses offering indoor high-intensity group exercise activities

organized indoor events (eg. weddings, parties, conferences, meetings, workshops)

discretionary organized indoor group recreational classes and activities

Faith-based gatherings and essential businesses like grocery stores are exempt from the program.

This will be a time-limited initiative, said Henry.

As we move into the fall, well continue to work with the federal government to make sure we have an alignment with the federal  vaccine passport thats under development as well.

Henry said enforcement of the vaccine passport will fall on businesses, much like checking ID for purchases of alcohol. The rules will not apply to employees of businesses.

Individuals will be required to show proof of vaccination alongside valid government ID.

Besides people under the age of 12, there will be no exemptions for those who cannot get vaccinated for any reason. Dr. Henry said they are looking at keeping the system in place until at least January 31.

There is no reason why those who are anxious to participate in the social and economic life of our community can't take that next step, Premier John Horgan said, adding the majority of British Columbians, over 80 per cent, have been vaccinated.

That majority wants to know that people that they are interacting with have taken the same steps to protect themselves and their loved ones in their communities, Horgan said.

He said he expects the province will have to defend the program in court.

"We'll take that on as it comes, I don't want to prejudge or predict who or what or how that will happen. But again, government is always prepared for these types of adventures into the courts, we do it all the time," he said.

Horgan also confirmed this current spike in cases would delay the provinces plans to move into Step 4 of its four-step reopening plan, originally slated for September 7.

Henry said people who've not been fully vaccinated account for almost 90 per cent of all recent COVID-19 cases and over 93 per cent the hospitalizations.

The government says a secure weblink will be publicized before Sept. 13, where people can access their proof of vaccination. Individuals will be able to save a copy of their proof of vaccination to their phone to show it when entering or using designated businesses and events. Individuals who cannot access their proof of vaccination online will be provided with a secure alternative option, said the government.

UPDATE 1 p.m.

Live video of B.C. vaccination announcement above.

ORIGINAL 4 a.m.

Premier John Horgan will be making his first public appearance in a month Monday afternoon at a news conference, where it is expected restrictions for unvaccinated residents will be announced.

Global News reporter Richard Zussman tweeted Saturday that unvaccinated residents will not be able to access non-essential businesses like movie theatres or restaurants.

NEW - According to those who have been briefed on the plan, sounds like BC Government will announce on Monday those eligible who are unvaccinated will not be able to access non-essential businesses. Could include movies and restaurants. No details on when it will start. #bcpoli  Richard Zussman (@richardzussman) August 21, 2021

The announcement, scheduled for 1 p.m., is also expected to provide details on what a vaccine passport will look like. Castanet will carry the news conference live within this story.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix will also attend the announcement.

A number of large organizations have in recent days require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test to enter things like concerts or sporting events.

The federal Liberals have also made the issue a political one, campaigning on the plan to require vaccination for federal workers and to board an airplane.

Premier Horgan is returning from a multi-week holiday to Atlantic Canada.
Photo: The Canadian Press

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he will convene a meeting of leaders from the Group of Seven nations on Tuesday for "urgent talks on the situation in Afghanistan."

Johnson revealed the plan in a statement posted on Twitter.

He says it's "vital that the international community works together to ensure safe evacuations, prevent a humanitarian crisis and support the Afghan people to secure the gains of the last 20 years."

The U.K. holds this year's presidency of the G7 nations, which is also made up of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States.

There was no immediate word from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's camp on whether he would take time away from the election campaign to attend the meeting.

Trudeau has faced criticism in recent days for not acting fast enough to evacuate Afghans who supported Canada's military and diplomatic efforts in the war-torn country.

So far, three Canadian planes have carried evacuees out of the chaotic Kabul airport.
Kenya consumption up 27% in 5M21

ICR Newsroom By 23 August 2021

Cement consumption in Kenya advanced 26.6 per cent YoY to 3.35Mt in the January-May 2021 period when compared with 2.64Mt in the 5M20, according to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. The increase was supported by ongoing infrastructure projects such as the Nairobi Expressway and higher activity in the real estate market.



Output from domestic producers increased by 27.3 per cent to 3.38Mt in the 5M21 from 2.65Mt in the 5M20.



Cement production has been strong, aligned with consumption of the product. This has been supported in part by the strong government infrastructure spending, said Central Bank of Kenya Governor, Patrick Njoroge, during a briefing on the 26 July monetary policy committee (MPC) meeting.

Looking at the year ahead, the Nairobi Expressway, the upgrade of James Gichuru-Rironi highway, the dualling of the Kenol-Marua road, the Nairobi Western Bypass and affordable housing projects are all expected to drive cement demand.

A pick-up in the private sector building and construction segment is also recovering, having been among the worst hit by restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Chatham, VA (24531)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms during the morning becoming more widespread this afternoon. High 78F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Slight chance of a shower throughout the evening. Low 61F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
Chatham, VA (24531)

Today

Cloudy this morning with thunderstorms developing this afternoon. High 78F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Slight chance of a shower throughout the evening. Low 61F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
Former Red Bank Police Chief Ronnie Dodd was killed in an ATV accident on Saturday.

Family members said he was on his farm at Sale Creek coming home from his driving range to his house.

He was a gun training expert who operated Dodd and Associates.

Mr. Dodd was a 24-year veteran of law enforcement with a wide-ranging background in training and operations and extensive experience in the tactical application of firearms. He has taught police tactics at the Kosovo Police Service School in Vuchtri, Kosovo and at Skopje, Macedonia, where he trained officers for the Macedonian National Police.

Mr. Dodd was Head of Operational Policing for The Jordan International Police Training Center for the new Iraqi Police Service from its inception until April 2005.

He was nationally ranked in pistol competition and traveled all over the United States teaching firearms techniques. He was an instructor certified to teach by the state of Tennessee, FBI, Heckler & Koch, U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, N.R.A., Orange County (FL) SWAT, Dept. of Justice -International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program and Organization Security Co-Operation of Europe (OSCE).

He has served as an instructor for several nationally known training facilities and had been working with Bill Rogers at Rogers Shooting School.

He was a graduate of many specialized training programs including Gunsite, Bill Rogers Shooting School, Blackwater Training Center, Heckler & Koch, and the FBI Special Weapons Course.

He had been serving as operations manager for Rogers Shooting School, and their lead Instructor, as well as owner operator of Dodd & Associates located in Sale Creek.
Did you know about the Prayer Walk for Peace in Chattanooga? It took place on Saturday, June 12, and began at First Baptist Church on 8th Street. Folks from all churches in the city were invited. Actually folks from all over the world were welcome, no matter where or if they attended church. The walk mindfully proceeded from the 8th Street location of the church to Miller Park, and ministers from churches from the community spoke at the street crossings, offering prayers for peace. Scripture and hymns flowed freely, filling the air with a sweet hope.

During a time of political unrest, unimaginable human suffering, heightened division on a hoard of issues, and a pandemic that looms over the world, I think one thing we all have in common is our wish for peace. No matter your political stance, I doubt many people relish war, on its many current levels.

The Rev. Terry Ladd of First Baptist Church organized the walk, and Father Al Allison Mission of Red Bank Church, Pastor Troy Brand of Orchard Park SDA, Abbot Chris Sorenson of Mission Chattanooga Church, Pastor Marcellus Barnes of Grace Pointe Church, Pastor Mark Love of The Journey Church and Rector Robert Childers Church of the Good Shepherd all encouraged their congregations to take part. All the ministers present at the Prayer Walk were charged with spreading their prayers to their own neighborhoods, and subsequent prayer walks followed all over the county.

About 50 people from different churches, of different backgrounds, of different zip codes and of different faiths gathered together. The Rev. Robert Childers of Church of the Good Shepherd invited folks to participate, and Wiki and Bill Carter, Susan and Taylor Stein, Tina Currin, Anna Kent, Margy Oehmig, Cathy Slocomb, Tricia Vinson, Nancy Driver, Terry Childers, Kathleen Crevasse, Robert Thompson, Marian Steffner, Jo Ann Yates and Bea and Brice Burbank were a few of the people from Lookout Mountain who joined in, all seeking to align their hearts, words and actions with Christ the Prince of Peace.

This prayer from the Book of Common Prayer sums up the Prayer Walk for Peace. O God, you have bound us together in a common life. Help us, in the midst of our struggles for justice and truth, to confront one another without hatred or bitterness, and to work together with mutual forbearance and respect.

These folks did not focus on political beliefs or other differences, but focused on the common bond we share as humans. And together they prayed for peace for our community. They prayed for peace for our nation. They prayed for peace for our world.

* * *

Ferris Robinson is the author of three childrens books, The Queen Who Banished Bugs, The Queen Who Accidentally Banished Birds, and Call Me Arthropod in her pollinator series. Making Arrangements is her first novel. Dogs and Love - Stories of Fidelity is a collection of true tales about mans best friend. Her website is ferrisrobinson.com and you can download a free pollinator poster there. She is the editor of The Lookout Mountain Mirror and The Signal Mountain Mirror.


A barbershop sustained damage when an SUV veered off the road and struck the structure Monday morning.

It happened at 7:53 AM at Glass Street and Awtry Street.

Chattanooga firefighters responded to the scene and found that a large chunk of the barbershop was gone, debris was everywhere and a vehicle was resting in the road with heavy front end damage.

The driver of the vehicle sustained minor injuries and was transported to the hospital. The passenger was not injured. The barbershop was closed at the time of the incident.

It appears the SUV left Glass Street for unknown reasons, clipped a power pole and hit the corner of the business.

A building inspector responded to look at the damage. CFD Engine 4, Battalion 3 Red Shift and the Special Operations Chief were there, as well as HCEMS, Public Works and EPB.




"Ignorant." "Communist." "Moron." "Hitler." Terms used in the public fight over masks, vaccines and even the curriculum taught to our children reveal the answer from some to the question posed: Are we committed to solving problems or winning arguments?

The hundreds of emails, calls, texts and posts being volleyed between opposing sides about mandates, executive orders, demands related to masks, vaccines and information about school curriculum content, just to name a few, are almost exclusively committed to proving a group wrong and another group right.

Our healthcare professionals and information are scrutinized and questioned even more in this war of words. An analysis published in Medical Economics, "The eroding trust between patients and physicians" made a pre-COVID (April 2018) observation that reveals the lack of trust in healthcare that now joins other critical institutions with broken public trust: "Healthcare systems, insurers and professional organizations...have all been accused of acting out of self-interest, rather than in the best interest of patients." Another key driver of distrust - contradictory sources of information - was discussed in Modern HealthCare in another pre-COVID piece of March 2019. Critical information needed to make good decisions is now viewed as biased, unreliable and even fake...depending on the messenger and even censored by unelected third parties. We're in a mess.

Trust in public education has been harmed as virtual education in the homes of students with watching parents revealed content causing alarm. Explained as addressing equity or discussing systemic racism, the assignments and tenets that some call Critical Race Theory seemed to do the opposite of its stated goal and framed everything with skin color or one's privilege.

Just a few examples of recent events makes it easier to see why parents are seeking greater involvement while viewing some policies as less than trustworthy. A local parent spoke of her firsthand experience with her son's school assignment that promoted racism in a school board meeting. This single working mother was told that her claims were "junk" and it simply wasn't happening.

The Metro Nashville Schools announced a mask mandate would be enforced with a system that escalated to suspension and expulsion with a disciplinary incident following the student on their school record. Contrast that to the difficulty to remove a disruptive or violent child from the classroom and the distrust seems to explain itself.

Arguments are not being won. Problems are not being solved. We're talking past each other, and trust is eroded. More information is needed, not less, to address concerns. Mandates only increase suspicion in an already hostile situation.

Vaccines are another contentious topic. Individuals must make their choices in confronting this novel virus with multiple variants already known. From the outset, it should have been intuitive that treatments and approaches would change simply based on the fact that a novel virus has no standards of care or proven remedies...no existing playbook.

In the fall of 2020, presidential and vice presidential candidates were declaring that they would not take the vaccine based on the advice of their opponent. With the partisan bias that was set as the frame around healthcare options and treatments, science and healthcare became partisan and continue to be used politically as tools to publicly shame, weaponize for sparring and sadly divide.

We're losing lives, livelihoods and the ability to work together as a community due to the harsh rhetoric, blame and commitment to win arguments. We must collaborate to protect liberty, keep kids in schools, maximize information to answer questions and keep our economy open.

Whether the issue is a child's curriculum, masks or vaccines, any attempt to circumvent parental consent or involvement proves to be the wrong answer.

Living in a constitutional republic was meant to be difficult. It was meant to protect citizens' rights and restrain the power of government. Yes, it's easier to issue mandates, but Tennesseans deserve better. They deserve to have their questions answered, mutual respect and the ability to make their own decisions, and take responsibility for their choices.

In response to supplemental curriculum in classrooms that was more activist in nature, not academic, Tennessee Law (HB 580/SB 623) establishes parameters for the teaching of certain concepts that foster resentment of, a race, sex, religion, creed, nonviolent political affiliation, social class, or class of people.

Parents may send any examples of questionable curriculum to my office for submission to the TN Department of Education for review and follow up.

Teaching history and learning about humanity's mistakes to make our best years ahead are admirable and expected. Rewriting history and assigning and affixing blame to current generations for past sins is teaching victimhood, racism and creates a culture of division that doesn't reflect the best of Tennesseans.

MicroCollege pilots are now underway in a partnership with Chattanooga State Community College and Hamilton County Public Schools at Howard, Hixson and East Ridge High Schools. Continuing work that began in 2019 to address the shortage of Allied Health Careers, such as CNA, LPN, RN, Surgical Techs, etc. as well as expand Early Post Secondary Opportunities in many areas of study and work for our students is part of solving problems while preparing our students for opportunities.

Rep. Robin Smith
The important but oft-overlooked role that North Africa played in the development of early

Christian thought is the topic of the latest book by Dr. David Eastman, Sherrill Chair of Bible at McCallie. The book, Early North African Christianity: Turning Points in the Development of the Church, was released this month by Baker Academic and is receiving praise from biblical scholars.

It is Dr. Eastmans fourth book and is designed as both a classroom text and an introduction for laypersons and scholars on the topic of early Christian development.

Early North African Christianity demonstrates that Christians from North Africa contributed insignificant ways to Christian understanding as a whole concerning a number of issues, including what it means to be 'truly' Christian, how Christians should live out (and if need be, die for) their faith, and how they should interact with the broader culture, Baker Academic said in announcing the publication of the book. David Eastman zeroes in on five turning points in (Christian) history . . . showing how North African believers significantly shaped Christian theology, identity, and practice in ways that directly impact the church today.

Dr. Eastman is a graduate of the Ohio State University, the University of St. Andrews, and holds a Ph.D. from Yale University. He has been the Sherrill Chair of Bible at McCallie since 2018. He is a faculty research fellow at the University of Regensburg in Germany and a fellow with the Center for Early African Christianity. Before joining McCallie he was an associate professor at Ohio Wesleyan University.

Among the early reviewers of the book was Dr. Robin Jensen, Patrick OBrien Professor of Theology at the University of Notre Dame, who wrote, This work offers a compelling and insightful introduction of the faith, context, and practices of early African Christianity that will enrich readers grasp of its decisive influence on the legacy of the Western church.

The book is available in both printed and electronic forms from many booksellers, including Amazon.com. It also can be purchased directly from the publisher at www.BakerAcademic.com .
John J. Woods, one of the owners of the Chattanooga Lookouts, has been charged in Federal Court in Georgia with operating "a massive Ponzi scheme" for over a decade.

It says more than 400 investors in 20 states are owed over $110 million in principal.

The action was filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission against Woods, Livingston Group Asset Management Co., dba Southport Capital, and Horizon Private Equity, III.

Jason Freier, managing owner and CEO of the Lookouts, said, We were deeply troubled to learn of the enforcement action by the Securities and Exchange Commission against one of our minority investors. The Lookouts have no relationship with any of the entities mentioned in the complaint, and we do not expect our operations or future plans to be affected by this development.

"My number one priority is protecting the interest of the Lookouts, and John has shared with me personally that he will do whatever is best for the team, including divesting his interest if appropriate. We are taking all steps necessary to ensure the Lookouts remain a treasured part of the greater Chattanooga community.

The complaint says investors were told they would receive returns of 6-7 percent interest. It says Horizon Private Equity did not earn the returns and had to get new investors in order to pay the initial ones.

It says the holdings of Woods, 56, of Marietta, Ga., are far too small to be able to pay back investors their principal, much less their promised returns.

The complaint says investors stand to lose a significant portion of their retirement savings once the scheme entirely collapses.

It says, "The longer the scheme continues the larger will be the losses for the investors."

The complaint says, "Defendant Southport, which is registered with the SEC as Livingston Group Asset Management Company, Inc., has more than $824,000,000 in client assets under management. As the President and majority owner of the firm, Woods has extensively used Southports offices and employees to carry out his Ponzi scheme. Given his fraudulent conduct, and Southports role in the fraud, Woods cannot be allowed to remain in charge of a firm with such a significant sum of client assets under management.

"Horizon is an entity that Woods used strictly for the purpose of raising money from investors in the Ponzi scheme. Horizon has no offices or employees of its own; all of its activities have been conducted by Woods and Southport employees. At all times relevant to this case, Woods had actual control over Horizons assets and operations, and ultimate control over the use and disposition of investor funds. Because the scheme has been going on for so long, and because Woods, Southport, and Horizon did not use any of the typical recordkeeping practices one would expect from a legitimate investment fund, millions of dollars worth of investor funds are currently unaccounted for.

"Emergency relief is important in this case. Woods and Horizon, through Southports investment advisers, raised in excess of $600,000 per month in new investments during the most recent months for which the Commission has been able to obtain bank records. The Commission believes that additional victims are being defrauded on a daily basis. Given the scope and duration of this Ponzi scheme, an asset freeze and a receiver are necessary to gather, preserve and protect whatever assets still exist for the benefit of the victims of the Defendants Ponzi scheme."

It also says, "Woods has been the majority owner and in control of the operations of Livingston, which does business as Southport, since approximately 2008. From 2008 to 2018, Woods concealed his ownership of and control over Southport because, during that time, he was a registered representative at an institutional, duallyregistered broker dealer and investment adviser firm that was unaware of his involvement with Southport. Woods has been in the securities industry since at least 1989, and he has passed the Series 7, Series 63 and Series 65 securities licensing examinations.

It says Livingston Group Asset Management Company, Inc. is a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business in Chattanooga.

The complaint says, "Southport is an SEC-registered investment adviser with reported assets under management of $824 million. John Woods is the President and majority owner of Southport.

"Horizon Private Equity, III, LLC is a Georgia limited liability company with its principal place of business in Atlanta, Georgia that was formed in 2007 with John Woods as the companys registered agent. Horizon, which is not registered with the Commission, is the vehicle through which the Ponzi scheme has raised more than $100 million from investors. Woods is an authorized signatory on the bank accounts of Horizon into which investor funds were deposited, and he ultimately controlled the use and disposition of those funds."

The SEC says, "In 2008, Woods was a registered investment adviser representative of the Institutional Investment Adviser. He was also a registered representative of the broker-dealer business of the Institutional Investment Adviser, which held dual broker dealer and investment adviser registrations with the Commission. As part of his employment with the Institutional Investment Adviser, Woods was required to disclose any outside business activities in which he was engaged. The rules requiring disclosure of outside business activities are designed to, among other things, protect investors from conflicts of interest and to allow firms to monitor and detect any inappropriate activity that could adversely affect their customers.

"By at least 2008, Woods was soliciting investments for Horizon, which was nominally controlled by Woodss accountant at that point in time. As of July 2021, Horizon is still making interest payments to several investors who first put money in the scheme in 2008. The Accountants involvement appears to have been a sham to avoid detection of Woodss undisclosed outside business activities by the Institutional Investment Adviser and the SEC.

" When soliciting investments, Woods told investors that the investment was very safe, would pay a fixed rate of return, and that investors could get their principal back without penalty subject to a 30- or 90-day waiting period. 21.

"In 2008, Woods also purchased Southport, an SEC-registered investment adviser, from its owners, a wealthy family in Chattanooga. Woods did not disclose his ownership of Southport to the Institutional Investment Adviser at that time, nor did he disclose any interest in or relationship with Horizon. It is unclear at this time whether Woods used investor money to purchase Southport.

"Shortly after Woods purchased Southport, his brother, who was also a registered investment adviser representative of the Institutional Investment Adviser, left the Institutional Investment Adviser and nominally became in charge of Southport. In fact, Woods was in charge behind the scenes the entire time the Brother was the Chief Investment Manager of Southport. Woods and the Brother continued to solicit investments in Horizon from Southport clients and from customers of the Institutional Investment Adviser the entire time Woods was employed by the Institutional Investment Adviser.

" Woods told the Institutional Investment Adviser that Southport, through his Brother, had recommended that his customers invest in Horizon, and he disclaimed any financial or other interest in Horizon or Southport when asked. The Brother did, in fact, solicit Southport clients to invest in Horizon, but during the early stages of the Ponzi scheme many investors were referred through the Institutional Investment Adviser.

"In 2010, Woodss cousin, who was also a registered investment adviser representative of the Institutional Investment Adviser, left the Institutional Investment Adviser and went to work for Southport. The Cousin recommended to Southport clients that they invest in Horizon. Like Woods, the Cousin told investors that the investment was very safe, would pay a guaranteed rate of return, and that clients could get their principal back without penalty. In later years, the Cousin would act as the de facto sales manager for Horizon, and he received hundreds of thousands of dollars per year in compensation from Horizon.

"In 2016, the Institutional Investment Adviser became concerned that Woods was involved in an undisclosed outside business activity, as described in more detail below, and it ultimately asked Woods to resign. 26. Woods began working full time at Southport, but he did not disclose to the SEC his involvement as a Southport owner and CEO until approximately December 2018. Woods also did not disclose his affiliation with Horizon to the SEC, and in fact, as alleged in more detail below, he actively took steps to conceal the existence, ownership and activities of Horizon from the Commission. B. Woods and Other Southport Advisers Make Material Misrepresentations to Horizon Investors.

"Most investors were not given any written materials setting forth the terms of their Horizon investments. Instead, they relied on oral descriptions of the investment provided by Woods, the Brother, the Cousin and other Southport investment advisers.

"The individual advisers who convinced their clients to invest in Horizon received significant compensation from Horizon in addition to their normal Southport compensation. For instance, the Cousin received nearly $600,000 from Horizon between January 1, 2019 and May 28, 2021, and another Southport investment adviser representative received more than $400,000 from Horizon during that same period."

The SEC also said, "Since at least 2015, Southport administrative employees assisted Horizon investors with setting up accounts at an independent custodial trust company when they wanted to make a Horizon investment. The employees would fill out all of the necessary paperwork, provide the paperwork to the investor for signature, and then assist with the transfer of funds from the investor to the Trust Company. The Trust Company would then send the funds on to Horizons bank account.

"The Cousin paid all of the fees of the Trust Company on behalf of Southport clients who invested in Horizon, using a credit card in the name of Horizon for which he was an authorized user. Since 2015, those fees have totaled over $500,000. It is unclear at this point what funds were used to pay the credit card bills.

"When it first established a relationship with the Trust Company in 2015, Woods and Southport directed the Trust Company to deposit new investor funds to bank accounts in the name of Horizon.

"Several Southport employees (in addition to Woods, the Brother and the Cousin) directly solicited their Southport clients to make investments in Horizon. Still other Southport employees set up meetings for their clients with the Cousin so that he could pitch the Horizon investment. A number of these Southport employees received compensation directly from Horizon, which was noted as payroll in Horizons bank records.

"Many Horizon investors were pitched the Horizon investment in person at Southport offices. In other instances, Southport investment advisers went to their clients homes to pitch the Horizon investment.

"Monthly statements for Horizon investments were generated and sent to investors by Southport administrative employees.

"Southport administrative employees kept track of the outstanding liability to Horizon investors and the interest that was due to each investor.

"Each month, Woods would obtain from Southport administrative personnel spreadsheets showing the amount each Horizon investor was owed in interest. Woods would then email spreadsheets to the Trust Company showing the amount of interest that should be credited to each investor account

"Woods also caused bank accounts in the name of Horizon (the same accounts to which new investor funds were deposited by the Trust Company) to transfer lump sums to the Trust Company for deposit into investor accounts, consistent with the instructions in the spreadsheets. Woods would send one wire transfer and one spreadsheet for retirement accounts, and another wire transfer and spreadsheet for non-qualified custodial accounts.

"Substantial portions of the funds that Woods caused to be transferred to make interest payments to Horizon investors came from new investor money."

The SEC said, "Because of the length of time Woods has been running the Ponzi scheme, the Commission has not yet fully determined the scope of the fraud. Nevertheless, the Commission has analyzed in detail investments and transactions from January 1, 2019, through the present. Those analyses show that the Ponzi scheme is massive and ongoing.

"Between January 1, 2019, and the present, Horizon used accounts at Bank of America and IBERIABANK to receive money from and send money to Horizon investors. As of January 1, 2019, the Horizon accounts had a combined balance of approximately $47,777.

"From January 1, 2019 to May 28, 2021, Horizon received approximately $49 million in deposits in the Horizon Accounts. Of that amount, more than $40 million was deposited by the Trust Company and represented new investor money. In other words, only approximately $9 million was deposited in the Horizon Accounts from sources other than investors.

"During that same period, Horizon withdrew or transferred approximately $48 million from the Horizon Accounts. Of that amount, more than $21 million was sent to the Trust Company for interest payments and returns of investor capital. Without the $40 million in new investor money, Horizon would not have had enough money for the $21 million in interest payments and returns of investor capital that it made during the period from January 1, 2019, through May 28, 2021.

"Of the deposits that came into the Horizon Accounts from sources other than new investors, very few represented profits from investments. Instead, large sums of money (that largely cancel each other out) flowed to and from various real estate projects in which Woods arranged for Horizon to invest. Several of those large, round-trip transfers represented up-front loans made by Horizon for real estate projects that were repaid once the project obtained traditional financing. The records for the period also reflect millions of dollars in payments sent to and received from an insurance brokerage company of which Woods is the majority owner; nearly $170,000 in payments for a credit card in John Woodss name; more than $500,000 of telephone transfer debits; and more than $300,000 of non-descript 'checking withdrawals.'

"The pattern described above holds true when looking at specific monthsinterest and principal payments were necessarily funded with new investor money. For example, on April 1, 2021, Horizons IBERIABANK account had a balance of $684,024. That amount includes $250,000 deposited from an investor on March 31, 2021, $100,000 deposited from an investor on March 29, 2021, and $50,000 from two other investors that same day. In other words, at least $400,000 of the money in Horizons bank account at the beginning of April 2021 was new investor money. During April 2021, the Trust Company deposited $1,377,200 in new investor funds in the IBERIABANK account. That amount represents 99% of the funds deposited into the account during that month. Also during the month of April 2021, Horizon transferred $725,335 from the IBERIABANK account to the Trust Company for payments to existing investors. Without the deposits of new investor money referred to above, Horizon would not have had enough money to make interest payments to investors in April 2021.

"The Commission staff has spoken with several of the Southport clients who made investments at the end of March or in April 2021, and none of them were told that their investment proceeds would or could be used to make interest payments to existing investors. Moreover, several of those investors said they would not have invested if they thought that their money would be used for that purpose.

"As of the end of July 2021, Horizon owed investors more than $110 million in principal. As of May 27, 2021, Horizon owed investors approximately $109 million, meaning that Horizons outstanding liability to investors grew by more than $1 million in just two months. Woods and Southport raised money from new Horizon investors as recently as July 2021. Those investors believe that they can get their money back at any time, with 30- or 90-days notice.

"As of the end of July 2021, Horizon had liquid assets worth less than $16 million. The majority of the other Horizon assets of which the Commission is aware are fractional ownership interests in small real estate projects in various stages of development. The Commission estimates that Horizon has invested less than $20 million in those projects, and liquidating them will be complicated, time consuming, and yield uncertain amounts."

"In 2014, Southport purchased an investment adviser and insurance brokerage business from its founder (the Founder). At the time the sale was negotiated, Woods was still an employee of the Institutional Investment Adviser, but he nevertheless led the negotiations with the Founder. The sale agreement called for an initial down payment, with the remainder of the purchase to be funded in periodic payments pursuant to a promissory note. After the sale of the business, Woods, the Brother and the Cousin recruited the Founder to solicit investments for Horizon. The Founder was skeptical of the Horizon investment opportunity because of the lack of written disclosures typical of what he was familiar with from his experience in the securities industry. The Founder ultimately refused to solicit client investments in Horizon.

"Around the same time, Southport stopped paying the Founder under the terms of the promissory note, so the Founder filed suit against Southport, Woods and Horizon in two separate lawsuits. Those lawsuits were ultimately settled, and the Founder was paid in full for his business.

"In or around 2015, in part because of the Founders lawsuit, the Institutional Investment Adviser became suspicious that Woods was affiliated with Southport or Horizon. A significant number of the Institutional Investment Advisers customers had invested in Horizon at that time. Woods denied that he had any relationship with Southport or Horizon when asked by the Institutional Investment Advisers compliance personnel.

"Several months after the lawsuits with the Founder were settled, Woods called the Founder and asked him not to speak to the Institutional Investment Advisers compliance personnel. Woods told the Founder that he was in danger of losing his job and that he had only months to live because he was suffering from cancer. The Founder does not believe he ever spoke with the Institutional Investment Advisers compliance team. B. Woods Lies to the SEC During a Regulatory Examination of Southport.

"The Commissions Division of Examinations conducts the agencys National Exam Program. Among other things, the Division of Examinations conducts on-site examinations of SEC-registered investment advisers. One of the issues the staff of the Division of Examinations considers when conducting an examination is whether there are any undisclosed outside business activities that could indicate an undisclosed conflict of interest. The presence of undisclosed outside business activities creates the risk that individuals working at an investment adviser may be recommending investments based on their own undisclosed self-interest rather than the interests of their clients.

"In 2018, the Division of Examinations conducted an examination of Southport. Woods was one of the Division of Examinations primary points of contact at Southport. One of the issues that the Examinations staff discussed with Woods during the 2018 examination was the relationship among him and Southport and Horizon. Woods failed to disclose accurately his involvement in and control over Horizon to the SECs Examinations staff. In fact, Woods minimized his role in Horizon, as elaborated below, even though he maintained control over the entity.

"As part of the 2018 examination, the SEC staff asked Woods a series of specific questions, in writing. Southports Chief Compliance Officer emailed Woodss response to those questions to the SEC. Some of the specific questions and answers are set forth below.

"The SEC staff asked Woods, 'Did you (John Woods) control the operations of Horizon . . . anytime during July 2008 to now?' In response, John Woods wrote 'No. Never.'

"The SEC staff asked Woods, 'Did you have access to bank accounts (e.g., ability to withdraw money, pay bills, write checks, etc.) of Horizon . . . anytime from January 1, 2014 to now?' In response, Woods wrote, 'No. Im not a signor on . . . HPE III checking Accounts.'

The SEC staff asked Woods, 'List all investors in Horizon III during 1/1/2014 to 3/31/2018.' In response, Woods wrote, 'Im an investor in this fund, but not a manager. I dont have all this information.'

"The SEC staff asked Woods to provide a copy of Offering documents of Horizon . . . including LLC agreements (operating agreements), PPMs, and subscription agreements including amendments during 1/1/2014 to 3/31/2018.

"In response, Woods wrote, 'No PPM, but can ask for Operation Agreement.' 75. The SEC staff asked Woods for a list of all bank and brokerage accounts of Horizon . . . during January 1, 2014 to current. In response, Woods wrote, 'Im investor but not Manager. Not a signor. Not any additional Brokerage Accounts. I believe Iberia Bank and BOA.'

"Woodss responses set forth above were knowingly false.

"In 2021, the SEC Examinations staff conducted another examination of Southport. During the 2021 examination, Woods and Southport again misleadingly downplayed their relationship with Horizon."

The SEC alleged that Woods committed fraud.

It asked for his assets to be frozen and for appointment of a receiver. It also asked for an order that no records be destroyed.








The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Fisheries Division presented its 2022-24 fishing regulation proposals during the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commissions August meeting held in Cookeville.



The public is invited to provide comments on the proposals. The deadline for comments on proposed fishing regulation changes is Sept. 14. To provide comments, email TWRA at fishingreg.comments@tn.gov, or write to TWRA Fisheries Division, 5107 Edmondson Pike, Nashville, Tn. 37211.



The TFWC will vote on the commercial regulations at its Sept. 16-17 meeting to be held in Kingsport and bait and sportfish regulations at its Oct. 21-22 meeting to be held in Bolivar at Lone Oak Farms. If approved, the bait and sport fishing changes would become effective March 1, 2022.



***

Fishing Proclamation Proposals



Proposed Commercial Fishing Regulation Changes



 Allow one gillnet that exceeds 300 yards up to 600 yards to be used by commercial fisherman for the harvest of bighead, black, grass, and silver carp in Kentucky, Pickwick, Barkley, Cheatham, and Old Hickory lakes. These nets will be required to have floats at least every 50 yards and be actively fished as a whip-set.

 Allow the use of metal-framed hoop nets to be used as commercial gear. Openings of metal mesh must be 6 x 6 inches or larger. This change would allow for the use of commercially available nets.

 Increased access to Camden WMA by commercial fishermen by allowing the use of boat ramps within the WMA from April 1 through August 31. During April and May commercial gear is only permitted from one hour after sunset till 6 a.m.

 Increased access to White Oak WMA by commercial fishermen by allowing the use of boat ramps within the WMA from March 15 through August 31. During April and May commercial gear is only permitted from one hour after sunset till 6 a.m.

 Restrict harvest of paddlefish to females only over 38 inches (eye fork length) that have eggs, confirmed by syringe. This regulation would be limited to waters currently open to paddlefish harvest in TWRA Regions 3 and 4.

 Mississippi River- Change the start date for paddlefish harvest season from Nov. 14 to Nov. 1 and increase the number of nets each commercial fisherman is allowed to fish per day from 12 to 15.

Proposed Sportfishing Regulation Changes



 Barkley Lake- Reduce the crappie daily creel limit from 30 to 20 fish/day and reduce the Smallmouth minimum length limit from 18 to 15 inches. This would make these regulations for Kentucky and Barkley lakes the same in Tennessee and Kentucky sections.

 South Holston Lake- Remove the 15/day creel limit on spotted bass. This change is to be in agreement with VADWR on reciprocal regulations and to support the efforts to limit the invasive effects of Alabama bass on native bass populations.

 Chilhowee and Parksville lakes- Reduce the yellow perch daily creel limit to 15/day to sustain the quality yellow perch fisheries that have developed on these two lakes.

 Allow gigging of nongame fish in Bedford, Lawrence, Maury, Giles, Lewis, Wayne, Hickman, and Marshall counties.



Proposed Regulation Changes to TWRA Fishing lakes, Community Fishing lakes, and State Park lakes



 Laurel Hill Lake (Lawrence Co.) - Reduce bass creel limit from 10 to 5 bass/day. Keeping existing PRL 13-18 inches, allowing only one bass over 18 inches.

 Maples Creek (Carroll Co.) and Whiteville (Hardeman Co.) lakes - Remove daily creel limit on bass less than 18 inches, only 1 per day over 18 inches allowed. Remove daily creel and length limits on crappie.

 Browns Creek (Carroll Co.) and Glenn Springs (Tipton Co.) lakes - Remove the daily creel and minimum size limit on crappie.

 Byrd Lake (Cumberland Mountain SP) and Kelly Lake (Standing Stone SP) - Remove the 15-inch minimum length limit for bass.

 Kelly Lake (Standing Stone SP), Grundy Lakes (South Cumberland SP), and Pickett Lake (Pickett SP)  Establish a 20/day creel limit for bluegill/redear sunfish.

 Establish Jack Dickert Pond (Chattanooga), Cedar Hill Pond (Nashville), Greenbelt Lake and Pistol Creek (Maryville), Fountain City Lake (Knoxville), and Cameron Brown Park Pond (Germantown) as TWRA Community fishing lakes. Establish daily creel limits for black bass- 1 fish/day, bluegill/redear- 20 fish/day, catfish- 5 fish/day, crappie- 30 fish/day, and trout- 5 fish/day. Fishing only allowed with rods and reels, poles, and hand-held lines. Snagging, trotlines, jugs, seines, cast nets are prohibited at these locations.



Proposed Trout Fishing Regulation Changes



 Addition of Cutthroat Trout to species stocked in Tennessee and manage with the current regulations for rainbow trout.

 Addition of Rough Ridge Creek (Monroe Co.) and Little Stony Creek (Carter Co.) to the streams managed with wild trout stream regulations of 5 trout daily creel limit with no length limit. Only single-hook artificial lures are permitted.

 Addition of Big Soddy Creek (Hamilton Co.) to delayed harvest areas with a delayed harvest season of Oct. 1 through the last day of Feb., and a change to the delayed harvest season for Doe River (Carter Co.) from Nov. 1 to Oct. 1 through the last day of February.

 Redefine the boundary of the Childrens Fishing Area in Gatlinburg to the area from North Park Lane downstream to Gatlinburg Bypass Bridge to better clarify this area.

 Tellico River, Citico Creek, and Green Cove Pond- Suspend all Tellico/Citico permit requirements for the 2022 permit season (March 1- Aug. 15) due limited access during renovation of the bridge at Bald River Falls. Suspend stocking on Tellico River and Green Cove pond during this period but continue stockings on Citico Creek. Closure of Green Cove Pond beginning Fall 2021 for renovations to the pond and fishing access. Reopen Green Cove Pond after renovations to all anglers to allow for family fishing with no permit requirement and year-round stocking of trout and catfish. Establish a 5 catfish/day creel limit.



Proposed Bait Regulation Changes



 Allow harvest, use, and possession of crayfish from Mill Creek, Fortyeight Creek, Johnson Mill Branch, Chalk Creek, and Second Creek in Wayne County and Pompeys Branch, McKelvey Branch, and Holly Branch in Hardin County. This is due to the delisting of the Alabama Crayfish from Tennessees list of threatened and endangered species.
Over the weekend, the Tennessee National Guard increased its support to area hospitals across Tennessee as they fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Aug. 22, at the request of the Tennessee Department of Health, an additional 72 Soldiers and Airmen from the Tennessee National Guard begun supporting hospital staff with medics and administrative personnel. The Guardsman can work in many types of hospital units and help with various administrative tasks as required by the individual hospital.



The medical centers receiving National Guard support are; Baptist Hospital in Collierville, Baptist Hospital in Tipton, Methodist University Hospital in Memphis, Johnson City Medical Center in Johnson City, and Morristown Hamblen Healthcare System in Morristown.



Late last week the Tennessee National Guard sent Guardsmen to Baptist Hospital in Memphis and Lafollette Healthcare in Campbell County to expand our COVID-19 support.



The Tennessee National Guard has also provided support personnel to Nashvilles Mid-Cumberland Regional Hospital Office to assist in the schools call center.



Since March 2020, the Soldiers and Airmen of the Tennessee National Guard have been working alongside and supporting the Tennessee Department of Health, Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, and various other state and local agencies to combat the spread of COVID-19.



Currently, there are more than 580 Soldiers and Airmen providing support to 58 counties in Tennessee by helping with testing, vaccinations, and administrative support to health care providers.

This augmentation of National Guard staff to support hospitals is not impacting civilian health care roles but rather allowing health care professionals to work more effectively and efficiently.

Thousands of Tennessee Guardsmen have volunteered to help during the pandemic. Over the last 17 months, anywhere from 250-700 Guardsmen have been actively supporting the testing and vaccination efforts across the state. This has resulted in Tennessee Guardsmen supporting the testing of more than 920,000 Tennesseans and the vaccination of over 1 million.



As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the Tennessee National Guard is prepared and ready to support any request for assistance through TEMA.
Brett Butler gained fame with her 1990s sitcom Grace Under Fire. But somewhere, something went wrong, and her recent request for help via GoFundMe revealed trouble. Shes opening up about how she lost everything and what she plans to do now.

The comedian commanded $250,000 per episode

Brett Butler, Jon Paul Steuer, Dylan/Cole Sprouse, Kaitlin Cullum | Bob DAmico/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images

At its peak in the 90s, ABCs Grace Under Fire earned Golden Globe-nominated actor Brett Butler an estimated $250,000 per episode.

Between 1993 and 1998, Butler headed up 112 episodes, many of which she now says she wasnt sober enough to remember filming. The sitcom, while beloved for its comedy, had dark undertones. The lead character, Grace, is a single mother with three children, having left her abusive husband for a better life.

The show was a massive success. But after a lifetime of tribulation, per The Hollywood Reporter, the actor is now facing eviction from her Los Angeles apartment and desperately in need of help. It turns out that the abusive ex-husband from Grace Under Fires backstory is at least partially based on Butlers real life.

Per THR, she endured alcoholism, an abusive marriage (she had no children), and an abusive father. She overcame her alcoholism for a time, and Grace Under Fire was the manifestation of her triumph. Unfortunately, it didnt last, and Butler says she also struggled with a Vicodin addiction while shooting the sitcom.

When it was all said and done, she reportedly earned around $25 million but couldnt seem to hang onto it. Between stints in rehab, the shows cancellation, and a move back to Georgia, Butler spiraled, saying she was too trusting.

I was a little bit too trusting with some people that worked for me, and I had a lot of things stolen, she told the magazine. Thats just stupid on my part, not to have insurance for those things. And to loan and give a lot of money away. I really just felt so guilty for having it  I almost couldnt get rid of it fast enough.

Brett Butlers friend opened a fundraiser for her

Brett Butler during an interview with Jay Leno | Margaret Norton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank

Now, according to THR, shes looking to get back on her feet. But making that move wasnt easy. Close friend Lon Strickler stepped in, setting up a GoFundMe account for the Morning Show actor.

I told him, I mightve waited too long to do this, but I am so screwed right now, Butler said. Ive been ashamed. Almost ashamed to death.

Strickler told the magazine that it would be in her benefit for him to set up the fundraiser. On the GoFundMe page, Strickler said he did it because he knew she wouldnt ask for help.

Brett is one of the kindest down to earth people that any one will meet, Strickler wrote on the fundraiser page. She has helped me get through some rough times and I feel its time for me, and her friends, to help get her through this. I have taken the initiative to start this Go Fund Me page because she is a very private person and I know she wont ask for help.

She accepts responsibility for Grace Under Fires demise

The actor, who has since appeared alongside Reese Witherspoon in The Morning Show and in the ninth season of The Walking Dead, claims responsibility for Grace Under Fires demise.

Ill definitely take the hit for the crash and burn, she said. I think a lot of missteps go into things before they get to that point on different peoples parts  but I was the star of the show, so I need to take that full-on.

She talks about an eventual return to stand-up. In the meantime, the beloved former sitcom star is merely trying to get on her feet.

RELATED: Flip or Flop and More Popular TV Shows That Were Ruined by Their Own Stars

How to get help: In the U.S., contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration helpline at 1-800-662-4357.
Chuck Palahniuk is most known for being the creator of Fight Club. However, the authors work in both the literary and film worlds exceeds the singular credit. Palahniuk has since hit superstardom with subsequent books, short stories, and movies adapted from his writing. But, his extreme, stylistic writing touches on more than meets the eye. Palahniuks troubled family history might be the reason why.

Chuck Palahniuks humble beginnings

Fight Club author Chuck Palahniuk walks the red carpet | Franco Origlia/Getty Images

As one of four children to divorced parents  a railroad worker and nuclear plant employee  Palahniuks teen years were mostly with his maternal grandparents in Washington state. When his parents ran out of money, he revealed in a 2008 interview, he enjoyed the farm life. The cattle ranch allowed the author would eventually use this in his novels.

My grandfather had so many scams, he previously told Extreme Sport. The scene in Invisible Monsters about feeding stale Hostess treats to the pigs to fill their intestines with extra poundage before sale my sister and I always had to do that, open all those packages and throw them in.

Palahniuk attended the University of Oregon where he studied Journalism. His side work included interning for NPR, writing for a local paper, and then as a diesel mechanic for Freightliner. There, he wrote manuals on fixing trucks and landed another job as a journalist. He used his time off to write work like the Brad Pitt hit Fight Club but didnt experience the overnight success everyone believes.

His first book wasnt a hit until years later

His first work, Invisible Monsters, sold for a measly $6,000. It didnt sell until after the success of Fight Club came along. A writing group inspired him to keep going. Palahniuk tapped into lifelong pain to write outside the box.

Anyone who makes a career in writing, music, painting, or whatnot succeeds as being a constant witness, always harvesting from the world, he told AV Club in 2007. Any artist makes a living by expressing what others cantbecause theyre unaware of their feelings, theyre too afraid to express those feelings, or they lack the skills to communicate and be understood. Being f up isnt required. In fact, it tends to cut careers short.

Much of that stems from chilling events that surrounded Palahniuks family  things the author deems happened for a reason.

Palahniuks family history is fraught with trauma

Check out this TWO HOUR interview I did with @TomBilyeu for @Impact_Theory on life, death and finding meaning in your life >> https://t.co/5z81R3JHik pic.twitter.com/bUAyIdTxgx  Chuck Palahniuk (@chuckpalahniuk) April 16, 2021

Palahniuk never knew his paternal grandparents. The story hed heard growing up was that they died from diphtheria. However, when the author turned 18, he learned the truth.

The murder-suicide happened when my father [Fred] was young. There are two versions of the story: one, that during WWII Grandpa Nick left the family farm in Idaho and went to work in a Seattle shipyard where a crane hook struck him in the head, he said in the same 2008 interview.

After that, he was erratic and hostile and ended up shooting his wife and their children. He hunted around the house for my father to kill him, too, but my father hid and eventually, Grandpa Nick just killed himself. The other version is that Nick Palahniuk was always a crazy, sadistic a.

The argument that led to the murder-suicide was, according to Palahniuk, due to the purchase of a sewing machine. [Fred] only survived because his father  Palahniuks paternal grandfather  couldnt find him. He was just three years old at the time.

I was sort of pleasantly surprised by what happened, he previously told Rolling Stone. It seemed sort of like a fairly glamorous thing happening to an otherwise rather boring family.

Tragedy struck again years later

Palahniuk said it was my fathers pattern through his life to always have a girlfriend or several girlfriends, according to a 2001 interview via Moscow-Pullman Daily News. He added that Fred was married five times.

He really loved to meet someone and have that period of romance (and) euphoric joy, but the relationships didnt tend to last beyond that, Palahniuk said. It was his need for companionship, love, whatever, that ultimately was his undoing.

Just as Fight Club was set for a trajectory of success, Palahniuks father responded to a personal ad titled Kismet. The ad was placed by Donna Fontaine and [Fred] responded. The two began dating.

I dont think my father really knew what he was getting into  the passion and danger there, Palahniuk said.

He revealed he got a phone call from a publicist that said: I hope this is a joke, but I just got a call from the Latah County Sheriffs office. They found your fathers car outside a burned-down house and they think your father might be dead..

The details of the murders still haunt Palahniuk

As Fred and Donna returned to her house after their third date, Donnas ex-boyfriend, Dale Shackelford, shot and killed them both, then burned the remains. Shackelford was convicted in May 1999.

My fathers first memories were of hiding under that bed, his father having just killed his mother, he said. After that, he was always this man still looking for his mother. Then, eventually, he found this woman, and once again a man with a gun comes back into the picture. And kills her. And then kills him.

He added: In a way, I cant help but admire the shape of this perfect completion of a thing that started so long ago. I find comfort in that. That things happen for a reason and according to a pattern.

Fight Club fame came during the murder trial

Yes, the first rule of Fight Club is you don't talk about Fight Club. But after 22 years, I feel the statute of limitations applies.  Stephen King (@StephenKing) June 6, 2021

RELATED: Fight Club: What Is the Narrators Real Name?

While Fight Club went on to become a cult success, the pain surrounding his familial ties is ever-present in all the authors work. Still, its that novel thats just as popular today as it was in 1999.

We really have no freedom about creating our identities, because we are trained to want what we want. What is it going to take to break out and establish some modicum of freedom, despite all the cultural training thats been our entire existence? Its about doing the things that are completely forbidden, that we are trained not to want to do, he said.

During the excitement of Fight Club, Palahniuk had to deal with the devastating loss of his father, which led to more novels that included that heartbreak.

Lullaby was written was a response to that and the trial, he said. I was asked to help determine the sentence for the man who killed my father  I recommended the death penalty.

The technique that helps Palahniuk channel his pain

The author added: Every book I write is an experiment, but the ultimate goal is to engage people mentally, emotionally, and physically. The best way to engage people physically is to deal with intense physical experiences like illness, violence, and sex, which is why those things crop up in my work.

That said, Palahniuk said fans are wildly disappointed when they meet him.

Theyre clearly expecting a werewolf or Charles Manson  instead, they meet a bookkeeper. Its a little heartbreaking to see it happen over and over. But I put all my demons on the page, he said.

Theres a process called flooding where, if youre afraid of spiders, they put you in a room filled with spiders, so that youre so overwhelmed that youll no longer have that reaction, and in a way thats what Im doing. Im really blowing these dark things in my life up to a scale where Ill completely exhaust my reactions to them. Do we ever run out of these things we need to exhaust? Absolutely when we die.

How to get help: In the U.S., call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Or text HOME to 741-741 to speak with a trained crisis counselor at the free Crisis Text Line.
Greg Grippo, from Katie Thurstons season of The Bachelorette, has stirred quite the reaction from fans of the franchise. After a surprising breakup between the contestant and lead just after hometowns, and news of Grippos past as an actor, the New Jersey native has been accused of going on the show in hopes of becoming famous. Adding fuel to the fire, one anonymous source has come forward suggesting that Thurston wasnt Grippos first shot at a Bachelor girl.

Greg Grippo on Katie Thurstons season of The Bachelorette; Mykenna Dorn on Peter Webers season of The Bachelor | Craig Sjodin/ABC via Getty Images; Eric McCandless/ABC via Getty Images

Mykenna Dorn, from Peter Webers Bachelor season

Mykenna Dorn is the woman in question. Bachelor Nation was first introduced to Dorn in Peter Webers season of The Bachelor. Fans of the show might remember Dorn for her expressive facial expressions.

Mykenna is one of the best things to happen to this @BachelorABC season. #thebachelor pic.twitter.com/2RGxnvldLD  Michelle Collins (@michcoll) February 4, 2020

RELATED: Bachelor in Paradise: Was Kenny Really Naked?

Mykenna may love to curate chic outfits, but shes way more than a pretty girl in a photo! read her ABC bio, via Bachelor Nation Wiki. She is here to find love and isnt going to settle for anyone who wont impress her family. Above all else, Mykenna loves her family. She is super close to her parents and is constantly inspired by her grandparents love, which makes sense, as they were together for 61 years and her grandpa proposed to her grandma on their first date. Mykenna has been in one relationship, but she ended it when he became too controlling. Shes looking for someone who will surprise her with romantic adventures, but will also be ok with it when she wants to go out drinking and dancing with her friends. Mykenna says, I want the good and the bad. I want to laugh, be goofy and be spontaneous with my person, but I also want a relationship where we challenge each other. I dont want an easy love!'

Greg Grippo and Mykenna Dorn

According to Us Weekly, Grippo and Dorn were getting to know each other prior to Thurstons Bachelorette season.

Mykenna and Greg used to talk last summer, said a source. They really hit it off, but long distance came in the way.

While the 28 and 24-year-olds were talking for about a month, they never met in person, as Dorn lives in Canada and Grippo in New Jersey.

The publication also reported that the reality stars have liked some of each others Instagram posts from early 2020, hinting at their courtship.

Katie Thurstons was not the first Bachelorette season Greg Grippo considered joining

In an interview with former bachelor Nick Viall on The Viall Files, Grippo spoke about his history with The Bachelor franchise.

He said his sister had submitted him for The Bachelorette without his knowledge. So when he got a call from casting for Becca Kufrins season, he thought it was a joke.

I thought it was my buddy pranking me at first, he said. I was like No, who the hell is this?

RELATED: The Bachelorette: Was Clare Crawleys Season Edited in a Purposefully Unflattering Light?

A couple of years later, Grippo received another call from producers. This time for Clare Crawleys season. But Grippo didnt know Crawley was the lead until hed already agreed to go on the show.

It ended up getting announced that it was Clare about three days before I was leaving, he said. Bags were packed, I was ready to go. And Ill always remember, she was announced on GMA and I was like, I dont know if shes gonna like me. I dont know if this is like the perfect fit. But casting was like, Age is just a number. You never know. And, yeah, Ill give anything a shot really. I was just like, Who knows? Maybe well hit it off. You just never know until you know.

So Grippo proceeded with things but then COVID-19 hit the United States and all the contestants were sent home. By the time production began again, Grippo had decided against participating.

I just feel like it wasnt for me at that point, he said.

Next was Thurstons season, which, again, Grippo says he almost didnt do.

I didnt think I was gonna do it until the very last moment honestly, he said. I just hopped on a plane and got over there.
Over two decades after his death, The Notorious B.I.G. still looms large over the world of hip-hop. The Brooklyn-bred emcee was known for his brash lyrics as well as his relationships with other rappers and artists.

The Notorious B.I.G. | Larry Busacca/Getty Images

The Notorious B.I.G. appreciated all kinds of music

The Notorious B.I.G. was an icon of rap, but his personal musical taste extended far beyond hip-hop. He was a noted lover of all kinds of music, according to his mother in the 2021 Netflix documentary Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell.

Biggies mother took him to her home country of Jamaica every summer. On those trips, he gained an appreciation for local sounds thanks to his mothers brothers, who were local musicians themselves.

Biggies longtime friend Hubert Sam spoke in the documentary about how those trips eventually affected Biggies music preferences. Every summer, Chris would come back from Jamaica, and Chris would bring back some Jamaican slang and music that we didnt listen to  rock music, reggae, country.

Sam then remembered a comment Biggie made that took him aback. He said, You know, I cant sleep without country music on, and we were shocked!

The Notorious B.I.G. a.k.a. Biggie Smalls | Larry Busacca/WireImage

The Notorious B.I.G. liked Elvis Presley

Being one of the kings of hip-hop himself, Biggie had an appreciation for another king: Elvis Presley.

The photographer behind Biggies iconic Life After Death album cover, Michael Lavine, recounted his experience with Biggie while shooting the album cover in a 2017 interview with The Undefeated.

Puffy, Biggie, and I got into my Ford Explorer I had a six-disc player, and it automatically went to Elvis, he recalled. I dont know what it was doing in there, but Elvis came on and Puffy was like, Whats wrong with you? What do you listen to this for?

Biggie was in the back and he said, Hey, man, chill out. Elvis was cool, Lavine laughed. I thought it was so awesome that Biggie was sticking up for me for listening to Elvis.

Elvis Presley (1935-1977), American rock n roll legend | Bettmann/Getty Images

RELATED: The Notorious B.I.G. Was Inspired By Mary J. Blige to Record This Iconic Song

The Notorious B.I.G. died in March 1997  20 years after Elvis

The photoshoot for Biggies Life After Death album cover took place on a cold and cloudy day in January 1997. By the time the album was released in late March, Biggie had already been shot dead on March 9.

The news of Biggies death stunned the world, and especially hit those who worked with Biggie harder, including Lavine. It was shocking, really nonsensical. How do you process something like that? You feel helpless, he recalled of his death. Thats one of the things thats so powerful about the photos. That changed the whole dynamic pretty radically. You have a photograph of a man in a graveyard who died violently weeks later  it makes the image more emotionally laden.

The album changed my whole life in a way, Lavine said of his own career. I had been working in New York for 10 years to get to that moment. The brilliance of the record alone was enough; to just be associated with it is a big deal. The gravity of his death was overwhelming.
Ridley Scott is best known for his sci-fi movies like Alien and Blade Runner, but his epic historical drama Gladiator can hardly be forgotten. Russell Crowe might have had some concerns with the script, but his role as Maximus earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor.

While Gladiator is one of Scotts most successful films, it did not get done in a day and wasnt without its struggles. A real tragedy happened while filming. Actor Oliver Reed suddenly died after a night out drinking during filming, and somehow, Scott got his film back on track.

Russell Crowe in Gladiator | Universal/Getty Images

Who did Oliver Reed play in Gladiator?

In the Roman epic, veteran actor Oliver Reed plays the old gladiator trainer, Antonius Proximo. He buys Maximus in North Africa, and in the gladiators pit, Proximo becomes Maximus only friend and mentor.

They bond over their sworn allegiance to Marcus Aurelius. Maximus fought under Aurelius, and Proximo was freed by him when he was a gladiator. If Reed lived through filming Gladiator, his character would have also lived. Proximo and his men sacrifice themselves so that Maximus can escape.

By the time Reed starred in Gladiator, hed already had over 120 acting credits, starting his career in 1958. Hes best known for his roles in The Trap, Oliver!, The Devils, and The Adventures of Baron Munchausen.

RELATED: A Gladiator Sequel Nearly Reincarnated Russell Crowes Maximus and Placed Him in the Modern-Day Pentagon

Actor Oliver Reed died suddenly during filming

Speaking to Variety about the 20th anniversary of Gladiator, Scott reflected on Reeds death, saying the actor dropped down dead on the floor of a pub halfway through filming.

One Sunday morning, he dropped down dead on the floor of a pub. He probably had a couple of pints and said, I dont feel good, laid on the carpet and died, he said. According to Variety, Reed, an infamous hell-raiser, promised Scott not to drink while shooting; instead, he drank on the weekends.

Hes in this bar in Valletta and this British Destroyer is anchored in the bay and the crew comes in, screenwriter David Franzoni said. He challenges the crew to some sort of drinking debauch. He drinks some, passes out and dies. I still have his bar tab, by the way.

Looper writes Reed was famous for embarking upon legendary drinking binges and often drank with The Whos drummer Keith Moon. The night he died, they write that by some accounts, Reed drank about eight pints of beer, a dozen shots of rum, half of a bottle of whiskey, and some cognac for good measure. After engaging in a couple of arm wrestles, he collapsed and had a heart attack.

The cast and crew mourned his death. David Hemmings (Cassius) promised to look after him and said to me, Im really sorry, old boy,' Scott continued. Joaquin was very attached to Oliver and was very upset about that. We managed to finish off what was required from Oliver, stealing digital images of his face and attaching them to an appropriate body. But Scott still had to figure out how to film Reeds scenes without him.

Oliver Reed | Evening Standard/Stringer/Getty Images

RELATED: How Russell Crowe Made Sure His Dying Uncle Got to See Gladiator

Ridley Scott used CGI to finish Reeds scenes in Gladiator

The first thing Scott did following Reeds death was to rewrite the script. He gave Proximo a brave death and then shot two scenes were shot which would complete Proximos arc, Looper writes.

The first scene was when Proximo visits Maximus in jail. This was the hardest to shoot because it dealt with the kind of digital trickery that is commonplace today, but which was practically unheard of 20 years ago. Scott used a stand-in, then the special effects company The Mill used extra footage of Reeds face and digitally pasted it on the stand-ins body. It was tricky because they were in shadow, and Proximus is talking through bars.

The second scene was Proximos death. Scott also used a stand-in from behind, and The Mill digitally placed footage from an earlier scene (where Proximo tells Maximus, We mortals are but shadows and dust) on the stand-ins body. All in all, the work that needed to be done cost $3.2 million for only about two minutes of film.

RELATED: Russell Crowe Thought the Original Gladiator Script Was So Bad

Along with Reeds death, things on set were short of a victory in the Gladiators ring. Franzoni called Gladiators production process a very 60s way to make a film, because they drank whiskey and smoked cigars. At least Scott and his team were able to pull it out of the bag to fix Proximos scenes and got the film to the Academy Awards.
Bradley Whitfords character in The Handmaids Tale is an enigma. Commander Joseph Lawrence is one of the few characters in the show thats not in Margaret Atwoods novel. That means everything fans know about him has been revealed by the Hulu series. But Whitford revealed an unknown detail about Commander Lawrences backstory in a recent interview that gives interesting insight into the character.

[Spoiler alert: This article contains spoilers for The Handmaids Tale Season 4.]

Bradley Whitford as Commander Joseph Lawrence in The Handmaids Tale Season 4 Episode 8, Testimony | Sophie Giraud/Hulu

Is Commander Lawrence good or bad in The Handmaids Tale?

Lawrence is hard to figure out. One day, hes helping Handmaids escape Gilead. The next, hes making plans for Gileads military to bomb Chicago. In season 3, Lawrence seemed largely against Gilead. His wife, Eleanors, mental health was destroyed by his part in the creation of Gilead. And that made Lawrence start turning against the nation he helped create.

When it comes to the question of whether Lawrence is good or bad, the answers complicated. Hes done evil things. He not only took an active part in staging a coup against the United States, but he also is the one who came up with the idea for Gileads colonies. His high rank among the Gilead Commanders makes him complicit in every act of abuse the country enacts, whether he participates in the Handmaid ceremonies or not.

But then, he helped Handmaids and Marthas escape Gilead. And at the end of season 3, he helped June orchestrate the smuggling of 86 children into Canada. He appears to be willing to help June when their interests align. But he wont think twice about turning on her when necessary. For example, Lawrence knew June was in Chicago when he encouraged bombing the city. He didnt want to kill June, but he also didnt care if she became collateral damage.

RELATED: The Handmaids Tale: Junes Future Could Be a Long, Violent Road, Showrunner Says

What is Commander Lawrences backstory?

Lawrence seems to be more interested in reforming Gilead than taking it down now. Like Aunt Lydia, he thinks there are ways the country is failing. And also like Lydia, hes willing to stick around and try to make some changes instead of fighting against the regime. He said during an episode of Hulus One Burning Question series:

I think he sees an opportunity to perhaps change Gilead. I do think hes thinking about legacy. I do think hes trying to make up for something. But theres always this barely contained contempt for the structures of Gilead. Hes disgusted by it.

Its fascinating that Lawrence so disgusted by Gileads practices, given he created some of its worst atrocities. But he seemingly still believes in the improving the birth rate and establishing Gilead as a superpower. And his motivations for all of this could be more aligned with other Gilead leadership than fans may think.

Early in his marriage, a child was lost, Whitford told The Los Angeles Times.

Whitford didnt clarify the childs age. And based on Joseph and Eleanors ages compared to Gileads, their child likely died in the before times. The loss of his child could have pushed Lawrence into helping create Gilead. And eventually, after seeing how little Gilead really cares about children, it could have also motivated him to help children escape.

What do you think Commander Lawrence has up his sleeve for Season 5? pic.twitter.com/JJM6ZemxCI  The Handmaid's Tale (@HandmaidsOnHulu) August 20, 2021

RELATED: The Handmaids Tale Season 4 Episode 10 Director Reveals the Finales Most Important Scene

Bradley Whitford has an insecurity about playing Commander Joseph Lawrence

Whitford won an Emmy for his performance in The Handmaids Tale Season 2. And he was also nominated for seasons 3 and 4. Still, Whitford feels insecure about Lawrence not being in Atwoods book.

I always have this insecurity because I live in her world, but she never wrote my character, he said when asked what he would say to Atwood. I guess I would ask her what I want to ask anybody whos connected with the show or has seen the show: Do you think I suck?

People may not be able to tell if Lawrence is good or bad. But one things for sure, his presence in The Handmaids Tale is always entertaining.
The White Lotus drew in 1.9 million viewers when its finale aired on HBO, highlighting the appeal of Mike Whites latest project. The dramedy followed a lineup of mostly white, wealthy characters staying at a high-profile resort in Hawaii. Through their stories, the series commented on class and privilege and how they impact a persons ability to navigate their world. The talent HBO brought on to portray its vacationers and the resorts staff no doubt helped the show become a hit. From Murray Bartlett to Jennifer Coolidge, the actors gave a number of standout performances. With that in mind, should The White Lotus Season 2 follow American Horror Storys lead and keep its ensemble cast?

Was The White Lotus renewed for season 2?

Murray Bartlett, Jolene Purdy, Natasha Rothwell, and Lukas Gage in The White Lotus | HBO/Mario Perez

Those hoping to see The White Lotus return for season 2 are in luck: HBO renewed the series for another outing ahead of its season 1 finale. In the announcement posted on HBO Maxs press site, the network revealed that the next chapter will take place at another White Lotus resort and follow a completely new set of characters:

The next chapter of The White Lotus leaves Hawaii behind and follows a different group of vacationers as they jet to another White Lotus property and settle in temporarily amongst its inhabitants.

Of course, a new group of vacationers doesnt mean The White Lotus cant tap into its season 1 cast in anticipation of season 2. In fact, Whites show could definitely get away with following in American Horror Storys footsteps and casting the same set of talent in all-new roles.

Should the HBO show follow American Horror Storys lead with its season 2 cast?

RELATED: The White Lotus: Jake Lacy Doesnt Think Shane Learned a Thing From the Finale

Theres no denying fans of The White Lotus got attached to the shows characters, even with their many shortcomings. Indeed, its hard to envision a White Lotus resort running without Bartlett or Natasha Rothwell present. Likewise, it will be difficult for fans of the show to bid farewell to stars like Coolidge, Jake Lacy, and Alexandra Daddario.

But what if they didnt have to? American Horror Story has proven that anthology series can keep their ensemble casts for multiple seasons, reusing the same talent to tell different stories. In fact, the FX show has built its entire brand on it. The White Lotus is arguably self-aware enough to do the same. Because it never takes itself too seriously, it wouldnt seem too farfetched for the same faces to show up in multiple seasons.

Not only would following in American Horror Storys footsteps give the cast of season 1 a chance to show off their acting range, but it would offer HBO a common thread to tie each season of Whites dramedy together. Given that White told The New Yorker he might take a different approach to the shows themes in season 2, similarities like this could help merge the old and the new:

My hope is that maybe HBO will want to do another round of White Lotus. I feel like it might take place at a sister hotel, a different kind of seasonal thing. I think theres another season in me that kind of has a different way into this that I think would be cool if theyd let me do this.

When does The White Lotus return?

RELATED: The White Lotus: Fans Think This Star Deserves an Emmy for the Finale

Whether The White Lotus Season 2 brings on an entirely new cast or keeps the actors from its first season, viewers arent likely to receive updates for a while. With the second outing just greenlit, casting decisions likely havent even begun. Then season 2 will need to move through all stages of production before it finally returns to the small screen.

With that in mind, the second outing of the HBO show could take a year or more. Thankfully, there are always new details to catch in the episodes currently out  so fans can rewatch those when theyre missing all the chaos.

All episodes of The White Lotus Season 1 are currently streaming on HBO Max.
Netflixs Virgin River has brought Robyn Carrs best-selling book series to the small-screen. The show focuses on Mel Monroe (Alexandra Breckenridge), a midwife/nurse who flees her life in Los Angeles for a fresh start in Virgin River. When she settles in, Mel finds herself falling for Jack Sheridan (Martin Henderson), a former Marine and the towns bar owner.

However, Jack isnt exactly baggage-free. Hes expecting twins with his ex-girlfriend, Charmaine (Lauren Hammersley) who is making his life difficult since he ended their relationship to be with Mel. Moreover, at the end of season 2, Jack gets shot and nearly bleeds out on the floor of his bar.

Charmaines pregnancy has greatly affected Mel and Jacks relationship but now fans are convinced someone else is actually the father of her babies.

Lauren Hammersley as Charmaine Roberts in Virgin River | Netflix

RELATED: Virgin River: Fans Might Not Find out Who Shot Jack for a Long Time

How is Charmaine still pregnant on Virgin River?

Though Charmaine announced her pregnancy with twins at the end of the first season of Virgin River, at the end of the third season she still wasnt showing. Fans who watch the show closely know that there is typically only a 3-4 week time jump between seasons, but fans cant understand how Charmaine isnt at least showing by now.

Getting caught up on Virgin River season 3. and Charmaine is STILL pregnant, one person tweeted. Moreover, there has been major speculation over Charmines pregnancy and if Jack is in fact the father of the twins. There have been a ton of theories including one involving IVF and even some fans assuming that Virgin River bad boy Brady (Ben Hollingsworth) is the father.

However, there is a new theory circulating that points to Jacks friend, Detective Mike Valenzuela (Marco Grazzini).

Ben Hollingsworth as Dan Brady and Marco Grazzini as Detective Mike Valenzuela in Virgin River | Netflix

RELATED: Virgin River: Jack Might Not Be the Father of Charmaines Babies

Is Mike the real father of Charmaines twins on Virgin River?

A former Marine like Jack and Brady, Mike comes storming into town to seemingly investigate Virgin River drug kingpin Calvin (David Cubitt). Its obvious also that he has some major beef with Brady steeming from a tour in Afghanistan. At the end of the third season of the series, Mike arrests Brady for shooting Jack. However, its pretty obvious Brady didnt pull the trigger.

Now, fans are speculating that Milke is the real father of Charmines twins. As we know, when Charmaine revealed her pregnancy to Jack after their bitter split in season 1, Jack was stunned. Fans also noticed that when Jack dropped the bombshell on Mike about his impending fatherhood, Mike looked shellshocked. Hes reaction was so drastic that it seemed a bit overboard.

Though this might seem out of the left-field, fans of Carrs book series know that in the novels, Charmine does in fact get pregnant by someone else.

Lauren Hammersley as Charmaine and Patrick Sabongui as Todd in Virgin River | Netflix

RELATED: Virgin River: Did Charmaine Go Through IVF to Get Pregnant?

Will Charmaine die in Virgin River Season 4?

Though Netflix is remaining silent on the matter, fans are convinced that Virgin River Season 4 is already filming in Canada. In fact, Netflix Life is reporting that filming for the new season began in July 2021 and that production is slated to end in November 2021.

However, amid her union with Todd, things might get dangerous for Charmaine and her unborn children, especially if he is connected to Mike who is also a shady character. In season 3, fans watched Todd come storming into Charmaines life, love-bombing her and taking control of every aspect of her life from where she lives and works to trying to oust Jack out of his unborn childrens lives.

Does anyone else get the vibe that this new lawyer husband is going to end up being super abusive? one Redditor questioned via Express. This new guy is really controlling and manipulative already. He seems to be trying to isolate her as well by deciding theyre moving to a town two hours away without consulting her. She seems conflicted at times, and its the only time I truly feel bad for her. I think its going to come out that after the babies arrive that he starts hitting her. Anyone else get that feeling?

This would not be the first time Virgin River conquered domestic violence and abuse, we just hope that Charmaine is able to recognize the signs and leave before its too late.
Photoinduced charge transfers are an interesting electronic property of Prussian blue and some analogously structured compounds. A team of researchers has now been able to elucidate the ultrafast processes in the light-induced charge transfer between iron and manganese in a manganese-containing Prussian blue analogue. As reported in the journal Angewandte Chemie, different processes induced by light can drive the charge transfer.

Prussian blue is an intensely blue inorganic pigment that is used in paintings, dyeing, and medicine, among others. The crystal lattice of this K[FeIIFeIII(CN) 6 ] complex contains alternating divalent and trivalent iron atoms. The intense color results from a charge transfer: when irradiated by light, electrons are transferred from the FeII to the FeIII. Even though this pigment is not used to dye textiles today, its special electronic properties make Prussian blue an interesting candidate for other applications, including windowpanes with self-adjusting translucency, optoelectronic components, gas absorption, and catalysis. It could also serve as a material for electrodes in novel energy storage devices.

Over the years, equally interesting compounds that contain other metals but have analogous structures have been produced, such as RbMnFe, which is a Prussian blue analogue in which manganese replaces some of the iron ions. At low temperatures, the lattice consists of trivalent manganese and divalent iron ions. The manganese is surrounded in an octahedral pattern by the nitrogen atoms of the cyanide ligands, while the iron is surrounded by an octahedron made of the cyanide carbon atoms. Under light, charge transfer occurs similarly to Prussian blue: MnIIIFeII  MnIIFeIII. The process is local and ultrafast.

Studying such a fast process is a challenge. A team lead by Hiroko Tokoro (University of Tsukuba, Japan), Shin-ichi Ohkoshi (The University of Tokyo, Japan), and Eric Collet (University of Rennes 1, France) has met this challenge by using an ultrafast optical spectroscopy technique called pump probe spectroscopy, which has a resolution of 80 femtoseconds (80 quadrillionths of a second). In this method, the electrons in the compound are shifted to a higher energy state through excitement with a laser pulse. After a short time, the system is irradiated with a second laser pulse at a different wavelength and the absorption is measured. Combination of the results from these experiments with calculations of the electronic band structures showed that there are two different photoswitching pathways for charge transfer. They have different dynamics that result from very different types of initial electronic excitation.

The primary pathway (MnIII(d-d)-pathway) begins when light excites an electron in a d orbital on one MnIII into another, somewhat higher energy d orbital on the same MnIII. This leads to a loosening and lengthening of the bond between the MnIII and some of the neighboring nitrogen atoms. This causes compression of the octahedron around the manganese (inverse Jahn-Teller distortion), which leads to local distortion of the lattice and coherent vibrations. This is the driving force for transfer of an electron (charge transfer) from iron to manganese (MnIIIFeII  MnIIFeIII). The time scale for this process is under 200 femtoseconds.

In addition, another intervalence transfer pathway also plays a role. In this process, an electron from the iron is excited by light and lifted directly into an orbital on the manganese. The slower reorganization causes no coherent lattice vibration.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signs an executive order that rescinds proclamations from Colorado Territorial Gov. John Evans in 1864, at the Capitol in Denver, Colo. on Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021. Gov. Polis handed sage to the various tribe representatives and speakers after signing.
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John Henry Ramirez is scheduled to die on September 8. The state of Texas will execute him by lethal injection for the 2004 murder of 45-year-old convenience store clerk Pablo Castro. Ramirez was convicted of stabbing Castro 29 times in the process of stealing $1.25 to buy drugs. Now, 17 years later, he will be put to death for his crime.

When that happens, Ramirez would like to have his pastor lay hands on him. He filed suit in federal court last week claiming he has a religious right to have Dana Moore, senior pastor of Second Baptist Church in Corpus Christi, Texas, touch him while he dies.

According to Ramirezs lawyer, Seth Kretzer, the prisons current policy allows doctors and guards to touch an inmate during execution, but does not allow spiritual touch. Kretzer argues that this burdens Mr. Ramirezs free exercise of his Christian faith at his exact time of death, when most Christians believe they will either ascend to heaven or descend to hellin other words, when religious instruction and practice is most needed.

CT reached out to the Southern Baptist pastor to ask about the importance of the laying on of hands, ministering on death row, and what he thinks people should know about Ramirez.

Why is touching someone or laying hands on them important to you as a Baptist pastor?

When I pray with people, I put a hand on them. When I go to the hospital, I hold the persons hand. Its what we do. Its how we do things.

Image: Courtesy of Second Baptist Church

Just last week we had a fellowship, and I looked over, and one of the church ladies was praying for another one. And the one standing, she put her hands on the lady who was seated, on her shoulders, and she was praying over her.

I dont think its just Baptists. At churches across denominations, we touch. And its not like its just a thing in the history books. Its something we do every day when we pray for each other.

And thats what John wants me to be able to do. To have me touch him. To have that support. To have that type of blessing.

Is John Henry Ramirez a member of Second Baptist Church?

He came to salvation in prison. Im thinking it was on death row, through the ministry of two ladies from our church, Jan Trujillo and Joyce Watson. Then John applied for church membership. We took his salvation and basically a letter by proxy, which usually Baptists dont do, but in this case we did.

I think of him as one of my members who, I guess in the ultimate way, is homebound. He cant come to church.

We talk just like any church member, except we have to talk through plexiglass and through phones. We talk about everything. We talk about Bible questions, we talk about his life, and hell ask me, Whats going on in the church? I tell him about the church, and then I want to know about how hes doing.

What can you tell us about John? What do you want people to know about him?

John is somebody who had been transformed by Jesus Christ. Thats the most important thing.

How did your church start a ministry to death row inmates at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Allan B. Polunsky Unit in Livingston, Texas? Thats about five hours from the Second Baptist Church in Corpus Christi.

It began with a church member named Les Archer who worked as a volunteer chaplain at the local county jail, and thats where he met John Ramirez. Johns case proceeded to conviction and he wound up on death row, and Les Archer could not get there, he just could not take the travel, physically.

He enlisted two ladies, sisters, and Jan and Joyce began the ministry. John had the idea of broadening it, of getting more visits for guys who arent getting visits on death row. I think this is probably common knowledge, but theyre isolated on death row. They are all isolated all the time.

Now we probably have half a dozen people who go visit the guys, and they go once a month. Its a ministry to death row, for our church.

What is Second Baptist Church like?

Its a great church. Over 100-year history. Ministry to all ages. We just try to carry out the Great Commission, and its a challenging time to do that, but thats our goal.

Its a church where many people from different backgrounds do attend. We have an active Kairos Prison Ministry, and we have a local ministry here called Broken Chains, of individuals looking to get off of different addictions, and frequently those people come to be part of the church.

Weve got professionals and weve got individuals who are struggling, making ends meet and trying to stay clean. We try to help one another follow Jesus and lead others to follow Jesus too.

When you first met the men on death row, what was your impression of them?

John and the other guys I meet there, theyre regular guys. Its like, wow, how different am I? Johns just a regular guy. Strengths. Weaknesses. And everything else.

He likes to talk. And I do too. Its hard for me as a preacher sometimes to get a word in, because Ive got to listen first. He does like to talk.

For a spiritual advisor visit, Im allowed to speak to one inmate for one hour, and I try to do two in one day if I can. Im talking to John every month because he has a date [for his execution], and the three other guys rotate, which theyre all supportive of, because they know John has a date.

My No. 1 goal is to be there and to listen to what John has to say to me. I dont go with an agenda. I go there just to befriend and be a minister as much as any of the guys will allow me to. Then I see where it goes.

How long have you been ministering to John?

I cant remember exactly when it started, but about five years.

Has meeting with these men changed what you think about the death penalty?

I dont want to get into that. I dont want to muddy the waters with the lawsuit. I have opinions, but its not about what I think.

If there were other ministers asking about this kind of ministry, weighing whether to reach out to people in prison or death row specifically, what would you tell them?

Just pursue your call. Follow your passionwhat Gods leading you to do. There are so many good ministries out there. For us, this was just something God put in front of us. We didnt seek it out or do it as part of a plan.

When you meet John, you talk through phones through a plexiglass window?

Yes.

So youve never touched him, right? Youve never been able to lay hands on him while youre praying?

No.

How did you start to talk about the possibility of touching him during the execution?

Since the Supreme Court said Im now allowed to be in the death chamber, to go with him into the death chamber, we talked about what that would be like and look like.

John said, basically, Dana, I want you to be able to touch me.

Touch is spiritually important. Theres something there. Jesus healed by touching. Jesus gathered the children in his arms; thats touching. James talks about anointing people with oil; thats going to involve a touch. So I said I wanted to touch him too.

I dont know the legal process of it, but John initiated it and I filed that affidavit in support of it, in support of the idea of touching him in the death chamber.

What have you learned about pastoral ministry from visiting these men on death row?

Its allowed me to fulfill part of the Bible. You know in Matthew 25, Jesus says, When I was in prison, you visited me. Hes saying when you go visit that person, its like you visit me.

I didnt think Jesus would look like John Ramirez, but he does. So, gosh, I got to say yes to that.
American woman stranded in Afghanistan pleads for help: 'We are scared for our lives'

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Americans stranded in Afghanistan are pleading with President Joe Biden to help them get out of the South Asian country and accused the administration of not doing enough to ensure the safe evacuation of American citizens.

More than a week after the pullout of American troops from Afghanistan, chaos continues to engulf the country as thousands of U.S. citizens remain trapped and afraid following the rapid advance of the Taliban.

As the Islamic terrorist group gains ground, American citizens, Afghan Christians and those who worked with the U.S. military over the past two decades fear for their safety. One American citizen stranded in Afghanistan, a woman with two children, spoke with Fox News Digital about her fears of being killed by the Taliban.

I would like our president to make the process of evacuation faster, she said. We are devastated. We are scared for our lives. Every moment that a car passes by, I feel like theyre going to pull in and execute us. I dont know if Im going to see my children again.

Please, Mr. President, please evacuate us. We need help.  Ive given up on the hope of going to the airport because its just, its not possible to make it through all those people. People are getting shot left and right. The tear gas is being released on people.  Its so devastating that I dont even know  how to explain it. Its a nightmare. I want to wake up. I want to wake up from this nightmare.

During a White House press briefing Monday, Biden's Press Secretary Jen Psaki rebuked the accusation that Americans are stranded in Afghanistan.

"I think it's irresponsible to say Americans are stranded. They are not," Psaki said. "We are committed to bringing Americans who want to come home, home. We are in touch with them via phone, via text, via email, via any way that we can possibly reach Americans to get them home if they want to return home," added Psaki after being asked if the president knows the criticisms he's facing is in large part because the U.S. military was pulled out before U.S. citizens could be evacuated.

Biden also pushed back on reports that American citizens seeking to flee the country have found themselves unable to reach the Hamid Karzai International Airport in the capital city of Kabul. At a press conference on Friday, Biden said the Taliban have allowed them to go through.

Its in their (Taliban) interests to let them go through. We know of no circumstance where American citizens are carrying an American passport, are trying to get through to the airport. But we will do whatever needs to be done to see to it that they get to the airport.

Speaking to Fox News opinion host Steve Hilton on Sunday night, the brother of the woman who's stranded in Afghanistan warned that the situation on the ground is getting worse and worse. Although he's in the U.S. and not in Afghanistan with his sister, he stressed that the president should know that these American citizens are hiding in different houses and nobodys willing to help these citizens, same as my sister.

These American citizens and American allies and residents are soon either going to be executed by [the] Taliban regime because theyre behind enemy lines or either theyre going to be dying out of hunger and thirst because they cannot get out of their house to get food and get water, he predicted.

Explaining that thousands of Americans find themselves in this situation, the man told Fox News that his sister has attempted three times to go the airport, but they will not let them past unless they show their passports. He said that showing her passport and thereby revealing herself as an American citizen would constitute a death sentence.

She will be killed on the spot or she will be taken and executed, he added, lamenting that the soldiers stationed at the Kabul airport dont have enough capacity to get these people in.

The man unfavorably contrasted the U.S. governments handling of the Afghanistan pullout with those of other Western countries with citizens living in the country.

The Dutch people, the Germans, the French people, they come out and they take their citizens in the cars from the outside the airport and they take them back in. Whoever is an American citizen, there is no help for them.

Hilton noted that in a press conference given earlier on Sunday, Biden asserted that the State Department is in touch with U.S. citizens in Afghanistan  and is sending them a plan for their evacuation before asking the man if his sister had been contacted by the State Department. The man characterized Biden as a compulsory liar, emphasizing that my sister hasnt heard [the] past four days anything from the U.S. Embassy or from any U.S. authority.

As The Christian Post previously reported, many other Americans trapped in Afghanistan find themselves in a similar predicament. Victor Marx, CEO and founder of the nonprofit organization All Things Possible, told CP that based on real-time intelligence he received from people on the ground in Afghanistan, there are American citizens that are in Kabul that are stuck.

Were getting many messages from Americans that are stuck saying can somebody rescue us, he remarked. Dissatisfaction with how the U.S. handled the pullout from Afghanistan is not limited to U.S. citizens trapped there.

NBC News reported that Afghan locals who worked at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul sent out a diplomatic cable expressing disappointment about their brutal experience trying to flee the country. Some staff members said they were assaulted and cursed at by Taliban fighters while others collapsed because of heat exhaustion. One former embassy staffer concluded that it would be better to die under the Talibans bullet than enduring the same experiences again while attempting to evacuate.

On Saturday, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby confirmed that Americans have been beaten by the Taliban while attempting to reach the airport in Kabul.

We know of cases, a small number that we know of," Kirby said at the briefing. "We don't have perfect visibility, but we know of a small number of cases where some Americans and certainly, as [Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin] also said ... Afghans  Afghans that we want to evacuate, it wasn't just Americans that he talked about  have been harassed and in some cases beaten. We don't believe it is a very large number. And a matter of fact, the numbers would indicate ... that ... by and large, most Americans who have their credentials with them are being allowed through the Taliban checkpoints and ... into the gate and onto the airfield.
Biden admin. may partially repeal rule protecting Christian student groups at universities

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The Biden administration is reviewing a federal rule that prohibits public universities and colleges from, among other things, removing the funding of religious student organizations whose leadership policies conflict with campus anti-discrimination rules.

The U.S. Department of Education posted a blog entry last Thursday written by Acting Assistant Secretary for Office of Postsecondary Education Michelle Asha Cooper, announcing a review of the "Free Inquiry Rule."

Certain aspects of these regulations  impose additional requirements on Department of Education higher education institutional grant recipients, wrote Cooper.

The Department is currently conducting a review of those regulations while keeping in mind the importance of several key elements, including First Amendment protections, nondiscrimination requirements, and the promotion of inclusive learning environments for all students.

In November 2020, the Trump administration passed a final rule centered on protecting the rights of religious student groups at public colleges and universities. The rule, known as the Improving Free Inquiry, Transparency, and Accountability at Colleges and Universities regulation, is also called the Free Inquiry Rule.

The rule came partly in response to legal battles centered on Christian student groups facing punishment from public universities for not allowing non-Christians or those who refuse to adhere to biblical sexual ethics to become leaders of their student clubs.

It revised existing regulations to clarify how educational institutions may demonstrate that a religious organization controls them to qualify for the exemption provided under Title IX, 20 U.S.C. 1681(a)(3), to the extent Title IX or its implementing regulations would not be consistent with the religious tenets of such organization.

According to the summary of the rule, the regulation was created in response to then-President Donald Trump signing Executive Order 13864 in March 2019, as well as recent litigation regarding student rights.

These regulations also require a public institution to not deny a religious student organization any of the rights, benefits, or privileges that are otherwise afforded to other student organizations, stated the summary.

In the blog entry, Acting Assistant Secretary Cooper also wrote that following the review, the Education Department expects to publish a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register to propose rescinding parts of the Free Inquiry Rule.

Throughout this process and beyond, public colleges and universities must ensure protection of First Amendment freedoms, including religious freedom and freedom of association, which long predate the Free Inquiry Rule, she continued.

Compliance with nondiscrimination requirements must be in a manner consistent with the First Amendment. We urge public colleges and universities and their students to engage thoughtfully on these matters ...

Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which, alongside American Atheists, is challenging the Free Inquiry Rule in court, celebrated the announcement.

We applaud the Department of Education for its willingness to reconsider this harmful regulation, and for sending the message to colleges, universities and their students that this wrong may soon be righted, said Richard B. Katskee, vice president and legal director of Americans United, in a statement.

We anticipate that the Biden administration will agree with us that discrimination has no place in our public colleges and universities  even if religion is used to justify it.

The Trump-era rule came as several religious student groups filed lawsuits after their universities de-recognized them as official campus groups because their leadership policies required that their leaders be Christian and adhere to their statements of faith.

In April, a federal court sided with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, which sued Wayne State University after its official student club status was revoked in 2017. Not being recognized as an official club means that the group can't access benefits that campus groups receive, such as reserving meeting rooms for free and applying for campus funding.

Judge Robert H. Cleland of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan ruled that other student groups were allowed to restrict their leadership based on sex, gender identity, political partisanship, ideology, creed, ethnicity, GPA or attractiveness. However, the small group of Christians ... were denied [student organization] benefits because they require their Christian leaders to be ... Christian.

Other courts have also ruled in favor of other Christian student groups, including another InterVarsity chapter that filed similar lawsuits against the University of Iowa.

Greg Jao, director of external relations for InterVarsity Fellowship, said in a statement last November that the Trump-era rule was "necessary because some universities would give official recognition only to certain faith-based groups, while rejecting others."

What made the student groups who were denied recognition different? They expected their student leaders to agree with their religious beliefs," Jao said in a statement. "The recognized groups did not. Universities should welcome all religious groups equally, in order to encourage tolerance, pluralism and religious diversity.

Ismail Royer, director of the Islam and Religious Freedom Action Team for the Religious Freedom Institute, a supporter of the "Free Inquiry Rule," stated last year that This new regulation is an important policy for Muslim student organizations because it allows them to select their own leaders and define their own mission by their faithsprinciples.

According to Royer, This right should be reserved for all student religious organizations, and not usurped by university officials based on their own shifting, unpredictable standards.
Biden says priority is evacuating US citizens out of Afghanistan, but much 'could still go wrong'

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President Joe Biden said Sunday that his administrations first priority is getting American citizens out of Afghanistan as quickly and as safely as possible but added that there is still a long way to go and a lot could still go wrong.

Our first priority in Kabul is getting American citizens out of the country as quickly and as safely as possible, Biden said Sunday afternoon in remarks from the Roosevelt Room at the White House.

Biden continued that at his direction, the State Department continues to reach out to the remaining Americans we have identified by phone, email and other means to ascertain their whereabouts and their plans.

It's been estimated that as many as 10,000 to 15,000 Americans have yet to be evacuated from Afghanistan.

He said his administration is executing a plan to move groups of these Americans to safety and to safely and effectively move them to the airport compound.  Any American who wants to get home will get home.

We are proving that we can move thousands of people a day out of Kabul, ... we have a long way to go and a lot could still go wrong, he said, regarding evacuating Americans and Afghan allies.

Asked if he will extend the Aug. 31 deadline for removing all troops from Afghanistan, Biden responded, Theres discussions going on among us and the military about extending."

"Our hope is we will not have to extend, but there are going to be discussions, I suspect, on how far along we are in the process," he said.

The U.K. Times reports that British foreign secretary Dominic Raab and Defense Secretary Ben Wallace have also requested that the Biden administration extend its deadline.

The president also assured that all evacuated Afghan allies will be given a home in the United States after they are screened and vetted at bases in other countries.

We will welcome these Afghans who have helped us in the war effort over the last 20 years to their new home in the United States of America," Biden said. "Because thats who we are. Thats what America is.

The first groups of Afghan evacuees arrived at Dulles International Airport Saturday, one week after the Talibans takeover of Afghanistan.

At a Defense Department briefing at the Pentagon Saturday, Army Maj. Gen. Hank Taylor told reporters that three flights carrying Afghan evacuees had landed at Dulles in the Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C. Those evacuees will be transitioned to Fort Bliss in Texas for further processing.

Biden said in an interview with ABC News last week that as many as 65,000 Afghans might be evacuated.

U.S. governors have said they would be willing to take in Afghan evacuees.

We are eager to continue that practice and assist with the resettlement of individuals and families fleeing Afghanistan, especially those who valiantly helped U.S. troops, diplomats, journalists and other civilians over the past 20 years, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican, said in a statement.

In a little over 30 hours this past weekend, about 11,000 people were evacuated.

That number will change day-to-day as the air and ground operations in Kabul vary, Biden said Sunday.

Biden said the administration is also working to move our Afghan allies, who stood with us side by side, and other vulnerable Afghans such as women leaders and journalists, out of the country.

As of this morning (Sunday), we have evacuated nearly 28,000 people since August the 14th, on both U.S. and coalition aircraft, including civilian charters, bringing the total number of people we have evacuated since July to approximately 33,000 persons," he said.

The situation at the U.S.-held airport in Kabul continues to be chaotic and dangerous, however, with the Taliban surrounding the entire perimeter.

The U.K. Ministry of Defense said in a statement earlier on Sunday that seven Afghan civilians were crushed to death outside the airport as crowds attempted to board evacuation planes.

Conditions on the ground remain extremely challenging but we are doing everything we can to manage the situation as safely and securely as possible, the ministry stated, according to Deutsche Welle, which reported Taliban fighters also sparked panic by firing into the air to control the crowd.

U.S. citizens in Afghanistan were told Saturday not to travel to the Kabul airport due to security threats. The Journal Gazette said potential Islamic State threats against Americans forced the U.S. military to develop new ways to get evacuees to the airport.

Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby confirmed during the Defense Department briefing on Saturday that Americans had been beaten by the Taliban while attempting to reach the airport.

We are aware of sporadic cases where they aren't being allowed, where there is some harassment going on, and yes, some physical violence has occurred within the last week, Kirby said. What appears to be happening is that not every Taliban fighter either got the word or decided not to obey the word [to allow Americans to get to the airport].

Following the drawing down of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, the Taliban quickly seized control of much of the country, eventually taking the capital Kabul and forcing the government to flee.

In response to the unexpected speed at which they retook the nation, tens of thousands of Americans, Afghan allies, and others have desperately tried to leave the country.

A return to Taliban rule for Afghanistan has led many to express concern over the treatment of women, as well as religious minorities, such as the small Christianity community.
FDA gives full approval to Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for ages 16 and up

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced the official approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine months after granting it an emergency use authorization status.

In an announcement Monday, the FDA said that the Pfizer vaccine, first made available under EUA last December, was the first COVID-19 vaccine to get full approval for people 16 years and over and will be marketed as Comirnaty.

Acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock stated the approval is a milestone as we continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.

While this and other vaccines have met the FDAs rigorous, scientific standards for emergency use authorization, as the first FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine, the public can be very confident that this vaccine meets the high standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality the FDA requires of an approved product, Woodcock said in a statement.

While millions of people have already safely received COVID-19 vaccines, we recognize that for some, the FDA approval of a vaccine may now instill additional confidence to get vaccinated. Todays milestone puts us one step closer to altering the course of this pandemic in the U.S.

Last November, Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech announced that they developed a vaccine that was reportedly over 90% effective in preventing COVID-19 in those without evidence of prior infection. The following month, the FDA approved the Pfizer vaccine for emergency use to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus in the United States and abroad.

Based on the longer-term follow-up data that we submitted, todays decision by the FDA affirms the efficacy and safety profile of our vaccine at a time when it is urgently needed," Pfizer Chief Executive Officer Albert Bourla said in a statement Monday.

"About 60 percent of eligible Americans are fully vaccinated, and infection, hospitalization and death rates continue to rise rapidly among unvaccinated populations across the country."

Bourla said that he is hopeful that the full approval will "increase confidence in our vaccine, as vaccination remains the best tool we have to help protect lives and achieve herd immunity."

"Hundreds of millions of doses of our vaccine already have been administered in the U.S. since December 2020, and we look forward to continuing to work with the U.S. government to reach more Americans now that we have FDA approval," Bourla concluded.

The FDA's announcement comes not long after former President Donald Trump implored supporters at a rally in Alabama over the weekend to get vaccinated just as he and his family did before he left office in January.

I recommend, take the vaccine! declared Trump, who nevertheless expressed opposition to mandating vaccination. I did it. Its good. Take the vaccines  It is working.

The weekend rally was not the first time that Trump urged his supporters to get vaccinated. In March, the former president said on Fox News that he would recommend people get vaccinated.

Its a great vaccine, and its a safe vaccine, Trump said at the time.

Despite the push by many to get more Americans vaccinated, some, including immunologist and physician Dr. Hooman Norchashm, have expressed concern about the potential dangers of vaccinating people who either have or had COVID-19.

In a recent interview, Norchashm said that while he supports the COVID-10 vaccines, he said it is a mistake to apply this "therapy" in a "one-size-fits-all" fashion.

"We are deploying this vaccine in the midst of an outbreak where literally millions of people across the United States and the world have already had natural infections and are therefore immune," he said.

"The idea of vaccinating someone who is already immune is a violation of medical necessity as a principle of medical ethics. And it has the potential to do harm. The reason why I am critical is not so much about the vaccine itself. I think the vaccine is an amazing technological feat. I received the vaccine myself. I advocate for all non-immune Americans to get this vaccine as soon as possible. But the problem is its indiscriminate application to folks who do not stand to benefit from it."

In a letter to health officials in January, Norchashm wrote that the "goal of maximally and quickly vaccinating the population is the correct and laudable public health goal."

But [we need to] robustly mitigate against known and rationally prognosticated dangers to the minority subset of persons at risk of harm," he wrote.

I am recommending to you, as our lead FDA regulators, not to gloss over the real possibility that vaccinating persons with pre-existing SARS-CoV-2 viral antigens in their tissues could cause that subset of people grave immunological harm  and especially the frail with cardiovascular disease.
Jesse Jackson, wife Jacqueline remain hospitalized for COVID-19

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Civil rights leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson, 79, who was fully vaccinated in January, and his 77-year-old wife, Jacqueline, remained hospitalized with COVID-19 on Monday, according to their son, Jonathan Jackson.

The Jacksons were responding positively to treatments at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, their son told The Associated Press.

She had been real lethargic with flu-like symptoms [and] went to the hospital Friday, Jonathan Jackson told ABC7. Then it was diagnosed that she and my dad both had contracted COVID. She is having some oxygen, but is able to function and breathe on her own without a respirator. Nothing severe. Because of her age and her current health, it is more challenging.

In a statement Monday, he added: We are ever mindful that COVID-19 is a serious disease and we ask that you continue in prayer for my parents, as we remain prayerful for yours.

A spokesperson for the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, a nonprofit and political action group founded by Jesse Jackson, told the network that Jaqueline Jackson is not vaccinated.

In a separate statement, the organization added: There are no further updates at this time. We will provide updates as they become available.

Jesse Jackson, the two-time candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, was diagnosed with Parkinsons about four years ago and had received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine.

Civil rights activist Al Sharpton tweeted his support for the couple, writing: Let us all pray for Rev. and Mrs Jesse Jackson. They need our sincere and intense prayers. Prayer changes things!!!

Radio host Donnie Simpson wrote on Twitter Saturday night, Praying tonight for Rev. Jesse Jackson and his wife, Jacqueline. Theyre both in the hospital with COVID. No details on how bad the symptoms are, but the fact that theyre hospitalized tells me that our prayers are needed.

A former Baptist minister, Jackson was also an aid to Martin Luther King Jr. and played a leading role in the U.S. civil rights movement in the 1960s.

Speaking to activists in London about the civil rights struggle, Jackson said in 2013 that Jesus was an occupier.

Jesus was an occupier, born under a death warrant, a Jew by religion, born in poverty under Roman occupation, explained the veteran activist at the event near Saint Pauls Cathedral, according to MSNBC.

He continued, Gandhi was an occupier, Martin Luther King was an occupier, [Nelson] Mandela was an occupier.

Jacqueline Jackson is also known for her civil rights activism who's advocated for numerous causes worldwide. The couple has five children together.
Over 22 dead, including twin babies, after flooding in Tennessee; dozens missing

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About two dozen people were killed, including two babies who were swept from their fathers arms, and dozens of others were missing as of Sunday afternoon after catastrophic flash flooding in Middle Tennessee, officials said.

Humphreys County Public Information Officer Grey Collier said 22 people had lost their lives due to Saturdays flooding. The county reports that about 50 others remained missing as of Sunday afternoon, according to CBS News.

Authorities fear the number could rise as rescue crews were still searching door to door.

The dead included twin 7-month-old babies who were swept from their fathers arms in Waverly. The family told WTVF that the babies went underwater and disappeared. Their bodies were later found by first responders.

Humphreys County received up to 17 inches of rain in less than 24 hours Saturday, which likely shattered the Tennessee record for one-day rainfall by more than 3 inches, according to the National Weather Service.

The floodwaters had receded by Sunday, but large amounts of debris could be seen, including wrecked cars and demolished buildings.

In downtown Waverly, business owner Kansas Klein was quoted as saying that he saw two girls holding on to a puppy and clinging to a wooden board, but the current was too fast. He later heard that a girl with a puppy and another girl had been rescued downstream but wasnt sure it was them.

Klein said that the storm devastated low-income housing area, Brookside.

"[B]uildings were knocked down, half of them were destroyed," Klein explained. "People were pulling out bodies of people who had drowned and didnt make it out.

It was something like the quickness of a tornado, I guess. Someone described it as a tidal wave, Waverly Mayor Buddy Frazier was quoted as saying by WKRN. It makes you feel good when youre dealing with a situation like this and you see youre not in it by yourself. Your neighbors are with you and everyone starts pulling together.

In his remarks from the Roosevelt Room at the White House on Sunday, President Joe Biden expressed his deepest condolences for the sudden and tragic loss of life due to this flash flood.

I know we've reached out to the community and we stand ready to offer them support," he said. "I've asked the Administrator to speak to Governor [William Byron] Lee of Tennessee right away, and we will offer any assistance they need for this terrible moment."
This week in Christian history: Bakker fraud trial begins, Louis IX dies and massacre in Orissa

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Throughout the extensive history of the Church, there have been numerous events of lasting significance.

Each week brings anniversaries of impressive milestones, unforgettable tragedies, amazing triumphs, memorable births, notable deaths and everything in between.

Some of the events drawn from over 2,000 years of history might be familiar, while other happenings might be previously unknown by most people.

The following pages highlight events that happened this week in Christian history. They include the death of Saint Louis IX, the fraud trial of Jim Bakker, and a massacre of Christians in India.

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Va. school board votes against enacting trans pronoun, bathroom policy amid concerns

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A school board in Virginia has voted to reject state regulations that would require schools to let trans-identified students choose their own names and gender pronouns and have access to the private facilities that correspond with their gender identity.

The Newport News School Board voted 5-1 last week to reject a motion to adopt the revised state guidelines on the treatment of trans-identified students, which were created in response to legislation passed last year by the Virginia General Assembly.

U.S. Congressman Bobby Scott, a Democrat whose congressional district includes Newport News, took to his official Twitter account to denounce the school board vote.

Disappointed by this move to discriminate against transgender students & defy state/federal law. All students deserve to feel welcome at school, tweeted Scott last week.

The Board should review the severe harm that not implementing these policy changes will have on student health & reverse its decision.

According to the Code of Virginia, under  22.1-23.3, titled Treatment of transgender students; policies, the state education officials provide to each school board model policies concerning the treatment of transgender students in public elementary and secondary schools that address common issues regarding transgender students in accordance with evidence-based best practices and include information, guidance, procedures, and standards.

These policies included, among other things, complying with applicable nondiscrimination laws, maintaining a safe and supportive learning environment free from discrimination and harassment for all students and protecting student privacy and the confidentiality of sensitive information.

Many attendees stepped forward during last week's school board meeting, arguing both for and against the state policies on trans-identified students.

One of the speakers, a local minister, argued that the Virginia Code section violated parental rights, stressing that these children, and youth, they really belong to the parents. They dont belong to the state or the federal government.

Parents should not be punished as abusers because they dont identify with their childs choice of gender identity, Pastor Russell Evenson of the 1,200-member World Outreach Worship Center said, warning that the policy could lead to unnecessary child custody issues.

Another speaker argued that the policy is taking rights from parents and that children were being indoctrinated, his comments eliciting cheers from those in attendance.

One supporter of the state policy, a man who had two children enrolled in the school system, claimed that supporting the preferred gender identity of students reduces their chances of committing suicide.

I would have no problems or concerns whatsoever if there are transgender people in the bathroom with me or with my children, said the speaker.

One woman, who called herself a concerned citizen and the mother of a gay son, spoke out against the policy, claiming that it was discriminatory to biological males and females by forcing them to share single-sex facilities with each other.

The Daily Press reports that board members who voted against the policy stated that they want more information about the district's planned procedures. Another meeting on the topic is scheduled for Thursday.

Earlier this month, another Virginia school board, the Loudon County School Board, voted 7-2 to pass a policy similar to the model policies laid out by the state education department.

In response, Loudon County Public Schools teachers filed a complaint, asking a court to stop the newly passed policy from taking effect, citing constitutional objections.
Was Afghanistan a just war?

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There is a well-developed body of Christian teaching known as "Just War Theory." What I saw, however, in the conservative conversation about Afghanistan and Iraq was a stripped down version of JWT. One element is that the cause must be just and many of our friends camped out entirely on that element. The Taliban harbored an evil man who murdered thousands of Americans. Of course, the cause was just! But going back to St. Augustine, through St. Thomas and then Vittoria and Grotius, JWT has also included elements such as proportionality, cost, reasonable likelihood of success. I'm not sure our crowd gave those much weight.

Bottom line: were these wars consistent with Just War Theory? Let's distinguish between the Afghan and Iraq wars. The former was far more justifiable. But in each case we have to ask what the mission was. If the mission was to punish the Taliban for aiding an act of war against the U.S. then that is firmly within the JWT tradition. If the mission was nation building, specifically building a modern liberal democracy, then I'd say the likelihood of success criterion was not met.

There were serious physical barriers to that mission. For example, the nature of the terrain itself, divided by some of the highest mountain ranges of the world, forming a unified nation out of what has always been a group of tribes with a circle arbitrarily drawn around them on a map.

(Source: Visual Capitalist)

And demographic factors including a very young population, which is the most volatile demographic mix imaginable, a nation with lots of teenagers, fewer women than men, and very few gray heads to steer the young ones:

(Source: Visual Capitalist)

Throughout history, states have sent armies out to hunt down petty little warlords who attacked Americans. Blackjack Pershing for instance ran missions like that. Such wars can be just, proportionate, and achievable. But in my private conversations with Bush administration officials including Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Paul Wolfowitz and Condi Rice directly and also through backchannels, it became clear to me that they felt that they had to justify the wars along grand humanitarian lines, with objectives of transforming great swaths of the world into the kind of liberal democracies that have historically only emerged from Christian civilizations (or colonies of those civilizations).

I don't think that mission was consistent with a Christian view of fallen, and unredeemed, human nature. It's hard even for Christians and Jews, people of the book, to always get human rights right. How could we expect a civilization with no real roots in human rights theory to be transformed at the point of our guns?

George W. Bush used to justify this mission by saying that all humans yearn for liberty. That might be true (but it also might not, humans often yearn for security and the bondage which they think will bring it), but even if it is true that we all yearn for liberty, that is no reason to believe thats enough. The trick isn't to find a person who wants to be free himself; the trick is to find people who are willing to let other people be free too. You dont just need people who want to be free, but rather who will also follow the Golden Rule and grant to others the freedom they want for themselves.

That's something which armies are not very good at accomplishing. That's something that comes more from missionaries than from missiles.
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Is the United States, in the wake of the Afghanistan crisis, in a Chamberlain moment?

British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain read Adolf Hitlers Mein Kampf, and concluded that he had Hitler figured out. As Chamberlain stepped off his plane in Munich in 1938, he was certain he was going to make history by out-talking Hitler.

But it was Hitler who had sized up Neville Chamberlain. The Nazi dictator saw Chamberlain as a naive man who somehow squeezed everything under his ever-present cozy umbrella.

Hitler concluded he could promise Chamberlain anything, then do as he pleased.

So, Der Fuhrer promised not to invade more territory, Chamberlain, back home, conducted an airport press conference wherein he announced that he and Herr Hitler had negotiated peace in our time.

But Hitler made Chamberlain look like a fool. Even as Chamberlain was proclaiming that he had tamed Hitler, Hitlers armies were blitzing the Sudetenland.

Rather than a cheering Parliament, Chamberlain faced an angry, jeering House of Commons.

Leopold Amery, of Chamberlains own party, rose, and, borrowing words from Oliver Cromwell in 1653 with regard to another matter, cried out to Chamberlain: You have sat too long here for any good you have been doing ... In the name of God, go!

When 40 members of his party voted against Chamberlain, and another 60 abstained, Chamberlain knew he had no choice, and left the ornate chamber where the House of Commons met.

Three days later, King George VI named Winston Churchill as prime minister in that crucial age.

In 2014, I co-wrote a book, God and Churchill, with the late Jonathan Sandys, Sir Winston Churchills great-grandson. (Tyndale House, 2015) Watching Jonathans determined attitude, biting wit, quick comprehension, capacity for persuasive as well as inspiring speech, I could see characteristics that compelled King George to ask Sir Winston to lead the country through the war.

On that day in 1940, Churchill said to Walter Thompson, his bodyguard, You know why Ive been to Buckingham Palace. Thompson nodded and told Churchill he knew the task ahead would be immense.

God alone knows how great it is, replied Churchill.

Jonathan Sandys was not a professing Christian when he began research on his great-grandfathers spirituality. But as Jonathan studied with an open mind be concluded that God had brought Sir Winston to the leadership of Great Britain and its allies to stop Hitlers mad romp through civilization.

Later, Jonathan was so energized by this new awareness of Gods hand in history through his great-grandfather that he asked for believers baptism, and I had the privilege of conducting that service in Houston.

Back in England, Jonathan visited Churchills official biographer, Sir Martin Gilbert. Gilbert encouraged Jonathan and told him there was much material that had never been explored.

The more we worked on God and Churchill, the more Jonathan and I were in awe of the Lord of history.

In some ways, the task of national leadership is even greater now than Churchills era. The present hour demands the strongest and sharpest of leaders. The volatile enmities across the planet are much hotter even than that of Chamberlains and Churchills day. The weaponry available now are truly doomsday devices.

There is also a principle at stake here. Paul writes in 2 Thessalonians about an evil ruler  the antichrist  who will seek to bring global chaos so he can present himself as the only hope and acknowledged as the worlds leader.

A key strategy in sparking and spreading the chaos is lawlessness. The only reason this madness has not already consumed the world is that there is a restrainer who holds it back (2 Thessalonians 2: 7).

Among other things, this illustrates the principle of hegemony in foreign relations. A hegemon is a group or geopolitical entity that has the strength to dominate others.

One type of hegemonic nation is like that which Adolf Hitler sought to establish through his Third Reich: dominance for the sake of exploitation and destruction. The second type of hegemonic state is that which has the strength to restrain potential rogue nations.

I was a junior aide in the Nixon White House in the late Cold War period. The United States had been involved in Vietnam for a long time, and Nixon sought an end to that conflict.

In 1972 Nixon was re-elected by a huge majority, sparking hope that he would have even greater strength to resolve the Vietnam problem.

But then came the Watergate debacle and Nixons decision in 1974 to resign the presidency.

There were many reasons why he felt it necessary to resign. However, Nixon revealed a compelling purpose in his resignation speech:

In all the decisions I have made in my public life, I have always tried to do what was best for the Nation ... In the past few days, however, it has become evident to me that I no longer have a strong enough political base in the Congress to justify continuing that effort. As long as there was such a base, I felt strongly that it was necessary to see the constitutional process through to its conclusion, that to do otherwise would be unfaithful to the spirit of that deliberately difficult process and a dangerously destabilizing precedent for the future.

Now, in 2021, the question is this: Has Joe Bidens image been damaged so severely through the events that have occurred in Afghanistan that he has the credibility and ability to lead a powerful nation midst the chaos of our times?

As Parliament had to grapple with the Chamberlain leadership issue, so must Congress now confront the Biden leadership issue. The fate of the United States and perhaps even global security in a nuclear age may be at stake.
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What is hush money?

It is money paid so that someone will keep certain information a secret.

Orpah Winfrey recently created a whole multi-season show called Greenleaf that airs on Netflix. This fictional show chronicles the ways churches try to bury the truth. Unfortunately, way too many real-life examples prove the truths in this series.

In my own hometown of Colorado Springs, New Life Church and Pastor Brady Boyd paid a sex abuse victim of Ted Haggards to keep quiet about the details of the very public fallout. When asked about it in a public interview, Pastor Brady said, It was compassion assistance. However, this is not a biblical term nor are there any positive examples of this in the Bible.

Since then, we have seen this same scenario play out with Ravi Zacharias, Brian Houston, Bill Hybels, Jerry Fallwell Jr, and the list goes on and on. We are learning each day more and more that churches and ministries have seen this nondisclosure practice as acceptable.

However, Scripture teaches just the opposite. Every example of hush money in Scripture is ungodly and used in some capacity to suppress the truth and not allow the real story to be public.

Balak paid the prophet Balaam to silence Gods blessing over His people and curse them instead. Numbers records Balak saying to Balaam: I will make sure you are richly rewarded, and I will do whatever you ask. Please, come and curse these people for me (Numbers 22:17).

Balaam ultimately wouldnt do it because, even as a pagan prophet, he feared the God of Israel.

Balak was livid. Scripture says, And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. And Balak said to Balaam, 'I called you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them these three times. Therefore, now flee to your own place. I said, I will certainly honor you, but the Lord has held you back from honor.' And Balaam said to Balak, 'Did I not tell your messengers whom you sent to me, If Balak should give me his house full of silver and gold, I would not be able to go beyond the word of the Lord?' (Numbers 24:10-13)

Apparently, Balak failed to get a nondisclosure agreement from Balaam. He obviously didnt understand the power of God over the power of money, at least in Balaams life.

In the New Testament, Judas was paid to hush speaking the truth of who Jesus is in Matthew 26:14-16. He suppressed the truth for the sake of a bribe.

In God's eyes, this is not an acceptable practice to handle matters.

It is legal but it is not godly or biblical. So why do church leaders and boards do this?

Boards have a lot of pressure on them to do the right thing and yet feel the need to suppress the truth for the sake of the Gospel. Oftentimes, the point leaders take the fall for the suppression when it becomes publicly known. However, boards are just as much to blame when they use truth suppression for the good of the Gospel.

What does the Bible have to say about leaders and boards suppressing the truth and paying brides to suppress the truth?

Ecclesiastes 7:7 says, a bribe corrupts the heart.

Instead of using money to hush the truth, the Bible actually tells us to buy the truth. God wants us to live with full disclosure.

Proverbs 23:23 says, Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.

There is not one example in the Bible to support this practice.

The holiness of God and his Church must matter more to us than the reputation of the Church.

The Church is not ours, its His. The Church is Christs bride, and He wants her back. Paying someone to suppress the truth is a sin. The Bible makes it clear that, in time, the suppression of truth will be exposed.

Controlling the narrative with money is never Gods way of going about things.

The Bible makes this very clear that God does not want the victim or anyone to take a bribe to hide the truth. Proverbs 17:23 says, The wicked accepts a bribe in secret to pervert the ways of justice.

If anyone needed a nondisclosure statement it would be King David after he confessed to Nathan the prophet that he had committed adultery with another mans wife and had her husband murdered. But instead, King David allowed the real story of his life to be plastered all over the world and throughout history through the book of Samuel.

A man after Gods own heart is not a man who doesnt sin but a man who doesnt try to cover up his sin. When confronted, he repents and forsakes it and doesnt try to control the public narrative through nondisclosure agreements tied to money.

I am afraid the heart of God has left the building of a lot of churches in America due to the leaderships willingness to hide and bury the truth of what has happened.

I think Moses made it clear what God thinks of this in Deuteronomy: For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe (Deuteronomy 10:17).

I believe the church of America is dying like Ananias and Sapphira did in Acts 5:1-11 because it is hiding the truth of what has happened in its churches and creating a narrative that is a lie.

May God do what He must to humble us so that we will turn, repent, and seek His face for His glory and for the true good of the Gospel of Jesus to go forth to all in Jesus name. Amen.
Calif. church offers religious exemption letters for people opposed to COVID vaccine

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A church in California that has a history of defying pandemic lockdown orders is offering religious exemption letters for people opposed to being vaccinated against COVID-19.

KCRA News reports that after Sunday services last week, there were long lines of people waiting to pick up exemption letters from Destiny Christian Church in Rocklin, led by Pastor Greg Fairrington. Some say they traveled over two hours to get a letter.

Fairrington told the outlet that he doesn't believe vaccine requirements are "right."

"America is a free country. We have freedom of religion, and if a person has a moral objection to taking the vaccine, we want to come alongside of them," he said in a video interview.

Destiny Christian Church, which averages 10,000 people online and in-person for its worship services, recently sent a statement to the Los Angeles Times explaining the importance of the exemption letters.

Fairrington said the church has gotten thousands of phone calls from doctors, nurses, educators, and first responders, in tears, fearing that their livelihoods hang in the balance because of their religious convictions.

The vaccine poses a morally compromising situation for many people of faith, stated Fairrington. The religious exemptions we are issuing speak to that, honor that, and affirm that.

Earlier this month, Fairrington and his wife, Kathy, led their congregation in a prayer for those who work in healthcare, education or other fields threatened with losing their job because they refuse to get the COVID-19 vaccine on moral grounds.

Michelle Mello, a professor of law and medicine at Stanford University, told the Times that she believes the exemption letters are irrelevant since most workplaces and the courts already recognize bona fide and sincere religious exemptions.

You have to do one of two things to protect other people from the risk that you pose to them, Mello told The Los Angeles Times, getting vaccinated or getting tested regularly.

Thats not a mandate. A mandate is when you withhold an important benefit because a person declines to receive vaccination.

As the COVID vaccine becomes more widely available, many schools and businesses have required workers and others to get vaccinated or, if exempted for medical or religious reasons, to submit to wearing face masks in public and getting tested regularly.

While Destiny Church has offered to provide religious exemption letters, other Christian bodies like the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York have refused to allow their clergy to give such exemptions.

In a memorandum dated July 30, Chancellor John P. Cahill informed all clergy and staff that there is no basis for a priest to issue a religious exemption to the vaccine.

Pope Francis has made it very clear that it is morally acceptable to take any of the vaccines and said we have the moral responsibility to get vaccinated, wrote Cahill.

By doing so [a priest] is acting in contradiction to the directives of the Pope and is participating in an act that could have serious consequences to others.

The archdiocese concluded that while a person is free to exercise discretion on getting the vaccine based on his or her own beliefs, their clergy should not be active participants to such actions.

Fairrington made headlines earlier this month when he urged congregants to vote to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom during the recall election on Sept. 4. He told The Sacramento Bee that Newsom's policies during the pandemic have had "traumatic consequences for families, schools, communities, and the church."

Newsom came under fire as his administration enacted restrictions on in-person worship services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Several churches disobeyed the guidelines and some challenged them in court. In April, the U.S. Supreme Court vacated a lower court ruling against South Bay Pentecostal Church, which sought injunctive relief against the restrictions.
National Abortion Federation will stop supporting clinics that violate Texas' heartbeat law

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As a law banning abortions as early as six weeks gestation is scheduled to take effect in Texas next month, a professional coalition of abortion providers has announced that it will no longer financially support clinics that defy the legislation.

The National Abortion Federation, a professional association heavily engaged in pro-abortion advocacy, has announced that it would stop providing financial support to clinics that defy a law passed in May by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott.

The law, Senate Bill 8, also known as the heartbeat bill, will ban abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected and will go into effect on Sept. 1.

The Houston Chronicle reported that the NAF alerted Texas clinics that it would remove support if they defy the law but would fund up to the total cost of abortions within the guidelines.

NAF Chief Executive Katherine Hancock Ragsdale said in an interview that her organization is working to create a concierge team to help Texas women obtain abortions.

We, along with our members, are preparing for all scenarios in Texas," the federation elaborated in a Twitter post. "If this law moves forward, we will have to comply but that doesnt mean we will stop helping folks access the abortion care that they need. We will never stop fighting. #TXDeservesBetter.

We, along with our members, are preparing for all scenarios in Texas. If this law moves forward, we will have to comply but that doesnt mean we will stop helping folks access the abortion care that they need. We will never stop fighting. #TXDeservesBetterhttps://t.co/TrX8R0VQsl  NAF (@NatAbortionFed) August 13, 2021

Senate Bill 8 will also enable private citizens to sue those who perform abortions and those who help women obtain abortions that violate the law.

Critics have characterized the provision of the law as an encouragement for people to put bounties on women who have had abortions.

Ragsdale agreed with that analysis, telling NBC News that its bounty hunting. She also characterized the law as incentivized vigilantism, adding its part of a growing level and climate of vigilantism and violence that large chunks of the country feel is justified.

This kind of incentivized vigilantism isnt just about abortion issuesIts part of a growing level and climate of vigilantism and violence that large chunks of the country feel is justified. -NAF President and CEO, @KatherineRagsdahttps://t.co/aGgSwjM91j  NAF (@NatAbortionFed) July 26, 2021

While pro-abortion groups have indicated that they plan to comply with the new law, Senate Bill 8 has already faced a court challenge. Texas Right to Life reports that a hearing is scheduled for Aug. 30, two days before the law is expected to take effect.

Multiple federal judges have ruled heartbeat bills passed in other states unconstitutional. Even though judges in Mississippi, Georgia, Missouri and Iowa have struck down heartbeat bills, that has not stopped additional states from passing similar measures.

Earlier this year, Oklahoma and South Carolina passed bills banning abortions after six weeks gestation.

The passage of Senate Bill 8 and the resulting litigation to stop it from taking effect comes as the U.S. Supreme Court is slated to rule on the constitutionality of Mississippis 15-week abortion ban. Pro-life advocacy groups see the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization as a landmark opportunity to chip away at the precedent set by Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision establishing that women have the right to obtain an abortion.

The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments for the case in its upcoming October term, which will begin this fall. A decision is expected at some point next spring. The Texas heartbeat bill is just one of several pro-life laws enacted at the state level in 2021, which the pro-abortion Guttmacher Institute described as the most devastating antiabortion state legislative session in decades.

A report from the Guttmacher Institute found that in the first four months of 2021, over 500 pro-life bills were introduced in state legislatures across the U.S. An updated report from the abortion advocacy group found that by the middle of 2021, the number of pro-life laws passed at the state level this year had increased to 90.
Trump slams Biden's Afghanistan pullout: 'I don't think our country has ever been so humiliated'

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Former President Donald Trump castigated his successors handling of the withdrawal of remaining Americans from Afghanistan, characterizing it as the greatest embarrassment in the history of our country.

Trump appeared on Fox News Hannity Tuesday where he discussed the instability in the country following the pullout of U.S. troops and the Taliban's successful seizure of Kabul. I dont think in all of the years our country has ever been so humiliated, he said. Theres never been anything like whats happened here.

The former president reiterated his longstanding support for withdrawing U.S. troops from Afghanistan while slamming the Biden administrations execution of that mission: Its a great thing that were getting out but nobody has ever handled a withdrawal worse than Joe Biden. This is the greatest embarrassment, I believe, in the history of our country.

As Trump noted, thousands of Americans are stranded in Afghanistan because the Taliban has circled the airport.

While the former president noted that he's heard "as many as 40,000 Americans are stranded in the country, CBS News reported that a congressional aide told the news outlet that there are between 10,000 to 15,000 Americans stuck in Afghanistan.

A congressional aide tells @CBSNews we have no partners left in Afghanistan to safely get Americans in-country to Kabul. There are 10-15k AmCits who still need to get out, and that obviously doesnt include the tens of thousands of SIVs or P2 applicants trying to get out of Afg https://t.co/SKw1FvXBCV  Sara Cook (@saraecook) August 17, 2021

According to Fox News, members of the Biden administration have given differing figures when asked how many American civilians remain in Afghanistan. While White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said that at least 11,000 Americans remain in Afghanistan, Department of Defense Press Secretary John Kirby estimated that between 5,000 and 10,000 Americans remain in the war-torn country.

Psaki says there are at least 11,000 Americans still in Afghanistan.



Earlier today, John Kirby said there are between 5,000 and 10,000.  Lucas Tomlinson (@LucasFoxNews) August 17, 2021

While much of Trumps interview with Hannity focused on the dangers Americans face as the Taliban takes control of Afghanistan, and how Biden's exit differed from his administration's plans, faith leaders are also warning about the repercussions for the nations Christian community.

One Afghan Christian, who spoke with CBN News anonymously, predicted that the Taliban are going to eliminate the Christian population of Afghanistan.

Host Sean Hannity noted that Biden blamed Trump for causing the situation in Afghanistan. In his speech to the nation Monday, the president specifically criticized the deal his predecessor struck with the Taliban before leaving office. The former president devoted part of his appearance on the Fox News program to defending the deal. We had a great deal. We worked on it very hard, he recalled.

I spoke on numerous occasions to the head of the Taliban and we had [a] very strong conversation. I told him up front, I said, Look, before we start, let me just tell you right now that if anything bad happens to Americans or anybody else or if you ever come over to our land, we will hit you with a force that no country has ever been hit with before, a force so great that you wont even believe it.

In addition to criticizing the Biden administrations actions over the past week, the former president illustrated how he would have handled the pullout of Afghanistan. Lamenting that we [took] the military out before we took our civilians out, he said that under his plan for withdrawal, We were going to take the military out last.

The people come out first, then I was going to take all of the military equipment, we have billions and billions of dollars worth of new black hawk helicopters, brand new, that Russia now will be examining, and so will China and so will everybody else, he added. He should have gotten the civilians out first. Then, he should have taken the military equipment. We have billions of dollars of brand new beautiful equipment. Take the equipment out and then take the soldiers out.

Trump warned that forts that the U.S. had built were being now used by the enemy. He maintained that he would have ordered the military to blow up all the forts before they left.

Tuesdays appearance on Hannity was not the first time the former president has spoken out forcefully against his successor in the midst of the turmoil in Afghanistan. Over the weekend, Trump released a statement calling on Biden to resign: It is time for Joe Biden to resign in disgrace for what he has allowed to happen to Afghanistan, along with the tremendous surge in COVID, the Border catastrophe, the destruction of energy independence, and our crippled economy.

Trump isn't the only former member of the Executive Branch to rip Bidens Afghanistan withdrawal. In an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal, former Vice President Mike Pence, who served alongside Trump for four years, elaborated on the deal that the Trump administration struck with the Taliban.

In February 2020, the Trump administration reached an agreement that required the Taliban to end all attacks on U.S. military personnel, to refuse terrorists safe harbor, and to negotiate with Afghan leaders on creating a new government. As long as these conditions were met, the U.S. would conduct a gradual and orderly withdrawal of military forces, he wrote.

Alleging that Biden broke our deal by keeping troops in Afghanistan past the agreed pullout date, Pence slammed the manner in which Mr. Biden executed this withdrawal as a disgrace, unworthy of the courageous American service men and women whose blood still stains the soil of Afghanistan.

Public opinion polling indicates that the American public overwhelmingly disapproves of Bidens management of the Afghanistan exit. A poll released Monday by the Trafalgar Group found that 69.3% of Americans disapproved of Bidens handling of the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan compared to just 23.1% who approved. In addition to majorities of Republicans and independents, a plurality of Democrats (48.2%) also expressed some level of disapproval with the administrations recent foreign policy moves related to Afghanistan.
Twitter under fire for allowing Taliban propaganda while banning Trump

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A Republican congressman has sent a letter to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey denouncing the social media giant's troubling double standard for banning the former president from its platform but allowing the Taliban.

Rep. Doug Lamborn of Colorado sent the letter to Dorsey on Tuesday, with Lamborn posting a copy of it on his Twitter and Facebook accounts on the same day.

Lamborn accused Twitter of not enforcing any of its fact-checking efforts on the Taliban accounts, or banning them in light of the social media sites prohibition on violent organizations.

It is clear that the Taliban is a violent organization, wrote the congressman, noting that he did not find a single fact check on any of their tweets, nor any warnings for false or misleading content.

It is impossible to see how the accounts of [Taliban members] Zabihullah Mujahid and Yousef Ahmadi do not violate your policies.

Lamborn added that he believed it was clear that Twitter has political bias in its algorithms and a troubling double standard. The congressman requested a prompt reply on why a former United States President is banned while two Taliban spokesmen are allowed to remain.

For their part, Twitter told Newsweek on Tuesday that they will hold the Taliban accounts to content standards and "continue to proactively enforce our rules and review content that may violate Twitter rules, specifically policies against glorification of violence, platform manipulation and spam.

By contrast, other social media sites such as Facebook have reaffirmed their commitment to ban content that promoted the Taliban, which has been in effect for several years.

The Taliban is sanctioned as a terrorist organization under U.S. law and we have banned them from our services under our Dangerous Organization policies, a Facebook spokesperson told CNBC on Tuesday.

In January, two days after hundreds of pro-Trump protesters stormed the U.S. Capitol, Twitter announced that they were banning then President Trump from their platform.

In a statement released Jan. 8, Twitter argued that Trump should be permanently suspended following the protests due to the risk of further incitement of violence.

Our public interest framework exists to enable the public to hear from elected officials and world leaders directly. It is built on a principle that the people have a right to hold power to account in the open, stated Twitter.

However, we made it clear going back years that these accounts are not above our rules entirely and cannot use Twitter to incite violence, among other things. We will continue to be transparent around our policies and their enforcement.

In July, Trump filed a lawsuit against Twitter, Facebook and other social media outlets that had banned him, stating that their actions constituted unlawful censorship.
My Paradigm Shift: Viewing Money through God's Eyes

I grew up in a Christian home, and my parents took great care to help me and my siblings to learn, understand, and live according to the Scriptures. We regularly attended a sound, Bible-teaching church. Mom and Dad sacrificed to send us to a Christian school. They encouraged me to attend Bible college, where I majored in Bible and pastoral studies, and to go on from there to pursue seminary training.

It was not until later I realizeddespite all those years of trainingvery little was taught about money and the theology of money. Yes, I learned about the tithe, about giving, and about some basic principles of saving, budgeting, and avoiding debt. I was familiar with Larry Burkett, Dave Ramsey, and others who taught on the topic. I listened to their teaching and read their books to drink in all I could. But my paradigm was flawed. Perhaps like yours.

Because I enjoy the topic of money, I entered the field of financial planning. I pursued training and eventually earned designations as a Certified Financial Planner, a Chartered Financial Consultant, and Chartered Life Underwriter. I loved the work. However, I felt I was devoting my life to helping people with temporal needs and making very little impact for eternity. I felt I had missed Gods calling. Surely, He had prepared me for something more significant! But I did not know what that was.

So I prayed. For years I prayed. I said to God, if He had something else in mind for me, I would do it. But I had no idea what that was. So, I asked Him to show me. I prayed, If you must write it in the sky for me to understand, please do that. Somehow, please show me! And then one day, He didas clear as if it were written in the sky.

I was attending my best friends wedding and enjoying the reception afterward. I struck up a conversation with an acquaintance, Tom, who is also a friend of the groom. As we chatted casually, he asked me how things were going, and I shared with him my struggle. He dug further to better understand my heart. And then he made a wild proposal. Why dont you come work with us?

Tom was the executive director of a foundation for a large Christian ministry. He explained the nature of their work. Planned giving is the term often used to describe this work. In a nutshell, it is a field of financial planning that offers tools and services designed exclusively for those whose value system includes generous giving. It helps them to give more efficiently and in ways, they had never imagined.

Tom told me that they were looking to hire someone in my area to work with them. And the two most important qualifications for the role were  (wait for it!)  pastoral training and a financial planning background. The reason is that they viewed their staff members as financial pastors.

Never would I have imagined that there would be one role that would utilize these two seemingly unrelated fields of training that had defined my life. It was an answer to prayer. Of course, I said yes.

As soon as I started, intense training began. Despite my knowledge of financial planning, I required additional education, as it is a highly specialized field. Not only was there technical training but there was biblical training as wellrefreshing eye-opening training!

Tom introduced me to Ray Lyne, who was to become a valued friend and mentor. Ray challenged me to develop a biblical philosophy of money, giving, and fundraising. He showed me Scripture passages, asked me thought-provoking questions, and primed the pump with unique insights that I had never really considered. This led me to question my previous assumptions and radically changed the way I view and understand this topic.

Thus began a journey of searching the Scriptures and seeking to understand Gods perspective on the matter. I am learning to view this issue through Gods eyes, which has led to an important paradigm shift. Lets uncover some of the key principles in Scripture that address the area of finances.

From the time I was a child, I understood the importance of giving to God and to Gods work. The principle of the tithe can be seen throughout the Bible, and that was my guide for my giving. I believed that the money I placed in the offering plate on Sunday morning was Gods portion. Everything else belonged to me, and I could do with it whatever I wanted.

Old Paradigm  Spiritually Neutral

As I read books and heard from teachers, I learned that there are a handful of principles in the Bible intended to help me manage my money. These include saving for the future, avoiding debt, paying taxes, and working diligently to earn a paycheck. If I managed my money well, I could receive greater enjoyment of my money. It was all about me.

And where did the 90 percentmy portionfit into my spiritual life? Did God care about that? I assumed that there were certain things that God cared about: prayer, church attendance, reading the Bible, and morality. I also believed there were certain things that were spiritually neutral. I wondered if God really cared about things like life insurance, writing a will, and the amount of money I spend on groceries.

What does the Bible say? First, it is clear that God made everything. All things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made (John 1:3). For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him (Col 1:16).

Scripture

It is also true that God is the source of all good thingsour provider. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows (James 1:17). Even the money we work hard to earn ultimately comes from God. You may say to yourself, My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me. But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth (Deut 8:17-18).

Further, the Bible teaches us that God owns everything. Everything! Even after it is placed into our hands. The earth is the Lords, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it (Ps 24:1).

Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours  Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you (I Chr 29:11,16).

These are foundational truths that allow us to see the financial arena of our lives in a brand-new way. Rather than seeing our finances (the portion that we keep after we give God His portion) as being spiritually neutral, we discover that it is an important segment of our lives in which we can engage with God! Knowing that it all belongs to God allows us to welcome God into our financial lives! We have the opportunity to walk with God, even in this sector of life that we may have previously overlooked.

New Paradigm  Spiritually Engaging

Stewardship is often interpreted as giving. Giving does not make one a steward. Giving is something a steward does. But stewardship is about much more than giving. It is about understanding that God owns it all. It is about managing it in a way that honors Him.

A friend once asked to borrow my car for a few days. When he returned it, I found that he had filled the gas tank, washed and detailed the car inside and out, and even made several necessary repairs. Because it was my carnot hishe took great care to show his respect for the vehicle and his appreciation to me. He treated the vehicle better than if it were his own. He cared for the car because he acknowledged my ownership of the car. That is stewardship.

Knowing that it all comes from God and it all belongs to God informs us that everything we do with Gods money has spiritual implications. Everything! As His stewards, we have the privilege of managing Gods resources according to His heart, His agenda, and in a way that honors Him. Ask yourself, What would Jesus do if He had my paycheck, my bank account, my home, and my investments? What would that look like if you began viewing your money as Gods money, and yourself as a steward rather than an owner?

What did Jesus say is His number one competitor? Is it Satan? No. It is money! He said, No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money (Mt 6:24). The flesh tempts us to view money and that which money can buy as the focus of our worship. This replaces our worship of God and pushes Him out of the picture, putting money in its place. Conversely, we have a wonderful and very practical opportunity to worship God in our finances by making Him the object of our worship over and above money.

As we invite God into the financial arena of our lives, the process becomes one of listening to God so that we can manage His resources for His glory. Thereby, we demonstrate our worship of Him. Enoch walked with God. We can do the same. And the reward will be one of the highest praise from our Master: Well done, good and faithful servant! (Mt 25:21).

Do you view finances as a divided ownership or all-encompassing God-ownership? Do you have a spiritually neutral mindset or spiritually engaging lifestyle?

Conclusion

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what Gods will ishis good, pleasing and perfect will (Rom12:2).

I invite you to shift your paradigm. Let Gods Word guide your thoughts and actions so that you can view the world through Gods eyes and live your life according to His principles. May this be true in the area of your finances. May this be true in every area of your life.

About the Author

Scott Talbot is the Executive Director of Dallas Seminary Foundation at Dallas Theological Seminary where he helps assist donors with their planning needs. He has over 30 years of experience in the field of financial planning, including 20+ years in planned giving. Prior to joining Dallas Seminary Foundation, Scott served in various organizations such as World Vision, Campus Crusade for Christ, and In Touch Ministries. Scott has earned the designations of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER, Chartered Financial Consultant, and Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy. In addition, he is a Bible college and seminary graduate.

If you want to find out more about Dallas Theological Seminary, please fill in the request information.

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This article was previously published in DTS Magazine online. To find more resources, please visit DTS Voice.
Hobby Lobby ordered to pay $220K for not allowing trans employee to use women's restroom

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A state court has ordered the Christian-owned craft store chain Hobby Lobby to pay over $200,000 in fines for refusing to allow one of its trans-identified employees to use the womens bathroom.

A three-judge Illinois appellate court panel unanimously ruled Friday that Hobby Lobby violated the Illinois Human Rights Act by declining to allow one of its employees to use the bathroom that corresponds with the person's gender identity instead of biological sex.

Fridays ruling reinforces an earlier conclusion of the Illinois Human Rights Commission. The company was ordered to pay its longtime employee $220,000 in attorneys fees for emotional distress. The company argued the fine was excessive. However, the court did not find Hobby Lobby's arguments persuasive.

The retail chain, owned by the Green family, has become known for its adherence to Christian principles.

As explained in the decision, the employee, a biological male who now identifies as Meggan Sommerville, began working for Hobby Lobby in 1998.

In 2007, while working as an employee of the Hobby Lobby in East Aurora, Sommerville began to transition from male to female.

The transition became official in 2010 when Sommerville formally informed Hobby Lobby of her transition and her intent to begin using the womens bathroom at the store. Sommerville presented the store with an updated drivers license, Social Security card and name change court order.

Although Hobby Lobby changed Sommervilles personnel records and benefits information to reflect a "female identity, the store never allowed the employee to use the womens restroom over the past decade.

Sommerville has faced disciplinary action for using the womens bathroom.

The East Aurora store did install a unisex restroom in 2013, enabling store employees and customers to use either the bathroom corresponding to their [biological sex] or the unisex bathroom.

Sommerville contended, however, that being forced to use the unisex bathroom made it seem as if they were segregating me, adding, I felt as though there were the guys, the gals, and then me.

Hobby Lobbys provision of a unisex bathroom available to all employees and customers cannot cure its unequal treatment of Sommerville with respect to the womens bathroom," the court maintained. "If every employee and customer except Sommerville may use either the unisex bathroom or the bathroom corresponding to their sex, but Sommervilles choices are limited to the unisex bathroom or a bathroom that does not correspond to her sex, Hobby Lobby is still discriminating unlawfully."

Sommerville alleged that the inability to use the womens restroom led to severe mental anguish, and the court agreed. It ruled that Hobby Lobbys actions violated a law barring discrimination against any individual because of his or her ... [sex], or sexual orientation ... in connection with employment ... and the ability of public accommodations.

Additionally, the law makes it illegal for any employer to ... segregate, or act with respect to ... discipline ... or terms, privileges or conditions of employment on the basis of unlawful discrimination and for places of public accommodation to deny or refuse to another the full and equal enjoyment of the facilities.

The court emphasized that discrimination against a person because of his or her actual perceived ... sex ... [or] sexual orientation constitutes unlawful discrimination.

Hobby Lobbys conduct thus falls squarely within the definition of unlawful discrimination under the Act, as it treats Sommerville differently from all other women who work or shop at its store, solely on the basis that her gender identity is not traditionally associated with her designated sex at birth, the court argued. The Commission did not err in finding that Hobby Lobbys conduct of denying Sommerville access to its womens bathroom violated her civil rights under articles 2 and 5 of the Act.

While the courts opinion never discussed Hobby Lobbys Christian faith or religious beliefs, it did mention that the arts-and-crafts chain sees an individuals sex  the status of being male or female as an immutable condition.

Hobby Lobby gained national recognition for citing its religious beliefs when objecting to the contraceptive mandate in the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. The mandate forced employers to cover their employees birth control in employer-sponsored healthcare packages.

Hobby Lobby asserted that providing its employees with contraception coverage, including abortion-inducing drugs, would violate the companys sincerely held religious beliefs.

In 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Hobby Lobby v. Burwell that companies could refuse to provide contraception for their employees if doing so violated their religious beliefs.

The Illinois appellate courts ruling against Hobby Lobby comes as congressional Democrats are pushing for the passage of the Equality Act, which would enshrine nondiscrimination protections for the LGBT community into federal law. The language of the Equality Act is similar to that of the Illinois Human Rights Act. Many conservatives have expressed concern about its implications for religious liberty.
Canadian Orthodox church burned in arson wave raises $700K to rebuild: 'Huge blessing'

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An Orthodox congregation in Canada whose church building was destroyed in an apparent wave of church arsons has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in the weeks since the destruction of its house of worship, although more will still be needed.

St. George Coptic Orthodox Church of Surrey, British Columbia, located around 24 miles away from Vancouver, was destroyed in an arson attack on July 19.

I woke up to several missed calls and texts on my phone the morning of July 19th, all related to the fire at the church, Steven Faltas, a church spokesperson, told The Christian Post.

I rushed to site to find the church still engulfed in flames, with firefighters still trying to put out the fire in the last remaining areas that were still standing. They had the street closed off with four to five fire trucks all dousing the flames with water, but it was obvious that the damage had already been done.

Since then, the congregation has been worshipping at the nearby St. Joseph The Damascene Antiochian Orthodox Church of Surrey while still looking for a facility sufficient to do Sunday school for the churchs approximately 200 children.

This nearly 70-year-old building was much more than just a building, stated the church in its rebuilding campaign. Our Church brought together a diverse congregation of Coptic, Eritrean, Ethiopian, Iraqi and Lebanese Orthodox believers.

While we are thankful to all those who have reached out and offered their churches as a temporary location where our services can continue to be held, we hold strong in the belief that our Lord Jesus Christ will restore its ruins and will rebuild it as it used to be. (Amos 9:11).

Faltas said that the congregation has raised more than $700,000 for the rebuilding effort in the weeks since the fire.

While describing the amount as a huge blessing, Faltas warned that it's still very short from the millions we will need if we want to rebuild what we had.

The building was very old but quite large and provided space for over 400 families who attended a variety of regular services offered nearly every night of the week, he said.

We have insurance, but given the age and value of the building, the amount that will be covered will be much less than what it will cost us to rebuild. So, we are urging anyone and everyone who is able to make a contribution to our rebuilding efforts [to do so]. We would greatly appreciate it.

In May and June, two mass graves were discovered at former residential schools in Canada created to assimilate the indigenous population and were jointly run by the government and the Catholic Church.

Soon after the news of the discoveries broke, a wave of church arsons occurred, primarily centered on churches located in the western provinces and indigenous territory.

Faltas noted that St. Georges was never involved in the residential school program, adding that it would be a tremendous tragedy if the church was confirmed to have been burned down as retribution for the travesty that took place at those residential schools many years ago.

According to the spokesperson, the church experienced an attempted arson by an unknown party five days earlier. The attack on his church confirms that no place of worship is currently safe in Canada," Faltas added.

Places of worship are currently under attack nationally and will continue to be until there is a political solution to the narrative, he continued.

We urge the Canadian Government to invest the money and effort required to ensure places of worship and their congregants [are] safe and to assist in the rebuilding process.
Christian groups rush to aid Haiti as earthquake death toll rises, Tropical Storm Grace strengthens

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As the death toll rises across Haiti following Saturdays 7.2-magnitude earthquake, volunteers with Christian humanitarian organizations like World Vision are working tirelessly to provide physical, emotional and spiritual aid to those suffering.

The earthquake hit Haiti pretty badly. World Vision is working with the government and NGO partners to assess needs," Fedorah Pierre-Louis, advocacy and external engagement director at World Vision Haiti, told The Christian Post.

"And we have deployed a team right now on the field focusing on the areas of shelter, food assistance, child protection and also, of course, COVID prevention as we're still going through the pandemic over here.

Pierre-Louis said the international humanitarian organization is asking for prayer to "ensure that vulnerable children and their families are protected during this time.

The earthquake killed at least 1,419 people, injured at least 6,900 people and destroyed the homes of as many as 1.5 million Haitians across the southern peninsula as of Monday, according to Haitis Civil Protection Agency. The agency notes that the assessment remains "very partial."

Numerous churches were leveled in the wake of the quake while hundreds of people remain missing.

The quake also triggered landslides and damaged infrastructure, blocking roads and making it difficult for vital supplies to reach the impacted areas of the poorest in the Western Hemisphere.

And as Tropical Storm Grace hit the country with rain on Monday, the window to provide relief efforts is shrunk, Pierre-Louis said. Grace is expected to strengthen into a hurricane

We need to act very, very fast. Time is very critical in making sure that we're providing relief efforts, she stressed. Were working to rescue people still trapped under the rubble and clearing out some roads as well to increase access to care.

So far, the humanitarian agency has sent nutrition kits and hygiene items for 6,000 people, she said.

Given the vulnerability in the country, were prioritizing nutritional and emergency response support to as many people as we can," she said.

World Vision is planning to help as many as 240,000 people through clean water access, tents, food supply and child protection efforts.

In addition to providing water, hygiene goods, nutrition and shelter, World Vision seeks to provide emotional and spiritual assistance to vulnerable families  especially those with children.

This kind of support, Pierre-Louis said, will be desperately needed in the coming days.

She said that between the pandemic, worsening gang violence and political unrest stemming from the July 7 assassination of President Jovenel Moise, Haitis 11 million people have endured unending trauma in recent months.

Whenever there is a crisis, child protection is not necessarily prioritized on a government level, Pierre-Louis stated. World Vision tries to ensure that the well-being of kids is still protected. So we really want to raise awareness on that and continue to push for advocacy and the prioritization of child protection.

Children, in particular, have witnessed a lot of traumatic events, she added. We provide them with psychosocial support for children to protect their physical and mental wellbeing.

Other Christian organizations are stepping up to meet emerging needs in Haiti, including the disaster relief organization Convoy of Hope.

In the coming days, the group plans to distribute 1 million meals to those impacted by the earthquake and hygiene kits and sheltering supplies.

The Virginia-based Operation Blessing has also deployed a disaster relief team to assess the situation. The organization plans to distribute emergency supplies and provide clean drinking water in the Les Cayes area. The charity will also help provide medicine and medical supplies to doctors from L'Hopital General, the largest public hospital of Haiti.

World Vision's Pierre-Louis applauded the United States government for its rapid response to the crisis.

Hours after the earthquake struck, President Joe Biden authorized an immediate U.S. response, while USAID Administrator Ambassador Samantha Power announced the deployment of a Disaster Assistance Response Team.

Were very, very grateful for the continued interest and concern, Pierre-Louis said.

Rescue efforts will likely uncover many more bodies in the following days, she said.

She urged Christians in the West to pray for Haiti, highlighting the need for unity among the global Body of Christ.

It's extremely, extremely important to remain united in prayers, and to remain united in solidarity, because we as Christians are very stressed these days, Pierre-Louis emphasized.

There are multiple crises going on right now. We need to remain united in prayers, in solidarity and in action to make sure that we feel like we're all part of one Christian family. We need to make sure that people know that they're not going through the crisis alone and that they have many people with them praying with them around the world.

Click here to learn how to help World Vision deliver hope and practical help when disaster strikes.

Another massive earthquake shook Haiti in 2010, which at the time was said to be the most devastating natural disaster in Haiti's history.

In that quake, about 250,000 people died and 300,000 were injured. An estimated 1.5 million individuals were made homeless, living in makeshift displacement camps.
'A kingdom issue': Christian leaders share how believers should pray for Afghanistan

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Christian leaders are asking believers everywhere to unite in prayer as the Taliban has taken over large portions of Afghanistan, leaving the Christians and other minorities in the country susceptible to severe persecution.

Taliban fighters infiltrated the Afghan presidential palace after President Ashraf Ghani fled the country. The takeover came as the United States pulled troops out of the country after having forces in the Middle East country for nearly 20 years.

Although the Taliban has vowed to impose a more reformed approach to governing, many are fearful that the Taliban, which refers to itself as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, could institute a form of shariah law.

A Church leader in Afghanistan says the extremist group will eliminate the Christian population in the country.

"Right now we fear elimination. The Taliban are going to eliminate the Christian population of Afghanistan," a leader who disguised his identity told CBN News in a recent interview.

The leader is among thousands who have come to faith in Jesus Christ over the past two decades.

"There weren't a lot of Christians 20 years ago during the Taliban time but today we are talking about 5,000 to 8,000 local Christians and they live all over Afghanistan," he said.

Following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistans capital, Kabul, Christain leaders worldwide are sending instructions on how Christ's followers should pray for those at risk.
ALISTRATI, Greece (AP)  Persephone is a tour guide in Greece, but perhaps not the type people are used to.

Billed as the worlds first robot tour guide inside a cave, Persephone has been welcoming visitors since mid-July to the Alistrati Cave in northern Greece, 135 kilometers (84 miles) northeast of the city of Thessaloniki.

The multilingual robot covers the first 150 meters (roughly 500 feet) of the part of the cave that is open to the public. In the remaining 750 meters (2,400 feet), a human guide takes over.

The robot was named Persephone because, according to one version of the ancient Greek myth, it was in a nearby plain that Pluto  the god of the underworld who was also known as Hades  abducted Persephone, with the consent of her father Zeus, to take her as his wife.

The robot can give its part of the tour in 33 languages and interact at a basic level with visitors in three languages. It can also answer 33 questions, but only in Greek.

Nikos Kartalis, the scientific director for the Alistrati site, had the idea of creating the robot when he saw one on TV guiding visitors at an art gallery. Seventeen years later, "we got our funds and the robot guide became a reality, Kartalis told The Associated Press.

The robot was built by the National Technology and Research Foundation and cost 118,000 euros ($139,000).

We already have a 70% increase in visitors compared to last year since we started using the robot, says Kartalis. People are enthusiastic, especially the children, and people who had visited in the past are coming back to see the robot guide."

It is something unprecedented for them, to have the ability to interact with their robot by asking it questions and the robot answering them, he said. Many foreign visitors couldnt believe Greece had the capacity to build a robot and use it as a guide in the cave.

The robot moves along a walkway, passing through an ornate landscape of stalactites and stalagmites. These varied formations can reach 15 meters (50 feet) tall and are seen throughout the cave's nearly 1 kilometer (1.6-mile) walkway, which is accessible to people with limited mobility.

This cave is one of the most beautiful, not only in Greece but in Europe, as well," says Kartalis. It has stalactites and stalagmites in many shapes and colors, even red."

He said the cave was 3 million years old and was first explored in 1974 by the Hellenic Speleological Society and a team of Austrian speleologists. It opened to visitors in 1998.

Persephone, with a white body, black head and two luminous eyes, moves on wheels, guiding visitors to the first three of eight stops along the walkway. She can do two more stops, but her low speed slows down the tour, which is conducted in three languages simultaneously. Persephones creators are considering ways to speed her up.

The robots begins by saying: My name is Persephone, I am the daughter of the goddess Demeter and the wife of Pluto, the god of the underworld. I welcome you to my under Earth kingdom, the Alistrati Cave.

Many visitors are intrigued by the robot guide.

It was surprising for me. Ive never experienced such a thing. Actually, honestly, I prefer a live guide, but its interesting doing it this way. And I like the pace of the robot. It goes slower, so I can look around, said Patrick Markes, a Czech visitor.

Markes listened to the first three stops from the robt in his native language and the rest in English from a human tour guide.

I should thank Persephone, our robot, she said very fine things, said Christos Tenis, a Greek visitor. Im impressed by the cave. Of course, we had a flawless (human) guide, she explained many things. Im very impressed."

Persephone is not the only technology used inside the cave. There's a cellphone app in which a visitor, scanning a QR code, can see the Alistrati Beroni. Thats a microorganism that is only found in this cave, in the huge mounds of bat droppings left behind when the cave was opened and the bats migrated elsewhere.

Evdokia Karafera is one of the tour guides who partners with the robot.

It is helpful, because it speaks many languages. Theres just a little delay in the touring, she said. "Most find it fascinating, especially the children, and find it interesting that it speaks many languages.

Karafera insisted, however, that human tour guides cannot be completely replaced.

Robots, at some point in the future, will take over many jobs. But I believe they cannot replace humans everywhere," she said. (Visitors say) the robot is interesting, original, but cant substitute for the human contact with the guide and the conversation we can have on the way back.

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Follow Kantouris on Twitter at https://twitter.com/CostasKantouris.
HONOLULU  Hawaiis governor is urging residents and potential visitors to limit travel to the islands to essential business while the state struggles to control outbreaks of the delta variant of the coronavirus.

Gov. David Ige wants to curtail travel to Hawaii through the end of October. In his words, It is a risky time to be traveling right now.

He says restaurant capacity has been restricted and there is limited access to rental cars.

But Ige is stopping short of last years strict travel rules that required quarantining and essentially shut down Hawaiis tourism industry. He notes the CDC says fully vaccinated people can travel domestically.

Hawaiis seven-day average of new daily cases hit 671 on Monday, more than triple the level four weeks earlier.

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MORE ON THE PANDEMIC:

 Lockdowns or vaccines? 3 Pacific nations try diverging paths

 U.S. mask, vaccine conflicts descend into violence and harassment

 Pandemic fiction: Fall books include stories of the virus

 The Rev. Jesse Jackson, wife Jacqueline, hospitalized for COVID

 Hurricane Henri thwarts Central Park concert hailing NYC virus rebound

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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:

WELLINGTON, New Zealand  New Zealand has reported 41 new coronavirus infections, which is the countrys highest daily total since an outbreak of the delta variant last week prompted the government to put the nation into a strict lockdown.

Health officials said Tuesday that they are confident the country remains on track to quell the outbreak.

Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield says most of the new cases appeared linked and officials arent seeing an exponential rise in infections.

New Zealand is scheduled to remain in lockdown until at least Friday, while the city of Auckland where most of the cases have been found will stay in lockdown until at least the end of the month.

The outbreak is the first in New Zealand in six months.

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SYDNEY  An Australian state leader is indicating that a slight easing of pandemic restrictions is coming for Sydney after achieving a vaccination milestone.

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said Tuesday she will announce before the weekend a new freedom for fully vaccinated people now that 6 million vaccine doses have been administered across the state. She said that equates to 60% of the population having at least one dose of Pfizer or AstraZeneca and 32% being fully vaccinated.

Australias most populous state is in lockdown because of the virus outbreak, as is Victoria, which is the countrys second most populous state.

Government leaders hope the lockdowns will end in October once 80% of people 16 years and older are fully vaccinated. Only 24% of the Australian population is fully vaccinated.

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FRANKFORT, Ky.  Kentuckys governor says a flood of COVID-19 patients is stressing the states hospitals and intensive care units.

Gov, Andy Bashear said Monday that more than 20 Kentucky hospitals are confronting critical staffing shortages and some hospitals are converting space to treat the influx of ICU patients.

Beshear says Kentucky reported 2,596 new coronavirus infections Monday  a pandemic high for any Monday so far. He says there were 17 deaths related to COVID-19.

More than 1,890 patients with COVID-19 were in hospitals, including 529 in intensive care units. A record 301 virus patients were on ventilators.

The surge comes as the legislature assumes considerably more control over Kentuckys response to the pandemic. The state Supreme Court on Saturday cleared the way for laws limiting the governors emergency powers.

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SAN RAMON, Calif.  Chevron Corp. is requiring some of its employees to become vaccinated against the coronavirus as the oil industry struggles with rising infections among its unvaccinated workers.

The oil giant is requiring its workers who travel internationally, live abroad or work on its offshore platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, as well as some onshore support staff, to be vaccinated.

A spokeswoman for the San Ramon-based oil and gas company said Monday that vaccinations are the strongest safeguard against the virus, and the company will continue to carefully monitor medical data and guidance of health authorities to protect its workforce.

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OLYMPIA, Wash. -- The head of Washington states wildfire response is urging federal agencies to require coronavirus vaccinations for their wildland firefighting forces.

State Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz also called on Monday for the deployment of federal resources to make vaccinations available at all fire camps on federal land.

The Washington Department of Natural Resources is making vaccines available within its jurisdictions at fire camps amid the rapidly spreading delta variant. Franz on Monday directed all his agencys employees including firefighters to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 18.

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HONOLULU  Honolulu's mayor says he will restrict indoor gatherings to 10 people and outdoor gatherings to 25 in an effort to control the coronavirus as the highly contagious delta variant spreads in the community.

Mayor Rick Blangiardi says the rules take effect Wednesday and will cover weddings and other events.

The citys emergency management director cites a mathematical modeling tool from the Georgia Institute of Technology to illustrate risks the community faces from large gatherings.

The modeling says there is a 20% chance that someone in a group of 10 will be infected, based on the number of cases on Oahu now. It says that in a group of 100, there is a 90% chance someone will catch the virus.

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SPRINGFIELD, Mo.  One of Missouris biggest hospital systems says it require its employees to get vaccinated against the coronavirus now that the FDA has given full approval to Pfizers vaccine.

CoxHealth has several hospitals in southwestern Missouri and it said hours after the FDAs announcement Monday that its workers will be required to have at least one dose of a vaccine by Oct. 15. CEO Steve Edwards says in a statement that careful consideration will be given to requests for exemptions for religious or health reasons, and that anyone granted an exemption will be required to undergo regular testing for the virus.

CoxHealth officials say about 70% of its employees are already vaccinated, including more than 90% of its physicians.

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VICTORIA, British Columbia  The Canadian Pacific coast province of British Columbia is bringing in a vaccine card for residents to get access to restaurants, clubs, sporting events and other activities.

Premier John Horgan says the card will give people the confidence to attend events and businesses knowing that others are protected around them.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says starting Sept. 13 a new order will require proof of having had a single dose of a vaccine to access certain social and recreational activities, as well as businesses. After Oct. 24, Henry says entry to the same settings will require those 12 years and older to be fully vaccinated.

The French-speaking province of Quebec already announced a similar measure while Ontario, Canadas largest province, has declined to introduce a vaccine passport.

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RICHMOND, Va.  Democrat Terry McAuliffe urged all Virginia employers on Monday to require the coronavirus vaccine for their workers who are eligible, sharpening a policy debate in the closely watched governors race over how best to deal with the pandemic.

McAuliffes call followed a decision by federal regulators to give full approval to Pfizers vaccine and marked an escalation of his advocacy for obligatory vaccines as a condition of employment. The former governor now seeking a second term has previously urged Virginia health systems and school divisions to issue mandates, and required his own campaign staff to be fully vaccinated.

McAuliffe is facing Republican Glenn Youngkin, a former business executive and political newcomer, in the November general election. Youngkin, who is vaccinated, has consistently urged Virginians to get the shot but has said he opposes vaccine or mask mandates.

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SIOUX FALLS, S.D.  South Dakota House lawmakers have tried to pressure Gov. Kristi Noem to call a special session to pass a ban on employers requiring COVID-19 vaccinations even as virus cases climbed on Monday.

Several Republicans in the House of Representatives have circulated drafts of bills that would stop employers from mandating vaccinations against the virus, stepping up pressure on Noem to call a special session for them to approve the bills. But she has resisted those calls, saying there is not widespread support for a special session.

The issue has Noem, who has carved out a nationwide following for her hands-off approach to the virus, being pushed from the right to intervene on the states largest employer, Sanford Health.

House Speaker Spencer Gosch said late Friday he wanted the governor to call a special session as he released a draft of a bill that would make COVID-19 vaccination status strictly confidential medical information that would be off-limits to employers.

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PORTLAND, Maine  Some emergency medical service workers in Maine spoke out against a coronavirus vaccine mandate because of concerns it will lead to ill-timed staff shortages.

The Maine Board of Emergency Medical Services held a public hearing on the subject Monday. Gov. Janet Mills announced new rules earlier in August that require all health care workers to be vaccinated against the virus by Oct. 1.

More than 600 people participated in the virtual meeting, and most who spoke were against the mandate. A common concern among the speakers who opposed the mandate was that would exacerbate emergency worker shortages.

Mills has said the health worker mandate is about protecting health care workers, their patients, including our most vulnerable, and our health care capacity.

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BATON ROUGE, La.  The announcement that Pfizers coronavirus vaccine received full federal approval triggers new vaccine and testing mandates in Louisiana.

Louisianas universities will soon start requiring tens of thousands of students to get the shots. Gov. John Bel Edwards intends to begin mandatory, regular COVID-19 testing for thousands of state workers who arent immunized.

But just how many people the vaccine and testing mandates will cover and when theyll take effect remains uncertain.

University inoculation requirements may not be enforced for months on campuses, and students will be able to seek exemptions.

Meanwhile, the Edwards administration said its crafting its testing plans, uncertain when theyll be released.

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WICHITA, Kan.  Debates about mask mandates and vaccine requirements are intensifying in Kansas as the delta variant sends cases soaring.

In the Topeka area, board members for the Auburn-Washburn district voted 6-0 Sunday to approve a mask mandate, effective immediately, for all students, staff and visitors inside district facilities.

Meanwhile, Sedgwick County Commissioners on Friday voted down a mandate along party lines after a heated debate in which an anti-mask activist said that he and other opponents would show up outside commissioners homes with megaphones if they passed the measure.

More companies, universities and local governments are expected to require vaccinations now that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has given full approval to Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine.

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WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden is celebrating the full FDA approval of Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine and is urging the unvaccinated to go get their inoculations.

Biden on Monday addressed those who were waiting on the full approval and declared it is now happened, the moment youve been waiting for is here.

He also used the moment to call on private companies to require their employees to get vaccinated. The president made clear: its time to get your vaccination and warned that the highly contagious delta variant of the coronavirus was causing COVID cases to rise nationwide.

The FDA had previously approved three vaccines  Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson  under an emergency use authorization. Pfizer is the first to receive full FDA approval, which Biden dubbed the gold standard.

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JACKSON, Miss.  Mississippi Poison Control officials say they are receiving an influx of calls from people trying to treat COVID-19 by using anti-parasite medicine purchased at livestock stores.

At least 70% of recent calls to the Mississippi Poison Control Center have been related to ingestion of livestock or animal formulations of ivermectin purchased at livestock supply centers, Mississippi Department of Health officials said.

Some of the symptoms associated with ivermectin toxicity include rash, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, neurologic disorders, and potentially severe hepatitis requiring hospitalization.

No hospitalizations have been reported. Most callers  85%  have had mild symptoms, according to the Department of Health. One individual was advised to see a physician because of the high dosage they reportedly took.
HOUSTON (AP)  U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls of Texas says that he's tested positive for COVID-19 and has moderate symptoms.

Nehls, a Republican from the Houston area, said Saturday that he is fully vaccinated and hopes the symptoms pass soon.

All Americans are free to make their own health decisions, but I strongly encourage getting vaccinated, he wrote on Twitter Saturday. It is scientifically proven to drastically reduce the risk of severe illness & death from COVID.

Nehls, the former sheriff of Fort Bend County who was elected to Congress last year, had said on Wednesday that a close family member had tested positive.

Nehls said he has been quarantining at home and will continue to do so for at least the next 10 days.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Tuesday that he'd tested positive for the virus. He said Saturday that he had tested negative.

Im told that my infection was brief and mild because of the vaccination that I received, Abbott said in a video clip posted on his Twitter account on Saturday. So I encourage others who have not yet received the vaccination to consider getting one.
Skinship by Yoon Choi (Alfred A. Knopf)

With fine attention to detail, Yoon Chois fictional debut Skinship welcomes readers into the lives of immigrant and first-generation Korean Americans.

The collection of short stories examines characters of various circumstances. From a school-aged student making her first friend in America to an autistic piano teacher, each chapter is a different take on how life, culture and language interact as characters navigate unfamiliar places.

Choi opens with a piece on disillusionment and longing. Readers follow a young Soo as she reunites with her husband, Jae, in New Jersey after several years apart. Soo remained in Korea as Jae attempted to forge a better life for the couple in the new country. Soos excitement fades on a long car ride from the airport to a run-down convenience store  Our store, Jae tells her. An older Soo later wonders about the life she would have had if she had chosen to stay in Korea and marry someone other than Jae.

Each chapter takes on a distinct voice and perspective, highlighting the intimacies perhaps known only by those who straddle the fence of two worlds. Through Sae-Ri, a mother who leaves her son in Korea for an arranged marriage to an American, Choi brings into focus the clashes between the ways of Sae-Ris home country and the new one she finds herself living in. These differences become more distinct after she reveals the truth of her son to her American family. The chapter, told mostly through Sae-Ris imperfect English, includes her observations of how love and marriage seem to mean different things and are performed in different ways in each place.

Chois writing closely details the emotions and inner lives of her characters; they feel real in a way that rings true, even when the truth is a little ugly. Choi does not shy away from depicting the colorism deeply rooted in Korean culture; the sometimes willful refusal to acknowledge problems; and the heavy emphasis on saving face and avoiding shame.

Her collection is a fresh take on the experience of newcomers to America  stories of love, disappointment and sacrifice.
In the bustling underground space beneath Greenway Plaza there are coffee shops, salons, restaurants and more.

One such restaurant, Burger-Chan, was known for its unique flavors, quality product and friendly service. The restaurant consistently ranked on Alison Cook's coveted top 100 Houston restaurants list between 2016, when it opened, to the latest list in 2019, and was cited by Chron as one of the city's best affordable restaurants.

But in 2020, faced with insurmountable challenges amid a global pandemic, the restaurant was forced to close its adored underground location. Now, the popular burger joint's owners are planning its return with a brand new brick and mortar location in the Galleria.

Burger-Chan owners Diane and Willet Feng met as Asian Studies double majors at Rice University and collaborated closely to open their first restaurant.

Diane was a middle school math teacher, and while she taught, Willet was busy in the kitchen experimenting with new dishes. Once the couple decided to open a restaurant, their professional lives did a 180.

Terence Tang

I started cooking a few years after college when we lived in Seattle, Willet recalls.  ... I eventually went to culinary school and have been in the restaurant industry for 13 years now.

Flash forward to the opening of Burger-Chan, which, according to the joints website is a hybrid word combining the English word burger, short for hamburger, and the Japanese diminutive suffix expressing cuteness. On any given day, the restaurant could expect 200 orders or more, with tons of foot traffic and plenty of regulars stopping by for lunch.

When COVID-19 reached Houston, plans for their second location were scrapped and the Fengs shifted focus.

In March when the stay-at-home order went into effect, our building clientele disappeared overnight and we pivoted to make sure we remained open and running," Diane says.

Alison Cook/Staff

The couples dedication to keeping staff and customers safe during the pre-vaccine days led them to some surprising interactions with customers.

We pivoted to online ordering only. Even though people walked up to our storefront, we said we wanted to keep a safe distance, so they could use their phone and order online, Diane says. That was a bit of an inconvenience for the office clientele and we got a lot of negativity and push back. People yelled at us and dared us to pull down our masks. Willet continues, We barricaded our storefront with tables and people would squeeze through a six-inch gap to get closer to us and would jump over the tables to get to our cashier.

Willet and Diane soon saw their profits drop.

The handful of people that were visiting in person were unwilling to order online and would just go to the neighboring vendors to place their orders, Diane remembers. We added curbside orders and in-house delivery. We lost a significant number of business, but we wanted to keep our staff employed. Staff delivered meals to homes in the surrounding area and as Diane puts it, It was survival mode and we were just trying to cover payroll.

Diane Wu Feng

They partnered with organizations that paid them for meals meant for healthcare workers, and through those relationships, Burger-Chan could often look forward to orders of 100 meals per week. Wanting to support their fellow small businesses, the couple formed Food is Love, a program that highlights local food and beverage establishments that have been negatively impacted by the pandemic. Through fundraising and merchandise sales, the couple was able to support others who saw their livelihoods threatened.

We would reach out to restaurants that we knew were following COVID protocols that werent as busy and would deliver lunches to them, Diane explains. People were so focused on healthcare workers but we wanted to feed our essential industry workers too.

Over a year later, the couple is nearing the opening day of their new above-ground location.

Diane Wu Feng

We are really excited to re-open with some important staff returning, Willet says enthusiastically.

Although a firm date isnt set, the couple anticipates opening this fall.

This industry has been through a tough year, but anyone who has worked in restaurants long enough knows there are always difficulties and challenges and this [pandemic] is just another challenge, Willet says. Its a testament to not just us, but to the people who have a passion for food that want to provide something for the community.

The pandemic decimated our industry and people made a conscious effort to order our burgers more often than before to make sure we didnt disappear. We owe our survival to them, whether theyre a long time customer, a friend, family, or if theyve never even ordered from us before," Diane says, fighting back tears. "Were doing this for them. We dont want to let them down and we want to open up stronger, safely, and be able to show them we made it. Its so much more than just burgers.
Its lunchtime on a Friday and Kata Robatas head chef Manabu Horiuchi is standing in front of me brandishing a huge fish.

The red seabream, longer than Chef Horis forearm and barely contained in its plastic tub, looks like it could wave its fins and flop out of its frozen bed at any moment. And thats just how Chef Hori wants it.

We can get frozen fish, but we dont know how fresh it is, Chef Hori says, pointing out the seabreams clear eyes and lifting its gills to show the blood-red flesh underneaththe biggest indicators that this particular fish was swimming around the Pacific Ocean in very recent memory before traveling nearly 7,000 miles to grace a Kata Robata plate.

Regarded as one of the best sushi restaurants in the country, Kata Robata is well known for daily shipments of fish from Japan that are sliced into hundreds of pieces to create jewel-like nigiri, sashimi and sushi rolls.

Julie Soefer

During this particular lunch, the restaurant is packed with little sign of slowing down. Im sitting elbow to elbow at the counter with other lunch-goers, and Chef Hori has taken a moment to lean around the counter and explain how he gets this Houston restaurants fish all the way from Japan.

Kata Robatas daily output of freshly-caught Japanese seafood relies on a complex system of people and shippers cultivated by Chef Hori over the years to stock a restaurant regarded as one of the best sushi spots in the country. Its a logistical ballet85 to 90 percent of the fish on Kata Robatas daily menu were caught off the coast of Japan within the last 20 hours.



It all starts with Chef Horis fish guysa small group of people entrusted by Hori with going to Toyosu Market in Tokyo and markets in other places such as Spain and Baja California and picking freshly arrived caught fish worthy of a Kata Robata plate. Its difficult to relinquish that control, Chef Hori admits with a grimace.

We communicate every day, Chef Hori says. When I dont see the fish, I have to trust [them].

Manabu Horiuchi

The 80-100 pounds of fish selected by Horis guys are packed into Styrofoam boxes with cold packs and flown to Bush International directly from Tokyo, arriving at Kata Robata 20 hours after being caught.

It sounds simple enough, but not just any restaurant can pull it off. Chef Hori, who grew up in Japan before arriving in Houston in 1999, has spent years cultivating his relationships with suppliers. Even with the logistical complexities, hes committed to stocking fresh fish from Japan for the substantial number of people that walk through Kata Robatas doors every day.

A chef of few words, Chef Hori demonstrates how fresh this fish is by filling my plate with glistening nigiri served at a staggering pace. Japanese butterfish and sea perch. Tex-ified hamachi topped with a thin slice of jalapeno. Freshwater and saltwater eel. Toro from Spain. Uni from Hokkaido.

Courtesy: Manabu Horiuchi

And even when Japans typhoon season causes wrinkles in his supply or the pandemic has sent prices skyrocketing, Chef Hori has one hard rule when it comes to his fish.

I always tell our sales rep, if its not fresh, dont send it to us, Chef Hori says.
MIDDLETOWN  The city selected Erik Costa, a former state police lieutenant, as its new police chief Monday.

Costas nomination comes 14 months after the former head of the force, William McKenna, retired after a quarter-century of service.

In total, 15 candidates applied for the job, with a dozen making it to the interview process, Mayor Ben Florsheim said.

Costa, currently the director of campus safety at Mitchell College in New London, sees the Middletown force as one of the best in the state. His vision aligns with that of city leaders who have, especially of late, focused on guiding youth in a positive way, he said.

As such, Costa intends to form close ties with the school administration, as well as other groups working on that effort in town. We need to start guiding youth  through the way they look at the world, he said.

His goal is to create more direct programming, especially for young people, to achieve that goal.

Costa is also a proponent of community policing, and the states passage of the accountability act last October.

Im a big believer in effective programming, Costa said. Our interactions and our values as a department are to be supportive of the community and align ourselves with the community.

I think its a good opportunity to mold the department to be one of the best, which I plan for it to be, Costa said.

Costa, who now lives in Stonington but plans on relocating to Middletown, served as commanding officer of the Connecticut State Police Research, Development and Planning Unit, according to the state Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection. During his 18 years as a state trooper, he earned a Medal for Lifesaving and three Unit Citation Awards.

He was a sergeant in the Eastern District Major Crime Squad and previously was assigned to Troop D in Danielson, Troop E in Montville, and Troop F in Westbrook, as well as resident trooper in Brooklyn and Haddam, DESPP said.

He earned a bachelor of arts degree from Salve Regina University, as well as a graduate certificate in leadership.

Costas selection came highly recommended from an interview panel that included representation from both law enforcement and public safety personnel, and from the broader community, according to a press release issued by Florsheim Monday afternoon.

The new chief rose to the top of a competitive field based on the strength of his experience in law enforcement; his commitment to communication, transparency, and community engagement; and his recognition that MPDs existing strengths and its future potential are both rooted in the outstanding men and women who serve the City of Middletown as police officer, the news release said.

As a newcomer to the position of mayor in 2019, I was tremendously fortunate to inherit a police department that has come to be regarded as one of the premier law enforcement agencies in Connecticut under the leadership of Chief Bill McKenna and Deputy Chief Mike Timbro, Florsheim said in the statement.

As a newcomer to the position of chief of police, Erik will benefit from and build upon that same legacy with a new level of energy and enthusiasm, said the mayor, who added hes pleased with the new top cops vision for public safety.

Councilmen Darnell Ford and council Minority Leader Philip Pessina served on the interview panel. Pessina retired as deputy chief from the local police force in 2006.

Middletown has gained a leader in public safety who will embrace and enforce initiatives that will produce positive outcomes against racial disparities and discrimination for our youth and marginalized communities, as well as for the public at large, they said in a joint statement.

Eriks selection states loud and clear that well continue to listen and act in the best interest of safety for Middletown citizens, and the commission is looking forward to working with Chief Costa to ensure all voices are heard on matters of public safety, the councilmen said.

His appointment is subject to approval by the Common Council.
JACKSON, Mich. (AP)  Police are investigating the deaths of three men found shot to death Sunday inside a southern Michigan home that's near a state wildlife area.

Deputies with the Jackson County Sheriffs Office found the bodies of an 80-year-old man and two 70-year-old men while responding just before 6 a.m. Sunday to a reported shooting.
FORT McCOY, Wis. (AP)  Afghan refugees have begun arriving at Fort McCoy in western Wisconsin for temporary housing and support after their home country fell to the Taliban.

According to a statement from the Army base, Afghans with special immigrant visa applicants, their families and other individuals at risk began arriving at the base Sunday as part of the continuing U.S. airlift. This is in addition to Afghans currently undergoing processing at Fort Lee, Virginia. More arrivals are expected in the coming days.
NEW DELHI (AP)  Hundreds of Afghans living in India took to the streets Monday to ramp up demands for refugee status, amid growing fears in the community following the Taliban's recent takeover of Afghanistan.

They rallied outside the U.N. refugee agency's office in the capital New Delhi, chanting slogans and demanding justice and security, especially for Afghan children and women.

We were victims of war, and now we are the victims of an unclear future, read one poster.

Most of the Afghans protesting outside the U.N. office said they fled to India more than 10 years ago but are still waiting to be recognized as refugees. Many get trapped within a complex bureaucratic process to register as refugees in India, and struggle to live a dignified life, they said.

India is not a signatory to the U.N. Refugee Convention of 1951 and its 1967 Protocol.

As of 2019, Afghans accounted for about a third of the nearly 40,000 refugees registered in India, according to the U.N. refugee agency. But this figures excludes those not registered with the U.N.

Ahmad Zia Ghani, 48, an Afghan refugee who came to India 10 years ago, said not being recognized as a refugee has prevented access to even basic facilities, making his life exceedingly difficult.

Calls for formal recognition as refugees in India have intensified in recent days, as hopes for a return home held by thousands of Afghan refugees were dashed by the Talibans shockingly swift takeover of the country.

We've received nothing, Ghani said. Now we are requesting (refugee status) since Afghans dont have any chance of returning to war-torn Afghanistan under this Taliban regime.

Another protest in the capital on Monday saw dozens of Indian activists as well as Afghans gather to denounce the Taliban, as well as press for justice and asylum for Afghans fleeing the country.

Many Afghans fear the Taliban will erase the gains, especially for women, achieved in the decades since the U.S.-led invasion in 2001. When the militant group ran the country in the late 1990s, they imposed a harsh interpretation of Islamic law, forcing a sequestered life for many, particularly women and girls who were forbidden from education and most employment.

The Taliban now seek to present themselves as a more moderate force, offering amnesty to those who fought them and declaring the rights of women would be honored under Islamic law.

But for many protesting, the biggest fear remained the future of women and children. They (the Taliban) are making promises that this time, they won't do any wrong to us, said 34-year-old Tahmina Zaki, who was protesting outside the U.N. office. We don't believe that."
OSAGE BEACH, Mo. (AP)  A man from western Missouri drowned in the Lake of the Ozarks over the weekend, authorities said.

Kegri Ilu, 32, of Warrensburg, was walking along a boat dock in Darby Hollow Cove when he slipped and fell Sunday night into the water and did not resurface, Springfield television station KYTV reported.
PLYMOUTH, Ind. (AP)  The death of an 11-month-old northern Indiana girl found dead in a wooded area has been ruled a homicide, a prosecutor said Monday.

Mercedes Lain died from blunt force injuries to the head, Marshall County Prosecutor Nelson Chipman said Monday.

The babys autopsy was conducted on Friday in Fort Wayne, Chipman said.

Justin Miller, 37, of Hamlet is being held in the Marshall County Jail on a charge of neglect of a dependent resulting in death. Hes due in court Tuesday morning.

The girls body was found Wednesday evening in a densely wooded area of Starke County near the Marshall County line after Miller led officers to the site.

Mercedes parents, Kenneth Lain and Tiffany Coburn, also face neglect charges. Court records say Miller is a relative of the parents.

Chipman has said Kenneth Lain left Mercedes with Miller at a Plymouth motel Aug. 13 to babysit for the weekend so he and Coburn could have a few days break from their child." But after Miller did not bring the toddler back as planned on Sunday her parents reported her missing to police, he said.

Miller told officers he had used synthetic marijuana several times during the time he had Mercedes in his care.
MOAB, Utah (AP)  Residents of a Utah tourist town near the campsite where a newlywed couple was recently gunned down say theyre puzzled and concerned as the police investigation unfolds.

Crystal Turner and Kylen Schulte were found dead last week at a campsite near Moab, a desert town where they were living that draws visitors from around the world to its sweeping red-rock vistas.

Investigators believe someone killed the women and fled the area, KUTV reported. No firearms have yet been recovered.

We do think it was an outside party, Grand County Sheriff Steven White said.

The sheriff's office has also said there's no further danger to the public. But that leaves unanswered questions for locals now nervous to be alone.

Until they can give us more than that, we are not safe, said friend Cindy Sue Hunter. She said she ventured to the campsite after they didn't return as planned earlier this month and she called police.

Schulte's aunt Bridget Calvert previously said the couple told friends that a creepy guy was making them uncomfortable in the days prior to their deaths.

Schulte, 24, was from Billings, Montana. Her brother died in an accidental shooting in 2015, Calvert has said. Mackeon Schulte was accidently shot by a friend who was startled when he threw pebbles at the boy's window in the middle of the night.

Kylen Schulte had recently fallen in love with and married Turner, a 38-year-old from Hot Springs, Arkansas. The two were remembered with flowers and candles at a vigil Sunday at the Moonflower Community Cooperative in Moab. Hunter said the couple was beautiful inside and out.

We just had an instant connection, she said. They were just very special people.
PORTLAND, Maine (AP)  Some emergency medical service workers in Maine spoke out against a COVID-19 vaccine mandate because of concerns that it would lead to ill-timed staff shortages.

The Maine Board of Emergency Medical Services held a public hearing on the subject on Monday. Democratic Gov. Janet Mills announced new rules earlier in August that require all health care workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by Oct. 1.

Kyle Baker, a paramedic with Winthrop Ambulance Service, said there are people who are willing to walk away over the mandate. The new rules apply to firefighters and ambulance crews, as well as other health workers.

More than 600 people participated in the virtual meeting, and most who spoke were against the mandate. A common concern among the speakers who opposed the mandate was that would exacerbate emergency worker shortages.

Some speakers said they also feared burned-out workers who have complied with vaccine guidelines might quit because of an even heavier work burden.

The board later agreed to give emergency service workers an extra month to get shots, and said it wont require the shots for dispatchers or students who wont work directly with patients, the Sun Journal reported.

Mills has said the health worker mandate is about protecting health care workers, their patients, including our most vulnerable, and our health care capacity.

The debate is taking place as the state grapples with rising cases of the coronavirus.

In other pandemic news in Maine:

THE NUMBERS

The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Maine has risen over the past two weeks from 120.43 on Aug. 7 to 162.57 on Aug. 21. The seven-day rolling average of daily deaths in Maine has risen over the past two weeks from 0.14 on Aug. 7 to 2.86 on Aug. 21.

The AP is using data collected by Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering to measure outbreak caseloads and deaths across the United States.

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Monday that there have been more than 73,000 positive cases of the virus in the state since the start of the pandemic. There have also been 924 deaths.

Maine officials also reported that more than 70% of the states eligible population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Mills said the federal government's full approval of the Pfizer vaccine for coronavirus is a very welcome milestone in our battle against this pandemic, reaffirming that the vaccine is safe and highly effective.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have recommended indoor mask use in counties with high or substantial transmission of coronavirus. On Monday, the agency listed five Maine counties as high and seven as substantial. The only counties not listed in those categories were Cumberland, Sagadahoc, Kennebec and Androscoggin.

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FAIR SHOTS

A new fixture at Maine's agricultural fairs alongside the harness racing, farm animals and food is the COVID-19 vaccination clinic. And health care workers say any dose delivered is a victory.

Relatively few shots have been given so far at fairs in Skowhegan and Bangor, but many have gone to vulnerable or previously skeptical Mainers.

Craig Moore, 50, of Sumner, rolled up his sleeve at the 203rd Skowhegan State Fair.

Moore said he'd just been told by his doctor that he should get the shot because his liver condition makes him vulnerable to the virus.

You always hear about side effects, and with my liver failure, Im not sure how Ill react, he said told the Bangor Daily News. But my doctor told me I should.

Clinics will continue this fair season.

A clinic run by the University of New England School of Pharmacy and Northern Light Health gave out vaccines at the Bangor State Fair. The Union Fair that begins on Thursday will offer a clinic.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Two months ago, the leaders of the worlds seven major industrialized democracies met at the height of summer on Englands southeast coast. It was a happy occasion: the first in-person summit of the Group of Seven nations in two years due to the coronavirus pandemic and the welcomed appearance of President Joe Biden and his America is back message on matters ranging from comity to COVID-19 to climate change.

On Tuesday, those same seven leaders will meet again in virtual format confronted by a resurgence in the pandemic, more dire news on climate change and, most immediately and perhaps importantly, Afghanistan. The countrys burgeoning refugee crisis, the collapse of its government and fears of a resurgence in Afghan-based terrorism have left the G-7 allies scrambling and threaten the unity of the bloc.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the host of the Cornwall summit, is now reconvening the leaders for crisis talks on Afghanistan amid widespread unhappiness about Bidens handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal. Complaints have come from Britain, France, Germany and others in the G-7, which includes only one non-NATO member, Japan.

Despite Bidens April announcement that the U.S. would completely withdraw from Afghanistan by the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, the central Asian nation was almost an afterthought when the G-7 met in June in the English resort town of Cornwall.

COVID-19, China and climate change dominated the agenda. And expectations for Bidens impending summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin were at the top of peoples tongues.

The leaders put Afghanistan as number 57 out of 70 points in their final 25-page communique - behind Ukraine, Belarus and Ethiopia. Afghanistan didnt even feature in the one-and-a-half page summary of the document. NATO had already signed off on the U.S. withdrawal and all that appeared to be left was the completion of an orderly withdrawal and hopes for a peace deal between the Afghan government and Taliban.

We call on all Afghan parties to reduce violence and agree on steps that enable the successful implementation of a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire and to engage fully with the peace process. In Afghanistan, a sustainable, inclusive political settlement is the only way to achieve a just and durable peace that benefits all Afghans, the leaders said, without a hint of urgency.

We are determined to maintain our support for the Afghan government to address the countrys urgent security and humanitarian needs, and to help the people of Afghanistan, including women, young people and minority groups, as they seek to preserve hard-won rights and freedoms, they said.

But as summer swings into fall, those hopes have been dashed.

Johnson and others, including French President Emmanuel Macron. are pushing Biden to extend his self-imposed Aug. 31 deadline for the total withdrawal of U.S. forces in order to ensure the evacuation of all foreign nationals as well as Afghans who worked for or otherwise supported the American-led NATO operation that vanquished the Taliban in 2001 and has now accepted defeat.

On the eve of the meeting, the White House said Biden and Johnson had spoken by phone and discussed the ongoing efforts by our diplomatic and military personnel to evacuate their citizens, local staff, and other vulnerable Afghans as well as the importance of close coordination with allies and partners in managing the current situation and forging a common approach to Afghanistan policy.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said she expected questions about the Afghanistan evacuation timeline to be part the G-7 meeting. Psaki would not predict any announcements from the meeting but said the focus would be to evacuate Americans and Afghan allies as quickly as possible.

White House aides have said they think the meeting could grow contentious, as U.S. allies have looked on with disapproval at the tumultuous American drawdown.

British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace, who has called the U.S. deal with the Taliban that set the deadline a mistake, struck an almost pleading tone Monday, saying that if Biden extended the operation even by a day or two, that will give us a day or two more to evacuate people.

Senior British military officers have expressed anger over the U.S. pullout, saying it exposes the hollowness of the trans-Atlantic special relationship  a phrase used since World War II to stress the bonds of history, friendship and shared diplomatic interests between London and Washington.

And the German government is expressing impatience with the pace of the evacuation effort. Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said the majority of local staff who worked for his country in Afghanistan havent yet been gotten out and called Tuesdays G-7 meeting very important for discussing international access to the Kabul airport beyond Aug. 31.

Biden administration officials have refused to be pinned down about whether an extension is likely or even possible given the Talibans demand that all U.S. forces leave by the Aug. 31 deadline.

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AP writer Jonathan Lemire in New York contributed to this report.
ATLANTA (AP)  Former football great Herschel Walker has registered to vote in Georgia, a possible prelude to him running for U.S. Senate in 2022.

Electronic voter registration records show Walker registered last Tuesday at an Atlanta house owned by his wife, Julie Blanchard.

Former President Donald Trump has been urging Walker to run for Senate as a Republican against Democrat Raphael Warnock next year. Walker has acknowledged that he is considering a run, but has declined to discuss his plans.

The 59-year-old Walker won a Heisman Trophy as a University of Georgia running back in 1982, followed by a long pro career. He has been living in Texas, but registering to vote means he's legally attesting that he now lives in Georgia.

Warnock won a special election runoff for the Senate seat in January, giving Democrats control of Senate, but he must run again in 2022.

Georgia Republicans already running for the Senate seat include state Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black, former banking executive and Navy veteran Latham Saddler and contractor Kelvin King. Trumps support will be key in a Republican primary, but could be a liability in a general election in closely divided Georgia.

In June, Walker tweeted a video that fed speculation he would run. Titled Georgia on mind," the recording shows him revving the engine of a car with a Georgia license plate. I'm getting ready, he says. "And we can run with the big dogs.

The Associated Press has reported that Walker's ex-wife and her sister reported that he threatened his ex-wife's life, that Walker exaggerated claims about private-sector success and that he often fought with business associates.

State election officials opened an investigation into Blanchard's residency after The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that records show she voted in Georgia despite living in Texas. A case sheet obtained by the AP shows the Secretary of States office opened the investigation into Blanchard on Aug. 10. Walker is among Trump supporters who continue to repeat the president's false claim that the 2020 election was stolen from him through fraud. Election officials nationwide found no widespread fraud.
James White has been named Detroits police chief after serving since June 1 as an interim replacement for James Craig who retired and is looking at a possible run at Michigan governor.

Mayor Mike Duggan announced Monday that the job now belongs to White pending approval by the City Council.

Duggan was given three candidates to consider by the Board of Police Commissioners following a national search.

White, 53, is the latest in the line of about a dozen Detroit chiefs since 1990. Several had been forced out amid allegations of wrongdoing.

He stepped down as chair of Michigans Civil Rights Commission to take over as interim chief.

To have quit that, come back here on an interim basis knowing what he had to go through, going through the (interviewing) process like everybody else with the Board of Police Commissioners, I think it just shows how much he loves the city, how much he loves this department, Duggan said.

White joined the citys police force in 1996. During his career, he ran the Civil Rights Integrity Bureau and was a supervisor in the 6th Precinct before Craig appointed him assistant chief in 2013.

White left the police department in August 2020 to take the civil rights post.

White said in May that his top priorities would be fighting crime, with a particular focus on speeding, drifting and other traffic violations. He also said he would balance the need to uphold the law with citizens rights.

On Monday, he emphasized the importance of having a good relationship with Detroit residents.

We need the community, White told reporters. Our community deserves excellence in policing. Im going to support these officers, but Im going to require that there is excellence and a drive toward excellence in policing.

Craig announced in May that he was retiring after seven years as chief.

He was hired in 2013 by an emergency manager after the state assumed control of the financially broken city. Craig, who is Black and a native of the city, immediately set out to restore residents confidence in the Detroit Police Department, which had a history of civil rights abuses by officers against the citys mostly Black population.

Last month, Craig announced the formation of an exploratory committee to look at a run for Michigan governor as a Republican.

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Williams reported from West Bloomfield, Michigan.
AUGUSTA, Kan. (AP)  A man wounded in a police shooting near Wichita has been booked into jail on probation violations.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation said in a news release that 49-year-old Barrye Lightner, of Augusta, was taken Sunday night from Wesley Medical Center to the Sedgwick County jail.
ELLSWORTH, Maine (AP)  Maine health authorities said Monday they are still investigating an outbreak of gastrointestinal illnesses associated with a camping resort.

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention said it is aware of 32 people with symptoms within the Patten Pond Camping Resort in Ellsworth. It said the resort found E.Coli bacteria in its drinking water and put a boil water advisory in place on Aug. 17.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP)  A Pierre man has been arrested after he allegedly drove a truck into two houses in Sioux Falls, sending a homeowner to the hospital.

The Argus Leader reported the 24-year-old man failed to navigate a curb early Monday morning. He hit one house, then crashed into a second. His truck ended up in a bedroom. The 41-year-old homeowner was sleeping in the room and suffered a concussion when he was hit by debris.
ISABELLA, Minn. (AP)  Authorities ordered more evacuations Monday near a quickly spreading wildfire that's one of several burning in northeastern Minnesota.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office said the new evacuations were happening near Grouse Lake and Mitewan Lake because of the growing Greenwood Lake fire, about 15 miles (24 kilometers) southwest of the town of Isabella in the Superior National Forest. Around 50 homes and cabins were covered by the order.

The evacuations follow the clearance of more than 100 homes and cabins in the area last week. The lightning-caused fire, which was first detected Aug. 15, had burned around nearly 14 square miles (36 square kilometers) as of Monday morning, which was unchanged from Sunday. But Clark McCreedy, public information officer for the interagency team managing the fire, said there was substantial fire growth Monday afternoon.

Th Greenwood Lake fire is one of several fires burning within the Superior National Forest. They prompted the closure of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Saturday for the first time in 45 years. Authorities said the closure allows crews to focus on existing and new fires and not camper safety. Rangers continued Monday to paddle and hike out to visitors in the vast wilderness area to alert them of the closure, which is scheduled to run at least through Friday.

Meanwhile, firefighters were working Monday to contain a dozen large northern California wildfires that have destroyed hundreds of homes and forced thousands of people to flee to safety. And a wildfire thats burned about 200 acres on Michigans remote Isle Royale prompted the National Park Service to close some trails and campground areas on the wilderness island in Lake Superior.

The Greenwood Lake fire was threatening to cross Minnesota Highway 1, an east-west route through the forest that connects Ely with Lake Superior near Silver Bay. The highway had been closed near the fire as a precaution since last week. Also closed is Lake County Highway 2, which the fire jumped Friday.

A new Red Cross evacuation center was opened at the ice arena in Babbitt, well west of the fire, to complement one set up last week in the town of Finland, safely east of the fire.

The Forest Service said it brought in local contract loggers on Monday to work on fuel break projects at key locations to help stop the fire's spread.

The main worry that led to the Boundary Waters closure was the separate John Ek fire, which has burned about 800 acres (324 hectares) within the wilderness since it was detected Aug. 14. It was caused by a lightning strike south of Little Saganaga Lake. Because it's difficult to access by land or water, no crews are directly fighting it, save for some aerial water drops.

Forest Supervisor Connie Cummins elaborated Monday on her decisions to close the BWCA, saying in a video posted to social media that drought conditions have continued to worsen to levels we have not seen to date.

Its not a decision I make easily, Cummins said, acknowledging the impacts to businesses, visitors whove spent months planning trips and forest employees who've come to help from all over the country. The decision will be re-evaluated daily she said, and some areas may reopen sooner than others.
TRENTON, N.J. (AP)  New Jersey will be getting a significant'" but so far unspecified number of Afghan refugees imminently, Gov. Phil Murphy said Monday.

Murphy spoke during an unrelated news conference in Trenton and said he spoke with military officials over the last couple of days. They are taking charge of the effort to bring the Afghans to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

We will welcome Afghan refugees with open arms here in New Jersey at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, Murphy said in a tweet. Our state has always served as a shining beacon of hope to the world, and we will do everything in our power to help these refugees rebuild their lives.

The Defense Department will mostly be overseeing their transfer from Dulles Airport to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in the pine barrens, Murphy said.

Murphy said the state would do whatever it can to help, but he said it was likely that COVID-19 screenings and vaccinations would take place elsewhere.

U.S. Northern Command said in a tweet that the Defense Department approved a State Department request for temporary housing and support at the Joint Base for Afghan special immigrant visa applicants, their families and other vulnerable Afghans.

Afghans are being airlifted out the country after the Taliban's swift takeover, while across the U.S., Americans are scrambling to help fleeing Afghans.

Murphy said his administration raised our hand to help, but it's unclear how the state will be assisting. It's also too early to say for how long the Afghans will be in New Jersey, he said.
AIKEN, S.C. (AP)  Workers at a county jail in South Carolina had to call state officials for help Sunday after one unruly inmate triggered a large disturbance, authorities said.

About 50 inmates were involved in what Aiken County jail workers called a riot. No inmates or jail employees were injured, Sheriff's Office Capt. Eric Abdullah told media outlets.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  Tens of thousands of North Carolina residents convicted of felonies but whose current punishments don't include prison time can register to vote and cast ballots, a judicial panel declared Monday.

Several civil rights groups and ex-offenders who sued legislative leaders and state officials in 2019 argue the current 1973 law is unconstitutional by denying the right vote to people who have completed their active sentences or received no such sentence, such as people on probation. They said the rules disproportionately affect Black residents and originated from an era of white supremacy in the 19th century.

In a brief hearing following a trial last week challenging the state's voting restrictions upon felons, Superior Court Judge Lisa Bell said two judges on the three-judge panel have agreed they would issue a formal order soon allowing more felony offenders to register. The judges are acting before issuing a final trial ruling, as voting in October municipal elections begins next month.

Roughly 56,000 more people would now be allowed to vote, based on estimates. One lawyer said it represents the largest expansion of North Carolina voting rights since the 1960s.

When I heard the ruling, I wanted to run in the street and tell everybody that now you have a voice, said Diana Powell with Justice Served NC, a Raleigh-based community group that sued. I am so excited for this historic day.

Current law says felons can register to vote once they complete all aspects of their sentence, including probation and parole. With the upcoming order, felons who only must complete these punishments that have no element of incarceration can register. The decision also would apply to people convicted of a federal felony but whose current punishment is probation.

A lawyer for House Speaker Tim Moore, who is a defendant along with Senate leader Phil Berger and the State Board of Elections, said an appeal to block the panel's preliminary injunction will be filed.

Moore attorney Sam Hayes called Mondays decision an absurd ruling that flies in the face of our constitution and further casts doubt on election integrity in North Carolina.

The defendants also could appeal any final ruling from the judges that expands restored voting rights moving forward to the 2022 elections, which include a U.S. Senate seat. An uptick in voter rolls stands to affect races in the closely partisan-divided state. There are 7.1 million registered voters in North Carolina.

Last year, the same judges ruled a portion of the law requiring felons to pay all monetary obligations  likes fines and restitution  before voting again was unenforceable because it made voting dependent on ones financial means. That allowed more people to vote last November.

Now, if a person can just say, I am not in jail or prison for a felony conviction, then that person can register and they can vote freely, said Stanton Jones, one of the plaintiffs lawyers.

Bell, the panel's chief judge, said Monday that the majority's reasoning for the injunction would be explained in their order. The state election board said Monday was its deadline to change registration forms for the fall, and that county boards must immediately begin to permit these individuals to register.

Dennis Gaddy, co-founder of Community Success Initiative, a Raleigh-based organization that helps ex-prisoners and another plaintiff, said his group and others would have a statewide registration drive.

The wait is over, and Im excited to be a part of this transformation, said Gaddy, who was once behind bars and unable to vote for seven years after his release because he was on probation.

The North Carolina Constitution forbids a person convicted of a felony from voting unless that person shall be first restored to the rights of citizenship in the manner prescribed by law. The 1973 law, approved by a Democratic-controlled General Assembly and written in large part by Black legislators, eased restoration requirements.

A plaintiffs witness testified last week that felony disenfranchisement had origins from a Reconstruction-era effort to intentionally prevent Black residents from voting. Now more than 42% of the felony offenders on probation or supervision and who are disenfranchised are Black, according to a court document.

Legislative leaders acknowledged in a legal brief that for much of the states history, felony disenfranchisement was used to exclude African Americans from voting. But they said there was no evidence the 1973 law was motivated by discriminatory intent  rather, it treats all offenders the same.

Sen. Warren Daniel of Burke County, a top Republican on election issues, portrayed the upcoming order as judicial overreach: If a judge prefers a different path to regaining those rights, then he or she should run for the General Assembly and propose that path.

Twenty states automatically restore voting rights for convicted felons when they are released from prison, while about 15 restore those rights upon completion of their sentence, including probation and parole, according to the Brennan Center for Justice.
Northwest corner town officials were taking stock Monday as Tropical Storm Henry continued to dump inches of rain around the state  4 to 8 inches in some areas  but said the area largely escaped serious damage.

Theres been nothing significant reported, said Torrington Police Chief William Baldwin. But people still need to pay attention to local weather forecasts, and reports on local road conditions.

Obviously, dont dont travel over water-covered roads  if you see a flooded area, dont drive through it, Baldwin said. More problems or issues might come up because its still raining. And if you see someone stranded with their four-way flashers on, notify your local authorities for assistance, so we can help them.

Baldwin also noted that people still needed to take storm warnings seriously.

I worry about people not taking the next warning seriously because of this, he said. We have to take each one seriously. Even though this didnt produce what was expected, we re not going to dodge a bullet every time. We have to be ready for the next one, too.

Torrington Mayor Elinor Carbone said she met with police, fire, ambulance and public works staff early Monday for a conference call with state officials, and police, fire, Trinity Ambulance and public works were working together to deploy resources for felled trees, downed lines and flooding.

Even our CERT volunteer Chris Beyus dropped by to assist logging in the calls. A big debt of gratitude goes out to this team, Carbone said.

According to Al Lara, media relations specialist at Eversource, Litchfield County fared much better during Tropical Storm Henri than had been expected.

Most of the towns in Litchfield County reported power outages in the single and double digits, according to Lara, as of Sunday night.

When the storm came up to Litchfield County, it had lost a great deal of its energy and it had become strictly a rain event, Lara said. Once it really got that far to the state, it really had no longer posed a risk for us in terms of damage caused by wind.

He added, Honestly, we thought we were going to be rebuilding you guys about 24 hours ago.

Kent First Selectwoman Jean Speck said the area was lucky with the way the storm tracked as it made landfall. The storm made landfall in Rhode Island Sunday afternoon.

Im grateful our community took preparedness efforts seriously during pre-landfall  its a great reminder of how important it is to always be prepared as we continue through hurricane season, she said.

She added each time there is report of a possible weather-related incident, many groups and individuals are responsible for ensuring the safety of residents.

I want to thank all of our emergency management partners that come together in these large events, Speck said.

Speck noted there is an enormous amount of planning and work that goes on behind the scenes ahead of these events and they work together to help keep our residents safe.

She said this included emergency department leaders , who do a great job utilizing so many resources to get the best data available to guide overall planning and coordination during these events, and are heavily engaged with State DEMHS partners.

Also, she said, there was Eversource and all the utilities. to the Community Emergency Response Team that was already leaning forward to stand up and staff a charging/cooling station and the Kent Volunteer Fire Department team, who performed equipment checks and scheduled officers. as well as the EMS team who reached out to our staffing company to ensure staff, and reviewed wellness check plans for our most vulnerable residents.

Torrington Fire Department Lt. Mark Garrison and his team were called out to Friendly Hands Food Bank, which had some inside flooding. We got it taken care of, Garrison said.

We had a clogged gutter, of all things, and it just rerouted that water, and it started coming in through the floor, said food bank Executive Director Karen Thomas. We moved the freezers out of the way and got it cleaned up. Nothing was lost, so its all OK.

The fire department was awesome, they took care of it, Thomas said. They were there five minutes after we called them.

Garrison said it was relatively quiet at about noontime. The roads dont appear to be busy, he said. Its little lighter today for a Monday.

Lara said that, as far as road blocks and downed wires, in Torrington, Norfolk Road at Brady Hill Road was blocked by a fallen tree that took wires down. Additionally, a fallen tree took down wires at South Main Strett at Lincoln Avenue and Scoville Street.

In Barkhamsted, a tree that fell on wires also blocked Route 219 at the Hartland town line, Lara said.

He said that the reason the storm meandered, is that hurricanes and tropical storms feed off warmth, and once the storm got into cold waters, it started losing energy.

It just lumbered and then the greatest risk was that it wasnt going anywhere and it was just going to rain on the state for a few days and completely water log us, he said. But in the end it finally went back to the original forecast that most people were talking about four or five days ago  and that was a storm coming in from the southeast.
RALSTON, Neb. (AP)  Students and staff at Ralstons middle school and high schools in suburban Omaha are now required to wear masks following new cases of COVID-19 in the district, officials announced.

Ralston Public Schools announced the change Sunday, saying the policy applies to staff members and students from seventh- through 12th grades, the Omaha World-Herald reported. Masking will be required through Sept. 16, when district officials will review the policy. Masks will be available at the schools for students who do not have one.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The lightning-fast changes in Afghanistan are forcing the Biden administration to confront the prospect of a resurgent al-Qaida, the group that attacked America on Sept. 11, 2001, at the same time the U.S. is trying to stanch violent extremism at home and cyberattacks from Russia and China.

With the rapid withdrawal of U.S. forces and rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan, I think al-Qaida has an opportunity, and theyre going to take advantage of that opportunity," says Chris Costa, who was senior director for counterterrorism in the Trump administration.

This is a galvanizing event for jihadists everywhere.

Al-Qaida's ranks have been significantly diminished by 20 years of war in Afghanistan, and it's far from clear that the group has the capacity in the near future to carry out catastrophic attacks on America such as the 9/11 strikes, especially given how the U.S. has fortified itself in the past two decades with surveillance and other protective measures.

But a June report from the U.N. Security Council said the group's senior leadership remains present inside Afghanistan, along with hundreds of armed operatives. It noted that the Taliban, who sheltered al-Qaida fighters before the Sept. 11 attacks, remain close, based on friendship, a history of shared struggle, ideological sympathy and intermarriage.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby acknowledged Friday that al-Qaida remains a presence in Afghanistan, though quantifying it is hard because of a reduced intelligence-gathering capability in the country and because it's not like they carry identification cards and register somewhere.

Even inside the country, al-Qaida and the Taliban represent only two of the urgent terrorism concerns, as evidenced by unease about the potential for Islamic State attacks against Americans in Afghanistan that over the weekend forced the U.S. military to develop new ways to get evacuees to the airport in Kabul. The Taliban and IS have fought each other in the past, but the worry now is that Afghanistan could again be a safe harbor for multiple extremists determined to attack the U.S. or other countries.

President Joe Biden has spoken repeatedly of what he calls an over-the-horizon capability that he says will enable the U.S. to keep track of terrorism threats from afar. His national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, told reporters Monday that Biden has been clear that counterterrorism capabilities have evolved to the point where the threat can be suppressed without a strong boots-on-the-ground presence. He said the intelligence community does not believe al-Qaida currently has the capability to attack the U.S.

The U.S. is also presumably anticipating that strengthened airport screening and more sophisticated surveillance can be more effective than 20 years ago in thwarting an attack. But experts worry that intelligence-gathering capabilities needed as an early-warning system against an attack will be negatively affected by the troop withdrawal.

An added complication is the sheer volume of pressing national security threats that dwarf what the U.S. government was confronting before the Sept. 11 attacks. These include sophisticated cyber operations from China and Russia that can cripple critical infrastructure or pilfer sensitive secrets, nuclear ambitions in Iran and an ascendant domestic terrorism threat laid bare by the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

FBI Director Chris Wray has described that home-grown threat as metastasizing, with the number of arrests of white supremacists and racially motivated extremists nearly tripling since his first year on the job.

My concern is that you cant compare 2001 to today, said Bruce Hoffman, a terrorism expert at Georgetown University. There's a much vaster and better organized bureaucracy, he said, but it's burdened with demands not specifically tied to terrorism.

Hoffman said that although he didn't think al-Qaida would be able to quickly use Afghanistan as a launchpad for attacks against the U.S., it may re-establish its coordinating function in the region to work with and encourage strikes by its affiliates  a patient strategy that may yet be vindicated.

Terrorist groups dont conform to train timetables or flight schedules, Hoffman said. They do things when it suits them and, as al-Qaida was doing, they quietly lay the foundation in hopes that that foundation will eventually affect or determine their success."

The concern is resonant enough that Biden administration officials told Congress last week that, based on the evolving situation, they now believe terror groups like al-Qaida may be able to grow much faster than expected. In June, the Pentagons top leaders said an extremist group like al-Qaida may be able to regenerate in Afghanistan and pose a threat to the U.S. homeland within two years of the American militarys withdrawal.

The Sept. 11 attacks made al-Qaida the most internationally recognizable terror group, but in the past decade at least, the most potent threat inside the U.S. has come from individuals inspired by the Islamic State, resulting in deadly massacres like the ones in San Bernardino, California, and Orlando.

But al-Qaida hardly disappeared. U.S. authorities alleged last year that a Saudi gunman who killed three U.S. sailors at a military base in Florida in 2019 had communicated with al-Qaida operatives about planning and tactics. Last December, the Justice Department charged a Kenyan man with trying to stage a 9/11-style attack on the U.S. on behalf of the terrorist organization al-Shabab, which is linked to al-Qaida.

Now it's possible that other extremists will find themselves inspired by al-Qaida, even if not directed by it.

Until recently, I would have said that the threat from al-Qaida core is pretty modest. They didnt have safe haven in Afghanistan, their senior leadership was scattered," said Nathan Sales, former coordinator for counterterrorism at the State Department.

But, now with the Taliban back in control, all of that could change and could change very rapidly.

____

Follow Eric Tucker on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/etuckerAP
CONCORD, N.H. (AP)  A New Jersey man allegedly strangled one person and killed another with multiple chop wounds in a double homicide at a New Hampshire hotel, the New Hampshire attorney generals office said Monday.

Theodore Luckey, 42, of Asbury Park, New Jersey, was arrested over the weekend on second-degree murder and being a felon in possession of a deadly weapon charges. Police responding to multiple 911 calls went to the Country Inn and Suites hotel in Bedford at about 7 p.m. Saturday where they found two dead men, one in the lobby and one in a guest room.
HANOI, Vietnam (AP)  Vietnams largest metropolis, Ho Chi Minh City, went into a tightened lockdown Monday to battle its worst outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, just a day ahead of the arrival of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris on a state visit.

The city has mobilized police and army troops to enforce the lockdown and to deliver food as well as necessities to each household, city authorities announced. Under the stricter measures imposed for at least two weeks, people in high risk districts are not allowed to leave their homes.

People must absolutely stay put, isolate from each other, from house to house, from community to community, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said when the new restrictions were announced last week.

On Sunday evening, just hours before the intensified lockdown went into effect, the ministry reported 737 virus deaths, its highest single-day total, increasing the death toll since the pandemic began to 8,277, most in the southern region.

Harris is scheduled to hold talks with Vietnamese leaders including Chinh on the COVID-19 situation, as well as regional security issues and economic cooperation, the state-owned Tuoi Tre newspaper reported.

Her visit will be to the capital, Hanoi, which is more than 1,100 kilometers (700 miles) north of Ho Chi Minh City but is also under lockdown.

Vietnam managed to keep the infection rate relatively low up until April this year, with only 35 deaths. Last year it was praised for keeping the virus under control, an accomplishment generally attributed to the discipline of being a single-party communist state with tight controls at all levels.

But with the spread of the delta variant of the virus, the country is experiencing its worst outbreak by far, with more than half of the countrys 98 million population under lockdown orders.

The visit by Harris to boost bilateral relations is sure to spotlight the aid Washington has been able to offer Vietnam during the health crisis.

The U.S. has been Vietnams largest donor of vaccines, sending 5 million doses of Moderna. Separately, Vietnam has signed commercial agreements with American vaccine makers Moderna and Pfizer to secure at least 80 million doses of vaccine toward its effort to inoculate 70% of the population with at least one shot by the first quarter of next year.

Like many of its Southeast Asian neighbors, Vietnam has been lagging in vaccinating its population, and has administered 17.5 million jabs to date. However, about 60% of people over 18 years old in Ho Chi Minh City have received at least one shot.

Since the latest wave began at the end of April, Vietnam has reported 344,000 confirmed cases, with Ho Chi Minh City and neighboring Binh Duong province accounting for most of the new infections.

By asking people to remain in their homes, authorities expect to flatten the current surge of cases.

Ho Chi Minh City and the entire southern region of Vietnam had already been in lockdown since July when the delta variant started to spread rapidly. Public gatherings were banned, non-essential businesses closed and people were asked to leave their homes only to buy food or for urgent matters.

It is hoped the new severe restrictions in Ho Chi Minh City will bring down the infection rate among its 10 million residents and ease the pressure on its overloaded hospitals.

Since June, the city has set up over a dozen temporary hospitals to treat COVID-19 patients, but the high number of active cases means thousands of other patients are still not able to be hospitalized.

According to the Health Ministry, some 19,000 virus patients with mild symptoms have been asked to stay home and get medical assistance from teams of mobile doctors in their communities.

During a visit by U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin last month, the United States committed to donate 77 ultra-low temperature freezers to help Vietnam store and distribute vaccines.

According to the U.S. Agency for International Development, USAID, the country has pledged over $20 million dollars in virus-related assistance to Vietnam.

Harris is scheduled to attend the inauguration in Hanoi of an office of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, better known as the CDC. It will also serve as the CDCs regional office for Southeast Asia to deal with issues involving infectious diseases.
Tim Fischer/Midland Reporter-Telegram

The fall one-week intersession that is part of the new Midland ISD calendar will not be optional for students that failed state accountability tests.

Midland ISD Superintendent Angelica Ramsey let parents know of the policy change in her weekly letter that was emailed Friday. Ramsey wrote that during the intersession week, MISD will provide targeted academic interventions to accelerate the learning and academic growth of identified students. Students who previously did not pass the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) will be required to attend.
Ive always wanted to work in a hospital and be involved in the process to save lives, Jordan Weathermon said. However, I didnt realize how truly rewarding this would feel until I was part of the NICU [Neonatal Intensive Care Unit] team while I was serving as a respiratory therapist intern. I was able to help a human at the start of life. I remember going home thinking that I played a part in ensuring this person will lead a normal life.

Weathermon recently graduated from Midland College with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Respiratory Care this past May.

I didnt immediately choose respiratory care as my career field when I graduated from Permian High School, he explained. I first went to UTPB [University of Texas Permian Basin] for two years. At the time, I thought I would major in kinesiology. As I got older, I realized that I wanted to have a career that helped people in a more hands-on approach. So, I spent 12 hours shadowing various medical personnel at Medical Center Hospital and observed how the respiratory therapists are experts in their field. Nurses and doctors rely on them to be the experts in breathing therapeutics. I did some research on schools that offered training to become a respiratory therapist, and fortunately, there was a program close to home at Midland College.

Weathermon began taking classes at Midland College in August of 2019 while also working approximately 40 hours per week in the retail industry. He also maintained a 3.7 GPA while attending school full-time.

I had to stay focused on my schoolwork, he said. Fortunately, I had great instructors. The program chair during my first year at Midland College was Bob Weidmann. He was great and had the program laid out well. He retired in spring 2020, and I was a little worried about the future of the program. I just couldnt see anyone as great as Bob stepping in to fill his shoes. Bob was incredible and full of knowledge. I remember being frightened and sad that I wouldnt be able to spend my last year in the program soaking in all of his knowledge.

However, the new program chair, Kally Eddison, is every bit as good. She does a phenomenal job and is full of energy. She did everything she needed to do to get us up to speed during the pandemic and ready to assume professional careers. She and the Clinical Director Stan Middleton make a great team.

All three of these people  Bob, Kally and Stan -- are experts in the field of respiratory care. They provide a lot of information and present it in an easy-to-understand way. The program also provides great hands-on skills training.

In November 2020, during his last year in the program, Weathermon was hired part-time as a paid respiratory therapist intern at Midland Memorial Hospital. As such, he was able to assist with patient care in coordination with licensed therapists. Weathermon has been able to work with several patients who were suffering from breathing-related issues resulting from COVID.

As awful as COVID is, it presented a great learning experience for me, he said. It also made me realize that I chose a career where I can be on the front lines and a valuable member of the patient care team.

Weathermon is now a fully licensed respiratory therapist and is still working at Midland Memorial Hospital. As such, he works 36 hours per week and prefers the 7 p.m.-7 a.m. shift.

There is a great team of professionals who work the night shift, he explained. When I am called into a patients room in the evening, it is usually quieter; there arent as many people in the room. Most of the time, its just the patient and me, and I can really work one-on-one with the patient.

Weathermon said that another reason he enjoys the night shift is that his girlfriend Lili Tran, a nurse in the Intensive Care Unit, also works the same shift. When the couple have time off, they enjoy traveling and hiking. They have been on hiking trips throughout Texas and Colorado, and they especially enjoy the northwest United States. Weathermon said that one day they hope to travel to Japan, Korea and Singapore.

--

Rebecca Bell is the executive director of Institutional Advancement at Midland College
Florida, FL (34429)

Today

Thunderstorms likely. High 79F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms this evening becoming more widespread overnight. Low 74F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Locally heavy rainfall possible.
Do I need a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) to enter Canada? A Temporary Resident Permit may be needed for your upcoming trip to Canada.

Do I need a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) to enter Canada? A Temporary Resident Permit may be needed for your upcoming trip to Canada.

Do I need a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) to enter Canada? A Temporary Resident Permit may be needed for your upcoming trip to Canada. Matt Hendler Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

Sans Font Size A

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Are you planning to come to Canada t?

You may have issues in doing so if you have been charged or convicted of a criminal offence. Even such as theft, driving under the influence and assault can be an issue and result in a person being considered inadmissible to Canada.

Click here to get a free consultation with the Law Firm of Campbell Cohen: +1 (888) 947-9445

The Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) serves people with criminal inadmissibility issues as a temporary solution to enter Canada. Its purpose is to grant access to travelers who plan to come to Canada for a significant reason. Tourism generally will not count. Canadian immigration officials are more likely to accept worker, study, or family reasons.

To apply for a TRP you will need to submit an application that both explains your criminal history  and why you deserve to come to Canada. You will have to include supporting documents such as background checks, court documents and proof of your reason for entering Canada.

American citizens, or people with permanent resident status in the U.S can submit their TRP application at a Canadian consulate or any port of entry (POE)  whether by land, sea or air. Non-Americans must apply at a Canadian consulate to have their TRP application processed. The Canadian Government charges a $200 CAD processing fee for all TRP applications, no matter which way you apply.

Click here to get a free consultation with the Law Firm of Campbell Cohen: +1 (888) 947-9445

Although applying for TRPs through a Canadian consulate involves significant processing time (3-6 months), it is considered the best approach for foreign nationals. This is because a decision will be made by an experienced immigration officer who understands the many reasons why your visit could be justified. This is also the best approach because it takes any of the guesswork out of the equation. You will know in advance of your trip if you are allowed into the country.

Canadian port of entries includes airports, land crossings or sea entry points  essentially, at any place where a passport would be required to enter the country. The advantage of applying at a POE is immediate processing. A Canadian immigration officer will consider and process, right then and there, the application. The officer will balance the persons need to enter Canada against the health and security risks to the Canadian population. Officers often decide on temporary resident permit applications at POEs in a manner of minutes.

The main disadvantage of applying for a TRP at a port of entry is the uncertainty. You wont know whether your application will be approved or denied by the immigration officer that reviews your application until the day you try to enter Canada. In many cases, this can lead to some very unexpected and unpleasant situations.

Both the temporary resident permit (TRP) and criminal rehabilitation applications can be submitted with or without legal representation.

Applications for a TRP are often difficult to understand. This can be the case both for the person applying and for the officer who is reviewing the application. Often, an application that is potentially acceptable in most cases is denied simply because the applicant did not provide the proper documents and explanations. The function of a TRP application is to argue that you need to enter Canada and do not pose a risk to Canadians. Although not required, an experienced lawyer can be helpful in the preparation of this argument.

If it has been less than 5 years since completing your sentence or you believe you may be inadmissible and require entering Canada soon, the TRP may be a helpful solution. A Canadian immigration law firm can be a valuable resource when an individual is exploring entry into Canada with criminal history, and even more so in preparing an application for future entry.

Click here to get a free consultation with the Law Firm of Campbell Cohen: +1 (888) 947-9445

 CIC News All Rights Reserved. Discover your Canadian immigration options at CanadaVisa.com.
Wilkes-Barre, PA (18701)

Today

Periods of rain. Rain becoming heavy at times this afternoon. Potential for flooding rains. High 68F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 3 to 5 inches of rain expected..

Tonight

Heavy rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers overnight. Low 57F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected. Localized flooding is expected.
Last Sunday, in the hours after Kabul fell to the Taliban, swathes of the mainstream US news media instantly savaged President Biden for losing Afghanistan. In the week since then, he has stayed under an intense spotlight. News organizations have disputed the accuracy of many of his claims about the situation on the grounda credibility gap, Politicos Playbook newsletter wrote over the weekend, that is dominating the coverage right now and could threaten Bidens standing with the public. The credibility-gap narrative has extended overseas, with American commentators and foreign outlets alike stating that Biden has taken a wrecking ball to global perceptions of US prestige and reliability. Our allies are furious, Andrea Mitchell, chief Washington correspondent at NBC News, said on Meet the Press yesterday. We have destroyed morale that [Biden] was rebuilding. I mean, it is a real problem for Americas leadership abroad. Where doubts as to truthfulness and American world leadership go, Trump comparisons surely follow. The withdrawal has undercut some of the most fundamental premises of Mr. Bidens presidency, Peter Baker wrote in a New York Times news analysis piece on Fridaythat unlike his erratic, self-absorbed predecessor, he brought foreign policy seasoning, adults-in-the-room judgment and a surfeit of empathy to the Oval Office.

This framingand the wider media frenzy over Afghanistanhas annoyed the White House. According to CNNs Brian Stelter, Biden aides view the coverage as overheated and out of step with the American publics views of the withdrawal, points echoed by his political allies. The media tends to bend over backwards to both-sides all of their coverage, but they made an exception for this, Eric Schultz, who served in the Obama administration, told HuffPost. As a Democrat, Im very relieved and encouraged and heartened that the White House knows theyre speaking to the country, not just Playbook subscribers. That the White House would be irked by critical coverage is not a surpriseand the public mood is not a reliable assignment editor for the press. Still, the outraged moral tone coursing through much of the coverage does indeed seem out of step with mainstream news organizations traditional self-conception: that they are disinterested chroniclers of the truth. As regular readers of this newsletter will know, I am no fan of that self-conception. Whats jarring here, rather, is the apparent inconsistency: these same outlets regularly cover suffering overseasor, very often, hardly cover it at allwithout the indignant editorializing. This has been true, in the all-too-recent past, of Afghanistan coverage. It is arguably true, in the present, of Haiti, where urgent health and political crises were further compounded by an earthquake that struck the day before the fall of Kabul, and has since been almost totally overshadowed by the latter story in the news cycle, despite some solid reporting from the ground. No American action directly precipitated the earthquake. But America is complicit enough in Haitis other crises that the story hardly exists in a separate moral sphere to the Afghanistan story. The issue here, perhaps, is not that the latter is overheated so much as other stories are underheated. In coverage of cruelty abroad, the double standard is the point.

Related: The journalists leaving Afghanistan, and those who havent made it out

In recent days, the likes of Matthew Yglesias and Hunter Walker have made the case that major US outlets will focus on humanitarian crises only when doing so, as Yglesias put it, is complementary to aggressive use of American military force. Others have pushed back, arguing that many reporters have worked closely with Afghans on the ground, and so are personally invested in their safety. This argument is wholly understandablebut it doesnt resolve the double-standard problem; as with the public mood, the direct investment of Western journalists is not an adequate gauge of moral righteousness. Nor does it, in itself, defeat the Yglesias/Walker argument. As many observers have noted in recent days, the outrage in coverage has not only been driven by war reporters with track records of paying close attention to Afghanistan, but by Washington-based politicians and national-security pundits with well-established hawkish viewsand in some cases, as The Intercept has reported, ongoing professional and financial ties to the military-industrial complex. Major outlets have treated such figures as expert observers, not as subjects with their own, deep complicity in the Afghanistan mess. Longtime opponents of military intervention, by contrast, have been much less visible.

Senior journalists have frequently argued that criticizing the execution of the withdrawal is not the same as advocating Forever War. This position makes sense, on its face; there is much to criticize in the withdrawal that is squarely on Biden, and there are undoubtedly many critics out there who are making such points without a hidden, bellicose agenda. Again, however, a double standard shows the limits of this positionnamely, that the overall level of media focus on the withdrawal has massively dwarfed its focus on any number of prior horrors in Afghanistan that reflected poorly on the US military presence, rather than its absence. Even if you accept that the withdrawal is objectively a bigger story than such horrorsand thats a big ifit doesnt explain why so much current coverage is so lacking, as I wrote last week, in the basic context of how we got to this disastrous point. The news deals primarily in whats new, but in this case, history isnt some luxury that would have been nice to include if we had more time, but an essential, fundamental part of the story. You cannot honestly coverlet alone criticizethe execution of the withdrawal without addressing the execution of the entire war. In neglecting the latter, news outlets are, as New Yorks Eric Levitz put it last week, helping hawks recast an indictment of martial adventurism into an object lesson in the hazards of military restraint.

Another strand of context has often been missing from coverage, toothat Bidens withdrawal reflects a radical, possibly generational, redefinition of Americas role in the world, and that this demands serious media engagement, whether you agree with it or not. This redefinition started, arguably, under Trump, who it made it easier for the liberal press to dismiss it as unserious: Trumps isolationist vision was inseparable from his racism and nativism, and besides, pundits assured us, Trump was an aberration from the finest traditions of American global leadership. When Biden won, these pundits hailed a return to the status quo ante; in many ways, this was fairunlike Trump, Biden does prize cooperation with US alliesbut it also misread how Biden would define the boundaries of that engagement. Biden is altogether harder to dismiss than Trump, and some good coverage in the past week has, indeed, engaged seriously on an intellectual level with his worldview. Other coverage has discredited Biden by lazy Trumpian association, writing off the withdrawal as the sort of awful thing the last guy would have done.

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One month after Trump took office, Bill OReilly, then of Fox, asked him about Vladimir Putin, referring to Putin as a killer. Weve got a lot of killers, Trump replied. You think our countrys so innocent? Trumps remarks were grist, at the time, for the frenzied Russia news cycle, and sections of the press savaged him, not unfairly, for excusing Putins behavior. At root, though, they communicated a deeper truth about Americas behavior on the world stageperhaps the most profound of a presidency defined by thousands of lies. Contrary to the narrative of total, America First isolationism, Trumps actions, in office, were often militaristicnot least early last year, when he assassinated Qassem Suleimani, Irans top general. The mainstream coverage of that episode was not perfectbut on the whole, it channeled broader skepticism than weve come to expect about the limits of military force, in no small part because such a notoriously reckless and dishonest president was the one administering it.

As I wrote at the time, a key challenge, going forward, would be for the press to apply at least this level of attention and skepticism to future administrations, since governments of all stripes routinely lie about war. Biden is no exception to this, and his demonstrable falsehoods about the situation on the ground deserve, urgently, to be called out. In his recent interviews and speeches, though, Biden has also been startlingly candid about how he sees the limits of American forcehonesty that pundits have sometimes written off as a deficit of empathy. Again, you dont have to agree with what hes saying to understand its importance for American foreign policy. Many reporters and pundits, it seems, would rather stick their fingers in their ears.

Below, more on Afghanistan:



Other notable stories:

ICYMI: Journalism failed in Afghanistan too

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, Foreign Policy, and The Nation, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop.
The remains of Tropical Depression Henri are drenching the U.S. Northeast with heavy rain, leaving floods and power outages as it makes its way across New England and out to sea.

The storm has saturated the region for two days, bringing record rain to New York City. Central Park got 7.12 inches through Sunday and saw its all-time rainiest hour late Saturday, the National Weather Service said. Minor and moderate flooding was occurring across northern New Jersey and southern New York, with some communities ordering evacuations Sunday.

There will be continue heavy rainfall concerns for today, said Bryan Jackson, a forecaster at the U.S. Storm Prediction Center. It is stalled over southeast New York and isnt going to move much until midday.

A separate storm dumped heavy rain across western and central Tennessee late Friday and into Saturday, dropping as much as 17 inches in McEwen, a small town west of Nashville, said Brian Hurley, a senior branch forecaster at the U.S. Weather Prediction Center. At least 22 people died in the floods, according to the Associated Press. Others are missing.

What we have unfolding right now is a very tragic and difficult situation, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee said Sunday in a televised briefing. Tremendous loss of life, a number of missing people on the ground, homes washed off their foundations, cars strewn around the community, it is devastating picture of loss and heart ache.

Henri, which made landfall in Westerly, Rhode Island, Sunday as a tropical storm, will dump an additional of 1 to 3 inches (2.5 to 8 centimeters) of rain, with higher amounts possible over portions of Long Island, New England, southeast New York, New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania, the National Hurricane Center said in an advisory.

The flood threat has not yet ended! the National Weather Services New York office warned in a tweet.

Flood warnings and watches stretch from eastern Pennsylvania to southern New Hampshire, the weather service said, but the sun will return to Manhattan Tuesday as temperatures climb to almost 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 Celsius).

A high pressure ridge across the Canadian Maritimes has pinned Henri over New York, but the weather log-jam will break up as that wave crosses Ontario into Quebec and gets the weather patterns moving again, Jackson said.

About 50,000 homes and businesses are still without electricity in Rhode Island and Connecticut, according to Poweroutage.us, which tracks utility outages.

More than 1,100 flights were cancelled Sunday as Henri roared across southern New England. As of Monday, air travel had started to return to normal with few flights being reported scrubbed, according to Flight Aware.

With assistance from Josh Wingrove and Lars Paulsson

Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.
The Boy Scouts of America has received a green light from a judge to proceed with its $850 million reorganization plan to exit bankruptcy and settle more than 80,000 claims brought by victims of sexual abuse.

The ruling by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Laurie Selber Silverstein means the organization can proceed to try to get formal approval for the plan from creditors, including a majority of the victims, as part of the larger goal of exiting its bankruptcy and compensating claimants.

The $850 million agreement is between the Boy Scouts national organization and about 250 local councils along with law firms representing about 70,000 former scouts who allege they were molested. A fund for survivors would receive about $250 million from the national Boy Scouts and $600 million from local councils, along with insurance rights.

The Restructuring Support Agreement (RSA) was opposed by insurers for the organizations. They contend there were conflicts of interest among the parties to the agreement and that the parties did not meet the proper business judgment standard required by law in negotiating it.

However, the judge rejected the arguments by insurers, finding that the debtors have met the relevant standard and that the insurers evidence was unconvincing.

The judge also declined to dismiss a $650 million settlement that the Boy Scouts reached in April with one of their insurers, The Hartford. The Boy Scouts asked to be excused from that deal because abuse claimants do not support it but the judge left the fate of the Hartford offer to be decided at a later date.

The judge also withheld approval of a provision relating to payment of about $10.5 million in legal fees to lawyers for the Coalition of Abused Scouts for Justice, which represents about 60,000 of the sex abuse victims. She expressed concern that these millions of dollars would come out of the pockets of victims. While one can argue that on a relative scale thats not that great, any funds diverted from abuse victims, especially to pay an obligation of their lawyers, needs to be closely examined, the judge said.

In announcing her overall decision, the judge stressed its limited nature.

My conclusion: I have found that the entry into the RSA is a sound exercise of Debtors business judgment. The parties can proceed with the RSA without the findings regarding the Hartford settlement agreement and fees for the coalition, or not, Silverstein said in reading her ruling.

According to a transcript, she then added, Let me emphasize the limited nature of my ruling today. I am being asked to approve Debtors entry into the RSA. I am not approving the term sheet, the fourth amended plan, any disclosure statement, or anything else, and the order I entered today does not suggest that I will do so or need to do so.

David J. Molton, attorney at Brown Rudnick who represented the Coalition of Abused Scouts for Justice, praised the ruling by Judge Silverstein approving the RSA.

The agreement, which cements the initial $850 million funding of a compensation fund for survivors of sexual abuse, mandates safe scouting protocols for Boy Scouts exit from bankruptcy and enables the Coalition, together with its partners in the agreement, to procure settlements from Boy Scouts insurers and sponsoring partners that will bring in additional billions of dollars to compensate survivors, Molton stated.

The ruling came after a three-day hearing. The next step is an August 25 hearing to decide on a disclosure statement that explains the terms of the reorganization to creditors so they can vote on a plan.

The Boy Scouts filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February 2020. The organization has argued that the restructuring agreement and bankruptcy process provide the best opportunity to compensate victims.
NEW ORLEANS  The bridge crews lack of attention to a cargo ships position let it drag anchor and hit another anchored ship and a dock last year, doing millions of dollars in damage, according to a National Transportation Safety Board report.

Monitoring a ship at anchor  requires a continuous state of vigilance and the use of all available means to determine whether a vessel is dragging or not, said the report released Thursday.

Nobody was injured when the 453-foot-long (138 meter) Nomadic Milde hit the 590-foot (180-meter) bulk carrier Atlantic Venus, forming a T across the longer ships bow, and then hit the Cornerstone Chemical Co. dock, the board said.

The report said damages were estimated at $16.9 million  $10.9 million to the dock, $5.5 million to $6 million to the Nomadic Milde and more than $410,000 to the Atlantic Venus.

However, Cornerstones estimate puts dock repairs at $52.3 million, with lost business, prejudgment interest and court costs bringing the total to $66.9 million. Those figures are in a lawsuit against both ships, the towing company that was working to separate the two when the cargo ship hit the dock and a third ship that passed nearby, raising a wake.

Attorneys for both Cornerstone, based in Bridge City, Louisiana, and for owners and managers of the cargo ship, which say its repairs cost $1.5 million and are trying to limit its liability to $6.2 million, declined to comment because litigation is pending.

A bench trial before U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon is currently scheduled Sept. 12, 2022.

The Mississippi River was high when the accident occurred about 5 p.m. on May 8, 2020, at the Kenner anchorage near New Orleans, where the Nomadic Milde was just upriver of the other ship.

It had taken on a cargo of lead concentrate and its crew was to finish repairing a cargo hatch the next morning, the NTSB said. The cargo was to be delivered to Port Pirie, Australia, according to court papers filed for owner New Nomadic Short Sea Shipping AS of Bergen, Norway, and operator Intership Navigation Co. Ltd, of Cyprus.

The Nomadic Milde probably first moved while the pilot who had directed the crew to its berth was leaving, and then did so again before the crash, according to NTSB.

Had the pilot noticed the motion, he might have stayed on board, it said.

The report said that apparently neither watch officer checked the cargo ships position frequently, or by any means other than an electronic monitoring system.

That alarm was set to sound if the Nomadic Milde was more than 590 feet (180 meters) from a center point, even though it had started out about 490 feet (149 meters) from the Atlantic Venus, the report noted.

The anchor watch alarm radius setting of 590 feet was too large to provide for a timely alarm of the ship dragging, it said.

There would have been time to avoid the crashes if the bridge team had noticed other evidence that their ship was drifting, the report said.

The ships radars would have provided information for the crew to determine or crosscheck if the range to a vessel or object had decreased, or if the ship had moved while at anchor, NTSB wrote.

When watches changed just after 4 p.m., the incoming chief officer noticed that the Nomadic Milde was not in the middle of the anchor watch circle but didnt check other information, the report said.

At 4:13 p.m., the officer on watch aboard the Atlantic Venus called, asking the Nomadic Mildes officers to monitor their holding position.

The chief officer did not take any follow-up action to address the concern, only communicating that their engines were ready on short notice, the report said.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
A homeowner who exercised no control over the worksite is not liable for injuries to an independent contractor even though the homeowner had failed to repair an obvious hazard, the California Supreme Court ruled.

In a unanimous decision Thursday, the high court overturned the Court of Appeals, saying it will decline to adopt a rule that subjects landowners to greater liability than other hirers for injuries stemming from known hazards.

The high court said it saw no reason to add a third exception to the Privette doctrine, a longstanding legal principle in California that presumes property owners have no obligation to protect independent contractors or a contractors employees from safety hazards.

The case has been closing watched by professionals in the insurance, contracting and real estate industries because of its potential impact on injury claims. The American Property Casualty Insurance Association, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, California Association of Relators, Association of Southern California Defense Counsel, California Building Industry Association, Associated General Contractors of California, Civil Justice Association and Consumer Attorneys of California filed amicus briefs with the Supreme Court.

The Court of Appeal decision, had it been affirmed, would have resulted in an unprecedented expansion of tort liability for homeowners, property owners, and hirers, which in turn would have had massive implications for property insurers, stated Los Angeles attorney Marvin S. Putnam, who represented defendant John R. Mathis in the case.

June Barlow, general counsel for the Realtors association, said her client was concerned by the Court of Appeals decision because real estate agents often refer their clients to contractors for home inspections or repairs. She said the Supreme Courts ruling takes a common sense approach.

When you hire an expert, you dont expect to be sued, she said.

Mathis housekeeper hired Luis Gonzalezs business, Hollywood Hills Window Cleaning Co., to clean the skylight over an indoor pool inside Mathis one-story, flat-roofed home. The company advertised that is was a specialist in washing hard to reach windows and skylights.

Gonzalez has been cleaning the same skylight since the 1990s, first as an employee of another company and then as owner of his own window-washing business.

On Aug. 1, 2012, Gonzalez was at Mathis home while two of his employees cleaned the skylight. Mathis housekeeper asked him to tell the workers to use less water because water was leaking into the house.

Gonzalez climbed a ladder to access the roof where his employees were working and passed the message along. In order to climb back down, he had to walk on a 20-inch wide space between the edge of the roof and parapet wall that was built to hide air conditioning equipment.

Gonzalez slipped and fell off the roof, sustaining serious injuries. He had no workers compensation insurance.

Gonzalez filed a premises liability claim against Mathis. He alleged that his accident was caused by the dangerous conditions on the roof, including loose pebbles and sand, a lack of tie-off points for a safety harness, a lack of guardrails and the unreasonably narrow path between the parapet wall and the edge of the roof.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Gerald Rosenberg granted summary judgment in favor of Mathis, finding that the precedent set in 1993 by the Privette decision barred his premises liability claim.

A three-judge panel for the 2nd Appellate District reversed. The court said a 2005 California Supreme Court decision, Kinsman v. Unocol, established that a premises owner can be held liable for injuries to an independent contractor when he or she exposes a contractor (or its employees) to a known hazard that cannot be remedied through reasonable safety precautions.

The Supreme Court said in its opinion that Kinsman did not go that far. The court said it held that a property owner who is aware of a concealed dangerous condition may be held liable for an injury to a contractor if they fail to disclose the existence of the hazard.

There was no concealed hazard alleged in Gonzalezs lawsuit, the Supreme Court said. However, the court acknowledged that the facts in the case beg a question: If a contractor cannot correct a known safety hazard on a property, can the owner be held liable if the contractor is injured?

The high court said no.

A landowner does not fail to delegate responsibility to the contractor for workplace safety simply because there exists a known hazard on the premises that cannot be readily addressed by the contractor, the court said. Were we to hold otherwise, we would vastly expand hirer liability and create considerable tension with decades of case law establishing that a hirer is not liable where it is merely aware of a hazardous condition or practice on the worksite.

Putnam, a partner with the Latham & Watkins law firm, said in an email that California homeowners would have been exposed to catastrophic liability had the decision gone the other way.

As todays decision affirms, when homeowners hire an independent contractor to perform work, the independent contractorrather than the homeowneris responsible for ensuring the safety of the contractors employees at the worksite, he said. Todays result affirms what we have said from the outsetwhile Mr. Gonzalezs injuries were undeniable tragic, Mr. Mathis in no way contributed to that tragedy.

Attorney Ellie S. Ruth, who filed an amicus brief on behalf of the Southern California Defense Counsel, said the Court of Appeals rulings potential to create more litigation was just as onerous as the expansion of liability.

Ruth, who is with the Greines, Martin, Stein & Richland firm in Los Angeles, said the appellate court decision would require judges hearing injury lawsuits by contractors against property owners to make a decision about whether reasonable safety precautions could have been taken to prevent the injury. She said generally that kind of fact finding requires a trial, so summary judgment would be virtually impossible.

Ruth said the Supreme Court clearly understand that eliminating the summary judgment option for defense attorneys would have exposed insurers to increased litigation costs. The court devoted nearly five pages of its opinion to the issue. While Privette created a presumption that property owners are not liable for contractor injuries, the Court of Appeals ruling practically eliminated that presumption because the presumption would be rebuttable in almost every case, the high court said.

In the niche that we occupy, it would be a humongous headache, Ruth said.

About the photo: Hollywood Hills Window Cleaning owner Luis Gonzales is shown in promotional photo posted on the Neighbor2Neighbor website.
Any notion that the worst days of Islamist terrorism are long behind us was brutally shattered at Kabul Airport Aug. 26 as twin bombs ripped indiscriminately through Afghan civilians and U.S. and other foreign servicemen trying to complete the desperate evacuation of thousands of people for whom Taliban rule represents the most terrible fate.
Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie, R-Hawthorn Woods, is pictured at Republican Day at the Illinois State Fair Thursday. He and House Minority Leader Jim Durkin asked a judge to void Democrat-drawn legislative maps in their latest legal filing Thursday, while Democrats have asked that the case be dismissed or adjourned until after they approve changes to the maps at the end of the month.
COFFEY, Mo. [mdash]John Nelson Eacret, 73, Coffey, MO passed away Tuesday, August 24, 2021 at his home. He was born on September 16, 1947 in Portland, Oregon the son of Earnest and Rachel (Stone) Eacret. On July 7, 2007, he married Joan A. Hughes in Tracy, Missouri. She survives of the home.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 23)  The Department of Health on Monday said it has enough funds to grant the special risk allowance of an additional 20,156 healthcare workers.

Over the weekend, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the inclusion of more medical frontliners to those set to receive their risk allowance.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the over P311 million will be taken from its contingency fund. The total amount has yet to be finalized since DOH regional offices are still reviewing the eligibility of the public and private medical workers.

The official said it has coordinated with the Department of Budget and Management to ask for the Office of the President's go signal to use its savings for this purpose.

"Nakapag-identify na saan kukunin ang pondo. Meron pong mga savings sa aming miscellaneous benefit funds," Vergeire said in a media briefing. "Within 10 days po ang binigay sa atin ng Pangulo at ito ay ipapatupad natin sa lalong madaling panahon."

[Translation: We have identified where to source the funds. We have savings in our miscellaneous benefit funds... The President gave us 10 days. We will implement it as soon as possible.]

Duterte on August 21 ordered the DBM to release additional funds for healthcare frontliners amid complaints from thousands of workers that they have yet to receive their special risk allowances.

Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega earlier explained that 306,314 health workers received their special risk allowance under Bayanihan 2 Law from Sept. 15 to Dec. 19, 2020, while around 359,501 got theirs from Dec. 20, 2020 to June 30, 2021.

Under the law, all public and private health workers who are directly caring for COVID-19 patients shall receive an SRA of up to P5,000 per month.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 23)  Health Secretary Francisco Duque said Monday he supports a proposal to allow fully vaccinated Filipinos to move more freely, but expressed concerns about its legal repercussions.

There has to be legal basis, eh. Right now we dont, so that is a big obstacle to tell you frankly. I support it, Im just afraid that the challenge the IATF might face if not actual suits being filed for disenfranchising the unvaccinated, Duque explained during a Go Negosyo online forum.

Duque said he consulted Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra about it, who is worried there may be legal ramifications if the policy is carried out.

RELATED: DOJ: No law to force vaccination, Duterte's arrest warning only out of exasperation

RELATED: Palace: COVID-19 vaccination could be mandatory, but Duterte not eyeing law for it yet

Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion has been advocating for bubbles" for inoculated individuals as a way to boost economic activity.

Concepcion said he is seeking advice from other members of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council on how other countries are able to carry out the policy.

Singapore and Indonesia adopted, it so Ill be asking them their legal advice, he said.

Trade department chief Ramon Lopez is also pushing for the relaxation of restrictions on people who have been vaccinated against the coronavirus.

Medical experts in the meantime underscored the importance of accelerating vaccination in the country.

Epidemiologist Dr. John Wong, a member of the IATF technical working group on data analytics, pointed out that only 68% of Filipinos have access to vaccination sites.

Maybe one reason why the elderly are being vaccinated at such low rates is because they cant go to the vaccination sites because of their condition, so have more widespread door-to-door vaccination, Wong explained.

He said local government units could provide free transportation to vaccination sites.

The health expert also suggested round-the-clock vaccination operations to cater to people who dont want to miss or skip work to make their scheduled inoculation.

As of Aug. 22, over 13.1 million Filipinos have already completed their COVID-19 vaccine doses, while more than 17.2 million already received their first shot.

The Philippines has administered over 30.3 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to date.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 23)  The House of Representatives on Monday passed on final reading the bill which seeks to exempt from income tax the honoraria, travel allowance and other benefits granted by the Commission on Elections to poll workers.

Voting unanimously, the lower chamber approved House Bill 9652 which, if passed into law, will amend the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997.

Proponents of the measure said giving compensation in full would be a way to acknowledge the service of workers hired during the election period.

Meanwhile, Comelec chairman Sheriff Abas in a briefing said the issuance of hazard pay to teachers serving as election officers in 2022 will depend on the budget given to the poll body.

"The preparation for the election is synchronized sa budget na ibibigay ng DBM (Department of Budget and Management)," Abas said. "Halimbawa, kung wala silang ibibigay na additional pondo, hindi rin kami makakapagbigay ng hazard pay sa ating mga guro at kapulisan."

[Translation: The preparation for the election is synchronized with the budget given by the DBM. For instance, if they won't give us additional funds, we won't be able to provide hazard pay to our teachers and policemen.]

The Comelec initially requested a 42-billion allotment in the 2022 budget, but the DBM only approved 26.7 billion, according to documents submitted to Congress.

Abas said they are still pushing for an additional 10 billion to cover extra expenses amid the COVID-19 crisis, such as personal protective equipment for teachers, rubbing alcohol in voter precincts, and more benefits for election day personnel.

CNN Philippines Correspondent Melissa Lopez contributed to this report.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 23)  A committee in the House of Representatives is set to meet with the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. and the health sector on Tuesday to tackle the suspension of claims payment to hospitals that are under investigation by the health insurer for suspected fraud.

The House Committee on Health, led by panel chair Quezon City Rep. Helen Tan, said over the weekend that they will hold a "dialogue" between the state health insurer and the Philippine Hospitals Association over the recent issuance of Circular 2021-0013 that would impose a Temporary Suspension of Payment of Claims (TSPC) that the insurance firm suspects of fraud, unethical practices, and/or abuse of authority.

We want to hold a dialogue between the PhilHealth and the hospitals. We do not want the bridge to collapse. We want to rebuild whatever trust and partnership that are left between the state health insurer and our healthcare institutions or providers," Tan said in a statement on Sunday.

Speaking to CNN Philippines' The Source on Monday, Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines president Jose De Grano expressed hope that they would also be invited by Congress to air their side on the matter.

De Grano stressed that patients may have to bear the brunt of the issued PhilHealth circular by making advance payments which will not be accredited by the state health insurer.

RELATED: Patients may have to advance payments if hospitals disengage from PhilHealth, medical group warns

The PHAPi, PHA, and the Philippine Medical Association said in a statement on Sunday that "the bridge is bound to collapse" and it may be "time to review the engagement with PhilHealth" after the issuance of the circular.

De Grano also raised concern about the absence of the "legal principle of presumption of innocence and our right to due process," with suspected hospitals only bound to be given a non-extendable period of three calendar days to answer the notice of TSPC.

PhilHealth spokesperson Shirley Domingo said, however, that hospitals will also be given at least 10 days "to justify or refute" PhilHealth's findings before an investigation report and a TSPC notice will be issued.

Domingo said that the state insurer has processed about 12.9 billion worth of hospital claims at different stages as of June 30. They have also returned about 9 billion worth of claims to hospitals due to deficiencies and denied claims amounting to 6 billion.

According to the House website, PhilHealth and the Health Department will also discuss the status of the implementation of the Universal Health Care Act at Tuesday's hearing.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 23)  The Department of Health on Monday joined calls against the use of ivermectin to treat or prevent COVID-19, saying it has no benefits and may even lead to more harm.

This comes after the United States' Food and Drug Administration issued last weekend a strong warning to COVID-19 patients not to use the anti-parasitic drug meant for animals.

"Itong gamot na ito, napakita na ng ebidensya, doesn't give you any benefit at all in preventing, shortening the duration of your hospitalization, or preventing the progression of your disease when you have COVID-19," Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a media briefing.

The official added, "Itong gamot na ito ay may mga side effects din na maaaring maging harmful sa inyong katawan.]

[Translation: Evidence shows that this drug does not give you any benefit in preventing, shortening the duration of your hospitalization, or preventing the progression of your disease when you have COVID-19. This drug also has side effects that may be harmful to your health.]

Some lawmakers have been pushing for the use of ivermectin to treat and prevent COVID-19 despite insufficient proof of the anti-parasitic drug's effectiveness.

In May, Anakalusugan Party-list Rep. Michael Defensor and House Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta gave away ivermectin capsules. Vergeire said there have been no reported adverse event reports linked to the event.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 23)  A hospital association warned that patients may need to advance payment if hospitals are forced to disengage from the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. as a result of the agency's new guidelines suspending settlement of claims of healthcare providers suspected of fraud.

"Yun (disengagement) ang ayaw naming mangyari kasi sino po ba ang talagang maaapektuhan nito? The patients," Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines president Dr. Jose De Grano told CNN Philippines' The Source on Monday. "Because syempre kung wala na pong PhilHealth accreditation ang private hospitals, pagpasok po nila (patients) dyan, sasabihin sa kanila, 'hindi po madededuct kaagad ang inyong benefits. Ang mangyayari po, i-a-advance ang payment at yung mga benefits niyo sa PhilHealth, you will have to file that directly to PhilHealth.'"

[Translation: That's what we don't want to happen because who will really be affected here? The patients. Because of course, if private hospitals lose their accreditation, when the patients come in, they will be told, 'your benefits will not be deducted. And you will have to make an advance payment, and you will have to file for your benefits directly to PhilHealth.]

De Grano referred to their and other hospital groups' warning that the bridge between PhilHealth and healthcare providers is "bound to collapse" and it may be time to review engagement with Philhealth. This was after the state insurer published its Circular 2021-0013 on the possible conditional stoppage of payment for claims of healthcare providers being investigated for "fraudulent acts, unethical acts and abuse of authority."

READ: Hospital groups: Ties with PhilHealth 'bound to collapse'

Under the circular, PhilHealth said that a temporary suspension of payment of claims or TSPC serves not as a penalty but a preventive measure against erring healthcare providers "to avoid the loss or wastage of funds" due to erroneous practices.

PhilHealth spokesperson Shirley Domingo told The Source that the policy has been in place since 2016 and the circular, in fact, adds "due process" for the monitoring of hospitals, since the PhilHealth president must first approve the TSPC before it is issued against erring healthcare providers. She added that payments will then be made to hospitals after the TSPC period of 120 days, and it can extend to another 90 days only if the case warrants further investigation.

She added that hospitals will be given at least 10 days "to justify or refute" PhilHealth's findings before an investigation report and a TSPC notice will be issued.

"Once that is recommended  this is the new circular now  it will be given back to them and allow them to answer for three days before it will be processed up to the president of PhilHealth for approval. They have a lot of time to answer to the monitoring findings," Domingo said.

Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire also defended PhilHealth in a separate briefing, noting that funds from public coffers need to be taken care of through "checks and balance."

A committee in the House of Representatives will meet with PhilHealth and hospital groups to settle the matter on Tuesday.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 23)  The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee said it has subpoenaed a former Budget Department official who headed the agencys procurement arm during its purchase of allegedly overpriced face masks and shields for its hearing on Wednesday.

In a statement, committee chairman Sen. Richard Gordon said he signed a subpoena ad testificandum requiring former Budget Undersecretary Lloyd Christopher Lao to attend the panels hearing into the Commission of Audits report on the Department of Health.

A subpoena ad testificandum compels the summoned individual to appear and answer questions regarding the issue being heard and discussed. Refusal or failure to appear can be subject a contempt citation, the senator said.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III has approved the subpoena, he added.

It is important that he appears because there are so many questions that need answers especially, he was previously investigated over procurement of overpriced medical supplies and equipment as [Budget officer-in-charge] Usec. [Tina Rose Marie] Canda said, Gordon said.

READ: Senators question DOH, DBMs purchase of overpriced face masks, shields

Lao, who resigned in June, told a government briefing last Friday that he was willing to attend to shed light on the matter.

The DOH has been subject to multiple probes after state auditors flagged deficiencies in its budget management, noting these affected their COVID-19 pandemic response.

This Wednesday marks the continuation of the panels hearing into the issue.
A bushel of blue crabs, corn on the cob, sweet treats and beverages is up for grabs in a raffle to benefit People's Place. Tickets are being sold through Aug. 30, with the winner to be drawn on Aug. 31.
The Coastal Point is a local newspaper published each Friday and distributed in the Bethany Beach, South Bethany, Fenwick Island, Ocean View, Millville, Dagsboro, Frankford, Selbyville, Millsboro, Long Neck and Georgetown, Delaware areas.
For students looking for a place to put their dorm key while walking to and from classes, a Penn State student created the Keyper phone wallet.

Keyper, a startup business co-founded by recent Penn State economics graduate Ezra Gershanok, has become more popular in the silicone phone wallet industry since winning $25,000 in the 2020 Inc.U Competition.

The phone wallet, which features the traditional card slots as well as a special place to hold a key, won the Shark Tank-style competition aired on WPSU-TV hosted by the Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program.

Gershanok said through a partnership with Jardine Associates that began this spring, Keyper has been given the licensing to use collegiate logos.

Jardine sells all types of products, and they put college logos on these products and then distribute them to independent bookstores as well as Barnes and Noble-operated bookstores, Gershanok said.

Because Jardine Associates has the rights to any collegiate logo, Gershanok said this partnership was crucial to the growth Keyper has been experiencing. The company has allowed Keyper to expand to 43 institutions, according to Gershanok.

With the $25,000 winnings from the Inc.U competition, Keyper was able to pay to apply for a utility patent. If accepted, no other company would be able to put a key holder on the back of a silicone phone wallet except for Keyper.

Keyper purchased nearly 40,000 phone wallets for the back-to-school rush this fall with the earnings from the competition, according to Gershanok.

[The Inc.U competition] gave us confidence that this could be a real thing and there was no reason that this shouldnt be in bookstores across the country, Gershanok said.

Golda Gershanok, a senior at Georgia Tech and Gershanoks sister, described her role in Keyper as a communication point between all four [of the members of the startup]. She said she believes Keyper is in a very different place than last year.

We have the logos for all of the major universities, Golda said. Since we have the logos, our online store has been popping off.

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Jacob Halbert, co-founder of Keyper and a senior at the University of Michigan, helps with the design of the products and the manufacturing with his background in mechanical engineering and computer science.

In addition to the grant earned at the Inc.U competition, Halbert said Keyper gained mentorship from Lou Childs, the founder of SlumberPod.

Shes provided invaluable guidance and support for us, Halbert said. Seeing that someone believed in us was a second wind.

Halbert said he reflected on the journey of Keyper and said hes learned a lot by bringing this idea to life, and its been a lot of fun.

Ive been lucky to have the opportunity to work with [the Keyper team] and for us to all learn from each other, Halbert said.

Rayna Recht, head of marketing for Keyper and senior at Tulane University, handles social media accounts, blog posts and outreach to Keypers consumers. Throughout the pandemic, Recht led a research effort into Keypers consumers.

Where we thought [our customers] were students coming from Instagram, we were wrong, Recht said. It was actually parents in university Facebook groups.

Recht said Keyper started parental incentives for posting in university parent Facebook groups for an opportunity to win a free Keyper phone wallet. Recht said Keyper saw a boom in sales after posting in the groups.

Ezra Gershanok said hes grateful to the Penn State alumni community for helping build exposure and help him grow up with business.

I want to express gratitude for the Penn State community because we certainly would not be here had it not been for all the people at Penn State that believed in us.

MORE CAMPUS COVERAGE

Penn State faculty participating in 'Zoom-In' protest could face disciplinary sanctions Penn State faculty who participate in the "Zoom-In" protest hosted by the Coalition for a Ju
On Friday, the federal appeals court based in Denver reinstated the lawsuit of Eric St. George against the city of Lakewood and Agent Devon Trimmer after a lower court dismissed the case. A majority of the three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit determined, under the totality of the circumstances during that night in Lakewood, Trimmer had not acted reasonably when she shot St. George.
Colorados Independent Redistricting Commissions will this week be touring the Front Range to hold public hearings on preliminary maps released earlier this summer.

The commissions responsible for drawing the preliminary lines for the states eight congressional, 65 state House and 35 state Senate districts are scheduled to hear feedback in Commerce City on Tuesday, Brighton on Wednesday and Colorado Springs on Saturday.

The meetings are open to the public but the commission is asking those seeking to testify to register in advance. Requests for sign language interpretation, Spanish translation or other accommodations can also be made by emailing colorado.redistricting2020@state.co.us.
Ernest Luning: "It turns out Neguse hasn't just been a media darling and town hall maven. He was also the most effective legislator by leaps and bounds in Colorado's delegation in the last Congress, according to a recently released report from the nonpartisan Center for Effective Lawmaking  all the more impressive because it was the attorney and former CU regent's first term."
passed away on August 26, 2021 at OSF Scared Heart Medical Center in Danville. A celebration of Phyllis's life will be held at a later date. Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Danville assisted her family with arrangements.
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What's Included

With a Digital Only subscription, you'll receive unlimited access to our website and e-edition. Our digital products are available 24/7 and are accessible anywhere, anytime.

If you have any questions or need further assistance, please call our customer service team at 319-352-3334 or email legals@waverlynewspapers.com.
Microsoft will almost certainly offer extended support to Windows 10 that will let organizations safely run the operating system for years after its putative 2025 retirement date.

While nothing is certain where Microsoft's concerned, the company does tend to stick with a practice that's proved out. If something, like the concept of Extended Security Updates (ESUs), has generated revenue and squelched commercial customer complaints, that's a twofer Microsoft will take every time.

Latest clue comes from Server 2012

The latest clue that ESUs are here to stay came last month, when Microsoft announced that it will offer three years of additional, paid support for Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2012 R2 and SQL Server 2012.

"Customers that cannot meet the end of support deadline and have Software Assurance or subscription licenses under an enterprise agreement enrollment will have the option to buy Extended Security Updates to get three more years of security updates," Debbi Lyons, Director, product marketing, Azure SQL and Database Migration, and Vijay Kumar, director of product marketing, Windows Server and Azure Arc, wrote in a July 14 post to a company blog.

Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2 are due to exit support Oct. 12, 2023; SQL Server 2012 exhausts its support July 12, 2022. ESUs will be sold for all these products in one-year increments for a maximum of three years past the original end-of-support. Thus, ESU licenses for Windows Server 2012 R2 would run to Oct. 12, 2024, Oct. 12, 2025, and Oct. 12, 2026.

Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2, and SQL Server 2012, join other venerable operating systems and products that have been offered ESU coverage by Microsoft, including Windows Server 2008, Windows 7 and Dynamics AX 2009.

Bet on ESUs for Windows 10

With precedents like these  the last two Windows Server editions, the last two SQL Server editions, and the last Windows client  it's an easy bet that Microsoft will continue to crank out ESUs for software that reaches its sell-by date. In chronological order for Windows, those dates are:

Windows 10: Oct. 14, 2025

Windows Server 2016: Jan 12, 2027

Windows Server 2019: Jan. 9, 2029

Because Microsoft has standardized on three years' worth of ESUs, paid one year at a time, priced lowest the first year, then higher each following year  to encourage customers to upgrade to a still-supported edition  those practices will be continued for Windows Server. (The first year for Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2 ESU, for instance, will cost 75% of the license cost, with the next two years running 100% and 125%, respectively.) Windows 10 will almost certainly keep to those parameters; the first ESU will extend support to Oct. 14, 2026, with the second and third years pushing out support to October 2027 and October 2028.

Although it may be easy for some to dismiss the idea of ESUs for Windows 10 simply because the successor Windows 11 is, at least initially, largely a UI and UX remodel, that would be to underestimate the impact of the latter's change to hardware requirements.

Because Microsoft will demand that Windows 11-eligible devices sport 8th-generation or later Intel processors, some in-place PCs will be unable to run the OS. (The percentage in an organization largely depends on the org's replacement cycle tempo.) The number of affected systems will be significantly smaller by Windows 10's retirement in four years, but few things raise customer hackles more than Microsoft making them spend hardware budgets simply to run the next iteration of some software.

Computerworld's forecast: Microsoft will offer ESUs for no other reason than to soothe such customers, no matter the number of unable-to-run-11 machines.
08/23/2021

Photo (c) Rafmaster - Getty Images Coronavirus (COVID-19) tally as compiled by Johns Hopkins University. (Previous numbers in parentheses.)

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 37,725,260 (37,678,088)

Total U.S. deaths: 628,580 (628,342)

Total global cases: 212,073,519 (211,471,882)

Total global deaths: 4,435,581 (4,429,183)

FDA grants full approval of Pfizer vaccine

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted full approval to the COVID-19 vaccine produced by Pfizer and BioNTech. It, along with the vaccines from Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, had been administered under emergency use authorization.

The FDAs approval of this vaccine is a milestone as we continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, said Acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock. While this and other vaccines have met the FDAs rigorous, scientific standards for emergency use authorization, as the first FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine, the public can be very confident that this vaccine meets the high standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality the FDA requires of an approved product.

Health officials said they hope the approval persuades more people to get vaccinated. Some people have based their refusal to be vaccinated on the fact that none of the available vaccines had full FDA approval.

Hospitalizations among children rise sharply

Children under 12 cant get the COVID-19 vaccine yet, and doctors say that is making them highly vulnerable to the fast-spreading Delta variant. An analysis of recent data shows that hospitalizations among children have risen sharply in the South and Midwest.

Health officials expect even more pediatric cases as schools reopen. While children appeared less vulnerable to the original strain of the virus, the Delta variant is making many children sick enough to require hospital care.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Childrens Hospital New Orleans has treated as many as 20 children for the coronavirus at a time during August. Hospital officials say that last year, the number was never higher than seven.

Another study finds weaknesses in cloth masks

If you have decided to wear masks in public, as many jurisdictions are strongly advising, it just might pay to wear a really good one. A new study concludes that cloth masks arent that effective at preventing transmission of the virus.

Canadian researchers at the University of Waterloo found a large buildup of aerosol droplets suspended in the air when it had subjects wear cloth masks in a large room. The researchers found N95 or KN95 masks were much more effective at containing droplets.

There is no question it is beneficial to wear any face covering, both for protection in close proximity and at a distance in a room, said Serhiy Yarusevych, who led the study. However, there is a very serious difference in the effectiveness of different masks when it comes to controlling aerosols.

Around the nation
Ku6vms.com scored 41 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 2/5.0 Stars by Social Team

This CoolSocial report was updated on 7 Dec 2012, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want.

The total number of people who shared the ku6vms homepage on Delicious. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the ku6vms homepage on Twitter + the total number of ku6vms followers (if ku6vms has a Twitter account). This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the ku6vms homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if ku6vms has a Facebook fan page). The total number of people who shared the ku6vms homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. The total number of people who shared the ku6vms homepage on StumbleUpon.

Basic Information

PAGE TITLE 6- DESCRIPTION 6p2p KEYWORDS OTHER KEYWORDS



The description meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The keywords meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of the site. CoolSocial advanced keyword analysis tool is able to detect and analyze every keyword on each page of a site. The title found in the head section of the homepage.

Domain and Server

DOCTYPE XHTML 1.0 Transitional CHARSET AND LANGUAGE UTF-8 DETECTED LANGUAGE SERVER nginx/1.2.3 OPERATIVE SYSTEM

Type of server and offered services. Operative System running on the server. Represents HTML declared type (e.g.: XHTML 1.1, HTML 4.0, the new HTML 5.0) The language of ku6vms.com as detected by CoolSocial algorithms. Character set and language of the site.

Site Traffic trend during the last year. Only available for sites ranked <= 100000 in the world.

Referring domains for ku6vms.com by MajesticSeo. High values are a sign of site importance over the web and on web engines.

Facebook link

FACEBOOK PAGE LINK NOT FOUND

The total number of people who like website Facebook page. The total number of people who tagged or talked about website Facebook page in the last 7-10 days. A Facebook page link can be found in the homepage or in the robots.txt file. The type of Facebook page. Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages. The URL of the found Facebook page. The description of the Facebook page describes website and its services to the social media users.

Twitter account link

TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND
Mhgraphicdesigns.com scored 40 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 2/5.0 Stars by Social Team

This CoolSocial report was updated on 14 Dec 2012, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want.

The total number of people who shared the mhgraphicdesigns homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the mhgraphicdesigns homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if mhgraphicdesigns has a Facebook fan page). The total number of people who shared the mhgraphicdesigns homepage on Delicious. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the mhgraphicdesigns homepage on Twitter + the total number of mhgraphicdesigns followers (if mhgraphicdesigns has a Twitter account). The total number of people who shared the mhgraphicdesigns homepage on StumbleUpon.

Basic Information

PAGE TITLE Melissa Harris | Kelowna graphic and web designer DESCRIPTION MH Graphic Designs, based out of Kelowna, BC, offers the best graphic and web design in the interior. From business card design, to logos, web design, and more! KEYWORDS Graphic Designer, Graphic arts, Melissa Graphics, Melissa Harris, Melissa Harris Graphic, creative visual arts, harris design, kelowna, kelowna graphic design OTHER KEYWORDS



CoolSocial advanced keyword analysis tool is able to detect and analyze every keyword on each page of a site. The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of the site. The description meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The keywords meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The title found in the head section of the homepage.

Domain and Server

DOCTYPE HTML 5.0 CHARSET AND LANGUAGE UTF-8 DETECTED LANGUAGE English English SERVER Apache OPERATIVE SYSTEM Linux Linux

The language of mhgraphicdesigns.com as detected by CoolSocial algorithms. Represents HTML declared type (e.g.: XHTML 1.1, HTML 4.0, the new HTML 5.0) Type of server and offered services. Operative System running on the server. Character set and language of the site.

Site Traffic trend during the last year. Only available for sites ranked <= 100000 in the world.

Referring domains for mhgraphicdesigns.com by MajesticSeo. High values are a sign of site importance over the web and on web engines.

Facebook link

FACEBOOK PAGE LINK NOT FOUND

Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages. The URL of the found Facebook page. The total number of people who like website Facebook page. The total number of people who tagged or talked about website Facebook page in the last 7-10 days. The description of the Facebook page describes website and its services to the social media users. A Facebook page link can be found in the homepage or in the robots.txt file. The type of Facebook page.

Twitter account link

TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND
Congratulations, tfponline.com got a very good Social Media Impact Score! Show it by adding this HTML code on your site:

Tfponline.com scored 97 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 5/5.0 Stars by Social Team

This CoolSocial report was updated on 26 Sep 2018, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want.

This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the tfponline homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if tfponline has a Facebook fan page). This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the tfponline homepage on Twitter + the total number of tfponline followers (if tfponline has a Twitter account). The total number of people who shared the tfponline homepage on StumbleUpon. The total number of people who shared the tfponline homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. The total number of people who shared the tfponline homepage on Delicious.

Basic Information

PAGE TITLE DESCRIPTION KEYWORDS OTHER KEYWORDS



The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of the site. The keywords meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The title found in the head section of the homepage. CoolSocial advanced keyword analysis tool is able to detect and analyze every keyword on each page of a site. The description meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage.

Domain and Server

DOCTYPE CHARSET AND LANGUAGE UTF-8 DETECTED LANGUAGE English English SERVER Apache OPERATIVE SYSTEM Linux Linux

Represents HTML declared type (e.g.: XHTML 1.1, HTML 4.0, the new HTML 5.0) Operative System running on the server. Character set and language of the site. The language of tfponline.com as detected by CoolSocial algorithms. Type of server and offered services.

Site Traffic trend during the last year. Only available for sites ranked <= 100000 in the world.

Referring domains for tfponline.com by MajesticSeo. High values are a sign of site importance over the web and on web engines.

Facebook link

FACEBOOK PAGE LINK NOT FOUND

A Facebook page link can be found in the homepage or in the robots.txt file. The total number of people who tagged or talked about website Facebook page in the last 7-10 days. The description of the Facebook page describes website and its services to the social media users. The type of Facebook page. Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages. The total number of people who like website Facebook page. The URL of the found Facebook page.

Twitter account link

TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND
Betty Louise Baker of Lewisville, Texas passed away at the age of 80 on August 14, 2021 at her daughter's home in Farmers Branch, Texas. She was born in Corsicana, Texas on April 17, 1941 to Samuel Alfred and Helen Louise McAllister Baker. She is preceded in death by her parents, step-father
Anti-nuclear awareness in India is at a nascent stage, though there is some understanding among those living near nuclear plants

The survey was carried out by volunteers who were experts in surveying. A large number of women turned out as volunteers, helped in surveying and analyzing the data. People of the nearby villages and towns also helped the group to provide shelter and food.

The results of the survey were staggering. Following data analysis, it was discovered that people living near the power station were aging faster and were likely to die ten years younger. It also showed that people suffer from prolonged ailments, especially of the skin and digestive tract.

The people also complained of a feeling of debility and perpetual fatigue, much similar to the bura-bura disease symptoms found in the victims of Hiroshima. The women were also affected, which was evident from many miscarriages, stillbirths, deaths of newborns, and infants born with congenital disabilities within one day of birth.

Many couples in the area did not have a child. Because of this, there was tremendous pressure on the women to produce children. Men were remarrying in the hope of having healthy children, and the women were blamed for the state of affairs. The birth rate was much higher near the plant as compared to the controls.

After data analysis, the group published a survey report and summarized the findings in Hindi to all the neighbouring households. Although more than 75 percent of the area's people were illiterate, others read out this summary to them. The people of the area carried out a protest against the atomic power plant. In a place where most women do not speak in front of males, one tribal woman gave a statement in which she stated, "We do not want power if the price of that electricity is a deformity in their children."

The reaction of the government to the survey report was pre-assumed. They publicly denied the problems. Many presses and media houses have subsequently been to the site and have documented some of these problems. As a result, the government no longer denies that there is a problem.

The government blames the problems due to poverty, malnutrition, ignorance, and superstition, but not because of nuclear plants. They also tried to portray the group as anti-nationals and as a roadblock on the path of the country's progress. However, the people within the nuclear establishments have admitted to the problems but have said that somebody must pay the price of development.

The awareness about anti-nuclear movements and programmes in India is at a very nascent stage. There is some understanding of the issue in the people living near some nuclear power plant sites. Still, this understanding has not percolated to the middle-class families in other cities.

Women have an essential role to play in providing this understanding since they are the worst sufferers. It is easier for them to see through the false rhetoric of power and get to the heart of the problem, which is the assault on the health and wellbeing of the present and future generations.

Women are among the most active members of the various anti-nuclear groups. Dr Kusuma, Krupa, Ratna, Shyamali, Ajeetha, Aradhana, Mona, Nandini and Gabriella, among others, have organized various anti-nuclear activities in different parts of the country.

But the country needs many more.

---

*PGP 2020-22, Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Bangalore

However, with a group of 30 women volunteers, Dr Kusuma managed to reach the place by traveling through the thick tropical rain forest. She was a representation of fearless zeal and an inspiration to the anti-nuclear movement in India.In December 1988, the Citizens for Alternatives to Nuclear Energy (CANE) group forced the Karnataka government to organize a national debate on the proposed nuclear power plant at Kaiga. It was evident from this debate that the atomic establishments of India were not going to listen to other's views. Because there was a scarcity of information on the effects on people's health, there was no basis for a scientific conclusion.The villagers of Rawatbhata invited the CANE group in Rajasthan to witness the situation. The village was under the influence of a nuclear power plant, but there was no electricity or clean drinking water. However, contrary to the town's development, the people faced many serious health issues. Since Dr. Sanghamitra Gadekar was the first doctor ever to have visited the Rawatbhata town, people shared their concerns and problems about their health with her.Dr Sanghamitra wrote about the issues that the people of Rawatbhata faced to the government. However, the government denied the allegations and stated that there were no such problems. Soon after, the CANE group surveyed to understand the effects on the public health of the people living in the proximity of the nuclear power plant.
Weather Alert

...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING... * WHAT...Heat index values of near to just over 105 expected. * WHERE...Portions of central, southeast, southwest and western Arkansas. * WHEN...From noon today to 7 PM CDT this evening. * IMPACTS...Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses to occur. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1. &&
Remember in 2017 when Kevin Spacey was exposed to the public for allegedly being the Kevin Spacey that Hollywood seemingly knew about for decades? And during that time, he was going to be J. Paul Getty in that hit movie I Bet All the Money in the World You Didn't See This Movie 

 but was replaced by Christopher Plummer?

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And we all joked on the Internet about Christopher Plummer digitally replacing him in all of his past movies?

Well, this is a beefier, cakier, somehow whiter version of that. I want to replace Mark Wahlberg with a better, faster, stronger Mark Wahlberg. A Mark Wahlberg that shows hustle, loyalty, and respec-- Okay, okay, enough preamble, let's just replace Mark Wahlberg with John Cena already.

I'm not just talking about upcoming movies. John Cena should just be inserted into all of Mark Wahlberg's previous films. All of them. He's the perfect replacement-- Nay, he's the perfect improvement.

While one has more acting credits and the other has more pro wrestling championships, they are incredibly similar. Both are from Massachusetts, both are into weight training, and both freestyled their road to superstardom like this 

Interscope Records, WWE Behold, the Pokemon evolution of a proud, battery-chuckin Red Sox fan.

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White rapping aside, John Cena and Mark Wahlberg are both meaty men of cinema, but Cena seems to somehow have more seasoning to his steak regardless of having lesser experience. As proven in Blockers, Trainwreck, and Suicide Squad, among other movies, Cena can be the butt of a joke and can deliver a joke because he doesn't allow his ego to get in the way of making stuff entertaining unlike Wahlberg.

Remember The Other Guys? It was better than you remembered, but imagine how much funnier it would be if Will Ferrell was bouncing off of wrestling-is-also-improv-sometimes John Cena rather than Wahlberg holding Adam McKay's hand off-camera? Wrestlemania matches aside, Cena's charisma and Dwayne Johnson's everything would have made Pain and Gain watchable and add to the cartoonish insanity that Michael Bay brings. Speaking of Bay, Cena beats Wahlberg by being in the most critically favored Transformers movie. The Happening, based on the script, just was never going to happen, but how much more it's-so-bad-it's-good it would have been if the facial expressions went from this 
Most of the things you see online trying to get you to understand how much a billion dollars is arent really that illustrative, because the scale is just too large. Its like trying to wrap your mind around the depth of the ocean, or the vastness of space, or yo mama. There are a few demonstrations that Ive actually found helpful, but overall, theres only one thing that really helped me appreciate how much a billion is.

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Lets say you have a billion dollars. I dont know, maybe due to a bizarre hierarchical technicality you learn that youre actually 27th in line to be the Sultan of Brunei, so youre given a billion dollars as a welcome-to-the-royal family gift. Maybe youre the guy thats been scalping every PS5 in the world. Maybe you invented a printer that actually works and isnt powered by spite-demons. It doesnt matter how you got it. You have a billion dollars. How do you spend it? Write down everything in the world your heart desires. Go ahead. Go crazy. Youll need a new place to live, right? How about this modest, tasteful place here in Los Angeles?

Zillow Caviar poops must be really awful to warrant that many bathrooms.

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Okay, youve got a swank new place to live with a truly absurd number of bathrooms, glass walls, and not one but two ritual chambers to throw your Eyes Wide Shut-style orgy/potluck. How will you drive to and from whatever stupid rich person hobby you decide to adopt, such as space travel, golf, or having health care? You cant just drive a car. Oh, no. You need the BEST car. You need ... a Bugatti La Voiture Noire, the worlds most expensive car. It costs $18.7 million. Perfect! You know what, lets take five. Wait, well also need a carry for getting groceries. Lets throw in Chitty-Chitty Bang Bang, too. Sorry, Peter Jackson, its ours now!

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Okay, weve got a house and cars ... what are we missing? Oh, yeah! A private island. Wait, how are we going to get from our mansion in LA to our island? A private jet? Please, dont insult me with such base proletarian vulgaritieswhat am I, a lowly Kardashian? Well take the jetpack! And it goes without saying well need a gold toilet. But not just any gold toilet, oh no: were not some tacky nouveau-riche tech billionaire. We want the gold toilet that has absorbed the stately ass-warmth of Sir Winston Churchill himself!
Even though the United States made slave trading illegal in the early 1800s, American ships and seamen were still involved in human trafficking decades later. Statesmen would look the other way, bribes were getting thrown around all over the place, and those getting caught simply walked away with Not Guilty verdicts from their juries because so many people dont seem to give a damn about anything except money. By the 1850s, slave traders were setting themselves up in Manhattan and using New Yorks large port and mediocre law enforcement to send their ships to Africa and traffic people to Cuba, Brazil, and of course, the American South.

jbdodane/Wikimedia Commons Behold: The Map of Shame and also Many Swear Words.

All the while, Britain had made itself the staunch opposition to slave trading and was actively condemning the trades still happening in the Americas. They would send their own ships to patrol the African coastline in search of vessels involved in human trafficking, but the U.S. made it illegal for Britain to search any of their ships for possible people crouching below deck, all in the name of naval security. So, of course, the British turned to spies and informants, with one notable ally being Emilio Sanchez, a Cuban immigrant who worked as a ship dealer in New York.

Sanchez was a man on a mission. He claimed that he unknowingly got caught up in a slave-voyage-gone-wrong, and he was angry at his betrayers for tricking and giving him a bad reputation. He made it clear to the British consul in New York that he wanted to bring the entire industry to its knees. He wanted to be their Kraken. He wanted to be unleashed onto the Atlantic slave trade to wreak havoc and drown every single slave trader in their own corruption and deceit. He wanted revenge  also money because spies have to eat, too.

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And sweet Cthulhu, was he good at it. When Sanchez wasnt successfully figuring out four out of every five illegal trading ships on route at a time, he was writing anonymous op-eds to the media in which he made clear his intentions to destroy the slave trade and expose corrupt officials. With Sanchezs help, the British were able to thwart 30 slave ships between 1859 and 1862, saving around 20,000 Africans from slavery in the Americas.

Newly-elected President Abraham Lincoln eventually managed to chase the slave traders out of New York and allow British ships to search U.S. vessels, marking the end of the Atlantic slave trade. Sanchez had a huge hand in exposing these traders in the first place but got screwed over in the end when the British refused to pay him what they had promised and cut ties with him completely. Maybe he saw it coming. After all, instead of freeing some of the African people onboard these intercepted slave ships, the British shipped them to the British Caribbean to temporarily work there as indentured laborers, proving that humans are just the worst and also super hard to trust.

Zanandi is on Twitter and wrote a comic for Trailer Park Boys that you can order here.

Top Image: New York Public Library, Harper's/Wikimedia Commons
Wiley Franklin Smith Sr., 88, of Crossville, passed away Aug. 24, 2021, at his home in Crossville. He was born March 22, 1933, in Crossville, son of Virgil Smith and Bessie (Emery) Smith. Wiley worked as a merchant for a retail sales business and was of the Baptist faith. He is survived by h
T-Mobile has confirmed a data breach that impacted nearly 50 million people, including current, former and prospective subscribers. The exposed details differed across different types of customers, so the level of risk users are exposed to varies.

Victims of the T-Mobile or any other breach where personal data is stolen should be aware of follow-on attacks and take steps to mitigate them. These include SMS/text-based phishing, SIM swapping and unauthorized number porting.

The T-Mobile data breach

On Sunday, Motherboard reported that hackers were advertising for sale a data dump that they claimed contained the Social Security numbers (SSNs), phone numbers, names, physical addresses, International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers, and driver's license information for 100 million T-Mobile subscribers. On Monday, T-Mobile confirmed that it investigated the claims and found evidence of unauthorized access to some of the company's data, but did not specify what type of data was impacted.



On Wednesday, the mobile operator revealed that the compromised data included full names, dates of birth, SSNs and drivers license/ID information for 7.8 million current T-Mobile postpaid customers as well as over 40 million former or prospective customers who had applied for credit with T-Mobile. No phone numbers, account numbers, PINs, passwords, or financial information were exposed for these users. However, names, phone numbers, and account PINs were exposed for 850,000 active T-Mobile prepaid customers.

The account PIN is important security information that T-Mobile's customer support representatives use to authenticate account holders during customer care calls. It is mandatory for all accounts and is between six and 15 digits long. If an attacker is in possession of a user's personal information, phone number, and PIN, they can call customer support and potentially impersonate the account owner to make modifications on their accounts enabling various attacks.

SMS phishing and victim profiles

One common threat after any data breach is phishing, a form of social engineering where attackers use the stolen private information to construct believable messages impersonating companies or brands. In the past, attackers have used data leaked from a breach to impersonate the same company where the breach occurred, sometimes even using the breach itself to get users to perform actions that exposed additional information or led to malware infections.

In the case of mobile communications, such phishing attacks could be launched over SMS messages, impersonating the mobile operator. At first glance, in the case of the 48 million current, former, and prospective T-Mobile customers whose personal details were exposed, attackers can't target them directly with SMS phishing because their phone numbers were not exposed. However, many leaked data sets on the internet from numerous other breaches include phone numbers, and attackers could potentially cross reference the data from the T-Mobile breach to previously leaked data to discover the phone numbers for at least a subset of the affected individuals, since people don't change their phone numbers often.

This also works in reverse. For the 850,000 prepaid customers who had their names, phone numbers, and PINs exposed, attackers could use data from past breaches to complete profiles that were missing phone numbers, for example. The more breaches occur, the easier it is for attackers to build complete victim profiles and launch attacks that are increasingly hard to detect by both companies and users.

SIM swapping and mobile number porting

Another type of attack that is specific to phone users is SIM swapping. This is when an attacker manages to convince a mobile operator to associate a victim's phone number with a SIM card under their control to receive all their phone calls and text messages. Switching a phone number to a different SIM card is a legitimate service that mobile operators use when a subscriber's device is lost or stolen or when their existing SIM card stops working or needs to be upgraded or changed for technical reasons.

SIM swapping attacks have gained popularity with attackers in recent years because it allows them to bypass security systems that rely on one-time use codes sent over SMS or communicated via a phone call by automated systems. Phone-based verification is often the default option offered by online services for two-factor authentication, account identity verification and recovery, bank transaction authorizations and more. Moreover, even when users enable a mobile app authenticator to generate one-time codes for an online service, SMS or voice still remain enabled as a failover option and can be abused unless explicitly disabled.

SIM swapping is generally a targeted attack, where the attacker has built a profile of the victim and has identified a valuable asset worth compromising and the attack vectors required to do so. In 2019, the FBI's San Francisco office issued an alert that criminals were using SIM swapping attacks to target users who held considerable cryptocurrency assets. They described the attack chain as follows:

Identify the victim: Identify a victim likely to own a large amount of digital currency, particularly cryptocurrency. Identify the victims mobile telephone number and the mobile phone carrier.

Swap the SIM card: Socially engineer a customer service representative from the mobile phone company to port the victims phone number to a SIM card and phone in the control of the attackers.

Password resets: Initiate password resets on the victims email, cloud storage, and social media accounts (password resets are usually accomplished by text messages to the victims telephone number).

Access accounts: Gain access to the victims accounts and identify digital currency keys, wallets, and accounts that may be stored in them. Defeat any SMS-based or mobile application-based two-factor authentication on any accounts with control of the victims phone number.

Steal currency: Transfer the digital currency out of the victims account into accounts controlled by the attackers.





Last year, the US Congress sent a letter to the FTC urging the agency to force wireless carriers to take action to protect users against SIM swapping attacks.

A variation of this attack is mobile number porting where attackers impersonating the victim convince their carrier to port their number to a different SIM card on a different network. This is a legitimate service that allows mobile subscribers to retain the same phone number when they switch to a different service provider. In February, T-Mobile sent some of its customers a data breach notification letter informing them that their accounts were compromised and attackers ported their numbers to a different carrier without authorization.

T-Mobile account PINs are explicitly meant to prevent SIM swapping or number porting as they serve as an additional method to verify the account holder is the person making the request. Following this new breach, the company reset the PINs of the 850,000 prepaid customers who had their numbers and phone numbers exposed and encouraged the other 48 million current, former, and prospective postpaid customers to change their PINs, even though so far there's no evidence their PINs were not compromised. That doesn't exclude the possibility that attackers could use the data leaked in this breach to craft credible phishing attacks to ask victims for their new PINs or to direct users to spoofed pages that ask for their PIN.

Mitigating risks from breached data

T-Mobile is offering all impacted customers a free two-year subscription for McAfee's ID Theft Protection Service, which includes credit monitoring, full-service identity restoration, identity insurance, dark web monitoring, and more. Business and postpaid customers can also enable T-Mobile's Account Takeover Protection service for free and all T-Mobile users can use the company's Scam Shield app that enables caller ID and automatically blocks calls flagged as scams.

More generally, all mobile subscribers should check with their carriers what options they have to secure their accounts against SIM swapping or number porting and they should enable that additional verification. Using text messages or phone calls for two-factor authentication should be disabled where possible in favor of two-factor authentication via a mobile app or a dedicated hardware token, especially for high-value accounts. Email accounts are high-value accounts because they are used to confirm password reset requests for most other online accounts.



Finally, be wary of email or text messages that ask for sensitive information such as passwords, PINs, access tokens, or that direct you to websites that ask for such information; especially if those messages follow a highly publicized data breach. If you receive a suspicious message from a service you have an account with, access the company's website by typing it directly in the browser or call their customer support department to confirm the legitimacy of the message before acting on it.
STONINGTON  Curious storm watchers, swimmers and at least one kite-surfer flocked to Stonington Point after Tropical Storm Henri veered eastward Sunday, sparing eastern Connecticut from the worst of the wind and rain.

About 20 people stood at the point watching the choppy seas continue to roll in late Sunday afternoon. At DuBois Beach, one family even took a dip in the surf.

When do you get the opportunity to see big waves at DuBois Beach? said Janis Mink, of Stonington, as she trotted out to the water with her daughter, Louisa, and granddaughter, Ray.

Its exhilarating when its not dangerous, she added.

Stonington First Selectwoman Danielle Chesebrough said the town was very fortunate to have avoided any reports of major damage or injuries. Likewise, New London Mayor Michael Passero said the region appeared to have avoided the worst of the storm.

We had a couple spot situations with some downed power lines, but other than that, nothing major, Passero said.

In Stonington Harbor, a kite surfer who ventured out from DuBois Beach prompted bewilderment from some onlookers. Later, the surfer was joined by two people who took their personal watercraft out and went airborne off the biggest waves.

I think its nuts, exclaimed Victor A. Botteron Jr., of Vernon, who ventured to the point after spending a weekend in Mystic and the nearby casinos with his girlfriend.

We were like, Should we come down, should we not not come down? Botteron said, adding that they decided to venture out around 10 a.m. after seeing news reports from the point.

We said, Yeah, lets go for it, this is awesome.

Michael Ferrara, of Stonington, said he is familiar with surprised reactions from beachgoers, having surfed in winds up to 50 mph during his 10 years in the sport. He estimated that Sundays gusts ranged from 25 to 35 mph.

Ferrara said he watched the weather and chose to go kite surfing Sunday after the winds started blowing from the southwest, keeping him close to shore rather than pushing him out into deeper waters.

Yesterday, I could see it getting knocked down, Ferrara said of the storms intensity. I knew it would be good.

Elsewhere is Stonington, the remnants of the storm were mostly evident in leaves and small branches that littered many yards, as well as some boarded-up windows downtown.

Tree removal crews from as far away as Virginia were seen pulling into a motel, in apparent anticipation of more cleanup in the days ahead.

Despite some lingering local flooding late Sunday afternoon, residents in the shoreline appeared to breathe a sigh of relief and return to their normal activities. A steady stream of customers flowed into big box stores in Groton and Waterford, while in downtown Mystic, shoppers crowded sidewalks as they ducked in and out of open storefronts.

Officials along Connecticuts eastern shoreline were on high alert, tracking Tropical Storm Henri, which made landfall around midday Sunday just over the border in Westerly, R.I.

Many shoreline towns, including Branford, Madison, Guilford and Old Saybrook, called for residents living along the immediate coast to evacuate before the storm hit.

Ahead of the storm, the state also coordinated with four shoreline nursing homes to evacuate residents. Gov. Ned Lamonts chief of staff, Paul Mounds, said more than 150 residents from Apple Rehab facilities in Mystic, Old Saybrook and Guilford were transferred to other facilities.

In Old Saybrook, First Selectman Carl Fortuna expressed a curiosity over the storms anti-climactic impact.

A temporary shelter established at the towns high school had accepted 30 people, three cats and a dog overnight and into early Sunday, before everyone left and the shelter closed shortly after storms afternoon landfall. Around the same time, residents who had been encouraged to evacuate returned home, Fortuna said.

I havent had an explanation for what happened and why it didnt impact us more, but Im thankful, he said.
HAMDEN  About 600 Quinnipiac University students who have not yet disclosed their COVID vaccination status face hefty fines if they do not upload their information to the schools database, officials said Monday.

Tom Ellett, the universitys chief experience officer, sent an email to the students on Monday, reminding them the deadline to upload the information was Aug. 1.

Our goal is to protect the health of our entire university community, Ellett wrote in the email, which was obtained by Hearst Connecticut Media. In order to accomplish this we must know if you have been vaccinated.

Those students who remain unvaccinated were urged in the email to get vaccinated immediately and upload a copy of their record to avoid noncompliance fees.

The email was sent Monday to about 600 students who had not yet uploaded vaccination information, university spokesman John Morgan told a reporter in an email. As of Tuesday evening, roughly 150 of those students had provided the required documentation after Elletts communication went out, according to Morgan.

The university will impose a weekly fee  which would reach up to $2,275 for a semester  for not complying with the vaccination requirement, Ellett said. The fee starts at $100 per week for the first two weeks of the semester and will increase by $25 every two weeks until reaching the maximum of $200 per week. Ellett said the fines will stop once proof of vaccination is provided.

We wish we did not have to take these measures, but protecting the health of our QU community by ensuring compliance with our vaccination requirement is the only way we can ease most of our COVID-related restrictions and safely return to our in-person learning and living activities, Ellett said.

All full-time faculty and staff have submitted the required vaccination documentation, according to Morgan.

Any student who has started the vaccination process will not be charged as long as they are fully vaccinated by Sept. 14, Ellett said.

Students who have received their first dose of a two-shot vaccine must upload a negative COVID-19 test within five days of returning to campus and are required to do weekly, on-campus testing until two weeks after their second dose, Ellett said.

Asked why vaccinated students were not required to get tested when there has been evidence of spread involving vaccinated individuals, Morgan issued the following statement:

CDC guidelines currently do not recommend routine testing of vaccinated individuals, he wrote. They do recommend that vaccinated persons get tested 3-5 days after exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, and to wear a mask in public indoor settings for 14 days after exposure or until they receive a negative test result. In addition, if a vaccinated individual has any COVID-related symptoms they should get tested.

All unvaccinated QU students will be required to take weekly, on-campus COVID-19 tests. Any unvaccinated student who misses weekly testing will be charged a $100 fee each time, Ellett said.

Any student who has not fulfilled the vaccine requirement by Sept. 14 will lose access to the Quinnipiac network and Wi-Fi, Ellett said.

The deadline for students to request a medical exemption was July 6, but these are still being considered on a case-by-case basis, Ellet said. Ellett said the deadline for religious exemptions has passed.

Our hope is we dont have to assess these charges on anyone, but rather the students provide their necessary documentation as required before the start of the semester, Morgan said.

The universitys website indicates it has about 6,800 undergraduate and about 3,000 graduate, medical and law students across its three campuses in Hamden and North Haven.

Other area schools are taking different approaches to vaccine requirements.

Albertus Magnus College is not allowing students to enroll if they are unvaccinated and do not have an exemption, according to a statement from spokeswoman Sarah Barr.

Anthony Santella, the University of New Havens COVID coordinator, told the Register that UNH had no plans to fine unvaccinated or partially vaccinated students who miss their weekly surveillance testing but would prohibit them from entering campus facilities, including classrooms.

For students at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, We will continue to educate and work with our students individually to ensure that they are following our mitigation efforts, including required testing for those who are not vaccinated, according to spokesman Patrick Dilger. We will not be imposing fines or similar measures for non-compliance.

At Yale University, spokeswoman Karen Peart said Tuesday that students who wish to enroll in Fall 2021 must either be vaccinated, or be granted a medical or religious waiver from vaccination.

Those refusing vaccine, or who fail to meet the vaccination requirement by the determined deadline, will not be allowed to remain on campus, she said.

At the University of Connecticut, nonexempt students who do not provide proof of vaccination will have their accounts frozen, according to spokeswoman Stephanie Reitz, who said the measure would prevent them from accessing their housing assignments and course information.

At Gateway Community College, spokeswoman Evie Gard said Gateway and all of the states community colleges are governed by the policies set forth by the CT Board of Regents for Higher Ed with DPH and CDC guidance. The protocols adapt as the situation changes.

The latest is the vaccine requirement for students who want to attend classes on campus or participate in activities on campus, according to an email. Unvaccinated students can apply for a medical or non-medical exemption. They are also encouraged to take classes online and virtually participate in campus activities. There is no punitive action for non-compliance, but non-vaccinated students without an exemption would likely be redirected to off-site learning until the matter is resolved ... (they get an exemption or get vaccinated).
While Tropical Storm Henri tracked farther east, sparing Connecticut from the brunt of the high winds and heavy rain on Sunday, hospitals officials said they were prepared for the worst.

St. Vincents Medical Center in Bridgeport established an emergency plan that included allowing staff who were on duty to stay overnight Saturday and Sunday if needed.

The health systems Fairfield region also closed its urgent care centers at noon Sunday as a precaution.

This is not sneaking up on us. Weve known about this for days, said William M. Jennings, president of Hartford HealthCares Fairfield Region, which includes St. Vincents.

Though by Sunday afternoon, the impact on much of the state, particularly the Bridgeport region, wasnt as intense as expected, hospitals were ready.

Its our duty to take it seriously  hope for the best, but plan for the worst, Jennings said Sunday afternoon.

Other hospitals and health systems engaged in similar storm preparations. Nuvance Health  which includes Danbury, New Milford, Norwalk and Sharon hospitals  said it expected its facilities to remain fully operational during the storm.

We are preparing our campuses and offsite locations for the predicted weather per our standard operational response, the health system said in a statement. We want to thank our staff that has stayed over or are coming in early to assist with our response.

Bridgeport Hospital spokesperson John Cappiello said Sunday morning there were no major issues at the hospitals main Bridgeport campus or at its Milford campus and there were no access or staffing issues. Bridgeport Hospitals urgent care centers in Fairfield and Milford were closed Sunday due to the storm.

On Sunday afternoon, Bridgeport Hospital President Anne Diamond said the storms impact on the hospitals coverage area appeared to be minimal.

It looks like Henri is not giving us too hard a time, she said.

But, she said, the hospital was prepared and had taken precautions to make sure there was enough power to the generators, and ample food and other supplies. Some staff members stayed at Bridgeport Hospital overnight Saturday.

However, Diamond said, most of the emergency preparations the hospital had put into place were not needed.

Were in normal operations, she said.

At St. Vincents, Jennings said the health system regularly conducts drills to prepare for emergencies, and has whats known as a 96-hour rule, meaning hospitals need to be self-sustaining for at least 96 hours during an emergency, with an ample supply of food, medicine, equipment and other supplies.

St. Vincents received a delivery of food on Friday and a shipment of medical supplies arrived Sunday morning in preparation for Henri, said John Rossi, vice president of operations for Hartford HealthCare Fairfield region. The hospital took other measures as well, such as making sure its generators were ready to power the hospital and securing things that needed to be tied down.

Were well-prepared, Rossi said.

The system also has been holding regular safety huddles  including one Sunday morning, as the storm was moving into state  to hone its response.

Weve been in emergency response mode all this year for the COVID-19 pandemic, so weve got the playbook, Rossi said.

As for any patients who went to the hospital for non-storm concerns, such as suspected COVID-19, they were treated as they would any other day, Rossi said, with staff adhering to personal protective equipment guidelines and other safety measures.

Rossi said his chief concern was getting patients to and from the hospital, particularly if flooding and road closures made travel unsafe. He said he knows some people with ailments that dont need immediate attention may delay a trip to the hospital. Likewise, those who in the hospital on Sunday who were ready to be released, may have needed to stay longer due to travel concerns.

Some people may need to stay here while we ride out the storm a little bit, Rossi said. We can wait. Its not an issue.
TRENTON, N.J. (AP)  New Jersey joined a small but growing list of places Monday to require COVID-19 vaccinations for teachers and state workers or for them to undergo regular testing.

Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, announced the new mandate during a news conference, saying that pre-K-12 teachers and staff and state employees must be fully vaccinated by Oct. 18 or get COVID-19 testing once or twice a week.

New Jersey has about 130,000 public school teachers, 1.3 million public school students and an estimated 70,000 state workers.

Scientific data shows that vaccination and testing requirements, coupled with strong masking policies, are the best tools for keeping our schools and communities safe for in-person activities, Murphy said.

New Jersey joins California, Connecticut, Oregon and Washington to require teacher vaccinations. California, Connecticut and Oregon also called for state workers to be vaccinated. Washington requires most state workers to get the shot. New York City on Monday mandated vaccinations for teachers, but its requirement doesn't allow for opting out.

Murphy, a Democrat running for reelection this year, announced the move just as schools across the state prepare to begin the new academic year.

The decision follows an announcement earlier this month to require staff, students and visitors to wear masks on school grounds. States including California, Connecticut and Washington also have mask and vaccine requirements in their schools.

Its unclear what percentage of teachers, school personnel and state workers in New Jersey are already vaccinated, but the state has among the country's highest percentages of people fully vaccinated. Seventy percent of those 12 or older are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nationally, that figure stands at about 60%.

Murphy said Monday that his administration has heard from local reports that an overwhelming majority of teachers are already vaccinated.

New Jersey health care workers were also required to get vaccinated or undergo regular testing in an executive order Murphy announced earlier this summer.

The state's biggest teachers union, the New Jersey Education Association, supported the order.

This Executive Order is another example of Gov. Murphys unwavering commitment to health and safety of NJEA members and the students we serve, said union President-elect Sean Spiller.

The state's School Nurses Association and the state chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics also supported the decision.

California has called for a similar vaccination requirement, but with an option for testing. Washington state also has a vaccination requirement, but the governor has said teachers could risk losing their jobs if they don't comply. Connecticut teachers and state workers must get regular test if they don't have a religious or medical exemption.

The mandate comes as the contagious delta variant is leading to higher positivity rates across the country. There are more cases and hospitalizations in New Jersey as well, but far lower than at the peak in the spring of 2020.

Health officials have also said that most of those going into the hospital with COVID-19 are unvaccinated.
Local leaders in Middlesex County expressed relief at the lack of significant flooding or damage, even though forecasters said the remnants of Tropical Storm Henri could still bring rain and flooding to the state Monday.

In Old Lyme, First Selectman Tim Griswold said the sun was peeking through the cloud cover Monday morning as crews worked to clean up a few scattered tree branches around town.

There were no reports of significant damage or flooding in the Shoreline towns of Guilford, Madison or Westbrook, which had prepared for the worst of the storm.

We dodged a bullet here in Westbrook, no question about that, First Selectman Noel Bishop said, while praising the towns emergency preparations.

The storm also appeared to cause little damage to the states beaches and coastline, according to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

DEEP is not aware of any reports of coastal erosion as a result of Storm Henri at this time, agency spokesman Will Healey said in an email. DEEP continues to assess the State Parks, but at this time has not observed evidence of significant coastal erosion in the State Parks due to the storm.

By 1 p.m. Monday, lines of RVs and campers were already lined up to re-enter the campground Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison two days after the park closed in preperation for the storn, according to a tweet by Fox 61s Michael Wooten.

Further up the Connecticut River Valley, officials also reported mostly benign conditions Monday.

In Middletown, the downtown fire department hadnt been called to a single storm-related incident between Sunday and Monday, Fire Chief Jay Woron said. Its been very, very quiet.

When Storm Elsa passed through Middletown July 7, the city saw six inches of precipitation, he said. In response, public works and water and sewer crews addressed problem areas that flooded. They cleaned and vacuumed debris that had accumulated in and around storm drains, which remedied the situation, Woron said.

In Chester, Emergency Manager Ray Guasp said the majority of residents who had evacuated low-lying areas of town had returned to their homes around 1 p.m., and there were no new reports of flooding.

Officials in East Hampton and Essex also said they had nothing new to report after weathering the worst of the storm Sunday.

Editors note: Middletown Press Managing Editor Cassandra Day contributed to this article.
More than 25 million students will return to classrooms on August 30, according to the president of Mexico, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, as parents prepared the portfolio for future expenses for the 2021-2022 school year .

According to Jose Manuel Lopez Campos, leader of the Confederation of National Chambers of Commerce, Services and Tourism (Concanaco-Servytur), after more than a year without face-to-face classes, it is expected that establishments related to education and their collaterals will register a increase in your sales.

He said that the return to schools will give a respite to the businesses that are still active, since in 2020 the spill reached was 42,000 million pesos, and this year it is expected to register at least the figure that was had in 2019, of 82,000 millions of pesos.

Whether the classes are face-to-face, virtual, or both, so-called back to school purchases often mark an uptick in consumer spending.

According to data from Expo Back to Classes, Mexicans spend about 70 percent of their monthly income on school supplies.

For certain types of brands, back to school is one of the most important sales and promotion periods of the year, which they take advantage of to communicate special offers that motivate sales both in their physical stores and on their websites.

The last couple of years have been anything but typical, and in the uncertainty, it is critical that brands reconnect with consumers in a way that reflects current reality and resonates with different audiences.

In this context, traditional advertising has become increasingly irrelevant in recent years, largely due to the way information is currently being consumed. Businesses must focus on reaching consumers in the environments where they spend most of their time: on digital platforms, but not with the brand-building strategies of yesteryear. Today's shoppers are much more attracted to brands that are in tune with their needs; with which they show that they understand them.

For certain types of brands, back to school is one of the most important sales and promotion periods of the year / Image: Depositphotos.com

The challenge of 2021

Compared with other months leading up to a new school year, the landscape of this 2021 has changed in different ways and the ways of advertising and consuming as well. Online shopping exploded during the pandemic and e-commerce trends indicate that it is here to stay.

The upcoming return to the classroom impacts each family differently. For some, there is likely an additional level of excitement about shopping for school clothes and accessories, and for others, there may be anxiety about the return and new restrictions. Some face unprecedented financial worries, while others do not.

In other words, it is impossible for a single back-to-school message to fit all.

Effective suggestions: content creators and message personalization

Who better to reach consumers of school supplies than real parents with real needs? Or how to gain credibility with younger generations like Gen-Z (born after 1996 and up to 2012)?

Brands with the support of content creators have the opportunity to execute strategies focused on different audiences in an incredibly specific way. They can tackle different issues and reach new consumers simply by allowing them to authentically tell their own diverse stories.

Another advantage of content creator marketing is that it doesn't have to be limited to the followers of influencers; You can leverage your top performing posts for social media ads and reach very targeted audiences on a large scale.

In these weeks leading up to back-to-school, both large corporations and small businesses invest time, resources and creativity to create messages that differentiate themselves from the competition and achieve both an increase in sales and the conquest of new customers. Who will be your next allies?

Copyright 2021 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
DENVER (AP)  One man was killed and five other people were wounded in a shooting in Denver's nightlife district just as bars were closing over the weekend, police said.

The shooting happened at about 2 a.m. Sunday on a corner near a music hall and a nightclub in the city's Lower Downtown area.
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP)  New Zealand's government on Monday said it will extend a strict nationwide lockdown until at least Friday as it tries to extinguish a growing coronavirus outbreak.

The news came as health authorities reported 35 new local infections of the fast-spreading delta variant, the highest number of daily COVID-19 cases in New Zealand since April last year.

First discovered last week, the outbreak has grown to 107 cases. But health authorities say they've found links among most of those cases, giving them hope they can quash the outbreak. Authorities said they've tested about 3% of the nation's entire population over the past six days.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the lockdown will continue until at least the end of the month in Auckland, where most of the cases have been found.

We do need more information. We need more certainty. We dont want to take any risks with delta, Ardern said. "If the world has taught us anything, it is to be cautious with this variant of COVID-19.

Ardern said modeling suggested the outbreak should peak in a few days' time, and then decline.

One of the reasons lockdowns are considered essential in New Zealand in that inoculation rates remain low, with only about 20% of people fully vaccinated. The strict lockdown means most people must remain at home, leaving only to buy groceries or medicine, or to exercise.

Ardern also announced that the government has decided to suspend regular Parliament sessions for a week, a move that drew criticism from opposition lawmakers.

At a time when New Zealanders have the harshest lockdown in the world and have lost our freedoms because of the governments failure to vaccinate and secure the border, this move by Jacinda Ardern is unfathomable," said Judith Collins, the leader of the opposition.

While New Zealand was maintaining its strategy of trying to wipe out the virus completely through lockdowns, neighboring Australia appeared to have conceded that lockdowns would not be able to eliminate the delta variant entirely and could only slow its spread.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said lockdowns are were not a sustainable way to live in this country. He said states must open their borders once vaccination rates reach 80% of the population aged 16 years and older.

His remarks came as an outbreak in Sydney grew by more than 800 cases, near record levels. Health authorities said an outbreak centered in Melbourne also grew by 71 cases and another in the capital, Canberra, grew by 16 cases. All three cities remained in lockdown.

But in Western Australia, where there are no community infections, Premier Mark McGowan said his government wouldn't reopen at the 80% vaccination level if it meant reintroducing the virus.

About 24% of Australians are fully vaccinated.

___

McGuirk reported from Canberra, Australia.
Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media

BRIDGEPORT  An individual was rushed to the hospital late Sunday night after a stabbing at a city restaurant, according to officials.

Officers responded to the Copa Restaurant on Lexington Avenue for a report of a possible assault with a knife outside the location around 11:20 p.m., said Scott Appleby, the citys director of emergency communications and emergency management.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  The vaccinations that U.S. schoolchildren are required to get to hold terrible diseases like polio, measles, tetanus and whooping cough in check are way behind schedule this year, threatening further complications to a school year already marred by COVID-19.

The lag was caused by pandemic-related disruptions last year to routine doctor's visits, summer and sports camps at which kids usually get their immunizations.

Now, pediatricians and educators are scrambling to ensure that backlogs don't keep kids from school or leave them vulnerable to contagious diseases.

Its a big deal, said Richard Long, executive director of the Learning First Alliance, a partnership of education organizations that has mounted a public outreach campaign. Were going to have kids getting seriously sick this fall, and the sad part is, for the most part, its preventable."

The number of non-flu vaccines ordered and administered through the federal Vaccines for Children program, which covers about half of Americans under 18 and serves as a barometer of national trends, plummeted after former President Donald Trump declared a national emergency in March 2020, a review by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed.

A subsequent review of 10 jurisdictions, released in June, showed that, despite administered doses again approaching pre-pandemic levels last fall, they did not increase to the level that would have been necessary to catch up children who did not receive routine vaccinations on time.

A full reckoning for schools is still weeks off, when grace periods that allow unvaccinated children to temporarily attend school begin to lapse around the country.

But the latest COVID-19 surge linked to the delta variant has added new hurdles  including swamped doctor's offices and clinics, and even potential shortages of medicine vials, syringes and needles  to the swirl of confusion and fatigue already facing those working to tackle the backlog, health and pharmaceutical experts said.

Dr. Melinda Wharton, director of the CDC's Immunization Services Division, said political rhetoric and misinformation around COVID-19 vaccines also aren't helping.

In a lot of communities, we polarize vaccines: Either you believe in vaccines or you dont believe in vaccines. And were lumping a whole lot of perspectives and issues into an artificial dichotomy, she said. That does worry me a great deal.

Dr. Sara Sally Goza, immediate past president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said her practice in Fayetteville, Georgia, was inundated with families needing to get caught up on their shots. That caused a backlog of patients headed into the first day of school in early August.

Actually, weve even had patients of other pediatricians calling us," she said, "because I guess theyve been told that were somehow magically able to work people in and get to them when their doctors arent able to get them in.

And some parents remain complacent, experts said  either because they're vaccine skeptics or because they're exhausted by the pandemic and come from a generation unfamiliar with the ravages of diseases like polio.

You just have our general population saying, 'Im tired of thinking about medical issues. I want to be on vacation, I want to be outside, I want to go to the shore, whatever it is, said Wharton. So getting a non-COVID vaccine doesnt seem like the highest priority for people.

When the Pennsylvania Department of Health reminded parents last week to add their childrens routine vaccinations to back-to-school checklists, the comments section conflated into debate over COVID-19 vaccines and mask mandates.

Even those committed to getting the shots sounded tired. This is getting ridiculous with you people, remarked one parent. Kind of hard when you cant get an appointment until AFTER school starts! wrote another.

State education and health departments have joined local districts' efforts to increase information-sharing about vaccines and opportunities for children to get their shots, and governors  including Maryland Republican Larry Hogan and Kansas Democrat Laura Kelly  have elevated this month as National Immunization Awareness Month as a way to bolster compliance.

The Learning First Alliance's Power to Protect vaccination campaign, backed by the National PTA and teachers unions, has provided information to principals, teachers, school nurses and support staff like bus drivers and janitors on which shots students of different ages require, and where to get them.

Nudge and encourage is really the role here, the group advised in a June tweet shared by the American Federation of Teachers and others.
It was Aug. 19 - Thursday - when Tropical Storm Henri was moving through the Atlantic Ocean. It was too early to know whether the storm would build to a hurricane and crash into the Connecticut coast or perhaps it could veer east and head out to sea.

Within 24 hours, Henri was forcing state officials to consider a requirement that people shelter in place with the increased likelihood of the storm becoming a Category 1 hurricane and hundreds of thousands of power outages possible.

Compared to what was at least temporarily expected, Connecticut was able to escape the worst of what was predicted. Heres a look at what was forecast, how the storm developed and how things played out in the state.

Thursday, Aug. 19

It was predicted by an expert meteorologist Henri could make its way to New England by Sunday. But if the storm continued on the same path it would just be probably a cloudy day with minimal effect.

Associated Press

Friday morning

The National Weather Service said it expected Henri to strengthen to a Category 1 hurricane, but pass close by Connecticut. At the time, the magnitude of storm effects were still uncertain.

Friday afternoon

Eversource bumped up its projection for the storm to a level three event, meaning up to 49 percent of customers could be without power for up to 10 days. It was expected the storm could hit Connecticut by Saturday night. A hurricane watch was issued.

Friday 4 p.m.

Gov. Ned Lamont declared a state of emergency and called for 200 National Guard members to come to Connecticut Saturday morning in anticipation of search and rescue missions. Lamont said it was likely people would have to shelter in place during part of the storm.

Friday night

The National Weather Service issues a hurricane warning for parts of Connecticut as the storm continued heading westward toward New England.

Erik Trautmann / Hearst Connecticut Media

Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media

Saturday morning

In addition to a hurricane warning for some counties, a storm surge and and tropical storm warning was issued for southern Fairfield County. The Federal Emergency Management Agency brought provisions to Westover Air Reserve Base in anticipation of needing to serve throughout New England.

Saturday 11:50 a.m.

Henris winds exceed 74 mph while traveling in the Atlantic, making it a Category 1 hurricane. The storm appeared headed toward the central portion of Connecticuts shoreline border.

Saturday noon

The town of Madison issues a mandatory evacuation for all residents south of Boston Post Road. It was the first of several towns along the shoreline to issue evacuations in anticipation of a storm surge.

Saturday 12:30 p.m.

Eversource again raises the expected storm level - this time to a level two. This level means between 400,000 and 800,000 customers could be affected. Eversource estimated outages could affect 50-69 percent of customers for up to 21 days. Shortly thereafter, Metro-North announced it would suspend service on Sunday.

Erik Trautmann / Hearst Connecticut Media

Saturday 4 p.m.

Lamont, after having a conversation about the storm with President Joe Biden, warns state residents winds could reach 70-80 mph and that flooding could be a major issue in the state with multiple inches of rain expected. United Illuminating added it was preparing for a Level 3 storm, which can result in a loss of power for 30-50% of its 340,000 customers.

Saturday 5 p.m.

The National Weather Service says Henri has sped up, sending it slightly east

Saturday 11 p.m.

The National Hurricane Center says the storm continued to track east, with the center of the storm passing through Rhode Island. The change would mean slightly less wind and plenty of rain in Connecticut.

Saturday 11:55 p.m.

Lamont bans tractor-trailer trucks, tandem tractor-trailer trucks and motorcycles from traveling along I-95 during the storm.

Sunday 5 a.m.

Hurricane Henri nears the shoreline with rain starting shortly thereafter. The storm was expected to slow down and take a north-northwest turn after making landfall in Rhode Island.

Brian A. Pounds / Hearst Connecticut Media

Sunday 7 a.m.

Henri is downgraded to a tropical storm.

Sunday 9:20 a.m.

Biden approves the Connecticut emergency declaration.

Sunday 12:15 p.m.

Henri makes landfall as a tropical storm along the coast of Rhode Island. Winds were about 60 mph at the time of landfall.

Carol Kaliff / For Hearst Connecticut Media

Sunday 1:30 p.m.

Eversource had about 25,500 power outages most in southeastern Connecticut.

Sunday 2:30 p.m.

The worst of the tropical storm was largely over with it severely weakening after making landfall. The storm begins mosting westward through Connecticut.

Sunday 4:25 p.m.

Lamont lifts the modified travel ban.

Sunday 5:30 p.m.

Tropical storm warnings across Connecticut are canceled.
WESTPORT  Though emergency responders and town officials took multiple steps to prepare for Tropical Storm Henri, Westport was mostly spared the storms wrath.

Fortunately, Westport did not experience any significant issues related to Henri, said Westport Police spokesman Lt. David Wolf. Some scattered outages were quickly repaired and there was no reported flooding.

Deputy Fire Chief Michael Kronick echoed those sentiments, saying nothing noteworthy happened because of the storm.

Before Henris impact was known, Westport took many of the same precautions as other Connecticut cities and towns, such as closing parks and other recreational facilities. The town also opened its Emergency Operation Center in anticipation of the storm, but it was closed by 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

In a statement issued Sunday evening, First Selectman Jim Marpe thanked residents for their cooperation.

I want to thank our residents and businesses for heeding the instructions to remain at home and prepare for what couldve been a major situation, he said. I hope that for many Westporters, today was a day well-spent with family, or at least a chance to test and improve your emergency preparedness.

Though the storm was mostly a bust, rain continued to fall throughout the region on Monday, and Wolf said the weather was being closely monitored. The weather did lead the Westport Weston Family YMCAs Outdoor Center to close on Monday afternoon, according to a post on the organizations Twitter page.

The forecast for the rest of the weeks looks amazing! the post read. See you outside.
I am not qualified to be an insurance executive. I have no experience underwriting coverage policies, Ive never adjudicated a claim and I hold no license granting me the right to practice insurance.

What I do know is ophthalmology. It took 12 years of training and education to earn a license to practice medicine and perform surgery on the eye. I also know my patients. I know their medical histories, their lifestyles and their personal and professional needs, all of which I have followed over time, observing how changing vision impacts their ability to perform the things they need to do and the things they love to do  Do they drive? Do they need to use a computer for work? Are there complications or risk factors to consider?

This expertise informs my discussions with patients about when it is time to remove a cataract. A lot more goes into this decision than whether the patient can read the big E on an eye chart, and some cataract surgeries are actual emergencies that cant wait for approval from an insurer.

An insurance executive should not be the one to decide whether or when it is necessary to remove a cataract. Yet this is precisely what Aetna  the countrys third-largest insurer  has allowed by instituting a new requirement that it preapprove all cataract surgeries beginning July 1. With short notice, no verifiable data, and virtually no input from stakeholders in the medical community, Aetna has delayed thousands of needed surgeries and caused chaos for patients here in Connecticut and across the country.

Approximately 4 million Americans undergo cataract surgery every year with an overall success rate of 99.5 percent. Cataract surgery is vital to restoring patients vision and independence, allowing them to perform daily activities without fear of injuring themselves or having to rely on family members for assistance. Delaying cataract surgery, as Aetna has done, can lead to adverse outcomes for patients. Cataracts reduce patients quality of life, interfere with their work, and put them at increased risk for falls and car accidents.

Aetnas irresponsible policy has had an immediate, negative ripple effect across patients and providers. Some physicians were told approval could take up to two weeks, others were told to cancel all surgeries, and some were told approval would be instant (though Aetnas online portal was not operational when the policy went into effect). While the insurance giant dithered, thousands of Americans were forced to cancel or delay their procedures, a frustrating and potentially dangerous setback. In July alone, anywhere from 10,000 to 20,000 Aetna members had their cataract surgery unnecessarily delayed by the policy, according to estimates from the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. Tellingly, no other major medical insurer believes such a prior authorization policy necessary for cataract surgery.

Aetnas actions are the latest and most egregious example of insurers practicing medicine without a license  to the detriment of patient care. According to the most recent American Medical Association survey, 90 percent of physicians said prior authorization has a negative impact on patients clinical outcomes, while the average physician spends 16 business hours each week filling out prior authorization paperwork. These policies directly threaten the physician-patient relationship by allowing insurers to override clinical judgment and delay medically necessary care.

Nothing could be more corrosive to the trust that underpins the relationship between a patient and doctor than an outside agency casting doubt on their carefully thought-out decision making. Furthermore, these policies place significant administrative burden on providers and take precious time away from patient care. When I first began the practice of ophthalmology, I was able to manage my practice with just one employee. By the time I threw in the towel and gave up my solo practice for a group practice, I needed six full-time employees to handle all the administrative work, including a substantial degree of prior authorization that predates this new requirement by Aetna.

Enough is enough  its time to put guardrails around prior authorization. As a first step towards reforming this practice, Congress should pass the Improving Seniors Timely Access to Care Act (H.R. 3173), a bipartisan bill to increase transparency, streamline approvals and hold insurance companies accountable for denying and delaying care. Though the legislation is specific to Medicare Advantage plans, it represents a major milestone for patient access to physician-prescribed care.

By reforming this costly and frustrating practice, Congress can help ensure that insurers like Aetna are not overriding physicians clinical decisions and causing unnecessary disruptions to care. I encourage all our congressional representatives to support the passage of H.R. 3173 and Sens. Blumenthal and Murphy to support similar legislation in the U.S. Senate. I also urge Aetna to immediately reverse course with its dangerous prior authorization policy.

Dr. David K. Emmel is co-legislative chair of the Connecticut Society of Eye Physicians and the chair of the Committee on Legislation of the Connecticut State Medical Society. He practices in Wethersfield.
In our previous article in this series, we discussed the top five areas that credit unions should consider to drive a positive card-not-present / e-commerce experience for members. This article will take a deeper dive into authorization and fraud programs and the importance of their role in a credit unions overall card-not-present strategy.

The shift from card present to card-not-present has been accelerated by COVID-19. The data in Exhibit 1 represents debit payment volume in the US beginning Q4 2019. Although card-present in-store payment volume is back to pre-pandemic levels, the COVID-19 recovery has been led by the card-not-present channel. The card-not-present channel now accounts for approximately 60% of all debit payment volume in the US.

In a card-not-present environment, customer experience is critical, particularly around the successful completion of payments. Did you know that the average credit union member gets declined around 12 times for every 100 attempts to use their debit cards online? Almost all of those are opportunities for the member to reach into their wallet to find another card that just works!

Credit unions typically reject purchases for two main reasons  they suspect fraudulent activity, or there are not enough funds in the linked checking account to cover the purchase. Both are valid decline reasons, but credit unions typically take a conservative approach with suspicious purchases, which may result in higher false positive decline rates and thus hurting customer experience.

The data in Exhibit 2 shows decline rates compared to fraud rates for various financial institution types. The data is relative to the category of banks that is best-in-class  regional banks in this case. Community banks and credit unions decline many more transaction attempts than their larger peers, with the trend worsening for card-not-present transactions. While the need to prevent fraud is important, these institutions miss the full impact of a false positive decline. In addition to the loss of spend revenue for the credit union, this is also a negative customer experience that can impact cardholder engagement. Some cardholders will reduce their spend on the card, while others will become completely dormant as they opt for a competitors card. The worst-case scenario is that the overall membership relationship is compromised, with the customers leaving the credit union (e.g., switch checking account providers, cease debit card or credit card spend) for another financial institution. The data shows that debit cardholders who experience a decline event are 2-7 times more likely to leave the credit union.

On the bright side, as shown in Exhibit 2, community banks and credit unions prevent more fraud than their larger peers. Credit unions should ask themselves whether the negative customer experience and attrition related to false positive declines is worth the 2-basis point improvement in fraud rate (i.e., is the juice worth the squeeze)?

In the next article in this article series, we will explore various strategies that credit unions can use to improve the performance of their authorization and fraud programs. We will discuss a valuation framework that can help credit unions objectively assess the costs and benefits of declining authorizations, an approach to managing the health of your authorization and fraud rules, and a member communication strategy that you can leverage to augment your existing authorization and fraud program.
Who is being recommended to get booster shots? Why?

HC: The only current recommendation is for moderate to severely immunocompromised individuals to receive and additional dose in their primary series. This is not a booster dose. Those who have moderately to severely compromised immune systems will now get three doses, instead of the two recommended for the general population. This is only for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines currently. They will receive a third dose at least 28 days after their second dose. The updated order from ACIP are expected to be released within the next week. After that this additional dose will be able to be given to those who meet criteria.

On Aug. 21, public health and medical experts from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the following statement on the Administrations plan for COVID-19 booster shots for the American people.

"Based on our latest assessment, the current protection against severe disease, hospitalization, and death could diminish in the months ahead, especially among those who are at higher risk or were vaccinated during the earlier phases of the vaccination rollout. For that reason, we conclude that a booster shot will be needed to maximize vaccine-induced protection and prolong its durability.

We have developed a plan to begin offering these booster shots this fall subject to FDA conducting an independent evaluation and determination of the safety and effectiveness of a third dose of the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines and CDCs Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) issuing booster dose recommendations based on a thorough review of the evidence. We are prepared to offer booster shots for all Americans beginning the week of September 20 and starting 8 months after an individuals second dose. At that time, the individuals who were fully vaccinated earliest in the vaccination rollout, including many health care providers, nursing home residents, and other seniors, will likely be eligible for a booster. We would also begin efforts to deliver booster shots directly to residents of long-term care facilities at that time, given the distribution of vaccines to this population early in the vaccine rollout and the continued increased risk that COVID-19 poses to them.

We also anticipate booster shots will likely be needed for people who received the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine. Administration of the J&J vaccine did not begin in the U.S. until March 2021, and we expect more data on J&J in the next few weeks. With those data in hand, we will keep the public informed with a timely plan for J&J booster shots as well."
Elizabeth City, NC (27909)

Today

Becoming windy with a thunderstorm or two possible this afternoon. High 89F. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Variably cloudy with scattered thunderstorms. Low 68F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Haitis National Police force says it has deployed additional units south of the capital to protect aid shipments being taken to the country's earthquake-damaged southwestern peninsula
Gregory (Greg) Boggs of Greenup, age 68, died on August, 20 2021, at Kings Daughters Memorial Center.. Gregory is survived by his wife of 43 years, Tina (Madden) Boggs; his daughter Jennifer (Boggs) Brown and son in law Bill Brown, of South Portsmouth; his daughter Anna Collister and son in 
Not for the first time, Joe Biden was late for his own press conference. Before he got round to Afghanistan, he wanted to deliver an update on his administrations response to Tropical Storm Henri, which had earlier made landfall in Rhode Island.

The President had just been briefed by the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA. I cant think of anyone better to lead this operation than, er, um, er . . .  he mumbled, as he hastily consulted his notes.

Biden couldnt even remember the name of the woman in charge of FEMA, someone he had been speaking to just a couple of minutes earlier. Not only that, she was sitting in front of him.

The President is refusing, presumably because his close associates arent even confident that he can remember his own name these days

A baffled Biden had to reach into his jacket pocket and fish out a fistful of cue cards before he could read his answer

Kamala was last seen in public hiding behind a black facemask at a press conference alongside Biden. It was as if the Taliban had taken Washington, as well as Kabul

Millions of television viewers saw Sleepy Joe experience yet another embarrassing senior moment.

This latest lapse of memory was reminiscent of the scene during a presidential visit to a Michigan farm shop recently. The female assistant behind the ice cream counter asked him a fairly straightforward question about Russian cyber hacking.

A baffled Biden had to reach into his jacket pocket and fish out a fistful of cue cards before he could read his answer.

While conservative news outlets such as Fox made fun of the President, the overwhelmingly pro-Democrat mainstream media gave him a free pass.

But now, as I wrote here last Tuesday, even the patience of anti-Trump TV channels and newspapers has evaporated.

Since the fall of Kabul, Biden has come under attack from both sides of the political divide. His fitness for office is being openly questioned.

Its not only card-carrying Republicans calling for his resignation, although there are plenty of them around right now. Perhaps the most prominent, and best qualified, is Texas congressman Ronny Jackson.

A retired U.S. Navy rear admiral, Jackson was appointed to the White House medical unit by George W. Bush and served as official physician to Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump.

Back in October last year, during the presidential election campaign, Jackson stated publicly about Biden: I am concerned that he does not have the mental capacity, the cognitive ability, to serve as our commander-in-chief and head of state.

After Bidens initial bumbling response to the Taliban takeover, Jackson tweeted: If hes not mentally capable of handling this crisis, he needs to resign IMMEDIATELY.

Fourteen Republican members of Congress have written an open letter demanding that Biden takes a formal cognitive ability test, which Trump passed in 2018 after the Democrats accused him of senility.

An evacuated resident, wades through high water following a flash flood, as Tropical Storm Henri makes landfall, in Helmetta, New Jersey

Bidens betrayal of all those who have fought, died or have been gravely wounded in Afghanistan has been compounded by him leaving Americas allies  primarily the British military  high and dry. (Afghans near the military airport in Kabul)

The President is refusing, presumably because his close associates arent even confident that he can remember his own name these days.

Bidens overall approval ratings have now fallen below 50 per cent, which is par for the course in a country which remains bitterly divided. More significant was an NBC News poll showing that six out of ten think hes screwed up in Afghanistan.

Over the past week, Ive spoken to Americans from all walks of life and political affiliations, including a former marine who served three tours of duty in Afghanistan, and an ex-New York fireman who took part in the Twin Towers rescue and lost two close friends on 9/11.

However they voted last year, and no matter how badly they wanted the troops out of Afghanistan, they have all been fiercely critical of the manner of Americas chaotic withdrawal. That the worlds foremost military superpower has been humbled by a bunch of cavemen with AK47s is a source of abiding shame.

Whichever way Biden and his few remaining apologists try to paint it, theres no escaping the fact that the scuttle from Kabul is a humiliating defeat.

The Taliban is now dictating terms. American citizens stranded in Afghanistan cant even get through to the airport.

Meanwhile, Bidens critics cant avoid contrasting the siege of Kabul airport with the ease with which millions of illegal immigrants are able to flood across Americas southern border.

The anger and bewilderment has been reflected by former Biden cheerleaders in the Left-leaning American media, who have been unable to conceal their disappointment in the President and his administration.

Bidens betrayal of all those who have fought, died or have been gravely wounded in Afghanistan has been compounded by him leaving Americas allies  primarily the British military  high and dry. Boris Johnson will try to talk him round in a Zoom call today but is probably on a hiding to nothing.

Despite declaring that America was back on the world stage, Biden has walked away. The former marine I spoke to is not alone in wondering whether the sacrifice of the past 20 years was worth it.

The biggest worry for Americans now is that theres still at least three and a half years of the Biden presidency. Millions of people agree with physician Ronny Jacksons diagnosis.

What they see on their TV screens is a decrepit 78-year-old President seemingly in the advanced stages of senile dementia.

When I watched his shambolic press conference on Sunday, the tune ringing in my head was the 1966 novelty hit by Napoleon XIV:

Theyre coming to take me away, Ha-Haaa!

But even if the men in white coats come calling for Biden, what next? No one can seriously welcome the prospect of his Vice President Kamala Harris replacing him.

Last week, I described her as giggly. On Sunday, she proved me right yet again, dissolving into manic laughter when reporters tried to question her as she descended from a plane in Singapore. Youd never guess that she used to be considered a shrewd public prosecutor.

She was last seen in public hiding behind a black facemask at a press conference alongside Biden. It was as if the Taliban had taken Washington, as well as Kabul.

As a couple, they looked like Lord and Lady Gaga.

Dont forget, either, that Harris was the first Democrat ejected from the primary race to choose the partys presidential candidate last time around.

The Democrats, and by extension America, are hardly spoiled for choice. Theres no princeling Bill Clinton or Barack Obama on the immediate horizon

That was after she accused front runner Biden  the man she now understudies  of being a racist.

Yet today shes a heartbeat away from the presidency, a frightening prospect. Some Democrats are said already to be plotting ways to stop her succeeding Biden as Commander-in-chief.

But if not Harris, then who? Third in line under the constitution is Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, the Wicked Witch of the West.

At 81, shes even older than Biden and was last spotted, as Kabul fell, at a $29,000-a-plate fundraiser under the Californian sun.

The Democrats, and by extension America, are hardly spoiled for choice. Theres no princeling Bill Clinton or Barack Obama on the immediate horizon.

Meanwhile, gloating in the wings at his Mar-a-Lago compound in Palm Beach, is one Donald J. Trump, still maintaining that the last election was stolen from him and threatening to run again in 2024.

The last thing a divided and wounded America needs is a re-run of the Trump circus. Probably the Republicans would be best served by choosing a new young candidate such as Floridas impressive 42-year-old governor Ron DeSantis. But hell only get the nod with Trumps blessing.

For now, the U.S.  and what remains of the free world  is lumbered with Sleepy Joe, a man so befuddled that hell probably turn up late for his own political funeral.
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Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle, Queen Letizia of Spain and Maxima of the Netherlands are all universally regarded as style icons - but none of them take the crown of the most stylish - according to Tatler.

The society bible has named Beatrice Borromeo of Monaco as the most stylish European royal praising her 'penchant for Valentino, Armani Prive and Chanel'.

Beatrice, 36, is the daughter of Italian aristocrat Don Carlo Ferdinando and worked as a political journalist and documentary maker, before marrying Pierre Casiraghi, 33, the son of Caroline, Princess of Hanover and the grandson of Grace Kelly.

On her wedding day in 2015, she sported four couture gowns , two by Valentino for her civil service in Monaco and two by Armani Prive for the religious service in Lake Maggiore.

Six years on and now a mother-of-two, Beatrice is still impressing wherever, she goes, with Tatler saying she: 'cuts an elegant figure everywhere she goes  whether it's a red carpet, a royal appearance or simply yacht-hopping  with her equally chic sister-in-law Charlotte Casiraghi making for the perfect fashion partner-in-crime'.

Tatler has named Beatrice Borromeo of Monaco as the most stylish European royal praising her 'penchant for Valentino, Armani Prive and Chanel'. She is pictured on her wedding day in 2015

Left: Beatrice wore a black and pink velvet gown by Valentino for the Venice Film Festival in 2017. Right: Beatrice Borromeo in the front row Byblos show at Milan Fashion Week in 2018

Keeping it stylish all weekend: The morning after her 2015 wedding, Beatrice was pictured wearing a short yellow sundress with metallic gladiator sandals

Black and gold: Countess Beatrice is shown in a golden number at Monte Carlo's famous Rose ball in 2010, five years before her wedding to Pierre Casiraghi (left)

Beatrice first shot to the fashion world's attention when she tied the knot in what Vogue dubbed the 'chicest wedding of the summer'.

The magazine called Beatrice the 'Monegasque royal to keep your eye on' describing her wedding dresses as 'a love letter to the greats of Italian fashion'

This year, she became an ambassador for Dior, opting for a navy jumpsuit to watch their 2021 fashion show virtually.

Since, Beatrice, who shares son Stefano, four, and Francesco, three, has been pictured in Dior pieces, styling them perfectly.

Pierre Casiraghi and Beatrice Borromeo The 60th Rose Ball, Monte Carlo in 2014. Beatrice first shot to the fashion world's attention when she tied the knot in what Vogue dubbed the 'chicest wedding of the summer'.

Pre marriage: Beatrice sported r a pink silk gown with wraparound sequin details at the premiere of Marie Antoinette at Cannes Film Festival in 2006

Beatrice first shot to the fashion world's attention when she tied the knot in what Vogue dubbed the 'chicest wedding of the summer' in 2015 (pictured)

But she first made headlines around the world during her lavish wedding - where she was seen posing for pictures on a balcony in a stunning pink and gold lace Valentino gown, before later changing into a floor-length white evening gown for the night's festivities at the five-star Hotel de Paris.

Beatrice, who studied journalism at Columbia University, later wore a stunning blush floor-length by Valentino Haute Couture.

The Borromeo family have close ties with the House of Valentino - with her sisters also opting for Valentino for their weddings. Beatrice's uncle, Count Matteo Marzotto, is the former president and director of Valentino.

Foreshadowing! Beatrice Borromeo takes to the catwalk presenting a wedding dress by Valentino on the last day of Gaudi fashion show for brides in 2005

Golden girl! Beatrice Borromeo opted for a golden dress as she joined her husband Pierre Casiraghi The 61st Rose Ball in Monte Carlo

Through the ages: Beatrice has shown off her stunning looks for decades. She is pictured left in 2005 aged 20, centre in 2010 aged 25 and right in 2015 aged 30

Since her spectacular wedding, she has continued to show off a chic new look.

At Milan Fashion Week shortly after her wedding, she looked resplendent in a powder blue coat over a white dress, Beatrice certainly blended in with the fash pack at the Emporio Armani fashion show.

She has also been showcasing her sartorial credentials at gala evenings with her husband, charity events and at the weddings of other royals.

Sleek in silver: Beatrice opted for a sparkling number to a surrealist dinner in 2017 in Monte Carlo, she was joined by her husband Pierre (left)

The Borromeo family have close ties with the House of Valentino - with her sisters also opting for Valentino for their weddings. Beatrice's uncle, Count Matteo Marzotto, is the former president and director of Valentino. She is pictured in 2015 in Milan

Royal glam! Beatrice Borromeo and Pierre Casiraghi stunned at the wedding of Prince Albert II of Monaco and Charlene Wittstock in 2011. Prince Albert is Pierre's uncle

The blonde beauty changed into a stunning white evening dress for the evening celebrations, which was also by Valentino, with a full skirt made with layers of tulle with a cloud design and silver embellishment for the reception.

The floor-length dress featured a dainty racer-front, but the real talking point was the risque back, held up by two barely-there cross-back straps.

Beatrice scraped her hair back into a bun and sported minimalist jewellery to let the lavish haute couture look do all the talking.

At a reception to honour the late fashion legend Karl Lagerfeld in 2019, Beatrice wore a stunning nude sequined dress, and kept things traditional with her long satin gloves.

Beatrice is a member of the ancient aristocratic House of Borromeo - a family that has owned the Borromean Islands in Lake Maggiore in northern Italy since the 16th century.
In November 2019, I booked my next summer holiday  in Tuscany  stupidly early. Last week I deferred it for the second year in a row, hoping for third time lucky in 2022. Instead of Florence, well have Fishguard; our back-up is glamping in Pembrokeshire.

Actually, I am delighted with our simple plan, compared with the complexities of sourcing PCR tests, downloading health forms and navigating changing guidelines.

And of course, we are lucky to be going on holiday at all. Even so, when I see a friend on Instagram looking sun-drunk somewhere in the Med, I feel a sharp pang of envy as I hover over the like button.

Patricia Nicol reveals a selection of the best books on social media influencers, including How Do You Like Me Now? by Holly Bourne (pictured left) and Such A Fun Age, by Kiley Reid (pictured right)

Earlier this year, Em Sheldon  an influencer who makes money promoting things online  told MPs that in her experience, middle-aged mums (a category I fall into) were often the worst social media trolls. That didnt surprise me. Social media is a rum old business, especially for those who actually make it their business.

People Like Her, by husband-and-wife duo Ellery Lloyd, is a slick, sharp thriller that would be a fast-paced summer read whether you plan to be poolside posting pics of your pedicure or cosying up in a cottage rental. Emmy, who goes by the Instamum influencer name of Mamabare, is married to Dan, an unsuccessful writer. He is both embarrassed by her savvy social media activities and proud of how hard she works to fund their young familys enviable lifestyle. But someone out there hates them.

Such A Fun Age, by Kiley Reid, is a sharply funny novel that holds a mirror up to our hyper-connected world and explores issues such as race, sex and privilege. Alix, a wealthy white influencer, employs Emira, a young black woman, to look after her children. Their awkward employer-employee relationship ends up being played out in public.

In How Do You Like Me Now? by Holly Bourne, another online showoff, Tori, feels the life she is living out in public is actually a lie.

This summer, if you cant relax with social media, put your phone away and read a book instead.
Kmart Australia has unveiled a stunning new range of bedding just in time for spring - including $18 'reversible' quilt cover sets, $8 cushions and $15 throws.

Shoppers looking to create an inviting bed that's both cosy and affordable can restyle their entire bedroom without breaking the bank.

Floral prints, abstract patterns, soft pastel tones and earthy colours dominate the collection, with many styles looking considerably more expensive than their affordable price tags.

Kmart Australia has unveiled a stunning new range of bedding just in time for spring. Among the deals is the 'Magnolia' quilt cover set featuring blush pink florals with a touch of greenery on one side while the reverse enjoys abstract patterns. Offering a fresh new look to any bedroom, the design comes in four sizes - single ($14), queen ($18), double ($17) and king ($24)

Featuring a textured look, the 'Makena' butter coloured quilt cover set has been a hit among shoppers, and it comes in two sizes - queen ($38) and king ($45)

Shoppers have described the quilt as 'absolutely gorgeous', 'stunning colours' and more

Among the deals is the 'Magnolia' quilt cover set featuring blush pink florals with a touch of greenery on one side while the reverse enjoys abstract patterns.

Offering a fresh new look to any bedroom, the design comes in four sizes - single ($14), queen ($18), double ($17) and king ($24).

Featuring a textured look, the 'Makena' butter coloured quilt cover set has been a hit among shoppers, and it comes in two sizes - queen ($38) and king ($45).

'An absolutely gorgeous and stunning colour,' one shopper wrote, while another added: 'Great! Quality is good. Colour is perfect. Very impressed.'

The 'Honor' quilt cover set comes in a soft pastel pink tone, featuring a tufting detail. The design comes in three sizes - double ($40), queen ($45) and king ($50)

The 'Maha' quilt cover set features a cool blue floral design on a white background. The design comes in three sizes - double ($34), queen ($38) and king ($45)

Shoppers looking to create an inviting bed that's both cosy and affordable can restyle their entire bedroom without breaking the bank

The 'Honor' quilt cover set comes in a soft pastel pink tone, featuring a tufting detail. The design comes in three sizes - double ($40), queen ($45) and king ($50).

'Beautiful cotton fabric. Very cute duvet cover, great pink tone,' one shopper wrote, while another added: 'It looks exactly the same as the picture. Beautiful.'

Other top deals include $8 floral cushions, $15 reversible throws, and duck feather and down quilt offering a cost night's sleep from $109.

Shoppers can purchase the bedding in store or online, with home delivery available.
An Australian nurse working on the frontline against Covid-19 has revealed the harrowing effect of wearing full personal protective equipment for 12 hours straight.

Katie, who usually specialises in cosmetic injectables but currently works in the emergency department of a New South Wales hospital, filmed herself before and after a nightshift to show how different her face looked from the pressure of PPE.

In a video uploaded to TikTok on Sunday, Katie's nose can be seen imprinted with the outline of her surgical-grade N95 mask, while her cheeks are red and marked with deep lines from the suction of her face shield.

While it's not clear which hospital Katie works at, the cosmetic clinic she worked at before the pandemic has two outlets in Guildford and Liverpool in Sydney's west - two suburbs in the epicentre of the latest outbreak and subjected to the most brutal lockdown restrictions.

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Katie, who works in the emergency department of a NSW hospital, filmed herself before (left) and after (right) a nightshift to show how different her face looked from the pressure of PPE

The state notched a record 830 cases on Sunday, the highest number of daily new cases in Australia since the Covid crisis began in early 2020. An additional 818 cases were announced on Monday.

Katie's grim transformation, which has racked up 87,100 views since it was uploaded online on Sunday, quickly drew dozens of grateful responses.

'Thank you for all your hard work. You guys are so valued and appreciated,' one woman wrote.

A second said: 'Wow looks like you have been to war. Thank you for your service.'

Fellow healthcare workers voiced their support, with one woman writing: 'We're in the same boat my sister! I'm a cardiac nurse and we're getting absolutely smashed.'

Meanwhile others used the video as an opportunity to slam Covid-deniers who argue that mandatory masks are an infringement of their human rights.

''Karen: Oh my god, I had to wear a mask for 40 minutes to shop,' one person wrote.

Many viewers hailed Katie and her colleagues as 'heroes'.

She is just one of hundreds of frontline workers scrambling to treat an influx of Covid-positive patients as the highly contagious Delta variant continues to sweep across Sydney and regional NSW.

While it's not clear which hospital Katie (pictured after a nightshift) works at, the cosmetic clinic she worked at before the pandemic has two outlets in Guildford and Liverpool in Sydney's west - the epicentre of the latest outbreak that has been crippling NSW since June

A harsh new range of restrictions came into effect on Monday, with face masks mandatory outside the home across NSW unless exercising and Sydney's 12 LGAs of concern placed under a strict 9pm to 5am curfew.

The tough restrictions kicked in less than 24 hours after the state reported a record high of 830 new cases on Sunday, as well as three deaths.

Locked-down Victoria also suffered a devastating blow on Monday after recording 71 new cases overnight, its most in a single day since the tail end of its second wave last September.
A fashion designer with a rare genetic disorder that inspired her to create a line of false eyelashes has revealed the beauty products she never goes without - including an $18 blush and a $42 foundation that covers any blemish.

Jenna Lyons, 52, quit her high-flying role as creative director of American clothing label J. Crew to launch Loveseen, a range of 'falsies' born from her lifelong battle with incontinentia pigmenti, a condition that left her with just seven eyelashes.

In a recent interview with Australian beauty retailer Mecca, Ms Lyons listed the skincare treatments that live on her bathroom shelf and the makeup she carries in her beauty bag at all times.

Her most affordable choices are a $28 kohl eyeliner from Jillian Dempsey and Mecca Max's $18 'Off-Duty' cream blush stick, which she says reminds her of her childhood.

Fashion designer turned beauty guru Jenna Lyons (pictured) is the founder of false eyelash line, Loveseen, available exclusively at Mecca in Australia

Ms Lyons says she swears by $18 Mecca Max blush stick (left) and $28 Jillian Dempsey eyeliner (right)

She says she loves La Mer's $205 'The Treatment Lotion' (pictured), a lavish serum described as 'liquid energy'

For foundation, Ms Lyons uses Mecca Cosmetica's $42 'In A Good Light', a sheer, lightweight face tint laced with SPF 30 that covers imperfections with a natural-looking finish - perfect for a 'no makeup, makeup' look.

'I'm old, and I also need to cover s**t,' she said.

Her essential skincare shelf includes an $89 exfoliant from Dermalogica that claims to smooth skin and reduce pigmentation, as well as Kiehl's $86 'Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado' which promises to brighten and moisturise the under-eye area.

'It's the only kind I can use that doesn't get into my eyes,' she said.

Ms Lyons (pictured) was hailed as 'the woman who dresses America' when she worked as the creative director for clothing label, J. Crew

For foundation, Ms Lyons uses Mecca Cosmetica's $42 'In A Good Light' (pictured)

Other must-haves include NARS $38 matte lip pencil (left) and NARS $43 cream blush (right)

Ms Lyons says Kiehl's $86 avocado eye cream (pictured) is the only one she uses

Ms Lyons (centre) says her essential skincare shelf includes an $89 exfoliant from Dermalogica that claims to smooth skin and reduce pigmentation

Ms Lyons, who was hailed as 'the woman who dresses America' during her time at J. Crew, said she sleeps in Verso's $128 'Night Cream', which promises to leave skin looking younger and softer.

She also swears by La Mer's $205 'The Treatment Lotion', a lavish serum described as 'liquid energy', packed with collagen that leaves skin soft and plump while enhancing its natural radiance.

Other must-haves in Ms Lyons cosmetics bag include Clinique's $45 contour and sculpting stick and a $54 creamy eyeshadow from Rituel de Fille.

She also loves to use NARS $43 liquid blush and the brand's $38 matte lip pencils in nude and red.
Billionaire business mogul Kylie Jenner is bringing her empire Down Under by launching her namesake beauty brand in Australian stores for the first time ever.

From Tuesday, August 24, shoppers can get their hands on their favourite Kylie Cosmetics products at Mecca, bringing an end to ordering from the brand's website where shoppers face wait times of up to 14 days and shipping fees of $18.95.

The retailer will stock best-sellers including Lip Kits, pressed powders and shimmering eye pencils online and in 30 stores nationwide, giving customers across Australia and New Zealand their first opportunity to browse the range in-store.

Billionaire business mogul Kylie Jenner (pictured) is bringing her empire Down Under by launching her namesake beauty brand in Australian stores for the first time ever

From Tuesday, August 24, shoppers can get their hands on their favourite Kylie Cosmetics products (pictured) at Mecca

It comes weeks after the 24-year-old reality star turned businesswoman unveiled her brand's 'clean' makeover.

All products in the revamped collection are now made with vegan ingredients that are free from parabens, gluten and animal-source oils, in a nod to the clean beauty trend gathering pace around the world.

Kylie hyped the relaunch last month in a post on the Kylie Cosmetics Instagram page, writing: 'The NEW @kyliecosmetics is officially launching on July 15 on KylieCosmetics.com... I can't wait for you guys to try these new formulas!'

The mother-of-one, who raises three-year-old daughter Stormi Webster with her on-off partner, Travis Scott, told People she was committed to making strides with the new version of her brand.

All products in the revamped Kylie Cosmetics collection are now made with vegan ingredients that are free from parabens, gluten and animal-source oils

Kylie, who raises three-year-old daughter Stormi Webster with her on-off partner, Travis Scott, says she is committed to making strides with the new version of her brand

Jenner, who is rumoured to be expecting her second child with the Sicko Mode rapper, added that she was happy to be using materials that were sustainable and cruelty-free.

The move is the latest Australian expansion for the Kardashian/Jenners, after Kylie's half-sister Kim Kardashian West announced the launch of her iconic intimates line SKIMS at David Jones.

The luxury department store confirmed the 40-year-old billionaire business mogul's iconic shapewear and loungewear brand will be available online and in select stores this spring.

Co-founded in 2019 by Kardashian West and Jens Grede, the label specialises in technically constructed underwear that enhances curves and provides invisible support that sculpts the stomach, thighs and behind.

Kim Kardashian West (centre) bringing her iconic intimates line SKIMS to Australia this spring

The mother-of-four (pictured, in a set from SKIMS Cozy Collection) has won praise for her size-inclusive brand, which is stocked from XXS to 4XL, with tones to suit a range of ethnicities

The mother-of-four - who co-parents daughters North, 8, and Chicago, three, and sons Saint, five, and Psalm, two, with ex-husband, Kanye West - has won praise for her size-inclusive brand, which is stocked from XXS to 4XL, with tones to suit a range of ethnicities.

David Jones will stock a wide variety of the brand's best-selling styles, including Seamless Sculpt, Core Control, Stretch Rib and the wildly popular Cozy Collection.

Fans can get ahead of the crowd by registering their interest on a waiting list, which offers early access to shop online and priority access to book a spot at one of the exclusive SKIMS launch events across the country.

'I'm so excited to see SKIMS launch in Australia and can't wait for everyone to experience the brand in real life,' Kardashian West said.
Took to Twitter and wrote they are 'immensely grateful' of Archewell Foundation

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have donated to the Women For Afghan Women (WAW) organisation via their slick Archewell Foundation in support of efforts to 'evacuate and relocate' families.

Taking to Instagram on Sunday, WAW posted a graphic saying 'thank you Archwell,' alongside a caption which read: 'We are immensely grateful for the generosity of the Archewell Foundation in support of our efforts to evacuate/relocate thousands of Afghan women, children, families, including our staff.'

WAW - the largest womens organisation in Afghanistan - has over 850 local Afghan staff working tirelessly to provide support services to women, children, and families.

Working with strategic partners and local stakeholders, the organisation's ultimate goal in Afghanistan is to transform norms of violence and oppression into that of peace and equality.

It comes after Prince Harry, 36, and Meghan Markle, 40, said the Taliban's advance in Afghanistan had left them 'speechless' and 'heartbroken' in a wide-ranging statement that also addressed the Covid-19 crisis and the humanitarian disaster in Haiti.

The largest womens organisation in Afghanistan has told how they are 'immensely grateful' of the Sussexes' Archewell Foundation for its support in providing protection for women and children in Afghanistan.

Taking to Instagram on Sunday, WAW posted a graphic which read 'thank you Archwell' (pictured)

The organisation penned: 'We are immensely grateful for the generosity of the Archewell Foundation in support of our efforts to evacuate/relocate thousands of Afghan women, children, families, including our staff'

The lengthy statement, released via the couple's slick Archewell Foundation website, called on followers to support organisations including Women For Afghan Women (WAW), but failed to say how much they would be personally donating or details of how they will help.

However, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were slammed by a royal expert who called their statement 'another attempt to form an alternate woke royal family.'

Meanwhile, social media users branded it 'vague publicity seeking word salad' and said it was 'irrelevant' as it failed to mention how they personally planned to help in the crisis.

Prince Harry's biographer Angela Levin told FEMAIL: 'I think Harry and Meghans grandiose, comfy and caring comments about the situation in Afghanistan, the disaster in Haiti and new Covid variants is another example of them trying to set up some sort of alternate woke royal family.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have broken their silence on the situation in Afghanistan to say they are 'speechless'

Prince Harry spent 10 years in the British Army and performed two frontline tours of Afghanistan as a air controller with the Blues and Royals on the frontline in Helmand province, and as an Apache attack helicopter pilot during the two-decade Western intervention. Known as Captain Wales in the army, he is pictured in 2012 in Camp Bastion

'Like most of their "compassionate" gestures there is no indication about what they themselves will do and whether any donations will be going through Archewell Foundation.

'Their comment that they want to "alleviate suffering among those we know and those we may never meet  that will prove our humanity," sounds so similar to their recent comment we must be compassionate "to those we know and those we dont know" that makes it sound equally phoney.'

Prince Harry, who spent 10 years in the British Army and performed two frontline tours of Afghanistan, also released a statement via the Invictus Games Foundation to urge veterans to 'reach out to each other and offer support'.

Amid scenes of frightened Afghans trying to flee a return to brutal misogynistic rule after the Taliban captured the capital city Kabul, Harry and Meghan's statement, which uses US spelling, said: 'The world is exceptionally fragile right now. As we all feel the many layers of pain due to the situation in Afghanistan, we are left speechless.
A cosmetic surgeon has warned against increasing numbers of patients becoming 'alienised' due to 'distorted' beauty standards promoted on social media.

Dr Steven Harris, who runs the Harris Clinic in Crouch End, north London, says that a warped appearance after poor filler treatment has become the 'new normal', and that the trend could cause 'physical and psychological harm'.

He said there is currently a 'live and let live' attitude amongst practitioners, but that cosmetic doctors have 'a duty of care to first do no harm' and that the 'more is more' approach is an 'epidemic'.

Sharing a series of images explaining how to identify badly placed filler on Instagram, he said that 'alianisation' is a result of patients being 'brainwashed' by a bombardment of normalising excessive plastic surgery.

Dr Steven Harris, who runs the Harris Clinic in Crouch End, north London, posted two shots of his sister, one where she looks as she normally does (left) and another in which her face had been digitally altered to simulate the look and features that are common among those who have had too much or poor filler treatment (right)

He posted two shots of his sister, one of how her face appears normally and another where her face had been digitally altered to simulate the look and features that are common among those who have had too much or poor filler treatment.

'The term 'alienisation' refers to distortion of features outside the normal range for the individual so that it appears alien for that particular person', he wrote.

'Some people present naturally with certain features in the simulation, but the problem is creating these in those who do not and making everyone look the same.'

The cosmetic doctor believes that alienisation is taking place due to both lack of regulations and 'monetary gain or greed' among practitioners.

The doctor said the term 'alienisation' refers to distortion of features outside the normal range for the individual so that it appears alien for that particular person

The surgeon also shared a chart to describe specific distortions which can lead to an 'alienised' face and avoid overfilling your face

He wrote: 'There are many reasons for this and while the lack of regulations play an important role, distorted results can be found commonly amongst some of the most highly qualified practitioners.

'It would appear that while for example our knowledge and understanding of anatomy is increasing exponentially, this is at the expense of artistry which is grossly lacking in our industry.

'The distortion of features often involves a More is More approach and so monetary gain or greed is an important factor to consider.'

How can you identify 'alienisation': Dr Harris reveals abbreviations to help spot the trend The small letter 's' - spread F - Forehead T - Temple B - Brow, EL - Eyelid, N - Nose, TT - Tear Trough, PM=Palpebromalar Groove C - Cheek PA - Preauricular NL - Nasolabial Fold P - Philtrum UL - Upper Lip LL - Lower Lip MC - Mental Crease OC - Oral Commissure PJ - Prejowl Sulcus M - Mentu J - Jaw GA - Gonial Angle Advertisement

But Dr Harris also acknowledged that there has been a 'perception drift' in beauty standards, something he blames on 'daily bombardment of abnormal images' and on a rise in those suffering Body Dysmorphic Disorder.

'However, it is the case that many (both practitioners and patients) lack awareness and simply do not see', he wrote.

'The reasons may be Perception Drift (the changes in perception of self after new treatment), brainwashing (from the daily bombardment of abnormal images, especially on social media), a lack of artistic acumen and image disorders such as Body Dysmorphic Disorder which in a small survey was found to be more common amongst practitioners.

'It is important we understand all the reasons for this epidemic which is spreading at an alarming rate and fast becoming the New Normal. It is important because this will help us with damage limitation.'

Dr Harris says that 'alienisation' presents 'significant risks' to both the physical and emotional well being of patients.

'While there is the attitude to 'live and let live', we as aesthetic practitioners have a duty of care to first do no harm', he wrote.

'Most of us (non-practitioners included) can see that we are in the midst of an epidemic of overfilled and distorted faces.

'And while these features such as 'Russian lips' are unsustainable and will come to an end one day, this will take many years as the epidemic is spreading at an alarming rate.

'So in the meantime, it is about damage limitation and this involves understanding alienisation - it's root causes; how it has come about, how it is spreading and what can be done to minimise the damage.

'As many people (both patients and practitioners) have lost the ability to see normal (and we will again explore the reasons why), I think it is important to have a classification system for alienisation which is what I will present this week.'

The surgeon also shared a chart to describe specific distortions which can lead to an 'alienised' face and avoid overfilling your face.

He wrote: 'Some people present naturally with certain features in the presented simulation, but the problem is creating these in others and making everyone look the same.

'Alienisation is problematic because it is associated with greater risks to both the physical and psychological well-beings of our patients.

'And as practitioners we have a duty of care to first, do no harm.'
A mother born with two vaginas has told how she only discovered the condition when giving birth to her son.

Brittany Jacobs, 26, of North Carolina, has uterine didelphys, meaning she was born with two fully-functioning reproductive systems, and therefore has two uteruses, two cervixes and two vaginas.

The mother-of-two only discovered the condition just over a year ago, when she gave birth to her son Zack.

She wanted a natural birth, but the experience was excruciating because her vagina has been 'halved' inside due to a dividing wall of tissue in the vagina, known as a septum.

The diagnosis explained why sex with her husband Gregory, 26, had always been so painful, despite being dismissed by medical professionals.

Mother-of-two Brittany Jacobs, 26, from North Carolina, found out she had two fully-functioning reproductive systems, and therefore has two uteruses, two cervixes and two vaginas when she gave birth to her first son over a year ago (pictured during the pregnancy)

Brittany, pictured with Zack, revealed she had always found sex with her husband Gregory, 26, painful, and realized it was due to the condition

She now wants to go through an operation to remove tissue around the septum to make sex less painful.

Brittany, who is a student, explained she had gone to physicians complaining of sex being painful but had her concerns dismissed.

She said: 'When I brought it up to my doctors they told me I just needed to relax before having intercourse.'

However in reality the issue was caused by the septum in her vagina, which divides the vagina into two sections.

Many girls dont realize they have a vaginal septum until they reach puberty, when pain, discomfort, or an unusual menstrual flow sometimes signal the condition.

Others dont find out until they become sexually active and experience pain during intercourse. However, some women with a vaginal septum never have any symptoms.

Pictured: the couple proudly announcing Brittany's second pregnancy when she was expecting Avery

The mother-of-two said she found giving birth to Zach extremely painful and wants further operation to fix the issue (pictured now with her second son Avery)

The mother was in so much pain, she couldn't go through a natural birth liked she had planned when she had Zack, pictured

A graphic compares what a normal uterus looks like, compared to a woman who has two cervixes and two uteruses

Brittany explained hers was discovered during childbirth.

'They were trying to deliver my first-born son when they noticed my septum,' she said. 'I was trying to have a natural birth and so they began cutting without medication.

What is uterine didelphys? The medical condition where woman have two vaginas A double uterus is a rare abnormality that develops when a baby girl is in her mothers womb. Every uterus starts out as two small tubes called Mullerian ducts. As they begin to develop, they usually fuse together to form one uterus. But in rare cases, the tubes remain separate and become two uteri. Sometimes there is only one cervix for both wombs, other times each womb has a cervix. Often the vagina in women with a double uterus is divided into two separate openings by a thin membrane. Its entirely possible for women with a double uterus to carry a baby to term. However, the condition does come with an increased risk of miscarriage or premature labor. Its quite common for a woman with a double uterus to experience no symptoms whatsoever. Source: Healthline Advertisement

'I do not remember much but I do remember it was so painful  I was kicking and screaming and begging myself to pass out. They eventually gave me an epidural and then cut it. At that point, it was painless.'

Brittany slammed the lack of support and understanding for women with her condition, which is affects fewer than 1 per cent of women in the US.

'There is knowledge of my condition as a birth defect but as far as long-term issues go, I have had to rely on my support group,' Brittany said.

'We still try to rely on verified information  women discuss their research articles, conversations with doctors, ultrasound results and much more.

'It is frustrating the amount of doctors and midwives who say they never learned about uterus abnormalities so sometimes you have to rely on word of mouth from people that also suffer with uterine didelphys.

'I am now mindful that doctors do not know as much as we expect. I have to do my own quality research on my issues and advocate for my needs.

'I am understanding why my body is different from others and why it may need different care than others.'

Brittany must now be cautious when it comes to birth control and kidney issues, so she takes supplements to protect her health. She also has a second son, six month old Avery.

She now shares videos on TikTok (@BritsBurg), where she has connected with other people with uterine didelphys and shares her experiences with her 112,700 followers.

However, some stories have been tough to hear.

Brittany added: 'I had a man reach out to me personally and tell me that his wife has uterine didelphys and she also did not know until she was giving birth.

'She ended up passing away during birth and so did her child. It broke my heart to hear that someone let that woman and her baby down.'

The mother-of-two with Zack. Brittany said doctors had dismissed her when she had told them she found sex with Gregory very painful

Brittany, pictured, said she would wait until the couple had relocated to another area to look into an operation that could change her sex life for the better

The mother-of-two has now set up a TikTok account about her condition, and said people have reached out with their own stories about uterine didelphys

Brittany now wants to have further surgery, after continuing to find sex uncomfortable due to the remaining scar tissue left when her septum was cut in childbirth.

While Gregory finds sex better now, for Brittany it is a constant reminder of her painful condition.

She said: 'I find it much more painful but my doctors told me it would get better. My scar tissue is very uncomfortable for me. I would like to get some more tissue removed from having my septum cut to make sex less painful.'

Uterine didelphys is not usually life-threatening, but a man told Brittany his wife died during birth because of the condition

Gregory, pictured with Zack when he was a baby, said he found sex with Brittany less painful after she gave birth to their first son
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She was the original blonde bombshell known for her sex appeal and charisma - but now never-before-seen photos of Marilyn Monroe show her aged 19 when she was a brunette.

Eleven photographs taken by esteemed Hungarian photographer Andre de Dienes in 1945, 1949 and 1953 will be auctioned by Nate D. Sanders Auctions on August 26.

Among the snaps include one taken of the Hollywood starlet at Tobay Beach, Long Island in 1949, where she can be seen wearing a terrycloth robe, hands clasped together in prayer, while another show her during one of their first photo sessions together in 1945, with Marilyn an unknown, charismatic sweater girl.

Another was taken at the Bel Air Hotel in 1953, 'her big year' according to de Dienes when 'success, fame, was coming to her'. Both 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes' and 'How to Marry a Millionaire' premiered in 1953.

Bidding for each photo begins at $800. Pictured, one of their first photo sessions together in 1945

In 1945, Dienes met 19-year old model Marilyn Monroe for the first time. Pictured, during one of their first photo shoots

This photograph was taken by Andre de Dienes in 1945 during one of their first photo shoots, with Marilyn then still known as Norma Jeane Baker

Photograph of Marilyn Monroe, taken by Andre de Dienes in 1945 during one of their first photo shoots, with Marilyn then still known as Norma Jeane Baker

In 1945, Dienes met 19-year old model Marilyn Monroe for the first time. Monroe recently had separated from her husband and expressed to Dienes her desire to become an actress.

Dienes' photos of Monroe helped prompt her into stardom. They were in a relationship together and remained good friends until her death.

Dienes did further photo shoots with Monroe in 1946, 1949, 1952 and 1953. Dienes' photographs of Monroe being auctioned were taken at Tobey Beach in Long Island and Hotel Bel-Air.

Auction owner Nate Sanders said, Andre de Dienes original photos of Marilyn Monroe in a large quantity are rare.

They are gorgeous images of Monroe becoming an emerging star and are highly coveted by collectors. The photos originally came from Kim Goodwin who designed Marilyn Monroe dolls.

Dienes' photos of Monroe helped prompt her into stardom. Pictured, during one of their first photoshoots in 1945

Marilyn Monroe, taken by Andre de Dienes in 1945 during one of their first photo shoots, with Marilyn here an unknown, charismatic sweater girl

Another snap of Marilyn Monroe, taken by Andre de Dienes in 1945 during one of their first photo shoots, when Marilyn was then still known as Norma Jeane Baker

A black and white photograph of Marilyn Monroe taken by Andre de Dienes at the Bel Air Hotel in 1953, ''her big year'' according to de Dienes when ''success, fame, was coming to her''. Both ''Gentlemen Prefer Blondes'' and ''How to Marry a Millionaire'' premiered in 1953

In 1945, when this photograph was taken, Monroe had recently separated from her husband and expressed to Dienes her desire to become an actress

Bidding for each photo begins at $800. Interested bidders may participate in the auction online

Other items including Monroe's nosedrops and an x-ray of her chest have been auctioned by Julien's Auctions in the past.

In another auction last year, Monroe's iconic ivory pleated Travilla dress, from the 1955 film The Seven Year Itch, sold for almost $5m.

Monroe died from an overdose of sleeping pills in 1962 at the age of 36

Among the collection of never-before-seen photographs of Marilyn Monroe that are going up for auction includes this snap of the icon, taken by Andre de Dienes at Tobay Beach, Long Island. It shows Marilyn in a terrycloth robe, hands clasped together in prayer
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Changing of the Guard today returned to Buckingham Palace for the first time since the start of the coronavirus pandemic with the musical backdrop paying tribute to the success of the Team GB Olympians.

The ceremony, which hasn't been performed since March 2020, was completed by the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards and the Band of The Coldstream Guards, but Her Majesty is yet to experience the return of the spectacle as she is currently in Balmoral, her summer home in Scotland.

Songs trumpeted out by the Band of the Coldstream Guards in honour of Britain's Olympic achievements included Spandau Ballet's Gold; The Olympic Theme; Chariots of Fire; and Whitney Houston's One Moment in Time.

The event sees The Queen's Guard handing over responsibility for protecting Buckingham Palace and St James's Palace to the New Guard, usually involving soldiers in scarlet tunics and bearskin hats parading with an army band through central London.

The colourful military spectacle - one of the most time-honoured traditions at the Queen's London home - was halted around 18 months ago to avoid attracting huge crowds of tourists during lockdown, but the display did go ahead at Windsor Castle last month.

Changing of the Guard today returned to Buckingham Palace for the first time since March 2020. Pictured: The Queen's Guard today

The ceremony, which hasn't been performed since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, was completed by the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards and the Band of The Coldstream Guards.

Members of the public gathered to watch the prestigious Household Division undergo the prestigous ceremony today wearing their famous bearskins and red jackets.

Crowds are seen by the gates of Buckingham Palace as the formal ceremony returned after nearly 18 months

Ceremonial duties will now continue at Buckingham Palace, St James's Palace and the Tower of London on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Garrison Sergeant Major Andrew Stokes of the Coldstream Guards, who was in charge of the ceremony's return, said: 'It's been a long time coming.

'Bearing in mind it's been 18 months since we last did a ceremonial Changing the Guard (at Buckingham Palace), there's been an awful lot of hard work and preparation getting people up to standard.'

The Olympic medleys were chosen in 'tribute to the success of our Olympians which we're incredibly proud of', he added.

Members of the public gathered to watch the prestigious Household Division undergo the prestigious ceremony today wearing their famous bearskins and red jackets.

During the pandemic, an 'Administrative Guard Mount' went ahead in place of ceremonies, this saw soldiers take up their sentry duty positions but no formal changeover procedure was carried out.

Ceremonial duties will now continue at Buckingham Palace, St James's Palace and the Tower of London on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Queen's Guard have not gathered for the ceremony in London for 17 months to stay 'in line with Government advice to avoid mass gatherings', but the display did go ahead at Windsor Castle last month.

During the pandemic, an 'Administrative Guard Mount' went ahead in place of ceremonies. This saw soldiers take up their sentry duty positions but no formal changeover procedure was carried out (pictured today)

Pictured: The troops shoes immaculate polished shown during the ceremony at Buckingham Palace today

Household Troops have guarded the Sovereign and the Royal Palaces since 1660. When Queen Victoria moved into Buckingham Palace in 1837, the Queen's Guard remained at St James's Palace, with a detachment guarding her official residence in London. Troops are pictured today

The guard duties are normally provided by a battalion of the Household Division, but soldiers from Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Pakistan have all participated. Troop are pictured today

Dozens of people gathered outside the Queen's London residence today to get a view of the spectacle

Crowds were seen on both sides of the street to watch the Changing of the Guard and the troops at Buckingham Palace

The division has also met for scaled-down ceremonies in the last year and half including a 'mini' Trooping of the Colour.

The roots of the Changing of the Guard ceremony can be traced all the way back to the reign of Henry VII when the first royal bodyguard was created.

Household Troops have guarded the Sovereign and the Royal Palaces since 1660. When Queen Victoria moved into Buckingham Palace in 1837, the Queen's Guard remained at St James's Palace, with a detachment guarding her official residence in London.

Members of 1st Battalion the Coldstream Guards attend the Changing of the Guard ceremony outside Buckingham Palace in London, today

Songs trumpeted out by the Band of the Coldstream Guards in honour of Britain's Olympic achievements included Spandau Ballet's Gold; The Olympic Theme; Chariots of Fire; and Whitney Houston's One Moment in Time.

The colourful military spectacle - one of the most time-honoured traditions at the Queen's London home - was halted around 18 months ago to avoid attracting huge crowds of tourists during lockdown, but the display did go ahead at Windsor Castle last month

The guard duties are normally provided by a battalion of the Household Division, but soldiers from Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Pakistan have all participated.

The pause during the ongoing pandemic was the first time there had been in a significant break in the ceremony.

Even through the dark days of the Blitz, the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace continued.
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Lady Jemima Herbert has married her insurance broker beau Hugo Davies in front of family and friends including socialites such as Princess Diana's niece Lady Kitty Spencer and Belvoir Castle's Lady Violet Manners.

The 31-year-old bride, daughter of the late 17th Earl of Pembroke and Miranda, Countess of Pembroke, wed her groom over the weekend, at Wilton House, Wiltshire, which has been the family seat for 450 years.

The couple, who were 'old friends' before becoming romantically involved, announced their engagement in January last year but have had to rearrange their wedding twice due to the pandemic.

Looking the epitome of elegance for her big day, Lady Jemima stunned in a white dress with a cut-out back and button detailing, teamed with a collar of fabric flowers and a matching belt.

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Lady Jemima Herbert (pictured left) has married her insurance broker beau Hugo Davies in front of family and friends including socialites such as Princess Diana's niece Lady Kitty Spencer (pictured right with the bride) and Belvoir Castle's Lady Violet Manners

The 31-year-old bride (pictured), daughter of the late 17th Earl of Pembroke and Miranda, Countess of Pembroke, wed her groom over the weekend, at Wilton House, Wiltshire, which has been the family seat for 450 years

Both Princess Diana's niece Lady Kitty (pictured left in a yellow frock) - who recently wed her fashion tycoon Michael Lewis, 61, in a luxurious ceremony in Italy where she wore five dresses - and the bride swapped their elegant day outfits for more comfy party ensembles

The bride is no stranger to lavish events, thanks to her upbringing at Wilton House (pictured) where her father, late film director and producer Henry Herbert, used to host glitzy soirees

She completed her glamorous bridal look with a dainty veil while keeping her blonde locks in a messy up-do, paired with a tiara to add even more glitz to the spectacular ensemble.

After getting married at the stunning grounds of her family seat, Lady Jemima and her groom departed in a vintage car while surrounded by their guests.

'What an amazing day. Utterly beautiful @jemima_herbert and Hugo,' wrote Lady Violet Manners on Instagram when sharing a post filled with photographs from the picturesque day.

Lady Violet sported a check frock teamed with a sophisticated black hat, while Lady Kitty was spotted sporting a vibrant yellow dress for the reception.

Looking the epitome of elegance for her big day, Lady Jemima (pictured) stunned in a white dress with a cut-out back and button detailing, teamed with a collar of fabric flowers and a matching belt

After getting married at the stunning grounds of her family seat, Lady Jemima and her groom departed in a vintage car while surrounded by their guests (pictured)

Lady Kitty Spencer took to Instagram today to share snaps from the lavish wedding (pictured left), and of the glamorous bride (pictured right)

Lady Jemima (pictured right) and her sister Lady Alice are founders of luxury table setting rental company Lay London, which provides hosts with everything they need for an exceptionally stylish dinner party

Both Princess Diana's niece - who recently wed her fashion tycoon Michael Lewis, 61, in a luxurious ceremony in Italy where she wore five dresses - and the bride swapped their elegant day outfits for more comfy party ensembles.

The pair donned trainers with their garments, while Lady Jemima donned a ruffled white skirt with a matching crop top for the evening occasion, thought to have been held in a marquee on the grounds of Wilton House.

In July, Lady Kitty led the glamour at a lavish London hen party for Lady Jemima, who was joined by her nearest and dearest including sisters Lady Alice and Lady Katie to say goodbye to her single life in style with a Legally Blonde-themed bash.

The gaggle of glamorous society girls donned their best frou-frou dresses and hot pink accessories for the day out in the British capital. The group enjoyed rooftop drinks at a swanky bar and posed for photos at the five-star Ham Yard Hotel.

Lady Kitty shared a string of photos from the event on her Instagram account with the caption: 'When one of your favourite people in the world has a Legally Blonde-themed bachelorette party (swipe right to see how I was born ready and very eager for this theme thanks to @dolcegabbana)! Cannot wait to watch you get married Jemimz.'

Lady Violet Manners (pictured with fellow guests) sported a check frock teamed with a sophisticated black hat, while Lady Kitty was spotted sporting a vibrant yellow dress for the reception

'What an amazing day. Utterly beautiful @jemima_herbert and Hugo,' wrote Lady Violet (pictured centre) on Instagram when sharing a post filled with photographs from the picturesque day

Wilton House (pictured) has played host to figures such as Cecil Beaton and Keira Knightley, who has filmed at the stately home

The model, who is D&G's global brand ambassador, wore a figure-hugging pink frock for the occasion and added a pair of sparkly heels to complete the look, while Lady Jemima, who wore a pretty pastel purple number for the event, looked overjoyed to be celebrating with her closest friends.

Lady Jemima and her sister Lady Alice are founders of luxury table setting rental company Lay London, which provides hosts with everything they need for an exceptionally stylish dinner party.

They provide china, table decor, textiles and glassware for besposke dinner parties, and can even come to the location to dress the table.

The sisters are no strangers to lavish events, thanks to their upbringing at Wilton House where their father, late film director and producer Henry Herbert, used to host glitzy soirees.

The Palladian property has played host to figures such as Cecil Beaton and Keira Knightley, who has filmed at the stately home. Wilton House is currently home to Jemima and Alice's brother, William, 43, and his family.

The estates passed to William on the death of their father, Henry Herbert, who had seven children to two marriages: Lady Sophia, Lady Emma, Lady Flora and William, from his first marriage to wife Claire, and daughters Jemima, Alice and Katie to his second wife, Miranda.
The owner of a restaurant hit back at a customer who wrote a scathing two-star TripAdvisor review.

Gary Usher, who is the owner and chef at the Sticky Walnut in Hoole, Chester, blasted the review, calling out the customer for being rude and intimidating towards his staff.

In the review titled 'excellent food let down by Ryanair style service', the diner had blasted the manager for 'not giving a toss' about customer service, which Usher vehemently denied.

It is not the first time Usher has taken aim at a negative review - he went viral in September last year after a similar outburst.

In his blistering take-down, restauranteur Gary Usher pointed out that the Sticky Walnut has achieved a top 100 position in the National Restaurant Awards in the UK

The unsatisfied diner, known only as Rob V, wrote: 'The good news is that the food here is very, very tasty and deserves a high rating.

'The bad news is that the restaurant management doesn't give a toss about customer experience.

'I ate here on July 9 had a complaint that was dealt with badly enough by the manager that I wrote to the owner.

'A restaurant that aspires to offer fine dining experience but has lost the ability to empathise with customers and ignores them when they complain? That really is a shame.'

Restauranteur and chef Mr Usher was quick to respond with his own blistering write-up. He replied: 'For goodness sake Robert. I'm supposed to be in TwitAdvisor retirement so let's not waste any time. After all, you've waited 11 years since joining Twitadvisor to write your first review.

'Rob you reserved a table on a Friday evening and agreed to a 1 hour 45 minute time slot. A standard practice, particularly on busy periods, that guests and restaurants worldwide agree to.

'After your dessert course the Manager, who you said "doesn't give a toss", gently reminded you that we would need the table back shortly. You ignored the Manager and proceeded to order another round of drinks.

'Perhaps if your party had arrived on time for your reservation this could have been avoided.'

He continued: 'When the Manager came back a final time to politely let you know we needed to clear the table for our next guests you got up out of your seat, towering over the Manager, pointing in their face.

The review - which was emphatically debunked by restaurant manager Gary Usher - accused the Sticky Walnut of 'Ryanair-style management'

Restauranteur Gary Usher posted a savage reposte to the two-star article, pointing out that the reviewer had lied to staff, pretending they were friends with Mr Usher

'The Manager's response was "Sir, please can you stop pointing in my face". You proceeded to tell the Manager that they didn't deserve to be a Manager and weren't qualified to be in the position.

'Your Mother then joined in by adding to the vitriol being directed towards the Manager.

'That's when both you and your Mother showed your true colours with the classic "We've both worked in restaurants so we know how it works. We should be getting these drinks for free".

'You, Rob, then threatened the Manager by telling them that you would be contacting the owner because you know him and that Gary (me) would be appalled to know how you, "my friend", had been treated.

The Sticky Walnut in Chester has a 4.5 star rating out of 5 on TripAdvisor, where it has amassed almost 2,000 reviews

'The Manager politely pleaded with your whole table to just listen whilst they explained. No one did.

'In a strange turn of events you emailed me, your "friend", at Sticky Walnut's email address.

'You must have lost my number Rob! Not surprisingly, to either me or the Manager, you and I don't know each other Rob.

'Every few months in a restaurant a rude guest will use the "I know the owner!" line to try and intimidate team members and bully them into thinking that they will get into trouble because they didn't look after the owner's "friends" well enough.

'I did read your email. I did "give a toss", but not about you Rob, but about the way you treated the team. So instead of replying to you we chose to block your number, and your Mum's, and put a note on our booking system to not accept any future bookings from you.'

Mr Usher concluded his response: 'With regards to the Manager who "doesn't give a toss" they have managed Sticky Walnut for the last 8 years.

'Coincidentally the same length of time that Sticky Walnut has achieved a top 100 position in the National Restaurant Awards in the UK. I think that makes them both extremely deserving to be the Manager and absolutely qualified to hold that position.'
Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark showcased his passion for wildlife today as he took part in the registering and checking of tuna in Danish waters.

The father-of-four, 53, sported a wetsuit as he joined the nation's Minister of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Rasmus Prehn in the sea, north of Skagen, as part of efforts to preserve tuna.

The fish previously roamed in Danish waters, but mysteriously disappeared in the 1960s without scientists knowing the cause, reported Nord News - but thankfully returned in recent years.

Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, 53, (pictured right) took part in the marking of Bluefin Tuna in Skagen today

Frederik donned a black wetsuit and sturdy boots as he got involved in the project created to preserve tuna in Danish waters

The royal immersed himself in the requirements of the task by wearing a wetsuit and sturdy waterproof boots.

Prince Frederick appeared in good spirits as he helped the DTU Aqua researchers to implant transmitters to track the movement of tuna in the Danish waters.

Scientists are yet to know the reasons why fast-swimming tuna disappeared from the area around 60 years ago.

This is the fifth year in a row that the researchers from DTU Aqua in collaboration with local anglers are noticing bluefin tuna in Danish waters.

Just four tuna were tagged in 2017 but by 2020 the number of tagged tuna had increased to 116.

Crown Prince Frederik (pictured) eagerly jumped into the waters to help a tuna find its balance after being marked

Researchers have been marking tuna since they reappeared in the waters to gain an understanding of what caused them to disappear in the 1960s

During today's continuation of the project, Prince Frederick jumped into the water to help a tuna find its balance after being marked.

Rasmus Prehn talked about the importance of getting tuna back to healthy levels ahead of today's marking of Bluefin tuna.

The Minister recently entered into a barter deal with Spain, which allows Danish fishermen to catch five tonnes of tuna.

In return, Spain receives a quota of 35 tonnes of mackerel from Denmark.

Prince Frederick was joined by Minister of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Rasmus Prehn, who has talked about a need to get tuna back to healthy levels

Prince Frederick, who is the heir to the Danish throne, has been praised by social media users for actively getting involved in the preservation of tuna in Danish waters.

One person wrote: 'How many has a future king who is as active as our own Crown Prince Frederik, well done.' 'So good project,' another said.

Today's project comes after a busy weekend where the royal, who lives at Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen with his wife Princess Mary, 49, and their four children, visited Aarhus Bay.

The area attracts teams from all over the world who compete in sailing.
A teen murder victim's heartbroken sister has spoken of the moment her sibling 'vanished off face of the earth'' before her 16-year-old killer staged a cynical plot to 'discover' the body.

In 2004, Megan McAlorum, aged 16, went missing after a night out with friends in Belfast, Ireland. Her mutilated body was discovered the following morning in the hills above the city.

Her killer, Thomas Purcell, also 16, sadistically lured Megan into a stolen car before killing her - and then created an elaborate alibi to cover his tracks.

Purcell even returned twice to where he left Megan's semi-naked body the next day. The first time was to drag her remains into a ditch; the second was to pretend to discover the body and report it to the police.

At court, Thomas Purcell was handed a life sentence and ordered to serve a minimum term of 15 years.

In tonight's episode of Britain's Deadliest Kids, which airs on discovery+, Megan McAlorum's sister Lynne reveals the grief she and her family felt at being told that Megan's body had been found.

'There were two police officers, and my Mum was sat there. They just said, "it's your daughter," she emotionally recalls. 'That was very hard. It was unbelievable, seeing my Mum and Dad. My family was just never the same afterwards.'

In 2004, Megan McAlorum (pictured), aged 16, went missing after a night out with friends in Belfast. Her mutilated body was discovered the following morning in the hills above the city

Thomas Purcell (pictured) was handed a life sentence and ordered to serve a minimum term of 15 years

Growing up in Belfast, Megan was the second youngest of seven siblings. As she got older, she and her friends spent their free time hanging out in West Belfast, and it was here that she would meet her killer, Thomas Purcell.

Despite being in his teens, Purcell was already a hardened criminal with multiple convictions.

'He had a criminal record that spanned two jurisdictions,' local journalist Allison Morris notes.

On the 12th April 2004, Megan's parents awoke to discover that she hadn't returned home.

'We didn't realise until the early hours of Easter Monday that Megan hadn't returned home,' her sister Lynne recalls. 'It was like she'd just vanished off the face of the Earth.'

Murder victim Megan McAlorum's sister, Lynne (pictured), has spoken of the moment her sibling 'vanished off face of the earth' before her 16-year-old killer staged a cynical plot to 'discover' the body

Megan's murderer, Thomas Purcell, also 16, sadistically lured her into a stolen car before killing her - and then created an elaborate alibi to cover his tracks

Recalling the moment the police revealed they had found her sister's body, Lynne (pictured) said: 'That was very hard. It was unbelievable, seeing my Mum and Dad. My family was just never the same afterwards'

While a missing person's report was filed, police responded to reports of the body of a young woman being found in the hills above Belfast.

'She was covered in a paramedic's blanket,' Detective Chief Superintendent Raymond Murray remembers. 'You could see that there had been a catastrophic head wound or head wounds.'

There was also evidence that she had been sexually assaulted.

Comparing the body with the details of the recent missing persons report, police quickly identified the young woman as Megan McAlorum.

For Megan's best friend Leanne, the news was met with utter disbelief.

'I just sort of remember falling and then thinking, "no, what?" I still at that point didn't think anybody had murdered her,' she recalls.

Megan's body had been discovered by three youths  two girls and 16-year-old named Thomas Purcell.

'Purcell had been driving his van up in that area, and whilst up there he had stopped the van and said to one of the passengers, "I think I see something, I think I see a body." Almost immediately, Purcell's story raised suspicions.

For Megan's best friend Leanne (pictured), the news was met with utter disbelief. 'I just sort of remember falling and then thinking, "no, what?" I still at that point didn't think anybody had murdered her,' she recalls

After building a clearer picture of Megan's movements in the hours before her murder, police were able to identify that Purcell had been driving in the same area of West Belfast where Megan had been with friends.

And, after discounting Purcell's claims that he had spent the night in A&E, police had their lead suspect and were able to piece together what had happened in the early hours of 12th April.

Purcell had lured Megan into his car at around 3am before driving off. Following a confrontation with drinkers and a vehicle swap, Purcell had bludgeoned Megan to death before staging the discovery of her body the next morning.

As DCS Murray reveals, the extent of Megan's injuries were a severe shock to her family.

'The autopsy revealed that the death was from blunt force trauma from a number of very severe injuries to Megan's head,' he explains. 'We never located the weapon; we believe it may have been as basic as a large rock.'

For DCS Murray, it was the callousness of Purcell's behaviour in staging the discovery of Megan's body  just hours after brutally murdering her  which caused the biggest shock.

'I think one of the things that certainly hit myself and hit the staff around me was how cynical it was to stage the finding of her later on that day and take two young girls with you to do that,' he says.

With enough evidence accrued by police, Purcell was charged with murder and, despite pleading his innocence, a court date was set for 2006. But at the last moment, Purcell changed his plea to guilty.

For DCS Murray (pictured), it was the callousness of Purcell's behaviour in staging the discovery of Megan's body  just hours after brutally murdering her  which caused the biggest shock

DCS Murray, however, is sceptical that Purcell's plea change was made out of remorse.

'I think the guilty plea entered at that time was very much routed in him looking after himself, thinking "right, I need to get some discount in my sentence," he explains. 'I don't think any aspect was relating to sparing the family or a genuine demonstration of remorse.'

Adding to this, Lynne recalls how a stony-faced Purcell showed no emotion in court.

'He never showed any remorse, he sort of looked as if "what am I doing here?" A bit of an attitude. But he never showed compassion or anything towards Megan's family at all.'

When asked why he had killed Megan, Purcell only offered one explanation.

'He claimed that she made a comment about the fact that he was a traveller, that was his only justification for killing Megan. He's never offered anything else,' Allison Morris says.

Purcell's guilty plea was welcome, but it didn't lessen the pain of the McAlorum family's loss.

'That victory is fleeting because it doesn't bring her back,' DCS Murray continues. 'You have to prepare her family for that.'

For Megan's mother Geraldine, Purcell's sentence is a poor reflection of the loss that her family felt.

'Even in the court he smirked,' she says. 'She meant nothing to him, he didn't know her. She meant nothing to him, but she meant the world to us.' In April 2021, Purcell was released from prison in England on licence.'

Britain's Deadliest Kids is available to stream now as a boxset on discovery+, with episodes also airing weekly on Quest Red
Beanie Feldstein has opened up about playing Monica Lewinsky and portraying her affair with Bill Clinton in FX's Impeachment: American Crime Story, saying that while she felt out of her 'comfort place' as a queer woman, she 'would probably do the exact same thing' in her shoes.

In a new cover story for W Magazine, the actress detailed the similarities she shares with Lewinsky, who had a sexual relationship with then-President Clinton as a 22-year-old unpaid White House intern.

News of the affair rocked the nation in the late '90s and led to the president's impeachment, turning Lewinsky into tabloid fodder for decades.

'I felt gutted by some of the things that Monica went through,' Feldstein, 28, told W. 'My task is to be Monicas bodyguardto put my body in front of hers. Its my job to portray her pain, because I feel so much for her.'

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Strike a pose: Beanie Feldstein graces one of the four covers of W Magazine's upcoming Pop & Fall Fashion Issue

Looking glamorous: The 28-year-old actress wore a large bow in her hair and a strapless dress during the 1960s-inspired shoot

Candid: In W's new cover story, Feldstein opened up about taking on the role of Monica Lewinsky

Feldstein, who has been in a relationship with film producer Bonnie Chance Roberts since 2018, felt connected to Lewinsky in a number of ways.

'Were both Jewish girls from L.A. who listen to show tunes on the treadmill!' she explained.

'But still, I never felt less in my comfort place than when I was playing Monica. Obviously, Im queer, so I dont know if Id flirt with the president, but who knows?

'When Clinton shined his light on you, there was no better feeling in the world,' she added. 'It wouldnt matter if you were male, female, nonbinary, queer. When that man put his spotlight on you, the world fell away.

'And if I was 22 and the most powerful person in the world focused his high beams on me, I would probably do the exact same thing as Monica.'

Getting into character: Feldstein plays Lewinsky in the upcoming FX series Impeachment: American Crime Story (pictured)

Scandal: Lewinsky had a sexual relationship with then-President Clinton as a 22-year-old unpaid White House intern, and the affair led to his impeachment in 1998

Honest: Feldstein (pictured with her partner Bonnie Chance Roberts) said she felt out of her 'comfort place' playing Lewinsky as a queer woman

In a video interview with W Magazine, Feldstein recalled the moment Ryan Murphy called her while she was staying at her partner's apartment in London.

'I'm getting a call from an L.A. number that I don't know. I answer it, and it's Ryan Murphy,' she said, admitting that she had a physical reaction to being asked to play Lewinsky.

'I actually had to grip the oven because I knelt to the floor,' she explained. 'My knees truly buckled. And then he said, "Oh, and Sarah Paulson is playing Linda Tripp." And then I fell butt to the floor.'

Both Feldstein and Lewinsky are producers on the upcoming series, which was made with the former intern's input and approval.

In her shoes: 'If I was 22 and the most powerful person in the world focused his high beams on me, I would probably do the exact same thing as Monica,' Feldstein said of the affair

Role of a lifetime: Feldstein said she 'felt gutted' by the harassment that Lewinsky has faced over the years, explaining that it is her job 'to portray her pain'

Meant to be: Feldstein noted that she has a number of similarities to Lewinsky, saying they are both Jewish girls from L.A. who listen to show tunes on the treadmill

'Monica and I are cut from the same cloth in so many ways,' said Feldstein, who met Lewinsky only once  right before the coronavirus pandemic was in full swing.

'It was actually March 12, 2020, so looking back, thank God neither of us had COVID,' she joked, 'because that would have been quite the story of me giving it to her or her giving it to me.'

Looking back, Feldstein said she had wanted to play Lewinsky long before Murphy had called her to do the show.

'I had always been very fascinated with Monica,' she shared. 'I was actually asked once if I could play anyone real who would it be and without even thinking I was just like, "I think I should play Monica Lewinksy."'

Incredible moment: The actress recalled the moment Ryan Murphy called and asked her to play the White House intern in the show, saying her 'knees truly buckled'

Working together: Both Feldstein and Lewinsky are producers on the upcoming series, which was made with the former intern's input and approval

Rising star: Shortly after Feldstein's interview with W Magazine, it was announced that she was cast as Fanny Brice in a Broadway revival of the musical

The actress said she got into character by listening to the anti-bullying advocate's favorite show tunes.

'Rent's not personally my number one...but as Monica I listen to a lot of Rent,' she explained, noting in the interview that playing Lewinsky was 'emotionally draining.'

'Monicas fame wasnt positive,' she said. 'When youre hurting, none of that fancy stuff like photo shoots or invitations to parties matters.

'From my own life experience, you can be on Broadway or at an awards show, but theres always pain beneath the surface. That nuance is very hard to see from the outside.'

Shortly after Feldstein's interview with W Magazine, it was announced that she was cast as Fanny Brice in a Broadway revival of the musical.

Process: In a video interview with W Magazine, Felstein shared that she listened to Lewinsky's favorite showtunes, including 'a lot of Rent,' to get into character

Meeting of the minds: Feldstein met Lewinsky (pictured at the 2020 Vanity Fair Oscar Party) once on March 12, 2020, right before the COVID-19 pandemic was in full swing

The show originally starred Barbra Streisand, who made her film debut reprising her Broadway role in the 1968 film adaptation.

The casting seems to be another instance of fate for Feldstein, whose mother dressed her up as Streisand in Funny Girl when she was just three years old.

'My mother was a costume designer, and I was finally the girl shed been hoping for. My outfits were insane; I was like her little doll,' she recalled.

Feldstein, who is the youngest of three children, has two older brothers, Oscar-nominated actor Jonah Hill, 37, and Jordan Feldstein, who managed the band Maroon Five before he died in 2017 at age 40.

'My first celebrity crush was Barbra,' she said. 'My mom made me a leopard coat and hat, and I did a full photo shoot in my driveway. Actually, Jonah skateboarded through and knocked me down, so there are tons of pictures of me crying in my Funny Girl costume.'
A 27-year-old mother-of-one who was diagnosed with terminal skin cancer after ignoring a 'suspicious' mole for three years has issued a warning to others to get their skin checked before it is too late.

Kassidy Pierson, from Minnesota, has been candidly documenting her battle against melanoma in a series of viral TikToks, where she tearfully revealed the moment that she learned her cancer was terminal, before sharing an image of the mole on her inner thigh that first sparked her battle with the disease.

'This is what my mole looked like,' Kassidy said in a recent video, revealing a photo of the large, dark mole on the inside of her leg and explaining that she first began noticing 'changes' to it when she was 18.

'It was bigger than a pencil eraser, it itched, it was dry, it bled when it was itchy, it had all the symptoms,' she continued. 'It was discolored, it changed shapes.'

Speaking out: A 27-year-old mother-of-one has revealed she was diagnosed with terminal skin cancer after ignoring a 'suspicious' mole for three years, which turned out to be melanoma

Warning: Kassidy Pierson, from Minnesota, has been documenting her cancer journey on TikTok, where she recently shared an image of the cancerous mole found on her inner thigh

Symptoms: Kassidy first noticed changes to her mole at age 18, revealing that it was dry, itchy, and its size, shape, and color had altered - but she didn't know these were signs of melanoma

However, at the time Kassidy was unaware that these were all symptoms of melanoma, and she was also pregnant with her son and didn't have health insurance, so she left the mole unchecked for several years, before finally visiting a doctor at the age of 21.

Speaking to Buzzfeed, Kassidy revealed that her doctors took a biopsy of the mole, and two weeks later, she received a diagnosis of stage 3 melanoma - the most dangerous form of skin cancer - which had already spread to her lymph nodes.

'After two weeks, the dermatologist called me on the phone and told me it was unfortunately skin cancer, and it was melanoma,' she told the publication.

'I then asked him what that meant, as I did not know. He told me that there were a few different types of skin cancer. Melanoma was the deadly one, and I had it.'

Kassidy's first oncologist did not initially pursue any treatment options and one year later, it was discovered that her cancer had further metastasized throughout her entire body - including her brain - thereby upgrading her diagnosis to stage 4.

In light of the devastating news, the mom decided to seek advice from a new doctor - who advised her to immediately begin an aggressive series of treatments, including chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery.

'It's been a long journey,' she said in a recent video. 'I had a partial hip replacement, I had half of my right lung removed, I've had a bowel resection, I've done two rounds of chemotherapy, I have done... four or five rounds of different radiation types now.

'I've been on different immunotherapies, clinical trials, drugs. It's been a very long journey that I have taken, a very, very long journey [with] multiple surgeries. The hip one was one of the hardest and the lung one. And those happened one right after the other.'

Concern: Earlier this year, doctors found seven new tumors on Kassidy's brain, and told her that there is nothing left they can do for her - advising her to go on end-of-life hospice care

Updates: The mother-of-one is now using her TikTok account to encourage others to get their skin checked at least once a year, urging them not to ignore anything suspicious as she did

Take note: She has regularly shared images and videos of her own tumors so that people can see what they look like - and recognize if they are suffering from something similar

Despite the incredibly aggressive treatment plan, which took place over a six-and-a-half year period, Kassidy received the devastating news earlier this year that her cancer is terminal, after doctors discovered that it had spread to her brain, where she now has 'seven new tumors'.

'Six and a half years later, I'm still stage 4 and I'm now terminally ill and on hospice,' Kassidy shared in the video revealing the image of her mole. 'So please go get your skin checked.

'Go and get your skin checked at least yearly. If you see something suspicious, go sooner.'

In July, Kassidy was told that she would be going on end-of-life hospice care, a heartbreaking moment that she documented in a tearful TikTok clip.

'I will do ten rounds of radiation for ten weeks and then I get put on hospice after that,' she told her followers, while sobbing into the camera.

'Unfortunately, as the melanoma has spread throughout my whole body, it has entered my brain with at least seven new tumors, if not more,' she added to Buzzfeed.

'Meaning that none of my treatments are working anymore, and unfortunately at this point they have nothing medically they can do. There are no treatments available for me.'

Kassidy does not know how much longer she has left, explaining in another video that she 'doesn't have a lot of time', but isn't sure whether that means she could live for another few years, or whether it will be a matter of months or even years.

Step by step: Before going on hospice and stopping her treatments, Kassidy underwent numerous aggressive procedures, including chemo, radiation, clinical trials, and surgeries

Heartbreaking: She told her TikTok followers that she doesn't know how much time she has left, explaining that she 'isn't scared to die' but she is 'sad' about the 'moments' she will miss

Taking time: The mother-of-one is now determined to spend whatever time she has left in the presence of her loved ones - particularly her son, Hunter, and her fiance Chris

'I do not know how much time I have left,' she said. 'I am on hospice so that means I do not have a lot of time left. I guess generally it probably means within six months I will go.

'I do not know how long it will take me to go. I don't know... It's just whatever the cancer process is, how long it takes the cancer to take over my whole body. I'm guessing I will start to lose motor functions, I won't be able to speak and that I won't be able to move.

'I don't know how it's going to go.'

She added: 'I am not scared to die, I am just sad. It is a very sad thing, for the moments that I will not be there for.'

The mother-of-one is now determined to spend whatever time she has left in the presence of her loved ones - particularly her son, Hunter, and her fiance Chris - and she revealed to Buzzfeed that she is actually in the process of planning her own funeral, describing the experience as 'fun'.

She has also been preparing letters and gifts to leave to her son, explaining that she wants him to have things that will help him to 'know who she is', and to 'give him a reminder on those special moments that his mommy is always with him'.

Speaking about her decision to share her cancer story on social media, Kassidy said that she wants to raise as much awareness about the deadly risks of melanoma while she still can - adding that she believes terminal illness should be discussed 'more openly'.

'We all die some day,' she said. 'I have an opportunity to share my death, which many dont get a chance to do. I am blessed I get to say goodbye to my family, and I want to showcase all the ins and outs. The good and the bad of it all. This isnt pretty and this isnt easy. But there are good moments in the bad.'
Last night was, need I say it, the final of this years instalment of Love Island. I cant say I cared who the eventual winner was, but Ive known for weeks who would be most likely to make it to the final: women with improbable breasts, weirdly pronounced eyebrows, plumped-up lips, blonde hair extensions.

How did I know? Well, look at most of the girls who got to these last weeks of the show  Faye, Chloe, Liberty, Mary and Millie, among others  what strikes you is that all these lovely girls look pretty much the same.

It's safe to say they weren't always identical; Faye, Chloe and Mary have all admitted to having had their breasts enhanced, while blonde hair, lip fillers, Botox and other cosmetics tweaks are now so common among young women, they're pretty well a prerequisite for taking part.

Forget parents' worries about Love Island normalising promiscuity. What should worry us more is that one of the most popular shows on television is a showcase for a uniform (and frankly weird) conception of beauty.

Pictured left: Megan Barton Hansen (2018 series). Right: Laura Anderson (2018 series)

Long after the contestants have left the villa to flog fitness apps and swimwear on Boohoo, that will be the take-home message to impressionable fans.

It all goes to bear out the observations of London-based aesthetic surgeon Steven Harris, who said this week that his profession has a 'twisted standard of beauty' that encourages people to adopt an 'alienised' look.

His examples include 'Russian' lips, which have the pronounced bow of a Russian doll thanks to dermal fillers; protruding cheekbones and abnormally arched eyebrows, all of which have been pretty well normal on Love Island.

Worryingly, while he blames social media for making the 'alien' look ubiquitous, he doesn't just see this as the work of cowboy plastic surgeons, but also highly qualified practitioners.

Pictured: Molly-Mae Hague from the 2019 series

'The distortion of features often involves a 'more is more' approach and so monetary gain or greed is an important factor to consider,' he writes.

So in other words, gullible women  and the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons reports that 92 per cent of procedures last year were carried out on women  are often encouraged to have unnecessary enhancements to make money for the practitioners.

In a culture dominated by social media, Love Island is the most obvious instance of the problem. I spoke to an expert in aesthetic surgery who says she has noticed clients who have touched up their looks on Instagram using digital filters and now want to actually look like their Instagram likeness. That means ironing out lines, making cheekbones more pronounced, lips fuller and filling out cheeks.

In other words, removing all the facial quirks that make us uniquely ourselves, to be replaced with a look which tells you one thing: that the woman has had work done  she's an artefact.

The tragedy is that the girls who undergo these procedures were perfectly good-looking to begin with.

Left: Mary Bedford from this year's Love Island Right: Chloe Burrows from this year's Love Island

Take Love Island contestant Mary Bedford, who has spoken about having had lip fillers, a Botox brow lift and breast augmentation.

Cosmetic surgery brand MCR Aesthetics posted a before and after picture of the 22-year-old on Instagram last week showing the difference effected by having work done. And do you know what? It wasn't an improvement.

'The pic on the left is an old modelling pic. Mary was beautiful then, but we love her new look,' the caption read chirpily.

Well, for normal mortals, the Mary on the left didn't need any enhancements because she was  is  a very pretty girl.

Why, in God's name, did she need to become a more Instagrammy version of herself?

I should say that the only reason I even register Love Island is that my 14-year-old daughter watches it when I am not around to stop her.

Pictured: Amy Hart from the 2019 series of Love Island

Fortunately, she seems immune to the Love Island look, although she already seems to know how to get it. 'You can get a Love Island bum lift [a non-surgical toning procedure to 'contour' the buttocks] in Portobello Road [a London market] for 100 a pop,' she tells me sagely.

Yet while she and her friends think of Love Island as 'a bit chavvy', it's still compulsive viewing for them.

And though she shrugs off the idea that the likes of Love Island will influence her ideas on beauty  'Vogue, and magazines like that, have a diverse body image; Love Island is way behind them'  I am not entirely sure.

In the next breath, she observes that she is almost unique in her peer group (she's at an all-girls school) in not having an eating disorder linked to 'body dysmorphia' (she knows the jargon). That's just scary.

Her generation are absorbing an image of physical beauty which is simply unattainable. Young girls feel they should look more curvy. Older women think they should have the body of young teenagers. So in the end, everyone gets to feel rubbish about the way they look.

Pictured: Hayley Hughes from 2018's series of Love Island

And the only winners in all this are cosmetic practitioners who promise to work miracles  yet actually make women look, as Steven Harris says, weirdly distorted; certainly like nothing seen in nature. I don't blame the Love Island girls  all of them under the age of 30  for going along with this. When male contestant Hugo said he found cosmetically enhanced, or in his words 'fake', women a turn-off (good for him), plumped-up Faye observed that there were underlying reasons for her cosmetic procedures, which included breast enhancement, paid for by her parents when she was just 18.

There's evidently a sense of inadequacy behind a naturally attractive girl resorting to plastic surgery. And that's not a good thing.

The striking thing is that most men seem to prefer normal, unenhanced women to the ones with improbable breasts, fake lips and peculiar eyebrows.

Hugo, who was brave enough to say so, is probably more typical of men in general than the programme suggests. But that's what plastic surgery is designed to achieve: to make the girls more attractive to men. Perhaps more men should say what they actually think: real women are prettier than fakes.

Pictured: Faye Winter from this year's series of Love Island

What does affect contemporary perceptions of the ideal physical type is probably something way more unpleasant: online pornography, which not only presents a peculiar idea of what sex is about but also normalises abnormal physical types.

Most women don't look like the images on pornographic sites; but it's a type that can distort young people's ideas about how an attractive body should appear.

When I was young, I had (indeed still have) wonky teeth. My dentist said I could try to straighten them, but that  and I remember his words still  'it would be a dull world if everyone looked the same'.

And he was right. A world where we all have even white teeth would be a dull place, even more a world where every girl has the pneumatic breasts of a Greek statue, every woman the sculpted cheekbones of Angelina Jolie (whose natural bone structure was, in fact, digitally enhanced for the film Maleficent).

We hear a lot of stuff about diversity nowadays. But one thing we still lack is diversity in our idea of beauty. We are made differently; there are lots of ways of being attractive. And we shouldn't try to look the same.

One couple won Love Island last night, but the losers were an entire generation of its young fans who have absorbed the pernicious idea that there is only one way of being beautiful, and that you can achieve it if you are willing to pay the price  in more ways than one.
The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday called for a two-month moratorium on administering booster shots of COVID-19 vaccines.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, told reporters in Budapest, Hungary, that the pause is necessary to reduce global vaccine inequality.

He also said he was 'really disappointed' with the scope of vaccine donations worldwide.

As many countries struggle to provide first and second doses to more than small fractions of their populations, some wealthier countries like the U.S., Hungary and Israel have rolled out plans to distribute additional vaccine doses.

Tedros called on countries offering third vaccine doses 'to share what can be used for boosters with other countries so [they] can increase their first and second vaccination coverage.'

Director-General of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (pictured) called for a two month moratorium on vaccine boosters, and asked for wealthy nations to instead donate doses to lower income countries

In early August, Hungary became the first country in the 27-member European Union to allow residents to sign up for a third dose, and more than 187,000 people have received a booster so far, according to government statistics.

Germany and France have both also announced plans to do the same in the near future.

Last week, U.S. health officials announced plans to dispense COVID-19 booster shots to all Americans in an effort to shore up protection against a surge in cases attributed to the delta variant and signs that the vaccines effectiveness is slipping.

Vaccine booster doses will be available in the U.S. starting on September 20, and Americans will be eligible for them eight months after they received their second shot.

Yet the U.N. health agency has repeatedly called for rich nations to do more to help improve access to vaccines in the developing world.

On Monday, Tedros said that of the 4.8 billion vaccine doses delivered to date globally, 75 percent have gone to only 10 countries while vaccine coverage in Africa is at less than 2 percent.

'Vaccine injustice and vaccine nationalism' increase the risk of more contagious variants emerging, Tedros said.

'The virus will get the chance to circulate in countries with low vaccination coverage, and the delta variant could evolve to become more virulent, a nd at the same time more potent variants could also emerge,' he added.

Some U.S. experts have also came out against the country's plan to distribute third vaccine doses next month, and warned that not doing enough to help other nations could come back to hurt that states.

Dr Anna Durbin, an international Health professor at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, told DailyMail.com last week that health officials may be focusing on the wrong thing.

'I don't think the data indicates that booster shots are needed,' Durbin said.

'Booster shots are not going to stop the spread of Delta. Vaccinating unvaccinated people is going to stop the spread of Delta, and giving booster shots to people in the U.S. is not going to stop the development of new variants around the world.

'They have to vaccinate everyone in the world.'

There are 18 countries that have vaccinated two percent of their populations or less, including Haiti, only 800 miles away off the coast of Florida.

People remaining unvaccinated in other nations increases the likelihood of more variants emerging, that could eventually cause spikes in cases stateside.

The Indian 'Delta' variant, for example, wrecked havoc in India - where it originated - before making its way across the world and doing the same in the U.S.

The highly contagious strain now accounts for almost all new cases in the country.

Durbin thinks the physicians and health experts pushing boosters are playing into this panic, and that they are often just misinformed.

'I think they don't understand the science of vaccines,' Durbin said of some experts pushing booster shots.

'I think it's easier to say, "Yes, give a booster" than it is to try to reassure a person who's very nervous.'

She thinks what ever decision is made regarding boosters should be data-driven, and that the available data just do not seem to back up what officials are doing.

The U.S. has made an effort to donate doses to other nations, though.

Last week, Kosovo was shipped 500,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, putting the Eastern European nation among the over 60 nations that have received 110 million donated doses from the U.S.

In America, everyone aged 12 or older is eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine.

More than 70 percent of the eligible population have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 60 percent are fully vaccinated.

The country sits on a large stockpile of vaccines, though, as the last remaining vaccine holdouts have been hard to convince to get the shots.
COVID-19 patients who develop symptoms are four times as likely to spread the virus as those who are asymptomatic, a new study finds.

Researchers from the University of Georgia in Atlanta and the Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Hangzhou, China, looked into COVID-19 transmission data in the Zhejiang province in the south east part of the country.

They found the virus was most likely to transmit from one person to another in the window between two days before a person first experiences symptoms and three days after.

The findings helps provide scientists with a better look into which patients are the most likely to spread the virus and how quickly.

Researchers found that symptomatic COVID-19 patients are four times as likely to spread the virus as asymptomatic patients. Moderate COVID-19 patients are 4.3 times as likely to spread the virus

COVID-19 patients are most contagious during the window starting two days before first experiencing symptoms and three days after, with the risk increasing by 30% in this window

For the study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, the team gathered data from 730 patients in the Zhejiang province from January 8 to July 30, 2020.

Researchers used existing contact tracing data to find 8,852 close contacts to those patients during the time they were contagious.

Close contacts who interacted with a COVID-19 patient between two days before, or three days after, the first appearance of their symptoms were more likely to catch the virus.

The risk of transmission increased by around 30 percent, implying that patients are more contagious during that window of time.

'Our study suggests that transmission of COVID-19 is most likely if contacts are exposed shortly before and after symptom onset in the index patient,' the authors wrote.

Contracting COVID-19 from a symptomatic person makes a person more likely to have symptoms themselves. Those who are believed to have caught Covid from someone with symptoms were only 30% as likely to be asymptomatic

People who contracted the virus and did not show any symptoms were also less likely to spread it.

Researchers found that those with mild COVID-19 symptoms were four times as likely to spread the virus than someone who was asymptomatic.

Patients with moderate symptoms were 4.3 times as likely to spread the virus when compared to asymptomatic people.

Those who contracted the virus from a symptomatic person were also around 30 percent as likely to have an asymptomatic case as those who contracted the virus from someone without symptoms.

'We found that contacts exposed to asymptomatic index patients were less likely to develop COVID-19, and, given infection, were more likely to be asymptomatic,' the researchers wrote.

'This result suggests that there may be a dose-response association between severity of the index patients case of COVID-19 and clinical presentation among contacts.

'If confirmed in other studies, this result may suggest additional secondary benefits associated with reducing case severity of individuals with COVID-19 through vaccination or prompt diagnosis and treatment.'

The research team believes these findings could be a key to understanding the virus, how it spreads, and how to perform contact tracing.

Reducing symptoms also seems to reduce spread, meaning that getting vaccinated could be even more important.

'These results have important implications for understanding transmission dynamics of COVID-19 and are consistent with recent results suggesting that viral load may peak at two days before symptom onset and decline quickly after one week of symptoms,' they wrote.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted full approval to Pfizer-BioNTech's coronavirus vaccine for those aged 16 and older on Monday.

The two-dose immunization was the first to receive emergency use authorization from federal regulators in December 2020 and will now be first to be licensed.

Full approval by the FDA could push more Americans to get the COVID-19 vaccine because it might reduce their fears about the safety of the shot.

It may also lead to more vaccine mandates with businesses feeling more comfortable requiring workers to get a jab that has full authorization despite it being contentious.

Pfizer said on Monday the vaccine will continue to be available for 12-to-15-year-olds and as third doses for immunocompromised people under emergency use only.

President Joe Biden shared the news on Twitter and encouraged Americans to keep rolling up their sleeves.

The FDA has officially approved the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. While all three COVID vaccines have met FDA's strict standards for emergency use, this FDA approval should give added confidence that this vaccine is safe and effective,' he wrote.

'If you're not vaccinated yet, now is the time.'

The FDA gave the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine full approval by Monday. Pictured: A nurse hold a vial of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at a clinic in Atlanta, Georgia, August 17

The full approval may help convince vaccine hesitant Americans to get the shot. Pictured: A student at California State University Long Beach receives a first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on campus, August 11

'The FDA's approval of this vaccine is a milestone as we continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic,' acting FDA commissioner Dr Janet Woodcock said in a statement.

'While this and other vaccines have met the FDA's rigorous, scientific standards for emergency use authorization, as the first FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine, the public can be very confident that this vaccine meets the high standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality the FDA requires of an approved product.

'Today's milestone puts us one step closer to altering the course of this pandemic in the U.S.'

Prior to Monday, Pfizer's vaccine was only approved for use on an emergency basis, meaning it was considered somewhat experimental despite data showing it is safe and effective.

Emergency use authorization requires less clinical trial data, with the FDA only requiring two months of follow-up before approving the shot for those 16 and older last year compared to six months for full approval.

President Joe Biden celebrated the news and encouraged Americans to keep getting vaccinated

The data came from Pfizer's trial last year of 44,000 people, of whom half received the shots.

'Based on the longer-term follow-up data that we submitted, today's approval for those aged 16 and over affirms the efficacy and safety profile of our vaccine at a time when it is urgently needed,' said Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla in a statement.

'I am hopeful this approval will help increase confidence in our vaccine.'

The emergency use designation is also intended to be temporary.

With full approval, companies and schools may feel more comfortable requiring employees and students to get it.

'The biggest argument that anti-vaccine people had against mandates was that the vaccine was not fully approved,' Dr Arthur Caplan, a bioethicist at New York University, told DailyMail.com.

'A lot of employers are now more willing to impose mandates, not just schools and government groups. A lot of companies I've been talking to have been waiting on this.'

At a news conference on Monday morning, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby confirmed that the full approval will lead to COVID-19 vaccines being mandated for the U.S. military.

'Now that the Pfizer vaccine has been approved, the department is prepared to issue updated guidance requiring all service members to be vaccinated. A timeline for vaccinated completion will be provided in the coming days,' he said.

And Louisiana State University President William Tate announced two weeks ago that the school will mandate that student receive the vaccine following full FDA authorization.

After lagging vaccination rates over the summer, the pace has increased again with a seven-day rolling average of more than 889,00, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

That figure is 23 percent higher than the 718,000 average recorded one week earlier and the highest number seen since July 5.

A recent report from the Kaiser Family Foundation found three in ten unvaccinated adults said they would be more likely to get vaccinated if one of the vaccines were fully approved.

Experts believe the full approval will help boost vaccination numbers even further but will not change the minds of most vaccine hesitant people.

'It will help but not the core people who have a deep distrust for science,' Dr Peter Chin-Hong, a professor of medicine and infectious disease specialist at the University of California, San Francisco, told DailyMail.com.

'I don't think that group will be hit at all. You can say anything to them and they won't budge. But it will hit some who are on the fence, but not as high as Kaiser says.'

Dr Ali Mokdad, an epidemiologist with the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, agreed and said he doesn't think full FDA approval will make a huge difference in vaccination rates.

'The survey from Kaiser recommended 30 percent would get vaccinated if the vaccine were approved, but I'm not that optimistic,' he told DailyMail.com.

'People refusing to get the vaccine are strong in that belief. It won't be a major gamechanger [overall], but it will be a major gamechanger in mandates.'

The decision will also allow the vaccine makers to market their shots directly to the general public.

According to the FDA, the vaccine will be marketed under the name Comirnaty.

Critics had been pushing the FDA to move more quickly to approve the vaccine, after Pfizer filed the application on May 7, as COVID-19 cases rose in the U.S.

Experts had said the fact that 204 million doses had been administered since December 2020 with few reports of side effects showed the vaccine is safe and effective.

'It's very important to handle [the approval process] carefully,' Caplan said.

'Critics are waiting to poke holes in any approval. They studied vaccines in recipients over a long time and the data out there are overwhelmingly convincing' that vaccines are safe and effective.

Chin-Hong added: 'I can't even remember the last time the FDA has hundreds of data points to help with approval.

For cholesterol medicine, the trial was in few thousand and then they looked at that in real life. Now you have hundreds of millions of people and that gives a very robust data point.'

The doctors say they hope the FDA approval helps convince people who have not had their shots yet to get vaccinated.

'We are 100 percent sure with no doubt this is a safe vaccine,' said Mokdad.

'We played by the rules, we waited and monitored and didn't see anything that warranted concern in the community.'
Alabama has seen new infections jump 122% to 4,303 per day on Sunday from 1,931 per day four weeks ago with an increasing number of pregnant women hospitalized

In Florida, COVID-19 cases rising by 260% from an average of 10,452 four weeks ago to 37,685 on August 22

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Coronavirus cases are continuing to rise across the country as officials say the number of new infections being reported every day is 'deeply concerning.'

On Sunday, the U.S. recorded 36,692 cases of COVID-19 with a seven-day rolling average of 147,289, which is a 182 percent increase from the 52,116 average reported four weeks ago.

It also is the highest figure seen since January 30, when the average sat at 150,960, according to a DailyMail.com analysis of Johns Hopkins data.

Deaths are also on the rise with 200 virus-related fatalities recorded on Sunday and a seven-day rolling average of 1,037 - the second day in a row the average has surpassed four figures.

This marks a 269 percent increase from the average of 281 reported four weeks prior and the highest number reported since March 24.

On Sunday, U.S. Surgeon General Dr Vivek Murthy said he was worried about the spikes seen across the nation and said it was being driven by the Indian 'Delta' variant, which accounts for almost all new cases.

'The numbers are deeply concerning,' he told Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace

'We have seen data-driven by the Delta variant cases surge over the last several weeks. And how high could they go? It's an open question.'

However, Murthy insisted COVID-19 vaccines are working because the majority of people ending up in hospitals are those who are unvaccinated.

The U.S. recorded 36,692 new cases of COVID-19 with a seven-day rolling average of 147,289, which is a 182% increase from the 52,116 average one month ago ad the highest figure seen since January 30

Deaths also rose with 200 recorded on Sunday and a seven-day rolling average of 1,037, a 269% increase from the average of 281 reported four weeks prior and the highest number reported since March 24

U.S. Surgeon General Dr Vivek Murthy called the spike in new cases 'deeply concerning' and said the surge is being driven by the Indian 'Delta' variant during an interview on Fox News Sunday (above)

'I...think there are a couple of things buried in the data which are very important to recognize,' Murthy told Fox News Sunday.

'Number one is that the vast majority of people who are ending up in the hospital and who are losing their lives are those who are unvaccinated, which means that the vaccines are doing their job to keep people out of the hospital and to save lives.'

After lagging vaccination rates over the summer, the pace has increased again with a seven-day rolling average of more than 889,00, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

That figure is 23 percent higher than the 718,000 average recorded one week earlier and the highest number seen since July 5.

'My hope is that that will continue to accelerate because that is ultimately how we are going to save lives and overcome the Delta variant,' Murthy added.

Florida continues to be the country's epicenter with COVID-19 cases rising by 260 percent from an average of 10,452 four weeks ago to 37,685 on August 22, a DailyMail.com analysis found.

On Sunday, data from the U.S. Department of Human and Health Services revealed that 17,253 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized for COVID-19 in the state.

Currently, one in every five patients hospitalized with the virus in the country are in the Sunshine State.

The crisis has pushed doctors to their breaking point and led to dozens of doctors in Palm Beach County holding a demonstration on Monday morning and urging residents to get vaccinated.

'A large majority of hospitalized COVID patients are unvaccinated. This is not only upsetting but it is so frustrating to all of us who are here today,' Dr Jennifer Buczyner, a neurologist and stroke director at the Jupiter Medical Center, told a crowd.

'Many of these patients have decided not to get vaccinated, but when they're vaccinated, they tell us they wish they had.'

'We are all here behind me together, as your community doctors and hospitals, with one simple message that can save your life: Please go get vaccinated and wear a mask.'

COVID-19 cases have risen in Florida by 260% from an average of 10,452 four weeks ago to 37,685 on August 22

In Louisiana, COVID-19 cases have risen to 2,868 per day, a 186% increase from 1,000 per day in early July

New COVID-19 infections in Alabama have risen to an average of 4,303 per day on Sunday from 1,931 per day four weeks ago, a jump of 122%

In Louisiana, the seven-day average of cases currently sits at 2,868 per day, a 186 percent increase from the 1,000 per day in early July.

Data from the Louisiana Department of Health shows that all but one of the state's nine health regions have 20 percent or fewer ICU beds available.

Gov John Bel Edwards recently said that Louisiana has seen an 'astronomical' number of new infections, particular among younger patients.

The state has reported a 1,467 percent increase in COVID-19 deaths in residents under the age of 40.

'I can tell you that for the last couple of days, 28 percent of all the new cases that we're reporting are in children zero to 17,' he stated during a press conference.

In Alabama, new infections have exploded to an average of 4,303 per day on Sunday from 1,931 per day four weeks ago, a jump of 122 percent.

'It's overwhelmed our staff and physicians,' Susan Boudreau, president of Mobile Infirmary hospital told AL.com.

According to Bourdreau, 41 percent of the 480 patients receiving treatment have COVID-19.

'They see people suffering and dying. We don't feel the world understands what is happening behind our walls and hospitals,' she added.

And there's another worrying trend in the state - more pregnant women being admitted to the hospital infected with COVID-19.

Dr Akila Subramaniam, a maternal and fetal medicine specialist at the University of Alabama Birmingham hospital, said 39 pregnant women have been admitted so far this month of whom 10 are in the ICU and seven are on ventilators.

Normally, just one or two pregnant women would be in the ICU.

'As physicians, we talk about who's a white cloud and who's a black cloud 0 meaning some people tend to have worse luck in terms of how things roll, and some people never seem to have any complicated patients on their service,' she told The Daily Beast.

'I tend to be more on the darker side of things, for whatever reason. And I've never had this many [patients] in the ICU at one time.'
A deworming drug is being used by more and more Americans to treat COVID-19, which is worrying health officials.

Ivermectin in an anti-parasite medication that is often used to treat animals such as horses and and cows, but can be prescribed to a human for specific uses.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), obtained by ABC News, finds that distribution of the drug has increased 19-fold during the first week of August.

Many are purchasing veterinary versions of the drug, in which the dosages are often much larger than what is safe for humans.

This has led to some Americans being hospitalized after being poisoned by the large dose, and forcing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to issue an official warning.

Distribution of ivermectin, an anti-parasite drug, has increased 19-fold after falsehoods about the drug's ability to treat COVID-19 spread on social media

'This medication is often used to treat parasitic infections in livestock,' Dr Joshua Nogar, the medical toxicology fellowship director at Northwell Health, told ABC News.

'The high doses that veterinary grade ivermectin is supplied in makes it easy for people to overdose on this medication.

In February, a committee with the National Institutes of Health reviewed studies of the drug to treat COVID-19 patients and found insufficient evidence to recommend for or against use of the drug.

But with cases rising by 182 percent to 147,000 per day in the last month, increasing numbers of Americans have been turning to ivermectin to treat their infections.

'You are not a horse. You are not a cow. Seriously, y'all. Stop it,' the FDA tweeted on Saturday.

The FDA issued a warning against taking ivermectin on Saturday, telling people they are not cows or horses

In its warning, the FDA wrote:

'FDA has not approved ivermectin for use in treating or preventing COVID-19 in humans.

'Ivermectin tablets are approved at very specific doses for some parasitic worms, and there are topical (on the skin) formulations for head lice and skin conditions like rosacea. Ivermectin is not an anti-viral (a drug for treating viruses).'

Falsehoods about ivermectin's alleged ability to treat COVID-19 spread of social media after some misinterpreted earlier studies into the drug's effectiveness.

Mississippi health officials also released a statement on Friday warning against taking the drug.

'Animal drugs are highly concentrated for large animals and can be highly toxic in humans,' wrote Dr Paul Byers, state epidemiologist.

'Some of the symptoms associated with ivermectin toxicity include rash, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, neurologic disorders, and potentially severe hepatitis requiring hospitalization.'

State health officials also said 70 percent of recent calls to poison control were related to people taking ivermectin in doses meant for animals.

The medication is purchased at livestock supply centers, where a prescription is not required since it is meant for large animals.

'There are approved uses for ivermectin in both people and animals,' the state says.

'Patients should be advised to not take any medications intended to treat animals and should be instructed to only take ivermectin as prescribed by their physician.'

Mississippi's Department of Health reported zero hospitalizations due to the drug, though one person who called was recommended to seek out further treatment.

Ivermectin has been at the center of a somewhat polarizing debate between political talks show hosts, Democrats, Republicans and even scientists since the beginning of the pandemic.

Between March and this month, Fox News hosts Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham promoted the drug's use as an alternative COVID-19 treatment to their audiences on their prime-time shows.

In June, Sen Ron Johnson, a Wisconsin Republican, had his YouTube accounted suspended for posting a video recommending viewers to take ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine as treatments for the virus.
Creeping downstairs while the rest of my family slept, I carried my pillowcases and pyjamas to the washing machine and stuffed them in. Then I showered, found a fresh pair of pyjamas and tiptoed back to bed, exhausted.

It was the fourth time it had happened in a week  all because of night sweats. I dont just mean getting a bit hot. My entire bed would be drenched  sheets, pillows, duvet.

My pyjamas would stick to me, so much so that Id wake up frozen because I was wet through.

I was exhausted and worried. I was expecting to be told it was just the perimenopause and while my GP was reassuring, she sent me for blood tests to rule out anything sinister. But when the results came through a few days later, my doctor sounded different

My husband Cornel, 40, a pianist who works long hours and needs to get his sleep, had grown used to me waking in the night and having to perform my ritual of changing my half of the bedding (my pillowcases and occasionally waking him if its bad enough to change the sheets, too) and my nightwear.

As Im 44, I initially put it down to the perimenopause, the gradual transition to the menopause that can last for up to ten years before the big event itself, which occurs at the age of 51 for the average British woman.

Night sweats are one of the symptoms of perimenopause, along with hot flushes, mood swings, irritability and irregular periods.

But I had none of these other symptoms. I eventually called my GP in June this year, as by then Id had five weeks of night sweats without a break.

I was exhausted and worried. I was expecting to be told it was just the perimenopause and while my GP was reassuring, she sent me for blood tests to rule out anything sinister.

But when the results came through a few days later, my doctor sounded different.

What Im about to say may be shocking, she said, gently. But youre being referred to oncology. I gripped the phone. You mean a cancer specialist? I said.

The tests showed my white blood cell levels  which are involved in fighting infection  to be a little low.

This, my GP said, together with night sweats can be a sign of lymphoma  cancer of the lymphatic system, a body-wide infection-fighting network of vessels and glands that includes the lymph nodes.

Its not known why lymphoma causes night sweats although they may be a response to some of the chemicals, cytokines, produced by the lymphoma cells.

The worrying thing was this isnt a rare cancer. Every 40 minutes someone in the UK is diagnosed with lymphoma and, with 14,000 new cases a year, it is the fifth most common cancer, says charity Lymphoma Action.

The disease starts when a lymphocyte, a disease-fighting white blood cell that travels around the body in the lymphatic system, starts to multiply rapidly.

The tests showed my white blood cell levels  which are involved in fighting infection  to be a little low. This, my GP said, together with night sweats can be a sign of lymphoma  cancer of the lymphatic system

This produces many more diseased and fast-growing lymphocytes and causes the lymph nodes, spleen and liver to swell.

There are more than 70 types of lymphoma and, in most cases, there is no known cause.

Two weeks later, I was sitting in my local hospital waiting to see the oncologist.

The oncologist asked me about my symptoms  weeks of drenching night sweats  and explained that my blood test results could indeed be a sign of lymphoma.

It seems that if the cancer is in the bone marrow  the bodys blood cell factory  blood cell production can fall, leading to low cell counts in tests.

He asked about other symptoms. Did I have bone pain? Tiredness? I said yes to both: as a mother of two children aged 12 and seven, and working full time as a writer, Im usually in my pyjamas by 9pm. But I wasnt that tired; most mothers felt the same, so they told me.

The consultant examined me and found two lumps: one in my neck and one in my groin. I knew about the one in my neck  Id dismissed it after it had been looked at by a GP two years earlier  but the one in my groin was not something Id noticed.

He said these may simply be reactive lymph nodes  glands that had swollen while the body was fighting off any infection, and shouldnt be anything to worry about. But he could not rule out cancer, due to the night sweats.

Lymphoma symptoms can be vague and easily confused with other illnesses, says John Radford, a professor of medical oncology at the Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester and president of Lymphoma Action, with the most common being lumps due to swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, weight loss without trying and itching.

Id not lost weight and wasnt itching. Still, my terrified Google searches told me that for some, night sweats can be the only symptom of lymphoma. The weeks until my next appointment, worrying I had lymphoma, were terrible. I thought about how Id tell my children, whether Id be able to keep working, what chemotherapy might be like.

But for women of my age, night sweats can also relate to perimenopause. In fact, 35 to 50 per cent of women going through perimenopause will experience night sweats due to falling levels of oestrogen  a figure that can climb to 75 per cent during the menopause itself.

Despite this, it is important not to always assume night sweats are due to the menopause or perimenopause, says Dr Tania Adib, a consultant gynaecologist at the Lister Hospital in London.

Night sweats related to the perimenopause are often accompanied by hot flushes during the day and other symptoms such as brain fog, loss of memory and concentration and joint ache, she says.

Night sweats related to more serious conditions tend to be severe and leave you drenched, as if you have just got out of a swimming pool, despite being in a cool environment. Patients may also have fever, cough and breathlessness, diarrhoea, easy bruising, abdominal pain, bone pain and frequent infections.

Indeed, night sweats can be caused by lots of other conditions, such as infections, anxiety and menopause, or can be a side-effect of certain medicines, says Professor Radford. Medicines that can cause night sweats include steroids, antidepressants and some diabetes medications. The sweats associated with lymphoma are described as drenching  bad enough that you have to get up and change your nightclothes and bedding, sometimes more than once a night  just like mine.

While theyre typically called night sweats, they can sometimes happen in the day. Their frequency can vary, says Professor Radford  but at their most severe they happen most nights and sometimes more than once.

If night sweats are bothering you and you have other symptoms, such as lumps or fatigue, see your doctor and get checked out, adds Dr Adib.

Days after seeing the oncologist I had a CT scan and ten days later I returned for my results. At the risk of overdramatising, I spent the night before my July appointment unable to sleep. In lockdown, with not much else to distract me, Id been Googling my symptoms  night sweats, lumps, low white blood cells  and they all pointed to lymphoma. I sat in the waiting room barely able to stop myself shaking. Then I went in.

Ill tell you straight away, my consultant said before Id even sat down. Its good news. I almost fell into the chair with relief. The CT scan had shown no sinister lumps or masses and had confirmed the two worrying lumps were indeed reactive lymph nodes, likely still swollen from a past infection.

As for my blood tests, which were repeated, my white blood cells were still low, but the consultant said many people have this and there is no explanation.

But what about the night sweats? She said they were likely part of my perimenopause.

As I still experience night sweats  apparently they can come and go  I am waiting to be referred for hormone tests to confirm this diagnosis. If they are due to perimenopause, then hormone replacement therapy, routinely used to ease the symptoms of the menopause and also given earlier to help with the perimenopause, may be prescribed.

But for now, I am still floating on the huge relief that came with my diagnosis.

I am telling my story to warn people that they should not dismiss symptoms which can point to menopause, just in case it is more sinister. As I learnt, many symptoms overlap with serious conditions, even cancer. I was lucky. But others might not be.
More than 23,000 students and staff at Atlanta-area schools have gone into quarantine due to COVID-19 exposure just weeks into the school year.

The reported figure could also only be a fraction of the total students quarantined, according to WSB-TV, because many districts do not report data on students in quarantine.

Fulton County, which includes Atlanta - though the city has its own school district - reports 6,233 students who are either in quarantine or have tested positive.

Lamar County, around 50 miles south of Atlanta, suspended school for two weeks after so many staff members were quarantined that the schools could no longer function.

The data come as the entire state suffers an Indian 'Delta' variant-fueled surge of the virus.

Schools in the Atlanta area have already been hammered by COVID-19, only weeks into the new school year. Over 23,000 students are in quarantine, including over 6,200 in Fulton County alone. Pictured: Maskless high school students leave a Cherokee County school during the first week of classes

Gov Brian Kemp (pictured) said that he would not impose mask mandated in Georgia, and instead leave it to individual school districts

Other districts that have reported quarantine numbers include Gwinnet County, which has 2,337, students and staff in quarantine, Atlanta Public Schools themselves have 2,035 students and staff in quarantine.

Cobb County, which has quarantined 1,764 staff and students, DeKalb County, 930 in quarantine, Fayette County, 1,003; Hall County, 1,336; and Rockdale County, 823; all have a large number of students and staff quarantined as well.

The guidelines for who goes into quarantine and for how long are not the same for each county.

More than 6,300 positive COVID-19 cases have been detected between Cobb, Cherokee, Forsyth, Gwinnett and Henry counties, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution (AJC).

Private schools, which do not have to report data and are not required to follow to same county guidelines, have struggled to control COVID-19 surges in schools as well.

Gov Brian Kemp has previously said that he will not institute mask mandates in schools, but let schools and districts decide for themselves.

'Every school is different, they're in different neighborhoods, they're in different counties, they're rural, suburban, they're urban,' Kemp said during a school visit earlier this month.

'We're trusting the local systems, school boards to work with their parents and their administration to make a good decision for each individual school; our kids are going to be better for us doing that.'

Fulton County has made masks mandatory in its schools and facilities.

Last week, though, Kemp signed an executive order preventing local governments from forcing mask mandates on to businesses.

Unlike others states like Florida and Texas, the order does not extend to schools.

Dr Kathleen Toomey, Georgia's public health commissioner, wrote a open letter to superintendents in the state last week, asking superintendents to make student quarantining within the school to have to wear masks.

Regardless of your general masking recommendations, DPH strongly recommends that schools modified quarantine plans require masking during the time of quarantine to ensure the safety of children and staff in the schools and reduce the spread of COVID-19 that we have already seen in the schools statewide,' Toomey wrote in the letter obtained by the AJC.

Cases in the Peach State have grown by 70 percent in the past two weeks, from 4,446 on August 8 to 7,569 on August 22.

COVID-19 cases in Georgia have group by 70 percent in the past two weeks

Fulton County, which includes Atlanta, has better control over its COVID-19 situation.

New cases have grown by 24 percent since August 8, from 369 to 458.

The Atlanta area is not the only place struggling with school Covid outbreaks.

Across the state of Mississippi, 5,000 students and staff have been placed into quarantine.

Raleigh, North Carolina, and surrounding areas have been struck hard by Covid outbreaks in school.

Hillsborough County, in Tampa Bay, Florida, has placed over 5,500 students in quarantine early in the school year.

Quince Orchard High School in Montgomery County, Maryland - around 20 miles northwest of Washington D.C. is suffering from a growing COVID-19 outbreak as well.

Schools in Arizona, Montana, Nebraska, South Carolina and Texas have also already suffered from COVID-19 outbreaks, forcing closures, mask mandates and other measures to be put in place.

Vaccines are not yet available for students under the age of 12, leaving them vulnerable to the virus.

Some advocates, like the American Association of Pediatrics, are pushing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to extend authorization of the vaccines to protect children at schools.
The majority of parents want to know many students and teachers aren't vaccinated against COVID-19, a new survey finds.

Researchers from C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health found that six in 10 mothers and fathers want to be told the exact number of pupils and staff that have not received shots yet.

However, only a fifth said it would be a factor in deciding whether or not put their children in in-person classes.

It comes as an increasing number of kids in the U.S. test positive for the virus - but less than 0.01 percent die from their infection.

A new poll found 61% of parents said they would want to know how many teachers are not vaccinated and 59% would want to know how many students (file image)

Only 19% said knowing these figures would affect their decisions about having their child attend in-person school. Pictured: Children wait to enter the school building on the first day of in-person classes at Baldwin Park Elementary School in Orlando, Florida, August 2020

When the COVID-19 pandemic first struck in March 2020, schools quickly closed and pivoted to remote learning.

However, when the new semester came around in Fall 2020, most districts did hybrid in-person classes and virtual learning.

This year, most schools will be doing solely in-person learning at the recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

'Covid wreaked havoc on many families' school experience last year, with parents and kids navigating unpredictable changes in the learning environment and new social, emotional and academic challenges,' Mott Poll co-director Dr Sarah Clark said in a news release.

'Our report suggests that those experiences left a mark on students and families, influencing their views and concerns about the upcoming school year.'

For the survey, which was conducted by Ipsos for C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, more than 1,600 parents of children between ages seven and 18 were surveyed in June 2021.

The adults resemble the sex, age and racial makeup of the U.S. population.

Results showed that 62 percent of parents of middle- and high-school students - who are eligible get the shot - said their child would feel safer if most students and teachers were vaccinated against COVID-19.

Cases have been rising among children with more than 121,000 kids testing positive for the virus two weeks ago, according to a new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

That is a 29 percent increase over the figure of nearly 94,000 from the previous week, signaling a worrying trend as the fall semester approaches.

The poll found 61 percent of parents said they would want to know how many teachers are not vaccinated and 59 percent would want to know how many students.

However, only 19 percent of mothers and fathers said knowing these figures would affect their decisions about having their child attend in-person school.

'Many families would feel safer knowing their school has a high vaccination rate,' Clark said.

'But some may feel that the potential negative impacts of not attending in-person school outweigh risks from unvaccinated individuals. Parents may also believe that they can minimize that risk by having their child get a Covid vaccine.'

She recommended that parents and students ask school administrators what is being done to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in classrooms.

'Parents will want to learn about school policies related to masks and social distancing, and then talk with their child about how to navigate the school environment to feel as safe as possible,' Clark added.
The name M&C Saatchi is a blast from the past but the advertising group is still going strong and recently raised market expectations for the full year.

Founded in 1995 after Maurice & Charles Saatchi split from Saatchi & Saatchi, the company now claims to be much more than an advertising agency, it's a 'global network of communications businesses' blending 'cutting-edge data expertise with diverse thinking and exceptional creativity'.

The company, which helped Democrats Joe Biden and Kamala Harris win the US election, has operations in 23 countries and over 40 agencies, with 2,500 employees around the world.

Victory: Advertising agency M&C Saatchi's work last year included campaigns for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris's US presidential bid and tourism campaigns for Iceland and Indonesia

As one might expect, the pandemic threw a spanner in the company's works but under new management  Maurice Saatchi is long gone having left abruptly in 2019 after the company uncovered some accounting issues  the firm is bouncing back strongly with a new business model.

Gone, or soon to be gone at any rate, is the 'federation of siloed, local operations' and in its place a 'connected digital global organisation' with five divisions: Connected Creativity; Brand, Experience and Innovation; Global and Social Issues; Passion Marketing; and Performance Marketing.

Long-time Saatchi sidekick Moray McLennan has been the chief executive since the start of 2021 while Gareth Davis has been in the chair in a non-executive role over the same period and they have set about transforming the company and are eyeing ambitious growth targets.

As is also often the way with new management teams, they have swung the axe and made a lot of people redundant. This has cost money upfront but should save a pile in the long term.

By 2025, management wants to have achieved a compound annualised growth rate (CAGR) in net revenue of 6 per cent, operating profit CAGR of more than 25 per cent and to exit 2025 with an operating profit margin of 18 per cent.

The operating margin in 2020 was just 5.3 per cent but after slashing costs and getting shot of a few businesses it had risen above 10 per cent in the first half of 2021 so the target of achieving a margin of 18 per cent by 2025 does not look too far-fetched.

Shares in M&C Saatchi trade at 125p, up from 83.6p at the end of 2020 but well below their 2021 high of 175p, set back in March.

The advertising group seems to have made a good start to achieving its lofty ambitions in other areas too in 2021, with trading in the first five months of the year ahead of management expectations.

Half-year headline profit before tax is expected to top 10million, which is more than the 8.3million profit made in the whole of 2020 (down from 17.2million the year before).

Although not one of the 'Big Four' advertising agencies, Saatchi has, like those lumbering beasts, not been as fast as it would have liked in adjusting to the online world but the sleeker divisional structure is now delivering strong digital growth.

'Profit in all five of the new divisions has grown in 2021 through meeting new client demands in the new digital landscape,' MacLennan told investors in June.

'This initial success and our continued focus on innovation, technology and data, combined with creativity, which is at our core, gives us confidence for the remainder of the year and beyond.'

Beyond the self-help measures, things look to be on the up for the advertising sector in general.

Last month, Interpublic Group upgraded its full-year expectations for organic revenue growth and underlying earnings margins while Publicis, another of the Big Four advertising groups, upgraded all of its key performance indicator metrics and said full recovery of advertising spending from the impact of the pandemic is now expected to happen one year earlier.

Liberum, one of the UK advertising agency's house brokers, said Saatchi's first-half numbers 'were far ahead of our initial expectations' but even so it was more 'more excited by the commentary around trading for the first five months of the year, and the outlook for the remainder given encouraging business activity'.

It forecasts headline profit before tax for the full year will be 13.3million while the EBIT (earnings before interest and tax) margin is tipped to rise to 7.5 per cent.

The broker cautioned that the strength of the first-half performance may not be fully matched in the second half but noted that the strong trading 'seems to echo extremely bullish industry forecasts that advertising spend is due to grow 19 per cent in 2021, 15 per cent ahead of pre COVID 2019 levels'.

Shares in M&C Saatchi trade at 125p, up from 83.6p at the end of 2020 but well below their 2021 high of 175p, set back in March.

The stock remains highly attuned to the health of the global economy while some investors are wary over of the volume of shares paid to senior managers of subsidiary companies through incentive schemes.

Liberum is sanguine about these payments to minority shareholders, acknowledging they will grow in line with Saatchi's profits but as time passes more of these options will be cashed in. Its 12-month target price is 235p.
Landlords say demand for rented homes is at its highest in five years as Covid restrictions ease - but fewer want to buy new properties to let, leading to fears of a supply shortage.

The National Residential Landlords Association said a survey of its members showed that nearly 39 per cent believed demand for homes to rent increased in the second quarter of 2021 (April to June) - a five-year high and an eight percentage point increase on the first quarter.

The organisation, which represents landlords in England and Wales, said this was due to the relaxation of Covid restrictions and a more buoyant economic outlook, which had encouraged tenants to move.

Game over: More landlords say that they will be selling their buy-to-let properties, due to the effects of the pandemic - which they believe will continue to affect their businesses

However, despite this uptick in demand, fewer landlords want to expand their portfolios, and more are looking to to sell up.

The proportion of landlords intending to buy new properties saw a dramatic drop from 19 per cent in the first quarter of 2021, to 14 per cent in the second quarter, according to the NRLA.

In comparison, the proportion looking to sell up was 20 per cent, up three percentage points from the first quarter of the year.

This was largely due to the aftermath of the pandemic, which landlords believed would still have an impact on their businesses going forward.

A total of 55 per cent of landlords said that their lettings business would 'continue to be negatively affected' by Covid, rising to 81 per cent in Outer London.

Many landlords had to give substantial rent discounts or payment holidays during the pandemic.

A recent survey of 2,000 landlords and tenants by Shawbrook Bank found that almost half (46 per cent) had reduced monthly rent payments due to Covid.

Some 28 per cent said they gave a payment holiday, losing 7,500 on average, while 18 per cent offered a rent reduction, losing 6,500.

Changes to the buy-to-let tax regime in recent years have also encouraged landlords to leave the sector or reduce their portfolios.

The only losers will be tenants as they struggle to find the homes they need Chris Norris, NRLA

They can no longer deduct their mortgage interest from rental income for tax purposes, and they must also pay a 3 per cent stamp duty surcharge on any properties they buy.

Chris Norris, policy director for the National Residential Landlords Association said:

'The evidence is clear that nationally whilst the demand for homes to rent is increasing, landlords are more reluctant to invest in new properties.

'The only losers will be tenants as they struggle to find the homes to rent they need.'

'The Chancellor needs to recognise the harm being done by tax hikes imposed on the sector.'

'Two tier' rental market

The NRLA also said the pandemic had led to a 'two-tier' rental market in England and Wales.

In Yorkshire and the Humber, Wales, the South West and the South East, more than 60 per cent of landlords said that demand for homes to rent had increased.

But in contrast, just 15 per cent of landlords in Central London said demand for their properties had increased in the second quarter of the year, compared with 53 per cent who said it had fallen.

The NRLA put this down to 'tenants looking to leave London in the wake of the growth in home working' - though it admitted that the tide could turn on this as Covid restrictions were further lifted.

Official data shows that in the year to July 2021 the capital was the only region of the country to see rents fall in real terms, but early signs suggest this trend may be reversing.

'It is clear that there is a significant flight of tenants from the capital in response to the Covid pandemic,' Norris added.

'With lockdown restrictions having ended, and offices beginning to reopen, the jury is out as to whether this trend will continue.'
PayPal will this week start allowing customers in Britain to trade bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as it extends its crypto trading platform internationally.

PayPal entered the crypto market in the US at the end of 2020 as bitcoin started to pique the interest of leading institutions.

Now UK users will be able to trade bitcoin, ethereum, litecoin and bitcoin cash - a spin-off from bitcoin.

It comes as today bitcoin pushes through the $50,000 a coin barrier for the first time in three months.

Crypto convert: PayPal is expanding its cryptocurrency trading platform to the UK

UK users can start buying as little as 1 of cryptocurrency through PayPal, with a maximum single purchase of 15,000.

The maximum amount for weekly purchases is also 15,000 and a maximum of 35,000 over a 12-month period.

PayPal has said it will not charge users to hold cryptocurrencies but there will be currency conversion fees and transaction fees.

'The exchange rate may include a margin that PayPal earns on each purchase and sale and conversion between your electronic money in pounds sterling and the relevant cryptocurrency which is purchased in US dollars,' the platform told This Is Money.

PayPal's move into cryptocurrency could prove significant for crypto adoption, particularly given how easy and widespread the platform is.

As a result it has said it will provide users with 'educational content to help them understand the cryptocurrency ecosystem, the volatility, risks, and opportunities related to purchasing cryptocurrency.'

Although UK customers will be able to trade crypto, PayPal will retain control of the asset.

Bitcoin price Last year, bitcoin was at around $5,500 as the pandemic started to take hold. By the end of 2020, it had soared to around $30,000 a coin, before snowballing past $60,000 in April 2021. It then halved back to $30,000 a month later, before a recent rally seeing it burst back through the $50,000 mark.

Typically when you purchase bitcoin or another cryptocurrency, you are given a public and a private key pair.

The public key is your wallet address and the private key gives you control of that wallet.

PayPal has said customers will not be provided with the private key and crypto assets can only be bought, held and sold in the PayPal wallet at the moment, meaning they can't transfer to private wallets or perform on-chain transactions.

That is not to say they will not follow Revolut's example, which recently started to allow its users to transfer their bitcoin holdings out of Revolut.

'The pandemic has accelerated digital change and innovation across all aspects of our lives - including the digitisation of money and greater consumer adoption of digital financial services,' said Jose Fernandez de Ponte, vice president for Blockchain, Crypto and Digital Currencies.

'Our global reach, digital payments expertise, and knowledge of consumer and businesses, combined with rigorous security and compliance controls provides us the unique opportunity, and the responsibility, to help people in the UK to explore cryptocurrency.

'We are committed to continue working closely with regulators in the UK, and around the world, to offer our supportand meaningfully contribute to shaping the role digital currencies will play in the future of global finance and commerce.'

Laith Khalaf, head of investment analysis at AJ Bell, said: 'The ability to trade cryptocurrencies is nothing new, but the significance of PayPal's entry into the UK market is its potential to process crypto transactions between consumers and businesses.

'It's also significant that this crypto expansion is PayPal's first outside the US, which suggests the tech giant thinks the UK is a hub of crypto activity worth tapping into.

He says a survey of more than 1,100 cryptocurrency holders earlier in the year saw three in five crypto investors saying they do not have an Isa and half don't have a pension.

He adds: 'Many UK investors are leapfrogging traditional forms of savings and diving in at the deep end by investing in crypto.'
Bitcoin shot past $50,000 for the first time since May after another corporate giant threw its weight behind the cryptocurrency.

It climbed 3 per cent to $50,530, while ether, another popular digital coin, was up more than 4 per cent at $3,367.51.

The moves were boosted by Paypal which said it would allow customers in the UK to buy, sell and hold bitcoin and other digital currencies as it expands its crypto services outside of the US for the first time.

Crypto comeback: Bitcoin climbed 3 per cent to $50,410.70 while Ether, another popular digital coin, was up more than 4 per cent at $3,367.51

With over 403m active accounts globally, the US firm is one of the largest mainstream financial companies to offer users access to crypto-currencies.

Craig Erlam, analyst at Oanda, said: 'Paypal is continuing to throw its weight behind cryptos, introducing its offering to UK clients after successfully launching in the US.'

Bitcoin has had a rollercoaster ride this year and in January it was trading at $27,700.

It recovered to hit a record high of almost $65,000 in April, driven by fast-money bets and optimism about growing demand from institutional investors.

But the coin fell sharply in May after a crackdown in China and a decision by Elon Musk's Tesla not to accept it as payment any more.

In May, Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey described bitcoin as a danger to the public.
I have moved over from South Africa. I am 56 years old and working, and my company is paying 8 per cent of my salary into a pension for me. I earn 26,000 per year.

I want to take out a pension as I cashed all my South African pension in to buy a property in the UK.

Please advise if taking out a personal pension with Scottish Widows would be good or should I add to my workplace pension?

SCROLL DOWN TO FIND OUT HOW TO ASK STEVE YOUR PENSION QUESTION

Retirement planning: Should I save more into my workplace scheme or take out a personal pension?

Steve Webb replies: It is good that you are still thinking about adding to your pension.

The typical person of your age can expect to live into their mid 80s, and you have a one in four chance of living into your early 90s, so the longer you can carry on building up your pension rather than drawing it down, the better.

Without details of your current workplace pension arrangement it is difficult to do a direct comparison with taking out a personal pension, but there are several reasons why saving more in your workplace pension will often the better option.

I'm assuming that in both cases we are talking about a 'pot of money' or defined contribution arrangement.

The first advantage of the workplace pension is the potential for extra contributions from your employer.

What is a defined contribution pension? Defined contribution pensions take payments from both employer and employee and invest them to provide a pot of money at retirement.

You have said that you get an 8 per cent contribution from your employer which is a good start. But in some cases, employers will go further if their employee wants to contribute more.

So, for example, if you were able to contribute an extra 1 per cent or 2 per cent it is possible that your employer would match this, but only if you did so through the workplace scheme. You should therefore find out if this is an option for you.

The second attraction of your workplace scheme is relatively low charges.

Depending on the size of your employer, it is possible they may have negotiated a good deal on pension charges with their pension provider.

There is already a charge cap on workplace pensions of 0.75 per cent on any money sitting in the 'default fund'  this is the place where the money is automatically invested unless you choose otherwise.

But larger firms can often negotiate a better deal than this, so you should find out what charges you are actually paying.

By contrast, an individual who takes out their own personal pension does not have the same buying power and can end up paying more in charges.

Although the differences may seem quite small, over a period of decades they can add up and make a big difference to your final pension pot.

Steve Webb: Find out how to ask the former Pensions Minister a question about your retirement savings in the box below

The third benefit of the workplace pension, and something that is often overlooked, is known as 'governance'.

This basically means having someone there to oversee how your pension is run and how the money is invested. Most workplace pensions will have some form of governance in place, whether in the form of pension scheme trustees or 'governance committees'.

These people are there on your behalf to make sure that the pension is well run. There may be much less governance of this sort if you simply go and buy a personal pension off the internet.

In terms of the attraction of a personal pension instead, probably the most obvious one is that this may offer you more choice and flexibility, particularly about how your money is invested.

By contrast, some workplace pensions offer a limited range of choices in terms of investment options. But you may be largely 'on your own' if you do this through a personal pension.

So if you choose to invest in something more unusual you would need to appreciate what additional risk you might be taking on and what extra costs might come with that investment.

In short, there's no single answer to your question that would be right for everyone. But my instinct is that the workplace option comes with a lot of advantages and so it would need to be a particularly attractive personal pension for you to go down that route instead.
The ex-wife of war hero Ben Roberts-Smith told friends and family she wanted two thirds of the value of his Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the Commonwealth.

Emma Roberts said she wanted the majority share of her husband's medal group, which also includes Australia's third highest recognition for bravery, the Medal for Gallantry, in the wake of the couple's bitter marriage breakdown.

The medal set has previously been valued at approximately $1million and Mr Roberts-Smith was willing to take his ex-wife's to the High Court to keep it.

Selling the medal set could have been complicated for any buyer as the VC could still be revoked if war crimes allegations made by a newspaper group against Mr Roberts-Smith were ever proven.

Multiple sources who were once close to either or both Mr Roberts-Smith and Ms Roberts are aware that she reckoned she was entitled to more than half the medals' worth.

The ex-wife of war hero Ben Roberts-Smith told friends she deserved two thirds of the value of his Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the Commonwealth. Emma Roberts wanted to the majority share of her husband's medal group in the wake of the couple's bitter break-up. The former couple is pictured

Ben Roberts-Smith's Victoria Cross made him the most famous soldier in Australia but also allegedly led to jealousy among some of his colleagues. The Queen is pictured shaking hands with him during an audience at Buckingham Palace in May 2018

Multiple sources who were once close to either or both Mr Roberts-Smith and Ms Roberts are aware that she reckoned she deserved over half the medals' worth. She is pictured in Brisbane in June

Mr Roberts-Smith was awarded the VC for 'the most conspicuous gallantry in action' during the Battle of Tizak, the largest engagement of Australian troops since Vietnam, in which at least 65 enemy were killed.

'I was stunned,' one friend of Mr Roberts-Smith told Daily Mail Australia.

'The VC represents service, bravery and self-sacrifice of all the men who fought on that day and the many who fought before them,' she said.

It is understood Ms Roberts told friends she believed she was entitled to the majority share of the medals' value due to her contribution to the marriage.

Ms Roberts declined to comment when contacted by Daily Mail Australia, as did Mr Roberts-Smith.

An appraiser who has looked at recent sales of Victoria Crosses believed the Roberts-Smith collection could be worth up to $2million.

Mr Roberts-Smith, 42, and 45-year-old Ms Roberts - who dropped the Smith from her surname after their split - were together about 20 years.

The former couple has twin daughters who were born months after the action for which Mr Roberts-Smith was awarded his VC.

Mr Roberts-Smith earned his VC and MG while serving with the Special Air Service in Afghanistan in June 2010 and June 2006 respectively.

He also holds a Commendation for Distinguished Service for his performance as a patrol commander with the Special Operations Task Group in the same conflict.

Mr Roberts-Smith earned his VC and MG while serving with the Special Air Service in Afghanistan in June 2010 and June 2006 respectively. He is pictured in Afghanistan

The VC in particularly turned Mr Roberts-Smith into a celebrity solider who was feted at military gatherings and much in demand as a public speaker. Ms Roberts is pictured meeting the Queen with her husband in Perth in October 2011

Ben Roberts-Smith's Victoria Cross and Medal for Gallantry make him the most decorated living Australian solider. His medals, on display in the Australian War Memorial, are pictured

Just 101 Australians have been awarded the Victoria Cross in the past 121 years. Mr Roberts-Smith's VC and MG make him the country's most decorated living soldier.

The VC in particular turned Mr Roberts-Smith into a celebrity solider who was feted at military gatherings and much in demand as a public speaker.

Ms Roberts met the Queen and dignitaries including Prime Minister Scott Morrison while accompanying her husband to functions around the country.

What the VC means to Ben Roberts-Smith Mr Roberts-Smith has told the Federal Court about the complicated effects of being honoured with the VC. 'It's interesting because - people obviously ask you all the time, and I would say that of course I'm proud of it,' he said. 'But I'm nowhere near as proud of that as I am able to count myself amongst that number of men on that day in that battle. 'Because everybody fought with the bravery, everybody fought with gallantry, and most people, at some point, were fighting for their lives. 'And as I have said and maintain and will maintain until the day I die, that Victoria Cross is for what we achieved, because you cannot go into battle alone. 'You simply can't do it. You have to do it together. That's what it means.' But for all the good the award had brought him, it had also been a cross to bear. 'Because for all of the good that is has brought me and has enabled me to do... it has also brought me a lot of misfortune and pain,' he told the court. 'As soon as you become a tall poppy that gives people the opportunity to belittle you and drag you down and undermine you, and use that award against you out of pure spite.' Advertisement

Mr Roberts-Smith is suing Nine newspapers in the Federal Court over allegations he was involved in six murders in Afghanistan - claims he has consistently and vehemently denied.

Ms Roberts is set to give evidence against her ex-husband in his defamation trial, having originally indicated she would support him.

Mr Roberts-Smith was awarded his VC for his actions at the Battle of Tizak in northern Kandahar province's Shah Wali Kot district on June 11, 2010.

He had exposed his position to draw fire away from members of his patrol who were pinned down then stormed two enemy machine gun positions.

Explaining his bravery that day he has said: 'It got to the point where it was like I'm not going to sit here while one of the boys gets hit. I thought I'd just have a crack.'

The corporal became just the second Australian to be awarded the Victoria Cross since the Vietnam War, following fellow SAS soldier Mark Donaldson's in 2008.

Mr Roberts-Smith's citation reads: 'For the most conspicuous gallantry in action in circumstances of extreme peril as a patrol second-in-command with a Special Operations Task Group on Operation Slipper'.

His barrister Bruce McClintock SC gave Justice Anthony Besanko a short history lesson on the medal early in the defamation trial.

'It is a cliche or it's a truism to say it is the highest award for gallantry in Australia... in the British Commonwealth, since it was instituted by Queen Victoria during the Crimean War,' he said.

'But on that day at Tizak my client killed many insurgents, as did other Australian soldiers also kill significant numbers of the enemy.

'The total number of the enemy dead, which the Commonwealth will not permit me to say in open court, was extremely high.'

Mr McClintock said Chris Masters - one of three journalists Roberts-Smith is suing -estimated at least 65 enemy dead in a book he wrote on the war in Afghanistan.

'One can get a sense of what it was like from one of the photos reproduced in Mr Masters' book, which shows six Taliban corpses lying in a courtyard,' Mr McClintock told the court. 'The photograph is, in fact, of the position that my client stormed.'

Mr McClintock described the Battle of Tizak as 'the largest Australian engagement since Vietnam'.

'It's generally regarded as the high-water mark of Australia's presence in Afghanistan during the war,' Mr McClintock told the court.

Mr Roberts-Smith, 42, and 45-year-old Ms Roberts - who dropped the Smith from her name after their split - were together about 20 years. He left her in January last year and their divorce was settled in February

'In no small reason is the fact that it is the high-water mark due to the fact that what my client and the soldiers with him did to the Taliban that day in that stronghold of Tizak.'

Mr Roberts-Smith has told his trial he was proud of being awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions but it had also made some colleagues jealous of him.

'It put a target on my back,' Mr Roberts-Smith told the court.

He has told friends he is so disgruntled by his treatment by Defence since war crimes allegations were raised against him he will never wear the medals again.

Mr Roberts-Smith has stood down for the duration of his trial as general manager of the Seven Network in Queensland, which is part of Seven West Media, owned by billionaire Kerry Stokes.

Mr Stokes' private investment company Australian Capital Equity has extended a $1.9million line of credit to Mr Roberts-Smith as he sues newspapers including The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.

Mr Roberts-Smith has provided his medals including the Victoria Cross, which are on display at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, as security for the loan.

Ben Roberts-Smith (centre) is pictured with fellow Victoria Cross recipients Mark Donaldson (left), who received his medal for action in Afghanistan, and Keith Payne, who is the only surviving Vietnam War recipient

In the event Mr Roberts-Smith cannot repay the money Mr Stokes has said he will donate the medal set to the Australian War Memorial, of which he is chairman.

'The funding of his legal action is a private matter, however he has put his medals up as collateral on a loan and will relinquish them if required,' Mr Stokes has said.

'If this eventuates, I will donate his medals with Ben's approval to the Australian War Memorial, as I have done so with other VCs and medals in the past.'

Historian, publisher and valuer Tom Thompson said based on past sales of VCs and Mr Stokes's previous purchases a 'conservative estimate' for Mr Roberts-Smith's medals would be $1.5million to $2million.

'I don't believe hearsay would tarnish the value of gallantry in action,' Mr Thompson said.

Mr Roberts-Smith left Ms Roberts in January 2020 and the former couple sold their home on Queensland's Sunshine Coast for more than $2million in December that year.

Mr Roberts-Smith and Ms Roberts settled their divorce in February this year and she gave a statement to Nine a fortnight later outlining the evidence she would give against him.

Roberts-Smith is pictured receiving the medal from then governor-general Dame Quentin Bryce in 2011. Dame Quentin was never withdrawn her support for the former soldier but will not be giving character evidence on his behalf for 'personal reasons'

The couple had rocky periods before they parted, with Mr Roberts-Smith admitting having an affair with a woman known as Person 17 from October 2017 until April the following year.

He has given evidence he separated from his wife in September 2017 but they eventually reconciled. Ms Roberts is expected to deny there was a separation or having knowledge of the affair until it was over.

Mr Roberts-Smith took several swipes at his ex-wife while giving evidence in the defamation trial in June.

'It's very sad that my my wife has involved herself in these proceedings, Your Honour,' he told Justice Besanko.

'And I take absolutely no joy in describing my wife in any way that is negative, but the reality is she is extremely bitter.

'She has done things along the way that have been detrimental to my family, and particularly to me, because she thinks it will hurt me.'

Mr Roberts-Smith this year stepped out for the first time with his new girlfriend Sarah Matulin - who quit her job at Channel Seven when their relationship became serious. Mr Roberts-Smith is Seven's general manager in Queensland

Mr Roberts-Smith is suing Ms Roberts in a separate action, accusing her of hacking into an email account he used for legal correspondence before the start of his defamation trial.

His lawyers allege Mrs Roberts accessed confidential emails about his defamation case and an inquiry by the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan.

They further claim Ms Roberts lied in affidavits sworn in response to accusations she hacked into his private email account.

Mr Roberts-Smith is in a relationship with 28-year-old Sarah Matulin, who worked at the Seven Network in Queensland until she quit in December to take up work with a PR company on the Gold Coast.

Just five Victoria Crosses for Australia have been awarded since it was created in 1991, in addition to 96 of the imperial version presented to servicemen from the Boer War to Vietnam.

Corporal Daniel Keighran of 6RAR was presented with a VC in 2012 for actions in Afghanistan in 2010. Corporal Cameron Baird was posthumously awarded a VC in 2014 for heroism in the same war the previous year.

The last Victoria Cross of Australia was awarded posthumously to World War II seaman Teddy Sheean in 2020 - 78 years after he went down firing his gun from HMAS Armidale.

Mr Roberts-Smith's defamation trial has been adjourned to November 1 due to Covid-19.
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More than four in 10 patients hospitalised with the Delta variant in England may have been admitted for something else, MailOnline's analysis of official data suggests.

Public Health England's fortnightly update on coronavirus strains circulating around the country showed 7,285 people had spent at least one night in hospital with the mutant virus by August 15.

But it admitted as many as 3,154 (43 per cent) had likely come to A&E for 'a diagnosis unrelated to Covid' and tested positive later through routine swabbing.

Experts told MailOnline in June that the number of so-called 'incidental' Covid hospital admissions would rise if community transmission continued to stay stubbornly high.

The proportion of people testing positive for the strain after admission for a different illness has risen four per cent since then. By June 21, it was 39 per cent.

Reading University microbiologist Dr Simon Clarke said the numbers highlight the increasing numbers of patients unwittingly bringing the virus into hospitals  putting the most vulnerable at risk.

He told MailOnline: 'If someone is asymptomatic and they're admitted say, with an appendicitis or smashed ankle, then the hospital won't know that they're infected for about 24 hours, because that's how long it takes to get the test done.

'In that time they could easily have infected staff and other patients, some of whom will be especially vulnerable.'

Other scientists warned official figures were overestimating the number of Covid patients in hospital. But they did not rule out that an undiagnosed Covid infection may have flared up other underlying conditions.

However, it comes as the number of patients with Covid-19 in hospital in England has hit 6,000 for the first time in more than five months. The figure, which is a snapshot of patients as of 8am on August 23, is up 11 per cent on the previous week.

Public Health England's fortnightly update on coronavirus strains circulating around the country showed 7,285 people had spent at least one night in hospital with the Delta variant of the virus by August 15. But it admitted as many as 3,154 (43 per cent) had likely come to A&E for 'a diagnosis unrelated to Covid' and tested positive later through routine swabbing

Separate figures in the PHE report show that six in ten patients who visited hospital were discharged on the same day of admission by August 15. Of the 19,774 people hospitalised by that date, 12,489 left on the same day they visited the hospital

The reason under-50s make up a larger proportion of the cases among unvaccinated and one dose admissions is because they are more likely to not have had a jab. The data from Public Health England shows that most admissions are still in the unvaccinated (shown middle) of which people under-50 make up the vast majority of cases. The same is true about admissions among people who've had a single dose (right). However it is more balanced in people who have been fully vaccinated

Separate figures from the report revealed six in ten Indian variant patients were sent home on the same day they visited hospital. These people are not tallied in the Government's daily update.

It comes against the backdrop of rising case numbers, deaths and hospital admissions.

No10's Covid dashboard shows there were 31,914 positive tests in the past 24 hours, up 12 per cent from last Monday. There were also another 40 deaths  up 54 per cent in a week.

Latest hospital data revealed that 948 people were admitted with the virus on August 17, which was almost eight per cent higher than the week prior.

Dr Clarke added: 'The number of infections in society is currently being allowed to run at a very high level, so it's inevitable that a lot of people will take the virus into hospital unknowingly.

Covid became the ninth leading cause of death in England last month Covid became the ninth leading cause of death in England in July as the country ended all lockdown restrictions on Freedom Day, official figures revealed today. The virus accounted for 969 out of the 40,467 fatalities from all causes last month (2.4 per cent), the equivalent of nearly one in 40, according to the Office for National Statistics. It marks a significant rise from June, when Covid was England's 26th biggest killer and made up 0.9 per cent of deaths - fewer than one in 100. Covid was the leading cause of death in England at the end of 2019 and beginning of 2020, but it plummeted to 26th place in June. But it has now jumped 17 places to be the ninth biggest killer. In July, 969 of the 40,467 fatalities recorded in the country were caused by the virus, while a total of 1,161 people had Covid mentioned on their death certificate But the proportion of deaths caused by the virus was still far lower last month than at other points in the pandemic thanks to the vaccines. For comparison, Covid was accounting for 37 per cent of all deaths in England at the height of the second wave in January. Dementia and Alzheimer's was responsible for four times more deaths than Covid last month, while heart disease and lung cancer continue to round out the top three causes. The 969 Covid deaths last month equate to an average of 31 deaths per day throughout the whole of July. However, this number has risen significantly since Freedom Day went ahead on July 19 and triggered a sustained uptick in cases and deaths. The UK as a whole is currently averaging 98 deaths per day. Advertisement

'The problem lies with the high number of community infections. It is not a reason to think that the numbers in hospital are not a problem or to point the finger at hospital infection control.

PHE publishes a technical briefing every two weeks, in which it details how many patients infected with each Covid variant have been hospitalised since February.

The vast majority of cases are down to the Indian variant, because the strain is behind almost every single infection across the country.

Broken down, PHE's update showed there were 7,285 hospital admissions from the Delta variant which resulted in an overnight stay by August 15.

It said 4,131 of these cases tested positive sometime before arriving. The remainder tested positive on the same day as their admission, suggesting they were only picked up due to routine testing at hospitals.

Cambridge University epidemiologist Dr Raghib Ali told MailOnline that the figures 'do indicate a significant proportion of those admitted to hospital are not there because they have primarily got a Covid admission.'

He added, however: 'But it is slightly more complicated than that because Covid can complicate other conditions so increase the risk of a heart attack for example.

'Someone could come in with a chest pain and have a heart attack and be Covid positive, and it could be that that Covid infection precipitated their heart attack.'

He called on ministers to publish Covid hospitalisation figures that have been broken down into three categories  Covid pneumonia patients, cases in which Covid has contributed to their hospitalisation, and patients where the disease was an 'incidental' finding.

He said no decisions on any future restrictions in the UK should be made until these three categories of data are published.

Dr Ali added: 'At the moment I think cases are fairly stable, hospitalisations are fairly stable, and deaths are fairly stable. We seem to be in a Covid plateau stage, where all of those things are fairly stable but may be slightly increasing.'

MailOnline has approached PHE for comment.

The PHE findings are in line with leaked NHS England data last month, which found more than half of people labelled as a Covid hospital patient in England only tested positive after being admitted for a different reason.

It suggests the pressure of the third wave on hospitals may be even less severe than the daily numbers let on.

However, it comes as the number of patients with Covid in hospital in England hits a five-month high.

Patient levels have not been above 6,000 since March 14  when the total stood at 6,039, according to data published by NHS England.

Hospital numbers have been rising slowly for the last few months as a result of the third wave of coronavirus, which began in England in late May.

The increase had appeared to level off at the end of July and showed signs of a small drop, but numbers have started climbing again in recent weeks.

The figures reflect a similar-shaped trend in the number of new cases of coronavirus, which spiked sharply in England in mid-July, began to fall, then levelled off and started to rise once more.

Trends in the number of new Covid cases typically take a short while to show up in the hospital data, due to the length of time between someone testing positive for coronavirus and then becoming ill enough to require hospital care.

The latest figures also show that all regions are recording a week-on-week rise in patients, with the biggest percentage increases in south-east England (up 19 per cent to 590), the Midlands (up 14 per cent to 1,209, the highest number for any region) and north-west England (up 12 per cent to 937).

Patient numbers are still well below levels seen at the peak of the second wave, however. A total of 34,336 Covid-19 patients were in hospital in England on January 18, the highest at any point since the pandemic began.

The current total of 6,000 is roughly one-sixth of this peak. Meanwhile, the number of daily hospital admissions of patients with Covid-19 stood at 757 on August 21.

The seven-day average for daily admissions is currently 777: the highest level since July 28.

The number of admissions includes all patients admitted to hospital in the previous 24 hours who were known to have Covid, plus any patients diagnosed in hospital with Covid-19 in the same previous 24 hours.
Queensland recorded one new case of coronavirus on Monday as the state's deputy premier said border restrictions with NSW would not necessarily ease with 80 percent of the population vaccinated.

One new case was linked to the Indooroopilly cluster and was in home quarantine.

A second case was a person who returned from the Philippines and was in hotel quarantine.

Yesterday Mr Miles said Queensland's agreement to the national cabinet's plan to reopen Australia once vaccination rates reached 70 and then 80 percent occurred before the current outbreak in NSW.

'We signed up to a plan that said at 70 per cent lockdown would be much less likely, and at 80 per cent they would likely only need to be very targeted.'

On Monday Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk back up his remarks, saying new research had been commissioned by the Federal government.

'The goalposts have changed,' she said.

'The Doherty research was premised on there being around 30 cases in the community and now there are thousands.

'There may still be some limited restrictions and limited, specified lockdowns at around 70 and 80% vaccination.'

Thousands of angry protestors gathered at the New South Wales and Queensland border to hit back at Covid-19 lockdown restrictions on Sunday

Up to 2,000 people congregated at both sides of the NSW and Queensland border, where police made nine arrests and issued more than 50 fines

She said the state remained concerned about the escalating number of cases in NSW.

'We have to be incredibly vigilant,' she said.

Ms Palaszczuk said she was 'extremely disappointed and concerned' about the protest at the border yesterday.

'They have stay-at-home orders in NSW for a purpose.'

Chief health officer Jeannette Young said it was 'a matter of time' before a positive case from NSW came across the border.

'We are seeing increased cases in NSW getting closer and closer to our border so its only a matter of time before it crosses,' she said. 'Police are doing an amazing job but eventually it will cross.'

Ms Palaszczuk revealed that the NSW government had rejected Queensland's proposal to move the border zone with NSW further south to solve the issue of cross-border communities such as Tweed Heads and Coolangatta.

The comments came was thousands of angry protestors gathered at the NSW and Queensland border on Sunday to rage against it being closed amid the Covid outbreak.

Up to 2,000 people, including one man on horseback, congregated at both sides of the border at about 12pm on Sunday.

The protest resulted in the arrest of nine people and more than 50 fines handed out for breaching public health orders.

On Monday police said they had charged a 55-year-old man who became violent towards police at the protest.

'Police will review the footage and follow up with people who may have committed public health direction offences yesterday,'

Police are still searching for a man on horseback who rode through the crowd encouraging protestors to cross the border.

Around 50 police officers monitored the mostly peaceful protest, which objected to the border restrictions dividing people who live and work either side of the border

Other rally attendees yelled 'who do you work for' at police while others held signs that said 'Open the Border Now' and 'No Vaxx Passport'

Angry residents who live on the NSW side of the border targeted the new border restrictions introduced by Queensland, which required essential workers from NSW to have had one dose of vaccine.

On Boundary Street in Coolangatta, the man on horseback was heard chanting 'Cross the border. Everyone cross the border, they can't hold all of us'.

Other rally attendees yelled 'who do you work for' at police while others held signs that said 'Open the Border Now' and 'No Vaxx Passport'.

Meanwhile at Jack Evans Harbour in Tweed Heads, a blockade of protestors who outnumbered police were seen forcing the officers to retreat.

One demonstrator from West Tweed said crossing the border into Queensland was a daily occurrence for a lot of his community.

'To stop people being able to do that  particularly in the situation where there's no cases in our area  is hypocrisy,' he told the ABC.

Few attendees at the protest were seen wearing masks, while others kissed and hugged in the tightly-packed crowds.

While some protestors argued there were no active cases in northern NSW, Covid-19 particles were detected in Byron Bay's sewage system on Tuesday.

The coastal town was also visited by a Covid-positive man and his two teenage children who travelled from Sydney last month.

The rally was just hours after state leaders condemned anti-lockdown demonstrations in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Cairns on Saturday and NSW recorded a pandemic-record of 830 locally-acquired cases.

A plane flew overhead the protestors with a banner reading: 'Tweed zero cases. Why lockdown insanity?' (pictured)

An attendee at the NSW and Queensland border rally on Sunday is seen holding a sign reading 'Plandemic'

At Boundary Street in Coolangatta, one man on horseback (pictured) was heard chanting 'Cross the border. Everyone cross the border, they can't hold all of us'

Queensland's Deputy Premier Steven Miles described Sunday's protests at the border as 'shameful and reckless'.

'We've gotten through this because Queenslanders have done the right thing, we've kept each other safe,' he said.

'That's not the kind of behaviour Queenslanders do, it's very un-Queensland like.'

The deputy premier said the border between the two states was one of the riskiest places for unwanted transmission of the virus.

'We have to see the situation in NSW the same way weve seen the situation in other countries throughout this pandemic,' he said.

Queensland's Deputy Premier Steven Miles described the protests at the borderline as 'shameful and reckless'

The deputy premier said the border between NSW and Queensland is one of the riskiest places right now for unwanted transmission of the virus

The large crowds congregated on both sides of the border to protest lockdown restrictions, with many attendees not wearing masks and others seen kissing and hugging

'By having a protest there, we make the jobs of our police harder, they put their own safety at risk as well as the safety of the community and I'm frankly pretty disgusted.'

One attendee of the border rallies described the public health orders as 'a disgrace' and a direct attack on his freedom and ability to move.

'It's affecting people's businesses and social lives,' he told the ABC.

'This will be the break-up of the Commonwealth of Australia, it will be the fragmentation of Australia into disparate, fighting, disputing groups and the end of democracy as we know it.'

Another woman from Pottsville in NSW said she worked across the border and had lost her source of income, making her dependent on the government.

'It's really, really distressing and we're angry  we're angry about our government,' she said.

She said a travel bubble between the two states was implemented during previous lockdowns and was the optimal solution.

Meanwhile, in the Brisbane CBD hundreds of protestors took to the city streets to bring awareness to the humanitarian crisis unravelling in Afghanistan.

One attendee of the border rallies described the public health orders as 'a disgrace' and a direct attack on his freedom and ability to move (pictured, police monitor the crowds)

The rally on the borderline is a latest in a suite of illegal demonstrations across the country that health authorities fear could become superspreader events

NSW recorded a pandemic-record of 830 new cases of Covid-19 overnight, with 94 fighting for life in intensive care.

The state's Deputy Police Commissioner Gary Worboys said police issued 240 penalty infringement notices in the last 24 hours across the state.

Many were related to those involved in Saturday's planned anti-lockdown protests in Sydney CBD.

About 1,500 officers were deployed on Saturday to stop protesters from marching, with police issuing 37 tickets after stopping around 38,000 cars entering the city.

The huge coordinated police presence and operation appeared to overwhelm protest efforts.
The White House scrubbed a cutting remark made by French President Emanuel Macron to Joe Biden about 'abandoning' Afghanistan in a summary of the leaders' call.

France's official 'readout' of the August 19 call highlighted how Marcon had upbraided his US counterpart over his sudden withdrawal from Afghanistan, which has triggered chaos as Americans and Afghans granted visas try to flee the Taliban.

It read: 'President Macron spoke with U.S. President Joe Biden this evening about the situation in Afghanistan.

'He underscored the absolute need for swift, concrete coordination between the allies to ensure the evacuation of our citizens, Afghan men and women who worked for the allies, and those who are in danger.

'The head of state emphasized our collective moral responsibility toward the Afghan men and women who need our protection and who share our values.

'We cannot abandon them.

'The two presidents agreed to strengthen their efforts in the humanitarian and political arenas and on counterterrorism in the days to come, particularly within the framework of the G7.

The readout stated that French President Emmanuel Macron had 'underscored the absolute need for swift, concrete coordination between the allies to ensure the evacuation of our citizens, Afghan men and women who worked for the allies, and those who are in danger' to Biden

The readout from The White House was much more conciliatory and pointed at the joint efforts by Macron and Biden to assist Afghanistan

'It is absolutely urgent and it is a collective responsibility, for which the U.S. President assured President Macron of his support,' read the statement.'

But the White House's readout of the same call, published on its official website, omitted Macron's remark about not abandoning Afghanistan.

It said: 'President Joe Biden and President Emmanuel Macron of France spoke today about developments in Afghanistan.

'They lauded the tireless efforts of their personnel working closely together in Kabul on the evacuation of their citizens, the brave Afghans who have stood by us and our NATO partners, and other vulnerable Afghan nationals.

'They underscored the importance of continued close coordination among allies and democratic partners on Afghanistan, including through multilateral for a, on the provision of humanitarian assistance and support for refugees. They welcomed the virtual G7 leaders meeting next week to help coordinate these efforts and discuss a common approach.'

The discrepancy between the two readouts was first reported by Breitbart, which highlighted how governments will often tweak their summaries to ensure diplomacy.

That has sparked claims that Macron and his government wanted his attempt at shaming Biden left in the readout in a bid to display their disdain for the withdrawal.

The French readout of the call is a detour from Macron and Biden's diplomatic relationship.

Just over a month ago, Macron and Biden were shown smiling and shaking hands at the G7 summit, while they praised each other's commitment to fight COVID-19.

'As we say in the States, we [Biden and Macron] are on the same page,' said Biden in a sideline interview with the Associated Press.

Macron said: 'It's good to have the US government in the team...I think what you [Biden] have demonstrated is that leadership is partnership.'

Macron and Biden are pictured in Brussels in June, with a pointed remark the French president made to his US counterpart revealed in a summary of an August 19 call they shared

Biden and Marcon looked relaxed and happy to be in each other's company during the G7 leaders' summit in Cornwall, England, in June - but their relationship has since taken a dip

The two leaders are pictured looking smiling and relaxed while walking with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

The call for 'concrete coordination between the allies' comes after Biden received a slew of backlash last week for not talking with any world leaders in the aftermath of the Taliban takeover.

'He has not yet spoken with any other world leaders,' said US security advisor Jake Sullivan during a briefing with reporters on August 17.

Hours after reports came out attacking him for his inaction, Biden spoke with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. More calls followed to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Prime Minister Mario Draghi of Italy, and President Pedro Sanchez of Spain.

The hasty retreat and Biden's tardiness in communicating with allies and the American public has also been criticized by former American officials.

'It has damaged our alliances, emboldened our adversaries and increased the risk to our own security. It has also flouted 20 years of work and sacrifice,' said Ryan Crocker, former US ambassador to Afghanistan under Obama's administration, in a New York Times essay.

This week Biden will join a virtual meeting of the G7 to discuss cooperation between the nations as the Taliban overruns Afghanistan, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in her statement on the upcoming meeting.

'The leaders will discuss continuing our close coordination on Afghanistan policy and evacuating our citizens, the brave Afghans who stood with us over the last two decades, and other vulnerable Afghans,' Psaki's statement reads.

The G7 intergovernmental group includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the U.S.

Britain currently holds the rotating leadership of the G7 and announced earlier on Sunday that it called for the group to meet virtually this week.

The meeting comes as chaos in Afghanistan continues to unfold, and nations scramble to evacuate their citizens from Kabul.

Biden has relentlessly insisted that the botched exit of American troops from Afghanistan could not have been avoided, with his administration's top intelligence officials blaming the Afghan army's fast surrender to the Taliban.

Biden has been criticized for his response after the Taliban took over Kabul in just a matter of days, and his tardiness to communicate with world leaders

A U.S. Marine carries a girl to the gate at Hamid Karzai International Airport, August 20, 2021

People gathered at the Place de la Republique to alert the international community to the situation in Afghanistan, and to demand that France respects its commitments to accept Afghans who are fleeing their country after the Taliban takeover

A U.S. Marine comforts an infant while they wait for the mother during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Afghanistan

'I have seen no question of our credibility from our allies around the world,' Biden said on Friday.

In recent days, however, it appears Biden has admitted the nature of the withdrawal and the imminent reality that the deadline for full withdrawal, September 11, might have to be postpone to aid Afghan citizens and US nationals trying to flee the Taliban.

'Let me be clear - the evacuation of thousands of people from Kabul is going to be hard and painful,' Biden said during a speech in the Roosevelt Room of the White House.

'No matter when it started, when we began, it would have been true if we had started a month ago, or a month from now.

'There is no way to evacuate this many people without pain and loss and heartbreaking images you see on television.

'It's just a fact,' he said.

His speech marked the latest attempt by the White House to seize control of a crisis that is rapidly turning into a humanitarian and political disaster.

A similar effort on Friday backfired when Biden claimed that he knew of no cases of Americans being stopped from reaching Kabul airport - only to be flatly contradicted by the Pentagon.

Things have only worsened since then, with reports that seven people died in the crush around the airport, including a two-year-old.

U.S. President Joe Biden and France's President Emmanuel Macron shake hands as they attend a bilateral meeting during the G7 summit in Carbis Bay, Cornwall

U.S.President Joe Biden and France's President Emmanuel Macron walk along the boardwalk during the G7 summit in Carbis Bay, Cornwall, Britain. A call readout between the two leaders point at France's criticism of the US hasty retreat from Afghanistan

Hundreds of people run alongside a U.S. Air Force C-17 transport plane as it moves down a runway of the international airport, in Kabul, Afghanistan

Defense officials 'hope' they will not have to extend the evacuation operation, he added, but 'there are going to be discussions I suspect on how far along we are in the process.'

He also said troops were maintaining constant vigilance against terrorist threats, particularly from the local affiliate of ISIS, sworn enemies of the both the U.S. and the Taliban.

Conditions deteriorated further at the weekend. The U.S. was forced to tell Americans not to try to brave the chaos around the airport unless they have been told to report.

And it emerged that evacuation flights were dropping flares and making steep combat landings after warnings that terrorists of the Islamic State might try to shoot down a plane.

Biden is still facing questions about why his administration did not have a better evacuation plan after being warned that the Taliban could sweep into Kabul within days.
A son who was run over by his mother when she drunkenly tried to pick him after a party is now suing her.

Harley Martlew is seeking damages in the Victoria Supreme Court against his mother Danielle after he was badly injured when she ran him down Traralgon, two hours east of Melbourne, in February 2017.

She had responded to a call from her then 17-year-old son to pick him up from a party at 2.30am in the morning.

Harley Martlew was hospitalised with head injuries, a broken leg and broken arm after his mother ran into him in Traralgon in February 2017

Mr Martlew with his partner. He is suing his mother for damages, claiming the injuries he sustained in the accident prevent him pursuing a career as a builder

Supreme Court documents show Ms Martlew was four times over the blood-alcohol limit when she went to collect her son, the Herald-Sun reported.

She had a blood-alcohol content between .199 and .222 when she crashed into her son on a Traralgon street and was reportedly also 'stressed and upset' after receiving a text message from her former partner.

Ms Martlew was told her son was up ahead in the middle of the road after she asked pedestrians for his whereabouts, before she sped off in search of him.

Mr Martlew sustained head injuries, a broken leg and broken arm after his mother ran into him.

He underwent two surgeries on his arm after a metal plate inserted into the arm snapped.

In December 2017, Ms Martlew was convicted in the County Court for drink-driving, refusing a breath test and negligence causing serious injury.

Now 21, Mr Harley is seeking damages over the 'life-changing' injuries which prevent him from working as a builder.

His lawyer said Mr Harley was physically restricted by problems with lifting, bending and squatting, despite now working as a mechanic.

'The injuries that Mr Martlew suffered were preventable  the negligence of the driver means that our client has suffered life-changing physical and mental damage which will have a significant impact on his future,' reads his statement of claim.

Despite the court action between son and mother, Ms Martlew's Facebook features loving photos of Harley with his partner and newborn child.
Queensland has joined Western Australia in threatening to renege on the national plan to live with coronavirus once 80 per cent of the population is vaccinated.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles on Sunday said Queensland may keep its border closed to NSW if the southern state has high case numbers, regardless of vaccination rates.

The move contradicts the re-opening plan, agreed by all premiers at National Cabinet last month, which says Australia will relax restrictions once 70 per cent are vaccinated and stop minimising cases once 80 per cent are jabbed.

Queensland protesters demanded the NSW border open in a large rally on Sunday

With Victoria and NSW in lockdown due to rising case numbers, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk tweeted that her state had zero new infections on Sunday

'We're not going to get ahead of ourselves. We look to what's happening in New South Wales every day and adjust our posture accordingly,' Mr Miles said.

He falsely suggested the national plan was no longer valid because NSW was recording such high case numbers, with 830 on Sunday.

'We're signed up and committed to the plan that national cabinet endorsed but that was a plan that was endorsed before the New South Wales outbreak.'

The Prime Minster has been at pains to point out that the plan is not predicated on case numbers and can go ahead regardless of infection rates. The very point of the plan is to live alongside the virus, he says.

With Victoria and NSW in lockdown due to rising case numbers, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk tweeted that her state had zero new infections.

Some Twitter users interpreted this as a subtle boast but others noted she has been reporting daily cases on her Twitter feed for several months.

Victoria recorded 71 new cases on Monday, its highest total in the most recent outbreak.

Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has even vowed to turn off financial support for any state that goes rogue and keeps trying to eliminate Covid even after 80 per cent are jabbed.

Queensland has threatened to keep its NSW border (pictured at Coolangatta) closed even if the country reaches 70 per cent vaccination

West Australian Premier Mark McGowan threatened this last week, telling Sky News: 'Our preferred option is zero Covid obviously and that's what we'll attempt to do.

'We don't want to have deaths and we don't want to have any spread of the virus.'

The 70 and 80 per cent vaccination figures are based on scientific modelling by The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity.

The model was based on starting to relax restrictions with 30 cases a day - but the scientists say the 70 and 80 per cent vaccination rates do not change if there are hundreds of cases.

The scientists are doing further work and will advise National Cabinet on any extra precautions states should take when relaxing rules later this year.

The Prime Minister defended his plan in a press conference on Monday morning and said Australia must learn to live with Covid-19.

'It does puzzle me - it puzzles me - why anyone would want to go against a plan that has been so carefully prepared,' he said.

Referring to lockdowns in Melbourne and Sydney, he said: 'This is not a sustainable way to live in this country, without those freedoms that we all cherish.'

And in a warning to rogue states, he said there is no alternative to opening up once vaccination rates are high.

'Because if not at 70 per cent and 80 per cent then when? Then when,' he said.

'We have to deal with it. Otherwise we stay in the cave forever. That's not a sustainable solution.'

'I understand people will be concerned that cases may rise... the task is not to delay, the task is not to fear, the task is to embrace, prepare, plan, ensure that we are in a position to do that.'

Queensland has threatened to renege on the national re-opening plan. Pictured: Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk

Meanwhile, Qantas boss Alan Joyce blasted rogue premiers who have threatened to ignore the national plan.

'I think it would be a terrible shame and I think it would be a big backlash if people can maybe even go to London and visit relatives there for Christmas but can't go to Perth to visit their relatives,' he told the ABC.

'I don't think that's what the expectation is and I'd say to the premiers, well, if getting the 70 to 80 per cent is not a way out of this, what is?

'What else do the Australian public need to do in order to get their lives back?'

He slammed lockdowns for destroying companies and plunging Australia into a mental health crisis, with calls to mental health hotlines soaring.

'There are consequences to lockdowns. They are needed now, we know that to protect the public, but they are causing mental health issues, they are causing businesses to fail, they are causing financial distress, and they have an impact on the health and wellbeing of the Australian public,' he said.

'And we can't continue like this for years. So if this is not the path out of it, I'd ask the premiers what is the path out of this?'
Nearly 500 children and teenagers were diagnosed with Covid-19 in Sydney on the weekend showing that the Delta variant is far more transmissible among kids - leading to uncertainty about where school will open again this year.

NSW recorded 825 new cases on Saturday and 830 on Sunday - with 204 of those infections being in children aged 0-9 and 276 in young people aged 10-19.

Sydney Children's Hospital in Randwick is now caring for more than 700 kids with Covid, while nearly 3,000 children under 10 have contracted the strain since the start of Sydney's outbreak in June.

The NSW government is set to reveal plans about reopening primary schools when the state hits its six million jabs target by the end of August - which is likely to come this week.

Children under 16 are not eligible for either Covid vaccine at this stage, although their rates of hospitalisation and ICU admission are far lower than adults.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Monday responded to questions about whether schools will open again this year that the government would have more details for parents and teachers 'later this week'.

There were also three deaths recorded on Sunday, with tougher restrictions being enforced on Monday which include mandatory masks outside as well as curfews for the 12 local government area hotspots.

Over 200 children aged between 0-9 were diagnosed with Covid-19 over the weekend (stock image)

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the only 'certainty' was that home-schooling would continue until at least the end of September.

'In relation to the 6 million jabs and schools going back, I said we would have more to say about it at the end of the week, and we will,' Ms Berejiklian said on Monday, as the state recorded another 818 cases of Covid.

'We will be able to communicate what additional freedom people may have once they get to full vaccination and during September, and we will outline our plan for schools.

'Both are a work in progress and we are consulting with the chief psychiatrist as well as the public health team to get the right balance.'

Deputy chief health officer Marianne Gale said the increase in children getting Covid was because the virus was spreading rapidly between large households.

'In the areas of western Sydney and south-west Sydney, we have large families and as a result, high numbers of children are becoming infected,' she said.

'We are concerned around the transmission in children. We are seeing children in hospital, but their rates of hospitalisation and their rates of ICU admission are much less than, thankfully, than what we're seeing in our older population.'

NSW is on track to reach its vaccination target by the end of the week, with 5,868,974 jabs administered as of Sunday.

The lockdown extension is not due to end until the end of September, over a week after term 3 finishes in schools on September 27.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard, said on Sunday that the government and NSW Health were working closely on a way to get children back into schools however, they have not come up with a solution yet.

NSW Premier has remarked that this week the state government will reveal plans for term 3 and 4 for students will look like as they hope to get them back into schools (stock image)

KIDS WITH DISABILITY TO GET VACCINE Children aged 12 to 15 living with a disability will be added to Australia's coronavirus vaccine rollout from Wednesday. The decision is expected to affect 40,000 National Disability Insurance Scheme participants who did not qualify under other eligibility criteria. Health Minister Greg Hunt said the expert immunisation panel was due to finalise advice on vaccinating all 12- to 15-year-olds this week. "We are quietly hopeful that will be a double green light after the TGA," he told reporters in Canberra on Monday. The Therapeutic Goods Administration has approved Pfizer for children in the age bracket. The government is waiting for the tick from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation. Children between 12 and 15 who are immunocompromised, have an underlying medical condition, are Indigenous or in remote communities were already eligible. Coronavirus outbreaks across Australia have sparked concerns more children are being infected with the Delta variant. Advertisement

The Cumberland and Canterbury-Bankstown areas remain having the largest majority of the new cases. Burwood mayor John Faker said that while case numbers remain low in his area, he believed Burwood was being used as a buffer zone.

He found out that Burwood was named a hotspot at one of the Covid conferences.

'We are surrounded by the hot spot areas of Strathfield and Canterbury-Bankstown but the people of Burwood have been very disciplined so it is disappointing that Burwood is still classified as a hotspot,' said Cr Faker.

'Our council plan is to lift our vaccination rates, and that is why I have been calling on the government to establish a walk-in vaccination hub.'

He said he had reached an agreement with NSW Health for 500 jabs a day over three days to be administered at a hub at Burwood RSL this week but it was 'nowhere near enough'.

Currently, Burwood has the lowest number of cases among the 12 hotspot LGAs, with 23 over the past four weeks. Strathfield, the next lowest, has had 107 cases in the same period.

Chris Minns, NSW Labour leader, said that there was a lot of confusion and uncertainty over the public health orders within the community.

'No one understands why some LGAs are included and other excluded, it's unclear. The Premier needs to outline a clear strategy, road map with a simple sets of rules we can all follow.'

This follows a surge in cases, reaching over 800 on the weekend with children under 16 not being eligible for the vaccine (stock image)

Mr Brad Hazzard commented that 'everything is on the table' of whether LGAs remain classified as areas of concern.

'The public health team and the police are constantly working to try and look at what we might be able to do in regard to those areas that may come down to zero,' Mr Hazzard said.

On Monday, Mr Hazzard will join in on the health budget estimates being the only minister to give evidence this session. He commented that it was always the case that ministers appear before budget estimates.

'It's always been that ministers should attend, and I always have, and I always will, ' Mr Hazzard remarked.
Vulnerable rescue dogs have been shot dead by a regional council in a shocking interpretation of Covid rules despite volunteers offering to care for them.

The Bourke Shire Council killed the dogs last week to prevent volunteers risking infection by travelling from a shelter in Cobar, in central western NSW, to pick them up.

The shootings were slammed by animal activists and prompted intervention from the council's watchdog, the NSW Office of Local Government.

Vulnerable rescue dogs have been shot dead by a regional NSW council in a shocking interpretation of Covid rules, despite volunteers offering to care for the animals (stock image)

The Bourke Shire Council in the north-west of NSW shot the dogs to prevent Cobar-based volunteers risking infection by travelling to the regional town to pick them up (pictured, a volunteer at the Sydney Dogs and Cats Home in 2018)

The OLG said its investigation will find out whether 'companion dog or cruelty prevention laws' were broken, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

'OLG has been informed that the council decided to take this course of action to protect its employees and community, including vulnerable Aboriginal populations, from the risk of Covid-19 transmission,' it said.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Bourke Shire Council for comment, and the Rural Outback Respite/Rescue, the shelter where the animals were due to be transported to and cared for by volunteers.

A source familiar with the agreement said the volunteers at the rescue shelter are distraught and had organised Covid-safe practices to care for the animals, one of which was a new mother.

According to NSW Health, there are no active cases in Cobar, but there are nine in Bourke, four of which are mystery cases.

Office of Local Government Minister Shelley Hancock (middle) has previously said she would be concerned if cats and dogs were being shot as a way to euthanise them

Covid-19 particles were detected in Cobar's sewage system on Friday at a plant that services around 4,000 people.

NSW Health said these detections were of 'particular concern' and asked residents to self-monitor for any onset symptoms of the virus.

Local Government Minister Shelley Hancock, who has previously been peppered with questions in Parliament over the shooting of animals in shelters, did not comment.

She said she was unaware of councils shooting dogs to euthanise them when asked in a budget estimates hearing in March.

'If it was a practice, I would be concerned about it  if it was a cat or a dog,' she said.

However, a later answer revealed councils are not required to tell the government how they kill shelter animals.

NSW Health said there are currently no active cases in the outback town of Cobar (pictured), but there are nine in Bourke, four of which are mystery cases

Animal Liberation regional campaign manager Lisa Ryan requested an urgent investigation into the shootings.

'We are deeply distressed and completely appalled by this callous dog shooting and we totally reject council's unacceptable justifications that this killing was apparently undertaken as part of a Covid-safe plan,' she said.

Greens animal welfare spokeswoman Abigail Boyd echoed Ms Ryan's sentiments, and said more dogs were dying while the government 'twiddled its thumbs'.

Ms Boyd said nothing had been done to protect the lives of vulnerable animals since the parliamentary hearing in March.

'Council pounds are paid for by local communities, and it is clear that shooting lost and unclaimed dogs housed in these publicly-funded facilities falls far short of community expectations,' she said.

Residents in NSW can keep adopting animals from pounds, shelters and rescues during the latest Covid-19 outbreak (pictured, a dog seized by the RSPCA in Queensland)

The OLG said it offered advice to council-run pounds during the most recent Covid-19 outbreak, including changes to procedures to ensure dogs could continue to be adopted while keeping volunteers safe.

Residents in NSW can continue to adopt animals from pounds, shelters and rescues, provided the services comply with the authorised worker restrictions.

The Health Department recommends residents collect the animal in from their LGA or within 5km of their homes, unless the pet is not reasonably available locally.

The OLG said councils were encouraged to continue to work with re-homing organisations and volunteers to care for animals, as long as practices remain consistent with NSW Health advice.

'Accordingly, prospective new owners should still be encouraged to 'adopt not shop', consistent with NSW Health advice,' it said.
Young adults bed-bound with 'long Covid' have starred in a Government film aimed at persuading reluctant people to have the jab.

The video, released by the NHS, shows three previously fit and healthy people in their twenties and thirties describing their 'debilitating' symptoms.

Among them are Quincy Dwamena, 31, who spent two weeks in hospital with the virus after putting off the vaccine and said he thought he was 'going to die'.

The dramatic video reflects mounting concern among health officials about stalling uptake in young adults.

New figures show one fifth of Covid-19 hospital admissions in England are aged 18 to 34  four times higher than the peak last winter.

Young adults bed-bound with 'long Covid' have starred in a Government film aimed at persuading reluctant people to have the jab. Pictured: Megan Higgins, 25, was previously healthy and active but is now suffering extreme fatigue due to long Covid

Two jabs slash the risk of hospitalisation by around 95 per cent and also halve the risk of getting symptoms.

But nearly three million 18 to 29-year-olds in the UK have yet to receive their first dose, despite all adults becoming eligible more than a month ago.

Last week, more than one million 16 and 17-year-olds were invited for the vaccine as the Government opened up the rollout to older teenagers. Although the young are very unlikely to die or become severely ill with Covid-19, some have struggled with persistent symptoms.

Infection rates are highest among adults in their twenties and Public Health England research suggests one in 20 people aged 16 to 29 have long Covid.

Officials hope focusing on the long-term effects of infection will change the minds of some who have shunned the jab.

They are concerned about rising infections and hospitalisations ahead of winter. Yesterday, another 49 deaths and 32,253 cases were recorded  a weekly increase of 13.5 per cent.

Olympic boxer Ben Whittaker yesterday revealed that he recovered from long Covid with a treatment used by divers. The 24-year-old contracted the virus in January and said it had robbed him of his ability to punch  but sessions in a chamber breathing 100 per cent oxygen in a pressurised environment gave him his fight back

Mr Whittaker claimed that without it he would not have won silver in Tokyo (pictured in his fight against Arien Lopez from Cuba)

The new Government campaign is the latest in a series of schemes targeting young adults, including free Uber rides, discounted Deliveroo takeaways and partnerships with dating apps.

It features Megan Higgins, 25, and Ella Harwood, 23, who were both previously healthy and active but are now suffering extreme fatigue due to long Covid.

How an oxygen chamber gave GB boxer back his punch Olympic boxer Ben Whittaker yesterday revealed that he recovered from long Covid with a treatment used by divers. The 24-year-old contracted the virus in January and said it had robbed him of his ability to punch  but sessions in a chamber at Midlands Diving Chamber breathing 100 per cent oxygen in a pressurised environment gave him his fight back. He claimed that without it he would not have won silver in Tokyo. Hyperbaric chambers treat scuba divers who surface too quickly, resulting in 'the bends'  or decompression sickness  in which nitrogen bubbles form in the blood. Experts claim the therapy treats long Covid as its symptoms are due to the virus starving cells of oxygen. Major clinical NHS trials are planned. Around 50 people have had symptoms cured so far and a pilot study of ten patients carried out by NHS University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust found two weeks' of hyperbaric therapy gave very large improvements in fatigue and concentration plus large benefits for verbal function and cognitive ability. By Beezy Marsh Advertisement

Miss Higgins, a special needs tutor from London, said: 'I could sleep for a week and still feel tired. It's now been eight months since I tested positive and I can't even walk around the shops without getting exhausted. Long Covid is debilitating, so please, get vaccinated.

'I wouldn't want anyone else to go through what I have.'

Miss Harwood, an illustrator from London, said she thought she might die 'for about seven months solid'.

She added: 'I'm young and fit but I was bed-bound for seven months with Covid-19.

'Before I caught the virus I was super active and had no health concerns, but I now suffer with asthma, which I didn't have before, and a number of allergies. I fear I'll never be the same again, but I'm making progress. I'm very grateful that I'm still alive.'

So far, 88 per cent of adults over 16 have had one dose, but among 18 to 29 year olds this falls to just 70 per cent in England.

Speaking in the NHS video, emergency medicine physician Dr Emeka Okorocha said most young people hospitalised by coronavirus were unvaccinated.

'As an A&E doctor I've seen a lot during the pandemic,' he said. 'But nothing has shaken me like the sight of young, otherwise healthy adults being rushed into our hospitals with Covid-19.'

Tom Williamson, a physiotherapist who also features in the film, said: 'We're treating more and more young Covid-19 patients who are still suffering with long Covid and it's heartbreaking to see.

'Patients are experiencing extreme fatigue, which means they can no longer do the things they love, and some have had to quit work.'

Health Secretary Sajid Javid has stepped up calls encouraging people to get jabbed, saying: 'Vaccines are the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from serious illness.'
Australians face a $1,110 fine if they are late lodging their tax return with lockdowns creating extra challenges and confusion.

But they can also get $1,000 extra back on their tax return with one simple trick.

Individuals have until October 31 to lodge their tax return online if they are doing it themselves.

Failure to do so by Halloween means someone faces a $222 fine for each 28-day period beyond this deadline up to a maximum of $1,110.

Tax agents can lodge tax returns on your behalf by May 15, 2022 but taxpayers have to register with an accountant by October 31.

But with Sydney and Melbourne in lockdown, many individuals are confused about whether they can visit an accountant, with different rules in Australia's most populated states.

Australians face a $1,110 fine if they are late lodging their tax return with lockdowns creating extra challenges. Individuals have until October 31 to lodge their tax return online if they are doing it themselves and can get more back by adding up working-from-home expenses instead of going for an easy, flat hourly rate (pictured is a stock image)

H&R Block director of tax communications Mark Chapman said New South Wales was allowing tax agents to operate office premises, but not Victoria.

'Accountants are categorised in the NSW Covid restrictions as business premises providing a professional service rather than retail premises, displaying and selling goods, so our offices are able to operate, with a comprehensive Covid safe plan,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'However we encourage clients to utilise our phone appointments to do their tax return, for those that have the technology capability.

'All our Victorian offices are currently closed. Instead, phone appointments are available.'

From March 2020 until the end of June 2021, the federal government allowed professionals to claim a flat 80 cents-an-hour rate for working from home.

But Mr Chapman said someone was likely to be better off opting for the lower 52 cents-an-hour rate and individually adding up their home phone, internet and electricity bills related to work.

'The vast majority are using the 52 cent rate as opposed to the governments 80 cent rate  many clients come into our office fully expecting to use the 80 cent rate but when we crunch the numbers, the 52 cent rate is generally preferred because of the additional claims for phone use, home internet and computer equipment depreciation,' he said.

Mr Chapman said those working from home would typically lose out on more than $1,000 worth of tax deductions if they opted for the government's flat 80 cent rate instead of the lower 52-cent rate with individual items manually added up.

Someone working from home stood to be able to claim between $2,550 and $2,700, an H&R Block analysis showed.

But with Sydney and Melbourne in lockdown, many individuals are confused about whether they can visit an accountant. H&R Block director of tax communications Mark Chapman said New South Wales was allowing tax agents to operate office premises, but Zoom appointments were possible too (pictured is Cabramatta in Sydney's south-west)

By comparison, the same professional working from home who went with the flat 80 cents-an-hour rate would get just $1,536 for the 1,920 hours spent working from home during the past year.

While Sydney has been in lockdown since June 26, during the final days of the last financial year, Melbourne had already by that point been in five lockdowns.

With many professions in Australia's biggest cities working from home for much of the 2020-21 financial year, the Australian Taxation Office is cracking down on work-related expenses.

That means dry cleaning and laundry expenses are on their radar along with car claims.

Mr Chapman said the tax office was particularly concerned with taxpayers claiming the maximum 72 cents per kilometre for car use up to 5,000km, even though they have been working from home.

In the May Budget, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg extended low and middle-income tax offsets of up to $1,080 for 10million people earning up to $126,000

'The ATO is concerned that too many taxpayers are automatically claiming the 5,000km limit regardless of the actual amount of travel,' he said.

Australians working from home because of the pandemic can't legally claim deductions for home office use, like rent, council rates and mortgage interest, unless they have a business registered at their home.

Overtime meal claims are also harder to justify if someone is working from home during the lockdown and are eating what's in their fridge.

Someone working from home could also claim up to $300 for new items like an office chair or a desk.

In the May Budget, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg extended low and middle-income tax offsets of up to $1,080 for 10million people earning up to $126,000.

This will see 4.6million Australians earning between $48,000 and $90,000 receive $1,080 as another 1.8million people earning $37,000 to $48,000 get back $255.

Those earning between $90,000 and $126,000 will get back a smaller amount.
A couple expecting their first child say they cannot afford to buy a house in Sydney despite saving enough for a 'hefty' six-figure deposit.

Eric and Julia Meyer have spent the past two years searching for a home, inspecting 50 places along the Sydney coast from the northern beaches to the eastern suburbs and down to Wollongong.

But climbing real estate prices have pushed their dream out of reach and they are now resigned to buying an apartment.

'We have been able to save a hefty deposit but the sad thing is its not even able to be put into fruition at the moment,' Julia, 34, told news.com.au.

'Its a 20 per cent deposit for a range between $1.3 million and $1.5 million for an apartment and it's just competitive as people arent listing at that price level.'

Eric and Julia Meyer (pictured) have spent the past two years searching for a home in Sydney

The Meyers, who have lived in Bondi for the past six years, want to remain in the area.

They were approved for a mortgage of around $1.95million, but say it is rare to get a 'knock down' house for that much money.

Eric, 32, said a decrepit house in North Bondi that has been abandoned for 30 years is on the market for $3million, and houses being listed are going for as much as $500,000 over the reserve.

His wife, who is eight months pregnant, said Covid has led to a surge in the market, with people craving the stability of buying over renting, with one home they checked out worth $1.1million in 2019 now valued at $2million.

The couple have missed out on five properties and are now looking at buying an apartment to build equity, in the hope it will enable them to secure their dream house later on.

They also see buying a flat as an investment opportunity, with plans to rent it out while they spend time living overseas.

'Its a sound investment and the yield we would be able to generate from an apartment in the blue chip area is more reliable and secure than if we were to go for a home thats much further out of Sydney, thats why we shifted back into looking for an apartment,' Eric said.

The Meyers have looked at 50 houses from the Northern Beaches down to Wollongong, but want to stay in Sydney's eastern suburbs

In July, national house prices marked the strongest annual growth rate in 17 years, while apartment prices remain subdued, according to data by CoreLogic.

In capital cities, house prices climbed 1.8 per cent, to be up 17.9 per cent on a year ago - the fastest annual rate in 17 and a half years.

In comparison, apartment prices rose by 1.1 per cent in July, to be up by 7.3 per cent compared to this time last year.

Upside Realty director of sales James Kirkland said data showed the gap between houses and apartments in Sydney rose by 32 per cent in the last six months - a price difference of more than $150,000.

Mr Kirkland said in a single year, the gap has widened by more than $200,000 - a trend which has been mirrored across the country.

Meanwhile, in Canberra the gap surged by 47 per cent during the same time - making houses around $163,785 more expensive than apartments.

In Brisbane, the price gap between houses and apartments was up 28 per cent to $61,848, while the difference in Melbourne was 21 per cent to $77,406 over the past six months.
A man who lost two two of his toes after mistaking a crocodile's head for a log while out hunting drank a few beers to 'dull the pain' before calling for help.

Leroy Daly spent the afternoon with his family by the Daly River, south of Darwin in the Northern Territory, last Thursday shooting magpie geese.

But things went pear-shaped when the 28-year-old accidentally stood on the croc's mouth while trying to collect two birds he had shot and killed.

'I stood straight on the crocodile, like on the side of his mouth, almost on top of his head,' Mr Daly told the NT News.

NT man Leroy Daly, 28, lost two toes after stepping on a crocodile's head while hunting

The crocodile grabbed hold of Mr Daly's foot and tried to drag him into the water as he desperately tried to pull himself to safety.

'It was either my toe or take me under water,' Mr Daly admitted.

The crocodile, which Mr Daly believes was at least five metres long, tried to 'come back for seconds' as he lay on the bank but his family fired shots into the water.

The crocodile managed to bite off one of Mr Daly's toes and left another hanging by its skin.

Remarkably, the young hunter calmly wrapped a T-shirt around his foot and headed home for a few beers and some pain relief medication before going for help.

Mr Daly was taken to Adelaide River health clinic on Tuesday night before being rushed to Royal Darwin Hospital to treat his toe injuries.

A family member took to Facebook to reveal Mr Daly was in a stable condition in the Royal Darwin Hospital.

'Doctors are giving him medication to strengthen his heart. The results of this positive progression will take months, years. It's a very slow process,' the woman wrote.
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Damaging US cables reveal staff working at the American Embassy in Kabul are 'deeply disheartened' by the Biden Administration's withdrawal, with some even saying 'it would be better to die under the Taliban's bullet' than attempt to flee to safety.

The jarring statement was part of a diplomatic cable from Afghan US Embassy staff, who said they've been separated from their children, according to NBC News, which obtained the message.

'Happy to die here, but with dignity and pride,' another embassy staffer said, while a third accused the U.S. of prioritizing Afghan government elites with vast wealth and the connections to safely flee.

Another message sent via cable shared the horror would-be evacuees were met with when they arrived at Kabul's Hamid Karzai Airport. Staff were warned to prepare for 'difficult conditions,' with the cable adding: 'However, no one anticipated the brutal experience that occurred.'

Disturbingly, one Afghan embassy staffer revealed his home had been vandalized with spray paint, in what he fears was a marking left by a Taliban fighter to flag the property up for a future visit.

The cables were exposed after it was revealed around 300 Afghans asked to get out of Kabul airport and return to their Taliban-run cities because the conditions have spiraled out of control, a State Department official said.

Temperatures have been between 85 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit around the airport - essentially a dustbowl - nearly every day as the desperate mob of tens of thousands of people with young kids try to save their families from Taliban attacks, stampedes or being crushed against the airport gates.

US troops are doing what they can to help US civilians and their Afghan allies prevent dehydration and heat exhaustion, with items like water bottles in short supply and needing to be rationed out.

One US Marine filmed giving water to six young children is being hailed as a hero, but many say that small act of kindness further serves to emphasize the scale of the human catastrophe unfolding.

In a shining moment, a US Marine is seen on video handing out water to children

Smiles are the rarest site in and around the Kabul airport over the last two weeks, but it was all over this viral video of a Marine helping children

A child drinks water in Kabul, which has been between 85 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit nearly everyday for the last two weeks, as dehydration and heat exhaustion set in

Pictures like this of a US Marine comforting an infant while they wait for the mother during the evacuation is the seldom scenes glimpses of humanity during dangerous times

A child and a US Marine pour water on each other to protect against dehydration and heat exhuastion as temperatures in Kabul climb over 90 degrees Fahrenheit

Another picture that has been widely shared on Twitter and other social media platforms shows a different Marine assigned to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) comforting an infant while they wait for the child's mom during processing.

But these fleeting moments are like specs of light swallowed up by a black hole.

'We've seen wrenching images of people hurt, even killed that hit you in the gut,' Secretary Blinken told FOX News.

'And it's very important to make sure to the best of our ability, because it's such a volatile situation, that we do something about the crowding at the gates of the airport, and that's exactly what we're doing.'

A woman and children wait for transportation to the terminal at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Missing child posters like this one are on the fences of Kabul airport today

Taliban fighters stand guard as Afghans gather outside the Hamid Karzai International Airport to flee the country, in Kabul on on August 21

Dusty, rubbish strewn street filled with thousands of people desperate to take the steps needed to get into Kabul airport and out of the Taliban-run country

Taliban fighters on containers overlook the streets outside of Kabul airport

President Joe Biden said during a Sunday press briefing that about 11,000 people have been evacuated in the last 36 hours, but at least seven people have been crushed to death, including a two-year-old child.

And now terrorist threats - particularly from the local affiliate of ISIS, which are enemies of both the U.S. and the Taliban - are making the evacuation more complicated, the scene tenser and ramping up the urgency to get people out of the country.

There's concern that ISIS leaders see this as an opportunity to kill Americans while challenging Taliban for control of Afghanistan.

That threat prompted the US Embassy to issue a warning Saturday telling Americans not to brave the chaos around the airport unless they have been told to report.

In the ensuing hours, details emerged that evacuation flights were dropping flares and making steep combat landings after warnings that terrorists of the Islamic State might try to shoot down a plane.

To hasten the evacuation pace, six commercial airlines have agreed to help the US government transport people out of Kabul.

On Sunday, the US called up 18 civilian aircraft from United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air and others to carry people from temporary locations after they landed on flights from Afghanistan, leaning on the industry it last called on during the Iraq War in 2003, Reuters reported Sunday evening.

The move highlights the difficulty Washington is having carrying out the evacuations following the Taliban's swift takeover.

American and Delta said they would start relief flights on Monday.

A U.S. Marine carries a girl to the gate at Hamid Karzai International Airport, August 20

The Marines and military forces are seen in pictures like this doing what they can to help the situation in Kabul airport, which has spiraled out of control

President Joe Biden said during a Sunday press briefing that about 11,000 people have been evacuated in the last 36 hours

Photos and videos showing tender-hearted moments of US Marines caring for children in the Kabul airport are a stark difference to the scene - similar to this - where barbed wire and armed forces have to control chaotic crowds and be vigilant for potential terrorist attacks

Meanwhile, British soldiers desperately shouted for medics and stretchers, as unconscious people were carried away, many being pronounced dead and covered in white sheets, according to a Sky News report on Saturday.

Other paratroopers tried to pull people - including young children - from the chaos, and stood atop compound walls, spraying the crowd with hoses to try and cool them down, as medics dashed between casualties.

There were also scenes of people left injured and bloodied, sat amongst piles of papers and discarded clothes near the site, while others stood shoulder to shoulder, amid sounds of screams and gunshots, the Sun reports.

Tweeting from the airport this afternoon, journalist Kim Sengupta said he had witnessed 'four people, all women, die from the heat and crush'.

Sky News' chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay also reported that people at the front of the crowd of thousands were being 'crushed to death', in what he described it as 'the worst day by far' at Kabul airport.

In a sign the crisis at Kabul is deepening, Germany's government today warned that access to the airport is not often possible' and that the area remains 'extremely dangerous'.
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President Joe Biden laughed off a question about his declining poll numbers amid the rising chaos in Afghanistan during a press conference in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on Sunday.

'I haven't seen that poll,' Biden said of a CBS News/YouGov survey that shows 74 percent of respondents believe withdrawal from the Taliban-overrun country has gone 'very badly' or 'somewhat badly.'

Biden chuckled when the reporter responded that the poll is 'out there,' but the results are no laughing matter.

Biden's withdrawal, which was announced by former President Donald Trump in February 2020, is down to 47 percent approval from 60 percent in July, before the Taliban inched their way into Kabul, took over the presidential palace and sent President Ashraf Ghani fleeing to the United Arab Emirates.

The sample of 2,142 Americans also find him to be less competent, focused and effective than in April.

Biden's overall approval rating also took a tumble amid a surge in the Delta variant and the latest crisis in the Middle East, down to 50 percent from 62 percent in March.

'Look, I had a basic decision to make,' Biden said of his decision to withdraw.

On Sunday, President Biden chuckled after getting some bad poll results from a reporter, who said that the CBS News/YouGov poll was 'out there' after the president insisted that he hadn't seen it

The survey of more than 2,000 Americans found that Biden's approval rating and his handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal have fallen in recent months as the Taliban take over the country after 20 years of US occupation

'I either withdraw America from a 20-year war, that ... cost us $150 million a day for 20 years or $320 a day for 20 years.' (Forbes estimates the war to have cost $300 million per day since September 11, 2001.)

He then reached for a card underneath his lapel and began reading from it.

'You know I carry this card with me every day,' he said.

He continued: 'And, who, in fact, where we lost 2,448 Americans, dead, and 20,722 wounded.

'Either increase the number of forces we keep there and keep that going, all right, end the war, and I decided to end the war.

'As I said the other day, the only reason we're in Afghanistan is this is the place from which Bin Laden attacked the United States of America.'

In May 2011, a team of US Navy SEALs captured and killed Osama Bin Laden, who had planned the September 11 attacks that destroyed the Twin Towers in Manhattan and killed 3,000 people, at a compound in Pakistan.

'So the question is when is the right time to leave? Where are our national interests? Where do they lie?'

Biden went on to liken terrorism to a cancer that had 'metastasized' around the world, and insisted that it can be fought without 'permanently basing' American forces anywhere.

'My job is to make judgments no one else can or will make,' he said.

'I made them, Im convinced Im absolutely correct in not deciding to send more young women and men to war for a war that is, in fact, no longer warranted.'

Most Americans are still with the president on leaving the country, with 63 percent still in favor of removing US troops.

Biden also revealed US forces may stay beyond his deadline of Aug. 31 as he tries to accelerate the operation to rescue Americans after days of chaos and crushes at Kabul airport.

He said that U.S. forces had expanded the perimeter around the airport amid fears terrorists may seek to exploit the operation by attacking Americans or Afghan civilians.

But things were moving in the right direction with some 33,000 people brought to safety, he said.

'Let me be clear - the evacuation of thousands of people from Kabul is going to be hard and painful,' Biden said during a speech at the White House.

'No matter when it started, when we began, it would have been true if we had started a month ago, or a month from now.

'There is no way to evacuate this many people without pain and loss and heartbreaking images you see on television.

'It's just a fact.'

His speech marked the latest attempt by the White House to seize control of a crisis that is rapidly turning into a humanitarian and political disaster.

A similar effort on Friday backfired when Biden claimed that he knew of no cases of Americans being stopped from reaching Kabul airport - only to be flatly contradicted by the Pentagon.

Things have only worsened since then, with reports that seven people died in the crush around the airport, including a two-year-old.

President Joe Biden says the United States is 'working hard' and as 'fast as we can' to get Americans and U.S. allies out of Afghanistan, noting that 33,000 people have been evacuated from the country since July

Speaking in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Biden said U.S. forces had extended the perimeter around the airport to improve security

Thousands of people surrounded the Kabul airport Sunday, desperate to take the steps needed to cross the threshold to sanctuary

The crowds have made it difficult and dangerous for Americans and Afghans with the correct paperwork to reach the airport

Biden said that as many as 33,000 people had been evacuated since July, including some 11,000 during a single 36-hour period.

Defense officials 'hope' they will not have to extend the evacuation operation, he added, but 'there are going to be discussions I suspect on how far along we are in the process.'

He also said troops were maintaining constant vigilance against terrorist threats, particularly from the local affiliate of ISIS, sworn enemies of the both the U.S. and the Taliban.

'The security threat is changing rapidly,' he said.

'There are civilians crowded at the airport, although we have cleared thousands of them.

'We know that terrorists may seek to exploit the situation and target innocent Afghans or American troops .'

Every day that American troops and civilians are at the airport is another day of risk that terrorists launch an attack from distance.

But he said the Taliban had been helpful.

'We discussed a lot with the Taliban,' he said. 'They've been cooperative in extending some of the perimeter.'

But he declined to describe further 'technical changes' designed to improve security.

'So far the Taliban has not taken action against U.S. forces,' he said, rapping his knuckles on the lectern as if knocking on wood.

'So far they have, by and large, followed through on what they said in terms of Americans to pass through .

'And I'm sure they don't control all of their forces. It's a rag tag force.

'And so we'll see if what they say turns out to be true.

Conditions deteriorated further at the weekend. The U.S. was forced to tell Americans not to try to brave the chaos around the airport unless they have been told to report.

And it emerged that evacuation flights were dropping flares and making steep combat landings after warnings that terrorists of the Islamic State might try to shoot down a plane.

Biden is still facing questions about why his administration did not have a better evacuation plan after being warned that the Taliban could sweep into Kabul within days.

Against that backdrop of criticism, the White House tried to show a president hard at work on a Sunday.

The Afghan interim council, formed to assist in the power transfer following President Ashraf Ghani's escape, has met several Taliban leaders to discuss issues related to control and security during the transition process

President Biden met with his national security in the White House Situation Room on Sunday morning as they faced fresh questions about how much they knew of intelligence assessments that said the Taliban could be in Kabul within days

At least seven people have been killed at Kabul airport by stampeding crowds, as thousands of panicked Afghans try to flee the country, the British military said on Sunday

Afghans trying to flee are surrounding Kabul airport where the Taliban are using live rounds and beatings to maintain order. Americans were told not to try to reach the airport on Saturday

It sent out a situation room photograph of Biden meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and other members of his national security team.

And earlier the Pentagon ordered six U.S. commercial airlines to help move evacuees from temporary sites outside of Afghanistan.

'Our first priority in Kabul is getting American citizens out of the situation as quickly and safely as possible,' Biden said.

'Any American that wants to get home will get home.'

He also said the government was 'looking to move our Afghan allies' out of the country as well, noting that citizens of NATO allies and Afghan allies were amongst the 11,000 individuals evacuated this past weekend.

The president stated that as evacuation efforts are underway he wanted to be clear about three things: 'One, planes taking off from Kabul are not flying directly to the United States,' said Biden, explaining that the planes are landing at U.S. Military bases and transit centers around the world where security screenings will take place for non-citizens.

'Two, at these sites where they are landing we are conducting scrutiny security screening for everyone who is not a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident.

'Anyone arriving in the United States will have undergone a background check.'

He also noted that the government will welcome these individuals into the U.S.

'Three, once screened and cleared we will welcome these Afghans we helped us in the war effort over the last 20 years,' said Biden.

The Biden administration has given no firm estimate of the number of Americans seeking to leave Afghanistan. Some have put the total between 10,000 and 15.000.

A White House official said U.S. planes flew 3900 people out of Kabul in the previous 24 hours. Coalition aircraft rescued a similar number.

It marked a busier weekend for Biden than last, when he was slammed by allies and opponents for staying at Camp David last weekend as the crisis deepened.

And even international partners such as the United Kingdom have voiced their frustration this weekend at the way Biden pushed ahead with such a rapid withdrawal.

A former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan said the hasty retreat would embolden enemies, including terrorist groups.

'It has damaged our alliances, emboldened our adversaries and increased the risk to our own security. It has also flouted 20 years of work and sacrifice,' said Ryan Crocker in a New York Times essay.

This week Biden will join a virtual meeting of the G7 to discuss cooperation between the nations as the Taliban overruns Afghanistan, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in her statement on the upcoming meeting.

'The leaders will discuss continuing our close coordination on Afghanistan policy and evacuating our citizens, the brave Afghans who stood with us over the last two decades, and other vulnerable Afghans,' Psaki's statement reads.

President Joe Biden will participate in a virtual meeting with G7 leaders on Tuesday to discuss the ongoing situation in Afghanistan

The G7 intergovernmental group includes leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the U.S.

The call comes after Biden received a slew of backlash last week for not talking with any world leaders in the aftermath of the Taliban takeover. Hours after reports came out attacking him for his inaction, Biden spoke with Johnson.

The G7 intergovernmental group includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the U.S.

On Sunday afternoon, Biden will deliver remarks on Afghanistan  and Hurricane Henri response  at the White House.

Britain currently holds the rotating leadership of the G7 and announced earlier on Sunday that it called for the group to meet virtually this week.

The meeting comes as chaos in Afghanistan continues to unfold, and nations scramble to evacuate their citizens from Kabul.

So far, Biden has sent in 6,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan to help with evacuation efforts after the Taliban was able to take over the country in just over a week. This means the U.S. has deployed more troops into Afghanistan than the number of American citizens it has extracted from the country since the Taliban swept into power on August 14.

The Pentagon said Saturday they were only able to evacuate 2,500 Americans from Kabul in the past week.

Overall, the U.S. was able to evacuate 7,000 people from the pandemonium at the Kabul airport since last weekend, including 3,800 in the last day.

Up to 15,000 Americans still need to be evacuated and the administration hopes to get out 50-60,000 more Afghan allies and their families.
Town halls are raking in so much from parking charges that the fees now equal up to 75 per cent of council tax takings.

The record 1.76billion made by local authorities in England from parking fines and fees alone last year will fuel concerns that motorists and shoppers are being used as cash cows.

Motoring groups also pointed out it was 'hugely ironic' that council budgets are so heavily reliant on punishing drivers when many town halls tell residents to walk or cycle more.

The charges that brought in 1.76billion for the 338 English local authorities over the last financial year include on-street permits, parking meters and penalty notices, according to AA analysis.

The record 1.76billion made by local authorities in England from parking fines and fees alone last year will fuel concerns that motorists and shoppers are being used as cash cows

With operating costs stripped out they made a profit of nearly 900million.

The analysis shows that, over the five years between 2014-15 and 2019-20, councils increased their haul from parking income by more than 22 per cent.

The total jumped from 1.44billion to 1.76billion  an increase of 320million.

Top of the league table was Westminster City Council in London, which took in 74.4million from parking charges in 2019-20  204,000 a day or 140 a minute. The sum is equivalent to 75 per cent of what it receives in council tax. It made 69.2million in profit.

Selfish drivers in loud supercars and motorbikes may soon get their comeuppance as cameras triggered by excessive noise are to be deployed

It was followed by neighbouring Kensington and Chelsea, which took in 52.6million last year.

This amounted to about 45 per cent of the town hall's council tax take, with a profit of 38.8million. Camden Council, also in London, raked in 44million in parking charges  a third of its council tax take. It banked 29million in profit.

Of the town halls outside London, Brighton and Hove City Council took in the most  36.3million  followed by Birmingham City Council with 26.7million and Nottingham City Council with 24.1million.

They collectively banked profits of 56.1million.

Could noise cameras muffle the boy racers? Selfish drivers in loud supercars and motorbikes may soon get their comeuppance as cameras triggered by excessive noise are to be deployed. Celebrity residents of the London borough of Kensington and Chelsea including Anthea Turner have complained of the nightly torture of boy racers loud engines. Acoustic cameras, which photograph number plates of offenders, are expected to be brought in across the borough following a consultation and trial. Areas across Britain are expected to follow if successful. Broadcaster Miss Turner has spearheaded calls for a wider adoption of the noise cameras. She said: I am not one of lifes complainers and fully take on board that if you choose to live in a city there are consequences, one of which is, to a greater or lesser degree, traffic noise. But what is happening here is becoming a daily and Im afraid nightly torture. She said bikers use a part of the borough by the Thames as a racetrack, adding: Ive even witnessed some performing stunts. She added: The majority of the traffic uses Chelsea as a cut-through and whether they rev their engines, speed, honk their horns, turn their music up, they give not a second thought or have any respect for our lives. This truly is anti-social behaviour and it needs to be stopped. Advertisement

Islington Council in north London was among those with the biggest increases in parking charges since 2014-15, the AA analysis shows. Its haul jumped by 13.4million. This was followed by Brighton and Hove's 9.2million jump, Birmingham's rise of 7.5million, and Kensington and Chelsea's increase of 7million.

Motoring groups said the record fees are yet another example of drivers being punished, at a time when fuel prices are at their highest in eight years and car use has soared due to domestic holidays in the pandemic.

Edmund King, president of the AA, said: 'Council cash-guzzling from parking charges, residents' permits and fines can be staggering, particularly in London. Drivers see the huge irony of being told to use their cars less while many councils can't get enough from car owners driving into town, parking up and paying millions of pounds in charges.'

Mr King added: 'It brings a new meaning to the phrase 'car dependency'. Sadly, all those of millions of pounds rarely get re-invested in facilities, such as park and ride, that would allow drivers to leave their vehicles on the outskirts of towns and cities and travel in on more environmentally friendly transport.'

Howard Cox, founder of the FairFuelUK campaign group, called for an immediate reduction in parking charges to help individuals and families who rely on their cars to make ends meet and are still struggling financially due to the pandemic.

He added: 'Profiteering greedy councils fleecing motorists to fund their tsunami of anti-car projects are punishing people and small businesses for simply going to work, visiting restaurants, theatres, and the Covid-affected tourism attractions.'

Councillor David Renard, of the Local Government Association, which represents town halls, said: 'Any surplus [income] is spent on essential transport projects, including fixing the 10billion road repairs backlog, reducing congestion, tackling poor air quality and supporting local bus services.

'Devolved infrastructure and transport budgets, and long-term government investment is needed to help shift more journeys on to less carbon-intensive forms of transport.

'Otherwise, continued growth in cars will see demand increase for parking spaces.'

Green fuel to cost 700,000 drivers 158 more a year

Petrol bills will rise by as much as 158 a year for hundreds of thousands when 'green' fuel arrives next week, motoring groups warn.

All petrol stations will sell E10 as the standard unleaded petrol from September 1, replacing E5.

But official estimates suggest up to 700,000 older cars are not compatible with E10 as it could damage seals, plastics and metals in engines over long periods.

These motorists will be forced to fill up with more expensive super grade unleaded  the only E5 fuel still on offer.

At last week's prices, it was on average 6.60 more expensive to fill a typical 55litre family car with this.

The typical motorist fills up 24 times a year, meaning annual bills are to rise by an average 158.40 for those with cars not compatible with E10.

E10 contains 10 per cent bioethanol, double that in E5, made from materials such as waste wood.

Howard Cox, of FairFuelUK, said the Government's fuel policy will 'hit small businesses and drivers on low incomes who can't afford newer E10-attuned vehicles'.
A Washington Post reporter has shared how British troops helped her and friends flee Afghanistan - as pressure mounts over US forces' continued refusal to leave Kabul airport.

Susannah George told of how she and the paper's Afghan staff were able to latch on to a separate evacuation led by UK troops, after spotting them and asking for help to flee.

That saw them hurriedly travel along a road to Kabul's Hamid Karzai Airport in armored cars driven by private security guards.

Those roads were being guarded from Taliban interference by UK service personnel, before making it to the security gate of the airport itself, which was manned by American troops.

George did not offer further comment on the troops who helped save her, but the UK's elite Special Air Service (SAS) have been drafted in to rescue Britons trapped in the war-torn country.

Her difficult journey contradicts President Biden's assertion that anyone with an American passports would be allowed through checkpoints.

The Washington Post 's Susannah George (pictured) told her harrowing tale of trying to escape Afghanistan accompanied by her Afghan colleagues and their children

A full flight of 265 people are evacuated out of Kabul by the UK Armed Forces on Saturday

Biden said the U.S has not extended their perimeter beyond Kabul airport to avoid the risk of having U.S. forces and civilians of being attacked by terrorist

George said security around the airport was 'crumbling' and that her Afghan co-worker Tassal and his young daughter were beaten by Taliban fighters as they waited on the civilian side of the airport for a flight that never arrived.

'I will never forget how they beat my small daughter,' Tassal told her as he showed her a dark blue bruise on her side. 'They will never change. My country is gone forever.'

George recalled that the day The Post team was set to leave, British troops had arrived at the security compound where she was staying to escort a larger evacuation and she asked them to help escort her and her group, who were not far away, into the airport.

'Initially, the men were cautious about helping us,' she wrote. 'We weren't part of their evacuation, and the officer said they needed sign-off from the U.S. Embassy. But after a few phone calls, they agreed to wave Tassal, another Washington Post employee and their families through the Taliban checkpoint.'

'I can let your guys through, but ma'am, if you leave them here, it's just going to put them in more danger,' George said the soldier told her.

The British troops were only planning to keep the road clear of Taliban fighters for an hour or two more until their evacuation was complete.

George says that after she met up with her group they piled into two rented armored cars driven by private security guards and approached the gate to the airport, passing by ' half-destroyed vehicles and dozens of desperate families held back by rows of barbed wire.'

They were able to make it along a road protected by UK troops, and up to the gate of the military section of Kabul's Hamid Karzai Airport, which was manned by US soldiers.

The group made it past the gate and eventually into a makeshift terminal and the group was out on a U.S. military flight list, then later flew out on a C-17 with about 300 passengers on board.

'We have no indication that they haven't been able to get, in Kabul, through the airport,' Biden said at a press conference on Friday.

American troops have not ventured past Kabul to assist Americans who couldn't get to the airport, with Biden coming under increasing pressure as UK and German forces were revealed to have sent forces into the country to evacuate citizens and embassy workers.

On Friday the White House confirmed that the U.S military used three military helicopters to rescue 169 Americans outside Kabul Airport who were trapped at a nearby hotel.

When asked why the U.S has not extended their perimeter beyond Kabul airport Biden said it was to avoid the risk of having U.S. forces and civilians of being attacked by terrorist groups, including ISIS.

'The reason why we have not gone outit's likely to draw a lot of unintended consequences,' he said Friday.

But British and French allies have gone beyond the boundaries of Kabul airport and sent troops into the city to help recover their citizens.

Australian citizens and visa holders pictured on board a Royal Australian Air Force C-17A Globemaster

Troops help assist a child during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul

British armed forces are working with the U.S. military to evacuate eligible civilians and their families out of Afghanistan

Kabul airport has been the scene of chaos as Westerners and visa holders desperately trying to get to their flights say they are unable to check in because of the crowd of up to 50,000 desperate locals who are gathering at the gates.

At the main entrance, Taliban fighters periodically fire into the air to clear the crowd in an attempt to disperse the crowd - but video of the fighters unleashing a volley of automatic fire shows the terrifying gauntlet evacuees have to negotiate.

Taliban fighters were seen shooting over the heads of crowds, striking people with rifles, while those on the ground reported beatings and whippings being dished out seemingly at random.

Crowds have also gathered at the entrance to the military wing of the airport, which is guarded by US and British troops who have been firing into the air to disperse the crowds.

Westerners face a race against time to get out of Kabul, with control of the airport resting on the up to 60,000 troops.

Joe Biden has said they will stay until all US citizens are evacuated, but there are suspicions among British troops that they could leave abruptly - leaving the 600 British unable to keep operating to evacuate UK nationals and interpreters.

UK troops have said that firing warning shots is a last resort, the Taliban are causing pandemonium and were filmed today shooting from the hip just yards away from women and children, and whacking people with the butts of their rifles.

Such is the desperation among crowds at the airport that women have resorted to passing babies over barbed wire to soldiers in a vain attempt to get them out of the country.
The death of Peter Corby may not resonate with anyone under the age of 40.

But in the pantheon of British inventors, he must surely figure as a giant worthy of mention in the same distinguished breath as Sir James Dyson, of bagless vacuum cleaner fame, or Percy Shaw, who came up with the reflective stud ('cat's eye') for lighting roads at night.

Corby, inventor of the Corby Trouser Press, died this month aged 97 but his invention lives on, despite its abiding association with a certain type of hotel where 'tea and coffee-making facilities' amount to a plastic kettle, indifferent teabags and sachets of instant coffee and powdered milk.

Go on, laugh if you must  just as Steve Coogan did in an episode of I'm Alan Partridge called 'Basic Alan'.

Remember that one, when he dismantled an electric Corby Trouser Press in his Cambridgeshire budget hotel room near the A11, as a means of ironing out his boredom?

But the truth is that Peter Corby was an unsung sartorial hero, in a British tradition that did not take itself too seriously as it played on gender stereotypes in the 1960s which might be frowned upon today.

'Even in our liberated times, few husbands know how to press trousers properly,' ran one newspaper ad, 'which is why you should buy him a Corby electrically heated press... so easy to operate that men manage at first try.'

The trouser press's inventor, Peter Corby (pictured), who died aged 97, was inspired to develop his product's electrical heating pad after a chance meeting with a Concorde aeronautical engineer

I am the proud owner of not one Corby Trouser Press but two, just as my late father was.

His nightly ritual involved placing his trousers carefully between the two upright heated pads, pressing down the chrome levers and turning the switch to its maximum of 45 minutes, upon which a little red light flashed, before brushing his teeth and clambering into bed.

While the trouser press has attracted a good deal of sneering among the chattering classes over the years, sales remain buoyant (you are looking at around 120 for the standard Corby 3300 model, 170 for the Corby 7700, which comes in a maple finish; or 230 for the Executive Plus, complete with built-in mirror).

Why? Because the trouser press does exactly what is asked of it. If you want to rid your trousers of creases, the Corby will deliver.

The pricier models even come with an attached hanger for your jacket and a tray at the top for whatever might be in your trouser pockets  loose change, keys or a face mask.

Invented in the 1960s, it was a device which became an aspirational product for the British middle classes. The Corby electric trouser press - still a common feature of hotel bedrooms up and down the country - banished 'baggy knees' and gave its users a sense of warm satisfaction

Peter Corby owed a lot of his fame to his father, John, who in 1930 began selling what were called 'valet stands' (on which to hang a suit) from his home in Windsor, and whose first customer was the venerable gentleman's outfitter Austin Reed, which had its flagship store in London's Regent Street.

The valet stands were useful  but something more was needed to get rid of stubborn wrinkles in trousers, especially the area at the back of the knee where creases have a tendency to gather in unsightly abundance.

It was a chance meeting between Peter, an RAF flight engineer, and an aeronautical engineer working on Concorde that was the inspiration for the trouser press.

The latter had worked out how to prevent the supersonic plane's iconic drooping nose cone freezing at high altitude.

Episode of Alan Partridge in which he dismantles an electric Corby Trouser Press in his Cambridgeshire budget hotel room near the A11

In the early 1960s, Peter applied a similar technology, using two electrically heated (up to 60c) pads with the aim of 'pressing a pair of trousers more quickly and producing a better appearance of the trousers than known presses' and patented the idea. (Somewhat belatedly, the ads promised they were 'perfect for women's slacks, too'.)

He then negotiated a huge number of leasing arrangements with hotel chains, which would advertise their rooms as coming 'with a trouser press' in the same way that some establishments today bang on about their wondrous espresso machines.

This seemed to work well, in an era when thousands of salesmen travelled the length and breadth of the country and, after many hours of driving, needed to be well turned-out the next day to meet customers.

In 1977, Peter sold the firm to the Mary Quant holding company Thomas Jourdan plc and it has been passed on a few times in the intervening years.

It is currently owned by the Fired Up Corporation Ltd, based in Huddersfield, and has been rebranded Corby of Windsor.

This advert in the Daily Mail invited would-be buyers to 'return handsome dividends'. It added: 'Today's man looks 100 per cent. Never crumpled. He owns a Corby trouser press'

The presses are made almost entirely in Britain  although there is one factory in China  and, despite their standing joke status, are exported to more than 60 countries.

'For those who value both their appearance and their time, a Corby Trouser Press really is a man's best friend,' claimed a magazine advertisement in 2002.

Not the most original of slogans, perhaps, but I can vouch for their reliability and would even say they have acquired 'retro chic' status, along with the Teasmade and the hostess trolley.

Pop your trousers in for just 20 minutes and they will look as if they have been returned from a high-end dry cleaners.

Many of our elected representatives certainly know their value  and there was some unexpected publicity for the Corby press during the MPs' expenses scandal in 2009, when Chris Huhne, who three years later resigned from the coalition Cabinet after being charged with perverting the course of justice over a speeding case, was among several MPs to have claimed 119 for a Corby Trouser Press.

Huhne later agreed to repay the money to 'avoid controversy' and admitted that the claim was 'a bit Alan Partridge'.

Many years earlier, The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band had included a satirical track called Trouser Press on their 1968 album The Doughnut In Granny's Greenhouse.

Indeed, trouser presses were regarded as so uncool that in the 1980s a trendy, alternative music magazine was named after them.

Peter Corby and his invention can easily be mocked.

Less so his distinguished career in the RAF, where he joined 78 Squadron towards the end of the war and flew in a Halifax bomber.

Later, after a period of teaching at Transport Command, he returned to flying duties in the Lincoln bomber with 15 Squadron.

This festive advert for the Corby trouser press referenced The Twelve Days of Christmas song

He was a keen sailor, making several Atlantic crossings in the 1970s, drawing on his RAF navigation skills. At that time, he was a wealthy man and became a name at Lloyd's before losing much of what he had gained during the insurance crisis of the early 1990s.

Many inventors have a touch of the eccentric about them and Peter was no different.

After retiring to the Isle of Wight, he continued indulging his love of experimental gadgets, including a train set that lowered from the garage roof with the help of an electric motor, various tie-press machines, and a dumbwaiter that ascended from the kitchen to the first floor at the flick of a switch.

But his name will forever be associated with the trouser press and, yes, hotels still provide them  although I notice that nowadays they tend to be stored in a wardrobe or attached to the back of a cupboard door.

Such reticence is entirely misplaced. The Corby Trouser Press is a timely reminder of the importance of being pressed as well as dressed.

And while the crumpled look may have done our current Prime Minister no harm, there are still those of us who like a proper crease at the front of our trousers  and are happy to be laughed at for achieving it.
When the bean counters at Costa Coffee offered Kevin Baker a six-figure sum for his little cafe, he didnt think twice about turning them down.

Desperate to win him round however, Britains biggest coffee chain returned with a bid more than five-times higher.

But Mr Baker still isnt ready to give up the daily grind just yet, and has politely declined that 750,000 offer too.

Kevin Baker, 56, who runs the cafe with wife Laura, 37, said: I love my job and I love my cafe. Costa has been after us for years'

The Cornish cafe  cheekily named Nice Baps  is popular with celebrities. Gordon Ramsay is a regular, David Cameron has visited and the cast of hit BBC show Poldark have also stopped by for a break during filming.

And its never-ending queue of tourists at the prime location in a lay-by on the A39 in Wadebridge has caught the eye of Costa, which Coca-Cola bought for 3.9billion in 2018.

Despite the chains growth though, Nice Baps is determined to be one cafe the giant never gets its hands on.

Three years ago the Daily Mail revealed how Mr Baker had turned down a 120,000 offer for his business. But since then Costa has upped the ante considerably.

The Cornish cafe  cheekily named Nice Baps  is popular with celebrities. Gordon Ramsay is a regular, David Cameron has visited and the cast of hit BBC show Poldark have also stopped by for a break during filming

The 56-year-old, who runs the cafe with wife Laura, 37, said: I love my job and I love my cafe. Costa has been after us for years.

Each time a smartly dressed man has come in and asked if we would like to sell them the site  the first offer was 80,000, then 90,000 and then 120,000. We are now at 750,000. I politely declined. They could offer me a million pounds and I still wouldnt accept.

The hardworking Cornishman reinvests a lot of the profits from the business into helping local homeless people.

The father-of-two said: Some things are more important in life than money and being happy in your job is one of them.

I love my job and I love meeting new customers every day. Besides, like much of the country, Cornwall is swamped with Costa Coffees  do we really need another multi-million pound conglomerate opening up? I really dont think we do.

He added: We are a simple business  we dont have a fancy coffee machine. Our reputation shows you dont have to be a big multi-national coffee chain selling all sorts of weird and wonderful drinks and snacks. You just need delicious food and good old-fashioned hospitality.
CNN host Jim Acosta has been accused of a sense of humor failure after clashing with a Republican representative about one of his colleagues' jokes about obese liberal women.

Acosta snapped: 'It's disgusting' after California Rep Darrel Issa defended prospective California Governor Larry Elder's comments that Donald Trump had motivated more obese women to lose weight than Michelle Obama.

Acosta's outrage came after Elder's claim - made in jest on his radio show - that Donald Trump had so infuriated many obese liberal women that they'd gotten off the couch to march against his presidency.

Elder's offending comment - made on his radio show earlier this year - saw him say: 'When you look at all these women that have marched - something like 2 million women - Donald Trump has probably gotten more obese women off the couch and in the streets, working out than Michelle Obama did in eight years.'

He was referring to the former first lady's 'Let's Move' campaign, which sought to tackle childhood obesity with exercise.

Acosta said: 'Right now, the Republican front-runner is an outspoken talk show host named Larry Elder. He's made disparaging remarks about women.

After sharing the clip, he added: 'That's not entertaining. That's disgusting,' Acosta interjected. 'What he said is disgusting.'

'I appreciate, Jim, your saying it's disgusting,' Issa replied, while refusing to condemn Elder. 'That certainly was by most people's standards, a quip of a radio talk show person who, like plenty of the famous ones, including Rush Limbaugh, who used various statements from time to time to make a point.

'In tens of thousands of hours, if that's the best you have,' Issa continued, 'you don't really have anything on Larry Elder.'

'Oh there's lost of other material, as you know, Congressman,' Acosta shot back. 'We don't have time to go through all of it.'

CNN host Jim Acosta clashed with Republican Representative Darrel Issa in an interview on Sunday, when Issa appeared to defend a claim California gubernatorial candidate Larry Elder made about Trump doing more for obese women than Michelle Obama

Elder, 69, has come under fire in recent weeks for comments he has made about women

'But it sounds as if you're saying Larry Elder would make a better governor than Gavin Newsom.

'Is that what you're saying, is that Larry Elder would make a better governor for the state of California than Gavin Newsom, is that what you're saying?' Acosta asked.

'You know what, there's 41 people running or 44 people running, and I would suspect the vast majority of them would go in the right direction better than our current governor. No question at all,' Issa replied.

Issa went on to claim that Newsom's hypocrisy had ultimately led to the recall, which he predicts the incumbent governor will lose.

The Representative explained: 'He does things like say "You've got to wear a mask and stay indoors,' and then he goes to a $2,000 a plate [dinner]... with no masks, and laughs at everyone as they drink wine indoors.'

Issa was referring to Newsom's infamous indoor dinner at ultra-exclusive restaurant The French Laundry in November 2020, despite urging Californians not to go to restaurants at the time.

'It is in fact a failed administration, one in which the lights are going off every time we have a hot day, we don't have enough water and we have problems in a state that fundamentally has everything going for it except the people in Sacramento.

'So the voters will make a decision on it,' Issa continued, adding: 'I support the fact that Larry Elder has been a thoughtful spokesperson, but he's also been a commentator - he's said a lot of things, but in tens of thousands of hours, you find a few lines, that's not going to get people to forget that he is a thoughtful conservative who has a lot of great ideas.'

In the Sunday interview, Issa said Californians have voted for a recall election because they lost faith in current Governor Gavin Newsom (pictured)

The remarks came as Elder, 69, came under fire for his comments about women over the years.

In a 2002 book, the Washington Post reports, Elder suggested venture capitalists have the right to 'protect' their investments by asking women whether they plan to have children before they hire them, and suggested that women who choose to have children are not 'dedicated' to their jobs and are unable to give an 'all-hands-on-deck commitment' to their jobs.

'Many businessmen and businesswomen deal with this reality everyday - Will the woman who applies as a sales manager give me enough, steady, committed time on the job to warrant my investment?'

He also suggested that laws like the Family and Medical Leave Act 'increase the cost of hiring women and the expense is passed on to consumers.'

In another passage, the Post reports, Elder went after former acting Massachusetts governor Jane Swift for taking the role after giving birth to twins, writing that: 'To tell women they can run a state, have family and children and be equally attentive to all- is a lie.'

And, the Sacramento Bee, reports, Elder wrote that 'smart women' would 'overlook some boorish behavior by men.

'Off-color jokes and stupid remarks may be irritating, but a smart woman deals with this,' he wrote in one of his books. 'She makes it clear to the speaker that she finds the remark unfunny and inappropriate.'

Elder has also been criticized for a 2000 column in Capitalism Magazine in which he wrote that 'women know less than men about political issues, economics and current events.'

He has defended some of his claims last week saying the government 'should not be intruding into the relationship between employer and employee.'

Meanwhile, some of his opponents in the race have slammed him for these remarks.

Former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer tweeted on Wednesday: 'Every undecided voter - pay attention. These are not California values. These are not Republican, Democrat or independent values.

'Larry Elder is doubling down on his attacks on working women and California families.'

Caitlyn Jenner, another candidate, also wrote: 'This is outrageous and speaks volumes about the type of person he is. We need to protect the privacy of all women, not abuse them.

The Los Angeles Times also published a controversial op-ed - which Elder himself has slammed - branding him 'the black face of white supremacy.'
Late Michigan Representative Paul Mitchell called for unison and 'real bipartisanship' in an interview aired posthumously by CNN.

Mitchel, who left the GOP last December citing president Trump's rejection of the 2020 election results, died just over two months after he revealed he had been diagnosed with Stage 4 renal cancer, at age 64.

In the interview with CNN recorded while he was in a hospice, and screened after Mitchell's death at the former representative's request, he said American's inability to be civil to people they disagree with was threatening to tear the country apart.

'It's easy to find people you agree with, there's value in people that we may disagree with on something strongly, but that doesn't inherently make them a bad person,'

'I've got good friends on the Democratic side. What we agree on is maybe 10 or 15 percent, but I think the world of them,' Mitchell told host Jake Tapper, whose voice trembled with emotion as he interviewed his friend.

After being asked about his perspective on life now that death seemed inevitable , Mitchell said he would miss his family the most and that he wanted to speak to President Biden, because the the country needed 'real bipartisanship.'

'I think you have to choose whether or not to love people or otherwise you go through life trying to get political gain some of it by creating hatred.

'You see what's going on, where it's, "Let's rev up the base, those people are evil."', he said, in a nod to the divisive tactics used by both left and right-wing politicos, to the fury of more centrist American voters.

'It's destructive and honestly people, just take the time to care about the other person, when you care about them, it's hard to hate them,' he added.

'I think you have to choose whether or not to love people or otherwise you go through life trying to get political gain some of it by creating hatred,' said late Rep Paul Mitchell in a posthumously aired interview

Mitchell was filmed talking to CNN host Jake Tapper, who at times appeared to be on the verge of tears while interviewing his terminally-ill friend

Mitchell was diagnosed with Stage 4 renal cancer just over two months ago

Fmr. GOP Rep. Paul Mitchell, who died earlier this month after a battle with cancer, asked for this interview to be run after he passed. He expressed his wish for real bipartisanship within the country. I think you have to choose whether or not to love people. #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/7mXNYCELib  State of the Union (@CNNSotu) August 22, 2021

In the interview, Mitchell showed stoicism as he pleaded for people not to spread hate, regardless of their political affiliations and ideologies.

He was very clear in that he didn't believe in abortion or capital punishment and addressed the national division when it came to COVID-19 vaccination.

'It's "I won't talk to you", and it's breaking up families.

'Our country, our society is struggling, and it's struggling because people can't accept that they believe in different things, and look for what they agree on and decide whether someone's a good person or not. And that's too bad,'

Although initially believed to be under control, Mitchell's cancer spread through his body quickly.

'At that point in time I think you just have to recognize reality.'

'We finished and checked me into a hospice yesterday,' he said.

Mitchell's wife, Sherry Mitchell, announced on August 16 he had passed away and the interview was aired on Sunday, August 22.

December last year, Mitchell left the GOP and became an Independent, saying that he refused to support Trump's attempts to call the election on his favor.

'You need to keep a sense of humor about some things,' Mitchell tweeted shortly before his death. The late congressman told his wife that it was possible for him to fie with honor and peace

His wife, Sherry, announced the congressman had passed away on August 16, and the interview was aired on Sunday, August 22

In the interview, Mitchell called for 'real bipartisanship,' and for people to truly listen to others with disagreeing arguments

Mitchell retired in 2019, and left the GOP in 2020 citing frustration with the GOP rhetoric and support of Trump's rejection to the election results

Mitchell reiterated that it was important to him that his six children, especially his youngest son who he adopted with his wife from Russia, knew that he did his best both to conduct himself with honor both in congress and in his journey with cancer.

'When it became clear that I couldn't uphold my responsibilities as a dad...in Congress, I announced my retiring.'

He said in July 2019 that he was not going to be running to represent Michigan's tenth district in Congress, because of health issues and frustration with the GOP.

Mitchell completely disaffiliated from the party in December 2020.

Weeks before the Capitol riot on January 6, Mitchell had called out Trump and GOP allies for sowing doubt in the election results.

'It is unacceptable for political candidates to treat our election system as though we are a third-world nation and incite distrust of something so basic as the sanctity of our vote,'

'Further, it is unacceptable for the president to attack the Supreme Court of the United States because its judges, both liberal and conservative, did not rule with his side or that 'the Court failed him,' he said in the statement.

Mitchell had denounced Trump before, asking him to change his rhetoric when the then president told four minority congresswomen to 'go back to their countries.'

Although his battle with cancer was short, Mitchell said in the interview that he reminded his wife and his kids that he did everything on his power to fight the illness.

'I want them [his family] to understand you can die with honor, you can die with peace,' he said.

'Paul was an American. He was the embodiment of what we can be if we choose to love and fight for what matters,' his wife wrote in a statement.
Sainsbury's could be next on the shopping list for private equity predators as the 7billion Morrisons deal puts the spotlight on UK supermarkets.

Major American buyout group Apollo is thought to be among the firms eyeing up Sainsburys, Britains second-largest grocer.

City analysts believe it would be a natural next target after the 6.8billion takeover of Asda last year and a recent bidding frenzy for Morrisons.

Clayton, Dubilier and Rice (CD&R) struck a deal to buy Morrisons last week.

This gazumped an existing 6.7billion deal with a group called Fortress  although Fortress has indicated it could put in an even higher bid.

Regulators at the Competition and Markets Authority are already understood to be monitoring the CD&R deal over concerns about the number of petrol stations a combined firm would own.

Major American buyout group Apollo is thought to be among the firms eyeing up Sainsburys, Britains second-largest grocer (file photo)

There are around 8,000 forecourts in the UK  and a unified CD&R and Morrisons would have 1,200 or so.

Regulators ordered the Issa brothers, Asdas buyers, to sell 27 petrol stations to get their deal over the line.

Private equity vultures have swooped on a slew of British companies since the Covid crisis began  with the AA, security firm Ultra Electronics and generator supplier Aggreko among those targeted.

Stock markets were thrown into turmoil when the pandemic struck and many UK firms are being picked off because they are trading at bargain prices.

A swoop on Sainsburys could mean three of the Big Four supermarkets  Tesco, Sainsburys, Morrisons and Asda  would be owned or joint-owned by private equity firms.

The Issa brothers, owners of EG group, used private equity cash from TDR Capital to launch their takeover of Asda, which was previously owned by US retail titan Walmart.

Private equity firms often work on a model that aims to restructure, break apart and sell off parts of a company within three to five years  making them questionable buyers for key UK companies.

Apollo has been in talks to join the Fortress consortium that is waiting in the wings to make another bid for Morrisons. But City sources say it is taking an exploratory interest in Sainsburys too, the Sunday Times reported.

Last year, Apollo invested 1.3billion in US group Albertsons, which owns the Safeway supermarket chain.

Talk of a Sainsburys takeover was sparked earlier this year when an investor known as the Czech Sphinx, Daniel Kretinsky, bought around 300million of stock from the Qatar Investment Authority.

City analysts believe Sainsburys would be a natural next target for Apollo after the 6.8billion takeover of Asda last year and a recent bidding frenzy for Morrisons

The Qataris are Sainsburys largest shareholder  and they and Czech Sphinx own around a quarter of the company between them.

More than a decade ago the Qataris and another US private equity firm, CVC, tried separately to buy Sainsburys  but to no avail.

And in 2019, competition regulators blocked a mega-merger between Sainsburys and Asda  which they said would lead to increased prices in stores, online and at many petrol stations.

Sainsburys is now worth around 6.9billion  though many think it is undervalued  and has about 112,000 employees and 1,400 stores.

The FTSE 100 company has a well-established online shopping operation but, despite booming online sales last year, it racked up a 261million loss.

It had spent 485million on Covid costs including PPE and cover for staff who were off sick or isolating. It was also hit by 423million in restructuring costs.
A million more adults turned to online gambling during the pandemic last year, figures show.

Some 12.1million people in England were betting online last year, according to the annual report of the Gambling Commission regulator.

This is up 1.3million  or 12 per cent  on the 2019 figure, before the pandemic struck. Critics said the increase has led to a huge rise in profits for operators who provide online betting sites.

Alongside the isolation caused by the Covid lockdowns, the rise of smartphones has also made gambling easier

Matt Zarb-Cousin, director of Clean Up Gambling, called for ministers to clamp down on online betting as part of a long-awaited government review

Alongside the isolation caused by the Covid lockdowns, the rise of smartphones has also made gambling easier.

The report shows that last year, 50 per cent of online gamblers used their phone to bet  up from 29 per cent in 2016.

Over the same time, the use of laptops and desktop computers for betting has fallen.

Matt Zarb-Cousin, director of Clean Up Gambling, called for ministers to clamp down on online betting as part of a long-awaited government review.

Online gambling exploded in lockdown, with firms posting record profits, he said. At least 60 per cent of which come from those experiencing gambling problems, and online slots driving the majority of the revenue. Consumer protections, such as limits to stakes on slots like we have on fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs), are badly needed in the gambling review.

The Gambling Commission regulates the British betting industry and issues licences to operators.

Its annual report shows that overall, the number of adults gambling in England fell, largely because betting shops were closed during lockdowns last year.

But at the same time, there was a large increase in online betting.

The commission said it had told operators at the start of the lockdown that they must protect their customers.

We have continued to stress the need for extra operator vigilance and they still need to be mindful that people will still be spending more time at home and online, its annual report said. Many are likely to be feeling more isolated and vulnerable as a result of the length of the pandemic period and uncertainty about their personal or financial circumstances.

It also said that some consumers may have started betting for the first time during the lockdowns. The Daily Mail has long campaigned for greater protection for addicts with its Stop the Gambling Predators campaign.

The Gambling Commission regulates the British betting industry and issues licences to operators

The report also shows online betting was increasing even before the pandemic. The gross gambling yield from online gambling increased 8.1 per cent to 5.7billion between 2018/19 and 2019/20.

The report added that along with reminding online operators about their responsibilities to customers at the start of the Covid crisis, it also issued new guidance after seeing evidence that some people may have been at greater risk of harm during lockdown.

The report said: Included in that guidance were the need for affordability checks, the prevention of reverse withdrawals and restrictions on bonus offers.

In February, the commission announced changes to make online games safer, such as limits on spin speeds and a ban on celebrating losses as wins.
Signs will be added to explain the whiteness of sculpture plaster casts inside Cambridge Universitys archaeology museum as part of a new anti-racist strategy.

Plaster casts of Roman and Greek sculptures are said to give a misleading impression of the whiteness and absence of diversity of the ancient world.

And the Classics Faculty at Cambridge University has revealed it will turn the problem into an opportunity, according to the Daily Telegraph.

It will highlight the diversity of the figures in the casts and the role of classical sculpture in the history of racism.

Plaster casts of Roman and Greek sculptures are said to give a misleading impression of the whiteness and absence of diversity of the ancient world. Pictured: Plaster casts at the Cambridge Museum of Classical Archaeology

What are plaster casts? And why are they often white? Plaster casts are a copy of another three dimensional form using plaster. In sculpting they are often used to create a draft model that can be used when making a stone item. One of the most popular types of plaster - used since ancient times - is plaster of paris - so called because of its preparation from the abundant gypsum found near Paris. For plaster of paris, gypsum - a white rock - is heated and turned into a fine white powder and mixed with water. This is what gives many plaster casts their natural white colour. Lime plaster also similarly gives a white colour, cement, grey, and clay a sandy brown. Powder colour can be added to plaster mixes to change the colour and casts can be painted once dry. But, since many plaster casts were used as models, rather than finished pieces, they were often left in their natural colour. Advertisement

The new signs about the whiteness of plaster cast sculptures are set to go on display later this year.

And academics will be encouraged to include content warnings to lectures and reading materials.

But the proposal has been met with a backlash and it has been slammed as unhinged and 'extraordinary' by academics.

You might just about understand this coming from a student but the idea that this has been approved by the Faculty is as terrifying as it is comical, one academic told the Daily Telegraph.

It is so easy to laugh at this but in laughing it is easy to overlook how extraordinary it is that one of the finest humanities departments in the western world is putting this stuff out with an official institutional stamp.

While another academic mentioned that since the museums 600 plaster casts of Roman and Greek statues are mostly illustrations of Roman and Greeks, there will be limited opportunities to highlight their diversity.

Academics in the Classics Faculty are said to be horrified at the plans which were published last month as part of an action plan following accusations of racism.

It was drawn up after an open letter was written to the Chair of the Classics Faculty Board last summer which called for public acknowledgement of the problems of racism within Classics and the need for active anti-racist work within our discipline.

The letter was signed by dozens of students, alumni and some of its own staff members.

Signs will be added to explain the whiteness of sculpture plaster casts inside Cambridge Universitys archaeology museum (pictured)

They made demands including an acknowledgement of the existence of systemic racism within Classics.

The Classics Faculty responded with a lengthy statement and an action plan which set out steps it planned to take to address the accusations.

The document says: Students report that difficult material is not always taught with sufficient sensitivity.
A Sydney nurse has described the harrowing reality of Covid-19 as infected parents are forced to leave their young children alone in hospital to avoid spreading the virus to other family members.

Dr Lucy Morgan, an associate professor at Sydney University and a respiratory physician at Nepean Hospital, posted her account to Facebook on August 21.

'My COVID wards are completely full today - full of young tradies, of pharmacy staff, of wives and mothers and fathers of young children,' she wrote.

'Everyone has a story of family distress. Several have their partners in other hospitals leaving their small children to be "Covid orphans" in the children's hospital because their grandparents are unvaccinated or sick themselves.

Dr Lucy Morgan (pictured) has described the harrowing reality of Covid, with many children being left alone in hospitals to reduce the risk of transmission

'Please Australia,' she begged. 'Get vaccinated.'

Dr Morgan wrote another social media post on August 2 stating hospitals are filling up with Covid patients who are all frightened, sick and feeling lonely without visitors.

'None have been vaccinated,' she remarked.

'So many families affected and stressed and fearful and not allowed to visit. Please people, make it a V Day. Being vaccinated will reduce your chance of ending up in hospital and free up some safe space for us to treat lung cancer, deliver babies, manage strokes and heart failure and confusion and falls and all the other things that happen to our families every day.'

Dr Morgan has been on the frontlines during the current NSW coronavirus outbreak and has been screening and caring for patients since the beginning of the pandemic.

Another nurse, Hannah Niccol, who works in the Children's Short Stay Unit at Westmead Children's Hospital in Sydney's west, has called on the community to help cheer up health workers and sick kids who are separated from their parents.

Westmead Children's Hospital nurse Hannah Niccol has urged people to help lift the spirits of health workers and sick kids separated from their parents

'Our patients are currently unaccompanied minors as their parents have been admitted to adult hospitals,' she wrote.

'This leaves nurses to not only attend to all clinical needs but trying to support these children emotionally in a very frightening time for them. Seeing the effects of young children separated from parents has left staff feeling pretty miserable and on top of that the anxiety and stress of working with Covid positive patients each day takes a toll on us all.

'There are many incredible teams within our hospital, some going into the community to see positive families and others doing it tough on the wards as we adapt to a multitude of changes.'

Dr Morgan urged Australians to get vaccinated as soon as possible to free up hospital beds for people sick with illnesses other than Covid-19 (stock image)

Dr Morgan told the ABC's Q&A show in April 2020 that the virus often kills people slowly and infected patients are lonely and isolated.

'What happens is that they become breathless. They can't breathe. Every breath that they take is increasingly difficult. When you're breathless and you can't breathe, everything gets more difficult,' she said.

'As the disease progresses or as the illness progresses, the patient needs more and more oxygen to help their lungs to work properly.

'Patients that crash or require intensive care support deteriorate very, very quickly and have to be transferred to an intensive care unit, where really all the effort of breathing is taken by a machine,' she commented.

Dr Morgan told Q&A Covid can be a very lonely illness due to the high risk of transmission, leaving many in hospital with no visitors allowed (stock image of a Covid-19 testing clinic)

'Once you're in intensive care, and you have a tube or machine breathing for you, machines keeping your blood pressure up, doing the work of your kidneys, you're not conscious.

'You're asleep, you're deeply sedated. Your family can't talk to you. In Covid-19, your family often can't be with you.'

She said very few or no family members are allowed to visit patients due to the risk of transmission.

'A very lonely way to be very sick,' Dr Morgan said.

Dr Morgan's friends and family have hailed her work.

Dr Mogan, who works at Nepean Hospital (pictured), stated that wards in hospitals were quickly filling up with patients who had young children who aren't able to visit them (stock image)

'You are a legend Lucy Morgan, along with your whole team. Thank-you for your caring heart and service to those under your care,' commented one.

'This makes me so sad Lucy. Please take care of yourself as well as those lucky patients to have you as their Dr. Much love and admiration for you,' said another.
The number of criminal orders to prevent anti-social behaviour has fallen by a third in six years  despite cases rocketing, figures show.

The use of criminal behaviour orders the updated Asbo  has even fallen by up to two-thirds in parts of the country.

However, figures show that the number of anti-social incidents has surged by 50 per cent in a year.

The revelation will be embarrassing for Boris Johnson who pledged a blitz on crime last month, saying yobs should work in chain gangs.

In 2015, 952 criminal behaviour orders (CBOs) were issued in England and Wales, compared with just 607 in 2020.

This is a fall of one-third, with the number dropping by almost two-thirds in Avon and Somerset and North Wales.

But two-fifths of people have experienced anti-social behaviour in the past year  the highest on record, according to data.

David Lammy, the Labour justice spokesman, said: The Government is failing to tackle sky-rocketing anti-social behaviour because its 11 years of cuts have pushed the justice system to the brink of collapse.

From April 2019 to March 2020, anti-social incidents rose from 1,346,691 to 2,022,271.

Two-fifths of people have experienced anti-social behaviour in the past year  the highest on record, according to data (file photo of teenage group of boys in Manchester)

Launching the crime fightback, the PM said he wanted to see greater numbers of criminals wearing hi-vis jackets being put to work cleaning streets and open spaces.

He said he aimed to see many more offenders visibly paying their debt to society after being found guilty of anti-social behaviour.

It came after the Home Secretary said offenders should make public reparations for their crimes by tidying up estates and doing other work valuable to their local areas.

Police chiefs, however, dismissed the plans as a gimmick - and the Home Office said there was no question of offenders being shackled.

Other announcements include expanding stop and search and electronically tagging burglars to prevent reoffending.

Criminal Behaviour Orders were introduced in 2014, replacing Anti-Social Behaviour Orders, and are aimed at preventing anti-social behaviour.

ASBOs were said to have become a badge of honour under Labour before Theresa May junked them while she was Home Secretary.

CBOs are given to offenders sentenced to a crime by the courts and ban them from engaging in specified activities or going to certain places.

The latest statistics will be embarrassing for Boris Johnson who pledged a blitz on crime last month, saying yobs should work in chain gangs

Every area in England and Wales saw an increase in people being subjected to yobbishness and vandalism in the past five years

Earlier this year, figures revealed that nearly 20per cent of people had experienced anti-social behaviour in the past year during the pandemic.

The number is the highest on record and means anti-social behaviour affected a million more people in that time.

The number of people suffering incidents also jumped 5.5million in the past decade, according to analysis of crime figures.

Every area in England and Wales saw an increase in people being subjected to yobbishness and vandalism in the past five years.

Anti-social behaviour reported to the police normally relates to incidents such as large groups being noisy in residential areas at night, or reports of verbal abuse.

It can also include more serious issues, such as drug use and dealing, and graffiti and other damage to property.

The rise - found in an analysis of the Crime Survey in England and Wales (CSEW) - showed the jump is an exception in a year in which nearly all other kinds of crime have fallen.
A fired-up Scott Morrison has slammed rogue states who are threatening to keep Covid-19 restrictions even after high vaccination rates are achieved as he declared 'this Groundhog Day has to end'.

Queensland has joined Western Australia in threatening to maintain restrictions such as border closures even after 80 per cent of the population is vaccinated.

The move contradicts the re-opening plan, agreed by all premiers at National Cabinet, which says Australia will relax restrictions once 70 per cent are vaccinated and stop minimising cases once 80 per cent are jabbed.

Sydney's lockdown will last until at least October. Pictured: Sydney residents exercising on Monday

The Prime Minister defended his plan - which is based on scientific modelling - in a press conference on Monday morning and said Australia must learn to live with Covid-19.

'It does puzzle me - it puzzles me - why anyone would want to go against a plan that has been so carefully prepared,' he said.

Referring to lockdowns in Melbourne and Sydney, he said: 'This is not a sustainable way to live in this country, without those freedoms that we all cherish.'

And in a warning to overly cautious states, he said there is no alternative to opening up once vaccination rates are high.

'Because if not at 70 per cent and 80 per cent, then when? Then when?

'We have to deal with it. Otherwise we stay in the cave forever. That's not a sustainable solution,' he said.

'I understand people will be concerned that cases may rise... the task is not to delay, the task is not to fear, the task is to embrace, prepare, plan, ensure that we are in a position to [open up].'

The Prime Minister said that once 70 per cent of Australians are vaccinated then lockdowns will do more harm than good.

'There will be risk attached to [opening up], but there is also risk being stuck where we are. This Groundhog Day has to end,' he said in reference to the 1993 film where the lead character gets stuck in a repeating 24-hour cycle.

A fired-up Scott Morrison has slammed rogue states who are threatening to renege on the national Covid-19 re-opening plan

Queensland protesters demanded the NSW border open in a large rally on Sunday

Mr Morrison said Labor was deliberately undermining the re-opening plan for its own political purposes. Anthony Albanese on Sunday falsely said the plan could only go ahead if Covid-19 case numbers were low.

Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles on Sunday said the state may keep its border closed to NSW if the southern state has high case numbers, regardless of vaccination rates.

'We're not going to get ahead of ourselves. We look to what's happening in New South Wales every day and adjust our posture accordingly,' Mr Miles said.

He falsely suggested the national plan was no longer valid because NSW was recording such high case numbers, with 830 on Sunday.

'We're signed up and committed to the plan that national cabinet endorsed but that was a plan that was endorsed before the New South Wales outbreak,' he said.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk also said there would be ongoing restrictions after 80 per cent are jabbed, claiming 'the goalposts have changed'.

'Our aim is always to suppress that virus but even 70 per cent and 80 per cent vaccination rates, as I have said and as is in the modelling as well, there will be some limited restrictions and some limited, or specified, lockdowns.'

The Prime Minster has been at pains to point out that the plan is not predicated on case numbers and can go ahead regardless of infection rates.

Victoria recorded 71 new cases on Monday, its highest total in the most recent outbreak, while NSW recorded 818 new infections.

Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has even vowed to turn off financial support for any state that goes rogue and keeps trying to eliminate Covid even after 80 per cent are jabbed.

Mr Morrison refused to say if that was a bluff, dismissing the scenario as 'hypothetical'.

Anti-lockdown protesters take to the streets of Melbourne on Saturday, August 21

Queensland has threatened to keep its NSW border (pictured at Coolangatta) closed even if the country reaches 70 per cent vaccination

WA Premier Mark McGowan threatened to keep restrictions in place last week, telling Sky News: 'Our preferred option is zero Covid obviously and that's what we'll attempt to do.

'We don't want to have deaths and we don't want to have any spread of the virus.'

The 70 and 80 per cent vaccination figures are based on scientific modelling by The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity.

The model was based on starting to relax restrictions with 30 cases a day - but the scientists say the 70 and 80 per cent vaccination rates do not change if there are hundreds of cases.

The experts are doing further work and will advise National Cabinet on any extra precautions states should take when relaxing rules later this year.

Meanwhile, Qantas boss Alan Joyce blasted rogue premiers who have threatened to ignore the national plan.

Police kept guard as Queensland protesters staged a rally calling for the NSW border to open

Queensland has threatened to renege on the national re-opening plan. Pictured: Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk

'I think it would be a terrible shame and I think it would be a big backlash if people can maybe even go to London and visit relative there for Christmas but can't go to Perth to visit their relatives,' he told the ABC.

'I don't think that's what the expectation is and I'd say to the premiers, well, if getting the 70 to 80 per cent is not a way out of this, what is?

'What else do the Australian public need to do in order to get their lives back?'

He said lockdowns were destroying companies and plunging Australia into a mental health crisis, with calls to mental health hotlines soaring.

'There are consequences to lockdowns. They are needed now, we know that to protect the public, but they are causing mental health issues, they are causing businesses to fail, they are causing financial distress, and they have an impact on the health and wellbeing of the Australian public,' he said.

'And we can't continue like this for years. So if this is not the path out of it, I'd ask the premiers what is the path out of this?'

Medical experts have also said the aim to eliminate Covid-19 must end.

UNSW Professor Gregory Dore wrote on Twitter: 'Long-term zero Covid is a public health la la land. Need to keep cases low as possible until high population vaccine coverage (80%+), but can't keep virus out' .
The wife of a woman missing since last New Year's Eve said she will 'never be whole again' after a car was found underwater with human remains inside.

Rebecca Schulkins posted the emotional tribute to her wife on the official Facebook search page for her wife Amy, with who she shared five children.

'My beautiful wife Amy, you are my soulmate,' Ms Schulkins wrote. 'The happiest moments of my life are with you.

'A piece of my heart went with you. Our time was cut short, and although I'll never be whole again I'll do my best to live on for you, for us.'

Rebecca Schulkins (right) posted the emotional tribute to Amy (left) on the official Facebook search page for her wife, with whom she shared five children

'A piece of my heart went with you. Our time was cut short, and although I'll never be whole again I'll do my best to live on for you, for us,' Rebecca (right) wrote in an emotional tribute to Amy (left)

The 36-year-old disappeared from Caboolture last New Year's Eve, leaving the house she shared with Rebecca in her pyjamas about 11pm in her Nissan Patrol

Last Friday police confirmed it had located a vehicle in the water off Bribie Island at Spinnaker Sound Boat Ramp, Sandstone Point.

'A submerged vehicle, believed to be a four-wheel-drive belonging to missing woman Amy Schulkins, was located around 11am and pulled from the water,' police said in a statement.

Ms Schulkins posted that police were yet to confirm but she expected that human remains found in the car were those of 'our Amy... just 10 days short of eight long months of the unknown'.

The 36-year-old disappeared from Caboolture last New Year's Eve, leaving the house she shared with Rebecca in her pyjamas at about 11pm in her Nissan Patrol.

Her disappearance sparked a huge community search, with 30,000 members on the dedicated Facebook page and people regularly updating it with Google maps of the routes they had taken as they looked for her.

The hashtag #findamy was seen on cars across northern Brisbane.

Police released this CCTV photo of Amy's Nissan Patrol shortly after her disappearance, the last known photo of her

Decals were added to cars across Caboolture and northern Brisbane in a huge community search for Amy Schulkins

Rebecca (pictured), who shared five children with Amy, broke down in tears during a press conference with Queensland Police to publicise the search in February

Daily Mail Australia spoke to Rebecca Schulkins in April when Amy had been missing for just over 100 days.

She discussed her partner's bi-polar diagnosis and her state of mind on the day she disappeared.

'She was in a different kind of mood that night [that she disappeared]... all of that day actually,' Ms Schulkins said. 'She was not herself.

'Her parents made a comment, when we visited them on that day, that she was out of sorts, but it wasn't anything that I was concerned with because Amy does have some mental health issues.

'She suffers from type 2 bi-polar so each day was different but it was a part of her and I loved every bit of her'

Ms Schulkins said the couple's five children Dakota, Mika, Matilda, Zoe and Jensen, aged from six to 15, were still 'asking a lot of questions'.

'It's something no family should have to go through.'

Police continue to conduct forensic examinations on the vehicle.

Lifeline - 13 11 14; www.lifeline.org.au

Beyond Blue - 1300 224 636; www.beyondblue.org.au

Sane Helpline - 1800 18SANE (7263); www.sane.org

Suicide Callback Service - 1300 659 467

Headspace - 1800 650 890
Rachel Maddow will keep hosting her top-rated show on MSNBC for at least another year, as 'heated' negotiations scored the host a cushy transition into a weekly format.

The multi-year deal will let Maddow - who is said to earn $7 million a year - develop new projects at the cable channel and outside of it with parent company NBCUniversal, according to Business Insider.

It will also see her transition her five-day-a-week show into just one day a week some time next year, sources told CNN.

It's not known how much of a pay rise Maddow received, but the 48-year-old former Rhodes Scholar has talked about streaming and podcasting as a way to offset the toll of hosting a nightly show since 2008, according to the Daily Beast.

Maddow, 48, has reached a new deal that will allow her to develop projects outside of MSNBC

In 2013, Maddow was making $7 million a year according to a TV Guide survey, though that figure has almost-certainly grown since.

She was 'seriously' considering leaving for another network or starting her own media company, but MSNBC took major steps to keep her on board, the Daily Beast reported, with higher-ups recommending a reduced schedule to accommodate Maddow's burnout.

Maddow wants more 'freedom, time for her personal life, and for other projects,' people familiar with her thinking told the website.

Her 9pm time slot competes directly with Fox News' Sean Hannity, the leader of the ratings scoreboard, and fellow liberal Chris Cuomo of CNN. Cuomo has taken a hit after his brother Andrew's sex scandal led him to resign as governor of New York earlier this month, with Maddow regularly beating him in the ratings.

The former Rhodes Scholar, whose popularity surged during the Trump presidency, is said to be looking for opportunities in podcasting or streaming as she grows tired of her nightly show

For the month of July, she came in second in ratings after Hannity.

The trend held steady on August 19, when the conservative Hannity scored 3.3 million viewers, a full million more than Maddow's 2.28 million, according to AdWeek.

Still, she beat fellow liberal Cuomo's measly 969,000 viewers.

Former MSNBC president Phil Griffin was brought in for advice as negotiations for Maddow's contract renewal grew 'heated.'

Maddow competes for 9pm ratings with Fox's Sean Hannity (left) and CNN's Chris Cuomo. Hannity beat Maddow by a million viewers on August 19, with Cuomo coming in far behind

Ex-MSNBC head Phil Griffin was reportedly brought in to tame Maddow's 'heated' negotiations

She was represented by agent Ari Emanuel, the CEO of Endeavor, who also represents Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski of MSNBC's Morning Joe.

In a New York Times Magazine article from 2019, Maddow lamented how much she worked while on her way to Raoul's, a French bistro with a $54 steak entree, in the SoHo neighborhood of Manhattan.

'I'm realizing now - 10, 11 years into this - that it's fine to work long days,' she said.

'But it's not good for you to work incessant long days, five days a week, 50 weeks a year for 10 years.'

At the time, she edged out Fox News' Megyn Kelly, who made $6 million a year. CNN's Chris Cuomo made about $2.5 million a year at the time.

Maddow graduated from Stanford University in 1994 and got her PhD in politics at Oxford in 2001.

Maddow's partner of 22 years got COVID last year, saying she she thought it 'might kill her'

She has been with her partner Susan Mikula since 1999.

Maddow was off the air for almost two weeks after Mikula got COVID-19 last year.

'Susan has been sick with COVID these past couple of weeks,' she told her audience while broadcasting from home on November 19, 2020.

'And, at one point, we really thought that there was a possibility that it might kill her. And that's why I've been away.'

She warned her viewers to do their best to avoid contracting the virus.

'It won't necessarily be you. It'll be the person you most care about in the world. And how can you bear that? And all you can do to stop that is move heaven and earth to not get it and to not transmit it.'
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has called anti-lockdown protests in Melbourne 'disgusting', as it was revealed a police officer injured in the wild melee requires surgery.

'Some of the scenes on Saturday were not only disgusting, but they were absolutely unlawful,' Mr Andrews said.

'The full force of the law will be brought upon those people. That's what the chief commissioner has said and I support him on that.'

At least nine officers ended up in hospital after being pelted with projectiles, punched and kicked by members of a 4,000-strong crowd who turned out to protest the city's Covid-19 lockdown on Saturday.

At least nine officers ended up in hospital after being pelted with projectiles, punched and kicked by members of a 4,000-strong crowd on Saturday

More than 200 people were arrested, including some on remand for previous crimes

The anti-lockdown protesters gathered in Melbourne despite current lockdown restrictions prohibiting outdoor gatherings

'I will not really even call it a protest,' Mr Andrews continued.

'It was a mob protesting all different things and a whole lot of them intent of having a fight, regardless of what brought them together.

'A few that wanted to punch on, plain and simple. Notwithstanding that disgusting behaviour, any illegal behaviour will be punished.'

Chief Commissioner Shane Patton described the protests as the most violent seen in the city in the last 20 years.

He said officers had no choice but to use non-lethal weapons to defend themselves from an angry mob that came armed and appeared intent on attacking them.

'This wasn't a group that had a specific leader,' Commissioner Patton said.

'It seemed that it was angry men ... between 25 and 40, who were intent on causing this mayhem, intent on being involved in this criminal activity.

'I just hope it doesn't result in the mass spread of COVID-19.'

More than 200 people were arrested at the protest, including some on remand for previous crimes, with two people facing assault charges.

Commissioner Patton said fines totalling more than $1.18 million were issued, with those arrested each fined $5,452 for breaching the health directions.

'None of us should be making the job of police any harder than it already is,' Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said

'I will not really even call it a protest,' Mr Andrews said of Saturday's anti-lockdown demonstration. 'It was a mob protesting all different things and a whole lot of them intent of having a fight'

Around 700 extra Victorian police officers met the anti-lockdown protest in the Melbourne CBD.

'Shameful... None of us should be making the job of police any harder than it already is and none of us should act in that way towards members of Victoria Police,' Mr Andrews said at Monday's Victorian Covid update.

'They are there to keep us safe. They put themselves in harm's way every day.'

Injuries to the police officers included cuts, bruises, a suspected broken nose and a serious leg injury.

Mr Andrews backed up earlier comments by the police commissioner that he would 'not tolerate' such a protest occurring again, potentially shutting public transport and ride-shares ahead of any other planned demonstrations.

'What we saw on the weekend is not acceptable and as the commissioner indicated, where they have grounds to go further, they absolutely will,' he said.

'I send my best wishes to each and every officer who was injured, to their families.'

Protests also took place in Sydney, Brisbane and on the NSW-Queensland border over the weekend.

Up to 2,000 people attended the border protest, which resulted in the arrest of nine people and more than 50 fines handed out for breaching public health orders.

Victoria recorded 71 new local coronavirus cases on Monday, with only 16 of those in isolation while infectious and 22 cases not linked to existing clusters.
Vice President Kamala Harris nervously laughed and dismissed a reporter's inquiry as she headed to Singapore amid Afghanistan chaos.

Harris initially claimed to have had a key role and that she was 'the last person in the room' when Biden chose to follow through with the May 1 deadline to retreat US troops from Afghanistan.

But her remarkable absence and lack of communication with the media and the American public have not escaped backlash, as 47% of likely voters found her 'not at all qualified' to become President, according to a Rasmussen Reports poll.

In a newly-unearthed part of a chat with reporters filmed as Harris prepared to depart for Singapore late Friday, the Vice President displays her infamous nervous laugh before flying to Singapore for an official visit, the Washington Examiner reported.

'What's your response to reports of Americans-' an eager reporter says over the jet engines noise.

'Hold on, hold on, hold on,' Harris said before the reporter could finish.

'Slow down, everybody,' she said after a big laugh.

'I want to talk about two things,' Harris then said. 'First, Afghanistan, we couldn't have a higher priority right now,'

'And in particular high priority is making sure that we safely evacuate American citizens, Afghans who worked with us, Afghans at risk, including women and children, and that is one of our highest if not the highest priority right now.'

'And it's a big area of focus for me in the past days and weeks, and will continue to be,' she added.

During a press conference in Singapore this morning Harris boasted that 'the US is a global leader'.

She insisted Washington could be depended as she stood alongside Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien. She said: 'The reason I am here is because the United States is a global leader and we take that role seriously'.

Her comments come as the US and President Biden have received global condemnation for the unfolding chaos and humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. Hardline Islamists' swift return to power came after US troops' speedy withdrawal.

Kamala Harris nervously laughed and cut off a reporter, before saying that Afghanistan was a priority issue, before she boarded a flight to Singapore

Harris has praised President Biden's decision to honor Trump's deal with the Taliban to retreat from Afghanistan

Vice President Kamala Harris has boasted that 'the US is a global leader' and vows 'enduring engagement' in Asia after arriving in Singapore (pictured with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong)

On Sunday, President Biden chuckled after getting some bad poll results from a reporter, who said that the CBS News/YouGov poll was 'out there' after the president insisted that he hadn't seen it

Because the reporter was never allowed to finish her question, it's not clear what she was going to ask Harris specifically. However, it sounded like she was going to ask Harris about the Americans trapped in Afghanistan.

The video of Kamala laughing was shared hours after Joe Biden laughed when questioned by a reporter about his poor performance in a new poll during a White House press conference about the Afghan crisis and Tropical Storm Henri.

He said of the survey: 'I haven't seen that poll.'

And the Democrats were hit with a further optics issue Sunday, as Nancy Pelosi was filmed at a lavish Democrat fundraiser dinner in Napa, California, which cost up to $29,000-a-head to respond.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives - who is third in line to become president if Biden and Harris are incapacitated - was filmed addressing lavishly-set tables groaning with fresh flowers, smart cutlery and expensive looking food.

Harris arrived in Singapore on Sunday for the week-long trip to Asia, which also includes a stop in Vietnam, where she will be meeting officials

Nancy Pelosi speaks at a ritzy Napa Valley fundraiser while the situation in Kabul worsens

Harris has stood by President Biden's decision to honor Trump's deal with the Taliban.

'This is a president who has an extraordinary amount of courage,'

'He is someone, who I have seen over and over again, make decisions based on what he truly believes is the right thing to do,' she said about the removal of the troops on a CNN interview.

The current administration has received backlash for its response to the Taliban takeover, amid reports of Americans and Afghan refugees being attacked by the Islamic extremists while trying to enter Kabul's Hamid Karzai Airport.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki was also blasted after people emailing her received an automatic 'out of office' reply as the increasingly tense situation unfolds.

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris arrives at Paya Lebar Air Base in Singapore August 22, 2021

It is not the first time Harris' distinctive nervous laugh causes her to be the target of criticism.

On March, Harris was blasted after she laughed when a reporter asked if she planned to visit the southern border amid the migrant crisis.

'Do you plan to visit the border?' asked the reporter before Harris took a flight at Jacksonville International Airport.

'Um, not today,' said Harris before letting out a laugh,

'But I have before and I sure will again,' she said as she evaded a definitive answer.

In June, she went to Guatemala and Mexico for meetings on the 'root causes' of the migrant crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border - a trip which was overshadowed by repeated questions as to why she was yet to visit the border herself.

Under pressure, she did several weeks later.

Harris notoriously laughed at the 2020 vice presidential debate, after being asked if she planned to support expanding the Supreme Court so a Democratic president could nominate more liberal justices

A new poll shows 55 per cent of likely voters believe Vice President Kamala Harris is 'not qualified' or 'not at all qualified' to run the nation. There was a 6 per cent drop in those who feel she is qualified from April to August

Harris also notoriously laughed during the 2020 vice presidential debate, when she was asked if she planned to support expanding the Supreme Court so a Democratic president could nominate more liberal justices.

'Once again you gave a non-answer, Joe Biden gave a non-answer,'

'The American people deserve a straight answer. And if you haven't figured it out yet, the straight answer is they are going to pack the Supreme Court if they somehow win this election,' said an evidently upset Pence.

When inquired about the legalization of marijuana, Harris also evaded questions by repeatedly laughing when asked about her stance on the issue.

Government officials have said the Vice President will continue to work on Afghanistan while in Asia.

She is not returning directly to Washington DC on Friday, going home to California instead, to campaign on behalf of Governor Gavin Newsom.

Her departure at a time of crisis will likely fuel criticism against her.

Other senior figures like the Secretary of Defense, Secretary of State, National Security Adviser and Biden himself have been forced to defend their actions in repeated interviews and remarks.

Last week, when likely voters were asked in a Rasmussen Reports poll released Thursday if Harris is ready to be U.S. president, 47 per cent said she is 'not at all qualified' while 8 per cent said she's 'not qualified.'

No laughing matter, Joe: Biden chuckles when he's asked about new poll showing majority of Americans think he's no longer 'competent, focused or effective' after his catastrophic withdrawal from Afghanistan

President Joe Biden laughed off a question about his declining poll numbers amid the rising chaos in Afghanistan during a press conference in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on Sunday.

'I haven't seen that poll,' Biden said of a CBS News/YouGov survey that shows 74 percent of respondents believe withdrawal from the Taliban-overrun country has gone 'very badly' or 'somewhat badly.'

Biden chuckled when the reporter responded that the poll is 'out there,' but the results are no laughing matter.

Biden's withdrawal, which was announced by former President Donald Trump in February 2020, is down to 47 percent approval from 60 percent in July, before the Taliban inched their way into Kabul, took over the presidential palace and sent President Ashraf Ghani fleeing to the United Arab Emirates.

The sample of 2,142 Americans also find him to be less competent, focused and effective than in April.

Biden's overall approval rating also took a tumble amid a surge in the Delta variant and the latest crisis in the Middle East, down to 50 percent from 62 percent in March.

'Look, I had a basic decision to make,' Biden said of his decision to withdraw.

On Sunday, President Biden chuckled after getting some bad poll results from a reporter, who said that the CBS News/YouGov poll was 'out there' after the president insisted that he hadn't seen it

The survey of more than 2,000 Americans found that Biden's approval rating and his handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal have fallen in recent months as the Taliban take over the country after 20 years of US occupation

'I either withdraw America from a 20-year war, that ... cost us $150 million a day for 20 years or $320 a day for 20 years.' (Forbes estimates the war to have cost $300 million per day since September 11, 2001.)

He then reached for a card underneath his lapel and began reading from it.

'You know I carry this card with me every day,' he said.

He continued: 'And, who, in fact, where we lost 2,448 Americans, dead, and 20,722 wounded.

'Either increase the number of forces we keep there and keep that going, all right, end the war, and I decided to end the war.

'As I said the other day, the only reason we're in Afghanistan is this is the place from which Bin Laden attacked the United States of America.'

In May 2011, a team of US Navy SEALs captured and killed Osama Bin Laden, who had planned the September 11 attacks that destroyed the Twin Towers in Manhattan and killed 3,000 people, at a compound in Pakistan.

'So the question is when is the right time to leave? Where are our national interests? Where do they lie?'

Biden went on to liken terrorism to a cancer that had 'metastasized' around the world, and insisted that it can be fought without 'permanently basing' American forces anywhere.

'My job is to make judgments no one else can or will make,' he said.

'I made them, Im convinced Im absolutely correct in not deciding to send more young women and men to war for a war that is, in fact, no longer warranted.'

Most Americans are still with the president on leaving the country, with 63 percent still in favor of removing US troops.

Biden also revealed US forces may stay beyond his deadline of Aug. 31 as he tries to accelerate the operation to rescue Americans after days of chaos and crushes at Kabul airport.

He said that U.S. forces had expanded the perimeter around the airport amid fears terrorists may seek to exploit the operation by attacking Americans or Afghan civilians.

But things were moving in the right direction with some 33,000 people brought to safety, he said.

'Let me be clear - the evacuation of thousands of people from Kabul is going to be hard and painful,' Biden said during a speech at the White House.

'No matter when it started, when we began, it would have been true if we had started a month ago, or a month from now.

'There is no way to evacuate this many people without pain and loss and heartbreaking images you see on television.

'It's just a fact.'

His speech marked the latest attempt by the White House to seize control of a crisis that is rapidly turning into a humanitarian and political disaster.

A similar effort on Friday backfired when Biden claimed that he knew of no cases of Americans being stopped from reaching Kabul airport - only to be flatly contradicted by the Pentagon.

Things have only worsened since then, with reports that seven people died in the crush around the airport, including a two-year-old.

President Joe Biden says the United States is 'working hard' and as 'fast as we can' to get Americans and U.S. allies out of Afghanistan, noting that 33,000 people have been evacuated from the country since July

Speaking in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Biden said U.S. forces had extended the perimeter around the airport to improve security

Thousands of people surrounded the Kabul airport Sunday, desperate to take the steps needed to cross the threshold to sanctuary

The crowds have made it difficult and dangerous for Americans and Afghans with the correct paperwork to reach the airport

Biden said that as many as 33,000 people had been evacuated since July, including some 11,000 during a single 36-hour period.

Defense officials 'hope' they will not have to extend the evacuation operation, he added, but 'there are going to be discussions I suspect on how far along we are in the process.'

He also said troops were maintaining constant vigilance against terrorist threats, particularly from the local affiliate of ISIS, sworn enemies of the both the U.S. and the Taliban.

'The security threat is changing rapidly,' he said.

'There are civilians crowded at the airport, although we have cleared thousands of them.

'We know that terrorists may seek to exploit the situation and target innocent Afghans or American troops .'

Every day that American troops and civilians are at the airport is another day of risk that terrorists launch an attack from distance.

But he said the Taliban had been helpful.

'We discussed a lot with the Taliban,' he said. 'They've been cooperative in extending some of the perimeter.'

But he declined to describe further 'technical changes' designed to improve security.

'So far the Taliban has not taken action against U.S. forces,' he said, rapping his knuckles on the lectern as if knocking on wood.

'So far they have, by and large, followed through on what they said in terms of Americans to pass through .

'And I'm sure they don't control all of their forces. It's a rag tag force.

'And so we'll see if what they say turns out to be true.

Conditions deteriorated further at the weekend. The U.S. was forced to tell Americans not to try to brave the chaos around the airport unless they have been told to report.

And it emerged that evacuation flights were dropping flares and making steep combat landings after warnings that terrorists of the Islamic State might try to shoot down a plane.

Biden is still facing questions about why his administration did not have a better evacuation plan after being warned that the Taliban could sweep into Kabul within days.

Against that backdrop of criticism, the White House tried to show a president hard at work on a Sunday.

The Afghan interim council, formed to assist in the power transfer following President Ashraf Ghani's escape, has met several Taliban leaders to discuss issues related to control and security during the transition process

President Biden met with his national security in the White House Situation Room on Sunday morning as they faced fresh questions about how much they knew of intelligence assessments that said the Taliban could be in Kabul within days

At least seven people have been killed at Kabul airport by stampeding crowds, as thousands of panicked Afghans try to flee the country, the British military said on Sunday

Afghans trying to flee are surrounding Kabul airport where the Taliban are using live rounds and beatings to maintain order. Americans were told not to try to reach the airport on Saturday

It sent out a situation room photograph of Biden meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and other members of his national security team.

And earlier the Pentagon ordered six U.S. commercial airlines to help move evacuees from temporary sites outside of Afghanistan.

'Our first priority in Kabul is getting American citizens out of the situation as quickly and safely as possible,' Biden said.

'Any American that wants to get home will get home.'

He also said the government was 'looking to move our Afghan allies' out of the country as well, noting that citizens of NATO allies and Afghan allies were amongst the 11,000 individuals evacuated this past weekend.

The president stated that as evacuation efforts are underway he wanted to be clear about three things: 'One, planes taking off from Kabul are not flying directly to the United States,' said Biden, explaining that the planes are landing at U.S. Military bases and transit centers around the world where security screenings will take place for non-citizens.

'Two, at these sites where they are landing we are conducting scrutiny security screening for everyone who is not a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident.

'Anyone arriving in the United States will have undergone a background check.'

He also noted that the government will welcome these individuals into the U.S.

'Three, once screened and cleared we will welcome these Afghans we helped us in the war effort over the last 20 years,' said Biden.

The Biden administration has given no firm estimate of the number of Americans seeking to leave Afghanistan. Some have put the total between 10,000 and 15.000.

A White House official said U.S. planes flew 3900 people out of Kabul in the previous 24 hours. Coalition aircraft rescued a similar number.

It marked a busier weekend for Biden than last, when he was slammed by allies and opponents for staying at Camp David last weekend as the crisis deepened.

And even international partners such as the United Kingdom have voiced their frustration this weekend at the way Biden pushed ahead with such a rapid withdrawal.

A former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan said the hasty retreat would embolden enemies, including terrorist groups.

'It has damaged our alliances, emboldened our adversaries and increased the risk to our own security. It has also flouted 20 years of work and sacrifice,' said Ryan Crocker in a New York Times essay.

This week Biden will join a virtual meeting of the G7 to discuss cooperation between the nations as the Taliban overruns Afghanistan, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in her statement on the upcoming meeting.

'The leaders will discuss continuing our close coordination on Afghanistan policy and evacuating our citizens, the brave Afghans who stood with us over the last two decades, and other vulnerable Afghans,' Psaki's statement reads.

President Joe Biden will participate in a virtual meeting with G7 leaders on Tuesday to discuss the ongoing situation in Afghanistan

The G7 intergovernmental group includes leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the U.S.

The call comes after Biden received a slew of backlash last week for not talking with any world leaders in the aftermath of the Taliban takeover. Hours after reports came out attacking him for his inaction, Biden spoke with Johnson.

The G7 intergovernmental group includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the U.S.

On Sunday afternoon, Biden will deliver remarks on Afghanistan  and Hurricane Henri response  at the White House.

Britain currently holds the rotating leadership of the G7 and announced earlier on Sunday that it called for the group to meet virtually this week.

The meeting comes as chaos in Afghanistan continues to unfold, and nations scramble to evacuate their citizens from Kabul.

So far, Biden has sent in 6,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan to help with evacuation efforts after the Taliban was able to take over the country in just over a week. This means the U.S. has deployed more troops into Afghanistan than the number of American citizens it has extracted from the country since the Taliban swept into power on August 14.

The Pentagon said Saturday they were only able to evacuate 2,500 Americans from Kabul in the past week.

Overall, the U.S. was able to evacuate 7,000 people from the pandemonium at the Kabul airport since last weekend, including 3,800 in the last day.

Up to 15,000 Americans still need to be evacuated and the administration hopes to get out 50-60,000 more Afghan allies and their families.
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The United States has welcomed the first of 65,000 Afghan people Joe Biden hopes to resettle, with well-wishers bringing them books, toys and diapers to help them settle in.

Nearly 28,000 Afghanis and Afghani Americans have been evacuated since the Taliban took control of the country's government last weekend, President Joe Biden said at a news conference n Sunday, including 11,000 just this past weekend.

Last week, the president said he wanted to rescue up to 15,000 Americans living in Afghanistan, as well as up to 65,000 refugees and people whose work with US forces made them eligible for a special interest visa (SIV).

Roughly 2,000 refugees have been relocated so far, a majority to Fort Lee, Virginia, according to the State Department, near where dozens of residents donated clothes, toiletries, diapers, baby formula, toys and books to the arriving families.

Several hundred touched down at Dulles International Airport outside of Washington D.C. on Friday, the Washington Post reports, and were shuttled overnight to the Northern Virginia Community College in Annadale, where the Fairfax County Office of Emergency Management set up more than 500 cots - provided by the college - in an event center, gymnasium and community rooms.

Some would stay for just a few hours before being relocated to their new homes at a base in Texas, while others may stay for a few days.

The first of the Afghan refugees have made it successfully out of their country

Nearly 28,000 Afghanis have been evacuated since the Taliban took control of the country's government last weekend. These Afghanis are pictured touching down in Sicily en route to the US

Some arrived in Annandale, Virginia on Saturday, where dozens of volunteers provided them with clothes, diapers, toiletries and games

Others were brought to a Navy base in Italy, where they will wait for further relocation

Volunteers brought the refugees pizza, snack and water as they told their stories, which many of the volunteers could relate to, as they were also of Afghani descent.

One such volunteer was Salima Khan, 22, who said her parents were born in Afghanistan during the Soviet invasion and ultimately escaped when the Taliban took over the country the first time in the 1990s.

'So I feel like I'm rewatching what they went through - but now with all of this support,' she said. 'They didn't have that.'

'We just want to hare their pain,' added another man, who just gave his first name, Nasrul, out of fear for the safety of his siblings who are still in Afghanistan. 'We are not in Afghanistan, but we are in sorrow.'

He said he decided to help out because he thought he might be able to get the refugees to relax, telling the Post: 'At least these lives are safe now.'

A mother and her daughter who evacuated from Afghanistan walked outside a temporary housing center in Chantilly, Virginia

They arrived at Dulles International Airport and could wait for days until they are finally relocated

Some said they would be relocated to another base in Texas

Those who managed to evacuate gathered their luggage after they stepped off a bus at Chantilly, Virginia

But not everyone is.

Daryoush Amiri, a Fairfax resident, said his wife and two young kids flew to Kabul to visit other family last month, and were supposed to arrive home on August 16 'but it was canceled and then the government collapsed.'

He said his family was able to fly to Qatar on a crowded flight out of the country, and are now in Germany unsure what to do.

And a 32-year-old father, who also asked not to be named as he feared for the safety of his family, fled the country and arrived in Virginia with his one-year-old son - but had to leave behind his wife and daughter.

He told the Post he was able to get a Special Immigrant Visa due to his work with a Pakistani cargo company that contracted with the United States military, but was unable to secure safe passage for his wife and daughter after two nights outside the Kabul airport, because they did not have the proper paperwork.

'It is difficult to be with a baby and be his mother and his father,' the man said. 'No one can feel my sensation. I repeatedly, repeatedly cried - this is his time to be with his mother.'

He said he knew the baby could not stay in the country, so he brought him along and is holding out hope that his wife and daughter will eventually make their own way into the United States.

'He still asks me for his mom,' the father said of his young son.

People took pictures as a commercial plane carrying refugees made its landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport

Some evacuees were able to get Special Immigrant Visas to ensure their safety

Volunteers provided the refugees with all of the supplies they would need at their new homes

Meanwhile, more refugees were being flown into the United States and its allies on Sunday, with a Navy base on the Italian island of Sicily tweeting that about 650 people were flown into the base in just one day.

'I could not be prouder of every single one of you,' Captain Kevin Pickard, the commanding officer at NAS Sigonella told a group of personnel from the US Air Force, Marines, Navy and State Department before the first flight into the base arrived Sunday. 'To see how this base is able to pull in support, all across Italy, is truly impressive.'

The base is serving as a transit location while refugees wait further transportation to more permanent settlements in the United States.

'The people we're helping are going to be joining our American family,' Pickard said. 'We're proud to welcome them with open arms.'

President Joe Biden on Sunday said U.S.- led forces have expanded the perimeter of and 'increased access' to Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport, adding that the Taliban has been 'cooperative in extending the perimeter'

President Joe Biden on Sunday said U.S.- led forces have expanded the perimeter of and 'increased access' to Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport, adding that the Taliban has been 'cooperative in extending the perimeter.'

'The Taliban has not taken action against US forces' since it overran the capital, Biden said at a Sunday news conference.

He had previously said that the US military operation in Afghanistan would end on August 31, but pushed back the timeline on Sunday, according to the Washington Post, saying the Taliban's takeover has extended that date.

The president also thanked refugee support groups and others who were helping to rescue and acclimate the people who had flown into the United States over the past few days, and reiterated that everyone arriving in the country 'will have undergone a background check.'

None of the planes departing Kabul will fly directly to the United States, he added.
Daniel Andrews has urged Victorians to not cancel their AstraZeneca appointments even if getting a Pfizer vaccine will have them double-jabbed weeks earlier.

Prime minister Scott Morrison abruptly declared in Thursday that all Australians aged 16-39 would be eligible for a Pfizer vaccine from August 30.

Since then, 10,000 Victorians have cancelled their AstraZeneca appointments or failed to show up this week - double the about 5,000 of last week.

The Victorian premier said it was not clear why these people did not keep their appointments, as they weren't asked, but acknowledged the timing.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews (pictured) has urged Victorians to take the vaccine that is available to them today rather than wait weeks for one they may be able to get in a few weeks

Besides fear of extremely rare blood clots link to the AstraZeneca jab, the time between first and second dose is far longer than Pfizer.

AstraZeneca recipients must wait 10 to 12 weeks for their second dose, while Pfizer is just three to four weeks. NSW shortened the AstraZeneca time lag to four to six weeks, but this sacrifices long-term immunity.

Mr Andrews said in spite of that, Victorians should keep their AstraZeneca appointments and not wait for Pfizer, as one dose is better than none.

'You have an appointment, use it to date because there is an actual shot in your arm today and it is far preferable than a booking in a few weeks time,' he said at his Monday Covid briefing after announcing 71 new cases.

'They will be bookings in a few weeks time but if you have that choice to make, being in a big queue or being first taste vaccinated, that is an easy choice to make. Honour that booking.

He stated that he would rather people get there first dose as soon as possible rather than wait for the Pfizer to become available to them even if it means they won't be double-vaxxed as quickly (stock image)

'Please do not not show up for that appointment or cancel that appointment because of announcements that have been made and supplies that may be here in a week or a month.'

He admitted there was a spike in cancellations of vaccine booking just hours after the announcement was made.

'I am not even bothering to be critical of that because I cannot change it,' he remarked.

'Let's focus on the things we can change and what we can change is the number of people not showing up.

'Hopefully that can be driven down and hopefully all those unfulfilled appointments can be snapped up.'

When asked by a reporter about Mr Morrison's sudden policy change, Mr Andrews said he did not have power over the announcements.

'Look, that is a significant increase on what it was a week ago but there were announcements made last week and within hours we saw people cancelling that bookings. I cannot be any clearer than that,' he said.

'I cannot change that. I am not even bothering to be critical of that because I cannot change it.

'People will make judgements. I'm asking them to make a slightly different judgement.

Victoria is in a harsh lockdown with masks required at all times outside, with no end in sight at least until there are much higher vaccination rates

'The appointment today is better than a booking in a fortnight or a month stop please set up to the appointment you have mate or I like to make an appointment.'

Mr Andrews insisted the vaccine was safe, effective, and readily available and urged Victorians to get it instead of Pfizer.

'Is it wasn't safe, it wouldn't be available,' he said regarding the AstraZeneca jab. 'It is about getting more first doses into arms rather than less.'

'We don't want to see those people cancelling if we can. But I understand this is a very personal thing and... people are smart, people can work out that we are moving into a slightly different phase now.

'But every jab we get done today and this week is far preferable that appointments we make for next week or the week after.

'An actual shot in your arm today and it is far preferable than a booking in a few weeks time.

'They will be bookings in a few weeks time but if you have that choice to make, being in a big queue or being first taste vaccinated, that is an easy choice to make.'

When asked about NSW cancellation rates, Premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured) failed to properly answer the question, pivoting back to her talking points

When asked a similar question about concern for people cancelling their AstraZeneca bookings and waiting for Pfizer at her own Covid briefing, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian failed to give a straight answer.

'No, we're urging everybody to come forward and get vaccinated. Whatever vaccine you can get your hands on, please come forward and get vaccinated. That's our strong message now,' she said.

'We know that the effects of the jab, the first jab, don't happen or set in until 2-3 weeks after you get your first jab.

So we know that when we're vaccinating hundreds of thousands of people every single week, that within two to three weeks, those people would be less transmissible and less likely to end up in hospital and less likely to get Covid. So we're just encouraging everybody to come forward and get the jab.'
High-tech helicopters belonging to the elite US Army unit whose members killed Osama bin Laden have been spotted at Kabul's airport.

Black Hawk helicopters and AH/MH-6 'Little Bird' helicopters belonging to the 160th Special Operations Airborne Regiment (SOAR), also known as the Night Stalkers, have both been snapped at Hamid Karzai Airport in recent days.

The Black Hawk's nose was covered with canvas, in what may have been an attempt to hide its classified features, while the Little Birds were snapped covered with a black tarpaulin, behind a Turkish Airlines airliner.

At least eight of the Little Birds belonging to the regiment, also known as the Night Stalkers, have arrived at the airport in recent days, according to The Drive.

Their double-rotored MH-47 Chinook choppers have also been spotted there.

The impressive aircraft were spotted even as President Biden refused to send US troops into Kabul on rescue missions, citing fears of a Taliban or ISIS attack on them.

British and German forces have both been deployed into Taliban territory to rescue their citizens as well as refugees. The US military has also launched several less ambitious missions, with the growing fleet of Night Stalker aircraft a possible sign of things to come.

A Black Hawk helicopter belonging to the 160th Special Operations Airborne Regiment (SOAR) has been spotted at Kabul Airport

MH-6 Little Bird choppers belonging to the same regiment - pictured here covered in black tarpaulin - have also been spotted at Hamid Karzai

A third photo showing Black Hawks and Chinooks belonging to the Night Stalkers regiment at Kabul Airport

Little Birds - named because of their small size - are small enough to be stuffed into C-130 Hercules aircraft - and flown within minutes of being unloaded.

They are small, highly maneuverable choppers that can be flown into tight spaces, and which are packed with fearsome weaponry, including machine guns and missiles.

Both the Little Birds and larger Black Hawk choppers use 7.62mm and .50 caliber machine guns to make 'strafing runs' while on missions.

MH-60 Black Hawks and MH-47 Chinooks are larger types of helicopters capable of in-flight refueling, making them ideal for longer missions.

Top secret stealth Black Hawks were used in the mission to kill bin Laden. One crashed during the mission, and was blown up by US troops in a bid to hide its secrets.

A Little Bird chopper is pictured. They are small, packed with weapons, and highly-maneuverable

It is likely that the 160th SOAR and the special operators they carry will be the last Americans to leave Hamid Karzai International Airport.

At some point, the US will end its patrol at the airport, requiring a speedy getaway in an easy to maneuver aircraft flown by highly-trained service personnel.

After president Biden announced U.S. troops would withdraw from Afghanistan, Kabul airport has been filled with Americans and American allies attempting to flee the Taliban-controlled region safely.

Kabul airport is currently surrounded by the Taliban and presents U.S. troops a special challenge if they were required to go behind enemy lines to recue any Americans trapped in Kabul.

The 160th SOAR currently have a fleet o MH-47 Chinooks (pictured) in Afghanistan that could be utilized at any time

American troops have not ventured past Kabul to assist Americans who couldn't get to the airport, with Biden coming under increasing pressure as UK and German forces were revealed to have sent forces into Taliban-controlled territory to evacuate citizens and embassy workers.

On Friday the White House confirmed that the U.S military used three military helicopters to rescue 169 Americans outside Kabul Airport who were trapped at a nearby hotel.

When asked why the U.S has not extended their perimeter beyond Kabul airport Biden said it was to avoid the risk of having U.S. forces and civilians of being attacked by terrorist groups, including ISIS.

'The reason why we have not gone outit's likely to draw a lot of unintended consequences,' he said Friday.

But British and French allies have gone beyond the boundaries of Kabul airport and sent troops into the city to help recover their citizens.

Evacuees load on to a U.S. Air Force Boeing C-17 Globemaster III during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul

Washington officials have no firm number for how many Americans are in Afghanistan but on Friday, they suggested for the first time that military chiefs would send helicopters to retrieve anyone who is stuck behind enemy lines in Kabul if the signal is raised.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby, speaking shortly after President Joe Biden, said troops simply hadn't received a request from Americans trapped in Kabul to rescue them.

The military has brought Night Hawk team members into Kabul in what appears to be preparations to bolster its rescue efforts. The helicopters were used to kill Bin Laden in 2011.

'The President was clear we'll do whatever we have to do. There have been sporadic reports of some Americans not being able to get through checkpoints. By and large, Americans are able to get to the airfield.

'There hasn't been that demand signal. Most Americans are getting through the checkpoints and getting on. I'm not suggested that in every case it's going unimpeded.

We will obviously do whatever we can and if there's a need to do this, and it's an operation that we can talk about, we'll talk about it.

President Biden has insisted that 'every American who wants go leave' will be able to, promising 'we will get you home, and claimed he has not been criticized by foreign governments for his handling of the crisis, despite admonishment from the world's press for it.

No one from the White House, Pentagon or State Department can give a firm number on how many Americans are still trapped in Afghanistan and with every passing minute that they are not saved, the likelihood of them becoming Taliban hostages grows.

Last week, Biden said he believed that up to 15,000 Americans may be trapped in Afghanistan, as well as up to 65,000 Afghanis the US wants to resettle.

So far, 28,000 have been airlifted out of the country.

The US is telling its citizens they must navigate their way through the fighters and crowds to somehow get to get to the front of the line at the airport, where around 50,000 are waiting to board flights.
Nancy Pelosi was filmed speaking at a lavish, sun-soaked Napa Valley fundraising brunch - where tickets cost up to $29,000 each - as Joe Biden faced the biggest test of his presidency over America's chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The 19-second video clip taken shortly around 11:30am West Coast time - when the balmy weather was in the 70s and sunny - pans the event and shows over a hundred maskless people sitting shoulder to shoulder.

Pelosi - the Speaker of the House of Representatives - and third in line to be president if Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were incapacitated, was filmed addressing guests about the aims of the fundraiser.

This appears to be a video of @SpeakerPelosi talking to donors at the @dccc retreat this weekend in Napa. pic.twitter.com/YsqRvM16ex  Kenneth P. Vogel (@kenvogel) August 22, 2021

Nancy Pelosi speaks at a ritzy Napa Valley fundraiser while the situation in Kabul worsens

What looks like over a hundred people are sitting shoulder to shoulder and maskless during the Democrat's fundraiser led by Pelosi

Guests are spending between $100 to $29,000 per person in donations

A lush nature scene with a gazebo serves as the backdrop to the event, and colorful floral arrangements liven the the tables.

The event had a country-club-like feel, where well-dressed guests chit chatted amongst themselves while caterers served their food.

Guests were filmed eating what appeared to be a fresh fruit and vegetable plate, on tables groaning with fresh flowers, and laid out with snowy white linen, as well as expensive-looking cutlery.

They were prepared to dole out between $100 to $29,000 each in donations to the DCCC - the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

'All the servants fully masked,' journalist Glenn Greenwald tweeted. 'The almost-entirely old, white, rich crowd of DCCC donors free to go maskless as theyre served.'

Nancy and her donors were filmed enjoying themselves as her close ally President Biden faced ongoing fury amid the United States' chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, amid hellish scenes at Kabul's Hamid Karzai Airport.

At least seven people - including a two year old - were trampled and crushed to death, President Joe Biden said on Sunday.

US citizens and Afghan allies are dehydrated in dusty streets outside of the Kabul airport, and they're being attacked by the Taliban. Now ISIS - a foe of America and the Taliban - has emerged as a legitimate threat.

There are fears suicide bombers could target people desperate to flee, as well as Americans and their allies who are currently helping guard the airport.

The same day as Pelosi's fundraiser, US Embassy staffers in Kabul sent a diplomatic cable saying they're 'deeply disheartened,' NBC News reported.

One staffer said, 'It would be better to die under the Taliban's bullet' than make their way through the chaos of Kabul airport.

Another said, 'Happy to die here, but with dignity and pride.'

A woman and children wait for transportation to the terminal at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Dusty, rubbish strewn street filled with thousands of people desperate to take the steps needed to get into Kabul airport and out of the Taliban-run country

Pelosi has previously faced claims she is out of touch after going for an indoor haircut in her home city of San Francisco in September 2020 - while indoor beauty services were banned because of COVID.

The House Speaker later claimed she was set up. And in April 2020 - as COVID began to ravage the US - she sparked fury after appearing on Stephen Colbert's late-night talk show to share the designer ice cream brands she keeps stocked in her $25,000 freezer.
Daniel Andrews is starting to warm up to the idea of ending lockdowns around Australia when 70 per cent of people are vaccinated.

The Victorian premier has in recent weeks insisted NSW needed to slash its daily case numbers to double-digits before it could open up.

But he was singing a slightly different tune at Monday's Covid briefing when he said 70 and 80 per cent vaccination rates would mean Victoria would have 'many more choices' - including ending its own lockdown.

His softer language was less than an hour after Prime Minister Scott Morrison hit out at state leaders who intended to keep tough restrictions after the agreed target.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews (pictured) is slowly beginning to change his tune on ending state-wide lockdowns at 70 per cent vaccination rates

Victoria recorded 71 new cases of Covid-19 on n Monday, its biggest increase in a single day since the tail end of the state's second wave last September (pictured, two women exercise at the Tan in Melbourne)

'Play your part in making sure that lockdowns are not something that we have to endure for a moment longer than they are the principal and only option available to us,' Mr Andrews said.

'Seventy and 80 per cent will mean we have many more choices, many more options, and they're all better than the very challenging circumstances that we face now.'

Victoria recorded 71 new cases of coronavirus on Monday, its biggest increase in a single day since the tail end of the state's second wave last September.

Mr Andrews urged Victorians to book a vaccination appointment as soon as they can with 52,566 available spots in the next seven days.

'Each and every one of those visits, each and every one of those appointments, takes us a step closer in that race to 70 per cent and then 80 per cent of our community having been vaccinated,' he said.

'That means that we don't have to be locked down, certainly not statewide, we don't have to have many of the rules that are essential, and our only option at this time.

'At those vaccination numbers give us many other options and they are all much better than the very limited set of options that every state and national government have reluctantly and with a heavy heart had to sign up to.'

Mr Andrews urged Victorians to book a vaccination appointment as soon as they can with 52,566 available spots in the next seven days (pictured, people out for a walk in Melbourne)

Mr Andrews said that with 70 per cent vaccination rates, state-wide lockdowns could become a thing of the past and restrictions could be eased (pictured, people exercise in Melbourne)

When asked by reporters if 80 per cent vaccination rates would mean a guaranteed ticket out of lockdown, the premier said it was 'highly unlikely' he would have to enforce a state-wide shutdown.

'Because the less people that are left unvaccinated, the smaller and more manageable the pandemic of the unvaccinated will be,' he said.

When asked if localised lockdowns would still be a possibility at 80 per cent vaccination rates, he said it was 'far less likely'.

'Well if the public health team were to advise that a measure like that was necessary then we would deal with that,' he said.

'But again, at 80 per cent I think lockdowns more broadly are not a tool that we would use unless we were advised to.'

The Victorian Premier said it was 'highly unlikely' he would have to enforce a state-wide shutdown after 80 per cent vaccination rates had been achieved (pictured, health workers at a drive-through clinic in Campbellfield, Melbourne)

Mr Andrews urged residents who were eligible for a jab to come forward and help create a 'safety net' of high vaccination rates across the state (pictured, health workers in Melbourne)

Mr Andrews elaborated that such lockdowns would be in response to particular concerning circumstances and could be as limited as a single building.

'If we had a really nasty outbreak in a vulnerable community in a suburb or part of the state, for instance, in an aged care facility  we might lock down a whole lot of aged care facilities if we had a problem in aged care,' he said.

'Could I rule it out? I'd love to be able to rule out lots of things. Because I could get advice and what people know about me is that if I get advice from the doctors to do it, I'll do it.'

However Mr Andrews said other restrictions, such as mask wearing and gathering limits could still be imposed for some time after 80 per cent of the state was vaccinated.

'We might still have to wear masks, we might still have rules about gatherings and some of those things for a period of time,' he said.

When asked by reporters if localised lockdowns would still be a possibility at 80 per cent vaccination rates Mr Andrews said it was 'far less likely' (pictured, people exercise at Albert Lake Park in Melbourne)

'Because if you think about it... if 75 per cent of the nation has had two jabs, that means the equivalent of the population of Victoria has not.

'Which is the same as the population of Singapore, Ireland and Israel pulls up that is a lot of people.

'That is why we have to get everyone what's in it that we possibly can. 80 is a very strong number... we have to get to that but if we can do more than we have to do more.

'Because the less people that are left unvaccinated, the smaller and more manageable the pandemic of the unvaccinated will be.

'Because that is what has happened in America are, that is what is happening everywhere.

'So we will get infections and hospitalisations, we will get to that world where it is much more about numbers in hospital, not numbers of cases reported every day.

'But you can't do that until you have the safety net of a very high vaccination number. And we don't have that yet.

However Mr Andrews refused to rule out lifting restrictions once 80 per cent of the state are vaccinated, saying restrictions could remain on mask-wearing and numbers on gatherings (pictured, people exercise in Melbourne)

Mr Andrews also resisted calls to progressively open the state up as more people were vaccinated, allowing the vaccine to keep then outbreak in check.

He said the precarious position the state was in meant residents could not be vaccinated as quickly as the Indian Delta variant was spreading.

'And that means we have to be locked down. I cannot find a simpler way of explaining it than that,' he said.

Meanwhile in NSW, Gladys Berejiklian revealed 738,000 vaccines were administered across the state last week, raising the total number of jabs distributed to 5.9 million.

'I set a target of six million by the end of the month. We will be at least one week ahead of schedule. I am pleased everyone heard the messages, and is coming out to get vaccinated,' the NSW premier said during a press conference on Monday.

Ms Berejiklian promised to reveal later this week some of the additional freedoms that will be granted to fully vaccinated residents in September and October.

'When we reach 70 per cent double dose, we will be able to live more freely. When we get to 80 per cent double dose, essentially, we would have normalised the way we treat Covid,' she said.

'When you get to 70 per cent double dose vaccination, you start to transition and treat Covid as you would the flu and terms of how you record hospitalisations and the way the community is going.'

Scott Morrison (pictured) slammed rogue states threatening to keep Covid-19 restrictions even after high vaccination rates are achieved during a press conference on Monday morning

Before the premiers began their morning Covid briefings, Mr Morrisonslammed rogue states threatening to keep Covid-19 restrictions even after high vaccination rates are achieved.

Queensland has joined Western Australia in threatening to maintain restrictions such as border closures even after 80 per cent of the population is vaccinated.

The move contradicts the re-opening plan, agreed by all premiers at National Cabinet last month, which says Australia will relax restrictions once 70 per cent are vaccinated and stop minimising cases once 80 per cent are jabbed.

The prime minister defended his plan - which is based on scientific modelling - in a press conference on Monday morning and said Australia must learn to live with Covid-19.

'It does puzzle me - it puzzles me - why anyone would want to go against a plan that has been so carefully prepared,' he said.

Referring to lockdowns in Melbourne and Sydney, he said: 'This is not a sustainable way to live in this country, without those freedoms that we all cherish.'

Referring to lockdowns in Melbourne and Sydney, the Prime Minister said: 'This is not a sustainable way to live in this country, without those freedoms that we all cherish' (pictured, health workers at a drive-through vaccination clinic in Melbourne)

And in a warning to overly cautious states, he said there is no alternative to opening up once vaccination rates are high.

'Because if not at 70 per cent and 80 per cent, then when? Then when?

'We have to deal with it. Otherwise we stay in the cave forever. That's not a sustainable solution,' he said.

'I understand people will be concerned that cases may rise... the task is not to delay, the task is not to fear, the task is to embrace, prepare, plan, ensure that we are in a position to [open up].'

As of Sunday, 30.02 per cent of Australia's eligible population over the age of 16 has received two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine.
Former Liberal MP Craig Kelly has joined Clive Palmer's United Australia Party as its leader and will fight to end Covid-19 lockdowns.

The MP for Hughes, who quit the Liberal Party in February after pushing unproven Covid-19 treatments ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine, accused governments of taking an 'authoritarian' approach to Covid-19.

'In those last six months, I've witnessed the very fabric of our society unravelling,' he said.

Former Liberal MP Craig Kelly (pictured) has joined Clive Palmer's United Australia Party as its leader and will fight to end lockdowns

'With endless authoritarian lockdowns, censorship of expert opinion, the emergence of a biomedical security state, our state borders shut, contrary to the vision of our Federation, and the freedoms that were once the birth right of every Australian, stolen.'

Mr Kelly will be the UAP's leader while mining tycoon Mr Palmer, the seventh richest person in Australia with a $13billion fortune, will be the party's chairman.

The pair were spotted holding talks together in Parliament House in May.

Mr Kelly, who will fight to continue representing his seat of Hughes in south Sydney, said the Liberal party had abandoned its traditional values.

'With endless authoritarian lockdowns, the emergence of a police state, censorship, and our state borders shut contrary to the vision of our federation, I no longer recognise the country I grew up in,' he said in a statement.

'I fear for our nation's future if we continue on the current path.'

Businessman Clive Palmer leaves the High Court of Australia in Canberra in June

He said UAP would fight to end lockdowns triggered by Covid-19 outbreaks, including taking it to the High Court.

'We will be putting freedom over fear, liberty over lockdowns and choice over compulsion,' he said.

The party intends to run candidates in all 151 electorates and also contest Senate seats.

Liberals expect to take back Hughes and oust Mr Kelly at the next election.

Mr Kelly wrote on Twitter: 'Under my leadership the United Australia Party will be a major force in politics

'United Australia Party will run candidates in all 151 lower house seats across the nation & in all seats in the Senate

'And we'll be well resourced, VERY well resourced to protect our Constitution.'

Mr Palmer failed to overturn Western Australia's hard border in the High Court.
Surveillance footage caught the shocking moment a man struck a victim in the back of his head and left him bleeding on a New York Subway station platform Saturday night, after the victim looked at the suspect in the 'wrong way.'

'Don't look at me,' the attacker told the 44-year-old victim, who was waiting on the platform at Union Square Station NQRW train platform at around 9 p.m. Saturday, according to the police. 'If you come any closer, I'm going to hit you.'

The unnamed victim then walked away, the New York Post reports, but the attacker went to another bench from were he pulled a hammer out of his bag.

Surveillance footage from the incident shows the suspect take something out of his bag and twirl it around as he walks across the platform, where he seems to whack another person, off-screen.

He was then seen on surveillance footage calmly walking out the subway station.

'The victim tries to get away,' police said, 'and the perp comes back with a hammer and hits him.'

Police announced on Sunday that the victim had actually fallen into the tracks following the whack, but was pulled to safety by good Samaritans.

The victim was transported to Bellevue Hospital, where he needed seven stitches to close his head wound.

The NYPD is now looking for the suspect in the random attack.

Anyone with information is is asked to call the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS

Surveillance footage shows an unidentified man twirling an object - believed to be a hammer - in his hand as he walked over to a man off-screen on the other side of the platform

The suspect then starts swinging the apparent weapon - leaving the victim bleeding in the subway tracks at around 9 p.m. Saturday night

The suspect was later seen calmly leaving the Union Square Station

Police are now asking for the public's help in identifying the suspect seen here

The attack comes just one day after another woman was randomly attacked on a subway platform - on Friday morning, police said, a woman was beaten with a metal pole while waiting for the G train.

And just last week, another man was randomly attacked by an alleged Iraq War veteran swinging a hatchet, hitting him three times in the head and once in the leg.

The victim, Miguel Solorzano, 50, was left bleeding on the sidewalk until medics were able to bandage his head and transport him to Bellevue Hospital for his injuries.

He had undergone two surgeries, and is in stable condition, but still could not process why the suspect - believed to be Aaron Garcia, 37, of Yonkers - would target him.

Solorzano said he saw the suspect outside of the Chase Bank in Lower Manhattan last weekend before entering the ATM vestibule to deposit a check, when the suspect started attacking him.

'He didn't even rob me,' Solorzano told the New York Daily News in Spanish on Wednesday. 'He took nothing. Nothing. He was crazy.'

Garcia was arrested last Tuesday, after allegedly going through a rampage around town. He was charged with attempted murder and assault.

Surveillance footage from a Chase Bank in lower Manhattan shows the moment an attacker - later identified as Aaron Garcia - suddenly walks up behind Miguel Solorzano, 50, and begins swinging his weapon in the violent attack

Terrified and bloodied, Solorzano desperately tries to grab the weapon away from his attacker

Eventually, Solorazano, severely bloodied, flees, and his attacker does not follow. Police say they have the charged Garcia with assault and attempted murder in connection to the attack

City police officers responded to the scene, speaking to Solorzano who sat bleeding on the sidewalk outside of the Chase Bank in lower Manhattan

Authorities wrapped Solorzano's head in bandages as blood dripped down his face following the assault on Sunday night

Throughout the city, crime has been increasing in almost all categories.

According to NYPD data, felony assaults are up 5.3 percent from last year, as of August 15, with misdemeanor assaults up 2.1 percent.

Murders have also increased, from 275 reported during the same time frame in 2020 to 277 reported thus far in 2021.

There have also been 10.7 percent more shooting incidents, with 7 percent more victims.

And grand larcenies have also increased 1.6 percent, with grand larcenies from automobiles skyrocketing 20.2 percent.

Rapes have increased 8.6 percent and hate crimes have nearly doubled.

Crime rates throughout New York City have been increasing over last year

Earlier this month, de Blasio proudly proclaimed that the 'Safe Summer' program has been effective and said in July the NYPD curved violent crime

Despite these staggering statistics, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced earlier this month that his 'Safe Summer' program has driven down murder and gun attacks in the city.

The mayor debuted the Safe Summer program in April as a way to end gun violence by creating disincentives for young people looking to turn to guns by offering them positive alternatives.

At a press briefing on August 5, de Blasio proudly proclaimed that the program has been effective and said in the month of July the NYPD saw 'extraordinary successes' to curve violent crime.

Listing statistics from July, de Blasio noted that the NYPD made 383 gun arrests in July alone, up 133.5 percent compared to last July, the mayor said, while gun arrests in general have gone up 44.5 percent in 2021.

According to the mayor, the summer month of July is usually one of the most violent in the city but the NYPD 'rose to the challenge' and was able to suppress gun violence and executed an impressive number of gang takedowns.

'The gang takedowns mean taking a lot of bad guys off of the streets and at the same time a lot of shooters off the streets, this is crucial,' de Blasio noted.

Overall since the safe summer program was launched in May, murders have gone down 26 percent, shootings decreased 10 percent and shooting victims are down 11 percent.

'There is more to do,' he said, 'but the NYPD is moving and making an impact.'
He shared his strategy for getting Americans out of Afghanistan, which included walking through the streets and killing 'everyone he sees'

Retired SEAL Robert O'Neill gave his candid thoughts on the Afghan chaos during an appearance on Fox News show Primetime with Will Cain

The former US Navy SEAL who killed Osama bin Laden says he would 'kill everyone he sees' if he was on a Kabul rescue mission to save stranded Americans there.

Retired SEAL Robert O'Neill gave his candid thoughts on the chaos in Afghanistan during an appearance on Fox News show Primetime with Will Cain.

He shared his strategy for getting Americans out of the country, which included walking through the streets and killing 'everyone he sees' and criticized the Biden administration and admirals and generals, who he said should have resigned or been fired over the withdrawal fiasco.

During his appearance O'Neill also told Cain that Americans 'should feel gross' about how the US has dealt with the Taliban

Taliban soldiers are pictured at the entrance of Afghanistan's international airport in Kabul Tuesday

'Give me nine guys. I'm gonna walk through the streets and I'm gonna kill everyone I see, and I'm gonna grab the Americans. It is not difficult,' he said. 'But we have these people who are in charge that are a disgrace. I am amazed that there haven't been at least 30 generals and admirals that haven't resigned or been fired today.'

'But we won't because we have a commander-in-chief that was put there through whatever happened at four in the morning on election night,' he added. 'This is nonsense. It's insulting.'

O'Neill was the Navy SEAL who shot bin Laden three times in the head during a top-secret May 2011 raid on his hideout in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

The veteran, who had served in the Navy since 1995, was reportedly forced from the team soon after the raid for allegedly openly bragging in bars about being the man who fired the fatal shots.

His latest outburst was condemned by Tony Thomas, the 11th commander of the US Special Operations Command.

Thomas tweeted: 'I apologize. We, Special Operations, raised this guy. We promoted him through the ranks and ultimately gave him the honor of representing this country on the raid to kill Usama Bin Laden. He has turned it into his money making embarrassing schtick.'

During his appearance O'Neill also told Cain that Americans 'should feel gross' about how the US has dealt with the Taliban.

11th Commander of US Special Operations Command Tony Thomas blasted O'Neill over his proposed rescue strategy

President Joe Biden took a defiant stance in an address to the nation Monday afternoon where he admitted the collapse of the Afghan government was quicker than the US anticipated but insisted he stands behind his decision to withdraw troops

'Everyone veteran Marine, airman and Navy Seal, Coastguards, everyone I've talked to today, all they tell me is they feel gross,' O'Neill continued. 'And that's how you should feel. You should feel gross. We don't ask the Taliban's permission. You know what we do? We kick their ass, that's it,' he said.

O'Neill also took a shot at military higher ups who have criticized him on Twitter, where he has been railing against the Biden administration for days.

'Hey everyone: watch as these politicians and 'generals' come at me,' he tweeted on Sunday. 'They are all completely worthless. They are why we lost.'

Afghanistan fell to the Taliban within 11 days, rather than the 30-90 days US intelligence analysts predicted, undoing two decades worth of gains made by US troops stationed in the country in the wake of 9/11.

The extremist fighters made strong advances across the country over the weekend before seizing the capital Kabul Sunday, causing US officials to accelerate the evacuation of US embassy personnel, citizens and Afghan nationals out of the nation.

Biden took a defiant stance in an address to the nation Monday afternoon where he admitted the collapse of the Afghan government was quicker than the US anticipated but insisted he stands behind his decision to withdraw troops.

Biden revealed US forces may stay beyond his deadline of Aug. 31 as he tries to accelerate the operation to rescue Americans after days of chaos and crushes at Kabul airport.

He said that U.S. forces had expanded the perimeter around the airport amid fears terrorists may seek to exploit the operation by attacking Americans or Afghan civilians.

But things were moving in the right direction with some 33,000 people brought to safety, he said.

'Let me be clear - the evacuation of thousands of people from Kabul is going to be hard and painful,' Biden said during a speech at the White House.

'No matter when it started, when we began, it would have been true if we had started a month ago, or a month from now.

'There is no way to evacuate this many people without pain and loss and heartbreaking images you see on television.

'It's just a fact.'
The Government has announced a crack down on 'cowboy' behaviour by companies who take advantage of holidaymakers with misleading prices for coronavirus testing kits.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid highlighted 82 private travel testing firms who are to be issued with a two-strike warning and could be struck off the official gov.uk list.

Companies will be removed from the website list if they fail to take action within three days of strike one as part of the new two-strike policy.

A further 57 firms are set to be removed from the list either because they no longer exist or do not provide the necessary tests.

Travellers have been left livid after prices for the tests rocketed despite poor service from many of the 400-plus government-approved companies.

The Government requires international travellers arriving in England to test before travel, and on arrival in the UK.

The Government has said it will crack down on private testing firms. Pictured: A standard test

The number of tests that are needed is dependent on your arrival from either a green or amber country or your vaccination status. Arrivals from red countries must still use quarantine hotel facilities.

To help travellers with the process, the Government website features a list of test providers which travellers can use.

But a recent Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) review discovered they were displaying lower prices on the gov.uk site, which lists a variety of providers who are available, than people would have to pay in reality once they get to the checkout.

Mr Javid said: 'It is absolutely unacceptable for any private testing company to be taking advantage of holidaymakers and today's action clamps down on this cowboy behaviour.

'Fifty seven firms will be removed from the gov.uk list and a further 82 will be given a two-strike warning - if they advertise misleading prices ever again, they're off.

'We are also introducing regular spot checks this week to make sure all private providers follow the rules and meet our high standards of transparency.'

The Government requires travellers to England to test before travel, and on arrival in the UK

The difference between the advertised headline price and the real cost at checkout has been put down to companies being dishonest and misleading in an effort to lure customers or via additional fees such as delivery charges.

The consumer rights group Which? condemned the Government for taking nearly half a year to 'properly audit' its own list of private test providers to remove firms that do not exist and those who advertise misleading prices.

Such a state of affairs is 'inexcusable', according to Which? travel editor Rory Boland.

He said: 'The number of firms being taken off or facing a warning shows the huge difficulty travellers face in choosing a trustworthy, reliable test provider.

'Many will have faced delays and missing tests because they used cowboy firms listed by the Government.

'While it is frustrating that it has taken so long for the Government to clamp down on rogue providers, with many summer holidays already ruined, it is vital that it now takes immediate action to remove any companies not following the rules.'

Health Secretary Sajid Javid pledged to tackle 'cowboy' testing firms as the Government says it has removed 57 firms from its approved list while 82 have been issued final warnings

The DHSC said the gov.uk site will be updated to reflect the true cost of the tests, and companies will be warned this week they will be removed if they advertise misleading prices again.

A total of 57 companies will be removed from the list on Monday as they no longer exist or do not provide the tests that are to be taken by those who have returned to England on days two and eight of their arrival from abroad.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is carrying out a review of the market amid concerns about the high cost of PCR tests for travel abroad.

The DHSC said it will share its findings from its review with the CMA competition watchdog.

It added that tests booked for travel with companies who are not on the list can still be used for travel, providing those firms meet legal requirements.

Earlier this month, the DHSC said the cost of NHS Test and Trace tests for international arrivals would be reduced - going down from 88 to 68 for travellers coming from green list countries, or those arriving from amber list countries who are fully vaccinated.

The cost for people arriving from amber list countries who are not double jabbed was reduced from 170 to 136 for two tests.

It comes after ex-chair of the Competition and Markets Authority blasted exploitative practices by testing firms last week.

Lord Tyrie also slammed the competition regulator - which he left last summer - for being 'too slow to react' to complaints.

Lord Tyrie blasted the CMA and said that it 'could and should have been better prepared'.

The former MP for Chichester told the BBC: 'It should either be acting already directly using existing powers.

'Or if deemed inadequate for the job, it should be advising the government on how to obtain a quick remedy, whether by legislation or by other means.

'This advice should already be with the government.'
A woman who was left brain damaged as a baby after child-killing nurse Beverley Allitt nearly took her life fears she could be out in weeks.

Kayley Asher, now 31, was one of 13 victims targeted by Allitt during a 59-day spree which saw the 'Angel of Death' kill four babies and poisoning nine others at Grantham and Kesteven Hospital, Lincolnshire, in 1991.

Allitt was handed 13 life sentences and ordered to serve a minimum of 30 years behind bars after a court trial in 1993, a tariff which expires in November.

The 52-year-old is currently receiving treatment at Rampton Secure Hospital, in Nottinghamshire, and if deemed fit could be transferred to a normal prison meaning she would be eligible for parole.

Kayley Asher (pictured with her father Alan and mother Sharon in 2016) is terrified the nurse who tried to kill her in 1991 may be freed as her 30-year minimum sentence is set to expire

Beverly Allitt was sentenced in 1993 to 13 life sentences for killing four children and poisoning nine others. But in 2007, a court ruled her minimum sentence term should be set at 30 years

Allitt's reign of terror: A timeline of the murders Beverley Allitt is regarded as one of Britain's child serial killers after murdering four children and attacking nine others. She was sentenced to 13 life sentences after being convicted in 1993 and must serve a minimum of 30 years. February 23, 1991: Allit claimed her first victim, eight-week old Liam Taylor March 5, 1991: She killed 11-year-old Timothy Hardwick after he was admitted to the ward having suffered an epileptic seizure April 1991: She gave two-month-old Becky Phillips an insulin overdose after she was admitted to the ward for gastroenteritis April 1991: One-year-old Claire Peck died after she was left alone with Allitt following an asthma attack Allitt harmed thirteen other children, some of whom nearly died including Kayley Asher who was admitted to the ward for a chest infection. Her other victims included five-month-old Paul Crampton who was given three insulin overdoses before being transferred to another hospital where he recovered. Bradley Gibson, then aged 5, and Michael Davidson, aged 6, were both also given insulin overdoses by Allitt before being moved to another hospital. Two-year-old Yik Hung Chan suffered an oxygen desaturation attack before he was transferred to another hospital, where he recovered. Katie Phillips, the twin sister of Becky, was admitted to hospital as a precaution after Becky's death. She was given insulin and potassium overdoses by Allitt and left with brain damage, partial paralysis and sight loss. Advertisement

The possibility has left victim Kayley terrified that the former nurse could re-enter her life and that of her family if she is released.

Her father Alan told the Mirror his daughter, 31, often asks: 'Will she come and get me?'

He added: 'Kayley looks under her bed and in her wardrobe for Allitt. This can go on for days and days and often we find her in the early hours of the morning searching.

'A few years back Kayley spent three weeks in hospital and we could see there was a nurse she really didn't like.

'When she got home she told us she thought it was Allitt. I could see the resemblance, she had been terrified all that time.

'It's scary to think Allitt could one day be free.

'A whole life tariff would have been appropriate. I can't see the difference between her and Peter Sutcliffe. We have a genuine fear if she is freed she could walk into our lives one day.

'We are also worried about the possibility she would be given a new identity like Jamie Bulger's killers.

'Despite the passage of time a lot of people are still very angry so there's no telling what could happen to her.

'The only way to guarantee her safety would be a new identity and that would leave us looking over our shoulders.'

Kayley was just 15 months old when Allitt injected an air bubble under her arm in an attempt to kill her.

Despite suffering two heart attacks, she miraculously survived but was left permanently brain-damaged.

An investigation was launched after a series of unexplained deaths at the hospital and police questioned Allitt when they realised she had been on shift on each occasion.

After a lengthy trial, Beverley Allitt was found guilty of four murders and nine counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Allitt murdered four children - seven-year-old Liam Taylor, 11-year-old Timothy Hardwick, two-month-old Becky Phillips and 15-month-old Claire Peck.

The jury heard that psychiatrists who had examined her concluded she was suffering from Munchausen Syndrome by proxy - a mental illness which caused her to inflict injury on others to attract sympathy or attention.

Beverley Allitt enjoying her freedom as she practises her needlework in a top security hospital

Beverley Allitt pictured leaving court in 1991 after being arrested on suspicion of murder

She was sentenced to 13 life sentences which she is serving at Rampton Secure Hospital in Nottinghamshire, making her one of Britain's worst child serial killers.

It is understood she would have to be deemed fit by doctors before she was moved to a normal prison where she would be eligible to apply for parole.

Alan and wife Sharon, 61, adopted Kayley when she was a toddler and the family still live in Grantham.

They told the Mirror they are strongly opposed to any move to free Allitt.

Alan said: 'When the 30 year minimum sentence was given we felt the punishment was good.

'But now that deadline is on the horizon we will fight any attempt to release her.'
Civil liberties groups have called for a ban on facial recognition cameras, while accusing ministers of quietly approving the technology despite a 2020 Court of Appeal ruling against invasive filming.

Thirty-one organisations including Amnesty International, Liberty and Privacy International have posted an open letter alleging guidance allowing police, local councils and enforcement agencies to use facial recognition across England and Wales has been given in defiance of court rulings against invasive filming.

The guidance was published last week by the College of Policing during the parliamentary recess and without any announcement by it or the Government, according to The Daily Telegraph.

It comes despite a Court of Appeal ruling in 2020 that the use of facial recognition cameras by South Wales Police as a pilot scheme ahead of a nationwide rollout breached privacy rights and broke equalities law.

Civil liberties groups say guidance on facial recognition cameras has been published - despite a court ruling against invasive filming involving South Wales Police (stock photo)

Civil rights campaigner Ed Bridges, 37, brought a legal challenge against South Wales Police arguing their use of automatic facial recognition (AFR) had caused him 'distress'.

He had his face scanned while he was Christmas shopping in Cardiff in 2017 and at a peaceful anti-arms protest outside the city's Motorpoint Arena in 2018.

In a ruling, three Court of Appeal judges ruled the force's use of AFR was unlawful, allowing Mr Bridge's appeal on three out of five grounds he raised in his case.

In the judgment, the judges said that there was no clear guidance on where AFR Locate - the system trialled by South Wales Police - could be used and who could be put on a watchlist.

It ruled that 'too much discretion is currently left to individual police officers'.

However, despite the ruling, civil liberties groups have now claimed that facial recognition technology has been approved by stealth.

'In a democratic society, it is imperative that intrusive technologies are subject to effective scrutiny,' the groups said in a letter.

Ed Bridges won a case against South Wales Police in 2020, arguing their use of automatic facial recognition had caused him 'distress'

'Police and the Home Office have, so far, completely bypassed Parliament on the matter of LFRT (live facial recognition technology). We are not aware of any intention to subject LFRT plans to parliamentary consideration, despite the intrusiveness of this technology, its highly controversial use over a number of years, and the dangers associated with its use.'

The group added it was 'calling on Parliament and relevant stakeholders to halt and ban the use of live facial recognition technology by the police and private companies entirely, as it poses significant and unmitigable risks to our society.

'We do not believe that LFRT can ever be safely deployed in public spaces and for mass surveillance purposes.'

The letter said the use of facial recognition technology 'represents a huge shift in the relationship between the individual and the State'.

'The implications come not solely from privacy and data protection perspectives, but from the larger ethical question for a democratic society permitting and seemingly condoning the rollout of such intrusive technology,' it said.

'LFRT also raises significant problems for our human rights, such as freedom of expression and freedom of assembly.'

The groups said they were concerned LFRT 'may be used in a broad range of public gatherings' such as sporting events, music concerts, and protests, threatening protected rights.

'Further, deployments of this surveillance technology could mirror and exacerbate existing disproportionate policing practices towards minority communities,' the letter said.

Last year, Mr Bridges took his case - believed to be the world's first over police use of such technology - to the Court of Appeal after his case was previously rejected by the High Court.

In a statement after the ruling, Mr Bridges said he was 'delighted' the court has found that 'facial recognition clearly threatens our rights'.

Six steps behind facial recognition technology The Metropolitan Police uses facial recognition technology called NeoFace, developed by Japanese IT firm NEC, which matches faces up to a so-called watch list of offenders wanted by the police and courts for existing offences. Cameras scan faces in its view measuring the structure of each face, creating a digital version that is searched up against the watch list. If a match is detected, an officer on the scene is alerted, who will be able to see the camera image and the watch list image, before deciding whether to stop the individual. Advertisement

South Wales Police said the test of their 'ground-breaking use of this technology' by the courts had been a 'welcome and important step in its development'.

Chief Constable Matt Jukes said: 'The Court of Appeal's judgment helpfully points to a limited number of policy areas that require this attention.

'Our policies have already evolved since the trials in 2017 and 2018 were considered by the courts, and we are now in discussions with the Home Office and Surveillance Camera Commissioner about the further adjustments we should make and any other interventions that are required.'

Mr Jukes added: 'We are pleased that the court has acknowledged that there was no evidence of bias or discrimination in our use of the technology.

'But questions of public confidence, fairness and transparency are vitally important, and the Court of Appeal is clear that further work is needed to ensure that there is no risk of us breaching our duties around equality.'

At a hearing, lawyers for Mr Bridges argued the facial recognition technology interferes with privacy and data protection laws and is potentially discriminatory.

They said the technology, which is being trialled by the force with a view to rolling it out nationally, is used to live capture the facial biometrics of large numbers of people and compare them with people on a 'watchlist'.

The force does not retain the facial biometric data of anyone whose image is captured on CCTV but does not generate a match, the court heard.

Mr Bridges' case was dismissed at the High Court in September 2019 by two senior judges, who concluded the use of the technology was not unlawful.

Lord Justice Haddon-Cave and Mr Justice Swift said they were 'satisfied' the current legal regime is adequate to 'ensure appropriate and non-arbitrary use of AFR' and that the force's use to date of the technology has been 'consistent' with human rights and data protection laws.

Mr Bridges, who the force confirmed was not a person of interest and has never been on a watchlist, crowdfunded his legal action and is supported by civil rights organisation Liberty, which is campaigning for a ban on the technology.

AFR technology maps faces in a crowd by measuring the distance between features then compares results with a 'watchlist' of images - which can include suspects, missing people and persons of interest.

South Wales Police has been conducting a trial of the technology since 2017.

The force added that it is not intending to appeal against the judgment.
A baby is fighting for life with Covid in a Melbourne hospital ICU with a quarter of cases in Victoria's outbreak being children.

Covid commander Jeroen Weimar said nearly a quarter of the state's active Covid cases are under 10, and 100 aged between 10 and 19.

Mr Weinar called attention to the number of school children falling seriously ill as the Delta variant affects people of all ages, unlike the original Covid strain.

'It is a very, very young age profile of people currently active with coronavirus in the state,' he said.

Covid commander Jeroen Weimar (pictured) said a quarter of Victoria's Covid cases were children under the age of 10

Mr Weimar said children were collapsing and vomiting at school with how ill they are and with health officials finding a number of people in the household are also positive (stock image)

Mr Weimar also said children were contracting the virus and then spreading it within their families.

'We have seen kids transmitting to each other. Nobody in this state is safe or immune from this,' he said.

'We have examples of children collapsing and vomiting at school, that is how ill they are.

'And then we go to the house and we realise a number of people in the household are positives, very symptomatic.'

Alongside the baby, there are eight other people in intensive care. One person is in their 20s, one in their 30s, five in their 40s, and two in their 50s. Five of them are on ventilators.

An additional 29 are in hospital with coronavirus.

An infant is among nine people in ICU fighting for life , five of who are on ventilators. None of them are vaccinated (stock image)

All together, 21 of those in hospital are under the age of 50. None of those in ICU had been vaccinated.

Victoria recorded 71 new cases of coronavirus, its biggest increase in a single day since the tail end of the state's second wave last September.

Mystery cases also blew out to double Sunday's numbers with 22 not yet linked to the outbreak and an unknown number infectious in the community.

Only 16 new cases were isolating for the entirety of their infectious period, which Premier Daniel Andrews described as a 'significant concern.'

They were diagnosed from 46,446 test results, and 22,191 vaccine doses were administered on Sunday.

Mr Andrews urged Victorians to book an vaccination appointment as soon as they can with 52,566 available spots in the next seven days.

Victoria has recorded 71 new cases of coronavirus , its biggest increase in a single day since the tail end of the state's second wave last September. Pictured are health workers at a drive-through COVID-19 Vaccination Centre in Campbellfield.

Health officials are concerned the latest Melbourne outbreak has spread into new suburbs. Pictured are Melburnians in St Kilda on Saturday as a host of new restrictions were announced

Appointments are available at hubs including the Ford factory in Geelong, Sandown Racecourse, Wyndham Civic Centre, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, the drive-in site at Melton and Melbourne Showground.

'Every one of those visits and appointments takes us a step closer in the race to 70 and then 80 per cent of our community having been vaccinated,' Mr Andrews said.

'That means we don't have to be locked down and certainly not state what we don't have to have many of the rules that are essential and our only option at this time.

'At those vaccination numbers give us many other options and they are all much better than the very limited set of options that every state and national government have reluctantly and with a heavy heart had to sign up to.'

He and health officials expressed concern about the 10,000 vaccine appointments that have been either cancelled or were no shows in the past week.

'People have to turn up. You have an appointment, use it to date because there is an actual shot in your arm today and it is far preferable than a booking in a few weeks time,' Mr Andrews said.

Victoria's latest outbreak has spread to the regional town in Shepparton, where there are now 34 cases

More than 14,000 Victorians are isolating as primary close contacts, on top of another 9,000 secondary close contacts with more than 600 exposure sites across the state.

An outbreak at Royal Melbourne Hospital has so far infected at least 10 people - a mix of patients, staff, and one visitor - is also worrying health authorities.

Officials are also concerned about the cluster linked to the MyCentre Child Care centre in Broadmeadows, which has grown to 50 cases after eight new infections.

The outbreak in Shepparton that sparked the lockdown expansion to the entire state now stands at 34 after eight new cases.

The regional outbreak has closed Notre Dame College, Greater Shepparton Secondary College, and St Mel's Primary School.

Ten of Monday's cases were linked to the Newport cluster, taking that outbreak to 61.

A Covid-positive patient from Shepparton was transferred to the hospital on August 12 and gave it to a cardiac patient in the bed next to him.

He was not tested for Covid-19 before his operation, which happened before the Shepparton cluster surfaced.

Hundreds of staff from Royal Melbourne Hospital (pictured) have been plunged into isolation as the outbreak grew to 10 cases

The patient was in various parts of the hospital including ICU and a cardiac ward before he tested positive. He remains there.

The premier warned outbreaks in hospitals will have knock-on effects.

'Our public hospital system operates on one fundamental principle, and that is the sickest patients get treated the quickest, and that's the only way that it can go,' Mr Andrews said.

'So, if we have more and more really acute patients, then we will reprioritise, we will move resources and add to resources. But you're right, furloughing is tough.

'That's [why we've] got to clean this out of hospitals as best we possibly can.'

Health officials are also concerned the outbreak has spread into new suburbs across Melbourne, including Essendon West, Camberwell, Thornbury, Fitzroy North, Maidstone and as far as Sorrento.

More than one fifth of the state's 494 active cases are under the age of 10, 100 are between the ages of 10 and 19, and 79 are in their 20s.

'It's a very, very young age profile,' Victoria's Covid-19 response commander Jeroen Weimar said.

'What we have seen in this outbreak, going back to the beginning two-and-a-half weeks ago is we have seen kids get Covid-19 in kids spreading it in their families.

'Nobody in the state is safe or immune.

'Where we find one case, we're likely to find more. That shows a growing pattern of coronavirus cases.'

'The urgency is for people to realise that this is now really close to everybody. It is no longer a Newport and Glenroy problem and it is not a Shepparton problem.

'We have a case in Mansfield, a man in his late 60s, a million miles away from Melbourne and a fair way from Shepparton, so we cannot be complacent.'

Victorians have been urged to roll up their sleeves in the coming days with 52,566 available spots for the next week. Pictured is a drive-through vaccination clinic in Melbourne on Monday

The outbreak at MyCentre Child Care Centre at Broadmeadows has grown to 50 cases

Mr Andrews was asked on Monday if he was comfortable with the current settings after plunging the entire state into lockdown and enforcing a string of tougher restrictions on Saturday.

'There are not too many more restrictions we can put on,' the Premier replied.

'The thing that will make the difference in bringing these numbers down further is compliance with these current rules.'

Mr Andrews also refused to rule out lifting restrictions once 80 per cent of the state are vaccinated.

'I can't rule out masks or some other measure,' he said.

'If we had a really nasty outbreak in a vulnerable community in a suburb or part of the state, for instance, in an aged care facility  we might lock down a whole lot of aged care facilities if we had a problem in aged care.

'Could I rule it out? I'd love to be able to rule out lots of things. Because I could get advice and what people know about me is that if I get advice from the doctors to do it, I'll do it.

'I won't second-guess them and I won't turn this into a political game. It is a public health matter.'

More than 22,191 Victorians were vaccinated on Sunday. Pictured are motorists being directed at a vaccination drive-though in Melbourne on Monday

All hospital emergency staff are now required to wear tier-three personal protective equipment.

'It's unpleasant, it's hot, it's hard work, and this is the implication of seeing these rumbling cases,' Mr Weimar said.

'We now have to step up again, to deal with the growing number of cases we're seeing in the community and be prepared for these cases coming through.

'My thanks to [health services and] their leadership and their frontline staff for all the work they're doing to make sure we get through the coming days and weeks, as well as we possibly can.'

The premier described the scenes at Saturday's anti-lockdown protest in Melbourne's CBD as 'disgusting' and 'absolutely unlawful'.

'None of us should ever act in that way towards members of Victoria Police  they're there to keep us safe, and put themselves in harm's way,' Mr Andrews said said

'The full force of the law will be upon those people [who attended the protests].'
A Sydney mum living in a locked-down apartment has been bullied into moving out by lambasted unreasonable neighbours who were enraged because she let her four-year-old autistic daughter play with chalk on the driveway.

Michelle Allebi took Jessica, four, and Bella, two, out the front of their two-bedroom apartment to play hopscotch and draw the alphabet on the pavement with chalk outside their Croydon Park home, in the city's west.

The girls can't play in parks and at playgrounds under the Covid-19 restrictions in the virus-riddled Canterbury-Bankstown area, and were thrilled to be able to step outside the cramped unit for an hour.

Days later, the 35-year-old nurse was shocked to find a hand-written note in her letterbox from an irate neighbour, who claimed the chalk had 'defaced' common property and was against the strata by-laws.

The Allebi family, pictured left to right: Michelle, 35, Jessica, four, Bella, two, and Jose, 42

Pictured: Michelle watching her daughter Jessica play hopscotch outside their apartment

Jessica has autism and her little sister Bella is awaiting a potential diagnosis. Jessica's condition means she can find small things, like brushing teeth, triggering

'I was shocked,' Ms Allebi told Daily Mail Australia.

'I thought that letting them go outside was keeping them entertained and away from screens.'

She wrote a letter to her eight neighbours to apologise and explain that she didn't realise the chalk was an issue, but she felt frustrated because it wasn't the first time an unidentified neighbour complained about her children.

'About a month ago, I got a letter from the strata board because someone thought my kids were too loud and said we were disturbing other residents,' Ms Allebi said.

An angry neighbour complained that Jessica's drawings (pictured) were damaging property

Jessica, four, was thrilled to go outside and play with her little sister during lockdown

Pictured: A letter telling Michelle and Jose Allebi that they were not allowed to let their kids draw in the driveway

'So I wrote a letter to my neighbours apologising, and saying sometimes it's unavoidable because the girls are pre-school age and my eldest has been diagnosed with autism.'

Two-year-old Bella is also being assessed for autism, but getting a diagnosis has been delayed due to Covid-19.

'We try to keep the noise down, but we can also hear our neighbours - the walls are thin, and there's not much we can do,' she said.

'They have a lot of energy and I feel bad telling them to be quiet all the time - t's like telling them not to be themselves.'

Pictured: Bella with her parents Michelle and Jose. Jose works in customer service at a call centre

Ms Allebi detailed another occasion when her children were watching a movie in the living room at 3pm with all the doors closed.

When Jessica and Bella laughed, someone in the hallway said 'knock it off'.

The mum was going to ignore it, but when it happened again she went outside to explain the situation.

'As soon as I opened the door, the woman ran back into her apartment and closed the door, but I did see that she wasn't wearing a mask in a common area,' Ms Alibi said.

The family moved into the apartment last September and signed a year-long lease.

After receiving the complaints, they asked the real estate whether they could break the lease early and move in August without paying extra fees.

An angry neighbour complained that Jessica and Bella's drawings were defacing public property

Despite the noise complaints, their request was denied.

'The real estate said we could move out, but we'd have to pay rent every week until the lease was up anyway - plus an extra week of rent for breaking the lease,' she said.

'But we can't afford to do that, so I emailed strata and asked them what they want me to do - I can't move out, but I keep getting noise complaints about my kids.'

Eventually, the family were left with no other option by to try and keep noise to a minimum and look for somewhere else to live.

They found a house in nearby Enfield and are due to pack up in September.

While strata committees can include bylaws asking residents not to make excessive noise, it doesn't include domestic noice - such as the sound of children.

According to Fair Trading NSW, 'a by-law cannot restrict children occupying a lot'.
A firefight has broken out between unidentified gunmen, Western security forces and Afghan guards at Kabul airport.

One Afghan guard was killed and three others were injured in the battle, which also involved US and German forces, the German military said on Twitter.

The report did not specifying whether the dead Afghan was one of the Taliban fighters deployed to guard the airport.

The airport has been a scene of chaos since the Taliban seized the Afghan capital on August 15 as UK and international forces try to evacuate citizens and vulnerable Afghans.

A firefight broke out between unidentified gunmen, Western security forces and Afghan guards at Kabul airport (pictured last night) on Monday, Germany's armed forces have said

British and Canadian soldiers help an Afghan climb up on the wall of a canal as he with others wait near the foreign military-controlled part of the airport in Kabul, hoping to flee the country

On Sunday, Taliban fighters beat back crowds at the airport a day after seven Afghans were killed in a crush at the gates as the deadline for the withdrawal of foreign troops approaches.

Foreign forces in Afghanistan have not sought to extend the August 31 deadline to leave the country, a Taliban official said on Monday, after President Joe Biden said US troops might stay longer to oversee a 'hard and painful' evacuation.

The Taliban seized power in Afghanistan just over a week ago as the United States and its allies withdrew troops after a 20-year war aimed at overthrowing the Taliban and hunting down al Qaeda after the 9/11 attacks.

Foreign forces were working towards the end-August deadline agreed with the Taliban to leave the country and had not sought to extend it yet, a senior legal adviser to the Taliban leadership told Reuters on Monday.

Boris Johnson and G7 leaders are expected to plead with Joe Biden to delay the US withdrawal from Afghanistan tomorrow.

The Prime Minister will use a virtual meeting of world leaders on Tuesday to push for more time so thousands are not left behind in the clutches of the Taliban.

Pictured: Afghans wait outside the foreign military-controlled part of the airport in Kabul, hoping to flee the country following the Taliban's military takeover of Afghanistan last night

However they could be facing an uphill battle, with the US President refusing to commit to an extension.

Nearly 6,000 UK citizens and Afghan staff had been airlifted out by the RAF by last night, and, according to reports last night, a further 6,000 people will be flown out this week.

But the rescue mission is reliant on the American military retaining control of Kabul airport. Along with losing key air support, British military officials fear Islamic State (IS) may also target UK soldiers at Kabul airport in suicide bomb attacks.

Biden, who last week flagged the possibility of troops remaining longer, said on Sunday the security situation in Afghanistan was changing rapidly and remained dangerous.

'Let me be clear, the evacuation of thousands from Kabul is going to be hard and painful' and would have been 'no matter when it began', Biden said in a briefing at the White House.

'We have a long way to go and a lot could still go wrong.'

Pictured: a US Air Force aircrew assists qualified evacuees aboard aircraft in support of the Afghanistan evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan

Asked by a reporter whether the United States would extend an August 31 deadline for evacuations, Biden replied: 'Our hope is we will not have to extend but there are going to be discussions I suspect on how far along we are in the process.'

Biden said he had directed the State Department to contact Americans stranded in the country, where Taliban checkpoints are in place.

'We're executing a plan to move groups of these Americans to safety and to safely and effectively move them to the airport compound. For security reasons, I'm not going to go into detail ... but I will say again today what I've said before: Any American who wants to get home will get home.'

Afghan allies of the West and vulnerable Afghans such as women activists and journalists would be helped too, he said.
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Britain is set to bask in temperatures reaching 81F as a 700 mile-wide Atlantic 'hot air blob' brings with it 12 days of sizzling sunshine from today.

Revellers are expected to once again descend upon the nation's sun-soaked outdoor spaces as the country prepares for a week of balmy weather and scattered sunshine as a hot plume from Spain and the Azores brings with it an oncoming heatwave.

Forecasters have predicted rising mercury levels, which are expected to last into the bank holiday weekend, could also see temperatures climb to a sizzling 80F in the north west of the country while the south of England, which is due to be hit by daily temperatures of 75F through the week, could also see peaks of 77F.

Temperatures of 7FF could also sweep across Wales as the warm sunny spells continue to soar as the school holidays draw to a close.

The scorching spell could see the nation exceed the temperatures seen across the Mediterranean and beat the 75F expected in Genoa, Italy, this week.

It comes just days after Britain was battered by torrential downpours and thunderstorms which saw the Met Office issue a yellow weather warning.

Hundreds of sun-seekers pour onto Perranporth beach in Cornwall today as the nation prepares to bask in temperatures reaching 81F this week

Tourists make the most of the summer holidays as they enjoy the balmy weather on Perranporth beach in Cornwall

Car parks are packed near Perranporth, Cornwall, as hundreds of revellers flock to the outdoor space and enjoy the rising mercury levels

The Weather Outlook forecaster Brian Gaze said: 'It should be the best spell of school holidays and feel pleasantly warm.

'It's a major change after wet weather. There should be a good deal of sunshine.'

Meanwhile former BBC and Met Office forecaster John Hammond said: 'It will be late summer at its best, with a sunnier finale to a dull August

'The mid-20s is possible by midweek, with the fine weather holding on for the Bank Holiday weekend and for a few more days into September for most.'

Another Met Office forecaster said: 'From Monday will be mainly fine and dry, with rather warm temperatures in the West initially and more widely later in the last week of August and into September.

'There will be increasing amounts of sunshine, with high pressure likely to dominate, with settled conditions.'

Last week Britain was lashed by heavy downpours which saw around 20mm of rain fall in one hour and forecasters also warned of flooding across some areas, including Cornwall which was battered by heavy rain and stormy weather.

It came amid unsettled weather which has persisted across the UK throughout August, with the weather service also naming its first storm of the summer - Storm Evert - last month.

Met Office meteorologist Simon Partridge said the City of London has had 117 per cent of its usual August rainfall already.

The summer downpours has seen 60mm of rain fall on the capital up to August 17, compared with 51mm usually seen over the entire month.

Tourists pitch up their rents and enjoy the summer weather in Cornwall today as forecasters predict 12 days of sun in the UK

Sun-seekers make the most of the summer weather with a day out to Perranporth beach in Cornwall as a 700 mile-wide Atlantic 'hot air blob' brings with it spells of sunshine

The sun begins to rise behind Roker Lighthouse in Sunderland this morning as the nation prepares for rising mercury levels

Forecasters have predicted rising mercury levels could also see temperatures climb to a sizzling 80F in the north west of the country while the south of England will see daily temperatures of 75F

Northern Ireland has recorded 90mm of rain, which is a massive 90 per cent of its 97mm average for the month.

As the rain continued, one forecaster admitted a heatwave was not on the cards, but urged Brits 'not to give up hope altogether' with some September's having come up trumps over recent years.

Elsewhere a spokesperson for the National Farmers' Union said this year's harvest was delayed due to cold spring temperatures.

They said: 'The localised heavy rain and hail has caused significant problems in certain areas.

'It's a mixed picture because for many areas they just haven't had many clear dry days in a row to harvest, so things have been a bit 'stop-start' with harvesting.

'A heatwave is not on the cards - but let's not give up hope altogether. Some September's have come up trumps over recent years.'

Meanwhile, Coral bookmakers were offering odds of 6-4 for this month to be a record wet August.

The firm's John Hill said: 'This summer has already been one of the wettest in recent memory and with more rain on the way, by the time it is up, it may be the wettest we have ever had.

'Rainfall has been forecast to arrive in many parts of the UK over the weekend and as a result, the odds suggest there is a strong chance this month will end as a record wet August.'

In July, the UK recorded the hottest day of the year so far with temperatures exceeding 86F in both England and Wales.

In England, 88.88F was recorded in Heathrow while Wales recorded 86.36F in Cardiff.
One of Australia's most notorious vegan activists who stormed a designer clothes store wearing only a G-string in a bizarre protest against the 'animal holocaust' has revealed she was smeared in her own menstrual blood.

Tash Peterson, 26, has gained infamy for a series of public demonstrations, often featuring provocative outfits and the heckling anyone who isn't vegan.

The shock-tactic demonstrations have targeted diners in food courts, butchers, meat isles in supermarkets, and families eating out in busy restaurants.

Now, in her latest outlandish stunt, the social media influencer has taken aim at fashion enthusiasts perusing a Louis Vuitton in Perth.

'I used my period blood to cover my naked body in this protest to symbolise the bloodshed of the animal holocaust and the engrained anthropocentrism in our society,' Ms Peterson later revealed to her army of fans on Instagram.

'I am using my blood, my body, my voice and my human privilege to speak up for the non-human animals who are so oppressed they are not even considered to be victims.'

She outspoken herbivore said wanted to convey the message that 'we are all bleed' and all have the innate desire to live.

'Human supremacists believe they have the right to take a life away from someone else if they are a different species,' she said.

'I am using my body and blood to help those who have no autonomy over their bodies.

'I use my human privilege to expose the largest and longest holocaust in history, the animal holocaust.'

Serial animal rights protester Tash Peterson (pictured) has struck again - this time carrying out a demonstration in a busy Louis Vuitton store

The video posted online shows the animal activist marching into the luxury store with her derriere and breasts exposed, clutching a sign reading: 'If you're not vegan, you're an animal abuser'.

Lifting the board above her head, she parades around the store attempting to shame shoppers for buying items featuring animal-derived materials.

'Who was murdered for your leather bag, down jacket, and woollen jumper,' she chants, as security guards attempt to usher her to the front door.

'If you buy animal skin, wool, fur, feather, and scales, you are paying for the most horrific animal abuse on this planet. You are contributing to an animal holocaust.'

A security guard snatches the sign, prompting a tug-of-war between the pair as unimpressed shoppers stare at the almost naked activist digging her heels into the ground.

The social media influencer marched into the designer store in Perth wearing only a nude G-string, with menstrual daubed from her chest down to her crotch

Security guards tried to block her from progressing deeper into the store, as she stormed through chanting:' If you're not vegan, you're an animal abuser'

Shoppers in the luxury label store appeared unperturbed by the outlandish stunt

As the board snaps in half, Ms Peterson grabs what is left of her sign and walks off to continue her tirade through the shop.

'If you're not vegan, you're an animal abuser. Louis Vuitton are responsible for the murder of cows, sheep, goats, foxes, minx, ducks and pigs,' she screams.

'Louis Vuitton have blood on their hands, and so do you if you are not vegan.'

Security guards and management follow behind, attempting to block her passage through out the store, and stop her accomplice filming.

One tried to grab her sign, but only succeeded in ripping some of it off and she continued undeterred until she was eventually herded out the door.

'Thank you, Louis Vuitton is a great brand, thank you,' the man says calmly guiding her out the door, as she continues screaming into the street.

Her antics left social media users divided, with some praising her work while others felt her approach would be detrimental to her cause.

'Go Tash. You make it so obvious just how crazy the animal rights movement is,' one person wrote.

'The arrogance and attitude of this nutter is such a waste of peoples own free time,' another added.

Tash Peterson (pictured) ambushed patrons at a seafood restaurant and later compared herself to women's rights activists

'This person is trespassing on private property with no intent for the purpose the property is intended. Also if you look at the people in the shop. She won no friends.'

Ms Peterson, who moved to Melbourne in June, is currently back in Perth where she faced court on August 12 for disorderly conduct.

Last month, Western Australia initially denied her entry into her home state due to her spate of high-profile protests.

In June, she was banned from every pub in WA, after she was slapped with a disorderly behaviour charge for ambushing diners at a busy seafood restaurant and publicly chastising them about the 'fish holocaust'.

Ms Peterson and a group of other activists stormed the Bathers Beach House restaurant in Fremantle in Perth's south in May.

In another stunt, the militant vegan went topless and painted herself in cow print to protest outside a butcher's shop

They proudly filmed her stood on a table where she called diners 'animal abusers' and shouted out a pre-written speech while furious diners yelled 'boo' and told her to 'shut up'.

The Instagram and OnlyFans star has also dressed in bloodied aprons and stormed into restaurants and supermarkets like McDonald's, KFC and Coles.

She even interrupted an AFLW match by running onto the field at Perth Stadium.

The serial protester ran around for about a minute before she was tackled by Fremantle midfielder Kiara Bowers long enough for security to catch up.

She was fined $1,800 in court for trespassing.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Louis Vuitton for comment.
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Joe Biden has tonight snubbed calls from Boris Johnson and other western leaders to extend his Kabul withdrawal deadline, despite threats by the Taliban of 'consequences' if soldiers remain in Afghanistan beyond August 31.

The under-fire US President swerved the issue at a Washington Covid press conference tonight, before handing over his National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan to answer questions from reporters.

But when asked if the US would extend its August 31 deadline, Mr Sullivan immediately deferred back to Biden, who had left the room.

While saying the US was 'committed to bringing Americans home', Mr Sullivan refused to give information on what kind of talks US military bosses were having with Taliban chiefs to diffuse the current situation in Kabul.

It comes after the Taliban today said any extension to the evacuation date would be a 'red line' and warned of 'consequences' if US and UK troops remained in Afghanistan beyond August 31.

Today Number 10 said that the Prime Minister and Mr Biden had spoken over the phone and agreed to work together to ensure all those eligible to leave Afghanistan were able to, including after the initial evacuation phase ended.

A Downing Street spokesperson said: 'They discussed the ongoing efforts by the UK and U.S. to coordinate the rapid and safe evacuation of our nationals and those who previously worked with our governments from Kabul International Airport.

'The leaders agreed to continue working together to ensure those who are eligible to leave are able to, including after the initial phase of the evacuation has ended.'

Mr Johnson and Mr Biden also noted the importance of concerted diplomatic engagement to secure the progress made in Afghanistan and prevent a humanitarian crisis, the statement said.

'They committed to driving international action, including through the G7 and UN Security Council, to stabilise the situation, support the Afghan people and work towards an inclusive and representative Afghan government,' the spokesman added.

It comes as Britain, France and Germany all joined pleas for the US President to delay the American withdrawal from Afghanistan today.

Nearly 6,000 Britons, Afghan staff and their families have now been airlifted out by the RAF. There are plans to fly out a further 6,000 this week.

French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said he was 'concerned' about the US deadline and 'additional time is needed'. Germany estimated it has 5,000 people still waiting to be taken to safety, with a Foreign Ministry spokesman saying the airbridges should stay open 'as long as the situation on the ground allows'.

Despite the entreaties from fellow leaders, Mr Biden has been non-committal, saying yesterday he 'hopes not to' extend his current deadline.

He made a pledge to US citizens that 'any American who wants to get home will get home' but pointedly failed to mention his allies.

Today, after Mr Biden ducked questions on Afghanistan during a Covid press conference, Jen Psaki, the White House Press Secretary, snapped at a reporter for referring to Americans still in Kabul as 'stranded'.

'I think its irresponsible to say that Americans are stranded. They are not.' She also reiterated the US Government's earlier promise, saying: 'We are committed to bringing Americans who want to come home, home.'

It came as dramatic pictures emerged of Taliban fighters and British troops, once sworn enemies, working just yards apart at Kabul airport.

Downing Street insiders said Mr Johnson will ask the US President at the G7 meeting not to leave Western allies in the lurch.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace have also been in contact with their opposite numbers in Washington on the issue.

Mr Biden has set a deadline of August 31 for all Americans to have left the country, but UK military sources said another fortnight was needed.

Asked what he would say if G7 leaders pushed him, Mr Biden said: 'I will tell them we will see what we can do.'

British military commanders are understood to have pencilled in August 25 as the last day they can process refugees, including former British interpreters, under the current plans before the focus shifts to getting about 1,000 British troops and government officials home safely.

It could mean the last British evacuation flight may have to leave as soon as tomorrow or Wednesday to allow soldiers enough time to withdraw.

It came as:

The Ministry of Defence confirmed seven Afghan civilians died in the chaos outside Kabul airport over the weekend, with at least 20 killed in the past week;

Britain pledged to work with Moscow and Beijing to exercise a 'moderating influence' over the Taliban, despite a deep mistrust of both regimes;

Vladimir Putin rejected the idea of airlifting people from Afghanistan to countries near Russia, saying he did not want 'militants showing up here under cover of refugees';

Tony Blair stressed that Britain's involvement in Afghanistan has not been a 'hopeless endeavour', as he accused Mr Biden of following an 'imbecilic policy';

Only a last-minute concession by the Taliban and a change of heart by Mr Biden can save the thousands of vulnerable Afghans who face being left behind.

Boris Johnson (pictured left) will attempt to persuade US President Joe Biden (pictured right) to keep American troops in Afghanistan beyond his August 31 deadline when the two leaders take part in a G7 meeting this week

Lt Cdr Alex Pelham Burns, part of the UK deployment, helps children waiting to be evacuated from Kabul airport

President Biden spoke briefly about COVID on Monday but refused to address the Afghanistan crisis or take reporters' questions. He walked away as journalists cried out for answers

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan refused to say whether US troops would stay in Afghanistan after the Taliban's August 31 deadline, instead passing the issue off to President Biden who is refusing to take questions on the subject or address it

The situation at the airport has become increasingly fraught as the clock ticks on the airlift

British forces have been snatching rest between the exhausting efforts to organise the airlift from Kabul

Taliban threatens 'consequences' if airlift deadline extended The Taliban has said it will 'provoke a reaction' and has threatened 'consequences' if the US or UK do not leave Afghanistan by August 31 and extend the deadline for the withdrawal of troops. President Joe Biden wants all Americans to have left the country by the end of the month although he admitted on Sunday night that an extension was under discussion, while this morning UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said the evacuation effort is 'down to hours now, not weeks'. Taliban spokesman Dr Suhail Shaheen said the group will not accept an extension to the deadline and warned of retaliation if Western forces extend their 'occupation' since the group dramatically swept to power. He told Sky News: 'It's a red line. President Biden announced that on 31 August they would withdraw all their military forces. So if they extend it that means they are extending occupation while there is no need for that. 'If the US or UK were to seek additional time to continue evacuations - the answer is no. Or there would be consequences. 'It will create mistrust between us. If they are intent on continuing the occupation it will provoke a reaction.' Advertisement

Speaking to reporters in Fort George, near Inverness, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: 'The Prime Minister is, obviously at the G7, going to try and raise the prospect of seeing if the United States will extend.

'It's really important for people to understand the United States have over 6,000 people in Kabul airport and when they withdraw that will take away the framework  and we will have to go as well.

'I don't think there is any likelihood of staying on after the United States. If their timetable extends even by a day or two, that will give us a day or two more to evacuate people.

'Because we are really down to hours now, not weeks, and we have to make sure we exploit every minute to get people out.'

Furious former generals have urged the PM to continue the evacuation even if the US leaves, in the hopes of getting 'every last Briton out'.

'We are concerned about the deadline set by the United States on August 31. Additional time is needed to complete ongoing operations,' Mr Le Drian told reporters at the UAE's Al-Dhafra air base, where France has set up an air bridge for people evacuated from Kabul.

A Taliban spokesman told Sky News that the evacuation effort continuing in Afghanistan past the end of the month would be a 'red line' and would 'provoke a reaction'.

Suhail Shaheen said: 'This is something  you can say it's a red line. President Biden announced this agreement that on August 31 they would withdraw all their military forces. So, if they extend it that means they are extending occupation while there is no need for that.

'It will create mistrust between us. If they are intent on continuing the occupation, so it will provoke a reaction.'

In a round of interviews this morning, defence minister James Heappey said the RAF had extracted 1,821 people from Kabul on eight flights over the past 24 hours, and another nine flights are expected in the coming day.

He said: 'It is certainly the case as the cases have been made for more people from Afghan civil society to be evacuated, those names have been added.

'In reality, the focus is on the around 1,800 eligible persons or UK passport holders, British nationals and the remaining people under the Arap (Afghan relocations and assistance policy) scheme which is 2,275, but there are thousands more who we would like to get out if there is the time and the capacity.'

But Mr Heappey said the 'hard reality' is that the effort cannot continue without the US, admitting that not everyone will get out - stressing that people will be able to look for other escape avenues after that.

'The fact is we will get out as many as we possibly can but we have been clear throughout that there is a hard reality that we won't be able to get out everybody that we want to, and that is very important that we start to reassure people in Kabul  because I know that people in Afghanistan are acutely aware of what is being said in our media in the UK  that the airlift is not the only route out of Afghanistan, not the only route to the UK.'

He added: 'There is a second phase to this, where people will be able to settle in the UK having been processed either at a handling centre in a refugee camp or at one of our embassies or high commissions in the region.'

Over recent days, the President has remained stubbornly opposed to any plan to extend the rescue operation into September.

His stance means UK nationals and Afghans eligible to relocate to Britain would have to escape themselves to a third country, such as Pakistan, from where they could travel to the UK on commercial aircraft.

Such journeys would be fraught with danger. Scores of interpreters are hiding in Kabul following beatings and shootings by the Taliban; punishment for their service to a foreign power.

Former international development secretary Rory Stewart accused Mr Biden of 'not caring' about the consequences of troop withdrawal.

He told BBC Breakfast: 'At some fundamental level he doesn't really care what the consequences are in Afghanistan, what he cares about is being able to say to the American people that he's got his boys home.'

Mr Stewart added: 'The way that it's been organised has been horrifying, but the fundamental problem was the fact that we chose to break 20 years of investment and betray our obligations to the Afghan people in the first place.'

Mr Biden appeared to push back on extending last night, saying: 'Let me be clear - the evacuation of thousands of people from Kabul is going to be hard and painful.

'No matter when it started, when we began. It would have been true if we had started a month ago, or a month from now.

'There is no way to evacuate this many people without pain and loss and heartbreaking images you see on television. It's just a fact.'

He said about 11,000 people were lifted out of Kabul in less than 36 hours and said defence officials 'hope' they will not have to extend the evacuation operation.

However in a glimmer of hope that an extension was still possible, he added: 'There are going to be discussions I suspect on how far along we are in the process.

'Our first priority in Kabul is getting American citizens out of the situation as quickly and safely as possible. Any American that wants to get home will get home.'

He also said the US government is 'looking to move our Afghan allies' out of the country as well, noting that citizens of NATO allies and Afghan allies were amongst the 11,000 individuals evacuated this past weekend.

Tobias Ellwood, chairman of the Commons Defence Select Committee, stressed the importance of Mr Johnson convincing Mr Biden that the rescue mission should be extended.

He said: 'Time is unquestionably running out and unless there is movement politically on that cut-off point of August 31, we could see flights for former interpreters, other eligible Afghans and refugees ending in the coming days.

'After that, the main effort must switch to the safe withdrawal of our military personnel.

'It simply isn't possible to do both at the same time; the folding up of the military mission cannot be done amid the mayhem and chaos we are currently witnessing; in particular given genuine fears of a terrorist attack.

'Boris Johnson must get the support of other G7 leaders and present a united front to President Biden. More time must be made available.

'I dread to think what the scenes will be at the airport this week as the deadline approaches. There could be carnage. We are perhaps fortunate that more lives haven't been lost and no British troops have been wounded.'

The threat of a terrorist attack is being factored into all military plans as the chaos is thought to provide an 'open goal' opportunity for the Islamic State terror group to strike British and other international forces.

Military aircraft have been seen dropping anti-missile flares and carrying out nosedive combat landings amid fears that terrorists may try to shoot down an aircraft.

A former British Army general last night said the UK should go it alone if the US does not push back its leaving date.

Retired Major General Tim Cross, who served in Iraq and Kosovo, told the Sun: 'What's the point of having armed forces if we cannot hold a single airfield? It makes the whole global Britain idea a joke.'

Colonel Richard Kemp, left, a retired officer who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, said UK troops 'should stay until we have got every last Brit, and everyone we need, out'. Speaking to reporters in Fort George, near Inverness, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace (right) said the rescue bid was 'down to hours, not weeks'

A porter pushes a wheelbarrow carrying Afghan children as family members enters into Pakistan through a border crossing point in Chaman, Pakistan

Another, Colonel Richard Kemp, a retired officer who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, told the paper: 'We are one of the most powerful military nations in the world. We should stay until we have got every last Brit, and everyone we need, out.'

The Ministry of Defence last night said it would be 'impractical' to secure Kabul Airport and to continue the evacuation mission 'without the partnership (with the US)'.

Meanwhile, fears have been raised about UK and US troops being targeted by IS terrorists as the evacuation at Kabul airport continues. Fears of an Isis attack on the have prompted the US to warn its citizens not to travel to the site without instructions from its officials.

A government source told the Times last night: 'We know they (IS) would love to get a suicide bomb into the crowd and take out some Brits or Americans.

'There is a serious threat of an Isis suicide bomber. The soldiers are having to keep their fingers on the trigger in one hand while holding a baby in the other. It's very fragile.'

It comes as Sir Laurie Bristow, Britain's ambassador to Afghanistan, last night said the UK had managed to evacuate more than 5,700 people, including 1,000 in the previous 14 hours.

And British troops could be given extra time to evacuate more people out of Afghanistan. The Times suggest that the military has now managed to push back the final evacuation date to Friday or Saturday, in order to help more people.

The evacuation missions has also been expanded, according to the paper. The expansion is reportedly due to a rise in the number of people who have come forward with eligibility claims to the UK.

The figure is thought to have raised from 6,000 last week to around 12,000. Part of the rise is due to the inclusion of Afghan politicians, civic leaders and humanitarian workers, as well as their families, the Times reports.

Lord Richards, the former chief of defence staff, meanwhile, said extending the evacuation window would 'undoubtedly' save lives if the Taliban agreed to it.

He added: 'Western politicians [are] sleepwalking through this, coming out with all sorts of statements of regret and recrimination,' he told BBC Radio 4's Broadcasting House. It's so important that we now get a grip of it.

'I think there could be an international consensus and the Taliban ironically might well welcome it, because the alternative is some very bad headlines come September 1 when we see starving Afghans, and worse potentially, simply because they don't have the capacity to deal with it.'

Sir Nick Kay, the former British ambassador to Afghanistan, told LBC radio: 'If you can extend that deadline you can release the Afghan people from the panic that they're in that this is all going to end within a matter of days and hours.'

Former Tory party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said Mr Biden 'needs to be told categorically, you can't go off by this ridiculous artificial date'.

Taliban fighters stand guard at a checkpoint in the Wazir Akbar Khan neighborhood in the city of Kabul, Afghanistan

The fighters were all seen carrying weapons as they spoke to passing Afghans at the checkpoint in the Wazir Akbar Khan neighborhood in the city of Kabul

Taliban fighters were seen carrying automatic weapons and with ammo strap to their chest at the checkpoint in Wazir Akbar Khan neighbourhood of Kabul

He told LBC: 'The idea that in the next couple of days there will be the last flights is abominable.'

During last night's national address from the White House, Mr Biden said it did not matter when the Afghan evacuation began, it was always 'going to be hard and painful'.

The President added: 'No way of evacuating this number of people would be without pain and loss. It is just a fact.

'We are bringing out citizens, Nato allies, Afghani allies... but we have a long way to go and a lot can still go wrong.'

It comes as today Tony Blair blasted President Biden's 'imbecilic' decision to withdraw US troops from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, calling the President's scuttle 'tragic, dangerous and unnecessary' and claiming the move had 'every Jihadist group round the world cheering'.

Mr Blair, who was in Downing Street when London sent UK troops to the Middle Eastern country 20 years ago following the 9/11 attacks on New York and Washington DC, said Britain has a 'moral obligation' to stay until 'all those who need to be are evacuated'.

In a 2,700 article on the threat of 'radical Islam', the former British prime minister said the exit was not in the West or Afghanistan's interest as he lamented the likely reversal of gains made during the occupation, with the Taliban reasserting itself across most of the country in recent days.

Speaking to Sky News on Sunday, Mr Blair said he has 'enormous respect' for Mr Biden, but suggested the President - who campaigned on a slogan of ending 'forever wars' and is likely to be keeping an eye on next year's midterms - had withdrawn US troops for domestic political reasons.

He repeated his assertion that the withdrawal was a 'serious mistake' and 'not something we needed to do' and said there had been 'a lot of gains' made in the past two decades, stressing that the deaths of British Armed Forces personnel were 'not in vain'.

Mr Blair also issued a stark warning to Boris Johnson that the manner of the US' handling of the exit indicated the UK could be relegated from the top division of international powers, with reports Britain was largely kept in the dark about when American armed forces would leave.

He added that countries including China and Russia are likely to applaud the withdrawal and occupy the 'vacuum' in Afghanistan left by the NATO powers.

Both the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab have suggested Britain will now have to turn to Beijing and Moscow to assist with exercising a 'moderating influence' over the Taliban post-withdrawal.

Cabinet insiders have suggested the President was 'gaga' and 'doolally' for withdrawing so quickly, while the Prime Minister has allegedly privately referred to Mr Biden as 'Sleepy Joe', the nickname coined by Donald Trump. Mr Johnson also allegedly remarked Britain 'would be better off with Trump' - allegations branded 'categorically untrue' by Downing Street.

'For Britain, out of Europe and suffering the end of the Afghanistan mission by our greatest ally with little or no consultation, we have serious reflection to do,' said Mr Blair. 'We don't see it yet, but we are at risk of relegation to the second division of global powers.'

His comments come as the US President signalled he wanted evacuations from Kabul airport completed by the end of the month as he prepares to withdraw all American troops - a move that would likely force Britain to wrap up its operation at the same time.

Mr Blair told Sky News on Sunday: 'I've enormous respect for Joe Biden, I've known him for many years - he is a good man and he's a decent man. But on the other hand ... I think it is important to realise this was not something we needed to do.

'I understand the political pressure but our footprint had really been reduced to a much smaller level, and by the end of 2019 we were in a situation whereby we could have held firm for some considerable time and helped the Afghan people through the next stages of their progress.'

Mr Blair said there had been 'a lot of gains' made in the past two decades and stressed that the deaths of UK armed forces personnel were 'not in vain'.

He added: 'Our troops were fantastic in Afghanistan, and a lot of them made the ultimate sacrifice, a lot of them were injured. And it's really important that they know that this wasn't a hopeless endeavour, and it wasn't a bad cause.

'What I'd say to them is the sacrifice was not in vain, that those 20 years matter. What we achieved in Afghanistan matters today. I think it's really important that people realise this, the story of Afghanistan, the story of the Taliban takeover, it's not over. It's tragic what's happened, I think it's unnecessary, I think we've made a serious mistake in doing this in this way, but it isn't over yet.'

In his article, Mr Blair urged for there to be 'no repetition of arbitrary deadlines' - a reference to Washington's Doha agreement with the Taliban, committing to vacate Afghanistan in time for the 9/11 anniversary - in the rescue mission.

'We must evacuate and give sanctuary to those to whom we have responsibility - those Afghans who helped us and stood by us and have a right to demand we stand by them,' said the former Labour Party leader.

'There must be no repetition of arbitrary deadlines. We have a moral obligation to keep at it until all those who need to be are evacuated. And we should do so not grudgingly but out of a deep sense of humanity and responsibility.'

Mr Blair defended his own decision making in 2001 when he worked with former US president George Bush and NATO allies to avenge the New York World Trade Centre attack. After the Taliban refused to evict al Qaeda, the terror group that masterminded the hijacking of the planes in 2001, Mr Blair said Western allies, who feared worse attacks were to come, felt there was 'no safer alternative' than to strike.

He continued: 'There is no doubt that in the years that followed we made mistakes, some serious. But the reaction to our mistakes have been unfortunately further mistakes.

'Today we are in a mood which seems to regard the bringing of democracy as a utopian delusion and intervention virtually of any sort as a fool's errand. The world is now uncertain of where the West stands because it is so obvious that the decision to withdraw from Afghanistan in this way was driven not by grand strategy but by politics.

'We didn't need to do it. We chose to do it.

'We did it in obedience to an imbecilic political slogan about ending 'the forever wars', as if our engagement in 2021 was remotely comparable to our commitment 20 or even 10 years ago, in circumstances in which troop numbers had declined to a minimum and no allied soldier had lost their life in combat for 18 months.'

The former Middle East envoy said that, although 'imperfect', the 'real gains over the past 20 years' were likely to be lost following the Taliban victory, including advances in living standards, education particularly of girls, and other freedoms.

He called for the UK, in its role as president of the G7 this year, to help coordinate an international response to 'hold the new regime to account'.

The UK Government has been working diplomatically to ensure there is no unilateral recognition of a Taliban government in Afghanistan, with Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab refusing to rule out applying sanctions if the militants renege on their promise to be more inclusive, especially in their attitudes towards women, than when last in control.

Mr Blair said: 'We need to draw up a list of incentives, sanctions, actions we can take including to protect the civilian population so the Taliban understand their actions will have consequences. This is urgent. The disarray of the past weeks needs to be replaced by something resembling coherence and with a plan that is credible and realistic.'

The Prime Minister's feelings about America's withdrawal from Afghanistan have been variously described by sources as 'furious', 'a betrayal' and 'let down'.

Downing Street dismisses the claims - it is in neither country's interests to stoke tensions when the future of Afghanistan hangs in the balance - but there is little question that the UK has been left exposed by the speed of Washington's pull-out.

No 10 also denies claims that the Prime Minister was disappointed by Mr Biden's victory in the Presidential elections and had declared that it would have been 'better' if Mr Trump had won a second term, and say it is 'categorically untrue' that Mr Johnson employs the President's derogatory nickname of Sleepy Joe during jocular conversations.

However, one minister denounced US isolationism and warned the Government would have to 'revisit' the recent review on defence and foreign policy because the US was no longer a reliable ally.

They told the Sunday Times: 'America has just signalled to the world that they are not that keen on playing a global role. The implications of that are absolutely huge. We need to get the integrated review out and reread it. We are going to have to do a hard-nosed revisit on all our assumptions and policies.

Pakistan's soldiers check the documents of Afghan and Pakistani nationals for crossing into Afghanistan at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border crossing point in Chaman

People gather outside the Pakistani embassy, to obtain a visa. after Taliban took over in Kabul

'The US had to be dragged kicking and screaming into the First World War. They turned up late for the Second World War and now they are cutting and running in Afghanistan.'

Speaking to Sky News today, Mr Blair said 'the only people really cheering this decision are the people hostile to Western interests' - listing among them the Chinese and Russian regimes.

'We've got to realise we were in a situation where... we could've managed the situation,' he said. 'The problem with what's happened now is that it's not just about the Afghan people and our obligation to them... it's about us and our security.

'Because you've now got this group back in charge of Afghanistan. They will give protection and succour to al Qaeda, you've got ISIS (Islamic State) already in the country trying to operate at the same time. You look round the world and the only people really cheering this decision are the people hostile to Western interests.'

Mr Blair said the UK and its G7 allies will need to come up with a 'strategy' to deal with the Taliban regime to make sure 'we don't end up with a security threat'.

He added: 'We should be putting together the leading countries who are part of this coalition in the first place and who have supported Afghanistan in the last 20 years and we need to work out what our strategy and tactics are going to be in respect of the Taliban government.

'We need to be drawing up a list of incentives and sanctions and other things we can do in order to use the leverage we have, which is not insignificant. The Taliban will find that governing is a lot harder than they thought. The population of Afghanistan is different.

'There's going to be a lot that we can still do but it's important that we mobilise now after the disarray frankly of the last few weeks, that we mobilise as the leading countries and make it clear that we still understand we have an obligation in our own interests to try and resolve this situation and to put as much pressure on the government in Afghanistan as possible to make sure that we don't end up either with a security threat in play for us or with the Afghan people losing the gains they've made over the last 20 years.'

Across Whitehall and in British embassies around the world, officials and diplomats are adjusting to the fact that Mr Biden has adopted an America First policy every bit as isolationist as his predecessor's.

There are also whispered concerns that the 78-year-old might be, in the words of one Government source, 'a bit doolally' - unable to exert full executive grip on the White House and with a world view forged decades ago and out of step with the demands of leadership in the 2020s.

The Times claimed yesterday that Mr Johnson finds Mr Biden 'lightweight and inward-looking'.

Observers of the two men's relationship believe that there is a degree of wariness, with Mr Biden regarding Mr Johnson as a 'mini-Trump' because of his personality-driven style of politics and the pair talking far less frequently than Mr Johnson and Mr Trump did.

There are also policy differences, with Washington reluctant to accede to the UK's demand to ramp up spending on 'green' policies ahead of the COP26 climate change summit being hosted by the UK in November.

Of particular irritation in London during the Afghan endgame has been the fact that British military commanders have been cut out of discussions between the US and the Taliban.

But a No 10 source said yesterday that Mr Johnson had not expressed any anger over the US withdrawal, and said the two men had enjoyed a 'warm and constructive' phone conversation on Tuesday evening.

A Downing Street spokesman said: 'These claims are categorically untrue. The Prime Minister has not criticised President Biden, and they have a very strong working relationship.

The President's first call to a leader outside of North America after his election win was to the Prime Minister.

They have worked together on a range of issues, including at the recent G7, where they secured an additional one billion Covid vaccine doses for developing countries, and signed the Carbis Bay Declaration to improve global health co-operation and prevent future pandemics'.

President Biden cancelled plans to spend the weekend at his home in Delaware. Instead he is meeting his national security team 'to hear intelligence, security and diplomatic updates on the evolving situation in Afghanistan,' the White House said.

Lord Ricketts, who served as the Government's first national security adviser from 2010 to 2012 under former prime minister David Cameron, said the UK will need to 'rethink' its foreign policy stance following the United States' handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal.

Speaking to Times Radio, he said: 'It has been a humiliating period for the UK. I'm afraid we've learnt that (US President) Joe Biden has put US politics ahead of NATO alliance solidarity and Britain hasn't counted for much in that decision, if anything at all.

'The hard fact is we are going to need to continue to work with the Americans in all sorts of areas and this has been a difficult experience, but we need to bring the Americans back to working with their allies, taking account of our views.

'But we can't somehow invent a foreign policy without the Americans so we've got to take a deep breath and do some frank talking to Joe Biden and then get back to work with him.'

The former chair of the Joint Intelligence Committee continued: 'We need to rethink a lot of that rhetoric in the integrated review published by the Government a few months ago about Britain as an independent sovereign operator, turning the dial on international crises.

'We have shown actually that we are pretty impotent in a situation where the Americans take a decision - we have little choice but to follow.'

TONY BLAIR: America's retreat is imbecilic  and tells our enemies we don't have any interests or values worth defending

By TONY BLAIR FOR THE MAIL ON SUNDAY

The abandonment of Afghanistan and its people is tragic, dangerous, unnecessary, not in their interests and not in ours.

In the aftermath of the decision to return the country to the same group from which the carnage of 9/11 arose, and in a manner that seems almost designed to parade our humiliation, the question that allies and enemies alike pose is  has the West lost its strategic will?

By that I mean, is it able to learn from experience, think strategically, define our interests strategically and on that basis commit strategically? Is 'long term' a concept we are still capable of grasping? Is the nature of our politics now inconsistent with asserting our traditional global leadership role? And do we care?

As leader of our country when we decided to join America in removing the Taliban from power in 2001, and who saw the high hopes we had of what we could achieve for the people and the world subside under the weight of bitter reality, I know better than most how difficult are the decisions of leadership and how easy it is to be critical and how hard to be constructive.

Tony Blair pictured addressing British troops in Basra, southern Iraq, in May 2003. The abandonment of Afghanistan and its people is tragic, dangerous, unnecessary, not in their interests and not in ours, the former prime minister writes

Twenty years ago, following the slaughter of 3,000 people on US soil on September 11, 2001, the world was in turmoil. The attacks were organised out of Afghanistan by Al Qaeda, an Islamist terrorist group given protection and assistance by the Taliban.

We forget this now, but the world was spinning on its axis. We feared further attacks, possibly worse. The Taliban were given an ultimatum: yield up the Al Qaeda leadership or be removed from power.

They refused. We felt there was no safer alternative for our security than keeping our word. We held out the prospect, backed by substantial commitment, of turning Afghanistan from a failed terror state into a functioning democracy on the mend. It may have been a misplaced ambition, but it was not an ignoble one.

There is no doubt that in the years that followed we made mistakes, some serious. But the reaction to our mistakes has been, unfortunately, further mistakes.

Today we are in a mood that seems to regard the bringing of democracy as a utopian delusion and intervention virtually of any sort as a fool's errand. The world is now uncertain of where the West stands because it is so obvious that the decision to withdraw from Afghanistan was driven not by grand strategy but by politics.

We didn't need to do it. We chose to do it. We did it in obedience to an imbecilic political slogan about ending 'the forever wars', as if our engagement in 2021 was remotely comparable to our commitment 20 or even ten years ago, in circumstances in which troop numbers had declined to a minimum and no allied soldier had lost their life in combat for 18 months.

We did it in the knowledge that though worse than imperfect, and though immensely fragile, there were real gains over the past 20 years. And for anyone who disputes that, read the heartbreaking laments from every section of Afghan society as to what they fear will now be lost. Gains in living standards, education, particularly of girls, gains in freedom. Not nearly what we hoped or wanted. But not nothing. Something worth defending. Worth protecting.

We withdrew because our politics seemed to demand it. And that's the worry of our allies  and the source of rejoicing in those who wish us ill. They think Western politics is broken. Unsurprisingly, therefore, friends and foes ask: is this a moment when the West is in epoch-changing retreat?

Royal Marines of 40 Commando, Bravo Company, arrive at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan - part of the lead element of an International Peace Keeping Force - in December 2001

British citizens and dual nationals residing in Afghanistan board a military plane for evacuation from Kabul airport on August 16

I can't believe we are in such retreat, but we are going to have to give tangible demonstration that we are not. This demands an immediate response in respect of Afghanistan. And then measured and clear articulation of where we stand for the future. We need to work out a means of dealing with the Taliban and exerting maximum pressure on them.

This is not as empty as it seems. We have given up much of our leverage, but we retain some. The UK as the current G7 chair should convene a Contact Group of the G7 and other key nations and commit to coordinating help to the Afghan people and holding the new regime to account. Nato  which has had 8,000 troops still in Afghanistan alongside the US  and Europe should be brought fully into co-operation under this grouping.

We need to draw up a list of incentives, sanctions and actions we can take, including to protect the civilian population so the Taliban understand their actions will have consequences.

But then we must answer that overarching question. What are our strategic interests and are we prepared any longer to commit to upholding them? Afghanistan was hard to govern all through the 20 years of our time there. And of course there were mistakes and miscalculations. But we shouldn't dupe ourselves into thinking it was ever going to be anything other than tough when there was an internal insurgency combining with external support  in this case Pakistan  to destabilise the country and thwart its progress.

Wing Commander Matt Radnall carries a carefully folded Union Flag under his arm and back home to the UK as he leaves the Helmand Province of Afghanistan in 2014

Blair pictured with ex-Afghan President Hamid Karzai at 10 Downing Street in January 2006

We have not had another attack on the scale of 9/11, though no one knows whether that is because of what we did post 9/11 or despite it.

The World Trade Center attack exploded into our consciousness because of its severity and horror. But the motivation for such an atrocity arose from an ideology many years in development.

For want of a better term, I will call it Radical Islam  an ideology in different forms and with varying degrees of extremism that has been almost 100 years in gestation.

Its essence is the belief that Muslim people are disrespected and disadvantaged because they are oppressed by outside powers and their own corrupt leadership, and that the answer lies in Islam returning to its roots, creating a State based not on nations but on religion, with society and politics governed by a strict and fundamentalist view of Islam.

In the West, we have sections of our own Muslim communities radicalised. Islamism is a long-term structural challenge because it is an ideology utterly inconsistent with modern societies based on tolerance and secular government. Yet Western policymakers prefer to identify Radical Islam as a set of disconnected challenges each to be dealt with separately.

We are in the wrong rhythm of thinking in relation to Radical Islam. With Revolutionary Communism, we recognised it as a threat of a strategic nature that required us to confront it both ideologically and with security measures. It lasted more than 70 years. Throughout that time we would never have dreamt of saying, 'Well, we have been at this for a long time, we should just give up.'

Ex-Prime Minister Blair meets British troops at Camp Bastion in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, during a surprise visit in November 2006

We knew we had to have the will, the capacity and the staying power to see it through. This is what we need to decide now with Radical Islam. Is it a strategic threat? If so, how do those opposed to it, including within Islam, combine to defeat it?

We have learnt the perils of intervention in the way we intervened in Afghanistan, Iraq and indeed Libya. But non-intervention is also a policy with consequence.

What is absurd is to believe the choice is between what we did in the first decade after 9/11 and the retreat we are witnessing now; to treat the full-scale 2001 military intervention as of the same nature as the secure-and-support mission in Afghanistan of recent times.

Intervention can take many forms. We need to do it learning the proper lessons of the past 20 years, according not to our short-term politics but to our long-term strategic interests.

But intervention requires commitment. And not time-limited by political timetables but by obedience to goals. For Britain and the US, these questions are acute. The absence of consensus and collaboration, and the deep politicisation of foreign policy and security issues, is visibly atrophying American power.

And for Britain, out of the EU and suffering the end of the Afghanistan mission by our greatest ally with little or no consultation, we have serious reflection to do. We don't see it yet. But we are at risk of relegation to the second division of global powers. Maybe we don't mind. But we should at least take the decision deliberatively.

There are, of course, many other important issues in geo-politics: Covid 19, Climate, the rise of China, poverty, disease and development. But sometimes an issue comes to mean something not only in its own right but as a metaphor, as a clue to the state of things and the state of peoples. If the West wants to shape the 21st Century, it will take commitment. Through thick and thin.

It will require parts of the Right in politics to understand that isolation in an interconnected world is self-defeating; and parts of the Left to accept that intervention can sometimes be necessary to uphold our values.

It requires us to learn lessons from those 20 years from 9/11, in a spirit of humility, and the respectful exchange of different points of view. It also requires a sense of rediscovery that we in the West represent values and interests worth being proud of and defending. And that commitment to those values and interests needs to define our politics  and not our politics define our commitment.

This is the large strategic question posed by these last days of chaos in Afghanistan. And on the answer will depend the world's view of us and our view of ourselves.

This is an edited version of an article originally published on the Tony Blair Institute website.
Thousands of Australians have been targeted in the bizarre 'Flubot' text message scam used by fraudsters to install malicious software on their phones and steal their personal information.

The typo-strewn texts tell the recipient they have a 'missed call' and to follow a link to hear a voicemail message.

Telstra has told its customers to ignore the messages - which lure users into downloading an app which then can harvest bank details from their phone.

To avoid getting conned, cyber security experts say there are a few things you can do.

The typo-strewn Flubot texts tell the recipient they have a 'missed call' and to follow a link to hear a voicemail message.

How to get rid of Flubot If you receive the message, don't click the link or call the number. If you have there are three ways to get the malware off you phone because simply deleting it may not be enough, 1. Get and IT specialist to wipe you phone 2. Download and antivirus software program 3. Do factory reset - but be warned this will also delete all you photos, files and apps. Advertisement

Firstly, do not click on the link or call the number. Second, delete the message and block the number.

It's also a good idea to report the text to the text to the Australian Communication and Media Authority's Scamwatch.

But if you have clicked on the link, don't open any other apps or websites and immediately contact your bank and report the incident to find out if you've lost any cash.

Just deleting the app will not necessarily get the sinister malware off your phone.

Delia Rickard, deputy chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said there are three ways to get rid of the unwanted software.

You can get an IT specialist to wipe the virus, download antivirus software or do a factory reset - but be warned this will also delete all you photos, files and apps.

'I cannot think of any time I've ever seen that many complaints on one scam in such a short period of time,' Delia Rickard, deputy chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, Ms Rickard told news.com.au.

'It's a very sophisticated scam and potentially very dangerous. It can compromise people's bank accounts.

Australians have been warned about a bizarre 'Flubot' text message scam used by fraudsters to harvest their personal information (stock image)

One user shared a message about the scams she received from Telstra, who told her the texts were being sent at random to Australian phone numbers.

'As they're coming from legit devices across the globe they're more difficult to block than some other scams,' the message from a Telstra representative read.

'They're hard to block as they're coming from legitimate handsets and devices all over the world.

'Most popular anti-virus apps for Android will clean it up.'

Scamwatch is now receiving up to 500 Flubot reports a day, after it first appeared on August 4.

The malware which only infects Android phones has so far plucked $5579 from victims in Australia.

Hundreds of other Australians who received the texts took to Twitter to ask for help getting rid of them.

'Is anyone else getting a bunch of these messages lately?' one person wrote.

Among the typo-strewn messages she received was one that read 'you havr a zissed call. Callev lfft you a message' and 'you hate e mnssed ckll'.

The typo-strewn texts tell the recipient they have a 'missed call' and to follow a link to hear a voicemail message

Dozens of Australians who received the texts took to Twitter to ask for help getting rid of them

'My guy's spelling is better,' another joked. 'I've had a few recently and I block each one but they keep coming.'

FluBot text messages have already been detected across Europe including in in the UK, Spain, Germany, and Poland.

The UK's National Cyber Security Centre has told users to factory reset their devices if they accidently download the malicious apps as the software cannot survive the phone's data being cleared.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Telstra for further comment.
The British ex-Guantanamo detainee Moazzam Begg has said UK troops would be remembered as 'the bad guys' and the Taliban should be given 'the right to celebrate' for conquering Afghanistan.

The 53-year-old, who works as director of outreach at controversial War on Terror campaign group Cage, aired his views in an online blog post which was prefaced by a blurb describing the militants' takeover as a 'historic victory and humiliation'.

He wrote: 'For those who back the soldiers of America, Britain, Australia and yes, Turkey, who died fighting in Afghanistan, stay firm in the knowledge that they died in vain and for nothing.

'History books will record they were the bad guys. Let it be a stark lesson about the choices they had. They could have refused to occupy others lands, but they chose otherwise.

'In the meantime, as Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters litter the Kabul skies to desperately ferry whats left of the occupation out of harms way (reminding us a little of Vietnam) we should afford all those who fought them the right to celebrate.'

Moazzam Begg works as director of outreach at controversial War on Terror campaign group Cage

Mr Begg, who was writing on British Muslim news site 5 Pillars, spent almost three years in US custody at Guantanamo and other detainment camps on suspicion of terrorist affiliations between 2002 and 2005.

He was never charged and was eventually released in 2005 after an intervention by the British government.

Mr Begg, who faced terror charges in the UK but was cleared before the case went to court, later joined Cage, a controversial group who have been accused of being terror apologists.

Moazzam Begg: 'War on Terror consultant' imprisoned at Guantanamo and Belmarsh Moazzam Begg spent almost three years under US custody on suspicion of terrorist affiliations between 2002 and 2005. He was later released and has spoken widely of his experiences as a prisoner in Guantanamo Bay and other detainment camps under American control. In 2014, Mr Begg was freed from Belmarsh Prison after seven months in custody when a string of terrorist charges linked to the civil war in Syria were dramatically dropped. Mr Begg had been charged with attending a terrorist training camp in Syria, possessing 'an article' for a purpose connected to terrorism, and funding terrorism. He pleaded not guilty to all the charges and was formally acquitted just days before his trial was due to start at the Old Bailey after 'new material' emerged undermining the prosecution case. When Mr Begg was released from prison, he joined Cage, a controversial group who have been accused of being terror apologists. In February 2015, the group provoked outrage when they said that ISIS executioner Jihadi John 'wouldn't hurt a fly. Research director Asim Qureshi said the killer, Mohammed Emwazi was a 'beautiful young man'. Mr Begg now describes himself as a 'War on Terror consultant' and regularly attends events as well as being a prolific author. Advertisement

In February 2015, the group provoked outrage when they said that ISIS executioner Jihadi John 'wouldn't hurt a fly.' Research director Asim Qureshi said the killer, Mohammed Emwazi was a 'beautiful young man'. He was later killed in an air strike.

Mr Begg's comments came as a UK Islamic Sharia Council scholar claimed that the Taliban have 'grown up' and British Muslims were 'celebrating' the return of the jihadists to power.

Since taking over Afghanistan, the militant group has claimed it will not carry out violence against women, and will not 'seek vengeance' on those who stood against them during the brutal 20-year war in the region.

Sharia Council scholar Khola Hasan yesterday told BBC Radio 4 that the Talibans recent posturing on women's rights was a 'good start', and 'every single person that I know, as a Muslim' was 'celebrating' their return.

She added: 'They have been ruled by foreigners for 40 years, let the people of Afghanistan rule their own country and determine their own fate for a change.'

Fears over reprisal attacks and a return to the brutal rule of the jihadis have brought about deep unrest, with Western nations struggle to cope with the thousands of foreign nationals and locals trying to leave the country in the week since the Taliban retook power.

When asked about reports of women and children being beaten and whipped as they pass through checkpoints in Afghanistan, Ms Hasan said Afghanistan is a 'tribal society with tribal loyalties', with 'a lot of violence within the communities' amid decades of 'occupation'.

Ms Hasan said: 'We have to be very careful not to take small, minor incidents and make them into something huge.'

She added that 'western media loves misrepresenting Muslims', telling Sunday morning listeners: 'The kind of language that came out from Western media when the Taliban took over - civil war, monsters, they're going to slaughter people, it's going to be awful, poor women, oh blah blah blah we're going to cry our eyes out, poor women are going back into Medieval times, and all the rest of it.

'It's been misrepresented for so long that I've got used to it, I don't even blink an eyelid anymore.'

Meanwhile, this morning an LBC listener told presenter Nick Ferrari that he would be happy to move to Afghanistan following the Taliban's takeover.

A Taliban fighter holding an M16 assault rifle stands outside the Interior Ministry in Kabul

The listener blamed 'the media and other people' for the militant group's poor image and said it was 'trying to form a government with the people'.

Asked by a bemused Mr Ferrari whether he would still be happy to take his daughters into the country despite the Taliban's attitude to women's education, the listener said: 'Yeah, of course.'

The Taliban follow an ultra-hardline version of Islam. They have sought to present a more moderate face since returning to power, saying they want peace and will respect the rights of women within the framework of Islamic law.

When in power from 1996 to 2001, also guided by Islamic law, the Taliban stopped women from working or going out without wearing an all-enveloping burqa and stopped girls from going to school.
Vice President Kamala Harris has boasted that 'the US is a global leader' and vows 'enduring engagement' in Asia while chaos unfolds in Afghanistan with the Taliban taking over following America's withdrawal.

During a visit to Singapore on Monday, she offered reassurances of Washington's commitment to the region, just days after the hardline Islamists seized power in Kabul.

'Our administration is committed to enduring engagement in Singapore, into Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific,' Harris said, despite the President receiving widespread condemnation for his handling of the removal of troops from Afghanistan.

She added: 'The reason I am here is because the United States is a global leader, and we take that role seriously.'

This comes after the United States' withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Taliban takeover has caused chaos in Kabul, with reports of 20 people being killed in the past week.

The Taliban's swift return to power, and desperate scenes of people trying to flee Kabul airport, have cast another shadow over the United States' status as a superpower.

Temperatures have been between 85 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit around the airport nearly every day as the desperate mob of tens of thousands of people with young kids try to save their families from Taliban attacks, stampedes or being crushed against the airport gates.

Vice President Kamala Harris has boasted that 'the US is a global leader' and vows 'enduring engagement' in Asia after arriving in Singapore (pictured with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong)

Harris visited the USS Tulsa in Singapore on Monday, and met with service men on the boat, during her week-long trip to the country

During a visit to the country on Monday, she offered reassurances of Washington's commitment to the region, just days after the hardline Islamists seized power in Kabul

Harris nervously laughed and cut off a reporter, before saying that Afghanistan was a priority issue, as she boarded a flight to Singapore

She dodged questions about whether US credibility had been damaged by the Afghan debacle, saying only her government's focus was on 'evacuating American citizens, Afghans who worked with us and vulnerable Afghans, including women and children'.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong welcomed the vice president's reassurances during their two hour meeting on Monday.

He said Singapore was offering a military aircraft to help in the chaotic evacuation from Kabul airport overseen by the US army.

But he also expressed hopes that 'Afghanistan does not become an epicentre for terrorism again'.

US President Joe Biden's administration is seeking to reset relationships in Asia after the turbulent Trump era, and project Washington as a stabilising force in the face of growing Chinese aggression.

But analysts say the seizure of power by the Taliban, notorious for their brutal 1996-2001 rule, and rapid collapse of US-trained Afghan forces have caused fresh concerns about US dependability.

Harris is also facing criticism for being tone-deaf in going ahead with a visit to Vietnam as US forces struggle to evacuate tens of thousands of people.

The crisis has prompted comparisons with the trauma of 1975 in Saigon, when US helicopters ferried final evacuees from the embassy roof, as Viet Cong troops advanced.

She spoke to troops on the ship during her time in the country, which has come with backlash, but US officials insist the trip was planned long before the Afghan crisis

Harris arrived in Singapore on Sunday for the week-long trip to Asia, which also includes a stop in Vietnam, where she will be meeting officials

But US officials insist the trip was planned long before the Afghan crisis and is focused on Washington's broader strategic goals in Asia.

Harris arrived in Singapore on Sunday for the week-long trip to Asia, which also includes a stop in Vietnam, as the humanitarian crisis unfolds in Afghanistan.

She nervously laughed and dismissed a reporter's inquiry as she headed to Southeast Asia late Friday amid chaos in the Middle East.

Criticism of Biden's handling of the situation mounted after global commentators and liberal media have branded his rush exit 'shameful' and a 'stain on our nation's integrity'.

Even as Harris touched down in Singapore, the US and German forces joined in a gun battle at Kabul airport after Afghan guards and unknown assailants exchanged fire, with one guard killed, the German army said.

The gunfire broke out near the airport's northern gate, where at least seven Afghans died a day earlier in a panicked stampede of thousands of people trying to flee the country. The circumstances of the shooting, which occurred around dawn, remained unclear.

Kabul airport has seen chaotic scenes as tens of thousands of foreigners and Afghans seek to flee Afghanistan after the Taliban swept back to power more than a week ago.

Harris initially claimed to have had a key role and that she was 'the last person in the room' when Biden chose to follow through with the May 1 deadline to retreat US troops from Afghanistan.

But her remarkable absence and lack of communication with the media and the American public have not escaped backlash.

This comes as 47% of likely voters found her 'not at all qualified' to become President, according to a Rasmussen Reports poll.

Reporter: Whats your response to reports of Americans



Kamala Harris: Hold on. Hold on. Slow down everybody. Hahaha. Um, I want to talk about two things. First, Afghanistan  we couldnt have a higher priority right now.pic.twitter.com/oUv9yAtDfk  Jerry Dunleavy (@JerryDunleavy) August 22, 2021

Harris has praised President Biden's decision to honor Trump's deal with the Taliban to retreat from Afghanistan

In a newly-unearthed part of a chat with reporters filmed as Harris prepared to depart for Singapore, the Vice President displays her infamous nervous laugh before flying, the Washington Examiner reported.

'What's your response to reports of Americans-' an eager reporter says over the jet engines noise.

'Hold on, hold on, hold on,' Harris said before the reporter could finish.

'Slow down, everybody,' she said after a big laugh.

'I want to talk about two things,' Harris then said. 'First, Afghanistan, we couldn't have a higher priority right now,'

'And in particular high priority is making sure that we safely evacuate American citizens, Afghans who worked with us, Afghans at risk, including women and children, and that is one of our highest if not the highest priority right now.'

'And it's a big area of focus for me in the past days and weeks, and will continue to be,' she added.

Because the reporter was never allowed to finish her question, it's not clear what she was going to ask Harris specifically. However, it sounded like she was going to ask Harris about the Americans trapped in Afghanistan.

The video of Kamala laughing was shared hours after Joe Biden laughed when questioned by a reporter about his poor performance in a new poll during a White House press conference about the Afghan crisis and Tropical Storm Henri.

He said of the survey: 'I haven't seen that poll.'

And the Democrats were hit with a further optics issue Sunday, as Nancy Pelosi was filmed at a lavish Democrat fundraiser dinner in Napa, California, which cost up to $29,000-a-head to respond.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives - who is third in line to become president if Biden and Harris are incapacitated - was filmed addressing lavishly-set tables groaning with fresh flowers, smart cutlery and expensive looking food.

On Sunday, President Biden chuckled after getting some bad poll results from a reporter, who said that the CBS News/YouGov poll was 'out there' after the president insisted that he hadn't seen it

Nancy Pelosi speaks at a ritzy Napa Valley fundraiser while the situation in Kabul worsens

Harris has stood by President Biden's decision to honor Trump's deal with the Taliban.

'This is a president who has an extraordinary amount of courage,'

'He is someone, who I have seen over and over again, make decisions based on what he truly believes is the right thing to do,' she said about the removal of the troops on a CNN interview.

The current administration has received backlash for its response to the Taliban takeover, amid reports of Americans and Afghan refugees being attacked by the Islamic extremists while trying to enter Kabul's Hamid Karzai Airport.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki was also blasted after people emailing her received an automatic 'out of office' reply as the increasingly tense situation unfolds.

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris arrives at Paya Lebar Air Base in Singapore August 22, 2021

It is not the first time Harris' distinctive nervous laugh causes her to be the target of criticism.

On March, Harris was blasted after she laughed when a reporter asked if she planned to visit the southern border amid the migrant crisis.

'Do you plan to visit the border?' asked the reporter before Harris took a flight at Jacksonville International Airport.

'Um, not today,' said Harris before letting out a laugh,

'But I have before and I sure will again,' she said as she evaded a definitive answer.

In June, she went to Guatemala and Mexico for meetings on the 'root causes' of the migrant crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border - a trip which was overshadowed by repeated questions as to why she was yet to visit the border herself.

Under pressure, she did several weeks later.

Harris notoriously laughed at the 2020 vice presidential debate, after being asked if she planned to support expanding the Supreme Court so a Democratic president could nominate more liberal justices

A new poll shows 55 per cent of likely voters believe Vice President Kamala Harris is 'not qualified' or 'not at all qualified' to run the nation. There was a 6 per cent drop in those who feel she is qualified from April to August

Harris also notoriously laughed during the 2020 vice presidential debate, when she was asked if she planned to support expanding the Supreme Court so a Democratic president could nominate more liberal justices.

'Once again you gave a non-answer, Joe Biden gave a non-answer,'

'The American people deserve a straight answer. And if you haven't figured it out yet, the straight answer is they are going to pack the Supreme Court if they somehow win this election,' said an evidently upset Pence.

When inquired about the legalization of marijuana, Harris also evaded questions by repeatedly laughing when asked about her stance on the issue.

Government officials have said the Vice President will continue to work on Afghanistan while in Asia.

She is not returning directly to Washington DC on Friday, going home to California instead, to campaign on behalf of Governor Gavin Newsom.

Her departure at a time of crisis will likely fuel criticism against her.

Other senior figures like the Secretary of Defense, Secretary of State, National Security Adviser and Biden himself have been forced to defend their actions in repeated interviews and remarks.

Last week, when likely voters were asked in a Rasmussen Reports poll released Thursday if Harris is ready to be U.S. president, 47 per cent said she is 'not at all qualified' while 8 per cent said she's 'not qualified.'

No laughing matter, Joe: Biden chuckles when he's asked about new poll showing majority of Americans think he's no longer 'competent, focused or effective' after his catastrophic withdrawal from Afghanistan

President Joe Biden laughed off a question about his declining poll numbers amid the rising chaos in Afghanistan during a press conference in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on Sunday.

'I haven't seen that poll,' Biden said of a CBS News/YouGov survey that shows 74 percent of respondents believe withdrawal from the Taliban-overrun country has gone 'very badly' or 'somewhat badly.'

Biden chuckled when the reporter responded that the poll is 'out there,' but the results are no laughing matter.

Biden's withdrawal, which was announced by former President Donald Trump in February 2020, is down to 47 percent approval from 60 percent in July, before the Taliban inched their way into Kabul, took over the presidential palace and sent President Ashraf Ghani fleeing to the United Arab Emirates.

The sample of 2,142 Americans also find him to be less competent, focused and effective than in April.

Biden's overall approval rating also took a tumble amid a surge in the Delta variant and the latest crisis in the Middle East, down to 50 percent from 62 percent in March.

'Look, I had a basic decision to make,' Biden said of his decision to withdraw.

On Sunday, President Biden chuckled after getting some bad poll results from a reporter, who said that the CBS News/YouGov poll was 'out there' after the president insisted that he hadn't seen it

The survey of more than 2,000 Americans found that Biden's approval rating and his handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal have fallen in recent months as the Taliban take over the country after 20 years of US occupation

'I either withdraw America from a 20-year war, that ... cost us $150 million a day for 20 years or $320 a day for 20 years.' (Forbes estimates the war to have cost $300 million per day since September 11, 2001.)

He then reached for a card underneath his lapel and began reading from it.

'You know I carry this card with me every day,' he said.

He continued: 'And, who, in fact, where we lost 2,448 Americans, dead, and 20,722 wounded.

'Either increase the number of forces we keep there and keep that going, all right, end the war, and I decided to end the war.

'As I said the other day, the only reason we're in Afghanistan is this is the place from which Bin Laden attacked the United States of America.'

In May 2011, a team of US Navy SEALs captured and killed Osama Bin Laden, who had planned the September 11 attacks that destroyed the Twin Towers in Manhattan and killed 3,000 people, at a compound in Pakistan.

'So the question is when is the right time to leave? Where are our national interests? Where do they lie?'

Biden went on to liken terrorism to a cancer that had 'metastasized' around the world, and insisted that it can be fought without 'permanently basing' American forces anywhere.

'My job is to make judgments no one else can or will make,' he said.

'I made them, I'm convinced I'm absolutely correct in not deciding to send more young women and men to war for a war that is, in fact, no longer warranted.'

Most Americans are still with the president on leaving the country, with 63 percent still in favor of removing US troops.

Biden also revealed US forces may stay beyond his deadline of Aug. 31 as he tries to accelerate the operation to rescue Americans after days of chaos and crushes at Kabul airport.

He said that U.S. forces had expanded the perimeter around the airport amid fears terrorists may seek to exploit the operation by attacking Americans or Afghan civilians.

But things were moving in the right direction with some 33,000 people brought to safety, he said.

'Let me be clear - the evacuation of thousands of people from Kabul is going to be hard and painful,' Biden said during a speech at the White House.

'No matter when it started, when we began, it would have been true if we had started a month ago, or a month from now.

'There is no way to evacuate this many people without pain and loss and heartbreaking images you see on television.

'It's just a fact.'

His speech marked the latest attempt by the White House to seize control of a crisis that is rapidly turning into a humanitarian and political disaster.

A similar effort on Friday backfired when Biden claimed that he knew of no cases of Americans being stopped from reaching Kabul airport - only to be flatly contradicted by the Pentagon.

Things have only worsened since then, with reports that seven people died in the crush around the airport, including a two-year-old.

President Joe Biden says the United States is 'working hard' and as 'fast as we can' to get Americans and U.S. allies out of Afghanistan, noting that 33,000 people have been evacuated from the country since July

Speaking in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Biden said U.S. forces had extended the perimeter around the airport to improve security

Thousands of people surrounded the Kabul airport Sunday, desperate to take the steps needed to cross the threshold to sanctuary

The crowds have made it difficult and dangerous for Americans and Afghans with the correct paperwork to reach the airport

Biden said that as many as 33,000 people had been evacuated since July, including some 11,000 during a single 36-hour period.

Defense officials 'hope' they will not have to extend the evacuation operation, he added, but 'there are going to be discussions I suspect on how far along we are in the process.'

He also said troops were maintaining constant vigilance against terrorist threats, particularly from the local affiliate of ISIS, sworn enemies of the both the U.S. and the Taliban.

'The security threat is changing rapidly,' he said.

'There are civilians crowded at the airport, although we have cleared thousands of them.

'We know that terrorists may seek to exploit the situation and target innocent Afghans or American troops .'

Every day that American troops and civilians are at the airport is another day of risk that terrorists launch an attack from distance.

But he said the Taliban had been helpful.

'We discussed a lot with the Taliban,' he said. 'They've been cooperative in extending some of the perimeter.'

But he declined to describe further 'technical changes' designed to improve security.

'So far the Taliban has not taken action against U.S. forces,' he said, rapping his knuckles on the lectern as if knocking on wood.

'So far they have, by and large, followed through on what they said in terms of Americans to pass through .

'And I'm sure they don't control all of their forces. It's a rag tag force.

'And so we'll see if what they say turns out to be true.

Conditions deteriorated further at the weekend. The U.S. was forced to tell Americans not to try to brave the chaos around the airport unless they have been told to report.

And it emerged that evacuation flights were dropping flares and making steep combat landings after warnings that terrorists of the Islamic State might try to shoot down a plane.

Biden is still facing questions about why his administration did not have a better evacuation plan after being warned that the Taliban could sweep into Kabul within days.

Against that backdrop of criticism, the White House tried to show a president hard at work on a Sunday.

The Afghan interim council, formed to assist in the power transfer following President Ashraf Ghani's escape, has met several Taliban leaders to discuss issues related to control and security during the transition process

President Biden met with his national security in the White House Situation Room on Sunday morning as they faced fresh questions about how much they knew of intelligence assessments that said the Taliban could be in Kabul within days

At least seven people have been killed at Kabul airport by stampeding crowds, as thousands of panicked Afghans try to flee the country, the British military said on Sunday

Afghans trying to flee are surrounding Kabul airport where the Taliban are using live rounds and beatings to maintain order. Americans were told not to try to reach the airport on Saturday

It sent out a situation room photograph of Biden meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and other members of his national security team.

And earlier the Pentagon ordered six U.S. commercial airlines to help move evacuees from temporary sites outside of Afghanistan.

'Our first priority in Kabul is getting American citizens out of the situation as quickly and safely as possible,' Biden said.

'Any American that wants to get home will get home.'

He also said the government was 'looking to move our Afghan allies' out of the country as well, noting that citizens of NATO allies and Afghan allies were amongst the 11,000 individuals evacuated this past weekend.

The president stated that as evacuation efforts are underway he wanted to be clear about three things: 'One, planes taking off from Kabul are not flying directly to the United States,' said Biden, explaining that the planes are landing at U.S. Military bases and transit centers around the world where security screenings will take place for non-citizens.

'Two, at these sites where they are landing we are conducting scrutiny security screening for everyone who is not a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident.

'Anyone arriving in the United States will have undergone a background check.'

He also noted that the government will welcome these individuals into the U.S.

'Three, once screened and cleared we will welcome these Afghans we helped us in the war effort over the last 20 years,' said Biden.

The Biden administration has given no firm estimate of the number of Americans seeking to leave Afghanistan. Some have put the total between 10,000 and 15.000.

A White House official said U.S. planes flew 3900 people out of Kabul in the previous 24 hours. Coalition aircraft rescued a similar number.

It marked a busier weekend for Biden than last, when he was slammed by allies and opponents for staying at Camp David last weekend as the crisis deepened.

And even international partners such as the United Kingdom have voiced their frustration this weekend at the way Biden pushed ahead with such a rapid withdrawal.

A former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan said the hasty retreat would embolden enemies, including terrorist groups.

'It has damaged our alliances, emboldened our adversaries and increased the risk to our own security. It has also flouted 20 years of work and sacrifice,' said Ryan Crocker in a New York Times essay.

This week Biden will join a virtual meeting of the G7 to discuss cooperation between the nations as the Taliban overruns Afghanistan, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in her statement on the upcoming meeting.

'The leaders will discuss continuing our close coordination on Afghanistan policy and evacuating our citizens, the brave Afghans who stood with us over the last two decades, and other vulnerable Afghans,' Psaki's statement reads.

President Joe Biden will participate in a virtual meeting with G7 leaders on Tuesday to discuss the ongoing situation in Afghanistan

The G7 intergovernmental group includes leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the U.S.

The call comes after Biden received a slew of backlash last week for not talking with any world leaders in the aftermath of the Taliban takeover. Hours after reports came out attacking him for his inaction, Biden spoke with Johnson.

The G7 intergovernmental group includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the U.S.

On Sunday afternoon, Biden will deliver remarks on Afghanistan  and Hurricane Henri response  at the White House.

Britain currently holds the rotating leadership of the G7 and announced earlier on Sunday that it called for the group to meet virtually this week.

The meeting comes as chaos in Afghanistan continues to unfold, and nations scramble to evacuate their citizens from Kabul.

So far, Biden has sent in 6,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan to help with evacuation efforts after the Taliban was able to take over the country in just over a week. This means the U.S. has deployed more troops into Afghanistan than the number of American citizens it has extracted from the country since the Taliban swept into power on August 14.

The Pentagon said Saturday they were only able to evacuate 2,500 Americans from Kabul in the past week.

Overall, the U.S. was able to evacuate 7,000 people from the pandemonium at the Kabul airport since last weekend, including 3,800 in the last day.

Up to 15,000 Americans still need to be evacuated and the administration hopes to get out 50-60,000 more Afghan allies and their families.
Belarus has trucked Afghan migrants to the Polish border and forced them to cross at gunpoint as strongman dictator Alexander Lukashenko plays a 'dirty game' to destabilise the EU.

Record numbers of refugees have been pouring across the 420-mile EU frontier with Belarus, which includes Latvia and Lithuania, since Brussels imposed sanctions on Minsk in June.

Belarus is accused of keeping the migrants in prison-like hotels before driving them to the border as part of a Kremlin-backed 'hybrid war' to weaken the 27-state bloc.

Thirty-two Afghans have been stranded in no man's land for two weeks near the Polish village of Usnarz Gorny. Translators said they were ferried to the border by Belarusian men in balaclavas in the middle of the night.

'They said they could not resist the guards, who always carried large guns,' Anna Alboth, 37, from the charity Minority Rights Group, told The Times.

Thirty-two Afghan migrants have been stranded in no man's land for two weeks near the Polish village of Usnarz Gorny (pictured: Polish troops watch over a group of migrants camped in the area on Wednesday)

Polish soldiers guard a group of migrants on Sunday stranded on the border between Belarus and Poland near the village of Usnarz Gorny

Record numbers of refugees have been pouring across the 420-mile EU frontier with Belarus, which includes Latvia and Lithuania, since Brussels imposed sanctions on Minsk in June.

The migrants are believed to be continuing their journey to Western Europe after making it into Iran on a well-trodden smuggler trail. Others have been flying directly to Belarus from Iraq

Thousands of Afghans are fleeing the country every day, smugglers have said, mostly on three routes all of which begin in Herat - a smuggling hub. The most direct, expensive, and dangerous route goes from there to Tehran via a crossing at Kohsan where migrants have to swim a deadly river, but stand the least chance of getting caught. A second route goes south to Zaranj before the crossing into Iran, to a safehouse in Kerman. From there, the migrants are taken to Tehran when the coast is clear of guards. The third and most-common route goes via Pakistan to Iran - it is the cheapest, but has the largest chance of capture

Many are fleeing the Taliban, having started their journey to Europe months before Kabul fell as the jihadists seized swathes of the country.

Human rights foundation Ocalenia said it arrived where the migrants were stuck on Wednesday to bring them food, tents, sleeping bags and power banks. They were not given access at first but were successful on Thursday.

'These people are being bounced across the border like ping-pong balls,' said Kalina Czwarnog, who is working on the ground with Ocalenia.

One group were forced to drink water from a stream and forage food from nearby bushes after not being given food for 24 hours, Ms Czwarnog told The Times.

Foundation member Tahmina Rajabova reported speaking to the migrants and learning that they were all Afghans seeking refugee status in Poland. They included a 15-year-old girl and some people in poor health.

A few days earlier, about a dozen people from Iraq - women and small children - were stranded with them, but Belarusian authorities allowed them back into Belarus, Rajabova said.

Locals said migrants who managed to make it into the village had been knocking on people's doors to plead for food and water.

Villagers said the refugees had been given planks to help them cross the Swislocz river.

Illegal crossings into Poland, Lithuania and Latvia have soared since the EU imposed sanctions on Lukashenko in June in response to Lukashenko's brutal repression of political opponents.

So far this year, more than 4,100 asylum-seekers, have crossed into Lithuania. That's 50 times more than during all of 2020 and they're being sheltered in temporary camps across the Baltic EU member.

In a joint declaration the EU countries accused the tyrant of retaliating by flying in Middle Eastern migrants as part of a 'hybrid war' to 'exert political pressure on the EU.'

Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland said: 'Weaponizing refugees and immigrants threatens the regional security of the European Union and constitutes a grave breach of human rights.'

The four countries said they would take in any refugees crossing the border but would also call for 'possible new restrictive measures by the EU to prevent any further illegal immigration.'

The migrant movements spiked dramatically after the EU slapped sanctions on Belarus officials. The measures were imposed after President Alexander Lukashenko (pictured) ordered a crackdown on opponents and protesters after claiming victory in a vote last year that the West denounced as rigged

Armed members of the Polish Border Guards arrive at the border with Belarus as the country attempts to stem the flow of migrants being transported in

A migrant receives treatment from paramedics on Sunday near the Polish village of Usnarz Gorny

Lithuanian soldiers install razor wire at the Belarusian border on July 9

There were 2,100 attempted crossings recorded in Poland this month alone, according to Warsaw.

Poland said last week it had deployed 1,000 troops to its border with Belarus to help border guards cope with a surge of people trying to enter.

Polish defence chief Mariusz Blaszczak called the huge movements of people 'a dirty game of Lukashenko and the Kremlin,' as he shared images of a new 60-mile stretch of barbed wire fence being erected. He said another 30 miles of fence were on the way.

Ewa Ostaszewska-Zuk, a lawyer at the Helsinki Human Rights Foundation in Warsaw, told The Times that she met many Afghans when she toured the border, including 'policemen, public servants, IT specialists.'

They had paid up to 9,000 for the journey which saw them kept in hotel rooms with sealed windows before being trucked to the border and told, 'Go, go.'

Adverts in Arabic for flights to Europe via Belarus have appeared online in recent months.

EU member states are nervous about a replay of Europe's 2015/16 migration crisis when the chaotic arrival of more than a million people from the Middle East stretched security and welfare systems and fuelled support for far-right groups.

The Lithuanian border force released footage last week purporting to show Belarusian security forces pushing migrants over their border

In the footage, a line of migrants could be seen being directed by a large group of police personnel

Many of the migrants were believed to have arrived in Belarus on commercial flights from Iraq. Those flights have stopped for now, perhaps in part due to the EU's threat to impose visa restrictions on Iraqi citizens and officials.

Still, Lithuania's border guard released video footage last week which it said reveals that migrants are being pushed across the border into EU territory by Belarus riot police.

Another video showed several people cross into Lithuania and immediately return to Belarus to be filmed by Belarus officials.

After talks with Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte on Wednesday, EU Parliament President David Sassoli accused Lukashenko of 'exploiting these poor people, men and women.'

'I have seen these outrageous actions when officials push people across the border. It is both an issue of human rights, and also a question of protecting the border of the EU,' Sassoli said. 'It is an organised activity of the Lukashenko regime.'
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US and German forces joined in a gun battle this morning at Kabul airport after Afghan guards and unknown assailants exchanged fire, with one guard killed, the German army said.

The gunfire broke out near the airport's northern gate, where at least seven Afghans died a day earlier in a panicked stampede of thousands of people trying to flee the country. The circumstances of the shooting, which occurred around dawn, remained unclear.

The U.S. military and NATO did not immediately acknowledge the shooting. There was no comment from the Taliban.

The shooting near the military side of the airport came as the Taliban sent fighters to the north of the capital to eliminate pockets of armed resistance to their lightning takeover earlier this month.

The Taliban said they retook three districts that fell the day before and had surrounded Panjshir, the last province that remains out of their control.

It follows an address last night by President Biden in which he revealed U.S. forces may stay beyond his evacuation deadline of August 31 during a speech last night as he tries to accelerate the operation to rescue Americans after days of chaos and crushes at Kabul airport.

The President also confirmed during the press conference that as many as 11,000 people had been evacuated from the airport in the last 36 hours, - and that the US has so far transported around 33,000 to safety since the operation began, including 2,500 Americans.

The Pentagon said that of the 11,000 evacuated over the weekend, some 3,900 were flown out by US aircraft - but this still leaves around 15,000 US passport holders and an additional 50,000-60,000 Afghan allies who are seeking transport.

Meanwhile, a White House official revealed that the US transported 10,400 people from Kabul over the last 24 hours, bringing America's total to around 37,000.

Biden said that U.S. forces had expanded the perimeter around the airport amid fears terrorists may seek to exploit the operation by attacking Americans or Afghan civilians.

US and German forces joined in a gun battle this morning at Kabul airport after Afghan guards and unknown assailants exchanged fire, with one guard killed, the German army said. Pictured: British and Canadian soldiers help an Afghan climb up on the wall of a canal at Kabul Airport this morning

Kabul airport has seen chaotic scenes as tens of thousands of foreigners and Afghans seek to flee Afghanistan after the Taliban swept back to power more than a week ago. Pictured: British and Canadian soldiers stand guard near a canal at Kabul airport as a crowd of Afghans wait nearby

This morning, the German military tweeted that one member of the Afghan security forces at the airport in Kabul had been killed and three others were wounded by 'unknown attackers'.

In their tweet, the German Army said: 'This morning at 4.13am, there was an exchange of fire between Afghan guards and unknown assailants at the North Gate of Kabul airport. An Afghan guard was killed, three others injured.

'American and German forces participated in further exchange of fire,' it said, adding that no German soldiers were injured.

Kabul airport has seen chaotic scenes as tens of thousands of foreigners and Afghans seek to flee Afghanistan after the Taliban swept back to power more than a week ago.

The US confirms they have evacuated 33,000 people - including at least 2,500 Americans.

Afghanistan's security forces collapsed in the face of the Taliban advance, despite 20 years of Western aid, training and assistance. But some armed Afghans remain at Kabul airport assisting Western evacuation efforts.

Speaking last night about the situation in Afghanistan, Biden turned on his heel and ignored a reporter who shouted 'Mr President what about ISIS and the threat Americans face now?' at the conclusion of the press conference about the crisis.

The shooting near the military side of the airport came as the Taliban sent fighters to the north of the capital to eliminate pockets of armed resistance to their lightning takeover earlier this month

This morning, the German military tweeted that one member of the Afghan security forces at the airport in Kabul had been killed and three others were wounded by 'unknown attackers'

Moments before the reporter asked her question, the president said 'Thank you,' in an apparent signal that the press conference had ended.

But he has since taken heat from viewers and commentators who said the question was a sufficiently important one to merit an answer.

Biden's snub came just hours after his own national security adviser Jake Sullivan told NBC News that there is a 'genuine threat' ISIS could attack the evacuation effort at Hamid Karzai Airport in Kabul.

Sullivan, who also raised the prospect of sending US troops back into Kabul, said: 'I know that the scenes around the airport are heartbreaking, large crowds of people wanting to leave

'I know that there is complexity and there is turbulence on the ground and in Kabul, and it's very risky and dangerous because there's a genuine threat from ISIS. That is the reality of what we are up against, and I'm not going to sugarcoat that reality.'

The tragic scenes around the airport have transfixed the world, as Afghans poured onto the tarmac last week and some clung to a U.S. military transport plane as it took off, later plunging to their deaths. At least seven people died that day, in addition to the seven killed on Sunday.

The Taliban blame the chaotic evacuation on the U.S. military, saying there's no need for Afghans to fear them, even though their fighters shoot into the air and beat people with batons as they try to control the crowds outside the airport perimeter. Pictured: Afghans wait outside the military-controlled area of the airport in Kabul as they attempt to flee the Taliban

Pictured: Members of the British and US armed forces pose together for a photo while working together at Kabul Airport yesterday

The Taliban blame the chaotic evacuation on the U.S. military, saying there's no need for Afghans to fear them, even though their fighters shoot into the air and beat people with batons as they try to control the crowds outside the airport perimeter.

The Taliban have pledged amnesty to those who worked with the U.S., NATO and the toppled Afghan government, but many Afghans still fear revenge attacks. There have been reports in recent days of the Taliban hunting down their former enemies. It's unclear if Taliban leaders are saying one thing and doing another, or if fighters are taking matters into their own hands.

Over the weekend, Biden also revealed U.S. forces may stay beyond his deadline of Aug. 31 during a speech on Sunday evening he tries to accelerate the operation to rescue Americans after days of chaos and crushes at Kabul airport.

He said that U.S. forces had expanded the perimeter around the airport amid fears terrorists may seek to exploit the operation by attacking Americans or Afghan civilians.

But things were moving in the right direction with some 33,000 people brought to safety, he said.

'Let me be clear - the evacuation of thousands of people from Kabul is going to be hard and painful,' Biden said during a speech in the Roosevelt Room of the White House.

The Taliban said they retook three districts that fell the day before and had surrounded Panjshir, the last province that remains out of their control. Pictured: Taliban fighters are seen sitting on top of storage containers at the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, with a line of British soldiers beneath them

'No matter when it started, when we began, it would have been true if we had started a month ago, or a month from now.

'There is no way to evacuate this many people without pain and loss and heartbreaking images you see on television. It's just a fact.'

Biden said that as many as 33,000 people had been evacuated since July, including some 11,000 during a single 36-hour period.

Defense officials 'hope' they will not have to extend the evacuation operation, he added, but 'there are going to be discussions I suspect on how far along we are in the process.'

It comes as UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has pleaded with President Biden to delay the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

As the desperate evacuation continues, the PM will use a virtual meeting of world leaders tomorrow to push for more time to save people from the clutches of the - something the president has so far refused to commit to.

Defense minister James Heappey said this morning that 1,800 eligible citizens and 2,275 local allies had been identified, but more were coming forward all the time. 'We will get out as many as we possibly can,' he told Sky news.

Over the weekend, Biden (pictured) also revealed U.S. forces may stay beyond his deadline of August 31 during a speech on Sunday evening he tries to accelerate the operation to rescue Americans after days of chaos and crushes at Kabul airport

However, ministers admitted the rescue mission is reliant on the American military retaining control of Kabul airport. Along with losing key air support, British military officials fear Islamic State (IS) may also target UK soldiers at Kabul airport in suicide bomb attacks.

Mr Johnson said last night: 'It is vital that the international community works together to ensure safe evacuations, prevent a humanitarian crisis and support the Afghan people to secure the gains of the last 20 years.'

As the airlift continues, the U.S. government has activated the Civil Reserve Air Fleet program, requesting 18 aircraft from U.S. carriers to assist in transporting Afghan refugees after they are evacuated to other countries. The voluntary program, born in the wake of the Berlin airlift, adds to the military's capabilities during crises.

Early Monday, a Delta Air Lines flight landed in Dubai and later took off for Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, where evacuees are crowded into hangars. A steady stream of military transport planes continue to fly people out of Kabul to airfields across the Mideast.

There also have been concerns that a local Islamic State affiliate might target the crowds outside the airport with suicide bombers or fire missiles at U.S. aircraft. Military planes have been executing corkscrew landings, and other aircraft have fired flares upon takeoff, measures used to prevent missile attacks.

Elsewhere in Afghanistan, the Taliban have faced limited armed resistance from fighters in Baghlan province, some 75 miles north of Kabul.

Biden said that as many as 33,000 people had been evacuated since July, including some 11,000 during a single 36-hour period. He also said that as many as 2,500 Americans have already been transported to safety

The fighters claimed to have seized three districts in the Andarab Valley on Sunday, but the Taliban said Monday that they had cleared them out overnight.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the group's forces have surrounded nearby Panjshir, the only one of Afghanistan's 34 provinces yet to fall to the militants.

Several Taliban opponents have gathered there, including Amrullah Saleh, the vice president in the toppled government who claims to be the acting president under the constitution. Ahmad Massoud, son of the slain commander of the Northern Alliance militias that partnered with the U.S. to drive the Taliban from power in 2001, is also in Panjshir.

In interviews with Arab media outlets over the weekend, Massoud said his fighters would resist any attempt to take the province by force but were open to dialogue with the Taliban.

Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman, said there had been no fighting in Panjshir yet and that his group is seeking a 'peaceful solution' to the standoff.

It comes as damaging US cables revealed staff working at the American Embassy in Kabul are 'deeply disheartened' by the Biden Administration's withdrawal, with some even saying 'it would be better to die under the Taliban's bullet' than attempt to flee to safety.

As the airlift continues, the U.S. government has activated the Civil Reserve Air Fleet program, requesting 18 aircraft from U.S. carriers to assist in transporting Afghan refugees after they are evacuated to other countries. Pictured: A line of people attempting to flee Afghanistan is formed behind a US Air Force aircraft on August 21

The jarring statement was part of a diplomatic cable from Afghan US Embassy staff, who said they've been separated from their children, according to NBC News, which obtained the message.

'Happy to die here, but with dignity and pride,' another embassy staffer said, while a third accused the U.S. of prioritizing Afghan government elites with vast wealth and the connections to safely flee.

Another message sent via cable shared the horror would-be evacuees were met with when they arrived at Kabul's Hamid Karzai Airport. Staff were warned to prepare for 'difficult conditions,' with the cable adding: 'However, no one anticipated the brutal experience that occurred.'

Disturbingly, one Afghan embassy staffer revealed his home had been vandalized with spray paint, in what he fears was a marking left by a Taliban fighter to flag the property up for a future visit.

The cables were exposed after it was revealed around 300 Afghans asked to get out of Kabul airport and return to their Taliban-run cities because the conditions have spiraled out of control, a State Department official said.

Temperatures have been between 85 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit around the airport - essentially a dustbowl - nearly every day as the desperate mob of tens of thousands of people with young kids try to save their families from Taliban attacks, stampedes or being crushed against the airport gates.

In a shining moment, a US Marine is seen on video handing out water to children

Smiles are the rarest site in and around the Kabul airport over the last two weeks, but it was all over this viral video of a Marine helping children

A child drinks water in Kabul, which has been between 85 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit nearly everyday for the last two weeks, as dehydration and heat exhaustion set in

Pictures like this of a US Marine comforting an infant while they wait for the mother during the evacuation is the seldom scenes glimpses of humanity during dangerous times

A child and a US Marine pour water on each other to protect against dehydration and heat exhuastion as temperatures in Kabul climb over 90 degrees Fahrenheit

US troops are doing what they can to help US civilians and their Afghan allies prevent dehydration and heat exhaustion, with items like water bottles in short supply and needing to be rationed out.

One US Marine filmed giving water to six young children is being hailed as a hero, but many say that small act of kindness further serves to emphasize the scale of the human catastrophe unfolding.

Another picture that has been widely shared on Twitter and other social media platforms shows a different Marine assigned to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) comforting an infant while they wait for the child's mom during processing.

But these fleeting moments are like specs of light swallowed up by a black hole.

'We've seen wrenching images of people hurt, even killed that hit you in the gut,' Secretary Blinken told FOX News.

'And it's very important to make sure to the best of our ability, because it's such a volatile situation, that we do something about the crowding at the gates of the airport, and that's exactly what we're doing.'

A woman and children wait for transportation to the terminal at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Missing child posters like this one are on the fences of Kabul airport today

Taliban fighters stand guard as Afghans gather outside the Hamid Karzai International Airport to flee the country, in Kabul on on August 21

Dusty, rubbish strewn street filled with thousands of people desperate to take the steps needed to get into Kabul airport and out of the Taliban-run country

Taliban fighters on containers overlook the streets outside of Kabul airport

President Joe Biden said during a Sunday press briefing that about 11,000 people have been evacuated in the last 36 hours, but at least seven people have been crushed to death, including a two-year-old child.

And now terrorist threats - particularly from the local affiliate of ISIS, which are enemies of both the U.S. and the Taliban - are making the evacuation more complicated, the scene tenser and ramping up the urgency to get people out of the country.

There's concern that ISIS leaders see this as an opportunity to kill Americans while challenging Taliban for control of Afghanistan.

That threat prompted the US Embassy to issue a warning Saturday telling Americans not to brave the chaos around the airport unless they have been told to report.

In the ensuing hours, details emerged that evacuation flights were dropping flares and making steep combat landings after warnings that terrorists of the Islamic State might try to shoot down a plane.

To hasten the evacuation pace, six commercial airlines have agreed to help the US government transport people out of Kabul.

On Sunday, the US called up 18 civilian aircraft from United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air and others to carry people from temporary locations after they landed on flights from Afghanistan, leaning on the industry it last called on during the Iraq War in 2003, Reuters reported Sunday evening.

The move highlights the difficulty Washington is having carrying out the evacuations following the Taliban's swift takeover.

American and Delta said they would start relief flights on Monday.

A U.S. Marine carries a girl to the gate at Hamid Karzai International Airport, August 20

The Marines and military forces are seen in pictures like this doing what they can to help the situation in Kabul airport, which has spiraled out of control

President Joe Biden said during a Sunday press briefing that about 11,000 people have been evacuated in the last 36 hours

Photos and videos showing tender-hearted moments of US Marines caring for children in the Kabul airport are a stark difference to the scene - similar to this - where barbed wire and armed forces have to control chaotic crowds and be vigilant for potential terrorist attacks

Meanwhile, British soldiers desperately shouted for medics and stretchers, as unconscious people were carried away, many being pronounced dead and covered in white sheets, according to a Sky News report on Saturday.

Other paratroopers tried to pull people - including young children - from the chaos, and stood atop compound walls, spraying the crowd with hoses to try and cool them down, as medics dashed between casualties.

There were also scenes of people left injured and bloodied, sat amongst piles of papers and discarded clothes near the site, while others stood shoulder to shoulder, amid sounds of screams and gunshots, the Sun reports.

Tweeting from the airport this afternoon, journalist Kim Sengupta said he had witnessed 'four people, all women, die from the heat and crush'.

Sky News' chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay also reported that people at the front of the crowd of thousands were being 'crushed to death', in what he described it as 'the worst day by far' at Kabul airport.

In a sign the crisis at Kabul is deepening, Germany's government today warned that access to the airport is not often possible' and that the area remains 'extremely dangerous'.
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The Taliban has threatened a 'reaction' and warned of 'consequences' if the US or UK do not leave Afghanistan by August 31 and extend the deadline for the withdrawal of troops.

President Joe Biden wants all Americans to have left the country by the end of the month although he admitted on Sunday night that an extension was under discussion, while this morning UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said the evacuation effort is 'down to hours now, not weeks'.

Taliban spokesman Dr Suhail Shaheen said the group will not accept an extension to the deadline and warned of retaliation if Western forces extend their 'occupation' since the group dramatically swept to power.

He told Sky News: 'It's a red line. President Biden announced that on 31 August they would withdraw all their military forces. So if they extend it that means they are extending occupation while there is no need for that.

'If the US or UK were to seek additional time to continue evacuations - the answer is no. Or there would be consequences.

'It will create mistrust between us. If they are intent on continuing the occupation it will provoke a reaction.'

Biden appeared to push back on extending the August 31 deadline last night, saying the evacuation process is going to be 'hard and painful' and there will be 'discussions' about how long it will take.

With a huge backlog at the airport, US officials have ordered troops to only allow American citizens, Green Card holders and other foreign nationals through the gates of Kabul airport to board evacuation flights.

Boris Johnson is expected to press Biden and other G7 leaders to delay the final withdrawal in a virtual call tomorrow, with the UK hoping to double the number of Britons, Afghan allies and families it can airlift to 12,000, while France also called for more time and Germany is holding talks with NATO and the Taliban on keeping the airport open next month.

There are also growing fears that ISIS will mount a suicide bombing at Kabul airport amid the chaos of the evacuation as extremists try to 'take advantage' of the desperate airlift to attack UK and US forces.

British ministers have revealed that individuals on the UK's terror 'no fly list' have already tried to get on board RAF planes in the Afghan capital.

Meanwhile the Taliban said they will not announce the makeup of the new government until all troops have been withdrawn, saying: 'It has been decided that the formation of the government and cabinet will not be announced as long as a single US soldier is present in Afghanistan.'

Taliban spokesman Dr Suhail Shaheen has warned of 'consequences' if Western forces stay beyond the end of the month

Soldiers from the Turkish Task Force hand bottles of water to people waiting to be evacuated from Hamid Karzai International Airport today

Crowds of people wait outside the airport in Kabul as they desperately try to flee the country which has been taken over by the Taliban

People trying to flee the country continue to wait around the Kabul airport with only days left before Biden is planning to withdraw troops

President Joe Biden wants all Americans to have left the country by the end of the month although he admitted on Sunday night that an extension was under discussion

A group of British soldiers sit among Afghan citizens at Kabul airport amid ongoing discussions about the deadline for withdrawing troops

Crowds climb up on buildings as they gather near the airport in Kabul in a bid to flee Afghanistan in the wake of the Taliban takeover

Boris Johnson is expected to press Joe Biden and other G7 leaders to delay the final withdrawal in a virtual call on Tuesday. Pictured: British and US soldiers pose for a photo in Kabul

A group of Afghan nationals arrive on the tarmac after disembarking from a Belgium military airplane at the military airport in Melsbroek near Brussels today

It comes as:

US and German forces engaged in a deadly gun battle this morning at Kabul airport after Afghan guards and unknown assailants exchanged fire, with one guard killed;

Taliban fighters surrounded resistance forces holed up in Panjshir Valley, north of the capital - long known as an anti-Taliban bastion - but are looking to negotiate;

In the past 24 hours, 28 US military flights evacuated 10,400 people from Kabul, while 61 coalition aircraft evacuated approximately 5,900 people;

Britain pledged to work with Moscow and Beijing to exercise a 'moderating influence' over the Taliban, despite a deep mistrust of both regimes;

Vladimir Putin rejected the idea of airlifting people from Afghanistan to countries near Russia, saying he did not want 'militants showing up here under cover of refugees';

The Kremlin also said it would not interfere in the stand-off between the Taliban and their opponents;

French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said: 'We are concerned about the deadline set by the United States on August 31. Additional time is needed to complete ongoing operations';

A temporary accommodation housing Afghan refugees at an army barracks in the Netherlands is already full and a second is being opened;

Tony Blair stressed that Britain's involvement in Afghanistan has not been a 'hopeless endeavour', as he accused Mr Biden of following an 'imbecilic policy'.

People on 'no fly list' try to board RAF planes Ministers today revealed people on the UK's terror 'no fly list' have already tried to infiltrate RAF flights in Kabul - amid fears of an ISIS suicide bomb attack. Alarm has been raised that troops are 'having to keep their fingers on the trigger in one hand while holding a baby in the other' with desperate crowds trying to get away from the Taliban. Defence minister James Heappey insisted there are 'people trying to take advantage of this process to get into the UK to cause us harm'. And he said suicide bombers were 'absolutely' one of the threats the operation faces. US president Joe Biden has also highlighted the risk, saying: 'We know that terrorists might seek to exploit the situation.' Advertisement

Joe Biden said last night: 'Let me be clear - the evacuation of thousands of people from Kabul is going to be hard and painful.

'No matter when it started, when we began. It would have been true if we had started a month ago, or a month from now.

'There is no way to evacuate this many people without pain and loss and heartbreaking images you see on television. It's just a fact.'

He said about 11,000 people were lifted out of Kabul in less than 36 hours, bringing the total to 33,000, and said defence officials 'hope' they will not have to extend the evacuation operation.

However in a glimmer of hope that an extension was still possible, he added: 'There are going to be discussions I suspect on how far along we are in the process.

'Our first priority in Kabul is getting American citizens out of the situation as quickly and safely as possible,' Biden said.

'Any American that wants to get home will get home.'

He also said the US government is 'looking to move our Afghan allies' out of the country as well, noting that citizens of NATO allies and Afghan allies were amongst the 11,000 individuals evacuated this past weekend.

He added that US forces had expanded the perimeter around the airport amid fears terrorists may seek to exploit the operation by attacking Americans or Afghan civilians.

Delta and United Airlines have offered planes to help fly those who have already been evacuated to their final destinations.

But the US is now only evacuating their own citizens, Green Card holders and other foreign nationals from Kabul airport, leaving thousands of Afghans potentially stranded.

Troops have been processing both Special Immigrant Visas for Afghans like translators or others who helped in the war, and most of the US evacuation flights have been full of Afghan nationals so far.

Thirty-three C-17 jets are on the way to the airport that could carry 600 passengers each - 19,800 total - out of the dangerous city, but CNN cites an unnamed official who said the policy was changing to only allow US citizens, foreign citizens from other NATO countries, or Green Card holders through the gates.

No one from the White House, State Department or Pentagon has been able to give a number for how many American citizens remain in Afghanistan.

It's unclear if or when the US will start flying Afghans out again.

The US is now only evacuating their own citizens, Green Card holders and other foreign nationals from Kabul airport, leaving thousands of Afghans potentially stranded

Evacuees from Afghanistan as they arrive in an Airbus A400 transport aircraft of the German Air Force Luftwaffe in Tashkent, Uzbekistan

US airmen and marines guide evacuees into a plane at Hamid Karzai International Airport amid the huge evacuation effort

People attempt to get into the Hamid Karzai International Airport, to flee the country in Kabul today as the evacuations continue

Evacuees from Kabul sit inside a military aircraft as they arrive at Tashkent Airport in Uzbekistan on Sunday

Former top British military urge UK to 'go it alone' in Afghanistan rescue mission if the US pulls out on August 31 Former top British military officials last night urged the UK to go it alone in its Afghanistan rescue mission if the US does not push back its pull-out date. President Joe Biden last night said he 'hoped not to' extend the date for pulling his 6,000 remaining US troops from Kabul. The current date is August 31. UK defence bosses say it is unlikely British troops will be able to remain in Kabul once the US pulls its forces. However a former British Army general last night said the UK should go it alone if the US does not push back its leaving date. Retired Major General Tim Cross, who served in Iraq and Kosovo, told the Sun: 'What's the point of having armed forces if we cannot hold a single airfield? It makes the whole global Britain idea a joke.' Another, Colonel Richard Kemp, a retired officer who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, told the paper: 'We are one of the most powerful military nations in the world. We should stay until we have got every last Brit, and everyone we need, out.' The Minister of Defence last night said it would be 'impractical' to secure Kabul Airport and to continue the evacuation mission 'without the partnership (with the US)'. Advertisement

The UK wants to double its Kabul airlift numbers to 12,000 this week, but Johnson accepts that the success of the mission is reliant on US troops maintaining control of Kabul airport, where an estimated 20,000 people are waiting to board flights.

British military commanders are understood to have pencilled in August 25 as the last day they can process refugees, including former British interpreters, before the focus shifts to getting about 1,000 British troops and government officials home safely.

It could mean the last British evacuation flight may have to leave as soon as tomorrow or Wednesday to allow soldiers enough time to withdraw.

Five more workers have been deployed to Kabul airport by the UK to help evacuation efforts, with a total of 19 British personnel now working on the ground including Ambassador Sir Laurie Bristow, who has been praised for remaining at Kabul airport and aiding his team in processing visa applications.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace conceded the UK's involvement will end when the US leaves, saying: 'The Prime Minister is, obviously at the G7, going to try and raise the prospect of seeing if the United States will extend.

'It's really important for people to understand the United States have over 6,000 people in Kabul airport and when they withdraw that will take away the framework ... and we will have to go as well.

'I don't think there is any likelihood of staying on after the United States. If their timetable extends even by a day or two, that will give us a day or two more to evacuate people.

'Because we are really down to hours now, not weeks, and we have to make sure we exploit every minute to get people out.'

Downing Street later said the evacuation would continue as long as it was safe to do so.

In his sit-down interview, Dr Shaheen also claimed people are not fleeing Afghanistan because they are scared, saying it was purely 'economic migration', despite the desperate scenes at Kabul airport.

He added it was 'fake news' that girls' schools are being closed amid reports of the Taliban going door to door and threatening people while seeking former government workers.

Many women are fearful that the new regime will erode rights which they have fought for.

But Dr Shaheen insisted: 'They will lose nothing. Only if they have no hijab, they will have a hijab women are required to have the same rights as you have in your country but with a hijab.'

He added that women teachers and journalists are continuing to work despite the recent upheaval, despite stories of women being scared to leave their homes and return to work.

British personnel are working with their US counterparts and others to keep the airport secure and to allow evacuations to proceed safely

Boris Johnson (pictured left) will attempt to persuade US President Joe Biden (pictured right) to keep American troops in Afghanistan beyond his August 31 deadline when the two leaders take part in a G7 meeting this week

A member of the UK armed forces speaks with Afghan citizens in Kabul during the mammoth evacuation effort from the capital

'Hours not weeks' left for evacuation, warns UK The UK warned there are 'hours not weeks' left for the Kabul airlift today as it scrambles to double numbers to 12,000 - while Boris Johnson pleads with Joe Biden to delay the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. As the desperate evacuation continues, the PM will use a virtual meeting of world leaders tomorrow to push for more time to save people from the clutches of the Taliban - something the US president has so far refused to commit to. Nearly 6,000 Britons, Afghan staff and their families have now been airlifted out by the RAF - but there are plans to fly out a further 6,000 this week. Some 1,800 eligible citizens and 2,275 local allies had been identified, but more were coming forward all the time. Speaking to reporters in Fort George, near Inverness, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: 'The Prime Minister is, obviously at the G7, going to try and raise the prospect of seeing if the United States will extend. 'It's really important for people to understand the United States have over 6,000 people in Kabul airport and when they withdraw that will take away the framework  and we will have to go as well. 'I don't think there is any likelihood of staying on after the United States. If their timetable extends even by a day or two, that will give us a day or two more to evacuate people. 'Because we are really down to hours now, not weeks, and we have to make sure we exploit every minute to get people out.' Advertisement

Biden said he had directed the State Department to contact Americans stranded in the country, where Taliban checkpoints are in place.

'We're executing a plan to move groups of these Americans to safety and to safely and effectively move them to the airport compound. For security reasons, I'm not going to go into detail ... but I will say again today what I've said before: Any American who wants to get home will get home.'

Afghan allies of the West and vulnerable Afghans such as women activists and journalists would be helped too, he said.

Meanwhile, 500 tonnes of medical supplies including surgical equipment and childhood pneumonia treatments due to be delivered to Afghanistan this week are stuck because of Kabul airport restrictions.

'They were ready and planned to be delivered to Afghanistan to arrive this week. But now that the airport is closed to commercial flights, we can no longer get them in,' said World Health Organisation spokesperson Inas Hamam.

She said the WHO was calling for empty planes to divert to its storage hub in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to collect the supplies on their way to pick up evacuees from the country.

A temporary accommodation centre set up for Afghan refugees in the Netherlands is already full and a second location is having to be opened to cope with the sudden intake.

The camp in the remote village of Zoutcamp reached its capacity on Sunday night, with the arrival of 178 Afghan evacuees.

A new accommodation center is being opened to house more Afghans at another military barracks in the central town of Zeist.

The Dutch defense ministry says it has completed nine flights out of Kabul to airports in the region since the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan.

Six flights carrying evacuees from Afghanistan have arrived in the Netherlands carrying a total of more than 800 people. That number includes Dutch nationals, Afghans and citizens of other countries.

One of those who managed to flee amid the pandemonium at Kabul airport was an Uber driver who had spent three days desperately trying to escape from the Taliban.

Helmand Khan was flown to safety on an RAF flight with his children after he visited relatives in Afghanistan.

The taxi driver from West London was earlier seen thrusting his British passport at TV crews as he tried to enter a compound where the British Embassy is housing evacuees.

Helmand Khan was flown to safety on an RAF flight with his children after spending three days desperately trying to flee

What was the deal Trump cut with the Taliban? Donald Trump made plain he wanted out of Afghanistan when he came into office and was keen to end the 20-year conflict which none of his predecessors could. It took nine rounds of talks over 18 months centred in Doha, Qatar. In February, 2020, Trump announced there was deal in broad strokes: the U.S. was to leave Afghanistan in 14 months and, in exchange, the Taliban agreed the country would not become a breeding ground for terrorism  including bearing responsibility for anyone who might pose a terror threat to the States. The jihadists also agreed to peace talks with the Afghan government of President Ashraf Ghani. The US laid out an explicit timetable for the withdrawal of troops: in the first 100 days, they would cut personnel from 14,000 to 8,600 and leave five military bases. Over the following nine months, the U.S. would remove all of its troops. The United States, its allies, and the Coalition will withdraw all their forces from remaining bases, the dossier says. The U.S. would release 5,000 Taliban prisoners, the Taliban would let go 1,000 of its inmates. Washington also agreed to lift sanctions against the Taliban and work with the U.N. to lift further sanctions against the terror group. Advertisement

He told the BBC: 'You've seen by British passport, these are my children! I came in the morning, five o'clock, but I'm still waiting. In the last three days I am trying to go inside.'

Amid the chaos, a firefight broke out between unidentified gunmen, Western security forces and Afghan guards at Kabul airport last night.

One Afghan guard was killed and three others were injured in the battle, which also involved US and German forces, the German military said on Twitter.

The report did not specifying whether the dead Afghan was one of the Taliban fighters deployed to guard the airport.

The airport has been a scene of chaos since the Taliban seized the Afghan capital on August 15 as UK and international forces try to evacuate citizens and vulnerable Afghans.

British armed forces minister James Heappey acknowledged that 'when the US go, the mission has to come to an end' in Afghanistan as the Prime Minister prepares to issue the plea to the American president.

The leaders will speak during an emergency G7 summit on Tuesday as the Government presses for American troops to remain beyond August to secure the capital's airport for rescue flights.

Ministers still want to evacuate thousands more people including UK passport holders and those under the Afghan relocations and assistance policy (Arap) scheme.

Mr Heappey said the evacuation mission is 'fundamentally underpinned by a US presence', and it would have to end without American troops.

'Whether or not the US can be persuaded to stay is a matter for the Prime Minister tomorrow in the G7 meeting after the initial overtures made by both the Foreign Secretary and the Defence Secretary in the days previous,' he told Sky News.

'But the conversation with the Taliban will then follow, and the Taliban will have a choice: they can either seek to engage with the international community and show that they want to be a part of the international system, they want to be engaged in international diplomacy, or they can turn around and say there is no opportunity for an extension.

'I think everybody has to be clear that this is not just a discussion that happens between G7 leaders tomorrow, it is a discussion which happens with the Taliban.'

He acknowledged not everybody will be able to be evacuated, as he said there are still 'thousands more' people the UK wishes to evacuate, including British nationals.

The Foreign Office said it had sent five extra staff to Kabul airport, taking its total working on the evacuation effort in the capital to 19.

Mr Heappey elaborated to BBC Radio 4's Today programme by saying that the Taliban, which swept to power last week as the US withdrew its troops, 'gets a vote' on the evacuation deadline.

'It's just the reality, we could deny them the vote, we have the military power to just stay there by force, but I don't know that the humanitarian mission we're embarked on at the moment which is to evacuate as many people from Kabul as we possibly can is helped by Kabul becoming a warzone,' the minister said.

He added: 'I think in all reality given what Nato allies have in country at the moment, the period of time it would take to get in place a replacement force is not realistic, I think the reality is that the die is cast, the United States air force is operating Kabul airport, it is entirely a military airport.

'When the US go, the mission has to come to an end.'

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace held talks with their Washington counterparts over the weekend to call for an extension.

Government officials said there is 'no fixed date' on when the UK will withdraw, but it is feared that without US boots on the ground, the remaining allied forces would be unable to secure Hamid Karzai International Airport from the crowds looking to flee the Taliban takeover, or other potential security threats.

Meanwhile former British ambassador to the US Lord Kim Darroch said there 'clearly' should have been more coordination and planning for an 'orderly' exit from Kabul.

He told Radio 4's Today Programme the soldiers 'in these appalling circumstances are doing an extraordinary job', adding that the situation is 'extraordinarily fragile', with Taliban forces and British and American forces 'literally yards apart'.

'So it's a very, very tense situation,' he said.

Asked about the UK's global response, Lord Darroch said: 'I think global Britain, post-EU exit, is an interesting and potentially sensible path for the UK to go on.

'But we've reduced our foreign aid, we have done a defence review that does a number of good things but which reduces the size of the British Army, done some trade deals that basically with one exception duplicate EU deals, and we have rather passively acquiesced in a foreign policy disaster that is the Afghan withdrawal.

Meanwhile Iran intervened today as its foreign ministry called on 'all parties' to refrain from using violence and said Tehran supports the establishment of an 'inclusive' government in Kabul.

'All groups and political parties [in Afghanistan] must refrain from using force and proceed using negotiation and talks,' ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh told reporters at a televised press conference in Tehran.

Iran 'is in constant communication with all political sides in Afghanistan' and 'supports the peaceful transition of power to an inclusive government,' he added, stressing that 'the crisis has no military solution'.

Khatibzadeh said Iran hoped that such a government would be able to build a 'safe, blooming and stable Afghanistan' using the 'opportunity' of foreign forces' withdrawal.

Analysts say the Taliban's advances have put neighbouring Iran on edge, but the majority Shiite Islamic republic is taking a pragmatic stance on the hardline Sunni group's resurgence.

Tensions existed between Iran and the Taliban when the latter were in power in Afghanistan between 1996 and 2001. Tehran never recognised their rule.
Chancellor Angela Merkel said Sunday that Germany and the US will impose sanctions on Russia if their soon-to-be-completed Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline is used to strengthen their geopolitical power in the region.

The gas pipeline is set to double Russia's natural gas shipments to Germany, bypassing Ukraine and depriving the EU member state of essential gas transit fees of $1.5 billion per year.

Russia is already the second-largest supplier of gas to the EU behind only Norway, and Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Zelensky argued the pipeline will increase Europe's energy dependence on Russia and Moscow's geopolitical clout.

Zelensky said on Sunday that the gas pipeline, whose construction is expected to be completed in late August or early September, is 'a dangerous geopolitical weapon'.

'We view this project exclusively through the prism of security and consider it a dangerous geopolitical weapon of the Kremlin,' Zelensky said during a joint press conference with Merkel following a meeting between the two heads of state.

While the main risks after the completion of the $12-billion pipeline beneath the Baltic Sea would be 'borne by Ukraine', he said, it would also be dangerous 'for all of Europe'.

Chancellor Angela Merkel said Germany and the US will impose sanctions on Russia if their soon-to-be-completed Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline is used to strengthen their geopolitical power in the region

Merkel, who leaves office after 16 years next month, says any commitments to imposing sanctions on Russia will be binding for future German governments

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that Russia's Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to Europe is 'a dangerous geopolitical weapon'

Merkel said Berlin agreed with Washington that 'gas must not be used as a geopolitical weapon, and affirmed that a Germany-US agreement specified 'sanctions' if gas was 'used as a weapon'.

These commitments are 'binding on future German governments', she noted.

Merkel is set to leave office next month, marking the end of her almost 16-year-long leadership of Germany.

She also said she had discussed with Putin extending Russia's transit contract with Ukraine past 2024, which if terminated would see Ukraine lose out on around $1.5 billion per year in essential gas transit fees.

'We feel a special responsibility' and 'understand the big concerns that President Zelensky expressed,' she said. 'We take them very seriously.'

The Ukrainian leader, however, said that while he and Merkel had discussed the extension, he had heard only 'very general things', and declared he had initiated consultations with the European Parliament regarding the potential geopolitical fallout of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.

The gas pipeline is set to double Russia's natural gas shipments to Germany. This image shows the Nord Stream 2 gas line landfall facility entrance in Lubmin, north eastern Germany

Merkel said Berlin agreed with Washington that 'gas must not be used as a geopolitical weapon, and affirmed that a Germany-US agreement specified 'sanctions' if gas was 'used as a weapon

The pipeline is set to be completed in late August or early September

In addition to the pipeline issue, the two leaders also discussed Ukraine's protracted conflict with pro-Russia separatists, which has claimed more than 13,000 lives since 2014.

Merkel voiced her desire to organise a leaders' meeting between Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France on the situation in eastern Ukraine, which would be the first since late 2019.

Germany and France have worked to help broker a peaceful settlement to the conflict, including an often-violated 2015 cease-fire agreement reached in Minsk, Belarus.

'That in my opinion would bring us progress, if we can work out a good agenda - our advisers should do that,' she said.

Zelensky meanwhile said Kyiv is seeking a permanent cease-fire in eastern Ukraine, a prisoner exchange, open crossings at the line of contact and to ensure Red Cross access to the conflict zone.

He supported the idea of a meeting, but urged Kyiv's Western partners to exert pressure on Russia in order to achieve progress in eastern Ukraine.

'As long as there is no progress, the pressure on Russia should continue. We want to see active efforts of our Western partners,' Zelensky said.

Merkel said she expects the next German government to 'work in the same spirit' with Ukraine, pushing for the country to recover its territorial integrity and enabling it to continue with domestic reforms.
A young Afghan couple living in the United Kingdom say they fear their families left stranded in Kabul could be killed by the Taliban at any moment.

Nahida Abasi, 26, and Safiullah Abdullahi, 30, say they 'feel helpless' as they watch the events unfold in their homeland from Manchester - nearly 5,000 miles away.

The couple, who live in Hulme with their two young children, are especially worried for the safety of family members - some of whom have links to the Afghan or US governments.

A number of Safiullah's female family members have also been forced into hiding as Afghanistan fell to the Taliban in recent weeks.

Women were filmed reaching their hands through iron railings towards US troops while screaming 'the Taliban are coming' in footage being circulated on Afghan social media accounts this morning.

Reports from last week suggested the militants were going door-to-door, rounding up those who had worked with the Afghan armed forces or government.

Nahida Abasi, 26, (right) and Safiullah Abdullahi, 30, say they fear for their parents who remain in Kabul after it fell to the Taliban

The news comes as the Ministry of Defence confirmed seven Afghan civilians died in the chaos outside Kabul airport over the weekend, with at least 20 killed in the past week.

Safiullah says that after Kabul fell to the Taliban, his male relatives were forced from their homes so they could be searched for government documents.

'We are really worried about them, especially the female members of my family,' he explained.

'They had an amazing and bright life before the Taliban arrived.

'They used to receive threats before they came, but it got worse when they took over the country.

'My father had to leave his job or get killed, my sister had to do the same, but my eldest brother is not giving up.'

Evacuations have been underway in Afghanistan since the Taliban took control of the country on August 13 after American troops were pulled from the country

Thousands of Afghans could be left behind in Kabul as ministers push to extend the deadline for the last British evacuation flight beyond Tuesday. Pictured: British citizens catching a flight earlier this week

After sleeping on the streets of Kabul for several days, Safiullah says his male relatives have since returned home but have been threatened at gunpoint and asked to reveal where the women are.

The Taliban have now left the house, says Safiullah, but have promised to return.

Safiullah and Nahida, 26, now fear their loved ones 'could be killed at any time'.

'We are really scared,' said Nahida.

'We're just waiting for someone to tell us our family has been killed.

'We have been speaking to them to make sure they are okay, but we just feel helpless. There is nothing we can do for them.'

The couple were both born in Afghanistan and went to visit relatives in the country last November.

At the time, they said the country seemed 'fine'.

'It's all changed so fast,' said Nahida, who recently completed a psychology degree through the Open University.

'I just can't believe it.

'You don't even know what could happen next month, who will be alive and who won't.

'We have actually said goodbye to most of our family members and told them to forgive us if we have ever done anything to hurt them.'

Nahida and Safiullah say they fear their two-year-old son, Umar, and 11-month-old daugter, Hana, may never see their grandparents again.

There are fears that the 1,000 UK troops taking part in Britain's rescue operation will have to pull out when America's remaining group of 6,000 leave, due to a lack of air support. Pictured: Evacuees from Afghanistan as they arrive in an Airbus A400 transport aircraft of the German Air Force Luftwaffe in Tashkent, Uzbekista

Both have been constantly checking for updates on the situation in their homeland, and say the stress has taken its toll.

'Everything I see on the internet, I just cry and cry,' explained Nahida.

'My husband can't concentrate when he goes to work.

'Our bodies are in the UK, but our mind and everything else is over there right now.'

'Being away from them is the hardest thing.'

The couple have contacted Lucy Powell, the MP for Manchester Central, who has written to the Home Office to share their concerns.

Last week, the UK government announced plans to resettle refugees, focusing on women, girls and those facing persecution as some 20,000 are granted the right to live in the UK under a new scheme  with 5,000 expected in the first year.

Meanwhile, a separate programme designed to protect Afghan translators and other workers who were employed by British forces is now expected to cover around 10,000, up from the 5,000 previously suggested.

Afghan families enter into Pakistan through a border crossing point in Chaman, Pakistan

Afghan nationals arrive in Pakistan through the Pakistan-Afghanistan border crossing point in Chaman today

But Nahida and Safiullah believe the government should be doing more to help at-risk relatives of UK residents.

'This is the time we need them the most,' said Nahida.

'The government has announced a scheme, but anything can happen overnight in Afghanistan.

'We are scared they will leave it too late. We could go to sleep and wake up in the morning to find out our family members are dead.'

The UK wants to double its Kabul airlift numbers to 12,000 this week as Boris Johnson pleads with Joe Biden to delay the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

As the desperate evacuation continues, the PM will use a virtual meeting of world leaders tomorrow to push for more time to save people from the clutches of the Taliban - something the US president has so far refused to commit to.

Nearly 6,000 Britons, Afghan staff and their families have now been airlifted out by the RAF - but there are plans to fly out a further 6,000 this week.

Defence minister James Heappey said this morning that 1,800 eligible citizens and 2,275 local allies had been identified, but more were coming forward all the time.

'We will get out as many as we possibly can,' he told Sky news.
A mother has won a 1.4m payout from her tycoon ex after telling a judge he promised her a share of his millions in letters written from prison over two decades ago.

Nicola Oberman, 54, had two kids with estate agent turned multimillionaire buy-to-let mogul Shaun Collins, but the pair never married.

Ms Oberman stuck by Mr Collins, 53, in 1997 when he was jailed for false accounting, despite having only been together for a year at the time.

In letters from behind bars, he promised her she would be an equal partner in the property empire he dreamed of building on his release.

Mr Collins later realised his dreams, building up a multimillion-pound portfolio of more than 40 properties in London and Kent over their years together.

The High Court has ruled Nicola Oberman (pictured), 53, must be paid 1.4m for her share of a property empire by her ex-partner Shaun Collins, a multimillionaire buy-to-let mogul, after it found she was an equal owner of a string of more than 40 Kent and London properties built up over their 22 years together

The pair had only been dating a year in 1997 when then-estate agent Mr Collins (pictured) was jailed six months for false accounting, London's High Court heard

But after the pair split in 2015, Mr Collins denied she was a joint partner and insisted that he did 'virtually everything' in the business, while Ms Oberman had been a 'stay at home mother' who 'did not like working'.

Now a judge at London's High Court has ruled that Mr Collins must pay his ex 1.4million to buy her out of the joint business through which most of their portfolio was held.

During a trial last year, the court heard lawyers for Ms Oberman argue that flats, houses and shops had been bought as part of a business of which Mr Collins had promised she would be a joint partner in letters written while he served time for false accounting in 1997.

Judge Tom Leech QC heard that the couple had only been together a year when Mr Collins, then working as an estate agent, received the six-month jail sentence.

'While in prison, Mr Collins sent a number of letters to Ms Oberman and they discussed the business they would build together,' said her barrister, Jack Watson.

The letters made it clear it was a joint business, with Mr Collins telling her they needed to 'push on' so that their family could be 'strong and successful,' he continued.

Ms Oberman's lawyer Jack Watson claimed the mother sold her flat (pictured) in Wessex Drive, Erith, and poured the money into the joint property business

'Following Mr Collins' release from prison, he came to live with Ms Oberman and was reliant upon her for financial support,' he added.

She subsequently sold her flat and poured the money into the joint business, also investing money gifted by her parents, while toiling untold hours unpaid on the basis that the property portfolio they were building was equally owned.

Over the following two decades, they had two kids together as the family fortunes grew and grew, but never married.

Mr Watson said Mr Collins had 'continuously represented' that they were joint owners of the portfolio, starting at the very birth of the business in his letters from prison.

The couple split in 2015 and, despite agreeing that they shared many of the properties in the portfolio, ended up in court in a fight over those held in Mr Collins' sole name. Pictured: Three of the properties are in Greenhaven Drive

Mr Collins insisted that she had no rightful claim to 12 properties - mostly on the Thames riverside in London - which had been bought and had only his name on the deeds. Pictured: Two of the properties are in Redbourne Drive

In a first ruling in the case, Judge Leech said he was convinced Ms Oberman had been made a major shareholder in the business because it was a joint operation and not simply a decision made out of 'love and affection' by Mr Collins.

'It was inconsistent with his letters from prison and his description of Ms Oberman as his business partner,' said the judge.

He went on to declare that the properties - whether held in the former couple's joint names, the name of the company, or Mr Collins' alone - were shared.

Ms Oberman understood from what Mr Collins had told her that the entire portfolio, including those in his name, were held for them jointly and so were to be equally shared.

Acting on that belief, she had allowed him to control the properties, while herself working on them and allowing herself to become subject to financial liabilities based on them.

'In my judgment, these findings are sufficient as a matter of law to give rise to a common intention constructive trust of the properties in the portfolio.'

At all times between 2008 and 2015, all of the properties had been treated as part of 'a single portfolio in common ownership' and there had been an 'express agreement' about that, he said.

He ordered that she be bought out by Mr Collins and she also receive her share of money made from the properties over the years.

Last week, in a final judgment on the case, he ruled that Mr Collins must pay his ex 1,404,201.63 to end the claim.
A pharmaceutical firm worker sacked for drunkenly harassing a female colleague at a Christmas party has won 23,000 after his firm took his emailed apology as proof of guilt.

IT support analyst James Sharp said he had no memory of behaving inappropriately following a festive lunch at a luxury hotel.

But he said he had no reason to disbelieve colleague Nida Baltaitye after she accused him of touching her and making sexually suggestive remarks.

Asking that an apology be passed on to her, Mr Sharp said in an email to bosses that he was ashamed of his actions, even though he had no recollection of them.

An employment tribunal heard that managers at the firm took his expression of remorse as an admission of guilt and fired him for gross misconduct.

A panel ruled that he had been the victim of a flawed disciplinary process and awarded him 23,500.29 in compensation for unfair dismissal.

A drugs firm employee has won 23,500 after he was wrongly sacked over claims he sexually harassed a colleague during a Christmas party at the Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh (pictured)

The hearing was told Mr Sharp worked for Kyowa Kirin International, based in Galashiels, Scotland from May 2015.

The company hosted a Christmas lunch at The Balmoral hotel in Edinburgh before employees then went for drinks at the nearby Brewhemia bar.

Following the party, Mr Sharp's colleague Nida Baltaitye filed a complaint against him.

He was accused of touching her back and lower belly, saying he was sexually aroused by taking ecstasy and insinuating something sexual with his tongue, and saying to Ms Baltiatiye 'I'm going to f*** you up the a**'.

Mr Sharp was suspended pending the investigation, and in January following the Christmas holidays HR manager Jen Chalmers interviewed him.

Mr Sharp told her he had no memory of having behaved in the way described, and when the specifics were put to him he categorically denied saying the things he was alleged to have said.

The tribunal heard he told her: 'I would have said I had a wonderful time. Can I just say that I don't recall any of this. I would never want to insult someone like that. I would never say that to anyone, never to Nida.'

Regarding the explicit comment, he said: 'This is bizarre. Absolutely not. I haven't said that.

'I wouldn't say that. I have never. For me to say such a thing is peculiar. I'm perplexed where that came from.... I don't recall saying it. I don't believe that was said.'

He added: 'If people are saying it occurred, I would accept that. From memory, I have no recollection, but I believe I would not do that.

A tribunal heard that Mr Sharp sent an apology but did not intend this to serve as an admission of guilt as he said he did not recall the event. However, HR officials at Kyowa Kirin International (pictured) dismissed him without further questioning on the grounds of gross misconduct

'From logic, I would not do that. From my own knowledge of myself, I would not do that.'

Two days later he emailed Ms Chalmers an apology to Ms Baltaitye which read: 'I have absolutely no memory of the matters alleged, but accept however that at the time in question my behaviour would have been affected by alcohol.

'That is my personal responsibility and I do not seek to mitigate my conduct by using that as an excuse.

'I know Nida to be a person of integrity; I have valued her as a friend and enjoy a good professional relationship with her at work.

'As such, I do not believe she would have made such an allegation had there been no basis for her to do so.

'I have therefore concluded that I may well have acted towards Nida in the manner she has described.

'I am thoroughly ashamed with myself as a consequence and feel absolutely awful that I could have upset a friend and colleague in the way described. I can't turn the clock back and wish the allegations away, but would want to offer Nida my deep apology and regret for having offended her.'

He was told by bosses by letter that 'whilst you had no recollection of such behaviour, you had respect for Nida, and that effectively if she said you had behaved in this way, then you believed her'.

He was sacked later that month after bosses upheld all allegations, ruling that they were 'harassment of a sexual nature, and as such fall under the definition of gross misconduct'.

However, Employment Judge Muriel Robinson said Mr Sharp's bosses 'dismissed out of hand the probability, even the possibility, that Ms Baltiatiye had misheard and/or misinterpreted what [he] may have said, and no alternative explanations or probable words [were] put to her.

She added: '[They] failed to consider the obvious probability that because [Ms Baltaitye] was Lithuanian and her first language was not English she could have misunderstood both what was said and its vernacular meaning.'

She also noted that they 'failed to question [Mr Sharp] about the meaning and significance of the apology' and that 'they were treating the apology as him having effectively admitted to the conduct'.

Mr Sharp told the tribunal the letter was intended purely as an apology to Ms Baltiatiye and was not intended as a response to the company to the allegations.

The tribunal noted: 'He submitted that he had not intended the apology to be taken as an admission, except to the extent that he was admitting to taking alcohol and to having hugged Ms Baltiatiye, as others were doing given the festive spirit.

'He had also stated at the disciplinary hearing that his behaviour was affected by alcohol which can cause people to behaviour in ways which would be out of character but which others may find uncomfortable, and that as soon as he was aware that he had offended Ms Baltiatiye he had apologised.'

Judge Robinson concluded that the decision to find Mr Sharp guilty of misconduct 'was not based on reasonable grounds following a reasonable investigation'.

She said: 'Dismissal in the circumstances of this case did not fall within the range of reasonable responses and... it was both substantively and procedurally unfair.'
More than 200 former Guantanamo Bay inmates who were released have returned to terrorism following their release - with 151 still at large, according to newly declassified documents.

The declassified Office of National Intelligence report, which is dated December 18, 2020, highlights that 229 former Guantanamo prisoners have reengaged in acts of terrorism and killing Americans since their release.

Data included in the report shows that 125 former prisoners are confirmed to have reengaged in acts of terrorism since their release, while an additional 104 are currently suspected of reengaging.

However, with 151 still at large, it means 66 per cent of those reengaged former inmates have not been recaptured.

More than 200 former Guantanamo Bay inmates who were released have returned to terrorism following their release - with 151 still at large, according to newly declassified documents. (Stock image of a prisoner being escorted at Guantanamo Bay in 2008)

Former President Trump signed an executive order while still in office to keep Guantanamo Bay open.

After assuming office though, President Biden has since reversed Trump's order, with the aim of permanently closing the Cuba-based facility.

An assessment within the report said: 'Based on trends identified during the past 17 years, we assess that some detainees currently at GTMO will seek to reengage in terrorist or insurgent activities after they are transferred.

'Transfers to countries with ongoing conflicts and internal instability as well as recruitment by insurgent and terrorist organizations could pose an increased risk of reengagement.

A high-ranking member of the Taliban who was released from Guantanamo Bay is Khairullah Khairkhwa (pictured)

After his release from the prison in 2014, during President Obama's tenure, Khairkhwa became the mastermind behind the Taliban's takeover of Kabul

Khairullah Khairkhwa was one of five Taliban commanders released from the detention camp off the coast of Cuba by Obama in exchange for American soldier Bowe Bergdahl

'While enforcement of transfer conditions probably has deterred many former detainees from reengagement, some detainees determined to reengage have and will do so regardless of any transfer conditions, albeit at a lower rate than if they were transferred without conditions.'

Not all of the former inmates believed to have reengaged in terrorism are still at large though, 41 are believed to have died, while another 37 are now in foreign custody.

Among the reengaged former Guantanamo inmates is Abdullah Gulam Rasoul, who became the Talibans operations commander in southern Afghanistan after his release in 2007.

The blame for a rise in the number of roadside attacks against American troops in Afghanistan has been placed on him.

Gholam Ruhani is another figure who has returned to terrorism since his release.

After assuming office though, President Biden has since reversed Trump's order, with the aim of permanently closing the Cuba-based facility

Statistics in a newly declassified Office of National Intelligence report show that as many as 229 former Guantanamo Bay inmates have reengaged in terrorism since their release - with 151 still at large

The bearded fanatic was among a group of gun-toting fighters who staged a celebratory press conference Sunday just hours after President Ashraf Ghani fled his country amid chaotic scenes.

Experts identified him as a former Gitmo detainee who was accused by US officials of being a longtime security agent for the Taliban's feared Ministry of Intelligence with close family ties to its senior figures.

Ruhani revealed to Al Jazeera on Sunday that he was incarcerated for seven years at the Cuban-based military lockup which was established nearly two decades ago to cage the world's most dangerous terrorists.

State Department documents seen by DailyMail.com confirm that Ruhani  detainee number 3 - was one of the very first prisoners at Guantanamo Bay but record that he spent five years there, from 2002 to 2007.

The files also reveal that Ruhani secured his eventual freedom by telling an administrative review board that he was a 'simple shopkeeper' who 'helped Americans'.

Ruhani (pictured) revealed to Al Jazeera on Sunday that he was incarcerated for seven years at the Cuban-based military lockup which was established nearly two decades ago to cage the world's most dangerous terrorists

The militants declared an Islamic state of Afghanistan after the country's president joined thousands of Afghan nationals in a mass exodus. Pictured: The Taliban in the presidential palace, with Ruhani circled

Despite being rated a medium security threat, a March 2007 document says that Ruhani continued to insist that he had never heard of Al-Qaeda before 9/11 and merely joined the Taliban as a 'survival necessity'.

He claimed his 'only wish' was to return to Afghanistan and 'assist his father, who is sick, in operating the family appliance store in Kabul.'

Another high-ranking Taliban figure who was previously released from Guantanamo is Mullah Zakir, who was released to Afghanistan back in 2007.

Since his return to the country, he has gone on to become one of the Taliban's top military chiefs.

Another high-ranking member of the Taliban who was released from Guantanamo Bay is Khairullah Khairkhwa.

However, after his release from the prison in 2014, during President Obama's tenure, Khairkhwa became the mastermind behind the Taliban's takeover of Kabul.

He was one of five Taliban commanders released from the detention camp off the coast of Cuba by Obama in exchange for American soldier Bowe Bergdahl.

The former president guaranteed the US people that the so-called Taliban Five would be sent to Qatar and incapable of doing any damage in Afghanistan.

However, earlier this year Khairkhwa ended up brokering the terms of the withdrawal of troops despite intelligence reports sent to Obama and Biden after his release, according to the New York Post.

The freed Taliban Five were indeed sent to Qatar but simply used their exile to remotely form a regime.

While speaking to President Biden's Afghanistan envoy, Zalmay Khalilzad, earlier this year, Khairkhwa said: 'I started jihad to remove foreign forces from my country and establish an Islamic government, and jihad will continue until we reach that goal through a political agreement.'
Britain's beer shortage could continue well into September, landlords are warning, amid fears that strikes and a lack of lorry drivers may mean it is weeks before stocks replenish.

One pub has revealed it has already been forced to close after not receiving enough barrels of Amstel, Fosters or Heineken to adequately serve punters.

The crisis has emerged as a combined result of the pingdemic limiting numbers of available lorry drivers, a much smaller pool of Eastern European workers due to Brexit, and proposed strike action from draymen responsible for around 40% of beer deliveries to British pubs.

Despite the industrial action being resolved last week, pubs across the country are already desperately low on stock, and watering holes owned by the larger chains are the worst affected due to their reliance on imported beers.

A notice at the Seven Wives pub in St Ives, Cornwall, read: 'Due to Heineken having strike issues with deliveries we (like most pubs etc ) are experiencing a shortage of our usual stock.

'We have a driver out most days collecting all over East Anglia and South London.

'Stella Artois, Estrella, Peroni: These will be replacing some of our hard-to-get stock soon like Fosters, Birra Morreti, and obviously Heineken.

'We will try to keep you up-to-date on the changing products. The Word on the Street is that it this is this could go on till mid September.'

Britain's beer shortage could continue well into September, landlords are warning, amid fears that strikes and a lack of lorry drivers may mean it is weeks before stocks replenish

The Greyhound Inn in Stogursey revealed it has already been forced to close after not receiving enough barrels of Amstel, Fosters or Heineken to adequately serve punters

Similarly, The Old Black Horse in Mapperley, Nottingham, warned: 'Due to ongoing industrial action at Heineken's distributors, some of their products are proving very difficult to source.

'Given that we're a free house, fortunately we can buy alternative products. So in the coming weeks we may be forced to substitute some of your favourites.

'For example Birra Moretti may be substituted with Peroni. Strongbow dark fruit, Lagunitas and of course Heineken itself are the other products facing supply shortages and thus substitution.

'Sorry for any inconvenience. This is due to last until AT LEAST a week or two into September, probably longer!'

Meanwhile, the Greyhound Inn in the village of Stogursey, Somerset, told customers: 'Pub closed today and until further noticed shortage of beer due to strike action from brewery.

'We simply have no Amstel, Fosters or Heineken so we decided to shut up the pub until we have new stocks ..sorry for any inconvenience caused.'

Meanwhile, bar staff and hospitality workers have already begun to face aggressive behaviour from disgruntled customers.

The Fox and Hounds pub in Clavering, Essex, reported that the absence of some beloved beers resulted in customers 'swearing and shouting' at bar staff, despite members of the management team hiring vehicles and completing trips of hundreds of miles to secure extra stock by hand.

The drivers of GXO Logistics Drinks, which has 26 delivery sites across the UK and accounts for 40 per cent of all beer delivered in the country, voted for strike action after they were offered a 'paltry' 1.4% wage increase.

24-hour strikes were planned for August 24 and September 2, before GXO Logistics Drinks settled on a 4% pay increase with representatives of The Unite Union on Friday.

Despite this resolution, the damage has already been done for many pubs who have stated they may have close on weekends and turn off taps for many popular beers.

Emma McClarkin, Chief Executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, called for more government help to mitigate the effects of the crisis.

She said: 'From large brewers and managed pub operators, to smaller breweries, leased and tenanted pubs and the independent free trade, the HGV driver shortage is affecting the entirety of our sector.

'As a sector we are working with third-party logistics partners around the clock to ensure as many deliveries as possible. Brewers are actively looking at ways they can still do deliveries as are pub operators trying to get supplies to tenants and lessees.

'It is a testament to the resilience of our sector that it is going all out to fulfil deliveries, while brands like Nando's are simply closing.

'Whilst we are grateful for Government engagement to date on the issue of the driver shortage, it is clear the immediate situation will not be rectified without their intervention.

'Adding HGV drivers to the shortage occupation list or temporary visas will be is essential to helping stabilise the current situation and help us at this critical time in our recovery.'
A third dose of Pfizer's Covid vaccine significantly improves protection against infection and serious illness in the over-60s, according to an official study in Israel.

It found that people given a booster shot were four times less likely to catch the virus after 10 days compared to those only given two doses.

A third jab also enhanced protection from serious illness and hospitalisation in the over-60s by five to six times, according to the study by the Israeli Health Ministry.

The findings, believed to be based on real-world data, were presented at a meeting of a ministry panel of vaccination experts on Thursday. But full details of the study are yet to be released.

They are in line with separate data reported by Israel's Maccabi healthcare provider last week which found the boosters to be highly effective.

Israel became the first country in the world to start administering booster shots to the over-60s at the end of July  with more than a million already jabbed.

But amid a surging fourth wave of infections from the Delta strain, the programme has been expanded to all over-40s, medics, teachers and other frontline workers.

Britain is under mounting pressure to follow suit but the Joint Committee of Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which advises No10 on the roll out, is only expected to green light third doses for vulnerable adults.

Israeli data suggests booster shots slash the risk of infection among the double-vaccinated four-fold. Pictured above is a woman receiving her third Pfizer vaccine in Israel

The booster programme was expanded to over-40s last week amid a surging fourth wave in the country. Figures show Israel is now recording almost 7,500 Covid cases a day, at a similar level to during the second wave in early January

The country's Covid deaths have also begun to rise although they remain at low levels. The country is recording an average of almost three a day

The boosters will almost certainly be offered to the 3.7million Britons classified as 'clinically extremely vulnerable', with diseases such as cancer.

But originally it was hoped that the programme would be open to all over-50s, key workers and sick patients  which would have included as many as 32m people.

It is not clear how many over-60s were involved in the Israeli study, or how long they were monitored after getting their third dose.

Officials say all participants were monitored from 10 days after their third dose, leaving enough time for the jab to take effect. Experts say it takes up to two weeks after a jab to develop immunity.

Taiwan has started administering its own Covid vaccine Taiwan has begun dishing out its own homemade Covid vaccine. The Medigen jab received emergency approval for use from the island's health authorities last month. And more than 700,000 residents have already signed up to receive it. Taiwan's president Tsai Ing-wen got her first dose today. Taiwan has been accused of rushing its rollout because the jab is yet to complete stage three trials in Panama. But Medigen  the biotech firm behind the vaccine  says there are no safety concerns and results show antibodies from the jab are 'as good' as those from AstraZeneca vaccines. Taiwanese receive the MEdigen vaccine today in Taipei, the capital The jab is is a recombinant protein vaccine, similar to the vaccine developed by Novavax which trials have shown to be up to 89 per cent effective. It uses a more traditional method by recreating part of the spike protein of the virus to stimulate an immune reponse. The jab is given as two doses three weeks apart. Taiwan's Covid vaccination drive has been slow, with fewer than five per cent of the island's 23million people double-jabbed against the virus. It has so far relied on the AstraZeneca and Moderna vaccines. Advertisement

But the study's findings  carried out by the Gertner Institute and KI Institute outside Tel Aviv  were on a par with statistics reported last week by Maccabi healthcare, also in Tel Aviv, which is administering booster shots.

It found that the Pfizer vaccine was 86 per cent effective against infection from seven days after a booster shot was administered.

That study included 149,144 people who received booster doses, of whom just 37 (0.03 per cent) later caught Covid.

And 675,630 people who had two doses of the vaccine from February, of whom 1,064 (0.15 per cent) caught Covid.

It is feared that protection against infection with Pfizer's vaccine wanes to below 70 per cent from six months after a second dose is administered.

Anat Zohar, head of research at Maccabi healthcare, said their results showed 'the triple dose is the solution to curbing the current infection outbreak'.

But Aaron Richterman, an infectious disease researcher at the University of Pennsylvania, told the Financial Times that although the immune system responded quickly to boosters it was still too early to measure the impact of the shots.

People who got their doses early were likely to take fewer risks compared to those who got a third dose, he said.

'Even the most careful analyses can remain biased if the populations being compared are very different,' he added.

Experts warned the UK will have to rely on boosters in an attempt to avoid a similar crisis and other measures  such as face masks and social distancing may need to be brought back if there is a rise in breakthrough cases.

Dr Simon Clarke, an associate professor in cellular microbiology at the University of Reading, told MailOnline: 'I think we should pay close attention to the situation in Israel.

'People's commentary in this country  both from Government and experts  has been deliberately optimistic when perhaps the evidence is not suggesting that.

'One difference is Israel are only using Pfizer and we have used a lot of different vaccines, but mainly AstraZeneca. There may be differences due to this.

'But we know the protection offered by the vaccines decreases over time and arguments that the three-week gap between doses in Israels seems to be scooped by studies.

'So, we need to be aware we could see something similar happening in the coming weeks or months, but that is very much a "could".'

Israel saw its infections spiral to 800 cases per million people yesterday, the highest levels since February during the second wave.

Covid deaths in the country are also rising with 2.5 per million reported yesterday, which is also the highest level since the dying days of the second wave.

Vaccines have blunted the virus, with deaths just a fraction of what they were in previous outbreaks. But no jab is perfect and fatalities are still rising, in line with cases.

Israel has double-jabbed the same proportion of its population as the UK, according to our world in data. But both countries are now seeing surging outbreaks of the virus

Israel's Covid cases per million people are above the UK's and rising rapidly. The UK's cases appeared to drop from July, but are also now increasing

Some scientists have pinned the concerning trend on waning immunity and the three-week gap between the jabs dished out in Israel, which were exclusively Pfizer.

Britain is set to use free Covid antibody tests to root out people who could need booster shots to fight off the virus.

Up to 8,000 adults who test positive will be offered the tests each day to reveal how their immune systems respond.

The massive programme begins this week and will help estimate the proportion of people who got Covid despite developing antibodies from a vaccine or a previous infection.

It will also provide doctors with an insight into any groups who do not develop an immune response in the first place.

But sources said the data would also feed into the debate about autumn booster jabs amid continuing doubts over who will get them.

The United States and several European countries have already announced plans for booster doses.
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Covid became the ninth leading cause of death in England in July as the country ended all lockdown restrictions on Freedom Day, official figures revealed today.

The virus accounted for 969 out of the 40,467 fatalities from all causes last month (2.4 per cent), the equivalent of nearly one in 40, according to the Office for National Statistics.

It marks a significant rise from June, when Covid was England's 26th biggest killer and made up 0.9 per cent of deaths - fewer than one in 100.

But the proportion of deaths caused by the virus was still far lower last month than at other points in the pandemic thanks to the vaccines.

For comparison, Covid was accounting for 37 per cent of all deaths in England at the height of the second wave in January.

Dementia and Alzheimer's was responsible for four times more deaths than Covid last month, while heart disease and lung cancer continue to round out the top three causes.

The 969 Covid deaths last month equate to an average of 31 deaths per day throughout the whole of July. However, this number has risen significantly since Freedom Day went ahead on July 19 and triggered a sustained uptick in cases and deaths. The UK as a whole is currently averaging 98 deaths per day.

Covid was the leading cause of death in England at the end of 2019 and beginning of 2020, but it plummeted to 26th place in June. But it has now jumped 17 places to be the ninth biggest killer. In July, 969 of the 40,467 fatalities recorded in the country were caused by the virus, while a total of 1,161 people had Covid mentioned on their death certificate

On average, 31 people died due to Covid a day in July. According to official Government figures, a high of 102 Covid deaths were recorded in one day in July, but these include anyone who passed away and tested positive within the previous 28 days, meaning some died from other causes and just happened to have the virus. Meanwhile, an average of 142 people died a day from dementia and Alzheimer's, the country's biggest killer last month, followed by heart disease (131), lung cancer (71) and brain disease (69)

In addition to the 969 deaths in England last month where Covid was the underlying cause, a further 192 people died with Covid, according to the ONS.

This means the virus was mentioned on a total of 1,161 death certificates in the country last month and was the underlying cause in 88.9 per cent of those fatalities.

The ONS calculated that 20.5 deaths per 100,000 people were due to the virus in July. One month earlier, Covid caused just 7.5 fatalities per 100,000 individuals.

Top 10 leading causes of death in England and Wales in July ENGLAND Dementia and Alzheimer's disease: 4,404 deaths Ischaemic heart diseases : 4,062 deaths Malignant neoplasm of trachea, bronchus and lung: 2,196 deaths Cerebrovascular diseases: 2,148 deaths Chronic lower respiratory diseases: 2,024 deaths Malignant neoplasm of colon, sigmoid, rectum and anus: 1,216 deaths Influenza and pneumonia: 1,141 deaths Symptoms, signs and ill-defined conditions: 1,129 deaths Covid: 969 Malignant neoplasms, stated or presumed to be primary of lymphoid, haematopoietic and related tissue: 950 deaths WALES Dementia and Alzheimer's disease: 282 deaths Ischaemic heart diseases : 277 deaths Chronic lower respiratory diseases: 173 deaths Cerebrovascular diseases: 153 deaths Malignant neoplasm of trachea, bronchus and lung: 132 deaths Influenza and pneumonia: 93 deaths Malignant neoplasm of colon, sigmoid, rectum and anus : 76 deaths Symptoms, signs and ill-defined conditions: 73 deaths Malignant neoplasms, stated or presumed to be primary of lymphoid, haematopoietic and related tissue: 56 deaths Cirrhosis and other diseases of liver: 55 (22nd place) Covid: 33 Advertisement

The North of England continued to be the region with the highest Covid deaths rates in July, recording 50.1 per 100,000 people - nearly double the national average.

Overall, the number of fatalities recorded in England in July was 7.6 per cent higher than the five year average, with 2,864 more deaths recorded compared to the same month in 2015 to 2019.

Meanwhile, ONS figures for Wales reveal Covid was the 22nd leading cause of death last month, accounting for 33 of the 2,738 deaths registered.

This equated to 1.2 per cent of all deaths, a jump from the 0.1 per cent of fatalities in the country were due to the virus in June.

ONS calculates show 11.6 deaths per 100,000 people were caused by Covid in July. One month earlier, deaths from the virus were so low in the country that this rate couldn't be calculated.

But fatalities due to the country's top killers are significantly higher than deaths due to Covid.

In July, dementia and Alzheimer's killed 4,404 people in England, equating to 142 deaths a day and 10.9 per cent of all fatalities last month.

There was also 4,062 deaths due to heart disease (10 per cent), 2,196 caused by lung cancer (5.4 per cent) and 2,148 from brain disease (5.3 per cent).

And lung disease (2,024), colon cancer (1,216) and influenza and pneumonia (1,141) were also behind more deaths than Covid.

The ONS said deaths from influenza and pneumonia were 25.5 per cent lower in England and 21.8 per cent lower in Wales in July compared to the five year average.

It expects this is due to Covid restrictions - such as social distancing - having the knock on effect of reducing the spread of these illnesses.

But Covid is still the leading cause of death this year, accounting fro 15.4 per cent of all deaths in England and 12.3 per cent of all fatalities in Wales.

So far this year, the virus has killed 49,831 people in England and 2,560 individuals in Wales.

Of those who died from Covid between April and June, 23 per cent had diabetes.

And 8.9 per cent of fatalities had dementia and Alzheimer's.

There was a decrease in the number of over-65s who died from the virus in the second quarter of the year. Some 87 per cent of all Covid deaths between January and March were in this age group.

But just 73.7 per cent of people who died from the virus between March and June were aged 65 or over.

And there was an increase in the number of younger people who died from the virus, with just 13 per cent of deaths occurring in the over-64s at the beginning of the year to 26.3 per cent by the second quarter.

Deaths due to the coronavirus increased in both England and Wales last month. Some 969 people in England died from Covid (2.4 per cent), while there was 33 Covid fatalities in Wales (1.2 per cent). One month earlier, the total number of deaths due to the virus was 625 in England and 31 in Wales

The five year average provides an indicator of the number of deaths expected each month. The ONS excluded 2020 from the five year average, because of the pandemic's impact on last year's figures.

Booster shot of Pfizer's vaccine slashes the risk of catching Covid FOURFOLD in over-60s, Israel's health ministry says A third dose of Pfizer's Covid vaccine significantly improves protection against infection and serious illness in the over-60s, according to an official study in Israel. It found that people given a booster shot were four times less likely to catch the virus after 10 days compared to those only given two doses. A third jab also enhanced protection from serious illness and hospitalisation in the over-60s by five to six times, according to the study by the Israeli Health Ministry. The findings, believed to be based on real-world data, were presented at a meeting of a ministry panel of vaccination experts on Thursday. But full details of the study are yet to be released. They are in line with separate data reported by Israel's Maccabi healthcare provider last week which found the boosters to be highly effective. Israel became the first country in the world to start administering booster shots to the over-60s at the end of July  with more than a million already jabbed. But amid a surging fourth wave of infections from the Delta strain, the programme has been expanded to all over-40s, medics, teachers and other frontline workers. Britain is under mounting pressure to follow suit but the Joint Committee of Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which advises No10 on the roll out, is only expected to green light third doses for vulnerable adults. Advertisement

It comes as Wales and Northern Ireland are recording their highest rates of new cases of Covid since January, as the third wave of the coronavirus continues to pick up pace across the country, new figures show.

Fermanagh & Omagh in the south-west of Northern Ireland has the highest rate of any local authority in the UK, with a total of 1,003.9 cases per 100,000 people recorded in the seven days to August 18.

This is the first time that any local authority in Northern Ireland has recorded rates over 1,000 since comparable records began in summer 2020, when mass testing was first introduced.

The figures show how the third wave of coronavirus, which began in the UK at the end of May of this year, is once again on the rise after a period last month when it appeared cases may have peaked.

Around two-thirds (67 per cent) of all local authority areas across the UK are currently recording an increase in case rates, including every area in Wales, all but one area in Northern Ireland (Mid Ulster) and all areas on mainland Scotland, according to analysis by the PA news agency.

Northern Irelands rate of new cases currently stands at 579.5 per 100,000 people, the highest since January 8. while Wales is now at 297.4 per 100,000, the highest since January 16.

The picture is slightly different for the other two nations.

In Scotland rates are also rising sharply, but are currently below the levels reached earlier in the third wave at the start of July.

Scotland recorded 289.2 cases per 100,000 people in the week to August 18, up week-on-week from 167.2, though still below the recent peak of 425.0 on July 3.

England is the only one of the four nations where rates are currently rising slowly rather than sharply, with 323.8 cases per 100,000 in the week to August 18  up from 306.9 a week earlier.

England is also still some way from hitting the sort of levels seen last month, when case rates peaked at 543.4 on July 19.

All four nations have now experienced a similarly shaped third wave.

Cases began to rise from the end of May and spiked in July, although on different dates for each nation; this was followed by a partial fall in cases and a levelling off; then came a renewed increase in cases in August, which was sharp enough in Wales and Northern Ireland to overtake the spike in July.

Unlike the first and second waves of coronavirus cases, however, the third wave has yet to cause a similarly sharp rise in the number of hospital cases and deaths.

A total of 6,441 patients with Covid were in hospital in the UK as of August 19.

This is up 9 per cent on the previous week and is the highest number for five months.

But it is a long way below the 39,254 patients who were in hospital at the peak of the second wave on January 18  the highest for any day since the start of the pandemic.

Meanwhile the average number of UK deaths reported each day of people who have died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid currently stands at 98.

This compares with a peak of 1,248 on January 23.

The relatively low levels of hospital patients and deaths during the third wave so far reflects the impact of the Covid vaccination programme, which has now seen nearly 77 per cent of all people in the UK aged 16 and over fully vaccinated.

The vaccine rollout in England is estimated to have directly averted between 91,700 and 98,700 deaths, together with more than 82,100 hospital admissions, according to the latest figures from Public Health England.

Vaccination rates vary between the four nations, particularly among young people, however.

Northern Ireland is estimated to have given a first jab to only 68 per cent of 18 to 29-year-olds, compared with 71 per cent in England, 73 per cent in Scotland and 76 per cent in Wales.

Northern Ireland has just held a 'Big Jab Weekend' in an attempt to encourage people to come forward for their first dose, with health officials saying at least 8,000 vaccinations were delivered over the past two days.
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Eye-opening images taken by a British photographer of Afghanistan in peacetime have been revealed in a new book.

In a fascinating 120-page book, travel writer Christopher Balfour reveals a side of the country that few will recognise, untouched by modern times and decades of unrest.

The photographs capture locals engaging in domestic life in a stunning landscape which had changed little in six centuries with one image showing a man holding up two fish that he had caught from the nearby river.

In another image, Balfour captured a vast temple and one of two Bamayan statues - a huge Buddha figure that had been carved hundreds of feet high into a cliff face, which was later destroyed by the Taliban in 2001.

Other images show a man lugging bales of hay on his back, a farmer sowing his field using two cows to pull the machinery, and an encampment in the desert with camels for transport.

The images have been released in the new book Afghanistan at a time of peace: A 1955 journey into the Boharak plain in a veteran Land Rover by Christopher Balfour and is published by Tricorn Books.

Images taken by Christopher Balfour of Afghanistan in peacetime have been revealed in a new book which details how Balfour travelled through the now war-torn country in 1955. Pictured: A man proudly holds up a fish while the other holds two

The images capture a side of Afghanistan which few would recognise in today's climate. Pictured: A farmer ploughs a field

Pictured: Christopher was part of a team from Cambridge that travelled overland through 11 countries to the mountainous region of Afghanistan in a Land Rover and found a place largely unchanged and untouched by the modern life of the time

Historic: One of the huge Bamayan statues carved into the mountain which were later destroyed by the Taliban in 2001

The photographs capture locals engaging in domestic life in a stunning landscape which had changed little in six centuries. Pictured: One photograph by Christopher Balfour shows the ornate Blue Mosque of Mazar-e-Sharif in the Balkh province

The team reached the Boharak Valley and set up camp alongside the River Zardeh. Pictured: Trucks drive across flood plains

Throughout the book, Balfour shares extracts from a diary of their travels and the places they reached during the journey

The journey took place during a time of peace for the country. Pictured: The team took some off time to enjoy the beauty

Mohammed Zahir Shah: Last king of Afghanistan Mohammed Zahir Shah served as King of Afghanistan from 1933 to 1973 when he was deposed by his cousin Mohammed Zahir Shah was the last King of Afghanistan, reigning until he was deposed in 1973. Throughout the Second World War and afterwards, the king helped steer the country on a path of neutrality. The popular leader was behind many political and social reforms, including attempts to improve the status of women as well as reforms which provided for a parliament, elections and a free press. In the 1950s, Zahir Shah began modernizing the country, culminating in the creation of a new constitution and a constitutional monarchy system. He was overthrown while vacationing in Italy in 1973 by a coup d'etat organised by his cousin and former prime minister Mohammed Daoud Khan. Khan established a single-party republic, ending almost 225 years of monarchical government. The former King remained in exile until 2002 when he returned to Afghanistan and was given the title of Father of the Nation. He died in 2007 and his long reign was marked by peace in the country that was lost afterwards and is often regarded nostalgically by Afghans. Advertisement

A team from Cambridge travelled overland to the mountainous country that is Afghanistan and found a place largely unchanged and untouched by the modern life of the time. They entered Kabul and travelled across the country, exploring the stunning rural countryside.

The team's photographs show they travelled Bamiyan - an ancient city famous for empty hillside niches that once sheltered the giant Buddha statues which were blown up by the Taliban.

In 2015, Afghanistan attempted to boost tourism to the area as it is considered a rare oasis of tranquillity that has largely been spared the wrenching conflict that afflicts the rest of Afghanistan.

They also show the Blue Mosque of Mazar-e-Sharif - a mosque in the Balkh province which Sunni Muslims believe contains the tomb of Hazrat Ali ibn Abi Talib.

The explorers even reached the remote Boharak Valley and set up camp alongside the River Zardeh. Throughout the book, they keep a diary of their travels and the places they reach, as well as the performance and repair done to the Land Rover en-route.

'In 1955, Afghanistan was in the middle of King Zahir Shah's fourty-year peaceful rule,' writes Christopher.

'After his well-liked father, Nadir, had been assassinated in 1933 after only four years in power, Zahir was appointed aged nineteen.

'Nadir's cousin, Amanullah, was exiled to Italy in 1929. This was because of his unpopular attempts at modernisation following his trips to Europe.'

Mohammed Zahir Shah was the last King of Afghanistan, reigning until he was deposed in 1973. Throughout the Second World War and afterwards, the king helped steer the country on a path of neutrality.

The popular leader was behind many political and social reforms, including attempts to improve the status of women as well as reforms which provided for a parliament, elections and a free press.

He was overthrown while vacationing in Italy in 1973 by a coup d'etat organised by his cousin and former prime minister Mohammed Daoud Khan.

The former King remained in exile until 2002 when he returned to Afghanistan and was given the title of Father of the Nation.

He died in 2007 and his long reign was marked by peace in the country that was lost afterwards and is often regarded nostalgically by Afghans.

Balfour continues: 'Welcomed by the Afghan authorities in Kabul, the team from Cambridge had travelled overland through the mountainous country.

'It was arranged that they could visit Badakshan and after much-appreciated hospitality, they reached the Boharak Valley.

The team were welcomed by Afghan authorities when they arrived in Kabul. Pictured: a fisherman casts a net into the river

Novelty: People in traditional Afghan clothing surround the Land Rover as it makes it way through rural Afghanistan

The photographs capture traditional Afghan life. Pictured: Encampment surrounded by mountains uses camels for transport

In a 120-page book, Christopher Balfour sheds light on Afghan lifestyle. Pictured: A herd of horses in a mountainous valley

Badakhshan is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan and is located in the farthest north-eastern part of the country

Pictured: Balfour and the team travelled through rural regions of Afghanistan where infrastructure was less developed

Balfour says the group were welcomed by locals who showed them the way of life. Pictured: a street vendor sits with his wares

The team travelled by Land Rover through Badakshan and with hospitality from locals, they reached the Boharak Valley

The explorers set up camp alongside the River Zardeh and for weeks locals were kind hosts and explained their way of life

Balfour describes being overwhelmed by the untouched nature of the region with no visible buildings and clean pure air

The book was released earlier this year and details the fascinating journey made. Pictured: the Land Rover in the desert

'They were invited to set up camp alongside the River Zardeh. For three weeks the local people were kind hosts and explained their way of life.

'Afghanistan was then much the same as Marco Polo had described it six centuries earlier.

'No visible buildings. Lush grass and trees. Air so pure and salubrious to cure all sickness. The team was leant a Land Rover OUE 271 by Rover which never "failed to proceed" through eleven countries.'

Published by Tricorn Books, Afghanistan at a time of peace: A 1955 journey into the Boharak plain in a veteran Land Rover by Christopher Balfour, is available to buy for RRP 16.99.
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Police finally began making mass arrests on Monday evening after London's West End was paralysed for hours by Extinction Rebellion protesters who had erected a giant pink table in the middle of the road.

Officers moved in after demonstrators ignored repeated demands - made by loudspeaker - for them to leave the area.

Until they began making mass arrests at 8pm, the Metropolitan police had detained just eight people, despite the fact that the protest began at midday today. By 10.15pm on Monday, the police said the the number of arrests had increased to 52.

Officers responded after protesters erected a huge piece of pink furniture - which had the words 'Change is Now' and 'Come to the table' written on it - on the junction of Long Acre, St Martins Lane and Garrick Street.

It forced police to close off several roads around the area which would normally be thronged with tourists and families sightseeing.

Several protesters were seen being carried into police vans as crowds chanted 'shame on you.' A small crowd was continuing to remain under the giant table, which was put up near Leicester Square tube station. Officers have said that they will be confiscating the table when the protesters are finally cleared.

The group blindsided officers by converging on Trafalgar Square this morning to begin two weeks of what they described as 'impossible rebellion'.

The group further outsmarted officers by driving vans on two streets surrounding the Long Acre junction, before activists locked chained themselves together while lying under the vehicles' wheels.

The Met had previously promised to take a harsher approach after previous Extinction Rebellion demonstrations paralysed the capital.

Officers tried to bring today's protest to an end by putting in place a cordon which allowed people to leave the area but not to return to it.

However, this resulted in the area being occupied almost entirely by protesters, forcing the police to move some of their cordons.

Shop owners, restaurateurs and accountants have been among those to slam the selfish actions of XR activists today as they shared their fury at facing further obstacles on the road to recovery after an already challenging 18-month period.

Mustafa Ahmadi, 37, who runs Star Gifts near to Leicester Square tube station, fears he could lose as much as 10,000 by the end of the week because of the climate change demo.

His gift shop is close to where thousands of XR protesters have set up a giant pink table and occupied a busy road junction in between Leicester Square and Covent Garden.

Mr Ahmadi described the protest as 'another kick in the teeth' for local businesses and warned the financial impact could be akin to another lockdown.

He said: 'It's like another lockdown because the shop is so quiet. It's not just me but other businesses around here.

'The police have many of the roads locked off and so the tourists and families who we would normally see are being kept out.

'It's another kick in the teeth. I could lose 10,000 if this carries on to the end of the week.

Police finally began making mass arrests on Monday evening after London's West End was paralysed for hours by Extinction Rebellion protesters who had erected a giant pink table in the middle of the road

Officers moved in after demonstrators ignored repeated demands - made by loudspeaker - for them to leave the area

Until they began making mass arrests at 8pm, the Metropolitan police had detained just eight people, despite the fact that the protest began at midday today. Above: Police remove a demonstrator from the Long Acre and Upper St Martin's Lane junction

Several protesters were seen being carried into police vans as crowds chanted 'shame on you'

Police make arrests at the Extinction Rebellion protest on the junction of Long Acre, St Martins Lane and Garrick Street

Officers responded after protesters erected a huge piece of pink furniture - which had the words 'Change is Now' written on it - on the junction of Long Acre, St Martins Lane and Garrick Street

Thousands swarmed onto a busy road junction between Leicester Square and Covent Garden, which has now become the focal point for the XR's two-week long climate change protest.

Commenting on the table stunt, a spokesperson said that four activists 'emerged from the truck that carried the huge object into the square and climbed onto the table'.

The group say they are now 'preparing to stay for the long haul and occupy the square'.

The spokesperson added: 'The table launched XR's Impossible Rebellion, bringing the seemingly impossible to life in outlandish Extinction Rebellion style.

Extinction Rebellion co-founder Gail Bradbrook is branded a hypocrite after revealing she drives a DIESEL car instead of an electric vehicle The founder of radical climate activist group Extinction Rebellion has admitted that she drives a diesel car. Dr Gail Bradbrook, 49, who helped to set up the protest group in 2018, made the revelation in an angry interview with TalkRadio presenter Cristo Foufas on Monday. After revealing that she drives a car, she admitted that she does not own an electric vehicle because she cannot afford one. When pressed further by Foufas about what type of car it was, she admitted it is powered by diesel, which is considered by experts to be even more harmful to the environment than petrol. She said that she needs the car to take her children to football and rugby fixtures because her home is not served by 'buses that run on a Sunday.' Advertisement

'The table  packed with a number of built in lock ons, sleeping quarters and its own stereo system  was followed by thousands of marchers from Trafalgar Square who arrived to demand the impossible, many of whom were equipped with pink chairs.

'As floods, fire and famine break out around the world, it is clear that climate breakdown is here now, and there is no choice left now but to take urgent action.

'Everyone deserves a seat at the table to have a say in how to tackle the greatest crisis of our times.'

Mr Ahmadi, whose business was shut throughout the lockdown at the start of the year, said: 'I'm trying to cover what I lost during the Pandemic and this is not helping.

He told MailOnline: 'They gave us no warning. Many protests come past the shop but we are always given notification. Not today, the protesters turned up just after midday and closed the area down.

'I've no idea how long they plan to stick around. I hope they make their point quickly and then go. Otherwise I want the police to do their job and move them on.

'We've only just re-opened after lockdown and the footfall is already down significantly since the protest began.'

Roberta Marzocca, general manger of the Pizza Pilgrims restaurant, said: 'We were closed down completely between December and May because of lockdown, the last thing we need is to be hit financially again.

'The police have some of the roads cordoned off but we hope customers will still come.

'It's still too early to tell if we'll be negatively affected - I really hope not.'

At around 6pm on Monday evening, the Met announced on Twitter that the protest on the junction of Long Acre Long Acre, St Martins Lane and Garrick Street had to end by 7pm.

When that was ignored, they began moving in to make mass arrests.

Four protesters who had chained themselves themselves together under the front wheel arches of an open top van, which had been parked nearby on Garrick Street, finally began to be removed by officers.

Another two protesters had earlier climbed on top of the van waving XR flags as police watched on.

At around 6pm, officers moved in and arrested four protesters who had fixed themselves to another van parked on St Martins Lane, near the Noel Coward Theatre.

Police officers, specially trained to work at heights and to separate people who chain or lock themselves together, were brought in from neighbouring Thames Valley Police but also from as far afield as Merseyside.

Police have pledged to take a more robust approach to Extinction Rebellion protesters to stop them from paralysing London as they did two years ago.

Activists form the climate change awareness group have set up a giant pink table in the middle of the West End and a crowd of thousands has gathered around it, bringing a bustling part of the city between Leicester Square and Covent Garden to a standstill.

But a senior officer at the scene told MailOnline today that the protesters would not be allowed to occupy the area for days on end like they did during the last summer protests in 2019.

There were no demonstrations last year due to the Coronavirus pandemic but two years ago, XR protesters brought in a pink boat and put it in the middle of Oxford Circus where they remained for a fortnight.

The officer said: 'You saw the chaos Extinction Rebellion caused during their summer protest in 2019 and how the Met was criticised for not doing enough to stop it.

'That won't be allowed to happen again.

'The protesters who have set up the pink table want to remain in the area for a considerable amount of time, potentially days, but we have teams ready to move them on.

'Some protesters have chained themselves under a vehicle but we have teams ready to react to that too.

'They took us by surprise today, we didn't know they were planning on pitching up here until they put the giant table structure up. Precautions had been put in place in other parts of London but this was unexpected.

'We now hope they move on, we are not anticipating violence as this is civil disobedience rather than anything more sinister.

'It's also just the start of two weeks worth of protests and nobody wants to get arrested so early on.

'But when the time comes - most likely later today - the protesters will be cleared from the area because we also have a duty to those business owners whose trade may be affected negatively due to this protest.'

Pictures showed officers making mass arrests this evening after protesters ignored a directive that they had to disperse by 7pm

This man was seen with a smile on his face as he was carried away by three officers during the protest in the West End

Another man who was being arrested lay limply, meaning five officers were needed to support him as he was carried away

This man was seen in handcuffs as officers carried him away after the 7pm deadline imposed by the Met expired

Police remove a demonstrator from the Long Acre and Upper St Martin's Lane junction. She was seen wearing a belt fixed to an item

This man, who had a drum tied to his belt, was also led away by police at the hugely disruptive protest on Monday

This woman was seen having her head supported by a female officer as she was removed from her position at the protest

And this demonstrator win the process of being lifted from the floor by officers after refusing to leave of their own accord

The group further outsmarted officers by driving vans on two streets surrounding the Long Acre junction, before activists locked their arms together while lying under the vehicles' wheels

Protesters block the junction of Long Acre and Upper St Martin's Lane with a large pink structure with 'Come to the Table' written on it

Extinction Rebellion protestors link arms under a van on Garrick Street, London during their demonstration this afternoon

Extinction Rebellion protestors link arms under a van on Garrick Street, London during their demonstration this afternoon

XR Samba arrive at Trafalgar Square for Extinction Rebellion's latest climate change protest in central London this afternoon

A topless Extinction Rebellion demonstrator in central London holds a cardboard placard imploring people to help reverse the effects of climate change

A heavy police presence at Trafalgar Square ahead of the Impossible Rebellion demonstration in central London today

A demonstrator holds a sign during a protest of Extinction Rebellion climate activists, at Trafalgar Square, in London

Members of climate change activist movement Extinction Rebellion gather in Trafalgar Square on the opening day of a planned two weeks of protests in London

People participate during a sit-in protest of Extinction Rebellion climate activists, in London this afternoon

Extinction Rebellion climate activists install a giant table during a protest, in central London this afternoon

Extinction Rebellion protest on the junction of Long Acre, St Martins Lane and Garrick Street this afternoon

Extinction Rebellion protesters gather in Covent Garden, London, this afternoon for their latest demonstration

Extinction Rebellion climate activists participate in a protest next to a giant table, in central London

People participate in a protest of Extinction Rebellion climate activists next to a big model table, in central London

One of the protesters who had chained herself to the van said she was called 'Rosie' and had travelled to London from the Midlands.

She locked herself in place just after midday and did not know any of the other protesters doing the same.

She said: 'I am doing this in solidarity with all those who have lost lives, lost homes and lost livelihoods due to the effects of climate change.

'This is for those who had suffered from the horrendous floods and wildfires, for those people on small island nations which are at risk of being lost to the sea.

'The rational response is to do something about this - to do what we can. I've no idea if this is going to work but I have to try and do something. It's no good just burying my head.

'My mood is one of determination, I want to stay here under the van for as long as possible, for as long as it takes.'

The crowd had earlier meandered through the West End, past theatres, from Trafalgar Square where the protest had begun just after 10am.

Samba bands banged drums and blew whistles and protesters chanted slogans under the watchful gaze of hundreds of police officers, who are attempting to stop London from being paralysed as in previous years.

However, frustrated motorists in vans and lorries brought to a standstill vented their anger at being caught up in the traffic nightmare.

One refrigerator repairman fumed: 'It's hard enough getting through London at the best of times let alone when people are blocking the road.

'I get that they are protesting but I'm trying to get to work and so are many other people. It's not on'

Gail Bradbrook, co-founder of the activist group, opened the 'Impossible Rebellion' with a speech expressing solidarity with nations that are disproportionately affected by climate change.

Campaigners held placards with messages including 'Code red, where's the action' while four people were dressed as the sea in a warning over rising sea levels.

The demonstration signals the start of a fortnight's action by Extinction Rebellion (XR), who are staging various protests across the capital.

A small group of activists started early yesterday, with three of them scaling the Guildhall in the City and daubing red paint onto the building and unfurling a banner proclaiming 'co-liberation freedom together' in front of a crowd of supporters. Nine people were later arrested.

Both the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police were on high alert for similar stunts today with officers patrolling outside high-risk buildings like St Paul's Cathedral and the London Stock Exchange.

Members of climate change activist movement Extinction Rebellion gather in Trafalgar Square on the opening day of a planned two weeks of protests in London

Members of Extinction Rebellion in Trafalgar Square, central London, at the beginning of a planned two weeks of action from the climate change protest group

Environmental campaign group Extinction Rebellion Starts two full weeks of climate protests, which are due to take place across London

Members of Extinction Rebellion in Trafalgar Square, central London, at the beginning of a planned two weeks of action from the climate change protest group

The group marched down Pall Mall this morning, with many concerned over the level of disruption the protests will bring

Environmental campaign group Extinction Rebellion Starts two full weeks of climate protests, which are due to take place across London

XR organisers had asked supporters to gather at Trafalgar Square for 10am this morning.

A large group - made up of three separate Samba bands - had met in St James' Park, just behind Downing Street, an hour beforehand under the watchful gaze of the police.

They were given an escort to Trafalgar Square, holding up traffic for ten minutes and prompting irritated motorists to honk their car horns in frustration.

Two Metropolitan Police helicopters hovered overhead monitoring the crowd below.

After an hour in the square - where some of the 1,000 gathered listened to speeches on climate change -they began to march once more and again block the road.

Some had banners which read 'Code Red for Humanity' and 'Rebel for Life' while many others waved colourful flags bearing the XR hourglass symbol.

XR activist Jenn Parkhouse, 55, was part of a group who had travelled into London from Norwich.

She told MailOnline: 'We now run out of time, there must be no more dilly dallying around.

'The Government must now stop all fossil fuel investment - and that goes to the banks, particularly U.S banks who are massive offenders and have invested trillions of dollars into fossil fuels despite signing up to the 2015 Paris agreement.

'The time for talking is over, we are on the precipice now. How can our Government continue to ignore report after reports that carbon emissions have reached pandemic proportions?

'We need to act to halt this climate catastrophe, and we have take a similar approach to how we have coped with the COVID pandemic. This is a climate and eco crisis and we are in grave danger.'

Oliver Baines, 70, was one of 100 activists who had made the gruelling six-hour journey into London from Cornwall.

He said: 'We have to end the extraction of fossil fuels, it's a simple, clear message and we just do not have any more time to waste

'There have been too many words, now is the time for action. We have activists here from all over the country. There will be actions in the city, that's for sure.

'The Guildhall was targeted because it's a symbol of the City. The City has profited from slave trade, arms investment and of course from investing in fossil fuels and it now needs to step up and do the right thing and stop that investment now.'

Members of Extinction Rebellion in Trafalgar Square, central London, at the beginning of a planned two weeks of action from the climate change protest group

Police are bracing for chaos, warning the environmental campaigners' latest demonstration will distract officers from dealing with crime while they focus on minimising disruption across London

This morning, protesters blocked Trafalgar Square with a marching band to try and force the Government to divert from fossil fuels

Members of Extinction Rebellion in Trafalgar Square, central London, at the beginning of a planned two weeks of action from the climate change protest group

Action is due to take place in a number of locations in the heart of the capital, including St James' Park and Piccadilly Circus, with more due to take place in the north and south of the city

The group said it will target the capital's financial district, after accusing big firms of helping to fuel climate change

XR brought much of central London to a standstill during 11 days of action in 2019 and many fear a similar level of disruption over the coming fortnight

Members of Extinction Rebellion in Trafalgar Square, central London, at the beginning of a planned two weeks of action from the climate change protest group

Red paint can still be seen above the entrance to the Guildhall, although the area was quiet this morning.

Police scuffled with protesters outside the building yesterday at about 8pm and brought in a ladder to remove protesters who had climbed onto an alcove above the main entrance.

Of the nine arrests, three were on suspicion of criminal damage and a further five were arrested for conspiracy to cause criminal damage.

A further person was arrested for going equipped to cause criminal damage, The Met said.

The movement has gained support from celebrities such as comedian and author Stephen Fry and actor Jerome Flynn.

In a video shared on Twitter, Fry praised the group for attempting to 'make politicians really recalibrate, realign, revolutionise politics' through their 'mucky' and 'disruptive' demonstrations.

Flynn attended a protest on Sunday evening in which three activists scaled the entrance of the Guildhall building in central London.

A crowd of about 200 people gathered as the trio sprayed red spray paint over the walls of the building and unfurled a banner reading 'co-liberation freedom together'.

The Game Of Thrones actor told the PA news agency it was 'more urgent than ever' for people to take a stand together.

'We've gotten used to certain systems that are life destructive, we created them, we've become addicted to them and we know the world is burning as a result,' he said.

Extinction Rebellion vowed to return to the streets earlier this month following a string of victories in court which saw activists successfully appeal convictions for previous stunts.

Their latest protest comes after a major science review by the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change confirmed that human activity such as burning fossil fuels was unequivocally driving the climate crisis, with impacts such as deadly heatwaves, floods and storms already being felt.

In November the UK will host the international Cop26 summit where the pressure will be on world leaders to increase action to urgently cut greenhouse gases and avoid even more dangerous global warming.
A former British soldier trapped in Kabul ignored official advice to stay put and made a dramatic escape through Taliban checkpoints disguised as an Afghan.

Civilian contractor Lloyd Comer, 60, told MailOnline he wouldn't be alive if he'd followed the Foreign Office advice to wait for them to fetch him.

Grandfather and retired Royal Engineers officer Mr Comer, from Nottingham, made his dash for freedom just days after the Taliban seized Kabul and began hunting door to door for their 'enemies'.

Working for a US transport maintenance company contracted by the Afghan National Army and Afghan Police, Mr Comer and his colleagues feared for their safety in a compound on the eastern side of Kabul as the Taliban drew closer.

Mr Comer changed into a shalwar kameez with a headscarf to blend in with locals and embarked on the 40-minute drive to the Baron Hotel near the airport

Lloyd Comer (pictured), 60, from Nottingham, decided to escape Kabul disguised as an Afghan just days after the Taliban seized the capital and began hunting door-to-door for their 'enemies'

'I contacted the Foreign Office online and gave them my grid coordinates last Sunday,' he said.

'The advice was ''stand fast, we'll come and get you''. But we were getting reports all the time from intelligence analysts used by our employer, that the Taliban were getting nearer.

'By Monday morning, I was being advised by local sources that I really should get to the airport, but I contacted the Foreign Office again, and they again said that I shouldn't move.

'If I'd listened to that advice, I seriously doubt whether I'd be alive talking to you today.'

Last night, four days after he returned to the UK, he was called by the Foreign Office asking if he was still in Kabul.

Instead, with help from his colleagues, Mr Comer changed into a shalwar kameez with a headscarf to blend in with locals, and embarked on the 40-minutes drive to the Baron Hotel near the airport, which he knew was being used as a muster point by the British forces.

'Normally we wouldn't venture out in Kabul in anything but an armoured Land Cruiser,' he said, 'but that would have drawn far too much attention, so instead a colleague drove me in an ordinary Toyota saloon.

'We went through three Taliban checkpoints where they gave us the once over and waved us through, thank God. I was in the Army for 35 years and served in Iraq, and I've had many hairy situations, but this was right up there with them.

The retired British soldier managed to fly home to the UK where his worried wife Julie (pictured together), 59, was waiting for him

Mr Comer (pictured with his colleagues in Afghanistan) was working for a US transport maintenance company contracted by the Afghan National Army and Afghan Police

He went through three Taliban checkpoints before he was able to link up with soldiers who drove him and other British expats through the melee outside the airport entrance

'The military training helps you try and think calmly and rationally, even when the sh*t is hitting the fan, but I really don't like to dwell on what would have happened if we'd been stopped.

'Having worked for the ANA in any capacity would definitely make me a target for the Taliban, and being a westerner, doubly so.'

Once they reached the hotel, his ordeal was far from over. A huge crowd of Afghans were blocking the entrance with Taliban gunmen standing around.

'My two colleagues just hustled me through to the entrance somehow and we made it to the safety of the hotel,' said Mr Comer. 'I'm so grateful to them.'

In the Baron Hotel, Mr Comer was able to link up with soldiers of 2 Para, who drove him and other British expats through the melee outside the airport entrance.

'I saw the scenes outside the hotel and the airport and I feel for those poor people so much,' he said. 'It's a lovely country and I'd do anything to help them get out  the way this has been handled is appalling.'

He was flown on a C-17 transport plane to the UAE, and managed to fly home to the UK from there via Spain, where his worried wife Julie, 59, was waiting for him.

Mr Comer (pictured in Afghanistan) was advised by local sources to get to the airport as the Taliban drew closer

'I've lived and worked in a lot of challenging environments,' he said 'so she's usually pretty relaxed about wherever I am, but this time she was frantic.'

Ironically, last night, safely back in the UK, Mr Comer received a call on his mobile  the first contact in which the Foreign Office had contacted him  asking if he was still in Kabul. 'It tells you everything, really, he said.'

Now he's back at home surrounded by family. He has three grown-up sons, two of whom followed him into the Royal Engineers, and nine grandchildren.

But his thoughts are still with the Afghans and other nationalities he left behind. 'My heart bleeds for those beautiful people in a crazy country,' he said.

'Since I got back I'm getting emails and WhatsApp messages all the time from people asking if I can try and help them get out, as if I'm some kind of Messiah.

'I'm not overly optimistic about what I can do to help them, but I'm trying, and I'm not going to give up any time soon.'

An foreign office spokesperson said: 'Our staff are working tirelessly to facilitate the swift evacuation of British nationals, including this individual, alongside Afghan staff and others at risk.

'The UK Government has helped more than 6,600 people leave Afghanistan since the military operation began on Saturday 14 August.'
New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has extended the country's tough Covid lockdown until at least Friday 27 August as it tries to extinguish a growing coronavirus outbreak.

Health authorities on Monday reported 35 new local infections of the fast-spreading Delta variant, the highest number of daily Covid-19 cases in New Zealand since April last year.

First discovered last week, the outbreak has grown to 107 cases but health authorities say they have found links among most of those cases, giving them hope they can quash the outbreak.

Ardern said the lockdown will continue until at least the end of the month in Auckland where most of the cases have been found - a move which has been ruthlessly criticised by her opposition as 'unfathomable'.

Jacinda Ardern unveiled a map of New Zealand and Covid hotspots in a Monday press conference in which she extended the country's tough Covid lockdown until at least Friday 27 August

'We do need more information. We need more certainty. We don't want to take any risks with Delta,' Ardern said in the press conference on Monday

Though most of the country will remain in level 4 lockdown until Friday 27 August, Auckland is destined to stay fully locked down until the end of the month

'We do need more information. We need more certainty. We don't want to take any risks with Delta,' Ardern said.

'If the world has taught us anything, it is to be cautious with this variant of Covid-19.'

While New Zealand has been one of the most successful countries in battling the Coronavirus, their vaccination rates remain low with only about 20% of people fully vaccinated.

The strict lockdown means most people must remain at home, leaving only to buy groceries or medicine, or to exercise.

The lockdown extension has been harshly condemned by opposition leader Judith Collins: 'At a time when New Zealanders have the harshest lockdown in the world and have lost our freedoms because of the government's failure to vaccinate and secure the border, this move by Jacinda Ardern is unfathomable.'

Ardern (pictured) said the lockdown will continue until at least the end of the month in Auckland where most of the cases have been found - a move which has been ruthlessly criticised by her opposition as 'unfathomable'

Meanwhile, New Zealand's Covid-19 response minister unintentionally offered the Kiwis some comic relief as he encouraged citizens to socially distance when they go outside and 'spread their legs'.

'It is a challenge for people in high density areas to get outside and spread their legs when they are surrounded by other people' the minister said, before declaring he would go and 'stretch his legs' and that the media 'would all have fun with him later'.

The hashtag #spreadyourlegs was quickly embraced by Kiwis who lit up social media with various memes and posts at the minister's expense.

Chris Hipkins: Spread your legs.



New Zealand: pic.twitter.com/rfKyKbt2wi  Aaron Dahmen (@dahmenaaron) August 22, 2021

While New Zealand maintains its strategy of trying to wipe out the virus completely through lockdowns, Australia appears to have conceded that lockdowns would not be able to eliminate the Delta variant entirely and could only slow its spread.

Australian prime minister Scott Morrison said on Sunday that lockdowns are 'not a sustainable way to live in this country', and declared states must open their borders once vaccination rates reach 80% of the population aged 16 years and older.

But in Western Australia, where there are no community infections, premier Mark McGowan said his government would not reopen at the 80% vaccination level if it meant reintroducing the virus.

About 24% of Australians are fully vaccinated.

Prime Minister Morrison's remarks this weekend came as an outbreak in Sydney grew by more than 800 cases, near record levels.

Health authorities said an outbreak centred in Melbourne also grew by 71 cases and another in the capital, Canberra, grew by 16 cases.

All three cities remain in lockdown despite widespread protests which have left a number of police officers injured in violent clashes with protestors.

Freedom protests have been held around the country in response to the Australia's COVID-19 restrictions

Violence erupted when police attempted to control protesters with pepper spray during the Freedom protest on August 21, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia

Australian prime minister Scott Morrison said Sunday that lockdowns are 'not a sustainable way to live in this country', and declared states must open their borders once vaccination rates reach 80% of the population aged 16 years and older

Police used tear gas, pepper spray and rubber bullets on demonstrators in Melbourne and arrested more than 200 people after an anti-lockdown rally on Saturday descended into a riot.

More than 4,000 people turned up to the 'freedom rally' in the Australian city on Saturday morning, and by late afternoon six officers has been hospitalised - including two with suspected broken noses, one with a broken thumb and the others with concussions - and 218 protesters arrested.

Police issued 236 fines for breaching coronavirus restrictions, and have three people in custody for assaulting police.

Smaller protests also erupted in Sydney, Brisbane and Cairns.
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The Taliban has delivered a chilling warning to foreign nationals and Afghans scrambling to leave the country, saying there will be 'consequences' if the US does not leave Afghanistan by August 31 and extends a deadline for the withdrawal of troops.

Thousands of Afghans who worked with U.S. military forces remain camped around Kabul airport trying to find safety as the clock ticks down. American nationals are also waiting for their own flights home.

President Joe Biden wants all Americans to be out by the end of the month, in order to meet the troop withdrawal agreement reached with the Taliban, although he admitted on Sunday night that an extension was under discussion, while this morning UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said the evacuation effort is 'down to hours now, not weeks'.

Taliban spokesman Dr Suhail Shaheen said the group will not accept an extension to the deadline and warned of retaliation if Western forces extend their 'occupation' since the group dramatically swept to power.

Shaheen spoke hours after Biden addressed the nation, appearing to push back against extending the August 31 deadline last night, saying the evacuation process is going to be 'hard and painful' and there will be 'discussions' about how long it will take.

The President also confirmed during the press conference that as many as 11,000 people had been evacuated from the airport in the last 36 hours, - and that the US has so far transported around 33,000 to safety since the operation began, including 2,500 Americans.

The Pentagon said that of the 11,000 evacuated over the weekend, some 3,900 were flown out by US aircraft - but this still leaves around 15,000 US passport holders and an additional 50,000-60,000 Afghan allies who are seeking transport.

Meanwhile, a White House official revealed that the US transported 10,400 people from Kabul over the last 24 hours, bringing America's total to around 37,000.

Biden said that U.S. forces had expanded the perimeter around the airport amid fears terrorists may seek to exploit the operation by attacking Americans or Afghan civilians.

And during the early hours of this morning, US soldiers at the airport in Kabul, alongside German forces, were engaged in a gunfight with 'unknown attackers' - which resulted in the death of one member of the Afgahn security force, and three additional injuries.

Taliban spokesman Dr Suhail Shaheen (pictured) has warned of 'consequences' if Western forces stay beyond the end of the month

Speaking last night at a press conference, President Biden appeared to push back on extending the August 31 deadline, saying the evacuation process is going to be 'hard and painful' and there will be 'discussions' about how long it will take

US soldiers engage in deadly dawn firefight at Kabul airport US and German forces joined in a gun battle this morning at Kabul airport after Afghan guards and unknown assailants exchanged fire, with one guard killed, the German army said. The gunfire broke out near the airport's northern gate, where at least seven Afghans died a day earlier in a panicked stampede of thousands of people trying to flee the country. The circumstances of the shooting, which occurred around dawn, remained unclear. The U.S. military and NATO did not immediately acknowledge the shooting. There was no comment from the Taliban. The shooting near the military side of the airport came as the Taliban sent fighters to the north of the capital to eliminate pockets of armed resistance to their lightning takeover earlier this month. The Taliban said they retook three districts that fell the day before and had surrounded Panjshir, the last province that remains out of their control. It follows an address last night by President Biden in which he revealed U.S. forces may stay beyond his evacuation deadline of August 31 during a speech last night as he tries to accelerate the operation to rescue Americans after days of chaos and crushes at Kabul airport. The President confirmed during the press conference that as many as 11,000 people had been evacuated from the airport in the last 36 hours - and that the US has so far transported around 33,000 to safety, including 2,500 Americans. He said that U.S. forces had expanded the perimeter around the airport amid fears terrorists may seek to exploit the operation by attacking Americans or Afghan civilians. Advertisement

Speaking about the US' deadline of August 31, Dr Suhail Shaheen told Sky News: 'It's a red line. President Biden announced that on 31 August they would withdraw all their military forces. So if they extend it that means they are extending occupation while there is no need for that.

'If the US or UK were to seek additional time to continue evacuations - the answer is no. Or there would be consequences.

'It will create mistrust between us. If they are intent on continuing the occupation it will provoke a reaction.'

But the hard deadline reignited criticism that Biden had been wrong to issue a public timetable and military experts warned the result could be rising panic around the airport among those trying to get on flights.

The Pentagon said it was aware of the Taliban position but spokesman John Kirby said he would not discuss any negotiations.

'We are head down, focused on keeping these numbers up as best we can, getting as many people out as we can by the end of the month,' he said.

'And if there needs to be a discussion about extending that timeline then we absolutely will have that discussion at the appropriate time with the commander in chief.'

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to press Biden and other G7 leaders to delay the final withdrawal in a virtual call on Tuesday, despite his armed forces minister warning Kabul will become a 'warzone' if the West stay and ignore the Taliban's demands.

Biden said last night: 'Let me be clear - the evacuation of thousands of people from Kabul is going to be hard and painful.

'No matter when it started, when we began. It would have been true if we had started a month ago, or a month from now.

'There is no way to evacuate this many people without pain and loss and heartbreaking images you see on television. It's just a fact.'

He said about 11,000 people were lifted out of Kabul in less than 36 hours, bringing the total to 33,000, and said defense officials 'hope' they will not have to extend the evacuation operation.

However in a glimmer of hope that an extension was still possible, he added: 'There are going to be discussions I suspect on how far along we are in the process.

'Our first priority in Kabul is getting American citizens out of the situation as quickly and safely as possible,' Biden said.

'Any American that wants to get home will get home.'

He also said the US government is 'looking to move our Afghan allies' out of the country as well, noting that citizens of NATO allies and Afghan allies were amongst the 11,000 individuals evacuated this past weekend.

He added that US forces had expanded the perimeter around the airport amid fears terrorists may seek to exploit the operation by attacking Americans or Afghan civilians.

Defense officials 'hope' they will not have to extend the evacuation operation, Biden said, but 'there are going to be discussions I suspect on how far along we are in the process.'

He also said troops were maintaining constant vigilance against terrorist threats, particularly from the local affiliate of ISIS, sworn enemies of the both the U.S. and the Taliban.

'The security threat is changing rapidly,' he said. 'There are civilians crowded at the airport, although we have cleared thousands of them.

'We know that terrorists may seek to exploit the situation and target innocent Afghans or American troops.'

Every day that American troops and civilians are at the airport is another day of risk that terrorists launch an attack from distance.

But he said the Taliban had been helpful.

'We discussed a lot with the Taliban,' he said. 'They've been cooperative in extending some of the perimeter.'

But he declined to describe further 'technical changes' designed to improve security.

Speaking about the US' deadline of August 31, Dr Suhail Shaheen told Sky News : 'It's a red line. President Biden announced that on 31 August they would withdraw all their military forces. So if they extend it that means they are extending occupation while there is no need for that'

Pictured: Members of the British and US armed forces pose together for a photo while working together at Kabul Airport yesterday

During the early hours of this morning, US soldiers at the airport in Kabul, alongside German forces, were engaged in a gunfight with 'unknown attackers' - which resulted in the death of one member of the Afgahn security force, and three additional injuries. Pictured: Soldiers of the Turkish Task Force patrol the Hamid Karzai International Airport this morning

Of the 11,000 evacuated over the weekend, some 3,900 were flown out by US aircraft - but this still leaves around 15,000 US passport holders and an additional 50,000-60,000 Afghan allies who are seeking transport. Pictured: British and Canadian soldiers help an Afghan climb up the wall of a canal near the airport in Kabul

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to press Biden and other G7 leaders to delay the final withdrawal in a virtual call on Tuesday, despite his armed forces minister warning Kabul will become a 'warzone' if the West stay and ignore the Taliban's demands

The date of August 31 was set as the point at which US troops would be removed from Afghanistan, meaning any evacuations need to be completed by this point. Pictured: British and Canadian soldiers patrol the perimeter of the airport in Kabul near the military-controlled section

Pictured: A US Air Force crew chief guides qualified evacuees onboard an aircraft as the evacuation mission in Afghanistan continues

How US secured Taliban agreement to leave the airport clear for evacuations After President Biden established an exit date of August 31 this year for all US soldiers to have evacuated the country, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said US officers had recently been speaking with Taliban commanders 'multiple times a day' about avoiding conflict at the airport in Kabul, which would be used as the staging ground for the evacuations. General Frank McKenzie on Sunday, August 15 negotiated the safe passage agreement with Taliban leaders in talks held in Doha, Qatar. 'I cautioned them against interference in our evacuation, and made it clear to them that any attack would be met with overwhelming force in the defense of our forces,' General McKenzie said. 'The protection of US civilians and our partners is my highest priority and we will take all necessary action to ensure a safe and efficient withdrawal.' At the White House, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said US officials were engaged in an 'hour by hour' process of holding the Taliban to their commitment to allow safe passage for civilians wishing to leave the country. Despite the agreement that the Taliban would not encroach on NATO efforts to evacuate their people, US and German soldiers were involved in a gunfight during the early hours of this morning after shots were fired by 'unknown attackers'. And now, in the face of NATO allies urging President Biden to extend his August 31 deadline, Taliban spokesman Dr Suhail Shaheen said there will be 'consequences' if the US does not leave Afghanistan on the agreed date. Advertisement

'So far the Taliban has not taken action against U.S. forces,' he said, rapping his knuckles on the lectern as if knocking on wood.

'So far they have, by and large, followed through on what they said in terms of Americans to pass through.

'And I'm sure they don't control all of their forces. It's a rag tag force.

'And so we'll see if what they say turns out to be true.'

The original evacuation agreement was reached with senior Taliban officials after a sit down in Qatar with General Frank McKenzie.

The date of August 31 was set as the point at which US troops would be removed from Afghanistan, meaning any evacuations need to be completed by this point.

It was agreed between the two parties that a 'deconfliction mechanism' would be put in place to allow the evacuation operation from the airport in Kabul to run smoothly and without Taliban interference - so long as the US had completely pulled out by the agreed deadline.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby disclosed on Tuesday that US officers were speaking with Taliban commanders 'multiple times a day' about avoiding conflict at the airport, but several Afghans have been killed or injured outside the airstrip by advancing Taliban forces.

And General McKenzie said any attempts by the Taliban to interfere with rescue operations 'will be met with overwhelming force.

The Taliban had previously agreeing to allow 'safe passage' from Afghanistan for civilians who want to leave, according to President Biden's national security adviser Jake Sullivan on Tuesday.

Sullivan acknowledged reports that some civilians were encountering resistance - 'being turned away or pushed back or even beaten' - as they tried to reach the Kabul international airport.

But he said 'very large numbers' were reaching the airport and the problem of the others was being taken up with the Taliban, whose stunningly swift takeover of the country on Sunday plunged the US evacuation effort into chaos, confusion and violence.

The UK wants to double its Kabul airlift numbers to 12,000 this week, but Johnson accepts that the success of the mission is reliant on US troops maintaining control of Kabul airport.

UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace conceded the his country's involvement will end when the US leaves, saying: 'The Prime Minister is, obviously at the G7, going to try and raise the prospect of seeing if the United States will extend.

'It's really important for people to understand the United States have over 6,000 people in Kabul airport and when they withdraw that will take away the framework ... and we will have to go as well.

'I don't think there is any likelihood of staying on after the United States. If their timetable extends even by a day or two, that will give us a day or two more to evacuate people.

'Because we are really down to hours now, not weeks, and we have to make sure we exploit every minute to get people out.'

In his sit-down interview, Dr Shaheen also claimed people are not fleeing Afghanistan because they are scared, saying it was purely 'economic migration', despite the desperate scenes at Kabul airport.

He added it was 'fake news' that girls' schools are being closed amid reports of the Taliban going door to door and threatening people while seeking former government workers.

Many women are fearful that the new regime will erode rights which they have fought for.

But Dr Shaheen insisted: 'They will lose nothing. Only if they have no hijab, they will have a hijab women are required to have the same rights as you have in your country but with a hijab.'

He added that women teachers and journalists are continuing to work despite the recent upheaval, despite stories of women being scared to leave their homes and return to work.

Evacuees from Afghanistan as they arrive in an Airbus A400 transport aircraft of the German Air Force Luftwaffe in Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Afghan families enter into Pakistan through a border crossing point in Chaman, Pakistan

People stand on a barrier outside Kabul airport, Afghanistan, after the Taliban takeover of the city last week

Boris Johnson (pictured left) will attempt to persuade US President Joe Biden (pictured right) to keep American troops in Afghanistan beyond his August 31 deadline when the two leaders take part in a G7 meeting this week

Biden said he had directed the State Department to contact Americans stranded in the country, where Taliban checkpoints are in place.

'We're executing a plan to move groups of these Americans to safety and to safely and effectively move them to the airport compound. For security reasons, I'm not going to go into detail ... but I will say again today what I've said before: Any American who wants to get home will get home.'

Afghan allies of the West and vulnerable Afghans such as women activists and journalists would be helped too, he said.

Meanwhile, 500 tonnes of medical supplies including surgical equipment and childhood pneumonia treatments due to be delivered to Afghanistan this week are stuck because of Kabul airport restrictions.

'They were ready and planned to be delivered to Afghanistan to arrive this week. But now that the airport is closed to commercial flights, we can no longer get them in,' said World Health Organisation spokesperson Inas Hamam.

She said the WHO was calling for empty planes to divert to its storage hub in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to collect the supplies on their way to pick up evacuees from the country.

One of those who managed to flee amid the pandemonium at Kabul airport was an Uber driver who had spent three days desperately trying to escape from the Taliban.

Helmand Khan was flown to safety on an RAF flight with his children after he visited relatives in Afghanistan.

The taxi driver from West London was earlier seen thrusting his British passport at TV crews as he tried to enter a compound where the British Embassy is housing evacuees.

Helmand Khan was flown to safety on an RAF flight with his children after spending three days desperately trying to flee

He told the BBC: 'You've seen by British passport, these are my children! I came in the morning, five o'clock, but I'm still waiting. In the last three days I am trying to go inside.'

Amid the chaos, a firefight broke out between unidentified gunmen, Western security forces and Afghan guards at Kabul airport last night.

One Afghan guard was killed and three others were injured in the battle, which also involved US and German forces, the German military said on Twitter.

The report did not specifying whether the dead Afghan was one of the Taliban fighters deployed to guard the airport.

The airport has been a scene of chaos since the Taliban seized the Afghan capital on August 15 as UK and international forces try to evacuate citizens and vulnerable Afghans.

British armed forces minister James Heappey acknowledged that 'when the US go, the mission has to come to an end' in Afghanistan as the Prime Minister prepares to issue the plea to the American president.

The leaders will speak during an emergency G7 summit on Tuesday as the Government presses for American troops to remain beyond August to secure the capital's airport for rescue flights.

Ministers still want to evacuate thousands more people including UK passport holders and those under the Afghan relocations and assistance policy (Arap) scheme.

Mr Heappey said the evacuation mission is 'fundamentally underpinned by a US presence', and it would have to end without American troops.

'Whether or not the US can be persuaded to stay is a matter for the Prime Minister tomorrow in the G7 meeting after the initial overtures made by both the Foreign Secretary and the Defence Secretary in the days previous,' he told Sky News.

'But the conversation with the Taliban will then follow, and the Taliban will have a choice: they can either seek to engage with the international community and show that they want to be a part of the international system, they want to be engaged in international diplomacy, or they can turn around and say there is no opportunity for an extension.

'I think everybody has to be clear that this is not just a discussion that happens between G7 leaders tomorrow, it is a discussion which happens with the Taliban.'

He acknowledged not everybody will be able to be evacuated, as he said there are still 'thousands more' people the UK wishes to evacuate, including British nationals.

The Foreign Office said it had sent five extra staff to Kabul airport, taking its total working on the evacuation effort in the capital to 19.

Mr Heappey elaborated to BBC Radio 4's Today programme by saying that the Taliban, which swept to power last week as the US withdrew its troops, 'gets a vote' on the evacuation deadline.

'It's just the reality, we could deny them the vote, we have the military power to just stay there by force, but I don't know that the humanitarian mission we're embarked on at the moment which is to evacuate as many people from Kabul as we possibly can is helped by Kabul becoming a warzone,' the minister said.

He added: 'I think in all reality given what Nato allies have in country at the moment, the period of time it would take to get in place a replacement force is not realistic, I think the reality is that the die is cast, the United States air force is operating Kabul airport, it is entirely a military airport.

Evacuations have been underway in Afghanistan since the Taliban took control of the country on August 13 after American troops were pulled from the country

'When the US go, the mission has to come to an end.'

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace held talks with their Washington counterparts over the weekend to call for an extension.

Government officials said there is 'no fixed date' on when the UK will withdraw, but it is feared that without US boots on the ground, the remaining allied forces would be unable to secure Hamid Karzai International Airport from the crowds looking to flee the Taliban takeover, or other potential security threats.

Meanwhile former British ambassador to the US Lord Kim Darroch said there 'clearly' should have been more coordination and planning for an 'orderly' exit from Kabul.

He told Radio 4's Today Programme the soldiers 'in these appalling circumstances are doing an extraordinary job', adding that the situation is 'extraordinarily fragile', with Taliban forces and British and American forces 'literally yards apart'.

'So it's a very, very tense situation,' he said.

Asked about the UK's global response, Lord Darroch said: 'I think global Britain, post-EU exit, is an interesting and potentially sensible path for the UK to go on.

'But we've reduced our foreign aid, we have done a defence review that does a number of good things but which reduces the size of the British Army, done some trade deals that basically with one exception duplicate EU deals, and we have rather passively acquiesced in a foreign policy disaster that is the Afghan withdrawal.
An alleged killer charged with murdering a popular florist who had dated his mother will stand trial next July, a court heard today.

Tony Eastlake, 55, known as the 'The Flower Man of Islington' by customers, was stabbed to death on Essex Road, Islington, in May.

James Peppiatt, 21, appeared at the Old Bailey this morning by video-link from HMP Belmarsh, charged with his murder.

He did not enter a plea but his lawyers indicated he will deny the charge.

Tony Eastlake, 55, (right) known as the 'The Flower Man of Islington' by customers, was stabbed to death on Essex Road, Islington, on May 29. James Peppiatt, 21, (left) is charged with his murder

Mr Eastlake had been in a relationship with Peppiatt's late mother, Alicia Callaghan, the court has heard.

He was stabbed in the street near his stall on Saturday May 29.

Police and paramedics rushed to the scene at 5.27pm and provided first aid but despite their best efforts Mr Eastlake died soon after.

Julian Evans, prosecuting, said earlier: 'Mr Eastlake was a florist who worked on a flower stall opposite Essex Road station for 40 years.

'He was a very well-known member of the local community.'

Tributes at a vigil for Tony Eastlake at his stall at Essex Road Station in London organised by the Islington Community Group

Mr Eastlake was known as the 'flower man of Islington' and had worked at the same stall on Essex Road since he was 14.

Hundreds of people had gathered to pay their respects at a vigil at his flower stand, Florence & Fleur, on May 31.

Peppiatt faces one charge of murder.

He was remanded in custody ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing on September 13.

Judge Anthony Leonard, QC, fixed a provisional trial date for July 18 next year.
A Scottish Royal Navy sailor who drunkenly tried to force a female colleague to give him oral sex on a nuclear submarine has escaped being thrown out of the military.

Able Seaman Calvin Denver, 28, had been drinking with others in the mess of the Trident missile-armed vessel for over five hours when he started harassing the woman.

He repeatedly asked his victim to 'suck his d***', a court martial was told and, when she refused, he got out his penis in front of his fellow drinkers and shoved it in her face towards her mouth.

Bulford Military Court, Wiltshire, heard that although she moved to avoid it, it touched her nose, the court heard.

The engineer technician, who stood motionless dressed in full uniform while being sentenced, was criticised by a judge for his 'disgusting' and 'disgraceful' behaviour.

However, he avoided being dismissed from the Navy and will be allowed to resume service after serving nine months detention at a Military Corrective Training Centre.

The submariner was seen smiling and laughing with three uniformed friends as he left the court martial, ahead of starting his sentence.

Able Seaman Calvin Denver, 28, avoided being dismissed after demanding oral sex from a fellow Royal Navy sailor

The court martial heard that AB Denver and his fellow colleagues started drinking in the mess on board the submarine - which was moored alongside the Faslane Naval base - at 7pm.

In the early hours of the morning, the woman joined them in the mess and AB Denver was drunk, the board was told.

He was described as being 'loud' and 'boisterous', the court heard.

Lieutenant Commander Solomon Hartley, for the prosecution, told the court: 'He began asking questions about her sexual history and at one point asked her 'why won't you shag me? You have already shagged him'.

'The victim ignored it and laughed it off. He then began to ask her to 'suck his d***' and kept repeating it which she found aggressive as he was saying it loudly and she described feeling threatened by him.

'He then went next to her and after ten minutes, he stood up and unzipped his trousers. She was telling him to stop but he ignored that and pulled out his penis.

'He continued asking her to 'suck his d***' and was in view of all others in the mess at the time.'

The court heard the woman felt both 'awkward' and 'intimidated'.

Lt CDR Hartley continued: 'He was stood there with his penis held in both his hands and he moved it towards her mouth. She moved to avoid it and it touched her nose.'

The panel were told the woman then left before having a shower and going to bed - she reported the incident the following day.

AB Denver had been so drunk he had not remembered the previous night's events, but when colleagues told him what had happened he apologised to her, the panel was told.

The court heard AB Denver, who the hearing was told had been deployed on the two longest recorded patrols on submarines in Royal Navy history with one lasting over 140 days, was described as having 'poor mental health' at the time due to a recent break up and his father's ill health.

He had been drinking with others in the mess of a Trident missile-armed vessel (HMS Vigilant stock, not the submarine where the incident took place) for over five hours when he started harassing the woman

He pleaded guilty to one charge of sexual touching without consent.

Judge Advocate Jane England said: 'Your behaviour was disgraceful and disgusting. You were trying to get her to do what you wanted. She thought you were going to try and make her suck your penis.

'This was in the presence of others [in the mess] where she was entitled to feel comfortable and relaxed. This was appalling behaviour by you but it is the only thing you have done in your four years of service.

'You immediately apologised to the woman. You pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and have shown remorse for your actions.'

The board concluded that AB Denver will be sent to the Military Corrective Training Centre based in Colchester for nine months where he can 'reflect' on the incident.

The court heard AB Denver can return service after that period and must keep the police aware of his movements for the next five years.
Ministers today revealed people on the UK's terror 'no fly list' have already tried to infiltrate RAF flights in Kabul - amid fears of an ISIS suicide bomb attack.

Alarm has been raised that troops are 'having to keep their fingers on the trigger in one hand while holding a baby in the other' with desperate crowds trying to get away from the Taliban.

Defence minister James Heappey insisted there are 'people trying to take advantage of this process to get into the UK to cause us harm'.

And he said suicide bombers were 'absolutely' one of the threats the operation faces.

US president Joe Biden has also highlighted the risk, saying: 'We know that terrorists might seek to exploit the situation.'

There are fears US and UK troops at Kabul airport are 'having to keep their fingers on the trigger in one hand while holding a baby in the other' with desperate people trying to get away from the Taliban. Pictured, a child is helped to safety on Friday

Defence minister James Heappey said suicide bombers were 'absolutely' one of the threats the operation faces

There have been huge queues and a number of deaths amid the panic at Kabul airport (pictured today)

'Absolutely and that is why - we would love to be able to just open the gates and let people in and even faster flow,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

'But there are people right now in Kabul trying to get onto British flights that we have identified in our checks as being on the UK no fly list.

'So the checks that are being done are entirely necessary because there are people trying to take advantage of this process to get into the UK to cause us harm.

'Secondly, there is a real threat that our troops are facing and we have to therefore execute this as a military mission, at the same time as being as humane as possible.'

A government source told The Times: 'We know they would love to get a suicide bomb into the crowd and take out some Brits or Americans.

'There is a serious threat of an Isis suicide bomber. The soldiers are having to keep their fingers on the trigger in one hand while holding a baby in the other. It's very fragile.'

Military planes making evacuation runs into Kabul have been dropping flares and carrying out nosedive combat landings amid fears terrorists may try to shoot one down.

US military planes are doing rapid diving combat landings to beat the threat of a missile attack, with video showing a French transport plane yesterday deploying flares designed to confuse heat-seeking technology which may have been stolen by Islamic State in Afghanistan.

Taliban forces controlling all access points to Hamid Karzai International Airport are not thought to be attempting to shoot down military aircraft during the Western evacuation effort, as such an action could trigger another American-led intervention in Afghanistan.

It is feared Islamic State in Afghanistan - also known as ISIS-K - could use stolen heat-seeking missiles to bring down a rescue plane carrying hundreds of refugees including women and children.

ISIS militants have been fighting the Taliban for the last six years as they attempt to annex their own piece of Afghanistan following the collapse of their caliphate in Syria and Iraq following Western airstrikes and raids targeting the terror group.

Some 20 people are believed to have killed in the turmoil around Kabul airport over the past seven days.
Senior vets today called for doomed alpaca Geronimo's life to be spared so he can be studied to improve knowledge of bovine TB.

Twelve members of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons have cast doubt about his diagnosis, saying it 'may well represent a false positive'.

Their intervention is a boost for Helen Macdonald, Geronimo's owner, whose petition to save her much-loved pet has reached nearly 150,000 signatures.

Twelve members of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons have cast doubt about Geronimo's diagnosis, saying it 'may well represent a false positive'. He is seen today

She has insisted the Enferplex test used on him twice was flawed because it had been primed with tuberculin, a purified protein derivative of bovine TB bacteria.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) denies this.

But Professor Ranald Munroe, former head of pathology for Defra's Veterinary Laboratories Agency, and Dr Iain McGill, veterinary scientific adviser to Macdonald, both support her claim that the test is inaccurate.

They pointed to data Defra on alpaca bTB cases in 2020, which they say demonstrates the test's low specificity.

The vets told The Times: 'We could learn a great deal from Geronimo were he to be compassionately studied, but very little from his death.'

It comes as Geronimo's vet claimed officials will struggle to find an 'executioner' for Geronimo because they will be labelled 'public enemy No 1'.

Owner Helen Macdonald, 50, insists the tests are flawed and that Geronimo is free from the disease

Bob Broadbent has regularly examined Geronimo, and says there is no sign of the bovine tuberculosis that the alpaca tested positive for in 2017  the reason the High Court last week ruled he must be put down.

Owner Helen Macdonald, 50, insists the tests are flawed and that Geronimo is free from the disease.

Mr Broadbent said: 'Finding someone [to kill Geronimo] is going to be an issue. I don't think you or I would like to be the person doing it. You'd be public enemy No 1.'

He added: 'The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) already knows this and they're hoping that Helen will do it for them. But she has refused to do it, unless he comes back positive after an appropriate validated test. I don't think anyone will volunteer.'

Mrs Macdonald, from Gloucestershire, ignored a request from Defra to kill the animal by 5pm last Friday.

She is now nervously awaiting a visit from Defra 'executioners'  but she too doubts any volunteers will come forward given the possible 'repercussions'.

A petition to save the alpaca has reached nearly 150,000 signatures. Pictured are protesters at the farm where he lives

Mrs Macdonald, who is uploading a live feed of Geronimo's movements, said: 'If somebody comes here to kill Geronimo, they will be identified and there are people out there who won't be happy about it.

'There may be repercussions. How does that person get any employment liability insurance, for example? It is not something any vet will undertake lightly.

'There is so much anger and rage about this. If Geronimo dies, I dread to think what will happen.

'You only have to look at his Facebook page to see that. It's out of my hands now.'

Defra officials have not said when they plan to destroy Geronimo, leaving his owner 'on edge all of the time'.
A retired top US military general and former CIA chief sparked outrage over the weekend by comparing supporters of former President Donald Trump to the Taliban and calling a suggestion to send 'the MAGA wearing unvaxxed' to Afghanistan a 'good idea.'

Retired four-star Air Force General Michael Hayden on Thursday retweeted a split image of armed militants in a caravan of white pickup trucks with the caption 'Their Taliban.' Under that was a picture of cars adorned with Trump 2020 and American flags along a highway.

The second image was captioned 'Our Taliban.'

On Sunday morning Hayden took another swing at the former president's fans.

Michael Hayden retweeted this image on Thursday, fueling outrage on the internet ahead of former President Trump's Alabama rally

Hayden also called a Twitter user's suggestion to send 'MAGA wearing unvaxxed' to Afghanistan a 'good idea'

Twitter user JoeyG suggested 'Can we send the MAGA wearing unvaxxed to Afghanistan, no use sending that plane back empty?' in apparent reference to the US's evacuation of American nationals and desperate Afghan civilians and translators escaping the Taliban.

Hayden served a variety of intel community roles under George W. Bush, most notably as CIA Director from 2006 - 2009

The general added, 'Good idea.'

'Sad and unbecoming even from you, Mike,' replied GOP Rep. Jim Banks of Indiana, a combat veteran who supported Trump's efforts to cast doubt on the election.

While he didn't respond directly, Hayden retweeted another user responding to Banks, 'Mr. Banks, General Hayden doesn't need to hear from you.'

Hayden served a variety of Intel community leadership positions across two White House administrations.

He was first appointed by President Bill Clinton to serve as Director of the National Security Agency. After staying on through President George W. Bush's first term he spent a year as Deputy Director of National Intelligence before becoming his CIA director until early 2009.

GOP Rep. Jim Banks was among the many voices blasting Hayden for his Twitter posts

Hayden was previously accused of lying to Congress, in a 2014 Senate report on CIA torture that indicated he wanted lawmakers briefed using outdated information on Guantanamo Bay detainees.

He also staunchly defended the US's use of drone warfare and accused people who criticized CIA torture methods as not useful of being 'interrogation deniers.'

But the latest statements lashing out against Trump and his supporters is enraging pundits and politicians.

Republican operative Scott T. Parkinson bashed the former intel chief for labeling Trump fans 'Our Taliban.'

'What started out as calling Trump supporters #deplorables has escalated into Former CIA director Michael Hayden RTd a tweet comparing Trump supporters to the Taliban,' he wrote on Twitter.

Fox News contributor Sara Carter said Hayden 'should be ashamed of himself.'

Conservative pundits joined in bashing the retired four-star general for his tweets comparing supporters of the former president to the Taliban

Jose Castillo, a Florida congressional candidate, compared Hayden to a clown with an online emoji.

'This [clown] was a general? Mind you the head of the CIA. Explains a lot,' he wrote.

Journalist Glenn Greenwald called Hayden a 'CNN favorite' when blasting the retired general's comment on unvaccinated Trump supporters.

'George Bush and Dick Cheney's former CIA/NSA Director -- and current CNN favorite -- endorsing the idea that people who wear MAGA hats and aren't vaccinated should be forcibly shipped to Afghanistan.

'The US intelligence community has always been led by sociopaths,' he wrote on Twitter.

Politicians, journalists and a former Trump aide criticized Hayden's comments

Former Trump aide Sebastian Gorka mocked Hayden about his military service and called him a 'seditious hack.'

One Twitter user posted screenshots of both the controversial tweets, writing 'The fall of Afghanistan has sent former CIA/NSA Director Michael Hayden (and defender of mass NSA spying) off the cliff. Hayden now wants to see Trump supporters exported to Afghanistan and is cool w/ likening them to the Taliban.'

Hayden has been a frequent critic of Trump since before he took office.

His tweet calling for unvaccinated Americans to be sent to Afghanistan came after the former president held a Saturday rally in Alabama, where he bashed Biden for his handling of the Afghanistan evacuation.

Hayden's tweet on unvaccinated 'MAGA' wearing Americans came after Trump's Saturday rally in Alabama

Hayden sparked outrage comparing Trump supporters to the Taliban

'This was not a withdrawal, this was a total surrender, for no reason,' he told a cheering crowd. 'He surrendered our airbase, he surrendered our weapons, he surrendered our embassy.'

There were no health restrictions in place despite the area where the event was held declaring an emergency over the lack of hospital space.

Hayden's Twitter feed makes no mention of Biden but the former intel chief endorsed him in 2020.

However, his retweeted posts frequently take aim at Trump and unvaccinated Americans.

One recent post of his advocated for Afghan refugees being resettled in his community, writing 'You bet' on a picture of Afghans crowded into an evacuation flight that posed whether 'you want this plane landing in your town.'
Shocking video showing the appalling conditions at Iran's infamous Evin prison has been leaked following a cyberattack.

Footage from inside prison - where British-Iranian charity worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was once held - shows guards punching, kicking and dragging inmates along the floor against their will.

In another shocking scene, a cleric is seen stepping over an emaciated inmate, seemingly unaware of his plight.

The prison, in Iran's capital Tehran, has infamously been used to hold the British-Iranian prisoners on disputed spying charges.

Charity worker Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe 43, was held at Evin until November last year when she was released to be put on house arrest over charges of undermining the Iranian state - charges she disputes.

British-Iranian businessman Anoosheh Ashoori, who was sentenced in 2019 to 12 years in prison over disputed claims he was spying for Israel, is also held at the prison.

The release of the footage comes after the prison was targeted by hackers. Video shows guards springing to attention after seeing 'cyberattack' pop up on their monitors.

Shocking video showing the appalling conditions at Iran's infamous Evin prison has been leaked following a cyberattack. Pictured: A guard attacks a prisoner at Elvin

Footage from inside prison - where British-Iranian charity worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was once held - shows guards punching, kicking and dragging inmates along the floor against their will

The prison (pictured), in Iran's capital Tehran, has infamously been used to hold the British-Iranian prisoners on disputed spying charges

Other guards gather around, holding up their mobile phones and filming, or making urgent calls.

'General protest until the freedom of political prisoners' reads another line on the screens.

An online account, purportedly by an entity describing itself as a group of hackers, shared footage of the incident, as well as parts of other surveillance video it seized, with The Associated Press.

The alleged hackers said the release of the footage was an effort to show the grim conditions at the prison.

In one part of the footage, a man smashes a bathroom mirror to try to cut open his arm.

Prisoners - and even guards - beat each other in scenes captured by surveillance cameras.

Inmates sleeping in single rooms with bunk beds stacked three high against the walls, wrapping themselves in blankets to stay warm.

'We want the world to hear our voice for freedom of all political prisoners,' read a message from the online account to the AP in Dubai.

Iran, which has faced criticism from the United Nations special rapporteur over its prison conditions, did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent to its U.N. mission in New York.

Iranian state media in the country have not acknowledged the incident at Evin.

However, several embarrassing hacking incidents have struck Iran amid ongoing tensions over its accelerated nuclear program and as talks with the West over reviving the atomic accord between Tehran and world powers remain on hold.

Four former prisoners at Evin, as well as an Iranian human rights activist abroad, have told the AP that the videos resemble areas from the facility in northern Tehran.

Some of the scenes also matched photographs of the facility previously taken by journalists, as well as images of the prison as seen in satellite photos accessed by the AP.

Much of the footage bears timestamps from 2020 and this year. Several videos without the stamp show guards wearing facemasks, signaling they came amid the coronavirus pandemic.

In this undated frame grab taken from video shared with The Associated Press by a self-identified hacker group called 'The Justice of Ali,' guards drag an emaciated prisoner, at Evin prison in Tehran, Iran. The alleged hackers said the release of the footage was an effort to show the grim conditions at the prison, known for holding political prisoners and those with ties abroad who are often used as bargaining chips in negotiations with the West. (The Justice of Ali via AP)

British-Iranian businessman Anoosheh Ashoori (pictured left) , who was sentenced in 2019 to 12 years in prison over disputed claims he was spying for Israel, is also kept at the prison. Charity worker Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe (pictured right) 43, was held at Evin until November last year when she was released to be put on house arrest over charges of undermining the Iranian state - charges she disputes

Though there is no sound in the videos, they speak to the grim world faced by prisoners at the facility.

One sequence shows what appears to be an emaciated man dumped from a car in the parking lot, then dragged through the prison.

Another shows a cleric walking down the stairs and passing by the man, without stopping.

Guards in another video are seen beating a man in a prisoner's uniform. One guard sucker-punches a prisoner in a holding cell.

Guards also fight among themselves, as do the prisoners. Many are crammed into single-room cells. No one wears a facemask.

The account that shared the videos with the AP calls itself 'The Justice of Ali,' a reference to the Prophet Muhammads son-in-law who is revered by Shiites. It also mocks Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

It claimed to have 'hundreds' of gigabytes of data from what it described as a hack conducted several months ago. It did not answer questions about who was involved in the leak.

The account linked the timing of its leak to the recent election of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, a hard-line acolyte of Khamenei involved in the execution of thousands in 1988 at the end of the Iran-Iraq War.

'The Evin prison is a stain on Raisis black turban and white beard,' the message on the screens in the prison control room also read.

Iran, long sanctioned by the West, faces difficulties in getting up-to-date hardware and software, often relying on Chinese-manufactured electronics or older systems.

The control room system seen in the video, for instance, appeared to be running Windows 7, for which Microsoft no longer provides patches.

Iran, long sanctioned by the West, faces difficulties in getting up-to-date hardware and software, often relying on Chinese-manufactured electronics or older systems. Pictured: A guard stands in disbelief as the prison's computer systems are hacked

That would make it easier for a potential hacker to target. Pirated versions of Windows and other software are common across Iran.

In recent months, Iran's railroad system was targeted by an apparent cyberattack.

Meanwhile the most-famous cyberattack - the Stuxnet virus that destroyed Iranian centrifuges at the height of Western fears over Tehran's program - is widely suspected to have been an American and Israeli creation.

Evin prison was built in 1971 under Iran's Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. It housed political prisoners then and later, after the 1979 Islamic Revolution swept the shah from power.

Reports by U.N. Special Rapporteur Javaid Rehman repeatedly named Evin prison as a site of abuses of prisoners.

Rehman warned in January that Iran's entire prison system faced 'long-standing overcrowding and hygiene deficiencies' and 'insurmountable obstacles for responding to COVID-19.'

'Prisoners of conscience and political prisoners have contracted COVID-19 or experienced symptoms, with many denied testing or treatment or suffering unnecessary delays in receiving test results and treatment,' he wrote.
A former photographer who has worked with stars including David Bowie, Rod Stewart, Barry Manilow has denied harassing a family of Jewish bakers.

Leon Paul Lecash, 69, who lives in Chelsea, allegedly sent abusive letters and emails to members of the Rinkoff baking dynasty including 64-year-old Esther, Debora, Jennifer and Ray Rinkoff.

The film producer denies this was harassment, and said during his police interview the letters and emails were a technique he was using for a documentary on the Rinkoff family.

Rinkoff's, established in 1911 by Ukrainian Jewish refugee Herman Rinkoff, is a family-run business based in the heart of the East End.

Lecash is credited with being the photographer on a number of iconic album covers from the Eighties, including Rod Stewart's Body Wishes LP, Barry Manilow's Paradise Cafe, Jermaine Jackson's Dynamite and Crimes of Passion by Pat Banetar.

He also worked with David Bowie and Jefferson Airplane before becoming a TV and film producer.

Leon Paul Lecash allegedly sent abusive letters and emails to members of the Rinkoff baking dynasty including 64-year-old Esther, Debora, Jennifer and Ray Rinkoff

Lecash is credited with being the photographer on a number of iconic album covers. He also worked with David Bowie and Jefferson Airplane before becoming a TV and film producer

Prosecutor Nathan Fuller said: 'The complainants have all received messages from Mr Lecash by email or letter.

'Each of these messages contain abusive language.

'The messages themselves, the defendant does not deny sending.

'The defendant maintained it was sent to get interest for the documentary he is making on the family.

'They contain defamatory language and allegations against the individual members of the family.

'He claims they were not harassing, they were part of his freedom of the press, and they were a technique for a documentary he was making.'

Others named in the harassment charge include lifestyle manager Sarah-Jane Adler, former bakery supplier Geoffrey Kluman and business consultant Victoria Hoskyns.

Lecash appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court dressed in a navy blazer and blue shirt.

Rinkoff's, established in 1911 by Ukrainian Jewish refugee Herman Rinkoff, is a family-run business based in the heart of the East End

The charge alleges that Lecash 'pursued a course of conduct which amounted to the harassment of Sara Jane-adler, Esther Rinkoff, Debora Rinkoff, Jennifer Rinkoff, Geoffrey Kluman, Ray Rinkoff, Victoria Hoskyns and which you knew or ought to have known amounted to the harassment of them in that sent messages through electronic devices and written letters' between 16 December 2020 and 29 March 2021.

Lecash denies harassment without violence.

He was released on bail on the condition he does not contact any of the complainants.

Lecash is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court for a two-day trial on 30 January next year.
A suspect who police say bludgeoned a New York City subway passenger with a hammer on Saturday, purportedly for looking at him 'the wrong way', has been arrested after allegedly stealing a chain from a teenage boy in a train station.

Jamar Newton, 41, became the latest example of the city's failed bail reform push as the alleged serial menace was taken into custody in Manhattan on Sunday after committing a robbery on a subway platform, cops said.

Newton was previously arrested in April on five misdemeanor charges, including menacing, petit larceny, criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of stolen property, but was released without bail, court records show

He was then arrested again in late June and charged with petit larceny and criminal possession of stolen property, but was released.

Newton, from Brooklyn, was back behind bars after being arrested at around 6pm Sunday when officers spotted him running away from an 18-year-old boy in the 125th Street subway station in Harlem.

The teenager told police he had been waiting on a platform for a northbound D train when Newton ripped a chain from his neck, reported the New York Daily News.

Caught: The NYPD have arrested 41-year-old Jamar Newton for allegedly bashing a subway rider with a hammer and then stealing a chain from a teen on a platform

Police say surveillance footage shows Newton man twirling an object - believed to be a hammer - in his hand as he walks over to a man off-screen on the other side of the platform at Union Square on Saturday night

'Want me to take more things from you?' Newton was quoted as telling the victim.

Investigators soon learned that Newton was being sought in connection with Saturday's brutal hammer attack, in which he allegedly struck a 44-year-old straphanger in the head at the Union Square station.

Newton was charged with assault, reckless endangerment, criminal possession of a weapon and robbery.

According to police, the victim in the first attack was standing on the N/Q/R/W platform at the Union Square station at around 9pm on Saturday when the suspect told him: 'Don't look at me. If you come any closer, I'm going to hit you.'

The victim walked away, the New York Post reported, but the attacker went to a bench and pulled a hammer from his bag.

Surveillance footage shows the suspect take something out of his bag and twirl it around as he walks across the platform, where he seems to strike another person, off-screen.

He was then seen on surveillance video calmly walking out of the subway station.

'The victim tries to get away,' police said, 'and the perp comes back with a hammer and hits him.'

Police revealed on Sunday that the bleeding victim had fallen onto the tracks following the hammer blow to the back of the head, but was pulled to safety by good Samaritans.

The victim was transported to Bellevue Hospital, where he required seven stitches to close his head wound. He was listed in stable condition.

Newton was scheduled to be arraigned on Monday morning.

The suspect then starts swinging the apparent weapon - leaving the victim bleeding in the subway tracks at around 9 p.m. Saturday night

The suspect was later seen calmly leaving the Union Square Station. He was arrested less than 24 hours in Harlem

The hammer attack came just one day after another woman was randomly attacked on a subway platform - on Friday morning, police said, a woman was beaten with a metal pole while waiting for the G train.

And just last week, another man was randomly attacked by an alleged Iraq War veteran swinging a hatchet, hitting him three times in the head and once in the leg.

The victim, Miguel Solorzano, 50, was left bleeding on the sidewalk until medics were able to bandage his head and transport him to Bellevue Hospital for his injuries.

He had undergone two surgeries, and is in stable condition, but still could not process why the suspect - believed to be Aaron Garcia, 37, of Yonkers - would target him.

Solorzano said he saw the suspect outside of the Chase Bank in Lower Manhattan last weekend before entering the ATM vestibule to deposit a check, when the suspect started attacking him.

'He didn't even rob me,' Solorzano told the New York Daily News in Spanish on Wednesday. 'He took nothing. Nothing. He was crazy.'

Garcia was arrested last Tuesday, after allegedly going through a rampage around town. He was charged with attempted murder and assault.

Surveillance footage from a Chase Bank in lower Manhattan shows the moment an attacker - later identified as Aaron Garcia - suddenly walks up behind Miguel Solorzano, 50, and begins swinging his weapon in the violent attack

Terrified and bloodied, Solorzano desperately tries to grab the weapon away from his attacker

Eventually, Solorazano, severely bloodied, flees, and his attacker does not follow. Police say they have the charged Garcia with assault and attempted murder in connection to the attack

City police officers responded to the scene, speaking to Solorzano who sat bleeding on the sidewalk outside of the Chase Bank in lower Manhattan

Authorities wrapped Solorzano's head in bandages as blood dripped down his face following the assault on Sunday night

Throughout the city, crime has been increasing in almost all categories.

According to NYPD data, felony assaults are up 5.3 percent from last year, as of August 15, with misdemeanor assaults up 2.1 percent.

Murders have also increased, from 275 reported during the same time frame in 2020 to 277 reported thus far in 2021.

There have also been 10.7 percent more shooting incidents, with 7 percent more victims.

And grand larcenies have also increased 1.6 percent, with grand larcenies from automobiles skyrocketing 20.2 percent.

Rapes have increased 8.6 percent and hate crimes have nearly doubled.

Crime rates throughout New York City have been increasing over last year

Earlier this month, de Blasio proudly proclaimed that the 'Safe Summer' program has been effective and said in July the NYPD curved violent crime

Despite these staggering statistics, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced earlier this month that his 'Safe Summer' program has driven down murder and gun attacks in the city.

The mayor debuted the Safe Summer program in April as a way to end gun violence by creating disincentives for young people looking to turn to guns by offering them positive alternatives.

At a press briefing on August 5, de Blasio proudly proclaimed that the program has been effective and said in the month of July the NYPD saw 'extraordinary successes' to curve violent crime.

Listing statistics from July, de Blasio noted that the NYPD made 383 gun arrests in July alone, up 133.5 percent compared to last July, the mayor said, while gun arrests in general have gone up 44.5 percent in 2021.

According to the mayor, the summer month of July is usually one of the most violent in the city but the NYPD 'rose to the challenge' and was able to suppress gun violence and executed an impressive number of gang takedowns.

'The gang takedowns mean taking a lot of bad guys off of the streets and at the same time a lot of shooters off the streets, this is crucial,' de Blasio noted.

Overall since the safe summer program was launched in May, murders have gone down 26 percent, shootings decreased 10 percent and shooting victims are down 11 percent.

'There is more to do,' he said, 'but the NYPD is moving and making an impact.'
A Florida woman has been charged with animal cruelty after throwing her ex-boyfriend's caged cat in a river during a fight.

Christa Thistle, 53, of Oak Hill, was arguing with her ex-boyfriend on the evening of August 19 in their RV home at Riverwood Park Campground because he was not moving out of their home fast enough, according to the Volusia County Sheriff Office.

Thistle began moving her ex's possessions out of the mobile home, including some food that was being cooked.

The woman then tossed her ex's nine-month-old cat Stanley into the Intracoastal Waterway, nearly drowning him, officials said.

Florida woman Christa Thistle, 53, was arrested by Volusia County Police on August 19 after she allegedly threatened her ex-boyfriend and tossed his cat into a river

Thistle denied the claims, saying: 'I would never throw a cat into the river'

Her ex managed to save Stanley, who reportedly was only underwater for about 20 seconds, according to authorities.

A report said: 'Stanley was still wet and shivering when deputies arrived, and the boyfriend was wet from the waist down, consistent with jumping in the river to save him.'

Stanley, however, was in good condition and was taken by County Animal Services for a further medical evaluation, according to WESH 2 News.

A video was captured of Thistle's arrest as she denied claims of throwing the cat in the river as she said, 'I would never throw a cat in the river.'

During the arrest, she also 'demanded to be taken to jail so she could make a phone call, bond out and kill her ex-boyfriend.'

Thistle was arrested on charges of animal cruelty and simple assault with a bond set for $5,000

The nine-month-old cat Stanley was in good condition after being submerged underwater for about 20 seconds before being rescued by Thistle's ex

The claims she made during her arrest about her ex also added a simple assault charge to her case.

She was taken to Volusia County Branch Jail where her bond was set at $5,000.

The judge ordered her to remain in jail because of the threats she made against her ex.
Britain has ordered 35million more doses of Pfizer's Covid jab to dish out as boosters next year.

The injections will arrive in the second half of 2022 and 'future proof' the country against the virus and variants, the Department of Health announced today.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the additional doses  enough to give top-ups to more than half of the population  are to ensure the country 'remains ahead of the virus for years to come'.

Some 89.3million jabs have been administered in the UK so far, which has seen 77 per cent of over-16s double-jabbed and 88 per cent given at least one dose.

The NHS is prepared for its first Covid vaccine booster rollout from next month, which will run alongside a national flu immunisation programme.

Vulnerable adults with suppressed immune systems are expected to be offered boosters first, but exactly who else will be eligible hasn't been finalised yet.

A decision from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation is due in the coming weeks.

On the back of the announcement of the Pfizer deal this afternoon, the director of the World Health Organization (WHO) said he was 'really disappointed' at the scope of vaccine donations worldwide.

The WHO has repeatedly called for vaccine doses to be prioritised for first and second injections in developing nations over booster programmes.

The UK has ordered a further 35million doses of Pfizer's Covid vaccine, which will arrive in the second half of 2022. It is unclear how they will be used, but the Government said they will help in the fight against the virus and future variants. Pictured: a woman gets a dose of the Pfizer Covid jab at a mass vaccination centre in Doncaster in June

Some 89.3million jabs have been administered in the UK so far. Some 47.6million have now been given first doses, while 41.6million people are fully immunised. This equates to 87.7 per cent of over-16s receiving first injections and 76.7 per cent having second jabs

The deal between the Vaccine Taskforce and Pfizer has not yet been published, so details including the cost of the jabs are not yet available.

The order is enough to vaccinate the 15.5million over-60s in the UK and have doses left to spare.

Mr Javid said the UK's 'phenomenal vaccination programme' has so far saved 95,200 lives in the UK and prevented 82,100 hospitalisations among over-65s in England alone.

And they have prevented 23.9million infections in England, according to Public Health England.

The Health Secretary added: 'While we continue to build this wall of defence from Covid, it's also vital we do everything we can to protect the country for the future too  whether that's from the virus as we know it or new variants.

Who could be first in line for a third jab? How will the vaccines be dished out? Millions of Britons could be offered a third Covid vaccine in September. A decision from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation's (JCVI) about who should get a third dose is due by next month. In interim guidance published in June, it set out framework for who should be considered: Who could be offered a third Covid vaccine? All over-50s

Frontline health and social care workers

People who are vulnerable to the virus

Adults living with vulnerable people How might the booster programme work? Should the 'booster' programme go ahead, it will see third doses dished out in two stages. In stage one third jabs will be offered to: All over-70s

Over-16s who are vulnerable to the virus

People living in care homes for older adults

Frontline health and social care workers And in stage two third jabs will be offered to: All over-50s

Adults aged 16 to 49 who are vulnerable to flu

Adults living with suppressed individuals such as those receiving cancer treatment Advertisement

'I am pleased we've reached this agreement with Pfizer for more doses as part of our robust preparations to future-proof our vaccine programme, ensuring we have plans in place to keep the nation safe for years to come.'

Pfizer's Covid jab is 85 to 95 per cent effective at stopping someone from developing Covid symptoms after two doses, according to latest PHE estimates.

And it is 90 to 99 per cent effective at stopping hospitalisations and 95 to 99 per cent effective at preventing death.

Scientists estimate it is more effective than the AstraZeneca jab, which still offers strong protection against hospitalisation and death, but is slightly less effective at stopping symptomatic infections for the first few months.

But a growing number of studies have suggested protection from the jabs wanes over time, more starkly with the Pfizer vaccine.

Israel - a world-leader in vaccines - became the first country in the world to start offering booster jabs last month, amid a surging fourth wave of infections due to the Delta strain.

The country has relied solely on the Pfizer jab for its rollout.

A study by the country's Health Ministry, which was presented to officials on Thursday, found people who received third doses of Pfizer were four times less likely to catch the virus after 10 days compared to those only given two doses.

The findings are believed to be based on real-world data, but the details are yet to be released.

Israel began administering third doses to people over 60 in July, later dropping the minimum age of eligibility to 50 and offering boosters to health workers and others.

Now everyone over the age of 40 and teachers are being invited for a third dose.

Britain is under mounting pressure to launch its own mass rollout.

The JCVI is expected to only green light third doses for vulnerable adults with suppressed immune systems.

The boosters will almost certainly be offered to the 3.7million Britons classified as 'clinically extremely vulnerable', with diseases such as cancer.

But originally it was hoped that the programme would be open to all over-50s, key workers and sick patients - which would have included as many as 32m people.

Some scientists have said vaccines should be used to administer first doses to people in other countries before third doses are offered in the UK.

Dr Tedros, director general at the WHO, said that of the 4.8 billion vaccine doses delivered to date globally, three-quarters have gone to just 10 countries.

Speaking to reporters today, he called for rich nations 'to share what can be used for boosters with other countries so [they] can increase their first and second vaccination coverage.'

Professor Sir Andrew Pollard, one of the scientists behind the Oxford AstraZeneca jab and chair of the JCVI, said last week: 'The greatest priority for vaccines in the world is for those who remain without protection but are at high risk of dying from Covid, including older adults, those with health conditions and health care workers, wherever they live.

'Those with zero doses have a lot to gain from receiving a vaccine today and so should be ahead of those who are already two doses up.'

And Professor Danny Altmann, an immunologist at Imperial College London and a member of SAGE's immunology taskforce, said sharing out the vaccine equitably to other countries is likely the best move, because 'the fewer millions of lungs you have virus replicating in, the better off we're all going to be'.

The Government said it will donate 100million Covid jabs within the next 12 months and has donated 548million to help distribute doses in developing countries.
Ian Crystal, 46, died after falling about 30 to 50 feet and landing on concrete during intermission at a Dead & Company concert

New York police have identified the Brooklyn resident who fell to his death while attempting a backflip on a balcony at Citi Field on Friday as the CEO and co-founder of the liquor company that created Monkey Rum.

Ian Crystal, 46, died after falling about 30 to 50 feet and landing on concrete during intermission at a Dead & Company concert.

Police sources said he was possibly under the influence when he attempted the fatal flip on the fifth floor.

Crystal, who co-founded Evolution Spirits Inc. a few years back as part of a new brand development challenge, was known for his creativity and desire for adventure.

Loved ones of the self-proclaimed innovator say he was thoughtful, well-liked and will be greatly missed.

'Ian crystal. The Rooster. One of one who was always down for the next adventure or for a long conversation that could go deep or off the rails in the best way,' Neal Weinstein posted on Facebook, along with a photo of himself and Crystal

'Left a long list of people that will miss you. Glad to have known you buddy.'

'So devastating. He was so filed with life and happiness. Ian will be truly missed by so many,' echoed Eric Myers, commenting on Weinstein's post.

Crystal attended a Dead & Company concert at Citi Field in Queens on Friday night (pictured: crowd at concert). During intermission he attempted a backflip which resulted in him falling off a balcony, at least two stories, and landing on concrete

The concert was held at Citi Field on Friday night after the Grateful Dead tribute band kicked off a 31-date tour earlier this week

'Such a treasure. I'm devastated as I know all of our friends are,' Chris Dopherty added.

'Good dude, quiet. We never had an issue with him. He was a cool guy,' Juan Torres, who worked at the Williamsburg neighborhood building Crystal once lived in, told the New York Daily News.

Torres said Crystal was 'well-liked' and devoted to his dog, Beatrice. He was also known for being a relatively healthy individual.

'He was healthy. He was always working out,' he added. 'I remember every morning when I would come in, I'd see him running.'

Torres also shared that Crystal would give thoughtful gifts during the holidays, noting he once received a box featuring a bottle of liquor, t-shirt and shot glass from the CEO.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Crystal was creative and innovative from a young age.

The Emory University MBA graduate began his brand development career in high school when he was declared winner of an advertising competition hosted by the Florida Department of Citrus.

Evolution Spirits Inc. CEO and co-founder Ian Crystal (pictured with his dog, Beatrice) died shortly after the backflip attempt

In heartfelt tributes on social media, loved ones of the self-proclaimed innovator say he was thoughtful, well-liked and will be greatly missed

'The task was to create and direct a promotional video to sell orange juice using a bespoke music track that told a positive and inspiring story about juice. This started my career marketing beverages and I never looked back,' his profile reads.

Crystal, who earned his Bachelor's in Business at the University of Maryland, managed several liquor brands over the years, including ABSOLUT Vodka, Malibu Rum and Stoli Vodka. He served as the lead on multiple brand and artist collaboration projects working with entertainers such as Jay-Z, Swedish House Mafia, Ne Yo and Brooklyn & Spike Lee.

In 2014 he co-founded Evolution Spirits Inc. The venture was part of a brand development challenge aimed to support the National Geographic drinking show, Chug.

As part of the competition, Evolution Spirits launched Monkey Rum, a 91-rated, barrel-aged Caribbean Rum made from natural ingredients that Crystal says is 'designed to sip'.

Monkey Rum is available in eleven U.S. states. Crystal says the liquor comes in 'the world's first bottle designed to be recycled into glassware'. After finishing the bottle of booze, consumers can trade their empty in for a restaurant quality rocks or pint glass at participating liquor stores.

In 2014, Crystal co-founded Evolution Spirits Inc. as part of a brand development challenge aimed to support a National Geographic drinking show. During the competition, the brand launched Monkey Rum (pictured), a 91-rated, barrel-aged Caribbean Rum made from natural ingredients that Crystal says is 'designed to sip'

Crystal attended a Dead & Company concert at Citi Field in Queens on Friday night.

During intermission, around 9 pm, he attempted the backflip, falling off a balcony, at least two stories, and landing on concrete.

First responders said they were called to the scene at 9.05 pm and found Crystal injured. He was taken to NewYorkPresbyterian Queens Hospital via ambulance, where he was pronounced dead.

'The people are inebriated, the people are intoxicated,' a security guard, who declined to give his name, told The New York Post.

A driver working outside the stadium told the newspaper he saw the victim 'flip' before he fell and slammed into the ground.

The 46-year-ol fell to his death while attempting to flip on the fifth-floor balcony during intermission at the Dead & Company show (pictured)

'He was unresponsive and he hit the ground head first. There was no way he survived,' said the driver, Dan, who only gave his first name. 'He was way too drunk. You could smell it.'

'His brother came downstairs and found out he jumped,' Dan added. 'His brother was with him. He was crying.'

A fan told The Post, 'I heard people going 'ahhh' and see people running. I said 'bro, someone took a f***ing header.'

Police taped off an area next to the right field entrance after the incident. 'We see something fall and we heard him hit the ground,' said Sean Egan, 27, who was one level up.

'It's terrible,' Egan said. 'I wish I didn't see it happen It kinda killed the mood.'

Dead & Company, the Grateful Dead tribute band, which features members of the legendary rock band Bob Weir, Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann alongside John Mayer, kicked off a 31-date tour last week.
A four-year-old girl was shot dead as she rode in a car in Tampa Sunday in an incident the mayor says may have been a case of mistaken identity.

Sunni Bell's mother was driving when another car pulled up next to them and started shooting, Assistant Police Chief Ruben Delgado said at a press conference Monday afternoon.

The altercation caused Bell's mom to crash her silver Infiniti sedan into a pole. She then turned around and found her child dead in the backseat. The shooting was initially described as a 'non-random' attack, but Tampa Mayor Jane Castor has since said investigators now believe it may have been a case of mistaken identity.

Police have not announced any suspects or motives, and officials are offering a $9,500 reward for anyone with more information.

'We know people saw what happened,' Delgado said, urging the community to step forward. 'We know people were in the area when it happened.'

Sunni Bell, 4, was riding in the back seat of her mom's Infiniti sedan Sunday night in Tampa

Sunni's mom found that her daughter died from gunshots that caused her to crash into a pole

The girl was first identified by Tampa station Fox 13. The identity of the girl's mother is not yet known.

'I would say man up turn yourself in,' family friend and activist Lashaun Tims told the channel in a message to the shooter.

'It's better for you because any killer needs help, and I say killer because we're talking about a baby. Take the message to heart. If you know something, you've got to say something.'

The pair was riding along E Hillsborough Avenue near N 43rd Street around midnight on Sunday, according to Yahoo! News.

Police said the shooter took aim at the passengers while traveling along E Hillsborough Avenue

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, center, said it may have been a case of 'mistaken identity' Monday

Police previously said the attack was not random, but Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said Bell may not have been the intended target.

'We had a four-year-old girl who lost her life, and it may have been a case of mistaken identity,' Castor said Monday.

Castor said she had spoken to Sunni's mom, but no further updates on the woman's condition were given.

The child was rushed to the hospital but died later from her injuries, authorities said.

Police closed the street for several hours after the accident while they investigated the scene, and dozens of evidence markers could be seen on the asphalt. Bullet casings could be seen on the ground.

No arrests have yet been made.

The gravely-injured child was reportedly whisked to the hospital after the midnight attack, according to News Channel 8 , where she was succumbed to her injuries

Police closed the street for several hours while they investigated the scene, andbullet casings could be seen on the ground

Crews using a cherry picker were on the scene repairing the damaged power pole for more than five hours.

Police reopened the area to traffic, save for one lane, this morning around 5:30 am.

According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, there were 1,285 murders throughout Florida in 2020, up by 260 in 2019.

Castor said there have been 26 homicides in Tampa so far this year, up from a yearly average in the low 20s during her time as chief of police from 2019 to 2015.

She also said police have confiscated more than 1,000 guns so far this year, up from a yearly average of 800 or 900 during her time at the helm of the police department.
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US officials claim they will be able to get every remaining American out of Afghanistan by August 31, even though they have no idea how many remain in the

officials have ordered troops to only allow American citizens, Green Card holders and other foreign nationals through the gates of Kabul airport to board evacuation flights, leaving tens of thousands of vulnerable Afghan refugees stranded outside while the Taliban tightens its grip, CNN has reported.

Troops have been processing both Special Immigrant Visas for Afghans like translators or others who helped in the war, and most of the US evacuation flights have been full of Afghan nationals so far.

There are around 20,000 people at the airport right now waiting to board flights and the majority do not seem to have any kind of paperwork.

Thirty-three C-17 jets are on the way to the airport that could carry 600 passengers each - 19,800 total - out of the dangerous city, but CNN cites an unnamed official who said the policy was changing to only allow US citizens, foreign citizens from other NATO countries, or Green Card holders through the gates.

No one from the White House, State Department or Pentagon has been able to give a number for how many American citizens remain in Afghanistan. It's unclear if or when the US will start flying Afghans out again.

'We've been able to evacuate several thousand Americans,' Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said on Monday morning without giving a number for how many remain stuck.

He added that Special Immigrant Visas for Afghans would still be processed to put vulnerable Afghans on flights.

'Afghans in need are still being processed and facilitated. The goal is to get as many people out as fast as possible. The focus is on doing this as best we can by the end of the month,' he said.

Biden had said he was confidant he would be able to rescue all remaining US citizens by August 31 and that he would do his best to get as many vulnerable Afghans out as possible, but there has been no promise the US will stay past the deadline to save Afghan refugees once all Americans are out.

Between Sunday morning and Monday morning, 10,400 people were removed from Kabul on 28 US flights, an average of 371 passengers per plane on flights that can hold 600.

General view of the crowds of people near the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan August 23, 2021. As many as 20,000 are waiting at the airport and 33 C-17 jets are on the way which could carry almost all of them but US officials are said to have changed the policy to only allow through US citizens

General view of the crowds of people near the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan August 23, 2021. An unnamed official cited by CNN on Monday said the troops on the ground were going to start only allowing US citizens or citizens of NATO countries through airport gates

Afghans walk along fences as they arrive in Pakistan through the Pakistan-Afghanistan border crossing point in Chaman on August 23, 2021 following Taliban's military takeover of Afghanistan

'We've been able to evacuate several thousand Americans,' Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said on Monday morning without giving a number for how many remain stuck. No one from the Pentagon, White House or State Department can say how many Americans are still in Afghanistan, but they insist they'll get them all out by Augusy 31

Other NATO flights evacuated another 5,900 people.

On every US evacuation flight so far, the majority of the passengers have been Afghans. Some went to Qatar, others are in Germany and the first planes have now arrived at airbases in Texas, where refugees will be housed at Fort Bliss.

Despite the huge numbers of people leaving every day, the crowd size at the airport in Kabul is unrelenting and becoming more aggressive.

This letter is a Taliban death warrant for the brother of an Afghan translator who helped the US in the war

The hold-up is largely down to paperwork backlogs on the ground, with some people unable to board flights unless they are given visas. An unnamed source cited by CNN on Monday said it would take four days to make a dent in the numbers outside the airport walls.

The chaos was worsened over the weekend when the State Department started administering nameless, digital SIV visas to Afghan refugees on smartphones and computers.

The refugees screenshotted the documents and shared them with friends and family, which resulted in thousands turning up with approval to board flights.

'I don't think consular, or the administration frankly, realizes how badly they f*****d up by sending that stupid visa and letting everyone in for 24 hours straight.

'Some people are saying there's no way they'll get even those currently on airport out of here in four days,' the source said.

In the city, the Taliban - which had promised to be more moderate and modern - is already resorting to medieval violence.

Leaders have issued a death sentence for the brother of one Afghan translator who was able to get out.

It reads: 'You have been accused of helping the Americans. You are also accused of providing security to your brother, who has been an interpreter.'

This morning, the German military tweeted that one member of the Afghan security forces at the airport in Kabul had been killed and three others were wounded by 'unknown attackers'.

US and German forces joined in a gun battle this morning at Kabul airport after Afghan guards and unknown assailants exchanged fire, with one guard killed, the German army said. Pictured: British and Canadian soldiers help an Afghan climb up on the wall of a canal at Kabul Airport this morning

Kabul airport has seen chaotic scenes as tens of thousands of foreigners and Afghans seek to flee Afghanistan after the Taliban swept back to power more than a week ago. Pictured: British and Canadian soldiers stand guard near a canal at Kabul airport as a crowd of Afghans wait nearby

The shooting near the military side of the airport came as the Taliban sent fighters to the north of the capital to eliminate pockets of armed resistance to their lightning takeover earlier this month

This morning, the German military tweeted that one member of the Afghan security forces at the airport in Kabul had been killed and three others were wounded by 'unknown attackers'

In their tweet, the German Army said: 'This morning at 4.13am, there was an exchange of fire between Afghan guards and unknown assailants at the North Gate of Kabul airport. An Afghan guard was killed, three others injured.

'American and German forces participated in further exchange of fire,' it said, adding that no German soldiers were injured.

Kabul airport has seen chaotic scenes as tens of thousands of foreigners and Afghans seek to flee Afghanistan after the Taliban swept back to power more than a week ago.

The US confirms they have evacuated 33,000 people - including at least 2,500 Americans.

Afghanistan's security forces collapsed in the face of the Taliban advance, despite 20 years of Western aid, training and assistance. But some armed Afghans remain at Kabul airport assisting Western evacuation efforts.

Speaking last night about the situation in Afghanistan, Biden turned on his heel and ignored a reporter who shouted 'Mr President what about ISIS and the threat Americans face now?' at the conclusion of the press conference about the crisis.

Moments before the reporter asked her question, the president said 'Thank you,' in an apparent signal that the press conference had ended.

But he has since taken heat from viewers and commentators who said the question was a sufficiently important one to merit an answer.

Biden's snub came just hours after his own national security adviser Jake Sullivan told NBC News that there is a 'genuine threat' ISIS could attack the evacuation effort at Hamid Karzai Airport in Kabul.

Sullivan, who also raised the prospect of sending US troops back into Kabul, said: 'I know that the scenes around the airport are heartbreaking, large crowds of people wanting to leave

'I know that there is complexity and there is turbulence on the ground and in Kabul, and it's very risky and dangerous because there's a genuine threat from ISIS. That is the reality of what we are up against, and I'm not going to sugarcoat that reality.'

The tragic scenes around the airport have transfixed the world, as Afghans poured onto the tarmac last week and some clung to a U.S. military transport plane as it took off, later plunging to their deaths. At least seven people died that day, in addition to the seven killed on Sunday.

The Taliban blame the chaotic evacuation on the U.S. military, saying there's no need for Afghans to fear them, even though their fighters shoot into the air and beat people with batons as they try to control the crowds outside the airport perimeter. Pictured: Afghans wait outside the military-controlled area of the airport in Kabul as they attempt to flee the Taliban

Pictured: Members of the British and US armed forces pose together for a photo while working together at Kabul Airport yesterday

The Taliban blame the chaotic evacuation on the U.S. military, saying there's no need for Afghans to fear them, even though their fighters shoot into the air and beat people with batons as they try to control the crowds outside the airport perimeter.

The Taliban have pledged amnesty to those who worked with the U.S., NATO and the toppled Afghan government, but many Afghans still fear revenge attacks. There have been reports in recent days of the Taliban hunting down their former enemies. It's unclear if Taliban leaders are saying one thing and doing another, or if fighters are taking matters into their own hands.

Over the weekend, Biden also revealed U.S. forces may stay beyond his deadline of Aug. 31 during a speech on Sunday evening he tries to accelerate the operation to rescue Americans after days of chaos and crushes at Kabul airport.

He said that U.S. forces had expanded the perimeter around the airport amid fears terrorists may seek to exploit the operation by attacking Americans or Afghan civilians.

But things were moving in the right direction with some 33,000 people brought to safety, he said.

'Let me be clear - the evacuation of thousands of people from Kabul is going to be hard and painful,' Biden said during a speech in the Roosevelt Room of the White House.

The Taliban said they retook three districts that fell the day before and had surrounded Panjshir, the last province that remains out of their control. Pictured: Taliban fighters are seen sitting on top of storage containers at the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, with a line of British soldiers beneath them

'No matter when it started, when we began, it would have been true if we had started a month ago, or a month from now.

'There is no way to evacuate this many people without pain and loss and heartbreaking images you see on television. It's just a fact.'

Biden said that as many as 33,000 people had been evacuated since July, including some 11,000 during a single 36-hour period.

Defense officials 'hope' they will not have to extend the evacuation operation, he added, but 'there are going to be discussions I suspect on how far along we are in the process.'

It comes as UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has pleaded with President Biden to delay the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

As the desperate evacuation continues, the PM will use a virtual meeting of world leaders tomorrow to push for more time to save people from the clutches of the - something the president has so far refused to commit to.

Defense minister James Heappey said this morning that 1,800 eligible citizens and 2,275 local allies had been identified, but more were coming forward all the time. 'We will get out as many as we possibly can,' he told Sky news.

Over the weekend, Biden (pictured) also revealed U.S. forces may stay beyond his deadline of August 31 during a speech on Sunday evening he tries to accelerate the operation to rescue Americans after days of chaos and crushes at Kabul airport

However, ministers admitted the rescue mission is reliant on the American military retaining control of Kabul airport. Along with losing key air support, British military officials fear Islamic State (IS) may also target UK soldiers at Kabul airport in suicide bomb attacks.

Mr Johnson said last night: 'It is vital that the international community works together to ensure safe evacuations, prevent a humanitarian crisis and support the Afghan people to secure the gains of the last 20 years.'

As the airlift continues, the U.S. government has activated the Civil Reserve Air Fleet program, requesting 18 aircraft from U.S. carriers to assist in transporting Afghan refugees after they are evacuated to other countries. The voluntary program, born in the wake of the Berlin airlift, adds to the military's capabilities during crises.

Early Monday, a Delta Air Lines flight landed in Dubai and later took off for Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, where evacuees are crowded into hangars. A steady stream of military transport planes continue to fly people out of Kabul to airfields across the Mideast.

There also have been concerns that a local Islamic State affiliate might target the crowds outside the airport with suicide bombers or fire missiles at U.S. aircraft. Military planes have been executing corkscrew landings, and other aircraft have fired flares upon takeoff, measures used to prevent missile attacks.

Elsewhere in Afghanistan, the Taliban have faced limited armed resistance from fighters in Baghlan province, some 75 miles north of Kabul.

Biden said that as many as 33,000 people had been evacuated since July, including some 11,000 during a single 36-hour period. He also said that as many as 2,500 Americans have already been transported to safety

The fighters claimed to have seized three districts in the Andarab Valley on Sunday, but the Taliban said Monday that they had cleared them out overnight.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the group's forces have surrounded nearby Panjshir, the only one of Afghanistan's 34 provinces yet to fall to the militants.

Several Taliban opponents have gathered there, including Amrullah Saleh, the vice president in the toppled government who claims to be the acting president under the constitution. Ahmad Massoud, son of the slain commander of the Northern Alliance militias that partnered with the U.S. to drive the Taliban from power in 2001, is also in Panjshir.

In interviews with Arab media outlets over the weekend, Massoud said his fighters would resist any attempt to take the province by force but were open to dialogue with the Taliban.

Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman, said there had been no fighting in Panjshir yet and that his group is seeking a 'peaceful solution' to the standoff.

It comes as damaging US cables revealed staff working at the American Embassy in Kabul are 'deeply disheartened' by the Biden Administration's withdrawal, with some even saying 'it would be better to die under the Taliban's bullet' than attempt to flee to safety.

As the airlift continues, the U.S. government has activated the Civil Reserve Air Fleet program, requesting 18 aircraft from U.S. carriers to assist in transporting Afghan refugees after they are evacuated to other countries. Pictured: A line of people attempting to flee Afghanistan is formed behind a US Air Force aircraft on August 21

The jarring statement was part of a diplomatic cable from Afghan US Embassy staff, who said they've been separated from their children, according to NBC News, which obtained the message.

'Happy to die here, but with dignity and pride,' another embassy staffer said, while a third accused the U.S. of prioritizing Afghan government elites with vast wealth and the connections to safely flee.

Another message sent via cable shared the horror would-be evacuees were met with when they arrived at Kabul's Hamid Karzai Airport. Staff were warned to prepare for 'difficult conditions,' with the cable adding: 'However, no one anticipated the brutal experience that occurred.'

Disturbingly, one Afghan embassy staffer revealed his home had been vandalized with spray paint, in what he fears was a marking left by a Taliban fighter to flag the property up for a future visit.

The cables were exposed after it was revealed around 300 Afghans asked to get out of Kabul airport and return to their Taliban-run cities because the conditions have spiraled out of control, a State Department official said.

Temperatures have been between 85 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit around the airport - essentially a dustbowl - nearly every day as the desperate mob of tens of thousands of people with young kids try to save their families from Taliban attacks, stampedes or being crushed against the airport gates.

In a shining moment, a US Marine is seen on video handing out water to children

Smiles are the rarest site in and around the Kabul airport over the last two weeks, but it was all over this viral video of a Marine helping children

A child drinks water in Kabul, which has been between 85 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit nearly everyday for the last two weeks, as dehydration and heat exhaustion set in

Pictures like this of a US Marine comforting an infant while they wait for the mother during the evacuation is the seldom scenes glimpses of humanity during dangerous times

A child and a US Marine pour water on each other to protect against dehydration and heat exhuastion as temperatures in Kabul climb over 90 degrees Fahrenheit

US troops are doing what they can to help US civilians and their Afghan allies prevent dehydration and heat exhaustion, with items like water bottles in short supply and needing to be rationed out.

One US Marine filmed giving water to six young children is being hailed as a hero, but many say that small act of kindness further serves to emphasize the scale of the human catastrophe unfolding.

Another picture that has been widely shared on Twitter and other social media platforms shows a different Marine assigned to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) comforting an infant while they wait for the child's mom during processing.

But these fleeting moments are like specs of light swallowed up by a black hole.

'We've seen wrenching images of people hurt, even killed that hit you in the gut,' Secretary Blinken told FOX News.

'And it's very important to make sure to the best of our ability, because it's such a volatile situation, that we do something about the crowding at the gates of the airport, and that's exactly what we're doing.'

A woman and children wait for transportation to the terminal at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Missing child posters like this one are on the fences of Kabul airport today

Taliban fighters stand guard as Afghans gather outside the Hamid Karzai International Airport to flee the country, in Kabul on on August 21

Dusty, rubbish strewn street filled with thousands of people desperate to take the steps needed to get into Kabul airport and out of the Taliban-run country

Taliban fighters on containers overlook the streets outside of Kabul airport

President Joe Biden said during a Sunday press briefing that about 11,000 people have been evacuated in the last 36 hours, but at least seven people have been crushed to death, including a two-year-old child.

And now terrorist threats - particularly from the local affiliate of ISIS, which are enemies of both the U.S. and the Taliban - are making the evacuation more complicated, the scene tenser and ramping up the urgency to get people out of the country.

There's concern that ISIS leaders see this as an opportunity to kill Americans while challenging Taliban for control of Afghanistan.

That threat prompted the US Embassy to issue a warning Saturday telling Americans not to brave the chaos around the airport unless they have been told to report.

In the ensuing hours, details emerged that evacuation flights were dropping flares and making steep combat landings after warnings that terrorists of the Islamic State might try to shoot down a plane.

To hasten the evacuation pace, six commercial airlines have agreed to help the US government transport people out of Kabul.

On Sunday, the US called up 18 civilian aircraft from United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air and others to carry people from temporary locations after they landed on flights from Afghanistan, leaning on the industry it last called on during the Iraq War in 2003, Reuters reported Sunday evening.

The move highlights the difficulty Washington is having carrying out the evacuations following the Taliban's swift takeover.

American and Delta said they would start relief flights on Monday.

A U.S. Marine carries a girl to the gate at Hamid Karzai International Airport, August 20

The Marines and military forces are seen in pictures like this doing what they can to help the situation in Kabul airport, which has spiraled out of control

President Joe Biden said during a Sunday press briefing that about 11,000 people have been evacuated in the last 36 hours

Photos and videos showing tender-hearted moments of US Marines caring for children in the Kabul airport are a stark difference to the scene - similar to this - where barbed wire and armed forces have to control chaotic crowds and be vigilant for potential terrorist attacks

Meanwhile, British soldiers desperately shouted for medics and stretchers, as unconscious people were carried away, many being pronounced dead and covered in white sheets, according to a Sky News report on Saturday.

Other paratroopers tried to pull people - including young children - from the chaos, and stood atop compound walls, spraying the crowd with hoses to try and cool them down, as medics dashed between casualties.

There were also scenes of people left injured and bloodied, sat amongst piles of papers and discarded clothes near the site, while others stood shoulder to shoulder, amid sounds of screams and gunshots, the Sun reports.

Tweeting from the airport this afternoon, journalist Kim Sengupta said he had witnessed 'four people, all women, die from the heat and crush'.

Sky News' chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay also reported that people at the front of the crowd of thousands were being 'crushed to death', in what he described it as 'the worst day by far' at Kabul airport.

In a sign the crisis at Kabul is deepening, Germany's government today warned that access to the airport is not often possible' and that the area remains 'extremely dangerous'.
Foreign Minister Marise Payne has choked back tears in Parliament as she revealed a young Afghan boy was the first to be rescued by Australia from the chaos of Kabul.

Her voice cracked as she described how he 'skipped down the ramp' off the military plane which had saved him, spiriting him out of Kabul to the safety of Dubai.

The usually-composed minister even had to stop mid-speech to compose herself as she struggled to contain her emotions describing the terrible conditions currently in Afghanistan.

The Australian Defence Force last week launched its mission to pull out expats and Afghan allies from Afghanistan after the country fell back into the grip of the Taliban.

Foreign minister Marise Payne has choked back tears in Parliament as she revealed a young Afghan boy was the first to be rescued by Australia from the chaos of Kabul (pictured, an ADF-supplied image of some of those rescued by Australian forces from Afghanistan)

But as Ms Payne revealed details of the rescue mission in the Senate on Monday, she was overcome with emotion, fighting back tears and often barely able to speak.

'I'm told the first person literally off the first Australian plane from Kabul a few days ago, was a little Afghani boy, and that he skipped down the ramp when it was lowered,' she told senators.

But as Ms Payne spoke more, the emotion became more intense until there were moments when she had to stop mid-sentence to compose herself before continuing.

'I know the desperation and fear that is all pervasive right now,' she said before pausing as she fought to get the words out.

'I know it is difficult beyond our imaginings, for so many brave and proud people in Afghanistan right now.'

Marise Payne (pictured) had to stop mid-speech to compose herself as she struggled to contain her emotions as she described the terrible conditions currently in Afghanistan

Her voice cracked as she described how a little Afghan boy 'skipped down the ramp' off the military plane which had saved him, spiriting him out of Kabul to the safety of Dubai (pictured, an ADF-supplied image from inside one of the Australian rescue flights out of Kabul)

Ms Payne had to swallow hard to keep the tears at bay as she battled to finish her speech.

Her voice quivered with intensity over every syllable, her breath laboured as she tried and failed to stay detached from the moment and her own words.

'And for many here who grieve for the country and the people they love, perhaps is their birthplace or perhaps for other connections. It is very difficult right now,' she said.

'Australia and our partners, all have an enduring commitment to the people of Afghanistan that will not change.'

As Ms Payne spoke more, the emotion became more intense until there were moments when she to stop mid-sentence, as seen here, to compose herself before continuing

Afghan children were among those rescued by Australian forces (pictured, one of the evacuees out of Afghanistan on an Australian rescue flight in an ADF-supplied image)

The rescue mission has so far brought more than 1,000 Australians and Afghan visa holders on flights out of the embattled country, initially to Dubai before continuing on to Australia.

Ms Payne's emotional outburst came as Australian leaders of all parties paid tribute to the work of the 40,000 ADF personnel and civilians who served in the country over the last 20 years and honoured the 41 Australian servicemen killed there.

She said the military presence there had helped avoid any repeat of 9/11 and stopped Al-Qaeda setting up a terrorist base in the nation.

'Through our collective efforts as part of a coalition of nations, we hoped to protect the world from repeats of those atrocities,' she said.

'The disappointment and pain felt by so many that the return of the Taliban to power in Afghanistan after these 20 difficult years is absolutely understandable.'

The rescue mission has so far brought more than 1000 Australians and Afghan visa holders on flights out of the strife-torn country, initially to Dubai before continuing on to Australia (pictured, a young evacuee on the Australian rescue flights, seen in an ADF-supplied image)

Marise Payne and Prime Minister Scott Morrison admitted the biggest problem was getting evacuees into Kabul's Hamzal Karzai Airport for the mercy flights to Australia. (PIctured, evacuees boarding an Australian flight our of Kabul in an ADF-supplied image)

But she admitted: 'There is no immediate answer or or evaluation that will change this disappointment.'

The scene on the ground in Kabul is said to becoming ever more chaotic and dangerous with every passing moment.

Ms Payne and Prime Minister Scott Morrison admitted the biggest problem was getting evacuees into Kabul's Hamzal Karzai Airport for the mercy flights to Australia.

The Prime Minister has already ruled out flying in Australian troops to secure a route to the airport, and personnel on the ground have been relying on the US for military help.

Ms Payne added: 'We will continue this mission as long as we are able.

'Conditions near the airport in Kabul are very dangerous and changing rapidly.'
The brother of an Afghan translator who worked for American forces during the war is being sentenced to death for helping provide security to his brother in yet another sign that the Taliban's new 'moderate' facade has already crumbled.

News of the letter emerges as Vice President Kamala Harris announced that now was not the time to analyze the withdrawal of the Biden administration from the war-torn country, but instead to focus on evacuation.

CNN confirmed the translator, who has not been named, worked with the US Army, and that his brother, also unnamed, had been sentenced to death.

The outlet obtained three letters the brother received within the last three months. The first letter is an order to appear at a court hearing.

'You have been accused of helping the Americans,' the first letter says. 'You are also accused of providing security to your brother, who has been an interpreter.'

The second letter is a notice of his failure to appear for the hearing.

The brother of an Afghan translator faces the death penalty for his brother's service to the country. Pictured is the first letter he received from the Taliban

The translation of the first hand written letter which accused him of helping the 'Infidel Crusader's'

Thousands of Afghans desperate to escape Taliban rule pleaded with troops to be allowed on planes out of the country after the militants used whips, sharp objects, and gunfire to bead back crowds outside Kabul's airport

In the third letter, which unlike the first two handwritten letters is typed, the man is ruled 'guilty in absentia' and sentenced to death for ignoring the previous letters, as well as 'servitude to the invading crusaders.'

'These court decisions are final and you will not have the right to object,' the third letter says. 'You chose this path for yourself and your death is eminent [sic], God willing.'

This death sentence appears to be the latest evidence contradicting Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Majahid that this is a more moderate Taliban.

'Nobody will be harmed in Afghanistan,' Mujahid said. 'Of course, there is a huge difference between us now and 20 years ago.'

It comes after images came out last week of alleged thieves being tarred and strapped to trucks, and reports of a journalist shot dead for raising a flag and of a woman killed for refusing to wear a burqa; burning down an amusement park; thousands of Afghans desperate to escape Taliban rule pleaded with troops to be allowed on planes out of the country.

It comes after the militants used whips, sharp objects, and gunfire to bead back crowds outside Kabul's airport; and evacuation flights out of Kabul taking off near-empty after the Taliban formed a ring of steel around the airport - blocking tens of thousands of desperate Afghans from entering as westerners said they are unable to get through the crush.

The second letter (above) and it's translation (below) is a notice of his failure to appear for the hearing

In the third letter, (above and translation below) which unlike the first two handwritten letters is typed, the man is ruled 'guilty in absentia' and sentenced to death for ignoring the previous letters, as well as 'servitude to the invading crusaders'

The Biden administration, who led the American charge to leave Afghanistan, has come under intense pressure to evacuate not only the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa applicants like the translator but other vulnerable Afghans who are fearing for their lives.

Last February, the Taliban signed the Doha Agreement in which President Trump had agreed to withdraw all but 2,500 troops from Afghanistan by the time he left office.

That highly-controversial deal, which was sealed via a 35-minute phone call with Trump at the White House, revolved around an agreement that remaining US soldiers would pull out once the Taliban agreed to both stop supporting terror groups and to ensure that Afghanistan is not used as a base for attacks on the West.

With its chaotic withdrawal, the US has kept its side of the bargain. But whether the former jihadi they've left in charge remains true to his word remains to be seen.

As the Taliban advanced rapidly across Afghanistan, undoing billions of dollars of work that was meant to build a new democracy, officials have repeatedly seized on the eradication of Al Qaeda in the country as justification for leaving.

Biden, in his speech to the nation last week, pointed to the May 1, 2021 U.S. withdrawal deadline that former President Donald Trump's administration negotiated with the Taliban  as well as the failure of U.S. trained Afghan forces to fight

'We went to Afghanistan almost 20 years ago with clear goals: get those who attacked us on September 11th, 2001, and make sure Al Qaeda could not use Afghanistan as a base from which to attack us again,' said Biden on Monday, after being forced to leave Camp David to address the crisis.

'We did that. We severely degraded Al Qaeda in Afghanistan.'

U.S. officials are engaged in cross-agency recriminations as they grapple with failures of intelligence, execution, and imagination that preceded the sudden collapse of Kabul and the chaotic evacuation underway.

Biden, in his speech to the nation last week, pointed to the May 1, 2021 U.S. withdrawal deadline that former President Donald Trump's administration negotiated with the Taliban  as well as the failure of U.S. trained Afghan forces to fight.

'Afghanistan political leaders gave up and fled the country. The Afghan military collapsed, sometimes without trying to fight,' Biden said. 'If anything, the developments of the past week reinforced that ending U.S. military involvement in Afghanistan now was the right decision.'

He stood by the determination to pull out as the 'right decision.'

Diplomats have said they were relying on intelligence assessments that the collapse of Kabul was less than imminent  although the Intelligence Community briefed lawmakers in July about the 'accelerating' pace of Taliban gains.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley said at a Pentagon press conference late last month, even amid Taliban gains across provinces: 'And there is a range of possible outcomes in Afghanistan.  A negative outcome  a Taliban takeover of Afghanistan  is not a foregone conclusion.'

That estimation of the Afghan government's strength also influenced the White House position, as President Biden publicly announced a total withdrawal of U.S. forces by Sept. 11th, then moved up the date by weeks.

A White House official singled out Milley's public assessment, calling it 'utter bunk,' CNN reported.

'We have noted the troubling trend lines in Afghanistan for some time, with the Taliban at its strongest, militarily, since 2001. Strategically, a rapid Taliban takeover was always a possibility,' said a senior intelligence official Sunday.

Defense officials have said they prepared for worst-case scenarios, and have expressed frustration that State Department officials didn't speed evacuation actions.

Pentagon spokesman Adm. John Kirby, a former State Department spokesman under President Obama, said the administration did plan for Taliban gains.

He spoke to CNN Tuesday about the chaotic departure flights from Hamid Karzai airport that reportedly left eight people dead.

'Could we have predicted every single scenario and every single breach around the perimeter of the airport with only a couple of thousand troops on the ground?' Kirby said. 'Plans are terrific and we take them seriously, but they are not and never have been perfectly predictive.'

Former Donald Trump national security advisor John Bolton told the network Tuesday that both Trump and Biden made the strategic mistake of withdrawing from the 20-year war.

'It's been a catastrophe and I'm afraid it's going to get worse. I think Biden does bear primary responsibility for that although you see now fingers being pointed saying Trump didn't leave us with any plans. We'll have to see how that shakes out,' he said.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken testified in June that he didn't expect an 'immediate deterioration in the situation' as the U.S. undertook its drawdown.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken testified in June that he didn't expect an 'immediate deterioration in the situation' as the U.S. undertook its drawdown

'Whatever happens in Afghanistan, if there is a significant deterioration in security  that could well happen, we have discussed this before  I don't think it's going to be something that happens from a Friday to a Monday,' he said  although what ultimately unfolded was a sudden Taliban takeover in a matter of days.

A foreign policy ally said Biden's advisors would never have let him take off for Camp David last Friday, as the president did, had they anticipated the sudden collapse, the Washington Post reported.

Vice President Kamala Harris asserted Monday that the U.S. must maintain its focus on evacuating Americans and vulnerable Afghans and shouldn't get distracted by questions over what went wrong in the chaotic U.S. exit from Afghanistan.

Speaking at a news conference in Singapore, Harris repeatedly declined to engage when asked what she felt should have been done differently in the withdrawal.

'There's no question there will be and should be a robust analysis of what has happened, but right now there's no question that our focus has to be on evacuating American citizens, Afghans who worked with us and vulnerable Afghans, including women and children,' she said.
The Biden administration has taken heat from all sides for its messy withdrawal from Afghanistan and blame has increasingly shifted to a key voice in the president's ear, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, who is tasked with warning the president of the consequences of such decisions.

A reporter squarely asked Sullivan if anyone on the national security team would be replaced for the bungled response 'Does the president intend to fire, reassign or ask for the resignation of any White House personnel or administration officials who handled the situation in Afghanistan?'

'I have not heard him say so,' replied Sullivan.

'It's, of course, your job to ask those kinds of questions. It's my job just to keep doing what we're doing, which is, every day, trying to get as many people out as possible.'

Calls have grown for the national security adviser to be fired.

'In a national security adviser you absolutely need someone who is able to execute and ensure that any potential problems are identified early and addressed or prepared for. That didn't happen in this case,' Brett Bruen, former director of global engagement for President Obama's national security council, told DailyMail.com.

'Ultimately it falls on the national security advisor to tell the president, I understand what you want to achieve, but we have information, we have serious concerns. Let's explore how we navigate through this. What clearly happened was Jake dismissed those and instead pressed ahead because that was what the boss wanted,' Bruen continued.

On Sunday, the New York Times reported that a number of Democratic lawmakers have weighed whether calling for Sullivan's resignation would help Biden 'reset the narrative,' after the administration's hasty withdrawal that seemed to lack meticulous planning.

'This was an abject failure. People should be held accountable. There's no way to spin it,' Democratic strategist Chris Kofinis told The Hill. 'It's not about whether we stay or go. This is about how we left. And you don't leave like that.'

He noted that Sullivan's 'primary job is to forecast ahead the potential of any consequences the president makes.'

In this handout photo provided by the White House, President Joe Biden meets with his national security team for an operational update on the situation in Afghanistan on August 22, 2021. They discussed the security situation in Afghanistan and counterterrorism operations, including ISIS-K

Biden, who prides himself on loyalty to those in his inner circle, is reportedly committed to not firing anyone on his national security counsel. To make replacements would be to admit mistake.

But Bruen, who worked with Sullivan during the Obama years, made the case for his ouster.

'While Biden may prize loyalty, our allies also prize loyalty and reliability, both of which are severely strained right now, and they're going to have a problem dealing with Sullivan. They're going to be reluctant to bank on his word.'

Sullivan, 44, is the youngest national security adviser to a president in more than 60 years. The foreign policy veteran used to advise Hillary Clinton when she served as secretary of state, and Clinton has sung Sullivan's praises. She called him a 'once-in-a-generation talent' and a 'potential future president.'

Sullivan was also a senior advisor to the Obama administration for the Iran nuclear negotiations, which began in secret throughout 2013.

Bruen argued Sullivan, having no previous experience at an embassy overseas, lives in 'Beltway bubble.'

'He has never worked overseas at an embassy or on a military base so he lives in this Beltway bubble where things sound smart, but when it comes time to implementing them there are a whole lot of challenges he has failed to account for.'

DailyMail.com has reached out to the White House and National Security Council for comment.

Calls have grown for Sullivan, left, a top adviser to the president, to be fired as a way to 'reset the narrative' after the messy Afghanistan withdrawal

The most recent mess in the Middle East is not what Biden promised during his campaign, when he touted decades of experience in his 'first love,' foreign policy.

'Biden and Sullivan, they worked in a very different world. Things have so radically changed,' Bruen said.

'A strongly worded statement from Washington ain't what it used to be. It doesn't send chills down the spines of our adversaries or warm the cockles of our allies.'

In a series of meetings leading up to the Aug. 31 withdrawal deadline, military and intelligence officials warned Biden that the consequences of swift withdrawal could include that Afghanistan would capitulate in a matter of days. But ultimately, neither Sullivan nor Secretary of State Antony Blinken pushed back on the president's desires, knowing where he stood.

Jake Sullivan: Biden national security adviser who helped negotiate Iran nuclear deal for Barack Obama in secret US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan President Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, was a senior policy advisor to Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential election campaign and her deputy chief of staff at the Department of State when she was Secretary of State. Mr Sullivan was also a senior advisor to the Obama administration for the Iran nuclear negotiations, which began in secret throughout 2013. He and US officials including Deputy Secretary of State William Burns, Senior White House Iran Advisor Puneet Talwar had met with the Iranian regime at least five times faece-to-face in Oman over the prospect of an agreement over Tehran's nuclear ambitions. Those efforts paved the way for the Joint Comprehensive, which critics say created the conditions in which Iran could develop nuclear weapons after the deal expired. Republicans also say the deal did nothing to contain Iranian terrorism in the Middle East, its ballistic missile programme, the regime's policy towards Israel or its support for Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Palestine and President Bashar al-Assad of Syria. Advertisement

The Sunday Telegraph reported over the weekend that senior White House aides had suggested there was not much pushback on the withdrawal plan because concerned administration staffers were 'too afraid' of challenging Biden and Sullivan.

An administration official said the Biden administration functions 'like an autocracy' and stifles internal dissent.

Marc Thiessen, speechwriter under President George W. Bush, wrote in the Washington Post last week that Biden's 'sycophants' had enabled him to move forward with the bungled withdrawal and questioned 'where are the adults in the room?'

And over the weekend, Sullivan essentially admitted defense officials had warned Biden of the consequences of his plan, but he had not heeded their concerns.

'So you followed the military advice on closing Bagram but the same military advisers were telling you to keep a force on the ground, they told you not to pursue this withdrawal agreement with the Taliban correct?' MSNBC's Chuck Todd asked Sullivan on Sunday.

'There are strategic judgments that a president makes and there are tactical judgments that you give absolute premium to commanders on the ground to make,' Sullivan replied.

'When it comes to the fundamental question of whether the US should remain in a civil war in Afghanistan ... for a third decade, that is a presidential call, not a call by anyone at the State Department or the Pentagon or any of the intelligence agencies.'

Sullivan has also been working to clean up the president's public statements.

On Friday, Biden said that there were no reports of Americans having a difficult time getting to the Kabul airport for their evacuation flight and that al-Qaeda did not have a presence in Afghanistan.

'Why is he misleading with his words here?' CNN's Brianna Keilar asked the national security advisor.

'I reject that characterization. With respect to al Qaeda, right now our intelligence community does not believe al Qaeda in Afghanistan represents a threat to United States homeland, Sullivan said.

He added that al Qaeda could become a threat in the future, which is why the US was committed to over-the-horizon capabilities.

At the same time, Sullivan admitted that US forces on the ground in Afghanistan face an immediate threat from ISIS.

'I know that the scenes around the airport are heartbreaking, large crowds of people wanting to leave,' Sullivan said. 'I know that there is complexity and there is turbulence on the ground and in Kabul, and it's very risky and dangerous because there's a genuine threat from ISIS-K. That is the reality of what we are up against, and I'm not going to sugarcoat that reality.'

Months ago, Sullivan promised the US would have 'months of warning' of an attack from ISIS upon leaving Afghanistan.

'We will not have the same level of daily intelligence,' he said in April of the withdrawal. 'But at a strategic level, in terms of being able to know whether or not al-Qaeda or ISIS is developing an external plotting capability, which they do not currently possess ... we will have months of warning.'

Bruen argued that Sullivan's failures are endemic.

'What we saw before Afghanistan was a crisis on the border. We saw the miscues on refugee admission, we saw problems with Israel and Cuba. So this isn't new.

We're focused on Afghanistan but they keep making these unforced errors. That's what's really concerning - while Biden wants to suggest his goal was the right one even if the execution was flawed, the errors in execution keep happening. I worry what the next crisis is going to bring.'
An alleged high-ranking cartel member who had been on the run for four years was finally captured moments before he was set to get married at a church in Colombia.

According to the Office of the Attorney General of Colombia, Luis Machete Santana, 24, is one of the Gulf Clans top bosses and oversees the criminal organizations operations in the departments of Antioquia and Choco.

Santana is allegedly responsible for coordinating the Gulf Clans assassinations, firearm supply, drug trafficking activities and the security team.

Video footage released by authorities showed the moment Santana was making his way to the altar at a church in the town of Uramita when agents placed him under arrest last Wednesday.

A woman is seen in the video asking the police officers why they were arresting the groom, before scuffling with the agents as they dragged him out of the church.

Luis Machete Santana (center) was arrested in the middle of his wedding inside a church in Uramita, Colombia, last Wednesday. The Office of the Attorney General of Colombia said the 24-year-old oversaw operations for the Gulf Clans in the departments of Antioquia and Choco

Luis 'Machete' Santana (second from the left) had been on the run since 2017 and was hiding out in the Colombian department of Antioquia

Santana had been wanted by the police since 2017, but managed to avoid capture on several occasions and sought refuge in the Antioquia mountainous region.

He has been charged with aggravated conspiracy to commit a crime.

With nearly 3,000 henchmen, the Gulf Clan is considered Colombias most powerful drug cartel and neo-paramilitary group and operates out of the departments of Antioquia, Choco and Cordoba.

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration's 2020 National Drug Threat Assessment report, the Colombian transnational criminal organization 'sends multi-ton quantities of cocaine via maritime conveyances to nearby Panama and other countries in Central America on a regular basis.'

Overall, Colombian drug trafficking organizations are responsible for 91 percent of the cocaine that is seized in the United States.

A wedding guest (bottom center) attempts to stop police officers from arresting Luis 'Machete' Santana, a 24-year-old high-ranking member of the Colombian Gulf Clan criminal organization
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Hundreds of anti-vax protesters stormed the London headquarters of ITV News and Channel 4 News this afternoon, before then trying to invade a Google office.

Up to 200 demonstrators broke into the building's lobby and demanded to speak to the broadcaster's bosses as part of a protest against vaccine passports and jabs for children.

The scenes came just moments after crowds of angry protesters hurled abuse at veteran Channel 4 presenter Jon Snow, accusing him of not 'speaking up for the children', and called for political editor Robert Peston, as police officers tried to control the mob outside the studio.

Newsreader Lucrezia Millarini was on air at the time and tweeted: 'Police at our building as anti-vaxx protestors get into the foyer. Luckily today's @itvnews was not disrupted.'

Shocking footage shows dozens of police officers forming a barrier against the activists, amid widespread shouting and desperate cries for the group to 'calm down'.

Officers, many wearing face coverings, are seen pushing back members of the crowd as tensions clearly began to boil over.

ITN said in a statement that the abuse of journalists because of their reporting on coronavirus was a 'worrying development, which the company said it had been 'closely monitoring'.

Staff were advised to either remain in the building or stay away until the situation was dealt with just before 3.30pm, when protesters left the building.

The group, which included anti-lockdown demonstrator Piers Corbyn, then made its way to the nearby Google building in Pancras Square, where an activist was filmed standing in front of a crowd with a megaphone, declaring: 'They are not giving you the right information.'

Footage earlier showed police line up to block off the entrance to the building as one protester shouted: 'They're coming for our children.'

As veteran broadcaster Mr Snow made his way into the building, one protester was heard saying: 'Do the right thing Jon. Come on you're a man of many words I respect you sir.

'Jon it's a real shame you didn't speak up for the children when you could have.'

Hundreds of anti-vaxx protesters have occupied the lobby of ITN London's headquarters after storming into the building today

Shocking footage shows dozens of police officers forming a barrier against the activists, amid widespread shouting and desperate cries for the group to 'calm down'

Officers, many wearing face coverings, are seen pushing back members of the crowd as tensions clearly begin to boil over

The demonstrators stormed into the building as part of a protest against vaccine passports

Meanwhile others were heard hurling abuse at newsreader Jon Snow as he entered the ITN building

One protester was heard saying: 'Do the right thing Jon. Come on you're a man of many words I respect you sir'

Newsreader Lucrezia Millarini was on air at the time and tweeted: 'Police at our building as anti-vaxx protestors get into the foyer. Luckily today's @itvnews was not disrupted'

Jon Snow provided a thumbs up this afternoon following the protest, as colleagues confirmed he would be on air as usual at 7pm

What do Official Voice believe? Official Voice say on their Twitter page that the group was formed to 'focus on actions to bring back our freedom and rights.' At today's protest, one person with a loudspeaker claimed that his group were being 'silenced' and that 'they' - an apparent reference to Google and the mainstream media - were 'not giving you the right information'. The demonstrators also claimed to be representing 'freedom of choice and freedom of speech'. The most recent post on the group's Instagram page shows a man wielding a banner which reads: 'Hands off our children At their protest at the BBC earlier this month, ringleader held up a sheet of A4 paper which showed the group's demands. It called for: - A weekly live debate with two representatives aired on mainstream networks discussing all aspects of the novel coronavirus - A weekly list on air with updates from the yellow card reporting scheme (The Yellow Card website allows people to report side effects from different medicines) Advertisement

One of the ringleaders appeared to be DJ Pat Wilson, who was also at the heart of a protest which saw activists try to storm a BBC studio in west London earlier this month.

Today's protest appeared to start in King's Cross at 12pm, before the group then made their way to the ITN headquarters.

It comes as:

UK growth slumps to lowest level in SIX MONTHS amid shortages of staff and materials;

Few countries are expected to be added to green list and some destinations could slip into amber or even red;

Covid became the 9th leading cause of death in England last month with virus behind nearly one in 40 fatalities;

Flu jabs may be too weak to protect people this winter because labs have been focused on Covid

The MP David Lammy was among those to condemn the latest scenes, tweeting: 'This is horrendous. @jonsnowC4 is one of the UK's finest broadcasters  but all journalists should be free to do their jobs without harassment, intimidation or abuse.'

The Metropolitan Police have said its officers are 'responding to a demonstration at a private premises on Gray's Inn Road'.

'Officers are on scene engaging with building security and removing those who have gained entry,' the force said.

An ITN spokeswoman said: 'The police are attending a breach of security at Gray's Inn Road, ITN's headquarters.

'ITN staff including those working in ITV News, Channel 4 News and 5 News have been advised to either stay in the building or stay away while the situation is being dealt with.

'News organisations have provided a vital source of information during the pandemic.

'The abuse of journalists because of their reporting on coronavirus is a worrying development which ITN has been closely monitoring and actively ensuring staff are aware of precautions to avoid coming to any harm.

'This action resulted in journalists being prevented from being able to go about their newsgathering activities, something that ITN strongly condemns.'

A demonstrator poses outside the offices of ITN during the mass demonstration in central London this afternoon

An anti-vaccine passport protester blocks a bus on Gray's Inn Road outside the ITN building this afternoon

Anti-vaccine passport protesters exit the ITN building on Gray's Inn Road in central London earlier this afternoon

Piers Corbyn, wearing a t shirt with the message 'Resist! Defy! Do Not! Comply!' joins anti-vaccine passport protesters as they occupy ITN building

The demonstrator, protesting against vaccine passports, added: 'Jon it's a real shame you didn't speak up for the children when you could have.'

Police outside the offices of ITN on Grays Inn Road, London, after a group of protesters 'unlawfully gained access' to the building

A woman not wearing a mask stands alongside police officers outside the offices of ITN this afternoon amid the protest

Protesters in the lobby of ITN on Grays Inn Road, London, after a group of protesters 'unlawfully gained access' to the building

Dozens of police officers were stationed outside the studio this afternoon after chaos erupted in the lobby

Britain has recorded 49 coronavirus deaths today and 32,253 new positive tests

UK buys 35million more Pfizer Covid jabs for NEXT winter to 'future proof' country with booster vaccines Britain has ordered 35million more doses of Pfizer's Covid jab to dish out as boosters next year. The injections will arrive in the second half of 2022 and 'future proof' the country against the virus and variants, the Department of Health announced today. Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the additional doses  enough to give top-ups to more than half of the population  are to ensure the country 'remains ahead of the virus for years to come'. Some 89.3million jabs have been administered in the UK so far, which has seen 77 per cent of over-16s double-jabbed and 88 per cent given at least one dose. The NHS is prepared for its first Covid vaccine booster rollout from next month, which will run alongside a national flu immunisation programme. Vulnerable adults with suppressed immune systems are expected to be offered boosters first, but exactly who else will be eligible hasn't been finalised yet. A decision from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation is due in the coming weeks. On the back of the announcement of the Pfizer deal this afternoon, the director of the World Health Organization (WHO) said he was 'really disappointed' at the scope of vaccine donations worldwide. The WHO has repeatedly called for vaccine doses to be prioritised for first and second injections in developing nations over booster programmes. Advertisement

The shocking scenes comes just two weeks after anti-vax protesters attempted to storm a studio at the BBC Television Centre in west London.

The protest, organised by anti-lockdown group Official Voice, started at Shepherds Bush Green before making the short journey to the BBC Studioworks site in White City.

No arrests were made and an officer sustained a 'minor' facial injury during the demonstration, which is being investigated, the Metropolitan Police said.

One of the ringleaders appeared to be DJ Pat Wilson, who proudly posted a picture of himself on Instagram holding up his 'demands' inside the building.

These included a weekly live debate with two representatives aired on mainstream networks discussing all aspects of the virus, and a weekly list on air with updates from the Yellow Card reporting scheme - a website which allows people to record side effects they've experienced from different medicines.

He said afterwards: 'We want to make a noise, the right noise. We will see what happens now.'

Later in a speech to the march he added: 'A group of us lot set this up, but we're not the leaders we don't want to tell you lot where to go or what to do.'

Former Coronation Street actor Sean Ward was also at the protest and posted footage from the roadside.

In June, police began investigating the inaction of their officers after anti-lockdown protesters harassed and intimidated a senior BBC journalist in the streets of central London.

Newsnight political editor Nicholas Watt was forced to seek shelter behind a line of police near Downing Street, as large-scale protests against the Government's extension to lockdown turned ugly.

After reviewing footage of the incident, the Metropolitan Police said it was clear that the scenes unfolded on Whitehall where officers were present and the incident was under investigation.

It comes as a man in his fifties was taken to a police station in Hertfordshire to be questioned by detectives after being identified in video footage.

A second man has also been identified and is being actively sought by officers as detectives launched a hunt for the other anti-lockdown protesters involved.

Disturbing footage from the protest showed a baying mob surrounding the journalist as they shouted abuse and called him a 'traitor', a 'liar' and 'scum'.

'My wife is 35, unvaccinated and in a coffin': Heartbroken husband whose partner died from Covid after catching virus while pregnant buries his wife and baptises the daughter she never met on same day - as he urges others to get jab

The funeral of an unvaccinated carer who died with Covid after contracting the virus while heavily pregnant has taken place in the same church where she married her husband - while the baby girl to whom she gave birth but tragically never held was baptised during the same service.

Mother-of-four Samantha Willis, 35, was laid to rest during an emotional service at Derry's St Columb's Church after passing away in Altnagelvin Hospital, Northern Ireland on Friday, having fought the virus for 16 days. Her daughter Eviegrace was born just two weeks earlier.

Samantha's husband Josh Willis, who runs a firm supplying signed sports, TV, film and music memorabilia, has been urging people who have not received their Covid jab to get inoculated against the virus as he described losing the 'love of his life' in heartbreaking posts.

The funeral and baptism took place in the same church where Samantha wed Josh two years earlier. Father Sean O'Donnell, who led the service at St Columb's Church this morning, said that this is the first time he has ever conducted a baptism at the same service as a funeral.

He remarked it is rare but 'speaks about death and life all interwoven', adding: 'It is sadness and joy all at the same time, but never brought together as close as this. And the joy of baptism of this new life doesn't minimise death, but rather the sadness that brings us here all in the context of faith.'

Members of the Derry City Under-17 squad performed a guard of honour as her coffin was carried into the church. Among those to attend the funeral was the former priest and policing board member Denis Bradley.

On Twitter, Josh had warned: 'I spent hrs in ICU on Thur/Friday with my wife who passed away. It's real, the numbers are real. Get your vaccine so you or your family don't have to go through what I have had to. As I write this I am laying beside her, she is 35, unvaccinated and in a coffin. Let that sink in!'

He described Samantha as his 'queen', while family called her a 'wonderful, loving and caring person'.

Samantha is missed by Josh, her four children Shea, Holly, Lilyanna and Eviegrace, her parents and extended family. A GoFundMe page set up to help Samantha's family has already raised more than 4,100. Those who wish to make a donation can do so here.

In July, 'concerned' researchers at Oxford University found that 99 per cent of pregnant women admitted to hospital with Covid were unvaccinated. They said one in 10 pregnant women admitted to hospital with symptoms of the virus often required intensive care.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists said Covid vaccines do not contain ingredients known to be harmful to pregnant women or developing babies.

The coffin of Samantha Willis from Strathfoyle is taken from St Columb's Church, Londonderry, after her funeral. The mother-of-four died with Covid on Friday after giving birth

Mother-of-four Samantha Willis, from Derry in Northern Ireland, passed away on Friday in Altnagelvin Hospital after giving birth to her daughter Eviegrace, her husband Josh Willis said

Husband Josh with his newborn daughter Eviegrace, being carried by a relative after the coffin of Samantha Willis from Strathfoyle is taken from St Columb's Church following her funeral

The hearse carrying the coffin of Samantha Willis to St Columb's Church, Londonderry, for the funeral for mother-of-four from Strathfoyle who died with Covid on Friday after giving birth

The coffin of Samantha Willis from Strathfoyle is taken from St Columb's Church, Londonderry, after her funeral

The coffin of Samantha Willis from Strathfoyle is taken from St Columb's Church, Londonderry, after her funeral

A grieving husband is urging people to get vaccinated against Covid after revealing that his 35-year-old pregnant wife died with the virus without ever meeting her baby girl after giving birth to her

On Twitter, Josh urged unvaccinated Britons to get inoculated against Covid, warning: 'As I write this I am laying beside her, she is 35, unvaccinated and in a coffin. Let that sink in!'

Pregnant women are urged to get a jab: Just one in ten are vaccinated as hospitalisations surge among unjabbed mothers-to-be Pregnant women have been urged to get jabbed as new data shows just one in ten have come forward. Health chiefs said rates of Covid hospitalisations are rising rapidly among unvaccinated mothers-to-be. New Public Health England data shows that so far 51,724 pregnant women in England have received at least one dose, and 20,648 women have had two. Around 600,000 women in the UK are pregnant, meaning less than ten per cent have been jabbed. Since April, pregnant women have been eligible for the vaccine at the same time as the rest of their age group. But uptake remains low and health chiefs are concerned about rising admissions for Covid-19 among pregnant women. Some 95 per cent of the pregnant women in hospital with Covid-19 last week were unvaccinated. Advertisement

In a post on the GoFundMe page, organiser Sara McCaul wrote: 'Samantha developed Covid-19 while heavily pregnant. Tragically, after giving birth to her beautiful baby daughter she passed away two weeks later.

'She was only 35 years old and had no underlying health conditions. Family and friends have been left devastated by her sudden passing at what should be a joyous occasion to celebrate. Anyone who knew Samantha would agree she had a heart of gold.

'She was always looking out for other people and was much loved in her role as a carer. She leaves behind her husband Josh, son Shea and daughters Holly, Lilyanna, and little Evie-Grace. She will be sorely missed by her family and many friends. So many of us are feeling helpless at the moment and hopefully, this page will help Josh and the children in the tough times ahead.'

Josh wrote on Facebook last week: 'Today has been the worst day of my life. I have lost the love of my life Samantha to Covid-19. Samantha had put up a strong fight for the last 16 days.

'Myself, her mother and two eldest children were by her side. She was in no pain and was comfortable when she slipped away.

'Whilst in hospital she also had to deliver our newest addition to the family who she has never met properly or held in her arms. I will make sure that Evie Grace will know all about the mother she will never meet.

'I will never let anyone forget you and I will remember all the special times and experiences we shared together. The children are now my main priority.

'All I want to do now is make Samantha proud. I'm sure she's already looking down and proud of how we are coping.

'We are also proud of her, she was a wonderful, loving and caring person and she has been our super hero the last few weeks. She is now our guardian angel and she will remain in our hearts and thoughts for ever more.

'We love you loads and miss you. We wish we could only have helped you get home to live the rest of your life with us. I will never stop loving you and we will do our best to make you proud until we see you again. Sleep tight my Queen. Love you.'

Josh added: 'Thanks to all the staff at Altnagelvin Hospital who met Samantha on her journey. You are all truly wonderful people and I will never forget what you have done for Samantha and our family.'

Thousands of condolences and tributes were paid under Josh's statement, with one saying: 'This has made my heart stop for a second. Sending every single person love.'

Another said: 'There are no words that can express the profound sadness of this.' A third wrote: 'So so sad, absolutely heartbreaking and devastating for all the family. A beautiful lady taken too soon, RIP.

'My thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends.'

The number of pregnant women getting a Covid vaccination has risen by a fifth in recent weeks. It follows a concerted effort by health officials to reassure expectant mothers about the safety of getting a jab.

The daughter of Samantha Willis, Lilyanna, is carried into St Columb's Church, Londonderry, behind the coffin for the funeral for the mother-of-four from Strathfoyle

The coffin of Samantha Willis is taken from St Columb's Church, Londonderry, after her funeral

A floral tribute outside St Columb's Church, Londonderry for Samantha Willis

Floral tributes left outside St Columb's Church, Londonderry for Samantha Willis

In an emotional Facebook post, her husband said Samantha had contracted Covid while pregnant and had put up a 'strong fight' in hospital before eventually succumbing to the virus

The number of pregnant women getting a Covid vaccination has risen by a fifth in recent weeks. It follows a concerted effort by health officials to reassure expectant mothers about the safety of getting a jab

A total of 62,311 women, who reported they were pregnant or could be pregnant at the time of receiving the vaccine, had come forward and received their first dose by the end of July, Public Health England said.

The number is up by 10,587 from July 18, when data released for the first time suggested only around one in 10 pregnant women might have had a first dose. PHE said that, of the latest total figure, 43,737 pregnant women had received their second dose.

Separate research last month revealed the vast majority of pregnant women admitted to hospital with Covid are unvaccinated and there has been a drive to encourage more to get a jab, with England's chief midwife writing to GPs and fellow midwives to spread the message.

Research by a team at St George's, University of London, published this month, showed similar birth outcomes between those who have had a Covid vaccine and those who have not.

Experts said pregnant women should feel reassured by the paper, which concluded there were no statistically significant differences in the data, with no increase in stillbirths or premature births, no abnormalities with development, and no evidence of babies being smaller or bigger.

A study is continuing to determine the best gap between coronavirus vaccine doses for pregnant women.

Researchers are aiming to recruit more than 600 pregnant women for the trial, which will monitor the vaccine's effectiveness and follow the development of children up to one year old.

In the UK, pregnant women are offered the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccines where available, as officials say there is more safety data on these jabs in pregnancy.


Here are the seven contentious moments from the president's news conference:

Biden proclaims al-Qaeda is 'gone' in Afghanistan, in direct contradiction with the Pentagon's assessment

'What interest do we have in Afghanistan with al-Qaeda gone?' Biden rhetorically asked the White House press corps.

That assertion stands in direct contradiction to a report from the Defense Department Inspector general on Operation Freedom's Sentinel, covering April 1, 2021 to June 30, 2021.

'The Taliban continued to maintain its relationship with al-Qaeda, providing safe haven for the terrorist group in Afghanistan,' the report read.

A key provision of the US withdrawal under the Taliban peace deal was that the Taliban would not harbor terrorists, thus the report signals the US upheld its end of the deal even though the Taliban did not.

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby, shortly after the president's news conference, disputed his claim al-Qaeda had no presence in Afghanistan, but said: 'there isn't a presence significant enough to merit a threat to our homeland.'

'We know that Al-Qaeda is a presence...in Afghanistan,' Kirby said. 'We don't have an exact figure [of how many members].

On Monday, the day after the fall of Kabul, pro-al Qaeda social media accounts circulated an unsigned statement congratulating their Taliban 'brothers' on their stunning victory.

'Afghanistan is Conquered and Islam has Won,' read the message, translated by the SITE Intelligence Group.

Biden himself said in an ABC interview released Thursday that al-Qaeda could resurge in Afghanistan even sooner than original intelligence predictions of 18-24 months.

'Could [al-Qaeda resurgence] be sooner?' ABC News host George Stephanopoulos asked Biden. 'It could be. But George, look, here's the deal. Al Qaeda, ISIS, they metastasize,' the president said, adding that al-Qaeda was a bigger threat in Syria and East Africa.

Biden says he has seen 'no indication' Americans have had a tough time getting to the airport, but American journalists on the ground say otherwise

'We have no indication that [Americans] have not been able to get, in Kabul, through the airport. We have made an agreement with the Taliban. Thus far, they have allowed them to go through,' Biden told reporters.

'To the best of our knowledge, the Taliban checkpoints, they are letting through people showing American passports,' Biden said.

Days ago the US State Department told Americans to get to the Kabul airport on their own to be evacuated. 'THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT CANNOT ENSURE SAFE PASSAGE TO THE HAMID KARZAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT,' they wrote in a memo.

State Department spokesman Ned Price in a subsequent news conference conceded that Americans were having a difficult time getting to the airport.

'It remains to be the case that many Afghans and many American citizens have not been able to get through,' a reporter noted. 'I don't think anyone is denying the reports,' Price said.

'We had difficulty getting into the airport. Working out how to get to the airport is like a Rubik's cube,' CNN's Clarissa Ward, reporting from Kabul, said. 'I can't get into the details of how we did get in but it's very difficult ... and it's dangerous.'

'The president said he has no intelligence that the Americans have not been able to get [to the Kabul airport]. The question, obviouslydoes that square with reporting on ground?' ABC's David Muir asked foreign correspondent Ian Pannell.

'I mean - totally not,' Pannell responded. 'It just seems the reality and the rhetoric are miles apart. I'm not quite sure what advice the president is receiving but the truth on the ground is these people in fear of their lives can't get through.'

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in a briefing call with House lawmakers that Americans had been beaten by Taliban, which he called 'unacceptable.'

Following Biden's speech, Fox News national security reporter Jennifer Griffin blasted Biden for living in an 'alternate reality.'

'I'm having a hard time digesting what we heard because I couldn't fact-check it fast enough in real-time because there were so many misrepresentations of what is happening on the ground,' she said, adding that it was 'an alternate reality presented by the White House.'

'The first part of your question was  I can't remember now.'

'This is about America leading the world, and all our allies have agreed to that. And by the way, before I made this decision, I was at the G7, as well as met with our NATO partners, and I told them all, every one of them knew and agreed with the decision I made, to jointly end our involvement in Afghanistan. The first part of your question was  I can't remember now,' the president told a reporter.

'Would you make the same commitment to bring out Afghans who assisted in the war effort?'

'Yes, yes, we're making the same commitment,' the president said, adding that evacuating special immigrant visa recipients was 'equally important, almost,' as evacuating American citizens.

'I have seen no question of our credibility from our allies around the world,' Biden said, but British MPs tore into the president's Afghanistan pullout on Wednesday

Tom Tugendhat, veteran and Tory chairman of the foreign affairs committee, called Biden's criticisms of Afghan soldiers 'shameful.'

'To see their commander in chief call into question the courage of men I fought with, to claim that they ran, is shameful,' he said this week.

Khalid Mahmood, a Labour MP and former defence minister, said, according to The Telegraph: 'The Biden government have just come in and, without looking at what is happening on the ground, have taken a unilateral decision, throwing us and everybody else to the fire.'

Sir Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat leader, said: 'The American decision to withdraw was not just a mistake  it was an avoidable mistake, from President Trump's flawed to President Biden's decision to proceed, and to proceed in such a disastrous way.'

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Boris Johnson blamed the US and said that Biden's decision had forced his hand to end British involvement in Afghanistan.

'The West could not continue this US-led mission  a mission conceived and executed in support and defense of America  without American logistics, without US air power and without American might,' he said.

Biden flubs Doha, Qatar, calling it 'Daho'

Asked about assurances of security for people making to the airport, Biden responded: 'We've been in constant contact with the Taliban leadership on the ground in Kabul, as well as the Taliban leadership in Daho'  accidentally transposing the letters in the capital of Qatar.

'And we've been coordinating what we're doing,' he added.

He did not immediately correct himself, but he later referred to the location correctly when defending the way the evacuation was handled. 'The point was that although we were in contact with the Taliban and Doha for this whole period of time,' there wasn't expected to be a 'total demise' of the Afghan military, Biden said.

Biden, asked why his administration ignored a cable warning of the swift fall of Kabul, responds: 'We got all kinds of cables'

'We learned over the last 24 hours that there was a dissent cable from the State Department saying that the Taliban would come faster... Can you say why after that cable was issued, the U.S. didn't do more?' a reporter asked the president.

'We got all kinds of cables, we got all kinds of advice,' Biden said.

'I took the consensus opinion the consensus was in fact it would not occur if it occurred until later in the year.'

On Friday the Wall Street Journal reported that State Department officials in Kabul had warned the Biden administration that the Afghan capital would fall.

A dozen diplomats sent a confidential memo in a dissent channel to Secretary of State Anthony Blinken on July 13 that the Taliban was rapidly gaining ground and the city was vulnerable to collapse.

On July 8, President Biden said it was 'highly unlikely' the Taliban would take control of Afghanistan and denied there would be chaos in Kabul.

But then on Wednesday this week, Biden said there was 'no way' to leave Afghanistan without chaos ensuing.

Afghan security forces were collapsing, the diplomats said in the memo, and offered ways to mitigate the advancing insurgents.

But it may have been too late to stop them.

The State Department memo, according to the report, also called for the government to use tougher language on the violence in the past from the Taliban and urged them to start collecting information for Afghan allies who qualified for Special Immigrant Visas after working with US forces.

The Journal reported that 23 Embassy staffers signed the cable and rushed to deliver it considering the deteriorating situation in Kabul.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken reviewed the cable, a personal familiar with it told the paper.

Biden signals he'll work with the Taliban after his administration said they would pressure the international community not to recognize a Taliban government

'There's going to be harsh, strong conditions we're going to apply, and it will depend on whether they get help based on whether or not how and well they treat women and girls and how they treat their citizens,' Biden said.

Zalmay Khalilzad, the US' chief negotiator with the Taliban, traveled to Doha less than two weeks ago to inform the Taliban the US and its allies would not recognize its government if it came to power through force.

A Taliban spokesman said this week: 'We are guaranteeing all their rights within the limits of Islam.'

Another Taliban spokesman vouched that women would be happy, if they followed Sharia law: 'If they continue to live according to Sharia, we will be happy, they will be happy.'

Biden admits his administration still doesn't know how many Americans are in Afghanistan

The government is working 'to verify the number of Americans still in country as we work on this,' the president said.

'We moved out 5,700 evacuees yesterday, and we're working on a variety -- to verify that number of the Americans that are still in the country as we work on this because we're not -- don't have the exact number of people who are -- Americans who are there,' Biden said. 'And those who may have come home to the United States, we're not -- we want to get a strong number as to exactly how many people are there, how many American citizens, and where they are.

In his Wednesday interview with ABC News, Biden said there were between 10,000 and 15,000 Americans still in Afghanistan.

An administration official said Thursday that 13,000 people had been evacuated on US military aircraft since August 14.
A Covid test worker has been sacked after filming himself urinating in a soap dispenser at a primary school used as a test centre before posting the video on Snapchat.

Disgusting footage shows the agency staffer urinating into the nearly empty soap bottle in a sink at John Paul II Primary School on Whiterock Road in Belfast.

A still photo then shows the bottle after being filled with urine and left for the next bathroom user to deal with.

The site - which is run by outsourcing firm Serco on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Cares National Testing Programme - was shut after the incident was uncovered on Sunday afternoon and bosses even informed the police.

Disgusting footage shows the agency staffer urinating into the nearly empty soap bottle (left). It is then seen filled with urine after being left on the sink

The worker's behaviour was branded 'completely unacceptable' and he was sacked, while the dispenser has now been removed and thrown away.

John Paul II Primary School is operating a temporary testing site for pre-booked appointments only.

A source told MailOnline the worker was being paid 10 an hour and could have handed out hundreds of Covid tests during his employment.

He was allegedly employed by the agency ALS People, which has not responded to requests for comment.

The site - which is run by outsourcing firm Serco - was shut after the incident was uncovered on Sunday afternoon and bosses even informed the police

George McFarlane Serco Head of Operations, Testing Services, said: 'This behaviour by an agency employee working at a test site that we run is disgusting and completely unacceptable and we are very sorry that it happened.

'As soon as the school reopened this morning after the weekend, we informed them and notified the police. We have asked the agency to remove the individual and he will not be working on the test programme again.'

The disgusting video was filmed at John Paul II Primary School on Whiterock Road in Belfast

A source told MailOnline they were 'disgusted' by the incident. They said: 'The soap dispenser was left in the bathroom for staff to find the next day. I think its disgusting.

My main issue is it was the schools soap dispenser not ours, so it would have been left in the school where classes are starting in the next week or so and potentially used by the children there. Its horrific.
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Holidaymakers planning to jet off to the Caribbean now fear they will be left stuck in the UK as Jamaica, Saint Lucia and Dominica are all tipped to join Covid red list.

The hopes of holidaymakers holding out for a late-summer foreign break look set to be dashed this week with few countries expected to be added to the green list.

Analysts said only a handful of countries look likely to go green, while popular destinations such as Croatia, Madeira and Antigua could slip off the list and turn amber.

Caribbean islands Jamaica, Saint Lucia and Dominica could be heading for the red list, prompting disappointment from holidaymakers hoping for a late summer break.

'Got my Mexico holiday cancelled for September - we changed to Jamaica what are the chances this will go ahead,' Twitter user Adele Burns wrote.

The analysis also suggests Turkey, which Britons visited more than 2million times a year pre-pandemic, will stay red.

There had been hopes it would be moved to amber, opening up quarantine-free holidays for the double-jabbed.

Tiers for fears: Some of the countries that could move on the government's 'traffic lights' list

'Got my Mexico holiday cancelled for September - we changed to Jamaica what are the chances this will go ahead,' Twitter user Adele Burns wrote

The hopes of holidaymakers holding out for a late-summer foreign break look set to be dashed this week with few countries expected to be added to the green list. The island of Madeira (pictured) is one of the areas which could be moved to amber

Analysts said only a handful of countries look likely to go green, while popular destinations such as Croatia, Madeira and Antigua (pictured) could slip off the list and turn amber

Croatia was only moved on to the green list at the end of last month, but it could be among the countries set to go to the amber list

Caribbean islands Jamaica (pictured), Saint Lucia and Dominica could be heading for the red list from the amber list next week

St Lucia, a Caribbean island located between Martinique, Barbados and St Vincent, is one of the destinations which could go on the UK's red list

Dominica, between the Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique, is one of the destinations which could go on to the red list

Covid travel test 'cowboys' face being purged by Javid Health Secretary Sajid Javid (pictured) said 57 private firms on the Government website will be removed immediately as they 'no longer exist' or do not provide the relevant post- holiday Covid tests Dozens of traveller testing firms are to be purged from the official list or face being booted off within days, Sajid Javid warned last night. The Health Secretary said 57 private firms on the Government website will be removed immediately as they 'no longer exist' or do not provide the relevant post- holiday Covid tests. A further 82 have been given a 'two-strike warning' for advertising 'misleading' prices designed to lift them to the top of the list to lure travellers in. Until last night there were more than 400 private test firms on the official website, advertising single and two-test post-holiday packages for between 20 and 400. But the Department of Health found some had lower prices on than are actually available to most travellers when users click through to their websites. If they fail to come clean about the true cost, the culprits will be booted off the list. The Daily Mail has repeatedly highlighted the underhand tactics of some firms in the 1billion industry. These include advertising tests at 20 which end up being only available to NHS workers or miles away. Mr Javid said the action 'clamps down on this cowboy behaviour'. Advertisement

Government sources last night stressed no decisions have yet been made ahead of the review this week. But they indicated additions to the green list will be limited.

Ministers will not make any final decisions until looking at the most recent data tomorrow or Wednesday.

There are 36 destinations on the green list, 16 of which are on a 'watchlist' meaning they could turn amber at short notice.

It is thought some families, particularly those with adult children not yet double-jabbed, have been holding out for more countries going green and potentially booking last-minute break before the end of the school summer holidays.

Children will start returning either next week or the week after.

Non-fully vaccinated people can only enjoy quarantine-free holidays to green countries.

Travel chiefs say the failure to expand the green list significantly throughout summer has dented confidence in booking trips.

According to analysis by Paul Charles of travel consultancy The PC Agency, Croatia, Madeira and Israel are at risk of turning from green to amber, along with the Caribbean islands of Anguilla and Antigua and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Meanwhile Jamaica, St Lucia, Dominica and Morocco could go on the red list, meaning anyone returning would have to quarantine in hotels for 11 nights at a cost of more than 2,000.

Just a handful of countries look set to go green from amber, including Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic.

'There have been so many opportunities for the Government to widen the green list and give consumers more confidence to book and travel,' Mr Charles said.

'But they continue to dash the hopes not only of families wanting late summer getaways but also airlines and travel firms, which desperately need the Government to expand overseas travel options.'

Martin Chalk, of the pilots' union Balpa, said the Government had 'destroyed confidence' in international travel by not placing more countries on the green list, in turn hitting the beleaguered industry's ability to recover.

Tel Aviv in Israel, which is among the countries at risk of turning from green to amber

Labour MP Ben Bradshaw, who sits on the Commons transport committee, said: 'With Covid rates in Britain still near the highest in Europe and vaccination rates in most popular holiday destinations having caught up or overtaken the UK's, we should be seeing a big expansion of the green list.

'But this Government has shown time and again that it couldn't care one iota about jobs in the travel industry, families desperate to see each other again or people just hoping for a break.'

It comes as it was today revealed free Covid antibody tests will be given to thousands of people every day in a first-ever UK-wide surveillance programme in the latest weapon against the virus.

Up to 8,000 adults who test positive will be offered the tests each day to reveal how their immune systems respond.

The massive programme begins this week and will help estimate the proportion of people who got Covid despite developing antibodies from a vaccine or a previous infection.

The announcement came as Covid infections continued to rise yesterday

It will also provide doctors with an insight into any groups who do not develop an immune response in the first place.

But sources said the data would also feed into the debate about autumn booster jabs amid continuing doubts over who will get them.

The announcement came as Covid infections continued to rise yesterday, sparking fresh appeals for people to get vaccinated. The UK recorded 32,058 new cases  a rise of just over ten per cent in the last seven days.

In a joint announcement yesterday, Ministers announced that from Tuesday anyone over 18 will be able to opt into the antibody surveillance programme to boost understanding of immunity against Covid from vaccination and prior infection.

Under the scheme, launched by the UK Health Security Agency (HSA), up to 8,000 people who agree to take part and then receive a positive PCR test will be sent two finger-prick antibody tests over 28 days to take at home and send back for laboratory analysis.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: Our new national antibody testing will be quick and easy to take part in, and by doing so youll be helping strengthen our understanding of Covid-19 as we cautiously return to a more normal life.

Im proud to see all parts of the UK uniting around this new initiative and working together to arm ourselves with even more valuable insights into how Covid-19 vaccines are protecting people.

Mr Javid added that the phenomenal vaccination programme had already built a massive wall of defence across the country by preventing about 24million infections and more than 100,000 deaths in England alone.

He said: I urge everyone across the UK to get both vaccinations as soon as possible.

Dr Jenny Harries, chief executive of the HSA, said: We are rolling out antibody testing across the UK to gain vital data into the impact of our vaccination programme and on immune responses to different variants of Covid-19.

People taking part in the programme must have their first test as soon as possible after a positive PCR result  before they have time to develop antibodies in response to the new infection.

The second test 28 days later will measure what level of antibodies they develop to fight the virus.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid (pictured during a visit to Milton Keynes Hospital on August 10) said the new national antibody testing will be 'quick and easy to take part in'

Officials say that by comparing the two tests, the NHA will be able to see how well vaccinated individuals boost their immunity when infected and also how this might change with Covid variants.

But Department of Health sources also privately conceded that the data will feed into the debate about who gets a third booster jab later this year.

That comes amid conflicting reports about whether the over-50s would be included in the autumn third jab drive alongside older groups and people classed as most vulnerable.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation is awaiting results of research into the effectiveness of booster jabs as well mixing and matching different vaccines.

However, a well-placed Government source said it was still likely that all over-50s would be offered the booster.

UK Covid cases continue to grow: Infections increase by 20% in a week to 32,253 but deaths fall by a FIFTH to 49

By Henry Martin for MailOnline

Britain has recorded 49 coronavirus deaths today and 32,253 new positive tests.

Last Sunday had seen 61 deaths, meaning today's figures represent a drop of 20 per cent, but there were 26,750 cases - a number which grew by 20 per cent.

Most recent vaccination data, from August 21, shows 87.7 per cent of the population aged 16 and over have received their first dose, and 76.7 per cent have had two.

The new positive test rate over the last seven days is 227,391 - an increase in 13.5 per cent on the previous seven-day figure.

There were 687 deaths within 28 days of a positive test recorded in the last week, up by 52 from the last week's number.

The data comes as the Government announced a UK-wide antibody testing programme to be launched for people who have contracted coronavirus.

Britain has recorded 49 coronavirus deaths today and 32,253 new positive tests

The programme, which will offer tests to thousands of adults per day, aims to improve understanding and gain 'vital' data about antibody protection following Covid infection and vaccination.

From Tuesday, anyone over 18 from any of the four UK nations can opt in to the programme when receiving a PCR test.

Of those who test positive for coronavirus, up to 8,000 will be sent two finger prick antibody tests to complete at home and send back for analysis.

The first must be taken as soon as possible after the positive result, and the second must be taken 28 days later.

The UK Health Security Agency, which is running the programme, will work alongside NHS test and trace services in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and use the results to monitor levels of antibodies in positive cases across the UK.

Mother-of-three, 31, dies of Covid after two-week battle against virus 'despite receiving first dose of vaccine' Katie Gill, 31, from Moreton, passed away on August 14 after she was admitted to Arrowe Park Hospital with breathing difficulties A mother-of-three who 'lived for her family' has tragically died of Covid-19 following a two week battle against the virus in hospital. Katie Gill, 31, from Moreton, Merseyside, was admitted to Arrowe Park Hospital with breathing difficulties after contracting the virus earlier this month. However Ms Gill, who had received her first dose of the Covid vaccine and had no underlying health conditions, deteriorated quickly and passed away on August 14, leaving behind her husband and three children. Best friend Karen Rotheram, who described Ms Gill as 'the loveliest, kindest, funniest person', said her health declined within just ten days. She said: 'Katie was the loveliest, kindest, funniest person, who would do anything for anyone. 'She went into hospital at the start of August and had been struggling with Covid at home before that. 'It was her breathing, the usual, so she had to go to hospital and she deteriorated from there. 'It was really quick, within just 10 days. 'Katie was one of those people when there's been lockdowns who was totally careful, would do everything she could to keep her family healthy. 'Because of her age, because she was just 31, that's why it was so much more of a shock. 'She'd had a jab and was keeping safe.' Ms Rotheram has now urged others to remain cautious of the dangers of Covid which is 'still there'. She continued: 'I think that's what people don't understand. 'Okay, we're out of lockdown and we're getting back to the new normal but Covid's still there. 'It doesn't have an age, some people recover some people don't but everyone should be aware. 'Although you can do a lot of things now, you still need to be aware and get your jabs. 'Katy was due to get her second one this month. She took her first jab to protect herself and her family.' Advertisement

The Department of Health and Social Care says it will be the first time antibody tests have been made available to the general public, and the scheme could also provide insight into any groups of people who do not develop an immune response.

The data will be used to inform the ongoing approach to the pandemic and give further insight into the effectiveness of vaccines on new variants.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the programme will build on the 'massive wall of defence' that is the UK vaccination programme.

'Our new national antibody testing will be quick and easy to take part in,' he said.

'By doing so you'll be helping strengthen our understanding of Covid-19 as we cautiously return to a more normal life.

'I'm proud to see all parts of the UK uniting around this new initiative and working together to arm ourselves with even more valuable insights into how Covid-19 vaccines are protecting people up and down the UK.'

Those taking part must take the first antibody test as soon as possible after receiving a positive PCR result so the body does not have time to generate a detectable antibody response to the infection.

The second test should be taken 28 days later and will measure antibodies generated in response to the infection.

UK Health Security Agency chief executive Dr Jenny Harries said: 'We are rolling out antibody testing across the UK to gain vital data into the impact of our vaccination programme and on immune responses to different variants of Covid-19.

'This innovative programme is only possible thanks to the thousands of people who continue to help with studies on vaccine and treatment effectiveness each week.

'The best way to protect yourself and those around you is by getting vaccinated.

'I encourage anyone who has not yet come forward to book their first and second jabs.'

The announcement comes amid ongoing debate over the rollout of booster jabs in the UK.

Dr Chris Smith, consultant virologist and lecturer at Cambridge University, warned the UK must not take its 'eye off the ball' with Covid-19 vaccinations and that the virus could come 'roaring back'.

Dr Smith said a decision on booster jabs should not be 'rash, (or) rushed', and that the Government is considering a more 'strategic' approach.

Mr Javid has said he is 'confident' a booster vaccine campaign can start next month despite reports that experts want more time to consider whether they are needed.

The Government said a further 104 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Saturday, and there had been a further 32,058 lab-confirmed Covid-19 cases in the UK.

Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Dr Smith said: 'We all agree that (the pandemic) is not over until it is over in every corner of the world, because otherwise it will just come roaring back.

'But one must not take one's eye off the ball here because it would be very easy to unstitch all of the good work we've done so far if it turns out with time we do lose immunity because the vaccines wane in their effectiveness.

'As we go into winter, now is a critical period and I think that is why we haven't seen a rash, rushed decision by the JCVI (Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation) and the Government.'

He added: 'While other countries are embarking on booster programmes, people are taking stock, they are looking at the data and maybe making a decision on how to intervene strategically in certain groups.'

Research by the National Office for Statistics (ONS) recently found more than three-quarters of adults in every age group say they would be likely or very likely to get a booster jab if offered.

Overall, 87% of adults surveyed by the ONS said they would be likely or very likely to get a third coronavirus jab.

Likelihood increased with age, with 96% of those aged 70 and over indicating their interest, down to 78% of 16 to 29-year-olds.
Joe Biden has been criticized for the 'bizarre' messaging his team has been putting out about the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan.

A panel on CNN's 'Inside Politics' show on Sunday were discussing the gulf in narrative between how the operation was being described by the White House, and how it was being depicted on the ground in Kabul.

Images and videos shared on social media in recent days have shown huge crowds of Afghans who worked with U.S. military forces, as well as US nationals, camped outside the airport in Kabul and the clock ticks down to Biden's exit ultimatum.

And when the evacuation operation first began, harrowing images of Afghans attempting to flee the Taliban by clinging to the underside of aircraft also laid bare the situation in Kabul.

Despite this, on Friday, President Biden claimed that he has 'seen no question of our credibility from our allies around the world.'

A panel on CNN's 'Inside Politics' show on Sunday were discussing the gulf in narrative between how the operation was being described by the White House, and how it was being depicted on the ground in Kabul

Jeff Zeleny, CNN's chief national affairs correspondent, described the President's comment as 'bizarre'.

He said: 'You have to question, is the president insulated, isolated? On Friday it was almost bizarre. What he was saying did not match the reality of what some of his other advisers were saying.

'I think this will be a very defining moment in the Biden presidency about what we learn of him as president, but it seems to me he's a bit insulated or isolated inside the White House.'

Meanwhile, Associated Press' Julie Pace pointed out that 'there's a serious disconnect between the messaging from the Biden administration, which is essentially, "We've got this, we have a plan, we're getting this under control. If you want to get out of Afghanistan, you can".'

On Friday, President Biden claimed that he has 'seen no question of our credibility from our allies around the world'

But she then pointed out that the scenes coming out from the airport in Kabul do not match those being described by President Biden, with scenes of violence erupting at the gates having been documented.

She also called on the President to be 'upfront' with the American people about what is really happening in Kabul.

Biden's allies have also echoed a similarly critical opinion on the US' handling of Afghanistan.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also previously said: 'It is fair to say that the US decision to pull out has accelerated things,' with regard to the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan.

And former British Prime Minister Tony Blair blasted Joe Biden's 'imbecilic' decision to withdraw US troops from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, calling the President's scuttle 'tragic, dangerous and unnecessary' and claiming the move had 'every Jihadist group round the world cheering'.

Mr Blair, who was in Downing Street when London sent UK troops to the Middle Eastern country 20 years ago following the 9/11 attacks on New York and Washington DC, said Britain has a 'moral obligation' to stay until 'all those who need to be are evacuated'.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also previously said: 'It is fair to say that the US decision to pull out has accelerated things,' with regard to the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan

In a 2,700 article on the threat of 'radical Islam', the former British prime minister said the exit was not in the West or Afghanistan's interest as he lamented the likely reversal of gains made during the occupation, with the Taliban reasserting itself across most of the country in recent days.

Speaking to Sky News on Sunday, Mr Blair said he has 'enormous respect' for Mr Biden, but suggested the President - who campaigned on a slogan of ending 'forever wars' and is likely to be keeping an eye on next year's midterms - had withdrawn US troops for domestic political reasons.

He repeated his assertion that the withdrawal was a 'serious mistake' and 'not something we needed to do' and said there had been 'a lot of gains' made in the past two decades, stressing that the deaths of British Armed Forces personnel were 'not in vain'.

While it was also revealed that the White House scrubbed a cutting remark made by French President Emanuel Macron to President Biden about 'abandoning' Afghanistan in a summary of the leaders' call.

France's official 'readout' of the August 19 call highlighted how Marcon had upbraided his US counterpart over his sudden withdrawal from Afghanistan, which has triggered chaos as Americans and Afghans granted visas try to flee the Taliban.

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair blasted Joe Biden's 'imbecilic' decision to withdraw US troops from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan

It read: 'President Macron spoke with U.S. President Joe Biden this evening about the situation in Afghanistan.

'He underscored the absolute need for swift, concrete coordination between the allies to ensure the evacuation of our citizens, Afghan men and women who worked for the allies, and those who are in danger.

'The head of state emphasized our collective moral responsibility toward the Afghan men and women who need our protection and who share our values.

'We cannot abandon them.

'The two presidents agreed to strengthen their efforts in the humanitarian and political arenas and on counterterrorism in the days to come, particularly within the framework of the G7.

It was also revealed that the White House scrubbed a cutting remark made by French President Emanuel Macron to President Biden about 'abandoning' Afghanistan in a summary of the leaders' call

As images out of Kabul show an increasingly dire situation, @jeffzeleny and @jpaceDC weigh in on Biden's struggle to balance confidence in his decision to withdrawal troops with empathy for those caught in the chaos. #InsidePoliticsSunday pic.twitter.com/RgCO07eYa1  Inside Politics (@InsidePolitics) August 22, 2021

'It is absolutely urgent and it is a collective responsibility, for which the U.S. President assured President Macron of his support,' read the statement.'

But the White House's readout of the same call, published on its official website, omitted Macron's remark about not abandoning Afghanistan.

It said: 'President Joe Biden and President Emmanuel Macron of France spoke today about developments in Afghanistan.

'They lauded the tireless efforts of their personnel working closely together in Kabul on the evacuation of their citizens, the brave Afghans who have stood by us and our NATO partners, and other vulnerable Afghan nationals.

'They underscored the importance of continued close coordination among allies and democratic partners on Afghanistan, including through multilateral for a, on the provision of humanitarian assistance and support for refugees. They welcomed the virtual G7 leaders meeting next week to help coordinate these efforts and discuss a common approach.'

And German Chancellor Angela Merkel has also previously described the scenes that have followed the announcement of foreign troop withdrawals from Afghanistan as an 'absolutely bitter development'

The discrepancy between the two readouts was first reported by Breitbart, which highlighted how governments will often tweak their summaries to ensure diplomacy.

That has sparked claims that Macron and his government wanted his attempt at shaming Biden left in the readout in a bid to display their disdain for the withdrawal.

And German Chancellor Angela Merkel has also previously described the scenes that have followed the announcement of foreign troop withdrawals from Afghanistan as an 'absolutely bitter development'.

Speaking last week, she said: 'Since the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan we have had to watch the Taliban, with breathtaking speed, province for province, town for town, reconquer the entire country.

'This is an absolutely bitter development: Bitter, dramatic and awful, especially for the people in Afghanistan.'
Outgoing New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has abandoned his dog, Captain, at the state executive mansion while he stays at his sister's Westchester home - as movers arrive for his final day in office.

The move began three days prior as moving trucks were seen transporting the disgraced governor's belongings to the Westchester house of his sister Maria Cole, and her fashion designer husband, Kenneth Cole.

Cuomo is scheduled to step down Monday in the aftermath of a report by the state attorney general that found he sexually harassed 11 women.

Outgoing Gov. Andrew Cuomo has reportedly abandoned his dog, Captain, as the final belongings were moved out of the governor's mansion Monday

Wooden furniture items such as an antique record player (left) and chair were seen being moved out of the executive mansion in Albany during Cuomo's last day in office Monday

The items were seen being placed into a moving van Monday. Others of the outgoing governor's items had been seen being transported to his sister's home in Westchester

They are likely the last of the items in the mansion to be removed from the property, and were seen being transported by staff from the New York State Archives Records Center and The New York State Department of Education

Cuomo had recently begun asking staff at the mansion if anyone would like to keep Captain, a shepherd, Siberian and malamute mix, according to a report by the Albany Times Union.

Cuomo adopted the dog as a puppy in 2018, and he has been known to have nipped people during his time in the mansion.

One mansion staff member reportedly took Cuomo up on the offer and brought Captain home with them, but the he proved too much to handle, two state police sources told the Times Union.

Richard Azzopardi, senior advisor for Cuomo denied the reports, saying that Captain was always meant to stay with the staff member temporarily.

Captain was seen being walked by a staffer at the executive mansion Sunday. A state police source said the dog is unruly and that a staff member who offered to take ownership of him had to return him. The dog remains there, the source said

Captain is been known to have bitten people at the mansion. Cuomo's chief aide Richard Azzopardi denies the reports that his former boss wants to give him away

'Captain is part of the governor's family and for nameless ill-informed sources to imply they've been trying to give him away is untrue,' he told the Daily Mail in an emailed statement.

'Someone offered to watch him for a few days while the transition was ongoing but for that to be weaponized and morph from a game of telephone into the press is simply absurd. This is palace intrigue gone amok.'

That ran counter to reports from one of the state police sources.

'He tried giving the dog to the (a mansion employee). ... Apparently (the employee) took the dog home and it didn't work  the dog walks him, he don't walk the dog,' the source told the Times Union on Saturday.

The source also said captain had nipped at a number of state police officers and mansion staffers, and that when it happened, 'the governor would just laugh,' and that the dog remains at the mansion.

Meanwhile Cuomo gave an emotional farewell speech at around noon, Monday. He will be replaced at 12.01am on Tuesday morning by Kathy Hochul, his Lt. Governor

Meanwhile movers with New York State Archives Records Center and The New York State Department of Education logged and removed artifacts from the mansion Monday morning.

They were likely the final belongings to be taken out of the storied residence.

Later, at around noon Monday, Cuomo, 63, choked back tears as he gave his final address as governor and slammed the sexual harassment report authored by state attorney general Letitia James.

He claimed he was the victim of a political attack, saying: 'Allegations must still be scrutinized and verified whether made by a woman or man that is our basic justice system

'I understand there are moments of intense political pressure and media frenzy that causes a rush to judgement that is not right, fair or sustainable.

'Facts still matter. A firecracker can start a stampede but at some point everyone looks around and says "why are we running?"

'The Attorney General's report was designed to be a political firecracker on an explosive topic.

'And it worked. There was a political and media stampede. The truth will out in time,' he said.

A UHaul arrived at the property first thing Friday morning from the back of the Governor's Mansion. The truck dropped off the items at his sister's house in Purchase, Westchester County

The home is said to be worth close to $3 million dollars and is located in Purchase, New York

His sister's house, in the town of Purchase, is owned by Maria Cole and her fashion designer husband, Kenneth Cole

Cole's house is only a short distance from the home Cuomo had once lived at with his ex-longtime girlfriend Sandra Lee. The pair broke up in 2019 and it was at that point Cuomo moved into the Governor's Mansion, a 165-year-old residence.

A U-Haul arrived at the property first thing Friday morning from the back of the house. The driver then pulled the truck around the side of the house so that it was barely visible from the street.

Cuomo was nowhere in sight as two more pickup trucks pulled up and at least six workers were seen unloading dollies and carts from the trucks before heading inside.

The outgoing governor was the last of his family to move out of the mansion. His daughters Michaela Kennedy-Cuomo (left), 23, and Cara Kennedy-Cuomo (right), 26, were spotted loading boxes of things and leaving the mansion in a black SUV earlier in the month

The trucks left Albany at around 11:30am, arriving in Purchase at 2:15pm.

Although it is not yet clear where Cuomo will be living now that he has moved out of the mansion, it is clear that his sister will be storing at least some of his things, for now.

Those delivering the boxes to Cole's home told the New York Post they had no idea who they were working for with one saying they were simply told to 'drive to the Tappan Zee' bridge before being given an address shortly before arriving.

The Cole's home, said to be worth close to $3 million, is equipped with all manner of amenities including a pool and a backyard with a barn and guest house.

The governor appears to be the last of the Cuomos to pack up and move out. Earlier this month two of Cuomo's three daughters - Michaela, 23, and Cara, 26 - were spotted moving their things out of the Executive Mansion.
Mack said she may leave Stella in Indonesia because she fears Stella 'will be exposed to what happened' if she takes her to the US

Mack said she may leave Stella in Indonesia because she fears Stella 'will be exposed to what happened' if she takes her to the US

Stella, 6, was born while Mack was in prison and has lived with a foster family in Bali since she was 2

Stella, 6, was born while Mack was in prison and has lived with a foster family in Bali since she was 2

She said she was fearful for her daughter, Stella, as she nears her early release

She said she was fearful for her daughter, Stella, as she nears her early release

Mack is expected to be deported to the US immediately upon release

Mack is expected to be deported to the US immediately upon release

Mack was convicted in 2015 along with her boyfriend of killing her socialite mother, Sheila von Wiese Mack, and stuffing body in suitcase

Mack was convicted in 2015 along with her boyfriend of killing her socialite mother, Sheila von Wiese Mack, and stuffing body in suitcase

Mack's attorney said her 10-year-old sentence has been reduced due to good behavior

Mack's attorney said her 10-year-old sentence has been reduced due to good behavior

'Suitcase Killer' Heather Mack is scheduled to be released from Bali prison in October, three years ahead of scheduled

'Suitcase Killer' Heather Mack is scheduled to be released from Bali prison in October, three years ahead of scheduled

An American woman convicted along with her boyfriend of killing her mother and stuffing the body in a suitcase at a luxury Bali hotel is set to be released from prison three years early, her lawyer announced on Monday.

Yulius Benyamin Seran, the attorney representing Heather Mack, said the 25-year-old inmate will walk out of Bali's notorious Kerobokan prison in less than two months.

'Her sentence will be completed in October... and then she'll be completely free,' Seran told AFP, without giving a specific release date.

In 2015, Mack, then aged 19, was handed a 10-year prison term while her then-boyfriend, Tommy Schaefer, got 18 years for the murder of Chicago socialite Sheila von Wiese Mack on the Indonesian resort island.

'Suitcase killer' Heather Mack, 25, is set to be released from Bali prison in October - three years early - according to her lawyer

Mack (left), was serving a 10-year sentence for the murder of her mother, socialite Sheila von Wiese Mack (right), whose corpse was found stuffed into a suitcase in Bali in 2014

Police inspect a blooded suitcase containing von Wiese Mack's broken corpse in August 2014

Schaefer beat the 62-year-old victim to death with a fruit bowl during a heated argument at the five-star St. Regis resort, before the couple abandoned the blood-stained suitcase containing the battered body in a taxi, and fled.

Mack, who was pregnant at the time of the crime with Schaefer's daughter, was found guilty on a lesser charge of assisting in the murder.

Mack's attorney said his client's sentence has been reduced due to good behavior.

Mack would face deportation back to the United States following her release, her lawyer added.

But she wanted to stay in Indonesia to care for her six-year-old daughter, Stella, who was being raised in a Bali foster home.

'She doesn't want her daughter deported back to the US... and hounded by the media,' Seran said.

Just days before the early release announcement, Mack told the New York Post in an exclusive interview from prison that she was 'fearful and nervous of returning to Chicago' and having her daughter subjected to media scrutiny.

'I'm scared that if she comes back to the States with me, she will be exposed to what happened,' Mack said.

Stella, 6, was born in prison while her parents, Mack and Schaefer, went on trial for killing von Wiese-Mack in August 2014.

The child has been in the care of a foster family in Bali since she was two.

Stella has been shielded from the reasoning behind her parents' imprisonment and Mack wants it to remain that way.

'I do not want anyone shoving a camera into Stella's face. I know that it will happen to me but I will do my best to protect Stella from that trauma,' Mack explained from behind bars.

The woman revealed that she was considering leaving her daughter with her Indonesian caretakers.

'I could not have wished for a better family to raise her,' Mack told the news outlet. 'However, it's hard not being with her, particularly when she is sick or for important moments like graduating kindergarten.'

Mack was pregnant at the time of the murder and delivered her daughter, Stella (pictured together, left) in prison. Mack's then-boyfriend Tommy Schaefer (pictured holding Stella, right), who is also the father of her child, is serving an 18-year sentence for murder

Mack (pictured holding baby Stella) says her daughter is unaware of why her parents are in prison. She fears if she brings Stella to the U.S. she 'will be exposed to what happened'

Mack has not seen Stella since March 2020, when authorities stopped prison visits because of the coronavirus pandemic. She had limited visitation due to her imprisonment before that.

'Out of seven years in jail, the hardest part has been the past 18 months because I have not seen Stella,' Mack said. 'Video-calling Stella three times a week from the prison phone is my only option. I'm grateful I can do that.'

Mack and Schaefer were convicted in 2014 of killing Mack's millionaire mother at a five-star Bali hotel and stuffing her broken body into a suitcase as they tried to flee.

They claimed 62-year-old von Wiese-Mack became violent after Mack, then 18, revealed she was pregnant, and Schaefer, then 21, lashed out to defend himself.

The then-couple was caught when a taxi driver noticed blood seeping out of the suitcase which contained von Wiese-Mack's body. The driver alerted police and the couple was arrested at a nearby budget motel.

Stella has been living with a foster family since age two. Mack said she was considering leaving her with her Indonesian caretakers

Mack said Stella, now 6, does not know why both her mother and father are imprisoned, and she wants to keep it that way

Prosecutors alleged during trial that Schaefer 'blindly hit' von Wiese Mack with the fruit bowl in a fit of rage after she hurled a racial slur at him. Schaefer is black.

While her mother was being murdered, Mack hid in the bathroom and the couple then stuffed the body into the suitcase together, the trial heard.

Both were found guilty and incarcerated. Mack was sentenced to 10 years and Schaefer to 18.

In a 2019 interview with DailyMailTV (below), Mack said: 'I never want to go back home to Chicago,' noting that she was 'more Indonesian than American now'.

She reportedly learned to speak the Indonesian language and mastered the local Bahasa Balinese dialect. She claims to have significantly changed in prison.

'I have learned things about myself that I didn't even know before. I like to make people laugh, and I know how to put other people before myself. I do this to the point of stupidity,' Mack told the Post.

'I think that I am kind, and I have become a peacemaker in the jail, which is a strange thing for a murderer to say.'

Mack also notes that Stella has grown up in Bali and has a good life in the country.

'My daughter is more Indonesian than American. She has a good life here,' Mack told DailyMailTV in 2019.

'The people are nicer and it's better and safer than back home. Back there I was getting in with a bad crowd. It's violent, there are guns, drugs. To be honest I'm glad not to be there. It's actually better and safer here in prison.'

Mack, who signed von Wiese-Mack's $1.56 million estate over to Stella in 2018, will return to her hometown of Chicago later this year with nothing more than her clothing. She is expected to stay with a friend.

She has previously said that even if she was extradited to the US, she would return to Bali with Stella.

As for her mother's murder, Mack said: 'I am  disgusted with myself just as much as anyone else is.'
Thousands of Sydneysiders can now book an appointment for Pfizer coronavirus vaccines, with appointments available immediately.

Priority jab appointments have been offered to those living in the 12 LGAs of concern for several weeks, but that has since been expanded to anyone living in the Sydney Local Health District.

This includes postcodes all across the inner west, including Glebe, Leichhardt, Broadway, Camperdown, Drummoyne and Darling Harbour.

It comes as New South Wales' incredible vaccination rates rival even the busiest weeks at the start of the US and UK's rollout.

Previously priority Pfizer jabs were on offer to those living in the 12 hotspot LGAs, but now those living in Sydney's highly-populated inner-west can also book in (pictured, the Sydney Olympic Park vaccination hub on Monday)

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has backed NSW to end lockdown once 70-80 per cent of the NSW population is vaccinated, regardless of case numbers (pictured, woman at Maroubra Beach on Monday)

Late on Monday night, spots were available all throughout the week to those living in the 12 LGAs of concern and also anyone who lives in the Sydney Local Health District

Scott Morrison last week announced the rollout would now include everyone over the age of 16, but with limited vaccines available, appointments have been hard to come by.

But with the highly-populated Sydney Local Health District now also included, appointments for thousands are available as soon as Tuesday.

This includes appointments at Sydney's Olympic Park, the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and Sydney Airport.

HOW TO BOOK A PFIZER VACCINE APPOINTMENT THIS WEEK Priority appointments are now available to those living in the Sydney Local Health District, as well as the 12 LGAs of concern 1) Check here if you live in the Sydney LHD and are eligible 2) Visit this link and book an appointment at your chosen vaccine centre 3) If you're not in the 12 LGAs or living in the Sydney LHD, you can choose a non-priority, general availability appointment Advertisement

General availability, for those not living in the Sydney LHD or the 12 LGAs of concern, is still limited - with the first appointment not being until October 9 at Sydney's Olympic Park and no bookings whatsoever at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

The limited access has reignited calls for young Sydneysiders to go out and get the AstraZeneca vaccine, of which Australia has abundant doses.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has backed NSW to end lockdown once 70-80 per cent of the NSW population is vaccinated, regardless of case numbers.

He has also urged Australians to get the first vaccine they can to protect themselves as well as their families and communities, helping to lift us all out of an endless cycle of lockdowns.

Sydneysiders have been promised an end to brutal lockdowns when the NSW vaccination rate hits 70 per cent (pictured, a woman with her dog in front of the Opera House on Monday)

Appointments are available every day this week at several vaccine centres (pictured, workers at Sydney's Olympic Park vaccination centre on Monday)

It comes as New South Wales' incredible vaccination rates rival even the busiest weeks at the start of the US and UK's rollout (pictured, a woman is jabbed in Dubbo)

Premier Gladys Berejiklian has pledged lockdown will end somewhere between 70 and 80 per cent vaccination, even as the outbreak continues to grow.

The influx of appointments comes as the US Food and Drug Administration finally granted full approval to Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine for those aged 16 and older.

The two-dose immunization was the first to receive emergency use authorisation from federal regulators in December 2020 and will now be first to be licensed.

Full approval by the FDA could push more Americans to get the Covid-19 vaccine because it might reduce their fears about the safety of the shot, opening up similar approvals overseas.

It may also lead to more vaccine mandates with businesses feeling more comfortable requiring workers to get a jab that has full authorisation.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian has pledged lockdown will end somewhere between 70 and 80 per cent vaccination, even as the outbreak continues to grow (pictured, walkers on the Bennelong Bridge on Monday night)
The tallest man in the United States, Igor Vovkovinskiy, has died from heart disease at a Minnesota hospital at the age of 38.

The Ukrainian-born Vovkovinskiy, who stood at 7 feet, 8.33 inches, was surrounded by family when he passed away at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, according to his family.

His mother, Svetlana Vovkovinska, an ICU nurse at the clinic, revealed the sad news on Facebook on August 20.

She wrote: 'His last dinner was: a piece of Kyiv cake and Fanta.

'A few hours before his death, he was accompanied by (his brother) Oleh's wife Alla and children.

'Igor was glad to see them, and although it was difficult for him to speak, he tried to joke about his nephew Andriy, whether he had learned the Ukrainian language in a month in Ukraine.'

The Tallest Man in the U.S. Igor Vovkovinskiy, 38, died on August 20 in Rochester, Minnesota from heart disease at the age of 38

Vovkovinskiy's mother took to Facebook to share the final moments he shared with the world

Vovkovinskiy posted a YouTube video on October 2019 to talk about his valve condition, as a result of his illness, and how he needed surgery to fix it

Vovkovinskiy was born Sept. 8, 1982, in Bar, Ukraine, to Vovkovinska and Oleksandr Ladan, according to Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home, which is holding a memorial service on Saturday.

He came to the Mayo Clinic in 1989 as a 7-year-old child, when he was 6- feet-tall, with his mother after Ukrainian surgeons wouldn't operate on him.

The gentle giant suffered from a condition called pituitary gigantism, which occurs when there is a tumor pressing on the pituitary gland - which produces a number of hormones - in the brain.

The tumor causes too much of the growth hormone, which stimulates growth and cell regeneration, to be secreted throughout the body.

Serious complications can arise from gigantism including high blood pressure, type-2 diabetes and heart failure due to enlargement of the heart.

In October 2019, Vovkovinskiy posted a YouTube video talking about his valve condition and how he needed surgery to fix it.

He said: 'I don't how much longer I'm going to be in the hospital. For that matter, I don't know what's going to happen really for the rest of my life.

Vovkovinskiy branded himself 'The World's Biggest Obama Supporter' as he is seen with Cannon High cheerleaders at a town event for Obama

Vovkovinskiy came to Rochester, Minnesota with his mother Svetlana (right) after surgeons in the Ukraine refused to operate on him

Vovkovinskiy posed with family cat Katya for his Instagram

Vovkoviniskiy shakes the hand of former President Barack Obama at a 2009 Target Center health care rally in Minneapolis

Vovkovinskiy pictured with his mother and relatives from the Ukraine

'I'm in the heart failure unit and I found out just a couple of days ago that I need surgery to fix...some kind of a valve issue that I was born with. But I don't know if even such a surgery can be done on someone my size.'

Vovkovinskiy and his mother were only supposed to stay for a short period to get rid of the tumor, but were allowed to stay after doctors couldn't fully remove it, according to 60 Minutes Australia.

Igor Vovkovinskiy is seen sitting next to WCCO reporter Holly Wagner with custom-made Reebok sneakers

Vovkovinskiy carried in contestant Zlata Ognevich for the 2013 Ukraine Eurovision Song Contest

His older brother, Oleh Ladan of Brooklyn Park, Minn., told the Star Tribune of Minneapolis that Vovkovinskiy was a celebrity when he arrived from Ukraine because of his size.

However, Vovkovinskiy 'would have rather lived a normal life than be known,' his brother said.

Vovkovinskiy appeared on 'The Dr. Oz Show' and was called out by former President Barack Obama during a campaign rally in 2009 when he noticed him near the stage wearing a T-shirt that read, 'Worlds Biggest Obama Supporter.'

Vovkovinskiy traveled to New York City and was declared Americas tallest living person by a Guinness World Records adjudicator on Ozs show at age 27.

He issued a plea in 2012 to cover the estimated $16,000 cost for specially made shoes that wouldnt cause him crippling pain.

At the time, he said he hadnt owned a pair for years that fit his size 26, 10E feet.

Thousands donated more than double what he needed. Reebok provided the custom shoes for free.

In 2013, he carried the Ukrainian contestant onto the stage to perform in the Eurovision Song Contest.

The Tallest Man in the World, aka Sultan Kosen, stands next to the World's Shortest Man for a Guinness Book of World Records event

Kosen married his wife Merve Dibo, who stands at 5ft 8in, in his Turkish hometown

The world's tallest man resides in Turkey. Sultan Kosen, who also has pituitary gigantism, is 8-feet-3.

Kosen, however, received a life-changing surgery that stopped him from growing and is now married to his significantly shorter wife Merve Dibo.
The Taliban's announcement on Monday that they would not consider allowing U.S. troops to stay past August 31 shows the 'folly' of President Biden's deadline, according to a former British military adviser to the Afghan government.

Foreign governments are accelerating efforts to evacuate their nationals and vulnerable Afghans amid chaotic scenes at Kabul airport.

But hopes that they could extend the operation past August 31 received a setback when a Taliban spokesman threatened 'consequences' if foreign forces stayed on.

That meant thousands of people would likely be left behind, said Charlie Herbert, a retired Maj. Gen. in the British Army and former senior NATO adviser to the Afghan Interior Ministry.

'By setting this hard ending - initially September 11 then brought forward to August 31 - that precipitated the collapse of Afghanistan, this psychological collapse.

'It's a fundamental mistake.

'And by setting that hard timeline, it has bought some time for the evacuation but it puts a hard stop on it.

'If the Taliban are totally unwilling to negotiate a further extension it's further evidence of the folly of setting a timeline in the first place.'

Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen (left) has said there will be consequences if the U.S. does not stick to President Biden's August 31 deadline for withdrawing troops

U.S. and coalition evacuations flights continue to take off from Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport, where crowds have gathered seeking refuge

Crowds climb up on buildings as they gather near the airport in Kabul in a bid to flee Afghanistan in the wake of the Taliban takeover

A group of British soldiers sit among Afghan citizens at Kabul airport amid ongoing discussions about the deadline for withdrawing troops

How US secured Taliban agreement to leave the airport clear for evacuations After President Biden established an exit date of August 31 this year for all US soldiers to have evacuated the country, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said US officers had recently been speaking with Taliban commanders 'multiple times a day' about avoiding conflict at the airport in Kabul, which would be used as the staging ground for the evacuations. General Frank McKenzie on Sunday, August 15 negotiated the safe passage agreement with Taliban leaders in talks held in Doha, Qatar. 'I cautioned them against interference in our evacuation, and made it clear to them that any attack would be met with overwhelming force in the defense of our forces,' General McKenzie said. 'The protection of US civilians and our partners is my highest priority and we will take all necessary action to ensure a safe and efficient withdrawal.' At the White House, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said US officials were engaged in an 'hour by hour' process of holding the Taliban to their commitment to allow safe passage for civilians wishing to leave the country. Despite the agreement that the Taliban would not encroach on NATO efforts to evacuate their people, US and German soldiers were involved in a gunfight during the early hours of this morning after shots were fired by 'unknown attackers'. And now, in the face of NATO allies urging President Biden to extend his August 31 deadline, Taliban spokesman Dr Suhail Shaheen said there will be 'consequences' if the US does not leave Afghanistan on the agreed date. Advertisement

Biden held out the possibility of an extension on Sunday afternoon.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, he said there were discussions 'among us and the military about extending.'

'Our hope is that we will not have to extend,' he said.

Reports from the U.K. indicated that Prime Minister Boris Johnson planned to use a virtual G7 meeting on Tuesday to press Biden to keep troops beyond August 31.

But the Taliban quickly pushed back.

'If they extend it, that means they are extending occupation.  It will create mistrust between us,' spokesman Suhail Shaheen told Sky News from Doha, Qatar.

He added there would be consequences.

'If they are intent on continuing the occupation, it will provoke a reaction,' he said.

That leaves thousands of people crammed around the airport wondering if they make it on to one of the last flight and hundreds more Americans holed up awaiting instructions to get to muster points.

Events on the ground illustrate the dangers.

One member of the Afghan forces was killed and several were wounded during a gunfight at the airport on Monday morning.

'The incident appeared to begin when an unknown hostile actor fired upon Afghan security forces involved in monitoring access to the gate. The Afghans returned fire, and in keeping with their right of self-defense, so too did U.S. and coalition troops,' said a Pentagon statement.

Officials said they would not discuss any details of conversations with the Taliban.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said: 'Our focus is on getting this done by the end of the month.'

Officials said they had accelerated the evacuation, bringing out 16,000 people on Sunday with some 11,000 carried on U.S. military aircraft.

'We are head down, focused on keeping these numbers up as best we can, getting as many people out as we can by the end of the month,' said Kirby.

'And if there needs to be a discussion about extending that timeline then we absolutely will have that discussion at the appropriate time with the commander in chief.'

Herbert said Taliban consent for having foreign troops in Kabul was never going to last indefinitely, and that military planners had likely worked on the assumption that August 31 would bring the end of the mission.

Boris Johnson (pictured left) will attempt to persuade US President Joe Biden (pictured right) to keep American troops in Afghanistan beyond his August 31 deadline when the two leaders take part in a G7 meeting this week

The Pentagon said evacuation flights carried 16,000 people to safety on Sunday as allies accelerate efforts to rescue citizens and vulnerable Afghans

The result was likely to mean that vulnerable Afghans, who were entitled to safe passage, and foreign nationals will be left behind.

That meant some kind of 'plan b' would be needed, perhaps using humanitarian flights at a later date.

The immediate risk, he said, was of panic among people waiting at the airport.

'My worry is that by announcing this timeline I don't know what it is going to happen with these huge crowds outside the airport and the sense of desperation,' he said.

'I think it's going to make it even harder over the next 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours to get out the last few people that we are able to.

'I worry about crushing and crowd control.

'One can only say that one hopes that the Taliban maintain to continue their tacit, reluctant consent to this process and won't make it even harder.'
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A British family trapped in Afghanistan for weeks after visiting a sick relative have managed to make it back home to Nottingham after being surrounded at gunpoint by the Taliban.

Nargas Ziahe, 24, flew out to Afghanistan more than six weeks ago with her brother Omar, five, sister Asma, nine, and their mother, following the death of her uncle and to visit her poorly grandfather.

But they soon found themselves caught in the midst of the crisis, and spent two days without a bed or washing facilities on the outskirts of Kabul, surrounded by Taliban fighters firing AK-47s into the air, before making it safely to the Baron Hotel where their repatriation paperwork was processed.

Their safe exit from the turmoil which followed the takeover was largely down to the help of the headteacher of Mellers Primary School in Radford, Amanda Dawson, who worked with Nottingham South MP Lilian Greenwood to allow passage out of the country.

Raghib Ziahe, the father who remained in Nottingham and worked with Amanda and Ms Greenwood to get his family home, told Nottinghamshire Live they landed in Birmingham this morning. They must now spend 10 days in quarantine, as per Covid restrictions.

'I was so excited. I could not believe it,' he said. 'They just arrived this morning. I was thinking how it would be possible to get them out of the city. Last week I could not sleep, but I said to them do not worry.

'But a lot of the family are still in hiding. There are still about 20 [family members] out there. We need to save their lives. The Taliban keep searching the houses.'

Nearly 6,000 Britons, Afghan staff and their families have now been airlifted out by the RAF - but there are plans to fly out a further 6,000 this week amid fears that not all foreign nationals will be evacuated before the August 31 deadline for withdrawal.

Nargas Ziahe flew out to Afghanistan more than six weeks ago with her brother Omar (left), sister Asma (right) and their mother, following the death of her uncle and to visit her poorly grandfather

Raghib Ziahe, 48, pictured with his children. Raghib Ziahe, the father who remained in Nottingham and worked with Amanda and Ms Greenwood to get his family home, told Nottinghamshire Live they landed in Birmingham this morning

People trying to flee the country continue to wait around the Kabul airport with only days left before Biden is planning to withdraw troops

Crowds of people wait outside the airport in Kabul as they desperately try to flee the country which has been taken over by the Taliban

US airmen and marines guide evacuees into a plane at Hamid Karzai International Airport amid the huge evacuation effort

Former top British military urge UK to 'go it alone' in Afghanistan rescue mission if the US pulls out on August 31 Former top British military officials last night urged the UK to go it alone in its Afghanistan rescue mission if the US does not push back its pull-out date. President Joe Biden last night said he 'hoped not to' extend the date for pulling his 6,000 remaining US troops from Kabul. The current date is August 31. UK defence bosses say it is unlikely British troops will be able to remain in Kabul once the US pulls its forces. However a former British Army general last night said the UK should go it alone if the US does not push back its leaving date. Retired Major General Tim Cross, who served in Iraq and Kosovo, told the Sun: 'What's the point of having armed forces if we cannot hold a single airfield? It makes the whole global Britain idea a joke.' Another, Colonel Richard Kemp, a retired officer who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, told the paper: 'We are one of the most powerful military nations in the world. We should stay until we have got every last Brit, and everyone we need, out.' The Minister of Defence last night said it would be 'impractical' to secure Kabul Airport and to continue the evacuation mission 'without the partnership (with the US)'. Advertisement

Mr Ziahe thanked Amanda for all her help throughout the past few days. Amanda said the news was somewhat 'bittersweet' as just four had arrived home, with many still out there waiting on evacuation.

She added: '[Their] aunt and uncles are in significant danger still. I've been working with Lilian Greenwood and her team to gather all the documentation and pass it to the Foreign Office.

'The youngest uncle had his ID taken by Taliban and told that once US and UK security forces leave he will be beheaded. I am relieved, overjoyed and a bit overwhelmed. It is bittersweet, though, knowing how many people are still in danger.'

British military commanders are understood to have pencilled in August 25 as the last day they can process refugees, including former British interpreters, under the current plans before the focus shifts to getting about 1,000 British troops and government officials home safely.

It could mean the last British evacuation flight may have to leave as soon as tomorrow or Wednesday to allow soldiers enough time to withdraw.

Boris Johnson will use a virtual meeting of world leaders tomorrow to press Joe Biden for more time to save people from the clutches of the Taliban - something the US President has so far refused to commit to.

French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said he was 'concerned' about the deadline and 'additional time is needed'. Germany estimated it has 5,000 people still waiting to be taken to safety, with a Foreign Ministry spokesman saying the airbridges should stay open 'as long as the situation on the ground allows'.

However, the Taliban have said any extension would be a 'red line' and warned of 'consequences' - as ministers admit they have a 'vote' on the timetable.

Despite the entreaties from fellow leaders, Mr Biden has been non-committal, saying yesterday he 'hopes not to' extend his current deadline. He made a pledge to US citizens that 'any American who wants to get home will get home' but pointedly failed to mention his allies.

It came as dramatic pictures emerged of Taliban fighters and British troops, once sworn enemies, working just yards apart at Kabul airport.

Downing Street insiders said Mr Johnson will ask the US President at the G7 meeting not to leave Western allies in the lurch. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace have also been in contact with their opposite numbers in Washington on the issue.

Mr Biden has set a deadline of August 31 for all Americans to have left the country, but UK military sources said another fortnight was needed. Asked what he would say if G7 leaders pushed him, Mr Biden said: 'I will tell them we will see what we can do.'

Taliban spokesman Dr Suhail Shaheen said the group will not accept an extension to the deadline and warned of retaliation if Western forces extend their 'occupation' since the group dramatically swept to power.

He told Sky News: 'It's a red line. President Biden announced that on 31 August they would withdraw all their military forces. So if they extend it that means they are extending occupation while there is no need for that.

'If the US or UK were to seek additional time to continue evacuations - the answer is no. Or there would be consequences. It will create mistrust between us. If they are intent on continuing the occupation it will provoke a reaction.'

Speaking to reporters in Fort George, near Inverness, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: 'The Prime Minister is, obviously at the G7, going to try and raise the prospect of seeing if the United States will extend.

'It's really important for people to understand the United States have over 6,000 people in Kabul airport and when they withdraw that will take away the framework  and we will have to go as well.

Crowds climb up on buildings as they gather near the airport in Kabul in a bid to flee Afghanistan in the wake of the Taliban takeover

British military commanders are understood to have pencilled in August 25 as the last day they can process refugees

Boris Johnson (pictured left) will attempt to persuade US President Joe Biden (pictured right) to keep American troops in Afghanistan beyond his August 31 deadline when the two leaders take part in a G7 meeting this week

'I don't think there is any likelihood of staying on after the United States. If their timetable extends even by a day or two, that will give us a day or two more to evacuate people.

'Because we are really down to hours now, not weeks, and we have to make sure we exploit every minute to get people out.'

Furious former generals have urged the PM to continue the evacuation even if the US leaves, in the hopes of getting 'every last Briton out'.

'We are concerned about the deadline set by the United States on August 31. Additional time is needed to complete ongoing operations,' Mr Le Drian told reporters at the UAE's Al-Dhafra air base, where France has set up an air bridge for people evacuated from Kabul.

Mr Heappey said the 'hard reality' is that the effort cannot continue without the US, admitting that not everyone will get out - stressing that people will be able to look for other escape avenues after that.

'The fact is we will get out as many as we possibly can but we have been clear throughout that there is a hard reality that we won't be able to get out everybody that we want to, and that is very important that we start to reassure people in Kabul - because I know that people in Afghanistan are acutely aware of what is being said in our media in the UK - that the airlift is not the only route out of Afghanistan, not the only route to the UK.'

He added: 'There is a second phase to this, where people will be able to settle in the UK having been processed either at a handling centre in a refugee camp or at one of our embassies or high commissions in the region.'

Over recent days, the President has remained stubbornly opposed to any plan to extend the rescue operation into September.

His stance means UK nationals and Afghans eligible to relocate to Britain would have to escape themselves to a third country, such as Pakistan, from where they could travel to the UK on commercial aircraft.

Such journeys would be fraught with danger. Scores of interpreters are hiding in Kabul following beatings and shootings by the Taliban; punishment for their service to a foreign power.
The government is also considering temporarily housing refugees at military bases in Texas, Wisconsin Indiana, California, and Arkansas, as well as some locations abroad

Roughly 2,000 refugees have been relocated so far, a majority to Virginia

Nearly 28,000 Afghan and Afghan Americans have been evacuated since the Taliban took control of the country's government last week, including approximately 11,000 were able to flee just this past weekend

As of Monday morning, 25 U.S. Military C-17s, three U.S. Military C-130s and 61 charter/commercial flights have departed Kabul, carrying a total of approximately 16,000 passengers

Southwest, who began chartering refugee flights Monday, said: 'We are proud to support our military's critical humanitarian airlift mission, and we are grateful to our employees for demonstrating an eagerness to support these military efforts'

The Big Four - Southwest, American, Delta and United - are among the airlines called upon by the Biden Administration

Commercial air carriers are chartering flights to aid the U.S. government in its efforts to evacuate Afghan refugees amid the Taliban takeover

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The nation's Big Four Airlines  American, Delta, United, and Southwest  are working with the United States government to help transport Afghan evacuees to their destination cities.

Southwest started chartering domestic flights for evacuees on Monday as the U.S. government works to accelerate efforts to evacuate vulnerable Afghans amid the Taliban insurgence.

'We are proud to support our military's critical humanitarian airlift mission, and we are grateful to our employees for demonstrating an eagerness to support these military efforts,' Southwest said in a statement provided to ABC News.

As of Monday morning, 25 U.S. Military C-17s, three U.S. Military C-130s and 61 charter/commercial flights have departed Kabul, carrying a total of approximately 16,000 passengers. Of that number, the U.S. military transported just under 11,000 personnel.

Commercial airlines are working with the United States government to help transport Afghan evacuees to their destination cities (Pictured: A family evacuated from Kabul walking through the terminal after they arrived at Washington Dulles International Airport, in Chantilly, Va., on Monday, Aug. 23, 2021)

As of Monday morning, 25 U.S. Military C-17s, three U.S. Military C-130s and 61 charter/commercial flights have departed Kabul, carrying a total of approximately 16,000 passengers (Pictured: A family member evacuated from Kabul, Afghanistan, left, is greeted by a relative as they arrive at Washington Dulles International Airport on Aug. 21, 2021)

Nearly 28,000 Afghans and Afghan Americans have been evacuated since the Taliban took control of the country's government last week, including 11,000 just this past weekend (Pictured: A man waves as he and other Afghanistan refugees arrive at a processing center in Chantilly, Va., Monday, Aug. 23, 2021, after arriving on a flight at Dulles International Airport)

The U.S. has welcomed the first of 65,000 Afghan people that President Joe Biden hopes to resettle, with well-wishers bringing them books, toys and diapers to help them settle in. Nearly 28,000 Afghans and Afghan Americans have been evacuated since the Taliban took control of the country's government last week, including 11,000 just this past weekend.

Last week, the president said he wanted to rescue up to 15,000 Americans living in Afghanistan, as well as up to 65,000 refugees and people whose work with U.S. forces made them eligible for a special interest visa (SIV). Roughly 2,000 refugees have been relocated so far, a majority to Fort Lee, Virginia, according to the State Department, near where dozens of residents donated clothes, toiletries, diapers, baby formula, toys and books to the arriving families.

Southwest is operating four flights on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week strictly designated for evacuee transport.

The air carrier said their team 'stands ready to provide additional support to the Department of Defense, if needed'.

Southwest declined to specify the origin or destination cities of these flights due to the fact that they are charted by the government.

Evacuees have already begun arriving at Fort Bliss in Texas, officials confirmed to the KVIA. They expect more Afghan refugees to arrive in the next few days.

Officials say those going to Fort Bliss include special visa applicants, their families and other at-risk individuals.

Fort Bliss will provide evacuees with the basic necessities of medical care, housing, transportation and logistical support.

A team of approximately 1,000 service members, referred to as 'Team Bliss,' was assembled to aid in 'Operation Allies Refuge,' which is the U.S. government's ongoing military operation to airlift at-risk Afghan civilians out of the country.

Evacuees have began arriving at Fort Bliss in Texas (pictured). The Department of Defense, in support of the Department of State, is providing transportation and temporary housing to Afghan refugees in support of Operation Allies Refuge

Refugees are being flown into Fort Bliss (pictured) where they will be provided with the basic necessities of medical care, housing, transportation and logistical support

A team of approximately 1,000 service members, referred to as 'Team Bliss,' was assembled to aid in 'Operation Allies Refuge,' which is the U.S. government's ongoing military operation to airlift at-risk Afghan civilians out of the country

However, several hundred touched down at Dulles International Airport outside of Washington D.C. on Friday, the Washington Post reports, and were shuttled overnight to the Northern Virginia Community College in Annadale, where the Fairfax County Office of Emergency Management set up more than 500 cots - provided by the college - in an event center, gymnasium and community rooms.

Pentagon officials are preparing Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey to temporarily house Afghan refugees, according to the Wall Street Journal. A tent city was erected at the base and officials have begun installing necessary medical supplies, food, water, restrooms, lighting and equipment. Evacuees are expected to arrive to the base this week.

The government is also considering housing refugees at bases in Fort Pickett, Va., Camp Atterbury, Ind., Camp Hunter Liggett, Calif., and Fort Chaffee, Ark., as well as some U.S. bases in Japan, Korea, Germany, Kosovo, Bahrain and Italy.

A fourth flight with Afghan Refugees landed at Biggs Army Airfield, Fort Bliss, early this morning. After arrival, they are bussed to Dona Ana Base Camp, where newly erected tents await them. We expect more flights to arrive today and in the coming days. : Justin Hamel. pic.twitter.com/zltg6hsvdd  andra litton (@tornandra) August 22, 2021

The Pentagon previously announced that refugees will be housed at Fort Lee, Va., Fort Bliss, Texas, and Fort McCoy in Wisconsin.

On Sunday, the Pentagon called up 18 civilian aircraft from United Airlines, American Airlines, and Delta Air, among others, to aid in the efforts to carry evacuees to temporary locations.

American, Delta, Atlas and privately owned Omni Air are provided three aircraft each, Reuters reported. Hawaiian Airlines will be providing two flights and United four.

The flights will be transporting refugees from 'staging locations' in places like Qatar and Germany; none of them will be landing in Kabul.

Last week, Biden said he wanted to rescue up to 15,000 Americans living in Afghanistan , as well as up to 65,000 refugees and people whose work with U.S. forces made them eligible for a special interest visa (Pictured: Afghanistan refugees arrive at a processing center in Chantilly, Va., Monday, Aug. 23, 2021, after arriving on a flight at Dulles International Airport)

In a statement provided to ABC News' Sam Sweeney, Southwest said they are 'honored' to be assisting the government and notes that the charter flights will not disrupt their scheduled routes or operations

This is reportedly the first time since 2003 that the U.S. has leaned on the commercial airline industry.

'It's a program that was designed in the wake of the Berlin airlift after World War Two to use commercial aircraft to augment our airlift capacity,' Biden said in an address from the White House on Sunday afternoon. He said the airlines voluntarily signed up for the program.

Southwest, who said they are 'honored' to be assisting the government, notes that the charters will not disrupt their scheduled routes or operations.

In a statement provided to the Wall Street Journal, United said they also expect 'minimal impact' to routine operations and said: 'We embrace the responsibility to quickly respond to international challenges like these and use our expertise to ensure the safe passage of our fellow countrymen and women as well as those who have risked their lives to help keep them safe.'

American, who is also slated to begin its charters on Monday, said they are removing three aircrafts from their operations and '[working] to minimize the impact to customers'.

'The images from Afghanistan are heartbreaking. The airline is proud and grateful of our pilots and flight attendants, who will be operating these trips to be a part of this lifesaving effort,' the airline said in a statement.

Delta is using spare planes for the efforts and notes their commercial operations will not be impacted.

Roughly 2,000 refugees have been relocated so far, a majority to Virginia (Pictured: A child refugee from Afghanistan looks at a service dog as his family waits to board a bus after arriving and being processed at Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Virginia on August 23, 2021)

The Pentagon previously announced that refugees will be housed at Fort Lee, Va., Fort Bliss, Texas, and Fort McCoy in Wisconsin (Pictured: A woman evacuated from Afghanistan steps off a bus with a baby as they arrive at a processing center in Chantilly, Va. on Monday, Aug. 23, 2021)

Some refugees were brought to a Navy base in Italy on Sun. Aug. 22, 2021, where they will wait for further relocation. The U.S. government is considering temporarily housing refugees on bases in Japan, Korea, Germany, Kosovo and Bahrain as well

Over the weekend, volunteers brought pizza, snacks and water to the refugees housed at Northern Virginia Community College, as the evacuees told their stories, which many of the volunteers could relate to, as they were also of Afghan descent.

One such volunteer was Salima Khan, 22, who said her parents were born in Afghanistan during the Soviet invasion and ultimately escaped when the Taliban took over the country the first time in the 1990s.

'So I feel like I'm rewatching what they went through - but now with all of this support,' she said. 'They didn't have that.'

'We just want to hare their pain,' added another man, who just gave his first name, Nasrul, out of fear for the safety of his siblings who are still in Afghanistan. 'We are not in Afghanistan, but we are in sorrow.'

He said he decided to help out because he thought he might be able to get the refugees to relax, telling the Post: 'At least these lives are safe now.'

Some refugees arrived in Annandale, Virginia on Saturday, where dozens of volunteers provided them with clothes, diapers, toiletries and games

Families evacuated from Kabul, Afghanistan, wait outside the terminal to board a bus after they arrived at Washington Dulles International Airport, in Chantilly, Va., on Monday, Aug. 23, 2021

Afghan refugees arrive at a processing center in Chantilly, Va., Monday, Aug. 23, 2021, after arriving on a flight at Dulles International Airport

A man evacuated from Afghanistan steps off a bus with a girl in his arms as they arrive at a processing center in Chantilly, Va. on Monday, Aug. 23, 2021, after arriving on a flight at Dulles International Airport

Afghan refugees arrive at a processing center in Chantilly, Va., Monday, Aug. 23, 2021, after arriving on a flight at Dulles International Airport

But not everyone is.

Daryoush Amiri, a Fairfax resident, said his wife and two young kids flew to Kabul to visit other family last month, and were supposed to arrive home on August 16 'but it was canceled and then the government collapsed.'

He said his family was able to fly to Qatar on a crowded flight out of the country, and are now in Germany unsure what to do.

And a 32-year-old father, who also asked not to be named as he feared for the safety of his family, fled the country and arrived in Virginia with his one-year-old son - but had to leave behind his wife and daughter.

He told the Post he was able to get a Special Immigrant Visa due to his work with a Pakistani cargo company that contracted with the United States military, but was unable to secure safe passage for his wife and daughter after two nights outside the Kabul airport, because they did not have the proper paperwork.

'It is difficult to be with a baby and be his mother and his father,' the man said. 'No one can feel my sensation. I repeatedly, repeatedly cried - this is his time to be with his mother.'

He said he knew the baby could not stay in the country, so he brought him along and is holding out hope that his wife and daughter will eventually make their own way into the United States.

'He still asks me for his mom,' the father said of his young son.

People took pictures as a commercial plane carrying refugees made its landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport on Sunday Aug. 22, 2021

Refugees from Afghanistan are escorted to a waiting bus after arriving and being processed at Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Virginia on August 23, 2021

Some evacuees have been granted Special Immigrant Visas to ensure their safety (Pictured: Refugees from Afghanistan wait to board a bus after arriving and being processed at Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Virginia on August 23, 2021)

Meanwhile, more refugees were being flown into the United States and its allies on Sunday, with a Navy base on the Italian island of Sicily tweeting that about 650 people were flown into the base in just one day.

'I could not be prouder of every single one of you,' Captain Kevin Pickard, the commanding officer at NAS Sigonella told a group of personnel from the US Air Force, Marines, Navy and State Department before the first flight into the base arrived Sunday. 'To see how this base is able to pull in support, all across Italy, is truly impressive.'

The base is serving as a transit location while refugees wait further transportation to more permanent settlements in the United States.

'The people we're helping are going to be joining our American family,' Pickard said. 'We're proud to welcome them with open arms.'

President Joe Biden on Sunday said U.S.- led forces have expanded the perimeter of and 'increased access' to Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport, adding that the Taliban has been 'cooperative in extending the perimeter'

President Joe Biden on Sunday said U.S.- led forces have expanded the perimeter of and 'increased access' to Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport, adding that the Taliban has been 'cooperative in extending the perimeter.'

'The Taliban has not taken action against US forces' since it overran the capital, Biden said at a Sunday news conference.

He had previously said that the US military operation in Afghanistan would end on August 31, but pushed back the timeline on Sunday, according to the Washington Post, saying the Taliban's takeover has extended that date.

The president also thanked refugee support groups and others who were helping to rescue and acclimate the people who had flown into the United States over the past few days, and reiterated that everyone arriving in the country 'will have undergone a background check.'

The president also shared that he has been touched by the support he has seen from community organizations across the nation.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson, 79, and his wife, Jacqueline, 77, are 'responding positively to treatment' for COVID-19, according to their son.

Jonathan Jackson, one of the couple's five children, said in a Sunday statement that doctors were 'carefully monitoring the conditions' of his parents, 'especially because of their ages.'

Jesse Jackson, a famed civil rights leader, is vaccinated against the virus and received his first Pfizer dose in January during a publicized event as he urged others to vaccinate as soon as possible.

Jacqueline Jackson, a largely private figure, has not spoken publicly about her vaccination status. The two are being treated at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago.

'My family appreciates all of the expressions of concern and prayers that have been offered on their behalf, and we will continue to offer our prayers for your family as well,' read the statement, released via the younger Jackson's Rainbow/Push Coalition.

Jonathan Jackson, one of the couple's five children, said in a Sunday statement that doctors were 'carefully monitoring the conditions' of his parents, 'especially because of their ages'

Rev. Jesse Jackson received the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in January (above). The Jacksons are being treated for COVID at a Chicago hospital. He is 79 years old. Jacqueline Jackson is 77

'My family appreciates all of the expressions of concern and prayers that have been offered on their behalf, and we will continue to offer our prayers for your family as well,' read the statement, released via the Jonathan Jackson's (pictured) Rainbow/Push Coalition.

Rev. Jesse Jackson, 79, and his wife, Jacqueline, 77, are seen in 2013. They are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 in Chicago

'We ask that you continue to pray for the full recovery of our parents. We will continue to update you on a regular basis.'

The prevalence of so-called 'breakthrough cases' is causing concern as the Delta variant drives a surge in cases nationwide.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that vaccines greatly reduce the risk of hospitalization and death, even if they don't prevent all cases among the vaccinated.

'While these vaccines are effective, no vaccine prevents illness 100% of the time. For any vaccine, there are breakthrough cases,' the CDC website acknowledges.

'However, fully vaccinated people are much less likely to be hospitalized or die than people with similar risk factors who are not vaccinated,' the agency said.

Rev. Jesse Jackson speaks to the crowd during a demonstration supporting Democrats' push to change election laws, on Capitol Hill on August 2

Three US senators said Thursday they have tested positive for COVID-19 despite being vaccinated, though none were ill enough to be hospitalized.

Senators Angus King, a Main Independent, Roger Wicker, a Mississippi Republican, and John Hickenlooper, a Democrat from Colorado, all said they have tested positive for the virus.

A protege of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jesse Jackson was key in guiding the modern civil rights movement on numerous issues, including voting rights.

Jackson has remained active, most recently advocating for COVID-19 vaccines for black people, who lag behind other racial groups in the United States' vaccination drive.

In the past month, Jackson has been arrested twice participating in protests demanding the passage of the Democrats' voting bill.

In late July, he was arrested during a sit-in at Senator Kyrsten Sinema's office in Phoenix, where protesters demanded the moderate Democrat withdraw her support for the Senate filibuster.

The Jacksons are being treated at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago

Rev. Jesse Jackson, 79, and his wife, Jacqueline, 77, are seen in 2018. They are currently hospitalized with COVID-19

On August 2, Jackson was arrested with 200 other demonstrators during a protest at the U.S. Capitol .

The protest, organized by Poor People's Campaign, was part of a series of events to demand the passage of Democrats' new election rules, an end to the filibuster, a $15 hourly minimum wage and protection for immigrants.

Speakers at the rally - that began in Washington DC in front of Union Station, and ended on the Capitol - included Lyndon B. Johnson's daughter Luci Baines Johnson.

Her father signed the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which organizers say 'has since been gutted.'
Three young men have been found guilty of the 'random' murder of a Marks and Spencer shop assistant who was targeted in a postcode gang 'ride out' into enemy territory.

Anthony Adekola, 22, was walking home from his shift at Marks and Spencer when a group of young men leapt out of two taxis and dragged him down an alleyway in Colindale, north west London.

After a short chase, Adekola was repeatedly stabbed more than nine times and died at the scene despite paramedics conducting emergency surgery, in what jurors heard may have been a horrifying 'random' attack.

Following an Old Bailey trial, Tajaun Subaran, 19, and two 17-year-olds, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, from neighbouring Hendon, north-west London, were found guilty of murder.

Jurors were told that Mr Adekola was in the 'wrong place at the wrong time' as he chanced upon a group of young men who had travelled into the rival NW9 postcode area.

Anthony Adekola, 22, was walking home from a shift at Marks and Spencer when a group of young men leapt out of two taxis and dragged him down an alleyway in Colindale, north west London

Mr Adekola was near his home on the Grahame Park Estate when two taxis pulled up and eight young men got out.

CCTV footage showed the victim being stopped by the group and after a brief exchange, he turned and ran.

He collided with a stone bollard and fell to the ground in Martlesham Walk as the chasing pack closed in.

The group then subjected Mr Adekola to a brutal attack, stabbing him at least nine times in the face, head, neck, back, chest, arms and leg.

The group subjected Mr Adekola (pictured) to a brutal attack, stabbing him at least nine times in the face, head, neck, back, chest, arms and leg which ultimately killed him

The fatal stab wound to his neck severed the carotid artery and jugular vein. The attackers then returned to the waiting taxis and made off.

Mr Adekola was found badly injured and bleeding by his brother and concerned friends who retraced his route.

Police arrived at 11.15pm and found him surrounded by people applying pressure to the neck wound.

Medics carried out emergency surgery at the scene but despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead at 11.45pm.

Bill Emlyn Jones QC, prosecuting, told jurors there was no evidence of a personal connection between the victim and his attackers.

'We are left with the awful prospect that he was selected and killed at random,' he said.

The attackers had come from and returned to Hendon - in the NW4 postcode - while the victim was in the NW9 area.

Mr Emlyn Jones said: 'It is the prosecution case that the defendants were on a raid into enemy territory, something known as a 'ride out'.

'When they got to NW9, it didn't matter to them who they stabbed - it was enough to show their NW9 rivals that they could turn up on enemy territory and attack who they liked.'

Friends of the 22-year-old paid tribute to him after his death, including one peer who told the BBC Mr Adekola's murder 'hurt like nothing else'.

They said: 'You motivated me to do what I loved most in life, you lived a playful life and infected others with your smile and subtle charm.'

Following the defendants' arrests their electronic devices were examined, the court heard.

Following an Old Bailey trial, Tajaun Subaran, 19, and two 17-year-olds, who cannot be identified, from neighbouring Hendon, north-west London, were found guilty of murder

A Snapchat message four days after the murder was recovered from the iPad of one of the youths.

Headed: 'This is for your own safety', it stated: 'Grahame Park and Hendon are having a war because of the stabbing that happened (RIP Lizzy) so when you finished skl no more concourse it's straight home cause if Hendon man catch you it's peak cause they don't care.'

The court heard the 17-year-old youth identified himself as a 'Hendon man'.

Police also recovered text messages from his mother on the morning after the murder telling him to come home and accusing him of taking her knives.

A black face mask dropped at the scene was linked to him by his DNA.

The other 17-year-old defendant had drafted a text message 'F** d 9 1000 times' in apparent reference to the rival NW9 postcode, jurors were told.

On another device belonging to the same youth, police found what appeared to be revenge drill rap lyrics.

The lyrics stated a desire to go to 'the 9' and 'catch me an opp' (rival) and 'get dem back'.

A lyric created about three weeks after the murder referred to being 'in the 9 from night till morning'.

It ended with the chilling words: 'Chasing opps is fun, I love the thrill wen I see an opp boy run (sic)'.

CCTV footage from the evening identified the youth from his clothing.

Both youths accepted being present but denied involvement in the stabbing.

It was alleged that Subaran had helped to book the taxis.

Traces of blood on a trainer belonging to Subaran matched Mr Adekola's DNA.

An examination of the defendants' phones revealed that they all appeared to have switched them off for half an hour, coinciding with the time of the 'ride out'.

The defendants denied being involved in the attack on Mr Adekola.

The jury, which deliberated for 21 hours, was discharged after failing to reach a verdict on a fifth defendant, Christian Medina, 20.

The prosecution asked for four weeks to decide whether to seek a retrial in his case.
Every staff member at New York City's public schools will need to be vaccinated by the end of September with no option for weekly testing.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said Monday that every department of education employee must receive at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine by September 27, as the city escalates attempts to slow the spread of the hyper-contagious Delta variant.

There will be no option of a weekly test instead.

'We know this is going to help to ensure that everyone is safe,' he told reporters.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said Monday that every department of education employee must receive at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine by September 27, as the city escalates attempts to slow the spread of the hyper-contagious Delta variant

New York City has America's largest public school system with some 1.1 million students across 1,800 schools. The directive will affect almost 150,000 employees.

'Getting vaccinated is our passport out of the pandemic,' according to Schools Chancellor Meisha Ross Porter.

Just 63 percent of education staff are vaccinated so far. When asked if the mandate may lead to more teachers resigning or retiring, the mayor and schools chancellor said they doubt there will be a teacher shortage amid the vaccine mandate.

Outgoing Governor Andrew Cuomo, who has often clashed with de Blasio on handling the coronavirus, indicated in his pre-recorded farewell address Monday that he thinks all teachers should be vaccinated.

The announcement comes as public bodies and private businesses in the United States grapple with boosting vaccination rates.

New York City is keeping rules in place to have students masked during classes as they return permanently to school buildings

Many unions and critics of mandates have spoken out against required vaccinations, citing personal freedom arguments.

Michael Mulgrew, head the United Federation of Teachers - the city's biggest teacher's union - suggested that many of the details in the mandate will need to go to court.

'Our first priority is keeping our kids safe and the schools open. The city's teachers have led the way on this issue, with the great majority already vaccinated. While the city is asserting its legal authority to establish this mandate, there are many implementation details, including provisions for medical exceptions, that by law must be negotiated with the UFT and other unions, and if necessary, resolved by arbitration.'

628,504 have lost their lives to the virus in the United States

The United States has recorded over 37 million positive COVID-19 tests

On Monday the US Food and Drug Administration fully approved the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid vaccine, which is expected to trigger a slew of new vaccine mandates around the country.

New York's directive comes after Los Angeles and Chicago announced their own vaccine mandates for teachers.

Neighboring New Jersey announced a similar mandate Monday, but will allow unvaccinated teachers if they agree to once-a-week testing. Similarly, all state agencies, public colleges and universities in the Garden State face the same mandate.

The Big Apple now requires proof of vaccination for people attending indoor venues such as restaurants, gyms and shows, as the city tries to get back on its feet

De Blasio wants all students to return to classrooms when schools start the new academic year on September 13 after a mixture of remote and in-person learning last year.

The Big Apple now requires proof of vaccination for people attending indoor venues such as restaurants, gyms and shows, as the city tries to get back on its feet.

The order, which took effect last week as new COVID cases soar in the city and across the nation, requires proof of vaccination to enter restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, and gyms or fitness centers.

The vaccination mandate aims to persuade more people to get vaccinated with the threat of missing out on city amenities.

At least 63 percent of New Yorkers have had at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine

'We do not want to go back to restrictions,' de Blasio said at a virtual news conference last week. 'The key to our progress is vaccination.'

Businesses have a grace period until September 13 to begin implementing vaccine checkpoints before facing $1,000 fines, but many bars and restaurants are already demanding proof of vaccination to enter.

In New York, a city of more than eight million inhabitants, 75.6 percent of adults have received at least one dose of vaccine, according to official figures.

In New York, a city of more than eight million inhabitants, 75.6 percent of adults have received at least one dose of vaccine, according to official figures

City data show that only 28 percent of black NYC residents between the ages of 18 and 44 are fully vaccinated, compared to 49 percent of Hispanics, 52 percent of whites, and 82 percent of Asians in the same age group.

Since New York announced its vaccine mandate, New Orleans and San Francisco have issued similar orders for patrons and staff of indoor businesses.

Nevadas governor enacted a similar policy this week, and the Las Vegas Raiders responded by becoming the first NFL team to require proof of vaccination to attend games in 2021.

Los Angeles is considering similar measures. All are led by Democratic mayors, underscoring the political divide over mandates on vaccines, masks and other measures.

The vaccine mandates are fraught with complications, as restaurant servers, bartenders and ticket agents at already understaffed businesses now must enforce the vaccination rules.

Mindful that another economic shutdown could be disastrous, some restaurant and bar owners are embracing the the mandates as a way to control the virus and keep their doors open.

Mindful that another economic shutdown could be disastrous, some restaurant and bar owners are embracing the the mandates as a way to control the virus and keep their doors open

Others - particularly in parts of the city where people have resisted getting the vaccine - worry it will be a fatal blow to businesses that were prevented for months last year from serving patrons indoors.

It'll fall largely on businesses to enforce the policy, and de Blasio claims it won't be too different from a host guiding someone to a table or a box office clerk selling a ticket.

The announcement came just 24 hours after de Blasio broke from Governor Andrew Cuomo and said he would not bring back an indoor mask mandate in the city.

De Blasio said last week: 'If you want to participate in our society fully, you've got to get vaccinated. It's time'

De Blasio said last week: 'If you want to participate in our society fully, you've got to get vaccinated. It's time.'

He added: 'This is a miraculous place full of wonders, and if you're vaccinated, all of that is gonna open up to you.'

About 66 percent of adults in New York City are fully vaccinated, with another 5.6 percent partially vaccinated, according to official data.

Mary Josephine Generoso, manager of pastry shop and diner Pasticceria Rocco in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, told DailyMail.com the city is 'segregating people' with the vaccine mandate.

'It's discriminatory - the mayor and the city of New York is asking us to segregate based on vaccine status,' she said.

A New York City diner owner has blasted Mayor Bill de Blasio's new vaccine mandate. Mary Josephine Generoso, manager of pastry shop and diner Pasticceria Rocco in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, stands in front of her store sign

'To put up a sign saying only vaccinated people can enter is segregating people. It would be like changing the words vaccinated and unvaccinated to black and white, or Muslim and Catholic, or gay or heterosexual,' she said.

'[De Blasio] is segregating people - it's the same as him saying you can't let a gay person in your business,' said Generoso.

The mayor fired back at the backlash in a press conference Tuesday morning saying 'this is not discrimination, it's about protecting people' and insisting the mandate will help boost uptake of the vaccine.

'It's nonsense,' said 47-year-old New Yorker Samuel, who is vaccinated but believes it should be a personal choice, in an interview with AFP.

'It's un-American. I don't like being forced to do something,' he added, while eating lunch at an Irish pub in Manhattan.

De Blasio said last week that some details of how the program will work still need to be worked out, but he did not think checking vaccination status should be too difficult for businesses, which already have to take tickets or show diners to a table.

Those looking to catch a Broadway show or get in a morning workout will need to pull out a CDC vaccination card or an app like the Excelsior Pass proving that they've had at least one jab of a Covid vaccine. Vaccination cards will be accepted as proof of inoculation, along with state and city apps.

The United States has recorded over 37 million positive COVID-19 tests, while 628,504 have lost their lives to the virus.
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Britain's coronavirus outbreak continued to trend upwards today as another 31,914 people tested positive for the virus.

Department of Health figures showed cases had risen 12 per cent from last Monday, when 28,438 were recorded. There were also another 40 deaths  up 54 per cent in a week.

Latest hospital data revealed that 948 people were admitted with the virus on August 17, which was almost eight per cent higher than the week prior.

It came as separate statistics showed Covid became the ninth leading cause of death in England in July as the country shrugged off the last shackles of lockdown, and was behind 969 out of 40,467 fatalities (2.4 per cent).

For comparison, in June it was the 26th biggest killer behind 0.9 per cent of deaths  or fewer than 100 fatalities.

But the proportion of deaths caused by the virus was still far lower last month than at other points in the pandemic thanks to the vaccination drive. Covid accounted for 37 per cent of deaths at the height of the second wave.

Meanwhile, MailOnline's analysis of Public Health England data revealed four in 10 patients hospitalised with the Delta variant may have been admitted for another reason.

Figures show 7,285 people had spent at least one night in hospital with the virus by August 15, but as many as 3,154 (43 per cent) had likely come to A&E for something else.

Experts told MailOnline that the number of so-called 'incidental' Covid hospital admissions would rise if community transmission continued to stay stubbornly high, meaning they could pass the virus on to hospital staff and patients before testing positive.

Britain today ordered another 35million doses of the Pfizer Covid vaccine for a booster programme in the second half of 2022, amid plans to 'future proof' the country against the virus and variants.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the additional doses  enough to give top-ups to more than half of the population  are to ensure the country 'remains ahead of the virus for years to come'.

Latest vaccination figures show 40,345 first doses were dished out yesterday, taking the total to 47.6million  or 87.7 per cent of adults. And 116,352 second doses were also administered, with 41.8million people  or 76.9 per cent of adults  already being fully jabbed.

Covid was the leading cause of death in England at the end of 2019 and beginning of 2020, but it plummeted to 26th place in June. But it has now jumped 17 places to be the ninth biggest killer. In July, 969 of the 40,467 fatalities recorded in the country were caused by the virus, while a total of 1,161 people had Covid mentioned on their death certificate

On average, 31 people died due to Covid a day in July. According to official Government figures, a high of 102 Covid deaths were recorded in one day in July, but these include anyone who passed away and tested positive within the previous 28 days, meaning some died from other causes and just happened to have the virus. Meanwhile, an average of 142 people died a day from dementia and Alzheimer's, the country's biggest killer last month, followed by heart disease (131), lung cancer (71) and brain disease (69)

Public Health England's fortnightly update on coronavirus strains circulating around the country showed 7,285 people had spent at least one night in hospital with the Delta variant of the virus by August 15. But it admitted as many as 3,154 (43 per cent) had likely come to A&E for 'a diagnosis unrelated to Covid' and tested positive later through routine swabbing

More than four in 10 Delta Covid hospital patients in England may have been admitted for a different illness, official figures suggest More than four in 10 patients hospitalised with the Delta variant in England may have been admitted for something else, MailOnline's analysis suggests. Public Health England's fortnightly update on coronavirus strains circulating around the country showed 7,285 people had spent at least one night in hospital with the mutant virus by August 15. But it admitted as many as 3,154 (43 per cent) had likely come to A&E for 'a diagnosis unrelated to Covid' and tested positive later through routine swabbing. Experts told MailOnline in June that the number of so-called 'incidental' Covid hospital admissions would rise if community transmission continued to stay high. The proportion of people testing positive for the strain after admission for a different illness has risen four per cent since then. By June 21, it was 39 per cent. Reading University microbiologist Dr Simon Clarke said the numbers highlight the increasing numbers of patients unwittingly bringing the virus into hospitals  putting the most vulnerable at risk. He told MailOnline: 'If someone is asymptomatic and they're admitted say, with an appendicitis or smashed ankle, then the hospital won't know that they're infected for about 24 hours, because that's how long it takes to get the test done. In that time they could easily have infected staff and other patients, some of whom will be especially vulnerable.' Other scientists warned figures were overestimating the number of Covid patients in hospital. But they did not rule out that an undiagnosed Covid infection may have flared up other underlying conditions. However, it comes as the number of patients with Covid-19 in hospital in England has hit 6,000 for the first time in more than five months. The figure, which is a snapshot of patients as of 8am on August 23, is up 11 per cent on the previous week. Advertisement

It comes as:

Up to 200 anti-vaxxers today stormed the London HQ of ITV News and Channel 4 News and chased Jon Snow, before hurling abuse at him;

Heartbroken husband whose un-vaccinated partner, 35, died from Covid after catching it while pregnant buries wife and baptises the daughter she never met;

Britain today bought another 35million Pfizer Covid jabs for next winter to 'future proof' the country with booster vaccines for 'years to come';

Flu jabs may be too weak to protect people this winter because labs have been too focused on Covid, vaccine makers warned;

Booster shot of Pfizer's vaccine slashed risk of catching Covid fourfold among over-60s, according to Israel's health ministry.

Dementia and Alzheimer's was responsible for four times more deaths than Covid last month, while heart disease and lung cancer continue to round out the top three causes.

The 969 Covid deaths last month equate to an average of 31 deaths per day throughout the whole of July. However, this number has risen significantly since Freedom Day went ahead on July 19 and triggered a sustained uptick in cases and deaths. The UK as a whole is currently averaging 98 deaths per day.

Meanwhile, Britain has ordered 35million more doses of Pfizer's Covid jab to dish out as boosters next year.

The injections will arrive in the second half of 2022 and 'future proof' the country against the virus and variants, the Department of Health announced today.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the additional doses  enough to give top-ups to more than half of the population  are to ensure the country 'remains ahead of the virus for years to come'.

Some 89.3million jabs have been administered in the UK so far, which has seen 77 per cent of over-16s double-jabbed and 88 per cent given at least one dose.

The NHS is prepared for its first Covid vaccine booster rollout from next month, which will run alongside a national flu immunisation programme.

Vulnerable adults with suppressed immune systems are expected to be offered boosters first, but exactly who else will be eligible hasn't been finalised yet.

A decision from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation is due in the coming weeks.

On the back of the announcement of the Pfizer deal this afternoon, the director of the World Health Organization (WHO) said he was 'really disappointed' at the scope of vaccine donations worldwide.

The WHO has repeatedly called for vaccine doses to be prioritised for first and second injections in developing nations over booster programmes.

The UK has ordered a further 35million doses of Pfizer's Covid vaccine, which will arrive in the second half of 2022. It is unclear how they will be used, but the Government said they will help in the fight against the virus and future variants. Pictured: a woman gets a dose of the Pfizer Covid jab at a mass vaccination centre in Doncaster in June

Deaths due to the coronavirus increased in both England and Wales last month. Some 969 people in England died from Covid (2.4 per cent), while there was 33 Covid fatalities in Wales (1.2 per cent). One month earlier, the total number of deaths due to the virus was 625 in England and 31 in Wales

Booster shot of Pfizer's vaccine slashes the risk of catching Covid FOURFOLD in over-60s, Israel's health ministry says A third dose of Pfizer's Covid vaccine significantly improves protection against infection and serious illness in the over-60s, according to an official study in Israel. It found that people given a booster shot were four times less likely to catch the virus after 10 days compared to those only given two doses. A third jab also enhanced protection from serious illness and hospitalisation in the over-60s by five to six times, according to the study by the Israeli Health Ministry. The findings, believed to be based on real-world data, were presented at a meeting of a ministry panel of vaccination experts on Thursday. But full details of the study are yet to be released. They are in line with separate data reported by Israel's Maccabi healthcare provider last week which found the boosters to be highly effective. Israel became the first country in the world to start administering booster shots to the over-60s at the end of July  with more than a million already jabbed. But amid a surging fourth wave of infections from the Delta strain, the programme has been expanded to all over-40s, medics, teachers and other frontline workers. Britain is under mounting pressure to follow suit but the Joint Committee of Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which advises No10 on the roll out, is only expected to green light third doses for vulnerable adults. Advertisement

The deal between the Vaccine Taskforce and Pfizer has not yet been published, so details including the cost of the jabs are not yet available.

The order is enough to vaccinate the 15.5million over-60s in the UK and have doses left to spare.

Mr Javid said the UK's 'phenomenal vaccination programme' has so far saved 95,200 lives in the UK and prevented 82,100 hospitalisations among over-65s in England alone.

And they have prevented 23.9million infections in England, according to Public Health England.

The Health Secretary added: 'While we continue to build this wall of defence from Covid, it's also vital we do everything we can to protect the country for the future too  whether that's from the virus as we know it or new variants.

'I am pleased we've reached this agreement with Pfizer for more doses as part of our robust preparations to future-proof our vaccine programme, ensuring we have plans in place to keep the nation safe for years to come.'

Pfizer's Covid jab is 85 to 95 per cent effective at stopping someone from developing Covid symptoms after two doses, according to latest PHE estimates.

And it is 90 to 99 per cent effective at stopping hospitalisations and 95 to 99 per cent effective at preventing death.

Scientists estimate it is more effective than the AstraZeneca jab, which still offers strong protection against hospitalisation and death, but is slightly less effective at stopping symptomatic infections for the first few months.

But a growing number of studies have suggested protection from the jabs wanes over time, more starkly with the Pfizer vaccine.

Israel - a world-leader in vaccines - became the first country in the world to start offering booster jabs last month, amid a surging fourth wave of infections due to the Delta strain.

The country has relied solely on the Pfizer jab for its rollout.

A study by the country's Health Ministry, which was presented to officials on Thursday, found people who received third doses of Pfizer were four times less likely to catch the virus after 10 days compared to those only given two doses.

The findings are believed to be based on real-world data, but the details are yet to be released.

Who could be first in line for a third jab? How will the vaccines be dished out? Millions of Britons could be offered a third Covid vaccine in September. A decision from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation's (JCVI) about who should get a third dose is due by next month. In interim guidance published in June, it set out framework for who should be considered: Who could be offered a third Covid vaccine? All over-50s

Frontline health and social care workers

People who are vulnerable to the virus

Adults living with vulnerable people How might the booster programme work? Should the 'booster' programme go ahead, it will see third doses dished out in two stages. In stage one third jabs will be offered to: All over-70s

Over-16s who are vulnerable to the virus

People living in care homes for older adults

Frontline health and social care workers And in stage two third jabs will be offered to: All over-50s

Adults aged 16 to 49 who are vulnerable to flu

Adults living with suppressed individuals such as those receiving cancer treatment Advertisement

Israel began administering third doses to people over 60 in July, later dropping the minimum age of eligibility to 50 and offering boosters to health workers and others.

Now everyone over the age of 40 and teachers are being invited for a third dose.

Britain is under mounting pressure to launch its own mass rollout.

The JCVI is expected to only green light third doses for vulnerable adults with suppressed immune systems.

The boosters will almost certainly be offered to the 3.7million Britons classified as 'clinically extremely vulnerable', with diseases such as cancer.

But originally it was hoped that the programme would be open to all over-50s, key workers and sick patients - which would have included as many as 32m people.

Some scientists have said vaccines should be used to administer first doses to people in other countries before third doses are offered in the UK.

Dr Tedros, director general at the WHO, said that of the 4.8 billion vaccine doses delivered to date globally, three-quarters have gone to just 10 countries.

Speaking to reporters today, he called for rich nations 'to share what can be used for boosters with other countries so [they] can increase their first and second vaccination coverage.'

Professor Sir Andrew Pollard, one of the scientists behind the Oxford AstraZeneca jab and chair of the JCVI, said last week: 'The greatest priority for vaccines in the world is for those who remain without protection but are at high risk of dying from Covid, including older adults, those with health conditions and health care workers, wherever they live.

'Those with zero doses have a lot to gain from receiving a vaccine today and so should be ahead of those who are already two doses up.'

And Professor Danny Altmann, an immunologist at Imperial College London and a member of SAGE's immunology taskforce, said sharing out the vaccine equitably to other countries is likely the best move, because 'the fewer millions of lungs you have virus replicating in, the better off we're all going to be'.

The Government said it will donate 100million Covid jabs within the next 12 months and has donated 548million to help distribute doses in developing countries.
President Joe Biden has changed plans and will now address the nation on the US coronavirus response Monday afternoon, hours after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted full approval to the Pfizer COVID vaccine.

He'll speak hours after the Pentagon announced it would soon mandate vaccines for all employees following Pfizer's green light.

It's the latest last-minute switch after Biden opted to stay at the White House this weekend - despite traditionally departing DC for Delaware from Friday through Sunday.

His speech is the same day the Taliban sent a stark warning to Western forces evacuating Afghanistan that they will not accept an extension to Biden's August 31 deadline for a total withdrawal.

The militant group promised retaliation if NATO countries extend their 'occupation.'

Biden's Monday schedule originally listed a White House meeting with 2020 WNBA champions the Seattle Storm as his only public event. He was also expected to meet with national security officials on the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan.

Biden's planned Monday remarks will be the second speech he's delivered from the White House in two days

As of Monday morning the addition of his public address is the only difference.

The president will likely laud the FDA for upgrating the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine's emergency use authorization to full approval, after the agency decided it has collected adequate data on the shot and its potential effects.

That vaccine is now the most strongly-endorsed in the US.

More than 200 million Pfizer doses have been administered in the US - and hundreds of millions more worldwide - since December.

Its approval is expected to bring some hope to a pandemic battle that worsened this summer because of the highly-contagious Delta variant.

US vaccinations bottomed out in July at an average of about a half-million shots per day, down from a peak of 3.4 million a day in mid-April.

The US has seen more than 37 million total COVID cases since the pandemic began.

As the Delta variant fills hospital beds, shots are on the rise again, with a million a day given Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Just over half of the US population is fully vaccinated with one of the country's three options, from Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson.

The FDA's action may also lead to more vaccine mandates covering students, employees and customers.

As the Delta variant fills hospital beds, shots are on the rise again, with a million a day given Thursday, Friday and Saturday

There have been nearly 38 million COVID cases in the US since March 2020

Biden has already used his presidential authority to mandate vaccines for federal employees and more recently for nursing home staff.

These policy decisions affect millions of Americans - roughly 4 million people work for the federal government alone.

Biden previously spoke publicly on Sunday from the White House, after completely cancelling his delayed Delaware trip.

He delivered remarks on Hurricane Henri and updated the nation on Afghanistan.

Since the Taliban took control on August 15, US and NATO forces have been evacuating troops, nationals and Afghan civilians trying to flee the militant group's regime.

In his Sunday speech Biden didn't rule out extending the August 31 deadline, which UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is pressing him to do.

'Our hope is we will not have to extend, but there are discussions,' he said, suggesting the possibility that the Taliban will be consulted.

A still image taken from video shows crowds of people near the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan August 23. Biden suggested on Sunday that extending the US troop withdrawal deadline past August 31 isn't off the table

On Monday the Taliban warned Western countries against delaying their withdrawal deadline

But on Monday Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen told Sky News that the date is a 'red line.'

It's possible they could move to shut down Western airlifts out of Kabul, but lawmakers, refugee groups and US allies warned that ending the evacuation too soon could strand numerous Afghans and foreign nationals.

Biden also asserted, without a full explanation, that US forces have managed to improve access to the airport for Americans and others seeking to get on flights.

He suggested that the perimeter had been extended, widening a 'safe zone.'

But a firefight just outside the airport killed at least one Afghan soldier early Monday, German officials said. It was the latest in days of often-lethal turmoil outside the airport. People coming in hopes of escaping Taliban rule face sporadic gunfire, beatings by the Taliban, and crowds that have trampled many.

While the president's Monday afternoon remarks are only expected to concern COVID vaccinations and the status of the pandemic as a whole, he will likely face a question or two on the chaos unfolding overseas.
Press secretary John Kirby said Monday the Pentagon will now move to mandate Covid-19 vaccinations for all US service members since the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given full authorization to the Pfizer shot.

'We're going to move forward making that vaccine mandatory, we're preparing the guidance for the force right now,' Kirby said in a news briefing.

The FDA granted full approval to Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine for those aged 16 and older on Monday. The two-dose immunization was the first to receive emergency use authorization from federal regulators in December 2020 and will now be first to be licensed.

Pfizer said on Monday the vaccine will continue to be available for 12-to-15-year-olds and as third doses for immunocompromised people under emergency use only.

There are about 1.4 million active duty service members, and according to the latest Pentagon figures 1,077,981 are fully vaccinated and 244,976 are half-vaxxed, suggesting the new mandate will not pose an issue for many.

'We're going to move forward making that vaccine mandatory, we're preparing the guidance for the force right now,' Kirby said in a news briefing Monday

After lagging vaccination rates over the summer, the vaccination pace has increased again with a seven-day rolling average of more than 889,00, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

That figure is 23 percent higher than the 718,000 average recorded one week earlier and the highest number seen since July 5.

Experts believe the full approval could help boost vaccination numbers even further.

According to the FDA, the vaccine will be marketed under the name Comirnaty.

Critics had been pushing the FDA to move more quickly to approve the vaccine, after Pfizer filed the application on May 7, as COVID-19 cases rose in the U.S.

Average infections have increased 182 percent over the last month from 52,000 per day to 147,000 per day.

Two weeks ago, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced that all 1.3 million active duty service members would be required to get a coronavirus vaccination, beginning either Sept. 15 or whenever a shot was fully approved by the FDA, whichever came first.

At the time of Lloyd's announcement, about two-thirds of the US military was fully inoculated.

Asked what the consequences would be for service members who refuse a vaccine beyond Sept. 15, Kirby told reporters at the time of Austin's announcement: 'I'm not going to speculate, get into hypotheticals.

'It isn't a widespread issue,' Kirby said of service members refusing a vaccine. 'To the degree it happens, my assumption is that it is dealt with at the command level, again not going to speculate.'

Weeks ago, President Biden required all federal employees and onsite contractors to attest that they are vaccinated or if they are unvaccinated to submit to regular testing. That requirement extended to civilians working for the Defense Department, but not active duty members.

Currently all federal employees in Washington, DC are required to wear a mask, regardless of vaccination status.

US service members can be required to take as many as 17 vaccines, depending on where in the world they are stationed.

'Mandating vaccines in the military is not new,' Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley said in a statement of support of the move. 'Since the first days of basic training and throughout our service, we've received multiple vaccines.'

'Getting vaccinated against Covid-19 is a key force protection and readiness issue,' Milley wrote out in black ink at the end of the statement.
A Taiwanese team taking part in the Le Mans 24-hour race was told to remove the island's national flag from its car and replace it with its Olympic version before competing.

The team's owner Morris Chen received a request from organisers to replace Taiwan's flag before the race started on Monday, according to Taiwan's Central News Agency.

It came after China's Tencent decided not to livestream the event because a 'racing team from Taiwan, China, used the non-Olympic flag on their car hood', CNA quoted a message posted on Chinese social network Weibo as saying.

A Taiwanese team taking part in the Le Mans 24-hour race was told to remove the island's national flag from its car and replace it with its Olympic version before competing

Beijing views democratic Taiwan as its own territory and has vowed to one day seize it, by force if necessary.

It is unwilling to accept any use of Taiwan or its official title, the Republic of China, on the world stage unless it lends the island international legitimacy.

As a result, Taiwan must often compete under the name 'Chinese Taipei' and is not allowed to use its flag or national anthem at the Olympics and other sporting events.

International bodies that do not use Beijing's preferred name risk angering the government and being turfed out of its huge, lucrative market.

The Automobile Club de l'Ouest, which organises the Le Mans race, said it 'reserves the right to ask competitors to use the IOC (Olympic) banner in order not to open any political debate.'

The team's owner Morris Chen received a request from organisers to replace Taiwan's flag before the race started on Monday, according to Taiwan's Central News Agency

'In perfect agreement with the team concerned, the IOC flag was on the car,' the club told AFP in a statement.

AutoHub, the Taiwanese team competing at Le Mans, declined to comment.

Pictures the team posted on their Facebook account earlier in the week showed AutoHub's Porsche with a small Taiwanese flag above the bonnet.

By the time of the weekend race, it had been removed.

Beijing has ramped up diplomatic, military and economic pressure on Taiwan since the 2016 election of President Tsai Ing-wen as she rejects its stance that the island is part of 'one China'.

It has also pressured a growing number of international companies to refer to Taiwan as Chinese Taipei or 'Taiwan, China' in recent years.

Taiwan said earlier this month it had demanded a correction after Venice Film Festival organisers listed two films representing the island as being from 'Chinese Taipei', allegedly under pressure from Beijing.

This comes after China threatened to 'crush' any US troops stationed on Taiwan earlier this month.

A nuclear-powered Type 094A Jin-class ballistic missile submarine of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy is seen during a military display in the South China Sea in April 2018 (file photo)

The country was conducting live fire drills in the South China Sea after President Biden abandoned Afghanistan.

An editorial in the regime-backed Global Times lashed out at a since-deleted tweet by Senator John Cornyn which erroneously stated there were 30,000 American soldiers stationed in Taiwan.

The bombastic propaganda article said that if Sen. Cornyn's claim was true this 'is equivalent to a military invasion and occupation of the Taiwan Province of China. It is an act of declaring war on the People's Republic of China.'

It added that China would 'destroy and expel US troops in Taiwan by any means and realize reunification by force.'

Backing up this fiery rhetoric, Beijing dispatched warships and fighter jets for drills off Taiwan on Tuesday in its latest show of strength to Washington.

Although China is the dominant power in east Asia, many of its neighbours like Taiwan and Japan look to the US as their closest military partner. Beijing, therefore, revels in anything which undermines Washington's credibility.

Chinese state media pumped out the images of desperate Afghans flooding Kabul airport in an effort to flee on Monday as a sign of the chaos prompted by the US retreat.
A man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after he was arrested in July 2017 for attempting to eat memory cards filled with child pornography.

David Orozco, a 31-year-old Georgia resident formerly from Mexico, was stopped by officers from the Harnett County Sheriff's Office after they spotted his blue Lexus drifting in the center lane near Dunn, North Carolina.

The officers noticed that Orozco was nervous as he was reportedly shaking and sweating inside his car, despite the fact that it was air-conditioned.

Tool marks were found on the dashboard by officers who then conducted a thorough search of the Lexus and discovered $111,252 in grocery bags that was in a hidden compartment.

David Orozco, 31, (above) was stopped by police near Dunn, North Carolina in a blue Lexus in 2017 and was found in possession of child pornography as well as $111,252 that was hidden in the dashboard

The vehicle was also registered under a different owner who had an expired license.

Orozco was searched in which a $100 bill fell out of his pocket along with five memory cards that contained the child pornography.

He then quickly took two cards from the ground and put them in his mouth in an attempt to destroy the evidence.

Police managed to get the three other cards and grabbed half of another from Orozco's mouth. The fifth was swallowed.

Hundreds of thousands of videos and pictures were found in the obtained memory cards as well as Orozco's cellphone with most of them containing content from children 12 and under.

Evidence from the incident was nearly abolished two years ago after a federal district attorney claimed that Orozco had no ties to the incident as the Lexus was not his, despite the fact that he matched the identity of the driver in reports.

Orozco, who speaks poor English, reportedly consented to the search and the money allegedly belonged to the owner of the Lexus.

Orozco stored hundreds of thousands of child pornography using devices such as memory cards and even tried to eat five of them during a search by police

Orozco was convicted in March on a count of possession of child pornography

On August 23, Orozco was sentenced to 12 years in prison by U.S. District Court Judge James C. Dever, according to The News & Observer.

Dever told Orozco: 'These are real children. Theyre not some computer image, not some fiction. Theyre somebodys baby, somebodys toddler.'

Other aspects surrounding the case, such as the large sum of money found, still have not been solved, according to Dever.

He has been ordered to attend mental health evaluations and sexual offender treatment programs as well as paying $5,000 to one of his victims.

Orozco may also be transferred to a facility in Texas as he has connections there, according to his attorney.

He will be deported back to Mexico after the end of his sentence.
Police in Salt Lake City, Utah, say DNA technology helped identify skeletal remains found in 1979 as belonging to a local mother who vanished 42 years ago.

Sandra Matott, 37, was reported missing July 18, 1979, by her husband Warren Matott, who said she was last seen at a Salt Lake City bar eight days prior. Police said when they attempted to follow up with her husband, they were unable to reach him.

About a month later, on Aug. 19, 1979, a homicide investigation was launched after hunters found skeletal remains in Millard County, about 175 miles outside Salt Lake City. Investigators found a ring and watch at the scene, which were both later determined to belong to the missing woman.

It took decades of sleuthing to connect the cases, but ultimately DNA samples provided by the missing woman's daughters helped bring closure to the decades-long mystery.

'No matter how much time passes, the detectives of the Salt Lake City Police Department will never let up in their quest to solve every case and to get answers for loved ones,' Salt Lake Police Chief Mike Brown said in a press release.

Sandra Matott was reported missing by her husband, Warren Matott, on July 18, 1979

About a month later, hunters discovered skeletal remains in Millard County, about 175 miles outside Salt Lake City. Police later released this sketch in an effort to identify the Jane Doe

'Solving a cold case requires teamwork, dedication and an unrelenting pursuit of justice. That's how we got to today - because of the teamwork of multiple agencies and the dedication of the current and prior detectives throughout Utah who worked Ms. Matott's case. They never gave up on this investigation. They recognized the work that needed to be done to get the family of Sandra Matott answers, and for that I could not be prouder.'

Police made little progress on the case until 2013, when a Salt Lake City Police Department homicide detective tasked with reinvestigating the case entered Matott's information into two national databases for missing people. Relatives told the investigator that they believed her husband  who died in 1999 - was responsible for her disappearance.

Matott's son Darrell Haymes, who was 19 at the time she went missing, said she was the victim of domestic violence, trapped in a relationship marked by alcohol-fueled fights.

The year before she disappeared, she shot her husband in the stomach in self-defense, Haymes told The Daily Mail.

She got probation for turning the .38 Smith & Wesson on her husband, while he spent some time in the hospital recovering.

The pair got back together later that year.

Millard County deputies recovered a watch and ring from the scene, which were later determined to belong to Matott

In 2020, the skeletal remains were sent to the University of North Texas' The Center for Human Identification (UNTCHI) for DNA testing.

'This lab provides DNA services where they can extract DNA from skeletal remains,' Sgt. Patrick Bennett, of the Millard County Sheriff's office, told Mail Online. 'Some of the remains were sent from the Medical Examiner's Office in Utah to this lab where they were able to obtain a DNA profile.'

Scientists then obtained a mitochondrial DNA sample  DNA passed from mother to child  to identify the remains as belonging to Matott.

'We are happy the case is now closed because it brings us some answers,' Haymes said in a press release.

'As a family we are happy about this development, but also sad it took this long. Forty-two years is a long time. We are happy that the investigators never closed the case and continued to work on it so we could reach this point.'

The case took a twist in 1984, when Henry Lee Lucas confessed to murdering Matott

Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown says solving the case took 'teamwork, dedication and an unrelenting pursuit of justice'

Although one mystery is solved, another remains: it's not yet clear who, if anyone, is responsible for the mother's death.

In 1984, serial killer Henry Lee Lucas confessed to murdering Matott. The vagueness of his account prevented police from verifying Lucas' claims, who was convicted of slaying 11 people.

'I do not believe that Henry Lee Lucas was responsible for Sandra's death,' Bennett said. 'He had become quite well known for confessing to unsolved homicides. He was even named, 'the Confession Killer.'

'He later recanted many of his confessions, and in many of those cases, evidence supported that he did not commit the murders. Sandra's family all believe that Warren Matott, Sandra's husband, is responsible for her death due to his behavior around the time of her disappearance,' Bennett added.

Detectives in both Millard County and Salt Lake City believe Warren Matott knew more about his wife's disappearance than he disclosed.

He died in 1999 of Parkinson's Disease, a progressive nervous system disorder.

'Karma got him,' Haymes told The Daily Mail. 'It's a terrible disease.'
Former Bolivian President Jeanine Anez is recovering from an apparent suicide attempt in jail after she was charged with genocide by prosecutors.

Anez, 54, cut her arms, her lawyer Norka Cuellar told local reporters after police reported the incident as attempted suicide.

'This is a cry for help from the former president. She feels very harassed,' Cuellar said.

'The doctor came in and found her with the cuts. They have sutured her.'

Former Bolivian President Jeanine Anez (pictured March 13, 2021) is recovering after she attempted to commit suicide inside a prison in Bolivia on Saturday. The 54-year-old has been in custody since March 13 following accusations that she had participated in a coup to oust longtime former President Evo Morales in 2019

The Office of the Attorney General of Bolivia announced genocide charges against former President Jeanine Anez over the deaths of 20 protesters in 2019.

Another member of her legal team, Jorge Valda, says he who worries the former president might attempt to kill herself again if she doesn't receive the corresponding psychological treatment.

'A person, when they injure themselves, no matter how big or small the wound, physically speaking, you must understand that the psychological injury is absolutely profound,' Valda said.

The apparent suicide attempt took place a day after the Office of the Attorney General of Bolivia announced genocide charges against Anez over the deaths of 20 opposition protesters in 2019.

Anez was taken into custody March 13 on charges of sedition, conspiracy and terrorism following accusations that she had participated in a coup to oust longtime former President Evo Morales in 2019.

Interior Minister Eduardo del Castillo on Saturday confirmed that Anez had apparently tried to hurt herself but was now in stable condition.

'What happened is within the definition of attempted suicide,' Douglas Uzquiano, head of the special anti-crime unit (FELCC) of the national police, told local television.

Jeanine Anez waves from a window of Miraflores women's jail to her supporters protesting for her release in La Paz, Bolivia, Wednesday

Journalists gather outside the Miraflores women's penitentiary, where Bolivia's former president Jeanine Anez is being held awaiting trial on charges of genocide, sedition, conspiracy and terrorism over accusations that she had participated in a coup to oust longtime former President Evo Morales in 2019

Anez's daughter, Carolina Ribera, said her mother's suicide attempt was the result of an ongoing investigation over allegations she received donations while chairwoman of the social management unit.

'She is being harassed, persecuted, threatened and what affected her a lot is that they want to do something to me,' Ribera said Sunday.

Anez became the South American nation's second female president November 12, 2019 after Morales agreed to step down from office.

Anez has denied the allegations and says she is a victim of political persecution. She is in jail while awaiting trial.

Since being jailed, Anez has suffered multiple health scares, and doctors have said she has hypertension and some mental health issues.

Last week, Anez was twice taken to a hospital near where she is being held in La Paz. On Wednesday, she was taken to a separate facility in the nearby city of El Alto.
More than 500 tonnes of medical supplies including severe malnutrition kits and surgical equipment due in Afghanistan this week are stuck because of Kabul airport restrictions, the World Health Organisation has warned.

Aid agencies say that 300,000 people are in desperate need of medicines and food after they were displaced by the rampant advance of the Taliban over the last two months.

Nearly 18.5 million people - half the population - rely on aid and the humanitarian needs are expected to grow due to drought.

But the airport has been closed to commercial jets, with nearly 7,000 people still outside Kabul airport desperate to flee the Taliban.

Germany on Sunday flew in a military jet with supplies to help improve the situation at the airport, including dummies and cuddly toys for small children.

Members of the American Red Cross provide food, supplies and toiletries to evacuees during Operation Allies Refuge, on Friday

A German soldier loading aid supplies at Tashkent airport, Uzbekistan before takeoff for Kabul, on Sunday

Afghan evacuees receive hygiene and cleaning supplies from Red Cross volunteers at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, on Saturday

A crowded refugee camp in Germany housing people who have been evacuated from Kabul by the US military

Back in Europe, refugee centres are already struggling to cope.

In the Netherlands, officials said that a temporary accommodation centre for Afghan evacuees at an army barracks is full and a second location is being opened.

The Dutch defence ministry says it has made six evacuation flights out of Kabul, each flight carrying 800 people, including Dutch nationals, Afghans and citizens of other countries.

The WHO, however, is urging the evacuation aircraft to take humanitarian supplies on their outward journeys.

'While the eyes of the world now are on the people being evacuated and the planes leaving, we need to get supplies in to help those who are left behind,' WHO regional emergency director Dr. Richard Brennan told Reuters.

He said the WHO was calling for empty planes to divert to its warehouse in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to collect the supplies on their way to pick up evacuees from Afghanistan.

The United States has enlisted six commercial airlines to help move Afghan evacuees, however Washington and NATO coalition partners have so far indicated that they cannot bring supplies on incoming evacuation planes due to 'operational constraints and security concerns', Brennan said.

'The U.S. is using these commercial airlines only for evacuation,' he said, adding that the WHO was exploring various options and reaching out to other governments.

'We have been advised to explore options at other airports such as Kandahar, Jalalabad and Bagram air bases. We do not yet have aircraft to fly even to those bases.'

An Afghan refugee, Maryam, next to her children, looks at a picture of her 6-year-old son as they stay in an hotel room in Paris on Saturday

A German soldier loading supplies at Tashkent airport, Uzbekistan, on Sunday

A camp in Germany for refugees flown back from Afghanistan

The executive director of the U.N. children's agency UNICEF, Henrietta Fore, said on Monday around 10 million children across Afghanistan need humanitarian assistance and that conditions are expected to deteriorate further.

Germany's top military commander, Gen. Eberhard Zorn, said that supplies were flown in on Sunday in an effort to improve the situation inside the airport.

Zorn said he couldn't say what proportion of people at the airport are children or families. But he said that, on Germany's flights, about 50% of the Afghans evacuated were women.

Germany flew in supplies on Sunday in an effort to help improve the situation inside the airport. Zorn said they included diapers, pacifiers and cuddly toys for small children, as well as food for children. More supplies are in the pipeline.

'The situation in front of the gates remains difficult, I would also call it dramatic, because the accumulation of people interested in getting into the airport grounds is enormously high (and) additional potential for violence is arising on the ground in this group,' Zorn said.
Pentagon Spokesman John Kirby refused Monday to provide precise information on how many Americans the military has evacuated from Afghanistan  even when asked about whether he was being 'deliberately vague.'

'Were you being deliberately vague when you said the number of Americans was several thousands,' CBS national security correspondent David Martin asked Kirby at Monday's Pentagon briefing, as amid to rush to evacuate people in the final week before an August 31 departure deadline.

The reporter offered Kirby the opportunity to check the data, but noted it was 'the most important number.'

That didn't get Kirby to stop hedging on the number of Americans taken out  just as the military won't say how many Americans are currently at the airport in Kabul.

'I think I'm just going to leave it at several thousand right now,' Kirby responded.

'I think I'm just going to leave it at several thousand right now': Pentagon spokesman John Kirby refused to provide an exact figure for how many Americans had been evacuated, although the Pentagon said more than 10,000 were taken out during a 24-hour period

'Well then tell us why?' the reporter wanted to know.

'Because I think the number is very fluid. And it literally changes nearly by the hour.

'It's no more fluid than these 11,037,' the reporter pressed, pointing to the Pentagon's willingness to use exact figures when it wants to.

'I'm going to leave it at several thousand right now,' Kirby answered, staying firm, then moved on.

The confrontation came during a briefing where Maj. Gen. Hank Taylor provided specific details on other data points: including that 25 U.S. military C-17s, 3 C-130s, and 61 charter commercial and other military flights ferried approximately 16,000 people out of Kabul.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby with U.S. Army Maj. Gen. William Taylor, Joint Staff Operations, speaks about the situation in Afghanistan during a briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. Officials provided precise numbers about aircraft and totals, but not a breakdown by nationality

In this Aug. 22, 2021, image provided by the U.S. Marine Corps, a Marine with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command provides water to families during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. (Sgt. Samuel Ruiz/U.S. Marine Corps via AP)

'Of that number, the US military transported just under 11,000 personnel,' said Taylor.

Kirby also appeared to try to hold back details that might provide a relatively precise look at the whereabouts of U.S. military members, with 5,800 troops providing security at the airport  but some missions to get Americans there.

He confirmed a second use of U.S. helicopters to help get people out, without providing specifics.

He was also reticent to speak about what the U.S. is doing to extend perimeter security a the airport, commenting 'without getting into tactical details here ... and I think you can understand why we wouldn't do that.'

'We are very interested in making sure that access to the airport remains as fluid as possible.'

According to the White House, between 3am on August 22 and 3 am on August 23, the military evacuated 10,400 people from Kabul, while 61 civilian aircraft evacuated 5,900 people.

The total number of U.S. evacuations since August 14 is approximately 37,000 people, with 42,000 coming out since the end of July.

On Sunday, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan couldn't give an exact number of how many Americans were in Kabul. 'We cannot give you a precise number,' he told CNN.

Officials have put the total of Americans at 10,000-15,000.
Hello. As you probably know I'm stepping aside as your governor.

I wanted to share some thoughts with you that I've been thinking about over the past few days.

There will be another time to talk about the truth and ethics of the recent situation involving me, but let me say now that, when government politicizes allegations and the headlines condemn without facts, you undermine the justice system - and that doesn't serve women and it doesn't serve men or society.

Of course everyone has a right to come forward and we applaud their bravery and courage in doing so, but allegations must still be scrutinized and verified whether made by a woman or a man. That is our basic justice system.

I understand that there are moments of intense political pressure and media frenzy that cause a rush to judgment. But that is not right. It's not fair or sustainable. Facts still matter.

A fire cracker can start a stampede but at one point everyone looks around and says, why are we running? The truth is ultimately always revealed.

The Attorney General's report was designed to be a political firecracker on an explosive topic. And it worked. There was a political and media stampede. But the truth will out in time - of that I am confident.

Now there are moments in life that test our character, that ask us, are we the person we believe we are? Or are we the person we try to be at our best? You know me. I am a fighter and my instinct is to fight this because it is unfair and unjust in my mind. But you also know that I love New York and I serve you. That is the oath that I took, and in this moment I believe the right thing is that my service come first.

Prolonging this situation could only cause governmental paralysis and that is just not an option for you and not an option for the state, especially now. There is real work to be done and it will require government to function at the highest level. What we do now is more important than what we have done as a society in generations. What will New York State be in the future? No one can tell us because it depends on what we do now. Our actions will determine our future.

We must keep people and businesses thriving in this state. Crime must be controlled and we have to be smart about it.

No governor in the nation has passed more progressive measures than I have, but I disagree with some people in my own party who called to defund the police. I believe it is misguided. I believe it is dangerous.

Gun violence and crime are savaging inner cities. Look at New York City. The majority of victims are poor, Black and brown. Reforming police must be the goal. Ending discrimination by the police, ending the unnecessary use of force, and then building back trust and respect between the police and the community they serve. That's the real answer and that is easier said than done, but it's also the truth and the right way forward.

Our state's economic competitiveness is vital. Demonizing business is against our collective self-interest. Taking actions that cause businesses to flee the state, taking jobs with them, only weakens our tax base and our ability to do good things for people.

We can address income inequality without ending incomes. Taxes can be reduced right away if Washington does what they promised New Yorkers they would do and repeal the so-called SALT tax. That would lower New York's taxes $15 billion per year. That would make a major difference and frankly dwarf all of the other federal aid programs.

It should have been done eight months ago. We're going to have to fight to make it happen, but we must wage that fight. Let's remember what made New York State the Empire State in the first place. New York's historic success was not a process of evolution. It didn't just happen. We weren't born this way. We were born of vision and daring and competence. We built the canals, the roads, the bridges, and education system and the economy that made us the greatest state in the nation. Somewhere along the way, government lost its competence and then people lost confidence in government.

But today is a different day. We have reason to believe in New York's future based on what we have accomplished together. We've shown potential. We've shown that the New York spirit that reached for the skies, that refused to accept defeat, that challenged possibility, that said no to the status quo, that took on the bureaucracy that still exists. And we must demand that government continue to perform and achieve and accomplish.

We've embarked on the most aggressive green energy plan in the nation. Not talk, action. Hundreds of projects all across the state, starting now. New transmission lines for a green grid. We are rebuilding our upstate airports. Buffalo is building back. A new LaGuardia Airport, first new airport in the nation in 25 years, a new JFK Airport, a new Penn Station to end the hellacious conditions of Penn Station, more affordable housing than ever before. These projects are underway and essential to complete quickly and effectively because they are literally building our future. We cannot go back to the old days when government talked, and government debated, and government issued a lot of press releases about what they were doing, but they never made a difference in people's lives, and they never improved, and they never built.

It's not what we say in life that matters. It's what we do. And the same is true for our elected officials and our government. We have developed, over the last decade, a new paradigm of government in this state, a government that actually works and actually works for people. It sounds simple, but it's all the difference in the world. We cannot go backwards.

We must focus on the immediate threat, which is the Delta variant and COVID. And I'm very concerned about this personally. Please don't forget what we learned together last year, and don't forget what we accomplished. We went from the highest infection rate in the nation to the lowest. We did what no one thought could be done. Why? Because when the rest of the nation put their head in the sand, and denied science, and played politics, we faced up to the facts and we made the tough but necessary decisions. And while our infection rate went down, other states have been going up.

And now the situation is reversed. New York has one of the lowest infection rates in the nation, and other states are seeing rapid increases. It's sweeping Florida, Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, South Dakota, and more. So now we must realize the reality that the spread will inevitably affect us, and we have to act before it becomes critical.

Here's my advice. School opening is approaching. Teachers must be vaccinated for their protection and for our children's protection. Masks must be required in high-risk areas and private businesses must mandate proof of vaccination for large gatherings. Now, this simply will not happen without a state law mandating that it happen. Local politics are too intense. Private businesses cannot and will not enforce the law. Local police must be mandated to do that, but we must take these actions. Let us remember political procrastination is COVID collaboration. We know the choice is between the politically contentious or the medically infectious. You decide, which is worse.

The most important lesson I've learned in the past 15 years and the one that gives me the most hope is my belief in the essential intelligence and goodness of the people of this state. I said, when I started, I work for the people. I work for you. And to me, that is everything. My faith has been in the people, not the politicians and not even the political system. I know too well the flaws of the political system. I believed and still believe that New Yorkers informed with the facts when they believe the facts, when they believe they're told the truth, they will do the right thing. Even when it's hard.

I went to you when we had to tackle the moral and legal question of marriage equality and equal rights for the LGBTQ community. And you made the right decision and you led the nation in changing policy. I went to you when we needed to address the difficult issue of gun safety and mass killings and banning assault weapons. And yes, it was hard and you did it. And we saved lives. I went to you when we needed to address the problem of struggling families to raise the minimum wage for millions of New Yorkers, so they could have a better life and you did it. And the overall state economy grew. I went to you when we had to stand together to attack racism and antisemitism, because that's not who we are and it's not what we believe.

I went to you when we needed to stand strong against the COVID beast. I went to you to wear a mask and stay home and take a test and get the vaccine and you did. Every time, without fail, the people of New York have done the right thing. They have chosen inclusion over exclusion, hope over fear and love over hate.

It's not easy, but it's possible. And I know it's true because you proved it. You are the u in unity and New York chooses unity over division every time. I believe that for New York, the best is yet to be, because I believe you will make it so.

In sum, we didn't get everything done that we wanted to, or even everything we should have done. And we didn't always get it quite right. But I want you to know from the bottom of my heart, that every day I worked my hardest. I gave it my all and I tried my best to deliver for you. And that is the God's honest truth.

I want to thank my team, the best ever assembled because they are the most accomplished ever assembled.

I want to thank my family for their sacrifice and help in serving you. For the Cuomos, public service is a family affair. Kathy Hochul will become governor and I believe she will step up to the challenge. We all wish her success. Eric Adams will be the next mayor of New York City. I think he'll bring a new philosophy and competence to the position which can give New York City residents hope for the future.

And finally, thank you. Thank you for the honor of serving as governor of New York. Thank you for allowing me to represent you. Thank you for empowering me to fight for you. Thank you for trusting me through COVID. Thank you for making New York State, the progressive Capitol of the nation. Thank you for vindicating E.B. White's words, often quoted by my father, God, rest his soul. When he said, "New York is to the nation what the white church spire is to the village, the visible symbol of aspiration and faith, the white plume saying the way is up."

Thank you for the honor of serving you and never forget, always stay New York tough, smart, united, disciplined and loving. It's the essence of what makes New Yorkers so special. God bless you.
The father of a British software developer who was found dead with his wife, baby and dog on a California hiking trail said he is 'mystified' by their deaths but insisted they were not murdered.

Jonathan Gerrish, 45, his wife Ellen Chung and their one-year-old daughter Muji were found by search teams on Tuesday in an area of the Sierra National Forest known as Devil's Gulch.

American police said the bodies showed no sign of trauma and no suicide note was found.

Officials are also looking into whether poisonous algae killed the family but later lifted the hazmat declaration which was announced last week. Their dog Oski was also found dead close to them adding to the mystery.

Cops had announced that they were treating the mysterious deaths of Mr Gerrish, originally from Lancaster and his family as a homicide. However the Marisopa County Sheriff's Office have now ruled that out.

Mr Gerrish's father Peter, 70, told MailOnline: 'We are mystified like everyone else. I don't want to say a great deal as there is a lot going on.

The father of British software developer Jonathan Gerrish (pictured with wife Ellen Chung) who was found dead with his wife, baby and dog on a California hiking trail said he is 'mystified' by their deaths

The couple were last heard from early on Sunday when they uploaded a photo of a backpack. Pictured: Jonathan with baby Muji

'We are just waiting for the authorities to do all the tests. We are in touch with them and are awaiting the final analysis.'

Speaking from his home in Bamber Bridge, Lancs he added: 'We don't believe they were murdered. We just want people to get on with the task at hand.'

He had also said that the family were 'heartbroken' by the puzzling deaths.

Searchers began looking for the family after they were overdue on a day hike and reported missing last Monday.

They were found on the Savage-Lundy hiking trail near Hites Cove, which was once a thriving mining community after gold was discovered in 1861.

Gerrish was a software developer for Snapchat, had previously worked for Google. He graduated from Newcastle University.

Last month, Sierra National Forest officials posted a warning about 'high concentrations' of algae which can produce 'extremely dangerous toxins that can sicken or kill people and animals' in the water in the Merced River at Hites Cove

This map shows the remote area in Mariposa County, California, where the bodies were discovered on Tuesday

His American wife was studying psychology and the couple were very active and often spent time outdoors or traveling.

Marisopa County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Kristie Mitchell has said investigators are still working to determine the cause of their deaths and 'looking at all possibilities.'

'It could be a carbon monoxide situation,' which is why the department had been treating the scene as a hazmat situation she explained.

The family's dog Oski was found dead along with its owners by search teams

She told Fox News that murder has now been ruled out.

'Initially, yes, when we come across a family with no apparent cause of death, there's no smoking gun, there's no suicide note, there's nothing like that, we have to consider all options.

'Now that we're five days in, no, we're no longer considering homicide as a cause of death.'

There are several abandoned mines up in the area and in an abundance of caution our recovery team is taking precautions for any poisonous gases, particles in the area,' Mitchell added. 'So far, there has been no measurable poisons registered.'

Mitchell also did not rule out possible exposure to toxic algae. 'It is a very bizarre situation,' she said.

According to a Reuters article published in 2013, two gold and silver miners died in Colorado after being exposed to fatal levels of carbon monoxide, and 19 others fell ill.

County Sheriff Jeremy Briese said: 'I've been here for 20 years, and I've never seen a death-related case like this. There's no obvious indicators of how it occurred.'

Officials first began looking into the toxic algal bloom from the Merced river as the cause for what overcame the family, along with possible escaping gas from abandoned gold mines.

But the sheriff said they could not find any disused shafts in the vicinity.

Searchers began looking for the family on Monday after they were reported missing by friends when they did not report to work

The area were the family's bodies were found was initially treated like a hazmat situation because of the strange circumstances

'We have not found any old mine shafts near the area,' he added. 'There are some mine shafts, but we can't confirm if that's the cause yet.'

Police are still waiting on the results of post-mortem examinations. Further toxicology reports could take up to six weeks.

Autopsies and toxicology tests are planned for Thursday in Stanislaus County.

California State Water Resources Control Board and Mariposa County are now re-testing the river water for cyanobacterial toxins, which can form in algal blooms.

On July 13, Sierra National Forest officials posted a warning about 'high concentrations' of algae which can produce 'extremely dangerous toxins that can sicken or kill people and animals' in the water in the Merced River at Hites Cove.

However the California Department of Public Health said it did not know of any human deaths from 'recreational or drinking water exposure to cyanobacterial toxin' although some animals have been killed by algae.

Signs were posted on the trail warning hikers about 'high concentrations' of algae which can produce 'extremely dangerous toxins that can sicken or kill people and animals' in the water in the Merced River at Hites Cove

The bodies were located near the Hite Cove trail, known particularly in springtime to have spectacular wildflower displays

Briese told The Times: 'There are those different options that are out there - mineshafts and offgassing potential and we're learning more with our partners in the Forest Service and public health on the toxicity of the algae blooms that they're posting about.'

'It's frustrating and we're not going to rest... it's devastating to everyone,' he told the Modesto Bee paper.

The state map listing for the location north of Jerseydale, around where the family was found dead this week, warns people to 'stay away from algae and scum in the water.'

'Do NOT let pets go in the water, drink the water, or eat scum on the shore,' the warning continues. 'Keep children away from algae. Do not eat shellfish from this waterbody.'
Trooper James J. Monda, of Schenectady County, was an 18-year veteran of the department

A New York State Trooper on a marine detail has died after he fell into the water of Great Sacandaga Lake while a boat was being launched on Sunday, police said.

Trooper James J. Monda, of Schenectady County, was an 18-year veteran of the department.

Monda, 45, 'went into the water and did not resurface' at approximately 4 pm during a boat launch onto the lake in Fulton County, the agency wrote in a press release.

Monda was pulled from the water and taken to Nathan Littauer Hospital in Gloversville, where he later died.

Further details of the circumstances leading up to the trooper's death have not been revealed by police.

An investigation is ongoing, Public Information Officer Kerra M. Burns told DailyMail.com.

'It is with deep regret and sadness that Superintendent Kevin P. Bruen announces the line of duty death of Trooper James J. Monda,' read the agency's press release.

Monda joined the State Police in 2002 and had served 18 years with the agency.

Monda 'went into the water' at approximately 4 pm during a boat launch onto the lake in Fulton County and 'did not resurface,' the New York State Police wrote in a press release

Monda died on marine detail at Great Sacandaga Lake in Fulton County (pictured) during a boat launch

After working with Troop B in Ray Brook for about a year, Monda was assigned to Troop G, where he remained until his death. His last assignment was in Princetown, the agency said.

Monda is survived by his mother, father and fiancee.

The last New York State Trooper to die in the line of duty was Officer Joseph Gallagher, who succumbed on March 26 to his injuries from being struck by a drunk driver three years earlier.
Apprentice winner Alana Spencer's luxury cake shop has been given a one-star hygiene rating following a visit from inspectors.

Ms Spencer, 29, who won 250,000 after she was picked by Lord Alan Sugar as the winner of the 2016 BBC series, blamed the rock-bottom rating on a 'paperwork' issue.

But when the Ridiculously Rich by Alana diner in Cardiff Bay was inspected in June, officials ruled improvements were needed in 'hygienic food handling'.

They also said 'major improvements' were needed in the 'management of food safety'.

Alana Spencer (pictured), 29, said the one-star rating was due to a paperwork issues and that it would be corrected

In a statement on Facebook, Ms Spencer, who has opened four locations around Wales since winning the show, said the low hygiene ranking at the Cardiff shop was 'misleading' and vowed it would be corrected.

She said: 'As many food businesses will tell you this can be a very misleading and unfair system and you can rest assured that this is no reflection on how clean my premises are.

'This situation will be resolved imminently.

'There was an administrative error in our paperwork.

'The environment health office are aware and have already been booked in for a re-inspection.

All food and drink establishments in Wales are ordered to display their hygiene rating on the doors of their property after council inspections (Pictured: One-star hygiene rating at Alana Spencer's eatery)

The one-out-of-five-star rating comes after Ms Spencer's restaurant (pictured) suffered a string of negative TripAdvisor reviews since opening earlier this year

'We are confident in achieving full marks.'

All food and drink establishments in Wales are ordered to display their hygiene rating on the doors of their property after council inspections.

The one-out-of-five-star rating comes after Ms Spencer's restaurant suffered a string of negative TripAdvisor reviews since opening earlier this year.

One customer titled their review 'Ridiculously Rude' and said they had been left 'bitterly disappointed' by the experience.

Another two-star review said: 'This visit to the Cardiff shop was very disappointing,' while another said simply 'get more staff'.

In 2017 her home delivery service was forced to recall products because they had failed to list potential allergens on the packets.

The Food Standards Agency said the blunder had led to a 'possible health risk'.
This is the moment a plane evacuating dozens of Indian passengers from Afghanistan erupted into cheers of elation.

Hundreds of Indian nationals were rescued from Kabul over the weekend as tensions in the Afghan capital mounted amid the Taliban takeover.

In a video shared online, a man onboard a packed flight can be seen leading a chant and raising his fist in the air - with 86 of his compatriots, and two Nepalese passengers, following suit.

'Bringing Indians home from Afghanistan!,' Arindam Bagchi, the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, tweeted Saturday.

The passengers had earlier been evacuated from Kabul by an IAF aircraft before landing in neighbouring Tajikistan to catch a connecting flight to New Delhi

One man (pictured in blue T-shirt) can be seen leading a chant on the flight from Tajikistan to New Delhi

The passengers had earlier been evacuated from Kabul by an IAF aircraft before landing in neighbouring Tajikistan to catch a connecting flight to New Delhi.

At least a further 146 Indian nationals were repatriated on Sunday.

It came as one doctor from the Southeast Asian country was still struggling to escape - along with 280 others.

Dr Mohammad Asif Shah shared a video from outside Hamid Karzai International Airport, claiming they had no contact from any officials who could let them inside.

He says in the clip: 'We are 280 people stranded here outside and heavy firing is going on.

'We are not sure what to do next because there is no communication...totally black, everybody is blind, everybody is clueless about what to do next.

'There are thousands, tens of thousands of people marching towards the airport, so it is next to impossible to enter the airport ... without any support of the government.'

Instead the group were forced to remain outside the walls of the travel hub inside a bus.

In the two-minute clip, gunfire can be heard in the background while members of the Taliban are seen patrolling the area.

In the two-minute clip, gunfire can be heard in the background while members of the Taliban are seen patrolling the area

Dr Mohammad Asif Shah (pictured) shared a video from outside Hamid Karzai International Airport, claiming he and 280 others had no contact from any officials who could let them inside

Dr Shah adds: 'Every country has their own security officials who are taking them inside the airport.

'But we are all here without any security personnel so they are not allowing us inside the airport.'

He then begs his ambassador to help them so they do not have to suffer life under Taliban rule.

Panning the camera round, queues of people can be seen camped outside the airport walls.

It is not clear if he was among the 87 Indian nationals who were evacuated from the airport over the weekend.

It comes as a British man stuck in Afghanistan was today filmed waving a UK passport while pleading with Boris Johnson: 'Get me and my kids out of here'.

Speaking with a strong northern accent, the man is seen telling ITV film crews outside a temporary British embassy in Kabul that the army is refusing to let him into Kabul airport.

The footage then cuts to two children who have allegedly been left behind in the streets after their parents were allowed into the embassy 'without them.'

Desperate British citizens are being blocked from escaping Afghanistan and are waving their passports at officials in a bid to flee

Flashing a British passport as he made his desperate plea, the man told ITV: 'I'm a British citizen, my kids are British and we're stuck here, they closed the door on us and they're shooting at us.

'My message for the prime minister is, just get us out of here otherwise my kids are struggling and we're all in a big mess here.

'The British Army is right behind these fences, they've closed the gate and they're not letting no one in.'

It comes as dozens tried to enter a temporary British embassy but were turned away without an explanation while surrounding Taliban fighters fired guns into the air in the shocking scenes.

Some called out Joe Biden and Boris Johnson for abandoning them as the Taliban take hold, with only eight days until the US set its deadline for withdrawing all troops from the country.

Meanwhile, the UK today warned there are 'hours not weeks' left for the Kabul airlift as it scrambles to double numbers to 12,000 - while Boris Johnson pleads with to delay the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Afghan interpreters have held a protest to plead for 'humanity' from the British Government to help evacuate their families from Afghanistan before the August 31 deadline.

Some 40 protesters gathered outside of the Home Office in central London on Monday to urge ministers not to 'leave anyone behind' ahead of the Kabul evacuation deadline, when US troops are set to withdraw.

The demonstrators held placards saying the Government had a 'moral obligation' to protect Afghan allies, while others held photos showing graphic images of deaths across 20 years of conflict with the Taliban.

One interpreter told the PA news agency: 'It's humanity. We help each other. We welcome each other. There is no future in Afghanistan.'

Some 40 protesters gathered outside of the Home Office in central London on Monday to urge ministers not to 'leave anyone behind' ahead of the Kabul evacuation deadline, when US troops are set to withdraw

The demonstrators held placards saying the Government had a 'moral obligation' to protect Afghan allies, while others held photos showing graphic images of deaths across 20 years of conflict with the Taliban

One interpreter told the PA news agency: 'It's humanity. We help each other. We welcome each other. There is no future in Afghanistan'

Pictured: Former Afghan interpreters protest in front of the Home Office in Wednesday

Rafi Hottak, one of the organisers of the protest who worked with British soldiers from early 2006 to 2011, called on the Government to offer a 'proper procedure for people like us who have served in Nato forces with all our honesty and integrity'

Mohammed Zaheer, a former interpreter who came to the UK in 2015, said the situation in Afghanistan was a 'disaster' which he never believed would happen.

He said: 'There is no bright future. There is nothing to do. We worked with the army and now my family is in danger.'

Mr Zaheer added he is worried for his brother in Afghanistan who 'cannot even go to the market' as he worked with the US Government-led PRT (Provincial Reconstruction Team) for only a few months.

'They won't be able to talk to me - Facebook, everything will go,' he said. 'It's not just my family - everyone here is asking the British Government to think about our families and bring them here.'

Rafi Hottak, one of the organisers of the protest who worked with British soldiers from early 2006 to 2011, called on the Government to offer a 'proper procedure for people like us who have served in Nato forces with all our honesty and integrity'.

He told PA: 'We know the Americans handed over the Afghan government to the terrorist group that we started fighting 20 years ago. However, they did not put measures right or pull out properly.

One protester holds up a placard that reads: 'Save those who saved your sons in Afghanistan'

Two protesters hold signs with pictures of people stuck in Afghanistan which read: 'Protect our loved ones'

Evacuations have been underway in Afghanistan since the Taliban took control of the country on August 13 after American troops were pulled from the country

A US Navy corpsman hands out water to children during an evacuation at the airport in Kabul

An RAF plane was filled to capacity with embassy staff, British nationals and any Afghans able to settle in the UK

'There is no procedure to help those who helped them in the past 20 years.'

Mr Hottak said that he heard from a number of British citizens who have faced horrors while stuck in Afghanistan, while his brother was injured when he fell off the wall at Kabul airport while trying to flee.

'Our lives and families are at risk,' he told PA. 'Since the collapse of Kabul it has been difficult for all those who qualify for evacuation to get through the main door to the front gate where they should be evacuated or taken into the airport.

'The UK and American government knew what was happening. They could have, if they wanted to, put the right measures in place and those who were going to be prioritised could have had a channel from which they could have escaped.'

Mr Hottak added: 'We fear for ourselves. How can I go to the Taliban and say that I'm an interpreter? It will put us straight into their hands.

A US Airman embraces a mother after she helped to reunite their family at the airport in Kabul

A US Airman high fives a child after helping to reunite their family at the airport in Kabul

'The UK Government needs a proper plan with safety measures.'

Ismatullah Nabizada, a former interpreter who came to the UK through the relocation scheme in 2016, said he is still in touch with his family, but the lack of clarity has meant that 'everyone is scared' while trying to get in touch with the embassy.

Mr Nabizada said: 'Our country is taken over by the Taliban - we don't know what's happening in the future.

Thousands of Afghans could be left behind in Kabul as ministers push to extend the deadline for the last British evacuation flight beyond Tuesday. Pictured: British citizens catching a flight earlier this week

'You still can't believe it - it's unbelievable. Sometimes I think it's a dream. It's a shock, even for us.'

The protest came hours after Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said the Kabul evacuation effort is 'down to hours now, not weeks' as he conceded Britain's involvement will end when the US leaves Afghanistan.

The Taliban also said any attempt to continue the operation past August 31 would 'provoke a reaction' as Boris Johnson prepared to press Joe Biden for an extension to the deadline.

With the UK still hoping to evacuate thousands more people, the Prime Minister will urge the US president to delay the withdrawal of forces from Kabul airport during a summit of G7 leaders.
An attorney representing the family of Ashli Babbitt on Monday condemned the announcement by the US Capitol Police clearing the unnamed officer who killed the unarmed Trump supporter during the January 6 riot of any wrongdoing.

Babbitt, 35, was the only person killed during the insurrection when the officer opened fire at a MAGA mob as they stormed through the Rotunda.

Capitol Police have concluded that the officer acted lawfully and in line with police department policy, and will not face any internal discipline. Officials said they had interviewed multiple witnesses and reviewed video and radio calls as part of the months-long probe.

'USCPs Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) determined the officers conduct was lawful and within Department policy, which says an officer may use deadly force only when the officer reasonably believes that action is in the defense of human life, including the officers own life, or in the defense of any person in immediate danger of serious physical injury,' the agency stated in a press release.

The officer is not being named publicly, despite the identities of many other cops involved in fatal shootings being released, including former Brooklyn Center Officer Kim Potter, who was named after the fatal shooting of 20-year-old black motorist Daunte Wright in April and has been charged with second-degree manslaughter.

Scroll down for video.

Ashli Babbitt, 35, was fatally shot by a Capitol Police officer during the January 6 riot at the Capitol. The officer was exonerated of any wrongdoing on Monday

The US Capitol Police on Monday announced that the officer who shot and killed January 6 rioter Ashli Babbitt has been cleared of any wrongdoing

Babbitt was the only person killed after protesters stormed the Capitol on January 6

Officials said the cop, who is not being named out of concerns for his safety due to threats, 'potentially saved Members [of Congress] and staff from serious injury and possible death from a large crowd of rioters who forced their way into the U.S. Capitol and to the House Chamber where Members and staff were steps away.'

Terry Roberts, the attorney for the Babbitt family, released a lengthy statement in response to the announcement, picking apart the press release from the US Capitol Police, and demanding that the agency release its findings in full, along with the name of the lieutenant who shot and killed Babbitt.

'The press release issued today by the Capitol Police in no way demonstrates that the shooting of Ashli Babbitt was lawful and in compliance with Department Policy,' wrote Roberts.

The attorney bristled at the claim that the officer 'potentially saved' Congress members and staff through his actions.

'Potentially? One cannot be shot for being potentially a threat,' Roberts argued. 'One has to be an imminent threat - a real and immediate threat.'

Terry Roberts, the attorney representing the Babbitt family, condemned the outcome of the internal investigation by the US Capitol Police

Roberts went on to point out that Babbitt was not armed, and that there were no members of Congress in close proximity to her.

'Killing her by shooting her at point-blank range was completely unnecessary,' he contended. 'This alone renders the shooting legally unjustified.'

Roberts concluded by demanding that the US Capitol Police identify the officer responsible for Babbitt's death and release the complete findings of their investigation.

'It is not enough to say that an officer did nothing wrong without showing how it reached such a conclusion,' the familys lawyer wrote. 'An investigation by the officers own police department conducted in secret proves nothing, and certainly is not an "exoneration."'

Meanwhile, the officer's defense attorney, Mark Schamel, applauded the agency's decision to clear his client and described him as a hero who showed 'professionalism' and 'restraint' when faced with an angry mob made up of hundreds of 'extremist' rioters.

According to the statement from the Capitol Police, the officer's actions were consistent with his training and thwarted rioters from accessing the House Chamber after Babbitt and others used flagpoles, helmets and other objects, to shatter a glass door leading to the Speaker's Lobby, which Capitol Police had barricaded with furniture.

Babbitt, who was unarmed and was wearing a Trump flag as a cape, tried climbing through one of the doors where the glass was broken out. The officer, inside the Speaker's Lobby, fired a single round from his service weapon, striking Babbitt in the shoulder, prosecutors said.

In April, the Department of Justice said it wouldn't be filing criminal charges against the officer based on insufficient evidence, so the conclusion of the internal probe ends the official investigation.

The officers attorney, Schamel, previously said his client is facing 'many credible death threats' and other 'horrific threats' and was forced from his home because of them.

In a statement released on Monday in response to the news of his client's exoneration, the lawyer wrote in part: 'this decision by the USCPs Office of Professional Responsibility to exonerate the Lieutenant, like the decisions of the Department of Justice and United States Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia, is the only correct conclusion following the events of January 6th. Every piece of evidence that is released further validates the Lieutenants conduct.'

Schamel further argued that the officer's 'heroic' actions saved lives and helped end the insurrection.

'He stopped the final surge of rioters that were mere steps from members of Congress,' the lawyer wrote. 'The Lieutenant displayed tremendous restraint in firing just one shot and waiting until the rioters had broken through the barrier and actually entered the controlled area where over 60 members of Congress and their staff were seeking shelter and waiting for evacuation.'

Babbitt's family told The Washington Examiner earlier this month that they plan on filing a $10million wrongful death lawsuit, claiming a plainclothes officer didn't issue a verbal command.

Roberts, the family's lawyer, alluded to a video of the Air Force veteran being shot and said the fact that no one appears to be ducking for cover in the moments before Babbitt was killed also suggests that the cop gave no verbal warning.

Schamel, the cop's lawyer, denied this in previous interviews and said his client issued multiple verbal commands but that they weren't audible on the video because the officer was wearing a mask.

Babbitt served multiple Middle East tours from 2004 to 2016, according to Air Force records.

She had shown her support for former President Donald Trump and promoted conservative activists and QAnon conspiracy theory movement leaders, NBC News reported.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday accused the Associated Press of running a 'smear' story against him that could cost lives after the news organization said a member of his staff had harassed one of its reporters.

He said the AP deserved the 'blowback' it received.

His intervention came after his aide Christina Pushaws Twitter account was suspended for violating rules on abusive behavior after she urged her followers to target Florida reporter Brendan Farrington.

'Drag them,' she wrote apparently in response to an article headlined, 'DeSantis top donor invests in COVID drug governor promotes.'

On Friday, incoming AP CEO Daisy Veerasingham wrote to DeSantis asking him to end her 'harassing behavior.'

DeSantis made his response clear with an open letter.

'I assumed your letter was to notify me that you were issuing a retraction of the partisan smear piece you published last week. Instead, you had the temerity to complain about the deserved blowback that your botched and discredited attempt to concoct a political narrative has received,' he wrote.

'This ploy will not work to divert attention from the fact that the Associated Press published a false narrative that will lead some to decline effective treatment for COVID infections.'

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis hit back angrily after a member of his staff was accused of harassing a reporter with the Associated Press. He said the news agency got what it deserved after trying to smear him and his administration

DeSantis made his fury clear with a letter sayin the AP 'deserved blowback' for a botched attempt to discredit him and his administration

He said the story used an 'inflammatory' headline designed to 'smear' him.

'While the public's trust in corporate outlets like the AP is at historic lows, there is no doubt that some will decline to seek life-saving treatment as a result of the AP's inflammatory headline,' he wrote.

Farrington reported that a hedge fund of a top DeSantis donor had invested millions of dollars in a monoclonal antibody treatment Regeneron.

DeSantis has been touting the treatment throughout the state.

'Early treatment with these monoclonal antibodies  Regeneron and others  have proven to radically reduce the chances that somebody ends up being hospitalized,' he said recently at a treatment site in Orlando.

'Reducing hospital admissions has got to be a top priority.'

Pushaw retweeted his article with a request to 'drag them' in a now-deleted post.

She also retweeted a message that said Light. Them. Up. in reference to the AP.

She later said she had no violent intent and removed the message so it would not be misunderstood.

Brian Carovillano, APs vice president and managing editor, said Pushaws tweets were particularly egregious because she is a public servant.

Pushaw's Twitter account was locked for 12 hours after she hit back at a reporter who looked into a donor's ties to COVID-19 treatments

Pushaw took some delight in tweaking AP further by tweeting out her boss's letter with the line: 'Was it worth it?'

'Theres pushback, which we fully accept and is a regular facet of being a political reporter or any kind of reporter, and theres harassment,' Carovillano told the AP.

'This is not pushback, its harassment. Its bullying.

'Its calling out the trolls at somebody who is just doing his job and its putting him and his family at risk.'

Farrington later said he received threats and hate messages about the story.

'Ill be fine, I hope. Freedom. Just please dont kill me,' he tweeted.

In her letter, Verasingham said the aide's behavior could incite physical attacks and had no place in a democracy.

'While we can disagree about stories, it is unacceptable and dangerous for a public official to encourage the systemic bullying of journalists,' Veerasingham wrote.

Pushaw tried to take a victory lap after her employer's letter was published, tweeting out a highlight that included: 'Was it worth it?'
At least seven people have suffered 'severe poisoning' after eating or drinking at a German university, police have today revealed.

Officers say they fell sick after consuming food or drink at the Darmstadt Technical University, in Darmstadt, near to city of Frankfurt in central Germany.

Six of the seven people have been taken to hospital, according to local reports. It is believed students and staff are among those who have fallen ill.

Police are urging anyone who feels unwell after eating or drinking at the university today to seek medical attention.

A 'bluish discoloration' of the fingers and toes is one of the signs of poisoning, officers say.

They have urged those who feel unwell 'not to move' and to call the emergency services immediately.

Police say it is not yet clear what the poisonous substance is.

However they say early investigations show 'several milk packs and water containers' have been 'mixed with a harmful substance'

The containers were apparently being stored in a tea room of the university's science department.

In a statement released on a Twitter tonight, local police said: 'So far, we know of seven people who, after consuming various foods and beverages in the 'L201' building of the Technical University, have shown signs of poisoning, among other things.'

Officers say the people fell sick after eating or drinking at the Darmstadt Technical University, in Darmstadt, near to city of Frankfurt in central Germany

'We ask all people who ate or drank in building 'L201' today, feel unwell or have bluish discoloration of their extremities, to seek medical help immediately.'

'In the event of discoloration, urgent medical advice:Try not to move and call the emergency doctor immediately.'

Police say they are on site with other emergency services and an investigation is underway.

They say officers are sweeping through additional buildings on the campus to check for any other harmful substances.

Police spokesman Bernd Hochstadter told one German news agency that a chemical analysis of the substance is underway.

He said: 'Such analysis is usually not quick. It will take a while.'

Police say a result of the chemical analysis is not expected today.

Commonly known as TU Darmstadt, the research university was founded more than 140 years ago, in 1877.

It was the first university in the world to set up a faculty for electrical engineering - then a relatively new field of research.

The university boasts four Nobel laureates three Wolf Prize in physics laureates.

The most recent Nobel laureate was physicist Peter Grunberg in 2007, for his work which ultimately brought about a breakthrough in gigabyte hard drive space.

The university has around 2,500 staff and an annual budget of around 450 million.
When speaking with ABC4 News Friday, Cindy Sue Hunter (pictured) said she discovered the bodies of her friends, Kylen Schulte, 24, and Crystal Beck, 38, while speaking to Schulte's father on the phone

The friend of two women found shot dead in the Utah wilderness - after they reported a 'creeper dude' lurking nearby - told news outlets she was on the phone with one of the victim's fathers when she discovered their bodies.

Cindy Sue Hunter said she discovered the bodies of her friends, Kylen Schulte, 24, and Crystal Beck, 38, after receiving a frantic call from Schulte's father, Sean-Paul, she told ABC4 News Friday,.

Schulte's father, who lives in Montana, called Hunter after he hadn't heard from the couple in three days following a disturbing call from his daughter, he reportedly told Hunter.

'He said 'I just found out that there was a creeper dude that they were scared of. That they needed to move their camp,' Hunter said. 'All of a sudden I had such a sense of urgency.'

Schulte's (left) and Beck (right) were camping in the mountains of Moab, Utah, about a week ago when they reportedly vanished. Their bodies were discovered Wednesday night near the South Mesa area of La Sal Loop Road

Hunter was able to locate the couple's campsite in Moab on Wednesday, remaining on the phone with Kylen's father while she searched the area.

'Then I saw her body and I turned away,' Hunter said. 'I think something inside me didn't want to acknowledge what I had seen so I was looking at the beauty of the creek and everything and talking to the father the whole time and I turned around again to make myself see and it was her.'

On Wednesday, the Grand County Sheriff's Office in Moab released a statement saying: 'At this time the Grand County Sheriff's Office is conducting an ongoing homicide investigation.'

The Sheriff's Office continued by saying they believe 'there is no current danger to the public in the Grand County area.'

On Wednesday, the Grand County Sheriff's Office in Moab released a statement saying: 'At this time the Grand County Sheriff's Office is conducting an ongoing homicide investigation.'

Schulte (right) and Beck (left) were found shot dead four days after going missing while camping in Utah mountains

Hunter, on the other hand, doesn't find the sheriff's statement comforting.

'How are we safe if you have a double homicide?' Hunter asked. ' You don't have a suspect in custody. You're not claiming it was a murder-suicide so how are we possibly safe? It honestly feels like they're just trying to protect the tourism industry in Moab.'

Schulte's and Beck were camping in the Moab mountains about a week ago when they reportedly vanished.

Their bodies were discovered near the South Mesa area of La Sal Loop Road and police identified them as the missing women Thursday evening.

Their bodies were transferred to the state medical examiner's office.

Kylen Schulte (left) and Crystal Beck, who married recently, were found dead in the Moab mountains of Utah after being reported missing four days earlier

The couple were reportedly 'spooked' by a man near their campsite and told close friends they were moving away from the 'weirdo'

Schulte's father Sean-Paul asked the people of Moab to help find his daughter's killers on Facebook as the police's person of interest has been released and no arrests have been made

The two reportedly were last seen on August 14 after telling close friends they moved campsites because they had been 'spooked' by a 'weirdo' man camping near them.

Schulte's father called for the Moab community to help find 'my girls' on August 17 in a Facebook post after not hearing from them.

He reported that the girls, 'Haven't been to work. Haven't called. Not in hospital. Not in Moab jail,' but police were searching for them.

Aunt Bridgit Calvert started a GoFuneMe page to help Sean-Paul pay for funeral expenses for the two girls

Their bodies were found near the South Mesa area of La Sal Loop Road after being missing for four days

The dad posted again a day later reporting the girls had been missing for four nights and days.

He said: 'Moab PLEASE PLEASE FIND MY GIRLS.'

In an updated post, he begs Moab not to give up on finding his daughter's killer and asked them to interview everyone who was on the mountain.

He wrote: 'Moab. This is Kylen and Crystals dad. Please please

'DO NOT STOP !!!!'

The sheriff's office released a statement saying they are looking into all avenues provided by those who come forward.

'We are currently following up with what comes to our attention during this investigation and will continue to be available to people to come forward with information,' the sheriff's office told local NBC-affiliated television station KSL-TV.

The father reported that a person of interest had been questioned and released by police, but his daughter's killer was still out there.

The family called Schulte the 'moon and the stars since the day she was born' on the GoFundMe page created to help Sean-Paul pay funeral expenses for the two women.

The couple - who was recently married - spent a lot of time camping.

Their aunt wrote on a GoFundMe page, 'They found their way from the best campsite to the next.'
President Joe Biden urged American companies on Monday to begin ordering staff to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as he celebrated the FDA's final approval of the Pfizer vaccine.

After delivering the much needed good news he exited the White House auditorium sharply, without stopping to answer questions about the crisis in Afghanistan.

It was a welcome moment for an administration battered by weeks of negative headlines, from spiking cases of COVID-19 to the collapse of the Afghan government and plunging poll numbers.

Major companies like Amtrak, Walt Disney and Walmart have already required their workers to be immunized and the Pentagon have said they will mandate all troops.

But Biden's calls for all companies to make their requirements stricter is likely to face calls of federal government overreach and legal challenges.

States including Florida and Texas have already fought back against vaccine mandates and believe it is a personal choice to get the shot.

Biden, speaking at the White House, portrayed it as a huge victory even though it will be of limited practical value months after the vaccination received emergency approval.

Even so, he spoke directly to what he said were 'millions' of Americans who may have been waiting for full approval before trusting the jab - even though the shots have been going in arms since December 2020.

'It has now happened,' Biden said. 'The moment youve been waiting for is here. Its time for you go get your vaccine.

'Get it today.'

Joe Biden urged Americans to get vaccinated amid FDA approval of the Pfizer vaccine

After delivering his good news on vaccinations, Biden headed straight for the exit ignoring questions about Afghanistan

The FDA announcement was a welcome bit of good news for an administration that has been battered by weeks of negative headlines and remains under intense pressure as the clock runs down on the president's August 31 deadline for withdrawing U.S. troops from Afghanistan

He pointed to a pickup in the pace of vaccinations amid a spike in hospitalizations and deaths among the unvaccinated.

'The FDA approval is the gold standard,' Biden said, amid information showing about a third of eligible Americans have declined to get the vaccine.

Dorit Reiss, a professor of law at UC Hastings College of the Law, told CNBC that firms may have felt wary of implementing full vaccine mandates until the shot got approval, even though they had the legal authority.

But he also avoided the issue that is provoking still unanswered questions, declining to respond to reporters who shouted questions about the crowded scenes at Kabul airport.

Among the questions he didn't take: How many Americans are still stuck in the country, as the U.S. military provides security in a tense situation, with Afghan forces manning security checkpoints.

With Biden walking away from shouted questions on Afghanistan, he left it to his national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, and his press secretary to field questions later in the day.

Sullivan deflected questions about whether U.S. troops would stay beyond an August 31 deadline after the Taliban said they were not willing to consider an extension.

'We are in talks with the Taliban on a daily basis through both political and security channels, I'm not going to get into the details of those discussions here to protect those discussions, which are covering a wide range of issues,' he said in the White House briefing room.

That left the president to talk up progress on COVID-19.

Biden touted the 71 per cent vaccination rate, and even noted an uptick in shots in hard hit Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas.

He also sought a silver lining in the reduced death rate amid the campaign to push out vaccines, saying the death rate is 'still 70 percent lower than it was last winter.'

And he used the moment to urge private companies to issue vaccination mandates for staff.

'As I mentioned before, I've imposed vaccination requirements that will reach millions of Americans,' he said.

'Today I'm calling on more companies ... in the private sector to step up with vaccine requirements that will reach millions more people.

'If you're a business leader, a nonprofit leader, state or local leader, who has been waiting for FDA approval to require vaccinations, I call on you now to do that, require it.'

The administration already requires federal employees and onsite contractors to attest that they are vaccinated or if they are unvaccinated to submit to regular testing.

He spoke soon after the Pentagon announced it would press ahead with moves to order personnel to be vaccinated following full approval of the Pfizer shot.

'We're going to move forward making that vaccine mandatory, we're preparing the guidance for the force right now,' he said during a news briefing.

Earlier, the FDA granted full approval to Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine for those aged 16 and older on Monday. The two-dose regimen was the first to receive emergency use authorization from federal regulators in December 2020 and will now be first to be licensed.

Pfizer said on Monday the vaccine will continue to be available for 12-to-15-year-olds and as third doses for immunocompromised people under emergency use only.
Idaho hiker Tatum Morell, 23, was on a solo trip in Montana before disappearing on the West Fork Trailhead near Red Lodge on July 1

The body of a missing 23-year-old hiker was found after a near two-month search on August 21 in a Montana rockslide with fatal injuries.

Tatum Morell, of Idaho, went missing after she last contacted her family on July 1 - the night before she went on the West Fork Trailhead near Red Lodge, Montana.

Cops had little luck finding the woman during a seven-week hunt.

However, a group of hikers spotted on Saturday what turned out to be Morell's equipment on the trail before finding her body in a gully below Whitetail Peak, according to Red Lodge Fire Rescue.

Officials believe she was attempting to climb Whitetail Peak before she got caught in the rockslide.

'After almost two months of extensive search efforts, we are relieved that she is able to be returned to her family.' Red Lodge Fire Rescue Assistant Chief John Trapp told Fox News.

Morell was a recent graduate from Montana State University and was considered an 'avid and experienced hiker'

Morell's body was retrieved after hikers notified police

Tatum Morell was described by her family as a 'fiercely independent, adventurous soul who loved the mountains'

'The effort volunteers put into finding Tatum surpassed anything Ive seen in my 17 years with Search and Rescue operations; it was absolutely incredible.'

Starting on July 5, officials combed the Beartooth Mountains using rescue teams, law enforcement agencies and even dogs.

After coming up empty for five days, Morell's parents accepted her tragic death.

Morell's family said: 'Tate was a fiercely independent, adventurous soul who loved the mountains.

'We find some solace in knowing she passed in a place she loved.'

Morell had recently graduated from Montana State University and was considered to be an 'avid and experienced hiker.'

After her body was found, the hikers contacted local law enforcement and provided them with the coordinates of the location, according to Q2 News.

The location of the body was discovered on August 22 using a helicopter from the Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office, according to Carbon County Sheriff Josh McQuillan.

Morell's body was transported to the Red Lodge Airport that afternoon by a Two Bear Air helicopter.

Morell's body was found in a gully below Whitetail Peak by fellow hikers after a near two-month disappearance
Four US Air Force F-15 fighters flying in formation at 335mph were forced to break away to avoid smashing into a glider, a report has revealed.

An investigation revealed that one of the United States Air Force jets was around 200 yards away horizontally from the Nimbus glider while roaring past just 100ft above.

The close call happened after the lead jet was warned by air traffic controllers that it had 'traffic on the nose' and was on a collision course with another aircraft.

Four US Air Force F-15 fighters flying in formation at 335mph were forced to break away to avoid smashing into a glider over Norfolk

The jet pilot spotted the glider ahead visually and on radar from a distance of just over five miles at a height of 3,700ft near Downham Market, Norfolk.

The report by the UK Airprox Board which investigates near misses said the three other F15s broke away to the left and right while the lead jet climbed to pass overhead.

The glider pilot spotted the approaching jets and had made a desperate attempt to descend at 100mph in the moments before the near miss on April 17 this year.

The military pilots, who were returning to their base at RAF Lakenheath, Suffolk, and the glider pilot all told investigators that there was a 'medium' risk of collision.

An investigation revealed that one of the United States Air Force jets was around 200 yards away horizontally from the Nimbus glider while roaring past just 100ft above. Pictured: Stock of US Air Force jets

The report rated it as a Category B incident, the second highest rating, and concluded that 'safety had been much reduced' due to the 'speed of closure' and the reported separation.

The four military jets had been in the air for five and a half hours on a training sortie and were heading back to base when the glider loomed up ahead.

The report revealed the glider had no transponder to make it visible to other aircraft and the pilot had been listening to the RAF Marham frequency, instead of RAF Lakenheath.

It added that the glider pilot had spotted the approaching jets and believed a 'descent was enough to remove the collision risk'.

The glider pilot spotted the approaching jets and had made a desperate attempt to descend at 100mph in the moments before the near miss on April 17 this year. Picture: Stock of Nimbus glider

The pilot estimated that the closest jet passed just 50ft to 100ft directly overhead, although radar records later revealed a greater horizontal separation.

The jets and the glider were said to have had equal responsibility for collision avoidance.

But the British Gliding Association said it was 'surprising' that the jets passed so close as they had radar and visual contact with the glider from five nautical miles away.

Investigators suggested that the F15 had the opportunity to immediately 'kick right' rather than 'taking avoiding action at a later stage', and passing 'close enough to cause concern'.
A dozen Border Patrol officers are reportedly responsible for patrolling a nearly 250-mile stretch of the southern border - hitting a new low for both staffing and morale as the number of migrants crossing into the United States shatters records month-to-month.

Customs and Border Protection has a force of roughly 19,000 officers.

Roughly half the agents stationed in Texas have been pulled from patrolling the border and instead tasked with processing migrants in custody.

Texas and New Mexico account for 60 percent of known border crossings.

'Morale is in the toilet,' National Border Patrol Council Vice President Jon Anfinsen told the Washington Examiner.

He said morale among CBP officers is low because they 'aren't allowed to do their job.'

'If our job is to be out patrolling the border in between the ports of entry and actively searching for people who have crossed illegally, but we're not allowed to go do that job, it basically creates this defeated feeling in everyone,' he told the outlet.

Border crossings hit a 21-year high in July when 212,672 migrant encounters were reported.

'Like with migrant surges in the past, U.S. Border Patrol is fortunate to have dedicated law enforcement professionals who remain resilient as we seek to improve enforcement efforts along the border. Day in and day out, our Border Patrol agents continue to meet the need to protect our nations border as well as process migrants safely and expeditiously,' a Border Patrol spokesperson told DailMail.com in a statement.

Crossings at the southern border have been rising significantly since Biden took office, hitting a 21-year high of 212,672 in July

Anfinsen said officers now are almost solely dealing with people who 'are walking up to us and turning themselves in.'

'Meanwhile, the immigrants who don't want anything to do with us, they're running away.'

That means there are potentially thousands more migrants crossing undetected.

The number of border crossings in July is a 13 percent increase from June. There have been nearly a million reported border encounters between February and July under Biden's watch.

One former CBP official described agents getting burned out by the influx of migrants and their relatively little power to stop them - and added that long processing times for migrants are a clear indication of their fatigue.

'Agents are just flat tired, and we are seeing and hearing it,' they wrote in an email to the Examiner.

Border Patrol agents are burned out and 'morale is in the toilet' as some reportedly feel helpless to stop the surge of migrants

Many officers report being sidelined to tasks like processing and transporting migrants rather than active duty patrols

A current federal agent said it was 'easy' to spot groups of people crossing the Rio Grande River but that no agents are available to stop them or record their passage.

Instead, many are relegated to nonenforcement tasks like processing and transporting migrants.

'They know that people are getting away every single day, every hour,' Anfinsen said.

Another anonymous former official speaking with the Examiner accused the Biden administration of turning border patrol officers into corrections officers.

The ex-agent described agents being forced into crowded detention facilities to manage migrants instead of being out in the field, dubbing it a 'medical emergency.'

More than 10,000 CBP employees have tested positive for COVID since the pandemic began.

Immigrants pray while waiting to be processed by US Border Patrol agents after they crossed the Rio Grande from Mexico

Asylum-seeking migrant families arrive to the US side of the bank in Roma, Texas on an inflatable raft after crossing the Rio Grande

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

An agent in Arizona, where crossings are slightly lighter than in Texas, said their mission has gone from detection and deterrence to 'wait until they have all crossed, Uber them to the station and process.'

The Biden administration has taken a more lenient approach to border enforcement than under former President Trump. Besides halting construction of the border wall, Biden also stopped Trump's remain-in-Mexico policy and oriented the Homeland Security Department to focus less on deterrence and punishment and more on orderly processing of immigrants.

DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas admitted there is a crisis at the border and that policies need to change in leaked audio from a private meeting with Texas border agents.

'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.'

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.
Joe Biden spoke with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday as leaders of the G7 prepare to pressure the president to delay the August 31st withdrawal deadline for U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

Johnson, who holds the G7 presidency, will lead Tuesday's call among the leaders of the world's seven largest economies to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, where the Taliban has taken control of the country and thousands are trying to evacuate.

In a readout of the call, the White House said Biden and Johnson 'discussed the ongoing efforts by our diplomatic and military personnel to evacuate their citizens, local staff, and other vulnerable Afghans. They also discussed plans for the G7 virtual leaders' meeting tomorrow, underscoring the importance of close coordination with allies and partners in managing the current situation and forging a common approach to Afghanistan policy.'

The conversation came as Britain, France and Germany all joined pleas for Biden to delay the withdrawal of U.S. troops. America has about 5,800 Marines and soldiers on the ground in Afghanistan.

Number 10 Downing Street said the two leaders discussed the on-going evacuation from the Kabul airport and continuing it even after the 'initial phase' ends.

'The leaders agreed to continue working together to ensure those who are eligible to leave are able to, including after the initial phase of the evacuation has ended,' Johnson's office said in a readout of the conversation.

'The Prime Minister and President Biden noted the importance of concerted diplomatic engagement to secure the progress made in Afghanistan and prevent a humanitarian crisis.'

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on Monday declined to say if Biden and Johnson discussed the August 31st deadline on their call and how the president would respond to a request from his fellow leaders.

'I'm not going to preview what the president will say in the G7 meeting tomorrow. At the moment he's focused on private conversations with foreign leaders. He will have the opportunity to have that engagement in that private session with the G7 leaders tomorrow, and I'm not, from the podium, going to read out what are sensitive conversations among leaders between the United States and our allies,' Sullivan said.

President Joe Biden spoke with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson ahead of Tuesday's meeting with fellow G7 leaders

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan declined to say if Biden and Johnson discussed the August 31st deadline to withdraw U.S. troops on the call

U.S. Marines provide assistance at an Evacuation Control Checkpoint (ECC) during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport

Sullivan also declined to say if Biden is considering an extension of the deadline.

'He is taking this day by day, and will make his determinations as we go,' Sullivan said at the daily White House press briefing. 'We believe that we have time between now and the 31st to get out any American who wants to get out.'

And when asked if the administration thinks it needs the Taliban's approval to stay beyond the 31st, Sullivan said: 'Ultimately, it will be the president's decision how this proceeds, no one else's.'

Since August 14, the U.S. has evacuated and facilitated the evacuation of approximately 37,000 people from Afghanistan, according to the White House. Since the end of July, the U.S. has relocated approximately 42,000 people. The Taliban took control of Kabul on August 15.

But several European leaders are worried there is not enough time to evacuate everyone who wants out. And American critics have asked why evacuations weren't started sooner - particularly for native Afghans who helped Americans - since Biden announced the August 31st deadline in early July.

French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said he was 'concerned' about the deadline and 'additional time is needed'. Germany estimated it has 5,000 people still waiting to be taken to safety, with a Foreign Ministry spokesman saying the airbridges should stay open 'as long as the situation on the ground allows'.

However, the Taliban have said any extension would be a 'red line' and warned of 'consequences' - as ministers admit they have a 'vote' on the timetable.

Downing Street insiders said Johnson will ask Biden at the G7 meeting not to leave Western allies in the lurch.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and Defense Secretary Ben Wallace have also been in contact with their opposite numbers in Washington on the issue.

The situation at the Kabul airport has become increasingly fraught as the clock ticks on the airlift

Taliban threatens 'consequences' if airlift deadline extended The Taliban has said it will 'provoke a reaction' and has threatened 'consequences' if the US or UK do not leave Afghanistan by August 31 and extend the deadline for the withdrawal of troops. President Joe Biden wants all Americans to have left the country by the end of the month although he admitted on Sunday night that an extension was under discussion, while this morning UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said the evacuation effort is 'down to hours now, not weeks'. Taliban spokesman Dr Suhail Shaheen said the group will not accept an extension to the deadline and warned of retaliation if Western forces extend their 'occupation' since the group dramatically swept to power. He told Sky News: 'It's a red line. President Biden announced that on 31 August they would withdraw all their military forces. So if they extend it that means they are extending occupation while there is no need for that. 'If the US or UK were to seek additional time to continue evacuations - the answer is no. Or there would be consequences. 'It will create mistrust between us. If they are intent on continuing the occupation it will provoke a reaction.' Advertisement

And British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said: 'The Prime Minister is, obviously at the G7, going to try and raise the prospect of seeing if the United States will extend.

'It's really important for people to understand the United States have over 6,000 people in Kabul airport and when they withdraw that will take away the framework  and we will have to go as well.

'I don't think there is any likelihood of staying on after the United States. If their timetable extends even by a day or two, that will give us a day or two more to evacuate people.

'Because we are really down to hours now, not weeks, and we have to make sure we exploit every minute to get people out.'

French President Emmanuel Macron is also expected to press the issue.

Macron, in a phone call with Biden last week, told the president the west bore a 'moral responsibility.'

'We cannot abandon them,' Macron told Biden, according to a readout of the call from the French.

But a Taliban spokesman told Sky News that the evacuation effort continuing past the end of the month would be a 'red line' and would 'provoke a reaction'.

Suhail Shaheen said: 'This is something  you can say it's a red line. President Biden announced this agreement that on August 31 they would withdraw all their military forces. So, if they extend it that means they are extending occupation while there is no need for that.

'It will create mistrust between us. If they are intent on continuing the occupation, so it will provoke a reaction.'

Tensions are on the rise in Afghanistan as thousands try to flee.

On Sunday, U.S. soldiers at the airport in Kabul, alongside German forces, were engaged in a gunfight with 'unknown attackers' - which resulted in the death of one member of the Afghan security force, and three additional injuries.

Meanwhile, Biden said on Sunday that there were conversations about extending the deadline but he would like to keep to the August 31st date.

'Our hope is we will not have to extend, but there are going to be discussions, I suspect, on how far along we are in the process,' he said.

Two Marines assigned to the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command share their water with a young girl at Hamid Karzai International Airport

A Marine hands a helmet to a child awaiting evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport

Biden wouldn't offer any commitments if his foreign counterparts ask him to extend the deadline.

'I will tell them that we'll see what we can do,' he said.

'Our first priority in Kabul is getting American citizens out of the situation as quickly and safely as possible. Any American that wants to get home will get home,' he noted.

He also said the US government is 'looking to move our Afghan allies' out of the country as well, noting that citizens of NATO allies and Afghan allies were amongst the 11,000 individuals evacuated this past weekend.
A convicted Mexican drug lord portrayed in the Netflix series 'Narcos: Mexico' has claimed he had nothing to do with the 1985 murder of Drug Enforcement Administration agent Enrique 'Kiki' Camarena.

A frail-looking, 75-year-old Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo described himself as 'an honest man' and said 'I'm not aware why they've linked me to that crime. I never met that man' during an interview aired by Noticias Telemundo - the first ever sit down he's had with any media outlets since his arrest.

Felix Gallardo went on to say that he never met Ernesto Fonseca Carrillo and Rafael Caro Quintero, the two men with whom he partnered in the 1970s to create the Guadalajara Cartel, at the time one of the most powerful drug trafficking organizations in the world which in turn set up the path that other drug cartels would follow - including Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman's Sinaloa Cartel.

However, it was the investigative work of Camarena that toppled a marijuana plantation in Mexico and sparked a chain of events that eventually led to his assassination and the end of the Guadalajara Cartel, or the Federation as it was also known.

Camarena died at the age 37, leaving behind a wife and three children, after he was kidnapped in Guadalajara on February 7, 1985. The tortured bodies of Camarena and Alfredo Zavala Avelar, a Mexican pilot who was employed by the DEA, were found the following month.

Fonseca Carrillo and Caro Quintero, who was prematurely released from jail and is now wanted by authorities on both sides of the border, were the first to go down for the murders while Felix Gallardo somehow managed to avoid capture. Felix Gallardo was arrested in April 1989 and was sentenced to 32 years in a Mexican jail for Camarena's assassination.

In 2017, a Mexico federal court handed down a 37-year sentence for Camarena's and Zavala Avelar's murders. The court also ordered Felix Gallardo to pay $1.18 million in damages.

Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo told Noticias Telemundo that he never met DEA agent Kiki Camarena and that he was not responsible for his 1985 murder

The investigation led by Drug Enforcement Administration agent Enrique 'Kiki' Camarena led to the eventual demise of the Guadalajara Cartel, but not before he was kidnapped, tortured and killed by the criminal organization in 1985

Despite the mounting evidence, Felix Gallardo - nicknamed 'El Jefe de los Jefes,' or 'Boss of Bosses' - told Noticias Telemundo he did not have a clue as to why he authorities connected him to the murders that tested the relationship between the governments of the United States and Mexico.

'It is a very sad subject. This Mr. Camarena, whoever they were, whoever did it, the perpetrators and masterminds are behind bars; they've paid with their lives in prison, and they've had a very rough time,' Felix Gallardo said. 'I'm not aware why they've linked me to that crime. I never met that man. Let me reiterate: I'm not into weapons. I'm really sorry because I know he was a good man.'

When asked by the reporter if he had anything to say to agent Camarena's widow, Mika Camarena, 'El Padrino' or 'The Godfather,' as Felix Gallardo was also know, responded: 'That I wish her comfort. She should feel relieved that the culprits are serving time.'

Felix Gallardo also shied away from his old business partners, Fonseca Carrillo, who served a 40-year prison term, and Caro Quintero, who was prematurely released from jail and is now wanted by authorities on both sides of the border.

'I don't know them,' he said. 'We did not meet on the street. These people and I have never chatted.'

Felix Gallardo, a former police office, slammed the 'Narcos: Mexico' for wrongly portraying him. 'Miguel Felix Gallardo is an honest man.'

Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo told Noticias Telemundo in an interview that aired last Wednesday that he has no hope of ever getting out of prison. But on Friday, Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said that prosecutors would be closely looking into his case to see he can pardon him under a proposed bill that would free thousands of prisoners

U.S. military personnel carry the coffin containing the body of DEA agent Enrique 'Kiki' Camarena following his 1985 murder

In the interview with Noticias Telemundo, Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo said he had spoken to or met Rafael Caro Quintero, one of the two men he co-founded the Guadalajara Cartel with

Ernesto Fonseca Carrillo was one of the Guadalajara Cartel's three founders

The jailed kingpin distanced himself from any dealings with his Colombian counterpart, Pablo Escobar, which are highlighted in the hit series.

'I never met that person. He, that person you're mentioning, I was never in Medellin or Cali, as the series says. I never met him. Later on, he was killed while I was in prison,' Felix Gallardo. 'There doesn't exist a czar, there's never existed such thing. Cartels have never existed in Guadalajara. I don't know if that's changed now. That never happened. In other words, we led a family life. I used to take my children to school.

Now at the age of 75, he appears to be a mere shell of the man who was one the world's most feared drug cartel leaders and now has 'half my body paralyzed.'

Felix Gallardo lost vision in his right eye, is deaf in his left ear, and had surgery to remove eight hernias. And add the left arm that is covered by a cast and supported by a sling due to a fall he suffered last month.

He holds no regrets about his past because he believes he was wrongly convicted.

'Since I haven't made a mistake, I have nothing to repent. I did not participate in such an act [Camarena's murder],' Felix Gallardo said.

Netflix's hit series 'Narcos: Mexico' zeroes in on the rise of the Guadalajara Cartel. Mexican actor Diego Luna (pictured) plays the role of Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo

Mexican-American actor Michael Pena interprets the role of DEA agent Enrique Camarena in 'Narcos: Mexico'

In 2019, a Mexico City judge rejected a request to serve the rest of his prison term under house arrest. Today, he's pretty much resigned to the fact that he may die in prison, but he may have still have chance at an early exit if Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

Lopez Obrador, who in the interview was described by Felix Gallardo as 'a man of goodwill' who 'is fighting social inequality,' told reporters Friday that prosecutors will review his case and pardon him under a proposed bill that would free thousands of prisoners.

'I also want him to understand my situation, that I do not want anyone to suffer,' he said. 'I do not want anyone to be in jail. I am a humanist.'
A police officer shot and killed an unarmed bystander when he opened fire at a suspect and missed on Saturday night.

Juan Luis Olvera-Preciado, 59, was sitting in his car at an intersection in Guadalupe, California, when he was hit by the officer's bullet.

The Guadalupe Police Department officer, who has not been named, had spotted a man who was wanted on a no-bail felony warrant at approximately 9:40 pm on Saturday night.

Officials say the officer opened fire, but missed his target and hit Olvera-Preciado, who was parked nearby.

Olvera-Preciado was pronounced dead at the scene at around 10:13 pm

Police have not revealed why the officer opened fire, and have not named the suspect who was apprehended.

The shooting happened at the intersection of Birch and Obispo Streets (pictured)

The Guadalupe Police Department officer, who has not been named, opened fire on a suspect but missed and hit an innocent bystander (file image)

'Sheriffs Office detectives and forensics technicians responded to the scene at the request of Guadalupe Police Chief Michael Cash to conduct the investigation into the incident,' an August 22 release said.

Per California State Assembly Bill 1506, both the Sheriff's Department the Attorney General will conduct an investigation into the Guadalupe officer's use of force to determine whether his decision to shoot was 'warranted.'

These external agencies will investigate, rather than the Guadalupe Police Department, to avoid bias toward the offending police officer.

The Police Practices Division within the Attorney General's Office will also review the department's use of deadly force policies and make recommendations.

'Chief Cash met personally with the Olvera-Preciado family to offer his condolences and to coordinate support services.'

Citing an ongoing investigation, the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department would not divulge the nature of the suspect's alleged crime, nor the officer's reasoning for firing his weapon.
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Defence Secretary Ben Wallace today insisted security checks at Kabul airport are working after it emerged a person banned from Britain under a 'no-fly list' was able to travel to the UK as part of the Afghanistan airlift.

In a potential security breach, the individual was cleared to board an RAF plane before checks in mid-air revealed they were barred from coming to this country.

In a sign of the challenges facing British soldiers at the airport  who are already on high alert amid fears of terror attacks  it emerged last night that a further four people on the no-fly list tried to board mercy flights to the UK, but were stopped before the planes took off.

Mr Wallace defended the security checks, telling Sky News: 'The watch list, or the no-fly list, pinged and the individual was identified so that is a plus side that it worked.

'I wouldn't be as alarmed as some of the media headlines are about this individual and I would also take some comfort from this process is working and flagging people.'

It came amid fears that more than 1,000 heroic Afghan translators, staff and their families could be left behind by the frantic evacuation operation.

Ministers have outlined plans to extract a further 6,000 UK nationals and eligible Afghans, but sources said there were 7,000 who Britain would ideally like to rescue.

The Home Office said yesterday a 'security assessment' of the individual who arrived in the UK revealed they were no longer considered a threat by the security or law enforcement agencies. Sources said there would be no further action taken against the person, whose nationality is unclear.

But the development raised concerns over security relating to the airlift.

A person banned from Britain under a 'no-fly list' was able to travel here as part of the Afghanistan airlift, it emerged yesterday. Above: The airlift which took place on Saturday evening

A person considered to be threat to the UK has reportedly been flown into Birmingham as part of the British evacuation operation

The scene outside Afghanistan's Kabul airport yesterday where the chaos has led to a person banned from Britain being allowed to fly in

A military plane takes off from the Hamid Karzai International Airport, in Kabul, Afghanistan, today as the evacuation continues

Taliban check vehicles at a check point in Kandahar, Afghansitan, 22 August 2021. The Afghan interim council, formed to assist in the power transfer following President Ashraf Ghani's escape, has met several Taliban leaders to discuss issues related to control and security during the transition process

Taliban threatens 'consequences' if airlift deadline extended The Taliban has said it will 'provoke a reaction' and has threatened 'consequences' if the US or UK do not leave Afghanistan by August 31 and extend the deadline for the withdrawal of troops. President Joe Biden wants all Americans to have left the country by the end of the month although he admitted on Sunday night that an extension was under discussion, while this morning UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said the evacuation effort is 'down to hours now, not weeks'. Taliban spokesman Dr Suhail Shaheen said the group will not accept an extension to the deadline and warned of retaliation if Western forces extend their 'occupation' since the group dramatically swept to power. He told Sky News: 'It's a red line. President Biden announced that on 31 August they would withdraw all their military forces. So if they extend it that means they are extending occupation while there is no need for that. 'If the US or UK were to seek additional time to continue evacuations - the answer is no. Or there would be consequences. 'It will create mistrust between us. If they are intent on continuing the occupation it will provoke a reaction.' Advertisement

Armed Forces minister James Heappey warned that suspected extremists were trying to use the chaotic evacuation from Afghanistan to get to Britain. He said they were 'trying to take advantage of this process to get into the UK to cause us harm'.

He added: 'One of the most remarkable things about what our troops are doing is they know that there is the real threat of a suicide bomber or some other sort of threat or attack.

'That means that with one hand they have to have their finger on the trigger, and in the other hand, they're holding people's babies.'

Boris Johnson will on Tuesday try to persuade US President Joe Biden to delay the US withdrawal past the August 31 deadline so more British nationals and vulnerable Afghans can be airlifted to safety.

At a virtual meeting of G7 leaders, the Prime Minister will join French president Emmanuel Macron in urging Mr Biden to push back his deadline for Americans soldiers to leave the country.

But hopes of an extension appeared to be fading last night, as the Taliban issued a chilling warning to the West not to stay longer than the end of the month, or there would be 'consequences'.

In other developments:

Mr Johnson spoke with Mr Biden this evening, but there was no indication of any breakthrough;

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the President was 'taking this day by day' and will make his decision on an extension 'as we go';

Mr Johnson will also urge Mr Biden and other world leaders to take in as many refugees from the Taliban as the UK has pledged to;

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace described the evacuation timeframe available as 'hours not weeks';

The Mail learned that the best-case scenario for 'freedom flights' is that they to continue until Friday at the latest.

Britain's no-fly list was set up under the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 'to prevent certain individuals from travelling to or from the UK when that is necessary in the public interest'.  

The watchlist is designed to prevent 'individuals, including known terrorists, serious criminals and those subject to sanctions from being able to travel to the UK'.

The Government last night refused to provide details about the person who travelled to Britain. They were said to have been held in a centre for processing those arriving from Afghanistan.

A Home Office spokesman said: 'An individual was flagged to the Home Office as part of the rigorous checks process, involving the police, security services and others.

The individual (not pictured), who has not been identified by the Government, is on the national 'no-fly' list, which is designed to block individuals who are believed to be a threat from getting to the UK. Above: Afghans walk towards UK planes at Kabul airport

General view of the crowds of people near the airport in Kabul. People are desperately trying to escape the country on British and American planes before the end of August

Zakia Khudadadi, 23, would have been the first female to represent Afghanistan at the Paralympics. British citizens in Afghanistan are being blocked from escaping the country, despite displaying UK passports

Taliban fighters in a vehicle patrol the streets of Kabul on August 23, 2021 as in the capital after their takeover of Afghanistan

People attempt to get into the Hamid Karzai International Airport, to flee the country, in Kabul, Afghanistan

British forces have been snatching rest between the exhausting efforts to organise the airlift from Kabul

The UK and US are working together to evacuate eligible people from Kabul. The UK will continue to fulfil the international obligations and moral commitments

An RAF plane is seen on the runway at Kabul airport as dozens of Afghans wait to try to get on a plane

British citizens in Afghanistan are being blocked from escaping the country, despite displaying UK passport. Above: British soldiers amid the throng of people seeking to flee

People who had gathered outside Kabul airport were seen taking bottles of water as they waited to try to board flights

Crowds have massed outside perimeter fences at the airport. The fences are being patrolled by British and US troops

Late on Monday night, there were still enormous crowds of people outside the airport as people desperately waited in the hope of boarding British or US planes

'However, upon further investigation, they are not a person of interest to the security agencies or law enforcement.'

It comes as British officials at Kabul airport warned of a spike in impersonations and forged documents and passports.

Opposition MPs raised concerns about the secuirty risks, although government sources said the fact the individual has been identified showed the watchlist was working.

Mr Heappey said: 'There are people right now in Kabul trying to get on to British flights that we have identified in our checks as being on the UK no-fly list.

'So the checks that are being done are entirely necessary because there are people that are trying to take advantage of this process to get into the UK to cause us harm.'

It emerged yesterday that security checks have been abandoned by some of Britain's other Western allies in the rush to get their citizens out of Kabul.

Firefight at Kabul airport: One Afghan soldier is killed and three wounded in battle between gunmen and US and German forces A firefight has broken out between unidentified gunmen, Western security forces and Afghan guards at Kabul airport. One Afghan guard was killed and three others were injured in the battle, which also involved US and German forces, the German military said on Twitter. The report did not specifying whether the dead Afghan was one of the Taliban fighters deployed to guard the airport. The airport has been a scene of chaos since the Taliban seized the Afghan capital on August 15 as UK and international forces try to evacuate citizens and vulnerable Afghans. Advertisement

Sources revealed that American troops had given up doing background checks on passengers some days ago, with screening being carried out on arrival in the US instead.

Other EU states have already found a number of individuals on their no fly lists that have travelled on mercy flights. It emerged last night that five people on France's no-fly list had managed to travel from Afghanistan into France.

Intelligence agencies have warned of an Islamic State infiltration in Kabul, and there are also concerns that the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan could prompt a resurgence of Al-Qaeda's networks in the country, which were effectively suppressed during the two decades of military operations by Nato allies.

Some 6,631 people have been evacuated from Afghanistan to the UK in the past week, including 1,821 in the past 24 hours.

But 1,800 UK passport holders still remain as well as 2,275 Afghans eligible to resettle in the UK.

A Government spokesman said: 'There are people in Afghanistan who represent a serious threat to national security and public safety.

'That is why thorough checks are taking place by government, our world-class intelligence agencies and others.

'If someone is assessed as presenting as a risk to our country, we will take action.'

Meanwhile French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said he was 'concerned' about the impending August 31 deadline and 'additional time is needed'.

Germany estimated it has 5,000 people still waiting to be taken to safety, with a Foreign Ministry spokesman saying the airbridges should stay open 'as long as the situation on the ground allows'.

However, the Taliban have said any extension would be a 'red line' and warned of 'consequences' - as ministers admit they have a 'vote' on the timetable.

Despite the entreaties from fellow leaders, Mr Biden has been non-committal, saying yesterday he 'hopes not to' extend his current deadline.

He made a pledge to US citizens that 'any American who wants to get home will get home' but pointedly failed to mention his allies.

Mr Biden has set a deadline of August 31 for all Americans to have left the country, but UK military sources said another fortnight was needed.

Asked what he would say if G7 leaders pushed him, Mr Biden said: 'I will tell them we will see what we can do.'

British military commanders are understood to have pencilled in August 25 as the last day they can process refugees, including former British interpreters, under the current plans before the focus shifts to getting about 1,000 British troops and government officials home safely.

It could mean the last British evacuation flight may have to leave as soon as tomorrow or Wednesday to allow soldiers enough time to withdraw.

Meanwhile, The Taliban has said it will 'provoke a reaction' and has threatened 'consequences' if the US or UK do not leave Afghanistan by August 31 and extend the deadline for the withdrawal of troops.

Taliban spokesman Dr Suhail Shaheen said the group will not accept an extension to the deadline and warned of retaliation if Western forces extend their 'occupation' since the group dramatically swept to power.

He told Sky News: 'It's a red line. President Biden announced that on 31 August they would withdraw all their military forces. So if they extend it that means they are extending occupation while there is no need for that.

'If the US or UK were to seek additional time to continue evacuations - the answer is no. Or there would be consequences.

'It will create mistrust between us. If they are intent on continuing the occupation it will provoke a reaction.'

Meanwhile, tonight a firefight has broken out between unidentified gunmen, Western security forces and Afghan guards at Kabul airport.

One Afghan guard was killed and three others were injured in the battle, which also involved US and German forces, the German military said on Twitter.

The report did not specifying whether the dead Afghan was one of the Taliban fighters deployed to guard the airport.

The airport has been a scene of chaos since the Taliban seized the Afghan capital on August 15 as UK and international forces try to evacuate citizens and vulnerable Afghans.

'Please Boris, just get me and my kids out of here': Man with strong northern English accent waves UK passport and says army is refusing to let him into Kabul airport - as video shows 'two young children left behind after parents were let in' without them

by JACK NEWMAN for MailOnline

A British man stuck in Afghanistan has today been filmed waving a UK passport while pleading with Boris Johnson: 'Get me and my kids out of here'.

Speaking with a strong northern accent, the man is seen telling ITV film crews outside a temporary British embassy in Kabul that the army is refusing to let him into the capital's airport for evacuation.

After the short interview, the footage then then cuts to two children who the broadcaster reports have allegedly been left behind in the streets after their parents were allowed into the embassy 'without them'.

Flashing a British passport as he made his desperate plea, the man told ITV: 'I'm a British citizen, my kids are British and we're stuck here, they closed the door on us and they're shooting at us.

'My message for the prime minister is, just get us out of here otherwise my kids are struggling and we're all in a big mess here. The British Army is right behind these fences, they've closed the gate and they're not letting no one in.'

It comes as dozens tried to enter the temporary British embassy today, but were turned away without an explanation while surrounding Taliban fighters fired guns into the air in the shocking scenes.

Some called out Joe Biden and Boris Johnson for abandoning them as the Taliban take hold, with only eight days until the US set its deadline for withdrawing all troops from the country.

Meanwhile, the UK today warned there are 'hours not weeks' left for the Kabul airlift as it scrambles to double numbers to 12,000 - while Boris Johnson pleads with to delay the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Desperate British citizens are being blocked from escaping Afghanistan and are waving their passports at officials in a bid to flee

Two children were apparently left at Kabul airport after their parents were one of the few allowed to evacuate amid the chaos

There are claims Taliban guards are dispersing crowds by firing gunshots into the air amid the frantic efforts to escape

One of the men stranded said: 'Mr Biden, you did this. You planned this. You made the deal with the Taliban.

'This is the consequences of it. This is the repercussions of it. Mr Biden, it's your ill-calculation. You were against Trump, now we're against you. Go to hell Biden.'

An Afghan interpreter who had worked for a year with the Royal Marines in Helmand Province was also among those struggling to flee the country.

He had been waiting outside the temporary embassy all night with his wife and children desperate to escape. He said: 'I need help from the UK.'

Another stranded was Paralympian Zakia Khudadadi who was due to compete in Tokyo in taekwondo and become Afghanistan's first woman to represent the country at the Games.

A Taliban fighter checks an Afghan citizens details at a check point in the area of Kandahar in Afghanistan today

Members of the UK Armed Forces continue to take part in the evacuation of entitled personnel from Kabul airport, in Kabul, Afghanistan
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The White House repeatedly refused to address the Taliban's August 31 deadline to get US troops out of Afghanistan on Monday, dodging questions on the subject and snapping at reporters who asked how the government planned to save the remaining Americans stuck in Kabul.

The Taliban's spokesman issued the sternest threat yet to Biden on Monday morning, saying there will be 'consequences' if US troops - who are holed up at the airport in Kabul evacuating tens of thousands of people and fending off an increasingly desperate crowd - don't leave in the next eight days.

Biden and his administration have no idea how many Americans remain trapped in Afghanistan, unable to get to the airport to get on an evacuation flight out.

With no numbers on how many Americans remain in the country, much less where those Americans are, it's growing increasingly unlikely that they will be able to fulfil their promise of getting everyone out in eight days. The longer the US citizens remain behind enemy lines in Kabul, the more perilous their situation becomes.

But the President is refusing to address the increasingly dangerous situation and his team of advisors are not offering any solid information on how they're going to address it either.

Biden turned his back on reporters again on Monday after giving a speech on the FDA's approval of the Pfizer vaccine, walking away while the angry journalists cried out for answers on what he was doing to solve the escalating crisis.

He has only given a handful of remarks on the crisis, claiming he made the right decision to withdraw in every one, and insisting his administration has it under control while forgetting basic details of operations.

Shortly afterwards, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan swerved the issue again at a briefing.

He later went on to blame Donald Trump for the fiasco, saying: 'When we took office in January, the Trump Administration had not processed a single Special Immigrant Visa since March of 2020  in nearly a year.'

Sullivan also claimed the Biden administration had 'shaved months off' the visa applications process, which normally takes 18 to 24 months to complete.

Meanwhile, Jen Psaki, the White House Press Secretary, snapped at Fox News reporter Peter Doocy for referring to Americans still in Kabul as 'stranded'.

'I think its irresponsible to say that Americans are stranded. They are not. We are committed to bringing Americans who want to come home, home,' she said.

No one in the administration could confirm how many Americans are still on the ground in Afghanistan and there are believed to be 20,000 SIV applicants waiting to get out.

Sullivan said it would be down to Biden whether troops stayed past the August 31 deadline and then refused to give information on what kind of talks US military bosses were having with Taliban chiefs to diffuse the situation. He repeated his previous warning that there was a growing threat from ISIS and Al Qaeda at the airport, but offered no solution.

Sullivan did admit that the reason they don't know how many Americans are still in Afghanistan is that the only way they keep track of them is by email and if a person leaves the country without 'checking out' officially with the embassy first, they don't know if they're still on the country or not.

'We ask them to register with the embassy...many have left without de-registering,' he said. Despite not knowing how many there were still there or where they are, he then said: 'We believe we have the wherewithal to get Americans out.'

Scroll down for video

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan refused to say whether US troops would stay in Afghanistan after the Taliban's August 31 deadline, instead passing the issue off to President Biden who is refusing to take questions on the subject or address it

President Biden spoke briefly about COVID on Monday but refused to address the Afghanistan crisis or take reporters' questions. He walked away as journalists cried out for answers

As the White House refuses to answer questions, time is running out on the ground to get Americans in Kabul out and any vulnerable Afghan who wants to escape before the August 31 deadline. Above, US Marines at the airport on Sunday

There are thousands of people still at the airport waiting to be put on flights out to anywhere before the Taliban takes over for good. Many aren't being allowed on because they don't have the right paperwork

While US officials race to try to track down the remaining citizens, there is a crowd of 20,000 at the airport demanding to be put on flights out of the area.

Thirty-three C-17 jets are on the way to the airport that could carry 600 passengers each - 19,800 total - out of the dangerous city, but CNN cites an unnamed official who said the policy was changing to only allow US citizens, foreign citizens from other NATO countries, or Green Card holders through the gates.

No one from the White House, State Department or Pentagon has been able to give a number for how many American citizens remain in Afghanistan. It's unclear if or when the US will start flying Afghans out again.

Taliban spokesman Dr Suhail Shaheen (pictured) has warned of 'consequences' if Western forces stay beyond the end of the month

'We've been able to evacuate several thousand Americans,' Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said on Monday morning without giving a number for how many remain stuck.

He added that Special Immigrant Visas for Afghans would still be processed to put vulnerable Afghans on flights.

'Afghans in need are still being processed and facilitated.

''The goal is to get as many people out as fast as possible.

'The focus is on doing this as best we can by the end of the month,' he said.

Biden had said he was confidant he would be able to rescue all remaining US citizens by August 31 and that he would do his best to get as many vulnerable Afghans out as possible, but there has been no promise the US will stay past the deadline to save Afghan refugees once all Americans are out.

Between Sunday morning and Monday morning, 10,400 people were removed from Kabul on 28 US flights, an average of 371 passengers per plane on flights that can hold 600.

This letter is a Taliban death warrant for the brother of an Afghan translator who helped the US in the war

Other NATO flights evacuated another 5,900 people.

On every US evacuation flight so far, the majority of the passengers have been Afghans. Some went to Qatar, others are in Germany and the first planes have now arrived at airbases in Texas, where refugees will be housed at Fort Bliss.

Despite the huge numbers of people leaving every day, the crowd size at the airport in Kabul is unrelenting and becoming more aggressive.

The hold-up is largely down to paperwork backlogs on the ground, with some people unable to board flights unless they are given visas. An unnamed source cited by CNN on Monday said it would take four days to make a dent in the numbers outside the airport walls.

The chaos was worsened over the weekend when the State Department started administering nameless, digital SIV visas to Afghan refugees on smartphones and computers.

The refugees screenshotted the documents and shared them with friends and family, which resulted in thousands turning up with approval to board flights.

'I don't think consular, or the administration frankly, realizes how badly they f*****d up by sending that stupid visa and letting everyone in for 24 hours straight.

'Some people are saying there's no way they'll get even those currently on airport out of here in four days,' the source said.

In the city, the Taliban - which had promised to be more moderate and modern - is already resorting to medieval violence.

Leaders have issued a death sentence for the brother of one Afghan translator who was able to get out.

Taliban fighters stand guard as Afghans gather outside the Hamid Karzai International Airport to flee the country, in Kabul on on August 21

A group of Taliban fighters recreated a fame U.S. WWII photo in a collection of propaganda footage they released this week. In their recreation (above), a group of soldiers is seen hoisting the Taliban flag while sporting U.S. weapons and gear

Taliban fighters in a vehicle patrol the streets of Kabul on August 23, 2021 as in the capital, the Taliban have enforced some sense of calm in a city long marred by violent crime, with their armed forces patrolling the streets and manning checkpoints

A family walks towards a U.S. Air Force Boeing C-17 Globemaster III during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Afghanistan, August 22, 2021

There are now Taliban fighters stationed directly outside the airport (shown), working alongside NATO troops

It reads: 'You have been accused of helping the Americans. You are also accused of providing security to your brother, who has been an interpreter.'

This morning, the German military tweeted that one member of the Afghan security forces at the airport in Kabul had been killed and three others were wounded by 'unknown attackers'.

Speaking last night about the situation in Afghanistan, Biden turned on his heel and ignored a reporter who shouted 'Mr President what about ISIS and the threat Americans face now?' at the conclusion of the press conference about the crisis.

Moments before the reporter asked her question, the president said 'Thank you,' in an apparent signal that the press conference had ended.

But he has since taken heat from viewers and commentators who said the question was a sufficiently important one to merit an answer.

Biden's snub came just hours after his own national security adviser Jake Sullivan told NBC News that there is a 'genuine threat' ISIS could attack the evacuation effort at Hamid Karzai Airport in Kabul.

Sullivan, who also raised the prospect of sending US troops back into Kabul, said: 'I know that the scenes around the airport are heartbreaking, large crowds of people wanting to leave

'I know that there is complexity and there is turbulence on the ground and in Kabul, and it's very risky and dangerous because there's a genuine threat from ISIS. That is the reality of what we are up against, and I'm not going to sugarcoat that reality.'

The tragic scenes around the airport have transfixed the world, as Afghans poured onto the tarmac last week and some clung to a U.S. military transport plane as it took off, later plunging to their deaths. At least seven people died that day, in addition to the seven killed on Sunday.

The Taliban blame the chaotic evacuation on the U.S. military, saying there's no need for Afghans to fear them, even though their fighters shoot into the air and beat people with batons as they try to control the crowds outside the airport perimeter.

US and German forces joined in a gun battle this morning at Kabul airport after Afghan guards and unknown assailants exchanged fire, with one guard killed, the German army said. Pictured: British and Canadian soldiers help an Afghan climb up on the wall of a canal at Kabul Airport this morning

Kabul airport has seen chaotic scenes as tens of thousands of foreigners and Afghans seek to flee Afghanistan after the Taliban swept back to power more than a week ago. Pictured: British and Canadian soldiers stand guard near a canal at Kabul airport as a crowd of Afghans wait nearby

The shooting near the military side of the airport came as the Taliban sent fighters to the north of the capital to eliminate pockets of armed resistance to their lightning takeover earlier this mont

The Taliban have pledged amnesty to those who worked with the U.S., NATO and the toppled Afghan government, but many Afghans still fear revenge attacks. There have been reports in recent days of the Taliban hunting down their former enemies. It's unclear if Taliban leaders are saying one thing and doing another, or if fighters are taking matters into their own hands.

US soldiers engage in deadly dawn firefight at Kabul airport US and German forces joined in a gun battle this morning at Kabul airport after Afghan guards and unknown assailants exchanged fire, with one guard killed, the German army said. The gunfire broke out near the airport's northern gate, where at least seven Afghans died a day earlier in a panicked stampede of thousands of people trying to flee the country. The circumstances of the shooting, which occurred around dawn, remained unclear. The U.S. military and NATO did not immediately acknowledge the shooting. There was no comment from the Taliban. The shooting near the military side of the airport came as the Taliban sent fighters to the north of the capital to eliminate pockets of armed resistance to their lightning takeover earlier this month. The Taliban said they retook three districts that fell the day before and had surrounded Panjshir, the last province that remains out of their control. It follows an address last night by President Biden in which he revealed U.S. forces may stay beyond his evacuation deadline of August 31 during a speech last night as he tries to accelerate the operation to rescue Americans after days of chaos and crushes at Kabul airport. The President confirmed during the press conference that as many as 11,000 people had been evacuated from the airport in the last 36 hours - and that the US has so far transported around 33,000 to safety, including 2,500 Americans. He said that U.S. forces had expanded the perimeter around the airport amid fears terrorists may seek to exploit the operation by attacking Americans or Afghan civilians. Advertisement

Over the weekend, Biden also revealed U.S. forces may stay beyond his deadline of Aug. 31 during a speech on Sunday evening he tries to accelerate the operation to rescue Americans after days of chaos and crushes at Kabul airport.

He said that U.S. forces had expanded the perimeter around the airport amid fears terrorists may seek to exploit the operation by attacking Americans or Afghan civilians.

But things were moving in the right direction with some 33,000 people brought to safety, he said.

'Let me be clear - the evacuation of thousands of people from Kabul is going to be hard and painful,' Biden said during a speech in the Roosevelt Room of the White House.

'No matter when it started, when we began, it would have been true if we had started a month ago, or a month from now.

'There is no way to evacuate this many people without pain and loss and heartbreaking images you see on television. It's just a fact.'

Biden said that as many as 33,000 people had been evacuated since July, including some 11,000 during a single 36-hour period.

Defense officials 'hope' they will not have to extend the evacuation operation, he added, but 'there are going to be discussions I suspect on how far along we are in the process.'

It comes as UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has pleaded with President Biden to delay the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

As the desperate evacuation continues, the PM will use a virtual meeting of world leaders tomorrow to push for more time to save people from the clutches of the - something the president has so far refused to commit to.

Defense minister James Heappey said this morning that 1,800 eligible citizens and 2,275 local allies had been identified, but more were coming forward all the time. 'We will get out as many as we possibly can,' he told Sky news.

However, ministers admitted the rescue mission is reliant on the American military retaining control of Kabul airport. Along with losing key air support, British military officials fear Islamic State (IS) may also target UK soldiers at Kabul airport in suicide bomb attacks.

Mr Johnson said last night: 'It is vital that the international community works together to ensure safe evacuations, prevent a humanitarian crisis and support the Afghan people to secure the gains of the last 20 years.'

As the airlift continues, the U.S. government has activated the Civil Reserve Air Fleet program, requesting 18 aircraft from U.S. carriers to assist in transporting Afghan refugees after they are evacuated to other countries. The voluntary program, born in the wake of the Berlin airlift, adds to the military's capabilities during crises.

Early Monday, a Delta Air Lines flight landed in Dubai and later took off for Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, where evacuees are crowded into hangars.

A steady stream of military transport planes continue to fly people out of Kabul to airfields across the Mideast.

There also have been concerns that a local Islamic State affiliate might target the crowds outside the airport with suicide bombers or fire missiles at U.S. aircraft. Military planes have been executing corkscrew landings, and other aircraft have fired flares upon takeoff, measures used to prevent missile attacks.

Elsewhere in Afghanistan, the Taliban have faced limited armed resistance from fighters in Baghlan province, some 75 miles north of Kabul.

The fighters claimed to have seized three districts in the Andarab Valley on Sunday, but the Taliban said Monday that they had cleared them out overnight.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the group's forces have surrounded nearby Panjshir, the only one of Afghanistan's 34 provinces yet to fall to the militants.

Several Taliban opponents have gathered there, including Amrullah Saleh, the vice president in the toppled government who claims to be the acting president under the constitution. Ahmad Massoud, son of the slain commander of the Northern Alliance militias that partnered with the U.S. to drive the Taliban from power in 2001, is also in Panjshir.

In interviews with Arab media outlets over the weekend, Massoud said his fighters would resist any attempt to take the province by force but were open to dialogue with the Taliban.

Biden said that as many as 33,000 people had been evacuated since July, including some 11,000 during a single 36-hour period. He also said that as many as 2,500 Americans have already been transported to safety

Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman, said there had been no fighting in Panjshir yet and that his group is seeking a 'peaceful solution' to the standoff.

It comes as damaging US cables revealed staff working at the American Embassy in Kabul are 'deeply disheartened' by the Biden Administration's withdrawal, with some even saying 'it would be better to die under the Taliban's bullet' than attempt to flee to safety.

The jarring statement was part of a diplomatic cable from Afghan US Embassy staff, who said they've been separated from their children, according to NBC News, which obtained the message.

'Happy to die here, but with dignity and pride,' another embassy staffer said, while a third accused the U.S. of prioritizing Afghan government elites with vast wealth and the connections to safely flee.

Another message sent via cable shared the horror would-be evacuees were met with when they arrived at Kabul's Hamid Karzai Airport. Staff were warned to prepare for 'difficult conditions,' with the cable adding: 'However, no one anticipated the brutal experience that occurred.'

Disturbingly, one Afghan embassy staffer revealed his home had been vandalized with spray paint, in what he fears was a marking left by a Taliban fighter to flag the property up for a future visit.

The cables were exposed after it was revealed around 300 Afghans asked to get out of Kabul airport and return to their Taliban-run cities because the conditions have spiraled out of control, a State Department official said.

Temperatures have been between 85 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit around the airport - essentially a dustbowl - nearly every day as the desperate mob of tens of thousands of people with young kids try to save their families from Taliban attacks, stampedes or being crushed against the airport gates.

A child drinks water in Kabul, which has been between 85 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit nearly everyday for the last two weeks, as dehydration and heat exhaustion set in

Pictures like this of a US Marine comforting an infant while they wait for the mother during the evacuation is the seldom scenes glimpses of humanity during dangerous times

A child and a US Marine pour water on each other to protect against dehydration and heat exhuastion as temperatures in Kabul climb over 90 degrees Fahrenheit

US troops are doing what they can to help US civilians and their Afghan allies prevent dehydration and heat exhaustion, with items like water bottles in short supply and needing to be rationed out.

One US Marine filmed giving water to six young children is being hailed as a hero, but many say that small act of kindness further serves to emphasize the scale of the human catastrophe unfolding.

Another picture that has been widely shared on Twitter and other social media platforms shows a different Marine assigned to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) comforting an infant while they wait for the child's mom during processing.

But these fleeting moments are like specs of light swallowed up by a black hole.

'We've seen wrenching images of people hurt, even killed that hit you in the gut,' Secretary Blinken told FOX News.

'And it's very important to make sure to the best of our ability, because it's such a volatile situation, that we do something about the crowding at the gates of the airport, and that's exactly what we're doing.'

President Joe Biden said during a Sunday press briefing that about 11,000 people have been evacuated in the last 36 hours, but at least seven people have been crushed to death, including a two-year-old child.

And now terrorist threats - particularly from the local affiliate of ISIS, which are enemies of both the U.S. and the Taliban - are making the evacuation more complicated, the scene tenser and ramping up the urgency to get people out of the country.

There's concern that ISIS leaders see this as an opportunity to kill Americans while challenging Taliban for control of Afghanistan.

That threat prompted the US Embassy to issue a warning Saturday telling Americans not to brave the chaos around the airport unless they have been told to report.

In the ensuing hours, details emerged that evacuation flights were dropping flares and making steep combat landings after warnings that terrorists of the Islamic State might try to shoot down a plane.

To hasten the evacuation pace, six commercial airlines have agreed to help the US government transport people out of Kabul.

On Sunday, the US called up 18 civilian aircraft from United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air and others to carry people from temporary locations after they landed on flights from Afghanistan, leaning on the industry it last called on during the Iraq War in 2003, Reuters reported Sunday evening.

The move highlights the difficulty Washington is having carrying out the evacuations following the Taliban's swift takeover.

American and Delta said they would start relief flights on Monday.

Meanwhile, British soldiers desperately shouted for medics and stretchers, as unconscious people were carried away, many being pronounced dead and covered in white sheets, according to a Sky News report on Saturday.

Other paratroopers tried to pull people - including young children - from the chaos, and stood atop compound walls, spraying the crowd with hoses to try and cool them down, as medics dashed between casualties.

There were also scenes of people left injured and bloodied, sat amongst piles of papers and discarded clothes near the site, while others stood shoulder to shoulder, amid sounds of screams and gunshots, the Sun reports.

Tweeting from the airport this afternoon, journalist Kim Sengupta said he had witnessed 'four people, all women, die from the heat and crush'.

Sky News' chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay also reported that people at the front of the crowd of thousands were being 'crushed to death', in what he described it as 'the worst day by far' at Kabul airport.

In a sign the crisis at Kabul is deepening, Germany's government today warned that access to the airport is not often possible' and that the area remains 'extremely dangerous'.

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan insists he's 'not heard' if anyone will be fired for the Afghanistan mess amid calls for him to resign for 'ignoring Taliban warnings because he wanted to do what Biden wanted'

Jake Sullivan: Biden national security adviser who helped negotiate Iran nuclear deal for Barack Obama in secret US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan President Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, was a senior policy advisor to Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential election campaign and her deputy chief of staff at the Department of State when she was Secretary of State. Mr Sullivan was also a senior advisor to the Obama administration for the Iran nuclear negotiations, which began in secret throughout 2013. He and US officials including Deputy Secretary of State William Burns, Senior White House Iran Advisor Puneet Talwar had met with the Iranian regime at least five times faece-to-face in Oman over the prospect of an agreement over Tehran's nuclear ambitions. Those efforts paved the way for the Joint Comprehensive, which critics say created the conditions in which Iran could develop nuclear weapons after the deal expired. Republicans also say the deal did nothing to contain Iranian terrorism in the Middle East, its ballistic missile programme, the regime's policy towards Israel or its support for Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Palestine and President Bashar al-Assad of Syria. Advertisement

The Biden administration has taken heat from all sides for its messy withdrawal from Afghanistan and blame has increasingly shifted to a key voice in the president's ear, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, who is tasked with warning the president of the consequences of such decisions.

A reporter squarely asked Sullivan if anyone on the national security team would be replaced for the bungled response 'Does the president intend to fire, reassign or ask for the resignation of any White House personnel or administration officials who handled the situation in Afghanistan?'

'I have not heard him say so,' replied Sullivan.

'It's, of course, your job to ask those kinds of questions. It's my job just to keep doing what we're doing, which is, every day, trying to get as many people out as possible.'

Calls have grown for the national security adviser to be fired.

'In a national security adviser you absolutely need someone who is able to execute and ensure that any potential problems are identified early and addressed or prepared for. That didn't happen in this case,' Brett Bruen, former director of global engagement for President Obama's national security council, told DailyMail.com.

'Ultimately it falls on the national security advisor to tell the president, I understand what you want to achieve, but we have information, we have serious concerns. Let's explore how we navigate through this. What clearly happened was Jake dismissed those and instead pressed ahead because that was what the boss wanted,' Bruen continued.

On Sunday, the New York Times reported that a number of Democratic lawmakers have weighed whether calling for Sullivan's resignation would help Biden 'reset the narrative,' after the administration's hasty withdrawal that seemed to lack meticulous planning.

'This was an abject failure. People should be held accountable. There's no way to spin it,' Democratic strategist Chris Kofinis told The Hill. 'It's not about whether we stay or go. This is about how we left. And you don't leave like that.'

He noted that Sullivan's 'primary job is to forecast ahead the potential of any consequences the president makes.'

Biden, who prides himself on loyalty to those in his inner circle, is reportedly committed to not firing anyone on his national security counsel. To make replacements would be to admit mistake.

But Bruen, who worked with Sullivan during the Obama years, made the case for his ouster.

'While Biden may prize loyalty, our allies also prize loyalty and reliability, both of which are severely strained right now, and they're going to have a problem dealing with Sullivan. They're going to be reluctant to bank on his word.'

Sullivan, 44, is the youngest national security adviser to a president in more than 60 years. The foreign policy veteran used to advise Hillary Clinton when she served as secretary of state, and Clinton has sung Sullivan's praises. She called him a 'once-in-a-generation talent' and a 'potential future president.'

Sullivan was also a senior advisor to the Obama administration for the Iran nuclear negotiations, which began in secret throughout 2013.

Bruen argued Sullivan, having no previous experience at an embassy overseas, lives in 'Beltway bubble.'

'He has never worked overseas at an embassy or on a military base so he lives in this Beltway bubble where things sound smart, but when it comes time to implementing them there are a whole lot of challenges he has failed to account for.'

Calls have grown for Sullivan, left, a top adviser to the president, to be fired as a way to 'reset the narrative' after the messy Afghanistan withdrawal

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan's experience Earned an undergraduate degree at Yale before winning a Rhodes scholarship to attend Oxford, before heading back to Yale for a law degree

Clerked for Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer before serving as chief counsel to Sen. Amy Klobuchar

Began advising Hillary Clinton during the primary cycle in 2008 before jumping to Barack Obama's campaign

When Clinton became secretary of state, Sullivan became her deputy chief of staff and director of policy planning

When Clinton stepped down in 2013, Sullivan became national security advisor to then-Vice President Joe Biden

Had key role in shaping US foreign policy to Libya, Syria and Myanmar, as well as Iran under the Iran deal

Worked as Clinton's chief foreign policy adviser during the 2016 election

Joined the private sector following Clinton's loss until he was tapped for NSA in November 2020 Advertisement

DailyMail.com has reached out to the White House and National Security Council for comment.

The most recent mess in the Middle East is not what Biden promised during his campaign, when he touted decades of experience in his 'first love,' foreign policy.

'Biden and Sullivan, they worked in a very different world. Things have so radically changed,' Bruen said.

'A strongly worded statement from Washington ain't what it used to be. It doesn't send chills down the spines of our adversaries or warm the cockles of our allies.'

In a series of meetings leading up to the Aug. 31 withdrawal deadline, military and intelligence officials warned Biden that the consequences of swift withdrawal could include that Afghanistan would capitulate in a matter of days. But ultimately, neither Sullivan nor Secretary of State Antony Blinken pushed back on the president's desires, knowing where he stood.

The Sunday Telegraph reported over the weekend that senior White House aides had suggested there was not much pushback on the withdrawal plan because concerned administration staffers were 'too afraid' of challenging Biden and Sullivan.

An administration official said the Biden administration functions 'like an autocracy' and stifles internal dissent.

Marc Thiessen, speechwriter under President George W. Bush, wrote in the Washington Post last week that Biden's 'sycophants' had enabled him to move forward with the bungled withdrawal and questioned 'where are the adults in the room?'

And over the weekend, Sullivan essentially admitted defense officials had warned Biden of the consequences of his plan, but he had not heeded their concerns.

'So you followed the military advice on closing Bagram but the same military advisers were telling you to keep a force on the ground, they told you not to pursue this withdrawal agreement with the Taliban correct?' MSNBC's Chuck Todd asked Sullivan on Sunday.

'There are strategic judgments that a president makes and there are tactical judgments that you give absolute premium to commanders on the ground to make,' Sullivan replied.

'When it comes to the fundamental question of whether the US should remain in a civil war in Afghanistan ... for a third decade, that is a presidential call, not a call by anyone at the State Department or the Pentagon or any of the intelligence agencies.'

Sullivan has also been working to clean up the president's public statements.

On Friday, Biden said that there were no reports of Americans having a difficult time getting to the Kabul airport for their evacuation flight and that al-Qaeda did not have a presence in Afghanistan.

'Why is he misleading with his words here?' CNN's Brianna Keilar asked the national security advisor.

'I reject that characterization. With respect to al Qaeda, right now our intelligence community does not believe al Qaeda in Afghanistan represents a threat to United States homeland, Sullivan said.

He added that al Qaeda could become a threat in the future, which is why the US was committed to over-the-horizon capabilities.

At the same time, Sullivan admitted that US forces on the ground in Afghanistan face an immediate threat from ISIS.

'I know that the scenes around the airport are heartbreaking, large crowds of people wanting to leave,' Sullivan said. 'I know that there is complexity and there is turbulence on the ground and in Kabul, and it's very risky and dangerous because there's a genuine threat from ISIS-K. That is the reality of what we are up against, and I'm not going to sugarcoat that reality.'

Months ago, Sullivan promised the US would have 'months of warning' of an attack from ISIS upon leaving Afghanistan.

'We will not have the same level of daily intelligence,' he said in April of the withdrawal. 'But at a strategic level, in terms of being able to know whether or not al-Qaeda or ISIS is developing an external plotting capability, which they do not currently possess ... we will have months of warning.'

Bruen argued that Sullivan's failures are endemic.

'What we saw before Afghanistan was a crisis on the border. We saw the miscues on refugee admission, we saw problems with Israel and Cuba. So this isn't new.

We're focused on Afghanistan but they keep making these unforced errors. That's what's really concerning - while Biden wants to suggest his goal was the right one even if the execution was flawed, the errors in execution keep happening. I worry what the next crisis is going to bring.'
In a profanity-filled voicemail, an Iowa woman blasted State Rep. Carter Nordman, accusing him of encouraging 'White nationalism,' because of his support for recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools.

'When did we start teaching White nationalism in schools? Because that's exactly what the f**k you're doing, sir, and you have absolutely no right to require something like that,' the anonymous caller said.

'Our children aren't proud to be American,' she added, noting that maybe 'White suburban kids' may be proud to be U.S. citizens because their rights are afforded to them every day and they don't have to fight for them,' but argued that minorities, women, the poor and the elderly are 'not f***king proud'.

Nordman was one of the legislators who advocated for the recent passage of House File 415, which requires Iowa public schools to recite the pledge and display the American flag at least once each day.

An Iowa woman has accused State Rep. Carter Nordman (pictured) of encouraging 'White nationalism,' because of his support for recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools

The caller posed several questions to Nordman, routinely asking 'what are we proud of?' before citing instances of alleged injustice in the nation.

'What are we proud of? We're proud of our racist history? We're proud of our racist roots? Is that what we're proud of?' she asked.

'We're proud of the fact that not all citizens of the United States are afforded the same rights and the same privileges as the blond-haired blue-eyed ones? That's a bunch of colonizer bulls**t, Carter. And the fact that you're f**king perpetuating that is disgusting.'

The caller added: 'Keep that s**t in the suburbs.'

She argued that Nordman, as well as Gov. Kim Reynolds, are teaching Iowa's students to be U.S. nationalists and that they 'have absolutely no right' to do so.

The woman, who vowed the 'make sure' Nordman would never be re-elected, called the elected officials 'absolutely disgusting, despicable, and deplorable' and said they were furthering the agenda of the former president Donald Trump's administration.

'Everything that you stand for is the same bulls**t that the Trump administration stood for, and clearly you and Kim Reynolds still have your head so far up his a** that you can't f**king tell where one of you ends and the other begins,' the caller stated.

Nordman posted a recording of the voicemail on his personal Twitter account with a caption reading: 'Imma just leave this here...'

She also questioned if the Iowa government should be addressing more pressing issues as the start of the school year nears.

'There's so much more important s**t that we could be worried about right now and you're focusing on the f**king Pledge of Allegiance? Get the f**k out of here, pull your head out of your a** Carter, Jesus f**ing Christ.'

Nordman told Fox News he returned the woman's call but she declined to discuss the bill with him.

'I called her back and said I'd be willing to discuss the bill,' Nordman recalled.

'She told me that she had said everything she wanted to tell me in her voicemail and she hung up on me. Our conversation was all of 25 seconds.'

Nordman, who posted a recording of the voicemail on his personal Twitter account, told Fox he shared the message because he 'thought it was important to show what we are up against'.

'Some people have a lot of hatred for this country and have a lot of hatred for what the United States stands for,' he said.

'I think the pledge of allegiance can unite us all and do a lot of good for everybody, regardless of your race, your gender, your religion, your sexuality.'

Nordman also argued that the woman's claim that the Pledge of Allegiance promoted White nationalism 'doesn't make sense'.

The caller blasted Nordman (left) and Gov. Kim Reynolds (right) over the recent passage of HF 847, a bill containing a number of educational policies that includes one requiring public schools to recite the Pledge of Allegiance daily (Pictured: Legislators after HF 847 signing)

In addition to requiring schools to show the flag and administer the pledge to 1st-12th grade students every day, schools must also fly both the American and Iowa flags on days when weather permits (Pictured: Gov. Reynolds signing HF 847 into law in May 2021)

'It doesn't make sense to call the Pledge of Allegiance 'White nationalism.' I'm not sure what the Pledge of Allegiance has to do with race. Our flag clearly does not stand for racism, it does not stand for discrimination,' he stated.

The representative said he thinks the woman made her comments 'out of hatred for the country' and that he should've asked her: 'Where else on this planet is better than America?'

The Iowa House passed House File 415 in February with a 91 to 3 vote.

Nordman (pictured) says he is 'extremely proud' of the legislation and believes the 'pledge of allegiance can unite us all and do a lot of good for everybody'

In addition to requiring schools to show the flag and administer the pledge to 1st-12th grade students every day, they must also fly both the American and Iowa flags on days when weather permits.

It was passed in the Senate as part of HF 847, a bill containing a number of educational policies, and signed into law by Gov. Reynolds in May.

'I am extremely proud that HF 847, which included my Pledge of Allegiance language, was signed by Governor Reynolds this week,' Nordman told The Iowa Torch when the bill became law.

'By being just one of a few states who did not have Pledge of Allegiance language in our code, we were doing a disservice to our students.'

HF 847 includes language allowing students to refrain from reciting the pledge.

The bill reads: 'A student shall not be compelled against the student's objection or those of a student's parent or guardian to recite the pledge.'

'When writing the original bill, I wanted to ensure student's First Amendment rights would not be infringed upon. That is why there is specific language included to protect the First Amendment rights of all students,' Nordman added, referencing the exemption language.

Iowa was one of very few U.S. states that did not recite the pledge in schools (Pictured: Utah students reciting the pledge in February 2021). Nordman argued that was a 'disservice to our students, our state and to our country'

Nordman has routinely advocated for the recitation of the pledge in schools.

Addressing the Iowa House Speaker back in February, Nordman said: 'At the end of the day, we dont pledge our allegiance to a government. We don't pledge our allegiance to a person or a leader. We pledge our loyalty to an idea  the American idea. We pledge our loyalty to the greatest social experiment to ever happen on this planet.

He asserted that as one of the few state's that did not recite the pledge in schools, Iowa leaders were 'doing a disservice to our students, our state and to our country'.

Nordman also argued that while Americans can be on 'complete opposite sides of the political spectrum,' citizens can know, at the end of the day, 'that we're all united under one flag'.

Social media users, responding to the voicemail, have voiced both support and opposition for Nordman's legislation.

'So listen to the concern and move on. Not going to lie though this law does seem pretty North Korean-ish forcing the schools to do this every day,' wrote Scott, Twitter user @drdjdunk.

'Honestly, I agree that saying it everyday is probably overkill. But THIS reaction is ridiculous. Equating the Pledge to white nationalism? No. Period,' David Whitehead replied.

Social media users responded to the voicemail, voicing both support and opposition for Nordman's legislation

'The Pledge of Allegiance has been said for years in school. Perhaps if people paid attention to the part about liberty and justice for all then things would be better. If you think saying the pledge is bad, you've got a problem,' argued @Warbird_Nut.

'Besides the language she used, shes right. Apparently the 1943 SCOTUS decision regarding compulsory displays of patriotism doesnt apply in your state,' @TDM43563710 tweeted.

'I'm of Native American bloodlines...so let's compare who had it worse....yet I have no problem saying the pledge of allegiance!' @Kpb90058 shared.

'It's people like this that actually are making are country divided! If she doesn't like it here, well, then just move back to the country of your roots.'
Proud Boys chairman Enrique Tarrio has been jailed for more than five months for burning a Black Lives Matter banner torn down from a historic black church in DC and bringing two high-capacity firearm magazines to the nation's capital shortly before the January 6 riot.

On Monday, Tarrio, 37, was sentenced to 155 days in jailwith an additional 85 suspended for destruction of property and attempted possession of a large-capacity ammunition feeding device.

During Monday's court hearing, Tarrio said he was 'profusely' sorry for his actions, calling them a 'grave mistake.'

'What I did was wrong,' Tarrio added during the hearing held via videoconference.

On Monday, Enrique Tarrio, 37, (pictured left), was sentenced to more than five months in jail for burning a Black Lives Matter banner torn down from a historic Black church in downtown Washington, D.C.

Authorities say Tarrio stole the banner that read #BLACKLIVESMATTER from the Asbury United Methodist Church on Dec. 12 and then set it ablaze using lighter fluid and lighters

In July, Tarrio told NPR he plans to step down from his role of national chairman in September and focus on his chapter in Florida instead.

'I've always said my goal for this year... was simple,' Tarrio told the publication. 'Start getting more involved in local politics, running our guys for office from local seats, whether it's a simple GOP seat or a city council seat.'

The Cuban-American, who was raised in Miami's Little Havana, has led the group since late 2018.

In addition to jail time, Tarrio will also be expected to pay $1,000 in fines, in addition to $347 in restitution to Asbury United Methodist Church where the banner was stolen and burned.

Tarrio was arrested as he arrived in Washington two days before thousands of supporters of former President Donald Trump - including members of the Proud Boys - descended on the U.S. Capitol and disrupted the certification of the Electoral College vote.

Tarrio was ordered to stay away from Washington, and law enforcement later said Tarrio was picked up in part to help quell potential violence.

Authorities say Proud Boys members stole the banner that read #BLACKLIVESMATTER from the Asbury United Methodist Church on Dec. 12 and then set it ablaze using lighter fluid and lighters.

When police pulled Tarrio over on Jan. 4 on the warrant for vandalizing the sign, officers found two unloaded magazines emblazoned with the Proud Boys logo in his bag

Tarrio posted a picture of himself holding an unlit lighter to his Parler account and admitted days later in an interview with The Washington Post that he joined in the burning of the banner.

When police pulled Tarrio over on Jan. 4 on the warrant for vandalizing the sign, officers found two unloaded magazines emblazoned with the Proud Boys logo in his bag.

Tarrio said, according to a police report, that he sells the clips and the ones he was carrying were purchased by a customer.

Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio, (center), is released from police custody at the Central Cell Block on January 5, 2021 in Washington, DC.

Enrique Tarrio, (right) is close to the Republican party - currently serving as the Florida state director of the political support group Latinos for Trump, and even ran for congress as a Republican. He is pictured with Trump confidant Roger Stone who is a Proud Boys member

Tarrio pleaded guilty last month to destruction of property and attempted possession of a large-capacity ammunition feeding device.

The FBI has found scant evidence that the January 6 attack on the US Capitol was the result of an organized plot to overturn the presidential election result, according to four current and former law enforcement officials.

Though federal officials have arrested more than 570 alleged participants, the FBI at this point believes the violence was not centrally coordinated by far-right groups or prominent supporters of then-President Donald Trump, according to the sources, who have been either directly involved in or briefed regularly on the wide-ranging investigations.

A former senior law enforcement official with knowledge of the probe said that '90 to 95 percent of these are one-off cases.'

'Then you have five percent, maybe, of these militia groups that were more closely organized. But there was no grand scheme with Roger Stone and Alex Jones and all of these people to storm the Capitol and take hostages.'

Stone, a veteran Republican operative and self-described 'dirty trickster', and Jones, founder of a conspiracy-driven radio show and webcast, are both allies of Trump and had been involved in pro-Trump events in Washington on January 5, the day before the riot.
This is the moment an Afghan comedian continued mocking the Taliban as fighters from the insurgent group dragged him away from his home before later executing him by firing squad.

In a viral video filmed at the end of July, Nazar Mohammad, better known as Khasha Zwan, can be seen in the back of a car with an insurgent on either side of him - one of them brandishing a Kalashnikov machine gun.

According to Human Rights Watch, Zwan was killed by the Taliban at the end of July in Kandahar after that city fell to the jihadists.

He was known for routines that poked fun at the Taliban through song and dance, including some that were uploaded to his TikTok account.

In the video of his final moments, Mohammad continues to make jokes about the group after his capture, causing the Taliban fighter to his right to begin slapping him across the face.

The man to his left is seen laughing throughout before menacingly switching his gun for an even bigger-looking firearm.

Nazar Mohammad (pictured centre) was filmed being taken away by the Taliban from his home in Kandahar province

One Taliban brandishing a Kalashnikov can be seen in a video laughing as the comedian mocks the insurgent group

The insurgent to the left of the comedian passes his Kalashnikov to someone outside the car before being handed a much bigger firearm, while the fighter to his right appears to shout instructions to the driver

Nazar was later killed after being shot multiple times.

Taliban militants are 'having sex with dead bodies' Taliban gangs are having sex with dead bodies after going door-to-door searching for women to take as slaves, a woman who fled the regime to India has claimed. A female former Afghan police member - identified only as Muskan - said militants do not care 'whether the person is dead or alive'. The woman, who has since fled to India, told news outlet News18, that Taliban militants 'rape dead bodies too. 'They don't care whether the person is dead or alive. Can you imagine this?' Advertisement

According to reports, photos showed him backed up against a tree and then lying on the ground with his throat cut.

The Taliban initially denied involvement in the star's death before admitting responsibility - and confirming the two men in the car were Taliban.

The group said the suspects had been arrested and will be tried in a Taliban court.

The group alleged that Nazar, from the Kandahar province, was involved in the torture and killing of Taliban - adding that he should have faced a Taliban court instead of being immediately put to death.

Nazar previously worked for the Afghan National Police - making him a target for revenge killings - and was known for his crude jokes and funny songs.

He would regularly make fun of topics suggested by his followers - with the Taliban being no exception.

His brutal killing at the end of July sparked fears of revenge killings as Afghanistan being falling city by city to the Taliban.

Zwan left behind a wife and daughters.

After his death, Ziauddin Yousafzai, whose daughter Malala Yousafzai survived being shot in the head by Taliban militants in Pakistan in 2012 - was among those who paid tribute on social media.

Others who denounced the death included Sarwar Danesh, the Afghan vice president before the Taliban took over Kabul this month.

He said that slapping Zwan was the same as slapping all of the Afghan people and said his killing was against Afghan culture.

It was also one of the first major dents in the insurgent group's attempt to brand itself as Taliban 2.0.

Leaders promised that no harm would come to those working for the Government, the US military or anyone associated with American organisations.

Zwan's family collected his body, which had his hands tied behind his back, reports said

Dozens of tributes to Zwan flooded social media in the aftermath of his brutal murder

Malala Yousefzai's father Ziauddin was among those paying tribute. 'Khasha has been making people laugh all his life. Heartless terrorists made Khasha's children cry,' he wrote on Twitter

Joker: Zwan had a large social media following with his brand of humour

Zwan posted routines on Tik Tok of him clowning around entertaining friends and locals

However the list of alleged atrocities and human rights abuses has only mounted in recent weeks.

Human rights group Amnesty International revealed last week that Taliban fighters massacred nine ethnic Hazara men after taking control of the country's Ghazni province last month, with eyewitnesses giving harrowing accounts of the killings.

Six men were shot and three were tortured to death, including one man who was strangled with his own scarf and had his arm muscles sliced off during the atrocity, which took place between July 4-6 in the village of Mundarakht, Malistan district, the group revealed.

Despite the organisation's claims it would not seek vengeance on those who fought their tyranny, one regional police chief who stood against them was executed in cold blood by the jihadist group, reports say.

Shocking video footage being circulated on the internet shows the kneeling handcuffed and blindfolded figure of General Haji Mullah Achakzai, chief of Badghis Province near Herat, being gunned down in a hail of bullets.

The grey-haired commander was reported to have been arrested by the Taliban after they seized the area, near the Turkmenistan border, in their lightning advance late last week.

The disturbing clip was re-tweeted by former BBC Persia journalist Nasrin Nawa after it emerged on the feed of an apparent resistance group to the Taliban called @PanjshirProvince.

General Achakzai, in his early 60s, was an avowed enemy of the Taliban and known as a seasoned fighter in the long-running conflict between the group and the forces of the Afghan civil government, which fell at the weekend.

According to reports, the governor and police chief of Laghman Province near Jalalabad in eastern Afghanistan have also been detained, with their fate to be decided by the Taliban high command.

The brutal execution follows numerous reports of Taliban patrols going door-to-door in some areas and taking men of fighting age into detention.

And while Taliban militants searched for a journalist for German broadcaster Deutsche Welle, one of the reporter's family members was shot dead, according to local reports .

Now the jihadis are intensifying their hunt for those who dared to work with UK, US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, a confidential report to the UN reveals.

Jihadists are going door-to-door to threaten relatives of civil servants, interpreters and other consular staff, while other militants are even stopping people outside Kabul airport.
Harvey Weinstein is facing 11 sexual assault charges in Los Angeles once again after prosecutors filed an amended grand jury indictment against the disgraced film mogul for a third time.

The 69-year-old appeared in court on Monday shackled in a wheelchair and clad in brown prison overalls and a blue protective mask during a hearing over the revised complaint.

Prosecutors have been seeking to indict Weinstein on a total of 11 rape and sexual assault charges involving five women in LA and dating from 2004 to 2013.

But the charges were reduced to 10 during an August 12 hearing after his attorneys successfully persuaded Judge Lisa Lench to dismiss one of them, sexual battery by restraint on a woman at a Beverly Hills Hotel in 2010, arguing it was beyond the statute of limitations.

Prosecutors filed an amended indictment on Friday seeking to charge Harvey Weinstein (pictured in court on July 29) with 11 counts of sexual assault and rape

At an earlier hearing, Weinstein's charges were reduced to 10 after his attorneys successfully persuaded Judge Lisa Lench to dismiss one of them, sexual battery on a woman at a Beverly Hills Hotel in 2010, arguing it was beyond the statute of limitations

Lench, however, who first dismissed the charge at an earlier hearing on July 29, offered the district attorney's office yet another chance to reconvene the grand jury and return a new indictment, but offered no specific instructions - or guarantees.

The renewed indictment was filed in court on Friday with a hearing scheduled for Monday.

During the hearing, Judge Lench told Weinstein that he had a right to be arraigned today on the amended indictment but said he could waive that right to a later date if he wished.

'Do you wish to waive that right?' she asked, to which he replied: 'Yes your honor.'

The arraignment was rescheduled for September 20.

Weinstein already entered not guilty pleas on all 11 charges when he appeared in court last month after being extradited to LA from New York, where he's serving a 23-year prison sentence for rape and sexual assault of two women.

Judge Lisa B. Lench (pictured) first dismissed the count of sexual battery by restraint as too old and outside the statute of limitations during a July 29 hearing

If convicted, he's looking at a maximum total sentence of 140 years in prison.

The previously-dismissed count dates back to May 2010.

Weinstein was first charged with it in January 2020, before the statute of limitations had expired.

Prosecutors then got an indictment from a grand jury on an identical count six months later, shortly after the statute of limitations had expired.

The judge agreed with Weinstein attorney Alan Jackson that the grand jury indictment was a new prosecution, and therefore was coming too late.

'The people are grasping to try to save something that is unsalvageable,' Jackson said in court at the time. 'They did it, they blew it, they can't fix it.'

Prosecutors argued that it was a continuation of the same case.

In addition to sexual battery, the LA charges include rape, forced oral copulation and forced sexual penetration.

Most of the alleged crimes happened at LA area hotels where New York-based Weinstein - who claims innocence and insists that any sexual activity was consensual - was staying during visits to Hollywood.

At a July 21 hearing, his lawyer, Mark Werksman, was granted a request for a medical evaluation of the one-time film mogul who is reportedly suffering from spinal stenosis and is blind in one eye.

Weinstein - who is being held at the Twin Towers jail in downtown Los Angeles - used his medical ailments as a reason to hold up his extradition to LA for many months.

Harvey Weinstein's attorneys Alan Jackson (L) and Mark Werksman speak outside the courthouse during a hearing for Weinstein at Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center on August 12

Weinstein (pictured in 2018) had pleaded not guilty pleas on all 11 charges when he appeared in court last month after being extradited to LA from New York, where he's serving a 23-year prison sentence for rape and sexual assault of two women

And outside that July 21 hearing, women's rights lawyer Gloria Allred - who represents one of Weinstein's New York victims and two of his alleged victims in LA - scorned the delaying tactics in an interview with DailyMail.com.

'I am happy that this day has come and I'm looking for a fair trial here in Los Angeles,' she said.

'Mr. Weinstein and his defense have been delaying his extradition to Los Angeles for a long time,' she said. 'But he finally ran out of excuses.

'It's absurd that he claimed he needed to stay in New York because he needed medical care. We have excellent medical care here in LA. 'I think that it's important for him to face trial here in LA because some of his victims here have not had their day in court.

'Justice may have been delayed in Los Angeles, but it's not going to be denied.'
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Posing for the camera in their party dresses, five-year-old twins Asna and Sana yesterday epitomised the successes of British rescue missions from Kabul as they prepared to begin a new life in England.

The young sisters may not yet understand just how fortunate they are to escape Afghanistan amid fears that up to 1,000 face being left behind.

But for their translator father, the RAF evacuation flight to Britain from Kabul was a lifeline, as he admitted the Taliban would have killed him because of his vital support for the Army.

The ecstasy of the family  interpreter Nooragha Hashimi, his wife, the twins and their brother  was in stark contrast to the desperate scenes unfolding outside a temporary British processing unit at Kabul's airport, illustrating the lottery faced by those trying to reach the UK.

Afghan twins Asna and Sana, both five, have been successfully evacuated from Afghanistan to the UK with their father Nooragha Hashimi who worked for the British Army

Two children filmed by an ITN were apparently left outside Kabul airport after their parents were one of the few allowed through the gates One man pointed to a boy of around five and a girl of around three and said they had been left behind by their parents in the rush to board evacuation flights to Britain

Pictured: The five-year-old twins are seen on their evacuation flight in a British plane

Evacuee who is on UK's 'no-fly' security watchlist is airlifted from Kabul to Birmingham - then RELEASED into Britain because they are 'no longer a threat' - amid questions about airlift screening A person banned from Britain under a 'no-fly list' was able to travel here as part of the Afghanistan airlift, it emerged yesterday. In an apparent security breach, the individual was cleared to board an RAF plane before checks in mid-air revealed they were barred from coming to this country. In a sign of the challenges facing British soldiers at Kabul airport  who are already on high alert amid fears of terror attacks  it emerged last night that a further four people on the no-fly list tried to board mercy flights to the UK, but were stopped before the planes took off. It came amid fears that more than 1,000 heroic Afghan translators, staff and their families could be left behind by the frantic evacuation operation. Ministers have outlined plans to extract a further 6,000 UK nationals and eligible Afghans, but sources said there were 7,000 who Britain would ideally like to rescue. The Home Office said yesterday a 'security assessment' of the individual who arrived here revealed they were no longer considered a threat by the security or law enforcement agencies. Sources said there would be no further action taken against the person, whose nationality is unclear. But the development raised concerns over security relating to the airlift. Advertisement

Under a volley of warning gunfire from troops and Taliban militia, British passport holders found themselves stranded behind a locked door blocked by soldiers wielding rifles.

Distressingly, an ITN news team even filmed two crying children reportedly left behind in the chaotic scramble outside the airport when their parents were admitted entrance.

Mr Hashimi and his family were among the lucky ones.

Speaking to Sky News, the former translator who served alongside the Royal Engineers in the former Taliban stronghold of Helmand Province said that without intervention he almost certainly would have been killed.

As uniformed British troops fussed over Asna and Sana while scanning them with metal detectors, he said: 'Everyone knows about me  'He's an interpreter'  so that's why this was dangerous for me.'

Reflecting on the Taliban's pledge of an 'amnesty' for those who served alongside Western forces, he added: 'Everybody was scared about what they're going to do, and the first time they're saying 'we're gonna do nothing [to] anybody', but nobody knows if it will be the same as 1996.'

Under the Taliban's previous iron-fisted rule of Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, women were banned from work and education and those deemed criminals and traitors were stoned, executed or tortured to death.

The Hashimi family were placed on an RAF aircraft and evacuated alongside around 130 others yesterday.

Such was the clamour to process as many desperate Afghans as possible that some were placed on the floor with cargo ropes used as makeshift seatbelts.

Mr Hashimi said the family planned to settle in southern England, where he hopes the weather is warmer than in the North.

However, at the makeshift processing unit at Hamid Karzai International Airport, which has been besieged by thousands of Afghans hoping to be evacuated, hundreds with links to Britain faced another day of desperation yesterday.

Speaking to ITV News, one man, with a Yorkshire accent and waving a British passport, said he was 'stuck' in Afghanistan alongside his children. He spoke shortly after warning gun shots forced the crowds to cower. 'I'm a British citizen, my kids are British, and they're stuck here,' he said, in visible distress.

'They closed the door on us and they're shooting back at us. My message for the Prime Minister is just to get us out of here.

'Otherwise our kids are struggling and we're all in a big mess here. The British Army is right behind this fence, they've closed the gate and they're not letting no one in.'

Former UK Army interpreter Nooragha Hashmi, father of Afghan twins Asna and Sana, pictured in a safe area of Kabul Airport prior to evacuation to Britain

Locals in the crowd comforted the two children whose parents were nowhere to be seen. One man told the channel's John Irvine: 'Mr Biden, you did this. You planned this. You made the deal with the Taliban. This is the consequence of it. This is the repercussions of it. Go to hell, Biden!'

A British man with a northern accent was filmed waving a UK passport while pleading with Boris Johnson: 'Get me and my kids out of here'.

One man pointed to a boy of around five and a girl of around three and said they had been left behind by their parents in the rush to board evacuation flights to Britain.

He told the channel's John Irvine: 'Mr Biden, you did this. You planned this. You made the deal with the Taliban. This is the consequence of it. This is the repercussions of it. Go to hell, Biden!'

Another British interpreter from Helmand who worked with troops said he had been waiting all night with his wife and children. 'I need help from the UK,' he said.

It came as journalists reported feeling threatened by the Taliban for covering such scenes.

Sami Patman, who is working with Sema News, a local media outlet in Kabul, said: 'I reached the airport of Kabul to cover the rush on the gate. I asked the Taliban fighter at the scene to get permission and to shoot some pictures and footage.

'His behaviour was aggressive, he threatened me and said, 'Leave the area, otherwise I'll break your camera and kill you.'

Abdul Razzaq, a Kabul resident hoping for an evacuation flight, said: 'The situation at times gets worse and Taliban militants open fire every single moment when there is some mismanagement in the crowd. These are scary scenes for all, particularly children who are crying and terrified.'

A THOUSAND Afghan evacuees face being left behind by Britain: Workers and their families who cannot make it through chaos at airport will be left to Taliban when 'freedom flights' end on Thursday

More than 1,000 brave Afghans who stood shoulder to shoulder with British troops against the Taliban face being left behind when mercy flights cease.

As the evacuation operation entered its final hours, sources told the Mail that several hundred workers and their families are likely to be left in the country because they cannot get through the chaos in Kabul.

With hopes fading of an extension to President Joe Biden's August 31 deadline, sources said that the 'freedom flights' may only continue until Thursday  even under the best case scenario.

Yesterday, ministers outlined plans to extract about 6,000 UK nationals and eligible Afghans before the operation is wound up.

But there are about 7,000 who Britain would ideally like to rescue  a scenario which could result in more than 1,000 being left behind.

More than 1,000 brave Afghans who stood shoulder to shoulder with British troops against the Taliban face being left behind when mercy flights cease

'Private' flights to safety set up by US donors Six wealthy US citizens are funding a private mission by ex-special forces to fly 5,600 Afghans out of Kabul in eight days. The plan is to extract Afghan soldiers and police officers  along with their families  who are currently in hiding. Anonymous benefactors have donated more than $500,000 (365,000) to an operation dubbed the Wings of Eagles, which will fly 700 out of the country each day until the August 31 deadline. Former US special forces are particularly keen to rescue members of the Afghan commando anti-terrorism units who they trained since 2003. The operation is being run by Ark Salus, a veterans charity in Alabama. Its director Peter Quinn, a former helicopter pilot and intelligence officer who served five tours in Afghanistan, said: 'We have a moral obligation to our fellow Afghan warriors to safeguard them, their wives and children, and rescue them from Kabul, just as they have brought us home to our families.' He said local soldiers are currently communicating from safe houses until they can be rescued. 'They've shed their uniforms,' Mr Quinn said. 'They are in hiding, and waiting to know when to get to the airport.' The Wings of Eagles mission is not charging Afghan passengers for places on their planes. However, a number of other private operations have been selling seats for up to 75,000 each. Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme yesterday, Mr Quinn said: 'We're constantly flying aircraft. We're going to be doing as many as we can, as long as we can, until the US government pulls out of Kabul. That's 700 Afghans a day for the next eight days. 'We have six private investors who are fed up with what is happening in Afghanistan. We are not waiting for permission, we are taking action.' Advertisement

Many have already tried to get to sanctuary at Kabul airport but have been unable to make it through the chaotic queues or have simply been turned away. Others are still in hiding, unwilling to run the gauntlet of Taliban checkpoints.

Among the 1,000 whose fate is uncertain are as many as 100 interpreters who served with British forces.

According to campaigners, these translators and their families could number 600 in total.

About another 50 translators have not replied to requests from UK officials to report to Kabul airport, raising fears they are missing or may too scared to travel.

One translator, Shir, 46, said last night: 'The risk is so great to my family that I don't know if we can leave our hiding place.

'The Taliban are knocking on doors and beating people to find out where the translators are.'

Meanwhile, 12 who had been told they can relocate to the UK only for their approval to be withdrawn are planning a legal challenge. But their cases are unlikely to be resolved in time.

That is the tragic reality now facing UK ministers and military chiefs as the hours tick down towards the deadline for Western forces to leave the country.

Unless Boris Johnson can persuade Mr Biden to extend the deadline, British military planners will stop processing these additional cases in the coming days and will focus on their own plans to pull out.

The end game was also spelled out by Defence Secretary Ben Wallace who described the timeframe available yesterday as 'hours not weeks' and urged already overworked officials at Kabul airport to 'exploit every minute'.

The Mail learned last night that the best case scenario for 'freedom flights' is that they are able to continue until Thursday or Friday.

But according to sources this depends on highly complex plans for the withdrawal from Afghanistan of about 10,000 international military personnel being approved by the Pentagon.

Late last night, British ambassador to Afghanistan Sir Laurie Bristow warned that staying past the current deadline may not be realistic and risked provoking the Taliban.

He said that the militant group's leaders were being 'pretty uncompromising' in wanting the evacuations to cease by Mr Biden's August 31 deadline.

Hopes of an extension hinge on today's G7 meeting at which the PM will urge Mr Biden not to withdraw his troops on August 31.

US officials said yesterday that while they are in dialogue with the Taliban, no 'specific discussions' had taken place with the militants about the evacuation programme being extended into September.

Taliban leaders yesterday described August 31 as a 'red line' and warned Western forces would face reprisals if they sought seek to continue their 'occupation'.

The pace at which UK forces are able to process applications and get British citizens and Afghans continued to accelerate yesterday with the Government confirming 1,300 had been evacuated in the previous 24 hours.

As the evacuation operation entered its final hours, sources told the Mail that several hundred workers and their families are likely to be left in the country because they cannot get through the chaos in Kabul

This was achieved in spite of security at the airport deteriorating.

Western diplomats described scenes there as 'chaotic' after an Afghan soldier was shot dead by unknown gunmen.

German troops also came under fire.

There were also further reports of Taliban brutality towards British interpreters and their families who are seeking to flee the country.

The UK also announced yesterday that 7,109 individuals had been evacuated from Afghanistan as part of the mission, codenamed Operation Pitting.

With hopes fading of an extension to President Joe Biden's August 31 deadline, sources said that the 'freedom flights' may only continue until Thursday  even under the best case scenario

This includes embassy staff, UK nationals, those eligible under the government Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP) and nationals from partner nations.

Defence minister James Heappey said: 'The fact is we will get out as many as we possibly can.

'But we have been clear throughout that there is a hard reality that we won't be able to get everyone out that we want to.

'It is very important that we start to reassure people in Kabul  because I know that people in Afghanistan are acutely aware of what is being said in the UK  that the airlift is not the only route out of Afghanistan and not the only route to the UK.'

Yesterday, ministers outlined plans to extract about 6,000 UK nationals and eligible Afghans before the operation is wound up

Yesterday, Mr Wallace said he would not speculate on the numbers who would be left behind.

He said: 'If we get more days, we get more people out, if the flow improves at the gates.

'If there was a security concern and we had to seal the gate, suddenly you lose hours, you lose people, so all of that is up in the air.

'We have got out a significant number over the last few weeks and we'll continue to do so.

'The speed at which we have to leave, the challenges around crowds of many people, who don't meet any criteria but who are trying to get out of the country, creates real problems for us, and therefore I've been very clear  everyone won't get out.'

Evacuee who is on UK's 'no-fly' security watchlist is airlifted from Kabul to Birmingham - then RELEASED into Britain because they are 'no longer a threat' - amid questions about airlift screening

The 'no-fly' list blocks individuals who are believed to be a threat from getting in to the UK

Officials were alerted 'overnight' after the man reached UK soil on an RAF plane which landed in Birmingham

The Home Office later said that further checks revealed the man was not considered a threat to the UK

A further four people on the no-fly list were stopped from getting on the plane that left Kabul

A person banned from Britain under a 'no-fly list' was able to travel here as part of the Afghanistan airlift, it emerged yesterday.

In an apparent security breach, the individual was cleared to board an RAF plane before checks in mid-air revealed they were barred from coming to this country.

In a sign of the challenges facing British soldiers at Kabul airport  who are already on high alert amid fears of terror attacks  it emerged last night that a further four people on the no-fly list tried to board mercy flights to the UK, but were stopped before the planes took off.

It came amid fears that more than 1,000 heroic Afghan translators, staff and their families could be left behind by the frantic evacuation operation.

Ministers have outlined plans to extract a further 6,000 UK nationals and eligible Afghans, but sources said there were 7,000 who Britain would ideally like to rescue.

The Home Office said yesterday a 'security assessment' of the individual who arrived here revealed they were no longer considered a threat by the security or law enforcement agencies. Sources said there would be no further action taken against the person, whose nationality is unclear.

But the development raised concerns over security relating to the airlift.

A person banned from Britain under a 'no-fly list' was able to travel here as part of the Afghanistan airlift, it emerged yesterday. Above: The airlift which took place on Saturday evening

Taliban check vehicles at a check point in Kandahar, Afghansitan, 22 August 2021. The Afghan interim council, formed to assist in the power transfer following President Ashraf Ghani's escape, has met several Taliban leaders to discuss issues related to control and security during the transition process

Taliban threatens 'consequences' if airlift deadline extended The Taliban has said it will 'provoke a reaction' and has threatened 'consequences' if the US or UK do not leave Afghanistan by August 31 and extend the deadline for the withdrawal of troops. President Joe Biden wants all Americans to have left the country by the end of the month although he admitted on Sunday night that an extension was under discussion, while this morning UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said the evacuation effort is 'down to hours now, not weeks'. Taliban spokesman Dr Suhail Shaheen said the group will not accept an extension to the deadline and warned of retaliation if Western forces extend their 'occupation' since the group dramatically swept to power. He told Sky News: 'It's a red line. President Biden announced that on 31 August they would withdraw all their military forces. So if they extend it that means they are extending occupation while there is no need for that. 'If the US or UK were to seek additional time to continue evacuations - the answer is no. Or there would be consequences. 'It will create mistrust between us. If they are intent on continuing the occupation it will provoke a reaction.' Advertisement

Armed Forces minister James Heappey warned that suspected extremists were trying to use the chaotic evacuation from Afghanistan to get to Britain. He said they were 'trying to take advantage of this process to get into the UK to cause us harm'.

He added: 'One of the most remarkable things about what our troops are doing is they know that there is the real threat of a suicide bomber or some other sort of threat or attack.

'That means that with one hand they have to have their finger on the trigger, and in the other hand, they're holding people's babies.'

Boris Johnson will on Tuesday try to persuade US President Joe Biden to delay the US withdrawal past the August 31 deadline so more British nationals and vulnerable Afghans can be airlifted to safety.

At a virtual meeting of G7 leaders, the Prime Minister will join French president Emmanuel Macron in urging Mr Biden to push back his deadline for Americans soldiers to leave the country.

But hopes of an extension appeared to be fading last night, as the Taliban issued a chilling warning to the West not to stay longer than the end of the month, or there would be 'consequences'.

In other developments:

Mr Johnson spoke with Mr Biden this evening, but there was no indication of any breakthrough;

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the President was 'taking this day by day' and will make his decision on an extension 'as we go';

Mr Johnson will also urge Mr Biden and other world leaders to take in as many refugees from the Taliban as the UK has pledged to;

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace described the evacuation timeframe available as 'hours not weeks';

The Mail learned that the best-case scenario for 'freedom flights' is that they to continue until Friday at the latest.

Britain's no-fly list was set up under the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 'to prevent certain individuals from travelling to or from the UK when that is necessary in the public interest'.  

The watchlist is designed to prevent 'individuals, including known terrorists, serious criminals and those subject to sanctions from being able to travel to the UK'.

The Government last night refused to provide details about the person who travelled to Britain. They were said to have been held in a centre for processing those arriving from Afghanistan.

A Home Office spokesman said: 'An individual was flagged to the Home Office as part of the rigorous checks process, involving the police, security services and others.

'However, upon further investigation, they are not a person of interest to the security agencies or law enforcement.'

It comes as British officials at Kabul airport warned of a spike in impersonations and forged documents and passports.

Opposition MPs raised concerns about the secuirty risks, although government sources said the fact the individual has been identified showed the watchlist was working.

Mr Heappey said: 'There are people right now in Kabul trying to get on to British flights that we have identified in our checks as being on the UK no-fly list.

'So the checks that are being done are entirely necessary because there are people that are trying to take advantage of this process to get into the UK to cause us harm.'

It emerged yesterday that security checks have been abandoned by some of Britain's other Western allies in the rush to get their citizens out of Kabul.

Sources revealed that American troops had given up doing background checks on passengers some days ago, with screening being carried out on arrival in the US instead.

Other EU states have already found a number of individuals on their no fly lists that have travelled on mercy flights. It emerged last night that five people on France's no-fly list had managed to travel from Afghanistan into France.

Intelligence agencies have warned of an Islamic State infiltration in Kabul, and there are also concerns that the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan could prompt a resurgence of Al-Qaeda's networks in the country, which were effectively suppressed during the two decades of military operations by Nato allies.

Some 6,631 people have been evacuated from Afghanistan to the UK in the past week, including 1,821 in the past 24 hours.

But 1,800 UK passport holders still remain as well as 2,275 Afghans eligible to resettle in the UK.

A Government spokesman said: 'There are people in Afghanistan who represent a serious threat to national security and public safety.

'That is why thorough checks are taking place by government, our world-class intelligence agencies and others.

'If someone is assessed as presenting as a risk to our country, we will take action.'

Meanwhile French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said he was 'concerned' about the impending August 31 deadline and 'additional time is needed'.

Germany estimated it has 5,000 people still waiting to be taken to safety, with a Foreign Ministry spokesman saying the airbridges should stay open 'as long as the situation on the ground allows'.

However, the Taliban have said any extension would be a 'red line' and warned of 'consequences' - as ministers admit they have a 'vote' on the timetable.

Despite the entreaties from fellow leaders, Mr Biden has been non-committal, saying yesterday he 'hopes not to' extend his current deadline.

He made a pledge to US citizens that 'any American who wants to get home will get home' but pointedly failed to mention his allies.

Mr Biden has set a deadline of August 31 for all Americans to have left the country, but UK military sources said another fortnight was needed.

Asked what he would say if G7 leaders pushed him, Mr Biden said: 'I will tell them we will see what we can do.'

British military commanders are understood to have pencilled in August 25 as the last day they can process refugees, including former British interpreters, under the current plans before the focus shifts to getting about 1,000 British troops and government officials home safely.

It could mean the last British evacuation flight may have to leave as soon as tomorrow or Wednesday to allow soldiers enough time to withdraw.

Meanwhile, The Taliban has said it will 'provoke a reaction' and has threatened 'consequences' if the US or UK do not leave Afghanistan by August 31 and extend the deadline for the withdrawal of troops.

Taliban spokesman Dr Suhail Shaheen said the group will not accept an extension to the deadline and warned of retaliation if Western forces extend their 'occupation' since the group dramatically swept to power.

He told Sky News: 'It's a red line. President Biden announced that on 31 August they would withdraw all their military forces. So if they extend it that means they are extending occupation while there is no need for that.

'If the US or UK were to seek additional time to continue evacuations - the answer is no. Or there would be consequences.

'It will create mistrust between us. If they are intent on continuing the occupation it will provoke a reaction.'

Meanwhile, tonight a firefight has broken out between unidentified gunmen, Western security forces and Afghan guards at Kabul airport.

One Afghan guard was killed and three others were injured in the battle, which also involved US and German forces, the German military said on Twitter.

The report did not specifying whether the dead Afghan was one of the Taliban fighters deployed to guard the airport.

The airport has been a scene of chaos since the Taliban seized the Afghan capital on August 15 as UK and international forces try to evacuate citizens and vulnerable Afghans.

Will Joe Biden snub Boris Johnson's plea to extend Kabul deadline? Fears grow as Taliban warns the West to leave Afghanistan by August 31 deadline... or face consequences

Hopes that Joe Biden would extend America's August 31 deadline to leave Afghanistan appeared to be fading last night.

And, in a further blow to the chances of airlifting more vulnerable Afghans to safety, the Taliban issued a chilling warning to the West not to stay longer.

The Prime Minister spoke directly with the President last night. And today  at a virtual meeting of G7 leaders  he will join French president Emmanuel Macron in urging Mr Biden to push back his deadline for Americans soldiers to leave.

Downing Street said Mr Johnson and Mr Biden had last night discussed the evacuation but gave no indication of any breakthrough.

Hopes that Joe Biden would extend America's August 31 deadline to leave Afghanistan appeared to be fading last night

Hopes that Joe Biden would extend America's August 31 deadline to leave Afghanistan appeared to be fading last night.

And the chances of an extension to the deadline appeared to be receding as Pentagon chiefs insisted they were 'focused on getting this done by the end of the month'.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the President was 'taking this day by day' and will make his decision on an extension 'as we go'.

But he insisted the President still believes 'we have time between now and August 31 to get out any American who wants to get out'.

Yesterday, the Taliban warned that any Western military operation in Afghanistan that continued into September would breach a 'red line' and would 'provoke a reaction'.

Suhail Shaheen, a spokesman for the militants, told Sky News: 'If the US or UK were to seek additional time to continue evacuations  the answer is no.

'Or there would be consequences. It will create mistrust between us. If they are intent on continuing the occupation, so it will provoke a reaction.'

In a further warning, a senior Taliban commander last night told the Mail: 'If American troops can't leave on [the] agreed deadline then they will face the consequences. Our fighters are ready to deal with them.'

Desperate British citizens are being blocked from escaping Afghanistan and are waving their passports at officials in a bid to flee

British soldiers are stationed amid the throngs of people who have gathered near the airport in hope of escaping the country

Zakia Khudadadi, 23, would have been the first female to represent Afghanistan at the Paralympics

It emerged last night that Western powers are negotiating with the Taliban on the possibility of civilian flights being used in the evacuation, even if the military flights stopped.

German foreign minister Heiko Maas said: 'We are holding talks with the US, Turkey and other partners with the goal of allowing the airport to continue to operate a civilian operation to fly these people out.'

Germany will 'also continue to talk to the Taliban about this and will do this after the withdrawal of US troops', he added.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: 'I don't think there is any likelihood of staying on after the United States.'

Armed Forces minister James Heappey conceded that the Taliban 'gets a vote' on the evacuation deadline.

'We have the military power to just stay there by force, but I don't know that the humanitarian mission we're embarked on... is helped by Kabul becoming a war zone,' he said.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the President was 'taking this day by day' and will make his decision on an extension 'as we go'

Asked about the Taliban spokesman's remarks, the Prime Minister's spokesman said: 'I don't think we've had any direct communication to that end.'

He added that 'discussions on the ground' have been held with the Taliban over extending the deadline.

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said: 'We're focused on getting this done before the end of the month.'

But he said the US would 'absolutely consider the views' of allies.
An alleged kingpin of a cross-Channel migrant smuggling operation can be identified today.

Iranian asylum seeker Rauf Perot Rahimifar, 37, was in court in Denmark yesterday accused of presiding over potentially hundreds of crossings, including the voyage that claimed the life of 15-month-old Artin Iran-Nejad.

The toddler drowned off the coast of Dunkirk alongside his mother, father and two siblings last October.

Artins body was found washed up on a Norwegian beach on New Years Day.

In the old Viking city of Viborg, Rahimifar was accused of organising that crossing and potentially scores of others.

Iranian asylum seeker Rauf Perot Rahimifar, 37, was in court in Denmark yesterday accused of presiding over potentially hundreds of crossings, including the voyage that claimed the life of 15-month-old Artin Iran-Nejad (pictured)

French and British security sources claimed the father-of-three was a major player in people smuggling operations.

Danish court documents, seen by the Mail, contain Rahimifars phone records and allegedly show that he made regular trips from his home in Denmark to northern France to oversee the start of the crossings.

His role, the documents said, was to acquire and transport the boats.

Acting on a European arrest warrant issued by their French counterparts, Danish police swooped on Rahimifar in June.

Judge Kirsten Maigaard yesterday said he should be extradited to France, where accusations of human trafficking, neglectful manslaughter and membership of a criminal enterprise await.

Rahimifar, of Irans Kurdish minority, has enjoyed anonymity under Denmarks strict privacy laws until now.

If convicted in France, he could face up to ten years in jail. His wife, Hajar Rasouli, 32, and children did not attend the hearing.

After the decision was read out, Rahimifar put his head in his hands and his lawyer, Trine Hoegedal Nielsen, appealed the extradition.

I am innocent. Please find the documents so they do not deliver me to France, Rahimifar said.

Rasoul Iran-Nejad, 35, his wife Shiva Mohammad Panahi, 35, along with their children Anita, nine, Armin, six, and Artin drowned last October.

Rahimifar (pictured), of Irans Kurdish minority, has enjoyed anonymity under Denmarks strict privacy laws until now

The boat capsized with two others also dying and 15 surviving. Four of the familys bodies were recovered  but Artin was swept off to sea.

His body was found in Norway on New Years Day but was not identified until June this year.

A final decision on Rahimifars extradition will be made by the High Court of Western Denmark in days, his lawyer said.

His legal team plan to argue at the appeal hearing that he should serve any potential custodial sentence handed down by a French court in Denmark.

SUE REID: How we uncovered migrant smuggling suspect's suburban sanctuary

By Sue Reid for Daily Mail

In the sleepy cathedral city of Viborg in Denmark, suspected migrant trafficker Rauf Rahimifar enjoyed a quiet life with his devoted wife Hajar and three children.

From their flat on a pristine estate in a leafy suburb, he would attend local Danish classes for asylum seekers, while Hajar biked out in the morning past forests to do the familys shopping.

The couple had arrived in Denmark in 2016, successfully finding sanctuary after fleeing Sardasht, a war-torn Iranian city on the border with Iraq, in the middle of the biggest wave of migration into Europe since the Second World War.

Rahimifar had been given a helping hand on a refugee integration scheme run by the local McDonalds cafe, which offered him temporary work. Soon their teenage son was doing well at a Viborg school, and Hajar enjoyed taking their two younger daughters to the nearby play parks.

And thats how things might have happily stayed. But then, as we shall see, he was convicted as a Peeping Tom for spying on a female acquaintance as she undressed in January this year, and given a hefty fine.

Then, on June 23, 37-year-old Rahimifar was suddenly arrested by Danish police in a midnight raid at the familys flat and accused of being the kingpin in a trafficking racket bringing migrants across the Channel to Britain.

He has also been named by Danish prosecutors as a key player in a tragedy that shocked Britain: the drowning of Iranian-Kurdish toddler Artin and his family after they set off in an overcrowded boat to the UK from Dunkirk, France, last October.

The little boys missing body was finally found by a fisherman on New Years Day in the seas off Norway.

During the raid, Danish police served Rahimifar with a European arrest warrant calling for his extradition to France to answer allegations in court that he bought boats, then transported them to the beaches of Dunkirk from where hundreds of migrants have crossed the Channel.

He also faces charges in France of human trafficking and the neglectful manslaughter of Artin and his family which carry a sentence of up to ten years.

If convicted in France, he could face up to ten years in jail. His wife, Hajar Rasouli, 32, (pictured) and children did not attend the hearing

Rahimifar was discovered in tiny Viborg, which has only 40,000 inhabitants, after a pan-European search by French and British intelligence.

Their hunt for him began before Artin and his family drowned because of French suspicions that he was a central cog in trafficking operations of Channel migrants from northern France.

The search was stepped up last October after the familys deaths in the Channel and the French issued a warrant for him earlier this year.

Cannily, Rahimifar reportedly stopped visiting France when he learned of the arrest warrants existence so it could not be served on him.

Intelligence sources in Britain and Europe have told the Daily Mail that they feared he was about to flee back to Iran before they pinpointed his home in Europe and caught up with him.

We found his precise address in Denmark at the eleventh hour. We believe the morning after the raid he was going to escape by driving in his car via Turkey to his own country, added the sources. We had to stop him as we also suspected, once there, he was planning to set up a factory making boats in his home region for specific use in the Channel crossings.

This week the Mail visited Viborg to piece together the suspected traffickers life in Denmark.

At the familys flat, 32-year-old wife Hajar, dressed casually in a tracksuit and pregnant with their fourth child, emerged at the front door to declare she was standing by her husband despite the seriousness of the trafficking allegations against him.

She said she had married Rahimifar back in Iran when she was just 18. He did not do these things. He is innocent, she insisted politely but nervously. She said the claims that he was a trafficker were lies.

Hajar added that her husband was always at home and had not had time to visit France to organise the trafficking of migrants.

However, the Mail has been told that he wasnt home on the night of the raid  it was Hajar herself who met Danish police at the door at midnight.

Her husband was out late and she had to call him on her mobile phone.

She told him to come back to the flat and, when he did so, the extradition papers were served on him. The truth is that, behind the scenes, things had not gone well for Rahimifar since the family had arrived in Viborg.

In the old Viking city of Viborg, Rahimifar was accused of organising that crossing and potentially scores of others. Pictured: Migrants travel in inflatable boat across the Channel in September 2020

His dream of starting anew in Denmark, where he and Hajar were given the right to remain as refugees a year after arriving, had started turning sour.

At the McDonalds cafe where he worked as part of the refugee programme, staff said he was quiet, shy and a family man.

A supervisor who knew him well added, however, that McDonalds bosses turned him down for a permanent job after nearly a year because of his poor command of Danish.

We needed someone who could do everything and he couldnt because of the language difficulties, added the supervisor.

Other work colleagues said he had difficulty trying to communicate or mix socially with fellow staff and always walked around the restaurant with his head bowed to the floor.

Shortly after failing to land a full-time job at McDonalds in 2019, the 37-year-old turned his hand to running a fruit and vegetable shop in Viborgs little city centre. His business venture lasted barely six months before being wound up in June last year, according to Denmarks company registry.

The grocery store had received a damning assessment from Danish food health and safety inspectors that same month.

Nearby business owners this weekend said Rahimifar had also run into trouble trying to keep up with paying the rent and bills.

Salah Gharib Ali, a fellow fruit and vegetable store owner who knew Rahimifar, said he had disappeared under the radar in Viborg after the shop failed to flourish.

And there were not just business problems for Rahimifar. He had brushes with the law in the very place that had given him refuge.

The local Viborg court says he has served community service for mishandling someones lost property  it is an offence in Denmark not to return the item to the owner.

More seriously, judges had handed him a 580 fine for that sexual harassment Peeping Tom offence at the end of July. According to Danish court papers, he was watching the woman as she was undressing at home.

He had been seen at her address when a group of dog walkers shouted at him and he ran off.

Just what his loyal wife made of this unsavoury behaviour we do not know.

But for the moment she is determined that the man she married 14 years ago, and enjoyed a fresh start with in Denmark, is innocent of trafficking human beings across the Channel.
In the sleepy cathedral city of Viborg in Denmark, suspected migrant trafficker Rauf Rahimifar enjoyed a quiet life with his devoted wife Hajar and three children.

From their flat on a pristine estate in a leafy suburb, he would attend local Danish classes for asylum seekers, while Hajar biked out in the morning past forests to do the familys shopping.

The couple had arrived in Denmark in 2016, successfully finding sanctuary after fleeing Sardasht, a war-torn Iranian city on the border with Iraq, in the middle of the biggest wave of migration into Europe since the Second World War.

Rahimifar had been given a helping hand on a refugee integration scheme run by the local McDonalds cafe, which offered him temporary work. Soon their teenage son was doing well at a Viborg school, and Hajar enjoyed taking their two younger daughters to the nearby play parks.

And thats how things might have happily stayed. But then, as we shall see, he was convicted as a Peeping Tom for spying on a female acquaintance as she undressed in January this year, and given a hefty fine.

In the sleepy cathedral city of Viborg in Denmark, suspected migrant trafficker Rauf Rahimifar (pictured) enjoyed a quiet life with his devoted wife Hajar and three children

Then, on June 23, 37-year-old Rahimifar was suddenly arrested by Danish police in a midnight raid at the familys flat and accused of being the kingpin in a trafficking racket bringing migrants across the Channel to Britain.

He has also been named by Danish prosecutors as a key player in a tragedy that shocked Britain: the drowning of Iranian-Kurdish toddler Artin and his family after they set off in an overcrowded boat to the UK from Dunkirk, France, last October.

The little boys missing body was finally found by a fisherman on New Years Day in the seas off Norway.

During the raid, Danish police served Rahimifar with a European arrest warrant calling for his extradition to France to answer allegations in court that he bought boats, then transported them to the beaches of Dunkirk from where hundreds of migrants have crossed the Channel.

He also faces charges in France of human trafficking and the neglectful manslaughter of Artin and his family which carry a sentence of up to ten years.

Rahimifar was discovered in tiny Viborg, which has only 40,000 inhabitants, after a pan-European search by French and British intelligence.

Their hunt for him began before Artin and his family drowned because of French suspicions that he was a central cog in trafficking operations of Channel migrants from northern France.

The search was stepped up last October after the familys deaths in the Channel and the French issued a warrant for him earlier this year.

He has also been named by Danish prosecutors as a key player in a tragedy that shocked Britain: the drowning of Iranian-Kurdish toddler Artin (pictured) and his family after they set off in an overcrowded boat to the UK from Dunkirk, France, last October

Cannily, Rahimifar reportedly stopped visiting France when he learned of the arrest warrants existence so it could not be served on him.

Intelligence sources in Britain and Europe have told the Daily Mail that they feared he was about to flee back to Iran before they pinpointed his home in Europe and caught up with him.

We found his precise address in Denmark at the eleventh hour. We believe the morning after the raid he was going to escape by driving in his car via Turkey to his own country, added the sources. We had to stop him as we also suspected, once there, he was planning to set up a factory making boats in his home region for specific use in the Channel crossings.

This week the Mail visited Viborg to piece together the suspected traffickers life in Denmark.

At the familys flat, 32-year-old wife Hajar, dressed casually in a tracksuit and pregnant with their fourth child, emerged at the front door to declare she was standing by her husband despite the seriousness of the trafficking allegations against him.

She said she had married Rahimifar back in Iran when she was just 18. He did not do these things. He is innocent, she insisted politely but nervously. She said the claims that he was a trafficker were lies.

Hajar added that her husband was always at home and had not had time to visit France to organise the trafficking of migrants.

However, the Mail has been told that he wasnt home on the night of the raid  it was Hajar herself who met Danish police at the door at midnight.

At the familys flat, 32-year-old wife Hajar (pictured), dressed casually in a tracksuit and pregnant with their fourth child, emerged at the front door to declare she was standing by her husband

Her husband was out late and she had to call him on her mobile phone.

She told him to come back to the flat and, when he did so, the extradition papers were served on him. The truth is that, behind the scenes, things had not gone well for Rahimifar since the family had arrived in Viborg.

His dream of starting anew in Denmark, where he and Hajar were given the right to remain as refugees a year after arriving, had started turning sour.

At the McDonalds cafe where he worked as part of the refugee programme, staff said he was quiet, shy and a family man.

A supervisor who knew him well added, however, that McDonalds bosses turned him down for a permanent job after nearly a year because of his poor command of Danish.

We needed someone who could do everything and he couldnt because of the language difficulties, added the supervisor.

Other work colleagues said he had difficulty trying to communicate or mix socially with fellow staff and always walked around the restaurant with his head bowed to the floor.

Shortly after failing to land a full-time job at McDonalds in 2019, the 37-year-old turned his hand to running a fruit and vegetable shop in Viborgs little city centre. His business venture lasted barely six months before being wound up in June last year, according to Denmarks company registry.

On June 23, 37-year-old Rahimifar was suddenly arrested by Danish police in a midnight raid at the familys flat and accused of being the kingpin in a trafficking racket bringing migrants across the Channel to Britain. Pictured: Migrants travel in inflatable boat across the Channel in September 2020

The grocery store had received a damning assessment from Danish food health and safety inspectors that same month.

Nearby business owners this weekend said Rahimifar had also run into trouble trying to keep up with paying the rent and bills.

Salah Gharib Ali, a fellow fruit and vegetable store owner who knew Rahimifar, said he had disappeared under the radar in Viborg after the shop failed to flourish.

And there were not just business problems for Rahimifar. He had brushes with the law in the very place that had given him refuge.

The local Viborg court says he has served community service for mishandling someones lost property  it is an offence in Denmark not to return the item to the owner.

More seriously, judges had handed him a 580 fine for that sexual harassment Peeping Tom offence at the end of July. According to Danish court papers, he was watching the woman as she was undressing at home.

He had been seen at her address when a group of dog walkers shouted at him and he ran off.

Just what his loyal wife made of this unsavoury behaviour we do not know.

But for the moment she is determined that the man she married 14 years ago, and enjoyed a fresh start with in Denmark, is innocent of trafficking human beings across the Channel.
The pandemonium playing out in Afghanistan is giving at least one Trump supporter some ideas.

Some fans of the former president still believe he rightly won the 2020 election and will be reinstated, and at least one is threatening a Taliban-style coup if President Biden and Congress 'don't get their heads out of their butt.'

'I don't think there's going to be a 2024 election until we get the 2020 results,' Stephen Palmer, donning a graying beard, a vest with patchwork and a camouflage hat with an American flag on it, said outside of an 'America First' rally hosted in Des Moines, Iowa by Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Ga., and Matt Gaetz, Fla. on Thursday

'There's no way at this point to overturn the 2020 election, right?' CNN's Donie O'Sullivan asked the Trump super-fan.

'There's always a way,' Palmer replied, referencing the Arizona election audit.

Results from the highly criticized election audit were due Monday, but two members of the five-person audit team were 'quite sick' after testing positive for Covid-19.

'There's millions of guns here. You know, it took 11 days for them to take over Afghanistan. Wonder how many days  just asking for a friend  how many days it would take the patriots to take over this country. Think about it,' he continued.

'You don't want that to happen,' O'Sullivan responded.

It took 11 days for them to take over Afghanistan How many days would it take the patriots to take over this country?



Outside Marjorie Taylor Greenes event in Iowa last night, talk quickly turned from Covid restrictions to this. pic.twitter.com/s0Fmri40wq  Donie O'Sullivan (@donie) August 20, 2021

'I don't want it to happen,' Palmer said, 'but if our country, our government, our Congress and Biden don't get their heads out of their butt, it's going to happen. I assure you. It's coming.'

The Taliban's lightning-fast takeover of Kabul has left heads spinning in President Biden's administration, as they fend off criticisms of the hasty withdrawal of US troops from all sides.

Palmer said he did go to Washington, D.C. on Jan. 6, but did not storm the Capitol building.

'I'm not vaccinated and I'm not gonna get vaccinated. Our days are numbered, whether it's Covid or I get in that truck and go down the highway and get hit by a semi and t-boned and killed. It don't matter you know, life is what it is, we take it how God gives it to us,' Palmer also told CNN.

'There's millions of guns here. You know, it took 11 days for them to take over Afghanistan. Wonder how many days  just asking for a friend  how many days it would take the patriots to take over this country. Think about it,' Stephen Palmer said outside a rally led by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga.

Trump super-fan Stephen Palmer said a Taliban-style takeover would besiege Washington if 'Congress and Biden don't get their heads out of their butt'

Former President Trump held his own rally in Cullman, Alabama where he said Biden's handling of Afhganistan was 'one of the most humiliating defeats of all time' and was booed by his own supporters for recommending they take the Covid-19 vaccine.

Greene had stopped by the Iowa State Fair before her rally at the Iowa Events Center, where many presidential hopefuls have laid the groundwork for a run in the first state in the nation to caucus.

When asked about her political career and whether or not she sees a future in the White House, Greene answered: 'My sole focus is putting America first and that means in any capacity.'

'America is failing the American people. I mean the Congress is, and so is the federal government,' she added.

Just one day before she and Gaetz appeared in Iowa, Greene posted a fiery video online criticizing Joe Biden for pulling out US troops from Afghanistan shortly before the Taliban sized control.

In the video, posted to right-wing social media site Gettr, Greene says: 'Joe Biden, you're not a president, you're a piece of s**t.'

Heres a portion of a video Marjorie Taylor Greene posted on GETTR but not here on Twitter. pic.twitter.com/A9Hie7sJbo  PatriotTakes  (@patriottakes) August 18, 2021

Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene stopped by the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines on Thursday afternoon

'Thousands of Americans are stuck over there in Afghanistan, and you're letting the Taliban kick your ass, while you're lecturing governors about masks and vaccines. Do your job, bring these Americans home,' she added.

Meanwhile, former President Trump held his own rally in Cullman, Alabama where he was booed by his own supporters for recommending they take the Covid-19 vaccine.

'I believe totally in your freedoms, I do, you've got to do what you've got to do. But I recommend that you take the vaccines,' Trump said to the crowd, who replied with jeers.

'You've got your freedoms,' he responded. 'But I happened to take the vaccine.'

Also in Saturday's address, Trump blasted Biden over the disastrous withdrawal from and accused him of giving the U.S. military away to the Taliban.

'This will go down as one of the greatest military defeats of all time,' Trump said.

Trump called the situation in Afghanistan a humiliation, claiming it's not a withdrawal but rather 'a total surrender'.

The former President told the massive crowd gathered in the deep red state that 'this would have never happened if I was president.'

He said: 'The issue here is not whether to leave Afghanistan, the issue is Joe Biden's staggering incompetence and gross negligence ... creating the greatest strategic humiliation that we've ever seen as a country.'
More than 1,000 brave Afghans who stood shoulder to shoulder with British troops against the Taliban face being left behind when mercy flights cease.

As the evacuation operation entered its final hours, sources told the Mail that several hundred workers and their families are likely to be left in the country because they cannot get through the chaos in Kabul.

With hopes fading of an extension to President Joe Biden's August 31 deadline, sources said that the 'freedom flights' may only continue until Thursday  even under the best case scenario.

Yesterday, ministers outlined plans to extract about 6,000 UK nationals and eligible Afghans before the operation is wound up.

But there are about 7,000 who Britain would ideally like to rescue  a scenario which could result in more than 1,000 being left behind.

More than 1,000 brave Afghans who stood shoulder to shoulder with British troops against the Taliban face being left behind when mercy flights cease

Many have already tried to get to sanctuary at Kabul airport but have been unable to make it through the chaotic queues or have simply been turned away. Others are still in hiding, unwilling to run the gauntlet of Taliban checkpoints.

'Private' flights to safety set up by US donors Six wealthy US citizens are funding a private mission by ex-special forces to fly 5,600 Afghans out of Kabul in eight days. The plan is to extract Afghan soldiers and police officers  along with their families  who are currently in hiding. Anonymous benefactors have donated more than $500,000 (365,000) to an operation dubbed the Wings of Eagles, which will fly 700 out of the country each day until the August 31 deadline. Former US special forces are particularly keen to rescue members of the Afghan commando anti-terrorism units who they trained since 2003. The operation is being run by Ark Salus, a veterans charity in Alabama. Its director Peter Quinn, a former helicopter pilot and intelligence officer who served five tours in Afghanistan, said: 'We have a moral obligation to our fellow Afghan warriors to safeguard them, their wives and children, and rescue them from Kabul, just as they have brought us home to our families.' He said local soldiers are currently communicating from safe houses until they can be rescued. 'They've shed their uniforms,' Mr Quinn said. 'They are in hiding, and waiting to know when to get to the airport.' The Wings of Eagles mission is not charging Afghan passengers for places on their planes. However, a number of other private operations have been selling seats for up to 75,000 each. Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme yesterday, Mr Quinn said: 'We're constantly flying aircraft. We're going to be doing as many as we can, as long as we can, until the US government pulls out of Kabul. That's 700 Afghans a day for the next eight days. 'We have six private investors who are fed up with what is happening in Afghanistan. We are not waiting for permission, we are taking action.' Advertisement

Among the 1,000 whose fate is uncertain are as many as 100 interpreters who served with British forces.

According to campaigners, these translators and their families could number 600 in total.

About another 50 translators have not replied to requests from UK officials to report to Kabul airport, raising fears they are missing or may too scared to travel.

One translator, Shir, 46, said last night: 'The risk is so great to my family that I don't know if we can leave our hiding place.

'The Taliban are knocking on doors and beating people to find out where the translators are.'

Meanwhile, 12 who had been told they can relocate to the UK only for their approval to be withdrawn are planning a legal challenge. But their cases are unlikely to be resolved in time.

That is the tragic reality now facing UK ministers and military chiefs as the hours tick down towards the deadline for Western forces to leave the country.

Unless Boris Johnson can persuade Mr Biden to extend the deadline, British military planners will stop processing these additional cases in the coming days and will focus on their own plans to pull out.

The end game was also spelled out by Defence Secretary Ben Wallace who described the timeframe available yesterday as 'hours not weeks' and urged already overworked officials at Kabul airport to 'exploit every minute'.

The Mail learned last night that the best case scenario for 'freedom flights' is that they are able to continue until Thursday or Friday.

But according to sources this depends on highly complex plans for the withdrawal from Afghanistan of about 10,000 international military personnel being approved by the Pentagon.

Late last night, British ambassador to Afghanistan Sir Laurie Bristow warned that staying past the current deadline may not be realistic and risked provoking the Taliban.

He said that the militant group's leaders were being 'pretty uncompromising' in wanting the evacuations to cease by Mr Biden's August 31 deadline.

Hopes of an extension hinge on today's G7 meeting at which the PM will urge Mr Biden not to withdraw his troops on August 31.

US officials said yesterday that while they are in dialogue with the Taliban, no 'specific discussions' had taken place with the militants about the evacuation programme being extended into September.

Taliban leaders yesterday described August 31 as a 'red line' and warned Western forces would face reprisals if they sought seek to continue their 'occupation'.

The pace at which UK forces are able to process applications and get British citizens and Afghans continued to accelerate yesterday with the Government confirming 1,300 had been evacuated in the previous 24 hours.

As the evacuation operation entered its final hours, sources told the Mail that several hundred workers and their families are likely to be left in the country because they cannot get through the chaos in Kabul

This was achieved in spite of security at the airport deteriorating.

Western diplomats described scenes there as 'chaotic' after an Afghan soldier was shot dead by unknown gunmen.

German troops also came under fire.

There were also further reports of Taliban brutality towards British interpreters and their families who are seeking to flee the country.

The UK also announced yesterday that 7,109 individuals had been evacuated from Afghanistan as part of the mission, codenamed Operation Pitting.

With hopes fading of an extension to President Joe Biden's August 31 deadline, sources said that the 'freedom flights' may only continue until Thursday  even under the best case scenario

This includes embassy staff, UK nationals, those eligible under the government Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP) and nationals from partner nations.

Defence minister James Heappey said: 'The fact is we will get out as many as we possibly can.

'But we have been clear throughout that there is a hard reality that we won't be able to get everyone out that we want to.

'It is very important that we start to reassure people in Kabul  because I know that people in Afghanistan are acutely aware of what is being said in the UK  that the airlift is not the only route out of Afghanistan and not the only route to the UK.'

Yesterday, ministers outlined plans to extract about 6,000 UK nationals and eligible Afghans before the operation is wound up

There are about 7,000 who Britain would ideally like to rescue  a scenario which could result in more than 1,000 being left behind

Yesterday, Mr Wallace said he would not speculate on the numbers who would be left behind.

He said: 'If we get more days, we get more people out, if the flow improves at the gates.

'If there was a security concern and we had to seal the gate, suddenly you lose hours, you lose people, so all of that is up in the air.

'We have got out a significant number over the last few weeks and we'll continue to do so.

'The speed at which we have to leave, the challenges around crowds of many people, who don't meet any criteria but who are trying to get out of the country, creates real problems for us, and therefore I've been very clear  everyone won't get out.'
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said a review of the origins of COVID-19 would be finished on Tuesday, but it could take several more days before its long-awaited findings are declassified and made public.

President Joe Biden ordered the intelligence community to conduct the 90-day review in May, tasking them with assessing whether the pandemic began when the virus crossed into humans from animals or whether it leaked from a Chinese laboratory.

The question has taken on a deep political dimension, with senior Republicans accusing Beijing of a cover-up and demanding financial compensation.

Psaki confirmed that the review would be completed on time.

'I would say that it will take it typically takes a couple of days, if not longer, to put together an unclassified version to present publicly and obviously the president would be briefed first on any findings so I don't have an exact date for you but I would expect it will be several days ... after tomorrow,' she told reporters at the White House.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki confirmed that a review of the origins of COVID-19 would be completed on Tuesday - in line with the president's 90-day timetable, but it would take several days longer to be declassified for publication

President Biden announced the review on May 26. He said the inability of CDC inspectors to access key sites in China hampered early investigations as he asked the intelligence community to redouble efforts in investigating how COVID-19 emerged

Three members of staff Wuhan Institute of Virology were reported to have sought medical help for COVID-like symptoms in November 2019, adding to growing speculation that the virus escaped from the facility

At first, scientists were convinced that COVID-19 emerged naturally, crossing from an animal host to humans much like previous coronavirus outbreaks.

But this year a string of senior scientists admitted they may have leapt to conclusions.

At the same time, details emerged about how staff at the Wuhan Institute of Virology sought hospital treatment for COVID-like symptoms in November 2019.

The laboratory, close to where COVID-19 was first identified, had viewed in some quarters as a possible source of the virus.

It meant that the 'lab leak hypothesis' once consigned to fringe websites and decried by the media moved into the mainstream.

Announcing the review, Biden said intelligence agencies were divided on the two possible scenarios.

'I have now asked the intelligence community to redouble their efforts to collect and analyze information that could bring us closer to a definitive conclusion, and to report back to me in 90 days,' said Biden on May 26.

'As part of that report, I have asked for areas of further inquiry that may be required, including specific questions for China.'

He directed national laboratories to assist with the investigation.

But he also said a final answer may never be found given the way that China refused to cooperate in the early days of an outbreak which has gone on to kill more than four million people around the world.

His statement marked a reversal for an administration that repeatedly expressed skepticism for the lab leak hypothesis.

In contrast, President Trump and his allies quickly pointed the finger at China as the pandemic spread.

In April last year, he said he had a 'high degree of confidence' that the novel coronavirus came from a lab and claimed to have seen evidence to support his certainty.

A string of other reports have raised further questions about the natural transfer theory.

Congressional Republicans recently concluded the coronavirus first leaked from a laboratory in Wuhan in September 2019, shortly after the Chinese research facility tried to improve air safety and waste treatment systems.

Their report also cited 'ample evidence' that scientists from the Wuhan Institute of Virology - aided by U.S. experts and Chinese and U.S. government funds - were working to modify coronaviruses to infect humans and such manipulation could be hidden.

Its authors cited a stream of open source information, including satellite imagery showing a surge in visitors to local hospitals, long before cases were reported emerging from a nearby market.

And it reports how scientific papers written by researchers prove the WIV was doing dangerous genetic modification research - so-called 'gain of function' experiments - in unsafe laboratories.

'As we continue to investigate the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, I believe its time to completely dismiss the wet market as the source of the outbreak,' said Rep. Mike McCaul, the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, as he released the report by the panel's GOP staff.
Kamala Harris has been likened to Joaquin Phoenix's Joker by Meghan McCain after she was filmed laughing nervously moments before discussing the Afghanistan crisis.

'This may be some kind of real issue (like Joaquin Phoenix in the Joker), but she's the Vice President and she's [had] ample time and resources to media [to] train herself out of reacting to every SINGLE crisis like she's walking onto a late night show,' McCain tweeted on Monday, adding: 'She comes off so craven.'

In the 2019 movie The Joker, Joaquin Phoenix's character suffers from uncontrollable laughter, often at inappropriate moments. He was eventually driven mad and became the titular Batman villain.

McCain took aim after the Vice President faced a group of reporters as she prepared to depart for Singapore on Friday amidst the growing chaos in Afghanistan.

Harris she began to nervously laugh as a reporter started to ask her an urgent question, which she cut off, but assumed was about Afghanistan.

'Hold on, hold on, hold on,' Harris said before the reporter could finish.

'Slow down, everybody,' she said after a big laugh.

'And in particular high priority is making sure that we safely evacuate American citizens, Afghans who worked with us, Afghans at risk, including women and children, and that is one of our highest if not the highest priority right now.'

'And it's a big area of focus for me in the past days and weeks, and will continue to be,' she added.

A video of the exchange has gone viral on social media, with many claiming her laugh was inappropriate in light of the dangerous situation in the country.

Former The View host Meghan McCain (left) slammed Vice President Kamala Harris (right) on Monday after a video of the vice president laughing at a reporter's question about Americans trying to evacuate Afghanistan went viral

In a tweet, McCain compared the vice president's laugh to that of the Joker in the 2019 movie

In the movie, the Joker, played by Joaquin Phoenix (pictured), suffers from a disorder in which he laughs uncontrollably even at inappropriate moments until he is eventually driven mad

It is not the first time Harris' distinctive nervous laugh causes her to be the target of criticism.

On March, Harris was blasted after she laughed when a reporter asked if she planned to visit the southern border amid the migrant crisis.

'Do you plan to visit the border?' asked the reporter before Harris took a flight at Jacksonville International Airport.

'Um, not today,' said Harris before letting out a laugh,

'But I have before and I sure will again,' she said as she evaded a definitive answer.

In June, she went to Guatemala and Mexico for meetings on the 'root causes' of the migrant crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border - a trip which was overshadowed by repeated questions as to why she was yet to visit the border herself.

Under pressure, she did several weeks later.

Kamala Harris nervously laughed and cut off a reporter, before saying that Afghanistan was a priority issue, before she boarded a flight to Singapore

Harris notoriously laughed at the 2020 vice presidential debate, after being asked if she planned to support expanding the Supreme Court so a Democratic president could nominate more liberal justices

Harris also notoriously laughed during the 2020 vice presidential debate, when she was asked if she planned to support expanding the Supreme Court so a Democratic president could nominate more liberal justices.

'Once again you gave a non-answer, Joe Biden gave a non-answer,'

'The American people deserve a straight answer. And if you haven't figured it out yet, the straight answer is they are going to pack the Supreme Court if they somehow win this election,' said an evidently upset Pence.

When inquired about the legalization of marijuana, Harris also evaded questions by repeatedly laughing when asked about her stance on the issue.

The Federalist Senior Editor Mollie Hemingway said on FOX News in June that Harris seems to just laugh nervously when she is challenged by journalists.

'She does that thing where she laughs nervously when she gets the slightest difficulty or a question or topic and it is making a lot of Americans nervous,' Hemingway said.

FOX News host Jesse Waters has also said that Harris' nervous laughter seems like a 'glitch,' and once enlisted the help of psychologist Brian Russell to analyze the situation.

'For many people, laughter is a defense from anxiety they feel when a situation or topic makes them uncomfortable or unsure of themselves,' he said.

Harris has praised President Biden's decision to honor Trump's deal with the Taliban to retreat from Afghanistan

The vice president's most recent laughing controversy comes as the US and President Biden have received global condemnation for the unfolding chaos and humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. Hardline Islamists' swift return to power came after US troops' speedy withdrawal.

She has claimed to have a lead role and that she was 'the last person in the room' when Biden chose to follow through with the May 1 deadline to retreat US troops from Afghanistan.

But her remarkable absence and lack of communication with the media and the American public have not escaped backlash, as 47% of likely voters found her 'not at all qualified' to become President, according to a recent Rasmussen Reports poll.

Harris arrived in Singapore on Sunday for the week-long trip to Asia, which also includes a stop in Vietnam, where she will be meeting officials

On Sunday, President Biden chuckled after getting some bad poll results from a reporter, who said that the CBS News/YouGov poll was 'out there' after the president insisted that he hadn't seen it

Harris has stood by President Biden's decision to honor Trump's deal with the Taliban.

'This is a president who has an extraordinary amount of courage,'

'He is someone, who I have seen over and over again, make decisions based on what he truly believes is the right thing to do,' she said about the removal of the troops on a CNN interview.

During a press conference in Singapore this morning Harris also boasted that 'the US is a global leader'.

She insisted Washington could be depended as she stood alongside Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien. She said: 'The reason I am here is because the United States is a global leader and we take that role seriously'.

But the current administration has received backlash for its response to the Taliban takeover, amid reports of Americans and Afghan refugees being attacked by the Islamic extremists while trying to enter Kabul's Hamid Karzai Airport.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki was also blasted after people emailing her received an automatic 'out of office' reply as the increasingly tense situation unfolds.

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris arrives at Paya Lebar Air Base in Singapore August 22, 2021

Nancy Pelosi speaks at a ritzy Napa Valley fundraiser while the situation in Kabul worsens

The video of Kamala laughing was shared hours after Joe Biden laughed when questioned by a reporter about his poor performance in a new poll during a White House press conference about the Afghan crisis and Tropical Storm Henri.

He said of the survey: 'I haven't seen that poll.'

And the Democrats were hit with a further optics issue Sunday, as Nancy Pelosi was filmed at a lavish Democrat fundraiser dinner in Napa, California, which cost up to $29,000-a-head to respond.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives - who is third in line to become president if Biden and Harris are incapacitated - was filmed addressing lavishly-set tables groaning with fresh flowers, smart cutlery and expensive looking food.

A new poll shows 55 per cent of likely voters believe Vice President Kamala Harris is 'not qualified' or 'not at all qualified' to run the nation. There was a 6 per cent drop in those who feel she is qualified from April to August

Government officials have said the Vice President will continue to work on Afghanistan while in Asia.

She is not returning directly to Washington DC on Friday, going home to California instead, to campaign on behalf of Governor Gavin Newsom.

Her departure at a time of crisis will likely fuel criticism against her.

Other senior figures like the Secretary of Defense, Secretary of State, National Security Adviser and Biden himself have been forced to defend their actions in repeated interviews and remarks.

Last week, when likely voters were asked in a Rasmussen Reports poll released Thursday if Harris is ready to be U.S. president, 47 per cent said she is 'not at all qualified' while 8 per cent said she's 'not qualified.'

No laughing matter, Joe: Biden chuckles when he's asked about new poll showing majority of Americans think he's no longer 'competent, focused or effective' after his catastrophic withdrawal from Afghanistan

President Joe Biden laughed off a question about his declining poll numbers amid the rising chaos in Afghanistan during a press conference in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on Sunday.

'I haven't seen that poll,' Biden said of a CBS News/YouGov survey that shows 74 percent of respondents believe withdrawal from the Taliban-overrun country has gone 'very badly' or 'somewhat badly.'

Biden chuckled when the reporter responded that the poll is 'out there,' but the results are no laughing matter.

Biden's withdrawal, which was announced by former President Donald Trump in February 2020, is down to 47 percent approval from 60 percent in July, before the Taliban inched their way into Kabul, took over the presidential palace and sent President Ashraf Ghani fleeing to the United Arab Emirates.

The sample of 2,142 Americans also find him to be less competent, focused and effective than in April.

Biden's overall approval rating also took a tumble amid a surge in the Delta variant and the latest crisis in the Middle East, down to 50 percent from 62 percent in March.

'Look, I had a basic decision to make,' Biden said of his decision to withdraw.

On Sunday, President Biden chuckled after getting some bad poll results from a reporter, who said that the CBS News/YouGov poll was 'out there' after the president insisted that he hadn't seen it

The survey of more than 2,000 Americans found that Biden's approval rating and his handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal have fallen in recent months as the Taliban take over the country after 20 years of US occupation

'I either withdraw America from a 20-year war, that ... cost us $150 million a day for 20 years or $320 a day for 20 years.' (Forbes estimates the war to have cost $300 million per day since September 11, 2001.)

He then reached for a card underneath his lapel and began reading from it.

'You know I carry this card with me every day,' he said.

He continued: 'And, who, in fact, where we lost 2,448 Americans, dead, and 20,722 wounded.

'Either increase the number of forces we keep there and keep that going, all right, end the war, and I decided to end the war.

'As I said the other day, the only reason we're in Afghanistan is this is the place from which Bin Laden attacked the United States of America.'

In May 2011, a team of US Navy SEALs captured and killed Osama Bin Laden, who had planned the September 11 attacks that destroyed the Twin Towers in Manhattan and killed 3,000 people, at a compound in Pakistan.

'So the question is when is the right time to leave? Where are our national interests? Where do they lie?'

Biden went on to liken terrorism to a cancer that had 'metastasized' around the world, and insisted that it can be fought without 'permanently basing' American forces anywhere.

'My job is to make judgments no one else can or will make,' he said.

'I made them, Im convinced Im absolutely correct in not deciding to send more young women and men to war for a war that is, in fact, no longer warranted.'

Most Americans are still with the president on leaving the country, with 63 percent still in favor of removing US troops.

Biden also revealed US forces may stay beyond his deadline of Aug. 31 as he tries to accelerate the operation to rescue Americans after days of chaos and crushes at Kabul airport.

He said that U.S. forces had expanded the perimeter around the airport amid fears terrorists may seek to exploit the operation by attacking Americans or Afghan civilians.

But things were moving in the right direction with some 33,000 people brought to safety, he said.

'Let me be clear - the evacuation of thousands of people from Kabul is going to be hard and painful,' Biden said during a speech at the White House.

'No matter when it started, when we began, it would have been true if we had started a month ago, or a month from now.

'There is no way to evacuate this many people without pain and loss and heartbreaking images you see on television.

'It's just a fact.'

His speech marked the latest attempt by the White House to seize control of a crisis that is rapidly turning into a humanitarian and political disaster.

A similar effort on Friday backfired when Biden claimed that he knew of no cases of Americans being stopped from reaching Kabul airport - only to be flatly contradicted by the Pentagon.

Things have only worsened since then, with reports that seven people died in the crush around the airport, including a two-year-old.

President Joe Biden says the United States is 'working hard' and as 'fast as we can' to get Americans and U.S. allies out of Afghanistan, noting that 33,000 people have been evacuated from the country since July

Speaking in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Biden said U.S. forces had extended the perimeter around the airport to improve security

Thousands of people surrounded the Kabul airport Sunday, desperate to take the steps needed to cross the threshold to sanctuary

The crowds have made it difficult and dangerous for Americans and Afghans with the correct paperwork to reach the airport

Biden said that as many as 33,000 people had been evacuated since July, including some 11,000 during a single 36-hour period.

Defense officials 'hope' they will not have to extend the evacuation operation, he added, but 'there are going to be discussions I suspect on how far along we are in the process.'

He also said troops were maintaining constant vigilance against terrorist threats, particularly from the local affiliate of ISIS, sworn enemies of the both the U.S. and the Taliban.

'The security threat is changing rapidly,' he said.

'There are civilians crowded at the airport, although we have cleared thousands of them.

'We know that terrorists may seek to exploit the situation and target innocent Afghans or American troops .'

Every day that American troops and civilians are at the airport is another day of risk that terrorists launch an attack from distance.

But he said the Taliban had been helpful.

'We discussed a lot with the Taliban,' he said. 'They've been cooperative in extending some of the perimeter.'

But he declined to describe further 'technical changes' designed to improve security.

'So far the Taliban has not taken action against U.S. forces,' he said, rapping his knuckles on the lectern as if knocking on wood.

'So far they have, by and large, followed through on what they said in terms of Americans to pass through .

'And I'm sure they don't control all of their forces. It's a rag tag force.

'And so we'll see if what they say turns out to be true.

Conditions deteriorated further at the weekend. The U.S. was forced to tell Americans not to try to brave the chaos around the airport unless they have been told to report.

And it emerged that evacuation flights were dropping flares and making steep combat landings after warnings that terrorists of the Islamic State might try to shoot down a plane.

Biden is still facing questions about why his administration did not have a better evacuation plan after being warned that the Taliban could sweep into Kabul within days.

Against that backdrop of criticism, the White House tried to show a president hard at work on a Sunday.

The Afghan interim council, formed to assist in the power transfer following President Ashraf Ghani's escape, has met several Taliban leaders to discuss issues related to control and security during the transition process

President Biden met with his national security in the White House Situation Room on Sunday morning as they faced fresh questions about how much they knew of intelligence assessments that said the Taliban could be in Kabul within days

At least seven people have been killed at Kabul airport by stampeding crowds, as thousands of panicked Afghans try to flee the country, the British military said on Sunday

Afghans trying to flee are surrounding Kabul airport where the Taliban are using live rounds and beatings to maintain order. Americans were told not to try to reach the airport on Saturday

It sent out a situation room photograph of Biden meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and other members of his national security team.

And earlier the Pentagon ordered six U.S. commercial airlines to help move evacuees from temporary sites outside of Afghanistan.

'Our first priority in Kabul is getting American citizens out of the situation as quickly and safely as possible,' Biden said.

'Any American that wants to get home will get home.'

He also said the government was 'looking to move our Afghan allies' out of the country as well, noting that citizens of NATO allies and Afghan allies were amongst the 11,000 individuals evacuated this past weekend.

The president stated that as evacuation efforts are underway he wanted to be clear about three things: 'One, planes taking off from Kabul are not flying directly to the United States,' said Biden, explaining that the planes are landing at U.S. Military bases and transit centers around the world where security screenings will take place for non-citizens.

'Two, at these sites where they are landing we are conducting scrutiny security screening for everyone who is not a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident.

'Anyone arriving in the United States will have undergone a background check.'

He also noted that the government will welcome these individuals into the U.S.

'Three, once screened and cleared we will welcome these Afghans we helped us in the war effort over the last 20 years,' said Biden.

The Biden administration has given no firm estimate of the number of Americans seeking to leave Afghanistan. Some have put the total between 10,000 and 15.000.

A White House official said U.S. planes flew 3900 people out of Kabul in the previous 24 hours. Coalition aircraft rescued a similar number.

It marked a busier weekend for Biden than last, when he was slammed by allies and opponents for staying at Camp David last weekend as the crisis deepened.

And even international partners such as the United Kingdom have voiced their frustration this weekend at the way Biden pushed ahead with such a rapid withdrawal.

A former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan said the hasty retreat would embolden enemies, including terrorist groups.

'It has damaged our alliances, emboldened our adversaries and increased the risk to our own security. It has also flouted 20 years of work and sacrifice,' said Ryan Crocker in a New York Times essay.

This week Biden will join a virtual meeting of the G7 to discuss cooperation between the nations as the Taliban overruns Afghanistan, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in her statement on the upcoming meeting.

'The leaders will discuss continuing our close coordination on Afghanistan policy and evacuating our citizens, the brave Afghans who stood with us over the last two decades, and other vulnerable Afghans,' Psaki's statement reads.

President Joe Biden will participate in a virtual meeting with G7 leaders on Tuesday to discuss the ongoing situation in Afghanistan

The G7 intergovernmental group includes leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the U.S.

The call comes after Biden received a slew of backlash last week for not talking with any world leaders in the aftermath of the Taliban takeover. Hours after reports came out attacking him for his inaction, Biden spoke with Johnson.

The G7 intergovernmental group includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the U.S.

On Sunday afternoon, Biden will deliver remarks on Afghanistan  and Hurricane Henri response  at the White House.

Britain currently holds the rotating leadership of the G7 and announced earlier on Sunday that it called for the group to meet virtually this week.

The meeting comes as chaos in Afghanistan continues to unfold, and nations scramble to evacuate their citizens from Kabul.

So far, Biden has sent in 6,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan to help with evacuation efforts after the Taliban was able to take over the country in just over a week. This means the U.S. has deployed more troops into Afghanistan than the number of American citizens it has extracted from the country since the Taliban swept into power on August 14.

The Pentagon said Saturday they were only able to evacuate 2,500 Americans from Kabul in the past week.

Overall, the U.S. was able to evacuate 7,000 people from the pandemonium at the Kabul airport since last weekend, including 3,800 in the last day.

Up to 15,000 Americans still need to be evacuated and the administration hopes to get out 50-60,000 more Afghan allies and their families.
Personal data of 38 million people has been exposed following a breach of Microsoft's Power Apps.

The data includes social security and phone numbers, COVID vaccination status and home addresses.

Companies affected by the breach include American Airlines, New York City public schools, Ford, the Maryland Department of Health, and the New York City Municipal Transportation Authority.

It was unclear how the breach happened, or who was responsible.

Researchers at cybersecurity firm UpGuard found the breaches in May. They do not think anyone's data has been fraudulently used, so far. Their findings were made public on Monday.

Microsoft's Power Apps have been affected by the breach, which saw the data of 38 million people exposed

Some of the data inadvertently made public included COVID vaccination status

The exposed data was all stored in Microsoft's Power Apps portal service, Wired reported.

Power Apps is a development platform that makes it easy to create web or mobile apps for external use.

If you need to spin up a vaccine appointment sign-up site quickly during, say, a pandemic, Power Apps portals can generate both the public-facing site and the data management backend.

'We found one of these that was misconfigured to expose data and we thought, we've never heard of this, is this a one-off thing or is this a systemic issue?' said Greg Pollock, UpGuard's vice president of cyber research.

'Because of the way the Power Apps portals product works, it's very easy to quickly do a survey.

'And we discovered there are tons of these exposed. It was wild.'

Microsoft has now made its Power Apps portals private by default

At the beginning of August, Microsoft announced that the Power Apps portals will now default to storing API data and other information privately.

Pollock said that the vast majority of the exposed portals, and all of the most sensitive ones, are now private.

'With other things we've worked on, it's public knowledge that cloud buckets can be misconfigured, so it's not incumbent on us to help secure all of them,' he told Wired.

'But no one had ever cleaned these up before, so we felt we had an ethical duty to secure at least the most sensitive ones before being able to talk about the systemic issues.'

Kenn White, director of the Open Crypto Audit Project, said it was a wakeup call for the industry as a whole.

'Secure default settings matter,' he told Wired.

'When a pattern emerges in web-facing systems built using a particular technology that continue to be misconfigured, something is very wrong.

'If developers from diverse industries and technical backgrounds continue to make the same missteps on a platform, the spotlight should be squarely on the builder of that platform.'

Also on Monday, T-Mobile confirmed its servers have been hacked - but refused to confirm claims 100 million customers personal data - including social security numbers and drivers licenses - are now for sale online.

The hack was first rumored on Sunday.

'We are aware of claims made in an underground forum and have been actively investigating their validity. We do not have any additional information to share at this time,' a T-Mobile spokesperson said in a statement on Sunday.

U.S.-based digital media outlet Vice first reported the claims of a data breach. The veracity of the hacker's claims could not be independently verified.
Hopes that Joe Biden would extend America's August 31 deadline to leave Afghanistan appeared to be fading last night.

And, in a further blow to the chances of airlifting more vulnerable Afghans to safety, the Taliban issued a chilling warning to the West not to stay longer.

The Prime Minister spoke directly with the President last night. And today  at a virtual meeting of G7 leaders  he will join French president Emmanuel Macron in urging Mr Biden to push back his deadline for Americans soldiers to leave.

Downing Street said Mr Johnson and Mr Biden had last night discussed the evacuation but gave no indication of any breakthrough.

Hopes that Joe Biden would extend America's August 31 deadline to leave Afghanistan appeared to be fading last night

Hopes that Joe Biden would extend America's August 31 deadline to leave Afghanistan appeared to be fading last night.

And the chances of an extension to the deadline appeared to be receding as Pentagon chiefs insisted they were 'focused on getting this done by the end of the month'.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the President was 'taking this day by day' and will make his decision on an extension 'as we go'.

But he insisted the President still believes 'we have time between now and August 31 to get out any American who wants to get out'.

Yesterday, the Taliban warned that any Western military operation in Afghanistan that continued into September would breach a 'red line' and would 'provoke a reaction'.

Suhail Shaheen, a spokesman for the militants, told Sky News: 'If the US or UK were to seek additional time to continue evacuations  the answer is no.

'Or there would be consequences. It will create mistrust between us. If they are intent on continuing the occupation, so it will provoke a reaction.'

In a further warning, a senior Taliban commander last night told the Mail: 'If American troops can't leave on [the] agreed deadline then they will face the consequences. Our fighters are ready to deal with them.'

Desperate British citizens are being blocked from escaping Afghanistan and are waving their passports at officials in a bid to flee

British soldiers are stationed amid the throngs of people who have gathered near the airport in hope of escaping the country

Zakia Khudadadi, 23, would have been the first female to represent Afghanistan at the Paralympics

It emerged last night that Western powers are negotiating with the Taliban on the possibility of civilian flights being used in the evacuation, even if the military flights stopped.

German foreign minister Heiko Maas said: 'We are holding talks with the US, Turkey and other partners with the goal of allowing the airport to continue to operate a civilian operation to fly these people out.'

Germany will 'also continue to talk to the Taliban about this and will do this after the withdrawal of US troops', he added.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: 'I don't think there is any likelihood of staying on after the United States.'

Armed Forces minister James Heappey conceded that the Taliban 'gets a vote' on the evacuation deadline.

'We have the military power to just stay there by force, but I don't know that the humanitarian mission we're embarked on... is helped by Kabul becoming a war zone,' he said.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the President was 'taking this day by day' and will make his decision on an extension 'as we go'

Asked about the Taliban spokesman's remarks, the Prime Minister's spokesman said: 'I don't think we've had any direct communication to that end.'

He added that 'discussions on the ground' have been held with the Taliban over extending the deadline.

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said: 'We're focused on getting this done before the end of the month.'

But he said the US would 'absolutely consider the views' of allies.
A mother has revealed the loophole she used to get her 14-year-old son vaccinated despite kids his age not being eligible for the Covid jab.

Melanie Stot, from Brisbane, booked her son Fraser in to receive his first dose of the jab last Sunday, even though children under 16 without underlying health conditions are not currently apart of Australia's vaccine rollout.

Ms Stot said she discovered children aged 12 to 15 could still be booked in for appointments using the QLD Health website after another mother told her about a glitch in the system.

'I wrote a bit after tongue in cheek article for the Courier-Mail last Thursday and by that afternoon I had hundreds of mums looking for ways to book their kids in,' Ms Stot told the Today show on Tuesday.

Brisbane mum Melanie Stot (pictured with son Fraser and daughter Miranda) has revealed a loophole in the QLD Health vaccine system that enables kids under 16 to receive the Covid jab

'One mum told me that you can actually log back into your Queensland Health vaccination log-in and if your husband or wife have been vaccinated through the Queensland Health system, you can add your kids as dependants.'

Ms Stot said a lot of her friends followed the advice and realised they could progress to make a booking for their children.

'Clearly, the system is up and ready to go for children 12 to 15 to be vaccinated,' she said.

Ms Stot said she made an appointment for Fraser after two of his same-aged friends were vaccinated on Friday morning.

Despite the system enabling her to book, she was nervous arriving at the Southbank vaccination hub on Sunday that staff would turn her and Fraser away.

'We went through four check points. Every checkpoint, I thought "OK, this is it. We're to be turned away."

'[But] they said every single time "We're not turning anyone away. We understand." For some reason the announcement hasn't been made yet.'

Last Wednesday, Scott Morrison announced the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) was 'not too far away' on making a decision as to whether to offer children aged 12 to 15 a Covid vaccine.

Ms Stot said after waiting four days for an update, they decided to go ahead and start the process.

'Why would we wait? They're clearly ready to go,' she said.

'Scott Morrison said on Friday that the announcement was imminent....So we went for it.'

Australia's vaccine rollout does not currently include children aged 12 to 15. Pictured: A person receives a dose of a Covid vaccine at a hub in Dubbo

Earlier this week, the government announced children aged 12 to 15 living with a disability will be added to Australia's vaccine rollout from Wednesday.

The decision is expected to affect 40,000 National Disability Insurance Scheme participants who did not qualify under other eligibility criteria.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said the expert immunisation panel was due to finalise advice on vaccinating all 12 to 15-year-olds this week.

'We are quietly hopeful that will be a double green light after the TGA,' he told reporters in Canberra on Monday.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration has approved Pfizer for children in the age bracket, but the government is waiting for the tick from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation.

Children between 12 and 15 who are immunocompromised, have an underlying medical condition, are Indigenous or in remote communities were already eligible.

Coronavirus outbreaks across Australia have sparked concerns more children are being infected with the Delta variant.

A quarter of those infected in Victoria's outbreak are children as the Delta variant affects them much more than the original coronavirus strain.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison's impatience with questions about how premiers are dealing with Covid outbreaks is showing after he fired up at Sunrise host David Koch.

Koch said the popularity of Queenslander Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan suggested people in those states supported a tough approach to border restrictions to keep them Covid-free.

'I'm not going to get drawn into any sort of debate about this with the states,' Mr Morrison replied.

'We've got a plan, we've agreed to a plan, its based on the best medical, health and economic advice and so we've got to get on with delivering that plan.'

'I'm not going to get drawn into any sort of debate about this with the states,' Prime Minister Scott Morrison told Sunrise host David Koch

Mr Morrison has been defending the plan to reopen Australia and end lockdowns once vaccination rates reach 70 to 80 per cent of the eligible population.

This is despite premiers such as Ms Palaszczuk and Mr McGowan saying they expect certain restrictions to remain in place, particularly while states such as NSW and Victoria continue to battle escalating outbreaks.

'There's a lot of noise at the moment,' Mr Morrison said.

'There's lot of hypothetical discussions about what people might and might not do, Let's see what they actually do.

'Let's keep working together to open up the country.'

The prime minister said vaccination was the way out lockdowns and Covid restrictions, despite the insistence of some state premiers on border closures.

'There's no government, no individual, no set of border protections, that is more powerful than the vaccine,' he said.

'Once the vaccine is there at 70 or 80 per cent, you do more harm than good to your people by locking them down and locking them up and keeping them in the cave.

'Over the next few months I think people will understand that very clearly.'

Immunity experts at the Doherty Institute advised the country can reopen safely when 70 to 80 per cent of those over 16 are vaccinated.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has said she expects certain restrictions to remain in place even once Australia reaches 70-80percent vaccination rates

Under that target, Mr Morrison said the nation's most vulnerable groups will be fully vaccinated and a portion of the remaining 20 to 30 per cent of the population will have received at least one dose.

But the premiers of Queensland and WA have both disputed the accuracy of the Doherty Institute's modelling.

Mr McGowan wants new modelling given high levels of virus circulating in NSW, which reported 818 new local cases on Monday.

Ms Palaszczuk argues the initial research was based on having 30 cases in the community, but the Doherty Institute has debunked this misinterpretation.

Despite high case numbers in NSW, Mr Morrison said the expert modelling of the pathway out of the pandemic remained the same and states need to 'move into the plan' not 'back out'.

'By getting the elderly vaccinated early, that has put an additional layer of protection in, which we are seeing with the Sydney outbreak now,' he said.

'Compared to the Melbourne outbreak last year, the fatalities are significantly lower. We need to move into that [the plan] so that families can be reunited.'

Under Morrison's four-phase plan, Covid restrictions will be relaxed once 70 per cent of the population is fully vaccinated, a milestone expected to be hit by November 2.

Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan has called on the federal government's Covid advisors, the Doherty Institute, to revise its modelling

Later that month, when the vaccination is forecast to reach 80 per cent, state border restrictions will be eased to allow interstate travel for vaccinated Australians.

Mr Koch suggested some state premiers could hinder the plan by refusing to open their borders, and the federal government would be powerless to stop them.

LATEST APPROVAL RATINGS FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF COVID Prime Minister Scott Morrison A Newspoll survey, conducted by The Australian, earlier this month found Mr Morrison's approval rating has slumped to 48 per cent In comparison, support for Mr Morrison sat at 85 per cent in April 2020 QLD Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk In July, the Guardian's Essential Poll found the number of people who support the QLD premier's handling of the Covid crisis fell from 65 to 61 per cent WA Premier Mark McGowan Meanwhile, the WA premier's popularity rose in July, according to the Guardian's Essential Poll Support for Mr McGowan's response to Covid jumped from 75 to 86 per cent Advertisement

But the prime minister insisted state leaders will change their minds as vaccination rates increase, saying: 'We'll see.'

Latest approval ratings show support for Mr McGowan's handling of the Covid situation stands at 86 per cent, while Ms Palaszczuk's sits at 61 per cent.

In contrast, support for Mr Morrison's response to the pandemic slumped to 48 per cent earlier this month.

Asked whether he could guarantee Australians would be able to visit loved ones interstate for Christmas, Mr Morrison said yes - so long as state leaders keep up 'their end of the bargain'.

'I believe we will be able to be in that position if we reach those vaccination targets because there is no reason why you shouldn't be,' he told Mr Koch.

'That's the whole point. Once you get to 80 per cent, what possible reason would there be to prevent that? We've made a deal with the Australian people.

'The Commonwealth does not have control over public health leaders - that is true - but they have a responsibility to support the health and economic wellbeing of their states.'

The Doherty Institute will present the updated advice to National Cabinet on Friday.

The research institute said opening up at hundreds of cases nationally a day would be possible at 70 per cent vaccination coverage.

'However, we will need vigilant public health interventions with higher case loads,' it said.

The institute said hitting that vaccination rate would make it easier to live with the virus, similar to the flu.

Sunrise host David Koch asked Mr Morrison how he can guarantee the national plan will go ahead when the federal government cannot control state's border measures

Mr Morrison said states need to 'move into' the plan out of lockdown instead of 'backing out'

'However, it won't be possible to maintain a situation where there are no cases at all,' it warned.

Epidemiologist Tony Blakely said Australia would have to learn to deal with high case numbers.

'We're probably going to have case numbers in NSW or Victoria of 5,000 or 10,000,' he told Nine.

'But so many of them will be vaccinated and just be mild breakthrough infections.'

Australian National University researchers argue at least 90 per cent of all Australians, including children, must be vaccinated before fully relaxing public health measures and opening the international border.

'We found substantial morbidity and mortality is likely to occur if the Australian government sticks to the national plan,' Professor Quentin Grafton said.

The Doherty modelling calls for gradual steps at 70 and 80 per cent with high-quality preventative measures remaining in place.

Australia has fully vaccinated 30.27 per cent of its population aged 16 and over and 52.78 have received one jab.

Victoria is having a hard time getting on top of an outbreak with 71 new cases on Monday, while there were 16 in the ACT.
WA won't hit mark until November 29 while QLD not until December 28

NSW on track to hit 80 per cent vaccinations by November 16

Two states are ignoring vaccination rates and want to see low infections

Slow vaccination rates in QLD and WA could see restrictions continue

Slow vaccination rates in dissenting states could see Australia's lockdowns and restrictions extended as the national stand-off between leaders continues.

Queensland and Western Australia are languishing behind the rest of the country on jab rates as the two premiers refuse to co-operate with the federal government and other states on the four-phase plan led by The Doherty Institute to end lockdowns.

The two states are reneging on their promise to ease restrictions for good once the 70 and 80 per cent vaccination marks for the country are hit, arguing the recent NSW outbreak has changed the situation.

Western Australia aren't expect to reach 80 per cent until November 29 while Queensland aren't on track to reach the figure until December 28 making it near impossible for residents to make Christmas plans interstate.

Slow vaccination rates of dissenting states could see Australia's lockdowns and restrictions extended as the national stand-off between leaders continues

QLD and QA are now turning their back on the plan to unlock the country, as Scott Morrison argues we must learn to live with the virus or face being 'stuck in the cave forever'

National cabinet meetings between the prime minister and state leaders have now seen QLD and WA's governments go rogue as their infamously stubborn leaders dig their heels in.

Both Mark McGowan and Annastacia Palaszczuk have drawn national criticism for their willingness to shut out the rest of the country and operate under myopic legislation.

The latest trend sees the states now turning their back on the agreed four-stage plan to unlock the country, as Scott Morrison argues we must learn to live with the virus or face being 'stuck in the cave forever'.

'If not at 70 per cent and 80 per cent, then when? We must make that move and we must prepare to make that move and we must prepare the country to make that move,' the prime minister said during Monday's national cabinet meeting.

'We have to break this cycle. The national plan is the way to cut through and for us to emerge from that. This groundhog day has to end, and it will end when we start getting to 70 per cent and 80 per cent.'

What are the four phases of opening up? A. Vaccinate, prepare and pilot (from July 14) Arrival caps cut in half to 3,035 a week; early, stringent and short lockdowns if outbreaks occur; trials of seven-day home quarantine for vaccinated arrivals in South Australia; medicare vaccination certificates available on apps like apple wallet B. Post vaccination phase (when 70 per cent are jabbed, expected late this year) Lockdowns less likely but possible'; vaccinated people face reduced restrictions; caps for unvaccinated arrivals increased; a larger cap for vaccinated arrivals with 'reduced quarantine requirements'; capped entry for students and economic visa holders C. Consolidation phase (when 80 per cent are jabbed, time not announced) Lifting all restrictions for outbound travel for vaccinated travellers; no caps for vaccinated arrivals; increased caps for students and visa holders; more travel bubbles being set up with countries such as Singapore; booster shots rolled out D. Final phase (percentage or time not announced) Uncapped arrivals for vaccinated people without any quarantine and uncapped arrivals for unvaccinated people with testing before departure and on arrival Advertisement

'Just because the NSW government has made a mess of it doesn't mean the rest of us should suffer,' Premier McGowan said

Senior Queensland official said the state are ignoring NSW's vaccination numbers and won't even consider re-opening borders until infection numbers are extremely low

NSW's accelerated vaccination program has the eastern state on track to reach 70 per cent by October 29 and 80 per cent on November 16.

They are narrowly ahead of Victoria who will reach 70 and 80 per cent on November 3 and 21 respectively if current trends remain.

WA however aren't on track to reach 70 per cent until November 11, with 80 per cent expected to come in the final day or two of the month.

QLD are the worst performing state in Australia, with 70 per cent not expected to come in till December 4, with 80 per cent barely being hit before the new year with a prediction of December 28.

These figures are alarming because they delay the potential for state borders to come down as part of the second and third stages of the four-stage plan and ensure people can visit family and even holiday in the summer months.

While the PM urges the states to get onboard, WA and QLD say they are more interested in infection numbers rather than vaccination rates and won't re-open their borders until those numbers are extremely low.

'Just because the NSW government has made a mess of it doesn't mean the rest of us should suffer,' Premier McGowan said.

'My view is we should do everything we can to stay in the state we are currently in, and at the same time vaccinate like hell.'

WA and QLD are languishing behind the rest of the country in vaccination rates as the two myopic state refuse to co-operate on the already agreed upon plan

The Australian reported senior QLD officials aren't considering dropping border closures until the case numbers are low or even gone, and aren't interested in vaccination rates in NSW.

Christmas and New Year plans are now in serious danger as states refuse to participate in the already agreed national plan.

'We must adjust our mindset,' Morrison said.

'Cases will not be the issue once we get above 70 per cent. Dealing with serious illness, hospitalisation, ICU capabilities, our ability to respond in those circumstances - that will be our goal.

'And we will live with this virus as we live with other infectious diseases.'
There are an estimated 20,000 Afghans waiting for visa processing  but just seven days until the U.S. bumps against a withdrawal deadline

Pointed at the Trump Administration and said Biden 'shaved months' off the process  which could run up to two years

He spoke to reporters at the White House on a day Joe Biden did not take questions

Sullivan made the comment as the administration is under fire for leaving Afghan allies at risk in the evacuation

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National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan claimed the Biden administration 'shaved months' off the slow visa process for Afghans who helped US troops and blamed the Trump administration for not filing a 'single application' from March 2020 during his press briefing on Wednesday.

There are still around 20,000 Afghans waiting for their SIVs to be processed so they can escape the Taliban in Kabul after fighting alongside American forces.

They are now facing death threats from the Taliban and are struggling to get through checkpoints on the way to Kabul airport.

Sullivan and the administration are being accused of potentially stranding a substantial cohort of those allies  even as Biden and the White House vow that every American who wants to leave Afghanistan will be able to do so.

'When we took office in January, the Trump Administration had not processed a single Special Immigrant Visa since March of 2020,' said White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan Monday

Sullivan, who spoke to reporters at the White House on a day President Biden didn't take questions on Afghanistan, said those visas were ' never designed mass evacuation circumstances.

He said they typically took 18-24 months per person to get through vetting requirements.

'When we took office in January, the Trump Administration had not processed a single Special Immigrant Visa since March of 2020  in nearly a year,' he said  pointing the finger at Biden's predecessor, whose administration negotiated the original May 1 withdrawal date with the Taliban.

His swipe came after Biden in his own remarks last week pointed out that Trump had negotiated the withdrawal that he decided to maintain after he took office.

Sullivan said the administration moved 'as rapidly as possible to process as many applications as possible as fast as possible, trimming months and months and months off that process' and working with Congress to change the law.

US officials claim they will be able to get every remaining American out of Afghanistan by August 31, even though they have no idea how many remain in the country.

General view of the crowds of people near the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan August 23, 2021. As many as 20,000 are waiting at the airport and 33 C-17 jets are on the way which could carry almost all of them but US officials are said to have changed the policy to only allow through US citizens

General view of the crowds of people near the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan August 23, 2021. An unnamed official cited by CNN on Monday said the troops on the ground were going to start only allowing US citizens or citizens of NATO countries through airport gates

Afghans walk along fences as they arrive in Pakistan through the Pakistan-Afghanistan border crossing point in Chaman on August 23, 2021 following Taliban's military takeover of Afghanistan

According to data released by the White House Monday, 10,900 people were evacuated from Kabul between 3am and 3pm on August 23rd. They got out on 15 U.S. military flights aboard C-17s, carrying 6,660 evacuees, plus 34 coalition flights, carrying 4,300 people.

This put the evacuations since August 14 at 48,000 people.

There has been less certainty about the commitment to the Afghans. A senior State Department official said at a briefing Monday: 'Our commitment to at-risk Afghans doesn't end on August 31,' suggesting the possibility the U.S. would continue efforts after the military departs.

'We've heard from the Taliban ... that they want a functioning airport well after the U.S. military has left,' the official continued. 'The Taliban has also agreed to permit safe passage to the airport and this commitment doesn't have an expiration date on it.'

Sullivan's swipe at Trump came as the White House repeatedly refused to address the Taliban's August 31 deadline to get US troops out of Afghanistan.

The Taliban's spokesman issued the sternest threat yet to Biden on Monday morning, saying there will be 'consequences' if US troops - who are holed up at the airport in Kabul evacuating tens of thousands of people and fending off an increasingly desperate crowd - don't leave in the next eight days.

With no numbers on how many Americans remain in the country, much less where those Americans are, the government is under intense pressure to explain how it will meet the deadline. Even removing the estimated 5,800 troops providing security would take precious time off the clock.

Following Sullivan's comments, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki snapped at Fox News reporter Peter Doocy for referring to Americans still in Kabul as 'stranded'.

'I think it's irresponsible to say that Americans are stranded. They are not. We are committed to bringing Americans who want to come home, home,' Psaki said.

In another sign of the challenges on the ground a veterans' group is using an online network of allies to help guide Afghan interpreters to safety.

The 'digital Dunkirk' campaign is comprised of a network of 'hundreds of thousands of people' and utilizes satellite imagery and other intel to locate Taliban checkpoints.

Matt Zeller, an Afghanistan war veteran and former CIA analyst, told Fox News the interpreters were essential allies to U.S. troops, serving as America's 'eyes and ears on the battlefield'.

Officials have ordered troops to only allow American citizens, Green Card holders and other foreign nationals through the gates of Kabul airport to board evacuation flights, leaving tens of thousands of vulnerable Afghan refugees stranded outside while the Taliban tightens its grip, CNN has reported.

Troops have been processing both Special Immigrant Visas for Afghans like translators or others who helped in the war, and most of the US evacuation flights have been full of Afghan nationals so far.

There are around 20,000 people at the airport right now waiting to board flights and the majority do not seem to have any kind of paperwork.

Thirty-three C-17 jets are on the way to the airport that could carry 600 passengers each - 19,800 total - out of the dangerous city, but CNN cites an unnamed official who said the policy was changing to only allow US citizens, foreign citizens from other NATO countries, or Green Card holders through the gates.

No one from the White House, State Department or Pentagon has been able to give a number for how many American citizens remain in Afghanistan. It's unclear if or when the US will start flying Afghans out again.

'We've been able to evacuate several thousand Americans,' Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said on Monday morning without giving a number for how many remain stuck.

He added that Special Immigrant Visas for Afghans would still be processed to put vulnerable Afghans on flights.

'Afghans in need are still being processed and facilitated. The goal is to get as many people out as fast as possible. The focus is on doing this as best we can by the end of the month,' he said.

Biden had said he was confidant he would be able to rescue all remaining US citizens by August 31 and that he would do his best to get as many vulnerable Afghans out as possible, but there has been no promise the US will stay past the deadline to save Afghan refugees once all Americans are out.

Between Sunday morning and Monday morning, 10,400 people were removed from Kabul on 28 US flights, an average of 371 passengers per plane on flights that can hold 600.

'We've been able to evacuate several thousand Americans,' Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said on Monday morning without giving a number for how many remain stuck. No one from the Pentagon, White House or State Department can say how many Americans are still in Afghanistan, but they insist they'll get them all out by August 31

Other NATO flights evacuated another 5,900 people.

On every US evacuation flight so far, the majority of the passengers have been Afghans. Some went to Qatar, others are in Germany and the first planes have now arrived at airbases in Texas, where refugees will be housed at Fort Bliss.

Despite the huge numbers of people leaving every day, the crowd size at the airport in Kabul is unrelenting and becoming more aggressive.

This letter is a Taliban death warrant for the brother of an Afghan translator who helped the US in the war

The hold-up is largely down to paperwork backlogs on the ground, with some people unable to board flights unless they are given visas. An unnamed source cited by CNN on Monday said it would take four days to make a dent in the numbers outside the airport walls.

The chaos was worsened over the weekend when the State Department started administering nameless, digital SIV visas to Afghan refugees on smartphones and computers.

The refugees screenshotted the documents and shared them with friends and family, which resulted in thousands turning up with approval to board flights.

'I don't think consular, or the administration frankly, realizes how badly they f*****d up by sending that stupid visa and letting everyone in for 24 hours straight.

'Some people are saying there's no way they'll get even those currently on airport out of here in four days,' the source said.

In the city, the Taliban - which had promised to be more moderate and modern - is already resorting to medieval violence.

Leaders have issued a death sentence for the brother of one Afghan translator who was able to get out.

It reads: 'You have been accused of helping the Americans. You are also accused of providing security to your brother, who has been an interpreter.'

This morning, the German military tweeted that one member of the Afghan security forces at the airport in Kabul had been killed and three others were wounded by 'unknown attackers'.

US and German forces joined in a gun battle this morning at Kabul airport after Afghan guards and unknown assailants exchanged fire, with one guard killed, the German army said. Pictured: British and Canadian soldiers help an Afghan climb up on the wall of a canal at Kabul Airport this morning

Kabul airport has seen chaotic scenes as tens of thousands of foreigners and Afghans seek to flee Afghanistan after the Taliban swept back to power more than a week ago. Pictured: British and Canadian soldiers stand guard near a canal at Kabul airport as a crowd of Afghans wait nearby

The shooting near the military side of the airport came as the Taliban sent fighters to the north of the capital to eliminate pockets of armed resistance to their lightning takeover earlier this month

This morning, the German military tweeted that one member of the Afghan security forces at the airport in Kabul had been killed and three others were wounded by 'unknown attackers'

In their tweet, the German Army said: 'This morning at 4.13am, there was an exchange of fire between Afghan guards and unknown assailants at the North Gate of Kabul airport. An Afghan guard was killed, three others injured.

'American and German forces participated in further exchange of fire,' it said, adding that no German soldiers were injured.

Kabul airport has seen chaotic scenes as tens of thousands of foreigners and Afghans seek to flee Afghanistan after the Taliban swept back to power more than a week ago.

The US confirms they have evacuated 33,000 people - including at least 2,500 Americans.

Afghanistan's security forces collapsed in the face of the Taliban advance, despite 20 years of Western aid, training and assistance. But some armed Afghans remain at Kabul airport assisting Western evacuation efforts.

Speaking last night about the situation in Afghanistan, Biden turned on his heel and ignored a reporter who shouted 'Mr President what about ISIS and the threat Americans face now?' at the conclusion of the press conference about the crisis.

Moments before the reporter asked her question, the president said 'Thank you,' in an apparent signal that the press conference had ended.

But he has since taken heat from viewers and commentators who said the question was a sufficiently important one to merit an answer.

Biden's snub came just hours after his own national security adviser Jake Sullivan told NBC News that there is a 'genuine threat' ISIS could attack the evacuation effort at Hamid Karzai Airport in Kabul.

Sullivan, who also raised the prospect of sending US troops back into Kabul, said: 'I know that the scenes around the airport are heartbreaking, large crowds of people wanting to leave

'I know that there is complexity and there is turbulence on the ground and in Kabul, and it's very risky and dangerous because there's a genuine threat from ISIS. That is the reality of what we are up against, and I'm not going to sugarcoat that reality.'

The tragic scenes around the airport have transfixed the world, as Afghans poured onto the tarmac last week and some clung to a U.S. military transport plane as it took off, later plunging to their deaths. At least seven people died that day, in addition to the seven killed on Sunday.

The Taliban blame the chaotic evacuation on the U.S. military, saying there's no need for Afghans to fear them, even though their fighters shoot into the air and beat people with batons as they try to control the crowds outside the airport perimeter. Pictured: Afghans wait outside the military-controlled area of the airport in Kabul as they attempt to flee the Taliban

Pictured: Members of the British and US armed forces pose together for a photo while working together at Kabul Airport yesterday

The Taliban blame the chaotic evacuation on the U.S. military, saying there's no need for Afghans to fear them, even though their fighters shoot into the air and beat people with batons as they try to control the crowds outside the airport perimeter.

The Taliban have pledged amnesty to those who worked with the U.S., NATO and the toppled Afghan government, but many Afghans still fear revenge attacks. There have been reports in recent days of the Taliban hunting down their former enemies. It's unclear if Taliban leaders are saying one thing and doing another, or if fighters are taking matters into their own hands.

Over the weekend, Biden also revealed U.S. forces may stay beyond his deadline of Aug. 31 during a speech on Sunday evening he tries to accelerate the operation to rescue Americans after days of chaos and crushes at Kabul airport.

He said that U.S. forces had expanded the perimeter around the airport amid fears terrorists may seek to exploit the operation by attacking Americans or Afghan civilians.

But things were moving in the right direction with some 33,000 people brought to safety, he said.

'Let me be clear - the evacuation of thousands of people from Kabul is going to be hard and painful,' Biden said during a speech in the Roosevelt Room of the White House.

The Taliban said they retook three districts that fell the day before and had surrounded Panjshir, the last province that remains out of their control. Pictured: Taliban fighters are seen sitting on top of storage containers at the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, with a line of British soldiers beneath them

'No matter when it started, when we began, it would have been true if we had started a month ago, or a month from now.

'There is no way to evacuate this many people without pain and loss and heartbreaking images you see on television. It's just a fact.'

Biden said that as many as 33,000 people had been evacuated since July, including some 11,000 during a single 36-hour period.

Defense officials 'hope' they will not have to extend the evacuation operation, he added, but 'there are going to be discussions I suspect on how far along we are in the process.'

It comes as UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has pleaded with President Biden to delay the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

As the desperate evacuation continues, the PM will use a virtual meeting of world leaders tomorrow to push for more time to save people from the clutches of the - something the president has so far refused to commit to.

Defense minister James Heappey said this morning that 1,800 eligible citizens and 2,275 local allies had been identified, but more were coming forward all the time. 'We will get out as many as we possibly can,' he told Sky news.

Over the weekend, Biden (pictured) also revealed U.S. forces may stay beyond his deadline of August 31 during a speech on Sunday evening he tries to accelerate the operation to rescue Americans after days of chaos and crushes at Kabul airport

However, ministers admitted the rescue mission is reliant on the American military retaining control of Kabul airport. Along with losing key air support, British military officials fear Islamic State (IS) may also target UK soldiers at Kabul airport in suicide bomb attacks.

Mr Johnson said last night: 'It is vital that the international community works together to ensure safe evacuations, prevent a humanitarian crisis and support the Afghan people to secure the gains of the last 20 years.'

As the airlift continues, the U.S. government has activated the Civil Reserve Air Fleet program, requesting 18 aircraft from U.S. carriers to assist in transporting Afghan refugees after they are evacuated to other countries. The voluntary program, born in the wake of the Berlin airlift, adds to the military's capabilities during crises.

Early Monday, a Delta Air Lines flight landed in Dubai and later took off for Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, where evacuees are crowded into hangars. A steady stream of military transport planes continue to fly people out of Kabul to airfields across the Mideast.

There also have been concerns that a local Islamic State affiliate might target the crowds outside the airport with suicide bombers or fire missiles at U.S. aircraft. Military planes have been executing corkscrew landings, and other aircraft have fired flares upon takeoff, measures used to prevent missile attacks.

Elsewhere in Afghanistan, the Taliban have faced limited armed resistance from fighters in Baghlan province, some 75 miles north of Kabul.

Biden said that as many as 33,000 people had been evacuated since July, including some 11,000 during a single 36-hour period. He also said that as many as 2,500 Americans have already been transported to safety

The fighters claimed to have seized three districts in the Andarab Valley on Sunday, but the Taliban said Monday that they had cleared them out overnight.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the group's forces have surrounded nearby Panjshir, the only one of Afghanistan's 34 provinces yet to fall to the militants.

Several Taliban opponents have gathered there, including Amrullah Saleh, the vice president in the toppled government who claims to be the acting president under the constitution. Ahmad Massoud, son of the slain commander of the Northern Alliance militias that partnered with the U.S. to drive the Taliban from power in 2001, is also in Panjshir.

In interviews with Arab media outlets over the weekend, Massoud said his fighters would resist any attempt to take the province by force but were open to dialogue with the Taliban.

Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman, said there had been no fighting in Panjshir yet and that his group is seeking a 'peaceful solution' to the standoff.

It comes as damaging US cables revealed staff working at the American Embassy in Kabul are 'deeply disheartened' by the Biden Administration's withdrawal, with some even saying 'it would be better to die under the Taliban's bullet' than attempt to flee to safety.

As the airlift continues, the U.S. government has activated the Civil Reserve Air Fleet program, requesting 18 aircraft from U.S. carriers to assist in transporting Afghan refugees after they are evacuated to other countries. Pictured: A line of people attempting to flee Afghanistan is formed behind a US Air Force aircraft on August 21

The jarring statement was part of a diplomatic cable from Afghan US Embassy staff, who said they've been separated from their children, according to NBC News, which obtained the message.

'Happy to die here, but with dignity and pride,' another embassy staffer said, while a third accused the U.S. of prioritizing Afghan government elites with vast wealth and the connections to safely flee.

Another message sent via cable shared the horror would-be evacuees were met with when they arrived at Kabul's Hamid Karzai Airport. Staff were warned to prepare for 'difficult conditions,' with the cable adding: 'However, no one anticipated the brutal experience that occurred.'

Disturbingly, one Afghan embassy staffer revealed his home had been vandalized with spray paint, in what he fears was a marking left by a Taliban fighter to flag the property up for a future visit.

The cables were exposed after it was revealed around 300 Afghans asked to get out of Kabul airport and return to their Taliban-run cities because the conditions have spiraled out of control, a State Department official said.

Temperatures have been between 85 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit around the airport - essentially a dustbowl - nearly every day as the desperate mob of tens of thousands of people with young kids try to save their families from Taliban attacks, stampedes or being crushed against the airport gates.

In a shining moment, a US Marine is seen on video handing out water to children

Smiles are the rarest site in and around the Kabul airport over the last two weeks, but it was all over this viral video of a Marine helping children

A child drinks water in Kabul, which has been between 85 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit nearly everyday for the last two weeks, as dehydration and heat exhaustion set in

Pictures like this of a US Marine comforting an infant while they wait for the mother during the evacuation is the seldom scenes glimpses of humanity during dangerous times

A child and a US Marine pour water on each other to protect against dehydration and heat exhuastion as temperatures in Kabul climb over 90 degrees Fahrenheit

US troops are doing what they can to help US civilians and their Afghan allies prevent dehydration and heat exhaustion, with items like water bottles in short supply and needing to be rationed out.

One US Marine filmed giving water to six young children is being hailed as a hero, but many say that small act of kindness further serves to emphasize the scale of the human catastrophe unfolding.

Another picture that has been widely shared on Twitter and other social media platforms shows a different Marine assigned to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) comforting an infant while they wait for the child's mom during processing.

But these fleeting moments are like specs of light swallowed up by a black hole.

'We've seen wrenching images of people hurt, even killed that hit you in the gut,' Secretary Blinken told FOX News.

'And it's very important to make sure to the best of our ability, because it's such a volatile situation, that we do something about the crowding at the gates of the airport, and that's exactly what we're doing.'

A woman and children wait for transportation to the terminal at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Missing child posters like this one are on the fences of Kabul airport today

Taliban fighters stand guard as Afghans gather outside the Hamid Karzai International Airport to flee the country, in Kabul on on August 21

Dusty, rubbish strewn street filled with thousands of people desperate to take the steps needed to get into Kabul airport and out of the Taliban-run country

Taliban fighters on containers overlook the streets outside of Kabul airport

President Joe Biden said during a Sunday press briefing that about 11,000 people have been evacuated in the last 36 hours, but at least seven people have been crushed to death, including a two-year-old child.

And now terrorist threats - particularly from the local affiliate of ISIS, which are enemies of both the U.S. and the Taliban - are making the evacuation more complicated, the scene tenser and ramping up the urgency to get people out of the country.

There's concern that ISIS leaders see this as an opportunity to kill Americans while challenging Taliban for control of Afghanistan.

That threat prompted the US Embassy to issue a warning Saturday telling Americans not to brave the chaos around the airport unless they have been told to report.

In the ensuing hours, details emerged that evacuation flights were dropping flares and making steep combat landings after warnings that terrorists of the Islamic State might try to shoot down a plane.

To hasten the evacuation pace, six commercial airlines have agreed to help the US government transport people out of Kabul.

On Sunday, the US called up 18 civilian aircraft from United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air and others to carry people from temporary locations after they landed on flights from Afghanistan, leaning on the industry it last called on during the Iraq War in 2003, Reuters reported Sunday evening.

The move highlights the difficulty Washington is having carrying out the evacuations following the Taliban's swift takeover.

American and Delta said they would start relief flights on Monday.

A U.S. Marine carries a girl to the gate at Hamid Karzai International Airport, August 20

The Marines and military forces are seen in pictures like this doing what they can to help the situation in Kabul airport, which has spiraled out of control

President Joe Biden said during a Sunday press briefing that about 11,000 people have been evacuated in the last 36 hours

Photos and videos showing tender-hearted moments of US Marines caring for children in the Kabul airport are a stark difference to the scene - similar to this - where barbed wire and armed forces have to control chaotic crowds and be vigilant for potential terrorist attacks

Meanwhile, British soldiers desperately shouted for medics and stretchers, as unconscious people were carried away, many being pronounced dead and covered in white sheets, according to a Sky News report on Saturday.

Other paratroopers tried to pull people - including young children - from the chaos, and stood atop compound walls, spraying the crowd with hoses to try and cool them down, as medics dashed between casualties.

There were also scenes of people left injured and bloodied, sat amongst piles of papers and discarded clothes near the site, while others stood shoulder to shoulder, amid sounds of screams and gunshots, the Sun reports.

Tweeting from the airport this afternoon, journalist Kim Sengupta said he had witnessed 'four people, all women, die from the heat and crush'.

Sky News' chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay also reported that people at the front of the crowd of thousands were being 'crushed to death', in what he described it as 'the worst day by far' at Kabul airport.

In a sign the crisis at Kabul is deepening, Germany's government today warned that access to the airport is not often possible' and that the area remains 'extremely dangerous'.
Eighty local councils have stopped using weedkiller and are testing alternatives, it emerged yesterday amid mounting anger at dangerously overgrown pavements.

In one area several elderly residents have ended up in hospital with head injuries after tripping or slipping on weeds that were allowed to flourish by the council.

According to figures from the campaign group Pesticide Action Network, 80 councils have banned or restricted the use of glyphosate pesticides.

At least 30 of these councils  many run by Left-wing administrations  have banned glyphosate pesticides altogether or decided to phase them out.

In one area several elderly residents have ended up in hospital with head injuries after tripping or slipping on weeds that were allowed to flourish by the council. Pictured: Lavington Road footpath in Worthing

According to figures from the campaign group Pesticide Action Network, 80 councils have banned or restricted the use of glyphosate pesticides. Pictured: London Road in Brighton

These include the London boroughs of Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, and Lambeth, plus Bristol, Lewes and Glastonbury.

In Brighton, residents and councillors are urging the council to rethink how they tackle the removal of weeds.

Brighton and Hove City Council, which is run by the Green Party, announced plans to end the use of glyphosate in 2019, citing concerns about its links to cancer in humans and environmental damage. The city aimed to replace the herbicide with new weed-killing techniques such as infrared technology.

Hundreds of residents signed a petition last year calling on the council to do more to tackle the excessive weed growth, saying they were an eyesore.

Independent councillor Bridget Fishleigh said in June that several people in Rottingdean ward had ended up in hospital with head injuries after tripping or slipping on weeds, including two women in their eighties. Some residents have taken action themselves by spraying weedkiller on pavements and by trimming verges.

The council said the issue had been worsened by staff shortages during the pandemic to its eight-strong team that removes weeds by hand. It is hiring a company to help remove weeds in future.

At least 30 of these councils  many run by Left-wing administrations  have banned glyphosate pesticides altogether or decided to phase them out. Pictured: Conservative MP David Morris tackling the weed problem in Lancaster

In nearby Worthing weeds dominate some pavements. West Sussex County Council, which covers the seaside town, uses a 'low toxicity' herbicide. Meanwhile, Conservative MP David Morris has accused Lancaster City Council  currently run by a coalition of Green, Labour and independent councillors  of 'failing to provide a basic public service' after it stopped using weedkiller. He has taken direct action, helping to clear the weeds himself.

North Yorkshire County Council has faced a backlash after restricting use of weedkiller to once a year for 'environmental reasons'. Councillors claimed last month that streets in affluent market towns such as Skipton and Catterick had been left looking 'like a jungle' with weeds up to two and a half feet high.

Weeds have also been sprouting in Cambridge. In 2019, the city council banned the use of herbicides in all its parks and open spaces and committed itself to testing alternatives.

Pesticide Action Network said the number of councils restricting or banning pesticides was a 'success story'.

Its campaign stemmed from work by the World Health Organisation's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). In 2015 the IARC said glyphosate  the most popular type of weedkiller  was 'probably carcinogenic to humans'. This has led countries such as France to ban it for urban use.
Online grooming of children shot up during the pandemic with almost half of offences carried out via apps owned by Facebook, a major report said yesterday.

The NSPCC said offences of sexual communication with a child recorded by police went up nearly 70 per cent between 2018 and 2021.

In the 12 months following the beginning of the first Covid lockdown in March 2020, offences documented went up by 9 per cent to a record 5,441.

Online grooming of children shot up during the pandemic with almost half of offences carried out via apps owned by Facebook, a major report said yesterday. Picture: Stock

The charity blamed social media giant Facebook for failing to remove as much abusive material from its sites during the pandemic as it normally did.

The NSPCC report said that Facebook-owned apps, including Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger, were used in almost half of offences where the means of communication was known in 2020/21.

It added: The true scale of grooming is likely to be higher as Facebook tech failures saw a drop in removal of abuse material during the pandemic.

The charity called for the strengthening of the Governments Online Safety Bill, which MPs and peers will revise next month, and said it should include measures to ensure that managers at social media firms like Facebook who make abusive messages easier to send are personally liable.

Raped and killed aged 15 At the age of 15, Kayleigh Haywood was groomed online and then raped and killed in a forest. After being contacted on Facebook by paedophile Luke Harlow in November 2015, the pair exchanged 2,643 increasingly explicit messages via text and online over a 13-day period. Kayleigh, from Measham, Leicestershire, ended up meeting up with Harlow and being plied with alcohol. Kayleigh Haywood was groomed online and then raped and killed in a forest The paedophile was then joined by neighbour Stephen Beadman. The schoolgirl was held prisoner by the pair for six hours before being raped in the woods by Beadman. He then killed the teenager with a brick. Beadman was sentenced to a minimum term of 35 years, while Harlow was jailed for 12 years for sexual touching and falsely imprisoning Kayleigh. The judge at the trial said the case highlighted the dangers young social media users faced. Advertisement

The pressure for tighter regulation will ratchet up already high levels of controversy around the Bill  with senior media figures concerned about the powers it gives Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden and social media platforms to block or remove news content.

The report, based on freedom of information material gathered from 42 police forces in England and Wales, said there were 5,441 sexual communication with a child offences recorded between April 2020 and March 2021.

This was an increase of 69 per cent from 3,217 in the same 12 months of 2017 and 2018, following the establishment of the offence in 2015.

The law makes it a crime for someone over 18 to use the internet to try and get a sexual response from a child under 16 and carries a maximum sentence of five years jail.

The NSPCC said: When comparing data provided by the same 42 police forces for 2019/20, there was also an annual increase of 9 per cent  making the number of crimes recorded last year a record high.

Instagram was the most common site used by offenders, flagged by police in 32 per cent of instances where the platform was known last year.

NSPCC accused tech firms of failing children during lockdown because of historic inaction to design their sites safely for young users.

Andy Burrows, head of child safety online policy at the NSPCC, said: Year after year tech firms failings result in more children being groomed and record levels of sexual abuse... The Government must put child protection front and centre of legislation and ensure the Online Safety Bill does everything necessary to prevent online abuse.

Facebook said it works quickly to find, remove and report this abhorrent behaviour. It added: We also block adults from messaging under 18s they are not connected with and have introduced technology that makes it harder for potentially suspicious accounts to find young people.

With tens of millions of people in the UK using our apps every day, we are determined to continue developing new ways to prevent, detect and respond to abuse.

Facebook also said it had this year implemented similar measures on Instagram.

The firm added: We are designing ways to catch those who, despite our best prevention efforts, violate our policies to cause harm.
The resistance army battling back against the Taliban today issued a message of defiance, saying claims that their surrender was being negotiated was 'propaganda'.

Ex-Afghan soldiers - many trained by Western troops - have joined forces with local militia from a base in the Panjshir Valley, north-east of Kabul, and yesterday vowed that they are ready for 'sacrifice and martyrdom' to defeat the insurgents.

The group is fighting under the banner The National Resistance Front of Afghanistan [NRF] and is led by Sandhurst-trained Ahmad Massoud.

Sandhurst-trained Ahmad Massoud, 32, who also studied at King's College, London, is nicknamed 'Heir to the Lion' or 'Lion Cub' after his father, a famed Mujahideen commander known as the 'Lion of Panjshir' after the region that he ruled and defended.

The Taliban claimed on Monday that they had retaken three districts north of Kabul capital seized the day before and had surrounded Panjshir, the last province that remains out of their control.

They said they were negotiating with the rival forces to secure their surrender.

However, Ali Maisam Nazary, the head of foreign relations for the NLF, rubbished the claim on Twitter, saying that 'no one is going to surrender the Panjshir and @AhmadMassoud01 will defend the valley with all he has.'

His statement came after Massoud wrote in the Washington Post last week: 'No matter what happens, my mujahideen fighters and I will defend Panjshir as the last bastion of Afghan freedom.'

The resistance army battling back against the Taliban today issued a message of defiance, saying claims that their surrender was being negotiated was 'propaganda'

Ex-Afghan soldiers - many trained by Western troops - have joined forces with local militia from a base in the Panjshir Valley, north-east of Kabul, and yesterday vowed that they are ready for 'sacrifice and martyrdom' to defeat the insurgents

On Sunday, armed guerrilla fighters - who have reportedly killed 30 enemy fighters and captured a dozen others - drove the Taliban from the Pul-e-Hesar, Dehe-Salah and Bano districts.

As the Taliban vowed to up their campaign against the resistance, fighters were last night surrounding Panjshir, the last remaining Afghan stronghold, in preparation to attack should proposed peace talks fail.

Yesterday spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid told the Mail that if the talks collapse then the insurgents are 'ready to fight.' 'The enemy is under siege in Panjshir,' he said.

'At the same time talks are under way. If these fail we have enough forces and [are] ready to fight. I hope this problem will be resolved soon.'

On the earlier clashes for control of areas of Baghlan, he added: 'There are no problems, it's cleaned up, our forces have full control of them.

The mountainous Panjshir Valley, known for its natural defences, has never been under Taliban control, partly thanks to Massoud's father.

The potential showdown loomed as a firefight outside Kabul's international airport killed an Afghan soldier early on Monday, highlighting the perils of evacuation efforts.

The group is fighting under the banner The National Resistance Front of Afghanistan [NRF] and is led by Sandhurst-trained Ahmad Massoud (pictured). Sandhurst-trained Ahmad Massoud, 32, who also studied at King's College, London, is nicknamed 'Heir to the Lion' or 'Lion Cub' after his father, a famed Mujahideen commander known as the 'Lion of Panjshir' after the region that he ruled and defended

The shooting came as the Taliban moved to shore up their position and eliminate pockets of armed resistance to their lightning takeover earlier this month.

The Taliban warned yesterday that any attempt by U.S. troops to delay their withdrawal to give people more time to flee would 'provoke a reaction.'

The Taliban said they retook three districts north of the capital seized by opponents the day before and had surrounded Panjshir, the last province that remains out of their control.

Afghanistan's security forces collapsed in the face of the Taliban advance, despite 20 years of Western training and assistance.

Since then, tens of thousands of Afghans have sought to flee the country, fearing a return to the brutal rule the Taliban imposed the last time they ran Afghanistan.

That has led to chaos at the airport in Kabul, the main route out of the country.

U.S. President Joe Biden has not ruled out extending the evacuation beyond Aug. 31, the date he set for completing the pullout of U.S. forces. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson plans to press Biden for an extension.

But Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen, in an interview with Sky News, said August 31 is a 'red line' and that extending the American presence would 'provoke a reaction.'

Gunfire broke out early Monday near an entrance to the airport, where at least seven Afghans died a day earlier in a panicked stampede of thousands of people.

People flee their homes and travel on Kandahar-Kabul highway, Afghanistan

Navy Capt. William Urban, a U.S. military spokesman, said an unknown assailant shot at Afghan security forces at the airport's northern gate, leading Afghan, U.S. and allied troops to open fire in response.

He said an Afghan soldier was killed and several Afghans were wounded.

An Italian humanitarian organization that operates hospitals in Afghanistan said it treated six patients with bullet wounds from the airport.

There was no comment from the Taliban, who in recent days have fired warning shots and lashed out with batons to try to control crowds swelling into the thousands outside the airport.

The tragic scenes around the airport have transfixed the world. Afghans poured onto the tarmac last week and some clung to a U.S. military transport plane as it took off, later plunging to their deaths.

At least seven people died that day, in addition to the seven killed Sunday.

The Taliban blame the chaotic evacuation on the U.S. military and say there's no need for any Afghans to flee.

They have pledged to bring peace and security after decades of war and say they won't seek revenge on those who worked with the U.S., NATO and the toppled Afghan government.

Addressing a conference of Muslim clerics, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid urged them to push back against Western 'propaganda' about the Taliban and said the U.S. was undermining their rule by sending planes and offering Afghans asylum.

But Mohammad Khalid, another Taliban official addressing the same gathering, struck a more ominous tone, saying 'history and Afghans will not forgive those who were trained in the U.S. and Europe and returned to kill their own people.'

He said foreign countries should not interfere in education, asking the clerics if they would 'tolerate a young girl sitting next to a boy at school.'

He also praised the role of suicide bombers in forcing the U.S. to withdraw.

The divergent messages raised doubts as to whether the Taliban are fully united behind the more moderate image their leadership is projecting.

On Sunday, armed guerrilla fighters - who have reportedly killed 30 enemy fighters and captured a dozen others - drove the Taliban from the Pul-e-Hesar, Dehe-Salah and Bano districts

There have also been reports in recent days of the Taliban hunting down their former enemies.

German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer told the Bild newspaper that the main obstacle to getting people out was the crowds outside the airport.

Asked about Taliban assurances of safe passage to the airport, she said: 'So far, I can say that what we need is being granted; the danger comes more from these uncontrollable crowds of people.'

As the airlift continues, the U.S. government asked for 18 aircraft from American commercial carriers to assist in transporting Afghan refugees to their final destinations after their initial evacuation.

Since August 14, the U.S. has evacuated or facilitated the evacuation of some 37,000 people on military and coalition flights.

Massoud (pictured centre) wrote in the Washington Post last week: 'No matter what happens, my mujahideen fighters and I will defend Panjshir as the last bastion of Afghan freedom.'

Those efforts are accelerating: In the 24 hours that ended early Monday, U.S. military flights ferried about 10,400 people to safety, an official said.

Tens of thousands of people - Americans, other foreigners and Afghans who assisted in the war effort - are still waiting to join the airlift, which has been slowed by security issues and U.S. bureaucracy hurdles.

U.S. special operations forces retrieved 16 more American citizens from outside the airport early Monday, according to senior military officials in Afghanistan.

Rescue missions that go beyond the airport walls require the approval of a four-star officer and are handled on a case-by-case basis, said the American officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss ongoing military operations publicly.

Meanwhile, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin ordered five men who were evacuated from Afghanistan placed under surveillance in France for possible links to the Taliban.

'France is human but it is also vigilant,' the minister tweeted Monday, along with a story by a French news agency quoting him about the suspicions.

Amid the evacuations, there are also concerns that a local affiliate of the Islamic State group might target the crowds outside the airport with suicide bombers or fire missiles at U.S. aircraft.

Military planes have been executing corkscrew landings, and other aircraft have fired flares upon takeoff - both measures used to avoid missile attacks.

The Taliban and IS have different ideologies and have fought in recent years, but one concern about the Taliban's takeover is that they could again shelter extremist groups.

The Taliban harbored al-Qaida while it orchestrated the 9/11 attacks, leading to the U.S. invasion in 2001.

The Taliban now say they will not allow Afghanistan to be a base for attacks on other countries.
Pharmacists will save thousands of lives and help prevent heart attacks and strokes by offering free NHS blood pressure checks.

The high street chemists will offer the life-saving readings to people aged 40 and over from October, under a new NHS contract.

Health bosses say the deal could prevent 2,500 heart attacks and 3,700 strokes, and save 2,000 lives over the next five years.

They believe 2.5million people could take up the offer of a check, with 250,000 being told they need treatment for high blood pressure, or hypertension.

Failing to treat the condition, through lifestyle changes or medication, can leave patients at increased risk of potentially fatal cardiovascular disease.

The checks will be available at more than 11,300 pharmacies that dispense NHS prescriptions, including Boots and Lloyds.

The high street chemists will offer the life-saving readings to people aged 40 and over from October, under a new NHS contract (file photo)

The NHS will pay pharmacists up to 45 for each reading they take, with results sent to patients' GPs for review.

Dr Shahed Ahmad, national clinical director for cardiovascular disease prevention at NHS England, said: 'Cardiovascular disease claims 136,000 lives a year and is a major cause of health inequalities with about half of heart attacks and strokes associated with high blood pressure.

'The detection and control of high blood pressure is one of the best things we can do to save lives and reduce health inequalities. Community pharmacists are ideally placed to deliver this life-saving work and I am delighted they are now offering blood pressure checks.'

The NHS began piloting the pharmacy check-ups in autumn 2019 but will now rollout the scheme nationwide.

Pharmacists will seek to identify patients who may have high blood pressure, conduct the checks, offer lifestyle advice and refer them to a GP where necessary.

Some may be offered ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, where they are fitted with a device that checks their pressure as they go about their normal life over a 24 or 48-hour period.

It is thought to reduce 'white coat syndrome', where anxiety caused by seeing a health professional can cause blood pressure to rise and give a misleadingly high reading.

Professor Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said: 'More high street heart checks for blood pressure will mean more rapid detection of killer conditions and quicker treatment for patients who need it.

Pharmacists will seek to identify patients who may have high blood pressure, conduct the checks, offer lifestyle advice and refer them to a GP where necessary (Pictured: UK pharmacy)

'Pharmacies are in the heart of communities and so they are ideally placed to provide these convenient checks so if you are worried about your health, please do get tested  it could save your life.'

Health minister Lord Bethell thanked pharmacists for the work they have done during the pandemic and their commitment for 'helping support a healthy nation'.

He added: 'These new blood pressure clinics are just one example of the vital, life-saving check-ups pharmacies provide.'

Pharmacies will also play a greater role in NHS quit smoking services, by offering support to smokers after discharge from hospital.

Charlotte Nicholls, of the Stroke Association charity, said: 'We welcome the rollout of these checks in pharmacies, which will make it easier for people to get checked locally.'
Victoria has recorded 50 new cases of coronavirus including an outbreak at a major hospital that forced dozens to isolate.

Mystery cases not yet linked to others in the outbreak halved from Monday to just 10 and 11 were infectious in the community.

They were diagnosed from 48,424 tests and 29,810 vaccine doses were administered on Monday, pushing the double-jabbed over 31 per cent.

Dozens of staff from another major Melbourne hospital are isolating after being exposed to Covid-19, as Victoria's coronavirus outbreak continues to escalate.

Victoria is in a harsh lockdown with masks required at all times outside, with no end in sight at least until there are much higher vaccination rates

The state's Covid-19 Testing Commander Jeroen Weimar said health teams are working around the clock 'to run after all these cases'.

But if Victorians continued to work together then 'we can absolutely' put a ring around the outbreak and come out of lockdown on September 2, he added.

'Those numbers will continue to rise but the onus is now on the wider community because this Delta moves wildly quickly,' he said.

St Vincent's Hospital confirmed 24 emergency department staff are now in quarantine after being 'potentially exposed to Covid-19', a spokesman said on Monday night.

The hospital's emergency department has been listed as a tier two exposure site with anyone who visited on August 14 between 7.20am and 5.40pm urged to get tested and isolate until a negative result.

Victoria has recorded 71 new cases of coronavirus , its biggest increase in a single day since the tail end of the state's second wave last September. Pictured are health workers at a drive-through COVID-19 Vaccination Centre in Campbellfield.

Hundreds of staff from Royal Melbourne Hospital (pictured) have been plunged into isolation as the outbreak grew to 10 cases

St Vincent's continues to operate as normal with no impact on the hospital's wider services, and its infection control team is providing support 'as a matter of urgency'.

Royal Melbourne Hospital is dealing with its own outbreak after five staff and patients tested positive after surgery was performed on an infected Shepparton man on August 12.

Late on Monday, the government added Notre Dame College in Shepparton, Sirius College Meadow Fair Campus in Broadmeadows and a Woolworths supermarket at Altona North to an expanding list of tier one exposure sites.

Meanwhile, new rules around childcare and authorised workers came into effect overnight.

From 11.59pm Monday only authorised workers can access childcare, kindergarten and early childhood services, with workforce permits required to leave home for work.

Workforce caps will apply across several industries including construction, abattoirs, meat, poultry and seafood processing.
Victoria Police have handed out $305,000 in fines to attendees of the illegal engagement party that triggered the state's latest lockdown and saw an outpouring of vile anti-Semitic abuse.

Young Jewish couple Michal Franck and Yoni Rubin hosted the illegal celebration earlier this month in their St Kilda home with 69 family and friends turning up.

Authorities have since responded handing out 56 fines worth $5,452 to the partygoers, coming to a whopping total of $305,000.

'Victoria Police has now issued 56 x $5,452 fines to people who attended the Caulfield North engagement party,' the department said in a statement.

'The remaining party guests were children and will not be fined. Victoria Police is satisfied all guests have been accounted for and the investigation has now concluded.'

Daily Mail Australia has learned the pair are now in hiding after being targeted in an anti-Semitic campaign since they were publicly exposed last week.

Michal Franck (left) and Yoni Rubin (right) sparked outrage after hosting an engagement party for 69 people inside a Melbourne home in direct breach of the city's lockdown rules. Ten people who attended have since tested positive to Covid

Law student Yoni's father is Kalman Rubin, 68, a Victoria Legal Aid chairman and celebrated psychologist while his mother Timmy (together left, and right at engagement party) runs a ritual bathhouse for married Jewish women

Social media has always been a hive anti-Senitism, but it has exploded in the past week

Victoria has recorded 50 new cases of coronavirus on Tuesday including an outbreak at a major hospital that forced dozens to isolate.

Mystery cases not yet linked to others in the outbreak halved from Monday to just 10 and 11 were infectious in the community.

The number of Covid-19 cases now linked to their engagement party grew to at least 10 over the past few days, with the story making international headlines.

Sixty-nine people had attended the illegal gathering on August 11 in St Kilda.

The children of a prominent psychologist and a cancer specialist doctor, Daily Mail Australia has been told the orthodox community has rallied behind the families in the days following their public outing.

A source within the tight-knit Jewish Orthodox community has revealed the much-loved couple has been forced to hire private security to protect them after receiving numerous death threats.

The party had initially been condemned by St Kilda Rabbi Ronnie Figdor, who said the couple 'should have known better' and his community was upset and disappointed.

Jewish leaders have since gone to ground as angry Australians turned their hatred on the entire community.

The video of the party, which was taken by a close friend of the couple, showed guests crammed into a small room as Yoni Rubin mocked the lockdown laws they were flouting.

Daily Mail Australia can reveal the video had been shared among friends in a WhatsApp messenger group.

Someone within that group shared the video and within hours it went viral.

The hate campaign swung into full gear days later when an unusually angry Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews during his Covid press conference on Monday slammed attendees for their 'selfish choices'.

'They are sh**ty choices and they keep us all locked down for longer than we should be,' Mr Andrews said.

'Every time even a small number of people make really bad choices, selfish choices, it take away from the hard work that so many millions more are doing, and it extends these lockdowns because it makes it more likely that we will have more cases.'

The Jewish community has been appalled by the level of hatred sent their way over the past week

The groom-to-be mocked Victoria's lockdown laws, saying: 'Clearly this is legal because this is a group therapy session'. He then pointed out his father, who is a psychologist, as another reveller jeered 'he's a mental health clinician'

So furious was Mr Andrews, he turned-up at Monday's press conference with Victoria Police Commissioner Shane Patton, who read Victorians the riot act in a display of solidarity with his political master.

Mr Andrews inadvertently fanned the flames of hate further when he deliberately made note that those who attended the party had all shared a religious affiliation.

'This is not an act of faith. This is not part of any cultural practice. This is just bad behaviour," he said.

Staff continued to refer to the 'Jewish community cluster' for days until Covid commander Jeroen Weimar took a bullet for the team and apologised.

'I am hugely disappointed that my words have been interpreted as a slight or criticism of the Orthodox Jewish community  this was absolutely not intended,' he said on Thursday.

'I apologise to Melbournes Jewish community for the hurt and harm that my words have done.'

Michal's father Dr Mark Franck (above), 52, is a skin cancer expert. He laughed as his future son-in-law made a joke about Victoria's lockdown

CALL FOR CALM FROM JEWISH LEADERS Chairman of the Anti-Defamation Commission, Dr Dvir Abramovich, has witnessed open slather against the Jewish community. 'This erodes the unity our state needs now more than ever. We know that in times of crisis, those wishing to sow discord can drown out the voices of reason, and this singling out and disparaging of Jews is dangerous,' he said. 'I applaud the swift and decisive action by the RMH, sending the unmistakable message that antisemitism will never find a safe haven in their institution. 'There is never any excuse or justification for this kind of disturbing and ugly rhetoric. I also welcome the strong and principled condemnation by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton of the tsunami of antisemitic expression and abuse directed at the Jewish community.' 'Leaders need to lead, and I urge all elected representatives to call out this racist blame-game because if they dont, there is risk that this kind of hateful rhetoric and harassment of the Jewish community will take on a life of its own and end in tragedy.' 'This threat cannot go on unchecked, and we must make sure that a further escalation in antisemitism does not become a side effect of this virus.' Advertisement

But the floodgates were already open.

The Royal Melbourne Hospital took almost instant action against a staff member for making racist comments.

The comment was made on a Facebook post where people were discussing how the party had the potential to create a superspreader event that could keep Melbourne locked down longer.

It had suggested the couple be 'put in the gas chamber'.

Since then, things have gone from bad to worse for the couple and parents of the bride, who all copped a $5452 fine.

Michal's father Dr Mark Franck, 52, is a skin cancer expert, while law student Yoni's father is Kalman Rubin, 68, a Victoria Legal Aid chairman and celebrated psychologist.

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency has launched its own investigation into the party, with the power to suspend the licenses of negligent medics.

'We are aware that Victoria Police have stated that they intend to take action with respect to individuals who attended the event,' an APHRA spokesperson said this week.

This week, the Victorian premier attempted to clean up the fallout from his scathing press conference.

'Anti-Semitism is unacceptable and evil,' he said. 'We have a zero tolerance approach to that in our state.

'There's no sense that anyone needs to be harassing anybody and there is never, ever, a place in Victoria for anti-Semitic behaviour or language, it's simply evil.

'We called out some bad behaviour yesterday, we didn't call out a community, because that would be simply unfair and wrong.'

Chairman of the Anti-Defamation Commission, Dr Dvir Abramovich, told Daily Mail Australia the entire Jewish community had been stunned by the level of anti-Semitism following the St Kilda incident.

St Kilda Rabbi Ronnie Figdor admitted the couple 'should have known better'

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and his cronies threw the Jewish community under the bus with their continued references

'The genie of antisemitism is out of the bottle. Words do not exist to describe the rage I feel right now. As this pandemic disrupts and takes a toll on our lives, we are seeing the outright scapegoating and the pointing of fingers at the Jewish community for this extended lockdown spiral out of control,' he said.

A quick look at social media shows a litany of outrageous, unvetted comments on mainstream news sites.

'A good shower would sort em out,' one man posted - in reference to the gassing of Jews in false shower blocks during World War II.

Dr Abramovich said the degree of anger from some Australians had 'rocked the Jewish community to its core'.

'We know that anti-Semitism is at record highs in this country, but the volume and the viciousness and the cruel comments that have been posted, I think it has taken a lot of people by surprise. It's quite chilling,' he said.

'Seizing on fear and existing anti-Semitic sentiments, this engagement party has become a vehicle for malicious stereotyping and generalising, demonisation and calls for violence which are frightening in their intensity.'
Meditating for just ten minutes each day can cause marked changes in both your ability to switch between general states of consciousness and overall concentration.

Evidence for these changes appeared in brain scans of ten students after just eight weeks of making the practice a habit, experts led from Binghamton University found.

The finding that meditation can improve connections within the brain's 'dorsal attention network' is of particular interest, the team explained.

Problems in this network  which is engaged when we concentrate on specific tasks  has previously been linked to both Alzheimers disease and autism.

Meditating for just ten minutes each day can cause marked changes in the ability to switch between states of consciousness  boosting your concentration (stock image)

Evidence for these changes appeared in brain scans of ten students after just eight weeks of making the practice a habit, experts led from Binghamton University found. Pictured: heat maps showing increased functional connectivity follow regular meditation in the posterior cingulate cortex (a), right middle temporal (b), right superior parietal lobule (c, d) and left superior parietal lobule (e, f) regions

Easy three-minute meditation exercise Try this meditation technique suggested by Marina Grazier, co-founder of The Mindfulness Exchange. Making sure youre comfortable and in a quiet space, set a timer for three minutes. It will pass more quickly than you think. Sit in an upright chair and close your eyes. Tune in to your breathing and ask yourself: What am I thinking? What feelings do I notice? What bodily sensations do I detect (for instance, a stiff neck)? Dont try to change anything; simply acknowledge these sensations, then let them go. Narrow your focus to the feeling of breathing and how your abdomen expands as you breathe in, and falls back as you breathe out. Now, focus on your whole body  slowly moving your fingers and toes, again noting the movements you are making. Open your eyes  take a few moments to readjust to your surroundings and continue your day feeling refreshed Advertisement

The study was the result of a conversation between computer ethicist George Weinschenk and neuroimaging expert Weiying Dai, who hold neighbouring offices in the computer science department at New York's Binghamton University.

Dr Weinschenk is a long-time practitioner of mediation, having studied at the Namgyal Monastery in Ithaca, New York, which has connections to the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of the dominant school of Tibetan Buddhism.

'I developed very close friendships with several of the monks. I even received instruction from some of the Dalai Lamas teachers,' Dr Weinschenk told the Times.

'I took classes there, I read a lot and I earned a three-year certificate in Buddhist studies.'

When Dr Weinschenk told Professor Dai about the new meditation class he was running, she was curious to see if the alleged benefits might be quantifiable.

'I told Weiying [that] "meditation really can have a transformative effect on the brain",' Dr Weinschenk said.

'She was a little sceptical, especially about whether such a short amount of time spent learning how to meditate [] would make any difference.'

For their study, Dr Weinschenk recruited ten students who signed up for his class and, having taught them how to meditate, got them to practise for 1015 minutes five times every week.

Professor Dai, meanwhile, took MRI scans of the students' brain patterns before the course and then again eight weeks later.

One of the researchers, Dr Weinschenk, is a long-time practitioner of mediation, having studied at the Namgyal Monastery in Ithaca, New York (pictured)  which has connections to the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of the dominant school of Tibetan Buddhism

Comparing the scans revealed that, after learning and practising meditation, the students had gained more connections both between and among two networks in the brain  the 'default mode network' and the 'dorsal attention network'.

The former is used when the brain is awake but not particularly focussed, like when one is daydreaming. The latter, meanwhile, engages when the brain concentrates on demanding tasks.

According to the researchers, the increased brain connectivity would increase both the students' abilities to switch between default mode and concentration  as well as to focus more clearly once the attention network is engaged.

'Tibetans have a term for that ease of switching between states,' said Dr Weinschenk.

'They call it mental pliancy, an ability that allows you to shape and mould your mind.

'They also consider the goal of concentration one of the fundamental principles of self-growth,' he explained.

According to Professor Dai, problems with the dorsal attention network have previously been linked to both Alzheimers disease and autism.

'Im thinking about an elderly study, because this population was young students,' she explained of her future research plans.

'Im pretty convinced about the scientific basis of meditation after doing this study.'

The full findings of the study were published in the journal Scientific Reports.
Japan says it will send a spacecraft to take soil samples from the Martian moon Phobos, with the goal of returning them to Earth before the end of the decade.

The sample-return from Phobos will be part of the wider Martian Moon Exploration (MMX) mission, run by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

The mission is due to launch in 2024 and will involve a spacecraft first orbiting Deimos before landing on the larger Phobos to take a sample of rock and soil.

The 322million project will be the first to take a sample from a moon orbiting another planet and could return to the Earth as soon as 2029, JAXA confirmed.

If the mission goes to plan, the MMX probe will take off from largest of the two moons of Mars, Phobos, with 0.35 ounces of soil samples on board.

This is two years before NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) is due to return rock samples from Mars itself, currently being collected by the Perseverance rover.

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Japan says it will send a spacecraft to take soil samples from the Martian moon Phobos, with the goal of returning them to Earth before the end of the decade

The sample-return from Phobos will be part of the wider Martian Moon Exploration (MMX) mission, run by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

WHAT IS PHOBOS LIKE AND WHAT DOES THE NAME MEAN? Named after the mythological Greek character for panic or fear JAXA think Phobos may have ancient Martian soil on its surface Diameter: 13.8miles

Orbital period: 7.66 hours

Distance from Mars: 3,700miles

Discovered: 18 August 1877

Gets closer to Mars by about 6.5ft every one hundred years

Tidally locked to Mars Advertisement

Mars has two moons - Phobos, with a diameter of 13.8 miles, and Deimos, with a diameter of 7.8 miles.

JAXA wants to understand how they formed, including whether they are captured asteroids, and believes this mission will provide all the data needed to solve that puzzle and whether traces of ancient life are hidden within the soil.

To achieve that goal, it will send a spacecraft to Martian space that will enter orbit around Mars. It will then move into a Quasi Satellite Orbit around the moons.

While there, it will photograph and collect data on the moons, before moving to Phobos where it will land, collect samples, take off and return to Earth.

Japanese scientists say 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, said: 'Phobos is very unique in terms of its location to the host planet, Mars - Phobos orbits very close to Mars,' at about three times Mars radius.

That is about 3,700 miles from the surface, and as a comparison, the Earth's moon orbits about 60 times Earth's radius, or 240,000 miles.

'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 bio-signatures within the ejecta (by impact melting/vaporisation),' said Dr Hydo.

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 for analysis.

The mission is due to launch in 2024 and will involve a spacecraft first orbiting Deimos before landing on the larger Phobos to take a sample of rock and soil

'Even if microorganisms were present on the surface of Mars, sterilisation 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 said.

'Here, being "dead" is very important because there is an international rule, 'planetary protection', defined by COSPAR.

The 322million project will be the first to take a sample from a moon orbiting another planet and could return to the Earth as soon as 2029, JAXA confirmed

If the mission goes to plan, the MMX probe will take off from largest of the two moons of Mars, Phobos with 0.35 ounces of soil samples on board

Asteroid impacts on the Red Planet may have thrown microscopic life to Phobos billions of years ago 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 bio-signatures within the ejecta (by impact melting/vaporisation).' The research refers to the dead remains as 'SHIGAI' (Sterilised and Harshly Irradiated Genes, and Ancient Imprints), which includes sterilised 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. Advertisement

'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.'

The researchers refer to the dead remains as 'SHIGAI', or the Sterilised and Harshly Irradiated Genes, and Ancient Imprints.

This includes sterilised microorganisms and potential DNA fragments, and is similar to the remains being searched for on Mars by Perseverance.

'Understanding the origin and evolution of the planets that leads to the start of life is one of today's key scientific goals,' he said.

'As Mars is thought to have once had a surface environment similar to the Earth with the potential for life, the planet is one of the most important exploration targets.'

The agency will be the first to land on the surface of the moons with the aim of capturing and returning soil samples - although others have considered the idea.

'Understanding the origin and evolution of the planets that leads to the start of life' is one of today's key scientific goals,' JAXA explained.

'As Mars is thought to have once had a surface environment similar to the Earth with the potential for life, the planet is one of the most important exploration targets.'

JAXA expects the Martian moons to have accumulated sediment that was ejected from Mars over billions of years.

'Observing the moons will therefore provide information on the evolution of the Martian surface.

'Moreover, if the moons were formed during a collision between Mars and gigantic asteroids, the moon material will reveal the original conditions on Mars during this early time, offering insights into the planet's formation and its young environment.

'Alternatively, if the moons are captured asteroids, their composition will help clarify the transport process of volatile components (such as water) needed for habitability.'

JAXA is working with ESA and NASA on the mission, with the other agencies contributing technologies for examining the surface of the moon

This is two years before NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) is due to return rock samples from Mars itself, currently being collected by the Perseverance rover

WAS MARS EVER HOME TO LIQUID WATER? Evidence of water on Mars dates back to the Mariner 9 mission, which arrived in 1971. It revealed clues of water erosion in river beds and canyons as well as weather fronts and fogs. Viking orbiters that followed caused a revolution in our ideas about water on Mars by showing how floods broke through dams and carved deep valleys. Mars is currently in the middle of an ice age, and before this study, scientists believed liquid water could not exist on its surface. In June 2013, Curiosity found powerful evidence that water good enough to drink once flowed on Mars. In September of the same year, the first scoop of soil analysed by Curiosity revealed that fine materials on the surface of the planet contain two per cent water by weight. In 2017, Scientists provided the best estimates for water on Mars, claiming it once had more liquid H2O than the Arctic Ocean - and the planet kept these oceans for more than 1.5 billion years. The findings suggest there was ample time and water for life on Mars to thrive, but over the last 3.7 billion years the red planet has lost 87 per cent of its water - leaving it barren and dry. Advertisement

They won't just collect and return samples though, JAXA also plans to perform a number of remote sensing operations of Mars and its moons.

Using infrared light you can see that the surface of Phobos is not uniform, which suggests it has materials on it that may have come from Mars itself, the team said.

These samples will be compared to those gathered from the surface of Mars by NASA, ESA and even the Chinese space agency which is also working on a future sample return mission for the 2030s.

Perseverance, nicknamed Percy, landed on Mars on February 18, following a 239-million-mile journey, before spending 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.

Details of the mission are available on the JAXA website.
In an incredibly unlikely encounter, a 'vegetarian' giant tortoise has been filmed attacking a seabird - including biting its head off and consuming the rest.

The event, involving the large reptile and a tern seabird living on the Seychelles' Fregate island, was 'completely unexpected,' according to researchers from the University of Cambridge's Museum of Zoology, who witnessed the encounter.

It was the first time a tortoise has been caught deliberately hunting prey in the wild - previously they have been seen feeding on bones and snail shells for calcium.

Researchers believe this behaviour was driven by the large 265,000-strong tree-nesting noddy tern colony and the 3,000 tortoises, living closely on the island.

The chick likely fell from the tree above, landing on a log where the giant tortoise slowly approached, and over a seven minute encounter killed and fed on the bird.

In an incredibly unlikely encounter, a 'vegetarian' giant tortoise has been filmed attacking a seabird - including biting its head off and consuming the rest

GALAPAGOS GIANT TORTOISE: FAMILY OF MASSIVE REPTILES The Galapagos giant tortoise is a species of 15 very large tortoises, 12 of 2-3 of which are extinct. They are the largest living species of tortoise and some can weigh up to 919lb with lifespans of over 100 years. The number of giant tortoises in the wild declined from over 250,000 in the 16th Century to about 3,000 today, due to hunting and habitat clearance. While they are seen as herbivores, one species in Fregate island has been seen eating seabirds whole. They have also been known to consume snail shells and bones, assumed to be for extra calcium. The hunting on Fregate island may have been the result of habitat conservation driving population growth in noddy tern seabirds. Advertisement

The ground under the colony is littered with dropped birds and chicks that have fallen from their nests.

The 'hunting camera' video shows the bird standing there as the tortoise approaches, suggesting this type of interaction happens frequently.

In most places, potential prey are too fast or agile to be caught by giant tortoises.

On the Galapagos and Seychelles islands, giant tortoises are the largest herbivores and eat up to 11 per cent of the vegetation.

They also play an important role in dispersing seeds, breaking vegetation and eroding rocks.

That is according to Anna Zora, Fregate Island conservation manager, who filmed the hunting of the bird.

She said: 'When I saw the tortoise moving in a strange way I sat and watched, and when I realised what it was doing I started filming.'

The encounter was likely possible due to recent extensive habitat restoration on the island that allowed the tern colony to grow so dramatically.

'I couldn't believe what I was seeing,' says study author Dr Justin Gerlach, Director of Biology Studies at the University of Cambridge's Peterhouse College.

The scene was filmed in the woodlands of Fregate Island in the Seychelles, an archipelago off the coast of East Africa.

'It was horrifying and amazing at the same time,' according to the researcher.

The event, involving the large reptile and a tern seabird, living on the Seychelles' Fregate island, was 'completely unexpected,' according to researchers from the University of Cambridge's Museum of Zoology, who invested the encounter

On the Galapagos and Seychelles islands, giant tortoises are the largest herbivores and eat up to 11 per cent of the vegetation

In the video, an adult female tortoise makes a direct beeline at normal walking pace toward its target: a tern chick stranded on a log.

'It was looking directly at the tern and walking purposefully toward it. This was very, very strange, and totally different from normal tortoise behaviour,' said Gerlach.

Slow and steady, the tortoise stalks closer. When it gets within biting distance, it reaches out with its mouth open.

The chick tries to defend itself by pecking at the tortoise, but its efforts are futile.

It was the first time a tortoise has been caught deliberately hunting prey in the wild. Previously they had been seen feeding on bones and snail shells for calcium

Once the chick reaches the end of the log with nowhere else to go, the tortoise crushes its jaws directly on the head of the chick.

The limp chick plummets from the log. The tortoise climbs down and swallows it whole. The entire process takes seven minutes.

The giant tortoises on the island have been seen consuming bones and snail shell, but it was assumed these weren't hunted, and it was done to increase calcium levels.

'It's always been impossible to tell if the tortoise had directly killed the animal, or if it had just happened to sit down on one and find it conveniently squashed dead,' says Gerlach. 'Why turn down a bit of free protein?'

Researchers believe this behaviour was driven by the large 265,000-strong tree-nesting noddy tern colony and the 3,000 tortoises, living closely on the island

The chick likely fell from the tree above, landing on a log where the giant tortoise slowly approached, and over a seven minute encounter killed and fed on the bird

Giant tortoise found on the Galapagos islands is from a species thought to have gone extinct 100 YEARS ago A giant tortoise found on the Galapagos islands has been confirmed to be a species thought to have gone extinct 115 years ago. The adult female was discovered in 2019, and now a genetic analysis has confirmed her to be a Fernandina Giant Tortoise (Chelonoidis phantasticus). Ecuador's Environment Minister, Gustavo Manrique, confirmed the news on Twitter, writing: 'Hope is alive!' Many species of giant tortoises were over-hunted for their meat by European and other colonists who travelled to the Galapagos archipelago. The sighting came during an expedition to the island of Fernandina in the western Ecuadorian region of the archipelago in 2019. To prove the link, scientists from Yale University took samples from the female to compare to the remains of a male from the species Chelonoidis phantasticus. The last previous sighting of the species had been in 1906. Advertisement

He said in the video it appeared that the tortoise had previous experience capturing chicks on the logs, as if it was something that happened regularly.

When chicks fall, their instinct is to avoid the ground at all costs, 'this is likely why the chick remained on the log even while the tortoise crept closer,' Gerlach said.

He added, 'it looked to me like that individual had hunted successfully before; it seemed to know what it was doing.'

While this tortoise appears to be an experienced hunter, questions remain about how many tortoises hunt, how often they do it, how much nutrition they get from it, and if this is happening in other locations too.

'Could we be seeing a population of tortoises that is developing a new type of behaviour with evolutionary implications, or is it just an interesting observation at the moment?' Gerlach pondered.

He suspects that the conservation efforts on Fregate Island could be part of what is driving the emergence of this unusual behaviour.

Though seabird and tortoise populations have been on the decline for the past few hundred years, efforts on the island have revived the population of both to create a very unique combination of high bird and high tortoise populations.

Gerlach said the conservation efforts were 'recreating conditions for natural behaviours that people haven't seen for hundreds of years.'

'There's a lot of stories of tortoises eating snail shells for the calcium to make their own skeletons, but I don't see why they couldn't also systemically eat snails,' he said.

The researcher said that despite all the unknowns, the effort the tortoise goes to in order to eat a tern is considerable, compared to munching on plants, which suggests the seabirds are something of a delicacy to the reptiles.

The findings were published in the journal Current Biology.
Comet 2I/Borisov was the second interstellar object ever discovered when it was spotted it in 2019. However, there may be as many as 100 trillion interstellar objects like this in the solar system, significantly more common than first thought, a new study suggests.

Astronomers Amir Siraj and Avi Loeb at Harvard University's Center for Astrophysics suggest that approximately one percent of carbon and oxygen in the Milky Way could be locked in interstellar objects, with many of them located in the Oort cloud.

'There should be about a hundred trillion Borisov-like interstellar comets out to the edge of the Oort cloud,' Loeb wrote in an email to DailyMail.com

Scientists believe there may be 100 trillion interstellar objects like Comet 2I/ Borisov in the solar system in the Oort cloud. The Oort cloud is a theoretical concept of icy objects at the farthest parts of the solar system

Comet 2I/Borisov (pictured) was discovered in August 2019 by astronomer Gennady Borisov

The Oort cloud is a theoretical concept of icy objects at the farthest reaches of the solar system, according to NASA.

Scientists believe it's possible that the Oort cloud could have as many as 10 quadrillion objects in it, though that number is up for debate, given it has never actually been observed.

Siraj and Loeb speculate that the number of interstellar objects outnumber solar system objects in the Oort cloud.

'Before the detection of the first interstellar comet, we had no idea how many interstellar objects there were in our solar system, but theory on the formation of planetary systems suggests that there should be fewer visitors than permanent residents,' said Siraj, the lead author of the study, in a statement.

The Oort cloud is a theoretical concept of icy objects at the farthest parts of the solar system

'Now we're finding that there could be substantially more visitors.'

Discovered in August 2019 by astronomer Gennady Borisov, Comet 2I/Borisov is believed to have come from a twin star system 13-light years from Earth, starting its journey nearly 1 million years ago.

'Let's say I watch a mile-long stretch of railroad for a day and observe one car cross it. I can say that, on that day, the observed rate of cars crossing the section of railroad was one per day per mile,' Siraj explained.

'But if I have a reason to believe that the observation was not a one-off eventsay, by noticing a pair of crossing gates built for carsthen I can take it a step further and begin to make statistical conclusions about the overall rate of cars crossing that stretch of railroad.'

The research suggests ~1% of carbon and oxygen in the Milky Way are in interstellar objects

Despite their supposed abundance, only two interstellar objects - Borisov and the much-debated 'Oumuamua - have been spotted.

When asked if any of the interstellar objects emanating from the Oort cloud could be similar in nature to 'Oumuamua, Loeb told DailyMail.com that since it was not made of carbon or oxygen, it leaves open the possibility the object it is 'artificial' or extraterrestrial, in origin.

Siraj believes that is because humanity does not have the technology yet, when factoring in that the Oort cloud is anywhere between 200 billion to 100 trillion miles away from the sun and the objects in the cloud don't produce their own light.

Senior astrophysicist Matthew Holman, who was not involved in the study, said the research could have broader implications much closer to Earth and help humanity understand the solar system better.

'These results suggest that the abundances of interstellar and Oort cloud objects are comparable closer to the Sun than Saturn,' Holman explained in the statement. 'This can be tested with current and future solar system surveys.'

'When looking at the asteroid data in that region, the question is: are there asteroids that really are interstellar that we just didn't recognize before?' he asked.

'We think they are asteroids, then we lose them without doing a detailed look.'

Siraj hopes that next-generation technology, such as the launch of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory - scheduled for 2022 - will help in the discovery of more interstellar objects.

Other telescopes, such as the Transneptunian Automated Occultation Survey, which may come online later this year, may also help humanity find more interstellar objects and debris left over from when planets formed.

'Our findings show that interstellar objects can place interesting constraints on planetary system formation processes, since their implied abundance requires a significant mass of material to be ejected in the form of planetesimals,' Siraj explained.

'Together with observational studies of protoplanetary disks and computational approaches to planet formation, the study of interstellar objects could help us unlock the secrets of how our planetary systemand othersformed.'

The research has been published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
A Neolithic cemetery dating back 6,000 years has been unearthed in Transylvania by researchers working at a historical site in Romania prior to industrial construction on top of the land.

The skeletons have pottery vessels atop their skulls or feet, which researchers say were used as offerings into the afterlife.

Excavations on the more than 10,000-square-foot area began in July and numerous graves were recently uncovered that still include the deceased's remains.

A large pit was also found nearby that was used to store food, which eventually turned into a landfill where household waste was discarded.

Along with the Neolithic settlement, the team also found remains of a Celtic civilization that lived on the same plot of land about 2,200 years ago.

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The skeletons have pottery vessels atop their skulls or feet, which researchers say were used as offerings into the afterlife

The ancient cemetery was unearthed in Iclod, a commune in Cluj-Napoca  the unofficial capital of the Transylvania region.

'Their story must be told, revealed, through such excavations. By learning more about them, we will know more about ourselves. We are the first to get our hands on these fragments, after thousands of years,' Paul Pupeza, an archaeologist at the Transylvania National History Museum, told gherlaininfo.ro in a translated interview.

'The field work is quite hard, we work in the dust, in the heat or in the rain, and the results are not always very spectacular. But we are privileged to take this look into the past and reveal something special!'

The Celts, who lived in these areas during the Dacian times - between 2,200 and 2,000 years ago - left traces of an incineration cemetery.

The ancient cemetery was unearthed in Iclod, a commune in Cluj-Napoca  the unofficial capital of the Transylvania region

A large pit was found nearby that was used to store food, which eventually turned into a landfill where household waste was discarded

A trove of pottery vessels were uncovered from the cemetery and from the a large pit found nearby

Unlike the Stone Age inhabitants, the Celts burned the dead and buried them in urns, which were buried in the ground along with other offerings, such as goods made of iron.

Romania has revealed several Neolithic artifacts over the past few years, including one discovery in 2014 where archaeologists found some of Europe's oldest human footprints.

Excavations on the more than 10,000-square-foot area began in July and numerous graves were recently uncovered that still include the deceased's remains

Romania has revealed several Neolithic artifacts over the past few years, with one interesting discovery in 2014 where archaeologists found some of Europe's oldest human footprints (pictured)

Archaeologists originally spotted the prints in 1965 in Romania's Ciur-Izbuc Cave. Located in the Carpathian Mountains, and were thought to belong to a man, woman and child and dated to 10,000 to 15,000 years old.

Radiocarbon measurements conducted in 2014 of two cave bear fossils unearthed just below the footprints suggests that these early humans left their impressions 36,500 years ago.

The technique involved measuring carbon-14, a radioactive isotope of the element that, unlike other more stable forms of carbon, decays away at a steady rate.

Writing in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology, the researchers claim that published research on footprints in Europe only go back as far as 33,000 years ago.
Wildfires raging across the planet this year have released a record amount of carbon dioxide, a leading ingredient in the greenhouse gasses that contribute to climate change.

According to data compiled by Mark Parrington, senior scientist at the European Union's Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS), fires have unleashed 4.7 gigatons (4.3 gigatonnes) of CO2 as of August 16.

In comparison, the 27 member nations of the European Union generated a relatively scant 2.7 gigatons, according to the International Energy Agency policy center.

It could still get worse: Wildfire season in Northern California doesn't traditionally end until October, according to the California Department for Forestry and Fire Protection, and in recent years, has stretched into December.

This year's rocketing CO2 levels, though, are in great part due to the more than 190 forest fires that have ravaged parts of Siberia .

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Wildfires in the Western US, Siberia and elsewhere have spewed 4.7 gigatons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere so far in 2021. Pictured: Firefighters at the scene of a fire near Gorny Ulus, west of Yakutsk

As of the start of August, NASA reported 505 megatons of carbon dioxide has been spewed into the atmosphere above the remote Sakha Republic in northeastern Siberia well past the 450 megatons released in 2020, with several more weeks of fire season to go.

The vast, thick, acrid fumes from hundreds of forest fires unfurled 2,000 miles from east to west and from 2,500 miles from north to south.

The smoke reached the North Pole, more than 1,800 miles away FROM WHERE?, in what NASA believed is a first, and also spread across parts of Mongolia, a distance of 1,200 miles.

Parrington previously indicated that, in July alone, raging blazes unleashed some 350 megatons of carbon dioxide, the leading ingredient in greenhouse gasses fueling climate change.

The amount of CO2 released by global wildfires surpasses the total emissions of the European Union, which is only 2.7 gigatons. Pictured: Volunteers at the scene of forest fire in Siberia

A chart of wildfires per year in the United States as of August 17, 2021

That's the highest monthly amount since satellites started analyzing CO2 levels 20 years agoand it's a fifth higher than the previous record for the month, set in 2014, according to CAMS.

Parrington said much of that was fueled by record heatwaves and prolonged droughts which were themselves driven by climate change.

Over the next few days, high concentrations of carbon monoxide from wildfire smoke from North America and Siberia will blow into Europe. Pictured: Firefighters try to contain the Dixie Fire near Milford, California, on August 17, 2021

'We've seen big areas of fires before,' he told New Scientist, 'but for two months at a time, that's not something we've seen so much of in the data.'

It's not just the US and Russia, however: Southern Europe has seen staggering fires in Greece, Italy, Turkey, Spain Portugal, and Montenegro.

In the Middle East, Algeria, Lebanon and Tunisia, have also been badly damaged.

In July, raging blazes unleashed 350 megatons of CO2, an all-time high for the month.. Pictured: Firefighters hold a water hose during a blaze in northern Athens on August 6, 2021

In the Amazon rainforest, there have been 267 major fires detected in 2021 so far, burning 60,000 acresor an area roughly the size of Los Angeles, according to the environmentalist site Monga Bay.

Unlike in the US, fires in the Amazon don't typically start naturallythey're set deliberately 'to clear felled trees and plants to make way for agriculture or renew existing pasture,' Monga Bay reports.

On June 27, the Brazlian government put a moratorium on unauthorized outdoor fires.

Fires in the Amazon don't typically start naturallythey're set deliberately to clear felled trees and make room for agriculture. The government put a moratorium on unauthorized outdoor fires in June. Pictured: Fires burn farmland across the Pantanal Wetlands in Mato Grosso state, Brazil in September 2020

However, President Jair Bolsonaro's deforestation policies have contributed to a 80-plus percent increase in fires in Amazonia between 2018 and 2019, according to Brazil's National Institute for Space Research.

On August 20, Parrington tweeted that, over the next few days, high concentrations of carbon monoxide from wildfire smoke from North America and Siberia will be blowing about 18,000 feet in the air into Europe.

High carbon monoxide concentrations at 500hPa (~5km) showing transport of #wildfiresmoke from N America & Siberia crossing Europe over the next few days in the @CopernicusECMWF Atmosphere Monitoring Service @ECMWF forecast from 20 Aug 00 UTC https://t.co/5tobYGE8Aq #wildfires pic.twitter.com/EuFSx7Jw80  Mark Parrington (@m_parrington) August 20, 2021

On August 22, the US's National Interagency Fire Center reported two new large fires, one in Colorado and another in Minnesota.

Intense and fast-moving fires also continue to burn in Northern California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and British Columbia in Canada.

Across the nation, 94 ongoing large fires have burned 2.47 million acres so far this year, the center reportedincluding the Dixie, Caldor, and Monument fires, which ate up thousands of acres over the weekend.

To date in 2021, 41,122 wildfires have burned approximately 4.6 million acres across the US alone.
Tyrannosaurus rex  the oft-dubbed 'king of the dinosaurs' had nerves in its jaw that would have allowed it to recognise varied parts of its prey and eat them differently.

This is the conclusion of experts from the Fukui Prefectural University, who scanned the fossilised lower jaw of a T. rex and reconstructed the nerve pattern within.

The fearsome reptiles may also have been adept enough with their mouths to use them to make nests, care for their young and even communicate with each other.

While the internal structure of the jaw has been studied previously in several fossil reptiles, this is the first such study to focus on T. rex, the team said.

Tyrannosaurus rex  the oft-dubbed 'king of the dinosaurs' had nerves in its jaw (pictured in orange) that allowed it to recognise varied parts of its prey and eat them differently

The fearsome reptiles (depicted in this artist's impression) may have been adept enough with their mouths to use them to make nests, care for their young and even communicate

WHAT WAS T. REX? Tyrannosaurs rex was a species of bird-like, meat-eating dinosaur. It lived between 6866 million years ago in what is now the western side of North America. They could reach up to 40 feet (12 metres) long and 12 feet (4 metres) tall. More than 50 fossilised specimens of T.Rex have been collected to date. The monstrous animal had one of the strongest bites in the animal kingdom. An artist's impression of T.Rex Advertisement

'T. rex was an even more fearsome predator than previously believed,' said paper author and dinosaur palaeontologist Soichiro Kawabe of the Fukui Prefectural University in Japan.

'Our findings show the nerves in the mandible (an area of the jaw) of Tyrannosaurus rex is more complexly distributed than those of any other dinosaurs studied to date.'

In fact, he continued, it is ' comparable to those of modern-day crocodiles and tactile-foraging birds, which have extremely keen senses.

'What this means is that T. rex was sensitive to slight differences in material and movement. It indicates the possibility that it was able to recognize the different parts of their prey and eat them differently depending on the situation.'

'This completely changes our perception of T. rex as a dinosaur that was insensitive around its mouth, putting everything and anything in biting at anything and everything including bones.'

Dr Kawabe and colleagues used computed tomography (CT) scans to reconstruct the 'neurovascular canal' of blood vessels and nerves running through the fossil low jaw of a T. rex unearthed from the Hell Creek rock formation in Montana.

They then compared their three-dimensional reconstruction to those from other dinosaurs  including Triceratops  as well as the neurovascular canal of species of living birds and crocodiles.

The team found that T. rex's neurovascular canals exhibit complex branching  especially in the front of the mouth.

'It is assumed that a similarly complex branching neurovascular canal would also be present in its upper jaw,' said Dr Kawabe.

'The neurovascular canal  with branching pattern as complex as that of the extant crocodilians and ducks suggests that the trigeminal nervous system in Tyrannosaurus probably functioned as a sensitive sensor in the snout.'

According to the team, the canal they revealed in the T. rex fossil was similar to that of another therapod, allosaurid, suggesting that they all may have had highly sensitive faces.

Researchers from the Fukui Prefectural University scanned the fossilised lower jaw of a Tyrannosaurus rex (pictured) and reconstructed the nerve pattern within

'It must be noted that the sensitivity of the snout in Tyrannosaurus may not have been as enhanced as that of the crocodilians, because Tyrannosaurus lacks thick neural tissue [in] the neurovascular canal, unlike extant crocodiles,' said Dr Hattori.

'Nevertheless, the sensitivity of the snout of Tyrannosaurus was considerably greater than that of the ornithischian dinosaurs compared in this study.'

(Ornithischian dinosaurs were those, like Triceratops, that had a pelvis similar to those seen in modern birds.)

'These inferences also suggest that, in addition to predation, tyrannosaurids jaw tips were adapted to perform a series of behaviours with fine movements including nest construction, parental care, and intraspecific communication,' Dr Hattori added.

The full findings of the study were published in the journal Historical Biology.

Dr Kawabe and colleagues used computed tomography (CT) scans to reconstruct the 'neurovascular canal' of blood vessels and nerves running through the fossil low jaw of a T. rex unearthed from the Hell Creek rock formation in Montana. Pictured: the location of Hell Creek, after which the formation  which outcrops more widely  is named
Virgin Hyperloop's cutting-edge technology can 'comfortably, safely and quietly' shuttle customers along at speeds of up to 670 miles per hour, according to a new promo video from the transportation start-up.

A clip released on Monday explains how passenger pods accelerate through a near-vacuum via electric propulsion, gliding along without actually touching the track thanks to magnetic levitation that limits aerodynamic drag.

According to the promo, the company's proprietary design makes it ten times faster than the fastest mag-lev trains operating today in in Japan, China and South Korea.

'It unveils details on our 'smart vehicle, dumb road' commercial system architecture,' a representative said of the clip, 'including the on-board levitation engines, propulsion engines, and high-power batteries that have never been publicly shown.'

It also sings the praises of the trains as an efficient, economical and sustainable mode of transportation with zero carbon emissions.

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A Virgin Hyperloop 'explainer' video shows how passenger pods zip along near-vacuum tunnels at 670 miles per hour using passive magnetic levitation

Virgin Hyperloop's 670 mph speed is ten times faster than a typical commercial train and three times as fast as current high-speed rail. (The top speed for Amtrak's Acela trains is about 150 mph.)

It's even faster than most commercial jets, which reach cruising speeds of about 460 to 575 mph.

Unlike commercial jets, the Hyperloop would have zero direct carbon emissions.

Hyperloop pods would travel in clusters but aren't connected like traditional railroad cars, and wouldn't have to be directed at the same destination.

'Just like a car taking an off-ramp, pods can split off while the rest of the convoy continues on,' the narrator explains.

Passenger pods can seat 22, but can be reconfigured for longer or shorter journeys or for cargo

The swift, 'on-demand' transport model would allow for 'tens of thousands of passengers per hour, per direction.'

In November 2020, Virgin Hyperloop co-founder Josh Giegel and director of passenger experience Sara Luchian became the first human Hyperloop passengers along the 1,640 foot white metal tube at its test facilities in the Nevada desert.

The trip took just around 15 seconds to complete and the pod only accelerated to slightly more than 100 miles per hour.

'It will feel like an aircraft at take-off and once you're at speed,' Giegel said in a statement at the time.

'You won't even have turbulence because our system is basically completely able to react to all that turbulence. Think noise-cancelling but bump-cancelling, if you will.'

The hyperloop system uses electric propulsion, with passive magnetic levitation in the tube, which is in near-vacuum conditions.

Passenger pods will seat 28 and could be reconfigured for longer or shorter distances, or for freight.

A rendering of a passenger pod accelerating through a near-vacuum via electric propulsion, gliding along without actually touching the track thanks to magnetic levitation

A hyperloop trip between New York and Washington, D.C. would take just 30 minutes, a quarter of the time of a high-speed Acela train, and half the time of a commercial flight.

Giegel predicts Virgin Hyperloop will go into commercial operations as early as 2027, revolutionizing travel the way trains, planes and automobiles did in the 19th and 20th centuries, he added.

'We're at like the very bleeding edge of what a high-speed autonomous battery-powered vehicle is,' he said.

The idea of a mag-lev train dates back to the early 1900s, when legendary rocket scientist Robert Goddard had the idea for a 'vactrain.'

Entrepreneur Elon Musk reignited interest in 2013 by setting out how a modern system would work in an open-source white paper.

A year later, Giegel, who worked at Musk's SpaceX at the time, co-founded Virgin Hyperloop with Richard Branson's Virgin Group as a partner.

A concept drawing of one of Virgin Hyperloop's slick, high-tech concourses. The company is looking to debut passenger routes in India, where the transport system is overloaded, and Saudi Arabia, which lacks an infrastructure

Virgin Hyperloop is looking to debut passenger routes in India, where the transport system is overloaded, and in Saudi Arabia, which lacks an infrastructure.

In May 2021, Virgin Hyperloop released concept images showing what travelers can expect riding in a 'passenger pod,' including comfy airline-style seating and an ultra-slick, high-tech concourse.

In August, Giegel praised the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which recently passed the Senate, for including provisions for hyperloop technology.

'We applaud the bipartisan group of senators and President Biden for their tireless work to advance the legislative process and bring a bill to the Senate floor, as well as Committee leaders who advocated to ensure hyperloop was part of this monumental legislation,' Giegel said in a statement.

Virgin Hyperloop co-founder Josh Giegel (left) and director of passenger experience Sara Luchian became the first human Hyperloop passengers in November 2020

Calling on the House to pass the measure, Giegel said the inclusion of hyperloop technology in the $1.2 trillion bill 'shows that we're on the precipice of a new era that will change the way we think about mobility in this country.'

Virgin Hyperloop isn't the only game in town, though: In 2018, Hyperloop Transportation Technologies signed a contract to develop a prototype 6.2-mile stretch of hyperloop between Abu Dhabi and Dubai that's expected to be complete by 2023.

If successful, it would lead to a full-scale hyperloop connecting Chicago to Cleveland in just 35 minutes by 2028.
Monkeys 'choke under pressure' just like humans, according to a study into their performance, and it is more likely when the rewards for their actions are higher.

Three rhesus monkeys were trained to perform a challenging 'reaching task' for varying rewards, by a team from the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania.

They found that if the reward went from small to large, the monkeys performance improved, but if it was a 'jackpot' reward, then they failed 25 per cent more often.

This is a form of 'choking under pressure' with the monkeys struggling with the reaching task if there was more at stake, which the team say was due to them monitoring their own behaviour and actions due to the 'higher risk'.

This has been demonstrated many times in humans across a wide range of tasks, and now the team have demonstrated the phenomenon in monkeys.

Monkeys 'choke under pressure' just like humans, according to a study into their performance, and it is more likely when the rewards for their actions are higher. Stock image

Three monkeys were trained to perform a challenging task by a team from the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, who tracked performance and reward. Stock image

Choking under pressure has been shown in humans under a variety of conditions, including motor tasks, test-taking, and performing in front of an audience.

To study how monkeys respond to high-risk scenarios, they were trained to perform a difficult 'reaching task' by Aaron Batista, Steven Chase and colleagues.

At the start of each trial the monkeys were told what the reward size would be, setting it at either small, medium, large or as a 'jackpot'.

Success in the task improved if the reward went from small to large, showing effort improved if the monkeys knew they'd get more out of their actions.

However, performance declined by around 10-25 per cent from large to jackpot reward levels - evidence of choking behaviour in the primates.

The Jackpot reward was 10 times the size of the medium reward and was presented on only five per cent of the trials.

The animals understood the cues, as shown by a separate two-target choice task, in which they chose the target with the Jackpot reward 100 per cent of the time, and they selected the target with the larger reward over 95 per cent of the time overall

This choking behaviour reliably occurred across tasks, sessions, and weeks and all three monkeys choked under pressure.

Success rates improved from small to large rewards for each subject, according to the team, who say this may be due to increasing reward increasing motivation.

It depended on both the magnitude and rarity of the jackpot reward being offered, and was likely linked to excess caution on the part of the monkeys.

Failures occurring at the highest level of reward were due to overly cautious reaching, according to the team.

They found that performance tends to improve inline with the size of the reward, but in some cases, when the benefit was particularly high, some people would 'choke'. Stock image

'Our results demonstrate that choking under pressure is not unique to humans, and thus, its neural basis might be conserved across species.'

When rewards were higher, the animals covered less distance during the initial component of their reach, resulting in undershoot failures.

They also spent more time homing in on the target during the final movement phase.

Taken together, the results suggest that choking under pressure is found across species, and may be at least partially attributed to explicit monitoring of behaviour.

According to the authors, animal models of choking under pressure could provide insights into the underlying neural mechanisms.

The findings have been published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The Hubble Space Telescope captured a stunning Einstein Ring 3.4 billion light-years from Earth.

This cosmic display, formally known as gravitational lensing, occurs when the gravitational field from a massive object in space warps space and deflects light from a distant object behind it.

It then results in a bulls-eye pattern, or Einstein Ring. It was predicted by the famed physicist, Albert Einstein, in 1915.

The image shows six luminous spots of light clustered at the center, four of which are forming a circle around a central pair.

The formation, however, only consists of two galaxies and a single distant quasar that is magnified as it passes through the gravitational field of the galaxies.

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The Hubble Space Telescope captured a stunning Einstein Ring 3.4 billion light-years from Earth

The quasar, known as 2M1310-1714, sits farther away from Earth than the pair of galaxies.

A quasar is the extremely bright nucleus of an active galaxy and its powerful glow is created by the incredible amounts of energy released by gas falling toward the supermassive black hole at its center.

The light from the quasar has been bent around the galaxy pair because of their enormous mass, giving the incredible appearance that the galaxy pair are surrounded by four quasars  whereas in reality, a single quasar lies far beyond them, the European Space Agency (ESA) shared in a statement.

This cosmic display, formally known as gravitational lensing, was predicted by the famed physicist, Albert Einstein, in 1915

In 1915, the German-born Einstein claimed that gravity is the result of massive objects warping the very fabric of the universe, what he called spacetime.

Experts have since been able to test his theory of General Relativity within the solar system and prove his groundbreaking work holds up to scrutiny, which has been with hundreds of Einstein Rings.

Thomas Collett, of the Institute of cosmology and gravitation at the University of Portsmouth, who discovered another Einstein Ring in 2018, said in a statement: General Relativity predicts that massive objects deform space-time.

'This means that when light passes near another galaxy the light's path is deflected.

'If two galaxies are aligned along our line of sight this can give rise to a phenomenon, called strong gravitational lensing, where we see multiple images of the background galaxy.

'If we know the mass of the foreground galaxy, then the amount of separation between the multiple images tells us if General Relativity is the correct theory of gravity on galactic scales.'

Data from the Hubble telescope identified a seventh spot of light in the very center, which is a rare fifth image of the distant quasar.

A few hundred strong gravitational lenses are known, but most are too distant to precisely measure their mas.

This rare phenomenon is caused by the presence of two galaxies in the center that act as a lens.
Archaeologists in Egypt have uncovered the remains of an urban settlement, akin to a modern-day mall, constructed by 6th century Christians over the remains of a Roman vineyard.

Evidence of such planned developments are 'extremely rare' in late antiquity, according to a report in the journal Antiquity, because structures built by the Greeks and Romans were still readily available.

The unique complex, made up of uniformly sized 'modules' was located in Marea, Egypt, now the present-day village Hawwariya, on the southern shores of Lake Mareotis near Alexandria.

Archaeologists believe it was built by Christian pilgrims on their way to Abu Mena, the site of a well-known monastery and a shrine to Saint Menas, a figure of veneration in Coptic Christianity, about 30 miles southwest of Alexandria.

The complex was set up to be a separate entity within Marea, with storefronts, a hospital, bathrooms and other amenities.

Archaeologists in Egypt have uncovered rare evidence of an urban hub with buildings with uniformly shaped 'modules' housing public baths, latrines, shops and other amenities

Merea was founded by the Greeks after Alexander the Great conquered Egypt in 332 BC.

By the time the complex was completed in the second half of the 6th century, it was part of the Byzantine Empire and home to the largest Christian basilica in Egypt.

European archaeologists have been excavating the site since the 1970s, but in 2017 researchers from the University of Warsaw's Polish Center of Mediterranean Archaeology (PCMA) began using 'non-invasive and geophysical methods' to more thoroughly investigate the site, according to the report.

The cutting-edge tech 'made it possible to identify magnetic anomalies indicating the extent of a dense urban area without defensive walls,' co-author Mariusz Gwiazda, a PCMA archaeologist, wrote.

Merea was located at what is now now Hawwariya, a village near the southern shore of Lake Lake Mareotis near Alexandria

The latrines at the complex in Merea 'were  set in a location away from houses, which proves that the city was developed for its time,' experts say. The connected sewers are in blue

Layout of the modular buildings in Marea. Such original urban planning was rare at the time, when most people just repurposed Roman and Greek structures

The discovery has 'revolutionized our understanding of this ancient city,' he added.

'The evidence presented here indicates that Marea was a well-planned town that took the basic needs of the civilian population into account, and the larger part of it was built within an urban planning project,' Gwiazda wrote.

Such new construction during the Byzantine period was uncommon because structures built by the Greeks and Romans were still abundant.

Archaeologists believe Marea's waterfront 'city within a city' (above) was built in the mid-500s AD by Christian pilgrims on their way to the shrine to Saint Menas at Abu Mena

This city-within-a-city 'was a big surprise to us,' Gwiazda told Ancient Origins, 'because around this period there were no new cities built in Egypt.'

The 32-acre settlement had no defensive walls, and consisted mostly of buildings with fixed self-contained 'modules' of about 45 feet by 33 feet.

In addition to shops and private residences, the modules included two public baths, five latrines set over a sewer system, and even a hospital, or 'nosokomeion.'

Inscriptions on pottery revealed the presence of a 'nosokomeion,' or hospital, in Merea's urban complex

'The presence of such a building, together with the two bath complexes and the latrines, indicates the care taken by the town's planners over the health of the residents.'

Inscriptions on pottery revealed the presence of the nosokomeion while, 'the toilets were  set in a location away from houses, which proves that the city was developed for its time,' Egyptologist Bassam al-Shamaa told Al-Monitor.

The rooms, which were not connected by passageways, combined to form a 'structural whole,' Gwiazda and co-author Tomasz Derda wrote in Antiquity, with a uniform front about 850 feet long.

A view of the nave of the basilica at Marea, the largest in Egypt during the Byzantine era

'Its main elements were a complex system of straight streets with adjoining buildings serving various functions and an artificial waterfront linked to an extensive port infrastructure.'

Gwiazda told Ancient Origins the structures found at Marea 'are not like any known buildings in the Mediterranean world.'

He believes this may be one of the last urban centers built by Egyptian Christians before the Arab conquest in the mid-7th century AD.
It has been decades in the making, but lake trout have finally returned to Lake Erie.

The New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) confirmed last week that wild fry, young trout, are swimming in the body of water that boarders Canada, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York.

This is the first time troutlings have been born naturally in Lake Erie in 60 years.

DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said in a statement: 'Today marks a key milestone in the restoration of lake trout in Lake Erie after six decades of significant investments to improve water quality and habitat and promote sound fisheries management.

'This phenomenal Great Lakes story of recovery is a testament to the perseverance of the researchers and biologists from DEC and partner agencies who worked tirelessly to help restore this fishery.'

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This is the first time troutlings, or fry, have been born naturally in Lake Erie in 60 years

The discovery is the result of an study that used sound to relay information across open space (acoustic telemetry) to identify potential lake trout spawning areas in eastern Lake Erie.

On May 14, DEC's Lake Erie Fisheries Research Unit staff collected multiple, recently hatched fry in fry traps on a rock reef about five miles west of Barcelona Harbor in Chautauqua County.

Scientists from Trent University recently identified the fish using genetic bar-coding, confirming they were born naturally in Lake Erie.

The New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) confirmed last week that wild fry, young trout, are swimming in the body of water that boarders Canada, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York

Although the number of wild lake trout fry collected earlier in 2021 was small, the discovery of evidence that lake trout are spawning and their eggs are surviving and successfully hatching is historic.

Following decades of research, this finding validates that restoring wild lake trout populations is attainable.

Lake trout were once the top predator in Lake Erie with records of fish measuring in excess of 50 inches and weighing 75 pounds.

Troutlings feed on plankton, insects and small invertebrates, while adults consume smaller fish.

Archaeological evidence shows Native American tribes fished in the Great Lakes as early as 3,000 to 2,000 BC.

However, European settlers eventually found their way to the region in the early 17th century AD and sparked the legal move for recreational fishing of trout, but by the late 1800s, the trout population had significantly declined.

Author Edward Guillet wrote in his 1933 book 'Early life in Upper Canada' that 'in some parts of Lake Erie single hauls of 90,00 whitefish were not unusual.'

The discovery is the result of an acoustic telemetry study that identified potential lake trout spawning areas in eastern Lake Erie

He also stated that in the Detroit River, fish were driven into pens by the hundreds of thousands to be later dried and used as fertilizer.

The overfishing continued until 1965, when officials considered lake trout to have been wiped out from Lake Erie.

Wildlife officials began efforts in 1982 to restore the population, which was done by annually stocking Lake Erie with lake trout.

Four years later, the Great Lakes Fishery Commission began killing off the invasive sea lamprey population to support lake trout rehabilitation efforts.

The sea lamprey is a parasitic jawless fish that feeds on other fish by attaching to them using a suction-disk mouth filled with rasping teeth and a file-like tongue.
Hollywood actor Chris Hemsworth has reportedly declined to appear in a star-studded advertising campaign promoting the Covid-19 vaccine in Australia.

The Byron Bay local, 38, who is best known for playing Thor in the blockbuster Marvel movies, was asked by the federal government in June to take part in the campaign featuring some of the country's most famous figures.

In return, the government agreed to let Hemsworth 'jump the queue' to receive a speedy vaccination of his choice, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

Thanks, but no thanks: Hollywood actor Chris Hemsworth has reportedly declined to appear in a star-studded advertising campaign promoting the Covid-19 vaccine in Australia

To an outsider, the offer would appear almost too good to be true.

At the time, Hemsworth was reportedly trying to secure himself a jab as quickly as possible so he could start working on a secret film project.

He was apparently 'reluctant' to get the AstraZeneca vaccine, yet could not access a Pfizer shot in his home town of Byron Bay, the newspaper claimed.

Offer: The Byron Bay local, 38, was asked by the federal government in June to take part in the campaign featuring some of the country's most famous figures. In return, the government agreed to let Hemsworth 'jump the queue' to receive a speedy vaccination of his choice

No dice: At the time, Hemsworth (pictured with his wife, Elsa Pataky, at their $30million home) was reportedly trying to secure himself a jab as quickly as possible so he could start working on a secret film project, but was hesitant about AstraZeneca and couldn't get a Pfizer shot

In the end, Hemsworth reportedly turned down the government's offer and sourced a vaccine 'elsewhere', without promoting the jab as part of a campaign.

It's unclear whether the forthcoming vaccine campaign will be a TV advert, social media drive or some other form of public service announcement.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Hemsworth's representatives for comment.

Poster boy: In the end, Hemsworth reportedly turned down the government's offer and sourced a vaccine 'elsewhere', without promoting the jab as part of a campaign. This is despite the fact he has served as a global ambassador for Tourism Australia since 2016

Hemsworth is no stranger to promoting messages on behalf of the government, having served as a global ambassador for Tourism Australia since 2016.

In October 2019, he fronted a $38million marketing campaign urging tourists from around the globe to visit the land Down Under.

A year earlier, he starred in a Crocodile Dundee-themed ad funded by Tourism Australia that aired during the Super Bowl in America.

Tourism Australia last week launched a campaign called 'It's our best shot' to promote the Covid-19 vaccine rollout.

While fellow tourism ambassador Hamish Blake has been happy to publicise his Covid vaccination, Hemsworth has remained silent.

Public service announcement: Tourism Australia last week launched a campaign called 'It's our best shot' to promote the Covid-19 vaccine rollout
Demi Moore showcased her youthful visage and gorgeous smile in a lovely selfie posted to her Instagram account on Sunday.

The 58-year-old actress highlighted her flawless skin as she beamed while wearing a stylish pair of gray cat-eye sunglasses.

'Sunday selfie,' she captioned the photo, which appeared to be taken abroad.

Magic hour: Demi Moore, 58, looked happy and relaxed while showing off her lovely smile on a trip abroad in a new 'Sunday selfie' posted to Instagram

Demi was pictured just off the water in a hillside city while wearing a black spaghetti-strap top and a thin gold necklace around her neck.

She seems to be keeping busy after enjoying a Greek vacation with her daughters earlier in the summer.

She posed with her oldest daughter Rumer Willis, 33, as they celebrated the July 4 holiday when cruising in a boat near Santorini.

Demi also shares two other daughters with her ex-husband Bruce Willis: Scout, 29, and Tallulah, 27.

The film actress was married to the Glass star from 1987 to 2000.

Traveling: Demi didn't specify where she was, but she vacationed in Greece's Santorini last month with her daughters; pictured with a beaming Rumer Willis, 33

Back in black: While abroad, Demi put her outstanding figure on view in a sleek black two-piece suit from Andie Swim, a company she has invested in

While abroad, Demi put her outstanding figure on view in a sleek black two-piece suit from Andie Swim, a company she has invested in.

The Ghost star put on a busty display in the skimpy suit and highlighted her flat tummy.

'Getting ready for another day in paradise,' she captioned the snap.

Demi and her daughters were recently featured in a campaign for the beachwear brand in which they modeled a variety of swimsuits and bikinis.

She invested in the company back in 2018.

Andie Swim was founded by Melanie Travis in 2017 as a direct-to-consumer swimwear company which allows buyers to try on and return as many items as they need via shipping.

Good times: Last week, Demi was featured in a nostalgic array of throwback photos from her daughter Rumer's childhood that she posted to Instagram, including one of her holding her daughter

Rugged: Her father Bruce was seen in one photo as he sweetly cradled baby Rumer while sporting a thick handlebar mustache and a soul patch

Last week, Demi was featured in a nostalgic array of throwback photos from her daughter Rumer's childhood that she posted to Instagram.

Her father Bruce was seen in one photo as he sweetly cradled baby Rumer while sporting a thick handlebar mustache and a soul patch.

Demi looked almost the same as today in a cute picture of her holding her first child aloft with a faux-shocked expression on her face.

Another photo appeared to catch the actress with the iconic pixie cut that she wore for her 1990 hit romance Ghost.
Khloe Kardashian showcased her ample assets as she posed topless with just her long hair protecting her modesty for a sexy polaroid on Sunday.

In a new video filled with a series of photos of the reality star, 37, posted to her brand Good American's Instagram, she could be sporting just a pair of cropped jeans, a diamond choker and black clear stiletto heels.

Other clips featured the mom-of-one in the same outfit with a nude bra, grey crop top and the same neon yellow manicure.

Busty display: Khloe Kardashian showcased her ample assets as she posed topless with just her long hair protecting her modesty for a sexy polaroid on Sunday

Later she changed into a cool camouflage jacket jacket, matching pants and a beige crop top, which highlighted her incredibly toned midriff.

She completed the chic ensemble with a pair of brown booties.

'I'm so excited because today is the day that Shein X Design contest challenge airs,' Kardashian later teased on her Instagram Story.

Sexy: In a new video filled with a series of photos of the reality star, 37, posted to her brand Good American's Instagram, she could be sporting just a pair of cropped jeans, a diamond choker and clear stiletto heels

Stripping down: Other clips of her featured the mom-of-one in the same outfit with a nude bra, grey crop top and the same neon yellow manicure

Hair flip: The star showed off her curves in a pair of figure-hugging jeans with distressed hems

Her post comes just days after facing fierce backlash for teaming up with the fast-fashion brand as critics point out that the Chinese retailer has been accused of piracy and mass pollution.

The beauty announced her collaboration with Shein on Instagram Wednesday, saying she will be a guest judge on the brand's upcoming Shein X 100K Challenge series.

Posting a glamorous photo of herself, Kardashian wrote: 'I am so excited to have teamed up with @sheinofficial to judge the #SHEINx100Kchallenge. The SHEIN X Designer Incubator Program gives talented fashion designers the ability to design a collection for SHEIN that will be seen by fashionistas all around the world!'

Trendy: Later she changed into a cool camouflage jacket jacket, matching pants and a beige crop top, which highlighted her incredibly toned midriff

Head-to-toe cool: She completed the chic ensemble with a pair of brown booties

'In order to fully support the SHEIN X designers, SHEIN produces, markets, and promotes the collections!' she added, urging fans to tune into the four-part series when it premieres on the Shein app.

Kardashian also offered her 175 million followers a discount code to get 20 percent off Shein's entire site while promoting the partnership.

The brand launched the competition in April as part of its Shein X incubator program, The Business of Fashion reported.

Glam: The Keeping Up With the Kardashians alum shared behind-the-photos from her latest photo shoot

The series will follow 30 budding designers as they compete to win $100,000 and a chance to have their designs sold on the company's website. The winner's looks will also be featured in Shein's upcoming Fall/Winter 2021 virtual fashion show.

Kardashian is one of five celebrity judges, which include designer Christian Siriano, stylist Law Roach, and former J.Crew creative director Jenna Lyons.

While the reality star is only serving as a judge on the show, critics lambasted her for promoting a company that has long been accused of copying other designers in its rush to release new products.

'I'm so excited because today is the day that Shein X Design contest challenge airs,' Kardashian later teased on her Instagram Story

'Shein is one of the most unethical fast fashion brands,' one person commented, while another asked: 'Is this a joke???? After Shein knocks off small designers.'

'Lmaoooo Shein supporting designers?!' someone else wrote. 'All they do is rip off small independent designs to make fast fashion.'

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.

The brand targets social media-savvy Gen Zers with its never-ending rollout of trendy pieces sold for incredibly low prices. A halter top sells for as little as $6 on the site, while a summer dress goes for $15.

Under fire: Kardashian has faced backlash for teaming up with the Chinese fast-fashion brand Shein

Promotion: The reality star announced her partnership with Shein on Instagram Wednesday, saying she'll be a judge on the brand's upcoming Shein X 100K Challenge series

The retailer has long been accused of copying other designers, but many of those who claim to be victims of piracy are small, independent labels without the resources to challenge an international giant.

Last month, Nigerian brand Elexiay called out Shein on Instagram for copying its pink and green hand-crocheted sweater. The company shared a photo of its $330 design next to Shein's remarkably similar version, which was being sold for just $17.

The sweater appears to have been taken down from Shein's site.

Another gripe with Kardashian's critics is that Shein is contributing to mass pollution. Roughly 350,000 tons of clothing are dumped in landfills each year, and some claim fashion is the world's second-biggest polluting industry after fossil fuels.

Many Shein items are made of polyester, a synthetic fabric usually derived from petroleum. When washed, they produce microfiber, which contributes to the huge volumes of plastic pollution in the seas.

'Fast fashion is bad for the environment  not cute,' one person commented on Kardashian's post about her Shein collaboration.

There were also unfounded criticisms about Shein's labor practices, which have been subject to speculation.

Fashion crew: Kardashian is one of five celebrity judges, which include designer Christian Siriano, stylist Law Roach, and former J.Crew creative director Jenna Lyons

While there isn't any evidence that the brand employs children or facilitates unsafe working conditions, some have found it suspect that the company hasn't disclosed its workers' wages or hours.

Siriano, Roach, and Lyons have also faced criticism online after they promoted the show on their own social media pages.

While Siriano announced that his team was deleting negative comments, Roach asked his fans to give the show a chance.

Fast fashion: Shein targets social media-savvy Gen Zers with its never-ending rollout of trendy pieces sold for incredibly low prices

'My Tribe please just watch this when it airs and you will see why I choose to do this!!! I promise you will be proud of me,' he wrote.

Lyons said she was also considering taking down negative comments out of respect for the young designers she met.

'The reason I participated  if you are interested  is because the ENTIRE PROCESS was designed to support young designers, and all of the contestants were incredibly talented, passionate, and deserving of a chance at winning 100k,' she explained.
There's a brand-new twist coming to Australian Survivor: Brains vs Brawn.

This week eliminated contestants will be given their choice of four urns to smash, with one containing a lifeline in the form of a 'saved' scroll, reports TV Week.

The new rule gives those voted out a 25 per cent chance of saving themselves, which could have huge ramifications for those still left playing.

Second-chance scroll: This week, eliminated Australian Survivor contestants will be given their choice of four urns to smash, with one containing a lifeline in the form of a 'saved' scroll

Just nine contestants remain out of the original 24 as the contest enters its last days.

The smashing of the urns will be overseen by the show's host, Jonathan LaPaglia.

The revelation comes less than a week after Chelsea Hackett dramatically departed the program upon falling ill.

The MMA fighter was taken to hospital with extreme dehydration and an infection, after two days of dizziness and headaches on set.

The Courier Mail revealed last Tuesday that the 21-year-old was sent to hospital in Cloncurry, Queensland.

Host with the most: The smashing of the urns will be overseen by the host Jonathan LaPaglia

Sick: Chelsea Hackett (pictured) has departed Australian Survivor after falling ill

She was pulled off the show on day 27 of filming after tribal council, and did not appear on Tuesday's episode.

'I was just worried. I wasn't feeling well at all,' she told the paper. 'I felt like I was losing weight really quickly.

'I knew my body would probably not react very well to that and it didn't. It started shutting down.'

Patient: The MMA fighter was taken to hospital with extreme dehydration and an infection, after two days of dizziness and headaches on set

In addition to an ear infection, she was so severely dehydrated that doctors were unable to take a blood test.

'They tried to do some blood tests but I was so dehydrated they couldn't take any blood,' she said.

'They got me on an IV drip straight away to put fluids back into my body.'

Oh no: 'I was just worried. I wasn't feeling well at all,' she told the paper. 'I felt like I was losing weight really quickly. I knew my body would probably not react very well to that and it didn't. It started shutting down'

Chelsea is a Gold Coast based mixed martial artist who won a gold medal at the IFMA Muay Thai Games in both 2014 and 2015.

She had a junior black belt in Taekwando by age 12, and transitioned into Mixed martial arts full-time in 2019.

The athlete was a member of the Brawn Tribe on the show, and boasted having 'a tactical mind and strong social game'.
The Great British Bake Off's COVID-safe filming bubble was allegedly a 'non-stop party.'

The Channel 4 baking programme formed the secure bubble at Down Hall, an established country house hotel in Hertfordshire.

The six-week takeover at the luxe hotel was to avoid staff and stars getting pinged.

Having fun: Great British Bake Off's COVID-safe filming bubble was a 'non-stop party' with an 'indie festival' and 'nightly bar visits' (from left to right: Paul Hollywood, Matt Lucas, Prue Leith and Noel Fielding)

Good times: Alongside partying into the early hours, comedian Matt hosted a quiz, with chef Paul trading whipping up meals for showing off with nunchucks

According to reports in The Sun, judges Paul Hollywood, 55, and Prue Leith, 81, alongside hosts Matt Lucas, 47, and Noel Fielding, 48, joined staff at the bar most nights.

Paul's girlfriend, barmaid Melissa Spalding, also stayed for two weeks, according to crew members.

Actor-come-host Noel and his wife, radio DJ Lliana Bird, 40, reportedly organised an 'indie festival' for staff.

Six-week takeover: The Channel 4 baking programme formed the secure bubble at Down Hall, an established country house hotel in Hertfordshire

Alongside partying into the early hours, comedian Matt hosted a quiz, with chef Paul trading whipping up meals for showing off with nunchucks.

To ensure minimal COVID risk, hundreds of the show's workers had no choice but to remain on sight once they arrived in early June.

One source said: 'Some nights we all went to the hotel bar and there was music playing and we carried on partying.'

Party animals: According to reports in The Sun , judges Paul, 55, and Prue, 81, alongside hosts Matt, 47, and Noel, 48, joined staff at the bar most nights

Constant partying: Actor-come-host Noel and his wife, radio DJ Lliana Bird, 40, reportedly organised an 'indie festival' for staff

Rules were reputedly adhered to by the Bake Off team during filming.

MailOnline has contacted a Channel 4 representative for comment.

Last month, cooking enthusiast and actor Jake Gyllenhaal, 40, revealed that he is a huge Great British Bake Off fan and confessed to being 'mesmerised' by Prue.

'In my mind, theres literally nothing that can beat The Great British Baking Show [the US title for GBBO].

'Though Prue is my favourite. Im mesmerised by her spectacles. Her coats or spectacles change and its almost as if they change every shot.

'Or do they change every show? I cant figure it out. And I just adore her. Prues fantastic. I do really love Mr Hollywood, but you know, shes amazing.'
Jem Wolfie has joined the chorus of OnlyFans creators reacting to the website's controversial anti-porn crackdown.

The 30-year-old model spoke to Perth Now on Sunday about the proposed new rules, which come into effect in October.

'I've had a million questions [about it],' Jem said.

Having her say: Jem Wolfie (pictured) has joined the chorus of OnlyFans creators reacting to the website's controversial anti-porn crackdown

Despite the website's rule change, Jem explained her output would remain the same because she doesn't post hardcore content.

'My OnlyFans content is staying exactly the same. I do not fall under explicit content, which is basically like full-on porn, which I don't do,' she said.

Jem charges fans $9.99 per month to view her sexually suggestive, but not sexually explicit, selfies and videos.

Not impacted: Despite the website's rule change, the 30-year-old model explained her output would remain the same because she doesn't post hardcore content

The subscription-based platform has announced it will be banning 'sexually explicit' content from October 1 due to pressure from financial backers.

Former V8 Supercars driver Renee Gracie, who has made $2million since joining OnlyFans early last year, told Daily Mail Australia she suspected the website's founders were just looking for free publicity by going public with the 'porn ban'.

'OnlyFans did something similar a while back. They made an announcement of clamping down on adult content, but it never happened,' Renee said.

Her take: Former V8 Supercars driver Renee Gracie (pictured), who has made $2million since joining OnlyFans early last year, told Daily Mail Australia she suspected the website's founders were just looking for free publicity by going public with the 'porn ban'

'It could just be the company looking for attention.'

Renee said porn is a multibillion-dollar industry for OnlyFans, which takes a 20 per cent commission from creators, meaning the company is unlikely to abandon it.

The brunette explained that OnlyFans had made a 'positive impact' on the sex industry by giving creators more control over their image and content.

Business: 'Porn is a trillion-dollar industry. It's never going away,' said Renee, who believes OnlyFans has made a 'positive impact' on the sex industry by giving creators more control

She suspects that if the platform bans porn, another website will just take its place.

'Porn is a trillion-dollar industry. It's never going away,' she said. 'The age of selling content is here.'

OnlyFans announced on Thursday it would be banning porn from October 1, in a move that will no doubt alienate a significant portion of its user base.

The move is part of the UK-based company's changes 'to comply with the requests of our banking partners and payout providers,' an OnlyFans spokesperson confirmed to DailyMail.com.

OnlyFans says creators can continue to share content with nudity 'as long as it is consistent with our Acceptable Use Policy,' which prohibits specific explicit content such as rape, torture, revenge porn and sex trafficking.

OnlyFans has more than 130 million users, over two million creators who have earned in excess of $5billion since its inception in 2016, but is struggling to raise money from outside investors.
Kaia Gerber showed off her enviable legs in a pair of spandex leggings as she headed to grab coffee in Los Angeles.

The 19-year-old model daughter of Cindy Crawford was seen making a pit stop at Coffee Commissary wearing an eye-catching red fleece on Saturday.

Kaia recently made the jump to acting with a stint on Ryan Murphy's American Horror Stories where she plays Ruby McDaniel  a lost soul stuck in the show's famed murder mansion.

Coffee run: Kaia Gerber, 19, showed off her endless legs in a pair of spandex as she stopped to grab coffee at Coffee Commissary on Saturday, August 21

The in-demand model looked incredibly leggy as she strolled through the parking lot in body hugging leggings with high socks and a pair of sneakers.

She looked fresh from a workout and appeared to keep her muscles warm with a very cozy looking red fleece jacket that fell at her waist.

Kaia's short brown locks were tied back in a low ponytail and she was spotted wearing a pair of glamorous black sunglasses and a white face mask.

The Malibu-born beauty appeared to type away on her phone as she carried a white shoulder bag ahead of a caffeine pick-me-up.

Solo outing: The model was seen solo on the brief outing despite being inseparable with boyfriend Jacob Elordi for the past year

Kaia appeared solo on the outing but has been inseparable with boyfriend Jacob Elordi, 24, since they were first romantically linked last September.

A DeuxMoi tipster reported seeing the pair at the Belmond in Santa Barbara last weekend where they were said to look 'very cute and cozy' with 'lots of PDA.'

Though both have been pretty low key about their relationship, the Euphoria star revealed during a Jimmy Kimmel Live appearance this week that in the beginning of their relationship Kaia played hairdresser.

The Australian born actor said that after he had 'always wanted' a mullet he grew out his hair during the pandemic  but Gerber took issue with it.

Boyfriend: The Euphoria star revealed during a Jimmy Kimmel Live appearance this week that in the beginning of their relationship Kaia cut his hair; pictured August 17

Loved up: The pair who have been dating since last fall reportedly spent the weekend at the Belmond in Santa Barbara per a DeuxMoi tipster who said they looked 'very cute and cozy'; pictured May 2021

'My girlfriend, within a week of us dating, she cut it off. She took me to the bathroom, and she got scissors out, and she cut it off,' he told fill-in host Julie Bowen. 'She said, "You're cute, but you're not that cute."'

Though Kaia is largely known as a model she recently graced the screen with a role in American Horror Stories  a spinoff of American Horror Story.

The 10th season  which will premiere in two parts starting August 25  sees her reprising her role as Ruby and has seemingly set the stage for her to appear in more acting-related projects.

She gushed about the opportunity in a post: I wasn't ready to say goodbye to Ruby thank you to everyone who watched! & thank you @mrrmurphy for bringing back our big happy twisted murder house family.'
Less than a month after announcing her candidacy for the SAG-AFTRA National Board, Sharon Stone took to the canals of Venice for a late summer getaway.

The 63-year-old actress took to her Instagram on Sunday morning to share a snap of herself in a boat.

The actress was seemingly in the midst of one of the iconic canals in the Italian city, sharing simply, 'Venice' in the caption.

Getaway: Less than a month after announcing her candidacy for the SAG-AFTRA National Board, Sharon Stone took to the canals of Venice for a late summer getaway

The Basic Instinct star was pictured in an off-white long-sleeved top with a silver bracelet around her left wrist.

She wore a pair of white sunglasses with black triggers as she sat on the boat with a smile.

The outing comes just weeks after she announced her candidacy for the AG-AFTRA National Board, with some controversial statements.

Sharon's look: The Basic Instinct star was pictured in an off-white long-sleeved top with a silver bracelet around her left wrist

Stone announced her candidacy for the Board in a video at the end of July, through the Membership First slate.

''I mean, I lost my vested insurance after 43 years in the business because of Covid. I was $13 short and, you know, I don't really think that that is reasonable for any of us when we go through a global pandemic, to lose decades worth of our insurance or to lose all of the things that we need when we're trying to put food on the table, we're trying to keep our homes, and we're trying to feed our kids, families,' she said.

The actress added she was offered a 'very good job' in Atlanta, though she's not sure she can do it because the Producers Guild of America won't require everyone on the set to be vaccinated from COVID-19.

Candidate: Stone announced her candidacy for the Board in a video at the end of July, through the Membership First slate

'Will I go to work before everyone on my show is vaccinated? No. No, I won't. Am I being threatened that I will lose my job? Yes. Yes I am,' The Beauty of Living Twice author said in the video (via Membership First).

'Will I lose my job if everyone is not vaccinated on my show? Yes. Yes I could. Will I stand up for all of us so that every set that we go on is vaccinated? Yes. Yes, I will,' she added.

'Why? Because that's ridiculous - that we should have to go to work where we are not safe to work. I am standing up for all of us when I say that the Screen Actors Guild  that I will be working for with Membership First  will be safe for us to go to work,' she continued.

Work: 'Will I go to work before everyone on my show is vaccinated? No. No, I won't. Am I being threatened that I will lose my job? Yes. Yes I am,' The Beauty of Living Twice author said in the video (via Membership First)

The video came a few weeks after she hit the red carpet in a white Dolce & Gabbanna gown at the Closing Night premiere of OSS 117: From Africa With Love at the Cannes Film Festival.

She also presented the festival's most heralded award - the Palme D'Or - which went to the innovative Titane this year.

She recently played herself alongside Billy Crystal and Tiffany Haddish in Here Today, and will next be seen in Beauty with Giancarlo Esposito.
Jessica Rowe and Peter Overton have listed their family mansion in Sydney's upmarket suburb of Vaucluse, as they prepare to upgrade to a larger home nearby.

The TV golden couple are hoping to secure more than $7million for the sprawling property, which has two storeys and sits on almost 700 square metres of land.

The home has four bedrooms, an outdoor swimming pool, and a plush formal living area featuring ornate 1930s finishes.

On the market: Nine newsreader Peter Overton, 55, and his journalist wife Jessica Rowe, 51, have listed their Vaucluse mansion for more than $7million

Jessica, a former Studio 10 panelist, bought the home with her Nine newsreader husband 12 years ago for $3.37million, and they've renovated it several times since.

The couple and their two daughters, Allegra, 14, and Giselle, 12, are now planning to move into a five-bedroom mansion, also located in Vaucluse.

'It's time for a change for that next stage of our family life,' Peter told Domain.

Ornate: The property has four bedrooms and a formal living area featuring 1930s finishes

Lavish: Sitting on 700 square metres of land, the home boasts an outdoor swimming pool

He also confirmed the couple had been looking to buy for the past few years.

Peter and Jessica have been married since 2004, and are one of Australia's most beloved showbusiness couples.

Jessica is best known for her co-hosting role on Studio 10, but stepped down from her position in March 2018 to spend more time with her family.

Staying in the suburb: The couple and their two daughters, Allegra, 14, and Giselle, 12, are now planning to move into a five-bedroom mansion, also located in Vaucluse. Pictured in July 2016

At the time, Peter applauded his wife's 'courageous' decision to leave the show.

'To make a decision to leave a job you love takes courage,' he tweeted.

'Jess and I have had some long talks about this and the bottom line is our little girls need their mum.'
Ryan Phillippe and his son Deacon had some fun in the sun during a recent trip to New Mexico.

On Sunday, the 46-year-old actor shared several scenic images from their getaway to Macauley Warm Springs.

'the rocky uphill hike was well worth the warm woodland baptism that followed,' Ryan wrote in the caption of his Instagram post.

Family bonding: Ryan Phillippe and his son Deacon had some fun in the sun during a recent trip to New Mexico

In one shot, Ryan and his lookalike son, who were both wearing swim trunks, laughed together as they soaked up the rays.

Another featured the two glancing away from the camera while standing in the 99F water.

Phillippe included a picturesque shot in which he was seen running his fingers through his hair while partially submerged in the spring with a stunning backdrop of towering trees.

Soaking up the sun: In one shot, Ryan and his lookalike son, who were both wearing swim trunks, glanced away from the camera while standing in the 99F water

Scenic: Phillippe included a picturesque shot in which he was seen running his fingers through his hair while partially submerged in the spring with a stunning backdrop of towering trees

Under the surface: The Cruel Intentions star posted a video of Deacon dunking himself in soaking pool. The teen was seen smiling underwater before emerging and shaking off water from his sunglasses

Relaxing: In another image, Deacon floated on his back with his hands behind his head

The Cruel Intentions star posted a video of Deacon dunking himself in soaking pool. The teen was seen smiling underwater before emerging and shaking off water from his sunglasses.

In another image, Deacon floated on his back with his hands behind his head. Ryan also included photos of the rugged landscape as the father-son duo trekked through the Santa Fe National Forest on their way to the hot springs.

Phillippe captured a jagged peak in one photo and cluster of purple wildflowers in another. In one shot, Deacon was seen walking ahead of his father and gazing over the canyons.

Adventure: Ryan also included photos of the rugged landscape as the father-son duo trekked through the Santa Fe National Forest on their way to the hot springs

Taking in the view: In one shot, Deacon was seen walking ahead of his father and gazing over the canyons

Ryan is currently staying in New Mexico to shoot scenes for his upcoming comedy series MacGruber, which will air on NBCUniversal's streaming platform Peacock.

Phillippe shares Deacon and daughter Ava, 21, with his ex-wife Reese Witherspoon. Ryan and Reese divorced in 2008 after nine years of marriage and Witherspoon went on to wed talent agent Jim Toth in 2011. Reese gave birth to the couple's son Tennessee later that year.

On Sunday, the Big Little Lies star posted a fun photo of herself with her oldest children as they posed on a beach.

'Turns out goofy is genetic!' Witherspoon wrote in the caption, adding a DNA emoji.
Regina King has left an indelible mark on Hollywood as an actress in such films as Boyz N The Hood, Poetic Justice, Friday, Jerry Maguire, Ray and If Beale Street Could Talk.

And just last year she made a splash in her directorial debut with the drama film One Night In Miami..., which gave the Oscar-winner worldwide name recognition.

But over the weekend, King looked like any other American making a grocery run when she stepped out to an Albertsons store in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles.

Stocking up: Regina King, 50, stepped out for a grocery run at an Albertsons in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles over the weekend

King, 50, kept things casual and comfortable in the fashion department dressed in mint-colored sweatpants, a light gray sweatshirt, and a pair of white slide sandals.

She also carried a a Louis Vuitton bag over her right shoulder and had her long raven tresses styled in braids and pulled up into a elevated ponytail.

And with COVID-19 on yet another dangerous surge, the Los Angeles native made sure to wear a face mask over her mouth and nose whenever she was around people both in and out of the store.

On the go: King kept things casual and comfortable in the fashion department dressed in mint-colored sweatpants, a light gray sweatshirt, and a pair of white slide sandals

King became the second black woman to be nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Director for her work on One Night In Miami... (2020).

While her fans wait to see what she has in store from behind the camera, King has two new film roles: Flag Day and The Harder They Fall.

Flag Day, a drama directed and starring Sean Penn alongside his daughter Dylan Penn, just made its premiere in the U.S. on Friday.

Sean plays John Vogel, a larger than life figure who charms his daughter Jennifer, played as an adult by Dylan. While he teaches his daughter much about love and joy, John also just happens to be the most notorious counterfeiter in U.S. history.

The film also stars Josh Brolin, Norbert Leo Butz, Dale Dickey, Eddie Marsan, Bailey Noble, Katheryn Winnick, James Russo, and Hopper Penn, Sean's 28-year-old son he also shares with ex-wife and actress Robin Wright.

New gigs: King has two new film roles, including the drama Flag Day, a drama directed and starring Sean Penn alongside his daughter Dylan Penn, that premiered in the U.S. on Friday

King's other project, the Western film The Harder They Fall, is set to make its world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival on October 6, 2021.

Jonathan Majors plays Nat Love, a man who reassembles his former gang to seek revenge against the man who murdered his parents.

The movie also stars Jonathan Majors, Idris Elba, Zazie Beetz, Lakeith Stanfield, and Delroy Lindo.

The Harder They Fall will play at select theaters and on Netflix beginning on November 3, 2021.
Serengeti II

Rating:

Billy Monger: Changing Gears

Rating:

Ere, Dot, you wont never guess  them baboons from No 17 are back. Bakari and Cheka, theyre called, and shes only gone and had another baby. She has, the little madam.

And wot about the argy-bargy down the waterhole last night? You avent heard? Oh, it was them lions, Sefu and Kali . . . and Ill swear those cubs arent his. I fink he knows, too, cos he was in such a strop with her. Im not one to gossip, though.

The animals from the East End of Africa returned on Serengeti II (BBC1), a teatime reality show that combines sumptuous wildlife photography with soap opera.

In collaboration with John Downer, who pioneered spy in the wild remote cameras, he developed that concept to capture real animal behaviour and edit it into melodramatic scenarios

A caption at the start promises us a dramatised story based on the lives of Africas most charismatic animals. Im not sure Bakarreee and Chekahhh, the Ricky and Bianca of the primate world, really qualify as charismatic. But the drama is worthy of Albert Square.

The show was born when Simon Fuller  the Svengali behind Pop Idol  took a safari holiday and imagined the savannah as a lurid studio set, with the monkeys and elephants living life on camera, like Big Brother contestants.

In collaboration with John Downer, who pioneered spy in the wild remote cameras, he developed that concept to capture real animal behaviour and edit it into melodramatic scenarios.

Because the stars cant go into the Diary Room and tearfully spill out their emotions, actress Lupita Nyongo voices their inner thoughts  such as the jealousy of deposed baboon matriarch Bibi, who was queen of the troupe till that brazen flirt Cheka moved in.

Purists will be frustrated by the liberties taken. Film of Kali and the other lionesses trying and failing to bring down a buffalo was intercut with shaggy-maned Sefu glowering, snarling, then turning his back. Lupitas throbbing voiceover told us that Sefu was angry and refusing to join the hunt because he suspected Kali was unfaithful.

Anyone who knows the first thing about lions, of course, will realise the females always hunt together, without males. But theres no law that says TV has to be po-faced and educational. Many people, especially children, might find the animals more appealing when they seem to display human feelings.

And as with any wildlife series, you can always turn the sound down and simply enjoy the Spectacular photography for its whisker-distance close-ups and its glorious aerial shots.

Billy Monger: Changing Gears (C4) were on the Donnington racetrack. Double amputee Billy, 22, took on sprinter and Strictly star Jonny Peacock in a high-speed lap

Though it was meant to be a look at Paralympic sports, the most dramatic shots in Billy Monger: Changing Gears (C4) were on the Donnington racetrack. Double amputee Billy, 22, took on sprinter and Strictly star Jonny Peacock in a high-speed lap. The only justification seemed to be that Toyota were sponsoring the programme  and the boys were driving Toyotas.

This happens ever more frequently on C4. Now Dulux are the backers of Changing Rooms, paint cans, brushes and rollers are constantly on screen. Goodbye, wallpaper. Banks, supermarkets, beer brands and toothpastes have all sponsored recent C4 series. The channel is turning into a giant billboard.

This was an irritation, but Billys chipper personality overcame it as he tackled a selection of sports, and learned to run on blades for the first time.

He went canoeing with one of Britains strongest contenders for gold, Charlotte Henshaw.

Charlotte, 34, reminisced about following the Paralympics on Ceefax. You wont remember Ceefax, she said. It was just a button that you pushed.

No one misses that. Some telly changes are all for the good.
Aaron Paul spent his Sunday with his family and friends while grabbing some lunch in Los Angeles.

The 41-year-old actor was spotted in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles after having some lunch with friends.

The Breaking Bad star was joined by his wife Lauren Parsekian and their three and a half year old daughter Story.

Family and friends: Aaron Paul spent his Sunday with his family and friends while grabbing some lunch in Los Angeles

The actor was spotted wearing a black dress shirt under a black leather coat and a black cap while picking up his daughter.

He also wore a grey face mask to stay safe amid the COVID-19 pandemic, as cases continue to rise around Los Angeles.

Paul completed his look with a pair of black pants and black boots as he carried his only child.

Aaron's look: The actor was spotted wearing a black dress shirt under a black leather coat and a black cap while picking up his daughter

His wife Parsekian, who he's been married to since 2013, wore a white button-down blouse under a navy blue suit coat.

She rocked matching navy blue pants and white sneakers while carrying a to-go food box and her face mask.

She completed her look with a brown circular purse as she walked back to her vehicle with her husband.

Support: Paul also shared his support for Breaking Bad co-star Bob Odenkirk, after he revealed he had a heart attack on the set of the final season of Better Call Saul

Paul also shared his support for Breaking Bad co-star Bob Odenkirk, after he revealed he had a heart attack on the set of the final season of Better Call Saul.

The actor shared a photo of his co-star and a few of his tweets, adding, 'Love you my friend! You are a treasure.'

He also showed support for his Westworld co-creator Lisa Joy by arriving at the world premiere of her feature directorial debut Reminiscence.

Support: He also showed support for his Westworld co-creator Lisa Joy by arriving at the world premiere of her feature directorial debut Reminiscence

The actor also supported his own growing liquor brand Dos Hombres, a mezcal company he formed with his Breaking Bad co-star Bryan Cranston.

Paul shared an image from the Dos Hombres Instagram of the two actors sharing some laughs over their liquor.

'Cheers everyone,' Paul said in the caption of his Instagram story post.

Laughs: Paul shared an image from the Dos Hombres Instagram of the two actors sharing some laughs over their liquor
Amber Heard enjoyed a night out at the theatre on Sunday, after her ex-husband Johnny Depp was cleared by a court to proceed with a $50 million defamation suit against the actress.

Despite the ongoing drama, the Aquaman actress, 35, seemed in good spirits as she prepared to watch 2:22 A Ghost Story, which stars Lily Allen, at the Noel Coward Theatre in London's West End.

The Texas-born beauty posed outside the theatre in a black blazer with gold buttons and dark pants in an Instagram post captioned: 'What a great feeling to be back in a theatre again,' with a performing arts emoji of Greek masks.

Out on the town: Amber Heard spent the evening watching Lily Allen's play in London's West End on Sunday... while ex Johnny Depp proceeded with his $50M libel case against her

Heard was seen out days after a Virginia judge on Tuesday ruled Depp can proceed with the litigation, based on a 2018 Washington Post op-ed she penned saying she was a domestic violence survivor.

She did not mention Depp in the story, though she publicly accused him of abusing her in their 2016 split.

Depp, 58, is trying to clear his name after losing a defamation suit against The Sun after the paper branded him a 'wife-beater' amid allegations of domestic abuse.

Theatre fun: The Texas-born beauty posed outside the theatre in a black blazer with gold buttons and dark pants in an Instagram post

Depp's suit, filed in Fairfax County, Virginia, accuses Heard of creating a 'hoax' account; Heard had requested the libel suit against her, filed in March 2019, be thrown out, claiming the ruling in the UK case should swing any new cases in her favor because they both relate to domestic abuse allegations against Depp.

But Judge Penny Azcarate ruled the statements made by The Sun and Heard were 'inherently different.'

The ruling stated: 'The Sun's interests were based on whether the statements the newspaper published were false. [Heard's] interests relate to whether the statements she published were false.'

One to watch: Heard was watching 2:22 A Ghost Story, which stars Lily Allen and Hadley Fraser (pictured) at London's Noel Coward Theatre

The ruling also noted Depp filed the defamation suit against The Sun before Heard's op-Ed was published - and that she was not named in the case against the British paper.

In the December 2018 op-Ed, Heard wrote: 'I became a public figure representing domestic abuse, and I felt the full force of our culture's wrath for women who speak out.'

The UK's High Court ruled against Depp following an explosive three-week trial last July, finding allegations the actor was a 'wife beater' were 'substantially true.'

The judge ruled that Depp assaulted Heard on a dozen occasions and put her in 'fear of her life' three times often while on drink and drugs binges, which he said turned the actor into a 'monster' in one of the most high-profile libel clashes in recent years.

Sue: Depp has won the right to sue Amber Heard (pictured together in November 2011) in a $50 million libel case after a Virginia judge threw out the actress's plea to dismiss the suit

Lawyers for The Pirates of the Caribbean star had asked two Court of Appeal judges to grant permission for him to challenge the ruling, with the aim of having its findings overturned and a second trial ordered.

They claimed the judge in Depp's initial libel trial had not 'factually' considered all the allegations of violence against him and that they had 'fresh evidence' Heard had 'lied' about giving her entire $7 million divorce settlement to charity.

They said that the charity claim influenced how her testimony was viewed, but the Court of Appeal ruled that it did not have an impact on the judge and that he would have reached the same conclusion on Heard being the victim of domestic violence.

Depp lost his role in Warner Bros Fantastic Beasts following the High Court judgment, and the damage to his reputation risks him losing out on more roles in the future.
While Molly Shannon is enjoying a career resurgence with roles on HBO's The White Lotus and The Other Two, the comedienne is opening up about a family tragedy.

The 56-year-old Shaker Heights, Ohio native lost her mother, younger sister and cousin in a car accident when she was just four years old, with her father, who was driving under the influence, surviving but suffering horrific injuries.

Shannon has rarely spoken about the family tragedy throughout her 30-year career, though she opened up to The Los Angeles Times about how it helped shape her life.

Opening up: While Molly Shannon is enjoying a career resurgence with roles on HBO's The White Lotus and The Other Two, the comedienne is opening up about a family tragedy

Tragedy: The 56-year-old Shaker Heights, Ohio native lost her mother, younger sister and cousin in a car accident when she was just four years old, with her father, who was driving under the influence, surviving but suffering horrific injuries

'I was very heartbroken and very sad and just trying to hold it all together as a kid,' the actress began.

'Theres no way that you could feel that type of deep pain about your mother and your sister being dead, so you just hold it all in, and it comes up later in life,' she added.

After small roles on In Living Color and Twin Peaks, Shannon broke out as a comedy star when she joined the cast of Saturday Night Live in 1995.

Breakout: After small roles on In Living Color and Twin Peaks, Shannon broke out as a comedy star when she joined the cast of Saturday Night Live in 1995

She created the beloved character Mary Katherine Gallagher that year, which she portrayed in the 1999 movie Superstar.

The character was an unpopular Catholic school girl who was ultra-competitive and who would sniff her armpits when she got nervous.

Shannon would often literally throw herself into objects like metal chairs, without any padding, because she didn't care if she hurt herself after the tragedy.

Sniff: The character was an unpopular Catholic school girl who was ultra-competitive and who would sniff her armpits when she got nervous

'I didnt care if I cut myself or I made myself bleed. I did not give a s**t. I looked at it like punk rock. I was reckless, and because of what I went through, I just didnt care about anything,' she said.

She will also be addressing the family tragedy in her memoir Hello Molly!, due out in April, which she admits has her feeling vulnerable opening up about this for the first time.

'You feel like you put your heart right there on the table, but I hope that my story can help other people,' Shannon added.

Didn't care: 'I didnt care if I cut myself or I made myself bleed. I did not give a s**t. I looked at it like punk rock. I was reckless, and because of what I went through, I just didnt care about anything,' she said

While her father recuperated from the crash, Molly and her sister Mary lived with their aunt, and she knew the life she had before wouldn't be the same.

'The life that we left was not the same life we were coming back into. It just felt like everything was different,' Shannon said.

Shannon added that she wanted her aunt to do everything just like her mother did, like, 'No, my mom cuts the crust like that,' adding, 'Everything made me mad.'

Character: Shannon said that she created the Mary Katherine Gallagher character while at NYU, which she said was, 'really based on me, how I felt after the accident  really nervous, accident-prone, wanting to please, f***ed up but full of hope.'

Even fun experiences like learning to tie your shoes in school made her sad because she knew her late little sister Katie would have loved it.

'We would learn to do fun stuff, like tie our shoes, and I felt like, "Katie, my little sister, should be here learning. She would have loved this. Katie would have loved doing the rabbits and tying her shoe."'

Shannon said that she created the Mary Katherine Gallagher character while at NYU, which she said was, 'really based on me, how I felt after the accident  really nervous, accident-prone, wanting to please, f***ed up but full of hope.'

'I just exaggerated everything I felt as a little girl and turned it into a character,' she added.

Created: Shannon said that she created the Mary Katherine Gallagher character while at NYU, which she said was, 'really based on me, how I felt after the accident  really nervous, accident-prone, wanting to please, f***ed up but full of hope'
Kyle Sandilands accused The Project of being 'too woke' in an on-air rant last week.

The radio host, 50, said the current affairs talk show was guilty of pushing 'political agendas down our throats' - and even blamed it for Channel 10's spiralling ratings.

'That Project's ruined everything,' said Kyle, who has appeared on several 10 shows in the past and is typically known for his friendly relationship with the network.

Frank assessment: Radio host Kyle Sandilands (pictured) accused Channel 10's flagship current affairs show The Project of being 'too woke' in an on-air rant last week

'When you're running a TV network, and your lead-in is The Project, and [the ratings have] eroded away to nothing, that's a worry,' he added.

'I thought Channel Nine was the wokest media organisation in the country. Or maybe not, [Channel 10 is]. That's right, because everyone's stopped watching it for some reason because they're too woke.'

Kyle went on to claim The Project's failure had affected The Bachelor, which has recorded its lowest-ever audience this year.

'[They're] the worst they've ever been in the history since The Project started. And that's what damaged The Bachelor, and that's why they're worried,' he said.

To blame? The KIIS FM presenter, 50, said The Project was guilty of pushing 'political agendas down our throats' - and even blamed it for Channel 10's spiralling ratings. Pictured: Waleed Aly

Cause and effect: Kyle said The Project's failure had affected The Bachelor Australia, which has recorded its lowest-ever audience this year. Pictured: The Bachelor's Jimmy Nicholson

Kyle has featured on multiple Channel 10 shows over the years, starting when he replaced Ian 'Dicko' Dickson as a judge on Australian Idol in 2005.

He has also appeared on Celebrity Big Brother, and in 2018 was given his own show on the network: Trial by Kyle.

The Kyle and Jackie O Show also has commercial arrangements with 10, with several segments sponsored by The Bachelor.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel 10 for comment.

History: Kyle (right) has featured on multiple Channel 10 shows over the years, starting when he replaced Ian 'Dicko' Dickson as a judge on Australian Idol in 2005. Pictured with Mark Holden (left) and Marcia Hines (centre) in an undated promotional photo

Kyle's views echo those of leading TV commentator Rob McKnight, who said earlier this month Channel 10 was losing viewers because of The Project's left-wing bias.

McKnight, a former 10 executive who now runs industry website TV Blackbox, said the views expressed on the show don't resonate with everyday Aussies.

He told Daily Mail Australia that despite its slick production and top-tier talent, The Project is 'very woke and that doesn't connect with mainstream Australia'.

Political: Kyle's views echo those of TV pundit Rob McKnight, who said earlier this month 10 was losing viewers because of The Project's left-wing bias. Pictured (L-R): Tommy Little, Peter Helliar, Hamish Macdonald, Carrie Bickmore, Waleed Aly, Lisa Wilkinson and Gorgi Coghlan

McKnight explained: 'My take is that most Australians are centre-right in their politics which is why talkback radio does so well.

'But The Project skews too far to the left and doesn't reflect Betty from Bankstown or Irene from Ipswich. It really feels inner Melbourne and not relatable.'

He said the presenters are all 'great talent', but at some point the show just 'stopped connecting' with the mainstream - 'and that kills any brand'.

Opinion: McKnight, a former 10 executive who now runs industry website TV Blackbox, told Daily Mail Australia that despite its slick production and top-tier talent, The Project is 'very woke and that doesn't connect with mainstream Australia'. Pictured: Tommy Little, Lisa Wilkinson and Waleed Aly at Channel 10's Upfronts presentation on October 11, 2019

McKnight, who has worked for all three commercial TV networks, went on to say The Project used to punch above its weight by setting the news agenda every week.

But these days 'nobody pays attention anymore'.

He added: 'For all the free press The Project has received over the years it should be one of the biggest shows on TV - but it's not.'

The Project, which is produced by Rove McManus' production company Roving Enterprises, is considered a sacred cow at 10 even though its ratings are poor.

Alignment: 'But The Project skews too far to the left and doesn't reflect Betty from Bankstown or Irene from Ipswich. It really feels inner Melbourne and not relatable,' said McKnight

Its ratings are typically strongest from 6:30pm to 7pm, but the audience tends to drop off unless there is a strong entertainment show at 7:30pm, McKnight said.

This is why it's particularly worrying for 10 that The Bachelor and MasterChef Australia underperformed this year, because their ratings affect The Project.

It comes after 10 sunk to a worrying new ratings low earlier this month, recording its worst commercial audience share since the OzTAM ratings system began in 2001.

The channel had an audience share of 8.9 per cent across the five capital cities during prime time (6pm to midnight) for the week commencing August 1.

Commercial shares exclude the ABC and SBS.

Bad news: Channel 10 sunk to a worrying new ratings low earlier this month, recording its worst commercial audience share since the OzTAM ratings system began in 2001

Before this dismal result, 10's lowest commercial audience share was 9.8 per cent, in the weeks commencing December 23, 2018, and July 25, 2021.

However, it's important to remember the commercial audience share figure only accounts for main channels, not multichannels.

If the multichannel 10 Bold, 10 Peach and 10 Shake are taken into consideration, the network's prime-time commercial audience share for the week commencing August 1 rises to 16 per cent.

Dismal: The channel had an audience share of 8.9 per cent across the five capital cities during prime time (6pm to midnight) for the week commencing August 1. Pictured: Jonathan LaPaglia, the host of 10's Australian Survivor

Meanwhile, the failure that is Jimmy Nicholson's Bachelor season continued last week, with 10 slipping to fourth in the primary network shares, trailing even the ABC.

The once-popular dating show fell behind Home and Away last Thursday, taking second place with just 487,000 metro viewers.

The Thursday staple used to routinely drew more than one million sets of eyeballs.
Christine Quinn returned from her working vacation to Italy with husband Christian Richard and their three-month-old son just days ago.

Now back into the swing of things in Los Angeles, shooting season four of Selling Sunset, the realtor-turned-reality star has made a point to stand out in colorful ensembles, no matter whether the cameras were rolling.

On Sunday, the 5ft9in siren was all about showcasing her cleavage in a lavender suit by Nadine Merabi.

Stand out: Christine Quinn, 32, headed to the set of Selling Sunset in Los Angeles on Sunday dressed in a lavender suit that oozed 1970s flare

The outfit consisted of slacks that oozed 1970's flare by hugging her hips and upper legs and flared out with bell bottoms from the knees down.

The blazer had a one-button design and a large lapel, which was a staple of the 1970s era.

She also wore light purple-patterned heels and had her long blonde tresses flowing to near the bottom of her back, with a healthy dose of volume and a part in the middle.

Stylin': The realtor-turned-reality star was all about showcasing her cleavage with the colorful ensemble that was matched perfectly with a pair of heels

But admirers, will no doubt, be drawn to her ample cleavage that she helped showcase by wearing only a matching bra undergarment underneath.

Quinn and her family had been living the good life under the sun-filled skies of Italy for more than three weeks.

While soaking in the sights, and enjoying the spoils of her success, she documented many of her stylish ensembles, including an array of flattering bikinis, on Instagram for her 1.7 million fans and followers.

Fun the sun: The reality star soaked up the sun in Italy for several weeks, which included some photoshoots that were, at times, documented on her Instagram page

The family wrapped up their trip this past Tuesday, with Quinn posting a photo of herself and husband boarding a plane.

The new mom gave birth to her first child, via emergency C-section, back on May 15, will have to relive the traumatic experience when it is shown when season four of the reality series drops.

Nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program in 2021, Selling Sunset has already bee greenlit for a fifth season.
Michael B. Jordan spent his Sunday with girlfriend Lori Harvey as they grabbed some lunch together.

The 34-year-old Creed star was spotted leaving Nobu in Malibu with his 24-year-old girlfriend on Sunday afternoon.

The couple, who were first spotted together back in November 2020, were certainly in good spirits as they got close while leaving the restaurant.

Lunch date: Michael B. Jordan spent his Sunday with girlfriend Lori Harvey as they grabbed some lunch together

Jordan was spotted in a white dress shirt with colorful designs over a white tank top as he left the restaurant.

He had a gold chain around his neck, a gold watch around his wrist and round-framed sunglasses as he walked hand-in-hand with his girlfriend.

The Black Panther star completed his look with green short and white sneakers, as he walked hand-in-hand with the daughter of comedian Steve Harvey.

Michael's look: Jordan was spotted in a white dress shirt with colorful designs over a white tank top as he left the restaurant

Harvey was seen with her hair tied back into a tight bun with a colorful top and large gold hoop earrings.

She wore white pants that had a small slit up each leg to show off her strappy square-toed heels.

Harvey completed her look with a small pink handbag and a gold watch.

Lori's look: Harvey was seen with her hair tied back into a tight bun with a colorful top and large gold hoop earrings

The actor made headlines last month when it was revealed he is developing a Black Superman project for HBO Max.

The actor is producing and developing through his Outlier Society production company and he'll possibly star as Val-Zod from the comics.

J.J. Abrams is also developing a Black Superman project with Ta'Neshi Coates set to write the screenplay, but Jordan's project is not related to that.

Headlines: The actor made headlines last month when it was revealed he is developing a Black Superman project for HBO Max

The actor will next be seen in A Journal For Jordan, the latest directorial effort for Denzel Washington, slated for release on Christmas Day.

The film follows the true story of 1st Sgt. Charles Monroe King, who, before he is killed in action in Baghdad, authors a journal for his son intended to tell him how to live a decent life despite growing up without a father.

The project is based on Dana Canedy's article From Father to Son, Last Words to Live By, also starring Chante Adams.
Australian fans of Bachelor In Paradise will have to be content with watching the American version of the reality show.

After axing Bachelor In Paradise Australia back in October, Network 10 is now broadcasting the US version on 10 Play.

The first episode from season seven of Bachelor In Paradise US premiered last Tuesday at 4pm, with the show being fast-tracked from America.

Import: Australian fans of Bachelor In Paradise will have to be content with watching the American version (pictured) of the reality show

Network 10 shared a teaser trailer from the new series on their official Instagram page last week, introducing fans to Kenny, a 40-year-old boyband manager.

'I may be one of the oldest to ever be in Paradise. But to be honest, me, at 40 right now, I'm in pretty much the best shape that I've ever been in,' revealed the passionate nudist.

He added: 'I'm 40, what am I supposed to do? I'm not hiding this s**t anymore. I'm not putting all the work in for no one to see it.

Gone but not forgotten: After axing Bachelor In Paradise Australia (pictured) back in October, Network 10 is now broadcasting the US version on 10 Play

'I'm ready to have the best summer of my life. No clothes, no cares - I'm going to bare it all.'

It was announced in October last year that Bachelor In Paradise Australia wouldn't be returning for a fourth season this year.

'We love all the excitement, drama and of course love that Bachelor in Paradise brings, but we have decided to rest it in 2021,' a spokesperson said at the time.

Direct from the US: The first episode from season seven of Bachelor In Paradise US premiered last Tuesday at 4pm, with the show being fast-tracked from America

Despite being noticeably absent from 10's 2021 Upfronts presentation in October, it's believed the reality TV spin-off will return in 2022.

The reality series brings together contestants from past seasons of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette for a second chance at love.

The spin-off doesn't usually perform as well in the ratings as the main programs, but its figures were particularly disappointing last year.
She's the Melbourne-based sexologist who is passionate about breaking the stigma on a variety of different topics.

And this week, Chantelle Otten spoke to Daily Mail Australia about the somewhat taboo subject of having sex while on your period, with the aim to reframe the conversation and reduce the 'shame' around menstruation as a whole.

The 30-year-old, who is working as an ambassador for Me. Period Care, explained that while there is a 'narrative' that periods and sex might not go hand in hand, it can actually be beneficial for women - particularly those suffering with cramps.

Breaking the stigma: This week, sexologist Chantelle Otten spoke to Daily Mail Australia about the somewhat taboo topic of having sex while on your period, with the aim to reframe the conversation and reduce the 'shame' around menstruation as a whole

'It's good for you. Orgasms are a natural analgesic; they are there to give us those feel good endorphins that reduce pain,' she said.

'Having an orgasm, having pleasure and skin touch is super beneficial for anyone who has got their period, and especially those who get cramps.'

Chantelle, who is the long-term girlfriend of Paralympian Dylan Alcott, adds that while many people have no issue of having sex on their period, some can find it somewhat confronting.

Love: Chantelle, who is the long-term girlfriend of Paralympian Dylan Alcott (pictured), adds that while many people have no issue of having sex on their period, some can find it somewhat confronting

'I think there's a narrative that periods are yucky, and sex on your period is yucky and blood is seen as something that is impure,' she added.

'But at the end of the day, blood is coursing through all of us and it is never unhealthy. It's there to keep us moving forward in the world, and periods are a sign of a body that's functioning.

'Anything to do with menstruation issues are seen as hush hush. My job is all about taking taboo off the table, and about talking about issues in a positive way.'

Discussing ways to break the stigma, she added: 'It's about spreading a message that we shouldn't hide. We should be talking about things in a shame-free way and not feeling ashamed of the way our body is functioning on a daily basis.

'The more that we can do to make it such a period positive environment, the better life's going to be for those who menstruate.'

Speaking out: Discussing ways to break the stigma, she added: 'It's about spreading a message that we shouldn't hide. We should be talking about things in a shame-free way and not feeling ashamed of the way our body is functioning on a daily basis'

Chantelle has teamed up with Me. Period care, an affordable New Zealand based brand who are all about breaking down the long-standing stigma around periods.

She praised the brand for allowing period care to be something that's more like 'part of our beauty regimen', than shouldn't that shouldn't be discussed.

'It's disappointing that that is the narrative that we've grown up with; it's sort of contributing to the idea that you're a burden if you're a menstruater,' she added.

'We have to buy products, we have to change the sheets, we can't talk about it. All that is so messed up and so backwards.

'We should be teaching the next generation that it's OK, we should be teaching our non-menstruating friends that it's OK, and that they should be looking out for their menstruating partners, friends or sisters - whoever it is.'

Me. Period care is available nationally in Coles stores.
She's been working as a brand ambassador for adult brand Ann Summers for two years.

And Maura Higgins pulled out all the stops as she launched her first edit with the collection - modelling a selection of the steamy ensembles.

The Love Island star, 30, looked phenomenal as she stripped down to lingerie while posing among a slew of handsome male models.

Picture exclusive: Maura Higgins showed off her phenomenal figure in skimpy lingerie as she posed for sizzling Ann Summers campaign

For one look, the Irish beauty donned a skimpy black and purple lingerie set that put her impeccably toned abs and long legs on display.

Another striking snap saw Maura clad in a sheer lilac bodysuit as she lay across the backs of three models.

Maura told MailOnline: 'Im so excited to launch my first edit with Ann Summers, I have been working with the brand for a while and it felt like a natural step.

'When picking my edit, I went for styles that make me feel very empowered and sexy which is important for women... We mixed it up a lot, and Im so, so happy with it.'

Sizzling: The Love Island star, 30, looked phenomenal as she stripped down to lingerie while posing among a slew of handsome male models

Maura's steamy shots will no doubt have got her boyfriend Giovanni Pernice's heart rate raising, following the news his ex-girlfriend Katie McGlynn has joined the Strictly Come Dancing line up.

Following the news, Maura shared a doting Instagram post with Giovanni as she pointedly called the dancer, 'my man', on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Maura recently followed Giovanni's ex Katie, 28, who became known for her role as Sinead Tinker, on Instagram.

Maura told MailOnline: 'Im so excited to launch my first edit with Ann Summers, I have been working with the brand for a while and it felt like a natural step'

Wow: Maura's steamy shots will no doubt have got her boyfriend Giovanni Pernice's heart rate raising, following the news his ex-girlfriend Katie McGlynn has joined the Strictly line up

Strictly bosses are reportedly eager to pair Giovanni and Katie, who were romantically involved 5 years ago, together for the competition.

However, they know this could cause spell trouble for the professional dancer and his reality star girlfriend.

An insider told The Sun: 'This would be a dream ticket for Strictly producers, but a potential nightmare for the trio concerned.'

They continued: 'The shows bosses always strive to pair up pros and celebrities likely to have the most chemistry. In that respect, Giovanni and Katie are an obvious choice,

'But they have to consider if that could have the knock-on effect of making life so difficult outside of the rehearsal studio that it might impact on their performances.'

Coronation Street star Katie and Giovanni were linked back in 2017 when it was reported that they'd enjoyed a night out with pals and 'dinner and the cinema' date.

Doting: Following the news, Maura shared a doting Instagram post with Giovanni as she pointedly called the dancer, 'my man' on Wednesday

However the Coronation Street actress later shut down speculation and denied they were dating.

Maura and Giovanni first went public with their relationship at Sapphires, Blackpool's Premier Drag Cabaret Show Bar at the beginning of July.

And he's already introduced her to the cast and crew of the Him And Me show he's starring in with new Strictly judge, Anton Du Beke.

Contestant: Giovanni was previously romantically linked to actress Katie McGlynn (pictured) and there are fears it could create tension with his Maura

A source told MailOnline: 'Gio and Maura are very much a couple. Everyone know he's played the field in the past but he is serious about Maura.

'He's smitten with her, they've become close really quickly and are spending a lot of time together in Blackpool.

'She's become pals with all of the cast and crew of Him and Me too and they think she's great. Maura has also met Anton and they got on brilliantly.'
She's living her best life with her rock star boyfriend.

And on Sunday, Kourtney Kardashian, 42, got her ear pierced at the mall, before sharing throwbacks from a luxury movie night in the desert with Travis Barker, 45.

The reality star took to Instagram to let her followers know that she'd opted to get the body modification done during a trip to the mall, and show off the results.

Cute! On Sunday, Kourtney Kardashian, 42, got her ear pierced at the mall, and took to Instagram to show off the new body modification

Sitting in a car with a jazzy filter across her face, Kourtney pulled her short raven tresses to the side to reveal her new piercing.

Next up, the star took to her main grid where she posted clips and stills from a recent date night in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

Travis had organised a private outdoor screening of the classic film True Romance, and had 'movie night in paradise' written in the sand.

The couple were surrounded by candlelight as they snacked on smores and late into the night enjoyed their very own fireworks display.

Wow! The reality star then shared throwbacks from a luxury movie night in the desert of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico with Travis Barker, 45

Romantic: Travis had organised a private outdoor screening of the classic film True Romance, and had 'movie night in paradise' written in the sand

Wow! Late into the night they enjoyed their very own fireworks display

Yum: The couple were surrounded by candlelight as they snacked on smores

The posts are just some of many Kourtney and Travis have been sharing from their recent getaway to Cabo.

The trip marked the first time the drummer had boarded an airplane after surviving a deadly crash in 2008, that claimed the lives of four people.

The Blink-182 drummer credited his girlfriend with helping him fly again, posting a photo of them in front of Kylie Jenner's jet which he captioned 'With you anything is possible,' on Tuesday

Cute: The posts are just some of many Kourtney and Travis have been sharing from their recent getaway to Cabo San Lucas

The couple appeared to be returning home as they prepared to share a kiss with Kourtney wrapping her legs around her man.

Reacting to the post on Instagram, Kourtney sweetly wrote in the comments section of the photo, 'Anything and everything with you (heart emoji).'

A slew of other celebs showed their support for the couple in the comments section, with Khloe Kardashian chiming in, 'Love conquers ALL,' while Kim Kardashian remarked, 'THE CUTEST EVER.'

Travis hasn't been able to set foot on an airplane following the deadly plane crash on September 19, 2008 in South Carolina in which he was one of only two survivors.

Travis had boarded a private jet in South Carolina to head back to Los Angeles following a show, while accompanied by his friend Adam 'DJ AM' Goldstein, his security guard Charles 'Che' Still, and his assistant Chris Baker.

As the small plane was attempting to take off, one of its tires suffered a blow out, causing the craft to overshoot the runway, burst through the airport's fence and over the nearby highway, and finally crash into the embankment on the side of the road.

The pilot, Sarah Lemmon, and the co-pilot, James Bland, were killed within minutes from smoke inhalation and burns as the plane erupted into flames on impact, according to the Chicago Tribune. Still and Baker were also killed on impact.

'With you anything is possible': Barker recently credited Kardashian with helping him fly again almost 13 years after surviving a deadly plane crash that claimed the lives of four people

Travis and Adam were able to escape from the burning plane via an emergency exit over the wing, but both were engulfed in flames as they slid down the wing and got covered in burning jet fuel.

The drummer had third-degree burns over 65 percent of his body and had to spend three months in the hospital while having skin grafts and 26 surgeries to repair the damage.

Travis reportedly 'seemed a little bit nervous' before commencing his first flight in over a decade.

A source told E! News: 'Travis took his time and definitely seemed a little bit nervous. Kourtney was very supportive and helped him every step of the way. She made him feel comfortable on Kylie's plane with pilots they know and the large size of the plane.'

Tragedy: Travis hadn't been able to set foot on an airplane following the deadly plane crash in 2008 in South Carolina in which he was one of only two survivors (the aftermath of the crash in 2008)

And insiders revealed the drummer's loved ones were 'excited' for him to conquer his fears.

The source said: 'This has been something that Travis has been working on for some time. It's something he's wanted to do and to overcome.

'Kourtney has been incredibly loving and supportive and it is through her love, help and confidence in him that he was able to finally do this. The people that have been close to Travis since his crash are so very excited for him.

'His life has completely changed since he has been with Kourtney and he feels ready to do anything. She's helped him overcome this fear and he feels like he can do anything with her by his side. He has been wanting to fly for a while and he felt like finally the time was right.'
Sam Mac has expressed his disgust after hearing reports that a NSW council had shot dead dogs in a pound, which were due to be rescued by a shelter.

In a series of impassioned video posts on Instagram Stories on Monday, the 40-year-old Sunrise weatherman said he was horrified by the reports.

'Who is responsible for this horrific act? And how do we let them know about it?' he wrote on Instagram Stories, sharing a screenshot of one of the news stories.

In cold blood: Sam Mac has expressed his disgust after hearing reports that a NSW council had shot dead dogs in a pound, which were due to be rescued by a shelter

Addressing the camera, Sam said he was 'absolutely disgusted' by Bourke Shire Council - the council allegedly behind the coldhearted killings.

Sam said the council needed to be held accountable for their actions, amid reports they'd callously killed the dogs because of COVID restrictions.

'I'm absolutely disgusted by that story of those innocent dogs, as many of you are,' began the avid animal lover.

'Absolutely disgusted': In a series of impassioned video posts on Instagram Stories on Monday, the 40-year-old Sunrise weatherman said he was horrified by the reports

Taking responsibility: Sam said the council needed to be held accountable for their actions, amid reports they'd callously killed the dogs because of COVID restrictions

'Bourke Shire Council is the council allegedly responsible for this. I'm going to put their email up. I feel that they absolutely need to know how we all feel about it, and feel that we need to spread and share this so there's some sort of repercussion.'

He added: 'Surely that can't be the logical way to deal with some dogs sitting in a pound. I'm genuinely gobsmacked by this and it's disgraceful.'

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Bourke Shire Council for comment.

'I'm absolutely disgusted by that story of those innocent dogs, as many of you are,' began the avid animal lover

According to multiple reports in the media on Monday, the council shot dead several impounded dogs, prompting a government probe into the incident.

They apparently shot the animals to prevent volunteers at a Cobar-based shelter 90 minutes away from travelling to pick them up amid strict lockdown restrictions.

A spokesman from the council's watchdog, the Office of Local Government, said the agency was investigating the incident to determine if any companion animal and cruelty prevention laws had been broken.
Michael Douglas has admitted it was 'uncomfortable' sharing his Majorcan home with his ex-wife Diandra Luker.

The actor, 76, took the luxurious 250-acre S'Estaca estate on the outskirts of the village of Valdemossa off the market last year and decided to buy out his ex's share of the property.

Michael said his wife Catherine Zeta-Jones is 'much more comfortable' living in the property now it's no longer being shared with his ex-wife.

Awkward: Michael Douglas, 76, has admitted it was 'uncomfortable' sharing his Majorcan home with his ex-wife Diandra Luker, following their 2000 divorce (pictured together in 1986)

Michael and Diandra had each spent up six months of the year at their Majorca home as part of their divorce agreement, and the property was previously put on the market in 2014, but failed to receive a successful offer.

The couple divorced in 2000 after 22 years of marriage, and they share son Cameron, 42.

In an interview with island newspaper Ultima Hora, Michael explained his wife Catherine is 'very happy' at their Spanish home.

Open: The actor said his wife Catherine Zeta-Jones is 'much more comfortable' in the home now he no longer has to share it with his former spouse

Splashing out: Michael previously put his Majorca home on the market in 2014, but eventually decided to keep the property after buying out his ex Diandra's share

He said: 'It was very uncomfortable sharing the property with my ex-wife Diandra.

'Six months for each of us wasn't very pleasant for anyone. Catherine is very happy here, especially now that we don't share with Diandra. She feels much more comfortable.'

The veteran actor made his admission as he prepared to leave Majorca following a near three month stay.

It comes as Catherine who took to Instagram last month to share an excited post about the homegrown tomatoes at her Majorcan home, travels to New York after being cast as Morticia Adams in Tim Burton's new Netflix series Wednesday.

Over: Michael and Diandra divorced in 2000 after 22 years of marriage, and they share son Cameron, 42

Filming is due to take place in Romania from October.

Michael, father to Dylan, 21, and Carys, 18, with Catherine, gave a rare insight into the family's daily routine in Majorca in his interview by revealing they wake up very early and read the day's papers over coffee before doing sport.

He said: 'I devote at least two hours to reading the news. Then we do sport. Some days friends come over for lunch, we have a siesta and when we wake up it's when people in Los Angeles have begun to work so I can work from here with LA.'

Describing boat trips along the coast to the picture-postcard Cala Deia as another of his favourite activities, he admitted: 'Time flies when we're here.'

Having fun? Since relocating to Mallorca for the summer, Catherine has shared a slew f Instagram posts, including her attempts to grow her own tomatos

He also revealed his wife was a fan of supermarket Carrefour, telling Ultima Hora she had been spending time making curtains for their island home with the help of her mum.

It comes after Douglas shared the hilarious moment he attended his daughter Carys' high school graduation, where he was mistaken for being her grandfather.

Sharing the story on The Kelly Clarkson Show in June, he said: 'It's a little rough when you're going out the doors and the other parents are saying, ''Oh congratulationsyou must be so proud of your granddaughter.''

He joked in his latest interview he was a 'little worried' about how he managed to stay in such good shape for his age but admitted his knees were not what they 'used to be.'

Loved-up: He also revealed his wife was a fan of supermarket Carrefour, telling Ultima Hora she had been spending time making curtains for their island home with the help of her mum

Catherine posted footage of herself sewing with her mum earlier this week, writing alongside a home-made video of the two women at work: 'Me and Mam. I can't tell you how much these days of just simple sewing with my Mam mean to me.

'Being together, enjoying a craft together, chatting about everything. Just lovely.' Last summer Michael and his wife celebrated 30 years in Majorca and he said then that he will always love the island.

Speaking before it emerged S'Estaca had been taken off the market, Michael was quoted as saying: 'Even if we leave, Majorca will always be in our hearts and our lives. 'We have spent many, many hours here and it's where I fell in love with Catherine, so for that reason the Island means a lot to me and I am already part of its history.'
DaBaby addressed the backlash surrounding his recent homophobic remarks as he attended his first gig since his controversial Rolling Loud festival set last month.

The rapper, 29, took to the stage with plenty to say at the Hot 97 Summer Jam at Met Life Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday.

Addressing the crowd, he thanked Hot 97 for giving him a platform after being dropped by a slew of festivals in light of his remarks, and hit out at 'cry babies' who condemned him.

Speaking out: DaBaby hit out at 'cry babies' as he performed at the Hot 97 Summer Jam at Met Life Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday following his homophobic remarks

DaBaby - real name Jonathan Lyndale Kirk - told the crowd: 'I never in my life meant to offend anybody, you know, and I apologise that ain't even how I rock.

'But check this out, other than the people that was truly offended, I feel like the rest of y'all motherf***ers are being cry babies.'

The Suge hitmaker came under fire after he made homophobic and misogynistic comments at Rolling Loud in Miami on the weekend of July 23.

Back on stage: Addressing the crowd, he thanked Hot 97 for giving him a platform after being dropped by a slew of festivals in light of his remarks, and hit out at 'cry babies'

During his set, he said: 'If you didnt show up today with HIV, AIDS, any of them deadly sexually transmitted diseases thatll make you die in two to three weeks, put your cellphone light up.

'Ladies, if your p***y smell like water, put a cellphone light up. Fellas, if you aint sucking d*** in the parking lot, put your cellphone lights in the air.'

Following his comments, the rapper was dropped from several festivals and events such as Lollapalooza, Governors Ball Music Festival, Parklife Festival, Day N Vegas, Austin City Limits Festival, Music Midtown and the iHeartRadio Music Festival.

Apology: DaBaby - real name Jonathan Lyndale Kirk - told the crowd, 'I never in my life meant to offend anybody, you know, and I apologise that ain't even how I rock'

DaBaby then addressed the backlash over a montage of previous live performances, as he said Hot 97 'allowed me to share my gift, share my blessing with y'all out here live on this stage amongst all the chaos and all the backlash.'

'They accepted my sincerity and all my apologies when I said I never, ever meant to offend anybody or say anything to make anybody feel any type of way live on that stage a few weeks ago,' he continued.

'Hot 97 was also willing to stick they neck out on the line, willing to go against all odds with everything going on out here in the world, and still allow me to come out here on this stage and utilise they platform to help the world move forward.'

Under fire: The Suge hitmaker came under fire after he made homophobic and misogynistic comments at Rolling Loud in Miami on the weekend of July 23

Earlier this month, DaBaby apologised in an Instagram post that read: 'Social media moves so fast that people want to demolish you before you even have the opportunity to grow, educate, and learn from your mistakes.

'As a man who has had to make his own way from very difficult circumstances, having people I know publicly working against me--- knowing that what I needed was education on these topics and guidance--- has been challenging.

'I appreciate the many people who came to me with kindness, who reached out to me privately to offer wisdom, education, and resources. That's what I needed and it was received,' he continued.

'I want to apologize to the LGBTQ+ community for the hurtful and triggering comments I made. Again, I apologize for my misinformed comments about HIV/AIDS and I know education on this is important. Love to all. God bless.'

However, within a few days, the post had been deleted from his page.
The seventh series of Love Island comes to an end tonight, so here's everything you need to know...

When is the Love Island Finale 2021?

The finale will take place on Monday 23 August at 9pm, with Laura Whitmore presenting live from the Love Island villa in Mallorca, Spain.

The series finale will see the ITV2 show last 95 minutes this evening.

FINALE! The Love Island finale 2021 is set to take place on Monday 23 August at 9pm on ITV2

How can I watch the Love Island Finale 2021?

The finale will air on ITV2 at 9pm and will also available to live stream on the ITV app.

The dating show airs new episodes every night on ITV2 at 9pm, except Saturdays, when a montage show of 'Unseen bits' from the week is broadcast instead.

Episodes are also available to watch on catch up on the ITV Hub.

Which contestants are left?

There are only four couples left after Liberty Poole and Jake Cornish departed the villa following their seven-week romance ended.

Here are the remaining Love Island 2021 contestants for the finale:

How much prize money do the Love Island winners get?

The seventh series of the ITV2 reality show ends its usual run of 49 episodes with viewers finally seeing which couple will bag the 50,000 prize.

The winning couple are then given an envelope each, with only one containing the prize money.

The individual whose envelope contains the cheque then chooses whether to split the 50,000 with their partner, or to keep it all for themself.

To date, no one has chosen the latter option.

Love Island winning couple odds Millie Court & Liam Reardon - 8/13 Chloe Burrows & Toby Aromolaran - 13/8 Kaz Kamwi & Tyler Cruickshank - 11/1 Faye Winter & Teddy Soares - 13/1 Odds courtesy of Betfair Advertisement

Who decides the winners of Love Island 2021?

The format of previous finals has seen the public voting on which of the four remaining couples they want to win the series.

The public are able to vote via the Love Island app.

Who are the previous winners of Love Island?

The winners of the previous six series were:

Who hosts Love Island?

Laura Whitmore has returned to host the summer version of Love Island, after a successful stint on the most recent winter series.

Her husband, Iain Sterling provides the show's famously hilarious voiceover artist.

Love Island was previously hosted by the late Caroline Flack, before her death on February 15, 2020.

How much do Love Island contestants get paid?

During their time on the show, the islanders reportedly earn 250 a week, with a parliamentary inquiry into reality TV calculating their pay to be around 2.80 an hour.

However, popular contestants who are in the Love Island villa for the majority of the series are able to earn fortunes once they return to the UK, by appearing at club nights, inking major brand deals and becoming social media influencers.

Love Island's biggest stars are sometimes offered their own spin-off, and often pop on other reality shows or competitions.

How many series have there been so far?

The current series of Love Island, which began on June 28th, is the seventh.

The show has previously aired for six series, with the most recent broadcast in early 2020, before the global health crisis froze any chance of amorous encounters.

The last two summer series of Love Island were 49 episodes each, running just over eight weeks, while last year's winter version spanned 36 episodes.
He's The Project's hardened panelist, but Steve Price struggled to hold back the tears during Monday's episode.

The 66-year-old radio host became emotional after the Network 10 panel show aired a snippet of Qantas' new commercial.

'I can't actually watch that without tearing up,' confessed a visibly moved Steve.

Hitting close to home: He's The Project 's hardened panelist, but Steve Price struggled to hold back the tears during Monday's episode

The sentimental new ad shows people reflecting on their past travels as they dream about future trips.

But it proved to be too much for Steve, with many parts of Australia in lockdown and border closures between states.

'I've got a daughter in Canberra who I can't see and she can't see me. I've got a sister in Western Australia who can't see me and I can't see her. I have a mother in Adelaide,' explained Steve, who's based in Melbourne.

Upsetting: The 66-year-old radio host became emotional after the Network 10 panel show aired a snippet of Qantas' new commercial

'I can't go to any of these places. I've been on a plane once in a year.'

Become teary, he added: 'I imagine I'm not as bad off as most people, but family reunions and Christmas in the same sentence and people not getting together, seriously.'

In an editorial for the Herald Sun back in January, Steve labelled Australia's state border closures a 'national disgrace'.

'I can't actually watch that without tearing up,' confessed a visibly moved Steve. Pictured with fellow panelists (L-R) Peter Helliar, Waleed Aly and Carrie Bickmore

'Those involved in slamming the gates on their fellow citizens should be ashamed of themselves,' he wrote.

He argued that the Prime Minister needed to intervene to prevent further 'snap border closures ordered at the whim of egotistical State Premiers'.

'At the end of the day, we are all Australians. In this COVID world we need each other like almost never before and we need to be able to freely travel between all states and territories all the time,' he wrote.
Gogglebox star Mary Cook has died at the age of 92.

The TV personality was famed for her witty one-liners on the show, where she appeared alongside best friend Marina Wingrove, 90.

Channel 4 announced the news in a statement on Monday that read: 'We are extremely saddened to share that Gogglebox star Mary Cook passed away in hospital this weekend at the age of 92 with her family by her side.

'She will be dearly missed by the entire Gogglebox family, cast and crew.'

Tragic news: Gogglebox star Mary Cook has died aged 92 as Channel 4 revealed as they paid tribute to the 'witty and beloved' show star

They added that Mary was a 'beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother and dear friend to many.'

Mary's cause of death was not revealed in the statement.

Mary, who worked in the hospitality trade, had been married and widowed twice, and met best friend Marina at St Monica Trust retirement village over ten years ago.

The pair joined Gogglebox in 2016 at the start of series eight and became instant fan favourites due to their 'brilliantly witty and often cheeky comments.'

Dynamic duo: The TV personality was famed for her witty one-liners as she appeared on the show alongside best friend Marina Wingrove, 90

Mary's wittiest one-liners 'I can't be bothered I should have done that when I was about 10 years old, w**king [singing] them out then. I never used to w**k them out then.' 'A big backside, that makes two of us.' 'I never used to have any troubles with my sex life did you?' 'Look at that he's banging away there isn't he?' Advertisement

Following news of Mary's passing, many Gogglebox stars took to social media to pay tribute.

Dave and Shirley Griffiths wrote: 'So sad to hear the passing of Mary, she was a lovely funny lady, our thoughts are with Marina and Mary's family #Gogglebox #MaryCook.'

Close pals Jenny and Lee wrote: ' Our heartfelt sympathy to Mary's family, Marina, friends and the Gogglebox family's, such a warm colourful chaacter and lovely lady you will be solely missed by all who watched you and loved you RIP Mary.'

Paige, who appears on the show with her mum Sally, penned: 'RIP MARY. Thank you for making us all smile.'

Stephen Webb added: 'R.I.P. Mary! Thanks for all the giggles you funny lady xx.'

Brothers, Tremaine, Twaine and Tristan Plummer wrote: 'Very sad news... Rest easy Mary you will be missed.'

The Malone family penned: 'Sincered heartfelt condolences and sympathy to Mary's family and friends especially Marina. The nation took you into their hearts, we loved your warmth, your humour and your singing, not to mention the innuendos. Rest in peace lovely lady xx.'

In an interview with The St Monica Trust, Mary and Marina previously revealed they were discovered by producers while on their way to do some shopping.

Marina said: 'I went across to catch the bus down to Asda and this young girl comes up to me and says 'do you ever watch Gogglebox?'

'I said, 'well I have done' and she said 'do you want to be on it?' I thought, 'I'm game for a laugh, like'. Then she said 'have you got a friend?' And like that, Mary came round the corner on her scooter.'

The pair did not feature on the latest season of the show which took place during lockdown.

Best friends: Mary, who worked in the hospitality trade, had been married and widowed twice, and met Marina at St Monica Trust retirement village over ten years ago

While Channel 4 did not comment officially on their absence, it was believed the pair were isolating separately in their apartments in their retirement village.

Mary's passing marks the second Gogglebox star to die in the last two months.

In June, Pete McGarry's cause of death was revealed as his wife Linda has confirmed he passed away after a battle with bowel cancer over the weekend.

His beloved wife Linda revealed Pete, 71, had been diagnosed with the disease earlier in the year but despite a recent operation to remove the tumour, was told he only had six months to live.

Tragically, he died just days after the prognosis, with Linda, also 71, telling The Sun: 'Pete was a lovely man and I was so lucky to have him for 25 years.

'I said to him, ''we've not only been 25 years, it's been day and night with each other.'' He was my life.'

Heartbreaking: Gogglebox fans took to Twitter to share tributes to the star after the tragic news of her passing

A statement issued on behalf of the family said: 'We are deeply saddened to announce that Gogglebox star Pete McGarry passed away at the age of 71 this weekend with his family by his side after a short illness.

'Pete will be dearly missed by the entire Gogglebox family, cast and crew. Our thoughts are with Linda, their children and grandchildren.'

'Since 2000, Pete and Linda have fostered over 100 children and he is a beloved father, husband and grandfather. The family have asked for privacy at this sad time.'

Sad news: Gogglebox star Pete McGarry died from bowel cancer in June just days after being told he had six months to live, according to his doting wife, Linda

Tragedy: The TV star's passing was announced by his family in a statement, revealing he passed away over the weekend following a 'short illness'

Pete and Linda's son George last shared a snap of his family on Instagram on May 6.

Following the news of Pete's passing, many Gogglebox fans took to social media to pay tribute, including presenter Paddy McGuinness, who wrote: 'Such a shame, one of the OG's. RIP.'

Another fan posted: 'RIP Pete. Sending all my love and hugs to Linda, George and all family,' while a third added: 'RIP Pete and condolences to Linda and the family.'

One also tweeted: 'One of my favourite blokes on Gogglebox. Quiet and unassuming. RIP Pete. Sad day.'

Touching: Pete and Linda's son George last shared a snap of his family on Instagram on May 6

Rest in peace: Following the news of Pete's passing, many Gogglebox fans took to social media to pay tribute, including presenter Paddy McGuinness

As well as appearing on Gogglebox, Pete and his wife also fostered several children over the years, saying it was something they 'loved' doing.

In 2016 Linda told The Daily Star: 'It's enhanced our lives so much. It's very rewarding. I've just loved doing it.

'I always say all you need to be a foster parent is a spare room, a sense of humour and a good heart.

Beloved: The McGarry family, Lynne, Pete and son George, joined the show in series two back in 2013 before leaving in 2014. Linda and Pete later returned in 2016

'I've just brought them up as my own. On Mother's Day I get so many phone calls. They don't forget you. A lot still regard me and Pete as their parents.'

She added that her son George was just 15 when she and Pete began fostering saying: 'He's always classed the other boys as his brothers. He never moaned. He always shared everything.

'He's got a good heart. He does drive me mad, but he's a good boy.'

The first child Linda and Pete fostered was then 11-year-old called Chris, who they went onto adopt.

Amusing: The family were a part of some of the show's funnier moments during its early years

She explained that Chris was now running a car site, and they were 'so proud' despite 'going through hell' with him.

Linda confirmed she had no plans to stop fostering, explaining: 'We won't stop. While we're in our house it would be a waste not to because we've got room. It's not a hard job, it's our way of life. We'll do it for as long as we can.'

She also urged others to try fostering before going straight into adoption, adding: 'A lot of people find it scary - we were terrified. But I've learned how to deal with them.'

The McGarry family, Linda, Pete and son George, joined the show in series two back in 2013, and also appeared in series three.

However, the family left the show in 2014 when George entered the Celebrity Big Brother house.

Linda and Pete rejoined without George in 2016, and were much loved regulars on the show, with a slew of amusing moments.

Among them was a hilarious gaffe which saw George remove his shoe by throwing his foot into the air, only for it to land in the middle of Pete's 'chippy tea'.

George also previously revealed that his kind-hearted parents even paid off the drug debts of one of their foster children.

Touching: Pete and his wife had previously spoken about the children they had fostered over the years, saying it was something they 'loved' doing

Speaking on the A Bit Of A Stretch podcast, he revealed he asked his parents to help out one of his fellow prisoners, after he himself ended up behind bars when he was convicted of drink-driving.

He explained: 'So he took out a debt with whoever was on that wing and they've hurt him that bad that his jaw was hanging off his face.

'This is over a 20 drugs-debt so now I had to get involved. I couldn't leave that. I said 'Listen, stand back mate, I'll have it in your account tomorrow.'

'I phoned mum and said 'Can you put twenty quid in his account so he can pay this geezer?'

Kind: George also previously revealed that his kind-hearted parents even paid off the debts of someone he was in prison with (pictured in 2014)

In May 2020 Gogglebox fans were left devastated when June Bernicoff died at the age of 82.

The retired teacher passed away following a short illness that was not related to coronavirus, a statement from Channel 4 confirmed.

June was one of Gogglebox's original cast members alongside her husband Leon, but left the show in 2018 following his death in December 2017.

RIP: In May 2020 Gogglebox fans were left devastated when June Bernicoff died at the age of 82 following a short illness (pictured in September 2018)

A statement from Channel 4 and production company Studio Lambert, on behalf of June's family, said: 'We are deeply saddened to announce that Gogglebox's much-loved June Bernicoff passed away at the age of 82 on May 5 at home with her family by her side after a short illness.

'As the first couple to be cast for Gogglebox back in 2013, June and her husband Leon were a huge part of the programme's success.

'Their warmth, wit and contrasting personalities endeared them to the nation during the course of the first 10 series.

'Following Leon's passing in December 2017, June wrote her first book, Leon And June: Our Story, which was a deeply moving and entertaining chronicle of their 60-year love affair.'

Sad news: June was one of Gogglebox's original cast members alongside her husband Leon, but left the show in 2018 following his death in December 2017

The statement continued: 'A remarkably independent, principled woman with a vivacious sense of humour and a huge passion for life, June will be dearly missed by the entire Gogglebox family, cast and crew.

'Despite her departure from the show in 2017, she remained a passionate supporter of the programme, watching it every week, and she was in regular contact with the production team.

'Our thoughts are with June's family - Helen and Ian, Julie and Marc, and her beloved grandchildren Frances, Sam and Faye.

'The family would like to ask for privacy at this sad time, but would like to thank the hospice staff that supported them and cared for June so wonderfully and with such compassion in her final weeks.'

They added: 'June's death was not related to COVID-19.'

June met Leon at teacher training college in 1955, but kept their relationship a secret for five years, as she knew Leon's Jewish family would not approve due to her Catholic faith.

They married in 1960 and moved into the same Liverpool home that they appeared in during their Gogglebox stint, and had four children and three grandchildren.

Gogglebox sees group of friends and families from across the UK react to some of the TV highlights from that week, and has become a Channel 4 fixture since it began in 2013.
Kelly Brook looked incredibly fashionable on Monday as she headed on a stroll with boyfriend Jeremy Parisi.

The 41-year-old TV personality beamed as she made the most of the day ahead after waking up in the early hours to fill in for the Heart Radio Breakfast Show.

Kelly looked radiant in a gingham dress that featured elbow-length sleeves, a ruffled portion at the bottom of the skirt and a cinched-in section under her bust which highlighted her famous curves.

Wow! Kelly Brook donned a pretty gingham dress as she cosied up to boyfriend Jeremy Parisi on a stroll around London on Monday

Kelly paired the breezy monochrome dress with a pair of low-key white trainers and carried her essentials in a coordinating black quilted purse.

The Piranha 3D actress styled her luscious brunette locks in natural waves which she swept over to one shoulder.

And she sported a soft makeup palette which notably included a slick of berry pink lipstick on her smiling pout.

Beautiful: The Piranha 3D actress styled her luscious brunette locks in natural waves which she swept over to one shoulder, while she sported a soft makeup palette

Striking: Kelly looked radiant in a gingham dress that featured elbow-length sleeves, a ruffled portion at the bottom of the skirt and a cinched-in section under her bust

Keeping it casual: Strolling along next to her was her boyfriend of six years, who kept things casual in a navy jacket and jeans

The star accessorised with a few delicately chosen pieces of jewellery, including chunky gold chain bracelet and a compass-style pendant necklace.

Strolling along next to her was her boyfriend of six years, who kept things casual in a navy jacket and jeans.

Last month, Kelly told MailOnline in a candid interview that she was perfectly happy with their relationship, stating: 'I love my boyfriend, I love my job, my garden, my freedom, I love to travel. The things that have made me happy now aren't the things I thought would make me so in my 30s.

'It's more difficult to have children after 40, I know that. But if it's something you don't really want to do, it's OK. I didn't really want to have children. I didn't want to get married and that's OK. It's OK to say that now.'

Breezy: Kelly paired the breezy monochrome dress with a pair of low-key white trainers and carried her essentials in a coordinating black quilted purse

Cute couple: Last month, Kelly told MailOnline in a candid interview that she was perfectly happy with their relationship

Elsewhere in the chat, Kelly said that she is happiest working on the radio, where people can't see her face or fabulous figure.

'When you do radio they just hear you and if you're telling a story and making people laugh  they're not visualising you, they're absorbed by what you say. I get such positive feedback from the radio compared to telly because people can't see me.'

At the time she declared she was a trim size 12, but she's yo-yoed in weight over the past few years, at her heaviest creeping up to a size 16. Immediately, the jibes appeared online about her being 'unsexy' and 'past it'.

Casual figure: Earlier in the day, Kelly was seen out with her Heart Radio co-host Jason King, who cut a casual figure in a black slim padded jacket and charcoal jeans

Radio: Last month, Kelly told MailOnline in a candid interview that she is happiest working on the radio, where people can't see her face or fabulous figure

At one stage reality star Katie Price even branded her a 'heifer'  perhaps hoping for a public slanging match which Kelly, wisely, refused to be drawn into.

She said: 'I finished my show (American sitcom One Big Happy) in LA. I was super fit and then I moved back here four years ago to the countryside, to my farm in Kent, and I stopped thinking about what I looked like.

'I started living what I call my 'Ma Larkin life'. I had ducks, beehives, I was cooking every day  huge roast dinners  and going to the pub and I really piled on the pounds. It didn't help that I was also living with an Italian for whom food is religion.'

Yo-yo: At the time she declared she was a trim size 12, but she's yo-yoed in weight over the past few years, at her heaviest creeping up to a size 16

She was approached by SlimFast for whom she's a brand ambassador, and with the help of their shakes and snack bars, managed to lose 21 lb.

But then lockdown hit, comfort eating kicked in and the weight crept back on.

'In lockdown I went a little crazy,' she laughs. 'I bought a pizza oven, and we did Friday night fakeaways where I made doner kebabs. I even bought an ice cream machine for goodness sake and started churning my own. During lockdown I went to the fridge more than I should have done and I put a lot back on.'

'I've never hated who I am, and I do embrace my bigger size. I don't want to be like I was in my 20s  I couldn't if I tried, my metabolism has slowed right down  but I'm also aware things can get out of hand and I do have that body type where I can gain weight quickly.'

'Ma Larkin life': 'I started living what I call my 'Ma Larkin life'. I had ducks, beehives, I was cooking every day  huge roast dinners  and going to the pub and I really piled on the pounds', she said

'If I don't watch it then I creep up to a size 14 or 16, but a size 10 to 12 is where I feel my happiest. My boobs get too big when I'm edging up to a size 16.'

Those famous (entirely natural) 34FF boobs were what launched her into the world of glamour modelling, after winning a beauty contest her mother Sandra entered her into when she was just 16.

She modelled full-time from the age of 18, attracting big money deals from brands including New Look, Reebok and Sketchers.
New Mastermind host Clive Myrie made an energetic appearance on Monday's episode of Good Morning Britain, where he claimed that stepping into the quiz show's iconic studio brought him more fear than dodging bullets from Saddam Hussein's army.

The BBC newsreader, 56, who has taken over the hot seat from veteran question-master John Humphrys, 78, is the show's fifth presenter over its 50 year tenure.

An elated Clive told Ranvir Singh and Richard Bacon: 'The thing about this studio it's light, it's bright, it's like being out in the fresh air, it's wonderful.'

'I genuinely was shaking': Clive Myrie said hosting Mastermind brought him greater fear than dodging bullets from Saddam Hussein's army in a Monday appearance on Good Morning Britain

Hard at work: The BBC newsreader has been marked as the show's fifth presenter over its 50 year tenure

He continued: 'You walk into the Mastermind studio and it is dark, it is black. You've got the four contenders on that side, you walk in and I sit down, and I'm like, "I'm presenting Mastermind, I don't believe this. It's absolutely bizarre."

'Then you see the chair across the way and the music starts up and it's like, boom! I genuinely was shaking for the first one.'

Referencing his lengthy journalism career, which dates back to 1987, a surprised Ranvir said, 'You've been around the world reporting on so many things.'

Flapping his hands, Clive said: 'Listen, I'll be dodging bullets from Saddam Hussein's army and all kinds of stuff... but that was scary. Sitting in that studio, it really was.'

On the ground: Clive reporting from Yemen (stock photo)

Animated: Clive couldn't contain his excitement as he divulged into his 'bizarre' Mastermind filming experience

The University of Sussex alum previously told PA Media that he had been expecting an influx of racist abuse on social media following the announcement of his Mastermind gig.

'I got very little after the announcement, actually. Everything was positive, absolutely everything,' Clive, who has Jamaican parents said.

'This is not something that happens every day. Every now and again someone will send an email or send a letter or a card or whatever, making their racist views known.

'By and large, my days of getting angry are over. I'm way too long in the tooth for that  or getting upset, rather,' he concluded.

Experienced: Referencing his lengthy journalism career, which dates back to as far as 1987, a surprised Ranvir said, 'You've been around the world reporting on so many things'

Unbelievable: Flapping his hands, Clive said, 'Listen, I'll be dodging bullets from Saddam Hussein's army and all kinds of stuff but that was scary. Sitting in that studio, it really was'

Clive has been a regular BBC News At Six and Ten newsreader since 2010, and previously worked as the broadcaster's correspondent in Asia, Africa, Washington, Paris and Brussels.

He said presenting the quiz show has been a welcome contrast to the grim headlines of the past year, adding: 'It has been nice, actually, to have this to look forward to, something slightly different, a new challenge, a new opportunity.

'Also a chance for the public to see me in a different light.'

The broadcaster, who has known his 18-year-long predecessor John for a considerable amount of time, has not sought advice from him but said he hopes he will be a worthy successor.

Friends: Clive, who has known his predecessor John for a considerable amount of time, has not sought advice from him but said he hopes he will be a worthy successor

He said: 'Obviously I'm following in the footsteps of giants of British broadcasting  John Humphreys.

'I hope that that I do the show proud, as he has done over so many years, and so there's a level of trepidation there as well.

'At the same time, I'm excited to see how the public reacts, and I hope it's a positive reaction,' he added.

Clive Myrie's debut as host of Mastermind will air at 7.30pm on Monday August 23 on BBC Two and iPlayer.
Duane 'Dog The Bounty Hunter' Chapman is getting married to fiancee Francie Frane next week on September 2.

But two of his daughters have been left off the guest list; he has a total of 13 children.

Cecily and Bonnie Chapman told TMZ that they think they have not been asked to attend the nuptials and they think it is because they resemble his late wife Beth and the star perhaps does not want to be reminded of her.

Dog and Francie have responded that they 'love Cecily and Bonnie very much' but they 'wish to keep any family issues private.'

Some cannot come: Duane 'Dog The Bounty Hunter' Chapman is getting married to fiancee Francie Frane next week on September 2. But two of his daughters have been left off the guest list; he has a total of 13 children

When the site contacted Dog, he said that he and Francie love Cecily and Bonnie but do not want to comment beyond that.

The ladies told the site that they get along well with Francie.

So they suspect that Dog has not wanted them to attend for some reason, and they even went as far as to say they think they have been left off the guest list because look so much like his late wife Beth.

Beth died at a hospital in Hawaii after a long battle with cancer on June 26, 2019. She was 51. She and Dog had been married since 2006 and she co-starred alongside her husband on Dog the Bounty Hunter, Dog and Beth: On the Hunt and Dog's Most Wanted.

Not on the guest list: Cecily (pictured) and Bonnie Chapman told TMZ that they think they have not been asked to attend the nuptials and they think it is because they resemble his late wife Beth and the star perhaps does not want to be reminded of her

Cecily, who is his stepdaughter, said she and Bonnie both look so much like Beth that it might spook Dog.

Cecily texted Dog but he did not text back.

Bonnie has not reached out to Dog but told the site she wishes she had been invited and thinks Beth would have wanted that too.

When the site reached out to Dog and Francie they responded: 'We love Cecily and Bonnie very much, as we do all of our family. We pray for their health and happiness every day. Beyond this statement, we wish to keep any family issues private.'

Please don't come: Bonnie has not reached out to Dog but told the site she wishes she had been invited and thinks Beth would have wanted that too

Cecily and Bonnie added that they think that Garry - the son of Beth and Garry - has been invited because he does not look like Beth.

And it was added by the site, 'Dog tends to favor his sons anyway.'

Chapman has been married five times and has 13 children.

His first child is Christopher Michael Hecht, whose mother is Debbie White.

He two children with his first ex-wife, La Fonda Sue Darnell: they are sons Duane Lee Chapman, II (born in 1973) and Leland Blane Chapman (born in 1976).

There IS a resemblance: Cecily, right, really does look like Beth, left, as she said

With second ex-wife Ann Tegnell, Dog welcomed three children: Zebadiah Chapman (born in 1980, but is deceased) Wesley Chapman (also born in 1980), and James Robert Chapman (born in 1982).

With third ex-wife, Lyssa Rae Brittain, he had daughter Barbara Katie Chapman (born 1982; she is deceased), son Tucker Dee Chapman (born 1983) and Lyssa Rae Chapman (born 1987).

Dog had two children with Beth: Bonnie (born 1998) and Garry (born 2001).

He adopted Cecily Barmore-Chapman (born 1993) who Beth had with her ex-husband.

The 68-year-old reality television star - who has been married five times previously - will be marrying 52-year-old rancher Francie next week. He said this summer: 'I'm getting married. We went to the venue, picked it out yesterday, looked at it. Man, it costs a lot to get married.'

They began dating in March 2020 which was 10 months after his wife Beth died.

The family: Duane 'Dog' Chapman (C) and family arrive at Nickelodeon's 26th Annual Kids' Choice Awards at USC Galen Center in 2013 in Los Angeles, California

When he wed Beth: From left are Timothy Chapman, jr., Leland Chapman, Duane lee Chapman, Tim Cahpman, Boris Krutonog, Dog, Beth, Moon Angell, Maureen Krutonog, Carrie Chirstman, Lyssa Chapman, Cecily Chapman in 2006

As Francie had also lost her husband to cancer, Dog looked for spiritual guidance as he explained: 'Francie's husband passed away over three years ago, Beth passed away over two years ago, and I felt very bad about even wanting to have someone else after Beth.

'And then when I went to the Bible, the Genesis, and found out how Adam got Eve, as I was going to find the exact story, I saw the scripture that says, "God does not want a man to be alone."

Sad: They began dating in March 2020 which was 10 months after his wife Beth Chapman died in June 2019 after complications from throat cancer, as Dog and Beth are seen in 2017

'He knows we need a companion, whether we're a man or a woman. So anyway, yes, September 2.'

He proposed to Francie nearly a year after his wife's death.

Francie also lost her spouse to cancer and Dog has said in the past that their collective grief is something they can bond over.

A few days after announcing his engagement to Francie, Duane told TMZ at the time that 'it's just incredible that I've been able to meet someone like her.'

He explained: 'Well, she for a living shes a rancher and she has recently lost her husband to cancer, six months before I lost Beth. So we like hooked up on the phone and started you know, talking to each other, crying, consoling each other.'
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She's counting down to the birth of her daughter.

And Danielle Lloyd offered a glimpse of her growing bump in a skimpy Louis Vuitton bikini as she enjoyed a dip in the pool during her family getaway to Dubai.

The model, 37, who is six months pregnant with her first baby girl, slipped into the designer two-piece as she headed to the water for a swim with her four sons.

Radiant: Danielle Lloyd, 37, offered a glimpse of her growing bump in a skimpy Louis Vuitton bikini as she enjoyed a dip in the pool during her family getaway to Dubai

Danielle looked glowing in the revealing brown bikini that highlighted her bump as she strolled to the pool with her family during their sunny break.

The former Miss Great Britain swept back her brunette waves in a sleek ponytail, and finished her look with gold round-framed sunglasses.

Danielle could also be seen frolicking around in the water with her sons as they splashed around the water.

The doting mother shares sons Archie, 10, Harry, nine, and George, seven, with ex-husband Jamie, and Ronnie, three, with husband Michael O'Neill.

Gorgeous: The model who is six months pregnant with her first baby girl, slipped into the designer two-piece as she headed to the water for a swim with her four sons

Flaunt it: Danielle looked glowing in the revealing brown bikini that highlighted her bump as she strolled to the pool with her family during their sunny break

Gorgeous: Danielle enjoyed a dip in the pool with her four sons as she prepares to welcome her fifth child, a baby girl

Flawless: The former Miss Great Britain swept back her brunette waves in a sleek ponytail, and finished her look with gold round-framed sunglasses

It's your baby sister! Danielle's sons could be seen touching her bump as they all cooled down in the water together

Earlier this month, Danielle hit back at a fan after it was alleged that she was seen 'smashing' cocktails while at the pub with her ex husband Jamie O'Hara.

Danielle's plight began, when a follower wrote on Instagram: '@lavelsbylux was in the same pub as her, she was with her children and ex husband and she was smashed...

'Can assure you they wasn't cocktails. I didn't think it was her until someone told me it was and when I looked on Instagram saw she was pregnant.'

Proud mum: The doting mother shares sons Archie, 10, Harry, nine, and George, seven, with ex-husband Jamie, and Ronnie, three, with husband Michael O'Neill

Claims: Earlier this month, Danielle hit back at a fan after it was alleged that she was seen 'smashing' cocktails while at the pub with her ex husband Jamie O'Hara

Accusations: Danielle's plight began, when a follower wrote on Instagram: '@lavelsbylux was in the same pub as her, she was with her children and ex husband and she was smashed...'

Rumours: The user added: 'Can assure you they wasn't cocktails. I didn't think it was her until someone told me it was and when I looked on Instagram saw she was pregnant'

Fuming: Danielle responded by sharing screenshots on her stories and writing: 'Kids was with their dad at the weekend but I certainly wasn't! We don't even speak so think you got the wrong girl! Must of been another blonde!...

Denial: 'Honest to god I don't even get people - you don't even follow me. Why do I have to wake up to messages like this, what is wrong with people?? Don't have to explain myself but haven't had a drink in eight months,' she added

Scary: The family holiday comes after Danielle was rushed to hospital after collapsing at home and her sons called an ambulance for her

They later penned: 'Bet you've got a hangover after your antics the other night'.

Danielle responded by sharing screenshots on her stories and writing: 'Kids was with their dad at the weekend but I certainly wasn't! We don't even speak so think you got the wrong girl! Must of been another blonde!...

'Honest to god I don't even get people - you don't even follow me. Why do I have to wake up to messages like this, what is wrong with people?? Don't have to explain myself but haven't had a drink in eight months.

'I was teetotal before I was pregnant! Seriously don't get why these idiots think I know I'll wake up at 6am and make some s**t up and post absolute c**p'.

Close call: Danielle revealed to OK! that she fell ill at her house and began feeling pains in her stomach

Close call: The Liverpool-born star explained she went to the toilet and while she was in there she passed out, with her sons forced to knock on a neighbour's door for help to call out an ambulance

'Traumatic': The Liverpool-born star explained she went to the toilet and while she was in there she passed out, with her sons forced to knock on a neighbour's door for help to call out an ambulance

The family holiday comes after Danielle was rushed to hospital after collapsing at home and her sons called an ambulance for her.

Danielle revealed to OK! that she fell ill at her house and began feeling pains in her stomach.

The Liverpool-born star explained she went to the toilet and while she was in there she passed out, with her sons forced to knock on a neighbour's door for help to call out an ambulance.

'It was really traumatic,' Danielle told the publication about the July incident. 'I had really low blood pressure, I was so worried for the baby and it was obviously so terrifying for the boys, but I'm so proud of them.'

Thankfully, after several tests, she was given the all clear to leave the hospital.
He's known for playing Dave in the superhero franchise Kick-Ass.

And Aaron Taylor-Johnson showcased his bulging biceps as he enjoyed a day at the beach in a pair of colourful swimming trunks in Malibu on Monday.

The 31-year-old actor looked rugged with a thick beard and long locks as he showed off his ripped abs.

Soaking up the sun: Aaron Taylor-Johnson showcased his bulging biceps as he enjoyed a day at the beach in a pair of colourful swimming trunks in Malibu on Monday.

Aaron was joined for the outing by Gerard Butler's on-off girlfriend Morgan Brown and professional surfer Laird Hamilton who chatted in the sun while the actor paced around on the sand.

Morgan looked sensational in a purple and white bikini and combed through her chestnut tresses as she soaked up the sun on the sandy beach alongside the two hunky men.

The brunette beauty beamed as she chatted to Aaron, who pointed to something in the distance while he talked.

Both Aaron and Morgan have faced adversity in their relationships, with Aaron causing controversy over the 24 year age gap with his wife Sam - who was noticeably missing from the trip to the beach.

Pals: Aaron was joined for the outing by Gerard Butler's on-off girlfriend Morgan Brown and professional surfer Laird Hamilton who chatted in the sun while the actor paced

Director Sam met Aaron when she cast him as a young John Lennon in her film Nowhere Boy.

They embarked on a romance in 2009 when he was 18 and she was 42. They announced their engagement at the film's premiere in London and married three years later in June 2012.

The couple have two daughters together, while Sam also has two daughters from her first marriage which ended in divorce in 2008.

In addition to Nowhere Boy, Aaron and Sam also worked together on the 2019 movie A Million Little Pieces and they are preparing to film the biographical drama Rothko which is currently in pre-production.

All smiles: The brunette beauty beamed as she chatted to Aaron, who had his phenomenal arm muscles on full display as he pointed to something in the distance while he talked

Morgan, 50, was seen last month with 51-year-old actor Gerard, also out and about in Malibu.

The couple, who have been linked since 2014, enjoyed an afternoon out at the Trancas Country Market on the far west side of town in July.

The couple was first spotted together in 2014, and they have maintained an unsteady relationship ever since.

Prior to becoming involved with the real estate developer, the actor was linked to figures such as Madalina Ghena and Brandi Glanville.

Although the two were rumored to have split up not long after they initially began their relationship, they were seen together on multiple occasions throughout 2015 with break up rumors swirling in 2016.

Contraversial: Aaron has faced controversy for the 24 year age gap with his wife Sam - who was noticeably missing for the beach trip

Butler and Brown were spotted back together again in 2019 and remained steady for a lengthy period of time.

The two reportedly took a break from their relationship when it was tested by the limits of quarantine during early 2020.

However, the couple was seen spending time together at a farmers' market in Los Angeles this past June.

The pair shared a kiss during the outing, seemingly confirming that they had rekindled their romance.
Jessica Alba, 40, was seen with her daughter Honor Warren, 13, during a Nordstrom shopping trip at the Westfield shopping mall in Los Angeles on Sunday.

At just the start of her teenage years, Honor has already grown taller than her 5ft7in LA's Finest actress mother.

For the outing Jessica dressed up in a white and beige outfit as her mini-me daughter went casual in an oversized T-shirt.

Out and about: Jessica Alba, 40, was seen with her daughter Honor Warren, thirteen, during a Nordstrom shopping trip on Sunday

The Honest founder carried a charcoal gray crossbody bag and walked in white and pink Puma sneakers. A chunky gold chain hung around her neck.

Her shoulder length brunette locks were parted down the middle with a loose wave.

Daughter Honor looked a bit more casual in light blue straight leg jeans, a mauve colored graphic tee, and black Chuck Taylor Converse sneakers.

Growing strong: At just the start of her teenage years, Honor has already grown taller than her 5ft7in mother

The actress' first-born child also had her hair parted in the middle and swept back with a low hanging clip.

Both women had on masks with Jess going with a sage color and Honor wearing a pink, satin variety.

After Honor, the Honey star shares two other children with husband Cash Warren, 42  Haven, 10, and son Hayes, three.

Comfortable fashion: For the outing Jessica wore a long-sleeve beige sweater and white pants that cropped at the ankle

Last week the business mogul took a break from shooting an advertisement for Dubai's tourism program to make a quick TikTok dance video with her co-star Zac Efron.

In an Instagram caption the beauty said it took her one hour to learn the dance while Zac only needed a few minutes to nail the footwork.

Efron and Alba both went on to share the full advertisement to their respective Instagram accounts.

Quick break: Last week the business mogul took a break from shooting an advertisement for Dubai's tourism program to make a quick TikTok dance video with her co-star Zac Efron
BRIAN VINER: All films fall broadly into one of three categories: they are either more than, equal to, or less than the sum of their parts. Stillwater belongs squarely in that third group.
Nicky Hilton looked happy during a recent family beach day in Malibu.

The 37-year-old businesswoman and her husband James Rothschild, 43, doted on their two daughters Lily Grace, five, and Teddy Rothschild, three, as they enjoyed the weather.

The heiress wore a long, ruffled, blue and white off-the-shoulder dress that showed off her tan as she played with her children.

Water and sunshine: Nicky Hilton looked happy and serene during a recent family beach day in Malibu

She added aviator sunglasses to the summer look and pulled her blonde hair into a simple bun.

One of her kids wore a printed long-sleeve white bathing suit with ruffle trimming, while the other played in a sleeveless printed pink dress.

James was seen in a pair of navy blue shorts with a graphic print on the front. He went shirtless as he soaked up the quality time with his girls.

The couple has been married since 2015.

Family time: The 37-year-old businesswoman and her husband James Rothschild, 43, doted on their two daughters Lily Grace, five, and Teddy Rothschild, 3, as they enjoyed the weather, water and sand

On Sunday the footwear designer went on Instagram to post an image of her and her daughters propped in the sand as they looked out into the ocean.

The mom-of-two sat in the middle as her girls sat next to her on either side. They each had on one-piece swimsuits, with Nicky in a yellow floral pattern. She topped her nautical look with a large sun hat that had a bow.

'My girls,' she captioned the shot, along with a pink double heart emoji.

Heavenly: The heiress wore a long, ruffled, blue and white off-the-shoulder dress, giving her the look of a goddess as she played with her children

Group hug: James went shirtless as he soaked up the quality time with his girls

Prior to that she posted a selfie in jeans, a padded shoulder sweater by St. Roche, and Valentino flats. 'Soaking up the last bits of summer,' she captioned the photo.

Earlier this month, the younger sister to Paris Hilton told Retreat Magazine's city issue that she feels a certain responsibility with her new shoe line Nicky Hilton X French Sole.

'We all have to do our part to leave this world a better place for our children and our children's children,' she said.

Beach babes: On Sunday the footwear designer went on Instagram to post an image of her and her daughters propped in the sand as they looked out into the ocean
Mayim Bialik will fill in as the host of syndicated episodes of Jeopardy! in the wake of Mike Richards' exit.

Sony Pictures Television, which produces the long-running quiz show, announced that Bialik is scheduled to tape three weeks of episodes when production resumes this week for a total 15 episodes.

Additional guest hosts will be announced at a later date, the studio shared.

On Monday Richards, 46, was spotted out for first time since sensationally quitting his hosting gig amid a scandal over his past sexist comments. He was with his wife Stephanie and a female friend in Los Angeles.

Stepping in: Mayim Bialik will fill in as the temporary host of syndicated episodes of Jeopardy! in the wake of Mike Richards' exit

It was previously announced that Bialik would host primetime Jeopardy! specials when Richards was chosen as the full-time host.

However, Richards released a statement on August 20 that he would step down from hosting the show, nine days after he was chosen. He will remain with the show as an executive producer.

Richards' unceremonious exit from the hosting gig came after episodes of a podcast he hosted while an executive producer on The Price Is Right resurfaced.

In the podcast, Richards repeatedly made disparaging comments about women.

During the segment, Triffon was discussing working as a model at the annual CES tech show event in Las Vegas, when Richards dubbed her a 'booth ho,' 'booth slut' and 'boothstitute.'

In another episode, the host commented that one-piece swimsuits made women look 'really frumpy and overweight,' while in January 2014, he responded to a remark about big noses saying, 'Ixnay on the ose-nay. She's not an ew-Jay.'

Out: Richards released a statement on August 20 that he would step down from hosting the show, nine days after he was chosen. He will remain with the show as an executive producer. Seen in 2014

In a segment when Triffon was outlining issues with her apartment, Richards responded, 'Does Beth live, like, in Haiti? Doesn't it sound like that? Like, the urine smell, the woman in the muumuu, the stray cats.'

In a statement to The Ringer, Richards apologized for the inappropriate comments saying, 'It is humbling to confront a terribly embarrassing moment of misjudgment, thoughtlessness, and insensitivity from nearly a decade ago.'

'Looking back now, there is no excuse, of course, for the comments I made on this podcast and I am deeply sorry,' Richards added.

Out and about: Richards was spotted out for first time since sensationally quitting his hosting gig amid a scandal over his past sexist comments; seen with his wife in Los Angeles on Saturday

Richards' apology has fallen largely flat, prompting the Anti-Defamation League on Thursday to call for a formal investigation into his 'pattern' of offensive comments.

'New Jeopardy! host Mike Richards' disparaging remarks about Jews, women & Asians are no laughing matter,' the pro-Jewish organization tweeted. 'Stereotyping is an entry point to hate and his apology lacks acknowledgment of its harm.'

This came on the heels of revelations that Richards was named in a lawsuit by former Price Is Right models who accused him of making insensitive statements and taking other questionable actions around models on the show who became pregnant.

At the time of his exit, Richards had already taped multiple episodes, which will air as scheduled to maintain continuity with the contestants who won on those episodes.

The one everyone loved: Alex Trebek poses on the set of his game show Jeopardy in 2012

Richards and Bialik were two of the guests hosts for Jeopardy! as the show sought a permanent for replacement long-time host Alex Trebek after his death due to pancreatic cancer in November 2020.

Others included LeVar Burton, Savannah Guthrie, Aaron Rodgers, and Ken Jennings.

Richards' selection as host was met with backlash from fans of the show, who believed that he had used his position as executive producer to influence the process in his favor.
Margot Robbie, Kaia Gerber and Jodie Turner-Smith were among the stars attending a private screening of the upcoming James Bond movie No Time To Die.

Rami Malek hosted the exclusive event held on Sunday at the San Vincente Bungalows in West Hollywood.

The 40-year-old Academy Award winner will star as villain Safin in the 25th installment of the Bond franchise.

Star-studded: Margot Robbie, Kaia Gerber and Jodie Turner-Smith were among the A-Listers attending a private screening of the upcoming James Bond movie, No Time To Die

Margot showed off her chic style in a white ruffled cropped dress shirt with an asymmetrical hemline that bared a sliver of her taut midriff.

The 33-year-old Suicide Squad star paired the dress shirt with high-waisted brown linen wide leg slacks.

The blonde beauty's waves were pulled back with a few loose strands framing her face.

She carried a black Chanel crossbody bag and accessorized with gold hoop earrings and gold rings.

Cheerful: Gerber, who is the daughter of supermodel Cindy Crawford and entrepreneur Rande Gerber, smiled as she waited at the valet stand accompanied by a mystery man. Kaia's boyfriend Jacob Elordi, 24, did not attend the event

Kaia donned an oversized black leather jacket over a silky yellow button-down shirt. She sported a delicate gold necklace and several gold earrings.

The 19-year-old American Horror Story: Double Feature actress wore her sleek brunette hair down with a middle part. She rocked a shimmery gold eyeshadow with a rosy blush that highlighted her high cheekbones.

Gerber, who is the daughter of supermodel Cindy Crawford and entrepreneur Rande Gerber, smiled as she waited at the valet stand accompanied by a mystery man. Kaia's boyfriend Jacob Elordi, 24, did not attend the event.

Bra talk: Jodie Turner-Smith flaunted her cleavage in a black leather cut out bustier under slinky turquoise blue wide-leg jumpsuit that fell to her ankles

Bold: The British actress made a fashion statement with a large black beret and sported black heels

Jodie flaunted her cleavage in a black leather cut out bustier under slinky turquoise blue wide leg jumpsuit that fell to her ankles.

The Anne Boleyn star, 34, accessorized with a beaded white choker and large dangly gold earrings. She carried a black leather bag with a silver chain strap.

The British actress made a fashion statement with a large black beret and sported black heels.

Exciting: Malek will star as villain Safin in the 25th installment of the Bond franchise. Seen in 2020

Rami avoided the paparazzi by slipping out the back door after the star-studded screening concluded.

No Time To Die will premiere on September 28 at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Its release was postponed several times due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Daniel Craig will play James Bond what is said to be his last foray as the iconic British spy. Directed by Cary Fukunaga, the film also stars Lashana Lynch, Lea Seydoux, Ana de Armas and Ben Whishaw.
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He once had an estimated fortune valued at $264million.

But amid his bankruptcy woes, allegations of embezzlement, and ailing health, Tom Girardi is now saying goodbye to living lavishly in his $13 million Pasadena mansion after checking into a senior living home in Burbank, California, DailyMail.com can reveal.

The estranged husband of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Erika Jayne was pictured looking frail on Sunday, as he was helped into his new abode, following reports he was diagnosed with dementia and late-onset Alzheimer's disease earlier this year.

Girardi was seen taking a look around his new no-frills surroundings as he took down his face mask, while dressed comfortably in grey trousers and a sweatshirt.

EXCLUSIVE: RHOBH star Erika Janye's estranged husband Tom Girardi, 82, checks into senior living home amid bankruptcy and embezzlement scandal

The former attorney and co-founder of Girardi & Keese, a downtown Los Angeles law firm, is currently facing claims of allegedly embezzling settlement funds that were meant to help the families of plane crash victims.

The sighting comes just days after it was revealed that Girardi - who has now been placed under a conservatorship - has been federally disbarred by California Federal Court.

It's quite the change of scenery for Girardi, who has now moved out of his palatial Pasadena mansion, that was once on the market for $13million.

A new home: The embattled former attorney has moved from his palatial Pasadena home into a senior living facility

His old home: Tom has been forced to move out of his palatial Pasadena mansion, which he tried to sell for $13million

Tough times: Girardi's move also follows claims from Erika Jayne who said last week that she's been receiving death threats after it was claimed she allegedly spent $25million from Girardi's law firm on credit card purchases

Pricing for Belmont Village Senior Living in Burbank is said to be between $4,545 - $4,750 a month for a private suite.

The facility has staff available 24/7, and boasts community chef-prepared dining with 24 daily choices of meals.

Costing for the facility depends on the room type and level of care that is required.

Girardi's move also follows claims from Jayne who said last week that she's been receiving death threats after it was claimed she allegedly spent $25million from Girardi's law firm on credit card purchases and fees for her glam squad.

This way: Girardi is seen being helped into an assisted living facility over the weekend in LA

Drama: The sighting comes just days after it was revealed that Girardi - who has now been placed under a conservatorship - has been federally disbarred by California Federal Court

Lawyers for the trustee overseeing the bankruptcy of the Girardi Keese firm allege the company transferred the money to Jayne's EJ Global LLC, according to a letter they sent to her lawyer, reports claimed last week.

The letter will be filed with the bankruptcy court as a part of the legal proceedings, a source told the outlet.

Jayne filed for divorce from Girardi in November and has denied wrongdoing after the law firm filed for bankruptcy and he was accused of misappropriating $2million intended for victims of Indonesia's Lion Air 610 crash.

Will Erika visit? An inside shot of the senior living home shows a dining area where Tom will be free to lounge in

Different to what he's used to: The senior living facility boasts comfortable sized bedrooms

New living area: Interior shots of the home show where embattled Tom will be spending his time

New home: Pricing for Belmont Village in Burbank is said to be around $4,000 a month for a private suite

From 2008 to 2020, Jayne allegedly spent $14,259,012.84 on her American Express card and $1,417,587.50 on unknown purchases - as well as $1,532,774.88 on an agency for dancers and choreographers, the McDonald Selznick Associates Agency.

Her company reportedly paid $102,596.77 to Kim Kardashian's former executive assistant Stephanie Shepherd.

EJ Global reportedly paid $17,415 to Opus Beauty - a management agency that represents make-up artists, stylists and costume designers - and $1,000 to influential makeup artist Mario Dedivanoic.

In hot water: Girardi is currently under investigation amid accusations he 'misappropriated at least $2 million' meant for the families of those killed in the Lion Air Flight 610 crash in Indonesia (He and Erika Jayne pictured in 2016 above)

Jayne had said in an episode of RHOBH that aired Wednesday that the family members of the victims of the Indonesia plane crash 'are owed their money,' but that she did not know Girardi had given her $20million in loans from his law firm.

In July, a judge ruled that Jayne may have to pay three other clients of Girardi that he allegedly embezzled $11million from out of her own pocket.

The same month, the former couple slashed the price of their Pasadena home from $13million to $9.98million.

Living area: Pricing for Belmont Village in Burbank is said to be between $4,545 - $4,750 a month for a private suite

Keeping fit: The senior living home also features a spacious gym area with an array of equipment

Stylish: The interior boasts a modern feel though it will no doubt feel smaller than what Tom is used to

The 10,277-square-foot, four bedroom, six bathroom abode, originally listed in May, had long been the main residence for the pair, with Jayne now having downsized.

In December, Giardi was sued by his business partners, which led to his chapter 7 bankruptcy petition; clients of the law firm are also suing him, alleging that their money was also misappropriated.

In March, the LA Times reported that there had been more than 100 lawsuits filed and multiple complaints made to the California State Bar against Girardi by disgruntled clients who alleged financial wrongdoing and theft between the 1980s and up until last year.

Tom's diner: The facility has a formal dining area for residents staying at the home

Modern: The bedrooms feature plush furnishings

Outdoor space: Another shot from inside the premises shows a patio area for the residents to congregate

Cozy: Another bedroom at the facility is seen in the picture above, where Girardi could be spending his time

Ex: Tom's estranged wife Erika Jayne is pictured in Beverly Hills on Friday amid the ongoing drama

In June, Jayne had been 'ordered to turn over financial records' from her accountant, lawyer and landlord as part of the embezzlement investigation and a bankruptcy trustee is documenting the couple's assets.

It's been alleged that the split provided a way for the couple to embezzle funds and that Jayne had received 'tens of millions of dollars' from her husband's firm to fund her projects, Us Weekly reported in June.

Meanwhile, an investigator in the bankruptcy trial of Tom and Erika says he wants to take into account 'inconsistent statements' the reality star has made on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

Investigator Ronald Richards told Us Weekly this month: 'There's a lot of inconsistent statements and admissions made by the non-scripted actors that we're putting together to use in court.'

Asked whether the attorney has seen 'a lot of inconsistencies with the story' being told on RHOBH in regards to Erika and Tom's lawsuit and financial woes, Richards said: 'That's correct.'

Richards added that his team is 'going to take discovery from people that used to work for her.'
Christina Ricci was spotted out in public for the first time since announcing her pregnancy almost two weeks ago.

Over the weekend, the 41-year-old Golden Globe nominee made guest appearances at Awesome Con in Washington DC.

On August 10, Christina revealed that she was expecting her second child with her hairstylist and boyfriend Mark Hampton.

Out and about: Christina Ricci was spotted out for the first time since announcing her pregnancy almost two weeks ago

The Sleepy Hollow actress displayed her baby bump in a black long-sleeved empire-waisted maternity dress.

Ricci sported Vans checkerboard slip-on sneakers as she walked out of a green room at the Walter E Washington Convention Center.

The Z: The Beginning of Everything star wore light brown hair in loose waves and covered her face with a black surgical mask.

Fun: Over the weekend, the 41-year-old Golden Globe nominee made guest appearances at Awesome Con in Washington D.C

She was accompanied by a staff member as she strolled down the hall of the convention center.

On Saturday, Christina hosted a panel titled When You're An Addams With Christina Ricci at the pop culture convention, which bills itself as 'a celebration of geek culture.'

Ricci also signed autographs and posed for pictures with fans on Saturday and Sunday.

Surprise! On August 10, Christina revealed that she was expecting her second child with her hairstylist and boyfriend Mark Hampton

Guest star: On Saturday, Christina hosted a panel titled When You're An Addams With Christina Ricci at the pop culture convention, which bills itself as 'a celebration of geek culture'

Fanservice: Ricci also signed autographs and posed for pictures with fans on Saturday and Sunday

Delighted: A fan excitedly posted a photo that she took with Christina on her Instagram page

The Santa Monica native announced her pregnancy with a sonogram picture posted to her Instagram account, along with the caption, 'Life keeps getting better.'

Hampton also shared some sonogram images, referring himself as 'daddy'.

Her pregnancy comes comes just months after Ricci was granted a restraining order against estranged husband James Heerdegen, amid allegations of domestic violence.

She and Heerdegen, who married in 2013 and split a year ago, have a six-year-old son Freddie who lives with his mother.

Exciting: On August 10, the Santa Monica native announced her pregnancy with a sonogram picture posted to her Instagram account, along with the caption, 'Life keeps getting better'

Ricci and Hampton appear to have got close this past year, working on a number of fashion shoots together. Often, Ricci has left a series of heart emojis under pictures of herself that Hampton has posted.

She also dropped a hint with a birthday tribute to the hairstylist in July, commenting: 'favorite person, gorgeous human, bringer of all things happy, magical and good. I love you ... this next year is going to be the best one yet.'

Hampton - a hairstylist and makeup artist - is an industry professional who has worked with A-List talent and big name brands like Banana Republic and Hugo Boss.

Expanding her brood: The star is already mother to son Freddie Heerdegen - who was born in 2014 - and who she shares with her ex James (pictured above last year)

Father figure: Hairstylist Mark Hampton declared himself to be the 'daddy' in an Instagram comment on Tuesday, as he also shared the happy news

He was congratulated on his post by British supermodel Jourdan Dunn. Last year, he worked with Elon Musk's girlfriend Grimes, doing her hair and makeup for a V Magazine fashion shoot, and described her as being a 'super sweet heart!'

Hampton also styled Oscar-nominated actress Carey Mulligan's hair in February last year for the cover of Heroine magazine and previously worked with the Olsen twins.

His impressive work includes editorials for Vogue, Dazed and Confused, Elle and Q Magazine, and has worked on fashion shows for Miu Miu, Marc Jacobs, Prada, Louis Vuitton, and Calvin Klein.

He's the daddy! Mark replied to a well wisher on his own pics of the sonogram, with the message 'daddy shark'

His and hers: Mark posted a similar sonogram snap to Christina's and made sure to tag the actress on Tuesday

Meanwhile, Ricci is already mother to six-year-old son Frederick 'Freddie' Heerdegen - who was born in 2014 - and who she shares with her ex James.

In April this year, Ricci and her estranged husband reached a custody arrangement after their contentious split prompted accusations of abuse from both sides.

The arrangement was submitted to the Los Angeles County Superior Court in May, according to reports at the time.

The agreement favored Ricci, allowing the actress custody of their son after she relocates to Vancouver, Canada to film a new project, with Heerdegen getting visitation rights.

Who is Christina Ricci's new man Mark Hampton? Christina Ricci appears to be in a new romance with celebrated hairstylist Mark Hampton, after the pair both confirmed they are expecting a child together on Tuesday. The hairstylist first made a name for himself in London, where he began his career at the age of 17, and qualified just before he reached the age of 21. As well as fashion, Mark has also worked extensively in the music industry styling hair on videos for artists including Kate Nash, Calvin Harris, Ladyhawke and La Roux. Professional: Mark Hampton seen in action as a hairstylist Last year, he worked with Elon Musk's girlfriend Grimes, doing her hair and makeup for a V Magazine fashion shoot, and described her as being a 'super sweet heart!' Hampton also styled Oscar-nominated actress Carey Mulligan's hair in February last year for the cover of Heroine magazine and previously worked with the Olsen twins. His impressive work includes editorials for Vogue, Dazed and Confused, Elle and Q Magazine, and has worked on fashion shows for Miu Miu, Marc Jacobs, Prada, Louis Vuitton, and Calvin Klein. Advertisement

Ricci also agreed to pay 'reasonable costs for travel and accommodations,' which include 'economy airfare' for her ex. She will also get to choose where he stays during his visitation trips.

The Addams Family star was granted a restraining order against Heerdegen in January. He attempted to obtain his own restraining order later that month but was denied.

Heerdegen made shocking accusations while filing for a temporary restraining order, claiming his ex abuses alcohol and prescription drugs, making her a danger to their young son.

He also claimed he had to check their son's bottles of breast milk for fear of it being contaminated with alcohol she drank the night before.

His filing came just days after Ricci accused her estranged husband of physically abusing her.

She said she had to hide knives in the house because she feared Heerdegen could kill her after he allegedly said he would only feel sorry for her if she was 'dismembered into small pieces'.

A judge granted Ricci a domestic violence restraining order against Heerdegen in early January, six months after she filed for divorce.

Ricci and Heerdegen were married on October 26, 2013, they welcomed their son together the following year.

In 2017, Ricci talked about how becoming a mother changed her.

'Marriage shows you your flaws in how you deal with things, and having a child forces you to grow up at the speed of light,' she told Net-a-Porter's digital magazine The Edit.

'I'm a completely different person than I was before I had my child.'
Sandra Lee took to Instagram Monday with a shot of herself at the memorial at Omaha Beach in Normandy, France, saying that 'today is a sad day ... for many reasons' as her ex, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, was set to end his term at 11:59 p.m. after resigning earlier this month.

The celebrity chef, 55, was posed in front of a waterfront memorial with the names of soldiers who died on D-Day on June 6, 1944 during World War II, which liberated France and Western Europe from Nazi occupation.

The Food Network personality was clad in an off-white knit coat with a matching scarf and black pants. She had her blonde locks styled to the side and sunglasses on the late summer day.

The latest: Sandra Lee took to Instagram Monday with a shot of herself at the memorial at Omaha Beach in Normandy, France, saying that 'today is a sad day ... for many reasons' as her ex, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, was set to end his term at 11:59 p.m. after resigning earlier this month

'I have not posted for a while for many reasons, none of which I am ready to address, discuss or share but I can say that today is a sad dayalso for many reasons - one of them is the story behind the place I am spending this day-Omaha Beach Normandy,' she wrote in the social media post. 'What a day, what a place, my heart aches today!'

She continued: 'I want to thank all the soldiers that gave their lives, all the families that gave their loved one - Thank you to all-past and present, living and deceased..thank you for your sacrifices.'

The Santa Monica, California-born TV personality shared a quote from Theodore Roosevelt that read, 'Never throughout history has a man that lived a life of ease made a name worth remembering.'

Lee is engaged to actor beau Ben Youcef insiders told the New York Post earlier this month, as she was seen in Paris earlier this month sporting an engagement ring.

Cuomo delivered a farewell address Monday as he readied to transfer power to Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, after resigning earlier this month following allegations of sexual harassment from 11 women, which could have led to impeachment proceedings

Lee was seen last month at an event in LA for Project Angel Food

Lee was previously in a 14-year relationship with Cuomo until their September 2019 parting. They were snapped in 2018 in NYC

She was previously in a 14-year relationship with Cuomo until their September 2019 parting.

Cuomo delivered a farewell address Monday as he readied to transfer power to Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, after resigning earlier this month following allegations of sexual harassment from 11 women, which could have led to impeachment proceedings.

Cuomo said the allegations were 'designed to be a political firecracker on an explosive topic, and it did work,' causing 'a political and media stampede.'

He said that battling to staying in office 'could only cause governmental paralysis and that is just not an option for you and not an option for the state, especially now.'
Retired AFL star Brendan Fevola has once again responded to trolls accusing his family of 'fleeing' Melbourne's Covid lockdown by living in their Mornington Peninsula holiday home.

The former Carlton goal-kicker, 40, shared video evidence on Instagram on Monday that proves his main home in the city is 'unliveable' due to ongoing renovations.

He was forced to respond after keyboard warriors unfairly criticised his family's living situation, saying the lockdown was just an excusive for a 'holiday'.

'Unliveable': Ex-AFL star Brendan Fevola has once again responded to trolls accusing his family of 'fleeing' Melbourne's Covid lockdown by living in their Mornington Peninsula holiday home

Frustrated Fevola attempted to silence his critics by uploading the footage that showed the extensive renovation work taking place at his Melbourne home.

The clip showed tradesmen on site while his fiancee, Alex, could be seen discussing construction plans with a builder in the background.

The state of the building indicates it's in the early stages of renovations, with a lot more work still to be done.

'Just for people still questioning my living arrangements this is our house a week and half ago. Unliveable!' the Fox FM breakfast host wrote.

'For people still questioning my living arrangement': Fevola shared video evidence on Monday that proves his main home in the city is 'unliveable' due to ongoing renovations

Far from completed: The clip showed tradesmen on site. The state of the building indicates it's in the early stages of renovations, with a lot more work still to be done

'Carry on, enjoy lockdown, put a smile on your face and try to be positive, Victoria,' he added.

The saga began over the weekend when Alex posted several photos of their idyllic second home, prompting some of her followers to mistake them for holiday snaps.

She responded on Instagram on Sunday, writing: 'For everyone who may assume we have taken off on a "holiday" during lockdown. I'll explain again.'

Anger: The saga began over the weekend when Alex Fevola (right) posted several photos of their idyllic second home, prompting some of her followers to mistake them for holiday snaps

Not on holiday: After Melbourne was plunged into Covid lockdown, trolls mistook the family's living arrangements for a 'holiday' and subjected them to unfair criticism

'We have been living in our holiday house whilst our home is being renovated. We have no kitchen, no bathrooms and no floors in our home, so the house is currently unliveable,' she added.

'We stayed there through the parts we could but it's at a stage now where it's unliveable.

'I know everyone is stressed and angry right now but please don't be so quick to judge. We are not "tourists" blatantly disregarding or disrespecting the rules.'

Hitting back: She responded on Instagram on Sunday, writing: 'For everyone who may assume we have taken off on a "holiday" during lockdown. I'll explain again. We have been living in our holiday house whilst our home is being renovated... the house is currently unliveable'

Setting the record straight: Fevola added, 'We have been here for most of the year'

Fevola added at the time: 'Just a heads-up - which I shouldn't have to do but I'm going to - for everyone saying and DM-ing me "Why you down the Peninsula?

'We are living here. Our house is under renovation and unliveable. We have been here for most of the year.'

In July, Fevola's stepdaughter Mia announced she was taking a break from social media after causing a stir over her 'tone-deaf' post during Melbourne's lockdown.

The 21-year-old, who is Alex's daughter from a previous relationship, complained about the restrictions, saying she would be heading off to her family's beach house to ride it out.

Mia added that she wasn't 'complaining' about the lockdown in her post, but was just feeling 'frustrated'.
Hugh Jackman was just eight years old when his mother, Grace McNeil, abandoned her family in Australia and returned to the UK.

The Hollywood actor, 52, has previously described Grace's sudden departure as 'traumatic', but it appears time heals all wounds.

Hugh posted a photo on Instagram on Monday of himself hugging Grace as they both smiled warmly at each other, and simply captioned it: 'Mum.'

The power of forgiveness: Actor Hugh Jackman posted this photo on Instagram on Monday of himself hugging his mother, Grace McNeil, who had abandoned him when he was child

Fans flooded the cosy photo with positive comments, including one who wrote: 'Ma'am, you have raised a gentleman. My respects to you both.'

But another follower was quick to correct the record: 'Actually his father raised him.'

Hugh told Australia's Who magazine in January 2018 that his mother abandoning him as a child was 'traumatic'.

The Broadway star was an eight-year-old schoolboy when Grace left him without even saying goodbye.

She left Australia and returned to her native England in the late '70s, leaving her husband, Christopher Jackman, to raise their children alone.

Scars: The Hollywood actor, 52, told Australia's Who magazine in January 2018 that his mother abandoning him as a child was 'traumatic'. Pictured: an undated photo of Hugh as a toddler

Discussion: Fans flooded the cosy photo with positive comments, including one who wrote: 'Ma'am, you have raised a gentleman. My respects to you both.' But another follower was quick to correct the record: 'Actually his father raised him'

After the couple divorced, Hugh's sisters, Zoe and Sonya, went to live with Grace in the UK; Hugh and his brothers, Ian and Ralph, stayed in Sydney with their father.

'It was traumatic,' Hugh said, recalling his difficult childhood. 'I thought she was probably going to come back. And then it sort of dragged on and on.'

The Greatest Showman star added that after his mother left the family, he saw her about 'once a year'.

It wasn't until he was '12 or 13' that it dawned on him his mother would never return.

Moving overseas: Grace (right) left Australia and returned to her native England in the late '70s, leaving her husband, Christopher Jackman, to raise their children alone

In December 2012, Hugh told Australia's 60 Minutes program that he still vividly remembered 'the morning she left'.

'I remember her being in a towel around her head and saying goodbye. [It] must have been the way she said goodbye,' he said.

'As I went off to school, when I came back, there was no one there in the house.'

He added: 'The next day there was a telegram from England. Mum was there. And then that was it. Dad used to pray every night that mum would come back.'

Hugh once told The Australian Women's Weekly: 'The thing I never felt - and I know this might sound strange - I never felt that my mum didn't love me.

'I've spoken about it at length with her since and I know she was struggling.

'She was in hospital after I was born suffering from post-natal depression. There wasn't a support network for her here.'

Divided family: After Grace and Christopher divorced, Hugh's sisters, Zoe and Sonya, went to live with their mother in the UK. Hugh and his brothers, Ian and Ralph, stayed in Sydney with their father. Pictured: Hugh and his father

Fortunately, Hugh and his mother reconciled years later.

He told The Sun newspaper in October 2011: I am 43 now and we have definitely made our peace, which is important.

'I was always quite connected with my mum. I have a good relationship with her.'
The seventh series of Love Island came to an end on Monday night, with Millie Court, 24, and Liam Reardon, 22, being crowned the winners.

And a string of faces from the ITV2 show arrived at Boujee in Manchester for the I Saw It First Love Island finale party.

Molly Smith, 27, and Callum Jones, 25, along with Georgia Steel, 23 were amongst the reality stars who hit Manchester to mark the finale of the successful reality show.

Love Island final: Molly Smith, Callum Jones and Georgia Steel led the slew of reality stars at I Saw It First's Love Island finale party in Manchester on Monday (Molly and Callum pictured)

Molly looked radiant in a brown-print ruched dress that she styled with strappy gold heels, boosting her frame.

She curled her luscious blonde locks and applied a full face of glowing makeup, whilst her beau Callum, who she met in 2020 on the winter edition of the show, looked delighted to be on her arm, showing off his tatts in a knit checkerboard tee.

Georgia rocked a leather ensemble which she completed with a neon yellow belt.

Manchester night out: Molly looked radiant in a brown-print ruched dress that she styled with strappy gold heels, boosting her frame

Gorgeous: The blonde beauty curled her luscious blonde locks and applied a full face of glowing makeup, whilst her beau Callum, who she met last year on the winter edition of the show, looked delighted to be on her arm, showing off his tatts in a knit checkerboard tee

Leggy: Georgia rocked a leather ensemble which she completed with a neon yellow belt.

Girl gang: The Celebs Go Dating star was joined by Francesca Allen, 25 (middle) and Joanna Chimonides, 24 (right)

Stunning: Joanna and Francesca appeared on series 5 and Georgia on series 4

Strutting their stuff: Francesca sported a pink blouse with an emerald skirt whilst Joanna flashed her toned stomach in a busty black ensemble

Her lithe legs were on full display as she glammed it up in black heels and accessorised with a studded bag.

The Celebs Go Dating star was joined by series five beauties Francesca Allen, 25, and Joanna Chimonides, 24.

Francesca sported a pink blouse with an emerald skirt whilst Joanna flashed her toned stomach in a busty black ensemble.

Lads: Budding reality stars from this year's series were also out in full force, with a few of the boys, (from left to right) Chuggs Wallis, 23, Harry Young, 24, Sam Jackson, 23, and Brad McClelland, 26, stopping to take a spruce snap at the event

Sensational: AJ Bunker (left) and Georgia Townend (right), both 28, wowed in stunning numbers

Casa Amor bombshell: Lillie Haynes showed off her figure in a black mini dress

Budding reality stars from this year's series were also out in full force, with a few of the boys, Chuggs Wallis, 23, Harry Young, 24, Sam Jackson, 23, and Brad McClelland, stopping to take a spruce snap at the event.

Casa Amor bombshell, Lillie Haynes, 22, was also in attendance, along with AJ Bunker 28, Georgia Townend, 28, and Rachel Finni, 29.

Twins from the winter edition of the show, Eve and Jess Gale, 22, put on jaw-dropping displays in neon blue and green outfits which showcased their incredible tans.

Seeing double: Twins from the winter edition of the show, Eve (left) and Jess Gale (right), 22, put on jaw-dropping displays in neon blue and green outfits

Busty display: The outfits showed off their stunning tans

Pose: Series 4 star Kaz Crossley, 27 (left) and another one of this year's Casa Amor stunners Clarisse Juliette, 23, (right) looked glowing as they donned gorgeous black ensembles

Radiant: Arabella Chi, 30, (right) and Georgia Harrison, 26, (left) arrived in glamorous fashion

Gal pals: Both girls opted for a white theme within their stylish look

Wow! Arabella and Kaz were not afraid to showcase their toned pins

Loved up: Eva Zapico, 23 and Nas Majeed, 25, looked in good spirits in Manchester, cutting smart figures

Series 4 star Kaz Crossley, 27 and another one of this year's Casa Amor stunners Clarisse Juliette, 23, looked glowing as they donned gorgeous black ensembles.

Arabella Chi, 30, and Georgia Harrison, 26, arrived in glamorous fashion, with both girls opting for a white theme within their stylish look.

Joe Garratt, 24, and couple Eva Zapico, 23 and Nas Majeed, 25, completed the set of gorgeous stars.

It wasn't just in Manchester that the parties were kicking off, with BOXPARK Croydon also hosting a viewing event that was hosted by BBC 1 Xtra DJ Nadia Jae.

Season four Islander Jack Fowler was the special guest in attendance and performed his new single Foolish featuring Tom Zanetti for the crowds.

Handsome: Joe Garratt, 24, put on a debonair display, completing the line up of Love Island stars

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He's a huge fan of yoga.

And Bradley Cooper was sporty and comfortable as he headed off for a stretch session in Santa Monica on Monday.

The 46-year-old actor looked low-key wearing his One Tribe Foundation t-shirt along with darker grey jogger sweatpants.

Casual and comfy: Bradley Cooper rocked a sporty and comfortable look as he headed to a yoga session in Santa Monica on Monday

Continuing the look, Cooper sported a short haircut and a very light beard.

A black pair of shades could be seen tucked into the collar of his shirt, overlapping a beaded green and white necklace.

He wore black flip flops and carried an orange water bottle, keys, his phone, and a sweatshirt.

Bradley's One Tribe foundation is a nonprofit which provides education and therapy to veterans, first responders and their families in effort to prevent suicides.

A message: The 46-year-old actor was wearing his One Tribe Foundation t-shirt that he paired with darker grey jogger sweatpants

Based out of Texas and formerly known as 22KILL, One Tribe's mission is to 'create a community that raises awareness and combats suicide by empowering [people] through traditional and non-traditional therapies.'

The award-winning filmmaker also used his star power recently to promote Sean Penn's Community Organized Relief Effort which has been on the ground providing cost-free COVID-19 testing and vaccinations.

Cooper will next portray a film director in Paul Thomas Anderson's untitled film set in the 1970s San Fernando Valley, which hits limited US theaters on November 26.

The coming-of-age drama also stars the late great Philip Seymour Hoffman's 18-year-old son Cooper, Benny Safdie, Alana Haim, and Joseph Cross.
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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP)  Florida's power struggle over wearing masks in school to guard against coronavirus infections landed Monday before a judge considering a lawsuit that challenges Gov. Ron DeSantis' order reserving the mask decision for parents.

The three-day hearing before Leon County Circuit Judge John C. Cooper pits pro-mask parents against the Republican governor and state education officials who say parents, not schools, should choose whether their children cover up inside schools.

The hearings come as the highly contagious delta variant causes a surge in hospitalizations and deaths across Florida, where the school year is already being disrupted.

Some districts belatedly began requiring masks, as recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention after classroom exposures forced them to send thousands of students and hundreds of teachers and staff into isolation or quarantine.

At least eight school districts representing more than 1 million Florida students were defying the governor's order as of Monday night. Duval County, which includes Jacksonville, became to latest district to adopt a stricter mask policy, which begins Sept. 7 and last for 90 days. State education officials have vowed to financially punish districts that don't comply, contending they are violating state law unless they allow parents to opt-out their children for any reason.

Charles Dodson, a former judge representing parents challenging DeSantis' order, said in an opening statement that the delta variant affects children more than previous strains and places them at greater risk in crowded schools.

Because of the delta variant, our schools are not safe and secure unless everyone wears a mask, Dodson said. It is certainly an emergency.

The Florida Constitution and state law give school boards the authority to decide health and safety matters affecting their students, Dodson said. He asked the judge to block the DeSantis order.

Each local school board, and only each local school board, should be able to decide in each district whether to make masks mandatory," Dodson said.

Most of Monday's court session focused on testimony by plaintiffs and medical experts who support masks in schools and oppose DeSantis' order banning them without parental consent. Monday's final witness, Damaris Allen, parent of a high schooler in Hillsborough County, said masks are an important to contain the virus.

I want to stop the spread of the virus in my community, said Allen, president of the parent-teacher association at Plant High School. Local school boards have the ability to make decisions based on the needs of the local community.

The hearing is set to resume Tuesday.

A lawyer for the defendants  DeSantis, Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran, the state school board and education department  said the governor's order heeds the state constitution and law, particularly the Parents Bill of Rights measure that took effect in July.

That law states that only parents and legal guardians can direct the upbringing, education, health care, and mental health of their child, attorney Michael Abel said.

Abel said the state's experts will testify that requiring students to wear masks causes many harms   speaking difficulty, mood changes, breathing issues and depression  while scientists disagree on their effectiveness against the coronavirus.

Citing state statistics from 2020, Abel said 40 of the 67 Florida school districts mandated masks, and yet still had positive virus tests for 48 of every 1,000 students. Districts without mask requirements had positive tests for 50 out of every 1,000 students.

Mask mandates are unnecessary, Abel said, adding the state's actions were consistent with state law and the Florida Constitution.

The mask issue has spurred heated debates at school board meetings, with one side claiming a ban on mandatory mask rules denies their children a safe education, and the other contending such requirements amount to government overreach  even tyranny.

Miami-Dade schools, the nations fourth-largest district with 340,000 students, began classes Monday with a strict mask mandate. Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said the district would wear any state punishment as a badge of honor.

I know it (wearing masks) is an inconvenience but it is a necessity considering the explosive nature of COVID-19 transmission, Carvalho said.

The largest school district in Florida that hasnt imposed a strict mask policy is Orange County, where parents and teachers protested Monday outside district headquarters demanding that Superintendent Barbara Jenkins and the board make masks mandatory.

Sarasota County implemented its new mandatory mask policy Monday. Masks were optional the first two weeks of classes, but outbreaks districtwide prompted the school board to impose a strict mandate. Only students who provide a doctors note will be excused, an opt-out mirrored by other districts with mask requirements.

Ive struggled with wearing a mask. I know a lot of my friends have, too, Mya Mamazza, an 11th-grader, told the Sarasota Herald-Tribune outside school Monday. I have asthma, so its really hard for me.

She wants the district to offer online classes if masks are mandatory, so she wont have to wear one.

This hearing is scheduled to end by Wednesday. It's not immediately clear when Cooper will rule, but the judge has said he prefers to decide issues from the bench  and aknowledged time is of the essence.

I want everyone to have enough time, but I think we need to move as quickly as we can, he said.

_____

Spencer reported from Fort Lauderdale.
A lawyer for Purdue Pharma said Monday that a judge needs to accept the OxyContin maker's plan to settle thousands of lawsuits over the opioid epidemic or face years or decades of Hobbesian hell with complicated litigation that would not result in fair payouts to abate the epidemic or pay individual victims.

Marshall Huebner, a lawyer for Purdue, made his case during an ongoing videoconference hearing to U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Robert Drain, who expects to rule this week on whether to accept the Stamford, Connecticut-based company's reorganization plan.

State and local governments and individual victims who cast ballots on the plan supported it overwhelmingly. But nine states, the District of Columbia, the city of Seattle and the U.S. Bankruptcy Trustee are fighting the plan because it would protect members of the Sackler family who own the company from future lawsuits over opioids.

Huebner said that allowing suits to go ahead against members of the wealthy family "would be a fight that would be long, hard-fought, uncertain and incredibly expensive.

And if some places won billions in judgments against family members, Huebner said, that could leave nothing for the rest of the U.S.

He also noted that suing Sackler families is complicated. The family is stretched across the world, with some assets held in foreign trusts. And many family members have never been involved with Purdue.

In exchange for the legal protections, family members would contribute a total of $4.5 billion in cash and control of a charitable fund. They would give up ownership of Purdue, and the company would be reformed into a new entity with its profits going to fight the epidemic and pay victims and their families.

Most of the funds sent to government entities would have to be used to combat opioids via projects such as connecting people with treatment programs, and opioid use prevention. And most people with claims that are found valid are expected to receive between $3,500 and $48,000.

The company would also make public millions of internal documents, including communications with its lawyers. And the Sacklers would have to get out of the opioid business in other countries eventually.

Irve Goldman, a lawyer representing the state of Connecticut, argued that states' rights would be violated if a settlement is adopted without their agreement.

Drain, who had far more questions for those opposing the plan than supporting it asked what would happen if just one state or city were left objecting. Do you still say that the whole thing should be put aside for that creditors' rights? he asked.

Goldman said that was a difficult question, but that there's an overriding concern about the Sacklers getting protections from suits: If the plan is confirmed, they would have gotten every bit of protection and more than they would have received in their own bankruptcies, he said  but without the rigors of going through bankruptcy themselves.

Some parties in the cases also agreed Monday to changes in the details of the settlement.

While members of the Sackler would still be protected from lawsuits related to opioids, they would be allowed to face litigation over other Purdue products and actions. Also, contractors and advisers would no longer receive protections from certain civil claims over opioids, which have been linked to more than 500,000 deaths in the U.S. since 2000.

After testimony wrapped up last week in the confirmation hearing, Drain  a veteran bankruptcy judge based in White Plains, New York  said it's the most complex case he has ever presided over. Before abruptly ending testimony as he appeared to cry, he said wasn't going to forget a different kind of voice in the case: that of victims.

He mentioned the letters he has received from some of them.

One, Stephanie Lubinski, said described how her husband Troy, a former Minneapolis firefighter, dealt with years of addiction before killing himself in 2020. She said it began when he was prescribed OxyContin for a back injury. That was the beginning of the end for Troy, she wrote.

I am just a small fish in this ocean of devastation the Sackler family has caused with their greed," she wrote. They increased their opulent wealth, beyond anything that a blue collar worker like myself would ever imagine. Yet, my family paid the ultimate price for them to get that wealth.

Victims of the crisis were also given four of the nine seats on a key committee of unsecured creditors in the case. In arguing for acceptance of the deal, the committee's lawyer, Aric Preis, on Monday spoke of one of those members, Cheryl Juaire, a Massachusetts woman with two sons who have died of opioid overdoses, including one this year.

One family, two opioid deaths, three children being raised without fathers, Preis said. But he said that Juaire is supporting the plan because she agrees it's time to move on, time to stop chasing and time to start abating the crisis.
Two groups that work to overturn wrongful convictions argued in a petition filed Monday that a Missouri man who has spent more than 20 years in prison for killing his mother did not commit the crime.

Michael Politte was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison in 2002. He was 14 when his mother, Rita Politte, was burned to death inside their home in Hopewell in eastern Missouri, in 1998.

The Midwest Innocence Project and the MacArthur Justice Center, along with attorneys from the Langdon & Emison law firm in Lexington, argue in the petition filed with the Missouri Court of Appeals Western District that Politte was convicted because of a biased investigation, faulty science and an incompetent defense at trial.

They asked the court to release Politte from custody, conduct an evidentiary hearing, or appoint a special master to investigate his case.

How did I end up in prison? Because this judicial system is overseen by flawed human beings who do not want to admit they got anything wrong. They do not want to admit that they wrongfully convicted a 14-year-old for murdering his own mother, Politte said in a statement released by his attorneys.

The Missouri Attorney General's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.

Michael Politte and a friend were sleeping at the mobile home when they both awoke to smoke early on Dec. 5, 1998, according to the petition. Michael told authorities he found his mother's burning body in her bedroom as he and his friend tried to escape, according to the petition. She also suffered blunt force trauma to her head.

The petition alleges fire investigators quickly decided the fire was started with gasoline, and police immediately zeroed in on her son as a suspect, although no blood or other injuries were found on him. Investigators also said he did not show much emotion or remorse in the days following his mother's death.

Law enforcement did not investigate other viable suspects, including Politte's father  recently divorced from Rita Politte  who had been ordered to pay a significant financial settlement the week before she died, the attorneys say. Witnesses also said a cousin of Politte's father was seen around the mobile home shortly after the fire was reported.

Tunnel vision set in very quickly, which happens in most cases of wrongful conviction, said Megan Crane, co-director of the MacArthur Justice Center. Once they decided on Michael, the investigation was fatally undermined from that point on.

Throughout frequent interrogation, without an attorney, in the 48 hours after his mother's death, Politte steadfastly maintained his innocence, as he has in the intervening years, Crane said. Before he went to trial, Politte rejected an offer to plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter because he was innocent, she said.

The friend who was at the scene has consistently backed Politte's story, and Politte's two sisters have always believed he is innocent, Crane said.

Politte was held in juvenile custody for four years before he was tried as an adult in January 2002.

The state did not provide a motive for Politte to kill his mother, and its case rested largely on testimony from fire investigators who said the fire was started by an accelerant and that Politte had gas on his shoes  the only physical evidence linking him to the killing.

Those findings were based on fire investigation techniques that have since been discredited, and the state has conceded in the intervening years that Politte did not have gas on his shoes, according to the petition.

During the trial, Politte's attorney presented only half a day of testimony from three witnesses. No experts were called to debunk the fire and gasoline evidence, or to refute the state's arguments that Politte did not show any remorse about his mother's death. Politte's friend was not called, and the attorney persuaded Politte not to testify.

Tammy Nash was a Washington County deputy sheriff in 1998 who helped investigate the killing and also worked in the jail where Politte was initially held. She said in an affidavit that investigators were split on whether Politte was guilty and her doubts grew as she got to know him while he was in jail.

She remembers Politte crying frequently and saying if my mam was here, she would tell them I would never hurt her and I did not do this, according to the affidavit.

Nash said she did not believe Politte was capable of masterminding the crime and she submitted the affidavit because she believes he is innocent.
DARIEN  Downtown Dariens transformative project, the Corbin District project, is finally happening  and all the shops in the area want residents to know they are operating business as usual.

Work on the first phase of downtown redevelopment has begun, with the Gulf gas station closed, and two buildings behind it along Corbin Drive vacated and the sites fenced off and being prepped for removal.

Baywater Properties David Genovese , who has spearheaded this downtown redevelopment plan since 2005 with Penny Glassmeyer, said completing this major construction project was only part of his teams work  they also took great care in making sure all the businesses were relocated so there would be no disruption to their operations.

We needed to take care of Dariens local businesses. ... That was important to us, Genovese said.

Businesses impacted in phase one of the project were Mathnasium, which moved from the Corbin Drive location to 1084 Post Road; Dynamic Martial Arts, to 1540 Post Road; and the Butler Tibbetts law firm and Tibbetts Real Estate, which Genovese said moved to a Brook Street site, as well as to a Southport location. In all, six businesses have been relocated. Previously, the Baywater team worked to relocate Paws & Reflect, EPOD and Darien Shoe Repair.

We are proud that we were able to relocate every tenant, Genovese said. We found new homes for each of them.

Genovese said the first phase is estimated to take some 15 months to complete, at which point the second phase will begin, and another set of businesses will be relocated.

The Corbin District project is a mixed-use redevelopment of downtown Darien proposed by Baywater Properties and PG Properties. It has a 7.17-acre site area spanning from Corbin Drive to the Bank of America building at 1120 Boston Post Road.

The project involves demolishing all buildings within the Corbin area and building a mixed-use development with retail, restaurant, office and residential uses; creating new off-street parking and internal drives; creating new public plaza areas; and performing related site development activities within a regulated area.

Baywaters plans for the area include 116 new one- and two-bedroom apartments and an increase in retail and office space.

Existing office space would grow from 45,961 to 81,200 square feet while retail space would increase from 52,579 to 81,730 square feet. Another 16,910 square feet of restaurant space would be added to the ground level of the project.

I am 100 percent supportive of this. ... I just wish it had started sooner, said Bill Jensen, owner of Darien Toy Box.

Darien didnt really have a downtown, just a couple stores and (the Post Road) running down the middle, Jensen added. Now we will have a vibrant downtown ... new stores, crosswalks, pedestrian traffic. Theres a younger generation coming into town, and now people can come to downtown for things that would have normally gone to Stamford, Greenwich, even New York City to get.

Jensen said his business will be moving twice by the time the construction on both sides of Corbin Drive is complete, but that does not temper his enthusiasm about his business future.

This is exciting, he said. Downtown is going to be a place where things happen, people will be able to park and walk. There are so many great places in this downtown now, and it is only going to get better.

Were all still here. ... Were not going anywhere, Jensen said.

Gage DeDemonicis, owner of Dynamic Martial Arts, said his move from the now vacant Corbin Drive location to 1054 Boston Post Road, away from downtown, was smooth, with no impact on business since his move in mid-July.

He said his operation, which offers martial arts training to all age groups, will be moving back to the Corbin Drive space once the construction is complete.

Moving, in our industry, is a risk, but we kept everyone informed and (Genovese) was great about helping us relocate during construction, said DeDemonicis, who took over the business in 2018. We have a group, like a family, here, and they all helped make this a smooth transition.

Rosey Costello, owner of Everything is Rosey, is also excited about the new construction. She, like Jensen, will remain in her present location until phase one is complete.

I always knew it. ... (Genovese) told me when I signed my lease nine years ago that this was planned, said Costello, a 25-year Darien resident. I was always on board with improving the town.

She said the buildings along the Post Road near Corbin Drive are old, built in 1955, and have regular maintenance and mechanical issues, so the new building in which her business will sit will be a welcome change.

Costello, like other business owners, praised Genovese, Baywater Properties and PG Properties for the help in relocating and always being available for questions or assistance.

They are incredible landlords, Costello said.

Page Berger, of Barrett Bookstore said the bookstore, long a staple in Noroton Heights, has been on the first floor of the 10 Corbin Drive building for two years. The store will need to be relocated during phase two construction.

We are fully open and will continue to be, Berger said.

Berger said relocating to downtown has been a boon for business, thanks to the large amount of parking and pedestrian traffic.

Were extremely pleased with this location, she said. Were here. ... Its a great place to be.

Mathnasium owner David Lubner said he moved into his new space at 1082 Post Road last month. While the move was challenging, he remains excited about being downtown.

Weve moved to a more visible location ... fresh, clean, but still the same Mathnasium, Lubner added.
AIIEA said their association is mobilising public opinion against the disastrous policy of privatising public sector insurance industry in particular and public sector institutions at large.  facebook.com

VIJAYAWADA: All India Insurance Employees Association (AIIEA) general secretary Srikanth Mishra declared that their organisation has registered its strong protest against divestment in public sector general insurance (PSGI) companies, especially Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India.

Addressing media during the two-day 12th General Conference of South Central Zone Insurance Employees Federation at Vijayawada on Sunday, he pointed out that the union government has recently increased foreign direct investment (FDI) in insurance sector from 49 to 74 per cent. It has even decided to allow foreign ownership of insurance companies.

The AIIEA leader said their association is deeply disturbed over the way the government passed the General Insurance Business Nationalisation (GIBNA) Amendment Bill in Parliament using strong arm methods. The centre has blatantly disregarded the commitment given earlier to the parliament and nation that the government will retain at least 51 per cent of stake in the four public sector general insurance companies, he stated.

Following this, Srikanth Mishra, AIIEA vice-president K.V.V.S.N. Raju and other leaders at the conference said their association is mobilising public opinion against the disastrous policy of privatising public sector insurance industry in particular and public sector institutions at large. Protests and agitations are being organised to fight against this privatisation process, they added.
It is also illegal as this process interferes with data privacy and business secrecy of individuals. We feel that by registering with the BIS we have signed our death-warrant in terms of losses and loss of livelihood, said Shantilal Jain, life-president of Nellore District Bullion and Diamond Merchants Association.  Representational image/DC

NELLORE: Jewellers will join their brethren from across the country by going on a token strike on Monday in protest against the arbitrarily implemented mandatory hallmarking process by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).

Shantilal Jain, life-president of Nellore District Bullion and Diamond Merchants Association said that they welcome Hallmarking but not HUID (Hallmarking Unique ID), which is a 'destructive process'.

The element of cancellation of registration, penal provisions, search and seizure will ultimately bring Inspector Raaj in the industry, he said and that HUID was cumbersome and could lead to harassment of customers and MSME jewellers.

It is also illegal as this process interferes with data privacy and business secrecy of individuals. We feel that by registering with the BIS we have signed our death-warrant in terms of losses and loss of livelihood, said Jain.

Chief organiser of the association, Manilal Jain said Hallmarking has been made mandatory in 256 districts from June 16, 2021. It is estimated that almost 10-12 crore pieces are manufactured annually in India. The existing stock of almost seven crore pieces are yet to be hallmarked. HUID is taking almost 5 to 10 days to hallmark products.

In a representation submitted to Nellore MP Adala Prabhakar Reddy here on Sunday, the association members appealed to him to extend his support to their efforts to change the new Hallmark rules.

Reddy has reportedly assured to take up the matter with the concerned ministry.
Actor, Adavi Sesh interacting with women during an awareness programme on Disha App organized by the police department in Visakhapatnam on Sunday. (DC)

Visakhapatnam: Tollywood actor Adivi Sesh has urged women to download the Disha app for safety.

The actor said that the Andhra Pradesh government introduced Disha Act and app for the safety of women.

He was addressing an awareness programme organized by the police at Rama Krishna beach on Sunday

Further, he stated that the Disha police station has complete details of the app and that women should be aware of the application to guard themselves in times of distress.

A number of students who took part in the programme downloaded the Disha app.

The awareness drive was attended by DCP-I Gowthami Sali, ACP East Sirish, and ACP Prem Kajal, among others.

In 2019, The Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly had unanimously passed two Bills, Andhra Pradesh Disha Act - AP Special Courts for Specified Offences against Women and Children Act 2019, and AP Disha Act - Criminal Law (AP Amendment) Act 2019, to constitute exclusive special courts in every district for speedy trial of specified offenses against women and children and for amending sections in the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, adding new sections and awarding capital punishment to those convicted of rape.
HYDERABAD: All educational institutions will be reopened in Telangana from September 1 at one go. Students from KG to PG have to attend physical classes from the beginning of next month.

The decision to this effect was taken by Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao in a meeting held at Pragathi Bhavan on Monday, a media statement issued by the CMO said. Education minister P. Sabitha Indra Reddy and senior officials from the education department were present in the meeting.

In the meeting, it was decided to reopen all educational institutions in both private and government sectors from September 1 including Anganwadi centres.

The Chief Minister directed the ministers and the officials of panchayat raj and municipal administration departments to ensure cleaning and sanitisation of all educational institutions and hostels run by the state government across the state by August 30.

The decision was taken after considering the reports submitted by the health and education departments that the continuous closure of educational institutions was causing mental stress among students, especially schoolchildren, and could also affect their future. The health officials reported that the Coronavirus had come under control in the state.

The officials were asked to ensure all educational institutions duly followed all precautions to keep the spread of Coronavirus under control. All educational institutions have remained closed since March, 2020 due to Covid.

The Chief Minister stated that due to the closure of educational institutions following Covid pandemic, uncertainty prevailed over the future of the educational system leading to utter confusion among various sections including students, their parents and also teachers of private educational institutions. The meeting also discussed the steps being taken by other states for the reopening educational institutions.

The Chief Minister asked officials to ensure that all schools, colleges and hostels run by the government which have remained shut for such a long period were habitable. He reiterated that it was the responsibility of the sarpanches and municipal chairpersons of the respective villages and towns to keep the premises of schools and educational institutions clean.

Special care will be taken to clean the premises of government educational institutions with chemicals such as sodium chloride and bleaching powder. Besides cleaning water tanks, sanitisation of the entire school premises including classrooms should be taken up by the local bodies. The ZP chairpersons were directed to conduct field visits in their respective districts and inspect whether the government schools and other institutions were maintaining cleanliness.

The Chief Minister asked school headmasters and principals of government residential schools to take utmost care of students after reopening. If a student in a school is detected with fever or other symptoms, they must be immediately taken to the nearest PHC and get Covid tests conducted. If tested positive for Covid, they should be handed over to their parents. He also advised students to strictly follow the Covid protocol including wearing masks and sanitising hands among others, while attending the school. He urged parents to ensure that their children followed the Covid protocol strictly.
The launch of EV and ESS policy last year has increased the interest among manufacturers to explore Telangana as a manufacturing destination. The ARAI setting up a precertification lab in Telangana would certainly give the much-needed boost to the existing ecosystem, says Suraj Karampuri, director, electric vehicles and energy storage systems (EV & ESS).  Representational image/DC

HYDERABAD: The state is an up and emerging destination for electric vehicles (EVs) and the automotive industry, and will welcome the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) to set up its regional centre here, according to director, electric vehicles and energy storage systems (EV & ESS) Srujai Karampuri.

Speaking to a team from ARAI, he said, The launch of EV and ESS policy last year has increased the interest among manufacturers to explore Telangana as a manufacturing destination. The ARAI setting up a precertification lab in Telangana would certainly give the much-needed boost to the existing ecosystem. With two new EV and ESS parks, prototyping labs like T-works, start-up incubators like T-hub and TSIIC, Telangana is geared up to launch the EV industry in a big way.

An ARAI team headed by its director Dr Reji Mathai visited the city on a two-day trip. The team was received by Karampuri and other officials from the department of ITE and C. The electronics team showcased the incubation centre and built-up space developed by TSIIC in E-city at Raviryal for the ARAI to set their precertification and training lab.

The director of ARAI said, We are keenly observing the emerging EV and ESS markets and would be extending our best support to organisations. Telangana is an emerging destination for EV and automotive industry. We would be looking forward to starting the ARAI regional centre in Telangana and feel that it will certainly add a lot of value to the existing industry and also make a good value proposition for companies to explore Telangana for setting up new units. The support extended by the government of Telangana is very thoughtful and we would continue our engagement to discuss further modalities with the government of Telangana and TSIIC.
New Delhi: India was left stunned on Sunday by the rapid collapse of the Afghanistan government led by close friend President Ashraf Ghani whom it had strongly backed all these years and the US-trained and equipped Afghan National Army, after the Taliban entered Kabul.

While some reports said that India has put in place contingency plans to evacuate hundreds of its officials and citizens from Kabul that has been gripped by fear and panic, others said that New Delhi had evacuated Indian diplomats from the Afghan capital that was engulfed in chaos throughout the day.

People familiar with the development told PTI that the government will not put the lives of its staffers at the Indian embassy and Indian citizens in Kabul at any risk and plans have already been finalised in case they require emergency evacuation.

It is learnt that a fleet of the C-17 Globemaster military transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force is kept on standby to undertake evacuation missions, PTI reported.

An Air India flight from Delhi hovered over the Kabul airport for about an hour on Sunday waiting for the air traffic control permission before it could finally land with 40 passengers on board, while the corresponding return flight left the Afghanistan capital hours later with 129 passengers.

According to officials of Air India, there is no plan yet to cancel the Delhi-Kabul-Delhi flight and that it is scheduled to operate on Monday too. Currently, only Air India is operating flights between India and Afghanistan.

Disturbingly, the humanitarian and development assistance from India of over $3 billion to Afghanistan, under which more than 500 infrastructure /development projects were undertaken in the past two decades, is now all in Taliban hands. Questions will now be raised on the viability of India developing the Iranian port of Chabahar which had so far given New Delhi sea-land access to Afghanistan and beyond that to Central Asia via Iran.

New Delhi had recently declared that any capture of power by force in Afghanistan would lack international legitimacy but this is now a fait accompli with nations like Russia and even China being openly soft on the Taliban.

India is in a tricky situation where it has to decide whether to engage with the Taliban with whom its experience has not been pleasant from 1996 to 2001 when it ruled Afghanistan previously. New Delhi may have no option but to rely on time-tested friend Russia to help secure Indian interests in the strife-torn nation. The Russians have apparently indicated that they would not be evacuating their diplomats from Kabul, further evidence perhaps of the increasingly close ties between Moscow and Islamabad. New Delhi is believed to have opened some communication channels in the past few weeks with a section of the Taliban that was seen to be not under Pakistani influence, but clearly this may not be enough now.

Ironically, India had earlier this year announced that it would build a second dam in Afghanistan  the Lalandar (Shatoot) which was to be the second major dam being built by India in Afghanistan, after the India-Afghanistan Friendship Dam (Salma Dam), which was inaugurated in 2016. India had also built the Parliament building in the Afghan capital. But all this assistance could very well go down the drain, with no guarantees on what the Taliban will do next.

Till early this month there were as many as 1,500 Indian nationals working or staying in Afghanistan following which New Delhi had issued advisories asking all its nationals to leave at once. Almost all are believed to have left.

Surprisingly, till just a few months ago, Afghan diplomats in Delhi had exuded confidence that the Afghan National Army would not crumble even if the Americans pulled out, yet that is exactly what happened, with several cities including Kabul and Mazar-e-Sharif falling uncontested into Taliban hands. The Afghan embassy and its diplomats in New Delhi represent the now-vanquished erstwhile Ghani-led government in Kabul and India is likely to let the status quo prevail and let them stay on just as it did from 1996 to 2001.
The farmers are going around tahsildar offices and collectorates of the two districts for restoration of their land, but to no avail. Representational Image. (DC Image)

Khammam: Around 350 poor and illiterate farmers belonging to Khammam and Bhadradri districts are fighting for rights over their own land, which have been occupied by vested interests. The farmers are going around tahsildar offices and collectorates of the two districts for restoration of their land, but to no avail.

Incidentally, land holdings of all these farmers are small, ranging from 0.5 acre to 2 acres. These have been taken over by influential sections. Vadlamudi Venkateswarlu and Jakkampudi Krishna Rao are among the 15 farmers of Gubbagurthi village in Konigerla mandal who are fighting for their lands, which are now, however, officially in names of other persons.

Revenue officials are unable to solve the issue owing to jumbling of survey numbers. There are 66 acres in survey number 232 of Gubbagurthi village. A criminal case is pending in Konigerla police station over this land. Interestingly, village revenue assistant Srilaxmi is among the accused in this case.

K. Bikshamaiah, a farmer from Kachirajugudem, has complained that a political leader has encroached his land. He has lodged a complaint over the issue with the grievance cell, whose cases are heard by the district collector every Monday.

D. Sankar, a volunteer familiar with land issues in rural areas, says: The poor are illiterate and have no idea about maintaining proper land documents. Influential people are cashing in on the situation and encroaching their lands in collusion with revenue officials, he underlined.

That endowment, assigned and government lands are encroached is well known in Khammam district. Increasing land prices are turning out to be a curse for illiterate farmers as vested interests, including local politicians; take over their lands after tampering with land records with the help of revenue staff.

There is a complaint from residents of Jellacheruvu in Kusumanchi mandal pending with Khammam Collectorate. As per the complaint, a residential venture company has encroached the government land that has already been allotted to them as they are poor. Without wherewithal to approach courts, they have chosen to approach the grievance cell at the collectorate seeking redressal.

Unable to find any solution, they are pouring out their issues in front of media too.

Such encroachment in Bhadradri district is more severe because of podu lands on one side and 1970 Regulation Act on the other.
HYDERABAD: Farmers expressed displeasure over paddy procurement being undertaken by some primary agriculture cooperative societies. They said that the hand-in-glove tactics of some societies and rice millers are adversely impacting the procurement process.

To ensure minimum support price (MSP) for paddy, the state government roped in government agencies. Primary agriculture cooperative societies (PACS) and women self-help groups play a key role in the procurement process.

The government approved Rs 1,868 MSP for common variety paddy per quintal and for Grade A variety Rs 1,888 for 2020-21. However, for the 2021-22 marketing season, the MSP has been hiked to Rs1,940 for the common variety and Rs1,960 for Grade A.

In order to strengthen the financial base of PACS, the government gradually increased the number of paddy procurement centres. Taking advantage, some society chairpersons have resorted to irregularities. Allegedly, they failed to procure paddy in time and offered low prices.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Ravi, a farmer from Gupanpally village in Nizamabad mandal, said that women self-help groups went about paddy procurement better than PACS. We are forced to wait for a long time in society, he said.

Kamareddy district collector A. Sharath said that farmers should be cautious while selling paddy, as price is based on the quality of the produce. Replying to a question, he said that they have never received any complaints against primary agriculture cooperative societies.

Meanwhile, the state government set up around 7,000 paddy procurement centres in PACS across the state. Around 1.41 crore metric tonnes of paddy were procured so far, civil supplies sources said. Offering prices below the MSP and under-weighment issues will be tackled by civil supplies and legal metrology departments, they said.
A trader said that in the past they could not do a business of Rs 2,000 in a day whereas today the average daily sale is around Rs 10,000.  youtube.com

KADAPA: Fear of the Coronavirus has given a tremendous boost to dry fruits business and has resulted in a five-fold increase in sales. The business is booming, thanks to doctors who are reassuring everyone that consumption of dry fruits bolsters ones immune system.

Varieties like cashews, almonds, pistachios and dried dates, which were once found only in shops, are now widely available on roadside carts. A trader said that in the past they could not do a business of Rs 2,000 in a day whereas today the average daily sale is around Rs 10,000.

There is a firm belief that this habit is as essential as masks, sanitizers, maintaining physical distance, drugs and vaccines when it comes to containing Coronavirus from the outside.

In keeping with the surge in demand, there has been a tremendous increase in prices of dry fruits but the health-conscious people are not complaining.

A survey in Kadapa revealed that about 150 traders are selling dry fruits on carts. The product-range includes cucumbers, watermelon seeds, pumpkin seeds, cashews, almonds, pistachios, raisins, dried dates and walnuts. It is estimated that the volume of business purely on carts is around Rs 15 lakh a day in the district. Another Rs 15 lakh worth of business is reported from grocery and kirana shops.

Subbareddy, a professor in a private engineering college, told Deccan Chronicle that everyone in his house is having dry fruits, especially almonds that are consumed after they are soaked for a considerable time.

Rakesh Bhat, a cart trader from Rajasthan, said that his family has been in the business for many years but it has been only of late that business has picked up and that too because of the Covid fear that is haunting everyone.

Dr Mundla Sureshwar Reddy, district corona hospital coordinator at Fatima Medical College, said that dry fruits help in boosting immunity. They are rich in fibre, which improves overall health. Nuts are a great source of protein and iron, he said.
The incident occurred nearly 160kms away from Vizag city, towards Berhampur in Odisha. (Photo from scene - By arrangement)

Four Andhra Pradesh police died in a ghastly road mishap on the NH-16 at Summadevi village falling under Palasa-Kasibugga police station limits in Srikakulam district on Monday afternoon.

The deceased were identified as Krishna Naidu, P.Janardhan, Babu Rao and PT Anthony, who belonged to the Armed Reserved Police at Etcherla in Srikakulam district.

The state fisheries minister Seediri Appala Raju visited the spot. The bodies were shifted to Palasa government hospital for post-mortem.

The incident occurred nearly 160kms away from Vizag city, towards Berhampur in Odisha.

The mishap happened when the cops were returning to Palasa after handing over the dead body of Army personnel for a funeral at Bhairi Singupuram near Srikakulam town.

"The accident is believed to have been caused by a flat tyre and the details are yet to be obtained," a police source told Deccan Chronicle.
The new bench was supposed to hear the cases afresh from May 3 and the Advocate General requested that the cases be heard at the earliest.  DC file photo

VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh High Court will start hearing petitions filed against the decision of Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddys three capitals decision from Monday.

The YSRCP government decided to the capital into three in different cities in order to ensure development in all parts of the state. It proposed administrative capital in Visakhapatnam, judicial capital in Kurnool and the legislative capital in Amaravati but it failed to materialise due to filing of numerous petitions in the High Court. The prolonged suspense over the fate of three capitals will end in the coming days with the High Court starting hearing of the petitions.

The petitioners, backed by principal Opposition Telugu Desam (TD) and other parties, hope to protect Amaravati as the only capital of the state. Farmers claimed that the government had entered into agreements with them for offering their land under the Land Pooling Scheme (LPS), promising to develop a new capital.

The government also hopes to get the courts support for the three capitals' decision as it is aimed for the development of all regions of the state. The YSRCP government cited the statement of the Union government about leaving the decision regarding the capital to the state.

The High Court constituted a full bench comprising Chief Justice Arup Kumar Goswami, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Nainala Jayasurya to hear more than 100 petitions filed by the farmers of Amaravati challenging the YSRCP governments decision to form three capitals. It may be recalled that all these petitions against the two Bills  AP Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of All Regions and AP Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA) Repeal Bills 2020  were first heard by a High Court bench headed by the Chief Justice J.K. Maheswari. The hearings ended abruptly with the transfer of Justice Maheswari to Sikkim.

Later, Justice Goswami, who took over from Justice Maheswari, announced in March that a new bench would conduct fresh hearings.

The new bench was supposed to hear the cases afresh from May 3 and the Advocate Heneral requested that the cases be heard at the earliest.

However, on May 2, the High Court deferred its decision to hear the cases afresh to August 23 on the ground that it was not in a position to take up regular hearing of any cases in the wake of growing number of Coronavirus cases.

S. Adinarayana and K. Sekhar, associated with two social service organisations, said a strange condition prevailed in the state capital which created a lot of confusion among people for the past two years. They said the then government did a blunder by losing APs rights on using Hyderabad as capital for 10 years which turned a bane to the state to remain without a proper capital. They hoped that the High Court would resolve the capital issue in the coming days.

Pro-Amaravati farmers installed a statue of Nyaya Devatha (Goddess of Justice) at Mandadam, hoping to get justice in the Amaravati issue. Amaravati supporters in large numbers on Sunday worshipped the Goddess of Justice praying to fulfil their wish and to provide justice by continuing Amaravati as the only capital of Andhra Pradesh.
HYDERABAD: Finance minister T. Harish Rao on Monday criticised the Narendra Modi-led Centre for the national economy taking a nosedive and faring badly even when compared with countries like Bangladesh.

Speaking to media persons here, the minister, providing hard facts and figures, majority of which have been furnished by the Centre itself, also showcased the seven-year-old Telanganas rapid stride in economic growth as reflected in buoyancy in all core parameters of gross state domestic product (GDP), per capita income and states own tax revenues.

The GDP of Telangana almost doubled from Rs 5.05 lakh crore when it was carved out in 2014-2015 to Rs 9.8 lakh crore against the country's 58 per cent growth in GDP for the corresponding period. The state is the sixth highest contributor to the GDP and even during the Covid pandemic, it registered a positive growth rate of 2.4 per cent against a three per cent negative growth rate of the country's GDP.

Telangana topped among the southern states in achieving the highest per capita annual average growth rate of 11.7 per cent and made its way to the third position in the list of highest per-capita states from the 10th position.

States own tax revenues witnessed a 90 per cent increase in the last seven years and touched Rs 66,648 crore from Rs 35,146 crore in the 2014 fiscal. Maintaining that the allegations of state plunging into a debt trap were uncalled for, the minister asserted that the states borrowing was always well within the FRBM level of 25 per cent of the GSDP in contrast to several advanced states.

He was reacting sharply to Union tourism minister G. Kishan Reddys allegation that Telangana state was on the brink of bankruptcy due to financial mismanagement of Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao. In an unprecedented manner, KCR showed the world how a fine balance could be achieved between welfare and development. On the other hand, all that the Modi government has achieved so far is spiralling oil prices, cut in gas subsidies and disinvesting the public sector undertakings, he said in a sarcastic tone.

Harish Rao also apprehended that the Centre would force the states to do away with the subsidy to the farm sector just as happened in the case of gas subsidy. The TRS government got a resolution passed in the Assembly opposing the energy and farm laws which proved detrimental to farmers. There is every possibility of the Centre forcing withdrawal of subsidies to farm power under the guise of energy audit, he said.
HYDERABAD: The state government on Monday released the second instalment of Rs 500 crore for implementing Dalit Bandhu scheme in Huzurabad Assembly constituency. An equal amount was released as the first instalment on August 9.

The funds have been kept at the disposal of the Karimnagar district collector.

This is in line with Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao's promise of implementing the scheme in Huzurabad on a pilot basis by allocating Rs 2,000 crore in order to give Rs 10 lakh to each dalit family in the constituency.

The CM directed finance department officials to release the balance of Rs 1,000 crore within a week. Speaking at a public meeting in Huzurabad on August 16, after formally launching Dalit Bandhu, the Chief Minister promised to release the earmarked Rs 2,000 crore within two weeks.

According to official estimates, there are 20,929 Dalit families in Huzurabad Assembly constituency, including 5,323 families in Huzurabad mandal, 4,346 in Kamalapur mandal, 3,678 in Veenavanka mandal, 4,996 in Jammikunta mandal and 2,586 families in Illanthakunta mandal, for whom Dalit Bandhu will be extended on a saturation basis.
HYDERABAD: A division bench of Telangana High Court comprising Chief Justice Hima Kohli and Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy on Monday found fault with the HMDA and the state government for not having minimum information regarding the extent of land in Vattinagulapally village of Ranga Reddy district, which does not come under the catchment area of the twin drinking water reservoirs of Osmansagar and Himayatsagar but is included in the purview of GO 111 which prohibits construction of high rise buildings in the area.

According to the Environmental Protection Training and Research Institute (EPTRI), around 948 acres of land in various survey numbers of Vattinagulapally village were included in GO 111, though it is a non-catchment area. It was also submitted by the government on an earlier occasion that if high-rise buildings were allowed in these 948 acres, sewage and stormwater would hit the Kokapet lake and further the Himayatsagar. On this ground, the court took a decision to revive the petitions challenging the auctions of lands at Kokapet.

But, on Monday, the additional advocate general (AAG) submitted to the court that the EPTRI did not give details of the extent of non-catchment area of Vattinagulapally. He also conveyed to the court about the request of the government to not issue orders on the non-catchment area of Vattinagulapally village. If any orders are passed, that would adversely affect the implementation of GO 111, the AAG said. HMDA counsel also could not provide the details to the court.

Reacting to it, Justice Kohli wondered how the government and the HMDA did not have the details of the non-catchment area in terms of the EPTRI reports. While expressing its displeasure, the court directed the AAG and the HMDA to furnish requisite information by Tuesday.

The court also expressed its discontent at the government placing huge bundles of files in the eleventh hour as records of evidence about the steps being taken to ensure that prior arrangement for the sewage and stormwater infrastructure were created by the HMDA, before auctioning of 49.94 acres of land at Kokapet.

In the earlier round of hearings, the bench had directed the Telangana government and the HMDA to furnish the records viz., relevant files showing the creation of sewage and stormwater facilities in the lands which were auctioned recently in Kokapet.
The Drugs Controller-General of Indias decision last week to grant emergency use authorisation to Zydus Cadillas three-shot vaccine for application in adults and children aged 12 years and above is a significant milestone India has crossed in the fight against pandemic Covid-19. The vaccine, christened ZyCoV-D, developed with the help of department of biotechnology of the Union government, is the second indigenously made vaccine after Covaxin of Bharat Biotech International Limited and will join the other five that have been authorised for use in the country. The needle-free vaccine has shown an efficacy of 66.6 per cent in a late-stage trial of over 28,000 volunteers nationwide, and is claimed to be effective against the Delta variant as well.

The worlds first plasmid DNA vaccine uses genetic material from the virus that instructs as either DNA or RNA to make the specific protein that the immune system recognises. It will be administered with the help of an applicator instead of traditional syringes. It will be available in small quantities in September while the larger rollout is expected in the middle of October. The manufacturers plan to make one crore doses a month and will make available five crore doses by the year-end. The company is on record saying it will next apply for Covid-19 vaccine trials in children aged between three and 12 years.

The development of the first vaccine for children aged between 12 and 18 will be a gamechanger in that it will help the government and authorities plan for the future in a better manner, especially on the question of opening up schools and colleges. The closure of educational institutions for the last one-and-a-half years has created unprecedented complications, academic and otherwise. Classes are being conducted online but the huge digital gap that exists in the country now has been further accentuated. Lack of gadgets coupled with impossible monitoring has created a system that is skewed beyond acceptable limits. Several state governments have realised this and yielded to the pressure of experts and parents to open schools, at least partially.

The younger lot has been falling prey to the Delta variant across the world, especially in the United States. Experts predict that the next wave in India will hit children the most. It is true that the government has of late been focussing on creating healthcare infrastructure to take care of children but it will be too little if the virus will have a similar run as it has had in the US. We cannot afford to let them take the hit.

The new vaccine will help the government address these issues. It must now form a universal vaccination policy for the children, instead of leaving it to the states and the private sector, as it did during the second wave of the pandemic. Estimates say the target group will be anywhere between 15 and 20 crores. The budget has already allocated money for vaccination and promised to do more in case of need. The government must walk the talk, and ensure that every child gets the jab free of cost. Lets do justice at least to them.
Gujarat-based AMNS India is planning to bid for state-owned steelmaker Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) -- which has already attracted the interest of domestic giant Tata Steel, according to a source. RINL is a special steel-making company based in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The company, under the administrative control of the Ministry of Steel, operates a 7.3 million tonne (MT) steel plant in the state.

"AMNS India is exploring this option," the source in the know of the development said while replying to a question that if the company would be interested in disinvestment-bound RINL. An email query sent to AMNS India remained unanswered.

Tata Steel CEO and MD TV Narendran has recently said his company is interested in acquiring RINL, as the plant is strategically located on the eastern coast, and its acquisition will give it more access to the South East Asian markets, where the company already has a presence. On January 27, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) had given 'in-principle approval for 100 per cent disinvestment of government stake in RINL, along with the company's stake in subsidiaries/joint ventures through strategic disinvestment by way of privatisation.

In a tweet on Thursday, AMNS India informed that industrialist Lakshmi N Mittal is meeting Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi. The company did not elaborate on the reasons for the meeting. Mittal is the Executive Chairman of Luxembourg-headquartered ArcelorMittal, the parent company of ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (ANMS), which is planning to expand its operations in India through brownfield and greenfield routes. AMNS India is a 60:40 joint venture company between ArcelorMittal and Nippon Steel of Japan.
Bitcoin rose back above $50,000 on Monday for the first time in three months after supportive news from payments giant PayPal and cryptocurrency platform Coinbase.

The world's most popular virtual unit jumped to $50,440 during Asian trade, before easing to $50,350 in early morning London deals.

"Bitcoin continues its recent recovery, moving above the $50,000 mark it last attained in May though still some way short of its $65,000 record as PayPal announces plans to launch its cryptocurrency trading platform in the UK," said AJ Bell analyst Danni Hewson.

PayPal has announced that it will this week begin to allow users in Britain to buy, hold and sell cryptocurrency through the online payment platform for the first time.

The expansion into the hot digital money trend follows similar moves by the payments giant in the United States earlier this year.

The US firm said its new service would allow UK-based customers to choose from four types of cryptocurrency: bitcoin, ethereum, litecoin and bitcoin cash.

They will be available both via the PayPal app and its website, with the expansion set to start this week and be available to all eligible customers within the next few weeks.

In April, PayPal-owned mobile payments service Venmo began letting users in the US buy, hold or sell cryptocurrency using its app.

PayPal itself followed in March allowing people there to use cryptocurrency to make purchases from millions of merchants that use the financial platform for online transactions.

Bitcoin won another shot in the arm on Monday from last week's news that Coinbase was ploughing cash into the unit.

"The news last week that Coinbase will buy $500 million (427 million) in cryptos to put on its balance sheet and put 10 per cent of quarterly profits into a crypto portfolio has lent support to sentiment," noted Markets.com analyst Neil Wilson.

Bitcoin enjoyed a blistering run earlier this year but in mid-May it began tumbling on a range of issues, including China's crackdown on cryptocurrencies and Tesla boss Elon Musk's decision to stop accepting it on concerns about the environmental impact of mining.

The electric carmaker has since indicated its support for bitcoin, while several other high-profile investors including Twitter founder Jack Dorsey have flagged their interest.

It has now risen more than 70 per cent from the six-month lows below $29,000 touched in June, while speculation is swirling that it could begin its push towards $100,000.

However, Bitcoin is still a long way off its record just below $65,000 that it achieved in April.
QuEST Global, a product engineering and lifecycle services company, has announced that ChrysCapital, True North Managers LLP, and other institutional investors have invested about $150 million to purchase a minority stake in the company.

The investors have completed the purchase of a portion of the shares held by the co-founders and management team of QuEST. The existing investors - Bain Capital, Advent, and GIC continue to remain invested.

The investment by three of the most respected global investors, despite the ongoing pandemic crisis is a testament to our ability to build and grow our business to become the most trusted thinking partner to customers, Ajit Prabhu, Chairman & CEO, QuEST Global said.

QuEST is among the top five global ER&D services providers in the world for over two decades. It is present in over 13 countries with 54 global delivery centres and 11,250 employees.

Commenting on the investment in QuEST, Sudip Nandy, Managing Director and Operating Partner, ChrysCapital, said, ChrysCapital has a strong track record of over 20 investments in the Technology Services sector, which has been an integral part of our portfolio across funds. QuEST is one of the leading players in the engineering services space and has consistently outperformed its peers and demonstrated the ability to scale accounts in a fragmented industry, by becoming the core engineering partner to most of the top global firms across its target industry verticals. We are excited to back Ajit and the executive team at QuEST and look forward to working with them on the journey ahead.

Ajit further added that as the industrial world bounces back into pre-pandemic days, enterprises would need help from companies like QuEST  to bridge the gap between the industrial and digital world - and rebuild the lost traction. Our focus will be to develop capabilities in hi-tech, software, digital segments along with other industries and help our customers solve their engineering challenges, he said.
A boiler blast in a food factory on Magadi Road has claimed two lives and three others have been severely injured. The incident happened in MM Food products factory around 1.30 pm on Monday. The blast was heard up to a kilometre away and had created panic among the residents.

The deceased persons are identified as Manish, 20, Sourav, 21, both natives of Bihar. The injured persons are identified as Dhanalakshmi, 52, Shanti, 40, and Sachin aged around 35 years, one of the owners of the factory.

According to preliminary investigation, the Fire and Emergency Department officials said that the blast happened in one of the boilers in the factory. The fire spread to the factory has been doused and the situation is under control. The temperature of another boiler has been controlled.

The police said at the time of the blast there were five persons in the factory. Two of them died at the spot. The injured persons have been rushed to the burns ward in Victoria Hospital for treatment. Local residents alleged that ambulances didn't come to the spot for almost half an hour after the blast. They had to rush the injured persons to the hospital in auto rickshaws.

According to locals, the injured persons have sustained severe injuries. The police said Dhanalakshi and Shanti are in critical condition. The two women are residents of Gopalapura. The factory was set up in the locality seven to eight months ago and the labourers have worked at the factory since its inception.

Senior officials including Sanjeev M Patil, deputy commissioner of police were at the spot and have gathered details about the incident. According to the police, they will verify if the factory owner Vijay Mehta and Sachin obtained a licence and permission from the concerned departments. Magadi Road police have taken up the case and are investigating further.

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Few people in Congress have stood as alone as Rep. Barbara Lee did on Sept. 14, 2001. Three days earlier, the United States had endured the most devastating attack ever on its soil. Now Congress was called on to authorise the unleashing of American military power against al-Qaida and its Taliban enablers in Afghanistan who were held responsible for what has come to be called 9/11.

In the House, 420 members voted to give the president that authority. The Senate agreed 98-0. Only one lawmaker said no: Lee, a Democrat representing a district centered on Oakland and Berkeley, California. Her vote brought angry denunciations and even physical threats.

People were calling me a traitor  shes got to go,  she recalled. But I knew then that it was going to set the stage for perpetual war.

That is exactly what it did.

After 20 years, that perpetual war has finally ended. With the US-supported Afghan government gone and the Taliban once again in control, Lee is no longer a lonely skeptical voice in Washington, doubting Americas capacity to reshape a distant and often hostile land.

Read | Corruption: Afghan govt's Achilles heel, Taliban's boon

A stiff measure of humility is in order, suggested Richard A. Boucher, who was the assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian Affairs during the administration of President George W. Bush.

You cant remake a country on the American image, Boucher said. You cant win when youre fighting people for their own villages and their own territory. Those were lessons we thought we learned in Vietnam. And yet, 30 or 40 years later, we end up in Afghanistan repeating the same mistakes.

Humility was not a hallmark of US policy in Afghanistan, even though Bush and his advisers understood that the country was called the graveyard of empires for good reason. Britain had a misadventure there in the 19th century. The Soviet Union had its own in the late 20th century. Somehow, Bush thought 21st-century America would be different.

Addressing cadets at the Virginia Military Institute in April 2002, a few months after United States-led troops had routed the Taliban, Bush offered a vision of an Afghanistan reconstituted with Washingtons guiding hand, much as devastated Europe had been after World War II through the Marshall Plan. True peace, he said, would not result from military force alone but rather from new networks of roads, hospitals and schools.

Bush said he understood the history of military conflict in Afghanistan. Its been one of initial success, followed by long years of floundering and ultimate failure, he said. But he added, with a fleeting, confident smile, Were not going to repeat that mistake.

Mistakes, obviously, were nonetheless made. Among them, in the judgment of many analysts, was the Bush administrations expansion of its war on terror to Iraq. And as the years passed, it became evident that the Afghan leaders on whom Washington had placed big bets would not be the hoped-for instruments of effective, corruption-free governance.

I used to say to my guys on the Afghan desk, If were winning, how come it dont look like were winning? Boucher said.

To complicate matters, the Taliban never disappeared. Slowly at first, and then with stunning speed, they regained control.

Read | Ashraf Ghani can return to Afghanistan: Taliban leader Khalil Haqqani

The people were not rejecting the Taliban, Boucher said. That was, in the end, because the government couldnt deliver much for the people.

Well before recent weeks, he said, we should have at least asked ourselves whether it wasnt really time for us to leave, to say to the Afghans, Its your place. You run it as best as you can.

Now the world is left to wonder whether the relatively moderate image that Taliban leaders have sought to project in recent days should be taken seriously. Or will they, instead, revert to the thuggery of the past, with dissidents killed, ancient monuments leveled, women denied jobs and compelled to wear burqas, and girls forced to leave school?

What lasting lessons the United States has learned remain similarly unclear. For one thing, the congressional vote in 2001 that gave the president open-ended license to use military force is still in force; it has been used as a basis for the deployment of US soldiers to Ethiopia, Somalia, Yemen and many other countries.

Read | Did the war in Afghanistan have to happen?

Across the years, Lee has introduced legislation to revoke this blanket authorization for the White House. She managed to succeed in the House in 2019, but the effort then failed in the Senate.

Her view 20 years ago was that we need to think through our military response, our national security response, and the possible impact on civilians.

On that score, she seems unchanged from when she rose in Congress in 2001 to say: However difficult this vote may be, some of us must urge the use of restraint. Our country is in a state of mourning. Some of us must say, Lets step back for a moment, lets just pause, just for a minute, and think through the implications of our actions today, so that this does not spiral out of control.

At the time, some of us ended up being one of us  just her.
Taliban fighters brandished Kalashnikovs and shook their fists in the air after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, defying American warnings that if they did not hand over Osama bin Laden, their country would be bombed to smithereens.

The bravado faded once American bombs began to fall. Within a few weeks, many of the Taliban had fled the Afghan capital, terrified by the low whine of approaching B-52 aircraft. Soon, they were a spent force, on the run across the arid mountain-scape of Afghanistan. As one of the journalists who covered them in the early days of the war, I saw their uncertainty and loss of control firsthand.

It was in the waning days of November 2001 that Taliban leaders began to reach out to Hamid Karzai, who would soon become the interim president of Afghanistan: They wanted to make a deal.

The Taliban were completely defeated, they had no demands, except amnesty, recalled Barnett Rubin, who worked with the United Nations political team in Afghanistan at the time.

Messengers shuttled back and forth between Karzai and the headquarters of the Taliban leader, Mullah Mohammad Omar, in Kandahar. Karzai envisioned a Taliban surrender that would keep the militants from playing any significant role in the countrys future.

Also read: Americas Afghan war: A defeat foretold?

But Washington, confident that the Taliban would be wiped out forever, was in no mood for a deal.

We dont negotiate surrenders, Secretary of State Donald Rumsfeld said in a news conference at the time, adding that the Americans had no interest in leaving Omar to live out his days anywhere in Afghanistan. The United States wanted him captured or dead.

Almost 20 years later, the United States did negotiate a deal to end the Afghan war, but the balance of power was entirely different by then  it favored the Taliban.

For diplomats who had spent years trying to shore up the US and NATO mission in Afghanistan, the deal that former President Donald Trump struck with the Taliban in February 2020 to withdraw US troops  an agreement President Joe Biden decided to uphold shortly after taking office this year  felt like a betrayal.

Now, with the Taliban back in power, some of those diplomats are looking back at a missed chance by the United States, all those years ago, to pursue a Taliban surrender that could have halted Americas longest war in its infancy, or shortened it considerably, sparing many lives.

For some veterans of Americas entanglement in Afghanistan, it is hard to imagine that talks with the Taliban in 2001 would have yielded a worse outcome than what the United States ultimately got.

One mistake was that we turned down the Talibans attempt to negotiate, Carter Malkasian, a former senior adviser to Gen. Joseph Dunford, who was chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during parts of the Obama and Trump administrations, said of the American decision not to discuss a Taliban surrender nearly 20 years ago.

We were hugely overconfident in 2001, and we thought the Taliban had gone away and werent going to come back, he said. We also wanted revenge, and so we made a lot of mistakes that we shouldnt have made.

Little more than a year later, the United States would bring the same air of confidence, and unwillingness to negotiate, to its invasion of Iraq, opening another war that would stretch long past American predictions.

By the time the Trump administration reached a deal with the Taliban, the United States was exhausted by war, with little leverage given that it had announced its intention to leave Afghanistan. Nearly 2,500 Americans had died fighting on Afghan soil, along with almost 1,000 troops from allies like Britain and Canada.

The toll for Afghans has been far higher: At least 240,000 Afghans have died, many of them civilians, according to the Watson Institute at Brown University. By some estimates, American taxpayers had spent nearly $2 trillion on the effort, with few assurances of anything lasting to show for it.

The Taliban, by contrast, went into the negotiations far stronger than before. Their safe haven in Pakistan, to which they had fled in 2001, had turned into a supply line. And even at the height of the US troop presence, the insurgents were able to keep a growing stream of recruits coming both from Afghanistan and Pakistan, fueled in part by rising profits from the opium trade.

They eventually controlled much of Afghanistan, moving first into rural areas and then poking at cities, occasionally dominating the streets for a few days and then fading back into the countryside. Deaths of Afghan security forces increased, sometimes rising to hundreds in a week.

Read | How Taliban turned social media into a tool for control

When I heard the US were going to meet in Doha with the Taliban and without the Afghan government, I said, Thats not a peace negotiation, those are surrender talks, said Ryan Crocker, a former ambassador to Afghanistan.

So, now the talks were all about us retreating without the Taliban shooting at us as we went, Crocker added, and we got nothing in return.

The deal the Trump administration struck did not enshrine rights for women, nor guarantee that any of the gains the United States had spent so many years, and lives, trying to instill would be preserved. Nor did it keep the Taliban from an all-out military push to take over the country.

It was not even a peace deal. Instead, it extracted a somewhat vague promise by the Taliban to prevent future attacks against the United States and its allies. And even that language was contested: In the agreement, the Taliban refused to accept the word terrorist to describe al-Qaida.

Now, the Taliban control the country again, are hunting down Afghans who worked with or fought alongside the United States, are violently suppressing protests and, even as they promise to allow women to participate in society, are again starting to limit womens roles outside the home in some parts of the country.

In short, much that the United States tried to put in place is already at risk of being erased.

Some former diplomats point out that the war did bring tangible improvements. US Special Operations Forces used Afghanistan as a staging point to target bin Laden, leading to his death in Pakistan in 2011. On the civilian side, the US-led effort brought education to millions of Afghan boys  and, vitally, to many girls. Afghans got cellphones and embraced social media, allowing many of them to see and communicate with the rest of the world.

But from a national security standpoint, once bin Laden was dead, the strategic reason for the United States to stay in the country declined considerably  a rare point of policy upon which former presidents Barack Obama and Trump agreed.

There were certainly other barriers to peace talks 20 years ago. At that time, the Pentagon smoldered for days after the 9/11 attackers crashed their plane into the west side of the building, and the World Trade Center lay in ruins, a vast pile of twisted metal and concrete. The sense of a national grief, humiliation and anger was palpable, bringing a passion for revenge that may have also blinded many US officials to the long history of failed invasions and occupations in Afghanistan.

On Sept. 11, 2001, Richard Armitage, then the No. 2 person at the State Department, told the head of the Pakistani militarys Inter-Services Intelligence agency that Pakistan was either on Americas side or would be considered an enemy: Its black or white, he said in an interview for PBS in which he recalled the conversation.

Armitage said Gen. Mahmood Ahmed, then the ISI chief, started to explain how the Taliban had come into existence, their history and relationships in Afghanistan  including many who had helped in the US-aided resistance to the Soviet occupation. Armitage cut him off: I said, No the history begins today.

Barely two weeks after Rumsfeld torpedoed Karzais efforts to find a negotiated end to the fighting, a conference began in Bonn, Germany, to plan a successor government in Afghanistan, without the Taliban.

That process further sealed the Talibans role as outsiders  all but ensuring that any efforts to reach a deal with them would be rejected. Most of those invited to the conference were expatriates or representatives of the warlords whose abuses of Afghan civilians in the 1990s had led to the Talibans takeover of the country in the first place.

At the time, there was no discussion of Taliban inclusion, said James Dobbins, one of the American diplomats at the meeting.

Frankly, if the Taliban had been invited, no one else would have come, he said, adding that, in retrospect, We should have figured the Taliban into the calculation.

Lakhdar Brahimi, the U.N. special envoy for Afghanistan, was adamant that although the Taliban had been left out of Bonn, they should at least be included in the next step in forming a transitional government: a loya jirga, bringing together tribes, sub-tribes and other groups to determine the countrys way forward.

A few people close to the Taliban ideologically, but not part of the group, brought binders with their nominees resumes to a U.N. office where rising Afghan leaders were reviewing potential representatives. But some of the potential representatives were dismissed as terrorists and later detained, and one was shipped to the US detention camp at Guantanamo Bay, where he spent more than six years even though he had never supported the Taliban, Rubin said.

A number of Afghans with the Taliban offered to surrender and, when they did, we put them in prison, in Bagram and Guantanamo, and there was never any discussion if that was a good idea, recalled Dobbins, who worked with the transitional Afghan government.

At the time, he said, I was dismissive of the idea that the Taliban would ever be a factor in postwar Afghanistan. I thought they had been so beaten and brushed aside that they would never come back.

Looking back, he said: I should have known. But what we didnt understand, didnt pick up on for five years, was that Pakistan had abandoned the Taliban government, but had not abandoned the Taliban. That was a critical distinction. So they could re-recruit, re-fund, retrain and project themselves back into Afghanistan. That was a major missed opportunity.

While it is not clear that a deal with the Taliban in 2001 would have been possible  or that the Taliban would have kept their word  some former diplomats say that by repeatedly shutting the door to talks, the United States may have closed off its best chance of avoiding a prolonged and extremely costly war.

Its true that it was completely unclear how real those attempts were or if they were the real representatives of Mullah Omar. But in a peace deal, you have to include the defeated party  thats how you negotiate, said Malkasian, the former adviser to the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Even if they represented only one Taliban, you have to ask: Why did we turn it down? he said.

In those early days, I remember how quickly the Taliban went from imperious to almost apologetic. I was one of a group of journalists whom, in late November 2001  only weeks before they were driven from power  they invited into the country to project the appearance of still being in control.

But they were not, and it was apparent. They did not even control the territory they nominally held, and were unable to guarantee our safety in the Afghan border town of Spin Boldak. When an anti-Western crowd pelted our cars with stones, breaking my windshield, they were helpless to stop them.

The Taliban sent us back to Pakistan after three days of being penned inside their compound because they feared that if they let us wander, they could not protect us. Their authority was waning, their chapter almost over.

Or so it seemed.
A firefight at one of the gates of Kabul's international airport killed at least one Afghan security officer early Monday, German officials said, the latest chaos to engulf Western efforts to evacuate those fleeing the Taliban takeover of the country.

The shooting near the military side of the airport came as the Taliban sent fighters northward to face a nascent rebellion against the insurgents who seized the country over a week ago in a lightning offensive. So far, the Taliban said there had been no fighting though the rebels already have seized three rural districts in the mountains of the Hindu Kush.

Though the security forces of Afghanistan's central government largely collapsed or fled the Taliban advance, some armed Afghans remain at Kabul airport assisting Western countries and others as they struggle to evacuate those gathered there. It remains unclear whether they belong to the Afghan border forces that once guarded the airport or whether they were attached to the Western militaries as private armed guards now providing security there.

Read | Panjshir valley will not be handed over to Taliban: Ahmad Massoud

The gunfire that killed the Afghan officer early Monday broke out near the airport's northern gate  the same scene of chaos that on Saturday saw a crush of a panicked crowd kill seven Afghan civilians.

Who opened fire and the circumstances of the shooting around 6:45 a.m. local time remained unclear. However, the German military said in a tweet that one member of the Afghan security forces was killed and three others were wounded by unknown attackers.

The US military and NATO did not immediately acknowledge the shooting. The Taliban as well did not acknowledge the incident.

The tragic scenes around the airport have transfixed the world as thousands of Afghans poured into the facility last week. In the chaos, some plunged to their deaths while hanging onto an American C-17 taking off from the runway. At least seven people died that day, in addition to the seven killed Sunday.

The Taliban blame the chaotic evacuation on the US military, saying there's no need for Afghans to fear them, even though their fighters shoot into the air and beat people with batons as they try to control the crowds outside the airport perimeter.

The Taliban have pledged amnesty to those who worked with the US, NATO and the toppled Afghan government, but many Afghans still fear revenge attacks. There have been reports in recent days of the Taliban hunting down their former enemies. It's unclear if Taliban leaders are saying one thing and doing another, or if fighters are taking matters into their own hands.

Read | Afghan crisis: India brings back 146 of its evacuated nationals from Doha

As the airlift continues, the US government has activated the Civil Reserve Air Fleet program, requesting 18 aircraft from US carriers to assist in transporting Afghan refugees after they are evacuated to other countries. The voluntary program, born in the wake of the Berlin airlift, adds to the military's capabilities during crises.

Already early Monday, a Delta Air Lines flight part of those evacuations landed in Dubai and later took off for Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, where evacuees already crowd hangars there. A steady stream of military transport planes continue to fly people out of Kabul to airfields across the Mideast.

There also have been concerns about a potential attack on the Kabul airport by a local Islamic State affiliate, whether through suicide bombers targeting the gathered crowds there or using portable surface-to-air missiles to bring down aircraft. US military planes have been executing corkscrew landings, and other aircraft have fired flares upon takeoff, measures used to, prevent missile attacks.

Meanwhile in Baghlan province, some 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of Kabul, fighters calling themselves the People's Uprising claimed to have seized three districts in the Andarab Valley, nestled the Hindu Kush. Others have gathered in Panjshir province, the only of Afghanistan's 34 provinces not to fall to the Taliban.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the insurgents' forces had begun surrounding Panjshir province. Amurllah Saleh, Afghanistan's vice president under the country's absent President Ashraf Ghani, wrote on Twitter that Taliban fighters have massed near the province after facing ambushes.

Mujahid said the Taliban planned to open negotiations with those in Panjshir.

So far there has been no fight, he said. "We prefer to find a peaceful solution for Panjshir.
Vice President Kamala Harris will meet with Singapore's president and prime minister as she kicks off a visit to Southeast Asia focused on strengthening ties with key allies in the region, a task complicated by the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The trip, which brings Harris to Singapore and then later to Vietnam this week, is aimed at broadening cooperation with both nations to offer a counterweight to China's growing influence in the region. She is expected to address economic and security issues as well as efforts to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.

After meeting with President Halimah Yacob and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Monday morning, the vice president will participate in a joint news conference, and later visit the Changi Naval Base, where she'll speak to American sailors aboard the USS Tulsa, a combat ship.

On Tuesday, Harris will deliver a speech outlining the Biden administration's vision for the region, and meet with business leaders to discuss supply chain issues.

The trip marks Harris' second foreign trip  she visited Guatemala and Mexico in June  and will be the first time a US vice president has visited Vietnam.

Singapore is the anchor of the US naval presence in Southeast Asia and has a deep trade partnership with the US, but the country also seeks to maintain strong ties with China and a position of neutrality amid increasingly frosty US-China relations.

Also read: Biden hopeful for ending Afghan airlift on time, orders airlines' help

Relations between the US and China deteriorated sharply under Biden's predecessor, Donald Trump, and the two sides remain at odds over a host of issues including technology, cybersecurity and human rights.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin made their first overseas trips to Japan and South Korea. Austin traveled to Singapore, Vietnam and the Philippines last month and he vowed US support against Beijing's intrusions in the South China Sea.

Harris is expected to emphasize the need for a free and open Indo-Pacific region in her conversations with Singapore's and Vietnam's leaders.

Alexander Feldman, president and CEO of the US-ASEAN Business Council, said Harris will have to be careful in her conversations with Singapore's leaders not to focus too heavily on China, but to emphasize a positive, productive US relationship with Singapore and Vietnam.

Where she could fall into a trap is really trying to pit this as a US versus China trip. it should be a US trip to our friends and partners in in Southeast Asia, Feldman said.

If China becomes the main focal point, he said, that makes it harder for our friends to move forward across the region, not only in Singapore and Vietnam but beyond that.

Indeed, Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said in a recent interview that Singapore will be useful but we will not be made use of in its relations with both countries, and the nation's prime minister previously warned the US against pursuing an aggressive approach to China.

Beijing, however, has seized on the visit, with China's official Xinhua News Agency issuing an editorial Saturday on Harris' trip portraying it as part of a drive to contain China.

Visits to Southeast Asia by senior Biden officials are aiming to woo these countries to form a ring of containment against China. But Southeast Asian countries are reluctant to choose sides between China and the United States, and America's 'wishful plan' will end in failure, Xinhua said.

The US approach is based on outdated Cold War thinking and is intended to provoke troubles in their relations with China, create division and confrontation, and try to create a ring of containment, the editorial said.

While Harris navigates the challenging diplomacy surrounding the issue of China, she'll also face the task of reassuring key US allies of America's commitment to Southeast Asia, in the wake of the tumultuous Afghanistan exit. Images of desperate Afghans mobbing American plans leaving Kabul have drawn comparisons to images from the fall of Saigon at the end of the Vietnam War.

Harris' aides have been careful to emphasize that while she remains deeply engaged on the situation in Afghanistan, the Southeast Asia trip was planned well before the recent events, and they say Harris' work in Singapore and Vietnam is important independent of the developments in Afghanistan.
I am the son of Ahmad Shah Massoud; surrender is not part of my vocabulary, said Ahmad Massoud, leader of Afghanistan's last major outpost of Taliban resistance, over a phone call to French philosopher Bernard-Henri Levy.

Even as most of Afghanistan surrendered to the Taliban after it took control of the capital, Ahmad Massoud has rejected the Taliban's imposition  the lone voice of resistance that has echoed from the war-torn country.

But who is Ahmad Massoud?

Ahmad Massoud is the son of Ahmad Shah Massoud, one of the main leaders of Soviet resistance in the 1980s in Afghanistan. He is an Afghan politician and founder of the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan.

His father, Ahmad Shah Massoud was known as the 'Lion of Panjshir Valley'. He was killed by by al-Qaeda militants just days before the 9/11 attacks in the United States.

Read | Panjshir valley will not be handed over to Taliban: Ahmad Massoud

Born in 1989, Massoud is a Tajik, a persian-speaking ethnic group of Central Asia. Massoud spent a year in Royal Military Academy Sandhurst before completing two degrees in London. He also holds a Master's degree in International Relations from King's College, London.

Ahead of the US military withdrawal from Afghanistan, Massoud announced a new coalition of mujahideen leaders to protect Afghanistan from the Taliban. The coalition was modelled on the Northern Alliance that resisted the Taliban in the 1990s.

Even though the terror of the Taliban has spread across the country, it has failed to reach the Panjshir Valley in north-central Afghanistan. Dubai-based al-Arabiya TV channel cited Massoud saying that he wont allow Panjshir to fall to the Taliban.

Read | We do not want a war: Anti-Taliban leader Massoud says negotiation only way forward

"We want to make the Taliban realise that the only way forward is through negotiation," he told Reuters by telephone from his stronghold in the mountainous Panjshir valley northwest of Kabul, where he has gathered forces made up of remnants of regular army units and special forces as well as local militia fighters.

"We do not want a war to break out."

He also said that many groups and government forces that are opposing the Taliban rule have rallied to his province from different places. The Vice President of Afghanistan Amrullah Saleh has also reportedly joined hands with Massoud to oppose the Taliban.

His forces are 6,000 in number and Massoud has said they will need international support if it came to fighting.

Panjshir Valley has remained free of Taliban regime thus far. During the civil war in the 1990s, the valley did not fall under Taliban rule. Even the Soviets failed to capture it a decade before that.
Over 260 Sikhs have taken shelter at Gurdwara Karte Parwan in Kabul and need help in their evacuation, a US Sikh body said Sunday

"There are more than 260 Afghan citizens left at Gurudwara Karte Parwan in Kabul including women and over 50 children. This includes three newborns with one born yesterday," United Sikhs said in a statement.

So far, only India has helped evacuation of Afghan Sikhs after the takeover of the country by the Taliban.

"We are in communication with governments in the United States, Canada, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand, Tajikistan, Iran and the United Kingdom among others," the United Sikhs said.

Also Read | Afghanistan crisis precisely why citizenship law was necessary: Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri

We are also in communication with international aid agencies and non-governmental organizations trying to support rescue efforts in Afghanistan. In addition, our teams are communicating with companies that can execute rescue efforts on the ground in Afghanistan," it said.

According to the United Sikhs, the 10-kilometer drive to the international airport in Kabul from Gurdwara Karte Parwan through various checkpoints is one of the biggest challenges in the rescue efforts. Few Afghan minority members have unsuccessfully attempted to make this trip last week, it said.

"We are ready to go to the airport, but we fear the cancellation of evacuation flights from the Kabul airport. This is our only chance to take out the women, children, elderly, and infants from the country. Once current authorities capture the whole country it will be the end of our community," said Surbeer Singh from Jalalabad who has taken refuge at the Gurdwara.
Panjshir valley will not be handed over to the Taliban and resistance fighters will be ready to fight back if the extremist group tries to seize it, the son of one of the main leaders of Afghanistan's anti-Soviet resistance in the 1980s.

"We confronted the Soviet Union, and we will be able to confront the Taliban," Ahmad Massoud, the son of Ahmad Shah Massoud, told Al Arabiya.

The Taliban told Massoud he had four hours to give up Panjshir valley, north of Kabul, where the 32-year-old and Vice President of Afghanistan Amrullah Saleh are holed up.

Massoud said he would not surrender areas under his control to the Taliban.

Read | Over 260 Afghan Sikhs in Kabul Gurdwara need help in evacuation, says US Sikh body

However, he told Al Arabiya he was ready to forgive the Taliban for killing his father if the conditions for peace and security in Afghanistan are met.

His father was killed just days before the September 11, 2001 attacks on the US by al-Qaeda militants who enjoyed Afghan sanctuary under Taliban rule. Ahmad Shah Massoud's name continues to carry huge weight both in Afghanistan and around the world.

In a Washington Post editorial, Ahmad Massoud said members of the Afghan military had rallied to his cause ahead of the Taliban's seizure of the country "because we knew this day might come".

"We have stores of ammunition and arms that we have patiently collected since my father's time," he said in the editorial, adding that some of the forces who had joined him had brought their weapons.

"If Taliban warlords launch an assault, they will of course face staunch resistance from us," he said.
Russia, Iran and China will hold joint maritime exercises in the Persian Gulf around late 2021 or early 2022, Russia's ambassador to Tehran said, the RIA news agency reported on Monday.

The drills involving naval vessels from the three countries will be focused on shipping security and combating piracy, the envoy was cited as saying.
The Taliban said Monday their fighters had surrounded resistance forces holed up in Afghanistan's Panjshir Valley but were looking to negotiate rather than take the fight to them.

The announcement follows scattered reports of clashes overnight, with pro-Taliban social media accounts claiming gunmen were massing, and Afghanistan's former vice president saying resistance forces were holding strong.

Taliban fighters "are stationed near Panjshir", spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid tweeted, saying they had the area surrounded on three sides.

"The Islamic Emirate is trying to resolve this issue peacefully," he added.

Read | Panjshir valley will not be handed over to Taliban: Ahmad Massoud

Pro-resistance accounts on social media had dismissed earlier claims of being pushed back, saying Taliban fighters had been ambushed and routed.

Claims from either side were impossible to independently verify from a remote mountainous region that is largely inaccessible.

Panjshir -- famous for its natural defences never penetrated by Soviet forces or the Taliban in earlier conflicts -- remains the last major holdout of anti-Taliban forces led by Ahmad Massoud, son of the famed Mujahideen leader Ahmed Shah Massoud.

Former Afghan vice president Amrullah Saleh is also there, and photos posted on social media in recent days have shown him in talks with Massoud.

The valley is guarded by a narrow gorge, making entry -- or escape -- extraordinarily difficult for outsiders, who can be picked off by entrenched forces positioned on higher ground.

A spokesman for Massoud's anti-Taliban National Resistance Front told AFP at the weekend that the group was prepared for "long-term conflict", but would prefer to negotiate for an inclusive government.

"The conditions for a peace deal with the Taliban are decentralisation, a system that ensures social justice, equality, rights, and freedom for all," spokesman Ali Maisam Nazary told AFP.

Following the collapse of the US-backed government last week, the Taliban are consolidating their control over the country and holding a series of meetings with old foes -- including opposition politicians and warlords.
Amid the ongoing unrest, chaos and tension in Afghanistan, three planes, and an Indian Air Force (IAF) transport aircraft, carrying Indian nationals arrived at Delhi's IGI Airport and Hindon Air Base in Ghaziabad, respectively, on Sunday.

Zaffer Sherrif, who was working at the NATO base in Kabul airport, said all roads in Kabul looked deserted except the one leading to the airport which was choked with heavy traffic as people were in a hurry to leave the country.

"We got the information about Taliban that had captured Jalalabad city (around 40 km from Kabul) on August 16 morning. After some hours, again we were informed that Taliban had entered into the city and local Talibanis began coming inside the airport."

Read | Did the war in Afghanistan have to happen?

"Around thousands of Talibanis sat on the runway to disrupt the flight operation and started cover-shot. Later, we were evacuated to Doha from where we have reached India," he said.

India on Sunday evacuated 168 passengers including 107 Indian nationals through Indian Air Force's C-17 aircraft that landed at IAF's Hindon Air Base.

An Air India flight carrying 87 Indians also landed at Delhi's IGI Airport on Sunday, along with two other private airlines, from different locations.

Also read: Ashraf Ghani can return to Afghanistan: Taliban leader Khalil Haqqani

One more flight carrying Indian nationals is expected to land, said an official.

Another returnee Jagadeesha, who also was working at NATO base in Kabul, said: "We felt safer inside the base. The embassy helped us in getting airlifted to Doha from where with Indian embassy's help we have reached here."

Even as the flights carrying Indian nationals landed in early morning at the IGI airport, the check-out was delayed by many hours due to the Covid-related formalities. All the evacuees had to undergo RT-PCR tests.

Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya tweeted on Sunday morning, sharing a photo of the ongoing vaccination of the evacuees at the Delhi airport.

He tweeted: "We have decided to vaccinate Afghanistan returnees with free Polio Vaccine - OPV & fIPV, as a preventive measure against Wild Polio Virus. Congratulations to the Health Team for their efforts to ensure public health. Take a look at the vaccine drive at Delhi International Airport."

Polio has not yet been eradicated in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs has said the government is committed to the safe return of all Indian nationals from Afghanistan
China on Monday hinted at stepping up financial assistance to the Taliban controlled Afghanistan, saying it will play a positive role in helping the war-ravaged country amid global pushback to stop funding to Kabul until the Afghan militant group modified its hardline religious policies.

In his media briefing on Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin hit out at the US saying it is "main perpetrator" for the Afghan crisis and Washington cannot leave without doing anything for Afghanistans reconstruction.

Asked for his reaction to comments by Afghanistans exiled central bank chief stating that the Taliban may go to China and Pakistan to replace the US for financial assistance, Wang said, "I want to stress that the US is the main perpetrator and biggest external factor for the Afghan issue. It cannot leave the mess without doing anything."

"We hope the US will match its words with deeds and shoulder its responsibility to honour its own commitments in humanitarian assistance and reconstruction," he said.

Also Read | China, Pakistan, India jockey for position in Afghanistan's new Great Game

Despite the chaotic end to its presence in Afghanistan, the US still has control over billions of dollars belonging to the Afghan central bank, money that Washington is making sure remains out of the reach of the Taliban, the New York Times reported last week.

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York held about seven billion US dollars of Afghanistans central banks USD nine billion in foreign reserves and the Biden administration has already moved to block access to that money.

The Talibans access to the other money could also be restricted by the long reach of American sanctions and influence.

The International Monetary Fund said earlier that it would block Afghanistans access to about $460 million in emergency reserves. The decision followed pressure from the Biden administration to ensure that the reserves did not reach the Taliban, the NYT report said.

Money from an agreement reached in November among more than 60 countries to provide $12 billion to Afghanistan over the next four years is also in doubt, it said.

Earlier, Germany said it would not provide grants to Afghanistan if the Taliban took over and introduced Sariah law and the EU said no payments were going to Afghanistan until officials "clarify the situation."

Wang said, "China always adopts a friendly policy towards entire Afghan people" and provided substantial assistance to socio-economic development to Afghanistan.

"We hope there will be an early end to the chaos and wars in the country, it can resume financial order at an early date. China will also play a positive role in helping the country in self capacity building, peace, reconstruction and improvement of peoples livelihoods, he said.

About Talibans statement that it will soon announce a political framework for Afghanistan, Wang said, "we noted these report".

"Chinas position on the Afghan issue is consistent and clear cut. We hope Afghanistan can form an inclusive open broad-based government which adopts a foreign and domestic policy that is prudent and moderate so as to echo and meet the aspiration and shared will of the international community and its own people, he said.

Asked about security of Chinese nationals in Afghanistan amid efforts by many countries to evacuate their nationals, Wang said China is closely following the security of the Chinese institutions and personnel in Afghanistan.

"Now our Embassy there is operating normally. Most Chinese nationals in Afghanistan have returned to China beforehand with the arrangement made by our embassy, he said.

"With regards to the few Chinese who stayed there, our embassy has stayed in close contact with them (and) given them guidelines on strengthening the awareness of safety and taken relevant measures coordinated with the Afghanistan side to offer security guarantees for them, he said.

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Eritrea on Monday angrily rejected US sanctions imposed on its army chief over allegations of widespread rights abuses in Ethiopia's war-torn Tigray region.

"The government of Eritrea rejects, both in letter and spirit, the utterly baseless allegations and blackmail directed against it," the Eritrean foreign ministry said in a statement.
The Taliban said on Sunday that "hundreds" of its fighters were heading to the Panjshir Valley, one of the few parts of Afghanistan not yet controlled by the group.

Since the Taliban overran Afghanistan, flickers of resistance have begun to emerge with some ex-government troops gathering in the Panjshir, north of Kabul, long known as an anti-Taliban bastion.

"Hundreds of Mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate are heading towards the state of Panjshir to control it, after local state officials refused to hand it over peacefully," the group wrote on its Arabic Twitter account.

Since the Taliban took control of the country following a lightning charge into the capital Kabul, thousands of people have made their way to Panjshir according to a spokesman for anti-Taliban forces.

Follow live Afghanistan news updates here

In Panjshir, Ahmad Massoud, the son of legendary mujahideen commander Ahmad Shah Massoud who was assassinated by Al-Qaeda two days before the September 11, 2001 attacks, has sought to assemble a force of around 9,000 people to counter the militants, the spokesman, Ali Maisam Nazary, told AFP.

Pictures taken by AFP during training exercises show dozens of recruits performing fitness routines, and a handful of armoured humvees driving across the valley northeast of Kabul.

Nazary said the group wants to push for a new system of government, but is prepared to fight if needed.

"Government forces came to Panjshir from several Afghan provinces," Massoud told Saudi Arabia's Al-Arabiya broadcaster Sunday.

"The Taliban will not last long if it continues on this path. We are ready to defend Afghanistan and we warn of a bloodshed."
Afghanistan's ethnic diversity has been at the centre of politics and conflict in the country for more than a century, and these divides are expected to play a role in the Taliban's formation of a new government.

No single ethnic group has a decisive majority among Afghanistan's 40 million people, and the fissures have been a perennial challenge to political stability.

Afghanistan was the world's fourth most dangerous country in last year's Peoples under Threat Index, compiled by Minority Rights Group International, which said all ethnic groups faced the risk of systematic violent repression and mass killings.

Read | Did the war in Afghanistan have to happen?

Here is a brief overview of the major ethnic groups in Afghanistan:

The Pashtuns are Afghanistan's biggest ethnic group, making up more than 42 percent of the population.

The group -- which is predominantly Sunni Muslim and speaks the Pashto language -- has dominated Afghan politics since the 18th century.

Many Pashtun leaders over the years have stressed a "right to rule" Afghanistan, which has angered other ethnic groups.

The Taliban, in control of Afghanistan for a second time after their 1996-2001 regime, are a Pashtun-dominated group.

Even the two presidents under the previous US-backed governments -- Hamid Karzai and Ashraf Ghani -- were Pashtuns.

Also read: Ashraf Ghani can return to Afghanistan: Taliban leader Khalil Haqqani

Traditionally based in the south and east of the country, the dominant position of the Pashtuns has often caused resentment among other groups, especially because of political, economic and cultural marginalisation.

The Tajiks are the second-biggest ethnic group, making up more than a quarter of the Afghan population.

The main language among Tajiks is a dialect of Farsi called Dari, also the lingua franca of Afghanistan.

The group is mainly distributed in the north and west of the country, with strongholds in the Panjshir Valley, the western city of Herat and some northern provinces.

The Panjshir Valley is famed for resisting occupation not only by the Soviet military in the 1980s but also by the first Taliban regime.

While not politically dominant, a number of prominent Tajik leaders have emerged in recent decades.

Also Read | Taliban say 'hundreds' of fighters heading for Panjshir valley

The revered mujahideen leader Ahmad Shah Massoud -- "The Lion of Panjshir" -- who fought the Red Army and the Taliban is at the top of that list among Afghans.

Burhanuddin Rabbani, a Tajik from Badakhshan province in the north, served as Afghan president from 1992 to 1996 before Kabul fell to the Taliban.

Abdullah Abdullah, former chief executive and the main peace negotiator for the previous Afghan regime, is of mixed Pashtun-Tajik ethnicity but is widely considered the latter.

The Hazara, believed to have origins in Central Asian and Turkic peoples, are around 10 percent of the population and are mainly based in central Afghanistan.

They speak a Dari dialect and are predominantly Shia Muslim.

The group faced violent oppression and discrimination in Afghanistan over both religion and ethnicity for more than a century.

They have also suffered massacres across various Afghan governments in recent decades, but especially under the Taliban -- hardline Sunni Muslims who have usually labelled Shias heretics.

Other militants active in Afghanistan such as the Islamic State groups have also targeted the Hazara with deadly bomb attacks, not even sparing their schools and hospitals.

Afghan Uzbeks are also around 10 percent of the population, mainly based in the north of the country close to the border with Uzbekistan.

A Turkic people, they are mainly Sunni Muslims.

The most famous, and notorious, Afghan Uzbek is the warlord Abdul Rashid Dostum, who fought with the Soviets against the mujahideen before changing sides and effectively setting up his own stronghold centred on the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif.

He was a leading figure in the Northern Alliance that helped end Taliban rule after the US invasion of 2001, and later joined the Ghani administration as a first vice-president.

Also Read | At least 20 deaths in last week during Kabul airport evacuation effort: NATO official

He fled to Uzbekistan when Mazar-i-Sharif fell to the Taliban this month.

The Afghan constitution of 2004 officially recognised more than a dozen ethnicities. In addition to the four biggest groups, the nomadic Aimaq, the Turkmen and the Baloch were also listed.

Also included were the Nuristani people in the northeast of Afghanistan, who were forcibly converted to Islam in the 19th century.
The US Food and Drug Administration on Monday gave full approval to the Covid-19 vaccine made by Pfizer Inc and German partner BioNTech SE for use in people over the age of 16, in first such approval of a Covid-19 shot.

The vaccine has been authorized for emergency use since December and more than 204 million people in the United States have received it, based on Sunday's data. But none of the three authorized Covid-19 vaccines had previously received full FDA approval.

Public health officials hope it will convince more unvaccinated Americans that Pfizer's shot is safe and effective. Vaccine hesitancy among some Americans has hindered the United States response to the novel coronavirus.

"While millions of people have already safely received Covid-19 vaccines, we recognize that for some, the FDA approval of a vaccine may now instill additional confidence to get vaccinated," said Janet Woodcock, the US Food and Drug Administration's acting commissioner.

Roughly 51% of Americans have been fully vaccinated so far, even as a recent surge of infections spurred by the contagious Delta variant ravages parts of the country with low vaccination rates.

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An expert panel under the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), has warned that the third wave of Covid-19 may peak in October.

In its recent report to Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the committee has sought better medical preparedness for children who might be at similar risk as adults, according to a report by The Times of India.

The committee has noted that paediatric facilities  doctors, staff, equipment like ventilators, ambulances, etc. are nowhere close to what may be required in case a large number of children become infected. Experts have expressed concern about 82 per cent shortage of paediatricians in primary health centres and 63 per cent vacancies in community health centres (the data cited from a parliamentary standing committee).

Also Read  With 25,072 infections, India's single-day Covid-19 cases lowest in 160 days

The situation is already dire, and might worsen due to lack of adherence to Covid Appropriate Behaviour (CAB), insufficient medical facilities and lagging vaccination, the report said.

Calling for prioritising vaccination among children with co-morbidities and a special focus on those with disabilities, the experts said that even with strict interventions, the peak of the third wave is expected to arrive by late October.

Experts, in the report, highlighted the vulnerability of children as they havent been vaccinated. However, most experts said they are not prone to severe infections, even though they can pass the virus to others.

The report pointed out how during the second wave, about 60 to 70 per cent of children hospitalised due to Covid had comorbidities and their low immunity was the primary cause behind many developing MIS-C (Multi-system Inflammatory Syndrome), a rare but serious condition developed post-Covid recovery. Earlier estimates have suggested that the third wave may prove to be less severe than the second.

The committee has recommended a holistic home care model, immediate increase in paediatric medical capacities and prioritising mental health issues among children.

They have also called for a scientific approach coupled with focused public spending to deal with pandemic management. There is a huge gap between urban and rural India in terms of awareness, digitisation and medical facilities. It seems like the pandemic outbreak has only exacerbated social inequities and highlighted shortcomings of our society, it said.
As India's daily Covid-19 cases have been on a steady decline, with Monday's cases at a 160-day low, the focus has now shifted towards vaccination and boosters to ensure that the progress is not lost.

Indigenously developed Zydus Cadila's Covid-19 vaccine ZyCoV-D on Saturday received approval for Emergency Use Authorisation from the Drug Controller General of India and it will be administered to people 12 years and above. It is India's first vaccine approved for children above the age of 12.

It is a three-dose vaccine and has been developed in partnership with the government's Department of Biotechnology. It can be applied using a needle-free injector. This is the world's first DNA-based vaccine against coronavirus. The vaccine, when injected, produces the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and elicits an immune response, which plays a vital role in protection from the disease as well as viral clearance.

Zydus Cadila said it would be able to produce around 3-4 crore doses of its DNA vaccine by December as against the governments hope of getting 5 crore doses from the Gujarat- based maker of Indias first Covid-19 vaccine for kids.

The Cadila vaccine approval comes at a time when an expert panel under the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), has warned that the third wave of Covid-19 may peak in October. In its recent report to Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the committee has sought better medical preparedness for children who might be at similar risk as adults.

Meanwhile, the US FDA has given complete approval to Pfizer vaccine to be used in people above the age of 16.

The Central government and DCGI may give their nod to Covaxin for children soon for emergency use. The administration of two doses of vaccination has been completed among children and blood samples have been sent for the third time to check the effectiveness in terms of producing antibodies among children. As the trials will take another 5 to 6 months from now to be completed, they can't wait till then in the current circumstances to release the vaccination for children.

Without a readily available jab for children yet, whether schools should be reopened or not, as fear of the third wave looms, still remains an undecided debate. Surveys conducted by several Bengaluru-based schools showed parents reluctant to send children to schools.

With the ebbing of cases and easing of restrictions, questions on the intensity of the third wave persist.

As the festival season has not yet ended, the effect of the relaxations and non-Covid appropriate behaviour by people who ventured out for celebrations and shopping would be seen in the test positivity rate (TPR) which, according to experts is expected to rise further from Saturday's 17.73 per cent. On Saturday, the number of fresh cases in Kerala were 17,106, almost half of the national total of 34,457

Evolutionary debate indicates we can expect coronavirus to favour virus strains that result in a steeper epidemic curve, producing more cases more quickly. In the short term, its highly likely evolution will continue to fine tune the virus. Its R value will continue to increase (more people will be infected in one generation; the serial interval will decrease (people will become infectious sooner) and variants will make vaccines less effective (vaccine evasion). But we dont know how far these changes might go and how fast this might happen.

In some good news, researchers have identified an antibody that is highly protective at low doses against a wide range of variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus which causes Covid-19. The findings, posted as a pre-proof in the journal Immunity, could help develop new antibody-based therapies that are less likely to lose their potency as the virus mutates.

The talk around a booster shot is gathering pace. The rollout of a third dose of Covid vaccine has sparked debate on ethical and political grounds since a large swath of the population is yet to receive any inoculation. But the case for boosters on scientific grounds is building. The reason is delta. The most infectious coronavirus variant to emerge so far is in a race with the human immune system, and there is mounting evidence that delta is winning -- at least initially.

However, All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) director Dr Randeep Guleria said that India does not have enough data as of now on the need for a third Covid-19 vaccine dose or a booster shot.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will inaugurate the capital's first smog tower at Cannaught Place on August 23, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai had informed last week.

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The Calcutta High court on Monday concluded hearing a petition by Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal assembly Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP and his brother in connection with a case of alleged misappropriation of relief materials against them.

Justice Kausik Chanda reserved the judgement on their petition seeking quashing of proceedings against them in the matter following conclusion of pleadings by the petitioner and the state.

Suvendu Adhikari and his brother Soumendu have been named in an FIR in connection with alleged misappropriation of relief materials at Contai in Purba Medinipur district, following which they moved the high court.

Lawyers for the Adhikaris have claimed that Suvendu has been falsely implicated because he has joined a rival political party and has subsequently been appointed as the Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly. Suvendu, a former minister in the previous Mamata Banerjee government, had joined the BJP leaving the Trinamool Congress in December 2020 ahead of the assembly election held earlier this year.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday conveyed to Infosys CEO Salil Parekh in no uncertain terms the government's "deep disappointment and concern" over the continuing glitches in the new income tax filing portal and set September 15 as the deadline for the software major to resolve all snags.

As glitches continued to mar the functioning of the portal even after over two months of its launch, Sitharaman summoned Infosys MD & CEO Parekh at her office here to know the reasons for not resolving the snags in the portal.

A statement issued by the Income Tax Department said that during the meeting the finance minister emphasised that there is a need for putting in more resources and efforts on the part of Infosys so that the much-delayed delivery of agreed services is ensured.

"Hon'ble Finance Minister demanded that the issues faced by taxpayers on current functionalities of the portal should be resolved by the team by 15th September 2021 so that taxpayers and professionals can work seamlessly on the portal," the I-T department said in a statement after the meeting.

Sitharaman, the statement said, conveyed "the deep disappointment and concerns of the government and the taxpayers" about the continuing glitches in the e-filing portal.

Read | Nirmala Sitharaman meets Infosys CEO over snags in income tax portal

"She sought an explanation from Infosys for the repeated issues faced by taxpayers," it added.

During the meeting, Parekh was also sensitised on the difficulties that the taxpayers were facing and the problems that are arising on account of the delays in the functioning of the portal.

"Parekh explained that he and his team are doing everything to ensure the smooth functioning of the portal. Further, he said, over 750 team members are working on this project and Pravin Rao, COO of Infosys, is personally overseeing this project. He also assured that Infosys is working expeditiously to ensure a glitch-free experience to the taxpayers on the portal," the statement added.

The portal, which went live on June 7, was not accessible on August 21 and 22 till late evening. It came back after what the tech major described was "emergency maintenance".

This is the second time that Sitharaman has met the Infosys team over the issue. She had on June 22 met Parekh and Rao.

Infosys was awarded the Rs 4,242 crore contract in 2019 to develop the new portal. The project was aimed at developing the next-generation income tax filing system to reduce processing time for returns from 63 days to one day and also expedite refunds. Between January 2019 to June 2021, the government has paid Rs 164.5 crore to Infosys for developing the portal.

Also Read | Income tax portal live after emergency maintenance, says Infosys

The new income tax e-filing portal 'www.incometax.gov.in', however, faced tech glitches from day one with users complaining that certain functionalities were either unavailable or working slow.

Consequently, the I-T department had to allow the manual filing of remittance forms and also extend due dates for electronic filing of forms related to intimation by pension funds and sovereign wealth funds.

Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi in a tweet said it's "been two months since the IT portal was launched and yet no resolution has been found to resolve the problems. How does summoning & castigating the CEO become PR material for finance ministry? Nothing but a mighty embarrassment for a country talking of Aatmanirbhar & Digital Bharat".

PHDCCI Chair Direct Tax Committee Mukul Bagla said India has around 7 crore persons or entities who file their income tax returns. Due to glitches in the income tax portal, their day-to-day functioning has been adversely affected since June 7.

Taxpayers are unable to download documents filed earlier with the income tax department or file their income tax returns for ay 2021-22 if they opt for new rates u/s 115BAC. The assessee is not able to file returns pursuant to notice u/s 148, file reply to penalty proceedings etc. Many other important tax functions have been affected, he said.

"In the absence of a fully functional income tax portal, either we suspend all income tax proceedings till it is functional and further extend due dates of filing ITR, otherwise the life of the tax payer as well as the tax professional is very miserable," Bagla added.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday raised concerns over the continuing glitches in the nation's new electronic tax filing portal with the chief executive of Infosys Ltd, which had developed the website.

Sitharaman met Salil Parekh, CEO of Infosys, at her office here and sought to know the reasons for not resolving the snags in the portal even after two-and-a-half-months since its launch, official sources said.

Parekh and his team are believed to have given a road map for fixing the problems.

Read more: Rs 6 lakh crore National Monetisation Plan announced for infrastructure assets

On Sunday, the Income Tax Department in a Twitter post said Parekh has been summoned by the minister to explain the problems.

The portal, which went live on June 7, was not accessible on August 21 and 22 till late evening. It came back after what the tech major described was an "emergency maintenance".

This is the second time that Sitharaman has met the Infosys team over the issue. She had on June 22 met Parekh and COO Pravin Rao.

Infosys was awarded the contract in 2019 to develop the new portal. The project was aimed at developing the next-generation income tax filing system to reduce processing time for returns from 63 days to one day and also expedite refunds.

The new income tax e-filing portal 'www.incometax.gov.in', however, faced tech glitches from day one with users complaining that certain functionalities were either unavailable or working slow.

Consequently, the I-T department had to allow the manual filing of remittance forms and also extend due dates for electronic filing of forms related to intimation by pension funds and sovereign wealth funds.

"Ministry of Finance has summoned Sh Salil Parekh, MD &CEO @Infosys on 23/08/2021 to explain to hon'ble FM as to why even after 2.5 months since the launch of new e-filing portal, glitches in the portal have not been resolved. In fact, since 21/08/2021 the portal itself is not available," the I-T department had tweeted on Sunday.

Ministry of Finance has summoned Sh Salil Parekh,MD&CEO @Infosys on 23/08/2021 to explain to hon'ble FM as to why even after 2.5 months since launch of new e-filing portal, glitches in the portal have not been resolved. In fact,since 21/08/2021 the portal itself is not available.  Income Tax India (@IncomeTaxIndia) August 22, 2021

Infosys India Business Unit in a late evening tweet on Sunday said, "The emergency maintenance of the @IncomeTaxIndia portal has concluded and the portal is live. We regret any inconvenience caused to taxpayers."
The Madras High Courts plain speaking on the issue of political representation in Parliament has once again brought to the fore a vexed issue which successive governments have shied away from tackling.

The High Court  in a politically significant order dated Aug 17 and made public on Aug 21  observed that the political representation of southern states, especially Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, was reduced in the Lok Sabha since 1967 after both the states successfully implemented birth control measures.

On the other hand, northern states that failed in controlling population were benefited with more political representation in Parliament, the court noted.

The HC added that the number of LS seats should be frozen at the existing numbers, or it should be enhanced to the original level  41 seats in Tamil Nadu as it was in 1962 (From 41, TNs number came down to 39 in 1967).

Population control cannot be a factor to decide the number of political representatives of the states in Parliament. Those states which failed to implement the birth control programmes were benefited with more political representatives, the bench said.

The order assumes significance as it comes amid speculation that the delimitation exercise could witness an increase in the number of seats in northern states.

Reacting to the news, Congress leader Karti P Chidambaram said the idea was unacceptable. Reduction of parliamentary seats for Tamil Nadu and increasing seats for other states based on population increase is totally unacceptable, he said.

The issue is a political hot potato and has eluded solution.

Constitutions Article 81 stipulates each state will get seats in proportion to its population, while Article 82 provisions the reallocation of Lok Sabha seats for states as per their updated population figure after every census.

Former prime minister late Indira Gandhi had brought in a constitutional amendment in 1976 to freeze reallocation of seats till 2001 to ensure that states, which effectively took population control measures, do not face pruning of their representation for doing the right thing.

The NDA government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee brought in the 84th amendment to the Constitution delaying the reallocation after 2026.

If the reallocation is done as per the 2011 census figures, the status of representation of many states in Lok Sabha will drastically change giving North Indian states an edge. UP, which currently has 80 seats, could see its numbers go up to 88 on the basis of the 2011 census. Bihar could see its numbers in the Lok Sabha rise from 40 to 46 by

2031.

Other states which will benefit include Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Delhi and Chhattisgarh. Odisha and West Bengal could actually lose three and two seats respectively while Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Uttarakhand may lose one each. Karnataka could lose one, with its number coming down to 27 from the current 28.

While both sides have their own arguments, southern states are asking why they should bear the brunt for doing the right thing on population control. The argument on the other side is democracy is after all about people more than geography, and so why shouldnt there be more representatives for states with bigger populations.

In 2020, former President late Pranab Mukherjee had made a strong pitch for increasing the strength of the Lok Sabha from existing 543 to 1,000 to accommodate the need for representation of enhanced population in states.

And in July this year, Congress MP Manish Tewari claimed he had reliable information that the BJP is planning to increase the strength of the Lok Sabha to 1,000 before the 2024 general elections.
Reacting to the developments in Afghanistan and the ongoing repatriation efforts, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said that the Afghanistan crisis is "precisely why" the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act was necessary.

India is carrying out evacuations from the chaotic Kabul airport, with emphasis on Hindu and Sikh minorities.

"Recent developments in our volatile neighbourhood and the way Sikhs and Hindus are going through a harrowing time are precisely why it was necessary to enact the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)," Puri tweeted.

The CAA prompted weeks-long protests in the national capital when it was passed in 2019, in which nearly 100 died. The law provides citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim minorities from neighbouring Muslim majority countries who came to India before 2015. It was passed in 2019 and came into force in January 10, 2020.

Also read: Americas Afghan war: A defeat foretold?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had directed officials while reviewing the Afghanistan crisis to extend all possible help to Afghan brothers and sisters looking forward to assistance from India, particularly the Sikh and Hindu minorities who are seeking refuge.

India on Sunday brought back nearly 400 people, including 329 of its nationals and two Afghan lawmakers, in three different flights as part of its efforts to evacuate its citizens from Kabul in the backdrop of the deteriorating situation in the city after its takeover by the Taliban.

(With inputs from agencies)
The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre to find a solution to the blockade of roads caused here in the National Capital Region in view of ongoing farmers' protest against the three agriculture laws.

A bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Hrishikesh Roy said the protestors have a right to protest at a designated space but can't block the outflow and inflow of traffic.

Taking up a plea by a woman- resident of Noida against the road blockade, the bench said, "Solution lies in the hands of Union of India and State governments."

"You have to find a solution, they might have the right to a place to agitate, but the roads cannot be blocked like this," the bench told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta who was appearing for the Centre.

Petitioner Monicca Agarwaal sought a direction to the Centre and others to ensure that the road between Noida to Delhi was kept clear so that the passage was allowed. The farmers have been protesting at Delhi borders since November, last. The top court had on January 12 stayed implementation of three contentious farm laws.

On Monday, the court fixed the plea for consideration on September 20 to enable the Centre to find out solutions to the problem.

"You now have enough time. Please work out something," the bench told Mehta.

In its affidavit, the Uttar Pradesh government said that it was making all efforts to make farmers understand that their act of blocking roads was causing grave inconvenience to travellers.

Earlier, the court had asked the Uttar Pradesh and Haryana governments to file their responses to the plea.

The court had earlier said that public roads should not be blocked in protests and there should be a free flow of traffic.

The court had made it clear that it is not concerned about the larger issue that are the farm laws which can be decided judicially, politically or administratively but limited to clearing of roads blocked by farmers.

The petitioner claimed that her travel to Delhi was taking two hours instead of the normal 20 minutes.

In her plea, the woman said she stayed in Noida and her work base was also in Noida but since she was in a marketing job she has to travel to Delhi frequently.

She also claimed that she was a single parent and also had some medical issues.

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The Central government and the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) may give approval to the Covaxin vaccines for children soon for emergency use, sources said.

The administration of two doses of vaccination has been completed among children and blood samples have been sent for the third time to check the effectiveness in terms of producing antibodies among children, sources told IANS.

A total of 90 children were subjected to Covaxin trials in Karnataka.

However, the trial will take 210 days to complete. As it will take another 5 to 6 months from now, they can't wait till then in the current circumstances to release the vaccination for children, sources underlined.

Read | Around 3-4 crore doses ZyCov-D by December: Zydus MD Sharvil Patel

"Final report will come on 210th day. The government and DGCI can take calls any day after 56th day of the trial Emergency use. However, the study period will be there for 210 days. Before also, while releasing Covid vaccines for adults the government of India and DCGI did not wait till the completion of 210 days. Vaccines were released earlier," sources said.

Cheluvamba Hospital in Mysuru attached to Mysore Medical College and Research Institute (MMCRI) entrusted with the conducting of Covaxin's Clinical trials on children has sent third blood samples of children to designated laboratories.

The DGCI might take a call for the release of Covid vaccines for the children after ensuring efficacy of vaccines through antibody titre tests, reliable sources in the health department told IANS.

The Mysuru Cheluvamba hospital is one among the five medical institutes identified in the country, which had got the institutional ethics committee approvals for Covaxin's clinical trials on children. The trials are being done in the monitoring of principal investigator and Associate Professor, department of Paediatrics Dr. Pradeep N.

The Covid vaccination trail for children comprises administration of two vaccinations between 0 and 28th day along with blood sampling. On 56th day, there will not be vaccination but blood samples will be collected. There will be another blood sampling on 118th and also on 210th day of the trail.

Read | Covid-19 booster shots unlikely this year in India: AIIMS chief Randeep Guleria

DGCI will give approvals in a phased manner first starting with children aged 12 years and above in the first phase. The approvals will be given for release of vaccines for 6 to 12 years of children and later for children aged between 2 to 6 years.

"Everyone is safe during the course of the trial except for around 10-12 children experiencing mild fever and pain on the day of vaccination and the following day. The symptoms disappeared after a day or two in them also. No vaccination related complications found," sources said.

Third wave will definitely be there, say health experts. "Paediatric population, if at all affected, will be with mild symptoms. So many are already infected and there is herd immunity among children. Until now we have not found any severe cases similar to adults," sources said.

"Most of the children will recover. Only fear is mutation of the virus and Paediatric ICUs are being readied to face the worst situations" a health expert said.

Zydus Cadila, a leading pharmaceutical company in India was recently authorised by DCGI for its needle-free ZyCoV-D Covid-19 vaccine for the children aged 12 years and above.
A youth from Kerala who was among the group of Indians evacuated from Afghanistan said that it was like a second birth as they were held hostage by the Taliban. He had even conveyed to some of his relatives that his life was almost over.

"Over the last one week, our lives were on tenterhooks. I felt safe only after reached Delhi by Sunday," said Deedil Rajeevan a native of Kannur district in Kerala.

Rajeevan was the first to get in touch with the Kerala governments Non-Resident Keralites Affairs department after the Taliban gained control of Afghanistan. He indeed helped many Malayalis to get in touch with the authorities helping with the evacuation. He also said that some officials of the Ministry of External Affairs were in close contact with them giving moral support.

Rajeevan, who reached the Kannur international airport on Monday, told reporters that over the last week many like him were praying for life as they were in the custody of the Taliban. A batch of around 150 was proceeding to the airport in six buses. Taliban took custody of the buses and took them to a vacant building and verified the documents like passports.

He said that the Taliban said that they wont hurt them and asked whether they would prefer to remain in Afghanistan and continue to work. But everyone wanted to leave the country owing to a feeling of insecurity. "When I got a chance to go to the toilet, I informed a cousin over mobile that if there is no further information about me, you may presume that I am gone," he said.

Rajeevan said that even as tension was prevailing in most parts of Afghanistan, Kabul was safe and companies in the region were also doing well. Hence they continued to work. But the Talibans entry to Kabul came all of a sudden and hence foreigners had to run for safety with what they had with them, said Rajeevan, who had been working in Afghanistan over the last ten years.

After Rajeeven got in touch with NORKA authorities, the state government also shared his contacts with the MEA. He that the Indian government as well as Kerala government for the efforts taken for their evacuation.

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In a new twist to the Kodanad break-in, three persons accused in the case have moved the Madras High Court seeking to examine former Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, ousted AIADMK general secretary V K Sasikala and six others in the case.

The Criminal Revision Petition under Section 233 of Cr. PC was filed by Deepu, Satheesan, and Santhosh Samy. They wanted the court to examine Palaniswami, Sasikala, Jayalalithaas foster son V N Sudakaran, the then-Nilgiris Collector Shankar, the then-Nilgiris SP Murali Rambha, two employees of the Kodanad Estate and an AIADMK office-bearer from Gudalur.

Read | AIADMK leaders ask Guv to intervene in Kodanad case

The petition was filed after the District Sessions Judge rejected the plea to examine the above-mentioned persons except Natarajan, a staff of the Estate, as witnesses. The petition demanded that the High Court set aside the order of the Sessions Court and issue a direction to examine all the witnesses.

The learned judge of the trial court failed to consider the sensitivity of the case wherein the Second Respondent (accused Sayan) has come forward in digital media to depose about the involvement of the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and dismissed the petition in a mechanical manner, the petition said.

The sessions judge erred in rushing up the proceedings of the case while the investigation officer has intentionally left out to record the statements of material witnesses, they alleged.

The petition has been filed at a time the DMK government has ordered reinvestigation into the case. Palaniswami has cried foul alleging that the DMK was trying to frame him in the case.
The last rites of former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan Singh will be performed on Monday at Rajghat in Narora of Bulandshahr district with full state honours, officials here said.

The mortal remains of the BJP leader, which were kept at Ahilya Bai Holkar stadium here, will be taken to his native village Madholi at 9.30 am, and from there they will be taken to Rajghat, they said.

Singh died at the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGI) in Lucknow on Saturday night. He was 89.

On Sunday night, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, while paying homage, described Singh as "a true son of Bharat Mata".

He said that the veteran BJP leader would be considered among those leaders of his generation who had deeply impacted Indian politics of his era.

Read | UP Muslims recall Hindutva icon Kalyan Singh with fondness

Paying homage to Singh at the stadium, where thousands queued up to pay their last respects, Adityanath said "such was Singh's love for Lord Ram that he did not care about the lure of office when he had to choose between the two".

The former Rajasthan governor's mortal remains arrived by air ambulance at the Dhani Pur air strip on Sunday evening and Adityanath, state BJP president Swatantra Dev Singh and Etah MP Rajveer Singh, who is son of Singh, were also present there.

On Sunday Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP chief JP Nadda and other leaders paid tributes to Singh in Lucknow.

Singh, who also served as the Rajasthan governor, was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the SGPGI in a critical condition on July 4.

He died due to sepsis and multi-organ failure, the hospital said.

Singh was the Uttar Pradesh chief minister when the Babri mosque was demolished by a mob of "karsevaks" in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992. Along with BJP veterans L K Advani and M M Joshi, he was among the 32 people acquitted in the demolition case in September last year.

A Lodhi leader, he was instrumental in the rise of the BJP to power in Uttar Pradesh in the 1990s.

He is survived by his wife Ramvati Devi, son Rajveer Singh, who is the Lok Sabha MP from Etah, and grandson Sandeep Singh, who is the minister of state for finance, technical education and medical education in Uttar Pradesh.
The Bombay High Court on Monday warned the Maharashtra government of stern action if there are any more deaths of children due to malnutrition in the state's tribal belt. A division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice G S Kulkarni was hearing a public interest litigation filed in 2007, highlighting the high number of deaths of children, pregnant women and lactating mothers in the state's Melghat region because of malnutrition.

The plea also raised concerns over the lack of gynaecologists, paediatricians and radiologists in the public health centres of the region. The petitioner informed the HC bench on Monday that in the last one year, 73 children died in the region due to malnutrition. Advocate Neha Bhide, appearing for the Maharashtra government, told the court that all steps were being taken to address the issue.

To this, the court said, If your (government) machinery is so well equipped, then why have there been 73 incidents of children deaths due to malnutrition. Noting that this was a serious matter, the bench directed the state government to submit details of how many children have died due to malnutrition in the tribal belt of the state from April 2020 to July 2021, and details about doctors sent to the public health centres in those areas.

If on the next date of hearing we are informed that there have been more deaths of children due to malnutrition, then we will hold the principal secretary of the state public health department responsible. The public health department secretary has to rise to the occasion, the court said.

We are putting the public health department principal secretary on guard. If by September 6 (next date of hearing), we hear that there have been any more deaths then we will take a very stern view and action, the court added. The court also directed the Union government to file an affidavit, stating how much funds have been sanctioned to the state government to address the issue of malnutrition and how the Centre was monitoring the situation. The court will hear the matter further on September 6.

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The group of accused arrested in connection with the Elgar Parishad-Koregaon-Bhima case were sourcing funds to procure sophisticated arms and ammunition from the clandestine international market, according to the draft charges filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Though the draft charges do not mention a plot to assassinate Prime Minister Narendra Modi as claimed in 2018, but they mention one of the motives being to "cause the death of public functionary.

The 17-point draft charges submitted were presented before Special Judge DE Kothalikar, who presides over the NIA court.

The accused, members of CPI (Maoist), were charged with promoting the activities and ideologies of banned outfits, mobilising people and students, training in handling sophisticated arms and explosives with the larger objective to conspire against and destabilise the government of India and Government of Maharashtra, threaten its sovereignty with large-scale violence, strike terror in the people, among other things.

Read | Koregaon-Bhima: NIA says JNU students used for 'terror'

It pointed out that the CPI (Maoist) worked with its frontal organisations like Anuradha Ghandy Memorial Committee (AGMC), Kabir Kala Manch (KKM), Persecuted Prisoners Solidarity Committee (PPSC), Committee for Release of Political Prisoners (CRPP), Committee for Protection of Democratic Rights (CPDR), Peoples Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR), Coordination of Democratic Rights Organisations (CDRO), Democratic Students Union (DSU), Visthapan Virodhi Jan Vikas Aandolan (VVJVA), and Revolutionary Writers Association with an objective to establish "Jantana Sarkar" (peoples government) by way of an revolution supported by a commitment protracted armed struggle to undermine and to seize power from the State.

The draft charges state that the accused had conspired to demand and organize Rs 8 crore for annual supply of M4 rifles with 4,00,000 rounds and other arms through suppliers from Nepal and Manipur.

They were also accused of using substances like wires, nails, nitrate powder, and possessing and transporting sophisticated weapons like Chinese QLZ-87 Automatic Grenade Launchers, Russian GM-94 Grenade Launchers and M4 rifles with 4,00,000 rounds, which by its very nature was to cause or likely to cause death or injuries to any person or persons or loss of or damage to or destruction of properties and was an attempt to do or "cause death of public functionary."

The Maharashtra Police and later NIA had arrested a total of 16 accused in the case, of whom Father Stan Swamy passed away before of age-related ailments.

The 15 accused facing trial are: Sudhir Prahlad Dhawale, Rona Jacob Wilson alias R alias RW, Surendra Pundalikrao Gadling alias SG, Shoma Kanti Sen, Mahesh Sitaram Raut alias Rohit Verma alias Rohit, P Varavara Rao alias PV, Vernon Stanislaus Gonsalves, Arun Thomas Pereira, Sudha Bharadwaj, Anand Bapurao Teltumbde alias AT, Gautam Navlakha alias Darbar alias G alias GN, Hany Babu Musaliyarveettil Tharayil alias HB alias Venkat, Sagar Tatyaram Gorkhe alias Aakash, Ramesh Murlidhar Gaichor alias Yogesh, Jyoti Raghoba Shankar Jagtap alias Vaishali.

The six wanted accused are Milind Teltumbde alias Comrade M alias Dipak alias Sahyadri, Comrade Prakash alias Navin alias Ritupan Goswami, Comrade Manglu, Comrade Deepu, Kishan alias Prashanto Bose and Mupalla Laxmana Rao alias Ganpati GS alias Chandrashekar alias Comrade G.
Objectionable call

Arun Chandra Bhowmick, an MLA belonging to the BJP, the ruling party, drew flak after he asked supporters to attack Trinamool Congress workers in the style of the Taliban on August 18. Trinamool is trying to damage the Biplab Kumar Deb-led government. I want to appeal to all of you to attack them in Taliban style as soon as they land in Agartala airport. We shall protect our government with the last drop of our blood, Bhowmick said at a function at the state capital Agartala. As the video of his comment was shared on social media, netizens scoffed at him and Trinamool Congress leaders said Bhowmicks open threat exposed how the ruling BJP has readied a hooligan force to tackle the political threat from Mamata Banerjee-led party ahead of the Assembly elections slated for 2023.

Sumir Karmakar, Guwahati

All good

The ruling party BJP seems to have, for the time being, ended an internal conflict of ambitions by taking two decisions--issuing a statement that it will contest 2022 Assembly polls under the incumbent chief minister Vijay Rupani and his deputy Nitin Patel, and transferring partys strong Patidar community leader and state general secretary (organization) Bhikhu Dalsaniya to Bihar. Interestingly, Dalsaniyas name had been among the frontrunners who were rumoured to replace Rupani. Rumour has it that the decision to send Dalsaniya, a full-time worker, out of state was taken after state president C R Paatils request, who wanted to have full control over the party organisation. To do that, it is said that Paatil was asked to let Rupani continues as the chief minister and end their animosity which was out in public.

Satish Jha, Ahmedabad

Protest during a protest

When AIADMK MLAs, led by Opposition Leader Edappadi K Palaniswami, entered the Assembly on August 18, all of them wore a black ribbon in protest against the new DMK governments move to reinvestigate the 2017 Kodanad estate break-in case. Palaniswamis bete noire in the party and the coordinator of the party, O Panneerselvam, was an exception. He did not pin a black ribbon on his shirt pocket, but instead kept the ribbon inside his pocket. Though he staged a walkout along with his party MLAs, OPS never wore the black ribbon, prompting others to quip, whether he was protesting against EPS during a protest. What better chance for OPS to express his displeasure over EPS?

E T B Sivapriyan, Chennai

Cashing in on sentiments

There has been a steady surge in Facebook page journalism in Kashmir in recent years. People holding mics with logos claiming to be journalists have shown an utter disregard for professionalism and ethics. One such outlet has reached an audience that exceeds any mainstream newspaper in the Valley. The outlet besides blackmailing people, including girls, was busy collecting funds worth crores in the name of the poor. This business model is cashing in on the sentiments of the people. However, the owner ran out of luck as police arrested him in an extortion case recently.

Zulfikar Majid, Srinagar

New slogan

The Congress has decided to counter BJPs Jai Shri Ram slogan with Jai Shri Ganesh in Uttarakhand, which goes to elections early next year. Religion and national security have traditionally formed a heady cocktail for election campaigns and the Congress is not keen to be found wanting on the twin issues. The Jai Shri Ganesh slogan, coined by former chief minister Harish Rawat, is seen as an evocation to the god worshipped at new beginnings. Incidentally, the Uttarakhand Congress chief Ganesh Godiyal is also considered to be a Rawat acolyte. The question of if the evocation to Ganesh is an attempt to establish Rawats protege in state politics will be answered in the days to come.

Sagar Kulkarni, New Delhi
There's no getting away from caste.

Outraged at the sight of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s Narayan Rane paying homage to the Bal Thackeray memorial last week, staunch Shiv Sainik Appa Patil found only one way of expressing his revulsion. He "purified" the memorial by pouring milk and sprinkling gau mutra (cow urine) on it.

Patil calls himself a proud third-generation Shiv Sainik. He considers Bal Thackeray his god, not an uncommon phenomenon in Maharashtra. He looks after the Sena chief's memorial and performs puja before it every morning. To have Narayan Rane, Thackeray's protege-turned-traitor (he was expelled from the party in 2005), offer flowers to his god was an "impure" act Patil could not tolerate.

Patil is not the first Sainik to perform this ritual. Thirty-four years back, Chhagan Bhujbal (now in the Nationalist Congress Party) had poured Gangajal over the Martyrs' memorial from which Mumbai's landmark Hutatma Chowk gets its name. The previous day, thousands of Dalits had assembled there to protest against the Maharashtra government's decision to drop Dr B R Ambedkar's book, Riddles of Hinduism, from its compilation of Ambedkar's works after the Shiv Sena and the Maratha Mahasangh had objected to its inclusion. Obviously, for Bhujbal, the presence of the Ambedkarite hordes had defiled the monument that commemorates the 107 killed in police firing during the Samyukta Maharashtra movement, which resulted in the birth of the state in 1960.

Interestingly, neither of the two "purifications" fit into the traditional caste equation under which such rituals are carried out. Not one of the characters involved is Brahmins. Narayan Rane is a Maratha, considered "upper caste" (even though they clamour for OBC status today); Bhujbal belongs to the Mali OBC caste, "low" in the caste hierarchy but ranked "higher" than the Scheduled Castes.

Read | Nitish Kumar-led delegation meets PM Modi over caste census, urges him to take appropriate decision

Ironically, Bhujbal left the Sena in 1991 on the issue of caste. Thackeray refused to support reservations for OBCs introduced in 1990 by PM V P Singh through the Mandal Commission. Thereafter, whenever Bhujbal accused the Sena chief of being casteist, Thackeray would scornfully point to Bhujbal's "purification" of Hutatma Chowk after the Dalit rally. However, Thackeray didn't condemn Bhujbal's blatantly casteist act when it took place.

How could he? Thackeray was openly anti-Dalit, not against Scheduled Castes as such, but against those sections who'd rejected Hinduism and were aggressively demanding their rights, i.e., the Neo-Buddhist Ambedkarites. The Dalit Panthers' first clashes were with the Sena in 1974, and the Sena was the only party that opposed the demand to rename Marathwada University as Dr. Ambedkar University. Shiv Sainiks were involved in the violence against Dalits that marked the prolonged Namantar agitation for the university's renaming.

At the same time, the Sena was not, and is still not seen as an "upper caste" party, in the way the BJP was till recently. The OBCs supported the Sena. In Appa Patil's act, there is no element of caste animosity. Yet, it remains deeply casteist because the concept of purification is itself Brahmanical. The distinction between "pure" and "impure", the belief that the touch of certain persons defiles that which is touched, arises from a feeling of caste superiority. It is significant that neither CM Uddhav Thackeray nor anyone from the Congress and NCP, who share power with the Sena in Maharashtra, have condemned Appa Patil's "purification". All parties in the state swear by its anti-caste tradition and invoke the names of Jyotiba Phule and Ambedkar. It was left to the BJP's Devendra Fadnavis to recall Maharashtra's "progressive tradition" while condemning Patil's act. But being an RSS man, he termed it "Talibani".

Ironically, towards the end of the 2014 Assembly election campaign, when it seemed clear that Modi's appeal would sweep Maharashtra, an RSS veteran told me gleefully that with the BJP's ascent, Maharashtra's progressive tradition, which the Socialists were so proud of, would at long last be wiped out. (Maharashtra was a bastion of the Socialist Party, and Socialist stalwarts from SM Joshi to Mrinal Gore fiercely opposed the RSS.) Has his prophecy come true, or is the silence over Appa Patil's "purification" just "coalition dharma" again proving stronger than ideology?

However, what is even more disturbing is the way Dalits across the country are routinely performing similar acts of "purification".

In 2018 in Meerut and Hubballi (Hubli), Dalits poured milk and Gangajal on Ambedkar's statue after BJP leaders garlanded it. Last year, this was done by none else than the Communist Party of India (CPI) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) workers after local MP, Union minister Giriraj Singh garlanded Ambedkar's statue in Begusarai.

Truly, there's no escaping caste.

(The writer is a Mumbai-based journalist)
Karnataka governments decision to resume offline classes for grades 9 and above from Monday has not gone down well with many parents, forcing many schools to continue with online mode.

Surveys conducted by several Bengaluru-based schools showed parents reluctant to send children to schools.

We have received a message from the school saying that 85% of the parents and students opted for online classes and considering this, the school has decided not to resume offline classes as of now, said a parent of a class 10 student from Cluny Convent High School, Malleswaram.

Our school has decided to wait till September 1 to resume offline classes. We have received a communication from the school saying they will continue with online classes, said a class 11 student from Swarga Rani School, Rajarajeshwari Nagar.

Meanwhile, some parents are worried about the increase in Covid-19 cases. The government itself is imposing measures like night curfew, weekend lockdown, and opening schools. Will any parent send children to school in this situation? questioned a parent.

Despite all precautionary measures in place, some parents are not willing to send their wards to schools, said a principal from a school affiliated to CBSE.

Government school teachers are also expecting poor attendance. According to teachers, the decision not to provide midday meal and Ksheera Baghya scheme will affect the attendance.

Also read: Bommai asks Ministers to visit schools, PU colleges reopening on August 23

Experts and academicians also felt that providing a midday meal was important. Senior academician V P Niranjanaradhya requested the chief minister to reopen classes even for primary grades and provide midday meal and Ksheera Baghya schemes.

Dr B Gayethri Devi, principal Little Flower Public School said, The response from parents for offline classes is poor, but we have decided to conduct classes even if for one or two students basically to motivate parents as they are a bit skeptical.

This is a slow process and we need to motivate parents and boost their confidence. We have decided to begin with lab and practical classes, Gayethri Devi.

Manilal Carvalho, principal Delhi Public School East said, We will commence offline classes for grades 11 and 12 from Monday. For grade 9 and 10, we will plan in the coming days. This is following parents response to our survey.

Schools have decided not to ply buses to pick up and drop students and have informed parents to make their own arrangements.

With the current situation it is impossible to provide transportation considering fuel prices and small number of students turning up for offline classes, said a principal of another ICSE school from Bengaluru South.

Schools, teachers unhappy

Meanwhile, some school managements are not happy with the directions from the government to offer both offline and online classes. This is going to be stressful for teachers and conducting classes in both modes is not easy, said one of the principals.

Considering the health and personal life of our teachers, we have divided teachers into two batches. Those who attend offline classes will not involve themselves online, says another principal.

Handling both online and offline classes is very stressful. For instance, I conduct classes for both 9th and 10th grades. Concentrating on kids in any one mode of teaching is comfortable but not on both, said a teacher with a private school.
The new School of Medicine at the Magee campus of Ulster University today welcomed its first intake of trainee doctors.

The arrival of the students on the new course has been hailed as a huge day for the local education sector.

Many years of campaigning have been involved in the created of the new medical school at Magee.

It is hoped that the students who graduate from the course will remain in the north west to practice as doctors.

Among those to welcome the launch of the new medical school was Simon Harris, the Republic's Minister of Further and Higher Education.

He described it as a 'good day for the north west of the island'.

Looking forward to working on a North South basis to advance commitments made under New Decade New Approach to further expand, Mr Harris wrote on Twitter.

Foyle MP Colum Eastwood said it was a positive day for Derry.

After a long fight, we are finally opening the doors of our Medical School which will give young people from the North West the opportunity to study, live and set down roots in our communities.

This school will, I hope, also allow us to fortify health provision here with a good supply of well educated doctors keen to serve in the local area.

The SDLP made the delivery of the medical school a priority during the negotiations that led to the restoration of powersharing and we also secured additional funding from the British Government to make it happen.

I want to thank the staff at Ulster University who have worked hard to get us to this point today and also former Secretary of State Julian Smith who stuck by his word during our talks.

While this is a positive development for the city, its only one part of the promise that was made to people. NDNA contains a clear commitment to deliver a 10,000 student campus in Derry. That is now the floor of our expectations, nothing less will do.
A man accused of breaking his partner's ankle allegedly told her to tell hospital authorities she tripped on a child's toy, Derry Magistrates Court heard today.

Stephen Duddy (51), of Broomhill Avenue in Derry, was charged with causing grievous bodily harm to a female on April 18 this year and a further charge of assault on the same woman on August 21.

A police officer connected Duddy to the charges.

The court heard that police were called to by the woman who said her partner was 'pushing and shouting at her' and during the call a male voice could be heard in the background.

When police attended she told them Duddy had pushed and shoved her around the kitchen but she had no suffered any injuries.

However, she told police of an incident on April 18 when she said he had pushed her to the floor and broke her ankle.

She claimed he refused to allow her to seek medical help and it was a couple of days before she went to the hospital.

This incident was alleged to have been witnessed by the woman's three children.

The court was told that the woman said Duddy 'controlled' her and told her if she told the truth she would lose her children and said she should say she tripped on a child's toy.

The woman alleged Duddy accompanied her on all her hospital visits.

At interview Duddy acknowledged she had broken her ankle but said he did not know how.

He claimed the woman had alcohol issues and said she was the problem in the relationship but did admit to drinking vodka from 11am on the morning of the August incident.

The police officer said that the woman said that Duddy was 'controlling' and tried to isolate her.

Police were concerned that if released Duddy would try and contact the woman and 'persuade or coerce' her into withdrawing her statement.

Deputy District Judge Liam McStay released Duddy on bail to an address approved by the PSNI which must be outside the city.

He is not to enter the city except for court appearances and have no contact with the alleged victim.

Duddy will appear again on September 16.
Kareena, Saif, Taimur & Jeh return from their Maldives vacation; Kartik-Tabu pose for a selfie on Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 sets

Kareena Kapoor Khan and Saif Ali Khan had jetted off to Maldives along with their sons Taimur and Jeh a week ago to celebrate two special occasions-- Saifs 51st birthday and baby Jehs 6 month birth anniversary. Well, the happy family was snapped at the Mumbai airport yesterday as they returned home in a private chartered flight. While it was a delight to see Kareena and Saif with Taimur, it was Jeh who stole the limelight because the paparazzi finally got a clear picture of his adorable little face. See for yourself:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani)

Kartik Aaryan, on the other hand, has been busy shooting for Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2. The Bollywood heartthrob returned to the sets of his horror comedy earlier this month along with his co-star Kiara Advani. Well, yesterday Kartik took to his official social media handle to share a gorgeous behind the scene snap with his other beautiful co-star, Tabu. They posed for a selfie with a green background, which looks like either a wall or a giant door. While Kartik had his statement smoldering expression, Tabu blessed her fans with a breathtaking smile. Along with the post, the actor wrote: Begin Again #BhoolBhulaiyaa2.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by KARTIK AARYAN (@kartikaaryan)

For the uninitiated, Kartik began shooting for his romantic thriller Freddy on 1st August. However, he took a break 9 days later to resume shooting for Anees Bazmees Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2. The team hopes to complete the last leg of the horror comedy by September this year.
Minister Coveney to officially open Irelands Embassy to Ukraine

Press release

On Monday 23 August the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney, T.D., will officially open Irelands Embassy to Ukraine as part of the Governments Global Ireland Strategy to double our footprint on the world stage.

Minister Coveney said, I am delighted to officially open the Embassy of Ireland in Kyiv. This marks a new stage in our bilateral relationship with Ukraine, through which we can deepen and widen our bilateral cooperation. I am glad also to be part of the international community which has convened to coordinate efforts to resolve the long-standing issue of the illegal annexation of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.

Minister Coveney will also meet his Ukrainian counterpart, Foreign Minister, Dr Dmytro Kuleba, during his visit to Ukraine. The Ministers will discuss a wide range of issues, including; the COVID-19 situation; the current situation in Crimea/eastern Ukraine; the impending work of the International Crimean Platform; Irelands membership of the United Nations Security Council; the opening of the Embassy of Ireland in Kyiv, and; the areas of future cooperation in the economic, trade and cultural sectors.

Minister Coveney will also represent Ireland at the inaugural summit of the International Crimean Platform (ICP). The ICP has been established to further develop a coordinated approach by those in the international community who wish to resolve the issue of the illegally-occupied Crimea.

While in Kyiv, the Minister will take the opportunity to meet with some representatives of the Irish community in Ukraine.

ENDS

Press Office

23 August 2021

Notes for Editors As part of the Governments Global Ireland Strategy, the Embassy of Ireland, Kyiv opened on 7 June 2021.

Ambassador Therese Healy presented credentials to President Zelensky on 19 August.

The Embassys remit is to deepen bilateral relations with Ukraine, provide consular assistance to Irish citizens and work closely with other EU member states in further developing the EU-Ukraine relationship.

Ambassador Healy has served previously on postings in China, Russia and Japan, as well as at DFA HQ.

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Photo by The Low Income Housing Group [enlarge] The expansion will make Interbays tiny house village the largest in the state.





The city of Seattle recently accepted a proposal to expand a tiny house village in the Interbay neighborhood. The development at 1601 15th Ave. W. is owned by the Port of Seattle and currently consists of 46 tiny houses, three offices, a storage unit, a kitchen, and a hygiene facility. The existing village also includes outside cooking grills. The expansion will add 30 tiny new houses, a new hygiene facility, laundry facility, storage unit, kitchen space, three offices, three outside gathering spaces, and bicycle storage. This expansion will make the Interbay tiny house village the largest in the state.





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SEATTLE  An office building at 1736 Fourth Ave. S. has sold for $5.8 million, according to King County records. The seller was PND Engineers, which acquired the property in 2012 for nearly $3 million.

The buyer was OB SoDo Properties IV LLC, which is associated with the O'Brien family and its O'Brien Auto Group, of Bellevue. The family has now assembled well over half a block, running north from the PND Building to South Massachusetts Street, over the past two years. It's invested about $16.5 million to date.





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FEDERAL WAY  A Days Inn at 34827 Pacific Highway S. has sold for $4.5 million, according to King County records. The seller was KS & NH Inc., which acquired the property in 2017 for about $3.5 million.

The buyer was SUR Enterprises Inc, which is associated with a SeaTac hotel investor and operator. Public records indicate a loan from Mountain Pacific Bank.





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PM Modi launches vehicle scrappage policy

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched the much-talked-about vehicle scrappage policy under which private vehicles will be de-registered after 20 years if found unfit or in case of failure to renew registration. Enhanced re-registration will be applicable on private vehicles from the 15th year of original registration.

Modi said the launch of Vehicle Scrappage Policy today is a significant milestone in Indias development journey.

In a series of tweet, the prime minister said: "The launch of Vehicle Scrappage Policy today is a significant milestone in Indias 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.

Vehicle scrapping will help phase out unfit and polluting vehicles in an environment friendly manner. Our aim is to create a viable circular economy and bring value for all stakeholders while being environmentally responsible."

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.

As per government estimates, there are around 5.1 million light motor vehicles or LMVs older than 20 years in India and around 3.4 million LMVs older than 15 years.

In May this year, union road transport minister Nitin Gadkari announced the policy on phasing out old and defective vehicles. The fleet modernisation programme of the government aims to achieve multiple goals like reduction in air pollution, the fulfilment of India's climate commitments, improving road and vehicle safety, better fuel efficiency, and boosting the availability of low-cost raw materials for auto, steel and electronics industry.

Those opting for the scheme will get scrap value of the old vehicle at the scrappage centre, which is about 4-6 per cent of the ex-showroom price of new vehicles and will get a road tax rebate of up to 25 per cent on personal vehicles and up to 15 per cent on commercial vehicles. They can also avail of a 5 per cent manufacturer discount against the scrapping certificate and also a waiver in the registration fee.

The scheme aims to cut 25-30 per cent vehicular air pollution and ensure better fuel efficiency. As the old vehicles will vanish from the road, the service and manufacturing industry will get a boost with an increase in demand for new vehicles.

The government has set some deadlines to ensure the effects of the scheme on the ground could be seen as early as possible. Rules for fitness centres and scrapping centres will come into effect from 1 October. While scrapping of government vehicles over 15 years can be done by 1 April 2022, heavy CVs and other category vehicles must be mandatorily tested fitness by 1 April 2023, and 1 June 2024, respectively.
India wants social infrastructure added to New Development Bank's lending priorities

India has expressed the desire to expand the horizon of New Development Bank (NDB) for strengthening social infrastructure, besides boosting the industrial sector. India made the proposal at the fifth BRICS industry ministers meet on Wednesday.

Union minister of commerce and industry, consumer affairs, food and public distribution and textiles, Piyush Goyal chaired the 5th meeting of BRICS industry ministers meeting held under the chairmanship of India.

Industry ministers of BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Xiao Yaqing minister of industry & IT of the Peoples Republic of China, Ebrahim Patel, minister of trade, industry and competition of the Republic of South Africa, Carlos Da Costa, deputy minister in the ministry of economy of the Federative Republic of Brazil and Denis Manturov, minister of industry and trade of the Russian Federation and delegates attended the virtual meeting.

India chose the theme of BRICS@15: Intra BRICS Cooperation for Continuity, Consolidation and Consensus for its chairmanship, this year.

In the 5th Meeting of BRICS Industry Ministers held on 18th August 2021, the Joint Declaration was adopted.

Indias efforts of channelizing technology towards good and smart governance thus increasing transparency and accountability, were highlighted. India has developed a vibrant and dynamic start-up ecosystem, leveraged existing platforms and digital technologies such as Aadhar and UPI payments for ensuring delivery of critical services to the last mile. Online systems like COWIN and digital vaccination certificates are being cited as success stories across the world today.

Ministers recognised the unprecedented impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, particularly in the fields of trade and industry. They complimented all the SARS-CoV warriors, doctors, nurses, paramedical staff and scientists, across all the BRICS countries, for their selfless and tireless efforts in saving lives.

They appreciated the need for adopting emerging new technologies in a swiftly changing world and recognised this as an important tool for modernisation and transformation of industry, promotion of inclusive economic growth, thus helping BRICS national economies to meet the Sustainable Development Goals.

They agreed on the need to build human resources in line with the changing requirements accelerated by the new emerging technology to promote training and skills development of the related workforce and businesses through workshops, seminars, and exchange programmes.

They reiterated their commitment to make efforts to foster open, fair, and non-discriminatory trade environment, ensure greater participation in global value chains, promote digital inclusion, assess the implications, and encourage progressive, safe, equitable, and sustainable use of disruptive technologies for advancing growth.

They expressed their intention to collaborate with the New Development Bank (NDB).

India expressed the desire to expand the horizon of NDB and resources be utilised for the strengthening of social infrastructure besides promotion of the industrial sector.

The meeting concluded with the BRICS industry ministers reaffirming their commitment to work together as a group, complement strengths of each other, share best practices and learn from weaknesses, and move ahead in a positive and constructive manner to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Narayana Murthy and Jeff Bezos to end their Cloudtail alliance

Infosys founder-chairman Narayana Murthy and Amazons Jeff Bezos have decide to end their e-commerce joint venture, called Prione, which set up a fully-owned unit Cloudtail that sold goods online alongside independent shops and grew to be one of the largest sellers on Amazon.

Amazon.com Inc decided to exit the controversial joint venture in India in the wake of anti-trust probe into the working of the e-commerce giant that found an unholy nexus between Amazon and select sellers on its e-market platform.

The disbanding of the joint venture comes as a potential setback for the e-commerce giant in a market where the online business is projected to grow to $1 trillion.

Prione Business Services Pvt Ltd will cease operating from mid-2022, the companies announced on Monday. The seven-year-old joint venture, which began by helping merchants get online to sell their wares before becoming a dominant vendor itself, is owned by Amazon and the private investment firm of Narayan Murthy, Catamaran Ventures LLP.

The partners have mutually decided to not continue their joint venture beyond the end of its current term, they said in a statement. The JV has enabled over 300,000 sellers and entrepreneurs to go online and enabled 4 million merchants with digital payment capabilities, they said.

Amazon is under scrutiny of the Competition Commission of India over business practices that small retailers contend are unfair and illegal. The CCI started a probe last year into the company and Walmart Inc-owned Flipkart after local retailers alleged the e-commerce platforms are abusing their dominance through deep discounts, exclusive tie-ups and favorable backing of certain vendors.

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), a group which represents millions of small retailers, alleged that the company was circumventing the countrys new e-commerce rules.

The Supreme Court on Monday rejected petitions by Amazon and Flipkart to halt the probe, ruling instead that the antitrust investigation could proceed.

We expect big giants like Amazon, Flipkart volunteering for inquiry and transparency and you dont even want it, Chief Justice N.V. Ramana said in the ruling. Inquiry has to be permitted.

For Murthy, continuing the alliance would amount to collaborating with e-commere firms to violate the spirit of Indias e-commerce laws.

Prione was set up in 2014, a year after Amazon began selling in India, with the US retailer owning 49 per cent and Catamaran Ventures holding 51 per cent. The idea was to train and bring on the Amazon platform new-to-online merchants, including local shops like weavers and women-led startups. They were instructed in fundamentals like photographing and cataloging their products, writing accurate descriptions and providing customer assistance.

In February 2019, Amazon reduced its stake in Prione to 24 per cent, while Catamaran Ventures raised its holding to 76 per cent.

Prione set up a fully-owned unit called Cloudtail that sold goods online alongside the independent shops and grew to become one of the largest sellers on Amazon, forging agreements with premium mobile phone brands like Apple and OnePlus. Cloudtail vended over a third of the goods sold on Amazon even as recently as two years ago.
DRDO develops Advanced Chaff Technology to improve aircraft safety for Indian Air Force

Defence Research and& Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed an Advanced Chaff Technology to safeguard fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) against hostile radar threats. Defence Laboratory Jodhpur, a DRDO laboratory, developed the advanced chaff material and chaff cartridge-118/I in collaboration with High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), a Pune based laboratory of DRDO, meeting qualitative requirements of IAF.

Chaff is a critical defence technology used to protect fighter aircraft from hostile radar threats. The importance of this technology lies in the fact that very less quantity of chaff material deployed in the air acts as decoy to deflect enemys missiles and ensure safety of the fighter aircraft.

The technology has been transferred to the industry for production in large quantities to meet the annual rolling requirement of the Indian Air Force.

The Indian Air Force has started the process of induction of this technology after completion of successful user trials.

In todays electronic warfare, survivability of fighter aircraft is of prime concern because of advancement in modern radar threats. To ensure survivability of aircraft, Counter Measure Dispensing System (CMDS) is used, which provides passive jamming against Infra-Red and radar threats.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh lauded DRDO, IAF and the industry for indigenous development of this critical technology, terming it as one more step of DRDO towards AatmaNirbhar Bharat in strategic defence technologies.

Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and chairman of DRDO, G Satheesh Reddy, congratulated the teams associated with the successful development of this advanced technology that will further strengthen the Indian Air Force.
The Farm Safety Partnership Advisory Committee (FSPAC), an advisory committee to the Board of the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), has today published its latest Action Plan for 2021-2024.

The FSPAC is made up of representatives and experts from a variety of relevant agriculture organisations and is tasked with improving occupational health and safety in the sector.

Over the past decade, more people died in agriculture compared with any other economic sector. Of the 495 work-related fatalities in Ireland during 2011 -2020, 208 occurred in Agriculture, according to the Health and Safety Authoritys Review of Work-Related Deaths in Agriculture in Ireland 2011-2020, also published today.

It found that 51% of the worker-victims were aged 65 years or older, while 21 of the victims were aged under 18.

Agriculture is a high-risk industry, where most are self-employed and predominantly work alone. Workers are potentially exposed to many dangers, such as large animals, heavy machinery, and liquids such as slurry and gas emitting materials.

The aim of the new Farm Safety Action Plan is to reduce the level of fatalities, serious injuries and ill health in the agriculture sector. The FSPAC has identified five critical areas for attention:

Behaviour, Education and Training

Health and Vulnerable Persons

Tractor, High Risk Machinery

Livestock Handling

Buildings, Work at Height

Welcoming the new Farm Safety Action Plan 2021-2024, the Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, Damien English TD, said The new Farm Safety Partnership, with its multi-stakeholder membership, provides a broad view of the agricultural sector and will be delivering on the key areas where health and safety improvements are needed the most. This Action Plan is ambitious and achieving the objectives will be important in our drive to lowering fatalities and serious injuries in the agricultural industry. I would encourage all farmers and business operators in this industry to avail of and use the existing resources including extensive HSA guidance and the Farm Safety Code of Practice."

According to the HSAs Review of Work-Related Deaths in Agriculture in Ireland 2011-2020, work-related fatalities were more frequent in spring and summer, with the highest number happening in July (34, 16%). This pattern may be related to the intensity of farming activity during spring and summer. Work-related fatalities involving children were most common during the summer months, particularly August (five, 24%) and July (four, 19%).

Ciaran Roche, the FSPAC Chair, said The FSPAC has made considerable progress in raising awareness of farm safety. There is also recognition that safety standards across the sector show signs of improvement. However, reducing the overall rate of fatal and serious injuries in the agriculture sector has been slow.

"Introducing behavioural change in relation to health and safety for farmers will be a key part of achieving a sustained reduction on the numbers of fatal and serious injuries in the sector. The FSPAC Action Plan has set out key objectives and initiatives that our members will continue to deliver on with our core aim being to improve on the health and safety of Irish Farmers and those who may influencer their behaviour, such as family and peers.

According to the HSAs Review of Work-Related Deaths in Agriculture in Ireland 2011-2020 report, work-related fatalities in Agriculture were highest in the south-west region of Cork and Kerry (13.7 per 100,000 employed), followed by the border region of Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan and Sligo (8.9 per 100,000 employed). The number of work-related fatalities in agriculture were lowest in Dublin (0.2 per 100,000 employed) and the mid-east region of Kildare, Meath, Wicklow and Louth (2.0 per 100,000 employed).

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with responsibility for Farm Safety, Martin Heydon T.D. said On reviewing the recent HSA Review of Work-Related Deaths in Agriculture in Ireland we can see that almost half of all farm deaths involve tractors and other farm machinery. As we move between seasons, now is an opportune time for farmers to carry out safety checks on machinery that will be in use in the coming weeks."

He continued: "A risk assessment of the farmyard should also be completed. Is there appropriate lighting? Have slats been checked for wear or tear? Taking simple steps now can help make farms a safer place over the winter. Id ask farmers to take time to consider safety and to review the farm safety guidance available to them on HSA.ie. The latest Farm Safety Action Plan for 2021  2024 reminds us that education around safety is crucial and that upskilling or training should be carried out where needed.

Dr. Sharon McGuinness, CEO of the Health and Safety Authority, recognised the importance of this collaborative partnership stating A shared ownership to improving health and safety in the agricultural sector and the family farm is imperative. In the ten year period from 2011-2020, 208 work-related deaths occurred in Agriculture. 51% of these worker victims were aged 65 years or older. The high rate of work-related deaths to older workers indicates that older farmers may need to take special precautions to avoid serious injury or death, particularly when working with vehicles and livestock.

The Health and Safety Authority has many free tools, courses and supports available, including free health and safety courses on HSALearning.ie and the farm risk assessment tool farmsafely.com.

To read the Farm Safety Action Plan click here: https://www.hsa.ie/!JVTJYP

To read the HSA Review of Work-Related Deaths in Agriculture in Ireland 2011-2020 report click here: https://www.hsa.ie/!QVXHU3
ADA [ndash] Services for Joyce Evelyn Summers, 82, of Ada are 10 a.m. Friday at the Criswell Funeral Home Chapel, Rev. Harold Holt will officiate. Burial will follow at Rosedale Cemetery. The family will receive relatives and friends Thursday, from 5-7 p.m., at Criswell Funeral Home. Mrs. Su
Four towns across Louth are set to get a funding boost to improve streetscapes, in a bid by the government to make rural towns and villages more livable.

Ardee, Dunleer, Carlingford and Blackrock in Louth are all set to receive funding to improve their streetscapes, which was announced by Minister for Rural Development, Heather Humphreys.

A total of 124 towns and villages across the country are set to benefit from a total of 7 million in funding to revitalize local streetscapes.

Minister Humphreys encouraged businesses and property owners in Ardee, Dunleer, Carlingford and Blackrock to engage with Louth County Council to apply for projects.

This unique initiative is about making our rural towns and villages more attractive and welcoming places for locals and visitors alike, said Minister Humphreys.

"Whether its painting buildings in vibrant colours, upgrading shop fronts or installing canopies or street furniture  this fund will provide a welcome boost to rural communities the length and breadth of the country.

Over the coming weeks, local authorities will work closely with businesses and property owners to give our towns and villages the facelift they deserve.

If you are a business or property owner in any of the 124 towns and villages selected, I encourage you to contact your local authority for details on how to apply.

I have no doubt the projects funded this initiative [sic] will make a huge difference to our rural towns and villages and, most importantly, the families who live there.
People over the age of 12 will now be able to receive a Covid-19 vaccine at participating pharmacies, as the vaccine rollout continues in Dundalk and Louth.

It comes as people over the age of 12 have been able to register with the HSE's vaccine portal to receive an mRNA Covid-19 vaccine.

Des O'Flynn, Chief Officer with Midlands Louth Meath Community Healthcare Organisation said that the support from pharmacies during the vaccine rollout has been "instrumental" in ensuring everyone can get access to a vaccine.

"Support from pharmacies is instrumental in ensuring access to vaccines for people in the community who may not be in a position to get to one of our HSE vaccination centres," said Mr O'Flynn.

"We would encourage people to take up a vaccination at a participating pharmacy, or at a HSE centre, if they have yet to receive a vaccine.

"Please be assured that all those participating in the vaccine rollout have received dedicated training to ensure the safe and effective administration of the vaccine."

Mr O'Flynn thanked the Irish Pharmacy Union for their work in the vaccine rollout.

Darragh OLoughlin, Secretary General of the IPU said that pharmacists were more than happy to play their part in the vaccine rollout.

"Weve been administering vaccinations in pharmacies for over ten years so people are used to being vaccinated by their local pharmacist," said Mr O'Loughlin.

"Vaccination centres have done a great job in rolling out the vaccine but were aware that some people may feel more comfortable getting the vaccine in a local pharmacy, often from someone they know."

There are a total of six pharmacies in Dundalk who are participating in the Covid-19 vaccine rollout.

Information on where you can get a Covid-19 vaccine can be found here.
Claremont, NH (03743)

Today

Cloudy with occasional rain during the afternoon. High 71F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Rain. Low around 55F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected. Locally heavy rainfall possible.
North Andover, MA (01845)

Today

Cloudy skies with periods of rain this afternoon. High 74F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Periods of rain. Rain becoming heavy at times overnight. Low 59F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 2 to 3 inches of rain expected. Localized flooding is expected.
By the Staff of The News

WASHINGTON  A Clovis physician pled guilty Wednesday to a federal charge associated with the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

Leonard Gruppo, who turned himself into police in June, pleaded to a charge of parading, demonstrating or picketing in a capitol building.

The charge carries a punishment of up to six months in jail, a fine of up to $5,000 and $500 in restitution. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Oct. 29.

According to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court, Gruppo was seen on surveillance video entering the Senate Wing door of the Capitol, then continuing through the Crypt and the Hall of Commons.

Gruppo said during the hearing he was there in support of President Donald Trump and that he got caught up in the moment.

Daniel Lindsey, Gruppos attorney, had no comment when contact by The News.

Presbyterian Healthcare released the following statement in response to an inquiry from The News: Mr. Gruppo is an employee of an external vendor and has never been an employee of Plains Regional Medical Center. He last worked in our facility in April 2021 and will not be returning to our facility.
On Aug. 15, Cypress HIll headlined the Mesa Amphitheatres first show in nearly two years. The venues 2020 concert scheduled was cancelled by the pandemic.
WITH continued uncertainty over the next stage of the roadmap out of Covid-19 restrictions, a Cork City parish has made the decision to postpone its Confirmation ceremonies which had been planned for early September.

In a letter addressed to parents and guardians, the North Cathedral confirmed that Confirmations which were due to be celebrated on September 3 and 4 would be postponed.

In the letter, the parish priests stated that this decision is due to uncertainty as they await government guidance on when the sacraments can be celebrated.

We know that you and your child will be very disappointed, but we want to give you at least two weeks notice and some certainty in relation to the date, they said.

Spokesman for the Diocese of Cork and Ross, Fr Tom Hayes said the situation is the same in all parishes.

We await the lifting of restrictions on them by the government which we hope will be soon.

One mother, who did not wish to be named, said her son is due to make his First Holy Communion on September 11.

She said she is still none the wiser on the plans for the ceremony, and stressed that families need to know in time whether the ceremonies can go ahead.

I actually dont mind whether it is on or off because I cant see it going ahead at this stage so basically notice, to let us know whether it is going ahead or not, she said.

Sinn Fein TD Thomas Gould called for a definite date from government.

Surely at this stage, they should give them a timeline for when people can reopen and plan for.

People are probably frustrated at the moment because there are children involved...

They need a bit of certainty and its just not good enough that people dont know.
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WASHINGTON (AP)  The U.S. gave full approval to Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, a milestone that may help lift public confidence in the 
In this April 30, 2021, file image taken by the Mars Perseverance rover and made available by NASA, the Mars Ingenuity helicopter, right, flies over the surface of the planet. Japanese space agency scientists said Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021 they planned to bring soil samples from the Mars region back to Earth ahead of the U.S. Perseverance and Chinese missions now operating on the planet. (NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS via AP, File)
Manxman vessel will bring a new standard of ferry travel says MD

The managing director of the Steam Packet Company said he expects there will be no delays with the construction of its new vessel.

Work began in South Korea last Friday on the construction of the Manxman.

The new flagship vessel, which is due to replace the Ben-my-Chree when she comes into service in 2023.

Speaking to Local Democracy Reporter Chris Cave - Brian Thomson says the new boat will be an exciting upgrade:

Media

Manxman Thomas IV
Around 38 million records from north of a thousand web apps that use Microsoft's Power Apps portals platform were left exposed online, according to researchers. The records are said to have included data from COVID-19 contact tracing efforts, vaccine registrations and employee databases, such as home addresses, phone numbers, social security numbers and vaccination status.

Data from some large companies and institutions was exposed in the incident, according to Wired, including American Airlines, Ford, the Indiana Department of Health and New York City public schools. The vulnerability has mostly been resolved.

Researchers from security company Upguard started looking into the issue in May. They found data from many Power Apps portals that was supposed to be private was available for anyone to access if they knew where to look.

The Power Apps service aims to make it easy for customers to make their own web and mobile apps. It offers application programming interfaces (APIs) for developers to use with the data they collect. However, Upguard found that using those APIs makes the data obtained through Power Apps Portals public by default, and manual reconfiguration was required to keep the information private.

Upguard says it sent a vulnerability report to the Microsoft Security Resource Center on June 24th, including links to Power Apps portals accounts on which sensitive data was exposed and steps to identify APIs that enabled anonymous access to data. Researchers worked with Microsoft to clarify how to reproduce the issue. However, an Microsoft analyst told the firm on June 29th that the case was closed and they determined that this behavior is considered to be by design.

Upguard then started notifying some of the affected companies and organizations, which moved to lock down their data. It raised an abuse report with Microsoft on July 15th. By July 19th, the company says that most of the data from the Power Apps portals in question, including the most sensitive information, had been made private.

Microsoft provided us with the following statement after this story was first published: "Our products provide customers flexibility and privacy features to design scalable solutions that meet a wide variety of needs. We take security and privacy seriously, and we encourage our customers to use best practices when configuring products in ways that best meet their privacy needs."

Earlier this month, Microsoft said Power Apps portals apps will keep data private by default when developers harness the APIs. In addition, it released a tool for developers to check their settings.

There's no indication as yet that any of the exposed data has been compromised. Among the most sensitive information that was left in the open were 332,000 email addresses and Microsoft employee IDs that are used for payroll, according to Upguard. The company also says that more than 39,000 records from portals related to Microsoft Mixed Reality were exposed, including users' names and email addresses.

The incident underscores the fact that a misconfiguration, no matter how seemingly minor, could lead to serious data breaches. That doesn't appear to be the case here, thankfully. Still, it goes to show that developers should probably triple check their settings, especially when plugging in an API they haven't designed themselves.

Update 8/23 3:45PM ET: Added a statement from Microsoft.

Update 8/23 4:30PM ET: Clarified that the issue concerned Power Apps portals, and not Power Apps as a whole.
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The Queen will not be pushed to her limits. Once Prince Harry and Meghan Markle dare do this - she'll be doing the unthinkable - suing her own grandson.

This is what an insider for the Sun revealed.

The monarch has her fair share of being criticized, ridiculed, and gossiped about, but it appears that she no longer can tolerate such actions from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. After being relatively silent about all the things that the Harry and Meghan have said about the palace so far (except to deny something occasionally), she is now reportedly ready to "lawyer up" against the two.

She would reportedly take action against the two, and Penguin Random House, if Prince Harry's upcoming memoir will contain something against untrue about her and the palace.

"The feeling, coming right from the top, is that enough is enough," a royal source revealed to the paper The Sun reported Senior palace aides are also reportedly already in talks with libel experts.

ALSO READ: Little Mix Remaining Members Decided Jesy Nelson Should Leave The Band?

"There is a limit to how much will be accepted and the Queen and royal family can only be pushed so far," the source explained. "They are getting lawyered up. Harry and Meghan will be made aware and know repeated attacks will not be tolerated."

The source added that the Queen feels as if America has fallen prey to the two's supposed lies. She feels as if the public will just accept everything the two share about their former royal lives.

"If someone were named in the book and accused of something directly, that could be a libel and also infringe their rights to a private family life," the source went on. "There are concerns that the American public are falling for what Harry and Meghan say."

In an interview with Oprah, Markle accused the palace of discrimination, prejudice, and undue attacks not just on her, but against her son Baby Archie. At one point, she said life with the royals left her not wanting to "be alive anymore."

It can be remembered that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made the decision to ditch the royal life in a move famously termed as "Megxit." They claimed to want both privacy and financial independence as their reasons to leave and settle in the US. Since then however, the two are yet to act in a manner that would not call attention to themselves, and earn money without bringing up anything royal or palace-related.

The source also added that Queen Elizabeth's team is already thinking about sending legal warnings to Penguin Random House, ahead of its publication of Prince Harry's memoir, as reported by Page Six.

ALSO READ: Sandra Bullock, BF Byran Randall Allegedly Married for Months; When Will 'The Lost City of D' Actress Tell?
"Spider-Man: No Way Home" hyped its fans accidentally long before it was supposed to do so as its trailer had been leaked online.

On Sunday, Sony immediately moved after an alleged leaked trailer of the "Spider-Man" film emerged online. The film also topped Twitter's trending list over that blunder.

The video featured someone holding a phone with the trailer playing on it. Doctor Strange and Doc Ock appeared at one point, confirming the appearance of Alfred Molina.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the leaked video did not exist long since a copyright statement overtook its position. The message that prompt on every video reads: "The media has been disabled in response to a report from the copyright owner."

The news outlet also confirmed that the alleged leaked material was actually legitimate. However, the audio sounded broken and whacked. The leak, which spoiled the fans, gave birth to memes about the spoiler king, Tom Holland.



It's Not Holland's Fault!

Although the "Spider-Man" actor does not have anything to do with the leak, fans hilariously blamed him over the incident.

One fan said, "LMAO I HEARD THE NWH TRAILER GOT LEAKED AND I IMMEDIATELY ASKED PPL WHAT TOM HOLLAND DID THIS TIME."

"Plot twist: Tom Holland actually leaked the trailer and framed that other person," another added.

The release of a trailer for the upcoming film shocked Marvel Studios since President Kevin Feige seemingly wants to be as secretive as possible. Since the announcement of the installment, the big boss has not offered any commentaries nor specifics about it yet.

However, he told CinemaBlend that the movie would be in theaters on December 17, with a trailer to arrive before that. He also guaranteed ComicBook the same comment about the "Spider-Man: No Way Home| trailer.

READ ALSO: 'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings' Become MCU Best Action Movie So Far? Early Reviews Hint So!

As for the reason behind the secrecy, Feige said it had been regular business for Marvel.

"Honestly, I've seen the fervor online. It has not necessarily occurred to me that it is any more or less secret than any of our other projects. I think all of our projects... we want to preserve surprises. That's all the secrecy is for," he explained.

But with the leaked video, the movie's biggest secret about it being a multiverse story has already been outed.

READ MORE: Don Everly Cause of Death: Did He Die Same Way as Phil Everly?
There's a ray of hope for Jackboy's case following his arrest in March, as the prosecutors agree that he shouldn't be charged.

According to Monroe County District Attorney Jonathan L. Adams, as reported by TMZ, his team decided that the rapper, whose real name is Pierre Delince, won't be charged because the prosecutors don't have enough evidence that Jackboy knows the location of the firearms.

Per the initial report issued by authorities at the time of his arrest, another passenger was in the backseat, and he took responsibility for the two firearms found in the vehicle's glove box.

Jackboy's legal counsel has consistently argued that the rapper is innocent; Attorney Drew Findling released a statement to the outlet saying his camp is "very much appreciative" of the district attorney because he made an important decision.

Jackboy's March Arrest

In early reports, Jackboy was arrested in Georgia in March after Monroe County officials pulled over a blue Lamborghini SUV he was riding in.

Authorities noticed the vehicle couldn't maintain in his lane; when they finally confronted the car at the traffic stop, they mentioned that they smelled marijuana, leading them to call for backup.

Police officials found two unregistered firearms, a 9mm and a Glock, hidden in the passenger glove box where the rapper was sitting.

The rapper insisted that he didn't know that there were firearms in the vehicle, and the passenger behind him claimed he owns it.

However, he was arrested because cops found a hit in his previous police records and discovered that he was a convicted felon in the past, meaning firearms within his reach is illegal.

READ NOW: Webbie's Alarming Video While Facing Medical Emergency During Show Surfaces Online [Watch]

Jackboy's Felony Robbery Case Dismissed

Earlier this year, All Hip Hop reported that the rapper's lawyer, Attorney Brad Cohen, celebrated the dismissal of his felony robbery case.

He and three other men were accused of beating up a person leaving him with a broken finger, busted lip, and bruises on his face in an incident that took place in September of last year at Lauderdale International Airport.

The accuser also claims that the rapper stole his steel suitcase and got away riding a Cadillac Escalade.

Jackboy was able to get away from the case after the accuser failed to identify him when investigators showed pictures of the accused men.

The baggage was later tossed out into the street after the alleged victim chased them.

READ ALSO: Tracie Wagaman Real Cause of Death, Troubled Final Years Revealed: Did She Die of Drug Overdose or Something Else?
The IndoSoviet Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation was signed in August 1971, 50 years ago. Significance of the treaty in its own time is explained along with the contemporary relevance of its underlying motives for a vision of a plural, multipolar world.

United States (US) President Richard M Nixon famously described his breakthrough visit to China in 1972 as the week that changed the world. Overshadowed by that event which ended a decades-long stand-off between Washington and Beijing was another seminal geopolitical development in the previous year. Moscow and Delhi, in the midst of an explosive crisis in the subcontinent, blindsided the world as they announced a strategic partnership that would alter the course of the IndiaPakistan war and influence the geopolitics of Asia until the end of the cold war.
2021-08-23

Maeci

Di Maio: thanks to the work of diplomacy and Amendola



"Ikram Nazih was released today in Morocco," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced. The Italian-Moroccan girl had been convicted of offences against religion for sharing a satirical cartoon on Facebook in 2019.





"I want to thank the Italian Ambassador to Morocco, Armando Barucco and Deputy Minister Enzo Amendola for their commitment to the cause. Together we have followed the case from the first moment, having at heart only the welfare of our compatriot, in full respect of the work of Moroccan institutions and justice," says Minister Di Maio.
2021-08-23

Maeci

The Italian Embassy in Russia has sponsored an exhibition entitled 'Le Automobili di Nuccio Bertone-Cento Anni di Stile Italiano (Nuccio Bertone's Cars - One Hundred Years of Italian Style), organised in collaboration with the National Automobile Museum in Turin, the Bonfanti Mivar Museum in Bassano del Grappa and the Russian GON Museum. The initiative, which is part of the events celebrating the cross-fertilisation year of the Italian Museums with the Russian Federation, opened on 12 August and will remain open at the GON Museum at the VDNKh in Moscow until 12 September.



The exhibition is a tribute to Italian automotive design through one of the most influential figures in the history of design in the sector. In over a century of activity, the Turin-based Bertone body shop has created models that have become part of the history of cars and design, from the first cars with Giovanni Bertone, the founder of Bertone company, to the history of excellence, creative exploration and the evolution of the concept cars created by Nuccio Bertone.



Nuccio Bertone's work was characterised by exclusive styling and the use of new technologies. Each example is the embodiment of the imagination and freedom of the designers who worked with the Italian entrepreneur, free from commercial contamination and engineering constraints, creating models that have identified essential passages in the concept of the automobile as a particular and fascinating object, some examples becoming authentic objects of art, such as the Lamborghini Miura, on display at the MOMA in New York.



The exhibition arrives in Moscow, with even richer content, after being exhibited in Ekaterinburg on the occasion of the Innoprom International Industry and Innovation Fair. Italy participated as a partner country and guest of honour.
GBP/CAD Exchange Rate Drops as Oil Prices Buoy the Canadian Dollar

The Pound (GBP) has fallen against the Canadian Dollar (CAD) today as the Loonie gains on rising oil prices. WTI crude is on a steady recovery from its lowest levels since May, recapturing the $64 mark and snapping a week-long losing streak.

At the time of writing, GBP/CAD is trading at CA$1.7428, down 0.2% from todays opening levels.

Canadian Dollar (CAD) Exchange Rates Firm on Oil Trade

The commodity-linked Canadian Dollar is trending up against the Pound today as oil prices recover and poor UK data leaves GBP vulnerable.

WTI crude, Canadas biggest export, fell in price by 9% last week as demand projections fell. With many fuel-dependent industries at a standstill due to the pandemic, it was thought that oil supply would outweigh demand.

This week though, prices have already recovered 3% of their losses, as last weeks sell-off is brushed aside. The return of risk appetite is boding well for the higher-yielding oil.

Analysts, too, are no longer worried by threats to demand. A representative from ANZ Bank remarked: High vaccination rates in Europe and the US have limited the level of [Covid] restrictions, despite rising cases. This has seen [oil] demand remain robust, as mobility continues to improve.

Also buoying CAD sentiment, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had pledged to strengthen the healthcare system should his party be re-elected.

Trudeau says the Liberals would spend $3 billion over four years from 2022, hiring 7,500 family doctors and providing tax and student loan incentives for health professionals who set up shop in rural or remote communities.

Pound (GBP) Exchange Rates Sink on Mixed PMI Data

Despite trading up against many of its peers today, the Pound has fallen against the Canadian Dollar on account of the Loonies relative strength.

High risk sentiment and a higher-than-expected UK manufacturing PMI lent support to Sterling this morning, although the services PMI missed forecasts. Augusts Markit/CIPS Manufacturing PMI Flash edged down to 60.1 from 60.4 in July, but remained above market forecasts of 59.5.

While growth is slow, it remains robust: efforts to mitigate supply disruptions leading to the fastest rise in pre-production inventories since December 2020, while business expectations hit a three-month high.

These positive signals suggest that the weaker trend for manufacturing production largely reflects temporary supply issues.

Sterling gains may have been capped, however, by ongoing Covid worries. Recent data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) suggests UK citizens remain cautious in the face of the Delta variant, with 9 in 10 still wearing masks though not legally obliged.

GBP/CAD Exchange Rate Forecast: External Factors to Inspire Movement

Looking ahead, oil prices will continue to drive movement in the GBP/CAD exchange rate. Oil prices are likely to be driven by Covid sentiment: so long as officials remain confident of economic recovery, prices are likely to benefit from perceived demand.

Various data releases this week may also influence trading direction, although significant data is sparse. CBI distributive trade figures may put pressure upon the Pound if they contract from last month as expected. Conversely, Canadian weekly earnings and PPI releases may boost the Canadian Dollar.

Any additional political developments in either Canada or the UK could also affect the exchange rate.
Monday, August 23, 2021

Dr. Priyanka Sharma Featured on Seed to CEO

From MjBiz Daily: When Dr. Priyanka Sharmas fathers chemical engineering company in Illinois kept getting phone calls asking if it performed industrial hemp extraction, she flew to Colorado to learn more about the ascendant CBD industry. They were floored by how many consumers said they used CBD and other cannabinoids for wellness and saw a huge opportunity. In this episode of Seed to CEO, Priyanka talks with MJBiz CEO Chris Walsh about how Kazmira  the company she and her husband founded and now serve as co-CEOs for  became one of the CBD industrys leading extraction firms.

Kazmiras very own Dr. Priyanka Sharma joined Chris Walsh of MjBiz on Seed to CEO, a podcast centered around the stories of leading entrepreneurs in the cannabis space.

In this episode, Good Chemistry: How to Extract CBD Success, Kazmira Co-Founder & Co-CEO Dr. Priyanka Sharma discusses the origin story of Kazmira, their focus on CBD safety & technology, and insight on navigating the regulatory grey area of CBD.
The federal government gave health care companies a chance to save taxpayer money by partially privatizing Medicare. They blew it.

Taxpayer-funded Medicare provides socialized health care to 61 million older and disabled Americans. Private insurers will try to entice as many as possible into Medicare Advantage, alternative plans they promise will provide more benefits while costing taxpayers less. Critics say they do neither.

Congress and President Bill Clinton created the Medicare+Choice (Part C) option in 1997 to reduce the federal budget. Private insurance companies said they could better manage Medicare patients than could government employees.

TOMLINSONS TAKE: Medical debt becoming a pandemic

The argument fits into the private-sector-is-good, big-government-is-bad philosophy of the era. President Ronald Reagan had convinced Americans that MBAs could generate enormous profits and make the world a better place by protecting the public from bureaucracy.

The pitch deck makes a compelling case for what is now called Medicare Advantage. With access to tons of medical data, private insurers could create narrow networks of interconnected doctors and hospitals to offer high-quality care while reducing waste and abuse.

If youre a senior enrolling in Medicare, Advantage plans cap out-of-pocket expenses and may include dental and vision coverage. Many offer gym memberships, and some offer rebates on the Medicare Part B premium that all must charge.

This year, about 42 percent of people eligible for Medicare chose an Advantage program, about 26 million Americans. Unfortunately, Medicare Advantage is not suitable for everyone.

The program has lower premiums, but consumers still have out-of-pocket costs such as co-pays, co-insurance and deductibles. The more you use Medicare Advantage, the less likely you will save money compared to Original Medicare with a Medigap plan, a supplemental policy that offsets costs.

If you have many medical needs and a decent retirement income, Advantage will likely cost you more than the original. If you dont figure this out during the first year, you may not be eligible for Medigap if you switch back, which means higher costs.

Some people in Medicare Advantage HMO and PPO plans complain they cannot access doctors or specialists as quickly as they could with private insurance or Original Medicare. This is how Medicare Advantage is supposed to save money, by making sure you only see who the insurer thinks you really need to see.

Medicare Advantage almost always offers more benefits to healthy seniors, but it fails to save taxpayer money, according to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commissions report to Congress.

The Commission estimates that Medicare currently spends 4 percent more per capita for beneficiaries enrolled in MA (Medicare Advantage) than it spends for similar enrollees in traditional fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare, the commission found.

The private sector is charging the government more per patient than it would have cost if the government had done the job itself. Thats what happens when for-profit corporations try to provide essential services the government can offer at cost.

Insurers offering Medicare Advantage, unsurprisingly, are interested in profits as much as they are patients. They aggressively market their plans in parts of the country where payment formulas give them the best chance to make more money. The programs stay away from places where needs are highest and profits low, particularly rural areas.

Medicare could change the formulas, so taxpayers at least dont lose money. But we all know what happens when regulators try to change the rules. Big health insurers have an army of lobbyists to make sure no one touches their profits.

Medicare Advantages other problem is fraud. The governments per capita payments are determined by the health of the individuals enrolled in the program. The Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services found that insurers are exaggerating their enrollees so-called health risk assessment to collect higher per-capita payments.

TOMLINSONS TAKE: America's health care system flails again

This review identified 3.5 million beneficiaries with diagnoses reported only on HRAs (health risk assessments) yet with no other encounter records for visits, procedures, tests or supplies that contained the diagnosis reported on the HRA, investigators found. These exaggerated health problems reap Medicare Advantage programs billions of dollars in undeserved income every year, the report warned.

Congress passed a law in 2019 ordering Medicare to crack down on exaggerated diagnoses. But Medicare has yet to implement the proposed rules because the health care industry objects to them. Political pressure has tied the bureaucrats hands, costing us all more in taxes.

The U.S. health care industry keeps rejecting tighter regulations while promising it will lower costs. They are failing and leaving us with one of the most expensive and inefficient systems in the world. Worse yet, the private sector is intent on keeping it that way.

Tomlinson writes commentary about business, economics and policy.

twitter.com/cltomlinson

chris.tomlinson@chron.com
Online grocer Weee!, which focuses on Asian and Hispanic products, recently launched its delivery service in the San Antonio area.

The Fremont, Calif.-based company offers over 4,000 items, including fruits, vegetables, meat, seafood, snacks, canned goods and household items. The selection varies by region.

Next-day delivery is free on orders over $35. The grocers local delivery range encompasses much of north Bexar County along with swaths on the far West Side and downtown.

The company also has a presence in Texas other three major metros and uses a warehouse in Houston to fill customers orders.

Weve observed huge success in Houston, Dallas and Austin, and were constantly working to bring more access to Asian and Hispanic food throughout Texas and across the country, founder and CEO Larry Liu said.

San Antonio was naturally a key region we wanted to serve and the customer wait list was growing quickly, he added.

Nationally, Weee! adds more than 150 new products to its offerings each week. Fresh Pacific black cod from Half Moon Bay, Kyoho grapes and air-flown Hokkaido uni are among the companys products.

Were excited to partner with suppliers local to Texas for the freshest and highest quality grocery essentials and rare finds, Liu said.

While earning his master of business administration at the University of California, Davis, in Sacramento the late 2000s, Liu said he had a hard time finding fresh Asian ingredients at nearby stores.

Courtesy of Weee!

He later learned that foodies and home cooks were having the same difficulties. They used WeChat to discuss products that were available in the area. Group buy leaders would then purchase the items directly and provide them to buyers, Liu said.

The entire operation was driven by word-of-mouth and quickly spread throughout immigrant communities across the U.S., he said. It was absolutely fascinating. Once I joined the community and observed firsthand the virality and success of this model, the inevitable challenge was figuring out how to scale and expand beyond the existing audience.

I had already dabbled in selling on eBay as a side hobby and decided to launch a website that would streamline this process, Liu added. My goal was to make the service more accessible for everyday shoppers who werent necessarily in the know.

He started Weee! in 2015 and launched an app in 2017. Today, the company delivers products in over 20 cities across 13 states and employs more than 2,000 people nationwide. Liu declined to disclose how many households Weee! serves.

More Information In Bexar County, Weee! delivers to the following zip codes: 78015, 78023, 78205, 78209, 78212, 78213, 78216, 78217, 78218, 78230, 78232, 78233, 78238, 78239, 78240, 78244, 78245, 78247, 78248, 78249, 78250, 78251, 78253, 78254, 78255, 78256, 78257, 78258, 78259, 78260 and 78261. See More Collapse

The company has raised over $415 million in funding from Arena Holdings, Blackstone, Tiger Global and other investment firms.

Weee! is seeking to draw more Hispanic customers and adding Mexican cooking ingredients, Liu told the Wall Street Journal in February. The company is also eyeing an initial public offering.

During the coronavirus pandemic, safety concerns prompted many consumers to order groceries online for the first time. Retailers responded by expanding the number of stores offering pickup and delivery options.

As shoppers return to stores, its unclear how many will continue using those services.

There is little doubt the pandemic caused more consumers to look to grocery delivery for safety reasons, Liu said. However, Weee! has experienced exponential growth even as certain parts of the country have opened up. We are the only online grocer thats growing both in terms of user base and revenue.

madison.iszler@express-news.net
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration fully approved the two-dose Pfizer coronavirus vaccine on Monday, opening a door for local governments and public schools in Texas to require employees to get the shots.

Vaccine mandates have been a political flashpoint in Texas, after Gov. Greg Abbott issued two executive orders barring public institutions  including state agencies, universities, local governments, public schools and any other entities that receive public funding  from requiring the shots for their workers or asking consumers for proof of vaccination. But his directives apply only to COVID shots administered under an emergency use authorization.

The Pfizer vaccine is the first of the three that are widely available in the U.S. to win full approval from federal regulators; the makers of the Moderna vaccine are seeking approval, and officials from Johnson & Johnson say they are planning to apply.

The Pfizer vaccines change in status appears to give cities, school districts and universities a way around the governors ban.

Receiving a COVID-19 vaccine under an emergency use authorization is always voluntary in Texas and will never be mandated by the government, but it is strongly encouraged for those eligible to receive one, Abbotts most recent executive order reads.

The update marks the second time in a week that one of Abbotts COVID orders has been undermined, after the Texas Supreme Court temporarily paused a similar directive banning mask mandates in schools.

A spokeswoman for Abbott did not respond to a request for comment on Monday, and its not yet clear whether he plans to issue any additional or clarifying orders.

RELATED: School mask rules stand for now, as Texas Supreme Court upholds pause on Abbotts order

In the meantime, Pfizers full approval means San Antonio Independent School District, which was sued by the state after requiring its employees to get the shots by Oct. 15, can move forward with its mandate. The district had clarified late last week that it would not compel workers to get a vaccine that wasnt fully approved by the FDA.

Attorney General Ken Paxton touted that as a win in a news release Monday, distributed less than an hour after the FDA granted full approval. He did not mention the updated designation or how it would impact the lawsuit, and his office did not respond to a request for comment.

State law could not be clearer: No governmental entity can compel any individual to receive a COVID-19 vaccine administered under an emergency use authorization, Paxton said in the release. But San Antonio ISD tried to play by its own set of rules. Thankfully, we stopped them.

San Antonio ISD was the first and sole Texas school district to announce a vaccine requirement for its workers last week. The mandate will apply only to about 10 percent of the districts 8,000 employees who have not yet gotten a shot.

San Antonio school officials say the full authorization allows the district to go ahead with its vaccine mandate as planned. In a statement last week, Superintendent Pedro Martinez had stipulated that the timeline would change only if the FDA hadnt fully authorized the vaccine by Sept. 10.

TEXAS TAKE: Get the latest news on Texas politics sent directly to your inbox every weekday

We know there are residents across San Antonio who have been reluctant to get their shots because it was only authorized for emergency use and who have waited for full approval before getting vaccinated, Martinez said in a statement Monday. That moment has come and our message today is simple: Please protect yourself, your community, and children across our city by getting vaccinated.

It remains to be seen whether other school districts or local governments will require the shots. In San Antonio, a city spokeswoman said officials are focused on promoting our vaccine incentives for employees for now.

The new designation for the Pfizer vaccine applies to those 16 and up; the shots are also authorized for emergency use in children 12 to 15.

cayla.harris@express-news.net
Getty Images file photos

Concert: Marc Anthony kicks of his Palla Voy Tour in San Antonio  the biggest show to hit town since the COVID shutdown almost a year and a half ago. A salsa superstar with a record 32 No. 1 songs on Billboards Latin Tropical Airplay chart, Anthony crossed over to mainstream pop success with his self-titled 1999 album and the Top 10 hits I Need to Know and You Sang to Me. 8 p.m. Friday, AT&T Center, 1 AT&T Parkway at East Houston Street. $65-$285, attcenter.com. Face masks are required for everyone 10 or older.

Theater: Linda Kaufman, the gifted theater artist behind the show Senior Moments, has a new creation being produced by her new company, Real Life Productions Inc. Mrs. Rosenbergs Christmas is a musical about an older Jewish woman who sends her family into chaos when she decrees that she wants to celebrate the holiday in August. Opens Thursday. 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 2 and 5 p.m. Aug. 29, Cellar Theater, The Public Theater of San Antonio, San Pedro at Ashby. $25, reallifeproductions.org.
A 27-year-old woman died after she crashed into a building west of downtown early Monday morning, San Antonio police said.

Police said the woman crashed her black 2007 Toyota Camry at around 2:45 a.m. into the loading dock of the Mission City Container, located at 1810 S. Laredo St.

On ExpressNews.com: One Bexar County inmate charged with killing another after fight in holding cell

Officers had to break the driver's side window to pull the unidentified woman out of the car. Police said she was unresponsive. Emergency personnel attempted to revive the woman, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said they believe the woman was speeding down Laredo Street and lost control of the Camry, veering across the eastbound lanes before crashing into the building.

taylor.pettaway@express-news.net
NEW DELHI (AP)  Her memory of the assassination attempt is hazy. What she does know is that her father asked the Taliban to do it.

A former Afghan policewoman, Khatera Hashmi was shot multiple times on her way home from work last October in the capital of Ghazni province, south of Kabul.

As she slumped over, one of the attackers grabbed her by the hair, pulled a knife and gouged out her eyes.

Five months pregnant at the time, Hashmi survived the gruesome attack, as did her unborn child. Hashmi's father had vehemently opposed her decision to join the police force, and although she didnt elaborate on her fathers involvement, she told The Associated Press that the police had arrested and imprisoned him.

After recovering from her wounds, she and her husband fled to India, leaving two children in the care of her mother-in-law. Her third child, a daughter, was born a few months after their arrival in India.

However, like thousands of other Afghan refugees in India, any plans they had of returning were dashed this month by the Taliban's shockingly swift takeover of the country.

What many thought would be a short, temporary escape has turned into a long-lasting exile.

Another Afghan refugee is Mohammad Akbar Farhad, a 50-year-old artist. He too dreams of home while living in suspended animation abroad.

On a hot August afternoon at his apartment in New Delhi, his brush made brief, generous strokes on a huge oil painting depicting the ruins of the Bala Hissar, or High Fort, Kabul's ancient citadel that housed Afghan rulers for centuries.

This is my only source of income, Farhad said, tracing the contours of the canvas with his fingers.

Back in Kabul, he faced repeated threats from Taliban sympathizers  always armed  who demanded he close his art studio. They said his work fell outside the bounds of Islamic law.

When the threats became more frequent, his entire family ran away to their village in the countryside. In their absence, their house was ransacked and his paintings torn to shreds.

After that, I didnt even have the courage to touch my brush for months, he said.

Farhad fled with his family to India in 2018, expecting to return.

Earlier this year, the insurgents burned his art studio. All of his artwork was destroyed, leaving him crestfallen. And that was before the government in Kabul collapsed.

Concern for her loved ones back home fills Hashmi, the policewoman, with dread.

I will never be able to go back to Afghanistan now, even if I wanted to, the 33-year-old said in her modest two-room apartment in New Delhi, where she lives with her husband and daughter Bahar, now seven months old.

Many Afghans fear the Taliban will erase the gains, especially for women, achieved in the decades since the U.S.-led invasion in 2001. When the militant group ran the country in the late 1990s, they imposed a harsh interpretation of Islamic law, forcing a sequestered life for many, particularly women and girls who were forbidden from education and most employment.

The Taliban now seek to present themselves as a more moderate force, offering amnesty to those who fought them and declaring the rights of women would be honored under Islamic law.

Hashmi is bitterly pessimistic.

Women there wont be able to live in peace now. They wont even die in peace, even if they wish to, she said.

Everything is gone, she said after a brief pause. Her husband, Mohammad Nabi, looked at her with tenderness but said nothing.

Nabi was a shop salesman back in Ghazni. The two fell deeply in love, and she made it clear before they got married that she planned to join the police.

I saw what the Taliban did to women. I wanted to do something for them. I wanted women to get their rights, she said.

Nabi supported her decision, even though it would eventually make his wife a target, and the two began building a family together.

Hashmi's father threatened her, insisting she quit. She wouldn't budge.

After the attack that blinded her, the police said they arrested her father and sent him to a prison at Bagram Air Base outside Kabul. When the Taliban swept into the capital, Afghan forces at the former U.S. base surrendered. The prison had housed 5,000 inmates, including Taliban and Islamic State group fighters.

Imagining that her father might now be a free man fills Hashmi with horror.

If I go back to Afghanistan, the Taliban might cut off my legs this time, she said.

But life in India remains difficult.

Whenever I hold Bahar in my arms, I feel sad. My husband cant leave her alone. He cant even go to work. Sometimes we dont even have money to buy food, Hashmi said, winding her way back to the bedroom as Nabi holds her by the hand.

Although she says their love has grown while in exile, they also struggle. Food sometimes runs scarce because charity money from fellow refugees isnt enough. Phone calls home often cut out due to the poor cellular network. Being separated from her children is a nightmare.

And in particular, they fight to live a dignified life trapped within a complex bureaucratic process to register as refugees in India. The system strains under a yearslong backlog.

As of 2019, Afghans accounted for around a third of the nearly 40,000 refugees registered in India, according to the U.N. refugee agency. But that figure excludes those who, like Hashmi's family, are not registered with the U.N.

My wife gave her eyes for her country. But nobody helped us," Nabi said. "Not even our own government.

On Monday, hundreds of Afghans living in India protested outside the U.N. refugee agencys office in New Delhi, ramping up demands they be recognized as refugees.

But for these two Afghan families, the Taliban blitz toward Kabul left them feeling isolated and further from home than ever.

I havent slept properly for weeks," said Farhad, the painter. "All I think of is my country."

His son Hassan is angry at his country's politicians  and the U.S.

America has failed us, he said.

___

This story corrects that Hashmi was five months pregnant at time of attack, not two months.
The Kerr County Sheriff's Office arrested a suspected human trafficker after he led deputies on a chase in Kerrville, officials said.

Jaime Vicente Montes, a 22 year-old resident of Memphis, Texas, was charged with two counts of human smuggling, two counts of evading arrest and one count of trespassing.

On Saturday, sheriff's deputies were notified of a stolen truck from San Antonio that was suspected to be involved in a human smuggling case that was headed west on Interstate 10 from Boerne. Deputies spotted the truck at around 10:30 a.m., near mile marker 517, and unsuccessfully attempted a traffic stop.

On ExpressNews.com: Sutherland Springs church to raze site of 2017 mass shooting

Montes took the 508 exit toward Texas16 at a high rate of speed but lost control of the truck and crashed into the embankment next to the intersection, the sheriff's office said. He then fled from the truck on foot, hopping the fence into Department of Agriculture property, according to deputies.

The sheriff's office, with the help of the Kerrville Police Department, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Texas Department of Public Safety and Homeland Security set up a perimeter around the property and eventually found Montes.

When investigators interviewed Montes, he admitted to smuggling immigrants into the country and said he had just dropped off two individuals in Austin before he was stopped, the sheriff's department said.

Montes is being held without bond by the Department of Homeland Security, officials said.

taylor.pettaway@express-news.net
WAVERLY, Tenn. (AP)  Anna Mays woke up in a panic attack Monday, thinking she was back in the rising floodwater.

Two days ago, she had been clinging for her life to the front door of her duplex in rural Tennessee as the water inched up to her neck. Her brother was hanging onto a tree.

Then Mays realized where she was: The gym at the Waverly Church of Christ, now her temporary home alongside other victims of record-breaking rain Saturday that sent floodwaters surging through the region, killing at least 22 people.

Her story has become a familiar one in Humphreys County, and particularly the small town of Waverly. Large swaths of the community are suddenly displaced, sorting through difficult decisions about what comes next even as they relive the horror of what just happened.

This morning I was having a panic attack and thought I was in water, and I was trying to get that way and trying to get this way. I was just scared half to death," said Mays, who doesn't know how to swim. "I was just, something woke me up and I thought I was in the water, and  I never have seen  Ive seen it on TV, but Ive never have seen it like it in life, where cars was going by.

Mays started gathering up a few belongings after a police officer came to the door of her duplex Saturday morning, telling her to evacuate. She and her brother could see the water rising quickly. Her brother was trying to keep it out of the house by shoving towels under the door, but they were soon overwhelmed. Minutes later, the flooded creek pushed open the door and water poured into the house.

Mays brother went outside to try to find a way onto the roof but ended up clinging to a tree. Mays held on to the front door until they were rescued by boat, escaping with nothing but the clothes they were wearing. Mays said the neighbor on the other side of the duplex lost her daughter, who was about 7 or 8 years old.

While survivors grappled with their recollections  more than 90 people stayed in shelters Sunday, according to the states American Red Cross chapter  rescue workers continued their arduous searches for anyone else swept away.

Authorities rummaged through heaps of debris as search and rescue teams used dogs to try to sniff out any missing people, Waverly police Chief Grant Gillespie said.

Theres still a lot of debris in and along the creek that needs to be examined. Thats a painstaking process, Gillespie said during a news conference. We have to tear that apart, a lot of times, with equipment.

The police chief said the number of people considered missing has fluctuated, as people have not been able to reach loved ones who are later confirmed to be safe.

Im reasonably sure that we are less than 10 right now that we are truly not sure about the whereabouts of, or that we dont think well resolve fairly easily, Gillespie said.

Saturdays flooding took out roads, cellphone towers and telephone lines, leaving people uncertain about whether family and friends survived the unprecedented deluge, with rainfall that more than tripled forecasts and shattered the state record for one-day rainfall. Emergency workers were searching door to door, said Kristi Brown, coordinated health and safety supervisor with Humphreys County Schools.

Many of the missing live in the neighborhoods where the water rose the fastest, said Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis, who confirmed the 22 fatalities in his county. The names of the missing were on a board in the countys emergency center and listed on a city of Waverly Facebook page, which is being updated as people call in and report themselves safe.

The Humphreys County Sheriff Office Facebook page filled with people looking for missing friends and family. GoFundMe pages asked for help for funeral expenses for the dead, including 7-month-old twins swept from their fathers arms as they tried to escape.

The death of the twins was confirmed by surviving family members. A foreman at country music star Loretta Lynns ranch also died. The sheriff of the county of about 18,000 people some 60 miles (96 kilometers) west of Nashville said he lost one of his best friends.

Up to 17 inches (43 centimeters) of rain fell in Humphreys County in less than 24 hours Saturday, passing the Tennessee record for one-day rainfall by more than 3 inches (8 centimeters), the National Weather Service said, though Saturday's numbers will have to be confirmed.

School was canceled for the week, according to the sheriff's office. Waverly Elementary and Waverly Junior High suffered extensive damage, according to Brown. About 2,000 homes in the county were without power Monday evening, utility officials said.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee toured the area, calling it a devastating picture of loss and heartache. President Joe Biden offered condolences to the people of Tennessee and directed federal disaster officials to talk with the governor and offer assistance.

Survivors played back the harrowing moments when the water closed in.

Billy Ray Rushing was staying with his daughter, Annie Rushing, when they were told to evacuate.

Right then and there, we got in the car and left, he said.

The water was already over their muffler. Their neighbor, Mary, on the other side of the duplex went back inside her home but soon was calling, asking them to come back for her, Rushing said. It was too late.

There wasnt any way we could get back there. I hate it, but I couldnt take the chance of her and me drowning, he said, indicating his daughter.

That same neighbor warned Jodie Stawski, across the street, to get out before the water reached their apartment.

But as we went, as we was driving out, we could see these people on their porches, said Stawski on Monday. And I think in my mind, they thought they were safe. That the water was not going to get that high. But from what I heard, it gushed at them. And we lost Miss Mary. She drowned in the process. She was our hero. She saved us.

___

Kristin M. Hall contributed from Waverly.
The San Antonio Independent School District will move ahead with its order that all its employees be vaccinated against COVID-19, now that the Food and Drug Administrations full approval of the Pfizer shot has cleared a legal roadblock the state of Texas erected last week.

Gov. Greg Abbotts order forbidding vaccine mandates applied only to vaccines that had temporary FDA approval, so the FDA action removed the basis of a state lawsuit filed Thursday in response to the SAISD requirement.

The FDA decision opens a legal avenue for other school districts and local governments to impose their own vaccine mandates, but Monday there were no obvious signs of a rush to join SAISD, just plenty of renewed calls for people to get the shots on their own.

The FDA approval means more hospitals across the nation are likely to require employees to get vaccinated to protect patients and staff. Only one of the five major hospital systems in San Antonio has decided to do that, however, and none of the others announced a change Monday.

Some of the citys major private sector employers also reported no immediate plans to require vaccinations.

SAISD Superintendent Pedro Martinez called the FDA decision a positive step forward in the fight against COVID-19 that will help keep schools safe for learning nationwide and locally.

His statement didnt mention the SAISD vaccine requirement, which will apply to an estimated 10 percent of the districts roughly 8,000 employees who have not yet had their shots.

Mayor Ron Nirenberg called the FDA action great news, adding, Americans who have been waiting for full authorization should now feel confident getting the vaccine, and getting more people vaccinated will help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Vaccines remain free and easy to get. I encourage anyone who has not yet gotten a COVID-19 vaccine to do so.

On ExpressNews.com: Paxton sues San Antonio ISD over employee vaccination requirement

Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said he hopes that vaccine holdouts now will get the Pfizer shot as soon as possible. In posts Monday on Facebook and Twitter, he called the vaccine the most effective tool we have against COVID-19.

Were so pleased it got approved, because when you look at the reasons why people would not get the vaccine, one of the reasons was that it had not received final FDA approval. So this will bring a few over, he said.

Before the FDA decision, SAISD was the only traditional public school district in Bexar County to announce it would require employees to be vaccinated. The two larger school districts in Bexar County, Northside and North East ISDs, said Monday that they had no plans for vaccine requirements of their own.

The surge of COVID-19 transmissions across Texas and the nation has pitted an increasing number of school districts against Abbotts order forbidding schools to require face coverings, and those court battles will continue. A Texas Supreme Court decision last week kept dozens of school district mask mandates in place, for now.

Abbotts order also bans public entities from requiring vaccines granted temporary approval under the FDAs emergency use authorization. The state last week asked for a judges order to keep SAISD from enforcing its vaccination mandate, but it never made it to a hearing.

The Texas attorney generals office declared victory in a statement Monday that noted that SAISD had clarified that its order applied only to fully approved vaccines.

Martinez said he recognized that many San Antonians have been reluctant to get their shots and were waiting for the FDAs full approval of the vaccine.

That moment has come, and our message today is simple: Please protect yourself, your community and children across our city by getting vaccinated, Martinez said. The vaccines, which are safe and effective, are key to moving beyond the COVID-19 crisis.

Wolff said the county will probably wait to gauge the response to its vaccination incentive program before it considers requiring its 5,000 employees to get the Pfizer shot. Under the program, employees who are fully vaccinated by Oct. 15 would receive a health insurance rebate up to $1,000.

San Antonios major employers were largely silent on their vaccine policies after the FDAs approval.

Frost Bank, the largest locally based regional bank, will strongly recommend that employees get vaccinated, but it isnt a requirement, spokesman Bill Day said Monday.

Frost Chairman and CEO Phil Green has said requiring vaccines for employees is not our style.

NuStar Energy, a pipeline operator thats headquartered on the far North Side, has been requiring employees to show proof of vaccination because unvaccinated workers have to wear a mask when away from their desk. But the company didnt say Monday whether it now would require workers to get the vaccine.

A spokesman for USAA, the insurance and financial services giant, said the FDA approval hasnt changed the companys policy. It does not require employees to get vaccinated but does provide paid leave for workers who want to get their shots. It also has been requiring unvaccinated employees to wear masks when not at their workstations, and it provides on-site and at-home COVID testing for employees.

We continue to make employee safety our top priority and are encouraged by the FDAs approval, spokesman Christian Bove said.

On July 29, Baptist Health System, owned by major U.S. hospital operator Tenet, became the first hospital system in San Antonio to mandate employee vaccines at its five local hospitals. Those who didnt comply or werent exempt for religious or medical reasons faced reassignment.

But the four other major hospital systems in San Antonio didnt follow suit and arent likely to move forward with a mandate.

Texas Vista Medical Center, a hospital on the Southwest Side, said Monday that it was waiting to hear back from corporate owner Steward Health Care on whether employee vaccines will be required. Its president, Jonathan Turton, recently said he worried that such a mandate might cause health care employees to leave their jobs when hospitals are already extremely short-staffed.

Bexar Countys public hospital system, University Health, has not made a decision at this point regarding its employee vaccine policy.

Methodist Healthcare System, a 50-50 co-ownership between Methodist Healthcare Ministries and HCA that operates nine hospitals in the area, said through spokeswoman Palmira Arellano that although we are not mandating vaccines at this time, we strongly recommend our staff get a COVID-19 vaccination.

Christus Health, which operates five local hospitals, including Childrens Hospital of San Antonio, said it has no plans to require employees to get vaccinated but agrees that the vaccines are the best way to offer protection to everyone.

We realize others are requiring vaccines of their associates, but we are taking a different approach of offering incentives and equipping individuals with the resources they need to make an informed decision, said Christus spokeswoman Nikela Pradier. The system is offering a one-time cash incentive to full-time and part-time workers who are vaccinated.

Although local authorities have used small pop-up clinics and started door-to-door efforts to target pockets of unvaccinated residents, some cant be persuaded  a significant number of people that are just not going to get it, I dont care what you do, Wolff said.

He said local hospitalization figures are a continued source of concern. More than 1,450 patients with COVID-19 were in local hospitals Monday, including more than 400 in intensive care and nearly 300 on ventilators, he said.

Martinez had said Friday that the informed expectation of SAISD officials was that the FDA would grant final approval for the vaccines well before his Oct. 15 deadline for employees to get the shots, and if that didnt happen, he would reassess his order.

On Monday, he said the past 18 months have been hard on schoolchildren and now, more than ever, they need safety and stability.

Required Reading: Get San Antonio education news sent directly to your inbox

They need to be in nurturing learning environments  in-person, in classrooms, five days per week, his statement Monday said, encouraging every eligible resident to do their part by getting vaccinated as soon as possible.

As we implement science-driven safety measures in our schools and listen to the experts as a district, the stakes for children and our community couldnt be higher, he said.

Staff writer Scott Huddleston contributed to this report.

ezavala@express-news.net | Twitter: @elizabeth2863
The University of Texas at San Antonio and the Southwest School of Art on Monday announced their intent to combine their art programs for a new school slated to be open in downtown in the fall of 2022.

The governing bodies of both schools will consider the proposed move in November.

According to a news release, the new school will be organized under the UTSA College of Liberal and Fine Arts and will integrate the SSA's Fine Arts program. The new art school also will include new programs and opportunities for students and the community, the release said.

On ExpressNews.com: 'Afraid by the numbers ... relieved by the numbers:' San Antonio schools walk a pandemic tightrope

"We want to create an institution that will be bigger than the sum of its parts and be deeply beneficial for our students. We are so excited for the future," UTSA president Taylor Eighmy said.

During the next year, officials will develop a curriculum that will take from both schools and introduce communications, digital and visual arts courses. The integration will expand UTSA's fine arts program by about 10 percent, according to UTSA Provost Kimberly Andrews Espy.

3 1 of 3 Edward A. Ornelas/(Photo By Edward A. Ornelas), University of Texas San Antonio Show More Show Less 2 of 3 University of Texas San Antonio Show More Show Less 3 of 3 Edward A. Ornelas/(Photo By Edward A. Ornelas), University of Texas San Antonio Show More Show Less





The hope is that one new art school will attract a broader range of students and inspire them to open businesses and contribute to the city's downtown art scene, Espy said.

SSA, which opened its doors in 1965, has accreditation with the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. Its campus, located at 300 Augusta, is nationally recognized as a Texas Historic Landmark by the National Register of Historic Places.

In 2014, SSA became the only independent college of art in Texas with the addition of its Bachelor of Fine Arts program.

"What SSA has been able to accomplish in their existence is stupendous, their reputation, the quality of their staff and their studies are world-class," Eighmy said. "We want to make sure we honor the past and ideate the future."

The new school will keep the SSA branding in an effort to honor the vision and founders of SSA. Students, however, will graduate with a UTSA degree.

On ExpressNews: Online grocer focusing on Asian and Hispanic products launches in San Antonio

"The art departments in UTSA and SSA are already robust, but in the future this will allow us to include more interdisciplinary programming and technological development in the arts," said SSA president Paula Owen. "The potential for this is hard to describe because there are so many hopes, dreams and open-ended possibilities for our future."

The two institutions have built a strong relationship over the years, Owen said. Many SSA students have gone on to pursue Master of Fine Arts degrees at UTSA, while several SSA instructors are UTSA graduates. Members of the UTSA faculty have also showcased their art at SSA.

"It has been over a year since we started talking about possible partnerships in the future, and the more we talked we started to understand that together our two institutions could create something quite wonderful, bigger and better than what we have now," Owen said.

Current SSA students will have to complete a transfer application to UTSA, but school officials said they are waiving transfer fees. The schools are also working to create a seamless transition for nearly 300 faculty members.

taylor.pettaway@express-news.net
After tireless months of fighting rising crime, longtime New Orleans detective Everett Briscoe took a much-needed vacation to Houston. While he was dining al fresco at a posh Galleria-area restaurant Saturday, an armed robber shot him dead.

The brazen and seemingly random shooting at the Tilman-Fertitta-eatery Grotto Ristorante at 4715 Westheimer enraged police brass in Houston, who are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the two suspects in Briscoes death.

From over the patio fence at the restaurant, the robbers demanded valuables from Briscoe and another man. Though Briscoe and the man were complying, one of the suspects opened fire, killing the off-duty officer and critically wounding the other man, police said. The robbers fled in a four-door Nissan Altima with paper license plates, apparently leaving behind the items they originally sought.

The shooting put Houstons growing homicide tally this year at more than 280. Homicides, as of Friday, have increased 27 percent from 2020, police officials said

More Information Anyone with information about the fatal shooting on Aug. 21, 2021, should call the Houston Police Department's Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers of Houston at 713-222-TIPS. See More Collapse

New Orleans Police Superintendent Shaun Ferguson choked up as he explained that the increase in crime amid the pandemic is what motivated Briscoe to travel to Houston.

He was just going out there to have fun with friends, getting some much-needed rest and relaxation, Ferguson said during a news conference. He was just trying to get away for a bit.

Briscoe joined the New Orleans police force in 2008 and was most recently assigned as a persons crimes detective in the First District.

He was pursing a bachelors degree at Southern University and leaves behind a wife and two sons, ages 16 and 10, the police superintendent said. He was a member of the New Orleans-based fraternal group Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club.

We lost a good one, Ferguson said.

We keep doing this

Ferguson and his Houston counterpart, Chief Troy Finner, decried the shooting as senseless violence.

Im very upset, Finner said hours after the shooting. And not just because its an off-duty police officer. That hurts. Every victim of a violent crime in  our city means something to me.

He called on Houston to do better at preventing crime  a topic that Jay Banks, a New Orleans City Council member and longtime friend of Briscoe, touched on Sunday with other officials. Banks hoarsely denounced the nationwide increase in violence that intensified during the pandemic and the exhaustion from the repeated grief it causes.

We keep doing this, Banks cried. I dont know how to stop it, but I sure wish somebody would tell me. I would do it immediately.

Banks said he went to Briscoes home Saturday to meet with the slain officers wife. Her attention turned toward her oldest son. She asked Banks, Who is going to teach him to tie his tie?

There was no answer because the only answer she wanted to hear was, Everetts going to walk through the door, but hes not, Banks continued. This cancer of senseless violence has to stop.

Another politician, U.S. Rep. Troy Carter, also expressed his condolences to Briscoe and his family.

Praying for his family and the other victim in this senseless act of violence, Carter said in a tweet. A tragic day for our community. Rest in Peace.

Somebody knows

Surveillance footage is one of the few clues as of Sunday in tracking Briscoes killers.

The two men wanted in connection with Briscoes death were last seen wearing white and black hooded sweatshirts, one in black pants and the other in denim. The pair got into a silver or gray Altima with paper plates.

Workers at a CVS in the same strip as the restaurant did not hear the shooting but soon noticed police swarm the parking lot.

The employees later looked at their security footage and saw a gray Altima pull out of a garage. They couldnt tell which way the vehicle went.

Somebody knows them, Finner said. I want every person in every neighborhood to stand up, give us some information so we can get these individuals into custody.

The shooting is the second deadly incident at a Fertitta-owned restaurant this year  the first happened in July during an apparent murder-suicide at the Downtown Aquarium restaurant.

Fertitta, the billionaire owner of Landrys restaurants and the Houston Rockets, has offered his support to Houston police during the investigation, Finner said.

Hes concerned, but hes concerned with not only his restaurant, the chief said.

Rebecca Carballo contributed to this report.

nicole.hensley@chron.com
The Rev. Kesner Ajax was driving Aug. 14 in Les Cayes, Haiti, when the ground began to shudder and shake  a 7.2 magnitude earthquake had struck the island.

Buildings toppled. Homes crumbled. Wreckage littered the roads.

Thousands of residents were injured, and more than 2,100 were killed in the destruction. Ajax, uninjured, drove pedestrians with wounds to a nearby hospital where doctors and nurses began triage of their patients.

He scanned the nightmarish scene at the epicenter of the quake that left people hungry, thirsty and sleeping in debris-scattered streets.

Saving the people is very important, Ajax, 60, said by phone from Haiti. We need good shelter that will stand for a long time.

News of the aftermath brought back horrific memories for those who survived previous natural disasters in Haiti.

San Antonio resident Bethlie Paul knows the city of Les Cayes well  its where American paramedics found her in a hospital with severe wounds after the 2010 earthquake struck Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Paul suffered a severely broken left leg when the 7.0 magnitude earthquake collapsed her school upon her and other students. Her mother, Roselie Louissaint, and relatives dug for several hours to free her from the rubble, where concrete beams were lodged inches above her.

The quake killed 12 of her classmates.

Matthew Busch /For The San Antonio Express-News

At first, I was shocked, Paul, 21, said. I never thought Id live to see another earthquake in Haiti and feel what people are feeling. I couldnt do anything  that was the worse problem. It was really traumatic to go back to that moment.

Paul and another injured girl, Naika Etienne, faced amputations. Their families agreed the girls could be airlifted to the United States for the lifesaving operations.

Nicole Foy, a former San Antonio Express-News reporter, and her family are part of Pauls support network. Paul lived with Foy and her husband, Steve Spriester, and their three daughters for more than two years while receiving medical treatment. Foy said its been bittersweet to watch Bethlie grow up here while worrying about her country and family members who are still in Haiti.

After hearing about the most recent earthquake, Foy texted Paul to make sure she and her family were okay.

Bethlie is living the experience that most immigrants live  a duality where half your heart beats from afar, Foy said. But when youre talking about a place like Haiti, where heartbreak seems to be on an endless loop, its doubly hard.

In May, the little girl who only spoke Creole 11 years ago graduated from San Antonio College. This is her first semester studying at the University of Texas at San Antonio for her bachelors of arts in psychology. Pauls ultimate goal is to open a clinic for children and women who have gone through traumatic experiences. She wants to offer others the same aid her parents, friends, teachers and co-workers are still giving her, as they did in her time of need.

Through their support, Im managing it, Paul said. When I was in that situation, I got a lot of help.

Shes doing her part to help, donating to relief organizations that send aid to the country thats also grappling with the assassination of Haitis President Jovenel Moise in July and heavy downpours from tropical storms.

Bernadette Williams, 38, moved from Haiti to San Antonio in January 2018. She is the music ministry director at St. George Episcopal Church and School.

But in 2010, she was in her fourth-floor office at the Ecole de Musique Saint Trinity when the earthquake hit Port-au-Prince. After an hour beneath the rubble, a students parent showed them a way out of the ruins. On the lower level, 250 students were killed when the building collapsed.

I was very lucky, Williams said. It was a lot of chaos.

Afterward, she and her colleagues decided to offer what they knew best  music.

Though it wasnt the opportune time to play songs, Williams, who plays the cello, said the group put on a concert at the sprawling tent city.

At first, the crowd was quiet. At the sound of the first melodies, some people cried. They played Haitian folk music that led to up-beat tunes like Michael Jacksons Thriller.

She said the concerts continued for a year.

I know what music brings to the people, especially in this moment when we need hope, Williams said. It will help not only the students but the people. It can help them to go forward.

Now, shes seeking ways to aid her people. Williams is working with local relief agencies and is in touch with Ajax, who is working with the hunger-relief organization Food for the Poor.

This is the best opportunity for Haitian people to work together, Williams said. But, we need more than prayer. I believe in prayer, but we need some real action to happen.

vtdavis@express-news.net | Twitter: @vincentdavis
An inmate at the Bexar County jail has been charged with murder in connection with the death of a fellow inmate whose body was found around noon on Saturday.

Mark Anthony Wong, 53, is accused of killing Curtis Raymond Smith, 66, in a holding cell in the booking section of the jail. The two men got into an argument that quickly escalated, according to the sheriffs office.
The First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs decided Sunday to demolish the old church where, almost four years ago, a gunman killed 26 congregants and injured 20 others.

Since a week after the Nov. 5, 2017, massacre, the old church has served as a memorial. A team of local artists and contractors jumped into action within days of the shooting to transform the bullet-ridden building into a sanctuary honoring the lives lost. Inside stand 26 chairs, each bearing the name of a victim.

But there have been concerns that the building might have structural problems. In a closed-door meeting Sunday, a majority of church members voted to tear it down, according to a report by News 4 San Antonio.

The churchs pastor could not be reached for comment.

In the wake of the tragedy, the worshipers held services in a makeshift structure, until the congregation in 2019 moved into a new home adjacent to the church-turned-memorial. The new sanctuary, a donated $3 million building with 250 seats, towers above the quaint old church.

For some survivors and family members of victims, the former place of worship has served as a painful reminder of the catastrophe that shattered the small town 30 miles southeast of San Antonio. To this day, the mass shooting ranks among the deadliest in U.S. history.

Lisa Krantz /San Antonio Express-News

The gunman, Devin Kelley, opened fire with an assault-style rifle during a Sunday service, slaying close friends and family members. After fleeing the church, he shot and killed himself.

This summer, a federal judge ruled that the U.S. Air Force was partially responsible for the massacre because it failed to process paperwork that couldve stopped Kelley from buying the weapon he used. Hed previously been convicted of assault and discharged from the military for bad conduct but slipped through background checks.

marina.riker@express-news.net
The Mexican American Civil Rights Institute has driven home one idea in its short history: San Antonio is to Mexican American civil rights history what Atlanta is to Black civil rights history.

While the latter is roundly recognized, San Antonios role as an activism mecca has not.

MACRI was founded to make that understood by a national audience and the one at home  where so many Mexican American leaders were born, educated or cultivated and where so many Mexican American organizations were founded or grew nationally.

Its the first public history organization of its kind in the country, dedicated to telling the story of Mexican American civil rights and move the country beyond a black-and-white story.

In its first two years  despite a pandemic  it has reached its goals to get established and map its future.

It deserves the continued financial support of the city of San Antonio and Bexar County.

A brick-and-mortar national Mexican American civil rights center, containing archives and collections, will have to wait. Though its overdue, too.

MACRI has gotten recognition for its online programming, gaining national audiences. It has cast a wide net for individual, foundation and corporate gifts.

It has operated with one full-time interim director, a part-time administrator and a host of independent contractors that have produced programming and research.

City Council will soon consider its second funding request from MACRI, which received an initial $500,000 two-year planning grant from the city in 2019.

MACRI has requested $300,000 in the next budget cycle, said its interim director Sarah Zenaida Gould.

Also, the group initially received $15,000 from Bexar County and seeks a new allocation of $150,000, Gould said.

The institutes proposed budget for the next year is $676,000, up from $390,000 this year. Its proposed budget also depends on grants and corporate funding. Wells Fargo has donated $20,000, representing MACRIs first corporate gift.

Each was an investment in San Antonio and Bexar Countys growth as a cultural and historic hub and designation.

Plans are for its staff to grow with a full-time archivist, development manager and program manager and part-time office and communication managers.

To date, MACRI has 42 virtual events under its belt, that we either produced or participated in, Gould said.

It has collaborated with the Region 20 Education Service Center, Palo Alto College, the University of Texas at San Antonio and the MAS Teacher Academy.

It has launched six programming areas, including teacher training workshops; an annual symposium; free virtual panels; and a digital archive that will link to existing digital collections as well as grow a collection of materials and artifacts.

Its two other programming areas will commission new content for a series of exhibitions and a series of Brown Papers on Mexican American civil rights history. The first was published this spring.

MACRIs first exhibit Chispas, Spanish for sparks, will showcase 40 Mexican American civil rights trailblazers, including famed labor leader Emma Tenayuca. It will debut next month, Gould said.

During its inaugural symposium just a few weeks ago, it reached at least 8,200 people.

Some of the most noted Mexican American scholars made presentations, including a few second-generation Chicano academics, whose parents  scholars, authors and political activists  were on the front lines of the Chicano Movement in the 1960s and 70s.

The gathering included civil rights issues that havent received much attention, such as the impact of the climate crisis on rural and urban Mexican Americans and the collaboration between Chicano activists and Black Panthers in the 60s and 70s.

There is genuine excitement about shining a national spotlight on an undertold, yet critical aspect of the American story, the Mexican American civil rights experience, MACRI wrote in its funding pitch to City Council.

San Antonio isnt the only place where Mexican American civil rights history happened, of course. MACRI vows to tell the stories of Mexican Americans throughout the Southwest, the Pacific Northwest, Midwest, New South and elsewhere, from the 19th century and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo to the Chicano Movement and present day.

But theres no doubt that San Antonio is the cradle of this story, and that MACRI is exactly where its supposed to be.

eayala@express-news.net
The rout of the Taliban in 2001 was seen as an admirable American victory, but invasions, in their aftermath, have a way of confronting the invaders with a different set of challenges.

We need politicians and strategists with long-range vision, such as former President George H.W. Bush, who had the wisdom to avoid the temptation of invading Iraq after liberating Kuwait.

In contrast, former President George W. Bush, lacking his fathers wisdom, got swayed by neoconservatives into undertaking overly ambitious military expeditions.

If we had skated out of Afghanistan after overthrowing the Taliban, we would have left the country in chaos with no government. So we took on the difficult challenge of trying to bring order and stability to a notoriously complicated and fragmented nation with a penchant for implacable resistance to foreign influence and domination.

Former Gen. and Secretary of State Colin Powell is famously credited with invoking the Pottery Barn Rule when cautioning about invading Iraq: If you break it, you own it. And that is precisely what happened to the U.S. after invading Afghanistan and Iraq. With little in common with Western nations, neither of these two countries was ever going to be an easy lift for the U.S. For some time, it appeared we had a better handle on Afghanistan than on Iraq, but that turned out to be an illusion.

The calamitous American exit from Afghanistan puts President Joe Biden in a position not unlike former President John F. Kennedys position after the Bay of Pigs fiasco. To this day, that fiasco is seen by some as a betrayal by Kennedy of the invading Cuban exiles because the American president failed to provide air cover and support for them.

The American exit from Afghanistan will no doubt be viewed by many as a betrayal of our Afghan allies, as well as our proclaimed moral values. Victory has a thousand fathers, but defeat is an orphan is how Kennedy is said to have put it after the Bay of Pigs debacle. In his address to the nation last week, Biden, echoing former President Harry Truman, said, The buck stops with me. But he was decidedly unapologetic.

The most powerful nation in the world, by popular consensus, met the limits of its power long ago in neighboring Cuba and later in Vietnam. Lets not forget that since the exercise of power comes at a cost, especially in war, an unwillingness to pay the cost restrains power. During World War II, the U.S. was willing to pay an unlimited cost in blood and treasure to defeat the enemy. The unwillingness to repeat such an enormous sacrifice puts a lid on American power.

The return to Taliban rule is an abject tragedy for Afghans and, most of all, their women. But no one should be surprised that the U.S. has come full circle in Afghanistan.

Born and raised in Cuba, and living in the United States since 1960, Frank Rodriguez is retired and lives in New Braunfels.
America is changing.

Since its birth in 1776, the country has been largely governed by whites, but minorities have always been here, starting with the first Americans  the Native Americans.

Some of the nations newcomers arrived willingly, lured by the freedom of living in a young country, but others  African slaves  came against their will, hurled into what amounted to a vast, open-aired prison.

The percentage of whites and minorities, however, was never fixed; the makeup of our nation has evolved, and despite the nativism that continues to haunt us, that evolution has led to major breakthroughs, including the civil rights legislation of 1965.

That evolution continues, and the proof is documented in the latest census report: People who identify as multiracial numbered 33.8 million in 2020, compared with 9 million in 2010.

Nationally, the white population shrank from 63.7 percent in 2010 to 57.8 percent in 2020, the lowest mark in history; Latinos accounted for 51.1 percent of our growth nationally.

In Texas, people of color made up 95 percent of our population growth, with non-Hispanic whites accounting for 39.8 of the population, down from 45 percent in 2010.

Latinos now comprise 39 percent of the state population, and in San Antonio, the number grew by 9 percent, mirroring national and state figures.

The 2020 census confirmed what we have known for years  the future of the country is Latino, Arturo Vargas, CEO of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Educational Fund, told the Associated Press.

The census figures have ramifications beyond mere numbers. They will have a profound impact on redistricting efforts throughout the country, leading to what may be a massive effort to dilute  or, in some cases, maximize  minority influence at the polls. It is important to remove, legislatively if possible, these efforts to manipulate the vote, making the process as objective as possible.

In Texas, the population grew by 4 million, which means it will gain two congressional seats, thanks to minority population growth. A huge power grab will emerge in the Legislature, where the House is dominated by the GOP.

I guarantee you that in almost every state, partisan interests have gone ahead and started drawing maps, Michael Li, a redistricting expert with the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law, told the Los Angeles Times. Theyre trying to figure out what they can do and what they can get away with.

In Texas, partisan interests could be blunted with an independent redistricting commission to better ensure voters choose their lawmakers, as opposed to the other way around.

Diversity is a positive, broadening our outlook and expanding our understanding of cultures that may seem foreign to us. Yet while minorities have traditionally voted Democratic, it is wrong to assume they represent monolithic voting blocs, their choice of candidates hinging solely on their skin color. They are as diverse as the country at large when it comes to voting.

Still, Republicans cannot ignore the increasing percentage of minorities in this country. They may have to revisit the agenda they sought to establish following the two Obama administrations  the effort to attract minority voters. If so, it would represent a major shift away from the Donald Trump era.

The reality is people of color drove, and will continue to drive, population growth in Texas. The question is whether state lawmakers will recognize that in representation. And, unfortunately, history suggests we know the answer.
Some of Gov. Greg Abbotts actions recently on COVID, immigration and voting seem to be for political reasons to impress a targeted group of voters. He does not seem to have the welfare of the residents of Texas in mind.

I am especially concerned about his vindictive action toward the Democrats to withhold pay for Legislative staffers.

When it is time to choose the next governor, do we really want a vindictive person who puts his agenda before the citizens he has pledged to serve?

Beverly Moltz

Lessons not learned

How many times are we going to deal with the resurgence of the virus? The answer can be found in the movie Groundhog Day.

With vaccines and mandated restrictions, the number of new cases and deaths plateaued, then started to fall. But many selfish Americans never complied with the restrictions.

Between reckless behavior, ant-vaxxers, lies spread on social media, and political leaders who abdicate their electorate by trying to go back to normal too soon or even deny localities the right to decide, we are once again against the ropes. We are on the delta-plus variant road to ruin.

Every individual who carries the virus is a petri dish. What happens when the virus mutates, as it will, to the next variant, which may render all vaccines to date ineffective? Which one of the self-serving, self-centered Americans will bring us to our knees?

The only certainty is, unless something is done, tomorrow will be the same as today, but maybe one step closer to Armageddon.

Steven Schneider, Converse

Price carbon now

Re: Report: Texas to see more hot days, Front Page, Aug. 10:

Thank you to Express-News reporter Elena Bruess for highlighting the importance of the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report as it relates to our community.

Once again, scientists have laid out in stark terms the need for humans to take immediate action on climate. If Texans wish to help decrease the prevalence and severity of droughts, flooding and heatwaves, then we need to work together, and fast, to cut our emissions of carbon dioxide.

Right now there is a bill in Congress, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, that puts us on track to become net zero by 2050. Its a bill that puts a price on carbon, levels the playing field for clean energy, puts money back into the pockets of Americans, and is supported by Democrats and Republicans. It is a big step toward the solutions that we need, and Texans can all ask our members of Congress to act now.

Emily Rew
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration fully authorized the two-dose Pfizer coronavirus vaccine on Monday, opening a door for local governments and public schools in Texas to require employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Vaccine mandates have been a political flashpoint in Texas, after Gov. Greg Abbott issued two executive orders barring public institutions  including state agencies, universities, local governments, public schools and any other entities that receive public funding  from demanding the shots of their employees or asking consumers for proof of vaccination. But his directives only apply to COVID shots administered under an emergency use authorization.

The Pfizer vaccine is the first of the three that are widely available in the U.S. to win full approval from federal regulators; the makers of the Moderna vaccine are seeking approval, and officials from Johnson & Johnson say they are planning to apply.

RELATED: School mask rules stand for now, as Texas Supreme Court upholds pause on Abbotts order

The Pfizer vaccines change in status appears to give cities, school districts and universities a way around the governors ban.

Receiving a COVID-19 vaccine under an emergency use authorization is always voluntary in Texas and will never be mandated by the government, but it is strongly encouraged for those eligible to receive one, Abbotts most recent executive order reads.

A spokeswoman for Abbott did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday.

The update means San Antonio Independent School District, which was sued by the state after requiring its employees to get the shots by Oct. 15, is still moving forward with its mandate. The district had clarified late last week that it would not compel workers to get a vaccine that wasnt fully approved by the FDA.

TEXAS TAKE: Get the latest news on Texas politics sent directly to your inbox every weekday

Attorney General Ken Paxton touted that as a win in a news release Monday, distributed less than an hour after the FDA granted full approval.

State law could not be clearer: No governmental entity can compel any individual to receive a COVID-19 vaccine administered under an emergency use authorization, Paxton said in the release. But San Antonio ISD tried to play by its own set of rules. Thankfully, we stopped them.

San Antonio school officials say the full authorization now allows the district to go ahead with its requirement that all employees get the shots by mid-October, they say. In his clarification statement last week, Superintendent Pedro Martinez had stipulated that the timeline would only change if the FDA hadnt fully authorized the vaccine by Sept. 10.

We know there are residents across San Antonio who have been reluctant to get their shots because it was only authorized for emergency use and who have waited for full approval before getting vaccinated, Martinez said in a new statement Monday. That moment has come and our message today is simple: Please protect yourself, your community, and children across our city by getting vaccinated.

A representative for Paxton did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

It remains to be seen whether other school districts or local governments will require the shots. In San Antonio, a city spokeswoman said officials are focused on promoting our vaccine incentives for employees for now.

cayla.harris@express-news.net
Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Monday jumped into the middle of the debate over mask mandates in public schools by trying to sell state officials on a product from a company in which he has a financial interest.

The Republican led a nearly hour-long press conference a the Texas Capitol on Monday that sounded more like an infomercial as he tried to convince state leaders to buy a brand of air filtration products from a company  Houston-based Integrated Viral Protection  that he acknowledged he has a part in.

When asked how much of a part, Perry replied: Well, thats none of your business. Im not a public official anymore.

Perry said instead of schools requiring masks, the special filtration system, which has been tested in schools and is already used in the George R. Brown Convention Center, can be an option.

I appreciate the politics thats being played out there but this is about getting our kids back in school, Perry said. Allowing them to have that interaction without masks on their face so they can see those reflections. They learn at a very early age those facial contortions  the smiles, the frowns  so its very important that we dont send a message every day: Youve got to have a mask on if youre going to go to our schools.

Perry later insisted hes not being anti-mask, but said there are legitimate questions about their use.

Im not anti-mask, Perry said. I happen to think that a parent should have the right to decide whether their child wears a mask or not.

On Monday Perrys pitch was aimed at key Republican lawmakers like Reps. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake, and Cecil Bell, R-Magnolia, both members of the House Appropriations Committee that were part of the press conference with Perry.

Capriglione said hes not endorsing the filtration system as an option, but hes listening to any ideas to help Texas fight COVID-19.

Perry said hes also been talking to Gov. Greg Abbott and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis about the filter system and hoping they will begin deploy it.

jeremy.wallace@chron.com


Air Serbia has wet-leased a second 148-seat Boeing 737-700 aircraft from Czech carrier Smartwings. The eighteen-year-old jet, registered OK-SWW, joined the fleet last Friday and has since been deployed on charter services from Belgrade to Rhodes, Chania and Antalya, as well as scheduled destinations such as Tirana, Dusseldorf, Istanbul and Frankfurt. The aircraft is currently filed to operate flights until at least the end of the month. The Serbian carrier has been wet-leasing another Smartwings B737-700 since June, which has been primarily utilised on charter flights. as well as a select number of scheduled services to Albania, Italy, Germany and Montenegro. Air Serbia's wet-lease contract with the Czcech carrier runs until September 26. Air Serbia has wet-leased a second 148-seat Boeing 737-700 aircraft from Czech carrier Smartwings. The eighteen-year-old jet, registered OK-SWW, joined the fleet last Friday and has since been deployed on charter services from Belgrade to Rhodes, Chania and Antalya, as well as scheduled destinations such as Tirana, Dusseldorf, Istanbul and Frankfurt. The aircraft is currently filed to operate flights until at least the end of the month. The Serbian carrier has been wet-leasing another Smartwings B737-700 since June, which has been primarily utilised on charter flights. as well as a select number of scheduled services to Albania, Italy, Germany and Montenegro. Air Serbia's wet-lease contract with the Czcech carrier runs until September 26.





Air Serbia and Smartwings have concluded an ACMI lease agreement, meaning the Czech carrier is providing aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance. Smartwings is the Czech Republics largest airline group, dominating the countrys aviation market. The carrier has vast experience in ACMI, wet-leasing aircraft and crew to airlines in France, Austria, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia over the summer, as well as Canada in winter. It is also the owner of the countrys national carrier Czech Airlines and one of the largest leisure operators in Central Europe. Its fleet consist of over forty jets.





Air Serbias active fleet now comprises of nineteen aircraft, including five ATR72s, ten Airbus A319 jets, one A320, one A330 and two Boeing 737-700s which are on wet-lease. One of the carriers eleven A319s has been grounded since early November 2020. The airline disbanded its dedicated charter brand Aviolet earlier this year after retiring its last three remaining Boeing 737-300 aircraft. The carrier currently maintains scheduled operations to over thirty destinations and is running over 1.000 charter flights this summer, exceeding pre-pandemic levels. In comparison, we operated 299 summer charters in 2020, while we already have more flights than we operated in 2019, or before the coronavirus pandemic, even though that year was a record breaker for us on all fronts, Air Serbia previously said.








(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Ravi Anupindi, University of Michigan

(THE CONVERSATION) Inoculating the planet from COVID-19 presents an unprecedented logistical challenge like none weve seen before. Mobilizing for a world war may be the closest comparison  but in this case, the enemy is invisible and everywhere.

Some of the vaccines require super-cold storage at virtually all points along the journey until they reach someones upper arm. And the vaccines are primarily being produced in wealthier countries, though the need  especially now  is greatest in the poorest.

While many rich countries such as Israel, Canada and those of the U.K. have managed to inoculate most of their citizens, the vast majority of people overall have yet to receive a single dose.

I have been studying global supply chains for over two decades, including those for drugs and other health-related products. To illustrate the process and how complicated and challenging it is, Ill take you on the journey of a single dose of Pfizer  which received full Food and Drug Administration approval on Aug. 23, 2021  all the way from a factory in Missouri to an arm in Bangladesh.

From Missouri to Massachusetts to Michigan

Even though its commonly known as the Pfizer vaccine, it was actually developed under a partnership with BioNTech, which is based in Germany.

It is one of two vaccines that use new mRNA technology, which provides genetic instructions that encode a viral protein. Once the vaccinated persons cells start making the coronavirus protein, it prompts their immune system to design powerful antibodies that can neutralize the virus if they ever encounter it.

A vaccine doses 60-day journey to distribution starts with raw ingredients in a Pfizer factory in Chesterfield, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis. This factory produces the key raw material called plasmids, which are basically strands of DNA that contain the genetic instructions for building coronavirus proteins.

Bottles of the DNA material are frozen, bagged, sealed and packed into a container and shipped to Andover, Massachusetts. There, the DNA is processed into mRNA, which is the active ingredient in the vaccine  also referred to as the drug substance.

The mRNA is packaged in plastic bags  each containing enough material to produce 10 million doses  frozen and shipped to Kalamazoo, Michigan, where the vaccine reaches the last stage of the process: formulation and filling.

First, the drug substance is combined with lipid nanoparticles  basically fat  to protect the mRNA and help it enter the human cells. Next, the combination is squirted into glass vials, six doses per vial, packaged and frozen for distribution.

Here I have presented a simplified three-step process. Making a vaccine, however, is more much complex, requiring more than 200 different materials supplied by factories spread across the world.

Keeping vials super-cold

While awaiting distribution, the Pfizer vaccine vials must be stored at temperatures from minus 112 F to minus 76 F (minus 80 C to minus 60 C) in ultra-cold freezers.

To put this in perspective, the average annual temperature at the South Pole is about minus 58 F (minus 50 C). Ice creams and frozen steaks are kept, during storage and transport, below minus 20 F (minus 29 C).

Pfizer designed its own custom cooler box to make it easier to transport its vaccines across the U.S. and around the world. Vials are placed into trays, with 195 vials per tray. Each box can fit five trays. Each box of 5,850 doses has a GPS tracker and contains a monitor that keeps a log of the temperature.

Pfizers custom boxes dont require any other specialized equipment to transport the vaccines, and the ultra-cold temperature in the cooler boxes is maintained during transport using dry ice that needs to be replaced every five days.

A problem with the dry ice is that its carbon dioxide in solid form. The dry ice gradually turns from solid to gas, which can be dangerous without proper ventilation.

Once it has a shipment ready for delivery to a given destination, Pfizer contacts one of the global freight carriers its partnered with, such as UPS or DHL, which picks up a designated number of boxes and ships them directly to the country in need within one or two days.

A vials last mile

For a country to receive Pfizer vaccines, it needs to have the capacity to store ultra-cold medical items.

While this isnt a problem for wealthier nations, poorer countries are less likely to have the necessary infrastructure in place.

Upon arrival in a country, the shipment goes into a deep freezer, typically at the airport or a central storage facility, until it is ready to be used. The vaccine has to be kept in ultra-cold storage until within about a month before its injected into someones shoulder.

In poorer countries that do have the right infrastructure, such as Bangladesh, distribution still needs to be restricted to a few select hospitals in large urban areas where there are ultra-cold storage facilities. For example, Bangladesh will use Pfizer vaccines at seven hospitals in its capital city, Dhaka.

The frosty journey of the Pfizer vaccine itself is just one part of getting people their jabs. Ancillary supplies needed for vaccination include special syringes delivering a 0.3-milliliter (mL) dose, needles, sterile alcohol pads and personal protective equipment for the health care worker delivering the shot.

Preparing the injection of the Pfizer vaccine requires a complex dance. First the nurse thaws the vaccine in a refrigerator to a range of 36 F to 46 F (2 C to 8 C), where it can be held for up to 31 days. Just before vaccination, the nurse brings the vial to room temperature of 36 F to 77 F (2 C to 25 C), at which it can survive no more than six hours.

Because the Pfizer vaccine is shipped as a concentrate, the nurse needs to dilute it with 1.8 milliliters of saline, resulting in a mixture sufficient for six doses.

Theres a further complication in that many low- and medium-income countries use syringes that ensure a fixed maximum dose and are automatically disabled after single use. This takes away the guesswork and prevents mistakes. UNICEF is responsible for delivering these extra supplies to poorer countries that are getting their vaccines through COVAX, the global initiative set up to distribute COVID-19 vaccines to low- and middle-income countries.

A monumental achievement

Other vaccines have much less demanding cold supply chain requirements, dont require dilution and use syringes with standard dose sizes, allowing more countries to use them, including in rural areas.

Most of the COVID-19 vaccines approved for use by the World Health Organization, such as those made by AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson, require only standard cold storage of 35.6 F to 46.4 F (2 C to 8 C).

I focused on Pfizer in part because it makes up the lions share of doses donated by the U.S. to COVAX.

As of Aug. 22, 2021, a total of 4.97 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses had been administered, a feat unimaginable in the fall of 2020. But global coverage has been highly uneven. While a little over half of the population in high-income countries have been vaccinated, only 1.4% of low-income populations have received theirs. Many of these countries are in Africa.

The development of several vaccines, 10 of which are WHO-approved, many within a year, was a monumental achievement of science and global collaboration  especially since it previously took on average a decade.

But creating supply chains to deliver all those lifesaving vaccines to people all over the world will be an equally remarkable accomplishment.

[Like what youve read? Want more? Sign up for The Conversations daily newsletter.]

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/how-a-vial-of-pfizer-covid-19-vaccine-travels-from-a-lab-in-missouri-to-an-arm-in-bangladesh-162572.
Craig Hallstrom, the man in charge of keeping the lights on in Connecticut as Eversources president of regional electric operations, was feeling optimistic.

Tropical Storm Henri had made landfall in Westerly R.I. and was leaving just a fraction of the predicted devastation. It was Sunday afternoon and he was about to deliver a briefing to Gov. Ned Lamont.

Its been a better day than I thought it was going to be when I went to bed last night, Hallstrom said by phone before speaking with the governor.

Better than he thought, thankfully without two-thirds of the state plunging into darkness from border to border, as the worst of the forecasts had predicted. But that still left a challenge: Should Eversource, loaded up with crews at the ready, stand down and let everyone know we were dealing with a lesser event than we had expected?

Eversource had issued a warning and planned for a so-called Level 2 emergency  meaning 625,000 to 870,000 customers could be out of power for up to 21 days, and that didnt even include the Avangrid United Illuminating territory, which looked to be on target for a hard hit.

The company never did downgrade from that Level 2 during the storm, even though a downrae was clearly happening.

At a briefing Sunday night at a staging area in Old Saybrook, Eversource President and CEO Joe Nolan said the company had diverted 600 out-of-state crews, who were headed to Connecticut, to Rhode Island, which was hit much harder. Nolan said about 60,000 Connecticut customers in total had lost power.

Fortunately, we dodged a very significant storm here in Connecticut. Folks in Rhode Island were not quite as lucky. The damage there is pretty significant, Nolan said.

As of Sundays briefing, 1,700 crews were working to respond to about 27,000 reported outages, and power had been restored to about 31,000 customers throughout the day, Hallstrom said. The vast majority of customers were expected to get power back by Monday night.

The company had crews from Alabama, Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and even Canada to ensure adequate hands-on-deck. Nolan said he had breakfast Sunday morning with crews from Mississippi and Ohio who drove 19 hours to help out. The company had set up major staging areas at Pratt & Whitneys East Hartford campus and the Crystal Mall in Waterford.

Even before the storm weakened Sunday afternoon, Eversource had indications the damage wouldnt be as severe as that forecast. For example, just before midnight on Saturday night, a new outage prediction model at UConn - based on a close collaboration with Eversource - estimated about 25 to 50 percent of customers would be affected by the storm.

The previous day, the University of Connecticut model, using a town-by-town estimate of trouble spots such as downed wires or broken poles, had estimated the massive power outages, based on a direct hit from the storm.

At this point, we expect to be on the lower end of the range, spokesman Mitch Gross said in the mid-afternoon.

Hallstrom, in that interview before speaking with Lamont, said the storm would probably go back down to a Level 3 when it was over, maybe even a lower level event.

Hallstrom added, This is not going to be a 21-day eventI dont think its going to be an 8-day event.

Despite all that, Hallstrom and Eversource did not, in the middle of the storm, issue a downgrade.

Lamont lifted a ban on motorcycles, empty trucks and tandem trailers along I-95. The eye of the storm was past Hartford, headed due-north as opposed to a previous prediction, which showed the path of the storm going more west over the corner of Connecticut.

Fewer than 33,000 power outages had been reported at that point  a fraction of what was expected  and many of the utility companys crews were already on the scene restoring power and responding to reports of downed trees.

So, why not announce a downgrade?

Several reasons. First, the levels are used more as a planning tool so that the company can make sure to hire adequate crews, Hallstrom explained. With the storm in progress, there was no operations need to change the level.

Second, Henri has been a very hard storm to predict because its speed and direction have changed. A turn across Connecticut, as some models still showed on Sunday afternoon, could bring devastation. The power company used multiple forecasts, models and on-the-ground observations.

Weather is not a perfect science, Hallstrom said. We have to be conservative.

That was all the more true considering the power company faced sharp criticism for failing to predict that more than 800,000 customers would lose power in Tropical Storm Isaias one year ago.

Lawmakers held Eversource responsible, and the states Public Utility Regulatory Authority said Eversources preparations and response to the storm were inadequate. A law was also passed through the Connecticut General Assembly, which allows the states Public Utilities Authority to impose stiffer penalties if outage responses are lacking.

And finally, unlike the relatively low-rain Isaias, with winds that brought down trees and limbs, some parts of the state were still expected to get up to eight inches of rain, which could lead to more downed trees because of rains earlier this summer leaving moist earth and soil.

It doesnt take a lot of winds for trees to fall over, Hallstrom said.

We have a long afternoon to go, Gross said.

By mid-day Sunday, most outages were concentrated in the eastern area of state. In Canterbury, nearly 95 percent of the companys 2,300 customers were without power. More than 1,200 outages were reported in Lisbon, where 64 percent of customers had no power. North Stonington was another affected area, with about 38 percent of the 2,644 customers there affected.

Ahead of a 1 p.m. briefing to the public, Lamont was not as concerned about storm surge as the potential for flooding.

The response from Eversource stood in contrast to this time last year in Isaias. In that storm, the companys municipal liaisons failed to update town and city leaders, who were left in the dark, literally and figuratively. Remote work in the pandemic made matters worse.

This year, Hallstrom said, Were on site. Were seeing each other face to face. The communication is much better.

Theyve got a new system and a new set up, Brookfield First Selectman Steve Dunn said, echoing other town officials. It seems to be working very well because if there were any problems, I would have heard about them immediately.

The Eversource update Sunday evening was a lot easier than the state had expected 24 hours earlier.

At Sundays briefing, Nolan was joined by officials who praised Eversources improved response compared to last year.

Old Saybrook Police Chief Michael Spera said what he observed Sunday was a true example of lessons learned and preparedness taken to an all-new level by Eversource.

If this storm was as severe as it was predicted to be, I firmly believe that we wouldve seen an unprecedented response from this utility, Spera said.

Staff Reporters Liz Hardaway and Julia Perkins contributed to this story.

julia.bergman@hearstmediact.com
The Countryside Alliance has urged the public to support farmers this week by buying British steaks rather than feeding the egos of Extinction Rebellion (XR) activists.

The environmental campaign group have promised to hold a number of protests across the City of London, which could last up to two weeks.

Since 2019, the groups protests have cost the taxpayer more than 50m, and that figure is expected to rise as further demonstrations take place over the coming days.

Some eight separate sites are expected to be targeted by XR campaigners in this latest wave of protests.

Most will be in the City to disrupt financial institutions but there are likely to be other demonstrations at sites that would cause significant disruption to the public, including the world famous Smithfield Meat Market.

Speaking ahead of the planned protests, Mo Metcalf-Fisher, a spokesman for the Countryside Alliance, urged the public to support farmers by purchasing British-produced steaks.

"Extinction Rebellion will predictably attract new, outrageous headlines which will make many of us feel frustrated," he said.

"Rather than helping them further cement their status as one of the most annoying, publicity hungry outfits in the UK today, you can help do your part for our environment by supporting British farmers instead.

"Surely enjoying a delicious Great British steak is better than feeding Extinction Rebellions ego.

"By purchasing their produce, you are helping to sustain viable agricultural businesses which can in turn continue protecting and preserving our countryside for future generations to enjoy.
Farmers across the UK were reunited for the first time in nearly 18 months as hundreds headed to Carlisles Borderway Mart for one of the countrys most premier sheep sales.

With lockdown restrictions fully lifted, farmers turned out in force for the annual Pedigree Beltex Sheep show and sale - and it turned into a great social occasion.

Many had met up with people they hadnt been allowed to see since before the outbreak of Covid-19 in March 2020.

Last years Beltex sale at Carlisle did go ahead but only one person for each business was allowed to attend, and the event was more low-key than usual.

The 2021 sale, however, was one to savour as hundreds of farmers and those in the wider sheep industry enjoyed catching up with friends.

The sale was a memorable family occasion for the Barclays of Ayrshire, Scotland, with three generations delighted to be back mingling among the show pens and sale rings.

John Barclay was joined by father Robert, wife Heather and twin sons Cameron and Finlay, and the family turned the three-day event into a big occasion as they stayed in Cumbria for the duration.

John said: We have been coming here since 1996 and its been a family affair ever since, and my dad always loves to come so it killed him not being allowed last year.

It was very different last year because this sale is the one where you see people you havent seen in a year or two, especially our Irish and Welsh friends.

Were glad things are getting back to normal and its been good to catch up with everybody. Its been such a good event.

Clark Stewart and his son Allan, of Kininmonth, also made the journey south of the border, and were similarly delighted to catch up with friends old and new.

Clark said: Its been great to get out and about again, and its good to be back among people without having to wear face masks. Im only here to support my son, but Im really glad I came as its been a great occasion.

The lifting of restrictions was a key milestone for mart owners H&H, which has been operating throughout lockdown at a reduced capacity.

H&H senior auctioneer Grant Anderson said: We held this sale last year and, while it was a success in terms of sales and some farmers were able to get together, there wasnt that excellent atmosphere you usually get.

"Its great to welcome everybody back, especially the young children who have been able to sell their own stock once again. These children are the future of agriculture so its been great to get them back amongst it.

This event is the highlight of the Beltex breeding season and its the premier sale that everybody wants to come to, so to be able to bring their families again has been massive for everybody involved.
What is vertical farming and does it have a role in the future of UK agriculture? With the pandemic having increased the focus on the importance of food security and the reliability of supply chains, vertical farming has become a major talking point over the past year.

Indoor farming has seen a flurry of recent investment across the globe and around $1.8 billion has flowed into the sector since 2014, according to data group Dealroom.

There have recently been a number of standout developments, including the construction of Europes largest vertical farm in Denmark and plans to build the worlds biggest indoor farm in Abu Dhabi.

Advocates believe the sector holds the future for food production, citing the advantages of short supply chains and concentrated production.

Others, however, say it is inefficient, suffering from high running costs and relatively small-scale production.

What is vertical farming?

Vertical farming is the process of growing plants indoors under controlled conditions in a series of stacked layers.

Rather than using sunlight, like in a glasshouse, many of these urban farms are reliant on LED light which is adjusted dependent on the growth stage and crop type.

Techniques such as soil free growing are typically used in vertical farms, whilst chemical treatments are rarely applied because of the tightly controlled conditions, with lighting, irrigation, fertigation, and climate all being precisely adjusted.

Enthusiasts of the practise envisage locally grown produce which can be consumed within the community it is produced, solving traceability issues, slashing food miles, and reducing our reliance on food imports.

It is also thought that it could help to combat some of the industries difficulties with pollution and water use.

Stacked production systems allow food to be produced in a confined space meaning it can be produced close to where it is needed.

This is why vertical farming is primarily suited to higher value fresh crops such as salad leaves and herbs.

Challenges

There are a number of major challenges that are preventing vertical farming from getting off the ground, most notably high costs.

There are high running costs as a result of the energy used by lighting and ventilation, whilst there is also a huge capital investment required to get vertical farms up and running.

Jim Monaghan is a Professor of Crop Science at Harper Adams University, he told us: The key challenge is producing a product that can command a high enough price, but of a sales volume that supports the investment.

Vertical farming can gain attention, but when put alongside cheaper field grown crops of a similar quality, the grower will need to find something special to justify the higher price.

There are other concerns too. There have been cases of black mould and pest infestations, whilst there are also issues with vertical farming producing the same volume of produce all year round, even though consumer demand fluctuates seasonally.

A commercial vertical farming unit would have to either build excess capacity or rely on field crops to make up the difference.

Dr Laura Vickers, Senior Lecturer in Plant Biology, also at Harper Adams University, said: The standout challenge is knowledge exchange between conventional rural stakeholders and the more urban entrepreneurs involved in vertical farming.

We know a lot already about this technology, it is now about fitting it all together with the right people.

Driving technology

Technology has developed to manage vertical farming units using artificial intelligence and it is thought that this same technology could be used by wider agriculture in the future.

Gaia Growth are a start-up that has developed software which vertical farms can use to bring together data from a range of different sensors into a central hub that can be used by farmers to understand what is going on within the vertical farming unit.

The software was the brainchild of Cloud Engineer, Connor Williams who explained: We are bringing all of the data from sensors around the farm into one place which then allows farmers to start making predictions and begin to automate devices, for example lights inside an indoor farm.

This is the same technology that is used to manage large office buildings, but Mr Williams believes that it has potential for agriculture beyond vertical farming.

We are focused on indoor farming at present, because that is where the immediate potential is for our business, but we believe there is huge scope for this software to be used throughout farming, he said.

One example could be using it to take in data on the environment, soils, and disease to judge when the optimum time to carry out certain tasks, such as chemical application, is.

Future roles

Vertical farming looks set to continue its rise over the next decade, with a report published in June this year forecasting growth of more than 25% for the sector globally, however what role is vertical farming likely to play within agriculture as a whole?

Dr Iona-Yuelu Huang from Harper Adams explained: With technology in vertical farming improving at a rapid pace, it is believed that the cost of production for indoor farming will be reduced substantially.

Fully automated robotic farming will increase with the fast development of AI and machine learning over the next five years. This can leave outdoor farming space for the cultivation of crops more suited to large machinery.

Professor Monaghan added that he expects the future of vertical farming to be very specialised.

He said: The future is one of specialised products and hyper local production. For example, this could be specialist small ingredients going into a food processor next door to the production unit.

There will also be a place for very local, community units, but these will be more akin to a community farm.
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We all enjoy Korean cosmetics and beauty trends as they are so advanced and effective. But, as we resort to K-Beauty to try a select few products that appeal to us and techniques to improve our appearance, for women in South Korea, self-grooming with rigid and extensive routines isnt so much of a personal choice as it is a social expectation. South Korean beauty standards demand that women always follow high standards of perfection. Traditionally, South Korean women should have flawless skin, large eyes, a slim nose, and long hair and are required to invest hours in skincare, haircare, and makeup. A larger population of women has now grown tired of their nations unrealistic beauty standards and has decided to fight back through the Escape The Corset movement, which started in 2018. This movement is centred around going makeup-free and flaunting shorter, androgynous hairstyles to rebel against misogynistic beauty expectations. This movement came to the forefront as many women still face judgement based on their beauty when applying for jobs and are expected to be attractive enough to secure a husband before hitting 30. The movement is being recorded on Instagram, with numerous South Korean women posting their new beauty mottos of makeup-free skin and short haircuts accompanied by the hashtag #escapethecorset. Jeon Bora, a South Korean photographer, has also helped document this feminist movement by holding an exhibition for a female-only audience in Gangnam in 2019. The social media posts are still going up with smashed makeup palettes and bare skin, all in an effort to show their defiance against the patriarchal mindset. This movement has gathered a high amount of traction and is now global news.
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Amitabh Bachchan and Emraan Hashmi starrer Chehre is all set for a theatrical release on August 27. The films release had been postponed multiple times due to the ongoing pandemic. The film was supposed to release last year. We have waited for a long time to release it in the theatres. But hopefully, we will be able to do it soon. Right from the time we conceptualised it, we have been shooting keeping in mind that the film will have a theatrical release. With all the gripping dialogues, background score, songs and everything, it would be an absolute treat for the audience to watch Chehre in theatres. Our producer Anand Pandit and Amitabh Bachchan were also of the view that since we have made the film for the theatres, it will release in the theatres only, director Rumy Jafry told ETimes.

The filmmaker also spoke about the unusual pairing between Amitabh Bachchan and Emraan Hashmi.
HONG KONG, Aug 21, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - Li Jiaqi, dubbed China's "King of Livestreaming E-commerce," is set to host a pioneering fashion show format at the iconic Shanghai K11 Art Mall on August 19-22. Li is taking Li Jiaqi WoW, his shopping information and recommendation program, offline for the first time, and will feature the involvement of five prominent Chinese designers, each based around the world. Through livestreaming, the audience will be able to communicate with the different designers as they open virtual "doors." The Shanghai show represents the beginnings of Li's grand vision as he looks to extend his influence on a global scale.



Li is China's most popular key opinion leader (KOL) in the livestreaming e-commerce industry - with nearly 170 million fans - and has driven sales of more than$430 million (RMB2.8 billion) in a single live broadcast. Since 2016, livestreaming e-commerce has grown in popularity in China. Outperforming all other shopping channels, its user scale reached 388 million till December 2020, 66.2% of whom bought products via this channel, China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) says.



Compared to traditional online shopping, livestreaming e-commerce provokes a greater consumer response through lively visual demonstrations, greater convenience, and more affordable price during the nationwide lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Livestreaming e-commerce is especially popular during China's e-commerce festivals, such as the 618 Festival - a June festival run by many of China's e-commerce companies -with 14.2 billion views and over 100,000 brands involved in livestreaming influencer marketing in 2021.



At the heart of China's livestreaming e-commerce world as well as a contributor of such accomplishment, Li Jiaqi is a force of nature. Ever since entering the industry, Li has been a trendsetter, his opinions delivered with iconic style. A "Recommended by Li Jiaqi" endorsement can truly change a company's fortunes. Florasis, a Chinese makeup brand, was one such company, quadrupling its sales year-on-year to RMB 2.75 billion after partnering with Li, rocketing them the top of Chinese makeup brands for 2020. Leveraging his powerful influence, Li has led dozens of Chinese brands to nationwide popularity, leading to him being dubbed China's "top domestic product promoter."



Behind Li's to rise to fame are tags such as "Made in China," "makeup," and "lipstick," but deep down, Li has always had a greater ambition. In August last year, Li Jiaqi's team launched China's first livestreaming shopping information and recommendation program, Li Jiaqi WoW, a confluence of information on new products, available globally, across a number of categories. This shift to a more global focus is all part of Li's efforts to import designer brands around the world into China's market. Since then, Li Jiaqi WoW has aired nearly 50 episodes, eliciting a strong response across China's social platforms, such as Weibo, TikTok (Douyin), and Xiaohongshu (RED). The program is expected to further integrate offline channels as it looks to provide designers and brands with better opportunities for promotion.



Li's move of promoting international brands nationwide via his livestreaming channel has worked out favorably for most featured brands. In a Salvatore Ferragamo live broadcast, for example, two hundred Salvatore Ferragamo Creation handbags, priced at RMB 17,000 each, quickly sold out.



Li Jiaqi's story is not simply one of commerce and consumption, but also one that reveals the ongoing change in brand marketing and promotion in China followed by technological development and changes in Chinese people's consumption behavior.



As the "door" metaphorically implies in Li Jiaqi's new product launch, live streaming e-commerce breaks borders and boundaries of space via online and offline channels, and presents brands to the market at a minimum cost, maximizing benefits for both brands and consumers. The CNNIC stated in its report that livestreaming e-commerce users made up a mere 39% of China's netizen population as of December 2020. Given the country's total internet user population of 989 million, as well as its internet penetration rate of 70%, livestreaming e-commerce is certain to grow its market share in the coming years, with data analytics company iiMedia Research predicting that by 2025, China's livestreaming influencer-led e-commerce transaction volume will reach$1 trillion (RMB 6.4 trillion).













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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.
Nofima, InnovaFeed, Corbion Algae Ingredients, Cargill, SINTEF Ocean and Auchan collaborate to accelerate innovation that will support the sustainable growth of the aquaculture industry

BERGEN, Norway, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Nofima, the Norwegian institute for applied research within the fields of fisheries, aquaculture, and food research, launched the Millennial Salmon Project with partners across the value chain to accelerate the development of sustainable solutions for the future of farmed salmon.

The goal of the four-year project is to create the most sustainable-farmed salmon using novel ingredients from the circular economy and with a low carbon footprint while addressing the initiative's "millennial principles of life" - living healthy; leading a purposeful live; trusting peers; and considering their societal and environmental impacts.

With a 1.3 Million budget, the Millennial Salmon Project is primarily funded by the Research Council of Norway and made up of leading organizations, Nofima, InnovaFeed, Corbion Algae Ingredients, Cargill, SINTEF Ocean and Auchan.

The project will study two alternative feed ingredients - protein-rich, insect-based feed ProtiNova from InnovaFeed, and algae-based omega-3s, AlgaPrime DHA from Corbion, both of which offer minimal land use.

The evidence-based study will test the levels that are required to optimize physical and nutritional needs of salmon, discover the practical and functional properties of both alternatives, as well as demonstrate the environmental and societal aspects of the suggested innovations. SINTEF Ocean will be conducting a life cycle analysis of the resulting Millennial Salmon feed.

"This project is one critical piece to pave the way for a healthier and more sustainable salmon. We are pleased to collaborate with leading organizations across the value chain. By joining forces, we are accelerating the innovation in the sector to find new solutions to increase the flexibility in the choice of sustainable raw materials for future fish feed," says Katerina Kousoulaki, project leader and senior scientist at Nofima.

The Millennial Salmon Project was formed as a response to the critical need to accelerate the global momentum around sourcing, scaling and developing sustainable, alternative solutions for aquaculture and to address changing consumer behavior. The UN FAO predicts the world will reach 9 billion people by 2050 and with its +5% year-over-year1 production growth, aquaculture is expected to play a critical role in assuring global food security. To meet this need, the FAO urges the industry to catalyze change, calling on it to produce more nutritious food using less resources, emitting lower carbon dioxide emissions and protecting biodiversity and the resilience of ecosystems.

The Millennial Salmon Project addresses this industry demand by working to provide by 2025 an integrated solution to salmon farmers that balances the raw materials in the feed basket and provides greater flexibility from the use of finite marine resources and land-demanding resources. The Millennial salmon will be a healthy product for the consumer, but also a healthier farmed animal, fed with and grown with higher levels of omega-3s derived from microalgae.

Learn more about Millennial Salmon Project here: nofima.no/en/project/millennial-salmon/

About The Millennial Salmon Project:

The Millennial Salmon is a strategic partnership among world leading European organisations along the value chain of the salmon farming industry, including R&D (Nofima & Sintef Ocean), feed (Cargill) and raw material producers (Innovafeed & Corbion) and a retailer (Auchan), with the aim to create a knowledge-based sustainable salmon product that answers to modern Millennial principles of life, considering technoeconomic, animal welfare, environmental and societal aspects as a whole. The goal of the Project is to develop the most sustainable salmon of the future by scaling new and innovative solutions including protein-rich, insect-based feed ProtiNova from InnovaFeed, and algae-based omega-3s AlgaPrime DHA from Corbion that will meet the future needs of the planet and the people through scientific trials, life cycle analysis, and in-depth market research.

About Nofima

Farmed fish and other food you eat should be of high quality, taste well, be nutritious and safe to eat. To that end, Nofima delivers research-based knowledge to the aquaculture industry and other food producing industries. We are a leading institute of applied research, with around 300 scientific employees, based in Norway, that work internationally. In close contact with the industries, we provide research and innovation that contributes to sustainable production and good management of resources from sea and land.

About InnovaFeed

InnovaFeed is a biotech company that produces a new source of protein from insect rearing (Hermetia illucens) for animal feed, more specifically for aquaculture. InnovaFeed's mission is to participate in the rise of sustainable food systems by addressing the increasing demand for natural, healthy and competitive raw materials. Combining the largest production capacity on the market and state of the art research in biotechnology, InnovaFeed has developed an innovative technology and process enabling the production of high-quality insect meal at industrial scale and at a competitive price. www.innovafeed.com

About Corbion

Corbion is the global market leader in lactic acid and its derivatives, and a leading supplier of emulsifiers, functional enzyme blends, minerals, vitamins, and algae ingredients. We use our unique expertise in fermentation and other processes to deliver sustainable solutions for the preservation of food and food production, health, and our planet. For over 100 years, we have been uncompromising in our commitment to safety, quality, innovation and performance. Drawing on our deep application and product knowledge, we work side-by-side with customers to make our cutting-edge technologies work for them. Our solutions help differentiate products in markets such as food, home & personal care, animal nutrition, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and bioplastics. In 2020, Corbion generated annual sales of  986.5 million and had a workforce of 2,267 FTE. Corbion is listed on Euronext Amsterdam. For more information: www.corbion.com

About Cargill

Cargill provides food, agriculture, financial and industrial products and services to the world. Together with farmers, customers, governments and communities, we help people thrive by applying our insights and over 155 years of experience. We have 155,000 employees in 70 countries/regions who are committed to feeding the world in a responsible way, reducing environmental impact and improving the communities where we live and work. As a leader in aquaculture feed, animal nutrition and agriculture, we create high-quality feed with a smaller impact on the planet. Learn more about how we're doing this in aquaculture through our SeaFurther Sustainability initiative at cargill.com/seafurther. In Norway, Cargill produces feed for salmonids representing the EWOS brand. More info on ewos.no

About SINTEF Ocean

SINTEF (www.sintef.no) is Scandinavia's largest independent research organisation and is a non-profit research foundation. For more than 70 years, SINTEF has developed solutions and innovation for society and customers all over the world. SINTEF conducts contract R&D as a partner for the private and public sectors and is one of the largest contract research institutions in Europe. While SINTEF headquarter as well as most of the employees are in Trondheim, there are also research departments in Oslo, Bergen, Alesund, Mo I Rana, Raufoss and Troms. SINTEF Ocean is one of six research institutes in SINTEF, focusing on various aspects of the ocean space, such as seafood, oil and gas and maritime industry.

About Auchan

Auchan Retail rank as the 11th largest food retailer in the world and one of the most international. We now operates across 17 countries, from Europe to Asia and Africa. generating more than 65% of our annual revenue outside France and with upwards of 4,000 branded stores around the world. This controlled expansion has been achieved through a mix of organic growth and local franchise agreements and partnerships. Auchan Retail achieved revenue of 50.3 billion in 2018 and invested 1.4 billion. With its brand popular among consumers, the company holds strong positions in all the countries where it operates. As the world's 35 largest employer with 354,851 employees, Auchan Retail is one of the few companies of this scale to belong to the people who make it what it is: capital ownership of this profoundly people-centered company is shared between its founding family and 261,067 employee shareholders.

Media Contacts:

NOFIMA

Reidun Lilleholt Kraugerud

Communication leader Aquaculture

Phone: +47 64 97 03 89

Mobile: +47 481 97 382

Reidun.lilleholt@nofima.no

Corbion PR Agency

Atalanta Rafferty

Co-Founder

RF|Binder

Phone: +1 212-994-7511

Mobile: +1 646-710-0632

Atalanta.rafferty@rfbinder.com

____________________ 1 FAO Report - The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2020 - Page 21

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Leaders bring new capabilities which complement and solidify capacity to accelerate growth

NEW YORK, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Wella Company ("Wella" or the "Company"), a global leader in the $100 billion beauty industry with a top professional and retail hair, beauty tech and nail portfolio of iconic brands including Wella Professionals, Clairol, OPI, Nioxin, Sebastian Professional and ghd, appointed three diverse C-suite executives to its Leadership Team.

Virginie Costa joins as Global Chief Financial Officer; one of only 7 women in a pool of 25 comprise CFOs leading global finance functions among the top 25 beauty companies. Gretchen Koback Pursel joins as Global Chief People Officer and Hugh Dineen joins as President of Global Brands and Global Chief Marketing Officer. The appointments, effective immediately, underscore Wella Company's growth plan which commenced on December 1, 2020 when the company returned to independent operating status, led by Kohlberg Kravis and Roberts ("KKR"), a leading global investment firm that invested a majority-equity stake.

"As we pursue our goal of unlocking the full potential of our brands and our business, we are focused on building upon our strong foundation of sustainable growth, and are pleased to welcome Virginie, Gretchen and Hugh to the Leadership Team. Their combined experience across global public companies and their consumer, digital and broadbased business transformation expertise will be invaluable to our organization. The diverse perspectives and capabilities they bring to the company will be instrumental to guiding Wella Company's next phase of growth," said Annie Young-Scrivner, CEO of Wella Company. "As we continue to manage through the headwinds brought about by the global pandemic, we have delivered strong first fiscal year performance. The professional salon community is rebounding and we could not be more proud of their strength and agility to come back stronger than ever." Ms. Young-Scrivner added: "Looking ahead, we feel confident that we're well positioned across our big bets: product innovation pipeline, significant investment in digital, and reaching more customers and consumers across new geographies and channels - retail, ecommerce and professional. With Virginie, Gretchen, Hugh and the rest of our Leadership Team, we are ready to unleash our ambition to be the best beauty company in the industry," concluded Scrivner.

Virginie Costa joins Wella Company as Global Chief Financial Officer bringing more than 25 years of financial management experience and a proven track record of developing winning teams. Her wealth of global consumer and retail experience as Chief Financial and Operations Officer for Burberry Americas and CFO and COO of Hermes in France and Americas, showcase her agility leading Finance while also overseeing functions including IT, Supply Chain and Real Estate. Most recently, Virginie served as CFO of GODIVA where she was instrumental in helping transform the company, including expansion at retail and across ecommerce. She is a member of the Board of Directors for Advantage Solutions, a global communications and media company, where she chairs the Audit Committee.

Gretchen Koback Pursel joins Wella Company as Global Chief People Officer. Gretchen has extensive experience running human resources for large global public companies. Most recently she held the position as CHRO at Tiffany & Co. where she led the people agenda during the company's transformation over her two-decade tenure. Gretchen brings an astute ability to build and develop great talent. She also brings expertise developing values-led organizations by creating new structures and capabilities to support peoples' growth and unlock their potential. Gretchen is a passionate advocate of DEI and will be leading Wella's Company's efforts to be a true industry leader in diversity, equity and inclusion.

Hugh Dineen joins Wella Company in the newly created role of President of Global Brands and Global Chief Marketing Officer. Hugh is an international business and people leader with a proven track record of expanding and elevating global brand portfolios across the beauty category, as well as in consumer health, financial services and insurance. Hugh joins from MetLife where he built a breakthrough marketing engine that successfully leveraged digital to significantly accelerate business growth as their CMO. Prior, he helped turn around Avon's significant beauty business including the skincare, haircare, color cosmetics and fragrance portfolios. He also had a successful 16-year career at Johnson & Johnson leading their global consumer health brand portfolio. Hugh serves on the Board of Directors of publicly listed company, Hostess Brands.

Wella Company operates globally in more than 100 countries and employs more than 6,000 employees. The Wella Company Leadership Team led by CEO Annie Young-Scrivner, one of only two women to lead a top global beauty company, is comprised of executives across Europe, the Americas, Latam/Brazil and Asia Pacific.

About Wella Company

Wella Company is one of the world's leading beauty companies, comprised of a family of iconic brands such as Wella Professionals, Clairol, OPI, Sebastian Professional, Nioxin and ghd. At Wella Company, we are innovators who seek to inspire consumers, beauty professionals and engage communities through our brands to look, feel, and be their true selves. We are committed to building the best beauty company in the industry where our 6,000 employees across more than 100 countries can bring their best selves to work. Guided by our company values, and led by purpose to deliver positive impact on people, through our products and towards our planet and society, we deliver sustainable growth to all stakeholders. For more information on Wella Company visit www.wellacompany.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

Contact:

Hilary Crnkovich

+1 646 217 1700

hilary.crnkovich@wella.com

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LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Real estate investment trust Shaftesbury Plc (SHB.L) Monday, in its trading update for April 1 - August 20 period, said available-to-let vacancy at 31 July 2021 was down to 4.6 percent, with a further decrease to 4.1 percent by 13 August 2021, reflecting continuing leasing momentum. The Group said it witnessed improved demand for Hospitality and leisure, reflecting confidence in the long-term prospects for its West End locations. While there were healthy occupier interest for shops, office Office enquiries, viewings and lettings continued at a steady pace as occupiers prepare for the return of their workforces. The Group revealed that rent collections recovered during the period, and it is expected to improve further now with pandemic restrictions being relaxed. Brian Bickell, Chief Executive, said,' I'm pleased to report positive momentum in recent months, with footfall and trading recovering, an improving operating environment and significantly reduced vacancy across our villages. West End footfall has, to date, recovered to 50-60% of pre-pandemic levels, as Londoners, domestic day trippers and staycation visitors return in growing numbers. We expect that early autumn will see a return of the West End's exceptionally large office-based working population, which has always been an important contributor to our local weekday economy.' 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.
Looking to partner, invest and pilot with solutions to improve productivity and boost sustainable agriculture

TEL AVIV, Israel, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Good Company, Agoro Carbon Alliance, Strauss Israel, Smart Agro Fund, alongside LeumiTech, Meitar, ERB and AWS today launched their AgTech Mission. They are actively seeking startups that re-envision how food and other agricultural products are grown, harvested, packaged, stored, transported, processed and sold. Startups may be focused on all sectors of the "operation system" of food - to be more efficient, sustainable and resilient to protect the earth's resources, human rights and animal welfare and help solve the world's hunger problem.

A selected number of startups will have the opportunity to pitch in front of an experts' panel from the participating corporations, investors and larger startups already innovating in this space. Good Company is offering an opportunity for investment of up to $250,000, as well as from Smart Agro Fund, pending approval of the investment committee. In addition, possible opportunities to pilot with Strauss and Agoro Carbon Alliance and gain support on go-to-market and commercialization and access to new networks as well as consultations with LeumiTech's senior management. The most promising companies will receive free legal advice and general commercial consulting from Meitar Law Offices.

The final pitch event will be at Start-Up Nation Central's headquarters in Tel Aviv and judges will include: Ido Fishler, Managing Partner, Good Company; Michal Benishti, Strauss Israel; Sam Aloni, Agoro Carbon Alliance; Dganit Vered, Smart Agro Fund; Nir Inbar, LeumiTech; Yael Nardi, Meitar; Yael Gal, AWS; Shubhang Shankar, Syngenta Ventures; Omer Davidi, BeeHero; Kimberly Drory Lev-ran, ERB and Gilad Pinhas, ERB.

Applicants to the AgTech Mission will need to submit a short application form sharing details about its founders, purpose and product. Following a round of meetings with select startups, approximately 5 companies will be given the opportunity to pitch to an expert panel of judges as part of our live final hybrid event. Applications are open until September 30, 2021.

About Agoro Carbon Alliance

Agoro is creating a new solution to our planet's carbon challenge that's grounded in the soil. Our partners are committed to an ambition of decarbonizing farming on a global scale by helping to transform practices on every farm, generating reliable Farm Carbon Credits and certified climate-smart crops.

About Smart Agro Fund

Smart Agro Fund invests in growth stage startups (sales of ~$1M and higher) in the Agritech arena. We invest in extraordinary teams, who via technology breakthroughs, solve the agriculture sector's biggest problems. Smart Agro has a strong network of investors and Agritech partners that help companies fulfil their goals.

About Strauss Group

Strauss is an international Food & Beverage company that strives to improve people's lives, headquartered in Israel, where we are the largest food company. Our portfolio includes four businesses: Strauss Coffee B.V., Strauss Israel, Strauss Water and PepsiCo - Strauss Fresh Dips & Spreads International, aligned with two global consumer trends: Health & Wellness and Fun & Indulgence.

About Good Company

Good Company is a Studio Fund investing in the Operating System of the New, Sustainable World. Through their Fund, they invest in israeli, early-stage companies that leverage technology to solve the world's biggest problems. Good Company's Studio is THE home for entrepreneurs who want to "do good" in Israel in collaboration with multi-national companies who are re-envisioning the Future of Energy, Future of Mobility, the Future of Work and Education, Circular Economy, Precision Farming, and Digital Health.

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MOSCOW, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF, Russia's sovereign wealth fund) today announced the Russian single-component Sputnik Light vaccine against coronavirus has been approved under the emergency use authorization procedure by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the Republic of the Philippines.

Sputnik Light vaccine based on human adenovirus serotype 26 is the first component of the Sputnik V vaccine. Immunization with Sputnik Light will help Philippines to significantly reduce the infection rate in the country and create herd immunity in a short time frame.

Sputnik Light is safe and highly effective as demonstrated by the real-world vaccination data in a number countries. In particular, the data from the Ministry of Health of the Buenos Aires province (Argentina) shows 78.6-83.7% efficacy among the elderly. In Paraguay Sputnik Light is 93.5% effective during the ongoing vaccination campaign according to the country's Ministry of Health.

In March 2021 the two-dose Sputnik V vaccine was approved in Philippines under the emergency use authorization procedure. To date Sputnik V has been authorized in 69 countries with total population of over 3.7 billion people.

Thanks to its safety and efficacy, single-component Sputnik Light vaccine is now both used on standalone basis and also studied in combination with vaccines from other producers in a number of countries.

The heterogeneous boosting approach ("vaccine cocktail" using human adenovirus serotype 26 as the first component and human adenovirus serotype 5 as the second component) was at the core of Sputnik V, the world's first registered vaccine against coronavirus. With this approach proving successful in creating a longer and more durable immunity against the coronavirus, RDIF took the lead in initiating partnerships with other vaccine producers to conduct joint studies of a combination of the first component of Sputnik V with foreign vaccines.

Studies on combination of Sputnik Light with other vaccines are ongoing in Argentina, Azerbaijan, UAE and have been approved in Russia and Belarus.

Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), said:

"The approval of Sputnik Light by the regulatory authorities of the Philippines allows for expanding national vaccine portfolio through adding another Russian coronavirus vaccine, which has demonstrated safety and high efficacy in many countries. A single-shot Sputnik Light has efficacy higher than that of many foreign two-dose vaccines and enables to vaccinate more people in a shorter time frame."

Key advantages of Sputnik Light:

Sputnik Light is the first component (recombinant human adenovirus serotype number 26 (rAd26)) of Sputnik V - the world's first registered vaccine against coronavirus.

Sputnik Light has proven effective against all new strains of coronavirus, as demonstrated by the Gamaleya Center during laboratory tests.

Sputnik Light is compatible with standard vaccine storage and logistics requirements.

The Sputnik Light vaccine is based on a well-studied human adenoviral vector platform that has proven to be safe and effective, with no long-term side effects, as confirmed in over 250 clinical trials conducted globally over the past two decades (while the history of use of human adenoviruses in vaccine development started in 1953).

Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) is Russia's sovereign wealth fund established in 2011 to make equity co-investments, primarily in Russia, alongside reputable international financial and strategic investors. RDIF acts as a catalyst for direct investment in the Russian economy. RDIF's management company is based in Moscow. Currently, RDIF has experience of the successful joint implementation of more than 80 projects with foreign partners totaling RUB 2.1tn and covering 95% of the regions of the Russian Federation. RDIF portfolio companies employ more than 1 mn people and generate revenues which equate to more than 6% of Russia's GDP. RDIF has established joint strategic partnerships with leading international co-investors from more than 18 countries that total more than $40 bn. Further information can be found at rdif.ru.

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MADRID, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Telecom services company Lleida.net (BME: LLN) (EPA: ALLLN) (OTCQX: LLEIF) has signed new contracts with the national postal operating companies of Senegal and Sierra Leone and has renewed its existing contract with the postal operator of Malawi.

From now on, it will provide registered email and registered SMS services to those public companies.

So far, Lleida.net has already signed agreements with postal companies in 14 countries, most of which are African, and is actively working to close our contracts.

These new agreements were signed in Abidjan, as part of the Universal Postal Union Congress, which is being held there until August 27.

Like those announced last week with operators in Gambia, Ivory Coast, Djibouti, Guinea Conakry and Madagascar, these agreements were signed in the context of the framework agreement that Lleida.net signed last July with the Pan African Postal Union.

The agreement allows the 55 national postal operators on the African continent to offer digital postal services with Lleida.net's certified communications technology.

The contract has been signed through its subsidiary Lleidanet SaaS Middle East and Africa DMCC and the support of eGate, the company's partner in North Africa.

In general, Lleida.net will offer its new state customers Digital Postal Services through Registered Electronic Communications, mainly Registered Emails, SMS and eStatements.

Established in 1980, the Pan African Postal Union, under the umbrella of the African Union, was created 40 years ago to coordinate Africa's 55 national postal operators and to attract postal innovations to the continent.

In the framework of this meeting, representatives of the company met with Lleida.net the Secretary General of the organization Younous Djibrines (Secretary General of the PAPU) and Bishar Hussein, Director General of the Universal Postal Union.

So far, 63 Lleida.net inventions in the realms of e-notification, e-contracting and registered electronic signature have been recognized with 206 patents.

A few days ago, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) has awarded Lleida.net a new patent, this time for its method for the certification of email containing a qualified electronic signature by a telecommunications operator.

The company is the only company in the world to be listed simultaneously on BME Growth in Madrid, Euronext Growth in Paris and OTCQX Best Market in New York.
Q2 2021 revenues of $2.8 million , up 68% YoY

, up 68% YoY Medical cannabis revenues reach $825,500 , up 47% sequentially, with sales in Colombia , Germany , UK, and Peru contributing to gross medical cannabis profit margin of 88%

, up 47% sequentially, with sales in , , UK, and contributing to gross medical cannabis profit margin of 88% European medical cannabis sales growth of 280% sequentially, representing over 25% of total medical cannabis revenues

Medical cannabis expected to become dominant revenue stream, with monthly revenues forecast to increase to over $1 million by Q1 2022, on top of expected $1 million in health services

by Q1 2022, on top of expected in health services $9.4 million in cash as of June 30,2021 , a decrease of $3.2 million from march 31 st 2021, and proforma Q2 2021 cash balance of $20.6 million , including estimated net proceeds from the Company's July 2021 offering

TORONTO, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Khiron Life Sciences Corp. ("Khiron" or the "Company") (TSXV: KHRN) (OTCQX: KHRNF) (Frankfurt: A2JMZC), a vertically integrated cannabis leader with core operations in Latin America and Europe, today announces its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2021. These filings are available for review on the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. All financial information in this press release is reported in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise indicated.

Summary of Key Financial Results



3 Months 3 Months 3 Months

ended Jun ended Jun ended Mar Canadian dollars 30 2021 30 2020 31 2021

$ $ $ Revenues ('000s) 2,803 1,670 2,837 Medical Cannabis 826 25 563 Gross profit before fair value adjustments ('000s) 1,046 319 1,090 General and administrative costs ('000s) 4,428 4,531 5,592 Net loss ('000s) (4,796) (5,713) (5,494) Adjusted EBITDA (1) ('000s) (3,850) (3,855) (4,019) Net loss per share (basic and diluted) (0.03) (0.05) (0.04) Weighted average shares outstanding ('000s) 151,027 116,546 150,718

(1) Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization or in this case loss) is a non-International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") measure calculated as net loss before tax as reported under IFRS and adding back share-based compensation expense, transaction fees, unrealized gain on changes in fair value of biological assets, depreciation and non-recurring items. Refer to the "Non-IFRS Measures" note below for further information and the Company's MD&A for a reconciliation.

Key Operating Statistics



3 Months 3 Months 3 Months

ended Jun ended Jun ended Mar

30 2021 30 2020 31 2021 Medical Cannabis





Revenue generating countries (#) 4 1 4 Latin America (Units) 11,058 380 7,969 Europe (Grams) 42,890 N/A 11,080 Health Services





Patient interactions (#) 32,984 19,151 32,331 Wellness Units (#) 3173 3,064 2,758

Management Commentary

"In Q2, we continued to achieve strong results within our Medical Cannabis segment, reporting 47% sequential growth and margins of over 85% for the fourth consecutive quarter. With revenues increasing across all markets, our medical cannabis segment contributed 29% of revenues and 70% of gross profits, showcasing how our medical cannabis business can fundamentally shift margin profiles as revenues increase," comments Alvaro Torres, Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Company.

Mr. Torres continues, "In Q2 and subsequently, we achieved a number of very significant milestones. With the start of sales in Brazil in July, our sales presence has expanded to five of our six target markets. In addition, we are making strides toward launching our Zerenia clinics in Mexico this year, and recently expedited our entry into Mexico by several months with the receipt of a high-THC extract export quota from Colombia. We continue to expand patient access within our core markets, partnering with the Colombia Cancer League and 21 leading medical institutions to deliver 3,000 medical cannabis consultations at no cost to patients. In June, we also opened our first clinic outside of Colombia in Lima, Peru, which is expected to have a positive impact on prescription volumes going forward. Finally, in Europe we expanded our product offerings in both the UK and Germany, and delivered our largest shipment to date, resulting in a significant revenue contribution from Europe during the second quarter."

"With these milestones behind us, we expect to increase sales of medical cannabis products across all markets over the coming 12 months. As we continue to expand our clinic and patient networks, partnerships with insurance providers, and distribution channels, we anticipate that global medical cannabis revenues will reach $1 million per month by Q1 2022. In addition, we anticipate that revenues from Health Services will stabilize at $1 million per month, consistent with levels achieved in March 2021," continued Alvaro Torres.

Q2 2021 operating highlights and subsequent events

Medical cannabis revenues increased 47% from the prior quarter, reaching over $825,000 ; in total, medical cannabis products contributed 29% of total revenues and 70% of gross profits.

; in total, medical cannabis products contributed 29% of total revenues and 70% of gross profits. Driven by growth in medical cannabis, the Company achieved a gross profit margin (before fair market value adjustments) of 37%, or $1.0 million , reflecting a 228% improvement over the prior year.

Latin America

Insurance coverage in Colombia continues to be a catalyst for growth, with more than 10,600 prescriptions filled in Q2 2021, a 40% increase from Q1 2021. The percentage of prescriptions issued in Colombia and covered by insurance also increased from over 40% in Q4 2020 to over 50% in Q2 2021.

continues to be a catalyst for growth, with more than 10,600 prescriptions filled in Q2 2021, a 40% increase from Q1 2021. The percentage of prescriptions issued in and covered by insurance also increased from over 40% in Q4 2020 to over 50% in Q2 2021. Returning medical cannabis patients in Colombia reached nearly 50% in Q2 2021, providing a more stable Medical Cannabis revenue base.

reached nearly 50% in Q2 2021, providing a more stable Medical Cannabis revenue base. With more than 24,000 prescriptions filled year-to-date in Latin America and continued month-over-month growth, Q3 2021 continues to build on Q2 2021 levels.

and continued month-over-month growth, Q3 2021 continues to build on Q2 2021 levels. In June 2021 , the Company opened its first Zerenia clinic outside of Colombia , in Lima, Peru , a city of over 10 million and home to a third of the country.

, the Company opened its first Zerenia clinic outside of , in , a city of over 10 million and home to a third of the country. In June 2021 , Khiron was awarded high-THC medical cannabis quotas for exports to Mexico from Colombia .

, Khiron was awarded high-THC medical cannabis quotas for exports to from . In July 2021 , Khiron successfully exported medical cannabis into Brazil under an import authorization from the Brazilian health authority, ANVISA. Also, Dr. Eduardo Faveret was appointed Medical Director for Khiron Brazil, positioning the Company to expand its Zerenia clinics in key cities in Brazil .

, Khiron successfully exported medical cannabis into under an import authorization from the Brazilian health authority, ANVISA. Also, Dr. was appointed Medical Director for Khiron Brazil, positioning the Company to expand its Zerenia clinics in key cities in . Khiron recently partnered with the Colombia Cancer League to deliver an additional 3,000 medical cannabis patient consultations during the month of June, in collaboration with 21 leading medical institutions in 11 cities throughout Colombia .

Europe

Q2 2021 sales in the UK and Germany increased significantly, up 475% and 265%, respectively, from the prior quarter, driven by expanded medical cannabis products lines and increased product availability. As a result, Europe accounted for over 25% of Q2 medical cannabis sales.

increased significantly, up 475% and 265%, respectively, from the prior quarter, driven by expanded medical cannabis products lines and increased product availability. As a result, accounted for over 25% of Q2 medical cannabis sales. In the UK, the Company's medical cannabis e-learning certification, Khiron Academy, received accreditation for Continuing Professional Development credits in the UK.

In Q2 2021, the Company recorded gross profits for European medical cannabis of $214,573 , representing a gross margin of 100% thanks to our business strategy in that region

Discussion of Operations for the Three Months Ending June 30, 2021

During the second quarter of 2021, the Company reported revenues of $2.8 million, a 68% increase as compared to Q2 2020 due to normalized clinic operations and the growth of medical cannabis sales. Relative to Q1 2021, second quarter revenues were relatively consistent as a result of a 13% decline in Health Services revenues, offset by a 47% increase in Medical Cannabis Product sales, which reached $825,500 in the quarter, as the Company benefited from significant growth in Europe and a growing patient base in Colombia. While health services were impacted by rising COVID-19 cases and foreign exchange rates during the quarter, clinic revenues are expected to stabilize at $1 million per month, consistent with March 2021 levels.

At $1.0 million, or 37% of revenues, the Company's gross profits benefited from increasing Medical Cannabis Product sales, which offset margin compression within Health Services. Medical cannabis margins remained high at 88% of revenues, while health service margins decreased quarter-over-quarter to 15% of revenues, as a result of geo-political events and a surge of COVID-19 cases in Colombia which impacted clinic volumes and service mix. Q2 2021 health services margins were consistent with prior year levels.

Overall, the Company recorded a net loss of $4.8 million in the second quarter, which compares to a net loss of $5.7 million in the prior year and $5.5 million in the prior quarter. Adjusted EBITDA losses for Q2 2021 were $3.9 million, compared to the prior quarter loss of $4.0 million and prior year loss of $3.9 million.

The Company reported $9.4 million in cash as of June 30,2021, compared to $12.5 million in cash at the end of Q1 2021 and $21.6 million in cash at the end of 2020. On a proforma basis, the Company's Q2 2021 cash balance was $20.6 million, including estimated net proceeds from the Company's July offering.

Webcast Details

Khiron invites individual and institutional investors, as well as advisors and analysts, to attend the Company's Second Quarter 2021 Conference Call, followed by a Q&A session.

DATE: August 23, 2021

TIME: 10:00am ET/7:00am PT/4:00pm CET

PRESENTERS: Alvaro Torres, Khiron Chief Executive Officer and Director, Joel Friedman, Khiron Chief Financial Officer, Franziska Katterbach, President Khiron Europe and Chris Naprawa, Chairman of Khiron Board of Directors

FORMAT: Live 60-minute presentation & Q&A session

REGISTER LINK:

https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/3368735/FAE8C9703BB105D1B088594F064C2FCD

About Khiron Life Sciences Corp.

Khiron is a leading vertically integrated medical cannabis company with core operations in Latin America and Europe. Leveraging wholly-owned medical health centres and proprietary telemedicine platforms, Khiron combines a patient-oriented approach, physician education programs, scientific expertise, product innovation, and agricultural infrastructure to drive prescriptions and brand loyalty with patients worldwide. The Company has a sales presence in Colombia, Peru, Germany, UK, and Brazil and is positioned to commence sales in Mexico in 2021. The Company is led by Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Alvaro Torres, together with an experienced and diverse executive team and Board of Directors.

Visit Khiron online at investors.khiron.ca and on Instagram @khironlife.

Cautionary Notes

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All information contained herein that is not historical in nature may constitute forward-looking information. Khiron undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third-parties in respect of Khiron, its securities, or financial or operating results (as applicable). Although Khiron believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements in this press release are reasonable, such forward-looking statement has been based on expectations, factors and assumptions concerning future events which may prove to be inaccurate and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond Khiron's control, including the risk factors discussed in Khiron's Annual Information Form which is available on Khiron's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and is made as of the date hereof. Khiron disclaims any intention and has no obligation or responsibility, except as required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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 press release.

Investor Contact:

Paola Ricardo

E: investors@khiron.ca

T: +1 (647) 556-5750

Media Contact:

Elsa Navarro

Vice President, Communications

E: enavarro@khiron.ca

Khiron Europe:

Franziska Katterbach, President

E: fkatterbach@khiron.ca
HIGHLIGHTS

Blackdome Gold Mine considered highly prospective for further exploration success after detailed alteration study and data review undertaken by one of the world's pre-eminent experts on epithermal style gold mineralisation, Dr. Jeffrey Hedenquist

Studies suggest potential to discover new gold-silver epithermal veins within close proximity to the existing, permitted Blackdome Mine plant

Blackdome mineralisation likely extends deeper than previously thought with multiple, high-grade assays reported under mined stopes

PERTH, AUSTRALIA / ACCESSWIRE / August 23, 2021 / Tempus Resources Ltd ("Tempus" or the "Company") (ASX:TMR)(TSX.V:TMRR)(OTCQB:TMRFF) is pleased to announce that it has received the results of an alteration study and review on the Blackdome Gold Mine, highlighting its potential to host additional gold mineralisation. The study included a review of drill core photographs and data by Dr. Jeffrey Hedenquist, a world-renowned expert in epithermal gold mineralisation and deposits.

Tempus President and CEO, Jason Bahnsen, commented "Blackdome Gold Mine produced approximately 230,000 ounces of gold between 1985 and 1991 at an average mill head grade of almost 22g/t. The alteration study shows that the previous drilling and mining was high up in the epithermal system, indicating there is strong potential for significant discovery of additional mineralisation directly below previously mined areas and also for new vein discoveries to the west."

In 2020, the Company collected infrared samples using the routine short-wave infrared ("SWIR") method on 1,097 diamond drill core pulp samples and 50 mine coarse reject samples from Blackdome for analysis at ALS Laboratories specialist facility in Reno, Nevada. The resultant spectra were processed and interpreted by Mrs. Joanna Lipske of JnJ Exploration LLC, using The Spectral Geologist (TSG TM ) software.

SWIR analysis on drill core improves the geologist's ability to detect hydrous alteration minerals and parameters not visible to the eye such as compositional shifts and proxies for crystallinity, particularly in a low-sulfidation epithermal environment such as the main gold mineralising event at Blackdome. This is important in identifying the position in the epithermal system with reference to the 'boiling zone', which is typically the main bonanza high-grade zone of an epithermal gold system.

As discussed in the exploration update announced on 12 April 2021, drilling at Blackdome in 2020 targeted the Giant Vein, Redbird Vein, No.17 Vein and No.3 Vein. The drilling results showed textures interpreted to be higher up in the Blackdome epithermal gold system (ie, above the boiling zone). This visual interpretation has now been further supported by the alteration mineral identification from the SWIR analysis and expert input from Mrs. Lipske and Dr. Hedenquist. SWIR analysis identified the primary alteration to be a low-temperature mineral (smectite) known to develop at shallow paleo-depths over top of an epithermal gold-silver system.

Of great interest were the wide intersects of low-temperature minerals in drill holes BD-20-10, BD-20-11, and BD-20-12 (see Figure 1) followed by several meters of higher-temperature minerals (smectite-illite) at the end of the hole. Illilte forms at higher temperatures and is therefore more proximal to the hotter, ore-forming fluids. These holes were drilled well beyond the Giant Vein toward the west and are seemingly entering into a new zone where epithermal fluids may have been at the right conditions for gold-silver mineralisation north and west of the Giant vein.

The areas north and west of the Giant Vein have never been drilled. Soil sampling from 2018 identified two silver and gold trends at the southern extent of the soil grid which are coincident with airborne magnetic trends (Figure 1). Airborne geophysics flown in 2016 identified a number of lineaments which are parallel to the identified gold-silver veins at Blackdome. Tempus now considers these highly prospective targets and warrant further exploration

The previous drilling results from the No.3 Vein intersected wide zones of mineralisation with narrow high-grade gold veins, up to 28g/t gold. Quartz vein textures along with the identification of smectite also places these gold intercepts at shallow paleo-depths over top of an epithermal gold-silver system

Further review of data in the No.1 and No.2 Veins suggests these veins continue down plunge deeper than previously thought. Several drill hole intervals below mined depths of 150m below surface on the No.1 and No.2 Veins have double digit and even triple digit gold grades. Drilling below mined stopes at Blackdome is minimal and continued drilling would likely define additional gold ounces. Similar epithermal gold deposits in New Zealand typically have a vertical extent of approximately 170-300 metres which is favourable for Blackdome as the vast majority of the historically 230,000 ounces of gold was mined over a vertical interval of about 100 m, based on the outline of the existing stopes (figure 2).

Elizabeth Drilling Update

Tempus has completed 4,500m of drilling since the program started 5 June 2021 and is currently drilling hole EZ-21-17. Drill-holes EZ-21-05 to EZ-21-14 are currently in the laboratory awaiting results. Results will be reported as they are received by the Company.

Figure 1 - Blackdome plan map with Total Magnetic Intensity (TMI) background

Figure 2 - Blackdome long-section imposing historic stopes along the No.1 & No.2 Veins.

The Blackdome Gold Mine is located ~230 km north northwest of Vancouver and 30km north of Tempus' Elizabeth deposit. The Blackdome Mine produced, ~230k oz @ 22 g/t gold (mill head grade) during 1985 - 1991 and maintains a permitted 300 tonnes per day capacity mill and tailings storage (circuit suitable for processing Elizabeth ore).

This announcement has been authorised by the Board of Directors of Tempus Resources Limited.

Competent Persons Statement

Information in this report relating to Exploration Results is based on information reviewed by Mr. Kevin Piepgrass, who is a Member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of the province of BC (APEGBC), which is a recognised Professional Organisation (RPO), and an employee of Tempus Resources. Mr. Piepgrass has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined by the 2012 Edition of the Australasian Code for reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves, and as a Qualified Person for the purposes of NI43-101. Mr. Piepgrass consents to the inclusion of the data in the form and context in which it appears.

For further information:

TEMPUS RESOURCES LTD

Melanie Ross - Director/Company Secretary Phone: +61 8 6188 8181

About Tempus Resources Ltd

Tempus Resources Ltd ("Tempus") is a growth orientated gold exploration company listed on ASX ("TMR") and TSX.V ("TMRR") and OTCQB ("TMRFF") stock exchanges. Tempus is actively exploring projects located in Canada and Ecuador. The flagship project for Tempus is the Blackdome-Elizabeth Project, a high grade gold past producing project located in Southern British Columbia. Tempus is currently midway through a drill program at Blackdome-Elizabeth that will form the basis of an updated NI43-101/JORC resource estimate. The second key group of projects for Tempus are the Rio Zarza and Valle del Tigre projects located in south east Ecuador. The Rio Zarza project is located adjacent to Lundin Gold's Fruta del Norte project. The Valle del Tigre project is currently subject to a sampling program to develop anomalies identified through geophysical work.

Forward-Looking Information and Statements

This press release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Such forward-looking information and forward-looking statements are not representative of historical facts or information or current condition, but instead represent only the Company's beliefs regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of Tempus's control. Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "will continue", "will occur" or "will be achieved". The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained herein may include, but are not limited to, the ability of Tempus to successfully achieve business objectives, and expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors. Forward-looking statements and information are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the ability of Tempus to control or predict, that may cause Tempus' actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied thereby, and are developed based on assumptions about such Page | 4 risks, uncertainties and other factors set out herein and the other risks and uncertainties disclosed under the heading "Risk and Uncertainties" in the Company's Management's Discussion & Analysis for the quarter and nine months ended March 31, 2021 dated May 14, 2021 filed on SEDAR. Should one or more of these risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information or statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although Tempus believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing, and the expectations contained in, the forward-looking information and statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and statements, and no assurance or guarantee can be given that such forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information and statements. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and Tempus does not undertake to update any forward-looking information and/or forward-looking statements that are contained or referenced herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking information and statements attributable to Tempus or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in its entirety by this notice. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release .

SOURCE: Tempus Resources Ltd

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/660852/Alteration-Study-at-Blackdome-Identifies-Significant-Exploration-Potential
MELVILLE (dpa-AFX) - Henry Schein, Inc. (HSIC) announced an increase of credit facility, which provides it with greater flexibility to allocate capital in support the company's strategic plan. Under the amendment of credit facility, the company increased the maximum borrowing amount from $750 million to $1 billion, and extended the facility through August 2026. Steven Paladino, CFO of Henry Schein, Inc. said: 'The facility also supports our long-term internal and acquisition growth strategies.' Henry Schein is a solutions company for health care professionals powered by a network of people and technology. Headquartered in Melville, N.Y., Henry Schein has operations or affiliates in 32 countries and territories. 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.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 23, 2021) - Edgemont Gold Corp. (CSE: EDGM) (FSE: EG8) ("Edgemont") is pleased to announce that field crews and drilling equipment are now on site at the Dungate copper-gold porphyry project. The first drill pads have been built and drilling is expected to begin shortly. The Dungate project is located 6 km southeast of the town of Houston in the Omineca Mining Division of B.C.

"We are very much looking forward to the start of drilling at Dungate," stated Stuart Rogers, the chief executive officer of Edgemont. "The first three drill holes will not only test an outstanding copper-gold porphyry target at depth but will also pass through an exciting secondary target, a quartz pyrite breccia zone within the larger porphyry with potential for a high-grade gold discovery as well."

This Phase I drill program will be comprised of six 500 metre drill holes to test several large high chargeability IP anomalies identified by Edgemont in 2020 that have never been drill tested at depth. Prior to this drill program, the last drilling at Dungate was comprised of only a limited number of shallow holes (<100 m) completed in 1976.

The first four holes to be drilled at Dungate will test a strong cohesive high chargeability IP anomaly (greater than 60 mv/v) approximately 1.2 km in diameter. Subsequent drilling holes will test, for the first time, another possible intrusion, much larger in size, under overburden to the north of the initial Dungate showing.

The only deep hole (333 m) reported on the property, DDH C75-1, was drilled by Cities Service in 1975 and drill logs reported 142 m of "abundant chalcopyrite" at the bottom of the hole. No assay results are available. The drill log also indicates that a 24 m zone of quartz-pyrite ("Qtz-Py") breccia was intercepted about 90 meters downhole with similar characteristics to that reported by Sun Summit at the nearby Buck high-grade gold discovery this January. This zone appears to be a potential high grade gold target within the larger copper-gold porphyry and will be tested early in the drill program. A map interpreting the location of this possible Qtz-Py breccia zone and indicating the locations of the initial six drill holes planned at Dungate can be accessed here :





Drilling Locations 2021

To view an enhanced version of this map, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6955/94042_7907842714508bb6_002full.jpg

The technical information contained in this news release has been approved by Joseph Campbell, P. Geo, a Director of Edgemont, who is a Qualified Person as defined in "National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects."

About Edgemont Gold Corp:

Edgemont is actively exploring the Dungate copper/gold porphyry project located just 6 km southeast of Houston, B.C., in a region with a history of successful mining projects including the Equity Silver Mine, Imperial Metals' Huckleberry Mine, and the more recent gold-silver discovery at Sun Summit Minerals' Buck Project which sits just 7 km to the south.





Dungate Property Location Map

To view an enhanced version of this map, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6955/94042_7907842714508bb6_003full.jpg

Having acquired an interest in its initial claims at Dungate in 2018, the Company now holds five mineral tenures covering 1,582.2 hectares that can be explored year-round by all-season roads. For more information, please visit our website at www.edgemontgold.com.

For further information, please contact:



Stuart Rogers

Chief Executive Officer

Tel: (778) 239-3775

www.edgemontgold.com

Kevin Arias

VP Corporate Development

Tel: (778) 773-4786

E-mail: info@edgemontgold.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as the term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements made and information contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation ("forward-looking information"). Generally, this forward-looking information can, but not always, be identified by use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects", "intends", "anticipates" or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events, conditions or results "will", "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotations thereof. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking information. Forward looking information is necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently 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. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information regarding risks inherent in exploration activities, including unforeseen delays due to circumstances beyond our control, including weather and other natural phenomena, and financial market and regulatory risks.

The forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on information available to the Company as of the date of this news release. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as the Company's actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that would cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated or expected. All of the forward-looking information contained in this news release is qualified by these cautionary statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information due to the inherent uncertainty thereof. Except as required under applicable securities legislation and regulations applicable to the Company, the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/94042
Victoria, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 23, 2021) - Plurilock Security Inc. (TSXV: PLUR) (OTCQB: PLCKF) and related subsidiaries ("Plurilock" or the "Company"), an identity-centric cybersecurity solutions provider for workforces, has received a US$1.08 million purchase order from the U.S. Airforce as part of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Solution for Enterprise-Wide Procurement (SEWP) program, a U.S. Government-Wide Acquisition Contract Vehicle (GWAC).

This order is the latest in a series of new business for Plurilock's Solutions Division and represents the Company's fourth order to be worth over US$1 million in recent months. All contracts and orders signed by Plurilock since April 2021, including the latest order, represent a combined total of US$10.2 million in sales.

According to the purchase order, Plurilock will provide a renewal of Dell maintenance support for existing hardware.

This order aligns with the Company's planned growth strategy and efforts to acquire additional business within the government vertical.

About SEWP

The SEWP V program, launched by NASA in 2015, is the leading information technology (IT) contract vehicle, with government agencies spending $7.9 billion in fiscal 2020.1 Estimates anticipate that agencies will utilize SEWP V for $8.8 billion in contracted spending in fiscal 2021.2 The contract vehicle provides Plurilock with the opportunity to access downstream customers in the government sector.

About Plurilock

Plurilock provides identity-centric cybersecurity for today's workforces. The Plurilock family of companies enables organizations to operate safely and securely while reducing cybersecurity friction. Plurilock offers world-class IT and cybersecurity solutions through its Solutions Division, paired with proprietary, AI-driven and cloud-friendly security through its Technology Division. Together, the Plurilock family of companies delivers persistent identity assurance with unmatched ease of use.

For more information, visit https://www.plurilock.com or contact:

Ian L. Paterson

Chief Executive Officer

ian@plurilock.com

416.800.1566

Roland Sartorius

Chief Financial Officer

roland.sartorius@plurilock.com

Prit Singh

Investor Relations

prit.singh@plurilock.com

905.510.7636

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") related to future events or Plurilock's future business, operations, and financial performance and condition. Forward-looking statements normally contain words like "will", "intend", "anticipate", "could", "should", "may", "might", "expect", "estimate", "forecast", "plan", "potential", "project", "assume", "contemplate", "believe", "shall", "scheduled", and similar terms. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, actions, or developments and are based on expectations, assumptions, and other factors that management currently believes are relevant, reasonable, and appropriate in the circumstances. Although management believes that the forward-looking statements herein are reasonable, actual results could be substantially different due to the risks and uncertainties associated with and inherent to Plurilock's business. Additional material risks and uncertainties applicable to the forward-looking statements herein include, without limitation, the impact of general economic conditions, the success of the Company in obtaining new or extended contracts or orders; the Company's ability to maintain existing customers or develop new customers; the Company's ability to successfully integrate acquisitions of other businesses and/or companies or to realize on the anticipated benefits thereof; and unforeseen events, developments, or factors causing any of the aforesaid expectations, assumptions, and other factors ultimately being inaccurate or irrelevant. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect the Company's forward-looking statements. Many of these factors are beyond the control of Plurilock. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as at the date hereof, and Plurilock undertakes no obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. Risks and uncertainties about the Company's business are more fully discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in its most recent Annual Information Form. They are otherwise disclosed in its filings with securities regulatory authorities available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

https://about.bgov.com/news/this-is-it-sewp-v-is-the-top-it-vehicle-in-fiscal-2020/ https://about.bgov.com/news/this-is-it-sewp-v-is-the-top-it-vehicle-in-fiscal-2020/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/94049
NEW YORK CITY (dpa-AFX) - Pfizer Inc. (PFE) and Trillium Therapeutics Inc. (TRIL) announced Monday that the companies have entered into a definitive agreement under which Pfizer will acquire Trillium, a clinical stage immuno-oncology company developing innovative therapies for the treatment of cancer. Under the terms of the agreement, Pfizer will acquire all outstanding shares of Trillium not already owned by Pfizer for an implied equity value of $2.26 billion, or $18.50 per share, in cash. This represents a 118% premium to the 60-day weighted average price for Trillium. Trillium's portfolio includes biologics that are designed to enhance the ability of patients' innate immune system to detect and destroy cancer cells. In September 2020, as part of the Pfizer Breakthrough Growth Initiative (PBGI), Pfizer invested $25 million in Trillium and Jeff Settleman, Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer of Pfizer's Oncology Research & Development Group, was named to Trillium's Scientific Advisory Board. Pfizer has committed to providing up to $500 million in total funding to the PBGI. Completion of the acquisition is also subject to court and regulatory approval, as well as certain other closing conditions customary for transactions of this nature. 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.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 23, 2021 / NV Gold Corporation (TSXV:NVX)(OTCQB:NVGLF)(FSE:8NV) ("NV Gold" or the "Company") The Company announced today an update on its active projects in Nevada, USA.

Slumber Gold Project, Humboldt County, Nevada

Our Q4, 2020 drill program at Slumber expanded the margins of known mineralization from previous work. Additional geophysics (CSAMT) followed by detailed mapping and sampling have advanced and enlarged our target interpretation which will focus the placement of the next round of drilling, anticipated in Q4, 2021. Details of the recent work will be outlined in a separate press release.

Sandy Gold Project, Lyon County, Nevada

Our maiden drilling at the Sandy Project in Q1, 2021 returned successful results, even though no high-grade intercepts were encountered. A large volume of gold mineralization was outlined, covering a strike length of 2 kilometers and a width of up to 500 meters. Water and equipment limitations kept the drilling depths to 300 meters.

Narrow gold-quartz-pyrite veining was encountered in most of the 17 holes drilled, suggesting a deeper target or targets may be present. A follow-up IP-Resistivity geophysical program is set to initiate within the next 2 weeks. Additional details of the planned geophysical work will be outlined in a separate press release. Depending upon availability of drilling equipment, the next drill program at Sandy is likely to be scheduled in Q1, 2022.

Discovery Bay Gold Project, Lander County, Nevada

The Discovery Bay Project is located less than 10 miles southeast of the (previously producing) Cove McCoy Mine in Lander County. The target area is a kilometer long, elongate window of Triassic Osobb Mountain Quartzite and Cane Springs Limestone (host rocks at McCoy), and other underlying favorable host lithologies. Most of the target(s) is covered by thin layers of Tertiary volcanics (Basal Tuffs) and Quaternary rocks.

NVX has expanded its claim position in preparation for a 4-6-hole initial RC program, expected to commence in early Q4 2021.

Pickhandle Project, Lander County, Nevada

NV Gold plans a Phase 1 exploration program during Q4 2021 leading to a potential RC drilling program, in Q1 2022, to be focused on exploring a small window of Permian Antler Sequences, hosting anomalous jasperoids and mineralized dikes. Like the "Lone Tree Gold Mine Model" the target is mostly covered and extends underneath Tertiary volcanic cover and into the pediment. There is no historical drilling at Pickhandle, and it represents a "virgin" opportunity for a Nevada discovery!

Spanish Canyon Project, Nye County, Nevada

NV Gold plans a Phase 1 reconnaissance program during Q4 2021. The project is a "Carlin-type" disseminated gold-silver system hosted in the calcareous sediments of the Triassic Luning and Sunrise Formations. The area is characterized by multiple stages of faulting, replacement silicification, hydrothermal and tectonic breccia bodies and argillic-decalcification alteration of carbonates over a 4 square-kilometer area.

Although there has been no historical drilling at Spanish Canyon, the project is an exciting prospect owing to its numerous mineralized jasperoid zones in an area up to a kilometer long and contains previous outcrop sampling that assayed up to 2.5 g/t Au and over 1,000 ppm As.

Spanish Canyon represents an untested gold system, with bulk mineable potential, which is situated in favorable geologic and geographic environments. Drill targets have been identified and include a large basin pediment area, range front structural zone, with mineralization exposed in the outcrops along the low lying hills of the range. A maiden drilling program could be initiated in Q1 or Q2, 2022.

The Near-Term Strategy and Outlook

The Company continues its focus on Nevada and the Great Basin, one of the largest and most productive gold provinces in the world. On a regional-scale, Nevada is thought by many to be a thoroughly explored gold province. Much of the near surface gold that has been found over the past 40 years has already been mined or is being mined today. To find significant new deposits, the successful explorer needs to employ modern, sensitive sampling techniques combined with regional-scale structural interpretation and a willingness to drill, drill, drill. The breadth of experience of our staff and advisors gives us our advantage. Over 50% of Nevada is covered by recent basin sediments or volcanic cover, which often obscures the classic, visible expressions of mineralization. These covered areas are composed of the same rocks with the same temporal placement as the gold deposits found in the nearby ranges. There is a strong likelihood that other, similar-sized deposits await discovery! Significant discovery potential remains in one of the preeminent gold provinces on Earth. The Company has a strong property position with over 20 projects, ranging from Greenfields to advanced "pre-discovery". Our property portfolio covers a number of geologic environments and at varying levels of advancement. Holding costs for most of these properties are minimal, particularly those that are held as joint venture or lease-out possibilities.

It is our plan to drill 4-6 projects in the 12-18-month time horizon, providing a good news flow and multiple opportunities for success. We look forward to a productive and successful exploration season ahead.

About NV Gold Corporation

NV Gold (TSXV:NVX)(OTCQB:NVGLF)(FSE:8NV) is a well-financed exploration company with ~80 million shares issued, a solid treasury and no debt. The Company is based in Vancouver, British Columbia, and Reno, Nevada and is focused on delivering value through mineral discoveries in Nevada, USA. Leveraging its expansive property portfolio, its highly experienced in-house technical team, and its extensive geological data library, 2021 will be NV Gold's busiest exploration year in its corporate history.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

John E. Watson, President & CEO

For further information, visit the Company's website at www.nvgoldcorp.com or contact:

Phone: 1-303-674-9400

Email: john@nvgoldcorp.com

Forward Looking Statements

This news release includes certain forward-looking statements or information. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Company's planned exploration activities, the potential for a discovery at its properties, and acquisition of new gold projects are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's plans or expectations include regulatory issues, market prices, availability of capital and financing, general economic, market or business conditions, timeliness of government or regulatory approvals, the extent to which mineralized structures extend on to the Company's Projects and other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation.

SOURCE: NV Gold Corporation

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/660846/NV-Gold-Corp--Progress-Update-Q3-and-Q4-2021
STOCKHOLM, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- World Water Week opened on 23 August with calls for massive transformations of our societies. Participants from all over the world will spend the coming week developing solutions to help the world address challenges such as water scarcity, the climate crisis, poverty, and biodiversity loss.

Thirty years after it was initiated, the World Water Week 2021 has been redesigned for maximum impact. The world's leading water conference is held 23-27 August as a free, online event on the theme Building Resilience Faster. Participants from over 150 countries will co-create actionable solutions.

"We want World Water Week to be an action platform engaging all," said Henrika Thomasson, Director World Water Week at Stockholm International Water Institute, the World Water Week organizer.

"Collaboration across borders is more important than ever. In the coming decade, all sectors of society need to undergo massive transformations," explained Executive Director Torgny Holmgren, stressing the crucial role of water for these transformations and for reaching the climate targets and the Sustainable Development Goals.

In his keynote, Professor Johan Rockstrom from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, described how humans are dangerously altering Earth's life support systems. One example is how freshwater is impacted by the change humans are causing in climate and biodiversity. Rockstrom and his team have identified freshwater as one of the nine planetary boundaries that should not be crossed. "Freshwater must be integrated within the climate agenda," Rockstrom said. "We must first meet the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, but then transform towards a safer future within planetary boundaries."

The world is however not on track to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, warned Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations when interviewed by host Alok Jha during the Opening ceremony. "Before Covid we were off track and after Covid, even more so," she noted. "But the recovery could get us back on track. There is a silver lining there. There are things that we can scale up, there are things that we can put more at the centre of the investments that we are asking for now."

Participants can enjoy 400+ sessions. Highlights of the Week include the royal award ceremonies for the prestigious Stockholm Water Prize and Stockholm Junior Water Prize.

Learn more: worldwaterweek.org

Press contact: Andreas Karlssonandreas.karlsson@siwi.org, +46-(0)720-506004
Golden Ocean Group Limited will publish its financial results for the second quarter of 2021 on Thursday 26 August 2021.



In connection with the release, a teleconference/webcast will be held as described below:

Teleconference and webcast

A conference call will be held at 4:00 P.M. CET (10:00 A.M. New York Time) on Thursday August 26, 2021. The presentation will be available for download from the Investor Relations section at www.goldenocean.bm (under "Presentations") prior to the teleconference/webcast.

In order to listen to the presentation you may do one of the following:

a. Webcast

Click the "Webcast" link on www.goldenocean.bm

b. Conference Call

PARTICIPANTS DIAL IN TELEPHONE NUMBERS

International Dial-In: +44 (0) 2071 928338 United Kingdom Toll Free: 0 800 279 6619 Norway Toll Free: 800 56865 US Toll: +1 646 741 3167

Participants will be asked for their full name & Conference ID. The Conference ID is 1877317.

Please download the presentation material from www.goldenocean.bm in order to follow the presentation slides while listening to the conference.

REPLAY DETAILS

Replay Access Number: 1877317 International Dial In: +44 (0) 3333 009785 Norway: 21 03 42 35 USA Toll: +1 (917) 677-7532

Participant list information required: Full Name & Company

August 23, 2021

Hamilton, Bermuda

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements of section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.




Altona Rare Earths Plc - Notice of AGM

23 August 2021

ALTONA RARE EARTHS PLC

("Altona" or "the Company")

NOTICE OF AGM

Altona (AQSE: ANR) announces it is to hold its Annual General Meeting ("AGM") on Monday 13 September at 11.30am, at the office of Orana Corporate, Eccleston Place, 25 Eccleston Yards, London, SW1W 9N.

A Notice of AGM has been posted to shareholders and a copy of this year's Annual Report (to 30 June 2021) can be found on the Company website:

https://www.altonare.com/investors/reports/

As this will be the Company's first physical shareholder meeting in over two years, the board looks forward to meeting with its shareholders to provide an update on its progress over the last 12 months.

-ends-

For further information, please visit www.altonaRE.com or contact:

Altona Rare Earths Plc

Christian Taylor-Wilkinson, Chief Executive +44 (0) 7795 168 157

Martin Wood, Non-Executive Chairman +44 (0) 7880 787 080

Alfred Henry Corporate Finance Ltd (AQSE Corporate Adviser )

Jon Isaacs / Nick Michaels +44 (0) 20 3772 0021

Company Information

Altona Rare Earths Plc is a mining exploration company focused on the evaluation, development and extraction of Rare Earth Element (REE) metals in Africa, acquiring its first mining project, the Monte Muambe Project in Mozambique, in June 2021.

The Company was admitted to trading on AIM on 10 March 2005 and was subsequently admitted to Aquis Stock Exchange (AQSE) on 1 February 2019. A copy of its Admission documents dated 4 March 2005 can be accessed on its website, www.altonaenergy.com. This website is where items can be inspected under Rule 75 of the Aquis Rules for Issuers.

.


BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - European stocks closed on a firm note on Monday, rebounding strongly after recording their biggest weekly loss in several months last week. Encouraging eurozone economic data and bargain hunting contributed to the uptick in the markets.



Investors continued to track updates on the coronavirus front and also looked ahead to the upcoming Jackson Hole Symposium, due later this week. Fed Chairman Powell is expected to provide more details about the timeline of tapering of the central bank's bond-buying programme and the outlook for the economy.



The pan European Stoxx 600 climbed 0.66%. The U.K.'s FTSE 100 gained 0.3%, Germany's DAX ended 0.28% up and France's CAC 40 surged up 0.86%, while Switzerland's SMI moved up nearly 0.5%.



Among other markets in Europe, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, Greece, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden and Turkey closed with sharp to moderate gains.



Denmark and Ireland edged up marginally.



In the UK market, Sainsbury (J) soared more than 15% after a report an American private equity firm is exploring a takeover of the supermarket chain.



Rolls-Royce Holdings, Everaz, Burberry Group, Prudential, Glencore, BP, Royal Dutch Shell, Antofagasta, B&M and Tesco gained 2 to 3.3%.



Pearson, Weir Group, Ocado Group, Ashtead Group, Anglo American Plc, DCC and Fresnillo also closed notably higher.



BT Group shares declined 3%. Pershing Square Holdings shed about 1.7%, while Smith & Nephew, AstraZeneca, Berkeley Group Holdings, Persimmon and National Grid lost 1 to 1.25%.



In France, Kering climbed more than 3%. LVMH gained 2.5%, while Hermes International, Air France-KLM, Airbus, Credit Agricole, Societe Generale, Technip, Renault, Valeo and Accor gained 1 to 1.5%.



In the German market, Adidas, Deutsche Bank, Thyssenkrupp, HeidelbergCement and Volkswagen gained 1 to 1.8%.



BioNTech jumped 4 percent on the buzz the U.S. FDA was aiming to give full approval to its partner Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine by Tuesday.



Vonovia shares declined more than 2% after the German residential real estate company launched its voluntary public takeover offer for shares of Deutsche Wohnen.



Swiss stock Cembra Money Bank plummeted more than 30% after terminating credit card partnership with Swiss retailer Migro.



In economic news, Eurozone private sector logged one of the strongest growth seen over the past two decades in August as the further reopening of the economy underpinned expansion in the services activity, flash survey results from IHS Markit showed.



The flash composite output index declined to 59.5 from a 15-year high of 60.2 in the previous month. The reading was forecast to fall marginally to 59.7.



The services Purchasing Managers' Index came in at 59.7, while the score was expected to remain unchanged at consensus 59.8. The manufacturing PMI fell to 61.5 from 62.8 a month ago. The reading was forecast to drop to 62.0.



The German economy continued to grow strongly in August despite further constraints on manufacturing production, flash survey results from IHS Markit showed. The composite output index dropped to 60.6 from 62.4 in July. The score was forecast to fall to 62.2.



The services Purchasing Manager' Index fell to 61.5 from 61.8 in July, but the score was above economists' expectations of 61.0. The factory PMI declined to a six-month low of 62.7 from 65.9 a month ago. The expected level was 65.0.



France private sector logged another strong growth in August but the pace of expansion moderated slightly, flash survey results from IHS Markit showed. The flash composite output index fell to a four-month low of 55.9 in August from 56.6 in July.



The factory Purchasing Managers' Index came in at 57.3, down from 58.0 in July. The reading came in line with economists' expectations. The services PMI dropped unexpectedly to 56.4 from 56.8 in the previous month. The score was forecast to rise to 57.0.



The UK private sector growth eased sharply in August largely due to staff shortages and supply chain issues, flash survey results from IHS Markit and the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply showed.



The flash composite output index decreased to a six-month low of 55.3 in August from 59.2 in July. The score was forecast to drop to 58.4.



The services Purchasing Managers' Index fell to 55.5 from 59.6 in July. The expected level was 59.0. The manufacturing PMI came in at a five-month low of 60.1 versus 60.4 in the previous month. The reading was forecast to drop to 59.5.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de
Indoor Grow Acquisition to Increase Cultivation Capacity

OTCQX: SHWZ

DENVER, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Schwazze, (OTCQX: SHWZ) ("Schwazze" or the "Company"), has entered into an to agreement to acquire the assets of Brow 2, LLC, located in Denver, Colorado. The planned transaction includes a 37,000 square foot building (27,000 square feet of canopy) for indoor cultivation and equipment. This transaction continues Schwazze's aggressive expansion in Colorado and will significantly enhance the Company's cultivation resources, providing product directly to its seventeen Star Buds brand dispensaries.

The consideration for the planned acquisition is $6.7 million and will be paid in cash at closing. The acquisition is expected to close in the third quarter of 2021 after the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division and local licensing approval.

"We are looking forward to adding the Brow team to the growing Schwazze family. This acquisition will add a talented team of growers, high-quality indoor flower cultivation capacity, new strain genetics, and another profitable asset to our platform. The new facility will supply our growing network of dispensaries and customers with a broad assortment of high-quality indoor flower," said Justin Dye, Schwazze's CEO.

About Schwazze

Schwazze (OTCQX: SHWZ) is the parent company of a portfolio of vertically integrated cannabis brands spanning seed to sale. The company's intent is to apply its operational playbook by expanding into markets where it can entrench itself in a leadership position. Anchored by a high-performance culture, Schwazze focuses on growth by purposeful design, combining customer-centric thinking and data science to test, measure, and drive desired outcomes. The company's leadership team has deep expertise in CPG, retail, and building consumer brands at Fortune 500 companies as well as in the cannabis sector. Schwazze is passionate about improving the human condition; making a difference in our communities; promoting diversity and inclusion; and doing its part to incorporate climate-conscious best practices.

Schwazze derives its name from the pruning technique of a cannabis plant to promote growth. Medicine Man Technologies, Inc. was Schwazze's former operating trade name. The corporate entity continues to be named Medicine Man Technologies, Inc.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements." Such statements may be preceded by the words "may," "will," "plan," "predicts," or similar words. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, are based on certain assumptions, and are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control and cannot be predicted or quantified. Consequently, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with (i) our inability to manufacture our products and product candidates on a commercial scale on our own or in collaboration with third parties; (ii) difficulties in obtaining financing on commercially reasonable terms; (iii) changes in the size and nature of our competition; (iv) loss of one or more key executives or scientists; (v) difficulties in securing regulatory approval to market our products and product candidates; (vi) our ability to successfully execute our growth strategy in Colorado and outside the state, (vii) our ability to consummate the acquisition described in this press release or to identify and consummate future acquisitions that meet our criteria, (viii) our ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses and realize synergies therefrom, (ix) the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, (x) the timing and extent of governmental stimulus programs, and (xi) the uncertainty in the application of federal, state and local laws to our business, and any changes in such laws. More detailed information about the Company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Investors and security holders are urged to read these documents free of charge on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as required by law.

Investors, Joanne Jobin, Investor Relations, Joanne.jobin@schwazze.com, 647 964 0292; Media, Julie Suntrup, Schwazze, Vice President | Marketing & Merchandising, julie.suntrup@schwazze.com, 303 371 0387
PHILADELPHIA, PA / ACCESSWIRE / August 23, 2021 / Please see below for links to each of the Aberdeen Standard Investments U.S. closed-end monthly factsheets including performance and portfolio composition as of July 31, 2021.

Equity Funds

Aberdeen Australia Equity Fund, Inc. ("IAF") Factsheet

Aberdeen Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund, Inc. ("AEF") Factsheet

Aberdeen Global Dynamic Dividend Fund ("AGD") Factsheet

Aberdeen Japan Equity Fund, Inc. ("JEQ") Factsheet

Aberdeen Standard Global Infrastructure Income Fund ("ASGI") Factsheet

Aberdeen Total Dynamic Dividend Fund ("AOD") Factsheet

The India Fund, Inc. ("IFN") Factsheet

Fixed Income Funds

Aberdeen Asia-Pacific Income Fund, Inc. ("FAX") Factsheet

Aberdeen Global Income Fund, Inc. ("FCO") Factsheet

Aberdeen Income Credit Strategies Fund ("ACP") Factsheet

Property Funds

Aberdeen Global Premier Properties Fund ("AWP") Factsheet

Important Information

In the United States, Aberdeen Standard Investments is the marketing name for the following affiliated, registered investment advisers: Aberdeen Standard Investments Inc., Aberdeen Asset Managers Ltd., Aberdeen Standard Investments Australia Ltd., Aberdeen Standard Investments (Asia) Ltd., Aberdeen Capital Management, LLC, Aberdeen Standard Investments ETFs Advisors LLC and Aberdeen Standard Alternative Funds Limited.

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Cerrado Gold Conference Call: Sep 1, 2021: 11:00 AM Eastern Time (Details below)

Highlights:

Average annual gold production of 149,000 ozs over first 5 years and 131,000 ozs over LOM 8 years

Annual Average Free cash flow of US$150 million over the first 5 years

Total cumulative, after tax, free cash flow estimated US$901 million over 8 years

Average AISC of US$431/oz over the first 5 years

Low Initial Capex of US$126 million (including US$25 million contingency)

Payback of 1.3 years

Further upside potential from continued exploration drilling & resource expansion

Development program including Feasibility Study to begin immediately, EIS Underway

PEA Summary Results

PEA Summary Table

All Figures in US$ unless otherwise noted 2021 2020 NPV @ 5% After Tax $ millions $617 $432 IRR After Tax % 94.8% 76.4% Long Term Gold Price (US$/troy oz.) US$/oz Au $1,600 $1,550 Initial Capex $ millions $126 $110 Life of Mine years 8 7 Payback time (years) years 1.3 1.5 LOM average annual Au production koz 131.0 103.5 LOM annual tonnes mined MM tonnes 2.600 1.888 Opex $/t $33.04 $26.39 Avg Cash Cost US$/oz Au $583 $480 Avg LOM AISC US$/oz Au $612 $498 Sustaining LOM Capital $ millions 13.5 1.6 LOM Stripping Ratio waste:ore 10.9:1 7.79:1 Royalties % 1% 3% Mine Closure $ millions $16.8 $11.25

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - August 23, 2021) - CERRADO GOLD (TSXV: CERT) (OTCQX: CRDOF) ("Cerrado" or the "Company") is very pleased to announce the results of its new NI 43-101 Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") based upon the recently expanded 43-101 resources defined at the Serra Alta deposit at its Monte do Carmo gold project in Tocantins State, Brazil. The work has been completed by GE21 Consultoria Mineral Ltda ("GE21") and is based upon the NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate produced by MICON International dated July 21, 2021. The final PEA report is expected to be completed and available on SEDAR by the end of September 2021.

Mark Brennan, CEO of Cerrado Gold, commented, "We are extremely pleased with the results of the PEA. The results demonstrate the tremendous economic potential offered by the development of the Serra Alta deposit as the initial cornerstone operation at our Monte do Carmo project. We continue to explore Serra Alta and regional satellite analogue deposits to determine the full potential of the Monte do Carmo gold district." He continued "The robust production and cash flow generation in the initial years allows for a rapid pay back and generates significant cash flows to continue to grow the resource potential to materially extend the mine life."

Project Summary

The Monte do Carmo (MDC) Gold Project is located in the state of Tocantins, Brazil; 2 kilometres east of the town of Monte do Carmo which is 40Km from Porto Nacional (50,000 inhabitants) and 100Km from Palmas, the Capital of Tocantins State (250,000 inhabitants). The Serra Alta deposit has been the main focus of exploration at the project until recently where Cerrado has drilled numerous analogue satellite deposits to expand the existing resource. The project has good access to all necessary infrastructure: paved roads, energy, a 69 kV electric power line, water supply and an international airport, and is well supported by the local community.





Monte do Carmo Project

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Mining

The mine design is based on standard open pit mining techniques of drill, blast and haul using contract mining to reduce upfront capital needs. Based upon the newly expanded resource, GE21 has designed a mine plan which extracts approximately 18.5 million tonnes of the current resource base over an 8-year mine life at an average strip ratio of 6.64 for the first 5 years and 10.9 to 1 over the life of mine. The Phase I exploratory drilling program completed earlier this year, increased the mineral resources model mainly to the North and East, resulting in the extension of the open pit in the same direction resulting in a slightly higher strip ratio than the prior PEA, but significantly increasing recoverable ounces. Mining will reach nominal ore feed to mill in year 2 of approximately 2.6 million tonnes. Mining costs are estimated at US$1.70/t of material moved which is based on current costs at other regional operations. The annual mining costs reflect adjusted haul distances and waste/ore ratios relative to the previous PEA completed in 2020 and as shown below.







2020 Projected Pit Shell PEA GE21

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2021 Projected Pit Shell PEA GE21

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Metallurgy and Processing

Cerrado completed additional metallurgical test work to advance previous strong results. The additional metallurgical test work, based on 300 kg samples, once again confirmed the recoverability of gold by gravity concentration and tailings flotation followed by CIP leaching of float concentrate. The results of the test work confirmed the metallurgical recovery of up to 98.5% of which approximately 79% is recovered by gravity. The final leached tailings will be submitted to detox circuit before sending it to the tailings storage facility. The high percentage of gold recovered by gravity allows for a simple design layout with limited CIP leaching capacity required, which significantly reduces up front capital requirements. Metallurgical test work also indicates that the waste rock and detoxed tailings are neutral by nature, which points to very amenable stable, long-term storage of mineral residues making it easier to deploy environmentally and more affordable.

Infrastructure

The site is ideally located with access to all-weather roads, water, 69 kV electrical power grid and sufficient power to support project development with only modest infrastructure capital expenditures to develop the operations. In addition, the site is close to numerous large population centres to provide skilled workforce and auxiliary services to the operation. The local municipality of Monte do Carmo, where the mine will be built, provides basic health services as well as schooling that can easily be improved. Porto Nacional and the state capital Palmas, are within 45km and 100km respectively, and can also provide comprehensive services.

Capital Costs

Upfront capital costs are estimated at US$125.9 million plus US$8.8 million working capital, and US$13.5 million of sustaining capital over the 8 year mine life. Pay back is in the order of 1.3 years with an after-tax IRR of 94.8%. Capital costs include a 25% contingency for equipment, plant and infrastructure and assumes the use of contract mining negating the need for the acquisition of a mining fleet given the relatively short mine life presented with current resources.





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Operating Costs

The LOM operating costs are estimated at a total of US$ 33.04/t of ore processed (US$25.68/t over the first five years), benefiting from the free gold in the ore - no refractory ore has been identified. Based on test work to date, costs will benefit from the outstanding gravity recoveries which indicate a simple processing circuit lowering overall costs. Due to the amenable characteristics of both waste rock and tailings, dry stacking and co-disposal of tails is applicable. The overall jurisdiction and good logistics are beneficial for both labor and consumables.





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Production and Cash/ AISC Cost Profile

The chart below highlights the expected production and cash cost/ AISC profile at Serra Alta as per the PEA. Production in the early years is expected to benefit from materially higher grades and peak in year three at 193,000 ozs. Production over the mine life averages 131,00 ozs per year but averages approximately 150,000 ozs per year over the first five years. Similarly, cash costs are expected to average US$582/oz over the life of mine but average only US$404/ozs over the first five years while LOM AISC will average US$612 per year and US$431/oz over the first five years.





Production and AISC Cost Profile

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Overall Project Economics

The Monte do Carmo project shows an extremely robust economic opportunity with an after tax NPV at 5% discount rate of US$617 million and IRR of 94.8% at a flat gold price of $1,600/oz. Project economics are based on a potential 8-year mine life with a 1.3-year payback period, with positive after-tax cash flow commencing in Year 1. Total cumulative, after-tax free cash flow over the life of mine is estimated at US$762 million at a $1,600/oz gold price. The mine is expected to benefit from regional tax incentives in Brazil.





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The chart below demonstrates the robust free cash flow generation expected, especially in the first five years of operation. Cash flows during the first five years of production are estimated to average US$150 MM per annum.





Free Cash Flow Evolution



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The chart below highlights the NPV sensitivity to changes in capital costs, various input costs and gold price assumptions







Sensitivity Analysis - NPV

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Mineral Resource Estimate

The PEA is based on the current NI 43-101 compliant Mineral Resource Estimate completed by MICON International Limited, with an effective date of July 21, 2021. It should be noted that Mineral resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. It should also be noted drilling continues at Serra Alta to further expand and upgrade the resource as the company makes plans to move towards feasibility. In addition to Serra Alta the company is also undertaking a more regional exploration program on the larger Monte Do Carmo property to define potential satellite deposits which could significantly enhance the mine life of the installed asset base

The significant addition of Mineral Resources and the rise on confidence level represented by the maiden indicated resources are supported by the total amount of drilling invested and numerous technologies implemented on site; Oriented cores, structural data collection, low angle rigs, electronical cloud drilling database allows to extract the maximum information of the cores and makes the drilling program more efficient.

Table 1. Serra Alta Mineral Resource Statement - Effective Date July 21, 2021

Mining Method Cut-off Grade (g/t Au) Resource

Category Tonnage

(kt) Avg. Au Grade (g/t) Metal Content ( koz ) Open Pit 0.30 Indicated 9,063 1.85 539 Inferred 12,128 1.82 708 Underground 1.10 Indicated 45 1.66 2 Inferred 1,069 2.10 72











OP + UG

Indicated 9,108 1.85 541 Inferred 13,197 1.84 780

Estimate Notes:

1. Mineral resources were estimated by Mr. B. Terrence Hennessey, P.Geo. and Mr. Alan J. San Martin, MAusIMM (CP) of Micon International Limited. ("Micon"), a Toronto based consulting company, independent of Cerrado Gold. Both Mr. Hennessey and Mr. San Martin meet the requirements of a "Qualified Person" as established by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (May 2014) ("the CIM Standards").

2. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and therefore do not have demonstrated economic viability.

3. The Serra Alta estimate has been completed entirely using Leapfrog Geo - EDGE software.

4. The estimate is based on a long-term gold price of US$ 1,600 per ounce and economic cut-off grades 0.30 g/t Au (Open Pit) and 1.10 g/t (Underground).

5. Open Pit constrained resources are reported within an optimized pit shell; underground resources are reported within continuous and contiguous shapes which lie adjacent to and below the ultimate open pit shell and interpreted to be recoverable utilizing standard underground mining methods.

6. The mineral resource estimate has an effective date of July 21, 2021.

7. The Serra Alta gold deposit was modelled by Cerrado using a wireframe constructed based on a 0.1 g/t Au cut-off grade and a few vein interpretations.

8. Rock density was assigned to different lithologies based on the geological and mineralization models, using calculated average values of 2.624 g/cm3 in granite, 2.65 g/cm3 in volcanics and 2.60 g/cm3 inside mineralization wireframes.

9. Grade capping was used to control the influence of outliers in the estimate, raw assays were composited to 1.0 m and then assessed for capping. Grade capping used throughout the deposit was 45 g/t Au for the main broad envelope and 8.0 g/t Au for the interpreted veins.

10. The block model gold grades were estimated using the Ordinary Kriging interpolation method with searching parameters derived from geostatistical analysis performed within the mineralization wireframes. Variogram ranges go from 90 m to 150 m in the major axis.

11. The estimate assumes a metallurgical recovery of 98.5% gold, based on completed test-work to date.

12. The estimate assumes the following costs: Mining (Pit) US$ 2.00/t, Mining (Pit Waste) US$ 1.70/t, Mining (Underground) US$ 40.00/t, Processing US$10.78/t, and G&A of US$ 2.00/t.

13. The pit constrained resource is reported within an optimized pit shell that assumed a maximum slope angle of 55 degrees. Open pit mining recovery was assumed to be 100%. Open pit dilution was assumed to be 0%. Underground mining recovery was assumed to be 100%. Underground dilution was assumed to be 0%.

14. Micon has not identified any legal, political, environmental, or other risks that could materially affect the potential development of the mineral resource estimate.

15. The mineral resource estimates are classified according to the CIM Standards which define a Mineral Resource as "a concentration or occurrence of solid material of economic interest in or on the earth's crust in such form, grade or quality and quantity that there are reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction. The location, quantity, grade or quality, continuity and other characteristics of a mineral resource are known, estimated, or interpreted from specific geological evidence and knowledge including sampling.

16. The mineral resource was categorized based on the geological confidence of the deposit into inferred and indicated categories. An inferred mineral resource has the lowest level of confidence. An indicated mineral resource has a higher level of confidence than an inferred mineral resource. It is reasonably expected that the portions of the inferred mineral resources could be upgraded to indicated mineral resources with additional infill drilling.

17. All procedures, methodologies and key assumptions supporting this mineral resource estimate are included in a NI 43-101F1 Technical Report which will be available at www.sedar.com.

Technical Disclosure

The reader is advised that the PEA summarized in this press release is intended to provide only an initial, high-level review of the project potential and design options. The PEA mine plan and economic model include numerous assumptions and the use of Inferred Mineral Resources. Inferred Mineral Resources are considered to be too speculative to be used in an economic analysis except as allowed for by Canadian Securities Administrators' National Instrument 43-101 in PEA studies. There is no guarantee the project economics described herein will be achieved.

Cerrado Gold Inc. will within 45 days, publish a Technical Report on SEDAR prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 that documents the PEA study and supports the current disclosure.

Independent Qualified Persons

Porfirio Cabaleiro Rodriguez, Mining Engineer, BSc (Mine Eng), MAIG, director of GE21 Consultoria Mineral Ltda and B. Terrence Hennessey, P.Geo., Vice President of MICON International Limited, are the Qualified Persons as defined in NI 43-101 responsible for the Technical Report and are both independent of the Company.

Quality Assurance Quality Control:

The scientific and technical information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Porfirio Cabaleiro Rodriguez, Mining Engineer, BSc (Mine Eng), MAIG, director of GE21 Consultoria Mineral Ltda, and B. Terrence Hennessey, P.Geo., Vice President of MICON International Limited, both of whom are Qualified Persons as defined in NI 43-101.

About GE21

GE21 is a specialized and independent mineral consulting firm based on a multi-disciplinary technical team, which offers services covering most project development stages in the mining sector.

The senior staff and Board of Directors have extensive technical and operational experience, based on collaboration with relevant companies in the fields of exploration and mineral consulting in Brazil going back to the 1980's.

GE21's services cover the entire mining cycle, from business strategies and target generation and investments to mine closure. GE21 routinely provides services for mineral exploration, project development, geological valuations, and resource and reserve estimation and certification according to international standards, including JORC and NI 43- 101. In addition, GE21 also serves the mining industry by working with operators in connection with mine planning and mine optimization, technical and economic studies as well as technical audits and the application of best market practices advocated by various international codes.

Cerrado Gold Conference Call

Time: Sep 1, 2021 11:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

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For further information please contact

Mark Brennan

CEO and Co Chairman

Tel: +1-647-796-0023

mbrennan@cerradogold.com

Nicholas Campbell, CFA

Director, Corporate Development

Tel.: +1-905-630-0148

ncampbell@cerradogold.com

About Cerrado Gold

Cerrado Gold is a public gold producer and exploration company with gold production derived from its 100% owned Minera Don Nicolas mine in Santa Cruz province, Argentina. It also owns 100% of the assets of Minera Mariana in Santa Cruz province, Argentina. The company is also undertaking exploration at its 100% owned Monte Do Carmo project located in Tocantins, Brazil. For more information about Cerrado Gold please visit our website at: www.cerradogold.com.

Disclaimer

NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking information" (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 discusses predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, without limitation, statements regarding the business and operations of Cerrado Gold. In making the forward- looking statements contained in this press release, Cerrado Gold has made certain assumptions, including, but not limited to ability of Cerrado to expand its drilling program at its Minera Don Nicolas Project and increase its resources and to progressing the recommendations under the PEA regarding the Monte Do Carmo Gold Project. Although Cerrado Gold believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that the expectations of any forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to general business, economic, competitive, political, and social uncertainties. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this press release. Except as required by law, Cerrado Gold disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/94132
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 23, 2021) - Pacific Arc Resources Ltd. (NEX: PAV.H) ("Pacific Arc" or the "Company") today announced that Chief Financial Officer Ed Duda has left the Company to pursue other interests.

Effective immediately, the Company has appointed ACM Management Inc., represented by Mr. Alexander McAulay, to provide contract interim Chief Financial Officer services to the Company.

For more information please contact:

John MacPhail, President, CEO & Director, Phone: (778) 688-7411

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or does not expect", "is expected", anticipates" or "does not anticipate" "plans", "estimates" or "intends" or stating that certain actions, events or results " may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to materially differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

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/94136
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - August 23, 2021) - Galleon Gold Corp. (TSXV: GGO) (the "Company" or "Galleon Gold") announces that Chris Dupont has advised the Company he is retiring from all positions held with the Company. As a director and COO, Mr. Dupont made significant contributions to the Company and its flagship West Cache Gold Project. David Russell commented: "On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Chris for his dedication to the Company, and to Explor Resources over the past decade. We wish him well as he starts his next phase."

About Galleon Gold

Galleon Gold is a North American exploration and development company. Eric Sprott holds approximately 23% of the Company's outstanding common shares and is also the Company's partner on the Neal Gold Project in Idaho. A Preliminary Economic Assessment is currently underway for the Company's flagship project, the West Cache Gold Project, located 13 km from Timmins, Ontario.

For further information:

Galleon Gold

R. David Russell

Chairman and CEO

T. (416) 644-0066

info@galleongold.com

www.galleongold.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements contained herein may be forward-looking statements which involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization and resources, exploration results, expectations, plans, and objectives of Galleon Gold are forward-looking statements that involve various risks. The following are important factors that could cause Galleon Gold's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements: changes in the world-wide price of mineral commodities, general market conditions, risks inherent in mineral exploration, risks associated with development, construction and mining operations, the uncertainty of future exploration activities and cash flows, risks related to infectious diseases, including Covid-19, and the uncertainty of access to additional capital. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events may differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Galleon Gold undertakes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/94129.
Nyca Partners, a NYC-based fintech venture capital firm, added Tom Brown as a Partner.

In this role, Mr. Brown brings to Nyca decades of legal fintech experience and deep connections to companies in and around the payments industry. He will be involved in all facets of the business, from fund-raising to sourcing potential investments to helping existing portfolio companies grow and develop.

Mr. Brown was most recently in the San Francisco office of Paul Hastings, where he was a Partner over the past decade. He has been a prolific direct investor and advisor in the space, having invested or advised Upstart, Chime, Ramp, Mercury, Albert, Digit, and a host of others. He created and taught a class on payments at U.C. Berkeley Law School and, earlier in his career, was a Vice President at Visa where he served as the catalyst for the companys reorganization.

Mr. Brown graduated from the University of Chicago Law School and has an undergraduate degree from Columbia University. He will remain a FinTech and Competition Policy advisor at Paul Hastings and venture advisor at the Financial Venture Studio.

Led by Hans Morris, Managing Partner, Nyca Partners is a venture capital firm focused on connecting innovative companies to the global financial system. With over $500 million under management and investments in more than 75 portfolio companies, Nyca has exited, via IPOs, mergers and SPACs, companies such as Affirm, Payoneer, Poynt, Acorns, and Blend.

FinSMEs

23/08/2021
Upgrade, Inc., a San Francisco, CA-based fintech company that offers credit to mainstream consumers, closed a $105m Series E funding round at a $3.325 billion pre-money valuation.

The round was led by Koch Disruptive Technologies (KDT) with participation from new and existing investors including BRV and Ventura Capital advised by Julius Baer.

The company intends to use the funds to expand its business reach abd design new products.

Led by Renaud Laplanche, co-founder and CEO, Upgrade provides Upgrade Card, its flagship product, which promotes responsible credit by turning every balance into a fixed-rate installment plan, and by paying rewards to cardholders as they pay down their balance. In July, the company also launched Upgrade Bitcoin Rewards Card, a credit card that pays rewards in bitcoin rather than cash.

Upgrade has delivered over $7 billion in credit to consumers through cards and loans since inception in 2017, and is on track to deliver $7 billion in 2021 alone.

The company also has an operations center in Phoenix, Arizona and a technology center in Montreal, Canada. Loans and credit lines are issued, and banking services are provided, by Cross River Bank, a New Jersey State Chartered Commercial Bank, Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender Cross River Bank, a New Jersey State Chartered Commercial Bank, Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender and Blue Ridge Bank, National Association. Upgrade Card is issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. Rewards associated with the Upgrade Card, when applicable, are provided by Upgrade, Inc.

FinSMEs

23/08/2021
Zepz, formerly WorldRemit, a London, UK-based digital cross-border payments platform, raised $292m in Series E funding achieving a valuation of $5 billion.

The round includes new equity investors Farallon Capital among others, as well as backing from existing investors Leapfrog, TCV and Accel.

The company intends to use the funds to continue to invest in its technology, platform and customer proposition, grow in its existing markets as well as expanding into new markets.

Led by Breon Corcoran, CEO, Zepz is a digital cross-border payments platform operating two brands (WorldRemit and Sendwave, acquired in 2021), with over 11 million users across 150 countries. The companys brands currently send from 50 to 130 countries, operate in more than 5,000 money transfer corridors worldwide and employ around 1,500 people globally.

In 2020, Zepz brands enabled over 4.5m monthly transactions on its platform generating almost $10bn of Gross Send Volumes and $338m of revenues.

Zepz headquarters are in London, United Kingdom with regional offices in the United States, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Africa, Somaliland, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Belgium.

FinSMEs

23/08/2021
Tampa, FL (33646)

Today

Thunderstorms - a few could contain very heavy rain, especially this afternoon. High 82F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms this evening becoming more widespread overnight. Low around 75F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
The City of Fontana is providing information for local voters in regard to the special statewide election which will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 14 for the possible recall of Gov. Gavin Newsom.
(CNN) -- Afghans who have applied for special immigrant visas to the US were told to stay away from Kabul's airport on Monday, as American officials ramped up evacuation flights and the Taliban said all US forces needed to leave Afghanistan by August 31.

Western countries are now in a frantic race to complete what US President Joe Biden last week called "one of the largest, most difficult airlifts in history," amid harrowing scenes at the airport of tens of thousands of people trying to flee Taliban rule.

Amid the scramble to evacuate, many Afghans have essentially been pushed to the back of the queue.

"We are currently prioritizing American citizens and legal permanent residents for entry," John Johnson, Public Affairs Officer for the US Embassy in Kabul, told CNN Monday. "Due to a deteriorating security environment we are asking all others not to come to the airport at this time -- the gates remain closed."

A source close to the situation at the airport told CNN that while current policy is to only let US and NATO citizens into the airport, they hoped to soon move to permitting applicants for the US' Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program -- an avenue for Afghans who worked for US forces and agencies to get out of the country -- along with the US embassy's local Afghan staff.

The change in policy at the airport comes as the US has sought to massively ramp up its mission. Some 10,400 people were evacuated from Kabul between Sunday and Monday morning, according to a White House official. It's the largest number in a 24-hour period to date and the first time the administration has exceeded its target of 5,000 to 9,000 daily evacuations. Dozens more US military transport jets were expected to land at the airport Monday.

G7 leaders are planning to press Biden hard on extending his August 31 deadline for US troops to withdraw from Afghanistan during a Tuesday virtual meeting. Biden has not publicly committed to such a move, worrying some allies who have pushed for an extension and fear there won't be enough time to get their citizens and Afghan allies out.

Biden indicated on Sunday that discussions were underway about the potential for remaining in the country longer, but the Taliban signaled on Monday that they view the August 31 date as firm.

"August 31 is the deadline announced by them. The US must adhere to removing troops from Afghanistan by this date. Otherwise, it will be a clear violation," spokesman Sohail Shaheen told CNN on Monday. He said that if there was a delay, "our leadership will take proper and necessary decisions."

After that date, Shaheen said those who wanted to leave "can do so through usual way of using commercial flights and having proper documents like passports and visas."

UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said Monday that British efforts to evacuate people from Kabul "are really down to hours now, not weeks," and forces on the ground must use every moment they have to get people out.

The UK has evacuated a total 6,600 people since August 14, and over 8,000 since April, Wallace told UK broadcasters. But he said people should be honest with "the reality, which is we won't get them all out."

Airport like the 'Wild West'

The number of people in and around the airport awaiting evacuation swelled to around 20,000 over the weekend, but had been reduced to around 13,000 on Monday, a source familiar with the situation told CNN.

Most of them are Afghans, the source said, adding that the number of US citizens at the airport was now in the low hundreds.

The airport was increasingly chaotic in terms of who was allowed in, with special forces -- Afghan and American -- looking out for their former Afghan colleagues. "It's quickly becoming the Wild West," said the source. "[Special] operators are pulling people through gates left and right."

Even with the new flight restrictions, thousands of Afghans, mostly military aged males with "no documentation," remained on the airport grounds, the source said. They had arrived on the second day during the "everyone gets in" lapse in filtering entrants.

The source said there were "no plans to kick people off the airport," potentially leaving thousands in limbo.

One reason for the chaos was the decision to issue electronic visas, without names or document numbers, to SIV applicants. The visas were then copied as screenshots and sent by Afghans to thousands of other Afghans who were not eligible for access to the airport, a source told CNN at the weekend.

"I don't think consular, or the administration frankly, realizes how badly they f*****d up by sending that stupid visa and letting everyone in for 24 hours straight," the source said Monday.

Dozens more military planes were due to arrive on Monday. Plans called for 33 US Air Force C-17s to head to Hamid Karzai International Airport in the next 24 hours, said the source. Each of the large four-engine jets has the ability to take 400 passengers out of Kabul, "which should make a decent dent" in the number of people stuck at the airport.

Meanwhile Monday, Japan joined the list of countries sending military transport aircraft to Kabul. Katsunobu Kato, Japan's chief cabinet secretary, said one Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) plane would go to the Afghan capital on Monday, with more expected in the coming days.

On Sunday, conditions at the airport worsened throughout the day, with its entry gates for the most part closed. There were instances of families being split up and sent to different countries in the chaos.

"I don't know what they were doing, but there is still local staff struggling at the gates and not even being able to get in," a source close to the situation told CNN, referring to Afghans employed by the US.

Families were being separated and sent to different countries, the source added. This was "not by design and not really the fault of US officials, but they're either choosing to come in separately, or getting separated on the way in," they said.

"They've had cases where mom, dad, and children all end up in different countries," said the source.

Afghan killed by sniper fire

The chaos continued on Monday morning, when sniper fire killed a member of the Afghan security forces helping secure the base, one source told CNN. The affiliation of the sniper was unclear, the source said.

In the confusion, Afghan forces returned fire, but in the direction of some US Marines, who opened fire themselves, injuring four Afghans, the source said. The four are in stable condition and there were no US casualties.

Almost 20 people are believed to have died from stampedes or gunshots around the airport in the past week.

Seven Afghan civilians died in crushes near Kabul's airport on Saturday, a spokesperson for Britain's Ministry of Defense (MoD) told CNN. One crush took place outside the airport itself while another happened outside the Baron Hotel.

"Conditions on the ground remain extremely challenging but we are doing everything we can to manage the situation as safely and securely as possible," the MoD spokesperson said.

'I'm lucky to leave'

The pace of evacuations from Kabul airport appeared to be picking up on Monday, with planes regularly taking off and long lines of evacuees waiting to board flights.

One Afghan journalist, Qiam Noori, waiting to board a flight to Qatar, told CNN he had mixed feelings about leaving.

"I'm lucky to leave," he said. "But I'm also leaving a whole family behind, a lot of friends."

Noori believes the Taliban would have been unlikely to give him space to live freely. "This is the reality" of life in Afghanistan, Noori said, adding that his heart was already broken.

In the 20 years since the Taliban were pushed from power, millions of Afghans embraced new benefits including increased access to education for women. Now the country's future is getting on planes out of the country.

As one evacuee at the airport told CNN on Monday, Afghanistan is witnessing a total "brain drain."

The-CNN-Wire

 &  2021 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.
President Joe Biden announced his intention to nominate Rahm Emanuel, pictured here on September 20, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois, as ambassador to Japan and Nicholas Burns as ambassador to China.
Fragrances from New Fragrance House Pearlescent: Aquarose and Baklava

Fragrance Reviews

A new perfume house, Pearlescent Parfums, has entered the scene with two initial offerings: Baklava and Aquarose. The new perfumes couldn't be more different from each other, yet they are bound together in a number of interesting ways. They are the collaboration of husband and wife team Daniel and Mindy Gallagher, currently of Texas, USA. If the name Gallagher sounds familiar, it's because you've likely heard it before: Dan is the creator and perfumer for Gallagher Fragrances, maker of such scents as Amongst Waves, Fineapple, Wicked Good, and the Art and Olfaction Awards finalist Rose All Dae. You can read some of our previous articles about his fragrances Behold, Patchouli and an overview of many Gallagher Creations by Elena Vosnaki and Stefanie Jahn.

Secondly, the two introductory Pearlescent fragrances are designed to be part of a (potentially) ongoing series, where color and design continue with each release, binding them each together. When their boxes are held end to end, they create an unfolding and connected linear botanical design. Each bottle is color coded where the cap mimics a kind of marble or semiprecious stone, and is matched to its colored box. It makes one very curious to know what the next releases will be and the colors they'll correspond to.

There was the idea that Gallagher Fragrances had always been a bit more "masculine leaning" in its releases, and the demographic of the fans bears some of this out. It's notable that many of Gallagher's works are easily wearable by anyone, but if one were to choose, this would probably be the case. It was enough so that, along with the idea of wanting to work on a project together, Mindy and Dan decided to collaborate: They liked the distinct challenge of working on perfumes more specifically geared toward women. The result, like all good collaborations, brings out the best of the talents involved. The new work is a real stand-out debut for the line, showcasing two very distinct perfume approaches that are equally enticing for their particular genre defining (and genre-crossing) characteristics.

We start with Baklava, a perfume name that definitely doesn't shroud itself in mystery. I recall smiling a lot when I first saw the name, and wondering "Hmm - is this going to be a smell-alike to the pastry itself?" And what a challenge that is on two levels... first, to recreate the rich and intense smell of a desert such as this is quite a technical feat. Second, would this actually operate well as a perfume?



A number of notable sensations arise when you spray Baklava. Dare I say you think: baklava? But true to form, the Ottoman era dessert pastry is most definitely at the forefront of impressions. The slightly buttery feel of thin sheets of filo tightly held together with nuts and honey syrup are magically painted in front of you. I really relished this photorealism for a bit, and then noticed within about 20 minutes that various constituent parts become more noticeable, in a far more fragrance-minded way, and Baklava matures into more of a proper perfume instead of just a tasty gourmand idea.

Three note profiles are skillfully rendered: Honey, pistachio, and neroli. In the first case, this honey accord is sweet, warm, nurturing, and just a faint bit floral. It's not overpoweringly rich or sticky; more of a suggestion of honey mixed with many other gourmand flourishes that add together to create richness, a delectability, but still within the realm of perfume-like honey. Pistachio is a real delight because it's not as much used in fragrances as I wish - encountering it is always welcomed gladly. With such a distinct nutty scent (in ways a bit green and raw as compared to other nut scents,) this has the associated creaminess and softness that pistachio emits. Both of these profiles are joined by a persistent, resonant neroli. This may be the key that renders the opening and middle of the perfume as "perfumey" as it is. Neroli can be one of the most fickle of fragrance notes, since it has a citrus origin, and a woody side as well as an animalic one, too. Here, it's smooth, elegant, adding yet more depth and warmth to honey, vanilla, and musk to make a long road of amber-floral creaminess that stretches out for hours.



On skin, the cherry facet plays up nicely at the onset, and has an exceptionally long life. A soft white musk, sweetened by honey and vanilla and touched with flaky bits of pastry, is really a delightful gourmand, bringing to mind the more foodish Serge Lutens scents like Arabie, Jeux de Peau, or Miel de Bois. Whether sprayed on paper or worn, the fragrance is intense and strong - but this all works to its advantage as it doesn't "play nice," and instead confronts you with all the deliciousness of baklava that you'd expect.



My final thoughts on the realism vs. wearability is that it checks off both boxes, in different stages. First it achieves its realism on first spray when a touch of all the notes come out and you can imagine the nutty dessert in front of you. As the separate accords emerge one at a time, coming together and then separating here and there in waves, it is a multilayered perfume of Eastern sensibility, merging the floral tones of neroli together with animalic musk and honey into an attar-like intensity.

Sweet Orange, Bergamot, Cherry, Almond, Pistachio, Neroli, Baklava, Honey, Vanilla, Patchouli, Musk

The second fragrance takes a turn from the sand dunes that are suggested in the very resinous and nutty world of middle eastern desserts to the lyrical notion of a seaside rose. Aquarose uses the rose blossom as the center of a floral bouquet, where two rose accords mingle together with jasmine, and magnolia. The surroundings of these central flowers are what make the perfume special - they're topped with a balanced triad of bergamot, sweet orange, and a sea accord (which reads as a kind of general freshness, like ocean spray or salt water humidity.) Behind the flowers are musk, musk mallow (adding in a hint of amber,) ambergris, and driftwood.



Aquarose enters with a piquant, juicy kind of rose note, a high and bright rose that is also observable in Gallagher's previous Rose All Dae. Rose is again protagonist in this composition, and here it is just that bit more wet and supple, dewey, and extremely fresh. This does not last forever, and the rose (or in this cases, roses, as there are a few accords involved) matures and a distinct note of magnolia emerges. Magnolia flower is rich in linalool, which has a particularly citrusy and salty smell, extremely pleasant and evocative of woods and fruits, besides its natural nod to floral blossoms. It acts as an interesting bridge toward the base of musk and driftwood, creating a general sense of tidewater, wood, salt, brine, and brambles all found at the shore and smelling faintly of sun and sea.

As a composition, Aquarose relies heavily on this very beach-like base to support the flowers, much like the wild beach roses that populate shores around the US, smelling sharp and delicate at the same time, fed as they are by the mists of the ocean that is so near to them. Patchouli is part of this base and works well since it imparts just that tinge of earthiness that you'd find in such a landscape, but it's used as a dry element here and does something to ground the perfume with some roots.



Wearing Aquarose brings to mind the kind of melange of smells that you would encounter if you spent some hours at the beach and brought some of those wild roses home with you in your car. There is part of the landscape's smell all around you - the sand, the sea, and of course the roses. Pearlescent Parfums has expanded this rose smell by giving jasmine and magnolia more of a voice in the profile, but here it simply broadens and enriches the rose-centered idea and adds to its facets. It also allows the initially fresh and rosebud-like beginning to mature into a full bodied rose bouquet.

Bergamot, Sweet Orange, Jasmine, Magnolia Blossoms, May Rose, Turkish Rose, Sea Spray, White Ambergris, Sandalwood, Patchouli, Driftwood, Musk, Musk Mallow

As an expansion from Gallagher Fragrances, Pearlescent Parfums starts off with strong releases that mark out new territory. Clearly the collaboration of Mindy and Dan has generated a fruitful new spark of creativity that sets a new niche house on the map for its clever approaches, pushing boundaries in very wearable ways.

Baklava and Aquarose are perfumes number #1 and #2 in the new series from Pearlescent Parfums. They are available in 2 ml sample sizes, and as 60 ml eau de parfum, each at $175.00. They may be purchased at the Pearlescent Parfums website.
Yes! Ive really missed regular library visits during the pandemic.

Im excited, but I dont think Im ready to make a full return to the library just yet.

Ive shifted to using the libraries virtual and curbside services, and itll probably stay that way.

I dont use the local library.

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In this Monday Aug. 2 photo, Tiara Burton stands outside a courthouse in Virginia Beach, Va. Burton was facing eviction proceedings over unpaid rent but said that she was able to work things out with her landlord. An attorney representing her landlord told her that she had been approved for assistance through the Virginia Rent Relief Program and that her court hearing was postponed for 30 days.
Galveston, TX (77553)

Today

Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Hot and humid. High near 90F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Mostly cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 83F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph.
Galveston, TX (77553)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms. Hot and humid. High 91F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Some clouds. Low 83F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph.
I would say overall grass seed crop is going to be lighter than normal due to primarily the drought but also the heat, said Roger Beyer, executive director of the Oregon Seed Council. Unirrigated tall fescue seems to be taking the worst hit  but I would say overall that the crop is lighter than it should be.

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Greens demonstration helps prove it. Its not just that the numbers are light, the crop itself is physically lighter and less marketable. Pugh and other Linn County grass farmers primarily dont irrigate, meaning they simply use dry ground and rely on rainfall to water the crops.

We saw in April that it was going to be a dry year, we saw prices starting to creep up a bit, Pugh said. But it was worse than we thought it would be.

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The lack of water has resulted in much lighter and smaller seeds, which are not only less valuable, theyre harder to properly combine off the fields, leading to further losses. In a typical year, Pugh says he can stomach losses of around 20 pounds per acre. This year, hes struggled to get that number under 20, and with lower yields in general, this further harms his bottom line.

Low rainfall also acts as a boon for insects and other creatures that eat away at crops, such as pill bugs, slugs and ladybugs. All those little things add up, said Pugh.
Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2021.
Remembering September 11

We pledged on Sept. 11, 2001, that we would never forget. As if we could. The tragedy and loss we felt 20 years ago is forever imbedded in our memories. We remember where we were, what we felt. We remember the loss of innocence. What do you remember about 9/11? Please share your memories with us that we can include in a special edition on Sept. 11. Send emails to aturner@gillettenewsrecord.net.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Aug. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vicinity Energy , owner and operator of the nations largest portfolio of district energy systems, announces that it has purchased carbon offsets for its Grand Rapids district energy operations offsetting carbon emissions in the City by 95,400 metric tons over a three-year period.



Vicinity Energy supplies space heating and cooling, domestic hot and chilled water, humidification, and sterilization to over 100 facilities located in downtown Grand Rapids. Through its efficient district energy operations, Vicinity currently reduces greenhouse gas emissions in Grand Rapids by 11,000 tons of carbon emissions annually, the equivalent of removing 2,400 cars from the road. The purchase of carbon offsets will allow Vicinity to further support the sustainability efforts of the City of Grand Rapids and the Grand Rapids 2030 District Plan, offsetting carbon emissions by an additional 95,400 metric tons over a three-year period, without any additional cost to customers.

"The City of Grand Rapids and building owners in downtown Grand Rapids have received low-carbon energy from our district network for over a century, and this purchase of carbon offsets reinforces our commitment to the City and our entire Grand Rapids customer base in delivering thermal energy that is both reliable and sustainable," said JJ Loew, Vicinity Energy general manager in Grand Rapids. "We're proud to continue our greening efforts alongside the City and all our customers to reduce carbon emissions and increase climate resilience in our community, so that future generations may thrive here for years to come."

Sustainability is one of the Citys core values. Since 2008, the City has reduced our carbon emissions by 30%, which exceeds the 26-28% Paris Climate Accord target for 2025, and we remain committed to further reducing carbon emissions, said Alison Waske Sutter, Grand Rapids sustainability and performance management officer. Vicinitys purchase of carbon offsets supports our mutual goals to continue measurable progress toward reducing carbon emissions for both our city government operations and community in order to achieve the 2030 Districts target of net zero carbon by 2050.

This milestone in Grand Rapids marks another key step forward for Vicinity in its efforts to further green its district energy systems nationwide, including its recent purchase of carbon-free electricity in Baltimore and the integration of renewable biogenic fuel into its energy mix. Together, these actions bring Vicinity closer to its goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050 .

About Vicinity Energy

With 19 district energy systems in 12 major cities, Vicinity Energy is the leading provider of district energy solutions in the U.S. Vicinity produces and distributes steam, hot water, and chilled water directly through its vast underground network to individual buildings and campuses. District energy eliminates the need for boiler and chiller plants in individual buildings, improving overall efficiency, lowering carbon footprints, and increasing reliability. Vicinitys over 450 skilled engineers, operators, and energy experts have a singular dedication to customer success and a relentless focus on delivering reliable and efficient energy products and services. Vicinity is committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions across all operations by 2050. For more information about Vicinity or the companys Clean Energy Future roadmap, check out www.vicinityenergy.us .

Media Contact

Vicinity Media Relations

Colleen Doherty

Director of Communications

857 557 7814

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/dcf33004-69ba-4628-b313-39784eaaa6dd
Singapore , Aug. 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

Medical technologists are vital to Singapores COVID-19 testing capabilities in the countrys bid to open up safely, but their efforts often go unnoticed by the public

Since May 2021, medical technologists have processed nearly 70,000 COVID-19 tests a week, with more than 16 million tests completed throughout the pandemic

Their stories will be shared on social media as part of the Proud to Pipette campaign, celebrating their role supporting Singapore during the pandemic

The Proud to Pipette campaign celebrates the medical technologists in Singapore who work tirelessly in laboratories, hospitals and testing centers to process COVID-19 tests, supporting the countrys trace and track efforts.

Advanced MedTech Holdings (AMTH), a home-grown global medical technology leader, headquartered in Singapore, is spearheading the campaign.

The initiative aims to spotlight medical technologists, whose line of work often requires them to work round the clock, while risking their personal safety, as they handle active viral samples during the pandemic. They have been as essential as frontline healthcare workers in protecting Singapore, yet their efforts often go unnoticed.

Through their work, healthcare workers and contract tracing staff can rigorously track and trace infected persons to effectively manage any outbreaks.

At least 1,000 reusable masks with the campaign hashtag ProudtoPipette will be distributed, along with a QR code to redeem KOI bubble tea vouchers.

AMTH will identify these critical professionals through existing customer networks and social media.

To further honor their efforts, AMTH will spearhead a social media platform for medical technologists to share their untold stories of personal sacrifice during the pandemic. Follow their journey here .

Abel Ang, Group Chief Executive of Advanced MedTech, said Medical technologists involved in testing are the unsung heroes of the pandemic. Like healthcare workers, they have toiled long hours with the constant risk of being exposed to the virus. This campaign seeks to honor their tremendous efforts to keep our country safe, with a unique reusable facemask that proudly identifies what they do, together with a popular drink enjoyed by many, in the testing laboratories.

About Advanced MedTech Holdings

Advanced MedTech Holdings is a global medical technology leader with a core focus in urology devices and services. Headquartered in Singapore, with operations in US, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, China, Malaysia and Japan, the Company serves millions of patients and physicians in 100 countries worldwide. Advanced MedTech Holdings makes strategic investments in disruptive medical technology companies, strengthening its portfolio of healthcare solutions for customers around the world. Advanced MedTech Holdings is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Temasek. For more information on Advanced MedTech Holdings, please visit https://www.advanced-medtech.com/ .

Advanced MedTech Media Contacts:





Thomas Harding / Khushboo Tanna / Maryanne Lee

Spurwing Communications

+65 6751 2021

advanced@spurwingcomms.com
















Dublin, Aug. 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "US Cordless Power Tools Market - Industry Outlook & Forecast 2021-2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The cordless power tools market by revenue is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.49% during the period 2021-2026.



The increasing demand for efficient power tools is gaining traction in the global market. The surge in the infrastructure and the construction sectors is a boon to the power tools market that will enforce innovations in the future. NiCd, NiMH, and Li-ion are some of the most common batteries widely used in cordless power tools. Advances in battery technology are enabling the introduction of new products and services in the industry.



The following factors are likely to contribute to the growth of the cordless power tools market during the forecast period:

Increasing demand for Industrial Heat Guns

Rising of Technological Innovation in Industry 4.0

Growing Demand for DIY Projects

Growth In Use of Fasteners

The study considers the present scenario of the cordless power tools market and its market dynamics for the period 2020?2026. It covers a detailed overview of several market growth enablers, restraints, and trends. The report offers both the demand and supply aspects of the market. It profiles and examines leading companies and other prominent ones operating in the market.



KEY HIGHLIGHTS

The DIY culture is one of the significant drivers for cordless power tools. The impact of the driver is more significant in US and European countries in 2020.

The US is the leading exporter of manufacturing technology products, thereby surging the demand for cordless power tools.

The drilling and fastening tools, demolition tools, and sawing and cutting tools segments are expected to contribute more than 55% to the incremental growth in the market in the upcoming years.

Players are investing in new forms and fastening technologies for reshaping the requirements of fastening technologies. This is expected to drive the growth of the US cordless power tools market share.

SEGMENTATION ANALYSIS



Segmentation by Tool Type

Drilling and Fastening Tools

Sawing and Cutting Tools

Demolition Tools

Material Removal Tools

Routing Tools

Others

Segmentation by End-User

Industrial

Commercial

Residential

GEOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS



South: The growth is supported by due to new construction projects and construction projects in the pipeline in the region. States such as Texas, Louisiana, Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Maryland, and Florida are the top states in this region that accounts for US construction project pipeline.



West: According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) survey, the states West region of the US with the largest homes built are Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming.



Northeast: Nearly 190,000 new privately-owned housing units are under construction in 2021. Vendors are expected to gain the opportunities in the Northeast region to boom the sale of power tools.



Midwest: Car production and maintenance operations are dependent on portable cordless power tools across the region.

VENDOR ANALYSIS



The cordless power tools market in the US is moderately fragmented and is dominated by vendors, such as Stanley Black & Decker, Bosch, and TTI. The competition among the players will be based solely on features such as durability, technology, services, and price and customization. Vendors must develop new technologies and remain upgraded with upcoming innovations to have a competitive advantage over other players. For instance, Bosch is the only vendor that offers cordless power tools that support inductive charging techniques. Bosch is also trying to improve the accommodation for the DIY enthusiasts and other new target groups based on the user requirements. The publisher believes that the global players will grow inorganically by acquiring regional or local players in the future. The adoption of cordless power tools among end-users in the US is impressive since their launch. The competition among companies is intensifying, leading to introducing innovative and advanced solutions in the industry.



Key Company Profiles

Stanley Black & Decker

Robert Bosch

Techtronic Industries Company

Makita

HILTI

Other Prominent Vendors

Atlas Copco

Apex Tool Group

Snap-On

Koki Holdings

Emerson

Fortive

Chervon

Aimco

Dynabrade

STIHL

IQ Power Tools

Festool

Illinois Tool Works

Ingersoll Rand

KEY QUESTIONS ANSWERED:



1. How big is the US cordless power tools market?

2. What are the key factors and trends enabling market growth?

3. Which End-User type has the highest adoption of the U.S. cordless power tools market?

4. Who are the key players in the US cordless power tools market?

5. Which tool type is expected to grow significantly during the forecast period 2021-2026?





For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/imehbp

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.
Toronto, ON, Aug. 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business partners with Hydro One

to support Indigenous Businesses

Toronto, ON  August 23, 2021  Today, the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) announced a partnership with Hydro One to support Indigenous owned businesses through two types of grants. Businesses that are majority owned and controlled by an Indigenous Canadian are encouraged to apply to one of two grant streams by September 13.

Level 1 Grants: 20 recipients will be awarded a $2,500 grant and a CCAB membership. Grants will be selected by lottery draw prior to September 30.

Level 2 Grants: 8 recipients will be awarded a $7,500 grant and a CCAB membership. Level 2 recipients are selected through a jury review process and will be notified by September 30.

CCAB is proud to partner with Hydro One in support of Ontario Indigenous businesses, said Tabatha Bull, President and CEO of CCAB. As a silver-certified member in our PAR program, Hydro One continues to demonstrate their commitment to achieving successful positive relations with the Indigenous community. This investment helps give support to those Indigenous businesses that need it the most.

This partnership is part of Hydro Ones commitment to ensuring that 20 per cent of its community investments are directed to Indigenous communities. Hydro One is also committed to increasing its Indigenous procurement spend to 5 per cent of the companys purchases of materials and services by 2026.

Hydro One is committed to supporting Indigenous-owned businesses in Ontario and growing our network of Indigenous suppliers as part of the continued empowerment of Indigenous communities, said Penny Favel, VP Indigenous Relations, Hydro One. By partnering with the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, we can help Indigenous-owned businesses thrive as the economy restarts.

Applications are now open and can be submitted online until September 13, 2021. Successful grant recipients will be notified by September 30, 2021. Learn more about eligibility requirements and how to apply by CLICKING HERE.

-30-





About the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business

CCAB is committed to the full participation of Indigenous peoples in Canadas economy. As a national, non-partisan association, its mission is to promote, strengthen and enhance a prosperous Indigenous economy through the fostering of business relationships, opportunities, and awareness. CCAB offers knowledge, resources, and programs to its members to cultivate economic opportunities for Indigenous peoples and businesses across Canada. For more information visit www.ccab.com.

Hydro One Limited (TSX: H)

Hydro One Limited, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, is Ontario's largest electricity transmission and distribution provider with approximately 1.4 million valued customers, approximately $30.3 billion in assets as at December 31, 2020, and annual revenues in 2020 of approximately $7.3 billion.

Our team of approximately 8,700 skilled and dedicated employees proudly build and maintain a safe and reliable electricity system which is essential to supporting strong and successful communities. In 2020, Hydro One invested approximately $1.9 billion in its transmission and distribution networks, and supported the economy through buying approximately $1.7 billion of goods and services.

We are committed to the communities where we live and work through community investment, sustainability and diversity initiatives. We are designated as a Sustainable Electricity Company by the Canadian Electricity Association.

Hydro One Limited's common shares are listed on the TSX and certain of Hydro One Inc.'s medium term notes are listed on the NYSE. Additional information can be accessed at; www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov

For more information, contact:

Marissa Baecker, Sr. Associate, Communications

Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business

mbaecker@ccab.com

Hydro One Media Relations

416-345-6868

Media.relations@HydroOne.com

Attachments
BRISBANE, Australia, Aug. 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Adyton Resources Corporation (TSX Venture: ADY; OTCQB: ADYRF) (Adyton) is pleased to announce that Frank Terranova, Chairman, President and CEO will go through Adytons August presentation including an update on current operations and upcoming milestones.



You can register for the webinar below:

Date: Wednesday, August 25th

Time: 11am ET

Register: Webinar Registration

HAVE QUESTIONS? Management will be available to answer your questions following the presentation on the webinar platform. You may also submit your question(s) beforehand via email to adyton@rbmilestone.com

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF ADYTON RESOURCES CORPORATION

Frank Terranova, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

For further information please contact:

Frank Terranova, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

E-mail: fterranova@adytonresources.com

Phone: +61 7 3854 2389

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

ABOUT ADYTON RESOURCES CORPORATION

Adyton Resources Corporation is focused on the development of gold and copper resources in world class mineral jurisdictions. It currently has a portfolio of highly prospective mineral exploration projects in Papua New Guinea on which it is exploring for copper and gold. The Companys mineral exploration projects are located on the Pacific Ring of Fire which hosts several world class copper and gold deposits.

Map showing the location of Adytons Papua New Guinea exploration projects relative to significant PNG gold projects.

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5c41023b-1c0b-47f7-b02c-16d6d6e00953

Adyton was formed by a reverse takeover transaction completed with XIB I Capital Corporation on February 17, 2021, and commenced trading on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol ADY on February 24, 2021.

Adyton is also quoted on the QTCQB market under the code ADYRF, and Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the code 701: GR.

For more information about Adyton and its projects, visit www.adytonresources.com.
As Chief People Officer, Perkins will drive talent development and acquisition while amplifying Archers culture on a global scale, reporting to co-CEO Adam Goldstein





With decades of General Counsel experience in prominent technology companies, Missan will oversee Archers legal function, reporting to co-CEO Brett Adcock





New hires round out Archers leadership team, supporting the company as they bring an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to market and usher in a new era of sustainable travel



PALO ALTO, Calif., Aug. 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- California-based Archer Aviation Inc. (Archer" or the Company), a leading Urban Air Mobility company and developer of all-electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, today announced two new hires: Tosha Perkins, who has joined the company as Chief People Officer and Andy Missan, who has joined as Chief Legal Officer. In her role, Perkins will manage hiring efforts and develop the company culture as Archer continues to grow its industry-leading team. Missan will bring robust strategic legal guidance, as Archer transitions to a public company following the completion of the proposed business combination with Atlas Crest Investment Corp. (Atlas Crest) (NYSE: ACIC), which is expected to close this fall.

As Archer continues to grow, Perkins will focus on recruiting the best engineers, business leaders, finance minds, and more. With years of experience with large public company human resources and talent recruitment, she will craft talent acquisition strategies to build strong pipelines for future hiring needs, promoting diversity, equality and inclusion (DE&I) in the workplace, and designing and evaluating career paths to meet the companys business goals. Perkins addition will help bolster Archers team with new talent who will help lead the way to the companys planned commercial launch in 2024.

Prior to joining Archer, Perkins was the Chief Human Resources Officer and Senior Vice President at McDermott International Inc, where she was globally responsible for all human resources functions and supported 40,000 employees across 54 countries. Prior to McDermott International Inc, Perkins held leadership roles at several large consulting firms, including Slalom and Accenture. Perkins earned her B.S. in psychology from Texas State University and a Ph.D. from Alliant International University in industrial/organizational psychology.

While I have held various human resource positions throughout my career, it's incredibly rare to step into a startup that has already assembled an amazing team of some of the finest minds in its industry, said Tosha Perkins. I'm honored to be trusted with expanding the tremendous talent at Archer and to support the company's work towards a more sustainable future.

In his new role, Missan will manage all aspects of Archers legal affairs, including corporate governance, compliance, strategic contracts, litigation, government affairs, and regulatory matters. His deep experience in the legal profession will support Archer's business efforts, as well as help navigate the novel legal issues in the burgeoning Urban Air Mobility market.

Missan previously served as Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Fitbit, where he helped guide the company through complex legal challenges during a tremendous period of growth from private to public company, and ultimately worked with Fitbits finance and management teams to complete the sale of Fitbit. Prior to Fitbit, he built legal departments as General Counsel in a number of cutting-edge technology companies, including Bytemobile, MobiTV and Danger. Missan graduated from Oberlin College where he earned his B.A. in Government, and earned a J.D. from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law.

Its an exhilarating opportunity to join Archer and continue to develop the legal function for a team that is creating such a transformational product and defining a new industry," Missan said.

As Archer continues to grow as a company, leadership support will become more important than ever. Adding Tosha and Andy will not only continue our superior hiring history, but will also bring an industry perspective that will be instrumental in Archers development, said Adam Goldstein, Archer co-founder and co-CEO. With increased legal and human resource support, we are bolstering the team we need for certification and beyond.

We took our time hiring into these key leadership positions with the hopes of finding the perfect fit for our growing company, and recruiting Tosha and Andy proved to be worth the wait, said Brett Adcock, Archer co-founder and co-CEO. With combined decades of experience in their respective fields, we are confident that they will provide the necessary foundation for the continued growth of Archer.

Archer is expected to close its merger with Atlas Crest this fall, adding to a year of significant milestones. Most notably, Archer recently unveiled its demonstrator aircraft, Maker, which allowed consumers worldwide to virtually step inside the aircraft and envision a trip in Archers commercial aircraft ahead of its planned commercial launch in 2024.

Now, the companys focus is geared towards certification and its commercial launch in approximately three years time. Continue to follow along with Archers journey via www.archer.com .

About Archer

Archers mission is to advance the benefits of sustainable air mobility. Archers goal is to move people throughout the world's cities in a quick, safe, sustainable, and cost-effective manner. Archer is designing and developing electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for use in Urban Air Mobility. Archer's team is based in Palo Alto, CA. To learn more, visit www.archer.com .

For Media

Louise Bristow

Archer

C: 818 398 8091

louise.bristow@archer.com

archer@launchsquad.com

Andrea Hurst

Moelis & Company

C: 347 583 9705

andrea.hurst@moelis.com

About Atlas Crest

Atlas Crest Investment Corp. (NYSE: ACIC) is a special purpose acquisition company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, stock purchase or similar business combination with one or more businesses and is sponsored by an affiliate of Moelis & Company, a leading global financial advisor to corporate executives, boards, entrepreneurs, financial sponsors and governments. The management team is led by Ken Moelis, Chairman, and Michael Spellacy, Chief Executive Officer, both of whom have had careers centered around identifying, evaluating and implementing organic and inorganic transformational growth and value creation initiatives across a broad range of industries. Atlas Crest priced its $500 million initial public offering on October 27, 2020.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this press release are not historical facts but are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as believe, may, will, estimate, continue, anticipate, intend, expect, should, would, plan, predict, potential, seem, seek, future, outlook, and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding future events, the Business Combination between Atlas Crest and Archer, the estimated or anticipated future results and benefits of the combined company following the business combination, including the likelihood and ability of the parties to successfully consummate the business combination, future opportunities for the combined company, and other statements that are not historical facts. These statements are based on the current expectations of the management of Atlas Crest and Archer and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on, by any investor as a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of Atlas Crest and Archer. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties regarding the businesses of Atlas Crest and Archer and the business combination, and actual results may differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the early stage nature of Archers business and its past and projected future losses; Archers ability to manufacture and deliver aircraft and its impact on the risk of investment; Archers dependence on United Airlines for its current aircraft orders and development process, and the risk that United Airlines cancels its contracts with Archer; risks relating to the uncertainty of the projections included in the model; the effectiveness of Archers marketing and growth strategies, including its ability to effectively market air transportation as a substitute for conventional methods of transportation; Archers ability to compete in the competitive urban air mobility and eVTOL industries; Archers ability to obtain expected or required certifications, licenses, approvals, and authorizations from transportation authorities; Archers ability to achieve its business milestones and launch products on anticipated timelines; Archers dependence on suppliers and service partners for the parts and components in its aircraft; Archers ability to develop commercial-scale manufacturing capabilities; regulatory requirements and other obstacles outside of Archers control that slow market adoption of electric aircraft, such as Archers inability to obtain and maintain adequate facilities and Vertiport infrastructure; Archers ability to hire, train and retain qualified personnel; risks related to Archers Aerial Ride Sharing Business operating in densely populated metropolitan areas and heavily regulated airports; adverse publicity from accidents involving aircraft, helicopters or lithium-ion battery cells; the impact of labor and union activities on Archers workforce; losses resulting from indexed price escalation clauses in purchase orders and cost overruns; regulatory risks related to evolving laws and regulations in Archers industries; impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Archers business and the global economy; the inability of the parties to successfully or timely consummate the proposed business combination, including the risk that any required regulatory approvals are not obtained, are delayed or are subject to unanticipated conditions that could adversely affect the combined company or the expected benefits of the proposed business combination or that the approval of the stockholders of Atlas Crest or Archer is not obtained; a decline in Archers securities following the business combination if it fails to meet the expectations of investors or securities analysts; Archers inability to protect its intellectual property rights from unauthorized use by third parties; Archers need for and the availability of additional capital; cybersecurity risks; risks and costs associated with the ongoing litigation with Wisk Aero LLC; the dual class structure of Archers common stock, which will limit other investors ability to influence corporate matters; the amount of redemption requests made by Atlas Crests public stockholders; the ability of Atlas Crest or the combined company to issue equity or equity-linked securities in connection with the proposed business combination or in the future, and those factors discussed in Atlas Crests definitive proxy statement/prospectus, dated August 11, 2021 under the heading Risk Factors, filed with the SEC on August 11, 2021. If any of these risks materialize or if assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that neither Atlas Crest nor Archer presently know or that Atlas Crest and Archer currently believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect Atlas Crests and Archers expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this press release. Atlas and Archer anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause Atlas Crests and Archers assessments to change. However, while Atlas Crest and Archer may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Atlas Crest and Archer specifically disclaim any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Atlas Crests or Archers assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements.

Important Information for Investors and Stockholders and Where to Find It

In connection with the proposed business combination, Atlas Crest filed a registration statement on Form S-4, which was declared effective by the SEC on August 11, 2021. The definitive proxy statement/prospectus was first mailed to the stockholders of Atlas Crest on August 12, 2021. Investors and security holders of Atlas Crest are urged to read the definitive proxy statement/prospectus, and any amendments or supplements thereto carefully and in their entirety because they contain important information about Atlas Crest, Archer and the proposed business combination. Investors and security holders may obtain copies of the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC by Atlas Crest through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov . The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, the websites referenced in this press release is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this press release.

Participants in the Solicitation

Atlas Crest, Archer, Atlas Crests sponsor and their respective directors, executive officers, other members of management, and employees, under SEC rules, may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies of Atlas Crests stockholders in connection with the proposed business combination. Investors and security holders may obtain more detailed information regarding the names, and interests in the business combination of certain of Atlas Crests directors and officers in Atlas Crests filings with the SEC, including the definitive proxy statement/prospectus.

No Offer or Solicitation

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, or a solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction in connection with the transaction or any related transactions, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction where, or to any person to whom, such offer, solicitation or sale may be unlawful. Any offering of securities or solicitation of votes regarding the proposed business combination will be made only by means of the definitive proxy statement/prospectus.

Source: Archer

Text: ArcherIR
Toronto, ON, Canada, Aug. 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- To enable team members to reach the highest levels of productivity, fulfillment, engagement, and happiness, Toronto-based hypergrowth machine learning startup BenchSci has announced it is now a remote-first company.

Working remotely for the past 18 months has not hindered the company's growth and success; BenchSci has doubled in size since the start of the pandemic. Almost half of the people hired during this time don't live in the Greater Toronto Area, and the company now has 38% of team members beyond commuting distance to the office.

Being remote-first allows for a flexible, equitable work experience that accommodates the differing needs of every team member. It increases the opportunity for the best talent worldwide to assist the company in pursuing its ambitious and high-impact mission. It also promotes inclusion and equity by removing physical and geographic barriers to high-quality jobs, and increasing flexibility for caregivers.

The world is slowly reopening, and the workplace has changed," says Liran Belenzon, CEO, BenchSci. We want to create the best work environment possible while continuing to exponentially improve life-saving R&D. Part of building a great culture comes from trusting team members to know what works best for them and providing them with the resources and flexibility to do so.



BenchScis new remote-first work policy reinforces its culture of trust and transparency. It includes quarterly homecomings for all staff to come together to collaborate and connect (adhering to all pandemic-related public health guidance), a budget for home office improvements, core hours incorporating common time zones, and a newly-renovated collaboration space called BenchSci Commons that can be used as much or as little as suits team members needs.

In addition, to address some of the limitations of video teleconferencing, the company has given every employee an Oculus Quest 2 and begun experimenting with virtual reality-based meetings and events.



"Before the pandemic, we were an office-only culture," says Belenzon. "We learned so much from the lockdown and in the past 18 months we have achieved phenomenal success. Our team is more productive than ever and gained so much flexibility and better professional and personal life integration. Going back to exactly how it was before would be ignoring everything we learned. We are a learning company and this is the best workplace policy for our team."

Belenzon points out that fighting the trend to remote-first work is like fighting gravity. "I don't understand CEOs of software companies that don't adopt this, instead forcing their teams to come to the office," he says. "For me, it says they don't trust them. At BenchSci we lead and make decisions from a place of trust."

For more BenchSci updates, visit our news page.

About BenchSci

BenchScis vision is to bring novel medicine to patients 50% faster by 2025. Were achieving it by empowering scientists with the worlds most advanced biomedical artificial intelligence to run more successful experiments. Backed by F-Prime, Gradient Ventures (Googles AI fund), and Inovia Capital, our platform accelerates science at 15 top-20 pharmaceutical companies and over 4,300 leading research centers worldwide. Were a CIX Top 10 Growth company, certified Great Place to Work, and top-ranked company on Glassdoor. Learn more at www.benchsci.com.

For more information, please contact Marie Cook at mcook@benchsci.com.

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English Lithuanian

Siauliu Bankas AB, company code 112025254, address of the head office Tilzes str. 149, Siauliai, Lithuania.

Siauliu bankas AB has received the notification of manager on transactions in securities issued by the bank (see attachment).

Director of Securities Operations Department Jolanta Dobiliauskiene is authorized by the Issuer to provide additional information and is available on tel.: +370 41 595669.





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London, England, Aug. 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Net Savings Link, Inc. (OTC Pink: NSAV), a cryptocurrency, blockchain and digital asset technology company, today announced that it plans to launch a Premium OTC Crypto Trading Desk by mid-September. NSAVs OTC Desk will offer private and personalized service to institutions and high net-worth individuals that trade large blocks of cryptocurrency. OTC Crypto Trading Desks offer increased liquidity (without slippage), price protection, anonymity, Fiat support, unlimited purchases and the purchase of rare tokens, which are not available on exchanges. NSAVs OTC Desk will provide its clients with execution and settlement services that are secure, competitive and discreet. Today, nearly all major crypto exchanges have their own OTC Desk. Kraken https://www.kraken.com/ , in 2019, acquired major OTC Crypto Trading Desk, Circle Trade, and is now one of the worlds leading OTC Crypto Trading Desks. The Companys management believes that having its own OTC Crypto Trading Desk will be a huge benefit to NSAV and all of its shareholders, as it ascends to the next level.

On Wednesday, NSAV Director, Mr. Yuen Wong, gave a presentation at the Emerging Growth Conference. Please see the link below to view Mr. Wongs presentation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7kx1fMYqJs

In addition to his position with NSAV, Mr. Wong is also a Managing Partner at Bitmart Cryptocurrency Exchange https://www.bitmart.com . BitMart is a premier global digital asset trading platform with over 2 million users worldwide and ranked among the top crypto exchanges on CoinMarketCap. Bitmarts platform supports over 220 cryptocurrencies and has a 24-hour trading volume of approximately $2 Billion.

Mr. Wong is also the CEO of LABS Group Limited https://labsgroup.io , the worlds first end to end Blockchain powered real estate investment ecosystem and powered by the LABS ecosystem token through decentralized finance (DeFi) and governance.

Silverbear Capital Inc. https://www.sbcfinancialgroup.com.hk/ , a leading, global investment banking firm, will be advising NSAV on strategic matters relating to the Companys cryptocurrency exchanges and OTC Crypto Trading Desk. Silverbear will also help guide NSAV in ensuring that its exchanges and OTC Desk are continually in compliance, given the rapidly increasing regulatory environment in the cryptocurrency industry.

Silverbear Capital Inc. (SBC) has a dynamic of disciplines on a broad commercial level and practice. SBC has a strong group of Partners in a wide range of disciplines with seasoned experience in finance, management, and professional practice. https://www.sbcfinancialgroup.com.hk/meet-our-team/ .

Disclaimer: Silverbear Capital Inc. does not constitute investment advice, or an offer or solicitation to sell, or a solicitation to buy, or any other investment product (nor shall any such shares or product be offered or sold to any person) in any jurisdiction in which an offer, solicitation, purchase or sale would be unlawful under the securities law of that jurisdiction.

Mr. Dato Sri Desmond Lim, Interim CEO and Senior Vice President of Cryptocurrency Operations for NSAV and Silverbear Capital partner stated, I am thrilled that NSAV will soon have its own OTC Crypto Trading Desk. I believe that it will be a great compliment to NSAVs current business model.

NSAV's vision is the establishment of a fully integrated technology company that provides turnkey technological solutions to the cryptocurrency, blockchain and digital asset industries. Over time, the Company plans to provide a wide range of services such as software solutions, e-commerce, advisory services, financial services and information technology.

For further information, please contact NSAV at info@nsavholdinginc.com

The NSAV Twitter account can be accessed at https://twitter.com/nsavtech

The NSAV corporate website can be accessed at http://nsavholdinginc.com

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. Investors are cautioned that, all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including without limitation, the ability of Net Savings Link, Inc. to accomplish its stated plan of business. Net Savings Link, Inc. believes that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, any of the assumptions could be inaccurate, and therefore, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements included in this press release will prove to be accurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward- looking statements included herein, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation by Net Savings Link, Inc. or any other person.
TORONTO, Aug. 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SideDrawer, the API-based document management platform, is thrilled to be accepted into the Catalyst Cyber Accelerator (CCA). The CCA is Canadas first National Accelerator designed specifically to help Canadian Cybersecurity startups to grow and compete at a national and global level. This is a strong validation from a leading cybersecurity organization that todays approach to external collaboration through file sharing links and attachments is a growing threat for businesses and individuals.



The CCA is a part of the Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst (RCC), which is Ryerson Universitys national centre for innovation in cybersecurity. Both organizations work closely with industry leaders, governments, public agencies, organizations, and academic institutions, to empower Canadian businesses to tackle the challenges of cybersecurity. In addition, the RCC offers groundbreaking training and certification programs; wide-ranging public education programs; and influential policy development to drive Canadas global competitiveness in cybersecurity.

The Catalyst completely aligns with our mission of improving the security profile for businesses and individuals. Being accepted into this accelerator, and passing their due diligence is a testament to our entire team that laid the groundwork from day 1. We believe having access to the experienced Entrepreneurs and Corporates at the Catalyst will further accelerate the strong momentum we are seeing, said J. Gaston Siri, Co-Founder & CEO of SideDrawer.

With almost daily reports of mail server hacks or human error resulting in data breaches, we can all observe the toll it takes on businesses and consumers. Unfortunately, small businesses are disproportionately impacted by these breaches, and now face additional pressure from increasing regulatory burden on protecting client data. While email as a communication medium isnt ever going away, we can leverage effective technology solutions to limit access to sensitive information within an email body, attachment, or a file sharing link. We think SideDrawer has a novel, yet elegantly simple, approach to addressing a critical cybersecurity threat facing businesses and individuals today, and we look forward to helping them elevate their offering to a national stage through the Catalyst, said Sumit Bhatia, Director of the Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst.

The credit card industry has had a strict no card numbers over email policy for over 10 years, explicitly claiming email as unsecure, and instituting fines where appropriate. With the rising number of breaches and greater regulatory oversight, we expect other industries to follow the same approach and restrict email sharing of sensitive data like tax files, employee data, pay stubs, statements, etc. SideDrawers unique offering includes a turnkey solution for businesses and consumers, and robust APIs for enterprises and fintechs. We have seen an exceptionally strong momentum in our business, and being admitted into the RCC entrenches us as the leading, secure, document management provider for todays digital first user, said Ali Qureshi, Co-Founder & Chief Revenue Officer of SideDrawer.



We look forward to being an active member of the CCA cohort, working closely with the other companies developing leading cybersecurity technology, and identify find ways to incorporate them into our product to enhance the security profile of our clients, added Gaston Siri.



For inquires on improving the security profile around collaboration, whether for onboarding, secure data and document collection, secure forms, eSignature, or other workflows, please contact us at hello@sidedrawer.com.

About SideDrawer

SideDrawer is an API-based document management platform that improves the client experience around collaboration and organization for businesses of all sizes. Our SaaS product is used by advisors, planners, executors and other professionals to securely collect and share sensitive client data and documents. Our infrastructure agnostic APIs are truly scalable, allowing fintechs and enterprises to save significant development resources on non-core, but critical document management workflows. For more information, please visit: www.sidedrawer.com or download our mobile apps on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, or sign-up at https://my.sidedrawer.com.

About Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst

The Catalyst is supported by the Government of Canada, Rogers Communications, Royal Bank of Canada, and the City of Brampton. Founded in 2018, the Catalyst collaborates closely with industry leaders, governments, public agencies and academic partners to empower Canadians and Canadian organizations to seize the opportunities and tackle the challenges of cybersecurity. Our work includes cybersecurity training; commercial acceleration and support for cyber scale-ups; support for applied research and development; public education and policy development. Please visit us at https://www.cybersecurecatalyst.ca.

Contact:

Ali Qureshi

+1 855 663 7070

hello@sidedrawer.com
ORLANDO, Fla., Aug. 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PlanSource, a leading provider of cloud-based benefits administration technology, has welcomed Tom Signorello as the Chief Executive Officer. Signorello joins the companys seasoned executive team to lead the PlanSource through its next phase of growth as current CEO Dayne Williams steps into the role of Executive Chairman.



Signorello brings a 23-year track record of leading thriving enterprise software companies and advancing their market leadership position through strategic initiatives. Tom is well versed in creating profitable revenue streams across multiple industries and accelerating business objectives. His extensive experience with creating successful partner alliance ecosystems and mergers and acquisitions will be essential to achieving the companys strategic vision.

I am thrilled and humbled by the opportunity to join the PlanSource team and take on the next phase of the companys growth, said PlanSource CEO Tom Signorello. Its an exciting time in the benefits technology industry as automation creates increased efficiencies and the opportunity for better end-user experiences. PlanSource is well-positioned to continue leading the industry, and I am committed to furthering our mission to provide the best customer experience.

Signorello was most recently CEO of Arcserve, a global top five data protection vendor, where he established the companys global strategy, exceeded sales targets and set the product direction of the companys portfolio of solutions. Prior to joining Arcserve in 2017, Signorello served as Chief Executive Officer at OnX, a global solutions and services provider. There he dramatically improved top-line revenue by integrating people, processes and systems to create a revolutionary digital experience that achieved exceptional business outcomes.

I am delighted to welcome Tom as our new CEO, said Dayne Williams, Executive Chairman of PlanSource. He brings genuine passion and proven experience to scaling software businesses through strategic initiatives and strong leadership. Toms extensive background in leading successful SaaS companies gives me great confidence that he will be a remarkable leader joining the well-established team to take PlanSource to new heights.

PlanSource has been experiencing significant growth, with more than 350 new team members hired globally in 2021 and 190+ current job openings. More than 800 new customers went live on the PlanSource benefits platform in the last 12 months, and the company recently announced several new partnerships with companies such as Sage People, Voluntary Benefit Advisors and Prepare Benefits.

About PlanSource

PlanSource is a technology company that automates and simplifies every aspect of employee benefit programs, so employees and HR teams can make smarter, more confident benefits decisions. More than 7.5 million consumers receive their benefits through the PlanSource platform, which provides the best experience possible for benefits communications, shopping, enrollment, billing, compliance and ongoing administration. With an end-to-end benefits platform and suite of technology-enabled services, PlanSource helps people maximize the benefits of their benefits, so they can live happier healthier lives. Learn more at plansource.com.

PlanSource is a registered trademark of PlanSource, Inc., and PlanSource owns other registered and unregistered trademarks. Other names used herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f7bfb986-5f32-4e1b-bf85-49cfcad7ddac
LINTHICUM, MD , Aug. 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NFM Lending today announced the hiring of Cindy Keith as its Chief Strategy Officer. Keith brings over 25 years in mortgage banking to NFM's national lending platform. She spent 17 years with the government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) Fannie Mae, holding several roles overseeing single-family strategic initiatives, the HomePath real estate marketing strategy, and a suite of Desktop Underwriter (DU) products. In this role, she will help build plans and align systems that help further the mission of NFM to be the top mortgage company in America in terms of production, culture, and customer service.

"I am very excited to join the NFM Family," said Keith, who resides in Great Falls, VA, with her husband, son, and two dogs. "NFM is already such a forward-thinking company, so my job is to help them execute on key initiatives and continue to drive automation."

"We are tremendously blessed to have Cindy join our team," said NFM's COO/CAO Bob Tyson. "Her background coupled with a can-do attitude will continue to take us to new heights."

Keith, who holds a BS in Accounting from the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, is a retired Certified Internal Auditor and a trained Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. She is also an inventor of five patents designed to facilitate process improvements in the mortgage industry.

About NFM Lending

NFM Lending is a mortgage lending company currently licensed in 42 states in the U.S. The company was founded in Baltimore, Maryland in 1998. NFM Lending and its family of companies includes Main Street Home Loans, Bluprint Home Loans, and Freedmont Mortgage Group. They attribute their success in the mortgage industry to their steadfast commitment to customers and the community. NFM Lending has firmly planted itself in the home loan marketplace as Americas Common Sense Residential Mortgage Lender. For more information about NFM Lending, visit www.nfmlending.com, like our Facebook page, or follow us on Instagram.

Media Contact: 1888233009

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Gloucester, MA (01930)

Today

Cloudy with occasional rain during the afternoon. High 73F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Periods of rain and windy at times. Rain becoming heavy at times overnight. Low 62F. Winds NE at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 2 to 3 inches of rain expected. Localized flooding is expected.
Gloucester, MA (01930)

Today

Showers this morning becoming a steady rain during the afternoon hours. High 73F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Periods of rain and becoming windy. Rain may be heavy late. Low 62F. NE winds at 10 to 20 mph, increasing to 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 2 to 3 inches of rain expected. Localized flooding is expected.
La Bonne Vies Rachel Shenk has been an artisan baker for 30 years. Born and raised in Belgium, she has lived in Goshen since 1973. She has been writing about food, traveling and the good life for about 10 years. You can connect with her on her Facebook page, La Bonne Vie , or at her cheese shop in Goshen, The Wedge.
TOPEKA [mdash] Ervin H. Fry, 82, Topeka, died at 12:10 p.m., Monday, Aug. 30, at his residence after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born on April 2, 1939, in Yoder, Kansas, to Harvey and Elizabeth (Miller) Fry. On Dec. 13, 1962, in Topeka, he married Barbara Ellen Frey. She survives
Due to the worldwide continuing coronavirus problemss, it is, just like last season, a hell of a job for the F1-management to keep the calendar full. The Dutch Grand Prix was given the green light at the last minute, but races in Singapore, Japan, China, Canada and Australia have all been cancelled.

Qatar

However, Motorsport.com have reported that the gap in the calendar caused by Melbourne has been filled by Qatar. The race, that was supposed to be held in Australia on 21 November, will now be held at the Losail International Circuit. This circuit won't be unknown to followers of MotoGP since they have been racing at this circuit since 2004.

Despite the global pandemic, the F1 management are doing its utmost to get 23 races on the calendar. Gaps in the calendar have already been filled with a race at Istanbul Park in Turkey, where Formula 1 cars were also raced last year. If they don't manage to have 23 races, 21 races is the minimum the organisation is aiming for.

Second race in Bahrain

It is once again proof that the Middle East is hot when it comes to Formula 1. Bahrain and Abu Dhabi were already hosting races and now Qatar is joining them. Saudi Arabia will also make its first appearance on the calendar this season. Motorsport.com also reports that Liberty Media is working on a second race in Bahrain, which would be held on a shortened version of the Sakhir-circuit.

Read more Timetable for the Belgian Grand Prix
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(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Sara Belligoni, University of Central Florida

(THE CONVERSATION) Cases of COVID-19 are surging around the world, but the course of the pandemic varies widely from country to country. To provide you with a global view as we approach a year and a half since the official declaration of the pandemic, editors from The Conversation around the world commissioned articles looking at specific countries and where they are now in combating the pandemic.

Here, Sara Belligoni, a public policy scholar now visiting Rome who wrote for us about the devastating wave of cases in Italy in early 2020, reports on the countrys increasingly stringent rules to encourage vaccination and bring daily life closer to prepandemic times. You can see the whole series of articles on TheConversation.com.

Italy was the first Western democratic country that faced the COVID-19 crisis. In early 2020, as parts of the country were being overwhelmed with coronavirus cases, some media outlets argued that the Italian government had taken too long to impose restrictive measures to fight the spread of the coronavirus.

But Italy has learned several lessons since its first national lockdown on March 9, 2020, and now  a year and a half after that first crushing wave of COVID-19 cases  the country has put in place measures that in some cases are more stringent than in other countries, including the United States.

With these new protocols in place  notably, a health certificate to show vaccination status for certain activities  daily life is moving toward what many people call a new normal. Despite some opposition, Italians support these measures, even when they come with a degree of discomfort or extra steps.

A vaccine passport

As of Aug. 6, 2021, the government requires individuals to present the Green Pass  Italys extension of the European Union Digital COVID Certificate  to attend large events, dine indoors, access gyms and more. The Green Pass is essentially a vaccine passport: a document, either digital or printed, that confirms its holder has tested negative for the virus in the last 48 hours, been fully vaccinated or recovered from a case of COVID-19.

According to a survey conducted by SWG Research, more than 50% of Italians supports the Green Pass to regulate activities other than traveling. Business owners welcomed the Green Pass as a tool to avoid more restrictive measures  if not even another lockdown in the fall.

With the more contagious delta variant of the coronavirus spreading rapidly, the Italian government is urging more people to get vaccinated, and requiring use of the Green Pass seems to be motivating more people to get the shots. As soon as Prime Minister Mario Draghi announced the Green Pass requirements on July 22, 2021, several regions registered record bookings for vaccine appointments, including Abbruzzo, Lazio, Lombardia, Piemonte and Toscana.

Progress in the vaccination rollout

Based on what is reported in the media, the general public considers the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines the most effective against the delta variant of the four vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency. So in the recent surge of vaccination appointments, most people registered to receive the Pfizer or Moderna shots, as in the case of the Marche region.

As of Aug. 4, 2021, Italys national vaccination rates were higher than those of the United States, with 53% of eligible people fully vaccinated, compared to 50% in the U.S., and 64% having received first shots, versus 58% in the U.S.

Italian COVID-19 Emergency Commissioner, General Francesco Paolo Figliuolo, has set a goal of 80% of eligible persons vaccinated by the end of September. According to Giovanni Rezza, the Health Ministrys Director of Prevention, that would allow the country to get back to pseudo-normality within the first months of 2022.

Color system tracks the pandemic across regions

With low percentages of both intensive care and non-critical hospital beds occupied by COVID-19 patients  3% and 4% respectively as of Aug. 4, 2021  as well as widely available vaccines, the Italian Ministry of Health has revised how it uses its color system to set regional public health mandates based on an areas pandemic situation.

For over a year, colors were assigned  white, yellow, orange or red, in order of emergency level  based on the regions number of COVID-19 cases. But as of the Prime Ministers executive order of July 22, the colors are now assigned weekly based on both infection rates and hospitalization rates per 100,000 residents.

A region moves into the red zone when the weekly infection rate rises above 150 per 100,000, combined with an intensive care occupancy rate of 30% and an overall hospitalization rate of 40%.

Regional governors strongly support these latest changes in the color system because they account for not only the total number of infections and hospitalizations, but also the overall severity of the pandemic in the region.

Masks mandates

In addition to the Green Pass, several requirements remain in place, such as mask wearing and social distancing when indoors, and social distancing even when outdoors. When it is not possible to maintain social distancing outdoors, then masks must be worn.

The only exceptions to the mask mandate are for children under the age of 6, as well as for people with disabilities and their caregivers when wearing a mask would prevent communication or care.

Italys seaside destinations, popular with both Italians and tourists, are open this summer  with beach resorts, restaurants and bars observing social distancing and mask mandates as needed or required by the government.

Indoor dining is resuming in Italy, particularly given the reopening of the country to tourists. But during my recent visit, Ive observed that many people still prefer to eat outdoors  which is actually the typical choice of Italians during the summer, pandemic or no pandemic.

Outdoor mask mandates are now limited to situations where social distancing is not possible, such as during sport events or in line when entering museums. Ive noticed, however, that many people are choosing to wear masks on the streets as well as indoors, even when not mandated.

The tourism industry has eagerly welcomed the governments reopening of the country to foreign visitors. Travelers entering Italy from some countries, including the United States, are now required to show an official proof of vaccination  such as the EU Digital Certificate or a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention vaccination card  a negative COVID-19 test or a certificate of recovery from COVID-19 signed by a health care provider.

Adjusting work life and school

Offices are still offering employees the option to work remotely, especially at-risk employees. Where employees who are not in an at-risk category are going back to work, they usually have alternate shifts so fewer people are in the office at the same time.

Several companies, including international firms with offices in Italy, are taking steps to ensure compliance with the latest pandemic laws. For example, Ferrari, which closed its main factory in Maranello three days before the first national lockdown was imposed, has established a small internal task force to ensure the company follows the governments rules and recommendations.

The school year officially starts on Sept. 13, 2021, but the government has not yet issued official policies for school reopenings, and it remains unclear what measures will be in place during the school year. Factors that could affect this include the pace of vaccination among children and youth aged 12 to 19 years, and how well schools will be able to maintain social distancing  6 feet between students and teachers, and 3 feet between students  as some schools may not have enough space in their classrooms.

But the system of showing proof of vaccination is being implemented in education as well: Starting in September, teachers, school staff and students at universities will need to show a Green Pass or get tested regularly.

[Understand new developments in science, health and technology, each week. Subscribe to The Conversations science newsletter.]

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/italy-once-overwhelmed-by-covid-19-turns-to-a-health-pass-and-stricter-measures-to-contain-virus-165457.
The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G was unveiled last week as a Snapdragon 778G-powered upgrade over the original A52 5G. Its first launch market is the UK, but Samsung has sent out promo posters to Indian stores too, suggesting that it wont be long before the new model arrives in the country.

That is not a huge surprise, a support page for the s model went up on Samsung India before the phone was even officially unveiled. The poster that was spotted in India does not list a price, but in the UK the phone costs only 10 more than the original, so we dont expect a major price hike.

That said, the 5G version of the A52 never made its way to India, just the SD 720G-based 4G model. The upcoming A52s 5G will be pricier than that one (which starts at INR 26,500 at the moment), but it will also provide an even bigger boost to performance.



A Galaxy A52s 5G poster spotted in India

Note that besides the new chipset, the s phone also upgrades the 6.5 Super AMOLED display to 120 Hz refresh rate (up from 90 Hz) compared to the 4G model. The colorway selection may be limited as only the Black and White options can be seen in the poster (the A52s 5G also has a Violet and a Mint version).

Anyway, if this phone proves too costly for you, check out the Galaxy M32 5G, which will launch on Amazon India on August 25 (this Wednesday). And there is a Galaxy M52 5G in the works too (with a Snapdragon 778G, just like the A52s).

Source | Via
Guam-born filmmaker Myra Aquino is still in shock after winning Best Film in the 2021 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival.

She said it felt unreal, and she still feels that way.

Winning Best Film feels very validating and encouraging  not just for me as a filmmaker  but for the cast and crew who put their hard work and talent into this, Aquino said in an exclusive PDN interview. Most of all, I feel its a strong indication of how important the story of Kumander Liwayway is, and that it deserves to be a full-length film.

Aquino was one of the 13 finalists chosen for the Short Feature Category in the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival from over 200+ submissions from Filipino filmmakers nationwide. Beauty Queen competed with 12 other wonderful shorts for Best Film.

Cinemalaya is the most prestigious independent film festival in the Philippines. The awarding process was mediated by three jurors: Indian critic, author and filmmaker Aruna Vasudev (head of the jury), Filipino director Sigrid Andrea Bernardo and Filipino director Jeffrey Jeturian.

Beauty Queen is based on the true story of a WWII Filipino heroine, Remedios Gomez-Paraiso also known as Kumander Liwayway  a young beauty queen whose father was killed by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II, and who joins a resistance army in the mountains and finds new purpose.

The film was set in 1942 during World War II. Aquino shot the film in August 2019 in Mount Arayat, Pampanga  the same mountain that the Hukbalahap resistance army was almost 70 years prior.

I chose that setting because thats where Gomez-Paraisos story was set in, and where I felt shed undergone her transformation from beauty queen to commander, Aquino said. We were scouting other mountainous jungle locations in the area, but it actually turned out that the most affordable place we could shoot at was where the events actually took place, so it was very serendipitous.

This film is personal to Aquino because her grandparents lived through World War II, and they have all since passed away.

Its her way of understanding what they went through during this period, and to find a connection between them.

When I heard about the story of Kumander Liwayway a few years back, I remember wishing that Id heard about her boldness and her unapologetic femininity when I was much younger, Aquino said. Many survivors of World War II have already passed away, so making this film was my way of keeping her story and her legacy alive.

Aquinos main priority with making Beauty Queen was to make it as authentic as possible, especially with their limited budget. Beauty Queen accentuates many aspects of Filipino culture  the history, the land, the Kapampangan language, the pain but also the bravery and resilience of Filipinos during that time.

It required a lot of research, not just into Gomez-Paraisos story, but also into what the 1940s was like in the Philippines, and that needed to be reflected in the production and costume design, as well as the music and the film score, Aquino said.

Most of the actors had limited acting experience, so Aquino and her team held workshops to prepare them for their roles. Aquino also revealed that the shoot itself was also physically challenging.

We were lucky to shoot the film between two big storms, but the terrain itself was muddy and challenging to set things up, and we had a lot of people  more than 150+ people at one point  on set, Aquino said. On top of that, we dealt with mosquitoes, red ants and anything else the jungle could throw at us.

Aquinos next step in film is to shoot a feature film in Guam. Its a coming-of-age dramedy set in Guam in 1996. The script was recently selected by the Women in Film x Black List writing residency to be workshopped and developed.

I encourage readers to embrace their history, connect with their ancestors and their grandparents about the stories they have to tell and find ways to preserve it, Aquino said. Its surprising to hear what stories are out there if you ask for it. Guam itself has a powerful history of what the CHamorus endured and fought for during World War II, and there are many books and stories out there if you look for it.
Vicente Guerrero Perez was charged with bank robbery in connection to robbing First Hawaiian Bank on August 13, according to a complaint filed in the District Court of Guam.

At around 1 p.m. on August 13, Perez walked into First Hawaiian Bank at Compadres Mall and passed a note to a teller that said to put money in a bag, the complaint stated.

The teller complied and put $1,560 into a plastic bag allegedly given by Perez. After Perez left the teller triggered the alarm and told staff of the robbery. The teller waited because she was intimidated and wasnt sure of Perezs intentions, the complaint stated.

After robbing the bank, Perez was seen on surveillance footage at Compadres Mall walking to Kings and later leaving in a taxi, the complaint stated.

The FBI later received a tip from someone who believed Perez to be the suspect which led investigators to check Perezs past neighborhoods. There they learned Perez was taken to Guam Memorial Hospital but was transferred to Guam Behavioral Health after being discharged, the complaint stated.

Perez was still in treatment at Guam Behavioral Health when he agreed to speak with the FBI.

In the interview, Perez admitted to robbing the bank. He said he knew it was wrong but he wanted to be caught which is why he ate at Kings next door to wait for the police to arrive. However he left because the police took too long, the complaint stated.

Perez didnt have any of the stolen money left but said unknown individuals took all his belongings when he tried buying a car from them, the complaint stated.

In his initial appearance hearing at the District Court of Guam Monday afternoon, Magistrate Judge Michael Bordallo decided to keep Perez detained.

For the charge of bank robbery, Perez could face up to 20 years in prison, Bordallo said.

The FBI arrested Perez on Monday morning, according to FBI spokeswoman Michele Ernst.

The FBI is committed to follow every lead to ensure criminals are held accountable, said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge Steven Merrill. The arrest today continues our mission to seek justice on behalf of our community which joined together to track him down. The FBI would like to thank the Guam Police Department, all of our law enforcement partners and the citizens of this island. Together, we send the message loud and clear  we will work together to protect Guams people and their money.

Following the report of the robbery, both the FBI and GPD asked for the communitys assistance in finding Perez.

In a press advisory, Perez was described as a man possibly in his 50s, with a full neck tattoo and a tear drop tattoo under his right eye. He was last seen wearing a black shirt, dark blue jeans and had black and gray hair.
The Republic Party of Guam said that the latest executive order requiring proof of vaccination for patrons to be served by restaurants, bars, gyms and more sets the parameters of segregation and creates a deep division within our community.

This latest EO divides our community between the haves and have nots as it mandates different treatment for those with proof of vaccination vs. those without  and additionally for a different treatment for people who are employed by the GovGuam and everyone else. For example, if employees of specific private industries dont get vaccinated by next month, they can face termination, or their employer can face financial fines by continuing their employment, a Guam GOP release states.

It points to the option for GovGuam employees to submit to weekly testing rather than get the shot, an opportunity not afforded to private sector employees.

Why does the governor not allow for providing private sector employees with the same testing option, also paid for at government expense? What rational, medical, or scientific basis is there for treating these groups of citizens differently?

The Guam GOP goes on to state that it supports balanced policies and advocates that people avail of the vaccine to avoid the most severe effects of COVID-19 and to protect against hospitalization.

We also must respect the realities that many parents, students, employers, pregnant women, nursing mothers and other informed citizens still have reservations with this medical procedure.

The governors latest executive order criminalizes and penalizes those people along with private businesses that refuse to treat customers with the vaccine differently from those without, it states. Several local businesses and citizens were beginning to stand up, and the Guam GOP advocated for the repeal of the executive order.

Our economy was starting to flourish, thanks to the infusion of federal support. The island was also seeing some optimism within the tourism industry. Yet, with one impulsive knee-jerk reaction, while blaming residents who arent vaccinated, the governor just set us back. She needs to go back to the history books, as she will learn that segregation is never a healthy decision, the statement concluded.
The recent mandate that restaurant patrons and employees must be fully vaccinated should be stopped according to Dr. Hoa Nguyen, the chair of the governors Physicians Advisory Group.

Gov. Lou Leon Guerreros executive order, which was issued on Aug. 20 and goes into effect on Monday, sparked a protest over the weekend, drew concern from the Guam Hotel and Restaurant Association and prompted some members of the Guam Legislature on Monday to try to limit the governors emergency powers.

But Nguyen, who said the Physicians Advisory Group and the State Surgeon Cell were not consulted before the order was issued, said that the policy doesnt reflect data of where the virus is actually being transmitted. There were some COVID-19 clusters related to restaurants at the start of the pandemic, but those restaurants were being used for large get-togethers, not the typical restaurant set-up, Nguyen said. But since then, establishments have put in mitigation factors to stop the spread, and there have been no other known restaurant-related cases.

Officials put a restriction, or requirement on restaurants without data, he said.

I think that unvaccinated people, they should be able to do certain things and we should not shut them out, he said.

According to Nguyen, the requirement that people also need to be fully vaccinated to dine outdoors did not make sense, given that there is no data reflecting infections at outdoor dining areas. Movie theaters, also included in the order, were not a place where infections were evident, Nguyen said. Applying the mandate across multiple kinds of businesses didnt make sense, he said.

Adelup had reached out after the announcement of the mandate, and the doctors had a chance to provide input and suggest revisions to the order. He was hopeful that the administration would make a decision on the matter.

The choicePeople again, have the right decision, Nguyen said, I and our practice has been the forefront of immunization  I believe in it  but I dont believe in forcing people to do things that they dont want to do.

People who were on the fence about getting shots would likely harden up in their position, and encouraging them worked better, he said.

As for requiring business employees to get vaccinated, Nguyen was also opposed to it. I think that it should be highly recommended to the company and let the company make a decision, he said. There was no desire on his part to see businesses close their doors because they did not want to comply with the mandate.

Social gathering limits

Keeping the social gathering limit at 100 people, but restricting unvaccinated people was not a good decision either, Nguyen said, because there was still a great risk for transmission.

A very large gathering with no mask on, even though youre fully vaccinated, (the virus) still transmits from one fully vaccinated person to the next person, and then you will bring it into the community, he said.

Reducing the limit to 25, as was done in Hawaii, would be reasonable enough to let people gather and see their family. There needed to be a combination of encouraging vaccines and discouraging large groups, rather than segregating the population. Its not vaccinated or unvaccinated  its a number. One hundred to 25 is a huge reduction of risk, Nguyen said.
Some restaurants have announced they will close or suspend dine-in services in response to an executive order that went into effect Monday requiring proof of vaccination for patrons of restaurants, bars, gyms and other gathering spots.

The dessert shop Hafaloha in Tamuning was one of the small businesses to respond to the executive order by temporarily closing its doors, according to its official Instagram announcement on Sunday. The post stated that the shop would not force their employees to get vaccinated nor request their customers to provide their vaccination forms to enter the establishment.

The shop would not be able to afford the fines that will be imposed if they stayed open, according to its post.

This prejudicial treatment is unconstitutional, unethical and we will not comply as our civil rights are being violated, the Instagram post said.

After the executive order was issued, Guam Hotel and Restaurant Association President Mary Rhodes said the group never agreed to the mandate and that vaccination in the workplace should be the decision of each employer. Instead, the governor announced Friday that establishments would be tasked with checking the vaccination status of people over age 12 who enter restaurants, bars and clubs, food courts, movie theaters, sporting events, gyms, fitness centers, dance studios, swimming pools and boat cruises.

General Manager Leonard Campos of Meskla CHamoru Fusion Bistro said the restaurant respects the rights and the freedoms of all its guests and employees and strongly opposes the mandate, calling it a form of discrimination.

We were opposed as far as having customers or employees show proof of vaccination, Campos said. This infringes on their rights and freedoms, and more importantly, it divides the community, which is something that is not needed.

Flamingo Restaurant in Hagatna announced on an Instagram post Sunday it would limit service to to-go orders.

Owner Dongman Chang said the fines and penalties of the new mandate would hurt small businesses.

Were struggling, and were trying to survive right now with costs going up with everything, Chang said. We havent even raised our prices. Were reverting to to-go just to be safe. Its hard, but well get through this.

Owner of Buen Provecho Taco Shack Joshua Pangelinan said that if they ask customers for a vaccination card, its like taking human rights away.

General Manager Blake Bristol of Mosas Joint said the restaurant has been doing its best to comply with the new mandate. Workers are checking vaccination cards and IDs for customers who are dining in.

I understand everyone has their concerns and their own choices, Bristol said. I feel like mandating a vaccine is always going to be a slippery slope because you cant force people to get it...I think if people follow the rules now, then we will see a difference, hopefully. Even if youre not vaccinated, we will still accommodate you with take-out service.

General manager of Kings Restaurant, Frank Solomon, said following new protocols is going to be a big adjustment, and more preparation time would have been good.

Weve got to keep everybody safe, Solomon said. Theres going to be a designated person handling (vaccination checks) in the front, and I feel like were going to lose some customers who are not vaccinated. But, we also do not want to get fined at the same time.

Ikuko Cawano, administration and customer service manager at Joinus Restaurant Keyaki in Tumon Sands Plaza, hears the frustrations of customers who do not want to dine-in because of the guidelines. Cawano said he had hoped that both the restaurant and its customers could have more time to prepare.

There was no grace time for the customers, Cawano said regarding the governors mandate. I thought it was too sudden because we have a lot of reservations already, and they might not have vaccinated yet.
Three people have died in Guam traffic accidents in less than a week, according to police and fire officials.

On Sunday night a man was killed as a result of a car crash on Route 4 Chalan Kanton Tasi in Sinajana by the Chaot Bridge. The man was driving a Toyota Corolla on the southbound lane that collided with a Toyota Highlander in the opposite lane, according to Guam Police Department spokesman Sgt. Paul Tapao.

The man was pronounced dead after being taken to Naval Hospital.

The occupants of the Highlander included two women and a child, according to Guam Fire Department spokeswoman Cherika Chargualaf.

On Aug. 19, a woman driving a Nissan Kicks on Route 15 was killed in a crash with a Buick Rendezvous by Chalan Matildan Tan Ana, Tapao said.

The woman was pronounced dead after being taken to Guam Regional Medical City.

A girl in the same vehicle was in stable condition while the man driving the Rendezvous was unconscious and unresponsive following the crash, Chargualaf said.

On Aug. 18, a 49-year-old woman was taken to the hospital after getting hit by a Toyota Tacoma in Harmon. The woman was pronounced dead at Guam Regional Medical City on Aug. 21, Tapao said in a press release issued Monday.

The Tacoma was traveling on the inner southbound lane on Route 16 when it struck the woman walking on the inner lane, Tapao added.

The investigations into the accidents will remain open, according to Tapao.

One dead, two injured in Yigo crash A woman was killed, a man was injured and a girl was hurt in a traffic accident in Yigo Thur

Man dies in car crash, making second fatal in three days A man was pronounced dead as a result of a car crash on Sunday night in Sinajana making it t

2021 traffic-related deaths

Feb. 6: A man attempting to cross the street was killed in an auto-pedestrian crash around 8:45 p.m. on Route 10 in Barrigada.

Feb. 20: A man was killed in a crash on Route 16 by Our Lady of Peace in Barrigada when a silver Lexus traveling south on the inner lane collided with a gray Kia Sportage.

March 10: A man was killed in a crash on West Santa Monica Avenue in Dededo when the driver of a blue Toyota Corolla lost control of the vehicle, ran off the road and collided with a concrete wall.

March 16: The operator of a 2011 Harley Davidson FLTRX was killed on Route 14 by Casa De Isa when he lost control of the motorcycle and collided with the raised concrete median, which caused the motorcycle to run off the roadway.

March 23: The driver of a black Lexus died after his vehicle struck a sliver Nissan versa from behind and then struck a power pole on Route 8 in Barrigada near Subway and SK Laundry.

June 21: The driver of a Mazda 3 died after a collision with a Toyota RAV4 on Route 15 in Mangilao between Hawaiian Rock and the Guam Power Authority office.

Aug. 18: A 49-year-old female pedestrian was struck by a Toyota Tacoma in Harmon. She died Aug. 21.

Aug. 19: A woman driving a Nissan Kicks on Route 15 was killed in a crash with a Buick Rendezvous.

Aug. 22: A man driving a Toyota Corolla died after a crash with a Toyota Highlander on Route 4 Chalan Kanton Tasi in Sinajana by the Chaot Bridge.
Former Gov. Carl T.C. Gutierrez is the president and CEO of Guam Visitors Bureau, permit czar, and chairman of the Governors Economic Strategy Council. Send comments or questions to GVB at communityrelations@visitguam.org.




Haiti - Earthquake : Arrival of Spanish humanitarian aid





Sunday August 22, 2021, the plane carrying Spanish humanitarian aid announced last week https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34522-haiti-humanitarian-update-on-international-aid.html , landed at Port-au-Prince International Airport in the presence of Prime Minister ai Ariel Henry.



This aid from the Spanish Cooperation is co-financed by the Civil Protection Mechanism of the European Union as a European response to the earthquake of August 14 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34559-haiti-flash-the-death-toll-rises-to-2-207-dead-and-12-268-injured.html . It consists, first of all, of 30 tonnes of very diverse products : tarpaulins, kitchen kits, health materials, medicines, etc...



A portable TRICEL SETA wastewater treatment plant which will be added to the two others already positioned in the country, donation from the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation and Development (AECID) to the National Directorate of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DINEPA) and 3 experts from the "Spanish Technical Aid Response Team" (START) who will operate five micro portable wastewater treatment plants across the areas affected by the earthquake.



Prime Minister a.i. Ariel Henry, during a press briefing at the airport diplomatic lounge praised the merits of bilateral cooperation. He took the opportunity to salute the departure of the Ambassador at the end of his mission Pedro Sanz Serrano "Mr. Ambassador, I salute your departure after about three years in the country and I take this moment to thank you for your dynamism and the determination you have shown to strengthen the bonds of friendship and solidarity that exist between the Republic of Haiti and the Kingdom of Spain during your mission here in Haiti."



In addition, the Head of Government has guaranteed all donors that his team will continue to demonstrate rigor and efficiency in the management of aid. He acknowledged that the work was enormous and that he remained aware of the constraints faced by the country, in terms of the delivery of this disaster aid, in view of the difficulties in reaching certain areas, affirming that no one, will not be left out and the State is multiplying strategies to reach the maximum number of suffering compatriots.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34522-haiti-humanitarian-update-on-international-aid.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34559-haiti-flash-the-death-toll-rises-to-2-207-dead-and-12-268-injured.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34479-haiti-flash-magnitude-72-earthquake-in-the-nippes.html



HL/ SL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - FLASH : The RNDDH believes that the Head of State was handed over by his security officials (Investigation)





According to an investigation by the National Network for the Defense of Human Rights (RNDDH), on the night of July 6 to 7, the current Prime Minister Ariel Henry spoke on the phone with Joseph Felix Badio, a former official of the Ministry of Justice.



This allegation appears in an RNDDH investigation report published on Friday August 20, 2021 page 20 point #106.



Let's recall that Joseph Felix Badio is actively wanted by the Haitian National Police. He is accused of "murder, attempted murder, armed robbery" and is considered by the PNH as "dangerous and armed" https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34225-haiti-notice-the-pnh-is-looking-for-3-dangerous-and-armed-individuals-including-a-former-senator.html



The Network, based on several bundles of converging facts, infers in its conclusions that the Head of State was delivered by those responsible for his security.



Download the RNDDH investigation (PDF) : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/Rap-Assassinat-Jovenel-Moise-082021.pdf



Read also on the assassination of President Moise :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34371-haiti-flash-a-4th-police-officer-arrested-in-direct-connection-with-the-assassination-of-president-moise.html







Haiti - FLASH : A 4th police officer arrested in direct connection with the assassination of President Moise

01/08/2021 09:12:53



Haiti - FLASH : A 4th police officer arrested in direct connection with the assassination of President Moise

Friday July 30, 2021, 23 days after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise, during a press briefing, Marie-Michelle Verrier Spokesperson for the National Police of Haiti (PNH), announced that the investigation was progressing fast and take stock.



She said that so far 44 suspects have been arrested and their role in the attack is being investigated.



Of these 44 suspects, 12 police officers were arrested either for negligence or for their direct involvement. On this last point, the Spokesperson presented a 4th policeman arrested (William Moise) who joined 3 other of his arrested colleagues, who have a direct link in the assassination of the Head of State "[...] They have accompanied Colombians from their arrival on the national territory until the day of the crime. On the day of the act, these police officers were present at the scene," the spokesperson said.



Summary in figures :

44 suspects arrested including 18 former Colombian soldiers;

1 Arrest of one of the alleged intellectual authors of this attack https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34210-haiti-flash-arrest-of-one-of-the-intellectual-authors-of-the-assassination-of-president-moise-and-an-attempted-coup.html

46 hearings carried out;

9 police officers in isolation

4 police officers under protective measure;

14 houses searched in Haiti and many others in the United States by the FBI.



Marie-Michelle Verrier indicated that the police are still looking for other suspects and specified that significant rewards will be given to anyone whose information would allow the arrest of the wanted persons, without specifying the amount of these responses...



But the mystery remains about the identity of the mastermind and the sponsors of this plot ...



Read also on the assassination of President Moise :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34351-haiti-flash-all-the-arrested-colombian-ex-soldiers-were-aware-of-a-plan-to-kill-president-moise.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34339-haiti-flash-official-report-by-dimitri-herard-on-the-assassination-of-president-moise.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34331-haiti-flash-arrest-of-the-presidential-security-coordinator-jean-laguel-civil.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34299-haiti-flash-7-of-the-colombians-arrested-had-received-american-military-training.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34296-haiti-flash-the-company-which-participated-in-the-financing-of-the-operation-knew-nothing-about-the-assassination-of-president-moise.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34283-haiti-flash-follow-up-of-investigations-into-the-assassination-of-president-moise-video.html



https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34278-haiti-national-funeral-note-from-the-first-lady-martine-moise.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34265-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34250-haiti-flash-according-to-colombia-in-the-commando-only-a-few-knew-about-the-assassination-of-president-moise.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34238-haiti-flash-monitoring-of-investigations-into-the-assassination-of-president-jovenel-moise.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34225-haiti-notice-the-pnh-is-looking-for-3-dangerous-and-armed-individuals-including-a-former-senator.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34223-haiti-justice-the-dg-of-the-colombian-police-wonders-about-the-role-of-the-chief-of-security-of-president-moise.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34220-haiti-politic-creation-of-the-organizing-committee-for-the-national-funeral-of-president-moise-text-of-the-decree.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34218-haiti-flash-wanted-notice-for-a-very-dangerous-colombian-mercenary.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34217-haiti-flash-the-white-house-does-not-rule-out-sending-troops-to-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34214-haiti-assassination-of-president-a-colombian-team-in-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34212-haiti-politic-a-large-american-delegation-in-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34210-haiti-flash-arrest-of-one-of-the-intellectual-authors-of-the-assassination-of-president-moise-and-an-attempted-coup.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34205-haiti-flash-statements-and-testimony-from-colombia-about-the-commando.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34203-haiti-usa-no-american-military-assistance-for-the-moment.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34201-haiti-flash-authenticated-message-from-the-first-lady-martine-moise-audio.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34199-haiti-assassination-of-the-president-names-of-the-20-members-of-the-commando-arrested-5-others-still-on-the-run.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34193-haiti-flash-the-government-requests-the-sending-of-american-soldiers-to-the-country.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-34188-icihaiti-flash-11-mercenaries-arrested-in-the-taiwanese-embassy.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34193-haiti-flash-the-government-requests-the-sending-of-american-soldiers-to-the-country.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-34188-icihaiti-flash-11-mercenaries-arrested-in-the-taiwanese-embassy.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34183-haiti-flash-the-commando-that-killed-the-president-included-26-colombians-and-2-haitian-americans-official-video.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-34182-icihaiti-assassination-of-president-moise-15-days-of-national-mourning-text-of-the-decree.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34178-haiti-politic-what-measures-contains-the-state-of-siege-text-of-the-decree.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-34177-icihaiti-usa-the-pm-met-with-secretary-of-state-anthony-blinken.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34176-haiti-un-the-security-council-condemns-the-assassination-of-president-jovenel-moise.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-34174-icihaiti-diplomacythe-assassins-of-moise-were-professional-mercenaries-dixit-bocchit-edmond.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34173-haiti-flash-the-police-intercepts-the-presumed-assassins-of-president-moise-official-video.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34172-haiti-flash-martine-moise-in-florida-for-treatment.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34170-haiti-flash-the-first-lady-martine-moise-would-still-be-alive-but.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34168-haiti-flash-the-state-of-siege-is-declared-in-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34165-haiti-assassination-of-jovenel-moise-what-says-the-constitution.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34162-haiti-flash-president-jovenel-moise-assassinated-by-mercenaries-official-updated-7am-+-video.html



SL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Politic : The earthquake is an opportunity to make a new start according to the UN





UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, during her two-day mission to Haiti last week, said the response to the earthquake crisis https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34559-haiti-flash-the-death-toll-rises-to-2-207-dead-and-12-268-injured.html presents an opportunity to forge greater national cohesion and chart a new way forward.



During her mission, Ms. Mohammed met with affected communities in the earthquake-damaged town of Les Cayes "I saw once again the incredible resilience of the Haitian people who have suffered so much and are now mobilized to support their neighbours and communities in the aftermath of the earthquake," she said.



On 19 August, Ms. Mohammed met with Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry and representatives of civil society. She lauded the authorities for their efforts : "I was particularly impressed by the work of the COUN  the Haiti Civil Protection Agency, which must be empowered to lead a coordinated response."



At a press briefing today, Ms. Mohammed assured Haitians that the UN remains committed to working under the leadership of national and local authorities to assist not only in providing lifesaving support for the immediate response to the earthquake, but also during the reconstruction phase.



Ms. Mohammed said there were lessons to be learnt from the 2010 earthquake to do things differently so that Haiti can recover better. This, she underlined, "will require investing in long-term development and supporting Government leadership."



UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner said, "What I have seen on this visit is devastating  so much destruction and suffering. And yet, at the same time I have seen the solidarity and hope of the Haitian people in the face of such a tragedy. I was moved by the mobilization of Haitians to support their neighbours and community as well as the commitment of the countrys Civil Protection first responders and volunteers in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake Haiti needs our support in this critical moment. The UN Development Programme will do its utmost to support the people of Haiti in this hour of need as well as in the ongoing recovery and reconstruction."



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34559-haiti-flash-the-death-toll-rises-to-2-207-dead-and-12-268-injured.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34521-haiti-earthquake-the-un-in-solidarity-with-the-haitian-people-statement.html



HL/ HaitiLibre


















The following message was shared with the University of Hartford community on Sunday, Aug. 22.

Dear Campus Community,



As of now, the impact of Tropical Storm/Hurricane Henri is thankfully less than originally forecasted. However, there continues to be significant rainfall and winds, with some flooding and power outages reported in our region. Out of an abundance of caution, we are canceling classes on Monday, August 23. Regularly scheduled online classes that are a part of an online degree program will meet remotely as scheduled. All other classes will begin on Tuesday, August 24.

We hope this will allow the remainder of our residential students to safely move in and campus operations to return to normal. All other campus operations and offices will be open. Employees concerned about traveling to work safely should communicate with their supervisor to make appropriate alternate arrangements.

Monday Move-In

Please visit our website for instructions to sign up for a Monday time slot if you have not already. Please remain patient, as we may need to make adjustments to our process depending on the storms overnight impact.

Parking and Travel

Thank you to the residential students who moved their vehicles to requested lots. Please plan to return to regular assigned parking areas tomorrow afternoon and evening. Please call Public Safety at 860.768.7985 if you have any questions. (See Parking Map.)

Also, a reminder that you should never drive through standing water. Even after the storm passes, please continue to exercise caution on campus and in the region. Trees and power lines could present hazards in our area.

Emergency Notifications

The University of Hartford provides an emergency notification system that enables University students, faculty, and staff to receive alerts and updates as text messages on cell phones and through their UHart email accounts.

Students, faculty, and staff must have an accurate cell phone number recorded as "Cellular Phone" in the Self-Service Center in order to receive emergency text notifications. Please take a moment to review your information. If you're not a student or UHart employee but would like to receive emergency notifications as a parent or short-term visitor to campus, you may register at UHart Alert login.

Events and Dining

The Office of Student Engagement and Inclusion and Student Government Association continue to host a number of virtual events throughout the storm. Follow both groups on Instagram for regular updates and additional opportunities at @uhartengagementandinclusion and @uhartfordsga. Highlights are posted online, with full line ups at UHart Hub and the Student Life Calendar. All dining outlets will continue with normal hours as posted. Changes will be made to the Campus Dish website and campus dining social media channels.



Throughout the storm, the University is here to assist you should you need help. We will continue to monitor the weather and provide updates via email and hartford.edu. Emergency notifications will also be delivered via our text notification system. Please use the LiveSafe App to file reports as appropriate or Public Safety can be reached by phone at 860.768.7985 (non-emergency) and 860.768.7777 (emergency). Any facilities issues should be reported to facilities@hartford.edu for prioritization and response.



If you have any additional questions, please email unotes@hartford.edu.



Thank you,



Emergency Response Team

University of Hartford
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Editor: More than once labeled the dumbest man ever elected to Congress, Joe Bid
Firefighters continue today to fight the Pine Grove Fire in the Little Rocky Mountains, gaining some headway with cooler weather and rain in the last week, with an update this morning saying the fire is 58 percent contained, with the increase mainly on the fires southeast edge.

The update said crews today will confirm on the fires perimeter information provided Sunday in an infrared flight which showed heat only in the interior of the fires area.

Agency authorities this morning also will discuss the need for evacuation warnings in the communities of of Zortman, Landusky, Pine Grove, Star Hill and Lodge Pole. If the evacuation warnings are lifted this information will be released later today on InciWeb at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7812 .

Mission Canyon, White Cow Canyon and Coming Day roads and the roads going to Camp Creek Campground and Witcom Cabin are closed.

The mandatory evacuations of Zortman, Pine Grove and Starhill were lifted last Thursday after rain and cooler weather helped with firefighting efforts. Residents of those communities were told that they may return to their homes but are requested to be ready to evacuate if fire conditions deteriorate.

The evacuation centers in Hays and Malta have closed.

The fire started last Monday three miles northeast of Hays from a structure and spread into the wildland.

The InciWeb page said the fire is human-caused and the cause is under investigation.

By late Tuesday morning wind pushed it to more than 10,000 acres and triggered mandatory evacuation notices for the communities of Pine Grove, Zortman and Starhill and Level 2 evacuation notices were put in effect for the communities of Hays and Lodge Pole.

During this initial period, the fire destroyed one structure, where the fire started. Structure assessments are on going.

The fire moved through grass, timber, and brush on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation and Bureau of Land Management land.

Due to the complexity of the incident, a Type 3 Incident Management Team took command of the fire Thursday.

Firefighters from Fort Belknap and other cooperating agencies performed initial attack on the fire, working hard to save structures and ensure people were safe. Primary spread was to the south-southwest towards the mines.

The Fort Belknap Indian Community declared a state of emergency Wednesday.

The incident team was briefed to follow and implement the guidance outlined in the Fort Belknap Indian Community COVID-19 Reopening Plan. specifically, social distancing measures are encouraged and wearing of masks are required while indoors.

The team was briefed to place high priority on protecting communities, ranches, individual properties, cultural and natural resources.

Fort Belknap Tribe is accepting donations to support those impacted by the fire. Please drop supplies at the Kills at Night Center in Hays. Contact Maggie Werk with questions at 406-301-4583.
Havre Police Department

Officers investigated a report made at 9:04 a.m. Friday from Second Street of a dog bite.

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Officers investigated a report from a service on the 600 Block of Second Street at 1:14 p.m. Friday that someone had stolen a bicycle.

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Officers investigated a report made at 1:18 p.m. Friday from the 400 Block of First Street of a two-vehicle non-injury crash.

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Officers investigated a report made at 1:26 p.m. Friday from the 10 Block of First Street of a motor vehicle crash.

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Officers responding to a call from a business on the 1700 Block of U.S. Highway 2 West at 2:25 p.m. Friday issued a summons to Taylorrae Lavern Seal of Billings, 27, on a charge of theft by shoplifting.

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A caller at 2:29 p.m. Friday from 17th Street West reported a bicycle had been stolen.

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After a caller from a business on the 1700 Block of U.S. Highway 2 West reported at 2:55 p.m. Friday that someone had stolen items as the store was closing Thursday night, officers issued a summons to Taylorrae Lavern Seal of Billings, 27, on a charge of theft by shoplifting.

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After a caller from Third Avenue reported at 3:11 p.m. Friday that someone had kicked in a back gate, officers issued a summons to James Lawrence Daychild of Havre, 49, on a charge of criminal trespass.

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After a caller from the 400 Block of Seventh Avenue reported at 3:28 p.m. Friday that a child's bicycle was stolen, officers issued a summons to a 12-year-old, gender not listed, on a charge of theft.

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After receiving a call from the 600 Block of Fourth Street at 3:36 p.m. Friday, at 7:01 p.m. Friday on 14th Avenue, officers arrested Izaak Daniel Eugene Corner of Havre, 18, on charges of strangulation of a partner or family member and non-aggravated partner or family member assault.

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Officers arrested Gerald Alex Belgarde Jr. of Havre, 28, at 7:36 p.m. Friday on the 700 Block of First Street on a pick up and hold order.

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After receiving a call from a hospital at 9:09 p.m. Friday, officers arrested Preston Wade Clark of Box Elder, 34, on charges of non-aggravated partner or family member assault and assault with a weapon.

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Officers conducting a compliance check at 9:14 p.m. Friday at an establishment on the 1400 Block of First Street issued a summons. Details were not available in the dispatch log.

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Officers conducting a compliance check at 9:30 p.m. Friday at an establishment on the 100 Block of First Street West issued a summons. Details were not available in the dispatch log.

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Officers conducting a compliance check at 10:07 p.m. Friday at an establishment on the 300 Block of First Street issued a summons. Details were not available in the dispatch log.

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Officers conducting a compliance check at 10:10 p.m. Friday at an establishment on the 300 Block of First Street issued a summons. Details were not available in the dispatch log.

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Officers conducting a compliance check at 10:20 p.m. Friday at an establishment on the 200 Block of First Street issued a summons. Details were not available in the dispatch log.

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Officers responding to a call from the 700 Block of First Street Saturday at 12:25 a.m. Saturday arrested Leejay Healy Jr. of Havre, 23, on a charge of assault and on a Justice or City court warrant.

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Officers arrested Codie Darwin Nalder of Havre, 27, on a Justice or City court warrant at 4:19 p.m. Sunday on the 1300 Block of Saddle Butte Drive.

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After receiving a call from an establishment on the 1700 Block of U.S. Highway 2 West at 9:54 p.m. Sunday, officers arrested Angelic Jennifer Frost of Livingston, 46, on a charge of disorderly conduct.

Hill County Sheriff's Office

A caller at a business on U.S. Highway 2 Northeast reported Friday at 5:19 p.m. that a couch and television were stolen from storage.

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Martina Marie James of Havre, 41, was issued a summons on a shoplifting charge at 8:14 p.m. Saturday

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Codi Marie Rosette of Box Elder, 34, was issued a summons on a charge of assault with minor injuries, after an assault was report at 7:14 a.m. Sunday.

Havre Fire Department

Emergency medical personnel responded to five calls Friday, including one accompanying on a fire call, five calls Saturday, including two accompanying fire calls, and six calls Sunday.

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Firefighters responded to a Friday 10:35 a.m. fire alarm on the 1300 Block of Jefferson Avenue, and found that the fire alarm had malfunctioned.

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Firefighters responded to two calls Saturday, one at 9:47 a.m. on the 10 Block of Third Street West where burnt food set off the alarm and the other at 8:16 p.m. on the 1300 Block of Jefferson Avenue for a malfunctioning alarm.

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Sunday at 12:49 p.m., firefighters responded to a report of an illegal burn on Eighth Avenue North, but neither the fire crew nor Hill County Sheriff's deputies could find a fire or detect smoke.

Havre Animal Shelter

The shelter this morning held three 9-week-old kittens, two 15-week-old kittens, a 6-month-old kitten and one 11-week-old kitten all of unknown gender, three female cats, three male 18-week-old kittens and two male cats. A male 15-week-old kitten and a male 16-week-old kitten were being held separately.

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The shelter also held one female and one male 11-week-old puppies, a female Doberman pinscher dog, a male Labrador retriever dog, a female Australian shepherd dog, a male husky dog and a female shar pei dog.
Editors note: Harlem schools were not able to provide an interview in time to be included in a back-to-school special section inserted in todays edition. Look to the special section for more on other areas schools return to the classroom.

As schools all across north-central Montana return to session with the start of the 2021-22 school year, Harlem Public Schools Superintendent Arlene Bigby said last year had plenty of challenges to learn from, and many of the lessons learned will be applied in the school system this school year.

Harlem schools are scheduled to return to class this week with no remote learning, she said, but they will continue to utilize technology tools and strategies based on last years experiences to offer students more and better opportunities for learning.

And they will continue to watch the situation as the year progresses.

We will continue to monitor our plan and be ready to adjust as needed to keep our students safe, Bigby said.

There were many changes throughout the district, Bigby said, some include the wearing of masks, social distancing, separation of grade levels, contact tracing, scheduled bathroom breaks, cleaning and sanitizing more frequently.

We are revisiting our re-opening plan and will implement some of last years changes, she added, including requiring staff/students to wear masks in all District buildings, follow distancing recommendations, and continue with the cleaning routines developed last year.

Last year, in compliance with COVID-19 recommendations from Blaine County Health Department and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the district broke its classes into three groups, Bigby said. Group A attended school in person Mondays and Tuesdays and online Wednesdays and Thursdays, group B had the opposite schedule, and group C attended remotely only. For the remote students, K-3 students were provided paper packets and students in grades 4-12 received Chromebooks, which were fully distributed in October.

Close to Christmas break, Bigby added, groups A and B were able to combine, but the district continued the online learning with group C. Some of the online-only students were part of a large population of students attending Harlem Schools who live on Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, where residents were asked to follow stricter stay-at-home guidelines from the tribal council.

It was especially difficult not having all of our students in our buildings. Overall, staff and students did their best with what was provided to us, Bigby said, adding that teachers and staff stepped up to the challenge of educating students however they were learning and adjustments were made throughout the process to make things work better.

All students were provided meals throughout the school year, and the district addressed lost instructional time by offering summer credit retrieval courses, she said, for any students needing extra assistance or credits in a subject  at the high school and in summer camps at the grade school.

Bigby said that the most challenging part of the last school year was making decisions that were not going to make everyone happy, but those decisions were based on specific criteria.

We must try to make a decision that is best for the students while also being safe for them, their families, and the community, she said.

Teachers, students, and families all had to learn to work in a different way, she added. Everyone became more proficient is using technology to support learning. Teachers worked hard to help their students succeed, no matter which learning mode they were using.
The Hill County Board of Health has called a special meeting to be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Hill County Courthouse Annex meeting room to discuss how Montana House Bill 702 affects the countys quarantine policies.

HB 702 prohibits discrimination based on vaccine status or possession of an immunity passport, defined as any physical or electronic record of whether a person is immune to any disease through vaccination or infection and recovery.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance states that people need to quarantine for 14 days if theyve been in close contact  within six feet of someone for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period  with someone who has COVID-19, unless theyve been fully vaccinated.

People who are fully vaccinated do not need to quarantine after contact with someone who had COVID-19 unless they have symptoms, the CDCs website says, but should get tested three to five days after their exposure, even if they dont have symptoms and wear a mask indoors in public for 14 days following exposure or until their test result is negative.

HB 702 states that it is an unlawful discriminatory practice for a person or a governmental entity to refuse, withhold from, or deny to a person any local or state services, goods, facilities, advantages, privileges, licensing, educational opportunities, health care access, or employment opportunities based on the persons vaccination status or whether the person has an immunity passport.

It also prohibits an employer from refusing employment to a person, to bar a person from employment, or to discriminate against a person in compensation or in a term, condition, or privilege of employment based on this basis.

The act also states its unlawful to create a public accommodation to exclude, limit, segregate, refuse to serve, or otherwise discriminate against a person based on vaccination status or the possession of an immunity passport as well.

The law does not apply to school vaccination requirements, and health care facilities are permitted to take measures to protect staff, patients and visitors from disease should an employee volunteer the fact that they are unvaccinated or choose not to disclose their vaccination status, in which case facility leadership is permitted to assume that person is unvaccinated.

It also permits licensed nursing homes, long-term care facilities, or assisted-living facilities to be exempt during any period of time in which compliance with it would result in a violation of regulations or guidance issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services or CDC.

Wednesdays meeting is scheduled to last for one hour.
The Missouri Breaks Interpretive Center stands in Fort Benton. The Bureau of Land Management is hosting a 20-year anniversary event for the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument with games, activities and free admission to the Missouri Breaks Interpretive Center Aug. 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and a schedule of speakers at the event has been released.

The 20th Anniversary celebration for the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument will take place on Saturday, Aug. 28, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Missouri Breaks Interpretive Center, with a list of special speakers.

As part of the celebration, no admission fee will be charged to tour the Interpretive Center on this day. People can bring the whole family out to tour the new interpretive exhibits, attend special programs featuring guest speakers, visit booths highlighting the natural and cultural history of the Monument, and join in on the fun through interactive games and activities. Presentations and interactive booths will be located both indoors and outdoors.

The schedule includes the following guest speaker presentations:

10 a.m. - The Lewis and Clark Expedition.

Ranger Don McKenzie will enlighten and inspire as he takes us on a journey through the challenges and adventures of the Lewis and Clark expedition within the Monument.

11 a.m. - Native Plant Uses

Join local Fort Benton resident Rin McKenzie to learn about the medical practices of the Lewis and Clark expedition - what befell the members of the Corps and how they survived the trip. Only one man died, and the rest lived to tell the tale.

Noon - Paleontology along the Upper Missouri River.

A member of the Great Plains Dinosaur Museum team, presenter Cary Woodruff grew up in rural central Virginia, and received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in earth sciences with an emphasis in paleontology at Montana State University under famed dinosaur paleontologist Jack Horner. Woodruff is pursuing his Ph.D. at the University of Toronto.

Woodruff named a new sauropod dinosaur from Montana - Rugocaudia cooneyi - and his work on deciphering sauropod growth is pioneering the way we understand the life histories of these animals. People can join Woodruff for an overview of his work and a history of paleontolgy in the Upper Missouri basin.

1 p.m. - Essential Understandings of Montana Indians.

Mike Jetty is an enrolled member of the Spirit Lake Dakota National and a Turtle Mountain Chippewa descendant, and is an Indian education specialist with the Montana Office of Public Instruction. Mike has been working with Indian education issues for the past 28 years. His program will provide an overview of the essential understandings regarding Montana Indians, with key concepts regarding contemporary and historic American Indian issues.

2 p.m. - The Life of Emil DonTigny.

Emil DonTigny, 1901-69, was a central, though relatively unknown, figure in the establishment of the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument. This river-enthusiast and pioneering conservationist was instrumental in building support for the area now contained in the Monument boundaries. This presentation offers a wonderful opportunity to make public the important conservation legacy of Emil DonTigny.

Presenter Ciara Ryan is the special projects coordinator at the Montana History Foundation. She is a Fulbright scholar and recently completed her PhD on Irish cultural traditions in Butte.

3 p.m. - Oil Painting Workshop with Carol Hartman.

2021 UMRBNM Artist in Residence Carol Hartman will be giving a workshop on oil painting to share what she learned while completing her residency with the Monument in early August. This will be an interactive, hands-on program, where participants will learn oil painting skills from Carol to create their own work of art. All ages welcome.

For more information, people can call the Interpretive Center at (406) 622-4000.
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Henderson, NC (27536)

Today

Isolated thunderstorms this morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. Isolated tornadoes possible. High around 80F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 63F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
THIS colourful painting is the perfect gift for a boating

enthusiast.

It depicts the Thames Traditional Boat Festival, which was held in Henley every year for 41 years until last year when it was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Trad, as it has become known, will return to Fawley Meadows over the forthcoming August bank holiday weekend.

This watercolour was painted by artist Bill Mundy, who lives in Wargrave Road and has been attending the event for many years.

A few weeks ago, he was contacted by Wentworth Wooden Puzzles to be told the painting had been selected for one of its jigaws.

Bill, 84, pieced the image together from a series of photographs he took over several years and it features some of his favourite boats, including Gloriana, the Queens royal barge.

The painting, which took him about 200 hours, will be on display in the members enclosure at the festival and Bill hopes someone might be interested in buying it. He said: It is a combination of photographs that I have taken at the Trad of Gloriana, a blue royal barge, a couple of moored slipper launches and also a man who made his boat, the paddle steamer. I dont remember the mans name, but he is sitting in it with his wife.

It also has Upper Thames Rowing Club in the background.

Then the other month we were walking along the river and saw some Canada geese frolicking around, which were perfect as I was looking for something for the foreground of the painting.

As the geese are surveying the scene. Ive called it Gandering at the Gloriana.

Bill sketched a design for the picture before adding the paint using a mixture of true brush strokes and his specialist technique of pointalism, which comprises thousands of tiny dots.

He said: I had to draw it all out many times to get a good design and work out where all the boats should be in relation to each other. I spent a lot of time making sure I got the scale of all the elements correct otherwise it would look strange and unrealistic. That was one of the hardest things to do.

It was not all painted with dots, otherwise it would take me 10 years to do. I did the water, more or less, in strides and smaller washes but when it came to the detailing I would use pointalism.

I did this with Gloriana, some of the work on the slipper launches and the grass in the foreground.

The two Canada geese are also very finely detailed, which you would be able to see through a magnifying glass.

I started off the painting with the Canada geese and then I went for it. I do tend to jump around a bit when I am painting. When I am doing a boring bit I jump on to something else more interesting and then come back.

Wentworth has used about 10 of Bills paintings for its jigsaws over the last 15 years, including one of a Spitfire flying over Henley.

The company contacts him every year to see if he has anything interesting. He usually submits about six pictures before learning which one had been chosen.

Bill said: This one came a bit out of the blue when they said they were interested in it for their autumn collection and sent me a mock-up box so I could see what it would look like.

They give me a free box of the finished product and I am able to order as many as I like at trade price.

Bill receives royalties of five per cent from each puzzle sold, which amounts to a few hundred quid a year.

The puzzles come in either 250, 500 or 1,000 pieces.

Bill said: I have ordered about 20 or so of the 250-piece puzzles and a couple of the 500 pieces as they make really good Christmas presents.

He is looking forward to the Trad returning.

We all missed it last year, he said. I love boats  I have two myself  and I love looking at them in beautiful conditions.
Uniontown, PA (15401)

Today

Periods of rain. Potential for flooding rains. High 68F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy early, then clearing overnight. Slight chance of a shower throughout the evening. Low 52F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.
Uniontown, PA (15401)

Today

A steady rain this morning. Showers continuing this afternoon. Potential for flooding rains. High 68F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch..

Tonight

Cloudy early, becoming mostly clear after midnight. Slight chance of a shower throughout the evening. Low 52F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.
Multimedia Video Journalist

Buffalo native trying to get her news on! Im a Multimedia Journalist here at Your Hometown Stations and I love what I do. Have a cool story idea? Im in! Just email me at ashelton@wlio.com or message my Facebook page.
Appointment

23 August 2021

JLL Capital Markets announced today that it has hired Melissa Marcolini Quinn as Senior Managing Director to oversee her respective office's debt and equity platform. In her new role, Quinn will co-lead the Orlando capital markets office alongside Senior Managing Director Brad Peterson.

Quinn has more than 17 years of experience specializing in the origination of debt, joint venture equity and structured finance and most recently led an Orlando capital markets office for a commercial services firm. As a specialist in multi-housing - both market-rate and affordable housing - she has been a top Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae producer. Quinn, who earned a BSBA degree in finance from the University of Central Florida in Orlando, has been honored as one of Commercial Property Executive's Stars to Watch and Globe St. Real Estate Forum's Women of Influence. Additionally, she has served on State Farm Life Insurance Company's advisory council; is an active member of the UCF Real Estate Council, Mortgage Bankers Association, the National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) and CREW Orlando.
Appointment

23 August 2021

JLL Capital Markets announced today that it has hired Lee Weaver as Senior Managing Directors to oversee his respective office's debt and equity platform. In his new roles Weaver will join Senior Managing Director Matt Mitchell as the Tampa capital markets office co-lead.

With more than 24 years of commercial real estate industry experience, Weaver led the Tampa capital markets office for a commercial services firm, where he was recognized as being in the top 10 percent of producers nationwide. Throughout the course of his 24-year career, he has originated commercial real estate loans from $3 million to $200 million, working with lending sources that include life insurance companies, pension funds, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and FHA. He also has a strong track record arranging joint venture equity and preferred equity financing with a focus on student housing. Weaver is a past recipient of Student Housing Business' Most Creative Financing Innovator Award and is active in industry organizations, including NMHC, the National Apartment Association, the Bay Area Apartment Association, the Real Estate Investment Council and the Mortgage Bankers Association of America. He is also involved in various charitable and community organizations such as St. Joseph's Hospital, Joshua House and the International Justice Mission.
Appointment

23 August 2021

Britta Kutz was recently appointed General Manager at the InterContinental Warsaw, Area General Manager for IHG Hotels & Resorts in Poland becoming the first female General Manager at that hotel.

Britta Kutz arrived to Warsaw from Dusseldorf after a very successful tenure as Area General Manager for IHG Hotels & Resorts in Germany. Leading the InterContinental Dusseldorf as General Manager, she also supported the Holid ay Inn Frankfurt Alte Oper, Holiday Inn Express Berlin Alexanderplatz, Holiday Inn Express Munich City West in her Area position.

Britta started her professional career in the 90s with an apprenticeship at the Hyatt Regency in Cologne from where she moved to her first position abroad at the Hyatt Carlton Tower in London. Later destinations included the Fairmont Vier Jahreszeiten and the Park Hyatt in Hamburg.

In 2006 Britta joined IHG Hotels & Resorts at the InterContinental Frankfurt.

Since then, Britta developed her leadership career working in different positions and hotels across the InterContinental brand including the InterContinental Cologne and the InterContinental Singapore before she became General Manager at the InterContinental Hua Hin Resort in Thailand in 2012.

Under her leadership the InterContinental Hua Hin Resort received many prestigious awards, incl. Best Luxury Beach Front Resort by World Luxury Hotel Awards, Best Hotel Thailand by Asia Pacific Hotel Awards in 2013 and in 2014 and Best Resort Thailand by World Travel Awards in 2015.

In 2015, Britta Kutz was appointed General Manager of InterContinental Bandung Dago Pakar in Indonesia, where she played a key role in finalizing the opening of the hotel in the capital of West Java before she returned to Europe as General Manager of the InterContinental Dusseldorf in 2016.

This role allowed her to play a key part in the transformation of the hotel services to new levels of sophistication and luxury including a three million Euro rooms renovation and the development from concept to launch of the renowned "Restaurant Ko59" in collaboration with celebrity chef Bjorn Freitag.

As of 2018 Britta's responsibilities expanded to an Areas General Manager role including additional 3 hotels of the UBM portfolio in Germany.

Britta Kutz came to Poland with her husband and 12-year-old daughter.
External Article

23 August 2021

The sector is facing staff shortages, with travel restrictions causing more people to holiday in the UK.

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Some staff in Cornwall said they were worn down by being sworn at and threatened with violence when restaurants were full or food delayed.

UK Hospitality "urged all customers to treat staff with respect".

Emily Gimblett, 20, a Newquay waitress, pleaded on social media for "common decency" after she said a customer made her cry.

"She was really, really moody and I just cried.

"I had already been reduced to nothing that day... It's like a lose lose situation," she said.

"I have never seen it this busy, it is ridiculous... The amount of staff we have can't cope with the influx.

"What you say to someone can ruin their whole day. We're still a person... We're tired."

Ms Gimblett said customers were angry and she had "reached breaking point".

She said people on holiday were annoyed that "everywhere is fully booked every night" while staff were worn out working long shifts.
Some of the Bayou City's best Black-owned businesses are now getting an extra lift.

As part of its Shop Local campaign, the Greater Houston Black Chamber has teamed up with United Airlines for the fifth anniversary of its annual Buy Black campaign to promote and support small, Black-owned businesses in the Houston area.

The airline will launch an app tile functionality directing customers to the chamber's online Buy Black directory, which allows Houston-bound customers to learn more about and shop from more than 500 of the area's Black-owned business. This includes everything from real estate to restaurants, retail, health and wellness and more.

"Were trying to create this Black economy," said Carol Guess, president and CEO of the Greater Houston Black Chamber of Commerce.

"Its important for Black people to do well in Houston to contribute to our tax base. Thats why its important for this program to succeed. If our community succeeds then that success bleeds over into the community as a whole."

Guess added that she hopes the program increases awareness and creates a culture shift so that Black-owned businesses can become top of mind.

That hasn't yet happened due to the effects of racism, she said.

"Buy Black campaign is all about bringing awareness, but changing peoples mindset," Guess said.

"Black businesses tend to be marginalized because theyre black and because of racism. Things that are Black tended to be dismissed. Before George Floyd, I dont think people recognized that it was real."

Some 4.4 million new businesses were launched across the country in 2020, up 24 percent from 2019, according to data from the Census Bureau. In Houston, predominantly Black neighborhoods led the region in the creation of new businesses, according to researchers at Rice University, who analyzed business registrations by zip code. Experts say its hard to pinpoint what drove these trends, but several factors, like the pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement, likely played roles.

While many businesses have stepped up in promoting Black-owned businesses after George Floyd was murdered by a former Minneapolis cop, Guess commends United for being intentional about it.

NEWSLETTERS Join the conversation with HouWeAre We want to foster conversation and highlight the intersection of race, identity and culture in one of America's most diverse cities. Sign up for the HouWeAre newsletter here.

"Putting (us) in the light with those (who) have disposable income to afford a flight," she said, "that is life-changing."

For United, it came down to keeping their word.

"We believe in proof not promise," said Helon Hammond, United's managing director of technical operations and maintenance systems technology.

"Last year United made a commitment to be the most inclusive airline in the industry and this is just proof of that. Were proud to support the Buy Black campaign, and its a part of our overall commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion."

She says this is just a start. The partnership will run through the New Year holiday, Hammond said, and United and the chamber are currently communicating about extending it.
From Tony Davenports perspective, whats coming is inevitable.

The company he represented at the Offshore Technology Conference on Tuesday as a manufacturing agent, Amphernol, changed the name of one of its divisions from Amphernol Oil & Gas Technologies to Amphernol Energy Technologies.

Earlier this year, French oil major Total changed its name to TotalEnergies, reflecting its climate change push. And NOV, one of the largest manufacturers of drilling rigs and machines, has opened a division dedicated to installing wind turbines.

Now OTC, Houstons signature event for the oil and gas industry, is including speakers and exhibitors involved in the energy transition  giving renewable energy a platform in front of an audience steeped in the fossil fuel industry.

It signals the shift in the traditional energy industry as companies begin to lean into cleaner sources of power, transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable options.

Its coming, and everybodys more conscious about green energy versus oil and gas energy, Davenport said. Theres even talk now about offshore platforms that used to operate using gas or oil to operate using electricity, running a cable from shore to the platform.

Thirteen of OTCs 86 panel and speaking events are focused on renewables or the energy transition. Massachusetts-based Greentown Labs  North Americas largest climate tech incubator that opened its second location in Houston this year  hosted a panel about offshore wind technology. The conferences opening general session, Focus on the Future, featured three speakers who almost exclusively talked about emissions, the energy transition and the role of renewables in the offshore sector.

LAND BATTLE: Renewable energy and oil wage battle for power

Make no mistake  the world needs more and cleaner energy, said Bill Langin, senior vice president of deepwater exploration for Shell, at the session. We need to decarbonize barrels and also make new forms of energy.

The presence of renewables and newer forms of energy at OTC dovetails with an increase in local and national actions and conversations about the energy transition.

A group of 27 unions in Texas last month commissioned a report that found the state could gain 1 million jobs if it follows ambitious renewable energy plans. Then the Texas AFL-CIO created the Texas Climate Jobs Project to try to make the reports recommendations a reality. The Biden Administration announced in April it would aim to cut carbon emissions by at least 50 percent by 2050.

Years earlier, oil majors, including BP, Chevron and Royal Dutch Shell, had launched subsidiaries dedicated to funding and researching new energy technologies, and they have increasingly sponsored panels and events related to renewable energy.

Leigh Ann Runyan, executive director of OTC, said there have been efforts for years to put more discussions about renewables on the conventions annual agenda, and that its board and executive team wholly endorsed the move this year.

Weve been wanting to talk about the energy transition, which has been accelerated in the last 12 months, Runyan said. So many of the operating companies have launched their new programs to reduce their carbon footprints and to do what they can with the energy transition. And OTC wants to be a part of that.

Still, introducing a burgeoning industry that may well soon disrupt oil and gas did not receive a uniformly warm reception among those attending OTC this year in person and online.

POWER SOURCE: Renewables may become Texas' top source of electricity

Taking questions after a presentation by Peter Green, deputy lab director of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the moderator laughed as she read a submission from an online participant, who she said must be from the oil and gas industry.

Do you think we should stop using fossil fuels in the near future? the question read.

Im a realist here. Markets and convenience are going to play a huge role, Green responded. Its not going to go away any time soon  it just depends how we manage it.

Mike Matthews, U.S. representative for the World Forum Offshore Wind, said he heard concerns from oil and gas employees at other renewable energy panels, as well. Still, he said, those hes spoken to about his work have been open to learning more.

Its been an educational opportunity, he said. What were here to do is to take that business side and see what kind of opportunities we can assist with. Were not stepping on oil and gas toes. We want to work together  you have the platform, you have the tech, you have the supply chain. Lets build some offshore wind platforms out here.

There did seem to be a disconnect between the discussions about renewable energy held at the upstairs conference rooms and the trade show downstairs, which was filled with booths depicting oil rigs, huge drills for boring into the earth and sections of pipelines used to move crude from the sea bed to the surface.

Among them was an exhibit for Missouri City-based KeyDrill Technology, where Director of Sales Jon Weatherly was working. The companys 10 employees design and manufacture directional drilling tools, from hardware to software.

Weatherly said he didnt see a problem with having more renewable vendors and conversations at OTC. Already, he said, some customers visiting his booth talked about using the companys drilling tools to start geothermal power operations.

Hes a little more skeptical about wind and solar, because the sun doesnt always shine and the wind doesnt always blow, and utility-scale battery storage hasnt materialized in a meaningful way.

But hey, we need more energy, so I dont think its a problem. And at some point, do we run out of oil? Who knows, he said. I just think a hard cut-over cant happen. Thats my view - lets transition but lets do it smartly.

shelby.webb@chron.com
Michael Cavazos

Texass oil regulator has a solution for those who fear the world is over-heating: Turn the damn air conditioner up.

The sentiment was voiced at an energy conference Friday by Wayne Christian, a member of the Texas Railroad Commission, which oversees oil and gas drilling and transportation in the biggest producing state. The remarks came as he criticized a report published by the United Nations this month incontrovertibly linking global warming to human activity, mostly through the burning of fossil fuels.
Ajna Jai / Contributor

Despite the high temperatures outside, a simple, fragrant curry filled with vegetables from the market has been my go-to meal this summer. The bounty of local farms has provided us with the most beautiful shades of peppers and eggplants and fingerling potatoes. If I dont have potatoes, I substitute with beans, and my family and I will either eat it on its own as a soup or with rice or bread. A twist of lemon juice and a handful of herbs at the end makes for a delicious, deeply nutritious dinner.

On a recent trip to New York, I made a similar vegetable curry at a friends dinner party for guests that happened to include Gaggan Anand  whose namesake Indian-inspired restaurant Gaggan in Bangkok earned the No. 4 place on the worlds-best-restaurants list in 2019. After more than half a dozen helpings, he declared that he had eaten more than half the pot of curry! I served it with a simple rice pilaf with lots of chopped herbs, local celery, currants and pumpkin seeds. So give this curry a try  it also makes great leftovers for breakfast with a poached egg dropped into it with toast on the side.
When Tootsies, a high-end department store near River Oaks, was brainstorming designers to showcase on the runway for this years Latin Womens Initiative fashion show, Silvia Tcherassi came to mind. The brand, a colorful collection of womens fashion based in Miami, is a favorite of bold-faced philanthropists and Initiative supporters, such as Michele Leal and Erika Toussaint.

With luncheons and galas returning to social calendars this fall, Houstonians are ready to refresh their closets with black-tie sequins and cocktail frocks.

Knowing this, Tcherassi did her research. After checking many social photos, I can say the Houston woman is unapologetically elegant.

Last week the brands founder touched down in Houston with daughter Sofia Tcherassi, 23, marking the design duos inaugural visit to the Bayou City. The younger Tcherassi, a Parsons School of Design graduate, joined the family business as ready-to-wear director in May 2020.

We complement each other very well, Sofia says of working with her mother. Ive been with the company since I was born in one way or another.

Silvia agrees  its a good match. I dont let age or a specific nationality influence when I design, but I do keep in mind details. So do the women she dresses.

Finding inspiration in art

Their Houston customer has access to the citys world-renowned Museum District, so that became the Tcherassis first stop in town.

We found a lot of inspiration, mostly in (the) Cy Twombly (Gallery). I studied him a bit in college and seeing so much of his work was great, Sofia says. They also visited the Menil Collection and Rothko Chapel.

Silvia agrees with her daughter: Twomblys work struck a chord. The late painters inclination toward romantic symbolism reminded the designer of the tie-dyed fabric she explored for her resort season collection.

Those pieces  caftans, tunics, cardigans, pants and blouses  appeared on the Houston runway alongside pre-fall and fall winter, too.

The woman who wears Silvia Tcherassi enjoys fashion, aspires to be different and is the opposite of someone who follows the trends, she adds. Instead, her customer values a personal sense of style, unique point of view and aesthetic  much like Silvia.

Before turning to fashion, she started out as an interior designer in her native Colombia, where the first Silvia Tcherassi boutique opened in 1991. Six years later the designer moved across the Carribbean to Miami, her companys current headquarters and the home of her second brick-and-mortar shop.

No wallflowers

From a brand identity perspective, it all tracks. She makes happy clothes for a well-traveled, well-heeled clientele. The kind who might throw on a floor-skimming maxi dress or two-piece matching set to host an impromptu dinner party. Or throw a ruffled skirt or high-waisted short over a swimsuit for drinks on the beach. The pieces arent precious, though they are suitcase-friendly. And wallflowers need not apply; Silvia Tcherassis calling cards are prints, patterns, texture and skin.

During the pandemic it was much more loungewear. Now things are beginning to reopen slowly, people found their own unique style during the time they were off, Sofia observes. Women are much more out there with what they wear. Before, they were so much more limited.

Her mother adds that the shift toward cool and cozy has introduced a casual slant to elegant dress.

Its created an interesting balance, Silvia says. I do believe in the power of accessorizing.

No surprise, then, that Silvia Tcherassi offerings include a full range of handbags, jewelry and shoes to complete a head-to-toe look, in addition to an atelier collection for special occasion needs.

It was a bit of a mix, because each collection is not something separate, but a continuation, Sofia explains.

Not that the mother-daughter duo isnt looking to diversify. Silvia hints an expansion is already in the works, and that theyre playing with the idea of a secondary line.

The luncheon raised more than $400,000 for nonprofits that provide critical services to Houstons Latino communities, and with any luck, recruited some 850 new fans to team Tcherassi.

amber.elliott@chron.com
Allen J. Schaben, Staff Photographer / TNS

Following the opening of Katy ISD campuses on Aug. 18, the district has reported that the number of COVID-19 cases has more than quadrupled. After four days of instruction, cases have ballooned from 100 to 422.

On the first day of school, the number of self-reported cases was 100. As of data from Aug. 23, there are now 422 active cases: 310 students and 112 staff members.
DOVER, Del. (AP)  Homicide investigators in Delaware are looking for clues in the death of a woman whose body was found in a field.

Delaware State Police say they received a call Saturday morning alerting them to the body.
Members of the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club had been in Houston for two hours.

The plan was fluid: Smoke cigars, sip cocktails at the Galleria-area restaurant across from their hotel, and then change clothes before a Missouri City gathering of the New Orleans fraternal group. Among them were two off-duty police officers, a retired Marine and Elroy James  the groups president and an assistant attorney general for Louisiana.

James excused himself to visit a pharmacy on Westheimer. He didnt hear the gunfire that erupted down the block at Grotto Ristorante.

Barely five minutes had gone by when Jones received a phone calling telling him to get back. Group members were trying desperately to save the life of New Orleans police detective Everett Briscoe and a friend after a gunman opened fire during an attempted robbery.

James hurried back and found the other Zulu members tending to the wounded men.

The other police officer and another man were holding Briscoes hand and comforting him. At that point, the detective was alert and breathing. He later died. The other Zulu member, whom WDSU-TV identified as Dyrian (DJ) Riculfy Sr., was not moving.

James stayed back, knowing it was now a crime scene.

I could see DJ still sitting in the chair, motionless, James said.

The shooting brought the weekend of fellowship  intended as one to see members who moved to Houston after Hurricane Katrina in 2005  to an abrupt end.

We hadnt started the fun, he said.

Riculfy remained in critical condition Monday, police said, with relatives saying that he was in a medically induced coma with a gunshot wound to the head, according to the New Orleans news outlet.

The shooting Saturday happened as six Zulu members gathered on the restaurant patio. The robbers confronted the group from over the patio fence and told them to raise their hands, James said, citing what witnesses told him.

The other police officer in the group started talking to the robber and was complying, James continued. But the other gunman came from behind the building and opened fire.

We had trained law enforcement, James said, not knowing if the group had concealed weapons. They did not pull weapons. One of the guys said, We didnt have time.

Police in Houston continued their hunt for the gunmen Monday but were unable to provide updates on the search. The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences on Monday determined Briscoe died of a gunshot wound to the torso.

Police earlier shared surveillance footage of the accused robbers and their vehicle. The men fled in a four-door Nissan Altima with paper license plates.

Authorities have raised a reward to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

Chief Troy Finner issued an impassioned plea hours after the shooting for Houstonians to keep an eye out for the men.

Somebody knows them, Finner said. I want every person in every neighborhood to stand up, give us some information so we can get these individuals into custody.

The group of at least 17 Zulu members returned Sunday to Louisiana by bus, but James and another drove separately. On Monday, he reflected on the shooting.

When members call with problems, I put my head down and resolve problems, James said. But members called with a problem that I couldnt do. There was no resolution. It was the first time I felt the weight of the organization during the pandemic and other trying times.

The century-old fraternity in 2020 lost nearly 20 members to complications from COVID-19 infections stemming from the Mardi Gras outbreak.

nicole.hensley@chron.com
For the second straight year, Houston ISD is set to welcome back nearly 200,000 students in the midst of a pandemic.

The similarities between last year and Mondays reopening end there, however.

HISD entered the 2020-21 school year with COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations in Harris County on a downward slope. Nonetheless, the district began the year online and did not open its campuses until October. Nearly half its students finished the school year learning remotely even as case numbers had waned toward the end. Those who returned to campus remained masked up, socially distanced, and in some cases, behind plexiglass.

THE LATEST NUMBERS: Interactive maps, charts show spread of COVID across Houston

This year, the district is plunging right in, offering limited remote learning to vulnerable kids, requiring face masks but relaxing social distancing requirements while the number of COVID cases and hospitalizations are rising higher than ever, driven by the highly contagious delta variant and a lagging vaccination rate in Harris County.

Many of those cases involve young people, including some under 12 unable to be vaccinated. Eighteen percent of all the new cases in the Texas Medical Center this month have been children, President and CEO Bill McKeon said.

A look at COVID numbers in the surrounding districts, most of which have been open for less than two weeks, provides a glimpse into what the largest school district in the state could face when it opens its doors Monday.

A week and a half into the school year, Conroe ISD reported 1,487 students and 143 employees were isolated with symptomatic or test-positive COVID-19. Fort Bend ISD disclosed 536 total cases among students and staff. At Spring ISD, officials had 139 active student cases on the seventh day back.

COVID LIVE UPDATES: Keep up with the pandemic and its impact on Houston

On Friday, HISD had 157 active cases. The district finished last year with 2,037 total cases among students and another 1,600 among staff, according to state figures.

We are really shoveling water out of the boat as we go because the cases are going up. The cases are jumping into the boat while we are shoveling them out of the boat, HISD Superintendent Millard House II said of the regions surge. We are doing the best job we can, being as strategic as we can  keeping students and staff first in every decision that we make.

During his first week on the job in early July, House announced his goal to have a full return to in-person classes. The Texas Education Agency said the same, noting the Legislature did not include funding for remote learning in the state budget.

At the time, Harris Countys 14-day average positivity rate for new COVID cases was 4.1 percent. Last week, the average reached 20.4 percent.

Pediatricians have identified the vaccination of all eligible adults in student households and classrooms as a key for schools to reopen and stay open, as well as the wearing of masks and other precautions suggested by health officials.

I dont think many of us, as we were preparing for the school year, were expecting what we are dealing with right now, which is very similar to what we dealt with a year ago, said Alief ISD Superintendent HD Chambers, whose schools welcomed children back on Aug. 10. I dont think we were planning on having to go through this again.

Despite the rapid increase in cases following the opening of some area schools, none have shut down, unlike last year when as few as one or two cases prompted districts to close individual classrooms or entire schools.

At HISD, House has said there will be no threshold to shut down a classroom. The districts reopening plan states no school closures are anticipated.

Last year, the district temporarily closed 16 campuses with confirmed or presumed COVID-19 cases a day after students returned. This year, House has said, officials will look at the circumstances of each situation.

One measure expected to stay in place will be the mask requirement.

VACCINE TRACKER: Interactive map shows where you can get vaccinated in Houston

Case rate numbers eventually will affirm the districts decision to mandate masks if current trend lines continue, said Zeph Capo, president of the Texas American Federation of Teachers and former leader of the districts largest union.

Where you have more mitigation procedures put in place, Capo said, we are seeing less potential for breakouts to rapidly happen, which ultimately lead to school closures.

By the end of last week, COVID numbers reported by districts already open showed a range of infections.

Dallas ISD, the states second-largest district with an enrollment of nearly 150,000 students, had confirmed 185 student cases. A mask mandate has been in place.

Humble ISD, which reopened Aug. 10, had confirmed 466 cases among students out of approximately 46,951 kids on campus.

At the districts North Belt Elementary School, Principal Christina Morris estimated roughly 60 percent of her students and staff wear face masks. Only one student and three staffers had become sick in the first two weeks, according to the district.

I have an abundance of PPE available for my staff or students as they need. It is always available to them, Morris said. I am more excited to have my kiddos back and being able to be with them, and I will do whatever it takes to be able keep that.

House said he had been in contact with officials at districts that already have started school, who have told him they are close to meeting enrollment targets for the first couple of days. While the COVID cases are higher in some schools than last year, House said the situations have been manageable.

He said he also spoke with his counterpart at Dallas ISD, who estimated only a handful of students had pushed back on a mask mandate out of thousands who have returned to school.

That information has been very, very helpful, House said. In terms of masks, we have seen very little issues.

Local officials and school districts challenging Gov. Greg Abbotts ban on mask mandates are embroiled in legal battles with the governor and attorney general. Last Thursday, the states Supreme Court decided to temporarily permit districts and some local governments to require masks, rejecting Attorney General Ken Paxtons attempt to expedite his challenge to the mandates.

SIGN UP FOR BREAKING NEWS ALERTS: Stay up-to-date with all of the biggest stories on HoustonChronicle.com as they happen

I do wish the state would allow local districts to make their own decisions and do what they believe is in the best interest of their district, Aliefs Chambers said, adding he also wished for virtual learning funding for the students who excelled remotely. We had that ability a year ago. All of these tools were at our disposal a year ago. They have since been removed.

Pediatricians, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, recommend in-person learning with precautions  and that everyone who can get vaccinated do so as soon as possible.

Our schools success will be reflective of what is happening in our community, said Dr. Jill Weatherhead, assistant professor of pediatrics, tropical medicine and infectious diseases at Baylor College of Medicine. The community needs to band together and do these mitigation strategies, too. And then, of course, universal mask wearing is also important to help reduce transmission both in our community as well as in our schools.

Dr. Omar Matuk-Villazon, a pediatrician and professor at the University of Houstons College of Medicine, said he planned to send two of his children back to school at HISD.

You are going to do whatever you can from your part, but it is frustrating when other people dont do their part when we are in this together, Matuk-Villazon said. I think that is something as a society that we need to learn. We need to: Everyone do their part so as a collective we do good, but that is a very hard concept to get out.

alejandro.serrano@chron.com
As stun grenades burst to control an unruly crowd at the Kabul airport in Afghanistan, Khan  an Afghan Special Immigrant Visa holder  rushed to a gate and pleaded with a guard to let him, his 35-weeks-pregnant wife and 3-year-old son inside. He said he flashed his passport, and the guard allowed him and his family through the gates into the airport thats surrounded by other Afghans desperate to flee the Taliban-controlled country.

Khan  who is using his middle name for his familys safety  said they had spent three days trying to get inside the airport.

We went close to the gate of the airport, but no one was allowed there. They beat people, they beat me as well, he said, revealing a bruise on his shoulder that he said was inflicted by the Taliban outside the airport.

Because of the precarious way they had to enter the airport, they had to leave behind all family belongings. Like many Afghans arriving in Houston  some 200 are expected in the coming weeks  theyre starting their lives anew with almost nothing. Theyre among 18,000 Special Immigrant Visa applicants and their families who have been in the process of securing visas to allow them to live in the United States.

At his sister-in-laws apartment in southwest Houston, Khan said that at the Kabul airport his family boarded a plane to Qatar with around 600 Afghan children, women and men. In Qatar, they were taken to a facility where he said there was no food or air conditioning, they were among 1,000 people sharing two toilets, and they lacked access to water to wash their hands and face.

The crisis in Qatar was bigger than (the) crisis at the Kabul airport, Khan said.

Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

They were at the camp for two nights. Then, according to Khan, they were flown to Virginia, where they received a COVID-19 test and were processed by U.S. customs officials. Volunteers welcomed them and bought them clean clothes, and they spent their first night in the United States at a nearby hotel.

We slept really well, he said about that first night. We have not slept like this in the last six years. Because of insurgents, you are in fear in Afghanistan.

Then, on Sunday night, Khan, his wife and their son flew to Houston, where they reunited with family members. For now, theyre staying at his sister-in-laws house in southwest Houston, where his son rides around on a small red tricycle, waving small American flags and grinning.

My son is really happy. In Afghanistan, he was always crying, Khan said. Now, he is just playing.

But the familys harrowing journey to Houston is a bittersweet one. Khans brother-in-law, who is also being identified by his middle name, Mohammad, was killed by the Taliban in January on his way to work in Southeast Afghanistan. The men worked together and Khan said he would have been killed, too, if he hadnt been running an errand.

On the day he was assassinated, I was updating my bank account  it was expired. Otherwise, I could have not (been) alive now, Khan said.

Both worked for a Department of Defense contractor that held the Afghan government accountable for how donated U.S. military gear and other items were used, making sure they werent sold to the Taliban. The job, which Khan held for more than six years, made him and Mohammad walking targets for the Taliban.

Thats why Mohammad and Khan both tried to flee the country through the Special Immigrant Visa, or SIV, program, created for Afghans and Iraqis who work with the U.S. military. About 18 percent of SIV holders, who are from Afghanistan and Iraq, are resettled in Texas, according to the South Texas Office for Refugees. Mohammad waited more than 10 years for his visa, but soon after it finally received an initial approval, he was assassinated in January.

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Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Mohammads widow and children fled to the U.S. with the help of the International Refugee Assistance Project and the local veterans group Combined Arms, and have been living in Houston since June. Now Khans family joins them to start a new life in Houston. The child they are expecting will be born a U.S. citizen in the next few weeks.

Day by day, we will start a normal life, Khan said.

Despite the relief and joy he feels to be reunited with family  Mohammads widow and Khans wife are sisters  Khan said he cannot help but be frustrated with the Special Immigrant Visa program.

Its not special. I think its the dirtiest program, Khan said. A special program should be really correct, really easy, really transparent.

The Special Immigrant Visa program has been anything but easy, according to International Refugee Assistance Project attorney Julie Kornfeld, who worked on both Khan and Mohammads cases.

Weve continued to see a lack of prioritization of our Afghan allies, Kornfeld said.

The program, created by Congress in 2009, is notorious for long processing times. Khans case, which moved relatively quickly at the end, took more than three years to process. He picked up his passport the day before the U.S. Embassy shut down in Kabul as the Taliban were closing in, said Kornfeld, who made multiple special requests to expedite Khans visa process.

What were seeing here is now a decades worth of lack of prioritization and a mad scramble from both Afghans as well as the U.S. government to come up with a process, she said.

In 2018, the International Refugee Assistance Project filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of Afghans and Iraqis experiencing long visa processing times that extended past the congressionally mandated nine-month period. A federal judge ordered the government to establish a plan to speed up the process, but cases are not being decided within the mandated timeline.

Out of harms way in Houston, Khan worries about the safety of his parents and siblings still in Afghanistan who have had to flee to evade the Taliban, who also destroyed their home. The family is vulnerable because of Khans connection with the U.S. military. He said one time the Taliban strapped a grenade to one of the gates to his house, which he was able to successfully disarm. He hopes theres some way to bring his family to the United States, although the Special Immigrant Visa program only protects the spouse and children of the main visa applicant.

Now there is no place for everyone. Khan said. Before we could escape from district to province, from province to Kabul. Now we cannot even escape to Kabul.

elizabeth.trovall@chron.com

twitter.com/eliztrovall
A guy is caught trespassing in a Houston apartment garage one night in April and then briefly runs from police before they arrest him.

Three months later, around a long table at the Harris County District Attorneys Office, six prosecutors are picking apart the evidence, trying to figure out if theyve got a car thief on their hands or a man just seeking shelter. If they choose right, they could protect the community or an innocent man from prosecution. If they choose wrong, they could let a thief walk free, allowing him to prey on somebody else.

We do have crews that routinely go to parking garages that will break into cars. Its like if you want a fresh apple, go to that apple tree, George Lindsey, deputy chief of the countys misdemeanor division, explains to a member of the editorial board sitting in on the discussion last month.

Welcome to evading arrest night at the DAs office. Its early evening and the workday ended an hour ago but the second shift has just begun for the prosecutors  five men and one woman  hunched over laptops in a fourth-floor conference room. The spreadsheet on their screens is more than a list of hundreds of evading-arrest cases from one county criminal court. It is part of a larger rescue mission  the underlying urgency of which is clear by the name prosecutors have given it: the triage docket.

Nathan Beedle, a former defense attorney who joined the DAs office in 2017 and is now bureau chief of the misdemeanor division, leads the group from the head of the table, his shirt sleeves rolled up. Everybody else, rookies and veterans still with their suit coats on, settle in for the second night in a row, forgoing dinner with family and quality time with the kids to pore over police reports and arrest records and make endless judgment calls that they pray are right. For Lindsey, a former U.S. Army major, the work is a welcome change from Baghdad or Kabul and its not quite as high-stakes as the capital murder cases hell handle soon when he transitions to chief prosecutor for district courts, but its yet another night away from his wife and 11-year-old son.

The facts of the apartment case seem unremarkable, and lacking.

One of the rookie prosecutors, James DaRe, a former D.C. police officer, pulls up a police report showing the same man had been warned not to trespass by the same officers in the same parking garage one month earlier. He recites the report with a hint of exasperation at the lack of detail, suggesting he knows lackluster police work when he sees it.

Trespassing cases usually require a written warning to prosecute and there isnt one.

DaRe tells Beedle that the officers recognized the man from their previous encounter, but the report didnt explain how the man got in. Beedle suggests he may have known someone at the apartment complex.

My instinct is theres probably more to it, but as it stands on its face today, I don't think we can make the case, Lindsey says. The next morning the case will appear in Judge Franklin Bynums queue at Criminal Court at Law No. 8 to sign off on the dismissal.

One misdemeanor down, 66,000 more to go.

Whats at stake in this tedious, granular, case-by-case review is clear to all involved: they must whittle away the massive backlogs that are crippling Harris Countys criminal justice system and adding fuel to a spike in crime thats been building for months. The extraordinary volume  139,000 criminal cases languishing, including 73,000 felonies  delays justice for everyone, most notably the tens of thousands of truly violent offenders allowed to roam free and commit new crimes because their cases arent going to trial.

When DA Kim Ogg announced in June the plan to re-review more than 30,000 misdemeanors and state jail felonies for alternative solutions to jail or ankle monitors, the goal was to start with 4,000 nonviolent cases first  in theory, theyre the easiest to review because they typically dont involve a victim.

Yet, justice in small cases must be handled the same way as big cases: fairly and carefully. Some of the evasion cases date back years, and the reasons suspects run from police vary: a passenger bolting from a car pulled over at a traffic stop where the driver had cocaine; a group of men fleeing after gambling on the street in a high-crime residential area; a man leaving the house after an assault in progress during a family disturbance. Each case invites a detailed discussion on the particulars, which Beedle and Lindsey use as a kind of Prosecution 101 class for junior colleagues.

Some are innocuous and some are like, shootings that people are fleeing, Beedle says. And to train young lawyers, to give them the confidence and the skills, it takes time.

Time is not a luxury they have. The Houston area has outgrown its court system. The county has only 367 prosecutors who handle thousands of cases every year. Two years ago, Ogg twice asked Harris County commissioners for money to hire more prosecutors, first requesting 100, then just 10. Commissioners said no, leaving the court system reeling. Ogg told the editorial board that, with 100 new prosecutors, she could clear the backlog in two years.

County commissioners have given Ogg some temporary help  funding the $3 million triage docket as a pilot program  but we urge them to listen closely when Ogg appears before them Tuesday to provide an update on the backlog and ask for an extension on funding 22 prosecutor positions handling intake on new cases. Her request for five attorneys to handle border prosecutions and cases involving violence against women arent related to the backlog but they are still needed.

Its in the best interest of the county, and all residents, to give the DA the resources she needs to fight this crime wave.

Some liberals and criminal justice advocates argue that more prosecutors means more prosecutions of lower-level crimes, but in this state of triage, more prosecutions means more justice and a safer community.

When Ogg announced her intention to review thousands of cases, it wasnt out of some desire to let people off. It was out of a realization that the backlog itself is a public safety crisis. The public expects important cases to swiftly move to trial and the longer they sit dormant, the less winnable they become. Judges need to do their part  including working full days and extra hours  to move dockets and schedule trials. Prosecutors should be focusing on newer, more serious, cases, especially violent ones, entering the system. Beedle, Lindsey and their team are willing to put in the long hours. Now the county must put in the resources to help them finish the job. Victims of crime and defendants awaiting trial are depending on it.
A cloud graph shows 'overwhelmed,' 'remote work,' and 'hard to reach people' as key words people used to describe the workplace during the pandemic.

Pittsfield ARPA Hearing Finds Business, Worker Support Most Important



The economic development hearing is held at the Berkshire Innovation Center.

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Residents want to see businesses and workers negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic aided with Pittsfield's $32.4 million allocation in American Rescue Plan Act funds.

That was the priority determined by about 40 people gathered last Wednesday at the Berkshire Innovation center for a public hearing on economic development uses for the ARPA funds. This was the second of four hearings on ARPA funds; the first held at Conte Community School focused on social services.



They identified supplying loans, grants, and technical assistance to businesses and self-employed residents negatively impacted by the novel coronavirus as the most urgent use of the funds through a cell phone survey.



When asked how COVID-19 impacted the workplace, a large number of attendees summarized their experience with "overwhelmed," "remote work," and "hard to reach people."



Others said they felt "destroyed" and "traumatized."



"These are interesting words for us to use about businesses," Director of Community Development Deanna Ruffer said. "In many settings when we're trying to assess businesses we wouldn't hear words like 'destroyed,' we wouldn't hear 'slow business,' 'resource reduction' or employees being stressed, so it was a very unusual consequence to our businesses, and many are still feeling these consequences."



The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Act was passed by Congress and signed into law in March with the goal of stabilizing local government operations, households, small businesses, and other sectors affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.



Pittsfield is receiving $32.4 million that is being allocated in two parts. The first deposit of $16.2 million happened about a month ago and the second will happen next year at this time.



Obligations for the spending must be made by the end of 2024 and the funds must be spent by 2026.



The city is also receiving a county allocation of $8.4 million in two phases. The funds are being distributed to communities on a per-capita basis because Berkshire County no longer has a county administrative structure.



The types of eligible businesses assistance that ARPA funds can be used for  as identified by The US Treasury  includes loans and grants to mitigate financial hardship resulting from the pandemic; loans, grants, or in-kind assistance to implement COVID-19 prevention or mitigation tactics; and tactical assistance, counseling, or other services to assist a business plan, recovery or growth.



Ruffer reviewed the number of federal, state, and local programs that have been put in place over the past year to help businesses, such as the well-known Paycheck Protection Program (PPP.)



Though a few indicated that they utilized PPP loans, a majority of the attendees said they had received other assistance that was not listed in the presentation including unemployment assistance and a Business Equity Fund through The Boston Foundation.



The city of Pittsfield has invested more than $900,000 in 120 different awards to businesses within the city and still has some funding available.



Attendees voted "job search assistance" as the least urgent use of ARPA funds.



A few different explanations were given for this, with one person saying this is a "job-seekers market." It was also attributed to the pandemic giving workers an opportunity to re-assess their ideal career. Many businesses have been working short-handed for months and some have turned to increasing pay and benefits and offering bonuses to attract workers.



But some said the hearing may have been less accessible to people who need job assistance.



A housing and neighborhoods hearing will be held on Monday, Aug. 23, at 6 p.m. in the cafeteria at Morningside Community School and a hearing for cultural organizations will be held at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts on Wednesday, Aug. 25, at 11 a.m.

Residents can find more information about the ARPA on the city website and can submit feedback to ARPA@cityofpittsfield.org.
The Town Administrator Search Committee meets on Friday. Two of the members, Gwen Miller and Jennifer Lyon joined the meeting via iPad.

Lanesborough Town Administrator Search Panel Gets Unexpected Feedback

LANESBOROUGH, Mass.  The Town Administrator Search Committee has been soliciting feedback from residents through an anonymous survey and received some unexpected results.

On Friday, the committee discussed three themes of concern that were identified in the responses: communication and transparency, taxes and finances, and personnel concerns.



It is not the committee's role to address these concerns so it will be summarizing the themes of the responses and submitting them to the Selectmen. Members hope the feedback assists in the search for a new town administrator and makes the town staff aware of the criticism.



Though the purpose of the survey  and the committee as a whole  is to assist in finding a new town administrator, committee member Kristen Toole was glad that people felt comfortable enough to share concerns in their responses.



"I'm just really honored that people feel comfortable sharing their feedback with us, I don't know if this kind of thing has ever been done before in a search committee so I think it's really important that we assess this information," she said.



"And that we bring it to the select board so that they can take steps that need to be taken, so that's really my view of what our role in this, we collect the data we present it to the select board."



It was submitted by 94 residents online and 100 by paper.



Toole said she doesn't want to make town employees feel less supported by releasing the full responses to the survey, which makes providing the Selectmen with a summary of the conclusions a viable solution.



Going into an executive session with the select board to discuss them was also suggested, but committee member Mark Siegars said that is not allowable under the panel's role.



Siegars emphasized that it was important not to give the board the full survey responses. He said when the committee first spoke about this couple of weeks ago, it was discussed that deliberations would be "burned" at the end of the process.



"So the answer is no, there's no more discussion, because if you're going to do that, then you're going to have to make it this entire process public, and now we have human resource legal issues to deal with," he said about presenting the Selectmen with the answers.



"No, the answer is no, I'm not gonna let you guys violate the law."



Panel member Barb Hassan clarified that they were not intending to violate the law in any way, as they were just brainstorming.
National Grid Responding to Damage Caused by Tropical Storm Henri

WALTHAM, Mass  National Grid has nearly 4,000 field personnel in Rhode Island and Massachusetts responding to power outages caused by downed limbs, trees, and poles resulting from Tropical Storm Henri.

The storm delivered fierce winds and heavy rain, with some peak gusts reaching above 70 mph, leading to significant damage.

Field personnel in Rhode Island and Massachusetts are responding to emergency 911 and wires down calls, assessing the damage, clearing trees, and making repairs to electrical infrastructure where conditions are safe. This enables the restoration to proceed safely and efficiently and helps National Grid restore power to customers more quickly. Once damage assessment nears completion, National Grid will provide more information on potential estimated restoration times.

National Grid has restored power to more than 31,400 customers in Rhode Island and 20,700 Massachusetts since the storm's impact began this morning. Restoration work is continuing as conditions are deemed safe. Peak wind gusts are still in the 25-35 mph range in some areas.

As of 5 pm, approximately 72,600 customers in Rhode Island and 8,500 in Massachusetts were without power. The hardest hit communities in Rhode Island include South Kingstown, Narragansett, Westerly, Jamestown, Charlestown and North Kingstown. National Grid urges customers to stay safe and provides several ways to stay connected and up-to-date on the latest safety and restoration information.

"At National Grid, we recognize that losing your power at any time is frustrating. We want to assure our customers that we are working expeditiously to restore their service as quickly and safely as possible," said Michael McCallan, Vice President of New England Electric Operations for National Grid. "Thousands of line and forestry workers are deployed across Rhode Island and Massachusetts, working to repair and restore the power systems in affected communities. We will not stop until every customer has their electricity back."

National Grid anticipates having the vast majority of customers restored by mid-week. Damage assessment is currently underway, and as this phase nears completion, National Grid will provide more information and tighter timelines on estimated restoration times.

The Company offers the following tips and reminders to customers:

Customers Should Stay Connected:

Report power outages at www.nationalgridus.com or call 1-800-465-1212.

Use your mobile device to track outage information and storm-related safety tips through National Grid's mobile site accessible at www.ngrid.com/mobile.

Like National Grid on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram; we post all the latest storm and restoration updates.

Track outages and estimated restoration times at www.nationalgridus.com/outage-central

To stay connected during storms and outages, text to 64743 using any of the below commands.

REG to sign up for text alerts

OUT to report an outage

SUM followed by your town, county, or state to get a summary of outages in your area

HELP for the full list of commands

Stay safe:

Never touch downed power lines, and always assume that any fallen lines are live electric wires. If you see one, report it immediately to National Grid or your local emergency response organization.

Power problems can sometimes interrupt public water supply systems or disable well pumps, so it's an especially good idea to keep a supply of bottled drinking water handy, as well as some canned food.

People who depend on electric-powered life support equipment, such as a respirator, should let National Grid know. To register as a life support customer, call the company's Customer Service Center at 1-800-322-3223.

Check on elderly family members, neighbors and others who may need assistance during an outage period.

Electric safety:

If you use a generator to supply power during an outage, be sure to operate it outdoors. Before operating generators, disconnect from National Grid's system by shutting off the main breaker located in the electric service panel. Failure to do this could jeopardize the safety of line crews and the public.

If you lose power, turn off any appliances that were on when the power went off, but leave one light on so you will know when power is restored.

Reminder: It's not safe to work in an elevated bucket during periods of increased wind gusts. Our line workers begin restoration work only when conditions are deemed safe.

Gas Safety:


Tom Pelczysnki runs both R.I. Baker and RIBCO, locally grown businesses headquartered in Clarksburg. CLARKSBURG, Mass.  Nestled in an old wool mill on River Road is a pair of Berkshire County-grown businesses that are still thriving after nearly 80 years in business.

RIBCO Supply, which grew out of its neighbor R.I. Baker, sells outdoor power equipment, drainage and sewer supplies, snow blowers, snow plows and municipal supplies, among other things. Its neighbor is R.I. Baker Co., a commercial metal fabrication and certified welding company that began in 1938. The latter also does pipe fitting, plumbing equipment, and machining.

R.I. Baker was started by Russell Baker as a small plumbing shop that operated out of Baker's garage. Eventually, Baker moved his business to its current location and took up millwright services, metal fabrication, and certified welding.

Now, Tom Pelczynski runs the business, as well as RIBCO next door. According to Pelczynski, RIBCO started out of necessity. Contractors would come to R.I. Baker and ask if they sold supplies. At the time, they did not, but in the mid-1970s, R.I. Baker expanded and opened up RIBCO to cater to these customers.

Readers may not have heard of R.I. Baker before, but will recognize some of the entities that it does business with: SABIC in Pittsfield, for instance, employs an R.I. Baker millwright and Williams College and Specialty Minerals both bring their large machinery to Clarksburg for repairs.

"We're a job shop," said Pelczynski, meaning that they don't mass-produce mechanical parts. Rather, when some business needs a specific item fixed or produced, they will come to R.I. Baker to have it looked at.

While R.I. Baker has grown over the years, it is not the behemoth that many may fear.

"We're small enough to be able to change direction, change course," Pelczynski said, and are nimble enough to aid local businesses in a pinch.

When R.I. Baker first opened its doors, it drew on many of the businesses in Berkshire County, which included some mills. Over time, however, mills moved away, which prompted a shift in focus toward the more residential/contractor-based RIBCO.

RIBCO has a store on Dalton Avenue in Pittsfield, which opened in 2006, and between the two locations the business can service all of Berkshire County. They even cover Southern Vermont and parts of New York.

Indeed, RIBCO provided much-needed services to South County throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. When second-homeowners moved to the Berkshires semi-permanently, their septic systems often needed to be repaired because they experienced more stress than normal. RIBCO was able to supply them with the materials they needed from its Pittsfield location.

Another invaluable service that RIBCO provides is equipment storage. RIBCO will pick up, repair, and store equipment like lawnmowers and snow blowers. They'll deliver it "all serviced and ready to go." Customers will often store their equipment seasonally; for instance, most people will want to get their snow blowers serviced in the summer.

As Pelczynski noted, snow blowers "don't fail when they're sitting there in the summertime." Rather, they break when users need them most. Regular service will ensure that they run smoothly, and RIBCO can keep them that way for a low cost.

This focus on customer convenience is part of RIBCO's strategy to bring in more residential customers. Pelczynski wants "Joe Homeowner [to] feel comfortable walking into a RIBCO Supply," whether in Clarksburg or Pittsfield.

R.I. Baker services commercial businesses all over Berkshire County and beyond. It has done work for as far away as California, China, and even Indonesia. Despite this sometimes global reach, R.I. Baker is fundamentally a community business. Many of the R.I. Baker welders, fabricators and other skilled workers are recruits from McCann Technical School's co-op program, which serves as "a great feeder program" for the business.
Cyprus interior minister says 88 Syrians have been sent back to Lebanon after trying to reach the east Mediterranean island nation aboard two boats
Love INC. of Mason County continues to support people in need with a hand up and not a hand out. The annual golf tournament and golf ball drop is coming up on the 13th and there are still some opportunities to play at the Alderbrook Golf Course. Bill Kendrick and Dan Partridge talk about the
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday granted full approval of Pfizer-BioNTech's Covid-19 vaccine among adults. It's the first vaccine of its kind to receive the vote of confidence, and it may encourage more businesses to mandate employee vaccinations.

While the vaccine has been authorized for emergency use since mid-December, this new round of approvals means the FDA believes the benefits of the product outweigh the potential risks. Before offering its approval, the agency analyzed data from approximately 20,000 vaccine and 20,000 placebo recipients and found that the vaccine was 91 percent effective against severe illness and hospitalization arising from Covid-19 infection. Roughly 54 percent of Americans fully inoculated have received the Pfizer vaccine.

"While millions of people have already safely received Covid-19 vaccines, we recognize that, for some, the FDA approval of a vaccine may now instill additional confidence to get vaccinated," said Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock in a press release. "Today's milestone puts us one step closer to altering the course of this pandemic in the U.S."

For businesses that have been thinking about putting vaccine requirements in place, but have yet to act, this move may push those plans ahead. While major companies such as Microsoft, Facebook, Google, Walmart, and Uber already require vaccinations for some or all of their staff -- particularly those who work in corporate offices -- some have neglected to extend the mandates to front-line workers. While United Airlines already mandated vaccinations among pilots and inflight crews, it recently announced that all employees would need to be vaccinated by late-October, or five week after the FDA approved the vaccine. The approval also led the Pentagon to require shots for 1.4 million active-duty service members, and New York City is now mandating that education staff get the jab.

Keep in mind though, that mandating the vaccine still comes with risk. If an employer mandates the vaccine and an employee has some sort of severe reaction to it, causing serious illness or injury, the employee could be entitled to workers' compensation benefits. Additionally, an employee can refuse to take the vaccine for medical or religious beliefs. There's also the tight labor market to consider. Employers looking to hire may be hesitant to mandate the vaccine, as doing so could deter potential employees from applying.

That headwind may peter out as employers, writ large, mandate vaccinations, says Jay Starkman, CEO of Engage PEO, an HR outsourcing and consulting company. "If every employer in the country, public or private, issued a vaccine mandate, then the labor shortage wouldn't be an issue."
Zonehaven is in the life-saving business.

The San Francisco-based company founded in 2019 makes software that helps authorities plan and execute evacuations. The company has partnerships with fire departments in more than a dozen counties in California, including most of the Bay Area. In June, the 25-person company sold to emergency alert company Genasys for $24.2 million, according to the publicly traded company's SEC filings. Here, Zonehaven co-founder and CEO Charlie Crocker discusses the sale.

How did you find your buyer?

Last fall, some fire chiefs in Alameda County were looking to deploy outdoor warning speakers for evacuations. They were talking to one company, Genasys, and told them they needed to integrate with us. So Genasys called us up and said, "We're told we're supposed to integrate with you. What does that look like?" That started a series of conversations.

We knew at some point we needed to scale. I'd been working on getting VC funding to take this to the next level. I was not looking [for an acquisition]. We spent the next six months getting to know Genasys, not just from a financial sense but from a personality sense. I went down to San Diego a bunch and would work from their offices down there. I wanted a feel for the offices. I wanted a feel for the people. I wanted to feel their culture. I got to the point where I really trusted their leadership and their direction, and it got to a point where it made sense.

What were the negotiations like?

There was some trust between the parties, which is important. We both had counsel that was pushing us to play a little more hardball. There were some points in the negotiation when we said to the counsel, "Please leave the room." Then Richard [Danforth, Genasys's CEO] and I would have a conversation, and everyone would come back and we'd tell the counsel the decision. Our thinking was: If we can't solve this, then we shouldn't come together as a business. So we had that attitude from the beginning that this had to be a win-win, this had to be something that made sense for both of us. Neither of us wanted to be the ones squeezing for some small amount of money. You can try to get an extra $50,000 out of someone, but that's not going to set you up for success once you come together. Those last few cuts can cut the deepest.

What happened after you reached an agreement?

We closed at the beginning of June, right when fire season was about to hit. We told them we couldn't do anything to disrupt our ability to support our customers during that time -- no rash decisions around personnel or pricing or any of that stuff. And they totally got it. We told them what we needed was more people, and they agreed, so we've actually been able to hire a few new folks onto the team since then. We're starting to scale the team in the way we would have if we would have gotten that VC funding. Because that's what was really needed. We had proven the model; now we needed to scale.

Can you talk about the decision to sell instead of taking VC money?

There was calculus in that. Genasys is publicly traded, so they're more liquid than any VC firm. Or we could have been bought by another startup or a Series B or Series C company, and you still have no liquidity. This gave our employees an opportunity to get paid some and get stock in something that is ultimately tradeable. And I think by us joining that company, we will add value to that stock over time.

Taking VC debt comes with an oversight cost and people driving your direction, and it brings more people onto the company's board. It also lengthens the time frame until you might actually be able to do an exit.

For us, the ability to scale nationwide and internationally went up 10X because Genasys already has people in all these areas. We had been starting to build alerting software, but they already have all that built into their platform. It would have taken us two years to roll it out. So we're getting that to market much faster than if we had gotten VC money.

Genasys took on your employees and kept you on as CEO. What's changed as far as the day-to-day?

I don't think much has changed for the other employees, except for some of those bureaucracy things like expense reports. At some level I'm still Zonehaven's chief evangelist, but sometimes it's not me having those conversations with potential customers. And that makes me nervous. "It can't be me? I can't be on every sales call? I can't always control the messaging?" That's hard. So for me, there is some level of letting go of that control.

In a sense, this company is still my baby. This wasn't a drive-by for me. I'll probably stay there as long as they're willing to keep me here.

Did you always plan on selling the company at some point?

It was never necessarily my goal to do an exit like this. My goal was to grow this thing and continue to provide the public safety value to a wider and wider audience.

Some will say we sold too early. "Why don't you just take VC money and scale? If you got this far in two years, imagine where you'll be in two more." Then again, I'm sure there's people out there who think Genasys paid too much. Only time will tell. But there's always risk in the market.

What's your advice to founders thinking about selling?
Junea Rocha launched Brazi Bites over a decade ago with a single snack. Since then, the better-for-you Latin-inspired foods brand has grown every year -- and it's on pace to approach $30 million in revenue in 2021. Rocha stepped down as CEO to become chief marketing officer after a private equity sale, but she and her co-founder husband, Cameron MacMullin, still own a minority stake. We caught up with Rocha to talk about what it takes to let new chefs into your startup kitchen.

A Taste of Brazil Rocha co-founded Portland, Oregon-based Brazi Bites in 2010. Its first product, a gluten-free cheese bread that's sold frozen, is wildly popular in Rocha's native Brazil and comes from a family recipe. Repeat Performance Brazi Bites claimed the No. 81 spot on the Inc. 5000 in 2017. Continued fast growth landed the company at No. 219 the next year. Beyond the Tank In 2015, Rocha made a deal for $200,000 on Shark Tank. It ultimately fell through, but three years later, Brazi Bites sold a majority stake to the private equity firm San Francisco Equity Partners.

How did being on Shark Tank affect your company's growth?

Demand exploded overnight. We grew to $8.5 million in 2016 revenue from less than $1 million the year before. If we'd been able to shift gears more quickly, we would have made even more, but in the food industry, that's tough to do. We moved as fast as we could.

How did the deal with San Francisco Equity Partners come about?

Cameron and I saw massive potential in the brand, but we didn't have the team and the system to keep growing. It was the two of us and five others running the company and we were in almost 10,000 stores. It was crazy. We got a bunch of interest from private equity groups. We weren't wanting to just raise more money and take on more risk, so we felt that deal was ideal as a next step.

Were you hesitant to give up the CEO role?

It wasn't very hard. I was the CEO and also overseeing all sales and marketing. That was a lot. It was a constant juggle to prioritize what would move the needle for the company more. I looked at where I could add the most value and where I had the most enjoyment day to day. I'm very connected to the consumer side, so it was more like, "Wow, I get to focus only on this? That sounds pretty great."

What advice do you have for entrepreneurs thinking about a sale to a PE firm?
Last summer, two young women were swept out to sea and into the vast churning expanse of the Atlantic Ocean. Cousins Ellen Glynn and Sara Feeney had been paddle-boarding off the west coast of Ireland when they were caught by a northerly breeze. Realising they were in jeopardy, they had tied their boards together and clung to a lifebuoy. All they could do was stay afloat and pray someone had noticed their absence.

To keep their spirits high, they sang all the Taylor Swift songs they knew. Out in the dark, the Taylor Swift-Justin Vernon duet Exile, a minimalist ballad fuelled by Swift and Vernons stormy chemistry, became the spark lighting their way. I think Ive seen this film before, they sang, over and over, all night. And I didnt like the end.

After they had spent 15 hours in the water, a fishing boat materialised in the gloom and carried the pair to safety. Swift, having heard of their ordeal, later sent them a letter and a painting featuring lyrics from Exile.

Exile is a heartbreaking highlight from Swifts surprise album Folklore, released in the summer of last year. The track is imprinted with Swifts steely earnestness. Yet its power flows equally from the enigmatic presence of Vernon, better known by his stage name Bon Iver.

Vernon, who on Friday releases his second Big Red Machine collaboration with The Nationals Aaron Dessner, is a master of simple songs containing multitudes. Thats true of Exile, which casts Swift and Vernon as the millennial equivalent of Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers crooning Islands in the Stream.

Exile is nobodys idea of feel-good, it is true. It is a bone-bare dirge about lovers who run into each other shortly after their break-up. She has moved on. He has not. However, the misery is offset by its rousing sense of defiance. Swift is incapable of writing a tune that doesnt make you want to face the world with your chin held a little higher. And Vernons voice paints pictures with the expressiveness of a novelist. Together, they make even a sad song glow.

The same magic zings through the new Big Red Machine record, How Long Do You Think Its Gonna Last?. Swift  who suggested the album title  is back, sharing a mic with Vernon on the wispily haunting Birch (their third duet, after Exile and the title number from Decembers Evermore). She also takes lead vocals on single Renegade, recorded the same week in February that Folklore won the album of the year Grammy.

But she is just one of a whos who of collaborators which also includes Devon guitarist wizard Ben Howard, Fleet Foxess Robin Pecknold, indie singer Sharon Van Etten and This Is The Kit folkies Lisa Hannigan and Kate Stables.

As guitarist with The National, Dessner is obviously well-practised at crafting big-hearted alternative rock (and, of course, has producer credits on Folklore and Evermore). Nevertheless, the special ingredient in Big Red Machine is surely Vernon, who has cut a consistently quixotic figure since emerging from indie-dude obscurity a decade and a half ago.

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Taylor Swift performing in 2019 (Rex)

Vernons initial incarnation was as sensitive guy bawling about break-ups. But from those origins as conventional troubadour in a trucker cap  a sort of early-21st-century Jeff Buckley  his music has turned increasingly complex, bizarre and unpredictable.

Yet even as he has waxed weird, his artistic credibility has soared, along with his commercial appeal. Call it the Radiohead effect. After OK Computer, Thom Yorkes chuckling troupe seemingly did everything in their power to frighten away casual fans via a series of increasingly discordant releases. The joke was on them: the wonkier their music, the more beloved they became.

As Bon Iver, Vernon has charted the same course. And along the way, he has rubbed many shoulders. In 2009, Kanye West flew Vernon to Hawaii to contribute to My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (Kanye ended up sampling Bon Iver on Lost In The World). Michael Stipe, of REM, sang on Big Red Machines 2020 track No Time For Love Like Now.

Vernon has also worked on several occasions with Eighties yacht rock icon Bruce Hornsby, including on Hornsbys 2019 album Absolute Zero. And in 2020 he, Bruce Springsteen and Jenny Lewis released a flute-splashed collaboration AUATC (Ate Up All Their Cake).

That fantastic voyage would have seemed massively far-fetched in July 2007, when Vernon put out his solo debut, For Emma, Forever Ago. This is an album with a story  one that has been told so many times, even Vernon has grown sick of it.

Justin Vernon at All Points East Festival in 2019 (Michal Augustini/Shutterstock)

The circumstances in which For Emma came together read like an indie-folk Sally Rooney novel. Vernon, having parted from a long-term girlfriend (not named Emma), spent the winter in a cabin near his hometown of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Accounts differ as to quite how remote the cabin was and whether he was truly off the grid or slightly to the left of centre of it. Nonetheless, Vernon was alone for several months. And when he returned, it was with a collection of star-crossed dirges that would make his career.

Its certainly been a remarkable chapter in my life, he told me in 2009, between mouthfuls of brunch at his local diner in downtown Eau Claire. Initially, we pressed up something like 500 copies of the record. Then we started getting good reviews and all of the sudden it took off. The pressings kept selling out. I was overwhelmed with emails. It all happened so fast, Im still trying to come to terms with it.

He came across as actively keen to demolish the mythology around the project. In a way its not really about her, he had added, when asked what Emma thought of the LP. Emma isnt even her name. Wed stopped dating a long time ago. I suppose you could call her a muse. She inspired the album and the emotions expressed therein. The record was really about me working through feelings that had been building up inside me for a long time.

Vernon was awarded with the Grammys for Best Alternative Music Album for Bon Iver and Best New Artist in 2012 (Getty)

Three years later, he cut all ties with his balladeer past via the self-titled Bon Iver. Hooks were at a minimum and the lyrics are almost aggressively oblique. Jagged vacance, thick with ice/ But I could see for miles, miles, miles, he crooned on Holocene, perhaps the catchiest moment. On the accompanying tour, his nine-piece band played tuba, violin and bicycle bell. If the music was not so transportive, it would have played out like a parody of neck-bearded indie bloke self-indulgence.

He was just getting started. Recording 2016s 22, A Million, Vernon became dissatisfied with what he judged an overly clean studio sound on the song 22 (OVER SN). So he and his engineer took a cassette of Neil Youngs Unplugged, pulled out the reel, crumpled it and etched over it with a marker. And then recorded over the vandalised taping conjuring, in the process, a ghostly found sound effect.

Elsewhere, the LP variously suggested Radiohead wandering through a mausoleum. Or Phil Collins trapped in a Black Mirror episode in which he is doomed to spend all eternity inside in the drum fill from In The Air Tonight.

It was an astonishing achievement. And yet the darkness lurking in its recesses was all too real. Being a Wisconsin boy, you get to drinking, you know? he told Pitchfork. I was hanging out on the edge of that stuff a little. Maybe over the edge a few times. More than a few times.

He would, however, go on to conquer his demons. In 2020 he told podcast Tuesdays with Lazerbeak that he had cut back on the booze and cigarettes. But then fans will have already known he was in a happier place having listened to his fourth LP, 2019s i,i.

If spooky and avant-garde in places i,i was also more accessible than anything he had done since For Emma. There were melodies, choruses, emotional pay-offs. All of which had come gushing through following a sojourn in which he and Dessner had released their 2018 self-titled Big Red Machine debut.

They then parted ways, with The National going on to make another record, 2019s I Am Easy To Find. But last year, with the world in lockdown, Vernon received an email from Dessner, who was sharing ideas with Swift on what would become Folklore.

 Taylor Swift Grammy acceptance speech

But what does Swift bring to the equation? Just as much as Vernon obviously  if not more. By the time she contacted Aaron Dessner with a view to trying something outside her perceived pop lane, she had been through a great deal. Bruised by the public backlash against her success and ubiquity  pain she had channelled into 2017s unflinching Reputation  Swift was an artist growing up in a hurry.

That sense of change was palpable on Reputation, a rumination on fame with acid dripping through its pores, and on the glossy and defiantly sugarspun Lover from 2019. So by the time she started swapping ideas with Dessner  who put her in touch with Vernon  she was ready for something different.

Different in this case meant stripping it all back. And writing from a perspective outside the four walls of her own life. With Folklore, Swift was exploring personas and experiences other than her own  and a case can be made that Exile is the perfect example of that.

A lot of this album was kind of distilled down to the purest version of what the story is, she told Entertainment Weekly. Songwriting on this album is exactly the way that I would write if I considered nothing else other than, What words do I want to write? What stories do I want to tell? What melodies do I want to sing?

Swift had composed Exile as a duet  together with her boyfriend Joe Alwyn, credited as William Bowery  and sung both parts on the demo she sent to Dessner. He asked if she had a dream duetting partner and her answer was Vernon.

We talked about who she was imagining joining her, Dessner told Billboard, and she loves Justins voice in Bon Iver and Big Red Machine. She was like, Oh my god, I would die if he would do it. It would be so perfect. I didnt want to put pressure on Justin as his friend, so I said, Well, it depends on if hes inspired by the song but I know he thinks youre rad.

The demo went out to Vernon  and sparks flew. You feel like, in a weird way, youre watching two of the greatest songwriters and vocalists of our generation collaborating, said Dessner. I was facilitating it and making it happen, and playing all the music. But it was definitely a wow. I was just a fan at that point, seeing it happen.

Exile  the song those two lost surfer girls clung to as they tried to literally keep their heads above water  is, in a way, the most straightforward piece of music with which Vernon had been associated for years. It still pulsates with a strange beauty  our generations Islands in the Stream, perhaps, but with that same seam of mystery that time and time again has proved Vernons signature.

And it speaks to Vernons eagerness to try something different  in this case, working with a global popstar. That desire to reach out to other artists was something he discussed when interviewed about his Volcano Choir side-project in 2014.

Whether Im in the studio with [Volcano Choir] or Kanye, you are collaborating with someone who is really f***ing good at something, he told me.

You listen to what they say and, if you agree or disagree, you are working to find out what is the best decision for the song. And if Vernon has a unique talent it might be for making the best decision again and again  whether that be in a song or when choosing another stellar collaborator.

How Long Do You Think Its Gonna Last? by Big Red Machine is released on 27 August
Kanye West appears to have shared Drakes home address online as their feud escalates.

In a since-deleted Instagram post, West shared a picture of a Google Maps screenshot which seemingly showed Drakes home in Toronto, Canada.

The image was soon taken down, but not before it was shared across social media.

In response, the Canadian rapper posted a series of videos to his Instagram Story showing himself driving his super-car around Toronto while laughing and smiling.

The social media exchange follows Drakes recent collaboration with Trippie Redd, on a track in which he dissed West by calling him burned out.

West also shared another since-deleted image of a group chat. In the shot, West is seen to have sent a picture of Joaquin Phoenix in the movie Joker, along a message reading: I live for this. Ive been f**ked with by nerd a** jock n****s like you my whole life. You will never recover. I promise you.

The Independent has contacted representatives for Drake and West for comment.

The rapper from Chicago is still yet to release his much-anticipated tenth album, Donda, after numerous delays and two listening parties.

(instagram:kanye west)

Drakes latest album, Certified Lover Boy, is also scheduled for release over the next few months.
Impeachment: American Crime Story is a dramatisation of the events that led to Bill Clintons impeachment in 1998.

The anthology series previously dedicated its first season to OJ Simpsons murder trial, and its second instalment to the killing of Gianni Versace.

Clinton was impeached by the House of Representatives on 19 December 1998 on the grounds of perjury to a grand jury and obstruction of justice. This stemmed from testimony he gave pertaining to his affair with Monica Lewinsky, a former White House intern, and independent counsel Ken Starrs resulting investigation.

His Senate trial took place over four weeks between January and February 1999. On 12 February, the Senate voted to acquit him on both charges. The 42nd US president thus remained in office until the end of his second term in January 2001.

Clinton is portrayed by Clive Owen in Impeachment. Beanie Feldstein stars as Monica Lewinsky, while Sarah Paulson portrays Lewinskys confidante and affair whistleblower Linda Tripp.

The series will begin airing in the US on 7 September on FX. A second episode is scheduled for 14 September, with 10 episodes planned in total and airing weekly.

Episodes are expected to be made available to stream on Hulu for US subscribers after airing on TV.

A UK air date has yet to be confirmed, but the first two seasons were broadcast on BBC Two shortly after airing in the US.
Police have released security footage of Ice Ts friend Joseph Bryan being shot and killed whilst waiting outside a garage.

The footage shows the suspect in the killing talking on the phone before approaching Bryans car and then opening fire on the driver.

Bryan was killed near his home in Jackson Heights, Long Island City. The New York Post claim Bryan was shot four times and was later pronounced dead at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan.

Bryan had recently finished production on Equal Standard, a film which starred his friend Ice T and rap legend Treach from the group Naughty by Nature.

On Friday (20 August), Ice T tweeted that Bryan left behind a wife and a daughter: MFs Killed my friend last night. Im not in a good place behind this. He leaves a wife and daughter. Dirty MFs followed him home and murdered him.

The Law and Order: Special Victims Unit actor later tweeted: People ask what makes you cold. Murder makes you cold, losing friends and family to the streets makes you cold. You cant tell me s*** about PTSD. How many of your friends have been murdered? It changes you.

The police also released close-up pictures of the suspect wanted for the homicide and called for anybody with information to get in touch.
Handwritten notes from people hoping to leave Afghanistan were crammed into a Humvee standing in front of the Canadian and British embassies in Kabul as desperate Afghans try to get visas to escape Taliban rule.

The brother of an Afghan translator has been sentenced to death by the extremist group, letters obtained by CNN show. He was accused of helping the US and making sure that his brother was safe.

The Taliban has been going after those who have worked with the US as well as their families despite promises of blanket amnesty.

You have been accused of helping the Americans, the Taliban apparently wrote in the first of three letters sent to the brother of the US aide. You are also accused of providing security to your brother, who has been an interpreter.

The first two letters are handwritten  the first letter orders the man to appear at a hearing, the second is a notice that he failed to appear at the hearing, and in the third, which is typed, the Taliban says that because the brother ignored earlier warnings to halt your servitude to the invading crusaders and later failed to appear at a hearing, he was found guilty in absentia and will be sentenced to death.

According to a former service member who worked with the interpreter, the Taliban delivered the letters, which were written in Pashto, over the course of the last three months.

At a press conference last week, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said: Nobody will be harmed in Afghanistan ... there is a huge difference between us now and 20 years ago.

Few Afghans believe the Talibans assurances of amnesty and more respect for the rights of women and girls. Reports of the Taliban seeking retribution has already reinforced the doubts of many.

The Biden administration is under pressure to evacuate not only Special Immigrant Visa applicants but also other vulnerable Afghans fearing for their lives as the Taliban returns to power after two decades of US occupation.

Stack of sheets filled with details of Afghan residents wishing to leave the country is pictured inside a Humvee in front of the British and Canadian embassies (AFP via Getty Images)

Both foreigners trying to return home from Afghanistan and civilians trying to leave their home country have struggled amid chaotic scenes outside Hamid Karzai International Aiport, from which 16,000 people left the country over the last 24 hours, the Pentagon said on Monday.

President Joe Biden said on Sunday that US troops were trying to improve access to the airport as Taliban fighters have set up checkpoints outside and have at times been beating those trying to get through.

Several reports have said that the Taliban have blocked access to the airport even to some who have documents showing their right to leave the country. Many Afghans are still waiting for their visa applications to be processed, some already have been waiting for many years.

Since 14 August, 37,000 people have been evacuated from Afghanistan, a White House official told NBC News.

Last week, Mr Biden said US troops could stay in the country past the 31 August deadline if there were still Americans in the country needing help to leave.

Taliban spokesperson Suhail Shaheen told Sky News on Sunday: Its a red line. President Biden announced that on 31 August they would withdraw all their military forces. So if they extend it that means they are extending occupation while there is no need for that.

If the US or UK were to seek additional time to continue evacuations  the answer is no. Or there would be consequences, he added. It will create mistrust between us. If they are intent on continuing the occupation it will provoke a reaction.
The Talibans swift takeover of Afghanistan is already facing resistance from armed forces that aim to fight back against a return to the hardline Islamist organisations authoritarian rule of the country, last seen about two decades ago.

In northeastern Afghanistan, the Panjshir Valley has once again become a centre for resistance, having previously been the home for battles against Soviet forces in the 1980s.

The National Resistance Front of Afghanistan (NRF), founded by Ahmad Massoud, claims to have thousands of fighters ready to take on the Taliban - although it says it wants to enter into peace talks before pursuing conflict.

We prefer to pursue peace and negotiations before any sort of war and conflict, Ali Nazary, head of foreign relations for the NRF, told the BBC, before adding that the group would not accept any sort of aggression from the Taliban.

Who is Ahmad Massoud?

Ahmad Massoud is the son of Afghan mujahideen commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, who was known for successfully leading resistance groups from the Panjshir region against the Soviet Union and the Taliban.

Ahmad Shah Massoud led forces as the main opposition against the Talibans rule of Afghanistan, from 1996 to 2001, until his assassination in September 2001.

Ahmad Massoud has vowed to continue his fathers work by challenging the Taliban following the withdrawal of western troops from the country this month.

I write from the Panjshir Valley today, ready to follow in my father's footsteps, with mujahideen fighters who are prepared to once again take on the Taliban, he wrote in a piece published in the Washington Post.

We have stores of ammunition and arms that we have patiently collected since my father's time, because we knew this day might come.

What does he want?

Ahmad Massoud has said that he wants to hold peace talks with the Taliban and does not want to see a civil war in Afghanistan.

However, he also warns that his forces are prepared to fight if necessary to oppose the Islamist group.

[My forces] want to defend, they want to fight, they want to resist against any totalitarian regime, Mr Massoud told Reuters on Sunday.

Ultimately, the NRF says it wants to move towards a decentralised form of governance in Afghanistan, with an inclusive system of power-sharing that represents all of the countrys different ethnic groups.

The NRF believes that for lasting peace we have to address the underlying problems in Afghanistan, Mr Nazary told BBC Radio 4s Today show.

Afghanistan is a country made up of ethnic minorities, no one is a majority. It's a multicultural state, so it needs power sharing - a power-sharing deal where everyone sees themselves in power.

How likely is the NRF to succeed?

The Panjshir region has been notoriously difficult to conquer in the past, with the Soviet Union and the Taliban both failing to capture the area in the 1980s and 1990s.

The Red Army, with its might, was unable to defeat us Mr Nazary told the BBC.

I don't think any force right now in Afghanistan has the might of the Red Army. And the Taliban also 25 years ago... they tried to take over the valley and they failed, they faced a crushing defeat.

However, the NRF, which reportedly has around 6,000 troops, will likely need international support to hold off the Taliban for an extended period.

Mr Massoud has called on France (where his father is known as a notable freedom fighter), the US and other parts of Europe and the Arab world to support the resistance.
A day after refusing visa applications of a group of more than 100 Afghan nationals who guarded the Australian embassy in Kabul, the government accepted their applications on Sunday.

The Australian government, in a letter emailed to the former Afghan security contractors on Saturday, had asked them to contact a migration agent.

In the letter, Australian authorities told them they were not eligible for certification under the at-risk employees visa scheme.

The letter  first obtained by ABC News  thanked the former security guards for their applications and said unfortunately, you are not eligible for certification under this visa policy.

The reason stated for the rejection of their visas was because they were only for those directly employed by the embassy and not contractors, leaving them to an uncertain future under the Taliban, reported ABC News.

The letter stated that an initial 3,000 humanitarian places will be allocated to Afghan nationals within Australias 13,750-person annual programme.

Particular priority will be given to persecuted minorities, women and children, and those who have links to Australia, it said.

On Sunday night, however, a statement from the authorities said they had already been granted visas.

The security guards referred to in media reports today were not eligible for the restricted locally engaged employee visas but have already been approved for visas in another humanitarian category, the statement said.

The Australian authorities in the letter had asked the contractors to continue investigating their options. We encourage you to investigate your options fully, including under this humanitarian stream, it said.

The rejection was a shock to the entire group of contractors, said one of them to ABC News, not identified by the news channel because of security concerns.

The contractors were reportedly paid less than $30 a day to work as security guards at the embassy, the news channel said. Over the years, several hundreds were recruited by security companies to guard the embassy.

Glenn Kolomeitz, who heads a team of lawyers and ex-military personnel working pro bono to try and extract the Afghans, was quoted as saying the rejection of visas of these Afghans was a disgrace.

This is clearly an attempt by Defence and DFAT [Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade] to look like they have done their job when they sat on their hands for so long, he said.

These are mass-produced rejection letters and they are entirely unacceptable, he added.

After the Australian government granted the visas, Mr Kolomeitz again attacked the government for not saying so in the original rejection letter, adding that the same reference number had been used in all the letters that were emailed.

If DFAT had already granted these visas, why did they not say so in the letter? Why did the letter encourage these applicants to go see a migration agent and pursue other options, and why were none of the guards or we, their legal representatives, advised? he was quoted as saying by The Guardian.

In the last 24 to 48 hours they have punched out over 100 of these templated rejection letters unsigned, or with the same phone number, he said.

A DFAT spokesperson had earlier told ABC News that the security guards who were not granted visas had already been approved for visas in another humanitarian category.

The lawyers for the contractors, however, said this was not communicated to them. One of the members of the lawyers' team, Kay Danes, said they were only aware of six contractor guards who had been informed they had been given temporary visas.

Australian authorities said that since 2013, the country has issued more than 8,500 humanitarian visas to Afghan nationals including 1,800 in the special category for at-risk employees.

Earlier, Australias defence minister Peter Dutton suggested some former Afghan guards and interpreters could pose a security risk to the country. He received backlash for his remarks as they came at a time Afghanistan has been in the middle of an ongoing humanitarian crisis.
 Close Watch live as Dominic Raab questioned by MPs on Afghanistan crisis

Dominic Raab is being grilled by MPs over the UKs exit from Afghanistan, after the foreign secretary was accused of presiding over the biggest failure of foreign policy in a generation.

It comes as the Home Offices plan to resettle Afghan refugees, dubbed Operation Warm Welcome, was criticised by local councils who say they have been scrambling to meet the urgent needs of new arrivals.

A letter from Labour ministers to the home secretary and the housing minister, seen by The Independent, also warned that the government must step up and play its role in providing national coordination, leadership and support to local authorities receiving Afghan arrivals.

Meanwhile, shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy said earlier that the government pledged to give councils taking on new arrivals millions of pounds, but nothing had yet materialised. I think its right to say that the Home Office has been caught on the back foot by something the government should have been planning for 18 months ago, she told Sky News.
The US is placing paramount priority on defending crowds at Kabul airport seeking to leave Afghanistan against a potential Isis terrorist attack, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said.

The threat is real, it is acute, it is persistent and it is something that we are focused on with every tool in our arsenal, Mr Sullivan said on CNNs State of the Union on Sunday. We are working hard with our intelligence community to try to isolate and determine where an attack might come from.

Terrorism has emerged as an acknowledged risk in recent days as some 6,000 US troops seek to ensure what President Joe Biden has pledged to be an orderly and safe withdrawal from the Afghan capital. Isis has had a presence in Afghanistan for years, often striking against Taliban targets as well as Afghan government targets.

The president will hold a virtual meeting with other Group of Seven leaders on Tuesday to coordinate evacuations and discuss humanitarian aid for Afghan refugees, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.

The Defense Department ordered US airlines to provide 18 planes to transport evacuees, saying the extra capacity will help military aircraft focus on operations in and out of Kabul.

Activation of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet program involves four planes from United Airlines, three each from American Airlines, Atlas Air, Delta Air Lines and Omni Air and two from Hawaiian Airlines, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said in a statement on Sunday.

The activated aircraft wont fly into the Kabul airport, where chaotic scenes of people desperate to leave the Afghan capital have been playing out. Instead, theyll be used for onward movement of passengers from temporary safe havens and interim staging bases, Kirby said. No major impact on US commercial flights is expected, he said.

The US and its allies airlifted a combined 7,800 people out of Kabul in the latest 24-hour period, Mr Sullivan said.

Some 25,000 people have been evacuated since 14 August, he said on NBCs Meet the Press. While the US has sufficient forces on the ground, Mr Biden asks his commanders every single day whether they might need more resources, Mr Sullivan said.

Several thousand US citizens are still believed to be in Afghanistan, though its hard to determine a more exact number, Sullivan said.

In Kabul, US commanders have a wide variety of capabilities that they are using to defend the airfield against a potential terrorist attack, he said. We are taking it absolutely, deadly seriously.

Mr Biden has faced criticism from across the political spectrum and from some US allies for his handling of the US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan. He has set an 31 August deadline, while suggesting that evacuations may continue beyond that date.

The presidents approval rating declined to 50 per cent in a CBS News poll published on Sunday, compared with 58 per cent in July and 62 per cent in March. While only 47 per cent approved and 53 per cent disapproved of his handling of the Afghan withdrawal, 63 per cent backed removing US troops from the country. The 18 to 20 August poll of 2,142 adults has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.3 percentage points.

Republican critics called on Mr Biden to abandon the 31 August cutoff for withdrawing from Afghanistan and widen the US militarys perimeter beyond Kabul airport.

31 August was a stupid, arbitrary, politically driven deadline, Senator Ben Sasse, a Nebraska Republican, said on Fox News Sunday. The Taliban needs to know, they dont dictate the timetable on American lives.

Adam Kinzinger, an Illinois Republican who served in the Air Force during the US military campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan, said were in a better place than we were a week ago.

That doesnt mean were in a good spot, he said on CNN. This was a disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Citing Mr Sullivans comments on the Isis threat, Mr Kinzinger said: So how is it that we leave Afghanistan?

The Biden administration has said that the threat from al-Qaeda, which carried out the 11 September, 2001 attacks on the US, has been eliminated to the point of allowing a withdrawal from Afghanistan and that terrorist threats can be intercepted with over-the-horizon capabilities.

Bloomberg
Kamala Harris on Monday said that US is singularly focussed on evacuation efforts in Afghanistan and there would be plenty of time to analyse the troop withdrawal in the strife torn country currently under Taliban control.

This is her maiden southeast Asia visit after taking charge of office.

Addressing a joint press conference with Singapores prime minister Lee Hsien Loong, Ms Harris said: "There is going to be plenty of time to analyse what has happened and what has taken place in the context of the withdrawal from Afghanistan. But right now we are singularly focused on evacuating American citizens, Afghans who have worked with us and Afghans who are vulnerable, including women and children and that is our singular focus at this time.

We hope Afghanistan does not become an epicentre for terrorism again, Mr Lee added.

Her visit to Asia comes amid a Taliban takeover of Afghanistan after the US announced the withdrawal of its military troops from the country.

Ms Harris arrived in Singapore on Sunday to begin her seven-day tour of the region. This high-level meeting marked 55 years of diplomatic relations between Singapore and the US.

The US vice president attended a welcome ceremony outside Istana  the official residence of the president  where a marching band played the American anthem star spangled banner. Prime Minister Lee showed her a species of orchid that was named in her honour. Ms Harris later participated in a courtesy call with President Halimah Yacob before heading to diplomatic talks.

Commenting on US-Singapore ties, Ms Harris said: This is a relationship that is based on a shared vision, both in terms of the challenges we face and the opportunities we face. It is about the future in terms of our mutual commitment, curiosity and interest."

The US is a partner nation in Singapores newly-established multilateral Counter-Terrorism Information Facility and intelligence and law enforcement agencies on both sides hold regular dialogues, Prime Minister Lee said.

Ms Harris is scheduled to visit Vietnam later this week to counter Chinas aggressive growing influence in the Asian subcontinent. During the visit, US officials are likely to address concerns about Chinas claims on the conflicted parts of the South China Sea, AP reported. In July, Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin paid a visit to Singapore, Vietnam and the Philippines intending to form allies in the region.

Ms Harris will also visit the Changi Naval Base and US littoral combat ship USS Tulsa, which has been docked for a multilateral exercise. According to a 1990 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Singapore provides the US with military access to its naval and air bases.

On Tuesday, she will deliver a policy speech and participate in a discussion with representatives of multiple businesses.
Its all too easy to grab a couple of glasses of wine when you get home after a stressful day, or regularly enjoy a few beers in the pub with your mates. But at what point does enjoying a frequent tipple become functioning alcoholism?

Its a slippery slope, and one that former model Chrissy Teigen has admitted she was once on. In an Instagram post reminiscing about living in New York years ago, she recalls: Id sit there with my multiple double vodka sodas and get day drunk by myself (this is not a brag lol I was basically a functioning alcoholic) then buy hats I didnt like or need.

At the end of last year Teigen, 35, who has two young children with her husband John Legend gave up drinking alcohol completely, revealing on Instagram: I was done with making an a** of myself in front of people (Im still embarrassed), tired of day drinking and feeling like s**t by 6, not being able to sleep.

She added: I have been sober ever since.

But whats the difference between just enjoying a frequent drink and being a functioning alcoholic, where you may even hold down a successful job and have a happy family life, but rely on alcohol, perhaps even more than you realised?

Dr Richard Piper, chief executive of Alcohol Change UK, warns that just because you dont fit into the stereotypical image of an alcoholic whose life is falling apart doesnt mean you arent a problem drinker.

Many of us have an idea in our heads of what an alcoholic looks like, but the reality of alcohol dependency often doesnt match up, he says. This stereotype can be a real problem  we might find ourselves drinking very heavily, in ways that are damaging our mental and physical health, but because we dont match up to our mental image of an alcoholic we dont see ourselves, and arent seen by others, as having a problem. Thats a big barrier to getting help.

Instead of asking ourselves, Am I an alcoholic? its better to ask, Am I happy with my drinking? Theres no sudden moment when someone goes from being fine to having a problem, and you can get help at any point.

A spokesperson for The Priory Group, which treats addiction including alcoholism, adds: Alcohol abuse can sometimes be confusing and difficult to spot. The person may perform well at work, have a pristine appearance and enjoy an active social life. While they may seem okay to the outside world, its likely that warning signs and symptoms are appearing within the home.

The Priory says signs you could be a functioning alcoholic include

1. You drink heavily and excessively.

2. You drink when youre on your own, and not just when youre socialising.

3. You drink at odd times of the day  perhaps justifying it by saying Its wine oclock somewhere in the world

4. You dont want to socialise if alcohol isnt involved, and actually avoid events/social situations if you cant drink.

5. You drink so much that, the next day, you cant remember what happened. While many people may have experienced this once or twice in their lives, if it happens regularly the chances are you have a drinking problem.

6. Justifying your drinking to yourself or to others as simply being a reward or celebration.

7. Joking or being flippant about your drinking, and trying to make light of whats actually a serious problem.

8. Keeping alcohol in weird places which might be seen as hiding it, like in your car or in the garage.

9. You get aggressive, bad-tempered and may be impulsive (and regret it later) after drinking.

10. If you cant drink for some reason, you become irritable and restless.
An article declaring whole milks triumphant comeback has divided readers, with some agreeing with the pronouncement while others have denounced the claim.

In an article for New York Magazines food and restaurant blog Grub Street, titled: Whole Milk Mounts its Triumphant Comeback: Hot girls are ditching the alternatives and are going back to basics, writer Emily Sundberg reflects on her experience drinking whole milk while vacationing in Europe, rather than dairy-free alternatives, before sharing proof to back up her belief that cows milk is making a comeback.

According to Sundberg, who first began by listing the various alternatives to milk that have popped up over the years, when she found herself travelling without worrying about dairy-free alternatives, she felt that she was in a simpler, more sensible world.

I was in a simpler, more sensible world, one without an alt mylk or nondairy creamer in sight. The real international delight, I realised, is pouring whole, full-dairy milk into your coffee; it is perhaps the most civilised activity in which a person can partake, Sundberg wrote.

Sundberg then revealed that, since her revelation, she has spoken to others who have come to similar conclusions, or who have witnessed a return to whole milk.

One such individual, a New York City waitress named Meetka, told Sundberg that she has found herself receiving less orders for oat milk and more for whole milk over the last two months - a phenomenon she suspects may be due to the bad press surrounding alternatives such as almond, which was reported to be bad for the environment.

Another individual, Caroline Hesse, a manager and cheese authority at Crown Finish Caves in Brooklyn, told Sundberg that the change was likely due to the realisation that the case against dairy ignores many of the complexities of our food system.

According to Hesse, she has heard of multiple people returning to cows milk or other dairy products, and by doing so, setting off a domino effect.

After such a long time of nobody even considering milk, there is now something taboo and enticing about keeping it in your fridge, she said.

Ultimately, Sundberg suggested that a return to whole milk is an antidote to languishing, or at least a way to remember that we can all do a little less and well be fine.

She concluded the article with a quote from Hesse, who described how, once people see a friend drink cows milk again and nothing bad happens, it is easy for them to become convinced that dairy is fine - and even good.

And once people try it themselves, they realise how hungry theyve been this entire time, Hesse told Sundberg.

On social media, the article has prompted a range of responses, with some agreeing with the assessment while others have criticised Sundbergs point.

Dont call it a comeback, weve been here for years, one person tweeted, while another said: Never could understand the hate towards whole milk.

However, many others have critiqued the article on the basis that access to alternative milks is beneficial for those who are lactose intolerant or who have dairy allergies.

Two-thirds of the adults on this planet cant digest dairy milk but sure, one reader tweeted.

Another said: Babe I cant digest dairy.

The article also raised the question of sustainability, with some pointing out that most alternatives have less of an environmental impact than dairy milk.

I cook with whole milk but for daily consumption I go with oat milk. Its not even really nutritional, its environmental, the same reason Ive decreased my red meat intake, one person wrote.

According to Statista, to produce a litre of cows milk in 2018, it required 628 litres of water, while almond milk required 371 litres. Oat milk and soy milk required 48 litres and 28 litres, respectively.

Others were simply against the idea that whole milk is superior, with someone else tweeting: You can try and pry my unsweetened vanilla almond milk out of my hands, but you will fail.
Michael Williams wife pleaded with him to remember their fishing trips with the grandchildren, how he used to braid her hair, anything to jar him back to his world outside the concrete walls of Cook County Jail

His three daily calls to her had become a lifeline, but when they dwindled to two, then one, then only a few a week, the 65-year-old Williams felt he couldnt go on. He made plans to take his life with a stash of pills he had stockpiled in his dormitory.

Williams was jailed last August, accused of murdering a young man from the neighborhood who asked him for a ride during a night of unrest over police brutality in May. But the key evidence against Williams didnt come from an eyewitness or an informant; it came from a clip of noiseless security video showing a car driving through an intersection, and a loud bang picked up by a network of surveillance microphones. Prosecutors said technology powered by a secret algorithm that analyzed noises detected by the sensors indicated Williams shot and killed the man.

I kept trying to figure out, how can they get away with using the technology like that against me? said Williams, speaking publicly for the first time about his ordeal. Thats not fair.

Williams sat behind bars for nearly a year before a judge dismissed the case against him last month at the request of prosecutors, who said they had insufficient evidence.

Williams experience highlights the real-world impacts of societys growing reliance on algorithms to help make consequential decisions about many aspects of public life. Nowhere is this more apparent than in law enforcement, which has turned to technology companies like gunshot detection firm ShotSpotter to battle crime. ShotSpotter evidence has increasingly been admitted in court cases around the country, now totaling some 200. ShotSpotters website says its a leader in precision policing technology solutions that helps stop gun violence by using sensors, algorithms and artificial intelligence to classify 14 million sounds in its proprietary database as gunshots or something else.

But an Associated Press investigation, based on a review of thousands of internal documents, emails, presentations and confidential contracts, along with interviews with dozens of public defenders in communities where ShotSpotter has been deployed, has identified a number of serious flaws in using ShotSpotter as evidentiary support for prosecutors.

APs investigation found the system can miss live gunfire right under its microphones, or misclassify the sounds of fireworks or cars backfiring as gunshots. Forensic reports prepared by ShotSpotters employees have been used in court to improperly claim that a defendant shot at police, or provide questionable counts of the number of shots allegedly fired by defendants. Judges in a number of cases have thrown out the evidence.

ShotSpotters proprietary algorithms are the companys primary selling point, and it frequently touts the technology in marketing materials as virtually foolproof. But the private company guards how its closed system works as a trade secret, a black box largely inscrutable to the public, jurors and police oversight boards.

The companys methods for identifying gunshots arent always guided solely by the technology. ShotSpotter employees can, and often do, change the source of sounds picked up by its sensors after listening to audio recordings, introducing the possibility of human bias into the gunshot detection algorithm. Employees can and do and modify the location or number of shots fired at the request of police, according to court records. And in the past, city dispatchers or police themselves could also make some of these changes.

Amid a nationwide debate over racial bias in policing, privacy and civil rights advocates say ShotSpotters system and other algorithm-based technologies used to set everything from prison sentences to probation rules lack transparency and oversight and show why the criminal justice system shouldnt outsource some of societys weightiest decisions to computer code.

When pressed about potential errors from the companys algorithm, ShotSpotter CEO Ralph Clark declined to discuss specifics about their use of artificial intelligence, saying its not really relevant.

The point is anything that ultimately gets produced as a gunshot has to have eyes and ears on it, said Clark in an interview. Human eyes and ears, OK?

-

This story, supported by the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting, is part of an ongoing Associated Press series, Tracked, that investigates the power and consequences of decisions driven by algorithms on peoples everyday lives.

-

A GAME CHANGER

Police chiefs call ShotSpotter a game-changer. The technology, which has been installed in about 110 American cities, large and small, can cost up to $95,000 per square mile per year. The system is usually placed at the request of local officials in neighborhoods deemed to be the highest risk for gun violence, which are often disproportionately Black and Latino communities. Law enforcement officials say it helps get officers to crime scenes quicker and helps cash-strapped public safety agencies better deploy their resources.

ShotSpotter has turned into one of the most important cogs in our wheel of addressing gun violence, said Toledo, Ohio Police Chief George Kral during a 2019 International Association of Chiefs of Police conference in Chicago

Researchers who took a look at ShotSpotters impacts in communities where it is used came to a different conclusion. One study published in April in the peer-reviewed Journal of Urban Health examined ShotSpotter in 68 large, metropolitan counties from 1999 to 2016, the largest review to date. It found that the technology didnt reduce gun violence or increase community safety.

The evidence that weve produced suggests that the technology does not reduce firearm violence in the long-term, and the implementation of the technology does not lead to increased murder or weapons related arrests, said lead author Mitch Doucette.

ShotSpotter installs its acoustic sensors on buildings, telephone poles and street lights. Employees in a dark, restricted-access room study hundreds of thousands of gunfire alerts on multiple computer screens at the companys headquarters about 35 miles south of San Francisco or a newer office in Washington.

Forensic tools like DNA and ballistics evidence used by prosecutors have had their methodologies examined in painstaking detail for decades, but ShotSpotter claims its software is proprietary, and wont release its algorithm. The companys privacy policy says sensor locations arent divulged to police departments, although community members can see them on their street lamps. The company has shielded internal data and records revealing the systems inner workings, leaving defense attorneys no way of interrogating the technology to understand the specifics of how it works.

We have a constitutional right to confront all witnesses and evidence against us, but in this case the ShotSpotter system is the accuser, and there is no way to determine if its accurate, monitored, calibrated or if someones added something, said Katie Higgins, a defense attorney who has successfully fought ShotSpotter evidence. The most serious consequence is being convicted of a crime you didnt commit using this as evidence.

The Silicon Valley startup launched 25 years ago backed by venture capitalist Gary Lauder, heir to Estee Lauders makeup fortune. Today, the billionaire remains the companys largest investor.

ShotSpotters profile has grown in recent years.

The U.S. government has spent more than $6.9 million on gunshot detection systems, including ShotSpotter, in discretionary grants and earmarked funds, the Justice Department said in response to questions from AP. States and local governments have spent millions more, from a separate pool of federal tax dollars, to purchase the system.

The companys share price has more than doubled since it went public in 2017 and it posted revenue of nearly $30 million in the first half of 2021. Its hardly ubiquitous, however. ShotSpotter's website lists 119 communities in the U.S., the Caribbean and South Africa where it operates. The company says it has deployed 18,000 sensors covering 810 square miles.

In 2018, it acquired a predictive policing company called HunchLab, which integrates its AI models with ShotSpotters gunshot detection data to purportedly predict crime before it happens.

That system can forecast when and where crimes are likely to emerge and recommends specific patrols and tactics that can deter these events, according to the companys 2020 annual report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company said it plans to expand in Latin America and other regions of the world. It recently appointed Roberta Jacobson, the former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, to its board.

Late last year, a Trump administration commission on law enforcement urged increased funding for systems like ShotSpotter to combat firearm crime and violence.

And amid rising homicides, this spring, the Biden administration nominated David Chipman, a former ShotSpotter executive, to head the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

In June, President Joe Biden encouraged mayors to use American Rescue Plan funds  aimed at speeding up the U.S. pandemic recovery  to buy gunshot detection systems, to better see and stop gun violence in their communities.

SOMETHING IN ME HAD JUST DIED

On a balmy Sunday evening in May 2020, Williams and his wife Jacqueline Anderson settled in at their apartment building on Chicagos South Side. They fed their Rottweiler Lily and German shepherd Shibey. Anderson fell asleep. Williams said he left the house to buy cigarettes at a local gas station.

Looters had beaten him to it. Six days before in Minneapolis, George Floyd had been killed by police officer Derek Chauvin. Four hundred miles away, in Williams neighborhood, outrage boiled over. Shops were torn up, store windows broken, fires burned.

Williams found the gas station destroyed, so he said he made a U-turn to head home on South Stony Island Avenue. Before he reached East 63rd Street, Williams said Safarian Herring a 25-year-old he said he had seen around the neighborhood, waved him down for a ride.

I didnt feel threatened or anything because Ive seen him before, around. So, I said yes. And he got in the front seat, and we took off, Williams said.

According to documents AP obtained through an open records request, Williams told police that as he approached an intersection another vehicle pulled up beside his car. A man in the front passenger seat fired a shot. The bullet missed Williams, but hit his passenger.

It shocked me so badly, the only thing I can do was slump down in my car, he said. As Herring bled all over the seat from wounds to the side of his head, Williams ran a red light to escape.

I was hollering to my passenger Are you ok? said Williams. He didnt respond.

Williams drove his passenger to St. Bernard Hospital, where medical workers rushed Herring into the emergency room and doctors fought to save his life.

Two weeks before being picked up by Williams, Samona Nicholson, Herrings mother, said the aspiring chef had survived a shooting at a bus stop. Nicholson, who called her son Pook, arranged for him to stay with a relative where she thought hed be safe.

Doctors pronounced Herring dead on June 2, 2020 at 2:53 p.m.

For days after the shooting Williams wife said he curled up on his bed, having flashbacks and praying for his passenger.

Three months after Herrings death, the police showed up. Williams recalls officers told him they wanted to take him to the station to talk and assured him he did nothing wrong.

He had a criminal history and spent three different stints behind bars, for attempted murder, robbery and discharging a firearm, records show.

That was all when he was a younger man. Williams said he had moved on with life, avoiding legal trouble since his last release more than 15 years ago and working numerous jobs.

At the police station, detectives interrogated him about the night Herring was shot, then took him to a holding cell.

They just said that they were charging me with first-degree murder, Williams said. When he told me that, it was just like something in me had just died.

ITS NOT PERFECT

On the night Williams stepped out for cigarettes, ShotSpotter sensors identified a loud noise the system initially assigned to 5700 S. Lake Shore Dr. near Chicagos historic Museum of Science and Industry alongside Lake Michigan, according to an alert the company sent to police.

That material anchored the prosecutors theory that Williams shot Herring inside his car, even though the case supplementary report from police did not cite a motive nor did it mention any eyewitnesses. There was no gun found at the scene of the crime.

Prosecutors also leaned on a surveillance video showing that Williams car ran a red light, as did another car that appeared to have its windows up, ruling out the possibility that the shot came from the other cars passenger window, they said.

Chicago police did not respond to APs request for comment. The Cook County States Attorneys Office said in a statement that after careful review prosecutors concluded that the totality of the evidence was insufficient to meet our burden of proof," but did not answer specific questions about the case.

As ShotSpotters gunshot detection systems expand around the country, so has its use as forensic evidence in the courtroom  some 200 times in 20 states since 2010, with 91 of those cases in the past three years, the company said.

Our data compiled with our expert analysis help prosecutors make convictions, said a recent ShotSpotter press release. Even during the pandemic, ShotSpotter participated in 18 court cases, some over Zoom, according to a recent company presentation to investors.

But even as its use has expanded in court, ShotSpotters technology has drawn scrutiny.

For one, the algorithm that analyzes sounds to distinguish gunshots from other noises has never been peer reviewed by outside academics or experts.

The concern about ShotSpotter being used as direct evidence is that there are simply no studies out there to establish the validity or the reliability of the technology. Nothing, said Tania Brief, a staff attorney at The Innocence Project, a nonprofit which seeks to reverse wrongful convictions.

A 2011 study commissioned by the company found that dumpsters, trucks, motorcycles, helicopters, fireworks, construction, trash pick-up and church bells have all triggered false positive alerts, mistaking these sounds for gunshots. Clark said the company is constantly improving its audio classifications, but the system still logs a small percentage of false positives.

In the past, these false alerts  and lack of alerts  have prompted cities from Charlotte, North Carolina to San Antonio, Texas, to end their ShotSpotter contracts, the AP found.

In Fall River, Massachusetts, police said ShotSpotter worked less than 50% of the time and missed all seven shots in a downtown murder in 2018. The results didnt improve over time, and later that year ShotSpotter turned off its system.

The public school district in Fresno, California ended its ShotSpotter contract last year, after paying $1.25 million over four years and finding it too costly. Also, parents and board members were concerned that district funds meant to help high-needs students were used to pay for ShotSpotter, said school board trustee Genoveva Islas.

We were at the point where George Floyd had been murdered and there was a lot of push around racism and discrimination in the district. There was this mounting questioning about that investment in particular, Islas said.

Some courts, too, have been less than impressed with the ShotSpotter system. In 2014, a judge in Richmond, California didnt allow ShotSpotter evidence to be used during a gang murder conspiracy case, although the accused man, Todd Gillard, was still convicted of being involved in a drive-by shooting.

The expert testimony that a gun was fired at a particular location at a given time, based on the ShotSpotter technology, is not presently admissible in court, because it has not, at this point, reached general acceptance in the relevant scientific community, ruled Contra Costa Superior Court Judge John Kennedy.

In a Chicago case, prosecutors had surveillance videos of gang member Ernesto Godinez in a neighborhood where an ATF agent was shot after dark  but none showing him actually shooting a gun. At a 2019 trial, they entered ShotSpotter data to show gunshots originated from the location where video evidence indicated Godinez was when shots rang out. This month, a federal appeals court ruled that a trial judge erred by not vetting the reliability of ShotSpotter data before letting jurors hear it. Nonetheless, the split three-judge panel concluded that other evidence prosecutors presented was enough to uphold Godinezs conviction.

ShotSpotter says its constantly fine-tuning its machine learning model to recognize what is and isnt a gunshot sound by getting detectives and investigators to add crime scene observations to its system. As a part of that process, which they call ground truth, ShotSpotter asks patrol officers to add and notate shell casings, bullet holes, gather witness testimony and other evidence of gunfire using its software.

We have the opportunity to make the machine classification better and better and better because we get real-world feedback loops from humans, Clark said.

Several experts warned that training an algorithm based on a set of observations submitted by police risks contaminating the model if harried officers  perhaps inadvertently  feed it incomplete or incorrect data.

Im kind of aghast, said Clare Garvie, a senior associate with the Center on Privacy & Technology at Georgetown Law. You are building an inherent uncertainty into that system, and you are telling that system its fine. You are contaminating the reliability of your system.

ShotSpotter said the more data it receives from police, the more accurate its model becomes. The company says their system is accurate 97% of the time.

In the small number of cases where ShotSpotter is incorrect, providing feedback to the algorithm can improve accuracy, the company said.

Beyond the ShotSpotter algorithm, other questions have been raised about how the company operates.

Court records show that in some cases, employees have changed sounds detected by the system to say that they are gunshots.

During 2016 testimony in a Rochester, New York officer-involved shooting trial, ShotSpotters engineer Paul Greene was pressed to explain why one of its employees reclassified sounds from a helicopter to a bullet. The reason? He said its customer, in this case the Rochester Police Department, told them to.

The defense attorney in that case was dumbfounded: Is that something that occurs in the regular course of business at ShotSpotter? he asked.

Yes, it is. It happens all the time, said Greene. Typically, you know, we trust our law enforcement customers to be really upfront and honest with us.

Testifying in a 2017 San Francisco murder trial, Greene gave similar testimony that an analyst had moved the location of its initial alert a block away, suddenly matching the scene of the crime.

Its not perfect. The dot on the map is simply a starting point, he said.

In the Williams case, evidence in pre-trial hearings shows that ShotSpotter initially said the noise the sensor picked up was a firecracker, a classification the companys algorithm made with 98% confidence. But a ShotSpotter employee relabeled the noise as a gunshot.

Later, ShotSpotter senior technical support engineer Walter Collier changed the reported Chicago address of the sound to the street where Williams was driving, about 1 mile away, according to court documents. ShotSpotter said Collier corrected the report to match the actual location that the sensors had identified.

Collier worked for the Chicago Police Department for more than two decades before joining ShotSpotter, according to his LinkedIn profile. After Williams was sent to jail, his attorney requested more information about Colliers training. The attorney, Brendan Max, said he was shocked by the companys response.

In court filings, ShotSpotter acknowledged: Our experts are trained using a variety of on the job training sessions, and transfer of knowledge from our scientists and other experienced employees. As such no official or formal training materials exist for our forensic experts.

Law enforcement officials in Chicago continue to stand by their use of ShotSpotter. Chicagos three-year, $33 million contract, signed in 2018, makes the city ShotSpotters largest customer. ShotSpotter now lies at the heart of the police departments intelligence-action cycle for predictive policing that uses gunshot alerts to identify areas of risk, according to a 2019 presentation obtained by AP.

Late last month, on July 22, Attorney General Merrick Garland flew to Chicago to announce a new initiative to combat gun violence and toured a police precinct, looking on as officials showed him how they use ShotSpotter.

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

The next day, Williams hobbled into Courtroom 500 leaning on his wooden cane, dressed in tan jail garb and sandals, as a sheriffs deputy towered over him. He had been locked up for 11 months.

Williams lifted his head to the famously irascible Judge Vincent Gaughan. The 79-year-old Vietnam veteran looked back from high on his bench and told Williams his case was dismissed. The reason: insufficient evidence.

ShotSpotter maintains it had warned prosecutors not to rely on its technology to detect gunshots fired inside vehicles or buildings. The company said the disclaimer can be found in the small print embedded in its contract with Chicago police.

But the company declined to say at what point during Williams nearly year-long incarceration it got in touch with prosecutors, or why it prepared a forensic report for a gunshot that allegedly was fired in Williams vehicle, given the fact that the system had trouble identifying gunshots in enclosed spaces. The report itself contained contradictory information suggesting the technology did, in fact, work inside cars. Clark, the companys CEO, declined to comment on the case, but in a follow-up statement, the company equivocated, telling AP that under certain conditions, the system can actually pick up gunshots inside vehicles.

Max, Williams attorney, said prosecutors never disclosed any of this information to him, and instead dropped charges two months after he subpoenaed ShotSpotter for the companys correspondence with states attorneys.

The judge agreed to schedule a hearing in the coming weeks about whether to release ShotSpotters operating protocol and other documents the company wants to keep secret. Max, who requested it, said such material could be used to cast doubt on the validity and reliability of ShotSpotter evidence in cases nationwide.

At 9 p.m. on July 22, Williams walked out of Cook County Jail into the hot Chicago night. He had no cellphone, no wallet, no ID. Williams said authorities hadnt let him make a phone call or returned anything to him. He was picked up by his attorney.

Anderson, his wife of 20 years, was waiting at home. When her husband stepped out of his attorneys car, she took him in her arms and cried.

That first night at home, Anderson made ribs and chicken, cornbread and macaroni and cheese.

But Williams couldnt eat on his own. Hed beat COVID-19 twice while in jail, but had developed an uncontrollable tremor in his hand that kept him from holding a spoon. So Anderson fed him. And as they sat together on the couch, she held onto his arm to try and stop the shaking.

For her part, Herrings mother believes police had the right suspect in Williams. She blames ShotSpotter for botching the case by passing on, then withdrawing what she called flimsy data.

Williams remains shaken by his ordeal. He said he doesnt feel safe in his hometown anymore. When he walks through the neighborhood he scans for the little microphones that almost sent him to prison for life.

The only places these devices are installed are in poor Black communities, nowhere else, he said. How many of us will end up in this same situation?"

____

Mendoza reported from Newark, California. Associated Press Writer Roselyn Romero in San Luis Obispo, California contributed to this report.

Contact APs global investigative team at Investigative@ap.org

____

Click here for statements provided by ShotSpotter in response to questions submitted by The Associated Press for this article.
A murder investigation has been launched after a 32-year-old man was stabbed to death in north east London.

Police, paramedics and an air ambulance were called to a property in Waltham Forest on Sunday just after 4:30pm, over reports of a stabbing, Scotland Yard said.

Officers found a man with life-threatening injuries at the house on Lea Bridge Road, where he was initially treated before being rushed to hospital.

He was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

Investigations are still at an early stage and no arrests have yet been made, the Metropolitan Police said.

The mans next of kin have not yet been informed by the police.

Terrible news again as another person is stabbed to death in [Waltham Forest], Gerry Campbell, a former detective chief superintendent at Scotland Yard, wrote on Twitter.

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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

This afternoon a 32-year-old man was stabbed in Leyton and died at hospital.

Truly tragic news awaits loved ones and friends.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to call 101, giving the reference 4806/22AUG. Information can also be anonymously provided to Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111.
A man and woman who were stabbed to death less than half a mile from each other in central London have been named by police.

Sharon Pickles, aged 49, and Clinton Ashmore, 59, were both killed by knife wounds to the neck in Westminster on Thursday, the Metropolitan Police said.

Ms Pickles was found at an address in Ashbridge Street at 9:30pm that evening and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Later that night, officers also responded to a stabbing in Jerome Crescent. There, Mr Ashmore was also pronounced dead at the scene.

The pair died as a result of an incised wound to the neck, according to a special post mortem examination, Met Police have said.

Both the victims next of kin have been informed and no arrests have been made. The force said it was keeping an open mind regarding the motive.

However, last week, officers said they were searching for Lee Peacock, 49, who is thought to have known both the victims.

Members of the public should not approach Mr Peacock, detectives warned, asking anyone with information on his whereabouts to come forward.

Police are trying to trace suspect Lee Peacock (The Metropolitan Police)

Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Jolley, from the Mets Specialist Crime Command, said: Firstly my thoughts are with the families of Sharon and Clinton. This is a shocking crime and we will not rest until we bring the person or persons responsible to justice.

Key to that is finding Lee Peacock. We believe he knew both victims and urgently need to locate him to talk to him about their murders.

We have a team of detectives working around the clock to find him, but so far they have been unable to locate him.

I would urge anybody who knows his whereabouts to contact police immediately by calling 999.

If seen, we would urge the public not to approach him, but to contact police as soon as possible.
Anti-vaccine protesters have infiltrated the London headquarters of ITN, the company that produces ITV News and Channel 4 News, marking the latest incident in which coronavirus vaccine sceptics have begun to direct their ire  often fomented online  towards members of the media.

Scores of demonstrators occupied the reception of the building on Grays Inn Road on Monday afternoon, having gathered as part of what appeared to have been billed as an anti-health-passport rally.

Footage broadcast on social media showed police officers lining the entrance to the studios, as journalists watched from further within the building while the protesters occupied the foyer. One clip showed brief, minor scuffles between police and demonstrators.

Veteran Channel 4 News presenter Jon Snow could be seen arriving outside the building, and was shouted at by protesters as he made his way inside. Chay Quinn, a journalist with the Press Association news agency, reported being harassed by a guy with a megaphone for wearing a mask and filming the protest.

ITN said that staff, including those working for ITV News, Channel 4 News and 5 News, have been advised to either stay in the building or stay away while the situation is being dealt with.

A demonstrator with a megaphone was filmed shouting a list of demands  including for a mainstream live debate between two representatives of each side on all aspects of the novel coronavirus, and for news channels to broadcast a weekly list of all the adverse reactions to vaccines. His complaint that Covid vaccine sceptics had been dubbed conspiracy theorists was met with a shout of: Conspiracy realists, thats what we are.

One man could later be heard saying that the protesters had emailed their list of demands to ITN, claiming that the company had a week to respond or well be back next week with double the numbers.

The demonstrators were filmed leaving the building just before 3pm. Metropolitan Police later told The Independent that no arrests had been made.

Half an hour later, the demonstrators had gathered outside Googles offices in St Pancras, where police officers were guarding the entrance. One protester could be heard shouting, You talk to the f****** Taliban, come out and talk to us, as others complained of censorship.

Minutes later, the crowd began to chant, You can stick your poison vaccines up your a***, and We are the 99 per cent.

Nearly 90 million vaccine doses have now been administered in the UK, according to Public Health England data.

While all vaccines and medicines have some side effects, the UKs Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said in its most recent update that the overwhelming majority of adverse reactions which have been reported reflect the normal immune response triggered by the body to the vaccines, adding: They are typically seen with most types of vaccine and tend to resolve within a day or two.

The protest comes just a fortnight after anti-vaccine protesters attempted to storm a studio at BBC Television Centre in west London.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA 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

However, while the White City building served as the headquarters of BBC News until 2013, the studios now housed there are used to produce programmes such as ITVs Good Morning Britain and Lorraine, while much of the complex has been converted into residential apartments. Some among Mondays crowd of protesters appeared erroneously to believe that they had stormed the offices of the Daily Mail.

Commenting on the footage of protesters shouting at staff, journalist Nadine Batchelor-Hunt said: I love how unbothered Jon Snow is, but I hate that this keeps happening to journalists just going about their business  its scary, and dangerous for democracy.

Marianna Spring, a specialist reporter at the BBC covering disinformation and social media, reported that several of those present at the ITN studios on Monday had featured in a report of hers for Newsnight.

In it they called for journalists and ministers to be hanged for their involvement in nefarious plots, Ms Spring said.
A teenage boy died after becoming trapped underwater in a canal in Derbyshire.

The 14-year-old, named as Logan Folger, died in hospital after being pulled out of the water near Mill Green in Staveley.

Police said they were alerted to reports of a boy trapped in the Chesterfield Canal on Wednesday afternoon.

Logan was helped from the water by Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service (DFRS) before being rushed to hospital in a serious condition, where he died on Saturday.

DFRS spokesperson Lee Williams described Logans death as devastating, adding: "Its yet another reminder of how dangerous open water can be due to hidden currents or debris, and the risk of cold-water shock.

Reports suggest that Logan died after trying to help a friend who began to struggle while swimming in the canal.

Derbyshire coroner Peter Nieto described his death as a tragic accident, the BBC reported.

"Initial circumstances reported by police are that on 18 August Logan was swimming with two friends in the canal in Staveley when one friend got into difficulty in the water, he said.

"Logan and a friend tried to assist that friend and Logan himself got into difficulty and went underwater for a prolonged period.

Derbyshire Police said they do not believe there were suspicious circumstances surrounding the teenagers death.
The UKs evacuation operation in Afghanistan will stop whenever the US military withdraws troops from Kabul, the defence secretary has confirmed.

Ben Wallace has said the Kabul evacuation effort is down to hours now, not weeks as he conceded British troops involvement in getting people out the country will end when the US leaves.

The prime minister is obviously at the G7 going to try and raise the prospect of seeing if the US will extend, Mr Wallace said on Boris Johnsons bid to get Joe Biden to push the deadline beyond 31 August.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, the minister: Its really important for people to understand the United States have over 6,000 people in Kabul airport and when they withdraw that will take away the framework ... and we will have to go as well.

Mr Wallace added: I dont think there is any likelihood of staying on after the United States. If their timetable extends even by a day or two, that will give us a day or two more to evacuate people.

The defence secretary claimed time was running out to evacuate remaining Britons and Afghan who worked with the British mission. We are really down to hours now, not weeks, and we have to make sure we exploit every minute to get people out.

Mr Wallace also made clear that the Taliban may not allow evacuation effort to continue beyond the end of the month. The US and G7 are not the only stakeholders in this  the Taliban now have a vote and the security situation is precarious. But I would also say its in the Taliban interests to keep the country open.

The Taliban has warned the US president that there will be consequences if he keeps any troops in Afghanistan past the end of August. Suhail Shaheen, a spokesperson for the militant group, said the deadline set by Washington was a red line and must be respected.

Mr Wallace and foreign secretary Dominic Raab held talks with their Washington counterparts over the weekend to press home the desire for US troops to remain in Afghanistan beyond August.

The prime minister is due to use an emergency G7 summit on Tuesday to personally lobby Mr Biden on the issue. Mr Johnson said it was vital that the international community works together to ensure safe evacuations.

But the US president has signalled that he does not want US armed forces to stay in the country beyond August. Our hope is that we dont have to extend but there are discussions going on about how far we are.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed that 5,725 people have been repatriated since rescue efforts began on August 13, with 3,100 of them Afghan individuals and their families.

On Sunday, 1,721 people were airlifted from Kabul by the Royal Air Force across eight flights.

Brigadier Dan Blanchford, the most senior UK military officer on the ground in Kabul, said British troops had witnessed some harrowing scenes, with at least seven Afghan civilians confirmed to have died outside the airfield gates amid chaotic crowds.
Boris Johnson faces a make-or-break test of his international clout on Tuesday, as he attempts to persuade Joe Biden at a summit called by the prime minister to grant a few additional days to evacuate desperate Afghans and foreigners away from the clutches of the Taliban.

The UK accepts that its troops cannot remain in Kabul beyond the US pull-out, currently scheduled for 31 August, and Downing Street effectively acknowledged that Taliban cooperation will be needed to continue its airlift even if President Biden agrees an extension. But defence secretary Ben Wallace said there were thousands of people who the UK still hopes to help in the hours not weeks that remain, and that Britain would make sure we exploit every minute to get people out.

A Taliban spokesman warned of consequences if foreign powers attempt to retain a military presence in the country beyond the red line deadline of Tuesday next week.

But UK government sources indicated that no direct communication had been received to this effect from the militant group, which captured the Afghan capital last week after 20 years, and it was unclear how willing the new regime in Kabul will be to take a more moderate line.

In comments released ahead of Tuesdays video conference, Mr Johnson made no mention of his plans to join with other international leaders, including Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel, to seek more time from Mr Biden, instead focusing on the need for aid and resettlement schemes to give Afghanistan a chance of a more stable future.

The prime minister said he would urge G7 nations  joined on the call by UN secretary general Antonio Guterres and Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg  to match UK commitments to double humanitarian aid to the region to 286m and take in 20,000 Afghan refugees.

But with the UKs aid boost failing to make up for Mr Johnsons previous cuts and only 5,000 resettlements envisaged in the coming year, the G7 response will be an important marker of how much influence the PM retains internationally.

Our first priority is to complete the evacuation of our citizens and those Afghans who have assisted our efforts over the last 20 years  but as we look ahead to the next phase, its vital we come together as an international community and agree a joint approach for the longer term, said Mr Johnson.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA 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

Thats why Ive called an emergency meeting of the G7  to coordinate our response to the immediate crisis, to reaffirm our commitment to the Afghan people, and to ask our international partners to match the UKs commitments to support those in need.

Together with our partners and allies, we will continue to use every humanitarian and diplomatic lever to safeguard human rights and protect the gains made over the last two decades. The Taliban will be judged by their deeds and not their words.

A meeting of the governments Cobra emergency committee chaired by Mr Johnson on Monday heard that the UK had secured the evacuation of almost 6,000 people from Kabul since Operation Pitting began last week, including British nationals and their dependants, embassy staff, and Afghan nationals under the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP) programme.

But thousands more are entitled to help, believed to include figures involved in Afghan civil society, womens rights and democratic politics who may not have worked directly with UK organisations.

With several days needed to arrange the final withdrawal of British troops ahead of US departure, the defence secretary accepted that not all of those eligible will be evacuated, whatever the final deadline is. But he stressed that the UK will continue efforts to get them to Britain, whether from Afghanistan or neighbouring countries in which they seek refuge.

I dont think there is any likelihood of staying on after the United States, said Mr Wallace. If their timetable extends even by a day or two, that will give us a day or two more to evacuate people.

We are really down to hours now, not weeks, and we have to make sure we exploit every minute to get people out.

But he added: Of course, the United States and the G7 are not the only stakeholders in this, the Taliban now have a vote and the security situation is precarious, and I think thats why we have to see what we can do.

Frances foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Paris was concerned about the US deadline, while German counterpart Heiko Maas said the G7 meeting needed to agree on an extension as well as improved access to the airport, where chaotic scenes have prevented the delivery of tonnes of medical supplies.

Mr Johnsons official spokesperson confirmed that Taliban acquiescence was likely to be needed for any extension of the evacuation period to be feasible. Cooperation with the groups commanders on the ground had enabled processing of evacuees to be stepped up in recent days, he said.

But Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen described the end of this month as a red line which could not be breached.

Speaking to Sky News in Qatar, Dr Shaheen said: President Biden announced that on 31 August they would withdraw all their military forces. So if they extend it that means they are extending occupation while there is no need for that.

If the US or UK were to seek additional time to continue evacuations  the answer is no. Or there would be consequences.

It will create mistrust between us. If they are intent on continuing the occupation it will provoke a reaction.

Mr Wallace said it was in the Talibans interest to keep the country open and allow people to cross its borders following the removal of international forces.

I would think the Taliban want the airport to function and that means in the not-too-distant future, people that are eligible will be able to leave the country and make their way either overland, or indeed on flights to the Emirates and other parts of the world, which has been the norm up to date, he said.

Shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy said Tuesdays summit was a make-or-break test of the prime ministers ability to bring together international partners, rise to the occasion and show leadership.

Ms Nandy said he should demand the extension of the air bridge out of Kabul, global agreement on keeping borders open for refugees, and a strategy to help those left behind, adding: The prime minister has had 18 months to plan for this  the worlds eyes are on tomorrows meeting to make the next seven days count.

Former Labour PM Gordon Brown, now UN envoy for global education, said the G7 meeting should agree $8bn (5.9bn) in aid for Afghan education over 20 years, on condition of the protection of girls access to schools.

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said Mr Johnson must use the meeting to help secure safe passage for refugees out of Afghanistan.

If we cannot evacuate Afghans, the least we can do is work with the international community  especially neighbouring countries such as Pakistan  and use every diplomatic lever possible to try and secure a safe route out of the country for those who wish to flee the Taliban, said Sir Ed.
Boris Johnson is facing a corruption legal battle over whether his party has been funnelling taxpayer cash into Tory areas to give it a political advantage.

The High Court will decide whether the PMs 4.8bn Levelling Up Fund unlawfully and systematically sent cash to areas considered to be of political benefit to the Conservative party.

Judges agreed to hear a legal challenge brought by the Good Law Project, stating: The grounds are arguable.

The lawsuit, formally filed against Rishi Sunak, Robert Jenrick and Grant Shapps in their government roles, could find that the centrepiece of the government's so-called levelling-up agenda is unlawful.

The leafy market town constituencies of Mr Sunak and Mr Jenrick are among the areas to benefit from an unusual funding formula that critics accused of amounting to pork barrel politics.

Campaigners cited an investigation by the National Audit Office, which found that the governments list of targets for the cash had been published without supporting information to explain why they had been chosen.

The House of Commons cross-party Public Accounts Committee had also said the lack of transparency had left to concerns of political bias in the allocation of funds.

Forty out of the first 45 schemes to be approved under the fund in March had at least one Conservative MP.

Jolyon Maugham, the barrister who founded the campaign group bringing the suit, said at the time: If you think that its coincidence that Tory marginals are huge beneficiaries I have a fine bridge to sell you. To ensure the Tories dont use public money for party purposes, the Good Law Project is suing.

The campaigners cited Chris Hanretty, Professor of politics at Royal Holloway, University of London, who looked at the funding formula and evidence presented by the National Audit Office and government.

On the basis of the data collated by the ministry and published by the NAO, there is robust evidence that ministers chose towns so as to benefit the Conservatives in marginal Westminster seats, he wrote.

This evidence is robust in the sense that the effects persist even when controlling for other town characteristics that might justifiably affect selection.

Choosing towns to benefit a particular party goes against the seven principles of public life (the Nolan principles), and in particular the obligation to take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.

The Good Law Project has previously challenged the government in court over alleged cronyism in PPE contacts, clean air, and access to remote education during the pandemic.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA 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

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said in response to the suit at the time: The 4.8bn Levelling Up Fund is open to all places in Great Britain and will play a vital role in helping to support and regenerate communities.

The published methodology makes clear the metrics used to identify places judged to be most in need. It would not be appropriate to comment on potential legal action.
More than 80 private travel testing companies have been warned over listing prices on the governments official website which are lower than those offered on their own sites at the point of checkout.

Sajid Javid, the health secretary, said 82 businesses were being sent a two-strike warning while a further 57 were being removed from gov.uks find a travel test provider page altogether.

Brands will be removed from the list if they fail to take action within three days of strike one as part of the new two-strike policy, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said.

It comes after the DHSC carried out a review of the pricing and service standards of the day two and day eight testing providers officially recommended by the government.

The inspection found that 82  which makes up around 18 per cent of all day two and day eight providers listed  advertised far lower prices on gov.uk than those on offer when users clicked through to the brands official website.

It is absolutely unacceptable for any private testing company to be taking advantage of holidaymakers and todays action clamps down on this cowboy behaviour, Mr Javid said in a statement about the issue.

Fifty-seven firms will be removed from the gov.uk list and a further 82 will be given a two-strike warning  if they advertise misleading prices ever again, theyre off.

Some of those being removed were on account of them no longer offering a day two and day eight testing service, Mr Javid added.

He also said the gov.uk website would be updated to reflect the true cost of the tests.

We are also introducing regular spot checks this week to make sure all private providers follow the rules and meet our high standards of transparency, he said.

The checks will include DHSC officials ensuring companies are complying with the rules to ensure that prices displayed are accurate, providers are legitimate, and companies have not changed their name to get back on the list.

Meanwhile, findings from the departments review will be shared with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to support their own review of the market and align recommendations and actions.

There has been much confusion and anger over the changing costs and requirements of coronavirus travel tests.

Earlier this month it was confirmed that UK holidaymakers would benefit from cheaper packages. As of 13 August, the cost of NHS Test and Trace tests for international arrivals were reduced from 88 to 68 for green or fully vaccinated amber arrivals. For those either not fully jabbed or returning from amber list countries, the cost decreased from 170 to 136.

The cuts came following months-long criticism from the struggling travelling industry that the cost of tests was too much, and would could discourage families from booking trips abroad.

On the gov.uk website, for instance, some providers charge as much as 390 or even 575 for the tests  adding a significant chunk onto travel plans for bigger groups.

The CMA is currently investigating the market for laboratory-analysed PCR Covid-19 tests. On Thursday, Britains competition regulator said it would explore immediate actions that the government could take ahead of the conclusion of its probe.

Under the current travel guidance, anyone entering England must have pre-booked two Covid tests: one to be taken on day two, or sooner, after arriving into the country and one on day eight  or later depending on availability.

Children aged four and under do not need to take these tests.
Downing Street has acknowledged that the Taliban would have to be involved in any discussions on extending the 31 August deadline for the pull-out of international troops from Afghanistan, after a spokesman for the militant group warned of consequences if evacuation operations continue beyond the end of the month.

Speaking to Sky News in Qatar, Dr Suhail Shaheen described the end-of-August date for the final withdrawal of US forces as a red line and said there was no need for any foreign military presence after that date.

Boris Johnson will personally lobby US President Joe Biden in a G7 summit on Tuesday to extend US operations in the hope of maximising numbers evacuated from Kabul airport.

But his official spokesman told reporters that even if the president agrees to delay the final withdrawal, further evacuations will be dependent on some Taliban co-operation.

Its important we get a unified approach through the G7 about what our approach will be, and also that we gain more clarity over over what is achievable under the current timeline were working to, said the PMs spokesman.

And then, when we have had that discussion, further discussions may be had with the Taliban about what is feasible. But I think its entirely right that we do absolutely everything possible to get as many people out (as possible).

The UK will not push for sanctions on the Taliban in the G7 video-conference, but it is likely that a final communique will include calls for guarantees on the provision of aid and respect for human rights, which are also the focus of a draft resolution for the UN Security Council being worked on by Britain and France.

The spokesman confirmed that discussions on the ground had been held with the Taliban on co-operation with the evacuation process, though it is thought this may in many cases extend only to informal talks with the groups representatives around the airport.

It is understood that co-operation of this kind has allowed the number of evacuees processed by the UK to rise from around 1,000 to 1,800 a day in recent days.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA 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. 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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

Mr Johnsons spokesman said the UK government had set no firm date on when its evacuation operation would end, and said he was not aware of any direct communication from the Taliban over whether they regard 31 August as a hard deadline.

But Dr Shaheen told Sky: Its a red line. President Biden announced that on 31 August they would withdraw all their military forces. So if they extend it that means they are extending occupation while there is no need for that.

If the US or UK were to seek additional time to continue evacuations - the answer is No. Or there would be consequences.

It will create mistrust between us. If they are intent on continuing the occupation it will provoke a reaction.

The UK government has said that not everyone eligible for evacuation to Britain will be able to benefit from the ongoing airlift by the 31 August deadline.

Armed forces minister James Heappey has said approximately 1,800 UK nationals still in the country and more than 2,200 Afghans who helped British forces are the focus of the Governments evacuation efforts.

But others involved in Afghan politics, civil society and womens representation may be considered for inclusion even if they have not worked directly with UK organisations. No target has been set for the total to be helped, as the number of those thought to be eligible is fluctuating on an hourly basis.

Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon has called on Mr Johnson not to cut and run from Afghanistan.

I support calls to ensure that there isnt a cut-and-run operation in Afghanistan, that Nato countries are there and meeting their responsibilities for as long as is necessary, Ms Sturgeon told the PA news agency.

The world has a massive responsibility towards people in Afghanistan and its really important that that responsibility is lived up to.

No 10 said it was recognised that it would be extremely challenging for eligible Afghans not in Kabul to get to the airport to evacuate. Those unable to leave during the current airlift would be encouraged to apply for resettlement later, either from Afghanistan or a neighbouring country.

This is the first phase of our operation, evacuating largely British nationals and those under the ARAP (Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy) scheme out in the time that we have, said the PMs spokesman.

We will then move to the next phase, whereby well be able to resettle (people) over the coming days, weeks and months, and indeed years, as we did with the Syrian scheme.

Now I appreciate that  presents challenges for those wishing to leave Afghanistan who might not be based in Kabul, who might have to get to neighbouring countries, for example.

We will continue to provide support through the Foreign Office, theres contacts both for those within Afghanistan and those outside of Afghanistan who want information about family members they may have remaining. So, we will continue to do everything possible.

Defence secretary Ben Wallace made clear the British evacuation operation will end with the departure of US troops who are securing the airport.

Speaking to reporters in Fort George, near Inverness, he said: The Prime Minister is, obviously at the G7, going to try and raise the prospect of seeing if the United States will extend.

Its really important for people to understand the United States have over 6,000 people in Kabul airport and when they withdraw that will take away the framework  and we will have to go as well.

I dont think there is any likelihood of staying on after the United States. If their timetable extends even by a day or two, that will give us a day or two more to evacuate people.

Because we are really down to hours now, not weeks, and we have to make sure we exploit every minute to get people out.
The Taliban takeover of Afghanistan has given new urgency to Vice President Kamala Harris' tour of southeast Asia, where she will attempt to reassure allies of American resolve following the chaotic end of a two-decade war.

The trip, which begins Friday and includes stops in Singapore and Vietnam will provide a forum for Harris to assert herself more directly in foreign affairs. She will have opportunities to affirm what she and President Joe Biden view as core American values, including human rights. That's especially important given concerns about the future for women and girls in Afghanistan with the Taliban back in power.

But there are also substantial risks. A longtime district attorney and former senator, Harris is largely untested in international diplomacy and foreign policy. Her swing through Vietnam could draw unwanted comparisons between the humiliating withdrawal of U.S. troops there in 1975 and the tumultuous effort this week to evacuate Americans and allies from Afghanistan. And it's all happening in the shadow of China whose growing influence worries some U.S. policymakers.

Shes walking into a hornets nest, both with whats taking place in Afghanistan, but also the challenge of China that looms particularly large in Vietnam, said Brett Bruin, who served as global engagement director during the Obama administration and was a longtime diplomat. On a good day, its walking a tightrope. On a not so good day, its walking a tightrope while leading an elephant across. Theres just an enormous set of issues that she will run into from the moment that Air Force Two touches down.

Harris struggled at points in June when her first major trip abroad took her to Guatemala and Mexico. Her unequivocal warning to migrants not to come to the U.S. angered some progressive Democrats while doing little to mollify Republican critics who said the administration wasn't doing enough to address a growth of crossings at the southern border.

She'll have a fresh chance to make a global impression when she arrives in Singapore, the anchor of the U.S. naval presence in southeast Asia.

On Monday, Harris will speak with Singapore President Halimah Yacob over the phone, participate in a bilateral meeting with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and deliver remarks on a U.S. combat ship visiting Singapore.

On Tuesday, she plans to deliver a speech outlining the U.S. vision for engagement in the region, and participate in an event with business leaders focused on supply chain issues.

Harris then heads to Vietnam, a country that holds both strategic and symbolic significance for the U.S. Leaders there have echoed U.S. concerns about the rise of neighboring China and the potential threat that could pose to global security. But it's also a nation etched into American history as the site of another bloody, costly war with an ignominious end.

The vice president will almost certainly address that parallel when she takes questions from the press in Singapore during a joint press conference with the prime minister Monday. It's a potentially awkward position for Harris because Biden expressly rejected comparisons between Afghanistan and Vietnam in July, insisting there would be no circumstance where you see people being lifted off the roof of a embassy in Afghanistan, a reference to historic images of a helicopter evacuating a U.S. embassy in Saigon in 1975.

But the harried effort to get Americans to the airport in Kabul this week defied that prediction.

While the disorderly conclusion of the Afghan war dominated Washington in recent days, China may be a bigger priority for Harris' trip. Biden has made countering Chinese influence globally a central focus of his foreign policy. Relations between the U.S. and China deteriorated sharply under Bidens predecessor, Donald Trump, and the two sides remain at odds over a host of issues including technology, cybersecurity and human rights.

And with Beijings incursions in the disputed South China Sea, engagement with Vietnam and Singapore is key to the Biden administrations diplomatic and military goals in the region.

Former U.S. ambassador to Vietnam David Shear said Harris must be careful to offer a positive message to the nations, and avoid focusing entirely on China during her trip.

Our relationships with these countries are important in themselves, and they dont want to be thought of solely as a pawn in a U.S-China chess game. They want to be thought of on their own terms, and they want their interests to be considered on their own terms, he said.

Instead, analysts say they hope Harris will focus in particular on trade issues during her trip. The White House has been considering a new digital trade deal with countries in the region, which would allow for the free flow of data and open up opportunities for U.S. companies for greater cooperation on emerging technologies in a fast-growing region of the world.

And COVID-19 is certain to be top of mind in two countries facing starkly divergent virus trends. Singapore has experienced just a few dozen pandemic-related deaths and has a relatively high vaccination rate, and the country is getting ready to ease travel and economic restrictions this fall. Vietnam, meanwhile, is facing record-high coronavirus infections driven by the delta variant and low vaccination rates.

The U.S. has provided more than 23 million vaccine doses to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and tens of millions of dollars in personal protective equipment, laboratory equipment and other supplies to fight the virus.

During her visit to Vietnam, Harris is planning to hold a virtual meeting with ASEAN health ministers and tout the launch of a regional office of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Gregory Poling, a senior fellow for Southeast Asia at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said showing a commitment to the region on the coronavirus pandemic is key for Harris' trip.

I think on COVID, the administration realizes that this is the singular issue. If theyre not seen as leading vaccine distribution in the region, then nothing else they do in Asia matters, or at least nothing else they do is going to find a willing audience, he said.
He swept to power preaching unity and hope, struck a landmark peace deal with the longtime foe Eritrea, released thousands of political prisoners, lifted restrictions on the press and promised to overturn decades of repressive authoritarian rule. For those accomplishments, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019.

But now, mired in a grinding civil war, Abiy has embarked on a radically different track, stoking war fever and urging all able-bodied men and women to join a widening military campaign, either as combatants or in support roles.

The Ministry of Defence has not said how many new recruits it has signed up, but the spokesperson for Sintayehu Abate, deputy mayor of Addis Ababa, the capital, has said that 3,000 residents of the city have enlisted since the campaign started and that thousands more have reportedly signed up around the country.

Critics have denounced Abiys latest campaign, saying the injection of fresh recruits into the fighting will only lead to more bloodshed in the deeply polarised and ethnically divided nation, potentially destabilising the wider Horn of Africa.

Ethiopia is a patchwork of at least 80 ethnic groups and 10 regional governments. Analysts worry that a protracted conflict could push groups within Ethiopia to take sides and potentially draw in countries from across the region.

This is a declaration to turn civilians into combatants that will further plunge the country into a genocidal war and create bad blood between peoples for generations to come and an economic free-fall, said Mehari Taddele Maru, a professor of governance and geopolitics at the European University Institute.

Over the past nine months of conflict, thousands of people have been killed and some two million have been displaced, while hundreds of thousands of others face famine conditions amid reports of massacres, sexual assault and ethnic cleansing.

The roots of the conflict can be traced to last November, when Abiy ordered a military offensive against the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front, onetime rebels who led Ethiopia with an iron fist from 1991 until Abiys ascent in 2018. He accused the group of attacking a federal military base and trying to steal weapons.

The war quickly escalated, with militia fighters from the Amhara region to the south and Eritrean troops from the north joining the Ethiopian military against the Tigrayan forces.

But the swift victory Abiy promised never materialised. Instead, the hostilities settled into a grinding war in different pockets of Tigray. In June, Abiy declared a unilateral cease-fire after the rebels shockingly routed the government forces and captured Mekelle, the regional capital of Tigray, altering the course of the war.

Emboldened by their wins, the Tigrayans issued a set of demands that called, among other things, for a transitional arrangement that would essentially see Abiy removed from power.

Abiy rejected those demands and recently urged Ethiopians at home and abroad to defend the motherland and be the eyes and ears of the country in order to track down and expose spies and agents of the Tigrayan forces.

Since then, Ethiopian authorities have ramped up mass recruitment drives, calling on popular musicians and artists to galvanise the war effort.

Last week, the military posted photos from the town of Debark in the northern Amhara region where young men  wielding machetes, guns and sticks studded with nails  rallied in support of the war and enlisted in droves. In the eastern city of Jigjiga, hundreds of men, women and some children attended a rally to support government forces.

In Addis Ababa, dozens of army veterans waving the countrys multihued flag lined up to reenlist.

Among them was Alem Bilatte, 54, a retired army officer, who called the Tigray forces Ethiopias enemy and promised to train new recruits or go to the battlefront himself. My blood is boiling, he said as he registered in the capital.

Bekelech Ayalew, 47, a former infantry nurse draped with an Ethiopian flag, said she was ready to treat soldiers on the front lines. Sacrificing my blood and dying for Ethiopia is a privilege, she said.

As the recruitment drive has gotten underway, rebel forces have continued to advance in western Tigray, an area that ethnic Amharas historically claim as their own and took over in the early stages of the conflict. Heavy fighting, including artillery fire, has been reported in the Amhara, Oromia and Afar regions, according to an internal UN security document seen by The New York Times.

The dynamics of the war are also shifting as the fighting escalates.

This month the Oromo Liberation Army, designated a terrorist organisation by the Ethiopian government, declared an alliance with the Tigrayan forces, raising the prospect of other splinter groups or regional governments becoming involved in the fighting.

Mustafa Omer, the president of the eastern Somali region, which has sent hundreds of soldiers to join the war on the government side, said he would never negotiate with the TPLF, which he said had tortured and killed his brother and made other family members disappear in its authoritarian, nearly three-decade time in power.

They caused a lot of harm, and they are looking to bring back the same political designs if they win, Mr Omer said in a phone interview. They are a danger to the country.

Over 200 people, including more than 100 children, who were sheltering at a school and health facility in the Afar region were reportedly killed this month, UNICEFs executive director, Henrietta Fore, said in a statement. The government and Tigrayan forces have both blamed each other.

The United Nations has said physical access to Tigray remains limited because of lack of infrastructure, floods and security concerns. Underscoring the grim conditions, Samantha Power, the head of the US Agency for International Development, said last week that aid workers were running out of food to distribute.

Last week, the US special envoy for the Horn of Africa, Jeffrey Feltman, was back in the region in a bid to halt the fighting. In addition, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey offered to back a peaceful mediation to the war. But with Abiy rebuffing a meeting in early August with Power, Tigrayan forces advancing and fresh government recruits heading to face them, there is little prospect so far for a substantial de-escalation, experts say.

For many Ethiopians, that means bracing for more bloody days ahead.

The prime minister is calling Ethiopians to fight against their own people, Weyni Asgedom, 28, a former bookstore owner in Mekelle whose husband is fighting alongside the Tigrayans, said in an interview. The only choice is to fight back.

The New York Times
Hundreds of Afghan refugees arrived in Northern Virginia to make a community college their temporary residence as they await further instructions on relocation, while locals also reached in numbers with packets of necessities and an outpouring of love and support for the displaced.

The refugees arrived at Dulles International Airport in Virginia on Friday and were transferred to Northern Virginia Community College in Annandale, where they are supposed to spend a few days.

While the authorities prepared rooms and cots for those arriving, several volunteers were also ready to lend a helping hand. Local media reports stated the donation bags brought in by locals were kept in large piles at the centre. The number of donations increased to such an extent that some had to be returned as well.

People arrived with clothes, toiletries, diapers, toys and books to donate to Afghans who were forced to leave their homes after the Taliban took control of the country, reported The Washington Post.

Many of the volunteers helping the newly arrived refugees were Afghans who had gone through the same experiences. We just want to share their pain, said Nasrul, identified by the newspaper with only his first name as the lives of his siblings in Afghanistan were still in danger.

We are not in Afghanistan, but we are in sorrow, he said.

This comes after a harrowing evacuation process at the Kabul airport where dozens have lost their lives so far in desperation to get on a flight that can take them to a safe abode.

A college spokesperson was quoted by the Associated Press saying that the refugees will stay at the campus anywhere from a few hours to a few days. Many refugees are destined for army bases.

There remain several questions over the efficacy of the resettlement process of the refugees.
It was the height of the Cold War, and the Soviet Union was attempting to gain control of Berlin by cutting ground traffic to and from West Berlin, which was occupied by France, Britain and the United States.

So the Truman administration decided to airlift food and supplies into the city in a massive humanitarian aid operation that would become known as the Berlin Airlift. Supplies from American planes helped sustain more than two million people in besieged West Berlin for nearly a year.

In the wake of the operation, the Department of Defence recognised the need for additional airlifts to support national defence emergencies and created the Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF) - a programme that President Joe Biden says will now help the Afghanistan evacuation effort.

The little-used post-Second World War programme will use 18 commercial airplanes to aid the US military evacuation of American nationals and refugees from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

The voluntary program involves the Transportation Department, the Defence Department and the US commercial airline industry, mostly to increase air-carrying capacity during a national defence crisis.

Through contractual agreements with the US government, commercial airlines are compelled to volunteer their planes. In return, they are given preference in carrying commercial cargo and passenger traffic for the Defence Department, according to the departments website.

Alan Stolzer, dean of the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University College of Aviation, described the CRAF as a highly structured and regimented program that has been successful and efficient.

Its a vital program; it does supplement what the military is capable of doing, he said in an interview Sunday. It is only infrequently that the military needs that lift capability, so it makes sense that they would rely on commercial lines.

Under the CRAF, commercial carriers retain their civilian status and operate under Federal Aviation Administration regulations as the United States Transportation Command leads the mission, said a Pentagon news release announcing the Afghanistan activation.

The CRAF falls under the authority of the Defence Production Act - a Cold War-era law that gives the president emergency authority to control domestic industries to support military, energy, space and homeland security programs.

The law also allows the president, largely through executive order, to direct private companies to prioritise orders from the federal government and to allocate materials, services, and facilities for national defence purposes, according to the Council on Foreign Relations.

This is the third time the CRAF has been used.

It was first activated during the Persian Gulf War to bring passenger jets, cargo transports and crews to aid the massive deployment of US troops and supplies to the region from August 1990 to May 1991, and their eventual return.

The second was for Operation Iraqi Freedom, from February 2002 to June 2003.

On Sunday, the Defence Department announced the 18 commercial jets it will use to increase US military airlift capability: three planes each from American Airlines, Atlas Air, Delta Air Lines and Omni Air; two from Hawaiian Airlines; and four from United Airlines. The commercial planes will not fly into Kabuls Hamid Karzai International Airport, but they will ferry passengers from transit centres and US military bases in Persian Gulf Arab nations such as Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, where Afghans are being processed for resettlement in other countries. Government officials have said they hope the program eases the burden on some of these overwhelmed bases.

The orders to use commercial jets come as the US struggles to ramp up its evacuation efforts for the thousands of Afghans trying to flee the Talibans control.

The department does not anticipate a major impact to commercial flights from this activation, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said in a statement Sunday.

In a statement late Sunday morning, United Airlines said it would participate as a global airline and flag carrier for our country.

We embrace the responsibility to quickly respond to international challenges like these, the statement continued, and use our expertise to ensure the safe passage of our fellow countrymen and women as well as those who have risked their lives to help keep them safe.

Delta Air Lines also responded to the governments orders and said the company is scheduled to have multiple relief flights arriving back in the United States beginning Monday morning, adding that it will use spare aircraft and that its commercial operations are not being affected.

For decades, Delta has actively played a role in supporting the US Military and our troops, said John Laughter, Delta executive vice president and chief of operations. And we are again proud to pledge Delta people and our aircraft in support our countrys relief efforts.

The Washington Post
The leader of the far-right group the Proud Boys, Henry Enrique Tarrio, was sentenced to 155 days in jail after admitting that he burned a Black Lives Matter banner.

In July, Tarrio pleaded guilty to two charges of destruction of property and possession of high-capacity ammunition magazines and was sentenced on Monday afternoon at the District of Columbia Superior Court.

The banner to which he set fire was taken from a historic black church during a violent pro-Trump demonstration in December.

Enrique Tarrio told the court he was profusely sorry for his actions, calling them a grave mistake.

What I did was wrong, Tarrio said during the hearing held via videoconference, and what was right was to plead guilty in this case.

Federal prosecutors had recommended the Tarrio should spend three months in prison.

Judge Harold Cushenberry ordered Tarrio to report to begin his sentence on 6 September and to pay fines totaling hundreds of dollars.

Unconvinced of please for leniency in the sentencing by Tarrios lawyer, Judge Cushenberry said Tarrio had clearly, intentionally, and proudly crossed the line into dangerous conduct.

He also called Tarrios claim that he was unaware of the laws on possessing high-capacity magazines wholly not credible.

The citys Metropolitan Police Department issued an arrest warrant for Tarrio after he admitted to burning the flag outside Asbury United Methodist Church.

He was arrested upon entering Washington from Miami on 4 January, just two days before the insurrection at the US Capitol.

The Proud Boys leader was carrying two magazines, compatible with AR-16 and M4 rifles, in his bookbag. Both were empty and carried the gold insignia of the group.

Tarrio was subsequently charged with two felony counts of possession of a large-capacity ammunition feeding device.

Prosecutors told a judge on 20 August that Tarrio should also be ordered to stay away from the nations capital during his probation, which could extend through 2023.

At least four churches were vandalised during riots on 12 December, 2020. Rioters destroyed two Black Lives Matter banners at Metropolitan AME and Asbury United Methodist Church, both historic African American churches.

Tarrio admitted in comments on Parler and on a Proud Boys-affiliated podcast that he was responsible for burning a churchs sign.

In the burning of the BLM sign, I was the one that lit it on fire, he said on the War Boys podcast that month. I was the person that went ahead and put the lighter to it and engulfed it in flames, and I am damn proud that I did.

Over the last several years, the Proud Boys have staged scenes of political violence, galvanised by the former president after he invoked their name from the 2020 debate stage.

Dozens of people with alleged ties to the group are among the hundreds of people who were arrested or under investigation in the wake of the Capitol insurrection, with several men charged with conspiring to attack the halls of Congress, fuelled by Mr Trumps stolen election narrative to forcibly overturn the results of the 2020 election.

The Proud Boys is labelled a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
bali-while-trial-murder-mother-10117785.html"> Heather Mack , an American convicted of killing her mother and stuffing her body in a suitcase, will be released from her indonesia"> Indonesian jail next month  three years ahead of schedule  her lawyer has said.

Her sentence will be completed in October ... and then shell be completely free, Ms Macks attorney, Yulius Benyamin Seran, told AFP on Monday.

Mack and her boyfriend, Tommy Schaefer were convicted in 2015 of murdering her mother, Sheila von Wiese Mack, at a hotel in Bali . A taxi driver later found the body in a suitcase the couple had left in the trunk.

At the time of the killing, Mack was 19, and Schaefer was 21. Mack was sentenced to 10 years in prison; Schaefer was sentenced to 18.

According to her lawyer, however, Mack will be free after serving just seven of her 10 years, due to her good behaviour in prison.

After her release, the Chicago native could be deported back to the United States. Mack, who gave birth in prison six years ago, hopes to stay in Indonesia.

She doesnt want her daughter deported back to the US ... and hounded by the media, Mr Seran told AFP.

Separately, Mack told the New York Post that shes fearful and nervous about returning to Chicago.

Im not worried about the idea that people cannot understand the tragedy for my sake, she told the newspaper. But Im nervous for [my daughter] Stella  Im scared that if she comes back to the States with me, she will be exposed to what happened.
The family of a couple killed near a campsite in Utah has revealed that the victims complained about a man creeping them out shortly before their deaths.

The bodies of Kylen Schulte, 24, and Crystal Turner, 38, were found on Wednesday in the La Sal mountains, several days after they had been reported missing, following their absence from work.

While the police searched campsites in the area for them, one of their friends scoured more remote locations, knowing they preferred to stay in such places.

She came across their campervan and saw a body, before ringing the emergency services. The second body was later discovered by the police.

Authorities believe the women were murdered but have yet to identify any potential suspects. Along with the victims family, they have appealed to the public for more information.

Bridget Calvert, Ms Schultes aunt, told Fox 13 that her niece and her partner had recently spoken to friends about a man who was making them feel uncomfortable.

They said they were going to go move, they were going to go pack up and move their campsite  that he was still creeping them out, she told the news channel.

A GoFundMe page set up to cover Ms Schultes funeral costs raised almost $30,000, double its initial target.

On the fundraising page, Ms Calvert revealed that Ms Schultes brother Mackeon was shot dead by a friend in 2015 at the age of 15.
US representative Matt Gaetz has married his girlfriend Ginger Luckey after eloping with her to southern California for a private ceremony on Catalina Island.

The 39-year-old Republican representative from Florida announced the news on Twitter, where he shared pictures of his wedding, saying I love my wife! in one of the posts.

Ms Luckey, 26, is a food analyst from southern California and works with a firm focusing on extending the life of products made from plant-based materials.

Mr Gaetz had proposed to Ms Luckey at former president Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago club in December 2020, after which the couple said they would marry next year. The ceremony was attended by nearly 40 people and was officiated by Sergio Gor, a former staffer for senator Rand Paul.

The wedding was attended by 40 guests, including Ms Luckeys brother Palmer Luckey, the founder of virtual reality company Oculus VR. The firm was sold to Facebook for $2bn in 2014.

He tweaked his Twitter bio over the weekend to include his marital status. It reads: Florida man. Firebrand. America First. Happy husband.

The controversial Republican is currently being investigated as part of a probe into an alleged sex trafficking ring and in an ongoing probe into an alleged sexual relationship with a minor.

Mr Gaetz had come under the scanner after his close friend Joel Greenberg, a former tax collector in Floridas Seminole county, was arrested twice since June last year.

In May 2020, Greenberg pleaded guilty to six federal crimes, including sex trafficking of a child, identity theft, stalking, wire fraud and conspiracy to bribe a public official.

He also faces charges including for alleged cryptocurrency loan fraud cases.

Greenberg is required to cooperate with the ongoing sex trafficking investigation, as per his plea agreement.

While Mr Gaetz was not mentioned in Greenbergs plea agreement, his cooperation could help the investigation into the accusations of Mr Gaetzs alleged pay-for-sex relationship with a 17-year-old girl. Mr Gaetz has denied his involvement in the case.

On 19 August, Mr Gaetz held a rally in Iowa as a part of a national tour with his Republican colleague Marjorie Taylor Greene. During the rally they falsely claimed the 2020 election was stolen from Mr Trump.

Both the Republicans, in the rally, criticised mask and vaccine mandates, critical race theory and sought a caucus for Donald Trump in 2024.

The two also took a swipe at fellow Republican members who backed a federal infrastructure bill.
The Food and Drug Administration has granted full approval to Pfizer-BioNTechs Covid-19 vaccine for people ages 16 and older, marking the first of three available US vaccines to be granted the status following their initial approval for emergency use.

The move is likely to set off a wave of vaccine requirements at businesses and institutions whose policies relied on the FDAs full approval, and could push hesitant Americans who have waited for the FDA to weigh in before they got their jab.

The FDAs approval of this vaccine is a milestone as we continue to battle the Covid-19 pandemic, said Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock said in a statement. While this and other vaccines have met the FDAs rigorous, scientific standards for emergency use authorization, as the first FDA-approved Covid-19 vaccine, the public can be very confident that this vaccine meets the high standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality the FDA requires of an approved product.

While more than 170 million Americans have received at least two shots of Covid-19 vaccines, the FDA recognises that for some, the FDA approval of a vaccine may now instill additional confidence to get vaccinated, she said.

The US Department of Defense will require vaccines for more than 1 million active service members, pending full approval. The state of Oregon has also issued a requirement for state workers.

Universities across the US have implemented vaccine policies pending the full FDA approval, and United Airlines will require employees to be vaccinated within five weeks of the FDAs move.

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The US Food and Drug Administration has granted full approval to Pfizer-BioNTechs Covid-19 vaccine for people ages 16 and older, marking the first of three available US vaccines to be granted the status following their initial approval for emergency use.

The move is likely to set off a wave of vaccine requirements at businesses and institutions whose policies relied on the FDAs full approval, and could push hesitant Americans who have waited for the FDA to weigh in before they got their jab.

The US Department of Defence will require vaccines for more than 1 million active service members, pending full approval. The state of Oregon has also issued a requirement for state workers.

Universities across the US have implemented vaccine policies pending the full FDA approval, and United Airlines will require employees to be vaccinated within five weeks of the FDAs move.

US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy told CNN on Sunday that for businesses and universities that have been thinking about putting vaccine requirements in place in order to create safer spaces for people to work and learn, I think that this move from the FDA ... will actually help them to move forward with those kinds of plans.

The FDAs approval of this vaccine is a milestone as we continue to battle the Covid-19 pandemic, said Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock said in a statement. While this and other vaccines have met the FDAs rigorous, scientific standards for emergency use authorization, as the first FDA-approved Covid-19 vaccine, the public can be very confident that this vaccine meets the high standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality the FDA requires of an approved product.

While more than 170 million Americans have received at least two shots of Covid-19 vaccines or a shot of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson drug, the FDA recognises that for some, the FDA approval of a vaccine may now instill additional confidence to get vaccinated, she said.

A recent poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation reported that three in 10 unvaccinated Americans said they are more likely to get vaccinated if one of the vaccines currently authorised for emergency use were to receive full approval from the FDA, though two-third of adult respondents (including a majority of unvaccinated adults) believe that the vaccines currently available in the US already have full approval from the FDA or are unsure of their status.

The FDAs full approval designation  arriving as the US combats rising infections and hospitalisations among unvaccinated people that have strained health systems as the more-contagious Delta variant dominates transmission  follows the agencys review of reports finding that the Pfizer vaccine is 91 per cent effective in preventing disease.

Pfizers vaccine will continue to be available for people in the US ages 12 and under before the FDA determines whether to grant full approval.

Peter Marks, director of thee FDAs Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said one of the gravest challenges against the crisis remains the overwhelming amount of misinformation and false claims circulating online about vaccines.

Getting a Covid-19 can save your life, he told reporters on 23 August.

Joe Bidens administration also is moving towards booster shots for people eight months after their second dose, effective on 20 September, pending health officials approval.

US health offiicials are also reviewing a full approval application from Moderna for its two-dose vaccine, which could be within several weeks, and Johnson & Johnson is also expected to apply.
As hundreds of protesters clashed throughout Portland over the weekend, a well-known member of the violent, far-right Proud Boys vigilante group complained that police werent doing enough to intervene .

"To all those cops out there at the moment, you put that, f***ing duty down and stand down because of the orders from a tyrant? Youre a disgrace to that f***ing patch," Tusitala Tiny Toese told right-wing journalist Tara Szczepanski for her website Polish American Brotherhood on Sunday. Throw it down and f***ing walk out. Because were sick and tired and I know days from now I might be arrested.

The Proud Boys, who often appear in similar circles as ultra-conservative demonstrators carrying Thin Blue Line pro-police imagery, have also battled with police officers, most notably during the 6 January riot at the US Capitol.

City officials warned on Friday that they wouldnt necessarily intervene in the expected clashes, preferring instead to make arrests later.

We are dedicated to keeping the peace. Our ask is simple: We are asking you to choose love, Mayor Ted Wheeler said on Friday during a press conference . People should not necessarily expect to see the police standing in the middle of the crowd trying to keep people apart. People need to keep themselves apart and avoid physical confrontation.

That appeared to be the case on Sunday, as rival factions used fists, clubs, pepper spray, paintball guns, fireworks, and other explosives in running battles around the city with little police intervention. A 65-year-old man was arrested and charged with unlawful use and possession of a weapon after firing a handgun at a group believed to be anti-fascist protesters.

The day began with hints of violence. Mr Toese was one of the emcees at the event, and made remarks about attacking trans people who used bathrooms matching their gender.

The Proud Boys brawler was arrested last year for violating the terms of his parole from a 2018 misdemeanor assault conviction, where an attack on an anti-fascist activist left the victim with stitches and a concussion.

After pleading guilty to the assault, Mr Toese seemed to disavow his past behaviour.

All Im going to say is God bless the Proud Boys; God bless everyone of the left; lets just pray for them, he said last year . But as for me, Im Tusitala. No more Tiny. Theres no more big boy Tiny. No more Samoa prowler in the streets; this and that. Its just Tusitala Toese who I was born and created by God to be."

The clashes on Sunday began after a Summer of Love rally, where the Proud Boys commemorated a protest last year that descended into widespread violence.
A racehorse threw its rider and then ran along a highway in Kentucky for 30 minutes  hours before being involved in another drama when the stable it was recovering in caught fire.

Bold and Bossy, a two-year-old filly, threw jockey Miguel Mena at Ellis Park in Henderson on Saturday, then crossed a levee and headed towards US 41. The horse ran along the highway amid traffic for half an hour, with racing trainers and staff, and law enforcement, in pursuit.

Owner Michael Ann Ewing said because the horse was wearing blinkers, it could only see straight ahead and it just kept running.

He told the Washington Post: Just by the grace of God, she was not hit. Thank God she was not hurt or caused someone else to be severely injured or killed.

Bold and Bossy suffered dehydration, cramps and cuts in the chase, but was given up to 30 litres of fluids and sedated by a veterinarian who had joined the chase.

However, the horses dramatic weekend was not over. It was taken to the Ellis Park receiving barn to recover, only for the barn to burn down at 5am on Sunday morning.

The horse, along with six other horses, was saved from the fire. Nevertheless, Bold and Bossy had burns on her neck and withers  the ridge between its shoulder blades  according to her owner. She was treated at the Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky.

Theyre assessing her lungs and putting more fluids into her and theyre going to evaluate the burns. Its really hard to tell how bad they are going to be. You could see dimpling under the cream, Mr Ewing told The Washington Post.

Mr Ewing said the overall journey has left Bold and Bossy calm, saying that shes most likely exhausted from running down the freeway and the fire.

He said the horse will be recovering for a few days. After that, his team will reevaluate the next steps.
A violent brawl in a homeless encampment ended in a man dying after he was run over by a Seattle couple who had a two-week-old baby in their car.

The altercation began when the couple drove to the camp to retrieve some items that had been stolen from them the previous night.

According to the Seattle Times, they returned to their car with their shoes and bluetooth speaker, when they were set upon by a group from the camp.

The fight between the couple and a group was captured in a graphic video shown on Kiro TV.

Footage showed the female passenger seemingly checking on the baby in the back seat before getting into a fist fight with another woman.

The male driver of the car was hit across the back with a wooden pole and as the couple attempted to get back in the car, a man tried to hit them with a machete, said police and prosecutors.

As the pair tried to flee, the back window of the car was smashed, while the group hit the car with sticks and rocks.

The car wheeled round in circles and as it sped up to drive off, hit a bystander from the encampment who was fatally injured and died later that day.

The couple, who remain unidentified, called 911, and having cooperated with authorities are not expected to be charged with a crime.

Two of the men involved in the attack were multiple-time felons, and have been arrested and charged with second-degree assault.
The four children of an unvaccinated woman who died after contracting Covid-19 in Florida are urging people to take the pandemic seriously.

Cindy Dawkins, 50, from Boynton Beach passed away earlier this month after testing positive for Covid.

"I think she wasnt sure about the vaccine, and we followed the rules and kept our masks on," Dawkins son Tre Burrows, 20, told Good Morning America. Now seeing how it happened and how quickly it happened, it definitely changed our perspective. Getting a vaccine helps more than any damage it could do.

"It felt like a dream. It honestly did. It didnt even feel real," he said about her death.

Mr Burrows and his 24 year-old sister, Jenny Burrows, are now caring for their little sisters, Zoey, 15, and Sierra, 12.

"Even when we were younger, [Cindy Burrows] would tell us that we were brothers and sisters and we had to look after each other. Right now were in survival mode trying to make sure that everything gets done," Ms Burrows told GMA.

Even when we were younger, Ms Burrows said their mother would tell her children that they had to look after each other, says Ms Burrows.

According to reports, Dawkins was due to put the last touches on her US citizenship application on the day she was admitted to hospital on 5 August. Two days later, she died of suspected Covid-19 pneumonia.

A crowdfunder was established by Janie Yoshida, who had previously helped the family when they homelessness. It has raised more than $20,000.

"Weve just been in each others lives ever since," Ms Yoshida told GMA. "Cindy was the hardest working person and would have done anything and everything for her kids."

The money is going to be used for a down payment on a home for the family to live together in.

According to data from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention only 51.1 per cent of US residents over the age of 12 are fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

Public health experts, such Dr Anthony Fauci, the senior health adviser to President Biden and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and Dr Rochelle Wolensky, the director of the CDC, have said that the more lethal and contagious Delta variant is much more dangerous to those who are not vaccinated.

On 23 August, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was given full approval by the Food and Drug Administration after being granted emergency use authorisation in December 2020.

Florida, the home state of Dawkins, is considered to be one of the worst areas for covid in the country. On 22 August, there were 17,000 cases reported with 53 per cent of those people in intensive care units. A significant portion of those are unvaccinated, according to Local 10.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki has refuted characterisations that the administration has stranded Americans in Afghanistan during ongoing evacuations from Kabul amid US withdrawal.

Its irresponsible to say Americans are stranded. They are not, she told reporters at the White House on Monday. We are committed to bringing Americans who want to come home, home.

US agencies have connected with Americans in Afghanistan through multiple channels, Ms Psaki and national security adviser Jake Sullivan said.

Fox News reporter Peter Doocy, who has repeatedly goaded White House officials with out-of-context remarks, asked: There are no Americans stranded is the White Houses official position on whats happening in Afghanistan right now?

Im just calling you out for saying we are stranding Americans in Afghanistan when we have been very clear that we are not leaving Americans who want to return home, she replied. We are going to bring them home, and I think thats important for the American people to hear and understand.

The US has evacuated more than 37,000 people from Afghanistan since 14 August and relocated more than 43,000 people since the end of July, according to the White House.

Weve contacted Americans still in Afghanistan by email, by phone, by text to give them specific instructions, Mr Sullivan told reporters on Monday. We have developed a method to safely and efficiently transfer groups of American citizens onto the airfield for operational reasons.

He said the administration does not know how many Americans are waiting to leave, as the US does not have a precise number.

When Americans have come to Afghanistan over the years, we asked them to register with the embassy, he said. Many have left without de-registering. Others never register at all. That is their right, of course, and its our responsibility to find them, which we are now doing hour by hour.

He said the administration has the wherewithal to evacuate remaining Americans from Kabul by President Joe Bidens deadline to withdraw troops by 31 August.

Earlier on Monday, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the US goal remains getting as many people out as fast as possible, following a 24-hour period beginning on Sunday that saw US military lifting nearly 11,000 people out of Kabul, with 5,000 people on other flights.

While were glad to see the numbers that we got out yesterday, were not going to rest on any laurels, he said.
Twelve hours before he was officially set to leave his third term as New Yorks governor, marking the beginning of the end of his political career in public office, Andrew Cuomo issued a prerecorded video farewell, a likely final rebuke against his opponents and a defence of his legacy from the executive chair in Albany.

The once-ascendant Democrat  a former federal housing secretary and state attorney general before his three terms as governor  was due to leave office at midnight, passing the office to Lt Gov Kathy Hochul, after announcing his resignation in the wake of widespread reports of sexual harassment allegations, investigations into nursing home deaths in the state during the Covid-19 crisis, and the likelihood of a weeks-long impeachment investigation should he remain in Albany.

Following a weekend of extreme weather from Tropical Storm Henri, during which he returned to virtual updates on the state of the emergency that echoed his widely viewed coronavirus briefings, Mr Cuomos chief aide Melissa DeRosa announced that he has no interest in running for office again.

In his 16-minute speech, which was also broadcast in Times Square, the 63-year-old once again dismissed the state attorney generals report charting the allegations of sexual abuse against him, criticised progressive action following a defund the police movement, and called on Congress to reinstate the full deduction for state and local taxes.

Demonising business is against our collective self-interest, he said. We can end income inequality without ending incomes.

He defended the states response to the coronavirus crisis and warned state and local officials to brace New York for the immediate threat from the Delta variant amid a surge in infections and hospitalisations across the US.

Political procrastination is Covid collaboration, he said in a warning to lawmakers.

We didnt get everything done that we wanted to, or even everything we should have done, he said. And we didnt always get it quite right. But I want you to know, from the bottom of my heart, that everyday I worked my hardest, I gave it my all and I tried my best.

During his final moments in public office, the governor sought to highlight his administrations policy achievements and defend his governance, which he said has shown a new paradigm of government in this state that actually works, and actually works for people.

He will leave office with an extraordinary campaign war chest, likely amassed in his anticipation of running for a fourth term in office.

But he also leaves behind criticism and investigations into allegations of using state resources to work on his book about his response to the coronavirus pandemic and claims that he prioritised Covid-19 tests for his family and friends, all during a crisis in the state that has led to the deaths of more than 53,000 New Yorkers.

In his final hours, as Henri stormed across the northeastern US, the governor harked back to the role that placed him on an international media pedestal, as a commander leading a crisis, when he stood in sharp contrast to the chaos from inside the White House under Donald Trump. As such, he used his final speech to announce his belief that teachers should be vaccinated from Covid-19 before schools open for the 2021-2022 school year, and that private businesses across the state must also impose requirements for large gatherings. He said that such requirements would require new laws to mandate them.

Mr Cuomo also characterised scrutiny into government reports of his alleged abuse as moments of intense political pressure and media frenzy that may cause a rush to judgment, weeks after he had called on the public to await the results of investigations before doing so.

Instead, Mr Cuomo criticised the 165-page report from New York attorney general Letitia James as one designed to be a political firecracker on an explosive topic.

And it worked, he added. There was a political and media stampede I am a fighter, and my instincts are to fight because it is unfair and unjust in my mind.

Ms Hochul, who will be sworn into office just after midnight on Monday as the states first-ever female governor, will step up to the challenge to lead the state, Mr Cuomo said.

We all wish her success, he added.
 Close Biden vows to hunt down US enemies after suicide bombers kill US servicemen in Kabul

Following a suicide bombing at Kabul airport that left 13 American service members dead and 18 wounded, among dozens of others killed, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett extended condolences and deep sadness for the loss of American lives during a meeting with US President Joe Biden at the White House on Friday.

After pledging to hunt down those responsible for the attack, the president was briefed by military officials on Friday on the likelihood of another terror attack and the maximum force protection measures underway at Hamid Karzai International Airport.

Military officials also updated the president and vice president on plans to develop Isis-K targets, according to statement from White House press secretary Jen Psaki.

The next few days of this mission will be the most dangerous period to date, the statement said.

Injured US service members have been transported to the US Armys Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany.

Isis-K, a sworn enemy of the Taliban, has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Ms Psaki told reporters on Friday that the president has made clear that he does not want them to live on earth anymore.

A number of Republican lawmakers have called on the president to resign over the ongoing crisis. GOP House leader Kevin McCarthy said there will be day of reckoning.

Ms Psaki dismissed calls from GOP lawmakers, adding that the backdrop of their calls is the men and women of the US military deployed on the ground are bravely continuing to implement a mission to save lives on the ground.

Yesterday they lost 13 of their own and the president made absolutely clear that were going to hunt down, go after and kill the terrorists who are responsible, she said. Everyone should be supportive of that.

US military officials have stressed that the attack has not stopped evacuations, which will continue until the end of the month as planned. US forces have evacuated roughly 12,500 people over a 24-hour period into early Friday morning, according to the White House. Since the end of July, the US has relocated approximately 110,600 people, the White House said on Friday.

Follow live updates as they happenened
President Joe Biden on Sunday claimed not to have seen a poll about his falling popularity and public disapproval over the handling of the Afghanistan crisis.

The question was raised in a Sunday presser by Ed OKeefe from CBS News, the network that carried out the poll last week which showed that majority of Americans disapproved of the way Mr Biden handled the Afghanistan humanitarian crisis and troop pullout.

The result said while 63 per cent of respondents supported troops withdrawing from Afghanistan, 53 per cent disapproved of the presidents handling of it. Similarly, an NBC News poll also found Bidens approval rating to be 49 per cent, compared to 48 per cent disapproval.

At the presser, Mr OKeefe asked the president about the Taliban regime and added: The poll also found that based in part on whats transpired in the past week, a majority of Americans  forgive me, Im just the messenger  no longer consider you to be competent, focused, or effective at the job.

Mr Bidens response was a grinning smile as he said, I havent seen that poll.

When Mr OKeefe went on to inform him it was a CBS poll and asked what he would say to those Americans who no longer believe in his competency.

Look, I had a basic decision to make, the president replied, before reciting stats on the number of Americans killed and wounded in Afghanistan before the withdrawal, and the money and resources spent there.

And I decided to end the war, he said.

At the end of the day, if we didnt leave Afghanistan now, when do we leave? Another ten years? Another five years? Another year? the president said. Im not about to send your son or your daughter to fight in Afghanistan. I dont see where that is in our overwhelming interest.

And the talk about how our interests are going to be impacted  let me tell you. Youre sitting in Beijing or youre sitting in Moscow. Are you happy we left? Theyd love nothing better for us to continue to be bogged down there, totally occupied with whats going on, he added.

My job is to make judgments no one else can, or will, make, Biden said on Sunday. I made them. Im convinced Im absolutely correct in not deciding to send more young women and men to warfor a war that in fact is no longer warranted.

I think history is going to record, Mr Biden concluded, this was the logical, rational, and right decision to make.

Afghanistan can be looked at as the first real test of Mr Biden as the honeymoon period of his presidency comes to an end. Despite the repeated defence of his moves, the return of the Taliban to power after the end of a 20-year-long war is inviting questions on what the US managed to achieve in two decades.

Mr Bidens judgement of leaving Afghanistan isnt only just criticised because it ended up with the Taliban being in power again, but also the enormous humanitarian crisis it triggered, as thousands of Afghans who helped the US and US-backed Ashraf Ghani government are left in the lurch.

Distressing scenes from Kabul airport of desperate Afghans trying to leave as countries evacuate their citizens first continued to surface even after a week. Rights activists have pointed that the US hasnt done enough to evacuate those Afghans who worked with the US and continue to remain under threat in Taliban rule ahead of time, leaving them in the last moment crisis like this.

The footage of evacuation from Kabul has also brought comparisons with Saigon in 1975 and Mr Bidens statements a few days ago seem like he didnt expect the situation to go become like this himself.
The Capitol Police officer who shot and killed Ashli Babbitt during the Capitol riot has been formally exonerated after an internal investigation found the shooting was justified.

In a statement published on 23 August, the Capitol Police said:

USCPs Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) determined the officers conduct was lawful and within Department policy, which says an officer may use deadly force only when the officer reasonably believes that action is in the defense of human life, including the officers own life, or in the defense of any person in immediate danger of serious physical injury.

The statement added of the unnamed officer: The officer in this case, who is not being identified for the officers safety, will not be facing internal discipline.

During the 6 January riot, the officer fired on Ms Babbitt while she and other Trump supporters tried to force their way into the internal chambers of the US Capitol, where lawmakers were still being evacuated.

In April, the Justice Department announced that no charges were being brought against the officer. The conclusion of the Capitol Police's internal investigation ends the official inquiries into the shooting.

Video shot during the riot captured the moment Ms Babbitt was shot. In the footage, Ms Babbitt - cloaked in a Trump flag - can be seen attempting to climb through a broken window into an interior chamber of the Capitol. When shes about midway through the window, and officer can be seen levelling their pistol on Ms Babbitt. A moment later a shot rings out and Ms Babbitt falls backward onto the Capitol floor.

Ms Babbitt was declared dead at a hospital a short time after the shooting.

Republican Congressman Markwayne Mullin witnessed the shooting, and said the officer didnt have a choice, and claimed that the officer saved peoples lives.

Witness accounts from immediately before the incident report that protesters were shouting F*** the Blue and were rallying to push through into the Capitols interior.

Capitol Police officers claim that some of the protesters were carrying concealed weapons on the day of the riot, but a search of Ms Babbitt after the shooting found that she was unarmed at the time of the shooting.

Ms Babbitt, who was a believer in the QAnon conspiracy theory, tweeted the day before the riot that the storm is here, referencing a prophecy that Donald Trump, his allies and the military would round up his enemies and members of the Deep State, after which they would be tried and executed or imprisoned.

After the shooting, right-wing extremists have hailed Ms Babbitt as a martyr and have demanded that the name of the officer who shot her be released. Ms Babbitts family has sued the city of Washington DC demanding the name of the officer.

Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene is among the right-wing voices calling for the officer to be named.

During an interview with Newsmax, Ms Greene likened the shooting of Ms Babbitt to the police killing of George Floyd.

If this country can demand justice for someone like George Floyd, she said then we can certainly demand justice for Ashli Babbitt and everyone deserves to know who killed her ... we need to know who it is.

She also said that she was sure that if she and Ms Babbitt knew each other, they would have been friends. Ms Greene has also previously voiced support for the QAnon conspiracy movement, though she has since rescinded her adherence.

Mr Trump made similar claims, calling the officer who shot Ms Babbitt a murderer.

I spoke to the wonderful mother and husband of Ashli Babbitt, who was murdered at the hands of someone who should have never pulled the trigger of his gun, Mr Trump said in an email press statement.

Like Ms Greene, he complained that the acceptance of Ms Babbitts death was hypocritical, indirectly comparing it to police shootings of Black men in the US.

If this happened to the other side, there would be riots all over America, and yet there are far more people represented by Ashli, who truly loved America, than there are on the other side, he said.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has called for an end to the calls for the officer to be named.

Enough is enough. These attacks are disgusting, wrong and a wholly unacceptable way to treat the men and women who went through hell to protect our democracy from armed insurrectionists, Ms Pelosis spokesperson said in an email to Axios.

She also called on House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to rein in his colleagues.

Its long overdue for Minority Leader McCarthy to get off of his hands and stand up to the members of his conference and party who have been terrorising the brave officers that saved the lives of countless workers, staff, journalists and Members on January 6th, she said through her spokesperson. It is no less than these heroes deserve.
A spokesperson for first lady Jill Biden has called on Fox News to apologise after one of the networks hosts, Rachel Campos-Duffy, was widely ridiculed on social media on Sunday after she attempted to place some of the first lady for the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan following a takeover by the Taliban.

Ms Bidens name became a top trend after the stations segment Fox & Friends as supporters called out Fox News by describing the remarks as sexist and a new low.

During the segment, dedicated to US president Joe Bidens downgrading approval ratings following the recent turn of events in Afghanistan, Ms Campos-Duffy said Ms Biden has failed the country for allowing her husband to run for president in his mental state.

When you look at whats hurting America, when you look at this lack of leadership, and you wonder, who are the people responsible for putting someone this incompetent and frankly this, you know, mentally frail in this position? the host said.

"Im sorry, as a political spouse, I cant help but look at Jill Biden," she continued. "No one knew better his state of mind than Dr Jill Biden."

"And if you ask me, the most patriotic thing Jill Biden could have done was tell her husband [Joe Biden] -- to love her husband and not let him run in this mental state that hes in. I think she failed the country as well, Ms Campos-Duffy added.

Michael LaRosa, press secretary for Ms Biden, called on Fox to apologise for the comments.

The remarks by Fox News host were hit by a torrent of criticism on social media as several backed Ms Biden and asked why Melania Trump was not blamed for then-president Donald Trumps decisions, which included his administrations peace deal with the Taliban and Afghan government to withdraw troops, and his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Nobody blamed Melania trump for her idiot husband inviting Taliban to Camp David, or his deal to release 5,000 Taliban fighters. Stop trying to blame Jill Biden for whats happening in Afghanistan, a user said on Twitter.

@FLOTUS is a smart, serious educator. Dr Jill Biden is both capable and extremely competent. Please ignore the petty, partisan, personal attacks on her character. Its a serious sign of desperation from a few unserious pundits. Find the good and praise it, American political strategist Donna Brazile said in a tweet.

Fox News is blaming Jill Biden for allowing someone in her husbands mental state to run for office. If thats the case, its time to arrest Melania Trump for allowing a narcissistic, fascist, dictator wannabe f**k up our country for 4 years, said another.

The remarks came as Mr Biden is being criticism for chaotic evacuations from Afghanistan as several people have died in the stampedes at the Kabul airport and gunshots. Thousands of Afghans who used to work with foreign forces are scrambling to leave the country in a last ditch attempt to escape Taliban fearing attacks.

Meanwhile, Mr Biden said on Sunday that the security situation in Afghanistan was changing rapidly and remained dangerous while promising help to all vulnerable.

Let me be clear, the evacuation of thousands from Kabul is going to be hard and painful and would have been no matter when it began, Mr Biden said in a briefing at the White House.
Vice President Kamala Harris called the United States a global leader in Singapore as many foreign powers have expressed doubts about American leadership as Afghanistan fell to the Taliban while the United States rushed its exit from the country.

The vice president made the statements during a joint press conference with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Monday. The visit is part of her trip to Southeast Asia which is meant to counteract Chinas influence in the region.

The reason I'm here is because the United States is a global leader, and we take that role seriously, understanding that we have many interests and priorities around the world, Ms Harris said.

The vice president was immediately asked about Afghanistan. Nandita Bose of Reuters pressed the vice president on whether she agreed with President Joe Bidens decision to withdraw from Afghanistan.

But Ms Harris dodged the question.

And I think there's going to be plenty of time to analyse what has happened and what has taken place in the context of the withdrawal from Afghanistan, she said.

Rather, she said the main focus is evacuating as many people as possible.

And that is our singular focus at this time, understanding that we have a priority in making sure that the people that, in particular, helped America achieve its responsibilities, in terms of our priorities and the reason we went to Afghanistan in the first place, that we have a responsibility and we feel a deep commitment to making sure that folks who helped us are safe, she said.

Similarly, Mr Lee said the way in which the United States repositions itself in the region, engages with friends and fights terrorism will influence global perceptions of Washington.

There have been difficult moments. There have also been, over decades, dramatic transformations in Asia, wrought by the benign and constructive influence of the United States as a regional guarantor of security, and support of prosperity, he said.

Later, the vice president spoke at the USS Tulsa, and particularly touched on the unraveling of Afghanistan.

I just want to say that we are all grateful to those men and women in uniform, and the embassy staff on the ground for bringing safety to Americans and to the Afghans who work side by side with us, and to other Afghans at risk, she said.

And as I know you all know, we send them our thoughts and our prayers and from afar, and close up, we thank you every day for the work that you do."

Ms Harris will travel to Vietnam on Tuesday. The trip to Southeast Asia is the second foreign trip for the vice president, after her first trip to Latin America.
President Joe Biden made up his mind about Afghanistan months  really years  ago.

For more than a decade, Biden advocated for an end to American involvement in Afghanistan. But he did so as something of an outsider, a senator whose ultimate power came in the form of a single vote on Capitol Hill or a vice president who advised another president.

But authority over America's longest war finally fell into Biden's hands this year and he insisted that the U.S. withdraw from Afghanistan, settling on an August 31 deadline. And despite the rapid collapse of the Afghan government, spurring a humanitarian crisis and searing criticism at home and from traditional allies, he was resolute, at times defiant. He took responsibility and in turns leveled blame at his predecessor.

After months of largely focusing on quelling the pandemic and stimulating the economy, the chaos in Afghanistan triggered the first foreign policy crisis of Biden's presidency, temporarily drowning out his other priorities. His response offers a fuller picture of how Biden approaches his job, relying on a political sensibility he built as a veteran of the Senate who has weathered decades of Washington tumult and scandal.

How Biden is handling the weight of his decision to end the war is a product of his 40 years in public life, many of them spent studying the world. He sold voters on his experience and this is the first time he is offering decisions, not mere opinions in a Senate hearing  and he will be judged by the outcome, which is far from clear at this point. Americans are seeing a different side of Biden during this crisis, a sterner, sometimes testy man known much better for his empathy.

In the face of setbacks that would prompt most politicians to step back and offer some level of contrition, Biden has only grown firmer in his position this week. He has acknowledged that the Taliban advanced faster than expected but has said, both privately to aides and in a pair of public addresses to the American people, that the swift collapse of the Afghan government proved correct his longstanding skepticism of the war effort.

If anything, the developments of the past week reinforced that ending U.S. military involvement in Afghanistan now was the right decision, he said Monday, as he sought to sidestep blame for the disorderly withdrawal.

Bidens decision laid bare a cold realism in his view of American military power: American forces shouldnt be used to promote the nations ideals abroad.

Troops, in Bidens estimation, should be focused more narrowly on threats to the homeland, and the nations diplomatic and economic might are the proper tools to uphold its values overseas. Its a sentiment the White House believes Americans agree with after nearly two decades of endless conflicts, but one that comes with painful cost for tens of thousands of Afghans who assisted the U.S. occupation or thrived under it.

To advisers, hes reiterated that his opposition to the 2009 surge in Afghanistan ordered by President Barack Obama was one of his proudest moments in government.

That confidence, which even some allies say sometimes borders on obstinance, has been a defining force in Bidens political life and now his presidency. When he believes he is in the right, current and former aides say, there is little talking him out of it.

His commitment to causes has been evident throughout his career, according to his former Senate colleague Trent Lott, underscored even by the length of his speeches.

He was prone to making long speeches on the Senate and I used to joke, We can go get something to eat, this is going to be a while, but they were good speeches and its what he believed in, Lott, a Mississippi Republican, said.

That sense of clarity, sometimes bordering on rigidity, helped Biden overcome a childhood stutter and sustained his sagging third presidential campaign through the doldrums of 2019 to an upset nomination a year ago. In the White House, it was his own zeal to reach a bipartisan infrastructure accord that propelled the legislation through the divided Senate earlier this month.

It was on display again Friday as Biden insisted, despite a mounting chorus of condemnation from allies abroad, that the haphazard American withdrawal from Afghanistan was improving the countrys stature overseas.

The fact of the matter is I have not seen that, Biden maintained when asked about allies from the United Kingdom to Germany that have publicly questioned Americas credibility. Matter of fact, the exact opposite. Ive got the exact opposite thing as were acting with dispatch, were acting, committing to what we said we would do.

Biden acknowledged for the first time at length the heart-wrenching scenes of confusion as Americans, allies and Afghans struggle to flee the Taliban. But he was adamant that his decision was the right one, saying he always envisioned some amount of chaos in the pullout.

Theres no way in which youd be able to leave Afghanistan without there being some of what youre seeing now, Biden said.

Despite Biden's confidence, the administrations initial public response was faltering.

The president was at Camp David as part of his summer vacation but scrambled back to the White House on Monday, the day after Kabul fell. In his first public remarks on the situation, he admitted no fault for the chaotic drawdown.

Subsequent briefings at the White House, Pentagon and State Department raised as many questions as they answered, with officials being unable to say how many Americans remained in Afghanistan and how they, and their Afghan allies, would be lifted to safety. An image released of Biden sitting alone at a Camp David situation room was widely panned and later regretted within the White House, the officials said.

In a televised interview Wednesday, Biden said flatly no when asked if it could have been handled better or if the administration made any mistakes.

The idea that somehow theres a way to have gotten out without chaos ensuing, I dont know how that happens, he told ABC.

The moment has created a political opportunity for his opponents, who have otherwise struggled to find much of an opening to hit Biden since he took office.

Republicans sought to use the blundered withdrawal to deem Biden weak and ineffective. Some Democrats questioned the evacuation process and worried that it could damage the partys chances of holding onto its congressional majorities next year. Lawmakers in both parties promised to launch investigations of the failures that led to the chaotic exit.

The White House has pointed to public polling that consistently shows that the majority of American people were in favor of ending the nations presence in Afghanistan. Roughly two-thirds of Americans said they did not think the war in Afghanistan was worth fighting, according to a poll released this week by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

Aides believe that, particularly if the evacuation process at the airport improves, the story will fade from the headlines and Biden will eventually get credit for ending the war, something his predecessors could not do.
President Joe Biden on Sunday announced the escalation of evacuation efforts by US troops racing against time to rescue tens and thousands of US citizens, diplomats and Afghan civilians, including those who worked with the American administration in the last two decades.

Mr Biden said the hard and painful airlift of Americans and tens of thousands of others from Afghanistans Kabul International Airport is accelerating. Mr Biden said he is not eliminating the likelihood of extending the final date set for completing the pull-out by 31 August, concluding the longest war America has ever fought.

Addressing reporters at the White House, President Biden said: The evacuation of thousands of people from Kabul is going to be hard and painful, no matter when it started, when we began.

It would have been true if wed started a month ago, or a month from now. There is no way to evacuate this many people without pain and loss of heartbreaking images you see on television, he added.

On extending the deadline, Mr Biden said: Our hope is we will not have to extend, but there are discussion.

The president has defended his decision to end the war  a policy move announced by his predecessor Donald Trump last year  citing the trillions of dollars that has gone into fuelling the war in coalition with the Afghan soldiers.

Mr Biden has said that getting all Americans out of the war-torn south Asian country would have been difficult in the best of circumstances. Any American who wants to get home, will get home, he said.

We see no reason why this tempo will not be kept up, Mr Biden said.

The US troops evacuated about 1,700 passengers from Hamid Karzai International Airport in the last 12 hours in eight US military aircraft - seven C-17s and one C-130, a statement from the White House read. Additionally, 3,400 people were evacuated via 39 coalition aircraft. US military can fly out 5,000 to 9,000 people out of Kabul every day.

Even as most of Afghanistan has now fallen under Talibans rule after the militant group stormed the country and captured cities one by one in a lightning flash in earlier this month. The political collapse by force unfolded in a matter of 120 hours after the Taliban finally announced on 15 August that it has seized the country.

Nearly 30,300 people have been evacuated by the US on military and coalition flights since 14 August, officials said, even as several thousands remain in the country, desperately attempting to fly out and escape the Taliban reign. As the rescue mission enters the ninth day, Mr Biden explained that the US troops are amping up their efforts to rescue people and get them on flights to leave the country. The perimeter around the airport has been increased, he said.

What Im not going to do is talk about the tactical changes were making to make sure we maintain as much security as we can, he said.

The president added: We have constantly, how can I say it, increased rational access to the airport, where more folk can get there more safely. Its still a dangerous operation but I dont want to go into the detail of how were doing that.

Mr Biden also said that they are in a discussion with the Taliban who has been cooperative in extending some of the perimeter.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is likely to use the G7 meeting platform today to follow up on his push for extending the Kabul evacuation deadline.
The White House has been accused of omitting French president Emmanuel Macrons scathing remarks from an official press communication on US president Joe Bidens handling of the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Afghanistan.

The document, carrying a statement from a call between the presidents on 19 August, was released by both the governments, but carried uniquely different stances.

While both the statements lauded efforts by personnel on the ground and continued coordination among allies in Afghanistan, the statement by the French government had a sharp take on evacuation efforts.

The statement from the White House said both presidents lauded the tireless efforts of their personnel working closely together in Kabul on the evacuation of their citizens, the brave Afghans who have stood by us and our NATO partners, and other vulnerable Afghan nationals.

The statement released by the French government, however, said Mr Macron reminded Mr Biden of the collective moral responsibility towards Afghan men and women.

It added that Mr Macron underscored the absolute need for swift, concrete coordination between the allies to ensure the evacuation of our citizens, Afghan men and women who worked for the allies, and those who are in danger.

We cannot abandon them, it added.

Official statement released by the France government on call with US President Joe Biden. (Photo: Screengrab/ franceintheus.org)

The head of state emphasised our collective moral responsibility toward the Afghan men and women who need our protection and who share our values, the statement read.

The statement released by the US, however, left out Mr Macrons cutting remarks.

They [Biden and Macron] lauded the tireless efforts of their personnel working closely together in Kabul on the evacuation of their citizens, the brave Afghans who have stood by us and our NATO partners, and other vulnerable Afghan nationals, it read.

The two leaders talked about the importance of continued close coordination among allies and democratic partners on Afghanistan, including through multilateral fora, on the provision of humanitarian assistance and support for refugees, according to the US statement.

Readout of President Joe Bidens call with French President Emmanuel Macron on crisis in Afghanistan. (The White House)

The differences in the statement reflected a departure from the diplomatic ties exhibited by the two western allies, whose presidents were seen to be on amicable terms just a month ago during a G7 summit on the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mr Biden had then said that both the countries were on the same page, with Macron praising Mr Bidens leadership in handling the pandemic.

The statements from both the western countries comes in the backdrop of the crisis in Afghanistan as the Taliban took control of the country.

Western countries, mainly US and UK, are rushing to pull out its citizens and allies from Afghanistan ahead of the 31 August deadline set by the US, which has evacuated close to 30,300 people from the country.
Rep Madison Cawthorn is facing criticism from some in his district for the speed and quality of his response to flooding in areas of his district resulting from the landfall of Tropical Depression Fred.

An op-ed published on Saturday by The Mountaineer described Mr Cawthorns actions in the days following flooding that began on Tuesday and continued into Wednesday as an unforgivable dereliction of duty, and claimed that his office had only drafted, not signed or delivered, a letter calling for a state of emergency to be declared by noon on Wednesday.

The flooding affected many parts of western North Carolina including areas in the southwestern part of Mr Cawthorns district, North Carolinas 11th, which encompasses the city of Asheville and some surrounding towns and areas.

Several people were confirmed killed across the region in the flooding, and dozens more were injured. Roughly 1,800 Duke Energy customers across the Carolinas were reporting power outages as of Monday, according to the companys outage map.

In a call with his office at around 11:20 a.m. on Wednesday, more than a day after floodwaters began to rise, staffers were still scrambling to respond to basic questions, apparently surprised by the onslaught of calls from constituents stating they have been working on it all morning, wrote the op-eds author, Callie Pruett. Ms Pruett serves as the political director of Appalachians for Appalachia, a locally based community organising group that supported President Joe Biden in the 2020 election.

Cawthorns first public comments on the matter were around 24 hours after the Pigeon River reached initial flood levels, followed by retweets of hours-old resources from other public organizations working on the crisis. His tweets in support of the community and of photo ops with damage came more than 12 hours after floodwaters fell back below the flood line, she continued in the op-ed.

A review of Mr Cawthorns Twitter feed revealed that his first content related to the floods came in the form of a flurry of retweets of North Carolinas Emergency Management agency and state Department of Transportation; the retweets began after 1pm. on Wednesday.

The day the op-ed was published, Mr Cawthorn took what is so far his first reported trip to view flood damage in his district, and traveled to the towns of Balsam Grove and Rosman, NC, to see the scenes and take pictures with local officials which also appeared on his Twitter account.

The Independent has reached out to Mr Cawthorns office to determine if the Saturday trip was the first to flood-affected areas undertaken by the congressman. The House was out of session last week, meaning most members of Congress and their staffs were at home.

His apparent absence was also noted by a group identifying itself as an Asheville-based chapter of the Sunrise Movement, a youth-led organization that promotes action to slow and lessen the effects of climate change.

The congressman was busy culture-warring while half his district floods, wrote the group on Twitter.
Ex-CIA chief General Michael Hayden quipped that it would be a good idea to send unvaccinated Trump supporters to Afghanistan.

In response to a tweet about Afghans fleeing the country on a US military jet, a Twitter user asked: Can we send the MAGA wearing unvaxxed to Afghanistan, no use sending that plane back empty?

Good idea, Gen Hayden replied.

General Hayden, who headed the CIA from 2006 to 2009 during the final years of the presidency of George W Bush, was quickly bashed for his comment.

RepublicanIndiana Representative Jim Banks wrote that it was sad and unbecoming even from you, Mike.

The general retweeted another user who said: Mr Banks, General Hayden doesnt need to hear from you.

Gen Hayden has actively criticised former President Donald Trump and his supporters on Twitter, retweeting memes critical of MAGA fans and the unvaccinated.

Hes an a**hole. Pure and simple, Gen Hayden tweeted about Mr Trump on 19 August.

He also retweeted a meme that said that Trump supporters were our Taliban.

Gen Hayden also served as the director of the National Security Agency as the principal deputy director of national intelligence.

In 2014, he was accused of falsely describing the CIAs interrogation techniques by California Senator Dianne Feinstein, accusations that Gen Hayden has rejected.

Republican operative Scott Parkinson tweeted that what started out as calling Trump supporters deplorables has escalated into Former CIA director Michael Hayden RTd a tweet comparing Trump supporters to the Taliban. Tell me about the Deep State again.

Republican Florida congressional candidate Jose Castillo tweeted: This [clown] was a general? Mind you the head of the CIA. Explains a lot.

Journalist Glenn Greenwald added: George Bush and Dick Cheneys former CIA/NSA Director  and current CNN favourite  endorsing the idea that people who wear MAGA hats and arent vaccinated should be forcibly shipped to Afghanistan. The US intelligence community has always been led by sociopaths.

Sebastian Gorka, who served as deputy assistant to the president in 2017 during Mr Trumps tenure, made fun of Gen Haydens military service and called him a seditious hack.

Mr Trump held a rally in Alabama on Saturday, slamming Mr Biden for the handling of the US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.

This was not a withdrawal, this was a total surrender, for no reason, he told his audience. He surrendered our airbase, he surrendered our weapons, he surrendered our embassy.

Despite hospitals in the South straining under the pressure from Covid infections mostly among the unvaccinated  a group who lean conservative  no health restrictions were in place at the Trump rally.

Gen Hayden endorsed President Joe Biden in 2020 and the former intel chief frequently retweets posts bashing the unvaccinated as well as Mr Trump.
Its a case of retail politics gone wrong.

On Friday, Josh Mandel, a highly conservative Republican candidate running to fill US Senator Rob Portmans vacant seat, set off a wave of criticism after praising an Ohio restaurant worker for knowingly coming to work sick.

Ohio-based Senate candidate Josh Mandel poses with a server at a restaurant in Perrysburg, Ohio, on Friday, 20 August, 2021. Mr Mandel caused controversy by praising the server on social media for working while sick. (Josh Mandel)

Even though Brianne was sick today, she came to work because she knew they were short servers, Mr Mandel wrote on Twitter on Friday, of his server at Inside The Five, a brewery in Perrysburg, Ohio. These are the type of American workers that make our country strong.

The praise, in the midst of a pandemic, struck many as tone deaf.

The restaurant, which reportedly deleted its social media accounts soon after the comments, got a wave of negative reviews online, including one commenter who threatened to call the health department.

Others mocked the candidate himself.

Why might coming into work sick during a pandemic be a bad idea? writer Molly Jong-Fast wrote on Twitter.

Next week on travels with Josh  Look at these minimum wage workers, theyre [literally] dying to work in the food service industry! another commenter added, along with a gif of a zombie.

Inside The Five told WTOL the employee violated company policy by coming in sick, and would be Covid tested before returning.

This is so disappointing, the restaurant told the station. Although our servers intentions were good, it was not the right decision and it will be addressed. Yes, we are short-staffed, but would close our doors before we put anyone at risk. The employee has since been sent home.

For his part, Mr Mandel, who has opposed mask mandates , vaccine proof requirements , and other public health measures, bashed the restaurant he initially praised for giving into the woke mob.

Hey @InsideTheFive , instead of giving into the woke mob, how bout having your employees back and giving her a raise, he wrote on Twitter later that day. While so many people are getting paid to sit home and do nothing, Brianne muscled through feeling under the weather and came to WORK.

In the last month-and-a-half, cases in Ohio have climbed to their highest daily rates since their peak during the winter, with more than 3,000 people getting coronavirus on average each day. One in 10 hospital patients in the state have Covid, and frontline health workers are warning of another grim season of cases.
President Joe Biden addressed vaccine skeptics upon the US Food and Drug Administration giving full approval to Pfizer-BioNTechs Covid-19 vaccine.

If youre one of the millions of Americans who said that they will not get the shot until it has full and final approval of the FDA, it has now happened, the president said on Monday. The moment youve been waiting for is here.

The presidents remarks came as the FDA authorized the vaccination for people ages 16, which Mr Biden said was a key milestone in the fight against Covid-19.

After a strict process, the FDA has reaffirmed its finding that the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine is safe and effective and the FDA has given its full and final approval, he said.

A Kaiser Family Foundation poll from June found that 31 percent of adults said they would get vaccinated if one of the vaccines received full approval.

The president praised acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock, noting she has worked under Republican and Democratic presidents and is a career scientist.

Shes ensured that the team follow the science above all, Mr Biden said. Theyve looked mountains of clinical data, clinical trial data and the safety and efficiency data and concluded without question the vaccine was safe and effective for emergency use in December.

Mr Biden noted that 90 percent of Americans have a vaccination site five miles from their home.

So please, get your shot today, he said. There is no time to waste.

The president said that the delta variant is spreading and causing a pandemic of the unvaccinated, and that while cases might be declining in a few places, nationwide cases are on the rise, particularly among the unvaccinated.

Across the country, virtually all of the Covid-19 hospitalizations and deaths continue to be among the unvaccinated, he said, adding that there are cases where vaccinated people get the virus but they are far less common than unvaccinated people getting it.

And most importantly, their conditions are far less severe, he said. The overwhelming majority of people in the hospital of Covid-19 or almost all those dying of Covid-19 are not vaccinated.

Mr Biden said that cases among children are still rare and severe cases are rarer.

But I know that parents are thinking about their own kids, its not as reassuring as people would like it to be, he said. You have the tools to keep your child safer and two of those tools are available above all.

The first tool he said was making sure adults around them are vaccinated, and the second was making sure kids are masked when they leave home.

Thats how we can best keep our kids safe, he said.

Mr Biden also repeated his call for more companies to require vaccination for employment.
HR McMaster, one of Donald Trumps former national security advisers, has condemned the deal struck with the Taliban during the previous administration as a surrender agreement.

Our secretary of state [Mike Pompeo] signed a surrender agreement with the Taliban, Mr McMaster said on Bari Weiss podcast Honestly.

This collapse goes back to the capitulation agreement of 2020. The Taliban didnt defeat us. We defeated ourselves.

Mr McMaster has hit out at both the Trump and Biden administrations for their handling of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, but he has long been critical of the agreement signed during his former bosss term in office.

The retired US Army lieutenant general is one of many former senior Trump officials who have sought to distance themselves from the Taliban peace deal that was signed in February 2020, as chaos gripped the capital Kabul over the past week.

In light of the tumult on the ground in Afghanistan, new scrutiny is being applied to the terms agreed to in the deal as it laid out the US military withdrawal and the Taliban subsequently sweeping across the country and taking Kabul.

Originally, the Trump administration agreed to withdraw from the country by 1 May, if the Taliban negotiated a peace agreement with the Afghan government and promised to prevent terrorist groups like al-Qaeda and the Islamic State from using the country as a base.

When elected president, Joe Biden said he had to follow through with the agreement or risk new conflicts with the Taliban, which might have required an additional troop surge into Afghanistan.

However, by pushing back the withdrawal date to 31 August, the president showed there was some room for manoeuvre under the terms of the agreement.

Mr Biden blamed the Trump administration for the chaos that ensued this week saying that his predecessor had emboldened the Taliban and left the group in the strongest position militarily since 2001.

The president has said that he would ultimately have withdrawn all troops from Afghanistan even if no deal had already been struck with the Taliban. Mr Biden said that he saw no way to complete a withdrawal without chaos ensuing.

John Bolton, another of Mr Trumps former National Security Advisers, told CNN: Had Trump been re-elected, hed be doing the same thing. On this question of withdrawal from Afghanistan, Trump and Biden are like Tweedledee and Tweedledum.

Mr Pompeo, who met with Taliban officials in person at the signing ceremony of the agreement in Doha in September 2020 while secretary of state, told Fox News the administration never trusted the group and does not believe the negotiations legitimised them.

He insists that the agreement was conditions-based and that the US would have retaliated against the militant group if it did not follow through with its guarantees.
Afghan staffers at the US embassy in Kabul have expressed growing rage and despair at the handling of the countrys evacuation operations, and said they would rather die with dignity and pride than experience Taliban checkpoints and crowds at the airport, according to a leaked cable.

The embassy employees revealed the extremely physical situation as several were jostled, struck, spat on and abused by Taliban fighters at checkpoints near the airport, according to NBC News, who gained access to the US State Departments diplomatic cable sent on Saturday.

It would be better to die under the Talibans bullet than to face the crowds at the airport again, a local staff member was quoted as saying in the cable.

Happy to die here, but with dignity and pride, another staffer reportedly said. A third employee accused the US of prioritising elites in the western-backed Afghanistan government, alleging they had contacts with the US and other ways and means to escape the country.

A week after the Taliban seized power from Afghan government, scenes of desperation continue to play out at the Kabul airport, as thousands scramble to escape the clutches of the Islamist group.

At least 20 people have died near or at the airport from gunshots and stampedes till last Sunday, as people are still trying to reach the airport.

Desperate scenes from the airport earlier have shown how distraught Afghans have clung on to US aircraft taxiing on the runway, in a bid to flee the country.

Recently, a heartbreaking photo of a mother handing her baby to a US army soldier over the Kabul airports perimeter wall went viral on social media.

Local staffers who worked with the US embassy said they are deeply disheartened and feel betrayed over the handling of the evacuation operations by the US, according to the report.

The cable said memos were sent on Wednesday telling Afghan staff members to reach the Kabul airport and asking them to prepare for difficult conditions.

But no one anticipated the brutal experience, the cable said.

One staffer said his home had been tagged with spray paint, a tactic used by the Taliban in the past to mark the houses of people they want to question further, it said. The staffer and his family fled their home, but have not managed to reach the airport yet.

Recognising the hardship, pain and loss of the local embassy staff members because of their dedication to work with the US for a better future for Afghanistan, a State Department spokesperson said the US has a special commitment to them.

The official said they have been working tirelessly to improve access to the airport and to help people eligible for flights.

Jake Sullivan, US president Joe Bidens national security adviser, on Sunday said US troops evacuated 3,900 people in the past 24 hours and that non-US military flights evacuated a similar number of people over the same period.

He said Mr Biden asks his defence chiefs every single day whether they need more troops or other resources to ensure safe evacuations of Americans and non-US citizens from Kabul airport.
Several dogs set to be rescued by an animal shelter were reportedly shot dead in rural Australia due to a councils interpretation of Covid-19 rules.

Bourke Shire Council, in New South Wales, are said to have killed the animals to prevent volunteers from the shelter, based in Cobar, from travelling across the state to pick up the animals last week and potentially spreading the virus.

The Office of Local Government (OLG), a government watchdog agency, told the Sydney Morning Herald the council claimed it was protecting its employees and community from the risk of Covid-19 transmission. A spokesman for the OLG said officials were investigating whether any animal cruelty rules had been broken.

A source told the newspaper that the shelter volunteers had put Covid-safe measures in place to handle the dogs, one of which was reportedly a new mother.

Health officials said there have been no recent locally acquired Covid-19 cases in Cobar, although fragments of the virus have been found in the areas sewage system.

The decision has sparked fury among animal rights campaigners. We are deeply distressed and completely appalled by this callous dog shooting and we totally reject the councils unacceptable justifications that this killing was apparently undertaken as part of a COVID- safe plan, said Lisa Ryan, Animal Liberations regional campaign manager, who called for an investigation.

New South Wales is currently in lockdown following a surge in cases driven by the Delta variant. On Monday, the state recorded 818 new infections - a 71 per cent increase on the 478 reported a week ago.

However, animal shelters have been allowed to continue to operate in New South Wales during lockdown, so long as they have adequate restrictions in place to stem the spread of the virus.

Last week, a lockdown in Sydney was extended until at least the end of September.

Australian prime minister Scott Morrison hinted on Sunday the countrys Zero Covid strategy for containing the virus may soon have to end due to the higher transmissibility of the Delta variant.

He said: (The lockdowns) are sadly necessary for now, and we will keep providing health and income support to get people through, but they wont be necessary for too much longer.

Mr Morrison said the governments priorities would shift to actually looking at how many people are becoming seriously ill and requiring hospitalisation.

The Independent contacted Bourke Shire Council for comment. Rural Outback Respite/Rescue centre, which was due to receive the dogs, declined to comment.
New Zealands strict nationwide lockdown has been extended by at least another week amid a growing coronavirus outbreak.

The shutdown will last until at least Friday after health authorities detected 35 new local infections of the fast-spreading Delta variant.

This is the highest number of daily Covid-19 cases in the country since April last year and takes the total number of cases in New Zealand to 107.

Jacinda Ardern, New Zealands prime minister, said more certainty was needed as she announced the lockdown would continue until at least the end of the month in Auckland where most of the cases have been found.

We do need more information, said the prime minister. We dont want to take any risks with Delta.

She added: If the world has taught us anything, it is to be cautious with this variant of Covid-19.

Ms Ardern said modelling suggested the outbreak should peak in a few days time and then decline.

Health authorities said they have found links among most of those cases, giving them hope they can quash the outbreak.

One of the reasons lockdowns are considered essential in New Zealand is because inoculation rates remain low, with only about 20 per cent of people fully vaccinated.

The strict lockdown means most people must remain at home, leaving only to buy groceries or medicine or to exercise.

Ms Ardern also announced the government had decided to suspend regular parliament sessions for a week, a move that drew criticism from opposition politicians.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 27 August 2021 Soldiers take a selfie before a military parade in Chisinau, Moldova EPA World news in pictures 26 August 2021 Smoke rises from the site of a suspected suicide bombing outside Kabul airport in Afghanistan AP World news in pictures 25 August 2021 Egypts Ibrahim Elhusseiny Hamadtou in action during his Mens Singles Class 6 Group E Table Tennis match at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games PA World news in pictures 24 August 2021 People take pictures of fireworks outside the stadium during the opening ceremony of the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 23 August 2021 Staff members spraying disinfectant at a school ahead of the new semester in Bozhou, Chinas eastern Anhui province AFP/Getty World news in pictures 22 August 2021 A Taliban fighter stands guard at a checkpoint in the Wazir Akbar Khan area in the city of Kabul, Afghanistan AP World news in pictures 21 August 2021 Mexican firefighters known as "Topos" work in the early morning hours in a search and rescue mission, amid the rubble from last week's 7.2 magnitude earthquake, in Les Cayes, Haiti AP World news in pictures 20 August 2021 Bangladeshi vendor sells a religious item during a Muharram event at the premises of Hussaini Dalan in Dhaka, Bangladesh EPA World news in pictures 19 August 2021 Law enforcement officers with rifles take position near the US Capitol building in Washington DC as police investigate a possible explosive device in a truck near the heart of American government AP World news in pictures 18 August 2021 A Taliban fighter patrols in Wazir Akbar Khan in the city of Kabul, Afghanistan AP World news in pictures 17 August 2021 Art students paint messages of solidarity with people at risk in Afghanistans crisis outside an art school in Mumbai AFP/Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2021 Afghan people climb atop a plane as they wait at the Kabul airport AFP via Getty World news in pictures 15 August 2021 Taliban fighters patrol inside the city of Kandahar province in southwest Afghanistan AP World news in pictures 14 August 2021 A collapsed building is seen in Les Cayes, Haiti following a 7.2 magnitude earthquake which left at least 29 people dead Reuters World news in pictures 13 August 2021 Perseids are seen next to Milky Way during the annual Perseid meteor shower at Tres Mares peak, in Cantabria, northern Spain EPA World news in pictures 12 August 2021 A woman sits along the broken steps of a partially-collapsed building destroyed by bombardment during the May 2021 conflict between Hamas and Israel, in Gaza City AFP via Getty World news in pictures 11 August 2021 People stranded at the Pakistani-Afghan border wait for its reopening after it was closed by the Talibans, who have taken over the control of the Afghan side of the border at Chaman, Pakistan EPA World news in pictures 10 August 2021 Supporters cheer outside French football club Paris Saint-Germains Parc des Princes stadium in Paris after Argentinian football player Lionel Messi landed in Le Bourget airport to sign for the club AFP/Getty World news in pictures 9 August 2021 People perform a folk dance to traditional music as they celebrate the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples in Mumbai, India EPA World news in pictures 8 August 2021 Thank you messages is displayed inside the stadium during the Olympic closing ceremony in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 7 August 2021 Pro-democracy protesters clash with police during a demonstration demanding Thai prime minister Prayut Chan-Ochas and King Maha Vajiralongkorn be held accountable for the governments failure to contain the Covid-19 outbreak, in Bangkok AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 August 2021 Members of local NPO release paper lanterns on Motoyasu River in front of beside the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall, as it was known before 1945, and now called the Atomic Bomb Dome, as the city marks the 76th anniversary of the world's first atomic bomb attack AFP/Getty World news in pictures 5 August 2021 The Men's Decathletes pose for a photo following their competition on day thirteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, Japan Getty World news in pictures 4 August 2021 Maronite clergymen pray near damaged grain silos at the port of Lebanons capital on the first anniversary of the blast that ravaged the port and the city AFP/Getty World news in pictures 3 August 2021 An underwater view shows Frances Charlotte and Laura Tremble during the womens duet technical routine artistic swimming event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games AFP/Getty World news in pictures 2 August 2021 Germany compete in the women's team pursuit qualifying event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Izu Velodrome AFP/Getty World news in pictures 1 August 2021 enezuela's Yulimar Rojas competes in the women's triple jump final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Rojas took gold and broke the Olympic and World Record in the process AFP/Getty World news in pictures 31 July 2021 Elaine Thompson-Herah celebrates as she crosses the finish line to win the gold medal ahead of Jamaican teammate Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in the women's 100m final at the Tokyo Olympic Games Reuters World news in pictures 30 July 2021 Athletes compete during the mens 3000m Steeplechase at the Tokyo Olympics Reuters World news in pictures 29 July 2021 Athletes compete in the BMX mens Olympic quarter-finals run at the Ariake Urban Sports Park in Tokyo AFP/Getty World news in pictures 28 July 2021 A picture taken with a drone shows researchers from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Utrecht University investigating a dead fin whale found in the harbor of Terneuzen, The Netherlands EPA World news in pictures 27 July 2021 People wearing face masks to protect against the spread of the coronavirus walk past extra papers reporting on Japanese gold medalists at Tokyo Olympics AP World news in pictures 26 July 2021 The ball hits Thailand's Orawan Paranang's face as she competes against Japan's Kasumi Ishikawa during her women's singles round 3 table tennis match at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games AFP via Getty Images World news in pictures 25 July 2021 A woman walks in the rubble after flooding due to heavy rains in Dinant, Belgium, a week after more than 30 people were killed in floods in the country EPA World news in pictures 24 July 2021 A firefighter uses a drip torch to light a backfire in an effort to stop the spread of the Dixie fire in Prattville, California AFP/Getty World news in pictures 23 July 2021 An overview shows Japan's tennis player Naomi Osaka lighting the flame of hope in the Olympic Cauldron during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, at the Olympic Stadium, in Tokyo AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 July 2021 People wade through a flooded street following a heavy rain in Zhengzhou, in Chinas Henan province AFP/Getty World news in pictures 21 July 2021 People celebrate in Brisbane, Australia, following an announcement by the International Olympic Committee that the city was picked to host the 2032 Olympics AAP Image via AP World news in pictures 20 July 2021 Muslims attending the Eid Al-Adha prayer at Skenderbej Square in Tirana AFP/Getty World news in pictures 19 July 2021 Muslim pilgrims gather on Mount Mercy on the plains of Arafat during the annual Haj pilgrimage outside the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia Reuters World news in pictures 18 July 2021 People protest against the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan Reuters World news in pictures 17 July 2021 A long exposure photograph shows Muslim pilgrims circumambulating around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand mosque in the holy Saudi city of Mecca during the annual hajj pilgrimage AFP/Getty World news in pictures 16 July 2021 A van crushed by the torrents is pressed against a tree after the floods caused major damage in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, western Germany AFP/Getty World news in pictures 15 July 2021 A staff member sits at an interactive digital installation "Fire / Forest and Spiral of Resonating Lamps in the Forest" during a media preview of "teamLab: A Forest Where Gods Live" at the lobby of Mifuneyama Rakuen Hotel, Takeo Hot Springs in Saga prefecture AFP/Getty World news in pictures 14 July 2021 Pupils of the Special Military School of Saint-Cyr march during the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris AFP/Getty World news in pictures 13 July 2021 Rescuers look for bodies after a catastrophic blaze erupted Monday at a coronavirus hospital ward in the al-Hussein Teaching Hospital, in Nasiriyah, Iraq AP World news in pictures 12 July 2021 People try to recover a car damaged during flash floods after heavy monsoon rains in Bhagsunag, a popular tourist town in Himachal Pradesh, India AP World news in pictures 11 July 2021 Police cars are seen overturned in the street in the framework of a demonstration against Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel in Havana AFP via Getty Images World news in pictures 10 July 2021 Tanya and Evance Chanda from Mechanicsville look on as a statue of Confederate General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson is removed after years of a legal battle over the contentious monument, in Charlottesville, Virginia Reuters World news in pictures 9 July 2021 Hundreds of Haitians gather in front of the US embassy in the hope that they will be granted a visa to leave their country, due the uncertainty of what may happen after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti EPA

Judith Collins, the leader of the opposition, criticised the move. At a time when New Zealanders have the harshest lockdown in the world and have lost our freedoms because of the governments failure to vaccinate and secure the border, this move by Jacinda Ardern is unfathomable, she said.

While New Zealand maintains its strategy of trying to wipe out the virus completely through lockdowns, neighbouring Australia appears to have conceded that lockdowns will not be able to eliminate the Delta variant entirely and can only slow its spread.

Australian prime minister Scott Morrison said lockdowns were not a sustainable way to live in this country. He said states must open their borders once vaccination rates reach 80 per cent of the population aged 16 years and older. His remarks came as an outbreak in Sydney grew by more than 800 cases, near record levels.
Since the withdrawal of American and Nato forces from Afghanistan in July, the Taliban has swiftly taken control of large parts of the country. The president has fled and the government has fallen.

Emboldened by its success, the lack of resistance by Afghan forces and minimal international pressure, the Taliban has intensified its violence. For Afghan women, its increasing power is terrifying.

In early July, Taliban leaders who took control of the provinces of Badakhshan and Takhar issued an order to local religious leaders to provide them with a list of girls over the age of 15 and widows under the age of 45 for marriage to Taliban fighters. Its not yet known whether they complied.

If these forced marriages take place, women and girls will be taken to Waziristan in Pakistan to be re-educated and converted to authentic Islam.

This order has caused profound fear among women and their families living in these areas, forcing them to flee and join the ranks of internally displaced persons, adding to the humanitarian disaster unfolding in Afghanistan. In the past three months alone, 900,000 people have been displaced.

Reminiscent of brutal Taliban rule

This Taliban directive serves as a stark warning of what lies ahead, and a harsh reminder of the groups brutal 1996-2001 regime, during which women were subjected to persistent human rights violations, denied employment and education, forced to wear the burqa and forbidden from leaving home without a male guardian, or mahram.

Despite claiming to have changed its stance on womens rights, the Talibans actions and latest efforts to commit thousands of women to sexual slavery demonstrate quite the opposite.

Furthermore, the Taliban has signalled its intention to deny girls education past the age of 12, to ban women from employment, and to reinstate the law requiring women to be accompanied by a guardian.

The gains made by Afghan women over the past 20 years, particularly in education, employment and political participation, are under grave threat.

As part of a comprehensive approach to seeking sustainable peace, there must be no impunity for acts of sexual violence

Offering wives is a strategy aimed at luring militants to join the Taliban. This is sexual enslavement, not marriage, and forcing women into sexual slavery under the guise of marriage is both a war crime and a crime against humanity. Article 27 of the Geneva Convention states: Women must be especially protected against any attack on their honour, in particular against rape, enforced prostitution, or any other form of indecent assault.

In 2008, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1820 declaring that rape and other forms of sexual violence can constitute war crimes, crimes against humanity. It recognises sexual violence as a tactic of war intended to humiliate, dominate and instil fear in civilian members of the community.

How to fight back

The UN must now act decisively to prevent further atrocities against women in Afghanistan.

I propose four policy actions for the international community to bring about sustainable peace. Theyre guided by Resolution 1820, which underscores the importance of including women as equal participants in the peace process and condemns all forms of gendered violence against civilians in armed conflict.

Calling for an immediate ceasefire to ensure the peace process can proceed in good faith. Ensuring that womens rights  enshrined in Afghanistans constitution, national legislation and international law  are respected. Insisting that peace negotiations continue with the meaningful participation of Afghan women. Currently, there are only four female peace negotiators on the Afghan governments team, and none on the Talibans. Lifting sanctions against the Taliban must be conditional on its commitment to upholding womens rights. The European Union and the United States, currently the largest donors to Afghanistan, must make aid conditional upon womens rights and their access to education and employment.

Women in Afghanistan and across the region would welcome efforts by the UN and the international community to ensure that survivors of sexual violence have equal protection under the law and equal access to justice.

As part of a comprehensive approach to seeking sustainable peace, justice and national reconciliation in Afghanistan, there must be no impunity for acts of sexual violence.

Vrinda Narain is an associate professor in the Faculty of Law, Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism, Max Bell School of Public Policy, McGill University. This article first appeared on The Conversation
The next tri-weekly review of the UKs traffic light system for travel is fast approaching.

An update is expected on 26 August, with the potential for more countries to be added to the governments green list of safe holiday destinations.

There are 36 territories on the green list, many of which do not currently let in British travellers or are impossible to reach directly, thereby necessitating travel through an amber country.

Follow travel news live: Green list update expected today

On 4 August, seven destinations - Austria, Germany, Slovenia, Slovakia, Latvia, Romania and Norway - were added to the green list, with the changes coming into effect on 8 August, while none were removed.

Green list in full

Anguilla

Antigua & Barbuda

Austria

Australia

Barbados

Bermuda

British Antarctic Territory

British Indian Ocean Territory

Brunei

Bulgaria

Cayman Islands

Croatia

Dominica

Falkland Islands

Faroe Islands

Germany

Gibraltar

Grenada

Hong Kong

Iceland

Israel

Latvia

Madeira

Malta

Montserrat

New Zealand

Norway

Pitcairn Islands

Romania

Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

Singapore

Slovakia

Slovenia

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Taiwan

Turks and Caicos Islands

Sixteen of these destinations are on the green watchlist, meaning they are at risk of moving from green to amber:

Green watchlist destinations

Anguilla

Antigua & Barbuda

Barbados

Bermuda

British Antarctic Territory

British Indian Ocean Territory

Cayman Islands

Croatia

Dominica

Grenada

Israel

Madeira

Montserrat

Pitcairn Islands

Taiwan

Turks and Caicos Islands

When will the green list be updated?

The lists are being updated every three weeks. That timeframe indicates that the next list review will be on Thursday 26 August, with changes coming into effect within the week after that date.

Amends to the lists will be informed by public health advice, including the Joint Biosecurity Centres assessment of the latest data.

These regular review points will allow the government to balance helping the public to understand Covid requirements when travelling to England while allowing us to constantly evaluate the risk for different countries, according to the Department for Transport (DfT).

Which countries might be added to the green list?

As always, this comes with the caveat that anything can happen on traffic-light day  no forecaster has so far been anywhere near completely accurate when making predictions on this score.

But some analysts and experts have thrown out suggestions based on current infection rates.

Poland, Bhutan, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Saudi Arabia have all been touted as destinations with low enough Covid figures to warrant a move to the green list.

Research by the PC Agency reported on 22 August showed that declining cases in these countries meant they were likely to be considered for an upgrade from amber to green.

The figures are based on Covid infection rates, the proportion of tests coming back positive and the level of vaccination.

After the last green list review, CEO of the PC Agency, Paul Charles, named several countries which could or should have been added based on the same criteria.

"When you take the criteria of the seven countries added to the [green] list today, then actually they equally apply to the countries that havent been added  like Poland, for example, or the Czech Republic or even Canada, Charles pointed out.

However, though some countries may qualify for a move in terms of low case numbers, government sources have warned that many wont make the grade.

Data analyst and journalist Tim White highlighted Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary as the European countries that have a good chance of going green.

He also predicted that Spain and Greece will not join the UKs green list.

White suggested the two holiday favourites will stay amber and that, based on current figures, they certainly shouldnt be going red.

CEO of the PC Agency, Paul Charles, agreed on Spain: Ive had many followers asking about Spain - do not worry. It wont be going red at the next review, he tweeted.

Rates on every level are falling quite sharply, and the vaccination rollout is going strongly, with over 65 per cent of the population fully-jabbed.

Which countries might be removed from the green list?

In terms of countries being downgraded from green to amber, Tim White identified Antigua & Barbuda, Grenada, Dominica, Croatia, Iceland, Israel and Madeira as possible candidates for removal from the green list.

The PC Agencys research predicts that eight countries and territories in total may move off the green list and onto amber: Israel, Croatia, Madeira and Lithuania, and the Caribbean islands of Anguilla, Antigua, Montserrat and Turks and Caicos.

What about holidaymakers who are fully vaccinated?

The green list restrictions will not be affected by a persons vaccination status. However, British travellers entering the UK from amber list countries no longer have to quarantine and can follow green list rules instead, as long as they have been fully vaccinated - with two doses of the same vaccine, for the double-jabbed - in the UK, US or EU at least 14 days prior, or are an an accompanying minor (under 18 years old).

What are the restrictions for travellers returning from green countries?

Green list countries currently have the lightest restrictions for inbound travellers to the UK, with no quarantine imposed and just one PCR test required within two days of arrival.

All travellers must also show proof of a negative Covid test  PCR, rapid antigen or lateral flow  before departure to the UK.
The last time I saw him was when we put him to bed, Kalaub Brian McCord said of his stepson, two-year-old Kellen Cole Burrow. Little Kellen is one the many still missing after floods ripped through Middle Tennessee this weekend. He was in his mothers arms when the rapids swept him away.

Thousands more have been affected, losing homes and vehicles and precious family heirlooms. Rural, wooded, and teaming with rivers and streams, floods are a regular occurrence in Humphreys County, about 70 miles west of Nashville. This is worse than any of them, retired firefighter Richard Wheeler told the New York Times. This is the worst one.

He isnt wrong. As of this morning, 22 people are reported dead after what experts believe was a record amount of rain. This recent flooding is but the latest in a spate of severe weather events to ravage our state. Last year, a series of tornadoes devastated part of Middle Tennessee, while historic flooding  according to the National Weather Service  affected several counties.

With all this evidence and the scientific consensus around manmade climate change, it is unforgivable that our politicians continue to feign ignorance. During his 2018 gubernatorial campaign, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee had no climate agenda to offer voters. Instead, he campaigned on a platform of deregulation.

Though repeatedly vowing to protect the environment, Lee has done little in the way of combating climate change. This is hardly surprising, given the man himself likes to state publicly that hes too stupid to understand the science. In 2019, he claimed he wasnt smart enough to know what causes climate change. I somehow doubt that is true; even his own state government acknowledges that climate change is real and poses a threat to Tennessee.

Whether he is too dumb or too craven to admit the truth I cannot say with certainty. But the fact that Bill Lee wont say climate change is manmade and commit the needed resources to protecting Tennessee from being ravaged by it should disqualify him from office. He is Greta Thunberg, though, compared to our two US Senators.

Lats year, Senator Bill Hagerty campaigned on a platform of deregulation and unbridled environmental exploitation. He pledged to do everything in his power to stop the Green New Deal and fight socialist attempts to ban fracking. Hagerty also promised to repeal renewable fuel standards, to scale back environmental regulations, and to promote the development and exploration of fossil fuels. It is hard to imagine a more anti-environmental agenda.

Our other Senator, Marsha Blackburn, is equally as bad. She has spent her entire political career denying or downplaying mans role in climate change. Blackburn has made a hobby of denigrating the Green New Deal, opposing such climate-friendly measures as cap-and-trade, and co-sponsoring bills in Congress to eliminate funding to help low-income people weatherize their homes and preventing federal dollars to be spent on the Paris climate agreement.

Despite Republican denials, however, there is incontrovertible proof that the Tennessee climate is changing. My grandfather and other old timers here in East Tennessee frequently comment on how much more precipitation we receive now than when they were children in the 1930s and 1940s. This tracks with the science; data shows Tennessee is growing warmer and wetter.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, annual precipitation in the Volunteer State has increased by 5 percent since the first half of the 20th century. It is likely to increase further over the coming decades. In 2016, the EPA warned that floods may be more frequent in Tennessee, and that we must begin planning accordingly.

Meanwhile, other severe weather events are becoming increasingly common. Between 2000 and 2020, the average annual number of tornados reported in the South, including Tennessee, rose by more than 50 percent. Of the combined 117 US tornado deaths in 2019 and 2020, 113 were in Southern states, according to an in-depth report by Dinah Voyles Pulver and Doyle Rice for USA Today. Twenty-seven of those were in Tennessee, 19 of those in a single tornado last year.

These arent just figures. Each of those 27  in addition to the 22 people lost in the recent flooding  is, or rather was, a beloved human being. A fellow Volunteer, as were called down here. These people had families and friends, lives and dreams. As the climate crisis worsens, and severe weather events become more frequent in Tennessee, more of us are going to perish because of the inaction of todays government officials.

Frankly, our people deserve better. This includes passing legislation which will help protect our environment and prevent the worst effects of climate change from coming to pass, while also funding initiatives to help mitigate the threat already present. Such initiatives could include reducing the release of CO 2 into our atmosphere, restricting development in flood-prone areas, creating greenways to protect streams and flood plains, and relocating buildings and roads prone to flooding. None of this is some socialist Green New Deal conspiracy. These are all suggestions taken directly from the Tennessee state government.

Climate change is real, it is happening, and it is affecting our people. Twenty-two Tennesseans are dead, many more are missing, and the threat is not subsiding. It is time for our politicians to recognize the threat climate change poses to Tennessee and the rest of the South.

Time is not on our side. And right now, neither are our Republican leaders.
Tom Poland is the author of 12 books and more than 1,000 magazine features. He writes a weekly column for newspapers in Georgia and South Carolina about the South, its people, traditions, lifestyle and changing culture, and speaks often to groups across South Carolina and Georgia, Georgialina. Visit Polands website at tompoland.net or email him at tompol@earthlink.net.
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A British man who refused to leave Afghanistan unless 27 Afghan nationals and some 200 animals, which his charity rescued are allowed to travel with him to the UK, could soon leave the war-ravaged country.

Pen Farthing, a former Royal Marines Commando who founded Nowzad, an animal rescue charity in 2007 had said that he will only leave Afghanistan with the dogs his NGO rescues and the team who helped him.

On Sunday, in a Facebook live video, Farthing confirmed that the UK government has allowed some of his Afghan staff to travel to the country.

"Boris Johnson has allowed 16 staff members to the United Kingdom. We are still working on our plan to get into Kabul Airport," he said.

Dominic Dyer, a wildlife protection campaigner, who is helping Farthing in his 'Operation Ark' later confirmed that Prime Minister Boris Johnson has given full backing to the Operation Ark and ensured visas for 68 Nowzad people have been approved.

Urgent Prime Minister Boris Johnson gives full backing Operation Ark & ensured visas for 68 Nowzad people now approved. We must now support him as he battles with President Biden to keep air corridor out of Kabul open beyond 31 August @BorisJohnson @ZacGoldsmith @PenFarthing pic.twitter.com/e9CyMgwxfy  dominic dyer (@domdyer70) August 23, 2021

Earlier, Spencer Haber, founder and chairman of the US-based H/3 Foundation had offered to hire a cargo plane to airlift the rescued animals.

Facebook

The US$ 200,00 which Nowzad had raised to fly the animals back, will now be used to care for and re-home the animals in Britain and help the Afghans resettle in the UK, who will need support with housing, employment and accommodation.

9000 people stuck in Germany awaiting processing to USA. Our @nowzad country manager is a US citizen.. WTF. Not enough toilets or food Zero covid precautions. You still have no regrets @JoeBiden @POTUS @cnnbrk @BBCWorld @SkyNews @FoxNews #embarassing sadly no longer a super power pic.twitter.com/2OmP8QGWzb  Pen Farthing (@PenFarthing) August 22, 2021

The NGO, Nowzad has cared for more than 1,600 rescued animals and reunited them with soldiers. In the last five years, they provided training to some 500 veterinary students at their facilities. They also employ Afghan women as veterinarians and in other positions.

Farthing's clinic trained Afghanistan's first fully-qualified female vets but now he fears for their futures.

If they cannot be evacuated, he fears the teenage daughters of his staff face being captured by extremists and used as sex slaves.

We can't leave the country because we can't get into the airport without putting our lives at risk. he said. You've all seen the scenes  it is not different today to any other time, it is just getting worse. He said he is past angry and just completely numb at the incompetence of this operation.
This year, more and more individuals around the world are taking a keen interest in cryptocurrency investment, more so after Bitcoins exponential growth, drop and growth once again.

Reuters

Also Read: India Ranks Second In Crypto Adoption Globally

And this craze has also been noticed by scammers and cyberattackers, and theyve been duping users in the form of malware and adware infested apps spread across the Google Play Store.



However, Google has finally taken notice. It has gone ahead and banned around eight extremely popular and harmful apps that in case youve downloaded, must delete right now.

The apps were revealed upon analysis by Trend Micro that found that these malicious apps were fooling its victims into watching ads, paying for subscription services with monthly fees of around $15 as well as paying for increased mining capabilities without really getting anything in return.

Trend Micro flagged these malicious apps on Google Play Store and asked Google to pull them down.

Also Read: Ether vs Bitcoin: Analysing The Crypto Market For An Indian Investor



The eight harmful 'fake' crypto apps include:

BitFunds Bitcoin Miner Bitcoin (BTC) Crypto Holic Daily Bitcoin Rewards Bitcoin 2021 MineBit Pro Ethereum (ETH)

In case you have any of these apps installed on the phone, it is strongly recommended that you uninstall them. According to Trend Micro, Crypto Holic and Daily Bitcoin Rewards were paid apps charging users $12.99 and $5.99 respectively.

Reuters

Also Read: Cryptocurrency Claims Market Cap of $2 Trillion After Bitcoin Gains



And while these malicious apps have been taken down, Trend Micro highlights that there are more than 120 fake apps like these that promise to offer mining capabilities even though they dont, and just fool users into watching in-app ads, affecting over 4,500 users globally from July 2020 to July 2021.



Do you invest in cryptocurrency? What has been your experience like? Tell us in the comments below. For more cryptocurrency updates and tech news, keep visiting Indiatimes.com.
A Selection Board of the Indian Army cleared the way for the promotion of five women officers to Colonel (Time Scale) rank after they completed 26 years of recognizable service, the Ministry of Defence said on Monday.

A Selection Board of the Indian Army cleared the way for the promotion of five women officers to Colonel (Time Scale) rank, post completion of 26 years of reckonable service: Ministry of Defence pic.twitter.com/sFW6YNGRBE  ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2021

The five women officers selected for Colonel Time Scale rank are Lt Col Sangeeta Sardana from the Corps of Signals, Lt Col Sonia Anand and Lt Col Navneet Duggal from the Corps of EME and Lt Col Reenu Khanna and Lt Col Ritcha Sagar from the Corps of Engineers.



This was the first time that women officers serving with the Corps of Signals, Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers and Corps of Engineers were promoted to the Colonel rank.

Unnatiskils

Previously, promotion to the rank was applicable for women officers in Army Medical Corps, Judge Advocate General and Army Education Corps only.



A press release by the Ministry of Defence stated, "The widening of promotion avenues to more branches of the Indian Army is a sign of increasing career opportunities for women officers. Combined with the decision to grant permanent commission to women officers from a majority of branches of the Indian Army, this step defines the Indian Armys approach towards a gender-neutral Army."

Combined with the decision to grant permanent commission to women officers from a majority of branches, this is a step forward towards a gender-neutral Indian Army.
Thousands of Afghans rushed to the airport in order to flee away from the country after the Taliban took control over Afghanistan. Many were so desperate that they even clung onto the wheels of a US aircraft in order to just escape from the wrath of the militant group.

In the midst of this takeover by the Taliban, an old scene from Rambo III has gone viral.

In one of the scenes, an Afghan tells Stallone how Afghan people fight hard and never get defeated. Many countries tried to take control but it wasn't easy because the Afghans are known for their vengeance. He then shares one more trivia about the Afghani people. Ancient people make prayer about these people. It says: May God deliver us from the venom of the cobra, teeth of the tiger, and the vengeance of the Afghans."

I'm surprised people aren't posting Rambo 3 clips. pic.twitter.com/8eo2PcmsAg  American Krogan (@AmericanKrogan) August 15, 2021

One of the clips, which went viral was the conversation between Colonel Trautman (Richard Crenna) and Zaysen (Marc de Jonge) while Trautman is being interrogated in Afghanistan. During this conversation, Trautman warns Zaysen about how stupid it is to start a holy war in the middle east in the name of freedom.

Colonel Sam Trautman knew... way back in 1988 #Rambo3 pic.twitter.com/jNd6RW72hv  Goggle Dave (@rockgod1970) August 22, 2021



Many even shared the end credits of the movie that was scrapped after the occurrence of 9/11 in the United States.



People on the internet were amazed to check out these scenes.

I finally figured out where americans get the idea that Alexander the Great, Chingiz Khan and brits didn`t conquer Afghanistan  Artyom Aleksandrov (@artyomiscool) August 16, 2021

So true Rambo  TaurusBTC (@Level3Lobster) August 22, 2021

Too soon  The Daily Honk (@realdailyhonk) August 15, 2021

Rambo 3 Scene (presently being shared on social media as it relates to #Afghanistan.)



(Great and odd to see #Shtisel actor Sasson Gabai in this role , but goes to show that we are no different as a people. It's just our leaders screwing up everywhere! ) https://t.co/TpoDJxNhh7  Hayman Buwaneswaran Buwan, MD  (@realHayman) August 20, 2021



Hollywoods then-most reputed mercenary, played by Sylvester Stallone, was paying a visit to Afghanistan, on a mission to rescue his friend, Colonel Sam Trautman, who was being held in a Soviet camp high in the Afghan mountains, so he could spout exposition about Afghanistans reputation as the graveyard of empires.


President Joe Biden will forward a pro-immigration agenda, and has already reversed many of the hardline immigration policies of his predecessor, said Indian American Migration Policy Institute senior fellow Muzaffar Chishti (above) at a press briefing Aug. 7. However, arrests at the U.S.-Mexico border have dramatically spiked. (photo courtesy of the Migration Policy Institute)
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Cloudy this morning with thunderstorms developing this afternoon. High near 80F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

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Rain ending this evening. Partial clearing overnight. Low 61F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
Woodbridge, VA (22192)

Today

Cloudy early, then thunderstorms developing this afternoon. High around 80F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Becoming partly cloudy after some evening rain. Low 61F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
Woodbridge, VA (22192)

Today

Cloudy early, then thunderstorms developing this afternoon. High 79F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Rain ending this evening. Partial clearing overnight. Low near 60F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson arrived in Minneapolis on May 28, 2020 after the city erupted in response to George Floyd's death. He addressed a crowd of community members who'd gathered at the site, 38th and Chicago, where Floyd was murdered on May 25th by former Minneapolis Police officers.
Local Twin Cities artists Enzyrose, Eyenga Bokamba, Noah Lawrence-Holder, LeShon Lee, and Meadow Gillispie, talk about their reaction to the murder of George Floyd, the trial of Derek Chauvin, and life as a black artist during this time.
Hurricane Grace crossed through Mexico on Saturday, leaving at least eight people dead, causing floods and power cuts to more than half a million customers, before losing force as it swept toward the countrys Pacific coast.

The storm entered Mexico as a Category 3 hurricane when it hit ground in Veracruz state early Saturday, but was downgraded to a tropical storm several hours later, according to Mexicos National Meteorological Service.

Mudslides, power outages, and collapsed trees affected people across the eastern and central part of Mexico, according to Mexicos Security Ministry and Civil Protection Office. The deaths were reported by Veracruzs Governor Cuitlahuac Garcia in a press conference.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador expressed his condolences to those affected, saying in a tweet Saturday afternoon that theyre not alone.

Mi pesame a los familiares de ninos y adultos que fallecieron por el huracan en Xalapa y otros lugares de Veracruz. No estan solos. Cuentan con Cuitlahuac y todos nosotros.

 Andres Manuel (@lopezobrador_) August 21, 2021

The countrys Federal Electricity Commission released a statement Saturday morning indicating that 565,470 users had been affected in the states of Veracruz, Hidalgo, Puebla, and San Luis Potosi, but stating that by 10 a.m. it had reestablished service for 10% of them.

Photograph: A resident surveys a flooded neighborhood after Hurricane Grace made landfall in Tecolitla, Veracruz state, Mexico, on Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021. Grace weakened to a Category 1 hurricane after making landfall in Mexico and is making its way across the center of the country. Photo credit: Hector Adolfo Quintanar Perez/Bloomberg.

Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Hurricane Mexico
TORONTO  Canadas five biggest banks are mandating that employees working from their offices must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 this fall, taking a firmer stance than some of their U.S. counterparts and some other Canadian companies.

Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD), Bank of Nova Scotia (Scotiabank), Bank of Montreal (BMO) and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) will all require staff to show proof of vaccination to enter their premises, they said in internal memos seen by Reuters.

RBC, TD, BMO and CIBC require employees to be fully vaccinated by the end of October, the banks told employees on Thursday and Friday.

Read more: Insurers Expect COVID-19 Liability Claims Against Employers as Employees Return

Scotiabank has not set a date yet, but it is moving in the direction of making vaccinations mandatory for all employees and contractors based in Canada later in the fall, according to an internal note sent to employees on Friday.

The Canadian banks moves come on the back of a mandate by the federal government last week that all federal public servants and employees in the federally regulated air, rail and marine transportation sectors must be vaccinated. That requirement extends to air, train and cruise ship travelers as well.

While some Canadian businesses, including Shopify Inc and Sun Life Financial, have also mandated vaccines for employees, many others have so far held off on doing so.

And some U.S. banks, including Citigroup Inc and Morgan Stanley, have required staff entering their New York headquarters to be vaccinated. Others like JPMorgan Chase & Co and Goldman Sachs Group Inc have not taken that step.

BMO employees and contractors must complete a new vaccine status survey by Sept. 8 and TD employees must register their vaccination status by Sept. 30, according to the communications.

RBC employees, beginning in Canada and the United States and expanding elsewhere afterward, and Scotiabank said they will also require staff to provide their vaccination status but did not provide a deadline for doing so.

CIBC staff already on site can continue to work as they have, but if you havent been vaccinated and are able, now is the time, human resources chief Sandy Sharman said in an internal blog.

BMO and TD staff who remain unvaccinated must take additional measures, they said. These include twice-weekly testing at BMO and the completion of a learning module about the benefits of vaccination, mandatory rapid testing and a face covering for staff, they said.

A spokesperson for National Bank of Canada, the countrys sixth-largest lender, said the firm currently has nothing to add.

Sun Life Financial has been requiring employees to be fully vaccinated if they choose to work from an office as part of its re-opening pilot, according to guidance from Canadas second-biggest life insurer.

(Reporting by Nichola Saminather; editing by Dan Grebler and Steve Orlofsky)

Topics Canada
Tysers, the London-based insurance broker, has launched Tconnect  a cross-functional, cloud-based platform designed to consolidate processes and automate the end-to-end lifecycle of a policy.

The launch of Tconnect represents a significant milestone in Tysers digital transformation program to modernize existing IT infrastructure, improve operational efficiencies and accelerate the growth of the business through the development of client-facing digital quote and bind capabilities and portals, digital placement, market integration and the modernization of claims workflows.

Efficiency and Accuracy

By consolidating processes and automating the end-to-end lifecycle of a policy, Tconnect provides clients with a more efficient, accurate and faster service by seamlessly linking the back and front office functions, said Tysers in a statement.

Tconnect will enhance Tysers operations by providing automated sanctions checking, task and query management workflow, contract certainty checks, as well as centralized governance and valuable management information.

Working Practices Streamlined

Tconnect has been developed and built in-house with support from strategic partners and has been successfully implemented in Marine and North American P/C, Tysers two largest broking departments. It will now be rolled out across the entire wholesale business, integrating and streamlining Tysers working practices onto one platform that manages the end-to-end lifecycle of a policy.

Tconnect is a great example of the advances that we are making in our digital transformation program. It demonstrates our commitment to redefining our end-to-end journeys to ensure we can respond to our clients and markets needs quickly and efficiently, commented Tysers CEO Clive Buesnel.

It positions us very well to integrate easily and effectively into the new Blueprint 2 architecture as it rolls out, especially our ability to seamlessly ingest the new digital technical account, added Buesnel.

Tconnect is the realization of a year-long program of process development and a major step forward in connecting systems, clients and markets to digital trading platforms, said Steve Jolley, chief information officer, noting that the platform uses application programming interfaces (APIs) to eliminate re-keying as well as technology to automate processes. Tconnect is available anytime, anywhere, on any device, he noted.

By developing our technology inhouse using OutSystems, we are future proofing our systems and our business to ensure that we are able to build additional features quickly, efficiently, and rollout Tconnect across the business at speed, Jolley continued.

Tconnect was built using agile product development methods and the full-stack OutSystems rapid application development platform. API-enabled, Tconnect integrates directly with Tysers existing IBA systems and services, leveraging the same technology that already enables digital connectivity to clients both upstream and downstream.

Source: Tysers Insurance Brokers

Topics Agencies
AGDINES, Greece (AP)  For generations, residents in the north of the Greek island of Evia have made their living from the dense pine forests surrounding their villages. Tapping the ubiquitous Aleppo pines for their resin, the viscous, sticky substance the trees use to protect themselves from insects and disease, provided a key source of income for hundreds of families.

But now, hardly any forest is left. A devastating wildfire, one of Greeces most destructive single blazes in decades, rampaged across northern Evia for days earlier this month, swallowing woodland, homes and businesses and sending thousands fleeing.

The damage wont just affect this years crop, resin collectors and beekeepers say, but for generations to come.

Read more: Massive Wildfire Devours Forests on Greek Island of Evia

Its all over. Everything has turned to ash, said Christos Livas, a 48-year-old resin collector and father of four.

Resin has been used by humans since antiquity and is found today in a dizzyingly broad array of products, from paint and solvents to pharmaceuticals, plastics and cosmetics. The north of Evia, Greeces second-largest island, accounted for around 80% of the pine resin produced in Greece, and about 70% of the pine honey, locals say.

Satellite imagery shows the wildfire destroyed most of the islands north. The devastation is breathtaking. Tens of thousands of hectares of forests and farmland were reduced to a dystopian landscape of skeletal, blackened trees silhouetted against a smoke-filled sky.

For trees to grow back to the point where resin can be extracted will take more than two decades, and probably twice as long for the production of pine honey.

In 10 years, the forest will become green again, Livas said. But for tapping, it will take 20, 25 years. For me, its all over. Even for a 30-year-old  whats he going to do, find a job and then come back when hes 50, 60 to tap pines? His legs wont even hold him.

Livas walked through the still smoldering remnants of the forest on the outskirts of his mountain village of Agdines, puffs of white and grey ash rising from beneath his boots as he surveyed the damage.

This one, I remember since I was a young boy, from 15 years old, he said, pointing to a blackened pine, the strip of peeled bark where resin had been extracted still visible. This must have been tapped for 32, 33 years.

Most of his livelihood has literally gone up in smoke, lost in a horrifying roar as the giant wildfire raced toward the village.

You could hear a rumble. It was like an earthquake, Livas said.

The flames moved fast, leaving no time to collect the thousands of plastic bags pinned to the trees to gather the precious resin. Instead, local residents turned their attention to the village, ignoring an evacuation order and staying to save their homes.

They managed. But they couldnt save the forest. And the villagers anger  at the government for not sending more firefighters sooner, for ordering evacuations when they say locals could have helped fight the flames  is palpable.

Livas had been extracting resin from about 3,000 trees, producing about 9-10 tons per year at 27 euro cents (32 cents) per kilogram. Of all the trees he was tapping, just one survived.

He supplemented his income by farming olive trees, raising animals and occasionally logging. But there are no trees to log now, and most of the olive trees are gone too.

I have nowhere left. Everywhere Ive been, everything is burnt, he said.

With four young children to support, the eldest just 13, Livas said hed look for new kinds of work. But with only a primary school education and unable to read or write, he seemed overwhelmed by the thought. The forest, farming, and collecting resin, which hes been doing since he was 15, are all hes ever known.

What will I do now? he said, stumbling for words. Ill look for a job. What will I do? Do I know what to do now?

Others were even worse off, he said. Some had several family members collecting resin, gathering around 30-40 tons a year. There were entire villages in northern Evia working almost exclusively in resin collection.

Fellow villager Antonis Natsios felt the same. He started collecting resin at the age of 12, learning the technique from his father, who had learned it from his father before him.

Now 51 and with three children, two of them in college, Natsios is unsure how hell make ends meet. Some of his fig trees were singed but would probably survive and produce a new crop, he said, and about 20% of his olive trees remained. But of the pine trees, his main source of income, zero. Not even a branch.

He sees few options. Either the state, or God, if he helps. Or migration, Natsios said.

The government has vowed to compensate all those affected by the fire. But nothing can make up for the loss of the source of their livelihoods for decades to come, the residents of north Evia say.

Weve lost everything for the next 30-40 years, said beekeeper Makis Balalas, 44, who relied on Evias forests for pine honey each year. The forests destruction, he said, was far worse than the loss of any beehives.

I can create new beehives, he said. But this that has been lost, you cant create that again.

For Natsios, its the loss of the forest he grew up in that pains him the most.

Its not the future, its what we see. When youve been living something for 50 years and now you see this thing, this charcoal, he trails off. Now I, who was born in this forest, I have to breathe this blackness.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Wildfire Talent
Rain fell at the highest point on the Greenland ice sheet last week for the first time on record, another worrying sign of warming for the ice sheet already melting at an increasing rate, scientists said on Friday.

Thats not a healthy sign for an ice sheet, said Indrani Das, a glaciologist with Columbia Universitys Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. Water on ice is bad.  It makes the ice sheet more prone to surface melt.

Not only is water warmer than the usual snow, its also darker  so it absorbs more sunlight rather than reflecting it away.

That meltwater is streaming into the ocean, causing sea levels to rise. Already, melting from Greenlands ice sheet the worlds second-largest after Antarcticas  has caused around 25% of global sea level rise seen over the last few decades, scientists estimate. That share is expected to grow, as global temperatures increase.

The rain fell for several hours at the ice sheets 3,216-meter summit on Aug. 14, where temperatures remained above freezing for around nine hours, scientists at the U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center said.

Temperatures at the ice cap almost never lift above freezing, but have now done so three times in less than a decade.

In total, 7 billion tonnes of rain fell across Greenland over three days, from Aug. 14 through Aug. 16  the largest amount since records began in 1950.

The rain and high temperatures triggered extensive melting across the island, which suffered a surface ice mass loss on Aug. 15 that was seven times above the average for mid-August.

The record-breaking rain is the latest in a string of warning signs about how climate change is affecting Greenlands ice sheet.

Greenland experienced a massive melting event in late July, when enough ice melted in a single day to cover the U.S. state of Florida in 2 inches (5 cm) of water.

That melting event and last weeks rain were both caused by air circulation patterns which meant warm, moist air temporarily covered the island.

This alarming rain at the summit of Greenland is not an isolated event, said Twila Moon, deputy lead scientist with the U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center.

Along with rising floods, fires, and other extremes, it is one of many alarm bells signaling the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, she said.

We really have to stay laser-focused on adapting, as well as reducing the potential for those to become truly devastating.

(Reporting by Kate Abnett in Brussels and Andrea Januta in New York; editing by Katy Daigle and Sandra Maler)

Photograph: This image taken on Thursday, Aug.1, 2019 shows large rivers of melting water form on an ice sheet in western Greenland and drain into moulin holes that empty into the ocean from underneath the ice. The melting of the islands ice sheet is accelerating, causing massive ice loss in the Arctic. Photo credit: Caspar Haarlv, Into the Ice via AP.

Topics Trends
The Biden administration imposed sanctions on two Russian entities over their involvement in the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project, but is leaving in place a waiver that spared the company overseeing the construction and its top executive.

The U.S. [report] listed St. Petersburg, Russia-based Nobility, and a Russian insurer, Constanta, that was established after other insurers backed out of the project under threat of sanctions, according to three people familiar with the report that went to Congress on Friday. They asked not to be identified because specifics of the report arent public.

The designations, which also include a supply ship, the Ostap Sheremeta, mean the Biden administration has now identified 23 entities or people for sanctions over the pipeline, which will run from Russia to Germany and which the U.S. says would give Moscow a strangle-hold on Europes energy security.

Read more: Russias Nord Stream Pipeline 99% Complete, but Insurance Needed Before Gas Flows

Even so, Russia and Germany have been determined to go ahead with the pipeline, which is nearing completion. The U.S. has held off more severe punishment because Biden has concluded doing so would sour relations with Germany, a key ally, while failing to stop the pipeline from being built.

In a previous Nord Stream 2 report in May, the State Department said that Nord Stream 2 AG and its chief executive Matthias Warnig are engaged in sanctionable activity under U.S. law, but that the administration would waive penalties for national security reasons.

That waiver, which remains in effect, was sharply criticized by Republicans in Congress who said sanctioning the company itself was one of the few ways to actually stop the pipeline.

In July, the administration agreed to a deal with Germany that threatens new sanctions on Russia if it uses energy as a weapon. The deal also offered new help to Ukraine, which opposes Nord Stream 2, to strengthen and modernize its energy sector and ensure reverse flows of gas to the country if Russia tries to cut off supplies.

Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is set to visit the White House by the end of August, when the two sides will also discuss ensuring Ukraine isnt squeezed by the pipeline.

Photograph: Sections of Nord Stream 2 pipes at the Baltic port of Mukran on the island of Ruegen in Sassnitz, Germany, on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020. Photo credit: Alex Kraus/Bloomberg.

Related:

Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.

Topics Carriers Russia
Michigan insurance regulators issued a cease and desist order against a healthcare sharing ministry and two connected companies for allegedly acting in violation of the states insurance code.

In a media release, Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) Director Anita Fox said an investigation showed that the companies under this cease-and-desist order are essentially operating as unlicensed health insurance companies, in violation of the Insurance Code.

The DIFS cease and desist order alleges that Aliera Companies is in violation of the law by marketing and selling memberships in a for-profit risk-transferring entity.

The order states that Aliera maintains direct control of two additional entities, Sharity Ministries and Ensurian Agency, and that all three entities broadly market HCSM plans to individuals and charge monthly premiums, which vary depending on age and health.

Further, membership in the plans can be cancelled if a member chooses not to make their purportedly optional payments, a requirement that effectively makes the payments mandatory and violates Michigans HCSM requirements

The order alleges that the three entities take advantage of the Health Care Sharing Ministries Freedom to Share Act to operate as unlicensed insurers in Michigan and thereby avoid both state and federal insurance regulations. Aliera, Sharity, and Ensurian will have 30 calendar days after the service of the order to contest it by requesting a hearing on the allegations.

The alleged actions may carry civil fines of up to $50,000 and restitution paid to those affected by the purported HCSMs.

Several other states, including Iowa, Maryland, Missouri and Texas previously have taken action against Aliera Companies over allegations that the company markets unlicensed health insurance products.

Though not considered health insurance under the Michigan Insurance Code, health care sharing ministries (HCSMs) are legal in Michigan under the Health Care Sharing Ministries Freedom to Share Act. They can provide assistance for individuals if certain requirements are followed, including collecting voluntary contributions from individuals who share a similar faith with no assumption of risk or promise to pay from the ministry to its participants. Plans that violate these terms may be considered health insurance companies and, if they are not properly licensed, they may be subject to action under the Michigan Insurance Code including a cease-and-desist order and possible fines.

Source: Michigan DIFS

Topics Michigan
T-Mobile US Inc. said on Friday an ongoing investigation into a data breach revealed that hackers accessed personal information of an additional 5.3 million customers, bringing the total number of people affected to more than 53 million.

The third largest U.S. wireless carrier had earlier said that personal data of more than 40 million former and prospective customers was stolen along with data from 7.8 million existing T-Mobile wireless customers.

In its latest update, which comes days after the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) opened an investigation into the breach, T-Mobile revealed it had identified 5.3 million additional wireless subscribers who were impacted by the breach as well as 667,000 more accounts of former customers.

The data includes addresses, dates of birth and phone numbers of customers, the company said, adding that it had no indication that the accessed data contained financial information such as credit card or other payment data.

Some T-Mobile customers sued the company for damages late Thursday night in Seattle federal court, saying in a proposed class action that the cyberattack violated their privacy and exposed them to a higher risk of fraud and identity theft.

The wireless carrier is the latest victim of cyberattacks on large corporations in the United States as hackers exploit weakened user system privacy and security due to work-from-home policies instituted since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.

In 2018, the company had informed https://www.reuters.com/article/us-t-mobile-data-idUSKCN1L90NA about a potential security breach that could have affected about 3% of its 77 million customers.

T-mobile has had 6 other data breaches in the past 4 years, said Doug Schmidt, a professor of computer science at Vanderbilt University.

It appears that their IT system is particularly vulnerable since they havent been able to rectify their known security issues during this time period, which should be concerning to customers.

T-Mobile said in a regulatory filing https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1283699/000119312521251974/d362750d8k.htm on Friday that while the investigation was ongoing, it was confident that it had closed off the access.

(Reporting by Akanksha Rana in Bengaluru; additional reporting by Chavi Mehta in Bengaluru and Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman, Maju Samuel and Arun Koyyur)

Topics Cyber
Local prosecutors have reached a $2 million settlement with a New Orleans man who spent 23 years in prison before being cleared on charges including rape and manslaughter.

I welcome this measure of justice after so many years, Robert Jones, now 48 and community outreach director for Orleans Public Defenders, said in a statement released through his attorneys.

Jones will get the money over six years, Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams said Tuesday in a news release.

After years of intense litigation, and with trial approaching, the settlement will avert the expense of a three- to four-week trial and the risk that a jury might award Jones more money, the statement said.

Jones, who always had said he was innocent of crime wave in 1992, when he was 19, was convicted in 1996 of rape and robbery. After the conviction, he pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the killing of British tourist Julie Stott.

A state appeal court vacated the convictions in 2014 because prosecutors under former District Attorney Harry Connick, who retired in 2003, never gave defense lawyers some favorable evidence. Williams said he and Jones attorneys worked out policies to ensure that defense lawyers get such evidence.

Jones was released on parole from Louisianas maximum-security prison in 2015. Two years later, on Jones 44th birthday, Judge Jerome Winsberg vacated his guilty plea and formally accepted the decision by prosecutors not to retry the rape and robbery charges.

Former District Attorney Leon Cannizzaros office dropped charges against Jones. At the time, a spokesman said prosecutors didnt consider him exonerated but felt it impractical to retry a case more than two decades old.

Williams said in a news release that he intends to keep working toward the day when the District Attorneys Office will not be burdened with vacated convictions and wrongful-conviction lawsuits from previous administrations.

On Monday, a man sentenced to life without parole for stealing a wallet was freed after prosecutors agreed to dismiss a habitual offender sentencing enhancement brought against him under Cannizzaro.

Williams office also recently agreed, without disclosing terms, to resolve remaining claims in a lawsuit involving practices that included using fake subpoenas to threaten uncooperative witnesses with jail time, The Times-Picayune / New Orleans Advocate reported.

In June, a judge overturned a Black mans murder conviction after prosecutors agreed with defense attorneys that it was unlikely that earlier prosecutors struck a dozen possible Black jurors by chance.

Another murder conviction was overturned in May after Williams said earlier prosecutors had failed to turn over favorable evidence.

Cannizzaro, who did not run for reelection last year, now works for state Attorney General Jeff Landry. He had no comment on Williams decision and statement, a spokesman for Landrys office said in an email.

Connick, who retired in 2003, has long defended his 30-year tenure as district attorney against allegations of prosecutorial misconduct in various cases. Now in his 90s, he has consistently declined to comment on specific cases.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Louisiana
Gov. Ron DeSantis new technology office is supposed to resolve the states longtime tech woes and lead the states defense against cybersecurity threats.

A year into its inception, the office is struggling.

In the last several months, the new Florida Digital Service has seen a wave of high-level departures. Top officials have left without giving notice. Its looking for its third chief information security officer, who leads cybersecurity defense for the states $100 billion government, in less than a year. Half of the states 10-member cybersecurity response team positions are vacant.

The rapid brain drain of technology experts has observers concerned about the states security amid a growing number of cyberthreats.

Those seats being vacant is a massive concern for us. Theres no way around it, said James Taylor, CEO of the Florida Technology Council, a trade group of technology companies that sometimes advises and assists state government but does not lobby. Cybersecurity should be our No. 1 concern in our state right now.

Like its counterparts across the country, the state government has seen a noticeable uptick in hackers trying to steal information or hold it ransom for millions of dollars.

In October, the states top regulatory agency was taken offline by a cyberattack. In January, the state said thousands of applicants for childrens health insurance might have had their personal information stolen during a subcontractors data breach. Last month, the state announced that attackers stole confidential information, including Social Security numbers and bank information, of at least 58,000 unemployment applicants.

In response to growing threats, state lawmakers passed a law this year giving oversight of cybersecurity to the Florida Digital Service, a new agency created in 2020 by DeSantis and the Legislature to resolve the states longstanding technology problems. They also assigned 15 new positions and $30 million to beef up state security.

To lead the new office, DeSantis last year chose former Republican state Rep. Jamie Grant, a lawyer from Tampa, as Floridas new chief information officer with a $149,000 salary. Despite having little experience working in technology, Grants connections to the Legislature were seen as a potential asset in getting money and resources assigned to the office.

A LOOK AT THE STAFF DEPARTURES

Since Grant took over, the office has struggled to keep its employees. Several key people have left their six-figure state salaries _ leaving behind critical state initiatives:

? The states chief information security officer is supposed to lead Floridas cybersecurity response. The state is now looking for the third person to fill that role in a year. The first left within a month, later becoming the chief information security officer for the City of Tallahassee. His replacement was quickly hired but quit without giving notice six months later, becoming a private consultant, according to his LinkedIn profile.

? The states chief data officer quit in March before he could finish the Legislatures task of cataloging the states data.

? In July, the states first-ever enterprise architect quit, just eight months after being recruited by Grant for an ambitious project to create a single technical framework to help improve every state agency. The project was due in October. It is now delayed until 2022.

? And earlier this month, the states chief operations officer quit. He was leading Floridas negotiations on a potentially $500 million project to privatize the states data center, but he left before finalizing a contract with the winning bidder.

In all, about a third of the 185 positions under Grants supervision appear to be vacant, including half of the states cybersecurity team.

When asked why so many people have left, a department spokesperson did not say. Grant, in a statement, implied that some of the departures have been his choice.

I promised the Florida Digital Service team that I would help them build an organization led by talented, dependable, and ethical leaders, Grant said. All of the personnel moves I have made have been consistent with that commitment and in furtherance of our teams shared principles.

He added that he was proud of the work the people currently in the Office of Information Security have done.

IS MANAGEMENT THE PROBLEM?

Former employees who spoke with the Herald/Times say they have bristled under what they describe as Grants chaotic managing style, and multiple people said they were concerned for the states cybersecurity with so many vacancies. All said they left on their own terms. None would talk on the record.

Grant told lawmakers this year that recruiting is one of his toughest challenges, and he said hes adopting a tour of service model where top tech workers for private companies can work for the state for a year or less. So far, the agency doesnt appear to have hired anyone under that model.

Most state agencies have their own tech departments, including information security officers, that can respond to agency-specific threats. But state lawmakers this year, at the request of DeSantis and Grant, made the Florida Digital Service the lead entity for assessing cybersecurity threats and creating a statewide plan. The bill named the chief information security officer _ a position currently vacant _ the point person for overseeing the states cybersecurity response.

The creation of the Florida Digital Service was a nod to the states longstanding struggles with coordination and oversight of technology projects. The state has faced embarrassing public failures in recent years, including the states SunPass tolling system meltdown in 2018 and the CONNECT unemployment system failing millions of Floridians last year.

The new office is the fourth iteration of a statewide tech agency. Its three predecessors were each shuttered over contracting scandals or clashes with the Legislature. For years, Florida was one of the only states in the nation without a chief information officer.

Since creating the Digital Service, DeSantis and lawmakers have dramatically expanded the offices role. In addition to leading cybersecurity response, lawmakers recently required the office to vet and approve large technology projects across all state agencies.

The recent vacancies have put the state, and Grant, in a difficult position, Taylor said.

Even if we had every position filled, and fully staffed, protecting our state while working to build an enterprise architecture to drive change would be a massive undertaking, Taylor said. A pandemic, combined with a rapid increase in cyberattacks, adds a new level of urgency for filling these vacancies with qualified staff.

FUNDING MAY NOT BE ADEQUATE

State lawmakers also assigned $30 million for various cybersecurity measures this year, an amount observers say is nowhere close to enough.

In terms of the third-largest state, its a ludicrously insufficient amount of money, said David Taylor (no relation to James Taylor), Floridas chief information officer from 2008 to 2012.

By comparison, Texas lawmakers this year assigned $105 million to cybersecurity, plus more than $1 billion more to modernize technology and increase security at state agencies, according to the Texas Department of Information Resources.

David Taylor said Floridas political leaders dont understand the seriousness of the cyberthreats the state faces. The only reason why the state hasnt seen a critical system-wide breach is that attackers are busy going after targets with more money, he said.

People had no idea how bad it was, he said of his time as Floridas technology chief. When I was there, we had to beat heads to get some kind of awareness.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Cyber Florida
Catastrophic flooding in Middle Tennessee left at least 22 dead and dozens missing Saturday as rains washed away homes and rural roads, authorities said.

Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis told news outlets more than 20 people have been reported as still missing. The Waverly Public Safety Department listed the missing peoples names on its Facebook page.

Two of the bodies recovered were toddlers who had been swept away from their father, Davis told WSMV-TV.

The county, which is about 60 miles (96 kilometers) west of Nashville, saw more than 15 inches (38 centimeters) of rain, according to The Tennessean, prompting water rescues, road closures, and communications disruptions.

National Weather Service meteorologist Krissy Hurley told the newspaper the area had received about 20-25% of the yearly rainfall total that this area sees in a year in a single morning.

Cities in Humphreys County like Waverly and McEwen were facing a dire, catastrophic situation, she said. People are trapped in their homes and have no way to get out.

Waverly couple Cindy Dunn, 48, and her husband Jimmy, 49, were rescued from their attic by a crew who used a bulldozer to reach them.

Hell. Thats what we had to go through, Cindy Dunn said.

She told The Tennessean that her husband woke her up Saturday, telling her that floodwaters had pushed her car to their backyard. Eventually the water in their house rose to at least 6 feet (1.8 meters) high, forcing them to the attic. Dunn said the rooftop wasnt an option.

My husband is dealing with cancer. Hes going through chemotherapy. And I am an amputee. So there was no going anywhere besides the attic, Dunn said.

Dunn said their home and neighboring houses are gone.

Hickman County Chief Deputy Rob Edwards said in a text message to the newspaper that several people are missing and cellphone service has been disrupted throughout the county.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee tweeted on Saturday, Tennesseans, please stay cautious of rising floodwaters caused by heavy rainfall in parts of Middle TN. We are actively working with emergency response officials & first responders as they support Tennesseans in flooded areas.

The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency activated its emergency operations center and said agencies that include the Tennessee National Guard, the state Highway Patrol, and Fire Mutual Aid were responding to the flooding. In a bulletin, TEMA called the situation dangerous and evolving and urged people to avoid travel in the affected counties.

Flash flood warnings were in effect for parts of Dickson, Houston and Montgomery and Stewart counties on Saturday evening.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Catastrophe Flood Tennessee
A judge sentenced a former Alabama police officer to 25 years in prison Friday for the shooting death of a suicidal man who was holding a gun to his own head.

Former Huntsville police officer William Ben Darby was convicted in May of killing Jeffrey Parker in 2018. Darby shot Parker while responding to a call after the man phoned 911 saying he was armed and planned to kill himself.

Prosecutors argued during the sentencing hearing that Darbys lack of willingness to admit wrongdoing and the gravity of what he did to Jeffery Parker deserved a long sentence, news outlets reported. Darby and others pleaded for leniency, saying there was no evil intent when he pulled the trigger.

After the shooting, I would wake up in the middle of the night. I would think about Mr. Parker. I would think about his face. I would think about his fiance, Darby said, according to WHNT.

There is no evil intent, Darby said. There is no malice. I am human. I am Christian. The taking of a human life was not lost on me. Im asking for mercy, Im asking for leniency.

The case drew additional controversy when Darby was allowed to remain on city payroll for two months after his conviction.

The guilty verdict was criticized by both the mayor and police chief, but lauded by the victims family, who said they hope it will spur law enforcement to change how they approach mental health crises.

During the trial, jurors saw video of the shooting taken from police body cameras, and Darby testified that he feared seeing one of my officers get hurt and fired after Parker only shrugged when ordered to put down the gun he was holding to his own head.

An innocent man was murdered, prosecutor Tim Gann told jurors in closing arguments this spring. He called for help and he got Ben Darby.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Alabama
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Read our full Opinion Policies here. Updated on 10/7/2020
The Arts Council of Ireland has apologised after it ran an advertisement about the power of the arts during challenging times by referring to historical racial segregation in the US.

The State body's ad campaign contained the slogan "art flourishes in spite of adversity" and featured various artists throughout history who faced challenges.

It was supported by representative group NewsBrands Ireland, with a number of newspapers running an advertisement featuring Nina Simone over the weekend.

An advertisement of the American singer-songwriter Nina Simone drew the most criticism. Picture: Arts Council

Alongside a picture of the singer, the advertisement featured a sign that said white only waiting room, referring to Jim Crow laws which enforced racial segregation in parts of the US until 1965.

It included the tagline: Segregation couldnt separate Nina Simone from her music.

A separate ad as part of the campaign included a picture of William Shakespeare and the words: A plague couldnt stop Shakespeares Romeo & Juliet from falling in love.

'Insensitive and upsetting'

In a statement, the Arts Council of Ireland apologised for aspects of the campaign which unintentionally appeared insensitive and upsetting.

The Arts Council has recently been running a promotional campaign intended to convey the power of artistic expression during times of challenge. We understand that aspects of the campaign have unintentionally appeared insensitive and upsetting, the statement said.

That was not our intention.

The council said it was committed to ensuring equality and diversity.

We are cognisant that elements of this campaign did not reflect that commitment. The Arts Council remains grateful for the continued support of the arts community and the public to help ensure that the arts play a grateful role as we recover from the Covid crisis, the statement added.

We got it wrong on this occasion  sorry.
The Government is to deploy the armys special forces unit to assist in the evacuation of Irish citizens trapped in Kabul, it is understood.

Nine members of the countrys elite Army Ranger Wing and two senior Department of Foreign Affairs officials will be involved in the mission, which is expected to depart from Dublin on Monday evening or in the early hours of Tuesday morning, according to the Irish Times.
How so many strange creatures continue to arrive here is a constant source of wonder. The Chinese mitten crab has made the long journey and has been reported three times in Ireland, all in Waterford Harbour, the latest being in January of this year.

Like other invasive species, it could have come here by sea, either in ballast water or by hitching a lift on a ships hull. Some animals are brought in as pets, but thats most unlikely in this case.

With ocean waters warming, were going to see more coming on their own steam. And experts such as marine biologist Kevin Flannery, of Dingle Oceanworld, Co Kerry, who meets many of them, will be kept busy on identification.

Donal Hickey: 'Scientists here look at it as yet another nuisance that may impact our native and endangered species.'

The Chinese crab is so-called because of mitten-like fur on its two front claws and the edges of its long legs are hairy. It is considered a delicacy by gourmets in Asia, but scientists here look at it as yet another nuisance that may impact our native and endangered white-clawed crayfish and species such as the protected Twaite shad fish.

Mitten crab are expanding in North America and England and, when numbers grow, they can cause a lot of damage to soft banks through burrowing, thereby increasing erosion. Most of its lifecycle is spent in rivers, but it moves to saltwater to breed.

Another exotically-named animal is making itself at home in the Shannon. Most people boating on the river this summer probably dont see the quagga mussel, but this exotically-named visitor is adapting to life at various depths.

The quagga has spread from its native Ukraine as far as Mexico and is now listed among our unwelcome invasive species, which are a threat to some of our native animals and their habitat.

The Inland Waterways Association says the quagga is abundant in Lough Ree. It has also been found in Lough Derg and the stretch of the Shannon between the loughs.

The quagga is very like the zebra mussel and behaves in a similar way, according to Dr Jan-Robert Baars, of UCD, and Dr Dan Minchin, of the Lough Derg Science Group. Its activities can also lead to changes in water quality.

The quagga mussel is likely to compete with the zebra mussel and native species. Having a wide ecological tolerance and suited to Irish climatic conditions, it is expected to become widely distributed in time, they add.

The scientists warn that the species could be spread by boats to the upper Shannon, and through the Shannon-Erne waterway to the Erne. And, like many other pests, it can also be spread when boats are moved from one waterway to another. People are asked to clean all such equipment before moving it.
Limerick maestro Cian Lynch was named RTE man of the match for the All-Ireland hurling final, with Anthony Daly suggesting there were "eight or nine" players from the back to back champions in contention.

"We narrowed it down to four  Sean Finn, what a performance again, never put a foot wrong; Cian Lynch brilliant, Gearoid Hegarty brilliant, and we have to mention Peter Casey, who had to go off before the break. Five scored, would surely have been in line for it."
Burma 2,000 Myanmar Junta Soldiers and Police Join Civil Disobedience Movement

Soldiers at the Armed Forces Day parade in Naypyitaw in 2018 / The Irrawaddy

Around 2,000 soldiers and police have joined the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) since the Myanmar militarys February 1 coup, according to Peoples Embrace, a group helping security forces personnel who are refusing to work for the regime.

Most of the soldiers who have joined the CDM are privates and sergeants. Officers ranking from lieutenants to majors account for around 100.

There are around 1,500 military personnel who have joined the CDM. There are over 2,000 including police, Captain Lin Htet Aung of Peoples Embrace told The Irrawaddy.

Peoples Embrace was formed by military personnel who have joined the CDM. In cooperation with the parallel National Unity Government (NUG), the group provides assistance to striking soldiers, as well as trying to persuade other military personnel to leave their barracks.

Captain Lin Htet Aung graduated from the 54th Intake of the Defence Services Academy. He joined the CDM in early April, while serving as a company commander in Battalion 528 in eastern Shan State.

The 2,000 soldiers who have joined the CDM amount to the size of four standard battalions in the Myanmar military, noted Captain Lin Htet Aung. The figure is based on the number of people who have contacted Peoples Embrace and those who have fled to areas controlled by ethnic armed organizations (EAOs), as well as from data provided by sources inside the regime.

Security forces personnel who have left the military to stand by the people have done so because they have become more aware of the true colors of the military regime, which has been using lethal violence against civilians.

Most of the striking soldiers and police have either fled to areas controlled by EAOs or are hiding among civilians and doing what they can to fight the regime.

Some are providing military training to civilian resistance fighters. Some are fighting themselves. Some share information [with resistance fighters] if they can do nothing else due to security concerns, said the Captain.

Many soldiers joined the CDM in the third week of August, with more expected to join as the regime continues to use violence against the people, striking military officers said.

On August 19, a number of soldiers from Light Infantry Battalion 25 in Dawei, Tanintharyi Region deserted with their weapons to join the CDM. The following day, a police sergeant from Yinmarbin Township in Sagaing Region also deserted with his weapon.

Peoples Soldiers, a Facebook page run by striking military personnel, said 500 more soldiers are expected to join the CDM over the next month, on the condition that the NUG provides security and establishes a mechanism that enables the NUG to verify the identities of the soldiers wanting to join the CDM.

Peoples Embrace, in collaboration with the NUGs Defense Ministry, has already certified the first 100 military personnel to join the CDM and is in the process of certifying 100 more.



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Burma Detained Myanmar Columnist Faces Life in Prison

U Sithu Aung Myint and Ma Htet Htet Khine. / Reporters Without Borders Twitter

Detained political columnist U Sithu Aung Myint is facing life in prison on sedition charges for being critical of Myanmars junta and for allegedly backing the shadow National Unity Government (NUG).

The junta arrested U Sithu Aung Myint, an outspoken junta critic, and Ma Htet Htet Khine, a freelance producer working with the BBC, from a hideout in Yangon on August 15.

The junta-controlled media announced on Saturday that the columnist wrote articles criticizing the military for the Voice of America and Frontier Myanmar after the February coup. It said he also posted articles on Facebook criticizing the regimes governing body, the State Administrative Council, inciting government employees to join the civil disobedience movement and backed the NUG, which has been declared a terrorist organization.

An arrest warrant was issued for U Sithu Aung Myint in April for allegedly spreading false news under Article 505(a) of the Penal Code, which carries up to three years imprisonment.

The junta-controlled media said he was also charged with Article 124(a) of the Penal Code which prohibits any attempt to cause hatred, contempt and disaffection towards the military or government. The charge carries a sentence of life in prison.

Ma Htet Htet Khine was charged under Section 17(1) of the Unlawful Association Act for allegedly working as a volunteer editor for Federal FM launched by the NUG and for harboring U Sithu Aung Myint.

Ma Htet Htet Khine was the presenter of a program for audiences in Myanmar called Khan Sar Kyi (Burmese for Feel it) for BBC Media Action, the corporations international development charity.

We are concerned by the detention and charges against our freelance producer, Htet Htet Khine, BBC Media Action said, adding that it was monitoring the situation.

The two journalists have had no access to a lawyer since their arrest.

U Khin Maung Myint, the legal adviser to Ma Htet Htet Khine, said the two were had been relocated to police custody from a military interrogation center and are likely to be moved soon to Insein Prison, where he expects to have contact with her.

The two join around 50 jailed journalists as the junta continues to crack down on journalists with arrests and lawsuits to silence coverage of its atrocities.

Since the February coup, the junta has arrested 95 journalists and media staff. Of them, six have been convicted under Article 505(a) and one was sentenced under Article 188 of the Penal Code for defying government orders.



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Burma Myanmar Regime Delays Trial of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Until September

State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint at an event in Naypyitaw when the NLD government was in office / The Irrawaddy

The legal defense team of deposed State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and ousted President U Win Myint said they would ask for permission to meet their two clients, after their trials were delayed again until early September. The lawyers have not met the pair for six weeks, since their trials were suspended due to the surge in COVID-19 cases.

We were told by the Zabuthiri Township Court today that the trial has been delayed until September 6 and 7. We havent met the two for more than six weeks. And we have not heard from them during that period, so well apply this week to meet them, Naypyitaw lawyer U Khin Maung Zaw told The Irrawaddy.

The trials of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint were adjourned when the military regime imposed a nationwide lockdown on July 17 amid soaring coronavirus cases. The lockdown has since been extended until the end of August.

Defense lawyers will ask the court for permission to meet Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, U Win Myint and ousted Naypyitaw Mayor Dr. Myo Aung in connection with the new charges brought against them, said U Khin Maung Zaw.

Last week, Myanmars Anti-Corruption Commission filed more corruption charges against the State Counselor, the President, Dr. Myo Aung, former Naypyitaw Vice-Mayor and former Yangon Region minister U Ye Min Oo and former Naypyitaw Development Committee members in connection with land permits they granted in the capital.

A Naypyitaw police station has accepted the cases, which will be heard at the Mandalay Region High Court. The regime claims that the country lost more than 14 billion kyats when the National League for Democracy (NLD) government sold land in the commercial district of Naypyitaws Dekkhinathiri Township for prices much lower than the market rates.

The regime has charged them under Section 55 of the Anti-Corruption Law, which carries a 15 year prison sentence.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was detained when the junta seized power in a February 1 coup, claiming that the NLDs landslide victory in the 2020 general election was marred by fraud.

Since then, the State Counselor has been held in an unknown location. She faces up to 75 years in prison under multiple charges including alleged breaches of COVID-19 regulations, possession of walkie-talkies, corruption, incitement and a case under Official Secrets Act.

The military regimes determination to destroy the NLD has become more and more apparent lately, with the junta-appointed Union Election Commission already auditing the political parties in Naypyitaw in its efforts to accuse the NLD of accepting foreign currency from external sources.



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Burma Myanmar Regime Soldiers Commit Arbitrary Killings, Looting During Raids

Junta troops at Mindat Hospital in Chin State in March. Photo- Zalen

Myanmar junta forces are continuing their wave of arbitrary killing and looting across the country, even as regime casualties mount as civilian fighters step up their armed resistance to the junta.

On Saturday evening, a married couple were shot dead by junta forces in Khin-U Township, Sagaing Region, according to local media.

Ko Maung Aye, 36, a farmer and seller of agricultural chemicals, and his wife Ma Nwe Nwe Aye, 36, a nurse, were targeted by security forces between Khin-U town and Kan Tharyar Village.

Junta forces gunned down the couple after they allegedly refused to stop at a military checkpoint, a relative told the media.

Ko Maung Aye died from a gunshot to the head, while his wife died after being shot in the stomach.

The slain couple leave behind a three-year-old daughter. Junta troops also stole more than 1 million kyats (US$610) belonging to the couple, the relative told the media.

Also on Saturday, a 72-year-old from Hnan Khar Village in Magwe Regions Gangaw Township died early morning of internal injuries after he was tortured by soldiers during a raid on his village on August 19.

Regime soldiers in four vehicles raided the village on the Gangaw-Kale Highway after a military convoy was ambushed nearby with landmines by civilian resistance fighters last week. An estimated 30 junta troops were reportedly killed in the attack, The Irrawaddy was told.

During the raid on Hnan Khar Village, the 72-year-old was tortured by junta soldiers after he was left behind when the rest of the village fled.

He died of internal injuries. He also suffered a serious neck injury. As he was an old man, he could not survive the injuries, a Hnan Khar villager told The Irrawaddy.

Homes in the village were also looted by the junta soldiers, who took televisions and even childrens toys, a resident said.

Early Sunday morning, regime forces in two columns raided and looted villages in Sagaing Regions Depayin Township, according to the residents.

But regime forces are also encountering growing resistance across the country, including in urban areas.

Around 27 junta soldiers were reportedly killed in the course of three days in firefights with Peoples Defense Forces (PDF) in Sagaing Region and Chin and Kayah States.

Civilian resistance fighters from Sagaing Regions Tamu Township attacked junta forces on Monday morning at the Government Technology University outside the town.

17 junta soldiers and a civilian fighter of PDF-Tamu were reportedly killed in the attack. Another two soldiers were killed in a bomb attack at a school in Tamu on Sunday morning.

Over the weekend, eight junta troops were also killed in firefights with ethnic armed groups in Kayah States Bawlakhe Township and Chin States Thantlang Township.

Armed resistance to the junta began in late March, in response to lethal crackdowns by regime forces on peaceful anti-coup protesters.

Almost 1,010 people have been killed by the regime since the juntas February 1 coup, as of Saturday, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. Over 7,400 people, including elected government leaders, have been detained by the junta or face arrest warrants.



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Burma Myanmars Ousted MPs Condemn ASEAN for Inviting Junta to Parliamentary Summit

Anti-regime protesters back the Committee Representing the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw in Yangon in early March. / The Irrawaddy

Myanmars committee of ousted National League for Democracy (NLD) parliamentarians has condemned ASEAN for excluding it from the regional bodys Inter Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) and inviting a junta representative as an observer instead.

On Saturday, representatives from ASEANs parliaments convened for the 42nd assembly in Brunei. The meeting lasts until Wednesday.

The Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (Union Parliament) or CRPH was formed mostly by NLD lawmakers after the military coup in February. In April they formed the shadow National Unity Government (NUG), claiming to be the legitimate civilian government of Myanmar. Since their formation, both the CRPH and NUG have received huge popular support at home but struggle to gain international recognition despite engaging with other countries, including the US.

It is not the first time ASEAN has refused to recognize Myanmars democratic representatives. In April, the NUGs representative was not invited to ASEANs special summit on Myanmar. Instead, the junta leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, attended the meeting where ASEAN set out five points to resolve Myanmars turmoil.

The CRPH on Sunday said the AIPA president, who also is the speaker of the Brunei Legislative Council, ignored its letter of nomination and approved the juntas representative as an observer at the meeting. Last month, Myanmars junta revoked the 2020 election results and Min Aung Hlaing installed himself as prime minister earlier this month.

The CRPH said the APIAs action has steered the ASEAN parliamentary family on an undemocratic and unrepresentative course  choosing dictatorship over democracy  cowardice over political principles.

The CRPH asked other ASEAN parliamentary delegates at this weeks assembly to call for the inclusion of Myanmars delegation.

ASEANs recognition is seen as important to establish the NUGs legitimacy. ASEAN is yet to officially recognized the regime.

The CRPH said the exclusion of Myanmars delegation will grievously impugn AIPAs parliamentary independence and its standing among the global family of parliaments.

Myanmars people condemned ASEAN online. We have no trust in you, said a comment.

Another said: ASEAN is under influence and is biased. It should respect democracy and the elected government.

Early this month, ASEAN appointed Bruneis deputy foreign affairs minister, Erywan Yusof, as a special envoy to Myanmar. However, there is little hope ASEAN will work effectively to resolve the crisis.



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Burma Rohingya in Western Myanmar Starving as Aid Blocked

Displaced Rohingya at a camp in western Sittwe. / The Irrawaddy

Rohingya communities in villages and displacement camps in Sittwe and Buthidaung townships in Rakhine State say they have been facing food shortages for more than three months.

Displacement camps holding hundreds of thousands of Rohingya in the west of Sittwe have received no relief aid since June, Khaung Dokka camp manager U Maung Maung Tin told The Irrawaddy.

We have not received cash allowances for some three months. We are having real hardships. Some already have no money to buy rice and have sold what they have to survive. The situation is that bad, he said.

Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya have been sheltering in camps along the Sittwe coast since sectarian strife targeted the Muslim community in 2012. Some make a living fishing, farming and doing casual work while the majority rely on international aid.

We can hardly buy food. We cant go out due to COVID-19 [restrictions] and we have no work. There have been petty crimes, like stealing food, committed by those who are starving. WFP [World Food Program] staff told us that they are not giving aid because of orders from their managers, said a Rohingya from the Sae Thamar Gyi displacement camp in Sittwe.

The WFP previously provided a monthly allowance of 15,000 kyats (US$9) per head for the camp, he said.

Rohingya villages in Buthidaung Township on the Bangladesh border have received no relief aid for more than three months, said a Muslim villager from Hteik Hto Pauk in the township.

We have received no food supplies for three months. People are being forced to sell or pawn their belongings as they cant go out to earn a living due to COVID-19. Every day, we long for supplies and call to ask when they will come, said the villager.

There are more than 50,000 Muslims in several villages in Buthidaung Township and the WFP used to provide them with monthly supplies of rice, oil and other basics.

International non-governmental organizations are in talks with Rakhine States military authorities to provide relief supplies to Rohingya villages and displacement camps.



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Guest Column Need to Counter China Will Make It Hard for Asian Powers to Shun Myanmar Junta

Myanmar junta leader Min Aung Hlaing during the Armed Forces Day parade in Naypyitaw in March 2021.

In what can only be described as a waste of time, the new junta, the State Administration Council (SAC), has turned to churning out statements and propaganda pamphlets in an attempt to justify its power grab to the international community. Few, if any, are going to believe its version of events. But in the end, geopolitical realities may prompt even the SACs most vocal foreign critics to grudgingly accept the new military governmentin particular, the fear of Myanmar once again falling into the clutches of China, and that at a time when the expansion of Chinese influence in the entire Indo-Pacific region is becoming a major issue for security strategists in the West, Japan, India and Australia. Condemnations of human-rights abuses perpetrated by the Myanmar military, the Tatmadaw, will continue, but, behind the scenes, there might be a slow return to the balanced relationship that existed during previous juntas, the State Law and Order Restoration Council (1988-1997) and the State Peace and Development Council (1997-2011).

Indias Chief of Defense Staff, General Bipin Rawat, was the first to publicly express regional security concerns. Speaking at a webinar on Opportunities and Challenges in North East India organized by the Indian Military Review on July 24, Rawat stated that India needs to closely monitor the emerging situation in Myanmar where China, he said, is making further inroads after international sanctions were imposed on the country after the Feb. 1 coup: The BRI [Belt and Road Initiative] of China is bound to get further impetus with the sanctions on Myanmar.

India has reasons to be worried about developments in its northeastern states, northern Myanmar and China. From the 1960s to the mid-1970s, China trained and actively supported rebels from Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur. Even after the end of direct Chinese support, Naga, Manipuri and later also Assamese insurgents have been based in the remote mountains of northwestern Sagaing Region, from where they have launched raids into India and then retreated back across the border beyond the reach of Indias security forces. Those cross-border raids were supposed to have ended when the Myanmar army, after decades of neglect and denial, finally yielded to Indian pressure in February 2019 and attacked and captured Taga, a sprawling camp in northern Sagaing where Nagas, Manipuris and Assamese rebels had long been based. But the rebels simply regrouped and launched more cross-border raids into northeastern India. The rebels are equipped mostly with arms obtained by intermediaries from Chinese sources or the illicit arms market in Southeast Asia. Unofficial representatives of insurgent groups from Manipur and Assam are based in Ruili and other towns near Yunnans border with Myanmar, where they maintain low-level contacts with Chinese security services.

China has never publicly admitted that they are there, but in October last year, when India entered into an official trade pact with Taiwan, the authorities in Beijing hit back via its mouthpiece, Global Times. Long Xingchun, president of the Chengdu Institute of World Affairs, a think-tank administered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, wrote in an op-ed piece on Oct. 22 that once a country wants to develop official trade ties [with Taiwan], it is by no means purely a trade issueif India supports Taiwan secessionist forces, China and India will come to hostility, especially if the Indias moves [sic] force China to support secessionist forces in India as a countermeasure. Each would attack the weakness of the other.

The secessionist forces that China threatened to support would without doubt be the rebels from Indias northeast. Guns and other equipment could be smuggled through northern Myanmar, and instability there is, from an Indian point of view, a security nightmare. The aftermath of the coup has created such conditions and with a Myanmar firmly entrenched in the Chinese sphere of influence, the Tatmadaw would have no incentive to intercept arms transfers to Indias rebels.

India may be a democracy, but as Kanwal Sibal, a former Indian foreign secretary, wrote in an op-ed in the Times of India on April 13: Were not in the business of democracy promotion. Our interests come first. Without cooperation with the Myanmar military, Sibal wrote, our security issues in the Northeast will become grave affecting not only peace but also the larger geo-political eastward ambitions of India. Therefore, Sibal argued, India would have to handle the post-coup influx of refugees from Myanmar with sensitivity and preserve our capacity to engage the Myanmar military to cooperatively deal with developments on the ground.

That would include cross-border trade as well as keeping Chinese influence at bay  and China has made some important gains since the coup. On June 5, the Chinese ambassador to Myanmar, Chen Hai, met SAC chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing in Naypyitaw, becoming the first leading diplomat to do so. The meeting amounted to a de facto recognition of SAC rule and the government it has appointed.

Three days later, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with his junta-appointed Myanmar counterpart Wunna Maung Lwin, who was paying what a Chinese Embassy statement called a working visit to Chongqing in China. Chinas friendly policy towards Myanmar is not affected by changes to Myanmars domestic and external situation, the statement said, and Wang pledged to continue to support Myanmar in fighting the [COVID-19] pandemic, provide vaccines and medical supplies, help the country in public health and enhance cooperation on joint pandemic prevention and control with Myanmar in border areas. Wang failed, however, to mention that all such aid would have to go through the military and its agencies and that, so far, its the military rather than the civilian population thats benefited from Chinese assistance. Then, on Aug. 11, China announced that it will transfer over US$6 million to Myanmars military government to fund 21 development projects within the framework of the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation initiative that China has undertaken to extend its influence over Mekong River nations. The grant is said to include animal vaccines, culture, agriculture, science, disaster prevention and, curiously, tourism.

India is not the only country watching these developments with anxiety. Japan has not joined the West and introduced sanctions, or even come out to strongly condemn the killings, arrests and torture of opponents to Min Aung Hlaing and his SAC. The China factor haunts again. Yusuke Watanabe, secretary general of the Japan-Myanmar Association, wrote in The Diplomat of May 26 that shortly after the coup he found himself to be one of few foreigners in constant contact with Myanmars current de facto leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and that my enduring engagement with him underscores Japans near century-long special relationship with Myanmar, an oft-forgotten geopolitical factor crucial to resolving the present crisis as Chinas clout overshadows the future of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Seen in a broader perspective, India and Japan share the same fundamental security concerns with the United States and Australia. Those four countries are part of whats called the Quad, or the Quadrilateral Security Dialog, and have held joint naval exercises in what is seen as a response to increased Chinese economic and military power in the Indo-Pacific region. On Aug. 2, Indian authorities announced that yet another such Malabar Exercise, as they are called, will be held in the western Pacific later this year. Last years Malabar Exercise by Quad members was held in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea.

Support for Myanmar democracy may well become a victim of those geostrategic concerns. Myanmar is Chinas corridor to the Indian Ocean and if Min Aung Hlaings junta cant be dislodged from power, countries that are engaged in containing Chinese expansion may have no other choice than to find some way of cooperating with it. India can do and say so openly, Japan and Australia more quietlyand the United States would turn a blind eye when talks and other exchanges are taking place with Myanmars military.

In the old junta days, analysts such as Marvin Ott, then a professor of National Security Policy at the National War College, weighed the merits of a pragmatic approach. Ott wrote an article for the Los Angeles Times on June 9, 1997 arguing that while US Myanmar policies reflected moral outrage, condemnations and sanctions had only pushed Myanmar into Chinas orbit. Ott wrote that one side of US foreign policy could be described in terms of an idealist impulse to use policy to further American political values, notably democracy and human rights. But the other, he argued, is a geopolitical realist approach that stresses the pursuit of national interests. No one in the US has dared to voice a similar opinion today, but the longer the SAC remains in power, the more likely it will become that such views will be heard once again.

But such an approach could also be deemed to be a simplistic way of looking at a huge and complex problem. The future of the SAC is far from certain, and what would happen in the unlikely but not impossible scenario that it falls? Or if relations between the SAC and China turned sour? It is hardly a secret in military circles that Min Aung Hlaing has long been wary of the designs that Myanmars aggressive northern neighbor has on the country and feels more comfortable dealing with distant Russia. In a surprisingly candid interview with the Russian state-run TV channel Zvezda on July 2, 2020, Min Aung Hlaing said that terrorist groups active in Myanmar were backed by strong forces, which could only be China, as the Tatmadaw had in November 2019 recovered a huge cache of Chinese-made weapons from the Taang National Liberation Army, a Palaung rebel group. Russia, on the other hand, has been praised by the senior general himself as a true friend. Tacitly allowing arms to flood across the border is part of Chinas double-faced Myanmar policy: support for whatever government is in power in Naypyitaw, while maintaining close contacts with ethnic insurgent groups in northern Myanmar.

Newly imposed pandemic-motivated restrictions on cross-border activities have also angered Min Aung Hlaings government, which is eager to get the crumbling economy back on its feet. In what is said to be an effort to crack down on online fraud, China has also ordered all its citizens to leave areas in northeastern Myanmar controlled by the United Wa State Army (UWSA) and other ethnic armed groups that have de facto ceasefire agreements with the Tatmadaw. The pullout has caused serious problems in those territories, which depend on trade and other economic exchanges with China. The UWSA, by far the strongest and best-equipped ethnic armed organization in Myanmar, could therefore be a new player in the turmoil that Myanmar is going through.

For the time being, Western policy makers appear to be biding their time and playing it safe by outsourcing all the dilemmas surrounding the Myanmar issue to ASEANwhich they must know full well is a nonstarter because of the political and diplomatic impotence of the bloc. But sooner or later, the West will have to do something in order to defend its geopolitical interests in the region. And that something will depend on what happens next in China-Myanmar relations. Policies could also be determined by the outcome of ongoing internal upheavals in Myanmar. If worst comes to worst, the region could even end up having a failed state in its midst. The only thing that could be said with certainty right now is that the situation in Myanmar has not been this volatileand therefore unpredictableat any time since independence in 1948.



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US Vice Presidents Visit to SE Asia Sends Signals to ASEAN

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Guest Column US Vice Presidents Visit to SE Asia Sends Signals to ASEAN

US Vice President Kamala Harris arrives in Singapore on Sunday. / Kamala Harris Twitter

US Vice President Kamala Harris has picked the two outstanding US allies in ASEAN for her first visit to the Southeast Asian region beginning on Sunday. From the US perspective, these two countries are considered vital allies based on what they are willing to do to augment their strategic value for Washingtons objectives especially in the context of the Free and Open Indo-Pacific.

Her trip is being closely watched by all ASEAN members, especially as it comes in the days following the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban. The bloc would like to know what the US will be saying to reassure the countries in this part of the world that the US is here to stay and that its commitment would be not similar to what just happened in Afghanistan.

Singapore, the rich and sophisticated ASEAN member, wants to maintain maximum engagement with the US to make sure its security will be protected. The island republic has been pursuing a well-balanced policy towards the US and China. So far, it has an done excellent job in managing the two relationships.

Vietnam is in a more difficult position in terms of engaging the US, which has a very different political ideology. But somehow both countries have agreed to bury their unfortunate past and work together to face up to a more challenging taska rising China. From Washingtons perspective, Vietnam is the key country in ASEAN in standing up to China, and thus strengthening ties with Vietnam has become a top priority. Washington has encouraged Hanoi to join the high-end trade pact, the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership to boost its profile, which in turn strengthened the comprehensive strategic partnership. Now Vietnam, which has enjoyed a huge trade surplus, could become a new buyer of US arms.

Singapore and Vietnam have been selected carefully, just as they were on Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austins itinerary, as reliable partners in speaking out for the US. Other members such as Thailand and Indonesia are considered too meek to speak their minds. The Philippines remains an important ally of the US in the Indo-Pacific as was reaffirmed by Austins visit. He restored the Visiting Forces Agreement, which was earlier scrapped by President Rodrigo Duterte.

By showing favor towards Singapore and Vietnam, Washington is literally using the so-called salami-slicing strategy with ASEAN for which it often blamed China to divide and rule the bloc. It is an open secret that President Joe Biden is not as passionate about ASEAN as his predecessor Barack Obama. No US president will be able to match Obamas record in engagement with the regional leaders.

From now on, Singapores and Vietnams positions on regional and international issues would be carefully vetted by their ASEAN colleagues in their close ties with the US in much the same way as the rhetoric against Cambodia and its ties with China. After all, the US would like to expand the Quad to include potential ASEAN members.

In more ways than one, Harriss trip also sends a strong message to Thailand, a low-ranking US ally in the Indo-Pacific, that Bangkok had better shape up its security policy towards the US. The regions largest and most important joint Thai-US military exercise has been played down due to COVID-19 and was a non-event this year even though it was the 40th anniversary. As a superpower, the US can choose to associate with any country in the world. But the US ignores Thailand at its own peril.



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Myanmar Junta Tells Troops to Be Combat Ready at All Times

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Rohingya Without Myanmar ID Not Being Given COVID-19 Jab: Junta
Ithaca, NY (14850)

Today

Periods of rain. High 68F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Showers early, then clearing overnight. Low 52F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Beany has also announced that Julian Hutabarat CPA has been appointed General Manager, Beany Australia, as the company says it looks to hire local staff immediately to cater to the demand for its services, particularly among professional services and tradespeople.

Beany said Julian Hutabarat brings a decade of experience in leadership roles to the comany, having most recently worked as a manager for BPI Accounting Services. He holds a CPA, as well as a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com.) Degree in Accounting and Finance from the University of New South Wales.

Ive always worked with firms that had the traditional accounting process: hourly billing and a lot of compliance work, said Hutabarat.

But I always found that the traditional accounting process didnt add long term value to a business; it wasnt able to help a business project into the future.

Beany has a huge opportunity to help Australian SMEs and sole traders both in the future and today, amid the latest lockdowns which are causing undue stress to companies across the country. Not only do we reduce the burden of accountant bill shock through a stable monthly fee, but we help people apply for disaster payments quickly and without hassle at no additional costs.

Launched seven years ago in New Zealand, Beany describes itself as a unique online-only accounting firm which now counts nearly 2,000 enterprises in New Zealand as clients, positioning it among the top two per cent of accounting practices across the Tasman.

Beany says it leverages a team of experts working remotely to deliver a proactive service to its clients and has developed a unique and world-leading software solution which, during the onboarding phase, collects all the necessary information required by accountants to undertake compliance, forecasts, budgets and more for SMEs.

Sue de Bievre, CEO and founder of Beany, said the seamless process and unique software enables efficiencies which allows Beanys team of experts to spend more time proactively catering to client needs, and the software also identifies when and where a client needs assistance.

Were seeing interest among professional services and tradies for our services, as we can come in and deliver value for them rather than just being a cost to help them with compliance, she said.

Amid a protracted economic downturn, SMEs such as those in the trades, for instance, often dont have the time in the day to invoice on time, let alone register for and access schemes as disaster payments, keep up with updated taxation rates and undertake financial health checks.

We provide that to all of our clients for a stable monthly fee, which is why weve seen such quick early traction in Australia.
After the recent massive cyberattacks like SolarWinds, which focused on the software supply chain, software developers and vendors are rushing to test all software components on their supply chain.

A supply chain attack can have a ripple effect of disastrous consequences for your organization and your customers. Since attackers dont rest, it is known that the next attack is never far.

How can you prevent the next disaster? To be ahead of attackers, organizations should develop a supply chain security strategy.

Why do organizations need to focus on software supply chain security?

This past year, we saw entire infrastructures stop as a result of supply chain attacks. These types of attacks are quick and by the time you can react, the damage is done.

Supply chain attacks are very attractive for malicious actors because they offer the opportunity for a maximum exploit with minimal effort. By finding the weakest link in a supply chain, an attacker can easily move through the network, infecting every client down the line.

The success achieved with SolarWinds, Microsoft, and Colonial Pipeline encourages attackers to continue and shows that nobody is immune to this type of attack. According to Eva Velasquez, CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC), supply chain attacks, among others, show a trend that cybercriminals look to exploit multiple organizations through a single point of attack. Their report found that 137 organizations reported an attack on their supply chains through third-party vendors.

Both financially motivated criminals and state nations carry on this type of attack, and the trend is expected to escalate exponentially in 2021 according to a report by the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA).

The report brings some concerning statistics regarding supply chain attacks:

Between January 2020 and July 2021, 24 supply chain attacks were reported in Europe.

50% of the attacks are attributed to known Advanced Persistent Threat groups.

62% of attacks come via a trusted supplier.

58% of supply chain attacks had the goal to gain access to data

Image source

How to develop a strong software supply chain security strategy

Organizations need to put supply chain security attacks on the list of threats they need to protect from. Software development companies are especially at risk. An attacker compromising a piece of software due to an update can potentially compromise an entire network of clients and business associates.

Governments are planning new cybersecurity regulations. Bidens administration is implementing executive orders to secure the software supply chain and make the software bill of materials (SBOM) a mandatory requirement.

Here are four areas organizations can increase awareness and visibility into software supply chain security:

Shift security left

This approach involves baking security testing into the development lifecycle. When applied to a DevOps environment, this approach is known as DevSecOps. This method produces a fast and more secure development since security testing is carried on before sending the software to production.

Taking the leap into DevSecOps can help developers detect and fix vulnerabilities and exploitable errors early on the line. The downside of this approach is that often developers need to take on security tasks on top of their own.

Adopt Zero Trust Architecture

The executive order from the U.S government recommends that every migration to cloud technology should adopt zero trust architecture. That means implementing a security posture that assumes compromise, modernizing the capabilities for a proactive threat detection and response approach.

Leverage tools for vulnerability detection

The fast pace of DevSecOps requires securing the pipeline without slowing down. With the new guidelines coming to support supply chain security, organizations need to leverage automated tools.

Developers can use automated tools to detect malicious packages and new software supply chain security risks, such as dependency confusion vulnerabilities. Automation can also help organizations streamline processes like the creation of software bills of materials.

Include third parties in security strategies

You should search along your supply chain and identify which are your critical clients. Assess their security maturity and require that all systems are updated and patched. Procurers, on their side, should identify critical technology vendors and demand a consistent patching policy. By involving all stakeholders in security strategies, you reduce the chance of weak links.

Develop a transparent Software Bill of Materials

Understanding the components of your software is key to preventing attacks. Because most software developed these days contains open source components, you cannot have a transparent bill of materials if you cannot identify the origin of all these. The software bill of materials is not only a requirement, but a necessary step to keep software secure for you and for your clients.

Securing the Software Supply Chain is a Matter of All Stakeholders

Nobody is immune to a supply chain attack, from vendors to the latest distributor or client. Preventing supply chain attacks requires a coordinated approach along the entire supply chain to improve their individual security posture. By integrating security as early as possible into the development process, securing the origin of the software, and ensuring there are no weak spots in the chain, we can make the attackers tasks more difficult.

About the author:

*Daan Smit is a Dutch-born writer who lives in Asia. Developing feature articles, global news & technology pieces. His work explores issues related to business psychology, data science, and cyber security.

Editorial Note: The opinions are the author's and are not necessarily the opinions of iTWire.
GUEST OPINION by Joe Slowik, Gigamon Principal Security Engineer, Applied Threat Research: Data exfiltration exists as a cornerstone of malicious cyber operations, yet its nature and impact have changed significantly in recent years. Historically, adversaries linked to state sponsors or similar activities would engage in data theft to further goals of industrial espionage or intellectual property theft.

More recently, adversaries have engaged in exfiltration, based not on the value of the data to themselves or their sponsors, but rather on the desire of victims to not have such data exposed.

The result is an ecosystem of exfiltration and disclosure for either monetary or hacktivist purposes, where the malicious party seeks to damage, or threaten damage, to the victim.

Network owners, operators and defenders must work to ensure controls are in place to detect, mitigate, or outright block such activity given potential costs.

Exfiltration impacts

On its face, exfiltration appears less concerning than other cyber-nexus impacts such as network disruption. While data exfiltration typically has some immediate impact on an organisation, long-term hazards may make loss of sensitive data even more destructive than an especially virulent ransomware incident.

Three primary risks adhere to data loss or exfiltration events:

Loss of sensitive data or intellectual property, which can place an organisation at a competitive disadvantage or even induce regulatory risk in the case of sensitive customer or client data.

Damage to an organisations reputation following a publicised incident, including, but not limited, to public relations work to reduce impacts and long-term association with a major, high-profile data loss event.

Opening up the organisation to extortion by actors who extract data, then threaten to publish it absent payment or some other action.

The first case constitutes the typical focus of data loss concern, as this relates to incidents ranging from state-sponsored industrial espionage to criminal entities attempting to steal banking or personal information. The second adheres to all (publicly revealed or acknowledged) exfiltration incidents, and forms a difficult-to-quantify cost that may take years to overcome. The third is a relatively recent development that aligns with emerging trends in double-extortion ransomware and similar criminal activity, although such tactics possess a longer history among politically motivated hacktivist entities.

Overall, while risks are significant, their quantification and time to manifestation are typically unclear, making these items hard to assess. Theft of intellectual property may have impacts felt only years (or decades) after the action takes place, while potential reputational losses may be impossible to adequately quantify under any circumstance.

Yet given an increase in both hacktivist and especially ransomware operations incorporating data leak or data extortion activities, data exfiltration activity is rapidly becoming a more acute and immediate issue than in years past. Thus, network defenders and operators must align defences in such a fashion to identify and potentially even prevent such activity where appropriate.

Identifying exfiltration behaviours

Exfiltration activity would be expected to be noisy and relatively easy to spot, given the movement of large amounts of data to new or unfamiliar sources. Yet even making this determination requires a combination of network visibility and active network monitoring such that most organisations either lack insight into such behaviours, or such activities blend in sufficiently with legitimate activity so as to produce significant noise in detections.

Further, adversaries of various types employ multiple techniques to minimise visibility and evade detection, either through obfuscation or blending in with other actions. Examples include:

Using legitimate third-party services, such as cloud backup systems or web-based storage, as destinations for leaked data. Examples range from common items such as Google Drive and Dropbox to more specialised products such as an ecosystem of items related to the Mega.io service.

Tunnelling traffic over non-HTTP services or using alternative protocols for large data transfer that might not be monitored with the same level of scrutiny.

Dividing data into smaller pieces for exfiltration to avoid abnormally large traffic flows leaving the network.

Although all of these are concerning, none is impossible to detect. Rather, defenders can employ a combination of monitoring for more general traffic pattern anomalies along with specific identification of certain techniques or behaviours to detect this type of activity. Even in cases where data is encoded or encrypted, or where visibility into network activity is somewhat limited, access to datasets such as network flow provides a number of possibilities to flag suspicious operations.

At the most general level, identification of suspicious network flows represents a potentially powerful technique for identifying exfiltration activity. Aside from just looking for large data flows, with large likely dependent upon the normal operations and expectations within the monitored network, identification of directionality and upload/download ratios are necessary enrichments to accurately leverage flow monitoring.

For example, a large flow may just be indicative of a long-running, data-rich connection such as streaming, remote access or related activity. However, when also looking at directionality and data ratios, identifying large flows where the majority of data (8090 percent) leaves the network can flag a large upload session. While there may certainly be legitimate use cases for such activity, such as sharing large project files or datasets, these flows may also be indicative of data loss or other unauthorised activity.

The situation becomes even more powerful when combined with an analytic approach to network connections. Identifying not just anomalous, outbound flows but connecting these to new, previously unobserved or suspicious network infrastructure enables powerful detection possibilities.

For example, linking a suspicious outbound flow to new network infrastructure or a virtual private server (VPS) instance (such as Linode, DigitalOcean, or a similar provider) can identify activity of concern. Extending further, the same logic can also be applied to nonstandard connections (like external FTP or other protocols) to unknown or untrusted destinations to identify potential exfiltration activity.

While these strategies are effective in identifying when an exfiltration event occurs, they are lacking in that such approaches are fundamentally backward looking. In other words, these items will identify exfiltration as or shortly after it actually takes place.

This can be of value to alert organisations that something is wrong, thus enabling response and mitigation operations and reducing time to detection and time to response metrics. Yet ideally defenders and their respective employers would be able to

Whole of kill chain defence

Preventing exfiltration requires a whole of Cyber Kill Chain perspective with respect to network monitoring and defence. In this scenario, defenders look for overall adversary intrusion pathways and dependencies to identify necessary precursors (initial access, lateral movement, data collection, and data staging) prior to data leaving the network.

Through a critical examination of what an adversary requires to succeed, we can begin implementing more general controls across both host and network capabilities to defeat not just exfiltration operations but a variety of intrusions.

At minimum, identifying likely adversary ingress mechanisms and either monitoring them closely or implementing controls to reduce attack surface can significantly reduce the likelihood of a threat actor gaining access to the environment.

Relevant controls include patching external-facing systems, reducing available services from external access, limiting traffic types inbound to the network, and monitoring sensitive activity such as remote administration or access sessions.

Many organisations focus on these steps as a means to reduce risk, but true layered defence requires going beyond the network boundary to ensure coverage across subsequent adversary actions as well.

Given a near-infinite number of possible initial access mechanisms available to adversaries, as well as the possibility of subverting systems or users even when items are patched or otherwise monitored, defence must extend into internal network traffic flows and host items.

Defenders must identify lateral movement techniques and their artifacts across both network and host behaviours. While increasing adoption of endpoint defence and response (EDR) products covers host-centric observations, investment in East-West traffic visibility and monitoring is essential to capture adversary traversal of defended networks.

Implemented together, these items can ensure coverage of adversary operations ranging from opportunistic criminal actors to focused hacktivists to state-sponsored threats.

Overall, defenders need to combine an understanding of adversary behaviours and tendencies (such as through production or ingestion of cyber threat intelligence) to first determine how adversaries operate and what techniques are relevant in intrusion operations. Once determined, a combination of EDR and network defence and response (NDR) must be employed to ensure layered detection and monitoring and cover any potential gaps in visibility that adversaries may attempt to use to their advantage.

Data exfiltration is increasingly incorporated into the actions of a variety of threats, from criminals to hacktivists to state-directed intrusions. Through the application and monitoring of robust network controls, defenders and asset owners can ensure awareness of such behaviours when they occur, allowing for quicker response and potentially event mitigation.

Defenders cannot focus solely on detecting anomalous outbound data flows. Instead, robust defence requires identifying adversary actions across all phases of intrusion operations. Once understood, defenders can implement network and host controls or visibility to cover each step of an intrusion.

Only through this robust, defence-in-depth approach can defenders ensure not just awareness of potential malicious activity (including but not limited to data exfiltration operations), but also enable possible intrusion interdiction or disruption when actions are caught early in the adversarys lifecycle.

While neither easy nor inexpensive, defence against modern cyber threats, from ransomware operations to data exfiltration for a variety of purposes, demands such investment to ensure defenders keep pace with a rapidly evolving threat landscape.
Xgimi is a projector brand that you'll find on sale at online stores like Amazon, Catch, Dick Smith, Mobileciti and a number of Australian computer resellers in a range of form factors, with the company's latest model the XHMI Elfin.

Xgimi. It's a Chinese brand founded in late 2013 that is working hard to become a global leader, according to China Daily, with The Verge stating "importantly, the projectors that Xgimi is making for Western markets in 2021 are light-years ahead of what it started selling (in Western markets) back in 2016."

The company's website shows a range of available models, with its newest being the Xgimi Elfin, a portable projector 5cm tall weighing just 0.9kg, able to project Full HD images up to an impressive 200-inches in size, with a brightness of 800 ANSI Lumens, featuring DTS and DOLBY Audio sound via Harmon Kardon speakers, featuring Android TV 10.0 with Google Play, built-in Chromecasting, HDR10+, Google Assistant, a low-latency mode for gaming, anti-scratch lens protection and more.

In Australia, the price is AUD $999 (US $649) via Amazon, with Xgimi promoting its new projector as perfect for use anywhere - the bedroom, meeting room, living room or anywhere you want to go.

Unlike many of Xgimi's vertically standing models, the Elfin is in the more traditional horizontal configuration you expect from projectors - a square with rounded corners.

Here's the official Xgimi Elfin product video:

The Harmon Kardon speakers are 2 x 3W models, which we're told have been specifically designed for the Elfin for"powerful audio performance that delivers deep bass, wide soundstage, and a vivid sound - perfect to watch movies, play video games or stream content."

The Elfin features Xgimis "proprietary Auto Keystone Correction and Auto Focus technology to optimise the user experience, using AI-powered image correction technology," which means it can "instantly optimise screen size and avoid obstacles like plugs and picture frames, reducing the stress of setting up the projector."

The company explains this is "the closest the consumer can get to a plug and play experience in portable projection."





Naturally, the onboard Android TV UI means users have "instant access to all their favourite streaming apps so they can stay on top of their favorite content seamlessly between devices."

Tex Yang, chief marketing officer at Xgimi said: "We are excited to release a versatile projector that addresses the needs of our more mobile and younger users. The Elfin delivers a fresh style more comparable to the current sleek personal electronics devices on the market and is made to slide in your bag as easily as a laptop."

In recent years, XGIMI has won international awards such as CES Best Innovation Award, iF Design Awards, Red Dot Design Award, and Good Design Award 31 times.

More information on the Xgimi Elfin is here, and the Amazon page is here.
Paul Baron has been involved with Melbourne Angels since 2018. He established Melbourne Angel's Angel in Residence program with a range of co-working spaces and remains Angel in Residence at Inspire9.

Baron is a full-time advisor, startup investor and consultant. He is currently and advisor to YouLivetoTravel, a consultant to Sentient Vision Systems and Sentient Bionics, an advisory board member at Navii Digital, and a non-executive director at 3DM Biomedical.

Melbourne Angels' more than 90 members together invest between $2 million and $3 million in early-stage start-ups every year.

"We will continue to focus on growing and educating our angel investment community and our work to streamline and demystify our activities both to founders and future angel investors" said Baron.

"I love sharing my passion for start-ups. Some people start share portfolios - for me I started a portfolio of start-up companies to create something that wasn't there before, something which I could be engaged with, which I could add value to, something that would create jobs and make the world a better place."

"I was thrilled when Jillian was appointed as vice president. She is a passionate advocate for start-ups. Her honest, direct and authentic approach has made her a highly valued member of Melbourne Angels. Her work on the screening team has been outstanding and I know many founders have appreciated her feedback and advice in pitching for investment."

Jillian Zsidy is a self-described start-up addict, as well as being an Agile project delivery professional at ANZ Bank.

She previously held technical roles at Telstra, Gadfly, and NAB, as well as marketing roles at Megatech and Kanbay.

Patricia Boyce, a director of Seed Advisory, has joined the Melbourne Angels management team, replacing Jonathan Tooth who stood down this year to focus on his work but remains an active member of the group.

Founder and long-time president Jordan Green moves into the role of president emeritus.

"Jordan Green's contribution and service to the group as both founder and president for 15 years has been outstanding" said Baron.

"Jordan has an international reputation as a knowledgeable and influential thought leader. He has an unmatched network across angel groups and a long list of achievements and successes over his years of service but perhaps what he is best known for amongst Melbourne Angels is his generosity with his time and energy helping and advising both founders and investors."
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.
Services for Robert Kesinger, 67, of Alto Will be Thursday August 26th at 10am at the O.T. Allen and Son Chapel. Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the funeral home. Interment will follow services at Old Palestine Cemetery in Alto. Robert Kesinger was born May 18th, 1954 in Rus
Caste Census of India: PM    CM    , -     

Caste Census of India            - 10                               

,  /  Caste Census of India   (Caste Census)            11    -     11       (CM Nitish Kumar)       (PM Narendra Modi)                  (BJP)                    (RJD)        (Tejashwi Yadav)                              

    ,     

                                     2018  :  2020                                             

                       -    ,       ?                ?            ,                  

  -       

     (JDU)        (Vijay Kumar Chaudhary)      (HAM)     (Jitan Ram Manjhi)     (VIP)         (Mukesh Sahani)                                      (CPI ML)         ,    (CPI)     ,    (CPM)          (Congress)             (AIMIM)     

         

      (Monsoon Session of Bihar Assembly)                                           

         

       (Home Minister Nityanand Rai)                                (Dy. CM Tarkishore Prasad)       ,                                          




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NEOSHO, MO - Paul Dean Hughes, 89, passed away Saturday, August 28, 2021. Services will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday at McQueen Funeral Home, Wheaton, MO. Visitation is 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
Joshua Holzer is an assistant professor of political science at Westminster College in Fulton. He is a five-year veteran of the U.S. Army. This column originally appeared in the Missouri Indendent.
Coventry has more than 800 Eversource customers without power, while most of the rest of Nor

RAINFALL BY TOWN

The following rainfall totals were reported by spotters for the National Weather Service this morning, although the precise times of the observations varied. Where there were several observations in a town, only the highest is listed here.

COVENTRY: 1.26 INCHES

EAST HARTFORD: 3.57 INCHES

ENFIELD: 2.66 INCHES

GLASTONBURY: 3.98 INCHES

HEBRON: 4.41 INCHES

MANCHESTER: 5 INCHES

SOMERS: 2.2 INCHES

STAFFORD: 1.62 INCHES

SUFFIELD: 3.21 INCHES

VERNON: 3.87 INCHES

WINDSOR LOCKS: 3.18 INCHES
Opinion Columnist

Chris Powell has worked for the Journal Inquirer since 1967, first as a reporter, then as an editor, and now as a columnist. He was managing editor from 1974 until retiring from that position in 2018.
Reporter

Susan covers the towns of Somers and Ellington. She joined the JI in May 2021 and graduated from Skidmore College. She recently completed docent training for the Wadsworth Atheneum and hopes to start giving tours some time next year.
Jailed Bolivian ex-president Jeanine Anez was in stable condition Sunday after she tried to kill herself when prosecutors charged her with genocide over 2019 protesters deaths, an official said.

Anez, 54, made an attempt on her life due to severe depression due to her prolonged imprisonment, said her daughter, Carolina Ribera.

We can say, without a doubt, that her health is stable, Juan Carlos Limpias, director of prisons, told reporters.

At the moment, she is with her family in the penitentiary. The family will be an important factor to help improve her state of mind, he added.

Bolivian officials had announced Anez tried to harm herself, with Interior Minister Eduardo del Castillo saying she had suffered only scratches on her arm early Saturday and is in stable condition.

The opposition deplored the governments treatment of Anez and called for her release.

Former centrist president Carlos Mesa said official explanations of her injury were not serious and demanded an end to her political jailing.

Anezs family has repeatedly asked the government to transfer her to a hospital for treatment of hypertension and other conditions.

The conservative Anez came to power in November 2019 after then-president Evo Morales resigned and fled the country following weeks of violent protests over his controversial re-election to an unconstitutional fourth term.

The specific accusation against Anez relates to two incidents in November 2019 in which a total 22 people died.

Attorney General Juan Lanchipa said Friday he had presented documents against her in which the incidents were provisionally classified as genocide, serious and minor injury and injury followed by death.

After Morales resigned, Anez, as the most senior parliamentarian left, was sworn in as interim president, but her political opponents denounced this as a coup.

Under Anezs administration, Bolivia held peaceful, transparent elections in October 2020 in which Moraless leftist protege Luis Arce won a landslide victory.

Arce subsequently vowed to pursue those he accused of staging a coup.

Anez, arrested in March on accusations of leading a coup, also faces charges of terrorism, sedition and conspiracy.

Bolivias opposition has decried the lack of separation of powers in the country, saying the courts, electoral body and public prosecutors office are all loyal to leftist president Arce.
The phenomenon of slavery in Mauritania persists in a mental, ideological, religious and customary way in all the ethnic groups that make up the Mauritanian people, Biram Dah Abeid told Justice Info. This opposition MP and two-time unsuccessful presidential candidate is one of the best-known anti-slavery activists in Mauritania. Arabs and Berbers still practice hardcore slavery, says this descendant of a slave, who chairs the Initiative for the Resurgence of the Abolitionist Movement (IRA).

According to the Global Slavery Index published by the Walk Free Foundation, 90,000 people were living in modern slavery in Mauritania in 2018, or 2.4 percent of the population, while 62 percent were vulnerable to this type of slavery. Local associations accuse the government of not allowing a census of slaves and say these figures are far from reflecting the full extent of the phenomenon.

Children risk being sold

The Haratine community is the most enslaved. Haratines are domestic slaves by descent, so they are attached to the family of their masters, for whom they worked continuously without pay and suffer corporal punishment, explains Dah Abeid. The fate of female slaves is the hardest. Women and girls are raped from the time they are young by the master, the masters son, the masters cousin or neighbour, or a passing stranger; they are also objects of sexual apprenticeship for the children of the overlords, says the activist. The children of these slave women, whose biological fathers are rarely identified, are likely to be rented out, pledged, sold or given by the mothers owner to whomever he wishes. According to the so-called religious law that codifies slavery, slave status is transmitted through the mothers line.

Arabs and Berbers, where a family can own up to 50 slaves, consider themselves white and noble, while black is synonymous with slave, he says. Because of their long history, these black-skinned Haratines speak Hassania (Mauritanian Arabic), the language of their white masters.

Alongside the Haratines and their masters, there are those known as Negro-Mauritanians or Afro-Mauritanians. They are Wolof, Soninke, or Fulani, and their mother tongues are African languages rather than Arabic. Among them, slaves and masters are all black. But here too, slaves are subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment and abuse, says Dah Abeid.

The headache of civil status

According to El Kory Sneiba, communications officer at the Mauritanian NGO SOS Esclaves, even if they manage to escape from the clutches of their masters, former slaves still face a host of difficulties related to civil status. It is a real headache for them, the activist told Justice Info as his association prepared to hold an awareness-raising day on this subject in Nouakchott on August 16. This is a very urgent issue. The conditions for access to civil status are practically impossible for slaves. Its a serious problem that can threaten social cohesion and there is a chilling imbalance. Hundreds of thousands of people are unable to register. If someone is not registered, he or she does not exist as a citizen, and cannot access any rights, including education, El Kory Sneiba told the local newspaper Cridem at the close of the conference.

Window dressing

Slavery has been officially abolished in Mauritania since 1981, and a September 2007 law provided for a penalty of five to ten years imprisonment for slaveholders. The same law punishes public officials and judges who fail to assist slaves, as well as complicity in slavery and its glorification.

In August 2015, a new law was passed. It qualifies slavery as a crime against humanity and increases jail sentences to between 10 and 20 years. The new text creates specialized jurisdictions. It allows, in theory, compensation for victims and grants recognized NGOs the right to denounce cases of slavery, to assist victims in court and act as civil parties.

These legislative advances are just window dressing, says activist El Kory Sneiba, who thinks the specialized chambers do not do their job, or do it badly. These laws are there to please the international community. There is no real political will to abolish slavery. Mauritania is one of the last bastions of the dehumanization of human beings, adds Fatimata Mbaye, president of the Mauritanian Association for Human Rights (AMDH). Mbaye, the first female lawyer in her country, defended Dah Abeid when his anti-slavery activities landed him in prison.

This analysis is shared by their Western partners, including Jean-Marc Pelenc, president of IRA-France. These laws were passed under international pressure and are not being applied at all, he says. They are only there to provide Mauritania with some diplomatic cover on this issue.

Biram Dah Abeid (centre) on his release from prison. A finalist in the 2014 presidential election, he was sentenced to two years in prison for disturbing public order following an anti-slavery demonstration.  STR / AFP

Complicity of the elite

Over the past 15 years, several complaints have been filed for crimes of enslavement. But instead of using the law to pursue those who committed the crimes, very often the Mauritanian authorities go after the complainants, the victims and the anti-slavery activists, in order to arrest them, torture them, demonize them and sentence them, says Dah Abeid.

In the rare cases where the state agrees to take up a slavery case, it is only to distort the facts and absolve the criminals, he adds. There is clear group complicity between the judges, judicial police officers and the criminals, because they all come from the same aristocratic groups that dominate the country.

In a joint report to the UN Human Rights Council in February 2021, the Association of Women Family Leaders (AFCF), SOS Esclaves, Anti-slavery International (ASI), International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) and Minority Rights Group International (MRGI) wrote: Several slavery cases brought to the attention of the authorities have been reclassified as labour disputes, exploitation of minors, or have been resolved through out-of-court settlements. This technique of reclassification has resulted in denying the criminal significance of these cases and discouraging legal action by victims. In the few cases where slavery claims are successful, procedures and deadlines are rarely followed. The unexplained delays in proceedings underscore an unwillingness to expose slave masters to criminal liability.

Victims encouraged to withdraw complaints

In its 2021 Trafficking in Persons Report, the US State Department reports that during 2020, some police, prosecutors, and investigative judges reportedly refused to investigate and try cases of hereditary slavery or to acknowledge that hereditary slavery continued to occur. According to the report, some prosecutors encouraged victims to withdraw their complaints in exchange for modest financial compensation. One of the three specialized chambers  in Nouadhibou  sentenced three slave traders to 20 years in prison and acquitted a fourth for lack of evidence. Of the three that were sentenced, only one is in jail; the other two were tried in absentia. These were unrealistic judgments, according to Dah Abeid, who says that in other trials, sentences had been handed down to dead people.

For the first time in late 2017, the African Union deemed the Mauritanian government to be in violation of its obligation to protect children from slavery. This was in response to a complaint filed to its Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (CAEDBE) by SOS Esclaves, on behalf of two young brothers who were victims of slavery, Sais Ould Salem and Yarg Ould Salem. However, even if the authorities have implemented some of the recommendations made by the Committee regarding the two brothers, such as social and educational care and the delivery of identity documents, most of the recommendations regarding the care and liberation of all children in slavery have gone unheeded, said SOS Esclaves and its international partner organizations.

Lip service to indignation

On January 29 before the UN Human Rights Council, Commissioner for Human Rights and Humanitarian Action Mohamed El Hassen Boukhreiss, who led the Mauritanian delegation, tried to brush aside the criticism. According to the delegate, the capacity of the courts specialized in the fight against slavery practices has been strengthened by a significant increase in financial allocations and human resource support. He said judicial activity in this area had intensified and courts had begun to adjudicate pending cases and render judicial decisions involving sentences ranging from one year to 20 years in jail with reparations for the victims.

During the discussions, some delegations expressed indignation at the persistence of slavery practices. For example, the United Kingdom recommended that Nouakchott redouble its efforts to end all forms of slavery and discrimination, particularly those based on caste or ethnicity. In the same vein, the US urged Mauritania to intensify efforts to investigate, prosecute, and sentence slaveholders to appropriate prison terms.

State slavery

But activists want a tougher stance against Nouakchott. Slavery is organised in Mauritania, says Pelenc. It is actually State slavery, State racism. Everyone is concerned, the diplomatic corps is informed, many books have been published on the subject but there is no action, no one has the courage to bang on the table.

Judith Abitan, Executive Director of the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, agrees. This reality can be likened to an unwritten apartheid that results in the systematic economic exclusion of the black community and the continuation of ancestral slavery practices. Based in Canada, the Centre is involved in the defence of Mauritanian anti-slavery activists.

Stronger pressure is needed so that the Mauritanian state makes a clear declaration of its will to truly abolish slavery, agrees Sneiba of SOS Esclaves. It is only then that judges, police and gendarmerie will deal with slavery cases in accordance with existing laws, without reclassifying them as child labour or forced labour. He says what is needed is not only rigorous application of the laws but also a policy of taking care of former slaves.
Rights groups voiced outrage on Monday that a draft resolution on Afghanistan before the UNs top rights body fails to order an international investigation into rights abuses in the war-shattered country.

The UN Human Rights Council will discuss the text during a special session on Tuesday requested just days after the Taliban took effective control of Afghanistan on August 15.

There had been calls for the council to establish an international fact-finding mission to assess the situation on the ground and seek to document violations, including war crimes and crimes against humanity, with the view to ensuring accountability.

But the text presented on Monday by Pakistan, as the coordinator of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, only makes a reference to the need for an investigation, and stops short of ordering an international probe.

The text recommends the weakest possible response, Patricia Gossman, an associate Asia director for Human Rights Watch, said in a statement.

For Afghan human rights defenders and womens rights activists who are watching in horror as the rule of law crumbles around them, the draft resolution is more of an insult than a response.

 Need for robust mechanism 

The text, which does not mention the Taliban, does stress the need for transparent and prompt investigation into reports of all violations and abuses and to hold those responsible to account.

It also calls for an immediate ceasefire, expresses grave concerns over violations and abuses in the country, and calls for full respect of human rights of all Afghan citizens, women, children and minorities.

And it calls for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet to draft a report on the situation in the country in time for the councils main annual session next March.

Nasir Ahmad Andisha, the Afghan ambassador to the UN in Geneva appointed under the now collapsed government of ex-president Ashraf Ghani, made clear that he wanted to see stronger action.

The need for a robust mechanism is clear, he told an organisational meeting ahead of the special session.

Afghanistan was along with Pakistan behind the request for Tuesdays session, but its decision to join forces with the very diverse OIC had from the start made it unlikely the draft resolution could go as far as it would have liked, diplomats said.

Pakistans Ambassador Khalil Hashmi insisted during Mondays meeting the importance of ensuring that the rights body speak with one voice in solidarity with the people of Afghanistan, and said he hoped the resolution would pass by consensus.

A number of countries who otherwise would have pushed for the resolution to go further had held back for fear that a stronger response could potentially anger the Taliban and jeopardise the desperately needed access for evacuations from the country, according to several diplomatic sources.

Some diplomats also voiced hope that more forceful action could be taken next month during a scheduled regular council session.

The council holds three regular sessions each year, but can hold special sessions if at least a third of its 47 members  16 of them  support the idea.

The request for Tuesdays special session has so far been supported by nearly 100 countries, including 29 council members.

It will mark the 31st special session of the top UN rights body since its creation 15 years ago.
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Good morning.This article is our live version First FT communication.Register our Asia, Europe/Africa or America Version so that it will be sent directly to your inbox every working day morning.You can contact us in the following ways [email protected]

The Pentagon says it has ordered American Civil Airlines Helped to move Afghan refugees from US bases in the Middle East, because Western troops worked hard to evacuate people from the country a week after the Taliban regained control.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin launched the civilian reserve air force fleet to provide commercial aircraft to support evacuation from temporary shelters, allowing military aircraft to focus on entering and exiting Kabul International Airport.

American airlines including American Airlines, Atlas Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Omni Air and Hawaiian Airlines will provide a total of 18 aircraft. The Pentagon says.

Yesterday, thousands of Afghans who wanted to leave the country were still crowded around Kabul International Airport, but were unable to enter the area controlled by the US military. A NATO official said that in the past seven days, at least 20 people have died inside and outside the airport.

What has changed in the past two years? Since the Taliban went out of control in 2001, the fertility rate has fallen, womens education levels have increased, and mobile phone users have surged. Here are 10 charts This shows that living conditions in Afghanistan have improved.

The female voice that has flourished over the past 20 years must still be celebrated, Enuma Daro. To follow the latest news in Afghanistan, please visit Fortis.

There are five more stories in the news

1. The Prime Minister of Sweden will step down in November Stefan Lofven Unexpected announcement He will step down in three months, triggering political turmoil before next years elections.During his seven-year tenure, Lowen dealt with two major crises-the refugee wave in 2015 and COVID-19 pandemicThe lack of formal blockade in Sweden during this period made it an outlier.

Stefan Lofven stated that he hopes his party will be led by a new leader before the elections in September next year  Henrik Montgomery/TT/AFP/Getty



2. Merkel resolved Ukraines concerns about Beixi 2 This pipeline will transport Russian natural gas to Western Europe in the Baltic Sea and is of particular importance. Concern for KievIf Moscow cuts supplies through Ukraine, it will lose $2 billion in transit revenue. If Russia uses this natural gas pipeline as a weapon, we will adopt new sanctions, the German Chancellor told the Ukrainian President.

3. England turned to China and Russia Boris Johnson hopes to focus on long-term solutions to the Afghanistan crisis and acknowledges that after the U.S. retreat, China and Russia are now Important participant In the area. As the chairman of the Group of Seven, the British Prime Minister will hold talks, including arrangements for the evacuation of Western and Afghan citizens.

4. The UK rejects industry requests for EU truck driver visas Ministers have Refused The industry calls for allowing EU immigrants to fill the huge gap in the labor market for British truck drivers. However, the British government is willing to consider increasing training for Britons who wish to become porters.

5. Climate models predict more frequent extreme high temperatures If greenhouse gas emissions continue to grow, the heat wave will become longer and more intense. This effect may be particularly noticeable in the southern hemisphere, New model show.

read more: Human beings are on the brink of disaster. But with creative thinking and collective will, we may still have time to avoid disasters, Kim Stanley Robinson wrote.

Coronavirus Digest

AstraZeneca Will seek regulatory approval Its antibody cocktail After a study showed that the drug significantly reduced the risk of symptomatic Covid-19.

The cinema hopes to recover from the survival crisis Covid delayed blockbuster, Such as the latest James Bond movie.

Global inventory records Their worst week Since June, market sentiment has been severely suppressed by concerns about the slowdown in the economic rebound and the imminent reduction of the US stimulus plan.

Tim Harford asked: Will the Covid-19 regulations continue to exist? Register here For us Coronavirus business update communication.

the day before

vaccine all 16 and 17 years old Their first dose of coronavirus vaccine will be provided by today. British Health Secretary Sajid Javid said that this date will allow young people to build immunity two weeks before school starts.

Kamala Harris The Vice President of the United States arrived in Southeast Asia yesterday. Harris will meet with the President and Prime Minister of Singapore today and will stop at Changi Naval Base.She will seek Strengthen the relationship Partners with regions dominated by Chinas economic and political influence. (CNN)

What are we still reading

Taiwanese are dismissive of Chinas threats In the past year, China has taken a more belligerent stance against Taiwan, threatening to invade the territory if Taipei refuses to submit indefinitely.Patrols and military exercises ExacerbatedWhat shocked the United States was that the United States said that China might launch an attack on Taiwan within six years. But on the land of Taiwan, No sign of panic.

How U.S. payment groups ended up on the wrong side of Indias plan In India, 20% of the population does not have a bank account, and only 3% of the population has a credit card, which creates a huge opportunity for financial services.Indian policymakers have been trying to reduce the economys dependence on cash, but Strict data storage rules Stumble over overseas companies hoping to expand in large growth markets.

Olympian Krystsina Tsimanouskaya recounted her escape experience After a dispute with the Belarusian sports authorities, officials of the countrys authoritarian regime tried to tie the 24-year-old sprinter to a plane returning from the Tokyo Olympics. With the help of a translation app, Tsimanouskaya fled Japan to seek asylum in Poland, where she now lives under 24-hour protection.This is what she told the Financial Times About her escape.

I was thinking, what should I do if I cant find the police? Should I tear up my passport? Start running? she recalled.

High-profile rape accusations revive Chinas #MeToo movement The anti-harassment movement gradually faded until a pop star and former Alibaba manager were Public accusationsBut feminist activists warned that the ruling Communist Party of China remains vigilant against large-scale feminist radicalism, and that feminism continues to be subject to censorship and nationalist attacks.

How the Myanmar coup fueled the drug trade Thai police seized 1,000 kilograms of methamphetamine under the observation of officials and analysts Drug trafficking rises And addictive alert.They said the drugs came from neighboring Myanmar, which has been spun into Into political chaos And the civil war since the military takeover.

travel

Five water adventures Spot jaguars on the Peruvian Amazon, heli-ski in Greenland, extreme fly fishing in Patagonia, or just relax on Paxos: wherever you are, Do it from the boat.

The Halas 71 ship will carry more than three thousand years of Turkish history, including the Blue Mosque in Istanbul


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The author is the President of the IMF

On Monday, the member countries of the International Monetary Fund $650 billion Special drawing rights allocation The largest in the history of the fund. This injection of new international reserve assets marks a milestone in our collective ability to deal with unprecedented crises.

In 2009, during the global financial crisis, the US$250 billion SDR allocation helped restore market confidence. This time, as the world continues to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, special drawing rights become more important. The additional liquidity will enhance confidence and the resilience of the global economy.

Special drawing rights can help countries with weak reserves to reduce their dependence on more expensive domestic or foreign debt. For countries that desperately need to increase social spending, invest in recovery and respond to climate threats, they provide valuable additional resources.

However, it is crucial to use these SDRs as effectively as possible  accountable and transparent, and flow as much as possible to the countries that need them most.

So how can we make the most of the new allocation?

First, through the rapid provision of special drawing rights to member states. Special drawing rights are allocated in proportion to the IMFs shares and are closely related to the economic scale of a country. About $275 billion flows to emerging and developing countries. Low-income countries receive approximately $21 billionin some cases more than 6% of GDP.

Fragile states will be able to use the new special drawing rights to support their economies and strengthen the fight against the virus and its variants. Combined with grants from the international community and other necessary support, this will help achieve the goal of vaccinating at least 40% of each countrys population by the end of 2021 and at least 60% of the population by the first half of 2022.

Second, every effort should be made to ensure that special drawing rights are used for the benefit of member states and the global economy. How to make the best use of them depends on the IMF members. They can hold it as part of official reserves, or use it by converting it into U.S. dollars, euros, or other reserve currencies.

Respected

However, although this is a sovereign decision, it must be cautious and well-informed. The fund will work with its members to help ensure accountability and transparency.

We are providing a framework for evaluating the macroeconomic impact of the new allocation, its statistical processing and governance, and how it might affect debt sustainability. The fund will regularly provide the latest information on all special drawing rights transactions and provide follow-up reports on its use within two years.

Third, as the pandemic has led to an increasingly divergent economic fortune, we need to further ensure that more special drawing rights go to those who need it most. This is why the IMF encourages countries with good external conditions to voluntarily provide special drawing rights to the poorest and most vulnerable countries.

By expanding the impact of new allocations, redirecting SDRs can help those most in need, while reducing the risk of social and economic instability that could affect us all.

The good news is that we can build on the progress made so far. In the past 16 months, some wealthy member countries have pledged to provide a total of US$24 billion in loans to the IMFs Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust Fund, including US$15 billion from existing Income countries provide preferential loans. We hope to see further support for PRGT from the new Special Drawing Rights.

The IMF is also in contact with its members about possible new resilience and sustainability trusts that can use special drawing rights to help poor and fragile countries in structural transformation, including Climate-related challengesAnother possibility is to direct special drawing rights to support loans from multilateral development banks.

Of course, SDR is not a panacea. They must become part of the broader collective action plan of national and international institutions. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the IMF has played its role by providing approximately US$117 billion in new IMF financing to 85 countries and debt relief to 29 low-income countries. The fund has also joined forces with the World Bank, the World Health Organization and the World Trade Organization to promote the urgent task of global vaccination.

The poet Robert Frost wrote The Way Not Taken. As the world strives to build a more resilient future, we now have a unique opportunity to take the right path. We in the IMF pledge to do our utmost to ensure that this historic allocation of special drawing rights is used wisely and played a role in promoting a strong and sustainable global recovery.




Merit Award-2021 Healthcare Design Showcase

CallisonRTKL collaborated with Saint Francis Health System to design and brand their outpatient model and experience. Our team has developed a modular clinic prototype design that takes the traditional model from the inside out and makes it easy to adapt to different locations around Tulsa in various configurations.

Taking advantage of this modular design, the unique on-stage/off-stage approach promotes collaboration through a comprehensive employee family team area, while providing patients with privacy and breathing opportunitiesenhancing the experience for all users. On the stage, visitors enter the clinic into the gallery space and are escorted to the scattered waiting areas outside each examination room. Under the stage, an employee family team area was created for collaboration, allowing employees to directly enter each examination room, maintaining independence from visitors, and ensuring maximum protection of patient privacy and efficiency. In addition, this onstage/offstage approach reduces the risk of unnecessary interactions between patients that are common in typical group waiting room conceptsan important consideration in todays healthcare design.

Using natural light as the main driving force, the modular approach maximizes the visual access to the external courtyard and light for visitors and staff. Light from above is the theme throughout the design. From the moment visitors enter the clinic, they will receive daylight through the well-lit gallery area. Once visitors arrive at their examination room, they either sit down outside the examination room or enter the examination room accompanied by an escort. When sitting outside, they can directly see the outside through the floor-to-ceiling glass wall. In each examination room, natural light enters through the skylight above. In the discreet home team area designed for employees, natural light fills the space through the two skylights above and runs through the entire space.

A key goal of the Warren Clinic is to establish and strengthen connections with the St. Francis Health System brand in communities that may not yet exist. The Warren Clinic brand is strengthened by incorporating a pink glass wall, which is an element that people can recognize and participate in when approaching the site. As a beacon that glows at night, the traditional wall strengthens the connection between the clinic and the community it serves.

The new on-stage/off-stage model works well, improving staff efficiency and everyones satisfaction. We have received positive feedback from patients on the level of space peace; they like to be exposed to natural light throughout the process. The clinic design and the new model enable Our team is able to provide a higher level of care to patients in our service area through northeastern Oklahoma, said Colin Henry, vice president of the Warren Clinic.

Item category: New

General Manager: Jake Henry Jr., President and CEO of Saint Francis Health System

company: Carlison RTKL, www.callisonrtkl.com

design team: CallisonRTKL (master planning, architecture, design and planning, interior design)

Total construction area (square feet): 14,642

Construction cost/square foot: 362 USD

Total construction cost (excluding land): USD 5.3 million

fully: February 2018





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LAFAYETTE, La. - The Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana (BGCA) is excited to announce that Rhyan Wheeler has been named Chief Executive Officer for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana.

As Chief Executive Officer, Wheeler is responsible for leading the organization to carry out the Boys & Girls Clubs mission in the six current locations and grow the reach to serve more youth in need. Her role will include providing leadership and direction in overseeing strategic planning and resource development for the organization, in support of organizational mission and goals

Wheeler has served as Vice President of Boys & Girls Clubs in Acadiana over the past three years, overseeing fundraising and marketing in St. Landry, Iberia, Vermilion, Calcasieu and Lafayette parishes. In her current role, she is responsible for managing a $1.8 million budget and has been an integral part of expansion into two new regions.

Wheeler is eager to begin her new role, stating, I am honored to have been given such great responsibility. We have an engaged board and dedicated team, doing amazing work for the children who need us most. I cant wait to get started.

Over the last eight weeks, a selection committee was created to lead the CEO search process for the organization. Ben Lognion, Chairman of the Board, states, On behalf of the Corporate Board of Directors, we are excited to continue working with Rhyan in her new position and look forward to continued growth throughout South Louisiana.

Wheeler is replacing Missy Bienvenu Andrade, who was recently tapped to lead the efforts of a newly formed statewide entity, Boys & Girls Clubs in Louisiana, which will focus on broader fundraising and advocacy for all Clubs in the state. Rhyan has the right skills and expertise to lead Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana to new heights and I could not be more excited to continue supporting her and the BGC Acadiana team in my new role.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana will be searching for a new Director of Resource Development in the coming weeks. Wheeler will begin her role September 1st
BATON ROUGE, La.  Gov. John Bel Edwards and State Health Officer Dr. Joseph Kanter applauded the U. S. Food and Drug Administrations full approval of Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine, the first such full approval of its kind. The COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective and easily available all across Louisiana for people ages 12 and older. More than 2.2 million Louisianans have taken at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, with nearly 40 percent of Louisianas population fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to CDC data.

Todays FDA approval of the Pfizer vaccine, now marketed as Comirnaty, is yet another historic moment in our journey out of this COVID-19 pandemic. This full FDA approval of the first COVID vaccine follows months of clinical trials and millions upon millions of real-world doses safely administered across the globe. This vaccine is well researched, very safe and highly effective at preventing serious COVID illness, hospitalization and death, Gov. Edwards said. It is my fervent hope that any Louisianan who was waiting for the FDA approval of the vaccine will take action to immediately receive their shot. Already, more than 2.2 million Louisianans have taken at least one dose of the vaccines that are available statewide. We are optimistic that our numbers will grow as we fight together to end this COVID pandemic once and for all. Today would be a great day to get your COVID vaccine.

"After an exhaustive review process we are very happy to see the Pfizer vaccine receive full licensure from the FDA. More than 200 million Americans, including 2.2 million people in Louisiana, already have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine," said Dr. Joseph Kanter, State Health Officer. "The COVID-19 pandemic and our most recent surge have been devastating. To date, we have lost more than 11,900 Louisianans to this virus. Many more people going sleeves up for this life-saving vaccine will protect us against future COVID-19 surges and help us put an end to this pandemic."

HOW TO GET A COVID VACCINE IN LOUISIANA

Everyone age 12 and older is eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in Louisiana. The FDA has only authorized one of the three COVID-19 vaccines  from Pfizer  for children ages 12 to 17. With today's announcement, the Pfizer (Comirnaty) vaccine has full FDA approval for those ages 16 and up. The Pfizer vaccine for those between the ages of 12 and 15 remains under emergency use authorization. Parents should confirm with the vaccine provider that their child is under 18 to ensure Pfizer vaccine is available before making an appointment.

COVID-19 vaccines are widely available at 1,437 locations in all of Louisianas 64 parishes, including at pharmacies, hospitals, health care clinics, and doctors offices.

For a list of locations, visit LDHs vaccine directory or visit www.vaccines.gov, which is maintained by the federal government.

To get a list of vaccine locations near you text your ZIP code to GETVAX (438829) in English, or VACUNA (822862) in Spanish.

If you have questions, would like to speak with a medical professional, or need help scheduling an appointment, call 211 or Louisianas vaccine hotline at 1-855-453-0774.
BATON ROUGE, La.  Its been 25 years since Todd Graves opened The Mothership at the north gates of LSU. Since 1996, Canes has grown to nearly 600 Restaurants, served 2.5 billion Box Combos and provided $100 million in Community support, and now, Graves is committed to giving back more than ever  starting right here in his home state.

On Wednesday, Aug. 25, Graves will announce that Raising Canes will support nonprofits, organizations, schools and more, committing $25 million in Communities from coast-to-coast over the next 12 months of Canes birthday year.

To kick off the milestone birthday celebration, at 10 a.m. on Aug. 25, Graves will present a check for $25,000 to both the Baton Rouge Area Foundation and Feeding Louisiana at The Mothership  Raising Canes first Restaurant, located on Highland Road at State Street.

Media are also invited for a rare tour of Graves State Street apartment that replicates what it looked like when he lived there in 1996. After working as much as 20 hours in a day, Graves would retreat to the apartment overlooking the drive-thru for a quick rest before returning to the restaurant. The throwback apartment was also home to the first Raising Canes headquarters and is a 90s time capsule complete with retro furniture and electronics, computers, Rolodex, pagers, phones and more.

WHO: Todd Graves, Founder and CEO of Raising Canes

Baton Rouge Area Foundation and Feeding Louisiana representatives

Raising Cane III, Canine Mascot

WHAT: $25 Million Commitment Announcement

$25,000 Check Presentation to BRAF

$25,000 Check Presentation to Feeding Louisiana

Rare Opportunity to tour Todd Graves State Street Apartment

WHEN: WEDNESDAY, AUG. 25 | 10 a.m.

WHERE: Raising Canes #001 The Mothership

3313 Highland Road | Baton Rouge, LA 70802

In addition, Caniacs across Raising Canes hometown are invited to claim a piece of the brands history. On Saturday, Aug. 28, the first 25 Customers to visit one of the 18 Baton Rouge-area Restaurants will receive a limited-edition commemorative 25th anniversary t-shirt sporting the original black and white Raising Canes logo.

From the beginning, Ive been grateful for our Crew, Customers and Communities that have supported my dream, Graves said. Thats why taking care of our Crewmembers and getting involved at the local level, especially here in our home state, have been a huge part of who we are. Im proud that we are a growing company of serving leaders and what better way to celebrate 25 years of business than to give back $25 million to the Communities we serve!

Since 1996, Graves has grown Raising Canes from The Mothership  an old building he renovated in Baton Rouge  to a brand with nearly 600 restaurants and countless Caniacs from Los Angeles to Boston (and soon to be New York City). Along the way, Raising Canes and its 35,000 Crewmembers have never lost sight of one of Graves primary pillars  to be actively involved in the Community.

Over its first 25 years, Raising Canes has donated more than $100 million to various organizations that support the brands 6 Areas of Focus: Education, Feeding the Hungry, Pet Welfare, Active Lifestyles, Business Development & Entrepreneurship and Everything Else! For example, among countless other initiatives, Raising Canes annual holiday fundraiser has sold more than 300,000 Plush Puppies  modeled after Canes faithful canine mascot  generating nearly $1 million in donations to local pet welfare organizations.

Raising Canes has given back more than $22 million over the past 25 years across the state of Louisiana. In addition to the $50,000 presented at the event Wednesday, Raising Canes $25 million commitment will include donations to local organizations such as:

Baton Rouge Green  $25,000

Baton Rouge Area Chamber Entrepreneurship Incubator  $25,000

Big Buddy Program  $25,000

100 Black Men  $25,000

And more!

Community organizations can submit a request at www.CanesAndCommunity.com.

In addition to the $25 million commitment, Raising Canes is also investing in Louisiana businesses by contributing $5 million to the Benson Capital Fund in support of leadership, business and economic development in the Gulf South region.

Raising Canes is the #1 Fastest Growing Chicken Chain, according to Nations Restaurant News and Market Force has ranked Canes top in the chicken category for six years. Glassdoor has named Raising Canes to its Top 100 Employers and Graves to its Top 100 CEOs in the U.S. lists. Sandelman named Raising Canes as one of the top Restaurant brands in the U.S. for Overall Customer Satisfaction for 14 years in a row. Canes was voted by its Customers as the top fast-casual Restaurant for Customer Safety during the pandemic and was most recently named as Top Employer for Diversity, Women and New Grads by Forbes.
Namgoong Min has fully immersed himself in the role of an elite agent for the upcoming K-drama "The Veil."

Amid the release of intriguing teasers for the MBC series, the 43-year-old actor wowed his fans with massive transformation as he portrays the character of National Intelligence Service's (NIS) top agent Han Ji Hyuk.

Namgoong Min's New Drama Prompted Him to Gain 10kg of Muscle

Known for being a versatile actor, the "Doctor Prisoner" star made drastic changes in his body to perfectly fit his appearance to the character.

According to a local outlet, the actor bulked up for the drama and reportedly gained 10kg of muscle through exercise, flaunting a jaw-dropping physique in one of Namgoong Min's Instagram posts.

Shared on July 1, the South Korean star looked unrecognizable with his Hulk-like physique, showing off his ripped body.

With this, fans praised his dedication for his role and pointed out the unbelievable things he does for acting.

Of course, this also stimulates the curiosity of others as to how a top-secret agent ended up with unrecognizable looks and bloodied appearance.

IN CASE YOU MISSED: Namgoong Min Becomes an Elite Special Agent in New Drama 'The Veil'

'The Veil' Release Date, Cast and What We Know So Far

Helmed by Kim Sung Yong, who is the genius behind the 2018 drama "My Healing Love," alongside screenwriter Park Seok Ho, the upcoming MBC mystery crime drama, follows the story of Han Ji Hyuk, played by Namgoong Min.

In the drama, he is NIS' top elite agent known for his undeniable skills and missions that he completed.

Unfortunately, his one mission led him to his downfall. It came after he failed to drive an organized crime syndicate and unexpectedly vanished in the face of the earth.

However, after a year of mysteriously being away from his service, he made a bold comeback and returned by joining a crime syndicate in hopes of finding the traitor who plotted his failure.

Aside from the actor, "The Veil" cast members also include Park Ha Sun, who took on the role of Seo Soo Yeon, the Crime Information Center head who is known for being excellent at solving cases.

Joining them is rookie actress Kim Ji Eun, who appears in dramas such as "I Have Three Boyfriends," and "Strangers from Hell" is set to play Yoo Je Yi, a talented young woman, and a promising NIS agent, who will be Han Ji Hyuk's field partner.

"The Veil" release date is slated to broadcast on September 17, airing every Friday and Saturday on MBC.

'The Veil' Screenwriter Share Thoughts on Namgoong Min Portrayal as an Elite Agent

According to a local outlet, screenwriter Park Seok Ho lauded Namgoong Min's presence and his acting skills in "The Veil."

In an interview, the screenwriter mentioned that the actor is indeed a perfect fit to play Ji Hyuk, not just physically but through his impeccable acting skills.

"Actor Namgoong-min is already perfectly matched with the main character both internally and externally. It is not an exaggeration to say that he has taken over the entire drama beyond just the role."

KDramastars owns this article.

Written by Geca Wills
In The Devil Judge Episode 16, power duo Kang Yo Han (Ji Sung) and Kim Ga On (GOT7's Jinyoung) ended up triumphant and served justice well to the country.

The Devil Judge Episode 16 Kim Ga On Look for Ways to Free Kang Yo Han From Prison

After knowing the truth that Jung Sun Ah (Kim Min Jung) manipulated everything, Kim Ga On felt guilty of suspecting Kang Yo Han (Ji Sung) as the mastermind behind Yoon Soo Hyun's death.

In The Devil Judge Episode 16, police seized Yo Han and brought him to prison. Elijah (Jeon Chae Eun) was emotional seeing his uncle in such a complicated situation. Kim Ga On confessed it was his mistake for betraying Kang Yo Han. He promised Elijah to free Yo Han from prison.

Kim Ga On teamed up with Lawyer Ko to have access in the Dream Home Medical Center, which was part of the Social Responsibility Foundation's project. Mr. Ko was hesitant at first to trust Ga On since he betrayed Kang Yo Han. But the young judge was determined to help Kang Yo Han in revealing the suspicious project.

Lawyer Ko warned Kim Ga On it would be difficult and dangerous to enter the Dream Home Medical Center camp. But Ga On was willing to risk his life for it.

Kim Ga On Exposes What's Happening Inside the Dream Home Medical Center

In The Devil Judge Episode 16, to have strong evidence against their greatest enemies, Kim Ga On put his life on the line and entered the Medical Center managed by the Social Responsibility Foundation. From there, he saw lots of individuals who became testing experiments for drugs.

This alarmed him and decided to film the struggles of the patients inside the medical center. While examining the whole place, Kim Ga On found Han So Yoon (Chun In Seo) and helped her escape the place. Before leaving the medical center the board members of the Social Responsibility Foundation paid their visit and Ga On saw how inhumane they were.

Fortunately, when Kim Ga On was about to escape the place with Han So Yoon, a nurse helped them and trusted him to reveal all the happenings inside the place so that the whole nation would be aware.

Kang Yo Han's Brilliant Scheme That Surprised His Enemies

While in prison, Kang Yo Han still has the power to play with people's minds. He made a deal with the chief officer who was assigned to him in the cell. In exchange for money, Kang Yo Han swiftly made his exit from prison and immediately went to the court and saved Kim Ga On.

Kim Ga On who was busy doing his business with Min Jung Ho (Ahn Nae Sang) was surprised when Kang Yo Han entered the room and saved him from the bomb on his body. The young judge was surprised to see Kang Yo Han again, who he thought was already dead because the news broke out announcing his sudden passing inside the cell.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Namgoong Min Reportedly Gained 10kg of Muscle for his Upcoming Drama 'The Veil'

Power Duo Kang Yo Han and Kim Ga On Join Forces Again

Using the video that Kim Ga On got inside the Dream Home Medical Center, Kang Yo Han showed it to the public to expose the anomalies happening inside the government and the Social Responsibility Foundation.

This became the big and dangerous card of Kang Yo Han against his enemies. The high-ranking officials were trapped inside the court; they did not expect to see Kang Yo Han alive.

Once the numbers of votes reach 10 million, Kang Yo Han will punish the officials with the bombs he planted inside the court. The control button was in his hand and anytime soon, a big explosion was about to happen where all of them inside could die.

Kim Ga On was anxious to see Kang Yo Han as he might also die. He tried his best to control him but was too late because the courtroom had finally exploded. The young judge was in shock at what had happened. He went straight to the mansion to see Elijah but she was not there. He saw the courtroom's blueprint in the living room.

Mrs. Ji came and explained that Kang Yo Han was alive and went to Switzerland with Elijah for her treatment.

This made Kim Ga On feel at ease.

Months later, Kim Ga On faced all the trials involving Kang Yo Han, it was his way of cleaning his name in the public. The two met again and were happy that they succeeded in their final battle in taking down the real devil.

The Devil Judge Episode 16 Achieves High Viewership Ratings

According to Nielsen Korea tvN's weekend primetime drama "The Devil Judge" ended with high ratings. It scored an average rating of 8 percent nationwide and a peak of 10.1 percent.

The series also topped the time slot across all cable channels in South Korea.

What are your thoughts about "The Devil Judge" finale? 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.
The much-anticipated romantic comedy drama series "Hometown Cha-cha-cha" starring "Oh My Venus" actress Shin Min Ah, "Start-Up" Kim Seon Ho, and actor Lee Sang Yi released its first episode preview, days before its premiere.

"Hometown Cha-cha-cha" first episode preview displayed the unusual yet smile-inducing first encounter of the two lead actors, which raised potential fans and viewers' anticipation and excitement.

Shin Min Ah and Kim Seon Ho's Quirky First Encounter in 'Hometown Cha-cha-cha'

Broadcast company tvN released its first episode preview which featured the start of an unusual yet quirky relationship between Shin Min Ah and Kim Seon Ho in the upcoming rom-com drama "Hometown Cha-cha-cha".

The pragmatic and charismatic dentist from Seoul Yoon Hye Jin moves to the quaint and peaceful seaside village of Gongjin, in which her previous lifestyle is so much different from the unfamiliar place.

In the poster video preview, Yoon Hye Jin and Hong Doo Sik, played by actors Shin Min Ah and Kim Seon Ho respectively, meet each other accidentally on the beach.

Hong Doo Sik, despite his annoyance, hands his own slippers to Yoon Hye Jin with a bit of a force who is wearing a stunning pair of stilettos on the beach, which incessantly makes her sink.

With that, Hye Jin chases the unknown man to ask about his personal information. But much to her dismay, the man just gets on the dentist's nerves by telling her that she is "the type of person who is a bit ignorant."

In the next scene, Doo Sik hands Hye Jin a yogurt drink. His sudden shift of gesture amplified the curiosity about his and her relationship's development in the drama.

Apart from the two's undeniable chemistry and synchronization, the Gongjin villagers who welcome Yoon Hye Jin to their humble seaside village also add color to the upcoming rom-com television series.

At the end of the video, the adorable children whose smiles are bright and wide wave their hands to the dentist, "Teacher, come to Gongjin again!"

Actors Shin Min Ah and Kim Seon Ho's perfect synergy, the colorful and lively cast, as well as the beautiful seaside scenery of Gongjin definitely heighten the expectations and anticipation of potential drama viewers.

'Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha' Plot and Further Details

The drama follows the romance-filled stories of the city woman and dentist Yoon Hye Jin (Shin Min Ah) and all-around handyman Hong Doo Shik (Kim Seon Ho) in Gongjin, a tranquil seaside village.

The upcoming tvN drama "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha" is a 2021 drama remake of the 2004 film "Mr. Handy, Mr. Hong," with Uhm Jung Hwa and Kim Joo Hyuk.

Actor In Gyo Jin, veteran star Cha Chung Hwa, Kang Hyung Seok, Lee Bong Ryun, Jo Han Chul, "National Grandma" Kim Young Ok, and "Green Fever" actress Gong Min Jung also part of the cast.

The story of the villagers is expected to provide a healing and relaxing time to enjoy comfortably in a tired and difficult daily life amidst the pandemic.

'Hometown Cha-cha-cha' Production, Release Date, and Where To Stream

The drama is helmed by director Yoo Je Won and screenwriter Shin Ha Eun and is produced by Studio Dragon.

"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.

Check out "Hometown Cha-cha-cha" first episode preview here:

YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN: These 4 K-Dramas Feature Unconventional Careers That Will Surely Inspire You

Follow KDramastars for more Kdrama, KMovie, and celebrity news updates!

KDramastars owns this article.

Written by Elijah Mully.
Afghans who have applied for special immigrant visas to the US were told to stay away from Kabul's airport on Monday, as American officials ramped up evacuation flights and the Taliban said all US forces needed to leave Afghanistan by August 31.

Western countries are now in a frantic race to complete what US President Joe Biden last week called "one of the largest, most difficult airlifts in history," amid harrowing scenes at the airport of tens of thousands of people trying to flee Taliban rule.

Amid the scramble to evacuate, many Afghans have essentially been pushed to the back of the queue.

"We are currently prioritizing American citizens and legal permanent residents for entry," John Johnson, Public Affairs Officer for the US Embassy in Kabul, told CNN Monday. "Due to a deteriorating security environment we are asking all others not to come to the airport at this time -- the gates remain closed."

A source close to the situation at the airport told CNN that while current policy is to only let US and NATO citizens into the airport, they hoped to soon move to permitting applicants for the US' Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program -- an avenue for Afghans who worked for US forces and agencies to get out of the country -- along with the US embassy's local Afghan staff.

The change in policy at the airport comes as the US has sought to massively ramp up its mission. Some 10,400 people were evacuated from Kabul between Sunday and Monday morning, according to a White House official. It's the largest number in a 24-hour period to date and the first time the administration has exceeded its target of 5,000 to 9,000 daily evacuations. Dozens more US military transport jets were expected to land at the airport Monday.

Since the end of July, the US has relocated 42,000 people out of Afghanistan, Army Maj. Gen. William Taylor said at a Pentagon press briefing on Monday. This includes 37,000 people evacuated since August 14.

G7 leaders are planning to press Biden hard on extending his August 31 deadline for US troops to withdraw from Afghanistan during a Tuesday virtual meeting. Biden has not publicly committed to such a move, worrying some allies who have pushed for an extension and fear there won't be enough time to get their citizens and Afghan allies out.

Biden indicated on Sunday that discussions were underway about the potential for remaining in the country longer, but the Taliban signaled on Monday that they view the August 31 date as firm.

"August 31 is the deadline announced by them. The US must adhere to removing troops from Afghanistan by this date. Otherwise, it will be a clear violation," spokesman Sohail Shaheen told CNN on Monday. He said that if there was a delay, "our leadership will take proper and necessary decisions."

After that date, Shaheen said those who wanted to leave "can do so through usual way of using commercial flights and having proper documents like passports and visas."

UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said Monday that British efforts to evacuate people from Kabul "are really down to hours now, not weeks," and forces on the ground must use every moment they have to get people out.

The UK has evacuated a total 6,600 people since August 14, and over 8,000 since April, Wallace told UK broadcasters. But he said people should be honest with "the reality, which is we won't get them all out."

Airport like the 'Wild West'

The number of people in and around the airport awaiting evacuation swelled to around 20,000 over the weekend, but had been reduced to around 13,000 on Monday, a source familiar with the situation told CNN.

Most of them are Afghans, the source said, adding that the number of US citizens at the airport was now in the low hundreds.

The airport was increasingly chaotic in terms of who was allowed in, with special forces -- Afghan and American -- looking out for their former Afghan colleagues. "It's quickly becoming the Wild West," said the source. "[Special] operators are pulling people through gates left and right."

Even with the new flight restrictions, thousands of Afghans, mostly military aged males with "no documentation," remained on the airport grounds, the source said. They had arrived on the second day during the "everyone gets in" lapse in filtering entrants.

The source said there were "no plans to kick people off the airport," potentially leaving thousands in limbo.

One reason for the chaos was the decision to issue electronic visas, without names or document numbers, to SIV applicants. The visas were then copied as screenshots and sent by Afghans to thousands of other Afghans who were not eligible for access to the airport, a source told CNN at the weekend.

"I don't think consular, or the administration frankly, realizes how badly they f*****d up by sending that stupid visa and letting everyone in for 24 hours straight," the source said Monday.

Dozens more military planes were due to arrive on Monday. Plans called for 33 US Air Force C-17s to head to Hamid Karzai International Airport in the next 24 hours, said the source. Each of the large four-engine jets has the ability to take 400 passengers out of Kabul, "which should make a decent dent" in the number of people stuck at the airport.

Meanwhile Monday, Japan joined the list of countries sending military transport aircraft to Kabul. Katsunobu Kato, Japan's chief cabinet secretary, said one Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) plane would go to the Afghan capital on Monday, with more expected in the coming days.

On Sunday, conditions at the airport worsened throughout the day, with its entry gates for the most part closed. There were instances of families being split up and sent to different countries in the chaos.

"I don't know what they were doing, but there is still local staff struggling at the gates and not even being able to get in," a source close to the situation told CNN, referring to Afghans employed by the US.

Families were being separated and sent to different countries, the source added. This was "not by design and not really the fault of US officials, but they're either choosing to come in separately, or getting separated on the way in," they said.

"They've had cases where mom, dad, and children all end up in different countries," said the source.

Afghan killed by sniper fire

The chaos continued on Monday morning, when sniper fire killed a member of the Afghan security forces helping secure the base, one source told CNN. The affiliation of the sniper was unclear, the source said.

In the confusion, Afghan forces returned fire, but in the direction of some US Marines, who opened fire themselves, injuring four Afghans, the source said. The four are in stable condition and there were no US casualties.

Almost 20 people are believed to have died from stampedes or gunshots around the airport in the past week.

Seven Afghan civilians died in crushes near Kabul's airport on Saturday, a spokesperson for Britain's Ministry of Defense (MoD) told CNN. One crush took place outside the airport itself while another happened outside the Baron Hotel.

"Conditions on the ground remain extremely challenging but we are doing everything we can to manage the situation as safely and securely as possible," the MoD spokesperson said.

'I'm lucky to leave'

The pace of evacuations from Kabul airport appeared to be picking up on Monday, with planes regularly taking off and long lines of evacuees waiting to board flights.

One Afghan journalist, Qiam Noori, waiting to board a flight to Qatar, told CNN he had mixed feelings about leaving.

"I'm lucky to leave," he said. "But I'm also leaving a whole family behind, a lot of friends."

Noori believes the Taliban would have been unlikely to give him space to live freely. "This is the reality" of life in Afghanistan, Noori said, adding that his heart was already broken.

In the 20 years since the Taliban were pushed from power, millions of Afghans embraced new benefits including increased access to education for women. Now the country's future is getting on planes out of the country.

As one evacuee at the airport told CNN on Monday, Afghanistan is witnessing a total "brain drain."

The-CNN-Wire

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White City, Ore. - The camp was organized by a volunteer committee of female firefighters and emergency service professionals with backing from several fire departments across Jackson and Josephine counties.

It was all in a cooperative effort between several career female first-responders, from a wide variety of specialty disciplines.

It's a profession that because it's significantly more present among men, can provide several distinct challenges for women breaking the mold.

"You definetly have to be strong-headed," said Kendra Pinnell, a student firefighter EMT, "You have to get used to living with all men."

Pinell adds she adds opportunities like the Rogue Girls Fire Camp allow for the young women interested in pursuing a firefighting career path - to make contacts and have someone they can reach out to.

"It's nice to have a shoulder to lean on because it can get lonely."

Officials with the Medford fire department hope that the training and learning these young women have experienced over the past two and a half days  will inspire and encourage them to apply to be firefighters.
SALEM, Ore.  Governor Kate Brown on Monday ordered that all flags over Oregon's public institutions be flown at half-staff on Wednesday in honor of Oregon State Police Sergeant John Burright's memorial service.

On September 4, 2001, Sgt. Burright and several other officers were assisting a disabled motorist along I-5 when they were struck by another driver. Sr. Trooper Maria Mignano and Albany Police Department officer Jason Hoerauf were killed instantly, but Burright survived with disabling injuries.

According to Burright's obituary, he was taken to the Mennonite Home nursing facility in Albany for care in the wake of the crash. He remained there for almost 20 years, dying as a result of his injuries on May 4 of this year. OSP considers Burright's passing to be the agency's 35th line-of-duty death.

"Sergeant John Burright's service and dedication to Oregon is not forgotten," said Governor Brown. "My heart goes out to his family and loved ones, and I extend my sincere appreciation, and the gratitude of all Oregonians, for his many years of service to the communities of Roseburg, Albany, and Salem."

A procession and memorial service for Burright are being held on Wednesday, starting at the Linn County Fairgrounds and terminating at the Salem Armory.

The flag order applies from sunrise to sunset on the day of Sergeant Burrights memorial service at the Salem Armory, which is open to the public.
PORTLAND, Ore.  Providence hospitals in Oregon will significantly limit visitors due to the ongoing surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations spurred by the Delta variant, administrators announced over the weekend. The new visitor policy took effect on Monday, August 23.

"The change comes as the highly contagious delta variant leaves Oregon with a record number of new cases and intensive care hospitalizations," Providence said. "For the week of August 9, the Oregon Health Authority reports a 53% increase in new daily cases over the previous week."

There is a short list of exceptions to the rule, mostly applying to emergency cases, pediatrics, and birthing. Emergency Department patients are allowed one visitor while in the department only; the Pediatric Emergency Department will allow two visitors; two visitors through about two hours postpartum for Labor and Delivery; one visitor in the Mother/Baby unit; two visitors for Pediatric inpatients; and a broader exception for people with disabilities.

In all cases, visitors must be at least 16 years old, must wear a mask fully covering their nose and mouth, and must remain in the patient's room unless entering or exiting the medical center.

Asante announced a near-identical list of restrictions on their visitor policy last week, likewise beginning Monday. Asante's policy also allows two visitors for patients receiving end-of-life care.

"Masks are required inside all Asante buildings," the healthcare provider said in a statement on Friday. "These measures will help keep our patients and staff safe. Thank you for your understanding during this difficult time."
Mobile hot spots, new technology and helping students navigate life challenges are among some of the ways Gateway Technical College officials have applied federal grant dollars linked to the pandemic.

Gateway has received slightly more than $25 million in federal funds, based on allocations from three separate stimulus programs spread over two presidential administrations.

We are grateful for the funding we are receiving to support our institution, Sharon Johnson, chief financial officer and vice president of administration, said at Gateways monthly District Board meeting last Thursday. Our plan is to be the best stewards of these funds and benefit Gateway in the maximum possible way.

According to figures shared at the meeting, the bulk of the combined funds  $15.6 million  is earmarked for institutional use, while the balance is geared specifically toward student assistance.

Not all of the funds have been used  in part, because of consistently evolving guidance and directives from higher-up government officials.

Our effort is to untangle the (various federal funding allocations), Gateway President/CEO Bryan Albrecht said. Its a very complicated process. What you hear today is what we know today. It is subject to change.
Im standing for the right for people to chose and to not have to feel that they are forced to do something they dont want to do in order feed their families, she said amid a flurry of horn blowing.

Michelle, who declined to give her last name for fear of retaliation, said she joined the demonstration and at least three other protests over the past week, because she did not want to be forced to get vaccination that I dont agree with in order to keep my job.

(And) to not be mandated for us to get a vaccine that we do not believe is necessary, she said as she held a sign that read: My body is not for sale. So that is why we are out here fighting for our medical freedom.

Carolyn van Sloten, of Sturtevant, whose daughter is a nurse, said she came out to support demonstrators who support their freedom to choose what goes into your own body.

Everyone should have a choice for their own medical freedom, she said. Especially, the nurses and all the medical staff who put themselves on the line so much last year and now, theyre ready to be tossed aside, which is just wrong. Its get your shots or lose your job.

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Planes struck the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington D.C. Another went down in the Pennsylvania countryside. That plane likely was to hit the U.S. Capitol or White House. Passenger heroes prevented that.

In response, military forces of a comprehensive international coalition of nations led by the U.S. overthrew the fundamentalist Taliban regime in Kabul. Both the United Nations and NATO supported this effort, made necessary by the terror attacks.

Over time, comprehensive economic, political and social reform dimensions evolved. These were not necessary.

In February 2020, after nearly twenty years of occupation, the U.S. government and the fundamentalist Taliban movement signed a formal agreement for the phased withdrawal of international troops. The accord includes detailed stipulations to help protect the population and discourage the return of terrorists.

This struggle to find a reasonably responsible, acceptable diplomatic route for departure reflects subtle but sustained sentiment among Americans. This was important to Donald Trumps 2016 election victory.

Afghanistan has no history of sustained central government. Local tribal leaders remain powerful, dominant politically and socially, lethal in armed conflict.
Ketchikan, AK (99901)

Today

Foggy this morning, then partly cloudy this afternoon. High near 65F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy with occasional showers overnight. Low 52F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.
NEWBERG, Ore.  Advocates are planning a protest of the Newberg School Board over its 4-3 vote to ban "political symbols" including Black Lives Matter and Pride flags earlier this month.

"It's heartbreaking, honestly," said Amanda Boothby, a 2015 graduate of Newberg High School. "It wasn't really welcoming to begin with."

After watching the full four-hour board meeting on Aug. 10, Boothby felt compelled to act. She organized a peaceful protest in the center of Newberg for Tuesday, Aug. 24.

She said symbols of support for marginalized communities, such as Pride and BLM flags, go a long way.

"I see love, I see acceptance, I see who I am as a lesbian woman," Boothby explained. "I know Newberg is big on community and loving each other. And by doing this [ban], it's showing hatred."

"Hopefully gonna wake some people up," said Kelly Lash, a licensed professional counselor who serves clients in Portland and Newberg.

Lash is advocating for LGBTQ+ and BIPOC youth.

"The statistics are alarming," she said.

Studies from the Trevor Project show lesbian, gay and bisexual youth are about five times more likely than their straight peers to attempt suicide because of bullying and lack of support. That rate goes up for transgender youth.

Another study published in JAMA Pediatrics showed Black children under 13 are twice as likely to die by suicide than white children.

"It is preventable," Lash said. "The treatment is love and acceptance."

Newberg mother Tai Harden-Moore argued during the school board meeting that her Black son has not felt that acceptance.

"Because my son was called a [n-word] in school," she told the board.

Board vice chair Brian Shannon voted in favor of the ban.

"To get political symbols and divisive symbols out of our schools," he argued.

Before the ban can be enforced, the superintendent said district lawyers need to review it.

The ACLU of Oregon has voiced strong opposition to the vote, and said it's considering a legal challenge if the ban moves forward.

Lash argued that while political views and symbols are a choice, race, sexual orientation and gender identity are not.

"This is not a political issue," she said. "This is not a two-sided issue. There is a side of love and acceptance of people. And there's a side of fear."

"People are not political!" said neighbor Erin McCarthy. "It's not expressing a Democratic idea or Republican idea or conservative or liberal ... It's human beings."

Erin and her husband Jaybill helped build a 17x30 foot Progress Pride flag within view of Newberg High School after the vote. It represents both LGBTQ+ people and people of color.

"[So] that they know that they're not invisible," Jaybill said.

"Regardless of what people in positions of power are saying, know that you matter," Erin said. "Even though this is difficult, there are people who are here for you."

KGW's story about the McCarthy's protest Pride flag gained national attention from outlets such as The Advocate and LGBTQ Nation.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also visited with advocates in Newberg this week during her vacation, according to a tweet from Newberg Graphic reporter Ryan Clarke:
EUGENE, Ore.-- As COVID-19 case numbers continue to skyrocket, Lane County Health officials are now recommending we go back to some of the past restrictions.

RELATED: LANE COUNTY ISSUES NEW EMERGENCY COVID-19 GUIDANCE

On August 21, Lane County issued an emergency advisory.

They said regardless of vaccination status, they want people to mask up indoors and outdoors when you can't be six feet apart from individuals outside of your immediate household.

Some people told KEZI they'd rather not have to mask up outside, but they're willing to comply in order to stop the spread. Tiffany Polar, a Eugene visitor, said by now, masking up is second nature.

"I think it's interesting. I prefer to not necessarily have to wear a mask if I'm out in the open and kind of by myself," Polar said. "But if I'm in a group of people, then naturally I don't feel comfortable-- I'll automatically put it on, just out of safety and concern."

Lane County resident Bernadette Ross said she feels it's her duty as a citizen to wear a mask to help prevent the spread and protect the unvaccinated.

"To be honest, even though it's an inconvenience, it's been proven that it really helps the spread of this virus that we so desperately need to get rid of, and I feel like the sooner we all work together, we'll be beyond it," Ross said.

Health officials also recommend that you avoid public events greater than 200 people indoors and outdoors for the next two weeks. For adults unvaccinated, officials ask you to stay home. They said to avoid crowded areas and avoid travel if unnecessary.

Officials encourage you to limit all activities that could lead to injury and possibly lead to a hospital visit.

Currently in Oregon, Benton County is the only county that has mandated outdoor mask wearing again.

In Lane County, the current advisory lists recommendations and are not mandates.
ROSEBURG, Ore.  Members of the Oregon Army National Guard have arrived at Mercy Medical Center in Roseburg to aid in the response to COVID-19.

The troops were greeted by community members and health care workers across the street from the hospital Monday morning.

Command Sergeant Major Travis Parker said upwards of 50 members will be providing support to the hospital. The troops will help with various tasks like staffing entrances, helping with lab results or running supplies.

Most National Guardsmen joined to help their communities and then over the last 20 plus years, we've spent more time overseas than we have actually helping our communities," Parker said. "So, it's really good to get the get the opportunity to help the communities and to help our fellow residents of our areas.

Previously, Gov. Kate Brown announced 1,500 guard members would eventually be deployed to 20 hospitals around the state. The initial deployment of 500 guard members began on Friday. According to OHA, the first wave of deployments will be to hospitals in Douglas, Deschutes, Jackson and Josephine counties.

The extra help cant come soon enough, especially in Roseburg, where a COVID-19 patient died last Wednesday waiting for an open hospital bed. Hospital officials say the patient had been waiting for several hours as other COVID-19 positive patients had already taken up all the available beds, even with the intensive care unit having been expanded to other floors.

RELATED: COVID-19 PATIENT DIES WAITING FOR HOSPITAL BED TO OPEN UP IN ROSEBURG

"It's very overwhelming - something I never thought I would see in my 22 years of nursing here at Mercy," said Candice Fredricks, a registered nurse at the hospital. Fredricks said having dozens of guard members will help free up healthcare workers to attend to patients.

To have them here has really relieved a lot of our load as far as the non-medical care of patients so that we can give more time and direct care to the critical patients," Fredricks said.

In hospital Region 3, which includes Lane, Douglas, Coos and Curry counties, there were just four empty ICU beds as of Friday. Non-ICU beds were also reaching around 89% full.

I am devoting all available resources to help including deploying the National Guard and nurse strike teams establishing temporary decompression units to free up hospital bed space and removing barriers to discharging patients who no longer require hospital level care, Brown said during a press conference Thursday.

In additional to the national guard, Oregon has also asked for dozens of doctors and hundreds of nurses from other states. Those medical professionals will work in central and southern Oregon.
PORTLAND, Ore.  Proud Boys, a far-right hate group, and far-left antifa clashed in Portland on Sunday following separate demonstrations.

The fighting broke out on Northeast 122nd Avenue near Northeast Shaver Street where videos from journalists at the scene show destruction, violence and the use of explosive devices that look like not only fireworks but other devices as well.

On Sunday, the Proud Boys congregated in the parking lot of a derelict K-Mart to hold a rally where a small stage was set up and members from the group gave speeches.

Tiny emceeing the "Summer of Love" event, threatens violence against trans people. Video by @_jlevinson pic.twitter.com/jrIENdBhRV  Ryan Haas (@ryanjhaas) August 22, 2021

In Downtown, at Tom McCall Waterfront Park, a group of various antifa and other left-wing people gathered.

About 200 Anti-fascists (antifa) are gathered in downtown Portland, Oregon to counter a planned far-right rally pic.twitter.com/PKH6qctT35  Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) August 22, 2021

With the two events separated, things remained peaceful for more than two hours after the events began at around 2 p.m.

At around 4 p.m., the beginning of clashes were being reported by journalists on the scene.

Major clash between Proud Boys and Antifa happening now on 122nd in Portland Pepper spray and airsoft deployed, fighting ongoing in the streets pic.twitter.com/z7V584qMuQ  Zane Sparling (@PDXzane) August 22, 2021

Proud Boys can be seen attacking an "antifa van" by slashing its tires and breaking in its windows. In other videos, Proud Boys are seen chasing after, holding down and beating someone dressed in all black, likely antifa, while another person clad in all black sprays at them with what might be pepper spray. It is unclear who was launching explosive devices.

At 4:55 p.m., freelance journalist Sergio Olmos reported that there was no police presence to be found.

At around 5:50 p.m., Zane Sparling with the Portland Tribune was downtown and caught what appeared to be a man shooting a handgun.

2nd and Yamhill downtown Portland now https://t.co/TC9jDMzsJE  Zane Sparling (@PDXzane) August 23, 2021

Sparling said bystanders said the man took out his gun and began shooting as antifa gathered Downtown.

Olmos reported that PPB responded to the area and said they had one person in custody.

He reported that approximately 30 minutes after the shooting Downtown, the area was clear of bystanders and police.

The clash, including explosive devices, was originally going on near a Chevron gas station in NE Portland that had innocent bystanders at it. It comes one day after Mayor Ted Wheeler, Portland Police Bureau (PPB) and other leaders held a "Choose Love" press conference, where they publicly denounced hate and hate groups in Portland but would not say if and when police would intervene.

It's not necessarily the best tactical approach to have officers wading into situations where groups are clashing with each other, PPB chief Chuck Lovell said on Friday.

This is a different tactic seen following the months of police intervention during protests held in downtown Portland in summer 2020 where police, both PPB and federal, clashed for nearly 100 consecutive nights with protesters.
Weather Alert

...FROST ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO 9 AM PDT WEDNESDAY... * WHAT...Temperatures as low as 37 will result in patchy frost formation. * WHERE...Colfax, Chewelah, Wallace, Osburn, Worley, Cheney, Hayden, Rathdrum, Republic, Eastport, St Maries, Moscow, Bonners Ferry, Kellogg, Tekoa, Uniontown, Mullan, Oakesdale, Kettle Falls, Rockford, Rosalia, Spokane, Sandpoint, Wauconda, Coeur d'Alene, La Crosse, Post Falls, Newport, Davenport, Priest River, Potlatch, Plummer, Genesee, Deer Park, Inchelium, Pullman, Colville, and Pinehurst. * WHEN...From 2 AM to 9 AM PDT Wednesday. * IMPACTS...Frost could harm sensitive outdoor vegetation. Sensitive outdoor plants may be killed if left uncovered. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Clouds are expected to thin overnight with winds calming down in sheltered valleys after midnight. The coolest temperatures will likely be just before sunrise Wednesday morning. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold. &&
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ROCHESTER, Minn.- Getting around downtown Rochester will be a bit easier beginning Monday as Peace Plaza and the intersection of 1st Avenue will be open to the public.

The project is part of Heart of the City and has been under construction for months. The new curbless two-way street is designed with a focus on accessibility and safety. Parallel parking is included on both the south and north ends of 1st Avenue.

Claudia Humphrey visits The Med City every year from Dallas, Texas. She's looking forward to being able to utilize the entirety of Peace Plaza the next time she's here.

"I think it's wonderful. People come from all over the world and they have trust and faith in the clinic and I think it represents America and the beauty of it and it gives the people a much wider venue of shops and restaurants."

Peace Plaza and the intersection at 1st avenue are included in the first phase of the Heart of the City project. Locals such as long-time resident Barbara Jordan are happy for it to be easier to navigate through downtown.

"My offices are across the way and to be able to still have access and egress now unfeathered is fantastic."

There will be a community viewing tomorrow at 8am. City leaders including Mayor Kim Norton and DMC Executive Director Patrick Seeb are scheduled to speak. KIMT News 3 will bring you the latest from the event.
Statement from Mayo Clinic:

The Food and Drug Administration gave full approval to the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, Aug. 23, making it the first COVID-19 vaccine to receive such approval.

The Pfizer vaccine was previously available under an FDA emergency use authorization. This emergency use authorization followed rigorous testing that included thousands of clinical trial participants.

"Based on clinical trial results, Mayo Clinic experts have promoted the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines since the emergency use authorizations were given," says James Watson, M.D., chair of the COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation and Distribution Work Group. "We know, however, that some patients, staff and community members were seeking more assurances. Full FDA approval requires a rigorous review of data for safety, effectiveness and manufacturing processes, which I hope removes a barrier to vaccination for many individuals."

Emergency use authorization requires manufacturers to follow at least half of clinical trial participants for at least two months postvaccination, which is the period when most side effects occur. Full approval requires trial participants to be followed for at least six months, and it requires a higher level of oversight and inspections, and more in-depth review of data about effectiveness and manufacturing processes.

Mayo Clinic can now send COVID-19 vaccination appointment invitations as part of routine practice operations. In addition, vaccine supplies can be ordered directly from Pfizer rather than from state departments of health.

Statement from MercyOne North Iowa:

Today, the FDA granted permanent biologic license approval of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for people ages 16 and older. The vaccine also continues to be available under emergency use authorization (EUA), including for individuals 12 through 15 years of age and for the administration of a third dose in certain immunocompromised individuals. Americans have been receiving the Pfizer vaccine since the FDA granted EUA last December. This permanent approval means the vaccine passed numerous, required safety checks including study of all reported side effects and any adverse reactions. Several months of safety data showed the vaccine is safe and effective. This announcement should ease concerns from people who've been hesitant to receive the vaccine while still under emergency use authorization.

The CDC will share more information in the coming days. The FDA is also reviewing Moderna's application for permanent approval of its vaccine. Johnson and Johnson earned EUA for its vaccine later than Pfizer and Moderna and has not applied for permanent approval from the FDA.

We encourage all colleagues, patients, residents and people in the communities we serve to get vaccinated. Vaccination is an important step to end the COVID-19 pandemic.

Statement from Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds:

The FDA's full approval of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine offers Iowans and Americans who've not yet been vaccinated the assurance they need to do so now. The vaccine is the best defense against the virus, and it's been proven highly effective at preventing serious illness, hospitalization, and death, even against variants. The vaccine is widely available in the state, and I encourage all eligible Iowans to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

With the FDA approval today, theres no time like the present to get your COVID vaccine. Its easy, safe, and effective. https://t.co/IRMAIpCFdY  Senator Tina Smith (@SenTinaSmith) August 23, 2021

2day FDA fully authorized the Pfizer vaccine Vaccines are safe effective & free 4 all Americans Vaccine shots are widely available @ health care providers across Iowa Doctor offices pharmacies clinics & more See https://t.co/sWXs1YvcLq 4 more info  ChuckGrassley (@ChuckGrassley) August 23, 2021
ROCHESTER, Minn. - With an increase in social isolation during the coronavirus pandemic, another pandemic has been gaining awareness: mental health.

Olmsted County's Diversity, Equity, and Community Outreach (DECO) Team was founded just over a year ago to build a vibrant, inclusive, and opportunity-rich environment for everyone in Olmsted County.

Sidney Frye assumed the role of DECO program manager last week and is eager to address mental health and ensure that resources in the community are accessible to all.

"When I was referencing some of the inequities we see within our criminal justice system," said Frye. "Those communities that are often most negatively impacted may not have access to those resources that maybe other communities do."

The Rochester community offers many resources to assist with mental health. Minnesota just released a new website called "Help Me connect" to help young families connect to local services that support healthy child development and family well-being. Some of these services include developmental and behavior concerns, mental health, and legal services.

"Coming out of the pandemic, and though we're not completely out of it, that had an adverse impact on a lot of people's mental health," said Frye. "Just social isolation in itself can be a contributing factor - especially for individuals who have already had experiences and challenges with their own mental health that exasperates those challenges to a whole nother level."

Frye said we have to do a better job at letting people know it's okay not to be okay.

"I would just generally say to encourage folks to reach out and to folks even within their own social support networks," said Frye. "Because there are resources accessible. And I think that's a part of some of what DECO does, as far as the community outreach aspect of it, letting people know and connecting them to those resources in our community."
DECORAH, Iowa - Nearly 1,000 people helped search and eventually locate a missing Decorah boy on Monday.

The Decorah Police Department says Brandon Quam, 18 has been found safe and is being evaluated by EMS. Police say the public for all their efforts looking for him on Monday.

"In all we had 838 volunteers from all over northeast Iowa show up to accomplish our mission tonight," Winneshiek County authorities said. "Tonight something very special happened. Winneshiek County has some of THE best emergency responders and citizens. An entire countyactually northeast Iowa came together to accomplish a mission."

The sheriff's office said the student walked away from Decorah High School at 9:30 a.m. and was last seen walking on Water St. He was found after a nearly 12-hour search.
ROCHESTER, Minn. - It's been years in the making but Destination Medical Center's Heart of the City Project is finally taking major steps towards completion with the opening of First Avenue.

City leaders and businesses joined in celebrating the opening between Second Street and Center Street on Monday morning.

DMC Director Patrick Seeb said, "It's very pedestrian-friendly. Traffic can still move but it will move through very slowly. Now, cars can get by; it's easy access to the restaurants and businesses along this corridor."

The new curbless two-way street in the heart of downtown is focused on accessibility and safety.

Mayor Kim Norton said, "That's what this is all about - creating a livable, walk-able community for everyone."

Victoria's Restaurant says the construction and pandemic took a toll on businesses.

Co-owner Natalie Victoria explained, "It's been a long three years and we're incredibly grateful it's over."

However, with the reopening, she says there's hope of renewed traffic along the refreshed corridor.

She added, "First Avenue is kind of a main artery, for the businesses along here, so we are hopeful."

Seeb says it's exciting to see how the community will respond to the Heart of the City Project as it continues to develop and enhance Peace Plaza.

"What we're really doing is creating a downtown that people want to come and visit, spend time in, a place that they will hang out in and use the businesses and develop relationships and loyalty to the businesses," said Seeb.

Construction is still underway around Peace Plaza as Seeb says the project is around 80% finished and is still awaiting the installation of Peace Fountain.

Parallel parking is also available for drivers looking to access the area both on the south and north ends of First Avenue.
WAVERLY, Iowa  A Mitchell County woman is pleading not guilty to drug charges in Bremer County.

Samantha Deanne Potter, 30 of St. Ansgar and formerly of Lyle, Minnesota, is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver and failure to use a drug tax stamp. She was arrested after being pulled over for speeding on Highway 218 on June 28.

Authorities say a search of Potters vehicle found 45.14 grams of meth in plastic baggies. Court documents state a digital scale was also found in Potters purse.

Her trial is scheduled to begin on October 19.
AUSTIN, Minn.  A report of a car chase leads to the arrest of two men on drug charges.

The Austin Police Department says it was called around 9:30 am Friday about two vehicles chasing each other in the southeast part of the city. One of the vehicles, a white Chevy Impala with a broken rear windshield and a flat tire, was seen in the area of Main Street and 1st Avenue S. When an officer tried to pull it over, the vehicle sped off and parked by an apartment building in the 400 block of 3rd Avenue SE.

Police say a man exited the vehicle and went into the apartment. The Impala showed signed of bullet damage and the Mower County Sheriffs Office was called in to assist. After speaking with the people inside the apartment, authorities say two adults and several children exited. The adults reportedly told police no one else was inside.

Austin police say a search of the apartment building, however, found Ryan Collins, 32, hiding behind a large speaker in the trunk of a car parked in an attached garage. Officers say suspected methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana, MDMA (molly), two loaded revolvers, and a loaded semi-automatic handgun were also found in the trunk. One of the guns had been reported stolen.

Police say Collins told them he was from Colorado and had been in Austin for about two months. Collins allegedly told officers he had been shot at by someone who suspected Collins of stealing from him. Police say Collins identified a white Porsche as the other vehicle involved in the chase and denied the drugs and guns found in the trunk belonged to him.

Officers later arrested Terry Heggs, 38 of Austin, in the 1000 block of 2nd Avenue NW on Friday and found a Porcshe on Saturday in a separate Austin location.

Collins is being held in the Mower County Jail for fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle. Heggs was booked third-degree drug sales.

Austin police say this case remains under investigation.
Jasper, TX (75951)

Today

Sunshine and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 95F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Partly cloudy skies. Low 73F. Winds light and variable.
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Cars were lined up to 10th Street in Jeffersonville on Aug. 16 for the Indiana Department of Health COVID-19 testing and vaccination site at the Mark Fetter Center.




North Korea's official newspaper called Monday for putting socialist ideology ahead of anything else, stressing that ideologically arming people should be the basis for moving science and technology and other areas forward.







The Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the North's ruling party, made the appeal in an editorial, saying that emphasizing the economy while being negligent in ideological education will only result in the collapse of the foundation of socialism.







"We must maintain the ideology-first policy to boldly break through the difficulties and to open up a new era of upheaval in socialism," it said.







The paper in particular warned the North Korean youth against adopting foreign ideology, saying that the main target of the cultural "infiltration of the imperialists" are the young generations.







It also pointed out that the North's "unprecedented challenges" should not be used as excuses for accepting anti-socialism practices.







"Regarding the emergence of non-socialist practices as something inevitable and keeping a blind eye on the weakening socialist lifestyles and values is similar to dozing off in front of the enemy's gun and ruining the path to socialist construction," it said.







The North has recently stressed socialism and tightened ideological control over its people. (Yonhap)


Xing Haiming, right, Chinese ambassador to Korea, gestures to pictures of former President Roh Tae-woo during his visit to the former president's house in Seoul, Aug. 20, in commemoration of the 29th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Korea. Roh, 88, was the Korean head of state when ties were formed back in 1992, and his son Jae-heon, left, chairs the Road and Belt Institute in Korea. Courtesy of Chinese Embassy to Seoul
By John J. Metzler





Sadly, we have seen this movie before. In the spring of 1975 the collapse of South Vietnam coming to crescendo with the fall of Saigon indelibly marked a generation.



Cities like Pleiku, Danang and Hue in this contemporary saga are Kunduz, Kandahar and Herat. Now with the Taliban's stunning success over the beleaguered and ineffective Afghan Army, the same tragic fate awaits Afghanistan since the Taliban captured Kabul.



"Afghanistan is spinning out of control," warned U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. He added, "Humanitarian needs are growing by the hour."



America's frustrating 20-year military commitment in Afghanistan was coming to an end in any event. It was certainly time to go and both sides of the political aisle in Washington realized this.



Yet it was the Biden administration's original tone deaf policy to plan completing the pullout on Sept. 11, the 20th anniversary of the most hideous Islamic terrorist attack on the U.S. This timing signaled weakness and an almost comic understanding of the war we were fighting and that killed 2,400 Americans and injured another 20,000.



The pullout of remaining U.S. troops and over 8,000 NATO forces from France, Italy and Germany created a gaping political power vacuum. Significantly the move psychologically demoralized the Afghan army almost immediately. The Taliban filled the void with lightning efficiency.



American political policy in Afghanistan has been a mix of muddled mediocrity, lubricated with billions of dollars in misspent largesse amid great expectations which exceed the cost of the post-World War II Marshall Plan that rebuilt devastated Europe!



Now the drama has turned full circle and reached its crescendo with the fall of Kabul.



The U.S. military's pullout from the strategic Baghram airbase a month ago allowed this military hub brimming with so much new U.S. equipment to fall first into the hands of looters then an indifferent Afghan garrison. The move telegraphed reckless stupidity to the Taliban fighters.



Yet news of this chaos in Afghanistan has been tempered by the faux strategic sagacity of President Joe Biden who weeks ago expressed confidence in the Afghan military being able to defend the war-torn country.



But as the Taliban reached the gates of Kabul, Secretary of State Antony Blinken conceded that the collapse "has happened more quickly than we anticipated." Clearly this was not a rout of the American military but a tragic collapse of its Afghan proxy.



It's not that the Taliban Islamic militants are really so tough; nor that the Afghan side lacks training or armaments, but sadly the motivation and willingness to fight. Taliban, harbingers of a medieval ideology and theocratic regime, had the momentum to victory.



Now our immediate task is to secure and evacuate personnel from the sprawling U.S. Embassy without evoking haunting scenes of Saigon 1975. Grim scenes of the Kabul chaos are juxtaposed with the president's delusional sanctimonious malarkey.



We never grasped the truism that Afghanistan remains a tribal and ethnic quilt of peoples who see sovereignty resting in their particular province or valley and bound often by warlords and fundamentalist Islam.



Trying to create a secular and internationally respectable state promoting elections, tolerance, and women's rights, while clearly a noble concept and probably embraced by a significant minority in urban centers such as Kabul, became Quixotic at best.



The French daily Le Figaro headlined, "Afghanistan: the Routing of the West." Renaud Giraud opined, "Europe will pay for the inconsistency of the United States in Afghanistan."



The ousted Afghan government in Kabul can at best be seen as largely incompetent and corrupt. Clearly a Taliban victory signals a victory of Islamic extremism. It evokes the humiliation of the U.S. by forces which cannot be grasped by Washington think tanks or woke leftist media. A return of an al-Qaida terrorist network is almost assured.



A few poignant issues: U.S. military commitment to prevent a serious al-Qaida presence for 20 years.



Human rights: Sadly we already know the answer as we did back in South Vietnam.



Interpreter: So many decent and dedicated Afghan civilians worked with the American and European coalition forces as interpreters, guides, etc. Their fate following a Taliban takeover is painfully obvious.



The U.S. has given special refugee status to some of the interpreters and their direct families.



Regional powers: The Iranians, Turks, Russians and the Chinese are all gauging their reactions.



Refugees: The expected outflow of refugees may be staggeringly high and the human tide will soon reach Europe and America.



Stranded civilians: Over 15,000 Americans are stranded in Kabul depending on Taliban good-will to let them leave. The Biden administration's appalling incompetence to withdraw the military before U.S. civilians has left them marooned under Taliban control.



The U.N.'s Guterres warned, "The international community must unite to make sure that Afghanistan is never again used as a platform or safe haven for terrorist organizations."



The fall of Kabul and the creation of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan presents a starkly stunning geopolitical setback for the United States' standing and global credibility.





John J. Metzler (jjmcolumn@earthlink.net) is a United Nations correspondent covering diplomatic and defense issues. He is the author of "Divided Dynamism  The Diplomacy of Separated Nations: Germany, Korea, China."


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PORTLAND, OR (KPTV)  On the one-year anniversary of demonstrators fighting in downtown Portland, groups again faced off against each other on Sunday.

A group of about 100 gathered at the old K-Mart on Northeast 122nd Avenue and Sandy Boulevard was met by another group around 4 p.m. The latter group of about 50 set off fireworks, smoke bombs and shot paintballs briefly. The crowd then advanced and retreated for about 45 minutes.

This was the scene just a few mins ago along NE 122nd/Skidmore. Group of about 50 counter protestors came to cause trouble at the right-wing Summer of Love rally where about 100 were gathered. Some fireworks, smoke bombs, paintballs being fired back and forth @fox12oregon pic.twitter.com/p4JFZPdte9  Camila Orti (@CamilaOrtiTV) August 22, 2021

Several hundred people are gathered at 2 locations: Waterfront Park downtown & the Argay Terrace neighborhood in NE Portland. We would like to thank those who are remaining peaceful. pic.twitter.com/5RHYTxQwig  PPB Event Messages (@PPBAlerts) August 22, 2021

Heres a look at the gathering happening now at Tom McCall Park in downtown Portland. We know another group is gathering on the east side of the city as well. @fox12oregon pic.twitter.com/wWJIBqJqQT  Bridget Chavez (@BridgetChavezTV) August 22, 2021

Demonstrators began gathering at the Salmon Springs Fountain at 1 p.m. The Portland Police Bureau said that it observed some aggressive behavior toward others in the area.

The Summer of Love: Patriots Spreading Love not Hate event was scheduled to start at 2 p.m. at the waterfront but was moved to the parking lot of the abandoned K-Mart.

Some people attending the Northeast Portland event wore Proud Boys gear. Speakers who took the stage denounced the COVID-19 vaccine and criticized the mainstream media's coverage of the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol.

PPB said there were acts of violence and property destruction both in downtown Portland and the clash on NE 122nd Ave. Police did not make immediate arrests, but detectives are reviewing evidence to determine whether any can happen later. PPB said officers were not deployed to stand in between individuals intent on confronting one another.

FOX 12 crews witnessed a van getting tipped over, and more than one car getting vandalized. Michael Nelson said someone slashed his tires after he pulled into a nearby convenience store.

"I thought they put a sticker or something on (my car), guess he slashed both my passenger side tires," Nelson said.

In an emailed statement, PPB said "Just because arrests are not made at the scene, when tensions are high, does not mean that people are not being charged with crimes later."

Around 5:45 p.m., police were called to shots fired near Southwest Second Avenue and Southwest Yamhill Street. Videographer Sean Carmitchel tweeted out video of a man firing a gun from behind a trash can on the street corner. In the same video, return fire comes from outside of the video frame.

Portland police said officers arrested 65-year-old Dennis Anderson in the shooting. PPB said it didn't get any reports regarding injuries. The bureau is still investigating the incident.

Police ask for help identifying victims and witnesses in the following ways:

 If you were a victim of a violent crime, please make a police report by calling the police non-emergency line at (503) 823-3333. Please reference case number 21-681328.

 If you were a victim of a non-violent crime (such as vandalism), go to www.portlandpolice.com/cor. Please reference case number 21-681328.

 If you witnessed a crime or have evidence of a crime, including videos and photos, submit those at crimetips@portlandoregon.gov. Please reference case number 21-681328.

"While it's disappointing that some people chose to engage violently, I am grateful for those who exercised their rights peacefully and without committing crimes," Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell said in a statement. "I also thank the Portland Police personnel who came in to work today on their day off, and those who were responding to calls for service citywide."

Portland prepares for clashing protests this weekend PORTLAND, OR (KPTV)  One year ago, right-wing protesters clashed with counter-protesters outside of the Multnomah County Justice Center and o

The planned rallies prompted Mayor Ted Wheeler, Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell and other city leaders to hold a virtual Choose Love event on Friday, ahead of the planned demonstrations to denounce hate and violence.

Anyone who comes into our community and is spreading their hate, their racism, their xenophobia, their white supremist predilections, all of that is very intimidating to people who are here, particularly people of color, Wheeler said.
POCATELLO, Idaho (KPVI) - "As we saw the last four years, we had low gas prices, a stable Afghanistan and other things," said Bannock County Commissioner Terrel Tovey, who believes the new presidency has gone off the path. Read more
MONTANA - Sen. Steve Daines and Sen. Jon Tester released statements regarding the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) approval of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine Monday.

Daines said the following statement in a release from his office:

This is a huge achievement. While millions of people have already received safe COVID-19 vaccines, Im hopeful that the news today will help instill additional confidence to get vaccinated. I encourage all Montanans to talk to their doctor about getting a free, safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine.

Tester said the following statement in a release from his office:

With the dangerous Delta variant causing COVID-19 cases to spike all across our state, full FDA approval of the Pfizer vaccine is welcome news and more proof that these vaccines are both incredibly safe and extremely effective. These shots have undergone extensive scientific testing, and I encourage every eligible Montanan to get vaccinated as quickly as possible to protect themselves and their community so we can finally beat this pandemic and get Montanas economy back on the right track once and for all.

All Montanan's 12-years-old and older are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
BILLINGS, Mont. - Just over 48 hours ago, masks were not required inside Billings Public Schools. Now with schools starting on Monday, faculty and students will be required to mask up.

The decision came from Billings Public Schools Superintendent, Gregg Upham, who sent an email Saturday afternoon saying if you're in school, you need to wear a mask.

The decision cited a recent outbreak within an extracurricular activity at Sky View High School.

According to the State of Montana, COVID-19 cases are on the rise again.

In the community, some parents were glad to hear the decision to reinstate the mask mandate.

Last year my daughter was in kindergarten for her first time in school and she had no issues wearing masks and didn't hear her complain we would walk out the door and she would be the one to say oh I forgot my mask so I don't think it was that big of a problem, Corey Coggins said, a parent in Billings. They're probably doing what's in the best interest of the kids.

But others feel much differently about the issue. In Pioneer Park, a rally was held to protest the schools board implementing a mask mandate.

Hundreds of parents gathered at the park to express that they don't want the school board making masks mandatory for their children and every family should be entitled to their own decision.

I would tell you that COVID is a very real disease, Luke Hudson said, a parent in Billings. It's a very serious disease that needs to be addressed and it's in our community. I would tell you that we are not mandating anything, we are not banning anything. We are just standing up and saying that we believe that we have the right to make the decision.

With the school year starting in less than a day, the community seems to be split on what the right decision is in the school systems and for their children.
ROME, AUG 23 - Some 203 more Afghans who helped Italy's mission and family members landed in Rome Monday as an Italian airlift via Kuwait continued to fly out people at risk of Taliban reprisal. An Afghan soldier became the 21st person to reportedly die at Kabul airport as a massive crush of desperate people continued. US Vice President Kamala Harris said the prime goal remained evacuating American citizens, Afghan allies and vulnerable groups. Earlier, Italian Foreign MInister Luigi Di Maio said Italy planned to convene an extraordinary G20 on Afghanistan with China and Russia. A G7 meeting on the Asian country will take place on Tuesday. Meanwhile a Taliban spokesman said "we will react if the US remains beyond the August 31 deadline" for its pullout. "If the US tries to gain time to continue the evacuations from Afghanistan there will be consequences," said Suhail Shaheen, a member of the Taliban negotiating team. Speaking to Sky News in Doha, he said there would be a response after President Joe Biden said he would push back the August 31 deadline to make sure the evacuation was completed. (ANSA).
ROME, AUG 23 - A common strategy is needed for Afghanistan, Foreign Minister Lugi Di Maio told the annual meeting of influential Catholic group Comunione e Liberazione in Rimini Sunday. The western alliance must be strengthened, he said. Urging reflection on past mistakes, Di Maio said action must be taken to stop terrorism returning to Afghanistan after the Taliban's return to power. Di Maio stressed the importance of a G7 meeting on Tuesday. He also underscored the key role of an extraordinary G20 meeting which Italy is planning to call as duty president of the forum. Di Maio said this would also involve Russia, China and India. The three countries, the foreign minister said, "represent a crucial point in the overall strategy". Some 203 more Afghans who helped Italy's mission and family members landed in Rome Monday as an Italian airlift via Kuwait continued to fly out people at risk of Taliban reprisal. An Afghan soldier became the 21st person to reportedly die at Kabul airport as a massive crush of desperate people continued. US Vice President Kamala Harris said the prime goal remained evacuating American citizens, Afghan allies and vulnerable groups. Meanwhile a Taliban spokesman said "we will react if the US remains beyond the August 31 deadline" for its pullout. "If the US tries to gain time to continue the evacuations from Afghanistan there will be consequences," said Suhail Shaheen, a member of the Taliban negotiating team. Speaking to Sky News in Doha, he said there would be a response after President Joe Biden said he would push back the August 31 deadline to make sure the evacuation was completed. Some young Afghan men said they had been whipped by the Taliban for wearing jeans. (ANSA).
MILAN, AUG 23 - A 50-year-old pharmaceuticals manager accused of drugging and raping a 21-year-old female student in his luxury Milan flat last May has now been placed under investigation for suspected fraudulent bankruptcy, sources said Monday. Antonio Di Fazio has been in prison custody since May Five young women who say they were drugged and raped by Di Fazio have come forward and spoken to prosecutors. One of the girls has said she was held captive for four weeks, and another for several days, while a third said she managed to escape his clutches. Sources said they had told "horror stories" to the prosecutors. Police said they were investigating a suspected network of accomplices. Prosecutors say they have found images of other suspected victims of 50-year-old Di Fazio, who was arrested on May 24 on suspicion of drugging, raping and photographing a 21-year-old student who went to his office for a job interview. Police said they had found more than 50 photos on his phone but there were even more on his other devices, meaning that the victims are presumably much more numerous than the five initially thought. The images, like that of the student and another four young women, were found on Di Fazio's phone, PC and tablet. Police said he took them as "trophies" of his sexual violence. They said he slipped massive doses of tranquilizers into the women's drinks and then stripped them and raped them, before photographing them naked. Di Fazio has declined to answer prosecutors' questions. His lawyer, Rocco Romellano, told reporters: "He's very confused and worn out, he isn't well, I've always known him to be a cordial, honest and calm person, but I can't know if he had a double life, nothing like that has come out". Di Fazio was declared bankrupt on Friday, with debts of over half a million euros. He is now being probed for the fraudulent bankruptcy of his former company, Industria Farmaceutica Italiana, judicial sources said Monday. (ANSA).
BOLOGNA, AUG 23 - A 97-year-old former WWIII American soldier on Monday met in Bologna the 80-something former children he photographed after nearly killing them near the Emilian capital in 1944. The man, Martin Adler, met Bruno, Mafalda and Giuliana Naldi at Bologna Airport, greeted them warmly from his wheelchair and brought them some chocolate and a rose, wearing a t-shirt saying "Martin's bambini, forever kids". The former United States soldier managed to make contact with the three children he nearly killed during World War II after a successful search via social media last year. Adler, a native of the Bronx, entered a house in Monterenzio, near Bologna, with a companion of the 339th Infantry Regiment during the Italian campaign in October 1944. Once inside they heard sounds coming from a basket and they were ready to shoot as they thought German soldiers were hiding there. But the mother rushed in shouting 'bambini, bambini!' before they opened fire. When he saw three small children, two girls and a boy, Adler's heart melted and he asked the mother if he could take a photo with them. After 76 years, he decided to try and track them down, although it was not an easy task, given that he did not know their names or that of the town. But his daughter Rachelle made an appeal via social media and, with the help of Italian writer Matteo Incerti, the mission was completed. As a result Adler was able to have a video call on December 15 with Bruno, Mafalda and Giuliana Naldi, who are now 84, 83 and 80 respectively. (ANSA).
RICCIONE, AUG 23 - Two gangs of young men were arrested in the Romagna Riviera resort of Riccione Monday on suspicion of vandalising property. The youths, around 30 in all, were caught on CCTV damaging cars in the centre of the seaside town, police said. Many of them are of north African origin, police said. They were allegedly led by two young Moroccan men, aged 23 and 24, police said. The pair, who live in Lecco north of MIlan, have reportedly been arrested on charge of robbing money, cell phones and gold chains from two tourists. One of the groups of alleged vandals, all north African, also robbed two 18-year-old tourists of 50 euros, a cellphone and a gold necklace, police said. Two second-generation Moroccans from near Biella north of Milan, aged 20 and 21, were arrested and taken into prison custody. Ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right Forza Italia (FI) Senate Whip Anna Maria Bernini said teen and youth gangs were a national emergency. (ANSA).
CAMDEN COUNTY, Mo.  A Long Lane, Mo. man was seriously injured in a crash on Highway 54, west of Highway 73, on Saturday, August 21st.

According to the Missouri Highway Patrol, Thomas Montgomery, 22, of Preston Mo. was driving a 2016 Ford F250 when the vehicle failed to negotiate a curve and crossed the centerline. According to the report, the vehicle then travelled off the left side of the road, struck a ditch and struck a utility pole.

Ryan Strickland, 22, of Long Lane sustained serious injuries and was transported by MU Care to Mercy Hospital in Springfield.
Once children are in high school, Vega said, their opinions of law enforcement oftentimes are already formed.

(When) these kids are doing major crimes of stealing cars and (other) things, they have no thought of their future, Vega said. But if they have positive contacts like I did growing up with these police officers, you can think of joining the military or becoming a police officer yourself instead of looking at a life of incarceration and being lost in the system.

Vega added that forging those relationships at a young age will only pay dividends down the road, even if it comes years later when children become adults.

If you have that positive contact, youd be surprised at them coming forward to stop (a crime later), he said.

We need more funding to get more officers on the street. Then we can show them a different future they can have, to cooperate with us, to let us know the issues.

Looking back

With the anniversary of the Jacob Blake shooting and the riots that followed on Monday, Deates reflected on the last year in Kenosha.
KENOSHA  On the one-year anniversary of the shooting of Jacob Blake, Wisconsin elected officials have no consensus on the narrative of how Blake was shot seven times on Aug. 23, 2020, by Rusten Sheskey, a Kenosha Police officer who has since been cleared of criminal wrongdoing.

$1 for 6 months of unlimited local journalism Get the information you need to help keep you and your loved ones safe, healthy and updated on important issues and events.

On Monday, the one-year anniversary, statements with markedly different tones and focal points were issued by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers; state Sen. Van Wanggaard, a Racine Republican whose district includes most of Kenosha County; and state Rep. Tod Ohnstad, D-Kenosha, among others, regarding the shooting of Blake and what happened in the subsequent days.

In Wanggaards statement, he noted that Kenosha police officers were responding near the 2800 block of 40th Street in Kenosha to arrest Blake for prior allegations of sexual assault following a 911 call where a woman claimed he was creating a domestic disturbance and was about to steal her car, which he had allegedly done before.
Hughes said she spent time with Huber shortly before his death, and she heard him talk about his feelings that police were unjustified in shooting Blake in the back.

He was very upset, she said.

Hughes recalled a time when Huber was a child: During a party there was a propane tank that began hissing. While others ran in fear that the tank would explode, she said, Huber ran toward the tank, saying later that he was hoping to prevent the tank from hurting anyone.

Asked what she wanted people to know about her nephew, Hughes said, He never stopped trying.

According to a program distributed at the remembrance, Huber also is survived by a brother, R.J. Hughes; an uncle, Mark Bloom; and his three favorite kids in the world, Baby Nate, Lyla Russell and Frances Gittings.

John Schneider and his daughter, Katy Schneider, attended the park event as longtime friends of Hannah Gittings.

John Schneider said while he did not know Huber, he believes the young man was heroic in the way he attempted to disarm Rittenhouse during the protest violence. Upon hearing that one of the shooting victims was Gittings boyfriend, Schneider said: That was just shocking for us.
In the fall, McMains will host two, 2-hour workshops for adults and young students. The sessions will consist of an hour having attendees write a story about their life and the second hour focusing on how to put together a zine.

I want to let everyone know that their story is important. It doesnt matter if youre not a celebrity or think you havent had an interesting life, said McMains. Everyone has a story and it should be shared. Zines are a great outlet to do that because you dont need anyone elses approval or funding to say what you want.

Life after residency

Alvarez-Maldonado said she never knew Racine had such a lively arts scene growing up, but with her time in residency, shes grown to not only appreciate the arts community but to reignite her passion to write.

It cemented that theres no one way to be a writer, she said. It doesnt come with a big fancy desk and quill pen, but a laptop thats still creaky and a battery thats trying to hold on for another year. Its sharing ideas with friends, critically reading each others work and being nervous to have your work critiqued.
In January of 2018, Tom and Caitlin Moriarty opened Moriarty Meats on Grant Street to focus on helping families experience meat in a new, old way  the way traditional butchers always intended  using every inch of the carcass through the process of whole animal butchery.
The Dairy Future Commission has a broad mandate to suggest improvements to marketing, regulation, cost of production and current issues  in short, anything that can be done to help the states largest ag sector find more secure footing.
The Pennsylvania Department of Agricultures Bureau of Animal Health and Diagnostic Services has gone mobile with a retrofitted trailer testing for SARS-CoV-2 and other infectious diseases where there appears to be an imminent risk.
Enrollment in Dairy Margin Coverage surged 27% for next year as farmers applied a key lesson of the pandemic. More than 17,000 farms will be protected in 2021 through USDAs main dairy risk management program.
Afghan refugees protest in front of the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Delhi



Their demands include refugee status/cards for all Afghans, resettlement option to a third country, and security from UNHCR and the Indian government pic.twitter.com/FUVV5M21ve ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2021

(SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)
Motorola, the Lenovo-owned smartphone brand has launched a new Motorola Edge 2021 globally. It comes as a successor to the Edge smartphone that was launched last year. The phone comes with improved specifications and more features than its predecessor. The key highlights of the phone are the Snapdragon 778G chipset, 6.8-inch IPS FHD+ LCD screen, 8GB of RAM, 108MP triple camera, 32MP front camera, a 5,000mAh battery, and more. Motorola Edge 20 Online Sale Delayed; Pre-Orders To Commence on August 24, 2021.

As for prices, the newly launched Motorola Edge 2021 costs $699 (around Rs 52,000). However, the phone will be available for sale at a discounted price of $499 (Rs 37,200). The handset comes in a single Nebula Blue colour. The phone will be available for pre-order in the US from tomorrow. It is slated to go on sale starting September 2. Presently, the company hasn't revealed any details regarding its availability in the Indian market.

Ultra high-res camera  Ultra-smooth display  Get ready to go big the new motorola edge is almost here! https://t.co/Prg87jwyOd pic.twitter.com/CW2cfsTKmi  motorolaus (@MotorolaUS) August 19, 2021

Coming to specs, it boasts a 6.5-inch IPS LCD with FHD+ resolution and a 144Hz of refresh rate. The display also supports a 20:9 aspect ratio and HDR10. It comes powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G SoC, paired with Adreno 642L GPU. The SoC is clubbed with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of onboard storage.

The smartphone has a triple camera module at the back consisting of a 108MP primary sensor assisted by an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens and a 2MP depth sensor. The front camera is a 32MP shooter for selfies and video calls. It gets a 5000mAh battery with 30W fast charging support. It runs Android 11 out of the box with My UX on top.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 22, 2021 11:44 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
President Joe Biden laughed after he was asked about a poll revealing that the majority of the Americans believe he's no longer competent to be president.

It happened during Biden's press briefing on Sunday as he provided an update on the administration's response to Hurricane Henri and Afghanistan evacuations.

A reporter cited the CBS News poll that was also released on Sunday, Fox News reported. The survey comes as Joe Biden and his administration were placed under fire after he decided to pull out the U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

READ NEXT: Angelina Jolie Joins Instagram, Posts Heartfelt Letter Sent to Her by an Afghan Girl

Poll Shows Majority of Americans Question President Joe Biden's Ability to Serve

The reporter said the poll revealed that Americans wanted to withdraw the U.S citizens in Afghanistan but disapproved of how the president responded and handled the situation.

"The poll also found that... a majority of Americans, and forgive me, I'm just the messenger no longer consider you competent, focused or effective in the job," the reporter added.

Biden immediately responded by saying that he has not seen that poll. The reporter replied, "It's out there." Joe Biden then shook his head and laughed.

When asked about his thoughts and what he can say to the Americans who say he's unfit to be president, Joe Biden said he has a "basic decision to make."

"I either withdraw the American people from a 20-year war... I either increase the number of forces we keep there... or I end the war, and I decided to end the war," he noted.

It can be recalled that a survey released last week showed a majority of likely voters believed that Biden would not finish his term and Vice President Kamala Harris will replace him.

The survey from Rasmussen Reports revealed that although they believe Kamala Harris would likely replace Joe Biden before the 2024 election, Americans were not convinced that Harris was qualified to replace Biden.

The said survey of 1,000 likely voters was conducted between August 12 and August 15, as the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan.

President Joe Biden to Accept Afghanistan Nationals

During the press briefing, the president said he's open to accepting Afghan evacuees into the U.S. However, Biden underscored that it would happen after being screened and cleared from military bases and transit centers.

The president said they set up processing and transit centers across the world for Americans and Afghans who flee the South Asian country. He noted that more than two dozen countries across four continents agreed to set up these centers.

Joe Biden noted that their priority was to get American citizens out of Kabul as "quickly, and as safely as possible."

"Any Americans who want to get home will get home," the president stressed.

To date, Joe Biden said the U.S. forces have already evacuated at least 33,000 individuals since July. The president further noted that around 11,000 people were evacuated out of Kabul in less than 36 hours.

READ MORE: Pentagon Contradicts Pres. Joe Biden on Claims Al Qaeda 'Gone' in Afghanistan, Taliban Letting Americans Reach Airport

This article is owned by Latin Post

Written By: Joshua Summers

WATCH: President Joe Biden Talks Strategy as Situation in Afghanistan Remains Dire - From Good Morning America
The Pentagon is seeking help from U.S. commercial airlines to help in the evacuation effort of those left in Afghanistan amid the capital's Taliban seizure.

Department of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said they had activated Stage 1 of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet program (CRAF) on Sunday, NPR reported.

The U.S. military is asking for 18 aircraft. Three each will come from America Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Atlas Air, and Omni Air; two from Hawaiian Airlines; and four from United Airlines.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the civilian planes would not land at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul. Instead, they will carry people from temporary locations after they landed on flights from Afghanistan.

The aircraft will be used for the onward movement of passengers from temporary safe havens outside Afghanistan. President Joe Biden said on Sunday that the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan might be extended beyond August 31.

Biden said they hope they will not have to extend. He noted that there would still be discussions and talks about how far along they are in the process, The Wall Street Journal reported. The first flights carrying evacuees from Afghanistan were expected on Monday.

READ NEXT: As Afghanistan Capital Falls to Taliban, More U.S. Troops Rush to Aid the Evacuation

Pentagon Using the U.S. Commercial Airlines

The Civil Reserve Air Fleet program was only used thrice in history, with Austin activating the recent one. Austin said they continue to look at different ways to reach out and contact American citizens and help them get into the airfield.

The defense secretary also talked about evacuating Afghan citizens who have worked with the troops, diplomats, media, and non-governmental troops since 2001. Austin said they are included in the Special Immigrant Visa program, according to The Guardian report.

U.S. State Secretary Antony Blinken announced on Sunday that they had gotten 8,000 people out over the last 24 hours.

However, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that several thousands of Americans were still in Afghanistan, with the Biden administration not knowing the precise number.

When Blinken was asked if the U.S. had to ask permission from the Taliban to get people out, he answered that they are in control and "that is the reality."

Austin said the Taliban has been allowing people to pass safely through if they have an American passport and proper credentials.

Taliban on U.S. Withdrawal

The militant group's leader earlier announced that they were ensuring they will not engage in systemic retribution, with vague reassurances to women.

The chairman of the Taliban's Military Commission, Mullah Yaqoub, ordered Tuesday that fighters in Kabul should not enter people's homes or seize property, The New York Times reported.

However, Yaqoub also said that the Taliban would be collecting weapons and government property in an organized manner. He added that looting the state property "was a betrayal of the country," warning that anyone caught will be dealt with.

A Taliban delegation was also discussing with political leaders the formation of an interim government. Amir Khan Muttaqi is leading the delegation. He served as the minister of higher education in the previous Taliban government.

READ MORE: Former Pres. George W. Bush Says Withdrawal of U.S. Troops in Afghanistan Is a Mistake

This article is owned by Latin Post

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: 18 U.S. Commercial Planes To Aid Evacuation in Afghanistan - From MSNBC






Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi are facing tons of backlash on Twitter after videos showed them that they seemed having a good time over the weekend while President Joe Biden faces mounting blame for Afghanistan fiasco.

Both Democrats were criticized on social media after different clips showed Pelosi and Schumer in two separate events yucking it up.

READ NEXT: Americans, Other Foreign Nationals in Afghanistan Will Not Be Charged for Evacuation Flights, State Department Says

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Criticized over Face Mask and Diversity

On Sunday, a video surfaced on Twitter showing Nancy Pelosi with a bunch of maskless people during a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) retreat in Napa Valley, California.

In the video, the donors were seen sitting within close proximity of each other and without face coverings as Pelosi, also without a mask, spoke in front of them.

This appears to be a video of @SpeakerPelosi talking to donors at the @dccc retreat this weekend in Napa. pic.twitter.com/YsqRvM16ex  Kenneth P. Vogel (@kenvogel) August 22, 2021

The Blaze reported that COVID-19 cases in Napa County through August 13 to 19 were up by 71 percent from the previous week, making the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) designate the county as a "high level of community transmission."

Although most of the guests did not wear their masks, journalist Glenn Greenwald noted that all the waiters in the fundraising event wore their face coverings, New York Post reported.

All the servants fully masked.



The almost-entirely old, white, rich crowd of DCCC donors free to go maskless as they're served. https://t.co/OuhPp468q9  Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) August 22, 2021

Critics were quick to react and slammed Nancy Pelosi, with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy saying, "it's utter hypocrisy."

"Speaker Pelosi wants to lock you down again while she wines and dines with her political donors," McCarthy noted.

Speaker Pelosi wants to lock you down again while she wines and dines with her political donors. It's utter hypocrisy. https://t.co/PmiygfqN7F  Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) August 22, 2021

In a statement, National Republican Congressional Committee Spokesman, Mike Berg, said the Democrats would have plenty of time "to sip expensive wine" with Nancy Pelosi after the voters fire them in the midterm elections.

It was not the first time that Nancy Pelosi was seen not wearing a mask. It can be recalled that the House speaker was seen not wearing a face mask two days after the Capitol Police declared that face masks should be worn at all times.

Apart from not wearing a face mask, Pelosi was also blasted for diversity, as most of the guests in the said fundraiser appeared to be white.

One Twitter asked where are the people of color.

Where are the people of color? pic.twitter.com/FtaPwz7Jdj  Jeff Burrows (@Jeff_Burrows) August 22, 2021

Another one said the crowd was diverse.

Diverse crowd  Midnight Rider (@RubberCitySpeed) August 22, 2021

Meanwhile, another user noted that the only non-White people in the crowd were the servers.

Also appears like the only non-white ppl there are the servers. Dem there White Privilege?  Ray Watson (@ObiRayKanobi) August 22, 2021

Senator Chuck Schumer Blasted for His Dance with Stephen Colbert

Chuck Schumer was criticized after a video showing him dancing with Stephen Colbert surfaced on Twitter.

It happened during the "We Love NYC" The Homecoming Concert" in Central Park. The video showed that Schumer and Colbert were happily dancing and vibing to the music. The event was cut short Saturday night due to inclement weather.

Congressman Lee Zeldin slammed the senator. He said that maybe once Schumer's done dancing, he can call President Joe Biden and get him to sign the Pre-Landfall Emergency Declaration for the state.

Maybe once @SenSchumer is done dancing with @StephenAtHome, he can call @POTUS & get him to sign the Pre-Landfall Emergency Declaration for our state. The current forecast is predicting a direct hit to Long Island by Hurricane Henri in hours. Stop clowning around & do something! https://t.co/Ze61jGI9qb  Lee Zeldin (@RepLeeZeldin) August 21, 2021

Hurricane Henri was forecasted to hit Long Island earlier, but its track shifted east Sunday, which spared eastern Long Island.

Tom Nichols, an academic specialist in International Affairs, urged Chuck Schumer to switch careers if he wants to "spend a joyous night" in Central Park while Kabul is in shambles.

If Chuck Schumer wants to spend a joyous night rocking out in Central Park while Kabul is a mess and Biden is up to his neck in hot water, then he should get a job besides Majority Leader. https://t.co/5IKTaFRQzu  Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) August 22, 2021

The said video of Schumer dancing was posted by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio's spokesman, Bill Neidhart.

READ MORE: Pfizer, Moderna Booster Shots Will Be Available to the Public Starting Next Month, Biden Administration Says

This article is owned by Latin Post

Written By: Joshua Summers

WATCH: Pelosi Fines House Members Despite CDC Mask Guidance - From Fox Business
The debate over mask mandates in Florida schools heads to court this week, with a hearing on a lawsuit set to start on Monday.

In the lawsuit, parents claimed that the governor's order keeps Florida from having "safe and secure public schools," Click Orlando reported.

Orange County attorney, Judi Hayes, is the lead plaintiff in the said federal lawsuit against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' mask ban. The state of Florida claims the current rule prioritizes parents.

Hayes said she's happy to see the state lawsuit was moving forward. Hayes was with a group of parents and children with disabilities when they filed the federal lawsuit earlier this month.

The group claimed that DeSantis' mask ban and the education commissioner's order, which prevents school districts from offering hybrid learning models, violate the Americans with Disabilities Act.

A judge ruled last week that the state lawsuit filed against DeSantis' school mask ban could move forward, with a three-day hearing in the case starts Monday. Reports said a ruling could come down later this week.

A similar lawsuit was filed by attorney Barry Silver on behalf of a father of three children living in Broward County. The suit cited the growing number of COVID cases and the danger to "plaintiff and his children and all others they come into contact with is severe, unreasonable, and growing by the day."

READ NEXT: More Than 5,000 Students in a Single Florida School District Quarantined or Isolated Due to COVID

Florida's Ultimatum

Two Florida school districts had gone against state rules and imposed mask mandates for students. They were given 48 hours to reverse course or lose state funding, ABC News reported. Alachua and Broward's counties were the first of five districts in Florida to impose mask requirements earlier this month.

The State Board of Education said if they do not back down from their mandates in two days, the districts will have to provide Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran the current salaries of each school board member.

The Florida Department of Education said it would start gradually withholding state funding until each Florida school complies with the order. Leaders in both school districts said they would not bring down their mask mandates and take legal action against the state.

Dr. Rosalind Osgood, chair of the Broward County School Board, noted that it is not legal what the governor is doing, but they think DeSantis has overstepped his purview.

Mask Mandates in Florida Schools

The administration of President Joe Biden expressed support for school leaders imposing mask mandates. Joe Biden has already directed the secretary of education to take additional steps to protect the children, including using legal action against the governors if appropriate, NPR reported.

Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said the department would be looking into the bans on mask mandates if they infringe the rights of every student to have equal access to public education.

Cardona had sent letters to state leaders in Florida, as well as Texas. The letter noted that the school districts could use federal COVID funds if their states sanction them for imposing mask mandates.

Cardona also pointed out that the American Rescue Plan funds could provide money for staffing regardless of whether the state moves to withhold some of their salaries.

The education secretary also wrote a letter to Florida's governor and education commissioner, saying that the department stands with the educators.

Meanwhile, many Florida students are already back at home quarantining after starting the in-person school year. After more than 5,000 students were put in isolation or quarantine because of COVID-19, Hillsborough County had an emergency school board meeting to tackle mitigation measures.

READ MORE: Moderna Scientists Warn Against New COVID Variants That Could Drive a New Wave of Transmission

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Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Judge Says Lawsuit Against Gov. Ron DeSantis' School Mask Ban Can Move Forward - From WKMG News 6 ClickOrlando




A fire has broken out at an offshore platform in the southern Gulf of Mexico on Sunday. The site was operated by Pemex, also known as Petroleos Mexicanos.

At least five people have been injured, as confirmed by the Mexican state oil and gas firm, Reuters reported. The blaze happened at the E-Ku-A2 platform at Pemex's Ku-Maloob-Zaap oil field. The fire was reportedly under control at 4:30 p.m.

Local reports noted that the facility was operational when the blaze started, and workers were immediately evacuated. Billions have been pumped into the oilfields since its discovery in 1980, according to an Independent report. It was not the first Pemex incident that involved fire.

READ NEXT: 1 Dead, 26 Injured in Mexico City Gas Leak Explosion

Pemex's 'Eye of Fire' in Mexico

In July, a fire erupted on the ocean surface west of Mexico's Yucatan peninsula allegedly because of a gas leak from an underwater pipeline of Pemex.

Videos of the bright orange flames on the water's surface that resembled molten lava went viral on social media. People dubbed it the "eye of fire" for the fire's circular shape near a Pemex oil platform, another Reuters report said.

Pemex said it took more than five hours to fully extinguish the fire. The company noted that a lightning storm and a simultaneous gas pipeline leak set off the subaquatic fireball.

Pemex said that as the gas rose to the water's surface, it was hit with a lightning bolt from the storm, causing the fire to break out.

CBS News reported that the executive director of Mexico's security, energy, and environment agency, Angel Carrizales, earlier said that the pipeline did not generate a spill. Pemex further noted that there was no oil spill or environmental damage.

Journalist Manuel Lopez San Martin said the fire was just 400 meters from an oil platform. He also noted that four ships appeared to spray water at the huge "eye of fire."

Other Incidents Involving Pemex

The state oil company, operating 81 drilling rigs, has a history of major industrial accidents. Out of those drilling rigs, 11 are offshore.

In April, the company has developed a leak in one of its wells in Sota la Marina in Tamaulipas, Mexico. To prevent the flow of water and clay, the company said it would build a dam. They noted that the leak did not have any risk because the area was unpopulated.

A blaze has also broken out at the Tula-Salamanca pipeline in San Juan del Rio in February. The company said that it was later controlled and had put out the fire.

A Pemex-owned fuel pipeline in Tlahuelilpan, Hidalgo had also exploded in January 2019. The incident killed more than a hundred people because large crowds gathered at an illegal pipe drain to steal or get fuel.

After the incident, Pemex said the pipeline had been breached 10 times over three months. Authorities in Mexico blamed fuel thieves, who illegally tapped the pipeline.

READ MORE: Clashing Mexican Drug Cartels Leave 2 Police and 7 Others Dead in Mexico

This article is owned by Latin Post

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Video Shows Fire in Gulf of Mexico After Gas Pipeline Rupture - From ABC7






President Joe Biden made another gaffe on Sunday when he seemed to forget the name of his Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) director Deanne Criswell just moments after talking to her.

Joe Biden was seen in 10 to 12-second video clips to have a hard time remembering the name of his FEMA director. Biden said in the video that there's no one better to lead the operation than Deanne Criswell, stuttering in between her name, according to a Daily Mail report.

"There's no one better to lead this operation than...than....umm...uh...Deanne....uh....Criswell," the president said during a press briefing as he provided an update on the administration's response to Hurricane Henri and Afghanistan evacuations.

Joe Biden has already suffered two brain aneurysms and a coronary heart situation which makes the heart beats too fast and causing dizziness and confusion, U.S. News Chant reported.

The president also had several mental lapses and gaffes during the G7 summit in England last June. He had confused Libya with Syria on three occasions.

Joe Biden had also mistakenly said COVID when he meant to say COVAX during the presser. The president further noted that COVID is the system whereby they were going to provide funding for states to get access to vaccines.

Critics were quick to take a jab at Biden's recent gaffe, saying it adds to further proof of Biden's cognitive decline. The latest mental lapse happened as Joe Biden and his administration were placed under fire after he decided to pull out the U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

READ NEXT: Pentagon Contradicts Pres. Joe Biden on Claims Al Qaeda 'Gone' in Afghanistan, Taliban Letting Americans Reach Airport

Joe Biden Polls

A Rasmussen Reports poll released on Friday showed that only 39 percent of respondents believed that Joe Biden was doing his job as president.

The survey also revealed that 51 percent of the participants thought that "others are making the decisions" for Biden, while 10 percent said they were unsure.

In addition, 52 percent of the respondents said they were not confident that the president was mentally and physically fit for the job, while 46 percent claimed differently.

Amid the chaos in Afghanistan, a former White House doctor urged Joe Biden to resign. Ronny Jackson, who is now a Representative from Texas, said it was outrageous that Biden reportedly avoided being seen in public amid the collapse of Afghanistan's government.

Jackson, a former White House physician who served under both Obama and Trump administrations, added that Joe Biden should immediately resign if he's not "mentally capable" of handling the situation in Afghanistan.

Joe Biden Laughing at The Poll

In the same press briefing on Sunday, a reporter asked Joe Biden about a poll revealing that the majority of the Americans believe he's no longer competent to be president.

Joe Biden responded and said that he has not seen it. The reporter replied, "It's out there." the president then shook his head and laughed.

When asked about his thoughts and what he can say to the Americans who say he's unfit to be president, Joe Biden said he has a "basic decision to make" between withdrawing the American people from a 20-year war, increase the number of forces in Afghanistan or end the war.

He noted that he "decided to end the war." Biden also said during the press briefing that he's open to accepting Afghan evacuees into the U.S. However, he noted that it would only happen after being screened and cleared from military bases and transit centers.

READ MORE: Donald Trump Would Win and Beat Pres. Joe Biden if Next Presidential Election Were Held Now, New Poll Shows

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Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Biden Snaps Back at Reporter, 'I Haven't Seen That Poll' - From The Hill






The Queen was reported to direct senior Palace aides to plan legal fightback after becoming "exasperated" at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's repeated attacks on the royal family.

Citing a source close to Queen Elizabeth II, The Sun reported that the British monarchy's legal team is consulting libel experts after a barrage of hurtful comments from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

"There is a limit on how to how much will be accepted, and the Queen and royal family can only be pushed so far," the unnamed source noted. The source also said that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle would be notified that "repeated attacks will not be tolerated."

READ NEXT: 'Furious' Prince Charles Says Prince Andrew Will Never Return to Royal Duties Even if He Wins Rape Case Against Jeffrey Epstein Accuser

Prince Harry's Book Prompts Legal Action From Queen Elizabeth II

The news of the legal fightback from The Queen came after an updated chapter of "Finding Freedom," the royal biography about the Sussexes' royal exit, accuses the royals of "failing to own" their part in the fallout.

Prince Harry earlier revealed that he was writing a tell-all memoir that will be released next year. Penguin Random House will publish the said book written by the Duke of Sussex. The source noted that the royals' legal team also speaks to firms with expertise in libel and privacy.

The source added that if someone were named in the book and accused of something directly, that could be a libel and infringe their rights to private family life.

"It would be ironic if Harry and Meghan were accused of breaching privacy given their pronouncements on the subject," the unnamed source noted.

The source said the Queen and the rest of the royal family are concerns that the "American public is falling for what Harry and Meghan say."

The rift between the royal family and the Sussexes began when Meghan Markle said in a March interview with Oprah Winfrey that the royals refused to make her son, Archie, a prince or receive a title partly due to issues concerning his skin color.

The "Suits" actress further noted that there were also conversations within the royal family that his son would not going to receive security.

Prince William has defended the royal family, saying they were "very much not a racist family." Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were known to step down from their royal duties last year and started a new life in the U.S. Prince Harry reportedly said he left due to a lack of "lack of support" and "understanding."

The Queen Warns British Media to Stay Away From Prince Andrew

The Queen warned the British media earlier against taking pictures of the royal family or their guests at Balmoral. It happened on the same day when her son Prince Andrew arrived at the Balmoral.

Sources at the palace said the letters were sent out to media organizations on August 10, a day after a civil lawsuit was filed accusing Prince Andrew of raping Virginia Roberts Giuffre.

The warning was delivered by lawyers from British firm Farrer & Co., who was acting on the Queen's behalf.

However, the sources noted that the same letters were sent "every holiday," saying it was not remarkable. But a source from a British newspaper said the intention of the royals might be to protect the duke from being pictured while being served with legal documents.

A British newspaper editor told The Daily Beast that they have never seen a warning like the one sent to them from the Queen's lawyers. The editor noted that it was clear that the memo was to keep people away from the duke. The editor added that there's no coincidence in the timing of the lawsuit against Prince Andrew.

READ MORE: Alleged Epstein Victim Slams Prince Andrew With Lawsuit Over Sexual Abuse

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WATCH: Tensions Peak As Queen Orders Senior Aides To Plan Legal Fightback Over Harry's Memoir - From British Documentary
After 17 months off, a cruise ship set sail from the Port of Long Beach and headed for the Mexican Riviera on Saturday, making the first cruise ship to depart from California after a pause on its operations.

According to ABC News, Carnival Corporation shared in a statement that the cruise ship Carnival Panorama is on a seven-day voyage and would make its stops in the ports of Cabo San Lucas and Mazatlan in Mexico before it would return to Long Beach.

The 1,060-foot cruise ship Carnival Panorama started to offer its services to tourists in those destinations in 2019.

California Cruise Industry: Back to Business

One of the passengers, Bob Lechtreck, said he and his wife were on the inaugural sailing of the cruise ship back on Dec. 11, 2019. In a text to the Press-Telegram, Lechtreck noted that he was so excited that he would be one of the passengers of the Panorama in its inaugural return to service.

"It's been way too long since we've sailed, and we couldn't be happier returning to our favorite activity," Lechtreck added.

The cruise industry was hard-hit by the ongoing pandemic, with some of its passengers and crew members tested positive for COVID-19. Some ships were even turned away from ports. The cruise industry has been battling the health requirements set by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in order to resume sailing in U.S. waters.

The company, Carnival Corporation, said its operational protocols already exceed the recommendations set by the CDC. Based on the CDC recommendations, the cruise ship must have all employees vaccinated and require all passengers to show a negative COVID-19 test.

Passengers must also be vaccinated, but the company would allow "a small number of exemptions" for those individuals who would be unable to get the vaccine. It includes children under 12 who are not yet eligible for vaccinations.

Based on the Carnival's COVID-19 guest protocol, those who were not vaccinated would have to follow additional precautions.

READ NEXT: Pentagon Taps U.S. Commercial Airlines for Evacuation Efforts in Afghanistan

Latest COVID-19 Cases on Cruise Ship

Twenty-seven individuals tested positive for COVID-19 last week on a Carnival cruise just before the ship made a stop in Belize City, Belize. The ship set sail and headed back to Galveston, Texas on Friday after making a stop in Mexico.

Belize Tourism Board released a statement, saying that the positive results were from 26 crew members and one passenger on the Carnival Vista. The cruise ship was carrying over 1,400 crew and almost 3,000 passengers, Market Watch reported.

All 27 individuals who tested positive were vaccinated, and only had mild or no symptoms, and were already in isolation based on the statement. The tourism board stated that 99.98 percent of the ship's crew was vaccinated, and 96.5 percent of its passengers had been inoculated.

READ MORE: FAA to Fine a JetBlue Unruly Passenger $45,000 for Putting His Head up a Flight Attendant's Skirt

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Written by: Jess Smith

WATCH: Carnival Cruise Ship Takes Off From Long Beach Port For First Time In 18 Months - From CBS Los Angeles
After a Texas dad was shot in the head while driving along Interstate 10 in Houston on Friday night, two young boys steered the wheel of their vehicle off the freeway to safety.

According to Crime Online, the Houston Police said the incident happened at around 10:40 p.m. when the Toyota Sequoia traveling eastbound was hit with a bullet.

Texas Boys Drive for Their Lives

The bullet flew into the SUV and struck the man in the head. When interviewed by the police, the sons of the Texas dad said they initially thought that someone had thrown a rock at their vehicle.

The Texas dad, 29, who was not identified, died from his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene from a single gunshot wound to the head. His children, ages 8 and 6, were not injured in the shooting incident on the freeway.

With their father slumped over in the driver's seat, the brothers steered the vehicle off the freeway's main lane and placed it onto a feeder road before it came to a stop.

According to NBC News, the boys jumped out of the vehicle after it stopped and ran for help. The Houston Police said a woman who had just left a Chili's restaurant saw the two young boys and called 911. A San Jacinto Police officer working on another job nearby came to the scene until Houston police arrived.

Meanwhile, the Houston police said they were not sure if the shooting incident was part of a road rage incident or if a stray bullet struck the Texas dad. Police said they still had no suspect in the case, and the motive is still unknown.

Officers were now searching for the shooter. Lt. R. Willkens of the Houston Police Department said they still do "not know if it was road rage or if the suspect was someone actually trying to get these individuals."

"So, prayers for their family. The kids are safe right now," Willkens noted.

READ NEXT: Iowa Woman Deliberately Runs Over Latina Girl, Black Boy Because of Their Race and Ethnicity

A Call for Justice

Currently, authorities are looking for a "white passenger vehicle." Investigators were also expected to review the video footage from the freeway cameras and canvass the area for any possible witnesses, WAFB9 reported.

Authorities urged any possible witnesses to call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477 if they have any information on the shooting incident.

Meanwhile, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner announced a $10,000 reward for any information that would lead to the arrest of those individuals involved in the deadly shooting.

In his social media account, Turner urged citizens to help Houston authorities to look at the individuals responsible for the freeway shooting incident.

READ MORE: Missing California Family of 3 Found Dead in Sierra National Forest; Police Say Their Deaths Remain Unexplained

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Written by: Jess Smith

WATCH: HPD: Young Sons Steer Car off Freeway After Father Shot in the Head While Driving - From KHOU 11
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Area higher education institutions require masks indoors for start of classes

Staff photo by Dan Reiland/ Masked UW-Eau Claire students walk between classes in September 2020. The university just announced that all students, faculty and staff, regardless of vaccination status, will be required to wear masks in indoor spaces on campus beginning Aug. 30. Schmidt Beaton-Garcia Frank

EAU CLAIRE  UW-Eau Claire Chancellor James Schmidt estimates that he devoted 50% of his time last year to COVID-19 planning.

While he had hoped that figure would be dramatically reduced in the upcoming academic year, the virus remains top of mind for administrators of Chippewa Valley colleges and universities as they prepare for the start of fall semester amid a surge in cases of the even more contagious delta variant.

The priority was clear when Schmidt, UW-Stout Chancellor Katherine Frank and Chippewa Valley Technical College President Sunem Beaton-Garcia discussed the state of higher education with business and community leaders during Fridays Eggs & Issues session put on by the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce.

The pandemic was like nothing Ive ever seen, Schmidt told the gathering at Pablo Center at the Confluence. It changed everything about how we do business.

As the institutions unveil their fall COVID-19 safety plans, administrators noted that some factors have changed since fall 2020. Not only have medical researchers learned more about the virus and how it spreads, but colleges have tested safety protocols and vaccines are widely available to protect students, staff and community members.

Beaton-Garcia, who just started as CVTC president this summer, summed up the approach described by all three campus leaders this way: Were not out of the wood yet. ... Well do everything we can to keep folks safe and get through the fall together.

UW-Stout, UW-Eau Claire and CVTC announced recently they will require all faculty, staff and students, regardless of vaccination status, to wear masks in indoor spaces on campus.

All UW-Stout students, faculty and staff who are not fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and who are on campus at any time will be required to be tested every other week. Weekly tests will be required at UW-Eau Claire for those who have not provided proof of vaccination.

While the UW-Stout order is in effect until Dec. 31 unless modified, Schmidt said the requirement at UW-Eau Claire will remain in effect through Sept. 30, when officials will reassess based on the level of virus in the community and the percentage of employees and students who are vaccinated.

We must do all we can to assure that faculty, staff and students can come back to learn together, Schmidt said. Requiring indoor masks and providing vaccinations and regular testing for those individuals unable to vaccinate will help keep us all healthy and able to offer a richer learning experience this year.

Frank, who started her tenure as chancellor about a week before the pandemic hit home in western Wisconsin, said UW-Stouts goal in responding to the pandemic is to provide the best possible student experience while still protecting health and safety. She said administrators will adjust their fall safety plan as needed.

This is different from last fall because we are trying to create that student experience where students are able to attend the courses that they have wanted to attend at Stout that apply hands-on focus and to try to bring back the events and the co-curricular and extracurricular experiences that are so important to our students, Frank said. Thats really important to how we teach at Stout, so it was really important for us to think about how to bring all of this back safely.

Schmidt emphasized the importance of local control, demonstrating his resistance to a Republican-controlled legislative committee voting earlier this month to block the UW System from taking steps to fight the spread of the coronavirus without its approval.

The dumbest thing in the world is to put restrictions on how we respond to this, Schmidt said, The 13 chancellors in the UW System each did what they needed to in response to local conditions.

The vote by the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules requires the UW System to submit any plans for COVID-19 policies to the committee as emergency rules within 30 days  or else drop mandates for any such measures.

Schmidt said he heard opinions from community members last year ranging from criticism for taking any steps to address what they deemed a fake virus to warnings that he could have 11,000 deaths on his shoulders if he allowed students and staff to come to campus.

When you end up in an impossible situation, youve got to find the possible, he said.

In the end, Schmidt said, administrators relied on the latest science to guide their decisions and remained nimble so they could pivot based on the latest data. He praised UW System interim President Tommy Thompson, a former GOP governor and former U.S. secretary of Health and Human Services, for his leadership on the issue and willingness to call Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nations top infectious diseases expert, or former Vice President Mike Pence when guidance was needed.

We had to focus like a laser beam on what was the best guidance nationally but then react locally, Schmidt said, recalling the decision to send students home after Thanksgiving came about because Chippewa Valley hospitals reported they were full amid a spike in coronavirus cases.

With university officials not aware of any students who were hospitalized with COVID-19 or any outbreaks tracked to dorms or classrooms, Schmidt concluded, We know the protocols work.

The emphasis on hands-on technical programs at CVTC presented a huge challenge for administrators and instructors because of the difficulty of teaching those programs remotely.

You really cannot be a dental hygienist from home; you cant fix automobiles or do a number of other things from home, Beaton-Garcia said. What the pandemic brought out ... is the ingenuity, the creativity and the relentless determination to see students succeed. We did everything possible to make sure our students succeeded, whether they were at home or we were able to bring them back safely onto campus with precautions.

Beaton-Garcia said she was impressed to learn campus administrators and staff were nimble enough to roll with the pandemics punches, making learning possible for students whether remotely or in person and socially distanced.

I think for years to come well be learning from this experience and applying it to how we teach, she said.
Sean Fleming T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Finance, has called for Laois property owners to 'immediately' apply for funding of the Streetscape Enhancement Initiative.

Today the TD has officially confirmed that 5 Laois towns are to benefit from the Streetscape Enhancement Initiative. Mountrath, Mountmellick, Rathdowney, Ballinakill and Ballylinan have been selected to receive funding.

This initiative is designed to make our rural towns and villages more attractive places to live, work and visit.

"I would request business and property owners in these 5 towns to contact Laois County Council immediately and apply for funding," said Fleming.

"These grants are a welcome boost in our local towns and I look forward to seeing the benefits and work that will be completed as a result of this funding," he said.

The types of projects include, the painting of buildings or shopfronts, upgrades or restorations of historic / traditional shopfronts, provision of street planting, shrubbery, trees and flowers boxes, illumination and lighting of architectural features, installation of canopies and street furniture, decluttering of streetscapes with removal of unnecessary signs / wires and commissioning of murals in towns and villages.
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Seven towns and villages are due to will benefit from a new 7 million fund to support the enhancement of streetscapes and shopfronts.

Carrick on Shannon, Kinlough, Ballinamore, Drumshanbo, Dromahair, Leitrim Village and Dromod have all been chosen under the scheme.

The Streetscape Enhancement Initiative is a key part of Our Rural Future and is designed to make our rural towns and villages more attractive places to live, work and visit.

Under the scheme, property owners will be provided with funding to improve the facades of their buildings, carry out artwork and install features such as canopies and street furniture.

The 124 towns and villages announced under the scheme today were selected by each local authority, which will now begin the process of advertising locally for applications.

The types of projects to be supported include:

 strategic collaboration between property owners to paint buildings or shopfronts in vibrant colours

 commissioning of murals in towns and villages

 upgrade or restoration of historic / traditional shopfronts

 provision of street planting, shrubbery, trees and flowers boxes

 illumination and lighting of architectural features

 installation of canopies and street furniture

 decluttering of streetscapes with removal of unnecessary signs / wires

Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD today encouraged business and property owners in any of the 124 towns and villages selected to contact their local authority for information on how to apply.

Announcing the 124 towns and villages today, Minister Humphreys said This unique initiative is about making our rural towns and villages more attractive and welcoming places for locals and visitors alike.

Whether its painting buildings in vibrant colours, upgrading shop fronts or installing canopies or street furniture  this fund will provide a welcome boost to rural communities the length and breadth of the country.

We all know that even the most modest of improvements to our buildings and streetscapes can make a huge difference.

And so over the coming weeks, local authorities will work closely with businesses and property owners to give our towns and villages the facelift they deserve.

The Minister added: When I launched the Governments new rural policy, Our Rural Future, I said I wanted to reimagine and revitalise rural communities.

This initiative is a key part of realising that goal. I am really looking forward to seeing the sort of proposals that are put forward over the coming weeks.

If you are a business or property owner in any of the 124 towns and villages selected, I encourage you to contact your local authority for details on how to apply.

I have no doubt the projects funded this initiative will make a huge difference to our rural towns and villages and, most importantly, the families who live there.
AN Bord Pleanala has cleared the way for a new student village at a long-derelict site in Limerick.

Cloncaragh Investment had sought permission to build 100 apartments accommodating over 300 students at the former John Moloney garage site.

Situated opposite Punchs Cross, the land has lain idle for almost two decades.

The new facility is designed to meet the needs of those studying at Mary Immaculate College, the University of Limerick (UL) and the Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT), with the latter two having ambitious growth plans.

Derrick Walshe of Cloncaragh Investments said: This is a positive day for Limerick city that will now mean that an idle and vacant brownfield site will be regenerated into a positive for our city.

Its the second time permission was sought, with An Bord Pleanala rejecting the first blueprint.

This led to a review from Cloncaragh, and a fresh application which has paved the way for this decision.

This development will see 100 quality apartments delivered, which will accommodate over 300 residents. By adding this housing stock, it will help to ease the housing pressure in the vicinity; by increasing housing supply and helping to make rents and housing more affordable, Mr Walsh added.

He pointed out that Mary Immaculate College, based nearest to the development, is supportive of the project.

Planning permission granted to develop 100 student apartments at Punches Cross @Nick468official @Live95Limerick @limerickpost pic.twitter.com/RHVMCK5WA8  Cllr Joe Leddin (@JLeddin) August 23, 2021

The University of Limerick also plans to develop a campus on Sarsfield Street and this will also feed into the demand for this accommodation type. This development in time, may also assist University Hospital Limerick with their accommodation needs, he argued.

As part of the planning permission, almost 400 bike storage stands will be delivered, while the local road infrastructure will be improved.

This will include widened footpaths, a proposed road widening on the Rosbrien Road to allow for an extra traffic lane; and a new centrepiece plaza at Punches Cross. The accommodation will be fully supervised and managed with security and concierge services for its residents.

Mr Walshe concluded: Todays decision will see the site turned into something that contributes economic positives for Limerick City as well as meeting the rising demand for quality accommodation. Limerick is currently undergoing significant regeneration and it is important that critical infrastructure such as housing keeps up with demand, so that our city can continue to flourish. It is our intention to begin construction as soon as possible and this in turn will also stimulate local employment in Limericks construction sector.

Local Labour councillor Joe Leddin, who has welcomed the project, said had asked the developer to facilitate an online meeting to allow local residents engage with the plan.

Assurances were provided based on residents concerns that the proposed two retail units would not compete or displace business from the local Greenpark local centre while a detailed student management plan to include centre manager would be provided," he confirmed.
MAYOR Daniel Butler has pledged a special event to celebrate the Limerick hurlers success once public health conditions allow.

In the aftermath of Limericks sparkling win over Cork to retain the Liam MacCarthy cup, the first citizen said there would, sadly be no homecoming this year.

Instead, the victorious panel made a low-key return to Limerick late last night.

It comes with cases of Covid-19 still rising across the country, in a move which saw the number of spectators allowed in Croke Park restricted to less than half its normal capacity.

Yessss!  #BackToBack Champions! History made!



Ome of the proudest days of my life to serve as Mayor in this year!



Congratulations to the team thanks for the joy you gave us & supporters for doing us proud! Enjoy it because you deserve it! #LuimneachAbu pic.twitter.com/Gj3tnDPOA3 August 22, 2021

We are all disappointed that we cannot have scenes reminiscent of 2018 on the streets of Limerick this evening. But that doesnt mean we wont be able to have a celebration, once the health guidelines allow, said Mayor Butler.

He said the local authority would love nothing more than to host a public homecoming, but due to government regulations, its not possible.

Back in 2018, when the hurlers beat Galway to end a 45-year drought, tens of thousands were in the city - and at the Gaelic Grounds to welcome them home.

Questions have been raised around why 40,000 people were allowed into GAA headquarters yesterday, but a homecoming with capped numbers at the Ennis Road venue cannot take place.

Siri, show me unbridled joy.....#LuimneachAbu pic.twitter.com/Qy3fnDolk6  Cllr Daniel Butler, Mayor of Limerick (@DanielButlerFG) August 22, 2021

The crowds at Croker have also sparked criticism from the live music industry, who can still not hold events.

Mayor Butler said that government guidelines state that while a homecoming for the hurlers would be sports-related, it is not a sporting event, which is why increased numbers of people would not be allowed.

Whether you agree or disagree with this, the fault is not with the council, we have to stick with the guidelines, these are the facts, added the first citizen, However, once the regulations and guidance allow for larger gatherings, a special event will be organised for the hurlers, where the maximum amount of Limerick people can, once again, show their appreciation to the team.
As first-year college students head to campus this fall, theyll be making a big leap toward independence from their parents. Or will they?

Many parents have a hard time letting go, especially in recent times. And with apps that can track their kids every move, they dont have to let go anymore. Parents can maintain a digital tether indicating whether their kids are partying at a frat house or studying at the library, how fast theyre driving and even if their phone battery is running low.

The decision of whether to track college kidsthrough apps such as Life360 or a smartphones location-sharing settingsis polarizing. Theres the camp that believes tracking kids keeps them safe, allowing parents to send help when their children have been in car accidents or to guide them when theyve gotten lost. And then theres the camp that says it offers parents a false sense of security while stifling kids development.

Lupe Ruiz-Catala, a mother of two in Bergenfield, N.J., began using Life360 to keep tabs on her daughter, Victoria Catala, when she went to college. Victoria went to Greece her first semester of freshman year as part of a study-abroad program, and her mom freaked out. I was sick to my stomach," Ms. Ruiz-Catala recalls. How would I keep her safe other than move to Greece with her?"

Ms. Ruiz-Catala looked into a number of apps but decided on Life360a leader in the category, with more than 32 million monthly active usersbecause it could show her daughters location on a map, track how fast she was going in a car and report when her phone battery was lowwhich it frequently was.

Victoria says that she didnt mind her mom knowing where she was but that her fretting was pointless. It was the most ridiculous thing because it wasnt like she could do anything about it," she said.

What really bothered her, though, were her mothers constant reminders to charge her phone. My phone is always close to dying, and I get 50 billion texts every single time telling me to charge it," she said.

Even when Victoria was back at Northeastern University in Boston, Ms. Ruiz-Catala says she woke up two to three times a night to look at her phone, only settling down to sleep when she saw that Victoria had made it back to her dorm room.

Victoria recalls riding in a car with a friend when her mom called to say her friend should slow down. How ridiculous would I sound if I said to my friend, My mom says were driving too fast? It was embarrassing," she said.

Although Victorianow 20 years old and heading into her junior yearsays her mom never used the app to punish her or restrict her from going places, she had enough of the surveillance. When she got a new iPhone a couple of months ago, she offered to share her location with her mom through the Find My app but asked to remove Life360, which provides far more detail. Ms. Ruiz-Catala agreed.

I think Greece put things into perspective," Victoria said. I went to a different country and I survived."

Still, Ms. Ruiz-Catala is unapologetic about tracking her daughter. I believe kids do better when they understand what the parameters are," she said, adding that as long as she pays the bills, her kids have to agree to her rules. When her 17-year-old son goes to college, shell install Life360 on his phone, too.

Mental-health experts say that all this tracking can hamper young adults ability to mature and that it signals to kids that the world is unsafe. Its letting fear drive the bus," says Vanessa Elias, a certified parenting coach and mental-health advocate who endorses free-range parenting.

Telling kids that were watching them, and that we want to know where they are in order to keep them safe, fuels fear in both kids and parents," she said. There is already an epidemic of anxiety among college students."

A nationwide study of nearly 33,000 college students by a Boston University researcher found that half of the students last fall screened positive for depression and/or anxiety.

Weve always made Life360 opt-in, even for younger kids. The bottom line is if kids want to trick Life360, they can," Life360 Chief Executive Chris Hulls said. So when kids go to college, it really is up to them about how they use it."

He added, What we find is that younger college kids have grown up in the smartphone era, and they actually want the connection to their parents. Life360 makes them feel safer, and parents naturally are less intrusive about it because there isnt the mom waiting up looking out the window stereotype to worry about."

Mr. Hulls explained that many parents set up a place notification around a dorm or campus and receive an alert when their kids come and go, leading to fewer check-in calls. The kids like it because they get that positive sense that their parents are still protecting them, but it is not intrusive," he said.

Kids who are on Life360 can also track their parents locationsa setting that is turned on by default.

One evening, Sam Clarkson, a mom in Darwen, England, had gone to a wedding two hours from home and told her 19-year-old son that she, her husband and daughter would be staying the night. She told him he wasnt allowed to have anyone stay over. But when Ms. Clarkson was unsatisfied with the Airbnb they had booked, she decided to drive home afterward instead.

When she was about 30 minutes from home, her son called, asking why Life360 showed her heading back. Even with the advance notice, he wasnt able to get his drunk friends out of the house in time. He deleted the app soon afterward (with her blessing).

Some college students have made a dramatic show of their new app-free independence.

Beth McFadyen, a mother in Tewksbury, Mass., had all four of her children on Life360 when they were in high school. She and her husband told them they could decide whether to keep the app when they went to college. Her oldest daughter stuck with it until she graduated.

Their second oldest, Kendra, couldnt wait to be done with the app. I felt too controlled," she said. After her parents moved her into her dorm at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia, she walked them to the door and pulled out her phone. She made a show of deleting the app, then said, Later, bitches."

I was joking. I knew Id see them later that night for dinnerit wasnt my last goodbye," Kendra said. But I felt a sense of independence when I deleted it. It was a big moment."

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A family was recently found dead on a hiking trail along the Merced River in a remote area of the Sierra National Forest in California. There were no signs of damage to their bodies.

Investigators are looking into the possibility that toxic algal blooms may be to blame. But is that the likeliest explanation? One researcher told Live Science, that while possible, that scenario would be unusual.

After a friend reported the family missing, searchers discovered the bodies of John Gerrish, Ellen Chung, their 1-year-old daughter Miju and their dog, Oski on Tuesday (Aug. 17) in Mariposa County, along the Hite Cove Trail near Devil Gulch.

"This is a very unusual, unique situation," Kristie Mitchell, a spokesperson for the Mariposa County Sheriff's Office, told the San Francisco Chronicle . "There were no signs of trauma, no obvious cause of death. There was no suicide note. They were out in the middle of a national forest on a day hike." What's more, the couple were known to be avid hikers, according to the Chronicle.

Related: The 5 most poisonous substances: Polonium to mercury

Investigators briefly considered the possibility that the family may have been exposed to toxic fumes from nearby abandoned mines.

As many as half a million abandoned mines may dot the U.S., according to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Back when these mines were in operation, their operators could just simply abandon them without removing hazards.

Abandoned mines can accumulate many different lethal gases, including methane, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide and toxic levels of carbon dioxide. If people breathe in these gases, their muscles stop responding normally, thinking becomes clouded and a person can become unconscious and die. What's more, these chemicals are often odorless and there are no other warning signs that you're breathing them in, according to the BLM.

When the bodies were found, the area was briefly designated a hazmat site  or an area that may have "hazardous materials" to a person's health; the designation was lifted the next day, according to NPR .

The Mariposa County Sheriff Jeremy Briese told The Fresno Bee that he didn't believe the deaths were connected to a nearby mine. The nearest known mine was over 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) away from the bodies; still, because that area had a community of mines, there could be some that we don't know about, Briese said. In the mid-19th century, an area around Hites Cove held a hard-rock gold mine, where certain techniques are used to extract "hard" minerals holding metals like gold , according to The Associated Press.

Toxic algae

Briese also said investigators were considering toxic algae blooms as a possible cause, and that the U.S. Forest Service had recently posted warnings about toxic algae at the start of the trail near Hites Cove, where the bodies were found, according to the Fresno Bee.

Such blooms are caused by algae or cyanobacteria that grow in the water and can release toxins that can sometimes poison animals, such as cattle or dogs, according to The California Department of Public Health . These toxins can get into the body through ingestion, through the skin or even through inhalation.

People who swim, wade or participate in other aquatic activities in water laced with cyanobacterial toxins can develop health effects such as skin rashes, diarrhea and vomiting (if they ingest the toxins), or develop problems with the liver, kidneys or nervous system. But there are no known human deaths connected to drinking or wading in such contaminated water, according to the California Department of Public Health.

Indeed, Alan Wilson, a professor at the School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences at Auburn University in Alabama, said that it's unusual for people to die from algal blooms. "There are reports, but they're usually kind of anecdotal reports," Wilson told Live Science. "I get more people calling me this time of year normally for pet or livestock deaths."

Dogs tend to be more susceptible to the algal toxins, in part because they get into the water and then get out and lick their fur, potentially ingesting a high dose of toxins, he said. "Human exposure when swimming is fairly low, we don't ingest tons of water."

In this case, if this family were to be exposed to such toxins, it would likely be from toxic algal mats and not blooms, he said. While algal blooms are not attached to anything, algal mats cling onto the bottom of water, such as on rocks.

The Merced River doesn't look particularly deep and the water moves, which would make it hard for algae to build up and form algal blooms like it does in lakes, he added. But algal mats, because they're clinging onto the rocks, wouldn't flow down the stream.

On July 13, the Sierra National Forest posted a warning on their Facebook page about toxic algal mats in the Merced River near Hites Cove. "The Sierra National Forest (SNF) would like to inform those visitors who like to enjoy this area of the Merced River and SNF, not to swim, wade or allow their pets to enjoy the water," due to these mats, the agency warned.

The trail the family was hiking, the Savage Lundy Trail, snakes along the Merced River. On Thursday (Aug. 19), the State Water Resources Control Board said they were testing waterways in the area for such toxic algae, according to The Fresno Bee .

"The fact that it was two adults, a kid and a dog," makes this a really unusual situation, he said. "You think that even if people were exposed they're not all going to be exposed at the same rate." Investigators are hoping that autopsies and toxicology tests will ultimately reveal more about what happened in this tragic story.

Originally published on Live Science.
Astronomers have discovered an enormous new filament of gas and dust hanging at the outer edge of our galaxy. Nicknamed "Cattail," the feature is not yet fully mapped, and the team who found it believe it could be a previously unknown arm of our Milky Way galaxy.

The Milky way is a giant spiral galaxy, which has a central bulge surrounded by coiling arms containing stars, gas and dust. Our home galaxy has four known spiral arms  two major arms named Scutum-Centaurus and Perseus, and two minor arms squished between them named Norma and Sagittarius, according to NASA . Earth is on a branch of the Sagittarius arm named the Orion Spur.

Over the last few years, researchers at the worlds largest radio telescope, the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) in Guizhou province, China, have been doing systematic studies of a sky region known as Cygnus-X, Keping Qiu, an astronomer at Nanjing University, told Live Science.

Related: 11 fascinating facts about our Milky Way galaxy

FAST sees the universe through the radio portion of the electromagnetic spectrum and so is particularly useful for looking at cold gas clouds containing hydrogen, Qiu added. While observing Cygnus-X, which is an enormous star-forming region located around 4,500 light-years away, Qiu and his colleagues noticed clouds of hydrogen gas that seemed to be far behind it.

By combining the FAST observations with data from a telescope in Germany and another in Australia, the researchers were able to map the feature, which stretches across nearly 3,600 light-years at a distance of around 68,000 light-years from Earth, making it the largest and most distant giant gas filament ever seen.

The team estimated that Cattail contains as much mass as 65,000 suns, and its true extent might be even larger, perhaps as long as 16,000 light-years across. They detailed their findings in a paper posted Aug. 4 to the preprint database arXiv that has been accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal Letters.

Cattail is at the outer edge of the Milky Way, located around three times farther from the galactic center than we are. Most of our galaxys bulk is closer to the center, making the enormous feature a bit of a puzzle.

We dont know how such a huge filamentary gas structure could form in such an extreme location, Qiu said.

As yet, he and his colleagues are unable to determine if Cattail is a standalone gas filament or if it wraps around and connects somewhere to the main portion of the Milky Way. It could be a previously unknown arm or a branch from one of the four main arms, Qiu said.

Many questions remain about the feature. Our galaxy is thought to be warped at its edges , but Cattail doesnt seem to follow that same warped pattern, said Qiu. He and his team have plans to further investigate the filament with FAST in order to better understand it.

It reminds me that theres a lot we dont know about the Milky Way, Felix J. Lockman, an astronomer at the Green Bank Observatory in West Virginia who was not involved in the work, told Live Science. Every time we seem to look deeply, theres more information in there.

Because FAST provides better resolution than previous radio telescopes, Cattail could be a part of the galaxy that simply hasnt been noticed before, he added. The fact that the feature doesnt appear to follow the galactic warp in the area is strange, Lockman said, though the warps exact details are still a matter of debate.

Originally published on Live Science.
Denham Springs, LA (70726)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 90F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Partly cloudy. Low 73F. Winds light and variable.
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A question as seemingly benign as Youre Lauras mother, right? becomes the moment when Cielos life changes forever. The query, posed by a toothy-smiled young man, is born not out of curiosity but out of a need to make sure hes found the right woman to extort. Even as he grins, theres a sinister edge to his nonchalance when addressing Cielo, who slowly starts piecing together whats afoot. Laura did not return home the night before and, as the cocksure young man soon informs her, she never will unless Cielo can come up with an exorbitant ransom fee.

What follows may well be accurately described as a revenge narco-western set in Northern Mexico. But such a synopsis risks sensationalizing the subject matter of La Civil and flattening its aesthetic prowess. Just as a mundane interaction kicks off a harrowing search that will leave Cielo (Like Water for Chocolates Arcelia Ramirez) with more questions than answers about her daughters abduction and its ties to local gangs, much of La Civil concerns itself with quiet, introspective scenes that make its sporadic  and tensely thrilling  moments of violence thunder all the more powerfully.

Moreover, the films genre trappings dont use Mexicos socio-historical milieu as mere backdrop, the way narratives like these so often do. Cielos predicament, which has her come up against an indifferent (if not outright corrupt) police force, a brutal armed militia and a scared populace whod rather not antagonize those armed young men and women who rule the streets with guns and litter its land with unmarked mass graves, becomes a grounded modern fable about a country in crisis, about a people left behind.

A stoic woman by nature, Cielo is a vision of pragmatism at the start of the film. She may be harried and terrified, but this single mother immediately sets out to find the money needed to bring back Laura, eventually cobbling together (almost) enough money for the ransom. But when that doesnt yield any results, she ends up taking justice into her own hands. She questions her neighbors, tails key figures around town, and follows hurriedly-offered leads. At every corner she encounters a culture of silence and apathy thats been left unchecked, a response and now an added cause of the rampant impunity in the region.

Cielo isnt the only person being extorted nor is she the first mother forced to live with the tragedy of not knowing what happened to her own child. But hers is an unwinnable situation, even when she ends up connecting with a ruthless army lieutenant whose violent means at first terrify and later embolden Cielo to reach her required end.

Filmmaker Teodora Ana Mihai, who was born in Romania and is now based in Ghent, Belgium, initially conceived La Civil as a documentary. And while the final project, which she co-wrote with Mexican-born writer Habacuc Antonio de Rosario, is very much a work of fiction, theres a nonfiction sensibility that still echoes through the film itself. Theres at once a closeness and a distance to Mihais camera. When Cielo is in her car, for instance, we ride alongside her as she scans sidewalks and streets for any clues as to what happened to her daughter. At one point, when she leaves the car to knock on a door of an establishment thats clearly closed or when her gaze falls on those flatbed trucks carrying armed soldiers, these scenes are framed by the cars windows. Such moments further underscore the observational approach that structures La Civil, whose languid pacing allows audiences to really get to know its central character, the better to mourn alongside her. You never lose sight of Cielo but you cant help but feel like youre intruding on her private sorrows, as if Mihai wanted us to catch moments not even the most intimate of nonfiction shoots could have staged.

Front and center throughout is Ramirez. The veteran Mexican actress, who has handily shuttled between broad mainstream TV fare and celebrated indie films, gives here a towering performance. With her hair pulled back and a roving gaze constantly tracing her every gesture, Ramirez dominates the film, capturing the helplessness of women like Cielo who have no choice but to steel themselves lest their pain fully break them. She makes watching Cielos grief ossify into a senseless, hopeless rage inevitable, a modern tragedy that you know continues to be replicated in households all over the country.

Akin to recent projects like Sin senas particulares, Fauna and Somos, La Civil rightly centers this narrative about narco-violence not in its perpetrators but in its victims. Even as you follow Cielos ever-darker path toward truth (if not justice), Mihai and de Rosario make clear theyre not interested in neatly-packaged chronicles of good and bad guys but instead hope to diagnose a broken system that fails all involved. Even the moments that feel so obviously cribbed from Hollywood thrillers (a war-like nighttime raid shot in one long, shaky take; a cathartic shower following an unspeakable moment of violence; a DIY haircut meant to help Cielo refashion her sense of self) feel distinctly fresh. La Civil may lure you in with the thrill of a revenge tale but such a generic promise only makes its necessarily anticlimactic ending all the more damning. This is a gripping and heartbreaking film that goes out with a whimper that hits harder than any kind of bang it couldve mustered.

Reviewed in Sarajevo Film Festival (online), Los Angeles, Aug. 20, 2021. (Also in Cannes Film Festival.) Running time: 134 MIN.

Running Time: Running time: 134 MIN.

Production

(Belgium-Romania-Mexico) A Menuetto Film production. Producer: Hans Everaert. Co-producers: Jean-Pierre & Luc Dardenne, Delphine Tomson, Teodora Ana Mihai, Cristian Mungiu, Tudor Reu, Michel Franco, Erendira Nunez Larios.

Crew

Director: Teodora Ana Mihai. Screenplay: Habacuc Antonio de Rosario & Teodora Ana Miha. Camera: Marius Panduru. Editor: Alain Dessauvage. Music: Jean-Stephane Garbe.

With

Arcelia Ramirez, Alvaro Guerrero, Ayelen Muzo, Jorge A. Jimenez, Daniel Garcia, Eligio Melendez, Alessandra Goni, Vanesa Burciaga. (Spanish dialogue)

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Most Dangerous Game has been renewed for Season 2 at Roku Channel, Variety has learned.

Christoph Waltz will return in the new season as Miles Sellers, the CEO of The Tiro Fund  a front for a centuries old game in which hunters pay exorbitant fees for the privilege of hunting the most cunning and dangerous prey there is.

Season 1 star Liam Hemsworth will not return. However, The Umbrella Academy star David Castaneda will star alongside Waltz in Season 2. Castaneda will play Victor Suero, a down-on-his-luck fighter who will do anything to protect his sister. When he learns shes in trouble, he springs into action. To protect her, he agrees to participate in a deadly game. If he survives, hell make a fortune. Out of love for his sister  hes determined to live.

When I read the script I couldnt sleep for a few days, Castaneda said. Thinking of a man given the opportunity of making money to provide for his sister  it reminded me of my family, their struggle and ingenuity in necessity. This story will connect with them and hopefully many more. Also, Christoph Waltz is the man. I cant wait to jump on this opportunity with Roku and bring the streamers along for a thrilling ride.

Castaneda is best known for his role in the hit Netflix series The Umbrella Academy, on which he plays Diego. His other TV credits include Blindspot and Southland. He has also appeared in films like Sicario: Day of the Soldado, The Tax Collector, and End of Watch. Next up, he will be seen in Antoine Fuquas The Guilty Netflix, starring alongside Jake Gyllenhaal and Ethan Hawke.

He is repped by Buchwald, Stark Management, and Ginsburg Daniels Kallis.

Season 1 of Most Dangerous Game was released on Quibi in April 2020. It was renewed for a second season by that platform before it shutdown back in December. Roku acquired Quibis original content library shortly thereafter, re-releasing Most Dangerous Game in May.

The response weve seen to Most Dangerous Game on The Roku Channel has been tremendous, and Im thrilled to be bringing another action-packed season to streamers, said series writer and executive producer Nick Santora. Season two will be set in New York and lets just say, itll be a whole new game.

The new season will retain the short-form format that the show had in Season 1. Santora will return as writer and executive producer for Season 2. CBS Studios will produce. Gordon Gray and Silver Reel Pictures served as executive producers on Season 1, with Phil Abraham directing and executive producing.

Audiences gravitated towards the dynamic storytelling and uncompromising action of season one, said Rokus head of scripted Colin Davis. Nick Santoras script for season two takes the thrill to the next level in New York and with David Castaneda joining Christoph Waltz, it was an easy decision to bring Most Dangerous Game back for another season.

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The Laredo Regional Food Bank announced Thursday several ways it intends to generate donations to help local families.

The announcement was done through Facebook and discussed alternative methods of donating along with the cost of each meal.

LRFB created this type of program that consists of people making monetary donations with the goal of being able to get more money for meals for the local community, Laredo Regional Food Bank Executive Director Lorena Rodriguez Rivera said.

Though there are still no projections on how much money they expect to raise with these new methods of donations, they do know it costs 27 cents for each family meal. This means $100 would feed a family for an entire year. Rivera said this will be the guiding principle in their efforts to distribute as many meals as possible.

Rivera said one of the easiest ways people can donate is online at paypal.me/laredoregionalfb.

People can also donate to the organization by being part of the Adopt-a-Family program or by participating in the Community Partners Program. The Community Partners Program consists of private companies donating money, material or labor.

The pantry bags are an assortment of different products that make the approximate amount of 25 pounds, Rivera said. Items that are donated include rice, beans, vegetables, cereals, bread and canned items.

Rivera hopes people see the value of these food items to people and that they help donate as much as possible as families struggle through turbulent economic times and the pandemic.

I extend an invitation to people who wish to collaborate with the LRFB to sign up as volunteers, adopt a family, send in their donations and spread the word about the benefits we provide through churches and nonprofit organizations, Rivera said.

The Laredo Regional Food Bank hosted an emergency food distribution event on Friday. To stay up to date on future distributions, visit facebook.com/laredoregionalfoodbank.

The Laredo Regional Food Bank is located at 2802 Anna Ave.

jorge.vela@lmtonline.com
While many of the Democrats who left the Texas House in July and went to Washington as a protest against what they consider a restrictive voting bill returned on Thursday, District 42 Rep. Richard Pena Raymond was not among them.

Raymond said the work is not done to return and to provide the Republican-led legislature the quorum necessary to pass the voting bill. He is also upset that several Democrats have abandoned their initial positions to continue protesting the vote until the federal government passes a law protecting voters rights as several Democrats returned and allowed for a quorum.

I am back in Texas, but I will return to Washington, D.C. to continue advocating for a new Voting Rights Act, Raymond said. I believe we may be able to get the U.S. House to pass the bill this next week. Shortly thereafter, the U.S. Senate will take it up as one of their first orders of business.

Raymond said this is more necessary than ever as the State House has already reached the quorum needed of 99 House members. However, he believes the number was reached through cheating.

Reporters and others who were in the House Chamber (on Thursday) were able to see that there were actually not 99 members in the House, Raymond said. Several members of the House showed to be present because the light on the voting board next to their name was on. However, we know that several were not actually there. Unfortunately, none of the members on the House floor called for a verification of the vote.

Although Raymond is upset at Democrats for not trying to derail the quorum, he is more upset by what he believes to be cheating by Republicans in their attempt to vote on a bill that is supposed to address cheating in elections.

If they had called for a verification, it would have shown there was no quorum present, Raymond said. The irony is that Republicans want to pass a bill to prevent cheating on voting but clearly moved forward with ghost voting members of the House. This was reported by several news organizations who actually witnessed it.

According to Raymond, if there is a quorum next week, then they will pass what he calls one of the most regressive voter intimidation bills in the country.

This is aimed at minority communities, the disabled community and senior citizens, Raymond said. Obviously, I continue to do all I can to try and stop it and also to get Congress to pass a new Voting Rights Act as soon as possible. Such a law by Congress would negate voter intimidation bills that Republicans have filed in nearly every state.

Many of us in the Texas House Democratic Caucus have had to fight hard and encourage other members not to quit, not to give up. Unfortunately, some Democrats gave up and went to the floor of the Texas House. Simply stated, they gave the Republicans the green light to pass a voter intimidation bill.

Raymond is also concerned about how the quorum could impact efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

Republicans will now likely also pass legislation making it harder for local communities to more adequately protect people against COVID, he said. There will be other bills the Republicans will likely pass because of the Democrats who gave them the quorum to do so, bills that will prohibit local communities, schools, even private businesses from requiring people to wear masks during the resurgence of the COVID pandemic. These Democrats should have thought of that too.

Raymond also blamed the spike of cases in Texas to Republican-led policies and the governor. According to Raymond, since Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and other Republicans are making it harder for local communities to decide what works best for them, it is easy to understand why Texas has, once again, some of the highest COVID infection rates in the country.

He said he finds it incomprehensible how using face masks and social distancing are not encouraged by the state government when people in Washington continue to do these things as much as possible.

Even on the Texas House floor, every day when you watch the Republican members, they will not wear masks, Raymond said. Several members of the House have now been infected, and some of the ones who are infected continue to go to the floor of the Texas House even though they should be quarantined.

Raymond said he continues to wear a mask to protect others and to protect himself as he is a cancer survivor and knows how the virus more gravely affects those with underlying health conditions.

As someone who had cancer a few years ago, I honestly do not believe it is safe to go to the floor of the House, Raymond said. I wear a mask, but most if not all of my Republican colleagues refuse to wear masks, and many will not even test for COVID. In addition, we do not know which members have not even gotten the vaccine.

As Raymond plans to head back to Washington soon, he said he is glad he came to Laredo where he has been getting strong support from his constituents to continue fighting for some form of voting protection bill for all Americans.

My family and people from Laredo continue to be very supportive of what I am doing, Raymond said. I take the right to vote very seriously. I believe we have enough of a history in this country where it was either illegal or very difficult for women, Blacks, browns, poor people, disabled and older Americans to be able to vote.

Now, Republicans are doing all they can in Texas and in every state to move us back to those times. It is that simple and that profound. More and more, people understand what is happening. They will not stand for it, and they have been very supportive of what I am doing. I am grateful to them and to God. It has given me strength and resolve.

Raymond said he is happy he was able to do some business in Laredo while also visiting his sons gravesite. He said strengthened his mindset to continue fighting.

The hardest part of all this was not being able to visit my son Arens grave for over a month, Raymond said. Once again, my faith sees me through. Today, I was able to visit Aren again. I played some of his favorite songs. I read some of the poems he wrote. I read some of the passages he had underlined in the Bible he gave me three days before he died. I am thankful.

jorge.vela@lmtonline.com
Slated for Monday at 3 p.m., Mayor Pete Saenz said he will be meeting with health professionals and the CEOs of Doctors and LMC to discuss the logistics behind the construction of a pediatric ICU and receive guidance on how to transition away from being a medically underserved community.

While it seems that the pandemic has expedited discussions to address the decades-long situation, Saenz said that the city cant move forward without guidance, regardless of the planning or financial situation. He said that meeting with the health professional city committee hasnt been possible since February due to their responsibility to patients and the pandemic.

We truly need to take the time more than ever to get together, he said. We need leadership there to come out and say this is what is needed, short-term and long-term.

The main purpose of the meeting revolves around a new pediatric care unit and the timeframe on constructing one. Whether a short-term or long-term plan can be developed and where it can be built are a few questions to ask during the meeting, he said. The idea of a public hospital will also be discussed, as well as an idea Saenz said would be for the CEOs asking if they can expand the hospitals for a pediatric unit.

As public and regional hospitals are funded through taxpayer money, it will be in the hands of voters

Congressman Henry Cuellar said that to reach the goals, the private sector also has to cooperate to see the bigger picture. He said, They are the experts, and they have to say what it is and then we can come in see what we can help on.

As for the community, Saenz said that there would be a public component that would involve perhaps voting in the future and with this being a longterm endeavor, consultants will be necessary. From where the money will come from, how the plan will complement the private sector, where it will be built etc. all will take time to answer.

While it may be too early to tell, a roadmap will be useful for the different moving pieces on improving Laredos overall health services. Saenz emphasized that while he and the city have received scrutiny for the city being medically underserved, the path ahead will be daunting and expensive.

Ultimately, once discussions take place and the plan is made, an estimated price tag can be formed and lead to federal grants, private sector involvement and some tighter city budgeting.

According to the city health department, there are an estimated 696 active COVID-19 cases and 72 patients currently hospitalized. In regards to the pediatric population, cases are expected to rise leading to concerns on how to address them without a pediatric ICU.

cocampo@lmtonline.com
CAIRO (AP)  Egypt closed its main border crossing point with the Gaza Strip on Monday amid tensions with the territorys militant Hamas rulers, officials said.

It was the first time the Rafah crossing was shuttered during a workday since early this year. Egyptian authorities had kept it open during the 11-day war between Israel and Hamas in May.

According to the Egyptian officials, the closure was connected to Cairo's efforts to broker a long-term cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. It was not immediately clear how long the closure would last, the officials said.

One of the officials said the move was meant to pressure Hamas because of the differences between Cairo and and the militant group over lack of progress in both the Egyptian-led, indirect talks with Israel, and also efforts to reconcile Palestinian factions.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to reporters.

Iyad al-Bozum, a spokesman for the Hamas-run Interior Ministry, said Hamas had been notified of the closure. He said they were in contact with Egyptian authorities to reopen Rafah.

The closure of the crossing exacerbates the humanitarian crisis inside the Gaza Strip," he told The Associated Press. We hope the crossing will return to work as soon as possible.

Israel and Egypt have maintained a blockade over Gaza since Hamas took control of the territory in 2007, a year after winning Palestinian parliamentary elections. The blockade restricts the movement of goods and people in and out of Gaza, with Rafah serving as the primary exit point for Gazans to travel abroad when it is open.

Hamas has grown increasingly angry in recent weeks after Israel tightened the blockade in the wake of the May war. Israel has demanded the return of the remains of two dead soldiers, as well as two Israeli civilians believed to be alive and being held by Hamas, as a condition for the cease-fire. In the meantime, it has held up the deliveries of much-needed reconstruction materials.

Activists in the Gaza Strip on Monday launched incendiary balloons into southern Israel, setting off at least three fires across the border, Israel's national fire service said.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the balloon launches, but in a statement on Sunday, Hamas and other militant groups pledged to continue our popular activities without hesitation or retreat.

The statement followed a a violent Hamas-organized protest along the Israeli border Saturday in which a Palestinian activist shot an Israeli sniper in the head at point-blank range. The soldier remained in critical condition Monday.

At least 24 Palestinians were wounded by Israeli gunfire at Saturday's protest, two critically.

Egypt has been a key mediator between Israel and Hamas over the years. Egypts intelligence chief Abbas Kamel paid a rare visit to Israel last week to discuss the cease-fire deal with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. He invited Bennett to visit Egypt.

A day after the visit, Israel announced that it had reached a deal with Gulf country Qatar to resume aid payments to thousands of impoverished Gazan families. The payments, a key source of stability in hard-hit Gaza, had been suspended following the war.

Since May, Egypt has allowed aid and construction convoys into Gaza to help rebuild houses and infrastructure destroyed during the fighting.

___

Associated Press journalists Wafaa Shurafa in Gaza City, Gaza Strip, and Jack Jeffery in Ramallah, West Bank contributed to this report.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP)  Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says he has tested negative for COVID-19, just four days after testing positive.

I'm told that my infection was brief and mild because of the vaccination that I received, Abbott said in a video clip posted on his Twitter account on Saturday. So I encourage others who have not yet received the vaccination to consider getting one.

When the Republican governor announced Tuesday that he had tested positive for the virus, his office said he was in good health and experiencing no symptoms. Abbott said Saturday that he will continue to quarantine as recommended by doctors.

Abbott, who was vaccinated in December, has refused calls to reinstate mask mandates as the highly contagious delta variant surges in Texas.

He tested positive for the virus a day after appearing indoors near Dallas without a mask while speaking to a crowded room of GOP supporters, most of whom were older and unmasked. Abbott, 63, has seldom been seen wearing a mask in public recently.

He also has rebuffed calls to reimpose pandemic restrictions, including mask mandates, as cases in Texas are again soaring, hospitals are stretched thin, and a growing number of school districts defy his orders that prohibit face-covering requirements in classrooms.

Hospitalizations in Texas of people with COVID-19 have reached levels not seen since January, with over 13,000 people hospitalized as of Saturday.

Abbott said Saturday that his wife, Cecilia Abbott, continues to test negative.

Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls, a Republican from the Houston area, said Saturday on Twitter that he'd says that hed tested positive for COVID-19 and had moderate symptoms. Nehls said that he is fully vaccinated and hopes the symptoms pass soon.

All Americans are free to make their own health decisions, but I strongly encourage getting vaccinated, he wrote on Twitter Saturday. It is scientifically proven to drastically reduce the risk of severe illness & death from COVID.
This weekend, Laredo Health Authority Dr. Victor Trevino issued a local directive aimed at schools and the risks they pose to the safety of students, staff and faculty in regard to COVID-19. The directive is two-pronged as it denies mass gatherings and tasks districts to present a plan on how to stop them.

It will take effect starting Aug. 25 as to allow the districts to create the plans for each school as well as adjust for the number of students throughout the available spaces.

The directive states that schools will need to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and prohibit large indoor gatherings in cafeterias. As students are expected to remove their masks to eat and may not have the opportunity to social distance with hundreds looking for a place to sit and eat, the CDC guidelines provide some ways to address those concerns.

According to the CDC, limited or staggered shifts may help reduce the number of students in the cafeteria. They also recommend to clean and disinfect the common areas in between every use and adding physical barriers and signs to help with social distancing.

To address the situation accordingly, the CDC also asks to consider risk factors such as the number of cases in the community, setting, the time students spend at lunch, number of students and their behavior. They also provide a planning tool to help quantify the measures and help develop a mitigation plan.

This leads to the second half of Trevinos directive which schools will be tasked with creating and presenting their mitigation plan to him. The plan must address how the schools will mitigate overcrowding which is not limited to the cafeteria but hallways and other common areas as well.

School districts can lay out a plan on where students can eat their meals safely, and that can abide by the CDC safety guidelines.

It is my medical opinion that this directive includes necessary and appropriate control measures based on current knowledge, including: the evidence of infection in schools and the risk for rapid spread of COVID-19 variants in congregate settings such as schools; the current unavailability of a COVID-19 vaccine for persons under the age of 12; the lack of a pediatric intensive care unit in the community; and, the potential effects on adults, particularly the unvaccinated and immunocompromised, in households with school-age children, Trevino said in a statement following the directive.

As of Aug. 20, an additional 237 positive cases and three related deaths were reported, resulting in a total of 48,669 positive cases and 886 deaths since the start of the pandemic in March 2020. There were 73 hospitalizations and a 18.5% COVID-19 hospitalization rate as of the most recent report Friday.

Despite 79.7% of the eligible population 12 and older fully vaccinated and approximately 95.5% of the elderly population partially vaccinated, children under the age of 12 remain vulnerable without a vaccine. The directive is aimed to curtail and mitigate any current and future infections for that population and all others at schools.

Both school districts issued statements on the update.

LISD stated it will review its lunch program practices and respond with due diligence.

The focus at Laredo ISD continues to be the health, safety and security of its students and staff, LISD stated. To this end, LISD is coordinating efforts with local health authorities and our district staff as well as following the Centers for Disease Controls recommendations in matters related to the mitigation of COVID 19.

Our multi-layered approach includes the citys required use of face masks as well as desk shields in our LISD facilities and buses, frequent handwashing, social distancing, sanitizing of facilities and the upgrading of facility ventilation systems. LISD also strongly encourages our LISD family of eligible students and their loved ones to receive their COVID-19 vaccines. For those who have not yet done so, LISD is scheduling vaccine clinics at their facilities and will soon announce these dates.

From UISD, the district also said it will consider the safety of the students regarding its protocols:

UISD will continue to follow guidelines from the Texas Education Agency, Centers for Disease Control and cooperate with the City of Laredo, UISD said. We will also continue to modify and adjust district protocols as necessary to ensure the safety of our students and employees without jeopardizing their well-being.

cocampo@lmtonline.com
Beth D. Ramage, formerly of Lockport, NY, passed away August 21, 2021 in Deerfield Beach, Florida. Beth was born May 17, 1931, daughter of Howard H. Dobbins and Almeda T. Dobbins. Beth was a graduate of Lockport High School and Queens College in Charlotte, NC. Predeceased by her husband of 6
Many pharmacies nationwide offer a trusted and confidential Covid-19 vaccination service for people aged 12 and over.

For people wishing to avail of this service, they can simply make contact with their nearest pharmacy listed online here and book an appointment.

Des OFlynn Chief Officer, Midlands Louth Meath Community Healthcare Organisation said: Support from pharmacies is instrumental in ensuring access to vaccines for people in the community who may not be in a position to get to one of our HSE vaccination centres.

We would encourage people to take up a vaccination at a participating pharmacy, or at a HSE centre, if they have yet to receive a vaccine. Please be assured that all those participating in the vaccine rollout have received dedicated training to ensure the safe and effective administration of the vaccine.

The HSE thanks the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) and our local participating pharmacies for their continued support to ensure we can roll out the vaccine in as safe and timely a manner as possible.

Darragh OLoughlin, Secretary General of the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) said: Vaccines are the most effective way to protect ourselves and our loved ones from the effects of COVID-19 and pharmacists are delighted to be playing their part in the COVID-19 National Vaccination Programme.

"Weve been administering vaccinations in pharmacies for over ten years so people are used to being vaccinated by their local pharmacist. Vaccination centres have done a great job in rolling out the vaccine but were aware that some people may feel more comfortable getting the vaccine in a local pharmacy, often from someone they know.

"Over 740 community pharmacies are administering the COVID-19 vaccination around the country so people should not have to travel far to get vaccinated. Supplies and deliveries of vaccines will vary from week to week depending on demand.

"People looking to register for pharmacy vaccination should contact their local participating pharmacy. The list of pharmacies administering the COVID-19 vaccine can be found on the HSE website.

Longford

Ballymahon totalhealth Pharmacy

31 Main Street, Ballymahon, Longford N39XOA 4

Opening Hours:

Mon-Sat 09:30-18:00, Closed Sun and Bank Holidays

Vaccine Provided:

Pfizer & Janssen

Baxter's Total Health Pharmacy

Main Street, Longford, Longford, N39 F8Y4

Opening Hours:

9am - 6pm Monday to Friday

Vaccine Provided:

Janssen

Baxter's totalhealth Pharmacy

Main Street,Longford Town, Longford T12P951

Opening Hours:

Not available

Cara Pharmacy Longford

12 Main Street, Longford, Longford

Opening Hours:

Not available

Vaccine Provided:

Janssen

Granard Pharmacy

47 Main Street, Granard, Granard, Longford N3 9Y0P6

Opening Hours:

Mon-Wed 00008:30-18:30, Thurs-Fri 00008:30-19:00, Sat 12:00-18:00

Vaccine Provided:

Pfizer & Janssen

Johnston's Allcare Pharmacy

Leader House,Teffia Park, Longford N39K7E5

Opening Hours:

9:30-19:00 M,W,F, 9:30-18:00 T,Th, 13:30-17:00 Sat

Vaccine Provided:

Janssen

Johnston's Allcare Pharmacy

Main Street, Lanesboro, Longford N39X5C0

Opening Hours:

Mon-Wed and Sat 09:00-18:00, Thurs-Fri 09:00-19:00

Vaccine Provided:

Janssen

Johnstons Pharmacy

7 New Street, Longford N39RX80

Opening Hours:

0008:30-5:30 mon-fri.

Vaccine Provided:

Janssen

Loughrey's CarePlus Pharmacy

20 Dublin Street, Longford Town, Longford N39W6R3

Opening Hours:

Mon-Fri 09:00-20:00, , Sat 9-18:00

Vaccine Provided:

Janssen

Loughrey's Pharmacy Drumlish

Longford Road, Drumlish, Longford K67HN26

Opening Hours:

Not available

Ward Pharmacy

34 -36 Ballymahon Street, Longford Town, Longford N39 V1K5

Opening Hours:

Mon-Fri 09:00-18:00, Sat 09:30-17:30

Vaccine Provided:

Janssen
A Charity Walk will take place on Saturday, September 4 from Longford to Ballymahon as part of the Deirdre's Way walk, from Malin Head to Mizen Head.

Ray Fenton is doing this in memory of his late wife who passed away on January 11, 2018.

Ray explained, "There is likely not a family in Ireland that has not been impacted by cancer. Every year there are approximately 45,000 cases of cancer diagnosed in Ireland alone. My beloved wife Deirdre was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in June 2016. True to form, she immediately latched onto hope. She would say (with her characteristically cheeky grin) that her oncologist would always have something in the bottom drawer for her; hed offer a trial that would give her more time. Sadly, for Deirdre, there was nothing in that drawer for her."

The Longford leg of the walk can be done in 1, 2 or 3 stages, Longford to Ballymahon 25km(9.00 am), Kenagh to Ballymahon 10km (12.30 pm) or Foigha to Ballymahon 5km (2.15 pm) and we know the people of Longford will support this great cause.

The aim is to raise 50,000 for Cancer Trials Ireland.

Cancer Trials Ireland aims to provide access to high-quality and potentially life-altering cancer trials for every patient with cancer. Their work offers hope and light to countless patients and their loved ones.

The mission is to put something in the bottom drawer for Irelands cancer patients. Beginning in Irelands most northerly point and end at its most southerly - from Malin Head to Mizen Head.

See www.deirdresway.com for more
There was a great atmosphere around Longford towns Market Square last Wednesday afternoon as volunteers and walkers from Marys Meals were welcomed to the county.

The volunteers, who walked from Derry and Dublin, met up in Edgeworthstown around 12.30pm before they headed for Longford town. John Coppinger and Mary Ross, of the Longford Branch of Marys Meals, joined them en route.

Longford Branch Chairperson Dolores Kiernan explained, No big group walk has been allowed for the last two years so it was great as the Step by Step walkers approached Longford town. There was a nice crowd to support them from St Josephs School up to the Market Square where Louis Herterich supplied everyone with lots of beautiful food and beverages to keep the spirits up.

Accompanied by an escort from An Garda Siochana and led by Longford Pipe Band, there was a warm welcome afforded to the Marys Meals walkers.

Mrs Kiernan said, It was so good to hear the excellent sound of the pipes once again. We never appreciated our Longford Pipe Band until we were not allowed to have it. There was a welcome committee on the square for everyone. Joe Flaherty TD welcomed the walkers, supplying them with dessert, and giving them the praise they richly deserved for raising funds for the most vulnerable children on our planet.

Patricia Friel, the Marys Meals National Organiser, explained about the work of Marys Meals, how every cent is accounted for, how this can be clearly seen on their website and where the yearly accounts are featured.

She also collected whatever monies had been given on the day as there are no collection bucket permits being issued by An Garda Siochana. Mrs Kiernan outlined, All donations in Longford are to go through the Branch Treasurer Gabrielle Devine, who will be happy to accept all donations on behalf of Marys Meals. To ensure transparency she will also issue an official receipt for every cent received and lodged.

Ms Friel highlighted that every local area supplies its own food for its own school. She said, Marys Meals pay for the food supplied but everything else, be it washing, cooking, serving and cleaning up this is all voluntary. Keeping the funds local enables the local economy to thrive, something like the Co-Op Societies of old in Ireland.

If members of Marys Meals from Scotland or elsewhere go to Africa they have to pay for the flights themselves, that is their commitment to Marys Meals. While there is adverse publicity out there with other charities, Marys Meals main focus is feeding children while at school.

Ms Friel concluded, So if anyone can spare 18.31 they will feed a child at school for a year. Please give as generously as you can.

Mrs Kiernan said Marys Meals Longford wish to extend a very big thank you to An Garda Siochana, Longford Pipe Band, Patrica Friel, Joe Flaherty TD, walkers from near and far, and all who came out to support them on the day, especially the children who were.

She continued, The small Longford Marys Meal group have actually walked 4.3 miles each evening for the last nine evenings. There were six to twelve volunteers each evening who between them walked 314 miles approximately, just around Longford.

If you wish to sponsor these walkers please do so on the Mary's Meals Longford GoFundMe page, on sponsorship cards which are in a lot of Longford town shops or alternatively give to Gabrielle Devine. Please do not donate to anyone else, just in case Marys Meal does not receive your donation.

The walkers left Longford on Thursday continuing their walk to Knock. They were delighted to see so many join with them as they set out, some walking to Lanesboro or to Roscommon, some ended up in Knock on Sunday, August 15. Unfortunately, the Our Lady of Knock Shire was not open to the group collectively so they returned to Ballaghaderreen.

Mrs Kiernan concluded, We hope to walk one evening every month together to build up our stamina so that maybe in 2022 our group will walk with the other walkers from Derry, Donegal, Dublin and further to Knock. Ireland has its own history to reflect on, we do not want any other nationality, regardless of colour, creed or country to have to suffer from hunger when the world is overflowing with food.
Saturday, August 14, 2021 will stand out in the memories of many West of Ireland Suffolk and Sheep Breeders as the West of Ireland Registered Pedigree Suffolk Sheep Breeders Club celebrated their 50th Anniversary Show & Sale at Roscommon Mart.

Demand outstripped supply when it came to the ram lamb section. The Club were honoured to have former IFA President, Macra President and second generation Suffolk Breeder Joe Healy, as their judge.

George Candler Auctioneer, rolled back history, his late father John Conroy Candler being the first Chairman of Roscommon Mart, graced the Auctioneers box beside Tom Cox, selling the Supreme Champion and Reserve Champion of the Show which was won by Mark Grealy of the Oranmore Flock; Marks flock was established in 1954 by his mother Mary, who is the Clubs president.

It is testament to great breeding that a flock, established 67 years ago is still producing Champions. This Champion was sold to a Roscommon commercial breeder for 1,300 followed by his first ram lamb in the Sheep Ireland Class selling for 1,450 also to a Roscommon commercial breeder.

Reserve Champion came from the Moatfarrell Flock of Pat Lynch, Longford. The Moatfarrell flock was established in 1949 and is still also breeding Champions and his ram lamb found another home in Roscommon.

The Novice Champion was captured by TJ Broderick from Menlough and First in the Ewe Lamb Class by Michael Murphy from Cummer Tuam; these two lambs sold for 1,000 each and moved to new homes in Galway and Sligo respectively.

In addition to the successful sale this great occasion also included a voucher for every purchaser, a raffle and refreshments.

Former breeders, officers and family members; present breeders and officers; mart staff past and present as well as mart committee, officers and staff mingled, reminisced, related stories from the past, renewed friendships and purchased rams.

Among them Kevin Griffin from Ballymoe; all of 102 years of age, Kevin won the cup for his Champion Ram lamb in 1973. Frank Harrington from Roscommon, Club Secretary in 1975 to 1981 and winner of many champions and classes in the past; Joan Kenny whose late father John and sister Moira were actively involved in the running of the clubs sales in Roscommon since 1975: David Gillespie who was Club Chairman in the early 1980s, Michael Jones from Tulsk and his wife Martina came to meet friends of his late father Mickey as did Gerry Lavin from Boyle; Gerry went home with the first Prize in the raffle.

Others there included Veronica Satchwell and her family; Mary Candler and George, Patrick Kenny and his son Patrick Jnr. Michael Gordon, Members of the Broderick family, the Mannion family, the Grealy family, the Lynch family, the Raftery family, the Mitchell family, the Murphy family, the Healy family and Martin & Michael Clarke from Turloughmore.

PRO Anne Mitchell said the Club founders were men with foresight. Knowing that the Suffolk was amongst the most popular breed of sheep worldwide they saw that there was a space and a market for the Suffolks in Roscommon and in the West

After congratulating the prize winners thanking the Judge, mart staff, sponsors, officers current and past; and everyone involved in making the day such a success she asked that a minute's silence would be observed in memory of the great founders of the club.



Next day out for the Club is at Athenry mart on Friday, August 27 at 6pm Show, 7pm Sale.
Politics

By Chris Boyle Published: August 23 2021

This bi-partisan group will meet quarterly, to discuss different ways Nassau County can work better for those with disabilities.

Members of the Nassau County Legislature have joined Disability Advocates, residents with disabilities, and others to announce the formation of a Disabilities Awareness Advisory Group. This bi-partisan group will meet quarterly, to discuss different ways Nassau County can work better for those with disabilities.

By creating this advisory group we will make sure Nassau County lives up to its promise to include all of our citizens in the legislative process, and give them a voice. Legislator Steve Rhoads (R, Bellmore) said. Officials do a lot of talking, but we need to do more listening. This is an opportunity for us to continue to listen to those with disabilities and take any necessary legislative action to make sure Nassau County is working for everyone.

The bill will come before legislative committees on September 13th and before the full legislature on September 24th where It is expected to pass.

"Whether it is adding additional programs, or altering the infrastructure at Nassau facilities, We want to let everyone know that no matter your disability, here at the legislature, you have a voice." Said Legislator Bill Gaylor (R, Lybrook) Who Co-sponsored the legislation. "I look forward to the bill's passage later in September, and working with advocates and residents to bring about meaningful change in Nassau."

As an advocate for disabilities, this legislation is very important, Wantagh Disabilities Advocate Gina Barbara said. This has been an ongoing process for many years and will establish a connection between the County and people with disabilities and give them a voice. Thank you to the Legislature for doing this.
Crime

By Chris Boyle Published: August 23 2021

Defendants allegedly fraudulently submitted bids under workers names to represent themselves as a minority- or woman-owned business.

Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy D. Sini has announced the arrest of a contractor for allegedly falsifying information on bids on public works projects in several municipalities in Suffolk County and failing to pay workers benefits on projects they were awarded.

Nicholas Analitis, 44, of Massapequa, and his company, Gorilla Contracting Group, LLC, located in West Babylon, are each charged with eight counts of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class D felony, and 10 counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, a class E felony; and Failure to Pay Prevailing Wages, a class A misdemeanor.

These defendants filed false information in an attempt to win contracts over companies that play by the rules, District Attorney Sini said. In the contracts they were awarded under false pretenses, which were funded with taxpayer dollars, they did not pay their workers their fair share. We will not tolerate the exploitation of workers in this County, particularly on the taxpayers dime.

Between April 2020 and February 2021, Analitis, acting in concert with Gorilla Contracting Group, LLC, allegedly provided fraudulent Surety and Performance Bonds to various municipalities in Suffolk County as part of bid packages on public works projects that falsely listed other peoples names as the managing partner or owner of Gorilla Contracting.

An investigation by the Suffolk County District Attorneys Office revealed that the defendants allegedly filed false bids on multiple occasions, including bids for the Town of Babylons Carlls River Watershed Project; the Town of Islips MacArthur Airport runway reconstruction; the Village of Babylons Argyle Falls project; and public works projects for the Port Jefferson School District and the West Islip School District.

On at least one occasion, Analitis allegedly forged the name of an individual as a member or manager of Gorilla Contracting without the individuals knowledge or consent to represent the company as a Minority- or Woman-Owned Business in the Village of Babylons procurement process.

Analitis and Gorilla Contracting were awarded contracts with the Village of Babylon and West Islip School District. On both projects, the defendants allegedly failed to pay supplemental benefits as required by law to Laborers Local 1298 workers. The Suffolk County District Attorneys Offices investigation relating to the failure to pay prevailing wages is ongoing.

As part of their municipal bids to the Town of Babylon and Town of Islip, the defendants allegedly claimed that Gorilla Contracting had an Apprenticeship Agreement with Laborers Local 1298, which they did not. Analitis also allegedly forged another individuals name as the owner, member or partner of Gorilla Contracting or Gorilla Waste and Contracting on those bids without the individuals knowledge or consent.

Analitis was arraigned on the charges in Suffolk County District Court today and was released on supervised release. He is being represented by Lawrence Carra and is due back in court on Sept. 9.

If convicted of the top count, Analitis faces a maximum sentence of two and one-third to seven years in prison.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Shiry Gaash, of the Financial Investigations & Money Laundering Bureau.
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(Alliance News) - The following stocks are the leading risers and fallers on AIM in London on Monday.







AIM - WINNERS







Abingdon Health PLC, up 30% at 39.50 pence, 12-month range 25.50p-136.65p. The rapid test developer launches its Covid-19 IgG antibody self-test manufactured in partnership with BioSure Ltd. The new test is CE marked, meaning it was assessed and deemed to meet EU safety, health and environmental requirements. It uses finger-prick blood and gives results of antibody status in 20 minutes. The test is in full manufacture at Abingdon Health's York and Doncaster facilities and will be useful in monitoring pre and post-vaccine immunity status, including potential booster vaccinations.







Renold PLC, up 21% at 23.66p, 12-month range 8.10p-29.90p. The industrial chains and power transmission products supplier lifts its annual profit forecast after reporting a strong start to its new financial year. Renold says it saw continued "strong momentum" in the four months to July 31. Revenue for the period was up 14% annually to GBP62.5 million, a 20% constant currency hike. Order intake for the four-month period jumped 61% to GBP79.7 million, already ahead of the whole of the first half of financial 2021, which ended on March 31.







Altus Strategies PLC, up 16% at 71.90p, 12-month range 50.00p-94.60p. The mining royalty company says it has partially completed that acquisition of a royalty interest in the producing Caserones copper mine in northern Chile. Altus has acquired 76% of the 0.418% net smelter return royalty interest for Caserones, with the remaining 24% expected to go through next week Wednesday. The net smelter return is expected to generate around USD3.2 million per year for Altus after tax.







AIM - LOSERS







Burford Capital Ltd, down 7.1% at 787.64p, 12-month range 518.29p-969.50p. The litigation finance provider says its commitments and deployments reached "record-breaking levels" in the first half of 2021, but expects a profit fall. Burford saw "robust" levels of new business during the six months to June 30. It made new commitments of over USD500 million, a company best, four times higher than a year earlier. In addition, it deployed USD399 million, more than treble year-on-year. The company posted realised gains of USD77 million during the half. However, it cautioned that 43% of matters in its portfolio have faced Covid-19-related delays. Some court dates have been delayed and the virus has also meant slower settlement activity.







By Arvind Bhunjun; arvindbhunjun@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
(Alliance News) - Altus Strategies PLC shares advanced Monday morning after the mining royalty company said it has partially completed that acquisition of a royalty interest in the producing Caserones copper mine in northern Chile.

Altus shares jumped 16% to 71.90 pence each in London late Monday morning.

The Africa and South America-focused company said it has acquired 76% of the 0.418% net smelter return royalty interest for Caserones, with the remaining 24% expected to go through next week Wednesday.

The net smelter return is expected to generate around USD3.2 million per year for Altus after tax.

The acquisition is being done through a 50-split special purpose vehicle with Vancouver-based EMX Royalty Corp. In total, the joint venture is acquiring a 0.836% net smelter return royalty interest for USD68.2 million.

Altus has paid USD26.2 million for the initial three-quarters of the mining royalty.

In total, Altus is paying USD34.1 million for its share of the royalty, which will be funded via a USD29 million acquisition loan facility agreement provided by La Mancha Fund Scsp.

The Caserones mine is owned and operated by JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corp of Japan and has an estimated 17 years of production remaining.

By Greg Roxburgh; gregroxburgh@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
(Alliance News) - Botswana Diamonds PLC and Vast Resources PLC on Monday said their joint venture, Okwa Diamonds Pty Ltd, has acquired the Ghaghoo diamond mine in Botswana for USD4 million.

Ghaghoo diamond mine is a 10.8 hectare kimberlite pipe in central Botswana, South Africa, currently under care and maintenance. It is Gem Diamonds Ltd's primary asset under the subsidiary of Gem Diamonds Botswana Pty Ltd.

Okwa's purchase of the mine is conditional on relevant regulatory and authority approvals in Botswana and is expected to complete towards the end of the year.

Okwa Diamonds was founded by mining and resource development company Vast and diamond project company Botswana Diamonds as a special purpose vehicle company to acquire Gem Diamonds' Botswana arm. Vast holds the majority 90% share in Okwa Diamonds.

The USD4 million sum is payable in two instalments of USD2 million each. The first instalment will be payable five days after suspensive conditions are fulfilled and the second on or before December 31.

Gem Diamonds said it will "use the sale proceeds for general corporate purposes".

Botswana Diamonds holds a 10% initial free carried interest in Okwa Diamonds for its first USD15 million of expenditure.

Vast will fund the acquisition and bring the mine into steady state production up to a maximum of USD15 million without any reduction in Botswana Diamond's share. Botswana Diamond's will have the right to contribute to earn up to a further 20%.

Under the terms of the joint venture, Botswana Diamonds will be Ghaghoo mine's operator until a management team is agreed and in place.

"The proposed acquisition of the Ghaghoo Mine in Botswana is a highly compelling opportunity for Vast to deliver diamond production in a relatively short period, benefitting from a fully equipped mine that has USD250 million of investment, infrastructure and a significant resource of quality gems that include large stones and fancy colours," said Vast Chief Executive Andrew Prelea.

Ghaghoo's diamond offering includes orange and blue stones. The joint venture's intention is "to return the mine back into being a commercially successful diamond-producing asset," said Botswana Diamonds.

Shares in Botswana Diamonds were down 0.6% at 1.07 pence in London on Monday. Shares in Vast were up 1.4% at 7.10p. Shares in Gem Diamonds were down 1.2% at 61.46 pence.

By Josie O'Brien; josieobrien@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
(Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of London-listed company director and manager changes announced on Monday and not separately reported by Alliance News:







Condor Gold PLC - mine developer in Nicaragua - Hires John Seaberg as chief financial officer, starting September 1. Notes that Seaberg was CFO of Calibre Mining Corp, which has two producing gold mines in Nicaragua. Seaberg replaces Jeffrey Karoly, who has been CFO on a part-time basis for four years while also serving as chief executive officer of Toronto-listed Rupert Resources Ltd.







Serinus Energy PLC - oil and gas projects in Tunisia and Romania - Hires Stuart Morrison as chief operating officer. Morrison most recently held a series of senior roles at Premier Oil, now called Harbour Energy PLC, including chief petroleum engineer.







Anglo Pacific Group PLC - natural resources royalty and streaming - Hires Varda Shine as independent non-executive director, starting Monday. Shine was CEO of De Beers Trading Co, the diamond arm of miner Anglo American PLC. She currently is senior independent director of London-listed Petra Diamonds Ltd and a board member of the Mineral Development Co of the government of Botswana.







Gulf Marine Services PLC - London-based provider of self-propelled, self-elevating support vessels for offshore energy - Appoints Charbel El Khoury as non-independent non-executive director. El Khoury will represent shareholder Mazrui Investments LLC. He is CEO of United Arab Emirates-based Mazrui International LLC. Back in late June, Mazrui Investments doubled its stake in Gulf Marine Services to 26% from 13%.







By Tom Waite; thomaslwaite@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Today

Sun and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 90F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Partly cloudy skies. Low 74F. Winds light and variable.

Tomorrow

Partial cloudiness early, with scattered showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Hot and humid. High 91F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
As Louisiana faces the worst coronavirus outbreak since the beginning of the pandemic, hospitals are overrun, and vaccination rates remain abysmal. The fourth COVID-19 surge has targeted the younger population, specifically teenagers and young adults, harder than ever.

Last week hospitalization rates rose to over 2,400 patients, with approximately 90% of those patients being unvaccinated, according to the Louisiana Department of Health.

Meanwhile, LSU students return to campus Monday with relatively few restrictions in place, aside from a statewide mask mandate.

Since the surge began, the University has been working to minimize COVID-related issues while retaining a typical semester for students arriving on campus. Policies for the fall include monthly testing for unvaccinated students and the use of masks on campus per Gov. John Bel Edwards most recent mandate.

The University will also test 25% of unvaccinated students weekly, according to LSU spokesman Ernie Ballard. All student organizations on campus  especially Greek organizations  are encouraged to reach an 85% vaccination rate.

We believe that achieving a high vaccination rate among our Greek community gives us the best chance to maintain health and safety among that community of students, Ballard said. An 85% vaccination rate among the Greek community provides us with far more flexibility as we adjust to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

LSU announced Wednesday that 90% of Greek students who have completed entry protocols are partially or fully vaccinated, though only about half of the over 6,000 Greek students have responded.

Lauren Steven, a marketing junior and Phi Mu risk management chair, said she hopes everything can return to normal this semester but is willing to cooperate with whatever protocols the University imposes.

Everyones a little settled into all the restrictions, so if we need to wear masks and have vaccine requirements in order to be in-person, I think well be able to do that, Steven said.

LSU found high amounts of COVID-19 Thursday in the wastewater surrounding several Greek houses on East Lakeshore Drive. As a result, the University required every Greek member to get tested for the virus by 6 p.m. the next day  regardless of their vaccine status.

ISDS junior and Sigma Phi Epsilon member Philip Hymel said he wished the University could have given them more time to complete that protocol. Giving thousands of students 48 hours to get tested was unfair.

I thought that if they wanted to do something like that, they should have given us at least a week, Hymel said. I waited in line for an hour, and Ive already been vaccinated. I heard of people who were in line for two to three hours. Thats ridiculous.

According to Ballard, about 8,600 students moved into residence halls and on-campus apartments Aug. 14, 75% of which completed COVID entry protocols and reported partial or full vaccination.

Several faculty members throughout the summer expressed concern about teaching in-person classes to unvaccinated students. Some demanded that LSU go back to online classes, though the University returned to normalcy.

Our goal is to have as many in-person interactions as possible for all of our student organizations, Ballard said. Health and safety will continue to be our guidepost as we make these decisions.

Interim Executive Vice President and Provost Matt Lee released a letter of classroom guidelines for professors to follow as students return to class Monday, including indoor mask use, limited capacity for large classes, and the option to teach hybrid.

We will continue to monitor the campus and community conditions, and let you know if any changes are needed to our current protocols, Lee wrote. I am grateful for the high level of engagement we have had from the campus community during our preparations for the fall semester.

Faculty members exchanged a template note to students in early July, offering medical advice and encouraging them to get vaccinated. Although former Executive Vice President and Provost Stacia Haynie soon informed them they were prohibited from doing so due to university policy.

There is concern about faculty members, using their faculty status, personally providing what could be interpreted as official medical guidance on COVID-19 vaccinations, Haynie wrote in the letter. (Policy Statement) 15 does not allow faculty or staff to communicate on behalf of the University unless officially designated to do so. In the case of COVID-19, all official communications must come from the Office of Communications & University Relations.

The LSU administration will require the vaccine once the FDA approves any of the available COVID-19 shots. Following the mandate, Ballard said LSU students would be required to show proof of vaccination or submit a waiver form to visit or live on campus  though the logistics of doing so hasnt been disclosed.

Civil engineering junior George Demopoulos, a member of Marines ROTC, said the protocols have proven effective within military programs and that his program has only seen two COVID cases.

We are keeping our training as up to date and rigorous as possible while still staying safe, Demopoulos said.

Though hes concerned that another surge in cases could cause the campus to shut down, he stated that military organizations have gotten by this past year. Still, it would be impossible for officers to hold virtual training.

We do have to follow all guidelines set by the university, the Department of Defense and by the CDC, Demopoulos said. We will hope it doesnt get out of control, and our concern is that we will go back to a virtual climate, but we will always adapt and overcome.

Executive Director of the Student Health Center Julie Hupperich said the Student Health Center is preparing for a possible surge in COVID cases on campus. A multiple-phase program is in place to minimize exposure, including separate entrances for sick students and partitioning the building in the event of a spike in cases.

Its an easier way to provide services to students where its convenient to them, Hupperich said.

Additionally, the Student Health Center has implemented a new urgent care model for students to walk in at any time, similar to any other urgent care center.

Hupperich said there are two ways this semester can go: a surge in COVID and more variants of the virus if students dont comply with protocols, or if the campus reaches herd immunity, students can be hopeful of a typical semester.

If we can focus on vaccination and masking up and everyone does their part, we have the best shot for a normal semester with normal connections, Hupperich said. I think that is everyones end goal.
HOW can the Balearic Minister for Tourism, Iago Negueruela, say that we are having a better season that expected when some hotels havent even bothered to open their doors?

It is also reported that hotel occupancy levels will nosedive over the coming days as German and British families return home for the start of the new school term. Granted at one stage it did appear that we wouldnt have a summer season at all but I think the majority of people involved in tourism expected much more from summer 2021. Parts of the islands are very busy but others such as Magalluf and even Pollensa are relatively quiet. Bars and restaurans are suffering.

According to official figures about 80 percent hotels have opened. What the Balearic government should be doing is planning for next season. If and when Covid passports are going to be introduced to go to bars, restaurants and concerts then tourists need to be informed so that they have the necessary paperwork. It is not much good coming on holiday to Majorca and finding that you cant go to a bar or restaurant because you dont have the right paperwork. Now is the time to hold talks with the travel industry.

Summer 2022 will be the year when things should start getting back to normal. Whether this is the new normal or the old normal we will have to see but what the tourist industry will need is clarity. The time has come for some action and a blueprint for recovery.
U.S. President Joe Biden and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez agreed two military bases in southern Spain can be used to receive Afghans who have worked for the U.S. government, the Spanish government said.

In a 25-minute telephone conversation on Saturday night, Biden and Sanchez agreed Moron de la Frontera near Seville and Rota near Cadiz can be used for refugees from Afghanistan until their travel to other countries is arranged.

"Pedro Sanchez and Joe Biden agreed the use of the bases of Moron and Rota to host Afghans who worked with the U.S. while in transit to other countries," the Spanish government said in a statement on Sunday.

Sanchez tweeted on Saturday: "I have just had a meaningful conversation with President Joe Biden in which we have addressed several topics of common interest, particularly the situation inn Afghanistan and the collaboration between our governments in the evacuation of citizens from that country."

A plane carrying 110 Afghan refugees and their families arrived at a Spain-based European Union hub at a military base outside Madrid on Saturday night, including 36 people who had worked for the U.S. administration in Afghanistan.

The base is being use to host Afghan refugees who worked with the European Union and their families who will then move to other EU countries.
Balearic tourism minister Iago Negueruela said on Monday that while the tourism season has not been a typical one, it has still been good - "much better than we had anticipated".

In his dual role as government spokesperson, Negueruela highlighted the improving health situation. This allows for "some optimism", as the cumulative incidence has dropped significantly during August.

Also the employment minister, he drew attention to improvements in the labour market. As an example, the Balearics was the region with the highest rate of reduction of people on ERTE furlough terms in the first two weeks of August. There was a decrease of 22.7% (7,400 fewer people), way more than the next regions - the Canaries and Valencia - which are highly dependent on tourism like the Balearics.

Coming back to tourism, the minister quoted figures from Eurocontrol. These indicate that Palma is registering more flights at weekends - around 1,000 - than any other Spanish airport and is therefore ahead of Madrid and Barcelona as well as airports serving main tourist destinations, e.g. Malaga and Alicante.

The recovery of air traffic is "remarkable", Negueruela stated. "We have recovered 80% of 2019 traffic, a significant figure that is well above the Spanish average." *

"Statistics for July and August place us at the head of foreign tourism in Spain." He predicted that this positive situation will be reflected in the next unemployment figures.

* More pertinent, however, will be passenger statistics that the airports authority Aena reports.
MANISTEE COUNTY  Paramedics and EMTs are in short supply, it is impacting patients and the situation is reported to be worsening each day. That is according to a news release from the Michigan Association of Ambulance Services on Aug. 10.

The paramedic and EMT shortage, which began a few years ago in Michigan, was exacerbated by the pandemic and now has become a full-blown emergency  with some agencies concerned about the future, reads part of the release. This shortage affects all EMS providers including public, private and nonprofit agencies.

The association notes that the shortage is also especially hitting hard in smaller communities, where agencies have smaller staffs to begin with.

This includes Manistee County, according to the latest Manistee County Public Safety Committee meeting where first response leaders from the county meet on a monthly basis to give updates on each departments highlights and challenges.

My staff which is very limited, (was) decimated from the paramedic stance, said Jason Sopha with Mobile Medical Response at the Aug. 6 meeting. A lot of my EMTs are stepping up, they want to help the community, they want the extra hours."

RELATED: Summer in March?: EMS call volume nears Manistee County's summer norm

At the monthly update, Sopha said MMR has been very busy and that they have been able to provide a third ambulance two to three days a week in the Manistee County area.

He said four of MMRs EMTs are starting a paramedic class; two of those EMTs work in the Manistee coverage area for MMR.

Thats a good thing, because right now paramedics are one of the most invaluable public safety tools and theres not a lot of us left, Sopha said. I commend my two staff members for taking a leap.

Mark Cameron, Manistee Fire Department chief, previously explained in an interview about the departments newest member who is pursuing paramedic training that there are three levels of EMTs: EMT basic, EMT advanced and paramedics.

John Robydek, an EMT-firefighter with the Manistee City Fire Department, is a paramedic in training with the goal of becoming a certified paramedic through classes that started at the end of last month and go through October 2022.

There is a difference in the types of medical emergency calls the department gets and what Robydeks role is like with both types. He previously told the News Advocate that when it comes to basic life support units, that is a call he can handle, but advanced life support calls require a paramedic and is considered a more severe case.

If they do deem it a basic call, Im able to help out with that, but if its an ALS call, Im basically there for a support system for the paramedic on duty, Robydek had said. (That means) taking note, getting supplies out, hooking up oxygen if I need to, basically whatever they need  basically being their assistant, be a good asset to them.

After certification, his role and responsibilities will change.

Then, he will be able to give additional medications assist patients more who are in critical condition.

So, Ill be able to help the community a lot more as a paramedic, more so than just your basic EMT, Robydek previously said.

RELATED: Meet the Manistee Fire Department's newest firefighter-EMT

From the time he started his position at the department in November 2019, it was expected that Robydek would become a paramedic, but his class was pushed back due to the pandemic.

To become a paramedic in Michigan, it requires 1,100 hours of training. They also have to pass practical exams and knowledge tests, according to the state's paramedic license information.

(The shortage is) not specifically to MMR, its specifically to pretty much every EMS agency in the state of Michigan, Sopha said at the public safety meeting. EMTs and paramedics are truly  were a dying breed. Were facing what the local fire departments have been facing for the last five to 10 years.

Sopha elaborated that the way local fire departments had been involved generations of people would work in that career, but that has changed.

The interest, the wages, the benefits, theyre not conducive anymore to doing what we do, he said. I look back at the paramedic class that I went through which lasted two years, I could have gone through and received my nursing degree as an associates and started out where most medics top out.

Karen Goodman, Manistee County Commissioner vice chair and director of systems development for Centra Wellness, said at the public safety committee meeting this month that she had a hellish June where she was frequenting the hospital during family emergencies.

And I waited five hours for my husband to be transported up to Munson and I waited seven hours for a helicopter finally to get there to (help) my daughter out. These timeframes, we cant live with that, Goodman said to Sopha. I cant understand how we can fix this. Im racking my brain, Im talking to (others). The ERs frustrated, people are frustrated, I know youre frustrated, I know your staff is probably frustrated. Were all running short.

Goodman noted that she had worked in the healthcare field for a long time and I was near panic on both occasions.

I dont know what to do anymore, she said.

Sopha said he completely sympathized with Goodmans stance. He also said the situation is not specific to just Manistee County or to MMR.

It is a statewide, nationwide shortage of people who have to have special characteristics to do this job. And honestly, I dont think anybody has the answers, he continued. "I dont think its one thing.

He mentioned a fatal crash that happened in Mason County on Aug. 2 the prior week where two Manistee women died as a result of the crash. Sopha said the crash required one of MMRs advanced life support ambulance units.

So, case and point: two-car (crash) just this past week, very sad story. One of our two ALS units that we had responded down into Mason County because Life EMS, their next closest truck was 50 minutes away, Sopha said.

RELATED: Crash claims life of second Manistee woman, child remains in hospital

He said he didnt think the challenges with the shortage were just with wages or benefits or character of people.

I think its a totality of all the circumstances and were doing our best  to fulfill our obligations but when you have nobody in the pipeline, nobody in the (pool) to draw from it really makes it hard to lose people (and need to) replace them, he said.

Sopha noted that they had interviews scheduled for two EMTs and a part-time paramedic position that MMR planned to aggressively seek to gain their employment.

According to a news release from the Michigan Association of Ambulance Services, there are more than 1,000 openings for full-time paramedics and emergency medical technicians in the state.

Michigan EMS leaders are pushing state leaders for a budget increase that could be used to increase pay for paramedics and EMTs to better recruit and retain individuals to the profession, reads part of the news release.

Brian Scribner, executive director of Southwestern Michigan Community Ambulance Service, said in the release that the problem is getting worse every day.

We need to be able to serve our communities and thats becoming harder and harder without more funds to attract more paramedics and EMTs into the field, Scribner said.

The release also stated that the association called on state leaders to increase funding to bolster EMS payments and increase EMS employee salaries.

Currently EMS services are only reimbursed for 10% to 25% of their Medicaid costs. Michigan EMS also has requested a training grant to get new paramedics trained and into the field quickly, reads the release in part.
From the data that Ive been given, were all aware theres gonna be somewhat of a surge. Were hopeful that that surge will be over somewhere in October."

-North Mankato City Administrator Bob Harrenstein

Harrenstein
Allen Dean Semeski, Sr., 50, of Norman, formerly of Hartshorne, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 25, at his home in Norman. The family will welcome friends for visitation on Thursday, Sept. 2, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Brumley-Mills Funeral Home in Hartshorne. Graveside funeral services will be F
FILE - In this Aug. 2, 2021, file photo the U.S. Supreme Court is seen on Capitol Hill in Washington. President Joe Biden may have averted a flood of evictions and solved a growing political problem when his administration reinstated a temporary ban on evictions because of the COVID-19 crisis, but he left his lawyers with legal arguments that even he acknowledged might not stand up in court.
Atlanta, GA (30303)

Today

A shower is possible early. Sun and clouds mixed. High near 85F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Mainly clear. Low 66F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
New Digital Payments in 2021: Opportunities and Chargeback Risks Survey from Kount, an Equifax Company, Reveals Payment Opportunities and Risks for Merchants
Final External Evaluation ToRs

Increasing resilience of vulnerable population to reduce the impact of COVID 19 in the Fizi territory of the South Kivu Province in Democratic Republic of the Congo

Summary

ActionAid intends to carry out an external evaluation to assess the relevance, effectiveness and efficiency of the increasing resilience of vulnerable population to reduce the impact of COVID 19 in the Fizi territory of the South Kivu Province Project. The project was implemented in two zones in the Fizi territory of the South Province in the DRC.

Background

ActionAid started working in DRC in 1987 by providing relief to Burundian refugees. Since then, it has expanded its operations and is currently working in North and South Kivu, Kasai Oriental, Kasai Central, Lomami and Sankuru and Kinshasa. AA has a long-term engagement with people living in poverty and people of concern. It prioritizes safety and dignity for crisis-affected populations as a fundamental responsibility beyond humanitarian assistance. Respect for basic human rights and protection principles are therefore part of the way we carry out our work. All interventions are guided by processes and principles that puts crisis affected population at the center in shifting power and dislodging systems and structures that perpetuate poverty. AA approach is guided by the globally accepted humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence and the four key components of the ActionAid Humanitarian Signature: 1) shifting the power, 2) womens leadership 3) accountability to affected communities, underpinned by 4) resilience and sustainability.

AA DRC has a presence in the Fizi territory where it has been implementing protection, livelihood and education in emergency programmes over the last three years. The programmes have primarily focused on reaching Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), refugees, returnees and host families.

The project of increasing resilience of vulnerable population to reduce the impact of COVID 19 in the Fizi Territory of the South Kivu Province of DRC has targeted 30,000 people in 20 communities of Minembwe and Nundu health Zones. The project is in line with DEC priority of addressing needs from the population movements in conflict zones and life-threatening situations using the most appropriate response mechanisms. The principal of the project is to ensure that conflict-affected children, women and their families in South Kivu are protected from COVID-19 and violence. Project objectives and results are the following:

A. Risk of COVID-19 transmission is reduced amongst 20 communities through a localised women-led response;

B. Women and Girls are able to uphold their rights and dignity during the Covid-19 crisis, through a women led community based protection approach;

C. Immediate needs of 9000 persons of concern affected by COVID-19 are met by improving food security, addressing loss of income and supporting livelihoods.

Budget

A financial proposal that offers good value for money and that maximises potential efficiencies to deliver the outputs within budget is expected.

Application process

Interested candidates will need to submit the following information:

The CV(s) of the consultancy firm and of all the team members to be involved

A covering letter or expression of interest - highlighting relevant experience and skills to the specific evaluation, and the reasons for interest in the work. If a team of evaluators is required, brief profiles of the team and their expected roles has to be attached

or expression of interest - highlighting relevant experience and skills to the specific evaluation, and the reasons for interest in the work. If a team of evaluators is required, brief profiles of the team and their expected roles has to be attached T echnical proposal with suggested approach, timeline, team profiles and budget inclusive of VAT (if any)

with suggested approach, timeline, team profiles and budget inclusive of VAT (if any) Examples of similar work (at least 2 in English)

of similar work (at least 2 in English) The names of previous client(s) to contact for references.

Click here to download the full document - MS Word format

Deadline for applications: September 3rd 2021

Applications to be sent to DRC.Job@actionaid.org
Improved lung function by 10%

Reduced frequency of pulmonary exacerbations (respiratory illnesses which require hospitalizations and antibiotic therapy)

Improved weight and body-mass-index (markers of nutrition) over 24 weeks

Decrease in sweat chloride by an average of 61 mmol/L resulting in chloride values below the diagnostic level for CF for over 80% of children. (Sweat chloride test results generally confirm the diagnosis of CF based on a chloride value  60 mmol/L)

The international study was conducted across 21 sites in five different countries. Children's Hospital Colorado, in partnership with the Colorado Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, enrolled participants who were monitored over 24 weeks of treatment.The study led by Zemanick demonstrated the safety and efficacy of TRIKAFTA in children 6 through 11 years of age, consistent with those reported in adults and adolescents, supporting the use of TRIKAFTA in this age population."When TRIKAFTA was approved in 2019, it became the most effective CF treatment to date, substantially helping approximately 90% of people living with CF," said Zemanick. "Because of the immediate, robust improvements observed in patients 12 years and older, we wanted to quickly evaluate whether this treatment would be safe and efficacious for younger patients.Until now, there was an unmet need in getting the most effective treatment for CF to younger children in order to prevent complications related to CF that are known to start early in childhood."TRIKAFTA, a combination of three molecule therapies, targets the underlying causes of the disease - a defective protein called the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein.Most people with CF have minimal CFTR protein function. This treatment can improve the CFTR protein function substantially, which may lessen many of the symptoms and complications of CF.In clinical trials, TRIKAFTA treatment led to remarkable improvements in several key measures of disease including:"When we're able to start TRIKAFTA at an even younger age, the results are dramatic," said Zemanick."Many parents have commented they didn't realize their child with CF wasn't feeling well or didn't have as much energy as other kids because their lungs weren't letting them live up to their potential. Now they're able to see what their child can do with better lung and nutritional health."Zemanick's team is helping to lead a nationwide CF Foundation-sponsored study called PROMISE and The PROMISE Pediatric Study.Both studies will examine the long-term effects of TRIKAFTA therapy on airway infection and inflammation, digestion and pancreatic disease, cystic fibrosis-related diabetes and liver disease in the age groups of patients 12 and older and children 6 through 11 years of age.In addition to long-term effectiveness studies, Children's Hospital Colorado is participating in the BEGIN Study to look at the effectiveness of TRIKAFTA in infants and children under 6 years old once medication is available for that age group and the RARE Study to identify treatments for people with CF who don't qualify for TRIKAFTA based on their underlying genetic mutations."Approving TRIKAFTA for younger kids is a tremendous step but our work is not done until we have a cure for CF," said Zemanick."We are leading local efforts in the RARE study to collect cells and biospecimens from the almost 10% of the cystic fibrosis population with rare mutations. This is to find a highly-effective disease-modifying therapy such as TRIKAFTA for the population of patients TRIKAFTA does not work for.""I am so proud of the role that Children's Hospital Colorado is playing in the development and approval of these highly effective treatments for our younger children with CF," said Scott Sagel, MD, pediatric pulmonologist and director of the University of Colorado Cystic Fibrosis Center."Our successful enrollment in these clinical trials is a testament to the commitment of our CF research team and children with CF and their families to find better treatments for CF.Investigators at Children's Colorado are helping to lead nationwide studies to better understand the biology of CFTR modulator treatment and to determine changes in important biomarkers of lung disease and CFTR restoration."Source: Eurekalert
Over the last couple of years, there have been plenty of dramas on the most worshipped Sufi saint of India, Sai Baba. Television shows have been loved, avidly followed, and cherished by his disciples.

But now, the story of Sai Baba is making its way in a biographical format onto the digital screens.

The MX Original Series Sabka Sai gives the audience a peek into the enriching life of the great Sufi saint. Starring Raj Arjun in the titular role, the 10 episode mythology series is directed by Ajit Bhairavkar.





But heres the thing, even though its a story (anecdotes) that weve all heard before, Sabka Sai is not your regular run-of-the-mill television drama. Heres why:



Historical Narrative

As the biographical drama, Sabka Sai attempts to chronicle the life of the most revered saint, it talks about his journey as an adopted infant, his teenage identity struggles in establishing himself as the Saint from Shirdi. This journey is beautifully narrated with layers of historical events like the Indian freedom struggle or epidemics like the Plague.

The Show Humanizes Sai Baba

Talking about the trailer of the series, the Shirdi-born director Ajit Bhairavkar says, In this series, we have tried to portray Sai Baba as more human as compared to the God he is now worshipped as, along with the real-life challenges he faced. His progressive thoughts, his compassion for all mankind, and his lesser-known stories are what weve tried to bring alive in this narrative. The show also tries to decode the phenomenon of his huge following from people of all faiths."

MX Player

Liberal Beliefs, Anecdotes, And Miracles

One look at the trailer and youll realise the impressive attempt to cover the wide range of Sai Babas thoughts and beliefs. The show covers anecdotes that range from his views on religion uniting people, to the hostility he faced from those who believe in science and medicine over his miracles as well as his support for India's freedom fighters. His liberal beliefs in widow remarriage and acceptance of inter-religious marriages saw resistance and his ahead of the times thoughts were often received with dissent.

Faith And Patience  The Core Philosophy

Narrated through the lives of vivid characters and their struggles, Sabka Sai projects the core spiritual philosophy of Sai which is anchored in Faith and Patience (Shraddha aur Saburi) and intends to bring the collective consciousness of humanity to believe that All paths lead to one truth popularized by the phrase given by Sai - Sabka Malik Ek.

MX Player

Sabka Sai has a talented ensemble cast that includes actors Gulki Joshi, Mohammad Samad, Aakash Sinha, Manoj Kolhatkar, Rohit Phalke, AsheeshKapur, Devika Daftadar, and others in pivotal roles.

All episodes of this Sabka Sai will start streaming for FREE on MX Player from 26th August.

The show is also dubbed in Tamil and Telugu to reach a wider audience. To binge-watch this series ad-free, upgrade and subscribe to MX Gold (MX Players subscription VOD service) for less than Rs.1/- day right away!
Swara Bhaskar is one Indian celebrity whose name never really goes out of the news. Whether it's her movies, television shows, or her political opinions, Swara is a person who is very vocal about things she believes in, for which she actually ends up getting a lot of stick on social media.

 Twitter

However, with no control over keeping a tab over what people post on social media, things can really go out of hand, and so they do according to Swara. The 33-year-old actress says that she's subjected to a lot of nasty comments online whenever she posts anything.



She says that some posts are so vulgar that they are equivalent to cyber sexual harassment', however, she refuses to be bogged down by them. In a recent Twitter Spaces chat, Swara said that whatever she posts, everything gets linked to her masturbation scene in Veeri Di Wedding.

Okay, well, in all honesty, that somehow doesn't feel nice at all. Imagine going through something like that every day. Swara took to Instagram to share a post about how trolls stop at nothing to constantly attack her on social media.

Social media is a [virtual] public space like roads & restaurants are, but the public decency and basic social etiquette maintained offline are absent online. I cant even post a photo of a flower without people linking it to masturbation or referencing ungli (finger) after Veere Di Wedding came out, she said.

Its ugly and amounts to cyber sexual harassment but I feel very strongly about not succumbing to online bullying or limiting my presence online because of it. We cannot cede the virtual public space to hate, bigotry and bullying, she added. She captioned her post, Speak your truth. Stand your ground.

 Balaji Motion Pictures

Veere Di Wedding starring Kareena Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor, Swara, and Shikha Talsania, was a movie about friends Kalindi, Avni, Sakshi, and Meera who come to meet Kalindi after getting to know that she is getting married to Rishabh, her boyfriend. The plot revolves around how they end up rediscovering themselves while being on a trip to Thailand.



Just recently, the movie completed its three years of release and with trolls taking Swara's case at every opportunity available, Swara had a message for them. 3 YEARS (June 01) to the birth of an obsession - my nafrati chintus obsession with my fingers! Happy 3rd to the film that gave rise to an economy: the two rupees per tweet employment guarantee scheme that it seems I launched for my trolls #veerediwedding #sakshislays, she wrote on Twitter.
Meridian, MS (39302)

Today

Sunshine this morning. Scattered thunderstorms developing this afternoon. High 92F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low around 70F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
Meridian, MS (39302)

Today

Mostly sunny early then increasing clouds with some scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. High 92F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low near 70F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott attends a security briefing at the Weslaco Department of Public Safety DPS Headquarters on Wednesday, June 30, 2021 in Weslaco, Texas. Gov. Abbott says that he has tested negative for COVID-19, four days after testing positive. He said in a video clip he tweeted on Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021 that he's been told his infection was brief and mild because he was vaccinated.
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By James M. Loy, Miami University

Finding the words to describe Jeannie Ducher come easily to everyone who knew her. Ask anyone and they will speak of the fearless candor and charismatic nature that became synonymous with her bright and virtuous character.

Jeannie was an unstoppable teacher, imbued with pedagogical courage and forthright in her interaction with students and colleagues, says Tom Romano, Miami University professor emeritus of teacher education. She had a vibrant personality and a sharp intellect. She was a problem solver and proactive. There was always a liveliness in her dark eyes. Her sense of humor was quick and appreciative, and I was always heartened by her presence.

After passing away peacefully on August 3, 2021, Ducher left behind a legacy that impacted an entire community of friends, family members, former students, and colleagues who all felt inspired by her life-long dedication to serve and empower others.

Jeannie challenged her students and colleagues to be their best, says Miami professor of teacher education Todd Edwards. Her words and actions helped us grow as empathetic learners, teachers, and scholars. She taught me a number of fundamental truths about education that will inform my work with future teachers in the years to come. She will be missed but not forgotten by those whose lives she touched.

As an educator, Ducher served as an associate clinical professor of foreign language education in Miami Universitys College of Education, Health and Society (EHS), where she designed and implemented the Teaching English Language Learners (TELLs) certificate.

As a lover of language and culture, she was instrumental in helping faculty teach and engage international students, and she delivered community workshops to help local teachers and administrators work with K-12 English learners.

Ducher also worked with the State of Ohio to launch Miamis undergraduate and graduate endorsements in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). This allows aspiring and practicing educators to add important credentials to their teaching license, and there is now a TESOL course requirement embedded within multiple teacher education programs.

Prior to arriving at Miami, Ducher earned her M.A. from the University of Paris VII France. Afterwards, she went on to receive her Ed.S. at the University of South Florida, where she formed many lifelong friendships.

Jeannie and I shared an office in graduate school, we had a lot of laughs, drank quite a bit of coffee, says Martha Castaneda, Miami professor of teacher education. I remember babysitting her son Alex. I remember canoe camping with Jeannie and her family where we brought our own open fire espresso maker. I remember early beach morning walks in Belize before teaching. But most importantly, I remember my friend's sage advice. Jeannie suggested I consider dating one of the friends in our group. Jeannie was so right and I have the best partner in life in great part because of her.

For Ducher, supporting friends and colleagues came naturally. Outside the classroom, she became an outspoken advocate for faculty members, clinical professors, lecturers, and adjuncts. Jeannie was fearless in her advocacy, Edwards says.

Brian Schultz, professor and chair of Miamis department of teacher education, also recalls a memorable time when Ducher demonstrated her willingness to stand up for others.

My favorite memory was when she put that candor and courage into action, Schultz says. A colleague had been behaving in ways that caused others to feel slighted and marginalized. Jeannie did not hesitate to call out the moment and the colleague in a professional yet direct way. It was clear that many of us felt the same, but while others wanted to avoid the situation, she was unafraid to take on a necessary and respectful confrontation.

Ann MacKenzie, Miami associate professor of teacher education, also recalls how these same qualities reverberated across all aspects of her professional and personal life.

We were in awe of her candor, honesty, and ability to tackle issues head on, MacKenzie says. She always had the right questions to pose when a new initiative was being introduced. No one silenced her. Everyone respected her point of view. Jeannie had spirit and was tenacious. She stood up for what was right and just and actively stamped out the wrongs occurring amongst the university, the community, and her world.

To honor her life and legacy, EHS will create a campus memorial and a new student scholarship award in her name.

The Jeannie Ducher TESOL Scholar Award will help inspire and support a new generation of educators, especially those who exemplify the love of learning, language, and culture that eloquently embodied her life and legacy.

Jeannie Ducher was first and foremost a dear friend, almost a sister, says Carine Feyten, chancellor of Texas Womans University and former EHS dean. She had all the skills of a great teacher and a sincere commitment to her students. She understood what it meant to not be heard and became a real advocate for students who needed a champion. She was also a strong voice in the department and brought a diversity of perspectives to the table.

We will miss her more than words can say, Feyten continues. As she would always say, Bisous ma belle.
AG Nessel: Weiser's $200,000 Campaign Finance Violation Isn't Criminal

AG Nessel: Weiser's $200,000 Campaign Finance Violation Isn't Criminal

Attorney General

Media contact: Lynsey Mukomel 517-599-2746

Public inquiries: 517-335-7622



August 23, 2021

LANSING - Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel will not charge Ron Weiser criminally for using Michigan Republican Party (MIGOP) funds to pay Stan Grot for withdrawing from the 2018 Secretary of State race.

Last month, Weiser, chairman of MIGOP, agreed to pay a $200,000 fine after a review by the Michigan Department of State determined seven payments made from the MIGOP's administrative account to Grot violated the Michigan Campaign Finance Act. The payments, totaling $200,000, were made between Aug. 2018 and Feb. 2019.

The fine was paid through a conciliation agreement, and because there has been no violation of that agreement, it bars additional criminal action by the Department of Attorney General.

Additional legal analysis was done to determine if any other criminal statutes could apply to the payoff or against Weiser as the payor.

In short, Weiser's roles as chairman and previously as party delegate do not qualify him as a public official under Michigan law and therefore he cannot be criminally charged as such.

"Paying a candidate for office to withdraw from a statewide election is no doubt insidious behavior that diminishes and undermines our democracy," Nessel said. "However, under the circumstances presented, Mr. Weiser's use of political party funds to manipulate the nomination for the office of Secretary of State for the 2018 Michigan Republican Convention did not allow for criminal charges to be generated. Irrespective of the political actors or parties involved, the Public Integrity Unit of my department will continue to investigate and review allegations of corruption when presented. The fate of free and fair elections in our state demands no less."

The analysis noted in part, "This position is not statutorily created, requires no oath and is not invested with any sovereign function of the government. Our government does not require the creation or maintenance of political parties.... As the Chairman of the MIGOP there is no delegation of a portion of the sovereign power of government. The MIGOP does not serve a government function.... The powers and duties held by Mr. Weiser are not legislatively determined.... In sum, the analysis for whether or not Mr. Weiser is a public official fails on its face...."
AG Nessel to U.S. Attorney General Garland: Firearm Regulations Must Include Ghost Guns

AG Nessel to U.S. Attorney General Garland: Firearm Regulations Must Include Ghost Guns

Attorney General

Media contact: Lynsey Mukomel 517-599-2746

Public inquiries: 517-335-7622



August 23, 2021

LANSING - Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel joined a coalition of 22 attorneys general in submitting a comment to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) that encourages the agency to finalize regulations that would make clear that ghost guns are firearms under federal law. By finalizing regulations, the ATF would dramatically reduce the availability of untraceable guns and would take a significant step in addressing the current gun violence epidemic.

The proposed rule, Definition of 'Frame or Receiver' and Identification of Firearms, updates the ATF's interpretations of "firearm" and "frame or receiver" as used in the Gun Control Act of 1968 to clarify that weapon kits and incomplete weapon parts, both of which can be easily converted into functioning guns, are covered by the Act. The ATF's current regulations effectively allow people, including people prohibited from owning a gun under federal law, to obtain a weapon without undergoing any background check.

"This rule takes a significant step toward remedying a major loophole that remains in the federal regulation of firearms," Nessel said. "It remains unconscionable that our current regulations do not require manufacturers of ghost guns to conduct background checks on individuals who make a purchase, nor do they prevent individuals deemed not permitted to obtain guns from doing so. Our federal partners must act to correct this glaring and dangerous contribution to gun violence."

As the coalition explained, "Certain firearm dealers have capitalized on  loopholes [in the existing regulations] to market so-called 'ghost guns'-meaning weapons kits or partially complete receivers that can easily be converted into unserialized, operable weapons-outside the Gun Control Act's framework. As dealers highlight in their marketing, these ghost guns are unregulated and can be purchased by anyone."

The comment also noted that, to maintain the integrity of the Gun Control Act, the ATF must revise its regulations so that they encompass modern gun designs. Otherwise, federal regulations cannot accomplish what Congress intended when it passed the Gun Control Act.

"For the Gun Control Act to work as Congress envisioned, the manufacture, transfer, and possession of firearms must all occur within the Act's strictures. When any of that activity happens beyond the Act's parameters, the Gun Control Act is ineffectual at 'keeping guns out of the hands of criminals and others who should not have them, and assisting law enforcement authorities in investigating serious crimes.' ...The Bureau's non-enforcement of certain portions of the Gun Control Act has effectively created room for firearm manufacturers to openly defy the statute," the comment went on to explain.

Nessel joined attorneys general from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin in this comment.

Previously, Nessel joined 17 other attorneys general in March in issuing a letter calling on U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland to close the loophole after joining a different coalition in February that's fighting a lawsuit related to disseminating dangerous 3D-printed gun files on the internet.

The Attorney General also joined a coalition of 19 attorneys general late last year urging the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York to compel the ATF regulate ghost guns.
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP)  The head of the World Health Organization on Monday called for a two-month moratorium on administering booster shots of COVID-19 vaccines as a means of reducing global vaccine inequality and preventing the emergence of new coronavirus variants.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters in Hungary's capital, Budapest, that he was really disappointed with the scope of vaccine donations worldwide as many countries struggle to provide first and second doses to more than small fractions of their populations while wealthier nations maintain growing vaccine stockpiles.

Tedros called on countries offering third vaccine doses "to share what can be used for boosters with other countries so (they) can increase their first and second vaccination coverage.

Several countries including the United States, Israel, and Hungary, as well as others in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, are already offering or planning to offer their populations COVID-19 booster shots.

In early August, Hungary became the first country in the 27-member European Union to allow residents to sign up for a third dose, and more than 187,000 people have received a booster so far, according to government statistics.

Last week, U.S. health officials announced plans to dispense COVID-19 booster shots to all Americans in an effort to shore up protection against a surge in cases attributed to the delta variant and signs that the vaccines effectiveness is slipping.

Yet the U.N. health agency has repeatedly called for rich nations to do more to help improve access to vaccines in the developing world. On Monday, Tedros said that of the 4.8 billion vaccine doses delivered to date globally, 75% have gone to only 10 countries while vaccine coverage in Africa is at less than 2%.

Vaccine injustice and vaccine nationalism increase the risk of more contagious variants emerging, Tedros said.

The virus will get the chance to circulate in countries with low vaccination coverage, and the delta variant could evolve to become more virulent, and at the same time more potent variants could also emerge, he said.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto told the news conference that Hungary has 8 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine in storage, and that the Central European country has donated more than 1.5 million doses to other countries.

Tedros thanked Hungary for making those donations, adding that we hope that you will do more, because no one is safe until everyone is safe."

___

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GREENWICH  One of the towns top shopping destinations, Greenwich Avenue, is showing renewed signs of life, as two new retail stores opened this week and filled some recent vacancies among the storefronts.

Rebag opened at noon Friday, promising consumers a different kind of resale market. The Rebag store located along the middle of the Avenue is the first Connecticut outlet for the brand outside of New York City, California and Miami. The business is looking to take an innovative approach to the consignment field, in which a customer drops off merchandise and waits for it to sell at a price they are hoping to achieve.

Rebag is working on a different model, said Allison Kopp, director of marketing.

Technically, its not consignment, its sell, trade and shop. Its taking the friction out of the resale process, making it effortless, Kopp said.

The business has a large database on the resale prices of various kinds of luxury goods, and that database gives clients the expectation of transparency about an items actual resale value, according to the company.

The company is tapping into the circular market, the trendy term for selling used items, that has become a preferred term in the field. The concept promotes sustainability and environmental awareness, and re-shifting consumer and spending priorities.

Our customers can enjoy the circular fashion experience with minimal friction thanks to our proprietary technology that makes buying, selling, and trading items super simple and easy to do, Charles Gorra, CEO and founder of Rebag, said in an email.

Unlike consignment or peer-to-peer alternatives, we buy items outright with quick and upfront payment. You can get an instant offer online or visit us in stores to sell in less than an hour for cash or Rebag credit, Gorra said.

For shoppers, he said, all of the stores items have been thoroughly vetted, and new items are coming in every week. The store also offers a trading option, as well, so a client can can buy and sell in just one transaction and only pay the difference.

The store offers handbags, jewelry and accessories to shoppers.

The new business replaces an Orvis outlet, which closed earlier this summer.

The local location seemed like a natural progression for Rebag, Gorra said.

Greenwich has always been a luxury shopping destination for local communities in Connecticut and New York. Plus, due to COVID-19, many consumers have been moving out to more open suburbs still within access to New York, driving many of our customers to the Connecticut area, he said.

Opening a physical location in Greenwich is a natural next step to meet our customers where they are, and it builds on our retail strategy of penetrating local markets where our customers dwell, while serving as a convenient drop off point for sellers, Gorra said.

Less than a block away, Faherty, a clothing store, has opened on the corner of Lewis Street, replacing a former Anne Klein shop. The store bills itself as a modern American heritage brand committed to creating comfortable and high-quality staple.

It is the first Connecticut store for the brand. Faherty also has stores in California, Florida, New York and New Jersey as well as in Chicago, Boston, Nantucket and Marthas Vineyard, and more.

rmarchant@greenwichtime.com
SIERRA VISTA, Ariz. (AP)  A southern Arizona police officer who resigned after a probe found he behaved and talked inappropriately around women has given up his law enforcement certification.

The Sierra Vista Herald/Review reported Monday that Travis Mattern, a former officer with the Tombstone Marshal's Office, voluntarily relinquished the certification.

The certification is akin to a professional license.

The Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board had begun an investigation into whether Mattern should be stripped of it.

The newspaper obtained a six-page report from an internal investigation that showed Mattern had a pattern of disturbing behavior toward women.

Mattern resigned in February after a woman filed a complaint, accusing him of loitering at the bar where she worked and following her home. He sent her a sexually explicit text a month earlier.

The report states Mattern told another woman he liked cutting women and putting salt or lemon juice in their wounds."

He also told Tombstone Marshal Jim Adams that he once had sex on top of his patrol car. Adams also said a female Arizona Rangers captain informed him Mattern once asked her questions that were very sexual in nature.

Attempts to reach Mattern through a listed number went unanswered Monday morning.
SINGAPORE (AP)  The White House on Monday announced a series of new agreements with Singapore aimed at combating cyberthreats, tackling climate change, addressing the COVID-19 pandemic and alleviating supply chain issues. The announcements coincide with Vice President Kamala Harris visit to the region, as part of the Biden administrations efforts to counter Chinese influence there.

On cybersecurity, the Treasury and Defense Departments, as well as the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, have each inked a memorandum of understanding with their Singapore counterparts expanding information sharing and training to combat cyber threats,

On climate, the two nations are launching the U.S.-Singapore Climate Partnership, a new effort between the Departments of Commerce, Energy, Transportation and Treasury and their counterparts in Singapore to develop new climate standards and collaborate on projects to expand clean energy infrastructure development and improve sustainability.

The two nations agreed to cooperate more closely to track COVID-19 variants and engage in research on coronavirus treatments. And the Department of Commerce is joining with the Singapore Ministry of Trade and Industry to create a partnership focused on strengthening trade throughout a handful of key industries.

The White House announced additional agreements between the two nations fostering cooperation on space exploration and defense issues as well. The announcements came Monday after Harris met with Singapore President Halimah Yacob, and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Harris' Southeast Asian trip, which brings Harris to Singapore and then later to Vietnam this week, is aimed at broadening cooperation with both nations to offer a counterweight to Chinas growing influence in the region.

On Monday morning, Harris participated in a welcome ceremony outside the Istana, the presidential palace, where she held her hand over her heart while a marching band played the Star Spangled Banner. She then walked around the courtyard, reviewing the band, accompanied by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Loong then showed her a species of an orchid that was named in her honor, and Harris participated in a brief courtesy call with President Halimah Yacob, before heading into a series of bilateral meetings with the prime minister.

After her meetings, the vice president will participate in a joint news conference, and later visit the Changi Naval Base, where shell speak to American sailors aboard the USS Tulsa, a combat ship.

On Tuesday, Harris will deliver a speech outlining the Biden administrations vision for the region, and meet with business leaders to discuss supply chain issues.

The trip marks Harris second foreign trip  she visited Guatemala and Mexico in June  and will be the first time a U.S. vice president has visited Vietnam.

Singapore is the anchor of the U.S. naval presence in Southeast Asia and has a deep trade partnership with the U.S., but the country also seeks to maintain strong ties with China and a position of neutrality amid increasingly frosty U.S.-China relations.

Relations between the U.S. and China deteriorated sharply under Bidens predecessor, Donald Trump, and the two sides remain at odds over a host of issues including technology, cybersecurity and human rights.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin made their first overseas trips to Japan and South Korea. Austin traveled to Singapore, Vietnam and the Philippines last month and he vowed U.S. support against Beijings intrusions in the South China Sea.

Harris is expected to emphasize the need for a free and open Indo-Pacific region in her conversations with Singapore's and Vietnam's leaders.

Alexander Feldman, president and CEO of the US-ASEAN Business Council, said Harris will have to be careful in her conversations with Singapores leaders not to focus too heavily on China, but to emphasize a positive, productive U.S. relationship with Singapore and Vietnam.

Where she could fall into a trap is really trying to pit this as a U.S. versus China trip. it should be a U.S. trip to our friends and partners in in Southeast Asia, Feldman said.

If China becomes the main focal point, he said, that makes it harder for our friends to move forward across the region, not only in Singapore and Vietnam but beyond that.

Indeed, Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said in a recent interview that Singapore will be useful but we will not be made use of in its relations with both countries, and the nations prime minister previously warned the U.S. against pursuing an aggressive approach to China.

Beijing, however, has seized on the visit, with Chinas official Xinhua News Agency issuing an editorial Saturday on Harris trip portraying it as part of a drive to contain China.

Visits to Southeast Asia by senior Biden officials are aiming to woo these countries to form a ring of containment against China. But Southeast Asian countries are reluctant to choose sides between China and the United States, and Americas 'wishful plan will end in failure, Xinhua said.

The U.S. approach is based on outdated Cold War thinking and is intended to provoke troubles in their relations with China, create division and confrontation, and try to create a ring of containment, the editorial said.

While Harris navigates the challenging diplomacy surrounding the issue of China, shell also face the task of reassuring key U.S. allies of Americas commitment to Southeast Asia, in the wake of the tumultuous Afghanistan exit. Images of desperate Afghans mobbing American plans leaving Kabul have drawn comparisons to images from the fall of Saigon at the end of the Vietnam War.

Harris' aides have been careful to emphasize that while she remains deeply engaged on the situation in Afghanistan, the Southeast Asia trip was planned well before the recent events, and they say Harris' work in Singapore and Vietnam is important, independent of the developments in Afghanistan.
NEW YORK (AP)  A wide Broadway coalition of theater owners, producers, union leaders, creators and casting directors have hammered out a series of reforms and commitments for the theater industry to ensure equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility.

The New Deal for Broadway emerged following a summit of industry leaders organized by Black Theatre United earlier this year. It outlines reforms that are short-term  to be implemented prior to Broadways reopening this fall  and long-term over the next few years.

Just as we are all committed to create safe environments free from discrimination, sexual harassment and bullying, we are committed to create environments that are equitable, diverse, inclusive, accessible and in which everyone has a sense of belonging, the document states. The focus is on Black theater members.

The changes range from the abstract  "to push for more diversity"  to the specific, like that artists with visual disabilities be offered Braille audition materials and that the Shubert, Nederlander and Jujamcyn chains have at least one of their theaters named after a Black artist. (Jujamcyn already has the August Wilson Theatre).

We had meetings for six months with everyone in the industry and we pretty much formed this together. We knew what we wanted and what we wanted to change, Tony Award-winner LaChanze and a founding member of Black Theatre United, told The Associated Press on Monday ahead of the document's release.

This is the floor. This is not the ceiling. This is just the beginning for us. Were hoping with this document that it will have a ripple effect throughout our industry for all other members of the community.

Directors and authors have agreed to insist on diversity riders  to include members of underrepresented communities  in all new contracts they work on and will never assemble an all-white creative team on a production again. Producers have agreed to widen the talent pool to more diverse candidates.

One thing the groups all agree to is that they will each adopt an EDIAB policy  which stands for equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility and belonging  and post it on websites, theater lobbies and audition rooms, making it clear to everyone before rehearsals begin and mandate its training. But what that exact policy will be is still to be determined by each group.

Each organization is going to create their own policy that we will be monitoring to make sure that they are in accordance to the New Deal, said LaChanze. We are not the ones writing out what the policy is going to be. We established guidelines for what it must include, but each company has to provide the exact language.

The New Deal for Broadway has been endorsed by many of Broadway's biggest organizations and individuals, from the producers' group The Broadway League to the labor organizations Actor's Equity Association and Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Local 798.

The biggest theater owners  the Nederlander Organization, Jujamcyn Theaters, Shubert Organization and Disney Theatrical Productions  are on board, as well as casting agencies like The Telsey Office and Tara Rubin Casting, plus playwright Doug Wright, director Michael Greif, director-choreographers Sergio Trujillo and Jerry Mitchell, and composers Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Jeanine Tesori.

The unions have agreed to appoint a full-time Chief Diversity Officer. Casting agents have agreed to remove stereotypical language. And producers will commit to hiring creative talent from historically excluded and underrepresented groups in our industry on every new creative team, regardless of the subject matter of the show.

Enforcement will be conducted by a committee consisting of Black Theatre United and members of each leading group that are signatories. Egregious violations could lead to parties being removed from the document, LaChanze said.

Black Theatre United was formed in response to the wave of national unrest over racial injustice that followed the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in 2020. It has hosted town halls on activism, bolstered census participation and developed mentorship programs for aspiring young Black theater artists. In addition to LaChanze, its founding members include Audra McDonald, Billy Porter, Norm Lewis and Vanessa Williams.

Data from Broadway indicates vast inequities, according to the Asian American Performers Action Coalition. Its annual study, The Visibility Report: Racial Representation on NYC Stages, indicates that nearly 80% of Broadway and off-Broadway show writers were white, as were 85.5% of directors, during the 2017-18 season, the latest time frame analyzed.

On stages, over 61% of all roles in New York City went to white actors, a rate double the population of white people in New York City. Data on designers is even more unbalanced: In the 2018-2019 theatrical season, 91% of Broadway design slots were filled with white designers.

LaChanze said the killing of Floyd and last summer's protests galvanized the industry to change. Everyone wanted us to go back into the theater not the way we left it, she said.

___

Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Sandra M. Chafouleas, University of Connecticut and Amy Briesch, Northeastern University

(THE CONVERSATION) Even before COVID-19, as many as 1 in 6 young children had a diagnosed mental, behavioral or developmental disorder. New findings suggest a doubling of rates of disorders such as anxiety and depression among children and adolescents during the pandemic. One reason is that childrens well-being is tightly connected to family and community conditions such as stress and financial worries.

Particularly for children living in poverty, there are practical obstacles, like transportation and scheduling, to accessing mental health services. Thats one reason school mental health professionals  who include psychologists, counselors and social workers  are so essential.

As many kids resume instruction this fall, schools can serve as critical access points for mental health services. But the intensity of challenges students face coupled with school mental health workforce shortages is a serious concern.

Key issues

As school psychology professors who train future school psychologists, we are used to requests by K-12 schools for potential applicants to fill their open positions. Never before have we received this volume of contacts regarding unfilled positions this close to the start of the school year.

As researchers on school mental health, we believe this shortage is a serious problem given the increase in mental health challenges, such as anxiety, gaps in social skills and grief, that schools can expect to see in returning students.

Anxiety should be expected given current COVID-related uncertainties. However, problems arise when those fears or worries prevent children from being able to complete the expected tasks of everyday life.

Meanwhile, school closures and disruptions have led to lost opportunities for students to build social skills. A McKinsey & Co. analysis found the pandemic set K-12 students back by four to five months, on average, in math and reading during the 2020-2021 school year. Learning loss also extends to social skills. These losses may be particularly profound for the youngest students, who may have missed developmental opportunities such as learning to get along with others.

And its important to remember the sheer number of children under 18 who have lost a loved one during the pandemic. A study published in July 2021 estimates that more than 1 out of every 1,000 children in the U.S. lost a primary caregiver due to COVID-19.

Hiring more school psychologists

Hiring more school psychologists may not be simple. The National Association of School Psychologists recommends a ratio of 1 psychologist for every 500 students. Yet current estimates suggest a national ratio of 1-to-1,211. Its like having to teach a class of 60 instead of 25 students.

Shortages are particularly severe in rural regions. There are also not enough culturally and linguistically diverse school psychologists.

Scarcity of school mental health personnel affects important student outcomes from disciplinary incidents to on-time graduation rates  especially for students attending schools in high-poverty communities.

To address these shortages, legislators have proposed federal bills that aim to expand the school mental health workforce. Meanwhile, local school districts and state education agencies are using American Rescue Plan funds to increase mental health training, hire additional mental health staff or contract with community mental health agencies.

Preparing all school personnel

We believe increasing the number of mental health providers in schools is important. Workforce increases, however, must be coupled with attention to readying all school personnel to cope with students anxiety, grief and gaps in social skills.

For example, when it comes to anxiety, schools can help students build both tolerance of uncertainty and coping skills through strategies such as seeking support, positive reframing, humor and acceptance. School mental health professionals can train other staff members on simple strategies to use in a nurturing relationship. Long-term benefits such as sense of belonging can happen when each student has an informal mentoring relationship that offers emotional nurturance and practical help.

More schools have adopted social-emotional learning curriculums in recent years. However, additional time may be needed to teach and reinforce basic skills such as taking turns and sharing.

In addition, school mental health personnel can assist with defining a clear process for identifying who needs help, and be ready to share resources about grief and how kids respond to loss.

Partnering with families and communities

Even with these efforts, schools cannot be expected to identify and meet all young peoples mental health needs. Strong partnerships with families and communities are critical.

Seeking input from families may offer valuable information about student experiences. This might be done, for example, by adding questions to beginning-of-the-year student forms. Knowing how families are experiencing loss or insecurities, for example, can help school mental health personnel plan for and target supports.

The youth mental health crisis requires a comprehensive response. We believe the priority should be ensuring equitable access to a mental health professional through school settings.

[Get the best of The Conversation, every weekend. Sign up for our weekly newsletter.]

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/students-are-returning-to-school-with-anxiety-grief-and-gaps-in-social-skills-will-there-be-enough-school-mental-health-resources-165279.
NEW HAVEN  By all appearances it was like any other military funeral last Saturday on the south lawn of Beaverdale Memorial Park.

There were the six members of the Honor Guard detail from the U.S. Army, the ceremonial folding of the American flag, the rifle volley, the playing of Taps. There were the Connecticut Patriot Guard Riders standing at solemn attention in the sweltering August heat, the family clad in black seated before the gravestone.

The difference was as simple and unadorned  and quietly extraordinary  as the dates carved into that gravestone: 1918 - 1944. Sgt. John E. Hurlburt, a Madison native, was being laid to rest 77 years after he perished in battle.

Hurlburt, who grew up on Opening Hill Road, was killed in 1944 on the island of Saipan in the south Pacific. He was 8,000 miles from home. It was the most devastating attack by the Japanese during the war, historians agree. His entire regiment was wiped out. He never had a chance. He was 26.

His remains were not known to have been recovered. His name was recorded on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu.

Then, in the past three years, came a letter, and a phone call, and a visit, from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency to Kathleen Esposito, Hurlburts niece and next of kin. Thanks to advances in forensic techniques, and a process that involved dental and anthropological analysis, as well as DNA samples, the CSI-like DPAA had identified her uncles remains.

As unusual as the service seemed, there were notes of the familiar for Johnnie, as he was known to everyone in North Madison.

A rendition of When Johnny Comes Home resounded through the quiet park.

My mother used to sing that song when she talked about Johnnie, and she talked about him a lot, and all of us kids would chime in, and the Army was kind enough to have it played at the service, Esposito said.

John Dahlberg, 88, who knew Hurlburt as a boy in North Madison, lay a rose on Hurlburts casket.

That meant the world, he said later. Johnnie was a hero.

There were other unexpected reunions among the funeral party, of cousins long separated, of childhood friends not seen in decades.

Johnnie brought us all together, Esposito said later, as she and other family members visited the grave of her mother, Doris, which was not far away.

Esposito expressed her gratitude to the Army for all the years and the work they invested to make this homecoming possible.

It means so much to my family and myself to have my uncle back home and I know if my mother and her siblings were alive today, it would be the celebration of the century, she said.
As Tropical Storm Henri moved through Connecticut Sunday, telecommunication companies said they were ready to repair outages at a time when many are still working from home.

While much of the focus has fallen on the potential for days-long power outages, recent damaging storms have shown that the same infrastructure critical for electricity can cut people off from their phones and internet connection.

Lara Pritchard, senior director of communications for the Northeast region for Spectrum, said it was closely monitoring Henris path, which changed course on Sunday and made landfall just over the border in Rhode Island, lessening the blow on Connecticut.

Teams are connecting regularly to monitor Henris track to safely pre-position staff, materials like fiber-optic cable, vehicles, fuel, generators and other supplies so we can react quickly to assess and repair any damage as soon as its safe and we have access to damage sites, Pritchard said.

As Connecticut still faces the COVID-19 pandemic, internet connections have become more essential than ever as many people are still working from home.

But following Tropical Storm Isaias in August 2020, people faced connectivity issues for days after the storm, and struggled to reach customer service to get back online. Though not as severe as what was faced by the power companies, internet and phone providers faced criticism following that storm.

Much like how power companies prepared for the worst Sunday when Henri impacted Connecticut, these internet and phone providers were beefing up staffing to get customers quickly back online.

In a notice to customers, Optimum said it had been in communication with local authorities and energy companies to ensure coordination on any restoration efforts needed.

While some outages cannot be prevented, as theyre caused by downed wires and power lines, our fully staffed teams are standing by and ready to make repairs as commercial power is restored, Optimum said in the notice to customers.

Kristen Roberts, vice president of communications for Comcasts Western New England Region, said its Xfinity services could be impacted if there are commercial outages.

Weve been actively preparing for Tropical Storm Henri so we can support our customers by responding quickly to any impact from the storm may have on our service, Roberts said. Weve been increasing staffing, and we will be strategically placing employees throughout the Connecticut area with backup generators and other supplies as needed.

Roberts said for most customers, services should be restored after commercial power is back and access to damaged infrastructure and downed lines have been cleared.

It is important to note that even though power might have been restored to an individual's home, there are instances where power has not yet been fully restored to the local Xfinity distribution point that serves the neighborhood, she said. Once cleared and access is gained, we will work around the clock until services are fully restored for every customer.
NEW YORK (AP)  All New York City public school teachers and other staffers will have to get vaccinated against the coronavirus, officials said Monday, ramping up pandemic protections as the nation's largest school system prepares for classes to start next month.

The city previously said teachers, like other city employees, would have to get the shots or get tested weekly for the virus. The new policy marks the first no-option vaccination mandate for a broad group of city workers in the nation's most populous city, though Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Friday that coaches and students in football, basketball and other high-risk" sports would have to get inoculated before play begins.

Unions bristled at the new requirement, saying the city needed to negotiate, not dictate. Two big city workers' groups were planning to file a labor complaint or take legal action.

About 148,000 school employees  and contractors who work in schools  will have to get at least a first dose by Sept. 27, according to an announcement from the Democratic mayor and the city health and education departments.

Were going to do whatever it takes to make sure that everyone is safe, de Blasio said at a virtual news briefing. Schools Chancellor Meisha Ross Porter called the policy another layer of protection for our kids, including her own 11th-grader.

The city hasnt immediately said whether there will be exemptions or what the penalty will be for refusing, though de Blasio told MSNBC later Monday that there will clearly be consequences. The previous vaccinate-or-test requirement had provisions for unpaid suspensions for workers who didnt comply.

De Blasio said the city would start bargaining this week with school system unions over specifics, and officials hope for agreements. But the mayor said the city intends to implement the requirement Sept. 27, with or without a deal.

A union known as DC 37  which represents school aides, lunchroom workers and other staffers along with thousands of other city employees  said it would file an unfair labor practices complaint with the state Public Employment Relations Board. And the Municipal Labor Committee, an umbrella group of unions that together represent about 350,000 city workers, voted Monday to pursue legal action that could mean a lawsuit over the city's varying vaccination policies for city employees, chairperson Harry Nespoli said.

All we want to do is sit down and try to negotiate the best policy that will protect the city and its workers, said Nespoli, who's vaccinated but worried about maintaining the option of undergoing testing instead of inoculation.

Were concerned about the people in New York, too. We dont want to see people get sick, he said, but there has to be an alternative if that person doesnt want to take that jab.

The city didn't immediately comment on the labor groups' planned actions.

Other school unions also said they needed answers and input.

I understand completely why you have the requirement: Theres a pandemic. We just have to make sure that we negotiate" accommodations if a doctor certifies that someone shouldn't get vaccinated, said Gregory Floyd, the president of Teamsters Local 237. It represents about 4,400 school safety agents.

The United Federation of Teachers raised the potential of arbitration if necessary.

Custodians' union President Robert Troeller said he believed about 60% of the 850 members of Local 891 of the International Union of Operating Engineers had gotten at least a first shot, but some others are dead-set against this.

At least 63% of all school employees already have been vaccinated, not including those who may have gotten their shots outside the city.

Citywide, over 70% of adults have gotten at least a first dose.

The new requirement came as federal regulators gave full approval to Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine, one of three vaccines available in the U.S. All already have authorization for emergency use, but officials hope the full approval will increase public confidence in the vaccines.

School starts Sept. 13 for the city's roughly 1 million public school students.

U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona hailed the city's leadership on teacher vaccinations, tweeting that it's important to maximize the amount of inoculated people in schools.

New York, like some other cities and states, has been fighting the virus' highly contagious delta variant by ratcheting up pressure to get more people inoculated.

New York City last week began requiring proof of vaccination t o enter restaurant dining rooms, gyms and many other public places, a first-in-the-nation policy that a few other cities have copied. Meanwhile, New York state announced last week that hospital and nursing home workers would have to get inoculated.

Vaccine mandates for teachers are fairly rare so far in the U.S., though Washington state, for one, says teachers must be inoculated or face dismissal.

Vaccinate-or-test requirements for school employees are somewhat more common, existing in places including Los Angeles and Chicago, which are the two biggest U.S. school districts after New York. The state of New Jersey joined the list Monday with a new policy affecting teachers and state employees.

New York state's court system announced a vaccinate-or-test rule Monday for judges and staffers. Such policies already exist for other state employees and transit system workers.

A new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that about 6 in 10 Americans say students and teachers should have to wear face masks while in school, and that teachers and eligible students should also be required to get vaccinated. But Democrats and Republicans differ sharply on these issues, the poll found.
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany  An Afghan mother gave birth to a baby girl aboard a U.S. Air Force C-17 on Saturday soon after the plane landed at Ramstein, the Air Force said.

The mother went into labor during the flight and Air Force medical crews at Ramstein helped deliver the child in the cargo bay of the aircraft, Air Mobility Command said in a statement Saturday.

The plane originated from an intermediate staging base in the Middle East, AMC said.

Most evacuation flights into Ramstein have come from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, where evacuees were first flown after leaving Kabul following the Talibans seizure of the capital city Aug. 15.

The flight from Qatar to Ramstein is about six hours. While in labor, the woman began experiencing complications due to low blood pressure, AMC said. The aircraft commander descended to increase air pressure in the aircraft, a decision that helped stabilize and save the mothers life, the AMC statement said.

Upon landing, airmen from the 86th Medical Group boarded and delivered the child in the aircraft cargo bay. The Air Force did not say what time the baby was delivered.

The baby and mother were transported to a nearby medical facility and are in good condition, AMC said.

They likely were taken to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, the largest U.S. Army hospital overseas, which is a few minutes drive from Ramstein. Officials at Ramstein have said evacuees with medical emergencies that cant be handled there would be transported to LRMC.

AMC did not say whether this was the first child delivered on a C-17. On Friday, Air Force officials at Ramstein said Air Force aeromedical evacuation crews had been dealing with various medical emergencies during Afghanistan evacuation flights, including reports of inflight births.

Col. Adrienne Williams, commander of the 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing at Ramstein, which is part of AMC and coordinates logistical air movements, said in an interview earlier Saturday that she couldnt confirm the reports.

But births wouldnt be surprising given the stress evacuees are under, Williams said.

When you think about where theyre originating from  and then just the transiting to get to that place to here, it takes a mental toll, a physical toll, she said.

Since Friday, Ramstein has received just under 5,000 evacuees from Afghanistan on more than 20 flights, a base official said Sunday morning. The base has set up tents and facilities on the flight line, where evacuees are living while waiting for transportation to the United States.
If the U.S. military's historic airlift evacuation of tens of thousands of civilians from Afghanistan wasn't complicated enough, a new potential wrinkle has emerged: the Islamic State.

NBC News, citing defense officials, reported Saturday that the U.S. is tracking specific threats from ISIS against Americans, Afghans and others trying to leave Afghanistan through Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, and against the airport itself.

And on Sunday, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told CNN, "The threat [of potential ISIS attacks] is real, it is acute, it is persistent, and it is something that we are focused on with every tool in our arsenal."

Read Next: Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccines Coming Soon for US Service Members Following FDA Approval

The U.S. and other allied militaries are maintaining a truce -- one that is shaky and tense, yet so far holding -- with the Taliban forces who now control the country and encircle the airport. U.S. commanders also are speaking with Taliban counterparts outside the airport daily to deconflict, and try to ensure civilians can reach the facility.

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But the Islamic State affiliate ISIS-Khorasan has made no such agreements. ISIS-K and the Taliban are enemies who have battled each other in recent years, and the newer group may view the tumultuous evacuation as an opportunity to strike, both harming the U.S. and embarrassing the Taliban.

In a briefing with reporters Monday, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby declined to comment on specific intelligence about threats, but said the military is monitoring and keeping in mind the threat ISIS poses.

"Without speaking for the Taliban, I think it's a safe assumption to assume that they too are mindful of that threat," Kirby said.

He declined to discuss what might happen or how the military might respond if ISIS launched terrorist attacks on the airport's perimeter, or the civilians trying to get inside.

Sullivan told CNN that commanders on the ground have many ways to defend the airfield against potential terrorist attacks, and stopping or disrupting them is a top priority for the administration, including intelligence agencies.

"We are taking it absolutely, deadly seriously," he said.

In a sign of how dangerous the security situation remains, a gunman opened fire Sunday night outside the airport's north gate, targeting Afghan security forces there. The Afghans, U.S. and coalition troops returned fire. One Afghan soldier was killed and several others were wounded, but have been treated and are now reportedly in stable condition, U.S. Central Command said. No U.S. or coalition troops were reported wounded.

It remains unclear which, if any, group the attacker may have been affiliated with.

The U.S. hopes to complete its evacuation and withdraw from the airport by Aug. 31 and has expressed optimism about the chances of meeting that deadline. However, President Joe Biden has left the door open to extending the mission if not all Americans are out by then.

But the Taliban has ruled out extending the evacuation process into September, and threatened "consequences" if it happens. In an interview with Sky News, Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen called an extension a "red line" and said it would mean the U.S. is "extending occupation."

"If the U.S. or U.K. were to seek additional time to continue evacuations, the answer is no, or there would be consequences," Shaheen said.

In Monday's briefing, Kirby said the Pentagon had seen the Taliban's comments on an extension.

"I think we all understand that view," he said, adding that the military is working as fast as it can to evacuate as many people as possible.

Over the weekend, the Pentagon enlisted commercial airlines' assistance with the evacuation by activating the Civil Reserve Air Fleet.

By Monday morning, 18 aircraft from six commercial airlines had been activated to help ferry evacuees from intermediate stops outside of Afghanistan to the U.S., though military aircraft are still taking the lead on flying people out of Kabul. Intermediate stops include U.S. facilities in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Italy, Spain and Germany.

Since Sunday morning, the U.S. military had flown 25 C-17 Globemaster IIIs and three C-130 Hercules out of Kabul; another 61 charter, commercial and other military flights also departed the airport. The U.S. military transported nearly 11,000 personnel on its flights, and other aircraft carried more than 5,000, for about 16,000 in all. The military has flown out roughly 37,000 people since the evacuation effort began Aug. 14.

-- Stephen Losey can be reached at stephen.losey@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StephenLosey.

Related: US Forces Dig in at Kabul Airport as Stalemate Complicates Evacuations
An order making the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory for U.S. service members will be issued "in the coming days" after the Food and Drug Administration formally approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine Monday.

Defense Department spokesman John Kirby said that troops should expect updated guidance this week, including a timeline for them to be fully vaccinated.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Aug. 9 announced plans to make the vaccine mandatory for U.S. service members, but delayed the requirement while the FDA completed its review of the shot.

"The health of the force is as always, our military and our civilian employees, families and communities, a top priority," Kirby said during a Pentagon press conference Monday. "These efforts ensure the safety of our service members and promote the readiness of our force, not to mention the health and safety of the communities around the country in which we live."

Formal vaccine approval comes the week after the Defense Department recorded five deaths among U.S. service members between Aug. 11 and 18 -- the deadliest week of the pandemic to date for the military.

The deaths included the first Marine to die from the virus and several young service members between the ages of 27 and 31. To date, the DoD has seen 222,138 cases of COVID-19 in U.S. service members; 34 have died.

FDA officials said Monday that as part of the approval process of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which now will be known as Comirnaty, "scientific data and information, including hundreds of thousands of pages" of information were analyzed and evaluated, and the vaccine has met the administration's "rigorous, scientific standards." The approval is for patients 16 and older.

Read Next: Official Who Handled GI Bill Benefits at Howard University Leaves as School Is Reinstated

"The public and medical community can be confident that although we approved this vaccine expeditiously, it was fully in keeping with our existing high standards for vaccines in the U.S.," said Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research.

The vaccine was first rolled out Dec. 11, 2020, under an FDA emergency use authorization. The Defense Department began vaccinating its first service members days later, starting with military leaders and medical personnel.

Military officials said early during vaccine development that the shots would not be mandatory as long as they were administered under the emergency use designation.

The emergency use authorization required patients to receive counseling on their options to accept or refuse the vaccine -- a provision that military officials interpreted as a legal prohibition on requiring the vaccine.

But with FDA approval, the DoD now is able to require the Pfizer vaccine, as it does with a dozen other immunizations.

According to the DoD, roughly 63% of all U.S. forces, including active-duty, National Guard and Reserve members, had received at least one dose or were fully vaccinated as of Aug. 18.

The mandate will affect roughly 780,000 service members who have not yet been vaccinated.

Shortly after Austin published his plan to make the vaccine mandatory, some service members took to social media to say they would put in their retirement papers or planned to leave the service rather than get the inoculation.

Defense officials have said U.S. troops who refuse the vaccine could face a range of punishments, including administrative separation or court-martial.

However, Navy Surgeon General Rear Adm. Bruce Gillingham said Thursday that refusals to follow a general order would be handled "administratively" but added he doesn't foresee widespread issues once the immunizations are required.

Gillingham acknowledged that there may be medical exemptions for some, including those who are immunocompromised or who have had a previous reaction to the vaccine.

"I think our sailors and Marines will understand that it's, at this point, been deemed a mandatory readiness requirement," he said. "I don't think we're going to face significant resistance, frankly."

A template also has circulated on social media that people claiming they are military personnel or spouses say can be used to file a religious exemption for the vaccines.

Kirby said last week that troops will be able to request an exemption based on their religious beliefs, but the decision to grant the request will be determined by the military service branches, which each have their own policies on religious exemptions.

Those making a request for an exemption will be required to receive counseling from a military physician, as well as their commander, to ensure that they are making "an informed decision."

"There is a religious exemption possibility for any mandatory vaccine, and there's a process that we go through to counsel the individual both from a medical and from a command perspective about using a religious exemption," Kirby said during a press conference.

"We take freedom of religion and worship seriously, in the military. It's one of the things that we sign up to defend," he said. "And so it's something that's done very carefully."

More than 362 million COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in the U.S., including those made by Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson.

The most commonly reported side effects of the Pfizer vaccine include pain and swelling at the injection site, fatigue, headache, muscle aches and fever.

A rare side effect, particularly among men under age 40, is heart inflammation, either myocarditis or pericarditis, largely within seven days after the second dose, the FDA noted in its announcement Monday.

While most "have had resolution of symptoms," some patients have required "intensive care support," so the vaccine will be distributed with a warning of the risk, according to the FDA.

At least 30 U.S. service members have developed myocarditis following doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, which use messenger RNA technology to instruct cells to produce the protein spike that is a hallmark of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, activating the immune response.

Defense Health Agency Director Army Lt. Gen. Ronald Place said earlier this summer that a number of military medical patients also have developed myocarditis as a result of contracting COVID-19, although he did not say how many.

Service members who have died recently from COVID-19 have been identified as:

Air Force Senior Airman Daniel Moise, 31, with the 919th Special Operations Wing at Duke Field, Florida, who died July 27 and whose death was reported to the DoD on Aug. 11

Navy Personnel Specialist First Class Debrielle Richardson, 29, of Helicopter Maritime Squadron 60 at Jacksonville, Florida, who died Aug. 13

Marine Corps Sgt. Edmar Ismael, 27, of 2nd Marine Logistics Group at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, who died Aug. 14

Navy Aviation Support Equipment Technician 2nd Class Robert McMahon, 41, of Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, who died Aug. 14

Texas Army National Guardsman Chief Warrant Officer 2 Michael Riddick, 49, of the 36th Combat Aviation Brigade, who died Aug. 15

-- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Monster.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime.

Related: A Research Team Hopes to Get Every Sailor to Wear a Sleep Tracker. And They Have Big Plans for the Data
A Howard University official has left his job less than two weeks after Military.com published an investigation that found that the school had a long pattern of misfiling paperwork, costing veteran students their GI Bill benefits.

A series of clerical errors culminated in the school being stripped of its accreditation with the Department of Veterans Affairs, temporarily losing its eligibility for new students to use the GI Bill and putting some 235 beneficiaries on campus at risk of being displaced.

After more than two months of uncertainty, student veterans at Howard University now can use their GI Bill benefits again.

The school on Friday announced the suspension had been lifted and that there will be "no restrictions" on VA benefits. Other military scholarships such as National Guard tuition assistance seemingly were not impacted at all by the temporary suspension.

Read Next: Afghan Woman Goes into Labor During US Military Flight, Gives Birth Aboard Plane at Ramstein Air Base

Beyond the certification issue, first reported by Military.com, the publication's investigation found that, for at least a year, staff at Howard mishandled benefits paperwork for student veterans, sometimes leading to benefits being delayed or outright denied. At least one student was forced to move out of Washington, D.C., where the school is located, to seek cheaper housing. And no less than 57 students petitioned the school to waive tuition outright for the previous, current and next semester.

At the center of the certification process was Christopher Rhone, the school's veteran coordinator who served as the middle man between student veterans and the VA. After Military.com's investigation was published, he left the school. Frank Tramble, a university spokesperson, said Rhone's departure is unrelated to the school's handling of military scholarships and subsequent news coverage.

The District of Columbia State Approving Agency, or D.C. SAA, a regulatory arm of the VA, suspended Howard in April from collecting GI Bill benefits from newly enrolled students. Howard officials blamed regulators for not giving school officials adequate warning of changing recertification standards. Yet no other university in the D.C. area was suspended.

Failure to comply quickly with the D.C. SAA's rules could have had further repercussions, including permanent suspension and barring any students from using the GI Bill at Howard.

Such action would have prevented students not only from paying for school, but collecting stipends for books and housing that many rely on to get by. In the D.C. area, where living expenses are some of the highest in the country, that could equal up to $2,000 or more per month. Students also likely would have been forced to find a new school.

Nearly 1 million veterans and eligible family members use the GI Bill yearly. In 2020, the VA paid out $11.4 billion in education benefits. Many advocates and lawmakers see the GI Bill as one of the federal government's most sacred and successful entitlement programs -- serving as a clear path for veterans to the middle class.

Veteran advocates have long beat the drum for the VA to crack down on predatory schools, usually in the for-profit sector. But the D.C. SAA's moves against Howard, one of the most prestigious historically Black colleges in the country, were met with confusion.

According to school officials, regulators took issue with how Howard processed its paperwork when filing for credentials with the VA, which schools typically must do biannually to prove they are in compliance with laws and meet a baseline of standards.

The D.C. SAA did not return requests for comment from Military.com. Multiple employees reached by phone who worked on Howard's suspension case said they were not authorized to talk to the press.

In a statement, a school spokesman said that officials submitted everything they believed was needed for certification, including what led to approval in 2019. A week later, they were informed that "standards for recertification had changed and that our recertification submission was incomplete."

The Fall semester began Monday, but notice on the GI Bill's reapproval did not come until the end of last week. However, tuition was due two weeks ago, and students -- many of whom rely on GI Bill benefits to pay the rent -- had to sign leases for apartments.

It's unclear how long a gap student veterans face to get their first checks from VA for the Fall semester. In the meantime, Howard announced it will not add late fees to tuition.

Officials say the school is "increasing staffing" for veteran needs and offering interest-free loans for up to $3,000, as posted on the school's website. The loans must be paid back by Dec. 14, the end of the Fall semester.

The Protect the GI Bill Act, federal legislation signed into law in January, supercharged protections for student veterans and clarified state approving agencies' authority, making it clear they can cut schools off from GI Bill money.

It is unclear whether the legislation spurred the D.C. SAA to take action against Howard. But given the virtually unheard of move of regulators targeting prestigious schools, it's possible the situation at Howard could be a sign that the new law will lead to further suspensions.

-- Steve Beynon can be reached at Steve.Beynon@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevenBeynon.

Related: Errors Cost Student Vets GI Bill Benefits. Now, Howard University Is Scrambling to Save VA Funding
A coalition aircraft shot down a drone Saturday flying near a U.S. military outpost in eastern Syria's Deir al-Zour province, military officials said.

The aircraft "engaged and defeated [an unmanned aerial system] through air-to-air engagement" near a base known as Green Village, the coalition told Stars and Stripes.

"Ensuring the safety of Coalition personnel is the highest priority," Operation Inherent Resolve said in an emailed response to a query. "The UAS was deemed a threat and self-defense measures were taken."

A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle used an AIM-9X Sidewinder missile to strike the drone, according to Aviation Week's Steve Trimble, who first reported the incident.

The coalition declined to confirm the aircraft type or other details of the mission, citing policy and security concerns.

Commander of the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Brig. Gen. Christopher Sage was piloting the fighter jet, Trimble said on Twitter, citing two unnamed sources.

Although the Air Force declines to disclose the wing's location in the Middle East, some of its elements are believed to be operating from Jordan's Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, near the Syrian border in the eastern desert.

The wing recently conducted drills with two F-15E crews to show their ability to respond to drone threats on short notice.

"Within minutes we're going to be airborne shooting down that threat," said Capt. Jon Levielle, an F-15E weapons systems officer in an Air Force video of the July alert drill.

In recent months, the U.S. has ramped up defenses against drones in Central Command, where defending against such threats is a top priority.

Iran-backed militants in the Middle East have repeatedly used drones against U.S. interests and those of its allies.

In late July, an explosives-laden drone hit the commercial Motor Tanker Mercer Street off the coast of Oman, killing two crew members. An investigative team from the USS Ronald Reagan found evidence linking the drone to Iran, CENTCOM said earlier this month. British and Israeli experts concurred with the findings, it said.

Iran exports its drone technology throughout the region, though it's sometimes hard to trace, said journalist Seth Frantzman, author of the recent book "The Drone Wars." The proliferation of small, cheap systems used for surveillance or like cruise missiles has left military officials scrambling to develop and deploy defensive measures.

Drone technology "immediately lends itself to use  in weird vacuums, ungoverned spaces," Frantzman said. "A lot of militaries are definitely behind."

In June, U.S. F-16 Fighting Falcons deployed to Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia conducted operations testing their ability to track and destroy invading drones alongside Saudi aircraft, U.S. Air Forces Central said earlier this year.

The 332nd AEW's exercise the following month was the first time crews there had drilled the procedures, an F-15 weapons systems officer said in an Air Force video.

"We got up in the air insanely [faster] than I ever thought was possible, found our target and shot it down," said Capt. Dylan McKeever. "It's only going to get better."
BOISE, Idaho -- The online dash for last-minute gifts is on with shipping deadlines down to the wire, and identity thieves and online scammers banking on shoppers being careless. The seemingly "perfect" gift purchase may be hiding a nightmare by giving thieves access to a shopper's credit information, credit card numbers and bank accounts.

AARP Idaho is warning consumers to be careful as they wrap up holiday shopping by releasing a list of simple tips to help protect shoppers from becoming the next victim of I.D. theft or an online scam.

To help protect consumers this holiday season, AARP is releasing the following list of "14 Tips to Safer Holiday Shopping:"

1. Don't give out your credit card number over the phone, through the mail or over the Internet until you can confirm that you're dealing with a legitimate business.

2. When you click through to a website, carefully read the domain name, the Internet address, that appears at the top of your browser. Beware of sites whose name has even the slightest change from a legitimate online retailer's -- extra words or letters, misspellings, and anything but the usual .com or .org ending.

3. Make sure that addresses of ordering pages always begin with "https://" instead of "http://." The "s" means it is secure.

4. Know who you're dealing with and what you're buying: in other words, confirm the online seller's address and phone number before proceeding with the purchase.

5. Avoid websites that don't provide a physical address you can verify by looking up the company on the Internet, or a phone number. Scam sites often allow only for e-mail correspondence. If a phone number is listed, call it to ensure it's a number with a live operator.

6. Pay close attention to disclosures at the bottom of the page. Most legitimate online retailers have a "Contact Us" page with a phone number and physical address, and a "Terms and Conditions" link detailing return policies and such. Many scammers' websites may lack these pages or have them but don't provide all the information you need to know.

7. Make sure it's a safe deal: Find out if you can return the items for a full refund, and who pays the shipping costs if you return it.

8. Make copies of every online transaction: Print them and store them in a safe place. It's very important that you keep a paper trail.

9. Do not e-mail your financial information, especially credit card numbers, checking account numbers and Social Security numbers.

10. Watch for "scammer grammar," misspellings and grammatical errors of the websites, ads and e-mail of scammers.

11. Reject requests for wire transfer payment -- especially if it's sent overseas. Legitimate online retailers accept credit cards, which offer you more protection than debit transactions if you need to dispute payment.

12. Beware of "act now" offers that tell you a sob story -- these tactics are often bait to empty your wallet; the items typically don't exist.

13. Research the prices. Similar items typically fall into a general price range. If one being offered to you falls well below that range, ask yourself why. The usual answer: Scammers use low prices to lure consumers into a bogus bargain.

14. Be on guard at online auctions. If you lost the winning bid on eBay or another auction website, don't be taken in by follow-up e-mails offering the same deal. Scammers often cruise online auction sites to prey on losing bidders and direct them away from secure buying environments.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 17, 2007 - Military families now can access military-supplied air transport to travel to their official "homes of record" located outside the continental United States when their sponsors are deployed for 120 days or more, thanks to a recent policy change, a military official said today.

Before the change, which became effective Dec. 6, family members only could use military space-available, or "Space-A," flights to travel to their homes of record in the lower 48 states, said Air Force Lt. Col. Michael R. Holmes, with the office of the assistant deputy undersecretary of defense for transportation policy.

"We have a significant number of military personnel whose spouses and extended families may not reside in the continental U.S.," Holmes explained. For example, he said, the states of Hawaii and Alaska, and the territory of Guam, fall under the criteria of the new policy.

Military families can save considerable money by using low- or no-cost Space-A flights instead of using commercial airlines to get back to their homes of record, Holmes pointed out. However, family members under age 18 must be accompanied by an eligible parent or legal guardian, according to Defense Department documents explaining the new policy.

Family members using Space-A transport under the new policy also require a verification letter signed by the military sponsor's commander verifying the servicemember's deployment, according to Defense Department documents.

The new travel policy was enacted to mitigate some of the stresses of deployment encountered by servicemembers and their families, Holmes said.

The Space-A travel program is a privilege, not an entitlement, and it is extended to military family members in recognition of their support to the mission being performed by their sponsors and to enhance quality of life for servicemembers and their families, according to Air Force Air Mobility Command documents.
Pete Blohme has a long list of food service bona fides. Hes a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, the same school that gave us Roy Choi, Anthony Bourdain and a host of other notable chefs. Blohme has appeared on the Food Network, owns four restaurants and spent countless hours in the kitchen.

He even made midrats a meal worth showing up for.

Blohme was able to put his personal touch on the Navys midnight meal service, because he and a few of his friends like to go out and cook for sailors. They call themselves the Messlords, they want to get a meal to any sailor deployed anywhere in the world and hope their influence sticks with the galley staff long after they leave.

They call me Panini Pete, says Blohme, who set up shop in Alabama. Fifteen years ago, I opened up a little panini shop, a very chef-driven house, with roasted meats, homemade dressing spreads and fresh-cut fries. Then I did a little show called Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, and that kind of changed the whole trajectory and course of my career.

Panini Pete means he met Guy Fieri, the host of one of the Food Networks most popular shows, as he was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Fieri and Blohme hit it off right away. Eventually the two got to talking about Fieris tours to entertain Navy sailors. He suggested that Blohme gather a few of his chef friends and go out to cook for the troops.

The Messlords in the galley with Navy sailors (Courtesy of the Messlords)

Blohme isnt a veteran, but his father served in the Marine Corps and many members of his extended family served in the Army during the Vietnam War. He always had a soft spot for veterans, but it got a whole lot softer after seeing U.S. troops in action. He was hooked.

It started off just very small and humble, and we really didn't know what we were doing, Blohme admits. But quickly we all were kind of like, Wow, this is something really special that we're getting to do here. Once a civilian gets a chance to peek behind the curtain and see how hard everybody works and how committed they are, thats powerful.

Blohme put together an all-star team of DDD alumni, consisting of Stretch from Grinders Kansas City, Mike Hardin from Hodads in San Diego and Gorilla Rich Bacchi from Gorilla BBQ in Pacifica, California. This was the first incarnation of the Messlords -- and a trial by fire.

The Messlords decided they wouldnt just go in and show sailors how to cook. They wanted to make a day of it. They put on music and get the galleys everyday crew involved in making some truly unique food for the ship, no matter what ship or shift they happened to be on at the time.

We go in there like just culinary clowns and take over, says Blohme. We make stuff these young men and women are going to enjoy at a different level than what they're used to getting. And with a lot more energy and enthusiasm. We like showing the guys in the galley certain tricks, too.

Since those early days, the Messlords have expanded their roster to more than a dozen chefs from around the country who are willing to leave their restaurants to cook for U.S. troops for weeks at a time, from ships at sea to naval installations from Japan to Djibouti.

We're so glad to be here, Blohme says. I remember on our second tour, we brought in John Conley from Flagstaffs Salsa Brava and when I introduced him, you could see he was tearing up. All he could do was thank the sailors for everything they do.

"Panini Pete" Blohme serving up grub to some of the Navy's finest. (Courtesy of the Messlords)

There were days where the Messlords would show up to the galley and cook for 30 hours straight, but for them, it was all worth the effort.

We were working a dinner, and then were suddenly getting set for breakfast, Blohme recalls. Then the local MWR asks us if were doing something for Midrats. John [Conley] and I look at each other and say, Of course, were doing something for Midrats. They cant miss out on this. We knew we were going to be at it for 30 hours, but we gotta do it for these guys. We have to. Not doing it wasnt even a question.

Since 2012, the Messlords have fed more than 250,000 military personnel, visited over 20 countries and cooked at 50 military bases. The COVID-19 pandemic may have slowed the pace of visits from the Messlords, but they will be back to cooking for the Navy as soon as the Navy will have them.

-- 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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When those who served our nation return home, we owe them a fair shake along with our gratitude. Events like yesterday's Military 2 Maritimeinformation and recruiting session, hosted by the American Maritime Partnership in Jacksonville, Florida, help steer our veterans toward the opportunities available in the maritime industry.

We at the Maritime Administration (MARAD) are proud to be associated with an industry that doesn't just open its doors to America's veterans, but actively helps them navigate the transition to civilian careers. Through licensing and certification information, support for maritime academies, and our work with stakeholders, MARAD is actively engaged in making this transition easier.

Many of our veterans have skills and experience that can be major assets to our nation's transportation network, and programs like Military 2 Maritime connect them with careers in the U.S. Merchant Marine. In Jacksonville yesterday, national, state, and local maritime organizations  and even MARAD Executive Director Joel Szabat  met with veterans interested in maritime careers. Attendees had the opportunity to speak with hiring, licensing and union representatives; they toured vessels; and they heard first-hand accounts from current employees and crewmembers about careers in the industry.

I can't imagine a better place to provide those veterans with an opportunity to maximize their professional strengths than in our nation's dynamic and evolving maritime industry. By the same token, the folks in the maritime industry welcome the opportunity to help some of those veterans find a professional home. As Margaret Reasoner, Director of Marine Personnel for Crowley Maritime, said, "Our industry needs the talent and expertise that current and former members of the armed forces have to fill open positions."

Connecting a talented pool of job-seekers with a growing industry just makes sense. The maritime industry knows it, and veterans do too. Vick Andre Anthony Atkinson, a 12-year naval veteran and graduate of the Seafarers International Union's Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, cited his mariner training, certification, and ultimate transition into the U.S. Merchant Marine as "a continuation of my naval career."

I heartily second that. As a former naval officer myself, I feel privileged that my current position in the Maritime Administration allows me to serve those I served with.

For nearly 250 years, America's merchant mariners have been a source of security and prosperity. As we have grown from a fledgling nation into the world's greatest economy, our mariners have been there every step of the way. And I can't think of a more qualified group of applicants than today's veterans to continue powering the transportation that drives our economy forward.
"I still don't know what they said to each other," a Texas nurse told NurseWeek magazine in 1999 after enlisting a hospital house cleaner to interpret for a patient who could not speak English.

Today, as immigration increases and a nursing shortage looms, the demand for bilingual healthcare workers is growing. The greatest need appears to be for Spanish-speaking nurses.

According to Minority Nurse Magazine, only 2 percent of all US registered nurses are Hispanic/Latino. While a higher percentage of nurses may be Spanish-speaking, non-Hispanics/Latinos may not be aware of cultural differences. Anita Holt, RN, MSN, and a professor of human services at Southwestern College in Chula Vista, California, cites several reasons Hispanics/Latinos may not consider a career in nursing, including limited knowledge of opportunities and lack of fluency in English.

Why Bilingualism Is Important

Holt says bilingualism is critical -- not just in nursing, but throughout the healthcare system. "Patients feel more comfortable if they can talk to someone who understands their language, as well as the beliefs and values of their culture," she says. "For example, it is important for a hospital patient to not only have his wife and children at his bedside, but also his compadres and comadres, his tios and tias. If the nurse, lab technician or doctor do not understand the concept of familia, the integrity of his care could be compromised.

Sam Romero, founder and president of a Massachusetts-based healthcare recruiter specializing in bilingual and bicultural professionals, agrees. "Physicians' assistants, nurses' aides, orderlies, mental health technicians, food service personnel, people who work in nursing homes -- anyone who understands a different culture and service can make a healthcare organization more efficient and effective," he says. "That understanding helps the organization, too, by cutting down errors, slashing turnover and serving broader populations."

It's the Law

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 mandates that every organization receiving federal money employ bilingual staff. "That's particularly important in the emergency room, where people use medical terminology," Romero says. "People are discussing delicate, sensitive matters, so you shouldn't have a 10-year-old boy interpreting for an OB/GYN. But it happens. I've seen a housekeeper called in, and she told the patient something the doctor wasn't saying. It's much better for a doctor or nurse to provide information."

Holt says bilingual nurses are needed all over the United States. Although the demand is most crucial in states bordering Mexico, Hispanic/Latino immigrants -- legal and illegal -- are settling across the country. And the variety of Hispanic/Latino cultures (for example, a patient from Colombia's cultural experience will vary greatly from that of a Puerto Rican patient) only increases the need for bilingual nurses. In response, the National Association of Hispanic Nurses has developed chapters in nearly every state. The organization holds an annual summer conference and networking opportunities.

What Should Bilingual Job Seekers Do?

Holt suggests bilingual healthcare job seekers subscribe to professional journals (such as the AJN, or American Journal of Nursing), and join Hispanic/Latino and non-Hispanic/Latino professional organizations. They should also inquire about collaborative efforts among hospitals, medical and nursing schools, nonprofit foundations and government agencies. This is true even for health professionals who are not proficient in Spanish. For example, the US Department of Health and Human Services awarded the University of Texas at El Paso an $800,000 grant to prepare culturally and linguistically competent family nurse practitioners to work at border clinics.

Asian-Language Speakers Needed

Bilingual and bicultural healthcare needs extend beyond Spanish, of course. Romero says immigration is increasing from countries like Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos -- places where medical care is vastly different from the United States. And at the same time, immigration policy is staunching the flow of healthcare professionals from Asia. "Since 9/11, there is much greater vigilance about who comes in," Romero says. "It's harder for professionals, even folks with doctor's and nurse's degrees, to move here."
Scott Fillingame has had an unusual path to his current career  a former lieutenant in the Army National Guard, he has made the shift from the commercial rebuilding business to senior home care, as part of the Home Care Assistance franchise. Fillingame is the current owner of Home Care Assistance of Houston and Galveston. We caught up with Lt. Fillingame to get his insights on the industry.

Tell us about your military experience.

West Point was available to me after high school, but I passed on that and went to college. I ended up regretting that I missed out on that, so I went into ROTC and thats the way I received my commission. I was commissioned into the maintenance section of the Army so we were stationed out of Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland right around Gulf War I. We were standby to fly over to Kuwait but our orders were eventually cancelled and we flew home in January of 91.

I came back to Guard duty in the States, and was stationed with the 634th Texas National Guard just outside Texarcana, Texas. I served there for a few tours and then left to join my familys commercial rebuilding business in Houston.

Its quite a jump from commercial rebuilding to senior home care.

Yes, indeed. [Laughs] My father started in the commercial rebuilding business back in the early 70s, and my brother and I formed our own shop in 93. But when my dad was diagnosed [with Multiple System Atrophy, a condition similar to Parkinsons], it was my first exposure to home care, and led us to thinking about getting involved.

We just basically first determined that commercial rebuilding was not what it used to be  a lot of the manufacturing done here in our younger days had moved overseas, and more products are coming from across the water, so we started looking around for something else to do. The baby boomer population in the States is aging, there is a market there, and if youre going into a service industry youre not going to worry as much about foreign invaders.

Dealing with the ordeal with my father also led me to come to appreciate what caregivers do. He was adamant about staying home, and he got his wish -- he passed in his house. I thought, You know, I bet a lot of other people want to stay in their homes too. The more we looked at it, the more we liked it and thought, We can do this. We called up [Home Care Assistance headquarters in ] Palo Alto and talked to them for a while, and the next thing you know we were knee-deep in it, as they say.

What are the challenges of owning a home care franchise?

At first glance, you think, Two people sitting in front of a desk at a computer, how challenging can that be? but there certainly is a lot to learn. You definitely need some reading glasses. I had some continuing education, two years at the University of Houston for engineering, and a four-year business degree from Texas A&M, and I can still say that it is a challenge. For me, the desire to help people has trumped any speed bumps along the way, and I can say that one advantage of being part of a large franchise is that people who have been there before mentor you, and the people here have backgrounds in geriatrics or clinical psychology, so there is skill support when you need it, just a phone call away.

Do you still see growth in this industry in the current economy?

We are because of the aging population, and in the market were in we deal with folks who have the option to receive care at home because of the wealth theyve accumulated over time. I do think the economy has affected the industry a bit as a whole, but were a small fish in a big pond, for the size were at and the growth sector were in right now.

What skills do you learn in the military that translate well to this field?

The military is great at teaching discipline and people skills, and those are paramount to this particular industry. People are your resources and your clients. I would say that like with everything else, be sure you have a passion for this because theres good days and bad days. Having a passion helps get you past the rough spots.

When you go into the military, you get the structure and the organizational skills that allow you to focus on the task at hand. Without those it takes a while to learn, which can slow you down in the business world. Everythings timely and as you know, the military is all about being timely -- you get here, heres your outboard, heres your rendezvous point, get busy.

What do you see as your biggest challenge moving forward?

For us, I think that if this economy continues for several years, people will see this is one of the areas you can generate a living from, and I expect the field will get quite crowded. Hopefully we can brand ourselves over the next few years to at least be considered a top player. I think its very doable -- were a service-oriented agency and the need is there, and youre not worrying about outside competition. You cant order home care up overseas and have it shipped in.

Do you have any tips for those transitioning out of the military?

Brace yourself. Its been tough here lately. I think if youre coming out of a [military] setting right now, Id tout my background because if you can let people know about the skills youve attained, that will give you an edge over another applicant in tipping the job in your favor. Theres a distinct difference, especially in younger people, between those with military service and those who dont have it. Theres an edge there in focus and reliability.
Key

Locality type: Mining District

The Eureka Mining District occurs in the northern part of the Little Hatchet Mountains. Mining activities in the Little Hatchet Mountains began in 1871. However, stone tools found in old turquoise pits are evidence of much earlier activity. Legend has it that the district was named "Eureka" when these old Native American mining tools were found. The American, Hornet, and King claims in the district were located in 1877-1878 at the same time when the Sylvanite district in the southern part of the mountains was prospected. The Eureka and Sylvanite mining districts were originally subdistricts of the Hachita district, which is no longer in use.



The earliest mining was at the Hornet mine; but, Apache Indians were hostile to mining and prospecting and made things difficult. By late 1878, when the U.S. Army visited the district, only 20 people resided there. Protection afforded by the army allowed the miners to return, and in 1881, ore shipments from the American mine were being recorded. In the early 188Os, smelters were built at both the American and Hornet mines, but neither smelter operated for very long due to technical difficulties. In 1885, a drop in the price of silver caused mining activities to subside until 1902, when the railroad connected the smelter towns of Douglas, Arizona, and El Paso, Texas, and stimulated production. The total value of ore produced to 1906 was not more than $500,000. Total estimated production from the Laramide veins is approximately $1.59 million, including 2.9 million lbs Pb, 1.7 million lbs Zn, 500,000 lbs Cu, 5,000 ounces Au, and 450,000 ounces Ag.

Select Mineral List Type Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Dana Chemical Elements

Gallery:

Fossils

References

Sort by Year (asc) Year (desc) Author (A-Z) Author (Z-A) In-text Citation No.

Lasky, Samuel G., (1938) Outlook for Further Ore Discoveries in the Little Hatchet Mountains, New Mexico. New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, Circular 7. Lasky, S. G. (1947) Geology and ore deposits of the Little Hatchet Mountains, Hidalgo and Grant Counties, New Mexico. USGS Professional Paper 208. McLemore, V.T., Sutphin, D. M., Hack, D. R., and Pease, T. C. (1996) Mining History And Mineral Resources Of The Mlmbres Resource Area, Dora Ana, Luna, Hidalgo, And Grant Counties, New Mexico. New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources, Openfile Report OF-424, 178.

Localities in this Region

There are 1 fossil localities from the PaleoBioDB database within this region.- These data are provided on an experimental basis and are taken from external databases. Mindat.org has no control currently over the accuracy of these data.
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN REGARDING MUTUAL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANCE AND COOPERATION IN CUSTOMS MATTERS was signed at Tehran by H.E. Mr. AIKAWA Kazutoshi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Islamic Republic of Iran and H.E. Dr. Mahdi MIRASHRAFI, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA) and Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance, on August 22, 2021.

This Agreement will enter into force on the 30th day after the date of receipt of the latter of the notifications by the Contracting Parties, in writing, through diplomatic channels, that their respective internal procedures necessary for the entry into force of this Agreement have been completed.

TEXTAGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN REGARDING MUTUAL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANCE AND COOPERATION IN CUSTOMS MATTERS(English)(PDF:19KB)
Traders have been calling out the frequent freak trades in the derivatives segment on the NSE (National Stock Exchange).

My sympathies to the buyer here. Absolute freak trade. Same thing happened with today's 37000 PE. These strange events are getting more frequent @SEBI_India @NSEIndia https://t.co/i9QUz4L5gd  Prince Rawat (@daactar_su) August 20, 2021

So its true! Some freak trades happened on Aug 20 and are becoming usual in #NSE derivatives market. But sad part is regulatory spokeperson's reply "we don't see any freak trades as such" #SEBI @PRSundar64 https://t.co/ZfSJakBuju https://t.co/1VLr1m4IXp  aiasoori aienon (@MasooriMenon) August 22, 2021

Generally when freak trades happen there is a very small quantity gets filled at the extremes.



Like on 100s.



Here you can see, some ~6280 lots got filled at that price.



No wonder so many people faced this today, that's a decent even for NIFTY. pic.twitter.com/EL7HOeIoVv  Pawan Thakur (@pawannthakur) August 20, 2021

I am sure that if someone has faced a loss due to these freak trades, they can approach NSE for redressal. NSE must compensate for the loss since it is their system which failed...i am sure they would seek a transaction reversal from the buyer  Kapil Makhijani (@KapilMakhijani) August 21, 2021

On Friday afternoon around 2.18pm, yet another incident of freak trade (the third such freak trade in under 7 weeks) on the NSE brought out a barrage of complaints on social media. Traders saw a sharp spike in some options contracts on the NSE. The call option contract for the NSEs main index Nifty (16,450 strike price) for August expiry rose by 800% from Rs100-Rs800. Likewise, put option contract for Bank Nifty index (37,000) strike price rose by 2000% from a low of Re1 to touch a high of Rs2,040.

What Exactly Happened?

On Friday, around 2.18pm, suddenly there was a freak trade whereby 16,450 call options which was trading at Rs80 suddenly traded at Rs800 that too with a huge volume of over six lakh quantity within a minute.

Traders had kept stop losses at Rs120-Rs200 and all of these stop-losses got triggered and they couldnt understand the reasons. All this happened within a minute and this was not even recorded on the charts; so when they went back and checked the charts, the candle had not even reached Rs200 levels leaving traders totally perplexed. The stop-losses could have triggered a domino effect. This freak trade made retail investors lose a lot of money; many have lost over Rs10 lakh.

@NSEIndia @nsitharaman these robbing of retail traders should stop...one second and my whole month of hard work gone due to these freak trades..sebi and nse should apply some brakes to these illogical quotes that sweeps away all levels  PRASENJIT GUPTA (@JIT4UINKOL) August 20, 2021

Why Was It Not Recorded on the Charts?

Only LTP at the end of every second gets recorded on the charts but what happens between any two seconds is not recorded. Experts say all of this happened within micro seconds and, hence it was not recorded on the charts (between seconds). They also suggest these orders were most likely placed by HFT (high frequency traders)institutional firms which are into algo trading and they would have ended up with very good profits on Friday.

For a retail trader, the average order execution time is 60 - 200 milli seconds. The best that one can push in a second is 4-5 orders. But these HFT firms have an average order execution time of 5 to 10 milli seconds (i.e., 200 orders within a second) which means that they can push up to 50X orders more than retail traders in the same amount of time.

These HFT firms enjoy a competitive advantage over retail traders. You can read more about how this works in the recently launched book - Absolute Power - co-authored by Sucheta Dalal and Debashis Basu.

Why Did This Happen?

On 31st July, NSE came out with a circular saying that, with effect from 16th August, there wont be any trade execution range. Thus, from 16th August, no equity derivative contract will have any upper circuit or lower circuitso even though it is there, it is not actually valid which means options can get traded at any price.

NSE decided to follow what most other exchanges in the world do, which is not to have such restrictions and allow demand and supply at any given time to determine at what price a trade gets executed. NSE's stance seems to be that traders have to be careful about this while placing orders on the Exchange and that contracts being completely banned from trading for a few minutes is a lot worse than a few freak trades.

Unfortunately what has happened is, in the process, the retail traders have been thrown to the wolves such as in case of this freak trade.

#16450 CE : Created a meme about trending in India but did not put it out for fun because I know many would have lost a big amount. For some, maybe an entire year's profit and it hurts. It could have been me. Wishing you that you come out stronger. #trading  Vishal Mehta, CMT (@vishalmehta29) August 20, 2021

Freak Trade Streak in the Past 7 Weeks

On 5th July, Nifty index futures surged 805 points or over 5%, without any similar rise in the underlying cash market. Following this, on 28th July, Nifty futures for August expiry crashed 5% or over 531 points to a low of 15,256 from its opening 15,787.

During all these incidents of freak trades, the reversal to normal happened within a few seconds. An NSE spokesperson said The exchange systems functioned normally and all orders were executed as per the operating range as prescribed by the exchange.

While brokers are raising questions about the frequency of such trades, some even suggested that it could be more than a coincidence.

Interestingly, like one market expert pointed out the market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has been focusing only on manipulation in the cash market segment and penny stocks on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) while such highly unusual price movements are becoming frequent on the NSEs derivative segment and, more often than not, even go unreported.

Earlier this month, the BSE was criticised as the Exchange attempted to curb manipulation by establishing circuit filters in cash segment stocks that are exclusively listed on its platform. But while price filters and surveillance measures are imposed on cash segment, no such restrictions exist in the derivatives segment, leaving the field open for manipulators.

The market regulator has been investigating incidents of unusual price moves and manipulation in illiquid derivative contracts on the NSE. However, none of its findings has been released in public domain yet. There have been reports in the past about inquiries conducted even by the income-tax (I-T) department but sources say that matter has not moved forward due to the complex nature of trades. The I-T wing was said to be investigating if these derivative trades were for creating artificial loss and avoiding taxes on profits.

Cheatsheet To Protect Against Such Freak Trades

Nithin Kamath, the founder and CEO of Zerodha, tweeted to say that Zerodha has been been getting a lot of questions about freak trades in options with huge slippages recently.

We've been getting a lot of questions about freak trades in options with huge slippages recently.

Here is everything you need to know, why you should use limit orders, & how @zerodhaonline internal dynamic execution range will help you avoid such scenarioshttps://t.co/tdXSykYdY4  Nithin Kamath (@Nithin0dha) August 22, 2021
The Union ministry of finance has summoned Infosys managing director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO), Salil Parekh on Monday over continuing glitches on the new income-tax (I-T) e-filing portal.

In a tweet at 2pm on Sunday, the I-T department also said that the portal is unavailable since Saturday, 21st August.

The finance ministry has summoned Mr Parekh to explain why "even after 2.5 months since launch of new e-filing portal, glitches in the portal have not been resolved."

"Ministry of Finance has summoned Sh Salil Parekh, MD & CEO @Infosys on 23/08/2021 to explain to hon'ble FM as to why even after 2.5 months since launch of new e-filing portal, glitches in the portal have not been resolved. In fact, since 21/08/2021 the portal itself is not available," the department said.

Ministry of Finance has summoned Sh Salil Parekh,MD&CEO @Infosys on 23/08/2021 to explain to hon'ble FM as to why even after 2.5 months since launch of new e-filing portal, glitches in the portal have not been resolved. In fact,since 21/08/2021 the portal itself is not available.  Income Tax India (@IncomeTaxIndia) August 22, 2021

This summon came after Infosys had earlier on Saturday tweeted that the I-T portal is under maintenance.

The @IncomeTaxIndia portal is currently inaccessible due to planned maintenance. We will post an update as soon as the portal is live again for taxpayers. We regret the inconvenience caused.  Infosys India Business (@InfosysIndiaBiz) August 21, 2021

The company tweeted again on Sunday afternoon to confirm that the emergency maintenance work continues and the site is still inaccessible. The @IncomeTaxIndia portal continues to be under emergency maintenance. We will post an update once the portal is available again for taxpayers. We regret the inconvenience, the company said.

The @IncomeTaxIndia portal continues to be under emergency maintenance. We will post an update once the portal is available again for taxpayers. We regret the inconvenience.  Infosys India Business (@InfosysIndiaBiz) August 22, 2021

However, hours after Mr Parekh was summoned, Infosys said that the emergency maintenance of the portal had concluded and the portal is live. The emergency maintenance of the @IncomeTaxIndia portal has concluded and the portal is live. We regret any inconvenience caused to taxpayers, Infosys added.

The emergency maintenance of the @IncomeTaxIndia portal has concluded and the portal is live. We regret any inconvenience caused to taxpayers.  Infosys India Business (@InfosysIndiaBiz) August 22, 2021

Although the emergency maintenance of the I-T portal was completed on Sunday late evening, and it went live again, the shutdown had caused considerable embarrassment.

Last week, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said revenue secretary Tarun Bajaj was regularly monitoring the issue and the glitches would be removed soon.

Sundays tweet indicates the governments growing impatience over the quality of service offered by Infosys, with GST and MCA-21 (for corporate filings and database) being other projects where the companys role came under the radar in a similar way.

While the government has repeatedly blamed the IT vendor for the problems with the new I-T portal, there has been no response from the government on how a faulty system was allowed to go live by officials handling the high-profile project. Some of their colleagues and former tax officials have suggested that sufficient tests were not conducted before the system was launched.

Sources suggest that the portal was ready for launch last year itself, but roll-out was planned to be done in phases, a decision that was changed later.

The new I-T e-filing portal developed by Infosys was launched on 7th June in a bid to ease the tax filing process and expedite the refund issue.

There have been many technical issues which users found and flagged on social media tagging finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Some said that the simplest of tasks like updating the profile were difficult to perform, while some said that the portal was very slow.

In fact, in July, the finance minister had tagged Infosys Ltd , which is managing the new portal and the companys co-founder Nandan Nilekani urging them to ensure that the new I-T e-filing portal does not let down taxpayers. She requested them to fix glitches in the new I-T e-filing website urgently and said that easing compliance for taxpayers at the earliest should be prioritised.

Later in July, the Union finance ministry asked the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) to constitute a seven-member task force to look into the technical issues facing the new I-T e-filing portal developed by Infosys. In line with the directive, the ICAI constituted a team to analyse the issues.

"I wish it hadn't happened this way. But we are correcting the course and sooner the portal will be as is planned, easy to use," FM Sitharaman had said, further adding, Infosys is quite closely working with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and the ministry and rapidly, at least from what I hear from chartered accountants and income tax professionals, there is definitely a lot of improvement.

Tax authorities have refused to offer any explanation on how the department had failed to spot multiple glitches in the platform. The problems with the portal have already prompted the tax department to offer some concessions. However, officials have blamed the snags for a massive slowdown in tax refunds.

For the period between 1st April and 16th August this year, tax refunds added up to Rs49,696 crore as against almost Rs96,000 crore for corresponding period between 1st April and 25th August 2020.

The number of refunds which added up to over 2.55 million till 25 August 2020, has dropped to 2.27 million so far this year. Repeated disruptions in the functioning of the portal have also led to demands to defer the deadline for filing returns apart from seeking other relaxations.

Experts have suggested reverting to the earlier system until the issues in the new portal were sorted out but the finance minister has ruled out the possibility.

Chartered accountants suggest that, while several of the issues have been resolved, new problems keep coming up.

During the recent monsoon session of Parliament, minister of state for finance Pankaj Chaudhary said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha that Infosys has been paid a total of Rs164.5 crore under the project.

He had said the government launched the new I-T e-filing portal as part of the Integrated E-filing and Centralised Processing Centre 2.0 Project.
The Mumbai zonal unit of directorate general of GST (goods and service tax) intelligence (DGGI) has busted an input tax credit (ITC) refund fraud case and arrested the promoter of seven companies which fraudulently availed the ITC of Rs 118 crore as refund against exports from the government without any underlying economic activity.

The Mumbai zonal unit of GST intelligence, which is the investigation wing of GST, has arrested Pune-based Santosh Doshi, who was controlling and operating the seven companies, namely Amal Overseas Pvt Ltd, C-Kluster Expotrade Pvt Ltd, Ekon Crystal merchants Pvt Ltd, Meticulous Overseas Pvt Ltd., Ninad Overseas Pvt Ltd, Parees Overseas Pvt Ltd and White Opal Expotrade Pvt Ltd.

The accused set up an intricate web using various layers of transactions beginning from manufacturers to traders in between, ultimately involving the exporters to facilitate the realisation of accumulated ITC.

"The modus operandi involved in this financial fraud was that several dummy units were created in the states of Jharkhand and West Bengal on the basis of forged documents. They passed on the said bogus ITC to several shell trading firms acting as intermediary entities situated in the State of Chhattisgarh," the finance ministry said in a statement.

"Further, several units were created as exporting fronts at Pune and Mumbai in the state of Maharashtra to whom the units situated in the State of Chhattisgarh supplied fictitious goods purported to be exported. The exporting units were created merely for the purpose of availing refund in a fraudulent manner," the finance ministry added.

The ministry further stated that in order to nab the mastermind behind the whole channel of financial fraud, DGGI, Mumbai launched an operation, by searching concerned CHAs, CAs, CSs, key persons and freight forwarders and several statements were recorded.

It was revealed during operation that Doshi, who is also the MD of Masumi Overseas Pvt Ltd was the promoter and operator of the seven exporting firms.

Doshi was arrested on 17th August and has been remanded to judicial custody. He is a habitual offender and was also arrested by Mumbai Customs in 2016, the ministry said, adding that further probe in the matter is in progress.

Creating fake invoices to show tax payments on raw materials and claiming tax refunds on exports is a rampant tax fraud that the authorities have been systematically busting with use of data analytics. GST being a technology intensive tax on value addition at every stage in the supply chain, suspicious transactions raise red flags in the system which the authorities take up for further probe.

An official statement from DGGI said on Saturday said that several shell firms were created in Jharkhand and West Bengal on the basis of forged documents. They passed on bogus input tax credit to several shell trading firms acting as intermediary entities in Chhattisgarh. Several units were created as exporting fronts in Pune and Mumbai to which the units in Chhattisgarh supplied fictitious goods purported to be exported. The exporting units were created merely for the purpose of availing of tax refunds in a fraudulent manner. The authorities interviewed several persons in the industry including professionals and freight forwarders before arresting the operator.

The government has been on a drive against tax frauds since last November.

In financial year (FY)2020-21, Rs 434.93 crore worth ITC refund fraud by exporters was detected, while in FY2019-20 it was Rs 799.78 crore.

Earlier this month, in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said 7,268 cases of ITC fraud involving Rs 31,233 crore were detected by the Central GST officers in 2020-21.

Chaudhary said though the interface for the taxpayers is on digital and software, tax evaders commit fraud even on electronic platforms by way of mis-representation of facts like furnishing of fake credentials at the time of registration; by indulging in raising fake invoice to avail undue ITC.

In April-June period of 2021-22 financial year, 818 such fraud cases were booked involving Rs 4,002 crore.
We had mentioned in previous weeks closing report that Nifty, Sensex may remain under pressure. On Monday, the indices opened higher and ended with minor gains. On the NSE, there were 443 advances, 1,622 declines and 3 unchanged.

The trend of the major indices on Wednesdays trading are given in the table below:

Market regulator SEBI has temporarily halted the Rs 4,500 crore IPO of Adani Wilmar due to an investigation against Adani Enterprises.

Aurobindo Pharma said that its Rs 450-crore deal to acquire a 51% stake in Cronus Pharma Specialities India Pvt Ltd has been cancelled.

HCL Technologies signed a contract with Munich Re to create a next-generation digital workplace for its workforce.

Cadila Healthcare has received the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for ZyCoV-D.

GAIL India will foray into hydrogen generation and take the acquisition route to scale up its renewable energy portfolio as it pivots business beyond natural gas to align with the energy transition being witnessed across the globe.

KPI Global Infrastructure commissioned a new capacity of 2.05 MW (DC) into the existing solar power plant under IPP Category to its industrial customer against their power purchase agreement.

Arvind Fashions approved the preferential allotment of equity shares aggregating to Rs 439 crore to various marquee investors including promoters at the price of Rs. 218.50 per share.

Affle (India) board plans to consider split of equity shares of the company at its next meeting.

SSWL has signed an MOU for close to USD 105 million from Western Hemisphere which would cover supply of Steel and Aluminum wheels for a minimum period of 3 years.

Royal Orchid Hotels has entered into MoU to acquire the remaining 50% stake in Cosmos Premises Pvt Ltd.

Calcom Vision has received a contract to supply LED bulbs from Great White Global Private Limited.

The top gainers and top losers of the major indices are given in the table below:

The closing values of the major Asian indices are given in the table below:
India's largest credit card issuer HDFC Bank on Monday said it aims to add five lakh new credit cards to its portfolio every month beginning February 2022.

Accordingly, the new additions will enable the bank to regain market share in the credit card issuing business in the next 9 to 12 months.

The bank's new target comes after the Reserve Bank relaxed the restrictions on HDFC Bank and allowed the lender to issue new credit cards.

However, the restrictions on all new launches of the digital business generating activities planned under 'Digital 2.0' will continue till further review by RBI.

In December 2020, RBI directed asked HDFC Bank to temporarily stop all launches of the 'Digital Business generating activities and sourcing of new credit card customers on certain incidents of outages in the Internet banking, mobile banking and payment utilities of the bank over the past two years.

According to HDFC Bank, it has over 20 initiatives which will hit the market in the next 6 to 9 months to drive this growth.

These initiatives, the bank pointed out includes the launch of new co-branded cards with the who's who of Corporate India spanning pharma, travel, FMCG, hospitality, telecom and fintech.

"The last few months have been spent in readying ourselves for the future. When the restrictions from the regulator were in place, we utilised the time to chalk out a new strategy," said Parag Rao, Group Head - Payments, Consumer Finance, Digital Banking & IT, HDFC Bank.

"With our new offerings as well as our existing suite of cards, we are confident of meeting the needs of our customers and 'come back with a bang'."

At present, HDFC Bank has about 3.67 crore debit cards, 1.48 crore credit cards and about 21.34 lakh acceptance points.

Disclaimer: Information, facts or opinions expressed in this news article are presented as sourced from IANS and do not reflect views of Moneylife and hence Moneylife is not responsible or liable for the same. As a source and news provider, IANS is responsible for accuracy, completeness, suitability and validity of any information in this article.
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August 23, 2021 To Instigate Against Taliban CNN Claims Contradiction Where None Is Evident The 'western' media are pushing for a continued war on Afghanistan or, if that is not possible, for putting devastating sanctions onto its people. To diminish Afghanistan potential is part of the continuing hostility. The evacuation of Afghanistan's 'western' affiliated professional elite should be seen in that light. There is no evidence that more than a handful of the people now being lifted out of Kabul are under threat. To justify their evacuation requires to publish horror stories about the Taliban. CNN comes up with this one: Taliban issue death sentence for brother of Afghan translator who helped US troops, according to letters obtained by CNN The Taliban have sentenced the brother of an Afghan translator to death, according to letters obtained by CNN, accusing him of helping the US and providing security to his brother, who served as an interpreter to American troops.

...

The letters are just one example of how the Taliban are directly threatening Afghans who worked with the US or are family members of those who have, leaving them scrambling to flee the country in the wake of the Taliban takeover.

...

"You have been accused of helping the Americans," the Taliban wrote in the first of three letters to the Afghan man, adding, "You are also accused of providing security to your brother, who has been an interpreter." The first letter from the Taliban, which is hand written, orders the man to appear for a hearing. The second handwritten letter is a notice of his failure to appear for the hearing. In the third letter, which is typed, the Taliban notify the man that because he rejected previous warnings to stop "your servitude to the invading crusaders" and ignored a subpoena to appear for a hearing, he was "guilty in absentia" and will be sentenced to death. The Taliban delivered the letters within the last three months to the interpreter's brother, according to the former service member who worked with the interpreter.

...

"These court decisions are final and you will not have the right to object," the third letter reads. "You chose this path for yourself and your death is eminent [sic], God willing." The letters contradict assurances Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid made at a press conference last week, as the group tries to project a more moderate image to the world. "Nobody will be harmed in Afghanistan," Mujahid said. "Of course, there is a huge difference between us now and 20 years ago." How please do letters written "within the last three month" contradict a public amnesty guarantee "made at a press conference last week"? Have the letters arrive after the amnesty was announced? Has the man be arrested or killed? CNN does not claim that. Where then is the contradiction? Three month ago the Taliban were still fighting the biggest military alliance of the world led by a superpower. In course of that fight they would of course go after those who collaborated with their enemies. But that war is now over. The Taliban won. They have no longer any reason to go after people they could rather use in their country. They explicitly said so: I would like to assure all the compatriots, whether they were translators, whether they were with military activities or whether they were civilians, all of them have been important. Nobody is going to be treated with revenge. Both youth who have talents, who have grown up here, who are from this country, we dont want them to leave. These are our assets, we would like them to stay here, to serve. In a current interview another Taliban spokesperson repeats that guarantee and points out that those who are now seeking to emigrate from Afghanistan are doing so for purely economic reasons. We should take the Taliban by their words. That puts them under pressure to stick to them. To accuse them of breaking their own promises without providing evidence for that makes it only more likely that they, at some point, will start doing so. Posted by b on August 23, 2021 at 14:11 UTC | Permalink Comments next page  next page 
The wiggles have announced four brand new cast members with the purpose to reflect the '21st century.

The major changes will see the group get its first Indigenous member, and two of the new female cast members will snub skirts for pants, with one getting around on a skateboard.

The good news for Wiggles fans is everyone's favorites like Anthony, Emma, Simon, and Lachy are still sticking around.
Popular New Zealand chocolate brand Whittaker's has released their new hazelnut artisan collection.

The brand is celebrating New Zealands finest home-grown ingredients, and this will be the first flavor that features products sourced from the Canterbury region.



Whittakers Canterbury Hazelnut in Creamy Milk Chocolate combines roasted Canterbury hazelnut pieces, sourced from Canterbury hazelnut co-operative Hazelz, with a silky smooth hazelnut paste and Whittakers 33% cocoa Creamy Milk Chocolate.


Moultrie, GA (31768)

Today

Partly cloudy with afternoon showers or thunderstorms. High 87F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 72F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.
BEIRUT (AP)  Drenched in sweat, doctors check patients lying on stretchers in the reception area of Lebanons largest public hospital. Air conditioners are turned off, except in operating rooms and storage units, to save on fuel.

Medics scramble to find alternatives to saline solutions after the hospital ran out. The shortages are overwhelming, the medical staff exhausted. And with a new surge in coronavirus cases, Lebanons hospitals are at a breaking point.

The country's health sector is a casualty of the multiple crises that have plunged Lebanon into a downward spiral  a financial and economic meltdown, compounded by a complete failure of the government, runaway corruption and a pandemic that isnt going away.

The collapse is all the more dramatic since only a few years ago, Lebanon was a leader in medical care in the Arab world. The region's rich and famous came to this small Mideast nation of 6 million for everything, from major hospital procedures to plastic surgeries.

___

THE NEW NORMAL

Ghaidaa al-Saddik, a second-year resident, had just returned from a week off after an exhausting year. Back on duty for a week, she has already intubated two critical patients in the emergency room, both in their 30s.

She struggles to admit new patients, knowing how short on supplies the hospital is, scared to be blamed for mistakes and questioning if she is doing her best. Many patients are asked to bring their own medicines, such as steroids. Others are discharged too soon  often to homes where power outages last for days.

You feel like you are trapped, said al-Saddik.

The 28-year-old spends more nights in the staff dorms studying because at home, she has no electricity. She moved to an apartment closer to the hospital that she shares with two other people to save on rent and transportation. With the collapse of Lebanon's currency amid the crisis, her salary has lost nearly 90% of its value.

With fewer and fewer residents, she must now do the rounds for about 30 patients, instead of 10. Her mentor, a senior virologist, has left Lebanon  one of many in a brain drain of medical professionals.

I want to help my people," she said. But at the same time, what about me being a better doctor?"

___

RUNNING ON EMPTY

The Rafik Hariri University Hospital is Lebanons largest public hospital and the country's No. 1 for the treatment of coronavirus patients. Lebanon has so far registered nearly 590,000 infections and over 8,000 deaths.

The hospital, which depended on the state power company, had to start relying on generators for at least 12 hours a day. Since last Monday, the generators have been the only source of power, running non-stop. Most of the hospital's diesel, sold at the black market at five times the official price, is either donated by political parties or international aid groups.

To save on fuel, some rooms run only electrical fans in the sweltering summer heat. Not all hospital elevators are working. Bed capacity has been downsized by about 15% and the ER admits only life-threatening cases.

It is a perpetual crisis that has left the hospital always on the brink, says its director, Firas Abiad. There are shortages of almost everything.

Every day, he struggles to secure more fuel  the hospital has a maximum two-day supply at any time. Shelves are thin on medicines, including for cancer patients and dialysis. A new aid shipment of blood serum will last just a few days.

We can hardly get by, said Jihad Bikai, head of the ER. He recently had to send a critical patient to another hospital because he no longer has a vascular surgeon on staff.

___

WHAT HAPPENED?

Lebanons financial crisis, rooted in years of corruption and mismanagement, spilled out into the streets in late 2019, with antigovernment protests and demands for accountability. Political leaders have since failed to agree on a recovery program or even a new government  leaving the previous one in perpetual but stumped caretaker role.

The World Bank has described the crisis as among the worst in over a century. In just two and a half years, the majority of the population has been plunged into poverty, the national currency is collapsing and foreign reserves have run dry.

Power outages have for years forced a dependence on private generators but the crisis took on new dimensions this summer as fuel and diesel became scarce, disrupting the work of hospitals, bakeries, internet providers and many other businesses.

Then last August, a massive explosion at Beirut's port  when hundreds of tons of improperly stored ammonium nitrate ignited  destroyed entire neighborhoods of the city and killed 214 people. Thousands were injured, inundating hospitals, some of which lost members of their staff and were forced to shut down temporarily.

On a recent afternoon at the Rafik Hariri hospital, nurse Mustafa Harqous, 39, tried to ignore the ruckus outside the coronavirus ER: patients with oxygen masks waiting for a bed to free up, families pressing to visit sick relatives, others arguing over out-of-stock drugs.

He went about his work in the 25-bed room. Except for a month-old baby, the patients were mostly men in their 30s and 40s.

Some people understand the shortages are not our fault," he said. But many dont."

He worries how he will fill up his car for the drive home, an hour and a half away. The government, he said, is leaving people in the middle of the sea with no rescue boat.

___

NO WAY OUT

Reports say at least 2,500 doctors and nurses have left Lebanon this year. At the Rafik Hariri hospital, at least 30% of doctors and more than 10% of nurses left, most recently five in one day. Many private hospitals, who offer 80% of Lebanons medical services, are shutting down because of lack of resources or turning away patients who cant pay.

Bikai, the 37-year-old ER chief, was offered a job in a neighboring country. His salary is barely enough to cover his sons dentist's bills. His wife, also a doctor, works by his side in the ER.

There is a moment, when you are pushing hard to get over a mountain, and you get to a place, you cant move," he said. I worry we'll get to that.

Abiad, the hospital director, struggles to remain positive for his staff.

Our country is disintegrating in front of our eyes,"" he said. The most difficult part is ... we cant seem to be able to find a way to stop this deterioration.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The warnings were clear: The Afghan government would likely fall once U.S. troops pulled out. But intelligence agencies and ultimately President Joe Biden missed how quickly it would happen, losing weeks that could have been used for evacuations and spurring a foreign policy crisis.

Without a sense that the country could collapse so quickly, the administration heard out Afghan President Ashraf Ghani when he met face-to-face with Biden in June. Biden says Ghani pressed him to hold off on any urgent evacuation of Americans, arguing that it would be inviting the Taliban to advance more quickly -- as it turned out they did anyway -- and telling the Afghan army to give up.

It was an ask that Biden heeded, despite more than a decade of deep-rooted skepticism of the competence of the Afghan government and military, marred by widespread corruption and mismanagement.

Biden on Wednesday blamed Ghani for fleeing the country and Afghan forces for surrendering so easily to the Taliban. He told ABC News that he believed the problems with the withdrawal were inevitable.

The idea that somehow, theres a way to have gotten out without chaos ensuing, I dont know how that happens, he said.

U.S. officials estimate that as many as 10,000 Americans remain in Afghanistan, and tens of thousands of Afghans who fought alongside or aided the U.S. in the nearly two-decade occupation are struggling to get out.

Bidens assertion on Monday that some Afghans, still hopeful for their country, didnt want to leave has been widely criticized. The State Department has a backlog of tens of thousands of visa applications from those who have been trying for years to depart the country ahead of the U.S. withdrawal. That is now set for Aug. 31, though Biden said Wednesday Americans would not be left behind.

While analysts have long warned that the Afghan government would be in grave danger without American support, they didnt anticipate the speed at which it would fall to the Taliban.

That miss is sparking instant reviews of what went wrong, current and former U.S. officials said, speaking only on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the subject.

As recently as two weeks ago, intelligence agencies in briefings to lawmakers gave no warning that the Afghan government faced imminent collapse, an official familiar with the briefings said.

A defense estimate that Kabul could be surrounded within 30 days  an assessment that was viewed as pessimistic when it was reported last week  turned out instead to be far too optimistic. In just over a week, the Taliban overran the country and entered Kabul without a fight. Ghani and his top aides fled.

Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, insisted Wednesday that he had no indication of the speed of the Afghan collapse.

There was nothing that I or anyone else saw that indicated a collapse of this army, and this government, in 11 days, he said.

One senior intelligence official said agencies did identify the risk of a rapid collapse of the Afghan government and grew more pessimistic during the last several months of the Afghan fighting season.

That said, the Afghan government unraveled even more quickly than we anticipated, the official said.

Analysts have for years warned that the American withdrawal would destabilize Afghan forces trained at great U.S. expense and still heavily reliant on U.S. air power and intelligence gathering, current and former officials said. Withdrawal also would risk damaging the morale of Afghan units who had fought alongside U.S. and coalition forces for two decades and would be left to face a resurgent Taliban on their own.

A public threat assessment in April warned that Afghan forces will struggle to hold the Taliban at bay if the coalition withdraws support.

One administration official said the intelligence community had reported to the White House that a rapid military collapse following the withdrawal would be possible as the Taliban took key provincial capitals. In fact, that occurred within a matter of days leading up to the fall of Kabul.

And the anticipated danger was limited to Afghanistan itself. Analysts had also warned that new terrorist threats would likely emerge from the country if the Taliban were to take power. According to a former official, one assessment predicted that a large-scale terrorist attack could be planned in Afghanistan within one to three years of the withdrawal.

Many have blamed an intelligence failure for failing to anticipate the speed with which the Afghan government would collapse. Some current and former intelligence officers have pushed back.

Marc Polymeropoulos, who served in the CIA for nearly three decades, said that the intelligence community had always been clear amid a renewed focus on the mistaken 30-day time frame.

Whether its six days or 30 days, I dont see the IC as ever having made any kind of rosy predictions or cherry-picked at all, he said.

But Chris Miller, who deployed to Afghanistan in 2001 and later was the nations top counterterrorism official and acting defense secretary under former President Donald Trump, called the missed speed an intelligence failure of cataclysmic proportions.

We have something fundamentally wrong with the way we do our intelligence assessments in our country, he said. Its cultural and technological arrogance. This was so predictable how this was going to go down.

Other elements of the U.S. government were pushing Americans and others to leave months ago, with ever-more-dire warnings, culminating with an urgent Aug. 7 State Department plea for them to leave, offering to provide funding for Americans to get out of Afghanistan.

Some U.S. officials believe they may have bought into the leaked intelligence assessment that the Afghan government could hold onto Kabul for a month or longer. Officials maintain that those assessments were not released publicly, and were only best estimates. For all of the focus on intelligence failures, the officials say the State Department warnings should have pushed most Americans to leave Afghanistan weeks ago.

Now, the U.S. is working with the Taliban to ensure safe passage for Americans and Afghans who helped the 20-year war effort and are frantically trying to reach Kabul's international airport. As the Taliban take hold, the State Department has said it cannot guarantee them safe passage to the airport.

___

Associated Press writer Eric Tucker contributed to this report.
A few years after the Taliban were ousted in 2001, and with Afghanistan still in ruins, Ahmad Sarmast left his home in Melbourne, Australia, on a mission: to revive music in the country of his birth.

The school he founded was a unique experiment in inclusiveness for the war-ravaged nation  with orphans and street kids in the student body, it sought to bring a measure of joy back to Kabul. The Taliban had notoriously banned music.

Last week, he watched in horror from his home in Melbourne images of the Taliban taking over the Afghan capital, capping a lightning offensive that restored the religious militia to power and stunned the world.

Sarmats two mobile phones havent stopped ringing since. Many of the calls are from panicked students asking him what happens next. Will the school be closed? Would the Taliban outlaw music again? Are their treasured instruments safe?

Im heartbroken, Sarmast told The Associated Press. It was so unexpected and so unpredictable that it was like an explosion, and everyone was caught by surprise, he said of the Taliban takeover.

Sarmast had left Kabul on July 12 for his summer holiday, never imagining that just few weeks later the whole project and everything he'd worked for the past 20 years would be endangered. He's terrified for his 350 students and 90 faculty, many of whom have already gone into hiding. Reports of Taliban searching for adversaries door-to-door have fanned their worries.

We are all very, very fearful about the future of music, we are very fearful about our girls, about our faculty, he said. Sarmast, who spoke in a Zoom interview, requested that additional details about the students and school not be published, because he did not want to endanger them.

In a sign of what the future holds, radio and TV stations stopped broadcasting music, except for Islamic songs  though it was not clear if the change in programming was a result of Taliban edicts or an effort by the stations to avoid potential problems with the insurgents.

Sarmast, 58, the son of a famous Afghan composer and conductor, had sought asylum in Australia in the 90s, a time of civil war in Afghanistan.

In 1996, the Taliban swept into power. The ultra-religious movement banned music as sinful, with the sole exception being some religious vocal pieces. Cassette tapes were ripped apart and strung from trees.

But after the U.S.-led invasion toppled the Islamists, Sarmast dreamed of renewal. After obtaining a doctorate in musicology, he returned to Afghanistan and in 2010 founded the Afghanistan National Institute of Music.

Donations from foreign governments and private sponsors soon poured in. The World Bank gave a cash grant of 2 million U.S. dollars. Almost 5 tons of musical equipment  violins, pianos, guitars and oboes  were trucked in, a gift from the German government and the German Society of Music Merchants. Students learned to play traditional Afghan string instruments like the rubab, sitar and sarod. The tabla drum was among the favorites.

It was such an amazing school, everything was perfect, said Elham Fanous, 24, who was the first student to graduate from the music institute in 2014, after spending seven years at the school.

It changed my life and I really owe it to them, he said of the school, which he describes as Afghanistans LaGuardia, a public high school in New York specialized in teaching music and arts. A visitor once called it "Afghanistan's happy place.

I cannot believe this is happening, Fanous added, speaking from New York, where he recently received his masters degree in piano from the Manhattan School of Music. He was also the first student from Afghanistan to be admitted to a U.S. university music program.

The institutes musicians traveled all over the world to represent their country, presenting a different face for a place known in the West only for war and extremism. Fanous himself performed at concerts in Poland, Italy and Germany.

In 2013, the institutes youth orchestra embarked on its first U.S. tour, appearing at the Kennedy Center and selling out Carnegie Hall. Members of the orchestra included a girl who not long before had sold chewing gum on the streets of Kabul. An all-female orchestra called Zohra, named after a goddess of music in Persian literature, was set up in 2015.

In 2014, Sarmast was attending a concert in the auditorium of a French-run high school in Kabul when a huge bomb went off. He partially lost hearing in one ear and has had numerous operations to remove shrapnel from the back of his head since. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the suicide attack, accusing him in a statement of corrupting Afghanistans youth.

That only increased his determination, and he continued to split his time between running the school in Kabul, and Australia, where his family lives.

Today, he aches when he thinks of the melodies once echoing down the school corridors and the lives of boys and girls now being upended.

Were all shattered, because my kids, theyve been dreaming. They had huge dreams to be on the biggest stage of the world, Sarmast said. All my students had been dreaming of a peaceful Afghanistan. But that peaceful Afghanistan is fading away.

Still, he hangs on to hope, believing young Afghans will resist. He is also counting on the international artistic community to put up a fight for the Afghans' right to music.

Im still hopeful that my kids will be allowed to go back to the school and continue and to enjoy from learning and playing music, he said.
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Mutant Announces Mr. Olympia VIP Experience Hosted by Legend Shawn Ray

Written by Team MD

23 August 2021

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The face of west-central Illinois is changing, growing both older and more diverse.

Although Morgan County and its neighbors remain largely Caucasian, the number of people who identify as multiracial is soaring, according to 2020 Census numbers.

Thats not out of line with the rest of the nation, attributable to such things as readily available DNA testing and also the fading of the stigma the term multiracial could carry even a decade ago.

Nationally, the number of people self-identifying as multiracial rose from 3% in 2010 to more than 10% last year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Numerically, it went from 9 million in 2010 to almost 34 million in 2020.

As the country has grown, we have continued to evolve in how we measure the race and ethnicity of the people who live here, said Nicholas Jones, director and senior adviser for race and ethnicity research and outreach at the Census Bureau. The U.S. population is much more multiracial and more diverse than what we measured in the past.

Most who said they were multiracial were a combination of white and another race, followed by white and Alaskan Native or American Indian, white and Black, and white and Asian.

The sharpest increase among west-central Illinois counties was in Cass County, which saw multiracialism rise from 0.7% in 2010 to 1.5% in 2020. Morgan, Madison, Macoupin and Sangamon counties all recorded 0.4% increases over the decade. In Morgan County, 1.9% of residents identified as multiracial. In Madison County, it was 2.1% of the population, 1.1% in Macoupin County, and 2.5% in Sangamon County.

The increase was 0.3% in Pike County (0.9%), Schuyler County (0.7%) and Scott County (1%); and 0.2% in Brown County (0.9%) and Jersey County (1.3%). It rose 0.1% in Greene County, with 0.8% of the countys population being multiracial.

Diversity by the numbers A look at the racial composition of west-central Illinois counties: Brown County: White - 73.4%; Black or African American - 18.9%; American Indian or Alaskan Native - 1.3%; Asian - 0.3%; Pacific Islander or Hawaiian - 0; Hispanic - 6.9%; Two or more races - 0.9%. Cass County: White - 74.6%; Black or African American - 5.1%; American Indian or Alaskan Native - 0.7%; Asian - 0.8%; Pacific Islander or Hawaiian - 0.2%; Hispanic - 19.3%; Two or more races - 1.5%. Greene County: White - 96.1%; Black or African American - 1.3%; American Indian or Alaskan Native - 0.3%; Asian - 0.2%; Pacific Islander or Hawaiian - 0; Hispanic - 1.3%; Two or more races, 0.8%. Jersey County: White - 95.4: Black or African American - 0.8%; American Indian or Alaskan Native - 0.4%; Asian - 1%; Pacific Islander or Hawaiian - 0; Hispanic - 1.4%; Two or more races - 1.3%. Macoupin County: White - 96%; Black or African American - 1%; American Indian or Alaskan Native - 0.4%; Asian - 0.4%; Pacific Islander or Hawaiian - 0; Hispanic - 1.3%; Two or more races - 1.1%. Morgan County: White - 87.8%; Black or African American - 6.9%; American Indian or Alaskan Native - 0.4%; Asian - 0.8%; Pacific Islander or Hawaiian - 0.1%; Hispanic - 2.7%; Two or more races - 1.9%. Pike County: White - 95.8%; Black or African American -1.5%; American Indian or Alaskan Native - 0.2%; Asian -0.3%; Pacific Islander or Hawaiian - 0; Hispanic - 1.4%; Two or more races - 0.9%. Sangamon County: White - 80%; Black or African American - 13%; American Indian or Alaskan Native - 0.3%; Asian - 2.2%; Pacific Islander or Hawaiian or Hawaiian - 0; Hispanic - 2.4%; Two or more races - 2.5%. Schuyler County: White - 92.9%; Black or African American - 3.6%; American Indian or Alaskan Native - 0.2%; Asian - 0.4%; Pacific Islander or Hawaiian - 0; Hispanic - 2.3%; Two or more races - 0.7%. Scott County: White - 96.2%; Black or African American - 0.6%; American Indian or Alaskan Native - 0.2%; Asian - 0.2%; Pacific Islander or Hawaiian - 0.5%; Hispanic - 1.4%; Two or more races - 1%. See More Collapse

Nearly 3% of Illinoisans identified as multiracial in 2020.

The one community that has really reduced in number is the white population, Northern Illinois University Center for Governmental Studies researcher Sherrie Taylor told The Center Square news service.

Among individual races, Black, Hispanic and Asian populations showed gains across west-central Illinois, although some of the increases were statistically small.

Brown County, for example, remains 73.4% white  down from 74.8% in 2010 and 77.3% in 2000  and saw a 1% bump in Hispanic residents, from 5.9% in 2010 to 6.9% last year. In 2000, 3.9% of the countys population was Hispanic, according to Census Bureau statistics. Black or African American and Native Indian or Alaska Native populations both rose by 0.1% to 18.9% and 1.3%, respectively.

Its Asian population was unchanged, at 0.3%.

Cass County strengthened its status as one of the most diverse in the region. The Hispanic population there rose 2.3%, to 19.3%, between 2010 and 2020. Since 2000, the countys Hispanic population has more than doubled, from 8.5%.

Cass County is 74.6% white, down from 79.1% in 2010. In the past decade, it has seen increases in its Black or African American population, now at 5.1% from 3.6% in 2010, Native Indian or Alaska Native (0.7%, from 0.5%), Asian (at 0.8%, from 0.4%) and Pacific Islander or Hawaiian (0.2%, from zero in 2010).

Diversity in Cass Countys largest city, Beardstown, has been an opportunity for growth, such as increasing jobs and makes for a better community, Beardstown Mayor Tim Harris said.

Schools, churches and the community have worked to overcome language barriers and embrace that mix of cultures and experiences.

Its a group effort, he said.

Despite those gains across the board, the population has continued to drop throughout the region, falling 7.4% in Morgan County. Double-digit decreases were seen in Brown County (minus 10%), Greene County (minus 13.7%), and Pike County (minus 10.3%). Sangamon County experience the lowest decline in the region, at 0.6% of its population, while the remainder of the region ranged from a 4.4% drop in Cass County to an 8.5% decline in Schuyler County.

Nationally, most of the growth was seen in metropolitan areas, particularly in the south and west.

As weve been seeing in our annual population estimates, our nation is growing slower than it used to, said Marc Perry, a senior demographer at the Census Bureau. This decline is evident at the local level, where around 52% of the counties in the United States saw their 2020 populations decrease from their 2010 populations.

Eighty-seven of the 102 counties in Illinois saw population declines from 2010 to 2020.

Compounding the losses, which can mean lower property tax revenue and reductions in population-based state and federal spending, is an aging population.

In Morgan County, 20.2% of the population was 65 or older in 2020, marking a steady increase from 16.7% in 2010 and 15.6% in 2000.

The percentage of total population in other counties that is 65 or older:

 Brown County: 14.1%, 12.4% in 2010

 Calhoun: 24.1%, 20.2% in 2010

 Cass County: 18.3%, 15.7% in 2010

 Greene County: 20%, 17.2% in 2010

 Jersey County: 19.8%, 15.8% in 2010

 Macoupin County: 20.4%, 17.1% in 2010

 Pike County: 21.3%, 19.1% in 2010

 Sangamon County: 18.4%, 13.9% in 2010

 Schuyler County: 23.4%, 18.4% in 2010

 Scott County: 19.6%, 18% in 2010

As the population grows older, it can add to the strain of state- and federally funded agencies that provide for their well-being.

Prairie Council on Aging said the challenge is to meet financial demands and continue to offer a non-waiting-list program.

Its Community Care Program helps place in-home care aides, equip seniors with emergency home response systems, and provide automated medicine dispensers in five counties.

It also oversees a program that provides seniors with meals  which already has seen a 15% increase in requests for assistance during pandemic lockdown.

We are not quite at capacity, but we have grown so much in (a) short period of time, executive director Nancy Thorsen said.

In 2011, the agency served 604; last year there were 825 in its service area of Morgan, Cass, Scott, Greene and Jersey counties.

That amounted to more than 40,000 meals.

Volunteers have become an important part of Prairie Council on Aging.

The agency also has started a money management program so seniors can receive help budgeting and paying bills.

Government programming is much more important as the population and age rises, Thorsen said.

 Rochelle Eiselt of the Journal-Courier contributed to this article.
Lawmakers will head back to the Capitol on Aug. 31 to consider changes to the legislative maps that Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law earlier this year.

Those maps  which set the new boundaries for the 118 state House and 59 state Senate districts for the next decade  were passed based on survey data in May, as the full U.S. Census block-level numbers were not made available until Aug. 12. The release of that data, however, appears to show population deviations far exceeding the 10% threshold allowed under Supreme Court precedent, so some changes are necessary to put the maps in compliance.

The remap effort, which occurs every 10 years after the census, was a key talking point for Republicans during their day at the Illinois State Fair last week, which followed Governors Day, a celebration of Democrats.

In the run-up to the legislative maps passing, GOP leaders warned that using survey data as opposed to the full census results would lead to the exact problem the maps now face.

But if Democrats would have waited on the census data, they would have missed a key deadline in the Illinois Constitution that would have put mapmaking in the hands of a bipartisan commission and possibly given Republicans a 50-50 shot at mapmaking control.

Republicans have filed a lawsuit asking a federal panel to send the matter to a commission as described in the constitution. On Thursday, the GOP filed a motion for summary judgement in light of the census data, an effort to send the matter to a commission and void the current version of the legislative maps.

But Democrats filed a motion to dismiss the Republicans amended complaint, and another seeking to halt the process until Sept. 1, after the one-day session.

In their court filing to dismiss, lawyers for the Democrats called the GOP effort to send the maps to a commission one to exploit exigencies resulting from a global pandemic, which were out of the legislatures control, for political gain.

The matter is otherwise set for trial at the end of September.

Senate Minority Leader Dan McConchie, R-Hawthorn Woods, characterized Democrats as trying to pull a fast one and acting pure and simple for power during a GOP breakfast in Springfield prior to Republican Day at the state fair.

We are going to be pressing the federal court to do what the Illinois Constitution says, and that is to send it to the bipartisan commission, where it should have gone in the first place, and have that be the decision maker to actually draw the maps going forward, he said.

House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch, D-Hillside, and Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, issued a joint statement confirming the Aug. 31 one-day session.

Our goal has always been to implement a map that is fair and represents the diversity of the population of Illinois, Harmon said in the statement. With census data now available, we will take any necessary legislative action with that same goal in mind.

Congressional maps

The Democrats appeared to indicate the session would focus on only state, not congressional mapmaking.

Per the census, Illinois will drop from 18 to 17 congressional districts, and Democrats are expected to draw the maps in a way that would make it difficult for Republicans to maintain the five seats they have now.

How that map is drawn is expected to play a major role in how the statewide Republican field will shape up ahead of 2022s June 28 primary, which was postponed from March due to the census delays.

Thats largely because U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, a Taylorville Republican, is holding out his decision on what to do next until he sees the congressional maps drawn by Democrats.

My job is to serve the constituents of the 13th District right now, Davis said. My ability to continue to do that job is going to depend upon the supermajority Democrats who run the House and the Senate here in the Statehouse, and also Gov. Pritzker, who has broken his promise already to the voters of Illinois, that he would not sign legislatively drawn maps.

While Davis waits to see if continuing his congressional career can remain viable amid a new map, hes considering a run for governor.

Davis got a speaking spot at Republican Day at the Illinois State Fair along with two of the states other sitting GOP members of congress, while the current gubernatorial candidates did not.

The gubernatorial field as it stands includes Darren Bailey, a state senator from Xenia who was a Pritzker antagonist throughout the pandemic, challenging the governors executive orders; Gary Rabine, a suburban paving business owner; and Paul Schimpf, a former state senator and 2014 GOP candidate for attorney general.
MATHER, Calif. (AP)  More than 13,500 firefighters were working Monday to contain a dozen large California wildfires that have destroyed hundreds of homes and forced thousands of people to flee to safety.

After an extensive review of fire damage, Gov. Gavin Newsom requested a presidential major disaster declaration for eight counties, Mark Ghilarducci, director of the California Office of Emergency Services, told a briefing near Sacramento.

If approved, the declaration would provide a wide range of assistance including housing, food aid, unemployment and governmental emergency costs, Ghilarducci said.

Nearly 43,000 Californians were under under evacuation orders and more than 500 households were in shelters, he said.

New concerns were developing at the explosive Caldor Fire southwest of Lake Tahoe, the famed alpine lake straddling the California-Nevada state line and surrounded by peaks of the Sierra Nevada and resort communities.

The Caldor Fire, just 9% contained, has become the nation's number one priority for firefighting resources, said Chief Thom Porter, director of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

It is knocking on the door to the Lake Tahoe basin, Porter said. We have all efforts in place to keep it out of the basin but we do need to also be aware that is a possibility based on the way the fires have been burning.

Porter said he personally did not believe the fire would get into the basin but that he could be proved wrong.

The Caldor Fire has incinerated nearly 180 square miles (466 square kilometers) of El Dorado National Forest and continuing assessments showed 447 buildings destroyed. More than 17,000 structures were still under threat.

Two police officers from the Sacramento County city of Galt were in critical condition after a head-on traffic collision while they were headed to the Caldor Fire under a law enforcement mutual aid deployment, Ghilarducci said.

To the north, containment increased to 40% at the Dixie Fire, which has burned more than 1,130 square miles (2,926 square kilometers) in the northern Sierra Nevada and southern Cascades. Ongoing assessments showed 1,259 buildings destroyed, including 678 single-family homes, Cal Fire said. Nearly 13,000 structures remained threatened.

In Nevada, public schools in the Reno and Sparks area and parts of Lake Tahoe were closed Monday due to wildfire smoke, affecting 67,000 students.

In Northern California, where most of the blazes are burning, there were no red flag warnings for critical conditions but the seven-day outlook called for moderate fire danger. In Southern California, meanwhile, moist ocean air has been keeping skies cloudy and temperatures cooler than normal well into each day.

Porter said that meant there was low potential for large new fires in Southern California, allowing firefighting resources to be surged from south to north.

While Southern California has so far escaped large-scale wildfires this year, Los Angeles officials on Monday urged residents to be aware of whats going on in the north because the regions high fire season is typically late in the year when dry, gusty Santa Ana winds blast out of the interior and flow toward the coast.

That awareness is going to help us when it happens here in Southern California, Los Angeles Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas said during a briefing to display the citys fleet of firefighting helicopters at Van Nuys Airport.

The mix of spring growth dried out by summer heat and high winds creates a dangerous condition that could lead to large, fast-moving brush fires, he said.

Californias fires were among more than 90 large, active blazes in the U.S. on Monday, according to the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho.

In Oregon, officials said a firefighter died Monday while battling a wildfire southeast of Eugene.

Bryan Cutchen, Oakridge city administrator and acting fire chief, said the death is suspected to have been caused by a tree falling on the firefighter, The Register-Guard reported.

Climate change has made the 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.
CHICAGO (AP)  The Rev. Jesse Jackson, and his wife, Jacqueline, remained under doctors' observation Sunday at a Chicago hospital and were responding positively to treatments for COVID-19, their son told The Associated Press.

The couple, married for nearly six decades, were admitted to Northwestern Memorial Hospital a day earlier. Physicians were carefully monitoring their condition because of their ages, Jonathan Jackson, one of the couple's five children, said in a statement.

Jesse Jackson is 79, and Jacqueline is 77.

Both are resting comfortably and are responding positively to their treatments," Jonathan Jackson said. My family appreciates all of the expressions of concern and prayers that have been offered on their behalf, and we will continue to offer our prayers for your family as well.

Jesse Jackson, a Chicago civil rights leader, is vaccinated against the virus and received his first dose in January during a publicized event as he urged others to receive the inoculation as soon as possible. The vaccination status of his, wife, who is also an activist, was unclear. Family members said she has an unspecified underlying health condition that triggered concerns in recent days.

We ask that you continue to pray for the full recovery of our parents. We will continue to update you on a regular basis, Jonathan Jackson said.

Jesse Jackson, who has Parkinsons disease, was hospitalized earlier this year for an unrelated gallbladder surgery.

A mentee of the Rev. Martin Luther King, he was crucial in guiding the modern civil rights movement on numerous issues, including voting rights. Despite his Parkinson's diagnosis, Jackson has stayed active and continued travel, even during the pandemic.

In recent weeks he has been arrested for civil disobedience, including last month during a sit-in at the Phoenix office of Democratic U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, who has faced pressure over her opposition to ending the filibuster to pass voting rights legislation.

A Northwestern spokesman did not have further information.

___

Follow Tareen on Twitter: https://twitter.com/sophiatareen.
Lincoln Land Community College is seeking volunteers to help adults improve their reading, math or English-language skills.

The college has received a $64,531 grant from the Illinois State Library Literacy Office to help cover training costs.
Overnight reports from Jacksonville police:

 Someone broke into a car in the 900 block of East College Avenue about 1 a.m. Monday. It was unknown if anything was taken.

 Merchandise was stolen from Walmart at 1941 W. Morton Ave. about 11:51 a.m. Sunday. Police are investigating.

 A bicycle valued at $3,000 was stolen from a residence in the first block of Justin Drive, according to a report filed at 11:27 a.m. Sunday.
No one was seriously hurt in the wee hours of Saturday morning when a man driving a white Ford pickup truck crashed into a Collinsville, Ill. funeral home.

According to Collinsville Police, the incident is still under investigation after its blatantly clear there is significant damage to the chapel at Kassly-Meridith Funeral Home. Collinsville is located 15 miles east of St. Louis.

All we know is the gentleman that did this was going north on Illinois-159 and fell asleep, and kind of jumped the curb and went airborne, and it was a perfect shot right through those doors.

It would appear that he didnt navigate that turn very well, Major Brett Boerm, a public information officer with the Collinsville Police Department, said.

Schemerhorn said the incident occurred between 3 a.m. and 3:30 a.m. Saturday.

There was significant damage to the chapel, which is all fixable, he added. The inside is fine. I have a service on Friday, and now were going to use St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church.

Funeral home owners also have locations in the nearby communities of Highland and Lebanon should their facilities be needed.

Boerm said officers were meeting with the driver Monday.

He was transported from the scene to a local hospital for some minor treatment, he said.

Determining if the driver was intoxicated or not is also still under investigation.
LONDON (AP)  The messy exit of Western military forces from Afghanistan and the swift takeover of the country by the Taliban has stunned officials in Britain and strained the U.K.'s special relationship with its most important ally, the United States.

Londons powerlessness, so far, to change Washingtons course also is a blow to U.K. hopes that an assertive Global Britain will be a major global player in the wake of its exit from the European Union.

The main stumbling block ahead of an emergency summit of Group of Seven leaders on Tuesday is a deadline for the U.S. effort to evacuate thousands of Americans, Afghans and others from Kabul. U.S. troops are scheduled to end their mission on Aug. 31, and Britain wants an extension. President Joe Biden left open that possibility, but the Taliban call the date a red line, saying that prolonging the American presence would provoke a reaction.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson called the virtual G-7 meeting in hope of having some impact on the chaotic course of events. Britain currently holds the presidency of the club of wealthy nations.

Johnson and Biden spoke by telephone Monday, and Johnson's office said the leaders agreed to continue working together to ensure those who are eligible to leave are able to, including after the initial phase of the evacuation has ended. It did not elaborate.

British officials acknowledge the limits of their influence, saying the airlift will end when American troops depart.

We have previously spoken to other NATO countries about staying, and that didnt prove to be a viable option, said Johnsons spokesman, Max Blain. We are going to need to leave the airport at the same time as the Americans.

Defense Secretary Ben Wallace, who has called the U.S. deal with the Taliban that set the Aug. 31 deadline a mistake, struck an almost pleading tone, saying that if Biden extended the operation even by a day or two, that will give us a day or two more to evacuate people.

Because we are really down to hours now, not weeks, and we have to make sure we exploit every minute to get people out.

About 1,000 British soldiers are stationed at Kabuls airport, alongside about 6,000 American troops, to manage the evacuation.

Senior U.K. military officers have expressed anger over the U.S. pullout from Afghanistan, saying it exposes the hollowness of the trans-Atlantic special relationship  a phrase used since World War II to stress the bonds of history, friendship and shared diplomatic interests between London and Washington.

More than 150,000 British troops served in Afghanistan in the years after the U.S.-led 2001 invasion  the largest contingent after the Americans  and 457 died in the campaign.

Biden had warm words about the alliance when he and Johnson met for the first time at a G-7 summit in England in June.

We affirmed the special relationship  its not said lightly  the special relationship between our people, Biden said.

Although the two leaders struck a positive tone when they met, they have very different temperaments. Biden staunchly opposed Britains exit from the European Union that was championed by the populist, crowd-pleasing Johnson, and once called him a physical and emotional clone of former President Donald Trump.

Britains lack of clout with Washington underscores the fragility of Johnsons goal of making post-Brexit Global Britain a key international player and bridge between the U.S. and Europe.

Leaders across Europe were relieved when Biden replaced Trump, an isolationist who repeatedly disparaged NATO and insulted Americas allies. Biden renewed U.S. commitment to global climate change targets, which Trump had ripped up, and reassured allies that the U.S. was back as a reliable partner.

But he has stuck to Trumps commitment to end the U.S. war in Afghanistan, even as the speed of the Taliban takeover this month caught Washington and its allies by surprise.

Opponents say Johnson's unwillingness to work closely with the EU and his decision to slash Britain's foreign aid budget, citing the economic blow of the pandemic, makes Global Britain little more than a slogan.

And they accuse the government of a slow and disorganized response to the Afghanistan crisis. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab was on vacation in Greece as the Taliban swept toward the Afghan capital, returning a day after Kabul fell on Aug. 15.

Johnson spoke to Biden by phone on Aug. 17, two days after the fall of Kabul. In a bland statement after the call, Johnsons office said they resolved to continue working closely together on this in the days and weeks ahead to allow as many people as possible to leave the country. British media reported it took Biden 36 hours to return the British leaders call.

U.K. Armed Forces Minister James Heappey acknowledged that Britain would have liked a more conditions-based U.S. withdrawal, but he insisted the special relationship remains strong.

Of course when you disagree with your closest friend it hurts, it causes consternation on both sides of the relationship," he told Sky News. "But absolutely nobody should think that the U.S and the U.K. have anything but the deepest and strongest of relationships.

Thomas Gift, director of the Center on U.S. Politics at University College London, said events in Afghanistan will make other Western powers more steely eyed about the reality that, even under Biden, U.S. leadership will pursue policies that it sees in its own interests, regardless of criticism by the international community.

But he said Biden remained much more of an international team player than Trump.

What were seeing here is not simply a diluted version of an America first, America alone foreign policy, he said. Were seeing Biden on one issue  granted, a hugely important one  reach a different conclusion than many other global leaders.

-

Follow all AP stories on Afghanistan at https://apnews.com/hub/Afghanistan.
In 2019, former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said that the first thing he did when he arrived at his office was to check the previous days border apprehension totals.

Under 1,000 was, Johnson said, a relatively good day, and over 1,000 was a relatively bad number because that overwhelms the system.

Imagine then how Johnson, a vital cog in President Obamas easy-on-illegal-immigration administration, would evaluate the current border disaster, precipitated by President Bidens refusal to enforce immigration law.

In July, Border Patrol detained 210,000 illegal aliens  6,700 people each and every day. Broken down another way, the 210,000 represents 80,000 families, people in family units, and 20,000 unaccompanied minors, all record totals, but exclusive of the 37,000 that eluded capture.

Agents fear that, if anything, the totals are underrepresented because the incoming migrant flood is so great, they cant account for all of them. In early July, for example, a group of 500 Haitians simultaneously swarmed the border. Instead of performing their professional duties, agents have been diverted to childcare tasks.

As terrible as the official numbers are, Andrew Arthur, a former House Judiciary counsel, retired immigration judge and a Center for Immigration Studies Law and Policy senior fellow, calculates that the true number who have entered this year far exceeds the reported total. Arthur estimates that the actual year-to-date crossings total is 1.6 million, about equivalent to Philadelphias population.

After seven months in the White House, and despite horrible immigration polling  an issue that cost the Democrats the 2016 presidential election  the Biden administration just doesnt care about voters opinions or how sustained open borders will alter sovereign nation America.

Like it or not, open borders are here to stay for the simplest reason. No one in the Biden administration, least of all the president and his Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, wants immigration laws enforced.

The law, 8 U.S. Code  1225, is crystal clear on borders: aliens who do not have a legal right to be present in the U.S. shall be detained pending a final determination of credible fear of persecution and, if found not to have such a fear, until removed.

That is, as former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Andrew McCarthy wrote, even those who credibly claim to fear persecution if returned from whence they came  the infinitesimally small percentage of legitimate refugees among the hordes now seeking entry  are supposed to be held in custody until that claim is fully adjudicated.

Analysts claim that todays aliens represent tomorrows Democrat voters, an assumption that may be overly optimistic. Statistics show that, because Democrats have failed their traditional minority coalition, theyre trending conservative. Biden and the woke, progressive Congress offer nothing to those minorities to generate enthusiasm. Open borders directly harm blacks, Hispanics and other minorities  more job competition, overcrowded schools and more expensive housing are a few among the many challenges that importing millions of poor people represent to Americas struggling classes.

If anyone in the Biden administration were asked directly what tangible benefits open border provide to the average blue-collar American, he couldnt provide an intelligent answer.

The New York Times recognizes the risks ahead for Democrats. An op-ed headline read, Democrats Are Anxious about 2022  and 2024, and explained Hispanic and black voters defection from the party. A Democratic pollster speculated that the reason for the shift in minority voting patterns is because Democrats dont keep their word, a reference to the party promising that better things are around the corner, but never delivering. Although the pollster didnt admit the obvious, illegal aliens are prioritized over citizen minorities.

President Trumps strong 2020 showing in Southwest border communities should set off alarm bells for Democrats. Zapata County is 93% Hispanic, and hasnt voted Republican in a presidential race since it went for Warren G. Harding a century ago. In 2020, however, President Trump won the county, and performed strongly throughout the traditionally Democratic Rio Grande Valley.

Bidens border fiasco is a strategic mistake that will damage Democrats in the 2022 mid-terms and beyond.

Joe Guzzardi is a Progressives for Immigration Reform analyst who has written about immigration for more than 30 years. He can be reached at jguzzardi@pfirdc.org.
Willie Moore was a Black man who endured segregation and saw the school where he taught integrated after a long fight for racial equality.

He loved teaching history but there was one topic he avoided: The Civil Rights Movement.

It was just too controversial to talk about. The students came from families that had different opinions on it. So, I just avoided teaching about it, he told me on a hot Mississippi day as his brahma cows grazed nearby and we sat on his rickety porch shooting the breeze.

In 2018, Id stopped at Moores farm to interview him for a book Im writing.

But we spent most of the time sitting and talking about Southern history. He recalled when 14-year-old Emmett Till was murdered in Money, Mississippi, supposedly for whistling at a white woman. In the 1970s, the small town where he lived had one Black police officer  who was only allowed to arrest other Black people.

He discussed the marches and the strife of the 1960s, a time when Black and white people used separate restrooms, drinking fountains and schools.

In our hour-long chat, he told me more about race and Mississippi than he likely ever shared with his students. Even today, Confederate flags fly in front of plantation homes just down the road from where Moore resided.

On social media, this week, I received a survey question from U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, asking whether I thought Critical Race Theory should be taught in schools.

Supporters of teaching critical race theory contend race is a social construct, and that racism is not merely the product of individual bias or prejudice, but also something embedded in legal systems and policies.

Conservative critics counter that the foundation of the theory is that the United States is fundamentally racist and that it leads students to feel guilty for past actions by white people.

Here is what I do know: Our schools have done a lousy job of teaching about race, discrimination and their role in history. And we need to do better.

I first remember learning about the Civil Rights Movement in 1971, when I was in the first grade. A local radio personality, Jimmy Carr, came and spoke about Martin Luther King on the leaders birthday. Carrs daughter, Jamie, was our only Black classmate in Caroline Broadheads class at Bateman Elementary School in Galesburg.

Mrs. Broadhead was an exceptional teacher. She recognized a need and found a local person to speak to it. King had been killed less than three years before and his death was a fresh scar on the nations conscience.

In the third grade, our teacher taught about Kings I Have a Dream speech and how segregation had once been a problem in the South. It was taught straight from the book. Never was it mentioned that racism was a problem in our own community.

The beaches at the city park, Lake Story, had been segregated until just a few years before. Whites used the beach on the north side and Blacks the one on the south side.

Some restaurants turned Black diners away. Real estate agents often wouldnt show people of color houses north of Main Street. And the local newspapers society page wouldnt write about events south of Main Street.

But our teacher taught us that segregation was a Southern problem. Was she ignorant of segregation in our hometown? Or perhaps she thought it was a lesson too close to home. One thing was for certain, shed never receive a medal for courage in the classroom.

In a world of right and wrong, she chose a third route: compliance.

My first exposure to the concept of lynching was when our teacher told the Emmett Till story in our ninth grade civics class. The inflection of his voice and the smug manner in which he told of how Emmett was killed struck me as odd. In his rendition, the bad guys werent those who kidnapped and killed the 14-year-old child. It was Emmett himself.

For years, allegations of racism clung to our teacher, Ken Phlamm, like a cheap polyester suit on a hot day. The school district was either unwilling or unable to fire him despite calls for doing just that from the Galesburg Human Relations Commission and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

I used to think my hometown was unique in the way it avoided discussing its racism until I worked as a reporter in Galveston, Texas, in the 1980s. The faded letters of Colored could still be seen above some public doorways. But whenever I would ask older white people what the fight for integration was like, they would shrug and say it was No big deal and point to some distant community where things were really bad.

When Id posed the same question to Black folks, the answer was always the same: It was awful.

Critics of the Critical Race Theory often point to the 1619 Project, a Pulitzer Prize-winning endeavor by The New York Times magazine looking at the legacy of 400 years of slavery on what is now the United States.

Some conclusions in the project I agreed with. Others I didnt. But thats OK. When you read something, it should provoke thought, not adherence.

Our youngsters deserve to be taught the facts and should be allowed to reach conclusions on their own.

Scott Reeder is a veteran journalist and can be reached at Scottreeder1965@gmail.com.
My Labrador puppy, Thurber, makes me laugh out loud every day.

The writing life requires you to sit still for long periods of time, but those days are long gone.

As I write this column  attempt to write it, that is  my seven-and-a-half-month-old buddy keeps dropping his ball at my feet, hoping to get me to play with him.

Which makes me laugh out loud.

He usually doesnt give up until I take him outside for a good run  or we go to the park, so he can greet strangers with enthusiastic joy.

I knew getting a dog would change my daily routine, but I had no idea how much he would change and brighten up my life.

I didnt realize until after he arrived five and one-half months ago, but I used to go for days without laughing  certainly without laughing out loud.

Now Thurbers antics make me laugh so hard and so often, I can only imagine how much public civility would be improved if everyone in our country could experience the daily joy he brings me.

Civility is the foundational virtue of citizenship, developmental psychologist Marilyn Price-Mitchell wrote a decade ago in Psychology Today.

Its behavior that recognizes the humanity of others, allowing us to live peacefully together in neighborhoods and communities.

She explained that the psychological elements of civility include awareness, respect, self-control and empathy  the very characteristics a professional dog trainer is currently helping me develop in Thurber.

Empathy  the ability to understand and share the feelings of another  is certainly a skill we Americans are losing in our increasingly isolated, angry, social-media-driven world.

But pets like my best buddy Thurber can help bring us together and help us restore our argumentative nation to a civil, well-functioning republic.

Child development specialist Denise Daniels explains in The Washington Post that emotional intelligence, or EQ, is a measure of empathy.

She points to the findings of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, which researches EQ and teaches people how to improve it, and notes that a high EQ score is the best indicator of a childs success  as well as an adults.

Which brings us back to the value of pets.

Daniels writes that a variety of research in the U.S. and U.K. has shown a correlation between attachment to a pet and higher empathy scores.

I know my buddy Thurber has certainly improved my empathy and EQ score.

I didnt realize that my emotions for the little guy would run so deep, or that I would work so hard and do so many things to give him the happiest, healthiest life he can experience.

Plus, everywhere we go  and he loves few things more than jumping into the backseat of my truck  he makes total strangers smile, laugh and converse with me.

His simple presence can bring human strangers together. He not only makes us forget the petty human world  for a little while, at least  but he reminds us that a simple but magnificent creature like him can turn the most hardened souls back into an empathic, laughing, happy children.

As I work hard to train Thurber to be a great dog who exhibits compassion, self-discipline, courtesy and empathy, he is training me right back to improve all of those very same skills.

I can no longer imagine what my world would be like without my lovable Labrador enriching it for me  and everyone else who meets him every day.

Tom Purcell can be reached at Tom@TomPurcell.com.
Harris meets with Singapore officials to begin Asia visit View Photo

SINGAPORE (AP)  The White House on Monday announced a series of new agreements with Singapore aimed at combating cyberthreats, tackling climate change, addressing the COVID-19 pandemic and alleviating supply chain issues. The announcements coincide with Vice President Kamala Harris visit to the region, as part of the Biden administrations efforts to counter Chinese influence there.

On cybersecurity, the Treasury and Defense Departments, as well as the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, have each inked a memorandum of understanding with their Singapore counterparts expanding information sharing and training to combat cyber threats,

On climate, the two nations are launching the U.S.-Singapore Climate Partnership, a new effort between the Departments of Commerce, Energy, Transportation and Treasury and their counterparts in Singapore to develop new climate standards and collaborate on projects to expand clean energy infrastructure development and improve sustainability.

The two nations agreed to cooperate more closely to track COVID-19 variants and engage in research on coronavirus treatments. And the Department of Commerce is joining with the Singapore Ministry of Trade and Industry to create a partnership focused on strengthening trade throughout a handful of key industries.

The White House announced additional agreements between the two nations fostering cooperation on space exploration and defense issues as well. The announcements came Monday after Harris met with Singapore President Halimah Yacob, and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Harris Southeast Asian trip, which brings Harris to Singapore and then later to Vietnam this week, is aimed at broadening cooperation with both nations to offer a counterweight to Chinas growing influence in the region.

On Monday morning, Harris participated in a welcome ceremony outside the Istana, the presidential palace, where she held her hand over her heart while a marching band played the Star Spangled Banner. She then walked around the courtyard, reviewing the band, accompanied by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Loong then showed her a species of an orchid that was named in her honor, and Harris participated in a brief courtesy call with President Halimah Yacob, before heading into a series of bilateral meetings with the prime minister.

After her meetings, the vice president will participate in a joint news conference, and later visit the Changi Naval Base, where shell speak to American sailors aboard the USS Tulsa, a combat ship.

On Tuesday, Harris will deliver a speech outlining the Biden administrations vision for the region, and meet with business leaders to discuss supply chain issues.

The trip marks Harris second foreign trip  she visited Guatemala and Mexico in June  and will be the first time a U.S. vice president has visited Vietnam.

Singapore is the anchor of the U.S. naval presence in Southeast Asia and has a deep trade partnership with the U.S., but the country also seeks to maintain strong ties with China and a position of neutrality amid increasingly frosty U.S.-China relations.

Relations between the U.S. and China deteriorated sharply under Bidens predecessor, Donald Trump, and the two sides remain at odds over a host of issues including technology, cybersecurity and human rights.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin made their first overseas trips to Japan and South Korea. Austin traveled to Singapore, Vietnam and the Philippines last month and he vowed U.S. support against Beijings intrusions in the South China Sea.

Harris is expected to emphasize the need for a free and open Indo-Pacific region in her conversations with Singapores and Vietnams leaders.

Alexander Feldman, president and CEO of the US-ASEAN Business Council, said Harris will have to be careful in her conversations with Singapores leaders not to focus too heavily on China, but to emphasize a positive, productive U.S. relationship with Singapore and Vietnam.

Where she could fall into a trap is really trying to pit this as a U.S. versus China trip. it should be a U.S. trip to our friends and partners in in Southeast Asia, Feldman said.

If China becomes the main focal point, he said, that makes it harder for our friends to move forward across the region, not only in Singapore and Vietnam but beyond that.

Indeed, Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said in a recent interview that Singapore will be useful but we will not be made use of in its relations with both countries, and the nations prime minister previously warned the U.S. against pursuing an aggressive approach to China.

Beijing, however, has seized on the visit, with Chinas official Xinhua News Agency issuing an editorial Saturday on Harris trip portraying it as part of a drive to contain China.

Visits to Southeast Asia by senior Biden officials are aiming to woo these countries to form a ring of containment against China. But Southeast Asian countries are reluctant to choose sides between China and the United States, and Americas wishful plan will end in failure, Xinhua said.

The U.S. approach is based on outdated Cold War thinking and is intended to provoke troubles in their relations with China, create division and confrontation, and try to create a ring of containment, the editorial said.

While Harris navigates the challenging diplomacy surrounding the issue of China, shell also face the task of reassuring key U.S. allies of Americas commitment to Southeast Asia, in the wake of the tumultuous Afghanistan exit. Images of desperate Afghans mobbing American plans leaving Kabul have drawn comparisons to images from the fall of Saigon at the end of the Vietnam War.

Harris aides have been careful to emphasize that while she remains deeply engaged on the situation in Afghanistan, the Southeast Asia trip was planned well before the recent events, and they say Harris work in Singapore and Vietnam is important, independent of the developments in Afghanistan.

By ALEXANDRA JAFFE

Associated Press
The Latest: Hawaii gov seeks to limit visits to the islands

The Latest: Hawaii gov seeks to limit visits to the islands View Photo

HONOLULU  Hawaiis governor is urging residents and potential visitors to limit travel to the islands to essential business while the state struggles to control outbreaks of the delta variant of the coronavirus.

Gov. David Ige wants to curtail travel to Hawaii through the end of October. In his words, It is a risky time to be traveling right now.

He says restaurant capacity has been restricted and there is limited access to rental cars.

But Ige is stopping short of last years strict travel rules that required quarantining and essentially shut down Hawaiis tourism industry. He notes the CDC says fully vaccinated people can travel domestically.

Hawaiis seven-day average of new daily cases hit 671 on Monday, more than triple the level four weeks earlier.

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MORE ON THE PANDEMIC:

 Lockdowns or vaccines? 3 Pacific nations try diverging paths

 U.S. mask, vaccine conflicts descend into violence and harassment

 Pandemic fiction: Fall books include stories of the virus

 The Rev. Jesse Jackson, wife Jacqueline, hospitalized for COVID

 Hurricane Henri thwarts Central Park concert hailing NYC virus rebound

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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:

WELLINGTON, New Zealand  New Zealand has reported 41 new coronavirus infections, which is the countrys highest daily total since an outbreak of the delta variant last week prompted the government to put the nation into a strict lockdown.

Health officials said Tuesday that they are confident the country remains on track to quell the outbreak.

Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield says most of the new cases appeared linked and officials arent seeing an exponential rise in infections.

New Zealand is scheduled to remain in lockdown until at least Friday, while the city of Auckland where most of the cases have been found will stay in lockdown until at least the end of the month.

The outbreak is the first in New Zealand in six months.

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SYDNEY  An Australian state leader is indicating that a slight easing of pandemic restrictions is coming for Sydney after achieving a vaccination milestone.

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said Tuesday she will announce before the weekend a new freedom for fully vaccinated people now that 6 million vaccine doses have been administered across the state. She said that equates to 60% of the population having at least one dose of Pfizer or AstraZeneca and 32% being fully vaccinated.

Australias most populous state is in lockdown because of the virus outbreak, as is Victoria, which is the countrys second most populous state.

Government leaders hope the lockdowns will end in October once 80% of people 16 years and older are fully vaccinated. Only 24% of the Australian population is fully vaccinated.

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FRANKFORT, Ky.  Kentuckys governor says a flood of COVID-19 patients is stressing the states hospitals and intensive care units.

Gov, Andy Bashear said Monday that more than 20 Kentucky hospitals are confronting critical staffing shortages and some hospitals are converting space to treat the influx of ICU patients.

Beshear says Kentucky reported 2,596 new coronavirus infections Monday  a pandemic high for any Monday so far. He says there were 17 deaths related to COVID-19.

More than 1,890 patients with COVID-19 were in hospitals, including 529 in intensive care units. A record 301 virus patients were on ventilators.

The surge comes as the legislature assumes considerably more control over Kentuckys response to the pandemic. The state Supreme Court on Saturday cleared the way for laws limiting the governors emergency powers.

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SAN RAMON, Calif.  Chevron Corp. is requiring some of its employees to become vaccinated against the coronavirus as the oil industry struggles with rising infections among its unvaccinated workers.

The oil giant is requiring its workers who travel internationally, live abroad or work on its offshore platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, as well as some onshore support staff, to be vaccinated.

A spokeswoman for the San Ramon-based oil and gas company said Monday that vaccinations are the strongest safeguard against the virus, and the company will continue to carefully monitor medical data and guidance of health authorities to protect its workforce.

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OLYMPIA, Wash.  The head of Washington states wildfire response is urging federal agencies to require coronavirus vaccinations for their wildland firefighting forces.

State Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz also called on Monday for the deployment of federal resources to make vaccinations available at all fire camps on federal land.

The Washington Department of Natural Resources is making vaccines available within its jurisdictions at fire camps amid the rapidly spreading delta variant. Franz on Monday directed all his agencys employees including firefighters to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 18.

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HONOLULU  Honolulus mayor says he will restrict indoor gatherings to 10 people and outdoor gatherings to 25 in an effort to control the coronavirus as the highly contagious delta variant spreads in the community.

Mayor Rick Blangiardi says the rules take effect Wednesday and will cover weddings and other events.

The citys emergency management director cites a mathematical modeling tool from the Georgia Institute of Technology to illustrate risks the community faces from large gatherings.

The modeling says there is a 20% chance that someone in a group of 10 will be infected, based on the number of cases on Oahu now. It says that in a group of 100, there is a 90% chance someone will catch the virus.

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SPRINGFIELD, Mo.  One of Missouris biggest hospital systems says it require its employees to get vaccinated against the coronavirus now that the FDA has given full approval to Pfizers vaccine.

CoxHealth has several hospitals in southwestern Missouri and it said hours after the FDAs announcement Monday that its workers will be required to have at least one dose of a vaccine by Oct. 15. CEO Steve Edwards says in a statement that careful consideration will be given to requests for exemptions for religious or health reasons, and that anyone granted an exemption will be required to undergo regular testing for the virus.

CoxHealth officials say about 70% of its employees are already vaccinated, including more than 90% of its physicians.

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VICTORIA, British Columbia  The Canadian Pacific coast province of British Columbia is bringing in a vaccine card for residents to get access to restaurants, clubs, sporting events and other activities.

Premier John Horgan says the card will give people the confidence to attend events and businesses knowing that others are protected around them.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says starting Sept. 13 a new order will require proof of having had a single dose of a vaccine to access certain social and recreational activities, as well as businesses. After Oct. 24, Henry says entry to the same settings will require those 12 years and older to be fully vaccinated.

The French-speaking province of Quebec already announced a similar measure while Ontario, Canadas largest province, has declined to introduce a vaccine passport.

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RICHMOND, Va.  Democrat Terry McAuliffe urged all Virginia employers on Monday to require the coronavirus vaccine for their workers who are eligible, sharpening a policy debate in the closely watched governors race over how best to deal with the pandemic.

McAuliffes call followed a decision by federal regulators to give full approval to Pfizers vaccine and marked an escalation of his advocacy for obligatory vaccines as a condition of employment. The former governor now seeking a second term has previously urged Virginia health systems and school divisions to issue mandates, and required his own campaign staff to be fully vaccinated.

McAuliffe is facing Republican Glenn Youngkin, a former business executive and political newcomer, in the November general election. Youngkin, who is vaccinated, has consistently urged Virginians to get the shot but has said he opposes vaccine or mask mandates.

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SIOUX FALLS, S.D.  South Dakota House lawmakers have tried to pressure Gov. Kristi Noem to call a special session to pass a ban on employers requiring COVID-19 vaccinations even as virus cases climbed on Monday.

Several Republicans in the House of Representatives have circulated drafts of bills that would stop employers from mandating vaccinations against the virus, stepping up pressure on Noem to call a special session for them to approve the bills. But she has resisted those calls, saying there is not widespread support for a special session.

The issue has Noem, who has carved out a nationwide following for her hands-off approach to the virus, being pushed from the right to intervene on the states largest employer, Sanford Health.

House Speaker Spencer Gosch said late Friday he wanted the governor to call a special session as he released a draft of a bill that would make COVID-19 vaccination status strictly confidential medical information that would be off-limits to employers.

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PORTLAND, Maine  Some emergency medical service workers in Maine spoke out against a coronavirus vaccine mandate because of concerns it will lead to ill-timed staff shortages.

The Maine Board of Emergency Medical Services held a public hearing on the subject Monday. Gov. Janet Mills announced new rules earlier in August that require all health care workers to be vaccinated against the virus by Oct. 1.

More than 600 people participated in the virtual meeting, and most who spoke were against the mandate. A common concern among the speakers who opposed the mandate was that would exacerbate emergency worker shortages.

Mills has said the health worker mandate is about protecting health care workers, their patients, including our most vulnerable, and our health care capacity.

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BATON ROUGE, La.  The announcement that Pfizers coronavirus vaccine received full federal approval triggers new vaccine and testing mandates in Louisiana.

Louisianas universities will soon start requiring tens of thousands of students to get the shots. Gov. John Bel Edwards intends to begin mandatory, regular COVID-19 testing for thousands of state workers who arent immunized.

But just how many people the vaccine and testing mandates will cover and when theyll take effect remains uncertain.

University inoculation requirements may not be enforced for months on campuses, and students will be able to seek exemptions.

Meanwhile, the Edwards administration said its crafting its testing plans, uncertain when theyll be released.

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WICHITA, Kan.  Debates about mask mandates and vaccine requirements are intensifying in Kansas as the delta variant sends cases soaring.

In the Topeka area, board members for the Auburn-Washburn district voted 6-0 Sunday to approve a mask mandate, effective immediately, for all students, staff and visitors inside district facilities.

Meanwhile, Sedgwick County Commissioners on Friday voted down a mandate along party lines after a heated debate in which an anti-mask activist said that he and other opponents would show up outside commissioners homes with megaphones if they passed the measure.

More companies, universities and local governments are expected to require vaccinations now that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has given full approval to Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine.

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WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden is celebrating the full FDA approval of Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine and is urging the unvaccinated to go get their inoculations.

Biden on Monday addressed those who were waiting on the full approval and declared it is now happened, the moment youve been waiting for is here.

He also used the moment to call on private companies to require their employees to get vaccinated. The president made clear: its time to get your vaccination and warned that the highly contagious delta variant of the coronavirus was causing COVID cases to rise nationwide.

The FDA had previously approved three vaccines  Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson  under an emergency use authorization. Pfizer is the first to receive full FDA approval, which Biden dubbed the gold standard.

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JACKSON, Miss.  Mississippi Poison Control officials say they are receiving an influx of calls from people trying to treat COVID-19 by using anti-parasite medicine purchased at livestock stores.

At least 70% of recent calls to the Mississippi Poison Control Center have been related to ingestion of livestock or animal formulations of ivermectin purchased at livestock supply centers, Mississippi Department of Health officials said.

Some of the symptoms associated with ivermectin toxicity include rash, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, neurologic disorders, and potentially severe hepatitis requiring hospitalization.

No hospitalizations have been reported. Most callers  85%  have had mild symptoms, according to the Department of Health. One individual was advised to see a physician because of the high dosage they reportedly took.

By The Associated Press
President Biden delivered remarks on the situation in Afghanistan.

Biden was Mondays KMVL Newsmaker of the Day. Here are his words:

I want to provide the American people with a brief update and the  on the situation in Afghanistan.

Since I spoke to you on Monday, weve made significant progress. We have secured the airport, enabling flights to resume. Not just military flights, but civilian charters and other  from other countries and the NGOs taking out civilians and vulnerable Afghan  vulnerable Afghans.

And now we have almost 6,000 troops on the ground, including the 82nd Airborne providing runway security, the Army 10th Mountain Division standing guard around the airport, and the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit assisting the civilian departure.

This is one of the largest, most difficult airlifts in history. And the only country in the world capable of projecting this much power on the far side of the world with this degree of precision is the United States of America.

Weve already evacuated more than 18,000 people since July and approximately 13,000 since our military airlift began on August the 14th. Thousands more have been evacuated on private charter flights facilitated by the U.S. government.

These numbers include American citizens and permanent residents, as well as their families. It includes SIV applicants and their families  those Afghans who have worked alongside us, served alongside of us, gone into combat with us, and provided invaluable assistance to us, such as translators and interpreters.

The United States stands by its commitment that weve made to these people, and it includes other vulnerable Afghans, such as women leaders and journalists.

In fact, working in close coordination with the management of the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal, we have successfully evacuated all 204 of their employees in Afghanistan on U.S. military aircraft earlier this week.

We have established the flow of flights, and weve increased the number of people we are moving out of the country.

We paused flights in Kabul a few hours this morning to make sure we could process the arriving evacuees at the transit points, but our commander in Kabul has already given the order for outbound flights to resume.

Even with the pause, we moved out 5,700 evacuees yesterday, and were working on a variety  to verify that number of the Americans that are still in the country as we work on this because were not  dont have the exact number of people who are  Americans who are there. And those who may have come home to the United States, were not  we want to get a strong number as to exactly how many people are there, how many American citizens, and where they are.

Just yesterday, among the many Americans we evacuated, there were 169 Americans who, over the  we got over the wall into the airport using military assets.

Were also facilitating flights for our Allies and our partners, and working in close operational coordination with NATO on this evacuation.

For example, we provided overwatch for the French convoy bringing hundreds of their people from the French embassy to the airport.

These operations are going  are going to continue over the coming days before we complete our drawdown.

Were going to do everything  everything that we can to provide safe evacuation for our Afghan allies, partners, and Afghans who might be targeted if  because of their association with the United States.

But let me be clear, any American who wants to come home, we will get you home.

But make no mistake: This evacuation mission is dangerous. It involves risks to our armed forces, and it is being conducted under difficult circumstances.

I cannot promise what the final outcome will be or what it will be  that it will be without risk of loss. But as Commander-in-Chief, I can assure you that I will mobilize every resource necessary.

And as an American, I offer my gratitude to the brave men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces who are carrying out this mission. Theyre incredible.

As we continue to work the logistics of evacuation, were in constant contact with the Taliban, working to ensure civilians have safe passage to the airport. Were particularly focused in our engagements on making sure every American who wants to leave can get to the airport. Where we have been  seen challenges with Americans  for Americans, we have thus far been able to resolve them.

Weve been able  weve made  look, weve made clear to the Taliban that any attack  any attack on our forces or disruption of our operations at the airport will be met with a swift and forceful response.

Were also keeping a close watch on any potential terrorist threat at or around the airport, including from the ISIS affiliates in Afghanistan who were released from prison when the prisons were emptied. And because they are, by the way  to make everybody understand  that the ISIS in Afghanistan are the  have been the sworn enemy of the Taliban.

Ive said all along: Were going to retain a laser-focus on our counterterrorism mission, working in close coordination with our allies and our partners and all those who have an interest

in ensuring stability in the region.

Secretary Blinken, who is with me today, met this morning with our NATO Allies in consultation about the way forward so that Afghanistan cannot be used as a  in the future as a terrorist base of attack  to attack the United States or our Allies.

For 20 years, Afghanistan has been a joint effort with our NATO Allies. We went in together and were leaving together, and now were working together to bring our people and our Afghan partners to safety.

In the past few days, Ive also spoken directly with the British Prime Minster, Mr. Johnson; Chancellor Merkel of Germany; and President Macron of France.

We all agreed that we should convene and we will convene the G7 meeting next week  a group of the worlds leading democracies  so that together we can coordinate our mutual approach, our united approach on Afghanistan and moving forward.

We are united with our closest partners to execute the mission at hand.

Weve also discussed the need to work with the international community to provide humanitarian assistance, such as food, aid, and medical care for refugees who have crossed into neighboring countries to escape the Taliban; and to bring international pressure on the Taliban with respect to the treatment of Afghan peo-  the Afghan people overall, but including Afghan, particularly, women and girls.

The past week has been heartbreaking. Weve seen gut-wrenching images of panicked people acting out of sheer desperation. You know, its completely understandable. Theyre frightened. Theyre sad  uncertain what happens next.

I dont think anyone  I dont think any one of us can see those pictures and not feel that pain on a human level.

Now we have a mission  a mission to complete in Afghanistan. Its an incredibly difficult and dangerous operation for our military.

We have almost 6,000 of Americas finest fighting men and women in Ka-  at the Kabul Airport.

And were putting their lives on the line  theyre doing it  in a dangerous place to save other Americans, our Afghan allies, and citizens of our al-  our allies who went in with us.

You know, I  I talk  I talk to our commanders on the ground there every single day, as I just did a few hours  an hour or so ago. And I made it clear to them that well get them whatever they need to do the job. Theyre performing to the highest standard under extraordinarily difficult and dynamic circumstances.

Our NATO Allies are strongly standing with us  their troops keeping sentry alongside ours in Kabul.

As is the case whenever I deploy our troops into harms way, I take that responsibility seriously. I carry that burden every day, just as I did when I was Vice President and my son was deployed to Iraq for a year.

Therell be plenty of time to criticize and second-guess when this operation is over. But now  now Im focused on getting this job done.

I would ask every American to join me in praying for the women and men risking their lives on the ground in the service of our nation.

As events evolve over the coming days, my team and I will continue to share the information and update the American people on exactly where things are.

Well use every resource necessary to carry out the mission at hand and bring to safety American citizens and our Afghan allies. This is our focus now.

And when this is finished, we will complete our military withdrawal and finally bring to an end 20 years of American military action in Afghanistan.

Thank you, and may God bless you, our troops, our diplomats, and all those serving in harms way.

And now Ill take questions. AP, Zeke Miller.

Q Thank you, Mr. President. You vowed that your election would usher in an era where the world could count on America to live up to its promises. You promised to leave Afghanistan, but you also promised not to  to help  to bring out those who helped America in its war effort. Weve seen these heart-wrenching images at the Kabul airport of people trying to get there, to say nothing of the people who cant get to that airport.

You made the commitment to get American troops out, to get the American citizens out. Will you make the same commitment to those who assisted in the American war effort over the last 20 years? Number one.

And then, number two: Whats your message to Americas partners around the world who have criticized not the withdrawal, but the conduct of that withdrawal, and made  made them question Americas credibility on the world stage?

THE PRESIDENT: I have seen no question of our credibility from our allies around the world. I have spoken with our NATO Allies. Weve spoken with NATO Allies  the Secretary of State. Our National Security Advisor has been in contact with his counterparts throughout the world with our Allies, as has the General  or, excuse me, I keep calling him a General, but my Secretary of Defense.

The fact of the matter is I have not seen that. Matter of fact, the exact opposite Ive got  the exact opposite thing is were acting with dispatch, were acting  committing to what we said we would do.

Look, lets put this thing in perspective here. What interest do we have in Afghanistan at this point with al Qaeda gone? We went to Afghanistan for the express purpose of getting rid of al Qaeda in Afghanistan, as well as  as well as getting Osama bin Laden. And we did.

Imagine  just imagine if that attack  if bin Laden had decided, with al Qaeda, to launch an attack from Yemen. Would we ever have gone to Afghanistan? Would there ever be any reason wed be in Afghanistan  controlled by the Taliban? What is the national interest of United States in that circumstance? We went and did the mission. Youve known my position for a long, long time. Its time to end this war.

The estimates of the cost of this war over the last 20 years ranged from a minimum of $1 trillion to a think tank at one of the universities saying $2 trillion. Thats somewhere between $150 million a day and $300 million a day.

The threat from terrorism has metastasized. Theres a greater danger from ISIS and  and al Qaeda and all these affiliates in other countries, by far, than there is from Afghanistan.

And were going to retain an over-the-horizon capability that if they were to come back  to be able to take them out, surgically move.

So, this is  this is where we should be. This is about America leading the world, and all our allies have agreed with that.

And, by the way, before I made this decision, I was at the G7, as well as  met with our NATO partners, and I told them all. Every one of them knew and agreed with the decision I made to an end  end  jointly end our involvement in Afghanistan.

The first part of your question was  I cant remember now.

Q It is: Are  would you commit to the same commitment  would you make the same commitment to bring out Afghans who assisted in the war effort?

THE PRESIDENT: Yes. Yes. Were making the same commitment. Theres no one more important than bringing American citizens out. I acknowledge that. But theyre equally important, almost  is all those who  those SIVs, we call them, who, in fact, helped us. They were translators. They went into battle with us. They were part of the operation. As well as  were also trying to get out as many NGOs  non-governmental organizations  womens organizations, et cetera. Were doing all we can.

In the meantime, Secretary Blinken and I am going to be working with our Allies to see to it that we can bring international pressure on the Taliban to be  theyre looking to gain some legitimacy. Theyre going to have to figure out how theyre going to maintain that country.

And theres going to be harsh conditions were  strong condition were going to apply. And it will depend on whether they get help  based on whether or not how and well they treat women and girls, how they treat their citizens.

So, this is just beginning on that score.

Q And are you willing to stay passed the 31st to make that happen  to bring all the Americans out, to bring those SIVs out?

THE PRESIDENT: I think we can get it done by then, but were going to make that judgment as we go.

Now, Justin Sink of Bloomberg.

Q Thank you, Mr. President. You just said that you would keep a laser-focus on counterterrorism efforts and that you dont see as great of a threat of terrorism from Afghanistan as other parts of the world. But if you and your administration so badly misassessed how quickly the Taliban would sweep through Afghanistan and we no longer have an embassy there from which to run intelligence operations, how can you at all be confident of your assessment of the risk of terrorism and the ability of the U.S. to conduct over-the-horizon missions to keep it in check? Can you tell Americans that theyre safe and will remain safe from terror attacks in Afghanistan?

THE PRESIDENT: I think youre comparing apples and oranges. One question was whether or not the Afghan forces we trained up would stay and fight in their own civil war they had going on.

No one  I shouldnt say no one  the consensus was that it was highly unlikely that in 11 days theyd collapse and fall, and the leader of Afghanistan would flee the country.

Thats a very different question than whether or not there is the ability to observe whether or not large groups of terrorists began to accumulate in a particular area in Afghanistan to plot against the United States of America. Thats why we retained an over-the-horizon capability to go in and do something about that if that occurs  if that occurs.

But in the meantime, we know whats happening around the world. We know whats happening in terms of whats going on in other countries, where there is the significant rise of terrorist organizations in the Middle East, in East Africa, and other places.

And so, the bottom line is: We have to do  were dealing with those terrorist threats from other parts of the world in failed states without permanent military  without permanent military presence there. We have to do the same in Afghanistan.

Q And, sir, just on that initial assessment: Weve learned, over the last 24 hours, that there was a dissent cable from the State Department 

THE PRESIDENT: Sure.

Q  saying that the Taliban would come faster through Afghanistan. Can you say why, after that cable was issued, the U.S. didnt do more to get Americans out?

THE PRESIDENT: Weve got all kind of cables, all kinds of advice. If you notice, it ranged from this group saying that  they didnt say itd fall when it would fall  when it did fall  but saying that it would fall; to others saying it wouldnt happen for a long time and theyd be able to sustain themselves through the end of the year.

I made the decision. The buck stops with me. I took the consensus opinion. The consensus opinion was that, in fact, it would not occur, if it occurred, until later in the year. So, it was my decision.

Now, my  I got  my next is Stephanie Ramos, ABC.

Q Thank you, Mr. President. Two questions for you. The military has secured the airport, as you mentioned, but will you sign off on sending U.S. troops into Kabul to evacuate Americans who havent been able to get to the airport safely?

THE PRESIDENT: We have no indication that they havent been able to get  in Kabul  through the airport. Weve made an agreement with the  with the Taliban. Thus far, theyve allowed them to go through. Its in their interest for them to go through. So, we know of no circumstance where American citizens are  carrying an American passport  are trying to get through to the airport. But we will do whatever needs to be done to see to it they get to the airport.

Thank you.

Q And one more, Mr. President. Last month, my colleague Martha Raddatz interviewed Abdul, an interpreter who was on the frontlines with U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Overnight, we received a photo of Taliban militants coming to the door of his home, literally hunting him down. Thankfully, he was able to escape, but he is obviously still in mortal danger. What would be your message to Abdul, his wife, and his three young daughters?

THE PRESIDENT: We want you to be able to get to the airport. Contact us. Well see whatever we can do to get you there. Weve got to get you out. We are committed to deal with you, your wife, and your child  to get all three of you out of Afghanistan. Thats the commitment.

Q Thank you, sir.

THE PRESIDENT: Meredith Lee of PBS NewsHour.

Q Thank you, Mr. President. You mentioned just now using every resource available for evacuations. Why havent you ordered the military to expand the security perimeter around the Kabul airport? Do you have any plans to do so, given that it will likely require more U.S. troops? And are you considering rescue operations to recover Americans and Afghan allies stuck behind Taliban checkpoints?

THE PRESIDENT: The last answer is yes  to the last question. Were considering every op-  every opportunity and every means by which we can get folks to the airport. Thats number one.

Number two, the reason why we have not gone out and started  and set up a perimeter way outside the airport in Kabul is that its likely to draw an awful lot of unintended consequences in terms of people who, in fact, are not part of the Taliban.

Weve been in constant contact with the Taliban leadership on the ground in  in Kabul, as well as the Taliban leadership at Daho [Doha], and weve been coordinating what we are doing.

Thats why we were able  for example, how we got all of our embassy personnel out, how we got everyone out of the embassy safely that was at distance. Thats how we helped get the French out and  out of their embassy.

So, the question remains  there will be judgments made on the ground by the military commanders at the moment, and that  I cannot second-guess each of those judgments to be made.

But the idea of  again, let me  let me get back to the fundamental point I made at the outset. When the decision was made by me that  and it was made some time ago, when I ran for President saying I wanted to get us out of Afghanistan  one of the things that is a reality is people now say to me and to others  and so-  many of you say it on air  that: Why did we have to move? Because no Americans are being attacked. Why did we withdraw those  why did we agree to withdraw 2,500 troops? No Americans were being attacked.

As I said before, the reason they werent being attacked was part of an agreement that Trump had made a year earlier. We will leave by May 1st, he said, as long as theres no attack on Americans in that year, period. Number one.

Number two, the Taliban was taking large swaths of the countryside, north and south  none of the major areas, none of the major points of the capitals of each of these provinces, but they were all over the  all over the country.

And the idea that if I had said on May the 2nd or 3rd, We are not leaving; we are staying  does anybody truly believe that I would not have had to put in significantly more American forces  send your sons, your daughters  like my son was sent to Iraq  to maybe die? And for what? For what?

So the only rational thing to do, in my view, was to set up and pre-position American forces for the purpose of evacuation, and the aircraft  to pre-position those ahead of time so that we would be able to begin the process of evacuation of American citizens, SIVs, and others who helped us.

The last point Ill make is this: Look, if we had decided 15 years ago to leave Afghanistan, it would have been really difficult. If we decided five years ago  if we start  if we continued the war for another decade and tried to leave, theres no way in which youd be able to leave Afghanistan without there being some of what youre seeing now.

But what weve done so far is weve been able to get a large number of Americans out, all our personnel at the embassy out, and so on.

And, thank God, so far  knock on wood  were in a different position.

Scott Detrow. Scott. NPR.

Q Thank you, Mr. President. I just want to follow up on something you said a moment ago. You said that theres no circumstances where American citizens cannot get to the airport. That doesnt really square with the images were seeing around the airport and with the reporting on the ground from our colleagues who are describing chaos and violence. Are you saying unequivocally that any American who wants to get to the airport is getting there and getting past the security barrier and to the planes where they want to go?

THE PRESIDENT: No, I thought the question was: How can they get through to the airport outside the airport? And the answer is: To the best of our knowledge, the Taliban checkpoints  they are letting through people showing American passports.

Now, thats a different question when they get into the rush and crowd of all the folks just outside the wall near the airport. Thats why we had to, I guess, ye-  was it yesterday or the day before?  we went over the wall and brought in  how many?

MR. SULLIVAN: One hundred and sixty-nine.

THE PRESIDENT: One hundred and sixty-nine Americans. So, it is a process to try to figure out how we  how we deal with the mad rush of non-Americans  those who didnt help, those who are not on a priority list  just any Afghan  any Afghan to be able to get out of the country.

And so my guess is that, no matter what, under what circumstances we  anyone  theres not a whole lot of Afghanis  theres a whole lot of Afghanis that just as soon come to America, whether there were any involvement with the United States in the past at all, rather than stay under Taliban rule or any  any rule.

So, what I was saying is that we have an agreement that they will let pass through the checkpoints that they  the Taliban  control. Theyve let Americans through.

Q But given this  given the negotiations with the Taliban, the scenes that were seeing, can you just fully explain why the plan wasnt to go ahead with these evacuations of both Americans and allies before the drawdowns began, before Bagram was closed, looking back several months? Because whether it was now or several months from now, there seems to be a broad consensus that the Taliban would make these gains and these would be needed at some point.

THE PRESIDENT: Well, yeah, at some point. But the point was that although we were in contact with the Taliban and Doha for this whole period of time, that some point wasnt expected to be the total demise of the Afghan National Force, which was 300 [thousand] persons.

Lets assume the Afghan National Force had continued to fight and ha-  and they were surrounding Kabul. Itd be a very different story. Very different story.

But the con-  overwhelming consensus was that they  this was not  they were not going to collapse. The Afghan forces, they were not going to leave. They were not going to just abandon and then put down their arms and take off. So, thats whats happened.

Thank you very, very much. Thank you.

The Newsmaker of the Day is heard every weekday morning at 6:45, 7:45 and 8:45 on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML.
Active COVID-19 Cases October thru Aug 22, 2021 View Photo

In Tuolumne County the past week there have been 223 new COVID-19 cases, including 2 inmate cases. There were 99 cases in Calaveras, 209 in Amador, 64 in Mariposa, 48 in Mono and 1,939 in Stanislaus County. Last week the 75th Tuolumne COVID-19 death was reported just a few days after the 74th death on August 11, there are a total of 82 deaths since the pandemic began. In the past week Stanislaus County reported 11 Coivd-19 deaths, Calaveras had 3, Amador had 1, Mariposa had 3, and Mono County did not report any Covid deaths.

Tuolumne Public Health reported 43 new community cases Thursday and 28 new community cases Friday. There are 371 active community cases up from 346 Thursday and 307 Wednesday including 21 hospitalized. The highest number of active cases is 407 on August 16, before that the peak was 350 on December 20. The total current case rate, a 14-day rolling average for Tuolumne County is 56.5 per 100,000 population down from 57.3 on Thursday. Seven of Thursdays 43 cases were vaccinated; 5 Moderna, 1 Pfizer, 1 Johnson & Johnson, and 3 of Fridays new cases were vaccinated; 1 Moderna, 2 Pfizer.

Thursday and Friday there were 15 cases age 17 or under and 14 cases age 60 and older. The gender and age breakdown for Thursday is; 2 girls and 1 boy age 0-11, 3 girls and 1 boy age 12-17, 5 women and 3 men age 18-29, 3 women and 3 men age 30-39, 6 women and 2 men age 40-49, 3 women and 2 men age 50-59, 4 women and 3 men age 60-69, 1 woman age 70 to 79, and 1 man age 80-89. The gender and age breakdown for Friday is; 2 girls and 3 boys age 0-11, 2 girls and 1 boy age 12-17, 3 women age 18-29, 2 women and 1 man age 30-39, 3 women and 1 man age 40-49, 3 women and 2 men age 50-59, 1 woman and 2 men age 60-69, 1 woman age 70 to 79, and 1 man age 80-89.

A total of 22,564 Tuolumne residents are fully vaccinated and 4,046 are partially vaccinated. The vaccination rate is 53% of eligible people in Tuolumne, those age 12 and older. The California department of corrections reports 13 active cases at the Sierra Conservation Center (SCC). A total of 1,554 inmate cases have been resolved which includes all southern fire camps.

Tuolumne Public Health continues to strongly encourage everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated, as the most important step to reduce the spread of disease and prevent serious illness and death, as well as reduce the impact to the healthcare system. In addition, the continued practice of other preventive actions like wearing a mask in public, keeping your distance, avoiding crowds, washing hands, and staying home when sick will help slow the spread of the virus.

Calaveras County Public Health Calaveras reported 20 new Covid cases Thursday and 9 new cases Friday. Active cases increased from 176 Wednesday to 192 Thursday, then down to 189 active cases Friday. Calaverass highest active cases peaked at 123 during the first COVID-19 surge in December/January. There were three active hospitalizations Thursday and one Covid hospitalization Friday. Updated age information for the 3 days shows 15 new cases age 0-17 and two new cases in individuals 65 years and older. Since the pandemic began Calaveras has had 306 Covid-19 positive people who are 17 and under and 508 Covid-19 positive people 65 and over.

Tuolumne Testing The State testing site is at the Mother Lode Fairgrounds in Sonora and plans to be open every day from 7 AM to 7 PM. Due to increased demand, appointments should be made rather than walking in. Appointments can be scheduled at www.lhi.care/covidtesting or by calling 888-634-1123. Testing is also available through Rapid Care or the hospital emergency department if you are experiencing any symptoms, or contact your healthcare provider.

Vaccines in Calaveras, Tuolumne or Mariposa can be made at local pharmacies and through myturn.ca.gov or by calling 833-422-4255. Current guidance was issued for a third COVID vaccination dose for those who are moderately to severely immunocompromised. For details on those criteria, please look here: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/ThirdVaccineDoseQandA.aspx Individuals who meet the criteria should check with their healthcare provider to confirm appropriate administration and timing of a third dose of the COVID vaccine. A vaccine can then be scheduled through their provider, a pharmacy, or another vaccination clinic.

Anyone 12 and older is eligible for the COVID vaccine, Pfizer is approved for anyone over age 12. If you have questions about MyTurn and the registration process, call Tuolumne Public Health at 533-7440 or email Health@tuolumnecounty.ca.gov

The California Department of Public Health and local County Health Department issued masking guidance for universal masking indoors as detailed here. Information and guidance on isolation and quarantine is available at https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/Guidance-on-Isolation-and-Quarantine-for-COVID-19-Contact-Tracing.aspx Guidelines for self-care and more tips from the CDC are here.

County/Date

Tier Color Active

Cases New Cases

Total Cases COVID

Deaths Amador 8/22 167 102 2,443 41 Calaveras 8/20 189 9 2,636 61 Mariposa 8/20 85 6 700 10 Mono 8/22 56 0 1,159 5 Stanislaus 8/20 2,446 284 63,719 1,117 Tuolumne 8/20 371 28 5,276 82
Wilseyville, CA  Charles Ng and Leonard Lake were connected to at least 11 murders in the mid-eighties and left the remains near a cabin in Wilseyville. The cabin was owned by Lakes ex-wife, with whom he was still on good terms. It had a bunker constructed at the property, and a makeshift gravesite nearby.

45 pounds of bone fragments were collected by authorities belonging to at least 11 people.

Lake committed suicide in an interrogation room shortly after being taken into custody by authorities. Ng escaped and fled to Canada and was eventually captured there. He remains on death row at San Quentin State Prison.

Detectives determined that they would quickly murder their male and child victims, but left some of the women in the bunker, trapped, before raping and torturing them.

The Calaveras County Sheriffs Office has a small group of deputies who regularly review and investigate unsolved Cold Cases, and felt that new DNA technology developed in recent years could help determine if there were more victims among the remains. The office received approval from the California Department of Corrections to remove the case remains from their current location at a cemetery in San Andreas and transport them to state officials for DNA testing. Conversations have been ongoing over the past two years between the county and state.

The sheriffs office confirms that the remains were taken away last week following a short invocation delivered by a department chaplain.

Providing an update, the Sheriffs Office reports, If remains are determined to be amenable to DNA typing, the California Department of Justice will compare the DNA obtained from the remains to the DNA of participating next of kin of known victims. The Calaveras Sheriffs Office is attempting to locate families of missing persons who may have fallen victim to Ng and Lake. Any unmatched DNA will be submitted to the Missing Persons DNA Database for comparison and with hope of future identification.

Concluding, Through this project, the Calaveras County Sheriffs Office is seeking to bring closure to the victims next of kin by potentially identifying their loved ones remains. At the conclusion of the analysis, remains will be held as legally necessary, returned to loved ones, or re-interred.
For Afghan refugees in India, hopes dim for returning home View Photo

NEW DELHI (AP)  Her memory of the assassination attempt is hazy. What she does know is that her father asked the Taliban to do it.

A former Afghan policewoman, Khatera Hashmi was shot multiple times on her way home from work last October in the capital of Ghazni province, south of Kabul.

As she slumped over, one of the attackers grabbed her by the hair, pulled a knife and gouged out her eyes.

Five months pregnant at the time, Hashmi survived the gruesome attack, as did her unborn child. Hashmis father had vehemently opposed her decision to join the police force, and although she didnt elaborate on her fathers involvement, she told The Associated Press that the police had arrested and imprisoned him.

After recovering from her wounds, she and her husband fled to India, leaving two children in the care of her mother-in-law. Her third child, a daughter, was born a few months after their arrival in India.

However, like thousands of other Afghan refugees in India, any plans they had of returning were dashed this month by the Talibans shockingly swift takeover of the country.

What many thought would be a short, temporary escape has turned into a long-lasting exile.

Another Afghan refugee is Mohammad Akbar Farhad, a 50-year-old artist. He too dreams of home while living in suspended animation abroad.

On a hot August afternoon at his apartment in New Delhi, his brush made brief, generous strokes on a huge oil painting depicting the ruins of the Bala Hissar, or High Fort, Kabuls ancient citadel that housed Afghan rulers for centuries.

This is my only source of income, Farhad said, tracing the contours of the canvas with his fingers.

Back in Kabul, he faced repeated threats from Taliban sympathizers  always armed  who demanded he close his art studio. They said his work fell outside the bounds of Islamic law.

When the threats became more frequent, his entire family ran away to their village in the countryside. In their absence, their house was ransacked and his paintings torn to shreds.

After that, I didnt even have the courage to touch my brush for months, he said.

Farhad fled with his family to India in 2018, expecting to return.

Earlier this year, the insurgents burned his art studio. All of his artwork was destroyed, leaving him crestfallen. And that was before the government in Kabul collapsed.

Concern for her loved ones back home fills Hashmi, the policewoman, with dread.

I will never be able to go back to Afghanistan now, even if I wanted to, the 33-year-old said in her modest two-room apartment in New Delhi, where she lives with her husband and daughter Bahar, now seven months old.

Many Afghans fear the Taliban will erase the gains, especially for women, achieved in the decades since the U.S.-led invasion in 2001. When the militant group ran the country in the late 1990s, they imposed a harsh interpretation of Islamic law, forcing a sequestered life for many, particularly women and girls who were forbidden from education and most employment.

The Taliban now seek to present themselves as a more moderate force, offering amnesty to those who fought them and declaring the rights of women would be honored under Islamic law.

Hashmi is bitterly pessimistic.

Women there wont be able to live in peace now. They wont even die in peace, even if they wish to, she said.

Everything is gone, she said after a brief pause. Her husband, Mohammad Nabi, looked at her with tenderness but said nothing.

Nabi was a shop salesman back in Ghazni. The two fell deeply in love, and she made it clear before they got married that she planned to join the police.

I saw what the Taliban did to women. I wanted to do something for them. I wanted women to get their rights, she said.

Nabi supported her decision, even though it would eventually make his wife a target, and the two began building a family together.

Hashmis father threatened her, insisting she quit. She wouldnt budge.

After the attack that blinded her, the police said they arrested her father and sent him to a prison at Bagram Air Base outside Kabul. When the Taliban swept into the capital, Afghan forces at the former U.S. base surrendered. The prison had housed 5,000 inmates, including Taliban and Islamic State group fighters.

Imagining that her father might now be a free man fills Hashmi with horror.

If I go back to Afghanistan, the Taliban might cut off my legs this time, she said.

But life in India remains difficult.

Whenever I hold Bahar in my arms, I feel sad. My husband cant leave her alone. He cant even go to work. Sometimes we dont even have money to buy food, Hashmi said, winding her way back to the bedroom as Nabi holds her by the hand.

Although she says their love has grown while in exile, they also struggle. Food sometimes runs scarce because charity money from fellow refugees isnt enough. Phone calls home often cut out due to the poor cellular network. Being separated from her children is a nightmare.

And in particular, they fight to live a dignified life trapped within a complex bureaucratic process to register as refugees in India. The system strains under a yearslong backlog.

As of 2019, Afghans accounted for around a third of the nearly 40,000 refugees registered in India, according to the U.N. refugee agency. But that figure excludes those who, like Hashmis family, are not registered with the U.N.

My wife gave her eyes for her country. But nobody helped us, Nabi said. Not even our own government.

On Monday, hundreds of Afghans living in India protested outside the U.N. refugee agencys office in New Delhi, ramping up demands they be recognized as refugees.

But for these two Afghan families, the Taliban blitz toward Kabul left them feeling isolated and further from home than ever.

I havent slept properly for weeks, said Farhad, the painter. All I think of is my country.

His son Hassan is angry at his countrys politicians  and the U.S.

America has failed us, he said.

___

This story corrects that Hashmi was five months pregnant at time of attack, not two months.

By SHEIKH SAALIQ

Associated Press
Officials: Egypt closes Gaza border amid tensions with Hamas View Photo

CAIRO (AP)  Egypt closed its main border crossing point with the Gaza Strip on Monday amid tensions with the territorys militant Hamas rulers, officials said.

It was the first time the Rafah crossing was shuttered during a workday since early this year. Egyptian authorities had kept it open during the 11-day war between Israel and Hamas in May.

According to the Egyptian officials, the closure was connected to Cairos efforts to broker a long-term cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. It was not immediately clear how long the closure would last, the officials said.

One of the officials said the move was meant to pressure Hamas because of the differences between Cairo and and the militant group over lack of progress in both the Egyptian-led, indirect talks with Israel, and also efforts to reconcile Palestinian factions.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to reporters.

Iyad al-Bozum, a spokesman for the Hamas-run Interior Ministry, said Hamas had been notified of the closure. He said they were in contact with Egyptian authorities to reopen Rafah.

The closure of the crossing exacerbates the humanitarian crisis inside the Gaza Strip, he told The Associated Press. We hope the crossing will return to work as soon as possible.

Israel and Egypt have maintained a blockade over Gaza since Hamas took control of the territory in 2007, a year after winning Palestinian parliamentary elections. The blockade restricts the movement of goods and people in and out of Gaza, with Rafah serving as the primary exit point for Gazans to travel abroad when it is open.

Hamas has grown increasingly angry in recent weeks after Israel tightened the blockade in the wake of the May war. Israel has demanded the return of the remains of two dead soldiers, as well as two Israeli civilians believed to be alive and being held by Hamas, as a condition for the cease-fire. In the meantime, it has held up the deliveries of much-needed reconstruction materials.

Activists in the Gaza Strip on Monday launched incendiary balloons into southern Israel, setting off at least three fires across the border, Israels national fire service said.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the balloon launches, but in a statement on Sunday, Hamas and other militant groups pledged to continue our popular activities without hesitation or retreat.

The statement followed a a violent Hamas-organized protest along the Israeli border Saturday in which a Palestinian activist shot an Israeli sniper in the head at point-blank range. The soldier remained in critical condition Monday.

At least 24 Palestinians were wounded by Israeli gunfire at Saturdays protest, two critically.

Egypt has been a key mediator between Israel and Hamas over the years. Egypts intelligence chief Abbas Kamel paid a rare visit to Israel last week to discuss the cease-fire deal with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. He invited Bennett to visit Egypt.

A day after the visit, Israel announced that it had reached a deal with Gulf country Qatar to resume aid payments to thousands of impoverished Gazan families. The payments, a key source of stability in hard-hit Gaza, had been suspended following the war.

Since May, Egypt has allowed aid and construction convoys into Gaza to help rebuild houses and infrastructure destroyed during the fighting.

___

Associated Press journalists Wafaa Shurafa in Gaza City, Gaza Strip, and Jack Jeffery in Ramallah, West Bank contributed to this report.

By SAMY MAGDY

Associated Press
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP)  Local prosecutors are not entitled to second-guess the split-second judgments of two U.S. Park Police officers who fatally shot an unarmed motorist after a stop-and-go chase in northern Virginia, lawyers for the officers argued Monday.

The two officers, Alejandro Amaya and Lucas Vinyard, say they are entitled as federal officers to immunity from local prosecutors, who charged them with involuntary manslaughter in the 2017 shooting of Bijan Ghaisar after a chase on the George Washington Memorial Parkway outside the nations capital.

Jonathan Fahey, a lawyer for Amaya, said the shooting was well within the bounds of reasonable conduct under the circumstances.

Their belief was that Officer Amayas life was in danger because he was going to be run over by Ghaisar when he tried to pull away from the officers, whod approached Ghaisars Jeep for a third time with guns drawn, only to see Ghaisar drive off, or attempt to do so, each time. They also believed other lives were in danger.

Ghaisar was fatally shot after authorities say he left the scene of an accident.

Dashcam video released by Fairfax County Police, which played a supporting role in the chase, shows the chase beginning on the parkway, then continuing into a residential neighborhood. It shows the car driven by Ghaisar stopping twice during the chase, and officers approaching the car with guns drawn. In both cases, Ghaisar drives off.

At the third and final stop, the officers again approach with guns drawn, and Amaya standing in front of the drivers door. When the car starts to move, Amaya opens fire. Seconds later, when the car begins moving again, both Amaya and Vinyard fire multiple shots.

Fahey said the officers acted within the bounds of their training. He noted that the officers supervisor was aware of the chase and never advised them to call it off. He also said that the officers decision to approach Ghaisar with guns drawn was based on training theyd received that traffic stops are inherently dangerous. He said Park Police officer are taught when in doubt, pull it out when it comes to drawing your weapon.

There are only a handful of cases under which officers were not allowed to invoke immunity from state prosecution and they involve far more egregious conduct that what occurred in Ghaisars shooting, Fahey said. He said those examples include officers who were drunk on duty.

At Mondays hearing in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, prosecutors seeking to move ahead with a manslaughter trial said the officers lawyers are overstating the bounds of immunity. Michelle Kallen with the Virginia Attorney Generals Office said recent Supreme Court precedent emphasizes the states right to protect public safety as it sees fit without interference from the federal government.

Kallen played video of the shooting in court. She said it would be a breathtaking lack of government accountability if Fairfax County was barred from bringing criminal charges after the Justice Department declined to do so as well.

She also said the concept of when in doubt, pull it out does not square with Park Police general orders that call for drawing weapons only in cases with an imminent degree of danger.

And she disputed the notion that Amayas life was at risk when Ghaisar started to drive off a third time. She said its not at all clear that the slow-moving car presented a danger, and questioned why the officer had positioned himself in front of the car in the first place.

The judge, Claude Hilton, said he will rule on the officers immunity claims at a later date in a written order.

By MATTHEW BARAKAT

Associated Press
MONROE TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP)  Residents across the waterlogged Northeast began clearing mud and tearing out sodden carpets Monday after deluges dropped by Tropical Storm Henri, whose remnants threatened further flooding in New England as the system made a slow trek back to the sea.

The smell of sewage filled the air as residents of Rossmoor, a retirement community in central New Jersey's Monroe Township, returned to soaked homes and ruined possessions after Henri turned their streets into rivers.

Roseann and John Kiernan said theyd have to likely toss their appliances, tear up walls and carpets and replace their car after their house filled with nearly 2 feet of water on Sunday.

This is what we were left with. Nothing, nothing, lamented Roseann Kiernan. They told us that everything has to go.

A few miles away from Monroe, the whirring of portable pumps split the air on the main street in Jamesburg, another hard-hit New Jersey community.

Luke Becker, who operates the Four Boys ice cream stand along with his three brothers  one of six the family owns  said nearly 4 feet of water rushed into the shop, dislodging a tall cooler and leaving 3 inches of mud behind.

We were initially hoping to be back open by Labor Day, but now it looks like weve got to go through all the plumbing and rip out a ton of electrical because we dont know how much of that was affected, he said. Right now theres really no timetable.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy toured the storm-ravaged towns Monday, which remained under a flood warning until midnight.

Henri spared coastal areas of New York and New England major damage when its center made landfall Sunday in Rhode Island. But its size and slow speed led to deluges in areas from Maine to Pennsylvania.

On Monday, Henri's remnants, now considered a post-tropical cyclone, were moving eastward over New England at a leisurely 9 mph but were expected to accelerate later, prompting flood watches or warnings across swaths of the Northeast.

In the Catskills region of New York, Hunter Town Supervisor Daryl Legg believed his mountain community, which was devastated by Tropical Storm Irene in 2011, would be able to weather the slow-moving storm.

I think we escaped any kind of danger so far only because of the length of time it took for the storm to move through, he said. This has been a 24-hour period, so its not really the same storm, thank goodness.

But downpours, flooding and even tornadoes were still possible in New England, where officials fretted that just a few more inches would be a back-breaker following a summer of record rainfall.

The ground is so saturated with water that every inch of rain creates immediate floods and flash floods, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said Monday after seeing damage in the community of Canterbury, where nearly every home lost power Sunday amid heavy winds.

No deaths have been attributed to Henri, but thousands remained without power across the region as crews scrambled to remove toppled trees and power lines through Monday.

President Joe Biden has declared disasters in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont and Connecticut, opening the purse strings for federal recovery aid to those states.

Annette Landry, a resident of Manchester, Connecticut, a Hartford suburb some 40 miles inland, hoped Mondays rains wouldnt be a repeat of the deluge that left three units in her condo complex under a few inches of water Sunday.

Firefighters said they helped evacuate 18 homes and made several rescues after Henri dumped about 5 inches of rain.

It was a tragedy that this happened, because the people who live here are people who can ill afford to live anywhere else, said Landry, a 72-year-old retiree whose second-floor home was spared.

In central New Jersey, Dolores Hebert was still shaken Monday after being ferried to safety by boat with her dog and cat as 8 inches of rain fell and water surged through the streets in Rossmoor.

I was sleeping and when I woke up, it was up to my knees, the 76-year-old said as she stood by a front door bearing 18-inch-high watermarks. I didnt know what to do. I panicked.

___

Associated Press writers Dave Collins in Hartford, Connecticut, Michael Hill in Albany and Philip Marcelo in Boston contributed to this report.
Think of modern athleisure and these images may come to mind: Thin white women in yoga leggings drinking green juice while running errands. An attractive but hungover guy in joggers and sunglasses making an afternoon run to get food to quell his stomach. Or working from home in the "nice" sweat set you bought online mid-pandemic.

Type in "athleisure" to any search engine and you'll see similar images. Primarily thin, white men and women donning tops with sportswear logos and carrying expensive bags, going to wherever people who buy really expensive bags go.

Ivy Park, Beyonce's athleisure brand, has been the antithesis to this stereotype since its founding. Since its first drop in 2016, the brand has been redefining this generation's most popular and versatile fashion movement.

Now, Queen B is using her native Texas as inspiration for the brand's new Rodeo collection, a line full of daring denim pieces and monochromatic color palettes reminiscent of the muted tones of the deserts of the American Southwest. According to the Houston Chronicle, the line pays homage to oft-overlooked Black cowboy culture and how they "helped create American cowboy heritage and the Western frontier."

In a statement to the Chronicle, Bey spoke on the importance her home city's yearly rodeo had on the collection  and her art.

The Houston Rodeo is a gumbo of family, connection, delicious food and eclectic genres of music. I grew up seeing artists like Selena and Frankie Beverly and Maze and today it is just as eclectic with artists like Kacey Musgraves to Mary J. Blige. I remember the trail ride, with people riding from all over to the Houston Rodeo."

Along with its rodeo inspo, the line includes models of all shapes, sizes, genders, and is available in plus sizes.

Multiple pieces, from gender-neutral snap-button boiler suits to cow print skirts and tights, have already sold out after dropping online and in a select number of Adidas stores on August 19.

Fans of Bey (and the cowboy aesthetic) are eating up the collection at lighting speed, and taking to social media to express their love for the creativity and looks behind its creation.

Lana Del Rey did a country album... why can't Beyonce?

One nail artist created a press on nail set with the same brown cow print used in the new Ivy Park collection.

And yes, there were still haters comparing the drop to the That's So Raven farm trip episode.

Once again, the icon is showing up for Texas, and more importantly, creatively highlighting a history the U.S has ignored.
The Mariposa, Calif., home of John Gerrish and Ellen Chung was quiet on Aug. 16 when their 1-year-old daughter's nanny arrived. The family - including the dog, Oski - was nowhere to be found. Their truck was missing, too. As the hours wore on without a word from Gerrish or Chung, who had set out for a hike the day before, a sense of panic began to set in.

The couple's house sat near the head of Hites Cove Trail, and hours after the family was reported missing at about 11 p.m., the trailhead is where police started looking. A sheriff's deputy found the couple's truck parked near the trail's entrance around 2 a.m., the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Nine hours later and 1.5 miles from the family's truck, in an area known as Devil's Gulch, a search-and-rescue team found Gerrish, Chung, their daughter, Miju, and the dog.

They were all dead.

Gerrish was in a seated position with the baby and dog beside him, according to the Chronicle. Chung was a little farther up the hill.

Authorities still don't know how it happened. An autopsy recently completed on the bodies yielded no conclusive results about the cause of the deaths, CNN reported. A toxicology report, which could take several weeks, is pending.

A necropsy is being performed on Oski, the dog, but the Mariposa County Sheriff's Office said no other animals were found dead in the immediate area.

"It's just so tragic and mysterious," a close family friend, Steven Jeffe, told The Washington Post on Sunday evening.

Gerrish and Chung moved to Mariposa from San Francisco in March 2020, Jeffe said. The pandemic made the slow life look increasingly attractive for the young professionals. Gerrish worked at Snapchat, and Chung was working toward a master's degree in family therapy, he said.

When they lived in San Francisco, the couple enjoyed DJing and going to clubs, Jeffe said. But since moving out to Mariposa - about a three-hour drive east of the city and a 40-mile drive to Yosemite - they became "avid outdoor people."

When police found their bodies, there were no signs of trauma, the Fresno Bee reported. There was no suicide note or indication that the deaths were intentional, according to CNN. Although temperatures reached as high as 109 degrees the day the family hiked, dehydration was deemed unlikely because there was still water in the family's hydration pack, the Chronicle reported.

Snakebites have not been ruled out, although that cause is unlikely because there was no physical evidence of wounds, the sheriff's office told CNN.

The lack of definitive answers has led investigators to imagine other, more unusual causes. Carbon monoxide poisoning from a mine or toxic algae in the nearby Merced River are among the leading theories.

"At this point we can't rule out anything," Mariposa County sheriff's deputy Kristie Mitchell said, according to the Fresno Bee.

About a month before the family was found dead, the U.S. Forest Service warned that "a high concentration of algae bloom" had been found in the Merced River near Hites Cove, where Gerrish and Chung were hiking. The Forest Service warned visitors not to swim or let their pets "enjoy" the water.

But reported human deaths from freshwater algal blooms are rare, the Chronicle reported. David Caron, a University of Southern California biological sciences professor, told the newspaper that while freshwater bacteria are a threat to people and animals, it would take high concentrations to kill humans rapidly.

"It's conceivable that it is the cause," Caron said. "But a lot needs to be done forensically to tie it to toxins."

Poisoning from mines are also a possibility. When the family was found Tuesday, first responders treated the scene as a hazmat site because carbon monoxide may have leaked out from nearby mines. But the hazmat declaration was lifted on Wednesday, and the cause is looking less likely, Mariposa County Sheriff Jeremy Briese told the Fresno Bee. The closest mine Briese told the paper he knew of was three miles from where the family was found.

"We have not found any old mine shafts near the area," he added. "There are some mine shafts, but we can't confirm if that's the cause yet."

Meanwhile, Jeffe and Mariposa residents remain frustrated by the lack of answers.

"We're just devastated by the loss," Jeffe told The Post. "But I think the community is more like, 'What the heck happened?' It's just so crazy."
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP)  A firefight outside Kabuls international airport killed an Afghan soldier early Monday, highlighting the perils of evacuation efforts as the Taliban warned that any attempt by U.S. troops to delay their withdrawal to give people more time to flee would provoke a reaction.

The shooting came as the Taliban moved to shore up their position and eliminate pockets of armed resistance to their lightning takeover earlier this month. The Taliban said they retook three districts north of the capital seized by opponents the day before and had surrounded Panjshir, the last province that remains out of their control.

Afghanistan's security forces collapsed in the face of the Taliban advance, despite 20 years of Western training and assistance. Since then, tens of thousands of Afghans have sought to flee the country, fearing a return to the brutal rule the Taliban imposed the last time they ran Afghanistan. That has led to chaos at the airport in Kabul, the main route out of the country.

U.S. President Joe Biden has not ruled out extending the evacuation beyond Aug. 31, the date he set for completing the pullout of U.S. forces. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson plans to press Biden for an extension.

But Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen, in an interview with Sky News, said Aug. 31 is a red line and that extending the American presence would provoke a reaction.

Gunfire broke out early Monday near an entrance to the airport, where at least seven Afghans died a day earlier in a panicked stampede of thousands of people.

Navy Capt. William Urban, a U.S. military spokesman, said an unknown assailant shot at Afghan security forces at the airport's northern gate, leading Afghan, U.S. and allied troops to open fire in response. He said an Afghan soldier was killed and several Afghans were wounded.

An Italian humanitarian organization that operates hospitals in Afghanistan said it treated six patients with bullet wounds from the airport.

There was no comment from the Taliban, who in recent days have fired warning shots and lashed out with batons to try to control crowds swelling into the thousands outside the airport.

The tragic scenes around the airport have transfixed the world. Afghans poured onto the tarmac last week and some clung to a U.S. military transport plane as it took off, later plunging to their deaths. At least seven people died that day, in addition to the seven killed Sunday.

The Taliban blame the chaotic evacuation on the U.S. military and say there's no need for any Afghans to flee. They have pledged to bring peace and security after decades of war and say they won't seek revenge on those who worked with the U.S., NATO and the toppled Afghan government.

Addressing a conference of Muslim clerics, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid urged them to push back against Western propaganda about the Taliban and said the U.S. was undermining their rule by sending planes and offering Afghans asylum.

But Mohammad Khalid, another Taliban official addressing the same gathering, struck a more ominous tone, saying history and Afghans will not forgive those who were trained in the U.S. and Europe and returned to kill their own people.

He said foreign countries should not interfere in education, asking the clerics if they would tolerate a young girl sitting next to a boy at school. He also praised the role of suicide bombers in forcing the U.S. to withdraw.

The divergent messages raised doubts as to whether the Taliban are fully united behind the more moderate image their leadership is projecting. There have also been reports in recent days of the Taliban hunting down their former enemies.

German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer told the Bild newspaper that the main obstacle to getting people out was the crowds outside the airport.

Asked about Taliban assurances of safe passage to the airport, she said: So far, I can say that what we need is being granted; the danger comes more from these uncontrollable crowds of people.

As the airlift continues, the U.S. government asked for 18 aircraft from American commercial carriers to assist in transporting Afghan refugees to their final destinations after their initial evacuation.

Since Aug. 14, the U.S. has evacuated or facilitated the evacuation of some 37,000 people on military and coalition flights. Those efforts are accelerating: In the 24 hours that ended early Monday, U.S. military flights ferried about 10,400 people to safety, an official said.

Tens of thousands of people  Americans, other foreigners and Afghans who assisted in the war effort  are still waiting to join the airlift, which has been slowed by security issues and U.S. bureaucracy hurdles.

U.S. special operations forces retrieved 16 more American citizens from outside the airport early Monday, according to senior military officials in Afghanistan.

Rescue missions that go beyond the airport walls require the approval of a four-star officer and are handled on a case-by-case basis, said the American officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss ongoing military operations publicly.

Meanwhile, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin ordered five men who were evacuated from Afghanistan placed under surveillance in France for possible links to the Taliban.

France is human but it is also vigilant, the minister tweeted Monday, along with a story by a French news agency quoting him about the suspicions.

Amid the evacuations, there are also concerns that a local affiliate of the Islamic State group might target the crowds outside the airport with suicide bombers or fire missiles at U.S. aircraft. Military planes have been executing corkscrew landings, and other aircraft have fired flares upon takeoff  both measures used to avoid missile attacks.

The Taliban and IS have different ideologies and have fought in recent years, but one concern about the Taliban's takeover is that they could again shelter extremist groups. The Taliban harbored al-Qaida while it orchestrated the 9/11 attacks, leading to the U.S. invasion in 2001. The Taliban now say they will not allow Afghanistan to be a base for attacks on other countries.

Elsewhere in Afghanistan, the Taliban have faced limited armed resistance from fighters in Baghlan province, some 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of Kabul. The anti-Taliban fighters claimed to have seized three districts in the Andarab Valley on Sunday, but the Taliban said Monday that they had cleared them out overnight.

Khair Mohammad Khairkhwa and Abdul Ghani Mahmood, commanders of the anti-Taliban forces, said the recent fighting had caused casualties on both sides and displaced civilians.

Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman, said the group's forces have also surrounded nearby Panjshir, the only one of Afghanistan's 34 provinces yet to fall to the Taliban. Several Taliban opponents have gathered there, pledging to resist any attempt to take the province by force.

Mujahid said there had been no fighting in Panjshir yet and that the Taliban are seeking a peaceful solution.

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Faiez reported from Istanbul and Krauss from Jerusalem. Associated Press writers Tameem Akhgar in Istanbul, Geir Moulson in Berlin, Jill Lawless in London, Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and James LaPorta in Miami contributed to this report.

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More AP coverage of Afghanistan: https://apnews.com/hub/afghanistan
The federal government deliberately targeted Black Lives Matter protesters via heavy-handed criminal prosecutions in an attempt to disrupt and discourage the global movement that swept the nation last summer in the wake of the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd, according to a new report released Wednesday by The Movement for Black Lives.

Movement leaders and experts said the prosecution of protesters over the past year continues a century-long practice by the federal government, rooted in structural racism, to suppress Black social movements via the use of surveillance tactics and other mechanisms.

The empirical data and findings in this report largely corroborate what Black organizers have long known intellectually, intuitively, and from lived experience about the federal governments disparate policing and prosecution of racial justice protests and related activity, the report stated.

The report, which was first shared with The Associated Press, argues that as the uprisings in the summer of 2020 increased, so did police presence, the deployment of federal agents and prosecution of protesters.

Titled Struggle For Power: The Ongoing Persecution of Black Movement By The U.S. Government," the report details how policing has been used historically as a major tool to deter Black people from engaging in their right to protest and weaken efforts to draw attention to issues impacting Black Americans. It also drew a comparison to how the government used Counterintelligence Program techniques to disrupt the work of the Black Panther Party and other organizations fighting for Black liberation.

We want to really show how the U.S. government has continued to persecute the Black movement by surveillance, by criminalizing protests, and by using the criminal legal system to prevent people from protesting and punishing them for being engaged in protests by attempting to curtail their First Amendment rights, said Amara Enyia, The Movement for Black Lives' policy research coordinator.

It is undeniable that racism plays a role," Enyia said. It is structurally built into the fabric of this country and its institutions, which is why its been so difficult to eradicate. Its based on institutions that were designed around racism and around the devaluing of Black people and the devaluing of Black lives.

In the report, published in partnership with the Creating Law Enforcement Accountability & Responsibility clinic at City University of New York School of Law, The Movement for Black Lives is calling for amnesty for all protesters involved in the nationwide protests.

The group, also known as M4BL, is demanding reparations from the government that includes an acknowledgment and an apology for the long history of targeting movements in support of Black life and Black liberation. It also is pushing for passage of the BREATHE Act, proposed federal legislation that would radically transform the nations criminal justice system, and ending the use of Joint Terrorism Task Forces in local communities.

The report also points to the stark difference in how the government handled the COVID-19 protests against local government shutdowns and mask mandates amid the pandemic during the same period. It analyzes 326 criminal cases initiated by U.S. federal prosecutors over alleged conduct related to protests in the wake of Floyd's murder and the police killings of other Black Americans, from May 31, 2020, to Oct. 25, 2020.

A key finding of the report was that the push to use federal charges against protesters came from top-down directives from former President Donald Trump and former Attorney General William Barr. M4BL and the Creating Law Enforcement Accountability & Responsibility clinic, also known as CLEAR, found that in 92.6% of the cases, there were equivalent state level charges that could have been brought against defendants.

Among those cases where comparable state level charges could have been brought, 88% of the federal criminal charges carried more severe potential sentences than the equivalent state criminal charges for the same or similar conduct.

We saw U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr overnight go from expressing some level of sympathy for racial justice protesters to labeling them as radical and violent agitators with absolutely no basis for that sort of characterization, said Ramzi Kassem, founding director of CLEAR and a law professor at the City University of New York, adding that Barr and Trump used the arrests and prosecutions to justify the hostile rhetoric aimed at protesters. All of this was very transparently aimed at disrupting a Black-led movement for social justice that was happening both spontaneously and in an organized fashion nationwide.

Race data was only available for 27%, or 89 of the defendants. And of that number, 52% were identified as Black. Of the Black defendants, 91% were identified as male.

The known proportion of Black defendants compared to the proportion of Black people in the United States, per the latest census data, indicates that Black defendants were dramatically overrepresented, the report stated.

Seventy-two cases, or 22.1%, involved charges with mandatory minimum sentences. And 67 cases, or 20.6%, involved offenses where defendants are alleged to have attempted, conspired, or aided and abetted an underlying crime without having actually committed the underlying criminal conduct.

Portland, Oregon, led in the number of charges brought for protest-related activity, making up 29% of federal charges. Chicago, Las Vegas, Washington, D.C., and Minneapolis followed.

Richard Wallace, founder of Equity and Transformation in Chicago, said over the past summer he witnessed overly aggressive policing by law enforcement officers who levied accusations of rioting and looting at protesters who were peacefully protesting. Wallace said he is deeply concerned for those who have been charged.

Coming from Chicago, where (Black Panther Party leader) Fred Hampton was killed and where, Martin Luther King came and said this is one of the most segregated cities he ever saw, we have a very keen historic lens as it relates to state violence, and Black movement, said Wallace, whose organization, also known as EAT, was founded by and for formerly incarcerated and marginalized Black people and focuses on individuals who operate within the informal economy.

What we saw in Illinois and across the country was this reverberation of Black power. And so, at all costs, the state is about dismantling that right, dismantling that in every possible way," he said.

The report also raises concerns about the involvement of Joint Terrorism Task Forces and found 20 cases that explicitly referenced task force involvement. The government greatly exaggerated the threat of violence from protesters, the report says.

Makia Green, a liberation organizer and co-conductor of the Washington D.C.-based group Harriets Wildest Dreams, fully supports the report's findings and calls for action. Green believes President Joe Biden needs to fulfill his campaign pledges of supporting Black Americans and addressing the root causes of white supremacy, by pushing for amnesty for protesters. Green said Congress also needs to support legislation to overhaul the criminal justice system.

Regardless of how we are often painted, activists are people who have the audacity to believe that we can live in a better world, where people are safe, where people are not afraid of being murdered by the police, Green said. There are attempts to stifle our movement but it is truly a reflection to our supporters, to our allies, and to the folks who showed up in the streets last year, of how beautiful and powerful this movement is.

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Stafford reported from Detroit. She is a national investigative writer with The Associated Press Race and Ethnicity team. Follow her on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/Kat__Stafford.
NEW ORLEANS (AP)  It's a neighborhood bar and restaurant, but for two extended weekends every year, the regulars at Liuzza's by the Track include an overflow crowd of tourists grabbing drinks and settling in for meals on their way in and out of the nearby New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

Co-owner James Gonczi estimates that out-of-towners make up anywhere from 30% to 35% of his clientele during the seven-day festival each spring. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the festival hasn't happened for two years now.

It looked like the music would play this fall  organizers recruited The Rolling Stones to headline a rescheduled festival in October. But then the highly contagious delta variant exploded, forcing another cancellation.

Gonczi doesnt even want to talk about it. I dont want to be depressed anymore, he says.

Jazz Fest usually draws hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world to the city. They come for the unique food, music and culture every year, playing a major part in a tourism and hospitality industry that drives the New Orleans economy.

This industry has been hammered by the pandemic, which has forced many bars, restaurants and music venues to close or limit their operations. At one point unemployment in the city was as high as 20%, and it hasn't recovered, with a 12% jobless rate now.

It seemed like decent times, at least, would roll again last spring, as vaccinations began and visitors started coming back. Occupancy rates rose above 50% this summer in downtown hotels, not bad compared to the single digits of the summer before, said Kelly Schultz, a spokeswoman for New Orleans & Company, which promotes the city as a tourist destination. But she said it hasnt been a full rebound, with international tourists, cruise ship passengers and business travelers not yet returning.

The tourism organization paused some of its advertising through September as polling showed travelers concerned about the delta surge. Louisiana has been a hot spot for this fourth wave, with hospitalizations repeatedly hitting record highs and medical staff voicing concerns about hospitals being overrun.

Losing Jazz Fest again should be a giant wake-up call to get more people vaccinated, Schultz said: All of this is completely preventable with the vaccine.

Earlier this month, New Orleans began requiring everyone entering bars, restaurants, music clubs and even the Superdome to show proof of vaccination or a recent negative coronavirus test. Both the city and the state also require mask-wearing in stores and other indoor venues, but haven't returned to the closures or capacity limits for live music, restaurants and bars that were implemented when the pandemic began.

Many businesses are also taking their own precautions. When infections began to surge again, the Carnaval Lounge reinstalled clear shields separating the stage from the crowd. Even so, a few bands have canceled amid concerns over rising infections, owner Jennifer Johnson said.

Live music events were one of the last things to freely open last spring, and venue operators fear they'll be the first to face restrictions if hospitalizations keep climbing.

I just cant say enough how crushing it would be if live music has to shut down again, Johnson said.

Even before the mayor's announcement, dozens of venues already decided to mandate vaccines or negative coronavirus tests. Carnaval is one, as is Palm & Pine, a French Quarter restaurant mixing southern, Caribbean and Central American influences. Palm & Pine took the step because its employees have children, and they noticed how many kids were getting sick during this fourth surge.

While Jazz Fest is by far the biggest event to be called off, August has been grim. An event drawing art lovers who wear white while checking out galleries was canceled, as was the Red Dress Run, which sends thousands of revelers dashing across the city. September's French Quarter Festival, featuring dozens of artists playing at outdoor venues, was called off next. Now many worry that the pre-Lenten parades and street parties of Mardi Gras, which draws tourists from around the world, will be shut down once again in 2022.

Losing Jazz Fest means Linda Green  often referred to as the Ya-Ka-Mein Lady for her signature noodle dish known as a hangover cure  won't be putting more than two dozen people to work at two of the festival's booths.

She hasnt done a big catering event since Mardi Gras of 2020. She's found other ways to make ends meet, including pop-ups at a local music venue. But losing Jazz Fest is crushing.

I do all the festivals in the city, she said. I cant do any right now. It hurts.

Many still hope this latest surge won't get worse, and this fall's tourist season can be saved. New Orleans has a higher vaccination rate than the rest of Louisiana and neighboring states, which could be important as tourists decide where to spend vacation money.

At the Royal Sonesta Hotel in the French Quarter, the business growth that returned in mid-March is leveling off. Many guests who planned to come for Jazz Fest canceled, and new reservations have slowed a bit, said Al Groos, the hotels manager. If they can weather this surge, they still might have a very, very good fall," he said hopefully. Not based on 2019 standards, but based on 2020, he added.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The U.S. gave full approval to Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine Monday, potentially boosting public confidence in the shots and instantly opening the way for more universities, companies and local governments to make vaccinations mandatory.

The Pentagon promptly announced it will press ahead with plans to force members of the military to get vaccinated amid the battle against the extra-contagious delta variant. The University of Minnesota likewise said it will require its students get the shot, as did Louisiana's major public universities, including LSU, though state law there allows broad exemptions.

More than 200 million Pfizer doses have been administered in the U.S. under emergency provisions  and hundreds of millions more worldwide  since December. In going a step further and granting full approval, the Food and Drug Administration cited months of real-world evidence that serious side effects are extremely rare.

President Joe Biden said that for those who hesitated to get the vaccine until it received what he dubbed the gold standard of FDA approval, the moment youve been waiting for is here.

Please get vaccinated today, he said.

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla called the FDA's action an important milestone that I think will unlock some of the more skeptical minds.

Pfizer said the U.S. is the first country to grant full approval of its vaccine, in a process that required a 360,000-page application and rigorous inspections. Never before has the FDA has so much evidence to judge a shot's safety.

The formula, jointly developed with Germany's BioNTech, will be marketed under the brand name Comirnaty.

Moderna has also applied to the FDA for full approval of its vaccine. Johnson & Johnson, maker of the third option in the U.S., said it hopes to do so later this year.

Just over half of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated. Vaccinations in this country bottomed out in July at an average of about a half-million shots per day, down from a peak of 3.4 million a day in mid-April. As the delta variant fills hospital beds, shots are on the rise again, with a million a day given Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Full approval of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine means it meets the same very high standards required of all the approved vaccines we rely on every day, said Dr. Jesse Goodman of Georgetown University, a former FDA vaccine chief. That should help anyone who still has concerns gain confidence in the shots.

Earlier this month, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he would seek the presidents OK to make the vaccine mandatory by mid-September or once the FDA grants final approval, whichever comes first. On Monday, after the FDA acted, the Pentagon said guidance on vaccinations will be worked out and a timeline will be provided in the coming days.

The approval also opened the way for swift action by colleges to require vaccines and solidified the legal ground for hundreds of universities that have already issued mandates for students and staff.

The public university systems in Louisiana and Minnesota had been waiting for FDA action before making vaccinations mandatory. Louisiana has become a COVID-19 hot spot, repeatedly breaking records for the number of people hospitalized with the virus. But certain other states forbid universities to require shots, including Texas and Florida.

Mandating becomes much easier when you have full approval, said Dr. Carlos del Rio of Emory University. I think a lot of businesses have been waiting for it.

On the same day the FDA decision came down, New York City announced that all public school teachers and other staffers will have to get vaccinated.

The delta variant has sent cases, deaths and hospitalizations soaring in recent weeks in the U.S., erasing months of progress. Deaths are running at about 1,000 a day on average for the first time since mid-March, and new cases are averaging 147,000 a day, a level last seen at the end of January.

Elizabeth Nichols, 18, of Akron, Ohio, said she felt a rush of relief after hearing the news of the FDAs approval. She already was on her way to get her first vaccine shot Monday morning after months of hesitation.

I had an internal battle of whether I should get the shot or not, Nichols said in an email. It can be scary subjecting yourself to something that is unapproved." But she added: "The authorization proves how safe it is.

The FDA, like regulators in Europe and much of the rest of the world, initially allowed emergency use of Pfizers vaccine based on a study that tracked 44,000 people 16 and older for at least two months  the time period when serious side effects typically arise.

Thats shorter than the six months of safety data normally required for full approval. So Pfizer kept that study going, and the FDA also examined real-world safety evidence.

Pfizers shot will continue to be dispensed to 12- to 15-year-olds under an emergency use authorization, until the company files its application for full approval.

Normally, doctors can prescribe FDA-approved products for other reasons than their original use. But FDA's acting Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock strongly warned that the Pfizer vaccine should not be used off-label for children under 12  a warning echoed by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Both Pfizer and Moderna have vaccine studies underway in youngsters, and they are using lower doses than those available for people 12 and older.

Pfizer's Bourla said he expects study results from 5- to 11-year-olds by the end of September, but data for those younger than 5 will take a couple of months.

Also, Woodcock said health providers are offering COVID-19 vaccines under agreements with the government that should preclude using Monday's approval as a pretext for offering booster shots to the general population.

Currently, the FDA has authorized third doses of either Pfizer's or Moderna's vaccine only for certain people with severely weakened immune systems, such as organ transplant recipients. For everyone else, the Biden administration is planning for boosters starting in the fall. But the FDA is evaluating that question separately.

In reaching Monday's decision, the FDA said serious side effects remain very rare, such as chest pain and heart inflammation a few days after the second dose, mostly in young men.

As for effectiveness, six months into Pfizers original study, the vaccine remained 97% protective against severe COVID-19. Protection against milder infection waned slightly, from a peak of 96% two months after the second dose to 84% by six months.

Those findings came before the delta variant began spreading, but other data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows the vaccine is still doing a good job preventing severe disease.

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Associated Press Reporter Jonathan Lemire contributed to this report.

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.
The University of Texas at San Antonio just made a major artistic acquisition. On August 23, the university announced it is incorporating the Southwest School of Art to create a new school dedicated to advancing the arts.

The new school will be organized under UTSA's College of Liberal and Fine Arts, "enabling the integration of SSAs prestigious Bachelor of Fine Arts program, expanded community offerings and partnerships, and preservation of SSAs historic assets," notes a release.

Among those historic assets, is SSA's Augusta Street property, which includes buildings from the former Ursuline Convent & Academy built in the 1850s. SSA's current downtown campus will become the anchor for UTSA's new school, and the Southwest School of Art and branding will be incorporated into the new name.

This is a strategic opportunity for both institutions. San Antonio is the cultural heart of Texas and we are deeply committed to collectively ensuring that this new school is truly interdisciplinary and continues to be a catalyst, a protector and a voice for creative ideas, collaborations and energy, says UTSA President Taylor Eighmy.

Billy Calzada, San Antonio Express-News / Staff Photographer

The school's curriculum will include both traditional and contemporary history, methods, materials, and concepts, notes a release. It will also take advantage of the new campus' proximity to the UTSA School of Data Science by expanding its digital art offerings.

UTSA says it is also committed to bringing all of SSA's arts programs, assets, and resources as part of the merger. SSA's studios and equipment is currently designed for a range of mediums, such as small metals and jewelry, papermaking and book arts, fibers and weaving, darkroom photography, 3D printing, welding, and digital design machinery.

As the release notes, the institutions have a history of collaboration, with many UTSA grads on faculty at the art school and many SSA grads going onto to receive advance degrees at the university. UTSA adds that the new school will remain committed to retaining the community outreach and youth programs that SSA has developed.

For many years, UTSA and Southwest School of Art have benefited from a strong relationship and a variety of connections, adds SSA President Paula Owen. This new partnership responds to the societal need for creative problem solvers with multiple skills who readily adapt to the velocity of change in the 21st century.

Both schools have signed a letter of intent and governing boards for both schools are scheduled to approve the merger in November. If the deal is made, the school should open in fall 2022 and current SSA students will be able to formally transition into UTSA.
Jupiter presented a stunning gift last weekend, at least to those who had a clear view from Earth. On Aug. 15, Jupiter's largest moons, known as the Galilean moons, aligned to give two stunning, rare astronomical events.

First, Earthlings could see three of Jupiter's Galilean moons - Europa, Ganymede and Callisto - simultaneously crossing in front of the planet, known as a triple transit. Then, a dance among Europa, Ganymede and their shadows delighted sky watchers with displays known as "mutual events."

Amateur astronomer Christopher Go captured the marvels from the Philippines around midnight in what might be the one of the best documentations to date. Each second of the above animation represents 30 minutes of the event.

"This is a very difficult data to capture, and I am convinced that this is the best movie ever made of Jupiter's triple transit event," Kunio Sayanagi, a planetary scientist at Hampton University and an affiliate of the Imaging Science Team of NASA's Cassini mission to Saturn, wrote in an email. Sayanagi helped assemble the above animation from Go's frames.

Jupiter has four Galilean moons, Europa, Io, Callisto and Ganymede, which were discovered by Galileo Galilei in the 1600s. A transit occurs when one of these moons or its shadow passes in front of the planet as seen from Earth. 2021 has more than 600 transit events.

Single and double transits are fairly common and have several occurrences just this month. Three moons passing at the same time, however, is rarer. Before 2021, the last triple transit occurred in 2015; the next one will occur in 2032.

Sayanagi explains that triple transits are rare because only two of the three innermost Galilean moons (Io, Europa and Ganymede) ever line up due to their orbital periods.

Therefore, a triple transit only occurs when two of these moons happen to line up with the fourth moon, Callisto. Callisto, the farthest Galilean moon from Jupiter, is not in "orbital resonance" with the rest of the moons though.

"In the triple transit on Aug. 15, Europa and Ganymede were having the usual regularly-occurring alignment, and Callisto just happened to pass by them during that time," wrote Sayanagi.

Due to the differences in orbital resonance, all four moons will never cross in front of Jupiter simultaneously.

During the transit, the moons can be difficult to distinguish from the light colors on Jupiter. The moons' shadows, though, clearly darken the planet.

The triple transit was not visible from North America, but Go could see it from Cebu Island in the Philippines. However, good weather conditions were not a given. August falls within monsoon season in the Philippines and can bring winds from the mountains that interfere with astrophotography. Go said the winds from the mountain make everything look like mush and the planet "will dance around like a jellyfish."

The winds shifted the night of the event though, which helped produce good photos. Rain also fell every day that week but miraculously cleared up the night before the event.

"I was so lucky. The sky was clear all throughout the event," said Go, who shot the event from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. "I was just so shocked because the following day it was raining again."

Shortly after the triple transit ended, two of the moons put on another show. Europa passed under Ganymede, appearing to hide behind the large moon from our perspective on Earth (known as an occultation). As Europa reappeared, Ganymede cast its shadow on Europa (known as an eclipse). Astronomers refer to these occultations and eclipses as "mutual events."

"This thing this is so surreal," said Go, who captured these photos using a consumer-grade camera. "Ganymede is projecting a shadow toward Jupiter, but part of the shadow hit Europa."

Mutual events are scientifically important because they allow researchers to easily record the moons' positions, said Sayanagi. Researchers have been able to record the precise positions of Jupiter's moons as far back as 1881.

Today's instruments do not rely on mutual events for those position measurements. Sayanagi said NASA and the European Space Agency's upcoming Europa Clipper and JUICE missions will use more sophisticated techniques to measure the moons' orbital evolution. However, the older measurements from the 19th and 20th centuries provide valuable reference points.

Amateur photographs and data like Go's are extremely valuable to planetary scientists and shared with the science community. Although he is not a professional astronomer (he works in furniture manufacturing full-time), he has made discoveries through his images and has been listed as an author on numerous studies, along with professional astronomers. He has also helped NASA process images of Jupiter from the Hubble Space Telescope.

"They're actually a lot of us doing very good images of the planets all over the world from Australia to Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Africa," said Go, who describes himself as a citizen scientist. "We need to get people to understand science, and this is one of the ways."
International

15 kidnapped Nigerian students freed: Police

LAGOS, AUG 23 (IANS) | Publish Date: 8/23/2021 11:17:17 AM IST

Nigerian police has confirmed that 15 students kidnapped by gunmen from a secondary school in the countrys northwestern state of Kaduna have been freed.

The students of Bethel Baptist High School (BBHS) were freed on Saturday night after 48 days in captivity, Mohammed Jalige, a spokesman for the police in Kaduna, told Xinhua news agency on Sunday. The released students were among an unspecified number of students kidnapped from the BBHS in Chikun local government area of Kaduna on July 5, following an attack by unknown gunmen in large numbers. John Joseph Hayab, the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Kaduna, told media that 15 students were released on Saturday night while 65 students are still in captivity.
Weve embedded the text of the so-called Powell Memo, named for its author Lewis Powell, later a Nixon Administration Supreme Court appointment, It set forth a roadmap for an open ended war to roll back New Deal protections and make America more deferential to the pet needs of businesses. Its been an astonishingly successful campaign. The corporate profit share of GDP has risen to a level nearly twice the level that Warren Buffett deemed to be unsustainable and has remained there. The Supreme Court has deemed corporations to be persons and has given corporate speech the same privileges in campaigns as personal speech. Class action lawyers, one of the important means for preventing big companies from engaging in small-ticket but large scale pilfering, have been neutered. Unions represent a much lower proportion of workers than they did in the 1960s and 1970s, and have vastly less respect and political clout.

One can go on, but you get the idea.

If you read the memo, youll see how lawyers like Ralph Nader and William Kunstler are held up as the sort of foe that must be cut down to size because they have the temerity to say bad things about the way businesses work.

Let me hoist the sections of ECONNED that discussed the impact of the Powell Memo and the conservative war against social safety nets:

Two loose but ideologically aligned efforts strove mightily to pursue a number of big business objectives, including reducing regulation. Starting in the early 1970s, some far right wingers began systematically to market their ideas and discredit the Left. While politics is a realm of hard-fought ideas, the ambition of these extremist conservatives was to reframe popular opinion to conform

to their line of thinking. To a remarkable degree, they succeeded. For instance, wealthy conservative lawyer and later Supreme Court justice Lewis Powell wrote a memo to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in 1971 that galvanized the right wing. He argued that corporations needed to launch a coordinated and sustained attack to discredit liberals. Among the key elements was the creation of a well-funded effort that looked like a movement to press its cause with the media. Generously financed scholars, writers, and thinkers would demand fair treatment and equal time as the wedge for forcing the press to treat them seriously. In turn, they would recast issues, with the aim of reshaping opinion from the elite to the mass level. Another blueprint came from former Nixon Treasury Secretary William E. Simon, in his 1978 book, A Time for Truth. Disillusioned conservative journalist David Brock describes its program: The ideology of Barry Goldwater and Phyllis Schlafly and William Buckley would now be dry cleaned for mass consumption, and along with it came a neolexicon a language reinvented by conservative practitioners trained in the use of manipulative, often Orwellian, rhetoric. Agenda items like gutting Social Security, rolling back civil rights protection, and slashing taxes inequitably would be smoothed out with deceptive Madison-Avenue-type branding slogans of the type used to sell commercial products: privatization, the new federalism, the flat tax and so on . . . funds would go exclusively to right wing ideologues, with no capitulation to soft-minded pleas for the support of dissent . . . ensuring conservatives would have the unwavering message discipline, ideological uniformity, and seeming unity of purpose that seemed to go missing in liberalism. The work would carry an air of academic independence and authority, but it would be subject to no peer review or conflict-of-interest safeguards.48 Another conservative dismayed by the tactics of the New Right similarly described the new corporate lobbying efforts of the 1970s as militant. In economics, the spear carriers were the think tanks such as the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), the Heritage Foundation, the Hoover Institution, and the Cato Institute. For instance, the AEI funded a series of publications, studies, and has endowed faculty chairs; Heritage prepared a 3,000-page blueprint for the incoming Reagan administration and then, a year in, scored its progress (61% of 1,270 recommendations implemented). A not-well-recognized issue is that the think tanks moved into a vacuum created by the orientation of economics in the 1950s through the 1980s toward theoretical work. Papers in top academic journals were increasingly inaccessible to the laity. These institutes could thus pick those theories (or simply aspects of theories) that were congenial to their world view. They also provided highly paid employment to economists who did not have a future in academia. For instance, Arthur Laffer, a proponent of supply side economics, said, I knew there was no way in Gods earth I could make it in the profession. So I went other routes the press, the political press, consulting. What is troubling about these organizations is that their role is seldom evident to the public. Media reports often fail to disclose the affiliation of a researcher with a think tank that has as its sole purpose the promotion of a particular set of policies and ideas. And even when they do, many readers fail to recognize that the economists in the employ of these advocacy groups are lobbyists. Most people have learned not to trust industry-funded drug research. Why should ndustry-funded economic research be any different?

On the other side of the ledger is the cost of this success. Paul Krugman pointed out in the 2000s that Europeans didnt much mind their higher taxes, apparently because they saw they were getting public services they valued. Krugman further posited that Europeans were better at running government bureaucracies than we were. Thats hardly a natural outcome. Starving government bodies makes them less competent, which then serves as an excuse for cutting budgets further. Look, for instance, at the decline of the SEC, once a respected and feared agency, which has been beaten back into not-very-aggressive regulation of retail products due to Congresscritters, particularly back in the day Joe Lieberman, threatening funding cuts if the SEC didnt come to heel, as well as the appointment of corporate-friendly SEC chairs.

In other words, the neoliberal have succeeded both in making government unduly deferential to business and often incompetent. Even in the Reagan era, the government was interested in and capable of getting to the bottom of bad developments quickly. Ten days after the 1987 crash, Reagan established the so-called Brady Commission to investigate the its causes. It delivered an extensive, detailed report in less than two months (mind you, with the Thanksgiving and Christmas-New Year holidays intervening). I have a copy. It also recommended two reforms, one of which was implemented quickly, automated stock market circuit breakers when markets move rapidly, which have been widely copied in other financial markets. By contrast, as we and others have written, the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission was a pathetic joke. From one of our many critical posts:

From the very outset, the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission was set up to fail. Its leadership, particularly its chairman, Phil Angelides, was seen as insufficiently experienced in sophisticated finance. The timetable was unrealistic for a thorough investigation of a crisis this complex, let alone one international in scope. Its budget and staffing were too small. The investigations were further hampered by the requirement that subpoenas have bi-partisan approval along with Its decision to hold hearings with high profile individuals, including top Wall Street executives, before much in the way of lower-level investigation had been completed. The usual way to get meaningful disclosure from a top executive is to confront him with hard-to-defend material or actions; interrogations under bright lights, while a fun bit of theater, generally yield little in the absence of adequate prep. So with expectations for the FCIC low, recent reports that the panel urged various prosecutors to launch criminal probes were a hopeful sign that the commission might nevertheless come out with some important findings. But correspondence from insiders in the last few days suggests otherwise. One, for instance, wrote, Im still in the process of getting the stink out of my clothes.

In other words, the obsession with appearance management has resulted in seeing post mortems as a yet another means to spin-doctor, as opposed to trying to prevent the recurrence of disasters. And weve lurched from one to another: Iraq. Afghanistan. The 2008 crisis. The not-widely recognized knock-on crisis of mass foreclosures and legal fraud, which led to a second financial bailout via a Get out of jail nearly free liability waiver to banks. The opioid crisis. Student debt servitude. The gross mismanagement of the Covid pandemic. And our inaction in the face of global warming and mass species dieoff.

By design, neolibearlism has weakened community ties and social cohesion and left us even more poorly equipped to handle the problems bearing down on all of us. I wish I could be optimistic. And I wish even more the perps could be held to account.
By Charlotte Smith, PhD Candidate in Environmental Science, Lancaster University, Erika Berenguer, Senior Research Associate in Tropical Forest Ecology, University of Oxford, and Jos Barlow, Professor of Conservation Science, Lancaster University. Originally published at The Conversation.

Driven largely by the expansion of farm land to meet increasing global demand for products such as soya bean, over 810,000 kmof forest in the Amazon has been cleared  an area nearly as big as Norway and Sweden combined.

Deforestation is not only a tragedy for biodiversity, it also releases huge quantities of carbon dioxide (CO) into the atmosphere. Despite a glimmer of hope in the early 2010s, when deforestation rates plummeted to an all-time low, forest loss is once again on the rise.

The bulldozers arent always the end of the story. Nearly 30% of deforested land in the Amazon has been abandoned, giving the forest a chance to regrow  albeit with differing degrees of success, depending on how long and how intensely the land was used for agriculture. While these recovering habitats, known as secondary forests, are a poor substitute for the species-rich old-growth forests they replace, they can rapidly capture large quantities of CO from the atmosphere.

But in a new study, we discovered that secondary forests across the Amazon are absorbing just 9.7% of the emissions created by the destruction of old-growth forests in the region. Thats despite these regrowing habitats occupying 28.8% of all deforested land.

Restoration Versus Deforestation

Although the Paris Agreement assumes that there will need to be some degree of tropical forest restoration to achieve emissions reduction targets, few studies have assessed how forest cover in the Amazon is changing. Research in the Amazon tends to focus on Brazil, which holds 60% of the basin, but fails to account for the eight other countries. Understanding how forests are recovering differently between countries and regions can help scientists and decision-makers understand which countries policies are helping to maintain the forest carbon sink, and which are not.

We set out to fill this void by mapping deforestation, recovery and carbon stocks from 1986 to 2017 across the entire Amazon, as well as individually for its nine constituent countries, and Brazils nine Amazonian states.

We used land cover maps built from high-resolution satellite imagery by the MapBiomas initiative to establish where, when and how much carbon has been lost to deforestation. We combined this with similarly generated maps of carbon gained by secondary forests to work out what proportion of these emissions have already been offset.

We found big differences between countries in the amount of emissions offset by secondary forest growth. As Brazil contains more than half of the Amazon basin, it is unsurprisingly responsible for more deforestation than any other country. However, Brazils contribution to overall Amazon deforestation (85%) and the associated CO emissions (80%) went well beyond what would be expected from the countrys size.

The Brazilian state of Para alone has seen more deforestation than the other eight Amazonian countries combined, a staggering 263,000 km  an area larger than the UK. Brazil is also falling behind the other countries on the amount of deforested land that is recovering. Just a quarter of Brazils previously deforested land is occupied by secondary forest, with these new forests offsetting just 9% of CO emissions from deforestation. Ecuador, on the other hand, has secondary forest growing on over half of its deforested land. In Guyana, where the recovering forests are older and so have had time to capture more CO, nearly a quarter of deforestation emissions have been offset, the highest of any Amazonian country.

These country-level patterns were underpinned by a trend that extended across the entire Amazon basin. Regions that have undergone the most extensive deforestation  and so have the greatest potential for large-scale forest restoration  currently have the lowest rates of recovery. To make matters worse, these highly deforested Amazonian landscapes show no sign of increasing forest cover, even 20 years after the land was initially cleared.

Large-scale forest restoration in the Amazon is an important nature-based solution to climate change. The latest findings from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change indicate that reaching net zero emissions is essential for stabilising global warming and nature-based solutions will be at the forefront of discussions at the UN climate talks in November 2021, otherwise known as COP26, where governments from around the world will develop a plan to reach net zero emissions globally.

But unless drastic changes are made to halt deforestation and encourage forests to regrow, the Amazon cannot fulfil its potential to mitigate climate change.
Remember the CalPERS private equity new business model fiasco, where the giant fund lurched from scheme to scheme, with ever-changing rationalizations, only to have the entire effort fall into a heap?

And recall that this huge waste of PR, management time, and credibility came about because CalPERS actually did recognize it had a problem, yet refused to do the right thing? In this case, the problem was that CalPERS was unlikely to produce better than index-like returns from investing in private equity by virtue of its size. Those returns had been for a decade, if not longer, indefensibly low on a risk-return basis.

Rather than pursue one or a combination of sensible alternatives,1 CalPERS insisted on trying to make various Rube-Goldberg-cobbled-together-variants-of existing-approaches-presented-as-innovative (when innovative in finance = the customer is having his pockets picked) make sense. The effort collapsed under its own contradictions.

CalPERS is in the midst of another embarrassing cock-up, except this one has far more serious ramifications. CalPERS continuing failure in its efforts to hire a Chief Investment Officer, its most important and best paid position, is making it a ridicule all over the world. Thats because the idea of a huge investor operating for more than a year with no one steering its investments is insanely negligent.

Yet despite offering an even bigger pay package than than the former incumbent received, CalPERS has made clear it has gotten nowhere and have even paused its search until 2022after pausing it twice before:

Remember that CalPERS former CIO, Ben Meng, resigned abruptly after we broke the story that he had apparently violated Californias strict financial conflict of interest law by holding shares in Blackstone when he also approved a $1 billion investment in a Blackstone fund.2

Leanna Orr, in her London-based newsletter The Allocator, lambastes CalPERS for having its most important post remain vacant for so long. Yet her meant-to-be embarrassing account actually spins some key issues in CalPERS favor, either via error or omission. In other words, the picture is even sorrier that Orr indicates. But she does say the bits she gets at in a lively manner:

It pains me to report that Americas largest asset owner couldnt net a decent CIO if one swam nudie in its $444bn pool. A decent CIO from the outside, that is. More than a year after CalPERS began looking for someone whod steward their coffers & endure ritual torture in exchange for millions of dollars, the board still hasnt found anyone. Which, good? Those of you who deserve the responsibility of running CalPERS are way too smart to take it. Seeking candidates fluent in:  Boardroom infighting

 Political scheming

 Fielding accusations of espionage, treason from dumb-dumb senators

 Overseeing minimum $50bn or $400bn, depending on the board member whos deciding your fate

 Top-notch performance, regardless of size and/or length of tenure

 Securing the golden years of a huge, deserving population, while dollar-store Ann Coulters try to make you & your members the enemy Forget Alaskan crabbing: CalPERS investment portfolio is the worlds most dangerous catch. Investing is full of professionals who are sufficiently brave, calculating, foolhardy, or optimistic enough to give most anything a shot. But theyve already gotten the credible hard sell, only to have the search cancelled while theyre in it for lack of decent candidates. CalPERS ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of adequacy is a marvel. More than a year ago, the board set off with the sectors best headhunter, $3m+ in bait, and the promise of unparalleled impact for the right investor. The groundwork was all there, and thats progress. The search ended with no CIO, 0 offers extended, -1 recruiter, & a peeved candidate pool. In March, CEO Marcie Frost called the attempt a failure & announced CIO Search 2.0: The Second Coming. Out with Korn Ferry vet Michael Kennedy; in with Dore Partnership? Does anyone know who these people are?.Dores website puts Asset Owners high on a short list of its specialties. Its funny though, that this long history with asset owners doesnt exist on the website before 2020. Of the three practice leaders, one is a PE specialist, ones the risk & analytics guy, & the third is founder Charles Dore himself  C-suite generalist. Is this second search real?

This is all good fun, but it would help if Orr had her facts right. Aside from the timetable of the searches, the credible surmise that the Dore Partnership search is a big headfake and CalPERS looks to be planning to hand the job to proven value-destroyer Dan Bienvenue, who lost CalPERS billions in 2017 with a bad emerging markets bet, Orr is wrong in nearly all her particularsand wrong in ways that let Marcie Frost off the hook.

First, Orr is mistaken in her most important claim: that CalPERS has not attracted top caliber candidates. We know of two CIOs of large to very large funds, each with strong investment records and experience working for a public pension fund, who applied to be CalPERS CIO. In other words, they both had the needed money management chops and were not under any illusions about what it means to work in a public pension fund fishbowl.

Bizarrely, both were rejected. We have more detail about what happened to one candidate. He was met with open hostility from the very outset of the board interview by one member of the search subcommittee. Insiders tell us that that board member is very attached to the idea of having a CIO who is not a white male.which is what both of these stellar candidates were.

Orr is thus simply wrong in her contention later in her missive that choosing a diversity box-ticking candidate has nothing to do with why the recruitment has failed. Shes also steered badly in relying of the views of other search professionals defending Michael Kennedy, the star headhunter, when these sources had zero direct contact with CalPERS and were merely spitballing. The outcome was not due to board infighting but due to the board subcommittee in fact imposing diversity criteria that were highly unlikely to have been in the formal spec.

Remember, It is almost certainly true that Marcie Frost and staff, who would hire the search firm and work with them to define the hiring criteria, would not want to constrain the process unduly. For them, checking diversity boxes would be a plus but not a must have. But its the board search subcommittee that is conducting the interviews. The intel weve received from independent sources is that one board member had a unbending preference a non-white-male CIO, over and beyond the formal recruitment mandate. And given how gung-ho the board is as a whole about ESG, its highly unlikely that anyone on the subcommittee would have opposed this board member.3

Second, Orr skips over the culpability of CalPERS management and board in this mess in letting Meng get out so far over his skis in the first place and then acting as if they could cover it up when they worked out in April 2020 that Meng had approved a $1 billion Blackstone commitment.

Third, Orrs list of bullet points is almost entirely wrong. CalPERS is too inert and too much a cult of Marcie Frost to be afflicted by infighting or scheming. To the extent there is board infighting, its slapping down the minority of one-at-a-time board members who want CalPERS to adhere to legislatively-mandated transparency and accountability standards. This hasnt gotten past the level of silly public bickering and has nearly always been resolved in favor of the hand the keys to the store over to staff faction, which favors a CIO operating with no oversight.

As for US senators hassling the former CIO Meng, thats because he had just worked for the Chinese government, a fact set highly unlikely to apply to any replacement. And being harassed by out of state Republicans in Democratic-owned California if anything garnered Meng sympathy and support where it mattered, in the California administration and legislature.

Orr might also bother boning up on how CalPERS works. Individual board members have nada to do with how the CIO operates. The boards only direct report is Marcie Frost, who is the CIOs boss. The board cannot fire the CIO and they arent even allowed to talk to him directly outside formal board meetings. Any queries from board members to staff members go through Board President Henry Jones to Marcie Frost, and she or other staff members may field the query. Delegated investment authority of the CIO (as in how much he can spend on any particular investment without going to the board for a rubber stamp) is a matter of formal board policy. It in no way, shape, or form is subject to individual board member influence.

The last bullet point, about Ann Coulter sniping is irrelevant in Dem-controlled California. The whinging from papers in conservative areas of the state, like the Orange County Register, are at best ankle biting.

Now that could all change if Gavin Newsom is turfed out and a Republican becomes governor. The governor directly appoints two of the 13 CalPERS board members and has some sway over who from CalHR and the State Personnel Board are chosen to serve. A revolution in Sacramento would most assuredly send shock waves even to the well-bunkered CalPERS. But theres nothing in the Orrs piece that suggests that she was considering this scenario as a deterrent to a CIO candidate.

Finally, Orr omits a far more important issue than CalPERS signaling loudly that it is an organization in crisis by not being able to land a new CIO: going rudderless is costing beneficiaries and California taxpayers big time. We pointed out that CalPERS fiscal year 20-21 returns were dead last of 34 public pension fund results reported recently in Pensions & Investments. Famed quant analyst Richard Ennis said via e-mail that this result was even more shoddy because CalPERS should have beaten most of its peers:

My forecast of the average FY 2021 return for June 30 public funds is in the vicinity of 28-30%. My forecast for CalPERS was several percentage points higher yet because of its particular characteristics. The return of 21.3% is one of the largest annual shortfalls I have seen. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

Read again what Ennis concluded: CalPERS returns should have been roughly 10% higher than they were, on the order of 30% to 33%, not the 21.3% CalPERS delivered.

Needless to say, this result is also an indictment of the interim CIO, Dan Bienvenue. At a minimum, he should have been attempting to unwind some of Mengs bad calls, like implementing factor investing in a way that reduced public equity returns. Theres no sign that Bienvenue thinks theres a problem, despite the appalling miss, let alone plans to do anything about it.

And here Orr is again remiss is calling the odds that Bienvenue will wind up CIO due to search failure as merely a back-door way to get a white straight male CIO, as opposed to also being a very bad outcome. Bienvenue not only does not have the experience to fill the post, but his investment record is poor. In fact, its a mystery why he hasnt been fired. He was responsible for a bad emerging markets bet in 2017 that cost the fund billions and all of the active funds he managed were shut down. But failure apparently isnt an obstacle to moving upwards at CalPERS, not matter how serious the risk.

_____

1 We have described them repeatedly over the years:

1. Cut back on private equity and lever portfolio wide if needed as private-equity-allergic German investors do to achieve desired total risk levels: 2. To considerably reduce return-wrecking private equity fees and costs, bring private equity investing in house 3. Pursue public markets replication of private equity strategies, which have consistently delivered returns better than median private equity returns.

2 Recall that CalPERS knew that Meng held Blackstone and Carlyle shares and a stake in an Ares credit fund as of his assumed office financial disclosure statement filed January 31, 2019. CalPERS knew then that Meng had a conflict problem because CalPERS regularly invested in Carlyle and Blackstone funds and was almost certain to invest in a new flagship fund, and possibly niche funds too. Yet no one told Meng to divest these positions or put them in a blind trust. In other words, the Meng fiasco was a self-inflicted wound.

3 Weve heard nary a peep of internal or board unhappiness the particular board member (whose name we have) who stymied the hiring of one superbly qualified CIO. That suggests that there may be other agendas at work. For instance, due to Meng having poor English skills, Marcie Frost regularly prattled on about investments, even though shes regularly stick her foot in her mouth. A competent CIO would field those questions, reducing Frosts time with the media. In other words, Frost has never had a standout CIO at her side and would clearly be upstaged by one. She is unlikely to welcome that.
Ratty comes home: water voles thrive again on Hertfordshire riverbank Guardian

How the Cuttlefishs Robust Memory System Defies Old Age Wired

Ten Observations on Lullabies The Honest Broker

5 Commonly Used Idioms in the Tech Industry gitconnected

Back from the wilderness Times Literary Supplement.

The Turning Point review  how Charles Dickens built Bleak House Guardian

Has an Old Soviet Mystery at Last Been Solved? New Yorker

Toddler girl, 1, survives three nights in thick forest with bears and wolves Daily Mirror

Intrepid brewer risks scalding to recreate recipe for long-lost medieval mead Ars Technica

A Famous Honesty Researcher Is Retracting A Study Over Fake Data Buzzfeed News

#COVID-19

The FDA Is Begging You Not to Take Horse Dewormer for Covid-19 Rolling Stone

As Delta Variant Surges, Faculty Urge Their Colleges to Change Course Chronicle of Higher Education

Notice only those serving are masked:

This appears to be a video of @SpeakerPelosi talking to donors at the @dccc retreat this weekend in Napa. pic.twitter.com/YsqRvM16ex

Syraqistan

Pentagon Orders Airlines to Help With Afghan Evacuees as U.S. Weighs New Exit Deadline WSJ

Afghanistan: Tony Blair says withdrawal was driven by imbecilic slogan BBC

Nosedive in UK-US relations is another casualty of Afghanistans fall Guardian

Britain to push for sanctions on Taliban at G7 meeting -sources Reuters

The US and UK got things so wrong in Afghanistan because they do not understand the Afghan way of war Independent. Patrick Cockburn.

The Taliban may pretend to show moderation  but the murderous reality is far different Independent. Patrick Cockburn.

The Talebans rise to power: As the US prepared for peace, the Taleban prepared for war Afghanistan Analysts Network (David). Hoisted from comments.

The Taliban plans to ban drugs in Afghanistan. That could change the world for the worse Independent

U.S. Banks and Money-Transfer Firms Tread Carefully in Taliban-Controlled Afghanistan WSJ

WE MUST LEARN FROM OUR DEFEAT The Scholars Stage

Taliban fighters dressed as US troops to mock America in propaganda videos NY Post (The Rev Kev). Hoisted from comments.

Taliban photo appears to mock Iwo Jima flag raising in latest propaganda push Marine Corps Times

Ear to the Ground Sarah Chayes (Stillfeelinthebern). Hoisted from comments.

How Afghanistans National Museum Survived the First Week of the Talibans Return to Kabul The Wire

Afghan takeover reminds Europe: It has no unified refugee plan Politico
By Jerri-Lynn Scofield, who has worked as a securities lawyer and a derivatives trader. She is currently writing a book about textile artisans.

Its been a while since Ive posted about fashion  an industry that creates excess waste, thereby contributing to global warming and which is also notorious for exploiting its workforce, especially so for the fast fashion side.

One immediate consequence of the pandemic has been a drop in consumer spending on fashion, which caused production and profits to plummet throughout the textile and apparel industry. With many people working from home, discretionary purchases of clothing to wear to the office was not a priority, especially in the face of such an uncertain future. At this point, no one can say whether this short-term trend is temporary or permanent. The appetite of younger people for fast fashion seemingly remains unabated, but their custom alone cannot sustain the industry.

This recent Water Waste International report, How fair is fashions water footprint?, caught ny eye. The report tracks the global fashion industrys destructive impacts on Africas water supplies and on workforce health.

Many well-known brands source textiles in Africa, including Adidas, Calvin Klein, H & M, Izod, Levis, M & S, Reebok, and Tommy Hilfiger.

According to the report:

Pre- pandemic, Africas fashion exports generated revenue of US$ 4.6 billion a year, a figure which exceeds the annual flow of aid into Africa from any European donor. Africa now has an important toehold in the global fashion industry that in 2019 was worth US$ 2.5 trillion and employed 75 million people.

Yet when one looks at the impact this textile production has on Africas water supplies, the situation is depressing. I imagine one reason producers have gravitated to Africa is because countries have lax environmental standards  which means textiles can be produced at a lower cost:

Although pockets of good practice exist, our research shows that production of clothing, including for high street brands in Europe, the UK and the USA is killing Africas rivers through polluting discharges of untreated industrial wastewater. We find that the sector competes with communities and nature for access to scarce water, and that in some cases, factory needs are prioritised over the human right to water. We also find that factory workers, around 80% of whom are women, often lack access to safe water, washing facilities and toilets, and that this undermines their dignity, wellbeing and health, including through exposure to Covid-19 transmission. Notably, a lack of access to clean water and toilets in the workplace is a widely recognised indicator of modern slavery.

The report is short and is well worth a read. Although much of the evidence presented is anecdotal, the reports analysis rings true to me. Ive visited many textile producers, mainly in India and Indonesia, as Ive researched my book on Indian textiles and I know from my first-hand experience how thirsty textile production is  even the artisanal variety that Ive focused on.

From the report:

Reliable water quality monitoring data is not widely available, but we find credible evidence in all countries of non-compliance with pollution control law bytextile and apparel manufacturers and impacts on human health and nature as a result of untreated wastewater discharges. The textile industry produces potentially toxic metals, dyes, bleaching agents, and other pollutants with cardiovascular, respiratory, carcinogenic, and neurotoxic impacts on human health. Without proper treatment, wastewater discharges render rivers lifeless and unfit for use. Whilst some businesses are taking a responsible approach to wastewater treatment, our case studies also show how untreated effluent from textiles manufacture has contaminated the water needed by many thousands of vulnerable people for domestic use and food production, and how downstream businesses have been forced to close as a result. Like many such reports, this one is long on discussing the problems inherent in textile production, but when it moves to solutions, falls a bit short as It places the onus for fixing things\mainly on the industry thats created the problem in the first place, including producers, retailers, and investors, although to be sure, mention is also made of the role consumers and governments in both producing and consuming countries might also play.

The report notes:

Multi-national companies and the investors behind them have phenomenal power to shape how water is used, and they respond to market forces, consumer demand, stakeholder, and shareholder pressure.

This statement is certainly true, but will these companies and investors use that power to force change? I dont think so  at least not at the moment. These entities profit handsomely from the current situation.

To elaborate on what Water Waste International thinks must be done:

Our analysis shows that everyone has a role to play in ensuring that global fashion, and the cotton, textile and apparel production behind it, has a fair water footprint  so that the sectors socio-economic benefits in Africa and elsewhere do not come at the cost of polluted rivers or the denial of human rights to workers and communities. In the following table we set outwhat producers and suppliers, brands, retailers, buyers, investors, governments in producer and consumer countries, the media, citizens and consumers can do. Water Witness and our trusted partners stand ready to help all these stakeholders to learn from our findings, and to collaborate to forge the fairer water footprints, and the fairer water future we all need.

As for specifics:

To avoid perpetual and catastrophic water crises we must ensure that our water footprint is based on sustainable and equitable water use. The production of everything we consume  must be based on good water stewardship, which means: taking water from rivers, lakes and aquifers in step with natural replenishment to avoid resource depletion. pollution control and treating chemicals, sewage and industrial wastewater properly to avoid resource degradation. looking after water ecosystems and preparing for floods and drought. realizing the human right to water, so that everyone has access to clean water, toilets and handwashing facilities.

Most of us now take access to free-flowing unlimited supplies of potable water for granted  an assumption that will soon change. In fact, the day of reckoning has already arrived in he western U.S., where drought has stressed water supplies. So reports such as these, which spotlight how were fouling our waters are important  as a starting point for showing what must now change.
By Jerri-Lynn Scofield, who has worked as a securities lawyer and a derivatives trader. She is currently writing a book about textile artisans.

With all thats been happening in the world, I missed that the UK enacted new right to repair rules, effective for products purchased from 1 July onwards.

This is part of a broader trend. In March, the European Union implemented similar rules (see Waste Watch: Europeans Get Right to Repair for Some Consumer Electrical Goods, While John Deere Reneges on Promise to U.S. Farmers to Make Diagnostic Software Freely Available). In July, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, under the leadership of new chair Lina Khan, voted 5-0 to adopt a new enforcement policy regarding right to repair restrictions (see, FTC Votes 5-0 to Crack Down on Companies For Thwarting Right to Repair).

According to the BBC, Right to repair rules will extend lifespan of products, government says:

Manufacturers are now legally required to make spare parts available to people buying electrical appliances. The aim of the new rules is to extend the lifespan of products by up to 10 years and benefit the environment. . The right to repair rules are designed to tackle built-in obsolescence where manufacturers deliberately build appliances to break down after a certain period to encourage consumers to buy new ones. The new rules apply to products bought from Thursday, but manufacturers have a grace period of up to two years to make spare parts available.

Yesterdays Guardian notes in Back for good: the fine art of repairing broken things:

When Aldous Huxley wrote Brave New World in 1932, he portrayed a society in which the importance of discarding old clothes was whispered into the ears of sleeping children (Ending is better than mending. The more stitches, the less riches)  so vital was the imperative to drive consumption of the new. He set his novel 600 years into the future, but later suggested that its horror may be upon us within a single century. He wasnt far off.

We can no longer bear the environmental costs of such untrammelled consumption, both on the front end, when production of unnecessary goods exacerbates global warming  nor on the back end, when somewhere must be found to dump the discards.

According to the Guardian:

Product life spans are getting shorter  one UK-based fashion company advises buyers to work to quality standards that assume a dress will stay in its owners wardrobe for less than five weeks. And its not just clothes: household appliances can be cheaper to replace than repair, with spare parts often available only if harvested from retired machines. Something as simple as a depleted battery frequently spells the end for todays hermetically sealed electronic devices, and even attempting a repair can render warranties invalid.

As the FTC considers what policies to pursue regarding the right to repair, one element of the new UK rules worth borrowing is the requirement to make spare parts available for a products extended lifespan. Per the Guardian:

But a new law  the right to repair bill  has just come into force, aiming to end the built to break cycle by requiring that manufactures make spare parts and maintenance information available for their products. The intention is to overcome built-in obsolescence, enable repairs and extend lifespans. The government now expects white goods to last for up to a decade, rather than the seven-year average reported by the Whitegoods Trade Association.

According to the BBC:

Many consumers have complained that goods dont last long enough, then cant be fixed in the home. Adam French from consumer group Which? said that electrical items end up in landfill too often because they are either too costly or difficult to fix. The rules should ensure products last longer and help reduce electrical waste, he said. Only parts for simple and safe repairs will be available directly to consumers, including door hinges on your washing machine or replacement baskets and trays for your fridge-freezers, he said. Other parts that involve more difficult repairs will only be available to professional repairers, such as the motor or heating element in your washing machine, he said.

Im not particularly bothered by restricting direct supply of certain parts to professional repairers only, as Im leery of undertaking any electrical repairs myself. I guess I might think differently if I had some basic competence in fixing things. The key consideration is that parts are available to third party repair services. Some companies, such as Apple, have sought to limit the availability of spare parts and this is one practice Khans FTC will undoubtedly be assessing. And I point out that in a recent post, In included a video in which Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak discussed the open source environment and thriving repair culture that once prevailed in the U.S. not all that long ago for radios and TVs (see Steve Wozniak Endorses the Right to Repair). So theres recent U.S. history when the default was to fix something, rather than throw it away and replace the device with another.

In May, my fridge went on the fritz and needed a new thermostat. We bought the fridge  a Frigidaire model in 2005 or 2006, when we had out kitchen renovated. The company also sold the same machines, badged as Kenmore  the Sears house brand  while Sears was still in business. IIRC, the fridge cost $600 or so and has no freezer, but we paired it with a matching standalone freezer of the same size as the fridge. That also cost $600. So not particularly cheap, by any means. The fridge is pretty basic, just a box for keeping things cold. It doesnt have a water dispenser, and I chose a freezer without an optional ice maker. There are no buttons and the thermostat is a rotating dial. To me, having separate appliances is an advantage  if one appliance breaks, one can replace that one only. Alas, Frigidaire no longer sells the fridge separately from the freezer and has hiked the price: a new combo would cost $6,000. An insane amount to pay for a fridge and freezer. Absolutely insane. Needless to say, its an amount I wouldnt dream of paying. Also, even if the fridge needed to be replaced, the freezer didnt.

So I was relieved that a replacement thermostat was still available for my fridge. The company still markets the particular model I have, so theres no reason they shouldnt sell me  via the their-party repair service  the spare part. The price of the spare part (including installation) was steep: $350. When I read about the crapification of household appliances, I guess I should consider myself lucky: this is the first problem Ive had with either appliance and weve now used them for more than 15 years  which is more than twice the seven-year average for the lifespan of UK white goods reported in the Guardian article above.

These new UK rules are a start, but some flaws are obvious. First, the UK rules apply to a limited range of electrical appliances. Per the Guardian:

But campaigners, such as the co-founder of the Restart Project, Janet Gunter, argue that the measures dont go far enough. This has been widely reported as problem solved, but the rules only apply to lighting, washing machines, dishwashers and fridges  and they only give spare parts and repair documentation to professionals, she says. We want to see ecodesign legislation applied to other hard-to-repair tech products and offer the right to repair to everyone.

Another appliance issue has arisen for me this summer: sourcing a replacement part for an electric ice cream maker. The plastic cylinder that secures the top of the dasher so it can rotate went missing. Its about an inch or so long and no more than a half-inch across. Its an easy part to misplace as its supposed to be removed for cleaning. I cant believe Im the only owner of such a machine who needs to replace this particular part and in fact, this has happened to me before. That other time, we found the missing cylinder in the bottom of a container into which Id decanted the ice cream. Thus far, Ive had no luck finding a source for a replacement part, even though the ice cream maker is no more than four years old and the manufacturer still sells a similar model. That I know, because I liked mine so much I bought another as a Christmas gift for my sister in December  and in fact used it when I visited family in North Carolina in April and ended up demonstrating how to make gelato.

So I agree with Gunter that parts should be available for a broader range of household appliances  certainly at least as long as the company still sells a similar model. Now there are limits of course. I tend to hang onto things and dont replace items for no good reason. I still have my old ice cream maker, a hand cranked machine that we received as a wedding present 35 years ago. In order to make ice cream, one places its insulated container into the freezer overnight. The next day, one adds ingredients, and hand cranks until the ice cream reaches the desired consistency. It makes great fruit sorbets, but the electrical machine yields far better results for anything more elaborate. Even I understand that seeking a replacement part for a 35-year item would be a bit of an ask.

In other respects, there may be less to the new UK rules than meets the eye. Per the BBC:

Environmental expert Libby Peake, head of resource policy at Green Alliance, said that the new regulations represent a small, first step towards giving people the long-lasting repairable products they want. The government hasnt given consumers any such right, as the spare parts and repairability criteria are only directed at professional repairers, not at the people who own products, she said. There is also no guarantee that spare parts and repair services will be affordable, so considerable barriers remain to making this the easiest, default option, she added.

The issues the UK is confronting are ones the FTC should also consider. I dont know how far the FTC can get in enacting right to repair provisions using existing statutory authority. Some proposals might require separate, standalone legislation to achieve. But making it possible for consumers to extend the lifespan of electrical devices and household appliances should be politically popular. Doing so saves consumers money, reduces the environmental impact of unnecessary production, and cuts down on the waste that gets dumped in landfills. These are common concerns for many consumers worldwide.
(Natural News) This past week, we posted three information-packed interviews with thought leaders on the subject of vaccines, neurological damage and international tribunals against the vaccine war crimes perpetrators.

First, if you missed it, I spoke with attorney Reiner Fuellmich about the his groups investigations into violations of international law when it comes to vaccine coercion and the carrying out of medical experiments on the population. Fuellmich told me he believes the tide is turning and those responsible for vaccine coercion and deaths will be exposed and held responsible for their actions through a world court proceeding, much like the Nuremburg trials. His website is Corona-Ausschuss.de

Watch that interview here, via Brighteon.com:

Brighteon.com/8e82dfca-5401-41f1-be3f-a2a07ded38f7

I also conducted a new interview with Dr. Lee Merritt, who has publicly warned that this covid vaccine push is clearly a depopulation experiment being carried out against humanity. In this interview, she also warns that mass vaccination of military personnel could lead to catastrophic injuries and deaths that could strongly compromise Americas military readiness and national defense efforts. (Shes a former US Navy spinal surgeon.) Her website is TheMedicalRebel.com

Note that the FDA is rumored to be granting full approval to the Pfizer covid shot tomorrow, and that Pentagon leaders have promised to require total vaccine compliance among all active duty soldiers once the vaccine is approved. This likely means a kind of civil war inside the military is about to be ignited, as more than half the soldiers outright refuse to be injected with spike protein bioweapons cooked up in a lab in China.

Brighteon.com/eb1b58c0-d62f-4229-9098-5fd861118053

This last week, I also interviewed Dr. Chris Shaw, an expert in neurology, vaccines and the effects of toxic elements (especially as they relate to autism). Dr. Shaw offered an urgent warning about the neurological damage likely being caused by spike protein injections which are labeled vaccines.

According to Dr. Shaw, the worlds health care infrastructure may be overwhelmed in the near future by people suffering both cardiovascular and neurological damage from the spike protein found in vaccines. This could have devastating consequences for health care services which are already in a state of crisis due to nurses and doctors leaving hospitals and clinics in protest against draconian vaccine mandates.

Brighteon.com/df5d1404-47a6-4803-b1d3-d4f1fe409372

Permission is granted to re-post these interviews on other platforms and channels.

I have more interviews and podcasts coming up this week at the HR Report channel on Brighteon:

https://www.brighteon.com/channels/hrreport
(Natural News) New South Wales, Australias most populous state, recently reported 478 new cases of COVID-19 and 7 deaths in a 24-hour period despite an ongoing hard lockdown.

There were also 19 reports of new cases in Canberra, which imposed its first lockdown in more than a year last week. The lockdown has already been extended by two weeks as paranoia regarding the delta variant continues.

Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews asserted that authorities will not hesitate to go door-to-door to help carry out mandatory coronavirus (COVID-19) tests. He also doubled down on his commitment to pursue a Zero COVID policy, which requires economy-crushing lockdowns in response to a handful of new cases.

Andrews also indicated that those who refuse to take the vaccine could be forced to submit to lockdown rules indefinitely. One Australian claimed he was involuntarily taken to a mental institution for having a different opinion about the current situation and reportedly for refusing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The patient was told that he had suffered a nervous breakdown.

This is a difficult conversation to have with people now, in an almost threatening tone, when people who want to get vaccinated cant because we dont have enough stuff. There will come a time though when I think restrictions will apply to those who have not been vaccinated, rather than restrictions applying to all of us, he said.

Australias draconian policies are proven ineffective

Sydney, Australias largest city by population, was the first to enter lockdown seven weeks ago but with little to no success in mitigating the spread of the disease. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said that this has been so far the worst situation in the state since day one of the pandemic.

As the situation continues to escalate, it is becoming more unlikely that Sydney will end its nine-week lockdown on August 28 as originally planned. Authorities, however, had been talking about easing some restrictions if people get vaccinated or if the number of cases falls.

Hundreds of military personnel will be deployed to help enforce lockdowns as the outbreak spreads.

The state of Victoria, which includes Melbourne, also tightened its lockdown restrictions and imposed curfews. The Northern territory went into a 72-hour lockdown after the discovery of a single asymptomatic infection. (Related: Australia to send more troops to Sydney following a single COVID-19 case.)

There are no changes regarding the four essential reasons when people are allowed to leave the home. These essential reasons include shopping for food or other essential goods and services. However, individuals must shop within 5 kilometers of home in greater Sydney.

Those in need of medical care of compassionate needs can also leave home, including those who want to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Exercising outdoors is also allowed, provided that it is in groups of two and no further than the 5-kilometer imposed area. Essential workers and students can also leave home if they cannot work or study from home.

New South Wales increases fines for people breaching restrictions

Theres an ever-growing weariness as to how the Australian government is managing the COVID-19 outbreak. Those who remain locked down say that the confined quarters are leading to mental health and anxiety problems. The daily news of expanding case numbers, canceled plans and bypassed opportunities are taking their toll.

The NSW government also increased fines for people found breaching restrictions. Beginning Monday, August 16, on-the-spot penalties include A$5,000 ($3,583) for breaching self-isolation rules; A$5,000 ($3,583) for lying on a permit, which is a criminal offense; A$5,000 ($3,583) for lying to a contact tracer, also already a criminal offense; A$3,000 ($2,164) for breaching the two-person outdoor exercise/recreation rule; and $3,000 ($2,164) for breaching rules around entry into regional NSW.

Get more COVID-19 related updates at Pandemic.news.

Sources include:

SHTFPlan.com

ABC.net.au

TheGuardian.com
(Natural News) Whoever is in charge of Joe Bidens White House should be brought up on charges for the way in which they ordered U.S. military and diplomatic forces out of Afghanistan last week.

Because whoever it was is stupid or incompetent  either is just as bad.

As American military choppers shuttled diplomats out of the U.S. embassy and to Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, U.S. military forces were drawing down as well, but someone forgot to factor in how to get thousands of Americans trapped in the city past Taliban-established cordons.

As of this writing, most of those Americans are still trapped, and the Biden regime cant even guarantee that it can get all Americans out ahead of the August 31 deadline.

This means, of course, that were looking at a potential hostage situation, and all of that would be on Joe Biden. And he appears to be relying on the Taliban  a terrorist organization  to do the right thing.

Look, the Taliban has to make a fundamental decision. Is the Taliban going to attempt to be able to unite and provide for the well-being of the people of Afghanistan, which no group has ever done, since hundreds of years? he said during an address on Sunday.

Fox News continued:

The U.S. evacuated approximately 11,000 people out of Kabul in less than 36 hours, the president said. In total, American forces have evacuated 33,000 persons since July, he added.

Our first priority in Kabul is getting American citizens out of the country as quickly and as safely as possible, Biden said. He noted that American troops are contacting U.S. citizens in the country by phone, by email, and by others means to ascertain whether or not they intend to flee before the August 31 deadline.

Any American who wants to get home will get home, Biden pledged.

But will they? Even members of his own party dont think so.

I am bewildered and frustrated and, privately talking to a lot of House Democrats, they feel the same thing, one House member who spoke on condition of anonymity told The Hill, regarding the disastrous way Biden pulled out of Afghanistan in the first place  without getting Americans and Afghan allies out first.

The scenes are just brutal and there is no excuse for just how badly State or the Defense Department or both completely bungled the evacuations and getting folks out. Someone was really asleep at the switch, the lawmaker said.

I do want to know who was responsible. Where was the ball dropped? Because that person needs to be held accountable. At least one person, or a group of people, screwed up so bad that its fireable, the Democratic lawmaker added.

Other Democrats publicly lent their voices to being angered and frustrated by what transpired, including Rep. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, who called the situation a disaster in a press release.

To say that today is anything short of a disaster would be dishonest. Worse, it was avoidable, he said.

The time to debate whether we stay in Afghanistan has passed, but there is still time to debate how we manage our retreat, Moulton continued.

For months, I have been calling on the Administration to evacuate our allies immediatelynot to wait for paperwork, for shaky agreements with third countries, or for time to make it look more orderly, he said last week.

While I am proud that a strong, bipartisan majority in Congress voted to expand the Special Immigrant Visa program in support of our Afghan friends, my worst fear has been realized: That ultimately this effort would distract from what is truly needed, an immediate evacuation, he continued.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman and Democrat New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez also expressed his angst but tried to pin some of the blame on former President Trump, whos been out of office now going on seven months.

The wholly inadequate agreement the Trump administration made with the Taliban did not get commitments for the Taliban to break ties with Al Qaeda, nor did it account for the day after our withdrawal, he said.

In implementing this flawed plan, I am disappointed that the Biden administration clearly did not accurately assess the implications of a rapid U.S. withdrawal. We are now witnessing the horrifying results of many years of policy and intelligence failures, Menendez added.

Sources include:

USAFeatures.news

FoxNews.com

TheHill.com

Terrorism.news
(Natural News) French Nobel Prize winner Luc Montagnier recently warned that the proliferation of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines actually help facilitate the development of deadlier variants of the coronavirus.

Montagnier, 89, won the 2008 Nobel Prize in Medicine for discovering the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV. He recently discussed the issue of vaccine-borne COVID-19 variants with French journalist and director Pierre Barnerias of Hold-Up Media.

During the interview, Montagnier explained that the COVID-19 vaccines do not stop the virus. In fact, he argued the opposite. He believes they feed the virus and help it to develop variants that are more transmissible and more resistant to medications. (Related: SHOCKER: The COVID-19 vaccine itself is creating more VIRULENT variants that may decimate the vaccinated sheeple.)

Montagnier warned that these virus variants will cause even more severe health complications than the original COVID-19 strain or any of its previous variants.

The Nobel laureate then went on to talk about how mass vaccinations are an unacceptable mistake and are a scientific error as well as a medical error. Montagnier said history will prove his assertion correct because it is the vaccination that is creating the variants.

Montagnier explained that the COVID-19 vaccines create antibodies against the virus. This, in turn, forces the virus to find another solution to continue spreading within a persons body. This is how the coronavirus variants are created.

It is the variants that are a production and result from the vaccination, he said.

You see it in each country, its the same, added Montagnier. The curve of vaccination is followed by the curve of deaths. Im following this closely and I am doing experiments  with patients who became sick with corona after being vaccinated.

Emergence of new post-vaccine variants prove Montagniers theory correct

At least two new COVID-19 variants have entered the United States. Medical researchers now believe these two post-vaccine variants could be worse than the already more transmissible delta variant.

One of the newest variants is the lambda variant. There are already around 1,500 known COVID-19 cases with the post-vaccine lambda variant.

Dr. Gregory Poland, director of the Vaccine Research Group at the Mayo Clinic, explained that the lambda variant is more dangerous because it is highly infectious and easily transmissible.

Studies also suggest that the lambda variant may be able to render inert the natural immunity of people who experienced COVID-19 infections by neutralizing their COVID-19 antibodies.

Poland pointed out that the lambda variant is now responsible for nearly 90 percent of all COVID-19 cases in Peru and has really started to spread through South America.

The other variant of concern is so new that it still does not have a Greek letter assigned to it: the B.1.621 variant. It was discovered earlier this year in Colombia.

It recently caused an outbreak in a nursing home in Belgium and killed seven people that were fully vaccinated, said Poland. He is particularly concerned about B.1.621 because it now represents around one percent of all cases in the U.S. and nine percent of all COVID-19 cases in Miami, Florida.

Current studies into B.1.621 show that it has similar mutations to the beta variant. This concerns health experts because they believe the new variant could have similar immune escape properties.

But this variant is still too new. Its trajectory will depend on how far fully vaccinated individuals can transmit it and how often it can mutate as it passes through people. Still, its immune escape properties could also contribute to future changes.

Learn more about how the COVID-19 vaccines facilitate the development of new and deadlier coronavirus variants by reading the latest articles at Vaccines.news.

Sources include:

HumansAreFree.com

WFLA.com

News.Yahoo.com

MedPageToday.com
(Natural News) We first want to thank everybody who has sent in photographs of empty store shelves as seen within this story. Susan Duclos will be doing a follow-up to this story this coming week as well, so if while youre out and about doing your shopping and you run into empty store shelves in your own areas, please send them over to ANP at [email protected] and well feature them in that story.

(Article by Stefan Stanford republished from AllNewsPipeline.com)

We also wanted to thank everybody who has faithfully and lawfully served in the US Military and Law Enforcement all across this great nation, with many sacrificing their lives to defend America and defending others all across the planet. As were witnessing in Afghanistan now with the fall and the slaughter of the innocent as a tyrannical regime advances, while many Democrats want to dismantle law enforcement and speak ill of the Military, this classic quote by Michael Marks has never been so true.:

And maybe just remind the few, if ill of us they speak, that we are all that stands between the Monsters And The Weak. Michael Marks

I was once asked by a beloved family member, who is also a staunch Liberal, why I was anti government. Im not anti government at all I remember telling her, Im simply anti CORRUPT government; CORRUPT government is like a wife beater, or a child abuser, or any criminal I remember telling her then, and would NEVER, ever just admit to their abusive, tyrannical, criminal behavior. A typical ploy of abusers everywhere, blaming their own abusive behavior upon their victims (think Cuomo!), welcome to 2021 America.

According to this Friday story over at the Daily Mail, the Biden administration has considered mandating the vax for interstate travel as part of tougher measures to get more shots in arms. Though as the top voted comment on that story pointed out: Papers needed to cross state lines but not needed to cross southern border or to vote. This only makes sense to democrats.

A potential nightmare in the making, along with absolute proof to America that the globalists sinister repopulation agenda is very real, as the #2 voted comment on that story pointed out: Just when you think Democrats cannot get any scarier or more totalitarianthere they are doing just that on a DAILY BASIS! The totalitarianism of this NEW LEFT is incredibly disturbing!

And with another top-voted comment on that story asking, and warning: And, how in the world could he accomplish that? You are free to drive from state to state. What are you going to do, put border walls around each state? They wouldnt even do a border wall between us and another country, can you imagine simply driving to your neighboring state a few miles away and being told: Papers needed for entry!?

With another very astute commenter on that story pointing out, Lets see, if all the truck drivers who refuse the vaccine were to be forced to quit driving from state to state? America would have a real crisis with food delivery!, notice that all of this, and the total collapse of Afghanistan on Bidens watch, is happening when Congress is out of session and Biden is on vacation, as if they collectively said: Lets get the h out of dodge, and the mess weve created, and watch America and the world burn.

And can you imagine an America where food is no longer brought across state lines because of Nazi-style papers please demands being made on interstate highways at US state borders? With any such laws sure to starve out the big US cities first, where 10s of millions of Americans would be fighting against each other for what little morsels of food are remaining, lets take a look at this story over at Valley Food Storage titled How Much Food Does A Grocery Store Really Hold? before we continue.

In 2013, according to World Bank president Robert Zoellick, for the first time in living memory our world is one poor harvest away from chaos.

What would that chaos look like?

Well at the end of World War II, Eastern Europe had front row tickets to a famine of biblical proportions. Starting in 1941, up to 1,000 citizens starved to death every day for three years.

Bodies were discarded in the street and reports of cannibalism became a problem less than 12 months into the ordeal. Survivors ate anything they could get their hands on, such as birds, rats, and family pets. However, all those animals soon became hard to find.

This led to gangs being formed that attacked and ate people. It became such a problem that the police force created an anti-cannibal task force. The food crisis is an immediate threat to humanity.

Each city and each grocery store rely on a fleet of trucks to show up each night with the products to keep their shelves stocked. However, in the event of a fuel crisis, we are looking at cities of 10 to 20 million people starving.

Our major cities are unprepared for their food supply to be cut off. There are no cities in particular that are more at risk, but they are all equally comparable in their waste of resources. Half the food and water supplies are thrown away or wasted.

American citizens are vastly unprepared for events that can happen in a matter of days. Catastrophic events can occur overnight cutting off oil supplies and other necessary consumer products.

How Long Until Grocery Store Start To Go Bare?

Whenever we witness a city get hit by a monstrous storm, we also see the citizens in that area race to their local stores to stock up for the worst case scenario. Roads get blocked, which means that maybe trucks will arrive and maybe they wont.

When the trucks stop, the restocking stops, and a grocery stores supply can dwindle significantly within hours when a population panics. Lets reiterate this fact food will be scarce within hours. Not weeks, not days hours!

Grocery stores generally run on a 3-day inventory. Think of it this way, when you go to the store you pick up things that you currently need, not what you might need months down the road. Stores run on this theory as well. They do not have a massive stock pile of food in the back just in case, they keep their inventory to a 3-day supply.

With globalist governments now moving in lockstep with each other in moves towards their unveiling of tyranny across the planet as they push their great reset and a new world order upon still largely unsuspecting populations, Americans can learn much about what they have planned for our futures by looking at whats happening elsewhere in Western nations across the planet.

While wed reported previously that the Australian military was brought in to enforce tyrannical lockdowns for the Covid bioweapon unleashed upon the world, were going to go ahead and republish a report from Richard Citizen Journalists Telegram page titled A Warning From France in its entirety.

YOU NEED TO READ THIS TO PREPARE FOR WHATS COMING  From France  UPDATE:

Here in France it has gone to the extreme with the Health Pass. ALL restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and any leisure activities like sporting events, theaters, cinemas, museums, were closed to anyone without the pass and all staff at these places are mandated to get the jab to keep their job. It is now a 6-Month prison sentence if you are caught inside any of these places without the pass (the man who slapped the president in the face got only 3 months prison time).

Business owners will get a fine of 45,000 euros and 1 year prison sentence if they do not comply with the use of the pass and force all their employees to get the jab. (If you know France, you can commit murder and have less of a sentence) So the result? All the low paid employees quit, they can make more on welfare here. (for now) We can still technically get take out food but I just tried last night and every restaurant in our town (that is dine in with take out) has closed their doors due to the lack of staff.

As of last week ALL doctors, nurses and health industry workers have been mandated to get the jab or lose their license, practice, job, business etc. (ALL health care here is Govt paid positions and there are no private health care Doctors or Hospitals etc.) Since the Health care system is state run and funded, it has been run into the ground. All the good doctors left France 5 Years ago, all the hospitals look like they are 3rd world hospitals since there is no money to repair them, half of the equipment doesnt work and not every hospital is stocked with supplies needed for daily needs (masks, gels, disposable gowns etc). For 5 years Nurses have been understaffed and doing double the work because the Health care system is nearly bankrupt. So add to this the mandatory jab. So the result? Well they took to the streets by the millions and now all the hospitals just lost another 50% of staff capacity. My doctor just went into early retirement (a.k.a. he quit) and I have yet to find a replacement.

As of Aug 1st ALL large malls, retail stores and grocery store owners and their staff need to be jabbed and the health pass is required to enter for employees and customers. This would be the equivalent to closing ALL Targets, Walmarts, Costcos, Home Depots, and all major grocery stores. (basically any building over 20,000 squre meters) to those without the pass. Result??

Aug 15th Truckers will be (ANP: allegedly) going on strike nation wide; Blocking all access roads in and out of Paris. An entire airport in Northern France closed due to the majority of staff quitting. As of Sept 15th All public areas and access will be off limits. No farmers markets, no parks, no national parks, lakes, rivers, beaches, recreation areas, campsites etc. and no gathering over 100 people, no churches, no weddings, etc.

As of Oct 1st, ALL small vendors such as, delis, pizza trucks, sandwich shops, butchers, bakers, vegetable stands etc. So as of Oct 1st I will only be able to purchase food by internet and pick up (if allowed). Food shortages, Truckers strike, hospitals and airports shutting down unemployment going through the roof. Its going to be a bumpy ride folks. Is it me or does all this seem a bit extreme for a pass that isnt exactly working?

America, Canada, England, Australia, New Zealand, youd better wake up.

A few side questions: With covid shutting down America allowing massive numbers of totally unverifiable mail-in votes, should we think that theyll even allow the unvaxxed to even vote in 2022 and 2024 when theyre already moving at breakneck speed attempting to turn those who dont trust an experimental injection into 2nd class citizens? And why in the world would Democrats and the Biden administration FEAR election audits if they won fair and square? That fact alone speaks volumes in 2021!

We know that no one ever seizes power with the intention of relinquishing it. Power is not a means; it is an end. George Orwell, 1984

So while we here at ANP will continue working towards and praying for peace and a return to sanity for an America and world that have gone mad under Joe Biden and Democrats thumb, the fact that delusional Los Angeles officials are now pushing for a new rule to STARVE OUT the Unvaccinated by denying them access to retail grocery stores hints of huge problems ahead.

Because with 10s of millions of Black Americans across the country roundly rejecting the vax, and with numerous black New Yorkers now warning theyre experimenting on us, check this out! According to a new study, the MOST likely group of people to reject the vax are the MOST EDUCATED people across America with that study finding those with PhDs are the least likely to get jabbed. No wonder so many Democrats are so blindly taking it!

In the final section of this story below, were going to go ahead and take a look at getting ourselves fully prepared for whats ahead at a time when food supply chains are already on the edge of failing according to the meat industry in the UK; rising prices and food shortages have put both consumers and retailers on edge; wheat supplies are shrinking (very bad news for bread prices); grocery store food prices continue to spike with no end in sight; even farmers themselves are preparing for food shortages; more fast-food restaurants are warning of shortages ahead; pet food shortages are continuing and scamdemic-related food shortages are even taking a toll upon school food services.

So can you imagine what America might look like should they fully institute such draconian rules as mandatory vaxxes for the truckers to travel across state lines to deliver food! What were witnessing now would be multiplied by 10,000 nearly overnight. So while most preppers have already gotten prepared, well argue that its time to double down on food. And if America goes the way of France, food delivered to our homes might be one of the only ways some unvaxxed people can get it. Some products available now and often as quickly as a delivery within days include.:

Breads:



Eatsane Nuts and Seeds Bread Loaf  Keto Friendly, Plant Based Protein, Vegan, Low Carb Bread (Trial Pack, 3 Count (Pack of 3))

Wise Company Long Term Emergency Freeze-Dried Food Supply, Breakfast and Entree Variety

MRE Meals  124-Serving Freeze Dried Emergency Food Supply

Long Term Dehydrated Food Storage  120 Large Entree Servings  29 Lbs- Disaster Prepper Freeze Dried Supply Kit

Wise Company ReadyWise, Emergency Food Supply, Emergency Freeze Dried Fruit Bucket, 120 Servings

Wise Company Emergency Food Supply, Freeze Dried Meat Variety, 15-Year Shelf Life, 60 Servings

Wise Company Emergency Food Supply, Variety Pack, 25-Year Shelf Life, 104 Servings

Wise Company ReadyWise, Emergency Food Supply, Freeze Dried Vegetables, 120 Servings

Mountain House Classic Bucket | Freeze Dried Backpacking & Camping Food | 24 Servings

Mountain House Diced Beef #10 Can Freeze Dried Food  6 Cans Per Case

Mountain House Cooked Diced Chicken #10 Can

Augason Farms Lunch and Dinner Variety Pail Emergency Food Supply 4-Gallon Pail

Augason Farms Breakfast Emergency Food Supply 11 lbs 1.8 oz 4 Gallon Pail



Other Foods we eat regularly

PB2 Original Powdered Peanut Butter  [2 Lb/32oz Jar]

Augason Farms Vegetable Stew Blend 2 lbs 0.5 oz No. 10 Can

Its Just  Whole Egg Protein Powder, Made in USA, Non-GMO (8oz)

Augason Farms 5-90158 Scrambled Egg Mix, 2 lbs, 4 oz. No. 10 Can

Augason Farms Dried Whole Egg Product 2 lbs 1 oz No. 10 Can

Hoosier Hill Farm All American Dairy Whole Milk Powder 1 lb

Hoosier Hill Farm Heavy Cream Powder Jar, 1 Pound

Hoosier Hill Farm Real Butter powder, Gluten and Hormone.free, 2 lbs

Augason Farms Dehydrated Chopped Onions 1 lb 7 oz No. 10 Can

Nutristore Freeze Dried Mozzarella Cheese Shredded Premium Quality

Canned/Packaged Goods:



Wellsley Farms White Premium Chunk Chicken Breast in Water, 12.5 Ounce, 6 Count

Keystone Meats All Natural Canned Chicken, 28 Ounce by Keystone Meats

Swanson Chicken a la King Made with White and Dark Meat Chicken, 10.5 Ounce Can (Pack of 12)

Dinty Moore Beef Stew with Fresh Potatoes & Carrots 20 oz (Pack of 12)

Armour Star Classic Homestyle Beef Stew, 20 oz. (Pack of 12)

Keystone Meats All Natural Canned Beef, 28 Ounce

SAMPCO Shredded Beef 3lb.

Kirkland Signature Chicken Breast (Chicken Breast -6 Count)

Keystone Meats All Natural Canned Pork, 28 Ounce



Armour Star Roast Beef With Gravy, 12 oz.



Armour Star Banner Sausage, Easy Open Can, 10.5 oz. (Pack of 12)



Wild Planet Skipjack Wild Tuna, Sea Salt, Keto and Paleo, 3rd Party Mercury Tested, 5 Ounce (Pack of 12)



Armour Star Luncheon Meat, 12 oz. (Pack of 12)

Canned Vegetables Variety Of Options

Canned Fruits Variety Of Options

Rice

Beans

Pasta

In conclusion, with America and the world falling apart before our very eyes under Joe Biden and Democrats as they get out of dodge while the world burns, wed like to ask our readers to please join us in solemn prayer that America can get through the following days, weeks and months, miraculously standing tall and fully free once again. America has withstood the test of time. And with Gods Amazing Grace, we will do so again. With God Guiding us, the American people are not weak nor powerless; the future is in our hands.

Read more at: AllNewsPipeline.com
(Natural News) Im old enough to remember when vaccines were the miracle that would put Covid behind us.

(Article by Alex Berenson republished from AlexBerenson.Substack.com)

So are you.

It less than six months ago.

From January through May, as the vaccine rollout ramped up, public health experts and reporters insisted the main question about vaccines was just how fast they would get the United States back to normal.

Israel and Britain were the envy of the world, at least that part of the world watching CNN. Those countries were the early leaders in mass vaccinations. Authorities and the media desperately hoped the United States could catch up.

Vaccine Rollout Gives U.K. a Rare Win in the Pandemic, the New York Times wrote on January 29.

When will the pandemic end? Bloomberg asked on February 4. The answer can be measured in vaccinations.

What life is like in countries where Covid-19 vaccination is increasingly a success, CNN added on February 25.



Maybe the most explicit example of this equation came on February 20, the New York Times ran an article and graphics showing when the United States might reach herd immunity against Covid.

Herd immunity essentially means that although Sars-Cov-2 (or any pathogen) may still exist and sometimes sicken people, major outbreaks will not occur, because so many people are immune that the disease cannot spread widely.

As the Mayo Clinic explains:

Herd immunity occurs when a large portion of a community (the herd) becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely.

The Times piece was headlined, When Could The United States Reach Herd Immunity? Its Complicated.



In fact, though, the answer the piece offered was simple.

It went like this: The more aggressively the United States accelerated its vaccine rollout, the faster it would reach herd immunity.

At the time, about 1.7 million Americans a day were being vaccinated. The Times suggested if the United States raised that number to 3 million, it would reach herd immunity in May, when roughly 40 percent of the population was fully vaccinated and 30 percent more had immunity from a previous infection.

The Times was clear about what assumptions underlay the model, writing, the estimates also assume that the vaccine prevents infection.

And the United States did accelerate its vaccinations, which peaked at 4.6 million on April 10th. The seven-day average was over 3 million for most of April. It began to slide in the middle of the month after federal regulators paused use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine after reports it could cause serious blood clots.

Still, by May 20, more than 135 million Americans had been fully vaccinated  meeting the 40 percent threshold the Times had set three months before. (The number currently stands at about 167 million, just over half of all Americans, since vaccinations have slowed dramatically since May despite government and business pressure.)



The Times and other media outlets did not come up with those estimates and articles on their own. They echoed the view of public health experts  including Dr. Anthony Fauci  who were also very optimistic, and also explicitly tied the effective end of the epidemic to vaccination rates.

For example, in a December interview with NPR, Fauci predicted that once 50 percent of Americans were fully vaccinated, you start to see an impact. His estimates for the level of vaccinations required to reach herd immunity were higher, generally from 70 to 85 percent of the population, and rose slowly over time.

But in an interview just before Christmas with the Times, Fauci explained he had raised his estimates mainly because the virus was more contagious than initially thought. The more contagious the pathogen, the more people who must be immune  either through effective vaccination or because they have been infected and recovered naturally  to stop a case from turning into an outbreak.

Other experts went further.

What we see is that immunity conferred by the vaccine can essentially completely limit the breakout of any infections in the population, Galit Alter, a Harvard immunologist and virologist, said on Feb. 25.



As winter turned to spring, and cases in Israel and the United Kingdom dropped to close to zero  with hospitalizations falling even further  vaccine advocates became even cockier.

On March 29, the CDC reported that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines reduced infections by 90 percent. The findings provide researchers with more evidence that vaccines reduce the risk of infections, including asymptomatic ones, Axios wrote.

On April 28, Dr. Ugur Sahin  the chief executive of BioNTech, the German company that developed the mRNA vaccine Pfizer markets, said he expected European countries to reach herd immunity by July or August.

Sahin cited studies from Israel, which shares medical data on its vaccination campaign with Pfizer, showing that people who have been immunized rarely fall seriously ill and are significantly less likely to transmit the virus to others.

(Link to story here: https://apnews.com/article/europe-north-america-immunizations-coronavirus-pandemic-coronavirus-vaccine-f1eca91561f3a1be9550b79534b17741)

Though Sahin said he expected boosters might eventually be needed, he framed them more as a topping-up to return vaccinated people to near-full protection than a desperation measure. And he specifically said he expected the vaccine would work against the Delta variant.

The Indian [Delta] variant has mutations that we have previously investigated and against which our vaccine also works, so I am confident there, too.

Similarly, on May 10, the Los Angeles Times confidently predicted:

L.A. County expected to hit COVID-19 herd immunity by end of July

As soon as 80 percent of people over 16  or roughly 65 percent of the total population  were fully vaccinated, Los Angeles could expect herd immunity, the paper wrote. The prediction comes amid growing signs COVID-19 is fading in California.

Health officials in San Francisco  where vaccination rates were even higher  agreed, and even said they expected to reach herd immunity first.



Perhaps most stunningly, during an April 28 interview with the TODAY show, Fauci spoke out against Joe Rogan, the popular podcast host. Rogan had said he didnt think young people needed vaccinations because they were at low risk from the coronavirus.

Fauci didnt disagree about the risk. But he said young people needed to be vaccinated anyway because you can get infected [if you are not] and even if you dont have symptoms, you are propagating the outbreak because it is likely that you, even if you have no symptoms, you are inadvertently and innocently then infect someone else if you want to only worry about yourself and not society, then thats okay.

But Faucis logic only made sense if vaccines would eliminate or nearly eliminate the risk of infection and transmission even in people at low risk from the virus itself.

That message was very clearly what he implied.



Now, barely three months later, the promises of herd immunity have NOT come to pass. Cases in the United States are soaring. Hospitalizations and deaths are also rising.

Throughout July and August, vaccine advocates have tried to blame these trends on fact that the United States has not hit the vaccine benchmarks they hoped. They have incorrectly called this current outbreak a pandemic of the unvaccinated.

That argument has one problem. Israel and Britain  which have essentially reached the vaccination levels that advocates promised were necessary for herd immunity  are having even worse outbreaks this summer.

In Israel, 60 percent of the entire population and 80 percent of adults are fully vaccinated. In Britain, almost 90 percent of adults have received at least one dose and 76 percent have received both.

Yet positive tests and serious hospitalizations in Israel have risen 20-fold since early July. Hospitalized patients and patients on ventilators in Britain have risen sevenfold since early June and are far higher than this time last year.

It is still not entirely clear whether the vaccines are failing because of the decrease over time in the antibodies they generate, because the Delta variant is able to elude those antibodies, or some other reason.

But what is now clear is that vaccinated people are at high risk both to be infected and to transmit the virus to others. The Centers for Disease Control acknowledged this fact on July 27, when it once again told them they should wear masks in many situations.

The new recommendation followed a large outbreak of Covid cases in early July in Provincetown, Massachusetts, in which 74 percent of infected people were fully vaccinated, as well as evidence that infected people have equally high viral loads whether or not they are vaccinated.



Now vaccine advocates have done a massive about-face. In the face of this horrendous data, they have simply refused to admit the vaccines are failing to work as they promised.

They dont ever even acknowledge that months ago, they said vaccines would sharply reduce coronavirus infections and transmission.

No. Instead they insist that the vaccines are working just as advertised, by sharply reducing serious illness and death.

Dont Lose Sight of the Fact That Covid Vaccines Are Working, Bloomberg News wrote on Friday.

Doctor says COVID-19 vaccines are working phenomenally well,' CBS News reported in early August.

Our vaccines are working exceptionally well, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the director the CDC, told CNN on August 6. They continue to work well for Delta, with regard to severe illness and death  they prevent it.

It is astonishing Walensky made that statement, which is ABSOLUTELY FALSE. In both Israel and Britain, most deaths are in fully vaccinated people.



Put aside the fact that the Israeli and to a lesser extent British data have now undercut the claims that the vaccines reduce the risk of hospitalization or death by 95 percent, much less 97 or 99 percent, as vaccine advocates have claimed.

Put aside that a very worrisome paper in the Journal of Infection on August 9th suggested a risk of what is called antibody dependent enhancement in vaccinated people infected with the Delta variant (more on this to come in another Stack).

Focus only on the fact that public health advocates and reporters have simply tossed aside what they said only months ago  and that they are now warning that even healthy adults are likely to need booster shots to keep even THIS level of protection going forward.

It is beyond clear at this point that vaccines will not just not end Covid, they so far seem to have made at best  at best  a marginal difference in the course of the epidemic.

In fact, to look at Israels experience against that of Lebanon and other neighboring countries with much lower vaccination rates is to wonder if they have done any good at all. (I hope to come back to that question, too, in another Stack.)

Its okay to be wrong  as public health advocates have been, over and over and over.

Its not okay to lie about being wrong.

But they cant help themselves.

Read more at: AlexBerenson.Substack.com
(Natural News) Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp on Thursday, Aug. 19, signed an executive order that prohibits local governments from ordering businesses to adopt mask or coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine mandates.

The executive order bars local officials from mandating the orders, but allows private businesses to require masks or vaccines if they want to. Kemp told reporters during a press conference that the measure is necessary to protect private businesses.

There are some across our state who want to go back into lockdown mode, the Republican governor said, citing the current indoor mask mandates in Atlanta and Savannah. Local governments will not be able to force businesses to be the citys mask police, the vaccine police, or any other burdensome restriction.

Kemp tweeted that his executive order will ensure that businesses in Georgia cant be punished by local governments for trying to make a living, pay their employees and save their livelihoods.

In May, Kemp also issued an executive order that essentially prohibits vaccine passports in the public sector. That order restricts public employers from requiring their employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of employment or treating unvaccinated employees differently or adversely as compared to vaccinated employees.

Private employers in Georgia are also limited by the executive order.

If private employers in Georgia decide to implement a vaccine passport program, the order prohibits them from using data from the states immunization database called the Georgia Registry of Immunization Transactions and Services (GRITS). Meaning, private employers cannot verify the vaccination status of their employees through the state database.

Kemps recent order came just two days after New York City started to implement its vaccination requirement for a number of indoor activities, including dining, working out at fitness clubs and attending indoor performances. Employees of those venues are also required to be vaccinated.

Business owners sue NYC mayor over vaccine mandate

Business owners welcomed New York City Mayor Bill de Blasios vaccine mandate with a lawsuit filed in Richmond County Supreme Court on the same day it was implemented. (Related: NYC restaurants REFUSE to enforce vaccine passport mandate and become vaccination police.)

This vaccine mandate is arbitrary and capricious due to the fact that it targets certain establishments but not others, wrote the plaintiffs, led by a group called the Independent Restaurant Owners Association Rescue. Maxs Esca, DeLucas Italian Restaurant, Pasticceria Rocco, Evolve-33 and Staten Island Judo Jujitsu were also listed as plaintiffs. Theyre seeking a permanent injunction against the order.

According to the lawsuit, the mandate will severely impact the owners businesses, life savings and livelihood. It also noted that De Blasios mandate makes no exceptions for those who cant or shouldnt get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Staten Island Judo Jujitsu Dojo owner Joseph Cannizzo said de Blasios executive order is a death sentence to small businesses.

For some reason, gyms, restaurants, were always the ones that have to take on this social responsibility to keep people safe. Its not our job, Cannizzo said. My chances of survival are slim to none with all the other mandates and restrictions that Mayor de Blasios put on my studio. Its a business death sentence.

Meanwhile, restaurant owners are worried that some of their workers would quit if they are required to be vaccinated. Labor has been an ongoing challenge for the industry, with restaurants raising wages and offering retention bonuses to attract new workers. The unemployment rate for eating and drinking places was 8.4 percent nationwide in July, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Called Key to NYC, De Blasios scheme had an uneven start.

Fast food restaurants in Manhattan were not yet asking for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) vaccination cards or Excelsior passes, and the AMC Village 7 movie theater in the East Village said it hadnt been checking. A man in the East Village said he got a takeout from Chipotle with no issues. He said he was only asked for his vaccination card at a bar.

CDC: Fully vaccinated can still spread the virus

On Aug. 6, the CDC said that new data on the more infectious delta variant shows that no vaccine is 100 percent effective against it as fully vaccinated people are still capable of spreading the virus to others.

The CDC noted the delta variant seems to produce the same viral load in both unvaccinated and fully vaccinated people, bringing into question whether vaccine mandates are justifiable given the implications for government infringement on individual liberties.

Israels Ministry of Health recently reported that 64 percent of the countrys 400 COVID-19 patients in serious condition were fully vaccinated.

The countrys preliminary vaccine data published in July also found that the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine was just 40.5 percent effective on average at preventing symptomatic disease.

The analysis, which was carried out as the delta variant became the dominant strain in Israel, appeared to show a waning effectiveness of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The vaccine was only 16 percent effective against symptomatic infection for those who had two doses back in January. For people that had received two doses by April, the efficacy rate against symptomatic infection stood at 79 percent.

Follow Immunization.news for more news related to coronavirus vaccines and vaccine mandates.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

ValdostaDailyTimes.com

FoxBusiness.com

JPost.com
(Natural News) US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy is on a mission to eradicate quality information about health that could help people make an informed choice about their healthcare. Murthy is participating in a wider criminal conspiracy to deprive the public of important, life-saving medical information surrounding the issue of vaccination and natural immunity. Murthy believes that the government should appropriate credible sources and establish an official Ministry of Truth, while using the mainstream media to punish free speech on vaccines and other issues related to COVID. Murthy is a firm believer in establishing official channels of authoritative vaccine propaganda, while eliminating any information on vaccine injury and the faults of vaccine science.

Surgeon General uses federal government to censor Americans

The US Surgeon General is nothing but a vaccine-pimping propagandist, who leverages the power of the federal government to censor Americans who have been injured by vaccines. He wants to eliminate the pages, channels, videos and posts of prominent scientists and doctors who speak out about the ineffectiveness and in-humaneness of the current medical experiments and population control tactics. Murthys office is admittedly working with social media companies to suppress what they call medical misinformation. He says Americans have no right to spread disinformation. Anything the current regime doesnt like will be removed from social media using sophisticated algorithms that target the information before it has a chance to spread online. Any information that doesnt cater to vaccine-worship and doesnt maximize obedience to the vaccine industry will be labeled false misleading or dangerous.

This purge of quality information would include the censorship of Dr. Robert Malone, the inventor of the mRNA vaccines himself. Malone gave up his chance for a Nobel Prize and is currently being threatened with assassination for speaking out about the problems with the vaccine technology he invented.

This purge would certainly include former US Navy surgeon Dr. Lee Merritt, who is now warning of the widespread continuance of vaccine injury that is now a direct threat to active-duty soldiers, who are currently being told its mandatory to take covid vaccines.

Undoubtedly, the Surgeon General would also censor Dr. Harvey Risch from the Yale School of Medicine, who called out the CDC for committing large scale medical fraud and hiding covid cases among the vaccinated.

Federal government to use journalists and media outlets as propagandists and oppressors

Taking their breach of the First Amendment a step further, the Surgeon General told CNN that media outlets should work with the federal government to stop people from speaking out about their choices regarding COVID. The federal government wants to turn all journalism into an official Ministry of Propaganda, to suppress the failures of their deadly population control experiments. This is the greatest violation of Americans First Amendment rights in the history of the United States. The federal government is abridging the freedom of speech and the press, and is basically establishing a national vaccine-worshiping religion that every individual must obey and follow.

The Biden regime is not only abridging the freedom of the press by working with Big Tech to silence independent journalists, but they are also hijacking the mainstream media channels and conscripting journalists to promote their vaccine-worshiping religion and gag anyone who speaks out against it. These same forces of censorship continue to tell the public that COVID doesnt have to be a partisan issue. Murthy even presented his authoritarian suppression of information and control over the media as journalists doing the right things. As important conversations are labeled misinformation Murthy promises that the federal government is only interested in getting accurate information out to the public. While these diabolical forces smile in front of the cameras eye, pretending to be the nice guy, they are busy working behind the scenes to violate every human right that Americans once held dear.

Sources include:

Reclaimthenet.org

NaturalNews.com

Brighteon.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Nuclear HEMP attack is part of the military doctrines, plans and exercises of Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran for a revolutionary new way of warfare against military forces and civilian critical infrastructures by cyber, sabotage, and HEMP.

(Article by Dr. William A. Radasky and Dr. Peter Vincent Pry republished from AllNewsPipeline.com)

Significantly, because HEMP attack entails detonating a nuclear weapon at such high altitude that no blast or other prompt effects injurious to humans are delivered, only the HEMP that immediately damages only electronics, potential adversaries do not appear to regard nuclear HEMP attack as an act of nuclear warfare.

Ignorance of the military doctrines of potential adversaries and a failure of U.S. strategic imagination, as noted in military writings of potentially hostile powers, is setting America up for an HEMP Pearl Harbor.

Russia, China, North Korea and Iran appear to regard nuclear HEMP attack as the ultimate weapon in an all-out Cyber War aimed at defeating U.S. and allied military forces on the battlefield, in a theater of operations, and as a means of defeating entire nations by blacking-out their electric grids and other critical infrastructures.

Russia, China, and North Korea presently have the capability to make a HEMP attack that would blackout the U.S. electric power grid and other life-sustaining critical infrastructures. Iran may have clandestinely developed capabilities to make a HEMP attack against the U.S. or may soon be able to do so. Russia, China, and North Korea have developed Super-EMP nuclear weapons that can generate extraordinarily powerful HEMP, exceeding hardening standards for the best protected U.S. military forces.

Contrary to biased junk science studies by the electric power industry lobby, a nuclear HEMP attack on the U.S. would not affect only a few states, be quickly recoverable, comparable to localized blackouts caused by hurricanes.

HEMP attack would cause protracted blackout of electric grids and life-sustaining critical infrastructures, imperiling national existence. HEMP attack by a single nuclear weapon can collapse the U.S. national electric power grid.

A more likely scenario for HEMP attack by Russia, China, or North Korea might focus HEMP peak fields on U.S. nuclear forces and C3I to paralyze U.S. nuclear retaliatory capabilities, with blacking-out the U.S. national electric grid and other critical infrastructures an important additional objective, which would inevitably result from such an attack.

The HEMP threat is not merely theoretical, but well-established empirically, including by real world blackouts: With few exceptions, the U.S. national electric grid is unhardened and untested against nuclear EMP attack. In the event of a nuclear EMP attack on the United States, a widespread protracted blackout is inevitable. (EMP Commission Chairman, Dr. William R. Graham)

Nuclear HEMP attack is part of the military doctrines, plans and exercises of Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran for a revolutionary new way of warfare against military forces and civilian critical infrastructures by cyber, sabotage, and HEMP. This new way of warfare is called many things by many nations. In Russia, China, and Iran it is called Sixth Generation Warfare, Non- Contact Warfare, Electronic Warfare, Total Information Warfare, and Cyber Warfare. Some U.S. analysts, the very small number paying attention, call it Cybergeddon, Blackout War, or Combined-Arms Cyber Warfare.

Significantly, because HEMP attack entails detonating a nuclear weapon at such high altitude that no blast or other prompt effects injurious to humans are delivered, only the HEMP that immediately damages only electronics, potential adversaries do not appear to regard nuclear HEMP attack as an act of nuclear warfare.

Potential adversaries understand that millions could die from the long-term collateral effects of HEMP and cyber-attacks that cause protracted black-out of national electric grids and other life- sustaining critical infrastructures. At least some regard this relatively easy, potentially anonymous, method of inflicting mass destruction as an attractive feature of what they describe as a Revolution in Military Affairs.

Ignorance of the military doctrines of potential adversaries and a failure of U.S. strategic imagination, as noted in military writings of potentially hostile powers, is setting America up for an HEMP Pearl Harbor. Russia, China, North Korea and Iran appear to regard nuclear HEMP attack as the ultimate weapon in an all-out Cyber War aimed at defeating U.S. and allied military forces on the battlefield and in a theater of operations. They also see HEMP and Combined-Arms Cyber Warfare as a means of defeating entire nations by blacking-out their electric grids and other critical infrastructures for longer periods of time than technologically developed societies, including the U.S., can tolerate without major disruption and loss of life.

Russia

For example, Russian General Vladimir Slipchenko in his military textbook Non-Contact Wars describes the combined use of cyber viruses and hacking, physical attacks, non-nuclear EMP weapons, and ultimately nuclear HEMP attack against electric grids and critical infrastructures as a new way of warfare that is the greatest Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA) in history. Slipchenko sees HEMP as such a departure from traditional ways and means of warfare that he describes HEMP weapons and warfare as based on new physical principlesa phrase that has become ubiquitous in Russian literature to describe the RMA that is HEMP: In practically all preceding generations of warsweapons were employed that acted against targets primarily by kinetic, chemical and thermal energy.

In addition to these armsnew ones will also appear inwars of the future.Weapons based on new physical principles having an electromagnetic effect will see considerable development. They will represent a form of casualty and damage producing effect on targets through the energy of electromagnetic emissions of various wavelengths and levels of power generated by radio frequency and laser weapons and by means of electronic countermeasures using a conventional or high-altitude nuclear burst.Depending on the power of emission, such weapons will be capable ofsuppressing practically all classic electronic equipmentcausing the melting or evaporation of metal in the printed circuit boardsor causing structural changes of electronic elements

Like Nazi Germanys Blitzkrieg (Lightning War) Strategy that coordinated airpower, armor, and mobile infantry to achieve strategic and technological surprise that nearly defeated the Allies in World War II, the New Blitzkrieg is, literally and figuratively, an electronic Lightning War so potentially decisive in its effects that an entire civilization could be overthrown in hours.

According to General Slipchenko, HEMP and the new RMA renders obsolete modern armies, navies and air forces. For the first time in history, small nations or even non-state actors can humble the most advanced nations on Earth.

An article in Military Thought, the flagship journal of the Russian General Staff, Weak Points of the U.S. Concept of Network-Centric Warfare points to nuclear HEMP attack as a means of defeating the United States:

American forces may be vulnerable to electronic warfare attacks, in particular, an electromagnetic pulse that is a brief powerful electromagnetic field capable of overloading or destroying numerous electronic systems and high-tech microcircuits that are very sensitive to the electromagnetic field, even if transmitted from a distance. A single low-yield nuclear weapon exploded for this purpose high above the area of combat operations can generate an electromagnetic pulse covering a large area and destroying electronic equipment without loss of life that is caused by the blast or radiation.

Moreover:

According to another Russian article: Nuclear war strategy has already planned nuclear explosions at an altitude of 50-100 km to destroy enemy satellites electronic instruments with electromagnetic pulse:

There are now 683 space craft in near-earth orbit. Of these about 150 are Russian and about 400 American. In the estimation of specialists, for every 100 of our purely military espionage artificial earth satellites there are 300 civilian satellites. Clearly, this discrepancy will increase both quantitatively and qualitatively (considering the state of the Russian military-industrial complex).Nuclear war strategy has already planned nuclear explosions at an altitude of 50- 100 km to destroy enemy satellites electronic instruments with an electromagnetic pulse.

A 2015 article from Russias A.A. Maksimov Scientific Research Institute for Space Systems, alludes to cyber weapons in the nuclear variant as the most effective cyber weapon: Even more effective are remote-controlled cyber weapons in the nuclear variant, but in this case a warhead is required with a capacity many times smaller by comparison with the charges of the typical strategic missiles. The low-yield nuclear weapon described sounds like what Russians call a Super-EMP warhead maximally designed, not to make a big explosion, but to emit enhanced-gamma rays to generate HEMP.

Russia made a thinly veiled HEMP threat against the United States on May 2, 1999, in an apparent effort to blackmail the U.S. to stop the Balkans War. During the spring of 1999, tensions between the United States and Russia rose sharply over Operation ALLIED FORCE, the NATO bombing campaign against Yugoslavia. A bipartisan delegation from the House Armed Services Committee of the U.S. Congress met at Vienna with their Russian counterparts on the Duma International Affairs Committee, headed by Chairman Vladimir Lukin. The object of the meeting was to reduce U.S.-Russia tensions and seek Russian help in resolving the Balkans War.

On May 2, during the Vienna meeting, Chairman Lukin and Deputy Chairman Alexander Shabanov chastised the United States for military aggression in the Balkans, and warned that Russia was not helpless to oppose Operation ALLIED FORCE. LUKINHypothetically, if Russia really wanted to hurt the United States in retaliation for NATOs bombing of Yugoslavia, Russia could fire a submarine launched ballistic missile and detonate a single nuclear warhead at high-altitude over the United States. The resulting electromagnetic pulse would massively disrupt U.S. communications and computer systems, shutting down everything. No internet. Nothing. SHABANOVAnd if that didnt work, wed just launch another missile.

Read more at: AllNewsPipeline.com
(Natural News) Vaccine manufacturers like Pfizer and Moderna are already enjoying quite the windfall thanks to their COVID-19 vaccines, but the approval of booster shots means theyre now on track to set some new records.

Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine is expected to bring in $33.5 billion this year, which would make it the best-selling drug of all time. The companys overall revenues are expected to be as much as $80 billion for fiscal 2021 as a result.

Its pretty clear why the firm decided to encourage American regulators to authorize a booster third dose of its vaccine, claiming it will give people better protection against the virus. Naturally, this news was met with significant cynicism by those who bought into President Bidens constant insistence that getting vaccinated would allow people to live a normal life.

So far, statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that thousands of fully vaccinated individuals have contracted the virus, and at least 1,500 of them have died. Wasnt this vaccine supposed to prevent deaths from the virus? Theyre also doubling down on calls to wear masks regardless of vaccination status, leaving those who got vaccinated in hopes of no longer needing masks frustrated.

This week, the Department of Health and Human Services began the push to convince Americans to get a third shot, stating: The available data make very clear that protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection begins to decrease over time following the initial doses of vaccination. For that reason, we conclude that a booster shot will be needed to maximize vaccine-induced protection and prolong its durability.

Americans are now being told to get a booster just eight months after their second dose of the vaccine. This is something that Modernas and Pfizers CEOs had both stated would happen, and their stance was supported, rather predictably, by White House Medical Adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci.

Scientists slam push for vaccine booster shots

Some scientists have slammed the Biden administrations push to distribute the vaccine boosters in the country next month on the grounds that the data supplied by federal health officials simply isnt convincing enough to warrant the recommendation.

The efficacy of these vaccines may be in doubt, but some believe that the focus should be on getting COVID-19 vaccines to those in poorer countries rather than giving people in the U.S. a third round of shots.

The World Health Organization asked wealthy countries to stop distributing their booster shots until the end of September to give poorer nations the opportunity to provide their populations with a first round of shots.

One big question here is, if the efficacy of the vaccines is diminishing because of the Delta variant, how is getting a booster of the same vaccine that was not tailored to this variant going to help?

Of course, for Pfizer and Moderna, the more burning question here is how much more money they can make. According to a report by Reuters, the two firms expect to rack up $50 billion in vaccine sales this year. Assuming that half of those who were on board the first time around will agree to get a booster and the prices of the jabs dont change, they can bring in an extra 25 percent of their revenue this year, or $12.5 billion between them.

Its important to keep in mind that this is money they can take to the bank; the vaccine makers have already been granted immunity from lawsuits related to vaccine damage. Does anyone really wonder why so many Americans are unsure about the vaccine when there is such an exorbitant amount of money at stake?

Sources for this article include:

WesternJournal.com

CNBC.com

Reuters.com
Drought is becoming more of a worry as wildfires and heatwaves stress the western United States. Dry landscapes burn more easily, but rain can assist by putting out fires that have already started. However, wildfire smoke may also prevent much-needed rain from falling.

Smoke is catapulted into the atmosphere as wildfires burn. These plumes are densely packed with microscopic particles that serve as magnets for water droplets in the clouds. The more smoke particles that are released into the atmosphere, the more rain falls.

As a result, scientists thought that more flames meant more rain. However, recent research has turned such ideas on their heads. The unclear connection between wildfire smoke and cloud formation turns out to be valid only for clouds high in the sky.

The mixing of smoke particles closer to the ground may make it less likely that rain will fall, starting a chain reaction that fuels fire rather than calming it down. The research was published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters on July 26.

In a statement, Ann Marie Carlton, an atmospheric scientist at the University of California-Irvine who was not involved in the new research, stated. "I think this paper is scratching the surface of what we don't know... To have cloud-related findings so robust is sort of unusual, in my experience."

Nephology: Scientific Characteristics

It's well known that studying clouds are tough. Part of the issue is that, unlike greenhouse gases trapped in ice core bubbles, plants, and fossils; scientists don't have historical evidence on how they used to act during the preindustrial era. The rest is due to the difficulty of simulating clouds in scientific models that aid in our understanding of their composition and behavior.

Cynthia Twohy, an atmospheric scientist at Northwest Research Associates and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, spent the summer of 2018 collecting mid-altitude altocumulus clouds while flying over the western United States.

Twohy and a team of atmospheric chemists spent the summer of 2018 sampling mid-altitude altocumulus clouds, in a C-130 Hercules research plane, as wildfires raged across the western United States. Instruments on board the plane measured gases and particles emitted by wildfires and sampled droplets, which Twohy analyzed back in the lab.

The research sheds light on the microphysics and chemistry of wildfire-linked clouds, allowing scientists to understand the causes and consequences of atmospheric changes during wildfires.

Also read: By 2030, 3 Million Homes Could Be Using Low-Carbon Hydrogen for Heat

Clouds with Wildfire Smoke has Five Times More Number of Droplets





They discovered that clouds hanging above wildfires had five times the number of droplets as clouds without smoky particles, but the droplets were half the size of those in "clean" clouds.

According to experts, this surprising size difference might influence whether we get a downpour or just a drizzle. Since smaller droplets are less likely to develop into larger ones that may eventually fall as rain, drier conditions on land may worsen wildfire seasons, fueling more and larger fires.

The size of wildfires in the western United States has increased in the recent years and is expected to expand as temperatures rise. July was the warmest month on record, according to new statistics released on Friday.

But, as Twohy points out, it's not all negative, since the study will benefit future research in the subject. She expects that the findings will "spur detailed regional modeling studies that will help us understand the net impact of smoke on clouds and climate in the region."

Also read: Tsunami Terror: At Least 70 People Died After Flash Floods Engulfed Town in Turkey
A female of the largest squid in the world which is sometimes referred to as "kraken" after the mythological sea monster that was captured off the coast of Japan obviously had only one sexual encounter in her existence.

Giant Squid

The female possessed sperm packets from only a male giant squid implanted in her body and this surprised the researchers. Since giant squid are creatures that exist alone and likely meet potential mates sometimes, scientists anticipated that females would deviously collect and preserve sperm from various males with time.

A biologist at Shimane University in Japan whose name is Noritaka Hirohashi said: "We were almost confident that they are promiscuous. We just wanted to know how many males are involved in copulation. So this is totally unexpected."

Hirohashi and his team study sperm biology and reproduction in different squid species, but the giant squid - Architeuthis dux - is the most mysterious of all. The creature is rarely seen alive and has a life cycle enveloped in the mystery of the deep ocean.

Also Read: After Centuries of Searching, Scientists Finally Spotted Elusive 'Kraken' in US Waters

Mating Habits of Giant Squid

Footage of living giant squid in their natural surrounding has been gotten just two times. The only information researchers have about the mating habits of these strange creatures is that at times female giant squid are discovered with large sperm packets referred to as spermatangia implanted in their muscles.

Scientists writing in a paper of 1997 in the journal Nature put forward that giant male squid possibly make use of their "muscular elongate penis" to introduce the sperm packets into the females.

What isn't totally clear is how sperm meets egg from there. There's a possibility that the female discharges a chemical signal that triggers the sperm when she's ready to reproduce, or maybe the female releases her eggs in such a manner that they trail along the sperm packets when leaving her body.

Female Squids do possess organs close to the mouth known as seminal receptacles. Some species store sperm here, and there is a possibility that in those species, the implanted sperm can move over the skin to these receptacles.

The Test

Being aware that seeing two giant squid mating is very unlikely, Hirohashi and his colleagues developed a window into the process with the use of genetics. Inspecting squid samples from the archives of fisheries and museums, they highlighted some parts of the giant squid genome that would differentiate one set of squid DNA from another.

Think of this like a paternity test of squid: Test can be carried out on any sperm packets discovered on a female to know if they are from multiple males and if they are, how many.

The researchers are frequently looking out for sperm-spangled females. They send flyers out to fisheries local museums, and aquariums, telling them to let the research lab know if a giant squid specimen shows up. They got good news last year February.

Related Article: Giant Beast Alert! Squid Bigger Than A School Bus Dwells in the Ocean

For more news, updates about giant squids and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News!
Adult San Francisco garter snakes can grow to be 18 to 55 inches (46 to 140 cm) in length. These snakes have blue-green keeled dorsal scales, which are bordered by black, red (occasionally orange), and blue-green stripes. Their heads are red and slightly wider than their necks and its eyes are huge compared to other garter snake species, providing it good vision, and allowing it to stay active throughout the day.

Humans are unaffected by garter snakes. It is reported that human are merely mildly irritated by their bites. Garter snakes have no fangs, however their saliva contains mildly harmful venom.

The largest and most stable population of an endangered snake species are found on a 180-acre property of undeveloped wetlands and highlands, held by the San Francisco International Airport. Because of the destruction from agricultural and urban development, the population of San Francisco garter snakes have been declining for decades.

The San Francisco garter is one of the most endangered species. San Mateo County's limited coastal and bayside wetlands are home to all known populations of this beautifully colored snake. Agricultural, residential, commercial, and even recreational development have all harmed the snake's preferred habitats.

Recovery Action Plan Made by the Airport

The San Francisco airport launched its Recovery Action Plan in 2008 to help stabilize the snake population, as well as populations of the endangered California red-legged frog, which the snakes devour. The West-of-Bayshore land is also managed by the airport.

The recovery plan is centered on preserving the lives of the area's endangered animals. Their main purpose is to "restore habitat in accordance with the Recovery Action Plan to preserve healthy populations of San Francisco garter snake and California red-legged frog."

The area supports the biggest populations of the two federally protected species, according to research commissioned by the US Geological Survey and the US Fish and Wildlife Service, with an estimated population of 1,300 snakes at the location.

To improve habitat conditions for these species, the plan includes several enhancement and management initiatives. As a biologically sensitive location, public access to the West-of-Bayshore is prohibited. It is illegal to collect and injure specimens, and violators are susceptible to state and federal penalties.

After all of the strategies have been implemented, the airport has assessed that the San Francisco garter snake population is healthy and stable.

Also read: Snake Bites an Indian Man, He Takes 'Revenge' by Biting it Repeatedly

The California Red-Legged Frog

With a size range of 2 to 5 inches, this specie is the largest native frog in the western United States. Adults have little black specks and/or irregular dark spots on their backs, and are brown, gray, olive, or reddish in color. The common name comes from the color of the underside of the hind legs, which is red. The red coloration can sometimes be seen on the stomach and lower back.

Since June 1996, the Endangered Species Act has designated the California red-legged frog as an endangered species. The California red-legged frog was named the official State Amphibian of California in 2015, thanks to a campaign started by children at Sea View Elementary in Salton City, CA.

California red-legged frogs are only found in streams or drainages in central coastal California. The fall of their numbers is related to several factors, including habitat loss due to agriculture growth, urban expansion, and stream change; commercial over-harvesting for food; and the introduction of non-native species and predators.

Their decreasing numbers indicate a loss of diversity and environmental quality in wetlands and streams, which are critical for clean water and the survival of most fish and wildlife species.

Alongside the San Francisco Garter Snake, they mostly inhabit the San Francisco Internation Airport as prey to the snakes, which probably explains their decreasing numbers. The Recovery plan will help the survival of both species.

Also read: Singapore Celebrates First-Ever Giant Panda Born Thanks to Conservation Efforts
Texas officials had grown wide concern about the spiraling cases of disease outbreak among animal population in the state that are said to have been caused by a 'brain-eating disease', due to neurological illness it brings to North American cervids, members of the deer family.

This fatal nervous system disease is more scientifically known as chronic wasting disease (CWD), which is much more common in deer but is also found in moose and elk.

The disease belongs to a group of diseases known as Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs), and first discovered in 1967. Since then, CWD had spread geographically but "increased in prevalence locally".

According to wildlife officials, the outbreak has recently worsened with cases reaching at least 30 positive cases in white-tailed deer at six Texas deer breeding facilities. The Houston Chronicle says epidemiological investigation is ongoing.

A Deadly 'Brain-eating Disease'

No treatments or vaccines are currently available for CWD disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that it's "a progressive, fatal disease that affects the brain, spinal cord, and many other tissues of farmed and free-ranging deer, elk, and moose." They also noted that the disease is fatal for animals and has an incubation period of approximately one year where clear neurological signs may develop slowly.

Symptoms include drastic weight loss, stumbling, lack of coordination, listlessness, drooling, excessive thirst or urination, drooping ears, and lack of fear of people.

According to the CDC, "The infection is believed to be caused by abnormal proteins called prions, which are thought to cause damage to other normal prion proteins that can be found in tissues throughout the body but most often in the brain and spinal cord, leading to brain damage and development of prion diseases."

Scientists believe that the disease can be transmitted between animals "through contact with contaminated body fluids and tissue or indirectly through exposure to CWD in the environment, such as in drinking water or food."

CWD mainly affects the central nervous system of Cervids and has an extremely high fatality rate in animals.

Also read: Highly-Infectious Marburg Virus: New 'Epidemic-Prone' Disease Detected in West Africa

Why does it matter?

The emergence of chronic wasting disease among Texan deer could destroy the deer breeding industry that contributes over $1.6 billion to the state's economy annually. Given that there are several million hunters throughout the state, local hunters who hunt deer for food in the wild would have less chance due to the growing disease.

Can CWD infect Humans?

While there is currently no direct evidence and confirmed cases that CWD has ever been transmitted to humans, some research shows that it can be transmitted to primates like monkeys by feeding them meat or brain tissue from deer and elk infected with CWD. In the worst-case scenario, the disease can potentially pose a risk for people if the disease-carrying animals ever enter the human food chain.

CDC advised caution when consuming meat from animals harvested from areas where CWD has been found.

Also read: New Experiment on Mice Reveals a System for Burning 'Deep' Stored Fat
The first detected outbreak of COVID-19 delta variant in Sydney has spread to Melbourne, and an Australian state leader fears that the nation's second-most populous city has lost control in battling its worst covid-19 outbreak yet.

In the last four days, Sydney, Australia's largest city has reported over 600 new infections. Its first Delta variant outbreak was detected in mid-June. As it spread its way to Melbourne, it has also 'seeded' New Zealand's first outbreak in nearly six months.

Although lockdowns in neighboring cities undeniably help contain the COVID virus and worked out in the first half of 2021, it was a game-changer for the Delta variant. Despite implementing the same lockdown protocols, testing, contact tracing, and isolating strategies that were effective in containing previous outbreaks, experts say there are several reasons why case numbers aren't going down this time. Among them is the 'greater transmissibility' of the delta variant compared with earlier variants.

Victoria state Premier Daniel Andrews said he is losing hope of containing the latest outbreak in Melbourne, which was detected on its sixth lockdown on August 5.

Reports of new community infections

According to Andrews, the newest patients were infectious before they began isolating. As of Friday, Victoria announces 55 new infections. Andrews said it is a bad day for the state.

"We are right on the edge of this getting away from us and it's not because contact tracing aren't doing everything they can; they are. It's not because we didn't lock down fast enough; we did," Andrews said.

"It's this delta variant. It's so wildly infectious it will find every breach of every rule and it will potentially spread because of that," he added.

For comparison, Melbourne only started its suppression strategy when cases of previous outbreak reached 725 in a day on August last year, yet they were able to eliminate the infections in October down to zero.

Also read: Highly-Infectious Marburg Virus: New 'Epidemic-Prone' Disease Detected in West Africa

New Zealand implements new restrictions

Meanwhile, in New Zealand's largest city of Auckland, the virus was first detected and has spread to its capital, Wellington, after three people returned from visiting Auckland tested positive. The outbreak has grown to 31 cases, with patients being 'unknowingly infectious' while being treated.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Friday she is determined to eliminate the new outbreak, and immediately put the entire nation in strict lockdown on Tuesday. It was found through genome testing that the outbreak was linked to an infected traveler from Sydney earlier this month, but authorities are confused how the virus escaped despite quarantine.

New Zealand's lockdown will last until at least next Tuesday, while Sydney's was extended through September on Friday.

New South Wales state Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the key to easing the city's pandemic restrictions is to increase vaccination rates. "I don't want us to ever look back and say we didn't try, we didn't put everything into this," Berejiklian said.

Also read: New Experiment on Mice Reveals a System for Burning 'Deep' Stored Fat
The death toll from Saturday's devastating floods in Middle Tennessee has increased to over a dozen people. The sheriff in Humphreys County reported five more deaths on Sunday morning, in addition to the ten verified Saturday night.

According to the sheriff, over 30 individuals are still missing. About 45 miles west of Nashville is where you'll find this region. Flooding caused by heavy rain-stranded families in their houses shut down roadways and necessitated several water rescues on Saturday morning.

The full extent of the damages showed up after the waters receded.

Our swiftwater crews spent the day assisting in Humphreys County. The damage observed is devastating. Please keep Humphreys, Dickson, and Hickman Counties in your thoughts and prayers as they work to rebuild and recover. #middletnwx #tnwx #flooding pic.twitter.com/wiuBrMecxu  Williamson County Rescue Squad (@WCRescueSquad) August 22, 2021

To escape the flooding and await rescue, many resorted to their rooftops and attics. As a result, homes were washed away, and entire villages were obliterated.

Related Article: Storm Anxiety: How to Handle Extreme Weather Phobias During Hurricane Season

Calling for Help

Before daybreak, Saturday, the fire department in Dickson, approximately 35 miles west of Nashville, began responding to requests for assistance. Several residents were also stranded in their houses. Residents told of being stranded for many hours.

Cindy Dunn, who lives in the Humphreys County hamlet of Waverly, told The Tennessean after the responding team rescued her and her husband from their attic, "Hell. That's what we had to go through."

The couple had taken refuge there to avoid the rising floods. A crew came to their aid by raising a bulldozer bucket to their attic window. The swift floods entirely obliterated them.

"One minute my husband was watching the news, and the next minute we didn't have a garage," Dunn added.

Official Reports

Officials have previously highlighted severe conditions in areas in Middle Tennessee's western region.

Waverly, TN FLOOD.



Pics from Bethanie Hartup: pic.twitter.com/zpMjesKofX  Jim Cantore (@JimCantore) August 21, 2021

"People are stranded in their homes with no method of escaping. It's up to their necks in water. It's a disaster, the worst type of catastrophe imaginable The flooding in Humphreys County, where Waverly is located, was described by Krissy Hurley, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Nashville, to The Tennessean.

In response to the flooding, the Tennessee National Guard sent troops and airmen to the region. In addition, three state-based helicopter aquatic rescue teams and swift water rescue teams from Nashville were dispatched to help.

911 service was lost in Humphreys County. Several persons were reported missing in Hickman County, which is close. In both counties, the weather event disrupted cell service, and flooding forced the closure of a significant part of Interstate 40.





Extreme Weather Event

With 15 to 17 inches of rain reported in 24 hours in regions surrounding Dickson, Houston, Humphreys, and Hickman counties, the NWS issued a flash flood emergency and stated that it was "an extraordinarily active flash-flood scenario."

According to the NWS, some of those quantities are equal to 25% of the average rainfall for the whole year.

Also Read: Powerful Thunderstorms in the Mid-West Can Cause Winds as Strong as Category 2 Hurricane, Forecasters Warn

For more climate and weather updates, don't forget to follow Nature World News!
In the South Korean port city of Busan, Jin-hui, a Pomeranian was buried alive and left for dead in 2018.

"Its owner became enraged and instructed his children to bury it alive. We just managed to save it after a phone call, but the owner was not penalized since the dog was recognized as his property "Kim Gea-Yeung, the shelter's manager, is 55 years old.

Laws Against Animal Abuse in Korea

Animal abusers and people who abandon pets could soon face harsher punishments, as South Korea seeks to alter its civil code to provide animals legal rights, according to Choung Jae-min, the justice ministry's director-general of legal counsel, in an interview with Reuters.

Animal welfare and rights in South Korea refer to the country's legislation and treatment of non-human animals. By international standards, South Korea's animal welfare rules are lax. However, in South Korea, a few animal welfare and rights organizations appear to be primarily concerned with the welfare of companion animals and the dog meat trade.

Animal welfare and rights in South Korea about the country's animal legislation and treatment.

"Poor" Animal Welfare

South Korea's animal care laws are low by international standards. However, a few animal welfare and rights organizations in South Korea appear to be primarily focused on companion animal care and the dog meat trade.

Related Article: Pets are the New Babies: Pet Industry Thrives During COVID-19 Pandemic



Animal Protection Law

According to South Korea's animal protection law,anyone who abuses or is cruel to animals faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison or a fine of 30 million won ($25,494), but the standards used to determine penalties have been low because animals are treated as objects under the current legal system, according to Choung.

He added that judges and prosecutors would have additional choices when deciding punishments after the Civil Act states animals are no longer just things.

Skeptics and Regulations

The Korea Pet Industry Retail Association is skeptical about the plan, pointing out that there are already regulations to safeguard animals.

"The revision would simply ask for ways to control the business by making it harder to adopt pets, which will have a significant influence not just on the industry, but on society as a whole," said Kim Kyoung-Seo, the association's director-general.

The modified civil law, according to Choung, will open the way for follow-up initiatives such as animal life insurance packages and the requirement to rescue and report roadkill.

Bright Future for Animal Welfare

According to Park Hong-Keun, the head of the animal welfare parliamentary forum, the amendment is expected to succeed since there is considerable social consensus that animals should be safeguarded and appreciated as living creatures who cohabit peacefully with humans.

Animal rights organizations applauded the idea but demanded harsher punishments for people who abandon or mistreat animals, as well as a ban on dog meat.

"In our culture, pet abuse, abandonment, and neglect have not changed," said Cheon Chin-Kyung, Korea Animal Rights Advocates president.

Despite a modest decrease last year, the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency said animal abandonment increased to 130,401 instances in 2020, up from 89,732 cases in 2016. There are around 6 million dogs and 2.6 million cats in South Korea.

Also Read: Treating Pets with Separation Anxiety: What to do to Keep Your Pets Feel Emotionally Safe

For more news about the latest animal trends, don't forget to follow Nature World News
A new report has revealed that deforestation taking place at Brazilian Amazon has gotten to the highest yearly level in a decade, in spite of increasing global concern over the rapid destruction since the president, Jair Bolsonaro assumed office in 2019.

Between last year's August and this year's July, the rainforest lost 10,476 square kilometers which is an area almost seven times larger than greater London and 13 times the size of New York City, as per data Imazon released.

Imazon is a Brazilian research institute and since 2008 it has been tracking Amazon deforestation. The number is 57% higher than in the past year and since 2012 it has been the worst.

A researcher at Imazon whose name is Carlos Souza said: "Deforestation is still out of control. Brazil is going against the global climate agenda that is seeking to urgently reduce greenhouse gas emissions."

Also Read: Forest Management Entails More Than Planting Trees

Government's Action



This researcher called for the exigent beginning of government actions in order to put a stop to the destruction, including the enforcement of unauthorized deforestation led by agriculture in the region, which reduction in costs for the environment ministry and environmental protection agencies damaged.

Even as he encounters allegations of systematically destroying environmental protections, thousands of soldiers have been deployed to fight unauthorized deforestation and fires. Bolsonaro made the deployment.

The executive-secretary of the organisation Climate Observatory named Marcio Astrini said the policy has proved ineffective. Astrini said the data reveals that it did not work and there's no army operation that will be capable of masking or reversing the attacks of the federal government against the forest.

This year's deforestation rates are anticipated to be nearly 50% higher than in 2018, prior to Bolsonaro's resumption of office, Astrini said.

Brazil's Environmental Policy

In June, the environment minister as of then named Ricardo Salles stepped down during a criminal investigation over claims that a police investigation into unauthorized Amazon logging was blocked. Astrini said the leadership of the ministry hasn't shown any development.

He said the measures that give advantages to the export of unauthorized timber which is the reason why the former environment minister had to resign are still in place.

The new numbers were let out as lawmakers conducted a public hearing so that changes in Brazil's environmental policies will be achieved.

A senator named Eliziane Gama told the hearing: "We are going through a very tough moment in Brazilian history. There's a lot of denialism, and many attempts to weaken our environmental policy."

Activities including grazing of livestock, farming, drilling, and mining are responsible for more than 50% of all deforestation.

Related Article: Young People to 'Fight to the Death' for the Amazon Rainforest

For more news, updates about deforestation and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News!
As Henri churned deeper inland on Sunday its rank was lowered to a tropical storm. Here are things one needs to know about the Northeast weather of this weekend that's tropical in name, but distant from its formal home.

Is Henri Still Considered a Hurricane?

No. Early Sunday, the National Hurricane Center lowered its rank to a tropical storm and then to a tropical depression later in the day. It diminished as it made landfall at midday in Rhode Island. It had lesser strength still by Sunday evening, as it propelled over parts of western Massachusetts and Connecticut.

Difference Between a Tropical Storm and Hurricane

It all has to do with wind. The sustained wind speeds to be precise. Hurricane's maximum sustained winds is anything beyond 74 mph. While that of a tropical storm is 73 mph.

Henri's sustained winds climax at 40 mph (64 kph) as of early Sunday evening, well lower than hurricane status.

What Regions is Henri Expected to Impact?

Following its arrival ashore, Henri swerved west, depositing great amounts of rain on Connecticut and Hudson River Valley in New York, which could trigger disastrous flooding. As yet, the storm surge hasn't been notable as it was with the Superstorm Sandy in 2012. And the effects are still tormenting New York. It's predicted to bank east early Monday and move around portions of New Hampshire and Vermont before it will move out into the Gulf of Maine.

Also Read: As Henri Gets Closer, Another Storm Develops: What Will Happen if They Merge?

Henri, Bob, and Gloria

A stormy trio. Henri had gained more strength and became a hurricane Saturday morning prior to its loss of steam Sunday. If it had made landfall as a hurricane, it would have been the first in New England in 30 years

Its predecessor was Bob, accountable for the deaths of 17 and a damage of $1.5 billion in August 1991. However, with Connecticut in the path of Henri, some might better recall Gloria - the hurricane of September 1985 made landfall on both Connecticut and Long Island and led to the death of eight and almost a damage of $1 billion.

Why do Storm Share Names with Human?

These storms have the name of humans courtesy of the World Meteorological Association which is responsible for drawing up a list of 21 names for every Atlantic hurricane season.

What do People Need to do to Brace for Henri?

This isn't the first rodeo in New England or New York with weather writ large. Anyways, a nor'easter is only a hurricane that has a Boston accent. It's not very dissimilar in the Long Island dialect either. So, the normal protocols can be used: Remove the boats out of the water, fill the cars with gas, stock the store and batten the hatches down. Also get ready for power outages.

Related Article: Long Island Prepares for Henri's Landfall; Tropical Storm Will Be New England's First in 30 Years

For more news, updates about tropical storm Henri and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News!
In this Aug. 22, 2021, image provided by the U.S. Marine Corps, A Marine with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command gives a high five to a child during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. Sgt. Samuel Ruiz/U.S. Marine Corps via AP)
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP)  Kathy Hochul became the first female governor of New York at the stroke of midnight Tuesday, taking control of a state government desperate to get back to business after months of distractions over sexual harassment allegations against Andrew Cuomo.

The Democrat from western New York was sworn in as governor in a brief, private ceremony in the New York State Capitol overseen by the states chief judge, Janet DiFiore.

Afterward, she told WGRZ, a Buffalo television station, she felt the weight of responsibility on her shoulders.

Ill tell New Yorkers Im up to the task. And Im really proud to be able to serve as their governor and I wont let them down, she said.

Hochul's ascent to the top job was a history-making moment in a capital where women have only recently begun chipping away at a notoriously male-dominated political culture.

Cuomo left office at 12:00 a.m, two weeks after he announced he would resign rather than face a likely impeachment battle. He submitted his resignation letter late Monday to the leaders of the state Assembly and Senate.

On his final day in office, Cuomo released a pre-recorded farewell address in which he defended his record over a decade as New Yorks governor and portrayed himself as the victim of a media frenzy.

Hochul was scheduled to have a ceremonial swearing-in event Tuesday morning at the Capitol, with more pomp than the brief, legally required event during the night.

She planned to meet with legislative leaders later in the morning and make a public address at 3 p.m.

For the first time, a majority of the most powerful figures in New York state government will be women, including state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Attorney General Letitia James and the chief judge, DiFiore. The state Assembly is led by a man, Speaker Carl Heastie.

Hochul will inherit immense challenges as she takes over an administration facing criticism for inaction in Cuomos final months.

COVID-19 has made a comeback, with new cases up nearly 1,370% since late June. Hospitalizations are climbing even as schools prepare to go back into session.

Big decisions lay ahead on whether to mandate masks or vaccines for certain groups, or whether to reinstate social distancing restrictions if the states latest wave of infections worsens. Hochul has said she favors making masks mandatory for schoolchildren, a contrast with Cuomo, who said he lacked that authority.

The economy remains unsettled. Jobs lost during the pandemic have been coming back, but unemployment remains double what it was two years ago.

New York has also struggled to get federal relief money into the hands of tenants behind on their rent because of the pandemic, releasing just 6% of the budgeted $2 billion so far. Thousands of households face the possibility of losing their homes if the state allows eviction protections to expire.

Hochul also faces questions about whether shell change the culture of governance in New York, following a Cuomo administration that favored force over charm.

Cuomos resignation comes after an independent investigation overseen by state Attorney General Letitia James concluded there was credible evidence hed sexually harassed at least 11 women.

In his farewell remarks, Cuomo struck a defiant tone, saying the attorney general's report that triggered his resignation was designed to be a political firecracker on an explosive topic, and it did work."

There was a political and media stampede," he said.

Cuomo also touted himself as a bulwark against his partys left wing, which he said wants to defund the police and demonize businesses, and boasted of making government effective in his years in office. He cited his work battling the COVID-19 pandemic, legalizing same-sex marriage and hiking the minimum wage to $15.

I tried my best to deliver for you, Cuomo said.

Some critics jumped on Cuomos remarks as self-serving.

Assemblymember Yuh-Line Niou, a fellow Democrat, tweeted he had a hundred million opportunities to improve as a leader and Chose himself every time. Goodbye, Governor Cuomo.

Cuomos top aide, Melissa DeRosa, released a statement saying the governor was exploring his options for his post-gubernatorial life but had no interest in running for office again.

Cuomos resignation wont end his legal problems.

An aide who said Cuomo groped her breast has filed a complaint with the Albany County Sheriffs Office. Separately, Cuomo was facing a legislative investigation into whether he misled the public about COVD-19 deaths in nursing homes to protect his reputation as a pandemic leader and improperly got help from state employees in writing a book that may net him $5 million.

The switch in leadership was happening in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Henri, which narrowly missed Long Island on Sunday but dumped rain over the Catskill Mountains and Hudson Valley.

Hochul will need to quickly build her own team of advisers to steer the administration for at least the next 16 months.

Hochul, who said she didnt work closely with Cuomo and wasnt aware of the harassment allegations before they became public, has vowed no one will ever call her workplace toxic.

I have a different approach to governing, Hochul said Wednesday in Queens, adding, I get the job done because I dont have time for distractions, particularly coming into this position.

She announced the planned appointments Monday of two top aides: Karen Persichilli Keogh will become Secretary to the Governor and Elizabeth Fine will be Hochuls chief legal counselor.

She plans to keep on Cuomo-era employees for 45 days to allow her time to interview new hires, but said she will not keep anyone found to have behaved unethically.

Hochul, who has already said she plans to run for a full term next year, is expected to pick a left-leaning New York City politician as her lieutenant governor. Hochul once represented a conservative Western New York district in Congress for a year and has a reputation as a moderate.

State Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs praised Hochul as formidable.

Shes very experienced and I think shell be a refreshing and exciting new governor, he said.
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North Norfolk Methodists telephone worship

Worshippers in the North Norfolk Methodist Circuit have been able to join together for worship on a Sunday during the pandemic restrictions using a simple conference call on their landlines. Tony Rothe reports.

The telephone service started back in Spring 2020 when live worship was necessarily halted because of the Covid lockdown. Many churches started to offer on-line services, but many of the regular attenders at the small Methodist chapel in Lessingham did not have computers, and lay pastor Ros Peedle was determined that this would not stop them from joining in worship together on a Sunday.



She decided to see if she could arrange a conference phone call, and found a website that would do this free of charge. This has now been operating for 18 months and is available for anyone from the North Norfolk Methodist Circuit who wishes to join in at 4.30pm on a Sunday.



Ros says, We have had some wonderful preachers, including last year's President and Vice President of Methodist Conference. Also, we now have a member who is willing to take on the leadership on the rare occasions when I am away, which is working well and is a real blessing.



We have a regular attendance of up to 20 people now, and, although some have returned to regular face to face worship in their own churches, are still keen to come each week to meet on the telephone. This is most encouraging for us all. We actually returned to live worship in Lessingham back in May, very carefully, and observing all the relevant regulations, but we intend to continue with this telephone service for as long as we feel it is needed.



Ros explains that many of the people join the service phone in from all over the North Norfolk Circuit eg Gresham, Sheringham, Cromer, Sloley and Barton Turf and some from much further away. One friend of the Chapel joins in from near Norwich, another from Newport Pagnell in Buckinghamshire and another couple regularly phone in from the Isle of Man.



On our first 'Anniversary' we gave virtual 'Sunday School Attendance Prizes' to four of our members who had attended every Sunday since we began. There was a great deal of laughter over this, and laughter is a strong component of many of our gatherings as we share things which have happened to us since we last met. There is also a strong feeling of fellowship and mutual support as we remember the names of not only folk or situations whom we all know but friends and families of people, unknown to most of us, but who are in difficult circumstances, and we offer prayers for them.



COVID has given us a new way of worship and fellowship and has provided a small source of blessing amidst all the hardship of the pandemic.



Ros has also started a monthly Forget Me Not group for older people which meets on the third Thursday of each month in Lessingham Chapel, pictured right. This offers a range of games and activities, opportunities to chat and make friends, both for the members (and, separately if preferred, for their carers) in a safe, warm, friendly environment. There is a cooked lunch followed by a sing-song before finishing at 2.00pm.





Anyone who would like to join either the Sunday telephone worship or the Forget Me Not group can phone Ros on 01692 405591, or e-mail ros.peedle@live.co.uk .



For more information about Lessingham Methodist chapel, click here .



To read our previous story about the telephone service, click here .



The picture of Lessingham Chapel is courtesy of Ros Peedle.

The top picture is courtesy of pixabay.com

Do you have a news story or forthcoming event relating to Christians or a church in East Norfolk?

If so, e-mail tony.rothe@networknorwich.co.uk with details and, if possible a suitable picture.

Tony Rothe, 23/08/2021
Newburyport, MA (01950)

Today

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WASHINGTON  An ambulance suffered a catastrophic tire failure while transporting two patients to the hospital who were involved in a two-car crash Sunday, officials said.

The Washington Ambulance Association said the tire incident occurred on Route 7 in Brookfield and local medics responded to bring the patient to the hospital.
Calm and fear on the streets of Kabul as jubilant Taliban celebrate their victory
Pikeville, KY (41501)

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A few clouds. Slight chance of a shower throughout the evening. Low near 60F. Winds light and variable.
Rich Warren, who lives in the Champaign area, is a longtime reviewer of consumer electronics. Email him at hifiguy@volo.net.
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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).
An officer reported that Logan Freed smelled of alcohol, her shirt was inside-out and her eyes were glossy and watery. She was unable to perform DUI-related tests including reciting the alphabet from D to S, counting backwards from 79 to 41 or standing on one leg.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The current COVID-19 pandemic has challenged the global health and economy, causing an unprecedented impact on the world in its wake.

Study: DeepSARS: simultaneous diagnostic detection and genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2. Image Credit: Photoroyalty / Shutterstock.com

SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics

Scientists have implemented several different diagnostic strategies to monitor the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and inform public health measures. The current tests used to diagnose COVID-19 include those that detect the nucleic acids or proteins of SARS-CoV-2.

Both widespread testing and large-scale vaccination have successfully reduced the prevalence and severity of COVID-19 in some parts of the world. Despite these efforts, the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VoC) such as the alpha (B.1.1.7), beta (B.1.351), gamma (P.1), and delta (B.1.617.2) variants, have challenged the ability to contain SARS-CoV-2. Many VoCs have higher transmission rates and/or the capability to partially resist vaccines and therapeutics as compared to the original SARS-CoV-2 strain.

Whole-genome sequencing and SARS-CoV-2

VoCs may clearly pose a threat to the fight against the pandemic; therefore, genomic monitoring is essential to track the continuously mutating SARS-CoV-2. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS), of the approximately 30,000 base genome of SARS-CoV-2 is often used for genomic surveillance. WGS involves RNA extraction, molecular library preparation, and deep sequencing.

The main limitation associated with WGS is that it is resource-, cost-, and time-intensive. Furthermore, WGS is unevenly applied across countries, which has caused the number of genomes sequenced (more than 2 million) to be significantly smaller as compared to the global number of infections (~183 million), as of June 2021.

Therefore, it is crucial to increase the throughput and capacity for genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 to track and prevent the spread of VoCs. A new study published on the medRxiv* preprint server discusses the development of DeepSARS, a high-throughput platform for simultaneous diagnostic detection and genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2.

DeepSARS uses molecular barcodes (BCs) and multiplexed targeted deep sequencing (NGS) to enable simultaneous diagnostic detection and genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2.

Study findings

In the current study, the researchers have developed DeepSARS, which is a quick and scalable approach that enables the simultaneous detection of VoCs, as well as the real-time monitoring of viral evolution.

DeepSARS is based on molecular barcoding, as well as targeted deep and computational phylogenetics. Therefore, this technology augments basic diagnostic testing capacity with genomic surveillance.

Herein, the scientists have shown that DeepSARS has excellent sensitivity and specificity to SARS-CoV-2 ribonucleic acid (RNA) material isolated from both nasopharyngeal swabs and saliva samples. Notably, DeepSARS appears to be sensitive to RNA extraction processing, freeze-thaw cycles, and storage conditions.

The stability of these samples while using DeepSARS is notable, as previous research has shown that storage conditions can significantly alter the composition of RNA samples. For example, one recent study found that human RNA (hRNA) was reduced; however, the detection of viral RNA was not impacted. DeepSARS generates a ratio of viral RNA:hRNA; therefore, a lower human-read may lead to high ratios which, in turn, could increase the false positive rate.

DeepSARS is still in its early stages, with future iterations of this technology expected to exhibit improved sensitivity and accuracy characteristics. Although the researchers here were able to investigate the relationship between the total number of human and viral reads, the accuracy of these readings can be greatly increased by making some modifications, such as incorporating site-specific information and deploying machine learning methods.

The current research develops a proof-of-concept that evaluates the performance of DeepSARS on a small subset of patient samples, relying on relatively fast but lower read count deep sequencing runs. As previously mentioned, DeepSARS is scalable and can be applied to hundreds to thousands of patients.

Some further technological advancements, like incorporating automated workflows and using multiple machines in parallel, could further enhance the testing capacity of DeepSARS. The theoretical throughput could be compared to other targeted deep sequencing-based diagnostics. Overall, the increased genomic and sequence space coverage of DeepSARs is expected to enhance genomic surveillance projects.

The use of DeepSARS resulted in comparable phylodynamic estimates relative to WGS. At the same time, it was observed that tree topologies diverged from those inferred using WGS. For DeepSARS to play a crucial role in shaping public health policies, it would need to accurately estimate the reproductive number (R e ), as VoCs often have higher R e and transmission rates.

Conclusion

A major advantage associated with DeepSARS is its ability to rapidly adapt the protocol, as new primers can be easily introduced to cover emerging variants. Here, the scientists demonstrated three different parameters to which primers could be designed and implemented in DeepSARS. These parameters include mutational divergence from WGS, targeting specific VoCs, and targeting viral regions, such as the spike protein and its receptor-binding domain (RBD).

The design and validation of primers were completed before the emergence of the delta and gamma variants; however, the viral regions currently recovered by DeepSARS are capable of classifying such novel variants. This implies that DeepSARS could provide early warnings regarding the emergence of future variants.

*Important notice

medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.
A recently published review on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), describes the state of current knowledge regarding the impact of this virus on the male reproductive system.

Study: Impact of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus on Male Reproductive Health. Image Credit: aslysun/Shutterstock

Background

Despite an equivalent number of infections in both sexes, the striking male predilection shown by the virus in terms of severe disease and death has garnered much scientific attention since the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2. Many have considered this to be due to androgens, the male sex hormones.

The reasoning for such a hypothesis is that androgen receptors increase the expression level of the cell surface angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors for the virus to gain entry to the host cell.

However, androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), used in the androgen-dependent condition of metastatic prostate cancer, has not been approved for the treatment of COVID-19 due to limited data and adverse side effects.

Mechanism of viral entry

The spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 has two subunits, the S1 and S2, for receptor attachment and membrane fusion, respectively. The S1 subunit contains the receptor-binding domain (RBD), which binds the ACE2 receptor. This cell surface receptor is present in the testicular Leydig and Sertoli cells.

Following virus-ACE2 binding at the RBD, the host serine protease type II transmembrane serine protease (TMPRSS2) cleaves the viral spike to activate fusion. It also enhances ACE2 cleavage and thus promotes viral uptake via the endosomal cysteine proteases cathepsin B and L pathway.

TMPRSS2 is found in multiple cell types, including the prostate and many parts of the gut. In men, TMPRSS2 expression is higher in both type I and type II alveolar cells. In the testis, TMPRSS2 expression is widespread, including in sperm precursor cells. Which indicates it is present in seminal fluid as well.

COVID-19 differences in Men

Sex-differential expression of proteins such as TMPRSS2, which are key to increased viral entry, may explain why males are more severely affected by COVID-19. Another reason is the increased occurrence of health risk factors in men, which have been independently linked to a greater risk of hospitalization with COVID-19.

The protective effect of estrogen has been noted since it modulates ACE2 expression within differentiated airway epithelium and enhances the immune response.

Androgens in COVID-19

Even though obesity and old age are associated with more severe disease, these are also linked to low serum testosterone levels. One study has shown that COVID-19 patients have lower testosterone levels than others, with testosterone deficiency levels being detected in over three-quarters.

The lower the testosterone, the higher the duration of hospitalization and the greater the severity of the disease. Inflammatory markers such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are also associated with low testosterone levels. This study also showed high serum luteinizing hormone (LH) levels, which would support the occurrence of primary hypogonadism and testicular failure.

Testosterone is produced by Leydig cells in the testis, which express ACE2 at high levels, though TMPRSS2 expression is uncertain. It could be possible that the virus invades the Leydig cells and either destroys or inactivates them, resulting in testicular hypofunction in severe COVID-19. Post-mortem analysis has shown reduced numbers of Leydig cells in patients who succumbed to the virus, supporting this hypothesis.

Testosterone replacement therapy is not considered a valuable option due to the theoretical risk of venous thromboembolic events (VTE), already elevated in severe COVID-19. Overall, testosterone use to modulate COVID-19 outcomes cannot be recommended at present on the weight of available evidence.

Male reproductive organs in COVID-19

Some researchers have reported the occurrence of erectile dysfunction (ED) in patients who have recovered from COVID-19. It is thought to be the effect of endothelial dysfunction, a hallmark of severe COVID-19 disease since endothelial cells carry both ACE2 and TMPRSS2 receptors.

Following the viral entry into endothelial cells, replication and the resulting cell injury leads to vasculopathy. The result is microvascular damage, which is the fundamental lesion in vasculogenic ED. ED prevalence is higher among COVID-19 survivors, though other causes may contribute.

SARS-CoV-2 has been identified in penile and endothelial cells of the corpora cavernosum up to seven months after infection, suggesting that direct damage may also be a factor in ED post-COVID. Testicular inflammation has been described in up to 22% of infected men, and about 17% of post-mortem testicular biopsies tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR. However, this could be due to blood contamination.

Widespread destruction of germ cells was also found. In severe COVID-19, the virus may reach these organs via the blood, aided by the abundance of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 receptors on them. However, prostate and seminal vesicle ACE2 and TMPRSS2 expression are not associated with injury due to COVID-19. This may be due to low levels of ACE2 expression, with low-to-medium TMPRSS2 levels, in the prostate.

Male fertility and sexual transmission

Researchers have explored the possibility of the virus entering the testis, disrupting the testis-blood barrier, impacting sperm generation, and spreading via sexual contact. Only one study showed viral particles in a sizable minority of semen samples during acute COVID-19, in a group of men with severe infection.

The consensus is that semen testing in andrology technicians is not a probable source of transmission given the low presence of the virus. Sexual transmission is also unlikely, given the timing of the observation during severe acute illness. In convalescent patients, there is no evidence to suggest a risk.

Germ cell loss may cause impaired semen parameters in those with moderate to severe disease. Several studies have shown a reduction in total sperm counts, with some recovery at three months, the time required for a new sperm generation cycle to be completed.

Despite the short-term adverse impact of SARS-CoV-2 on semen quality and the unknown long-term effects, experts believe that cryopreservation of sperm for assisted reproductive techniques remains safe. Fertility tests may be required for men who wish to father children following a bout of COVID-19.
Today, The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, the educational arm of the nations largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization, in partnership with Us Helping Us, launched the United States first national in-home HIV testing program centered around reaching communities disproportionately impacted by HIVBlack and Latinx gay, bisexual men and transgender women of color. Also, for the first time in its history, HRC will be providing a direct-to-door service to the LGBTQ+ community by pledging to administer a minimum of 5,000 free in-home testing kits for HIV over one year.

In the lead up to Southern HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on August 20, the in-home testing kits aim to empower people to learn their status and take control of their sexual health without having to visit a medical provider. Usually, HIV testing is done with a doctor, in a hospital, or at a community health clinic but due to lack of access to healthcare and HIV stigma, marginalized populations often do not receive testing.

Today, Black and Latinx gay men and transgender people are still dying of HIV and dying at disproportionately high rates, said Alphonso David, Human Rights Campaign President. Although we have made significant advances in addressing HIV, some of our communities remain ravaged by it. With this program and working closely with our partners, we endeavor to stop the spread of HIV particularly in communities of color.

Supported by Gilead Sciences, the home-service fits under the umbrella of My Body, My Health, a comprehensive public education campaign that works toward building a generation free of HIV/AIDS. In addition to disseminating the 5,000 testing kits, the program will provide a referral to PrEP providers in the persons area, and link HIV positive individuals to care via navigation services. The kits will include an OraQuick oral swab, condoms, lubricants, and a test information card. HRC has also created educational resources to complement the test kits, such as an instructional test video and an online service page that shows local HIV prevention and treatment services.

The continued prevalence of the HIV/AIDS epidemic requires innovative solutionsthese in-home self-testing kits allow people to find out their result in the privacy of their own home, thereby reducing HIV stigma and fear. This expanded partnership with community-based organizations presents a unique opportunity for The Human Rights Campaign to leverage its extensive reach to propel access to life-saving HIV testing for multiply marginalized communities. J. Maurice McCants-Pearsall, Director of HIV & Health Equity, Human Rights Campaign

Along with the HIV in-home test kits, HRC Foundation has launched a community campaign that targets regions across the country that are the most affected by HIV/AIDSthose communities are New Orleans, LA, Miami, FL, Washington DC, Puerto Rico, Indianapolis, IN and Greenville, MS. This is a digital advocacy, public awareness campaign that seeks to educate and activate Black and Latinx communities through discussing the intersections of sexual health, race and queerness in order to break down long-lasting HIV stigma and fear.

Us Helping Us, one of the oldest and largest HIV prevention, treatment and care agencies in the nation, is pleased to partner with HRC Foundation on this high-impact and critically important initiative to achieve the EHE targets, said Dr. DeMarc Hickson, Us Helping Us Executive Director. It is of equal importance to increase HIV testing in areas such as the Southeastern U.S., which has a long-standing history of oppression, white supremacy and HIV stigma. In addition, we envision a world free of stigma and where HIV testing is part of routine health care.

Current data confirms that the availability of HIV self-tests in the United States would not only increase HIV awareness, but would also expand access to testing among communities who would not otherwise get an HIV test in traditional healthcare settings. Furthermore, it is recommended that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 get tested for HIV at least once as part of routine healthcare and once every three months for gay and bisexual men.

Marginalized populations, including LGBTQ people, face both societal and economic barriers that prevent them from accessing healthcare and communities of color have been hit the hardest1 in 2 Black gay and bisexual cisgender men and 1 in 4 Latinx gay and bisexual cisgender men will be diagnosed with HIV in their lifetime. According to a recent CDC study in seven United States cities, 42 percent of transgender women interviewed had HIV, with 62 percent of Black transgender women and 35 percent of Latinx transgender women already living with HIV.
Masimo announced today the findings of a study published in the Turkish Journal of Emergency Medicine in which Drs. Seda Dagar and Huseyin Uzunosmanoglu at the Kecioren Training and Research Hospital in Ankara, Turkey investigated the role that noninvasive, continuous Masimo PVi might play in monitoring volume status and volume changes in spontaneously breathing patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD). The researchers found that there was a strong correlation between change in PVi and the volume of fluid removed, concluding that PVi may provide clinicians with useful information for monitoring the volume status in critically ill patients with spontaneous breathing.

Masimo Root with PVi (Photo: Business Wire)

More than 100 independent studies have demonstrated the utility of PVi as an indicator of fluid responsiveness.2 Noting that PVi has been studied mostly in mechanically ventilated patients, the researchers sought to investigate its ability to help assess volume changes in spontaneously breathing patients. They enrolled 60 adult patients with end-stage renal disease who received routine HD (during which fluid is removed simultaneously with the removal of waste solutes) and had a median of 3,500 cc of fluid removed during HD. PVi was measured using a Masimo pulse oximetry sensor attached to a Masimo Root monitor, before and after HD, and changes in PVi were compared to the amount of fluid removed during the session.

The researchers found that mean PVi showed a statistically significant increase after HD, from 20.7%  5% to 27.7%  6% (p < 0.001). Based on the amount of fluid removed during HD, the change in PVi was statistically significant (p = 0.015) and was strongly correlated to the volume of fluid removed (r = 0.744, p < 0.001).

The researchers concluded, In the present study, we found that the fluid removed by HD in spontaneously breathing patients caused an increase in PVi and that this increase was strongly correlated with the amount of volume change. Bedside monitoring of PVi, which is a noninvasive, fast, reproducible measurement parameter, may provide the clinicians with useful information for monitoring the volume status and evaluating the effectiveness of volumerestoration therapy in critically ill patients with spontaneous breathing.

The accuracy of PVi in predicting fluid responsiveness is variable and influenced by numerous patient, procedure, and device-related factors. PVi measures the variation in the plethysmography amplitude but does not provide measurements of stroke volume or cardiac output. Fluid management decisions should be based on a complete assessment of the patients condition and should not be based solely on PVi.

In the U.S., PVi is cleared as a noninvasive, dynamic indicator of fluid responsiveness in select populations of mechanically ventilated adult patients.
Back to school jitters may have different meaning in the COVID era.

After more than a year of pandemic disruptions, families are heading into the next school year worried about COVID's looming impact on students, according to the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health.

Top of mind for many: a possible repeat of virtual school, falling behind academically and problems connecting with friends as well wanting to know vaccination rates among teachers and students to feel safer.

COVID wreaked havoc on many families' school experience last year, with parents and kids navigating unpredictable changes in the learning environment and new social, emotional and academic challenges. Our report suggests that those experiences left a mark on students and families, influencing their views and concerns about the upcoming school year." Sarah Clark, M.P.H., Mott Poll Co-Director

The nationally representative Mott Poll report is based on responses from 1,669 parents with at least one child age 7-18.

COVID worries linger into the next school year

For many children and teens, last year's back to school season meant starting a new grade at kitchen tables and meeting classmates and teachers on screens. For others, the school year came with plexi glass dividers in classrooms, eating lunch at desks and facing COVID exposure quarantines.

But these transitions impacted different students in different ways, the poll suggests. Over half of parents rate at least one aspect of the 2020-2021 school year as worse than the prior year  25% on academic performance, 36% on connections with teachers, 40% for the impact on relationships with other students, and 32% for general attitude.

Meanwhile, a third of parents cited at least one area that was better for their child during the pandemic: 24% for school performance, 19% for teacher connections, 14% for peer relationships, and 17% for attitudes about school.

Parents whose child had mostly virtual school, however, rated more aspects of the last school year as worse, compared to parents whose child had little virtual school. Twenty-six percent of parents also report their child is worried about having to do virtual school again  a warranted concern as outbreaks stemming from the contagious Delta variant are already prompting some schools to return to virtual formats.

"Establishing a successful virtual learning environment was challenging for many families. This may have been particularly true for those with technical barriers, students with special needs and those whose home environments didn't offer quiet and comfortable spaces to learn," Clark said.

"For some children, the decreased level of interaction with teachers also required more supervision or assistance from parents throughout the school day  which could be especially challenging for those working from home themselves."

Outlooks for the 2021-2022 back to school season

In addition to concerns about returning to virtual learning, parents say their child's worries for the new school year also involve feeling comfortable around larger groups of children (24%), being behind on academics (22%), and getting along with friends (22%).

"It's likely that many children may need time and additional support to catch up in some academic areas that they did not fully grasp in the last school year," Clark said, suggesting parents ask teachers for suggestions on supplementary work.

"Some children and teens who may have avoided social anxieties or conflicts during virtual school may also need support transitioning back to traditional in-person school," she added.

Parents polled noted that the challenges of the 2020-21 school year were more difficult due to increased stress  their own and their child's  as well as uncertainty about how to implement virtual learning.

Still, looking ahead, many feel very confident that they will know how to help their child be successful with school in the upcoming year (51%), bounce back when things don't go well (47%), and deal with peer problems (44%).

Many kids may have positive outlooks as well, with 41% of parents saying their child is more enthusiastic about the 2021-22 school year while 16% are less enthusiastic, and 43% feel about the same.

62% of parents would feel safer with higher school vaccination rates

As COVID cases surge again across parts of the country, about three in five parents of middle- and high-school students also say their child would feel safer if most students and teachers were vaccinated against COVID. And most families want to know how many aren't vaccinated.

But only one in five say this information would affect their decision about having their child attend in-person school.

"Many families would feel safer knowing their school has a high vaccination rate," Clark said.

"But some may feel that the potential negative impacts of not attending in-person school outweigh risks from unvaccinated individuals. Parents may also believe that they can minimize that risk by having their child get a COVID vaccine."

She suggested parents and students ask questions about their school's COVID mitigation measures, so they know what to expect and how to prepare. Many experts and several organizations, including the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention 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, as well as other prevention strategies.

"Parents will want to learn about school policies related to masks and social distancing, and then talk with their child about how to navigate the school environment to feel as safe as possible," Clark said.
Scientific research has shown that sexuality exists on a spectrum. But how certain are people about where they fit on it? A new University of Sydney study suggests that peoples reported sexual orientation can change after reading about the nature of sexual orientation.

Published in peer-reviewed journal, Natures Scientific Reports, the study found that a significant number of heterosexual people report being less exclusive in their sexual orientation as well as more willing to have same-sex experiences after reading one of two 1-page informational articles.

Lead author, Dr James Morandini, said: Did we change peoples sexual orientation via our interventions? Surely not. I think our study may have changed how people interpreted their underlying sexual feelings. This means two people with identical sexual orientations could describe their sexual orientation quite differently, depending on whether they have been exposed to fluid or continuous ways of understanding sexuality.

One informational article read by participants suggested that scientific research has found that there are many gradations of sexual attraction towards men and women, and people can fall anywhere along the continuum, from exclusive attraction to men to exclusive attraction to women. Another informational article showed that sexual orientation can change overtime, thus can be fluid.

All participants self-identified as straight before the study began. Compared to a control group, after reading the first article, participants were 28 percent more likely to identify as non-exclusively heterosexual, and 19 percent indicated they would be more likely to be willing to engage in same-sex sexual activities. Overall, the rate of non-exclusive heterosexuality more than quadrupled after this activity. Similar, albeit weaker, effects were found when people read that sexual orientation is better characterised as fluid rather than stable throughout life.

The studys senior author, Associate Professor Ilan Dar-Nimrod from the School of Psychology, said: This is not that surprising given that non-exclusive heterosexuals (as opposed to bisexual, gay or lesbian individuals), although being the biggest same-sex attracted group, are not well captured in our societys representations and even vernacular.

Given the social value that our society attach to these labels, however, such a shift may have far-reaching implications. It also suggests that certain level of same-sex sexual attraction may be much more common than previously estimated. Ilan Dar-Nimrod, Associate Professor, School of Psychology

Methodology

A national Australian sample of 460 individuals (232 women, 228 men) who identified as straight prior the study took part in an online panel study.

They were instructed to read an article that suggested that scientific research found one of the following:

There are many gradations of sexual attraction towards men and women and people can fall anywhere along the continuum from exclusive attraction to men to exclusive attraction to women.

Sexual orientation exists in three discrete, non-overlapping categories: gay, bisexual, and straight.

Sexual orientation can change throughout ones lifetime.

Sexual orientation is stable once a person identifies which gender they are attracted to.

Control (no discussion of sexual orientation but instead discussing global warming).

They were then asked to rate their sexual orientation on a 9-point scale from exclusively heterosexual (1) to exclusively homosexual (9) and provide information on how certain they are about their sexual orientation and how willing they are to engage in same-sex sexual encounters.
A global inventory has revealed that CO 2 emissions from oil refineries were 1.3 Gigatonnes (Gt) in 2018 and could be as large as 16.5 Gt from 2020 to 2030. Based on the results, the researchers recommend distinct mitigation strategies for refineries in different regions and age groups. The findings appear August 20 in the journal One Earth.

This study provides a detailed picture of oil refining capacity and CO 2 emissions worldwide. Understanding the past and future development trends of the oil refining industry is crucial for guiding regional and global emissions reduction." Dabo Guan, Tsinghua University

Climate change is one of the most fundamental challenges facing humanity today, and continuous expansion of fossil-fuel-based energy infrastructure may be one of the key obstacles in achieving the Paris Agreement goals.

The oil refining industry plays a crucial role in both the energy supply chain and climate change. The petroleum oil refining industry is the third-largest stationary emitter of greenhouse gases in the world, contributing 6% of all industrial greenhouse gas emissions. In particular, CO 2 accounts for approximately 98% of greenhouse gases emitted by petroleum refineries.

In the new study, Guan and his collaborators developed a publicly available global inventory of CO 2 emissions from 1,056 oil refineries from 2000 to 2018. CO 2 emissions of the refinery industry were about 1.3 Gt in 2018.

If all existing and proposed refineries operate as usual, without the adoption of any low-carbon measures, they could emit up to 16.5Gt of CO 2 from 2020 to 2030. Based on the findings, the authors recommend mitigation strategies, such as improving refinery efficiency and upgrading heavy oil-processing technologies, which could potentially reduce global cumulative emissions by 10% from 2020 to 2030. The inventory will be updated and improved in the future as more and better data become available.

The study also showed that the average output of global oil refineries gradually increased from 2000 to 2018, in terms of barrels per day. But the results varied by refinery age group. Specifically, the average capacity of young refineries, which are mainly distributed in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, increased significantly from 2000 to 2018, while the average capacity of refineries older than 19 years remained stable.

"Given the greater committed emissions brought about by the long remaining operating time of young refineries, there is an urgent need for these refineries to adopt low-carbon technologies to reduce their CO 2 emissions," Guan says. "As for middle-aged and old refineries, improving operational efficiency, eliminating the backward capacity, and speeding up the upgrading of refining configuration are the key means to balance growing demand and reducing CO 2 emissions."
James Patrick Constantine, 71, passed away on Thursday, August 26, 2021 at the Robley Rex VA Medical Center in Louisville. He was born in Jeffersonville, and was a retired Operations Manager for Insight Cable. He was an Army Veteran of the Vietnam War. He was preceded in death by his parents
(Newser)  Angelina Jolie has finally made her Instagram debut. The actress launched a profile on the social media site Friday, describing herself as a "Mom, filmmaker, Special Envoy for UN @refugees." In her first post, she shared a letter sent to her from a teen girl in Afghanistan who wrote to Jolie about her fear that under the Taliban's takeover of the country women and girls will lose their rights and freedom. "I was on the border of Afghanistan two weeks before 9/11, where I met Afghan refugees who had fled the Taliban. This was twenty years ago," Jolie writes in the caption. "It is sickening to watch Afghans being displaced yet again out of the fear and uncertainty that has gripped their country."

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She says that's why she decided to join the site: "Right now, the people of Afghanistan are losing their ability to communicate on social media and to express themselves freely. So Ive come on Instagram to share their stories and the voices of those across the globe who are fighting for their basic human rights." Her second post discusses her work with displaced people. The 82.4 million people currently displaced across the globe, almost twice as many as 10 years ago, "all have in common the violence and denial of rights that leave innocent families with no choice but to flee," Jolie writes. "At which point will we be concerned enough to address the environmental devastation, conflict and human rights abuses that fuel these crises?" (Read more Angelina Jolie stories.)
(Newser)  Russia's president has criticized Western nations for seeking to temporarily house Afghan refugees in Central Asian countries, citing security concerns for Russia. Speaking at a meeting with top officials of the Kremlins United Russia party on Sunday, Vladimir Putin blasted what he described as a humiliating approach by Western states. The Russian president noted that there are no visa restrictions between Russia and its Central Asian allies, and said that Moscow doesnt want militants appearing (in Russia) again under the guise of refugees.

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We dont want to repeat, even in part, something what we had in the 90s and in the mid-2000s, when there were hostilities in the North Caucasus, Putin said. Thousands of people in Afghanistan have been looking for ways to leave the country after the Taliban took control of Kabul in a swift power grab, seeking to escape what they see as a return to ruthless fundamentalist rule. Hundreds have headed to the Central Asian nations of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, which share a border with Afghanistan.

(Read more Afghanistan stories.)
(Newser)  The mysterious illness that killed dozens of birds a day in some areas, causing their eyes to swell up and crust over and leading officials to ask residents to take down bird feeders and bird baths for fear they were helping the sickness to spread, appears to be over as quickly as it beganthough without any clear answers. Officials in the mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and South regions where the ailment was killing birds have started telling residents they can put bird feeders back out. The number of calls about suffering birds has decreased, the Washington Post reports in a look at the Virginia cases. However, while officials have ruled out some causesincluding bacteria, West Nile virus, avian influenza, pesticides, heavy metals, and, yes, coronavirusesthey have yet to figure out what was going on.

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Connecticut officials also said residents can put bird feeders back out, the Hartford Courant reports; Kentucky and Indiana residents were told the same, per WVXU. As the mystery illness killed thousands of birds, officials worried about them gathering together at feeders, but the death toll has decreased enough that that is no longer a concern. Songbirds were mostly affected, and woodpeckers were as well. Scientists are continuing to investigate what might have caused the issue, including looking at whether cicadaswhich also were in abundance in the area over the summer but are now gonehad anything to do with it. Residents are still advised to sanitize and disinfect their bird feeders and bird baths regularly, the National Wildlife Federation reports. (Read more birds stories.)
(Newser)  "Work has become intolerable. Rest is resistance." That's the message of the "lying flat" movement that kicked off in China in April and is now starting to take hold globally as a pushback against the 24/7 hamster wheel of capitalism, detailed in Cassady Rosenblum's op-ed for the New York Times. In her piece entitled "Work Is a False Idol," Rosenblum notes she recently ditched her NPR producer job to hunker down with her parents in West Virginia, following the trend of Chinese millennials who of late have chosen slower lifestyles to buck what she calls "China's hypercompetitive middle-class culture." In her own new life, Rosenblum notes the "silence of her days," which has allowed her more reflection on a world "on fire."

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"From my view down here on the carpet, I see a system that, even if it bounces back to 'normal,' I have no interest in rejoining, a system that is beginning to come undone," she writes. She concedes "there is immense privilege in lying flat," though she clarifies she's not advocating for people to simply ditch all efforts at making a livingit's immersing oneself into a time-sucking "career" at the expense of practically everything else that's problematic. "While jobs are sustenance, careers are altars upon which all else is sacrificed," she writes. As for herself, Rosenblum answers a question posed by poet Mary Oliver, who asks, "Tell me, what is it you plan to do/with your one wild and precious life?" Per Rosenblum, "my reply, for now, is simple: Sit on the porch." Read the full essay. (Read more workers stories.)
(Newser)  Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says he has tested negative for COVID-19, just four days after testing positive. "I'm told that my infection was brief and mild because of the vaccination that I received," Abbott said in a video clip posted on his Twitter account on Saturday. "So I encourage others who have not yet received the vaccination to consider getting one." When the Republican governor announced Tuesday that he'd tested positive for the virus, his office said he was in good health and experiencing no symptoms, per the AP. Abbott said Saturday that he'll continue to quarantine as recommended by doctors. Abbott, who was vaccinated in December, has refused calls to reinstate mask mandates as the highly contagious delta variant surges in Texas.

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He tested positive for the virus a day after appearing indoors near Dallas without a mask while speaking to a crowded room of GOP supporters, most of whom were older and unmasked. Abbott, 63, has seldom been seen wearing a mask in public recently. He also has rebuffed calls to reimpose pandemic restrictions, including mask mandates, as cases in Texas are again soaring, hospitals are stretched thin, and a growing number of school districts defy his orders that prohibit face-covering requirements in classrooms. Hospitalizations in Texas of people with COVID-19 have reached levels not seen since January, with more than 13,000 people hospitalized as of Saturday.

Abbott said Saturday that his wife, Cecilia Abbott, continues to test negative. Meanwhile, US Rep. Troy Nehls, a Republican from the Houston area, said Saturday on Twitter that he'd tested positive for COVID-19 and had moderate symptoms. Nehls said that he's fully vaccinated and hopes the symptoms pass soon. "All Americans are free to make their own health decisions, but I strongly encourage getting vaccinated," he wrote on Twitter on Saturday. "It is scientifically proven to drastically reduce the risk of severe illness & death from COVID."

(Read more Greg Abbott stories.)
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(Newser)  On Friday, Bolivian prosecutors charged Jeanine Anezthe former president of Bolivia, already in detention after being accused in March of leading a coup against another ex-Bolivian president, Evo Moraleswith "genocide." Police are now saying the 54-year-old Anez tried to kill herself over the weekend in jail. "What happened is within the definition of attempted suicide," a rep from the country's national police said on local TV after the Saturday incident, per Reuters.

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Word from her legal team, family: Anez attorney Norka Cuellar didn't use the word "suicide," but confirmed that Anez harmed herself, noting she cut her lower arms, specifically via three slashes on one of her wrists. "This is a cry for help from the former president," Cuellar told reporters. "She feels very harassed." Meanwhile, Carolina Ribera, Anez's daughter, says her mother did try to end her life due to "severe depression" brought about by her long-term imprisonment, per Al Jazeera.

Anez attorney Norka Cuellar didn't use the word "suicide," but confirmed that Anez harmed herself, noting she cut her lower arms, specifically via three slashes on one of her wrists. "This is a cry for help from the former president," Cuellar told reporters. "She feels very harassed." Meanwhile, Carolina Ribera, Anez's daughter, says her mother did try to end her life due to "severe depression" brought about by her long-term imprisonment, per Al Jazeera. Background: Anez was arrested and imprisoned in March, accused of staging a coup against Morales in 2019 and taking over the presidency as he fled the country, per Deutsche Welle. The new charges of genocide are related to the protests that emerged after Anez assumed the leadership role, with a report from the Organization of American States finding that Bolivian security forces carried out a "massacre" that killed 20 Morales supporters involved in two demonstrations. In October 2020, Luis Arce, the candidate from Morales' party, the Movement for Socialism, was elected president.

Anez was arrested and imprisoned in March, accused of staging a coup against Morales in 2019 and taking over the presidency as he fled the country, per Deutsche Welle. The new charges of genocide are related to the protests that emerged after Anez assumed the leadership role, with a report from the Organization of American States finding that Bolivian security forces carried out a "massacre" that killed 20 Morales supporters involved in two demonstrations. In October 2020, Luis Arce, the candidate from Morales' party, the Movement for Socialism, was elected president. Medical issues: Anez's family has long demanded she be transferred to a medical facility that can treat her for hypertension and other conditions. Over the past few weeks, she's been taken to a hospital three times, including on Wednesday, when she had a thorax exam.

Anez's family has long demanded she be transferred to a medical facility that can treat her for hypertension and other conditions. Over the past few weeks, she's been taken to a hospital three times, including on Wednesday, when she had a thorax exam. Current situation: Anez is now said to be in stable condition, according to both Interior Minister Eduardo del Castillo and Juan Carlos Limpias, the nation's prisons chief. "At the moment, she is with her family in the penitentiary," Limpias noted Sunday, per Al Jazeera. "The family will be an important factor to help improve her state of mind."

(Read more Bolivia stories.)
(Newser)  Monday is Andrew Cuomo's final day as the governor of New York state, but he's not escaping without one last batch of negative headlines. The Albany Times Union reports that Cuomo left his dog behind at the governor's mansion after moving in with his sister in Westchester County in recent days. Cuomo's office says the report is misleading, but the governor is taking all kinds of online venom from dog lovers.

The dog: Cuomo adopted Captain in 2018, and the large shepherd mix is apparently a handful. "High-strung" is how the Albany newspaper diplomatically puts it. The report says Cuomo has been asking staffers at the mansion if they want to keep Captain permanently. One staffer reportedly tried but brought him back.

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Denial: Cuomo spokesman Richard Azzopardi slammed the report and said Cuomo is looking for a "temporary" caregiver because he's going on vacation. "Someone offered to watch [Captain] for a few days while the transition was ongoing, but for that to be weaponized and morph from a game of telephone into the pages of your paper is absurdnow excuse us, we're preparing for a major storm," he said in a statement, per Fox News. The storm he mentioned was Tropical Storm Henri.

Cuomo spokesman Richard Azzopardi slammed the report and said Cuomo is looking for a "temporary" caregiver because he's going on vacation. "Someone offered to watch [Captain] for a few days while the transition was ongoing, but for that to be weaponized and morph from a game of telephone into the pages of your paper is absurdnow excuse us, we're preparing for a major storm," he said in a statement, per Fox News. The storm he mentioned was Tropical Storm Henri. Reaction: The executive director of the state's Animal Protection Federation declared that Captain "deserves better." Libby Post said she read the Times Union's report that Cuomo moved out of the mansion sans dog "with disbelief," adding that various shelters would be able to help Captain with the "nipping" issues he apparently has. Others online were a lot angrier toward Cuomo.

The executive director of the state's Animal Protection Federation declared that Captain "deserves better." Libby Post said she read the Times Union's report that Cuomo moved out of the mansion sans dog "with disbelief," adding that various shelters would be able to help Captain with the "nipping" issues he apparently has. Others online were a lot angrier toward Cuomo. Now what: Cuomo is officially out at 11:59pm. Maybe successor Kathy Hochul wants a dog?

(Read more Andrew Cuomo stories.)
(Newser)  Igor Vovkovinskiy, the tallest man in the United States, has died in Minnesota at the age of 38. His family said the Ukrainian-born Vovkovinskiy died of heart disease on Friday at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, per the AP. Vovkovinskiy came to the Mayo Clinic in 1989 as a child seeking treatment: A tumor pressing against his pituitary gland caused it to secrete abnormal levels of growth hormone. He grew to become the tallest man in the US at 7 feet, 8.33 inches and ended up staying in Rochester. His older brother, Oleh Ladan of Brooklyn Park, told the Star Tribune of Minneapolis that Vovkovinskiy was a celebrity when he arrived from Ukraine because of his size and the flickering Cold War of the late 1980s. But Ladan said Vovkovinskiy "would have rather lived a normal life than be known."

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Vovkovinskiy appeared on The Dr. Oz Show and was called out by President Barack Obama during a campaign rally in 2009, when the president noticed him near the stage wearing a T-shirt that read "World's Biggest Obama Supporter." In 2013, Vovkovinskiy carried the Ukrainian contestant in the Eurovision Song Contest onto the stage to perform. When he was 27, Vovkovinskiy traveled to New York City and was declared America's tallest living person by a Guinness World Records adjudicator on Oz's show. He edged out a sheriff's deputy in Virginia by one-third of an inch. He issued a plea in 2012 to cover the estimated $16,000 cost for specially made shoes that wouldn't cause him crippling pain. At the time, he said he hadn't owned a pair for years that fit his size 26, 10E feet. Thousands of people donated more than double what he needed. Reebok provided the custom shoes for free.

(Read more obituary stories.)
(Newser)  A man hit two employees at a California coronavirus vaccination clinic with his car over the weekend before fleeing, sheriff's deputies said. The driver argued with two employees, KNBC reports, then got into his car Saturday at the former Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center. He struck one worker with the car's side mirror, ran over signs and cones, struck a second worker, and drove away. Deputies said he hit the two intentionally, per KTLA, and are investigating the case as an assault with a deadly weapon. They're looking for him. Police haven't released a description of the attacker, but his vehicle was described as a dark gray four-door sedan.

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"I dont know why someone would do that," a neighbor said. "It's just someone trying to do their job." The Newhall clinic, which is operated by Los Angeles County, was closed after the attack Saturday to accommodate the investigation. One of the workers was unhurt, and the other declined to be taken to a hospital after suffering minor injuries to an arm. Anti-vaccine demonstrators have protested at clinics in the area, and a man was stabbed last week when protesters on both sides of the vaccine debate clashed in downtown Los Angeles, per the Daily News. (Read more vaccinations stories.)
(Newser)  Newlyweds who had been missing for a couple days were found shot to death at their campsite. Crystal Turner and her wife, Kylen Schulte, only married since April, were living the van life in rural Utah, spending nights in a converted camper and working in town. When neither woman showed up for work, the alarm was raised.

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Warning bells were going off for family and friends who said the women had texted they were thinking of moving to a new site because a "creepy" guy was near their campsite. They also told friends they hung out with at a local bar that they were considering moving, NBC News reports. Police did not find them right away, but a family friend in Moab went looking and found the women dead on Wednesday.

Both had multiple gunshot wounds, People reports. The Grand County Sheriffs Office said they didnt believe there was an ongoing threat to the community, which Schultes aunt Bridget Calvert was surprised to hear, KUTV reports.

"How can you publish something and say the community is not at danger when here is a killer at large," Calvert said. No suspect has been identified in the killings. "Theyre with Mac now," Schultes father told Calvert, referring to Schultes 15-year-old brother, who died in a shooting in 2015. (Read more missing persons stories.)
(Newser)  The US Capitol Police confirmed Monday that the officer who shot Ashli Babbitt during the Capitol riot has been cleared of wrongdoing. The 35-year-old Air Force veterana supporter of Donald Trump and a QAnon believerwas shot Jan. 6 as she tried to climb through a smashed part of a door into an area leading to the House chamber. The department said Monday that its internal investigation had determined that the officer followed Capitol Police policy, "which says an officer may use deadly force only when the officer reasonably believes that action is in the defense of human life, including the officer's own life, or in the defense of any person in immediate danger of serious physical injury," NPR reports. Babbitt was part of a mob that had been trying to smash down the doors leading to the Speaker's Lobby, which officers had barricaded with furniture.

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The department said it is not identifying the officer because he and his family "have been the subject of numerous credible and specific threats," reports the Washington Post. The officers attorney, Mark Schamel, says his client was forced from his home by "horrific threats," the AP reports. The department said its monthslong investigation involved "interviewing multiple witnesses and reviewing all the available evidence, including video and radio calls." Federal prosecutors cleared the officer of wrongdoing in April. Trump, who was impeached on a charge of inciting the insurrection, has called Babbitt a hero who was "murdered at the hands of someone who should have never pulled the trigger of his gun." (Read more Ashli Babbitt stories.)
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TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Thanks to the royal initiatives to support their progress and status at all levels, Bahraini women continue to attain remarkable achievements at home and abroad.

All efforts under the constant patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, also strengthen their role as dependable partners in the Kingdom of Bahrains progress and development.

Yesterday, Bahrain celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Supreme Council for Women (SCW) under the leadership of its President, Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of HM the King.

It marked years of enhancing the Councils national achievements in supporting the progress of Bahraini women and their active role in building the family and society, as well as advancing the comprehensive development process on the basis of justice, equality and equal partnership.

Through HM the Kings lofty will and insightful vision, the Council has succeeded in consolidating womens exercise of their constitutional rights as a worthy partners in decision-making, and the nations political, economic and social renaissance.

The solid support of HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, in partnership with the legislative, executive and judicial authorities, has enabled the SCW to contribute to the issuance of more than a hundred royal decrees, legislative amendments, ministerial decisions, and administrative circulars to protect the rights of women, the family and children, in accordance with the constitution and international standards.

In terms of political participation, the Bahraini women have exercised their rights to take part in the parliamentary and municipal elections for five terms.

They succeeded in winning five seats in the legislative authority, and 23 per cent of the municipal councils and the Capital Secretariat in 2018.

It also saw the achievement of Fawzia bint Abdullah Zainal as the Representatives Council Speaker. Another milestone is the 12 per cent representation of Bahraini women as judges, prosecutors and members of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Judicial Council, as well as its contributions to the development of civil society institutions and the establishment of a large number of womens NGOs, and its pivotal role in enriching the media, culture and intellectual renaissance.

In the economic and social field, the Council has taken pioneering initiatives to integrate womens active participation in the development process. They make up 55 per cent in the government workforce and 35 per cent in the private sector. About 47 per cent of them are entrepreneurs.

The Kingdom ranked first globally as the fastest growth rate of womens participation in nation-building, according to the 2016 World Bank report, and in the secondary and higher education enrollment indicators in the Davos 2018 report.

In the face of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Bahraini women have efficiently performed their national duties as front-liners.

On the regional and international arenas, the Council has strengthened the presence of Bahraini women, and affirmed their eligibility to assume the highest international positions, which culminated in their presidency of the United Nations General Assembly in 2006, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, and membership in the UN Womens Committee.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

The inoculation of children, aged three to 11, with Sinopharm vaccine started yesterday, the Health Ministry has announced. Included in the age group were immunocompromised children or those who have weak immune systems as they were administered the first of two doses of the vaccine.

They are children suffering from diseases that cause weak immunity, including respiratory illnesses, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, down syndrome, birth defects and obesity.

The day also witnessed a large turnout at vaccination centres by youngsters, aged 12 to 17, as they received either Sinopharm or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine as their first jab.

The National Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus stressed the importance of ensuring eligible children receive a vaccine to protect them from the virus and safeguard public health.

A large number of parents took the initiative to register their children and vaccinate them.

They expressed thanks and gratitude to the Health Ministry and to all those in charge of the national vaccination campaign for giving them the opportunity to choose the required vaccinations for their children.

The Ministry urged all parents wishing to vaccinate their children to register their children to take the vaccinations, through the healthalert.gov.bh, and via the BeAware application by selecting Registration.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

The Bahraini women took the spotlight yesterday as dependable partners in nation-building.

On the 20th anniversary of the Supreme Council for Women (SCW) yesterday, congratulatory messages poured in for Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of HM the King and SCW President.

They took pride in the establishment of SCW, highlighting its role in enhancing the status of Bahraini women in the community and boosting their contribution to achieving the visions and aspirations of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

March of development

His Highness Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa sent a cable of congratulations to HRH Princess Sabeeka praising her in leading the march of development and achievement for Bahraini women.

HH the Deputy Prime Minister lauded the ongoing efforts and the national empowerment strategy to avail of the competence of Bahraini women in boosting the Kingdoms development march.

The Deputy Prime Minister commended the advanced status of Bahraini women in regional and international gatherings which contributed to turning the kingdom into a pioneering model in women empowerment.

Effective participation

High Highness Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa lauded HRH Princess Sabeekas efforts in support of Bahraini women in order to ensure their effective participation in developing their society, in implementation of HM the Kings visions, and to achieve the goals and initiatives of the government, led by HRH Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

The Deputy Premier asserted that the SCW is one of the fruitful outcomes of HM King Hamads Reform Project, and has become, thanks to the HRH Princess Sabeekas efforts, a milestone in the Kingdoms history.

He added that the SCW has become a major national institution that paved the way for Bahraini women to hold high leadership posts, and contribute to building the nation, alongside men.

Pride of the nation

Royal Court Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa expressed sincere congratulations on the occasion, wishing HRH Princess Sabeeka further success in promoting the role of Bahraini women as a partner in building the nation and the future.

The Royal Court Minister commended the SCWs achievements, describing them as the pride of the nation.

Unlimited royal support

Constitutional Court President Shaikh Khalifa bin Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa commended the unlimited support of HM the King which helped carry out the ambitious visions and initiatives of HRH Princess Sabeeka.

He also praised the outstanding role of HRH Princess Sabeeka in implementing programmes aimed at empowering Bahraini women.

Dynamic force

His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa lauded the Councils great achievements that have enhanced the progress of Bahraini women and empowered them to become a dynamic force in the comprehensive development process during the prosperous reign of HM the King.

HH Shaikh Mohammed stressed that the support of HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister to enhance the progress of Bahraini women contributed to their steady achievements at various levels.

Sound directives

Adviser for Political and Economic Affairs at the Court of the Crown Prince, Shaikh Mohammed bin Isa Al Khalifa, lauded the SCWs successes which consolidated Bahraini womens status at all levels and gatherings, thanks to the royal care, making it a global think tank to be emulated as a role model for enhancing womens advancement.

He asserted that Bahrains prestigious reputation in the field of womens advancement and the Bahraini womens strides in all fields are the outcome of HRH Princess Sabeekas sound directives.

Holding highest posts

Bahrain Journalists Association (BJA) President Isa Al Shaiji lauded the landmark achievements attained by the SCW, consolidating Bahraini womens status and rights at all levels, as well as enabling them to hold the highest posts, and play their full role in the comprehensive development march, currently witnessed by the kingdom.

The BJA chief expressed pride in the performance of Bahraini women in the press and the media, appreciating the support of the SCW to Bahraini women in this field

Tremendous support

President of the Supreme Council of Health (SCH), Lieutenant General Dr Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa underscored the tremendous support accorded to Bahraini women by HRH Princess Sabeeka in various developmental sectors.

The SCH head pointed out that three Bahraini women have taken up the post of Health Minister so far which reflects the role of SCW in empowering Bahraini women.

Partners in accomplishments

Chief of Public Security, Lieutenant-General Tariq Al Hassan, highlighted that Bahraini women had been partners in the national accomplishments.

The Chief said that fortunately, the occasion coincides with the 50th anniversary of the formation of the Women Police.

Increasing achievements

Arab Parliament Speaker Adel bin Abdulrahman Al Asoomi said the establishment of the SCW was a royal initiative aimed at strengthening the status of Bahraini women, increasing their achievements in all fields and institutionalising all efforts to support their advancement and enhance their progress and status at all levels.

Al Asoomi noted that Bahraini women have been able to reach prestigious posts regionally and internationally.


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DANBURY  After minimal storm impact Sunday and early Monday morning, Danbury saw some flooding downtown.

Barriers were installed near the corner of Wooster and Main Streets, blocking cars from driving southeast on Main Street over standing water on the road.

Its a known hazard, said Matthew Cassavechia, emergency services director. The mayor has given the very clear direction that public safety is paramount.

The city has dealt with flooding in the area for years because of infrastructure issues. But the flooding was likely preferred compared with what was initially predicted.

Tropical Storm Henri was downgraded late Sunday and by Monday morning, the storm brought periods of rain and to the Danbury area. At one point over the weekend, it was predicted the storm-turned-hurricane would make landfall between Bridgeport and New Haven, which could have brought devastating circumstances to the state including mass power outages and flooding. Instead, it made landfall in Rhode Island, making for a wet few days.

The minor flooding in Danbury meant about 30 cars parked in the lot for the Senior Center and Connecticut Institute for Communities Inc. buildings were trapped.

Crews built a temporary path for those cars to drive over, into an adjacent parking lot and onto the dry part of Main Street.

Its a facilitated forward movement of vehicles out of here, Cassavechia said. Im not calling it an evacuation.

The city is working on a project that could address the flooding thats become a norm on that part of Main Street, as well as West Street, he said. The project is expected to be on the City Council agenda soon and would offer long-term mitigation strategies, he said.

Were on it, but for now the idea is to make people safe and get them out of here in a very deliberate and focused manner, Cassavechia said.

The flooding is caused by problems with the East Ditch drainage system, which was designed in the late 19th century to route sewage, horse manure and storm water to the Still River, according to Danburys 2017 Hazard Mitigation Plan.

A first phase of upgrades to the system were completed in the early 2000s, but the second phase was deferred past 2021 in the citys 2015-16 budget, the plan states.

The intersection of Wooster Street, Main Street and Park Place flood about five times a year during storms, according to the report.

Post-Henri flooding

An 8 a.m. briefing with public safety, public works, and Eversource had assessed the citys preliminary damage and came back with positive news. But by 9:15 a.m., with additional rainfall, the flooding at Main Street and Wooster Street, in addition to Elmwood Place, began to impede traffic.

Police, the fire department and public works crews assessed the situation and decided to close off part of Main Street around mid-morning.

We dont want people driving through standing water, Cassavechia said.

A neighboring parking lot serving a dentist office, insurance office and Padaminas NY Bakery II was used to relocate the roughly 30 cars in the parking lot blocked by the water.

Parks and highway department employees removed the vegetation on a grass strip between the two parking lots and installed a strip of cold patch, allowing the trapped cars to pass through to the other lot.

Were working with the medical professionals in this building, along with the Senior Center, to orchestrate a safe pathway to be able to egress the parking lot in a manner that doesnt compromise peoples safety, Cassavechia said.

The city plans to close off the pathway on Tuesday, said Tim Nolan, public services superintendent.

That Main Street flooding usually sorts itself out within 24 hours, he said. We just dont want anyone to get stuck.

Public works and utilities personnel were sent out Monday morning to check roadways and other critical city infrastructure for damage or impact.

This is a rather dynamic situation and fortunately we were on top of it, Cassavechia said.

Sunday morning, Danbury experienced one of the largest outages in the area, affecting around 900 Eversource customers. The Casper Street outage was also not storm-related but animal-related, according to Eversource. The outage was resolved by around 3:45 p.m.

Whats next

The National Weather Service had the Danbury area under a flood watch until 2 a.m. Tuesday. Rain continued and local officials said they were concerned about the possibility of trees toppling over due to the ground being wet.

In New Milford, Mayor Pete Bass reported no power outages or significant flooding in town Monday morning, which he called very, very good news.

Litchfield County was one of the areas expected to experience some of the heaviest rains and flooding due to Henri. New Milfords flood watch only extended until 8 p.m. Monday, according to the National Weather Service.

The mayor said he had been out driving around some of the roads.

So far, so good, he said.

New Milford work crews were out cleaning catch basins and checking roads for storm-related issues, and also responding to downed trees on Taylor Road and Candlewood Lake Road South, Bass said. The trees were downed because of wet weather.
BROOKFIELD  Its not uncommon for Devin Caldwell to spend at least an hour or two every day looking for a new apartment in the Danbury area.

Since July, hes been sending emails, calling agents, and browsing rental listings that pop up. He looks in the morning, on his lunch break, and when he gets back home. He has perused every major real estate site for anything he can find. But the 33-year-old Brookfield resident continues to strike out.

After a breakup, Caldwell, who works as an office manager for a luxury furniture company in New Milford, has been searching for a one-bedroom rental under $1,400 per month, or a two-bedroom around $2,200 that he could share with a roommate.

Every time we find something that looks good, thats in the price range, in the area, they go immediately, he said.

With a dearth of units and an abundance of renters, one has to be quick: click, call and sign. It can feel like a full-time job.

I feel like I need to hire an intern, Caldwell joked.

His woes are not unique. The current rental market in the greater Danbury area is unlike anything some real estate agents have seen before, with out-of-sync supply and demand making it hard for renters like Caldwell to find a new place to live.

MJ Devine, a real estate agent at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices office in Danbury, said the current supply of rental units is extremely low.

Ive never seen anything like this, she said. Devine remembers a housing boom in the 1990s, but added: I dont remember the rental market ever being as nuts as this.

She has more renters than properties available. Its a simple supply and demand issue, she said. Its a problem seen not only in Connecticut, but across the US.

Bloomberg recently reported that the number of occupied rental units in the second quarter of 2021 increased by about 500,000, with June lease signings increasing almost 15 percent compared to the year prior, and rental occupancies hitting 96.5 percent.

Devine suggested that the current lack of supply in the Danbury area is driven in part by homeowners who jumped on rising home prices during the pandemic, sold their homes quickly and unexpectedly, and had to find a rental property for their families to move into.

Nick Kleopoulos, a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Realty in Danbury, also noticed the homeowner-to-renter transition. The two-bedrooms have been some of the most desirable, he said.

The high demand for single-family homes has also put stress on the rental market. When families cant find a house, they end up renting, which was a phenomenon noted by Jeffrey Cohen, professor of finance at UConns Center for Real Estate and Urban Economic Studies and the School of Business.

Those rentals the one and two beds that used to be affordable by someone who is just starting out are being taken by these people, Devine said.

Rental unit prices are also likely being driven up by out-of-towners from places like New York City who may be used to paying higher rental prices, and bid up the rent, she added.

This summer, Kleopoulos had a client bid $300 higher than the rental listing, and they were still outbid.

In 2012, Caldwell rented his first apartment on New Milfords Railroad Street a loft-style two-bedroom with hardwood floors and exposed brick  for $1,400 a month. Now, he said hed be lucky to find a two-bed under $2,000.

Already in Danbury, more than half of renters and 37 percent of homeowners with a mortgage are considered housing cost burdened, which means they spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing.

Even when apartments within budget are listed, they go fast.

It wasnt like this five or six years ago when Caldwell was moving to a new place.

We were able to look at multiple apartments, go see apartments, and actually view them before you would commit, he said. Now, if you cant commit within 15 minutes of viewing the listing and being ready to sign, its like theyre not even there.

Devine advises people to put their names on wait-lists for apartments and, if possible, expand their search to include more towns.

Caldwell said there should be more rental units, and specifically, rental units that are affordable. This could be achieved by building more apartment complexes.

People need apartments, they need places to live, he added.

Currently, 12 percent of housing in Danbury is considered affordable. In New Milford, Brookfield, Bethel and New Fairfield, affordable housing percentages are in the single digits.

Still, affordable housing discussions in the Danbury area are often met with resident push-back. There can be confusion about what affordable housing entails, with residents assuming it means Section 8 government subsidized housing, when it actually encompasses much more than that.

It can include people fresh out of college who are starting their first job and trying to find apartments under $1,600 per month, according to Kleopoulos.

Devine added that some teacher salaries fall in the threshold of what would be applicable for affordable housing, too.

They deserve to have a nice place to live as well, she said.

Expanding the search to find a home

For now, Caldwell is likely going to have to expand his search to include places like Waterbury, Bridgeport, and possibly Stamford or Norwalk all of which are further from family and friends, and could turn a 10-minute commute into almost an hour.

Hes been able to find another friend in a similar situation, and the two are now looking for places together. Yet, even with two people and a real estate agent on the hunt, nothing has turned up.

Devine has a client with a daughter in the Bethel school system. They havent had any luck yet with a place in the area.

She just said to me today, I think were going to have to cast a wider net, Devine said. Theres nothing, theres really nothing.

Devine doesnt know when the rental market will shift again.

If I had a crystal ball, that would be great, she said. Its really difficult to predict. I do think that the way the COVID epidemic goes is definitely going to affect things.
DANBURY  Everything went dark right as Holy Communion was beginning at St. Peter Catholic Church on Sunday.

Tropical Storm Henri was still hours away. Outside on Main Street, it was still and calm. And yet, around 8:18 a.m., the congregation plunged into darkness for a brief moment.

That morning, as Danbury residents prepared for Henris afternoon arrival and the mass power outages it was predicted to bring, a power outage unrelated to the storm caused around 900 customers including St. Peters to lose power.

At the time, it was not known what caused the outage. But new information suggests the Casper Street outage was caused by an animal or bird, according to Eversource. The early morning outage the largest in the region was significant for a city that was yet untouched by the storm. It caused Eversource employees to wonder at its cause. At the time, eyes were focused farther east and on the states shoreline.

More than one of us asked, Whats going on in Danbury? Eversource spokesman Frank Poirot said.

On Saturday, the energy company predicted that up to 50 to 69 percent of customers across the state could lose power for as long as eight to 21 days during Tropical Storm Henri, that was upgraded to a hurricane Sunday before downgrading again as it approached Connecticut.

On Sunday night, only 60,000 homes and businesses had lost power, with most located in the southeastern part of the state.

Overall, Sunday saw 44 broken poles, 913 downed spans of wire, 88 blocked roads, 21 damaged transformers and 246 tree removals across the state, Eversource reported. Now, one possible squirrel in Danbury can be added to the list.

While Eversource could not officially confirm whether the outage was bird or animal-related, typically, squirrels are the culprit, according to company representatives. The church was also under the impression that a bushy-tailed friend had caused their outage.

Services continue in semi-darkness

Rev. Gregg Mecca, who was conducting the service, recalled hearing a collective Ahh! from the crowd as the lights went out. The church had anticipated some potential outages, but it seemed too early for a storm that wasnt supposed to arrive for several hours. It wasnt raining yet, nor were there any big gusts of wind.

A short while later, half the lights flickered back on, but the microphones and air conditioning still didnt work, Mecca said.

Even so, the church braved through the rest of the mass, and then another, and another, and another. In all, the church continued with three more masses and a large baptism after the initial outage.

We shouted for the rest of the masses in the morning, said Mecca. We had the experience of what it was like before the microphone system.

Around 1 p.m., the power went out again completely, leaving the baptism service in darkness. By 3:45 p.m., the power had been restored.

Mecca said the outage was more of an annoyance than anything. Despite the sticky atmosphere, there were no complaints from the congregation.

We just kept going, he added.

Finding the culprit

Poirot said that nine times out of 10, a ground animal-related outage is caused by a squirrel.

Sometimes squirrels climb on the wires and when they reach the utility pole, will jump over the insulator, he explained. The squirrels bodies conduct electricity and jumping over the insulator can close the energy circuit, thus short-circuiting the system.

In this case, Poirot said it was likely the animal was just walking or climbing on a section of wire, causing the outage.

Outages caused by animals are fairly common. In 2017, a squirrel caused more than 9,500 Stamford residents to lose power. In May of 2020, 300 lost power due to a Westport squirrel.

Usually, the animal-involved outages occur when the weather is changing: animals trying to find somewhere warmer for the winter, or somewhere to nest in the spring.

The vast majority of outages, however, are caused by trees and limbs, Poirot added. This unrelated outage just happened to occur in tandem with Henris arrival. Mecca called the timing ironic.

Even with anticipation of possible impact from Henri, he said the church mass services were still scheduled to continue, rain or shine, in the light or in the dark. If people cant attend, Mecca said they say the mass privately. He likes to make sure he can say the intentions, or special aim or purpose for celebrating mass or saying prayers.

Whether its a blizzard or its a hurricane, we celebrate the masses whether or not people can get to the building, he said.
CHESHIRE  Attorney Alexandra Cavaliere Gasser learned two months before marrying her law school sweetheart, Joe Gasser, that she had ALS, a progressive neuromuscular disease that is 100 percent fatal.

Now, a year later, they still have the blissful aura of newlyweds, even as her condition deteriorates, requiring help with the basics of daily living such as turning in bed.

We had a special relationship before the diagnosis, but Id say now we have something thats one of a kind, she said. He pretends to be stoic, hes the most empathetic and caring person I know.

Alexandra Gasser has lost physical abilities  her speech is heavily slurred, she uses a walker, a scooter, her limbs are weak, she exhausts easily and becomes winded.

Peter Hvizdak / Hearst Connecticut Media

Joe Gasser, also an attorney, said that as the couple comes up on their one-year wedding anniversary, hell never forget the sense of unreality he felt being in the neurologists office with his then-fiancee as they were told she had a progressive neuromuscular disease, not yet identified as ALS.

Alexs disease and what weve gone through the last one-and-a-half years has strengthened our relationship, he said. Were always in each others corner and theres nothing we cant say to each other. We might be stronger as a couple.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis  ALS, also known as Lou Gehrigs disease  breaks down nerve cells, reducing the function of muscles. Ten percent of the cases are genetic and 90 percent, like Alexandras, are random. There is no cure and life expectancy is three to five years from the onset of symptoms. In the final stages, sufferers lose their ability to talk, chew, drink and breathe.

As the clock ticks, the couple is fighting desperately to get access to stage three clinical trial medication treatment through pending legislation. Alexandra Gasser doesnt qualify for the trials, in part because of the amount of time since symptoms emerged.

Contributed photo

The first symptoms of ALS emerged in 2019 when she was on a work trip and noticed she was slurring like I was a little drunk.

A doctor did some diagnostics and told her there was nothing wrong and not to worry about it.

A nurse friend told her she should get a second opinion; by the end of January 2020 she knew it was a neuromuscular disease. In July 2020 it was confirmed ALS  by then she had leg weakness as well as slurred speech.

ALS is terrifying, she said. Honestly, its a punch in the gut when you get told you have ALS. The disease is 100 percent fatal.

The Gassers are realistic about the grim prognosis. And, as ALS acts uniquely in each victim, they have no idea whats ahead.

They couple, as well as Alexandra Gassers mother, Lorri Cavaliere of Bethany, have lobbied heavily for Connecticuts two U.S. senators to cosponsor the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act, reintroduced by U.S. Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del.

Contributed photo

If approved, the bipartisan bill would in part give Alexandra Gasser access to already FDA-approved therapies that have shown promise in halting ALS progression.

The couple got hopeful news this week when U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., told the Register he would cosponsor the bill.

Blumenthals support will strengthen the bill in the Senate and increase its chances of coming up for a vote and being approved, Joe Gasser said.

I will support the bill and I will do whatever I can to help pass it, said Blumenthal, who is helping to lead efforts to put $200 million for ALS research in the next federal budget.

U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., who met remotely with the family recently, said he was looking at the obstacles.

In a statement, Murphy said he was grateful I had a chance to meet with Alexandra and her family as they courageously fight against this terrible disease.

There are a number of barriers to accessing potentially lifesaving treatments such as those currently in clinical trials for ALS. Im working with my colleagues to find ways to lessen those obstacles while ensuring quality standards are in place, Murphy said.

Contributed photo

Alexandra Gasser said the hope is that treatment could halt the disease  or maybe even reverse some symptoms  so that she can live long enough for a treatment or cure to be found.

Im expecting the worst but hoping for the best, she said. Im living my life like I only have a few years left.

The couple met on Sept. 18, 2014, at an orientation for the University of Connecticut School of Law, when they were among those assigned to carry an American flag at the event. They wound up standing next to each other.

He was a handsome nerd who didnt know he was handsome, Alexandra Gasser said.

As for Joe Gassers future wife, she was downright irresistible.

Alex was the most outspoken woman I met in my life. Her confidence and enthusiasm were something I couldnt resist, he said.

She became a corporate attorney who specializes in mergers and acquisitions, he a litigation attorney who works for the New Haven firm Jacobs & Dow.

Alexandra Gasser is still working  the disease leaves ones mind fully intact  But Im winding down, she said, because she can no longer write, as movement in her fingers and hands has deteriorated.

Her speech is increasingly slurred, making her difficult to understand  or as she puts it: My voice has flatlined. That means her ability to emphasize a point or express an emotion such as excitement are gone. The effort it takes to talk is exhausting and takes her breath away.

Contributed photo

That ability to speak clearly is what she misses most, because she once was an expert at explaining complex concepts, she said.

We do a good job with nonverbal communication, Joe Gasser said.

Alexandra Gasser puts humor into the tragic situation every chance she gets, even poking fun at her limitations on Instagram.

I wanted a place where I could talk about ALS without it being so depressing, she said, noting she gets lots of comments on the social media page from people with and without ALS.

Shes also not holding any pity parties for herself.

Ive lived a life so fortunate. People wait their whole life to live the life Ive had, she said. This disease has changed my whole perspective on life. Its intensified every relationship thats most important to me.

She is known as a fiercely independent woman, so Joe Gasser knows not to run and help his wife to get up if she falls.

So, hed give me a little smile and say, Let me know when you want help, she said. Hes great at helping me feel independent.

Every time I saw her having difficulty I wanted to run over and solve it, he said. But you just let her know youre there if she wants help.

Alexandra Gasser knows what she cant do. She cant turn in bed without help, Joe does the cooking, she needs assistance with most every daily routine and is starting to have difficulty swallowing.

Alexandra Gasser said shes disappointed they wont have children, but its a decision they made, he said, because they may not have very long with their mom, and that wasnt a decision we want to make for them.

The couple, married at Chatfield Hollow Inn in Killingworth, soon will celebrate her 30th birthday and their first wedding anniversary, and her birthday in Hawaii with family.

I make the most of every day, she said.
BOISE, Idaho (AP)  One of two U.S. District judges for Idaho announced seven months ago that he'd take senior status in August, but there's still no official nominee to replace him.

U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill planned to continue to hear a full caseload when he took senior status on Aug. 16, but expected Idaho to have a new district judge to replace him by then  effectively giving the state the third judge it has needed for decades, the Idaho Press reported.

We desperately need the help, Winmill said.

But theres been no word from the White House about a nominee for the now-open second federal judgeship, though Idahos top Democratic elected officials interviewed candidates last winter and submitted an all-female shortlist of four nominees to the Biden administration in March: Idaho Falls attorney DeAnne Casperson, Boise attorney Keely Duke, Boise attorney Deborah Ferguson, and former U.S. Attorney for Idaho Wendy Olson.

We had exceptionally qualified candidates, really they were all superb, said House Minority Leader Ilana Rubel, a Democrat from Boise. We felt like Idaho would be extremely well served with any of these folks on the bench.

But Rubel said she hasnt heard a thing from the White House.

Idaho is one of just three states with only two U.S. district judges; it hasnt gotten an additional judgeship in 60 years, though its caseloads have soared. Idahos congressional delegation has long pushed for the state to get an additional judgeship, and all four of its members are sponsoring legislation to do just that, though it hasnt advanced. The nonpartisan Judicial Council of the United States has been recommending a third judgeship be added for Idaho since 2003.

Wyoming, with less than a third of Idahos population, has three district judges. So does Montana, with less than two-thirds of Idahos population.

Idaho is also one of just two states that has never had a female U.S. district judge; the other is North Dakota.

Traditionally, state senators are given a big say in federal district judge nominees, but that system was jettisoned under the Trump administration. The Senate  where Democrats hold a thin majority  must confirm any nominee by simple majority. Its unclear what role Idahos Republican senators will play in the nomination.

Sen. Jim Rischs office declined to comment.

Lindsay Nothern, spokesman for Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo, said his office has had several preliminary conversations with the White House.

We remain hopeful that we can find consensus about a preferred candidate for the position, Nothern said.

Carl Tobias, a law professor with the University of Richmond who tracks federal judicial nominations, said of Idahos senators, Well, they ought to get in line. And theyre not alone. Biden has not nominated anyone for a district seat in any state represented by a Republican senator  yet. But as I understand it from both senators, Idahos in dire straits now and needs at least one more Article III judge to handle the caseload, and its been an extreme situation for some time.

Theres a queue of states awaiting word on nominations, Tobias said, with roughly 30 people from various states nominated for federal judgeships so far. More will likely be confirmed when Congress returns from its August break, he said.

The people of Idaho are going to be disserved if they cant get somebody in there, the professor said. And when it gets into 2022, nobodys going to be in any hurry to nominate and confirm people in red states.

Winmill, who has served on Idahos federal bench for 26 years, said, The fact that weve never had a female district judge has always been of concern to me. I think that needs to be addressed. We need to be at a point in our society where gender doesnt matter, where we dont even think about it.
Tropical Storm Henri reached the region on Sunday, sparing most of the western part of the state after tracking slightly further east than originally expected.

Stay in the loop with storm-related updates below as clean-up efforts and power restoration continues Monday.

Monday, 5 p.m.

Officials at the National Weather Services Boston-Norton office have confirmed three tornadoes touched down on Monday in the wake of Tropical Storm Henri.

All three tornadoes were rated as EF-0, meaning wind gusts reached between 65 and 85 mph. All three traveled less than a mile, and none of the tornadoes resulted in injuries.

The first tornado touched down around 11:40 a.m. in Marlborough, west of I-495, near a water treatment facility, the weather service said. Witnesses described branches being lofted into the air. The tornado took down a tree that fell on two cars, damaging one.

The second tornado touched down around 12:30 p.m. on Main Street in Bolton, knocking down a tree into wires and ripping a large branch off another tree.

The third tornado touched down around 1:10 p.m. in Stow near the town police department. The tornado knocked down a large tree and dropped a large branch across the road, according to the weather service.

Monday, 4:30 p.m.

The remnants of Henri are still passing over the region, bringing rain and thunderstorms.

Monday, 4 p.m.

With crews coming in from outside of the state to help with recovery efforts, Eversource set up a vaccine and testing clinic.

Monday, 3:30 p.m.

Monday, 2:26 p.m.

New Haven officials announced Lighthouse Point Beach will remain closed on Monday due to elevated levels of bacteria, following similar closures on Saturday and Sunday. City officials test the water at the beach for contaminants three times per week. The city closed the beach earlier in the summer following flooding from Tropical Storm Elsa.

The closure does not affect Lighthouse Point Park or the splash pad.

Monday, 2 p.m.

During a press event in New London, Gov. Ned Lamont said a risk of flash-flooding remains because heavy rains from the storm have "saturated" the ground with water. He said workers from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection are out inspecting dams to ensure they can hold up as waters rise.

DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes, who was also at the event, said it is difficult to predict where flooding can occur and urged residents to follow local news and first responders for updates.

Monday, 12 p.m.

A flash flood warning has been issued for Hartford County until 3 p.m. Monday.

Monday, 10:30 a.m.

As of 10:30 a.m., 7,783 Eversource customers still remain without power. The utility company said it expects to have power restored for the vast majority of customers by 11:59 p.m. Monday. A few remaining outages in need of extensive repairs might take longer to get power back, Eversource said.

As of 8 a.m. Monday, the utilty company said it restored power to nearly 60,000 customers since the storm hit.

Eversource said in total there were 44 broken poles, 246 trees that needed to be removed, 21 damaged transformers, 913 downed spans of wire and 88 blocked roads.

Monday, 9:15 a.m.

Connecticut Attorney General William Tong and Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Commission Michelle Seagull released a joint statement Monday morning, warning residents to be aware of possible relief and clean-up scams related to the storm.

Homes and personal property in some areas saw damage during the tropical storm on Sunday, making residents and business owners in those areas susceptible to scam artists as they work to make quick repairs.

In previous cases, officials said, residents have reported individuals going door-to-door, claiming to be from utility companies offering to reconnect power, repair roofs, remove trees or do other work in exchange for cash. Utility companies and authorized contractors will always have identified and will never ask for payment.

To report a scam or instance of possible fraud, call 860-808-5318 or file a complaint online at https://www.dir.ct.gov/ag/complaint/

Monday, 9 a.m.

More than 12,100 customers from both Eversource and United Illuminating are without power, an almost 4,000 increase from just after 7 a.m. on Monday.

Windsor has the most outages with 2,116 customers out, according to Eversource.

In Fairfield, 947 United Illuminating customers are without power.

Monday, 8:07 a.m.

Gov. Ned Lamont is scheduled to visit Canterbury later this morning and view storm damage. Currently, the town has 532 Eversource customers without power and the outage is still being evaluated.

Monday, 7:55 a.m.

New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker said the city was very fortunate to be spared from the worst effects of the storm. He praised city workers and residents who took the storm seriously and prepared.

Monday, 6 a.m.

The entire state is under a flood watch until 2 a.m. Tuesday, with numerous rain showers and thunderstorms expected to develop across the area through the evening, the National Weather Service said.

Rain showers and thunderstorms are expected to continue Monday morning into the late afternoon. There is also a risk of strong thunderstorms and flash flooding. The weather service said the areas at greatest risk for flash flooding are those that saw heavy rain already from the tropical storm.

One to three additional inches of rain are possible Monday, with localized amounts of over four inches possible. Some areas could see rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour.

Sunday, 8:30 p.m.

In a tweet, the National Weather Service said the remnants of Tropical Storm Henri will move back across southern New England Monday, possibly resulting in renewed flooding from scattered showers and storms that will be accompanied by torrential downpours. Also, it said, an isolated, brief tornado can't be ruled out Monday.

Sunday, 7:00 p.m.

In a tweet, Norfolk Public Information Officer Jon Barbagallo said the area was still seeing steady rain as of 6:30 p.m.

No power issues that we are aware of and emergency services have been quiet, he said.

Sunday, 6:36 p.m.

In a press conference, Eversource President and CEO Joe Nolan said officials were forecasting a historic storm with significant damage on Saturday, but Henri shifting east reduced its impact. He said 9,300 Eversource employees came to the region to aid in recovery, adding some of them from places as far as Mississippi and Ohio.

President of Regional Electric Operations Craig Hallstrom said there were approximately 27,000 customer outages as of 6:30 p.m.

Right now, we have restored about 31,000, he said. We have approximately 1,700 crews working across 24 hours to get those last remaining customers picked up.

Hallstrom said the damage does not look severe, noting a dozen poles, 140 sections of wire and a couple dozen transformers were down.

Given what we thought was going to happen yesterday, today is a pretty good day, he said.

While original estimates said the recovery could take up to 21 days, Hallstrom said the vast majority of customers would have there power restored by Monday night. He said the latest customers should see their power restored is Wednesday afternoon.

Sunday, 6:10 p.m.

In a press conference Sunday evening, Gov. Ned Lamont said most of the wind is dissipating, but the rain is continuing, adding there is still a real risk of flash flooding.

The ground is so saturated that it could flood with just another inch of rain, Lamont said.

The good news, Lamont said, is that Eversource President and CEO Joe Nolan has assured officials that the overwhelming majority, 90 plus percent of the approximately 28,000 households in Connecticut still without power would have it restored by Monday night.

Lamont said 6,500 utility workers from all over the region were in the state as of last night, noting it was better to be over-prepared. He said more than 20,000 people had already had there power restored.

That said, we have the end of the storm surge warning, he said. Thats good news. We have virtually all of our roads open. But the flooding is a risk.

Sunday, 5:25 p.m.

Late Sunday afternoon, MTA Long Island Rail Road and MTA Metro-North Railroad announced in a release that it anticipated restoring full regular weekday service on Monday morning across all parts of the railroads.

We took careful precautions over the weekend to ensure that our system was as protected from the storm as it could be, including moving trains out of low-lying yards that could have seen flooding, said Catherine Rinaldi, President of Metro-North Railroad. Id like to thank our workforce for coming out in full force to prepare our system for the storm, combat the elements throughout the weekend, and restoring full service as early as possible.

Sunday, 5:00 p.m.

As on 5 p.m. Sunday, the Connecticut Department of Transportation reported 15 road closures as a result of downed trees, power lines and utility poles. It also reported both the Rocky Hill and Chester-Hadlyme ferries were closed until further notice due to the weather.

Sunday, 4:25 p.m.

In a release, Gov. Ned Lamont announced the travel ban on all empty tractor trailers, tandem tractor trailers, and motorcycles on Interstate 95 that went into effect this morning because of the storm would be lifted at 5 p.m. Sunday.

For everyones safety, the governor continues to urge everyone to stay off the roads to the greatest extent possible until the storm has completely passed, the release said.

Sunday, 4:20 p.m.

In a tweet, Middletown Mayor Ben Florsheim said initial damage assessments by public works crews were complete, adding it appears the worst of Henri is over with limited impact on the city.

A handful of outages (< 25 households) and roads are clear. Please continue reporting outages & keep eye out for trees down, he said.

Sunday, 2:30 p.m.

The worst of Tropical Storm Henri is mostly done for southern Connecticut counties, according to Gary Lessor, chief meteorologist for Western Connecticut State University.

The storm is slated to move west through Connecticut, but the wind speeds are dropping. The storms winds are at most 50 mph now, Lessor said. But some counties, such as New Haven, are seeing 20 mph winds.

Its losing its punch, Lessor said.

Some parts of New London county have seen 3.7 inches of rain. Groton has seen almost 2.8 inches of rain, Lessor said.

Meanwhile, New Haven, Bridgeport and Danbury have each seen less than an inch of rain.

Over the next few hours, Hartford and Litchfield counties will see about 1-3 inches of rainfall. Western Connecticut will still see heavy rainfall, or about 1-3 inches, for the next 24 hours.

As the storm stalls in the Connecticut-New York border this evening, it will bring heavy rain.

Lessor said new power outages will stop popping up around late this afternoon and into the evening.

Sunday, 2 p.m.

The National Weather Service issued a flood watch for southern Fairfield, southern New Haven, southern Middlesex and Southern New London counties. The flood watch is in effect through Monday evening.

Storm surge and tropical storm warnings are also in effect for these areas.

Sunday, 1:30 p.m.

As of 1:06 p.m., Eversource reported 25,494 power outages throughout Connecticut. Most of the outages were in southeast Connecticut, with Canterbury being the most effected with 2,176 outages.

That number is concerning, Lamont said in a press conference at 1 p.m. Sunday.

United Illuminating reported 25 outages as of 1:07 p.m.

Lamont also reported 7,000 outages in Massachusetts and 2,600 outages in New York.

For the next 12 hours, the storm is expected to tear through northeast to northwest Connecticut, Lamont said.

Lamont said the storms landfall location played an important role in the states anticipated storm surge. Since the storm landed near Westerly, R.I., there will be less storm surge inside Long Island Sound and along Connecticuts coast.

It makes an enormous difference, Lamont noted, along with the storms downgrade from hurricane to tropical storm.

Dont get complacent, he warned, and reminded constituents that Superstorm Sandy and Tropical Storm Isaias werent hurricanes when they hit Connecticut either.

Lamont said the state has been working closely with FEMA. The state also moved residents from certain nursing homes to alternative sites.

As 90 degree temperatures are expected next week, Lamont said if worse comes to worse, residents can dial 211 to find cooling centers, as well as locations to charge their phones or take a shower.

Sunday, 12:40 p.m.

Tropical Storm Henri made landfall along the coast of Rhode Island near Westerly, which is along the Connecticut border, around 12:15 p.m., the National Weather Service said.

At the time of landfall, the storms winds were at about 60 mph, the weather service said.

Sunday, 12:20 p.m.

The strongest wind gusts have been seen in Groton at 53 mph. The New Haven area has experienced 32 mph winds and Bridgeport has had 28 mph winds, according to Gary Lessor, chief meteorologist for Western Connecticut State University.

Groton has also experienced the most rain so far at 2.59 inches, Lessor said. New Haven has had the lightest rainfall at 0.42 inches, Lessor said.

The north central and eastern areas of the state are expected to get the most rain at up to 4 inches. Some areas might get under an inch, according to Lessor.

The storm will make landfall before 2 p.m. between Stonington and Westerly, Rhode Island.

Connecticut will experience wind gusts and rain showers through the afternoon and evening. There will still be some rain coming down Monday of up to an inch most likely in the western and central parts of the state, Lessor said.

Sunday, 11:45 a.m.

Tropical Storm Henri is moving toward the north and northwest and is expected to lose speed in the next few hours, the National Weather Service said.

The storm is forecast to turn toward the northwest Sunday afternoon, the weather service added.

Henris center was passing near Block Island, Rhode Island around 11 a.m. The storm is expected to make landfall in Rhode Island by early afternoon.

Meteorologists with the weather service predict the storm will slow down and possibly stall near the Connecticut and New York border tonight. On Monday, the storm will move northeast across northern Connecticut and southern Massachusetts.

The storms winds have decreased to 60 mph. The weather service forecasts the storm wont change strength until it hits landfall, in which it will then rapidly weaken.

A storm surge warning and tropical storm warning were issued for southern Fairfield, southern Middlesex, southern New Haven and southern New London counties.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for northern Middlesex, northern New Haven, northern New London and northern Fairfield counties.

Henri still poses possible life-threatening storm surge, heavy rain that could produce flash flooding and tropical storm force winds.

The weather service forecasts widespread rainfall of 3-6 inches in Henris path.

Sunday, 11 a.m.

As of 11:06 a.m., Eversource reported 8,178 outages. The most outages were reported in Stamford at 1,160. Some 753 outages were reported in Danbury, 744 in Waterford, 714 in Stonington, 486 in Groton, 377 in Salem and more in other areas.

As of 10:58 a.m., United Illuminating reported 52 outages  19 in Stratford, 15 in North Branford, 11 in Fairfield and seven in Trumbull.

UI customers can report outages by calling 800-722-5584 or by going to UINet.com.

Eversource customers can report outages by calling 800-286-2000 or visiting Outage.Eversource.com.

Sunday, 9:20 a.m.

President Joe Biden approved the Connecticut emergency declaration, the White House said in a statement Sunday.

The declaration orders federal assistance to help the state, tribal and local response efforts.

The declaration allows both the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate disaster relief efforts and provide assistance.

FEMA officials are already at the Connecticut State Emergency Operations Center, according to Gov. Ned Lamonts office.

This storm is going to have a major impact on Connecticut, Lamont said in a statement Sunday. I appreciate President Biden and FEMA for the measures they are taking to support our state in advance of the storm making landfall.

Sunday, 9:10 a.m.

Bradley International Airport is still open, but about half of todays arriving and departing flights are canceled, according to Connecticut Airport Authority spokesperson Alisa Sisic.

Airlines at the airport are proactively adjusting their flight schedules. Passengers scheduled to travel are advised to contact their airline to confirm the latest flight information before arriving at the airport, Sisic said.

Sunday, 7:30 a.m.

With the storms shift east overnight, Henri is expected to make landfall over Rhode Island around 2 p.m., according to Gary Lessor, chief meteorologist for Western Connecticut State University.

Were certainly looking at a much weaker storm than forecast, Lessor said. Thats why the storm got shifted further east, it wasnt quite as strong as it was expected to be so it wasnt able to fight the surrounding environment as much.

The shift cut down peak winds across western and Central Connecticut to about 50 mph, which isnt nearly as bad as it looked yesterday, Lessor said. The strongest winds should come around 2 p.m.

Sunday, 7:00 a.m.

Henri was downgraded to a tropical storm, but the threat of powerful winds and heavy rain continue throughout the day.

Sunday, 6: 00 a.m.

Rain has started in southeastern Connecticut and weather radar shows it is expected to quickly move northwest through the morning.

Sunday, 5:00 a.m.

Hurricane Henri nears the shoreline. Forecasters expect rain to start within the hour for many people and for conditions to quickly deteriorate through the morning. According to the National Hurricane Center, the core of the storm was still about 90 miles from shoreline, moving north at about 18 miles per hour. A decrease in forward speed and a turn toward the north-northwest is expected this morning, the center said.

Saturday, 11:55 p.m.

Gov. Ned Lamont has banned empty tractor-trail trucks, tandem tractor-trailer trucks and motorcycles from traveling along I-95 through the duration of the storm.

Saturday, 11:00 p.m.

The National Hurricane Center has updated its latest projections for Hurricane Henri, showing the powerful storm will track east, with the center of the storm passing through Rhode Island. It still is expected to hit the coast as a Category 1 hurricane before losing strength and passing through much of the region as a tropical storm.

Saturday, 10:50 p.m.

Members of the Connecticut Congressional Delegation said they sent a letter to President Joe Biden in support of Gov. Ned Lamonts request for an emergency declaration under Section 501 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act in advance of Storm Henri making landfall in Connecticut.

Henri is likely to be the first hurricane to directly hit the northeast since Hurricane Bob in 1991, and even if it hits the state as a tropical storm, is expected to bring significant damage, wrote the members of Congress.

Saturday, 8:05 p.m.

Attorney General William Tong issued a warning to Connecticut consumers to be vigilant of price gouging and price hikes as they load up on emergency supplies ahead of hurricane Henri.

Price gougers take advantage of our fear. Were all worried about losing power for days on end, damage to our property and the health and safety of our loved ones, Tong said. Dont let these predatory bad actors profit off your panic.

Saturday, 7:35 p.m.

The following towns now have evacuation orders or recommendations: Bridgeport, East Haven, East Lyme, Fairfield, Groton, Guilford, Madison, New Haven, Old Saybrook, and Westport.

The states Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security provides resources for residents that find themselves in an evacuation zone on their website.

Saturday, 6:50 p.m.

Eversource President and CEO Joe Nolan held a press conference where he gave a rundown of preperations being made and recommend residents prepare seven days of provisions in case of a lengthy outage.

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell announced that preparations have been made to assist the northeastern states currently in Hurricane Henris path. Resources and supplies that FEMA is pre-positioning in the region include over 700 response personnel, meals, tarps, and generators.

Saturday, 6:00 p.m.

State Rep. Sean Scanlon announced mandatory evacuation orders for Guilford and Branford.

If you live in a coastal, low-lying or area prone to historic flooding due in Guilford, evacuate now, Scanlon said in a tweet. He followed that up with PLEASE TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY.

Saturday, 5:45 p.m.

The state suspended bus service for Sunday, including:

 All CTtransit services which operate in Hartford, New Haven, Stamford, Waterbury, New Britain, Bristol, Meriden, Wallingford, and surrounding communities

 All CTfastrak services which provide direct service to and from Waterbury, Cheshire, Southington, Bristol, Plainville, New Britain, Newington, West Hartford, Hartford, and Manchester

 All CTtransit express services statewide

 Local transit district and paratransit services may also be affected. Customers should check the web site of their service provider for up-to-date information.

Saturday, 5:35 p.m.

Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim declared an emergency for the city as of 5:00 p.m. on Saturday.

Saturday, 5:00 p.m.

According to the National Weather Service station in Boston, Henri has sped up just a bit, meaning the storm will track more East compared to estimates from this morning.

The hurricane is expected to make landfall around Montauk, NY. The highest winds will be to the east of the storm center, while the heaviest rains will be to the west.

Saturday, 4:30 p.m.

American Electric Power Company in Ohio tweeted that 300 Ohio lineworkers, forestry and contract crew members will arrive in Berlin tomorrow to assist with storm recovery.

Weve got an army of crews to help us with the damage Henri leaves behind, Eversource tweeted in response.

Saturday, 4:05 p.m.

Gov. Ned Lamont, at press conference, says Henri will hit Connecticut directly.

He, noting concerns over the strength of the hurricane, reminds people that notorious Superstorm Sandy wasnt even a Category 1 hurricane, like Henri. Lamont says hes worried especially because the ground is saturated and there is a full moon and highest tides the state can have.

Combined with 70-80 mph winds, trees will fall, he said. Lamont says utility companies have assured the state they have twice as many workers on ground as last year, when companies were criticized after tropical storm Isaias.

Lamonts comments came minutes after Eversource said it estimated up to 69 percent of its customers may be out of power for up to 21 days.

United Illuminating says it is preparing for a Level 3 storm, which can result in a loss of power for 30-50% of its 340,000 customers.

Lamont said the state is monitoring nursing homes, especially given the state will see temperatures in the 90s next week.

He advises that residents stay home. He pledges the state is prepared and that the state will hold utilities accountable.

Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz says utilities seem to be better prepared.

Saturday, 4 p.m.

Shoreline East railroad suspended Sunday service.

Saturday, 3:30 p.m.

Gov. Ned Lamont tweeted that he had a very productive call with President Joe Biden and area governors.

We're all connected to ensure we quickly respond to #HurricaneHenri and have supports in place, Lamont tweeted.

Saturday, 3 p.m.

Eversource raised its projections of outages to 50-69 percent of customers for up to 21 days.

The Department of Transportation announced that the Chester-Hadlyme ferry is closed until further notice due to the storm. This is the second ferry closure after it was announced just before 10 a.m. that the Rocky Hill ferry would be closed until further notice.

Saturday, 2:45 p.m.

Connecticut residents can expect rain and wind starting between 6 and 8 a.m. Sunday, according to Gary Lessor, chief meteorologist for Western Connecticut State University.

There will be wind gusts of more than 40 mph through the afternoon into the evening. The strongest winds, possibly up to 70 mph, will most likely occur by 2 p.m., Lessor said.

Thats around the time Hurricane Henri will make landfall in central and coastal Connecticut, probably somewhere between New Haven and Madison, Lessor said.

The hurricane will bring minor to moderate coastal flooding during noontime high tide. Tides will be 2 to 2.5 feet taller than normal,, according to Lessor.

Residents can also expect 2.5 to 6.5 inches of rainfall. More rainfall will be seen in the central and west central regions, the meteorologist said.

Residents can stop worrying about increasing power outages by 12 a.m. Monday, Lessor said, as most of the damage will have already been done.

Though thats well after the worst of the wind at 2 p.m., Lessor says that the wind, combined with the rain, will loosen the soil, knocking down more trees throughout the day and causing more power outages.

Lessor advises residents to not travel outside of their homes after 10 a.m. Sunday.

Rain will continue to fall through Sunday night and possibly Monday, according to Lessor. Monday can also still be breezy with 30 to 35 mph winds.

Saturday, 2:10 p.m.

Metro-North has suspended service on the New Haven line for Sunday. That includes the New Canaan, Danbury and Waterbury branches. Service will operate every two hours on the Hudson and Harlem Lines, and there will be no buses on the Waterbury branch.

The last two New Haven line trains to depart Grand Central Terminal will be the 1:47 a.m. express train to New Haven, which is scheduled to arrive at 4:09 a.m. on Sunday, and the 1:53 a.m. local train to Stamford, which is scheduled to arrive at 3:14 a.m, the railroad announced.

The last train to depart New Haven will be 11:35 p.m., which arrives at Grand Central at 1:46 a.m. The last train to depart Stamford with be the 12:58 a.m. local train providing connections from the New Haven train, and will arrive at Grand Central at 2:13 a.m. on Sunday.

Saturday, 2 p.m.

All hospitals in the Yale New Haven Health System, including Bridgeport, Greenwich, Lawrence + Memorial, Yale New Haven and other hospitals, are implementing their comprehensive preparedness plans, according to Dana Marnane, the director of public relations for Yale New Haven Health System.

That includes preparing the buildings and grounds for high winds and heavy rainfall. The hospital generators have been tested, and fuel was delivered to keep them running throughout the storm, Marnane said.

Additionally, medical supplies and food scheduled for Monday were delivered Saturday in anticipation of the storm.

Saturday, 1:10 p.m.

New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker Saturday advised some residents to evacuate low-lying areas of the city Saturday afternoon, as Hurricane Henri headed straight towards us.

Elicker said the city was now expecting three for five feet of storm surge and four to six inches of rain, an increase from what was predicted yesterday afternoon.

Saturday 12:30 p.m.

About 400,000 to 800,000 Eversource customers could be affected by Hurricane Henri Sunday, or 30 to 60 percent of the utilitys customer base, according to recent predictions by University of Connecticut and Eversource Energy Centers Outage Prediction Modeling group.

The group is predicting a high impact in each town, according to Diego Cerrai, the team leader for the Outage Prediction Model group and an assistant professor of the University of Connecticuts Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Cerrai compared the storms impact to Hurricane Isaias, which put 500,000 Eversource customers without power last year.

The storm is expected to hit Connecticut between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., Cerrai said.

Saturday, 12 p.m.

The town of Madison issues mandatory evacuation for all residents south of the Boston Post Road in Madison. Those residents must evacuate by 9 p.m. Saturday.

Saturday, 11:50 a.m.

Henris winds exceed 74 mph, making it a Category 1 hurricane.

Saturday, 10:40 a.m.

Dan Warzoha, the emergency management director for Greenwich, said This could be the biggest storm event that weve seen since Superstorm Sandy, and possibly Hurricane Bob in 1991.

However, at this point, Warzoha doesnt anticipate the town asking residents to evacuate.

The town is prepared to open two shelters if it needs to, but Gov. Ned Lamont has requested residents to shelter in place if possible.

Warzoha is warning Connecticut residents to prepare their homes with nonperishable food and keep watch of burning candles. Food in the fridge will be good for 24 hours after the power goes out, he said.

The storm brings a lot of potential tree, wire and pole damage.

People need to be safe and stay away from that stuff, he said.

Saturday, 10:30 a.m.

The Westport Weston Family YMCA is closing its Mahackeno Outdoor Center at 1 p.m. Saturday to prepare for Tropical Storm Henri.

The outdoor center will also be closed all day Sunday.

Saturday, 10 a.m.

Field crews from the U.S. Geological Survey are installing up to 62 storm tide sensors to track Hurricane Henris effects on the Atlantic coast.

The sensors are being installed from Long Island, New York to Cape Cod, Massachusetts. More than 20 scientists will install between 35 and 50 storm tide sensors along the Connecticut and Rhode Island coasts into Massachusetts.

These sensors will provide water level and wave data that local, state and federal officials can use for decisions impacting lives and property in New England. Scientists can also use this information to fine-tune future storm surge and coastal change forecasts, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

Information from the sensors can also be used to guide recovery efforts, plan evacuation routes, identify areas most affected by the storm and flooding, inform building code decisions and improve structure designs to promote public safety, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Saturday, 9:15 a.m.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, has brought provisions to Westover Air Reserve Base to serve all of New England during Tropical Storm Henri.

FEMA has brought approximately 63 trucks loaded with bottled water, tarps, food and other emergency supplies. The trucks arrived in Westover Friday evening and Saturday morning.

Saturday, 8 a.m.

Tropical Storm Henri is expected to hit Long Island as a Category 1 hurricane Sunday morning. The storm will then move through southern New England and upstate New York later Sunday into Monday.

The National Weather Service issued a hurricane warning for Northern Middlesex, Northern New Haven and Northern New London counties

A storm surge and tropical storm warning was issued for southern Fairfield county. The weather service issued just a tropical storm warning for the northern part of Fairfield county.

Gov. Ned Lamont declared a civil prepareness emergency and is requested President Joe Biden declare a state of emergency. Some 200 members of the National Guard are preparing to help the state with search-and-rescue missions and other necessities.

Eversource estimated about half of its customers could be without power for up to 10 days.

Read the full story here.
URBANA, Ill. (AP)  A new administrator at the University of Illinois flagship campus will advise school leadership on Native American issues.

Jacki Thompson Rand was appointed the Urbana-Champaign campus' associate vice chancellor for Native affairs last week. Chancellor Robert Jones pledged that the school will go beyond the rhetoric of celebrating Native American history and culture to actually doing it.
MONTREAL, Aug. 23, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ - National Bank Direct Brokerage (NBDB) is launching the most competitive online brokerage fee structure on the Canadian market. With this announcement, NBDB is currently the only direct brokerage firm affiliated with a Canadian bank to have abolished commissions for all online trades on Canadian and US stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

"The self-directed investing sector is constantly evolving, and it's important for us to keep innovating and not rely on the status quo, for the benefit of our clients and all investors across the country. That's why we're looking for new ways to equip and support Canadian investors, and this new $0 pricing is another step in our efforts," said Claude-Frederic Robert, President of National Bank Direct Brokerage.

Stocks $0 commission, no minimum required. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) $0 commission, no minimum required. Options $0 commission + $1.25 fee per contract. A minimum of $6.25 per transaction applies.

NBDB, a market leader, in a few key facts:

The first Canadian bank-owned direct brokerage firm to offer $0 commission on all online stock and ETF trades, with no minimum required;

commission on all online stock and ETF trades, with no minimum required; The security and regulatory benefits of a major bank, without the fees;

National Bank Direct Brokerage #1 in Investor Satisfaction with Self-Directed Brokerage Firms according to J.D. Power 1 ;

; Free access to tools like Strategy Builder and Value Analyzer as well as analysis and research from Morningstar and National Bank Financial to help with decision-making;

Training available to all (webinars, YouTube channel);

The first broker to offer OptionsPlay, an options comparison tool, integrated into the trading platform itself;

An ETF centre that allows users to filter and compare funds;

Real-time quotes.

National Bank Direct Brokerage, as a division of a Canadian bank subsidiary, is the first broker in Canada to offer a commission-free online brokerage solution for Canadian and US stocks.

________________________ 1 National Bank Direct Brokerage received the highest score in the J.D. Power 2021 Canada Self-Directed Investor Satisfaction Study of investors' satisfaction with self-directed investment firms. Visit jdpower.com/awards for more details.

About National Bank Direct Brokerage (nbdb.ca)

National Bank Direct Brokerage (NBDB) is a division of National Bank Financial Inc. (NBF) and a trademark of National Bank of Canada used under licence by NBF. NBF is a member of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada and the Canadian Investor Protection Fund and a subsidiary of National Bank of Canada, a public company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX : NA). NBDB provides order execution only services and makes no investment recommendations. Clients are solely responsible for the financial and tax consequences of their investment decisions.

About National Bank of Canada

With $351 billion in assets as at April 30, 2021, National Bank of Canada, together with its subsidiaries, forms one of Canada's leading integrated financial groups. National Bank has more than 26,000 employees in knowledge-intensive positions and has been recognized numerous times as a top employer and for its commitment to diversity. Its securities are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: NA). Follow National Bank's activities at nbc.ca or via social media such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

SOURCE National Bank of Canada

For further information: Veronique Beauchamp, Advisor, Marketing Public Relations, National Bank of Canada, [email protected], 514-715-8376

Related Links

https://www.nbc.ca


"We at Freeport cannot overstate the importance of this renewal to the Company" says Gord Friesen, Chief Executive officer of the Company. "It reinforces our belief that Papua New Guinea remains a premier mining destination globally, while providing us with the visibility to conduct our proposed work programs in the coming months. Nong River (EL 1312) is the most important license in the Star Mountains portfolio and will continue to be the main focus for future work at Star Mountains."

About EL 1312 Nong River

EL 1312 is the key tenement within the Star Mountains Property which consists of over 500 square kilometres spread across 4 contiguous Exploration Licenses (ELs) approximately 25 kilometres north of the Ok Tedi mine in western Papua New Guinea. Since being discovered by Kennecott in the early 1960s, exploration work has been carried out by a range of companies, including Highland Pacific Limited and Anglo American Plc, with approximately 80% of historical expenditures being spent on the EL 1312 tenement. The highest priority target, Olgal, has seen approximately half of the historic drill testing thus far. Virtually all the other priority targets, at this juncture, including the Futik, Fune, Kum Kom, Unfin, Bumtin, Tuk and Rattatat, amongst others, all lie within the boundaries of EL 1312.

About the Olgal Prospect

In 2018, H&S Consultants Pty. Ltd. completed a maiden mineral resource estimate for the Olgal deposit within the tenements. Using a 0.3-per-cent-copper-cut-off grade, the deposit is estimated to contain 210 million tonnes of inferred resource grading 0.4 per cent copper and 0.4 gram per tonne gold, for 2.9 million ounces of contained gold and 1.85 billion pounds of contained copper. Based on current market prices, this is equivalent to approximately 7 million ounces of gold equivalent or 3 billion pounds of copper equivalent.

About Freeport Resources Inc.

Freeport Resources Inc. is a copper-centric resource company based in Vancouver, BC. It is focused on the development of its copper and gold projects principally located in Papua New Guinea.

Option Grant

The Company also announces that it has granted 3,000,000 incentive stock options to certain directors, officers and consultants of the Company. The options vest immediately and are exercisable to acquire common shares of the Company at a price of $0.20 until August 23rd, 2025.

Dr. Nathan Chutas, Ph.D., CPG, Senior Vice-President of Operations for the Company, is a qualified person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101. Dr. Chutas has reviewed and approved the technical content in this news release.

Please visit www.freeportresources.com or contact the email address below for more information.

On behalf of the Board,

Freeport Resources Inc.

Gord Friesen, Chief Executive Officer

(236) 334-1660 or [email protected]

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release may contain certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When or if used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target, "plan", "forecast", "may", "schedule", "intends" and similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to the intended completion of the Transaction, the Yandera Copper Project, and other factors or information. Such statements represent the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance

SOURCE Freeport Resources Inc.

For further information: Freeport Resources Inc., Gord Friesen, Chief Executive Officer, (236) 334-1660 or [email protected]

Related Links

www.freeportresources.com


Patricio Varas, Chairman and CEO of Norden Crown stated, "The joint Norden-Boliden exploration team is excited to continue drill testing the copper endowed Burfjord Anticline for its potential to host economic IOCG style mineralization. The Company has identified numerous high grade zones within the East, West and Hinge domains of the anticline and we continue to utilize magnetic and electromagnetic geophysical surveys to enhance the existing targets and to guide the planned diamond drilling."

Diamond Drilling

Norden Crown has engaged Arctic Drilling NOR (Norway) to complete ~2,500 metres of diamond drilling with the objective of expanding the footprint of mineralization identified in 2019 (see March 20, 2019 News Release) and to test additional geological, geochemical and geophysical targets identified in the 2020 field programs. Arctic Drilling has now mobilized onto the Burfjord property and drilling has commenced. The summer 2021 diamond drilling program is designed to follow up on 3 holes (970.5 metres) drilled in the Peninsula and Gamlegruva target areas in February and March this year. The winter drill program was terminated due to logistical complications caused by inclement winter weather conditions and restrictions imposed by Covid-19 safety measures.

2021 Exploration Targets

The 2021 exploration drilling program at Burfjord is focused on a number of copper targets that contain or are surrouned by historical adits, pits and workings within the extensively iron-carbonate altered Burfjord Anticline. These targets have been identified and prioritized using lithological and structrual mapping, extensive rock and soil sampling and ground based electromagnetic geophysics (Figure 1). High priority target areas within the East, Hinge and West zones of the anticline are described below.

East Limb (Gamlegruva, A-Gruva, Bergmark, and Magnusgruven)

The "East Limb" targets constitute a ~5 kilometer-long trend of discontinuously outcropping copper occurrences and historical mine adits characterized by disseminated copper sulphide mineralization (chalcopyrite and sporadic bornite) associated with hematite-jasper breccia and/or carbonate veins hosted by chlorite (locally albite) or potassically altered pillow basalts and albitized black shales (Figure 1). As part of a surface exploration program in 2020 an electromagnetic (TEM) anomaly (130-150 Siemens) was identifed in the southern portion of the East Limb that is approximately 1,900 metrers in strike with a near-vertical dip (Figures 1 and 2). This feature occurs near the mafic volcanic-albitized black shale contact and is the target horizon for a number of the planned drill holes in the East Limb.

Hinge Zone (Cedarsgruvan and Cedarelva)

The Hinge Zone is a structural target that in the hinge of the Burfjord Anticline and is characterized by intensely albitized black shales, breccias (e.g. Cedarsgruvan workings) and albitized dolomite (e.g., Cedarelva workings) in widespread, intense iron-carbonate alteration. Disseminated copper sulfides and structurally controlled high-grade copper sulphide bearing veins are present within this target area (Figure 1).

West Limb (Kisgangen, A- Kalkspatgangen, and Peninsula)

The geology of West Limb is dominated by a 3,000 meter by 400 meter albite-iron carbonate-magnetite altered clastic sedimentary unit (L-Unit) that is locally brecciated and contains disseminated copper sulphides (chalcopyrite) and chalcopyrite bearing quartz-carbonate veins. Historic adits are present within and along the flanks of this unit and are the focus exploratory drilling in this program.

Burfjord Joint Venture Terms

Norden Crown entered into an option agreement (the "Agreement") with Boliden in respect to Burfjord (see June 10, 2020 News Release). In order to earn its 51% interest in the Project, Boliden must fund 100% of the exploration programs by spending US$6 Million over the next four years.

Overview of the Burfjord Project

The Project, located in the Kafjord Copper Belt near Alta, Norway is highly prospective for Iron Oxide Copper Gold (IOCG) and Sediment Hosted Copper mineral deposits. High-grade copper-gold veins at Burfjord that were historically mined (pre 20th century) at reported cutoff grades of 3-5% Cu are surrounded by envelopes of stockwork veins or disseminations of copper mineralization extending tens to hundreds of metres laterally into the host rocks. Norden Crown and Boliden believe this mineralization has economic potential and represents an attractive bulk tonnage exploration drilling target.

Copper bearing veins in the area are dominated by ferroan carbonate, sodium-rich minerals, and iron-oxide minerals (magnetite and hematite), but also contain the economically important minerals chalcopyrite, bornite and chalcocite in addition to cobalt-rich pyrite as generally coarse grained (often 0.5 centimetre to multi-centimetre scale) disseminations in the veins.

Burfjord is comprised of six exploration licenses totaling 5,500 hectares in the Kafjord Copper Belt near Alta in Norway. During the nineteenth century, copper mineralization was mined from over 30 historic mines and prospects developed along the flanks of a prominent 4 x 6-kilometre fold (anticline) consisting of interbedded sedimentary and volcanic rocks. Many of the rocks in the anticline are intensely hydrothermally altered and contain sulphide mineralization.

About Norden Crown

Norden Crown is a mineral exploration company focused on the discovery of silver, zinc, copper, and gold deposits in exceptional, historical mining project areas spanning Sweden and Norway. The Company aims to discover new economic mineral deposits in historical mining districts that have seen little or no modern exploration techniques. The Company is led by an experienced management team and an accomplished technical team, with successful track records in mineral discovery, mining development and financing.

Qualified Person

Daniel MacNeil, P.Geo, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has read and approved all technical and scientific information contained in this news release. Mr. MacNeil is Vice President Exploration for Norden Crown.

On behalf of Norden Crown Metals Corp.

Patricio Varas, Chairman and CEO

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.

1. Intercept reported as seen in drill core. The true width is estimated at 85-100% of the reported interval. 2. See Norden Crown's March 20, 2019 News Release for discussion of analytical methods, QA/QC and core handling protocols. 3. Source: NGU Deposit Factsheet, Deposit Area 1943-010, 1997. Norden Crown's property reviews have confirmed the geologic setting and occurrence of mineralization on the Project and considers the historic exploration data to be relevant as reported in public disclosures and government reports.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forwardlooking statements". Forwardlooking 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. Forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements relating to future outlook and anticipated events, such as the successful completion of the exploration program (consisting of diamond drilling, mapping, prospecting, outcrop sampling, airborne magnetic and ground electromagnetic geophysical surveys) as discussed herein, the dates the various segments of the exploration program will commence, the duration of various segments of the exploration program, and the planned uses of the resulting data. Although Norden Crown believes the expectations expressed in such forwardlooking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results or realities may differ materially from those in the forwardlooking statements. Such material risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, [NTD: the exploration program is characterized as fully-funded] the ability of the various contracted entities to complete their duties within the time expected by the Company, inclement weather conditions that may impede, delay or stop all or part of the exploration program, the effects of the Covid 19 epidemic or other epidemics or pandemics, mechanical breakdowns of equipment used in the exploration programs, changes in economic conditions or financial markets; the ability of Norden Crown to obtain the necessary consents required to explore, drill and develop the projects and if obtained, to obtain such consents in a timely fashion relative to Norden Crown plans and business objectives for the projects; the general ability of Norden Crown to drill test its projects and find mineral resources; if any mineral resources are discovered or acquired, the Company's ability to monetize any such mineral resources; and changes in environmental and other laws or regulations that could have an impact on the Company's operations. Forwardlooking statements are based on the reasonable beliefs, estimates and opinions of Norden Crown management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, Norden Crown undertakes no obligation to update these forwardlooking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

SOURCE Norden Crown Metals Corp.

For further information: on Norden Crown please visit the Company website at www.nordencrownmetals.com or contact us at +1.604.922.8810 or [email protected]

Related Links

https://www.nordencrownmetals.com/


RISE UP For Fall 2021, RW&CO. is highlighting its talent roster's tales of resilience. Each ambassador's unique story will be featured in an RWConversations video series, which will be showcased online and in-store. "Our Fall 2021 ambassadors are emblematic of the rich and diverse Canadian mosaic. They each speak to an inspiring ability to meet challenges head on and, against the odds, rise to the occasion," says Michele Slepekis, VP of Marketing and E-Commerce at RW&CO. The ambassador roster is comprised of:

Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Andre De Grasse ("Mental Preparation") and silver medalist Jennifer Abel ("Setting Objectives") are new faces to the brand, keeping up RW&CO.'s rich history of partnering with Canadian athletes. Canada's fastest man and Canada's most celebrated pool veteran continue to inspire with their grit and determination.

On-air host Michaella Shannon ("Allyship") and Actor Hamza Haq ("Using Vulnerability as a Source of Strength") are industry leaders on- and off-screen. These rising stars have presence well beyond the stage: Michaella, a member of Frog Lake First Nation, is an advocate for young women's reproductive health and self-esteem, while Hamza actively advocates for inclusivity in the film industry.

Quebecoise actress and bestselling author Ingrid Falaise ("The Power of Positive Thinking") has committed to be a strong advocate for women's rights and continuously speaks out against spousal abuse, acting as a symbol of strength and courage to many.

Design duo Melissa and Sacha Leclair of Leclair Decor ("Creating Your Space") turned their interior design side hustle into an internationally renowned practice and highly covetable homeware brand.

Spring 2021 RW&CO. ambassadors Manjit Minhas ("The Beauty of Empowered Women") and Lane Merrifield ("The Entrepreneurial Fire"), entrepreneurs known from TVs Dragons' Den, return to champion Canadian entrepreneurship.

For RW&CO.'s game-changing ambassadors, trials have come in many shapes and forms, but never kept them from rising up; now, viewers can glean pearls of wisdom from these barrier-breaking, trailblazing leaders. In his RWConversations, De Grasse shares how he stays focused during big moments: "When I walk on to a track and settle into the starting blocks, I need to be locked in. The only thing that matters is that moment And it's what leads up to that moment that determines what I'm able to accomplish." Sprinting to gold in the men's 200m final in Tokyo, Andre secured his spot in Olympic history by breaking the previously-held Canadian sprint record and earning his fifth Olympic medal. As an advocate for Indigenous rights, healing and reconciliation, Shannon shares an impactful lesson of unification in her RWConversations: "We have a window of opportunity to give meaning to the word allyship. Take the time and make an effort to educate yourself, your community and your peers."

WORK FROM ANYWHERE

Inspired by these industry leaders and their unwavering determination, RW&CO.'s Fall 2021 collection embraces optimism. The brand builds upon its workwear DNA  complemented, of course, by a "work from anywhere" ease. The collection was designed for ever-evolving consumer needs during the pandemic; particularly, to maximize comfort without compromising on style. "Fashion-wise, fall is our favourite time. While we're navigating the next normal, we want our customers to feel and look their best. It's time to get excited about dressing up again," says Slepekis.

The collection and campaign launch on August 23, 2021 in RW&CO. stores and online at rw-co.com.

ABOUT RW&CO., A BRAND OF REITMANS (CANADA) LIMITED.

RW&CO. is a work-from-anywhere fashion brand for style-savvy men and women. Prioritizing fit, fabric quality and versatility, RW&CO. builds collections that help customers look put together anywhere, whether they are working from home or at the office. RW&CO. operates 78 stores averaging 4,500 sq. ft. in premium locations in major shopping malls across Canada and offers online shopping at rw-co.com.

ABOUT REITMANS (CANADA) LIMITED

The Company is a leading women's specialty apparel retailer with retail outlets throughout Canada. The Company operates 412 stores consisting of 242 Reitmans, 92 Penningtons and 78 RW&CO. The Company is a publicly traded company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV: RET) (TSXV: RET-A). For more information, visit www.reitmanscanadalimited.com.

SOURCE Reitmans (Canada) Limited

For further information: For inquiries, please contact Katherine Chartrand from Reitmans (Canada) Limited, [email protected], +1 (514) 384-1140, ext. 24229

Related Links

http://www.reitmans.ca


Savio Rodrigues, Founder & Editor-in-Chief, GoaChronicle said, The attack on a GoaChronicle journalist is not going to dampen the spirit of the team to further investigate into the radical groups in Kashmir and their intent to create disharmony in the nation."

On Sunday, terrorists threw a high-intensity hand-grenade at the house of a GoaChronicle journalist in Baramulla, Kashmir. An off-shoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba, The Resistance Front have claimed the attack. The attack was aimed at targeting the mother of the GoaChronicle journalist, the Sarpanch of the locality.

The Resistance Front released a poster that said, Today the Cadre of the Shaheen Squad TRF carried out grenade attack on Sarpanch Narinder Kaur under Operation Clean Out. This is not a warning shot. We are there watching and will strike anytime.

Yesterday at 9 p.m., a high-intensity hand-grenade was thrown at the house of a GoaChronicle journalist that damaged the car that was parked in the compound and several other parts of the house. However, the family is safe as the grenade fell in the compound, outside the house and blasted.

Savio Rodrigues, Founder & Editor-in-Chief, GoaChronicle said, The attack on a GoaChronicle journalist is not going to dampen the spirit of the team to further investigate into the radical groups in Kashmir and their intent to create disharmony in the nation. Our journalist will be back in action. His family is safe and strong. The army and police authorities are investigating the matter. They have taken the CCTVs recording.

The journalist whose house was attacked by the terrorists has been at the target of the terrorists for over 8 months now. He visited his home after 8 months since he didnt want his family to come under the radar of the terrorists.
Hundreds of "mujahideen" are heading towards the state of Panjshir to control the province, Sputnik reported citing a news agency.

The Taliban has said that hundreds of its fighters are heading for the Panjshir Valley, which is currently the center of the resistance in war-ravaged Afghanistan.

Hundreds of mujahideen are heading towards the state of Panjshir to control the province, Sputnik reported citing a news agency.

The Taliban entered Kabul last week after a months-long offensive, prompting the civilian government to collapse. After the fall of the Ashraf Ghani government, Panjshir remains the epicenter of the resistance led by Ahmad Massoud and Amrullah Saleh, the first vice president from Ghanis cabinet.

According to the Russian news agency, members of the Taliban are waiting for an order to attack the holdout Panjshir province northeast of the Afghan capital of Kabul.

Earlier on Sunday, the Taliban offered Ahmad Massoud, the leader of the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan, to surrender. Meanwhile, Massoud said that they would not surrender and that the locals were ready to fight.

Massoud also said that he and his supporters wanted a peaceful solution and were ready to negotiate an inclusive government with the Taliban, but the group declined the offer.

If the Taliban try to seize control of Panjshir valley, resistance fighters will be ready to resist, the son of Ahmad Shah Massoud, one of the main leaders of Afghanistans anti-Soviet resistance in the 1980s, Ahmad Massoud told Al Arabiya.

He further added he wants to bring the conflict to an end.
A woman whose remains authorities say were found in a container in New Jersey was a Greenwich native.

The Bergen County Prosecutors Office identified the remains as Nicole L. Flanagan, 42. The remains were found Aug. 13 in a container on a street in Ridgefield Park, N.J., authorities said.

Thomas Flanagan, of Greenwich, confirmed Monday his sister was found dead in New Jersey.

Detective Hubert Reyes, of the New York City Police Department, said Friday that Flanagan, with a last known address in the Bronx, N.Y., was last seen outside an apartment building in Manhattans Financial District, the Associated Press reported.

The Bergen County Prosecutor's office said Ridgefield Park Police discovered Flanagans remains in the container near Hobart Street and Teaneck Road.

Police were called to the area on a report of a suspicious large plastic container having been left in the street, the prosecutors office said in a statement.

He said the medical examiner is working to determine a cause and time of death.

According to her obituary, Flanagan was born in Greenwich to Thomas and Bonnie Flanagan, and is survived by her three children, her brother and nephews.

Calling hours will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral Home on Arch Street in Greenwich. The funeral service will also be held in Greenwich, at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Mary Church.

We are all devastated by the loss of Nicole, her sister-in-law Lisa Flanagan wrote in the description of a GoFundMe campaign created to cover the funeral costs.

Lisa Flanagan called her sister-in-laws death tragic and sudden. The fundraiser, launched over the weekend, has raised over $6,000.

Bergen County authorities last week confirmed the identity of the remains as Flanagans. The cause of death has not been determined by the medical examiners office.

The Bergen County Prosecutors office and Ridgefield Park Police Department are investigating.
HAMDEN  A Republican Legislative Council candidate who came under fire over his attendance at the Jan. 6 pro-Trump rally in Washington, D.C., has withdrawn from the race, the town clerk confirmed.

Justin Piper previously told the New Haven Register he heard then-President Donald Trump speak at a rally against the 2020 election results, which took place before a group of rioters entered the Capitol. He walked to the Capitol after the rally, but did not enter the building, he said.

His social media page also included posts suggesting the 2020 presidential election was fraudulent.

Across the nation, local and state election officials and courts have found no credible evidence of significant fraud in the 2020 election.

Town Clerk Vera Morrison said the Republican Town Committee may choose a candidate to replace Piper on the ballot. RTC Chairman Frank LaDore said Monday he was working to find another candidate to run for the District 4 Legislative Council seat.

Piper did not return requests for comment about why he dropped out, but the decision comes in the wake of backlash to his candidacy following reports about his links to the Stop the Steal movement.

In an email to LaDore about his reasons for withdrawing, Piper said he had received threatening messages and no longer felt confident about representing Hamden.

Throughout the season, my overall safety has been compromised through this ordeal as Ive received disrespectful phone calls, and a few threatening messages to follow that made me feel very uncomfortable, Piper said in the email.

The New Haven Register obtained a copy of the email from the Town Clerks office.

LaDore also told a reporter that the backlash likely was not the only reason Piper withdrew  Piper had also indicated he was looking to move out of town due to high taxes, for example.

(Piper) said that he had some personal issues and it was a very stressful time in his life and he wasnt ready to run for office, LaDore said.

Councilwoman Marjorie Bonadies, R-9, who had defended Piper, believed his withdrawal had to do with the negativity following the New Haven Register report, which she said left him with a scarlet letter.

I think the reporting on him was very unfair, was one-sided, and I think the attacks on him as a result were the reason he decided to step back, she said. He just got categorized as, you know, a dangerous insurrectionist by the media.

Bonadies felt the media unfairly singled out Piper, contending that left-wing activists do not receive the same type of coverage.

People attended George Floyd rallies and did not take part in the rioting, she said, referring to the events last spring that occurred after the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.

The killing sparked nationwide protests and unrest. Many were peaceful but in some cases there were incidents of arson and looting.

Bonadies suggested the media held a double standard because it failed to cover two of her colleagues who participated in such protests  and, according to Bonadies, demonstrated troublesome behavior  in the same way it singled out Piper.

She pointed to a May 31 incident in New Haven. At-large Councilman Brad Macdowall and Councilman Justin Farmer, D-5, were among a group of protesters met with pepper spray at New Haven police headquarters, after some attempted to enter the closed building being blocked by officers.

In video of the incident, an organizer can be heard announcing that the group will enter the building to present a list of demands to the mayor. Some protesters then attempt to cross the lines of police officers, according to the video, which shows pushing and shoving between officers and protesters.

I dont think Ive ever seen someones what about-ism reach quite that far, Macdowall said when asked about Bonadies comments. Its a stretch  its a real, real big stretch  to try to find an equivalency between those two events.

Farmer, a regular presence at police accountability protests, also called the comparison between his and Pipers actions a false equivalence.

Referring to the riot at the Capitol, he said he never attended an event that was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which has been involved with investigating what happened at the Capitol Jan. 6. (There has been no indication Piper was involved in the riot at the Capitol or was investigated by the FBI.)

When I go to a protest ... I take full responsibility for my actions. ... Often times Ive been (seen) de-escalating situations between police and protesters.

meghan.friedmann@hearstmediact.com
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  U.S. President Joe Bidens special envoy for North Korea said Monday hes ready to meet his North Korean counterparts anywhere and at any time as he held discussions with South Korean officials over stalled nuclear talks with the North.

Sung Kims visit to Seoul comes amid declining expectations for a quick resumption of talks and new tensions over ongoing U.S.-South Korean military exercises. North Korea has described the exercises as a rehearsal for an invasion and has threatened unspecified countermeasures that would cause a security crisis for the U.S. and South Korea.

After meeting with senior South Korean diplomat Noh Kyu-duk, Kim reiterated that the Biden administration has no hostile intent toward North Korea and that the joint drills are routine and defensive in nature.

Kim and Noh told reporters they discussed possible ways to facilitate diplomacy, including humanitarian cooperation with North Korea in providing anti-virus resources, sanitation and safe water. They did not announce any specific plans.

Kim also is to meet Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov, who is also visiting Seoul.

The United States does not have hostile intention for (North Korea, Kim said. He said the joint U.S.-South Korea military exercises are long-standing, routine and purely defensive in nature and support the security of both our countries.

I continue to stand ready to meet with my North Korean counterpart at anywhere and at any time, Kim said.

Talks between the United States and North Korea have stalled since the collapse of a summit between former President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in 2019, when the Americans rejected the Norths demand for a major easing of economic sanctions in exchange for a partial reduction of its nuclear capabilities.

Kim has since pledged to bolster his countrys nuclear deterrent while urging his people to stay resilient in a struggle for economic self-dependence in the face of U.S. pressure. His government has so far rejected the Biden administrations overtures for talks, demanding that Washington abandon its hostile policies first.

North Korea has closed its borders since the start of the pandemic, but it will eventually have to open itself to humanitarian assistance and dialogue with the United States to carry out vaccinations, said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul. That doesnt necessarily mean it will abstain from a missile test during or after the U.S.-South Korea drills, Easley said.

While North Korea has yet to report any coronavirus infections, experts have expressed skepticism about its claim of a perfect record, given its poor health care system and the porous border it shares with China. Edwin Salvador, the World Health Organizations representative to North Korea, told The Associated Press last week that the North has yet to complete the technical requirements that are needed to receive vaccines under the U.N.-backed COVAX program.

The atmosphere for diplomacy deteriorated further this month when Kims powerful sister released a statement saying the drills were the most vivid expression of the U.S. hostile policy toward North Korea and that the North will work faster to strengthen its preemptive strike capabilities.

The United States and South Korea are conducting a nine-day joint military exercise that began last Monday which Seouls Defense Ministry says is mostly computer-simulated and doesnt involve live field training. There have been no known missile tests by North Korea since the start of the drills, although South Korean military officials have said the North is currently staging its own summertime exercises.

North Korea has long bristled at U.S.-South Korea military drills and often responds to them with its own weapons demonstrations. The allies in the past few years have canceled or downsized some of their joint training exercises to provide space for diplomacy or because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some analysts say North Koreas recent threat may signal a resumption of its weapons testing. North Korea ended a yearlong pause in ballistic tests in March by firing two short-range missiles into the sea, continuing a tradition of testing new U.S. administrations with weapons demonstrations aimed at measuring Washingtons response and wresting concessions.

There havent been any known test launches since then as Kim has focused national efforts on fending off the coronavirus and salvaging a broken economy damaged further by pandemic border closures and food shortages.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Pentagon said Monday that it will require service members to receive the COVID-19 vaccine now that the Pfizer vaccine has received full approval.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is making good on his vow earlier this month to require the shots once the Food and Drug Administration approved the vaccine. He said guidance is being developed and a timeline will be provided in the coming days.

Austins decision reflects similar moves by governments and companies around the world, as nations struggle with the highly contagious delta variant that has sent U.S. cases surging to heights not seen since last winter. And hospitalizations and deaths are increasing among the military. Over the past month, the number of service member deaths jumped from 25 to 34  more than a one third increase.

In a memo Aug. 9, Austin said he'd seek the presidents approval to make the vaccine mandatory no later than mid-September, or immediately upon FDA licensure whichever comes first. The Pentagon has said that the military has enough vaccines to meet the requirements. The shots would be mandated for active duty and National Guard troops. There are more than 1.3 million on active duty and close to 800,000 in the Guard and Reserve.

Kirby said the steps Monday to make the vaccine mandatory are an effort to ensure the safety of service members. Concerns about the virus are especially acute in the military, where service members live and work closely together in barracks and on ships, increasing the risks of rapid spreading. Any large virus outbreak in the military could affect Americas ability to defend itself in any security crisis.

In a message to the force earlier this month, Gen. Mark Milley said medical professionals recommend the vaccine, and that getting the shot is key to maintaining a military that is prepared to defend the nation. At the bottom of his message, Milley scrawled a handwritten note: Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is a key force protection and readiness issue.

Members of the U.S. military are already required to get as many as 17 different vaccines, depending on where they are deployed. The requirements  which include shots for smallpox, hepatitis, polio and the regular flu  also provide for a number of temporary and permanent exemptions for either medical or administrative reasons.

Permanent exemptions include serious medical reactions to the vaccine, immune deficiencies such as HIV infection, and evidence of existing immunity by a serologic antibody test or documentation of previous infection or natural infection presumed.

There also are administrative exemptions, including one for religious reasons. The religious exemption is granted by the military services based on their policies, and it appears to be relatively rare. The decision is made by commanders based on consultation with medical personnel and the chaplain.

The Navy and the Marine Corps said they have had zero religious exemption requests for other vaccines in recent years. The Air Force said it did not have specific data on religious exemptions, but said it has granted 336 overall administrative exemptions, which include religion. The bulk of those exemptions were for troops who are within 180 days of retirement or separation from the service, and did not involve religion. The Army did not provide an answer to the question about religious requests.

Troops may also get temporary exemptions for up to a year if they, for example, are pregnant, seriously ill, or if there is a lack of vaccine supply.

The regulations also note that any exemption may be reversed if a medical condition changes or if it is determined that the risk of acquiring the disease is greater than the risk of vaccine exposure.

An AP-NORC poll released Friday found that 56% of Americans are in favor of requiring members of the military to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, compared with 20% opposed.

As of Aug. 18, more than 1 million active duty, Guard and Reserve service members were fully vaccinated and nearly 245,000 more had received at least one shot, according to the Defense Department. Just over half of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated with one of the countrys three options, from Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson.

Kirby said the Pentagon decision is only for the Pfizer vaccine.

Moderna has also applied to the FDA for full approval of its vaccine. J&J said it hopes to do so later this year.
MATHEWS, La. (AP)  A southeast Louisiana sheriff's deputy shot and wounded a man who was pointing a rifle at him late Sunday, the sheriff said early Monday.

Louisiana State Police are investigating the shooting by a Lafourche Parish deputy, as is standard for shootings involving local departments.
BOLOGNA, Italy (AP)  For more than seven decades, Martin Adler treasured a black-and-white photo of himself as a young American soldier with a broad smile with three impeccably dressed Italian children he is credited with saving as the Nazis retreated northward in 1944.

On Monday, the 97-year-old World War II veteran met the three siblings  now octogenarians themselves  in person for the first time since the war.

Adler held out his hand to grasp those of Bruno, Mafalda and Giuliana Naldi for the joyful reunion at Bologna's airport after a 20-hour journey from Boca Raton, Florida. Then, just as he did as a 20-year-old soldier in their village of Monterenzio, he handed out bars of American chocolate.

Look at my smile, Adler said of the long-awaited in-person reunion, made possible by the reach of social media.

It was a happy ending to a story that could easily have been a tragedy.

The very first time the soldier and the children saw each other, in 1944, the three faces peeked out of a huge wicker basket where their mother had hidden them as soldiers approached. Adler thought the house was empty, so he trained his machine gun on the basket when he heard a sound, thinking a German soldier was hiding inside.

The mother, Mamma, came out and stood right in front of my gun to stop me (from) shooting, Adler recalled. She put her stomach right against my gun, yelling, Bambinis! Bambinis! Bambinis! pounding my chest,'' Adler recalled.

That was a real hero, the mother, not me. The mother was a real hero. Can you imagine you standing yourself in front of a gun and screaming Children! No!' he said.

Adler still trembles when he remembers that he was only seconds away from opening fire on the basket. And after all these decades, he still suffers nightmares from the war, said his daughter, Rachelle Donley.

The children, aged 3 to 6 when they met, were a happy memory. His company stayed on in the village for a while and he would come by and play with them.

Giuliana Naldi, the youngest, is the only one of the three with any recollection of the event. She recalls climbing out of the basket and seeing Adler and another U.S. soldier, who has since died.

They were laughing, Naldi, now 80, remembers. They were happy they didnt shoot.

She, on the other hand, didnt quite comprehend the close call.

We werent afraid for anything, she said.

She also remembers the soldiers chocolate, which came in a blue-and-white wrapper.

We ate so much of that chocolate, she laughed.

Donley decided during the COVID-19 lockdown to use social media to try to track down the children in the old black-and-white photo, starting with veterans groups in North America.

Eventually the photo was spotted by Italian journalist Matteo Incerti who had written books on World War II. He was able to track down Adler's regiment and where it had been stationed from a small detail in another photograph. The smiling photo was then published in a local newspaper, leading to the discovery of the identities of the three children, who by then were grandparents themselves.

They shared a video reunion in December, and waited until the easing of pandemic travel rules made the trans-Atlantic trip possible.

I am so happy and so proud of him. Because things could have been so different in just a second. Because he hesitated, there have been generations of people, Donley said.

The serendipity isnt lost on Giuliana Naldis 30-year-old granddaughter, Roberta Fontana, one of six children, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren who descended from the three children hidden in the wicker basket.

Knowing that Martin could have shot and that none of my family would exist is something very big, Fontana said. It is very emotional."

During his stay in Italy, Adler will spend some time in the village where he was stationed, before traveling on to Florence, Naples and Rome, where he hopes to meet Pope Francis.

My dad really wants to meet the pope, Donley said. He wants to share his message of peace and love. My dad is all about peace."

____

Colleen Barry contributed to this report from Milan.
RENO, Nev. (AP)  Dense smoke from massive wildfires burning in neighboring California created hazardous air quality in the Reno-Tahoe area on Monday, canceling flights and forcing the closure of schools, parks and popular summer beaches.

Government air monitors were recording some of the region's most hazardous conditions in years. Weather forecasters and health officials said little relief is expected in western Nevada through mid-week.

The National Weather Service also issued an air quality alert for parts of northeast Nevadas Elko County more than 300 miles (482 kilometers) east of the closest California fires.

The Washoe County School District closed all public schools Monday in the district serving 67,000 students in Reno, Sparks and Incline Village at Lake Tahoe.

District spokeswoman Victoria Campbell said a decision about reopening on Tuesday would be made early in the morning.

We know this is a hardship for our families, students and staff, but winds are unpredictable and we want to make the very best decision with the information we have available, the district said in a message sent to students' families.

Several flights were canceled Monday at Reno-Tahoe International Airport. Nevada State Parks closed its land around Lake Tahoe on the California line until Friday, depending on conditions, including at a popular beach at Sand Harbor near Incline Village.

The Food Bank of Northern Nevada also canceled several outdoor food deliveries in Reno and surrounding rural areas through Wednesday.

Smoke blowing from the Dixie and Caldor fires in California has blanketed northern Nevada on and off for weeks, leaving particulate matter in the air and causing ash to rain on cars in some areas.

In Las Vegas, more than 400 miles (644 kilometers) south of Reno, Clark County air quality officials issued a smoke advisory for Tuesday.

More than 13,500 firefighters were working to contain a dozen large California blazes that have destroyed hundreds of homes and forced thousands of people to flee to safety. New concerns were developing at the explosive Caldor Fire southwest of Lake Tahoe, the famed alpine lake surrounded by peaks of the Sierra Nevada and resort communities.

The Washoe County School District delayed start times at K-12 schools due to the smoke last Tuesday to wait for winds to clear the fumes.

Last August and September, the districts schools were closed six times in four weeks due to smoke.

In an effort to combat the spread of COVID-19, the district installed commercial-grade HVAC systems in its schools last year to help ventilate hallways and classrooms. But it has expressed concerns about juggling wildfire smoke outside and the risk of the coronavirus inside.

On Monday, government air monitors for the region measured high levels of particulate matter with diameters smaller than 2.5 microns, spiking the air quality index to 331. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers measurements above 300 to be emergency conditions hazardous to everyones health.

The Washoe County Health District said the air quality index was expected to be very unhealthy to "hazardous at times on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in the Reno-Sparks area.

It said it declared a Stage 3 Emergency Episode on Monday for the first time in its history because the air quality index had remained above 200 for 24 hours.

The alert means all residents should stay indoors as much as possible, the district said.

Although the health district has not taken such action, a Stage 3 episode allows the district control officer to issue a shelter-in-place or evacuation order. It also provides authority for the officer to curtail operations for specific public, commercial and industrial establishments which are deemed not necessary for public health and safety and are contributing to the declared emergency episode.

Under Stage 4, the highest level, the officer may curtail operations at all such businesses and establishments.

The National Weather Service said significant smoke and air quality impacts will continue across the Sierra from south of Yosemite National Park to north of Susanville, California, and parts of western Nevada at least through Wednesday.

The greatest potential for hazardous levels are in Reno, Carson City, Minden, Lake Tahoe, Susanville and Truckee, California, the service said.

It said theres potential for some temporary improvements in air quality each late afternoon and early evening for some areas, but shifting winds make it difficult to say exactly where and for how long.

___

Sam Metz 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.
Heavy winds and rain battered the state as Tropical Storm Henri made landfall near the border of Connecticut and Rhode Island.

As communities prepared for the storm, several towns and cities began to issued states of emergencies, or similar declarations, with leaders urging residents to shelter in their homes.

In a press conference on Sunday afternoon, Governor Ned Lamont urged residents to stay safe, stay home, with concerns that torrential rains and forceful winds could make travel particularly dangerous. Ahead of the storm, he requested an emergency declaration from the White House, which President Joe Biden approved early Sunday.

The declaration allows federal government to provide crucial aid before and after the storm.

By Saturday evening, leaders Bridgeport, East Haven, East Lyme, Fairfield, Groton, Guilford, Madison, New Haven, Old Saybrook, and Westport had all declared states of emergency.

In Hamden, Mayor Curt Leng issued a declaration of public emergency Sunday morning, hours before the Henri made it to the shores of New England, after Governor Ned Lamont did the same for the entire state the day prior.

Hamdens town charter allows for the mayor to obligate up to $100,000 to cope with public emergencies.

Officials in Derby also declared a state of emergency and civil preparedness, with Mayor Richard Dziekan issuing the proclamation on Saturday. In the declaration, Dziekan said he had determined that there is an immediate threat of, or existing conditions have caused or will cause, widespread or severe damage, injury or loss of life and property.

Derbys state of emergency would last until Wednesday, unless lifted sooner.

Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim declared an emergency for the city as of 5:00 p.m. on Saturday.

In Branford, officials declared a local state of emergency and mandatory evacuations Saturday night for those living in low-lying coastal areas.

State Rep. Sean Scanlon announced mandatory evacuation orders for Guilford, which also had an emergency delcaration, and Branford.

If you live in a coastal, low-lying or area prone to historic flooding due in Guilford, evacuate now, Scanlon said in a tweet. He followed that up with PLEASE TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY.

Just west of there, New Haven Major Justin Elicker announced Saturday afternoon that he had signed a declaration of civil preparedness emergency. Officials there recommended that East Shore residents south of Myron Street, residents of Haven Street and John Murphy Drive in Fair Haven, and residents of South Water Street in City Point evacuate their homes before the storm or by 5 a.m. Sunday.

Were concerned about flooding in those areas. In certain areas, it will be difficult for our emergency crews to access if people are experiencing an emergency at that time, Elicker said.
NEW HAVEN  With just weeks to go before American Airlines commitment to maintain its American Eagle service between Tweed New Haven Regional Airport and Philadelphia as a string attached to U.S. government pandemic relief expires Sept. 30, American has yet to say whether it will continue flying into Tweed.

As of Monday, no flights to or from Tweed were shown on Americans website beyond Sept. 30. It showed one flight in each direction through Sept. 30. In the past, the frequency of flights has been cut back over the summer, then increased in September.

Tweed New Haven Airport Authority Executive Director Sean Scanlon said he didnt know yet whether American will continue serving Tweed beyond Sept. 30.

They havent been clear to us. Thats when their money runs out from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Scanlon said.

The U.S. Senate passed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 on March 6. It provides a total of $1.9 trillion, including a combined $17 billion in coronavirus-related relief funding for U.S.-based airlines and aviation original equipment manufacturers.

In recent months, American Airlines financial situation nationally is certainly lagging behind the other legacy airlines, but our load factors have been good, Scanlon said.

Tweeds load factor so far in August was 78 percent as of Wednesdays airport authority board meeting, he said.

I think if they do decide not to schedule more flights in the short-term, its more a reflection of their financial situation than where were heading, Scanlon said, saying the future of the service is subject to factors that are sort of beyond just whats happening in New Haven.

During the pandemic, every time the federal money was running out they were basically saying that they were leaving, Scanlon said. The last time that happened, They basically announced the day before service was supposed to end that they were going to continue, he said.

Nevertheless, Were talking to them, Scanlon said. Its a conversation.

Weve been down to the wire before, he said.

An American spokesman, Brian Metham, did not say whether American would continue to serve Tweed in the future in an email in response to that question. I can confirm that we do not have tickets available for sale between HVN and PHL past September 30, Metham said.

Ive not gotten official notice at all that theyre leaving, said Tweed Authority Chairman John Picard. I know the numbers are much better at Tweed than they were for American Eagle last year, he said. Im hoping that they stay.

American suspended flights last October, then announced in November it would stop service to New Haven completely. It later announced on Dec. 22 that it would resume flights Jan. 5.

One thing has changed since the last time American considered curtailing service: if it does so this time, Tweed wont be without service for long.

A new start-up airline, Avelo Airlines, will begin service Nov. 3 with nonstop flights to four Florida destinations: Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa and Fort Myers, Avelo and airport officials announced last week. Avelo Chairman and CEO Andrew Levy said Avelo plans to add additional destinations over time.

mark.zaretsky@hearstmediact.com
GUILFORD  The Salt Cave glows amber from 35,000 pounds of pink Himalayan salt  from its walls made with bricks of solid salt, with stalagmites dripping down from the ceiling to a golden fireplace in a corner.

Visitors are given comfy socks to wear before walking on a rose-colored bank of granular salt crystals that fills the entire floor.

Yoga instructor Erin Schuster sits cross-legged on her mat at the Healing Salt Cave and Wellness Spa in Guilford, where it feels miles away from the bustling traffic outside on River Street. Schuster has partnered with the spa, which opened in June, and will be offering classes there in September and October.

In the salt cave, spa owner Theresa Cleary turns on the halo generator that circulates micro-particles of salt. This reputedly offers health benefits to the respiratory system, promotes healthy skin, and boosts the immune system, salt therapy devotees say.

This gives a new meaning to the term salt air. Its like being at the seashore, but the salt in the air is 10 times more powerful than what you encounter at the ocean, Cleary said.

In the wintertime, we will see everybody here  this will be the ocean for everyone, Cleary said.

You might be experiencing a little bit of coughing after your session, because your body is naturally releasing stuff thats not supposed to be in your body, Cleary said she tells clients. In fact, she added, that clients may taste the salt air which will also leave a fine coating on their skin.

Under twinkling lights that look like stars glowing from the openings in the salt ceiling, Schuster demonstrates breath work. Her voice is clear and soft, while peaceful instrumental music plays.

Schuster often holds classes in tranquil outdoor settings  at a local farm, an outdoor sculpture gallery, or amid fall foliage on the grounds of a New England Inn, in addition to her studio, Shoreline CT Yoga and Wellness in Clinton.

She teaches and practices Kripalu yoga  a style meant for all levels, which takes a more restorative and gentle approach that can help to enhance the relaxation response of the nervous system, she said.

Schuster inhales through her nose, exhaling very slowly through her mouth as she cues when to inhale and exhale, timing it with various moves on the mat. The diffuse, warm lighting of the cave amplifies the relaxation response from the yoga, Schuster said.

Were not outside with the sun beaming, she said. This darker cave and this quieter space  the nervous system shifts into that.

When visitors come into the cave the first time, their typical reaction is: There is a sort of this magical oasis I walked into all of a sudden, Schuster said.

After their initial oohs and aahs, Its almost like they leave Guilford. Its almost as if they walk into a completely different part of the world where it takes them into this deeper experience  not inside the walls of the yoga studio, she said.

And the tactile senses are awakened as well, she said, adding, People feel the actual salt underneath them and its really unexpected, that theres this bed of salt that is under their yoga mat that sort of creates this little cocoon, which gives the feeling that were being held.

The salt in the air can further enhance the relaxation response during the yoga session, she said. Actually breathing in the salt particles through the specific breathing techniques, movement and meditation, were doing while in the salt cave.

Schuster, however, stressed that these effects are depend on the individual.

Salt therapy is not new  its hundreds of years old and came from the salt mines and salt caves in Eastern Europe. Halo therapy, much newer, came out of the former Soviet Union, according to the Salt Therapy Association.

In the 1830s, a doctor discovered that Polish workers in a salt mine did not experience respiratory issues or lung disease as other miners. Almost a hundred years later, a German doctor named Karl Hermann Spannagel noticed that his patients health improved after hiding out in the salt caves while avoiding heavy bombing during WWII, according to a blog on the American Lung Associations website.

While medical research continued over 150 years in Eastern Europe until halo therapy was developed in the 1980s, it wasnt until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 that the technology migrated to the rest of the world, according to the Salt Therapy Association.

Health benefits include from relief from a wide range of respiratory ailments as well as skin conditions, from allergies and asthma to acne and rosacea and more, according to the association.

However, the ALA blog stated, At this point, there are no evidence-based findings to create guidelines for patients and clinicians about treatments such as salt therapy, which begs the question  should people be using a therapy without current medical guidance?

The blog writer recommends discussing salt therapy with your doctor before using it as a medical treatment.

The Healing and Salt Cave is hosting an Outdoor Charity Yoga session on the grounds of the spa which borders the West River, Oct. 6 from 5 to 6 p.m. Registration is required at 203-457-5107. The minimum suggested donation is $10.

For information, visit shorelinectyoga.com and Erin Schuster on Facebook. The Healing Salt Cave and Wellness Spa is at 260 River St., Guilford. Go to thehealingsaltcave.com, email info@thehealingsaltcave.com, or call 203-457-5107.
Niagara Falls, NY (14301)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High around 75F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Clear skies. Low 59F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Alkali Baba Usman, has urged officers of the Delta State Police Command to arrest and deal with member...

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Alkali Baba Usman, has urged officers of the Delta State Police Command to arrest and deal with members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.

Usman gave the charge while addressing officers of the Command during a one-day working visit on Monday.

He said: It is expected that whatever affects Anambra State may likely affect, especially Asaba. It is just the bridge that is separating the towns.

There are always spillovers of agitations and demonstrations from Onitsha to Asaba.

That is why you need to get prepared to deal with any crime or criminality to ensure that those trouble makers are brought to book.

You (officers) need to brace up to the IPOB challenge because it is a proscribed organisation and treat them as such.
Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has urged the Federal Government to charge security agencies to go into the forest and wipe out al...

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has urged the Federal Government to charge security agencies to go into the forest and wipe out all bandits terrorising Northerners.

El-Rufai made the remark while advising the Federal government to stop the payment of ransom and kill all the bandits in the North.

He spoke during a dialogue: Financing Safe Schools: Creating Safe Learning Communities in Abuja.

The governor said his colleagues have agreed that bandits should be wiped out.

According to El-Rufai: Our position as governors and we are unanimous in this because we, the Northern state governors, met with the president on this subject, our unanimous position is to wipe out the bandits.

We must go into these forests; nobody living in that forest is innocent and just kill them all. It is the only way to end this.

States like Kaduna, Zamfara, Niger, Kebbi and Sokoto States have witnessed cases of banditry.

Students, religious leaders have been targeted by these bandits in the Northern part of the country.
Victims of police brutality in Taraba State have taken their grievances to the National Economic Council (NEC), headed by Vice President Yem...





Victims of police brutality in Taraba State have taken their grievances to the National Economic Council (NEC), headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, after delays by the state government in compensating them.

In a petition written collectively by the victims, they passionately called on the leadership of the Commission to, as a matter of urgency, intervene as they are fast losing their patients.

Stressing how they have already lost confidence on the state government, they said we are compelled to communicate to your esteemed office directly concerning our plights  adding that, because from all indications, the state government is unwilling to give the panel the needed financial support to make the report ready for onward transmission to the NEC which you are the chairman.

Since the panel, which was led by Justice Christopher Awubra completed its assigned responsibilities several months ago, the reports observed that it is yet to be submitted.

Findings indicated that the inability of the government to make funds available to the panel is hindering the tidying up of the report.

Disturbed by the development, which the victims believed is telling negatively on them, they pleaded with the Commission to mount pressure on Ishakus administration to do the needful.

In their petition, they affirmed that we are aware of the directive that emanated from your office to the state governments to submit the report.

Despite the directive, they felt sad the Taraba State government is yet to submit the report  which according to them the panel has since completed public hearings of petitions since May 17, 2021.

The victims who could not fathom why the government has continued to drag its feet, said we are left with no option than to respectfully request for your intervention so that the state government can make the report ready to enable us to get compensation accordingly. 

While lamenting that some of the victims have lost their lives  others, as lucidly stated in the petition copy which was also made available to the chairman of the National Human Rights Commission have been permanently incapacitated and in dire need of money to access better medical treatment.

The said petition, which was jointly written by the 47 victims of police brutality and other security agencies, was signed on their behalf by Ali Danladi, Osita Gabriel, Pius Nyado and John K. Yunana.
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High 71F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy early, becoming mostly clear after midnight. Low 48F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
After what weve all been through, we want to talk to each other a bit more in person, to lock eyes on each other, feel human, hear live music, have real conversations, and experience awkward moments, stolen looks, warm food, simple cocktails, new faces and old friends.

Susan MacTavish Best is speaking to me.

Literally, the consummate party host and I are on the phone talking about what makes up the alchemy of a salon. Figuratively, she's speaking to me as well. Her message mirrors what I am craving: Other people!

A centuries-old tradition, a salon is a gathering in a home of from 10 to 100 curious people who come together around a topic, and usually a featured expert, to eat, drink, talk, learn and create community, she said.

The funny thing is, Ive been hosting salons for years. I just didnt know it, said Best, a professional salonista, based in New York and San Francisco. That is, she gets paid to host salons. (Another job I wish I had.)

Now shes encouraging everyone to give them a try. Anyone can host a salon, she said.

I dont know about you, but after 18 months in social darkness, when this new variant fades, I will be ready to host some parties with a purpose. So I grilled Best and asked her to dish up her secrets for a sensational salon.

Whose idea was this?

Women started salons in Europe during the 15th and 16th centuries. Most women then were not formally educated, nor were they allowed to participate in political discourse. But they could have people over. So they curated the conversation and guest list to suit their interests and agendas. Ultimately, salons became very influential socially, artistically and politically well into the early 1900s.

How did you get started doing this professionally?

I ran a public relations firm in Silicon Valley for 20 years. Clients would ask me to host groups in my home to help build community around their companies. Like the salonistas centuries before, I could use gentle soft skills to get done what I needed to get done, which might be introducing an investor to an inventor. Now I commonly have 100 people over. Im not recommending others do that. But I am suggesting people host salons for 10 or so people, and show the world how to do something different from a dinner party.

How is a salon different from a dinner party?

Salons are messier. The lighting is dim. The smells are good. The vibe is warm and welcoming, not fancy. Guests dont sit around a table, but rather on sofas and on the floor with pillows, which changes the menu. I dont look at salon food as appetizers, side dishes or entrees, but just food.

Whats on the menu?

I like one-dish meals that are easy like lasagna, mac and cheese or flatbread pizzas. If you dont like to cook, get grocery-bought pre-made dishes and platter them nicely. Always have at least one nonalcoholic beverage. I never make dessert. If people want to contribute, I ask them to bring a liquid or a pint of ice cream. I put the pints on a silver platter and thats dessert. Another way to keep costs down is to use little plates, which mean small helpings, so your food will last longer. Dont use disposable dishware or flatware. Its tacky and makes too much trash.

And your recipe for a great salon is ?

One that tickles all the senses. You want great lighting. No overhead lighting, only soft side lighting with candles, lanterns and lamps. It should smell good when guests walk up. You want to have music playing. Have a topic and invite an expert to interview. Look around for authors, professors, chefs, entrepreneurs, artists. Beyond that, the ingredients are conversation, connection and community.

How should the evening unfold?

Though salons feel unpredictable for guests, they should be quite predictable for the host. I keep a sharp eye on the time. Guests start arriving at 7 p.m. Around 8:15, after guests have had a chance to mingle, I ring a bell or clank a glass and tell everyone the fireside chat will start in 10 minutes, so grab some food, refresh your drink and find a seat. I start the guest interview at 8:30, and keeping it short, five questions, 20 or 30 minutes. We have audience questions, then a little live music. You could invite musicians from a nearby music school to perform, and were done by 9:30.

How do you curate a guest list?

Historically, the purpose of a salon was to bring people together of all ages from all walks of life, and that hasnt changed. My salons tend to span three generations. You also want diverse interests. Dont invite five friends from work. Nothing is more boring than an evening of all attorneys or all doctors or all whatever profession. Do not invite know-it-alls, sloppy drunks or anyone generally bad at listening.

How do we even think about hosting a salon with COVID on the rise again?

After what weve just lived through, it feels especially meaningful to reunite with those neighbors, family and friends who make life worth living, and unite around fascinating and important topics. That said, we need to do so carefully and responsibly.

Its OK to ask your guests to be vaccinated. It's your home, and that is a reasonable request, so you can socialize responsibly and with less angst. If you have the outdoor space, and the weather is nice, gather outside. Socializing in 2021 requires flexibility and grace.

Any more salon house rules?

Your guests cant invite random people. Thats an old salon rule. Not anyone can just walk in. I have a guest list, which I send out. Avoid charged topics. I dont mind a lively discussion, but this is my home. Were not going to be debating.

Marni Jameson can be reached at www.marnijameson.com.
Dooky Chases is closed on Mondays. Almost every good New Orleanian knows that, as sure as they know Mardi Gras doesnt roll on Saturdays and the Saints never play on Wednesdays.

So the number of cars in the landmark New Orleans restaurants parking lot last Monday (Aug. 16) was a clear sign that a very special guest was visiting.

As it turns out, it was New Orleans royalty.

Kind of.

Twelve years after the New Orleans-set Princess and the Frog made history by giving the world its first Black Disney princess, a handful of Walt Disney Co. creatives were back in town to record a chat with Stella Chase Reese, daughter of one of the real-life inspirations for the barrier-breaking Princess Tiana.

On the menu: a discussion of Tianas legacy, video of which has been shared online to help launch the Disneys company-wide World Princess Week celebration, which starts today.

Can't see the video below? Click here.

Those gathered would also, however, discuss tantalizing new details of the planned Princess and the Frog attraction that will supersize New Orleans cultural footprint at Disneyland and Walt Disney World when it replaces the Splash Mountain attraction at both parks.

The timetable and name for the new attraction have yet to be announced, but Disney Imagineering Senior Creative Producer Charita Carter, who was among those at Dookys last Monday and who is steering the parks Tiana project, said her team has been hard at work behind the scenes crafting an all-new story for Tiana and friends that will be set after the events of the film.

That process has involved a lot of brainstorming, planning and general imagineering. It will also include multiple research trips to New Orleans, just like the Princess and the Frog animation team did 12 years ago, to make sure the final product does the city justice.

To be able to bring forth the spirit and vibe of this amazing city, we have to immerse ourselves. We have to walk the street and have conversations, Carter said.

We want our guests who are from all places around the world to say, OK, this is a really special place, she continued. But its also important for our guests who come from New Orleans to say, Yes. This is my home. They did it. They got it right. And thats why were so diligent in our research.

As Carter spoke, an easel over her shoulder displayed a piece of art  all bright colors and brighter smiles  by Sharika Mahdi of the local YAYA Arts Center. It is the first of four works Disney commissioned from Mahdi to serve as a sort of North Star for Imagineers as they develop the ride.

What we did was, we pitched to her our concept, Carter said. We didnt show her any of our storyboards, we just pitched it to her, because we wanted to see from her perspective, from a native New Orleans artist, how she would interpret what we were saying and how it resonated with her. So she painted this amazing piece, and then in turn when we saw it, it inspired us.

As envisioned, from the moment a guest enters the ride queue, Carter said theyll be surrounded by authentic little details to help put them in a New Orleans state of mind.

Once they reach the front of the line, theyll meet Princess Tiana herself.

Tiana actually invites us as guests to go on an adventure with her on the bayou, Carter said. And the fun thing about this is we, as guests, are active participants in this adventure, so she acknowledges us, and just being the winning person she is, she takes us through this amazing journey.

That journey ends with a pull-out-the-stops Mardi Gras celebration, but along the way, guests will be reunited with familiar Princess and the Frog characters and critters  as well as meeting a few new ones.

In addition to contributions from Disney Animation, the ride will also feature next-generation audio-animatronic character that Carter said raises the bar technologically over those used in other Disney attractions.

From an architectural standpoint, the rides old track system  a meandering, float-thru indoor boat ride that ends with a 50-foot log-flume-style drop  wont be substantively changed from its Splash Mountain configuration, Carter said.

The ride system, in terms of its ebbs and flows, will be something well be consistent with, but were going to wrap a new story around that, Carter said.

Of course, that begs a question of not-insignificant geographical import: Where in the name of Monkey Hill would anybody reasonably expect to find a 50-foot drop in New Orleans? The I-10 high rise? The Mississippi River levee? A Gentilly pothole?

All Ill say is we have a wonderful, and what we believe is an authentic, reason for why theres this big mound, Carter said coyly. But youll have to stay tuned.

She did confirm, however, that the new Tiana ride will be filled stem to stern with New Orleans music.

Were just going to take that to 11, Carter said. When you think of the music from New Orleans, we have such an opportunity to give our guests a lot of the music they recognize, maybe with a new twist  and there might even be some new tunes that we incorporate and weave into the story.

That musicality will be one of the few similarities the new Tiana attraction will have to the old Splash Mountain, which has taken guests on a rousing musical trip through scenes from Disneys racially problematic Song of the South since 1989 at Californias Disneyland and 1992 at Floridas Walt Disney World.

Unlike that ride, however, the new Tiana attraction promises a certain level of inclusivity, making it a ride all guests will be able to enjoy together.

New Orleans is such a special place, and Tiana is just a wonderful character for our guests. Her story is really universal, Carter said. She really appeals to all races and all backgrounds and all cultures, and that really embodies what this city is all about. So it just makes so much sense that New Orleans would be the city of Tiana.

Mike Scott can be reached at moviegoermike@gmail.com.

This story has been updated to correct the spelling of YAYA artist Sharika Mahdi's name.
Margie Perez, like many of New Orleans musicians, was desperate and frustrated. Displaced by Hurricane Katrina, shed first gone to Washington, D.C., where she would end up staying the first few months after the storm.

Once the initial shock had worn off and the reality of a life turned upside down had set in, however, she returned to New Orleans. Her Broadmoor apartment, along with everything in it, had been destroyed by the floodwaters unleashed after the storm.

For weeks she couch-surfed with friends while she worked to recover her life and find a new place to live. But so was much of the city. Musicians, artists, waiters, lawyers  New Orleanians of all walks of life were without long-term housing.

Then the opportunity of a lifetime came along. A friend suggested Perez fill out an application to move into the Musicians Village, an Upper 9th Ward neighborhood that was being built by Habitat for Humanity in partnership with Harry Connick Jr. and Branford Marsalis.

I was homeless and I qualified, she says. Most musicians  we dont really handle our finances very well, but Habitat helped us get it together.

Instead of a down payment, the soon-to-be residents put in 350 hours of labor to build the homes, working alongside volunteers to construct the colorful, affordable houses situated on top of a razed former school in the aftermath of the storm.

It was a mixed bag of people  every race, every gender, everything was there. It also helped the people that came back and rebuilt [in the surrounding area]  it gave them a bit more motivation to know that theyve got neighbors instead of looking at an old, abandoned school, Perez says of the project, which would ultimately rehouse more than 70 musicians and other qualified residents.

Sixteen years later, New Orleans is once again in the midst of an affordable housing crisis. Skyrocketing rents over the last decade combined with housing developments geared toward the wealthy have pushed musicians, artists and hospitality and service industry workers further and further from their jobs in the French Quarter, CBD and Marigny. And now, the COVID-19 pandemic and looming evictions once again have thousands of New Orleanians desperate and frustrated.

But this time, New Orleans has something of a road map to follow, thanks to the sort of post-Katrina affordable housing projects that helped Perez. Targeted toward artists and musicians, projects like Musicians Village and the Bywater Art Lofts have proven its possible to create quality, long-term affordable housing for the artists and workers who are the backbone of New Orleans.

The biggest housing lesson from the aftermath of the failure of the federal levees, says Casius Pealer, director of Tulanes Master of Sustainable Real Estate Development program, is similar to the housing lesson we have learned in the pandemic: Housing is infrastructure.

Long gone are the days of cheap rent in New Orleans. According to rentcafe.com, the average tenant in the Crescent City pays their landlord around $1,200 a month. And the closer you get to the central core of the city, the higher the cost of housing gets.

HousingNOLA, a coalition of public, private and nonprofit organizations aimed at addressing New Orleans affordable housing crisis, published a staggering report in May that detailed just how bad the situation is in the city. In 2015, under then-Mayor Mitch Landrieu, the city had set a goal of creating 7,500 affordable housing units by the end of 2020. But HousingNOLAs report showed the city missed the mark significantly, rehabbing just 1,214 units.

But even if the city had met that goal, it wouldnt be enough. The group estimates that by 2025 the city will need nearly 33,600 additional units.

While Mayor LaToya Cantrell has repeatedly said her administration would make affordable housing a priority, HousingNOLAs Executive Director Andreanecia Morris says it has been a tedious, challenging process and she is pushing for them to be more proactive.

Weve put our heart and soul into [these plans] and watched the Cantrell administration slow-walk it, she says. And now its at risk because the City Planning Commission is not well-funded and they made budget cuts.

In the initial aftermath of Katrina, there was no shortage of people with ideas of how to help the city recover. There was, of course, the ill-fated Make It Right program launched by Brad Pitt  homes built in the Lower Ninth Ward that were made with defective materials and insufficient ventilation, among other problems.

But many, like Musicians Village, were successful in getting artists and hospitality workers  who frequently overlap  back into homes. New Orleans identity is inextricably tied to music, and if the city was to ever recover, getting musicians back to New Orleans and into homes was critical.

Connick Jr. and Marsalis announced the project in December 2005, and in January 2006 Habitat for Humanity had taken over the site of Kohn Junior High School, which had been destroyed during the storm and subsequently demolished.

It was a unique partnership between private funders, nonprofits and government which were able to come together in a remarkably short period of time to solve an enormous problem.

Perez, the Ninth Ward musician, praises the Musicians Village nonprofit staff for helping residents like herself figure out how to defer on mortgages to help them through financial uncertainty.

And, of course, shes thankful that organizations like Habitat for Humanity stepped in to help residents like herself during the uncertain days after the hurricane hit in 2005.

Habitat for Humanity proved that you can, for an affordable price, build a house from scratch, from the ground up, she says. Its a great idea, and it can be done so much more if there was financial backing from the city or from organizations that can help subsidize it.

As housing continued to be a challenge, other projects took form in the years immediately following Katrina. These housing initiatives were designed to help subsidize and support the citys creatives and low- to medium-income earners. Once again, the city partnered in many of the cases with private developers and money interests, as well as the crop of new nonprofits that aimed to help bring back the thousands of displaced residents whod lost their homes.

Nearby, the Bywater Art Lofts were another development that took shape to help out the struggling artists who were displaced or getting priced out by skyrocketing rents in the gentrifying neighborhood.

Developed by Pres Kabacoff, a large-scale historic property developer, the installment opened in a former factory building in 2009. The buildings offer residency to artists whose earnings were 30 to 60% of New Orleans median income. His development company, HRI, received tax credits through the federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives program and the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.

A second round of apartments opened in 2012 in the area and Kabacoff told the Times-Picayune at the time, "The concept of combining desperately needed housing for people who can't afford it and artists achieves two goals: It provides housing and neighborhood revitalization. Artists are creative, they care about their neighborhood and other people follow. It's kind of a no-brainer."

The Bell Artspace Campus, a former school building on Ursulines Avenue in Treme is a similar project aimed at artists. Started in 2016, it opened in 2018 to accommodate low-to-moderate income artists, culture bearers and their families. The 79 units were developed by Providence Community Housing, using a combination of historic preservation tax credits, low-income housing tax credits, city investments and philanthropy.

Project manager Joe Butler says the school had long been a part of Tremes cultural and historic fabric and part of the goal was to preserve that significance.

The idea came up when the city was having a conversation on how to protect our low-income neighborhoods and protect our culture bearers, Butler says. It is for people who are involved in second lines, brass bands, Mardi Gras Indians and other fine artists. It was a moment in time when things came together really nicely  We saw what the possibilities were, which was driven by the community.

HousingNOLAs Morris praised ArtSpaces model of housing developments  especially now that the pandemic, like Katrina, has put major strain on the creative and hospitality workers who are struggling to make ends meet and keep the lights on.

The Bell Artspace units, she explains, are subsidized by vouchers to ensure that renters pay on a sliding scale. Residents spend no more than 30% of their income on rent, which is the definition of affordable housing, she says.

There are, of course, challenges that will come with these sorts of efforts that in some cases werent there after Katrina. The Musicians Village benefited from the involvement of celebrities and the general public sentiment that something needed to be done to help the city.

This time around, however, the entire world has been affected by the pandemic. But as the Art Lofts and Bell Artspace campus  which did not benefit from the same initial outpouring of support and attention  demonstrate, it is possible, so long as developers and government work together.

You start with the intention and then look at the constraints  There has to be zoning conversations, says Morris. If you want to work with artists, for example, you should know how much they make  they dont make a lot of money here. So if you want to do affordable housing, that means you have some subsidies, not just for the developer but also to make sure the rents are in line with what people can actually pay.

Musicians Village, the Art Lofts and Bell Artspace have all proven to be long-term successes. They all continue to serve largely  though not exclusively  artists and musicians, many of whom, like Perez, have lived in them for years.

New Orleans is a city defined by our people and unique culture, says Andrew Tuozzolo, chief of staff for City Council President Helena Moreno. But that definition fades if those same people cant afford to live and work here.

There are efforts to give relief to out-of-work service workers, like rental assistance or Council Cares, which gave a $400 utility credit to Entergy users, but robust measures are needed to tackle housing affordability.

The sort of long-term solutions represented by the post-Katrina projects are needed now more than ever, particularly for service and hospitality workers  many of whom find themselves living far from their jobs.

Specific, designated housing for musicians and culture bearers is a welcome addition, especially as part of a more holistic discussion on general housing affordability, Tuozzolo says.

+16 Tenant Power 'There are more of us than there are of them.'

Chef Nick Lewis is one such member of the service industry who is reeling from the pandemic and the housing crisis that has worsened because of it. For more than 20 years, Lewis has worked in a variety of popular restaurants, but he lost a lucrative job at Rum House as pandemic restrictions went into effect March 2020.

I had to move out of my Mid-City apartment because I could no longer afford it, he said. I live in a shitty house now in a jacked-up part of Central City  Im a guy who rolls with the punches. But I just want to stop getting my ass kicked.

We are absolutely hemorrhaging money, he adds. His mental health has suffered, too, and he finds himself wondering if he might fare better elsewhere. Friends and family keep him here, but he says, If I werent a born-and-raised New Orleanian, Id be gone.

On the ballot this fall will be a chance to renew a millage for a housing trust fund, which could help the issue by bringing in as much as $3.5 million every year to go toward affordable housing construction, fighting blight and safeguarding housing for low-income residents. If it is not renewed, Morris says the results could be catastrophic.

The city is going to die, she says. We are letting some of the decision-makers kill the city. We cant take much more of this. Theres too much vacancy and too many projects that are market rate, which I call luxury. Market rate should reflect what the average person can afford  not be more expensive than what they can afford.

Pealer agrees.

The divergence of housing prices from incomes puts the community at risk  creative and hospitality workers, yes, but also folks we now consider frontline workers, elderly households, individuals with disabilities and those who care for them, and of course children.

+12 Home of Uncertainty: The costs of climate change hit housing Ed. Note: This is the first of a two-part series how climate change affects housing affordability and efforts to address those challenges. It 

While she is frustrated by the pace of housing efforts, Morris sees New Orleans as a place that could set a national standard on how to get its working class into reliable houses. The citys previous experience with rebuilding and some of its post-Katrina developments could be inspirational to other struggling cities who are also experiencing a housing crisis.

She says that creatives and hospitality workers are suffering across the country, but there is more opportunity to build in New Orleans because there are so many abandoned lots and blight that could become sites for more homes.

We can build the housing that meets the need, Morris says. We have the room, we have the space; this isnt impossible. We just need to stop accepting excuses.

Perez says she feels like one of the lucky ones. The pandemic has been hard on her, and day-to-day living is once again challenging. Still, she has a stable place to live, which is critical.

But Perez is also worried about some of her friends who havent received this type of assistance and hopes more efforts materialize soon.

There is so much uncertainty; there are so many issues were going through, she says. Were all just trying to stick together but its so hard right now  Theres so much housing that could be available if developers would put their eye toward helping somebody.

Meanwhile, though she is exasperated on behalf of the struggling New Orleanians down on their luck, HousingNOLAs Morris is also cautiously optimistic. Significant developments that could keep the citys working class in safe and affordable housing could happen at a greater capacity if officials make it a top priority, and she doesn't plan to give up the fight or stop pressuring them.

Editor's note: This article is part of a series done in partnership with the Solutions Journalism Network's Economic Mobility Initiative. The program uses solutions-focused journalism to examine ways in which governments, communities and individuals respond to economic challenges. To learn more, visit solutionsjournalism.org.
Ahead of a crucial meeting on Monday by the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center's selection panel to reassess a $557 million upgrade contract for the complex, two rival consortiums have raised a fresh legal objection to the center's initial pick.

At stake is a contract to be the construction manager at risk (CMAR) for the project, which is by far the largest upgrade in the building's 37-year history. The winning group will oversee the bulk of the half-billion-dollar plan, which includes upgrading much of the kilometer-long complex's internal spaces, as well as adding a new glass structure that will offer conventioneers spectacular views of the Mississippi River.

The two losing groups in July -- the Metro-Lemoine-McDonnel consortium and the Woodward-Landis-VPG-GH Mechanical-CDW Services group -- said Monday that the initial winner of the contract, AECOM Hunt-Broadmoor, had not obtained a Louisiana contractor's license for their joint venture and therefore should be disqualified from bidding.

Michael Sherman, a consultant working for the Metro-Lemoine-McDonnel group, said he had received confirmation from the state licensing board that AECOM-Broadmoor did not have a license and had formally lodged an objection with the convention center's board.

"When an out of state contractor like AECOM comes to Louisiana and doesn't take the time to understand our laws, they can make big mistakes," Sherman said.

Tim Hemphill, head of marketing at the convention center, said Monday that they would be making no comment ahead of the meeting.

Amy Ferguson, a spokesperson for the AECOM-Broadmoor joint venture, said they were considering the latest allegation. "The AECOM-Broadmoor consortium first learned of this last night, so is taking the necessary time to review and digest it," she said.

The latest objection comes on top of other challenges to the process that resulted in AECOM-Broadmoor being selected. They include an objection to the fact the selection was made in private and therefore broke Louisiana's open meetings law for state entities. That was supported by a letter from the state Attorney General's office on Aug 10 to the convention center's board saying it appeared that the open meetings law had not been followed when AECOM-Broadmoor was selected.

The public meeting of the selection panel at noon on Monday is an effort to redress that and to assess whether to reaffirm their first vote, rescind it or take some other course of action.

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The center's lawyer, David Phelps, told the board earlier this month that it was likely there would be legal action by one or other of the competing groups no matter what course of action they now take.

The two losing groups also have objected to the voting in the first round, focusing particularly on the allegation that one of the panelists, lawyer Hilary Landry, had a bias in favor of Broadmoor in her voting.

Landry has said her links to Broadmoor -- which includes her late father-in-law having been a long-time Broadmoor supervisor, and her role on the Superdome Commission as liaison with Broadmoor -- are tenuous and are of no direct or indirect material benefit to her.

The five-member panel voting for the master contractor included Michael Sawaya, the president and general manager of the convention center; Landry; Michael McKenna, managing director of Henry Consulting; Ray Torres, a contractor; and Chad Poche, an engineer and design consultant.

While Landry voted within a couple of points of the other panelists in favor of AECOM-Broadmoor, she gave much lower scores than the others for the two losing groups. Her vote was enough on its own to sway the overall vote in favor of AECOM-Broadmoor.

It is not clear if the fact AECOM-Broadmoor does not have a Louisiana contractor's license could be decisive in terms of disqualifying them. Broadmoor, which is based in Covington, is licensed in Louisiana but AECOM, which is the senior equity partner in the joint venture, is not.

Brad Hassert, director of compliance at the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors, said Monday that he was still evaluating documents submitted to him this morning by various parties. But he confirmed that the AECOM-Broadmoor joint venture is not registered as a licensed contractor in the state.

Earlier this year, an $800 million energy contract for LSU was similarly questioned when it was discovered that neither of the bidding consortiums had obtained a state contractor's license. That did not prevent one of those groups from being awarded that contract, though the process by LSU was criticized for being non-competitive and secretive.

The CMAR process is a relatively new one that allows government entities to award contracts on criteria other than lowest bidder. Once the contract is awarded, the contractor bears the risk to deliver the project at a fixed cost, which avoids putting the burden of chronic cost overruns that are typical of large construction projects onto the contracting entity.
The Louisiana Department of Health reported 2,838 hospitalizations and 48 more confirmed deaths in its noon update Monday.

Confirmed cases increased by 8,296. Another 2,654 cases and 11 deaths were listed as "probable" by the Louisiana Department of Health, for a total of 10,950 new cases and 59 new deaths.

The number of hospitalizations decreased by 161 from Friday's report.

The number of patients in need of ventilators increased by 10, for a total of 480 ventilated patients.

Eight of Louisiana's nine health regions have 20% or fewer ICU beds available. Six have less than 10% of ICU beds open.

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In Louisiana, around 2,247,592 vaccines have been initiated, about 48.3% of the population, and 1,873,834 have been completed, representing about 40.3% of the population.

Note: The Advocate and The Times-Picayune staff calculates daily case count and confirmed death increases based on the difference between today's total and yesterday's total of confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths. The Louisiana Department of Health releases a daily case count on its dashboard that includes probable cases as indicated by a positive antigen test. That case count can be different than the one listed here.

Here are some of the areas with the highest increases in confirmed coronavirus cases, based on the Monday report:
WASHINGTON  The U.S. gave full approval to Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, a milestone that may help lift public confidence in the shots as the nation battles the most contagious coronavirus mutant yet.

The vaccine made by Pfizer and its partner BioNTech now carries the strongest endorsement from the Food and Drug Administration, which has never before had so much evidence to judge a shots safety. More than 200 million Pfizer doses already have been administered in the U.S.  and hundreds of millions more worldwide  since emergency use began in December.

The public can be very confident that this vaccine meets the high standards for safety, effectiveness and manufacturing quality the FDA requires of an approved product, said acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock. "Todays milestone puts us one step closer to altering the course of this pandemic in the U.S.

The U.S. becomes the first country to fully approve the shot, according to Pfizer, and CEO Albert Bourla said in a statement he hoped the decision will help increase confidence in our vaccine, as vaccination remains the best tool we have to help protect lives.

+2 COVID's fourth wave has outsized impact on younger Louisianans, worrying doctors and experts Early in the pandemic, a simple truth emerged: COVID preys most viciously on the elderly, exacting a brutal toll on those over the age of 60, 

U.S. vaccinations bottomed out in July. As delta fills hospital beds, shots are on the rise again  with a million a day given Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Just over half of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated with one of the countrys three options, from Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson.

The FDAs action also may spur more vaccine mandates by companies, universities and local governments. This month New York City, New Orleans and San Francisco all imposed proof-of-vaccination requirements at restaurants, bars and other indoor venues. At the federal level, President Joe Biden is requiring government workers to sign forms attesting that theyve been vaccinated or else submit to regular testing and other requirements.

Anxious Americans increasingly are on board: Close to 6 in 10 favor requiring people to be fully vaccinated to travel on airplanes or attend crowded public events, according to a recent poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

Mandating becomes much easier when you have full approval, said Dr. Carlos del Rio of Emory University. I think a lot of businesses have been waiting for it.

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The FDA, like regulators in Europe and much of the world, initially allowed emergency use of Pfizers vaccine based on a study that tracked 44,000 people 16 and older for at least two months  the time period when serious side effects typically arise.

Thats shorter than the six months of safety data normally required for full approval. So Pfizer kept that study going, and the FDA also examined real-world safety evidence in deciding to fully license the vaccine for people 16 and older, those studied the longest. Pfizers shot still has emergency authorization for 12- to 15-year-olds.

Even after hundreds of millions of shots, serious side effects  such as chest pain and heart inflammation in teens and young adults  remain exceedingly rare, the FDA said.

As for effectiveness, six-month tracking of Pfizers original study showed the vaccine remained 97% protective against severe COVID-19. Protection against milder infection waned slightly, from a peak of 96% two months after the second dose to 84% by six months.

Those data came before the extra-contagious delta variant began spreading, but other data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows the vaccine is still doing a good job preventing severe disease caused by that mutant.

As for all the talk about booster doses, the FDAs licensure doesnt cover those. The agency will decide that separately.

The FDA already is allowing emergency use of a third dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine for people with severely weakened immune systems, such as organ transplant recipients who dont respond as strongly to the usual two shots. For everyone else who got those vaccinations, the Biden administration is planning ahead for booster starting in the fall  if the FDA and CDC agree.

Also still to be decided is vaccination of children under 12. Both Pfizer and Moderna are studying youngsters, with data expected in the fall.

___

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.
A man who served 12 years of a life sentence for swiping a tourists wallet from a McDonalds counter was freed this month after New Orleans prosecutors dismissed his habitual offender sentencing enhancement.

The victims of the chance encounter with Henry Phillips had long since assumed that he was already free. They had no knowledge that under Louisiana's version of a "three strikes" law, prosecutors invoked Phillips previous robbery convictions to hand him a life without parole sentence.

But as part of a larger project to review old sentences, Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams Office agreed last week to dismiss the sentencing enhancement against the 65-year-old. It did so with full support from the victims.

That allowed Criminal District Court Judge Rhonda Goode-Douglas to resentence Phillips to time served.

Phillips was convicted at a one-day trial in 2009 of purse-snatching. Prosecutors said he stole a mans wallet from the restaurant counter as his wife was using it to pay for a meal.

Sweeping project to undo split-jury convictions in New Orleans hits speed bump Newly installed Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams launched his project to undo split jury verdicts with a flourish: a speech on 

When confronted outside, Phillips pretended he had a gun and threatened the couple, who were visiting from California. They pressed him to take the money inside and drop the wallet so the husband could get on a plane the next day.

Phillips complied and biked away with $20, but he didnt get far. The couple watched as he ducked into a house half a block away, where he was arrested.

Typically, purse snatching carries a 2- to 20-year prison sentence. In Phillips case, prosecutors under former District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro invoked his two prior robbery convictions to give him a sentence of mandatory life without parole.

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That was a common tactic under Cannizzaro, who ramped up use of Louisianas tough three strikes law during his first term in office.

Defense attorneys complained that he was using the law as a hammer to force plea agreements. Cannizzaro defended his use of the law as a tactic reserved for incorrigibles.

This case could have been a petty theft charge, but it was sentenced like a murder, Phillips attorney, Colin Reingold of the Promise of Justice Initiative, said in a statement. In order to restore any sense of trust in our criminal legal system these cases have to be rooted out and purged.

Williams, who was elected last year, said the habitual offender law contributed to Louisianas status as the worlds most incarcerated place. Since taking office, he banned the use of the multiple bill and created a new civil rights division, whose duties include reviewing old cases for potentially excessive sentences.

Other sentences that Williams office has reduced so far include a 23-year term for a man sentenced for stealing two shirts from a Canal Street department store and a 20-year term for a defendant who solicited oral sex. Both were attained under the habitual offender law.

In a letter to the court, the victims of the wallet-snatching said they backed Phillips release.

Aside from the inconvenience of the robbery itself, and us having to later fly back into town to testify, this event has had no damage to our lives or our emotional well being, they said. We support Henrys re-sentencing and feel he has already served enough time in jail for this crime.

+2 New Orleans prosecutors reverse 'fundamentally unfair' sentence stemming from oral sex offer After a Louisiana man with a cocaine pipe in his pocket offered to perform oral sex for $10 under the Claiborne Expressway in 2001, New Orlean
Detective Everett Briscoe had earned his vacation.

A 13-year veteran of the New Orleans Police Department, Briscoe had investigated homicides and other serious crimes across the city for over a decade. The 41-year-old father of two boys was preparing to pursue a university degree in criminal justice and, like many, was working to keep his family safe during the coronavirus pandemic.

So as he unwound during a trip to Houston on Saturday night, Briscoe decided to grab dinner on the patio of the Grotto Restorante in the Texas city's ritzy Galleria neighborhood. But at 5:15 p.m., the evening turned tragic when two gunmen approached Briscoe and other patrons, demanded their belongings and opened fire, killing Briscoe and critically injuring another man visiting from New Orleans.

The slaying stunned New Orleans civic and law enforcement leaders, who fought back tears Sunday as they decried the callousness of the killing and the plague of violent crime surging in U.S. cities.

Having to inform (Briscoes widow) and two sons that their father and husband werent coming home because of senseless violence is  difficult, NOPD Superintendent Shaun Ferguson said, flanked by Mayor LaToya Cantrell and other leaders at a news conference at police headquarters. We lost a good one.

+13 'We lost a good one' NOPD Chief Ferguson, others mourn loss of off-duty officer killed in Houston New Orleans law enforcement and city leaders fought back tears Sunday as they decried the slaying of an off-duty NOPD officer in Houston as a

Councilman Jay Banks, who has known Briscoe for years through both men's membership in the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club, struggled to contain his despair.

No other family should have to go through this, he said, his voice rising in anger and grief. Nobody else should have to stand at these podiums and talk about this. ... We've got to figure out how to stop this, y'all. It makes no sense. It makes no sense for this much pain and grief to continue.

Houston Police Chief Troy Finner told reporters on Saturday that Briscoe and the other patrons were complying with the robbers demands when one of the assailants began shooting.

Struck were Briscoe and Dyrin Riculfy, who were each in Houston on a trip with fellow Zulu members, officials said. Though Briscoe died Saturday, Riculfy  the 43-year-old owner of a party bus and tuxedo rental company  was said to be fighting for his life Sunday.

The attackers then fled, apparently without stealing anything, in a gray or silver Nissan Altima with paper license plates.

Finner said officers were scouring Houston for the robbers and their getaway vehicle, and he implored the public to come forward with any information that could help investigators make arrests.

Im not going to let  a few little thugs tear down our city, Finner said. Right now, Im damn mad. It makes no sense.

+5 NOPD officer slain in Houston was veteran detective Everett Briscoe: sources The off-duty New Orleans Police Department officer who was killed while visiting Houston Saturday evening was veteran detective Everett Brisco

Detectives spent hours at the scene Saturday night, but the restaurant was seemingly back to normal by Sunday afternoon. A sign advertised "brunch and bubbly," and a steady stream of diners drove up to a valet stand to park.

Outside, there was no sign in the gated patio area of a shooting the day before, but couches and chairs around a water feature sat empty. A manager there referred a reporter to a corporate office for comment.

Just off Interstate 610, the restaurant is within sight of the Galleria Mall and two five-star hotels. Darryl O'Neal, a security guard who was not working at the Grotto when the shooting happened, said Sunday that the restaurant draws devoted regulars, tourists from out of town and families celebrating quinceaneras.

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"For something like that to happen was very unexpected," he said.

A.J. Hernandez, who lives nearby, agreed. "You can walk a block or two over here and it's $5 million homes," Hernandez said.

Back at home, as news spread of a life cut short, Briscoe's extended family throughout the NOPD and the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club rallied to comfort the widow and two sons he leaves behind. Hundreds had gathered in and around Zulu's two buildings at North Broad Street and Orleans Avenue by Sunday evening to pray around music, and the evening culminated in a second line parade.

Briscoe attended Southern University in Baton Rouge and even performed with the schools world-famous Human Jukebox marching band. He worked as a technician for Cox Communications for a few years before joining the NOPD in 2008.

There, he twice worked investigating crimes reported in the NOPDs 1st District, which includes Treme and Mid-City. Those stints were split by a tour of duty investigating murders as a detective in the homicide investigations unit, the forefront of the city's constant battle against violent crime. Among his achievements was a a unit citation earned in 2016.

Ferguson, however, said Sunday that he will most remember Briscoe for for helping community leaders organize events for local children. And he said he will forever hold onto a simple act of kindness that Briscoe showed him in the aftermath of a hurricane earlier in their careers.

Ferguson, who had lost power for days, casually remarked he should have gotten a gas-powered generator. Briscoe picked him up at a home the next day, brought him to a hardware store to buy a new generator and took it to the chief's home and helped him set it up.

"If you were in need, he would give you the clothes off his back," Ferguson said, calling the fallen officer a personal friend.

Briscoe had just finalized his class schedule for a fall semester at Southern University at New Orleans, and Ferguson said Briscoe had hoped his pursuit of a degree in criminal justice would inspire his sons  ages 10 and 16  to strive for academic excellence.

Banks shared a heartbreaking conversation he had the previous night with Briscoes widow, Terrell Briscoe, who asked who would teach her sons how to tie their neckties now that their father was gone.

The only answer she wanted to hear is, Everett is going to walk through the door, Banks said. But hes not."

Please pray for her," he continued. "Please pray for her boys. Please pray for this whole community and this whole country.

Note: This post was updated to include details about Riculfy.
A woman was waiting in line at a store on Esplanade Avenue when New Orleans police say she was shot in the leg by someone else at the business.

It was one of two shootings reported to New Orleans police within the 24-hour period from 7 a.m. Sunday to 7 a.m. Monday.

The shooting at the store was reported to police around 7:30 p.m. in the 1500 block of Esplanade Avenue (map) in the Treme area.

Two women were arguing when police say one of them pulled out a gun and fired, hitting the bystander in the calf. The injured bystander, 32, was taken to a hospital and her condition was not immediately available.

No details were available about the two women who were arguing, including their descriptions.

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Woman shot in Little Woods area

The second shooting was reported to police at 12:32 a.m. Monday in the 7600 block of Avalon Way (map) in the Little Woods area of New Orleans East.

A man and a 23-year-old woman were fighting outside, police said, when the woman heard a gunshot and "blacked out." She had been shot, police said, and the man, who police believe shot her, took to the hospital and left.

No other details were immediately available, including a possible motive or a description of the man.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111.
A man entered a dorm room at Tulane University over the weekend and tried to sexually assault a sleeping woman, police said.

Update: Tulane student arrested in connection with dorm break-ins

The unidentified man entered a woman's dorm room in Warren House around 2:30 a.m. Sunday, according to a statement from the Tulane University Police Department.

He climbed on top of the sleeping woman, who was under the covers, police said, and exposed himself while kneeling on the bed. The woman screamed and the man left the room.

The man then entered two other dorm rooms but didn't do or say anything, police said.

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+2 Tulane student linked to dorm break-ins booked with home invasion, unauthorized entry A Tulane University student is facing felony home invasion charges following an investigation into what authorities first described as an atte

Authorities are searching for him after the attempted sexual assault. They described him as 57 with a "fit" body type, short dark curly hair and brown eyes. He had no visible birthmarks or tattoos, police said. He was wearing dark shorts and a white Vineyard Vines short sleeve T-shirt that has a whale with an American flag on the back.

Authorities did not say if they believe he is a student or affiliated with the university.

They encouraged residents to lock their doors and report suspicious behavior.

Anyone with information about these crimes is asked to call TUPD at 504-865-5381 or NOPD at 504-821-2222.
Jimmy Fahrenholtz, a former Orleans Parish School Board member known for his parties, infectious joy and lax adherence to rules, died Friday at his home in Lakeview. He was 72.

The cause of death was not immediately known. His wife, Pam Butler, said Fahrenholtz came inside after working in the yard, passed out and died.

A graduate of Alcee Fortier High School, Fahrenholtz moved to Kansas City in his 40s and attended the University of Missouri Law School. It was in Kansas City that he met Butler while dancing at a bar. They moved to New Orleans in 1994.

Fahrenholtz was elected to the School Board in 2000 and served two four-year terms. He was most proud of his efforts in helping establish charter schools in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, Butler said.

He was a member of numerous nonprofit and community organizations, including Mayor Mitch Landrieu's Advisory Committee for Citizens with Disabilities and the Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association; volunteered at festivals; and was participating in a study for a booster shot of the Moderna coronavirus vaccine.

"He wanted to do things that mattered. He wanted to make a mark," Butler said.

Fahrenholtz's legacy was marred by his arrest in 2015 over a stolen computer tablet that belonged to a Baton Rouge lobbyist and that investigators said he threw into a swimming pool to hide. He pleaded guilty to the theft and later told The Gambit that he was a blackout drunk and couldnt remember driving home that day.

By then, he had already run afoul of the Louisiana State Bar Association, which beginning in 2005 logged him as ineligible to practice to law for a string of infractions: unpaid disciplinary dues, unpaid bar dues, noncompliance with continuing education requirements and noncompliance with trust account registration rules.

The Louisiana Board of Ethics said he owed tens of thousands in fines for violating campaign finance reporting laws in in 2000 and 2004. In 2009, the board recommended he be suspended from practicing law. He was, and in 2017 he was disbarred.

But to those who knew and loved him, his misdeeds were overshadowed by his larger-than-life persona. Sidney Arroyo, who managed Fahrenhotzs School Board campaign and considered him a close friend, said he was a capital C character who will be remembered for the joy of life he exuded all the time.

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When Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, Arroyo and Fahrenholtz found themselves separately stranded in Illinois. They rented a van, filled it with gasoline, canned goods, rifles and cigarettes and drove south until they reached St. Charles Parish, the last spot of dry land, Arroyo said. For months afterward they slept on the floor and worked out of the United Way St. Charles office, coordinating trips with the National Guard to report water levels to evacuees.

Later, to officiate the wedding of Arroyo and his wife, Cathy, Fahrenholtz donned a judicial robe that had been worn by Harry Anderson, a mutual friend, during his years acting on the television show Night Court.

He had his little moments where he wasnt a perfect angel, but so what, who is? Arroyo said. He was something special to the end.

Phil Costa, a close friend, said Fahrenholtz donated blood every six weeks like clockwork.

"He was just a person you wanted to be around," he said. "He knew how to have a good time, but he knew what was important to people. He just cared."

Thomas Robichaux, a law clerk when he met Fahrenholtz and later Fahrenholtz's lawyer, said Fahrenholtz was an early supporter of LGBTQ rights. Both men served on the board of the Forum for Equality, and Fahrenholtz was a founding partner of AIDS Law of Louisiana, a nonprofit that provided legal services to people with HIV/AIDS.

He should be remembered for his unbridled enthusiasm and joy, Robichaux said, reminiscing on the parties Fahrenholtz threw in the downstairs of his raised house on Ursuline Avenue. "He had this huge smile that would make his cheeks chubby and get dimples, and it would just make you happy.

Fahrenholtz and Butler called their gatherings "I ain't your mama parties," telling guests to get their own drinks and food so the hosts could enjoy themselves, too.

Butler said Fahrenholtz's body will be cremated and that there will be a celebration of life party when it's safe to do so.

"We're going to have a kick-ass party, maybe an 'ain't your mama' revival, and make it something he would've loved and would hate to miss," she said.
Kermit Warren scrimped and saved for more than 20 years, stacking bills in a Mason jar as he earned money cleaning his Lower Ninth Ward neighborhood for FEMA after Hurricane Katrina, making muffalettas at the legendary Central Grocery and manning the shoeshine stand at the Roosevelt Hotel.

Today, his life savings are in the hands of the federal government after a civil seizure, and he is battling in court to get his money back.

Warren, 58, had been laid off from his shoeshine stand in the Roosevelt due to the COVID shutdown when he decided to buy a truck to expand his salvage business. So he took decades worth of savings  more than $28,000  and flew with his son to Ohio to buy the vehicle.

When he saw the truck wouldn't work, he and his son went back to the Columbus airport to return home.

I got through the screening with the TSA lady, Warren said. She asked me what was in my bag. I told her I have close to $30,000 cash money. She said it was OK for me to fly with that.

But then federal drug enforcement agents were alerted, and they took a different position. They saw the one-way plane tickets, some nervous answers from Warren, and a drug-sniffing dog responding to the cash. When confronted, Warren said he panicked and falsely identified himself as a retired police officer.

Unfortunately, TSA and DEA have a see-cash, seize-cash policy, said Dan Alban, an attorney representing Warren on behalf of the Virginia-based Institute for Justice, a nonprofit law firm that advocates for libertarian causes.

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I said sir, I hadn't done anything wrong, Warren said You are not charging me with a crime. Why are you just robbing me of my hard-earned cash?

Warren and his son were not arrested. But the agents had suspicions that the money might be connected to illegal drugs, so they seized it under federal asset forfeiture laws. Unlike in a criminal case, where a defendant is considered innocent until proven guilty, Warren must now fight in court to get it back.

Federal authorities seize more than $1 billion in assets annually, often after making an arrest, but not always. Alban and the Institute for Justice are not only representing Warren, but also trying to reform the policy.

He has to go to court to prove his innocence in order to get his own property back, Alban said.

With his life savings still in the hands of the government, Warren said he is struggling to pay his bills. About all he has left is his modest Lower 9th Ward home and his salvage truck.

It's just been really hard for me to pay bills and buy groceries, Warren said. It took me 25 years to save up that money and it was taken away in less than 10 minutes.

As a deacon of his church, Warren says he is relying on his faith that he will eventually get his money back, aided by a legal fight he said he never imagined he'd have to fight.

WWL-TV reached out to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Columbus, Ohio that is handling the forfeiture case. The office has not yet responded.
Earl Smith, 83, former resident of Moore, OK passed away peacefully at his home in Longmont, CO. Earl was born in Depew, OK to John and Ethel Smith. He retired in 2000 from Rose State University as an accounting Professor. Graveside service will be held at Oakdale Cemetery, Depew, OK on Sept
Philadelphia, Pa. - The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies hosted a Disability Community Stakeholders virtual meeting with FEMA administrator Deanna Criswell on Tues., Aug. 17. Criswell was appointed earlier this year.

Seven panelists with disabilities were joined by over 100 stakeholders to talk about barriers that people with disabilities have faced during disasters including the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ebony Payne, a current resident of a nursing facility, shared: I am stuck in a dangerous nursing facility in Illinois because there are no emergency relocation options available to help me get out of this scary and deadly place I am scared for my life in this petri dish. There are FEMA funds to pay for my funeral, but there are no FEMA funds for emergency protective measures for me to relocate to safety.

Misty Dion, CEO of Center for Independent Living of North Central PA (CILNCP), responded, There are Centers for Independent Living (CILs) across the nation that provide Nursing Home Transition and could easily implement emergency relocation programs if we had access to additional resources like FEMAs Public Assistance Category B reimbursement funds, but we keep getting told we arent eligible for reimbursement. CILs like ours across the country could help people like Ebony if we were funded.

Participants also discussed difficulties in filling out the FEMA Individual Assistance Application.

Tom Olin, a disabled Texas resident, shared the story of his difficulties completing the form after the Texas Winter Storm.

According to Marcie Roth, FEMA Office of Disability Integration and Coordination's original director, difficulties with the assistance application and various civil rights violations have been brought up to FEMA as far back as 2010, but little progress has been made to address them.

Criswell responded: I just want to say FEMA does remain committed to helping people with disabilities before, during, and after disasters. One of my priorities as I came into this role was to advance equity across all of our programs.

Its people first, and that's the mantra that I continue to put forward with all of our staff, is that if we put people first, then we deliver our programs equitably just by default. We take care of people when they are our primary focus, then there's no question that we're trying to do everything we can to reduce the barriers to access of the programs that we have. To that end, I'd just like to say that we're really focused on trying to integrate the needs of people with disabilities across all our programs and services, and expanding this capacity across the agency," Criswell said.

"You have my commitment to make sure that we are addressing the concerns that you mentioned as we opened up this call, and concerns and questions that you may have as we continue to go through this. I may not get it right right from the beginning, but I commit to you that we'll continue to work on this. It's extremely important that we make sure, again, that we are putting people first, and that people with disabilities -- your concerns are my concerns, and I will do everything I can to make sure that we are addressing those," Criswell added.

Though Criswell's promises have been met with some skepticism, whether or not the issues with FEMA will be settled any time soon remains to be seen.
Wellsboro, Pa. - Local author and bookstore owner Kevin Coolidge is again promoting literacy in Tioga County.

On Wed., Aug. 25, Stephanie "Stubby" Webb, illustrator of two books written by Coolidge, at From My Shelf Books & Gifts, 7 East Ave., Wellsboro, for a book signing from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Webb will be available at the bookstore to sign and personalize copies of the two children's books she illustrated for Coolidge.

The titles that will be signed are "Molly, the Dog with Diabetes" released in August of 2018 and "Huck & Finn, Bookstore Cats," a picture book released in August of 2019.

"The artwork she did for both is beautiful," Coolidge said.

"While she is in town, Stephanie will be signing new copies and previously sold copies of those books. This is the first time she has ever been in Pennsylvania. Her visit offers a rare opportunity for people who already have a copy of these books to get her to sign them. It also offers those who want to buy either one to get both of our signatures," said Coolidge.

Webb is traveling from her home in Iowa to York, Pa. to visit another writer who she is working with. Having illustrated some of Coolidge's books, she said was excited to have the chance to stop by Wellsboro during her trip.

"I first met her on Facebook playing an online game called Super Hero City. That's how all of this came about," Coolidge explained.

"Although she illustrates for me and other authors, Stephanie is writing her first book. It's about Lucas, her real life service dog and how he helps her and what a typical day is like for him. Lucas will be with her. I know that Huck and Finn, our bookstore cats, will be keeping a close eye on him," Coolidge added.

Coolidge explained that in March 2014, he and his wife, Kasey, adopted Huck and Finn from the same litter through Animal Care Sanctuary in Wellsboro. Huck is a black and white tuxedo cat. Finn is all black. They were named for the main character in Mark Twain's novel, "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn."

"Stephanie did a terrific job illustrating 'Molly, the Dog with Diabetes,' a true story I wrote about our neighbors' dachshund mix and her journey with diabetes. I felt that writing about what Molly goes through would show children with diabetes they can live a normal happy healthy life if they take care of themselves," said Coolidge.
Local

400 townhomes proposed for Dodd Blvd.; public hearing set for Monday

Plans for a 34-acre townhouse development on Dodd Boulevard at U.S. 411 will go before the Rome City Commission on Monday night.

Its one of six proposed land-use changes scheduled for public hearings at the boards regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. in City Hall, 601 Broad St. The 5:30 p.m. caucus  featuring a presentation on Rome-Floyd Development Authority activity  is also open to the public.

Commissioners also will get a first look at a draft ordinance to change the teen curfew hour to 10 p.m. from 11 p.m.

Villas of Rome, with an estimated 400 townhomes, is a project of FNC Bank and Jim Chapman Communities. It would be an age-targeted community built in two phases.

Phase One will have approximately 200 one- and two-story townhomes, ranging in size from 450 to 1050 square feet. Theyll lease for between $900 and $1,400 a month.

The second phase will consist of approximately 200 townhomes for sale. They will range in size from 1,300 to 2,000 square feet and sell for between $200,000 to $250,000 each.

The property is currently zoned for commercial use and the owners are seeking a change to multifamily residential zoning. Both the planning staff and Rome Floyd Planning Commission are recommending approval.

Two applications for special use permits also will be heard and decided.

John Patel wants to convert Rome Inn and Suites on Chateau Drive into 74 micro-apartments.

The planners are recommending approval as long as he follows through on a promise to merge the parcel with adjacent land to meet the parking and density requirements in the Unified Land Development Code.

Floyd Medical Center also has backing for its request to build a helipad atop its recent emergency room expansion next to Second Avenue.

Commissioners also are expected to sign off on three annexation applications.

Courtesy Ford wants to bring in property it owns off U.S. 411 next to its main showroom. Two homeowners also are seeking annexation of residences at 125 Harrison Road and 510 Burnett Ferry Road.
Cedartown, GA (30125)

Today

A shower is possible early. Sun and clouds mixed. High around 85F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Mainly clear skies. Low 64F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Rome, GA (30161)

Today

A shower is possible early. Sunshine and clouds mixed. High 87F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Mainly clear skies. Low near 65F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
WASHINGTON  The chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan may haunt President Joe Biden, but it could also hang over some of the Republicans who will seek to replace him in 2024. While Biden has to contend with harrowing images of Afghans trying to flee after the Taliban takeover, former President Donald Trump orchestrated the withdrawal agreement and another potential 2024 GOP contender was ...
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Strack & Van Til customers raised more than $26,000 for the Salvation Army of Lake County by rounding up to the nearest dollar when buying their groceries.

Customers at 15 Strack & Van Til Food Markets in Lake County rounded up their grocery bills in the checkout aisle to help neighbors in need during a two-week Checkout Challenge that runs from late July through early August.

We want to publicly thank Strack & Van Til customers for their generous donations at the register and compassion for our neighbors in need, said Capt. Brian Clark, Lake County coordinator for The Salvation Army. Every dollar donated will stay in the community and collectively make a difference to provide food, emergency assistance, and other needed resources to those working hard to make ends meet.

The donations will go to Salvation Army corps community centers in Gary, Hammond, and East Chicago. The money will go to food, emergency assistance, after-school programs, music lessons, art classes and youth programming.
HAMMOND  A federal grand jury has indicted a Northwest Indiana tax professional on fraud charges.

The 16-count indictment, made public during the weekend, names Mario Warnell, 43, of Merrillville, owner of Warnell Tax Consulting.

It alleges Warnell cheated the Internal Revenue Service over tax returns he prepared between 2014 and 2019 for a number of his business clients.

The indictment states Warnell falsified the income of some clients so they could maximize tax credits available to workers providing household services to others.

It alleges his falsified tax returns generated illegal refunds, part of which he personally kept prior to 2015. It alleges he directly charged clients up-front fees for false returns he prepared after 2015.

The U.S. Attorneys office, which investigated the case along with other federal agencies, is demanding Warnell forfeit the profits he received from illegal tax returns.

The indictment didnt state the amount of money Warnell could owe if he is found guilty of wire fraud and falsifying tax returns.
The flight of white and black Gary residents because of discrimination and unemployment has caused Gary school enrollment to plummet from more than 49,000 students in the early 1960s to less than 5,000 last year.

Coleman complains the state also permitted privately-run charter schools to open in Gary to compete with the public school system for the dwindling number of students.

Coleman argues declining enrollment and state mandated reductions in property taxes on U.S. Steel and other heavy industry starved public education of needed revenues.

The Times reported in 2017 Gary schools were running an annual budget deficit of $22 million. State officials justified its takeover of city schools from local officials as necessary to impose fiscal responsibility on the school district.

MGT Consulting, a Tampa, Florida-based for-profit corporation took over school operations.

State officials reported earlier this year they have reduced both the annual budget deficit as well as the districts long-term debt.

Coleman said Monday that Garys public schools remain in a financial and academic crisis that should be put in the hands of Gary voters to elect a local school board.
But the defense attempted to paint their client as scared and hiding in the basement of Kerner's grandparents' Boone Township home on the day in question after seeing Kerner with a gun and realizing things were becoming "real."

Out of that fear and in hopes of distancing himself from the unexpected turn of events, Silva recorded the six gunshots echoing from the garage above and sounds of one of the victims moaning in pain, Gruenhagen had said. That recording was played in both Kerner's and Silva's trials.

Kerner summoned Silva following the shootings to help clean up while Kerner finished killing Grill by beating him with a pipe wrench, police said.

Kerner, 20, was found guilty in October for his role in the crime and later sentenced to 179 years behind bars, which the judge acknowledged was a "de facto" life sentence. Kerner since has appealed.

Porter County Deputy Prosecutor Christopher Hammer told jurors in Silva's trial that they need only be convinced that Silva had an intent to carry out the robberies to find him guilty on all counts. There is no need to prove Silva had intended for the killings to result.
VALPARAISO  Two Lake Station men were taken into custody and a third man was flown to a trauma center following a stabbing Saturday afternoon at a home in the 1200 block of Chicago Street, police said.

Valparaiso officers said they were called out about 3:30 p.m. regarding an ongoing disturbance and discovered a man bleeding from a cut on the right side of his chest.

The injured man, who was flown from the scene by a medical helicopter to a local trauma center for treatment, reportedly told police 19-year old Tavaurus Downs stabbed him with a red-handled folding knife during a physical altercation.

Downs admitted to stabbing the other man in the chest and is charged with felony counts of battery resulting in serious bodily injury and battery by means of a deadly weapon, according charging information.

A second man taken into custody after being involved in the altercation. Dexter Nalls, 27, told police he saw Downs holding the knife in question following the stabbing, according to a charging document.

Nalls is charged with a misdemeanor count of battery resulting in bodily injury, court records show.

Both of the Lake Station men were taken to Porter County Jail.
EAST CHICAGO  Despite continued conflict regarding which branch of government will guide how funds from the American Rescue Plan Act will be distributed, the City Council has adopted an ordinance that appropriates $1.4 million of that money to go toward a premium bonus for city employees.

Mayor Anthony Copeland told the council in March the city was expected to receive $33.3 million and he hoped a consensus could be formed with the council regarding how that money could be used to invest in infrastructure and in dealing with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

In May, both the mayor and council introduced ordinances involving the receipt and expenditure of the funds. The mayor's ordinance was not adopted by the council.

In late July, the council rejected three out of four ordinances sponsored by Copeland that involved use of the funds from the American Rescue Plan Act.

The one ordinance that survived  giving bonuses to city employees  was approved on final reading by a vote of 7-2.

The highest amount to be received is a payment of $3,000 for full-time employees with five or more years of service.
The first dog of Indiana is on the mend.

Henry Holcomb, the miniature schnauzer owned by Gov. Eric Holcomb and first lady Janet Holcomb  also known as "Dad" and "Mom"  returned to his popular social media accounts Monday to update Hoosiers on his recovery from surgery to repair a torn ligament.

"I've been feeling really good  like a little too good," Henry said. "I try to run and jump but my parents tell me I can't be doing that yet. They make me rest even when I don't feel like it."

Henry also said he visited the veterinarian for a post-operative check of his metal replacement ligament that Henry previously said turned him into a "bionic schnauzer."

"They said everything looks great and I'm healing nicely," Henry said. "But I'm still mad I had to go in the first place, which is why I had to sit with my back to (Mom) the whole ride home."

The 10-year-old dog  who the governor's office insists writes his own tweets  announced almost two weeks ago he would be taking a temporary break from his @FirstDogHenry social media accounts (and squirrel chasing) to recover following surgery.

Topper, the new first cat of Indiana, has been filling in for Henry.
The other primary concern was traffic safety. Brigata Hills has a stub street for connection to a future development to the west. Iron Gates concept calls for connecting to that stub street.

Several Brigata Hills residents feared traffic from Iron Gate would go through their subdivision and interfere with the lifestyle there, with many people walking in the streets. The subdivision has sidewalks, but because some of the lots remain undeveloped, the sidewalks dont all connect.

I think whats scaring most of us is connecting the two subdivisions," said Lisa Aldred, owner of Aldred Homes. Its going to be a speedway."

Leeth said the connection is following city standards. Your ordinance requires us to connect when Brigatas developer put in a stub street, he told the board.

Kleven said hes willing to bypass that connection in favor of one to the south if the city requires it.

Lennars variances deal solely with the lot widths and percentages of each under the strict cluster development standard the city allows. The cluster standard is so rigid that this subdivision could be the first to use it, Leeth said. He didnt even realize the standard existed until Planning Director Beth Shrader suggested using it for this subdivision, he said.
Biden may extend Afghanistan deadline

President Biden said on Sunday that his administration might extend his Aug. 31 deadline for removing all American troops from Afghanistan, and he pledged that all evacuated Afghan allies would be given a home in the U.S. after they were screened at bases in other countries.

We will welcome these Afghans who have helped us in the war effort over the last 20 years to their new home in the United States of America, Biden said at the White House.

At the Kabul airport, the situation grew increasingly dire: Crowds have trampled people to death, including a 2-year-old girl. ISIS also poses an acute threat to the evacuation, the U.S. national security adviser warned.

Some interpreters and journalists, after terrifying attempts to fight past Taliban gunmen and unruly mobs to secure flights, have given up trying to escape the country. Ive lost hope, one man said.
When the coronavirus surfaced last year, no one was prepared for it to invade every aspect of daily life for so long, so insidiously. The pandemic has forced Americans to wrestle with life-or-death choices every day of the past 18 months  and theres no end in sight.

Scientific understanding of the virus changes by the hour, it seems. The virus spreads only by close contact or on contaminated surfaces, then turns out to be airborne. The virus mutates slowly, but then emerges in a series of dangerous new forms. Americans dont need to wear masks. Wait, they do.

At no point in this ordeal has the ground beneath our feet seemed so uncertain. In just the past week, federal health officials said they would begin offering booster shots to all Americans in the coming months. Days earlier, those officials had assured the public that the vaccines were holding strong against the Delta variant of the virus, and that boosters would not be necessary.

As early as Monday, the Food and Drug Administration is expected to formally approve the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which has already been given to scores of millions of Americans. Some holdouts found it suspicious that the vaccine was not formally approved yet somehow widely dispensed. For them, emergency authorization has never seemed quite enough.
Northwell says that its mandate was put in place to protect patients. A spokesman said that the company was aiming to get 100 percent of its staff vaccinated and has used a variety of tactics to nudge hesitant workers, like offering them spa days. Before the pandemic, the hospital system encouraged flu vaccinations and required employees who were not vaccinated for flu to wear masks when among patients.

Some protesters, dismissive of scientific data and wary of mandates they say infringe on their civil rights, say they are willing to lose their jobs. Other workers said that they were considering moving out of state, perhaps to Florida, where hospital requirements are looser and the number of deaths and hospitalizations has steadily risen since June.

Across New York, the majority of the states more than 600,000 health care workers are vaccinated, but many are not. To date, 75 percent of the states roughly 450,000 hospital workers, 74 percent of the states 30,000 adult care facility workers and 68 percent of the states 145,500 nursing home workers have been fully vaccinated, the state said.

Modes of persuasion ranging from free cash to burgers to rides on the M.T.A. failed to persuade vaccine refusers, leading some hospital systems to take a harsher approach, which in turn, has spurred a backlash. Last month, the largest health care union in the country held a rally after the NewYork-Presbyterian hospital system mandated that workers receive at least one shot of the vaccine by Sept. 1.

Participants in a recent focus group at Staten Island University Hospital about how to persuade employees to get vaccinated said they were told by officials that about 60 percent of the staff had been vaccinated. Northwell Health did not confirm the figure, but said that about 77 percent of the employees are vaccinated across Northwells 23 hospitals in the city and the state.

The de facto leader of the hospital employees is John Matland, 36, a CT scan technician who is a good friend of Daniel Presti, the manager of Macs Public House bar on Staten Island, which last year gained notoriety for defying virus restrictions.

When indoor dining was banned in the area because of high coronavirus infection rates, the bar continued to serve local customers inside, prompting the police to arrest Mr. Presti and to padlock the bar.
On Wednesday night, when a preshow announcement informed the 1,200 or so people at the August Wilson Theater that they were one of the first audiences back to see a real Broadway play, the response was the kind of roar youd expect for a beloved diva returning from rehab. And Pass Over, by Antoinette Chinonye Nwandu, does not disappoint in that regard. Having survived pandemic jitters (so far) and its own circuitous path to get there, it emerged like a star: in top shape, at full throttle and refreshed by some artful doctoring.

If it seems strange to talk about a tragedy in such terms, keep in mind that though Pass Over is forthrightly centered on the plight of two young Black men in an urban police state, its ambition is so far-reaching that it embraces (and in Danya Taymors thriller of a production, succeeds as) comedy, melodrama and even vaudeville. In that, it emulates the vision and variety of its most direct sources: Waiting for Godot, the Samuel Beckett play about tramps biding their time in eternity, and the Book of Exodus, about an enslaved people seeking the Promised Land.

In Pass Over, the tramps and the enslaved are combined in the characters of Moses (Jon Michael Hill) and Kitch (Namir Smallwood). They are men of our current time who live on the streets of a city not unlike Chicago, yet also on a pre-Emancipation plantation and in Egypt more than three millenniums ago.

The history of slavery everywhere is a heavy symbolic weight for individual characters to carry, but the suffering of men like Moses and Kitch in a racist society right now is not out of proportion to that of their forebears. When they try to make a list of everyone they know who has been kilt by the police, it takes a very long time to name them while also distinguishing their particulars. Among many others there are Ed with the dreadlocks (not light-skinned Ed), dat tall dude got dat elbow rash, Kev and dat otha Kev, Mike with dat messed up knee.
Two decades after invading Afghanistan, the United States is withdrawing, leaving chaos in its wake and the country much as it found it 20 years ago. The Taliban dont just control Kabul, but the whole country. How did a war that began in response to the 9/11 attacks become the longest in American history? If somebody had told me in 2001 that we were going to be there for another 20 years, I would not have believed them. And what lessons can be learned for the future? We were doing the same thing year after year after year, expecting a different result. Nearly 2,400 Americans have died in Afghanistan. More than 43,000 Afghan civilians lost their lives. You cant remake a country on the American image. You cant win if youre fighting people who are fighting for their own villages and their own territory. Those were lessons we thought we learned in Vietnam. And yet, 30, 40 years later, we end up in Afghanistan, repeating the same mistakes. On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, President George W. Bush was visiting an elementary school in Sarasota, Fla., when he received word of an attack on the World Trade Center in New York City. Were looking at a live picture of the, of the building right now. And, uh, what would you say? That would be about the 90th floor or so? The president joined his staff in an empty classroom, where his C.I.A. intelligence briefer, Michael Morell, had been watching the attack unfold. There was a TV there and the second plane hit. Oh my goodness. Oh God. Theres another one. Oh. Oh my goodness, theres another one. God. And when that happened, I knew that this was an act of terrorism. At the Capitol in Washington, Representative Barbara Lees meeting was interrupted. I heard a lot of noise saying, Evacuate. Leave. Get out of here. Run fast. So, I ran up Independence Avenue. As I turned around, I was able to see a heck of a lot of smoke. Another aircraft, unbelievably, has crashed into the Pentagon. What you have to understand is this is the largest attack ever in the entire history of the country. At 9:59 a.m., the second World Trade Center tower to be struck collapsed. Twenty-nine minutes later, the other tower followed. The president, he asked to see me in his office on Air Force One. The president looked me in the eye and he said, Michael, who did this? I told the president that I would bet my childrens future that Al Qaeda was responsible for this attack. Within hours, evidence surfaced that Al Qaeda, a multinational terrorist organization headed by the Islamic fundamentalist Osama Bin Laden, had committed the attacks. The group was being given safe haven in Afghanistan by the Taliban regime. The presidents inclination was to hit back and hit back hard. I can hear you. The rest of the world hears you. And the people   So the president decided to go to war.   And the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon. We had to go to Afghanistan. Theres no question in any of our minds, its a war of necessity. We had to go after Al Qaeda, we had to kill them, we had to get them out, and we had to pursue them to the ends of the earth. The word on the street was everyones got to be united with the president. You know, the country is in mourning. Three days after the attacks, Lee was under pressure to vote yes on a resolution in Congress to authorize going to war against Al Qaeda and its allies when she heard a eulogy at a memorial service. That as we act, we not become the evil we deplore. It was at that point I said, We need to think through our military response, our national security response and the possible impact on civilians. Mr. Speaker, members, I rise today really with a very heavy heart. One that is filled with sorrow for the families and the loved ones who were killed and injured this week. Yet I am convinced that military action will not prevent further acts of international terrorism against the United States. Got back to the office and all hell was breaking loose. The only dissenting voice was Democrat Barbara Lee of California, voting no. Phone calls, threats. People were calling me a traitor. Shes got to go. But I knew then it was going to set the stage for perpetual war. Within weeks of 9/11, the U.S. struck back in Afghanistan. The United States military has begun strikes against Al Qaeda terrorist training camps and military installations of the Taliban regime. Soon after, U.S. ground troops arrived in the country. The invasion was a success very quickly. At the gates of Kabul, news of a Taliban collapse had already reached these thousands. The Taliban retreat has turned into a rout. By the end of the year, the Taliban had been driven from power. A large number of Al Qaeda operatives had either been killed or captured. And although Osama Bin Laden had managed to escape, the U.S. had accomplished its main goal. Al Qaeda could not operate out of Afghanistan anymore. President Bush knew there was a history of failed military campaigns in Afghanistan. We know this from not only intelligence but from the history of military conflict in Afghanistan. Its been one of initial success followed by long years of floundering and ultimate failure. Were not going to repeat that mistake. [Applause] But after his initial success, Bush expanded the mission to nation-building. To prevent further Al Qaeda attacks, his administration said it wanted to transform the poor, war-torn country into a stable democracy, with a strong central government and U.S.-trained military. The idea was it would be impossible for the Taliban to ever return to power and impossible for Afghanistan to ever be used as a safe haven again. There were girls starting to go to school, there were clinics and hospitals being set up, there were vaccinations, there were elections planned. Everything was kind of humming along and we all thought, OK, this is going to be fine. But by the mid-2000s, after the Bush administration expanded the war on terror to Iraq, Richard Boucher realized that the U.S.-backed Afghan government was plagued by corruption and mismanagement. I used to say to my guys on the Afghan desk, If were winning, how come it dont look like were winning? The Taliban have staged a major comeback, seizing control of large swaths of the country. The people were not rejecting the Taliban. And that was, in the end, because the government couldnt deliver much for the people. Everybody had this idea in their heads that government works the way it does in Washington. But Afghanistan hasnt worked that way in the past. I think that was a moment we shouldve at least asked ourselves whether it wasnt really time for us to leave and to say to the Afghans, Its your place, you run it as best you can. Instead, by 2011, President Bushs successor, Barack Obama, had sent nearly 50,000 more troops to Afghanistan, hoping to reverse the Talibans gains. I think one of the biggest mistakes we made strategically, after 9/11, was to fail to finish the job here, focus our attention here. We got distracted by Iraq. One of those troops was Marine Captain Timothy Kudo. Part of his job was to shore up support for the government by digging wells and building schools. He soon lost faith in that mission after, he says, his company killed two Afghan teenagers they mistakenly believed were firing on them. And their family saw this happen. The mothers, the grandmothers, they came out. It was the first time Id ever seen an Afghan woman without wearing a burqa. They were sobbing and crying uncontrollably. I mean, how can you kill two innocent people and expect anything that you say to matter at that point? People here have little faith in U.S. forces anymore. More Afghans now blame the violence here on the U.S. than on the Taliban. Weeks after Kudo returned home from Afghanistan, there was a monumental development. I started getting all these texts, like, Youve got to check out the TV. My roommate calls me from the other room. Turn on CNN. The United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama Bin Laden, the leader of Al Qaeda. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! In that moment, people are celebrating in front of the White House. Theyre celebrating by Ground Zero. This is where it happened. Were back. Its justice! And to my mind, theres no more reason to go through this madness. And, of course, we then did it for another decade. I think the military and the national security apparatus thought they could win. And I think that they also wanted to believe that because they had invested so much. People had died and they didnt want them to die in vain. 2011, Bin Laden is now dead. Why was it so hard to de-escalate? Jeffrey Eggers was on President Obamas National Security Council. He says that the goal since 9/11, to make sure Afghanistan would never again be a safe haven for terrorists, had become a recipe for endless war. We will forever prevent the conditions that led to such an attack. Danger close! [Gunfire] And if you define it that way, when are you finished? [Gunfire] Go! Come on, come on, come on! Though the surge failed to push back the Taliban, the U.S. drew down troop levels even as doubts were growing that Afghan forces would be able to defend the country. In 2021, President Biden, the fourth president to preside over the war, announced that he would withdraw U.S. troops, a plan set in motion by his predecessor, Donald Trump. Nobody should have any doubts. We lost the war in Afghanistan. And were clear to cross? It wasnt a peace agreement; it was a withdrawal agreement. The agreement was essentially, As we withdraw, dont attack us. As the U.S. leaves Afghanistan, the Taliban is taking over again, having quickly overrun the Afghan Army, which the U.S. spent more than $80 billion to train and equip. The Taliban are out in full force. And their Islamist rule is already coming back. They can use this as a recruiting tool. They are now the champions of the jihadi movement because they pushed out the United States. And U.S. officials are reflecting on the beginning of the war, 20 years after 9/11. More people should have thought about endless war, not just in Congress but in the State Department, in the Defense Department, C.I.A. and elsewhere, in the White House. That the recipe of using military means to go after terrorism was just going to get us into one fight after another after another. One can only hope that Americans of the new generation will think about this.
Alan Heller, the manufacturer of elegant, often whimsical but always affordable housewares and furniture that married high design with prosaic plastic, died on Aug. 13 at his home in Manhattan. He was 81.

Barbara Bluestone, his companion, confirmed the death. She did not specify a cause but said he had been in poor health for many years.

The son of a housewares manufacturer, Mr. Heller was a year out of college in 1966, pivoting from an extremely brief career selling ironing board covers, when he saw a set of stackable plastic dishes and cups in a museum exhibit.

The dinnerware was the work of Massimo Vignelli, the Italian designer and graphic purist responsible for the New York City subway map, the Bloomingdales logo and other visual staples of the late 1960s and 70s.
As a music critic, Ive long been fascinated by peoples first favorite songs. Not songs made for children, or the kinds of songs we self-consciously broadcast our allegiance to after weve developed the filters of taste, personal identity and critical perspective. Im talking about those early formative encounters with the vast world of popular culture  the initial, primeval jolt that this song is somehow more special than the rest.

Where does that feeling come from? Does something about our first favorite songs chord progression or production style predict what sort of music we grow up to like best? Are we all eternally doomed to be haunted by our original favorite song, forever chasing the unrepeatable rush of hearing it for the first time?

I have perhaps felt a need to intellectualize all of this to avoid coming to terms with an embarrassing truth, which is that my first favorite song  yes, me, a person who grew up to be a professional music critic  is a song hated so vehemently by some people that its own Apple Music catalog description admits that it regularly shows up on worst song lists. It certainly seems to be one of the most parodied songs in pop music history. Even its own composer has an ambivalent-at-best relationship to its existence and has repeatedly compared its monotonous melody to a dentists drill and a droning mosquito.
R. Murray Schafer, a Canadian composer and writer who brought the concept of the soundscape to widespread recognition and pioneered the field of acoustic ecology  the relationship between sound, people and the environment  died on Aug. 14 at his home near Peterborough, Ontario. He was 88.

The cause was dementia, his wife and collaborator, the mezzo-soprano Eleanor James, said.

Mr. Schafer was already an inventive avant-garde composer when he began researching the relationship between sound and the environment in the late 1960s. He had joined a noise abatement society but disagreed with its treatment of noise as a negative phenomenon.

The sounds of the environment were changing rapidly, and it seemed that no one was documenting the changes, he recalled in his 2012 memoir, My Life on Earth and Elsewhere. Where were the museums for disappearing sounds? What was the effect of new sounds on human behavior and health?

With funding from UNESCO and the Donner Canadian Foundation, Mr. Schafer formed the World Soundscape Project at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia. His team of researchers compiled information about noise bylaws, conducted interviews about sounds of the past and tallied car horns honking at street intersections around the world.
You cant fake history. Shes such an amazing actress that Im sure we would have found something else. But to have that shorthand, to know each others families, to have been in each others lives over the course of 15, 16, 17 years, that goes a long way.

Why are Mare and Lori friends?

They grew up together; they went to kindergarten holding hands. Theyve just been there for each other through thick and thin. And they both make each other laugh.

Lori seems quite steady and Mare is more 

Of a fly-off-the-handle, in-your-face kind of gal. Lori gets a kick out of Mare. I often see versions of what it means to be 40 or 50, these forgotten women who have put their dreams aside. Thats not my experience. Thats not my friends experience. Were still vibrant, curious people who dont know whats going to happen next.

People were very excited to see you and Kate without makeup and in sweatpants.

I felt very happy to represent those women  I include myself as one on any given day  where its just about practicality and comfort and taking care of family. Its not about the value of how beautiful that person is or brands of clothing. These people are hard-working. And I love that. Its honest, too. I wouldnt want to wear sweatpants every day, though, because that would get depressing.

That Delco accent, how hard was it to master?

I was intimidated by it. It just seemed like such a hodgepodge  a little bit New York, a little bit Philly, a little bit Southern. I wanted my accent to be not so much in the forefront. When you go to these places, everyone sounds different, theres no, like, single way that an accent sounds.

Who struggled with the accent the most?

Joe Tippett, who played my husband  hes from not too far from there. So he just slipped in very easily. And most of my stuff was with him and with Kate, whos a wizard. So it was just me, trying to claw my way toward that accent.
Turkey blocks fleeing Afghans

Weeks before Kabul fell to the Taliban, tens of thousands of Afghans were already fleeing the country each week. Many of them traveled 1,400 miles across Iran, hoping to make their way to Europe. But the migrants were met with sharp resistance at Turkeys border, where thousands of Afghans were massed.

In a single operation in July, more than 1,400 Afghans who had crossed into Turkey were rounded up and pushed back by Turkish police, which lawyers say violates the international convention on refugees.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey warned Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany by telephone on Sunday that his country will not be able to shoulder the additional burden. As in Europe, the public mood in Turkey has turned against immigrants and refugees, and has become a burning political issue as the Turkish economy has worsened.

Elsewhere, Australia started an advertising campaign to deter Afghan refugees from trying to reach the country by boat.
CVS Health and the oil and gas giant Chevron said on Monday that they would mandate coronavirus vaccines for some employees, joining other large corporations that are making similar demands on office workers.

CVS pharmacists will have until Nov. 30 to be fully vaccinated, while other employees who interact with patients and all corporate staff have until Oct. 31 to comply. The mandate will affect about 100,000 employees, CVS said.

Chevron said its mandate applied to employees who travel internationally and expatriates, as well as the offshore work force in the Gulf of Mexico and some onshore support personnel, the company said on Monday. Chevron is the second-largest oil and gas producer in the United States after Exxon Mobil. It said employees in the Gulf of Mexico would need to be vaccinated by Nov. 1, but it did not share a timeline for other workers.

On Monday, the Food and Drug Administration gave full approval for Pfizer-BioNTechs coronavirus vaccine for people 16 and older, a move that is expected to clear the way for many more mandates. New York City said on Monday it would require every employee of the citys Department of Education  148,000 people  to be vaccinated, and the Pentagon will demand that 1.3 million active-duty troops receive the shot no later than the middle of next month.
A fund manager finds her flock

Cathie Wood, the hottest fund manager on Wall Street, didnt rise to prominence in the typical way. A common path to success for money managers is to land larger and larger accounts, transitioning from managing billions of dollars from wealthy individuals to handling trillions from pension funds, endowments and sovereign wealth funds. Wood has taken the reverse route, explains The Timess Matt Phillips in a big new profile of the fund manager.

Since leaving the world of traditional money management, Woods bold bets on Tesla, Robinhood and cryptocurrency have won her clients and followers among the masses of tech-loving, risk-seeking small investors who dove into the market over the past year or so. Her recent success is as much about her investment acumen as her willingness to go against the grain, an approach that has captured the anti-establishment mood of the markets. Can she keep it up?

How she got here: Wood, 65, used to manage money for pension funds at AllianceBernstein. Then, as now, her preferred approach was to take big bets on tech stocks and ride hot investment trends. Managing money for pension funds held Wood back. Former colleagues said she didnt fit in. Deemed too risky, she struck out on her own, founding Ark Invest in 2014 with a pitch calibrated to attract individual investors.

In part, the deeply religious money manager said the motivation to strike out on her own came from an epiphany on a summer day in 2012: I really feel like that was the Holy Spirit just saying to me, OK, this is the plan, she told the Jesus Calling podcast last year. Ark now manages $85 billion, up from less than $10 billion at the end of 2019.
Thats been a hard struggle for us, Ms. Polivanaya, 30, said. I feel like I dont have a good space to focus in. She was able to return to the relative quiet of her office for a few days a week starting in July, but she worried that the surging virus could send her back to her hectic work-from-home life.

Certainly, some people have thrived in their new remote work lives. They saved time and money, and sometimes increased productivity. The degree to which employees have embraced permanent remote or hybrid work models has been stunning to company executives, said Tsedal Neeley, a Harvard Business School professor who has studied remote work for decades.

But for others, Professor Neeley said, it has removed needed barriers between work and home life, increased a sense of isolation and led to burnout. Some people just dislike the screen  their physicality and their proximity to others is a big part of what work looks like, she said.

Many workers are back in offices already. Just 13 percent of Americans worked from home at some point in July because of Covid, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated, down from a pandemic peak of 35 percent in May 2020. And some workers have said the Delta variant has not changed their employers return-to-office plans.

But an increasing number of high-profile companies, like Hollywood studios, Wall Street banks and Silicon Valley tech giants, have delayed their returns. For the pro-return-to-office crowd, the fits and starts have been excruciating, Professor Neeley said.

We are in this perpetual state of waiting, and that now has been extended with more uncertainty, she said.
The violent and deadly flooding in Germany and Belgium last month was an extremely rare event, scientists said Monday, but one that was made more likely by climate change.

The scientists found that the record rainfall that led to the flooding, including a 24-hour total of 3.5 inches in the Ahr and Erft river valleys in western Germany, was a 400-year event, meaning in any given year there was a 1-in-400 chance of such a downpour occurring in the region.

But the analysis showed that while rare, such an event was 1.2 to 9 times more likely now than it would have been more than a century ago, before emissions of heat-trapping gases warmed the world by more than 1 degree Celsius (about 2 degrees Fahrenheit).

And if the world warms to 2 degrees Celsius, as is likely without drastic cuts in emissions, the probability of such an event would increase even more, becoming 1.2 to 1.4 times likely as currently.
The goal with scallop aquaculture is not to eliminate the wild fishery, which is very important to the economy in Maine, Ms. Jekielek said. Its to create a different market that could also augment the wild supply.

A market for farmed sea scallops could be huge  and lucrative. Scallops, unlike less expensive mussels or clams, are what Mr. Brewer calls a big-ticket item. They are the second-most valuable landing in the region behind lobsters, which in 2019 was worth $637 million, compared with $569 million for scallops.

And the demand keeps growing, as does the supply, coming from the American fishery and from imports. Prices are rising, too, right along with demand.

According to Dana Morse, a sea scallop specialist at Maine Sea Grant at the University of Maine, the United States imports about $300 million in scallops annually.

The market for adductors is, if not bottomless, pretty close to it, he said.

In terms of flavor, the farmed and wild sea scallops in Maine are identical: almost candy sweet, with a distinct briny, umami complexity. The cold, deep waters of the Gulf of Maine are particularly well suited to scallops and other shellfish, giving them an incomparably rich, saline flavor. You can have them raw, slurped right out of the shell with the roe still attached, their adductor muscles a little twitchy and as bouncy as jelly. But theyre also compelling lightly cooked, which firms them up and makes them meaty and dense.

For lunch, Mr. Brewer steamed small unshucked scallops in an old coffee pot, and dipped the tender nuts of meat in soy sauce and wasabi.
Rice University, where more than 95 percent of students are vaccinated, announced a move to remote classes last week after testing showed an alarmingly high number of community members with breakthrough coronavirus infections.

Those results, the university now says, were badly distorted by a testing glitch.

Of 4,500 tests administered on the Rice campus, 81 had returned positive results, mostly in vaccinated members of Rices community. Even in Houston, where the Delta variant was surging, the results were a surprise. Rice had taken tough efforts to control coronavirus in its community, practically demanding that students, faculty and staff be vaccinated, even as the state of Texas prohibited vaccination mandates. The university also required masks.

Further examination revealed that most of the people who appeared to have tested positive were actually negative for the virus, the university now says.

When Rice began to examine the cases, it found that the results didnt make sense, according to a note to the university community on Sunday from Kevin E. Kirby, vice president for administration at Rice. Most of the people who tested positive did not have any symptoms. And the cases were scattered, with no clusters.
Those terms have always been open to interpretation and debate. But because many colleges did not offer discounts on tuition for remote learning last year, they could have a harder time arguing that it is fundamentally different from, or inferior to, in-person instruction.

It becomes maybe a little tricky for school officials to then later claim that going online would be a serious degradation of the educational environment, said Adam M. Samaha, an expert in constitutional and disability law at New York Universitys School of Law. If that is good-enough education, then a student might claim, Why not extend the same principle to a person who has physical difficulty commuting to the classroom?

Cameron Lynch believes colleges werent built with students like her in mind. To get to class at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va., Ms. Lynch, a rising sophomore with muscular dystrophy, said she had to navigate uneven brick walkways. And some of the campuss old buildings lack accessibility features like elevators or ramps.

Walking to class is always kind of difficult, regardless of Covid, so its nice to be online, Ms. Lynch said.

Ms. Lynch, who also has celiac disease and diabetes, is immunocompromised. And even though she is vaccinated, she is fearful of getting the coronavirus and has lived much of the past year in isolation.

Last year, when her college started offering classes in person again, she discovered that some of the classes she needed to take for her double major in sociology and government were no longer being offered online. She brought her concerns to the colleges disability services office. It declined to allow her to attend her required classes remotely.
Ms. Keogh was New York State director for Senator Hillary Clinton; advised Mayor Michael R. Bloombergs 2009 re-election campaign; and helped Senator Kirsten Gillibrand as she transitioned from the House to the Senate. More recently, Ms. Keogh, a friend of Ms. Hochuls for years, was head of global philanthropy for JPMorgan Chase.

Ms. Fine, general counsel and an executive vice president of Empire State Development, has served as counsel to Attorney General Janet Reno and President Bill Clinton, counsel to the Clinton-Gore presidential campaign, and general counsel for the New York City Council under Speaker Christine Quinn.

Ms. Hochul has said she will take up to 45 days to assess whom she may retain from the Cuomo administration, with New York still fending off a pandemic and its economic effects.

Mr. Cuomo saw his star rise during the pandemic, and he sought to re-emphasize those moments in his farewell speech, trying to conjure memories of what many New Yorkers had liked best about his leadership. Mr. Cuomo invoked his father, the former Gov. Mario M. Cuomo; he referenced his administrations efforts to combat the coronavirus  and suggested a state law to mandate compliance around vaccines and masking in some circumstances; and he reached for language that had powered his popular briefings at the start of the pandemic.

Always stay New York tough, he advised.

But Mr. Cuomos chief motive was to once again question the fairness of the state attorney general report that found he sexually harassed 11 women  despite his broadsides on Monday, Mr. Cuomo initially backed the investigation.

The report offered corroborating evidence for eight accusers whose allegations were already public, most of them current or former state employees. It also included three previously unreported accounts of sexual harassment by the governor. Investigators conducted interviews with 179 witnesses and accumulated tens of thousands of documents.

In a sign that Mr. Cuomo may not be fully ready to exit the public arena, he likened the report to a firecracker that started a political and media stampede, adding in the 15-minute speech that there will be another time to talk about the truth and ethics of the recent situation involving me.
A lawyer for Ms. Pimental, Ian Marcus Amelkin, said that she had told Judge Rakoff that she did not object to being vaccinated. But Cheryl Bader, a professor at the Fordham University School of Law, said that while she admired Judge Rakoffs creativity, there was a potential hole in the underlying logic.

Ms. Bader said it was the premise of the law that Judge Rakoff was tasked with evaluating a defendants danger to the community, but not in a general sense  in connection with the criminal charges in question. And the danger of spreading the virus was not clearly connected to the distribution of fentanyl.

Judges have broad discretion in placing restrictions on people who are accused of crimes. It is not unusual for them to limit whom defendants talk to, where they go, even how frequently they use the internet. And judges do often order defendants to proactively engage in certain behaviors, such as receiving counseling or taking certain prescribed medications.

But the power of judges is not unlimited. Nadine Strossen, a professor at New York Law School who was the president of the American Civil Liberties Union from 1991 to 2008, said that in order to fight a vaccination directive, a lawyer would have to demonstrate that a judge had abused his or her discretion.

For example, she said, the A.C.L.U. filed in 2003 to reverse the order of a Michigan judge who had compelled a woman to begin taking a form of birth control after she was accused of physically neglecting her children. The A.C.L.U. argued that the judge had infringed on her constitutional right to privacy. (The case reached the states court of appeals, and the order was eventually rescinded.)

Ms. Strossen, noting that Judge Zimmerman had framed his order as a matter of Mr. Gregorys personal improvement, said that she did not see the logical connection between what Mr. Gregory had been accused of and his being vaccinated.

That made it seem to me like an abuse of discretion, she said. That the judge has this guy in his power and he can impose whatever hobbyhorse is important to him.
In a statement, Ms. Hochul said Ms. Keogh and Ms. Fine would help her turn the corner on the pandemic and serve the best interests of New York, whether its defeating Covid, getting more people vaccinated, or strengthening our economy.

The inner cabinet appointments will be key to Ms. Hochul as she takes office at a pivotal time in state history. New York is still grappling with a pandemic and its economic repercussions, even as it has had to contend with the scandal-plagued tenure of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, whose last day in office is Monday.

Ms. Hochul has said she will take up to 45 days to determine which cabinet officials and top staff she will want to keep from the Cuomo administration. That means that, for now, close Cuomo allies  such as Howard Zucker, the health commissioner, and Robert Mujica, the governors powerful budget director  will remain in place when Ms. Hochul takes office.

In Ms. Keogh, Ms. Hochul will have a trusted aide with whom she has been friends for years, according to one of Ms. Hochuls aides.

Image Karen Persichilli Keogh will become the second woman to serve as secretary to the governor, the highest non-elected position in the governors office. Credit... Mark Von Holden/Associated Press

Most recently, Ms. Keogh worked as head of global philanthropy for JPMorgan Chase & Co. She is married to Mike Keogh, who is a partner at the Albany lobbying firm Bolton-St. Johns, the same firm where Ms. DeRosas father, Giorgio DeRosa, is a partner. State records indicate he has represented clients like the Dart Container Corporation, a manufacturer of foam cups, and Bard College.
Covid-19 Updates: F.D.A.s Vaccine Approval Leads Pentagon and Others to Add Requirements The defense secretary will order the countrys 1.4 million active-duty service members to be vaccinated. The federal approval could also have implications for state bans on vaccine mandates. Follow our coverage of the coronavirus pandemic, vaccines and the Delta Variant.

The F.D.A. grants full approval to the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine. Video transcript Back bars 0:00 / 1:25 - 0:00 transcript Biden Praises Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine Approval President Biden lauded the final approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine by the Food and Drug Administration and implored unvaccinated Americans not to wait any longer to be inoculated. After a strict process, the F.D.A. has reaffirmed its findings that the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine is safe and effective, and the F.D.A. has given its full and final approval. So let me say this loudly and clearly: If you have, if youre one of the millions of Americans who said that they will not get the shot when its  until it has full and final approval of the F.D.A., it has now happened. The moment youve been waiting for is here. Its time for you to go get your vaccination, and get it today  today. Its an important moment in our fight against the pandemic. Remember when we were trying to get? 70 percent of the people over 18, at least one shot? Well, weve not only gotten that done, weve gotten 71 percent of everyone aged 12 and older their first shot. And thats over 200 million Americans. And over 170 million are now fully vaccinated. Third, states that have been lagging are seeing their vaccination rates grow faster. In fact, in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, more people got new vaccinations in the past month than in the prior two months combined. The progress were making on vaccinations now is going to produce results in the weeks ahead. President Biden lauded the final approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine by the Food and Drug Administration and implored unvaccinated Americans not to wait any longer to be inoculated. Credit Credit... Stefani Reynolds for The New York Times The Food and Drug Administration on Monday granted full approval to Pfizer-BioNTechs coronavirus vaccine for people 16 and older, making it the first to move beyond emergency-use status in the United States. The decision is sure set off a cascade of vaccine requirements by hospitals, colleges, corporations and others. The Pentagon responded immediately, with Lloyd J. Austin III, the defense secretary, poised to send guidelines to the countrys 1.4 million active-duty service members requiring that they be vaccinated, the Biden administration said on Monday. Oregon has adopted a vaccine requirement for all state workers, as have universities in Louisiana and Minnesota. And in New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Monday that all education department employees would have to be vaccinated by Sept. 27, without the option of submitting to coronavirus testing instead The F.D.A. approval comes as the fight against the pandemic has intensified again in the United States, with the highly infectious Delta variant drastically slowing the progress the country had made in the first half of the year. There are now an average of around 150,000 new cases a day in the United States and more than 90,000 hospitalized Covid-19 patients. In a brief speech on Monday, President Biden said he hoped the approval would prompt many of the roughly 85 million Americans who are unvaccinated and eligible for shots to get them. Dr. Janet Woodcock, the drug administrations acting commissioner said in a statement that we recognize that for some, the F.D.A. approval of a vaccine may now instill additional confidence to get vaccinated. A recent poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation, which has been tracking public attitudes during the pandemic, found that three in 10 unvaccinated people said they would be more likely to get vaccinated with a shot that had been fully approved. But pollsters and other experts warned that the percentage could be exaggerated. I think that is a vanishingly small number of people in real life, said Alison Buttenheim, an associate professor of nursing at the University of Pennsylvania and expert on vaccine hesitancy. Some experts have estimated that full approval might convince just 5 percent of those who are unvaccinated to get shots. If so, thats still a huge slice of people, said Dr. Thomas Dobbs, the chief health officer for Mississippi. In his remarks, Mr. Biden acknowledged that the death rate, now averaging about 1,000 new deaths a day, had climbed, but he said the toll was still far lower than what it was last winter because most older people had been vaccinated. He also tried to reassure anxious parents about the growing numbers of children who had been infected with the Delta variant, saying that severe Covid cases among children were still very, very rare. The vaccine will continue to be authorized for emergency use for children 12 to 15 while Pfizer collects the data required for full approval. A decision on whether to authorize the vaccine for children under 12 could be at least several months away, and Dr. Woodcock said such children should not get a Covid-19 vaccine in the meantime. So far, more than 92 million Americans  54 percent of those who are fully inoculated  have gotten Pfizer shots. Most of the rest received Modernas vaccine. Pfizer said it had presented the F.D.A. with data from 44,000 participants from clinical trials in United States, the European Union, Turkey, South Africa and South America. The agency said the data showed the vaccine was 91 percent effective in preventing Covid disease, a slight drop from the 95 percent efficacy rate reported when the agency authorized the vaccine for emergency use in December. Dr. Peter Marks, the F.D.A.s top vaccine regulator, said the agency had finished its review 97 days after Pfizer filed the required data, or about two-fifths the normal time for such an evaluation. He said that while the F.D.A. had approved the vaccine expeditiously, it had done so fully in keeping with our existing high standards for vaccines in the U.S. Federal health agencies will continue to monitor the vaccines safety, Dr. Marks said, and the F.D.A. will require Pfizer to keep studying the risks of myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, and pericarditis, an inflammation of the membrane surrounding the heart, including the long-term outcomes for recipients. In June, the F.D.A. attached warnings to the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines noting a potential for increased risk of the conditions after a second dose. Health experts and state officials welcomed the approval. Dr. Richard Besser, the president of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the former acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said it could not come at a more important time, Vaccination rates have already been rising lately, likely in part because of growing fears about the Delta variants spread. Mr. Biden said that more people in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi  all states being ravaged by the Delta variant  had gotten first shots in the past month than in the previous two months combined. The next major vaccine decision looming for the F.D.A. involves whether to authorize booster shots, which federal officials have strongly discouraged people from seeking until regulators decide they are safe and effective. The Biden administration said last week that starting Sept. 20, pending regulatory approval, it planned to offer third shots to adults who had gotten their second injection of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines eight months earlier. Third shots are already authorized for some people with immune deficiencies. Regulators are still reviewing Modernas application for full approval of its vaccine. That decision could take several weeks. Johnson & Johnson is expected to apply soon for full approval. Helene Cooper contributed reporting. Correction : Aug. 23, 2021 An earlier version of this item misstated the name of the organization led by Dr. Richard Besser. It is the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, not the Robert Wood Foundation. Correction : Aug. 23, 2021 An earlier version of this item misstated the name that the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine is now free to be marketed under. It is Comirnaty, not Comiraty. Sharon LaFraniere and

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N.Y.C. will require shots for all education staff, including teachers and principals. Video transcript Back bars 0:00 / 1:20 - 0:00 transcript N.Y.C. Requires Vaccination for All School Employees Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York said every employee of the citys Department of Education must receive at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine by Sept. 27. So today, a major announcement to ensure the safety of our schools, of our kids, of all the adults in our schools as well, today the New York City, Department of Health will be issuing an order requiring all staff in the New York City public schools to be vaccinated. This will require that all staff of every kind  principals, teachers, custodians, food service, you name it, needs to have at least one dose by Sept. 27, the entire staff, by Sept. 27, at least one dose. And we know this is going to help ensure that everyone is safe. Now, were going to start immediately working with labor unions. I spoke to the leaders of the key unions over the last few days, and were going to start bargaining with them immediately on the impact of this decision and how to ensure we can implement it properly and fairly. Were going to work together. And what a perfect moment for this given the big news today. And were so thrilled the F.D.A. has announced today the full approval of the Pfizer vaccine. This is a game-changing moment. Weve been waiting for this for a long time to have the full approval of the vaccine. We now have it. This helps us move forward and were moving forward with our schools with this new vaccine mandate. Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York said every employee of the citys Department of Education must receive at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine by Sept. 27. Credit Credit... Stephanie Keith for The New York Times All employees of New York Citys Department of Education  including teachers, principals, custodians and workers in the departments central office  must get at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine by Sept. 27, without the option of submitting to weekly testing instead, Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Monday. The announcement was a major step in Mr. de Blasios effort to fully reopen the citys school district, whose one million students make it the largest in the United States, next month, and a significant escalation of his push to vaccinate more New Yorkers. Mr. de Blasio has put reopening the citys schools at the center of his plan to help New York recover from the pandemic. He is eager to reassure anxious parents and teachers that schools will be safe this year despite an increase in virus cases in the past two months linked to the Delta variant  especially given the decision not to offer students a remote-learning option. New Yorks vaccine requirement affects about 148,000 education department workers. It is almost surely a harbinger of similar requirements for school districts, municipal employees, private businesses and federal agencies around the country following the Food and Drug Administrations approval on Monday of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for those 16 and older. Hours after Mr. de Blasios announcement, Gov. Philip D. Murphy of New Jersey said that all workers at public, private and parochial schools in the state would have to be fully inoculated against the virus by Oct. 18 or be subject to testing at least once a week. The rules also apply to all state employees and to substitute teachers, who are already in short supply, he said. As a result of the F.D.A.s approval, a requirement that all students who plan to attend in-person classes at the State University of New York and the City University of New York schools be vaccinated took effect. Education department workers are the first group of municipal employees in New York to face a full vaccine mandate. Mr. de Blasio said on Monday that officials were considering a similarly broad requirement for other city workers. His statement came a month after he issued a mandate that let those who did not get vaccinated be tested for the virus weekly instead. We know this is going to help ensure that everyone is safe, Mr. de Blasio said at a news conference, adding that city schools had extremely low virus transmission last year. The mandate, the mayor said, will help the city build on that success. The new requirement is likely to be unpopular with some school employees, but it is broadly supported by the citys powerful teachers union, the United Federation of Teachers. Negotiations are continuing with it and other unions that represent education department employees over what will happen to those who do not comply. The city said last month that educators who did not get vaccinated or submit to testing would be suspended without pay. Those who do not comply with the new requirement will most likely face similar consequence. On Monday, Michael Mulgrew, the U.F.T. president, acknowledged that the city had the legal right to impose such a requirement, but he said key details of how it would be put in place were still being worked out. Mr. de Blasio has been adamant that all students will return to schools in person on Sept. 13. But with just three weeks until the first day of classes, he has not said how the city would handle either testing or the quarantining of those who are infected, a delay that has frustrated parents and educators. It is unclear precisely what percentage of New York City teachers have been vaccinated. Officials have said that more than 63 percent of the education departments employees are vaccinated, but they have also said that figure does not include those who got shots outside the city. About 75 percent of the teachers who live in the city have received at least one dose. By contrast, about 43 percent of Police Department employees have been vaccinated. Eliza Shapiro and

Hawaiis governor discourages travelers from visiting as virus rates surge in the state. Video transcript Back bars 0:00 / 1:41 - 0:00 transcript Hawaii Governor Urges Tourists to Stay Away as Coronavirus Surges Gov. David Ige of Hawaii asked visitors not to travel to the islands unless it is for essential business purposes, as high numbers of coronavirus cases strain the states hospitals. We are seeing more Covid patients in our hospitals and the I.C.U.s are filling up. We need to take action now in order to reduce the spread of Covid and ensure that our hospitals are not overrun. I did ask everyone, residents and visitors alike, to reduce travel to Hawaii to essential business activities only. We do know that it is not a good time to travel to the islands. Restaurant capacity has been restricted. There is limited access to rental cars and we know that the visitors who choose to come to the islands will not have the typical kind of holiday that they expect to get when they visit Hawaii. Our call to reduce travel to the islands to only essential businesses will have an impact on the numbers who have come here. But I also would like to point out that our hospitals are at capacity, our I.C.U.s are full. We are working on surge plans at every facility to expand capacity. Were transitioning acute care beds to be able to support those who are sick. And so I do know that thats a risk. But I believe that as a community, thats a risk we have to take to discourage travel to the islands until we can get to a better place with our health care facilities. Gov. David Ige of Hawaii asked visitors not to travel to the islands unless it is for essential business purposes, as high numbers of coronavirus cases strain the states hospitals. Credit Credit... Michelle Mishina Kunz for The New York Times Facing a surge of Covid-19 cases that is straining hospitals, Gov. David Ige of Hawaii asked tourists to stay away. Its not a good time to travel to the islands, he said. The visitors who choose to come to the island will not have the typical kind of holiday that they expect to get when they visit Hawaii. The governors remarks came at a news conference on Monday after the island of Oahu said it was imposing tighter restrictions on gatherings. Starting Aug. 25, indoor gatherings of more than 10 people and outdoor gatherings of more than 25 will be prohibited in Oahu, Mayor Rick Blangiardi said. The new rule will apply for at least 28 days and will affect all events, including those that are professionally organized, a change from previous restrictions. #Covid19 cases are up dramatically, and our healthcare workers are being pushed beyond their limits. Beginning August 25, we will be suspending all large gatherings for 4 weeks. This includes trade shows, conventions, concerts and other live events.  Mayor Rick Blangiardi (@MayorRickHNL) August 23, 2021 We really thought we saw the light at the end of the tunnel, Mr. Blangiardi said at a news conference. But over the last several weeks, cases have surged and the Delta variant has proved to be more than formidable. The governor said he fully supported the actions that Oahu had taken. Since July 1, Hawaii has experienced a sharp rise in new cases. The states seven-day average of new case reports peaked at 729 a day on Aug. 19, more than double the states previous high last fall, according to a New York Times database. In the past two weeks, new cases increased by 37 percent in Honolulu County, and hospitalizations more than doubled. Mr. Blangiardi said that after extensive conversations with state health officials and health care providers, it was determined that large gatherings were the main cause of the rapid communal spread recently. The restrictions mean that athletic events at the University of Hawaii will proceed without spectators, and that large concerts at the Waikiki Shell will be canceled. The mayor said that people would still be able to hold weddings, funerals and luaus, as long as they adhered to crowd limits. Restaurants will continue to operate at 50 percent of capacity, and youth sports can finish their seasons as long as parents spread themselves out as spectators. Hawaii was the last state to expand vaccine eligibility to all adults. About 55 percent of the state population has been fully vaccinated so far. At the news conference on Monday, officials said they were concerned about low vaccination rates in Oahu and the large number of young men and women with Covid-19 who were being treated in the islands intensive care units. Dr. James Ireland, the chief of the Honolulu Emergency Medical Services, said that over the past couple of weeks, island hospitals had seen a net increase of 10 to 14 patients a day. He warned that very, very soon, hospitals would not have the capacity to care for any more patients and that emergency services were close to maxed out. Although Oahu was acting to curb large gatherings, which appear to be fueling the current spread, officials emphasized that the best way to fight the virus was to get vaccinated. According to the Hawaii Department of Health, the highly contagious Delta variant, which is more dangerous for those who are not vaccinated, now accounts for 93 percent of the states Covid-19 infections. Thats the way out of this, Dr. Ireland said. Vaccinations. Isabella Grullon Paz and

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Covid concerns in Kabul are an afterthought amid evacuation. Afghans camping outside the gates of the airport in Kabul on Sunday. Credit... Jim Huylebroek for The New York Times At Hamid Karzai International Airport, where thousands of U.S. troops and NATO allies are trying to evacuate citizens and Afghans desperate to flee their country after the Taliban took control of Kabul last week, the coronavirus is an afterthought. The speed, size and scope of the evacuation operation  which came together rapidly as U.S. officials were caught off guard by the Talibans swift offensive  have meant that few measures, if any, are in place to help prevent the spread of the disease and its newer, more aggressive variants. There is no testing of the thousands of passengers passing through the base, in what has turned into the final operation of the United States nearly 20-year-old war in Afghanistan. Social distancing is nonexistent as hundreds of Afghans are ferried in from the airports gates, held in crowded parking lots or tents and processed in packed terminals. The U.S. military cargo aircraft responsible for carrying a large number of Afghan refugees to bases in the Middle East and Europe are packed with 300 to 400 passengers at a time who sit practically knee-to-back on the floor. Coronavirus testing usually takes place at American bases outside Afghanistan, where passengers are tested and isolated if found to be positive. Before the government of Afghanistan collapsed, its ministry of public health had reported a third wave of coronavirus infections in the country, with a record number of positive cases and deaths. But coronavirus testing in the country has been unreliable and inconsistent since the start of the pandemic, as testing ability was limited or unavailable in rural areas. The current situation is part of a broader humanitarian and medical issue facing Afghans on top of the security crisis. Humanitarian and medical aid has been scarce in the past week, with the World Health Organization and other aid agencies unable to fly supplies into the airport while it is overwhelmed by the evacuation effort. Conflict, displacement, drought and the Covid-19 pandemic are all contributing to a complex and desperate situation in Afghanistan, the W.H.O. said in a statement. According to Dapeng Luo, a W.H.O. representative in Afghanistan, the movement and mixing of the newly displaced in Afghanistan, coupled with many now living in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, has severely limited infection prevention protocols and increased the risk of transmission of the coronavirus. Dr. Luo said there were concerns that this, and the nations relatively low vaccination rate, could lead to an uptick in the virus. This will place an enormous burden on the health system, which is already struggling to cope with escalating trauma and emergency cases and experiencing shortage of supplies due to the current instability, disruptions to governance and shipment of supplies into the country, Dr. Luo said. A new wave of Covid-19 could leave some of the most vulnerable without critical health care. Thomas Gibbons-Neff and

Approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine could upend state bans on requiring shots. People getting the Pfizer vaccine at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in Brownsville, Texas, in June. Credit... Veronica G. Cardenas for The New York Times The full federal approval on Monday of a coronavirus vaccine for people 16 and older appeared to clear the way for local officials, private businesses and others who want to impose vaccine requirements to do so in some states that have banned them. By giving its formal blessing to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, the Food and Drug Administration lifted it out of the emergency-use category and effectively put it on par with other vaccines required by public health authorities, universities, employers and others. At least three states that banned vaccine requirements by law or executive order  Montana, Texas and Utah  did so specifically because the three vaccines in use in the United States were being administered under emergency-use authorizations, not full approval. Now one of the vaccines has that approval, undercutting that justification and potentially setting the stage for more of the kind of legal battles that have erupted around the country over the bans, often pitting cities, counties or school districts that want stricter vaccine requirements against governors who say they want to protect individual freedom. The issue has grown more urgent as the pace of vaccination has slowed and as new cases, hospitalizations and deaths have risen sharply, driven largely by the highly contagious Delta variant. Many states that have banned vaccine requirements also have relatively low vaccination rates and are struggling with the latest surge in infections. In Utah  where the Republican-led legislature passed a bill in March barring government entities from requiring a Covid-19 vaccine that was authorized for emergency use only  a spokeswoman for the state health department said the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine should no longer be subject to the restrictions because it now had full approval. State legislative leaders did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order that took effect in July, stating that no governmental entity can compel any individual to receive a Covid-19 vaccine administered under an emergency use authorization. Last week, after the San Antonio Independent School District sought to impose a vaccine requirement for its employees, the state attorney general, Ken Paxton, announced a lawsuit against the district. Pedro Martinez, the districts superintendent, responded with a statement on Friday saying he would not compel any staff member to be vaccinated until the vaccines are fully approved by the F.D.A. Mr. Paxton claimed victory in a statement on Monday, saying his office had stopped the district from trying to play by its own set of rules. But it was not immediately clear what would happen now that the F.D.A. had granted the approval Mr. Martinez said he was awaiting. Neither the school district nor the offices of Mr. Paxton and Mr. Abbott responded immediately to requests for comment. Montanas vaccine-mandate ban stipulates that an individual may not be required to receive any vaccine whose use is allowed under an emergency use authorization or any vaccine undergoing safety trials. Brooke Stroyke, a spokeswoman for Montanas governor, Greg Gianforte, maintained that vaccine mandates remained illegal in the state. She said the F.D.A. approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine did not entirely invalidate Montanas law, which also prohibits discrimination based on whether a person has been inoculated. Daniel E. Slotnik, Dan Levin and

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A passengers death highlights challenges cruise lines face as cases surge. The Carnival Vista docked in Galveston, Texas, in May. On a recent sailing, a passenger and crew members tested positive for the coronavirus; the passenger later died. Credit... Sipa, via Associated Press As the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus surges around the world, the health and safety protocols established by a cruise industry struggling to fight its way back from the pandemic are being put to the test. In a grim example of the challenges facing cruise lines, 27 coronavirus infections were identified over two weeks in late July and early August aboard the Carnival Vista ship that had sailing out of Galveston, Texas. One of the infected, Marilyn Tackett, a 77-year-old passenger from Oklahoma, later died. Ms. Tacketts death came about a week before the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a new advisory, warning people with increased risk for severe illness from Covid-19 to avoid travel on cruise ships, regardless of their vaccination status. Carnival is not the only cruise line to have seen an uptick in cases. Earlier this month, Royal Caribbean had six guests test positive onboard its Adventure of the Seas ship. The companies have responded to the recent increase in cases by introducing pre-departure testing requirements for all passengers. Carnival also added a mask mandate on Aug. 7 for all vaccinated and unvaccinated guests in indoor areas and banned smoking in the casino. The cruise line had not tested vaccinated passengers before embarking. Chris Chiames, a Carnival spokesman said in an interview that the companys safety protocols were designed to flex up and adapt.We never suggested our ships would be Covid free, he continued. But we designed our protocols to meet and exceed the guidelines of the C.D.C. Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbeans chief executive, said the cruise line was typically seeing one or two positive cases out of more than 1,000 guests a week per ship. More than 90 percent of passengers were vaccinated, he said, and two to 10 had been prevented from boarding each week because they were tested beforehand as required and their tests came back positive. But in a candid Facebook post, Mr. Bayley said: Testing captures status at a point of time and if the guest is incubating infection, then the test will miss it. Some cruise lines say passengers have canceled amid concerns about the risks of the Delta variant, but many sailings are fully booked through the rest of year because of pent-up demand. Many of those booking trips believe cruise ships are among the safest means of traveling during the pandemic because of how many passengers and crew members are vaccinated, as well as the testing requirements and safety measures that are strictly enforced on board. Its very comforting boarding a cruise ship knowing that most people are vaccinated and everyone is tested, said Aidan Alexander of Florida, 62. He has eight sailings booked through 2022. When you get on a plane or stay in a hotel you dont know anyones vaccination or Covid status and that makes it very difficult to relax and unwind. John Ioannidis, a Stanford University epidemiology professor a, disputed that. In an airport, on a plane or in a hotel, he said, you only get exposed for a few hours, whereas on a cruise ship you could get exposed for many days and weeks. Its a kind of cumulative exposure. Still, he added, the health and safety protocols adopted by cruise companies would most likely avert the major disasters and deaths seen in the initial stages of the pandemic last year In the case of the Carnival Vista ship, the 27 infections were the highest number of cases aboard a ship reported since June, when cruises restarted in the Caribbean and United States, and Ms. Tacketts was the first death. Although the ship sailed out of Texas, which bans businesses from requiring vaccinations, more than 96 percent of passengers were vaccinated and all but one crew member were fully vaccinated, according to the Belize tourism board. Ms. Tackett was admitted to a hospital in Belize and put on a ventilator after experiencing respiratory complications. Days later, she was evacuated to a hospital in Tulsa, where she received treatment. On Aug. 14, though, her condition worsened and she died, according to a statement posted by her family online.

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Chevron and CVS mandate coronavirus vaccines. Chevron is the second-largest oil and gas producer in the United States. Credit... Mike Blake/Reuters CVS Health and the oil and gas giant Chevron said on Monday that they would mandate coronavirus vaccines for some employees, joining other large corporations that are making similar demands on office workers. CVS pharmacists will have until Nov. 30 to be fully vaccinated, while other employees who interact with patients and all corporate staff have until Oct. 31 to comply. The mandate will affect about 100,000 employees, CVS said. Chevron said its mandate applied to employees who travel internationally and expatriates, as well as the offshore work force in the Gulf of Mexico and some onshore support personnel, the company said on Monday. Chevron is the second-largest oil and gas producer in the United States after Exxon Mobil. It said employees in the Gulf of Mexico would need to be vaccinated by Nov. 1, but it did not share a timeline for other workers. On Monday, the Food and Drug Administration gave full approval for Pfizer-BioNTechs coronavirus vaccine for people 16 and older, a move that is expected to clear the way for many more mandates. New York City said on Monday it would require every employee of the citys Department of Education  148,000 people  to be vaccinated, and the Pentagon will demand that 1.3 million active-duty troops receive the shot no later than the middle of next month. President Biden urged corporate leaders on Monday to consider vaccine mandates. Require your employees to get vaccinated or face strict requirements such as frequent testing, he said. United Airlines recently announced that its employees would be required to show proof of vaccination within five weeks of regulatory approval. Chevron was the first major U.S. oil producer to announce a requirement. As part of our fitness for duty safety standard, workers in certain jobs are required to be vaccinated against Covid-19, a Chevron spokeswoman said in an email. We will continue to carefully monitor the medical data and follow the guidance of health authorities in order to protect our work force. Exxon Mobil does not have a formal mandate on vaccines, but the company is strongly encouraging workers to get vaccinated. A company spokesman, Casey Norton, said in a statement that Exxon was monitoring public health guidance. Given the spread of the Delta variant and its impact on unvaccinated individuals, all unvaccinated individuals are expected to wear a face covering in all indoor locations when six feet of social distance cannot be maintained, he said. That policy went into effect on Aug. 18. Like Exxon, Royal Dutch Shell encourages vaccination among employees, but it is not mandatory. Employees must comply with local laws requiring vaccination for entering public places or to enter countries. The news of Chevrons mandate was reported earlier by The Wall Street Journal. Stanley Reed contributed reporting. Coral Murphy Marcos and

J. & J. finds that a second dose of its vaccine provides a strong boost. In a trial participants were given a booster shot at six months, and their antibodies against the coronavirus jumped nine times higher than after the first dose. Credit... Robyn Beck/Agence France-Presse  Getty Images A booster shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine dramatically raises the levels of antibodies against the coronavirus, the company reported on Wednesday. Johnson & Johnson will submit the data to the Food and Drug Administration, which is evaluating similar studies from Pfizer and Moderna. If authorized by the agency, the Biden administration wants to provide booster shots eight months after vaccination. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine was absent from the governments initial booster plan, announced last week. But with the new data, the company hopes to be part of the initial distribution of additional shots, which could happen as early as September. We look forward to discussing with public health officials a potential strategy for our Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine, boosting eight months or longer after the primary single-dose vaccination, Dr. Mathai Mammen, the global head of Janssen Research & Development at Johnson & Johnson, said in a statement. In February, the F.D.A. gave emergency authorization to Johnson & Johnson for its one-shot vaccine. A clinical trial carried out last fall and winter showed that a single shot had a 72 percent efficacy in preventing symptomatic Covid-19 among U.S. participants. In the trial, none of the vaccinated volunteers were hospitalized or died. Johnson & Johnson carried out its clinical trial before the Delta variant became widespread, leaving open the question of how well the vaccine worked against the highly contagious form of the virus. But in a study released earlier this month, South African researchers found that a single shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was up to 95 percent effective against death from the Delta variant, and reduced the risk of hospitalization by 71 percent. In its new study, Johnson & Johnson tracked 17 volunteers from last years clinical trial. Six months after vaccination, their level of antibodies had changed little. Thats different than the pattern seen with the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines. Those shots initially produce higher levels of antibodies, but their levels then drop over several months. When volunteers in the Johnson & Johnson trial were given a booster shot at six months, their antibodies against the coronavirus jumped nine times as high as after the first dose. Studies on the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines found a comparable jump in antibody levels. Because the three vaccines were not tested in a head-to-head comparison, its not possible to determine which one provides the biggest boost. Johnson & Johnson said that it had submitted a manuscript describing the research to the website Medrxiv. It has not been posted there yet. Noah Weiland contributed reporting.

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Fortunately, many citizens in these states and others in the region are determined to keep themselves and their children safe, even if their leaders keep undermining those efforts at every turn.

No sooner had Mr. Lee signed his executive order than Dr. Sara Cross, a Memphis physician on his own Covid task force, issued a public statement decrying his decision. I fear for my 6-year-old daughter, she said in a video. Opting out of wearing masks is putting all of our children in harms way.

In Texas, the families of 14 children with disabilities have filed a federal lawsuit against Mr. Abbott and the Texas Education Agency commissioner, Mike Morath, arguing that the ban on school mask mandates puts their children in peril. (Texas has paused the enforcement of its ban, pending the resolution of several legal challenges.)

Here in Music City, the pushback against state leaders began, naturally enough, with musicians and music venues. For people whose work brings them into contact with thousands of strangers, this is not a political issue; its a life-or-death issue.

Nashville has so far issued neither a mask mandate nor a vaccine mandate for businesses operating here, but theres an ever-growing list of music venues that require proof of vaccination or a negative coronavirus test to enter, including the massive Bonnaroo music festival in Manchester, Tenn. The musician Jason Isbell now requires proof of vaccination or a negative test to attend his shows, wherever they are held. Im all for freedom, but I think if youre dead, you dont have any freedoms at all, he told MSNBC.

Meanwhile, Tennessees two largest school districts  Metro Nashville Public Schools and Shelby County Schools  continue to enforce their mask mandates in defiance of the governors executive order, and Nashvilles district attorney, Glenn Funk, has said that he will not prosecute school officials or teachers for keeping children safe. Some Tennessee pastors are encouraging other districts to defy the ban, too: Im well aware of what we are asking, the Rev. Lillian Lammers told The Tennesseans Brett Kelman. There were many times in the Bible where Jesus broke the law in order to feed people or care for people, as a way of teaching others that sometimes the law can get in the way of doing what is right.

That message of civil disobedience seems to be resonating across the South.

Last week, the school board of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Floridas largest school district, and school districts in Hillsborough County, which includes Tampa, and Palm Beach County, voted to approve mask mandates in open defiance of Mr. DeSantiss ban. And they did so despite the threat of penalties leveled by the Florida state board of education against board members and superintendents in Broward and Alachua Counties, which had already established mask mandates.
Even so, the refusal of Democratic House members to roll over and play dead was performative in the best sense. Their protest made international news, which means that some people here might also realize that Republicans are bound and determined to take certain rights away.

There is also residual anger over the big freeze of February 2021, a reminder of which comes in the form of a monthly gas bill. Recent investigations  by The Texas Observer and The Texas Tribune  show just how many of the energy companies profited from soaring gas prices while ordinary Texans were shivering in their boots. The reports also raise the question of whether a gusher of campaign contributions (so far Mr. Abbotts campaign alone received around $4.6 million) was a form of gratitude for what was seen as favorable treatment by the governor and some lawmakers.

And then, yes, there is the pandemic.

At about 46 percent, Texas  the nations second-largest state by population  has a relatively low vaccination rate. Some hospital I.C.U.s are overflowing with new Covid cases just as public schools are opening. Huzzahs to the elected officials in the states most populous cities and counties for fighting back in defiance of the governor.

These fights reflect the one that has been going on since Mr. Abbott took office: the war between the conservatives in the statehouse, supported by rural voters and some wealthy Republican donors, and the more liberal leaders in the cities and metro areas who reflect the will of much of their more diverse voters.

The new census figures show that the growth in Texas since 2010 is in the cities  fully 87 percent of new residents have opted for life in our biggest metropolitan areas, while rural communities remain stagnant, according to Steven Pedigo, the director of the Urban Lab at the University of Texas at Austins Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, in a CNN report. Our four biggest cities now account for 68 percent of the states population, up from 64 percent in 2010.

It is possible to hope  because it always springs eternal  that what we are seeing is not just a series of isolated battles but the beginning of a sustained backlash, at least among energized Democrats, against the Republican bullies. That includes but is not limited to Mr. Abbott, who seems to have focused on his own political fortunes while telling a majority of Texans that they can just go hang.

Mimi Swartz (@mimiswartz) is an executive editor at Texas Monthly.
The pandemic disrupted many Americans work lives. Some of us  generally highly educated white-collar workers with relatively well-paying jobs  were able to shift to remote work. Millions of other workers, especially many poorly paid service workers, simply saw their jobs disappear when consumers stopped eating out and traveling.

Now the economy is recovering  a recovery that will probably continue despite the spread of the Delta variant of the coronavirus. But many Americans dont want to go back to the way things were before. After a year and a half of working from home, many dont want to return to the stress of commuting. And at least some of those who were forced into unemployment have come to realize how unhappy they were with low pay and poor working conditions, and are reluctant to go back to their previous jobs.

To be honest, when businesses began complaining about labor shortages, I was skeptical. These kinds of complaints always surface when the economy begins to recover from a slump and often mean only that job applicants have gotten a bit less desperate. Some of us also remember how, seven or eight years ago, Very Serious People insisted that we faced a major skills gap and would never be able to get unemployment down to the levels that prevailed before the financial crisis. (Spoiler: We did.)

At this point, however, it seems clear that something really is going on. You can see this from the data on vacancies: There are far more unfilled job openings than you would normally expect to see, given the current level of unemployment, which is still fairly high.
WASHINGTON  For months, Apple and Google have been fighting a bill in the South Korean legislature that they say could imperil their lucrative app store businesses. The companies have appealed directly to South Korean lawmakers, government officials and the public to try to block the legislation, which is expected to face a crucial vote this week.

The companies have also turned to an unlikely ally, one that is also trying to quash their power: the United States government. A group funded by the companies has urged trade officials in Washington to push back on the legislation, arguing that targeting American firms could violate a joint trade agreement.

The South Korean legislation would be the first law in the world to require companies that operate app stores to let users pay for in-app purchases using a variety of payment systems. It would also prohibit blocking developers from listing their products on other app stores.

How the White House responds to this proposal poses an early test for the Biden administration: Will it defend tech companies facing antitrust scrutiny abroad while it applies that same scrutiny to the companies at home?
Hohlfeld, a St. Louis native who now lives in California, and the cast  which also includes Brenda Currin, Elizabeth Teeter and Chauncy Thomas  are staying on location in the apartments during the run, which ends on Aug. 29. The housing decision was made, in part, to meet the Actors Equity Associations ventilation guidelines  and frankly, Houk said, they needed the doorway. Many of the shows entrances and exits are made through the back door of one of the units, to and from the second-floor fire escape.

The festival has had the typical concerns that most open-air productions have  mainly, the unpredictability of St. Louis weather in August. But unlike other outdoor undertakings here  the Muny and the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival have both dealt with their fair share of rainy Missouri summers  putting on a show in an active neighborhood, on a residential street, comes with its own challenges.

Yesterday during rehearsal, this guy comes out to empty his trash. He walked down three stories with his trash bag, and we had to direct him toward the trash bin, Hohlfeld said. He was polite enough to go around front when he came back.

Opening night conditions were slightly better. Actors only had to compete with a car alarm, a distant siren or two and a passing cars thumping bass in the alley.
No statistical model could explain it, and when a Massachusetts man and his two sons cashed in more than 13,000 winning lottery tickets worth nearly $21 million over eight years, federal prosecutors and lottery officials said it was anything but luck.

A statistician will say that theres some astronomical odd, Michael R. Sweeney, the executive director of the Massachusetts State Lottery, said in an interview. But the reality is, its zero.

In a 19-page indictment that was unsealed on Monday in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts, Ali Jaafar and his sons Mohamed Jaafar and Yousef Jaafar were collectively charged with more than a dozen counts of fraud, money laundering and tax evasion for taking part in what the authorities say was a ticket-cashing scheme. A vast majority of the tickets were the scratch-off type that are typically sold at convenience stores, prosecutors said.

From 2011 to 2019, according to the indictment, the Jaafars claimed the prizes on behalf of the actual winners, who potentially avoided having their winnings garnished for unpaid taxes or child support, a requirement for any prize over $600 in Massachusetts.
In Waverly, the epicenter of the destruction, anguish rippled through the closely knit community of about 4,100 people.

Terri Owen recalled standing on her toes amid the storm on Saturday, struggling to keep her head above the rising water. She could see the woman across the street clinging to a pillar on her front porch, her cries for help punctuated by piercing screams. Two days later, the womans voice was still in her head.

We cant help you! Ms. Owen remembered shouting back.

The water was furious. Stoves, refrigerators and cars whipped by. The pillar came loose, Ms. Owen said, and the screaming intensified. The entire house was swooped off its moorings and carried down the block. The woman died, and so did her adult son.

God had no more favor on me than the woman who lost her life, Ms. Owen said, pulling down her sunglasses to wipe her eyes as she sat on her friends muddy front porch. I was just in a different place.

Many were straining on Monday to grasp all that had been lost. School has been canceled for at least a week, officials said, and many roads and bridges remained closed to traffic.

The devastation could be seen for about 10 miles, Sheriff Davis said.

Homes were not just flooded but torn from their foundations and obliterated. Cars were tossed across roads. The hospital, already busy with Covid-19 patients, is now caring for those injured in the storm, according to Chief Grant Gillespie of the Waverly Department of Public Safety.

When Ryan Amells wife posted his phone number on Facebook on Saturday and said he was setting out on the water to rescue people in his small aluminum duck-hunting boat, he was immediately messaged by dozens in desperation.
Eighteen midshipmen resigned or were expelled from the United States Naval Academy after an investigation found that students there had cheated on a physics final exam last year, the academy said.

Of the more than 650 midshipmen who took the online exam for a general physics course on Dec. 20, 105 were investigated because they appeared to have used unauthorized resources, the Naval Academy said in a statement on Friday.

As of last week, 18 of those midshipmen had either been expelled or resigned, and 82 had been placed in a five-month honor remediation program. Four were found not to have violated the academys honor principles, and one was still awaiting adjudication.

Character development is an ongoing process, and midshipmen must make the choice to live honorably each day and earn the trust that comes with a commission in the Navy or Marine Corps, Vice Adm. Sean Buck, superintendent of the academy, said in the statement. This incident demonstrates that we must place an increased focus on character and integrity within the entire brigade.
The wildfires in the American West are burning vast expanses of specially protected forests  those that are part of carbon-offset projects meant to counterbalance the carbon dioxide pollution being pumped into the atmosphere by human activity.

Carbon-offset programs, which are designed to fight climate change, typically pay landowners to manage their land in ways that store carbon. Usually, that means paying landowners to not chop down trees.

Wildfires, however, dont respect those agreements.

An estimated 153,000 acres of forests that are part of Californias carbon-offset project have burned so far this summer, according to CarbonPlan, a nonprofit climate-research organization. Three projects have been affected. In Oregon, a quarter of the Klamath East project, or close to 100,000 acres, has burned in the Bootleg Fire since early July.

The worst fire season in Western U.S. history is going on, said Danny Cullenward, the policy director of CarbonPlan. That story is just crashing headfirst into some of the big bets that policymakers and private companies have made about the role of forest carbon as a climate solution. What we are seeing is, a bunch of projects are on fire.
U.S. Is Turning Some Allies Away From Kabul Airport, Official Says The Pentagon is deploying helicopters and Special Forces troops beyond the airport as President Biden considers pushing back his Aug. 31 deadline for U.S. troop withdrawal. Violent clashes continued. Follow our live updates on Biden and Afghanistan.

U.S. is turning some Afghan allies away from the Kabul airport, an official says. U.S. Marines guarding the perimeter of the airport in Kabul on Sunday. Credit... Jim Huylebroek for The New York Times Some Afghan military interpreters and other close U.S. allies, a stated priority group for evacuation from Afghanistan, are being turned away from the Kabul airport by American officials in order to give priority to U.S. citizens and green card holders, a State Department official said on Monday. The details, given on the condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to brief the news media, were supported by interviews with Afghans who have approached the airport in recent days, and with American veterans groups and other organizations that have tried to organize departures for Afghans who are at risk of retribution from the Taliban because they worked with the U.S. government. The pace of evacuations has accelerated, and it is not clear what proportion of eligible Afghans  people who have secured Special Immigrant Visas to settle in the United States  are now being turned away, or how long that will last. Many of them said they had received emails from the United States instructing them to get to the airport for evacuation. On Monday night, the State Department denied the accounts of Afghans being turned away. In a statement responding to The Timess questions, the department said, Our overriding priority remains to put as many people as possible on departing planes as quickly as possible. Just getting to the Kabul airport is a perilous ordeal, with jostling, desperate crowds braving Taliban checkpoints, clogging the roads and risking injury or death in the melee. Overwhelmed troops and diplomats are trying to limit the number who make it through the airport gates and sort out the would-be travelers. For S.I.V. holders, being turned away means attempting the dangerous journey again, while each day they remain in Afghanistan raises the risk of Taliban retribution. An Afghan woman who worked for the United States Agency for International Development described being approached by American officials as she waited with her family to board a plane. She was removed from the airport, she said. We risked our lives, said the woman, who asked not to be named because of concerns for her familys safety. The State Department official would not say when some eligible Afghans had begun being turned away. President Biden said on Sunday that our first priority in Kabul is getting American citizens out of the country, but that eventually, Afghan allies would also be evacuated. We will welcome these Afghans, who helped us in the war effort over the last 20 years, to their new home in the United States of America, Mr. Biden said on Sunday. Because thats who we are. Thats what America is. The United States has set an Aug. 31 deadline to complete evacuations, and many fear there simply isnt enough time to bring everyone to safety, raising the pressure on Mr. Biden to extend the airlift. Were focused on American citizens and L.P.R. right now, said the State Department official, referring to legal permanent residents of the United States. He said Afghans who were already inside the airport, including special visa holders, were getting onto airplanes out of the country. Afghans who worked for the U.S. government and secured S.I.V.s said they had received emails from the State Department in recent days asking them to go to the airport for evacuation. Were telling people to be prepared to survive up to a day in the scrum outside the airport, said Matt Zeller, a former C.I.A. officer on the Afghanistan desk, who founded No One Left Behind to help his former Afghan colleagues escape the country. They make it inside only to be turned back. Mr. Zeller is one of many increasingly distraught U.S. veterans who have mobilized to help Afghan allies get out. Trying to guide them along from the other side of the world, the veterans take shifts working their phones and calling on contacts they made while deployed, sending trusted Afghan friends to escort people from safe houses to the Kabul airport in the dead of night and coordinating with troops still in uniform at the airport. On Sunday night, Mr. Zeller said, veterans and contacts on the ground in Afghanistan organized an operation to bring to the airport hundreds of S.I.V. holders who were considered at high risk of Taliban reprisals. They were able to get the Afghans inside the airport, he said  but were turned back at what he described as a State Department checkpoint. On Monday evening, Mr. Zeller said, Taliban soldiers approached the Afghans outside the airport gate and separated them according to their paperwork, telling visa holders they would not be allowed to enter. Fearing that opportunities to get their colleagues safely out of Afghanistan were tightening, the veterans working on evacuation from afar described feelings of helplessness and despair. I feel a moral obligation to get these people out, said Tripp Adams, an Army veteran who has been working on the effort. When youre halfway across the world and you cant do anything  when hardened warriors are calling me and theyre cracking  this is going to destroy a generation of veterans. Sharif Hassan contributed reporting.

The Pentagon deploys helicopters and special forces in Kabul for evacuations. Video The United States has ramped up efforts to evacuate stranded American citizens and Afghan allies ahead of the Aug. 31 deadline for withdrawing troops from Afghanistan. Credit Credit... Victor J. Blue for The New York Times WASHINGTON  With just eight days left before an Aug. 31 withdrawal deadline, the Pentagon is ramping up evacuations from Kabuls airport by deploying American helicopters and troops into select spots in Kabul to extract stranded American citizens and Afghan allies. Defense officials said that as of Monday, the military has helped to evacuate 37,000 people since Aug. 14, when Kabul fell to the Taliban. The pace of flights has picked up in the last few days, allowing for 11,000 people to be evacuated in one day. But that number is still just a fraction of the American citizens, foreign nationals, and Afghan allies who are seeking to leave the country. President Biden has left the door open to maintaining the American troop presence  now at 5,800 Marines and soldiers  at the airport beyond the Aug. 31 deadline. But on Monday a Taliban spokesman warned of consequences if the United States sticks around beyond Aug. 31. John F. Kirby, Pentagon press secretary, declined to offer details about how American troops will deploy into Kabul itself, or other parts of the country, to extract Americans, citing delicate ongoing negotiations between American and Taliban commanders. But he acknowledged two specific incidents in which American helicopters and troops have gone into Kabul to extract some 350 Americans, and said other cases may occur if Americans and allies are in extremis. That is a change in the Pentagons position from last week, when officials said U.S. forces did not have the capacity to operate beyond the airport, and that people seeking evacuation had to make their way to the airport on their own. In a 24-hour period from Sunday to Monday, the U.S. military transported just under 11,000 personnel, from the airport to other countries, Gen. Hank Taylor said at the Pentagon briefing  by far the highest one-day figure so far. Since the beginning of evacuation operations on Aug. 14, we have evacuated approximately 37,000. He said Afghan allies are still being processed at the Kabul airport, although several times over the past week the gates of the airport have been shuttered because of the surge of people. The Pentagon added a fourth American military base  Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, in New Jersey  to the list of temporary places where Afghan refugees will be taken upon arrival in the United States. Mr. Kirby said that the addition of the base will bring the housing capacity to 25,000 in the next weeks.

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The violence at Kabuls airport fuels calls to prolong the U.S. withdrawal. President Biden said on Sunday that his administration might extend his Aug. 31 deadline for withdrawing from Afghanistan. Credit... Stefani Reynolds for The New York Times Even as the evacuation from Afghanistan accelerates, President Biden is considering extending the deadline for U.S. troops to withdraw, amid a groundswell of pressure from global leaders and veterans concerned that a security vacuum could risk lethal consequences. Violent clashes at Kabuls airport on Monday reinforced fears that the American withdrawal would aggravate the already precarious security situation. The German military wrote on Twitter that a member of the Afghan security forces had died in a firefight with unidentified attackers in the early hours. It did not specify which group the Afghans were affiliated with. Three other members of the Afghan forces were wounded in the skirmish outside the airports North Gate, it said. U.S. and German soldiers were also drawn into the fight but were not harmed. In recent days, the United States has scrambled to control the mayhem at the airport as thousands of Afghans try desperately to flee the Taliban, with surging crowds turning deadly. Britains Defense Ministry, which has troops at the airport, said on Sunday that seven Afghan civilians had died in the crowds, where people  including a toddler  have been trampled to death. Mr. Biden said on Sunday that his administration might extend his Aug. 31 deadline, and he pledged that all evacuated Afghan allies would be settled in the United States after they were screened and vetted at bases in other countries. We will welcome these Afghans who have helped us in the war effort over the last 20 years to their new home in the United States of America, he said in remarks from White House. Because thats who we are. Thats what America is. But the Taliban have made it clear that an extension of the U.S. deadline for troop withdrawal would be unwelcome. They should finish the evacuation by Aug. 31 as they have promised, Mohammad Naem, a Taliban spokesman in Qatar, said on Monday. Leaders of the Group of 7 nations will hold a virtual meeting on Tuesday to discuss the increasingly dangerous situation. Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain, which holds the group presidency this year, is expected to broach the issue of the retrenchment as some inside Britain call for sanctions against the Taliban. Beyond fears that the Taliban are regressing to their past behavior of violent repression, there are also worries among national security officials that the American withdrawal could create a new and ongoing threat, including ISIS terrorists regaining a foothold in the country. It is vital that the international community works together to ensure safe evacuations, prevent a humanitarian crisis and support the Afghan people to secure the gains of the last 20 years, Mr. Johnson wrote on Twitter on Sunday. U.S. military veterans have also pressed the White House not to abandon its resolve to provide a safe exit for American citizens and Afghan allies. Dozens of organizations representing the military and veterans sent a letter to the White House on Monday requesting a meeting with Mr. Biden to discuss the issue. With Afghanistan becoming a potent emblem of American retrenchment in the world, Vice President Kamala Harris met on Monday with leaders in Singapore, the first stop in a trip to Southeast Asia that is aimed at bolstering ties in the region. The Biden administration has made Asia a centerpiece of its foreign policy, hoping to build stronger ties there to counter an increasingly assertive China. But Ms. Harriss senior aides have faced questions about whether the haphazard withdrawal from Afghanistan could undermine the administrations diplomatic efforts. The timing and optics of Ms. Harriss trip to Vietnam, where she will arrive on Tuesday, are particularly awkward, with scenes of desperate Afghans at Kabuls airport stirring memories of another war. Many fear for the safety of those left behind, among them the roughly 3,400 Afghan United Nations staff members in Afghanistan, especially the women. Some have expressed worry that the Taliban and their extremist allies will target them because of their foreign affiliation.

The top U.S. officer in Afghanistan talks with the Taliban almost every day. Members of the Talibans elite commando unit on the streets of Kabul on Friday. Credit... Jim Huylebroek for The New York Times WASHINGTON  On the ground in Kabul, Rear Adm. Peter G. Vasely, a former member of the Navy SEALs who is now the top U.S. military officer in Afghanistan, talks daily or near daily with his Taliban counterparts regarding security measures at the airport, Pentagon officials said on Monday. As the Pentagon rushes to evacuate tens of thousands of people before President Bidens Aug. 31 deadline for withdrawing troops from Afghanistan, the discussions between Admiral Vasely and Taliban commanders have helped set the rules of engagement to allow Americans and some Afghan allies to reach Kabuls airport. At the same time, the U.S. has been sending helicopters and troops beyond the airport to extract people who cant get there on their own. Other American officers down the military chain of command in Kabul have also engaged with Taliban commanders on specific security and threat reduction issues, the officials said  a partnership of necessity between parties that spent 20 years on opposite sides of a war. The regular discussions between American and Taliban commanders yielded an agreement in which Taliban fighters expanded the security perimeter outside the airport, pushing back the massive crowds of Afghans and others seeking access to flights out. Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., the head of the militarys Central Command, first spoke to senior Taliban commanders on Aug. 15 when he was in Doha, Qatar, to help get the evacuation effort off the ground. Al Udeid Air Base, a sprawling airfield outside Doha, has become the main receiving station for thousands of Afghans arriving on American military flights from Kabul.

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No home to return to: Fear, shock and displacement for one Afghan who escaped. A crowd waiting by an entrance to the international airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Sunday. Credit... Jim Huylebroek for The New York Times Desperate people fleeing Afghanistan face dangerous crowds, vanishingly rare plane seats and Taliban fighters issuing beatings. But those lucky enough to leave can be consumed by feelings of despair for the country they left behind. As thousands of Afghans scramble to leave, Samiullah Mahdi, a lecturer at Kabul University, said the attempted exodus was spurring a sense of shock, fear and alienation for people who had fled the Taliban takeover. Afghanistan is not the same anymore, said Mr. Mahdi, who worked as a journalist for Tolo News, a popular Afghan news outlet. We are not the same anymore. He managed to flee a few days before the collapse of Kabul and asked that his location not be revealed because he feared for his safety. Now, he said, he was overcome by the sense of becoming a permanent refugee. We have no home to return to, he said. In recent days, the situation at Kabuls airport has grown increasingly dangerous for people trying to flee the Taliban. The large crowds have become unruly and in some cases deadly. Fears of attacks have grown. Mr. Mahdi said he had heard harrowing accounts of people trying to escape. He said a colleague who suffered a broken arm after being beaten by Taliban fighters had not been given medical attention until he was evacuated. The days since Kabuls collapse have felt more like centuries, he said. A friend left in Kabul, where many people have remained cloistered inside for fear of Taliban retribution, described it to him as a city of ghosts. Even during the light of the day, you feel like its dark. That kind of depression is governing the city, Mr. Mahdi said. People fear that the international community has given up on Afghanistan and they will one day recognize this regime change in the country. There was also an overwhelming sense, he said, that the advances of the past two decades, the liberalization of the press and the flourishing of womens rights, now threatened to unravel. You have tears in your eyes, and you cannot hold it together, he said. Its grieving, its anger, its hopelessness. When the Taliban ruled Afghanistan in the past, they imposed a harsh version of Shariah law, barring women from working outside the home or leaving the house without a male guardian, eliminating schooling for girls and publicly flogging people who violated the groups morality code. Mr. Mahdi said that the Taliban were already displaying their past tendencies and had asked private and public universities to segregate people by gender, using only female lecturers and professors for female students. But he said universities were struggling to find enough instructors, and he feared that they would be asked to abolish classes for women. Its a lot of pain when you feel like everything that you tried and tried to build and love to work on is taken away from you, he said. Isabella Kwai and

The Taliban holds first meeting of religious leaders since taking Kabul. Zabihullah Mujahid, the Talibans chief spokesman, spoke at the Loya Jirga Hall on Monday before hundreds of religious leaders. Credit... Victor J. Blue for The New York Times The Taliban held their first meeting of religious leaders since retaking Afghanistans capital last week, laying out guidelines about religious instructions to hundreds of the nations imams and religious school instructors. Taliban leaders, including their spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, took turns speaking at the Loya Jirga Hall on Monday, from a stage that was still decorated with the tricolor flag of the fallen Afghan government. The conferences title, which included the promotion of virtue and prevention of vice, was reminiscent of language used by Talibans religious police when they ruled the country in the late 1990s. More than a week after the Taliban pushed the U.S.-backed government out of power, the militants are urging Afghans to return to their jobs and daily lives as they try to form a new government. Many of their leaders, including Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, have returned to Kabul and meetings are being held with politicians including former President Ahmed Karzai. The Taliban have pledged to allow women to work and girls to attend schools, and have said they offered a general amnesty to everyone loyal to the former government. We invited you here today to talk about your role in this system, Mawlawi Mohammad Shafiq Khatib, one of the organizers of the conference, said to the participants at the meeting. Whatever religious leaders say that is compatible with Shariah and the principles of Islam, the people must heed. We are thankful to God that we have an Islamic system now. Still, no women appeared to be present at the meeting on Monday. The Taliban leaders at the conference in Kabul indicated that school curriculum would be changing to fall in line with their teaching and that there would be more information soon about the overall structure of the educational system. The speakers praised deceased leaders of the Taliban  including Mullah Muhammad Omar and Mullah Akhtar Muhammad Mansour  and urged the attendees to take an active role in promoting the formation of a new government. They also urged a discussion of the ongoing drug problem among Afghanistans young people.

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At U.S. request, Taliban move checkpoints farther from Kabuls airport to ease crowding. Video transcript Back bars 0:00 / 0:43 - 0:00 transcript Taliban Move Checkpoints Farther From Kabul Airport Perimeter Jake Sullivan, national security adviser for President Biden, said the Taliban agreed to moved its checkpoints farther from Kabuls airport to reduce crowding and allow more room for evacuations after talks with the U.S. We are in talks with the Taliban on a daily basis through both political and security channels. Im not going to get into the details of those discussions here to protect those discussions, which are covering a wide range of issues. We are also consulting closely with our allies and partners on the issue of the evacuation and its progress. American troops are not operating outside the perimeter of the airport. What has happened is through these military channels of communication with the Taliban, they have extended the perimeter from the point of view of their checkpoints to allow Americans through to allow third-country nationals through, to allow S.I.V. holders through. That is what is happening now, not right at the gate, but rather a substantial distance away from the gate. Jake Sullivan, national security adviser for President Biden, said the Taliban agreed to moved its checkpoints farther from Kabuls airport to reduce crowding and allow more room for evacuations after talks with the U.S. Credit Credit... Doug Mills/The New York Times Jake Sullivan, President Bidens national security adviser, said Monday that after discussions, the Taliban had moved their checkpoints farther out from the perimeter of the Kabul airport to allow more room for American citizens and Afghan allies to be processed for evacuation by the United States. Through these military channels of communication with the Taliban, they have extended the perimeter from the point of view of their checkpoints to allow Americans through, to allow third-country nationals through, Mr. Sullivan said. He declined to provide details, other than to say that the Taliban checkpoints were now a substantial distance away from the gate at the airport. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Mr. Sullivan said this was the perimeter extension that Mr. Biden had been referencing when he said on Sunday: We have constantly  how can I say it?  increased rational access to the airport, where more folk can get there more safely. Its still a dangerous operation. That had prompted speculation that American troops were engaged in operations outside the perimeter of the airport, in areas of the city now controlled by the Taliban. But Mr. Sullivan said that was not the case. American troops are not operating outside the perimeter of the airport, he said on Monday. It was not clear if he meant only that U.S. forces were not operating in the area around the airport. The Pentagon confirmed on Monday that Special Forces troops and helicopters had gone into Kabul on two occasions to extract people who were unable to reach the airport on their own, and that they might do so again. But the agreement with the Taliban on moving the checkpoints is one concrete result of what American officials have described as ongoing conversations between military officers and diplomats and their Taliban counterparts during the last week. We are in talks with the Taliban on a daily basis through their political and security channels, Mr. Sullivan said, but added that he was not going to get into the details of those discussions here to protect those discussions, which are covering a wide range of issues. American officials have been cagey on specifics, though Mr. Sullivan said the Biden administration was consulting with the Taliban on every aspect of whats happening in Kabul, on whats happening at the airport, on how we need to ensure that there is facilitated passage to the airport for American citizens and others. He stressed, however, that Mr. Biden had made it very clear that he did not trust the Taliban to live up to promises that they made. Of course he does not  of course none of us do, Mr. Sullivan said. Because weve seen the horrific images from the last time they were in power, because weve seen the way that theyve conducted this war, because weve seen the fact that they have been responsible for the deaths of American men and women through two decades. We have no illusions about the Taliban, he said.

Videos show a rush to destroy U.S. equipment as Kabul fell. Video transcript Back bars 0:00 / 0:59 - 0:00 transcript Look at all the destroyed gear. It looks like  that fire right there was the radar for the C-RAM. It looks like they have set that on fire. People destroying hard drives down there at the end. The American flag here is the last one. Every flagpole here used to be a different flag of a different nation, part of the NATO group that was here supporting the efforts in Afghanistan. You see the American flag is the only one left. And thats only going to be there for a few more hours. Garbage bins overflowing with destroyed equipment. Smashed computer parts scattered across the ground. Diplomatic workers burning documents. Videos and photos taken by several U.S. government contractors and posted to social media, and verified and analyzed by The New York Times, reveal the chaos as Americans rushed to evacuate the U.S. Embassy in Kabul early last week as the Taliban swept into the city. The takeover and the hurried U.S. departure made for a defining moment, capping nearly 20 years of war. But few images have emerged showing how the personnel inside the diplomatic compound quickly mobilized to leave  and leave behind as little as possible that might be of use to the Taliban. One contractor who filmed the events as they unfolded compared it to the fall of Saigon. The contractor asked not to be identified for fear of losing his job. Many of the posts by contractors were later deleted. A weapon system intended to protect the U.S. Embassy from incoming rockets, artillery and mortars, known as C-RAM, is seen burning in one of the videos. Another contractor, who asked for anonymity because he could lose his security clearance for talking to the news media, said the equipment was destroyed so the Taliban couldnt use it. Similarly, several armored vehicles were left behind in the embassy compound, which was verified by matching up multiple videos from contractors with satellite imagery. The vehicles were left inoperable, according to the contractor. Obviously, we dont want to see any weapons or systems to fall into the hands of people that would use them in such a way to harm our interests or those of partners and allies, John F. Kirby, the Pentagon spokesman, said on Monday. But I dont have any policy solutions for you today about how we would or could address that going forward. It is unclear whether Taliban fighters have entered the embassy compound.

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Kamala Harris stresses Southeast Asia ties on an overseas trip, but the focus returns to Afghanistan. Vice President Kamala Harris and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore held a news conference on Monday. Credit... Pool photo by Evelyn Hockstein Facing rising pressure over the United States haphazard withdrawal from Afghanistan, Vice President Kamala Harris said on Monday that the Biden administration was singularly focused on evacuating American citizens and Afghan allies. Ms. Harriss comments, at a news conference in Singapore, came at the start of a weeklong trip to Southeast Asia that is aimed at strengthening economic ties and countering Chinas growing sway in the region. Instead, her joint news conference with Lee Hsien Loong, Singapores prime minister, was dominated by questions about the chaotic execution of the withdrawal, which has prompted criticism from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and leaders from around the world. Right now we are singularly focused on evacuating American citizens, Afghans who worked with us and Afghans who are vulnerable, including women and children, Ms. Harris said. That is a singular focus at this time. The remarks came after the White House detailed a series of new agreements with Singapore to address climate change, cyberthreats and the pandemic. Ms. Harris has also said the administration is focused on working with Southeast Asian nations to address supply-chain issues, including a global shortage of semiconductors that are used to build cars and computers. More broadly, the trip is part of the Biden administrations goal to refocus its national security strategy on competing with the rising influence of China. Still, the beginning of Ms. Harriss trip has been overshadowed by the widely criticized exit of American troops from Afghanistan. The military has evacuated tens of thousands of people from the Afghan capital, Kabul, since Aug. 14, although thousands of Americans and Afghan allies remain in limbo. Thousands of Afghans seeking to escape the Taliban have rushed to the airport there amid violence and several deaths. Standing alongside Mr. Lee, Ms. Harris said her presence in Singapore, as well as the agreements reached during the visit, should assure allies that the United States remained a credible partner. I am standing here because of our commitment to a longstanding relationship, which is an enduring relationship, with the Indo-Pacific region, with Southeast Asian countries and, in particular, with Singapore, she said. Afterward, Mr. Lee said he had offered to send one of Singapores military planes to assist in the effort to evacuate Afghan interpreters, guides and others who had helped or worked for the United States. Ms. Harris said the United States would follow up on the offer. We hope Afghanistan does not become an epicenter for terrorism again, Mr. Lee said, and post-Afghanistan in the longer term, what matters is how the U.S. repositions itself in the Asia Pacific, engages the broader region and continues the fight against terrorism.

Airlines start evacuating Americans and Afghan allies from bases. Refugees from Afghanistan walked to a bus on Monday after being processed at Dulles International Airport outside Washington. Credit... Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Agence France-Presse  Getty Images Commercial airlines have started evacuating Americans and Afghan allies from bases in the Middle East, fulfilling a commitment to aid the military in emergencies. A United Airlines spokeswoman said the company started providing the assistance on Sunday but declined to give additional details. According to FlightRadar24, a tracking service, a United flight left Frankfurt and landed at a military base in Qatar on Sunday. That same plane was scheduled to return to Ramstein Air Base, a U.S. base in Germany, and then fly on to Washingtons Dulles International Airport. American Airlines said it planned to have three wide-body planes available starting Monday to assist in the evacuations. United is contributing four Boeing 777 planes. Delta Air Lines and two charter-flight operators, Atlas Air and Omni Air, are providing three planes each, and Hawaiian Airlines is providing two. The images from Afghanistan are heartbreaking, American Airlines said in a statement. The airline is proud and grateful of our pilots and flight attendants, who will be operating these trips to be a part of this lifesaving effort. A voluntary program known as the Civil Reserve Air Fleet was established in 1951, after the Berlin airlift, during which the United States and Britain combated a Soviet blockade of West Berlin by delivering supplies over the course of 277,569 flights. The program is run by the Defense Department with help from the Transportation Department. Participation in the program gives airlines preference in carrying passengers and cargo for the Defense Department in peacetime  a lucrative business. In discussions last week, government officials notified airlines that they might activate the fleet to help with evacuations in Afghanistan. Over the weekend, the union that represents flight attendants at United Airlines, the Association of Flight Attendants, allowed its members to sign up to staff the flights through a bidding system. As a global airline and flag carrier for our country, we embrace the responsibility to quickly respond to international challenges like this one, Scott Kirby, the chief executive of United Airlines, said on social media. Its a duty we take with the utmost care and coordination. The flights are not expected to hurt participating airlines, which are carrying fewer passengers because of the coronavirus pandemic. Demand for tickets is especially weak for the international flights that use the kinds of larger planes that will be involved in the evacuations.

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Covid concerns in Kabul are an afterthought amid evacuation. Afghans camping outside the gates of the airport in Kabul on Sunday. Credit... Jim Huylebroek for The New York Times At Hamid Karzai International Airport, where thousands of U.S. troops and NATO allies are trying to evacuate citizens and Afghans desperate to flee their country after the Taliban took control of Kabul last week, the coronavirus is an afterthought. The speed, size and scope of the evacuation operation  which came together rapidly as U.S. officials were caught off guard by the Talibans swift offensive  have meant that few measures, if any, are in place to help prevent the spread of the disease and its newer, more aggressive variants. There is no testing of the thousands of passengers passing through the base, in what has turned into the final operation of the United States nearly 20-year-old war in Afghanistan. Social distancing is nonexistent as hundreds of Afghans are ferried in from the airports gates, held in crowded parking lots or tents and processed in packed terminals. The U.S. military cargo aircraft responsible for carrying a large number of Afghan refugees to bases in the Middle East and Europe are packed with 300 to 400 passengers at a time who sit practically knee-to-back on the floor. Coronavirus testing usually takes place at American bases outside Afghanistan, where passengers are tested and isolated if found to be positive. Before the government of Afghanistan collapsed, its ministry of public health had reported a third wave of coronavirus infections in the country, with a record number of positive cases and deaths. But coronavirus testing in the country has been unreliable and inconsistent since the start of the pandemic, as testing ability was limited or unavailable in rural areas. The current situation is part of a broader humanitarian and medical issue facing Afghans on top of the security crisis. Humanitarian and medical aid has been scarce in the past week, with the World Health Organization and other aid agencies unable to fly supplies into the airport while it is overwhelmed by the evacuation effort. Conflict, displacement, drought and the Covid-19 pandemic are all contributing to a complex and desperate situation in Afghanistan, the W.H.O. said in a statement. According to Dapeng Luo, a W.H.O. representative in Afghanistan, the movement and mixing of the newly displaced in Afghanistan, coupled with many now living in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, has severely limited infection prevention protocols and increased the risk of transmission of the coronavirus. Dr. Luo said there were concerns that this, and the nations relatively low vaccination rate, could lead to an uptick in the virus. This will place an enormous burden on the health system, which is already struggling to cope with escalating trauma and emergency cases and experiencing shortage of supplies due to the current instability, disruptions to governance and shipment of supplies into the country, Dr. Luo said. A new wave of Covid-19 could leave some of the most vulnerable without critical health care. Thomas Gibbons-Neff and

Forced to leave his home, former President Hamid Karzai remains in Kabul despite the risks. Former President Hamid Karzai leaving after an interview at his house in Kabul, Afghanistan, in June. Credit... Rahmat Gul/Associated Press Last week, former President Hamid Karzai stood outside his home in Kabul to record a video message, surrounded by his daughters, and said that he would stay in the Afghan capital with his family to try to coordinate with the Taliban for a peaceful transition. But even as he has tried to position himself as a mediator at this crucial moment, his ability to play that role is tenuous. By the time Mr. Karzai appeared in a second video  recorded in the garden of the former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah  he appeared less confident and his speech was stilted. Mr. Abdullah stood beside him in silence. Mr. Karzai found refuge with Mr. Abdullah, two Afghan officials said on Monday, after the Taliban disarmed his guards and took over security of his compound several days ago. Mr. Karzai, who since retiring in 2014 has lived in a well-guarded government house beside the presidential palace, remained in Kabul after many officials left. He had said that he was forming a council of Afghan leaders to negotiate an inclusive interim government with the Taliban. But he and Mr. Abdullah are in an increasingly strained situation, said Muslem Hyatt, a former military attache for the government of Afghanistan to London. The pressure on Mr. Karzai and Mr. Abdullah raises questions about their ability to work freely to help form a new government despite Taliban suggestions that former officials would be pardoned as the group seized control of the country. Saad Mohseni, the director general of MOBY Media Group, which owns the independent news channel Tolo TV, said that he had been in touch with Mr. Karzai and Mr. Abdullah and that his impression was that the meetings between the Taliban and the former leaders were little more than show. They are consulting them on general things, he said  national unity, reassuring the Afghan public, building national consensus, but nothing substantive on the future government. An Afghan official who is outside the country said he had been told that Mr. Karzais wife and children were also with him at Mr. Abdullahs house. Both Mr. Karzai and Mr. Abdullah were on a Taliban list of wanted people, and former government officials said they were concerned for their safety as the Taliban intensify their search for members of the Afghan government security services. We are very worried, Mr. Hyatt said, noting that he had learned the circumstances of the takeover of Mr. Karzais home from people still in Kabul. An aide to Mr. Abdullah reached by telephone said that he was not available to speak to the news media. Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal, a former finance minister who met with Taliban leaders on Sunday in Kabul alongside Mr. Karzai and Mr. Abdullah, said that no official negotiations had begun. The meeting was more about building trust and mutual introduction, he said, rather than negotiations over the future of the country. He said he had urged the Taliban to begin the talks sooner rather than later and that a new government should be formed within a month to lessen the uncertainty. Security wise, Kabul is safe, but mentally people are worried about the future, he said, adding that the economy was getting worse by the day. I walked around the city today, and the image that I have is  disappointment, he said. The Taliban have won militarily  they can announce their government now  but politically they need to include others to form an inclusive government acceptable to the people of Afghanistan and the world, he added. They havent announced their government yet, which shows they understand the need for a political settlement. Carlotta Gall, Austin Ramzy and

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Afghan refugees find a harshly guarded Turkish border. An Afghan refugee with her daughter at a bus station in Van, Turkey, this month. Credit... Nicole Tung for The New York Times VAN, Turkey  In the days before the Taliban took Kabul, an Afghan woman was doubled over sobbing on a bench in a bus station in eastern Turkey, her children wailing at her feet. Fourteen Turkish security and migration officials swooped down on her and other Afghan asylum seekers as our reporting team was interviewing them, part of an intensive crackdown by Turkey to apprehend Afghans crossing from Iran by the thousands and to prevent journalists from reporting on their plight. As her husband tried to gather their belongings, the woman clutched her stomach and retched. After prolonged questioning, they were escorted to a police vehicle. Even before the past weeks harrowing scenes of Afghans thronging the Kabul airport to escape the Taliban, many thousands had been steadily fleeing their country over land, making their way some 1,400 miles across the length of Iran to the Turkish border. Now that the Taliban are in power, there is every indication that their numbers will swell still further. But for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, the burden of hosting so many refugees  3.6 million Syrians and more than 300,000 Afghans, among others  has become a burning political issue, especially as the Turkish economy has worsened. And Afghans interviewed in Van said Turkey had tightened border security with an often violent police operation, turning away Afghans regardless of their requests for asylum.

NATO allies, upset by the withdrawal, again find themselves following a U.S. lead they dislike. Taliban members outside the closed U.S. Embassy in Kabul on Sunday. Credit... Victor J. Blue for The New York Times BRUSSELS  For all of President Bidens promises to respect and consult with the NATO allies who were so disdained by his predecessor, officials from Britain, France, Germany and Italy complain that there has been more diktat than conversation on Afghanistan. Now that the rapid Taliban advance and rushed U.S. pullout have produced chaos and fear in Kabul for more than week, Mr. Biden is likely to hear grumbling on Tuesday in an emergency videoconference call among the Group of 7 leaders. The crisis in Afghanistan raises once again the question that has dogged NATO virtually since the end of the Cold War: Will there be any serious shift in the way the alliance operates, with the United States leading and Europe following behind? Whenever the United States acts without much regard for the allies views  in Libya and Syria, to say nothing of Iraq  it fuels new calls for European allies, in particular, to become less dependent on Washington in military and security matters. But more autonomy would mean more military spending, and there is little sign that European leaders have the political will for that. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, NATOs secretary-general from 2004 to 2009, said that European criticism of Mr. Biden was accurate, but also somewhat irrelevant, because we Europeans have become addicted to U.S. leadership. Some of the calls for strategic independence are more serious  and angrier  than in the past. Europeans are up in arms, but there are no alternative options, said Rem Korteweg, a senior fellow at the Clingendael Institute, a Dutch research institution. So I take this with a grain of salt.

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Would the U.S. have been better off making a deal with the Taliban 20 years ago? The U.S. special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad, and the Taliban co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar shaking hands after signing a peace agreement in Qatar in February 2020. Credit... Karim Jaafar/Agence France-Presse  Getty Images When American bombs began to fall in Afghanistan after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, many Taliban members fled Kabul within weeks and soon the group was reaching out to Hamid Karzai, who would become the countrys interim president: They wanted to make a deal. But Washington, confident that the Taliban would be wiped out forever, was in no mood for a deal. Almost 20 years later, the United States did negotiate a deal to end the Afghan war, but the balance of power was entirely different by then  it favored the Taliban. For diplomats who had spent years trying to shore up the U.S. and NATO mission in Afghanistan, the deal that President Donald J. Trump struck with the Taliban in February 2020 to withdraw American troops  an agreement that President Biden decided to uphold shortly after taking office this year  felt like a betrayal. Now, with the Taliban back in power, some of those diplomats are looking back at a missed chance by the United States, all those years ago, to pursue a Taliban surrender that could have halted Americas longest war in its infancy, or shortened it considerably.

In the U.S., the end of its longest war spurs confusion and apathy. A U.S. Army crew chief aboard a military helicopter over Kabul in May. Credit... Jim Huylebroek for The New York Times The chaotic and abrupt end to the United States longest war is looming large in the world. But at some American army bases, civilian neighborhoods and rural crossroads across the United States, the subject of Afghanistan is eerily absent. At the main gate of a busy Army post in Fort Carson, Colo., stands a sandstone slab etched with the names of soldiers from there killed in Afghanistan and Iraq. It ran out of room for names in 2005, so the Army added another. And another. And another. Nine slabs now stand by the gate with the names of 407 dead. But despite so many slabs put up over so many years, there was no ceremony at Fort Carson to recognize that the war in Afghanistan had ended. There were no civilians waving homemade signs as there were at the wars start, no pause for a moment of silence. The same absence of acknowledgment could be found across the United States, where people who once flew American flags and stuck yellow ribbons on their cars, this month watched the fall of Kabul on television and often struggled to weave coherent responses from conflicting threads of 20 years of emotion, memory and, at times, apathy. The fall of Afghanistan has left people in the United States both fearful of attacks and wary that the kind of military response seen in Iraq and Afghanistan may not offer any remedy. Some watching the Taliban ride through Kabul in celebration worry that the end of the war isnt an end at all. Is it ever going to end? said Pat Terlingo, 76, a retired school superintendent in Shanksville, Pa. I dont think it will.

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The Taliban pledge inclusivity as transition talks begin, but doubts persist. In a photograph released by the Taliban, former President Hamid Karzai, center left, met in Kabul last week with Abdullah Abdullah, second from right, and a Taliban delegation including Anas Haqqani, center right. Credit... Taliban, via Associated Press The Taliban have reached out to former President Hamid Karzai and to Russia in an attempt to fulfill their pledge to form an inclusive government and defeat holdouts against their rule, amid deadly mayhem outside Kabuls airport, with thousands of terrified Afghans trying to flee. Little in the Talibans history suggests any readiness to compromise on their harsh Islamist principles or to share power, but the United States has warned the militant group that going it alone will result in continuous conflict and isolation. In this context, Mr. Karzai, who led the country from 2001 to 2014, has tried to put himself forward as a mediator, albeit one under increasingly strained circumstances. Mr. Karzai, 63, who as president fell out with the United States over American drone attacks, corruption accusations and other issues, has met with Taliban leaders, including Khalil Haqqani, whom the United States has designated as a terrorist. Mr. Karzai is also working closely with Abdullah Abdullah, the head of the former Afghans governments peace delegation. A Taliban leader described as the acting governor of Kabul talked over the weekend with Mr. Karzai and Mr. Abdullah. A growing number of senior Taliban have been seen in Kabul in recent days to discuss the shape of the next government, among them Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Talibans chief diplomat, who was a senior official in the groups government in the 1990s. A delegation of Taliban leaders also visited the Russian Embassy in Kabul, asking officials there to pass along an offer of negotiations to a group of Afghan leaders holding out in northern Afghanistan, the Russian ambassador, Dmitri Zhirnov, told Russian television on Saturday. Mr. Karzais position is tenuous. Both he and Mr. Abdullah were on a Taliban list of wanted people, and former government officials said they were concerned for their safety. How the United States will view Mr. Karzais re-emergence is unclear. So, too, is whether Afghans will be convinced by the sudden professed moderation of the Taliban, whose oppression of women and brutality have been hallmarks of their rule. A week after the Taliban overran the country and the two-decade long American attempt to shape a democratic Afghanistan collapsed, there was no sign of any cabinet taking form.
The attack five years ago focused attention on the little-known but crucial role that Nepali security personnel play in protecting officials, diplomats and companies in Afghanistan. Hired by private contractors, many are ethnic Gurkhas who have served in the Nepali, Indian or British military, and they often work under conditions that have drawn protests from labor activists. But Nepal, a landlocked country in the Himalayas, is one of the poorest in Asia, making security jobs abroad look appealing.

Image Amrit Rokaya Chhetri in his home village in Nepal. In 2016, he was injured when a suicide bomber in Kabul, Afghanistan, attacked the minibus Mr. Chhetri was riding in, immediately killing nine of his fellow security workers.

Now Nepal is trying to get thousands of its people out of Afghanistan. The task is daunting. Reports from Afghanistan suggest the Taliban are tracking those who worked with Western countries. The exact number of Nepali nationals in the country is unclear, and the country does not have an embassy in Afghanistan and lacks resources for helping people stuck there.

The government of Sher Bahadur Deuba, Nepals new prime minister, is urging Western nations to help rescue Nepali security guards while they evacuate their own citizens from Kabul.

We have made some diplomatic efforts to coordinate their evacuation, Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, Nepals minister for law, justice and parliamentary affairs, said in an interview with The New York Times.

Mr. Karki said evacuating Nepali contractors has been complicated by the fact that many have worked in Afghanistan illegally for years, making it difficult to find and count, much less rescue, them.
By the time the Trump administration reached a deal with the Taliban, the United States was exhausted by war, with little leverage given that it had announced its intention to leave Afghanistan. Nearly 2,500 Americans had died fighting on Afghan soil, along with almost 1,000 troops from allies like Britain and Canada.

The toll for Afghans has been far higher: At least 240,000 Afghans have died, many of them civilians, according to the Watson Institute at Brown University. By some estimates, American taxpayers had spent nearly two trillion dollars on the effort, with few assurances of anything lasting to show for it.

The Taliban, by contrast, went into the negotiations far stronger than before. Their safe haven in Pakistan, to which they had fled in 2001, had turned into a supply line. And even at the height of the American troop presence, the insurgents were able to keep a growing stream of recruits coming both from Afghanistan and Pakistan, fueled in part by rising profits from the opium trade.

They eventually controlled much of Afghanistan, moving first into rural areas and then poking at cities, occasionally dominating the streets for a few days and then fading back into the countryside. Deaths of Afghan security forces increased, sometimes rising to hundreds in a week.

When I heard the U.S. were going to meet in Doha with the Taliban and without the Afghan government, I said, Thats not a peace negotiation, those are surrender talks, said Ryan Crocker, a former ambassador to Afghanistan.

So, now the talks were all about us retreating without the Taliban shooting at us as we went, Mr. Crocker added, and we got nothing in return.

The deal the Trump administration struck did not enshrine rights for women, nor guarantee that any of the gains the United States had spent so many years, and lives, trying to instill would be preserved. Nor did it keep the Taliban from an all-out military push to take over the country.
FTI Consulting is handling Rocket Lab USAs $777M merger with Vector Acquisition Corp. blank check company led by technology investor Alex Slusky, a former McKinsey consultant and Microsoft executive.

Founded in 2006, Rocket Lab provides end-to-end mission services for civil, defense and commercial markets.

The Long Beach, CA-based company has launch facilities in Virginia and New Zealand.

On Aug 23, it announced that NASA had given the green light for the Escapade science mission to Mars that will feature two of Rocket Labs Photon spacecraft.

Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck said the deal with Vector would accelerate the ability to unlock the full potential of space through our launch and spacecraft platforms with the support of public shareholders.

FTI Consultings Antonia Gray handles Rocket Labs, while Gasthalter & Cos Nathaniel Garnick and Grace Cartwright work for Vector.
There has been a steep rise in the incidents of domestic abuse in Offaly during the restrictions imposed by Covid-19.

Abusers want to control and dominate the sufferer, said Anne Clarke Manager of ODVSS, when speaking to the Tribune this week, and the Covid restrictions gave them the perfect conditions in which to exercise that control. It was a perfect storm for sufferers.

The statistics clearly show that the pandemic greatly worsened matters for victims of domestic abuse in the county.In 2019 ODVSS (Offaly Domestic Violence Support Services) engaged with 117 new clients.

In 2020 the number of new clients increased to 185. In 2019 the service's total number of clients was 185. In 2020 it rose to 240.The number of calls to the ODVSS helpline rose by about a hundred percent in 2020.

In 2019 ODVSS received 860 calls. In 2020 the number of calls increased to 1,720.Anne pointed out that on average in Offaly eight to ten people a month are leaving their homes because of domestic abuse and domestic violence.

The service also receives, on average, a hundred texts or emails from victims per month.It's often easier for people to send texts or emails to us than talk on a phone, said Anne.

We have also introduced a WhatsApp service for victims.She says ODVSS is based in Cormac Street, Tullamore and was established in 1997, at a time when there was no support service and there was an enormous need for a service.

Since then we have been carrying the wounds of women on our shoulders.ODVSS also regularly assists male victims of domestic abuse and works in tandem with Men's Aid.Anne pointed out that Ireland is lagging far behind in the matter of providing places of refuge for victims. In five midland counties (including Offaly) there are only two places of refuge.

In fact, according to best advice, there should be at least 60 places in the five counties."

Operation Ruby was started in June 2020 to fill this gaping chasm, in conjunction with Airbnb and Safe Ireland. In Operation Ruby victims are accommodated in hotels throughout the region, whose names are undisclosed (for obvious reasons).

On average two victims (from Offaly) a month are accommodated in this way. Since May 2021 four Offaly men and six Offaly women have been accommodated by Operation Ruby.

Another option which ODVSS gives people is a rent supplement scheme. They also supply people with a 24 hour alarm system.There are six people working in ODVSS. They work hard in normal times but since Covid began it's been especially demanding.

The staff in ODVSS also assist ethnic minority women in the midland counties in overcoming the various barriers that come their way.

Anne pointed out that victims of domestic abuse come from all economic backgrounds.

We get a lot of people from middle and high income families coming to us.

Last year the Councillors of Offaly County Council passed a motion calling for the creation of three safe houses in Offaly, one in each Municipal District.

During a recent Council meeting Cllr Clare Claffey said several months have passed since then and the safe houses haven't been created.

We need to speed things up, she said.

ODVSS can be reached on 05793 51886 and on 086 0419154. Helpline support is available seven days a week between 9am and 6pm.

ODVSS defines an abusive or violent relationship as one in which one person has power and control over the other by use of threats or physical violence. Intimidation, frightening actions, emotional, verbal or sexual abuse may also be used to maintain that control.
OFFALY County Council has secured funding from the Department of Rural & Community Development for property owners to improve the building facades of their properties.

Our Rural Future is the Governments five-year strategy to revitalize rural Ireland and includes a commitment to upgrade and enhance shopfronts and street facades in rural towns and villages. The aim of the scheme is to enhance the streetscape environment of the towns of Tullamore, Clara, Birr, Edenderry and Portarlington by encouraging and supporting owners of premises to improve their individual building facades.

It is intended that the scheme will result in a more attractive environment that residents, visitors, shoppers and businesses can enjoy. It is also envisaged that this scheme will assist in promoting these towns in Offaly as attractive places for social and business interaction thereby increasing the vitality and viability of those towns, with positive benets for all.

In recognition and promotion of this, Offaly County Council has developed a Streetscape Enhancement Measure for 2021 aimed at promoting the vitality and viability of town centres thereby contributing to a high standard of design; contributing to the enhancement of the aesthetics and character for the overall betterment of each individual town and village through a collective and coherent approach; encouraging best practice approaches to building maintenance and presentation.

This scheme will provide nancial supports in 2021, subject to the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme.

This Scheme is open for applications from all building owners in town centre locations in Tullamore, Clara, Birr, Edenderry, Portarlington.
Nursing home residents and their families have told Sage Advocacy that they are growing increasingly concerned about the rise in the number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in nursing homes and the impact this is having on visiting arrangements.

Members of Sage Advocacys Nursing Home Residents - Family Forum  have told the national charity, which provides a support and advocacy service for vulnerable adults, older people and healthcare patients, that some nursing home providers are not adhering to the current HSE guidelines and have introduced new restrictions.

Sarah Lennon, Executive Director, Sage Advocacy said: We are aware from our advocacy work and through members of our Forum that some nursing home providers have introduced certain visiting restrictions - without confirming a Covid-19 outbreak in a facility and without providing a risk assessment to nursing home residents and their families.

We have also been informed that some nursing home providers who are experiencing a confirmed Covid-19 outbreak have reverted to window-only visiting and are only permitting residents to speak through a closed window to family

members.

Nursing home residents and their families have repeatedly told us that they are frustrated by the lack of clear communication from some nursing home providers around the issue of visiting and also in relation to residents outings from a nursing

home.

Sage Advocacy believes it is vitally important, following the experiences of Covid-19 in nursing homes in the last 12 months, that nursing home providers now focus on the right of residents  particularly their right to see or refuse visitors and their right to maintain meaningful relationships with people who are important to them.

The national charity has contacted the Minister for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler TD, to ask her to issue a further direction to nursing home providers and urge them to restore the right to visiting, in line with public health guidance, as completely and quickly as is practically possible in the context of the assessed level of risk at the time.

Sarah Lennon said: Nursing home residents and their families have made enormous sacrifices throughout the pandemic, and for a very long period of time had very limited or no contact at all with their loved ones.

We need to learn from our experiences during the worst days of the pandemic, particularly in relation to nursing home residents and how we can better support residents and their loved ones in the future.

Thats why today Sage Advocacy is calling on the Government to waste no more time in establishing the Commission on Care for older people and enable it to urgently start examining care and supports for older people in Ireland. The Government pledged to set up the Commission in the Programme for Government nearly 14 months ago  as a country we cannot wait any longer for action on this.
Sprig, the online cookery school run by professional Chef, Eamon Lynch, which has built a reputation for collaborating with food industry A-listers has just revealed its latest stellar line-up of tutors for the coming months.

Food lovers signing up to Sprigs new subscription service will be able to enjoy unlimited cookery classes with these esteemed chefs and access to a smorgasbord of other gastronomic digital content all from the comfort of their own homes. And, anyone who purchases a Sprig subscription before September 30 will be able to explore all that the platform has to offer for the first month completely free of charge.

Newly announced top name Tutors include Kai Cafe + Restaurants acclaimed Owner & Head Chef, Jess Murphy, The Wicklow Escapes newly appointed former Michelin starred Head Chef, Danni Barry, Aisling Moore (Owner & Head Chef of Bib Gourmand seafood restaurant, Goldie, in Cork), Keith Coleman (Culinary Director of Food for Slane Castle Estate), Conor Spacy (Culinary Director at Food Space and Zero Waste Advocate), and Tara Gartlan (Pastry Chef at Michelin starred restaurant, Chapter One by Mickael Viljanen), and two Michelin star restaurant, Aimsirs General Manager (and wife of Head Chef Jordan Bailey), Majken Bech-Bailey, for a special class on alcohol-free foraged juices and drinks.

It has also been confirmed that fans favourites Alice Tevlin (Rua Food), Clair Dowling (Tiller + Grain), and Brian McCarthy of Belfast-based, Bia Rebel Ramen will be making return guest appearances.

Confirmed Schedule (Other dates TBC shortly):

Jess Murphy (Kai Cafe & Restaurant, Galway) - Brunch + Lunch by Jess Murphy (Learning how to activate your nuts and Impress your friends) - Thursday 26th August @ 6pm

Keith Coleman (Culinary Director of Food at Slane Castle Estate) Hangover Brunch - Monday 30th August @ 6pm

Aisling Moore - (Owner & Head Chef of Goldie, Cork) - Accessible Seafood - Goldies Classics - Tuesday 7th September @ 6pm

Signing up to either a monthly (30 per month) or annual subscription (20 per month) to Sprig will unlock a wealth of well-considered content that will appeal to both amateur cooks and professional chefs in Ireland and further afield.

Via www.sprigcookery.com, community members will be able to access everything from unlimited interactive cookery classes (both regular classes and those hosted by guest chef tutors) to up close and personal fireside chats hosted by Food Writer & Author, Aoife McElwain, with Irelands most talented culinary creatives, chef panels, and food producer showcases.

And, if all of that wasnt enough, Sprigs subscribers will also have the opportunity to pick the brains of the likes of Imen McDonnell (Food Writer & Cookbook Author), Deborah Ryan (Food Stylist & Photographer) and Ruth Calder-Potts (Food Photographer), all of whom will be providing exclusive industry insights on their specific areas of expertise via a series of

workshops.

If they prefer, non-community members will still also have the option of signing up to any of Sprigs cook-alongs and sessions on a one-off basis with standard 90-minute long classes like Knife Skills (Tuesday 17th August @ 5.30pm), Fishy Fishy (Thursday 19th August @ 6pm), and Middle Eastern Mezze (Tuesday 31st August @ 6pm) all costing 40.00

each.

Everyone booking onto a class, member or otherwise, will be emailed the recipes in advance so that they can source and weigh out their own ingredients, along with a link to log in to the Zoom class at the scheduled time.

Commenting on Sprigs latest line-up of tutors and its new subscription service, Founder, Eamon Lynch, said: Our vision is to build your confidence in the kitchen by teaching fundamental techniques, classic recipes and different cuisines. Our approach brings a variety of different chefs and tutors together to keep classes genuinely fun and interactive.

Sprig Cookery School, which launched virtually in February 2021 was founded by Eamon Lynch - a professional chef with more than 12 years experience working in Dublins thriving food scene. His career to date has seen him work everywhere from Michelin-starred restaurants to gastropubs and cafes (such as Brother Hubbard), plus a spell as a Tutor at Dublin Cookery School in Blackrock. Eamon has been able to draw on his strong relationships with food industry A-listers to pull together such an enviable line-up of Tutors.

FOR MORE VISIT:

www.sprigcookery.com

Www.sprigcookery.com/joinus
What's Included

With a Digital Only subscription, you'll receive unlimited access to our website and e-edition. Our digital products are available 24/7 and are accessible anywhere, anytime.

If you have any questions or need further assistance, please call our customer service team at 716-372-3121 or email nfinnerty@oleantimesherald.com.
Boston and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Aug 21, 2021 -- Today, AMI Healthcare Group, Inc. (AMI) and GAD International company (GAD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a Strategic Partnership for the operation and management of hospitals and healthcare facilities in the Middle East, principally in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Kuwait, the Kingdom of Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. AMI and GAD will collaborate to 
Easter Insurors has operated in New Jersey, meeting the insurance requirements of a variety of businesses and people in the New Jersey area. Easter Insurors helps local business owners by offering excellent insurance alternatives, to protect investments and support growth. Their insurance agency in New Jersey also provides insurance for individuals. Their several services include: Auto Insurance in New Jersey People of New Jersey require the right type of commercial auto insurance in NJ 
RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat articulating his thoughts at Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra in Guwahati

Dibya Bordoloi, Guwahati

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat has clarified that both CAA as well as NRC are not against Indian Muslims. But both CAA and NRC have been wrongly described as a Hindu-Muslim issue to gain political mileage in our country

The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizenship (NRC) are not against the citizens of India. The Indian Muslims dont have to worry about Acts like the CAA and the NRC, said Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat said in a programme organised in Guwahati recently.

Dr Bhagwat stated that after the Partition, it was decided by the Nehru-Liaquat agreement that both the countries - India and Pakistan - will take care of their respective minorities. India is doing its duty towards the minority but Pakistan didnt fulfil its responsibility. People fought against the British for a united independent Bharat. Partition was not done with peoples consensus. Few leaders decided to go in for the Partition and people had to accept it. Due to the Partition, thousands became homeless and they continued to be so even today. It was accepted by all our leaders then that it is our moral responsibility to think for those who are persecuted due to the Partition in Pakistan and Bangladesh, said RSS Sarsanghchalak.

The concept of CAA comes from that promise. Those who come in fear of persecution have to be given shelter, said Dr Bhagwat, while addressing an eminent gathering in Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra in Guwahati. The event saw the RSS Sarsanghchalak releasing a book titled Citizenship Debate over NRC and CAA, Assam and the Politics of History, written by professor Nani Gopal Mahanta. The programme was attended by Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, Speaker of Assam Assembly Biswajit Daimari and host of dignitaries.

NRC Given a Communal Spin

On the controversies surrounding the NRC, Dr Bhagwat said it is a practice exercised by every county to know its citizens. Every government of countries existing in this world wants to know who are the actual citizens. Who have come to a country with proper permission or who are without permission. The NRC is one of the mechanisms to identify the citizens of a country. It is not against anybody. But it has been diverted as a communal issue to gain political mileage in our country. CAA and NRC are not a Hindu-Muslim issue. But the people of the nation should remain vigilant in these issues and decide what is good for the future of the country, Dr Bhagwat said.

Speaking on the occasion, Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma said comparing the protest against CAA and NRC in Shaheen Bagh and Assam would be wrong. People in Assam protest against CAA to protect their cultural and linguistic identities. But the protest in Shaheen Bagh had the backing of communal forces.

Dr Sarma further said that the intellectual society of Assam is dominated by Left-wing thinkers and liberals. Whenever someone tries to raise an alternative voice the Left and liberals create intellectual terrorism. The book written by Nani Gopal Mahanta will challenge the Left thinking based on the long history of Assam and the Assamese society.

Reveal Hidden Truths

Speaking about the book, Dr Bhagwat said that the book will unveil many hidden truths of the history of Assamese society. Professor Mahanta has written the book with serious research and every page of the book will bring to light some interesting historical nuggets which were not allowed to come in front of society.

The book penned by professor Mahanta titled Citizenship Debate over CAA and NRC, Assam and the Politics of History is based on the identity crisis that the Assamese society is facing for several decades due to the huge migration of Muslims from East Bengal or now what is called Bangladesh. The book has challenged the theory by the Left and liberals to trace the Assamese history and nationality from the 19th century. The book throws light on the fight of Assamese people to protect their pride and cultural identity which have been evolving since the 13th century. Professor Mahanta also look at the historical, legal and political contest under which NRC was promulgated in Assam. The chapter on Hindu refugees tries to reflect on how illegal migrants utilise various illegal means in order to legitimate their citizenship in Assam.
Nirendra Dev

Indian foreign policy engine room can always underline that it is now the right time to 'correct' that major lapse in Washington's foreign policy towards Pakistan.

New Delhi: The American anguish and ego-hurt in Afghanistan can become an enormous advantage for the Modi regime in India. It is true, the Taliban's stunning return to power in Afghanistan and desperate scenes of thousands trying to flee Kabul have cast a grim shadow over the United States' status as a superpower. Thus, when assessing things post-Taliban takeover, all eyes are on China, Russia and India.

One need not talk about Pakistan in specific terms; it would come automatically, given their deep relations. The Chinese ought to be careful about the possible interference and influence of the Taliban on the Uyghurs. The Russians have their concerns about the Chechens, and India has Kashmir and Pakistan.

Over the years, Islamabad invested time, men and money and sponsored groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba to bleed India. Pakistan and its ecosystem may presume it has an edge, but India's advantage would be its proximity to the United States, who would see the reason why New Delhi has been crying about state-sponsored terrorism at least since the 1990s.

There is also a considerable presence of Indian investment and interest in infrastructure building in Afghanistan. The new rulers may not ignore it so easily. Dr Jaishankar told a western journalist at the UN premises last week - "Look, first of all, you (the journalist) used the word investment, for us it reflected what was the historical relationship with the Afghan people. I think that relationship with the Afghan people obviously continues and that will guide our approach in Afghanistan in the coming days."

Pakistan has other issues. What happens to the possibility of an expeditious return of the three million refugees living in Pakistan, perhaps since the Soviet invasion of 1979. Taliban has said they will not let their territory be used in other countries affairs.

The Modi government has to take these words with a sizable spoon of salt. A pinch may be too little! For now, in terms of its diplomatic parlance with the Americans, India needs to focus on driving home a point that to handle Afghanistan and the Taliban effectively, you ought to know how to handle Pakistan.

The western formula of handling Pakistan so far has been erroneous and instead has boomeranged. No less than a former US President Barack Obama has written in his book, 'A Promised Land': "That the US government had long tolerated such behavior from a purported allysupporting it with billions of dollars in military and economic aid despite its complicity with violent extremists.. said something about the pretzel-like logic of US foreign policy."

Indian foreign policy engine room can always underline that it is now the right time to 'correct' that major lapse in Washington's foreign policy towards Pakistan. There is already a realisation. In recent years, the US has stopped addressing India and Pakistan with a hyphen. They need to do more.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has urged the UNSC to take up an eight-point road map. These include a few steps such as Summoning the political will: Do not justify terrorism, dont glorify terrorists, No double standards, terrorists are terrorists and recognise the linkage to organised crime and support and strengthen the FATF. It is the right time for the US and other countries to back Indiaif they are sincere about fighting the terror menace.

For Americans, it is more than a prestige issue in circa 2021. This is the first time in 46 years since Vietnam that a guerrilla force has defeated the Americans on the battlefield. India should use this American anguish and ego-hurt as an advantage tool. After having chased out within weeks of bombardment, the Taliban has struck back after 20 years. While as insurgents, they were rural-based and rustic. On the other hand, the US had the manpower, NATO and other global support sources and sophisticated communication systems to monitor the Taliban's every move. Yet, they failed. Yet, they could not.

No amount of bravado by President Joe Biden that such chaos was expected can salvage the lost prestige. A somewhat generous outflow, the US money only encouraged corruption for the Ghani dispensation, especially at all levels. The corruption menace prevailed under Karzai as well.

Career diplomat Shyam Saran has described the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan as a Taliban invasion sponsored and abetted by Pakistan. This is a crucial point in all recent arguments. So Americans suffered the humiliation from a country they provided with money and all other assistance. There is also merit in the argument that while Taliban native men fought vigorously, the same Afghan forcesas Biden saysdid not have the will to fight. A simple question of logic says, how could both the things go together.

India should try to lead the United States to switch plans to counter terrorism from counter-insurgency, and this could go a long way and yield rich dividends. If there was betrayal, all such acts ought to be punished. That's elementary justice.
Nirendra Dev

The 'interviews' mention about 'runaway corruption' in Afghanistan and how all attempts to stop the same were 'botched' up.

New Delhi: In the ultimate analysis, it's official now. Americans have blundered in Afghanistan in drawing out war strategies and dealing with a society and people they understood little. Worse, they could not control the runaway corruption.

Jeffrey Eggers. a retired Naval officer, has been interestingly quoted in a report by The Washington Post': "After the killing of Osama bin Laden, I said that Osama was probably laughing in his watery grave considering how much we have spent on Afghanistan." A former US diplomat, James Dobbins, has been quoted - "We don't invade poor countries to make them rich. We don't invade authoritarian countries to make them democratic. We invade violent countries to make them peaceful and we clearly failed in Afghanistan."

It could be surprising, at one point, the report even says - it was "common" at the military headquarters in Kabul and the White House to 'distort' statistics to make it appear that the United States was 'winning the war' when that was not the case.

This only makes it crystal clear that the US governments under different Presidents - George W Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump and Joe Biden, had only 'misled' the public.

One part of the report says - "We found the stabilization strategy, and the programs used to achieve it were not properly tailored to the Afghan context, and success in stabilizing Afghanistan districts rarely lasted than the physical presence of coalition troops and civilians."

The report is part of a forthcoming book. 'The Afghanistan Papers: A Secret History of the War.'

"We were devoid of a fundamental understanding of Afghanistan - we did not know what we were doing," top-ranking three-star US Army general, Douglas Lute, has been quoted in the 'Washington Post' report. The General has further said: "We did not have the foggiest notion of what we were undertaking."

The report says, among other things, that since October 2001, over 7,75,000 US troops have been deployed in Afghanistan, and of those, 2,300 died. The report says three US Presidents - George W Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump - and their military commanders have been "unable to deliver on their promises to prevail in Afghanistan." It claimed the officials (in about 2000 pages of interviews) say that the "war-fighting strategies were fatally flawed and that Washington wasted enormous sums of money trying to remake Afghanistan into a modern nation.

The US government has not carried out a comprehensive accounting of how much it has spent on the war in Afghanistan, but the costs are staggering. The 'interviews' mention about 'runaway corruption' in Afghanistan and how all attempts to stop the same were 'botched' up.

One estimate is perhaps around $978 was spent by the United States, but the figure does not include the amount spent by other agencies, such as the CIA and the Department of Veterans Affairs. This suggests, the US governments under different Presidents, only 'misled' the public.
Dibya Kamal Bordoloi

Guwahati: Almost 3000 kilometres away from Assam, the hellfire Taliban is capturing Afghanistan killing hundreds of people in a barbaric way. But shockingly dozens of radical Muslima in Assam supporting the cruel acts of the Taliban in their social media posts. 14 of such radicals have been arrested by Assam police. But you will be surprised to know the profiles of these arrested persons in Assam. Close aides of AIUDF chief MP Badarudding Ajmal and general secretary of AIUDF and Jamiat Ulama Assam, Maulana Fazlul Karim Qassimi is also arrested from Mangaldoi town yesterday for his supportive post for Taliban in his social media handles.

Interestingly Qassimi is also said to be very close to AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi. Arrested Qassimi hosted Owaisi in his visit to Assam. Both have addressed press conferences together. Organiser has access to a photograph of the press conference attended by both Owaisi and Qassimi. Arrested Qassimi in his post in Facebook fiercely criticized Indian media for calling the Taliban a terrorist organization. He wrote that the political scenario of Afghanistan is not published by Indian media. The media still refers the Taliban as a terrorist organization, which is not true.

Meanwhile, Badaruddin Ajmal led AIUDF has suspended Qassimi from the party. Along with Qassimi 13 others have been arrested for the supportive post for the Taliban on social media. Out of these arrested Nadim Akhtar is a medical student, who post a song in his Facebook profile to support the capture of Afghanistan by the Taliban. Another arrested person from Barpeta district Rafiqul Islam is a teacher and journalist. One Assam police constable Saidul Haque is also arrested yesterday for supporting the Taliban. Police also arrested the Barpeta district president of AIUDF student wing Majidul Islam.

The oldest person arrested by Assam police for supporting the Taliban is a retired teacher 65 years old Maulana Basiruddin Laskar. Assam police sources say that investigations are on to know the motive behind these communal posts by the arrested Muslim persons. Police also communicating with the IB to arrest two persons residing in UAE and belongs to Assam, who also posts to support the Taliban in their social media profiles.
Undue hurry may lead to distrust and escalation of unrest that would linger for a long time, especially in Kashmir. It also needs to be remembered that some vested interests in Kashmir have the expertise and potential to trigger an uprising at the slightest pretext

On March 6, 2020, the Union Government set up a Delimitation Commission headed by a retired Supreme Court Judge, Ranjana Prakash Desai. Among its many responsibilities was the mandate to carry out a long-pending Delimitation process in Jammu & Kashmirs Union Territory (UT). In accordance with Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, 2019, the number of Assembly seats in J&K will increase from 107 to 114, with seven more seats added to the Jammu region. This was to cater for West Pakistan refugees and others who were earlier, under Article 35A, denied domicile and the right to vote and would now form a part of the electorate.

The Union Government has also hinted upon its resolve to conduct elections in the UT immediately after setting up the news constituencies as per the recommendations of the Delimitation Commission. This, therefore, has become the most significant and keenly watched political exercise in the region.

It is well-known that the two distinct geographical segments that comprise the UT (Jammu region and Kashmir region) vote according to regional affiliations; thus, the region with more constituencies gets to form the government. For many decades now, the Jammu region has had representation not commensurate with its population and territory. An arbitrary allocation done in 1957 by the then State Government awarded 30 seats to the Jammu region, 43 seats to Kashmir and two to Ladakh. The huge gap was allowed despite a population difference of less than a Lakh (82,340) in 1951. The disparity remains even though some additional constituencies were created later; presently, Jammu & Kashmir have 87 seats, 46 for Kashmir, 37 for Jammu, and 4 for Ladakh.

It has been decided that the Delimitation process will be carried out in accordance with the census of 2011. Here too, the people of Jammu have a reservation since the population figures of the census were Kashmir (6888475), Jammu (5378538 ) and Ladakh (290494). The census suddenly showed a population disparity between the two regions at a massive 1509937, a sudden and quantum jump from earlier figures. The matter looks quite odd since Jammu had received an additional population due to the displacement of Kashmiri Pundits from Kashmir. The reason behind this sudden increase has been identified as the floating population of Gujjars and Bakerwals being shown in the Kashmir region even though it shifts between the two regions according to the weather conditions.

The census also claimed that 19,5190 Hindus were living in Kashmir, which is not easily acceptable. The scheduled castes, who are basically Jammu centric are pretty surprised to note that their strength has shown a decline since 1981, which goes against the established norms of population growth in the region as well as the entire country. The Gujjar-Bakerwal community claims that its actual population share is higher than suggested by the census.

Some analysts in Kashmir maintain that the existing data support the present distribution of seats. Even on the one person one vote principle, it (seat allocation) is as good as it can get with 1,49,749 voters per constituency in Kashmir and 1,45,366 voters per constituency in Jammu, says Haseeb Drabu. The decision to use the 2011 Census data for Delimitation will definitely compound the difficulty of reaching a fair conclusion.

The Kashmir based political parties are playing their cards very close to their chests. While the National Conference has, after initial hesitation, met with the representatives of the Commission, the PDP has refused to do so. Our party has decided to stay away from this process and not be a part of some exercise, the outcome which is widely believed to be pre-planned....., said PDP General Secretary Ghulam Nabi Lone. National Conference too, in its memorandum submitted to the Commission, has questioned the legal validity of the panel, saying Delimitation of constituencies can be undertaken after the next census.

The Delimitation Commission has hinted that while the population will form the main criteria, the geography, terrain and topography, population density, ethnic composition etc. will also be considered. This aspect has its dynamics and may become an issue of contention in the long run.

The Delimitation Commission has hinted that while the population will form the main criteria, the geography, terrain and topography, population density, ethnic composition, etc., will also be considered. This aspect has its dynamics and may become an issue of contention in the long run

The seats reserved for Gilgit-Baltistan are also likely to emerge as a point for debate since they remain with the UT of Jammu & Kashmir. At the same time, the region is territorially included in Ladakh. It may not be politically relevant at the moment, but it should not be allowed to linger unnecessarily.

Ideally, the Kashmir-based parties would have liked the Delimitation process to remain dormant for as long as possible - preferably till 2031. However, the change in borders has given the government the opportunity to go ahead, and it is doing so. The Government is also quite determined to ensure that the reservation for Scheduled Tribes in the assembly and extension of right to vote to the West Pakistan refugees and others who have qualified for a domicile in the state is ensured.

The delimitation exercise, therefore, is of a sensitive nature. On the one hand, the applicability of the 2011 census is likely to create problems, but then there is no choice. On the other hand, the balancing act of increasing the number of seats from 107 to 114 will not go well with the Kashmiri leadership.

If not handled with maturity and sensitivity, the Delimitation process can trigger an uprising in the region that is witnessing peace and tranquilly after decades. Undue hurry may lead to distrust and escalation of unrest that would linger for a long time, especially in Kashmir. It also needs to be remembered that some vested interests in Kashmir have the expertise and potential to trigger an uprising at the slightest pretext. Over and above the cautionary note, the Commission is going into great detail to ensure a fair award that is acceptable to all.

(The author is a Geo-Political Analyst & Columnist)
The Vatican has banned the former archbishop of Wroclaw in Poland Marian Golebiewski from any public service after the investigation concluded his role in covering up sexual crimes from from 1996 to 2013.

The 83-year-old was ordered to "live in the spirit of penance and prayer" and he was banned from taking part in any public ceremonies and ordered to pay a "suitable sum" to a fund that helps victims of abuse, reported Reuters.

The Polish documentary Tell No One by brothers Tomasz and Marek Sekielski, which describes how crimes of sexual abuse were committed and how it was covered up in the church in Poland, has more than 23 million views on YouTube.

The Church, which wields strong political influence in predominantly Catholic Poland, has been rocked by a series of sexual abuse scandals in recent years.

The Vatican has also taken action against seven other Polish bishops accused of covering up sexual abuses in the last one year.

In 2002, the Boston Globe published long investigative pieces describing how the church was involved in the systemic sexual abuse of children on a massive scale.




The Union Government will brief all political parties about the Afghanistan situation and its implications on Indo-Afghan ties, confirmed External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Monday.

S Jaishankar tweeted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has instructed the Ministry of External Affairs to brief Floor Leaders of all political leaders about the developments in Afghanistan.

Later, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi also announced that Jaishankar would inform the Floor Leaders on August 26 at Parliament House Annexe in Delhi.

India has closed all its consulates in Afghanistan and has evacuated all diplomats from its mission following the Taliban taking control of Kabul.

Several Indian Air Force (IAF) flights have been deployed on the India-Afghanistan route to evacuate Indian nationals stranded in the crisis-hit country.
In the draft charge sheet, National Investigation Agency (NIA) has said that accused in the Koregaon-Bhima and Elgar Parishad cases had recruited students of various universities including Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) as well as Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) to carry out terror activities in India.

NIA has also said that the accused wanted to establish their own government and "wage a war against the nation" in its draft charge sheet.

In its charge sheet submitted before the NIA Special Court's Special Judge DE Kothalikar, NIA alleged that the accused had an intent to strike terror in the minds of people by using explosive substances.

"That accused recruited students from various universities including the Jawaharlal Nehru University and Tata Institute of Social Science for commission of terrorist activity," the charge-sheet read.

Sixteen people have been arrested and six others are absconding in connection with the Koregaon-Bhima and Elgar Parishad cases.

The accused also conspired to demand and organise Rs 8 crores for "annual supply of M4 (sophisticated weapon) with 400000 rounds and other arms" from Nepal and Manipur, NIA has added.

In its draft charges submitted before a special court, the NIA said that the accused threatened India's sovereignty, integrity and security by conspiring against "govt or civil authorities/public functionaries".
In yet another incident that shows the growing influence of radical Islamic clerics in Kerala, Islamic scholar Salih Batherys anti-women rant has become viral on social media. He was heard saying that the women going out at night, after 9 o'clock are prostitutes and they should be killed. Salih, who looks like a child is actually 27 years old.

In the controversial video, Salih justifies the brutal rapist Govindachamy who raped and killed a girl named Soumya. He criticised the court and judge who heard the Soumya case. Sahih says that in the court Govindachamy had said that he raped Soumya as she was travelling at night and according to him every girl travelling at night was a prostitute.

The viral video has sparked massive controversy in Kerala. The police is yet to take action against Salih Bathery for his anti-women rant.
Guwahati: The delayed progress in northeast Bharat was fast-tracked after the Bhartiya Janata Party-led NDA came to power in 2014 and it was supplemented by a BJP led government in Dispur after two years following which the entire region starts witnessing developmental activities, said former Assam chief minister and presently a Union cabinet minister Sarbananda Sonowal.

Speaking to the saffron party workers and also scribes in different locations since he arrived in Guwahati with a three-day schedule for the first time after becoming a member of PM Narendra Modi led Union cabinet once again, Sonowal also added that the landlocked region will witness more welfare and development related works in the coming days.

Mentionable is that the Union ports, shipping & waterways and AYUSH minister arrived in the city for three-day Jan Ashirwad Yatra in Assam on Saturday morning and he was welcomed by State CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and Assam BJP president Bhabesh Kalita along with other party leaders at LGBI airport. Rameshwar Teli, another Union minister from Assam, accompanied Sonowal and both the ministers graced a small rally at Azara.

On the way to city, the visibly popular politician paid a visit to Bharat Ratna Dr Bhupen Hazarikas Samadhi at Jalukbari locality. Sonowal paid tributes to great Ahom warrior Lachit Barphukan too at Lachit Ghat on the southern bank of mighty river Brahmaputra. A member of the cabinet committee on political affairs also prayed at Maa Kamakhya Devalay for the good health, happiness and prosperity of all.

Sonowal is scheduled to address a number of rallies in the districts of Morigaon, Nagaon, Kaliabar, Jorhat, Sibsagar, etc and culminate his mission for extensive public interactions on Monday at Dibrugarh. During his first public address at Jagiroad, Sonowal offered thanks to PM Modi for inducing five ministers in the Union cabinet from Northeast at a time, which he terms as a sign of extending extra political will to the region.

He criticized the Congress for ignoring the region for decades during its tenures for more than 60 years. During his address, Sonowal praised incumbent CM for bold offensives against the menace of drugs to save the future generation. Sarma, who completed 100 days in office on Friday, expected more from the central government for the benefit of people in Assam as well as Northeast.
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@MoHFW_INDIA More than 58 crore 25 lakh vaccine doses of Covid-19 have been administered in the country under Nationwide Vaccination Drive so far. Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry has said, over seven lakh 95 thousand vaccine doses were administered to the beneficiaries in the last 24 hours.



In a statement, Health Ministry said, the country has reported over 25 thousand new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours which is the lowest in 160 days. The countrys active caseload currently stands at three lakh 33 thousand 924. The active cases constitute 1.03 percent of the total reported cases which is the lowest since March 2020.



The Ministry said, a total of 44 thousand 157 patients have recovered from the Covid infection during the last 24 hours taking the total recoveries to more than three crore 16 lakh. The recovery rate currently stands at 97.63 percent which is the highest since March 2020.



The Health Ministry said, weekly positivity rate currently stands at 1.91 percent which is less than three percent for the last 59 days. The daily positivity rate is at 1.94 percent. The Ministry said, testing capacity has been substantially ramped up and more than 50 crore 75 lakh tests for COVID-19 have been conducted so far. Yesterday, more than 12 lakh 95 thousand tests for COVID -19 were conducted across the country.

Pazhassi Raja: The Lion of Kerala

On 18th March 1797, in one of the biggest setbacks to the British till then a contingent of 1100 army men under Major Cameron came under a surprise ambush by Pazhassi's men. The attack was so brutal, that the British force was decimated, leaving only a few alive. It is said that between 1793 and 1797, 1,000 British soldiers and 3,000 British-employed native sepoys were killed by Pazhassis men.

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EAM S Jaishankar to embark on a four-day visit to Slovenia, Croatia and Denmark starting tomorrow

Slovenia, currently holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, has invited Dr Jaishankar to attend an informal meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of European Union Member States. External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar will be on a fourday visit to Slovenia, Croatia and Denmark starting tomorrow. He will hold a bilateral meeting with the Foreign Minister of Slovenia, Dr Anze Logar. Slovenia has invited Dr Jaishankar to attend an inf ...
Organiser Bureau

Lakhs of countrymen lost their lives. The British committed massacres. A spirit of nationalism was ignited. Little wonder, a myth was spread that the First War of Independence was limited only to Northern parts of India. In reality, the whole of Bharat fought this war

Every Indian will feel proud hearing the events of the War of Independence of 1857. This war was the most phenomenal, stupendous, surprising and unparalleled event in the history of the world. The War of Independence shook the whole world as it was the first challenge anywhere to the imperialist British rule by organised rebellions of Indians across the country. Lakhs of people lost their lives. The British not only committed massacres but indulged in robbery as well. This war went on for more than a year.

Facts about the War of Independence also give us an insight into the causes that led to the war, the kind of efforts that went into it and its effect on the social life of the country. Here are a few facts about the 1857 War of Independence that is sure to increase ones interest in the unparalleled phenomenon.

A myth was spread that the war was limited only to Northern parts of India. But in actuality, the whole of Bharat had fought this war. The whole country fought as one irrespective of caste and creed. Soldiers, landlords, farmers, laborers, poor, Dalits, women and intellectuals, everyone fought together in the war. Justice Macarthy has written in his History of Our Times that, The reality is that the revolt was affected by the people of entire Northern and North-Western regions of the country.

The War of 1857 was not just some eccentric indulgence of a few kings and their soldiers who were in power. It was a planned collective effort. Although the war did not give the expected results and some term it as a failure, the war paved the way for a future where Indians stand up together and fight. In spite of all the brutality the Britishers heaped on the Indians, they failed to curb their desire for Independence.

It is said that the British killed the intense desire of Indians for Independence. As a matter of fact the war was the beginning of a joint effort for Independence. It was also claimed that the British quashed rebellion as easily as flicking away a fly on ones shoulders, but the fact remains that the War for Independence affected the future course of action of Indians across all regions.

Those who participated and contributed to the struggle for Independence in 1857 are venerable forever. Veer Savarkar wrote, Those who did not have courage or strength but only prayed that their nation should be free from foreign rule also played a role in this fight for independence.

Christianisation of Bharat The East India Company emphasised on Christianisation of India. In the army camps, Rama, Krishna, Prophet Muhammad, Vedas, Quran were abused and if any Indian soldier protested, they were punished. Due to the mass conversions that happened in the country, there was a lot of dissatisfaction and bitterness. Christian missionaries increased phenomenally with the help of the British Government. In the context of Indian Christians, the President of the board of directors of the East India Company gave a speech in the House of Commons in 1857. He had said, God has handed over the great empire of India to England so as to convert all the Hindus to Christianity. For this we should work very hard and leave no stone unturned to make sure that the flag of Christianity flies high from one end of India to the other.

There was a dedicated scheme to convert Indian soldiers on their rolls too. A British officer of the Bengal army wrote in his report, I have been religiously converting the soldiers for the past 28 years as it was my duty to free the Indian soldiers from the claws of the devil and bring them to the refuge of the one true God. (Source: 1857 War of Independence by Shridhar Paradkar)

Three other important aspects of the 1857 War of Independence:

Satyagraha and armed rebellions for Independence were carried out by various individuals and organisations.

The environment for the Independence struggle was also set by those who travelled to foreign shores.

Satyagraha and protests happened all over India across the regions and not just few pockets

Veer Savarkars Historic Work Veer Savarkars work titled 1857 Ka Swatantrya Samar (1857 War of Independence) is the first book of history in the world which was banned even before being published. This book was written by Savarkar in 1909 utilising the books and references in the India office Library in London. Veer Savarkar dedicated 1.5 years studying the British archive and documents related to the 1857 uprising. During the next few decades, his book became famous as The Gita of Revolutionaries and was translated into many languages as well. It was sold at a premium price of Rs 300 per copy in those days. This book was also published by Madam Kama, Lala Hadayal, Subhash Chandra Bose and Bhagat Singh in the subsequent days. In the camps of Azad Hind Fauj (Indian National Army of Subhash Chandra Bose), studying Savarkars book on the 1857 War of Independence was mandatory. In 1908, Savarkar wrote in the newspaper Talwar which was being published from France, While the objective of my book is certainly to bring out the facts and historical truths, my objective is also to kindle the fire to free India in the conscience of every common man of India and initiate the second war of Independence.

Overview of the Struggle for Independence
Ratan Sharda

Doctor ji realised that weakness of the Hindu society was the main reason for many problems facing the community. He felt it was necessary to mould courageous and physically fit youth who had pride for the society and nation



I will not go into early years of Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, the founder of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), as that is not the topic of this essay. It is sufficient to observe from his early childhood that he had burning desire to get India free from British.All his subsequent actions were directed towards this urge. He got involved in every possible activity before establishing Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

I will begin from Dr Hedgewars first agitation that made British withdraw a bill. This bill was nicknamed Bogus Medical Degrees Bill. It was targeted against medical colleges run by nationalist organisations. This Bill made it possible for the doctors coming out of such colleges to practice medicine, but their certificates or prescriptions to any patient wont be valid in Government records. Doctor ji decided to oppose it though he had no plans to practice medicine even as he passed out. His heart was in serving the motherland. He realised the limitations of creating an impact due to limited number of people who would be affected, and inability to create a sizable organisation of these students and doctors. He contacted respected leader Ashutosh Mukherjee and also newspaper editors. He would organise a protest meeting by getting a chairman and secretary for the meeting. He would send out press notes to the editors claiming a meeting had taken place. Police would rush to the named people who would agree that there, indeed, was a meeting, putting police in a fix as they would be questioned for their failure of intelligence. Finally, one big meeting was organised in an auditorium where Ashutosh Mukherjee was present. This idea was a big success. Government, fearing that this bill had huge opposition, withdrew the bill. We can understand Doctor Hedgewars skill in creating an impact even with limited resources and use media to a good effect where required.

There were following major issues and episodes that defined the socio-political environment of the period -

1. Two different streams of freedom movements  revolutionaries and non-violence adherents

2. Cultural and national renaissance sparked by Swami Vivekananda and carried forward by many lost its force with death of Lokmanya Tilak and rise of Mahatma Gandhi. It was a monopoly of power, despite sparks like Lal-Bal-Pal of which Bal Gangadhar Tilak had left and Madan Mohan Malaviya.

3. The Khilafat agitation, abetted by Congress with Gandhi ji advocating Hindu-Muslim unity at any cost, which meant at the cost of Hindus, that concretised the idea of Pakistan.

4. Refusal of political leadership to take cognisance of the rising belligerence of Muslims, violence against Hindus,and white washing of their crimes.

5. Lack of confidence, lack of organisation and loss of collective memory about glorious Hindu past in every aspect of social life.

Doctor ji had been part of Anusheelan Samiti in Kolkata during his student days. His code name in police file was Cocain. On returningback to Nagpur in 1916, he kept working for revolutionary groups, arranging funds for arms and ammunition, sourcing pistols etc., sending youth to Punjab and other parts of north India from Nagpur to help revolutionaries till about 1918. He even arranged revolutionary literature delivery with young men dressing up like women. After the allied nations victory in World War 1, British became stricter and more despotic. The crackdown left many youth disappointed and they dropped out. Revolutionary activities declined. Doctor ji realised that unless there is a big highly disciplined, physically and mentally strong cadre of youth to fight British, these actions would remain sporadic and wont succeed. He still believed in revolutionary bid to throw out British but realised that without an organised effort, it wont succeed. He kept in touch with the leaders but joined Congress to work in an organised manner.

The British, drunk with WW1 success introduced highly oppressive Rowlett Act that empowered them to arrest people without witnesses and right to appeal to judiciary. This led to mass protests. Peaceful gathering in Jalianwala Bagh in Amritsar on Baisakhi day, 13th April, 1919 was one such gathering. Uncontrolled deliberate firing saw hundreds of innocents including women and children dead. It shook the whole of Bharat. Many demonstrations and protests took place.

Creating space for orthodox Islam in freedom movement, Secularisation of Congress

On November 24, 1919, there was a Khilafat Conference led by Ali brothers who demanded restoration of Caliphate in Turkey by British. Gandhi ji latched onto this essentially Islamic agitation that had no connection with Bharat to bring Muslims closer with supposed aim of bringing unity among Muslims and Hindus. In the process, he gave a blank cheque to the Maulvis and orthodox Muslim leadership to bring them on Congress platform at any cost to gain Swarajya. This move also resulted in isolation of educated modern Muslims from the mainstream politics with orthodox Muslim leadership hijacking the freedom movement. We will see how the events unfolded.

It was a strange marriage of convenience. Gandhi ji believed in non-violence for attaining freedom while Muslims led by Ali brothers believed in violence to achieve Khilafat. Nehru ji had gone to the extent of calling Maulana Mohamad Ali and his brother as the most irrationally religious people.

In this evolving atmosphere and changes in Congress, an All India Congress Committees national convention was to take place on December 26, 1920. Lot of things happened during this period.

Changing equations and ideas within Congress, Rise of Gandhi ji

The Garam Dal or the more affirmative group within Congress created a platform called Rashtriya Mandal that had the followers of LokmanyaTilak, including Dr Munje to others from Nagpur Congress. Dr Hedgewar formed Nagpur National Union during the same time, and he was also the member of Rashtriya Mandal. Rashtriya Mandal started a magazine called Sankalp and Doctor ji was appointed as its organiser. He travelled all over Mahakoshal (Central Province) and parts of Mumbai and surrounding areas for a few months it to get subscribers for the magazine and collect funds. Though the magazine folded up later for various reasons, the contacts built during these times were nurtured by Doctor ji and used later during work for organising Sangh later.

His clarity that people should be one with the local culture wherever they were in Bharat is seen by one example. When he tried getting subscription for Sankalp, a gentleman said, We are getting Marathi and English newspapers and magazine anyways, why should we subscribe to a Hindi magazine? Doctor ji was unhappy. He told his friend, Whichever state we go to in Hindusthan, we should treat it as our own. With this belief, we should get integrated in the life of that place. If it is not possible for you to do so, why dont you leave this state and go back from where your forefathers came? This argument touched the persons heart and he paid the subscription too.

Rashtriya Utsav Mandal under Rashtriya Mandal began celebrating various Hindu festivals. He and his friends would deliver aggressive lectures in these programmes. He began celebrating Kojagiri Poornima  full moon night during Hindu Kartik month  with various friends with different political views, including his Communist friend, Advocate Ruikar. Entire night would go in chatting, singing and joy over glasses of milk. He continued this practice till 1925-26 till he got very busy with RSS work. Doctor ji had no problem with non-violent and violent approaches to freedom. He did not criticise revolutionaries. There are two incidents that show this attitude. One, when a censure motion was brought in by Congress leaders against Veer Savarkar. Doctor ji opposed it and it was dropped. In another instance, friends were discussing whether Savarkar ji was better or Gandhi ji. He kept quiet. When he was asked to give his opinion, he said, I cannot choose between rose and Mogra flowers. Both are beautiful and fragrant in their own ways.

By this time, the Khilafat agitation had been co-opted to start the Non-cooperation agitation by Gandhi ji. British government ordered a Peaceful Day in December 1919, which was opposed by all the leaders.

Unfortunately, Lokamanya Tilak left this world on July 31 1920. Nagpur group was ready to host him in a grand manner and he was to be elected as the President during upcoming Congress convention. Dr Hedgewar accompanied Dr Munje to meet Maharshi Aurobindo to persuade him to take the responsibility of Congress. However, he refused, saying he had a lifes work in front of him and he could not deviate from the chosen path anymore. There was a general strike on the tenth day of Tilak jis death. Doctor ji was involved in it. A special non-cooperation week from 11 to 18 August was organised. A pamphlet with guidelines was distributed. Doctor ji was one of the four signatories on this pamphlet. A special Congress convention was called in September 2020 where Gandhi ji was officially anointed as the new leader after Tilak. The followers of Tilak were completely side lined.

During this period, Khilafat agitation leaders gave a one month notice to the British to declare Caliphate of Turkey or they would begin hijrat, that is, move out of India, that was Dar-ul-Harb (a land ruled by a non-Islamic ruler) and return in strength to fight and make India into a Dar-ul-Islam (where followers of Islam rule). About 1800 Muslims left for Afghanistan after this call. Gandhi ji blessed them for their success.

Preparations were going on for the December 2020 Congress convention in Nagpur. A special volunteer group was formed that was called Bharat Swayamsevak Mandal headed by Dr L V Paranjape with Dr Hedgewar as his assistant. Preparations were in full swing. Need was felt for uniforms for volunteers to create an atmosphere of discipline. But, it was a costly affair. Many argued that it was a waste of money for just the convention. Doctor ji argued that the volunteers would be organised for later activities also and it would be regular use. Thus, the reception committee agreed for the expense on uniforms.

In October, when the reception committee was being formed for the national convention, Doctor ji opposed every name that was linked in any way to the British or a person was seen to be favourable to British. His third major contribution was a proposal for a resolution that talked of Complete freedom from British and the Indian republic would strive to free other enslaved countries and fight Imperial Capitalist forces. Unfortunately, this resolution was laughed off by the resolution committee as Congress was happy with Dominion status under the British at that time. Congress adopted complete freedom as its goal only in December 1929.

Another indication of Congress leadership trying to keep away Hindu agenda to keep Muslims happy was to disapprove and refuse to take up a resolution for protection of Cows, proposed by their leader, Badhe ji. There was a huge ruckus in the convention when Gandhi ji asked Badhe ji to leave the stage and he refused. Finally, Gandhi ji suspended the meeting of Congress Working Committee.

Gandhi ji led proposal of Non-cooperation movement was adopted in this convention, and as we know, it was linked to Khilafat agitation. Gandhi ji promised Swarajyawithin one year. Doctor ji, though he was much against false Hindu-Muslim unity, got into non-cooperation movement to in support of Gandhi ji. He travelled from village to village giving fiery lectures. Telling people why a fistful of people from Britain should rule Bharat. He was very hot tempered and passionate. When he spoke, his eyes would turn red, his fists would be clinched and veins stood out.

During this time, he met Gandhi ji and expressed his misgivings about Hindu-Muslim unity. He asked him, why he talked only about Muslims, not about so many other non-Hindu communities? Why shouldnt all communities be included in this freedom struggle call? Gandhi ji reasoned with him and tried to convince him about advantage of Hindu-Muslim unity. Doctor ji responded that there were other Muslim leaders like Barrister Jinnah, Dr Ansari and Hakim Ajmal Khan who were working in Congress even earlier. Gandhi ji did not reply to this argument.

The British Government finally served a notice to Dr Hedgewar to stop his poisonous speeches and not to address any more meetings. But, he didnt stop. Finally, a case was filed in May 1921 and he was arrested for his incendiary speeches. He fought the case himself to expose British police and Government. Finally, he was awarded one year imprisonment with hard labour. He went to jail on August 19. He was not worried. His views about freedom movement were clear. He addressed the people before going to jail and said, One should go to jail only if required. Going to jail should not be our goal, working for the nation is the real objective. One can do a lot for the nation outside the jail. He had a long term vision.

Islam first policy of Khilafat inspired leaders

In jail, Doctor ji and three of his close friends came face to face with true spirit of Khilafat agitation. One,Imanullah,arrested during the Khilafat agitation was in jail during the time. He would keep creating problems. Whether it was noisy high decibel namaaz offering, disturbing pooja of Doctorjis group, or insulting Hindu gods and scriptures, etc., he would deliberately provoke them. He refused to take part in Jalianwala Bagh memorial day in the jail. Doctor ji could see that for him Islam came first, and the nation much later. This was the experience of Veer Savarkar ji too during his Kala Pani imprisonment where Muslim wardens used to torture Hindu prisoners and gave special privilege to those who converted to Islam.

There used to be sporadic violent incidents in Nagpur even after 1923. Hindus felt scared. There was a sense of inferiority. Doctor ji would be called in case of violence or skirmishes. He noted that it was due to lack of self-confidence. Problem was of Hindus, not of the aggressors. Muslims were just one seventh of the population but they could dictate terms

When Doctor ji came out of jail he pondered over the scenario around him. By that time,the Khilafat agitation and its proponents had become permanent headache for the Congress and the nation. They became incorrigible and perpetrated violence everywhere. But, Gandhi ji turned an apologist for the Islamists violent aggression. Situation was so bad that Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar remarked, Can any sane man can go so far for the sake of Hindu Muslim Unity? Muslims had started shouting Allah O Akbar instead of Vande Maataram. Jihad and Quran became regular topics of speeches of Ali brothers. Nehru wrote, Muslims turned more religious and turned away from modern ideas. More Muslims began growing beard following rituals. In one of the meetings where Doctor ji was present with Samiullah Khan, he asked him why he was wearing a Turkish cap instead of Congress cap. Samiullah retorted that he was a Muslim first and this Turkish cap was his identity.

By this time Moplah riots broke out. They were worst violence perpetrated on Hindus, with killings, rape, loot and plunder. Bharat Sevak Samaj had sent a team that reported that 1,500 Hindus had been killed.

But, Congress resolution passed about the riots tried to put the blame on the people, who were against Khilafat, and claimed that only three families had been attacked. Gandhi ji almost justified the gory violence saying, Brave god fearing Moplahs who are fighting for what they consider their religion and in a manner which they consider religious. After a heavy crackdown by British, the riots were calmed and a few Moplahs were killed. Nehru jis heart melted and he wrote, The Moplah rising and its extraordinary cruel suppression  what a horrible thing was the baking to death of the Moplah prisoners in closed railway vans. Situation was so grim that Dr Munje in 1923 expressed the opinion that Rajputs, Sikhs and Marathas should settle down in those areas to protect Hindus. Malabars women appealed to the British to shift them to safer places even if they were outside Malabar region.

Doctor ji came to that conclusion that Muslim behaviour against Hindu so despicable and situation had become so horrible not just because of Muslims but more due to loss of self-esteem and self-pride of Hindus. Muslims only took advantage of the situation.

But, his loyalty to Gandhi ji was unwavering. When Gandhi ji was arrested on March 18, 1922 and given a sentence of 6 years, it was decided by Congress that every 18th day of the month would be celebrated as Gandhi day; Doctor ji followed the directive sincerely. He is quoted during one such programme, The great quality of Gandhi ji is his total sacrifice of selfish interests. To be true follower of Gandhi ji, one will have to leave home and be in the field of struggle.

Misunderstanding Ahimsa as absence of discipline

During this period, Doctor ji was still a Congress leader and was appointed joint secretary of the state unit. He observed total lack of discipline within the organisation. The principle for non-violence or ahimsa and discipline had taken a strange form. It could be seen from Nehru jis own experience in Kakinada Congress national conference in 1923. Dr N S Hardikar had formed Hindusthani Seva Dal for the purpose. Nehru ji was happy with Seva Dal work and supported it enthusiastically. His photograph seen many times in Seva Dal uniform is of that session. Many leaders protested vehemently against this disciplined group of volunteers in uniform. Nehru was surprised at its opposition and affirmation of non-violence of the extreme type when he heard that trained drilled volunteers were inconsistent with Congress principle of non-violence. They introduced a military element in the party. Such military element could over throw civilian Government. For them volunteers were only meant to pick up chairs and lay durries in a convention.

Doctor ji by that time had become conscious of the need for strong healthy young people who could be ready to fight for freedom. When he saw a batch of volunteers going for a dharna protest, he noted, These weak young men will die with the lathi blows of the police that would be himsa. We need to send strong young people for satyagrah who can present their protest with ahimsa and keep standing firm.

Dr Munje had established a Rifle Association to instil a sense of courage in the youth. Doctor ji would visit this group. He was a sharp marksman as vouched by many members. Doctor ji had not stopped giving fiery speeches whenever chance arose. In April 1923, a programme of Gopujan  worshipping the holy cow - was celebrated by him.

By 1924, Kamal Pasha had risen firmly in Turkey and banished Khalifa from Turkey. He introduced secularism as the state policy, not Islam. Muslims Out of frustration had begun running riots in various parts of the country from 1923 itself. There were severe riots in Saharanpur. It was clear that the riots were led by Khilafat leaders. Bhai Paramananda, realising the danger to Hindus organised a Hindu Sangh in Lahore.

Nagpur  a laboratory for extremist Islam, rising belligerence of Muslims

Nagpur too saw very tense months in that year. This prolonged episode was called Dindi satyagrah. Hindus of Nagpur used to take out a procession with the murti of Ganesh ji (dindi) every year. But, that year, Muslims demanded that no drums and dhols should be played in front of the mosque on way. Hindus agreed. Then, they escalated the demand that no musical instrument should be played. Laxmanrao Bhonsale, from royal family and the patron of the yatra decided that they will take out early morning procession on October 23. After two days, Muslims began demanding toll tax to use the road in front of the mosque. Finally, a committee was formed to protect Hindu rights. Doctor ji was made the chairman of this committee. He led a procession singing bhajans of Jai Vitthal, hari hari Vitthal. Thousands of citizens joined the procession on November 8. Police arrested the processionists. They kept singing bhajans in the police station too. Finally, they were released. Then on November 11, LaxmanraoBhonsale led the satyagrah in which 40,000 devotees took part. After this pressure and protests by Hindus, Muslims gave permission for the procession. A Hindu Sabha was formed to create a permanent body to protect Hindus. On November18, there was a huge rally that seemed to have every Hinduof Nagpur on the streets. It seemed that the dispute had been settled.

However, there used to be sporadic violent incidents in Nagpur even after 1923. Hindus felt scared. There was a sense of inferiority. Doctor ji would be called in case of violence or skirmishes. He noted that it was due to lack of self-confidence. Problem was of Hindus, not of the aggressors. Muslims were just one seventh of the population but they could dictate terms. In Bharat, they were around 20-25 per cent but they were dictating politics on the field.

He realised that it was necessary to mould courageous and physically fit youth who had pride for the society and nation. Both British and Muslim societies are aggressive. Many a great heroes from King Dahir in Sindh to all the subsequent great Hindu fighting kings and braves had shown their strength to beat the invaders back many times. Then, why did Muslim still speak the same language? By now, the idea of organising Hindus had taken firm shape in his mind.

During this same time Veer Savarkar had written his landmark book Hindutva while he was under arrest in Ratnagiri. Doctorji got a chance to read its original handwritten manuscript and was impressed. There was a demand by Congress leaders for release of Tatyarao Savarkar, elder brother of Veer Savarkar, from Kala Pani. In one of those meetings in October 1923, Doctor ji used the word Hindu Rashtra for the first time; and talked of mantra of Hindu Rashtra.

Doctor ji always talked of complete freedom, full independence. He would also insist upon all his friends who went out to address a rally to talk about full freedom. At that time many newspapers were started. One of them was Swatantrya. Doctor ji was on its board of trustees. After struggling for nearly a year, it was finally shut down with huge losses.

Doctor ji kept talking to youth, meet them in various gymnasiums (vyayamshalas). He would teach strong young boys swimming and he kept in touch with youth regularly and would keep talking to them, give lectures on different forums.

In 1924, Muslim goons started riots again. But, this time Hindus proved to be stronger. They also began boycott of Muslim traders. The move was so intense that once Dr Munje said, If we cant find Hindu butchers, I will become a butcher. Training of wooden staff (dand) was given to youth. There was a call for Shatham prati laathyam kaathyam, that is, the goons must be taught a lesson with laathis. Finally, Muslims relented and sought peace. (There is an interesting story, how Doctor ji finally stopped this mischief permanently in 1927 with just 100 swayamsevaks of newly formed RSS. After that no riots took place in Nagpur.)

During this period, there were riots in UP, Karnataka, Punjab by Muslims. Kohat was the worst case where 155 Hindus were butchered. Situation turned so bad that Sarojini Naidu had to say, Speeches and homilies will not do anymore. Gandhi ji went on a 21 day fast at a Maulanas house under care of two Muslim doctors. He said, My longing is to be able to be cement between the two communities, with my blood if necessary. Finally a Unity conference was organised and resolution of unity was passed. Dr Ambedkar noted, Unity conference produced nothing except pious resolutions which were broken as soon as they were announced. Ultimately, Gandhi ji, when questioned, said in desperation, Who listens to me?And yet, I ask Hindus even today to die and not to kill. It was a sign of surrender.

During this time, Swami Shraddhanand began his Shuddhi movement and Ghar wapsi. It had tremendous effect. So many Muslims returned to Hindu fold that ultimately he was killed in broad daylight in Chandni Chowk in 1926. Gandhi ji refused to condemn him and he, infact, called Abdul Rashid, the murderer as his brother.

Many leaders realise the futility of appeasing Muslims and strengthening Hindu society

Every leader began understanding the necessity of uniting and organising Hindus. Shri Chittaranjan Das studied Islam for six months and finally came to the conclusion that Hindu Muslim Unity was neither possible nor practicable. Lala Lajpatrai noted that, For last 5 years, even if not before, the Congress has been joint organisation of Hindus and Muslims, infact, has done more for Muslims.

During this time, Maulana Hazrat Mohammad demanded a separate independent Muslim state comprising of North West provinces, Punjab, Sindh. This was the first clear cut demand for Pakistan in physical form. Finally, Gandhi had to admit that An average Muslim was a bully and average Hindu was a coward. Nehru ji remarked that Hindus are busy being clerks and sleeping. Lala Hardayal wrote in newspaper, Pratap, Hindu organisation, Hindu state, Shuddhi (reconversion) and merger of Afghanistan with Bharat are the four points that will create a bright future for Hindu Rashtra.

In January 1925, there was a tour of Swami Satyadev in Madhya Bharat region. Doctor ji as an office bearer of Congress accompanied him. Swami ji too talked about necessity of organising Hindu, which was not against anybody. He noted that for Hindus Hindusthan was life, but for Muslims it was not so.

Crystallisation of thoughts and birth of RSS

Doctor ji began discussing how to organise Hindus with his close friends Appa ji Joshi, Bhaurao Kawre ji, etc. Doctor ji discussed these ideas with his other colleagues and friends too. However, most of being from Congress, could not think beyond politics and Congress party. So, Doctor ji decided that he would have to plough a lonely furrow. He met Veer Savarkar and his brother Tatyarao in Ratnagiri and shared his ideas. He noted that rising of Hindus as a reaction to riots was not enough, what was needed was analways ready organisation (Nitya siddha shakti). He began talking about Hindutva is nationalism andHindutva hi rashtriyatva.

There are three stages through which Doctor ji passed before he finally decided to form Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh 

a. Participation in revolutionary movement, followed by committed participation in Congress party and its agitation

b. Period of Khilafat and Non-cooperation movement, Congress only worried about Muslims not any other community, its blank cheque

c. Witnessing the weakness of Hindus and lack of organisation when faced with Muslim violence instigated by Khilafat supporters.

Finally on Vijayadashami of 1925, around 15-20 colleagues of Doctor ji met at his home and declared the foundation of RashtriyaSwayamsevakSangh.
Gandhiji leading Dandi March against imposition of salt tax by the British

Organiser Bureau

Various organisations in different parts of the country worked to rouse nationalist spirit among people and to counter the political and Cultural onslaught of the British

To counter the cultural onslaught, patriots in different parts of the country organised several programmes and movements. Raj Narayan Bose issued a prospectus and established a Society for the promotion of national feeling among educated natives of Bengal. Its main objective would be to promote and foster national feelings which would lead to the formation of a national character and thereby to the eventual promotion of the prosperity of the nation.From 1867 to the 1880s, the Hindu Mela met in Calcutta to instil pride among the people for Swadeshi artifacts and practices. It included Swadeshi wrestling, art and recital performances, and poetry and songs.

The Abhinav Bharat Society emerged out of Mitr Mela, which was founded by Veer Savarkar and Ganesh Savarkar in 1899 in Nasik, with the purpose of armed revolution for the freedom of Bharat from British rule. Renamed Abhinav Bharat in 1904, before Savarkar left for London, it was involved in the assassination of William Curzon-Wyllie, by Madanlal Dhingra in 1909, in the Imperial Institute in London and in that of AMT Jackson, the district magistrate of Nasik, who was assassinated in Bharat by Anant Laxman Kanhare in 1909 in the historic "Nasik Conspiracy Case". For his involvement in the latter, Veer Savarkar was sentenced to the Cellular Jail in the Andamans.

In the later 1870s and early 1880s, a solid ground had been prepared for the establishment of an all-Bharat organisation. The final shape to this idea was given by a retired English civil servant, AO Hume, who mobilised leading intellectuals of the time and, with their cooperation, organised the first session of the Indian National Congress at Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College in Bombay in December 1885. Formed on 24th March 1902, Anushilan Samiti was the first secret society formed in Bengal. Initially, the name of this society was Bharat Anushilan Samiti.Formed in 1906, Jugantar was a Nationalist organisation with an over-arching vision of armed insurrection against illegitimate British rule. Formed and led by leaders like Barin Ghosh, Aurobindo Ghosh, Surya Sen, Bagha Jatin, Raja Subodh Malik, and other fearless revolutionaries, it was the central player of the Alipore Bomb Conspiracy case, for which many of its leaders were sent to the Cellular Jail in the Andamans, and the Hindu-German conspiracy, in which arms were imported from Germany by the help of Bharatiya revolutionaries residing in Germany at that time.

Banga Bhang was the partition of Bengal, executed by the British in 1905, to neutralise the threat it posed to their domination due to its proliferating revolutionary movements and widespread unrest from exploitative British Governance. It was carried out by Lord Curzon and separated Bengal to deliver the Hindus as a more ineffective minority.

Tilak formed his Home Rule League in April 1916 and Annie Besant formed the Indian Home Rule League, in September 1916. They worked in sync to spread the message across the country for Home Rule or self-government (as a Dominion like Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, etc) after the War. The Home Rule movement of just around one year laid the foundation for Mahatma Gandhis future mass movements, as he was just emerging on the scene after arrival from South Africa. These Leagues ultimately merged with Congress in 1920. Tilak died in the same year.

Champaran Satyagraha (1917)

Gandhi was requested by Rajkumar Shukla, a local man, to look into the problems of the farmers in the context of indigo planters of Champaran in Bihar. The European planters had been forcing the peasants to grow indigo on 3/20 part of the total land (called the tinkathia system). When Gandhi, joined now by Rajendra Prasad, Mazharul- Haq, Mahadeo Desai, Narhari Parekh, and J.B. Kripalani, reached Champaran to probe into the matter, the authorities ordered him to leave the area at once. Gandhi defied the order and preferred to face the punishment.

Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (April 13, 1919)

Amritsar was the worst affected by violence. In the beginning, there was no violence by the protestors. Bharatiyas shut down their shops and normal trade and the empty streets showed the Bharatiyas displeasure at the British betrayal. On April 9, two nationalist leaders, Saifuddin Kitchlew and Dr. Satyapal were arrested by the British officials without any provocation except that they had addressed protest meetings, and taken to some unknown destination. This caused resentment among the Bharatiya protestors who came out in thousands on April 10 to show their solidarity with their leaders. Soon the protests turned violent because the police resorted to firing in which some of the protestors were killed.

Kakori Conspiracy is also known as Kakori Kand, Kakori Conspiracy Case, or The Kakori Train Robbery. It was an armed robbery that took place on August 9, 1925, on a train in central Uttar Pradesh. The robbery occurred at the town of Kakori, about 16 km from Lucknow which was where the train was headed. The raiders were known to be members of the newly formed Hindustan Republican Association, whose mission was to liberate India from British colonial rule through a revolution that included armed rebellion.

Gandhi accompanied by the Ali brothers undertook a nationwide tour. Thousands of students left government schools and colleges and joined around 800 national schools and colleges that cropped up during this time. These educational institutions were organized under the leadership of Acharya Narendra Dev, C R Das, Lala Lajpat Rai, Zakir Hussain, Subhash Bose (who became the principal of National College at Calcutta) and included Jamia Millia at Aligarh, Kashi Vidyapeeth, Gujarat Vidyapeeth, and Bihar Vidyapeeth. Many lawyers gave up their practice, some of whom were Motilal Nehru, Jawaharlal Nehru, C R. Das, C Rajagopalachari, Saifuddin Kitchlew, Vallabhbhai Patel, Asaf Ali, T Prakasam, and Rajendra Prasad.

Banga Bhang was the partition of Bengal, executed by the British in 1905, to neutralise the threat it posed to their domination due to its proliferating revolutionary movements

Chauri-Chaura Incident

A small sleepy village named Chauri-Chaura (Gorakhpur district in United Provinces) has found a place in history books due to an incident of violence on February 5, 1922, which was to prompt Gandhi to withdraw the movement. The police here had beaten up the leader of a group of volunteers campaigning against liquor sale and high food prices and then opened fire on the crowd which had come to protest before the police station. The agitated crowd torched the police station with policemen inside who had taken shelter there; those who tried to flee were hacked to death and thrown back into the fire. Twenty-two policemen were killed in the violence. Gandhi, not happy with the increasingly violent trend of the movement, immediately announced the withdrawal of the movement.

The Indian National Army and Subhash Bose

Subhas Chandra Bose was an intrepid man. He had always shown a strong and reacted violently to any insult of Bharatiyas by the Europeans. He passed the Indian Civil Services examination securing the fourth position but resigned from the service in 1921 to join the struggle for freedom by becoming a member of the Congress. His political guru was Chittaranjan Das. He became mayor of Calcutta in 1923. He was jailed many times by the British. Once it became clear to Subhash Chandra Bose that he could not follow Gandhis way but that the Congress was determined to follow Gandhi, Bose decided to go his way to fight for independence.
The Santhals rose against the British and fought fierce battles

Organiser Bureau

As the British started its expansionist policies, people in various parts of the country rose in revolt against the foreigners. The motivation in all these popular movements was the desire to protect the svata (selfhood)

Mughal emperor Aurangzebs reign witnessed powerful regional groups like the Jats, Sikhs, and Marathas defying the authority of the Mughal state in their bid to create kingdoms of their own. They did not succeed in their efforts, but they influenced the future course of political events in their respective regions. Their continuous struggle against the empire for political ascendancy weakened the empire considerably. Aurangzeb, and after him Bahadur Shah I, by attempting to suppress the Rajputs, spurred them to battle against the Mughals. The later Mughals made an effort to follow a policy of reconciliation with the Rajputs, but by then it was already too late: the Rajputs no longer trusted the Mughals enough to ally with them for the welfare of the empire.

The Marathas too were becoming a formidable enemy. Their aim was at first limited only to regaining control over the region of Maharashtra, but it soon went on to include getting legal sanction from the Mughal emperor for collecting Sardeshmukhi and Chauth throughout Bharat. They forged northwards and, by 1740, succeeded in spreading their influence over the provinces of Gujarat, Malwa, and Bundelkhand. The Rajput struggle against the empire and the growing ambition and power of the Marathas, thus, adversely affected the Mughal might.

Another important state to make its appearance in the eighteenth century was that of Mysore. This territory located at the junction of the Eastern and Western Ghats was ruled by the Wodeyars. Various powers, interested in this territory, turned the area into a constant battlefield. In Travancore, Martanda Varma strengthened extended the boundaries of his state from Kanyakumari to Cochin.

The agriculturist Jat settlers living around Delhi, Mathura, and Agra revolted against the oppressive policies of Aurangzeb. After some initial setbacks, Churaman and Badan Singh succeeded in setting up the Jat state of Bharatpur. Meanwhile, Guru Gobind Singh transformed the Sikhs into a militant sect in defense of their religion and liberties. The credit for establishing a strong kingdom of Punjab goes to Ranjit Singh. He was the son of Mahan Singh, the leader of the Sukarchakiyamisl. Ranjit Singh brought under control the area extending from the Sutlej to the Jhelum. He conquered Lahore in 1799 and Amritsar in 1802. By the Treaty of Amritsar with the British, Ranjit Singh acknowledged the British right over the cis-Sutlej territories.

Perhaps the most formidable province to emerge was that of the Marathas. Under the capable leadership of the Peshwas, the Marathas uprooted the Mughal authority from Malwa and Gujarat and established their rule. At one time they claimed the right to be the chief inheritors of the Mughal dominion, but their authority was challenged by Ahmed Shah Abdali in the Third Battle of Panipat (1761). The Marathas quickly recovered from the defeat and offered the most formidable challenge to the English East India Company in the struggle for political supremacy in Bharat.

After the death of Madhavrao in 1772, his brother Narayanrao succeeded him as the fifth Peshwa. However, Narayanraos uncle, Raghunathrao, had his nephew assassinated and named himself as the next Peshwa, although he was not a legal heir. The English and the Maratha armies met on the outskirts of Pune. Though the Maratha army had a larger number of soldiers than the English, the latter had highly superior ammunition and cannons. However, the Maratha army was commanded by a brilliant general named Mahadji Sindhia (also known as Mahadji Shinde).

The Second Anglo-Maratha war started in circumstances similar to those of the first. After Peshwa Madhavrao Narayan committed suicide in 1795, Bajirao II, the worthless son of Raghunathrao, became the Peshwa. Nana Phadnavis, a bitter foe of Bajirao II, became the chief minister. The dissensions among the Marathas provided the English with an opportunity to intervene in Maratha affairs. The death of Nana Phadnavis in 1800 gave the British an added advantage.

Lord Hastings had the imperialistic design of imposing British paramountcy. By the Charter Act of 1813, the East India Companys monopoly of trade in China (except tea) ended and hence the company needed more markets. The outbreak of the first of the Anglo-Sikh wars has been attributed to the action of the Sikh army crossing the River Sutlej on December 11, 1845. This was seen as an aggressive maneuver that provided the English with the justification to declare war.

The defeat in the First Anglo-Sikh War and the provisions of the treaties of Lahore and Bhairowal were highly humiliating for the Sikhs.

Sanyasi Revolution (1763-1800)

The British considered the Sanyasis looters and imposed restrictions on the Sanyasis barring them from visiting holy places. The Sanyasis rose in revolt against the British and raided English factories and government treasuries. This rebellion was centered in the forests of Murshidabad and Baikunthupur, Bengal. In 1771, 150 unarmed sanyasis were killed under the orders of Warren Hastings.

In 1758, a treaty was made between the English and Ananda Gajapatiraju, the ruler of Vizianagaram, to jointly oust the French from the Northern Circars. The English captured the raja in 1793 and ordered him to go into exile with a pension. The raja refused. The raja died in a battle at Padmanabham (in modern Visakhapatnam district in Andhra Pradesh) in 1794. Vizianagaram came under the Companys rule.

In every region, people rose in revolt against the British. In Kottayam, Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja, in Travancore, Velu Thampi, the Dalawa, the Polygars in Tamil Nadu, Ahom kings in Assam, the Singhphos, the Khonds, Kukas, the Pagal Panthis, the Ramosis, the Santhals and the Bhils.

War of Independence of 1857

In 1757, after the Battle of Plassey, the British laid the first step towards getting power in northern Bharat. And in 1857 took place the major Uprising which was a product of the character and policies of colonial rule after 1757, and after which noteworthy changes took place in the British policy of ruling over Bharat.
-Prof. Rasal Singh

The former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti, warned the BJP-led Centre with the example of Afghanistan. Referring to the Taliban seizing power in Afghanistan, the PDP President threatened the Centre "to not test us" and asked the government to "mend its ways, understand the situation, and see what is happening in your neighbourhood. Addressing a rally in the valley's Kulgam district on Saturday, Mehbooba Mufti said, "It needs the courage to face what the people of Jammu and Kashmir are facing. The day they run out of patience; you will be ruined. Don't test our patience. Look at what is happening in our neighbourhood (Afghanistan). The Taliban forced the powerful US forces to leave the country." The validation of violence and terrorist organizations by Mahbooba is not new or unprecedented.

Earlier also, she has tried to instigate Kashmiris by making a provocative, objectionable, and irresponsible statement on her party's 22nd Foundation Day (July 28). On that occasion, she said, whatever the central government had snatched from Kashmiris on August 5, 2019,would have to be returned along with interest. Another controversial statement of her's is noteworthy, in which she had vowed not to hoist the tricolor till the restoration of the situation before August 5, 2019. She is daydreaming to restore the status quo before August 5, 2019, and is showing sabbaths to a handful of misguided people in the Kashmir Valley. However, in reality, since then a lot of water has flowed down in Vitasta and Tawi. Bridging the distance, the people of Jammu and Kashmir are also moving forward and are joining the national mainstream. Now instead of strikes, stone pelting, and firing, they want peace and prosperity. Certainly, such anti-India statements of her's are preparing the ground for her re-detention.

In fact, by drawing such a faculty, fictitious and frivolous analogy between Kashmir and Afghanistan, Mehbooba Mufti has unknowingly exposed her Talibanic mentality. Does she want the practice of answering every voice in Kashmir with AK 47 and AK 56 bullet shots, like Afghanistan? She should be asked whether she wants to ban the education and work of the sisters and daughters of Kashmir by hosting the Taliban? She should also be asked by the people of Kashmir whether she is in favor of making Kashmiri women 'sex slaves' of Taliban terrorists? Excluding the naive Mehbooba, everyone from Afghanistan to America knows the reality of the Taliban. Taliban is a brutal terrorist organization with a anti-women and undemocratic medieval mindset. Supporting it and wishing for its arrival in Kashmir exposes Mehbooba's real plans and her deteriorating mental balance. She went two steps ahead of Pakistam PM Imran Khan, SP MP from Sambhal Shafiqur Rahman Vark and poet Munawwar Rana in praising (mis)deeds of Taliban. She also forgot that the hunger for power and hatred for the BJP have blinded her. She and her party have enjoyed power while running a coalition government with them for a long time! Would it be unreasonable to conclude on this basis that she can join hands with anyone, BJP, Congress, National Confrence and even with Taliban to get power? This sheer opportunism will lead her no where but to oblivion and extinction.

By giving the example of the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban using bullets in place of ballots, she has also given evidence of her support for terrorist organizations operating in the Kashmir Valley and their links with the Taliban. It is not hidden from anyone that dreadnought terrorist organizations like Hizbul Muzahideen, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Muhammad, supported Taliban to overthrown the democratic government in Afghanistan. These pakistan based organizations are blood bathing in Kashmir. It is noteworthy that Mehbooba's blue eyed youth leader of the PDP, Waheed-Ur-Rehman Parra, has been confirmed to have nexus with the terrorist network and has acted on their instructions. The PDP has taken no action against him. Taliban's threat is reminiscent of Jaichand's invitation to Muhammad Ghori to humiliate Prithviraj Chauhan. Mehbooba herself has to decide whether she wants to become another Jaichand in Indian history. It is a different matter that in a strong and united India of the 21st century, the fate of her favorite Muhammad Ghori, the Taliban, will be catastrophic. She needs to understand that ballot is the solution but not the bullet.

The central government should take serious note of the provocative statements made by Mehbooba Mufti incessantly. She is very much involved in anti-national conspiracy to instigate Kashmiri people against Indian State. She is habitually making anti-India statements one after the other from the very moment she was released from detention. She is once again trying to mislead the Kashmiri youth to take up the route of violence, terror, and separatism that have been the basis of her politics. Therefore, the Government of India should give a direct message to her to mend her ways and stop this madness. Failing which the sovereignty and strength of the indian state must be manifested by taking stringent action.

With the establishment of Taliban rule in Afghanistan, Pakistan, especially the army and ISI, are in full swing. The security arrangements and the security forces deployed in Kashmir need to be allerted and reinforced. Apart from this, assembly elections should also be held in Jammu and Kashmir by completing the delimitation process as soon as possible. The full statehood of Jammu-Kashmir should also be restored. The Taliban mentality and Taliban rule can be given a befitting reply by the formation of a government based on the peoples mandate. The people of Jammu and Kashmir want peace and development, hence there is a need to take policy decisions and implement them according to the sentiments of the people instead of horns sounding on the behest of neighbouring countries .

(The author is Dean, Students' Welfare, Central University of Jammu.)




Elizabeth (Liz) Marie Dean died peacefully surrounded by family at the age of 88 on July 13, 2021 at the family farm near Knoxville, Iowa, where she had been receiving home hospice care. Liz was born on October 16, 1932 to Alvin and Frances Sheldon Johnson of Kanona, Kansas. She was preceded
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For Christopher Douglas, history is not just past events and people, but something to be revered and learned from.

Douglas, a resident of Midland, recently compiled a list of individuals from Midland County who served and died in the Civil War.

Douglas has been a history enthusiast for many years. Recently, he joined the 10th Michigan Infantry, a unit of Civil War reenactment volunteers. In 2020, he joined the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, as his great-great-great-grandfather, Albert Terwillegar, a Michigan native, served in the war in a New York unit.

While his direct relatives survived the war, Douglas wanted to honor those who laid down their lives for their country.

I admire the courage of these men. I admire that they were willing to lay their lives on the line for something they believed in, Douglas said.

Another reason Douglas decided to conduct the research project was the absence of names of fallen Civil War soldiers on the Midland County Veterans Memorial in Downtown Midland. Ross Ahlich, veterans counselor for Midland County, explained that the original memorial listed names from World War II and subsequent wars.

When the memorial was refurbished and expanded in 2013, names of World War I veterans were added. In addition, a plaque was added honoring the sacrifices of Midland County men and women from the War of 1812 all the way up to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, simply listing the names of the wars.

A lot of people put a lot of thought and insight into it," Ahlich said.

Wanting to do his part to recognize local soldiers, Douglas soon began researching local Civil War veterans, a couple of whom hed known about for years beforehand. His greatest resource was 46 volumes of official records of Michigan volunteers in the Civil War, commonly known as the Brown Books, from the Archives of Michigan.

Within just a week, Douglas compiled a comprehensive list of local soldiers who served in the war.

I knew what to look for, Douglas said.

Of the Midland County soldiers who served in the Civil War, Douglas found that the following 12 individuals were killed in service to their country.
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AETNA TOWNSHIP  A woman was shot with a gun over the weekend and the Mecosta County Sheriffs Office is currently investigating what led to the incident.

Shortly after 4 a.m. Sunday, sheriffs deputies were dispatched to Spectrum Health Big Rapids Hospital for a report of a woman who had shown up with a non-life threatening gunshot wound, according to a news release from Sheriff Brian Miller.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The U.S. military pulled off its biggest day of evacuation flights out of Afghanistan by far on Monday, but deadly violence that has blocked many desperate evacuees from entering Kabul's airport persisted, and the Taliban signaled they might soon seek to shut down the airlifts.

Twenty-eight U.S. military flights ferried about 10,400 people to safety out of Taliban-held Afghanistan over 24 hours that ended early Monday morning, and 15 C-17 flights over the next 12 hours brought out another 6,660, White House officials said. The chief Pentagon spokesman, John Kirby, said the faster pace of evacuation was due in part to coordination with Taliban commanders on getting evacuees into the airport.

Thus far, and going forward, it does require constant coordination and deconfliction with the Taliban, Kirby said. What we've seen is, this deconfliction has worked well in terms of allowing access and flow as well as reducing the overall size of the crowds just outside the airport.

With access still difficult, the U.S. military went beyond the airport to carry out another helicopter retrieval of Americans. U.S. officials said a military helicopter picked up 16 American citizens Monday and brought them onto the airfield for evacuation. This was at least the second such rescue mission beyond the airport; Kirby said that last Thursday, three Army helicopters picked up 169 Americans near a hotel just beyond the airport gate and flew them onto the airfield.

President Joe Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said at the White House that talks with the Taliban are continuing as the administration looks for additional ways to safely move more Americans and others into the Kabul airport.

We are in talks with the Taliban on a daily basis through both political and security channels, he said, adding that ultimately it will be Biden's decision alone whether to continue military-led evacuation operations beyond Aug. 31. That's the date Biden had set for completing the withdrawal of troops.

California Democrat Rep Adam Schiff, chairman of the House intelligence committee, told reporters after a committee briefing Monday on the Afghanistan withdrawal it was hard for me to imagine wrapping up the airlifts by the end of the month. He also said it was clear there were any number of warnings to the administration of a very rapid takeover by the Taliban.

After more than a week of evacuations plagued by major obstacles, including Taliban forces and crushing crowds that are making approaching the airport difficult and dangerous, the number of people flown out met  and exceeded  U.S. projections for the first time. The count was more than twice the 3,900 flown out in the previous 24 hours on U.S. military planes.

Army Gen. Stephen Lyons, head of U.S. Transportation Command, which manages the military aircraft that are executing the Kabul airlift, told a Pentagon news conference that more than 200 planes are involved, including aerial refueling planes, and that arriving planes are spending less than an hour on the tarmac at Kabul before loading and taking off. He said the nonstop mission is taking a toll on aircrews.

They're tired, Lyons said of the crews. They're probably exhausted in some cases.

On a more positive note, Lyons said that in addition to the widely reported case of an Afghan woman giving birth aboard a U.S. evacuation aircraft, two other babies have been born in similar circumstances. He did not provide details.

The Pentagon said it has added a fourth U.S. military base, in New Jersey, to three others  in Virginia, Texas and Wisconsin  that are prepared to temporarily house arriving Afghans. Maj. Gen. Hank Williams, the Joint Staff deputy director for regional operations, told reporters there are now about 1,200 Afghans at those military bases. The four bases combined are capable of housing up to 25,000 evacuees, Kirby said.

Afghan evacuees continued to arrive at Dulles International Airport outside of Washington. Exhaustion clouded the faces of many of the adults. How does it feel to be here, a journalist asked one man. We are safe, he answered.

An older woman sank with relief into an offered wheelchair, and a little girl carried by an older boy shaded her eyes to look curiously around. The scramble to evacuate left many arrivals carrying only a bookbag or purse, or a plastic shopping bag of belongings. Some arrived for their new lives entirely empty-handed.

Biden said Sunday he would not rule out extending the evacuation beyond Aug. 31. But British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who will meet with Biden virtually on Tuesday in a G-7 leaders' summit on the chaotic withdrawal, is expected to press Biden for an extension to get out the maximum number of foreigners and Afghan allies possible.

Lawmakers, veterans organizations and refugee advocates in the U.S. also are urging Biden to keep up the U.S. military's evacuation out of the Kabul airport as long as it takes to airlift not just Americans, but Afghan allies and other Afghans most at risk from the Taliban.

But Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen, in an interview with Sky News, said that Aug. 31 is a red line the U.S. must not cross and that extending the American presence would provoke a reaction.

Since the Taliban seized the capital Aug. 15, completing a stunning rout of the U.S.-backed Afghan government and military, the U.S. has been carrying out the evacuation in coordination with the Taliban, who have held off on attacking Americans under a 2020 withdrawal deal with the Trump administration.

Monday's warning signaled the Taliban could insist on shutting down the airlifts out of the Kabul airport in just over a week. Lawmakers, refugee groups, veterans' organizations and U.S. allies have said ending the evacuation then could strand countless Afghans and foreigners still hoping for flights out.

Since Aug. 14, the U.S. has evacuated and facilitated the evacuation of about 37,000 people.

A firefight just outside the airport killed at least one Afghan soldier early Monday, German officials said. It was the latest in days of often-lethal turmoil outside the airport. People coming in hopes of escaping Taliban rule face sporadic gunfire, beatings by the Taliban, and crowds that have trampled many.

___

Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani, Nomaan Merchant, Lolita C. Baldor, Hope Yen, Alexandra Jaffe, James LaPorta, Jonathan Lemire, Matthew Lee and Dan Huff contributed to this report.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP)  A task force established by West Virginia Gov. Justice has recommended that residents be able to access career, education and social services choices in one online location.

The task force will now look at ways to build a single-point web system involving services and programs focused on career opportunities and job placement assistance, health care and family assistance services, and training and education opportunities such as adult education and apprenticeships, according to a statement from the West Virginia Community and Technical College System.
If you think the most expensive home ever sold in Las Vegas would be a baroque estate with elaborate fountains, gold-leafed furniture, and mirrored walls reflecting crystal chandeliers, you're so three decades ago. Or you're Wayne Newton.

Luxury homes in Vegas are now highly sophisticated, especially on the exclusive hillsides surrounding the valley. Those hills offer views of the Strip that can be observed and appreciatedfrom a distance.

The epitome of the aesthetic that celebrates both the beauty of the desert and the glitz of Sin CIty is a sleek, 15,000-square-foot mansion dubbed Vegas Modern 001.

It's a design so emblematic of the area that the term "Vegas Modern" was trademarked by the home's developers, the designers/builders Blue Heron.

Vegas Modern 001 street view Realtor.com

Their creation sold in late June for $25 million, the highest price ever paid for a private residence in the Las Vegas area.

But it won't be the last. The new owner, the billionaire LoanDepot founder Anthony Hsieh (no relation to the late Zappos magnate and legendary Las Vegas supporter Tony Hsieh), agreed to lease the home back to Blue Heron for two years. That leaseback will allow the developers to showcase their work to other deep-pocketed buyers, in the hope of building even more modern masterpieces.

Inside Vegas Modern 001

I'd done my research and scoped out numerous photos and videos of the property before I made my way up to the cushy McDonald Highlands precipice where Vegas Modern 001 is perched.

But no two-dimensional image could have prepared me for what I'd see when I passed through the intentionally narrow front gate. I found an awe-inspiring view of the valley below, framed by water, stone, and glass.

Views of the Las Vegas Strip Realtor.com

Blue Heron's senior product designer, Logan Ziegler, guided my tour. He was not kidding when he told us that Vegas Modern 001 is a "constant journey of surprise,"

He planned my visit to take place at sunset, so I could see the dazzling desert colors of the day give way to the sparkling, velvety colors of the night.

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Watch: Washington, DC's Most Expensive Home Is a Diplomat's Dream

___

The views are so mesmerizing that visitors could easily become distracted, miss a step, and soak their Louboutins. Ubiquitous cobalt-hued pools flow through and around the house. An intriguing walkway ends abruptly at a tranquil pool.

Vegas Modern 001 entry Realtor.com

Blurred lines of living space

Speaking of aquatic features, the property has no less than three swimming pools. One sits right in the middle of the great roomsort of.

Cast aside your ideas of indoor and outdoor life, because interior is a relative term applied to this home. Many of the walls are made of glass, and silently disappear with the touch of a button.

Is this space a living room or a patio? Is this an indoor pool or an outdoor pool? Or is this luxurious tub outside or in? In most cases, the home provides you with the flexibility to choose and define your spaces, based on your mood.

One of three swimming pools Realtor.com

Wild for the walls

I've never been so intrigued by the walls of a houseeven those disappearing transparent glass walls.

If there is a plain white wall anywhere in the home, I missed it.

Some of the walls are made of natural materials, like wood, marble, stone and glass tiles. Many are lined with floor-level planters filled with succulents.

My personal favorite walls were made of a warm, peachy-colored Metaquartzite stone, unique to Las Vegas. The rock was sourced from the nearby Mojave desert and processed by local artisans.

Unique walls Realtor.com

Hidden features behind the walls

Another fascinating feature of those walls? The passageways, water closets, and endless storage spaces hidden behind them.

Door knobs and pulls are declasse in this mansion. In Vegas Modern 001, it's all about gently pressing the right panel on the wall to reveal one of the nine bathroom facilities.

That may strike some people as overly complex, but the layout of Vegas Modern is actually very simple:

There are three stories built on a 1.26-acre mountainside lot, with as many rooms as possible oriented toward views of the valley below.

The largest 3-bedroom home ever?

Visitors are often surprised to learn there are only three bedrooms in the 15,000-square-foot home,

But what the home lacks in quantity of bedrooms is made up for in quality. The master suite, on the main level, features a sunken sleeping area, a reflection pool, and a kitchenette. The suite has two tubs and showers, both inside and out.

Master suite with sunken sleeping area Realtor.com

Master bathroom with two tubsone inside, one out Realtor.com

Calling the other two bedrooms "guest suites" does them a disservice.

One is dubbed the "Sky Suite," because its views and reflections make you feel as if you're soaring above the Earth. It features a walk-in closet with a washer and dryer, as well as a kitchenette.

Sky suite Realtor.com

The other bedroom suite opens to a spacious living-room-style deck, with a fire pit and a dramatic oculus opening overhead.

Second suite Realtor.com

Large balcony with oculus Realtor.com

Beyond the bedrooms

While it only offers three bedrooms as currently configured, several other rooms could easily be converted to additional bedrooms, among them a light-filled office casita.

Office casita Realtor.com

Much of the square footage accommodates an endless array of entertaining spaces. Lounge and living room areas with giant screen TVs and cozy built-in seating can be found throughout the home.

Great room Realtor.com

Open-air great room Realtor.com

You'll also find elegant bars on every floor. One of those bars boasts transparent, geometric lucite barstoolsspecifically selected not to detract from the black marble bar behind them.

Bar with lucite barstools Realtor.com

Game room bar Realtor.com

Great room bar Realtor.com

Much of the home's furniture was custom-made to fit the Vegas Modern aesthetic, and all furnishings were included in the final sale price.

There are also four full modern kitchenstwo inside, two outside, and there are numerous kitchenettes throughout the residence. I quickly lost count of them all, but it's safe to say no one will ever be far from sustenance.

Main indoor kitchen Realtor.com

Outdoor kitchen Realtor.com

Design philosophy

The builders were hyperaware of designing Vegas Modern to appeal to all the senses. They incorporated a biophilic design aesthetic, highlighting the convergence of living spaces with nature.

As Ziegler told me, "The connection to naturewater, plants, stonein the house is calming."

Bath lounge Realtor.com

Beyond the natural world, the home also employs the latest in smart home technology. A smart ecosystem allows residents to sync the home with their circadian rhythm, shifting the lighting and temperature inside to be in harmony with the outdoors. It's also been outfitted with the largest residential solar array in the region.

I came to realize that every square footevery square inchof Vegas Modern 001 has a plan and a purpose.

Understanding and absorbing all the features and amenities would take me a while, but I imagine that's part of the intrigue of living in a home of this stature.

Overhead view Realtor.com

Shortly after this sale was announced, a wealthy buyer from California set another residential real estate record.

Land records show a buyer paid $36 million for four contiguous parcels in the Las Vegas area's elite Summit Club. The lots are currently vacant, but rumor has it that the buyer plans to build a lavish estate on the property. We'll keep you posted on its progress.

The post The House Always Wins: We Went Inside Las Vegas Most Expensive Home appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com.
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Spencer McKee is OutThere Colorado's Director of Content and Operations. In his spare time, Spencer loves to hike, rock climb, and trail run. He's on a mission to summit all 58 of Colorado's fourteeners and has already climbed more than half.
Corto Maltese Is a Comic Book Masterpiece and Shouldnt Be Known as Just a 'The Suicide Squad' Reference

By Alberto Cox Delano | Miscellaneous | August 22, 2021 |

Over the last few weeks, something related to a DC property has been irking me. Like so many irksome things about DC Comics, it involves Frank Miller.

As someone who learned to read through European comics, especially those from the French-Belgian industry, it saddens me to see the insularity this scene has in the global comic book world. Im sorry. Thats of course very wrong. Any proper comic book fan is well acquainted with the European scene. This is not about gatekeeping, because I am not the only one who learned to read with these comics; so did millions of speakers of Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, German, or countless other languages. They are very popular in Britain, Scotland, and Ireland too.

But if there is a market where European comics are relatively obscure, it is in the United States. Its not just about Marvel and DCs dominance; there is a larger and richer independent scene being missed that is on par with anything coming from French-Belgian or Italian publishers. Still, only in recent years has this tradition become more available to US readers.

Back to the main point: I  enjoyed The Suicide Squad. Ill refrain from commenting on how I, a Latin American, feel about their satire of US foreign policy. Right now, I have one and just one bone to pick, and its about the name of DC Comics prime Banana Republic: Corto Maltese. Because Corto Maltese and its namesake lead character, written and illustrated by the legendary Italian author Hugo Pratt, is probably, most likely, pretty much the greatest comic book series ever.

It first appeared in The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller as a throwaway homage. Ever since, it has appeared in the main DC continuity and in shows like Arrow. Because of this, I have reasons to worry that, by its sheer algorithmic weight, the tribute might end up burying the inspiration. It probably wont, but if Millers intention was to tribute one of his favorite works, Im not sure it has gained it a larger readership.

I Googled Corto Maltese (or Corto Maltes, in Spanish) using VPN servers for different countries. The majority of results are about the comic book series, sure, but results about DC continuity creep up early in the results in the US, in the UK, and even in its original Italian.

Sure, most recent articles about Corto Maltese (the location) do mention that the name is a tribute to the comic book series, but they mostly stop at that. I only managed to find one article, by Adi Tantimedh at Bleeding Cool, explaining why Corto Maltese matters.

Umberto Eco said once, half-seriously, half in jest, that whenever he wanted to relax, he read essays by Engels, and whenever he wanted to challenge himself, he read Corto Maltese. This should give you an idea of the wonder and complexity of this series.

Corto Maltese (the series) was published between 1967 and 1988 in anthology magazines, as it was the standard for the European industry. Set during the first quarter of the 20th Century, it follows Corto Maltese (the character), the ultimate rogue with a heart of gold. Corto was born in La Valetta to a Sevillian Romani woman and a British Sailor. Technically a captain, he has been a smuggler, pirate, mercenary, spy, and agent provocateur, usually finding himself in the midst of major revolution, war, or conflict of the era. Despite his best attempts to float above all, shielded in a smirk and sardonic wit, his better nature gets the best of him and he usually ends up on the right side, fighting for the weaker ones.

It has everything you would expect from any action and adventure series: Mysticism, hallucinogenic travels, occultism and lodges, a non-systematic deconstruction of colonialist and Eurocentric tropes, humanized people of color that have proper agency, a thorough immersion into cultures usually otherized 

Oh, right, and of course, shootouts, political intrigue, train chases, car chases, armored car chases, weird villains, femme fatales (that are actually characters on their own and not plot hinges), ships being blown up, long-lost treasures, and continents 

The collections are ludicrously hard to find in English. Published by Euro Comics, an imprint of IDW and The Library of American Comics, just last year they published the final title in the series. It deserves more readers. Go check it with your local independent bookseller.

 'Ted Lasso' Episode 5 Recap: Big Dog Catches a Rainbow | 5 Shows After Dark: 'Chapelwaite' Premiere Epix, 'Talking Dead' 10th Season Premiere AMC 

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Sammy Wade Ball Jr. was born May 16, 1966 in Bakersfield, CA. He died August 18, 2021 in Shreveport, LA. at age 55 from Covid-19. He was preceded in death by his father, Sammy Wade Ball Sr. He is survived by his wife of 27 years Angela Ball and his 3 children, Bernard, Christian, and Melissa
Gaborone, Botswana (PANA) - Botswana has announced intentions to consider remodeling the countrys tertiary education financing policy to bring it at par with current economic realities
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (PANA) - The Burkinabe army said here Monday it had neutralized several dozen terrorists after the terrorist attack that killed 65 civilians, 15 gendarmes and four army auxiliaries in the Sahel locality of Gorgadji
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Civil society organisations (CSOs) in Libya on Monday called on the Libyan government to reverse its decision to create a Government Information Authority with broad powers, saying that such a decision is likely to strengthen the government's influence on the media space and threaten media freedom
Eureka College will off free COVID-19 testing to the general public through a partnership with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and SHIELD Illinois. It will open Tuesday and again Thursday from 10 to 11 a.m. in the basement of Melick Library. Parking is available on Darst Street. Those getting tested can use the librarys southwest side entrance that leads directly to the basement.

Individuals -- whether he/she are showing symptoms or not  can go to www.portal.shieldillinois.com to register and make an appointment. Walk-ins are welcome.

Instead of an invasive nasal swab, the covidSHIELD test uses saliva and takes just minutes to collect. Confidential results are known in six to 24 hours.

EC is a SHIELD Illinois partner and is using covidSHIELD testing for students, faculty and staff, but also decided to include the general public.

As the country moved into a new phase in the pandemic (more focused on the vaccine as opposed to testing), many free testing sites in our area closed or started limiting hours, said Craig A. Maynard, the colleges vice president for finance & facilities/Chief Financial Officer (CFO). We had a number of families and students reach out to the college asking where they could get tested for COVID-19 before returning to campus. We wanted to try and help fill the need for our campus, as well as the surrounding community.

IDPH is using federal funds from the CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan to offer the free, rapid PCR testing to members of the community through SHIELD Illinois, a nonprofit of the University of Illinois System.

The effort is part of an agreement between the University of Illinois System and the state to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The innovative saliva-based covidSHIELD test detects three genes of SARS-CoV-2 virus, which allows it to quickly detect the virus that causes COVID-19 and its variants, including among people who do not have symptoms.

EC is among more than 900 SHIELD Illinois testing sites across the state, including universities, community colleges, high schools and a dozen free community testing locations. For more information, contact Brittany Parker, ECs director of marketing, at bparker@eureka.edu.

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Each week, we feature dozens of Central Illinois children's thoughts and drawings on various topics. Have a suggestion? email your drawings and topic responses to flyinghorse@pantagraph.com; include your student's name, grade level and school (or if the student is home-schooled). Flying Horse also appears in print every Sunday.
According to Wine Institute figures, Californias wine industry contributes $114 billion annually to the American economy and employs 786,000 workers. California retail wine sales reached $43.6 billion in the United States in 2019, with the state claiming three out of every five bottles sold. All in all, the Golden State is responsible for producing 81% of all the wine made in America, and ranks fourth worldwide in wine production, trailing only France, Italy and Spain.

Californias colorful wine history

Originally planted by Franciscan missionaries for sacramental wine production back in the 18th century, Mission grapes are believed to be the first cultivated variety grown in America. After the Gold Rush of the 1840s and up until around the turn of the 20th century, European wine grape varieties were imported and propagated at nurseries throughout the state. In fact, the California State Viticultural Commission was established in 1860 to promote variety in vine importation.

However, Californias true wine boom wouldn't happen until the 1960s, when consumer tastes began to evolve from sweet wines and generic jug blends to quality table wines made from specific grape varieties.

Along with his peers, industry legend Robert Mondavi led the effort to put California wines on the global map, striving to turn out products that rivaled the best wines Europe had to offer.

The Paris Wine Tasting of 1976 proved a watershed moment, when California Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon bested their French counterparts in blind tastings for the first time ever.

So just what is it that gives California wines their lasting allure? Turns out, several things.

Climate

California benefits from a Mediterranean-like climate defined by warm, dry, sunny summers and mild , wet winters. These conditions help wine grapes grow steadily during a long, relatively stress-free season between April and October.

The great diversity of climates across California contributes to its great wines, supporting the growth of everything from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir to Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel.

Topography

The influence of the Pacific Ocean and several other significant mountain ranges cannot be overstated. Many of the most important wine regions in California, from Napa and Sonoma to Santa Barbara and Paso Robles, benefit in myriad ways from the natural cooling of coastal winds, fog and moisture. The comfortable temperatures help grapes retain acidity, which in turn keeps the resulting wines fresh and balanced instead of flabby and heavy on the palate.

This specific geology is one of the reasons California boasts 142 unique American Viticultural Areas (AVAs)  designated geographic regions for growing wine grapes  from Humboldt County near the Oregon border all the way to Temecula Valley and San Diego to the south with the majority of AVAs dotting the coast.

Elevation

Along with microclimates and soils, California features a wide variety of exposures and elevations, giving wine growers and winemakers further material to work with. These variations make it possible to capture the abundant sunshine the state provides, and to protect the vines from the threat of frost, wind or heavy rain, though rainfall during the growing season tends to be minimal. Currently, California supports the growth of dozens of different wine grape varieties, with Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon proving the most popular, and thus, the most frequently planted.

Sustainability

California has long embraced forward-thinking sustainable practices with a focus on soil health, habitat restoration and biodiversity, in addition to encouraging beneficial insects, using sheep and other grazing animals for weed control, and emphasizing water conservation.

In 2019, Sonoma County announced that 99% of its vineyards had been certified sustainable, making it the most sustainable wine region in the world.

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GIBSON CITY  Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Illinois congressional leaders on Monday called for the U.S. Small Business Administration to declare a disaster in Ford County, setting the stage for financial relief amid the cleanup from extreme storms earlier this month.

The declaration, if approved, would allow county residents and businesses to apply for low-interest, long term loans to pay for storm recovery costs. To qualify for it, officials need to prove that at least 25 homes and/or businesses sustained major, uninsured losses of at least 40 percent.

Recent storms and heavy flooding have upended the daily lives of Ford county residents, impacting family homes and local businesses. Multiple State agencies have been on the ground to provide critical support as residents begin the process of rebuilding, Pritzker said in a statement.

Receiving a disaster declaration from the U.S. SBA would provide an additional level of needed support to the community and help residents get back on their feet faster and stronger," Pritzker said.

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The state's request comes after Pritzker on Aug. 16 asked the SBA to assess damage from the storms, a first step toward the declaration.

That assessment started Wednesday and was led by the SBA and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. It found the damage did not meet the threshold for a federal disaster declaration from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Illinois' 18 members of the U.S. House of Representatives and two U.S. senators in a joint letter sent Monday to SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman wrote that the assessment found "many properties either incurred major damage or were destroyed as a result of the flooding."

The state's congressional delegation also wrote that "assisting these residents in recovery is of utmost importance" and that Pritzker "has determined that this incident is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the state and local governments."

A Multi-Agency Resource Center was set up Saturday at the Kruse Center, and team Rubicon will be on hand to assist through Tuesday.

Gibson City says crews began picking up debris on Monday, and will continue work through Thursday, Aug. 26. Another round of pickups will begin Monday, Aug. 30.

Contact Timothy Eggert at (309) 820-3276. Follow him on Twitter: @TimothyMEggert

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The body of a man who rescuers had been searching for since a tube he was riding on flipped Friday on Fox Lake was found Sunday morning, officials said.

The 28-year-old man had gone under the surface of the lake around 10 a.m. Friday, according to rescue organizations, which included the Fox Lake Fire Protection District and the Lake County sheriffs office.

The man and two small children were being towed on a water tube behind a pontoon boat when it flipped over. The children were wearing life vests and were helped back into the boat by their mother. The man was not wearing a life vest and struggled to stay afloat before going under, officials said.

After 90 minutes of searching, the effort to locate him became a recovery mission, meaning they did not expect to find him alive.

At 8:30 a.m. Sunday, the body was located in the water, near Lipincott Point, fire officials said.

The person was confirmed to be the victim from the water rescue (mission) that began (Friday), according to an emailed statement from Lt. Jake Geist, of the fire protection district.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Lake County Coroners Office assisted with the recovery.

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EDWARDSVILLE  Madison County prosecutors on Friday charged the driver accused of striking and killing Brooklyn police Officer Brian Pierce Jr. on the McKinley Bridge earlier this month.

Authorities said Caleb L. Campbell, 22, was speeding away from Illinois police in a Dodge Charger around 3 a.m. Aug. 4 when Pierce attempted to lay out spike strips on the bridge to stop him.

Campbell struck Pierce and fled into Missouri, where he is currently being held on unrelated charges, police said.

Madison County State's Attorney Thomas A. Haine said Campbell faces charges of first-degree murder, failure to report an accident involving injury or death, reckless homicide, failure to stop after having an accident involving personal injury or death, and aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer.

Court records in Missouri say Campbell has previous felony convictions for resisting arrest and weapons offenses. An attorney has not yet been listed in his current case.

Pierce had been working the night shift for the Brooklyn Police Department for roughly nine months and was making the drive every day from Carbondale, Illinois, and working a second job as a lieutenant at the Makanda Fire Department.

His colleagues at the Brooklyn Police Department described him as a happy person who always arrived to work early to start his shift.

At the fire department, Chief Jim Bilderback said Pierce was dependable and always ready to help.

"He was Johnny on the spot," Bilderback said. "If there was something needed, he'd get it done."

Katie Kull  314-340-8087 @KatieKull1 on Twitter kkull@post-dispatch.com

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ROSCOE  Two weeks of pay for every year on the job up to 52 weeks was the severance package Chemtool employees were expecting after the company's Rockton plant was destroyed by fire.

Taylor Vronch, a Chemtool foreman, called the severance package a "generous policy," that is before the company changed it.

Vronch was among 25 Chemtool employees who gathered Sunday at Mary's Market in Roscoe to talk about a recent change to the severance packages they say they were assured they'd get.

The package now states employees with five years or more will receive one weeks' pay per year on the job with a maximum payout of eight weeks.

Speaking through the media to Chemtool's parent company, Lubrizol, Vronch and his fellow employees want to know  what gives?

"Some of us stand here with 20 years of service with Lubrizol," Vronch said. "We've been proud of these certificates. Now their meaning has diminished. Lubrizol no longer recognizes them.

"While we sat in meetings that Lubrizol conducted trusting what they were saying, they were busy changing the severance policy, removing Chemtool as a participant of the program. The policy that we once saw on Lubrizol's website was altered overnight without a word to us."

After the meeting Sunday, Alicia Gauer, Lubrizol's senior global communications director, said in an email that Lubrizol has provided "significant support" for its employees since the day of the fire by providing full pay and benefits including financial, legal and mental care benefits through its Employee Assistance Program.

Gauer would not confirm or deny that the company's severance policy was recently changes.

"Given the near-term realities at the site, impacted employees will eventually need to move on, and we will provide appropriate severance when that time comes," Gauer said. "Those details are being discussed directly with employees."

More than 30% of the Rockton Chemtool employees have been placed in new positions within Lubrizol, in extended terms with the company or with outside organizations, Gauer said.

At the time of the fire  June 14, 2021  the plant at 1165 Prairie Hill Road had 225 employees.

"Within a few weeks of the fire, we hosted a job fair in Rockton with more than 15 area employers and continue to support efforts to connect our Rockton employees with employers," Gauer said. "We are providing a placement bonus to any Rockton employee who finds a job outside of Lubrizol."

Meanwhile, Lubrizol will continue to pay employees their full salaries through Sept. 14.

"The ball is in their court," Vronch said. "There is still a chance to do the right thing.

"The severance letters have not been sent out yet. Warren Buffett (owner of Ohio-based Lubrizol) is our employer. We know that he is an honorable man. We believe it would be his intention to do the right thing, and we are asking Lubrizol to do so."

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100 years ago

Aug. 23, 1921: Atlanta Town Marshal Leslie Mountjoy shot and killed a man after a fight at a village restaurant. The victim, Alonzo Kirby, was the father of four. The case is shaping up as self defense. The sheriff took Mountjoy into custody for the night, but did not arrest him.

75 years ago

Aug. 23, 1946: Indianapolis police picked up a man wanted for the robbery at Stanleys Tavern in Bloomington. He has since confessed. His accomplice, a blonde woman, is still at large and believed to be his wife. The man, Ernest Mitchell of Indianapolis, will be extradited to Illinois.

50 years ago

Aug. 23, 1971: James Jake Casella has sold his popular pizza restaurant on South Main Street and is setting up a new store at 236 East Front Street. He will deal in furniture, appliances and antiques. Casella says he was ready for something that didnt take so much of his time.

25 years ago

Aug. 23, 1996: A rush hour fire destroyed the Twin City Hydramatic and Haney Plumbing building on West Washington Street. Smoke was visible for miles. The blaze took over three hours to bring under control. The cause is unknown, and there were no injuries reported.

Compiled by Jack Keefe; jkeefe@coldwellhomes.com.
Photo: (Photo : Chris Hondros/Getty Images)

Illinois will no longer tolerate hairstyle discrimination in schools beginning Jan. 1, 2022, as Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed a new law, essentially banning dress codes that may impact hairstyles tied to a race or ethnicity.

The new law, also known as the Jett Hawkins Law, was sponsored by Rep. Mike Simmons, a Black lawmaker who traditionally wears his hair in long, natural, and free-form dreadlocks. He told the Chicago Sun-Times that this was a personal part of his work because he also experienced humiliation for his hairstyle in school. He said that he was belittled by people of authority who didn't think that his God-given hair was acceptable in class.

Simmons was inspired to file the bill after a 4-year-old boy, Gus "Jett" Hawkins, was told by his school to cut his braids as this violated the dress code. His mother, Ida Nelson, launched an awareness campaign calling an end to the stigma of hairstyle differences in children as it could have a bigger impact on their development.

Nelson said that the approval of the Jett Hawkins Law had been a "huge step towards improving the mental health outcomes for our children."

No Comprising Identities

Pritzker signed the law against hairstyle discrimination at the Uplift Community High School, where he told the kids that they should embrace their heritage instead of compromising their identities. The governor said that this should be the start of the last conversations against kids who prefer to express themselves in how they dress or look.

Read Also: Illinois To Require Schools To Teach Asian American History, First State To Pass Bill

Nelson and her son were present during the signing of the bill. The mother hopes that other states will follow and create similar laws so that hairstyle discrimination will be nationwide.

Under the law, the Illinois State Board of Education will also be tasked to release educational resources on their website about hair texture and hairstyles like braids, locks, or twists, which are racially or ethnically linked to history.

What Happened to Jett Hawkins?

In March, the pre-schooler asked his mother to braid his hair after seeing a photo of a boy with a similar hairstyle. Nelson was so pleased to see her 4-year-old son excited about it as he was starting to develop his own positive self-image.

Soon after, Nelson received a call from the administrators of Providence St. Mel, a school with a predominantly Black population. The mother was informed that her son violated the dress code as boys of Providence were expected to have their hair cropped short and combed in a neat style.

In her frustration, Nelson posted her story on Facebook and expressed that dress codes are restrictive to Black students with naturally textured hair. Her sentiment drew responses and support, urging the school to change its over 40-year-old dress code.

Principal Timothy Ervin said that the policy would be reviewed before the new school year starts. He reiterated, however, that the dress code is not about disrespect or discrimination. The school's founder, Paul Adams, wanted the students to look distinguished and stand out against other schools.

Related Article: Lying To Kids During Interrogations Now Illegal for Illinois Cops
Photo: (Photo : KURT DESPLENTER/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)

The wearing of a face mask for kids is highly recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) when they return to in-person classes. Due to the Delta variant surge, people of all ages, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, are advised to wear a face mask indoors to prevent virus transmission.

Though the general recommendations do not specify the best type of face mask for kids, some experts said parents should look for a mask equivalent to the N95. It is a U.S. manufactured face mask approved by the Food and Drug Administration for protection against airborne transmission as it has the right filtration to block small particles.

According to Virginia Tech lab engineer Linsey Marr, since N95 doesn't come in children's sizes, parents may consider other masks that fit perfectly without any leaks to the sides. The expert said that a fabric mask might fit more snuggly on a child's face, but a surgical mask should be under it for better filtration.

Read Also: Is Face Mask Wearing Harmful to Children's Development? Experts Sound Off

Parents need to know that fit and filtration are both critical factors to ensure protection. However, children must also be comfortable about wearing a face mask. Otherwise, it will defeat the purpose of protecting them if they decide to take this off in school.

Are KN95 Face Mask Good?

KN95 face masks are widely available in all sizes, but some parents hesitate to let their kids wear this protection because it's manufactured in China. Marr warned that KN95 counterfeit masks abound, and these do not provide the same quality of protection as the real items. However, there are ways to test if the face mask is a counterfeit using a lighter, water, or fragrance.

Dr. Sharon Nachman of the Stony Brook Children's Hospital suggested that parents pack extra face masks for their kids in a Ziploc bag if what they're wearing gets wet. The expert said that children are usually mouth breathers who may quickly soil their masks. A soiled or wet mask is inefficient.

Meanwhile, a global company recently launched a KN95 for children, which has been registered with the FDA. Vida Kids KN95 masks are selling for $35 for a pack of 10 at its official site on ShopVida.Com. The mask also comes in different colors that will appeal to the children. The company will be able to deliver any orders, regardless if it's for family use or a bulk order of 1,000 or more face masks for kids.

WellBefore Kids KN95 masks, on the other hand, have three sizes, including extra small, and are sold for $1.49 each on their site at Wellbefore.Com. Their items are featured with five layers to guarantee protection. A minimum of 10 masks is required with each purchase, but unlike Vida Kids, they currently have just white and blue face masks.

Mask Mandates in School

At least 14 states across America have allowed schools to issue a face mask mandate, while eight states have banned schools from having such a rule, saying that it's a personal decision for the parents.

Pediatrician and infectious disease expert Dr. Tina Tan of the Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago, which has allowed schools to make the decision about face masks, said that it's a public health and safety issue and has nothing to do with politics.

"You have to be able to wear a mask because that is the only way you're going to be able to do in-person school," she said.

Related Article: Mandatory Mask in School for All Students Recommended by Pediatric Group
(Click on image to Enlarge)

In May Patently Apple posted a report titled "Rumors claim that exciting new Mac Hardware will be introduced at June's WWDC21." Jon Prosser pointed to a newly designed Mac mini with a plexiglass-like top and more ports. While that rumor failed to materialize, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has decided to refresh that rumor in his latest Power On newsletter posted on Sunday.

In early August Patently Apple posted an IP report titled "Apple wins a Patent for an Expandable Display that hides the iPhone's Cameras & Eliminates the Notch on Demand," demonstrating Apple was working on a way to hide the the TrueDepth camera notch when not required.

Then came Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold3 with an all-new way to cover their camera punch hole when the user is watch content not requiring the camera. On August 15th we posted a report titled "While Apple is working on ways to eliminate the iPhone's camera notch, Samsung delivered a clever solution on their new Galaxy Z Fold3. The video below presents Samsung's method of hiding the under display camera when not needed.







Gurman's newsletter touched on this in his newsletter by noting that Apple plans to do something similar to what Samsung delivered in the video above. Gurman's vagueness as to when to expect this type of feature appeared to more of a thought than anything concrete.

As for Touch ID under the display goes, Patently Apple covered Apple's first patent on this technology in 2015 and posted five patent reports on this in 2021 alone (01, 02, 03, 04, 05).

Gurman's newsletter noted on Sunday that "While Apple had tested in-screen Touch ID for the next flagship iPhones, it wont make the cut this year. I believe Apple is all-in on Face ID for its higher-end iPhones and its long-term goal is to implement Face ID in the display itself."

Samsung has beaten Apple to market on both hiding the under-display camera creatively and Touch ID under the display. Hopefully Apple will finally put their patent-pending technologies to work in the not-too-distant future.
In Facebook land I found myself drawn into a conversation about the foundations of the Methodist church.

Its one of those historical tidbits that I find as tempting as much as a cat catching a wiff of catnip. As it happens there is a controversy over whether the Methodist founder John Wesley sought, or perhaps even obtained the historic episcopacy for his mission.

The known facts are these: the monk Gerasimos Avlonites, Bishop Erasmus of the Greek diocese of Arcadia, Crete, was caught up in a civil war between Greek and Ottomans, and was driven into exile in 1739. The bishop went on to establish an Orthodox mission in Amsterdam.

He then visited London in 1763. And while there Bishop Erasmus met John Wesley.

What happened out of those meetings has sparked endless questions. They range from not much at all, to the bishop ordained some priests for Wesleys mission, including John Jones, Samson Staniforth, Thomas Bryant, Alexander Mather, and (unnamed) others, to flat out asserting among those ordinations the bishop also consecrated Wesley a bishop.

The ordinations seem credible and almost certainly happened. The consecration is in serious doubt. However, we do have a picture of the event, and theres that. Well, except it was painted in the twenty-first century. But, you know, details

If he did succeed, but it was sub rosa, pretty much moots the whole thing, to my mind. Secret consecrations are no better than no consecrations for anyone except the recipient of the honor. After all this is as much a communal thing as a private affair. This is why in those churches claiming apostolic succession, multiple consecrators are expected and in some jurisdictions, required.

But if it happened and had been published to the world, it opens the imaginative doors of what if. What if his church could and did claim to stand in that tradition with the various Catholic, Anglican, Orthodox, and (some) Lutherans?

What exactly would come of this? Nothing? Something? A whole lot of something? Hard to say.

And. I searched YouTube for an clip of the ordination/commissioning/consecration of a Methodist bishop to discover the video from Africa I show below.

So, whatever else, theres that

All intriguing, the stuff of long conversations among the theologically and ecclesiastically minded, probably involving several glasses wine
Government has secured US$100 million start-up fund through the Ghana Investment Infrastructure Fund (GIIF) for the commencement of works on 'Agenda 111' district, specialized and regional hospitals across the country.



President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will perform the ground-breaking ceremony on Tuesday, August 17, 2021, at Trede in the Atwima Kwanwoma District of the Ashanti Region.



The Project Implementation Committee chaired by Chief of Staff, Madam Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, had secured sites and land titles for 88 out of the 101 district hospitals and each unit would cost US$17 million, covering 15 acres.



Each hospital is expected to be completed within 12 months, starting from the point of commencement.



Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, who announced this at the Minister's briefing in Accra on Sunday, said since the President announced the Project in April last year, the Committee had undertaken some activities, including securing project consultants and contractors.



The Agenda 111 project includes 101 district hospitals, six regional hospitals in the newly created regions, two specialized hospitals in the middle and northern belts, as well as a regional hospital in the Western Region and renovation of the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital.



The objective of the Project, Mr Oppong Nkrumah explained, was to significantly deepen delivery of quality healthcare at the district level, boost access to healthcare services for all citizens towards ensuring the attainment of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal Three.



In selecting contractors, the Minister said, local contractors were given a priority to create jobs for the local communities, adding that it would also create employment for health workers and ancillary staff.



More also, all the hospitals would have a staff accommodation for medical doctors, nurses and other health workers.



Mr Oppong Nkrumah noted that the Agenda 111 presented an unparalleled opportunity to transform the country's healthcare system, saying "It's the largest healthcare infrastructure project ever taken in the history of Ghana since independence."



Each unit would have facilities such as Outpatient services, including consultation for medical and surgical cases, Ophthalmology, Dental and Physiotherapy and Imaging services.



Mr Oppong Nkrumah urged the traditional authorities, youth groups and local actors in the beneficiary districts to cooperate with the government and contractors to ensure the successful execution of the projects.

Source: GNA









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Absa Group Ltd., one of Africas largest financial services providers, reported an increase in interim earnings and resumed dividend payments as the economic effects of the pandemic eased in the first half of 2021 compared with the same period a year earlier.



Group headline earnings grew five-fold to R8.6 billion, which is higher than pre-pandemic levels, supported by resilient pre-provision profit growth and a significant decline in impairments. While earnings increased strongly, the improvement is off a low base a year earlier. Absa generates most of its income from its operations in South Africa.



These results are testimony to the decisions that we took during the crisis around supporting our customers and taking a cautious approach to preserving capital and liquidity, said Jason Quinn, Absa Interim Group Chief Executive.



The Group further strengthened its capital reserves during the period and maintained a strong liquidity position in the first half.



Pleasingly, our headline earnings exceeded pre-COVID levels and our common equity tier 1 capital ratio strengthened further to the top end of our target range, said Punki Modise, Absa Group Interim Financial Director. The Groups balance sheet remains resilient and returns are now above cost of equity.



The recovery was broad-based as all business units reported strong growth from a low base in the prior year.



Retail and Business Banking (RBB), which generates most of the Groups income, grew headline earnings eight-fold to R4.2 billion. The benefit of a lower impairment charge was partially eroded by a 15% decline in pre-provision profit, given high claims and reserving in the life insurance business and customer-centric fee reductions. RBB has invested heavily in digital and has made considerable progress in this area, including launching Apple Pay recently.



Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB)s headline earnings more than doubled to R4 billion, driven by solid growth across the franchise, most notably in the Global Markets business and the Investment Bank. This helped to offset low credit appetite from corporate clients.



The Group refined its operating model after an internal and external review found that the Group structure was sub-optimal relative to its growth ambitions and the scale of the opportunity across the continent. The major reporting units, RBB and CIB, will be accountable for their product lines across the continent, complemented by a strong, focused and lean ARO central capability and fully enabled country leadership teams.



Absa continued to play a role in society this year, building on last years substantial efforts to support customers, staff, communities and stakeholders in difficult times.



Absas response to the pandemic and more recent incidents in South Africa has continued to be comprehensive, compassionate and reflective of the best of Absas values, said Quinn.



Absa announced R500 million of pricing relief for customers in South Africa in February and reinstated its Siyasizana payment relief programme in August to assist retail customers (individuals) with existing credit facilities after they were impacted by unrest and looting in July. Absa extended tailored credit solutions to business banking customers and made donations totalling R12.5 million to assist with immediate needs such as food relief and infrastructure restoration in affected areas.



Absa made significant progress in a number of key areas during the reporting period, including in sustainability. Absa published its first Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) report in March and it was the first South African bank to announce sustainable finance targets. The Group aims to finance or arrange more than R100 billion for environment, social and governance-related projects by 2025.



Outlook



Absa foresees a number of risks to the Groups growth forecasts in the remainder of the year and recognizes that the impact of COVID-19 remains a significant uncertainty.



Absa currently expects the South African economy to grow 4% this year from last years 7% decline, a slightly improved outlook compared with the 3% growth forecast in March.



We are now confident, in hindsight, and considering the improvements in our financial momentum, that most of the key strategic calls made in 2018 were good decisions, which have been delivering against and which and remain very relevant today, said Quinn. Its also clear that much opportunity still remains and the management team has a strong sense of urgency around re-anchoring and refreshing our strategy against the latest market context and executing against our priorities including making further and deliberate progress on our culture journey.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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A 28-year-old architect has been arrested at Abesim near Sunyani for allegedly killing about three children and keeping some meat suspected to be human in a fridge.



The suspect, Richard Appiah who is also a surveyor is alleged to have murdered his stepbrother and two other boys aged between 12 and 15 years.



The body of one of the victims was cut into pieces and some of the parts allegedly kept in a double door fridge found in one of the rooms in the house where Appiah lived.



Appiah was arrested by some relations of one of the victims aged 12 and other members of the community.



A relative of one of the victims is said to have reported to the Sunyani police about his missing son on August 20, 2021, at about 10:10 pm.



He told the police that Appiah had come for his 12-year-old son at about 5:30 pm but the young boy could not be traced.



About an hour and a half later, some relatives of the suspect returned to the police station with Appiah on suspicion of knowing the whereabouts of the 12-year-old boy.



Police together with the complainants and suspect proceeded to Appiah's rented self-contained house at Alaska area near Abesim and found the boy dead and lying in a supine position in one of the rooms.



A search in the house found another deceased having been murdered and kept in one of the rooms.



A further search in the room led to the police finding pieces of meat suspected to be human parts of a different person in a double door fridge.



The Police in collaboration with some members of the community arrested Richard Appiah, the suspect, who is currently in Police custody assisting investigations.



Community commended



The Acting Director-General of the Ghana Police Public Affairs Directorate told Graphic Online that the Inspector General of Police, Dr Geroge Akuffo Dampare, has directed the National Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to provide technical support to Bono Regional CID to investigate the matter to its logical conclusion.



He has also commended the police and the community for the swift response in arresting the suspect, saying that civil-police collaboration should be deepened to promote peace and security in society.







Source: graphiconline.com









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The acting Upper East Regional Director of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Mr Kasimu Abudulai, has bemoaned the illegal fees charged by some service providers for services rendered to holders of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) card in the region.



He noted that the situation was one of the major factors discouraging Ghanaians and for that matter many residents of the region from enrolling unto the scheme as well as renewing their membership.



Mr Abudulai made this known in Bolgatanga last Wednesday on the sidelines of the first 2021 review meeting of the Regional Directorate of the NHIA.



He said most often service providers asked clients who were beneficiaries of the scheme to pay for the services rendered to them, when indeed those services were covered by the scheme already, thus making beneficiaries lose confidence in the system.



He said it was illegal for any service provider to charge any NHIS holder for treatment already covered by the scheme, and urged victims to report such cases to the NHIA with evidence for appropriate action to be taken.



Indicators



The acting regional director explained that although there was an increase in almost all the indicators, including membership enrolment, indigenes registration and mobile money renewals within the period under review, it was a slight increase which could have been better but for the illegal charges by some service providers.



At the end of June 2021, the active membership in the region stood at 697,924, representing 52 per cent of the population in the region as compared to 682,334, representing 51.7 per cent of the total population in June, 2020.



Enrolment of indigenes rose slightly from 29,619 in June, 2020 to 31,983 persons in June, 2021, while mobile money renewal processes increased from 153,097 in June, 2020 to 162,388 in June, 2021.



One of the major challenges of the scheme is illegal charges by service providers at the health facilities because if people pay something at the hospital, then the system is no longer working; therefore the beneficiaries are not encouraged to renew their membership with the scheme, Mr Abudulai said.



He observed that initially we had a problem owing the service providers, and there has been a lot of improvement but the clients still complain.



Report illegalities



The acting regional director pointed out that the NHIS was the backbone of health care in Ghana, and therefore it was imperative for all members to enjoy its full benefits, stressing, we are encouraging our clients who are charged illegally to report to us with evidence so that the appropriate action can be taken.



Mr Abudulai indicated that lack of office accommodation and other facilities at some of the operational districts was also hampering the effective delivery of the core mandate of the Scheme. In the Builsa North and Bongo districts for instance, officers operate in zinc containers.



He, therefore, appealed to the district assemblies to assist in providing the authority with decent office accommodation to enhance effective work.



If you go to Bongo and Sandema for instance, our MIS machines have been installed in a container and a market store respectively; during our warm season, even when all the air conditioners are powered, the facilities are not able to withstand the heat; they work continuously and almost every month they break down, he stated.



Mr Abudulai also explained that poor network connection in some rural districts in the region, coupled with inconsistent supply of consumables adversely affected the operations of the NHIA.









Source: graphiconline.com









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The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has adopted a peer-to-peer strategy in the enforcement of COVID-19 safety protocols.

This is to complement existing protocol enforcement mechanisms to improve on adherence.



Speaking to the Daily Graphic in Accra, the Leader of Risk Communication for COVID-19 Response, Dr. Dacosta Aboagye, said under the new strategy, the service sought to ensure that people imbibed the responsibility of first wearing the mask and insisting that their peers wore it as well.



Dr. Aboagye, who is also the Director of Health Promotion at the GHS, said both vendors and buyers must make sure that they wore face masks before engaging in any form of transaction.



Dont board any commercial vehicle if the driver and his assistant are not wearing face masks; the driver and his assistant must also demand same from passengers before they board the vehicle," he added.



Dr. Aboagye also explained that the strategy was to support the government effort at reducing the infection rate of COVID-19 in the country as figures of active cases and death rate were on the rise.



Caution



Dr. Aboagye further cautioned the people against getting weary of the protocols, saying that unless the nation fought the global pandemic by adhering to the safety protocols, the consequences could be dire.



Hence the need for the peer-to-peer enforcement initiative to make the people know their responsibility in enhancing compliance.



Although Ghana has in the past seen widespread adherence to the wearing of masks, washing of hands and social distancing and compliance of restrictions to keep people safe, there are worrying signs of people growing weary of the pandemic and relaxing adherence to the protocols, he added.



According to the director, anecdotal evidence suggested that face mask wearing had dropped significantly to the lowest level since the pandemic broke out in the country last year.



Delta variant



Dr. Aboagye also said the Delta variant of COVID-19 was fast spreading in local communities and, therefore, reminded the public that we are not in normal times.



In fact, some citizens are happy the government has allowed the performance of funerals in line with adherence to the protocols. With fatigue growing amid the third wave, it is a perfect time to renew public communication, build on the swell of supportive messages from politicians, celebrities and other people to correct misinformation that has crept into social media space, he added.







Source: graphiconline.com









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Private jets filled up the runway of the airport in the northern Nigerian city of Kano as members of Nigeria's elite and West African dignitaries flew in for the wedding of the president's son and the daughter of a prominent religious and traditional leader.



The marriage of Yusuf Buhari to Zahra Nasir Bayero is one of Nigeria's biggest celebrity events of the year.



Thousands attended the event at the palace of the Emir of Bichi, a town in Kano state.



One historian told the BBC that a wedding between presidential and royal families was unprecedented in Nigeria.



The pair met at the University of Surrey in the UK.



The festivities continued on Saturday when the bride's father Nasir Ado Bayero was officially crowned as the Emir of Bichi. His brother is the Emir of Kano, one of Nigeria's most prominent Islamic leaders.



The newlywed couple did not attend that ceremony.



The groom's family paid 500,000 naira ($1,200; 900) as the bride price - about 10 times the average amount in northern Nigeria.



The BBC's Ishaq Khalid in Nigeria says the pre-wedding pictures of the bride caused controversy on social media, with some calling her clothing "immoral" because her shoulders were exposed, while others defended her.



While there are some reports that 100 private jets flew in for the occasion, an airport official told the BBC there were actually fewer than 50.



Nevertheless, the festivities were scaled down because of the coronavirus pandemic. Many of the guests wore face masks, with Nigeria currently struggling to contain an upsurge in cases.



There was heavy security at the wedding ceremony, with police and military officers guarding the palace and stationed at nearby strategic locations.



The wedding itself was conducted by Communications Minister Isa Ali Pantami, a qualified imam.



Top politicians and traditional rulers from across the country flew in, including several opposition figures. Among them were President Muhammadu Buhari's predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, whom he defeated in the 2015 election.



The Gambia's First Lady Fatoumata Bah Barrow and the former president of neighbouring Niger, Muhammadu Issoufu, were among the foreign guests.

Source: BBC









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr George Akuffo Dampare on Sunday morning stormed Abesim, in the Bono Region, following the arrest of a 28-year-old man alleged to have murdered three boys.



The police arrested Richard Appiah, an architect who is believed to have murdered about three children and kept some meat suspected to be human in a fridge.



Appiahs victims includes his own stepbrother, with the others being a 12-year-old and a 15-year-old. The bodies were found in Appiah's rented two bedroom house at Alaska near Abesim on Friday, August 20, 2021.



Another suspect, whose identity has been withheld by the police, was later arrested to assist with investigations.



Visit

The Acting IGP, Dr Dampare, on Sunday morning visited the families of the victims following the traumatic discovery, and also paid a courtesy call on the Abesimhene and Dormaa Kyidomhene, Barima Nana Kumi Akyeaw.



Ahead of the visit, Dr Dampare dispatched a team of investigators from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Homicide Unit in Accra to take over the case.



A forensic pathologist team has also been assigned to move the remains of the victims which were found in the house of Appiah to the Police Hospital morgue for analysis to support the ongoing investigation of the case.



During interaction with the families, Dr Dampare announced that he had further directed professional clinical psychologists and counselors from the Counseling Department of the Ghana Police Service to offer free counselling services to the traumatised families, community members and police investigators who visited the crime scene and found the remains of the victims.



Abesim murder cases

A number of murder cases have been recorded in Abesim.



On 23rd February, 1988, Nana Twene, Kontihene of Abesim and his wife, Susana Ameyaa, together with four others at Abesim kidnapped and murdered a 38-year old housewife, Madam Lamley Sampah. During a trial by a tribunal sitting in Sunyani in the then Brong-Ahafo Region, it was revealed, among others, that the Kontihene wanted the blood and some body parts of the victim for rituals to enable him secure power so no one could challenge him when he spoke.



On January 5, 2014, the Sunyani Police launched investigation into the mysterious deaths of a 43-year-old woman, Abenaa Pomaa, and her 10-year-old daughter, class four pupil, Blessing Oppong, at Ohene-Djan, a suburb of Abesim in the Sunyani Municipality.



The police found the bodies of the two in a pool of blood in their room in a nearly decomposed state with their throats slashed.









Source: graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The outgoing Egyptian Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Emad Magdy Hanna, has said that Ghanas good foreign policy makes the country a leader in African affairs with credible global standing.



These, he explained, were evident in Ghana becoming the hub of international conferences, including the hosting of the ACFTA Secretariat and the election of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as a two-term Chairman of ECOWAS, coupled with Ghana receiving the highest vote to the UN Security Council.



Mr Hanna said this when he paid a farewell visit to the Jubilee House to inform President Akufo-Addo about the completion of his three-year duty tour of the country.



Commendation



Mr Hanna further commended the government and the people for the support and proverbial hospitality they offered him during his tenure which made Ghana my home away from home. Even though I am going home, I am taking Ghana along with me.



The ambassador also lauded the countrys health sector for the wise measures they took to help deal with the COVID-19 pandemic which he said had made Ghana a model for other countries.



According to Mr Hanna, the onset of the pandemic did not affect the growing relationship between Ghana and Egypt since they continued to engage in virtual meetings, visits and other progressive engagements and agreements and said such efforts would soon yield the needed results.



He said the two countries had reached a trade balance of $100 million, and that was expected to increase to about $150 million soon.



President Akufo-Addo



President Akufo-Addo said Ghanas relations with Egypt had a firm foundation from the days of Ghanas independence.



He said the collaboration between Dr Kwame Nkrumah and his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Nasser, formed the firm basis for the future relationship of the two nations.



The President said he was still waiting for the outcome of discussions between authorities of the two nations for the establishment of a joint airline.



He said Egyptian companies were performing well in Ghana and commended the former for being a pillar of stability in a very difficult continental environment.







Source: graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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On-demand delivery platform, Glovo has extended its operations to Tema as part of the companys strategy to better serve customers across all major cities.



Tema, located 25 kilometres (16 miles) east of Accra, the capital of the Tema Metropolitan Assembly, is the second city to experience the easy-to-use multicategory app.



Commenting on the expansion, General Manager (GM) for Glovo Ghana, Pearlyn Budu, said the expansion will enable Tema residents to experience Glovos world-class delivery service.



Since our operations in March, we have had one of the largest delivery operations covering Adenta, Weija, Osu, East Legon, Ashaley Botwe, Osu, Cantonments, Achimota, Dansoman, Spintex, Labone, Airport, Dzorwulu, and many more. We have received great feedback from customers and vendors. Also, we have onboard top vendors like Papa's Pizza, Starbites, Cheezzy Pizza, Eddy's Pizza on the app for our customers in Tema to enjoy.



Glovo users are exposed to different categories they can choose from such as Restaurants, Supermarket, Drinks, Package Delivery, and Anything. The Anything category is our most unique category as it allows users to run errands from the comfort of their location. Users can also leave notes or a list of the items that they need and our Glovers will deliver. In some locations, we also have the Shops & Gifts category which allows users to shop directly from various stores. We are elated to be in Tema, as inhabitants of the big city will be able to enjoy our world-class delivery services, she added.



Ms. Budu further noted that Glovo plans to invest in further expanding its footprint in Ghana. We are very excited to announce our presence in Tema in addition to Accra within the short period of operations in Ghana. We are committed to connecting more Ghanaians to an ever-expanding portfolio of outlets on the multicategory app.



Glovo is one of the worlds leading multi-category delivery players who launched its operations in Ghana in March 2021. The on-demand platform aims to make the lives of Ghanaians easier by providing access to convenient delivery services. On the app, orders can be made to be received on demand or scheduled to be received on a date and time that is more convenient for the user. There are several payment methods that users can choose. The platform accepts Mobile Money, Cash and Direct debit cards as means of making payments.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Vice-President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has urged the leadership of all religious bodies to use the pulpit to propagate the message of peace and unity and to stress the need to maintain the oneness and peace the nation continues to enjoy in spite of its challenges.

He said Christians owed it a duty to uplift the sense of responsibility in the country as well as help fight pockets of corruption and impunity.



Sincere Christians can do this by strengthening democracy and speaking out. May we continue to live in peace and unity as one people with a common destiny, the Vice-President emphasised, saying, certainly, we have no other nation but Ghana, so protect it.



Addressing the congregation of the Adabraka Official Town Presbyterian Church of Ghana to herald the 30th anniversary celebration of Rev. Kwadwo Owusu Sarpong, the District Pastor of the church as minister of the gospel, Dr. Bawumia said God had blessed the country, the reason people continued to live in peace with one another albeit different religions but with a common destiny.



Accompanying the Vice-President was the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mr. Henry Quartey.



Background



Born on August 22, 1955, Rev. Kwadwo Owusu Sarpong began his basic education in Goaso in the then Brong Ahafo Region.



He managed to write his Ordinary and Advanced Level certificate examinations as a private student at age 30 while working at the same time.



Rev. Sarpong in 1988 enrolled at the Trinity Theological College in Accra where he obtained a Diploma in Theology.



He was commissioned into the Presbyterian Church of Ghana in June 1991 and was ordained at the Osu branch of the church.



He has since studied various courses at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), the University of Cape Coast (UCC) and the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration.



Dr. Bawumia, who eulogised Rev. Sarpong for his stewardship within the three decades, said: Your profile speaks to the fact that you will continue to be a blessing to your family, to the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, to Ghana and to the world.



The nation needs independent voices like yours and so be assured that you are on the side of God and that he will keep and watch over you, the Vice-President stated and said: As you serve mother Ghana and the Church, commit yourself to the tenets of the church and the constitution of Ghana.



Likening Rev. Sarpong to the apostles of old, Dr. Bawumia said, the church and society needed wise men such as Rev. Sarpong and implored him to let his voice be heard in national discourse.



Presby Church



While commending the Presbyterian Church of Ghana for its immense contributions to national development over the years, Dr. Bawumia encouraged the church and the entire christian community and indeed other faith-based organisations to continue partnering the government in its developmental efforts.



He gave an that the government shall continue to provide the enabling environment for such fruitful partnership to materialise.



Vice-President Bawumia said the Presbyterian Church of Ghana had partnered succeeding governments to move the development agenda of the country forward and that the government no doubt recognised the immense contribution of the church towards the growth of the nation, particularly, in the provision of basic, secondary, tertiary education, health care agriculture services and other social interventions across the length and breadth of the country.



COVID-19 and the economy



Touching on the devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on world economies, Dr. Bawumia expressed delight that economic activity was picking up in the country.



He said the economy of the country was bouncing back and said the government projected a five per cent growth by the end of this year.



That growth, he indicated, was going to be considered one of the fastest in the world this year.



He pointed out that loss of livelihoods, rising unemployment and its attendant social problems were challenging governments of many countries to work hard to put their economies on the right path and steer lives back to normalcy.



Making reference to the book of Matthew, the Vice-President said: God had been good to Ghana by showing the people favour which they are enjoying even in the midst of the pandemic.



He, therefore, encouraged Ghanaians to continue to remain positive and resolute.



Dr. Bawumia also used the occasion to appeal to the congregation and all Ghanaians to voluntarily contribute to the building of the national cathedral which, he said, would not be for anybody but for the country and to the glory of God.



Life story



Speaking on the theme: Celebrating the favour of the Lord, Rev. Sarpong, who shared his life story from a humble beginning, said he went through a lot of adversity growing up but he never relented.



He was particularly grateful to one Mrs. Akosua Serwa Asare of the Sunyani Technical Institute (SUTECH) whom he said encouraged him and ensured he wrote the Ordinary Level at age 30 to make progress in education.



Rev. Sarpong was also thankful to God for remaining a dependable strength, saying he and his wife Mrs. Mavis Owusu Sarpong, had been sick but God ensured their recovery for them to be alive to celebrate his anniversary.



The Presbyterian minister appealed to the government to establish gynaecology departments at all health establishments across the country for the aged.













Source: graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Kingmakers and Council of Elders of the Toh/Tovie Clan of Mafi Adidome and associated communities have announced the enstoolment of a new chief for Adidome. The new Chief was enstooled under the stool name Togbe Kwasinyi Agyeman V. The enstoolment was done in Adidome over the weekend.



After going through the customary and traditional processes, the Chief was outdoored and presented to the larger family/clan and the entire Adidome township in a colourful procession through the principal streets ending with a durbar at the Market Square.



The enstoolment and outdooring of the new Chief was performed and witnessed by the Council of Elders of the Toh/Tovie Clan, supported by the Mafi Paramountcy and the three (3) military wings of Mafi (Awanutorwo), and was witnessed by several Chiefs from the Mafi State and representative chiefs from the Toh/Tovie Clan of Anglo and Togo.



The new Chief, known in private life as Mr. Emmanuel James Atiemo Fiagbenu, is the Senior Corporate Affairs Manager at the National Information Technology Agency (NITA). He is oldest son of the late Hlortator Seth Kwabla Fiagbenu (the immediate past head of the Toh/Tovie Clan of Adidome), and the grandson of the legendary Togbe Kwasinyi Agyeman III, the late Fia of Adidome. The new Chief who was born and raised in Adidome lived with his grandfather when he was a child and is privy to chieftaincy affairs and accustomed to the issues of the family, clan, and entire township.



Speaking at the function, the new Fia of Adidome pledged to make the development of Adidome his focus. He said, I look forward to working with the Community leaders, District Assembly, NGOs, Government and Businesses to bring the town, which is the capital of the Central Tongu District, back on track as the vibrant town it used to be during the reign of Togbe Kwasinyi Agyeman III.



He also said during his grandfathers reign, the town attracted the interest and attention of Dr Kwame Nkrumahs government which led to the establishment of institutions such as the State farms, Workers Brigade, Animal Husbandry, and several other public and private institutions ranging from agro-related entities to health institutions such as Ameyi Farms (Gbedemah Farms) to the Adidome Hospital.



"The goal of my grandfather who lived from 1897 to 1973 was to make Adidome one of the most attractive towns in the Volta Region. This is possible," he said,, adding that My focus is Education, youth development/empowerment and business development.



He promised to implement a responsive and accountable governance in an open-door leadership style that allows all key stakeholders to work together towards the new era of prosperity for the people of Adidome and the entire Mafi State.



The new Fia said he will work towards the establishment of a scholarship fund for brilliant students from Adidome and its surrounding towns, whilst making skills development and youth employment his focus.



Speaking at the outdooring ceremony, Togbe Anorba Sasraku IV, the leader of the Middle Wing (Dome) of the Awanutorwo, who presented the new Chief to the public, pledged the support of the Mafi Traditional Council, and stated that they were willing to do what it takes to make him succeed.

Commenting on the enstoolment on behalf of the Head of the Toh/Tovie Clan, a principal member of the Council of Elders and the Kingmakers, who is a former Deputy Minister of Communications and former CEO of Ghana Export Promotion Authority, Dr Gideon Quarcoo, said the Council of Elders and the Kingmakers of the Toh/Tovie clan was happy to see the traditional rites and enstoolment done in a peaceful manner following all due processes.



He said, he looked forward to seeing the community develop under the new Chief as the entire family and clan support him.



The Toh/Tovie Clan is one of the biggest clans in the Mafi Traditional Area and believed to be one of the first settlers in Mafi after separating from their brothers from Anlo and Ave, and after escaping and migrating from Nortsie.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Professor Joseph Osafo, a Senior Pyschologist, has applauded President Nana Akufo-Addo and his government for their steadfast resolve to build the National Cathedral.



There are ongoing talks about the yet-to-be constructed National Cathedral as one school of thought believes it's a necessary venture and another strongly opposes the construction of the Cathedral.



Despite the strong opposition, the President and Vice President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia are determined to build the Cathedral.



The Vice President, speaking at the Adabraka Official Town branch of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana on Sunday, 22nd August 2021, pledged commitment to the project saying, it is very important that we build the Cathedral. It is a voluntary exercise; anybody who wants to contribute can contribute. I have contributed, and I will contribute some more.



So, I encourage everybody to think about it, and lets build it. It is not for anybody. It is for Ghana and for the glory of God, he emphasized.



Speaking on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' programme, Prof. Joseph Osafo touted the benefits of the Cathedral.



He was hopeful it will boost Ghana's tourism and generate revenues to develop the nation.



''Look at the number of pilgrims that go to Israel or Mecca and the money that's pumped into it. If it had not been because of the COVID-19 pandemic that came last year, I'm telling you, this year by now, we would be going to watch ...Jordan, the birthplace of Jesus. If we can have simulations of these areas...



''Look at the amount of money we pay to the Aviation companies and various Travel and Tour agencies that arrange for us. But if I can't go to Israel where I will spend may be 8000, 9000, 10000 and above and can go to the National Cathedral...and can have a feel of the Manna that fell from Heaven; we would also be buidling our nation," he told host Nana Yaw Kesseh.



He, therefore, urged the populace to support the project stressing nation building ''comes by doing so many things and this is part. Let's focus on it and it will help us''.



Prof. Osafo also proposed to the team in charge of the Cathedral to consider the construction of a National Mental Health Monitoring Center in the Cathedral to address mental issues in the country.



"We can have a National Mental Health Monitoring Center and that center is guaging the mental health state of the nation. So, we could take data on maybe the level of hope, desperation. . . we can monitor. We can take data from these things which could inform the government.''





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The demolition of the Hong-Kong Market Building at Makola, which started this morning, is expected to continue overnight.



Mr Gilbert Ankrah, the Public Relations Officer, Accra Metropolitan Assembly, told the Ghana News Agency that, personnel engaged in the exercise would be working throughout the night with the aid of powerful lights.



The exercise follows the recommendation of the technical team, which investigated the July 5 Fire, that the building had become weak and its integrity had been compromised.



The three-storey building will be pulled down completely as recommended by the committee, tasked by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly to investigate the fire incident.



The committee found that the building had become weak and compromised.



It established that a generator set started the fire that engulfed a bigger part of the building and destroyed items worth thousands of Ghana cedis.



The committee also found that there were naked and haphazardly exposed wires in the building with bad electrical wiring, especially by unprofessional electricians as well as the use of substandard materials.



It took fire fighting officers several days to extinguish the inferno, amid criticisms from some traders and members of the public, who were frustrated with

the situation.



The Committee said, though the Ghana Water Company Limited reported of available water supply in the area, the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) said due to the low pressure of the water, they had to go to the Kwame Nkrumah Circle and adjoining areas to access water, which affected the firefighting exercise.



Sunday morning, personnel of the 48 Engineer Regiment cordoned off the area ahead of the demolition, which started at midday with support from the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Fire Service and the Ghana Water Company Limited.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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A US Air Force F-15 fighter jet shot down an Iranian drone that posed a threat to troops stationed in eastern Syria.



'Coalition aircraft successfully engaged and defeated a UAS through air to air engagement in the vicinity of Mission Support Site Green Village,' US Army Colonel Wayne Marotto, who heads the US-led coalition against ISIS, told Reuters, using an acronym for an unmanned aircraft system.



Fox News reporter Lucas Tomlinson said an F-15E shot the 'Iranian' drone, which flew 'too close' to the 900 US troops in the area on Satuday, according to a tweet citing US officials.



Green Village is an outpost where US troops are housed in former oil industry villas next to a major Syrian oil field, according to the Washington Post.



Officials also told Aviation Week that the drone was 'deemed a threat and self-defense measures were taken.'



The Pentagon last month said it was deeply concerned about attacks on U.S. personnel in Syria and Iraq.



Just last month, two US service members were wounded after 14 rockets hit an Iraqi airbase hosting US forces, according to Reuters.

Iraqi militia groups aligned with Iran had vowed to retaliate after US strikes on the Iraqi-Syrian border killed four of their members in June.





The latest show of force in Syria comes after US withdrawal from Afghanistan, where the terrorist Taliban have taken over most of the country.









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Apostle Prof Opoku Onyinah, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the National Cathedral project has said the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, 2021, could be an effective way of tackling the issue of LGBTQI in Ghana.



His comments come a few weeks after the anti-gay bill was introduced in Parliament. The bill would impose a maximum ten-year prison sentence on people who support and advocate same-sex and gay rights.



Speaking in an interview on Asaase Radio Sunday Night, the former leader of the Church of Pentecost described LGBTQI as evil.



Sometimes if you look at those people, the type of dressing that they dress. You see that it is queer, and that is why they have added queer to the LGBTQI.



So we realised that there is something evil about it, we should not promote it, the bill is something that will help those people, Prof Onyinah said.



He added: The bill I support 100%, having read through, I think it is very good, [and] they can go through. If there are somethings they want to add they can add as they do with every bill. It is a very important and relevant bill that will help the nation, it is the right way to tackle it.



Prof Onyinah said the activities of LGBTQI could be a major threat to procreation if not urgently checked.



Known as the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021, the anti-gay bill was read for the first time in Parliament on 3 August 2021. It has since been referred to the committee on constitutional, legal and parliamentary affairs for consideration and report.



The 36-page private members bill aims to provide for proper human sexual rights and Ghanaian family values, proscribe LGBTQ+ and related activities, propaganda for, advocacy or promotion of LGBTTQQIAAP+ and related activities.



It will prohibit a person from providing or participating in any form of surgical services to enable gender reassignment or create a sexual category other than the category a person was assigned at birth, except where the surgical procedure is to correct a biological anomaly, including intersex.



Those who contravene or undermine this provision are liable, on summary conviction, to a term of imprisonment of not less than three years and not more than five years or both.



Moreover, the bill proscribes promotion and advocacy activities directed at children. Thus, any person who uses the media and other electronic channels to produce, procure, market, broadcast, publish or distribute material or information directly or indirectly directed at a child, with intent to evoke the interest of children in an activity, could face a jail term of not less than six years and not more than ten.



The bill seeks beside to provide accused individuals with access to medical help or treatment, and prohibit extrajudicial or inhumane treatment of persons accused of offences under the bill.







Source: asaaseradio.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Samsung has launched the 2021 edition of Samsung Galaxy Challenge, a popular competition for Ghanaian media, content creators and tech fans.



This year they can express their passionate views, videos and opinions on the newly unpacked Galaxy Z Fold3 5G and Z Flip3 5G and Galaxy Watch devices. The Galaxy Challenge is open to all journalists, bloggers, content creators and social media influencers, who are challenged to publish at least 2 stories or video content, that captures the magic of these ground-breaking devices.



Announcing the Galaxy Challenge, Head of Marketing at Samsung Ghana, Tracy Kyei said, The competition is aimed at creating an avenue where participants can express their passionate views on these amazing new devices and win awesome prizes along the way. Samsung is committed to supporting local content creators and the media by providing the platform to enable them to do more. The Galaxy Challenge gives the media and content creators the opportunity to ignite their creativity and express their talent.



Winners will be determined based on six thematic areas including: Accuracy, Clarity, Eco-System Integration, Device Usability, Consumer Benefit and the overall Content Appeal. The prizes for the Galaxy Challenge include the Galaxy Z Fold3, Galaxy Z Flip3, Galaxy Watch4 and Galaxy Buds2.



Entry Details for Galaxy Challenge

As soon the entry content or media story is published, notify Ekow Quandzie of Global Media Alliance via WhatsApp (0207810000) or email [email protected]



Remember to tag any of Samsung official social media pages and hashtag #GalaxyZfold3 #GalaxyZFlip3 #SamsungMediaChallenge and also use the following handles for the platforms below:



 Instagram - @Samsungghana

 Facebook - @Samsungghana

 Twitter - @Samsung_Ghana

 TikTok - @Samsungghana



The deadline for submission of published stories and content is 12th September 2021.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Ya-Na Abukari II, the Overlord of Dagbon Kingdom has commended former President, John Dramani Mahama for the leadership he exhibited before, during, and after the 7th December 2020 elections.



He said his leadership showed the extent to which he valued the peace and progress of the country.



Ya-Na Abukari II gave the commendation when the former President called on him at the Gbewaa Palace as part of his thank-you tour to the Northern Region.



He said the exceptional leadership he showed had rekindled the trust in Ghanaian politicians.



A mans true character is shown not in times of victory, but rather in times of decision to either build or destroy, he said.



Ya-Na said Dagbon Kingdom formed an integral part of Ghana and had experienced successive governments and leadership and also commended his governments contribution towards peace and reconciliation in Dagbon.



Ya-Na encouraged him and the minority in parliament to continue to offer constructive criticism to government to help ensure good governance and leadership.



The former President thanked Ya-Na for his friendship and advice given to him since he was Yo-Na at Savelugu and congratulated him for his elevation to Ya-Na.



He said after the resolution of Dagbon chieftaincy, there had been few issues that could hinder Ya-Nas authority and therefore needed resolution.



On peace, he indicated that it was a major factor for the development of every country and was encouraged that after eight elections held in Ghana there was still peace and thanked Ghanaians that.



The former President reminded Ghanaians of the Covid-19 pandemic and urged them to continue adhering to the protocols.



He also encouraged them to take the COVID-19 vaccines as it was harmless.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Former Auditor-General, Daniel Domelovo has reacted after President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said his successor (Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu) has done better in a short time than he did in years.



The President during the Arrupe Jesuit and the Catholic Professional Guilds Town Hall Meeting in Accra on Thursday described the performance of the acting Auditor General, Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu as 'unheard of'.



"The Acting Auditor-General has demonstrated sufficient quality and independence of view. For instance, he is responsible for some things that are unheard of. In our history, the 12 statutory reports that have to be compiled and placed before Parliament in the year of Parliament, this is the first time it has ever been done.



Even the most touted Auditor General before him never managed to do it and this one has done it. I think on the basis of the work that he has done, the independence with which he has gone around with his work, if today efforts are made to confirm him, I believe it should be done, and that confirmation process will gather more public support, Akufo-Addo said.



However, in what seemed like a response to the President's comment, Daniel Domelovo said to get more results in the fight against corruption, there would have to be more action and less rhetoric.



"A good number of Ghanaians would like to see more action against corruption other than rhetoric. Unfortunately, the leadership of the country is very good at rhetoric. In my humble opinion, public funds are saved only when you have an effective administration with public accounting procurement systems, he said.













Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Former President John Dramani Mahama will arrive in Wa on Sunday, August 22, 2021, to thank the people of the Upper West Region for their support during the 2020 General Elections.



The Former President and Leader of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2020 General Elections will be welcomed into the region by the regional party executives, party supporters and sympathizers between 1700hrs and 1930hrs GMT.



The Former President is expected to pay a courtesy call on the Wa Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo IV, the Overlord of the Wala Traditional Area and his sub-chiefs, elders and faith leaders on Monday.



He will also meet with the Catholic Bishop and Priests as well as the Local Council of Churches before a media engagement.



Former President Mahama will also hold a session with party stakeholders, including the Members of Parliament from the Upper West Region, Regional and Constituency Executives, Council of Elders and former government appointees.



The rest are Election 2020 Parliamentary Aspirants, Regional Cadres Front, Regional Communication Team, TEIN Members and Patrons, professional unions, artisans and market women.



Former President Mahama has been touring the regions to thank the people for their support during the last elections.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Vice-president Mahamudu Bawumia has urged Ghanaians of all religious persuasions to voluntarily contribute to the construction of the National Cathedral.



Plans for the construction of a National Cathedral continues to generate lively debate, and although the government insists it will be funded by the private sector and serve as a multi-purpose national edifice, some critics have raised concern about its usefulness and cost.



Speaking at the Adabraka Official Town branch of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana on Sunday, 22 August 2021, Vice-president Bawumia underscored the importance of the Cathedral, and urged all to help build it for Ghana and for the glory of God.



As you all know, there are efforts to build a National Cathedral.



It is very important that we build the Cathedral. It is a voluntary exercise; anybody who wants to contribute can contribute. I have contributed, and I will contribute some more.



So, I encourage everybody to think about it, and lets build it. It is not for anybody. It is for Ghana and for the glory of God, he emphasised.



A voluntary, national contribution for the construction of the cathedral would further cement Ghanas standing as a religiously-diverse country living at peace with itself.



Ghana is Africas second most peaceful country, with adherents of many religions living and working together to build the nation.



The construction of the cathedral would add further to our enviable record of peaceful co-existence, he stated.



President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, accompanied by senior members of the Clergy, laid the foundation stone for the Cathedral on March 5, 2020, to signal the start of construction. A National Cathedral Secretariat has since been set up to raise funds from individuals and the private sector for its construction, while work continues apace.



The cathedral will house a series of impressive chapels, a baptistery, a 5000-seat two-level auditorium, a grand central hall, music school, choir rehearsal, art gallery, shop and multi-use spaces.



It will also be home to Africas first Bible Museum and Documentation Centre, dedicated to Christianity and nation-building in Ghana.



A new ceremonial route and landscape will be linking the Cathedral site to Ghanas prominent, celebratory landmarks  Independence Square, Osu Cemetery, the State House and Africa Unity Circle.





Source: classfmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Chief Whip of the ruling New Patriotic Party(NPP) caucus in Parliament, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, has described the attitude shown towards national development by his colleague lawmakers from the largest opposition NDC caucus in parliament as a negative mentality.



According to him, Ghanas development will forever delay if politics take the center stage of any developmental agenda.



If we are not careful, what we want us a nation will never be achieved with this negative mindset, he told NEAT FMs morning show whiles discussing Nana Akufo-Addos 'Agenda 111' Hospital project.



Frank Annoh-Dompreh, however, noted that the minority caucus in parliament is deliberately dragging issues of 'Agenda 111' just to please their followers.



They [minority] should stop this attitude. This project is for the future of the country and not for the NPP, he lamented.



Listen to interview





Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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As a lifestyle content creator and vlogger, I have heard a lot about the West Hills Mall and its mantra as the happy place for family shopping so I decided to check the mall out for myself.



I visited the West Hills Mall this week to explore the many options available while shopping for some jewelry and electronics.

West Hills Mall is the home of quality jewelry with shops that stock world-renowned brands and one of such is Tessori which I went to for some jewelry.



Tessori is a jewelry shop that sells authentic necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and other types of jewelry that are available in gold, silver, and other metals. I was spoiled for choice because there were so many beautiful pieces to choose from but I eventually settled for a gold bracelet which was sold at a good discount.



Aside from the jewelry and accessories, the West hills Mall features a wide array of restaurants and eateries, giving shoppers and families the option to grab lunch and snacks in-between shopping. I made a quick stop at New York Sizzler restaurant which serves both delicious food and drinks and is available for eat-in or takeaway. The courtyard at the restaurant area also provides a beautiful ambiance and scene of the landscape at the mall.



I finally went to Telefonika to get a speaker and a charger. Telefonika is one of the largest electronic outlets at the mall and it stocks a wide range of home alliances and telecommunication devices.



The West Hills Mall is located at Weija in Accra and is home to other stores focused on fashion, health, and beauty as well as home and decor. I enjoyed the experience and I look forward to going back for all my shopping needs. Also, dont forget to watch the whole experience on Instagram @westhillsmallgh and share your thoughts. I highly recommend the West Hills Mall for you and your family.



Influencer: @jesiscah (Instagram)



Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The First lady of Ghana, H.E Rebecca Akufo Addo treated the Second Lady of Ghana, Samira Bawumia to a lovely surprise on her birthday.



Samira Bawumia, the wife of Vice President, Dr. Mahammudu Bawumia who diligently and selflessly dedicated herself as a role model for women empowerment turned 41 today.



In her quest to make Samiras birthday a memorable one for her, the First Lady, Rebecca Akufo Addo gifted Samira a lovely and expensive birthday cake and a bouquet of flowers and attached a soothing birthday note to her.



We wish the vivacious Mrs. Samira Bawumia the second lady of the land a eid mwalid saeid. May she continue to age with grace, carry out her mandate with heart and lead a generation of nation-builders.



In a related news, H.E the Vice President of Ghana, Dr Bawumia has sent a lovely message to his wife on social media expressing his love for her.



According to the Bawumia in the post, Samira has been his rock all these years beside him as a wife.



To crown it all, the Veep complimented his wife confessing that Samiras kindness of her heart shines even than her beauty.



Happy birthday to my dear wife, Samira. You have been a rock for me and continue to amaze me with all the things you do for others, especially the underprivileged.



The kindness of your heart even shines through brighter than your beauty. Happy birthday, darling. I love you, Dr. Bawumia wrote.



Watch the video below:



Source: Eugene Osafo-Nkansah/Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Statistics Canada building and signs are pictured in Ottawa on Wednesday, July 3, 2019. Statistics Canada says households paid down a record amount of non-mortgage debt in the first year of the pandemic as mortgage debt climbed by even more. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Thank you posters by members of the public were posted on the fence at this BC Wildfire Service facility at the Penticton Regional Airport. This photo was featured in The Herald's special 10-page, colour section, "Thank You: We Salute and Honour Our Heroes," published Friday, August 13, 2021.
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Vermillion, SD (57069)

Today

Sunny. High around 80F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 64F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph.
What are the holds like on a 9c? Stefano Ghisolfi analyses Bibliographie

One of the holds on Bibliographie 9c a Ceuse Photo by Enrico Veronese

What are the holds like on a 9c? Stefano Ghisolfi analyses Bibliographie

22.08.2021 by by Planetmountain

Stefano Ghisolfi analyses the holds of Bibliographie, the 9c freed at Ceuse in summer 2020 by Alexander Megos,

What are the holds like on a 9c? They might look OK, but appearances can be deceptive. Heres the latest episode of Stefano Ghisolfi's Climbing Diaries, in which the Italian climber provides the lowdown on all the holds of Bibliographie, Alexander Megos' masterpiece up at Ceuse. The video is a godsend for those who love minute details. A word of warning though: dont forget the greater picture. The route overhangs steeply.

Links: FB Stefano Ghisolfi, IG Stefano Ghisolfi, La Sportiva, CAMP
King's Resort Boss Leon Tsoukernik Wins 740K in Crazy Nosebleed PLO Game

August 23, 2021 Matthew Pitt

One of the craziest Pot-Limit Omaha hands went down at Kings Resort over the weekend, one that saw Kings owner Leon Tsoukernik help himself to a near 740,000 pot!

The live-streamed High Stakes Ca$h King$ saw Tsoukernik go to battle for six hours in a 100/200 PLO cash game. There was a ton of action throughout the stream, and Tsoukernik found himself in a 300,000 hole. However, that all changed on the final hand of the night.

Check out the hand in all its glory below or keep reading to find out what happened.

The Big Hand

Blinds remained at 100/200 but there were several straddles in play, including one weighing in at a quite ridiculous 6,400 from Cobanski! Three players folded, putting the action on Tsoukernik, who called for 5,600 with . The action folded to "Pablo" in late position, and he tried to raise all-in with , but could only raise to 29,500, leaving himself 10,000 behind.

"Cobanksi," on the button with , called the 29,500, and Tsoukernik tossed in calling chips.

Tsoukernik flopped the nuts with the first three community cards falling , and he checked. Pablo put in his last 10,000, Cobanski called, only for Tsoukernik to check-raise to 60,000. Cobanski called with his trip kings.

The turn improved Tsoukernik to a better full house, and he fired a 110,000 bet, which Cobanski called. The completed the board and Tsoukernik snap-shoved for what turned out to be 143,200.

Cobanski went deep into the tank for more than five minutes while Tsoukernik puffed frantically on his electronic cigarette. Irish poker legend Fintan Gavin provided the English commentary on the stream, and he stated Cobanskis cards would be in the bin immediately if he was against any player other than Tsoukernik.

Amazingly, despite holding only trip kings, Cobanski emerged from the tank with a call, gifting the 738,400 pot to Tsoukernik, digging him out of a hole and then some.

Leon Tsoukernik Beats Phil Ivey to Win King's 100K Short Deck (1,102,000)

Tsoukernik Wins $1.5 Million On Slots

Leon Tsoukernik after winning $1.5M on slots

You may recall Tsoukernik won a massive 1,372,500 in January 2020, but not at the poker table. The Czech entrepreneur and art collector failed to cash in the CAPT Seefeld High Roller, and passed some time by playing 1,000 a spin on one of the casinos slot machines. Tsoukernik, literally, hit the jackpot and took home 1,372,500 (circa $1,530,500).

King's Resort Owner Leon Tsoukernik Scoops $1.5m Slots Jackpot

More recently, in April, Tsoukernik became embroiled in a legal battle with social media giant Facebook; he is suing Facebook for half a billion Czech crowns, which is approximately $24 million.

Tsoukernik is irked by Facebooks lack of action regarding malicious mobile advertisements for online casinos that were using Kings Resort imagery to encourage players to sign up for an account.

Earlier this month, Tsoukernik scored a victory when a Czech court ruled Czech courts have jurisdiction in his case. The legal battle continues.
Where Are They Now: Costa Ricas Steven Thompson Looks to Make Comeback w/ New Book

August 23, 2021 Chad Holloway

Five years ago, Costa Ricas Steven Thompson nearly won a World Series of Poker (WSOP) gold bracelet. He fell just one spot shy of victory finishing runner-up to Calvin Lee in the 2016 WSOP Event #21: $3,000 No-Limit Holdem 6-Handed, good for $328,487.

The now 41-year-old and father of two, who describes himself as a dreamer and crazy, funny guy, is also known to some as the man who was once kidnapped and shot.

I was already hiding after getting hit in the head with a gun and threatened my life. I had to pay the money I owed to a drug dealer, or they were going to harm my family, Thomson told the story to PokerNews. I decided to turn myself in, they took me to an alley in a very dangerous neighborhood and told me to walk inside a very dark path. The guy that told me to walk had a mask on, and when we got to the end of the alley, he told me to turn around and that's when he shot me. I got hit in my leg and arm, it was a pretty bad injury, but with the right care I was able to heal in about a year.

Thompson actually spoke to Sarah Herring about the incident back in 2017:

According to The Hendon Mob, Thompson has amassed just over $500K in lifetime tournament earnings, but none since the 2017 WSOP. Where has the one-time grinder been? Well, he was kind enough to chat with PokerNews for the latest Where Are They Now installment.

Poker Origin Story

When he was 18, Thompson began working at a sportsbook, which is where a coworker introduced him to poker.

He played Seven-Card Sud for big money and I jumped in without knowing what it was, Thompson told PokerNews. Then five-card draw, that one was easier, and finally no more poker for some years when I thought I could be a blackjack pro. Boy, was I wrong.

It was during a trip to a local casino that he discovered no-limit holdem, which immediately struck a chord with him.

Finally, a game that I immediately started to feel comfortable with and decided to make it a regular thing. So, I asked an amazing player to teach me, he was a really good player from Sweden, Henrik Allin. We called him Harry Potter, now he is a shaman in the Amazons in Peru. After a lockdown in his house to grind for days, I got out of there knowing poker the way I wanted, and scores started coming in.

Steven Thompson

A Comeback Journey & New Book

After finishing runner-up in the WSOP tournament, Thompson had a few other scores but in 2017 they began to dry up.

By the end of 2017, my dad got sick with a bacteria and I was sick as well, but in a different way. My addictions went sky high and I destroyed my career again, Thompson admits. That year I was with an amazing friend and backer. He dropped me because I was a mess and that was it for me. He was right, I was super intense and in a lot of trouble again. So just like that I was out of the poker world completely shattered cause I had blown the best opportunity I've ever had on my career.

He continued: Casinos, drugs, and nightclubs. Thats the combo that destroyed my career. Those were my addictions, especially cocaine. That one would push the others and party animal Steven Thompson would come out. Not proud of any of it, because I could have done great things for poker in Latin America, especially during this breakout time I was having since 2016 WSOP. I made lots of mistakes, if I could have defeated my demons and stayed clean during this bonanza, I could have been one of the best to play this game.

For the past three years, Thompson has been laying low, getting his life in order, and hopefully preparing for a comeback journey.

"People have always told me, hey man why haven't written your own book or make a movie? Your stories are so crazy."

He revealed: I met someone that help me through very rough times and gave me the blessing of being a father again, I'm more than grateful to her and her family, I would have never made it this far without their support.

Thompson has also ventured back into poker recently and is even slated to release a book called 4 Bullets about his many crazy adventures.

People have always told me, hey man why haven't written your own book or make a movie? Your stories are so crazy, and I started thinking more and more about it and decided to ask Tyler Nals to write my story in a way only he and I could do it together.

The book isnt an autobiography, but rather a novel based on Thompsons real-life experiences.

It's about a good man that fights with demons and addiction, ups and downs during a career that could have been amazing, he said. In the book, you can see that it doesn't matter what we go through, it is a matter of attitude and desire of whatever result you want to accomplish. I've been down lots of times, but I've picked up myself from all of them and this one is no different.

The book, which will soon be released on Amazon, will be available in English and audio first, then Santiago Garcia from Pokerlogia is slated to translate the book to Spanish.

Steven Thompson

Whats Next?

When he first started playing poker, Thomson set three goals for himself. The first was to pass Humberto Brenes atop Costa Ricas all-time money list (Thomson currently sits in seventh place), the second is to win a WSOP gold bracelet, and the third to be a sponsored pro.

For me, being on a team or just with your family and friends is part of the biggest passions there is in this sport, at least I believe so. I have always been inspired by those three things. Am I far off achieving them? I don't know, maybe I can achieve them all during this year's WSOP held in Las Vegas. Oh, you have no idea how much I want to be back.

As Thompson looks to the future, hes also done a lot of reflection on his past.

I'm sorry to all the players in the community I bothered constantly writing asking for handouts to keep going during all this time I was hiding. I am embarrassed and I'm truly sorry, he said.

For now, Thomson is focused on bringing his book to market, but may very well make an appearance at the WSOP, and if all goes well, maybe even finish one spot higher than he did back in 2016.
Stop what you are doing and read this because this could be the post that could result in you heading to Las Vegas, Nevada, to play in the $10,000 World Series of Poker Main Event.

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What better way to kick it off with a satellite entry onto the grandest stage of them all? Keep reading to discover how you can win your shot at poker immortality.

Read on to find out more
On August 19, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke at a joint news conference with Najla Mangoush, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Libyas Government of National Unity. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, a reporter asked:

What is the status of implementing the agreement on the withdrawal of foreign troops from Libya, since Turkey is reluctant to discuss this issue, and the other parties refuse to even recognize their presence in Libya?

Lavrov denied that Turkey and other parties had refused to discuss the issue of troop withdrawals, saying the matter had been raised at the Second Berlin Conference on Libya held June 23.

"The withdrawal of these troops must necessarily take place and this process has to be organized step by step, Lavrov said according to the state owned TASS news agency

This is the main thing, and not the attempts to divert the discussion into a talk about the legitimate and illegitimate forces there."

That is misleading.

It is true that the Second Berlin Conference on Libya highlighted the need to remove foreign troops from that country. As Germanys Foreign Ministry said in a press release on the conclusions of the conference: All foreign forces and mercenaries need to be withdrawn from Libya without delay, and the security sector reformed and placed firmly under unified, civilian authority and oversight.

Of note: the word mercenaries.

Lavrov pointedly failed to mention the private Russian troops whove been involved in the Libyan conflict since 2019, fighting on the side of the Libyan National Army of General Khalifa Haftar against the U.N.-recognized Government of National Accord. That explains why Lavrov spoke of attempts to divert the discussion towards discussing certain players legitimacy or lack of it  because the Russian presence is controversial.

The Wagner private military company (PMC) presence has been known and reported on since 2018. Most recently, BBC on August 11 published a new investigation detailing the extent of Wagners operations and backing up claims that its soldiers may have been involved in crimes against Libyan civilians.

The BBC also found further evidence that Wagner is deeply tied to the Russian government, despite official denials.

Wagners ties to the Russian Ministry of Defense arent new.

Officially, private military companies have no legal standing in Russia. Wagner, however, was allowed to use Russian military training facilities and took part in Russias invasion of Ukraines Donbas region in 2014. The company gained more attention for operating alongside the Russian military in Syria.

Although Wagner is on paper a private company, its owner, the restaurateur and caterer Yevgeny Prigozhin, reportedly has close ties to President Vladimir Putin and contracts with Russias military. Besides Ukraine, Syria, and Libya, Wagner mercenaries have also been involved in conflicts in the Central African Republic and Mozambique.

The BBC managed to acquire a Samsung tablet that belonged to a Wagner mercenary in Libya that contained information about the groups activities in that country. Libyan intelligence services also provided the British outlet with a shopping list that included a wide variety of high-tech, Russian-made weapons and equipment used by the soldiers for hire.

The BBC interviewed witnesses who alleged that Wagner mercenaries had killed villagers and executed soldiers who had surrendered.

This is not the first time Wagner mercenaries have been accused of war crimes. In late June, the United Nations released a report on crimes allegedly committed by Wagner mercenaries working with the armed forces of the Central African Republic.

The Kremlin has categorically denied the war crimes accusations.

In October 2020, negotiators in Geneva brokered a ceasefire agreement to end fighting between the Government of National Accord and Haftars opposition movement. Under this agreement, foreign forces backing both sides were to be removed.

Earlier this year, however, there were signs that Russias mercenaries might stay. CNN reported in January that Wagner forces had built a large trench, spanning nearly 70 kilometers, from the town of Sirte south to the Al Jufra airbase. The trench appeared to be part of a system of defensive fortifications and could be seen in satellite photos.

In late April, the Atlantic Councils Digital Forensic Laboratory found open-source evidence suggesting that Wagner mercenaries, who according to the ceasefire deal were supposed to leave Libya within 90 days after January 1, 2021, remained in Libya past that deadline. Moreover, the lab claimed it had seen evidence that additional Wagner mercenaries may have been sent to Libya in early February.

Citing anonymous sources on the ground, the Turkish Daily Sabah claimed in April that 300 additional Russian mercenaries would be sent to Libya.

On July 24, the U.S. Department of Defense published a report claiming that Wagner mercenaries were still active in Libya. The report included satellite imagery showing Russian military equipment on airfields.
On August 7, Hassan Nasrallah, secretary general of Lebanons Hezbollah party, rejected accusations of responsibility for last years massive explosion that killed hundreds in Beirut.

Nasrallahs comments, which came in a speech a few days after the first anniversary of the blast, were broadcast on Al-Manar, the Hezbollah-owned television channel in Lebanon. He denied that Hezbollah had stockpiled the explosives that blew up.

From the outset, many politically motivated people accused Hezbollah, before any investigations, claiming Hezbollah had stored weapons that exploded, he said.

Nasrallahs blame shifting is misleading. In fact, there is compelling evidence that Hezbollah had control over facilities at the Beirut port where the ammonium nitrate explosive material had been stored.

Furthermore, Hezbollah and friends have been accused more than once of stockpiling and transporting explosives, including ammonium nitrate, a fertilizer that can be used to make bombs.

For the record, the United States, European Union and others regard Iran-backed Hezbollah as a terrorist group. The U.S. claims Hezbollah was involved in 1983 bomb attacks that killed hundreds of Marines and others in Lebanon. The group has been engaged in Lebanese politics since at least 1992; some dispute whether Hezbollah was behind the 1983 bombings.

Also for the record, a gigantic cache of ammonium nitrate had been stored in dilapidated warehouse No. 12 at Beiruts port since 2013.

When it blew up on August 4, 2020, at least 218 people died; another 7,000 were injured and 300,000 were displaced. Experts said it was the third-largest non-nuclear explosion in history.

Thousands of angry Lebanese took to the streets to protest government negligence and demand answers and accountability for the tragedy. Some called for politicians to be hanged.

In denying blame, Hezbollah attempted to discredit investigators looking into the blast, accusing them of being politically driven and part of a U.S. and Israeli scheme. But media reports soon revealed a connection between the party and the explosives warehoused at the port.

The Lebanese government has said 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate ended up there from the Rhosus, a Moldovan-flagged ship owned by Russian national Igor Grechushkin. The ship, en route to Mozambique, had purportedly stopped to pick up some seismic survey equipment.

Once docked, however, port officials inspecting the ship deemed it unseaworthy. Its explosive cargo was off-loaded and its crew repatriated, the governments official account says.

In January, however, Foreign Policy magazine reported that the ammonium nitrate may have been intended for the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad, a Hezbollah ally.

As evidence, the Foreign Policy report cited a document showing that a chemical factory in Georgia, Rustavi Azot, was the seller, while the buyer was Savaro, a London-registered firm run by three Syrian-Russian citizens  businessman George Haswani and brothers Mudalal and Imad Khuri. The three businessmen had close ties to the Assad government.

According to Foreign Policy:

Widely known as Moscows man in Damascus, [Haswani] has a history of brokering deals with jihadi outfits as well as regime-backed shabiha, or militias. A Syrian businessman from Yabroud, Haswanis birthplace, spoke to FP on the condition of anonymity and said: 'Haswani is known to resolve disputes between locals and shabiha. But he also knew ISIS and [the Nusra Front].'  In 2015, Haswani was sanctioned by the United States for allegedly buying oil for the regime from the Islamic State, which controlled oil-rich parts of Syria at the time.

And in July 2019, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Hezbollahs security chief, Wafiq Safa, for allegedly using Lebanon's ports and border crossings to smuggle contraband and facilitate travel on behalf of Hizballah, undermining the security and safety of the Lebanese people, while also draining valuable import duties and revenue away from the Lebanese government.

In an analysis published in June by Chatham House, an independent think tank in London, Lina Khatib wrote that Hezbollah has de facto control over Lebanons border with Syria, smuggling fuel, drugs and weapons. Khatib added the group also has strong ties with key Lebanese government ministers who have sway over the Beirut port, including former Transportation Minister Yusuf Finyanus.

In September 2020, the U.S. Treasury sanctioned Finyanus for providing material support to Hezbollah and engaging in corruption, and noted that he regularly met with Safa in 2015.

In July 2019, Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon warned the U.N. Security Council that Iran was smuggling weapons to Hezbollah through Beiruts port, exploiting civilian maritime channels. Danon remarked that the [t]he Port of Beirut is now the Port of Hezbollah.

Hezbollah has also stored explosive materials in other parts of the world.

Al Monitor, a media platform specializing in coverage of the Middle East, reported that the U.S. State Departments top counterterrorism official, Nathan Sales, accused Hezbollah of stockpiling ammonium nitrate in multiple European countries.

Since 2012, Hezbollah has established caches of ammonium nitrate throughout Europe, by transporting first-aid kits whose cold packs contain the substance, Sales said.
On August 17, Rong Chhun, president of the Cambodian Confederation of Unions, received a sentence of two years imprisonment for the vague charge of incitement to commit a felony or cause social unrest.

Activists Sar Kanika and Ton Nimol also were jailed for 20 months on incitement charges. Each individual was fined $500, and they were ordered to jointly pay $100,000 in damages to the Cambodia Border Affairs Committee.

On July 21, 2020, Rong Chhun had issued a statement alleging the placement of border posts resulted in Cambodian farmers losing ancestral land to Vietnam in Ponhea Kraek district, Tbong Khmum province.

That, authorities said, was incitement. Chhun received the maximum allowable sentence under the law, sparking a flurry of condemnation from rights groups.

Ministry of Justice spokesman Chin Malin replied:

The legal procedures brought against [Chhun] were not due to his exercise of freedom of speech but because he had committed a crime. The authorities had a strong legal basis and evidence to bring the case to court and it led to these penalties.

That is misleading.

In fact, Chhun is just the latest victim of Cambodias suppression of speech and civic participation under the leadership of Prime Minister Hun Sen, an autocrat whos been in power since 1985.

In Cambodia and beyond, Chhuns arrest and sentencing is largely viewed as politically motivated. Top diplomats condemned the sentence, including the U.S. ambassador to Cambodia, Patrick Murphy.

The conviction of respected union leader Rong Chhun raises serious questions about freedom of speech protected in Cambodias constitution and essential to the functioning of a democracy, Murphy said on Twitter. The judicial system should not be abused to silence peaceful activists.

Tina Redshaw, U.K. ambassador to Cambodia, echoed Murphy.

Freedom of expression is protected in Cambodias Constitution, and the judiciary shouldnt be used to curtail it. Strong governments are open to hearing and engaging with a range of views from all of society, she tweeted.

Chhun had weighed in on a sensitive issue in Cambodia: Enforcement of borders with the countrys historic enemy and neighbor, Vietnam. Some Cambodians in Ponhea Kraek claimed that Vietnamese were encroaching on their land.

On July 31, 2020, the Cambodia Border Affairs Committee claimed Chhuns complaints about border posts disseminated fake news intended to cause social unrest and public misunderstanding.

Chhun, the committee said, had colluded with bad actors who claimed their ancestral land was taken by Vietnamese soldiers who ousted them from their farms.

Kuy Pisey, vice president of the Cambodia Border Committee, told VOAs sister organization Radio Free Asia (RFA) that the border is based on documentation, and that the farmers there had never controlled (or lost) the land.

Chhun, contested the committees characterization of his statements on the matter, as well as their conclusions. It is the truth, based on the villagers who said they lost around 500 meters (1,640 feet) of their land to the border  The border committee must be brave enough to accept the truth, he told RFA.

Chhun was arrested the following day, August 1. Shortly afterward, 142 Cambodian civil society groups, communities and unions called on the government to drop all charges against him.

The Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights called Chhuns arrest a clear violation of the unionists right to freedom of expression as guaranteed by Cambodias constitution.

New York-based Human Rights Watch concurred. Prime Minister Hun Sen should stop muzzling labor unionists, human rights defenders, and other critics of government policies, said Phil Robertson, the groups deputy Asia director.

Kanika and Nimol were arrested while protesting for Chhuns release outside of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court in August 2020.

Following the verdicts, Chak Sopheap, Executive Director of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, said the conviction and sentencing of all three men forms part of a broader pattern of systemic silencing of dissenting or critical voices by the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC).

The judicial harassment that they have faced  for legitimately exercising their fundamental freedoms  exemplifies the RGC's growing intolerance to criticism, she said.

Rong Chhun is also a member of the Cambodia Watchdog Council, and a former member of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), the main opposition party, which was banned in November 2017. The partys leadership was summarily targeted and convicted on what HRW Deputy Asia Director Phil Robertson called bogus charges.

The overall climate for speech and civil rights has worsened in Cambodia. The rights group Freedom House classifies the country as not free and a de facto one-party state. U.K.-based Amnesty International reported in January that 150 people affiliated with the CNRP are facing jail on charges that include treason and incitement.

In a new strike against press freedom, Cambodias Ministry of Information in late July announced it was creating a Monitoring Committee for Journalism Ethics to provide guidance to journalists who violate professional ethics and adjust their performance accordingly.

Daniel Bastard, the head of journalism advocacy group Reporters Without Borders Asia-Pacific desk, called the committee a new tool of censorship and intimidation that Prime Minister Hun Sen's government is deploying in order to silence any media outlets that dare to question its policies.

RSFs 2020 World Press Freedom Index, which rates the media environment in 180 countries and territories, placed Cambodia toward the bottom (144th).

In April 2020, Cambodia introduced state-of-emergency powers ostensibly to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, but which rights groups say have been broadly used to snuff out free speech, particularly criticism of the government.

As previously reported by Polygraph.info and others, journalists have been jailed for incitement and other charges for criticizing Hun Sens plan to name his son as his successor; the government debt-relief efforts during the pandemic; reports on a land dispute involving the military; and even repeating Hun Sens own comments.

In one egregious case, a 14-year-old girl was arrested for expressing fears about coronavirus circulating at her school on social media.
A riot erupted at the Aiken County detention center late Sunday afternoon, according to the Aiken County Sheriff's Office.

The sheriff's office received a notification that detention center staff needed additional support at about 5:30 p.m.

"It started out with (staff) dealing with one inmate who was being unruly  and as they were getting him under control the entire pod erupted," said Capt. Eric Abdullah with the sheriff's office.

A pod is comprised of "50-plus" inmates and there are multiple pods in the jail, Abdullah said.

Police said detention center staff backed out and called for additional resources.

"They went back in and took control of every inmate in the pod," Abdullah said.

No inmates were injured, and there were no injuries to any staff members.

There was also no property damage.

Abdullah confirmed the entire facility was on lockdown but, for reasons of security, could not specify for how long.

He said there is a possibility inmates will be charged.

This is a developing story. Check back with the Aiken Standard for new information.
GREENVILLE  The open carry of guns at protests and other events permitted by the city could become illegal.

City Council is expected to vote tonight, Aug. 23, on the potential ban following Gov. Henry McMaster's signing of the Open Carry with Training Act, which allows local governments to limit open carry on public property.

Currently, the city requires permits for picketing when a person or group intends to protest.

Last summer, heated protests at the Confederate memorial on North Main Street drew out militiamen carrying semi-automatic rifles who stood along the perimeter as Black Lives Matter protesters and supporters of the monument clashed. In March, a Black Lives Matter protest downtown over a violent police encounter included members of the New Black Panther Party bearing similar guns openly.

Following the Confederate protests, Police Chief Howie Thompson told The Post and Courier that the presence of people with long guns complicated the effort to ensure security but that there was no provision to prevent the guns from being openly carried.

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The new ban would apply to city events such as large-scale festivals Fall for Greenville and Artisphere, the weekly Main Street Fridays and Saturday Market events, and races like the Reedy River Run.

The restriction would better align the city's policies with those at venues like Bon Secours Wellness Arena, the Peace Center and Fluor Field, city spokeswoman Beth Brotherton said.

"In keeping with the proposed open carry restrictions at other events on public property, the ordinance proposes the same restrictions on open carry at pickets," Brotherton said. "It would require picketers to obtain a permit at no charge in the same manner as the written notice of intent to the picket process already in place."

The council meeting is set for 5:30 p.m. at the Greenville Convention Center, along North Pleasantburg Drive.
The poet Marjory Wentworth, who normally moves at roadrunner speed, languished at home last week exhausted and coughing.

It felt surreal. She couldn't possibly have COVID-19.

The longtime South Carolina poet laureate had gotten a vaccine back in March. Since then, she relished the freedom to socialize more despite the pandemic. She hung out with her vaccinated friends but still wore a mask everywhere else.

At 63, she is trim, eats well and runs regularly. But a week ago, she climbed some stairs and felt winded. Cold symptoms set in. That night, she ran a fever.

By morning, she ached and soon felt downright awful, like a cross between the flu and bronchitis.

When her test came back positive, Wentworth was shocked. She had been so careful. Yet, the aggressive new delta variant, and the sheer number of unvaccinated people spreading it, are snuffing out hope for the pandemic's end.

Breakthrough infections among the vaccinated, though still rare, also are on the rise.

Just a few days ago, U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker, Angus King and John Hickenlooper all announced they had COVID-19 breakthrough infections. Each reported mild symptoms.

Ditto for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who tested positive the day before.

And, earlier this month, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham also tested positive. Like the others, he expressed thanks that he had gotten a vaccine  and wondered how sick he would be without it.

The vaccines remain good at preventing people from becoming infected. And they are extremely effective at keeping those who catch the virus from becoming sick enough to need hospital care. Or die.

But they arent perfect.

Rubber, meet road

There was a time earlier this year when people lined up for vaccines, and hope filled the springtime air.

Yet, then the lines dwindled. The delta variant arrived.

COVID infections soared. Hospital beds filled. And, from time to time, delta busted through the vaccines, our top line of defense.

Waning immunity might be partly to blame. A reduction in effectiveness has led federal health officials to prepare to offer booster shots starting Sept. 20. They will be available to those who received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines  the vast majority of South Carolinians  eight months after people received their second dose.

But local medical experts say delta's striking infectiousness appears to be the key driver of breakthrough infections, not to mention the 54 percent of South Carolinians who arent fully vaccinated and are spreading it most.

Delta is more than two times as contagious as previous variants, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That surprised Dr. John Rowe, a family physician who is Roper St. Francis Physician Partners' director of primary care.

Rowe has heard of delta infecting people even in well-ventilated settings, such as outdoors. It has a real affinity for the receptors in our respiratory passages, he said.

At the Medical University of South Carolina, which has been testing positive cases, the variant showed up in May. A few weeks later, it dominated. Dr. Scott Curry, an infectious disease specialist at MUSC, is tracking delta's quick ascent: It is very pronounced.

As delta spreads, breakthrough infections are increasing, but they remain rare. The vaccines still provide extremely strong protection against severe illness and death.

MUSC requires its employees to be vaccinated or submit a religious or medical exemption waiver. While tracing fully vaccinated employees, students and faculty who contracted the virus, Curry has logged 231 confirmed breakthrough infections in a workforce of more than 14,000 people. Only three got sick enough to need hospital care, and even then, only briefly. None landed in intensive care unit, and none died.

Thats where the rubber hits the road for any vaccine, Curry said. If not for those vaccines, the 207 people Ive been tracing would be in substantially worse shape.

Across South Carolina, the state Department of Health and Environmental Control has logged 329 fully vaccinated people who still wound up hospitalized since May 1. Only 77 have died in a state that has seen more than 10,000 deaths.

In all, about .0166 percent of fully vaccinated South Carolinians have been hospitalized with COVID.

And .0039 percent have died.

Protecting everyone

When Wentworth learned she had COVID-19, her thoughts backtracked with fear: Had she infected anyone else?

Her friend Jeremy Rutledge, pastor of Circular Congregational Church, has a health condition that keeps him from acquiring the vaccines protection. Her brother-in-law has the same disorder. COVID-19 could kill them.

Thankfully, her brother-in-law lives in Maine. And when she last saw Rutledge, they had both been wearing masks and spoke from a distance.

But two days before her first symptoms appeared, when she might have been infectious, Wentworth had run errands. Walking around the stores, shed seen few masks.

She recalled wearing one, though. Relief flooded her.

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Thank God, I had a mask on, she said. I think were all in danger. Clearly, its out there. Its ubiquitous. Its everywhere now.

After all, the primary goal of a mask isnt to protect you. Its to keep you from projecting COVID onto someone else. That someone else might be an elderly person, a pregnant woman, someone with an underlying medical condition or a child not old enough to get vaccinated.

The vaccines also arent bulletproof.

Across South Carolina, among people sick enough with COVID-19 to need hospital care, only about one in 10 are vaccinated.

Throughout July, DHEC tracked 114 cases of people hospitalized with breakthrough infections whose prior health conditions were noted. More than 91 percent had preexisting conditions or multiple medical ailments. Among the 21 who died, more than 95 percent had such conditions.

In the ICU at Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital earlier this month, three people were on ventilators. Two were unvaccinated men in their 30s.

One was a recently retired nurse with multiple sclerosis. She and her husband had gotten vaccinated as soon as they could. But medications she took blocked the same receptors the vaccine needed to reach.

As she languished on a ventilator, her husband grew angry. He felt certain that an unvaccinated person had infected her.

Yet, she had done everything right.

This is why Rowe, the family physician, called wearing face masks the most patriotic thing to protect people like this woman.

Curry, the infectious disease doctor, agreed. If the virus continues to spread and mutate among the unvaccinated, a new variant could wholly break through this critical line of defense.

We will be right back where we were in March 2020, Curry said.

He fears another 10,000 South Carolinians could die if that happens.

(Wearing masks) is not forever, Curry said. This is going to end one way or another  with every South Carolinian getting infected, vaccinated  or both.

Return of simple joys

Andy Lyons celebrated getting his second shot by taking a trip to Key West, Fla., with vaccinated friends. Under the warm sun, they laughed and boated and listened to music and everything felt so wonderfully normal again.

For Lyons, a spokesman for Roper St. Francis Healthcare, the past year had been brutally busy trying to keep the hospital systems 6,000 employees and the public informed about the pandemic. Finally, thanks to the vaccines, he felt that strain ease.

"It was so good be alive, and we had gotten the vaccine.  he remembered.

A musician, Lyons also started venturing out again to play gigs with his band, The Yacht Club. Earlier this month, they performed in Myrtle Beach. He was onstage with the band and later recalled talking to a few people when he stepped down briefly.

Later, he didn't recall them wearing masks. Neither was he.

A few days later, he woke up feeling run down. Healthy and active, the 46-year-old rarely got sick. As the day wore on, his nose ran, and the exhaustion worsened. Although he couldn't be sure where he got the virus, he read that the Myrtle Beach area's hospital beds were filling up with COVID-19 patients.

You really dont look good, his wife, Renee, said.

He tested positive as his symptoms worsened  runny nose, low-grade fever, extreme fatigue, headache for days.

I felt bad  like real bad, he recalled. If I hadnt gotten the vaccine, Id be in trouble.

He had gotten his shots in December and January, back with the first wave of people who work in health-care settings. He wondered if the protection had begun to wane and is eager to get a booster when they become available next month.

Mostly, he encouraged people to get vaccinated and applauded those who have done so.

But they also should be diligent, he said. We are spending so much energy to convince the unvaccinated.  I dont want us to take our eye off the fact that the vaccinated can get sick and totally, inadvertently, infect someone else.

Lyons hopes to return to work next week. His symptoms have been improving, although by late last week he still couldn't taste or smell much. That bothered him, as if he had lost one thing he could have enjoyed while feeling lousy.

Then one night, his wife made a frozen pizza, and he poured Sweet Baby Rays wing sauce all over it. As he ate, he realized he could taste again, a little bit, and he savored that small step back to feeling normal again.
S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control reported over 13,000 newly confirmed and probable cases and over 100 deaths for Aug. 21-23.

This comes as South Carolina's vaccination rates continues to lag behind many other states, with only 46.6 percent of residents fully vaccinated.

In an online poll conducted by The Post and Courier about vaccine hesitancy, the second most popular response for those who remained unvaccinated was that the medicine was rushed to market.

Given the Food and Drug Administration's recent approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on Aug. 23, DHEC and other health agencies across the country are urging residents to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

Statewide numbers

New cases reported: 3,591 confirmed, 1,011 probable (Saturday); 3,963 confirmed, 1,048 probable (Sunday); and 3,124 confirmed, 416 probable (Monday).

Total cases in S.C.: 565,681 confirmed, 129,808 probable.

Percent positive: 12.7 percent.

New deaths reported: 25 confirmed, 5 probable (Saturday); 14 confirmed, 13 probable (Sunday); and 36 confirmed, 9 probable (Monday).

Total deaths in S.C.: 9,064 confirmed, 1,250 probable.

Percent of ICU beds filled (with COVID-19 and other patients): 81.86 percent.

S.C. residents vaccinated

In South Carolina, 55.3 percent of people who are eligible for the vaccine have received one shot, and 46.6 percent of eligible residents are considered fully vaccinated.

Hardest-hit areas

Greenville (378), Charleston (213) and Lexington (206) counties saw the highest totals of newly confirmed cases.

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What about tri-county?

Charleston County had 213 new cases on Aug. 23, while Berkeley had 119 and Dorchester had 105.

Deaths

DHEC releases county-level data regarding COVID-19 deaths and the ages of those who have died from the virus on Tuesdays. According to the data published on Aug. 17, at least 104 people in South Carolina died from the virus Aug. 8-14, and their ages ranged from pediatric (17 and younger) to elderly (65 and older). Horry County recorded 16 COVID deaths that week  the highest number in the state. Health officials have reported that the vast majority of patients who are dying from the coronavirus at this stage of the pandemic are unvaccinated.

Hospitalizations

Of the 1,942 COVID-19 patients hospitalized as of Aug. 23, 497 were in the ICU and 288 were using ventilators.

Student, teacher and faculty cases

DHEC's school dashboard shows, through Aug. 18, there have been 473 probable and confirmed cases among students and employees in the state's public and charter schools during the current school year.

Variants of concern

DHEC sequences a small, random sample of positive COVID-19 cases each week to determine which variants of concern (alpha, beta, gamma and delta) are circulating in the state. According to data published by the agency that is up to date through Aug. 18, 1,735 samples have been identified as variants of concern over the course of the pandemic. More than 488 of those samples have been identified as the delta variant, which health officials say is now the dominant strain in South Carolina.

What do experts say?

On Aug. 23, the American Medical Association, the American Hospital Association and the American Nurses Association issued a joint statement in support of the FDA's approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and urged all Americans to get vaccinated

"With millions of data points on the vaccines safety and efficacy over nearly nine months of vaccinations, every i is dotted and every t is crossed," said experts from the American medical, hospital and nurses associations. "This vaccine is safe, it prevents severe COVID-19, hospitalization, and deaths, and it will save your life."

DHEC Director Dr. Edward Simmer, also praised the FDA's full approval.

"This full approval from the FDA further indicates how safe and effective the vaccines are at preventing severe illness from COVID-19," he said in a prepared statement.

Go to vaxlocator.dhec.sc.gov to find a vaccine clinic near you.
Summerville, SC (29483)

Today

Considerable clouds this morning. Some decrease in clouds later in the day. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 89F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds. Low 71F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.
Kingstree, SC (29556)

Today

Mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 85F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy. Low 67F. Winds light and variable.
CONWAY  Horry County's first week of school is over, and as students take home assignments, crayons and empty lunchboxes, some also are bringing home COVID-19.

As of Aug. 23, Horry County schools are reporting 336 active COVID-19 cases, nearly tripling the number since Aug. 18 when the district reported 116 cases. Of the active cases, 285 are among students, and the other 51 are among staff, according to the district's COVID-19 dashboard, which is updated daily.

In October 2020, about a month into the then-school year, HCS reported 128 cases, which is half of what the district is seeing in the first week of school in 2021.

Four high schools lead the county in active cases  Conway, Carolina Forest, St. James and Myrtle Beach.

Cases continue to rise across South Carolina, taking a particularly hard hit on Horry County  area hospitals are reaching, or at capacity, and ambulances are delayed.

Over the past two weeks, Horry County recorded more than 2,800 cases of COVID-19, according to the most recent Department of Health and Environmental Control data.

Due to the Legislature's ban on mask mandates in South Carolina schools, face coverings are not required in the state's third-largest school district. However, the district is encouraging mask-wearing, a spokeswoman said.

Some COVID-19 precautions the district is taking include contact tracing and disinfecting high-touch areas, including classrooms and restrooms, at the end of each day. Buses are disinfected twice a day.

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Other large districts also are seeing a rise in cases. Greenville County, the state's largest district, has had 315 active cases since Aug. 17.

With active cases comes quarantines, meaning faculty member that comes into close contact with an active COVID case will have be sent home leaving students with substitute teachers.

Currently, 99 staff members in Horry County schools are quarantined, according to the district's dashboard.

The dashboard does not break down which staff members who are testing positive for COVID-19, including how many are teachers, but district spokesperson Lisa Bourcier said a substitute teacher or school staff member would be assigned to any classrooms where teachers are absent.

Unless teachers have been vaccinated or had COVID-19 within the last three months, they will be expected to quarantine for 14 days if they come into close contact with an active case, Bourcier said. This guidance applies to all faculty and students.

Daisy Elementary, Loris High School, St. James Elementary and Conway High School have the highest number of staff quarantined, with seven staff members quarantined at Daisy and five each for the three.

But almost every school within the district is reporting one or more active cases of COVID-19, according to the dashboard.

Aynor High School and Loris Middle School are the only schools without active cases, along with the district's special program schools like the Therapeutic Learning Center and the Adult Education Center.
MONCKS CORNER  Some Berkeley County community members are pushing back against the school district over its lack of a mask mandate.

The protest on Aug. 23 comes after the district was the only one in the state to not have a mask mandate last school year.

Outside of the Berkeley County School District office in Moncks Corner on East Main Street, around 17 residents stood in solidarity to push for the district to require mask-wearing in schools. Most of the protesters were parents or grandparents with children in the school district.

Michael Snider, a 65-year-old veteran, has grandkids and nephews who attend Berkeley County schools.

Wearing a mask is just common sense, he said.

"I fear for the kids," he said. "And we need to do more to protect the teachers."

On Aug. 16, students and staff in schools across Berkeley and Dorchester counties returned to class. They did so without any mask mandates, in line with a state budget proviso preventing school districts from using appropriated funds to issue mask requirements. Later on Aug. 16  two days before the start of school for Charleston County  the school district there instituted a mask policy.

As of Aug. 23, Berkeley County School District reported more than 200 students with COVID-19 and nearly 60 staff cases.

According to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, Berkeley County has the lowest COVID-19 vaccination rate in the tri-county area. It had recorded nearly 2,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Aug. 21.

Both DHEC and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention highly recommend wearing masks indoors to mitigate COVID-19 cases.

Randy Smalls is a longtime county resident with three daughters in the district. He organized the protest after seeing most children at the schools walking around without any masks amid the rise in COVID cases.

"We just want what's best for our children," he said.

On the cloudy morning of the protest, participants gathered, silently holding signs with messages such as "Facts over Feelings," "It's the kids for me" and "Keep kids in school."

There were no chants or yelling, the silence broken by the occasional car horn.

Maxie Smith, a local foster parent of three children, drove by, honking and screaming her support for the protest. She eventually turned her car around and joined those demonstrating.

She said she was mortified to see so many children not wearing masks when she went to pick up her children at Berkeley High School.

"When I saw this group out here, I was excited," she said. "All we're saying is put a mask on."

But not everyone who attended was in support of masks in schools.

Tom Fernandez, a Berkeley attorney and vocal opponent of mask mandates, walked up to protestors with his phone out, going live on his social media account.

A debate broke out between Fernandez and the protesters. Fernandez said he and his supporters were against the mask mandate because they didn't think the government should have that kind of power.

Tory Liferidge, pastor of Grace Reformed Episcopal Church in Moncks Corner, said he didn't buy that argument. He said the same residents that argue Fernandez's point don't speak up when it comes to issues like school dress codes.

But, ultimately, Liferidge and other protesters said they want to move away from the political discussion. Though most of the demonstrators were Black, most said they want it to be known that they were there for the safety of all children.

Liferidge said there are other places and topics where they can have the discussion on personal freedoms. He proposed a mask mandate in schools through at least December to see how it works, an effort to prevent more children from having to go home to quarantine or risk going back to a virtual school model.

"This is not government," he said. "Right now we are trying to be a community.

"This is about our kids," he added.

District officials did not come out and speak to protestors. In a statement from a district spokesman, they said "leaders respect the free speech and assembly rights of the organizers and participants."

They also cited the state budget proviso against mask mandates.
Charleston, SC (29403)

Today

Sun and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 88F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Some passing clouds. Low 72F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.
Wednesdays Post and Courier had an article concerning the resignation of Wendy Stiver, the police official hired in early 2020 to help address the findings of the recent racial bias audit.

James Johnson, president of the Racial Justice Network, was quoted as saying that he would not be surprised to learn that Stiver was shocked by Charlestons enduring racism as a reason she quit prematurely.

This is purely speculation on the part of Mr. Johnson.

He no more knows Ms. Stivers reasoning for quitting as I do.

Mr. Johnson is using this as an opportunity to suggest Charleston is so outrageously racist, it is beyond repair, so why would she bang her head against a wall trying?

Mr. Johnsons professional position dictates that he paint racial relations in the most negative light possible, but he should not slander my city.

WAYNE FIELDING

King Street

Charleston

Bidens Afghan debacle

After withdrawing troops from Afghanistan, President Joe Biden has refused to accept responsibility for the ensuing debacle.

Instead, he has blamed others, including former President Donald Trump and even the Afghans.

Whether you agree or not that we should have left Afghanistan, the exit has been a disaster.

If including the chaos along our Mexican border, one has to wonder if Biden has any concept of management. Or does he have other objectives?

Putting aside any intelligence and military advice he was given, common sense should have prevailed in the way the withdrawal was executed.

Specifically, a nation should not abandon air support to allies and remove military combatants before evacuating Americans and at-risk Afghans.

As the military prepared to leave, the withdrawal also should have included removing or destroying military equipment.

So what was the big hurry to get out by Aug. 31?

While refusing to abide by the terms of a deal negotiated between the Taliban and his predecessor, Bidens decisions were reckless and unnecessary.

This nightmare was created by attempting to score political points by leaving Afghanistan just before the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

The damage to the United States in terms of its reliability, competence and moral fortitude is immense.

Regardless of political party, we should all be concerned about Bidens ability to lead our nation as commander in chief.

To callously gamble with Americas future, knowing what was likely to happen, is despicable.

BILL BISSETTE

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Short Street

Charleston

Hot enough for you?

What will it take for some naysayers to be convinced about the impact of global climate change?

Daily temperatures in the American West are more than 100 degrees; fires are devastating Europe, Siberia and Australia as well as California and Oregon.

Weather around the world has made a statement with flooding and heat waves.

Are we blind to what is happening or are we bound by corporate greed and the oil industry with our gas guzzlers?

It is time to say No to pollution before it is too late. God help us all, especially our children.

ROBERT LANE

Knottingham Drive

Goose Creek

Sullivan's officers helpful

I understand how difficult policing a beach community can be during the peak of summer, so I want to point out how well we were treated recently on Sullivans Island.

We rented a beach house on Marshall Boulevard, and one of the teenagers parked illegally on the street in front of the house.

The responding officers wrote the ticket for the minimum amount and also rang our doorbell to give us a chance to move the teens car before it was towed.

The next day, he and three others took paddleboards and kayaks out to the sandbar at dusk but soon ran into trouble when one of their kayaks took on water.

The two fathers took paddleboards out to the sandbar, and since there was no moon, we called the Sullivans Island Rescue out of an abundance of caution.

While there was no need for a rescue, the responders did talk to the boys to stress upon them the dangers of the strong and changing tides off the coast.

Our family is much more educated to the dangers of the tides, and we have a new respect for Breach Inlet.

Were grateful for the tact and professionalism of those who work to keep Sullivans Island safe.

SANDRA NETTLES

Madison Court

Mount Pleasant
This New York Times article provides a detailed look at how the US exit from Afghanistan unraveled, miscue by miscue. The Times offers a sort of time line of the Biden administrations erroneous thinking about its pullout and the awful planning (or lack thereof) that resulted.

The article confirms that Team Biden was clueless about the facts on the ground in Afghanistan and the fate of the Afghan government and military. To the extent it received half-way decent analysis, the administration ignored it.

Heres the passage I want to call attention to:

A week later, on July 2, Biden, in an ebullient mood, gathered a small group of reporters to celebrate new jobs numbers that he said showed that his economic recovery plan was working. But all the questions he received were about news from Afghanistan that the United States had abandoned Bagram Airfield, with little to no notice to the Afghans. Its a rational drawdown with our allies, he insisted, so theres nothing unusual about it. But as the questions persisted, on Afghanistan rather than the economy, he grew visibly annoyed. He recalled Ghanis visit and said, I think they have the capacity to be able to sustain the government, although he added that there would have to be negotiations with the Taliban. Then, for the first time, he was pressed on what the administration would do to save Kabul if it came under direct attack. I want to talk about happy things, man, he said.

(Emphasis added)

FDR is remembered for saying we have nothing to fear but fear itself. JFK is remembered for saying ask not what your country can do for you. . . (what a quaint idea).

Let Joe Biden be remembered for saying, as Afghanistan descended into chaos, I want to talk about happy things, man.
Our historic national humiliation proceeds in Afghanistan. Animatronic Joe Biden took the lectern in the Roosevelt Room and summoned the press to attend to Remarks on Tropical Storm Henri and the Evacuation Operation in Afghanistan (the White House text is linked, the White House video is below).

One of these subjects is not like the other. Tropical Storm Henri is a natural disaster. The operation in Afghanistan is a Biden-made disaster.

As usual, Biden summoned the press to watch him stare vacantly into the teleprompter and watch him struggle to read his lines. At the very top of his remarks, Biden blocked on the name of the FEMA Administrator. The animatronic circuits ultimately fired up to yield Ms. Criswell.

Biden turned to acknowledged Ms. Criswell and must have lost his place in the text. Ms. Criswell had brief Biden on the the flash flooding in Waverly, Tennessee, and surrounding areas in Tennessee. Together with the update on Tropical Storm Henri, this was weird beyond Bidens Baghdad Bob routine.

Animatronic Joe Biden appears to have no awareness of the events in process or of their meaning. He seeks to assure us that all is well, events are proceeding as planned, and everyone is happy with us. If his minders had any sense of shame, they would resign.

Among the headlines in the AP morning update are Gunfire at Kabul airport kills 1; Taliban mass near Panjshir and Kabul airlift is accelerating but still hampered by chaos. They are hard to square with animatronic Joe Bidens remarks yesterday afternoon.

Our dependence on the cooperation of the Taliban and the scripted cluelessness of animatronic Joe contribute to the historic national humiliation that is in process. And so, so far, he stated, the Taliban has not taken action against U.S. forces. So far, they have, by and large, followed through what they said, in terms of allowing Americans to pass through, and the like. And yet excuses must be made in advance: And Im sure they dont control all of their forces. Its a ragtag force. And so, well see. Well see whether or not what they say turns out to be true.

This is the heart of the problem: My job is to make judgments. My job is to make judgments no one else can or will make. I made them.

Animatronic Joe Biden has been briefed to say this: Look, the Taliban has a  the Taliban has to make a fundamental decision: Is the Taliban going to attempt to be able to unite and provide for the wellbeing of the people of Afghanistan, which no one group has ever done since before dealing  for hundreds of years. And if it does, its going to need everything from additional help, in terms of economic assistance, trades, and a whole range of things.

Animatronic Joe Biden took a few questions from preselected members of the media. He was not programmed to take questions on our materiel left behind in our rush for the exit.

As I say, if his minders had any sense of shame, they would resign. But they dont and wont.

Quotable quote: That remains to be seen whether we ask that question.
At his Friday press conference, Joe Biden was asked about the cable sent by 23 officials at the U.S. embassy in Kabul warning his administration of the potential collapse of Kabul soon after the August 31 troop withdrawal deadline. Ignoring this warning, Team Biden assured America that if Kabul fell at all, it would happen at a much later date.

Bidens response to the question was that we get cables all the time. That was it.

Biden thus equated the considered opinion of nearly two dozen officials on the ground in Afghanistan with mere noise, as if the cable had come from a lone source with no particular expertise or knowledge.

When a Republican is president, the mainstream media and their Democrat allies feign indignation if the administration ignores the view of even a handful of career public servants. But Biden blithely blew off the views of 23 career public servants with special expertise and knowledge as just another comment from the peanut gallery.

During the same press conference, Biden claimed that the overwhelming consensus was that if Kabul collapsed, this would occur well after our withdrawal was complete. Was this the real consensus and if so, how strong was it?

We know that 23 officials at our embassy in Kabul didnt hold the optimistic (and erroneous) view Biden calls the consensus. Did a greater number of well-informed officials in Afghanistan hold a different opinion? Or was the consensus really just the view of gatekeepers who, perhaps, were telling Biden and his top advisors what they wanted to hear?

We dont know. Not yet. Maybe the mainstream media will try diligently to find out. Maybe not.

We already know that the consensus Biden touts was weaker than the consensus that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction in 2003. That was the view of our intelligence agencies and those of our allies.

As I recall, it turned out that there was a footnote in the lengthy main intelligence document on the matter that disagreed with the consensus view. When the U.S. failed to find a substantial volume of WMD, much was made of that footnote.

In the present case, there is more than a footnote. There is a dissent signed by a large number of U.S. officials on the ground in Afghanistan. And the dissent turned out to be far more accurate (albeit still a little too optimistic) than the alleged consensus.

Much should be made of this. Joe Biden shouldnt be allowed to blow it off as just another cable.
Conversely, messaging that dramatizes the potential adverse consequences of an ISAF defeat for Afghan civilians could leverage French (and other European) guilt for abandoning them. The prospect of the Taliban rolling back hard-won progress on girls education could provoke French indignation, become a rallying point for Frances largely secular public, and give voters a reason to support a good and necessary cause despite casualties . . .

One of the main purposes of Gender and Women Studies is the oneness (sharing) of experiences and use of power, talents and abilities of men and women in order to bring positive changes in various dimensions of community development. Efforts should be made in this field to review and reveal social and cultural realities of our society in terms of gender by using gender studies and find out that in which part of the social structures, the opportunities for the development of capabilities and talents of women and men are faced with obstacles. The main objective of this field is to overcome obstacles through scientific and research studies in order to create ample social opportunities for both sexes in order to achieve development in its various dimensions.

Masters Program in Gender and Women Studies in the faculty of social sciences which getting started on 2015, can be considered as one of the important steps in the development of academic capacity and training of specialists cadre. At the same time, it can be considered as a preferred development in order to increase the quality of social sciences for the scientific community of Afghanistan and especially Kabul University. . .

In other words, justify the mission by appealing to the liberal values of Europeans, rather than because the ideology and action of the enemy deserved defeating. Make sure European liberals feel good about themselves! And thus we get American aid paying for things like this at Kabul University :

Afghan women could serve as ideal messengers in humanizing the ISAF role in combating the Taliban because of womens ability to speak personally and credibly about their experiences under the Taliban, their aspirations for the future, and their fears of a Taliban victory. Outreach initiatives that create media opportunities for Afghan women to share their stories with French, German, and other European women could help to overcome pervasive skepticism among women in Western Europe toward the ISAF mission.

Im sure the Taliban will keep this important program going. More from Cockburn in The Spectator:

Did gender studies lose Afghanistan?

When it comes to Vietnam, partisans debate rules of engagement, bombing strategies, funding levels, and the Tet Offensive. With Afghanistan, the question could be: did gender studies cause America to suffer its most humiliating defeat ever? Cockburn wishes he was joking. . .

America in Afghanistan sought a shortcut, and by shortcut Cockburn means something that takes ten times as long but doesnt look as nasty for TV cameras. America hoped that with enough half-baked social engineering in the half of Afghanistan it controlled, it would eventually be rewarded with victory, and Afghanistan would become the Holland of the Hindu Kush. On Ivy League campuses, students are taught to decry colonialism, but the Ivy League diplomats who sought to remake Afghanistan in Harvards image were among the most ambitious practitioners of it in world history.

So, alongside the billions for bombs went hundreds of millions for gender studies in Afghanistan. According to U.S. government reports, $787 million was spent on gender programs in Afghanistan, but that substantially understates the actual total, since gender goals were folded into practically every undertaking America made in the country.

A recent report from the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) broke down the difficulties of the project. For starters, in both Dari and Pastho there are no words for gender. That makes sense, since the distinction between sex and gender was only invented by a sexually-abusive child psychiatrist in the 1960s, but evidently Americans were caught off-guard. Things didnt improve from there. Under the USs guidance, Afghanistans 2004 constitution set a 27 per cent quota for women in the lower house  higher than the actual figure in America! A strategy that sometimes required having women represent provinces they had never actually been to. Remarkably, this experiment in democracy created a government few were willing to fight for, let alone die for.

The initiatives piled up one after another. Do-gooders established a National Masculinity Alliance, so a few hundred Afghan men could talk about their gender roles and examine male attitudes that are harmful to women.
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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced on Monday that its new allocation of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) was equivalent to $650 billion.

The largest SDR in the IMFs history comes into effect in an effort to help countries recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The allocation is a significant shot in the arm for the world and, if used wisely, a unique opportunity to combat this unprecedented crisis.

The SDR allocation will provide additional liquidity to the global economic system supplementing countries foreign exchange reserves, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said in a statement.

He added that countries could use the space provided by the SDR allocation to support their economies and step up their fight against the crisis.

SDRs were being distributed to countries in proportion to their quota shares in the IMF.

About $275 billion of the new allocation would go to emerging and developing countries, of which low-income countries would receive about $21 billion, according to the IMF. Nigeria will get $3.35 billion.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

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The announcement came weeks after the board of governors of the IMF on August 2 finally approved the SDR allocation proposal, which was delayed for more than a year.

The United States, the IMFs biggest shareholder with a unique veto power, blocked the proposal last year under the Donald Trump administration.

The Joe Biden administration quickly reversed the position and voiced its support for the plan earlier this year.

The SDR allocation proposal gained wide support during the virtual spring meetings of the IMF and the World Bank held in April, as G20 finance ministers and central bank governors, as well as officials from other IMF members, backed the plan.

The SDR, an international reserve asset created by the IMF in 1969 to supplement its member countries official reserves, can be exchanged among governments for freely usable currencies in times of need.

(Xinhua/NAN)
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For violating the COVID-19 protocols, Ekiti State COVID-19 Task Force monitoring and enforcement team has sealed off two popular eateries and a bank in Ado-Ekiti.

The eateries and the bank, located at Ajilosun and Irona roads respectively, were on Friday found not observing the protocols for COVID-19 prevention.

These include not wearing face masks and the failure to observe the adequate social distance.

The task force, headed by Jlmlas Ogunsakin had been on a routine check on churches, mosques, markets, and other public places in the capital. They were also out to sensitise the people on the need to adhere to the prevention guidelines as well and enforce the directives on curbing the disease.

Mr Ogunsakin told journalists in Ado Ekiti that there was a need to engage the communities on the imperative of protecting the residents of the state against the third wave of the pandemic.

He said the state had recorded 300 cases of the virus in the last week, raising fresh concerns of a rising threat of the virus in the state.

While worrying over the situation, Mr Ogunsakin said the Ekiti State government had spent millions of naira on the treatment of COVID-19 patients within the last six months.

We will continue the sensitisation to all local government areas within the state and ensure that people keep to the protocols, he said.

The government is not happy with the way the pandemic keeps increasing by the day, most especially the third wave.

The Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has given a marching order that we should embark on aggressive sensitisation and community engagement on the need to prevent further spread of the pandemic.

Ekiti State has 1280 confirmed cases of the disease so far, with 15 deaths.

The state has 263 persons on admission while 1002 persons have been discharged.

Nigeria has a total of 186,635 confirmed cases even as 2,260 persons have died so far.
Almost all of Nigerias 11 electricity distribution companies reported huge losses in seven straight years, a distressing scorecard that highlights the struggles of a sector that has failed to meet the power needs of Nigerians nearly a decade after the government handed control of the firms to private investors.

Ten of the 11 companies, also known as DisCos, reported about N2 trillion in losses between 2013 and 2019. The firms made no profits in any of the years in between, according to a PREMIUM TIMES analysis of their annual reports.

Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, the only company not on the list, did not file its report, prompting sanctions from the regulator, the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission.

Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company recorded the highest total loss of N472.2 billion, while Benin Electricity Distribution Company recorded N81 billion as the least.

One energy sector consultant blamed the losses on low tariffs, and another said there was the issue of sub-optimal management.

Electricity challenge

Nigeria, Africas largest economy, has one of the worlds worst power sector, producing an average of 5,000 megawatts of electricity for a population of about 200 million for decades. Some 80 million people do not have access to the national grid and power shortages cost the country $29 billion, according to the World Bank.

To compare, South Africa, the continents second biggest economy, generates about 55,000 megawatts for a population of about 58 million.

Successive governments have tried but failed to reform Nigerias energy sector. The main problems are decaying infrastructure, low investment, debts, and poor management. There are also operational inefficiencies, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) said in a 2020 report.

In 2013, the government unbundled the then state-run Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) into11 DisCos run by private investors. There are also generation companies (GenCos) and the Transmission Company of Nigeria, the only arm run by the government.

The problems have continued nonetheless with all three arms  generation, transmission, and distribution  reporting difficulties. In June 2020, DisCos blamed the federal governments high import duty on electricity meters for the difficulty in providing the equipment to their customers, and ultimately for low revenue.

The DisCos also accuse the federal government of reneging on pre-privatization agreements, making it difficult for them to efficiently deliver their services.

Perpetual losses

Data reviewed by PREMIUM TIMES show that Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, which lost N472.2 billion, recorded its highest loss of N147.6 billion in 2019.

Abuja Electricity Distribution Company lost N389.9 billion between 2013 and 2019, with its biggest loss N124 billion also in 2019.

In its report, the AEDC wrote: The company has historically incurred losses due to the existing electricity pricing regime which has not allowed for full recovery of costs through price increase.

Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company lost N246.8 billion in successive years and had its biggest loss N82.2 billion in 2019.

Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company recorded N218.3 billion as loss with the highest loss of N11.9 billion in 2019.

Kano Electricity Distribution Company lost N2020.7 billion, while Yola Electricity Distribution Company lost N81.6 billion. Both companies recorded their biggest losses in 2019.

Available record show that between 2013 and 2018, Enugu Electricity Distribution Company lost N157 billion loss with the highest N57.1 billion in 2018.

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Eko Electricity Distribution Company recorded N151 billion loss with 2018 alone recording a loss of N58.8 billion.

Jos Electricity Distribution Company recorded N103.1 billion with 2018 recording the highest N42.4 billion

Benin Electricity Distribution Company recorded N81 billion, it recorded N43 billion in 2018 alone.

Low tariffs and sub-optimal management

An energy sector consultant and analyst, Dan Kunle, said the it will take years for Nigeria to sufficiently deal with the problem of power to make the sector viable.

We have not invested enough money for us to have neared adequate power production, transmission, and distribution, the infrastructure for the three are still at infancy level. They are not yet in any way near maturity at all, he said.

Because of this lack of investment in multiple (hydro, gas, solar and all) generating capacity, we as a nation dont have sufficient money to build a robust high tension transmission infrastructure. If the infrastructure to distribute the power is power, you get poor results, these are the fundamental issues.

This has hindered additional investment from flowing into the sector. Meanwhile, the same government that will not give you the green light to run also has no money to inject into the sector. The little money the government has when injected does not show critical mass impact, it is near sufficient.

He said interventions so far by the Central Bank of Nigeria, estimated at N1.3 trillion in seven years, is like a drop in the Atlantic Ocean.

He also said the respect for the rule of law will build the confidence of investors in the sector which will bring about the expansion and incremental investment will start trickling in.

The CEO of New Hampshire Capital Ltd, Odion Omonfoman, said huge funding challenge weighs down the power sector that threatens its viability.

He said the challenge is partly due to the non-implementation of cost-reflective tariffs by NERC, high technical and commercial losses exacerbated by energy theft, and consumers apathy to payments because of unfair estimated billing practices by DisCos, and poor metering implementation by DisCos.

There is also the issue of sub-optimal management arising from a lack of proper corporate governance structures in some DisCos, he said.

As long as the existing DisCos have an unwritten monopoly to supply electricity to Nigerians without any competition from other market providers, it is doubtful if the power sector will ever be efficient, no matter how much the CBN injects in the sector.

He suggested that the NERC urgently license other players to distribute and sell electricity to Nigerians.

In the alternative, state governments should make laws that will allow for state governments to license and regulate private investors to generate and distribute electricity to their citizens as well, he said.
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The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has urged taxpayers, especially those in Rivers State to continue to pay their Value Added Tax (VAT) to it to avoid paying penalties for failure to do so.

Abdullahi Ahmad, Director, Communications and Liaison Department of the FIRS, gave the advice in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how emboldened by a recent judgement of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, on Thursday, signed into law a bill which authorises the Rivers State Government to henceforth collect Value Added Tax (VAT) in the state.

Besides VAT, the court had ruled that Rivers State Government, and not the agent of the Federal Government  FIRS was authorised by the Nigerian Constitution to collect personal income tax in the state.

It may be too early to draw conclusion on the implications of this development, as FIRS has appealed the judgement

But the FIRS official said the agency decided to issue the directive following numerous enquiries in the aftermath of the recent judgment.

The FIRS spokesperson explained that since the organisation had already appealed the judgment, in which it sought a stay of execution order and that the status quo ante should subsist on VAT collection.

He said taxpayers should continue to pay their VAT to the FIRS.

The attention of the FIRS has been drawn to the trending report that on 19/08/2021, the Government of Rivers State took steps to enact a Value Added Tax Law for Rivers State following the Judgment of the Federal High Court Port Harcourt Division on August 9, 2021 in Suit No: CS/149/2020.

The suit was about who has the constitutional duty for the collection of VAT and Personal income tax in Rivers State.

We wish to inform the general public that before the above-mentioned steps taken by the Government of Rivers State, FIRS had lodged an appeal against the above judgment and had also filed an application for stay of execution of the judgment as well asking the court for an injunction pending the determination of the appeal.

All parties to the suit are aware that both applications were heard on the 19th and 20th August 2021 and are awaiting the decision of the court.

Given that the Court of Appeal is yet to rule on the Appeal from the Judgment of Federal High Court and that the Federal High Court is yet to deliver a ruling on FIRSs applications for stay of execution and injunction he explained.

Mr Ahmad urged the public to continue to comply with their VAT obligations until the matter is resolved by the appellate court. (NAN)
A shocked world and a humiliated America have now come to terms with the Talibans return to power in Afghanistan, two decades after they were toppled.

The handwriting was always on the wall. But few envisaged the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban to happen as fast as it did, and with as little resistance.

Even when the commander of the US-led mission in Afghanistan, Austin Miller, a general, warned in June that the country could be on the path to a catastrophic civil war, which he said should be a concern for the world, after America withdraws its forces, not many foresaw the Taliban sacking so swiftly the government that the world superpower had propped up in Kabul since 2001 when American forces had just as swiftly overrun the country.

But subsequent concentration of power in Kabul and the exclusion of important power brokers in rural Afghanistan availed Taliban fighters space and time to regroup.

No match for U.S. military might, they leveraged the local legitimacy they enjoyed to cling on till the foreign troops got tired and withdrew. Many Afghans are sympathetic to the Taliban because they delivered swift justice compared to the corrupt American-backed government in Kabul.

From obscurity to relevance

Afghanistan has a history of resistance to foreign occupation, including of the British Empire thrice, hence its moniker of graveyard of empires.

By 1979, armed opposition was threatening to topple the Afghans communist regime which was backed by the Soviets who had invaded the country.

Buoyed by Americas backing, mujahedeen rebels resisted the Russian forces until the Soviets yielded in 1989.

In his memoirs, Robert Gates, an ex-CIA official and defence secretary under Presidents Bush and Obama, recalled that there was an agreement in a staff meeting in March 1979 for the U.S. to provide funds for the mujahedeen to buy weapons.

Reeking under the loss of men, money and might, the USSR pulled out its troops from Afghanistan. Two years later, the USSR disintegrated into 15 independent countries.

Efforts by the Soviet-installed President, Mohammad Najibullah, to broker some deals were blocked by Washington which continued to arm the rebels.

The Soviet forces withdrawal from Afghanistan sparked infighting among the rebels who then had arms in abundance in their hands .

In stepped the Taliban, meaning students in the Pashto language.

By September 1995, they overthrew President Burhanuddin Rabbani, one of the founding fathers of the Afghan mujahedeen that had resisted Soviet occupation.

By 1998, they were in charge of almost 90 per cent of Afghanistan.

The Taliban regime quickly consolidated power by restoring peace and order, fighting corruption and lawlessness and introducing economic reforms, all within their own interpretation of Islamic laws.

Largely of Pashtun stock, the group emerged from areas straddling Pakistan and Afghanistan, and were students of seminaries initially sponsored by Saudi Arabia to spread the theology of Sunni Islam.

They enforced a hardline interpretation of the Sharia law, the jurisprudence of Islam, sparking opposition from the West.

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Then the 9/11 attacks happened in which terrorists said to be Al-Qaeda fighters bombed high-profile targets in the U.S., triggering the largest manhunt in the world.

Al-Qaeda shield

Seeking to capture Osama Bin Laden and other al-Qaeda figures linked to the September 11, 2001, attacks, whom it claimed the Taliban were harbouring, the U.S. and its Nato and regional allies invaded Afghanistan in October that year.

By December, the Taliban government had been toppled, forcing the groups then leader, Mohammad Omar, and other senior figures, including Bin Laden, to be on the run.

A major onslaught would ensue for two decades as the foreign troops sought to crush the Taliban whose members clung on to remote areas to sustain their relevance.

Their ouster paved the way for foreign powers to establish Western-type democratic government and constitution, and to train new Afghan forces.

Recognition of rights, particularly of women, soared. Girls school enrollment increased from 9,000 in 1999 to 2.4 million in 2003. Currently, enrolment is around 3.5 million, and around a third of students at public and private universities are women.

Allegedly backed by neighbouring Pakistan, however, the Taliban continued to regroup.

In 2018, the group entered a peace deal with the U.S., and by February 2020, both sides struck an agreement in Doha that committed the U.S. to withdrawal and the Taliban to stop attacks on U.S. forces.

Backdoor funding apart, the group drew the majority of its funds from illegal drug sales. Ninety per cent of the worlds opium population is from Afghanistan. According to the UN security council, the Taliban make up to $1.5 billion a year from opium trade.

The years of peace negotiation with the U.S. offered them time to reorganise. More than at any other time since their ouster, the group gained numerical strength with up to 85,000 full time fighters, according to recent Nato estimates.

As allied forces withdrew from Afghanistan, the Taliban did not wait to see them out. They seized vast swathes of the Afghan territory, installed the government they lost two decades ago, forcing the Afghan government to flee.

Human and material costs

Since the war against the Taliban began in 2001, Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs and Brown University estimated that the U.S. and allied troops have lost 3,586 soldiers in both Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The same source estimated 75,971 Afghan security forces to have died or been injured. Civilian casualties which include workers, journalists and contractors were put at 78,314. Opposition fighters loss, including the Taliban, stood at 84,191.

According to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), nearly 111,000 civilians have been killed or injured since it began systematically recording civilian casualties in 2009.

Last year, more than 400,000 people were displaced by the conflict. Around five million people have fled since 2012, making Afghanistan the third largest displaced population in the world, according to the UNs human rights agency.

Reconstruction activities in Afghanistan have gulped nearly $143.27 billion. More than half of that ($88.32 billion) went to training the Afghan security forces, the army and police force.

Governance and development also gulped about $36 billion while smaller amounts were also allocated for anti-drug efforts and for humanitarian aid.

An October 2020 report submitted to the U.S. Congress estimated that about $19 billion was lost to fraud, abuse and waste between May 2009 and December 2019.

While Washington continues to double down on its costly withdrawal, uncertainty and fear pervade Afghanistan and the worlds political atmosphere, marking, as the Economist put it, yet another failure of America in military planning, intelligence and nation building.
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Bandits on Monday morning attacked Goran Namaye in the Maradun local government area of Zamfara State, killing four people and abducting 50 others, the police said.

Sources said the number of those abducted is more than 70 while 10 were reportedly killed. The police, however, said four people were killed and about 50 abducted in the attack.

The bandits reportedly operated in the village for more than five hours.

Hamza Bakura, a resident of Bakura, which is close to Goran Namaye, said the attack started from 1 a.m.

Immediately they entered the village, they started shooting but most of the people killed were slaughtered, not shot, he said.

He added that when security operatives arrived at the village around 4 a.m., the bandits engaged them in a fierce gun duel.

Another source who lives in Talata Mafara, Mudassir Muhammad, also said those abducted were more than 70.

In our house (in Mafara), they are over 50 people taking refuge because of the attack. It was terrible because some of them trekked to Mafara from Gora in the morning. I am sure you know the distance, he said.

However, the police spokesman in the state, Mohammed Shehu, said the bandits killed four people and abducted 50 in the attack.

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He said the Commissioner of Police, Yakubu Elkana, had ordered immediate search and rescue operations for the victims.

Since Nigeria Air Force jets bombed their camps in the Sububu and the Bakura forests, bandits have intensified attacks on communities in Bakura, Maradun and Talata Mafara local government areas.

Recently, they attacked Zamfara State College of Agriculture and Animal Sciences.

Last week alone, Yarkofoji and Rini, both neighbouring communities of Goran Namaye, were attacked by the bandits suspected to be loyal to bandit-kingpin, Halilu Kachalla.
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The Lagos State police commissioner, Hakeem Odumosu, has ordered that the death of the former Lagos State University students union presidential aspirant, Yusuf Alowonle, popularly called Omomeewa, be investigated, an official has said.

The Lagos police Public Relations Officer, Adekunle Ajisebutu, told PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday evening while responding to allegations made by an advocacy group, Education Rights Campaign (ERC), that the police were working against the autopsy of the deceased.

Mr Ajisebutu also said the CP transferred the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department in the Panti area of Lagos.

This newspaper had reported how the student activist and 2019 graduate of Educational Management was shot dead in a robbery attack on Wednesday night near the school gate..

Following the incident, the management of the institution assured that all issues surrounding the attack will be adequately addressed.

Mr Alowonle, who was also the ERC Lagos coordinator, was shot alongside a school staff, Waheed Majekodunmi, also known as Majek.

The ERC national coordinator, Hassan Taiwo, had in a Facebook post on Saturday alleged that the police officers in the Adoff station in Iba, Igando area of Lagos attempted to cover up the matter.

Police react

But the police spokesman described the allegations as false, spurious and baseless.

Mr Ajisebutu said the police have nothing to hide and could not have prevented the autopsy because it is an integral part of our investigation in a case of this nature.

However, the Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu, has directed that the case be transferred to the State CID, Panti for diligent investigation, he said.

Allegations

According to Mr Soweto, the police had requested that the family swear an affidavit that they would not demand an autopsy as a precondition for the release of the body.

Of course, this request raised suspicion as to the motive of the police. It appeared to us that the police just wanted the body to be buried so that the truth of what happened could be buried with it. This situation led to anger and raised tension.

He said it took the intervention of the Chief Pathologist of the Lagos State Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), John Obafunwa, to call for an autopsy to be carried out on the body and with this new development, both the family and the police had no choice but to submit.
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The Kaduna State Government on Sunday appealed to people of the state to desist from engaging in reprisal killings.

The state has been hit by bloodletting and reprisals in the past few months with security operatives unable to curb the slide.

Samuel Aruwan, Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, quoted the Acting Governor of the state, Hadiza Balarabe, as making the appeal.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Mr Aruwan said the appeal was sequel to the killing of three persons in Zango Kataf Local Government Area of the state.

He said the three persons were reported to have been killed in an attack by unidentified persons who stormed Ribok, Tsoriyang and Kankada general area of Zangon Kataf LGA.

According to reports from security agencies, the attack was a reprisal to the earlier attack in Ungwan Dooh (Mado) area.

The reprisal targeted the residence of one person where three residents were killed, he said.

Mr Aruwan said four residents were injured while one car, three houses and eight huts, were destroyed.

According to him, the military and police arrived the scene and evacuated scores of persons to safety.

The Acting Governor appeals for calm and urges residents to desist from reprisal killings while security agencies carry on investigations, he said. (NAN).
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The governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, has said he is determined to collaborate with the National Commission for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to resettle all IDPs in the state.

The governors spokesperson, Yusuf Idris, disclosed this in a statement signed and made available to journalists in Gusau on Sunday.

He said the governor stated this while hosting the National Commissioner for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Iman Suleiman, on a courtesy visit at Government House, Gusau.

Mr Matawalle said his administration will continue to support vulnerable people and will not relent in its efforts to improve their living standard despite the security challenges facing the state and Nigeria in general.

He assured that he will collaborate with the commission to resettle all the affected communities in the state to appropriate places through the state Ministry for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management.

He added that the humanitarian activities of his administration are designed to cater for the internally-displaced persons who are affected by the activities of bandits in the state.

The governor also promised to do everything humanly possible to protect the lives and properties of all citizens at all levels, especially as the state is experiencing very difficult times of bandit attacks which are displacing many innocent citizens.

He also informed the national commissioner that his administration is spending a lot in the provision of assorted food and medicament to IDPs in the state.

The governor then commended President Muhammadu Buhari for giving Zamfara State special attention in the construction of IDPs resettlement city that would accommodate a large number of persons with humanitarian concern.

In her remarks earlier, Mrs Suleiman said she was in Zamfara to flag off the distribution of relief materials to the state IDPs and to intimate the governor of her commissions preparedness to commence construction of a resettlement city that will be used by all displaced communities.

Mrs Suleiman further said that the resettlement city is part of President Buharis pilot scheme that will be started in Zamfara, Katsina, Borno and Edo states with a view to reducing hardship on families displaced by the current security challenges.

She also informed the governor that humanitarian intervention that will benefit Zamfara people has been approved in the commissions budget and will soon start manifesting in the state.

(NAN)
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A PREMIUM TIMES reporter, Abdulkareem Mojeed, and nine other journalists from Nigeria and Kenya have been awarded grants by Solutions Journalism Africa to tell solution-driven stories.

Mr Mojeed, a business and agric correspondent of this newspaper, was awarded the grant for his pitch on how farmers are using climate smart agricultural practices to boycott existing extreme climatic events in Abuja sub-urban communities.

The pitch seeks to identify sustainable climate smart practices farmers are using to fend off the devastating effects of extreme climatic events in Nigeria.

This way, the findings in the report could serve as a template for other farmers to seamlessly adapt to the new reality in order to forge ahead.

Mr Mojeed, a 2020 Climate Reality Leadership fellow and 2021 Climate Tracker Global Landscape Forum fellow, is a botany graduate of the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom. He is currently a fellow of the Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ) Natural Resource and Extractives Programme on climate reporting.

Alongside him, four other Nigerians were awarded the grant. The programme runs until November.

They include Jamiu Folarin, a lecturer at Crescent University, Abeokuta, who would embark on a curriculum development project by mainstreaming solutions journalism in Ogun State.

Others include Zainab Sanni, who will be setting up a solutions journalism investigative radio desk at Agdigbo 88.7FM; Seun Durojaiye, who will pioneer solutions journalism training in Nigerias official languages; and Lekan Otufodunrin, who will build and run the Solutions Journalism West Africa Hub.

A statement by Solutions Journalism Network Africa Initiative Manager, Ruona Meyer, noted that the five Kenya-based fellows include Edith Magak, who would be working with people living with disabilities to showcase community-based solutions and Christopher Omondi, who will be working on a series of radio reports on how motorcycle riders are curing the spread of COVID-19.

Others are Angela Oketch, whose project will cover the solutions HIV-positive families have come up with to suppress the virus; Brian Malika will train young people under 24 to report on climate change solutions in rural communities and filmmaker Rey Bulambo, whose project uses digital theatre to highlight the solutions created by community members living in a camp for displaced persons.

One of the co-founders, Solutions Journalism Network, who is also a New York Times journalist, David Bornstein, said the fellowship was geared towards the goal of the organisation to change the narrative about how the the news was telling too many stories that were causing people to feel powerless, out of control, depressed, fatalistic and scared.

Alternatively, the fellowship was to promote rigorous reporting that really looks at what people are trying to do to solve problems, (whether or not they are successful), and what we can learn from their efforts would be the single most important balance that we could bring to information in the world.

The Solutions Journalism Network, a non-profit organisation with a presence across 18 countries, and over 500 newsrooms, holds the fellowship as a part of its Initiative to train and fund 60 newsrooms and 30 Fellows across Nigeria and Kenya over a three-year period.

The fellowship is a partnership between SJN and Science Africa, a Nairobi-based science and communication consultancy firm.
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In a bid to foster low carbon emission practice, the Nigerian government submitted its final updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) document to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on 2 July.

This is a component of the Paris Agreement under the UNFCCC, which was endorsed during the 21st UN Climate Change Conference also known as Conference of the Parties-21 (COP21), held six years ago in Paris.

The Paris Agreement, a legally binding international treaty on climate change that covers climate change mitigation, adaptation and finance, was wholly adopted by 196 countries participating in the COP 21 that year.

The treaty became globally effective on 4 November, 2016, but was ratified and approved by the Nigerian Federal Executive Council (FEC) in 2017.

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Following the approval, Nigeria submitted its first Intended Nationally Determined (INDC) document to the UNFCCC on 16 May, 2017 in demonstration of its commitment to the success of the treaty.

The document was later updated on 27 May this year before the final submission last month.

The NDC is a document that embodies efforts being made by all parties (countries) that signed the Paris Agreement to reduce carbon emissions.

Nigerias updated NDC

The recently submitted NDC document shows that Nigeria has proposed a stronger NDC than it last did in 2015.

In the updated NDC, the Nigerian government has proposed to mitigate four greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), as against the three GHG (CO2, CH4 and N2O) proposed in the previous NDC submitted.

GHG is explained as any gas that has the property of absorbing infrared radiation (net heat energy) emitted from earths surface and reradiating it back to earths surface, thus contributing to greenhouse effects.

The GHG mitigation assessment has been expanded to cover 11 pollutants in total, including short-lived climate pollutants (black carbon) and their air pollutants (PMs, NOx, SO2,NH3, OC, NMVOCs and CO) to evaluate the co-benefits of mitigation measures in reducing these substances, alongside GHGs, Nigerias NDC final document states.

According to the submitted NDC, Nigeria recommits to its unconditional contribution of reducing carbon emissions by 20 per cent below business-as-usual by 2030, while it increases its conditional target to 47 per cent as against the 45 per cent captured in the 2015 NDC.

The updated NDC also includes an enhanced contribution by the waste sector, which was not included in the 2015 NDC due to lack of reliable data, the Nigerian government said.

The 2021 NDC update also covers the water resources sector, and articulates other nater value-based solutions not included in the 2015 NDC, the NDC document noted.
The scheduled trial of five Buhari-Must-Go activists arrested in Abuja in July was stalled at a magistrates court in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, due to the absence of the State Security Services prosecution team on Monday.

All the five defendants -Ben Manasseh, Anene Udoka, Henry Nwodo, Samuel Larry and Samuel Gabriel (a blind saxophonist)  were present in court, but the hearing could not proceed because of the prosecuting lawyers absence.

Defence lawyer, Tope Temokun, said on his Facebook wall after the proceedings that he applied that the court should strike out the charge but the court declined.

He said the magistrate decided to give SSS lawyers another adjournment to see if they would come.

Taunting the spy agency about the perceived vanity of the criminal case filed against the defendants, Mr Temokun said, They must summon the courage to come and prove to the world how wearing BUHARI MUST GO T-shirts is a crime under our law.

We are waiting and we are ready, he said.

The defendants were arrested at the Dunamis International Gospel Centre in Abuja, for wearing T-shirts with Buhari-Must-Go inscription on July 4.

The agency held them in custody without charge for weeks.

Their lawyer, Mr Temokun, subsequently filed separate fundamental rights enforcement suits to secure their release at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

In a preliminary ruling on the applications filed by the lawyer, the judge, Anuli Chikere, ordered the detainees release on July 26.

But, instead of obeying the order, SSS rushed to a chief magistrates court in Mpape, Abuja, on July 28, to arraign them on charges of disturbance of peace.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Mohammed Zubairu, the chief magistrate, before whom the defendants were arraigned, granted them bail in the sum of N500,000 each.

But further demonstrating its disregard for court orders, the spy agency refused to release the detainees despite being notified that they had met their bail conditions.

Mr Temokun, bent on enforcing the order of court releasing his clients, commenced a contempt suit seeking to have the SSS director-general, Yusuf Bichi, jailed for his disobedience to the court order.

The agency reluctantly released them on August 3.

The case was moved from Mpape to Wuse Zone 2 in Abuja for continuation.

But the prosecution led by I. Onotu at the previous proceedings was absent on Monday.

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The magistrate then adjourned the trial till September 20 in anticipation that SSS prosecution team would turn up for the case.

Pending human rights enforcement suits

The five activists still have separate fundamental rights enforcement suits they instituted against SSS at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the five activists filed separate suits for the enforcement of their fundamental rights at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

They each asked for N10million in damages against the defendants comprising, President Muhammadu Buhari, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and the pastor-in-charge of Dunamis church where the plaintiffs were arrested, Paul Enenche.

The plaintiffs were arrested at the church for wearing shirts with the Buhari-Must-Go inscription, a sign associated with activists calling for President Buharis removal on the account of his alleged incompetence in the handling of the worsening security and economic situations in the country.

Their lawyer, Mr Temokun, argued in the separate suits, filed on July 8 that his clients are entitled to fundamental right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, right to freedom of expression and the press, right to freedom from discrimination and right to personal liberty.

According to him, the rights are guaranteed under sections 35, 38, 39 and 42 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria constitution and under Articles 1, 2, 6, 8 and 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act.

They are sacred rights which can only be curtailed in accordance with the law, Mr Temokun wrote in the court documents.

He also said the arrest and continued detention of his clients for wearing a clothing apparel with an inscription of BUHARI MUST GO! without a bail or arraignment, by men and officers under the command of the 1st, 2nd and 4th respondents (SSS, SSS boss, and Dunamis churchs pastor) constitute a very oppressive violation of the applicants fundamental rights.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has issued a three-day ultimatum to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to meet a five-point demand which includes setting up a panel of inquiry to probe the death of Nurudeen Alowonle, popularly known as Omomeewa, the student activist at the Lagos State University, Ojo, who was killed last week.

The five-point demand was contained in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES by the Chairman of NANS in Lagos State, Samuel Olalere, on Sunday evening titled, Omomeewas assassination  How vice-chancellors, rectors, provosts and lecturers common practice of political and academic witch-hunting of student activists murdered a shining light; NANS Lagos blows hot and makes demands from Governor Sanwo-Olu.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how Mr Alowonle, a former Lagos State University students union presidential aspirant and Lagos coordinator of the Education Rights Campaign (ERC), was shot dead in a robbery attack a few hours after appearing before a disciplinary panel set up to probe his alleged involvement in admission racketeering near the school gate.

The 2019 graduate of Educational Management was shot alongside a school staff, Waheed Majekodunmi, also known as Majek.

Following his death, his family and ERC demanded that an autopsy be carried out on the corpse.

The ultimatum ends by 4 p.m. on Wednesday (August) 25th, 2020, the students body said.

The students body also threatened that it would not hesitate to do the needful within our democratic rights to make our demands met.

Five-Point demand

When this newspaper reached Mr Olalere on Monday morning he said Lagos will be shut down if the demands are not met.

On this note of highly venerated stance, NANS Lagos State, with an estimated population of over 4.1million students and led by able Comrade Samgrin, hereby unequivocally demand that Lagos State government, in the next three(3) days, as a matter of urgency, non-negotiably do the following without any diminishing qualification, the statement read in part.

The group demanded that the governor of Lagos State must make a public statement on the tragic demise of comrade Omomewa and also ensure that an autopsy is done within the shortest possible time to respect the wishes of the family who wants to bury their son.

They also said that the panel of inquiry must include representatives of NANS, LASU student body, Academic Staff Union of Universities, Nigeria Labour Congress, Education Right Campaign, and other pro-working people organisations to investigate the circumstances surrounding Omomeewas death including the complicity of the management of the Lagos State University.

They said that Mr Sanwo-Olu must ensure the release of Mr Alowonles certificate from LASU and consequently design an honest laudable relief package for his wife and three months old son.

The governor of Lagos State shall give comrade Omomeewa a state befitting burial and find a way to immortalize him, Mr Olalere said.

The group said that all tertiary institutions across the state must be given special consideration in terms of security.

It is unclear if the governor is aware of the demands. Gboyega Akosile, Mr Sanwo-Olus chief press secretary, did not respond to requests for comments.

More allegations

The group alleged that the school management invited Mr Alowonle, who was a critic of the former vice-chancellor of LASU, Olanrewaju Fagbohun, to face the Student Disciplinary Committee (SDC) to waylay and assassinate him.

The death of Comrade Yusuf Nurudeen Alowonle, popularly known as Omomeewa, shouldnt have happened if the management of LASU hasnt played the devils advocate in his life and, as the umbrella body of the students body in Lagos State, we cant afford to let this get swept under the carpet,

They accused Mr Fagbohun, the Chief Security Officer, identified as Mr Kolade, OC LASU-SIEU Mr Edu and Chairman of the SDC, Adeleke Fakoya, as alpha player in the event leading to the death of Omomeewa.

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They also accused LASUs spokesperson, Ademola Adekoya, of deceiving the public and promoting their own well-doctored narrative of their crime.
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Fifteen travellers kidnapped by bandits were rescued by troops of Operation Safe Haven in Jagindi, Jemaa LGA of Kaduna State on Sunday.

The states Commissioner for Internal Security, Samuel Aruwan, in a statement on Monday said  the 15 persons had been kidnapped from two vehicles in the area while in transit.

Mr Aruwan said the troops responded to a distress call and mobilised swiftly to the location. They repelled the bandits, enabling the rescue of the abducted persons, he said.

The commissioner gave the names of the rescued persons as follows:

 Maisaje Pam

 Samuel Peter

 Ziyau Abdul

 Henry Dabo

 Abduljabar Auwal

 Muhammad Ali

 Dama Dabo

 Ramatu Aminu

 Muhammad Sani

 Abdullahi Muhammad

 Bashar Garba

 Abubakar Musa

 Saad Yakubu

 Maryam Ibrahim

 Lami Bitrus

According to Mr Aruwan, acting Governor Hadiza Balarabe noted the report with satisfaction and thanked the troops for their swift response which resulted in the rescue of the commuters.

 The troops are sustaining search and rescue operations in the area,

Despite the efforts of security operatives to contain rising insecurity in Kaduna, bandits still have a free reign ransacking communities while they kill, maim and abduct their victims for ransom.

Though some of their victims are lucky to have regained their freedom after the payment of ransom, several of them are held in captivity for weeks and months.
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The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), on Sunday, handed over six suspected kidnappers arrested by its members at different locations in Taraba State to the police.

The states Chairman of MACBAN, Sahabi Tukur, handed the suspects over to the state police commissioner, Abimbola Sokoya, at Mararaban Kunini in Lau local government council of the state.

Mr Tukur said the action was in compliance with the oath they took before the emir of Muri, Abbas Tafida, and the Commissioner of Police to fish out criminals amongst them.

Fulani cattle breeders and herders had taken the oath after the emir decried their alleged involvement in spirallibg cases of kidnapping in the state and vowed to have them flushed out of forests in the state if the crime continues.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that among the suspects handed over to the police was a man wanted by the police for allegedly supplying arms and ammunition to criminals in the state.

Our correspondent further gathered that

six repented kidnappers were also publicly presented to the elders of the Fulani ethnic group and the police at the event.

Promising not to rest until they had fished out all the bad eggs in their midst, Mr Sahabi urged others willing to repent to do so urgently before they are caught.

According to him, MACBAN had set up a 16-member committee set up to fish out criminals in various Fulani communities across the state.

He said the committee was working tirelessly with security operatives to rid the Fulani community in Taraba of criminal elements.

The state police commissioner applauded the efforts of the group, urging other ethic groups to cue in by exposing hoodlums in the society.

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Reiterating the commitment of the police to work with the Fulani community in fighting crime across the state, Mr Sokoya solicited the collaboration of neighbouring states of Benue and Adamawa.

About two weeks after the emir issued a 30-day eviction threat to cattle herders to vacate forests in the state or be flushed out of them, leaders of Fulani communities in the state, led by Mr Sahabi, swore to an oath not to harbour criminal elements and to also exposed sponsors of bandits, no matter the positions they hold among them.

In the oath, they vowed that: Those who repent would be documented, while those that refuse to repent and stop kidnapping and other crimes would equally be handed over to security agents to face the appropriate laws of the land,

The emirs threat followed the worsening security situation in Taraba, where herders have been blamed for abduction for ransom, highway robbery and killings across the state.
The National Industrial Court, in Abuja, on Monday, rejected an application by the federal government to order striking members of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) to resume work.

The judge, John Targema, rather ordered the two parties locked in the industrial dispute members of NARD and the federal government  to suspend all forms of hostilities and maintain status quo.

The strike, which started on August 2, clocked exactly three weeks on Monday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the judges Mondays ruling was on an ex parte application jointly filed by the federal government and the Federal Ministry of Health.

It was the second time the judge would be refusing to order the resident doctors to resume work, his Mondays ruling coming about four days after rejecting a similar call by a civil society organisation, Rights for All International, last Thursday.

Having looked especially on the affidavit of extreme urgency, the grounds of the application, the affidavit in support of same and arguments of counsel for the applicant.

I also weighed the submissions and arguments of counsel on the law as it stands on this application.

It is hereby ordered that claimant/applicant and the defendant/respondent suspend all forms of hostilities forthwith pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice, the judge said on Monday.

Vague answer

Mondays ruling asking the parties in the case to suspend hostilities came as a vague answer to the governments application, which specifically sought an order of interlocutory injunction compelling the resident doctors across the country to suspend their industrial action they started on August 2.

That part of Mondays ruling was absent in the one he delivered on similar application by Rights for All International last Thursday.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the judge, on August 19, refused to grant the groups application on the grounds that he could not issue such a restraining order against the resident doctors in their absence.

Mr Targema said in the ruling that granting the groups application would amount to violating the resident doctors right to fair hearing.

The governments application, being an ex parte motion like that of the CSOs, was similarly heard by the judge in the absence of NARD on Monday.

The judge ,after declining to grant the specific orders sought by the government, ordered

that hearing notice be issued to the defendant, along with other processes which included the originating summons.

He ordered that the proof of service be kept in the case file before the next adjourned date.

Mr Targema then adjourned the matter till September 15 for hearing of the motion on notice and/or any other pending application on its merit.

Strike

NAN reports that NARD began the ongoing strike on August 2, but no serious talks between them and the government had been held until late last week.

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Members of the association constitute the largest proportion of physicians in Nigerian tertiary hospitals.

NARD claimed that one of its reasons for the strike was the failure of the government to meet its demands after they entered a memorandum of action in 2014.

The association demanded, among others, the withdrawal of the circular by the Head of Service removing House Officers from the scheme of service.

The applicants on their part in their affidavit in support of motion ex-parte had stated that the subject matter before the court was of serious urgency given its nature which had to do with life and death.

In addition, the affidavit said the strike action by the respondent, which has been ongoing for three weeks, was causing Nigerian citizens pains and untold suffering.

The government said the strike is accounting for numerous death of persons who could not access the medical services provided by the respondent.

( NAN)
The House of Representatives Committee on Finance has resolved that it will amend the Finance Act to include levies on all carbonated and non-carbonated drinks.

The Committee made the resolution on Monday at the interactive session on the 2022-2024 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), holding at the National Assembly, Abuja.

This followed the plea by the Comptroller-General of Nigerian Customs Services, Hameed Ali, that all beverages companies should be made to pay levies.

Mr Ali, while responding to a question of levy on non-alcoholic drinks, said he had been advocating that non-alcoholic drinks be re-excised.

According to him, non-alcoholic drinks are as harmful as alcoholic beverages, noting that there is a 30 per cent excise levy on alcoholic drinks.

On several cases, I have made submissions. My chairman (Leke Abejide, the Chairman House Committee on Customs & Excise Duties) is aware that I have been on this battle that we should re-excise the companies that were de-excised in 2019.

What we have been fighting for is that if alcohol beverages and tobacco are injurious to our health and that is why the government decided to tax them, the carbonated drinks are equally injurious to our health and they should be taxed.

I have sung this song for many years now, Coca-Cola is producing in this country and it is not being taxed. There is nowhere you go in the world that Coca-Cola is not paying tax to its host country, but Coca-Cola in this country is not paying anything because of the governments unwillingness to re-excise those companies. For us, we have been battling for it, and I hope that one day, we will start collecting, Mr Ali said.

Responding to the demand of the Mr Ali, the Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, James Faleke, said the committee will consider amending the Finance Act along the line of argument of the Customs CG.

We will be considering..I am sure that the federal government will be coming up with the 2022 Finance Bill. There is a need for us to look at the possibility of charging excise duty on all drinks manufactured in this country, this is on all drinks, carbonated and non-carbonated.

Carbonated is already part of the Finance Act, but companies cannot be operating and making huge profits. We are talking about excise.I am sure they are paying their income tax, but in terms of production tax..even non-alcoholic are injurious, if you drink too much it is a wahala (problem). You will just be consuming sugar, he said.

Also making a case for the levy on beverages, Mr Abejide said the government needs to commence the implementation of the carbonated drinks levy.

He said the full implementation of the law would increase the revenue generation of Customs.

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Customs is doing well, and I am happy. This Finance Act that we passed in 2020, we should try and start making it work for carbonated drinks. It is already there as a law. Customs should partner the ministry of finance so that they will get the approval in order for them to start collecting, so that they can act and start collecting,. If we implement that Act, it will be very easy to collect. Even if it is not up to N2.5 trillion, at least they can cross it, Mr Abejide said.

The Customs CG also blamed the lack of scanners at major ports for the smuggling of goods.

According to him, agents connive with importers to devalue goods to reduce the percentage of duties.

To be frank, apart from vehicle smuggling, most of the smuggling evasion of duties  happens at the port because we do not have scanners and which means we cannot inspect every container and know the content, Mr Ali said.

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With due respect to stakeholders, most of our traders in conjunction with clearing agents always try to devalue the goods that are imported and therefore reducing the percentage. But if we have scanners. I thank God very soon we will be deploying three major scanners at the major ports. That will help us tremendously to be able to reduce to the barest minimum the extent of smuggling. Because you have a company bringing 50 containers, you hardly can inspect all those and also we are mindful of the ease of doing business.

Mr chairman, I assure you that now that the scanners are almost at our shores, once we deploy them I believe that we will realise the increment in terms of revenue.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday spoke on its raid on the home of a former Big Brother Naija Lockdown Season housemate, Dorathy Bachor.

Ms Bachor had in a post on her Instagram page said some EFCC operatives broke the door to her house at about 4 a.m on Monday searching for someone who ran into her estate in the Lekki area of Lagos.

The former TV reality show housemate said the operatives made their way into her living room in their search for the suspect.

While condemning the officers invasion, Ms Bachor said the incident left her shaking and her mother in a panic state.

At 4:45 a.m., I heard a loud sound, and voices followed after. I rushed out almost naked to see fully armed @officialefcc men in my living room, Ms Dorathy partly stated on her Instagram story.

One of them said, Oh no, that Big Brother babe be this, in my confused state, I am trying to understand what in the hell was going on. Why did they break down my door.

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I ran back upstairs to almost see my mum having a panic attack, Dorathy added. What is the need of being a citizen of this country if I cant feel safe in my own house @officialefcc on God, you have no right, her Instagram post read in part.

EFCC reacts

However, in reaction to the claims, the EFCC explained that it executed a search warrant at Ms Bachors house which happened to be one of the flats in a building where nine suspected fraudsters were arrested.

The commission said this in a statement posted on its verified Facebook page, on Monday.

Titled, EFCC Explains Presence Of Operatives At Dorathy Bachors House, the statement explained that the commissions operatives, during the raid, knocked on the door and identified themselves, But they were refused entry, for several minutes by Bachors sister.

The operatives were left with no choice than to force their way in, lest suspects escape or destroy vital evidence, the statement also read.

It noted that law-abiding citizens have no reason to refuse the execution of a validly obtained Search Warrant.

The anti-graft agency dismissed claims that Ms Bachor was half-naked during the operation, adding that the ex-BBNaija housemate was not present during the operation

Read full statement

The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has been drawn to a post on Instagram by one Dorothy Bachor, alleging that operatives of the Commission broke into her home in the early hours of today, 23rd August 2021

The Commission can confirm that operatives from the Lagos Command of the Commission, acting on verified intelligence, executed a Search Warrant at a block of flats located in the Lekki area of Lagos on Monday, 23rd August 2021 during which nine internet fraud suspects were arrested.

Ms Bachors apartment happened to be one of the flats in the building. EFCC operatives had knocked on her entrance door, identified themselves as being from the Commission on a mission to execute a Search Warrant. But they were refused entry, for several minutes by Bachors sister. The operatives were left with no choice than to force their way in, lest suspects escape or destroy vital evidence.

It is important to state that law-abiding citizens have no reason to refuse the execution of a validly obtained Search Warrant. And, contrary to the information making the rounds in the social media, Ms. Bachor was not present during the operation and the anti- EFCC stories about her coming out half-naked among other fantastical details appear to have been invented to fit the pattern she and other internet-fueled stars so desperately want to push about the EFCC.

It is important to reiterate that nine alleged internet fraud suspects were apprehended in the block of flats housing Ms. Bachors apartment.

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The Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) has faulted claim by Attahiru Jega, former INEC chairman, that the two major parties in the country have failed Nigerians.

The Director-General of the Forum, Salihu Lukman, said this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

Mr Jega had in a BBC Hausa Service interview on August 2, claimed that the two parties- the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)  had failed Nigerians.

Mr Jega, who was the INEC boss when the APC defeated the PDP in the 2015 presidential election, said the two parties should not be trusted again.

But Mr Lukman said Mr Jega had no evidence to support his submission.

He had submitted that the two big parties had failed to engender good governance and development in the country; consequently, he called on Nigerians not to give their trust to the parties again.

Coming from Jega, the claim that both the PDP and APC are the same and had failed Nigerians should not be taken lightly, he said.

Mr Lukman said this was especially because Mr Jega wasnt just INEC former chairman, but a respected political scientist internationally, a theoretician and practitioner whose commitment to Nigerias development could not be faulted.

He said Mr Jega grew through the ranks of radical activism to become the leader, both intellectually and in the practical field of politics.

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He said the former INEC chairman was able to inspire and influence the emergence of generation of both activists and leaders in the country.

Mr Lukman said as a former INEC chairman, it could not be disputed that Mr Jega successfully led the reform of electoral management in the country.

He noted that as expected, both the PDP and APC dismissed Mr Jegas submission, arguing that he was wrong to conclude that the parties had failed Nigerians.

He added that such allegations should be proven beyond the opinion of people, stressing that Mr Jega did not present any specific validation on his conclusion.

Both listening and reading the script of the interview, one is tempted to conclude that Jega spoke more as a politician in that interview, than the thorough scholar he is.

Being a Peoples` Redemption Party (PRP) member, it was more about justifying his choice of PRP as opposed to any of the so-called big parties.

In many respects, it wasnt necessary at all, he doesnt need to justify his political choice with reference to other parties.

Doing so, cheaply bring him down to the basement of one-dimensional politics, which he is way above, Lukman said.

He said it was unfortunate that from the BBC interview, Mr Jega didnt make any attempt to present how his party, the PRP, would be different.

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The President Muhammadu Buhari-led government is doing a lot in all sectors of the country`s economy to positively impact on the lives of Nigerians contrary to belief by some critics, Mr Lukman said.

He said under the administration, there were around 900 active road contracts covering the construction, reconstruction or rehabilitation of more than 13,000km of federal roads and highways across the country.

This, he said, was out of a total number of 35,000km of federal roads in existence according to the Ministry of Works and Housing.

He said that in the agriculture sector some of the specific initiatives of the APC-led government included the National Food Security Council (NFSC) and Agriculture for Food and Jobs Plan (AFJP) among others.

He said since assumption of office in 2015, APC led federal government had been implementing National Social Investment Programme (NSIP), which was far more than what any government in the past has done.

He said the goal of the (NSIP) was to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty.

According to him, millions of poor Nigerians are already benefiting from the initiative, while N36.9 billion in interest-free loans of between N50, 000 to N350,000 has been disbursed to more than 2.3 million Nigerians.

Apart from these, there are other initiatives in other sectors, the PGF DG stressed.

He added that the achievements cited above were just to substantiate the point that based on records of performance in government, APC could not be in the same category with the PDP.

Mr Lukman maintained that anybody arguing that these achievements represented failure, would need to substantiate it with convincing evidence of how their impact on the lives of Nigerians translated to negative outcomes.

Unlike PDP leaders, APC leaders are not in denial of the existence of challenges, in spite of the challenges, however, APC led federal government is making efforts to move the country forward.

Unlike the PDP, APC-led government is not a failure, he said.

(NAN)
The Federal Government on Monday in Abuja inaugurated the 510,000 N-Power Batch C stream 1 across the country.

In her keynote address at the inauguration, Sadiya Umar Farouq, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development congratulated the successful beneficiaries.

She said the N-Power Batch C was divided into two streams; Stream C1 of 510,000 beneficiaries and stream C2 for 490,000 others.

According to her, under the Batch C1, a total of 450,000 had been selected to benefit under the graduate component, while 60,000 beneficiaries will be under the non-graduate component.

Today, we are here to inaugurate the N-Power Batch C1. The N-Power graduate volunteers are entitled to a monthly stipend of thirty thousand naira each (N30,000.00) for a period of one year.

The non-graduate beneficiaries are entitled to ten thousand naira (N10,000.000) monthly stipends for a period of nine months.

All beneficiaries are granted an appropriate starter pack for their trade, to enable them start their businesses in their chosen trades. By the special grace of God, I hereby flag-off the N-Power Batch C1 for the 36 States and FCT, Ms Farouq said.

She stressed that her Ministry was committed to ensuring that the strategic objectives of all the National Social Intervention Programmes (NSIP) were achieved in partnership with NYSC, UBEC, the NPHCDA, the NOA and many others.

Also speaking, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ifeoma Anyanwutaku, said since inception, the N-Power had been a tool to curb youth restiveness.

It avails the Nigerian youths the opportunity to acquire skills, to enhance their lives, and even create employment for others.

I have no doubt that the lessons learnt in the Batch A and B would be brought to bear in the Batch C, to achieve President Muhammadus Buhari vision of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty.

My Ministry is poised to contribute its quota to the success of the programme via public awareness and other interventions, Mr Mohammed said.

Similarly, Edward Kallon, the UN Resident Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs, said the on-boarding of the N-Power Batch C stream 1 was another milestone achievement by the Federal Government towards lifting millions of Nigerians out of poverty.

Meanwhile, the National Coordinator of the NSIP, Umar Bindir, says since 1960, the different poverty alleviation programmes of the Federal Government had remained only at a programme level.

But, President Buhari thought it wise to have a full fledged ministry to effectively address poverty, so as not to repeat the mistakes of the past. He also institutionalised the NSIP in 2016.

The NSIP have components such as N-Power, National Home Grown School Feeding Programme, Government Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Programme and Conditional Cash Transfer.

All these are geared towards lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in the next ten years, Mr Bindir said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event attracted officials from the office of the Head of the Federal Civil Service, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, National Youth Service Corps the Ministry of Women Affairs, Industry, Trade and Investment, Humanitarian Affairs, among others.

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They all pledged their support to the humanitarian affairs ministry and the NSIP towards the achievement of the programme.

High points of the occasion was the presentation of engagement letters to the beneficiaries and cultural dance performance by the Unity Cultural Troupe

(NAN)
The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has denied claims by the Comptroller-General of Nigerian Customs Service, Hameed Ali, that it refused to cooperate to end the smuggling of petroleum products across Nigerias borders.

Mr Ali, a retired colonel, had alleged that the DPR, an agency in charge of regulating the downstream sector, had been giving licences to petrol stations around the land borders in violation of existing laws.

The Customs boss also accused the DPR of failing to provide the list of all the fillings stations within 20km of the land borders, both legal and illegal stations.

Bashir Sodiq, the DPR Head of Downstream, while speaking on Monday at the ongoing interactive session on the Medium Term Expenditure Framework organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Finance, said the Customs boss had been supplied with all the information he asked for.

He promised to provide the committee documents as an evidence to back up his claim.

Mr Sodiq disclosed that following the policy to restrict the supply of PMS to border communities within the 20km corridor, it was NCS and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) that were recommending filling stations for exemptions.

He said, I am not sure that the information that the CG has is correct. I have the record here. I can remember that when the issue of smuggling of petroleum products was brought up to the DPR, It was by the GMD of the NNPC, in April 2018, he sought a meeting between NCS and ourselves, which we held in the office of the CG customs on April 2018.

We agree to set up a committee to look at PMS smuggling across the border, and one of the things that the customs requested of us was the list of all the filling stations near the border, which we gave to them. I have the copy of the communication we sent to them. We gave them the list of all the illegal petrol stations. I have a copy stamped in his office. We will send you a copy.

After that joint border drill initiated by the office of the National Security Adviser, we were directed to stop supplying to filling stations 20km to the border, which we did. I have the circular that we sent to all our offices.

However, as time goes on, we had a series of communications both from the ONSA and the NCS requesting exemptions. None of these was initiated by the DPR, why? Because of security issue, we felt that smuggling was more of a security issue.

Whenever we get any request from them, we approve. We have never given any licence to any filling station since. We did an analysis of supply to the border area in the country, it does not amount to three per cent of the daily consumption.

Mr Ali, had during his appearance before the committee, also informed the committee that the DPR and the NNPC could set up PMS retail outlets in other neighbouring countries, in a bid to curb smuggling.

He noted that the responsibility of ending smuggling is a matter of security, hence, it is the responsibility of Customs, not DPR.

The responsibility of stopping smuggling rests on the shoulder of the Nigerian Customs Service. Smuggling is not something that is reported.

It is true that NNPC had a lot of concerns about the quantity of PMS they are importing. They believed that because of price disparity, some are being smuggled. Of course, that makes sense, considering that our prices are lower than our neighbours, he said.

Gas flaring

He also explained that the government has reduced gas flaring by 68 per cent with its commercialisation of gas that ordinarily would have been flared.

The DPR was commended by the committee for its revenue performance in the current 2021 fiscal year.

The agency has a revenue performance of N1.5 trillion as of June, against the target of N2 trillion for the year.

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Committee to probe daily consumption- Faleke

Speaking to journalists at the end of Mondays session, James Faleke (APC, Lagos), said the committee would invite the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited, to supply it with satellite images of the land borders.

He said the figure of smuggled PMS is about 40 million litres daily,

According to him, it will take 1,000 of 33,000 litres trucks to convey the products daily.

Mr Faleke said the trucks would have been captured by the NICOMSAT satellite.

We are taking the opportunity of MTEF to ask critical questions, because if about 40 million litres of PMS are being smuggled out per day, the question is, how many trucks of 33,000 litres do we need to convey this volume out of the country?

When we did small arithmetic, we discovered that we will need 1,000 trucks. If it is true that the volume goes out of the country, it means 1000 trucks go out to neighbouring countries. Ad they come back to load, if that is true.

Satellite images should have captured these. We have invited NICOMSAT. DPR is saying about 48 million, contrary to the number being circulated by the NNPC. We have asked the Petroleum Equalisation Fund to provide us with data on fuel consumption, he said.

The NNPC is scheduled to appear before the committee on Wednesday.
Nigeria must immediately address all its fault lines as a way of fostering unity and cohesion, which is needed to fight the common enemy of extremism. Unity is needed now, not fighting multiple wars. Restructuring and creating a sense of nationhood now is inevitable if Nigeria is to succeed.

In the past week, the unfolding events in Afghanistan have dominated the media space. The seemingly unimaginable happened. The Taliban forces marched into the capital, forcing the scampering away of the president of Afghanistan, his officials, other members of the government, Western diplomats, and a few Afghans privileged to be airlifted or unfortunate to cling on the wheels of aeroplanes in desperation to leave the country for good. Leaders in corridors of powers in Western capitals are eager to frame the failed mission in Afghanistan as a self-inflicted defeat by the Afghans, and their spin doctors are busy trying to convince the world that the West, especially, the United States of America has played its role and left the Afghans to pilot their affairs and shape their destiny, going forward.

As Nigerians were watching events unfold, the big question in the minds of most is how this will impact Nigeria. The imagery of the Taliban bestriding like a colossus and devouring city after city, as it made its way to the capital is reminiscent of videos of the conquest and occupation of Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) littered all over the social media that Nigerians are used to, albeit on a smaller scale. These groups pillage, rape, and kill many Nigerians at the fringes of our borders and across various ungoverned spaces, whilst the herders/farmers conflict is bloody and ubiquitous across the country. Boko Haram and the Taliban have similar footprints and may even be acting from the same script. The big elephant in the room is, can Boko Haram, ISWAP or militia-Herdsmen become the Nigerian Taliban? Can they march to Abuja and overthrow our legitimate and constituted government? What strategic lessons should Nigeria learn from the fall of Afghanistan to avoid similar scene? These questions call for an appropriate assessment of the situation, soul searching and the answers should influence how Nigeria tackles this seemingly intractable problem from now on.

To appraise whether Boko Haram terrorists can overrun the country like the Taliban were able to do in Afghanistan, we need to take a closer look at what drives and sustains Islamic extremism. In as much as the West, through their powerful media, depict the Taliban as a group of ogres who impose medieval punishment on the citizenry and deprive women of fundamental freedom and rights, the group has a level of support within the local Afghan population. This support enabled them to maintain a considerable level of resistance to the occupying American and allied forces in the country for 20 years, which led to the death of tens of thousands of Westerners and their Afghan collaborators. It also enabled them to overrun the country immediately after the Americans pulled out.

In the Nigerian context, the Boko Haram terrorists still draw some support from large swathes of the local population. These people give overt and covert support to the insurgents, which has enabled them to mount a sustained resistance to the Nigerian military.

To address this problem, we must tackle the root causes of terrorism, including poor governance, corruption, poverty, dearth of economic opportunities and lack of social and basic amenities. The strategy of many terrorist groups in recruitment is always to target disgruntled people, those suffering from social and economic injustice, who feel left behind by the elite and the political class. It is instructive to note that the hotbeds of Islamic extremism and terrorism in Nigeria are in areas with the countrys most extraordinary incidents of perverse poverty and educational backwardness. These are areas where people lack basic amenities, areas with high unemployment rates and high illiteracy levels.

The experience of the U.S. military in Afghanistan means that effectively tackling terrorism is not just simply about military warfare. The Americans and their allies invaded Afghanistan after 9/11, routed the Taliban and installed a government seen by many Afghans as massively corrupt and inept. This anomaly extended to the Afghan military, constituted mainly by people who were in for the financial security and opportunities presented by the American occupation. That was why the highly trained force of 300,000 quickly fell to a ragtag army of 75,000 in just a matter of days.

Therefore, good governance and its twin, development, is a must to root out terror and to cut the supply lines of terrorists. Military might, in idealogical wars, no matter how powerful, would only lead to short term victories. In an article published recently in the Financial Times, President Muhammadu Buhari alluded to this when he emphasised that U.S. military forces on the ground in Africa is not what is most needed. He said what Africa needs most is U.S. investment in infrastructure to help provide jobs and economic opportunities for the rapidly growing population.

we should never forget that the idea of democracy, popular sovereignty, and the rule of law, though universal, must be rooted in our local culture, values and peculiarities, to have meaningful impact. The clash between Islamism and democracy is real, and instead of exacerbating this ideological conflict, Nigeria should work out a model where both are assimilated and adapted to fit our local peculiarities.

Another vital point to note is that it was clear that the Taliban effectively infiltrated the Afghan military, from unfolding events in Afghanistan. This means that part of the resources deployed by the U.S. in Afghanistan was ironically used to train and sustain the enemy. In 2016, the Nigerian military launched the Operation Safe Corridor, an initiative for the deradicalisation and rehabilitation of former Boko Haram members. The aim of the operation, the military said, was to reintegrate repentant Boko Haram members into society. Through this programme, the Nigerian authorities have recurrently pardoned and released Boko Haram fighters under the guise of repentance, negotiation, surrender and rehabilitation. More than 500 ex-Boko Haram members have already completed the programme. However, as can be gleaned from the events in Afghanistan, this measure can be counterproductive. Professor Zulum, governor of Borno state, said some time ago that the deradicalisation of repentant Boko Haram members was not working. He posited that the initiative needs to be reviewed because some former Boko Haram members were only becoming part of the initiative in order to spy on communities, after which they return to join the group, which then launched more devastating attacks thereafter.

In addition to this, some legal experts believe that the discretional setting free of those who ordinarily should be facing grave charges relating to terrorism and other war crimes by the authorities is illegal. For one, until those arrested are tried and convicted in a court of law, they cannot be legally branded as terrorists. And the Nigerian Army is not a court of law, which has the power to determine the guilt of suspected terrorists. For the fact that every suspect is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of law, how can a supposed innocent person be pardoned? Aside from the fact that the Nigerian military lacks prosecutorial powers, they also donot have the authority to release suspects accused of terrorism.

There are stories that most of the terrorists repenting are of Boko Haram and not of the ISWAP sect. The latter, which has been in command of most terrorist activities in the recent past, after the killing of the Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, has strict punishments for fighters who engage in stealing and other nefarious activities. These repentant Boko Haram members are alleged to be unable to cope with this directive, hence their decision to surrender to the authorities. As such, how could people who renounced terrorism because it hindered their opportunities to steal and plunder be good citizens of the society?

Apart from the fact that some indigent persons who were never terrorists might decide to exploit the opportunities to join the repentant group for material gains, there is always likely to be great resentment in the local population, as they are forced to live with people who killed their family and friends and who forced them out of their homes.

For now, it seems only remotely possible that Boko Haram or ISWAP can replicate the successes of the Taliban in Nigeria. But as the Nigerian military continues an extensive military offensive against the terrorists, there is a need to address issues of poverty and inequality, which would help root out terrorism in the country.

What basic lessons can Nigeria learn from events in Afghanistan in the past few weeks? The core theme in the Afghan story is that nation-building is a local project. No other nation or people can build our country for us. Self-interest always governs the approach of any external stakeholder, and if and when that interest become no longer adequately served, they abandon the country to its fate, which might lead to doom. The Afghan locals are the casualties and are now left to face the Taliban, whilst the foreigners have moved to other safe places. So, when people stoke the embers of violence and war, they should remember that no external Western forces might come to their aid; instead, they will quickly remove their citizens from the ensuing inferno.

The next lesson for Nigeria is that we should never forget that the idea of democracy, popular sovereignty, and the rule of law, though universal, must be rooted in our local culture, values and peculiarities, to have meaningful impact. The clash between Islamism and democracy is real, and instead of exacerbating this ideological conflict, Nigeria should work out a model where both are assimilated and adapted to fit our local peculiarities. Aspirations of the people (not those of foreigners) must be the foundation of democracy and development. Therefore, we must adequately evaluate any attempt to import western values to ensure they cohere with local values. It is the citizens that should agree on the rules of social, economic, and political engagement. These should not be imposed on them.

The last lesson is that a grand strategy to end insurgency in Nigeria must be developed and implemented rigorously by the government in conjunction with the private sector, regional and international collaborators. There should be a rallying call for all Nigerians to understand that the country is at war, and resources and efforts must be channeled towards executing the war to an end.

Again, it is local political leaders and visionary leaders that build institutions and not multilateral agencies or foreign governments. If the local leaders are not involved in the building of the institutions, they will not own them ultimately. Therefore, the shared vision and effective communication are critical in all nation-building efforts. The interests of locals are served better by a stable, independent, and prosperous state, and therefore, they must work together to protect it. Economic opportunities and a good quality of life for all citizens are what flow from this.

Fourthly, military crackdown alone against ideology (Taliban, Boko Haram, Biafra, etc.) is unsustainable. The solution must involve a battle of the hearts and minds of the people. Dialogue and negotiated compromise may be necessary rather than only a show of strength. Government should get the locals to understand the implications of supporting the Jihadist movement on Nigeria existence.

Fifth, Nigeria must immediately address all its fault lines as a way of fostering unity and cohesion, which is needed to fight the common enemy of extremism. Unity is needed now, not fighting multiple wars. Restructuring and creating a sense of nationhood now is inevitable if Nigeria is to succeed. The issue of the movement of Fulani herdsmen, their incursions into other parts of the country and the allegations of land grabbing deserve focused attention by our leaders.

The 2023 general elections must not be allowed to divide or polarise Nigeria. It will leave Nigeria weak.

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The last lesson is that a grand strategy to end insurgency in Nigeria must be developed and implemented rigorously by the government in conjunction with the private sector, regional and international collaborators. There should be a rallying call for all Nigerians to understand that the country is at war, and resources and efforts must be channeled towards executing the war to an end. Instead of being reactive, government should initiate a robust offensive against all insurgents, deploying the carrot ans stick approach, as a way of defeating the terrorists once and for all times. As seen in the Taliban case, firm resolve, local knowledge and support, and material, psychological, and ideological incentives will help all stakeholders work at the common goal of defeating the opponent, irrespective of their supposed strength. Nigeria should adopt this strategy.

In conclusion, we are far from seeing insurgency in Nigeria overrun the state. However, it is not impossible. We must proactively solve this problem before it gets out of hand and turns Nigeria into the next Afghanistan.

Dakuku Peterside is a policy and leadership expert.
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Polaris Bank is impacting Nigerias education sector with a significant funding boost through its bundled loan solution called Polaris Education Loan as it sets aside a dedicated Credit Line to support Private School Owners.

The Polaris Education Loan offers both new and existing private primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions customers of the Bank, access to loans of up to N100 million to meet their various funding needs.

This solution forms part of the lenders effort to support Nigerias vital educational sector by ensuring that schools meet their goals and growth aspirations.

Speaking on the Polaris Education Loan, the Group Head, Products and Market Development, Mrs Adebimpe Ihekuna, disclosed that the credit scheme is the Banks forward-thinking safeguard to help schools mitigate any shortfall in their finances, especially as schools prepare to resume in the new academic year, starting in September 2021.

The Polaris Education Loan offers the promoters of private schools, credit facility to meet their various administrative needs: payment of salaries, finance rent, purchase of laboratory equipment, school buses, furniture, books for the library, school renovation and expansion. The credit scheme also allows for purchasing essential assets such as school buses and power generating sets, among others. It takes 24hrs to avail customers of the loan by the Bank.

To apply, existing and new customers should visit any Polaris Bank branch to complete the loan application process or send an email to smebusiness@polarisbanklimited.com for assistance.

For additional information on Polaris Banks products and services, please get in touch with Polaris Banks Yes Centre on 0700-POLARIS (0700-767-2747) or via email at yescenter@polarisbanklimited.com

Polaris Bank is a future-determining bank committed to delivering industry-defining products and services across all sectors of the Nigerian economy.
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The Ogun State government says it has begun the evacuation of stranded indigenes of Ogun State trapped in Jos, Plateau State, over the current unrest in the city.

The government, through a committee headed by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Students Matters, Azeez Adeyemi, said the rescue the mission was made possible through the efforts of the committee and the military escorts provided.

Speaking with PREMIUM TIMES, Mr Adeyemi stressed that the government would stop at nothing to rescue all students in the troubled zone.

Having received news of the unrest in Jos that has exposed our students to danger, Ogun State Government immediately set up a powerful committee to see to the instant evacuation of Ogun State indigenous students schooling in Jos, Mr Adeyemi said.

This led to the activation of military escorts and five executive buses as well as welfare packages, to not only see to their safe return to the state capital, but also ensure their comfort.

As of now, the secured transportation of these students to Ogun State has now started. Initially, plans were made for just students, but we had to incorporate corps members who are of Ogun State origin as well.

The Ogun governments move came just as its Abia State counterpart announced its intention to evacuate the students of the University of Jos who are from the state after the institution was shut.

Jos has been engulfed in tension since the killing of 22 travellers in the city who were heading in a convoy from Bauchi to Ondo. 20 suspects had been arrested in connection with the attack, according to Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State.

Mr Lalong has also apologised to the Ondo people over the incident.

Leaving no one behind

Mr Adeyemi said the Ogun government would ensure that no student is left behind in Jos.

This quick plan formulation and activation is another example of the high esteem in which the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun (MFR) places the welfare, safety, and security of our dear students in Ogun State and in the diaspora.

Instead of just two buses that were requested by the students, five buses were sent so as to ensure that no one is left behind.

The Office of the Special Assistant to Ogun State Governor on Students Matters will remain undeterred in actualizing the Building Our Future Together blueprint of Prince Dapo Abiodun as far as the Students Constituency is concerned.

The national president of the National Association of Ogun State Students, NAOSS, Ogunrounbi Gbemileke, told PREMIUM TIMES that about 80 students and corps members have, so far, been evacuated from Jos.

Mr Gbemileke confirmed that five buses were made available, instead of the two they requested, in addition to a military escort.

So, the students have been evacuated and taken to a safe haven.

I must honestly appreciate the Governor, the Chief of staff and the SA students for the prompt response to our students call.
LEWIS [mdash] Richard A. "Corky" Griffin, 71, of Lewis, passed away unexpectedly, Monday, Aug. 30, 2021, at his home. He was born in Lewis on Oct. 7, 1949, son of the late Benjamin Hastings and Evalina Griffin. Corky worked for Cornwright's Lumber Mill for many years. He is survived by his c
2020 was a year marked by hardships and challenges, but the Prince William community has proven resilient. The Prince William Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you for your continued support, wed like to offer all our subscribers -- new or returning --

4 WEEKS FREE DIGITAL AND PRINT ACCESS.

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We are dedicated to providing the reliable, local journalism you have come to expect. We are committed to serving you with renewed energy and growing resources. Let the Prince William Times be your community companion throughout 2021, and for many years to come.
Increase in terrorism activities and warfare worldwide and stringent laws & regulations regarding work environment safety drive the growth of the global advanced protective gear and armor market

PORTLAND, Ore., Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research recently published a report, titled, "Advanced Protective Gear and Armor Market by End-use Industry (Industrial, Oil & Gas, Law Enforcement, Healthcare, Construction, and Other), User (Industrial and Personal), and Type (Thermal, Chemical or Biological, Ballistic, and Other): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20212030". As per the report, the global advanced protective gear and armor industry was pegged at $12.13 billion in 2020, and is expected to reach $26.54 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 7.4% from 2021 to 2030.

Download Report (290 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, Figures) at https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/12740

Drivers, restraints, and opportunities

Rise in terrorist activities and warfare situations across the world and strict laws & regulations about work environment safety have boosted the growth of the global advanced protective gear and armor market. However, low safety compliance in the construction industry and availability of poor quality and low-cost products hinder the market growth. On the contrary, surge in military expenditure to acquire body armor and technological advancements in protective gear and armor products are expected to open new opportunities for the market players in the future.

Covid-19 scenario:

Due to the Covid-19 outbreak, the governments imposed strict lockdown regulations and restricted number of personnel in factories. This resulted in decrease in demand for protective equipment and adoption of new technologies such as smart sensors in protective gears.

The prolonged lockdown forced protective equipment manufacturing facilities to shut down their operations. Moreover, the lockdown resulted in the disruption of the supply chain and increased raw material prices.

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The oil and gas segment held the lion's share

By end-use industry, the oil and gas segment held the largest share in 2020, accounting for nearly one-fourth of the market, due to high demand for advanced protective gear in the oil & gas industry. However, the healthcare segment is expected to showcase the highest CAGR of 9.0% during the forecast period, owing to surge in demand for protective equipment in the healthcare sector across the globe.

The chemical or biological segment to portray the highest CAGR through 2030

By type, the chemical or biological segment is projected to register the highest CAGR of 8.0% during the forecast period. Moreover, the segment dominated the market in terms of revenue, contributing to around two-fifths of the total market share in 2020, due to high chances of exposure to harmful chemical or biological substances. The report includes analysis on other segments such as thermal, ballistic, and other.

Interested to Procure The Data? Get It Now at https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/advanced-protective-gear-and-armor-market/purchase-options

Asia-Pacific, followed by North America, held the largest share

By region, the market across Asia-Pacific, followed by North America, held the lion's share in 2020, contributing to around one-third of the market. Moreover, the region is anticipated to showcase the highest CAGR of 9.1% from 2021 to 2030, due to rise in investments to ensure high safety of the industrial workforce across several countries in the region.

Major market players

ArmorSource LLC

BAE Systems plc

Avon Rubber P.L.C.

DuPont De Nemours, Inc.

Bolle Safety Standard Issue

Honeywell International Inc.

Galls, LLC

Northrop Grumman Corporation

MSA Safety Incorporated

Point Black Enterprises Inc.

Schedule a FREE Consultation Call with Our Analysts to Find Solution for Your Business at https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/connect-to-analyst/12740

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Body Armor Accessories Market by Product Type (Plates & Inserts, Shieled, Carrier, Helmet, Clothers, Bulletproff Layer, and Others), by Material (Steel, UHMWPE, Armid, Composite Cermaic, and Others), and by End User (Defense, Law Enforcement, and Civilian): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20202030.

Military Personal Protective Equipment Market by Product Type (Body Armor, Helmet, Protective Eyewear, Life Safety Jacket, Pelvic Protection System, and Others), Material Type (Aramid, Carbon fiber, and Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene [UHMWPE] fiber), Application (Combat and Training), and End User (Army, Navy, Air Force, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2030.

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About Us

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We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.

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RALEIGH, N.C., Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The global stainless steel market production is expected to grow to 54 million tons in 2021 with an improvement in economic activity and stainless steelmaking capacity in parallel, especially in Indonesia that's forecast to have a greater output than many developed nations.

Stainless steel market trends suggest how supply remained constricted in 2020 owing to a lack of demand. Now with the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic gradually waving away from markets, demand is expected to reach pre-pandemic times. Since not many people will be inclined to travel, the demand for consumer goods is likely to rise. Steel distributors and suppliers believe that the demand for luxury items like appliances and automobiles will be on the rise, thus, prompting production in the global stainless steel industry and consequent supply of the metal. However, the supply-demand gap of stainless steel would widen in 2021 owing to factors like high alloy surcharges along with a tightened supply of the metal.

Beroe, which is based in North Carolina, further stated that procurement experts can access this report on its recently launched market intelligence platform Beroe LiVE: https://www.beroeinc.com/beroe-live-ai/ .

Beroe report lends a market overview of the stainless steel industry. An assessment of stainless steel market trends highlight reduced global stainless steel industry production, roughly by five percent in 2020 compared to production in 2019 to 51 million tons. The stainless steel market trend shows a drop in metal production in most countries except Indonesia and China owing to quick recovery from the Covid-19 virus. The steel supply in China and Indonesia rose by 2.5 and 15.5 percent respectively compared to the mill output in 2019.

The drop in stainless steel market output was, however, not so pronounced in India that continues as the world's second-largest steel producer despite the complete shutdown of the industry owing to pandemic-induced lockdown in the June quarter of 2020. To cater to the existing demand, the European stainless steel industry imported steel from developing countries. The steel industry suffered an unprecedented setback in 2020 owing to the high level of imports despite the anti-dumping duties on stainless steel hot rolled from China, Indonesia, and Taiwan imposed by the European Union in April 2020.

Stainless steel market intelligence suggests lower demand for metal products due to worldwide, regional, and national economic conditions. Figures show the worldwide market size production in 2020 reaching up to 2.4 MMT as opposed to global demand and consumption being limited to 3.1 MMT in the same year. Comparatively, there is an increased level of industrial investment activity with industrial production assuming pre-pandemic levels in 2021.

End users are recovering from the effects of the virus with the stainless steel market resuming production. However, this increased manufacture and subsequent supply are in stark contrast to the reduced demand in the industrial and heavy industry, as well as low interest in the purchase and use of the metal in chemical, petrochemical, consumer goods, and medical industries.

The Covid-19 impact on the global stainless steel industry was quite noticeable, especially, in early 2020. Supply constraints put immense pressure on the industry, thus, increasing its prices. Unstable supply coupled with continued demand for production of necessary items resulted in declining inventories and an extended delivery period of 12-16 weeks.

Key Findings:

The imposition of tariffs and lack of imports at low prices are adding to raw materials costs.

Stainless steel prices are likely to be affected by higher alloy charges.

China's output of stainless steel 300 series increased by 6.58 percent touching 14 MMT in 2020.

output of stainless steel 300 series increased by 6.58 percent touching 14 MMT in 2020. The imbalance in supply and demand of stainless steel flat products in the U.S. will intensify in the coming months.

Consumer goods demand is expected to rise, which positively reinforces the end assessment of stainless steel.

Significant logistical disruptions are expected to affect the steel supply.

The report from Beroe includes:

Global and regional market overview

Supply and demand outlook

Analysis of Covid-19 impact

Pricing and end-use assessment

Market and supplier insights

Focus on commodities of concern

About Beroe

Beroe is a North Carolina-based provider of procurement intelligence and supplier compliance solutions. It is one of the world's foremost industry names, working with over 10,000 companies, including 400 out of Fortune 500 companies. Covering a wide range of industries  from healthcare and food to chemical, oil, banking, and more  Beroe offers real-time intelligence, predictive insights, and rich resources. For more information about Beroe Inc., please visit https://www.beroeinc.com/ .

Media Contact:

Debobrata Hembram

debobrata.hembram@beroe-inc.com

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/777512/Beroe_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Beroe Inc.
TEL AVIV, Israel and BETHESDA, Md., Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cannabics Pharmaceuticals Inc. (OTCQB: CNBX), a global leader in the development of cancer related cannabinoid-based medicine, announced today that Dr. Sigal Tavor (MD), a renowned Hemato-Oncology expert, has joined the company's Board of Advisors.

The announcement follows the company's recent expansion of its Board of Advisors to include Prof. Caroline Robert (MD, Ph.D.), a Melanoma expert along with Prof. Amos Toren (MD), Prof. Zamir Halpern (MD), Dr. Erez Scapa (MD), Dr. Dana Ben-Ami Shor (MD), Dr. Sigalit Arieli-Portnoy (Ph.D.) and Dr. Tal Mofkadi (Ph.D.). The announcement is made also as the company expands its Board of Directors, having been joined by Dr. Inbar Maymon-Pomeranchik (Ph.D.), and Dr. Gil Feiler (Ph.D.) as Independent Directors.

The nomination of Dr. Tavor is part of the company's strategy to include specialists in a variety of specific cancers and enhance the company's Drug Discovery Platform and other research capabilities to focus on Hematology in addition to the other cancer programs currently already under way. Accordingly, the company plans to continue down the clinical path for the existing drug candidate projects and continue producing new drug candidates for additional indications.

Dr. Gil Feiler, Director and Advisory Board Chair commented: "It gives me great pleasure to welcome Dr. Tavor onto our Board of Advisors. Dr. Tavor is an exceptional clinician and researcher that has dedicated her professional life to improve patient care. Dr. Tavor brings a wealth of experience in Hematology which will surely translate into invaluable input for the company."

About Dr. Sigal Tavor:

Dr. Tavor currently serves as a Senior Physician at the Hemato Oncology Institute, Assuta Medical Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel, and conducting Gene Therapy research at the Weizmann Institute, Israel. Dr. Tavor is the former Acting Head of the Leukemia Unit, Department of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel, where she worked for 20 years.

Dr. Tavor has completed two postdoctoral fellowships: at the Department of Hematology and Oncology, University of California Los Angeles, CA, and at the Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute, Israel.

Dr. Tavor has published extensively on Leukemia in peer reviewed journals and is a member of the Israel Society of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, the European Hematology Association (EHA), the American Society of Hematology (ASH), and the European Leukemia Network (ELN).

About Cannabics Pharmaceuticals:

Cannabics Pharmaceuticals Inc. (OTCQB: CNBX) is a U.S. public company and a global leader in the development of cancer related cannabinoid-based medicine. The Company's R&D is based in Israel, where it is licensed by the Ministry of Health to conduct scientific and clinical research on cannabinoid formulations and cancer. For more information, please visit www.cannabics.com. For the latest updates on Cannabics Pharmaceuticals follow the Company on Twitter @Cannabics, Facebook @CannabicsPharmaceuticals, LinkedIn, and on Instagram @Cannabics_Pharmaceuticals.

Disclaimer:

Certain statements contained in this release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other U.S. Federal securities laws. Such statements include but are not limited to statements identified by words such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "intends," "plans," "targets," "projects" and similar expressions. The statements in this release are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our Company's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ from those outlined in the forward-looking statements. Numerous factors could cause or contribute to such differences, including, but not limited to, results of clinical trials and other studies, the challenges inherent in new product development initiatives, the effect of any competitive products, our ability to license and protect our intellectual property, our ability to raise additional capital in the future that is necessary to maintain our business, changes in government policy and regulation, potential litigation by or against us, any governmental review of our products or practices, as well as other risks discussed from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including, without limitation, our latest 10-Q Report filed July 14th, 2021. We undertake no duty to update any forward-looking statement or any information contained in this press release or other public disclosures at any time. Finally, the investing public is reminded that the only announcements or information about Cannabics Pharmaceuticals Inc., which are condoned by the Company, must emanate from the Company itself and bear our name as its source.

For more information about Cannabics:

Cannabics Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Phone: +1-(877)-424-2429

[email protected]

http://www.Cannabics.com

Related Links

https://www.cannabics.com

SOURCE Cannabics Pharmaceuticals Inc.

SOURCE Cannabics Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Related Links

https://cannabics.com/


The company, whose controlling stake is held by Capital Square Partners, has been outperforming its peers on revenue growth and profitability over the last 2 years. It also announced investment from Morgan Stanley Private Credit and Onex Falcon last quarter. The investment represents a strong vote of confidence in CSS Corp's premium service offerings and differentiated value proposition which proactively solve clients' critical business problems. This transaction will enable CSS Corp to continue its industry leading organic growth and expand its capabilities and geographical footprint through strategic initiatives.

Sunil Mittal, CEO at CSS Corp, said, "We are proud to have grown to a family of 10,000 employees. Our commitment towards attracting, retaining, and elevating talent has been key to achieving this milestone. We are confident that our passion for nurturing talent, providing innovative solutions, and creating business value for customers, will continue to drive robust growth."

CSS Corp has stood out in the industry with its growth trajectory, empathetic workforce engagement, innovation, and resilience during the pandemic. The company was among the few in the industry to proactively implement a 100% WFH model as early as March 2020, placing a priority on employee safety and wellbeing. The company's CHEER (Communicate, Highlight accomplishments, Energize teams, Engage employees, Recognize achievements) framework has helped drive empathetic employee engagement and positivity. This year the company has introduced several employee-friendly initiatives under the umbrella of their SAFE (Support, Awareness, Facilitation, Emergency) framework. This includes an intra-company COVID-19 app, a Doctor-on-Call (24/7) helpline service, 24X7 multi-channel, multi-lingual telemedicine support and vaccination drives.

"The unwavering spirit of 10,000 CSS Corp family members has helped us navigate these disruptive times and deliver world-class services to our clients, a clear testament to the fact that perseverance coupled with passion can do wonders," Sunil added.

About CSS Corp

CSS Corp is a global customer experience and technology services provider, disrupting the industry with a unique intersection of industry-leading proprietary solutions, resilient operations, and innovative business engagement models. The company is a digital transformation partner of choice for its clients, which include the world's top innovators across industries, from mid-market players to large enterprises. Its diverse team of over 10,000 customer-centric thinkers, collaborators, and co-creators across 19 global locations, is passionate about helping clients succeed through intelligent automation-led outcomes. To know more, please visit https://www.csscorp.com

Follow CSS Corp on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1519375/CSS_Corp_Logo.jpg

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1598964/CSS_Corp.jpg

SOURCE CSS Corp
Entrepreneurs must reflect on lessons learned throughout the current Covid epidemic on World Entrepreneurs' Day 2021. The once-in-a-generation epidemic served as a wake-up call, but it also taught us to accept the new normal.

Institution's Innovation Council at MIT-ADT University Pune has organized four exclusive sessions on How to Build Your Start-up from The Ground Up, Building a Resilient Innovation Ecosystem, Building a high-speed Start-up & experience as a Founder and Let's Hang-out with Campus Start-up Guys in association with AIC-MITADT Incubator Forum and MIT Centre for Future Skills Excellence (MIT-FuSE).

Today's world economy is being driven by innovation led entrepreneurship. Indian youth aspire to create new-age start-ups that solve problems of the mankind. MIT Art, Design and Technology University Pune is a new age University for aspiring Innovators & Entrepreneurs. The name of the University synthesizes Arts with Design, Design with Technology and Art with Technology to create a generation that sets a specimen of future Leaders, social transformers, and winning personas.

Recently, MITADT University established Centre for Research & Innovation for Young Aspirants (CRIYA) to create adept individuals to solve societal problems by thinking outside the box. CRIYA intends to cultivate scientific temper among students by motivating them to understand and innovate in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and design. MIT ADT University is at the forefront in promoting and encouraging entrepreneurship development amongst students and therefore Atal Incubation Centre has incubated around 27 incubatees across domains like healthcare, biotechnology, agritech, social innovation, & IT For transforming their ideas into viable products. The vision is to produce first-generation entrepreneurs who will be capable of replicating the model of Facebook, Google & Microsoft.

Mr. Yogiraj Konde Deshmukh and Mr. Uday Bhore, Alumni Entrepreneur of MIT School of Food Technology shared their experience on how they started their journey as an entrepreneur and difficulties as well as challenges they faced during their stint. Mr. Yogiraj completed his masters from University of Leeds, England & returned India to set up his own food processing unit & bakery. They have also provide their insights on how one should proceed for setting up their own venture.

During the session on Building a Resilient Innovation Ecosystem, Dr. Jagadeesh - CEO & Co-Founder, Dr. Manoj Nimbalkar - MD & Co-Founder, along with Mr. Harshad Baviskar from DareToStart.org Munich, Germany wonderfully explained how the mindset of an individual help him/her achieving entrepreneurial goals and how it is important for a start-up to have a mentor or the incubator and disadvantages of not having one.

And they shared their experiences of their journey and the whole process they went through and how they got the idea of founding such great start-up initiative for Indo-Europe Connect & collaboration.

Mr. Akshay Mehrotra - CEO and Co-Founder at EarlySalary.com. proudly mentioned that EarlySalary.com has already disbursed 1.8 million loans worth Rs.4000 Crores to salaried professionals in the country in the past five years. EarlySalary is India's largest consumer lending application for salaried individuals that helps them with easy line of credit, instant cash loans, buy now pay later and salary advances. EarlySalary has become the preferred line of credit for every digital India. Young professionals and job beginners experience month-end cash crunch and due to the lack of credit-score knowledge, they are also unable to borrow money from the traditional credit facilities available. And he shared his journey of how the whole thing started and motivated our audience to work on their startups and entrepreneurial journey. Mr. Akshay Mehrotra said, "We are determined to build a larger organization, stand tall in the mind and heart of every customer with a product for every credit need. We are a profitable start-up and want to build a large financial model." He appreciated the efforts & endeavours by MIT-ADT University Pune to create robust framework & ecosystem for innovation & incubation.

During concluding session, three proud alumni entrepreneurs shared their experience at AIC-MITADT Incubator Forum . The panel discussion was driven by Mr. Ganesh Thorat - Founder Cerebrospark Innovations, Mr. Rishabh Gupta- Founder Weavers, Mr. Rishabh Naik, Co-Founder & Designated Partner, Knowform LLP. And they have shared their interesting journey of how they have built a successful start-up right from scratch & completed legal compliances with the help of support & guidance from AIC-MITADT Incubator Forum . It was very well received by the students on how these students overcome challenges of getting started with their ventures. The session has created a spark & encouraged students to take on their dreams to get transformed & impact tomorrow's' economy.

Dr. Mohit Dubey, CEO-AIC MITADT Incubator Forum further added that how Incubation Centre is helping young and budding entrepreneurs irrespective of their ages and giving them a working space to work for their venture. He also mentioned about how the start-up culture is getting a new trend worldwide and the benefits of having your venture. Prof. Dr. Virendra Bhojwani, President IIC-MITADT University gave his insightful remarks & views on how an idea of a venture or innovation can be protected from getting stolen through IP Filing. He further described the process of registering the firm with various Govt. of India initiatives.

Prof. Suraj Bhoyar, Project Director MIT Centre for Future Skills Excellence (MIT-FuSE) summarised the gist of the sessions which were conducted throughout the day. He explained the purpose & intent of celebration of the World Entrepreneurs' Day. He said, "It's better to work on start-up during college days only. Come up with an idea. Figure out your value proposition. Build something people want & You will succeed". And he further added that how individual can achieve anything he/she wants just with the hard work and dedication.

Last year, MIT Art, Design and Technology University, Pune has been Ranked 26th for ARIIA 2020 by the Ministry of Education, Govt. of India. And even Institution's Innovation Council - MITADTU Received 5 Star rating for exemplary performance by the Ministry of Education's Innovation Council, Govt. of India.

MIT Art, Design & Technology University prepares students for the future through its cutting-edge programmes and grooms them for their prospective workplace through a holistic education that is imparted at the university. Thus, increasing the learning agility and resiliency of students who are empowered to meet the ever-evolving needs of the world; Project/Problem-based learning approach has been adopted by the University through semester projects using design thinking curriculum & exposure using the state-of-the-art infrastructure viz. makerspace, 3D Printing Labs, Fab Labs, etc. nurture innovative minds for transforming into products.

Media Contact : Prof. Suraj Bhoyar, [email protected], +902-848-3286, Project Director, MIT ADT University Pune

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1599363/MIT_ADT.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1479539/MIT_ADTU_Logo.jpg

SOURCE MIT ADT University, Pune
HORSHAM, Pa., Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company (Penn Mutual), a Fortune 1000 company, announces that Aaron Gordon has joined Hornor, Townsend & Kent, LLC (HTK) as president. HTK is Penn Mutual's wholly-owned broker-dealer/registered investment adviser (RIA) subsidiary and was recently named a top 30 broker-dealer in the U.S. by InvestmentNews and Financial Advisor.

Aaron Gordon joins HTK as president. Hornor, Townsend & Kent, LLC (HTK), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Penn Mutual, is a broker-dealer and registered investment adviser supporting independent financial professionals across the U.S.

Gordon comes to Penn Mutual with more than 15 years of leadership experience at some of the nation's top financial institutions. Most recently, Gordon served as vice president of managed accounts sales at Lincoln Financial Network, the retail division of Lincoln Financial Group, where he was responsible for strategy and platform expansion and fostered product evolution.

As president, Gordon will develop and guide the firm's strategic direction, while overseeing the day-to-day activities of the firm, including compliance, supervision, operations, information technology and data management, compensation and investment advisory.

"In an environment that is constantly evolving, firms must continually build and grow their wealth management platform so that financial professionals can best meet the needs of their clients. I'm optimistic that Aaron will deliver on the firm's longstanding commitment to excellence and continuous improvement," says David O'Malley, Penn Mutual president and chief operating officer. "Beyond his career accomplishments and leadership experience within the financial services industry, Aaron possesses the drive and eagerness to take HTK to the next level. His collaborative nature and focus on relationships resounds with the culture here at Penn Mutual and HTK."

"HTK is a key component within Penn Mutual's overall distribution strategy," says Thomas Harris, CLU, ChFC, FLMI, Penn Mutual executive vice president and chief distribution officer. "With Aaron at the helm, we're eager to build on HTK's longstanding commitment to our financial professionals and their clients, while making HTK's platform, services and solutions even more competitive and the entire firm attractive across the industry."

Prior to Lincoln, Gordon was the chief planning and investments officer at Edelman Financial Services (now Edelman Financial Engines) and senior vice president, national sales and consulting at LPL Financial. Gordon began his career as a financial professional with Ameriprise Financial Services, eventually becoming vice president of the firm's wealth management consulting group.

Gordon earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of St. Thomas. He has a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Wisconsin  Madison.

About The Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company

Penn Mutual helps people become stronger. Our expertly crafted life insurance is vital to long-term financial health and strengthens people's ability to enjoy every day. Working with our trusted network of financial professionals, we take the long view, building customized solutions for individuals, their families, and their businesses. Penn Mutual supports its financial professionals with retirement and investment services through its wholly-owned subsidiary Hornor, Townsend & Kent, LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Visit Penn Mutual at www.pennmutual.com.

About HTK

HTK is a broker-dealer and registered investment adviser supporting independent financial professionals across the U.S. For more than 50 years, HTK has been the trusted partner supporting financial professionals on their path to success. HTK is committed to offering its financial professionals the independence to build their practice their way through the delivery of a flexible platform, leading solutions and personalized service. Hornor, Townsend & Kent, LLC (HTK) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company. Member FINRA/SIPC. Visit www.htk.com.

2021 The Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company, 600 Dresher Road, Horsham, PA 19044

Contact:

Jeff Leinen

Penn Mutual

215-956-8530

[email protected]

Stephanie Kensy

HTK

215-956-8337

[email protected]



3724559TA_Aug23

SOURCE The Penn Mutual Life Insurance Co

Related Links

https://www.pennmutual.com


SACRAMENTO, Calif., Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The California Fire Foundation is distributing their Supplying Aid to Victims of Emergency (SAVE) cards to victims of the recent devastating fires raging in northern California.

The SAVE program brings immediate, short-term relief in the amount of a $250 gift card to victims of fire or other natural disaster throughout California. When a fire or natural disaster strikes, victims are often left with nothing more than the clothes on their backs and this $250 provides immediate relief so they may purchase basic necessities such as medicine, food or clothing.

The California Fire Foundation is working with Community-based organizations (CBOs) on the ground to assist with the distribution of the cards to those in need, ensuring they reach victims as quickly as possible. The Plumas Crisis Intervention Resource Center (PCIRC) are assisting with SAVE card distribution to those impacted by the Dixie Fire, the Nevada County Relief Fund is supporting the distribution of cards to River Fire victims and the El Dorado Community Foundation is helping to distribute SAVE cards to those affected by the Caldor Fire.

With the Dixie Fire, California's second-largest wildfire in modern history, raging across 5 counties, the fast-moving Caldor Fire in El Dorado County and the River Fire spanning Placer and Nevada counties, this fire season is impacting a large number of people across the northern part of the state.

"So many people are suffering in these affected communities due to these large, fast-moving wildfires," said Rick Martinez, Executive Director of the California Fire Foundation. "The $250 SAVE card provides immediate relief to victims who have been hugely impacted by these fires and lost so much. Working closely with the CBOs in these regions enables us to quickly get the cards into the hands of those that need them most."

"We are witnessing first-hand the devastation and trauma people are experiencing when they come through our doors but the SAVE cards from the California Fire Foundation are like sending angels to allow us to help others," said Cathy Rahmeyer, Director of Operations at the Plumas Crisis Intervention and Resource Center.

For more information on SAVE and where to donate visit www.cafirefoundation.org/SAVE

About:

The California Fire Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, provides emotional and financial assistance to families of fallen firefighters, firefighters and the communities they protect. Formed in 1987 by California Professional Firefighters, the California Fire Foundation's mission includes survivor and victim assistance programs and a range of community initiatives. cafirefoundation.org.

Press Contact: Fera Dayani, CA Fire Foundation (916) 605-9513; [email protected]

SOURCE California Fire Foundation

Related Links

www.cafirefoundation.org


MIAMI, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Cansortium Inc. (CSE: TIUM.U) (OTCQX: CNTMF) ("Cansortium" or the "Company"), a vertically-integrated cannabis company operating under the Fluent brand, is rescheduling its second quarter 2021 conference call for Wednesday, August 25, 2021 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time. The Company will report its results in a press release prior to the conference call.

Cansortium management will host the conference call, followed by a question and answer period.

Date: Wednesday, August 25, 2021

Time: 8:30 a.m. Eastern time

Toll-free dial-in number: (800) 319-4610

International dial-in number: (604) 638-5340

Conference ID: 10016120

Link: Cansortium Q2 2021 Earnings Call

Please call the conference telephone number 5-10 minutes prior to the start time. An operator will register your name and organization. If you have any difficulty connecting with the conference call, please contact Elevate IR at (949) 200-4603.

The conference call will also be available for replay via the News & Events section of the Company's investor relations website at https://investors.getfluent.com/.

About Cansortium Inc.

Cansortium is a vertically-integrated cannabis company with licenses and operations in Florida, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Texas. The Company operates under the Fluent brand and is dedicated to being one of the highest quality cannabis companies for the communities it serves. This is driven by Cansortium's unrelenting commitment to operational excellence in cultivation, production, distribution and retail. The Company is headquartered in Miami, Florida.

Cansortium Inc.'s common shares trade on the CSE under the symbol "TIUM.U" and on the OTCQX Best Market under the symbol "CNTMF". For more information about the Company, please visit www.getfluent.com.

SOURCE Cansortium Inc

Related Links

http://www.getfluent.com/


HONG KONG, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CNOOC Limited (the "Company", SEHK: 00883,NYSE: CEO, TSX: CNU) today announced that Luda 6-2 oilfield has commenced production ahead of schedule.

Luda 6-2 oilfield is located in Liaodong Bay of Bohai Sea, with average water depth of about 30 meters. In addition to fully utilizing the existing processing facilities of Suizhong 36-1 oilfield, the project has built a new central platform. A total of 38 development wells are planned, including 29 production wells, 8 water injection wells and 1 development and appraisal well. The project is expected to reach its peak production of approximately 10,000 barrels of crude oil per day in 2022.

CNOOC Limited holds 100% interest in Luda 6-2 Oilfield and acts as the operator.

- End -

Notes to Editors:

More information about the Company is available at http://www.cnoocltd.com .

*** *** *** ***

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding expected future events, business prospectus or financial results. The words "expect", "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "objective", "ongoing", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe", "plans", "intends" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.

These statements are based on assumptions and analyses made by the Company in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that the Company believes are appropriate under the circumstances. However, whether actual results and developments will meet the expectations and predictions of the Company depends on a number of risks and uncertainties which could cause the actual results, performance and financial condition to differ materially from the Company's expectations, including but not limited to the Company and its controlling shareholder being listed in the list of the U.S. for sanction against companies with alleged ties to the Chinese military, those associated with fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas prices, macro-political and economic factors, changes in the tax and fiscal regimes of the host countries in which we operate, the highly competitive nature of the oil and natural gas industry, environmental responsibility and compliance requirements, the Company's price forecast, the exploration and development activities, mergers, acquisitions and divestments activities, HSSE and insurance policies and changes in anti-corruption, anti-fraud, anti-money laundering and corporate governance laws. For a description of these and other risks and uncertainties, please see the documents the Company files from time to time with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Annual Report on Form 20-F filed in April of the latest fiscal year. Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. The Company cannot assure that the results or developments anticipated will be realised or, even if substantially realised, that they will have the expected effect on the Company, its business or operations.

*** *** *** ***

For further enquiries, please contact:

Ms. Jing Liu

Manager, Media & Public Relations

CNOOC Limited

Tel: +86-10-8452-3404

Fax: +86-10-8452-1441

E-mail: [email protected]

Bunny Lee

Porda Havas International Finance Communications Group

Tel: +852 3150 6707

Fax: +852 3150 6728

E-mail: [email protected]

SOURCE CNOOC Limited

Related Links

http://www.cnoocltd.com


NEW YORK, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- dv01 , a leading capital markets fintech company driving technological innovation and loan-level transparency in structured finance, today announced it has partnered with GoodLeap, America's number one point-of-sale platform for sustainable home solutions, to further promote data transparency and accountability within the solar asset-backed securities ("ABS") market.

Through this partnership dv01 will serve as Loan Data Agent ("LDA") for Carbon Level Mitigation Trust (CLMTE) pass-through certificates, the first transactions of their kind in the residential solar and sustainable home solutions space. The shelf currently comprises CLMTE 2021-1 and CLMTE 2021-2 and has an aggregate notional value of $53.6 million at issuance across 1,252 residential solar loans. As LDA, dv01 handles the monthly deal reporting by cleansing, validating, and standardizing loan-level data from underlying servicers and other transaction participants. Qualified platform users, including participating investors, can then leverage fully integrated analytics tools through the dv01 web app to extract actionable insights on loan performance, free of charge.

Residential solar ABS has shown impressive resilience against the stresses of COVID-19. Kroll Bond Rating Agency estimates that issuance climbed 22% YoY in 2020, with GoodLeap responsible for most of the issuance. Kroll forecasts 2021 issuance to increase by another 21% thanks to a combination of technology improvements, extensions of the investment tax credit, and a sympathetic presidential administration.

"As investor demand for sustainable investing increases, transparent data on the underlying collateral is crucial to understanding asset performance," said Perry Rahbar, Founder & CEO at dv01. "We're excited to partner with a leading issuer to cement solar as a viable, investment-worthy asset class. We look forward to deepening our relationship with GoodLeap and introducing our reputable loan-level expertise to a rapidly-growing market."

"The pass-through securities announced today are the first transactions of their kind in our space, enabling an even broader group of financial institutions to deploy capital in compelling ESG assets," said Tanguy Serra, GoodLeap's President. "With dv01, we look forward to providing market participants the opportunity to take part in these ESG assets with confidence and efficiency."

The partnership comes at a time when ESG investing is seeing a record pace of adoption. In addition to supporting the Solar ABS market, dv01 is building a comprehensive, data-focused solution for structured products that empowers issuers and investors to accurately report the loan-level ESG adherence needed by their partners and the capital markets.

MEDIA CONTACT

Peregrine Communications

Hannah Beard

[email protected] / +1 917 970 8822



NOTES TO EDITORS

About dv01

Founded in 2014, dv01 is the leading capital markets fintech driving technological innovation and loan-level transparency in structured finance. To date, dv01 has provided securitizations reporting and analytics on $4 trillion in notional balance, consisting of 90 million loans and 700 securitizations across consumer unsecured, point of sale, small business, student loans, auto, and both agency and non-agency mortgages. Learn more at dv01.co.

About GoodLeap

GoodLeap is the nation's number one point-of-sale platform for sustainable home solutions, delivering a digital-first experience that is simple, fast, and frictionless. GoodLeap's proprietary technology platform is actively used by more than 15,000 sales professionals and has enabled the deployment of over $8.0 billion in capital for sustainable home improvement products since 2018, empowering countless consumers to live a more sustainable lifestyle. GoodLeap is a proud partner of GivePower, a 501(c)(3) corporation, whose mission is to build and deploy solar-powered clean water and energy systems to communities in need around the world. To learn more about GoodLeap, visit, follow and connect with us at goodleap.com

SOURCE dv01, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.dv01.co


HABO, Sweden, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --

The second quarter:

Order intake was MSEK 2,123 (1,655), an increase of +28.3% adjusted to +35.3% for currency effects of MSEK -110 and disposals of MSEK -4

Net sales were MSEK 1,845 (1,726), an increase of +6.9% adjusted to +12.2% for currency effects of MSEK -82 and disposals of MSEK -9

Operating profit was MSEK 208.2 (153.6), an increase of 35.5% with an operating margin of 11.3 (8.9)%

Earnings after tax were MSEK 137.7 (98.8)

Earnings per share were SEK 0.78 (0.55)

(0.55) Cash flow from operating activities was MSEK 200.3 (230.2)

Comments from CEO Bodil Sonesson:

We are pleased to see the good results in the quarter and half year for order intake and net sales, which delivered a strong increase in profitability.

Operating margins reached 11.3% for the quarter and 10.2% for the half year. This is a result of collective commitment and hard work from the teams in combination with a higher activity level on the market.

The high focus on sustainable solutions continue. During the quarter, Fagerhult launched a new version of one of their best-selling products "Multilume Re:Think". In this new version the body of the luminaire is made from 100% recyclable cardboard, reducing climate impact by 83%.

Connected solutions continue to grow, Organic Response volumes increased 60% for the first half year.

The work on together determining the Group's core values has reached its role out phase and now we start the journey to live them.

An investor webcast following the Quarter 2 Report 2021 will be held on 23 August 2021 at 15:30 CET.

A link to the webcast will be available on http://ir.fagerhultgroup.com.

A Management presentation will also be published on http://ir.fagerhultgroup.com.

CONTACT:

Disclosures may be submitted by

Bodil Sonesson CEO, mobile: +46 722 23 76 02 e-mail: [email protected]

Michael Wood CFO, mobile: +46 730 87 46 47 e-mail: [email protected]

This information is inside information that AB Fagerhult (publ) is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation and information that AB Fagerhult (publ) is obliged to make public pursuant to the Securities Markets Act.

The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, at 11:15 CET on 23rd August 2021.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/fagerhult/r/interim-report-january-june-2021,c3400352

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/1781/3400352/1457563.pdf Fagerhult, Interim Report January-June 2021

SOURCE Fagerhult
PITTSBURGH, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- FARMACEUTICALRX ("FARMACEUTICALRX" or the "Company"), the leading natural and organic vertically integrated medical marijuana multi-state operator in the United States, announced today that the Company has completed construction of its Ohio processing facility and received certification to commence operations as a medical marijuana processor from the Ohio Department of Commerce. The FARMACEUTICALRX of Ohio medical marijuana processing business is co-located with the Company's Level 1 25,000 sq. ft. cultivation facility that is currently under construction in East Liverpool, Ohio. FARMACEUTICALRX of Ohio also operates its FRX Health dispensary in East Liverpool, Ohio.

"We are excited to commence operation of our Ohio processing business," stated Rebecca Myers, Founder and CEO of FARMACEUTICALRX. "Adding processing operations to our highly rated FRX Health dispensary brings us one step closer to being a fully vertically integrated operator in Ohio. We are building on the strong momentum and success of our FARMACEUTICALRX of PA business with the launch of our Ohio processing business," Myers continued. "Our Ohio processing business will introduce a wide range of new sub-branded innovative products to the Ohio market. We anticipate that we will complete construction of our large Level 1 Ohio Cultivation facility later this year. With the commencement of operations of our Ohio cultivation business, we will also be positioned to produce our premium - high-quality FARMACEUTICALRX branded products for Ohio patients. These critical steps position us to continue to build our FARMACEUTICALRX brand and to expand our loyal customer base across multiple states," Myers stated.

ABOUT FARMACEUTICALRX.

FARMACEUTICALRX is the leading natural and organic multistate vertically integrated medical marijuana operator in the United States. FARMACEUTICALRX is focused on bringing research and development-based innovation to the medical marijuana sector. FARMACEUTICALRX develops premier high-quality craft and innovative organic products under its existing FARMACEUTICALRX brand. The Company's Burst of Wellness brand combines the quality that FARMACEUTICALRX is known for, at a lower price point, with the goal of expanding the Company's reach to a broader demographic of patients. The FARMACEUTICALRX affiliated companies are licensed to offer high quality medical marijuana products to more than 26 million patients in Ohio and Pennsylvania. FARMACEUTICALRX is led by a world-class team of scientists, healthcare, organic food and beverage and cannabis industry professionals who are driven by the discovery, development, and manufacturing of revolutionary, high quality natural and organic products through its vertically integrated platform. Our innovation is your future health. Learn more at www.FARMACEUTICALRX.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes forward-looking information and statements, which may include, but are not limited to, information and statements regarding or inferring the future business, operations, financial performance, prospects, and other plans, intentions, expectations, estimates, and beliefs of the Company. Words such as "expects", "continue", "will", "anticipates" and "intends" or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current projections and expectations about future events and financial trends that management believes might affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs, and on certain assumptions and analysis made by the Company in light of the experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors management believes are appropriate. Forward-looking information and statements involve and are subject to assumptions and known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause actual events, results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future events, results, performance, and achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking information and statements herein. Although the Company believes that any forward-looking information and statements herein are reasonable, in light of the use of assumptions and the significant risks and uncertainties inherent in such information and statements, there can be no assurance that any such forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, and accordingly readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such risks and uncertainties and should not place undue reliance upon such forward-looking information and statements. Any forward-looking information and statements herein are made as of the date hereof, and except as required by applicable laws, the Company assumes no obligation and disclaims any intention to update or revise any forward-looking information and statements herein or to update the reasons that actual events or results could or do differ from those projected in any forward looking information and statements herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, or otherwise, except as required by applicable laws.

Investor Contact

For further information, contact:

[email protected]

Media Contact:

Terence Lin,

724-655-3335



SOURCE FARMACEUTICALRX LLC

Related Links

http://www.FARMACEUTICALRX.com


PHOENIX, Aug. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Flex Technology Group (FTG) has once again been included in Inc. magazine's annual list of America's fastest-growing private companies for an unprecedented 12th consecutive year, with a ranking of #2273 for 2021.

This unique achievement serves as another opportunity to celebrate our people at FTG

Making this prestigious list becomes more challenging each year as the company's starting base revenue grows, so this truly marks another extraordinary milestone for the FTG. While tens of thousands of companies have applied to the Inc. 5000 over the years, only a finite small fraction have made the list more than once. Even more impressive, it's estimated that only .001% percent of the nation's private companies have matched FTG's 12 consecutive appearances on the Inc. 5000 list.

"An incredible 12 consecutive years on this list is a true testament to the proven value proposition we continually deliver to our clients and the overall strength of our company. This can only be accomplished year after year through the hard work, innovation, and dedication of our great employees at FTG," states Frank Gaspari, CEO of Flex Technology Group. "It's for this reason that I'm beyond grateful, to have an opportunity to work with all our talented people. This unique achievement serves as another opportunity to celebrate our people who have built this magnetic culture that we have at FTG. I'm grateful for our people and for the opportunity to continue building this legendary company together."

Not only have the companies on the 2021 Inc. 5000 been very competitive within their markets, but this year's list also proved especially resilient and flexible given 2020's unprecedented challenges.

"The 2021 Inc. 5000 list feels like one of the most important rosters of companies ever compiled," says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. "Building one of the fastest-growing companies in America in any year is a remarkable achievement. Building one in the crisis we've lived through is just plain amazing. This kind of accomplishment comes with hard work, smart pivots, great leadership, and the help of a whole lot of people."

Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000.

About Flex Technology Group (FTG)

Flex Technology Group is a privately held corporation headquartered in Mesa, Arizona, with offices across the United States. Since its founding in 2015, FTG has achieved unparalleled growth within the office technology industry. The company provides customized office technology solutions for national and leading-edge regional companies. They focus on print, document management, document production, and workflow solutions, representing industry-leading suppliers such as HP, Canon, Ricoh, Konica Minolta, Lexmark, and various software solutions. FTG proudly services over 35,000 customers nationally. For additional information, please visit www.FlexTG.com.

Flex Technology Group now consists of several companies, including FlexPrint, Laser Options, ProCopy, Cannon IV, Action Imaging Group, Caltronics, Infincom, Flo-Tech, FTG Texas, FTG-GO, Century, Shamrock, CBE, Millennium, Laser Technologies Service, and Ultrex.

Related Images

flex-technology-group-achieves.png

Flex Technology Group Achieves Unprecedented 12 Consecutive Years on the 2021 Inc. 500|5000

This unique achievement serves as another opportunity to celebrate our people at FTG

SOURCE Flex Technology Group
VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Gold Royalty Corp. ("GRC") (NYSE American: GROY) and Ely Gold Royalties Inc. ("Ely Gold") (TSXV: ELY) (OTCQX: ELYGF) are pleased to announce the completion of the previously announced business combination between GRC and Ely Gold (the "Transaction") by way of a plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the "Arrangement").

David Garofalo, CEO, President and Chairman of GRC, stated: "We are delighted to have completed our acquisition of Ely Gold, which is an important milestone as we execute our business strategy since our IPO in March 2021. With four producing royalties, 57 royalties on development stage assets and 45 royalties on exploration stage assets, the acquisition of Ely Gold creates a leading Americas-focused precious metals royalty company. The added scale, diversification, cash flow and access to capital provided by this transformative transaction well positions us to further execute on our strategy and become a leading consolidator in the royalty space. As this transaction demonstrates, we remain focused on opportunities to create shareholder value and will continue to identify and evaluate attractive acquisition opportunities that are consistent with our core strategy."

Trey Wasser, CEO, President and Director of Ely Gold, who has joined GRC's board of directors, commented: "I would like to thank the Ely Gold shareholders for their ongoing support. I am very proud of the Ely Gold team and what we accomplished. Over the past several weeks, I have had the opportunity to work closely with the GRC team and remain impressed with the depth of their capabilities and their commitment to building a peer-leading precious metals royalty company. I look forward to joining GRC's board and working with its management team to build on the solid foundation created through the combination of our companies."

Jerry Baughman, President of Nevada Select, a subsidiary of Ely Gold, commented, "The combined company has a peer-leading royalty portfolio and is uniquely positioned to identify, originate and execute on additional royalty purchases. Over 100 royalties or properties acquired by GRC under the Transaction were staked, or purchased, under my supervision and I look forward to continuing to utilize my network throughout Nevada to drive the continued growth of the GRC royalty portfolio. I think very highly of the GRC team and look forward to what we can accomplish together."

Addition to GRC's Board of Directors

In connection with completion of the Transaction, Trey Wasser was appointed to the board of directors of GRC.

The Transaction

Pursuant to the Transaction, GRC acquired all of the issued and outstanding Ely Gold common shares (the "Ely Shares"). As a result, Ely Gold has become an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of GRC. After pro-rationing and adjustments in accordance with the Arrangement, each Ely Share was acquired by GRC in exchange for 0.2450 of a GRC common share (a "GRC Share"), plus $0.0001 for Ely Gold shareholders who elected, or were deemed to have elected to receive the share alternative under the Arrangement; and 0.099166 of a GRC Share, plus $0.869053 for Ely Gold shareholders who elected to receive the cash alternative under the Arrangement.

Further information regarding the Arrangement is included in the management information circular of Ely Gold dated July 20, 2021, a copy of which is available under Ely Gold's profile at www.sedar.com.

The consideration paid by GRC on closing of the Transaction consisted of an aggregate of 30,902,176 GRC Shares and $84,008,748 in cash. Pursuant to the Arrangement, each of the 15,946,732 warrants to purchase Ely Shares (an "Ely Warrant") that were outstanding immediately prior to the effective time represent the right to acquire, on valid exercise thereof (including payment of the applicable exercise price), 0.2450 of a GRC Share plus $0.0001.

The Ely Shares will be delisted from the TSX Venture Exchange as soon as practicable. An application will be made for Ely Gold to cease to be a reporting issuer under applicable Canadian securities laws and to otherwise terminate Ely Gold's public reporting requirements.

Former Ely Gold shareholders that held their Ely Shares in registered form may contact AST Trust Company (Canada) by dialing 1-800-387-0825 (within and outside North America) with any questions regarding the receipt of consideration under the Arrangement. Ely Gold shareholders that own their Ely Shares through a broker or other intermediary should contact such broker or other intermediary regarding their receipt of consideration under the Arrangement.

Pursuant to the Arrangement, the Ely Shares were ultimately acquired by 1310560 B.C. Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of GRC, which will amalgamate with Ely Gold, with Ely Gold being the surviving entity thereunder.

Advisors and Counsel

BMO Capital Markets acted as financial advisor to GRC and Haywood Securities Inc. acted as financial advisor to the GRC Board of Directors in connection with the transaction. Sangra Moller LLP acted as GRC's Canadian legal advisor and Haynes & Boone LLP and Holland & Hart LLP acted as GRC's U.S. legal advisors.

Laurentian Bank Securities Inc. acted as financial advisor to Ely Gold in connection with the transaction. Dentons acted as legal advisor to Ely Gold and Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP acted as legal advisor to the Special Committee in connection with the transaction.

About Gold Royalty Corp.

Gold Royalty Corp. is a gold-focused royalty company offering creative financing solutions to the metals and mining industry. Its mission is to acquire royalties, streams and similar interests at varying stages of the mine life cycle to build a balanced portfolio offering near, medium and longer-term attractive returns for its investors. GRC's diversified portfolio consists principally of net smelter return royalties on gold properties located in the Americas.

Early Warning Report

GRC will file an early warning report in respect of its acquisition of all of the outstanding Ely Shares pursuant to Canadian National Instrument 62-103  The Early Warning System and Related Take-Over Bid and Insider Reporting Issues. A copy of such report will be filed under Ely Gold's profile at www.sedar.com.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information:

Certain of the information contained in this news release constitutes 'forward-looking information' and 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws ("forward-looking statements") and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause GRC's actual results, performance and achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements expressed or implied therein. Such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements relating to: the benefits and effects of the completion of the Arrangement and GRC's business plans and strategies, involve risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, include, among other things, any inability of the operators of the properties underlying GRC's or Ely's royalty interests, including those to be acquired, to execute proposed plans for such properties, risks related to such operators or the exploration, development and mining operations of the properties underlying GRC's and Ely's royalty interests; general; the influence of macroeconomic developments as well as the impact of and the responses of relevant governments to the COVID-19 pandemic and the effectiveness of such responses; any inability of GRC to carry out its growth plans and other factors set forth in GRC's publicly filed documents under its profiles at www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov. Although GRC has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. GRC does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Gold Royalty Corp.
STOCKHOLM, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Internet Vikings, a global cloud hosting provider, has announced its game-changing expansion into the U.S. market, taking its first step by offering licensed hosting to iGaming operators in West Virginia. This launch is the beginning of the company's pivotal quest to provide hosting services in the near future to companies in all states where online gaming is legally permitted.

Ending a 26-year Federal ban on gambling, the U.S. began to open its doors to this flourishing industry about three years ago, prior to which only a few regions were able to offer a limited means of wagering. As a rapidly growing number of states get involved by legalizing iGaming, Internet Vikings has secured its position as a leading bespoke iGaming-specific hosting provider by setting up its first data center in West Virginia, where it has already begun to attract eager clients.



Internet Vikings will soon provide customizable hosting solutions, including 24 cores, 64 GB RAM, 500 GB storage, and 50 Mbit bandwidth per month across 12 more states. They will begin with Michigan and Pennsylvania and then move on to New Jersey, Louisiana, Arizona, Indiana, Iowa, Colorado, Ohio, Tennessee, Illinois, and Virginia. But they have no intention of stopping there, with plans to continue setting up operations in every state which decides to introduce regulated online gaming.



Despite the presence of other similar businesses on American soil, Internet Vikings effortlessly distinguishes itself thanks to a host of unique qualities. One of the first iGaming hosting providers to venture into the U.S. This leading corporation has achieved global recognition as an agile, forward-looking trailblazer which adapts and evolves with the industry by continually offering state-of-the-art solutions for gaming businesses that have very specific requirements. The company does not simply follow current trends or supply the most advanced technological innovations, but anticipates and precedes them. With more than 70 expert employees as well as offices and data-centers strategically positioned in all key markets around the world, Internet Vikings is now internationally recognised as one of the most knowledgeable, reliable, and trustworthy businesses of its kind.



Founder and CCO of Internet Vikings, Rickard Vikstrom is the visionary driving force behind this exciting new expansion. He expressed his enthusiasm with these words: "We are excited to start our journey into the United States. It's a huge challenge and wonderful opportunity for us. With this expansion we want to cement our position as a leading iGaming hosting provider on a global scale."



The company has worked painstakingly to lay down the groundwork needed to achieve this result. Since November 2020, Elena Kvakova - the head of U.S. Expansion at Internet Vikings - has, amongst other things, been working on collecting the necessary information, preparing documentation, and resolving issues.

Her comments sum up her passion and firm belief in the company's bright future: "Hosting has always been our strong suit and our main product. As we were learning the ins and outs of the gambling hosting regulations and market in the USA, we noticed a few things that could be done better. And to us, a Swedish company, an agile approach and customer focus are at the forefront of everything we do. That is what we are trying to do in the key states right now - set up secure, reliable, cost-effective and fully-formed hosting solutions, so that the new providers that are entering the U.S. market will be able to focus on other things."



Besides offering a host of premium services, Internet Vikings is eager to actively share its expertise regarding the most sensible ways of entering the U.S. market with other suppliers and operators. In March, for example, Internet Vikings conducted the webinar entitled 'How to Enter the U.S. as a B2B Supplier,' featuring Elena Kvakova and Jesper Karrbrink. In addition, the company offers iGaming operators and affiliates consultation on licensing and the relative requirements.



Internet Vikings is rapidly scoring points and growing its noteworthy reputation as one of the most prominent names in the industry. Since the beginning of 2021, the company has launched a new data center in Singapore and a virtualization platform in Malta which, in combination with the recently achieved ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certification, makes Internet Vikings fully compliant with MGA requirements. All this added to its current expansion into the USA, positions Internet Vikings as a confident market leader and a front-runner when it comes to cloud hosting services in the iGaming industry.



Keeping with this powerful expansion and evolution of the globally recognised hosting provider, plans are already in place to set up a physical presence across other jurisdictions which take the step to legalise online gaming. The future of Internet Vikings in the U.S. looks very bright indeed, as they reach for the stars and stripes.

For press enquiries please contact:

Rickard Vikstrom

[email protected]

+46 734 40 51 82

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/internet-vikings-international-ab/r/internet-vikings-launches-into-the-u-s--with-bespoke-igaming-hosting-in-west-virginia,c3401259

The following files are available for download:

https://news.cision.com/internet-vikings-international-ab/i/west-virginia,c2946410 West Virginia https://news.cision.com/internet-vikings-international-ab/i/elena-kvakova,c2946411 Elena Kvakova https://news.cision.com/internet-vikings-international-ab/i/rickard-vikstrom,c2946412 Rickard Vikstrom

SOURCE Internet Vikings International AB
Access agreement reached with the UTCAS community for the Company's 100% owned San Jose silver project.

Reconnaissance mapping by the Company has so far identified 7 previously undocumented veins and a new copper showing/anomaly at San Jose (see Figure 1).

First CIRA awarded by the Peruvian Ministry of Culture for the Santas Gloria Silver Property - an important step towards receipt of the drilling permit.

The Company is currently mapping and channel sampling extensions of known veins at Santas Gloria to assist with final planning for the phase one drill program.

San Jose Silver Property

The Company is pleased to announce that an access agreement with the UTCAS community has been granted, providing Mantaro access throughout much of the San Jose Silver Property as well as permitting the Company to conduct non-invasive surface exploration activities. This agreement also represents the desires of both parties to continue to develop an open dialog and mutually beneficial interests in the San Jose property.

Jos Hantelman, Mantaro's Exploration Manager for South America states, "reaching an access agreement with the UTCAS community is a significant operational milestone at San Jose. With the access agreement in place, the Company has identified 7 previously undocumented veins, several of which represent obvious drill targets."

The San Jose Silver Property is a highly prospective silver property located within the prolific Miocene-Pilocene Epithermal belt. The San Jose Silver Property, which is 100% owned, is comprised of five mineral concessions totaling 3,300 hectares and is located 180 km north of Lima.

Historical underground mining was restricted to a very small area of one vein and most of the San Jose Silver Property is largely unexplored. Mantaro's seasoned technical team have identified seven (7) new veins and collected 123 rock-chip channel samples. Mantaro has dedicated a field team to San Jose who are continuing to map and sample vein extensions and structures. Samples are being submitted to ALS in Lima for analysis. The newly mapped veins are pervasively oxidized and quartz dominant, with relict pyrite and galena. Textures and mineralogy suggest that only the uppermost parts of the intermediate sulphidation system is exposed  highlighting excellent depth potential.

Santas Gloria Silver Property

Mantaro is also pleased to announce that it has received its first archaeological survey report (CIRA) at the Santas Gloria Silver Property, following an archaeology survey completed by Geades and a site inspection by the Peruvian Ministry of Culture (Ministerio de Cultura). The CIRA represents an important step in the exploration and drill permitting process.

The Santas Gloria Silver Property, which is 100% owned, is comprised of seven mineral concessions totalling 3272 hectares. Mantaro has already completed an extensive mapping and channel sampling program at Santas Gloria. Channel samples taken in oxidized outcrop defined a number of significantly silver and gold anomalous intermediate sulphidation veins. Channel sampling of sulphide material in historical adits returned robust assays of up to >10,000 g/t Ag, 56.3 g/t Au, 10.3 % Pb and 9.07 % Zn (see news release dated June 2, 2021).

Metallurgical test work of sulphide samples taken from underground adits supports both bulk flotation flow-path and sequential flotation flow-path, with the bulk flotation flow-path producing a single gold, silver, lead and zinc rougher concentrate (15 minutes of flotation and 8.6% mass pull) with 10,545 g/t silver, 5.38 g/t gold, 5.17% zinc and 13.8% lead and recovering 88.1% of the silver, 80.9% of the gold, 64.4% of the zinc and 79.3% of the lead (see news release dated August 9, 2021).

Mantaro is currently mapping and channel sampling vein extensions that were not previously mapped, in order to define further targets for the upcoming drill program. Interpretation of high-resolution satellite imagery indicates that there are over 6 kilometres of veins yet to be mapped and sampled.

Figure 1. Vein Structure at San Jose Silver Property

Qualified Person

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed, verified and approved by Dr. Chris Wilson, B.Sc (Hons), PhD, FAusIMM (CP), FSEG. Chief Executive Officer and Director of Mantaro, a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101.

About Mantaro Silver Corp.

Mantaro Silver Corp. is a British Columbia company that holds a 100% interest in its flagship Santas Gloria Silver Property as well as a 100% interest in the San Jose, La Purisima, Cerro Luque and Huaranay Properties.

Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. The Company cautions that all forward looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to Company's limited operating history and the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Resulting Issuer undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Mantaro Silver Corp.

Related Links

https://mantarosilver.com/


Kount commissioned Atomik Research to survey over 500 U.S. adults who work for companies that process at least 500 online transactions monthly. The findings reveal insights into why many businesses have indicated their chargeback rates have increased, their top chargeback sources and challenges, and how they manage and dispute chargebacks.

Survey highlights include:

58% think their company's chargeback rate has increased since March 2020 .

. 45% of respondents who think their company's chargeback rates have increased since March 2020 speculate delivery delays are the top reason for the increase.

speculate delivery delays are the top reason for the increase. 70% of companies have been in a fraud monitoring program in the last 12 months.

15% of respondents say their companies don't use post-authorization chargeback tools.

The report finds today, an average of 33% of companies accept card-not-present (CNP) payments via contactless payment apps, online transactions, and telephone. Additionally, 19% accept cryptocurrency, and 86% offer subscription-based or recurring billing, exposing more businesses than ever to the ups and downs of e-commerce. While accepting more payment methods means businesses can better compete and cater to consumers' needs, results indicate these new payment methods also increase a business's risk of accepting fraudulent orders and dealing with the resulting chargebacks.

"The report reveals an opportunity for businesses to elevate their fraud prevention to better protect from the growing risk of chargebacks and the fees associated with them," said Brad Wiskirchen, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Kount, an Equifax Company. "By having the proper tools in place, businesses can save time and money and improve brand reputation while avoiding costly fraud monitoring programs."

To learn more about the "Digital Payments in 2021" survey, please visit The Kount Blog , or download the full survey here .

ABOUT KOUNT, AN EQUIFAX COMPANY

Kount delivers real-time fraud prevention and account protection, and it allows more than 9,000 leading brands and payment providers to customize customer experiences. Linked by our award-winning AI, Kount's Identity Trust Global NetworkTM analyzes signals from 32 billion annual interactions to personalize user experiences across the spectrum of trust  from frictionless experiences to blocking fraud. Quick and accurate identity trust decisions deliver safe payment, account creation, and login events while reducing digital fraud, chargebacks, false positives, and manual reviews.

ABOUT EQUIFAX INC.

At Equifax (NYSE: EFX), we believe knowledge drives progress. As a global data, analytics, and technology company, we play an essential role in the global economy by helping financial institutions, companies, employers, and government agencies make critical decisions with greater confidence. Our unique blend of differentiated data, analytics, and cloud technology drives insights to power decisions to move people forward. Headquartered in Atlanta and supported by more than 12,000 employees worldwide, Equifax operates or has investments in 24 countries in North America, Central and South America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region. For more information, visit Equifax.com .

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Lacey Briggs for Kount, An Equifax Company

[email protected]

Kate Walker for Equifax

[email protected]

SOURCE Equifax Inc.

Related Links

http://www.equifax.com


Customers can choose from four types of cryptocurrenciesBitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin and Bitcoin Cash. By accessing their PayPal account via the website or the mobile app, they can view real-time crypto prices, access educational content to help answer commonly asked questions, and learn more about cryptocurrencies, including the opportunities and risks.

This announcement marks the first international expansion of the company's cryptocurrency offering outside of the United States. With a trusted brand like PayPal now making an entry, access, knowledge, and the exploration of cryptocurrency has the potential to become mainstream in the UK.

"The pandemic has accelerated digital change and innovation across all aspects of our lives including the digitisation of money and greater consumer adoption of digital financial services," said Jose Fernandez da Ponte, Vice President and General Manager, Blockchain, Crypto and Digital Currencies at PayPal. "Our global reach, digital payments expertise, and knowledge of consumer and businesses, combined with rigorous security and compliance controls provides us the unique opportunity, and the responsibility, to help people in the UK to explore cryptocurrency. We are committed to continue working closely with regulators in the UK, and around the world, to offer our supportand meaningfully contribute to shaping the role digital currencies will play in the future of global finance and commerce."

Buy, hold and sell cryptocurrency with PayPal

The introduction of this service offers customers a new way to explore cryptocurrency in the PayPal environment they know and trust. Customers can start by buying as little as 1 of cryptocurrency through PayPal. To purchase cryptocurrency, eligible customers can log into their PayPal account via the website or their mobile app, navigate to the new crypto tab to view the four cryptocurrencies available and view current pricing and trends.

Customers can choose from pre-determined purchase amounts or enter in their own purchase amount, before following the prompts to buy the cryptocurrency of their choice. Customers will be able to fund their PayPal account for the purchase using their bank account or debit card. If customers choose to sell cryptocurrency with this new service, funds are normally available quickly to spend in their PayPal account. There are no fees to hold cryptocurrency in a PayPal account. There are transaction fees and currency conversion fees for buying and selling applicable cryptocurrencies.

Create greater understanding and enable access

As part of this offering, PayPal provides account holders with educational content to help them understand the cryptocurrency ecosystem, the volatility, risks, and opportunities related to purchasing cryptocurrency. The company encourages its customers to do their research on the risks and opportunities for various cryptocurrencies before taking the step to buy, hold and sell cryptocurrency with PayPal.

Advancing the next generation of financial services infrastructure

PayPal is one of the largest companies globally to enter the market for digital currencies with its announcement last October that it would allow its millions of U.S. customers to buy, hold and sell cryptocurrencies. This March, the company announced 'Checkout with Crypto' enabling customers in the U.S. to use their cryptocurrency alongside other payment methods in their PayPal wallet to make purchases at businesses around the world. In April, the company introduced crypto services on its mobile payment service Venmo in the U.S.

In addition to providing these cryptocurrency services, PayPal has been exploring the potential of digital currencies through partnerships with licensed and regulated cryptocurrency platforms and with central banks around the world. For the past five years, PayPal has increased its focus on, and invested resources in its internal blockchain research team to explore the next generation of digital financial services infrastructure and enhancements to digital commerce.

The company has enabled its cryptocurrency offering through a partnership with Paxos Trust Company. PayPal's venture capital arm has also made investments in blockchain and cryptocurrency-related start-ups including: TRM Labs, leading cryptocurrency risk management software; TaxBit, a provider of crypto tax software to customers and exchanges; and Talos, institutional-grade infrastructure technology for digital asset trading.

In the UK, PayPal's new crypto offering which covers buying, holding and selling cryptocurrency will start to roll out this week and will be available within the next few weeks for all eligible customers directly in their PayPal account via the website and their mobile app. To learn more, visit our Newsroom or www.paypal.com/uk/crypto.

About PayPal

PayPal has remained at the forefront of the digital payment revolution for more than 20 years. By leveraging technology to make financial services and commerce more convenient, affordable, and secure, the PayPal platform is empowering more than 400 million consumers and merchants in more than 200 markets to join and thrive in the global economy. For more information, visit www.paypal.com/uk.

Media Contacts:

Malini Mitra, [email protected]

Elle Chambre, [email protected]

1PayPal customers in the UK who have verified their identity with PayPal can buy, sell, and hold cryptocurrency with their personal PayPal profiles. Cryptocurrency transactions aren't supported for PayPal business accounts.

This announcement contains "forward-looking" statements. Forward-looking statements and information relate to future events and future performance and reflect, among other things, PayPal's plans with respect to its cryptocurrency initiatives. Forward looking statements may be identified by words such as "seek", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "anticipate", "expect", "project", "forecast", or intend", and statements that an event or result "may"" "will", "should", "could", or "might" occur or be achieved and any other similar expressions.

Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties which may cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made.

The forward-looking statements contained in this announcement speak only as of the date hereof. PayPal expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

SOURCE PayPal Holdings, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.paypal.com


"Today is an important day for Frontera and CGX as we continue to make substantial progress in realizing the value of our investments in Guyana. The Joint Venture has spud the Kawa-1 well, which we believe is one of the most exciting exploration wells in the world. The Joint Venture has also exercised its option to drill a second well offshore Guyana under similar terms and conditions. I am pleased with this major operational milestone for Frontera and CGX and appreciate the ongoing support of the Guyanese government, our employees, and our other various partners as we work together to maximize benefits for all of our stakeholders."

Kawa-1 Well Spudded

On August 22, 2021, the Kawa-1 well spudded. The Joint Venture expects the Kawa-1 well to reach total depth in the first half of December 2021.

The Kawa-1 well is located in the northeast quadrant of the Corentyne block, approximately 200 kilometers offshore from Georgetown. The water depth is approximately 355 meters (1174 ft) and the expected total depth of the Kawa-1 well is 6,685 meters (21,932 ft).

With multiple opportunities based on internal geological studies, the Kawa-1 well targets light oil in combination structural-stratigraphic traps in large Santonian and Campanian slope fan complexes. The primary target is a Santonian sand with updip and lateral pinchout of the reservoir, as well as counter-regional dip and structural closure. The Kawa-1 well is also expected to penetrate secondary objectives in a shallower Campanian sand and a deeper Santonian sand with the expectation of targeting additional hydrocarbon potential. The stacked targets in Kawa-1 are considered analogous to the discoveries immediately adjacent to the Corentyne Block, in Block 58 in Suriname.

Additionally, the Kawa-1 well is expected to de-risk multiple other prospects on the block which also have stacked reservoirs and similar structural geometries. Proximity of the Corentyne block to the Cretaceous Berbice Canyon sediment source is interpreted to have concentrated sandstone reservoirs in the North Corentyne area. Channelized, stacked internal fan geometries evident on 3D seismic are indicative of thick, stacked, coarser-grained sand reservoirs.

Drilling Team

The Joint Venture has assembled a highly-qualified and experienced team for the drilling campaign, with extensive deep water drilling expertise from operations around the globe, including the Guyana Basin, which includes:

Kevin Lacy (41 years' experience with Chevron, BP, Talisman - former Global Drilling Manager with Chevron and Talisman) as Drilling Director;

(41 years' experience with Chevron, BP, Talisman - former Global Drilling Manager with Chevron and Talisman) as Drilling Director; Todd Durkee (33 years' experience with Anadarko and Kerr McGee - previous role VP Deep Water Drilling with Anadarko) as Senior Drilling Advisor;

(33 years' experience with Anadarko and - previous role VP Deep Water Drilling with Anadarko) as Senior Drilling Advisor; Juan Pinzon (29 years' experience with BP, BHP, Occidental, Nabors, and Schlumberger) as Drilling Director for Frontera;

(29 years' experience with BP, BHP, Occidental, Nabors, and Schlumberger) as Drilling Director for Frontera; Karlin Costa (40 years' experience with Noble, Cobalt, BP and ConocoPhillips  previous role Director Offshore Wells  Noble) as Senior Drilling Superintendent;

(40 years' experience with Noble, Cobalt, BP and ConocoPhillips  previous role Director Offshore Wells  Noble) as Senior Drilling Superintendent; Jonathan Shipley (35 years' experience with Apache, Devon, ConocoPhillips - previous role DW Operations Superintendent with Apache in Suriname) as Senior Drilling Superintendent;

(35 years' experience with Apache, Devon, ConocoPhillips - previous role DW Operations Superintendent with Apache in Suriname) as Senior Drilling Superintendent; Rick Ysa (30+ years' experience with Repsol, Chevron, Devon, Kerr McGee  previous role Drilling Project Manager Americas with Repsol) as Senior Drilling Engineer;

(30+ years' experience with Repsol, Chevron, Devon,  previous role Drilling Project Manager Americas with Repsol) as Senior Drilling Engineer; Marcus Summers (30 years' experience with ExxonMobil, Noble, Amoco  previous role Senior DW Drilling Engineer, ExxonMobil) as Senior Drilling Engineer;

(30 years' experience with ExxonMobil, Noble, Amoco  previous role Senior DW Drilling Engineer, ExxonMobil) as Senior Drilling Engineer; Brad Koskowich (30+ years' experience with Repsol, Nexen, CNR, Suncor) as Senior Health Safety and Environment Advisor;

(30+ years' experience with Repsol, Nexen, CNR, Suncor) as Senior Health Safety and Environment Advisor; Regan Palsgrove (30+ years' experience in several North and South American basins including at Talisman Energy) as Head of Exploration for Frontera;

(30+ years' experience in several North and South American basins including at Talisman Energy) as Head of Exploration for Frontera; Duncan Nightingale (30+ years' experience globally including with Gran Tierra Energy - previous role as interim CEO) as Corporate Vice President, Field Development, Reservoir Management, and Exploration for Frontera;

(30+ years' experience globally including with Gran Tierra Energy - previous role as interim CEO) as Corporate Vice President, Field Development, Reservoir Management, and Exploration for Frontera; Michael Stockinger (40+ years' experience including Anadarko Petroleum, Kerr-McGee and ConocoPhillips) as Vice President of Operations for CGX;

(40+ years' experience including Anadarko Petroleum, Kerr-McGee and ConocoPhillips) as Vice President of Operations for CGX; Jennifer Budlong (20+ years' experience in domestic and international basins worldwide including Shell, BHP, Maersk Oil and Venari Resources) as Exploration Manager for CGX.

Joint Venture Exercises Option With Maersk

As part of the agreement previously announced on April 22, 2021, between CGX Resources Inc. and Maersk, CGX has exercised its contractual right to use the Maersk Discoverer to drill an additional well. The decision by the Joint Venture to exercise the option is an important step in maintaining continuity in the exploration program during a period of high demand in the region and consistency in working with a team familiar with the rig - important from a health and safety, efficiency and operational perspective. The decision on the specific timing of the second well will be decided in the upcoming months to capitalize on the Joint Venture's rich set of exploration opportunities.

About Frontera:

Frontera Energy Corporation is a Canadian public company involved in the exploration, development, production, transportation, storage and sale of oil and natural gas in South America, including related investments in both upstream and midstream facilities. The Company has a diversified portfolio of assets with interests in 39 exploration and production blocks in Colombia, Ecuador and Guyana, and pipeline and port facilities in Colombia. Frontera is committed to conducting business safely and in a socially, environmentally and ethically responsible manner.

If you would like to receive News Releases via email as soon as they are published, please subscribe here: http://fronteraenergy.mediaroom.com/subscribe .

About CGX:

CGX is a Canadian-based oil and gas exploration company focused on the exploration of oil in the Guyana-Suriname Basin.

Advisories:

Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that Frontera believes, expect or anticipates will or may occur in the future (including, without limitation, statements regarding exploration and development plans and objectives with regards to the Kawa-1 well and other exploration opportunities, including drilling plans) are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the current expectations or beliefs of Frontera, as the case may be, based on information currently available to the Company. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements, and even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, the Company. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things: the need to obtain regulatory approval; the ability of the Joint Venture to successfully explore and develop the offshore blocks, and to fund such exploration and development and the impact thereof of unforeseen costs and expenses; changes in equity and debt markets; perceptions of the prospects and the prospects of the oil and gas industry in the countries where the Company operates or has investments; and the other risks disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in the Company's annual information form dated March 3, 2021 filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Frontera disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Although Frontera believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements applicable to it are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein.

SOURCE Frontera Energy Corporation

Related Links

www.fronteraenergy.ca


DUBLIN, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "UAE Health Insurance Market: Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2021-2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The UAE health insurance market reached a value of US$ 6.6 Billion in 2020. Looking forward, the publisher expects the market to exhibit strong growth during 2021-2026.

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. These insights are included in the report as a major market contributor.



The UAE has a wide-ranging, government-funded and rapidly evolving private healthcare sector delivering high standard of health care to the population. The health insurance policies are an integral part of the healthcare infrastructure as they cover the cost associated with medical and surgical expenses of the policyholders.

The costs incurred during the treatment of the patient are either fully paid by the insurance company in advance or indirectly through reimbursement, depending upon pre-decided terms and conditions. An effective health insurance plan includes services such as diagnosis and treatment for illnesses and conditions, psychiatric care, rehabilitation, therapy, emergency transportation, in-patient management, maternity, dental care, etc. AXA Gulf Insurance, Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company (ADNIC), Emirates Insurance Company, Oman Insurance Company, etc. are among the key health insurance providers in the UAE.



With a population of around 9.6 million, the UAE is among the GCC region's fastest growing economy. Moreover, the government is also playing a major role in increasing the penetration of health insurance in the region. In Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the government provides health insurance for all its citizens. Similarly, the government of Ajman provides all its employees with health insurance. Additionally, both Abu Dhabi and Dubai also mandate employers to provide health insurance coverage to their employees. Moreover, due to the country's increasing economic diversification and continued inward migration, the per capita expenditure on health care services have increased. Other factors such as increasing occurrences of lifestyle diseases and rising costs of medical treatments are also driving the market positively.



The publisher's latest report provides a deep insight into the UAE health insurance market covering all its essential aspects. This ranges from macro overview of the market to micro details of the industry performance, recent trends, key market drivers and challenges, SWOT analysis, Porter's five forces analysis, value chain analysis, etc. This report is a must-read for entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, consultants, business strategists, and all those who have any kind of stake or are planning to foray into the UAE health insurance market in any manner.



Report Coverage:

Value Chain Analysis

Key Drivers and Challenges

Porters Five Forces Analysis

PESTEL Analysis

Government Regulations

Competitive Landscape

Competitive Structure

Key Player Profiles

Historical, Current and Future Market Trends

Market Breakup by Type:

Individual

Group

Market Breakup by Service Provider:

Public

Private

Key Questions Answered in This Report:

How has the UAE health insurance market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?

What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the UAE health insurance market?

What is the breakup of the market based on the product type?

What is the breakup of the market based on the service provider?

What are the various stages in the value chain of the UAE health insurance industry?

What are the key driving factors and challenges in the UAE health insurance industry?

What is the structure of the UAE health insurance industry and who are the key players?

What is the degree of competition in the UAE health insurance industry?

What are the profit margins in the UAE health insurance industry?

Key Topics Covered:

1 Preface

2 Scope and Methodology

3 Executive Summary

4 Introduction

5 UAE Health Insurance Market

6 Market Breakup by Type

7 Market Breakup by Service Provider

8 Government Regulations

9 Strategic Recommendations

10 Competitive Landscape

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/1ijkyj

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: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

SOURCE Research and Markets

Related Links

http://www.researchandmarkets.com


SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Premise, the platform that democratizes the way actionable data is sourced and used, released data and findings on vaccine hesitancy in the United States and United Kingdom today.

Premise's survey was conducted from August 5, 2021 to August 17, 2021 and polled approximately 5,000 participants in the United States and 1,000 participants in the United Kingdom. The data was collected using a novel approach of paying smartphone users as "gig" workers for their participation and resulted in substantial responses in the thousands to date with more coming. Premise's survey was conducted through its app at a speed and scale not traditionally seen in polling.

The results revealed important distinctions among unvaccinated populations in the U.S. and U.K. and show varying levels of resistance to vaccination. The survey also highlights possible openings which could be used to persuade the unvaccinated to become vaccinated. Here are some of the most relevant findings from the survey:

Americans were twice as likely to not have received a single dose of the COVID-19 vaccine (45%) than their U.K. counterparts (23%).

33% of unvaccinated Americans and 23% of unvaccinated U.K. citizens said they would never get vaccinated.

Of those who are currently unvaccinated, 39% of Americans and 33% of U.K. participants said they would not get vaccinated because they do not trust the government

Of those who are currently unvaccinated, 46% of U.K. participants said they would get vaccinated if there were more proof the vaccines worked compared to only 21% of unvaccinated Americans.

Only 7% of American unvaccinated participants said they were not getting vaccinated because they didn't think COVID was a real danger, but 33% of unvaccinated U.K. participants listed that as their reasoning.

These findings indicate that public health officials in the U.S. and U.K. face unique challenges in convincing their respective unvaccinated populations to get the COVID vaccine. With 69% of the U.K. unvaccinated population willing to get vaccinated once they receive more information on testing, safety, or efficacy (compared to just 49% of unvaccinated Americans), the path forward for U.K. policymakers appears more straightforward. U.S. policymakers, on the other hand, have to contend with larger portions of the population that have stated they will never get vaccinated and won't do so because they distrust the government.

"The U.S. government has a serious journey ahead in convincing its citizens about the importance of getting vaccinated," said Maury Blackman, CEO of Premise. "Through crowdsourced data, we learned about the stark differences in vaccine hesitancy in the U.S. versus the U.K. It is essential that our leaders build trust by educating Americans about the safety and efficacy of vaccines."

For more details, check out Premise's blog.

About Premise

For decision-makers inside organizations worldwide, Premise is their partner in data, allowing them to gather insights from a worldwide community of willing and well-rewarded individuals, leading to better decisions today and smarter questions tomorrow. By combining the power of a global network of two million on-the-ground contributors with industry-leading data science and machine learning, Premise empowers decision makers with the high-quality, trustworthy data they need. Premise has offices in San Francisco, Washington, D.C., London and Seattle. For more information, visit www.premise.com.

SOURCE Premise Data

Related Links

http://www.premise.com


DALLAS, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Academic Partnerships (AP), a leading online facilitator for affordable higher education, announced today that it has acquired Coursetune Inc., a leading ed-tech provider of curriculum mapping software. AP's acquisition of Coursetune was driven by the companies' shared goals to provide best-in-class curriculum design capabilities for faculty, increase collaboration and, most importantly, improve student outcomes.

"This acquisition builds on the combined strengths of both AP and Coursetune and furthers our ability to meet the increasingly diverse and complex needs of our university partners and their faculty by providing a powerful software solution that helps institutions demonstrate high-quality outcomes and workforce alignment in their online offerings," said Rob Ganji, Academic Partnerships CEO. "Most importantly, Coursetune has a strong commitment to increasing quality learning experiences with equity and access for students everywhere. They are a natural extension of AP's mission to expand access to top quality, affordable and workforce relevant education, especially for students who are working adults like nurses and teachers. We look forward to integrating Coursetune's dynamic visualization software into the support services for our partners, almost all of whom are regional public universities."

High-quality online education is becoming a necessary part of universities' degree offerings. Coursetune's software helps universities and faculty demonstrate that courses and programs are mapped appropriately to the institution's overarching workforce, regulatory and programmatic goals. Doing so, helps faculty and program leadership alike showcase at-a-glance embedded skills and competencies that support strengthened outcomes for students and educators.

"We are thrilled to join the AP family, which shares Coursetune's vision across future products, services and support. We will continue to scale and accelerate our current product roadmap, and now we will have access to even more support and resources that will benefit educators and their students. We built Coursetune specifically to solve complex problems, and AP focuses on student populations that can truly benefit from these solutions. It takes all of us working together to comprehensively help support increased access to affordable, top quality education," said Dr. Maria Andersen, Coursetune CEO.

Working together, Academic Partnerships and Coursetune will better be able to fulfill their common mission. Coursetune will continue to grow as a distinct brand with a dedicated team. Its software will remain available to customers on a stand-alone basis, and over the coming months, the companies will examine ways their customers can benefit from the others' offerings.

About Academic Partnerships

Academic Partnerships is an online facilitator that assists primarily public institutions of higher education in taking their academic programs online and recruits and retains qualified students through program completion. AP's mission is to expand access to top quality, affordable and workforce relevant education, especially for working and adult students. Founded in digital innovation more than a decade ago, Academic Partnerships brings single-minded dedication, an integrated set of services and data-driven performance to our collaboration with university partnerseven more so as we've faced the challenges brought on by COVID-19. For more information on innovative online learning solutions, please visit www.academicpartnerships.com.

About Coursetune

Coursetune helps institutions measurably improve course and program design. Focusing on outcomes mapping and assessment alignment, the robust suite of tools and reports enables diverse teams of educators to collaborate as they design, align, and communicate complex curriculum. It greatly enhances the efficiency of the design process and the ease at which it can be communicated to all stakeholders and across systems. Ultimately, these improvements result in a clear definition of student outcomes. The resulting insights and analytics deepen understanding of how courses align with standards and accreditation requirements. This clarity and understanding are systemic issues at the heart of improving the student learning experience from Pre-K through life-long learning. Read more at www.Coursetune.com.

SOURCE Academic Partnerships
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- California voters are calling attention to a glaring flaw in the design of absentee ballot envelopes being used in the recall election of California Governor Gavin Newsome. As seen in a viral social media video, holes in the envelopes used in Los Angeles County  which have been sent to every registered voter  can expose whether someone voted for or against recalling the embattled governor.

Image of ballot envelope "window"

"When I saw this ballot envelope, I was shocked to see that it could reveal someone's actual vote," said Amy Cox. "Our votes are supposed to be private. If someone can tell how people voted, then anyone who comes into contact with ballots could easily tamper with or discard votes they don't like."

Since Cox shared the video on Instagram, the American Voters Alliance has identified at least three counties whose absentee ballot envelopes contain the same window showing voters recall preferences, based on photographic evidence provided by concerned citizens.

"The American Voter's Alliance is looking into the nonprofits that gave this faulty advice, which could lead to voter intimidation," said Jacqueline Timmer, founder and director of the American Voter's Alliance. "We're also in touch with voters in other counties to see if the same flaw is present elsewhere in the state, and will be demanding explanations from election officials."

The Los Angeles County Clerk claims this is "an established, recommended practice" that has been in use for years, adding in subsequent public comments that the holes are recommended by civic design consultants. Yet, election integrity experts are questioning what appears to be a serious flaw in the design of ballot envelopes, especially in a state that does not require privacy sleeves.

"A voter should never be forced to reveal their vote by negligent design," said Phill Kline, director of The Amistad Project, the nation's leading election integrity watchdog. "Unfortunately, it appears these flaws are pushed by the same group of shadowy nonprofits who dictated election policies that turned government offices into partisan get-out-the-vote centers."

The Amistad Project and the American Voter's Alliance are actively investigating the apparent ballot envelope design flaw. Representatives of both organizations are available for media interviews.

For more information, please visit: https://americanvotersalliance.org/ and http://theamistadproject.org/

SOURCE Amistad Project
NEW YORK, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Cancer Research Institute (CRI), a nonprofit organization spearheading transformative research to harness the immune system's power to control and potentially cure all cancers, will offer its first-ever Virtual Cancer Immunotherapy Summit in Spanish on September 16, 2021, 2-5 p.m. ET. This free interactive online event, moderated by TV personality, podcast host and former national Univision & Unimas TV host, Ana Patricia Gamez, will connect cancer patients and caregivers with revolutionary research updates from leading immunotherapy experts driving scientific discovery and advancement.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), cancer is the leading cause of death among Hispanic people, with current cancer research and statistics indicating lung, breast and colorectal cancer having the greatest impact in this community. Studies show that lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among U.S. Hispanic men and the second leading cause of cancer death among U.S. Hispanic women. Breast cancer is the leading cause of death in Hispanic females and colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death among both Hispanic men and women.

In fact, research indicates that one in three U.S. Hispanic people (both women and men alike) will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. This urgent public health crisis has propelled the Cancer Research Institute to lead the charge in bringing the promise of immunotherapy to this underserved community with in-language information, research updates, and clinical trial access. Cancer immunotherapy is a form of cancer treatment that uses the body's own immune system to control and eliminate cancer.

"I've dedicated my career to the research and development of immunotherapy as an effective cancer treatment. Sharing information in Spanish about this revolutionary treatment option with U.S. Hispanic patients is urgently needed and allows me the opportunity to positively impact the lives of this community as well as support the Cancer Research Institute's efforts for racial health equity," said Antoni Ribas, M.D., Ph.D., member of the CRI Scientific Advisory Council, director of the Tumor Immunology Program at the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of California, Los Angeles, and the chair of the Melanoma Committee at SWOG Cancer Research Network.

"Working with leaders in the immunotherapy field and leveraging the reach of our partners such as Univision and Ana Patricia Gamez, we hope to engage with U.S. Hispanic cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, and support systems to positively impact the health, wellbeing, and overall cancer outcomes for the U.S. Hispanic community," said Jill O'Donnell-Tormey, Ph.D., CEO and director of scientific affairs at CRI. "Hispanic people are underrepresented when it comes to accessing quality cancer care. The number of patients getting the best treatment isn't proportional to the number of people who need that treatment. The lack of diversity in cancer clinical trials, too, is a major issue that slows discovery, so CRI is committed to helping solve this problem by connecting U.S. Hispanic patients with leading physician-scientists who want just one thingto cure cancer."

"It's my honor to serve as the moderator for the first-ever CRI Virtual Cancer Immunotherapy Summit in Spanish," said Ana Patricia Gamez. "My connection to cancer is personal and realI lost my father much too soon and that changed my life forever. It is my privilege to help Hispanic cancer patients and caregivers in their healthcare journey. This event gives me the chance to do my part to provide these mothers, fathers, family members with access to the latest information on cancer treatments and clinical trials."

From the comfort and safety of home, attendees of the first-ever free CRI Virtual Cancer Immunotherapy Summit in Spanish can expect to:

Learn about immunotherapy and how it helps patients, caregivers, and their families

and how it helps patients, caregivers, and their families Hear from leading physician-scientists with expertise in cancer immunotherapy as well as patients treated with immunotherapy

with expertise in cancer immunotherapy as well as patients treated with immunotherapy Gain valuable insight into how clinical trials work to understand whether they are a good option for cancer patients or a loved one and how to find one

to understand whether they are a good option for cancer patients or a loved one and how to find one Discover issues specific to the Hispanic and Latino communities in the United States regarding cancer care and how doctors, organizations, advocates, and individuals are addressing these challenges

Support for the Spanish-language 2021 CRI Virtual Cancer Immunotherapy Summit is generously provided by the following sponsors:

Univision, official media sponsor

Bristol Myers Squibb , Merck (also known as MSD outside the U.S.), Lilly Oncology and Alkermes Inspiration Grant

This summit comes on the heels of the launch of the first-ever Spanish-language cancer immunotherapy information hub to connect Hispanic patients and caregivers with the latest research and treatment options. The Cancer Research Institute is committed to closing the information and research gap to better serve the Hispanic community in the United States. Visit cancerresearch.org/es to see the robust and helpful offering of information now available in Spanish. Visit https://www.cancerresearch.org/es/conferencia to register for the Spanish-language 2021 CRI Virtual Cancer Immunotherapy Summit.

About the Cancer Research Institute

The Cancer Research Institute (CRI), established in 1953, is a toprated U.S. nonprofit organization dedicated exclusively to saving more lives by fueling the discovery and development of powerful immunotherapies for all cancers. Guided by a worldrenowned Scientific Advisory Council that includes four Nobel laureates and 27 members of the National Academy of Sciences, CRI has invested $474 million in support of research conducted by immunologists and tumor immunologists at the world's leading medical centers and universities and has contributed to many of the key scientific advances that demonstrate the potential for immunotherapy to change the face of cancer treatment. To learn more, go to cancerresearch.org/es.

SOURCE Cancer Research Institute
FORT WORTH, Texas, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- AZZ Inc. (NYSE: AZZ), a global provider of metal coating services, welding solutions, specialty electrical equipment and highly engineered services, announced today that Philip Schlom, Chief Financial Officer and David Nark, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Communications and Investor Relations, will participate in the Midwest IDEAS Investor Conference on August 25, 2021. AZZ's presentation is scheduled to be available at 8:00 a.m. ET on August 25, 2021.

A webcast of the presentation will be available on the Company's Investor Relations page at www.azz.com/investor-relations and can also be accessed through the conference website, the host's main website: www.IDEASconferences.com . A replay of the presentation will be available following the event.

Management is scheduled to host virtual one-on-one meetings on August 25, 2021. Investors interested in arranging one-on-one meetings should contact your conference representative. Conversely, you may also call or email Lytham Partners at 602-889-9700, or [email protected] .

About IDEAS Investor Conferences

The mission of the IDEAS Conferences is to provide independent regional venues for quality companies to present their investment merits to an influential audience of investment professionals. Unlike traditional bank-sponsored events, IDEAS Investor Conferences are "SPONSORED BY INVESTORS. FOR INVESTORS." and for the benefit of regional investment communities. Conference sponsors collectively have more than $200 billion in assets under management and include: 1102 Partners, Adirondack Research and Management, Allianz Global Investors: NFJ Investment Group, Ariel Investments, Aristotle Capital Boston, Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss, BMO Global Asset Management, Constitution Research & Management, Inc., Fidelity Investments, First Wilshire Securities Management, Inc., Gamco Investors, Granahan Investment Management, Great Lakes Advisors, Greenbrier Partners Capital Management, LLC, GRT Capital Partners, LLC, Hodges Capital Management, Ironwood Investment Management, Keeley Teton Advisors, Luther King Capital Management, Marble Harbor Investment Counsel, Perritt Capital Management, Punch & Associates, Westwood Holdings Group, Inc., and William Harris Investors. The IDEAS Investor Conferences are held annually in Boston, Chicago and Dallas and are produced by Three Part Advisors, LLC. Additional information about the events can be located at www.IDEASconferences.com .

If interested in participating or learning more about the IDEAS conferences, please contact Lacey Wesley at (817) 769 -2373 or [email protected].

About AZZ Inc.

AZZ Inc. is a global provider of galvanizing and a variety of metal coating solutions, welding solutions, specialty electrical equipment and highly engineered services to a broad range of markets, including, but not limited to, the power generation, transmission, distribution, refining, and industrial markets. The Company's Metal Coatings segment is a leading provider of metal finishing solutions for corrosion protection, including hot dip galvanizing, spin galvanizing, powder coating, anodizing and plating to the North American steel fabrication and other industries. The Company's Infrastructure Solutions segment is dedicated to delivering safe and reliable transmission of power from generation sources to end customers, and automated weld overlay solutions for corrosion and erosion mitigation to critical infrastructure in the energy and waste management markets worldwide.

Safe Harbor Statement

Certain statements herein about our expectations of future events or results constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may," "should," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential," "continue," or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Such forward-looking statements are based on currently available competitive, financial and economic data and management's views and assumptions regarding future events. Such forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and investors must recognize that actual results may differ from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Certain factors could affect the outcome of the matters described herein. This press release may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, changes in customer demand for our products and services, including demand by the power generation markets, electrical transmission and distribution markets, the industrial markets, and the metal coatings markets. In addition, within each of the markets we serve, our customers and our operations could potentially be adversely impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We could also experience fluctuations in prices and raw material cost, including zinc and natural gas which are used in the hot dip galvanizing process; supply-chain vendor delays ; customer requested delays of our products or services; delays in additional acquisition opportunities; currency exchange rates; adequacy of financing; availability of experienced management and employees to implement AZZ's growth strategy; a downturn in market conditions in any industry relating to the products we inventory or sell or the services that we provide; economic volatility or changes in the political stability in the United States and other foreign markets in which we operate; acts of war or terrorism inside the United States or abroad; and other changes in economic and financial conditions. AZZ has provided additional information regarding risks associated with the business in AZZ's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2021 and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), available for viewing on AZZ's website at www.azz.com and on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. You are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements herein and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. These statements are based on information as of the date hereof and AZZ assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

SOURCE AZZ Inc.

Related Links

http://www.azz.com


GUANGZHOU, China, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Banggood, a leading global online shop, will celebrate its 15th anniversary on September 9, 2021, themed, "Banggood: Infinite 15 Years" and a massive 15th Anniversary Sale will be held from August 25 to September 13 to celebrate with all Banggood lovers.

Banggood: Infinite 15 Years

Founded in 2006, Banggood has step-by-step become one of the most important players in the e-commerce industry, offering millions of well-selected products across a wide category selection, from consumer electronics, tools, and home appliances to toys, sports, and clothing. In 2012, Banggood reached 10 million registered users with that number jumping again to 66 million by now.

Aaron Chen, CEO of Banggood noted: "As one of the most popular online shops globally, Banggood always sets customers' experience as our top priority. To optimize our service and ensure our customers receive their desired products on time, Banggood has been devoting all efforts to upgrading the logistics and warehousing system from the very early stages."

In 2010, Banggood set up its first local warehouse in the United States and currently has a total of 37 local warehouses covering all regions of the world, which enables the option of delivery within a week for customers. In 2019, Banggood launched a self-operated air freight route, Banggood Express, in the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States, Belgium, and other countries.

"In retrospect, Banggood has continuously offered high-quality products with affordable prices and professional customer service. We could not have become such a vibrant online shop without the support of our customers. Raising a glass to the future, we believe our next 15 years is infinite and will be powered by our beloved customers, and we're committed to being your shop of choice," Mr. Chen added.

Celebrating with a Massive 15th Anniversary Sale

To celebrate this upcoming 15th anniversary and say 'thank-you' to loyal users, Banggood is offering a massive Sale starting on August 25, 2021, at 16:00 (UTC+8) and ending on September 13, 2021, at 16:00 (UTC+8). Coupons with savings of up to 50% and a $9.9 Price Crash, which is a lighting deal, will be offered to customers, and Banggood's popular Hot Sellers Must Buy that allows users to book their favorite items by paying a deposit of $1 or $3 will also be ready at the same time. "We hope these deals will allow more customers to enjoy well-selected products and introduce a new generation of users to our ecosystem," said Winna Qiu, head of the campaign operations.

About Banggood

Banggood is a global leading online shop, offering millions of products that are well-selected. From consumer electronics, tools, home appliances, toys, sports, to clothing, everything could be delivered to one's front door with several clicks. For more information, please visit: https://www.banggood.com/aboutBanggood.html

SOURCE Banggood
FLORENCE, Ala., Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Lyons HR, LLC (a member of Lyons & Company, Inc. family of companies) announced that Bill J. Lyons plans to step down as Chief Executive Officer. Bruce Cornutt will assume the position of CEO along with his current role as President effective September 1, 2021. Mr. Lyons will remain active within the company and will continue to chair the Board of Directors.

"The leadership of Lyons HR has never been stronger, so I have decided after 26 years to step away from day-to-day responsibilities and focus on outside personal interests, on special projects and future acquisitions," said Lyons. Bruce and I have worked side by side for many years, Lyons said. "His current role as President of Lyons HR is a natural transition for him to also serve as CEO."
NEW YORK, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A recent study conducted by the Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University, in collaboration with Acelero Learning, found that Head Start infants, toddlers and preschoolers in Acelero programs made significant gains during the 2020-2021 school year despite the pandemic. These findings are especially compelling given reports of the disastrous effects of the pandemic on childhood education nationally.

The Brown University-Annenberg study is one of the first to assess early skill development during the pandemic, which is critically important in shaping future instruction. According to Susanna Loeb, Director of the Annenberg Institute at Brown University, "Given the unique circumstances of this past year, understanding students' progress is unusually important for serving families and it will be supremely helpful in determining how to approach future instruction. Acelero's results cannot be generalized across the field of early childhood education, but it is notable that across age groups and both learning settings [virtual and in-person], Acelero's students made significant gains in domains of print knowledge and numeracy, and children in centers also made significant gains in executive function."

The study evaluated children ages six weeks to four years who were enrolled in both in-person and virtual learning models in Acelero Learning Head Start programs, located in Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. The study found that three- and four-year-old students in both learning settings, made significant gains in the domains of print knowledge and numeracy, during the pandemic. The study also found that infants and toddlers made significant gains across both learning settings in language development.

These findings are particularly notable as they come on the heels of a landmark report by the University of Michigan and the Urban Institute, which found there is evidence to suggest significant setbacks among early learners, where "children from families with low incomes, children of color, and dual language learners (DLLs) bore more of the brunt of the crisis than their peers." Their report also suggests that setbacks were not only in academic outcomes, but also social skills, emotional intelligence, interactions with peers and more.

According to the Brown University-Annenberg study, three- and four-year-olds in Acelero centers made notable gains in most areas of learning and skill development, including executive functioning, print knowledge, and numeracy. Head Start students in Acelero centers made greater gains than those students learning remotely, despite starting at a lower baseline. Notably, children in Acelero Learning's virtual options also made significant gains in print knowledge and numeracy. In Early Head Start, the study found that infants and toddlers demonstrated an increase in language acquisition between winter and spring within the 2020-21 program year.

"We enroll children who face the greatest barriers and are in most need of in-person services, and the results of the study confirm how much high quality education matters for those children, especially in the dire circumstances of the pandemic. This study also demonstrates how our teachers and staff remained steadfast and committed in the face of unprecedented challenges during the pandemic, focusing on doing what was best for the children and families we serve," said Rory Sipp, Senior Vice President of Acelero Learning Head Start.

The findings from this study support the decision by the Office of Head Start and Congress to fund Head Start without interruption during the pandemic, making it possible for Head Start programs like Acelero Learning to continue serving children and families during the most challenging times.

"It is the result of the tireless work of caregivers, teachers, family advocates, and staff, as well as the commitment of the Office of Head Start and elected officials to maintain and expand funding for Head Start programs during the pandemic that made these child outcome gains possible. I hope our public officials extend their commitment to increased long-term investment in early childhood education," added Sipp.

Dr. Bernadine Futrell, the Director of the Office of Head Start, agrees with the importance of the Brown University-Annenberg findings, pointing out that investments in Head Start have been unprecedented. In addition to the 2020 appropriation of $10.6 billion, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act designated $750 million more for the federal program, demonstrating a commitment to supporting America's most vulnerable families. In May, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) provided $1 billion to support Head Start programs in reaching more eligible families.

According to Futrell, "Acelero Learning's results support what we know from thousands of stories we have received from Head Start programs around the country. Head Start works -- for children, families, and communities -- even in the most unimaginably difficult circumstances. We appreciate the heroic work that Head Start staff around the country have done over the past 18 months and the research that Brown has conducted here to demonstrate what it means to deliver on the promise of the Head Start program."

In response to Brown University-Annenberg's study on Acelero Learning's results, Yasmina Vinci, the Executive Director of the National Head Start Association, reiterated the importance of ongoing operations during the pandemic, stating, "This past program year, Head Start leaders across the country invested enormous amounts of time and energy into the quality of the virtual and in-person learning they delivered. The big question on all our minds is: Did it work? We are thrilled that the answer is, without a doubt, yes."

To accommodate for two different learning models and in response to pandemic restrictions, program evaluation consisted of entirely remote assessment administration. The Brown University-Annenberg research team administered direct assessments of Head Start children, utilizing the Minnesota Executive Function Scale (MEFS), Test of Preschool Early Literacy  Print Knowledge subtest (TOPEL), and Individual Growth and Development Indicators (IGDI)  Early Numeracy subtests.

Read the entire Brown University-Annenberg study here .

Acelero Learning, and its divisions Shine Early Learning and Spark Learning Lab, are pioneers in early childhood education and family engagement services, impacting tens of thousands of children, ages birth to five, and their families across the country.

SOURCE Acelero Learning

Related Links

http://www.acelero.net


MILFORD, Mich., Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Calder Capital, LLC, is excited to announce the acquisition of Eidemiller Precision Machining of Milford, Michigan, by Kyowa Industrial, Co., Ltd., of Takasaki, Japan.

Calder Capital, LLC

Established in 1946, Kyowa Industrial is a precision manufacturer of complex prototype components and low volume production runs. The company is known for its exceptionally high-quality production of complex prototypes, dramatically fast and flexible delivery to meet tight schedules, ultra-thin walled components for maximum weight reduction, and start-to-finish service with complete confidentiality. Headquartered in Takasaki, Japan, Kyowa Industrial is eager to develop their presence in the United States and other overseas markets. The acquisition of Eidemiller Precision Machining allows Kyowa Industrial to expand to the automotive and manufacturing industries of the Midwest United States.

"I feel confident that Eidemiller will be an excellent asset to Kyowa," commented Atsushi Tanimoto, Kyowa's North American President. "We've been in the market for such a company in this area for a long time, and I don't think we could've found a better fit."

Eidemiller Precision Machining was founded in 1976, and in recent years, it has been owned and operated solely by Marty Eidemiller. Over its five and a half decades, Eidemiller Precision Machining has grown from a small one-lathe operation with a single customer to a national supplier of precision parts in a wide variety of materials. Marty engaged with Calder Capital in the fall of 2020 to find the right buyer for Eidemiller Precision Machining so that he could transition into retirement with his wife, Devany.

"Calder Capital came through as advertised and even more than we could have ever imagined," remarked Marty about the acquisition. "We had multiple suitors throughout the process, and Calder and Garrett Monroe found a perfect fit that will take our business to the next level. We were unsure of what to expect and what was about to unfold, but with Calder's experience and expertise, they skillfully walked us through the process with a great outcome. Garrett's balance of professionalism and hand-holding kept us focused during the complicated negotiations. We would recommend Calder to anyone considering selling their business."

Garrett Monroe, Mergers and Acquisitions Advisor at Calder Capital, worked alongside Marty and Devany as the main sell-side advisor to Eidemiller Precision Machining.

"This was an interesting deal to be a part of because it was Kyowa Industrial's first acquisition and they are located in Japan, so communication was absolutely critical to the transaction," said Garrett. "Kyowa Industrial valued the Eidemiller Precision Machining facility as a strategic location to be geographically close to the automotive hub of Midwest United States. It was a win-win transaction for both parties!"

Calder Capital, LLC, served as the exclusive Mergers and Acquisitions advisor to Eidemiller Precision Machining.

Related Images

eidemiller-precision-machining.png

Eidemiller Precision Machining Acquired by Kyowa Industrial Co., Ltd.

SOURCE Calder Capital, LLC
DUBLIN, Ohio, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cardinal Health (NYSE: CAH) announced today a comprehensive talent strategy to increase representation of diverse employees at the manager level and above by 2030. This commitment is specifically aimed at increasing the company's global leadership representation of women, as well as African American and Black, Asian, Latinx, Indigenous and all other ethnically diverse groups in leadership roles in the U.S.

"Diversity, equity and inclusion are business imperatives," said Mike Kaufmann, CEO of Cardinal Health. "When the voices at our table are diverse and reflect the communities we serve, the choices we pursue and the decisions and policies we make are more inclusive, creative, and best position our company for long-term sustainable growth. We believe that an employee population with diversity of talent, experiences and ideas drives more innovation  innovation that enables us to meet our customers' changing needs today and tomorrow."

Through this commitment and specific goals, the Cardinal Health workforce makeup will change in the following ways by 2030:

In the U.S., increased representation of African American and Black employees at the manager level and above to 11% (up from 5%).

employees at the manager level and above (up from 5%). In the U.S., increased representation of Asian, Latinx, Indigenous and all other ethnically diverse groups at the manager level and above to 23% (up from 17%).

at the manager level and above (up from 17%). Globally, increased representation of women at the manager level and above to 48% (up from 40%).

"Creating a workplace that is truly diverse, inclusive and equitable takes focused, thoughtful planning, and it doesn't happen overnight," said Ola Snow, Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) at Cardinal Health. "We are proud to have devoted many years to building a strong foundation, and are excited to continue refining our recruiting, development, succession and retention practices to help ensure equitable access and opportunity."

Establishing these representation goals is part of the Cardinal Health commitment to ensuring inclusion, representation, and equity across all levels of the company. To achieve these goals, the company will focus on attracting, developing, and retaining diverse talent, from entry-level to senior leadership positions.

"To build a diverse pipeline of tomorrow's leaders, we must develop and advance women and ethnic minorities," said Devray Kirkland, Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) at Cardinal Health. "We are expanding our existing differentiated development programs, and creating new offerings, to bring an equity lens to our development practices and help more effectively advance underrepresented talent."

Differentiated development programs provide professional growth opportunities, as well as increased access and awareness for women and ethnic minorities. Cardinal Health launched its first such program for women in fiscal year FY2010 and added programs for African American and Black employees in FY2021. This year (FY2022), the company will:

Partner with Korn Ferry , a world-class, industry leader in leadership development, to create a program to enhance the development of high potential and high-performing ethnically diverse talent at the manager and director levels, and help historically underrepresented talent to advance successfully into the first levels of leadership. It is a six-month, cohort-based program that will include both the participants and their direct managers to accelerate the readiness of participants for senior roles.

, a world-class, industry leader in leadership development, to create a program to enhance the development of high potential and high-performing ethnically diverse talent at the manager and director levels, and help historically underrepresented talent to advance successfully into the first levels of leadership. It is a six-month, cohort-based program that will include both the participants and their direct managers to accelerate the readiness of participants for senior roles. Expand our "Aspiring Leaders" program, currently in a pilot phase in the U.S. and designed for underrepresented supply chain leaders not yet at the manager level. This program, focused on helping participants grow their leadership skills, has been developed in partnership with Franklin Covey to address what McKinsey & Company calls the "broken rung" in the talent pipeline.

to address what McKinsey & Company calls the "broken rung" in the talent pipeline. Furthering our desire to address the "broken rung," we will expand the participation of minority women in the leadership programming of Women for Economic and Leadership Development (WELD)  Ohio chapter. The in-depth WELD program is designed to prepare women for their first promotion to management and to build confidence in those assuming a management role for the first time.

The company will also focus on developing diverse junior talent through its existing summer internship program and EMERGE, a three-year rotational development program for young professionals launching their careers.

Notably, the Human Resources & Compensation Committee of the Cardinal Health Board of Directors recently approved expanding diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) metrics in the company's FY2022 annual incentive plan at the director level and above, and performance proration of our long-term equity plan at the SVP level and above, with a portion of payouts aligned to progress toward long-term representation goals over each program's relevant performance periods. These incentives extend well beyond the executive team, reinforcing the cultural commitment within the company's leadership team.

"Increasing representation, equity and access is foundational to who we are and everything we do," Snow continued. "We believe it will have a positive impact on our employees, our business, our customers and the communities where we work and live."

About Cardinal Health

Cardinal Health is a distributor of pharmaceuticals, a global manufacturer and distributor of medical and laboratory products, and a provider of performance and data solutions for health care facilities. With 50 years in business, operations in more than 35 countries and approximately 44,000 employees globally, Cardinal Health is essential to care. Information about Cardinal Health is available at cardinalhealth.com.

Cautions concerning forward-looking statements

This release contains forward-looking statements addressing expectations, prospects, estimates and other matters with respect to Cardinal Health's diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) strategy that are dependent on future events or developments. These statements may be identified by words such as "expect," "anticipate," "aim," "intend," "plan," "believe," "will," "should," "could," "would," "positioned," "project," "continue," "likely," "commit to" or other words or expressions of similar meaning, although not all forward-looking statements contain such terms. Actual results may differ materially from those projected, anticipated or implied in forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including the risks and uncertainties described in our Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K reports and exhibits to those reports. Forward-looking statements in this release may include, without limitation, statements regarding: (i) strategies for implementing Cardinal Health's DE&I plans, targets and goals; (ii) Cardinal Health's commitments to programs and policies; and (iii) expectations and priorities for Cardinal Health's initiatives. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date this document is first published. Except to the extent required by applicable law, Cardinal Health undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements are aspirational and not guarantees or promises that goals, targets or projections will be met, and no assurance can be given that any commitment, expectation, initiative or plan in this release can or will be achieved or completed. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements.

Contacts

Media: Andrew Stern, [email protected] and (614) 339-4678; Investors: Kevin Moran, [email protected] and (614) 757-7942.

SOURCE Cardinal Health

Related Links

http://www.cardinalhealth.com


CARSON CITY, Nev., Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Carson Tahoe Health (CTH) is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with Sina Rajamand, DO, Neurosurgeon from Battle Born Brain & Spine (BBBS). One of Carson Tahoe's major goals is to provide wide-ranging specialty services for the community, bringing better healthcare home. With this affiliation, Dr. Rajamand will be able to work more closely with the organization to provide advanced neurosurgery at Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center.

Carson Tahoe Health

"Neurosurgery is a service we have been looking at expanding for years," says Dr. Allen Fink, Carson Tahoe VP and Chief Medical Officer. "Our new affiliation with Dr. Rajamand allows us to provide more complex brain and spine surgeries at our hospital, so we don't have to transfer patients far away from home."

For the first time ever, Carson Tahoe Health can serve its patients in need of vital neurosurgical procedures such as complex spine surgery, reconstruction, treatment for spine tumors, brain bleeds, head injuries, and advanced stroke care, among others. Dr. Rajamand, serving as CTH Medical Director of Neurological Services, will be leading this program to ensure greater continuity of care for our patients.

With advanced medical training from Columbia University, Midwestern University, and the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Dr. Rajamand is uniquely equipped to perform a wide variety of neurosurgical procedures.

"I'm happy to partner with Carson Tahoe in providing the greater Carson City area with a full spectrum of neurosurgical options," says Dr. Rajamand. "Our patients will now have the ability to be treated locally for these complicated, often emergency, services, and I'm excited to lead this effort."

Battle Born Brain & Spine, in affiliation with Carson Tahoe Health, is located at 1525 Vista Ln, Ste 100 in North Carson City. For more information, please call (775) 445-6622 or visit CarsonTahoe.com/Neurosurgery or BattleBornBrainandSpine.com.

About Carson Tahoe Health

As a local, not-for-profit healthcare system, Carson Tahoe Health has been part of our community since 1949. We have 240 licensed acute care beds and serve a thriving community of over 250,000. Carson Tahoe Health, an Affiliate of University of Utah Health, consists of two hospitals, two urgent cares, an emergent care center, outpatient services, and a provider network with locations across the region. Our medical campus features our 'flagship', Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center, which was voted #1 hospital in Nevada by US World & Report. We were the first baby-friendly designated hospital in Nevada and have been certified as a primary stroke center. The freestanding Carson Tahoe Cancer Center, an affiliate of Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah is located on the medical campus and provides comprehensive cancer services from diagnosis and treatment to recovery and support. To learn more about Carson Tahoe Health, go to www.CarsonTahoe.com .

Related Images

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Dr. Sina Rajamand, Neurosurgeon

SOURCE Carson Tahoe Health
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Despite the challenges of the pandemic, Costa Rica is the number one country in the world to attract greenfield investments. The international magazine fDi Intelligence analyzed 84 countries in the 2021 Greenfield Performance Index in which Costa Rica climbed to the top with a score of 11.4.

"This puts it significantly ahead of the runners-up, Lithuania with 8.3 and the UAE with 7.1," reads the article released by fDi Intelligence and powered by fDi Markets.

Of the 84 countries, 64 had an index score greater than 1.0, while 20 had a score of 1.0 or lower. "Costa Rica is attracting 11 times the amount of greenfield foreign direct investment (FDI) that might be expected given the size of its economy," says the magazine.

Jorge Sequeira, Managing Director at CINDE, celebrated the ranking, "We proudly celebrate being the number one country in the world for attracting FDI greenfield. This is the result of Costa Rica's proven track record and excellent human talent offering, as well as the daily efforts of our CINDE team, recognized as the global leading FDI promotion agency, according to the International Trade Centre (ITC)."

He added, "Costa Rica's resilience, in the face of a global health crisis, has proven a determining factor in driving our goods and services exports: goods have a projected growth of 27%, as of July 2021, led by medical devices and significant increases in both the electronics and metalworking industries, which show a 41% and 63% increase, respectively, over 2020."

According to fDi Markets' data, Costa Rica featured 96 projects attracted in 2020.

"While this represents a drop of 7.7% from 2019, it remains the country's second-best year since records began in 2003  a performance that stands out even more considering the challenging investment environment of last year, when greenfield FDI projects fell by about a third globally," reads the article.

"At CINDE, we continue to promote initiatives that pave the way for our country to insert itself into the knowledge economy and take advantage of our position as a global leader in sustainability, to provide a true return on investment, in triplicate: Planet, People, and Prosperity," concluded Sequeira.

Read the full article here >> https://www.fdiintelligence.com/article/80048

SOURCE CINDE

Related Links

https://www.cinde.org


Dr. Cyr is a dual fellowship-trained cosmetic surgeon who developed the groundbreaking technique, OrthoSculpt, that allows for anatomically correct high-definition liposuction around the muscular anatomy. His background training in orthopedics gave him the foundation necessary to develop this much sought-after procedure.

LeAnn Cyr is the CEO and founder of CYRx MD brand, which originated in San Antonio Texas, and includes the skincare, nutrition, and cosmetic surgery lines of business. She has been in the medical field for 20 years focusing on business development and marketing.

More information can be found on CYRx MD at www.cyrmd.com and Stemtox Products at www.stemtox.com, and Rodeo Cosmetics at 335 N Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, CA.

Related Links

www.instagram.com/cyrmd.surgical

Contact: John Bergerud, [email protected]

SOURCE CYRx MD Cosmetic Surgery
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Disc Medicine, a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to the discovery and development of novel therapies for the treatment of serious and debilitating hematologic diseases, today announced the promotions of Will Savage, MD, PhD to Chief Medical Officer and Jonathan Yu to Chief Business Officer. In addition, the company has expanded its scientific leadership with the appointments of industry veterans Hua Yang, PhD, as Vice President of Nonclinical Development and Clinical Pharmacology and Sarah Tuller, JD as Vice President of Regulatory Affairs.

"We are entering an exciting chapter of the Disc story and I'm delighted that we've attracted a team whose leadership and depth of experience will enable us to build a company that will make a difference in patients' lives," said John Quisel, JD, PhD, Chief Executive Officer at Disc Medicine. "I want to congratulate Will and Jonathan on their respective promotions and welcome both Hua and Sarah to the company. I'm thrilled to work with this team as we advance our clinical-stage pipeline deep into development."

Dr. Hua Yang, PhD is the Vice President of Nonclinical Development and Clinical Pharmacology and brings over 20 years of experience in drug discovery, nonclinical development and clinical pharmacology. Prior to Disc, she served as the Vice President of DMPK and Clinical Pharmacology at Agios Pharmaceuticals, where she established these functions and was instrumental in the discovery, development, and successful approvals of its flagship programs IDHIFA (enasidinib) in relapsed or refractory AML and TIBSOVO (ivosidenib) in AML patients with IDH1 mutations, as well as mitapivat (PKR activator) and vorasidenib (dual IDH1/2 inhibitor). Prior to Agios, Hua held positions in DMPK and drug discovery at Millennium/Takeda Pharmaceuticals and Bristol-Myers Squibb. Hua received her BA in Pharmacology from Fudan University, an MS in Pharmacology from Peking Union Medical School and her Ph.D. in Pharmacokinetics from University of Nebraska Medical Center. She is a co-inventor on over 50 patent applications.

Sarah Tuller, JD, RAC is the Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and brings 20 years of experience in regulatory strategy and operations, spanning numerous clinical and commercial-stage products across a wide range of therapeutic indications, including multiple orphan disease programs. She has led or been a part of numerous successful IND, NDA, MAA and BLA and other submissions, including those of Portrazza (necitumumab) in metastatic, squamous, NSCLC, Phoslyra (calcium acetate) in ESRD, and Avonex Pen (interferon beta-1a) in relapsing MS. Prior to joining Disc, she held leadership positions in regulatory affairs for rare disease programs at Astellas Pharma, and prior to Astellas, at companies including Biogen, Fresenius and Baxter. Sarah holds a JD from the University of Dayton School of Law and a BS in Chemistry.

Disc recently announced the initiation of a phase 1 clinical study of DISC-0974, a first-in-class inhibitor of hemojuvelin (HJV) designed to suppress hepcidin and is being developed to treat multiple forms of anemia of inflammation. The company is planning to initiate clinical studies of a separate program in early 2022 for bitopertin, a first-in-class GlyT1 inhibitor that is being developed to treat erythropoietic porphyrias, a family of severe, genetically-driven and rare hematologic disorders.

About Disc Medicine

Disc Medicine is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that is dedicated to transforming the lives of patients with hematologic disorders. We are building a unique portfolio of innovative, first-in-class therapeutic candidates based on fundamental pathways of red blood cell biology. Disc Medicine is committed to building a brighter future for patients who suffer from hematologic disease, ranging from severe orphan conditions to widely prevalent diseases. For more information, please visit www.discmedicine.com.

SOURCE Disc Medicine

Related Links

https://www.discmedicine.com


DALLAS, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Eagle Dental Management (EDM), a Dental Support Organization (DSO) dedicated to transforming dental practice operations, today announced it is launching a dental specialty practice partnership initiative throughout the Southwest Region.

EDM is actively investing in specialty dental practices and groups looking to evolve their operations to meet the modern demands of running a practice today.

"Healthcare has been moving towards centralized, service organizations for decades to better support providers so we're taking that successful model and expanding it to specialty dentistry, which has traditionally been underserved by the DSO market," said Chris Hubble, chief executive officer for Eagle Dental Management. "Eagle Dental Management dentists gain professional services and a long-term business plan that ensures they benefit from their financial success and are able to focus on providing excellent patient care."

To support its specialty practice partnership program, EDM has secured financial backing from a private investment firm based in Miami. With global holdings in healthcare, the group works with strong management teams with a focus on accelerating growth by removing capital constraints. EDM was identified as the ideal partner to invest in as the firm sought an entry into the North American DSO market.

"Every dental practice is unique and EDM understands that clinical autonomy is essential for the delivery of optimum care," said Paul Elkin, D.D.S., chief dental officer for Eagle Dental Management. "Our support of providers gives them the space they need to succeed while we focus on improving their fiscal, mental and physical health. Reducing the burden of business operations allows for more time with patients, family and friends and EDM dentists benefit from an excellent work-life balance as a result."

As part of its investment program, EDM is seeking to partner with both individual and group specialty practices. Dentists interested in learning more about the benefits of joining EDM's growing network are encouraged to reach out to the EDM team at eagledentalmanagement.com.

About Eagle Dental Management

Eagle Dental Management is a Dallas-based Dental Support Organization dedicated to transforming practice operations so dentists can succeed in today's healthcare environment. EDM handles the business side of dental practices through professional office management and services allowing dentists to focus on clinical excellence. Through strategic acquisition, EDM grows its network to create an integrated, dynamic community all working together to advance their practice and create enriching careers.

Contact:

Julie Callahan

469-579-8045

[email protected]

SOURCE Eagle Dental Management
WASHINGTON, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As the new school year approaches, educators are looking for ways to encourage students to stay engaged with virtual and hybrid learning while helping them take ownership of their learning.

Join the Ciena Solutions Challenge educator roundtable on Tuesday, August 31 to hear from teachers on how they encouraged students to stay engaged with virtual learning, built positive relationships with students, and helped them find an authentic purpose for learning through the Ciena Solutions Challenge. Educators from the United States and India will share stories of how they supported students in developing solutions for issues related to mental health, climate change and the environment, and community resource mapping. Click here for a summary of the projects students completed during the Ciena Solutions Challenge pilot.

Event: Ciena Solutions Challenge Educator Roundtable

Time: Tuesday, August 31, 2021 at 8 a.m. PT / 11 a.m. ET

Register: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIlceCprTosHdxZ7TrPdZ8cAGWzfdYn8GA2

The Ciena Solutions Challenge is a design challenge inviting middle and high school students globally to design solutions that address the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals in their communities. Educators around the world may register now for the Challenge, and beginning on Wednesday, September 15, educators may apply for a $2,500 USD Sustainability Award to sustain and scale students' projects. Educators and students will also receive mentoring, professional learning, and showcase opportunities throughout the Challenge.

The Ciena Solutions Challenge is a joint initiative by Digital Promise and Ciena . Learn more about the Ciena Solutions Challenge at www.cienachallenge.org .

Press Contact

Crystal Williams

Digital Promise

[email protected]

240-494-6382



Ciena's Digital Inclusion Program

Ciena's Digital Inclusion program aims to mobilize the company's global workforce, leverage its innovation leadership, and collaborate with customers, suppliers and other partners to bridge the digital divide. Ciena has committed to fund $10 million (USD) over a five-year period on programming that promotes digital inclusion through greater connectivity, access to technology and digital skilling, with a goal of expanding opportunities for 100,000 underserved students in our global communities.

About Digital Promise

Digital Promise is a nonprofit organization that builds powerful networks and takes on grand challenges by working at the intersection of researchers, entrepreneurs, and educators. Our vision is that all people, at every stage of their lives, have access to learning experiences that help them acquire the knowledge and skills they need to thrive and continuously learn in an ever-changing world. For more information, visit the Digital Promise website and follow @digitalpromise for updates.

SOURCE Digital Promise

Related Links

digitalpromise.org


SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Elixiron Immunotherapeutics, Inc., a privately held company developing therapeutics for cancer, neurological diseases and inflammatory disorders, has announced the closing of a Series A-1 extension financing round, bringing the total Series A-1 raise to $27 million. Proceeds will be used to advance phase 1 trials of two pipeline candidates and take three immuno-oncology assets towards IND applications. EI-1071 is an orally available, highly potent Colony-Stimulating Factor 1 Receptor inhibitor that is in a phase 1 trial in part thanks to an Alzheimer's Association Part the Cloud-Gates Partnership Grant Program award, with the goal of progressing EI-1071 into an Alzheimer's disease trial. EI-001 is a fully human antibody that neutralizes an immuno-modulatory target of interest in Vitiligo and some other immunological disorders including Chronic Hepatitis B.

Elixiron was founded in 2017 and is led by Hung-Kai Chen, Founder, CEO and Chairman of the Board. The executive team includes Pandelakis Koni, Executive Vice President of R&D, formerly Director of Research at the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, and Carrie Duan, Executive Vice President of Clinical Development, who previously had leading roles in clinical development and medical affairs management with AstraZeneca, Bayer, GSK and other multinational companies.

"Elixiron firmly believes in drug innovation based on clinical findings from patients in need of better therapies," said Hung-Kai Chen. Hung-Kai continued, "We use translational medicine to dig deep into the key mechanisms of treatment, from which we propose new strategies to modulate the immune system. This is combined with our innovative technology including the T-action platform that can greatly increase the activity of T cells in tumors, and with our new target discovery efforts using our B cell cloning and other antibody library platforms."

The financing raise was jointly led by Pangu Capital (a new investor) and Taiwania Capital (an existing investor) and was joined by further new investors, including DCI Partners of Daiwa Securities Group, Mega International Commercial Bank, Fubon Financial Holdings and Hong Tai Electric Industrial, as well as other existing investors such as China Development Capital Industrial Bank (CDIB) Capital Group.

About Elixiron Immunotherapeutics

Elixiron is a privately-held biotechnology company with operations in San Francisco, Taipei and Shanghai on a mission to develop next-generation immunotherapies for neurodegenerative and immunological disorders, as well as cancer, by tapping into what human clinical findings can teach us for reverse-translational medicine approaches. This together with our drug discovery engine has allowed us to advance two clinical stage assets and several early-stage candidates. For more information, visit elixiron.com and follow the company on Linkedin.

About Pangu Capital

Founded in 2007, Pangu Capital invests in early-stage companies in emerging industries. With well-established investment theories and philosophy, Pangu Capital's strategy focuses in Information Technology, Life Science and AI fields with investment of over 4 billion RMB. For Life Sciences, Pangu Capital concentrates on new drug discovery platforms, innovative therapeutic drugs and methods, -omics/molecular diagnostics and other innovative technology platforms.

About Taiwania Capital

Founded in 2017, Taiwania Capital is a venture capital firm that focuses on investing in early-stage companies, with a mission to establish partnerships with companies worldwide and boost Taiwan's economic growth. Launched with $200 million, Fund II invests in startups in pharmaceutical product research and development, gene/cell therapy and medical technology. By bridging opportunities in Asia and North America, Taiwania aims to bring Taiwan companies to the forefront of the biotech industry.

Media Contact:

Janie Chu

[email protected]

SOURCE Elixiron Immunotherapeutics, Inc.
"We are proud to be among the 9 percent of hospitals in the nation to have earned this recognition for high-quality patient care, nursing excellence, and innovations in professional nursing practice," said Kathleen Kaminsky, MS, RN, NE-BC, senior vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer at Englewood Health. "Our repeated achievement highlights our commitment to providing outstanding evidence-based care and prioritizing patient safety."

Englewood first received Magnet recognition in 2002 and has held the honor continuously since then. It is one of just 30 hospitals in the nation to earn recognition five times.

In addition to earning Magnet recognition for overall nursing excellence, the hospital was recognized for four specific exemplary professional practices related to reducing hospital-acquired infections, preventing surgical errors, and improving pain management for patients.

Research demonstrates that Magnet recognition provides specific benefits to healthcare organizations and their communities, such as:

Higher patient satisfaction with nurse communication, availability of help, and receipt of discharge information.

Lower risk of 30-day mortality and lower failure-to-rescue rates.

Higher job satisfaction among nurses.

Lower nurse reports of intentions to leave their positions.

"Earning this designation during such a challenging time is a testament to the dedication of each and every team member," said Warren Geller, president and CEO of Englewood Health. "As the need for high-quality and compassionate care has only grown throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, it is heartwarming to see everyone join together to meet the needs of the communities we serve."

The Magnet Model used by the ANCC assesses the quality of nursing leadership and coordination and collaboration across specialties, as well as the processes for measuring and improving quality and delivery of superior patient care. Organizations are evaluated on the degree to which leaders transform the organization to meet changing needs; empower staff members and prepare them to face all challenges; promote exemplary professional practice; foster innovation, clinical practice, and systemic improvements; and measure and evaluate outcomes.

Healthcare organizations must reapply for Magnet recognition every four years. An organization reapplying for Magnet recognition must provide documented evidence to demonstrate how staff members have sustained and improved Magnet concepts, performance, and quality over the four-year period since the organization received its most recent recognition. The application process also includes an opportunity for patients and the public to share their personal experiences at the hospital.

About ANCC's Magnet Recognition Program

The Magnet Recognition Programadministered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the largest and most prominent nurses credentialing organization in the worldidentifies healthcare organizations that provide the very best in nursing care and professionalism in nursing practice. The Magnet Recognition Program serves as the gold standard for nursing excellence and provides consumers with the ultimate benchmark for measuring quality of care. For more information about the Magnet Recognition Program and current statistics, visit www.nursingworld.org/magnet.

Englewood Health is one of New Jersey's leading hospitals and healthcare networks. Composed of Englewood Hospital, the Englewood Health Physician Network, and the Englewood Health Foundation, the health system delivers nationally recognized care in a community setting to residents of northern New Jersey, New York, and beyond. The hospital, founded in 1890, consistently earns high marks for clinical excellence and patient safety. Englewood Hospital holds the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade 'A' and is nationally recognized for nursing excellence, earning a fifth consecutive designation by the Magnet Recognition Program in 2021. Areas of clinical excellence include cardiac surgery and cardiac care, cancer care, orthopedic surgery, spine surgery, vascular surgery, and women's health, as well as bloodless medicine and surgery. Englewood Health is an affiliate of Hackensack Meridian Health. The hospital offers an internal medicine residency program affiliated with Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, as well as a vascular surgery fellowship, pharmacy residency program, podiatry residency program, and a radiography training program. Englewood also serves as a training site for surgery, pathology, emergency medicine, anesthesiology, critical care medicine, and other medical and surgical subspecialties. Englewood Health is continually expanding services and enhancing access through the Englewood Health Physician Network, a coordinated network of more than 500 office-based and hospital-based providers at more than 100 locations in six counties in New Jersey and New York. Through the main acute-care facility, physician network, hospital outpatient departments offering imaging services in local communities, and a variety of community health and wellness programs, Englewood Health delivers a healthcare experience that puts patients at the center. For additional information, visit www.englewoodhealth.org.

Media Contact:

Office of Communications

Englewood Health

201-894-3499

[email protected]

SOURCE Englewood Health

Related Links

https://www.englewoodhealth.org/


SHANGHAI, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Everest Medicines (HKEX 1952.HK), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing transformative pharmaceutical products that address critical unmet medical needs for patients in Greater China and other parts of Asia, today announced that it will report 2021 unaudited first half interim results after the closing of Hong Kong equity markets on August 30, 2021. The Company will hold a live conference call at 9:00 AM on August 31, 2021, Beijing Time.

Conference Call Information

A live conference call will be hosted on August 31, 2021 at 9:00 AM Beijing Time (August 30, 2021 at 9:00 PM U.S. Eastern Time). Participants must register in advance of the conference call. Details are as follows:

Registration Link: https://apac.directeventreg.com/registration/event/5468938

Conference ID: 5468938

All participants must use the link provided above to complete the online registration process in advance of the conference call. Upon registering, each participant will receive dial-in number, passcode and a unique registration ID, which can be used to join the conference call.

A replay will be available shortly after the call and can be accessed by visiting the Company's website at http://www.everestmedicines.com.

About Everest Medicines

Everest Medicines is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing transformative pharmaceutical products that address critical unmet medical needs for patients in Greater China and other Asian markets. The management team of Everest Medicines has deep expertise and an extensive track record of high-quality clinical development, regulatory affairs, CMC, business development and operations both in China and with leading global pharmaceutical companies. Everest Medicines has built a portfolio of eight potentially global first-in-class or best-in-class molecules, many of which are in late-stage clinical development. The Company's therapeutic areas of interest include oncology, autoimmune disorders, cardio-renal diseases and infectious diseases. For more information, please visit its website at www.everestmedicines.com.

SOURCE Everest Medicines

Related Links

http://www.everestmedicines.com


New Facilities Increase Florida Cultivation Footprint to Support Expanded Offerings

HOMESTEAD, Fla., Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Fluent by Cansortium Inc. (CSE: TIUM.U) (OTCQB: CNTMF) ("Fluent," "Cansortium," or the "Company"), a vertically-integrated cannabis company operating under the Fluent brand, today announced that it received approval from the Florida Department of Health to commence operation of a new 43,000 square-foot greenhouse cultivation facility in Homestead, Florida and the 40,000 square-foot greenhouse expansion at its Sweetwater, FL cultivation facility.

"These new greenhouse facilities will enable us to quickly increase our monthly supply of biomass, which we plan to convert into high-quality CBD and THC oil to be sold throughout our dispensary network in Florida," said Chief Executive Officer Robert Beasley. "The Homestead facility has a proven track record in cannabis and is in turn-key condition, and our Sweetwater greenhouse has been built to spec. The timing of these expansions is key as we recently opened two new dispensaries and expect to open another location later this year, bringing our total Florida dispensary footprint to 27 stores by year-end."

The Homestead facility, a newly secured facility for the Company, will support expanded offerings from the Company's line of CBD and Blend products. The Sweetwater greenhouse will support the expansion of product offerings for Sweetwater, the Company's high-quality cannabis brand launched in April 2021.

About Fluent by Cansortium Inc.

Fluent by Cansortium Inc. is a vertically-integrated cannabis company with licenses and operations in Florida, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Texas. Fluent is dedicated to being one of the highest quality cannabis companies for the communities it serves. This is driven by Fluent's unrelenting commitment to operational excellence in cultivation, production, distribution and retail. Fluent is headquartered in Miami, Florida.

Cansortium Inc.'s common shares trade on the CSE under the symbol "TIUM.U" and on the OTCQB Venture Market under the symbol "CNTMF." For more information about the Company, please visit www.getfluent.com .

Forward-Looking Information

Certain information in this news release may constitute forward-looking information. In some cases, but not necessarily in all 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", "is positioned", "estimates", "intends", "assumes", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate" or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, 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 future events.

Forward-looking information is necessarily based on many opinions, assumptions, and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the date of this news release, 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 factors described in the public documents of the Company available at www.sedar.com. These factors are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors that could affect the Company; however, these factors should be considered carefully. There can be no assurance that such estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter statements containing any forward-looking information, or the factors or assumptions underlying them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

For further information: www.getfluent.com

SOURCE Cansortium Inc

Related Links

http://www.getfluent.com/


Strong Momentum across All Business Segments, particularly in Gene & Cell Therapy CDMO

Continue to accelerate R&D investment to capture Future Growth

Revenue of the Group for the six months ended June 30, 2021 was approximately US$229.6 million, representing an increase of 38.0% as compared with approximately US$166.4 million recorded for the same period of 2020

recorded for the same period of 2020 Revenue for Biologics Development Service for the six months ended June 30, 2021 was approximately US$31.5 million , within which Gene & Cell Therapy CDMO revenue was approximately US$7 .53 million, representing an increase of 253% as compared with approximately US$2.13 million recorded for the same period of 2020

was approximately , within which Gene & Cell Therapy CDMO revenue was approximately .53 million, representing an increase of 253% as compared with approximately recorded for the same period of 2020 During the Reporting Period, the Group invested significantly into research and development activities as well as talent recruitment, and both of which are key drivers for a sustainable business growth in the long run. For the six months ended June 30, 2021, the Group's research and development expense was approximately US$175.1 million , representing an increase of 51.6% as compared with approximately US$115.5 million for the same period in 2020, in which the total investment in research and development was approximately US$154.5 million on cell therapy for the six months ended June 30, 2021 , representing an increase of 52.1% as compared with approximately US$101.6 million for the same period of 2020.

NANJING, China, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Genscript Biotech (HKEX: 1548.HK) (GenScript), a global leading biotech company, today announced its audited financial results for the year ended June 30, 2021.

"In the first half of 2021, the Group maintained a strong momentum across all business segments. Among others, our gene and cell therapy CDMO business scored historic breakthrough," said Dr. Patrick Liu, Rotating CEO of GenScript. "Over the past six months, the COVID-19 pandemic is still raging around the world. All GenScript employees overcame challenges and seized industry opportunities amid the pandemic, contributing the Group's rapid growth. In the next few years, GenScript will accelerate strategic investment in the gene and cell therapy industry supply chain in an effort to meet strong demand from customers on this revolutionary industry. We are confident in our ability to continue to create value for our customers and shareholders and fulfill our mission to make people and nature healthier through biotechnology".

BUSINESS REVIEW

For the six months ended June 30, 2021, the Group's overall revenue increased by 38.0% to approximately US$229.6 million (the same period in 2020: approximately US$166.4 million). Gross profit was approximately US$138.6 million, representing an increase of 28.1% from approximately US$108.2 million for the same period in 2020. The loss attributable to the shareholders of the Company (the "Shareholders") was approximately US$91.1 million, whilst the loss attributable to the Shareholders of approximately US$113.1 million was recorded for the same period of 2020.

During the Reporting Period, the external revenue of (i) life-science services and products, (ii) biologics development services, (iii) industrial synthetic biology products, (iv) cell therapy, and (v) operation unit accounted for approximately 63.7%, 13.6%, 7.8%, 14.8%, and 0.1%, respectively, of the total revenue of the Group.

Results Analysis of the Four Business Segments

Life-science Services and Products

During the Reporting Period, revenue of life-science services and products amounted to approximately US$152.0 million, representing an increase of 32.2% (the same period in 2020: approximately US$115.0 million. The gross profit was approximately US$91.7 million, representing an increase of 17.6% as compared with approximately US$78.0 million for the same period in 2020. During the Reporting Period, the segment operating profit of life-science services and products was approximately US$52.2 million, representing an increase of 25.5% from approximately US$41.6 million for the same period in 2020.

The growth of revenue was mainly attributable to the (i) expanded capacity and productivity in molecular biology and oligo synthesis, (ii) continued growth in protein and reagent antibody production services, (iii) successful development of new accounts, and partially offset by (iv) the decrease in COVID-19 related products. The decrease in gross profit margin was primarily attributable to the (i) significant decrease of exchange rate of USD against RMB as compared to the same period of last year, caused an increase of converted cost as most part of production cost occurs in Mainland China, (ii) change of product portfolio strategy which caused higher proportion of products with lower gross profit margin, and (iii) increased freight and duty costs. The increase in operating profit was primarily attributable to the (i) increased revenue, (ii) increased efficiency and profitability of oligo synthesis service resulted from capacity development, and (iii) continuous improvement of operation efficiency in both commercial and management team. The increase in operating profit was partly offset by unfavorable exchange rate movements.

Biologics Development Services

During the Reporting Period, revenue of biologics development services amounted to approximately US$31.5 million, representing an increase of 65.8% (the same period in 2020: approximately US$19.0 million). The gross profit was approximately US$10.0 million, representing an increase of 112.8% as compared with approximately US$4.7 million for the same period in 2020. The gross profit margin increased from 24.7% for the same period last year to 31.7% this year. During the Reporting Period, the operating loss of biologics development services was approximately US$2.4 million.

The rapid growth of revenue was mainly attributable to the (i) significant increase of customer projects for antibody and protein drug development, (ii) significant increase in plasmid and viral vector revenue from the booming development in gene and cell therapies ("GCT") and mRNA vaccines, (iii) improved capacity for pre-clinical and clinical development, (iv) improvement of delivery quality and turnaround time, and (v) new and upgraded service offering and integrated service package which contributed to extra opportunities and better market awareness. The operating loss was primarily attributable to the (i) continuous investment in selling and distribution to build a robust pipeline of future projects, and (ii) investment into research and development for the establishment of adeno-associated virus ("AAV") platform and optimization of lentivirus ("LVV") platform and plasmid platform, as well as development and optimization of antibody production process platform.

Industrial Synthetic Biology Products

During the Reporting Period, revenue for industrial synthetic biology products increased by 60.7% to approximately US$18.0 million (the same period in 2020: approximately US$11.2 million). The gross profit was approximately US$5.1 million, representing an increase of 18.6% as compared with approximately US$4.3 million for the same period in 2020. During the Reporting Period, the operating loss of industrial synthetic biology products was approximately US$0.4 million.

The growth of the revenue was mainly attributable to the (i) launch of innovative products such as Catalse and Amylase, (ii) increased penetration into big industrial customers by providing upgraded marketing strategy from a product seller to a solution provider, and (iii) business development in overseas area. The operating loss was primarily attributable to the (i) significant investment in research and development activities, especially in labor costs led by the recruitment of highly-skilled persons, (ii) reinforcement in marketing activities for our core products and sales force expansion to enhance coverage and market share for our products quickly, and (iii) investment into synthetic biology area such as using enzymatic process to produce high value industrial products.

Cell Therapy

During the Reporting Period, revenue of cell therapy increased by 46.8% to approximately US$33.9 million (the same period in 2020: approximately US$23.1 million). The gross profit was approximately US$33.9 million, representing an increase of 46.8% as compared with approximately US$23.1 million for the same period in 2020. During the Reporting Period, the operating loss of cell therapy was approximately US$172.5 million.

The increase in both revenue and gross profit was primarily attributable to additional milestones achieved in December 2020 and May 2021 and thus further recognition of contract revenue from the collaboration with Janssen on developing cilta-cel. The operating loss was primarily attributable to the (i) higher number of clinical trials with more patients enrolled and a higher number of research and development product candidates, (ii) expansion of Legend's supporting administrative functions to aid continued research and development activities, and (iii) growth in the cost associated with commercial preparation activities for cilta-cel.

FINANCIAL REVIEW



For the six months ended June 30,

2021 2020



(Unaudited) (Unaudited) Change

US$'000 US$'000









Revenue 229,568 166,394 38.0% Gross profit 138,619 108,173 28.1% Net loss (156,149) (160,509) (2.7)% Loss attributable to the Shareholders (91,122) (113,092) (19.4)% Basic loss per share (US$) (0.0461) (0.0601) (23.3)% Diluted loss per share (US$) (0.0461) (0.0601) (23.3)%

Revenue

During the Reporting Period, the Group recorded revenue of approximately US$229.6 million, representing an increase of 38.0% from approximately US$166.4 million for the same period of 2020. This is mainly attributable to (i) the continued increase from life-science services and products from major strategic customers and new competitive services and products, (ii) the growth in biologics development services as project numbers continued to increase, and (iii) the increase of contract revenue derived from Legend's collaboration with Janssen with new milestones achieved.

Gross profit

During the Reporting Period, the Group's gross profit increased by 28.1% to approximately US$138.6 million from approximately US$108.2 million for the same period of 2020. The increase in gross profit was mainly attributable to the (i) rapid growth of revenue, especially in life-science, biologics CDMO and cell therapy business, and (ii) improved capacity utilization and production efficiency. The increase in gross profit was partially offset by unfavorable exchange rate fluctuation and increased shipping costs.

Selling and distribution expenses

During the Reporting Period, the Group's selling and distribution expenses increased by 41.8% to approximately US$58.3 million from approximately US$41.1 million for the same period in 2020. This increase is mainly driven by the (i) increased investment into the commercial talent pool by recruiting more experienced personnel and improved incentive packages, (ii) increased marketing and advertising expenses, primarily attributable to the global expansion of our business, and (iii) the increased marketing expenses related to Legend's collaboration with Janssen.

Administrative expenses

During the Reporting Period, the administrative expense increased by 54.7% to approximately US$56.3 million from approximately US$36.4 million for the same period in 2020. This is mainly attributable to the (i) reinforcement of some key administrative functions such as information technology, supply chain and legal to build up capable and professional administrative team to support the Group's overall business expansion, and (ii) one-time consultation expenses and other costs related to the Investigation.

Research and development expenses

During the Reporting Period, the research and development expenses increased by 51.6% to approximately US$175.1 million from approximately US$115.5 million for the same period in 2020. This is mainly attributable to the (i) increase in clinical trial expenses and preclinical study costs, especially in the cell therapy segment related to Legend's collaboration with Janssen, (ii) investment in new challenging research and development projects, which will significantly strengthen our competitiveness in the GCT market and related supply chain, (iii) investment in development projects that improved our production efficiency, and (iv) increase in compensation package including shared-based payment for research and development personnel.

SOURCE GenScript Biotech Corporation
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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 Carbon Black Products and Services market. The report also aids buyers with relevant Carbon Black Products and Services 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/carbon-black-market-procurement-research-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 15.00%-20.00%.

Identify favorable opportunities in Carbon Black Products and Services 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 Carbon Black Products and Services suppliers listed in this report:

This Carbon Black Products and Services procurement intelligence report has enlisted the top suppliers and their cost structures, SLA terms, best selection criteria, and negotiation strategies.

Tokai Carbon Co. Ltd.



Omsk Carbon Group OOO



Phillips Carbon Black Ltd.



Asahi Carbon 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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About SpendEdge:

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
Download free sample report

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 L-Carnitine Products and Services market. The report also aids buyers with relevant L-Carnitine Products and Services 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/l-carnitine-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 2.00%-4.00%.

Identify favorable opportunities in L-Carnitine Products and Services 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 L-Carnitine Products and Services suppliers listed in this report:

This L-Carnitine Products and Services procurement intelligence report has enlisted the top suppliers and their cost structures, SLA terms, best selection criteria, and negotiation strategies.

Kaiyuan Hengtai Nutrition Co. Ltd.

ChengDa PharmaCeuticals Co. Ltd.

Liaoning Koncepnutra Co. Ltd.

Hebei Huayang 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

Get instant access to download 5 reports every month and view 1200 full reports. With every purchase, we also offer complimentary research add-ons and Covid-19 impact assessments  Purchase Now!

About SpendEdge:

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
DUBLIN, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Metal Powders - Global Market Trajectory & Analytics" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Demand for Powder Metallurgy Parts Stagnates. Metal Powders Market Stares at $640 Million in Losses



The global market for Metal Powders is expected to slump by -18.4% in the year 2020 highlighting a US$640.3 Million erosion in market value. Thereafter the market is expected to recover and reach US$4 billion by the year 2027 trailing a post-COVID-19 CAGR of 5.1% over the analysis period 2020 to 2027.

COVID-19 outbreak has impacted demand for powder metallurgy parts in applications such as transportation, construction and mechanical engineering sectors. The manufacturing industry which is a major end-user of metal powders is feeling the weight of falling industrial output and a crumbling manufacturing sector.

An indication of the grim state of affairs is the fact that global manufacturing PMI is already declining and will fall to an estimated all-time low of 35.4 points in 2020 as compared to 53.8 in 2019. This indicates severe contraction of manufacturing activity including new orders, production, employment, supplier deliveries, inventories, customers` inventories, commodity prices, order backlog, new export orders, and imports. Global industrial output is plummeting sharply with the U.S posting steep declines of -16.5% & -15.2% in March & April 2020.



Powder Metallurgy Parts are widely using in manufacturing automobiles and aircraft and both these industries are crumbling. The aviation industry has been brought down to its knees hurt by grounded flights as countries across the world sealed their borders amid stringent travel restrictions imposed in 1Q of 2020.

Several airline companies across the world, especially low cost carriers, have already voiced concerns about going bankrupt without timely aid and financial rescue measures from the government. Widespread travel bans and sealing up of international and regional borders by governments worldwide to contain the spread of the disease has been a significant financial blow for airline operators. Even as governments cautiously begin to ease restrictions in 2Q of 2020, the rising second wave of infections is doing but little to bring hope to the aviation industry.

The construction industry which is also a key consumer of metal powders is facing the brunt of labor migration, capital constraints and disruptions in construction material supply chain. Diversion of government funds from infrastructure development to pandemic firefighting has additionally impacted the construction industry, which is dependent to a large extent on infrastructure projects.



In the post COVID-19 period, recovery will move in sync with the rebound of the three major end-use markets. The growth in the market will benefit from the expected recovery in automobile production trends, reopening of the commercial aerospace industry, and steady recovery of the construction industry.

The growing sophistication of electronics manufacturing will also spur demand growth for aluminum and titanium-based powder metals. Also, growing investments in renewable energy post pandemic and the resulting increase in the production of solar panels and wind turbines will help boost consumption trends. Manufacturing advancements in PM parts such as hot is static pressing, metal injection molding and additive manufacturing will drive opportunities in the market.

Other major noteworthy trends will include shift in demand towards finer powders and advanced PM parts; increased volume consumption of PM materials in aero-engines and land-based gas turbines; mechanization of agriculture in developing markets in Asia, Middle East, Latin America and Africa and the ensuing demand for powdered metals based components in agricultural machinery production; and growing demand for construction equipment. Asia-Pacific will remain a major market led by the expected resurgence in the number of infrastructure development projects and the resulting demand for a wide range of products requiring production of metal components from metal powders.

Key Topics Covered:

I. METHODOLOGY



II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY



1. MARKET OVERVIEW

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Metal Powder Market

COVID-19 Crisis Weakens Global Economic Environment, Triggering Negative Tide in GDP

It's a Bumpy Road to Recovery as Loosening Up of Restrictions Triggers a Second Wave of Infections

Metal Powders - A Prelude

Metal Powders Classification

Ferrous Powders

Iron Powder

Stainless Steel Powder

Non-Ferrous Powders

Aluminum Powder

Types of Atomized Aluminum Powders

Copper (and Copper Alloy) Powder

Nickel Powder

Titanium Powder

Market Outlook

Despite Discouraging Short-Term Outlook, Long-Term Growth Prospects Remain Optimistic for Metal Powders

US and Europe Represent the Largest Regions, Developing Regions to Drive Market Growth

COVID-19 Hits the Once-Booming Asian Market

Additive Manufacturing to Offer Strong Future Growth Potential

Automotive Industry - The Largest End-Use Industry for PM Products

Medical and Electronic Industries to Also Create Demand for Metal Powders

Ferrous Powders Account for a Major Share , Non-ferrous to Witness Rapid Growth

, Non-ferrous to Witness Rapid Growth Competition

Powder Metallurgy Market Players

Global Leading Players in the Powder Metallurgy Market: GKN-Hoeganaes, Sumitomo, Fine Sinter, and Others

Leading Players in the Global Sinter Metals Market (2020): GKN, Sumitomo, Hitachi, Fine Sinter, Miba, and Others

2. FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS (Total 132 Featured)

Allegheny Technologies Incorporated

American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.

American Chemet Corp.

AMETEK Specialty Metal Products

Burgess-Norton Manufacturing Company

Carpenter Technology Corporation

Daido Steel Co., Ltd.

Diamet Corporation

Dowa Holdings Co., Ltd.

Erasteel SAS

F. W. Winter Inc. & Co.

Federal-Mogul Corporation

Fine Sinter Co., Ltd.

GKN Sinter Metals, Inc.

Hoeganaes Corp.

H.C. Starck GmbH

Hitachi Chemical Company, Ltd.

Hoganas AB

JFE Steel Corp.

Kennametal, Inc.

Kobe Steel , Ltd.

, Ltd. Kymera International

Miba AG

Norilsk Nickel

PMG Holding GmbH

Pometon SpA

Rio Tinto Metal Powders

Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.

3. MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS

Expanding Applications Drive Powder Metals Market

Metal Powders in Additive Manufacturing to Grow Significantly

Major Additive Manufacturing Processes, Usage Applications and Powder Requirements

Application Profile of Additive Manufacturing - An Overview

Existing Hurdles to Metal Powders in Additive Manufacturing

Metal Injection Molding (MIM) PM Components Set to Flourish in Future

Newer Advances and Technological Breakthroughs in Powder Metallurgy Drive Market Growth

Aluminum Sintering Inches towards Reality

VVT Components - A Peek into Opportunities and Hurdles

Marked Trends towards Finer Powders and Advanced PM Parts

Nanopowders: A Major Area of Focus

Increasing Focus on Green Technology

Future Growth for the PM Industry

Diversification

Sustainability

Investments in Technology

Automotive Industry

Benefits for Automotive Industry

Auto Industry Shifts towards Light Metal Parts

Prospective Automotive Applications

Carrier Housings

VVT

Geographic Variations Exist in PM Usage in Automobiles

Aerospace

PM Material in Aerospace Applications

3D Printing or Additive Manufacturing Gains Foothold in Aerospace Industry

Slowdown in the Aerospace Sector amidst Covid-19 Affects Near-Term Milling Machine Demand

Residential & Commercial Construction Sector: Short-Term Prospects Remain Sluggish Amid Ongoing Onslaught of Covid-19 Outbreak

Mechanization of Agriculture to Drive the Demand for Metal Powders

Mining Equipment to Boost Growth in Powder Metallurgy Market Post-Pandemic

DIY Tools and Domestic Appliances - Emerging End-Use Industries

PM Material in Healthcare Industry

4. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE



III. MARKET ANALYSIS

United States

Canada

Japan

China

Europe

France

Germany

Italy

United Kingdom

Rest Of Europe

Asia-Pacific

Rest Of World

IV. COMPETITION

Total Companies Profiled: 132

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ahedm3

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



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SOURCE Research and Markets

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"We are thrilled to be a part of the Inc. 5000 list as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America. This great achievement was not possible without the unwavering commitment of the entire GoSaaS team and the trust of our partners and clients," said Hassan Ramay, Managing Partner at GoSaaS.

Not only have the companies on the 2021 Inc. 5000 been very competitive within their markets, but this year's list also proved especially resilient and flexible given 2020's unprecedented challenges. Among the 5,000, the average median three-year growth rate soared to 543 percent, and median revenue reached $11.1 million. Together, those companies added more than 610,000 jobs over the past three years.

Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000 . The top 500 companies are featured in the September issue of Inc., which will be available on newsstands on August 20.

"The 2021 Inc. 5000 list feels like one of the most important rosters of companies ever compiled," says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. "Building one of the fastest-growing companies in America in any year is a remarkable achievement. Building one in the crisis we've lived through is just plain amazing. This kind of accomplishment comes with hard work, smart pivots, great leadership, and the help of a whole lot of people."

About GoSaaS

GoSaaS helps product manufacturers modernize business applications used to conceive, design, engineer, manufacture and support products. GoSaaS has helped more than 100 customers in high-tech manufacturing, life sciences and CPG industries, including many fortune 100 companies, in improving their product value chain. As a leading Oracle partner for Industry 4.0, GoSaaS specializes in on-premise to cloud migration.

More about Inc. and the Inc. 5000

Methodology

Companies on the 2021 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2017 to 2020. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2017. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independentnot subsidiaries or divisions of other companiesas of December 31, 2020. (Since then, some on the list may have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2017 is $100,000; the minimum for 2020 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Growth rates used to determine company rankings were calculated to three decimal places. There was one tie on this year's Inc. 5000. Companies on the Inc. 500 are featured in Inc.'s September issue. They represent the top tier of the Inc. 5000, which can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000 .

About Inc. Media

The world's most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including web sites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Vision Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com .

For more information on the Inc. 5000 Vision Conference, visit http://conference.inc.com/ .

SOURCE GoSaaS

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AUSTIN, Minn., Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL) announced today that the company will host a virtual Investor Update on Thursday, October 14, 2021, from 9:00 a.m. ET until approximately noon ET. Jim Snee, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer, and Jim Sheehan, executive vice president and chief financial officer, will be joined by other members of the senior management team to discuss the company's long-term strategy and provide an update on key initiatives. A live question and answer session will follow the management presentation.

Additional details and a link to the webcast will be provided closer to the event date.



About Hormel Foods  Inspired People. Inspired Food.

Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is a global branded food company with over $9 billion in annual revenue across more than 80 countries worldwide. Its brands include Planters, SKIPPY, SPAM, Hormel Natural Choice, Applegate, Justin's, Wholly, Hormel Black Label, Columbus and more than 30 other beloved brands. The company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, was named on the "Global 2000 World's Best Employers" list by Forbes magazine for three years, is one of Fortune magazine's most admired companies, has appeared on Corporate Responsibility Magazine's "The 100 Best Corporate Citizens" list for 12 years, and has received numerous other awards and accolades for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts. The company lives by its purpose statement  Inspired People. Inspired Food.  to bring some of the world's most trusted and iconic brands to tables across the globe. For more information, visit www.hormelfoods.com.

Media Contact:

[email protected]

507-434-6352

SOURCE Hormel Foods Corporation

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"The Helen and Will Webster Heart & Vascular Center provides the potential to revolutionize the way we treat patients by integrating traditional cardiac surgery with endovascular surgery techniques and technology, further bridging the best of today with the latest advances of the future," said Lori J. Morgan, MD, MBA, president and CEO, Huntington Hospital. "The opening of this facility is a momentous accomplishment made possible by hard work, careful preparation and a shared commitment to providing our patients leading-edge heart care. I'm incredibly proud of our project team, drawn from all areas of the hospital, and thankful for the generous support of community philanthropists who made this dynamic new cardiac care facility possible."

World-class cardiac care, close to home

Offering a full spectrum of cardiology services  including screening and diagnostic tests, advanced medical and surgical treatments, and cardiac rehabilitation and education programs  the Helen and Will Webster Heart & Vascular Center elevates heart care further with:

Increased capacity

Two catheterization suites

An innovative catheterization and surgical hybrid suite

A high-tech electrophysiology suite

Six diagnostic suites

Eight private patient rooms

Latest medical technologies and treatments

Minimally invasive surgical options

Expert cardiac care team

Located directly above our Nan and Howard Schow Emergency & Trauma Center, the new Helen and Will Webster Heart & Vascular Center reduces time to treatment for cardiac patients and allows the hospital to increase the number of patients treated by 30 percent.

For more information about cardiac care at Huntington Hospital, please visit: www.huntingtonhospital.org/heart.

About Huntington Hospital

Huntington Hospital, www.huntingtonhospital.org, an affiliate of Cedars-Sinai Health System, is a Magnet-designated 619-bed nonprofit hospital in Pasadena, California. We offer the full spectrum of care for every need: Whether at our hospital, urgent care, ambulatory surgery center, cancer center or doctor's office, we're here to care for the physical, mental and social well-being of every person. Our level II trauma center and emergency department, the largest in the San Gabriel Valley, cares for over 70,000 people every year. Learn more about us on social media: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

SOURCE Huntington Hospital

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www.huntingtonhospital.org


SEATTLE, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- JND Legal Administration announces a proposed settlement in a class action lawsuit called Malone v. Western Digital Corporation (N.D. Cal.), Case No. 5:20-cv-03584.

What is this about? Plaintiffs alleged that Western Digital misrepresented its "WD Red NAS" hard drives as suitable for use in NAS (Network Attached Storage) devices, because the drives use "SMR" (Shingled Magnetic Recording) technology. Nicholas Malone, Chris Ayers, James Backus, Brian Conway, David Eaton, Steven Gravel, James Raaymakers, and Tod Weitzel are the plaintiffs in the filed class action lawsuit against Western Digital. The operative complaint in this case is available at www.WDRedNASHarddriveSettlement.com. Western Digital denies these allegations, denies that SMR is inferior technology, or that it did anything wrong. Defendant contends that its SMR-based Red NAS drives were designed and extensively tested for use in the applications for which they were marketed, and Western Digital believes that the drives perform well in, and are suitable for use in, NAS devices employed in appropriate applications and workloads. The settlement, if approved, resolves the case and provides benefits to Settlement Class Members who do not exclude themselves.

Who is included? The "Settlement Class" consists of all consumers in the United States who purchased a WD Red NAS Drive using SMR technology between October 2018 and July 21, 2021, or who received a WD Red NAS Drive using SMR as a replacement drive from Western Digital. The specific hard drive models are: WD20EFAX (2TB capacity), WD30EFAX (3TB capacity), WD40EFAX (4TB capacity), and WD60EFAX (6TB capacity) hard drives.

What can I get? Under the proposed settlement, Western Digital will pay $2.7 million to create a settlement fund. If the settlement is approved and becomes final, payments will be issued to consumers who are part of the Settlement Class. You must file a claim to receive a payment (see below). Payment amounts will be based on which hard drives a person purchased and the number of hard drives purchased. The purchasers of 2TB and 3TB WD Red NAS Drives will receive $4.00 for each drive purchased and purchasers of 4TB and 6TB WD Red NAS Drives will receive $7.00 for each drive purchased, which may be adjusted on a pro-rata basis depending on the number of claims filed. The maximum payout per Claim, if there is a pro-rata upward adjustment, will be as high as 85% of the MSRP value of the drive purchased.

How do I get a payment? You must file a claim by November 8, 2021 to receive a settlement payment. You can file a claim online at www.WDRedNASHarddriveSettlement.com/claim. Or you can download a claim form at www.WDRedNASHarddriveSettlement.com, fill it out, and submit it by mail. Payments will be issued to valid claimants by mailed check.

What are my options? You can file a claim, receive a payment if the settlement becomes final, and give up the right to sue Western Digital about the issues in this lawsuit. If you do nothing, you will receive no payment and, if the settlement becomes final, you will give up the right to sue Western Digital and its affiliates about the issues in this lawsuit. For a complete list of Western Digital's affiliates that are being released by the settlement in this action, please visit www.WDRedNASHarddriveSettlement.com. You can exclude yourself, receive no payment under this settlement, and retain any right you have to sue Western Digital about the issues in this lawsuit. To exclude yourself, mail a signed, written request for exclusion containing the information described at www.WDRedNASHarddriveSettlement.com, postmarked by December 3, 2021, to: Malone v. Western Digital Corporation, c/o JND Legal Administration, P.O. Box 1107, Seattle, WA 98111. If you do not exclude yourself, and the Court approves the settlement, you will be bound by the Court's orders and judgments and will release your claims relating to this lawsuit. If you do not exclude yourself, you can object to or comment on the settlement and/or Settlement Class Counsel's request for attorneys' fees, expenses, and service awards for the plaintiffs who brought this case on behalf of the Settlement Class. To object, you must submit a signed, written objection containing the information described at www.WDRedNASHarddriveSettlement.com to the Court by December 3, 2021. Visit www.WDRedNASHarddriveSettlement.com for more information.

What happens next? The Court will hold a hearing on December 22, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. PT, at the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, San Jose Courthouse, Courtroom 5, 280 South 1st Street, San Jose, CA 95113, to decide whether to approve the settlement, attorneys' fees and expenses for the attorneys who worked representing the Settlement Class (up to one-third to be paid from the $2.7 million settlement fund), and service awards of up to $2,500 to each of the plaintiffs who brought this case on behalf of the Settlement Class. You or your attorney may ask permission to speak at the hearing at your own cost. The date and time of this hearing may change without further notice, and/or the Court could order that this hearing be held remotely or telephonically. Check www.WDRedNASHarddriveSettlement.com for updates.

Who represents me? The Court has appointed Bursor & Fisher, P.A, and Hattis & Lukacs to represent the Settlement Class. Together, these lawyers are called Settlement Class Counsel. You do not need to pay these lawyers out of your pocket. Instead, these lawyers will apply for compensation out of the settlement fund. If you want to be represented by your own lawyer, you may hire one at your own expense.

How do I get more information? For more information, including to view copies of case documents, the full settlement agreement, the complaint in the lawsuit, and Settlement Class Counsel's fee application (once it is filed), visit WDRedNASHarddriveSettlement.com. You can also call 1-833-677-1089 or contact Settlement Class Counsel at [email protected]

PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT THE COURT.

SOURCE JND Legal Administration
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Integrated Ventures, Inc. (OTCQB: INTV), is pleased to provide this corporate update with preliminary unaudited financial results, for the year ended June 31, 2021.

Preliminary total unaudited revenues for the year ended June 31, 2021 , have increased to approximately $1,868,487 , as compared to the revenues of $454,170 for the year 2020 and $279,143 for the year 2019. Over 75%of revenues generated were booked in Q3 and Q4.

, have increased to approximately , as compared to the revenues of for the year 2020 and for the year 2019. Over 75%of revenues generated were booked in Q3 and Q4. For the full year 2021, preliminary results for total unaudited revenues, less unaudited general mining expenses, excluding an equity based employment compensation, for period 2019 thru 2021) via conversion of preferred shares to common shares of $16,537,500 (previously reported in Q3) are expected to show unaudited gross mining profits of $948,111 .

The increase in mining revenues and gross profits was primarily due to deployment of high performing mining equipment and low cost of power.

Additional Balance Sheet highlights, for FY2021 are as follow:

Available Cash: $2,097,537

Mining Equipment Deposits: $7,480,775

Digital Currencies: $245,320

Total Mining Assets: $13,363,965

Total Stockholder's Equity: $8,950,868

The company is pleased to provide this operational update that covers all major developments occurred during Q4.

Digital Shovel's manufacturing contract for 7 minipods has been terminated and INTV have received a full refund.

Deployment of the container scheduled for Massena, NY has been delayed due to the local regulatory issues.

has been delayed due to the local regulatory issues. INTV had executed LOI to form JV with private company to acquire 120,000 sq ft facility, located in PA, with power capacity of 30 mw+. Additional details to follow at later date.

INTV plans to ship all miners that were previously scheduled to be connected in NY, to a new PA facility.

Bitmain is expected to ship first 200 units to Compute North's facility by the end of August.

Canaan is expected to ship 250 units to Compute North's facility by the end of August.

"2021 was turn around year for cryptocurrency markets and delivered a great progress for INTV, in terms of raising capital and expansion of our mining operations, which resulted in outstanding revenue growth," said Steve Rubakh, CEO of Integrated Ventures, Inc.

"Looking ahead, INTV is diligently working to timely file its annual report and continues to seek acquisition targets that fit company's requirements that are accretive, reasonably valued and complementary to INTV's business. With a robust revenue pipeline and strategic initiatives in place, the Company is very well positioned to overperform in 2022 and beyond."

CONTACT: [email protected], 215-613-1111

SOURCE Integrated Ventures, Inc.
WICHITA, Kan., Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The proposed Kansas Health Science Center  Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine (KHSC-KansasCOM), currently under construction in downtown Wichita, recently appointed three additions to its faculty: Angela Carrick, DO, as associate dean of pre-clinical education, assistant professor of emergency medicine; Eva Shay, DO, as professor, department chair of Osteopathic Principles and Practice; and Terence Ma, Ph.D., as professor and chair, Anatomy and Biomedical Science.

Angela Carrick, DO, is a board-certified Emergency Medicine physician who recently worked at Norman Regional Health Systems in Norman, Oklahoma. Her roles there included serving as an emergency department attending physician, co-director of the Stroke Program, and as Associate Program Director of the Norman Regional Emergency Medicine Residency. She is a fellow of both the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) and American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians (ACOEP). Among the many committees she serves, Dr. Carrick is Chair of ACOEP Women's Committee and in 2020 was Chair of the Council of Residency Directors (CORD) in Emergency Medicine National Physician Suicide Awareness Day which occurs yearly on September 17. She is passionate about mentorship and serves both as a panelist for the American Academy of Emergency Medicine's Virtual Mentorship Program for Osteopathic Medical Students and a participant in Oklahoma Osteopathic Association's Medical Student Mentorship Program.

Eva Shay, DO, comes to the proposed KHSC-KansasCOM from William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where she had been on faculty since 2015, most recently as chair of the Department of Osteopathic Principles and Practice and associate professor of clinical sciences. She was also a faculty advisor for several student groups, including the inaugural chapter of the Student Association of Military Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons, is involved on numerous committees and is on the board of directors for Education Congo (North American Liaison Bureau). While serving in the U.S. Navy for 12 years, Dr. Shay was a general medical officer for the Naval Hospital Corpus Christi. She is certified in family medicine and osteopathic manipulative treatment by the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians, and neuromusculoskeletal medicine  osteopathic manipulative medicine by the American Osteopathic Board of Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine.

Terence Ma, Ph.D., M.B.A., was most recently chief executive officer of PlaceNets Consulting in Boston where he was a thought leader on medical education competencies, assessments, and program evaluations, and advised medical schools on educational technology. Dr. Ma has three decades of experience as a faculty member in medical education including the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, California Northstate University College of Medicine, Touro University Nevada, and the University of Mississippi Medical Center. He has spent his career educating health science professionals as a faculty member, course director, assistant dean, and associate dean. He has also served as a Chief Information Officer. In addition, Dr. Ma reviews for journals and conferences, writes book and software reviews. Because of his extensive knowledge, Dr. Ma is regularly invited to give presentations nationally and internationally, and serves on numerous committees on medical education, educational technology, and competency standards.

With the goal of opening for the 2022 academic year, the proposed KHSC-KansasCOM is working through the accreditation process. The school is currently under construction, remodeling 116,000 square feet of the historic building at 217 N. Douglas to include state-of-the-art technology and learning spaces, an osteopathic skills training center, standardized patient teaching rooms, large lecture halls, small group study rooms, a virtual anatomy lab, and much more.

About Kansas Health Science Center:

Kansas Health Science Center is a nonprofit organization committed to training well-prepared physicians and health care leaders who will positively contribute to the overall well-being of our communities. With the goal of opening the proposed Kansas Health Science Center - Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2022, KHSC strives to positively impact the health landscape in Wichita and the state of Kansas through directly addressing the disparity in access to healthcare. Learn more at kansashsc.org.

SOURCE Kansas Health Science Center

Related Links

http://kansashsc.org


HOUSTON, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- KBR (NYSE: KBR) announced today that it has signed an alliance agreement with Johnson Matthey (JM) to license the FORMOX Integrated UFC Technology (iUFC).

The innovative iUFC technology consists of JM's methanol and UFC (Urea Formaldehyde Concentrate) production processes integrated with KBR's proprietary ammonia process, either as part of new installations or as retrofits for existing units, enabling low-cost production of UFC for higher grade urea.

"Following our successful alliance for ammoniamethanol coproduction with JM last year, KBR is excited to offer the iUFC process for new and existing fertilizer complexes to efficiently upgrade their end products," said Doug Kelly, KBR President, Technology. "With KBR's market leading ammonia technology, this offering will allow integrated fertilizer complexes to upgrade their urea quality for maximizing crop yields while ensuring the lowest carbon footprint."

"We are extremely proud to deepen our ongoing alliance with KBR by offering this comprehensive UFC technology solution," said John Gordon, Managing Director for Johnson Matthey. "Our partnership highlights how uniquely positioned the companies are to integrate this technology into both new and established ammonia plants. Customers will benefit from enhanced performance, operational agility and reduced environmental impact."

Both KBR's ammonia technology and JM's methanol and formaldehyde/UFC technology showcase a long history, deep experience, continuous improvements, and cutting-edge performance. Since the 1940s, KBR has licensed, engineered, and constructed more than 244 ammonia plants worldwide. JM has supplied the methanol and formaldehyde industry with leading technology and catalysts for over 45 years and has licensed over 100 grassroot methanol plants and over 190 formaldehyde plants for formaldehyde production, of which approximately 20% have UFC capability.

About KBR

We deliver science, technology and engineering solutions to governments and companies around the world. KBR employs approximately 29,000 people worldwide with customers in more than 80 countries and operations in 40 countries.

KBR is proud to work with its customers across the globe to provide technology, value-added services, and long- term operations and maintenance services to ensure consistent delivery with predictable results. At KBR, We Deliver.

Visit www.kbr.com

About JM

Johnson Matthey is a global leader in science that enables a cleaner and healthier world. With over 200 years of sustained commitment to innovation and technological breakthroughs, we improve the performance, function and safety of our customers' products and in 2020 we received the London Stock Exchange's Green Economy Mark, given to companies that derive more than 50% of revenues from environmental solutions. Our science has a global impact in areas such as low emission transport, pharmaceuticals, chemical processing and making the most efficient use of the planet's natural resources. Today more than 15,000 Johnson Matthey professionals collaborate with our network of customers and partners to make a real difference to the world around us.

Inspiring Science, Enhancing Life

For more information, visit www.matthey.com

Forward Looking Statement

The statements in this press release that are not historical statements, including statements regarding future financial performance, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the company's control that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by the statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the significant adverse impacts on economic and market conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic and the company's ability to respond to the resulting challenges and business disruption; the recent dislocation of the global energy market;; the company's ability to manage its liquidity; the outcome of and the publicity surrounding audits and investigations by domestic and foreign government agencies and legislative bodies; potential adverse proceedings by such agencies and potential adverse results and consequences from such proceedings; changes in capital spending by the company's customers; the company's ability to obtain contracts from existing and new customers and perform under those contracts; structural changes in the industries in which the company operates; escalating costs associated with and the performance of fixed-fee projects and the company's ability to control its cost under its contracts; claims negotiations and contract disputes with the company's customers; changes in the demand for or price of oil and/or natural gas; protection of intellectual property rights; compliance with environmental laws; changes in government regulations and regulatory requirements; compliance with laws related to income taxes; unsettled political conditions, war and the effects of terrorism; foreign operations and foreign exchange rates and controls; the development and installation of financial systems; the possibility of cyber and malware attacks; increased competition for employees; the ability to successfully complete and integrate acquisitions; and operations of joint ventures, including joint ventures that are not controlled by the company.

KBR's most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, any subsequent Form 10-Qs and 8-Ks, and other U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings discuss some of the important risk factors that KBR has identified that may affect the business, results of operations and financial condition. Except as required by law, KBR undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason.

SOURCE KBR, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.kbr.com


CANTON, Conn., Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Kelyniam Global (OTC:KLYG), a maker of custom cranial implants, today announced results for its half year ended June 30, 2021.

"Period comparisons for 2021 and 2020 are very difficult to evaluate due to the multiple effects of the Covid 19 pandemic in 2020. The second quarter of 2020 results were uniquely affected due to a backlog of surgeries after the lifting of state mandated restrictions. We have not seen a similar rebound effect yet in 2021. Despite ongoing surgery delays in 2021 due to the pandemic, Kelyniam continued to operate profitably during the 1st half of the year," said Ross Bjella, Kelyniam's CEO.

Financial performance for the six months ended June 30, 2021 compared to the six months over the same period in 2019 includes:

Total revenue of $ 1,224,059 compared to $1,265,235 , a decrease of 3.25% in sales revenue

compared to , a decrease of 3.25% in sales revenue Operating income of $47,167 compared to $181,395

compared to Net Income $5,544 compared to $184,567 over the prior year

The complete financials can be found on the company's website at www.Kelyniam.com.

Events that significantly affected the quarter financially included:

Kelyniam will be issuing US GAAP-basis financials going forward associated with a new SEC rule on the submission of current financial information through the broker portal of OTC Markets.

The Company was notified in early July that it's second balance of the Paycheck Protection Plan loan balance of $144,000 was to be forgiven. The accounting effects of this forgiveness will occur in the 3rd quarter.

Pursuant to a previous set of FDA 483 observations in 2019, the Company was audited in July 2021. While the Company successfully remediated several of the '19 findings, the pandemic created supply chain delays making it impossible for the company to complete the validation of certain equipment and processes identified during the previous audit. Kelyniam continues to work with the FDA to resolve these recent audit observations, primarily around document control and certain process and equipment validations. The Company will provide its response to the FDA during the next two weeks.

Kelyniam Inc., specializes in the rapid production of custom prosthetics utilizing computer aided design and computer aided manufacturing of advanced medical grade polymers. The Company develops, manufactures, and distributes custom cranial and maxillo-facial implants for patients. Kelyniam works directly with surgeons, health systems and payors to improve clinical and cost-of-care outcomes. Kelyniam's web site address is www.Kelyniam.com.

As a cautionary note to investors, certain matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such matters involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including the following: changes in economic conditions; general competitive factors; the Company's ability to execute its service and product sales plans; changes in the status of ability to market products; and the risks described from time to time in the Company's SEC reports.

SOURCE Kelyniam Global, Inc.

Related Links

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PITTSBURGH, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Kennametal (NYSE: KMT) announced today that they will virtually attend the Seaport Research Partners Annual Summer Investor Conference.

Details of the conference are as follows:

When: Wednesday, August 25, 2021

Attendees: Damon Audia, Vice President and CFO

Ryan Mills, Manager, Investor Relations

About Kennametal

With over 80 years as an industrial technology leader, Kennametal Inc. delivers productivity to customers through materials science, tooling and wear-resistant solutions. Customers across aerospace, earthworks, energy, general engineering and transportation turn to Kennametal to help them manufacture with precision and efficiency. Every day approximately 8,600 employees are helping customers in more than 60 countries stay competitive. Kennametal generated approximately $1.8 billion in revenues in fiscal 2021. Learn more at www.kennametal.com. Follow @Kennametal: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.

SOURCE Kennametal Inc.

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NEW YORK, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Klarna, the leading global retail bank, payments and shopping service, today announced it has doubled its US customer base since June 2020, reaching a record 20 million customers. The company's growth is further highlighted by accelerated momentum of the Klarna app, which now maintains 4 million monthly active US users as daily downloads surpass the closest competitor by 20%, according to App Annie.

Klarna's more transparent, convenient, and consumer-friendly payment alternatives put shoppers in control as they shift away from interest- and fee-laden revolving credit lines. Positioned at the intersection of banking and retail, Klarna appeals to budget-conscious consumers who desire flexible payment solutions and user-friendly, interactive features.

The Klarna app is an all-in-one shopping platform that allows consumers to discover new brands and shop at any online store as well as in-store at leading retail brands, with features including shareable and shoppable Collections (formerly "Wish Lists"), exclusive deals, price drop notifications, a no-fee rewards program, and try-before-you-buy convenienceall with the option to pay over time with zero interest or fees.

"The rapid growth of Klarna customers in the US speaks to consumer demand for flexible payment options and a more seamless, convenient shopping experience," said David Sykes, Head of North America, Klarna.

"As people browse and buy across channels, the Klarna app allows them to discover new products and brands while having the ability to shop both in-store and online with interest-free payment options. In the year ahead, we will continue to expand our US merchant base, offering greater opportunities for customer acquisition and engagement."

Klarna's no-fee, personalized rewards club Vibe allows consumers who make purchases through the Klarna app to earn redeemable Vibe dollars. This program has also grown to more than 1.8 million members since launching in June 2020. To date, Vibe members have claimed nearly $2.8 million in gift cards to use at their favorite stores, including Amazon.com, Sephora, H&M, and Target. Collections also continues to be one of the Klarna app's most popular features, with US users adding more than 8 million items to their Collections to date.

In addition to swiftly reaching consumer milestones, Klarna continues to serve as a growth engine for merchant partners, seeing its overall US retail partnerships surge to 10,000 as of July 2021, a 132% increase since June 2020, out of a growing network of more than 250,000 retail partners globally. Through Klarna, retailers benefit from attracting and retaining customers through the company's co-marketing initiatives and content platforms.

Klarna is the partner of choice for 24 of the top 100 retailers in the US, with several renowned brands joining Klarna's US network in recent months including Petco, Yoox Net-a-Porter, Charlotte Tilbury, Moncler, Bed Bath & Beyond, Dickies, Prabal Gurung, The Honest Company, Mr Porter, Olaplex, and Authentic Brands Group. Klarna also continues to expand its existing relationships with retailers including Pandora, Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein, and is seeing tremendous growth of its physical retail footprint with Klarna payment options now available across more than 78,000 brick-and-mortar stores globally.

Over the past year, Klarna has significantly built out its retailer support offering, which now includes a Comparison Shopping Service; an AI-driven styling engine and content creation platform; and recent additions of HERO, a world leader in virtual shopping; and most recently APPRL, an influencer marketing platform allowing retailers to connect directly to relevant content creators and track campaign results through Klarna.

About Klarna

We make shopping smooth. With Klarna consumers can buy now and pay later, so they can get what they love today. Klarna's offering to consumers and retailers include payments, social shopping, and personal finances. Over 250,000 retail partners, including H&M, IKEA, Expedia Group, Samsung, ASOS, Peloton, Abercrombie & Fitch, Nike and AliExpress have enabled Klarna's innovative shopping experience online and in-store. Klarna is one of the most highly valued private fintechs globally with a valuation of $45.6 billion. Klarna was founded in 2005, has over 4,000 employees and is active in 17 countries. For more information, visit klarna.com.

Media contacts:



Brendan P. Lewis

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DKC

Clara Berkeley

[email protected]



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SOURCE Klarna Bank AB (publ)
LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Delta Dental of Arkansas announced that the Board of Directors has appointed Kristin Merlo as the new President and Chief Executive Officer of Delta Dental of Arkansas, effective September 29, 2021. This announcement follows a comprehensive national search process led by a selection committee of the Board of Directors and supported by an executive search firm.



Kristin Merlo

"We are pleased to welcome Kristin as our next President & CEO of Delta Dental of Arkansas," said Wayne Callahan, chair of the board of Delta Dental of Arkansas. "Kristin brings a deep level of experience in business transformation, including information technology systems and sales and marketing platforms for growth. She follows the great leadership established by Ed Choate and will continue to build on the winning culture at Delta Dental of Arkansas for the future. Kristin has a passion for our business and brings a lot of energy to our mission."



Merlo has served in senior leadership roles in the Delta Dental system over the past twenty-one years, most recently as senior vice president and chief operating officer for Delta Dental of Virginia (2018-2021) and with Delta Dental of Washington (2000-2018). Before joining Delta Dental, Merlo served in various sales, marketing, and brand management roles with Eli Lilly and Company.



Mrs. Merlo said, "I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead Delta Dental of Arkansas at such an exciting point in the company's history. During my time working with and leading other Delta Dental plans, I have developed a deep understanding of the opportunities to build the Delta Dental brand and transform our different customers' experience while focused on the core mission of improving the oral health of individuals and families in the state that our company serves."

"Working in the Delta Dental system as long as I have and across functions and locations, it is a testament to the Delta Dental system that there is a career path, irrespective of gender, for anyone to become a CEO. To be one of three women CEOs in the Delta Dental system is a responsibility that is not lost on me. I am grateful to the many mentors I have had across the system."



Merlo is a University of Virginia graduate, holding a Bachelor's degree in History and a Master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Virginia's Darden Graduate School of Business. Merlo will succeed the current President & CEO Ed Choate, who is retiring. Choate completes 21 years of leading the organization to record revenues, profits, and growth, serving approximately 2.4 million members nationally.



About Delta Dental of Arkansas

Established in 1982, Delta Dental of Arkansas is the largest dental and vision insurance provider in the state, helping more than 800,000 Arkansans  and more than 2.4 million members nationally  stay healthy through commercial, Medicaid, and Medicare Advantage insurance plans. As a not-for-profit company, Delta Dental of Arkansas is committed to improving the oral health of Arkansans through the philanthropic efforts of its Foundation. The Delta Dental of Arkansas Foundation has donated more than $25 million to support oral health education initiatives in the past 13 years. For more information, visit www.deltadentalar.com .

Media Contact: Dave Hawsey

Vice President, Marketing

(m) 501.813.2315

[email protected]

www.deltadentalar.com

SOURCE Delta Dental of Arkansas

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CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa., Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Westinghouse Electric Company has announced the appointment of Lisa Gordon-Hagerty to its board of directors for Westinghouse Government Services (WGS)  the delivery platform for the company's nuclear technologies and services for government programs globally. As the lead Director for Strategic Programs, WGS, Gordon-Hagerty will help the company with continued strategy and development of programs to support the United States Department of Energy and Defense nuclear decommissioning, security and energy goals.

"As the previous Administrator of National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Lisa has deep insight into the complex opportunities facing government nuclear security programs throughout the world," said Patrick Fragman, Westinghouse President and CEO. "She brings more than 30 years of experience, that we are honored to add to our board, and ultimately to serve our customers in creating exceptional partnerships."

Gordon-Hagerty's impressive credentials include serving as the Administrator of the NNSA and Under Secretary for Nuclear Security at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) from February 2018 through November 2020. She was appointed and confirmed by the U.S. Senate and was the first woman to hold this national leadership position. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Health Physics Society, and previously served on the board of experts for the Federation of American Scientists.

Westinghouse Electric Company is the world's pioneering nuclear energy company and is a leading supplier of nuclear plant products and technologies to utilities throughout the world. Westinghouse supplied the world's first commercial pressurized water reactor in 1957 in Shippingport, Pa., U.S. Today, Westinghouse technology is the basis for approximately one-half of the world's operating nuclear plants.

Westinghouse Government Services, LLC serves as the delivery platform for the company's nuclear technologies and services for government programs globally. The range of services and capabilities provided incorporate manufacturing of nuclear grade components and materials, operations of nuclear material processes and associated technologies, deactivation and decommissioning nuclear facilities and assets, treatment, management and disposition nuclear materials and delivery of advanced reactor technology. Westinghouse Government Services has operation and significant projects in the United States supporting the Department of Energy, the National Nuclear Security Administration and the Department of Defense; the United Kingdom supporting the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and the Ministry of Defense; and Canada supporting the Canadian National Laboratory.

For more information, please visit www.westinghousenuclear.com.

Contact: Sheriece Dick

Director, Strategic Communications

Westinghouse Electric Company

Telephone: +1 571-489-1351

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Westinghouse Electric Company

Related Links

www.westinghousenuclear.com


As demand for industrial product continues to exceed supply, Loftis will work with brokers and landowners to find off-market properties to help the firm grow its development presence in both new and existing markets, including Dallas, Austin, Columbus, Savannah, Charleston, Charlotte, Lakeland and Phoenix.

"We're pleased to welcome Lee to the Mohr Capital team," said Bob Mohr, chairman of Mohr Capital. "His experience in land acquisition, longstanding broker relationships, and unique ability to find and vet land opportunities that meet users' needs will expand our industrial development efforts in key markets nationwide."

Loftis brings more than 15 years of experience in land acquisition and commercial, multifamily and retail real estate brokerage to the firm. He joins Mohr Capital from Copart Inc., where he served as a real estate acquisition specialist, sourcing and negotiating developed and undeveloped acquisition opportunities. During his time with Copart, Loftis identified, entitled and closed on $93 million of industrial property, $70 million of which was off market.

"The industrial market is moving so rapidly that available sites with zoning are diminishing quickly. For developers to be successful, they need to be both creative and forward-thinking when sourcing new land opportunities," said Loftis. "Mohr Capital encourages this type of outside-of-the-box approach to development, and I'm excited to join such a collaborative firm where the sky is the limit."

Prior to his time at Copart, Loftis served as vice president with SRS Real Estate Partners, senior associate with Revere Commercial Realty and associate with Presidio Realty. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in economics from The University of Texas at Austin and is a licensed real estate broker in the state of Texas.

Mohr Capital develops speculative and build-to-suit office, industrial and retail properties for users across the nation. Current development projects include 827K-SF and 1.057-MSF speculative facilities within Mohr Logistics Park  a 475+ acre master-planned, industrial park in Whiteland, Indiana  and a 596K-SF speculative facility in Reno, Nevada.

About Mohr Capital

Mohr Capital is a privately held real estate investment firm specializing in the acquisition, development and value enhancement of office, industrial and retail assets throughout the U.S. The Mohr Capital team has decades of experience in commercial real estate and has completed more than $2.5 billion in transactions. Guided by a value-driven strategy and an entrepreneurial spirit, the company relies on strong, long-term relationships and possesses keen market insights needed to capitalize on undervalued or underperforming properties. With its family office structure, Mohr Capital can close quickly and has a proven track record of delivering the highest risk-adjusted returns. For more information, visit mohrcap.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

SOURCE Mohr Capital

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The Flex for Checks ( www.flexforchecks.org ) community-based program was developed as part of an $11.1 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) that seeks to mobilize homecare workers to increase vaccination confidence and rates in underserved communities in the fight against COVID-19. The NMHA has also enlisted to support of television personality and author, Dr. Ian Smith , as a campaign spokesperson.

"We need to be honest and recognize our shortfall in vaccinations as an industry. But as an industry, we need to come together to solve it," said Bill Dombi, President and CEO, NAHC. "This is even more of an urgent issue as the Delta variant is quickly spreading among the unvaccinated, coupled with colder winter months approaching," Dombi continued. "We are pleased to join with NMHA in this collaborative effort."

AccentCare, a leading home care provider has agreed to join in the launch by introducing Flex for Checks to its employees with a goal of 5,000 shots. "We recognize that the industry has a problem when it comes to vaccinations," said Stephan Rodgers, Chief Executive Officer of AccentCare. "Vaccination is the first line of defense against COVID-19 and we want to be part of the solution, and that's why we are aggressively encouraging our team members to get vaccinated."

The HRSA grant is part of the approximately $125 million available through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) American Rescue Plan to develop and support a community-based workforce that will serve as trusted voices in sharing information about COVID-19 vaccines, increase vaccine confidence, and address barriers to vaccination for those living in vulnerable and medically underserved communities.

The grant funding will help community-based organizations like the NMHA better mobilize frontline home health workers as trusted messengers to conduct on-the-ground outreach to educate and assist individuals in receiving reliable information about vaccinations and reward health care agency workers for helping guide consumers to receive that vaccination as well as help increase vaccination among healthcare workers.

"We are thrilled to partner with NAHC and AccentCare as we seek to get as many home care workers and people in underserved areas vaccinated as possible," said Burgess Harrison executive director of the NMHA.

"Nothing like this program has been undertaken in this manner, where homecare agencies, workers, consumers, pharmacies, and software companies come together and flex their arms in the fight of our lives against COVID-19," continued Harrison.

About NMHA. The National Minority Health Association, founded in 1988 by Dr. David L. Dalton, Chairman, and CEO, UNIVEC Conglomerate, Inc. (UNVC), achieved its initial mission of ensuring the establishment of Offices of Minority Health in all 50 states. Today the NMHA is adding to its mission and deploying new programs that utilize patient-centered, value-based care, and new ways of enhancing care to patients where they are, lowering costs, and improving outcomes for minority and underserved communities. To find out more, visit www.theNMHA.org. Become a member of the NMHA Health Equity Action Leaders network (HEAL) and join the fight for health equity. https://www.thenmha.org/donation. Help build confidence in the vaccine www.GoFundMe.com/thenmha

About National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC)

The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) is the voice of home care and hospice. NAHC represents the nation's 33,000 home care and hospice providers, along with the more than two million nurses, therapists, and aides they employ. These caregivers provide vital services to Americans who are aged, disabled, and ill. Some 12 million patients depend on home care and hospice providers, who depend on NAHC for the best in advocacy, education, and information. NAHC is a nonprofit organization that helps its members maintain the highest standards of care. To learn more, visit nahc.org.

About AccentCare, Inc.

AccentCare, Inc. is a nationwide leader in post-acute healthcare, with innovative partnerships and care models covering the full continuum from personal, non-medical care to skilled nursing, rehabilitation, palliative care, hospice, and care management. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, AccentCare has over 30,000 compassionate professionals in more than 250 locations, collectively serving over 200,000 individuals across 31 states. The company operates under regional brand names, including AccentCare, Alliance for Health, Gareda, Guardian, HRS, Seasons Hospice & Palliative Care, Sta-Home, Southeastern Health Care at Home, and Texas Home Health. AccentCare has over 60 strategic partnerships with insurance companies, physician groups, and major health systems, including joint venture companies branded as AccentCare Asante Home Health, AccentCare Fairview, AccentCare UCLA Health, AccentCare UC San Diego Health at Home, and Texas Home Health Group, an affiliation with Baylor Scott & White Health. Among its distinctions, AccentCare has a 4.5-star quality rating for legacy home health agencies, many of which have earned the HomeCare Elite distinction. All hospice and home health locations are CHAP- or Joint Commission-accredited, with designations from the We Honor Veterans program. The company's approach to care, including proprietary RightPath disease-specific programs, leads the industry in avoidance of unplanned re-hospitalizations, faster starts of care, and quality performance. Learn more at accentcare.com.

This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $11.1million. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.

For More Information

John Gonda

616-309-4888

[email protected]

SOURCE National Minority Health Association

Related Links

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DALLAS, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Founders First CDC, a national 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that empowers expansion in diverse founder-led, revenue-generating businesses, announces its new Job Creators Quest Grant which will award $60,000 to support minority and underrepresented business owners throughout the state of Texas. The grant opened for submission on August 19, 2021. Twenty grants will be awarded to diverse-led companies located in the north, central or south Texas regions, with a current staff of 2-20 employees and the ability to add 1-2 net new premium wage jobs in the next 12 months. To be eligible, the company's founder must be Black, indigenous, a person of color, LGBTQIA+, military veteran, woman or located in a low to moderate income area and be a for-profit company with annual revenues between $100,000 to $3 million.

Founders First CDC Texas Grant

The purpose of the Job Creators Quest Grant is to help business owners create premium wage jobs and reward diverse-led businesses throughout the state of Texas to retain and grow their workforce through the pandemic. This will help to positively impact the local economy, create job opportunities with higher wages and provide the human capital needed for businesses to grow and expand. This grant project was launched in early 2021 and will award more than $180,000 throughout the United States with $30,000 awarded in Chicago in April, $30,000 awarded in Southern California in June and $60,000 to be awarded to businesses in Philadelphia and New Jersey in August. The twenty Texas grantees are expected to be announced on October 4, 2021.

"We have observed many founders working more in their business than on their business. Our priority is to give entrepreneurs resources to grow while simultaneously becoming premium wage job creators within their community," said Shaylon Scott, executive director of Founders First. "Investing in diverse entrepreneurs is an impactful way to drive job and wealth creation in underserved communities. The Job Creators Quest Grant is more than a dollar amount, it's a celebration of their success."

Funding for this program was facilitated by a $1 million grant from the Rockefeller Foundation, in conjunction with Founders First Capital Partners' recent $9 million Series A financing accelerator to support underrepresented entrepreneurs in underserved communities. Additional partners include Black Enterprise Magazine, BCL of Texas, Bank OZK, The Study USA, Veteran Women's Enterprise Center, The DEC Network, PeopleFund and The Mass Challenge.

"We are in the beginning stages of optimism for Black entrepreneurs and businesses across the country," says Derek Dingle, EVP & Chief Content Officer for Black Enterprise. "The largest adjustment we are seeing is in the effort to incentivize support staff to return to work. Black Enterprise is excited to collaborate with Founders First to support the creation of jobs with microbusinesses in Texas communities that need the support the most."

On a national and global scale, many companies struggled to stay afloat amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, many small businesses that are vital to the communities they serve, were forced to close their doors. With greater availability of the vaccine and resources provided by organizations like Founders First CDC, small businesses are hopeful as they move forward. According to a recent article by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a majority (65 percent) of small business owners are more optimistic that the worst of the pandemic is over, and say that easing COVID-19 restrictions (29 percent) and ramping up vaccinations in their area (28 percent) are the two biggest keys to their success in the remainder of 2021.

"At BCL, we recognize the long-term impacts of the racial wealth gap and are dedicated to working together with our partners to close the gap, starting with investing in underserved entrepreneurs," says Brian Marshall, Director of Entrepreneurship at BCL of Texas. "With only about 75% of our minority-owned businesses employing more than one person, it is critical to provide funding to support minority-business growth and job creation."

"Small businesses are the anchors of our economy," says Angela Hudson, Director of Community Responsibility, Bank OZK. "Staying afloat through this pandemic demonstrates the amazing resilience and drive these entrepreneurs have. This grant program from Founders First will accelerate the recovery of these underrepresented businesses, so they can continue to drive job creation, innovation and growth in Texas."

Applications open August 19, 2021 and close September 17, 2021. Qualified business owners, particularly those in the Dallas-Ft. Worth, Houston, and Austin-San Antonio markets may click here to apply for the grant or visit https://foundersfirstcdc.org/texas.

To apply for the business accelerator program, visit: https://foundersfirstcdc.org/programs/

Contact:

Kayla Tucker Adams

2144039852

[email protected]

SOURCE Founders First CDC
NeuExcell Leadership Team Tweet this

Dr. Addis joins NeuExcell after 8+ years of industry leadership experience at various startup biotech companies and several years of research experience at the University of Pennsylvania's Institute for Regenerative Medicine. Prior to NeuExcell, Dr. Addis established and led the research program at Aro Biotherapeutics, developing targeted genetic medicines for rare disease. Having expertise in multiple therapeutic areas including gene therapy, neurodegeneration, rare disease, aging and oncology puts Addis in an excellent position to lead NeuExcell's research efforts.

Dr. Addis received his undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania (with a double major in Biochemistry & Biology), and his Ph.D. (in Human Genetics & Molecular Biology) from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

"We are very excited to have Russ step into this new role at NeuExcell," said Dr. Lorijn. "This addition to our team reflects NeuExcell's increasing focus on our internal innovation to ensure long-term growth for the company and for the benefit of all those suffering from devastating neurodegenerative diseases."

"Russ has the unique combination of in-depth knowledge and experiences in neuroscience, gene therapy and regenerative medicine," said Professor Gong Chen, NeuExcell's co-founder and Chief Scientific Advisor. "We are confident that Russ will lead us on an accelerating pace to advance our research programs toward the clinic."

About NeuExcell Therapeutics

NeuExcell is a privately held early-stage gene technology company headquartered in Pennsylvania, USA. Its mission is to improve the lives of patients suffering from neuro-degenerative diseases and CNS injuries. Based upon the scientific work of Prof. Gong Chen, the Company has developed a potentially disruptive neural repair technology through astrocyte-to-neuron conversion in-vivo by introducing neural transcription factors through adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapy. NeuExcell's pipeline covers major neurodegenerative diseases as Stroke, Huntington's, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Traumatic Brain Injury, Spinal Cord Injuries, and Cancer.

SOURCE NeuExcell Therapeutics

Related Links

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SAN DIEGO, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NEUVOGEN, an immunoncology company, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Mark W. Frohlich, MD to its Board of Directors and Scientific Advisory Board ("SAB") effective August 23, 2021.

"NEUVOGEN has assembled a very experienced team that has taken a thoughtful approach to building a cancer vaccine from the ground up to specifically overcome the heterogeneity of solid tumors, a primary issue in providing clinically meaningful benefit to patients" said Dr. Mark W. Frohlich. "In addition, NEUVOGEN has identified genetic modifications for its cell lines using its in-vitro human assay system, generating a potent adjuvant technology to strongly prime an immune response.

Furthermore Dr. Frohlich added, "The low cost of manufacturing NEUVOGEN's off-the-shelf vaccine platform fits well with the combination therapy approach that will be the key to more effective treatment of solid tumors. I am very excited to help put this next-generation adjuvant technology and novel targeting strategy into the clinic as it holds the promise of substantial patient benefit."

Mark W. Frohlich, MD, has led the development of cellular immunotherapies for cancer for more than two decades. He served as Executive Vice President of Portfolio Strategy at Juno Therapeutics. Previously, he was Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President of Research and Development of Dendreon Corp, where he led teams responsible for the U.S. and European approval of Provenge, the first FDA licensed cellular immunotherapy for cancer. Prior to joining Dendreon, he served as Medical Director of Xcyte Therapies Inc., where he pursued the development of an autologous T-cell therapy for cancer. Dr. Frohlich was an Assistant Adjunct Professor of Medicine (Hematology/Oncology) at the University of California, San Francisco, where he was active in translational and clinical research, and worked closely with Dr. Eric Small, a lead investigator in the phase 3 trials of Provenge. He is a board-certified medical oncologist, trained at the University of California, San Francisco. He received his M.D. from Harvard Medical School after graduating from Yale College with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and Economics.

"Dr. Frohlich is truly a pioneer in immunoncology with extensive experience in the development of cell and gene immunotherapies for cancer," said Todd Binder, Chief Executive Officer of NEUVOGEN. "Given his experience in leading the development of the only therapeutic cellular cancer vaccine to achieve FDA approval, we are excited that he has agreed so serve in these important advisory roles at NEUVOGEN."

A link to comprehensive biographies can be found at www.neuvogen.com/about-us/.

About NEUVOGEN

NEUVOGEN, Inc. is an immunoncology company focused on whole cell cancer vaccine therapies. NEUVOGEN believes its cancer vaccines have the broadest combination of tumor associated antigens and tumor specific antigens ever delivered in a cancer vaccine and as a result can directly target a greater percentage of cancer cells in a solid tumor than any previous cancer vaccine. Based in San Diego, California, NEUVOGEN's goal is to develop therapeutic cancer vaccines that activate the body's immune system to eradicate solid tumors and meaningfully extend the lives of patients while limiting side effects. To learn more, visit www.neuvogen.com.

SOURCE NEUVOGEN Inc.

Related Links

http://www.neuvogen.com/


INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Most of Indiana workers are protected by smokefree laws, but many employees in places like bars and casinos must work every day inhaling deadly secondhand smoke. The American Lung Association wants to change that and that's why they're launching a new statewide ad campaign today calling to close the gap on workplace health.

"No one deserves to breathe secondhand smoke to make a living. We all have a right to work in a safe, healthy place," said Nick Torres, Director of Advocacy for the Lung Association in Indiana.

"Sadly, that's not the case in Indiana. This awareness campaign calls attention to the inequities of workplace health statewide and simply states that we need to close the gap that currently exists. We should all take action to protect each other from secondhand smoke. Communities and individual workplaces can take steps to become smokefree, as well."

Bars, casinos and other workplaces are exempt from Indiana's smokefree air law, but there is strong support (70%) among Hoosiers for making public places, like bars, restaurants, and casinos smokefree, according to a poll conducted by the Lung Association in 2020.

"COVID-19 has driven over 150 casinos nationwide to implement new smokefree policies, including two in Indiana. Our poll results should encourage all Indiana casinos to prioritize the health and safety of their employees and guests by making their facilities smokefree indoors," said Torres.

The awareness campaign encompasses radio, billboard and newspaper ads. It directs people to smokefreeIN.org where there is more information about smokefree air being good for public health and business, as well as more information about the poll. The site also asks visitors to "Be a Smokefree Air Champion in Your Community" and allows them to provide their contact information to stay apprised of the upcoming efforts to make Indiana 100% smokefree.

About the American Lung Association

The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy and research. The work of the American Lung Association is focused on four strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; to champion clean air for all; to improve the quality of life for those with lung disease and their families; and to create a tobacco-free future. For more information about the American Lung Association, a holder of the coveted 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and a Gold-Level GuideStar Member, or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or visit: Lung.org.

American Lung Association

1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) Lung.org

CONTACT: James Martinez | American Lung Association

P: 312-445-2501 C: 312-718-5875 E: [email protected]

SOURCE American Lung Association

Related Links

www.lung.org


HOUSTON, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NexTier Oilfield Solutions Inc. (NYSE: NEX) ("NexTier" or the "Company") today announced that the Company has recently launched the IntelliStim fracturing optimization system and has completed its first project for a major operator in the Mid-Continent region.

The proprietary IntelliStim system packages the full array of NexTier's NexHub digital technologies into a comprehensive, value-added offering. It will enable NexTier customers to monitor every aspect of the completion operation in real time, including detailed downhole visualizations to verify that the fracturing treatment is performing as planned.

Exclusive to NexTier, the system builds upon the Company's focused strategy of integrated wellsite operations that improve wellsite performance and decrease oilfield operators' ultimate cost per barrel. Using personnel already on location to quickly deploy instrumentation, the system is designed to merge seamlessly and without interruption in today's high-efficiency fracturing operations.

From pre-job treatment design to offset well monitoring, stage-by-stage performance assessments and detailed visualizations of downhole fracture propagation during pumping, all surface and downhole data will be hosted on the NexHub Digital Center and displayed using the industry-leading Corva visualization platform. This empowers all decision makers, whether at the wellsite or from a remote location, with precise control to make dynamic adjustments to optimize completion performance.

The IntelliStim system uses Silixa's Carina sensing system to assess frac-design performance in real time. The Carina system incorporates a Constellation fiber-equipped sensing wireline cable to cost-effectively monitor fracture growth, azimuthal development and cluster efficiency while pumping. With the ability to be repeatedly deployed and retrieved in multiple offset wells via a NexTier wireline truck, this proven Silixa intervention solution achieves the most accurate measurements and highest signal-to-noise ratio in the industry.

"Partnering with Silixa brings our leading completions expertise together with the global leader in fiber-optic sensing," said Robert Drummond, President and Chief Executive Officer of NexTier. "In real time, as the operation progresses, the IntelliStim system provides an unprecedented level of quality control and efficiency over every component of your completion program."

Pete Richter, Vice President, North America at Silixa, added, "Working shoulder to shoulder with NexTier gives us access to the largest dedicated wireline fleet in the US, which enables operators to deploy Silixa's precise crosswell monitoring and microseismic surveys in more wells  and for a much lower cost than permanently installing fiber optics along the well casing. In addition, by integrating our fiber-acquired data into the NexHub Digital Center, operators gain an exponential increase in the value their data can provide."

"From a technological perspective, it's the best possible array of surface equipment, downhole measurements, real-time monitoring and comprehensive data collection  right at your fingertips," commented Otman Algadi, Director of Commercial Engineering at NexTier. "It's the next step in our ultimate goal of deploying artificial intelligence across the wellsite, and we're proud to make it a reality."

About NexTier Oilfield Solutions

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, NexTier is an industry-leading U.S. land oilfield service company, with a diverse set of well completion and production services across the most active and demanding basins. Our integrated solutions approach delivers efficiency today, and our ongoing commitment to innovation helps our customers better address what is coming next. NexTier is differentiated through four points of distinction, including safety performance, efficiency, partnership, and innovation. At NexTier, we believe in living our core values from the basin to the boardroom, and helping customers win by safely unlocking affordable, reliable, and plentiful sources of energy.

About Silixa

Headquartered in the UK with satellite offices in Houston (serving the oil and gas sector) and Missoula, Montana (serving the environmental, infrastructure, and mining sectors), Silixa is the leading independent global provider of fiber-optic-powered data solutions. We offer an integrated suite of distributed fiber-optic technologies (DAS, DSS and DTS) that provides ultrahigh-definition data sets to solve critical measurement challenges in the alternative energy, mining, environmental and earth sciences, infrastructure, and oil and gas sectors. Our dedicated, domain-specific teams deliver world-class, real-time data solutions that enable our clients to gain actionable insight into their assets and systems. These solutions are proved to increase efficiency, prevent loss, reduce operational costs and extend equipment lifespans.

Media Contact: Samuel DeSarro, [email protected]

SOURCE NexTier Oilfield Solutions

Related Links

www.nextierofs.com


Created by Energy BBDO, the team hired acclaimed filmmaker Samir Mallal to direct. Mallal felt a kinship with Maya and the subject matter, saying he lived it himself. " We can all relate to feeling unsure of ourselves and wanting to fit in," he says. Mallal brought the script to life from the perspective of Maya, a teenager who starts out shy and awkward, but eventually grows into a more confident teen with the help of an understanding Pearle Vision eye care expert.

The Director of Photography on the ad is award-winning cinematographer Andrij Parekh, who won an Emmy for his work on HBO's Succession.

Doug Zarkin, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for Pearle Vision says "At Pearle Vision we take pride in our 60-year commitment to care from the exam room to the retail floor. Maya is a wonderful depiction of how our team really takes the time to care for the person behind the eyes. Guiding a patient into that perfect pair often does more than just simply help someone correct a vision acuity issue, it can open their eyes literally and figuratively to a range of positive possibilities and emotions."

"Eyes On The Prize"

In conjunction with the launch of their new TV commercial, Pearle Vision will also launch "Eyes On The Prize," a two-part social media web-series in which they are teaming up with renowned parenting and youth development expert Dr. Deborah Gilboa, New York Times Best-Selling Author Kelle Hampton, and star of the breakout web-series Quick Fix Actress Tia Mowery for a live, informative online conversation and Q&A. The discussions will cover the upcoming school year and advice for parents on how to work through the impact the past 18 months has had on mental and physical health, including the impact of further delaying annual wellness items such as an eye exam.

Says Zarkin "Pearle Vision wanted to invest in providing a forum for parents to come together to discuss what is anything but a normal back-to-school season. After a year of remote learning student's eyes were put to the test with increased screen time and the possibility that their annual eye-exam was missed. According to the American Optometric Association, One in four children in the U.S. have undetected vision problems which could impair learning. Experts believe that approximately 80 percent of learning comes through a child's eyes. So, the importance of an annual eye exam is truly a pathway to unlock a child's potential."

Part 1 of the web-series will be live on Instagram on September 9 th , 2021, at 5pm EST with Dr. Gilboa talking to Kelle Hampton . Access to the live event can be found on either Dr. Gilboa (@askdrg) or Kelle Hampton's (@etst) Instagram accounts

, 2021, at with Dr. Gilboa talking to . Access to the live event can be found on either Dr. Gilboa (@askdrg) or (@etst) Instagram accounts Part 2 of the web-series will be live on Instagram on September 14 th 2021, at 5pm EST with Dr. Gilboa talking to Tia Mowry . Access to the live event can be found on either Dr. Gilboa (@askdrg) or Tia Mowry's Instagram accounts (@TiaMowry).

Kelle Hampton says "I'm thrilled to partner with Pearle Vision to help support moms as we navigate the complex challenges of returning to school during a pandemic and after a collective stressful year. We're all needing community right now and I'm happy to be part of a space supporting moms as they meet their child's needs this year, from important eye exams to hugs."

Dr. Deborah Gilboa says "Resilience is the ability to navigate change while being (or raising) the kind of person we can admire. The changes we face this fall in particular bring a host of worries about our children - for their mental health, their physical wellbeing, and their academic success. The good news is that you don't have to handle these concerns alone. Joining Pearle Vision on their "Eyes On The Prize" web-series I believe will offer parents more support to help them create a plan for themselves and with their children to navigate this new normal just a little easier."

"Mental and physical health is something I have long been passionate about. With my son's recent diagnosis of vision acuity issues, joining Pearle Vision's "Eyes On The Prize" web-series is a fantastic opportunity to openly discuss the challenges today's parents are facing head on as we head into the heart of the fall 2021 school year. They say it takes a village, and I'm proud to lend my voice and experiences to the discussion" says Tia Mowry.

Available for Interviews and slated to participate in the social media initiative are:

ABOUT TIA MOWRY: https://www.instagram.com/tiamowry/?utm_medium=copy_link

Tia is known for starring in the iconic sitcom Sister, Sister, and currently stars in Netflix's NAACP Image Award-winning series Family Reunion. She has published several books, and her second cookbook, The Quick Fix Kitchen, will be released on September 28th. She hosts her own YouTube channel, Tia Mowry's Quick Fix, with weekly videos that help viewers solve life's little dilemmas fast. It is Kin Community's fastest growing channel to date. Tia has a devoted and strong social media presence of over 21 million followers.

DR. DEBORAH GILBOA: https://www.instagram.com/askdoctorg/?utm_medium=copy_link

Deborah Gilboa, MD, (aka "Dr. G") works with families, educators, executives, and businesses to identify the mindset and strategies to turn stress to an advantage. She is a leading media personality seen regularly on TODAY, Good Morning America and is the Resilience Expert for The Doctors. She is also featured frequently in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Huffington Post, and countless other digital and print outlets. Dr. G is board certified attending family physician and is fluent in American Sign Language. She lives in Pittsburgh with her four boys.

KELLE HAMPTON: https://www.instagram.com/etst/?utm_medium=copy_link

Kelle is the New York Times Best-selling author of Bloom and writes about parenting and celebration on her blog Enjoying the Small Things. Kelle has also created several online courses and guides which have served thousands of students and readers. She's Vice President of the non-profit Ruby's Rainbow. Kelle has contributed to Parents, Parenting, The Today Show, Good Housekeeping, NPR's All Things Considered and Magnolia Journal.

DOUG ZARKIN:

Doug Zarkin Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer for Pearle Vision holds an impressive array of honors for his marketing and brand building work including an ANA Genius Award, Brandweek's Constellation Award, a Silver Clio Award, and multiple Effie Awards. He was recently named a Retail Innovator Award Winner and was recognized by his peers as Top 40 Over 40 and twice recognized as Innovative Marketer of The Year by The CMO Club. His work at Pearle Vision is currently the subject of a Harvard Business School case study on brand rejuvenation. He's also a recognized retail and brand marketing expert with multiple appearances on all the major broadcast networks and business publications to his credit and is available to speak on the latest Pearle Vision campaign.

CAMPAIGN DETAILS

ENERGY BBDO CREATIVE CREDITS

Client: Pearle Vision

Spot: "Maya"

Aired: 8/1/21

Agency: Energy BBDO

Chief Creative Officers: Josh Gross & Pedro Perez

Creative Directors: Erika Wolfel Hillman & Michele Sloan Brandel

Copywriter: Tanvi Tandon

Art Director: Jason Murray

Head of Integrated Production: John Pratt

Senior Producer: Maddie Gorman

Director of Music: Daniel Kuypers

Music Producer: Nick Maker

Managing Director: Jeff Adkins

Production Company: Interrogate

Director: Samir Mallal

Managing Director/Owner: Jeff Miller

Head of Production: Nathan De La Rionda

Producer: Jack Beardsley

Director of Photography: Andrij Parekh

Post-Production Company: Flare Chicago

Editor: Casey Cobler

Executive Producer: Jenny McDonald

Senior Audio Engineer: Steven Aguilar

Senior Motion Designer: Viktoryia Kryvanos

Flame Artist: Jason Kerman

Color Company: Company 3 New York

Colorist: Tom Poole

Music: "Perception" by Milan Nivard

Music House: Birdbrain

Voice Talent: Lia Mortenson

ABOUT PEARLE VISION

Pearle Vision was founded in 1961 by Dr. Stanley Pearle, who began the concept of one-stop, total eyecare with the opening of the Pearle Vision Center in Savannah, Ga. Dr. Pearle combined complete eye exams with an extensive selection of eyewear. In 1981, Pearle Vision began offering franchise opportunities to select doctors and opticians. Today, with more than 550 EyeCare Centers located throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, Pearle Vision is built around a doctor-centered business model with a primary focus to deliver genuine eye care to patients and become the neighborhood trusted source for all their eye care and eye wear needs. Pearle Vision is owned by Luxottica, a leader in premium fashion, luxury, and sports eyewear. For more information, visit PearleVision.com. And, to learn more about the Pearle Vision franchise opportunity, visit ownapearlevision.com or call 1-800-PEARLE-1.

SOURCE Pearle Vision
MILWAUKEE, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Inbound Logistics has recognized Phoenix Logistics as an industry leader on its annual Top 100 3PL Provider list. Inbound Logistics is the leading multi-channel content provider targeted toward business logistics and supply chain managers; Phoenix Logistics has been consistently recognized with this honor.

"When choosing the 2021 Top 100 3PL Providers, Inbound Logistics editors specifically targeted providers who offer the innovation, visibility, flexibility, speed, and control that drive the supply chain solutions our audience needs to achieve their goals and meet customers' evolving needs," Felecia Stratton, Editor of Inbound Logistics said. "Inbound Logistics is proud to honor Phoenix Logistics for innovative solutions empowering logistics, supply chain, and transportation excellence in 2021."

"The delivery of innovative solutions and outstanding service have always comprised the cornerstone of Phoenix Logistics' mission," said Robert Kriewaldt, Phoenix Logistics' Senior Vice President. "These values continue to inform our day-to-day operations as we provide engineering, manufacturing, information technology, and logistics and supply chain services to the defense, aerospace, and industrial markets. We are honored to be recognized for our success within the field."

About Phoenix Logistics

Strategic Real Estate. Applied Technology. Tailored Service. Creativity. Flexibility. These fundamentals reflect everything we provide at Phoenix Logistics. Most logistic competitors work to win 3PL contracts, and then attempt to secure the real estate to support it. As an affiliate of giant industrial real estate firm Phoenix Investors, Phoenix Logistics quickly secures real estate solutions across its portfolio of 40 million square feet or leverages its market and financial strength to quickly source and acquire real estate to meet our clients' needs. At Phoenix Logistics, we provide specialized support in locating and attaining the correct logistics solutions for every client we serve. Visit https://phoenix3pl.com to learn more.

SOURCE Phoenix Logistics, LLC

Related Links

https://phoenix3pl.com


NEW YORK, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Daily Malong, a Pinay-owned fashion brand centered around empowering indigenous artists and weavers in the Philippines, will participate in this year's New York Fashion Week, produced by hiTechMODA.

Lydia Querian, Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Daily Malong, aims to build awareness of "uncommon" Filipino textiles in a more prominent platform like New York Fashion Week. Querian said, "I decided to work with hiTechMODA because they promote fashion brands focused on environmental, sustainability, and inclusivity."

Daily Malong

Daily Malong's debut in NY Fashion Week is themed around "Indigenous is the Future." The term "indigenous" is often associated with old, ancient, or primitive. Daily Malong's latest collection wants to change that narrative by bringing the indigenous to the present and future. Daily Malong was built to help the Pilipinx in the diaspora better understand themselves through fashion as they navigate their identity.

Daily Malong partnered with Darzah, a Palestinian woman-owned nonprofit and ethical fashion brand. Darzah works with refugee and low-income women artisans in Palestine's West Bank who handcrafted and hand-embroider each of Darzah's pieces.

Daily Malong also partnered with Maggie's Box, a Filipino brand offering a variety of footwear for women on the go. Each of their shoes is handcrafted in the Philippines.

Darzah and Maggie's Box will be providing Daily Malong footwear to complete the runway looks. Daily Malong's curated partners share the same goal of celebrating and preserving each other's cultures on a big platform, such as New York Fashion Week.

"Bringing indigenous weaving practices to the future perpetuates time-tested traditions, helping the present and protecting the future," said Querian. "Each indigenous textile worn today helps wearers and weavers navigate societal atrocities, prevent climate change, and restore a more sustainable environment."

Daily Malong's runway is on Sept. 10, 2021, at the Edison Hotel. For more information on Daily Malong, visit their website at www.dailymalong.com and their Instagram and Facebook @DailyMalong.

About Daily Malong

Daily Malong strives to empower Indigenous Filipino artisans to continue their living traditions by extending appreciation in the diaspora. Daily Malong is an e-commerce store promoting the application of indigenous handwoven textiles on modern wearables offering handwoven products sourced from different indigenous communities in the Philippines through different apparels, accessories and home goods. The store is proud of its sustainable operations by working directly with communities.

About the Designer:

Lydia Querian is a designer, dancer, and musician who left her corporate career to pursue social entrepreneurship. She is originally from the Philippines and now based in San Francisco. She's done several collaborations and performances, having toured nationally and internationally with Dancing Earth, KulArts, Parangal Dance Company and Fusion Dance Project. Querian was a featured artist at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in 201. Lydia completed Fashion Design and Fashion business certification from Parsons New School and, as her work evolves, she frequently immerses with indigenous communities in both Southern and Northern Philippines.

Press Contact: Jemm Magaling

Email: [email protected]

Related Images

lq-daily-malong-founder.jpg

LQ Daily Malong Founder

Related Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOu1Ta7eFqM

SOURCE Daily Malong
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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


The Global Vegan Awards, Hosted by LUXlife, Celebrates Companies Providing the Best Products and Delivering a Positive Impact

VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Rritual Superfoods Inc. ("Rritual" or the "Company") (CSE: RSF) (FWB: 0RW) (OTCQB: RRSFF) is thrilled to announce that the Company's product line has been nominated on the shortlist for the Global Vegan Awards 2021, hosted by LUXlife.

The Global Vegan Awards 2021, showcase "truly remarkable global businesses and professionals who have brought about positive change through a plant-based lifestyle." The awards are based on "industry excellence, overall performance, client experience/feedback and incredible innovation."

"At this early stage of our development, Rritual Superfoods is really excited to be recognized by LUXlife and shortlisted for the Global Vegan Awards 2021," said Mr. David Kerbel, Rritual CEO and Director. "With a strong reputation and significant platform, this is an opportunity to increase awareness and instill confidence in new and existing markets for the Rritual Superfoods product line."

LUXlife has a circulation of 238,000 professionals globally, spanning over 170 countries, delivering significant reach through its platform for brands to gain awareness amongst its global readership.

About LUX Lifestyle

LUXlife Magazine is a premium lifestyle publication which was founded in 2015 by the publishing company AI Global Media Ltd. Distributed to a circulation of 238,000 globally, LUXlife focuses on a range of topics within the luxury lifestyle industry, featuring articles on; fashion, beauty, fine dining, travel, luxury real estate and much more. Within our pages you'll find everything from product news and reviews, to in-depth pieces on trends, features and comment; all designed to inform, entertain and inspire.

About Rritual

Rritual is a fast-growing functional superfood company that creates natural wellness products which support a holistic approach to a healthy lifestyle. The company is poised to dominate a segment where demand and sales are growing exponentially. Under the executive leadership with over 100 years of CPG pedigree, Rritual has launched distribution to major retailers and is positioning itself as a leader in the functional health and wellness industry as a superfood platform. Rritual markets organic wellness products in the United States through initial retail rollout which includes over 10,000 points of sale and through www.rritual.com.

Follow Rritual on Twitter , LinkedIn , Facebook , and Instagram .

Functional Foods Market

According to Grandview Research*, it is estimated that the global functional food market is projected to reach $275 billion by 2025, growing at 7.9% each year with consumers putting more emphasis on health and wellness.



*https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-functional-foods-market



Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements") that relate to Rritual's current expectations and views of future events. Any statements that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, through the use of words or phrases such as "will likely result", "are expected to", "expects", "will continue", "is anticipated", "anticipates", "believes", "estimated", "intends", "plans", "forecast", "projection", "strategy", "objective" and "outlook") are not historical facts and may be forward-looking statements and may involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. No assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release. In particular and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the Company's plans to leverage third party manufacturing and logistics, the Company's broader retail distribution plans and the Company's other plans, focus and objectives.

Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Rritual's control, which could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the impact and progression of the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors set forth under "Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in the final long form prospectus of the Company dated February 26, 2021 and available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Rritual undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Rritual to predict all of them or assess the impact of each such factor or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Any forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

SOURCE Rritual Superfoods Inc.
Indoor Grow Acquisition to Increase Cultivation Capacity

OTCQX: SHWZ

DENVER, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Schwazze, (OTCQX: SHWZ) ("Schwazze" or the "Company"), has entered into an to agreement to acquire the assets of Brow 2, LLC, located in Denver, Colorado. The planned transaction includes a 37,000 square foot building (27,000 square feet of canopy) for indoor cultivation and equipment. This transaction continues Schwazze's aggressive expansion in Colorado and will significantly enhance the Company's cultivation resources, providing product directly to its seventeen Star Buds brand dispensaries.

The consideration for the planned acquisition is $6.7 million and will be paid in cash at closing. The acquisition is expected to close in the third quarter of 2021 after the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division and local licensing approval.

"We are looking forward to adding the Brow team to the growing Schwazze family. This acquisition will add a talented team of growers, high-quality indoor flower cultivation capacity, new strain genetics, and another profitable asset to our platform. The new facility will supply our growing network of dispensaries and customers with a broad assortment of high-quality indoor flower," said Justin Dye, Schwazze's CEO.

About Schwazze

Schwazze (OTCQX: SHWZ) is the parent company of a portfolio of vertically integrated cannabis brands spanning seed to sale. The company's intent is to apply its operational playbook by expanding into markets where it can entrench itself in a leadership position. Anchored by a high-performance culture, Schwazze focuses on growth by purposeful design, combining customer-centric thinking and data science to test, measure, and drive desired outcomes. The company's leadership team has deep expertise in CPG, retail, and building consumer brands at Fortune 500 companies as well as in the cannabis sector. Schwazze is passionate about improving the human condition; making a difference in our communities; promoting diversity and inclusion; and doing its part to incorporate climate-conscious best practices.

Schwazze derives its name from the pruning technique of a cannabis plant to promote growth. Medicine Man Technologies, Inc. was Schwazze's former operating trade name. The corporate entity continues to be named Medicine Man Technologies, Inc.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements." Such statements may be preceded by the words "may," "will," "plan," "predicts," or similar words. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, are based on certain assumptions, and are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control and cannot be predicted or quantified. Consequently, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with (i) our inability to manufacture our products and product candidates on a commercial scale on our own or in collaboration with third parties; (ii) difficulties in obtaining financing on commercially reasonable terms; (iii) changes in the size and nature of our competition; (iv) loss of one or more key executives or scientists; (v) difficulties in securing regulatory approval to market our products and product candidates; (vi) our ability to successfully execute our growth strategy in Colorado and outside the state, (vii) our ability to consummate the acquisition described in this press release or to identify and consummate future acquisitions that meet our criteria, (viii) our ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses and realize synergies therefrom, (ix) the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, * the timing and extent of governmental stimulus programs, and (xi) the uncertainty in the application of federal, state and local laws to our business, and any changes in such laws. More detailed information about the Company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Investors and security holders are urged to read these documents free of charge on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as required by law.

SOURCE Medicine Man Technologies, Inc.
BOULDER, Colo., Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- For the first time, Space Symposium attendees will have the opportunity to see SciTec, Inc. exhibit elements of its transformative "App Works" ecosystem on the symposium floor. SciTec, Inc., an innovative small business headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey, is bringing a team of scientists, developers, and customer solution leaders to showcase the company's products delivering advanced mission data processing for space-based missile warning/missile defense and related applications.

SciTec focuses on rapid, agile delivery of mission-performant, user-centered products through its unique App Works infrastructure and process. App Works teams leverage DevSecOps enterprise resources and customer-facing Agile processes to efficiently and securely adapt and advance industry-leading foundational products for signal-chain processing and domain-agnostic data fusion into bespoke solutions for customer mission needs. For U.S. Government customers, SciTec delivers software with the data rights, built-in testing, user documentation, and build tooling necessary for Government-Owned Technical Baseline and long-term sustainability.

"With today's information-driven warfighter requirements and need for integration across multiple domains, industry can no longer deliver vendor-locked, stove-piped software." said David Simenc, Executive Director of Tactical Systems. "SciTec developed our App Works concept to bridge the gap between commercially proven practices and no-fail defense mission needs, with Government ownership as a foundational philosophy. Our App Works team have already shown the power of the approach. Success stories include the Sensor Open Framework Architecture (SOFA) effort for the Space Force where we refactored and modernized legacy vendor-locked code into a fully open solution in place at the TAP Lab, OBAC and NASIC, and the Fusion Engine for All Source Tracking (FEAST) activity which is delivering multi-domain, multi-security level Fusion as a Service for USTRATCOM at a fraction of the cost of traditional monolithic fusion systems."

David continued, "SciTec's App Works model is really being put to the test on Space Systems Command's Future Operationally Resilient Ground Evolution (FORGE) application provider prototype competition. We're nearing the finish line with our fourth and final demo on the prototype effort shortly after Space Symposium. In just 12 months we will have stood up a full suite of prototype Mission Data Processing applications, operating on the FORGE framework, that demonstrates sensor agnostic end-to-end processing of OPIR systems, including surrogate NextGen Geo data, and a modernized operator interface  all ready to scale into the complete, certified Production solution." SciTec's partners on the FORGE MDPAP prototype include L3Harris, Raytheon, Outside Analytics, Monterey Technologies, Cosmic AES, and Centil.

Jim Lisowski, CEO, added, "Our App Works is not just about the ground systems. We're working to deliver this mission processing capability on-board the satellites that support the autonomous operation and low-latency network processing demanded of future space layers. Building upon decades-long expertise developing advanced instrumentation, we started an internal R&D effort in 2015 to move our image processing libraries onto custom, commercial small SWaP computers. Through the Small Business Innovative Research program and other funded efforts, we've matured that code to perform on today's focal plane arrays and a variety of space-qualified processors and delivered capability into orbit."

Combining ground and space processing, SciTec was recently awarded a contract under the Space Development Agency's Mission-Specific Application Prototypes BAA to develop a robust mission data processing capability in support of their Battle Management Command, Control, and Communications (BMC3) Tracking Layer objectives. As part of this effort, SciTec will deliver the ground software for track fusion, correlation, and reporting from Tracking Layer data to support SDA's Tranche 0 Warfighter Capstone demonstration. Concurrently, they will research and develop initial on-board processing for future BMC3 demonstrations.

Looking to the future, SciTec is applying their App Works model to new customer challenges. "The next application for SciTec's App Works takes us beyond space and missiles" said Dr. Jen Wilbur, Director of Future Systems. "We are bringing low-latency edge processing, deployed throughout sensor layers, to multiple missions across terrestrial, air, and space domains, including counter UAS. With sensor specific processing at the edge, we're able to rapidly extract and transport key data to mission processing computers and deliver actionable information to users."

If you're attending Space Symposium, plan to stop by booth #215 in Exhibit Center South and talk with some of the staff of this dynamic and innovative company.

SOURCE Scitec

Related Links

www.scitec.com


STOCKHOLM, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Securitas is pleased to invite investors, analysts and financial media to our Virtual Investor Day on Tuesday December 7, 2021, at 14.00 CET to approx. 17.00. The event will provide a strategic and financial update, including status and achievements of our transformation programs and our intelligent security services journey.

A formal invitation including the program will follow closer to the event.

Further information:

Investors: Micaela Sjokvist, Head of Investor Relations, mobile: +46 (0) 76 116 7443; [email protected]

Media: Helena Andreas, SVP Communications & People +46 10 470 30 20; [email protected]

Securitas is the world's leading intelligent protective services partner. Our guarding, electronic security, fire and safety, and risk management solutions enable more than 150,000 clients to see a different world. We are present in 48 markets and our innovative, data-driven approach makes us a trusted partner to many of the world's best-known companies. Our 355,000 employees live our values of integrity, vigilance and helpfulness, and our purpose is to help make your world a safer place.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/securitas/r/securitas-virtual-investor-day---tuesday-december-7---save-the-date,c3401275

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/1062/3401275/1457455.pdf Save the date cmd ENG

SOURCE Securitas
MELBOURNE, Australia, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Melbourne biotech company Starpharma has announced the publication of new data demonstrating the capability of its Viraleze antiviral nasal spray to protect against SARS-CoV-2 in an animal challenge model of SARS-CoV-2 infection[1]. Viraleze administered nasally reduced viral load by more than 99.9% in the lungs and trachea of animals challenged with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, compared to saline-control.

The findings, published in the peer-reviewed journal Viruses, in a special issue titled Medical Interventions for Treatment and Prevention of SARS-CoV-2 Infections (https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/13/8/1656), provides further validation for Viraleze against SARS-CoV-2.

The antiviral agent in Viraleze, SPL7013, has previously been shown in vitro to have potent antiviral and virucidal activity in multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2, including inactivation of >99.9% of the Delta variant.

Viraleze was developed for application in the nasal cavity to help reduce exposure to respiratory viruses, including SARS-CoV-2. The product is registered for sale in Europe and India, and available online in certain markets via www.viraleze.co.

Global data indicates that vaccines against COVID-19 are highly effective in preventing hospitalisation and death, but that vaccinated individuals can still become infected and shed virus. Complementary interventions, like Viraleze, could potentially be used to reduce viral load at the primary site of initial infection and could also be helpful to reduce shedding of infectious virus.

The latest study, conducted at The Scripps Research Institute, used a humanised SARS-CoV-2 mouse model recommended by the WHO. The results show that Viraleze administered nasally significantly reduced SARS-CoV-2 viral load in the respiratory tract, in the blood and in other organs in Viraleze treated animals.

The impressive protective effects of Viraleze in this SARS-CoV-2 animal model are consistent with the previously reported virucidal activity of SPL7013[2], demonstrating potent antiviral activity in multiple respiratory viruses and multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2.

Starpharma CEO, Dr Jackie Fairley, said: "In this study Viraleze was highly protective against SARS-CoV-2 challenge in an established SARS-CoV-2 animal model of coronavirus infection. These results provide compelling data supporting the utility of a broad-spectrum nasal spray, like Viraleze, to potentially reduce exposure to SARS-CoV-2 virus in respiratory tract and other organs. One of the potential advantages of Viraleze is its ability to significantly reduce viral load in the respiratory tract, which could lower both the transmissibility of the virus to others and severity of disease."

[1] The study used the K18-hACE2 mouse model, an in vivo humanised mouse model that expresses the human angiotensin converting enzyme (hACE2) receptor, the receptor used by SARS-CoV-2 to infect cells in the human nasal cavity and respiratory tract. [2] Paull, J.R.A. et al. Virucidal and antiviral activity of astodrimer sodium against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro (2021). Antiviral Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.antiviral.2021.105089

SOURCE Starpharma
Playa Bowls is a healthy living restaurant concept with over 126 stores nationwide, the majority being franchised. Playa Bowls began as a small business in Belmar, NJ, dedicated to its mission of leading communities in healthy, sustainable living. Using the freshest, highest quality ingredients, Playa Bowls serves healthy, delicious acai, pitaya, coconut bowls and smoothies with sustainability and community in mind.

Rob Guiliani, CEO of Playa Bowls, said "We are delighted to be partnering with Tamarix and Pacific General to fuel our growth. Their operating skills and financial acumen will help Playa Bowls execute our exciting growth plan and attract more franchisees over the coming years."

"Rob, Abby and their team have built a remarkable business with a product offering that is right for today," said Mark Hauser, Managing Partner at Tamarix. "It's a fun and upbeat better-for-you product with locations across states in the US. We look forward to working with this high-performance team to continue their growth and innovation."

Matthew Yoon, CEO of Pacific General, added "Our partnership with Tamarix has helped us support Playa Bowls' growth for years to come. We are excited about Playa Bowls' future in the United States and internationally."

About Tamarix Equity Partners

Tamarix is a NY-based private equity firm managed by Mark Hauser and Gary Matthews, focused on investing in lower middle market businesses. The firm provides financial and operational skills to assist family-owned and founder-operated businesses grow revenues and profits.



www.tamarixcapital.com

About Pacific General

Pacific General is a private investment firm focused on cross border angle and transactions with offices in New York and Seoul, South Korea. The firm's investment approach is to assist U.S. based business expand international markets to Asia and Middle East.

www.pacificgeneral.com

About Playa Bowls

Founded by surfers Abby Taylor & Rob Giuliani, Playa Bowls was born out of the desire to recreate the delicious, refreshing, healthy versions of acai and pitaya bowls the pair encountered on various surf trips to Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, California, and Hawaii. At each beach, they discovered new and unique twists on this popular post-surf treat and came home wanting more. The pair set up a blender and a folding table on the boardwalk in their hometown of Belmar, and Playa Bowls was born. Seven years and millions of bowls later, Playa Bowls continues to offer superfruit bowls with a mission to lead communities in healthy, sustainable living.

www.playabowls.com

SOURCE Playa Bowls LLC

Related Links

https://www.playabowls.com/


DUBLIN, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Education Market in UAE 2021-2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The publisher has been monitoring the education market in UAE and it is poised to grow by $ 97.12 thousand during 2021-2025, progressing at a CAGR of over 2% during the forecast period.

The report on the education market in UAE provides a holistic analysis, market size and forecast, trends, growth drivers, and challenges, as well as vendor analysis covering around 25 vendors.

The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. The market is driven by increasing student enrollments and increasing focus toward privatization in the education sector.

The education market in UAE analysis includes end-user and ownership segments.

The education market in UAE is segmented as below:

By End-user

K12 schools

Higher education

By Ownership

Private education

Public education

This study identifies supporting government initiatives as one of the prime reasons driving the education market growth in UAE during the next few years.

The report on education market in UAE covers the following areas:

Education market sizing in UAE

Education market forecast in UAE

Education market industry analysis in UAE

The publisher recognizes the following companies as the key players in the education market in UAE: ASPAM Indian International School, Blackboard Inc., Dubai International Academy Emirates Hills, GEMS Education, Higher Colleges of Technology, JSS Private School, Liwa International School, Taaleem, United Arab Emirates University, and Zayed University.

Commenting on the report, an analyst from the research team said: `The latest trend gaining momentum in the market is supporting government initiatives.`

According to the report, one of the major drivers for this market is the increasing student enrollments.

The study was conducted using an objective combination of primary and secondary information including inputs from key participants in the industry. The report contains a comprehensive market and vendor landscape in addition to a SWOT analysis of the key vendors.

Key Topics Covered:



Executive Summary

Market Landscape

Market ecosystem

Value chain analysis

Market Sizing

Market definition

Market segment analysis

Market size 2020

Market outlook: Forecast for 2020 - 2025

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 End-user

Market segments

Comparison by End-user

K12 schools - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Higher education - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Market opportunity by End-user

Market Segmentation by Ownership

Market segments

Comparison by Ownership

Private education - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Public education - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Market opportunity by Ownership

Customer landscape

Market drivers

Market challenges

Market trends

Vendor Landscape

Overview

Vendor landscape

Landscape disruption

Vendor Analysis

Appendix



Companies Mentioned

ASPAM Indian International School

Blackboard Inc.

Dubai International Academy Emirates Hills

GEMS Education

Higher Colleges of Technology

JSS Private School

Liwa International School

Taaleem

United Arab Emirates University

University Zayed University

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/i4dulb

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


BROOMFIELD, Colo. and HOUSTON, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Vita Inclinata (Vita), developer and producer of helicopter and crane load stabilization and precision hardware, today announced it shipped its first system to HOLT Crane & Equipment (HOLT), a leading provider of heavy equipment, service, and parts. The system the Vita Load Pilot, part of the Vita Lifting System family  departed Vita Headquarters in Broomfield, CO for a 1,000 mile journey to Houston, TX. The Vita Load Pilot gives the construction industry a tool to efficiently and precisely place crane loads. Even in high winds, the system automatically adjusts to keep the load stable; all the while keeping the load in a precise orientation of the rigger's choosing without the use of a tagline. The Vita Load Pilot is a tool to ensure a safer workforce without replacing workers, while simultaneously increasing efficiency on job sites.

HOLT Crane & Equipment The Vita Lifting System - Load Pilot

"Safety is where we see the biggest advantage  distancing someone from the load and allowing someone to set the load without the use of a tagline," said David Worsham, General Manager, HOLT. "Everyone in the construction industry is becoming more aware of safety in their organization, especially at HOLT. That will be the foundation of this. We are an organization of these values."

Vita and HOLT announced a contract manufacturing agreement on July 12, 2021 following a live demonstration of the technology in March 2021 (https://vitatech.co/2021/07/12/vita-inclinata-announces-distribution-partnership-with-holt-crane-equipment/). This week, HOLT will be receiving the first of six Vita Lifting Systems on order. Vita is thrilled to have HOLT as the first distributor in their national reseller network. HOLT will represent Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana, and Oklahoma.

Vita's CEO and President, Caleb Carr, shared his elation on the company's biggest milestone since its inception in 2015: "I'm very excited to see the direction Vita is headed. With the support and shared excitement from HOLT, this is a big win on both fronts. I can't wait to see our technology on job sites and saving lives."

About HOLT Crane & Equipment

Established in 2011, HOLT Crane & Equipment is the authorized Link-Belt crane dealer for central, north, east and parts of Southwest Texas and Southern New Mexico; with facilities in Houston, Irving and San Antonio. In addition to selling, servicing, and carrying parts for new and used cranes, HOLT Crane & Equipment is an authorized Isuzu, Cummins, and Mitsubishi engine dealer. HOLT Crane & Equipment offers express lube service, preventative maintenance, radiator repair, welding-machining & fabrication, hydraulic service, undercarriage service and painting. In 2021, HOLT Crane & Equipment became an authorized dealer for Magni Telescopic Handlers and Vita Inclinata's Load Stability System.

About Vita Inclinata

A friend's death during a rescue operationwith a helicopter close but unable to stabilize due to weather and terrainwas the genesis of Vita Inclinata. Founded in 2015 as a way to solve a real problem, Vita today controls chaotic swinging and spin, and adds safety and precision for rotor wing and fixed wing aircraft and cranes. With the mission of "Bring them home, every time," Vita's technology changes the narrative while saving lives, time and money across industries, including search and rescue, military, firefighting, public safety, construction, wind energy, and oil and gas. The company is headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado, with offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, Alabama. For more information, please visit www.vitatech.co.

Media contact:

Sidney Reed

833-600-8482

SOURCE Vita Inclinata
DUBLIN, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Drone Service Providers Ranking 2020 Report" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

This report provides the most comprehensive outline and analysis of commercial drone service providers. The Drone Service Providers Ranking 2020 is based on months of monitoring, research and analysis by the research team and the publisher's drone service provider ranking model which was built based on years of experience in the commercial drone industry and an intimate understanding of the drone market.

The Drone Service Providers Ranking Model is based on a unique approach which (among other parameters) takes into account market shares, market activity and public attention to competitively compare drone service providers. As a result of this model, the rankings in this report are both comprehensive and reliable. They are a product of both qualitative and quantitative research and analysis, and a look beyond the hype that drones have experienced in the past few years.

The 45-page report contains the two Drone Service Providers rankings: Top 20 ranking for drone delivery and Top 40 ranking for remote sensing of drone service providers in the world.

The rankings are summed up and analysed, and followed by company profiles of the Top 10 commercial drone service providers per category. The company profiles outline company partnerships, products and activities. Finally, this report also includes a .xlsx file with company information over 900 drone service providers.

Key Topics Covered:

GLOSSARY

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY

Research Methodology

Scope Definition & Research Design

Report Creation

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Drones: Where Did They Come From?

1.2 Major Segments of the Drone Ecosystem

1.3 Drone Application Methods

1.4 Drone Market Industries and Use Cases

1.5 Market Dynamics

2 DRONE SERVICE PROVIDERS

2.1 Remote Sensing Drone Service Providers

2.1.1 Top 40 Ranking

2.1.2 Top 10 Company Profiles

2.2 Delivery Drone Service Providers

2.2.1 Top 20 Ranking

2.2.2 Top 10 Company Profiles

Appendix: Industry Definitions

CHARTS

Chart 1: Drone technology stack

Chart 2: Drone hardware

Chart 3: Drone software

Chart 4: Drone services

Chart 5: Commercial drone market segmentation

Chart 6: Drone application methods

TABLES

Table 1: Commercial drone use cases across industries

Table 2: Top 1-20 Remote Sensing Drone Service Providers

Table 3: Top 21-40 Remote Sensing Drone Service Providers

Table 4: Top 20 Delivery Drone Service Providers

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/do35eh

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


i3 Energy PLC ( ) told investors it has now completed its transaction to acquire assets in central Alberta from ( ) for C$65mln.

The company, in a statement, described the deal as a strategic acquisition and said it expects the addition will deliver strong free cash flow.

Operationally, it is expected to bring extensive operational synergies, predictable low-decline production and a large reserve base with multi-year development opportunities.

"The company is very pleased to have closed this strategic acquisition, following an intense period of preparatory work to ensure a seamless integration of the new assets into our existing business, said chief executive Majid Shafiq.
John Seaberg was senior vice president and CFO of Calibre Mining, which has two producing mines in Nicaragua

( , , , ) ( ), the Nicaragua-focused gold group, has appointed 25-year mining veteran John Seaberg as its new chief financial officer with effect from 1 September 2021.

Mark Child, Condors chairman and chief executive, said he was delighted with the appointment, adding: Seaberg has extensive experience as a CFO while also being actively involved in corporate development and investors relations.

Until recently, he was senior vice president and CFO of Calibre Mining, which has two producing mines in Nicaragua.

Furthermore, Seaberg strengthens our leadership team as Condor continues its twin strategy of constructing and operating a new processing plant, using the recently acquired new SAG Mill package, which has a capacity of 2,300tpd and is estimated to produce circa 100,000 oz gold per annum at its fully permitted, 100% owned La India Project in Nicaragua, while demonstrating a 5mln oz Gold District.

Child also thanked Jeffrey Karoly, who has been Condor's part-time CFO for four years, while simultaneously serving as CFO of TSX-v listed Rupert Resources.
( , , , ) (CSE:YOOM, OTC:LVVEF, AQSE:YOOM, ) Jordan Greenberg joins Proactive London to talk about their first acquisition since their listing on London's AQSE Growth Market last week.

The 10.2mln acquisition of Vitality CBD Limited, a market leader in cannabidiol products, is all part of its ongoing buy-and-build strategy which Greenberg details for viewers.

Vitalitys has a large presence at mainstream retail outlets such as Boots, Tesco, Asda and Lloyds Pharmacy, expanding the group's target customer base and distribution network for its existing European-focused brands, including the MYO plant nutrition platform.
JP Morgan Cazenove listed a number of stock drivers as it upgraded its call

Electronic publisher ( ) is a free option on American Families Plan (AFP), according to an influential London broker that has upgraded the stock to overweight.

JP Morgan Cazenove (JPMC) reckons the shares, which have underperformed the STOXX Europe 600 by 30% in the year to date, are worth 960p each (or 25% more than they are worth today).

The AFP, meanwhile, should drive substantial investment into community colleges, which in turn should benefit those involved in the sector, such as Pearson, JPMC pointed out.

Its analysts listed a series of potential stock drivers for the FTSE 100 group, including a post-pandemic recovery and asset sales that could then pave the way for share buybacks and value-accretive M&A activity.

Late morning, Pearson shares were changing hands for 780p, up 3%.
A world-class epithermal-style gold expert led the Blackdome review, highlighting the potential to discover new gold-silver epithermal veins near the existing, permitted project mine plant.

( , ) has uncovered further exploration potential at its Blackdome Gold Project in southern British Columbia, Canada, thanks to an alteration study.

The data review was undertaken by Dr Jeffrey Hedenquist, one of the worlds pre-eminent experts on epithermal style gold mineralisation, and indicates the Canadian gold project has the scope to host further gold mineralisation.

Specifically, studies suggest there is potential to discover new gold-silver epithermal veins near the existing, permitted Blackdome mine plant.

In addition, the Blackdome mineralisation likely extends deeper than previously thought, with multiple, high-grade assays reported under the mined stopes.

Strong potential for further discovery

Tempus president and CEO Jason Bahnsen said: The Blackdome Gold Mine produced approximately 230,000 ounces of gold between 1985 and 1991 at an average mill head grade of almost 22 g/t.

The alteration study shows that the previous drilling and mining was high up in the epithermal system, indicating there is strong potential for significant discovery of additional mineralisation directly below previously mined areas and also for new vein discoveries to the west.

Extensive review

The alteration study was founded on a review of drill core photographs and data from Blackdome conducted by Dr Hedenquist.

Last year, Tempus collected infrared samples from more than 1,000 diamond drill core pump samples and 50 mine coarse reject samples to analyse at a specialist facility in Reno, Nevada.

This type of evaluation improves the geologists ability to detect hydrous alteration minerals and parameters not visible to the eye, particularly in a low-sulfidation epithermal environment like the main gold mineralising event at Blackdome.

Giant Vein shows promise

Drilling over the 2020 season targeted four veins at the gold mine, indicating textures above Blackdomes boiling zone  a structure that typically forms the main bonanza high-grade zone of an epithermal gold system.

Another point of interest was the wide, low-temperature mineral intersections in three drill holes, followed by several metres of higher-temperature minerals at end-of-hole.

These holes were drilled well beyond the Giant Vein toward the west and are seemingly entering a new zone, where epithermal fluids may have been at the right conditions for gold-silver mineralisation north and west of the Giant vein.

Interestingly, regions to the north and west of this vein have never been drill tested, although soil sampling in 2018 identified two silver and gold trends at the southern extent of the soil grid that coincide with airborne magnetic trends.

Tempus now considers these highly prospective targets that warrant further exploration.

High-grade gold hits linked to Blackdome veins

Meanwhile, historical drilling at the No.3 Vein intersected wide zones of mineralisation with narrow high-grade gold veins, hitting up to 28 g/t gold.

Quartz vein textures, along with the presence of smectite, also places these gold intercepts at shallow paleo-depths over the top of an epithermal gold-silver system.

Another data review of the No.1 and No.2 veins suggest these structures continue down plunge deeper than previously thought.

In fact, several drill hole intervals below 150 metres boast double-digit and even triple-digit gold grades.

Drilling below the mined stopes at Blackdome is minimal, so continued drilling would likely define additional gold ounces.

Similar epithermal gold deposits in New Zealand typically have a vertical extent of approximately 170 to 300 metres, which proves favourable for Blackdome.

Thats because the vast majority of the historically produced 230,000 gold ounces was mined over a vertical interval of around 100 metres, based on the outline of the existing stopes.

Drilling continues at Elizabeth

Meanwhile, over at the Elizabeth Gold Project, Tempus has completed 4,500 metres of drilling since an exploration program kicked off in early June.

Drill hole EZ-21-17 is underway, while samples from holes five to 14 are in the lab.

Tempus vows to disclose further results as they come through, with visible gold and bonanza grades already reported to the market.
Due to the ongoing success of the VC-07 drill program, Azure has further increased the scale of the resource drill-out, with completion now expected by the end of 2021 and release of the maiden mineral resource estimate in 2022.

VC-07 East nickel-copper sulphide deposit now exceeds 400 metres in strike, extends from 50 metres below surface to more than 500 metres depth, and is open for expansion.

( ) is continuing to successfully intersect substantial visible nickel and copper sulphide mineralisation from its resource definition drilling program on the VC-07 East nickel-copper sulphide deposit at the Andover Project (60% Azure / 40% Creasy Group) in Western Australia.

22 new drill holes intersected multiple intervals of massive, semi-massive, matrix and heavily disseminated nickel-copper sulphides, with some of the broader intersections being:

46.2 metres of nickel-copper sulphides from 528.0m (ANDD0055);

21.8 metres from 404.6m (ANDD0067);

37.6 metres from 313.2m (ANDD0068);

18.7 metres from 360.0m (ANDD0069);

20.1 metres from 298.5m (ANDD0073); and

14.8 metres from 247.6m (ANDD0076).

Azure managing director Tony Rovira said: Were excited with the ongoing success of our resource definition drilling program which continues to significantly increase the size and scale of VC-07 East, with most holes into and around this deposit intersecting substantial nickel and copper sulphide mineralisation.

Importantly, recent drilling has returned multiple good looking Ni-Cu sulphide intersections in the upper part of the deposit, bringing the Ni-Cu sulphide mineralisation to within 50m of surface.

In addition to this near surface mineralisation, drilling continues to expand the deposit down-dip and along strike to the west, with the mineralised system remaining open in these directions.

Three rigs drilling around the clock

To date, Azure has completed 80 diamond drill holes for 36,816 metres at Andover, with 72 holes drilled at VC-07 and 8 holes drilled at the VC-23 prospect.

Three rigs are drilling around the clock at VC-07 East, with a primary focus on completing the drill-out of the deposit this year and delivering a maiden mineral resource in 2022.

Assay turnaround time is now at 8-10 weeks due to laboratory overload.

Next steps

Azures +40,000-metre diamond drilling program at Andover has confirmed the VC-07 prospect hosts a mineralised system containing multiple zones of nickel and copper sulphide mineralisation, with the VC-07 East zone developing into a significant nickel-copper sulphide deposit.

The mineral resource definition drilling program on the VC-07 East deposit is nearing completion and when this is concluded, Azure will re-focus the drilling campaign to expanding the VC-07 West mineralised zone to resource status.

Downhole electromagnetic (DHTEM) surveying along the VC-07 mineralised corridor continues to provide targeting for additional mineralised extensions, assisting in future drill planning.

The Andover regional exploration program will focus on drill-testing other EM conductor anomalies identified on the property, for example at VC-23, VC-18, VC-41, when heritage and statutory approvals of those sites have been granted.

Rovira added: The company is also undertaking infill drilling of the deposit to close up the hole spacing and ensure that, when the drill-out is completed, we can deliver a robust maiden mineral resource for Andovers first nickel copper sulphide deposit.
Aligarh/Bulandshahr, Aug 23 : The mortal remains of former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh will be cremated at the Narora Ghat in Bulandshahr on Monday afternoon.

Aligarh BJP MP Satish Gautam, said: "The funeral procession will begin from the stadium at 9 a.m. on Monday. After a brief halt at Atrauli, it will reach Dibai where the last rites will take place around 3 p.m." Chandrapal Singh, a close aide of late leader, said: "He always chose Atrauli over Dibai, but maintained that Aligarh is his 'Janambhoomi' while Bulandshahr his 'karambhoomi'. Therefore, he is being cremated in Dibai." Singh considered Dibai his 'karambhoomi' because he was elected to the Lok Sabha from Bulandshahr once and twice to the state Assembly from Dibai constituency.

Dibai is also the nearest Ganga ghat.

The mortal remains of the late leader were brought to the Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar Stadium on Sunday evening in an air ambulance from Lucknow.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath accompanied the remains.

Thousands queued up to pay their last respects to the late leader and cries of 'Jai Shree Ram' and 'Babu ji Amar Rahen' filled the air.

Singh was a teacher in Atrauli before taking a plunge into politics. He was first elected as MLA in 1967. He won 10 of the 11 Assembly polls he contested.

The BJP's top brass is likely to be present during the last rites, with workers claiming that over 5 lakh people are expected to attend the cremation.

Meanwhile, Abhishek Pandey, chief development officer (CDO) of Bulandshahr, said that the irrigation department's land is being cleaned up for the cremation.

The ground has a capacity to accommodate over 3,000 people but the nearby areas can accommodate a larger crowd.

"The body of Kalyan Singh will be bathed in Ganga before cremation," Pandey said.

Earlier on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP President J.P. Nadda and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had visited the departed leader's Lucknow residence to pay tributes.
Lucknow, Aug 23 : A photograph of the BJP flag placed over the national flag on the mortal remains of late Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh has kicked up a controversy on social media.

The photo, tweeted by the BJP, shows the body lying in state, draped by the Tricolour, but half of it was seen to be covered up by the party flag.

The party flag was placed on Singh's body over the national flag by BJP President J.P. Nadda and state BJP President Swatantra Dev Singh.

Samajwadi Party spokesperson Ghanshyam Tiwari criticised the BJP on the issue.

"Party above the Nation. Flag above the Tricolour. BJP as usual: no regret, no repentance, no sorrow, no grief," he tweeted.

Youth Congress chief Srinivas BV tweeted: "Is it ok to place party flag over Indian flag in New India?" A tweet from the Youth Congress official handle said: "BJP flag on top of tricolour! Are self-proclaimed patriots respecting or insulting the tricolour?"

Senior Congress leader and party MP Shashi Tharoor also took to Twitter to raise the issue.

"As one who had to fight a court case for four years merely for placing my hand on my heart during the singing of the National Anthem (rather than standing stiffly to attention), I think the nation should be told how the ruling party feels about this insult," he said.

Kalyan Singh, 89, had passed away on Saturday night after a prolonged illness that led to multi-organ failure.

Earlier on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited Lucknow to pay his respects to the departed leader.

It is noteworthy that Section 2 of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act says: "Whoever in any public place or in any other place within public view burns, mutilates, defaces, defiles, disfigures, destroys, tramples upon or otherwise shows disrespect to or brings into contempt (whether by words, either spoken or written, or by acts) the Indian National Flag or the Constitution of India or any part thereof, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both." Earlier this year, an instance of disrespect to the flag had taken place at the iconic Red Fort during the farmers' rally.

After the farmers entered the forecourt of the fort, climbed its ramparts, and hoisted a religious flag on a mast outside, the Centre said it would "not tolerate disrespect to the flag".
Kabul, Aug 23 : Although the security situation is comparatively stable compared when the Taliban took over Kabul on August 15, the Afghan capital's residents seemed doubtful about their future, pondering whether the current peace could be a lull before storm.

Since Kabul's fall to the Taliban, many government offices, schools and universities have remained closed.

The Taliban has however, repeatedly called upon government employees to return to their offices and resume their work normally, but many offices in the government and private sectors including banks, schools and universities have been out of business.

"Since last Sunday I have not been to my office as no one knows what would happen next hour or in the afternoon," a Kabul resident Noor Khan told Xinhua news agency on Sunday.

The 37-year-old Khan, an employee of the Passport Department in Kabul, claimed that none of his colleagues are going to return to the office.

"So far no government has been formed by the Taliban and Afghanistan has no president or any other head of state, which virtually means a "vacuum of power," another Kabul resident Ahmad Nawed told Xinhua.

While praising the Taliban fighters for returning peace in Kabul city, Nawed said that "the vacuum of power" could lead to a chaotic situation" in Afghanistan.

"I am afraid that the current peaceful environment like a lull before storm could lead to fighting" in the country, he said.

"I hope the Taliban would soon form their government," Nawed further said.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid has said that senior leaders of the group are engaged in talks with politicians to form a broad-based government.

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, political chief of the Taliban, arrived in Kabul on Saturday to consult with concerned politicians and groups on the formation of a new ruling body in Afghanistan.

Another resident, Mohammad Husain, a car mechanic, also appreciated the Taliban for ending the war and ensuring relative peace in Kabul, saying "peace is everything and lasting peace can ensure stable jobs and regular income" for everyone in the country.

He told Xinhua that his daily income has been affected recently.

Husain claimed that before Kabul's fall, he earned some 1,500 afghani ($17) to 2,000 afghani ($23) daily, but he currently earned between 500 afghani ($5) to 1,000 afghani ($11).

"I am doubtful about the future as the Taliban has yet to form their government, although it was already eight days following Kabul's fall. The armed oppositions are also active in parts of the country and they could create security problems," a fruit seller Hamidullah said.

Expressing concerns about the future of Afghanistan, he noted that the new administration may face daunting challenges if foreign counties continue to keep their diplomatic missions closed in Kabul.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Washington, Aug 23 : US President Joe Biden said that extending the deployment of troops for the evacuation mission in Afghanistan beyond the August 31 deadline has been under discussion.

Biden gave updated remarks about the ongoing evacuation while addressing reporters at the White House on Sunday afternoon, reports Xinhua news agency.

"There are discussions going on among us and the military about extending, our hope is we will not have to extend," said Biden when asked about the deadline.

"But there are going to be discussions, I suspect, on how far along we are in the process." Biden in July ordered the US military to end its mission in Afghanistan by the end of this month.

The US has been scrambling to evacuate Americans and its Afghan partners from the country since the Taliban entered the capital Kabul on August 15.

The US military had moved approximately 3,900 personnel out of Afghanistan over the last 24 hours, and the American and coalition aircraft have evacuated about 28,000 people since August 14, said Biden.

He said the US is executing a plan to move Americans to the Kabul airport compound and had extended access and the safe zone around the airport.

The President also noted the security environment is changing rapidly on the ground.

"We know that terrorists may seek to exploit the situation and target innocent Afghans or American troops," he said, pointing to potential terrorist threats from ISIS-K, the local affiliate of the Islamic State.

Earlier in the day, the Pentagon ordered commercial airlines to support the evacuation missions.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin had ordered the Commander of US Transportation Command "to activate Stage I of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF)", which provides the Pentagon access to commercial air mobility resources to support evacuation from Afghanistan, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said in a statement.

The statement added that the commercial planes would not fly into Kabul airport.

US Military aircraft will focus on operations in and out of Kabul, and commercial planes "will be used for the onward movement of passengers from temporary safe havens and interim staging bases".

This is the third time in history the US military has activated the CRAF, according to the Pentagon.

The first was for the Gulf War and the second for the Iraq War.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Kanpur : , Aug 23 (IANS) Senior Scientist, IIT Kanpur, Prof Manindra Aggarwal has claimed that the possibility of a third wave of corona infection is now negligible.

Releasing his new study based on his mathematical 'model formula', he has said that vaccination has further reduced this risk.

"The vaccination has ensured the reduction in the infection to a great extent. He said that states like UP, Bihar, Delhi are on the way to become almost infection free. However, the active cases in the country will remain close to 15,000 till the month of October as there will be infection in the Northeastern states and also Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Kerala," he told reporters.

Prof Agarwal claimed that by October, the number of cases in states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh will reach unit digit.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, two more patients of Corona in Kanpur became infection free in home isolation.

The number of new infections has been zero.

In Kanpur, 82,906 people had been infected with corona of which 80,991 patients have been cured. Among the cured patients, 69,616 found health benefits at home and only 11,375 patients got treatment in the hospital.

Chief medical officer Dr Nepal Singh said that now only 11 corona active cases are left in the city.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, Aug 23 : Actor Ali Fazal, who took the spotlight with his impactful performances in web-series and films, says it is the quality of work that will make talent stand out. However, there was a time, when he was just focussing on quantity that led to making many "sins".

Talking about what matters to him more -- quality or quantity of work, Ali in a chat with IANS said: "It's a subjective question for all actors. We all look for quality. If quantity comes with quality then it's even better but at this stage... maybe if I was asked a year ago, I would have said quantity." The 34-year-old actor: "I think somewhere some shift has happened and I really... It is all about quality. But I suppose I am at a stage where that quality comes with certain responsible parts so maybe I have the privilege to say quality." The actor made his Bollywood debut with a cameo appearance in the 2009 film "3 Idiots". He appeared next in "Always Kabhi Kabhi".

His tryst with success started with "Fukrey", "Victoria & Abdul" and series such as "Mirzapur".

"There was a time when I was focusing on quantity. So because of that I made many sins but anyway I will say quality," said Ali.

He added: "These days I think quality is what will make us stand out because it is going to be a lot of work and cinema on all kinds of platforms so I am sure a lot of people can do it but it is the quality that makes the difference between good and really good."
Stockholm, Aug 23 : Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said that he will step down in Novemberr.

The unexpected announcement by the leader of the Social Democratic Party was made on Sunday during his annual summer speech, reports xinhua news agency.

"I have been party chairman for 10 years, and Prime Minister for seven," he was quoted by local media as saying, "But everything has an end, and I want to give my successor the very best conditions," Lofven added.

In July, Lofven became Prime Minister for a third consecutive term shortly after becoming the first Swedish premier to be forced to resign following a no-confidence vote.

Following his unexpected announcement on Sunday, he told Swedish Television that until recently he was set on continuing for the next mandate period and that he only made the decision to step down during the summer.

He said his decision is meant to give his party better chances in the next general election scheduled for September 2022.

It was not yet clear who would replace Lofven.
August 23 : Salman Khan has started shooting for Tiger 3 in Russia. A bunch of his pictures shooting in Russia has been leaked on social media. Salmans fans are thrilled to get glimpses of the actors look from the film.

Salman and Katrina had left for Russia a few days back to kickstart their international shoot schedule that will last for more than a month. Helmed by Maneesh Sharma, Tiger 3 is a Yash Raj Films much-awaited project.

A fan of the actor posted a series of pictures on Instagram from the sets of Tiger 3 in Russia, wherein Salman Khan can be seen sporting a long brown beard and hair as he was being shot for a car chase sequence. Salman wore a red headband and a red jacket paired with a pair of jeans. The look seems to be one of his disguises as he plays a RAW agent. One of the pictures also shows the actor posing with his Russian fans.

Reportedly, during the Russia schedule, the most breathtaking action sequences will be shot with Salman and Katrina featuring in them. Shoot will reportedly take place in five international destinations including Russia, Austria, and Turkey. Emraan, who plays the antagonist in the film, will also join them in Russia. Salman, Emraan and Katrina had undergone rigorous training sessions to reprise their roles in Tiger 3.

After the lockdown restrictions were lifted this year, Salman and Katrina had resumed shooting for Tiger 3 at Yash Raj Films Studios in Mumbai in July end. Work on the film was halted abruptly in April this year due to the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. Thereafter, producer Aditya Chopra instructed to dismantle the expensive set at the SRPF Grounds in Goregaon as it was partially destroyed due to Cyclone Tauktae.

The big budget spy thriller Tiger 3 is the third instalment of the blockbuster Tiger franchise. The actors have been shooting in a closely guarded set, with all Covid-19 precautions.
Washington, Aug 23 : US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin ordered the country's airlines to provide 18 aircraft to support evacuation missions from Afghanistan, the Pentagon said.

Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said in a statement on Sunday that Austin has ordered the Commander of US Transportation Command "to activate Stage I of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF)", which provides the Pentagon access to commercial air mobility resources to support evacuation from Afghanistan, reports Xinhua news agency.

"The current activation is for 18 aircraft: three each from American Airlines, Atlas Air, Delta Air Lines and Omni Air; two from Hawaiian Airlines; and four from United Airlines," said the statement.

The statement added that the commercial planes would not fly into Kabul Airport.

US Military aircraft will focus on operations in and out of Kabul, and commercial planes "will be used for the onward movement of passengers from temporary safe havens and interim staging bases", it said.

This is the third time in history the military has activated CRAF, according to the Pentagon.

The first was during the Gulf War and the second the Iraq War.

The US has been scrambling to evacuate Americans and its Afghan partners from the country since Taliban forces entered the capital Kabul on August 15.
Badaun, Aug 23 : One person was killed and three others injured when the bike they were riding hit a police vehicle head-on in Uttar Pradesh's Badaun district.

The incident happened on Sunday. Two brothers and their wives from Gurugram were on their way to their native village in Badaun district for the Raksha Bandhan festival, when their bike collided with a police vehicle. All the four were riding on the bike and also were carrying some baggage, said the police.

One of the brothers died on the spot, while three others received serious injuries and are in hospital.

The incident took place on Sunday near the Dahgawa village when they tried to overtake roadways bus and crashed into a police vehicle coming from the opposite direction.

None of them were wearing helmets.

The deceased has been identified as Anupam Kumar, 29, and his wife Anshu, brother Harendra Kumar and sister-in-law Anita have been injured.

The condition of the two women was critical and they have been referred to a higher medical facility in Bareilly.

Harendra told police that his brother was driving and probably lost control as he was tired.

He said that they decided to travel on their bike because they had been unable to get seats in a bus or train due to the festival rush.

Sudhakar Pandey, SHO of Zarifnagar police station, said, "Initial investigation suggests it was the bike driver's fault." "There were four people on the bike along with baggage, making the ride risky. The family has not lodged any complaint so far."
Young Syrians with Down Syndrome work at a cafe called Sucette in the capital Damascus on Aug. 21, 2021. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua/IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Young Syrians with Down Syndrome work at a cafe called Sucette in the capital Damascus on Aug. 21, 2021. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua/IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Young Syrians with Down Syndrome work at a cafe called Sucette in the capital Damascus on Aug. 21, 2021. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua/IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Young Syrians with Down Syndrome work at a cafe called Sucette in the capital Damascus on Aug. 21, 2021. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua/IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Damascus, Aug 23 : Wearing brown uniforms with orange rims and matching hats, several young Syrians with Down Syndrome served between the tables, while some others stood behind a bar, preparing food and beverage at a cafe called Sucette.

This is Syria's first cafe run by 20 people with Down Syndrome, which was set up at the Tishreen park in the capital Damascus, reports xinhua news agency.

These waiters and waitresses created a good vibe at the cafe, not only by providing good service but also by playing music and dancing amid the claps and cheering of the customers.

The idea of Sucette was initiated by the Juzour Association, a local charitable organization that runs several humanitarian projects, one of which is organising events for people with Down Syndrome.

Last year, the Juzour Association began to try running a restaurant, which hired people with Down Syndrome, for one month. It turned out to be a success, and that is the foundation of how Sucette came into being.

Kholoud Rajab, board chairman of the association, told Xinhua that the project is aiming at breaking the stereotype about people with Down Syndrome and helping these people interact with normal people.

As of now, 20 people with Down Syndrome and 10 normal people are currently working at Sucette, Rajab said, adding that the meaning of the project goes far deeper than merely setting up a cafe.

"Sucette is more than a cafe. It is an idea that will integrate the special group in the society and allow them to accept us as well," she said.

Being busy taking orders from customers flocking into the cafe, Muhannad Saleh, one of the 20 waiters, told Xinhua that he was happy in his new job.

Saleh said that he loves the idea of working hard to get salary, which makes him prove himself to be of value.

"I am happy to work here and everything is perfect. I serve customers with everything I can," the young man said.

For Rehab Qattan, a young girl with Down Syndrome, gone are the days of staying home doing nothing and feeling bored.

"I have been fed up with staying at home," she said, adding that working at Sucette is a source of happiness for her.
Kuala Lumpur, Aug 23 : In his first public address since assuming office on August 21, newly-appointed Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has urged his country to unite in the fight against the raging Covid-19 pandemic.

In the televised speech on Sunday, Ismail Sabri sought to strike a conciliatory tone, following months of political tensions that led to the resignation of his predecessor Muhyiddin Yassin, reports Xinhua news agency.

"We are all a part of a family despite our different religions and ethnicity. Every one of you is like my own family, whether you may be young or old. We complement each other, each needing the other as do different parts of a single body." Ismail Sabri said his government will continue the effort to push forward the vaccination program to build protection against the health crisis while taking measures to revive the economy hampered by the pandemic.

Ismail Sabri also reached out to the country's opposition, inviting them to join the national recovery council and the special committee on Covid-19, to contribute to the combat against the outbreak facing the country.

"I understand the political conflicts have affected the country and distressed the public. Therefore, it is imperative that political stability is swiftly achieved through togetherness, and this includes cross-party cooperation," he said.

On August 21, Malaysian King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah appointed Ismail Sabri, who was the former Deputy Prime Minister, as the new Prime Minister.

A day earlier, Ismail Sabri had received the backing of 114 out of the 220 MPs in the lower house of Parliament, a simple majority to form the government, hence Sultan Abdullah agreed to appoint him as the Prime Minister in accordance with the Constitution.

His appointment came as Malaysia is mired in a political turmoil despite a dire situation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Malaysia reported another 19,807 new cases on Sunday, bringing the national total to 1,555,093.

Another 232 deaths have been reported, which increased the overall fatalities to 14,168.

Till date, some 55.5 per cent of the population have received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine and 38.9 per cent are fully vaccinated.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Hassan : , Aug 23 (IANS) The Hassan police in Karnataka on Monday arrested 10 persons in connection with the death of 18 calves while they were being illegally transported.

More than 50 calves were stuffed inside a small goods vehicle. The miscreants had tied the legs and mouths of calves and stacked them one on another.

The vehicle transporting calves turned turtle after the driver lost control and hit a pole. 18 calves died on the spot. The driver fled after the incident which took place on August 18.

The villagers of Dyavappanahalli in Belur taluk where the incident took place, tended to the injured calves and untied their legs and mouths.

A tense situation prevailed in the village for some time and police had to intervene to pacify the villagers.

Local Janata Dal (S) MLA K.S. Lingesh, who had rushed to the spot, also pacified the villagers. The incident drew angry reactions from all over the state.

The police, which had registered the case in this regard, have now arrested 10 persons. The arrested have been identified as Nurulla, Saleem, Sabir, Ahmad, Adbul Mubarak, Purushottam, Sultan, Arif, Irfan and Jeevan.

On July 28, 38 monkeys were reported dead in Hassan district. The miscreants had stuffed the monkeys in gunny bags and thrown them by the roadside. The incident had come to light when local youth opened the bags. The Karnataka High Court has taken suo motu notice of the incident and is monitoring the investigation.
Sanaa, Aug 23 : Fighting raged between the Yemeni army and Houthi militia over the control of the country's oil-rich province of Marib in the past 24 hours, a military source said.

The fighting took place across frontlines in Yemen's western districts of Medghal, Sirwah, Jabal Murad and Rahabah, Xinhua news agency quoted the source as saying.

"The army backed by the Saudi-led coalition repelled the attacks, killing dozens of the attackers," he said, adding that up to nine soldiers were wounded in the fighting.

Meanwhile, the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported 15 coalition airstrikes on the militia's positions in Marib, affirming that the battle is continuing.

This was the first such large-scale attacks since the Houthis began in February a major offensive on Marib in an attempt to seize control of the oil-rich province, the government's last northern stronghold.

The UN has warned that the offensive on Marib, which hosts nearly 1 million internally displaced people, could lead to a major humanitarian catastrophe.

The world body's recent peace proposal to end the war was publicly rejected by the Houthi group.

Yemen's civil war flared up in late 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthi group seized control of much of the country's north and forced the internationally recognised government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa.

The Saudi-led coalition intervened in the Yemeni conflict in March 2015 to support Hadi's government.
Gurugram, Aug 23 : A parallel IFFCO Chowk flyover on the Delhi-Jaipur Expressway was closed for traffic (from Delhi towards Gurugram) after a portion of its retaining wall collapsed due to damage to a sewer line running right below it.

The incident took place on Sunday. Soon after the incident, the Gurugram Police closed the flyover by deploying barricades to avoid any incident and diverted the traffic.

A team from the concerned department reached the spot to take stock of the situation.

"The flyover has been closed for traffic movement. The traffic personnel are on the spot for traffic management. The Gurugram Police have also been deployed on the spot to stop people movement at the spot," said a Gurugram police official.
The Talibans takeover of Afghanistan has once again put a big question mark on its future, but it has also offered a glimmer of hope for the redevelopment of this war-ravaged country utilising its natural resources.

The Taliban have once again captured the power in Afghanistan. In one of the swiftest operations the Taliban took control of all major cities including Kabul within a ten-days period. This feat has however, put them in a tight bind on whether to continue with their old traits or try to portray a new picture of the Taliban, which has moved along with the world in the last 20 years and one which is more pragmatic and tolerant and most of all which is politically savvy not violence prone.

A widely held belief is that the Taliban would like to be seen as more pragmatic and inclusive force rather than the one, which brutally ruled Afghanistan earlier. Whatsoever be the case, it would be reckoned by the group's attitudes towards jihadis and other militants present in Afghanistan, ethnic and religious minorities, women and governance.

Future Government It has been a week since the Taliban captured the national capital but they are yet to announce any government and its structure. This has led to speculations that intense political activities are going on behind the scenes and the world is waiting with bated breath to know the outcome. In the meantime Taliban have tried to calm concerns about their rule by urging women to join a government that has yet to be formed, declaring an amnesty for people employed by the former government or US and other foreign forces. To assuage these feelings, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in May that the group, once in power, would write laws to ensure the participation of women in public life.

However, reports from Kabul indicate that the former President Hamid Karzai and former Minister of External Affairs Abdullah Abdullah are still present in the city. This leads credence to the fact that any future government might be based on Islamic foundations but it might be an amalgamation of Islamic and liberal democratic principles.

Karzai and Taliban's current supremo Haibatullah Akhundzade are relatives and belong to the Popalzai tribe, tracing their lineage to the Durrani clan. So in a possible scenario Haibatullah might lead the Islamic Council, wielding control and power, as in the past and Karzai might be named as the president or prime minister of the new government, in which Abdullah Abdullah might also be included. In addition, non-Taliban leaders like Hizb-i-Islami's Gulbuddin Hekmatyar and former deputy president Karim Khalili might also be included in the new setup.

Further, we also have to take into consideration the rise of young blood amongst the Taliban ranks. Figures such as Mulla Yaqoob, son of former Taliban supremo Mulla Umar now leads its military branch and is credited with the swift capture of power in the country with less bloodshed. This young generation is tech and media savvy, many Taliban leaders now announce the latest developments on Twitter. Coupled with this the Taliban delegation, which took part in the Doha talks, has experienced exposure to the liberal views and they might be more amenable to a not strictly Islamic form of government. As far as the role of Taliban is concerned, they were accepted as an important political force when the former American president invited them to the Doha Talks, lending credence to them as a group, which needs to be engaged with for any feasible solution of the on-going war.

Afghanistan's mineral wealth The Taliban's resurgence has once again brought renewed focus on Afghanistan's vast untapped mineral wealth and resources that could transform its economic prospects if developed judiciously. Some conspiracy theories circulated earlier, which claimed that behind the on-going military campaign in Afghanistan, the American experts were also exploring the mineral deposits in Afghanistan.

Lending credence to these theories, CNN on August 17 carried a story, which said that Afghanistan possesses mineral deposits worth nearly $1 trillion. Iron, copper and gold deposits are scattered across provinces. There are also rare earth minerals and, perhaps most importantly, what could be one of the world's biggest deposits of lithium - an essential but scarce component in rechargeable batteries and other technologies vital to tackling the climate crisis.

Said Mirzad, former head of the Afghanistan Geological Survey, told Science magazine in 2010 that if Afghanistan has a few years of calm, allowing the development of its mineral resources, it could become one of the richest countries in the region within a decade.

Three countries, which have been wooing the Taliban based on this assessment, are Iran, China and India. All of them could provide the expertise, infrastructure and labour force for the further prospecting, mining and processing of these minerals.

Iran and China have been early starters in this regard. Iran has been hosting Taliban delegations to Teheran since last year and in late July 2021, before the recent developments, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with a delegation led by the head of the Afghan Taliban political committee Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar in Tianjin.

India on its part began engaging with the Taliban leaders in Doha since September 2020 when the intra-Afghan dialogue began even as New Delhi refused to spell out its policy clearly and said it continues to engage with "all stakeholders".

Afghan Psyche Before commenting on the future of Afghanistan, we have to understand the geographic location, socio-cultural fabric and the internal forces, besides the Afghan psyche, all of which have always managed to play a key role in any political activity in the country.

The tribal Pashtun population of Afghanistan, which approximately is 42 per cent has always enjoyed political influence both at the local and national stage. The Pashtun by virtue of being the largest tribe in the south and east has always dominated the national politics of Afghanistan, since the time of Ahmad Shah Durrani (1722-72).

Moreover, the central authority in Kabul has always governed the country through a loosely federal structure. Which means that the central law was more or less observed in major cities and some smaller cities, but at the district and village level the tribal writ was imposed with a heavy hand.

Added to this is the overall Afghan psyche, which has always remained fiercely independent and loyal to its tribal and clan ties besides being devout Muslims. To control them through a loose federal system remains the only wise choice, so as to let the tribal and clan ties continue and dominate the rural population but the major decisions are taken by the powers in the big cities.

This might be one of the reasons, which is forcing Taliban to evolve a government, which rules with an iron fist from the centre but at the village and district level the local tribes manage their affairs in their own style whilst participating in the development of the rural areas and the country as a whole.

(Asad Mirza is a political commentator based in New Delhi. He writes on Muslims, educational, international affairs, interfaith and current affairs. @asad-mirza.blogspot.com)
New Delhi, Aug 23 : The income tax e-filing portal is now live after remaining unavailable for around two days.

Infosys, the developer of the portal, informed about the development through a tweet. The tweet came after the Finance Ministry summoned the CEO of the software major over the continuing glitches in the portal.

"The emergency maintenance of the @IncomeTaxIndia portal has concluded and the portal is live. We regret any inconvenience caused to taxpayers," the company said in a tweet late on Sunday evening.

The update from the company came after the Ministry of Finance summoned Infosys MD and CEO, Salil Parekh on Monday over the persistent glitches.

Parekh has been summoned to explain to the Finance Minister the reason for the persistent glitches in the portal.

"Ministry of Finance has summoned Sh Salil Parekh, MD & CEO @Infosys on 23/08/2021 to explain to hon'ble FM as to why even after 2.5 months since launch of new e-filing portal, glitches in the portal have not been resolved. In fact, since 21/08/2021 the portal itself is not available," the Income Tax department said in a tweet on Sunday.

The new income tax e-filing portal developed by Infosys was launched on June 7 in a bid to ease the tax filing process and expedite the refund issue.

However, taxpayers have been facing several problems in using the portal since its inception.

In July, the Union Finance Ministry asked the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) to constitute a seven-member task force to look into the technical issues facing the new Income Tax e-filing portal developed by Infosys.

In line with the directive, the ICAI constituted a team to analyse the issues.

During the recent Monsoon Session of Parliament, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha that Infosys has been paid a total of Rs 164.5 crore under the project.

He had said the government launched the new income tax e-filing portal as part of the Integrated E-filing and Centralised Processing Centre 2.0 Project.
Lagos, Aug 23 : Nigerian police has confirmed that 15 students kidnapped by gunmen from a secondary school in the country's northwestern state of Kaduna have been freed.

The students of Bethel Baptist High School were freed on Saturday night after 48 days in captivity, Mohammed Jalige, a spokesman for the police in Kaduna, told Xinhua news agency on Sunday.

The released students were among an unspecified number of students kidnapped from the Bethel Baptist High School in Chikun local government area of Kaduna on July 5, following an attack by unknown gunmen in large numbers.

John Joseph Hayab, the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Kaduna, told media that 15 students of the school were released on Saturday night while 65 students are still in captivity, and the CAN and other stakeholders were still in negotiation with the gunmen.

There have been a series of gunmen attacks in Nigeria in recent months, leading to deaths and kidnappings.
Bengaluru, Aug 23 : High Schools and pre-university colleges in Karnataka welcomed students to offline classes on Monday after 18 months. A large number of students poured into campuses responding positively to the appeals of the government.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and Primary and Secondary Education Minister B.C. Nagesh had urged the parents to send their children to schools without fear.

The principals and teachers stood at the entrance to welcome students with roses. Some schools extended welcome to their students by beating drums and blowing bugles. Some welcomed students by distributing masks and doing 'aarti' (Hindu tradition of waving of lamps to ward off evil spirits).

Chief Minister Bommai stated that the students are attending classes with all the joy and happiness and are thanking the government for the decision to reopen schools. It had been more than a year since they attended classes. Through various programmes the teachers have made an attempt to keep in touch with students all these days. "A decision will be taken after discussion with experts on opening primary schools in the state," he said.

Minister Nagesh has given permission for the children of migrants and others who could not reach their respective schools to attend classes in nearby schools.

"Parents have been sending their wards with all the happiness," he said.

The 9th, 10th and pre-university classes of 16,550 high schools, 5,492 PU colleges were opened in 26 districts of the state. The classes will be held between 10 a.m. and 1.30 p.m. The schools and pre-university colleges remained closed in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Chikmagalur and Kodagu districts as more number of Covid cases were being reported from here. The classes are expected to begin from August 30 onwards in these districts.

Hassan district authorities have decided to open pre-university colleges in the district from Monday and open high schools next week.

Minister B.C. Nagesh explained that the schools have been told to ensure Covid appropriate behaviour. "Barring schools, all activities in the society have begun. Children studying 9, 10 and PU are not among those who would remain inside home. They were involved in various activities and chores," he explained.

"I visited a few schools on Sunday in Bengaluru. The schools have made proper arrangements restricting the number of students in a classroom to 20 to 25. Proper hygiene toilets, availability of sanitizers in schools are ensured. The children will also be checked and monitored for symptoms. I am confident of the smooth operation of schools in the coming days," he said.

The government would take a decision later on opening of primary schools. Some schools have a strength of 300 to 1,000 students. "We will see how to proceed after monitoring the conduct of high schools," he said.

He underlined that presently the positivity rate in the state is around one per cent and if there is an increase, the schools will be shut. "But, I don't think that day will come," Nagesh noted.

Harshini, a teacher, explained that schools would come to life if only children attended classes. "The joy is the same as the parents experience in the presence of their child at home," she said.

Chief Minister Bommai visited the Government pre-university college and High School and Nirmalarani aided school in Malleshwaram on Monday with Education minister Nagesh and minister for Higher Education and IT, BT Dr C.N. Ashwath Narayan. He interacted with the students and cautioned them on the Covid infection.

Bommai has appealed to all ministers to visit schools in their districts and instill confidence among parents and students. He has also asked them to monitor precautionary measures taken by the managements of schools and colleges.
New Delhi, Aug 23 : Electronic Dance Music (EDM) artist Nucleya has composed an anthem titled 'Jaldi Aao' to celebrate the fifth and final season of the popular Netflix show 'Money Heist'.

The song, composed by Nucleya, features celebrity fans such as Anil Kapoor, Radhika Apte, Rana Daggubati, Hardik Pandya, Vikrant Massey and Shruti Haasan.

Nucleya, whose real name is Udyan Sagar, said: "I'm a huge fan of 'Money Heist', so working on this anthem was super fun. As someone who loves the series, the song expresses what I and all other fans are feeling." 'Jaldi Aao' is a funky recreation of the iconic 'Bella Ciao'. Dedicated to the fans of the show, the anthem encapsulates all our emotions perfectly and highlights our love for the characters.

The 41-year-old musician added: "Shooting the video was such an amazing experience and all the great artistes who are featured in it have made it come to life. The song is peppy and in multiple languages, truly celebrating the spirit of fans who are spread across the nation. Lastly, all I can say is - 'Money Heist - Jaldi Aao'!" Part five of the iconic Spanish series will be available in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu and released in two volumes -- September 3 and December 3 on Netflix.
Chennai, Aug 23 : The user fees at 19 toll plazas of Tamil Nadu will be hiked by 7 to 10 per cent from September 1 onwards, the National Highways Authority India (NHAI) said in a circular.

Pawan Kumar, Regional Officer, NHAI in a statement on Monday, said that the revision in rates in some places will be between 7 to 10 per cent but in some other places, it would be minimal.

The Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) has already announced that it would oppose the hike in toll plaza fees and the founder leader of the party S. Ramadoss has threatened that the party would conduct protest marches against it.

The PMK leader had on Saturday called upon the NHAI to present a white paper on the cost incurred to set up toll plazas in the state as well as the fees collected from users.

He also sought a detailed statement on the expenses and the profit they garner from the collection at toll plazas.

Ramadoss has said that the proposed hike is huge and would lead to a spiraling in prices of essential commodities in the state.

The Tamil Nadu Lorry Owners Association has also objected to the hike in toll plaza rates in the state.

"The increase in toll plaza fees, after the lockdown is lifted, will increase our overheads as the industry was in standstill for the past 18 months. The NHAI must refrain from an immediate hike of toll rates," R. Nagarathnam, a senior member of the organization, told IANS.
Tehran, Aug 23 : Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has demanded Tokyo to liberate its assets frozen in banks in a meeting with visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi.

"The delay in the release of Iranian assets in Japanese banks cannot be justified," Raisi told Motegi on Sunday.

Some $3 billion in Iranian assets mainly from oil and gas exports have been frozen in Japanese banks since the US unilaterally withdrew from the Iran nuclear agreement and re-imposed sanctions on Iran and on any third party dealing with the Iranian banking system.

In response to US sanctions, Iran has gradually stopped implementing parts of its commitments to the deal since May 2019, and six round of talks in Vienna between April and June have so far failed to revitalize the deal.

Addressing the situation in neighbouring Afghanistan, Raisi welcomed the efforts of Japan and other countries in the region to help establish peace and stability in the Asian nation and in the region.

For his part, Motegi congratulated Raisi on his inauguration as President of Iran, and expressed Japan's interest in developing its relations with Iran.
Kabul, Aug 23 : Shopkeepers in Kabul say the prices and sales of turban and hijab have increased with the Taliban's return to Afghanistan.

Just a week ago, the Taliban were able to take control of Kabul after capturing other provinces of the country.

The Taliban have so far said nothing about wearing turban and hijab, but some people wear them traditionally, Afghan media reported.

Faiz Agha, a hijab seller in Kabul, told Pajhwok Afghan News that turban sales had increased since the last few days.

"In the past, I could sell four or five hijabs a day, but now I sell 15 to 17 of them after the return of Taliban," he said.

Another shopkeeper, Niamatullah also said that the prices of hijabs had increased.

He said that one hijab was previously sold for 1,000 afghanis but now it was sold for 1,200 afghanis.

"Before the Taliban's return, I would sell from six to seven hijabs a day, but now I sell up to 20 a day," he said.

Abdul Malik, a turban seller in Kabul, said that the sales of turbans had also increased with the arrival of Taliban.

He said that one turban cost from 300 to 3,000 afghanis considering their quality.

"I could sell six or seven turbans a day in the past, but now I sell around 30 of them," he said.

Khwaja Abdul Jabbar, a resident of 11th police district of Kabul city, said that he again started wearing turban with the return of Taliban.

"I would use Qaraqul until recently, but now I am interested in turban despite the Taliban do not force it," he said.

Besides hijab and turban, there are also some other issues which would be decided after the establishment of a new Taliban government.
Mumbai, Aug 23 : Lead actor of 'Kyun Rishton Mein Katti Batti' Siddhaanth Vir Surryavanshi has decided to go on a social media detox.

The actor has taken a clean-cut break from social media in order to shut the constant noise and distraction that keeps popping up across various apps. He doesn't believe in the need to constantly keep up with every development that's unfolding on social media and hence he's decided to break free from it.

Speaking about his decision, Siddhaanth revealed: "I want to take a small break from social media and will be back soon. I think it's better to focus on people around me, read a book or work on a new skill, rather than scrolling through social media pages every now and then. I only know 10 per cent of my followers personally, plus there is this pressure of posting engaging content on it at regular intervals." He added: "In fact, I started comparing myself to others after seeing their posts too and while there is nothing bad in that, the real problem is that it diverts me from my real priorities and taking out time for myself and my family. I would rather choose to live in the moment, compared to clicking pictures and posting them." "I usually tell my children to get off their phones and enjoy things around them, but what am I doing? I am also on my phone every 5 minutes. I want to shut that constant noise coming in from all the apps, so that I can focus on my life and understand what I really want. I will resume being active soon, it's not like I'm leaving it forever, but I want to detox for a bit. I hope my fans will support me in my decision like always," shared the actor who is known for his shows like 'Kkusum', 'Krishna Arjun' and 'Grihasti'.

While Siddhaanth is setting goals for himself and his family, his onscreen character of 'Kuldeep' is stuck in a loop with 'Samaira'. Will 'Shubra' and 'Kuldeep' be successful in saving their lives from 'Samaira'? 'Kyun Rishton Mein Katti Batti' airs on Zee TV.
New Delhi, Aug 23: China, which has made it official that it is willing to recognise the Taliban government in Afghanistan, will be worried after the bomb blast in the Gwadar area in Balochistan. The explosion that left two killed and a few injured was targeted at the Chinese. While the Taliban have promised to protect and support ongoing infrastructure projects, "they cannot be taken at face value" given the current developments. That apart, several other terror groups operate with impunity in Afghanistan.

Many analysts have noted that the withdrawal of the US troops from Afghanistan will give an edge to China, with its huge investments, to dominate the political contours of the region. However, the roadmap for Beijing will not be easy.

Though China, which earlier linked the Taliban with the East Turkestan Islamic Movement -- a Uyghur militant group, has said that it will work with the new Afghanistan government, the presence of other terror outfits will make things difficult for China.

Taliban will have little control over these terror groups and the current political chaos in Afghanistan has widely compromised the security situation in the region.

The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant-Khorasan (ISIL-K) and Uyghur Eastern Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM)-- a Uyghur militant group -- have been expanding their network in the country. Besides, the presence of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, Jaish-i-Mohammed and Lashkare-Tayyiba is also a matter of concern for Beijing.

In April, the TTP attacked an upmarket luxury hotel in Quetta, detonating a bomb which left five dead. Reports have stated that the attack was aimed at the Chinese ambassador to Pakistan, though he was not present in the hotel at the time of the explosion.

"No one can say how China will be impacted by the Afghanistan situation. Though China is driven by its interests and it will be ready to work with the Taliban, there are other elements and several other terror organisations operating there that will make Beijing worried," a foreign policy analyst who was in Afghanistan told India Narrative.

For China, the $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has been described by the Diplomat as the "crown jewel of Beijing's massive Belt and Road Initiative." It is critical as it not only connects Eurasia and Africa but more importantly, for China the CPEC will undermine Indian interests.

Anger against the Chinese over the $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), part of the much-hyped Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has been growing. The analyst said that such uncertain situations are "happy breeding grounds" for terror activities.

"Over the years, through military actions in its bordering areas with Afghanistan, the Pakistani Army has pushed the TTP elements out of the country and into Afghanistan. The TTP has been using Afghan soil for operations and support," the Diplomat noted.

The terror outfits would use Afghanistan soil for their activities.

China's foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying recently at a press briefing described the Taliban 2.0 as "more clear-headed and rational" compared to their previous avatar.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative
New Delhi, Aug 23: Embassies in Kabul and savvy netizens are pushing out important information to people stuck in Kabul as the Taliban tightens its grip over Afghanistan's capital city through checkpoints and by launching door-to-door searches for its 'enemies'.

Netizens are using open source intelligence (OSINT) to forewarn travellers about the situation in Kabul city.

Besides updated information about movement within Kabul, and commuting to the airport, tech-savvy bloggers are uploading maps of Taliban militants' check points in Kabul.

The Taliban takeover of Kabul has jeopardised rescue efforts. Even though the US controls the airport, it is finding it difficult to fly out its own citizens and Afghan allies as they are unable to reach the airport. OSINT experts have also made public the entry points to the Hamid Karzai International Airport (HKIA).

Sporadic violence has been reported from the airport and its vicinity. The British forces alleged today that seven people were killed in the melee around the airport. Many similar incidents where innocent people lost their lives have happened since the Taliban took over Kabul on August 15.

Just yesterday, Sikhs and Hindus proceeding to catch a flight to Delhi were stopped by the Taliban and many were sent back.

Even the mighty US has told its citizens that they should travel to Kabul only when they find it is safe to do so as the Taliban fighters are controlling the highways. It has also refrained people from coming to the airport without prior intimation.

Other Western embassies too are putting out information for their nationals and friendly Afghans. One of these is that people waiting to exit Kabul have to provide exact coordinates of their locations so that the security personnel can extricate them quickly.

Other instructions include bringing as few belongings as possible and certainly no pets for the simple reason that people are the priority and not luggage.

With a severe threat to the safety of people being evacuated, the western embassies have advised that even those who have to be rescued shall not arrive at the HKIA till they have been clearly asked to come to the airport. Also, the military section of the airport does not have much food and water.

In the fear and chaos that has gripped Kabul, embassies have also requested people to arrive before 9pm, as the curfew remains from 9 PM-6 AM. This has become important as the Joe Biden administration has advised people to recognise the Taliban as the local authority.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative
New Delhi, Aug 23: In the panic over the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, Indian analysts seem to be giving the Pakistan army a free pass. This is unfortunate as it lets the Pakistan army get away with murder, and worse. This is not very different from the US fighting the 'war on terror' in Afghanistan, which was a victim, and not Pakistan, where terrorism not only originated but was sustained. Nothing could of course beat the US decision to fund the Pakistan army that used this money to re-create the Taliban that could then kill US army personnel in Afghanistan.

During the period the Taliban ruled Afghanistan (1996-2001), the Taliban neither said or did anything to harm India. All their violence, which was substantial, was directed at the Afghan people particularly the Shia Hazaras, women and those perceived to be against them. During the two decades they were out of power, they not only regrouped but also changed their orientation within Afghan society.

From being purely a Pashtun outfit, today all ethnic groups are represented in its ranks including small communities like the Badakshi. The neo-Taliban, as the scholar Antonio Guistozzi in his 2007 book, characterised the resurgent movement had moved from the Koran and the Kalashnikov to the Laptop. As early as 2006, there was a growing body of evidence that questioned the American and Afghan government claims that the Taliban was past tense. Instead, he argued then that the neo-Taliban insurgency had put down strong roots in Afghanistan since 2003.

This had two implications, which again analysts seem to have ignored. One, that the Taliban did not need to defeat the Afghan government forces or occupy territory to be able to exercise influence and de-legitimise the government. The result was that other than the leadership which was based in Pakistan, the cadres stayed back in their home villages and towns and picked up the gun, or deliver 'night letters' to pro-government individuals, when required. The rest of the time, they could go on with their daily lives as students, shop workers, taxi drivers or government servants.

The Taliban blitzkrieg that so dazzled the world could be attributed to the presence of the Taliban deep within Afghan society and their ability to exploit the cleavages that an ineffective, corrupt and structurally deficient governance structure offered.

The second, and even more corrosive effect, was that the Taliban could bring down US and Afghan forces by use of local units that could easily plant Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) that was the single largest cause of US and NATO casualties. The Taliban also carried out selective assassinations against government functionaries, often in mosques when they were praying, with a view to demoralising government staff and questioning the government's effectiveness in being unable to protect its people and general citizens. Direct attacks by the Taliban were directed at isolated check points and outposts manned by small numbers of Afghan security forces. This meant that in the post-2015 years when the US troops effectively stopped combat duties, the Taliban using shock and awe tactics could occasionally seize cities like Ghazni and Kunduz but could not defend it against sustained action by Afghan security forces backed by air power.

The Pakistan army in the post-Mullah Omar period, inducted the Haqqani network, a terrorist group, into the Taliban and its governing structure in order to exercise greater control over the large and amorphous group that the Taliban had become. Pakistani army personnel were also embedded in the Taliban field units to bring their operations under Pakistani control and direction. It is often forgotten that there are more Pashtuns in Pakistan than in Afghanistan, and that their representation in the army, over 20 per cent, is in excess of their share of the population. Lately, the Pakistani army has also deployed Urdu and Punjabi speakers, as reports from Kabul and Kandahar over the past few days indicate. A myth about the existence of Taliban special forces (313 Badr Brigade) is sought to be created; the reality is that this is the regular Pakistani army, drilled in marching synchronously and operating as disciplined units. The body language of the regular Taliban and these so-called Special Forces is stark, their bearings, body language, weapons and movement are vastly different.

It is this Pakistani element that would work, as it has in the past, to harm Indians and Indian interests. The IC-814 hijacking was planned in Pakistan, executed by Pakistani and the terrorists released were Pakistani. Masood Azhar went from Kandahar to Pakistan to create the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), a Pakistani army proxy. Omar Sheikh went to Karachi, where he later cruelly executed Daniel Pearl. Yet we blame the Taliban and the Afghans for this national humiliation. All later attacks on Indians in Afghanistan including the ones on Indian nationals, the Embassy and others, were the work of the Pakistani army utilising its proxies, like the Jem, Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and the Haqqani network. NATO made its assessment quite clear each time.

The Taliban has mentioned India a few times, referring to it as Afghanistan's development partner whose work they value, but advising it not to give security assistance to the Afghan government. On August 5, 2019, as India went about making the momentous constitutional changes in Jammu & Kashmir, the Pakistani Foreign Minister, the garrulous SM Qureshi attacked it and warned that these could jeopardise the fledgling Afghan peace process. The Taliban was quick to criticise this, arguing that there was no link between the developments in Kashmir with Afghanistan. It even said that attempts to link the two would hinder the peace process.

Even as the Taliban would not have been recreated and sustained but for the Pakistani army, links between the two are complex. The extensive Pakistani presence within the Taliban and the failure to form a government even five days after the collapse of the Ghani government is a pointer in the latent tensions. Pakistan has deployed the Haqqani network to control Kabul and it is Anas Haqqani who is negotiating with Karzai, Abdullah and Hekmatyar to bring about a formal transfer of power - clearly legitimacy is an issue this time around unlike the 1996-2001 period when the Taliban shunned the world.

Should India have recalled its Ambassador and its Indian staff? Or should have let them fly the flag as two veteran diplomats, MK Bhadrakumar and Fabian have argued? It has been reported the deputy head of the Doha office, former Taliban deputy interior minister Stanekzai, requested India to stay on, assuring protection. Should not have India taken up this offer. Even though the present author has argued for a long time that India should have opened up communications with the Taliban, it was wise to recall the Ambassador and others. It is not that the Taliban cannot be trusted, though that is seriously questionable, rather it was that the Indian Ambassador would have been a sitting target for the Haqqani network and other Pakistani proxies. Harming the Indian Ambassador would have achieved many purposes. One it would have demonstrated that India could not even protect its own Ambassador. Any such action would be hugely demoralising for India and reduced its stock amongst the Afghans. Two, that India, by instinct would have blamed the Taliban, and the web of suspicion would have strengthened. Three, that it would bring home to the Taliban that it should harbour no illusions about being able to rule their own land.

Having said that, the Taliban have no legitimacy except their military power, and would never be able to win any elections anywhere in Afghanistan. The present calm that prevails in Afghanistan is not because Taliban 2.0 have suddenly become Jeffersonians, new-born democrats wedded to any notion of human rights. It is Pakistan's need for US, and western, economic assistance and release from FATF constraints that is guiding whatever restraint that we see. But we should not be fooled. The real power in Afghanistan is exercised by Pakistan, and it is they who should stand scrutiny and pay the price for sustaining, and using terror as a weapon of choice, even if it has meant large-scale violence as Afghanistan over the past four decades, and which we in India are no strangers too.

(Shakti Sinha is the Honorary Director, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Policy Research and International Studies, MS University, Vadodara. He is also Distinguished Fellow, India Foundation, New Delhi. Views expressed are personal) (The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative
Kabul, Aug 23 : The Taliban has said that their fighters are heading towards Panjshir province, the only anti-Taliban outpost which is yet to be surrendered or toppled.

They said on Sunday that the fighters have seen no resistance on the way to Panjshir province and are now getting closer to the spot, Afghan media reported.

Panjshir province landed northwest of Kabul is a mountainous valley known as the land of lions. The geography is now home to hundreds of Afghan National Defense and Security forces, Special Forces, and militia that are being led by Ahmad Masoud, son of the slain Ahmad Shah Masoud.

Ahmad Masoud in a recent telephonic interview with a global wire service said that he is willing to negotiate with the Taliban and considers the negotiations to be the only way forward.

The Taliban's political office spokesperson, Naeem Wardak also said on Sunday that their policy is to negotiate and settle everything through negotiations.

He hopefully said to get the people and tribal leaders of Panjshir province to join them and prevent violence.

Former First Vice President Amrullah Saleh and former Acting Defence Minister Bismillah Muhammadi are two other figures who back Ahamd Masoud against the Taliban and named the battle, resistance.
Mumbai, Aug 23 : Vaani Kapoor has two films lined up for release - 'Shamshera' and 'Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui'. The actress hopes these movies position her correctly as a performer.

In 'Shamshera', Vaani, who turned 33 on Monday, has been paired opposite Ranbir Kapoor and in 'Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui', she will be seen with actor Ayushmann Khurrana.

"I have an exciting year to look forward to actually! I have two big films 'Shamshera' and 'Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui' that are ready to be released in theatres and I'm hoping they will entertain audiences thoroughly," Vaani said.

She added: "These two films will also present me in completely different avatars and I can't wait to see the reaction from people for my performances." The actress says she has put in her everything for 'Shamshera' and 'Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui' and hopes these two big films will showcase her as a performer who is willing to take risks to deliver powerful performances.

"I have worked tremendously hard in both these projects and I'm delighted about how they have shaped up. I have been choosy about the films that I select because I want to pick quality content over quantity and I'm proud of both 'Shamshera' and 'Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui'," Vaani said.

"They are films that will hopefully position me correctly as a performer who is looking to take the risks and push myself constantly to make a mark."

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Jaipur, Aug 23 : Will the present BJP leadership in Rajasthan lead the next assembly polls in 2023? This million dollar question, being asked in political corridors of the desert state amid factionalism in the party, it seems has finally been answered during the recently organised 'Jan Ashirwaad Yatra' in which BJP national general secretary Bhupender Yadav announced that BJP will form the next government in Rajasthan with three-fourth majority under the present state president Satish Poonia.

Addressing the rally, Yadav said, "I am saying it with full confidence that in 2023, BJP government will be formed with three-fourth majority under the leadership of Satish Poonia and the face of the Chief Minister will be decided by the parliamentary board of the party." The statement has triggered a fresh debate as it was made at a time when the stories of factionalism keeps circulating with former chief minister Vasundhara Raje maintaining a distance from state party office and office bearers while her followers have been openly speaking against the current state leadership.

Also, Poonia's tenure will be completed in 2022 and he will be given an extension and the state BJP will contest elections under his leadership.

Sources said that the central leadership is quite happy with the performance of Poonia as he has been successful in bringing out issues like crime, false promise of loan waiver for farmers and pending recruitment under Ashok Gehlot government, on national platform.

Also, in the recent 'Jan Ashirwad Yatra' covering a distance of over 400 kilometre, a huge crowd was seen with farmers and OBCs in attendance.

Farmers were present in large numbers who thanked Poonia and Yadav in this rally.

The central leadership was also happy to see a strong chemistry between union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Gulabchand Kataria, Rajendra Rathore, C.P. Joshi and other senior leaders of the state party unit.

Political experts say it seems that the central leadership has moved ahead to leave issues of factions and now fully trusts the current state leadership.

The state BJP, in order to balance the equation of social engineering, brought on dias leaders from different castes during the yatra, which was again an indication that the state team is giving attention to all castes ahead of the next elections.

Recently Rohitashv Sharma, former minister and Raje follower, was expelled from the party for indiscipline which proves that the central leadership has given full power to the present team to pave way to script a success story in ensuing polls, analysts say.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Kabul, Aug 23 : The German army has said that a member of the Afghan security forces was killed in a gunfight at the north gate of the Kabul airport on Monday, the media reported.

A statement said that the US and German troops had been involved alongside the Afghan guards - with three other Afghans injured in the incident, the BBC reported.

It's not clear who started the fighting and German officials said the three Afghans were hurt by "unknown attackers".

The Afghan forces are thought to be part of an army contingent who have been helping international forces, having refused to surrender to the Taliban.

On August 21, the US advised its citizens to avoid the area because of potential terror threats.

The airport has been a scene of chaos for much of the week since the Taliban takeover of Kabul, with thousands of Afghans and foreign nationals trying to flee the country.

A NATO official told a wire service on Sunday that at least 20 people had died in and around the airport since last weekend - including from crushing and shooting incidents.
Seoul, Aug 23 : South Korean President Moon Jae-in's approval rating fell 0.4 percentage points to 41.6 per cent last week, a weekly poll showed on Monday.

The negative assessment on Moon's conduct of state affairs gained 1.1 percentage points to 55.7 per cent, according to the Realmeter survey.

Support for Moon's ruling Democratic Party declined 0.7 percentage points to 32.8 per cent last week, reports Xinhua news agency.

The main conservative opposition People Power Party garnered 37.1 per cent of approval score last week, down 0.2 percentage points from the previous week.

The minor centre-left Open Democratic Party won 7.1 per cent of support, trailed by the minor centre-right People's Party with 6.2 per cent and the minor progressive Justice Party with 3.4 per cent.

The results are based on a survey of 2,013 voters conducted from last August 17 to 20.

It had 2.2 percentage points in margin of error with a 95 per cent confidence level.
New Delhi, Aug 23 : Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar along with a 10-member all-party delegation from the state on Monday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to press the demand for a caste-based census.

Leader of opposition in the Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Yadav, former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, ministers in the Bihar government Janak Ram, Mukesh Sahani and Vijay Kumar Choudhary, Leader of Congress Legislature Party Ajit Sharma, Suryakant Paswan of the CPI, Mahboob Alam (CPI-ML), Akhtarul Imam (AIMIM), and Ajay Kumar (CPI-M) were part of the delegation led by Nitish Kumar.

It is learnt that during the meeting both Kumar and Yadav strongly pressed for the caste-based census.

After the meeting, Nitish Kumar said that the Prime Minister listened to the points of every leader.

"I was the one who addressed the Prime Minister first. I said that the proposal regarding caste-based census came from the leader of opposition in Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Yadav and we all agreed on it. The Prime Minister listened to the points of every member of the delegation. We are expecting a positive outcome from the Prime Minister," Kumar said.

When asked about the Prime Minister's stand on the issue, Kumar said, "He (Modi) did not deny it (caste census) and heard everyone patiently. A caste-based census will help in formulating various development plans effectively." Tejashwi Yadav was the second leader who addressed Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the meeting. While interacting with the media, he said: "We are hopeful that the Prime Minister will allow conducting a caste-based census.

"Caste-based census should happen not only in Bihar, but in the entire nation. It will help proper diversion of resources. It is inevitable. It will be a historic measure in helping the poor. If animals and trees can be counted, then why not people on castes. When the government has no scientific data on the population, how can it make welfare policies," said Yadav.

When reporters asked Tejashwi whether the Prime Minister would turn down their call, CM Nitish Kumar intervened and said, "It is too early to come to a conclusion. Let's wait for the decision of the Prime Minister." The issue of a caste-based census has been a longstanding demand of the political parties in Bihar. The Bihar legislature had twice unanimously passed resolutions for the caste-based census in 2019 and 2020. On both the occasions, all BJP MLAs had also voted in support of a caste based census.

Caste-based Census other than for SCs and STs has not been undertaken in the country after 1931.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Tokyo, Aug 23 : Japan will send three Self-Defense Forces (SDF) planes to Afghanistan to evacuate Japanese nationals and local staff who worked for the country's embassy and other organisations, the top government spokesperson said on Monday.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said the government will first send one C-2 transport aircraft on Monday and two C-130s on Tuesday to Afghanistan for the evacuation mission, reports Xinhua news agency.

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party had criticised the decision to evacuate Japanese embassy staff via a British military airplane last week.

After the closure of the Japanese embassy in Afghanistan on August 15, the country's diplomats were evacuated to Dubai on August 16.

However, some Japanese nationals working for international organisations were still in the war-torn country.
Mumbai, Aug 23 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed first charge sheet in connection with the former Maharashtra Home Minister and senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Anil Deskhmukh bribery case.

An ED official related to probe told IANS, "A charge sheet has been filed in the case and Deshmukh's personal secretary Sanjeev Palande and personal assistant Kundan Shinde have been named in it." According to ED officials, the 4,500 page charge sheet was filed before a Special PMLA court here.

The ED had arrested Palande and Shinde after carrying out searches against them and the NCP leader in Mumbai and Nagpur.

Deshmukh and his son Hrishikesh Deshmukh had skipped the ED's summons on several occasions. The ED registered a case of money laundering on the basis of the FIR registered by the CBI.

Deshmukh has been accused of extortion from a bunch of Mumbai orchestra bars and of money laundering.

It has been alleged that Rs 4.7 crore was collected as "extortion" from the orchestra bars by the now-dismissed Mumbai police officer Sachin Waze allegedly on Deshmukh's instructions. Later, this amount was transferred to Deshmukh's Nagpur-based educational trust by his son, Hrishikesh.

According to the allegation, the transaction was routed via two hawala operators and was showed as a "donation".

The 71-year-old NCP leader is the president of the trust and his two sons, Salil and Hrishikesh, are trustees.

On May 11, a case was registered against the former minister and on June 25, the ED raided Deshmukh's residences in Nagpur, Mumbai and three other places.

In April, the CBI had conducted raids at four premises of Deshmukh after registering an FIR against him in connection with the case.

Param Bir Singh, former Commissioner of Mumbai Police, in his letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, had alleged that Deshmukh had indulged in "malpractices" and asked Waze to collect Rs 100 crore every month.
New Delhi, Aug 23 : The government has activated foreign missions near Afghanistan to speed up evacuation of stranded Indian citizens and Afghan nationals, including Hindus and Sikhs, from the war torn country, the government officials said here on Monday.

They also said that Indian authorities have been coordinating with the Indian embassies in Tajikistan and Qatar to facilitate the evacuations of Indian and Afghan nationals from there and asked them to provide all support such as transport, stay and other necessary assistance.

The Indian authorities have also been facing a major challenge that many of Indian workers have been located in different parts of Afghanistan and to take them to nearby Indian embassies such as Doha by land routes has also posed a threat of an attack on the convoy by the Taliban militia.

Meanwhile, the 'Afghanistan Cell' set up at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) here in Delhi has been working round the clock to quickly respond to the queries from those who have requested the MEA to come to India. So far, a total 1,650 Indians have put their request to this cell, and they have responded to over 2,000 calls, 600 WhatsApp messages and 1200 e-mails, the official added.

They also confirmed that till Sunday evening, a total of 526 persons arrived Delhi, apart from the 168 who arrived by the Indian Air Force transport aircraft C17 globemaster at the Hindan air base on Sunday morning including two Afghan Members of Parliament Anarkali Kaur and Narendra Singh Khalsa and also a few Afghan political leaders.

Apprehending that the Taliban militia may prevent the Afghan public representatives from taking the IAF flight, the entire plan was kept secret till the flight took off from Afghanistan, the sources said.

"The US authorities have taken full control of the airport and they are managing the air operation from the war torn country. In this huge rush, charting out a slot for an aircraft and also a safe air route for the evacuation flight, have become major challenges for US authority," an official explained over the delay of the military aircraft from Kabul airport.

The Kabul airport has been closed for commercial flights and only military aircrafts are allowed to land and take off from there.

The first air rescue operation was made on August 17, when an IAF C-17 aircraft brought back 120 Indians to Jamnagar, including Indian Ambassador Rudrendra Tandon, the last batch of the Indian embassy staff, ITBP personnel from the Kabul airport amidst the critical situation in Afghanistan.
New Delhi, Aug 23 : A plea has been moved in the Supreme Court by a lawyers' body against the decision of the Uttarakhand High Court to exclude virtual hearing of cases while resuming physical functioning from Tuesday. The plea also seeks to make the virtual mode of hearing a fundamental right.

The plea of All India Jurists Association, a body of more than 5,000 lawyers, has been drawn by advocate Siddharth R. Gupta and filed through advocate on record Sriram Parakkat.

The petition has challenged the August 16 notification issued by the Registrar General, Uttarakhand High Court, which said that the court will resume physical hearing and no request for virtual hearing will be entertained.

"The virtual court has been proscribed by directing that no such request shall be entertained. Pertinently, the copy of the said letter has been forwarded to the Registrar Generals of all the High Courts, with an anticipation of issuance of similar such orders by other High Courts of the country", said the plea.

It further argued that the high court's order is a death knell for the idea of virtual courts, which is an accessible, affordable justice in the country being propagated by the e-committee of the top court.

The plea said it is necessary that an interim order be passed by the top court to the effect that no lawyer in ordinary circumstances shall be denied access to virtual courts or any category/ class of proceedings before the high courts.

Besides challenging the decision of the Uttarakhand High Court, the plea also sought a direction to restrain all high courts from denying access to lawyers through virtual mode of hearing on the ground of availability of physical hearing.

The plea urged the top court to issue directions declaring that the right to access to virtual courts through video conferencing for attending and participating in the conduct of any case proceeding is a facet of fundamental right guaranteed under Part III of the Constitution.

The lawyers' body also sought quashing of the Uttarakhand High Court order prohibiting access to virtual courts.

The plea emphasized that access to virtual courts as a fundamental right cannot be denied to any lawyer or a litigant by any court of law.

Apart from Uttarakhand, the plea also cited instances of the Bombay, Madhya Pradesh and Kerala High Courts compelling lawyers to appear physically.
New Delhi, Aug 23 : The Indian Army cleared the way for the promotion of five women officers to Colonel rank, post completion of 26 years of reckonable service.

This is the first time that women officers serving with the Corps of Signals, Corps of Electronic and Mechanical Engineers (EME) and the Corps of Engineers have been approved to the rank of Colonel.

Previously, promotion to the rank of Colonel was only applicable for women officers in the Army Medical Corps (AMC), Judge Advocate General (JAG) and the Army Education Corps (AEC).

The widening of promotion avenues to more branches of the Indian Army is a sign of increasing career opportunities for women officers. Combined with the decision to grant permanent commission to women officers from a majority of branches of the Indian Army, this step defines the Indian Army's approach towards a gender-neutral Army.

The five women officers selected for Colonel Time Scale rank are -- Lt Col Sangeeta Sardana from the Corps of Signals, Lt Col Sonia Anand and Lt Col Navneet Duggal from the Corps of EME and Lt Col Reenu Khanna and Lt Col Ritcha Sagar from the Corps of Engineers.

In a big development, the Supreme Court last week passed an interim order allowing women to take the admission exam to National Defence Academy (NDA) where earlier only men could join.

Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, representing the Centre, argued that it is a policy decision of the government. Disagreeing with Centre's contention, a bench comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Hrishikesh Roy observed, "This is a policy decision based on gender discrimination...respondents (Centre), must take a constructive view." The top court pulled up the Army for resisting opportunities to women, and asked it to change its attitude and not wait for judicial orders to be passed in such matters.

The top court directed that women can sit for exams for entry in NDA, which is slated for September 5. The top court added that admissions, etc will be subjected to its final order. "Cannot create bar for women in NDA," noted the bench.
Wellington, Aug 23 : New Zealand reported 35 new community Covid-19 cases of the Delta variant on Monday, among which 33 are from Auckland and two from Wellington, bringing the total number of infections in the country's community outbreak to 107.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told a press conference that the country will remain at the top level 4 national lockdown for an additional four days until midnight Friday, reports Xinhua news agency.

The alert level will be reviewed again on Friday.

The country's largest city Auckland will remain in alert level 4 until August 31, Ardern said.

New Zealand moved to the top level 4 national lockdown from midnight August 17 after the first Covid-19 Delta variant case in the Auckland community was identified.

Under the Alert Level 4 lockdown, businesses and schools are closed except for essential ones such as supermarkets, pharmacies and service stations.

All of Monday's new community cases have been or are being transferred safely to a managed isolation facility, under strict infection prevention and control procedures, including the use of full PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), according to the Ministry of Health.

"It's not unexpected to see a rise in daily case numbers at this stage. At its peak last year, New Zealand had a daily total of 89 new cases," said a ministry statement.

The total number of community cases in Auckland, the country's largest city, is now 99 and Wellington's number of community cases have increased to eight, it said.

Of the 107 cases in the cluster, 72 are already epidemiologically linked to other community cases identified in the outbreak.

Investigations are continuing to determine whether and how the remaining 35 cases are linked to the outbreak.

However, most have a plausible link on initial assessment, such as people at a location of interest, the statement said.

Meanwhile, there are three new cases in recent returnees in managed isolation facilities.

The newly imported cases came from Belgium and Singapore and have remained in managed quarantine facilities in Auckland and Christchurch, according to the ministry.

Since the onset of the pandemic early last year, New Zealand has reported a total of 3,054 confirmed Covid-19 cases, with 26 deaths.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Srinagar, Aug 23 : Lt. General, Y.K. Joshi, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of the Army's northern command on Monday said the newly-recruited militants should accept their mistakes and return to the mainstream.

Addressing a function at the Manasbal Lake Park in north Kashmir Ganderbal district, Lt. General Joshi said, "We are ready to facilitate surrenders even in the midst of intense anti-militancy operations.

"Army is for saving lives, not to take lives".

Reaching out to newly-recruited militants, he said that the young militants who are ready to accept mistakes and join mainstream will be welcomed with open arms.

He said the Army is observing the 23rd anniversary of the homecoming of 23 boys who were forced to pick up arms, but were rescued by the Army in the Gurez sector and handed over to their families later.

"Today, I am glad that these 23 men are living a happy life back home with their families", the top Army officer said.

The Army commander said that over the last few months, they are seeing families of young and newly-recruited militants making fervent appeals to their loved ones pleading them to leave the gun culture and the cycle of violence.

"This is really heartbreaking. We make all efforts to ensure and seek surrenders. We want youth to live a peaceful life by returning to the mainstream" he said.

The GoC-in-C said the Army gives a lot of importance to protect human rights while conducting anti-militancy operations and ensuring minimum collateral damage.
New Delhi, Aug 23 : Three Sri Guru Granth Sahib and 46 Afghan Hindus & Sikhs with Indian passport holders are expected to arrive India on Monday amid growing tension in Afghanistan.

The source has confirmed that the stranded Indian nationals and 46 Afghan Hindus & Sikhs, with 3 Sri Guru Granth Sahib, are currently inside the Hamid Karzai International Airport at Kabul and will reach India by Monday night. They are being escorted to the Indian Air Force aircraft.

Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management committee and SAD leader Manjinder S. Sirsa said, "3 Sri Guru Granth Sahib and 46 Indian passport holders will arrive in India today. We thank GoI & PM Modi for helping Hindus-Sikhs in Afghanistan. We're in touch with minorities in Kabul who wish to be evacuated." In a seperate development, one more private plane carrying Indian nationals landed at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport on Monday morning. However, out of a total of 30 persons who have been evacuated from Kabul via Qatar, two have tested positive for Covid-19. "Two persons out of 146 people who have returned to India from Afghanistan today have tested positive for Covid-19", said Rajinder Kumar, Nodal Officer (Delhi govt) for Covid testing of Afghanistan returnees.

Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the government is committed to the safe return of all Indian nationals from Afghanistan. Prime Minister Modi has asked the foreign ministry to brief floor leaders of political parties on developments in Afghanistan.

India is evacuating stranded Indian Citizens from Afghanistan and has been allowed two flights per day from Kabul.

External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar tweeted, "In view of developments in Afghanistan, PM Modi has instructed that MEA brief Floor Leaders of political parties. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi will be intimating further details." India on Sunday evacuated 168 passengers including 107 Indian nationals through Indian Air Force's C-17 aircraft which landed at the Hindan IAF base in Ghaziabad.
Beijing, Aug 23 : Heavy rainstorms have lashed China's Chongqing Municipality and Guizhou province since Sunday, said local authorities on Monday.

From 8 a.m. Sunday to 8 a.m. Monday, rainstorms hit 26 districts and counties in Chongqing with precipitation up to 188 mm, said Chongqing hydrological monitoring station.

The water levels in 33 local rivers rose by one to four meters, Xinhua news agency quoted the station as saying.

A total of seven counties in Guizhou province experienced rainstorms with precipitation up to 145.5 mm from 7 a.m. Sunday to 7 a.m. Monday, according to Guizhou meteorological bureau.

The bureau launched a level-IV emergency response to rainstorms and issued an alert for flash floods with the provincial water resources department.

Meanwhile, the flood control and drought relief headquarters of Chongqing also issued warning and launched an emergency response to the floods, since rainstorms were forecast to continue in the municipality from Monday to Tuesday.
Taipei, Aug 23 : Taiwan on Monday started administering its first domestically developed Covid-19 vaccine amid fierce criticism over the approval process.

The vaccine Medigen, meaning "high-end" in Chinese language, is a recombinant protein vaccine developed by Medigen Vaccine Biologics Corp in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health in the US, the BBC reported.

The two-dose Medigen vaccine is to be administered 28 days apart.

Taiwan's Health Ministry granted approval to the vaccine for emergency use "even before completing phase three clinical trials", inviting criticism over the jab's safety and efficacy against the deadly virus.

According to the company, there were no major safety concerns and studies showed that antibodies created were "no worse than" those created by AstraZeneca's vaccine, which has been approved by many governments and has undergone the full three stages of clinical trials, the report said.

Further, the regulator stated that the approval was based on the data provided by Medigen, which showed the vaccine produced 3.4 times the level of neutralising antibodies as AstraZeneca. They have asked the company to submit real-world efficacy data within a year.

The rush has also been criticised by the main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), the report said.

The party claimed that the vaccine is unsafe and have also approached a court to revoke the emergency use approval due to insufficient testing.

However, demonstrating confidence in the safety of the jab President Tsai Ing-wen received her first dose at a Taipei hospital on Monday.

Taiwan has been using Moderna and AstraZeneca's Covid vaccines until now and less than 5 per cent of the country's 23.5 million population is fully vaccinated with around 40 per cent having received just one dose.

Taiwanese government has ordered five million doses of the vaccine, and more than 700,000 people so far have already signed up, the report said.
New Delhi : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Gopal Rai inaugurated Smog Tower at Connaught Place near Bangla Sahib Gurdwara in New Delhi On monday, August 23, 2021.(Photo: Wasim Sarvar/IANS) Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Gopal Rai inaugurated Smog Tower at Connaught Place near Bangla Sahib Gurdwara in New Delhi On monday, August 23, 2021.(Photo: Wasim Sarvar/IANS) Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Gopal Rai inaugurated Smog Tower at Connaught Place near Bangla Sahib Gurdwara in New Delhi On monday, August 23, 2021.(Photo: Wasim Sarvar/IANS) Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Gopal Rai inaugurated Smog Tower at Connaught Place near Bangla Sahib Gurdwara in New Delhi On monday, August 23, 2021.(Photo: Wasim Sarvar/IANS) Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Gopal Rai inaugurated Smog Tower at Connaught Place near Bangla Sahib Gurdwara in New Delhi On monday, August 23, 2021.(Photo: Wasim Sarvar/IANS) Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Gopal Rai inaugurated Smog Tower at Connaught Place near Bangla Sahib Gurdwara in New Delhi On monday, August 23, 2021.(Photo: Wasim Sarvar/IANS) Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Gopal Rai inaugurated Smog Tower at Connaught Place near Bangla Sahib Gurdwara in New Delhi On monday, August 23, 2021.(Photo: Wasim Sarvar/IANS) Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Aug 23 : India's national capital, Delhi got its first ever much needed smog tower, which was inaugurated by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday.

A 20-meter-tall structure was set up at Baba Kharak Singh Marg in Connaught Place in order to combat rising air pollution in Delhi.

The smog tower is a structure designed to work as a large-scale air purifier in order to reduce air pollution particles. It is an essential equipment for Delhi, which is one of the most polluted cities across the country and the world and has seen a major fall in its air quality for the past few years.

Inaugurating the project, Kejriwal said, "We have installed India's first smog tower in Delhi today. It can help clean the air within one-kilometre range. It has been installed on an experimental basis and data from it will be analysed by IIT-Delhi and IIT-Bombay," He said that the smog tower will help purify 1,000 cubic meters of air per second. A control room has been set up at the site to monitor the operation of smog tower.

The Delhi government plans to add more smog towers after studying the impact this one makes on pollution. During the inauguration, Delhi's environment minister Gopal Rai said the AAP government will form a team of experts for the study which is expected to last two years.

"Smog tower is designed to work as large-scale air purifiers, which is fitted with multiple layers of air filters and fans at the base to suck the air. After the polluted air enters the smog tower, it is purified by the multiple layers before being re-circulated into the atmosphere," said an official in Delhi's environment department.

Another such tower has been constructed at Anand Vihar, one of the pollution hotspots in the national capital. The 25-metre-tall tower is expected to become operational by the end of August, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

These towers have been built by Tata Projects Limited (TPL), with technical assistance from IIT Bombay and in collaboration with IIT Delhi.

Following high pollution levels in the national capital, the Supreme Court had in November 2019 asked the Centre and the Delhi government to come up with a road map on installing smog towers in the national capital region (NCR) to combat air pollution.

The smog towers are being installed on the lines of China, which has experimented with this technology in its capital Beijing and other cities.

Delhi was the most polluted capital city in the world in 2020 for the third consecutive year, according to a report by a Swiss group (released in March this year) that ranked cities based on their air quality measured in terms of the levels of ultrafine particulate matter (PM 2.5) that can enter the organs and cause lasting damage.
Lucknow, Aug 23 : A week after the Haryana government banned the use of the word 'Gorakh Dhanda' -- a word used to refer to unethical practices --, Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Kannauj, Subrat Pathak, has demanded a similar ban in Uttar Pradesh.

"The word Gorakh Dhanda hurts the sentiments of followers of Guru Gorakhnath. It is unethical to allow such words. I do not know when the term was coined and whether it was a part of a conspiracy to malign our saints. I appeal to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to ban this word and also thank the Haryana government for taking the initiative," he told reporters.

The decision to ban the use of 'Gorakh dhanda' was taken by Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar after a delegation of the Gorakhnath community met him.

The delegation urged Manohar Lal Khattar to ban the use of the term as it hurts the sentiments of followers of Saint Gorakhnath.

Khattar then declared a ban on using the term and said Gorakhnath was a saint and using this term hurts the sentiments of his followers.
Mumbai, Aug 23 : India's largest credit card issuer HDFC Bank on Monday said it aims to add five lakh new credit cards to its portfolio every month beginning February 2022.

Accordingly, the new additions will enable the bank to regain market share in the credit card issuing business in the next 9 to 12 months.

The bank's new target comes after the Reserve Bank relaxed the restrictions on HDFC Bank and allowed the lender to issue new credit cards.

However, the restrictions on all new launches of the digital business generating activities planned under 'Digital 2.0' will continue till further review by RBI.

In December 2020, RBI directed asked HDFC Bank to temporarily stop all launches of the 'Digital Business generating activities and sourcing of new credit card customers on certain incidents of outages in the Internet banking, mobile banking and payment utilities of the bank over the past two years.

According to HDFC Bank, it has over 20 initiatives which will hit the market in the next 6 to 9 months to drive this growth.

These initiatives, the bank pointed out includes the launch of new co-branded cards with the who's who of Corporate India spanning pharma, travel, FMCG, hospitality, telecom and fintech.

"The last few months have been spent in readying ourselves for the future. When the restrictions from the regulator were in place, we utilised the time to chalk out a new strategy," said Parag Rao, Group Head - Payments, Consumer Finance, Digital Banking & IT, HDFC Bank.

"With our new offerings as well as our existing suite of cards, we are confident of meeting the needs of our customers and 'come back with a bang'." At present, HDFC Bank has about 3.67 crore debit cards, 1.48 crore credit cards and about 21.34 lakh acceptance points.
Chennai, Aug 23 : Tamil Nadu will file an appeal in the Supreme Court against the order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) as it disposed a case relating to Mekedatu dam proposed by the Karnataka government across Cauvery river, said the Minister for Water Resources Duraimurugan.

Moving the demand for grants for his department in the assembly on Monday, Duraimurugan said, the NGT, Principal Bench, New Delhi has disposed the matter without giving an opportunity to Tamil Nadu to file reply.

He said, the Tamil Nadu government has decided to appeal in the Supreme Court against the NGT's order dated May 17, 2021. A civil appeal would be filed soon.

Duraimurugan said the NGT Southern Zone, based on the media reports about Karnataka starting the Mekedatu dam construction work suo motu took up the issue and ordered to constitute a four member Committee.

The Committee would look whether Karnataka started construction without getting the necessary clearance and to assess the damages, if any, that would be caused to the environment, and submit its Report.

However, based on the review application filed by Karnataka, National NGT, New Delhi disposed the matter, citing that the matter is before the Supreme Court.

Duraimurugan said, the Tamil Nadu government is continuously conveying its strong objections to Karnataka and the Union Government on the proposed new reservoir at Mekedatu across the River Cauvery.
New Delhi, Aug 23 : Questions surround Zalmay Khalilzad, an enigmatic diplomat who presided over US failures in Iraq and now the return of the Taliban to power in Afghanistan.

Khalilzad, a leading US diplomat of Afghan-origin, has long been a controversial figure for his involvement in Washington's 'War on Terror'.

He also led Washington's talks with the Taliban, which many see as the main precursor to the Pashtun-dominated group's lightning victory in Afghanistan, TRT World reported.

After the Taliban's surprisingly quick victory against the US-trained Afghan army, many government operators and experts can't help but speculate on Washington's role, particularly that of Khalilzad, in the Afghan group's return to power.

Some other experts further believe that Khalilzad pursued a "special political agenda" to promote his personal and family interests.

"One man responsible for the chaos and destruction raging across Afghanistan is Zalmay Khalilzad. He should be investigated for alleged financial corruption," says Kamal Alam, a non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council.

In 2014, Khalilzad's finances were subject to an Austrian investigation which froze his wife's accounts in the European country based on information from the US Department of Justice that he was suspected of money laundering related to business activities in Iraq and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

"This man wanted to be the president of Afghanistan. He ran to be the president of Afghanistan. No one likes him. Everyone hates him," Alam tells TRT World.

A Turkish source, who is closely acquainted with Khalilzad, refused to go on the record about him saying because he would have to express very "negative views" publicly about someone he knows very well.

Prior to his appointment as the US envoy to Afghanistan, some of his countrymen from Afghanistan signed a petition accusing him for "ethno-nationalist motivated previous conducts", a veiled reference to his alleged support for the Pashtun community's dominance after the US invasion.

Alam drew attention to the fact that Khalilzad should have never been in a top mediating position between the US and the Taliban after making clear his political ambitions in his country of origin, Afghanistan.

Khalilzad had reportedly wanted to challenge in the 2009 Afghan elections, but missed the deadline to file his candidacy.

"How can an American official be neutral when he runs for the presidency of another country called Afghanistan?" Alam asks. While he has been an active participant of "the great game of Afghanistan", there is no way he could do a job of an independent adviser, Alam adds.

Khalilzad was also considered for the position of US secretary of state by former US President Donald Trump administration.

Ahmad Rashid, a Pakistani writer, also criticised him him for "acting like a British viceroy". Before the Soviets and the Americans, the British also invaded Afghanistan.

Alam thinks that Khalilzad is no different from Afghan warlords. "He is very much an Afghan warlord," he says, adding: "His political agenda is the same as any other Afghan warlord." Even after the hasty US withdrawal, Khalilzad's political value in Washington might increase as no Americans except him appear to have any clue about what the Taliban could do next.

"That's why Biden kept him on because he is the only guy who could talk to the Taliban," Alam says.

"He has failed in his mission. Just as British and French Prime Ministers Neville Chamberlain and Edouard Daladier failed to prevent (Nazi) Germany's expansion after the September 1938 Munich Pact, Ambassador Khalilzad signed an agreement, in February 2020, in Doha, that failed to bring about reconciliation and a political settlement between belligerents," says Ioannis Koskinas, a senior fellow in the international security program of New America.

"The Taliban were explicit in their intent of a total takeover of Afghanistan. Ambassador Khalilzad's efforts were supposed to be about a graceful exit for the US that didn't leave a mess behind, in Afghanistan. The Taliban achieved their goal; Ambassador Khalilzad did not," Koskinas told TRT World.

Koskinas, a former US military officer, who served in Afghanistan for years as a member of the special forces, also sharply criticises the Afghan peace process and Khalilzad's role in it, saying that "Doha was a sideshow, a clever move by the Taliban to gain political legitimacy and credibility".

"There was very little political process in the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan. While the Taliban's political representatives in Doha were talking, their commanders in Afghanistan were fighting," Koskinas observes.

As a result, Doha talks left Afghanistan "on an arbitrary timeline" which favoured the Taliban.

"Certainly, from the outside looking in, it never seemed as if Ambassador Khalilzad was looking for ways to strengthen the Afghan government's bargaining power, in negotiations by the time of the templated US eventual withdrawal in 2021," he adds.

Some argue that he has played a kind of a transitional role from the Afghan government to Taliban rule by legitimising and empowering the group by holding talks with them under the Trump administration's "ending forever wars" doctrine.

Muhammad Athar Javed, an International Security Program fellow at New America, a Washington-based think-tank, thinks that the US had a greater role than has been stated.

"The transition to Taliban rule must have been well thought. I mean it's not an accident to be honest," he says.

The Taliban can't behave like that unless they have a political understanding with the US and other Western powers, according to the analyst (Sanjeev Sharma can be reached at Sanjeev.s@ians.in)
New Delhi, Aug 23 : In June 2020, the Indian government decided to ban TikTok along with dozens of other Chinese apps. At the time TikTok had over 200 million users in India -- some of them had found fame on the app and were left dismayed by the news. While TikTok had to give up its largest overseas market, it continues to be one of the fastest growing tech companies in the world.

So, what is it that sets TikTok apart? Who are the people behind this seemingly simple app that has taken over the world? How does the legendary TikTok algorithm work? How much of the Chinese technology space does its developer ByteDance control? In "Attention Factory" (Westland Business), Matthew Brennan attempts to answer these questions and more. Drawing upon interviews with current and former employees and competitors, together with extensive research, captivating anecdotes and telling infographics, Brennan has forged a narrative that is packed with original insights and analysis.

Discover how recommendation engines, content operations and good old China-style growth hacking hold the key to this company's success. An essential read that will change not only the way we think about Chinese apps and technology but also about the Internet as a whole Matthew Brennan is an author and internationally recognised speaker who specialises in Chinese mobile Internet technology and innovation. His opinions have featured across global media, including Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, BBC, The Financial Times and Forbes. For several years, his company China Channel has organised the largest annual WeChat digital marketing conference in China for international brands.

Brennan has delivered dozens of presentations for many prestigious companies, including Google, Tencent, Walmart, Visa, LinkedIn, Boston Consulting Group and more. Originally from London, he speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese having been based in mainland China for sixteen years.
New Delhi, Aug 23 : Members of the All India Other Backward Classes (OBC) Students Association on Monday held a meeting with Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the Central government's decision to implement 27 per cent reservation for the OBC community in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET).

After the meeting, the OBC students' body expressed their gratitude towards the Union government for proposing this decision.

Pradhan said that he met the OBC students' body, which expressed its gratitude for implementing 27 per cent reservation for their community in the all-India quota for NEET.

The students from the OBC association shared valuable suggestions with the Union minister on ways to ensure empowerment and welfare of their community, Pradhan said.

"I assured them that the Central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will work and do everything possible to widen the spectrum of opportunities for the marginalised and weaker sections of the society," he said.

NEET (Undergraduate) 2021 exams will be conducted across the country on September 12 following all necessary Covid-19 protocol1s.

"To ensure maintaining social distancing norms, the number of cities where NEET exams will be conducted has been increased from 155 to 198. The number of examination centres has also been ramped up," he said.

This is the first time that NEET will be conducted in 11 other languages, including Punjabi and Malayalam.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) is arranging the entrance test centres across various cities on the basis of preference of the students appearing for NEET.

The cities are being allotted based on the preferences given by the candidates.
Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 23 : Kerala Health Minister Veena George on Monday cautioned the people that the coming four weeks are going to be very crucial for Covid situation as the state just saw another Onam festival season end.

The 10-day Onam festivities came to a close on Sunday and before the festival season began itself, Kerala had more than 50 per cent of the daily new Covid cases and had the highest number of active cases in the country.

"It's not possible to enforce lockdown all the time as the economic activity has to go and it's the responsibility of the government to protect both lives and livelihoods. We have made it very clear to ensure maintaining all Covid protocols and while some did it, at many places things did not go the way it should have. The presence of the Delta variant is a cause of concern and a third wave is also expected and hence the coming weeks are going to be very crucial," said George.

"Considering a possibility of a third wave, the health infrastructure has been revamped and we have presently 870 tonne Oxygen stock and 33 Oxygen generation plants are being set up," added George.

"Our aim is to speed up the vaccination campaign to cover as many people as possible. Though the vaccines have been taken by many, there are chances of the Delta variant spreading quickly and hence all should continue to be cautious and ensure all safety norms are observed," said George.
Lucknow, Aug 23 : With milk production in Uttar Pradesh increasing at an average rate of nine lakh metric tonnes annually, Uttar Pradesh now tops in the whole country.

According to a government spokesman, milk production has gone up from 277.697 lakh metric tonnes in 2016-17 to 318.630 lakh metric tonnes in 2019-20 in UP.

In the last four years, 1,242.37 lakh metric tonnes of milk has been produced in the state.

Six big companies, including Amul, have set up their dairy plants at the cost of Rs 172 crore in UP in the last four years while work is underway to establish seven others.

Besides, 15 investors have offered to set up their units.

The investments being made in the dairy sector have also created massive employment opportunities in the rural areas of the state. The number of villagers doing milk business by rearing cows and buffaloes is increasing consistently.

According to official statistics, Uttar Pradesh is the largest milk producing state in the country, accounting for more than 17 per cent of the total milk production in India.

In order to promote milk production in the state, the government started protecting milch animals and setting up greenfield dairies.

Greenfield dairies are being set up in Kanpur, Lucknow, Varanasi, Meerut, Bareilly, Kannauj, Gorakhpur, Firozabad, Ayodhya and Moradabad districts of UP while four old dairies at Jhansi, Noida, Aligarh and Prayagraj are being upgraded, said the officials.

Furthermore, the Yogi Adityanath government sanctioned Rs 272 crore for the establishment of cow protection centres in all the districts of the state. Elaborate arrangements have been made for the protection and maintenance of destitute and abandoned bovine.

These efforts of the government have resulted in increasing interest among investors in the dairy industry of UP, many of whom have already set up their plants whereas several others are working on it.

Several dairy plants have sprung up in UP in the recent past, including Purvanchal Agrico, Shrestha Food, Desi Dairy, New Amit Food, Creamy Food and CP Milk Food that have set up plants in Ghazipur, Bijnor, Meerut, Gonda, Bulandshahr and Lucknow respectively.

The UP Government is constructing cow protection centres and a 'Govansh Vanya Vihar' to enhance milk production in the state further. The construction of 118 such centres has already been completed.

Apart from this, more than 66,000 cows have been handed over to willing cattle owners under the Chief Minister's Destitute Govansh Sahayog Yojana.

The state government has also launched Gokul Award and Nandbaba Award. The awards are given to the highest producer of milk from indigenous cows.

The Government is giving credit cards to more than 12 lakh registered dairy farmers in the rural areas, which has led to significant increase in the number of livestock in the state.

According to the 20th animal census conducted by the government, there are 202.04 lakh bovine animals in UP.
Amaravati, Aug 23 : Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Mekathoti Sucharitha on Monday took a dig at Nara Lokesh, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader and the son of former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, for not consoling the families of those women who were attacked during the previous TDP government.

Sucharitha asked why Lokesh, despite being a minister in the previous TDP government, did not visit the families of Tehsildar Vanajakshi, who was physically attacked by former TDP MLA Chintamaneni Prabhakar, and deceased students Rishiteswari and Sugali Preeti.

Exhorting the resolve of Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy in protecting women in the southern state, she said a 'Disha law' was implemented in the state while the real Disha incident occurred in neighbouring Telangana.

Sucharita said that Reddy is empowering women politically, financially and socially.

The Disha app, a digital tool for women's protection, has already been downloaded by 40 lakh people, she said.

Referring to a recent incident near Guntur where a jilted man murdered a woman, Sucharita said the Chief Minister immediately intervened in the incident.

The deceased person's family has been offered a financial aid of Rs 14.5 lakh and a house, she said.
New Delhi, Aug 23 : The PlayStation 5 will be available for pre-order again in India on August 26. According to a listing spotted by IGN India readers, Sony's own retail arm, ShopAtSC has listed a new PS5 restock date.

As per report, this restock will have limited quantity as Sony plans to push out a majority of its stock in time for Diwali and the holiday season.

The PlayStation 5 was sold out within minutes of pre-orders going available at the May 17 replenishment. The PS5 was released in the country for the first time since February 2021.

The PlayStation 5 costs Rs 49,990 for the normal edition while the digital edition comes for Rs 39,990. The PS5 Digital Edition is effectively identical to the PS5, with all of the same processing power as the disc-drive-equipped version.

Unable to meet the surge in demand, Sony has still managed to sell 7.8 million PlayStation 5 consoles till March 31 this year.

In its latest earnings report, the company revealed that PlayStation Plus has 47.7 million subscribers globally, a 14.7 per cent increase (year on year).

Sony has registered $3.14 billion in operating profit for its 2020 financial year.

PlayStation 5 is the fastest selling console in the US history in both unit and dollar sales (lifetime sales with five months on the market), according to market research firm NPD.

According to multiple media reports, the stock of Sony PlayStation 5 will continue to be very limited until the second half of 2021 due to chip shortage.

Sony has been struggling to maintain the supply of the PS5 consoles.
Tehran, Aug 23 : The Foreign Affairs Ministry of Iran on Monday called for the formation of a comprehensive government in Afghanistan.

"The composition of the (next Afghan) government should represent the population of Afghanistan," ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh was quoted as saying by the Xinhua news agency.

Iran has been closely following the latest developments in Afghanistan.

Iran has encouraged the parties to reduce their differences in Afghanistan, Khatibzadeh said, adding that Tehran calls on all conflictual sides to pursue dialogue and restraint.

The Foreign Minister of Pakistan will visit Iran on Thursday and one of the aims of his visit is to exchange views pertaining to the issues of Afghanistan, Khatibzadeh said.
Mumbai/New Delhi, Aug 23 : In stunning revelations, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has said that the 22 main accused in the Bhima-Koregaon and Elgar Parishad cases had allegedly recruited students of at least two top Indian universities for terror activities in the country, including Maharashtra.

The NIA statement comes in the draft charges filed in the twin cases against 16 arrested accused and six other absconders in the sensational cases that have rocked the Indian polity for the past four years.

As per the NIA, the accused had "recruited students from various universities, including the reputed Jawaharlal Nehru University (New Delhi) and Tata Institute of Social Sciences (Mumbai), for the commission of terrorist activities".

The draft charges were filed before the NIA special court last week after its main and supplementary chargesheets were filed earlier, after long investigations into the two cases.

When contacted, NIA sources declined to comment, saying the agency has already filed its chargesheet in the case and the draft charges are court documents.

Among other things, the accused are charged with promoting the activities and ideologies of banned outfits, and mobilising and training people and students in handling sophisticated arms and explosives.

Reacting to the developments, Pune-based social activist Prafful Sarda wondered if the NIA's contentions are true, why the current BJP government at the Centre gave maximum aid of Rs 1,515 crore to JNU, as per the figures provided under RTI.

"Does it mean that the Centre is funding and giving subsidies to such terror institutions? A reminder, even Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharamanji is a JNU alumnus," said Sarda.

The NIA's draft charges say the larger objective was to conspire against and destabilise the governments of India and Maharashtra and threaten their sovereignty with large-scale violence.

To achieve these objectives, the accused -- through a banned Leftist organisation and its frontal outfits -- had arranged to raise Rs 8 crore for annual supplies of sophisticated weapons, the NIA said.

These include: Chinese QLZ87 Automatic Grenade Launcher, Russian GM-94 Grenade Launcher, M-4 carbines with 4,00,000 rounds, nitrate powder, wires, nails, logistics, and procuring arms from suppliers in Manipur and neighbouring Nepal to undermine the Centre and the Maharashtra government.

The arrested accused in the cases are: Sudhir P. Dhawale, Vernon S. Gonsalves (both from Mumbai), Arun T. Fereira from Thane, Sagar Gorkhe from Ahmednagar, Ramesh Gaichor from Pune, Surendra P. Gadling, Shoma K. Sen, Mahesh S. Raut (all from Nagpur), and Anand B. Teltumbde from Yavatmal -- all in Maharashtra.

The arrested accused also include Rona J. Wilson and Gautam Navlakha from Delhi, P. Varavara Rao from Hyderabad, Sudha Bharadwaj from Faridabad, Hany Babu M. Tharayil from Trichur, and the late Stan Swamy from Tamil Nadu, who died in Mumbai on July 5 while in custody.

The absconder-accused are: Milind Teltumbde aliases Dipak and Sahyadri from Yavatmal, Prakash Goswami and Ritupan Goswami from Assam, Kishan Bose from Kolkata, Mupalla Laxman Rao, Chandrashekhar, Manglu and Deepu.

The NIA said that all the accused are 'active members' of the banned terrorist organisation CPI (Maoist), which was declared unlawful by the Union Home Ministry in 2009, and another 10 frontal units, including the Kabir Kala Manch, which had organised the Elgar Parishad in Pune on December 31, 2017, the alleged fallout of which were the caste riots in Bhima-Koregaon on January 1, 2018.

The other frontal wings are: Anuradha Ghandy Memorial Committee, Persecuted Prisoners Solidarity Committee, Committee for Protection of Democratic Rights, Peoples Union for Democratic Rights, Coordination of Democratic Rights Organisation, Democratic Students Union, Visthapan Virodhi Jan Vikas Andolan, and Revolutionary Writers Association.

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in & Anand Singh can be contacted at anand.s@ians.in )
New Delhi, Aug 23 : Amid reports of infighting in Chhattisgarh, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and state Health Minister T.S. Singh Deo will meet former Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday in the national capital, a party leader said.

According to the Congress leader, Baghel and Deo will meet Rahul Gandhi at his residence on Tuesday and will discuss several issues. The two state leaders will also meet Chhattisgarh in-charge P.L. Punia and others. The meeting assumes significance following the exit of the Mahila Congress chief Sushmita Dev from the party recently. The Congress has earlier faced similar situation in Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, and some northeastern states.

There were several reports of differences between Baghel and Deo, with the latter lobbying hard for months to replace Chief Minister Baghel. On July 27, Deo walked out of the Assembly saying "it is too much" after the opposition created an uproar demanding a House panel probe into Congress MLA Brihaspat Singh's charge that the Minister was behind an attack on him.

Deo and Baghel have been making several trips to the national capital. Deo, for the record, maintains that "Sonia Gandhiji and Rahul Gandhiji will decide." Following his visit, Baghel also rushed to the national capital in July this year.

During his Delhi visit, Baghel said he would abide by the decision of the leadership and returned to Raipur in the same plane with Deo.

After the 2018 Assembly elections, names of Baghel, Deo, Charan Das Mahant and Tamradhwaj Sahu were doing rounds for the post of the chief minister in the state. However, Baghel emerged as the winner after having several meetings with the Congress top leadership.

There also have been reports that Congress had adopted CM post-sharing formula to accommodate Baghel and Deo. The Congress has completed two and half years in the state in June this year.
Chennai, Aug 23 : Tamil Nadu Finance Minister, P.T.R. Thiagarajan has said that the previous AIADMK government had raised petrol prices by five times during its one decade rule from 2011 to 2021. He was responding to a question of AIADMK legislator, K.P. Munuswamy in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Monday.

The Finance Minister said that while the previous government had raised the petrol prices five times, it did not have the courage to reduce it even once.

His remarks against the AIADMK government were strongly objected to, by the leader of opposition, K. Palaniswami. The state Finance Minister stated in the assembly that he was not aiming at any particular individual but was raising his question against the AIADMK as a political party.

Thiagarajan also said that the AIADMK legislators were trying to disrupt his speech in the House and that the opposition party was trying to divert the issue when cornered.

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin intervened and requested the Speaker to expunge certain remarks made by Finance Minister. Thiagarajan requested that some remarks made by the Opposition leader against him should also be removed from the records.

After the Tamil Nadu government under Chief Minister M.K. Stalin reduced the price of petrol by Rs 3 per litre, it was welcomed across the state. The Finance Minister had then said that the government's move was aimed at two wheeler riders and small car users and that the consumption of petrol has increased after the government reduced its price by Rs 3 per litre.
Chennai, Aug 23 : The Tamil Nadu police have arrested two Bangladeshi nationals, for plotting communal violence in Erode district of the state. The police are also on the lookout for two other Bangladeshi nationals who were accomplices of the arrested accused.

Perundurai Police in Erode district arrested N. Mujam Mondal, 30, and N. Ebahul Ali, 22. The police took action after receiving a complaint from Mijamul Haji, which said that four Bangladeshi youths were plotting to cause communal clashes between Hindus and Muslims in the area.

Mijamul Haji in a written complaint said that the four youths were planning to demolish a Hindu temple and to steal the ornament of the deity.

Police inquiry found that the complainant, Mijamul Haji was into supplying workers to construction sites in and around Perundurai. The four men had approached Mijamul Haji for work. The four -- Mujam Mondal, Ebadhul Ali, Akash and Jehangir had provided the Aadhaar documents to the contractor but jobs were not given.

Ten Bangladeshi nationals were arrested on July 28 for staying without passport and visa and police said that the four men frequently met after their arrest.

The Perundurai police said that they are of the belief that it was at the insistence of the local Hindu community that the Bangladeshi nationals were arrested.

The four plotted for the demolition of the temple and then escape to Bangladesh. Police arrested the two under sections 153 A and other sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Foreigners Act. The two were remanded to judicial custody.

A senior officer at the Police headquarters at Chennai told IANS, "Police will arrest the remaining two persons soon and we are trying to ascertain whether they have links to any terror groups or whether they are sleeper cells or acting at the insistence of anybody. Police have stepped up vigil across the state and will be reviewing the intelligence inputs to ensure no untoward incidents take place."
Kabul, Aug 23 : The Taliban will not extend the August 31 deadline for the current evacuation mission, a spokesman has said.

Taliban spokesman, Muhammad Suhail Shaheen told BBC amid reports that the UK will press for a deadline extension for international evacuations beyond August 31.

"Foreign forces should withdraw on the deadline they have announced earlier. Otherwise, it is a clear violation," Shaheen said.

The spokesman added the Taliban's reaction to such a move would be a decision for the group's leadership.

Thousands of Afghans are continuing to try and flee the country ahead of the end-of-the-month deadline, with many citing fear of life under Taliban rule.

It is unclear whether international flights will be allowed in and out of the country once international forces leave and cease control of the airport.
New Delhi, Aug 23 : Pakistan once again stands exposed with its claims of not supporting terror groups across the globe proving to be an eye wash.

In Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK), a rally was organised by Taliban supporters on Monday morning, with LeT and JeM outfits coming out in support of the Taliban.

The participants in the rally also fired in the air.
New Delhi, Aug 23: The Taliban on Sunday announced that hundreds of its fighters are heading to attack the Panjshir valley, the crucible of resistance against their rule, led by Ahmad Massoud.

"Hundreds of Mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate are heading towards the state of Panjshir to control it after local state officials refused to hand it over peacefully," the movement wrote on its Arabic Twitter account.

But its lightning advance including the a virtually bloodless seizure of Kabul on August 15 notwithstanding, the Taliban will find the Panjshiris, known for their fighting skills, a tough nut to crack.

There are five reasons why the Taliban may find the going onerous in case they choose to attack the Panjshir valley.

First, the Panjshiris are highly motivated fighters. The legendary Ahmad Shah Massoud, the man who helped in bringing down the former Soviet Union on account of his contribution to the anti-Soviet Jihad in the eighties continues to remain an inspirational icon. The memory of Massoud's treacherous murder on September 9,2001, by the Al-Qaida, who were sheltered by the Taliban, continues to fuel feelings of injustice, loss and revenge- the oxygen that fires a highly motivated fighting force.

Second, the Panjshiris are a cohesive lot, mostly of Tajik ethnicity, which gives them a clear identity, purpose and a common historical legacy-all reinforcing their bonds with each other against the Taliban led mostly by Pashtun tribesmen.

Third, the Panjshiris are cohesively led. Ahmad Massoud is the son of the martyred Ahmad Shah Massoud. The common bloodline greatly helps in imparting continuity to the resistance. Others in the leadership ranks, include Amrullah Saleh, the formidable former Vice President, who has emerged as a rallying symbol of the budding resistance. Others in the resistance ranks include former defence minister Bismillah Mohammadi.

Two other names Haibatullah Alizai and Sami Sadat, two young guns who were appointed as top generals by deposed President Ashraf Ghani at the eleventh hour may count in case combat with the Taliban begins.

Fourth, the Taliban will have to tackle the extremely tough terrain of the Panjshir valley, which is ideal for a long-haul guerrilla warfare.

As in the Vietnam war and other theatres of conflict such as Cuba, a successful guerrilla campaign will require assured supply lines and diplomatic support at a high level. Already Russia and Iran have made it plain that while they are ready to dialogue with the Taliban, a political transition is in Afghanistan is still a work in progress. In the end this may be possible only if the Panjshiris emerge a solid counterforce to the Taliban on the ground, opening the door for a fresh and more even-handed dialogue, leading to a durable reconciliation.

In the Panjshir Valley, Ahmad Masoud, has gathered a fighting force of approximately 9,000 members, AFP is reporting quoting a Panjshiri official.

Earlier, in an interview with the Al Arabiya television station, Ahmad Massoud, refused to surrender the Panjshir valley to the extremist group, but expressed his readiness for a dialogue.

But Massoud also asserted that he was not ready to cede control of the Panjshir valley, and this was his bottom line for any dialogue. According to Al Arabiya, the Taliban had given Massoud a four-hour ultimatum to give up Panjshir valley, north of Kabul.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative
Chandigarh, Aug 23 : The talks between the government and protesting farmers in Punjab remained inconclusive on the second day on Monday as the latter demanded that the state bring the state assured price (SAP) of sugarcane on a par with neighbouring Haryana at Rs 358 per quintal, the highest in the country.

In the meeting, the government claimed that the production cost should be Rs 350 per quintal, while the farmers pegged it at Rs 392.

The farmers have been on agitation since August 20 by blocking the Delhi-Amritsar national highway near Jalandhar, along with the rail tracks, over their demand for raising the SAP of sugarcane. They have already rejected the hike of Rs 15 per quintal announced by the government last week.

The farmers threatened to block all highways, if their demands were not accepted.

Officials told IANS that a meeting of farm leaders with an expert committee was held and couldn't arrive at any conclusion.

Now a meeting with Chief Minister Amarinder Singh will be held on Tuesday.

State Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu came out openly in support of the protesting farmers and targetted his state government by saying Punjab is offering low assured price compared to what it is offered by Haryana and other states.

"The sugarcane farmers issue needs to be immediately resolved amicably Strange that despite the higher cost of cultivation in Punjab the state assured price is too low as compared to Haryana, UP, Uttarakhand. As a torchbearer of agriculture, the Punjab SAP should be better!" Sidhu said in a tweet.
Chandigarh, Aug 23 : Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Monday informed the Assembly that the state ensured adequate oxygen supply amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.

He said a committee would be formed to investigate complaints against hospitals for negligence in giving treatment during the pandemic. Strict action will be taken against such hospitals.

Replying to an issue raised by the opposition Congress during Zero Hour, Khattar said about 13,000 people succumbed due to the coronavirus in the state. Of these, about 9,500 were residents of the state, while about 3,500 were patients from other states.

There are about 4,000 private hospitals in the state and sufficient oxygen was supplied to very hospital. Oxygen was also supplied from a nearby city, if needed, the Chief Minister said.

He said in some hospitals of Hisar, Rewari and Gurugram districts, irregularities were reported and a magisterial inquiry was conducted for all complaints. In two reports pertaining to Rewari and Gurugram hospitals, no death was reported due to lack of oxygen.

In an investigation of negligence in Soni Burn Hospital in Hisar, the report has been sent to the Superintendent of Police for necessary action.

In the hospital, the consumption of oxygen had reached 80 cylinders per day while the number of cylinders available with the hospital was 20.

The Chief Minister said during the peak of the second wave it was noticed that some hospitals admitted more patients than the capacity.
New Delhi, Aug 23 : The University of Delhi is likely to open two new colleges soon. This will be decided in the academic council meeting which is to be held on Tuesday where a resolution to this effect is likely to be passed.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supported academic council members -- Asha Rani and Sunil Kumar will raise the demand for opening of colleges in the name of Mata Savitribai Phule and Jannayak Chaudhary Brahm Prakash Yadav during the Zero Hour.

Both these members of the DU academic council will also raise questions as to why the new education policy is being implemented without discussing it with teachers. Both the AAP leaders say that before the implementation of the four-year curriculum in the varsity, workshops, seminars and opinions of college teachers should have been taken. There were no views taken from the students either.

The Delhi Teachers' Association (DTA) says that colleges in the name of India's first female teacher, social worker and freedom fighter, Mata Savitribai Phule in Delhi Dehat's Fatehpur Beri and Delhi's first Chief Minister Jannayak Chaudhary Brahm Prakash Yadav in Delhi Dehat's Najafgarh (Roshanpura) must be opened.

DTA President Hansraj Suman said, at present there is no college or educational institution in the name of any backward caste woman in DU. If a college is opened in the name of Mata Savitribai Phule it will send a positive message in the whole country. With the opening of a college for girls in Delhi Dehat, rural girls will be encouraged to get education and they will be able to stand on their own feet by becoming 'Aatmanirbhar' or 'self-reliant'.

According to the DTA, Chaudhary Brahm Prakash Yadav was a popular leader of Delhi, who contributed significantly to India's freedom struggle. He was not only the voice of rural Delhi but also of Dalits and other backward castes. Under his leadership, rural areas in Delhi made rapid progress. By opening a co-educational college in his name, the promotion of education will be spread among the students in rural areas.

The DU Registrar had recommended a name to open a new college for women in the varsity notification issued on March 12, 2020, following which a proposal was sent to open the college in the name of Savitribai Phule.
New Delhi, Aug 23 : Anticipating the third wave of the pandemic, a Covid care centre is being set up for the employees of Delhi Airport.

Accordingly, GMR Group led Delhi International Airport (DIAL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Medanta Hospital to set up a dedicated Covid Care Centre at Delhi Airport's Terminal 2.

The Covid Care Centre is expected to be operational early September 2021.

"Anticipating the third wave of Covid pandemic, the facility is being set up with various necessary healthcare facilities for its employees and their family members, including children, who are feared to be impacted by the third wave of the pandemic," DIAL said.

"This state-of-the-art healthcare centre will help isolate, clinically treat, clinically support asymptomatic, mild and mild to moderate Covid positive employees of GMR or their family members, till they are transferred to a hospital or discharged to their homes." According to the statement, the medical support facility will be managed by DIAL under the medical supervision of Medanta Hospital.

Under this arrangement, DIAL will handle day-to-day operational issues, while Medanta will provide all medical support to this centre.

"A total of 15 'Paediatric High Dependency Unit' (HDU) beds, 18 'Adult HDU beds' and 52 'Isolation beds' have been allotted at this centre." Besides, 85 oxygen concentrators have been arranged here.

"AI based cameras have been installed for monitoring all the activities inside the centre, along with all other medical equipment for HDU and isolation beds as per state-of-the-art best industry practices." In addition, DIAL said that during the second wave many challenges were faced due to acute shortage of beds and oxygen concentrators in the hospitals.

"To avert any potential crisis during the anticipated third wave of the pandemic, this healthcare centre will have all the necessary facilities and equipment installed."

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Mumbai, Aug 23 : 'Apna Time Bhi Aayega' has completed 250 episodes and the actors of the show have expressed their sentiments on the milestone.

It is a story of a young woman 'Rani' played by Megha Ray. Belonging to an affluent family of Jaipur, 'Rani' wants to break free from the shackles of her background to carve her own destiny.

Sharing the excitement and her association with the daily soap, Megha Ray says: "When we began our journey with this show, none of us even imagined the kind of love and support that would come our way. Rani is far by one of the best characters that I have essayed and her journey has played a very important role in my life. There is a lot that I have learnt from her and I hope to continue too as the show progresses." Even actress Vivana Singh who plays the role of 'Maharani Rajeshwari' seems quite happy and shared about her role and getting work during the pandemic.

She says: "I am really fortunate to be a part of this show, playing the central lead has just been an amazing experience for me and I have received a lot of love and compliments for my performance. At a time when so many people did not get a chance to work due to the pandemic, this character came as blessing in my life." 'Apna Time Bhi Aayega' airs on Zee TV.
New Delhi: People coming back to India from Kabul, Afghanistan at IGI Airport in New Delhi on Sunday, August 22, 2021. (Photo: Qamar Sibtain/IANS) Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi: People coming back to India from Kabul, Afghanistan at IGI Airport in New Delhi on Sunday, August 22, 2021. (Photo: Qamar Sibtain/IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Kathmandu, Aug 23 : As many as 654 Nepali citizens have been brought back from Afghanistan after the Taliban seized power, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Monday.

"Some Nepali nationals were rescued and brought back to Doha, Dubai, London and New Delhi and we are continuously coordinating with different stakeholders to bring them back," it said.

At least 900 Nepalis stranded there had contacted Nepali authorities and expressed their intent to return home, the ministry said.

A total of 361 Nepali nationals have registered their name and their local address of Afghanistan for returning back home, it said.

As civilian flights are not allowed, Nepal is coordinating with several friendly nations and employers inside Afghanistan to bring back its citizens.

The rescue operation is being carried out by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Consular Services, and the Nepali Embassy in New Delhi.

Nepal said that around 15,00 Nepali citizens were working inside Afghanistan in various diplomatic missions as well as in some private companies.

For those who landed in Kathmandu, after completing the necessary procedures, the government officials take them to the dedicated holding centre for a health check up including Covid testing.

Besides testing for Covid, Nepali authorities have started administering polio vaccines to the returnees after it was reported that there has been an outbreak of polio cases in Afghanistan recently.

The Health Ministry has decided to vaccinate returnees from Afghanistan with free polio vaccines as a preventative measure, the Minister for Health and Population said.
New Delhi, Aug 23 : A group of two housing societies and some individual residents on Monday told the Supreme Court that no public consultation or environmental clearance was secured for the construction of Dwarka Expressway flyover in the capital.

The top court has sought a response from National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) on the residents' plea seeking stay on the construction activity.

Advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the petitioners, submitted that the NHAI did not hold any public consultation and also, they did not have any environmental clearances. "And, they are felling trees even after the permission granted to do so lapsed," he submitted.

A bench of Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and M.R. Shah issued notice to the NHAI and other parties in the matter and sought their response by Friday.

Bhushan, seeking an early hearing on the matter, contended that the NHAI is continuing work round-the-clock and by the time the court will hear the plea, irreversible damage will be done.

He added that the NHAI has already constructed a small road, which passes through densely populated colonies and has six schools on its periphery. Bhushan argued that the Delhi High Court has erred in its finding and allowed the construction to go on saying that it was not a new road, therefore no new clearances were required.

On July 30, the high court had declined to entertain a plea of residents and housing societies seeking directions to the NHAI to place on record all mandatory permissions for carrying out construction on a residential road, DDA Road No 226 in Sectors 22-23, Dwarka.

The plea, filed through advocate Anand Varma, said the high court erred in accepting NHAI's "baseless contention" that the expressway is not a new national highway. The NHAI insisted that since its not a new highway, hence it is exempted from obtaining mandatory prior Environmental Clearance under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006.

The resident had moved the high court against the construction of the flyover and the connecting road saying that the NHAI was allegedly illegally constructing the flyover as part of the greenfield project. They sought directions to restrain it from going ahead with the construction activity in the interregnum.
New Delhi, Aug 23: In December 2001, the participants at the UN talks on Afghanistan during the historic Bonn Conference, which led to the formation of Interim Authority under the chairmanship of President Hamid Karzai, had agreed that there should be equitable representation of all ethnic and religious communities in the administration and the 'Emergency Loya Jirga' - a special mass assembly - convened to bring peace, order and good government in Kabul.

Nearly two decades later, the landlocked country situated at the hub of South Asia and Central Asia, finds itself at the same crossroads once again with the conflict between the Taliban and various other political and ethnic groups, including those led by former Mujahedin leaders, threatening to spiral out of control.

An estimated 80 per cent of the Afghan population is believed to be Sunni while the remainder of the population - primarily the Hazara ethnic group - is predominantly Shia. While the percentage of Afghan ethnic groups has always been debated in absence of detailed and verified statistics, the US lists Pashtuns as the largest ethnic group in Afghanistan at 38-44 per cent of the population, followed by Tajiks (25 per cent), Hazaras (10 per cent), Uzbek (6-8 per cent), Aimaks, Turkmen, Baluchis, Nuristani, Pashaye, Arab and other small groups.

The Tajiks Majority of fighters in the Islamic fundamentalist group Taliban are from rural southern Pashtun backgrounds, especially Ghilzai Pashtuns.

The resistance movement, meanwhile, has been mainly confined to the Tajik corner in the northeast and the Panjshir valley. Ahmad Massoud, the leader of the National Resistance Front, is son of Ahmad Shah Massoud - the much revered Tajik commander who is known as the 'Lion of Panjshir' for his heroics against the Soviets and the Taliban.

Concentrated in northern Afghanistan, the number of Tajiks in Afghanistan increased manifold after the deadly civil war in Tajikistan. Refugee camps in the provinces of Balkh, Kunduz and Takhar were overflowing with internally displaced persons in the mid 1990s.

Tajik leaders, including Burhanuddin Rabbani who served as Afghanistan president twice between 1992 to 2001, led the non-Pashtun Northern Alliance. Abdullah Abdullah, who is currently holding talks with the Taliban in Kabul, is also a Tajik-Pashtun and was once a top aide to senior Massoud.

General Bismillah Mohammadi, the defence minister in Ashraf Ghani government who has vowed to "liberate the nation from terrorists" after the Taliban takeover, is also a Tajik.

The Hazaras They were once the largest Afghan ethnic group but now the Hazara minority, which has been targeted and killed by the Taliban and Islamic State-Khorasan Province (IS-PK) for practicing Shiite faith of Islam, is believed to be just about 10-15 per cent of the Afghan population.

With the return of Taliban, a resurgence of deliberate sectarian-motivated attacks against the religious minority has been witnessed as various agencies have accused the Taliban fighters for massacring nine men from the ethnic Hazara minority group after taking control of Ghazni province last month.

A report of the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) stated that it is estimated that one quarter of the Kabul residents are Hazara while the rest of the population is spread all over the central regions of the country, including Hazarajat, Mazar-e-Sharif, Herat and others cities.

Ustad Mohammad Mohaqiq, a prominent Mujahedin commander during the Soviet occupation, is one of the more prominent Hazara faces.

The Uzbeks A warlord and former Afghanistan Vice President, General Abdul Rashid Dostum is the leader of the Turkic-speaking ethnic Uzbeks in the country who form about 10 per cent of the population. Majorly farmers by occupation who are concentrated in the north of the country, the Uzbeks flourished during the Soviet occupation. Having fought the Taliban in the late 1990s, the fate of the Uzbek community now hangs in balance as Dostum has fled the country after the Taliban took control of Kabul.

Other ethnic Groups Afghanistan's constitution officially recognizes 14 ethnic groups: Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara, Uzbek, Baluch, Turkmen, Nuristani, Pamiri, Arab, Gujar, Brahui, Qizilbash, Aimaq, and Pashai. The Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, generally known as the Ismailis, are based in the north-eastern provinces. There are also a large number of Sikhs, Christians, members of the Bahai community and several Hindu families in the country. The Baluchis of Afghanistan live in the south-west and south in Helmand and Faryab provinces.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative
Kathmandu, Aug 23 : Bharatiya Janata Party's Foreign Affairs Department chief Dr Vijay Chauthaiwale held talks with several top party leaders of Nepal on Monday.

Chauthaiwale, who arrived here on Sunday, had met Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and handed over a message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

On his second day in Kathmandu, he met former Prime Minister and Nepal Communist Party-UML chief K.P. Sharma Oli, former Prime Minister and Nepal Communist Party-Maoist Centre President Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda, and Mahantha Thakur, a senior Madhesi leader who had recently registered a new party at the Election Commission.

Chauthaiwale, who is on a four-day unofficial visit to Kathmandu, is the high-ranking Indian leader to arrive here since Deuba took over.

"In last 24 hours, I met four senior most leaders of Nepal, Sher Bahadurji, Oliji, Prachandaji and Mahantha Thakurji, representing the diverse ideological and political spectrum. Each one appreciated PM @narendramodi Ji's commitment to strong relations between India and Nepal," he said in a tweet, adding that each one is equally committed to the same goal and expressed desire to have continuous dialogue at party to party level.

"We had candid and open discussion on several issues," he said after his meeting with Prachanda. "We both have agreed to have continued dialogue to strengthen India-Nepal relations." Nepali leaders said that the discussion figured around strengthening bilateral ties, improving the ties between the new government in Nepal and New Delhi, and possible areas of cooperation between Nepal and India in the future.
New Delhi, Aug 23 : Environ-legal activists have demanded the removal of a National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) member, who suggested charging 2 per cent proportionate cost for a project passing through protected areas even as the member himself said that it is an unnecessary controversy over an old issue.

During a recent standing committee meeting of the NBWL, the issue of cost of mitigation measures due to impact of developmental activities in protected areas was discussed.

The meeting was informed that different states and UTs imposed different cost (percentage rate) as the cost for mitigation of the project's impact on the environment.

The minutes of the meeting have recorded that board member Sukumar R, a veteran elephant ecologist, suggested that the cost, if any, imposed for the mitigation measures should be 2 per cent of the proportionate cost of the projects falling with the protected areas of the ecologically sensitive zones (ESZ).

He also suggested that mitigation measures be taken based on the experience of the states.

"Is this expected from a wildlife scientist? Hope the institution of which he is a part of, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, and the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) take note of this," environment lawyer Ritwik Dutta said.

Sukumar has been a trustee of the WTI for many years.

The Delhi-based lawyer added, "It is time for all those concerned about wildlife to seek removal of Sukumar from the NBWL. Can Sukumar state on what scientific basis did he come to this magic figure of 2 per cent?" Former forester, environmentalist and river conservationist Manoj Mishra said, "He (Sukumar) has been in the NBWL as a member for 15 years now. There were allegations of conflict of interest against him earlier. Basically, each committee should get fresh blood and he needs to be replaced. We have a new Environment Minister and he should start with a fresh slate." Mishra was also critical that the NBWL has become just a "clearing house" for projects running through protected areas.

The economical justifications arrive with so called compensation, climate activist from Bengaluru, Rajani Rao Santosh, said and termed Sukumar as a "criminal" for putting a cost on to the mitigation effort.

"He is harboured by IISc to do exactly the opposite of ecological protection services," Santosh said.

The CEO and Chief of Conservation, WTI, Rahul Kaul, sought to clarify at the outset that Sukumar, whom he called as a respected elephant ecologist of the country, is a member of NBWL individually and not because of WTI.

"We have no idea as to how he has come to the conclusion, so it is very difficult to comment weather it is correct," he said.

"Inviolate areas mean inviolate areas. If you add a cost factor to it, it undervalues the inviolate. This becomes blood money," he said, adding, "Diverting forest areas for infrastructure projects is happening with increasing regularity. WTI, as an organisation, is part of several state wildlife boards and we try and avoid as and when possible. One can understand that the security concerns overarch everything (in case of projects in border areas)." When IANS reached out to Bengaluru-based Sukumar over phone, he upfront denied that there is any controversy.

"This (imposing 2 per cent mitigation cost) was decided at some meeting of the NBWL at least 5-6 years ago. There was some ambiguity whether it should be total cost of the project or proportionate cost of the project that falls within the protected area or ecologically sensitive zone (ESZ). So it came for discussion.

"Do you impose a percentage of the total cost of the project on the project proponent when only a small percentage of that project falls in that particular protected area? Not just I, everybody felt this should be 2 per cent of the proportionate cost. This percentage is over and above the net present value (NPV) of the forest. This is in addition only for wildlife management," he said.

NPV is imposed by the Forest Appraisal Committee that is under the Forest Conservation Act. The decision to impose 2 per cent cost was taken in 2015 by the NBWL.

Clarifying his position, Sukumar said that rejecting or accepting a proposal is an altogether different matter.

"I said 2 per cent of 'whatever' cost and the minutes of the meeting incorrectly said 'if any'. The context of the whole discussion was - if they say in some cases 2 per cent cannot solve the problem, give 5 per cent. And we are talking only of those projects that are cleared," he said.

Sukumar also lamented that his second sentence was completely missed out in this unnecessary controversy.

"The second point that I mentioned and I still hold on to very strongly is that hundreds and thousands of rupees have come to the forest departments and state governments from the imposition of this and the question is, so far there has not been a single report on what has been done and what mitigation measures the money has been used for," the elephant expert added.
Mumbai, Aug 23 : The Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in Maharashtra has lodged a complaint with Facebook over the hacking of his Facebook page.

Shivdeep Waman Lande, who is currently posted as the DIG of ATS in Mumbai, said in his complain, "I am running my official Facebook page which is also verified. The page has more than 750K followers. The page was managed by Manjit Vishal as the admin." He said that his Facebook page was hacked on August 19 and now Manjit Vishal has been removed as the admin.

"This is unauthorised access and it is totally a hacking activity. Now my page is gone and it is no longer visible on the Facebook platform. I would request you to kindly help in getting it restored," he said.

The 2006 batch IPS officer also said that he is taking the matter "legally" and a complaint will be registered soon.

Lande was earlier posted in Bihar. An electronic engineer from Ankola in Maharashtra, he had served as the Superintendent of Police (SP) in Araria, Purnia and Mungar districts. He also served as the SP of Patna Central region.
New Delhi, Aug 23 : The Indian Muslims for Secular Democracy (IMSD) has said that it rejects the very idea of a theocratic state anywhere in the world.

It also questioned the legitimacy of the 'Islamic Emirate' the Taliban seek to impose on the people of Afghanistan.

"We are deeply disturbed by the euphoria evident among a section of Indian Muslims, including religious leaders such as the office-bearers of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, Maulana Umrain Mahfuz Rahmani and Maulana Sajjad Nomani, and the Jamaat-e-Islami-Hind, over the Taliban's capture of power," a statement issued by the IMSD said.

"It is nothing but sheer opportunism and hypocrisy to stand in support of a secular state in a country like India where Muslims are in a minority and applaud the imposition of Shariah rule wherever they are in a majority. Such rank double-standard gives legitimacy to the Sangh Parivar's agenda for a Hindu Rashtra," it added.

IMSD respects the views of the growing tribe of Islamic scholars, religious leaders and Muslim intellectuals across the globe who argue that the very notion of an "Islamic state" is antithetical to the core teachings of Islam, it said.

According to IMSD, the core values of Islam are not in conflict with the basic principles of a secular-democratic state and religious pluralism.

IMSD stands in solidarity with the beleaguered millions of Afghan women and men who for too long have been trapped between the corrupt-to-the-core puppet governments propped up by the occupying American and Nato forces and the regressive Taliban who during their earlier rule had trampled over the most basic rights and freedoms of the people of Afghanistan, it said.

It is one thing to welcome the ouster of the occupiers and the overthrow of their puppets, and quite another to celebrate the return to power of those, who with their barbaric version of Islam, have contributed in no small measure to the demonisation of Muslims and their faith across the globe.

Some leaders of the Taliban have been making appropriate noises about general amnesty, press freedom and women's rights even as other leaders are asserting that it will be "Shariah law and not democracy" in Afghanistan.

However, heart-wrenching images of panic-stricken women, men and children being broadcast across the world, and news reports of house-to-house hunt for journalists and dissenters tell their own story, IMSD said.

"We call on the global community to launch a '24x7 Afghanistan Watch' to mount decisive pressure on the Taliban to ensure and show to the world that, unlike their earlier brutal rule which had turned Afghanistan into a veritable hell on earth, especially for the women, this time they will respect the liberties and rights of all its women, men and children," the statement said.

The IMSD also called upon the democratic world in general and the US in particular to open its borders to Afghans who are forced to flee from their country.

It called upon the BJP-led Union government to immediately sign the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention and its 1967 protocol and act in consonance to that convention.

India must open its doors to all Afghan refugees, irrespective of religion, it said.
Chennai, Aug 23 : The centuries-old Madurai Aadheenam on Monday saw Harihara Desika Gnanasambantha Paramacharya installed as its 293rd chief, brushing aside claims of fugitive godman, Nithyananda that he was the new pontiff of the mutt.

Madurai Aadheenam categorically said that there was no controversy at all in the appointment as Nithyananda was never even a member of the aadheenam.

The new pontiff took his chair at the Madurai Aadheenam on Monday in the presence of pontiffs from various aadheenams across Tamil Nadu. He succeeds Arunagirinathar, the 292 head of the Madurai Aadheenam who passed away on August 13.

"The coronation ceremony went off peacefully. As per the tradition, Harihara Desika Gnanasambantha Paramacharya, who was declared as junior pontiff by Arunagirinathar, took charge in a simple ceremony," the mutt said.

Controversial godman, Nithyananda who is wanted in several cases relating to sexual harassment of inmates of his 'Ashram', had last week "appointed" himself as the head of Madurai Aadheenam.

He was appointed as the junior pontiff in 2012 by Arunagirinathar but removed from the post within a few months on charges of misconduct. He, however, continued to claim that he was associated with the Madurai Aadheenam and sought to name himself as the successor of Arunagirinathar after the latter's passing away.

Madurai Aadheenam is the oldest Shaivite monastery and Arunagirinathar headed the monastery for over 30 years. He was considered as a living example of communal harmony and used to invite clerics and priests from other faiths to the mutt often and quote from the Quran and the Bible quite often.
New Delhi, Aug 23 : The Supreme Court on Monday observed that the high courts of Allahabad and Uttarakhand, without application of their minds, are passing orders for no coercive action or protection from arrest, as it noted that such orders were passed despite its earlier order asking courts to sparingly use this power.

The apex court's observation came during the hearing of a petition challenging the Uttarakhand High Court order, which was passed on a plea for quashing of the FIR in a murder case.

A bench of Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and M.R. Shah said: "We have seen two high courts, Allahabad and Uttarakhand, are passing these orders without application of mind", while citing its judgment in Neeharika Infrastructure versus State of Maharashtra.

The top court had said that the power of quashing complaint or FIR should be exercised sparingly with circumspection, in rare cases. It also added that it should be only used where no cognizable offence or offence of any kind is disclosed in the FIR.

On Monday, the bench noted: "This is a serious matter. The FIR was registered under section 302 of IPC. Just see the anxiety of the high court, it directs that the person should surrender by August 10 and the bail be decided on the same day." The bench further pointed out that the high court order also had given a direction that if the bail application is rejected, then the session courts should hear the bail plea the same day. Citing the high court recorded in its order that prayer of quashing of FIR is not pressed and other prayers before it is innocuous, the top court said: "This is a shocking order." Observing that it will examine the issue, the top court issued notice to the Uttarakhand government on the plea against the high court order.

On April 13, the top court had passed a slew of directions in Neeharika Infrastructure versus Maharashtra case. The top court had said that police have the statutory right and duty under the relevant provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure to investigate ia cognisable offence and courts could not thwart any investigation into cognisable offences.
Mumbai, Aug 23 : A Reserve Bank constituited panel suggested a "tiered regulatory" framework on Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs) to strengthen the sector.

In its report, the Expert Committee on Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks, under the chairmanship former RBI Deputy Governor N.S. Vishwanathan, said: "The Committee observed that given the heterogeneity in the sector, a tiered regulatory framework with more than two tiers is required to balance the spirit of mutuality and co-operation more prevalent in banks of smaller sizes and those with limited area of operation vis-a-vis the growth ambitions of the large-sized UCBs to spread their area of operation and undertake more complex business activities on par with commercial banks." "The Committee agreed that the deposit size can continue to be the basis for categorising banks into regulatory tiers, as for a normally functioning bank, deposit size can broadly serve as proxy for capital size and net worth." Further, the report pointed out that additional tiers could be created to cater to the aspirations of the larger UCBs to undertake business akin to that of SFBs (Small Finance Banks) and UNBs.
Mumbai, Aug 23 : Emphasising the priority to human lives, the Maharashtra government on Monday declined permission for multi-tiered 'human pyramids' to various dahi-handi groups to celebrate the festival next week, officials said here.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Dahi-Handi Coordination Committee with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, cabinet ministers, MLAs, top police and civic officials, District Collectors, besides members of the Covid Task Force and Covid Child Task Force.

While a majority of the dahi-handi organisers have agreed to comply with the government directives, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leaders have strongly criticised the move to restrict the celebrations.

The government reiterated that the state has just recovered from the 7-month long Covid-19 second wave, and cited the NITI Aayog's latest precautionary warning on the upcoming 'third wave' which can hit children in a big way.

"Let's set aside festivities for some time and prioritise saving lives of people. The government's first priority is to protect the people as the dangers of Covid-19 has not ended," Thackeray said.

He appealed to the dahi-handi mandals to celebrate the festival differently by way of social and health related activities, to which a majority of the organisers have agreed.

The CM pointed out how some people agitate against Covid-19 restrictions and said that such people should think of the people first since the world has had a bitter experience with the coronavirus.

Even countries where both doses of vaccinations are given, restrictions are being imposed again as the third wave has wreaked havoc, so Maharashtra would need to be very careful.

"Though the infection seems to have subsided now in some places, it's a 'window period' for us to prepare for the next round by arranging for Covid beds, oxygen, medical infrastructure, finances, etc." Thackeray said.

On his part, Pawar urged all the organisers to cooperate since the ongoing Delta Plus variants is deadly and spreading fast, and if it gets out of hand, the achievements of the past 18 months would be wasted.

BJP leaders like Ram Kadam and MNS spokesperson Bala Nandgaonkar slammed the Maha Vikas Aghadi government for not permitting the festivities with full protocols in respective localities instead of the 'Govinda' troupes moving around to participate in competitions.

Mumbai is renowned for the some of the most ostentatious, colourful and tall multi-tiered human pyramids of six to nine levels, during Dahi-Handi, with separate troupes of women, children, and foreigners participating.

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Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 23 : Kerala was yet to see any respite from Covid spread as the test positivity rate on Monday stood at 15.63 per cent as 13,383 people turned positive from 85,650 samples were tested in the past 24 hours.

In a statement issued here, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the day also saw 21,942 people turn negative, taking the total active cases to 1,54,563.

Another 90 Covid deaths were reported, taking the death toll to 19,584.

With regards to the daily positive cases, one reason why for the past few days it is below the 20,000 mark is on account of the Onam season when the testing numbers come down considerably as people were, by and large, in a holiday mood.

The state has seen about four days holidays with offices and banks closed, and generally on holidays, the testing numbers fall.

Meanwhile state Health Minister Veena George on Monday said that the coming four weeks are going to be crucial for the state as during the Onam period, people took a bit of freedom.
New Delhi, Aug 23 : The Faridabad Municipal Corporation on Monday informed the Supreme Court that few farmhouses have been razed, during the hearing of a matter connected with the demolition of unauthorised structures on Aravali forest land in Khori village of the Haryana district.

The top court reiterated that the demolition of all unauthorised structures on Aravali forest land in Faridabad's Khori should continue, as it heard an application filed by owners of some marriage halls which have received notices from the civic body.

A bench of Justices A.M. Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari said that Faridabad Municipal Corporation has to proceed and demolish the unauthorised structures as per law.

It told counsel appearing for the owners of some marriage halls that "let the corporation decide on your representation and after that is decided, we will consider what course of action can be adopted".

Counsel representing the civic body submitted before the bench: "We have already demolished few farm houses." Counsel added that they have filed a compliance report in the matter on Monday.

The top court scheduled the matter for further hearing after two weeks.

At this juncture of the hearing, counsel for marriage hall owners submitted that in the meantime, the authority should not demolish their structures while they consider their representation. The bench replied if it is unauthorised, then it has to be demolished as per the law and added they can make representations and the authority will consider it. The top court will hear the matter on September 6.

On August 3, the top court had said that all unauthorised structures on Aravali forest land in Khori village will have to go. The top court, on June 7, had directed Haryana and the Faridabad Municipal Corporation to remove "all encroachments", consisting around 10,000 residential constructions, in Aravali forest area near the village.
New Delhi, Aug 23 : The Railways on Monday said that it has cancelled 68 trains amid the farmers agitation in several parts of Punjab.

A Northern Railway spokesperson said that due to farmers agitation in Ferozpur division of Punjab, it has cancelled 68 train including two Vande Bharat and Rajdhani each, four Shatabdi Express, one Duranto, and two Janshatabdi Express trains.

The official said that it has diverted 10 trains and short originated 12 trains in the wake of farmers' protest.

The Railways also short terminated seven trains.

Agitating sugarcane farmers in Punjab have blocked highway, and railway tracks in Jalandhar, demanding clearance of their dues since August 19.
Amaravati, Aug 23 : The helpdesk created by the Andhra Pradesh government to reach out to the people from the state who are stranded in war-torn Afghanistan is yet to receive any call, an official said on Monday.

"We are yet to receive a call from any Telugu person stranded in Afghanistan," Assistant Labour Commissioner Nanaji Rao told IANS.

However, an Afghan national who reportedly studied in Visakhapatnam has contacted the helpdesk to volunteer his services in whichever way possible to evacuate people from the southern state stranded in Afghanistan.

Though the Afghan national offered his help, Rao said that it is up to the higher authorities in the labour department to take a call on his offer after due diligence.

Rao also said that just one genuine call is enough to trace more numbers of Telugu people stuck in Afghanistan.

He said the labour department is coordinating with the Andhra Pradesh Non-Resident Telugu Society (APNRTS) to reach out to the people from the southern state held up in Afghanistan, which is currently under the control of the Taliban.

On Saturday, Rekha Rani, Special Commissioner of Labour, had said that the state government has set up a helpdesk to rescue the people from the state who are in distress in Afghanistan.

As part of the helpdesk, Rani shared four numbers: 0866-2436314, 7780339884, 9492555089 and 8977925653.

"The workers or their relatives can directly call and inform their full particulars, if any, and utilise the above services to bring back the people to their native place safely," she said.
New Delhi, Aug 23 : The Panjshir based anti-Taliban movement in Afghanistan has made gains in the northern Baghlan province as talks to form a new government continue.

Fighters of the self-styled "Resistance-2" against the Taliban in Panjshir said that they have managed to retake Salah and Banu districts in Baghlan after killing "dozens" of Taliban fighters.

Panjshir is the only one of Afghanistan's 34 provinces that is yet to fall to the militants, TRT World reported.

The Taliban have reportedly surrounded Panjshir as the insurgents and the resistance movement continue talks to negotiate a stand-off.

With the anti-Taliban movement retaking Pul-e-Hisar over the weekend, at least three districts of Baghlan province to the north of Panjshir are with the Massoud forces. Baghlan is some 120 km north of Kabul.
Bengaluru, Aug 23 : Karnataka Chief Minister Basavara Bommai on Monday inaugurated a 75,000 square feet state of the art, multi-disciplinary Outpatient Department (OPD) block at the Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, built by the Infosys Foundation.

Bengaluru, Aug 23 (IANS) Karnataka Chief Minister Basavara Bommai on Monday inaugurated a 75,000 square feet state of the art, multi-disciplinary Outpatient Department (OPD) block at the Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, built by the Infosys Foundation.

The Infosys Foundation has spent Rs 25.5 crore on this new OPD block, which will cover over 12 departments, and aim to accommodate nearly 1,800 patients every day.

This new OPD was inaugurated by Bommai and Health Minister Dr K. Sudhakar in the virtual presence of Infosys Foundation Chairperson Sudha Murthy.

Bommai said that the government is mulling to set up a society to provide medicines for cancer patients at concessional rates. He said that CSR and government funds will be utilised to provide facilities to the family members attending to the patient.

Action would be taken to establish Regional Cancer centers and a new center will soon be established in Hubballi and Dharwad, he added.

In her remarks, Sudha Murthy said: "Lack of proper treatment and medical infrastructure often manifests in unfortunate circumstances for patients and their family. This is a small effort by the Foundation to ensure that people have access to clean, hygienic, and timely medical intervention, especially at a time when we are engulfed by a pandemic. We are thankful to the state government, our Chief Minister, Health Minister, and Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, for their collaboration and support in this initiative." Infosys Foundation has been working closely with the Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology on several projects since 2001. The new OPD, a dharamshala renovation, five fully equipped operation theatres and an ICU completed earlier, add to Foundation's efforts to expand hospital and quarantine facilities and ensure proper medical treatment for the public.

Over the last one and a half years, Infosys committed a total of Rs 200 crore for Covid relief efforts across India, through the Infosys Foundation, and also helped set up a 150-bed Covid care hospital in Bengaluru in partnership with the state government.
New Delhi, Aug 23 : The Supreme Court on Monday said it will re-constitute a committee to examine the environmental damage caused following a major fire in Assam's Baghjan oil well.

A bench of Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and M.R. Shah said: "We will re-constitute the committee and it will be headed by Justice B.P. Katakey. Oil India cannot be judge in its own cause. We will delete the names of representatives of Oil India and instead incorporate some experts." The bench added that the experts will assess the damage and providing remedial compensation on account of the loss which has been caused to the environment, including the loss of biodiversity, as a result of the blowout which took place at the OIL's oil field.

It asked Centre's counsel to examine the suggestions given by petitioners on the names of experts.

"The court has been apprised of the fact that four out of six experts who have been suggested by the petitioner are conversant with the subject matter, having been associated with the work of the Committee constituted by the National Green Tribunal, headed by Justice B.P. Katakey," said the top court in its order, and listed the matter for August 26.

The petitioner, Bonani Kakkar, placed suggestions before the top court in regard to expert members who should be associated with the work of assessing the damage and providing remedial compensation on account of the loss which has been caused to the environment, including the loss of biodiversity, as a result of the blowout.

Well number 5 at Baghjan in Tinsukia district had caught fire on June 9 last year, killing two OIL fire fighters at the site.

Senior advocate Siddharth Mitra, representing the petitioner, contended that no funds have been given for the restoration of the environment after the incident. Additional Solicitor General Aman Lekhi opposed this line of argument and added "sweeping statements" are being made without taking into the account the funds already sanctioned.

The top court said it will ask Ministry of Environment and Forests to appoint a nodal officer to provide funds and make travel arrangements for the members of the committee and other things.

On July 1, the Supreme Court had said it was disappointed with the NGT order on setting up a 10-member committee, which included an Oil India official, to examine the damage, caused by fire, to biodiversity, and stayed the NGT order.
Bengaluru, Aug 23 : Karnataka Congress President D.K. Shivakumar said on Monday that the party stands with former minister and Congress leader Vinay Kulkarni, who was recently released on bail in connection with a murder case.

Speaking to reporters after holding a meeting with Kulkarni, Shivakumar said, "Vinay Kulkarni is a senior leader of the party and he knows the status of the case in the court. Everyone knows what the BJP leaders spoke before and during the elections. He might have lost the election. He is sad over the politicisation of the issue." "Kulkarni has suffered during his jail term and he has shared his pain with me. He will join us in the party building activity in the future. His family, supporters and the Congress party are with him. The Congress stands with him. Kulkarni knows that he has not done anything wrong. I believe that he will get justice," Shivakumar added.

Commenting on BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal calling Rahul Gandhi a 'mad' person, Shivakumar said that Yatnal himself has gone mad and utters whatever comes to his mind just to be in the news.
New Delhi, Aug 23 : The Supreme Court on Monday pulled up Himachal Pradesh for citing Covid induced delays in litigating a sensitive matter where a minor girl was allegedly sexually assaulted by her father.

A bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Hrishikesh Roy said the state government filed a special leave petition with a delay of 636 days and Covid was cited as the reason for delay.

"The order was passed on December 5, 2018, and thus, we asked counsel as to which year was the world affected by Covid, 2019 or 2020 to which learned counsel's answer initially was 2019, possibly to cover the delay but realising that it was 2020, he states that the papers were not received by him," it said.

To say the least, "we are shocked at the conduct of the petitioner-state and the manner of conduct of the litigation in such a sensitive matter", the bench added.

It remarked that there is not even a semblance of explanation for delay. "We however, would not like to dismiss the petition on limitation because of the seriousness of the issue involved. But that is no excuse why the state should not be made accountable of such inordinate delay and the persons responsible for the same," the bench said in its order.

The court imposed cost of Rs 25,000 on the state government for delay in filing the SLP. "We thus, condone the delay but subject to imposition of costs of Rs 25,000 to be deposited with the Supreme Court Group 'C' (Non-Clerical) Employees Welfare Association within four weeks with a direction to hold the enquiry, fix responsibility and recover the amount from the officers concerned," it said in its order.

The top court issued notice to the man, who was acquitted in the case, on the SLP filed by the state government challenging the high court verdict.

In December 2018, the high court had delivered the verdict on an appeal filed by the man against the trial court's August 2017 order convicting him under the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The accused was sentenced to 10 years jail by the trial court.
New Delhi, Aug 23 : Case study from Hyderabad on the steps it took to become 'water positive' through the 'City Water Balance Plan' (CWBP) was showcased at a virtual session of the World Water Week 2021 on Monday.

The e-CWBP Toolkit that acts as a decision support system for the municipalities and sector stakeholders to implement the government of India's $40 billion Jal Jeevan Mission (Urban's) initiative was also launched at the session, a release said here.

The World Water Week 2021 is being organised by the Stockholm International Water Institute.

"Hyderabad is rapidly expanding and extending piped water supply to the residents beyond the city in the peripheral areas. This is made possible by the vision and investment in the water sector by the state government, support of the Union government, and addressing the core water scarcity problems through social and technological interventions.

"The e-toolkit 'Making Cities Water Positive' assists gap identification and provides knowledge translation strategies for making water-secure cities," said M. Dana Kishor, Managing Director, Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB).

Due to rapid urbanisation, lack of infrastructure and climate change, cities continue to be water-stressed while water is being transported from distant regions at high costs.

Joint secretary at the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), D. Thara, said, "The scarcity of water has always been a concern when it comes to survival and livelihood. We need to encourage all the stakeholders to participate actively and make water everyone's business to create water-secure cities. Women should be involved to lead the water demand management." The informative session also drew attention to the social and technological interventions to address water scarcity problems through demand management, increased water availability through recharge, reduced non-revenue water, creating infrastructure for reuse of treated wastewater, and citizen participation.

The Director General of the National Mission for Clean Ganga, Rajiv Ranjan Mishra, said: "Cities have to learn to live with rivers, build with nature and make room for rivers." "The Jal Jeevan Mission (Urban) will focus on making cities water-secure, providing tap water connection in every urban household. The e-toolkit on 'Making Cities Water Positive' through 'City Water Balance Plan' can support ULBs in data-driven decision-making during project implementation," said Vinay Pratap Singh, Director AMRUT, MoHUA.
Shillong, Aug 23 : Meghalaya Fire and Emergency Services personnel recovered three weapons on Monday, nine days after "masked agitators" snatched them from police during violence triggered by a former militant leader's killing in an "encounter", officials said.

Police officials said that the three INSAS rifles were recovered after 48 hour hectic search from the Umkhrah River flowing through Shillong.

The search was launched on Sunday after an anonymous letter to the headman of Mawlai Town Dorbar said that the rifles had been tossed into the river after snatching them from personnel of the Umshning-Mawkynroh police outpost on August 15.

A police vehicle was also burnt down when the Meghalaya Police and central paramilitary forces with violence that broke out following the killing of Chesterfield Thangkhiew, former General Secretary of Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council, in an "encounter" by police on August 13. His funeral saw the mob violence, which clouded the Independence Day celebration.

The police had gone to his residence to arrest him in connection with the blast of an IED in Shillong and in East Jaintia Hills district headquarters Khliehriat.

The Meghalaya government subsequently ordered a judicial probe into the "killing", and ensuing violence, including stone-pelting and arson, in Shillong. Demanding a judicial inquiry into the violence, Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui had resigned on August 15.
Chennai, Aug 23 : The Tamil Nadu Assembly on Monday unanimously passed a resolution moved by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin honouring state Water Resources Minister and senior DMK leader S. Duraimurugan on his completing 50 years as a legislator.

Speakers from both treasury and opposition benches praised the octogenarian leader on the feat he has accomplished and the unblemished track record as a political leader as well as a social worker. An overwhelmed Duraimurugan broke down at the accolades showered on him.

During the zero hour, the Chief Minister said: "This legislative Assembly has a history of 100 years and Duraimurugan has crossed half a century as a legislator in this house. That is why he is leading the proceedings as Leader of the House." He said that it was Duraimurugan, with his rich experience both as a legislator and a political leader, who guided him after the passing away of his father and CM, Kalaignar Karunanidhi and party General Secretary K. Anbazhagan.

He also reminisced the close association his father had with Duraimurugan and said that several DMK leaders including himself were "jealous" of the octogenarian leader for this. Stalin also remembered how Karunanidhi spent the night by the bedside of Duraimurugan when the latter was undergoing surgery to give mental support and courage to him.

Stalin said that Duraimurugan entered the Tamil Nadu Assembly in 1971 from Katpadi constituency and got elected from the same constituency eight times and represented Ranipet constituency twice. He also said that the water resources minister was a treasure of information regarding the Cauvery issue right from the 1924 agreement with the neighbouring state. Stalin also said that Duraimurugan was having great knowledge on the rivers in Tamil Nadu.

AIADMK leader and former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam said that Duraimurugan was a guiding light on the behaviour of members in the Assembly.

He said that while Duraimurugan was fond of AIADMK founder MGR, he was very close to Karunanidhi and had shown great affection and loyalty to him. He also remembered the humorous manner in which Duraimurugan used to respond in the Assembly to questions.

Duraimurugan, who broke down during his acceptance speech, said: "I was surprised by my leader M.K. Stalin's gesture of moving this resolution on me. I will be grateful to him for my lifetime." He also said that he would spend the rest of his life to become worthy of whatever was said about him in the Assembly by various party leaders.

Floor leaders of all parties in the Assembly spoke on the occasion and offered accolades to Duraimurugan.
Hyderabad, Aug 23 : A 27-year-old woman student of the University of Hyderabad committed suicide on the campus on Monday, police said.

A native of Telangana's Peddapalli district, Raghusala Mounika was found hanging in her room in the woman hostel on the campus. She was a student of second year M. Tech (Nano Science) in the central university.

A police officer said fellow students saw Mounika hanging and alerted the warden. She tied a bed sheet to the window and hanged herself.

Police shifted the body for autopsy and took up investigation after registering a case at the Gachibowli police station.

Police found a note in Mounika's room purportedly written by her in which she apologised to her parents for ending the life. She has not blamed anybody for her extreme step.

Police officers were questioning other students in the hostel to find out reasons for the suicide.
Hyderabad, Aug 23 : A special mop-up vaccination drive was launched in Greater Hyderabad on Monday to administer Covid-19 vaccines to all the people left over.

On the first day of the 10-day drive, 26,892 people were vaccinated in the limits of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC).

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao had directed the authorities to undertake the drive in all 4,846 colonies and slum areas in Hyderabad to make it a fully vaccinated city.

Officials presented appreciation certificates to 264 colonies which have become 100 per cent vaccinated.

On the first day, 175 teams conducted special camps in 448 colonies. According to officials, 23,651 people took the first dose while 3,241 people were given the second dose in the drive undertaken by the GHMC with mobile vans.

Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar, Health Secretary S.A.M. Rizvi, GHMC Commissioner Lokesh Kumar, District Collectors of Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, and Medchal Malkajgiri districts, and other senior officials supervised the drive.

The Chief Secretary visited a vaccination centre at the Old CIB quarters in Khairatabad to oversee the arrangements made for the special vaccination drive.

During this special drive, a team would visit each and every household and identify those who have not been vaccinated. The team will motivate the people to get vaccinated and they will be informed of the vaccination centre in their area together with date and time in advance. A sticker will be pasted on the door of every household in which all residents have been vaccinated.

Somesh Kumar said that the main objective of this special mop-up vaccination drive is to make Hyderabad a 100 percent Covid vaccinated city. An event will be held in the colony after successful completion of the vaccination drive in the presence of colony office bearers to encourage and motivate the colonies to go for 100 per cent vaccination.

He congratulated the GHMC and health officials for taking up the special vaccination and asked them to make it a success. He also appealed to the people to utilize the opportunity provided by the government and get themselves vaccinated.
Srinagar, Aug 24 : Two terrorists, including a top commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), were killed during an encounter with the security forces in Srinagar, officials said on Monday.

The police said that acting on a specific input generated by Srinagar police about the presence of terrorists in the Alochi Bagh area of Srinagar district, an operation was planned by IGP Kashmir, DIG Central Kashmir range and SSP Srinagar.

Accordingly, a special team of police was sent in a covert operation which raided a specific location.

During the raid, the hiding terrorists were given the opportunity to surrender, but they started firing on the police team instead.

"Our team also retaliated. In the brief encounter, two terrorists of proscribed terror outfit LeT were neutralised," the police said.

"One of the killed terrorists has been identified as a top commander of LeT and the self-proclaimed chief of TRF, Abbas Sheikh, from Kulgam. The second terrorist has been identified as his deputy and a district commander of LeT, Saqib Manzoor, from Barzulla Srinagar," the police said.

As per police records, both the slain terrorists were involved in killing of several political workers, police personnel and civilians.

"Saqib Manzoor was involved in the killing of advocate Babar Qadri last year. Besides, both the terrorists were also involved in several grenade attacks on security establishments and were also involved in several other terror crimes and civilian atrocities.

"They were also involved in reviving terror folds in Srinagar district and in the process recruited seven youth into terror ranks in Srinagar, of which four have been neutralised," the police said.

"Earlier, Abbas Sheikh was a Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist, who was arrested and released twice. Later he joined the LeT. There are several terrorists and over ground workers (OGWs) in his relationship. He was also involved in several routine crimes and narcotics cases," the police said.

Similarly, Manzoor was also involved in many terror crimes.

"Recently, a sarpanch named Rasool Dar and his wife, a panch of the BJP, were killed in Anantnag on the direction of Sheikh. The deceased BJP leader and Sheikh were from the same area in Kulgam district," the police said.

Incriminating materials, including arms and ammunition, have been recovered from the encounter spot.

It is pertinent to mention here that Srinagar had become a terrorist-free district in September last year, but after Sheikh shifted here, he motivated and recruited Manzoor and six other youth from the city. So far, four terrorists have been killed in different encounters.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
New Delhi, Aug 24 : Stressing the important role that the Indian diaspora could play in connecting with Indian academia and Industry, a top official said the government is determined to connect them with Indian researchers.

"Given the constraints and cultural differences in research ambience of two countries, we can work through mutual collaborations with the help of government initiatives such as VAJRA, SPARC etc. particularly in futuristic technologies like cyber-physical system, quantum, hydrogen, electric mobility, in which several Indian scientists are also doing substantial work," Science and Technology Secretary, Professor Ashutosh Sharma, said during his recent interaction with several Indian origin presidents of US-universities.

The Science and Technology Ministry is determined to connect the Indian diaspora with Indian researchers, and DST has had several dialogues with the National Science Foundation and the US Department of Energy on the development of bilateral scientific cooperation, he said, as per an official release.

Sharma has been periodically interacting with Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) in Science, Technology, Engineering, Medicine, and Mathematics (STEMM). On August 20, 2021, he, along with University Grants Commission Chairman, Professor D.P. Singh had interacted with 11 Presidents/Chancellors of US Universities in which India's Ambassador in the United States Taranjeet Singh Sandhu had also participated.

DST's Head, International Cooperation, S.K. Varshney pointed out that in STEMM areas, the first significant step was taken by organising the Vaishwik Bharatiya Vaigyanik (VAIBHAV) summit in 2020, and now an online portal, Pravasi Bharatiya Academic and Scientific Sampark (PRABHASS) has also been launched to connect Indian diaspora with Indian academic and research institutes.

Prof Singh shared his insights on the new National Educational Policy.

During the interaction, Indian diaspora suggested that frequent actions need to be taken on collaborations along with a set timelines and defined focus areas. They proposed upgrading the healthcare system and promotion of medical sciences along with technical education so as to develop cooperation in certain focus areas like health care, artificial intelligence machine learning, agriculture, and so on, the release added.

The meeting was attended by Prof Satish K Tripathi of the State University of New York, Buffalo, Prof Pradeep Khosla of the University of California, San Diego, Prof Michael Rao of the Virginia Commonwealth University, Prof Kumble Subbaswamy of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Prof Ashish Vaidya of the Northern Kentucky University, Prof Renu Khator of University of Houston, Prof Neeli Bendapudi of the University of Louisville, Kentucky, Prof Venkat Reddy of the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, Prof Mauli Agrawal of University of Missouri, Kansas City, Prof Mantosh Dewan of the Upstate Medical University, SUNY, and Prof Mahesh Daas of the Boston Architectural College, Boston.
Hyderabad, Aug 24 : Union Minister for Tourism and Culture, G. Kishan Reddy, said on Monday that the Centre is taking steps to set up police stations in all the tourist places across the country.

He said the Centre has written to the chief secretaries and director generals of police of all the states to set up police stations at tourist destinations.

Inaugurating the new building of Kacheguda police station in his parliamentary constituency of Secunderabad, he said cases of crime are being reported from tourist places and there is already a proposal to establish police stations in such places.

The minister said that if domestic and foreign tourists feel secure while visiting the tourist places, it would help attract more tourists and give boost to the sector.

Telangana Home Minister Mahmood Ali, Animal Husbandry Minister T. Srinivas Yadav, Director General of Police M. Mahender Reddy, Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar and other officials attended the ceremony.

Kishan Reddy, who was recently elevated to the Cabinet rank, said that earlier in his role as the Union Minister of State for Home, he had worked for the establishment of some key institutions.

Stating that cybercrime has become a big challenge, he called for creating public awareness in this regard.

Earlier, Kishan Reddy visited the government-run Gandhi Hospital in his constituency and enquired about the services being provided to Covid patients.

Talking to reporters after the visit, he said the Centre is ready to face the possible third wave of the pandemic.

Stating that 58 crore doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been administered so far, he said the nation-wide vaccination drive will be completed by December this year.

Reddy also said that Covid vaccine for children will be available soon.

The minister said that to avoid oxygen shortage in the country, 1,200 oxygen generation plants were set up under the PM CARES fund.

Stating that eight oxygen units are already operational at the Gandhi Hospital, he said that six more units will be set up soon.
Patna, Aug 24 : A 25-year-old woman was strangulated to death by her husband in Bihar's Nalanda district on Monday.

The accused has been identified as Dhanraj Paswan, who was reportedly miffed with his wife as she was busy talking with her brother-in-law over phone.

Manik Chand Paswan, the father of the deceased woman, said in a statement to the police: "My daughter Varsha Devi and her husband Dhanraj Paswan came to my home in Tiuri village under the Manpur police station to celebrate Raksha Bandhan on Sunday.

"Varsha was interacting with her sister's husband over phone. This enraged Dhanraj who wanted to leave our house immediately. We requested him to stay for at least one day but he refused and threatened us of committing suicide if I didn't allow him to go home," Manik Chand Paswan said.

"As the situation was turning ugly, I allowed Dhanraj and Varsha to go to their home in Devdha village on Sunday afternoon," he said.

"We later received a phone call from her in-laws about Varsha leaving the house on Monday morning. When we checked with their neighbours, they revealed that the entire family has left the house. Subsequently, we informed the police and went to Deudha village," Manik Chand Paswan said.

"We found Versha lying dead on the floor with her four-month-old daughter weeping on the pram," he said.

The police have recovered body which has been sent for post-mortem. A manhunt has been launched to nab the accused.
Hyderabad, Aug 24 : With the Covid-19 situation under control, the government of Telangana on Monday decided to reopen all educational institutions from September 1.

All private and government schools including Angandwadis will be re-opened, announced the government.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao directed the officials to reopen all institutions from KG to PG in both rural and urban areas.

At a meeting, he asked Panchayat Raj and municipal administration ministers and officials to ensure santisation of all schools, colleges and hostels by August 30.

Education minister P. Sabitha Indra Reddy, panchayat raj minister E. Dayakar Rao, MP K. Keshava Rao, government's chief advisor Rajiv Sharma, Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar, CM's Principal Secretary Narsing Rao and other officials attended the meeting.

Speaking at the meeting, the Chief Minister said due to Covid pandemic educational institutions faced lot of difficulties. Due to closure of educational institutions, students, parents, private school teachers and others connected with the education and allied fields landed in uncertainty.

The meeting discussed the steps taken by governments in some states to reopen the educational institutions and the strategy to be adopted in the state.

The health department officials briefed on the latest Covid situation in the state. They gave the report that Covid situation has come under control and life has returned to normal.

The officials of education department told the meeting that due to continued closure of educational institutions, students especially school children have come under psychological stress and this may have an impact on their future.

Keeping this in mind and after studying all aspects and after taking views of all, the chief minister decided that all educational institutions should be re-opened with proper precautionary measures.

KCR, as the chief minister is popularly known, entrusted to panchayat raj and municipal administration departments the responsibility to clean all the schools which were closed both in towns and villages.

He said village sarpanchs and municipal chairpersons should ensure cleanliness in all schools before the end of August.

The chief minister directed them to visit the schools in their respective areas and ensure sanitisation of the entire premises.

After reopening of schools if any student develops fever, the concerned headmaster or principal should take him to nearest primary health centre and get Covid test conducted.

The officials were asked to ensure strict adherence to precautions like sanitization and wearing of masks. The chief minister appealed to parents to send their children to schools with precautionary measures like wearing of masks.

After a gap of nearly 11 months, educational institutions in the state had re-opened in February this year. However, due to the surge in Covid-19 cases during second wave, they were shut down on March 24. However, online classes continued for students.

For a second consecutive year, no exams could be conducted for class 1 to 10 due to Covid pandemic. All students were promoted to the next class.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Athens, Aug 24 : The European Union (EU) should support the countries close to Afghanistan to ensure that there will be no additional refugee and migration flows to Europe, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Monday.

The Greek Prime Minister spoke to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan by phone on Friday about the latest developments in Afghanistan, Xinhua news agency reported.

"I talked to President Erdogan and I believe we have a common interest to ensure that the influx will be limited to as close to Afghanistan as possible," Mitsotakis told visiting Vice President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola, according to an e-mailed press release from his office.

Greece is protecting its borders, which are also the EU's borders, with respect for human rights, Mitsotakis added.

Meanwhile, Matsola emphasised that Europe will continue to stand by Greece's side, and with the member states that are on the frontline. The ratification of the EU's New Pact on Migration and Asylum should be a priority, in order to bridge diverging views among member states, she added.

However, Greece and other Mediterranean member states have reservations about the proposed new Pact, Greece's Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Miltiadis Varvitsiotis told Real FM radio on Monday.

Greece has asked for fair sharing of accommodation costs, and effective agreements on relocation and returning those non-eligible for asylum, he said.

Since 2015, more than one million people have arrived in Greece after fleeing war zones and extreme poverty, among them, many Afghans.

Most people have continued their journey to other European countries. However, in spring 2016, the borders along the Balkan route to central Europe were closed.

Currently, Greece hosts some 46,000 asylum seekers in state-run structures, according to data released by the Greek Migration and Asylum ministry last week.
Patna, Aug 24 : A 32-year-old woman was allegedly gang-raped by 14 people in Bihar's Gaya district on Monday evening, the police said.

According to the police, the victim was kidnapped by two bikers and taken to an island in the middle of Falgu river. Soon, 12 more youth on five motorcycles assembled there and took turns to rape her.

The victim has been admitted to Magadh medical college and hospital, and her condition is said to be critical.

She did not record any statement till the time of writing this report.

Ghuran Mandal, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Gaya (Sadar) said all the accused are at large.

"We are waiting for the statement of the victim. She is under treatment. As soon as she gathers consciousness, we will record her statement. It will help us to identify the accused," the police officer said.

"The villagers have, however, noticed that a woman was seated on a motorcycle between the biker and the pillion rider. Due to darkness they were unable to identify the bikers. The villagers suspected foul play but did not react initially. They soon saw 12 other people on five bikes going towards the same direction," Mandal said.

On suspecting some "serious incident" taking place on the bank of Falgu river, the villagers informed the officials at Mufassil police station.

A police team reached the spot but due to darkness, it was unable to notice or determine anything fishy. One of the police personnel, however, spotted some bikes parked on the bank of the river.

Following that, the police personnel jumped into the river and swam towards the island in the middle of the river.

"Upon noticing the police personnel on the island, the youth began fleeing the spot, leaving behind their clothes, shoes and slippers on the sand. Our staff stated that some of the perpetrators were stark naked while fleeing the crime scene," Mandal said.

"During the search operation, we found an unclothed woman lying unconscious on the sand. We rescued her and took her to the Magadh medical college for treatment. She is said to be a resident of a village near Manpur sub-division. The crime spot is 15 km away from her village," the police officer added.

"We have seized six bikes that were stationed on the bank of the river. The process of collecting details of the motorcycles through registration numbers are currently underway. The accused will be identified and nabbed soon," he said.
Today NetLync announces that Barry Nothstine has been named Senior Vice President Strategic Development  Americas to lead the companys business development and strategy for the region.

With almost 30 years experience in the telecommunications industry, Nothstine adds his extensive experience in business development, team building, marketing, branding, establishing partnerships, sales, customer experience, e-commerce, product development and logistics.

Were excited to welcome Barry to the team, said Emir Aboulhosn, NetLync Chief Executive Officer. Barrys extensive experience in the U.S. and North America will help us develop strategic partnerships and expand our presence in a key market.

I am very excited to be joining the NetLync team, said Barry Nothstine. I believe NetLync has a fantastic team and valuable solutions that will help mobile operators make the transition to eSIM.

As Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Nothstine helped lead regional wireless carrier Bluegrass Cellular through an era of impressive growth, including the development of strategic partnerships with major device manufacturers and U.S. operators. Nothstine and his team cultivated an award-winning brand, built a solid product portfolio and service expansion while growing service revenue in double digits.

Nothstine served five years as Board Chairman of the Associated Carrier Group, a North American device purchasing consortium.

For more information, please visit http://www.NetLync.com.

For the latest updates and news, follow NetLync on Twitter or LinkedIn.
In-house legal teams still feel buried under low-value work, despite a year of increased tech adoption, growth within the legal function, and rising legal budgets.

According to a survey by Juro (https://juro.com/) of 80 lawyers at high-growth companies, the top two challenges for legal teams are being buried in low-value work and aligning with the wider business, with 69 per cent of respondents feeling the pain.

The picture has hardly changed since last year, despite wholesale changes to ways of working across every industry, brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite this, legal counsel are satisfied with their roles and have no desire to join a law firm - 99 per cent of respondents would choose to stay in-house or move to a non-legal role over returning to private practice.

And 51 per cent would consider going freelance, or exploring a career at an alternative legal services provider (ALSP).

The Tech GC report, in partnership with Wilson Sonsini, explores the findings from a survey with GCs, CLOs, senior legal leaders and legal operations professionals at high-growth tech companies across Europe and the US.

It also features analysis from Wilson Sonsinis Chief Innovation Officer, David Wang, as well as on-the-record insights from tech GCs at some of the worlds fastest-growing companies, including Wise, Omnipresent, Attest, and more.

Download the full report at https://info.juro.com/2021-tech-gc-report

Daniel Glazer, managing partner of Wilson Sonsinis London office, said:

Wilson Sonsini is thrilled to support technology companies and their in-house lawyers as they compete and win on the global stage, and to partner with Juro to help provide insight as to the current state of that journey.

Richard Mabey, Juro CEO and co-founder, said:

"In-house lawyers have so much strategic and commercial acumen to contribute to their businesses - so it's disheartening to see that so many are still waylaid by low-value tasks that could be mitigated through process improvements or automation. However, the stellar performance of European scaleups in 2021 suggests that change is coming - albeit slower than some would like."

NOTES FOR EDITORS

About Juro

Juro is an all-in-one contract automation platform that helps visionary legal counsel and the teams they enable to agree and manage contracts in one unified workspace. We work with fast-scaling businesses like Deliveroo, Trustpilot and Cazoo to streamline contract workflow and gain better insight into contract data. Juro is backed by Union Square Ventures, Point Nine Capital, Seedcamp and founders of TransferWise, Gumtree and Indeed.

About Wilson Sonsini

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati is the premier legal advisor to technology, life sciences, and growth enterprises worldwide, as well as the venture firms, private equity firms, and investment banks that finance them. Wilson Sonsini London provides US access and support for the UK/European tech & life sciences communities.
Revelation: Revealing Ancient Understandings By Andrew D. Parker I believe my new book, Revelation: Revealing Ancient Understandings, is a necessary tool for those truly interested in understanding the end times.

Over the years, many have sought to understand Revelation and the end times. In his new book, Revelation: Revealing Ancient Understandings, Andrew D. Parker shows his years of research and writing dedicated to truthfully relaying what he believes is more accurate information about Revelation, especially its chronology and order of events.

He references the Old and New Testaments, other scholars, early Christian and ancient Jewish literature throughout his book. Mr. Parker details the key elements he believes are necessary for understanding Revelation and its accurate chronology and how this chronology coincides with early Christianity while still in a Jewish context.

Mr. Parker projects how society needs to understand the chronology of Revelation in order to know how world affairs are coming together and lining up with the Bibles map of end times.

I believe my new book, Revelation: Revealing Ancient Understandings, is a necessary tool for those truly interested in understanding the end times, said Mr. Parker. We have been looking at Revelation the wrong way. It has long been known that Revelation is not in chronological order, yet almost everyone tries to interpret its events as though it is. Revelation is a Jewish book teaching two different endings that are often conflated into one, making it difficult to understand. The book teaches two great endingsthe end of our age when Jesus returns and the end of the thousand-year period as described in chapter 20. I believe I have discovered a better understanding of the two different endings, and this is illustrated in my new book along with what I believe is a more accurate order of events. This new order appears to line up with important early Jewish Christian understandings of eschatology which have been lost to much of modern Christianity.

The authors work will educate readers on his discoveries about the two different endings in Revelation and how these discoveries align with ancient understandings, which he believes have been greatly neglected in the study.

Ultimately, Mr. Parkers book shares his discoveries that he believes are necessary to understanding Revelation. Additionally, it will give readers a new chronology for the events that the author believes will unfold. By the end of his book, readers will understand the Jewish nature of Revelation and the endings and chronology taught within it.

Revelation: Revealing Ancient Understandings

By Andrew D. Parker

ISBN: 9 78-1-5127-7767-3 (softcover); 978-1-5127-7768-0 (hardcover); 9 78-1-5127-7766-6 (eBook)

Available at WestBow Press, Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the author

Andrew D. Parker is a Restoration Movement Greek scholar and former computer programmer analyst. He spent three decades reading, studying, researching and translating the Scriptures in their original languages, not Protestant-biased translations based upon 16th century Gentile misunderstandings, especially of the ancient first-century rabbi, Paul (see Mr. Parkers book entitled, Paul is Misunderstood and Mistranslated.) His years of research show throughout his new book, Revelation: Revealing Ancient Understandings. He currently resides in the Nashville, TN area.

General Inquiries, Review Copies & Interview Requests:

LAVIDGE  Phoenix

480-998-2600

gconnor(at)lavidge(dot)com


RAINCATCHER Ranks No. 376 on the 2021 Inc. 5000,

With Three-Year Revenue Growth of 1,284 Percent

Previously named Inc.s 2020 Best Workplaces

& #1 Business Brokerage in 2017,

RAINCATCHER Appears on the Inc. 5000 List For the First Time

Inc. Magazine Reveals Annual List of Americas Fastest-Growing Private Companiesthe Inc. 5000

NEW YORK, August 17, 2021  Inc. magazine today revealed that Raincatcher is No. 376 on its annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the nations fastest-growing private companies. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economys most dynamic segmentits independent small businesses. Intuit, Zappos, Under Armour, Microsoft, Patagonia, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000.

Its a great honor to be a part of this prestigious list, says Raincatcher CEO, Marla DiCarlo. To have been ranked so highly in a list among business titans is a testament to how we do business here at Raincatcher. The different way we approach the business brokerage industry, which is rooted in value, radical honesty and puts our customers interests first, has proven to be a path to success. I look forward to connecting and exchanging ideas amongst other winners in this impressive community in the coming year.

Not only have the companies on the 2021 Inc. 5000 been very competitive within their markets, but this years list also proved especially resilient and flexible given 2020s unprecedented challenges. Among the 5,000, the average median three-year growth rate soared to 543 percent, and median revenue reached $11.1 million. Together, those companies added more than 610,000 jobs over the past three years.

The 2021 Inc. 5000 list feels like one of the most important rosters of companies ever compiled, says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. Building one of the fastest-growing companies in America in any year is a remarkable achievement. Building one in the crisis weve lived through is just plain amazing. This kind of accomplishment comes with hard work, smart pivots, great leadership, and the help of a whole lot of people.

Raincatcher was named #1 Business Brokerage in 2017 and one of 2020s Best Workplaces by Inc.

ABOUT RAINCATCHER

Raincatcher is a national business brokerage that specializes in small and mid-market businesses. Our mission is to help entrepreneurs buy and sell remarkable companies.

We believe small business is the heartbeat of America, and every small business owner deserves their chance at the American Dream. We aim to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs in search of that dream.

Our approach is different from the average business brokerage. We pride ourselves on servicing our clients with empathy and compassion, prioritizing their success, as we partner alongside them on their journeys.

Our team is made up of accomplished small business owners who have experienced the challenges that small to mid-sized private companies face. This experience enables us to guide our clients with firsthand experience through all phases of the business selling and buying processes.

Simply put, we care. We care about your business, and we will work hard to help you understand its value throughout your exit planning journey.

CONTACT:

Marla DiCarlo, Raincatcher CEO

7900 E. Union Avenue, Suite 1100, Denver, CO 80237

Tel: 1-855-724-6228

Email: support@raincatcher.com

More about Inc. and the Inc. 5000

METHEDOLOGY

Companies on the 2021 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2017 to 2020. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2017. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independentnot subsidiaries or divisions of other companiesas of December 31, 2020. (Since then, some on the list may have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2017 is $100,000; the minimum for 2020 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Growth rates used to determine company rankings were calculated to three decimal places. There was one tie on this years Inc. 5000. Companies on the Inc. 500 are featured in Inc.s September issue. They represent the top tier of the Inc. 5000, which can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000.

ABOUT INC. MEDIA

The worlds most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including web sites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Vision Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit http://www.inc.com

Raincatcher Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/raincatcher

For more information on the Inc. 5000 Vision Conference, visit http://conference.inc.com/.
Our revenue has grown significantly over the past several years, which is an indication of how hard our team has worked to overcome the challenges of a global pandemic, and our commitment to expand access to high quality heart care to millions of people around the country.

CardioSolution, a physician-led company that offers comprehensive cardiovascular service line solutions for hospitals nationwide, earned recognition by Inc. Magazine on the annual Inc. 5000 list, a prestigious ranking of the nations fastest growing private companies.

Started in 1982, the list has become the hallmark of entrepreneurial success. It represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economys most dynamic segmentits independent small businesses. Microsoft, Dell, Dominos Pizza, Pandora, Timberland, LinkedIn, Yelp, Zillow, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000.

It is an honor to be included on this impressive list of successful companies, said Sean Ebner, CEO of CardioSolution. Our revenue has grown significantly over the past several years, which is an indication of how hard our team has worked to overcome the challenges of a global pandemic, and our commitment to expand access to high quality heart care to millions of people around the country.

Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000.

The companies on this years Inc. 5000 have followed so many different paths to success, says Inc. editor in chief Scott Omelianuk. Theres no single course you can follow or investment you can take that will guarantee this kind of spectacular growth. But what they have in common is persistence and seizing opportunities.

The 2021 Inc. 5000 is ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2017 and 2020. To qualify, companies must be U.S.-based, privately held, for profit, and independent.

About CardioSolution

CardioSolution offers a unique turn-key solution, delivering comprehensive cardiovascular service lines to hospitals nationwide. We are a team of more than 100 physicians and clinical support staff serving millions of patients across 23 communities nationwide. For more information, please visit cardiosolution.com.
Not only has the $100 billion failed to materialize, but the system for accessing it has become obstructively complex. We know what our priorities are and which projects we have to develop  we need to ensure we have the capacity to deliver the finance for them.

The Climate Finance Access Network (CFAN), coordinated by RMI and supported by regional and global partners, has announced the first eight countries to receive dedicated advisors for climate finance. Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu will receive advisors specifically trained and placed to unlock critical climate finance in developing countries.

Last weeks release of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) clearly sounded the alarm on the climate crisis. Climate change is hammering populations globally, and impacts such as rising temperatures, storm surges, and sea-level rise (which AR6 confirms is now locked in) have been felt acutely across the developing countries in the Global South. This is particularly true of coastal regions and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), where some of the worlds most vulnerable populations live. AR6 emphasizes what the Global South has been saying for years: Responding to this crisis is a global imperative, and theres little time to spare.

Island nations have contributed least to rising emissions but disproportionately suffer the impacts. These nations have made it clear that scaling up financial support from the Global North must be a priority for the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) and beyond. While the volume of available funding has increased, the $100 billion promised in commitments to the developing world has not been delivered, and the international climate finance system has become increasingly burdensome. Complex funder requirements and project development processes, alongside lengthy timeframes for project development and approval, create an access bottleneck that slows the impact of urgently needed  and available  financial resources.

The issue is access, said Mr. Ruel Yamuna, managing director of the Climate Change and Development Authority of Papua New Guinea. Not only has the $100 billion failed to materialize, but the system for accessing it has become obstructively complex. We know what our priorities are and which projects we have to develop  we need to ensure we have the capacity to deliver the finance for them.

CFAN is a direct response to this need. Funded with an initial contribution of CAD $9.5 million from the Government of Canada, CFAN is a global network designed to provide a prompt and practical solution to the climate finance bottleneck in SIDS, Least Developed Countries and African countries. The eight Pacific SIDS announced today mark the first that have requested and will receive highly trained, embedded climate finance advisors and ongoing technical support from the network.

Access to climate finance will make or break COP26 and will determine the success of the Paris Agreement, said Laetitia De Marez, director of CFAN. There is a clear need to address this bottleneck, and CFAN aims at addressing it in a practical way that will grow and cultivate local capacity. Were excited to initiate our first cohort in the Pacific  the first of a global network.

The network brings together several international organizations experienced in building in-country climate finance capacity, which have provided ongoing input to the CFAN design and will participate in its implementation.

Its critical that any initiative taking on this challenge remains agile and responsive to country-identified challenges and opportunities, said Lasse Ringius, director of green investment services at the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI). As a CFAN implementing partner, GGGI will lead initial CFAN advisor work in the Pacific. GGGI has experience working with the evolving needs of small island developing nations. Were excited to work with CFAN to ensure finance advisors placed in the Pacific will be as high-impact as possible.

CFAN aims to place 30 advisors in countries across the Pacific, Africa and the Caribbean by the end of 2022. These advisors will be placed specifically to empower countries in the Global South to enact risk-reduction measures, build capacity and unlock critical climate investments.

Small island nations are on the front lines of climate change, said Joanne Lemay, high commissioner of Canada to New Zealand, representing CFANs primary funding entity. Targeting capacity building in the Pacific was critical for Canada as an initial step to further accelerating global action on climate change. Canada remains steadfast in its commitment to work with other global leaders in order to tackle climate change, deliver both capital and capacity where its needed most, and contribute to improving the well-being of people across developing countries.

Highly trained, well-prepared and well-connected CFAN advisors will provide countries with the technical and financial expertise and opportunities they need to build climate resilience.

Tonga is committed to implementing the climate actions towards achieving targets for a Resilient Tonga by 2035 under its Climate Change Policy, 2016, the Joint National Action Plan on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management, 2018-2028, and its Nationally Determined Contributions to the Paris Agreement, said Mr. Paula Mau, CEO for the Tonga Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications. Sustainable access to funds, technology transfer and development, as well as capacity building, are a critical means of support to achieve these resilient targets in Tonga. The CFAN program represents a means to achieve such high aspirations, and we are indeed grateful for this assistance.

To learn more, and for countries that wish to express interest in a CFAN advisor, please visit cfanadvisors.org.

Media Inquiries, please contact:

Nick Steel - RMI,

T: +1 347-574-0887

E: nsteel@rmi.org

About CFAN

Coordinated by RMI, the Climate Finance Access Network (CFAN) is an agile, demand-driven initiative that offers a practical and actionable solution to developing countries facing capacity constraints in accessing climate finance. The process for applying for CFAN support is straightforward, allowing trained advisors to hit the ground within 3-6 months of approval. Countries interested in applying for an advisor can visit cfanadvisors.org to request support.

Follow CFAN on Twitter and LinkedIn at @CFANAdvisors.

About RMI

RMI is an independent nonprofit founded in 1982 that transforms global energy systems through market-driven solutions to align with a 1.5C future and secure a clean, prosperous, zero-carbon future for all. We work in the worlds most critical geographies and engage businesses, policymakers, communities, and NGOs to identify and scale energy system interventions that will cut greenhouse gas emissions at least 50 percent by 2030. RMI has offices in Basalt and Boulder, Colorado; New York City; Oakland, California; Washington, D.C.; and Beijing.

Follow RMI on Twitter @RockyMtnInst.

About Global Affairs Canada

Global Affairs Canada manages Canadas diplomatic relations, provides consular services to Canadians, promotes the countrys international trade, and leads Canadas international development and humanitarian assistance.

About GGGI

Based in Seoul, GGGI is an intergovernmental organization that supports developing country governments transition to a model of economic growth that is environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive. GGGI delivers programs in over 40 partner countries with technical support, capacity building, policy planning and implementation, and by helping to build a pipeline of bankable green investment projects. In the Pacific, GGGI delivers country programs in Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Tonga and Vanuatu, and supports projects in other countries through various regional platforms.

More on GGGIs events, projects and publications can be found on http://www.gggi.org. You can also follow GGGI on Twitter and join us on Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn.
Pritt Investment Partners (PIP) is proud to partner with Brandzoid!, a next generation marketing agency that is offering innovative new ways for businesses to fulfill their marketing needs. In addition to offering the conventional services that other agencies offer, Brandzoid! makes it easy for clients to get real time updates on their campaigns and other marketing tasks via a convenient digital portal. Through Brandzoid!s digital portal, clients can subscribe to different services and track their budget. These tasks are delivered by experts in design, social media, branding and web development.

With a $300,000 investment from PIP, Brandzoid! is expanding its business to offer a simple, speedy and sophisticated way for businesses to fulfill their printing tasks. Offering a new business card printing solution, clients only need to set up a business card template once. When clients require business cards for new employees, the data can be input online and printed business cards will be delivered to their door.

The Director of People, Standards & Results at PIP, Mr. Scott Tripp, in his media notes said, "PIP at its core is a company that wants to give back to communities through its investments. Brandzoid!s expansion will enable small businesses to access affordable marketing and printing services, providing them with innovative tools to conduct their operations in the best way possible."
DHL eCommerce Solutions, a division of the worlds leading logistics company, Deutsche Post DHL (DPDHL) Group, announced it will fill more than 200 new positions at its Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky (CVG) distribution center. In addition, at the beginning of 2021, the company raised its hourly wages in CVG by approximately 30%, with starting pay ranging from $20.50 to $22.00 per hour depending on the position and shift.

There are a mix of full- and part-time positions and shifts available that include health benefits and tuition reimbursement. Some of the jobs available include parcel sorting, package handling, scanning and data entry. Employees at DHL eCommerce Solutions handle mostly lightweight (<5 lbs.) parcels and packages.

The CVG distribution center is centrally located near the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. Candidates can apply by visiting dhl.com/ecommerce-jobs or texting DHLeC to 97211.

DHL eCommerce Solutions currently has 19 distribution centers and three corporate offices in the United States. Through its DHL Delivers Jobs hiring extravaganza from August 23-27, it seeks to expand its workforce by 68.5% throughout the country by the end of 2021.

 End 

On the Internet: dpdhl.de/press

Follow us at: twitter.com/DHLeCommerce

Follow us at: LinkedIn eCommerce Solutions

DHL  The logistics company for the world

DHL is the leading global brand in the logistics industry. Our DHL divisions offer an unrivalled portfolio of logistics services ranging from national and international parcel delivery, e-commerce shipping and fulfillment solutions, international express, road, air and ocean transport to industrial supply chain management. With about 400,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories worldwide, DHL connects people and businesses securely and reliably, enabling global sustainable trade flows. With specialized solutions for growth markets and industries including technology, life sciences and healthcare, engineering, manufacturing & energy, auto-mobility and retail, DHL is decisively positioned as The logistics company for the world.

DHL is part of Deutsche Post DHL Group. The Group generated revenues of more than 66 billion euros in 2020. With sustainable business practices and a commitment to society and the environment, the Group makes a positive contribution to the world. Deutsche Post DHL Group aims to achieve zero-emissions logistics by 2050.
Our phenomenal growth over the past couple years is a testament to the strength of our team and the value we have brought to the market through our development projects. - Jacky He, CEO

Leading real estate investment and development firm DMG Investments has been named to the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest growing companies in America. The annual list published by Inc. Magazine is the preeminent ranking of Americas most successful high growth companies. Founded by 30 year old entrepreneur Jacky He, DMGs rapidly expanding real estate portfolio of multifamily and commercial properties across the country has made it one of the most notable developers in the market.

We are honored to be named to the Inc. 5000 list. says DMG CEO Jacky He. Our phenomenal growth over the past couple years is a testament to the strength of our team and the value we have brought to the market through our development projects. The companys investment portfolio boasts hundreds of units across an array of asset classes including their renowned national student housing brand, Auden, and their critically acclaimed luxury condo tower One Park in Cliffside Park New Jersey.

As the firm continues to expand both its reach in markets across the US as well as its innovation in development, it continues to roll out new projects harnessing the latest real estate technology such as modular construction. Being on the forefront of transformation in real estate and building a robust, long term portfolio are at core of DMG Investments mission.

About DMG Investments

Headquartered in New York City at 100 Wall Street, DMG Investments LLC ("DMG") was established in 2013.

DMG focuses on real estate acquisitions, development and management as well as financing. Leveraging the expertise of a team of dedicated real estate professionals with decades of experience creating and adding value for investors, DMG has amassed a portfolio of best-in-class assets across the US in dynamic markets in New York, New Jersey, Texas, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and South Carolina.

As the portfolio continues to grow, DMG is dedicated to providing amenities and services that enhance the livability of each project be it in the student housing, traditional multifamily or condominium sector. In the years to come, the goal of DMG is to become a global real estate enterprise with a world-class reputation for sustainable development and a business philosophy that emphasizes the importance of delivering value for investors, owners and residents.
Dr. Rubinstein Adds FDA-Approved Voluma and Restylane Defyne to Practices Recommended Chin Filler Procedures

Laser & Cosmetic Surgery Specialists Founder, Dr. Ran Rubinstein, announced that the center will be incorporating FDA approved Voluma and Restylane Defyne as non-surgical treatments for chin augmentation.

Voluma is a non-surgical dermal filler that was previously approved to add temporary volume to the mid-face including cheeks and nearby regions. In a recent approval, the FDA expanded Volumas usage to include chin augmentation. The filler uses hyaluronic acid in an implantable gel form to add volume to patients ages 22 or older who are seeking additional fullness in the face.

FDA-approved Restylane Defyne also uses a hyaluronic acid base called XpresHAn Technology to create natural-looking chin enhancement and augmentation. Specifically, Restylane Defyne is indicated for the treatment of mild-to-moderate chin retrusion. In patients 21 or older, Restylane Defyne can help to restore balance to facial features through enhancing chin projection.

Both Voluma and Restylane Defyne are safe and effective non-surgical treatments for chin enhancement, said Dr. Rubinstein. Incorporating these FDA approved fillers into our practices offerings is a great step forward for our clients seeking natural-looking and non-surgical chin enhancements.

Chin enhancements have become more popular over the years as non-surgical treatment options like Voluma and Restylane Defyne have been adopted. As patients age, the loss of skin elasticity in the skin can contribute to the chin appearing to recede back, affecting the delicate balance of facial features.

When we use dermal fillers like these to address the signs of aging, we can appear to reverse years off of a patients face without anyone knowing what specifically was done. Often, patients report that people comment they look so much younger and refreshed, but that no one can pinpoint for sure what is different. This natural look is always what we strive for, said Dr. Rubinstein.

Patients who are interested in learning more about Voluma and Restylane Defyne for chin augmentation can visit Laser & Cosmetic Surgery Specialists website at http://www.yourfacemd.com for more information. In addition to chin augmentation, the center offers a full range of surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures for the face and body. Consultations can be booked by calling 845-863-1772 or by completing the form at http://www.yourfacemd.com/contact-us.

About Dr. Rubinstein, M.D.

Dr. Ran Rubinstein is one of the New York areas most celebrated facial plastic surgeons. With double-board certification by the American Board of Facial Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology  Head and Neck Surgery, Dr. Rubinstein performs a broad range of laser procedures and cosmetic and reconstructive surgeries for the eyes, face, head, and neck. In addition to serving patients at his practice, Laser & Cosmetic Surgery Specialists, Dr. Rubinstein has also been dedicated to training future surgeons for the last 15 years as an Assistant Professor at Columbia  New York Presbyterian Hospital.
Inc. magazine this week revealed that FH Group International, for the first time, has made the annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the nations fastest-growing private companies. Based in Secaucus, New Jersey, the company is a top North American supplier of stylish and affordable automobile accessories such as car seat covers and floor mats. FH Group was the #2 ranked New York Metro area automotive company, and #20 amongst all retailers in the area.

The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economys most dynamic segmentits independent small businesses. Intuit, Zappos, Under Armour, Microsoft, Patagonia, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000.

On making the list, FH Group President Darlene Fang issued this statement: I couldnt be happier. Getting included in the Inc. 5000 list has been one of the proudest moments in the over 15 years of FH Group. We have always, always, been a very hardworking team with one goal: to provide our customers the best variety of car seat covers and accessories at an affordable price. When we started this company, we could never have imagined that we would be celebrating such an honor. And then we go right back to creating new and even better products for our customers.

When Sam Fang, the VP of FH Group, was asked why she thought FH Group has been so successful, her response was: We really listen to our customers- the colors, styles, even materials they ask for. In todays world, personalization is so important to stand out. We allow drivers to not just protect their vehicles, but to make their vehicles an extension of themselves. Thats why our motto is Take Pride In Your Ride.

The company's product manager, Rony Morel, attributed their success to a focus on customer experience: "Since I joined, our team has focused on making it as easy as possible for our customers to find the products they want. We've upgraded our website, created new and informational marketing content, and especially making sure our product descriptions gave customers all the information they needed- from fit and style to compatibility and installation."

Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000. The top 500 companies are featured in the September issue of Inc., which will be available on newsstands on August 20.

The 2021 Inc. 5000 list feels like one of the most important rosters of companies ever compiled, says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. Building one of the fastest-growing companies in America in any year is a remarkable achievement. Building one in the crisis weve lived through is just plain amazing. This kind of accomplishment comes with hard work, smart pivots, great leadership, and the help of a whole lot of people.

For more Information about FH Group International and their products, including joining their affiliate program, visit http://www.FHGroupAuto.com

CONTACT:

FH Group International, Inc.

Tal Hirshberg

(201) 210-2426

Tal@FHGroupauto.com

More about Inc. and the Inc. 5000

Methodology

Companies on the 2021 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2017 to 2020. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2017. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independentnot subsidiaries or divisions of other companiesas of December 31, 2020.

About Inc. Media

The worlds most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including web sites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. For more information, visit http://www.inc.com.
We hope that through this summit we can ultimately help these men and women learn, grow and scale their businesses. You need to learn first in order to grow. Then you can scale your business the proper way.

Fishbowl, the No. 1-requested automated solution for inventory management for QuickBooks users, today announced the first Inventory Management + Growth Summit, set for September 28, 2021.

The free online summit is designed to help small- to medium-sized businesses and new entrepreneurs  all of whom have inventory needs  to Learn, Grow, and Scale, the theme for this years event.

SMB owners once saw a need in their market and wanted to dive in and become entrepreneurs. All business owners got their start one way or another, but many of those owners have not received specific training or acquired degrees in business management, marketing, finance or leadership, said John David King, CEO of Fishbowl Inventory. We hope that through this summit we can ultimately help these men and women learn, grow and scale their businesses. You need to learn first in order to grow. Then you can scale your business the proper way.

Headline speakers for the summit include ABCs Shark Tank investor and FUBU founder/CEO Daymond John, who will lead the inventory management section, along with Intuit CRO Bobby Morrison and VP of partnerships Gavin Orleow, who will headline the growth track with Navy SEAL John Choate and two-time former MLB MVP Dale Murphy.

"Few things in life beat the experience of being on or working with a great team," said Choate, who will speak to the topic of "How to Build and Lead a Strong Team -- the Right Way." "Too often people look outside their immediate circle for praise or feedback. In reality, nothing beats knowing you have earned the trust and recognition of those with whom you most closely associate, striving daily toward a common goal."

Murphy, the popular Atlanta Braves legend who appeared in seven All-Star Games and earned five Gold Gloves in 18 Major League seasons, will share insight about "Creating a Persevering Mindset."

"It's easy to talk yourself into giving up on something when obstacles arise," Murphy said. "But developing an attitude of never giving up, while not easy, can be a real game-changer. It's amazing what you can accomplish by pushing past the point where you initially considered quitting."

Other featured speakers include the following:

Andrew Smith, managing partner of Savory Fund and co-founder of R&R BBQ, Mo Bettahs, Swig and more

Blake Modersitzki, managing partner of Pelion Venture Partners

Matt Frisbie, CMO of Little Giant Ladder Systems

Vince DeAngelis, VP of carrier partnerships at Shippo

Joe Hansen, CEO of Buy Box Experts

Salsa Queen, owner of Salsa Queen

Brian Hayes, CFO of NOW CFO

Sophie DSouza, VP of optimization at Spiralyze

The summit's wide-ranging program is designed for everyone, no matter where they presently stand on their personal career ladder. Whether one is in management, starting out with a company or contemplating a potential career change, summit speakers will help sharpen skills, strategies and inspire further self-growth.

Fishbowl strives to ensure its clients are successful. Through cornerstone products  Fishbowl Online and Fishbowl Desktop  the QuickBooks solution makes it possible for every small business to have the same level of mobile inventory control that large organizations enjoy.

To register for the free Inventory Management + Growth Summit powered by Fishbowl, visit fishbowlinventory.com.

For a sneak peek of the summit, check out this highlight reel at https://fishbowlinventory.wistia.com/medias/q7r4txpb2w.

ABOUT FISHBOWL

Based in Orem, Utah, Fishbowl is the No. 1-requested desktop and online manufacturing and warehouse management solution for QuickBooks, as well as a popular standalone solution for organizations or enterprises looking to track assets. To learn more, visit fishbowlinventory.com.
GLA Global Gala 2021 "The Global Gala is a celebration of the heroism of members of the Lyme community, both near and far, and the GLA-funded research that continues to pioneer the science. Progress has been made, but the stakes have never been higher, and we plan to impress that urgency and hope at the gala.

Global Lyme Alliance (GLA), the largest 501(c)(3) dedicated to conquering Lyme and other tick-borne diseases through research, education, and patient services, will host its 6th annual gala on Sunday, October 3rd, 2021. The GLA Global Gala is a hybrid event, with 200 in-person attendees at Burning Tree Country Club in Greenwich, CT, and virtual viewing parties across the U.S., Europe, and beyond.

Hosted by journalist, author, and advocate Gretchen Carlson, the event centerpiece will include special virtual appearances by Dr. Phil and Dr. Oz, with world-class performances by Andrea Bocelli, Rachel Platten, Pia Toscano, and more. Persons of distinction from the Lyme disease community, including patients, researchers, and practitioners, will share special messages from around the globe.

Recently appointed CEO Nancy Del Genio stated, Much like Lyme and tick-borne illness, the reach of GLA is worldwide, and while I like being with the GLA crowd in a banquet hall, I am excited to be with the GLA universe, virtually, from all over the globe. As the future skews digital, it is incumbent upon us to leverage these innovative ways of connecting the GLA community in more than just spirit, and trend our messaging globally.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 476,000 people are diagnosed with Lyme disease every year. The Global Lyme Alliance was born out of the depths of this Lyme-demic to bring to bear definitive science and proven research in the fight against Lyme disease. GLA continues be a torchbearer for innovation, community, and the hope for a cure for chronic Lyme disease.

Del Genio added, As we approach our annual gala, I think back on the ethos of the organizations founding and the courage it took to disrupt the paradigm of Lyme medical practice. Those parents, patients, and doctors banned together for one single-minded, brave purpose: to cure Lyme. The Global Gala is a celebration of the heroism of members of the Lyme community, both near and far, and the GLA-funded research that continues to pioneer the science. Progress has been made since those early days, but the stakes have never been higher, and we plan to impress that urgency and hope at the gala.

The GLA Global Gala offers a unique opportunity with both in-person and virtual sponsorships available. The October 3rd in-person event will begin at 11:30 a.m., and the virtual event will begin at 12:30 p.m. More information, tickets, and sponsorship details are available at globallymealliance.org

ABOUT GLOBAL LYME ALLIANCE

Global Lyme Alliance (GLA) is the leading 501(c)(3) dedicated to conquering Lyme disease through research, education, and patient services. GLA has gained national prominence for funding the most urgent and promising research in the field while expanding education and awareness programs for the general public and physicians. We support those around the globe needing information about tick-borne diseases, finding a Lyme treating physician, and the first Lyme-specific peer-to-peer mentor support program. Learn more at https://globallymealliance.org.
The Intrepids of Albany: Filling in Some Historical Gaps By Dr. John Spencer I hope my book will draw attention to the little-known explorers of the great Southwest region of Australia and the intrepid travelers whose names are on maps and geographical places.

In Dr. John Spencers newly released book, The Intrepids of Albany: Filling in Some Historical Gaps, he educates readers on the geography, cartography and explorations of what is now called King George Sound, Oyster Bay, The Kalgan River and the surrounding river systems.

The Intrepids of Albany commences with the visit in 1621 of Pieter Nuyts, a Dutchman who was blown off course by the relentless roaring forties gales. Throughout the book, Dr. Spencer describes the increasing territorial conflicts between the French and the English and how Napoleon became involved by commanding Nicholas Baudin to claim Frances territory. In addition, the author thoroughly explains George Vancouver and Matthew Flinders's involvement and the role they played with Nicholas Baudin, Louis de Freycinet, Jules Dumont d'Urville and Antonine Bruni D'Entrecasteaux and their regions. Readers will gain local knowledge of equal relevance to early Australian history as James Cook was to the Eastern regions.

I wrote this book to provide an area of knowledge that a lot of people are unaware of, said Dr. Spencer. Readers will see that these voyages and discoveries were made serendipitously. I hope my book will draw attention to the little-known explorers of the great Southwest region of Australia and the intrepid travelers whose names are on maps and geographical places.

Readers will also learn about Edward John Eyre and his near-fatal trek across the Bight, after whom is named Lake Eyre and the Eyre Highway. Additionally, Dr. Spencer highlights that Albany was Charles Darwin and the Beagle's last port of call before returning to Europe.

Ultimately, The Intrepids of Albany will spark the historical curiosity of many readers. The book shines a light on these infamous travelers and attempts to humanize them as early visitors to Albany and the Great Southern region. By the end of the book, Dr. Spencer will help fill in gaps regarding some of Australias historical treasures.

The Intrepids of Albany: Filling in Some Historical Gaps

By Dr. John Spencer

ISBN: 978-1-6641-0478-5 (softcover); 978-1-6641-0477-8 (hardcover); 978-1-6641-0476-1 (electronic)

Available at Xlibris, Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the author

Dr. John Spencer is an English-born and bred psychiatrist. He qualified in Medicine at the University of Sheffield before moving to Paris and the American Hospital, where he was a senior resident. Dr. Spencer has worked as a psychiatrist in Vancouver, The Bahamas and Australia, where he was an Associate professor at the University of Western Australia. In 1980 he set up the Albany and district psychiatric service. He then moved to New South Wales, where he worked in rural areas, the Black Dog depression institute, and the Mental Health tribunal service.

General Inquiries:

LAVIDGE  Phoenix

480-998-2600

gconnor(at)lavidge(dot)com


iHire today announces its first-ever inclusion on the Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the nations fastest-growing private companies. iHire has been honored for a remarkable a three-year revenue growth of 48% between 2017 and 2020.

Weve been eyeing a spot on the Inc. 5000 for the past few years, making our ranking on the 2021 list extra special, said Steve Flook, iHires President and CEO. iHires recent and ongoing growth is a direct result of our ability to adapt to new challenges  such as navigating COVID-19 with a distributed workforce  while anticipating our customers needs with continuous updates to our platform and our services. Congratulations to the entire iHire team for helping us achieve this company milestone.

During the three-year revenue growth period analyzed by the Inc. 5000, iHire expanded its industry-specific recruitment marketing solutions for employers to include branding features, flexible advertising solutions, automated workflows, virtual outplacement services, and more. For candidates, iHire augmented its job search tools with features for exploring new career paths, a team of career advisors, support for finding remote work, and enhancements to its iMatch advanced job matching technology that brings users the most accurate, relevant opportunities.

The Inc. 5000 list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economys most dynamic segmentits independent small businesses. Intuit, Zappos, Under Armour, Microsoft, Patagonia, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000.

Not only have the companies on the 2021 Inc. 5000 been very competitive within their markets, but this years list also proved especially resilient and flexible given 2020s unprecedented challenges. Among the 5,000, the average median three-year growth rate soared to 543%, and median revenue reached $11.1 million. Together, those companies added more than 610,000 jobs over the past three years, according to Inc.

The 2021 Inc. 5000 list feels like one of the most important rosters of companies ever compiled, says Scott Omelianuk, Editor-in-chief of Inc. Building one of the fastest-growing companies in America in any year is a remarkable achievement. Building one in the crisis weve lived through is just plain amazing. This kind of accomplishment comes with hard work, smart pivots, great leadership, and the help of a whole lot of people.

Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000. The top 500 companies are featured in the September issue of Inc. iHires Inc. 5000 profile can be viewed at https://www.inc.com/profile/ihire.

Inc. 5000 Methodology

Companies on the 2021 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2017 to 2020. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2017. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independentnot subsidiaries or divisions of other companiesas of December 31, 2020. (Since then, some on the list may have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2017 is $100,000; the minimum for 2020 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Growth rates used to determine company rankings were calculated to three decimal places. There was one tie on this years Inc. 5000. Companies on the Inc. 500 are featured in Inc.s September issue. They represent the top tier of the Inc. 5000, which can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000.

About Inc. Media

The worlds most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including web sites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Vision Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit http://www.inc.com.

About iHire

iHire is a leading career-oriented platform that powers a family of 57 industry-focused talent networks, including WorkInSports, iHireVeterinary, iHireDental, iHireConstruction, and iHireChefs. For more than 20 years, iHire has combined advanced job matching technology with our expertise in the talent acquisition space to connect job seekers with employers in their desired sector. With an industry-specific, candidate-centric, and data-driven approach to recruitment, iHire helps candidates find meaningful work, and employers find unique, high-quality talent  faster, easier, and more effectively than a general job board. Visit http://www.iHire.com for more information.


We undertook this research to determine whether creative that adheres to proven best practices and has a higher Creative Quality Score leads to better ad performance  and the answer is a resounding yes.

CreativeX, an AI-powered technology company that enables brands to measure the impact of creative decisions, today released a landmark industry report, Insights From 1M Ads, $1B Media Spend, 1 Trillion Impressions And The Implications For Creative Effectiveness.

CreativeX used proprietary technology to analyze approximately one million digital ads that represent more than $1 billion in ad spend and 1 trillion impressions from some of the worlds best-known brands to determine if adhering to creative best practices led to better ad performance.

Creative best practices traditionally rely on different and often contradictory metrics developed by Facebook, YouTube, and other digital platforms. To provide brands with a standard way to measure the creative quality of image and video content in real-time, CreativeX recommends building a Creative Quality Score (CQS) into creative reviews. A CQS is determined by taking the number of statistically validated and proven best practices a brand adheres to in a piece of content and dividing by the total number of defined best practices.

By marrying creative data with ad performance data over a two-year period, CreativeX found that a higher CQS significantly improves media efficiency, brand awareness, and engagement. Highlights from CreativeXs report include:



Media Efficiency: The higher the Creative Quality Score, the cheaper the CPM. Across all channels, a 10% increase in Creative Quality Score is associated with a 2% decrease in CPM (822k observations and 99% confidence level).

Brand Awareness: Ads with higher Creative Quality Scores are more memorable. Across Facebook & Instagram, a 10% increase in Creative Quality Score is associated with a 2% increase in Ad Recall (177k observations and 99% confidence level).

Engagement Gains: The higher the Creative Quality Score, the cheaper the cost per completed view (CPCV). Across Facebook & Instagram, a 10% increase in Creative Quality Score is associated with a 4.8% decrease in CPCV (367k observations and 99% confidence level). Across Twitter & YouTube, a 10% increase in Creative Quality Score is associated with a 5.7% decrease in CPCV (150k observations and 99% confidence level).

We undertook this research to determine whether creative that adheres to proven best practices and has a higher Creative Quality Score leads to better ad performance  and the answer is a resounding yes, said Anastasia Leng, founder, and CEO of CreativeX. Most brands have an average CQS of 20%, and our tools have consistently demonstrated an ability to improve creative quality scores to 80-90% in six to 12 months, leading to millions in cost savings.

The report further outlines why a strong Creative Quality Score is important for brands. To get five actionable insights for how brands can implement their own CQS and drive better ad performance, download the full report here.

About CreativeX

CreativeX technology helps marketers at the worlds leading brands achieve creative excellence through measuring creative quality, brand consistency, regulatory compliance, and representation in their content worldwide. Founded in 2015, the company is headquartered in New York City with offices in London and Portland, Oregon. Learn more at creativex.com.
As weve grown, weve remained committed to transforming the HME industry to better serve the needs of our patients. Our team proudly goes above and beyond to provide the best customer service in the industry. says Casey Hite, CEO of Aeroflow Healthcare

Inc. magazine revealed that Aeroflow Healthcare is No. 3419 on its annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the nations fastest-growing private companies. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economys most dynamic segmentits independent small businesses. Intuit, Zappos, Under Armour, Microsoft, Patagonia, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000.

Aeroflow Healthcare is honored to be recognized by Inc. Magazines annual list of Americas Fastest-Growing Private Companies for the sixth time. said Casey Hite, CEO of Aeroflow Healthcare. As weve grown, weve remained committed to transforming the HME industry to better serve the needs of our patients. Our team proudly goes above and beyond to provide the best customer service in the industry.

Not only have the companies on the 2021 Inc. 5000 been very competitive within their markets, but this years list also proved especially resilient and flexible given 2020s unprecedented challenges. Among the 5,000, the average median three-year growth rate soared to 543 percent, and median revenue reached $11.1 million. Together, those companies added more than 610,000 jobs over the past three years.

Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000. The top 500 companies are featured in the September issue of Inc., which will be available on newsstands on August 20.

The 2021 Inc. 5000 list feels like one of the most important rosters of companies ever compiled, says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. Building one of the fastest-growing companies in America in any year is a remarkable achievement. Building one in the crisis weve lived through is just plain amazing. This kind of accomplishment comes with hard work, smart pivots, great leadership, and the help of a whole lot of people.

About Aeroflow Healthcare

Aeroflow Healthcare is recognized as one nations leading consumer-driven healthcare companies. Aeroflow provides innovative home healthcare solutions that allow patients to spend more time in their home while lowering healthcare costs and improving quality of life. As a durable medical equipment supplier, Aeroflow works closely with customers and their insurance provider to ensure maximum coverage or find the lowest price possible. The companys divisions supply equipment for sleep, urology, incontinence, mom and baby, and CGM care. Aeroflow Healthcare provides a large variety of high-quality, affordable medical supplies online to help maintain freedom and peace of mind.

https://aeroflowinc.com

About Inc. Media

The worlds most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including web sites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Vision Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit http://www.inc.com.
Shut Up and Do It!: Property Investment By Rohan Manuel My book, Shut Up and Do It!, provides templates and structures that I used when purchasing different properties. I provide a step-by-step guide that helps the reader know how to view a place by selecting the right location and acquiring and managing a property efficiently."

Real estate investing has been on the rise. In Rohan Manuels newly released book, Shut Up and Do It!: Property Investment, he takes readers on his personal journey growing within the industry and how he achieved success. Throughout the book, Manuel illustrates that regardless of facing bankruptcy and being made redundant in the grips of the Global Financial Crisis, he was able to find a substantial passive income through the 17 properties that he invested in just under 10 years.

Shut Up and Do It! will inspire readers to dip their feet in the world of property investing. The book describes what a good investment is and what are bad investments, and not every story about investing in real estate has a happy ending. Manuel gives an honest and personal standpoint on how to invest wisely in the world of residential and commercial property investments. With the help of tips, tricks, templates and the authors real-world examples, readers will receive advice from a knowledgeable investor.

Property investing has been a popular topic of conversation, said Manuel. My book, 'Shut Up and Do It!, provides templates and structures that I used when purchasing different properties. I provide a step-by-step guide that helps the reader know how to view a place by selecting the right location and acquiring and managing a property efficiently. I also provide advice on what makes a good and bad investment and how to make informed decisions. My book will help any individual who is interested in property investing.

Ultimately, Shut Up and Do It! shares the authors thoughts, hopes and fears that he grappled with during his journey. Manuels personal experience will shine a light for any individual interested in starting their own journey in residential and commercial property investing. Readers will find this guide valuable and different than any other book within this industry.

Shut Up and Do It!: Property Investment

By Rohan Manuel

ISBN: 978-1-6641-0578-2 (softcover); 978-1-6641-0579-9 (hardcover); 978-1-6641-0577-5 (electronic)

Available at Xlibris, Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the author

Rohan Manuel is an entrepreneur with a background in Strategy, Business and Technology. He has worked in industries such as Retail, Manufacturing, Transport / Logistics, Supply Chain, IT Consulting, Telco, Health and Construction. He has a passion for property and creating wealth through investment which can be seen in his new book, Shut Up and Do It!

General Inquiries:

LAVIDGE  Phoenix

Grace Connor

480-998-2600 x 534

gconnor(at)lavidge(dot)com
Its Cabin Time in Texas, Oklahoma and Colorado!

Its Cabin Time in Texas, Oklahoma and Colorado! After a year of setbacks for small businesses everywhere, ItsCabinTime.com is working hard to expand its collection of vacation rental listing sites into new states, bringing the book-direct experience to independent vacation rental owners and property managers of all sizes across the United States.

With the companys recent launch of a regional book-direct listing site in Texas (https://www.RentTexasCabins.com), Oklahoma (https://www.RentOklahomaCabins.com) and Colorado (https://www.RentColoradoCabins.com), Its Cabin Time is reaching out to independent owners and managers with low introductory rates to help build a robust selection of cabins, cottages, lodges and homes in new areas  and keep travelers coming back to rent with small business owners, without commissions or hidden fees.

Following its launch in May of this year, RentTexasCabins.com welcomed its first small resorts to its membership: Barons CreekSide Swiss Village in Fredericksburg, Country Woods Inn in Glen Rose, and Crystal River Inn in San Marcos! These pioneers of the Texas book-direct movement have since been joined by unique accommodations at Cool Water Acres in Bandera and most recently, River Road Escapes in New Braunfels. Visit RentTexasCabins.com to browse these rentals using our interactive map and search tool.

Also launched in May 2021, RentColoradoCabins.com was up and running this summer with its own early-adopter resort members: Loveland Heights Cottages in Estes Park (right at the base of Rocky Mountain National Park) and Hideout Cabins in Allenspark and Lyons.

In the summer of 2021, Its Cabin Time welcomed its latest members to the brand-new RentOklahomaCabins.com  Log Cabin Escape in Caddo and Persimmon Creek Cottages in Sharon.

Its Cabin Time is excited about new opportunities to deliver its low-annual fee, commission-free, book-direct listing service to independent vacation rental owners and managers operating their small business in the western United States. The company extends its thanks to our new partners in Texas, Oklahoma and Colorado for helping to realize its book direct mission.

ItsCabinTime.com has several more regional listing sites in its sights, including an imminent expansion into Georgia (https://www.RentCabinsInGeorgia.com) and North Carolina (https://www.RentNorthCarolinaCabins.com)! These states are currently offering new members a pre-launch sign-up discount of 50-percent off the annual subscription rate.

Its Cabin Time is asking potential members in upcoming states to visit these fledgling regional listing sites and enter their contact information to secure an early adopter discount.

About Its Cabin Time

ItsCabinTime.com began as a simple, regional listing website for Wisconsin rental cabins in 2009. Over the past decade, weve been refining the process of matching vacationers with local homeowners and managers. We show our commitment to the #BookDirect movement by helping vacationers find the perfect rental, then providing the owner/managers contact information so guests can plan and book cabins, cottages, lodges and homes directly. On major booking platforms, guests wont find the owner's contact information because those travel agencies do not want guests booking directly  for obvious reasons.

About Web Traffic

The regional websites under the Its Cabin Time brand acquire renter traffic through what they refer to as DORSE (direct, organic, referral, social and email). Through smart SEO and DORSE, the sites have accumulated some impressive unpaid annual renter traffic, including 1.1 million sessions and 3.2 million page views! These numbers have caught the attention of large vacation rental property managers like Vacasa and VTrips, who list hundreds of their managed properties on our regional websites.

How Covid Affects Service

In an unexpected twist, regional restrictions on travel and tourism resulted in numbers above and beyond what was seen in previous years. As travelers turned to remote accommodations in drive-to locations, Its Cabin Time took the opportunity to shine a brighter light on the growing book direct movement. In 2021, some of that mania has died down, but web traffic to ItsCabinTime.com and its regional listing sites is still well above what it was in 2018 and 2019.

You can browse our collection of regional cabins, cottages, lodges and homes by state at https://www.RentWisconsinCabins.com, https://www.RentMichiganCabins.com, https://www.RentMinnesotaCabins.com, https://www.RentMontanaCabins.com, https://www.RentNewYorkCabins.com, https://www.RentTennesseeCabins.com, https://www.RentKentuckyCabins.com, https://www.RentTexasCabins.com, https://www.RentColoradoCabins.com, and https://www.RentOklahomaCabins.com.

You can also see all of our state listings brought together on one map at https://www.itscabintime.com. Happy direct booking! #ItsCabinTime

Connect with us at (608) 721-6238, or find us on social:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itscabintime/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itscabintime_/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/itscabintime

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/itscabintime/boards/

Have questions for our founder, Joe Mogensen? You can contact him here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joemogensen1/
Latinas Rising Up in HR announces its six inaugural scholarship winners. The scholarship was funded by the immense support of everyone that believed in our stories and purchased a copy of our book 'Latinas Rising Up In HR.' Partial proceeds of every purchase go towards funding our scholarship and can be bought online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target and Walmart.

"Latinas Rising Up In HR", a book by Leadership Catalyst Priscilla Guasso presenting inspirational stories of aspiring human resources professionals who overcame obstacles and defied statistics to achieve their dreams in corporate America and the nonprofit sector and as entrepreneurs announced its six inaugural scholarship winners.

The book awarded three college or post-grad student scholarships valued at $500 and three professional scholarships valued at $1,000.

The student scholarship winners are:



Alejandra C. Sanchez of Chicago, Illinois

Alexandra McNamara of Saint John, Indiana

Pamela M. Gonzalez Vargas of College Station, Texas

The professional scholarship winners are:



Terry Hernandez of Portland, Oregon

Vanessa Duran of Marina Del Rey, California

Yasmin Mijarez of Chicago, Illinois

The winners will use these scholarships to further their education as they aspire or continue to grow as human resources professionals. Guasso explained that she received over 50 applications from across the country and her scholarship team consisting of 12 contributing authors reviewed each of the entries.

The scholarship was funded by the immense support of everyone that believed in our stories and purchased a copy of our book 'Latinas Rising Up In HR,'" Guasso said. Partial proceeds of every purchase go towards funding our scholarship and can be bought online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target and Walmart.

As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month which begins on Sept. 15 and ends on Oct. 15, Guasso will host a Virtual Scholarship Reception to shine a light on these six up-and-coming HR professionals from 2 to 3:30 p.m. CST on Saturday, Sept. 18. Register at this link.

Through the ongoing support of our community and allies, it is an honor to have the opportunity to welcome each winner to this platform to share their story and continue inspiring others,  she said. Everyone participating will have the opportunity to network with either the scholarship winners, the authors of our book, corporate supporters and each other. Im a firm believer in our purpose and invite you to join us as we continue to share our keys of knowledge and success to open doors of unlimited possibilities. After hearing each of their stories, my hope is youll be inspired to connect, support and invest in the careers of Latina leadership in human resources to further impact the diversity, equity and inclusion of Latino talent in our workforce.

About Latinas Rising Up In HR

"Latinas Rising Up In HR" created by Leadership Catalyst, Priscilla Guasso, proudly showcases inspirational stories of aspiring human resources professionals who overcame obstacles and defied statistics to achieve their dreams in corporate America, nonprofit and as entrepreneurs. Their experiences answer the question, "Why aren't there more Latinas in executive leadership?" and show how determination, grit, and finding the right mentors can pave the way to opportunity for anyone of any background. Be inspired by their personal wisdom in the Reflect and Rise micro-mentoring moments at the end of each chapter, and you too can continue to rise to your dreams. # # #
Lindsay Clark-Shields The Benson team has found Lindsays degree in real estate/marketing and her ability to speak fluent Spanish to be a valuable asset when engaging international buyers who have become the focus of the Benson team.

Acclaimed real estate expert Lindsay Clark-Shields accepts the invitation to Haute Residences invite-only Network. Lindsay Clark-Shields exclusively represents the luxury real estate market in the Laguna Beach, California area.

Lindsay Clark was born into the real estate business in Brunswick, Maine, where her parents and grandparents continue to operate a prominent brokerage and development company. The call of the West drove Lindsay to the University of Denver - Daniels College of Business where she furthered her real estate interests. Graduating with honors, Lindsay left school with a dual degree in Real Estate and Marketing with a double major in Spanish. Lindsay moved to Park City, Utah in 2009 and joined the real estate team of Paul Benson. In 2017 Lindsay moved to Southern California to expand her luxury market reach and now commutes back and forth. The Benson Team finds this expansion to be a huge asset for both the CA and UT markets and the luxury market in general. Over the last eight years, she has specialized in Park Citys premium market where she and the Benson team have been consistently ranked as a top producing team both locally and internationally since 2005. The Wall Street Journal ranked The Benson Team as 45th of the top 250 agents for the entire US market on Top Sales Volume list. Most recently, The Benson Team ranked #1 for Engel & Volkers worldwide and ranked #74 for all agents in the US with Real Trends. Lindsay has extensive experience with both affluent residential homes as well as projects. As one of the lead listing agents for The Parkite project on Main Street, Lindsay, along with her team have increased sales 7x since taking over the project. The Benson team has found Lindsays degree in real estate/marketing and her ability to speak fluent Spanish to be a valuable asset when engaging international buyers who have become the focus of the Benson team. Lindsay represents some of the most discerning buyers and sellers in the luxury market. On the rare occasion that she isnt working, Lindsay is a yoga instructor and enjoys the healthy outdoor lifestyle of Park City and Laguna Beach.

Visit Lindsay Clark-Shields's Haute Residence Profile:

https://www.hauteresidence.com/member/lindsay-clark-shields/

ABOUT HAUTE RESIDENCE

Designed as a partnership-driven luxury real estate portal, Haute Residence connects its affluent readers with top real estate professionals, while offering the latest in real estate news, showcasing the worlds most extraordinary residences on the market and sharing expert advice from its knowledgeable and experienced real estate partners. The invitation-only luxury real estate network, which partners with just one agent in every market, unites a distinguished collective of leading real estate agents and brokers and highlights the most extravagant properties in leading markets around the globe for affluent buyers, sellers, and real estate enthusiasts. HauteResidence.com has grown to be the number one news source for million-dollar listings, high-end residential developments, celebrity real estate, and more.

Access all of this information and more by visiting http://www.hauteresidence.com
Although being named 791 nationally, MRS ranked No. 11 out of 58 companies named to the national list from South Carolina and No. 1 in South Carolina in the Health Sector.

Inc. magazine today revealed that Mortuary Response Solutions is No. 791 on its annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the nations fastest-growing private companies. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economys most dynamic segmentits independent small businesses. Intuit, Zappos, Under Armour, Microsoft, Patagonia, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000.

CEO Michael Richardson stated that being listed on the Inc. 5000 list is not only an honor for the Company but also for all the employees that worked tirelessly to achieve this goal. Although being named 791 nationally, MRS ranked No. 11 out of 58 companies named to the national list from South Carolina and No. 1 in South Carolina in the Health Sector.

Not only have the companies on the 2021 Inc. 5000 been very competitive within their markets, but this years list also proved especially resilient and flexible given 2020s unprecedented challenges. Among the 5,000, the average median three-year growth rate soared to 543 percent, and median revenue reached $11.1 million. Together, these companies added more than 610,000 jobs over the past three years.

Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000. The top 500 companies are featured in the September issue of Inc., which will be available on newsstands on August 20.

The 2021 Inc. 5000 list feels like one of the most important rosters of companies ever compiled, says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. Building one of the fastest-growing companies in America in any year is a remarkable achievement. Building one in the crisis weve lived through is just plain amazing. This kind of accomplishment comes with hard work, smart pivots, great leadership, and the help of a whole lot of people.

Mortuary Response Solutions, based in Belton, South Carolina is a manufacturer of unique storage and packaging systems for mass fatality response. With over 20 years of mass fatality response experience, MRS was launched in 2007 to fill a void in portable cold storage systems for human remains. MRS pioneered and patented the use of Direct Contact Cooling for human remains storage. For further details on Mortuary Response Solutions and the MERCSystem, as well as the numerous other related products, visit our website: http://www.massfatalityresponse.com.

CONTACT: Michael Richardson

PHONE: (864) 617-9455

EMAIL: mpr@mortuaryresponse.com

More about Inc. and the Inc. 5000

Methodology

Companies on the 2021 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2017 to 2020. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2017. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independentnot subsidiaries or divisions of other companiesas of December 31, 2020. (Since then, some on the list may have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2017 is $100,000; the minimum for 2020 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Growth rates used to determine company rankings were calculated to three decimal places. There was one tie on this years Inc. 5000. Companies on the Inc. 500 are featured in Inc.s September issue. They represent the top tier of the Inc. 5000, which can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000.

About Inc. Media

The worlds most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including web sites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Vision Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit http://www.inc.com.
Addiction Treatment Guarantee Our addiction treatment guarantee is our promise to our alumni that should they experience a relapse, we will stand by their side and offer a complimentary 60 days of care.

As the substance abuse epidemic continues to worsen in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, access to reputable, comprehensive and quality addiction treatment is more important than ever. As a national provider of behavioral health services focused on drug and alcohol addiction treatment, Niznik Behavioral Health has been at the frontlines of navigating the complicated reality of addiction treatment during a global pandemic. In recognition of these unprecedented challenges, and commitment to their successful treatment outcomes, Niznik Behavioral Health is proud to announce our 60 plus 60 addiction treatment guarantee.

Robert Niznik, CEO of Niznik Behavioral Health, states:

"At Niznik Behavioral Health, we stand behind the quality of services we provide, and our dedication to our clients is lifelong. We demonstrate this by providing a treatment guarantee that is unmatched in the behavioral health industry. We provide a full continuum of care for clients at all stages of the recovery process and a comprehensive alumni support program to help those who complete treatment with us, ensuring they continue making great strides through sobriety. We are confident in our ability to support true and lasting change in the lives of our clients and their families. Our treatment guarantee is our promise to our alumni that should they experience a setback and relapse, we will stand by their side and offer a complimentary 60 days of care."

Eligibility is subject to terms and conditions, which can be found on the Niznik Behavioral Health website. Eligibility for this program can also be confirmed by contacting our admissions team.

About Niznik Behavioral Health:

Niznik Behavioral Health is a national provider of behavioral healthcare services. With facilities in Florida, Texas, Colorado, and California, we serve clients from across the United States. Our expert clinicians, board certified psychiatrists, and mental health specialists offer decades of experience in providing compassionate, person-centered care. We take the time to truly understand each client and their personal needs for lasting success in recovery. For more information about Niznik Behavioral Health or our network of addiction treatment facilities, visit https://www.niznikhealth.com/.

Connect with us on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/niznikhealth/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/niznikhealth

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/niznik-behavioral-health/
Premier partner Jim Blair, a 35-year veteran of the Social Security Administration who co-founded Premier twelve years ago. Were seeing that businesses want to invest in education for staff, so they remain competitive and so they can continue to deliver as much expertise as possible to clients. These private, group sessions are an ideal format for this Social Security training to occur," said Jim Blair.

Premier Social Security Consulting of Cincinnati, which teaches the National Social Security Advisor (NSSA) Certificate program, is now offering private, group training sessions to advisors across the nation.

The interactive, customizable group sessions are designed to fit the exact needs of the organization or the department receiving the training.

Advisors are in a very competitive environment today, and as a result, they are looking for up-to-date, relevant Social Security knowledge, said Premier partner Jim Blair, a 35-year veteran of the Social Security Administration who co-founded Premier twelve years ago. Now more than ever, were seeing that businesses want to invest in education for staff, so they remain competitive and so they can continue to deliver as much expertise as possible to clients. These private, group sessions are an ideal format for this Social Security training to occur.

Premiers NSSA program is the nations only accredited Social Security education certificate program. Accreditation is provided by the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE) in Washington, D.C. The NSSA Advisor certificate is awarded to advisors who take the NSSA course and pass an assessment. To date, more than 2,500 advisors have received the National Social Security Advisor certificate since the program began in 2013.

According to Premier Partner Marc Kiner, the private webinars have been well received because they are flexible and convenient. The format is more convenient, and the timing can be flexible, based on how the organization wants to set up the on-site sessions or the webinars, Kiner explained. Kiner is a 41-year certified public accountant who sold his CPA firm to concentrate on Social Security education.

Bill Van Meter, president of American Retirement Counselors, said that convenience and flexibility were two key benefits of the private, group sessions. Once we made the decision to invest in our staff with this education, we knew we wanted to do it as soon as possible, and as quickly as we possibly could. This format allowed us to do that, he said.

Van Meter explained his firm completed two-half day sessions over a two-day period, a format that fit their schedule. Van Meter said that by having everyone go through the training together, the entire team has a common understanding of key Social Security topics. This format allows for greater participation, overall. Its our team in the room, so everyone is comfortable in the workshop setting. Our staff could ask questions and everyone could hear those answers, too, he said.

According to Van Meter, more than 50 percent of those who participated in the private NSSA program have alreadyless than two months from the time of their group traininghad clients ask them questions specific to the course material. That alone underscores how valuable the NSSA program and resulting certification was for us, he said.

In addition to the private, group sessions, Premier is also offering live, public webinars and on-demand videos as a part of our NSSA certificate program. We continue to hear how financial advisors, insurance agents, CPAs, tax preparers and human resource professionals want more flexibility and more interactive, digital content, and were providing multiple ways for them to get access to our resources, said Kiner. All of the educational content Premier offers is designed to help advisors increase their value to clients, resulting in greater sales and profits for their businesses.

To learn more about the National Social Security Advisor certificate program for your organization, visit http://www.nationalsocialsecurityassociation.com or http://www.premiernssa.com or call Kiner at (513) 218-8505.
Rite-Solutions recently won a 5-year, $20.4 million contract with the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport (NUWCDIVNPT).

The company will provide engineering and technical services to support the evolution and deployment of submarine communications networks, including the Submarine Local Area Network (SubLAN) and the Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services (CANES), to all U.S. Navy submarines under the cognizance of NUWCDIVNPT. SubLAN and CANES are enterprise submarine network systems that manage internal and external communications.

Engineering and technical services that Rite-Solutions will provide include systems engineering, in-lab integration and certification testing, onboard software installation, in-service engineering support, software and hardware configuration management, and system administration.

This contract will have us working directly with NUWC and our Submarine Forces as we support NUWC in providing the best possible network systems and solutions, says Laura Deady, Senior Vice President and Director of Engineering Services at Rite-Solutions. It also adds talented personnel to our growing team of subject matter experts in all facets of submarine warfare, especially in our ability to support NUWC for these leading-edge communication systems.

This award comes in the wake of several other recent Navy undersea warfare (USW) contract and task awards that Rite-Solutions has received. Were very proud of winning this unrestricted contract against very strong competition. Of course, we are pleased to be able to support NUWCDIVNPT USW Combat Systems Department as they continuously improve our nations undersea warfare capabilities, notes Dennis McLaughlin, President and CEO at Rite-Solutions. This award recognizes the value of Rite-Solutions unique blend of small business agility and responsiveness, and large business quality and reliability.

# # # #

Rite-Solutions, Inc. is an award-winning firm specializing in system engineering, software development, information technology (IT), learning and performance, and information assurance (cybersecurity) for government and commercial segments. Rite-Solutions is a CMMI-DEV V2.0 Maturity Level 3 appraised, and ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 27001 certified organization with offices in Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Washington D.C. For more information, please visit http://www.rite-solutions.com.
We are excited to embrace these new partnerships and expand accessibility to our patients with more locations and physicians who share in our mission to bring the best eye care to families in Pennsylvania.

Sight Growth Partners, the administrative services provider for SightMD and SightMD New Jersey - leading multi-specialty ophthalmology platforms in New York and New Jersey respectfully, announced the expansion of its services into the state of Pennsylvania. Progressive Vision Institute (PVI), Betz Ophthalmology Associates, along with Progressive Surgical Institute, and the Progressive Laser Surgical Institute, have merged together under the name of SightMD Pennsylvania. Sight Growth Partners is thrilled to welcome these premier practices, which expands its administrative services to 60+ locations and 110+ providers.

Progressive Vision Institute has been helping families see better for more than three decades with locations in Lewisburg, Philadelphia, Pottsville, Shamokin, and Wyomissing. The practice was founded by Solomon C. Luo, M.D., who was one of the first physicians in the area to use the excimer laser to perform LASIK Eye Surgery. We are excited to embrace these new partnerships and expand accessibility to our patients with more locations and physicians who share in our mission to bring the best eye care to families in Pennsylvania, said Dr. Solomon Luo. In 1999, Dr. Maria Barbe joined PVI and brought her expertise in treating pediatric and adult strabismus. In 2000, Dr. Shann Lin joined the team, bringing world-class medical care and expertise in vitreoretinal surgery and age-related macular degeneration. The physicians of Progressive Vision Institute specialize in cataract surgery, LASIK and refractive eye surgery, macular degeneration, diabetic eye disease, vitreo-retinal disease and surgery, pediatric retina, oculoplastic, glaucoma care, cosmetic treatments, dry eye management, allergy testing, and low vision. Most locations have a full-service optical center for general eye care needs including glasses and contact lens examinations. The doctors of PVI joining SightMD Pennsylvania are Solomon C. Luo, M.D., Betsy Luo, M.D., Maria E. Barbe, M.D., Joseph A. Matz, M.D., Shann B. Lin, M.D., William Kellogg, M.D., Aaron Blehm, O.D., Ann Marie Blehm, O.D., Tricia Thomas, M.D., and Andrew Larson, O.D.

Betz Ophthalmology Associates has been a leader in eye care solutions in Central Pennsylvania for over four decades. As leaders in specialized eye care, the doctors at Betz Ophthalmology Associates have taken care of the needs of their patients time and time again. The physicians at Betz Ophthalmology Associates specialize in Glaucoma, Cornea, Cataract, Diabetes, Macular Degeneration, as well as glasses and contact lenses. The doctors of Betz Ophthalmology Associates joining SightMD Pennsylvania are Joseph Tan M.D., and Rita Verma O.D.

These practices share in the mission to provide an unparalleled care experience for patients with 7-days-a-week access to world-class quality eye care in the convenience of their local neighborhoods, delivered by a dedicated, caring and talented healthcare team.

Jonathan Lujan, CEO of Sight Growth Partners, said, Sight Growth Partners remains committed to its mission of supporting physicians so they can focus on their patients. Now more than ever, providers need our support to continue to grow their practices and remove administrative burdens. Were excited to serve our network of the highest quality eye care practitioners in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

About Sight Growth Partners

Sight Growth Partners is the leading administrative services provider for the ophthalmology sector including SightMD, SightMD New Jersey, and SightMD Pennsylvania. It has over 140 employees who provide administrative solutions to physicians, ophthalmology clinics and ambulatory surgery centers. Sight Growth Partners provides its clients with world-class administrative services, including a 24/7 call center, billing, credentialing, human resources, and other services, enabling them to continue delivering best-in-class care to patients in their communities. Sight Growth Partners is backed by Chicago Pacific Founders, a leading middle market private equity firm which focuses exclusively on partnerships with growing companies in the healthcare services sector. For more information about Sight Growth Partners, please visit http://www.sightgrowthpartners.com.

About SightMD Pennsylvania

SightMD Pennsylvania was formed from the merger of Progressive Vision Institute, and Betz Ophthalmology Associates, along with Progressive Surgical Institute, and the Progressive Laser Surgical Institute. SightMD Pennsylvania offers patients access to 12 ophthalmic surgeons and specialists through the convenience of 7 clinical locations and 2 Ambulatory Surgery Centers in Pennsylvania. Its services include general eye exams, cataract surgery, LASIK and refractive eye surgery, macular degeneration, diabetic eye disease, vitreoretinal diseases and surgery, pediatric retina, oculoplastic, glaucoma care, corneal disorders, cosmetic treatments, dry eye management, allergy testing, and low vision. Sight Growth Partners is the administrative services provider for SightMD Pennsylvania.
Securing the intellectual property for foundational technologies and providing our customers freedom to operate is a priority for our company, especially given how broadly adopted this technology is today.

SlantRange, Inc., a leading provider of agricultural insights, announced today the issuance of a new patent covering foundational technologies for aerial crop inspection and measurement.

Patent 3,192,260, issued by the European Patent Office, covers SlantRanges sunlight calibration technology that enables accurate crop measurement, prescriptions, and forecasting from crop imagery.

The patent is the companys 10th overall and first in the European Union.

We are encouraged by the European Patent Offices decision to grant this patent, SlantRange CEO Mike Ritter said. Securing the intellectual property for foundational technologies and providing our customers freedom to operate is a priority for our company, especially given how broadly adopted this technology is today.

SlantRange also holds patents in the United States, Canada, and Australia for this technology.

This technology is essential for the broad-based, scalable use of aerial imaging (e.g., color, multispectral, hyperspectral) in agriculture and enables:



Classification of plant type and health

Comparisons of measurements over time for trend analysis

Development and application of targeted input prescriptions in precision agriculture

Modeling and forecasting of future crop conditions

SlantRanges solution is commonly referred to as a sunshine sensor, downwelling sunlight sensor, or incident light sensor, together with the related software tools that normalize the effects of changing sunlight conditions.

About SlantRange

SlantRange is an agricultural intelligence company that combines patented remote sensing and data science methods to create actionable insights designed specifically to meet the diverse needs of the agriculture industry. By providing new classes of agricultural information, SlantRange gives agronomists and researchers the ability to quantify crop development and response to inputs  enabling more efficient and sustainable farming practices.

To learn more, please visit https://www.slantrange.com.
Slooh Space Exploration Grant Space exploration is a powerful  and truly magnificent  way for students to build their scientific knowledge and practices, while tying celestial phenomena to STEAM concepts, said Michael Paolucci, founder of Slooh.

Slooh, the only organization offering live online telescope feeds of amazing astronomical events to students, is launching The Slooh Space Exploration Grant for the 2021-2022 school year. The grant is being provided with the goal of helping one million students nationwide experience the wonder of space from their classroom and home computers.

The rolling grant will provide one teacher per every accredited school in the United States with access to the Slooh interface, robust professional development, and 40 student seats which will enable students to use robotic telescopes to view space phenomena, capture observational data, and engage in gamified learning.

Space exploration is a powerful  and truly magnificent  way for students to build their scientific knowledge and practices, while tying celestial phenomena to STEAM concepts, said Michael Paolucci, founder of Slooh. Our new grant provides an equitable opportunity for students across the country to reap the benefits of space exploration as they become well-informed citizens and 21st century thinkers.

To apply for The Slooh Space Exploration Grant, teachers must complete a short application, including a brief response about how Slooh will support space exploration for students at their school. One teacher from every accredited school public school in the United States will be eligible to receive the grant, which provides access to the Slooh interface and resources valued at $750.

Applications for the first round of judging are due by October 18, 2021. Additional application rounds will be available throughout the school year.

With Slooh, students can view phenomena such as lunar changes, solar flares, asteroids, living and dying stars, and a variety of nebulae in real-time using Slooh's patented Mission Interface and user-controlled network of robotic telescopes in the Canary Islands and Chile. And, educators are supported by Sloohs astronomy team and receive robust professional development and product training to ensure that all students have access to celestial phenomena.

To learn more about Slooh and to apply for The Slooh Exploration Grant, visit https://www.slooh.org/.

About Slooh

Funded in part by a National Science Foundation grant, Slooh brings the wonders of space exploration to upper elementary through post-secondary students around the world. For almost 20 years, the company has provided the ability to view space phenomena, capture observational data, and engage in gamified learning through its patented Mission Interface and user-controlled network of robotic telescopes in the Canary Islands and Chile. The company additionally provides robust professional development and access to astronomers to help educators drive student learning. To learn more about Slooh, visit https://education.slooh.com.
During his internship, his commitment and the quality of his work convinced us of Maxs considerable ability as an attorney.

Szaferman Lakind is pleased to welcome Max H. Steinberg to the firm. Mr. Steinberg joins the firm as an Associate Attorney following two summers spent as a summer intern. He will primarily focus his practice on family law, business and litigation matters.

Mr. Steinberg earned a Bachelor of Science in Business and Marketing Analytics, and an Associate in Arts and Jewish Studies, from Yeshiva University graduating summa cum laude. He earned his law degree from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in New York, NY, where he graduated cum laude and served as both the Senior Notes Editor of the Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution and Vice President of the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights.

We are delighted to welcome Max back to the firm as an Associate, commented Co-Managing Partner Barry Szaferman. During his internship, his commitment and the quality of his work convinced us of Maxs considerable ability as an attorney.

Founded in 1977, Szaferman Lakind is a full-service, Martindale-Hubbell AV-Preeminent law firm that was listed among U.S. News & World Reports Best Law Firms from 2014 through 2021.* Based in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, Szaferman Lakind has 30+ attorneys who provide legal representation to businesses, investors, professionals, families and individuals in several areas, among them family law, general and commercial litigation, personal injury, commercial real estate and land use and business law. To contact Szaferman Lakind please call 609.275.0400 or visit http://www.szaferman.com.

*Szaferman Lakind was selected to U.S. News  Best Lawyers Best Law Firms list. The Best Law Firms list is issued by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers. A description of the selection methodologies can be found at bestlawfirms.usnews.com/methodology.aspx. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
The Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators (AONN+) joins more than 20 professional and advocacy organizations in a letter penned to the Honorable Diana DeGette and the Honorable Fred Upton in support of the newly proposed language in Title II, Section 204, Patient Experience Data (PED), Subsection (b), Collection, Submission, and Use of Data.

This new language emphasizes the importance of patient experience data, which goes beyond physical symptoms or side effects of a disease, therapy, or clinical investigation, to also address the psychosocial concerns, needs, and preferences of patients. Patient advocacy and patient empowerment are part of the core competencies of AONN+ as we work to provide oncology nurse and patient navigators with the tools and resources needed to ensure better patient care.

The AONN+ Policy and Advocacy Committee serves as the voice of AONN+ when reviewing legislature that involves patient advocacy and urges this new language on patient experience data to remain, in its entirety, in the final Cures 2.0 legislation.

The full letter can be viewed here:

Dear Representatives DeGette and Upton,

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the 21st Century Cures 2.0 (Cures 2.0) discussion draft. The organizations below represent millions of patients confronting serious health conditions across multiple diseases that understand the importance of capturing and incorporating patients perspectives, preferences, and priorities in the development of safe and effective treatments. We applaud the newly proposed language included in Title II, Section 204, Patient Experience Data (PED), Subsection (b), Collection, Submission, and Use of Data and urge this language remain, in its entirety, in the final Cures 2.0 legislation.

Passage of the 21st Century Cures Act, as amended by the Food and Drug Administration Reauthorization Act of 2017 (FDARA) recognized and elevated the importance of patient experience data (PED), which goes beyond the physical symptoms or side effects of a disease, therapy, or clinical investigation, to also address the psychosocial concerns, needs, and preferences of patients. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), too, acknowledges that patient experience data provide unique insights that contribute to important patient preference information for identifying relevant clinical trial endpoints to ultimately inform medical product development that best meet patients needs. Notwithstanding the consensus by Congress, the FDA, patient advocacy organizations, and other stakeholders on the importance of PED, there is no imperative to ensure that PED is consistently collected, submitted, and used in the drug development process as intended.

PED is defined in Title III, Section 3001 of the 21st Century Cures Act (Pub. L. 114-255), as amended by Section 605 of the 2017 FDARA (Pub. L. 115-52), as data that: (1) are collected by any person (including patients, family members and caregivers of patients, patient advocacy organizations, disease research foundations, researchers, and drug manufacturers); and (2) are intended to provide information about patients experiences with a disease or condition including (A) the impact (including physical and psychosocial impacts) of such disease or condition, or a related therapy or clinical investigation on patients lives, and (B) patient preferences with respect to treatment of such disease or condition. The new subsection (b) of Title II, Section 204 in Cures 2.0 will help actualize the intent behind the 21st Century Cures Act and the 2017 FDARA. Specifically, the new subsection provides a clear and consistent mechanism to enable patient experience data to best inform the drug development process by:



requiring drug manufacturers/sponsors to collect and report on patient experience data as part of the clinical trial;

requiring FDA to fully consider all patient experience data collected during the clinical trial; and

requiring reporting of patient experience data in a transparent manner that is uniform, meaningful and informative to patients and providers.

Embracing required processes for the consistent collection, use, and sharing of meaningful PED will allow us to better understand and address the full range of patients needs and concerns which will, in turn, encourage increased participation in trials generally and enhance diversity among trial participants specifically, lead to greater trial adherence and retention, improve the shared decision-making process by better informing patients, caregivers, and providers about which treatment pathways may be best, and help inform future clinical trial design. The importance of collecting, using, and sharing PED that encompasses patients psychosocial well-being is illustrated by The Institute of Medicine concluding in 2008 that comprehensive cancer care must include psychosocial care.

On behalf of the patients and caregivers we represent, we express our full support for the new subsection (b) of Title II, Section 204, Patient Experience Data, and urge that this language be included in the Cures 2.0 final legislation. Should you have any questions, please reach out to Phylicia Woods, Executive Director, Cancer Policy Institute at the Cancer Support Community at pwoods@cancersupportcommunity.org.

Sincerely,

Cancer Support Community

Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators (AONN+)

American Kidney Fund

Arthritis Foundation

Brem

CancerCare

Cancer and Careers

Child Neurology Foundation

Childrens Cancer Cause

Colorectal Cancer Alliance

EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases

Fight Colorectal Cancer

GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer

Hemophilia Federation of America

National Hemophilia Foundation

National Eczema Association

National Multiple Sclerosis Society

Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA)

Sick Cells

Susan G. Komen

The AIDS Institute

UsAgainstAlzheimers

About the Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators (http://www.aonnonline.org):

The Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators, Inc (AONN+), is the largest national specialty organization dedicated to improving patient care and quality of life by defining, enhancing, and promoting the role of oncology nurse and patient navigators. The organization, which has more than 8900 members, was founded in 2009 to provide a network for all professionals involved and interested in patient navigation and survivorship care services in order to better manage the complexities of the cancer treatment process.

About the Journal of Oncology Navigation & Survivorship (http://www.jons-online.com):

The Journal of Oncology Navigation & Survivorship (JONS) is the official publication of AONN+. JONS seeks to strengthen the role of nurse and patient navigators in cancer care by serving as a platform for these professionals to disseminate original research findings, exchange best practices, and find support for their growing community.

About CONQUER: the patient voice magazine (http://www.conquer-magazine.com):

CONQUER: the patient voice magazine is the AONN+ premier forum for patients with cancer. CONQUER magazine features articles written by and for patients with cancer, survivors, nurse navigators, and other oncology team members. This magazine addresses the issues that patients, their family members, and caregivers face every day in an easy-to-read format. Issues include interviews with patients with cancer, information on access to care, and articles on lifestyle topics such as nutrition, stress management, personal finance, and legal and employer issues.

About The Lynx Group (http://www.thelynxgroup.com): The Lynx Group (TLG) is a premier medical communications and education company acutely focused on oncology and rare disease states. TLG specializes in market access to and with advanced practice providers, patients, and their caregivers. With more than 100 years of combined senior leadership experience, TLG continually creates award winning medical education and cultivates strong relationships within proprietary brands serving patients and their caregivers, physicians, payers, nurses, pharmacists, navigators, and practice managers.

TLG has broad and deep experience in crafting custom, award winning solutions for life science and biotech companies. Currently, TLG partners with more than 50 of the top pharma and biotech companies globally. TLG proudly serves as co-founder and association management company of the Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators (AONN+) and the Association for Value-Based Cancer Care (AVBCC).

###
Emily Quick Schriver I am honored and excited to step into this leadership role for The Matriots. We have all seen how impactful government is on the daily lives of Ohioans, and we know women's voices are necessary to ensure fair, equitable, and just policies across our state.

The Matriots, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to electing more women to office in Ohio, has tapped Emily Quick Schriver as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The appointment marks the launch of the next phase of the organizations continued growth and strongly positions The Matriots political action committee (PAC) in the 2022 Midterm Election. Founded as a state PAC in 2017, The Matriots is committed to Ohio women candidates who will support an economy in which women can thrive and prosper.

We envision a future where at least 50% of all public offices in Ohio are held by women, said Myrita Craig, chair of The Matriots PAC Board of Directors. That vision requires a bold leader  and Emily is just that. Experienced attorney, public speaker, activist, wife and mother of three girls who fuel her personal mission to make the world a more equitable place, she is the perfect person to guide us as we grow and expand.

Schriver brings a wealth of experience to the CEO position, most recently having served as Assistant Vice President and Senior Associate General Counsel at The Ohio State University (OSU). A 2005 graduate of The Ohio State University, she attended law school at Northwestern University, where she was selected for internships with then U.S. Senator Barack Obama and the Hon. Wayne Andersen (N.D. Illinois).

Earning her law degree in 2008, Schriver then served as a law clerk to the Hon. Richard C. Tallman, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in Seattle, Washington. A stint at Hogan Lovells US LLP Washington, D.C. followed, in which she represented universities, corporations, and non-profits on matters related to procurement agreements, compliance, and litigation. Throughout her career, Schriver has been a dedicated advocate for diversity and inclusion activities. She resides in northwest Columbus with her husband, John Schriver, a former US Army JAG officer who now serves as senior associate general counsel at OSU, and their three daughters.

I am honored and excited to step into this leadership role for The Matriots. We have all seen how impactful government is on the daily lives of Ohioans, and we know women's voices are necessary to ensure fair, equitable, and just policies across our state," said Schriver.

The Matriots, currently ranked as one of Ohios most well-funded PACs, has supported Ohio women candidates in 248 primary and general races since its first endorsements in 2018, with a win rate of 59 percent. Since those first endorsements, 96 Matriots have been elected to office. Today, a higher percentage of women serve in the Ohio General Assembly than at any time in history.

For more information, visit https://matriotsohio.com/
There is little doubt that Colorados real estate market is highly competitive and tough to navigate. To help home buyers cut through the confusion and be successful in the buying process, Aslan Home Lending Corporation - an award-winning, woman-owned Colorado lending company  is hosting Lions & Leaders: A Community Real Estate Forum on Thursday, Sept. 9th.

Featuring top Colorado real estate agents and mortgage brokers, this FREE community event will cover metro Denvers skyrocketing housing prices, emerging market trends from Pueblo to Ft. Collins and the future of real estate across the State of Colorado.

It will include a panel discussion and Q&A moderated by Aslan President & CEO Carrie Gusmus and several top Colorado realtors whose sales topped more than $10 million in 2020, including:



Michel Brossmer - Kentwood Real Estate

Leslie Resnik  8z Real Estate Denver RiNo

Sean Warner - The Warner Group  Colorado Springs

Megan Wachtman  The Group Real Estate - Loveland

Tracy Molleur  Keller Williams Foothills Realty - Evergreen

We want to help Coloradoans who are desperately trying to purchase their dream home in this confusing and tight market, which is why we invited several top performing local realtors to share their knowledge, said Gusmus.

This real estate forum will be held both virtually and in-person at Aslans Denver headquarters at 1777 S. Harrison St. on Thursday, Sept. 9th from 10 a.m.  noon. Free & open to everyone, advance registration is highly recommended here.

Based in Denver, Aslan has access to a wide variety of lending options to help people purchase or refinance a residential home loans, including self-employed, divorced, veterans and first time home buyers. Named one of the Top 100 Woman-Owned Companies for 2021 by Colorado BIZ Magazine, Aslan works with clients in Colorado, New Mexico, Florida, Washington, Arkansas and Wyoming. For more information, please visit http://www.aslanhlc.com.
Tortora Brayda Institute AI for Good is excited to be partnering with Tortora Brayda Institute for the second year to showcase US-driven solutions," - Reinhard Scholl, Deputy Director of the International Telecommunication Union, Telecommunication Standardization Bureau.

Tortora Brayda Institute, a non-profit international organization for multi-stakeholder partnership development, today announced they are bringing the AI for Good Innovation Factory contest to Silicon Valley. The organization will be soliciting submissions from Artificial Intelligence entrepreneurs, innovators, and established AI businesses from across the United States.

AI for Good is the leading action-oriented United Nations platform on AI, always on all year, featuring weekly programming across multiple formats and time zones, including keynotes, expert webinars, project pitches, Q&As, performances, demos, interviews, networking and more. AI for Good identifies practical applications of AI to accelerate progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and builds collaboration to assist these applications in achieving global impact.

AI for Good Innovation Factory 2021 is an UN-based pitching platform to help start-ups grow and scale their innovative AI-powered and SDG-driven solutions, by connecting them to potential business partners, investors, governments, big IT companies and more.

Call for submissions are now open for the Silicon Valley Innovation Factory contest.

Companies are encouraged to submit their application along with a 4-minute video by October 1, 2021. A judges panel will establish a shortlist of the most promising teams, which will be invited for a live and open pitching session. The best teams will advance to the Grand Pitching Finale in December, where the winner will be announced at the end of the AI for Good contest.

The Innovation Factory identifies start-ups around the world using AI to help advance the sustainable development goals and wouldnt be complete without leveraging Silicon Valleys innovative startup ecosystem. AI for Good is excited to be partnering with Tortora Brayda Institute for the second year to showcase US-driven solutions," said Reinhard Scholl, Deputy Director of the International Telecommunication Union, Telecommunication Standardization Bureau.

"The level of AI innovation and entrepreneurial talent in the United States is truly extraordinary.", said Carlo Tortora Brayda, Founder and Chairperson at Tortora Brayda Institute. "Our Institute is delighted to Partner with the United Nations AI for Good Platform, to bring the Innovation Factory to the United States for the second year running. We cannot wait to showcase how US Innovation can help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals".

About ITU AI for Good

AI for Good is the leading action-oriented, global & inclusive United Nations platform on AI. AI for Good is organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in partnership with close to 40 Sister United Nations agencies, XPRIZE Foundation, Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and co-convened with Switzerland. The goal is to identify practical applications of AI to advance the sustainable development goals and scale those solutions for global impact. To learn more about AI for Good, visit https://aiforgood.itu.int/.

About Tortora Brayda Institute

Tortora Brayda Institute for Partnership Excellence is an International Organization for Partnership Development. The organization engages business, cultural, government and thought leaders worldwide to reshape and develop collaboration and partnering practices with a view to improving and securing the world. It is established as a not-for-profit entity and is headquartered in San Francisco, California. To learn more about Tortora Brayda, visit https://www.tortorabrayda.org/.

Contact:

Susanne Runald

Media Relations

Tortora Brayda

media@tortorabrayda.org

Frederic Werner

Head, Strategic Engagement Division

ITU

frederic.werner@itu.int
Unlock Technologies, Inc. As homeowners continue to struggle with the rising costs associated with healthcare, childcare and education, Unlock brings creative new ways for them to utilize their home equity and improve their financial futures.

Unlock Technologies Inc. (Unlock), a San Francisco-based home equity investment (HEI) technology company, and Saluda Grade Asset Management LLC (SGAM), a private alternative real estate investment firm, announced the successful closing of a $153 million unrated securitization, to be backed by certain home equity investment contracts.

During the revolving period, SGAM will look to have Unlock-originated HEIs along with other mortgage assets acquired by the securitization trust. The transaction, GRADE 2021-WL1, closed on August 20. The private placement was structured and placed by Jefferies.

The issuance marks the first securitization to be backed in part by Unlock-originated HEI assets, the first time HEI contracts have been securitized, and the fourth time Saluda Grade has brought a first-time originator to market this year.

Unlock, co-founded by CEO Jim Riccitelli and Saluda Grade CEO Ryan Craft, launched in April of this year, and is currently operating in 14 states. Since the Great Recession, homeowner equity has grown exponentially, but access to that home equity has all but dried up for families struggling with credit or debt issues. Unlocks mission  to give homeowners access to their home equity regardless of their current financial situation  is fundamental in providing economic opportunity and progressive growth for the underserved.

Financially distressed homeowners suffering from low credit scores and high debt-to-income ratios have been locked out of the opportunity to access their home equity and better their lives, said Jim Riccitelli, CEO of Unlock. We believe that equity solves big financial problems that debt cannot solve. As homeowners continue to struggle with the rising costs associated with healthcare, childcare and education, we will bring creative new ways for them to utilize their home equity and improve their financial futures.

The HEI category has grown rapidly over the past decade has the capacity to greatly exceed some of the traditional loan products in the home equity space, according to Ryan Craft, CEO of Saluda Grade. As Unlocks HEI technology platform continues to grow, we at Saluda Grade are well-positioned to provide access to our investors for these highly sought-after assets in the HEI category, he said. This is no longer an esoteric technology or asset class, but a well-constructed financial product that provides value to both consumers and investors alike.

About Unlock Technologies Inc. (http://www.unlock.com)

At Unlock, we are a team of consumer finance, real estate and technology veterans who are committed to helping homeowners access and utilize equity without a loan. We are problem-solvers on a mission to make home equity accessible to all homeowners, regardless of their current financial situation. We enable economic opportunity and progressive growth for the underserved so they can enrich their lives. With offices in San Francisco, New York and Detroit, we are beyond passionate about helping our customers achieve greater financial outcomes. We are mission-driven and consumer-centric, and our products are designed for the way consumers want to live their lives today: with confidence and peace of mind.

About Saluda Grade (http://www.saludagrade.com)

Founded in 2019, Saluda Grade is a boutique real estate advisory and asset management firm focused on the alternative non-bank lending sector. Saluda Grade Advisory advises small to mid-sized lenders seeking institutional capital markets expertise, and assists in delivering institutional capital to private lenders. Saluda Grade Ventures, the firms equity investment arm, currently manages two private funds. Saluda Grade Asset Management manages debt funds investing in transitional mortgage loans and distressed securitized product assets.

With offices in New York and Aspen, the company is driven by a core mission to identify alternative lending sectors needing institutional capital to fuel growth. Its management team has more than 100 years of combined experience in the mortgage and securitized credit space. The firm has deep relationships with both private lenders and capital providers that allow Saluda Grade Advisory to bring attractive assets to institutional investors.

Disclaimer:

This press release is for informational purposes only and is neither an offer to sell nor the solicitation of an offer to any Fund or any other securities, and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale. Any offers will be made only by means of a private offering memorandum.

Forward-looking statements:

Statements in this press release have forward-looking statements and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those express in such forward-looking statements.

Contact: Michael Micheletti, michael@unlock.com, 415-359-6985


Our team has put in some phenomenal work, and its a proud moment to see that effort recognized by one of the largest American publishers

Vecteezy, one of the leading marketplaces for free vectors, stock photos, and 4K stock videos, has been ranked by Inc. Magazine at No. 2,394 on its 41st annual Inc. 5000 list.

From 2017-2020, Vecteezy grew 177%, making it the fastest-growing independent stock photography and graphics marketplace.

Our team has put in some phenomenal work on our content library and user experience, and its a proud moment to see that effort recognized by one of the largest American publishers, said Founder and CEO Shawn Rubel.

The Inc. 5000 is Inc. Magazine's prestigious list of the 5,000 fastest-growing privately held companies in the United States. Companies included on the list are ranked by revenue growth over a three-year period. Earning a spot on the list is considered to be a badge of entrepreneurial success.

Many well-known brands like Microsoft, Intuit, Under Armour, Patagonia, Zappos, and Pandora have appeared on the list in past years. By earning a spot in 2021, Vecteezy makes its first appearance on the Inc. 5000 list.

Vecteezy experienced massive growth from 2017-2020, thanks to an amazing global community of users and contributors. Currently, Vecteezy reaches users in 180 countries and eight different languages.

In particular, 2020 was a monumental year that included several noteworthy milestones:



Surpassed 100 million user sessions, which represented 47% year-over-year growth from 2019.

Stock photos launched (both Free and Pro)

Stock videos launched (both Free and Pro)

400% growth in new contributors compared to 2019

Looking to the future, Vecteezy is focused on exponentially increasing the creative content available on the site, including both Free and Pro resources. In 2021, major improvements have been made to the contributor dashboard and content manager, including bulk uploading capabilities. Vecteezy has also added the capability to build teams for Pro users, and just launched an Enterprise option for large organizations in need of quality content.

About Vecteezy

Vecteezy is one of the largest creative marketplaces globally, with millions of stock photos, vectors, and videos that are free and safe for personal or commercial use. Their website provides content from a global network of contributors, making professional-quality creative assets accessible to everyone. Vecteezy stands out from its competitors and offers additional value to the creative and design communities through its robust licensing and legal guarantees. For more information, visit http://www.vecteezy.com.
Trinity Spiritual Center is pleased to offer this unusual opportunity to be in the presence of a living saint, as part of our year-long series of conversations on contemporary issues that deeply impact our lives." -- Mark Grayson, Director

With a powerful message sure to challenge overachievers, Trinity Spiritual Center will host renowned Hindu writer, speaker, and social activist Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati at an in-person and livestream event on Thursday, September 9th at 7:00 p.m. in Southport, CT. This special event is free and open to all with advance registration.

Sadhvi is the author of the just-published, best-selling memoir, Hollywood to the Himalayas: A Journey of Healing and Transformationthe story of a reluctant spiritual seeker who finds much more than she bargained for when she travels to India. Deepak Chopra, world-renowned pioneer of alternative medicine, praises Sadhvi for her inspiring wisdom [that] illuminates the path to healing, happiness, and inner peace. Dr. Jane Goodall describes Sadhvis journey as a river of love, compelling in its authenticity and unflinching honesty.

A highly-revered spiritual leader whose public appearances attract thousands in India, Sadhvi will discuss the presence of Grace, and how it unexpectedly entered and changed her life. She will explore the unusual series of events that led her out of her upper-middle-class American life into her spiritual awakening on the banks of the Ganga in India.

You may be focused entirely on business and working a thousand miles an hour when, out of nowhere, you experience a genuine spiritual awakening, Sadhvi said. Grace is available to all. It does not discriminate. Grace requires only that there be space in us in which it can flow.

A data-driven social scientist who grew up among Hollywoods elite, Sadhvi graduated from Stanford University, and was finishing up her Ph.D. in psychology with no interest in spiritual pursuits when she arrived with her husband in Rishikesh and was overwhelmed by a direct encounter with the divine.

This experience was followed by a series of awakenings that fundamentally altered the trajectory of her life.

In addition to her service as a spiritual leader, Sadhvi also leads myriad humanitarian programs worldwide. She is Secretary-General of Global Interfaith WASH Alliance, the worlds first alliance of religious leaders for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene, launched by UNICEF in 2013; the President of Divine Shakti Foundation, a charitable organization bringing education and empowerment to women and children; and Director of the world-famous International Yoga Festival.

We are excited to welcome Sadhvi to the Trinity community and eagerly await her thoughts on how we can rewire our thinking and behaviors so that we experience more grace, deepening connections, and greater meaning and purpose in our lives, Peggy Hodgkins, Rector at Trinity Episcopal Church says. We welcome our friends from all around the globe to join us for a very special event.

Director Mark Grayson adds, Trinity Spiritual Center is pleased to offer this unusual opportunity to be in the presence of a living saint, as part of our year-long series of conversations on contemporary issues that deeply impact our lives. We are eager to absorb the lessons that Sadhvi will share as we expand our open, welcoming spiritual community for all seekers in Fairfield County and beyond.

The presentation is open to all. No affiliation with the church required, and while there is no charge for the participation in this event, registration is required (details are below). Copies of Sadhvis memoir Hollywood to the Himalayas will be available for a suggested donation of $30 or more to the Divine Shakti Foundation. An author signing will follow the event.

WHAT: Renowned Spiritual Leader and Activist Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati In-Person Event: From Hollywood to the Himalayas

WHEN: Thursday, September 9th at 7:00 p.m.

COST: Free

REGISTER: Sadhvi_at_TSC.eventbrite.com

QUESTIONS: Call the Church at (203) 255-0454

About Trinity Episcopal Church

Trinity Episcopal Church is located in the historic seaside district of Southport at 651 Pequot Avenue (at Center Street) and welcomes seekers of all denominations. Trinitys mission is to provide a vibrant 21st century Episcopal community that inspires spiritual growth, nurtures genuine connections and promotes charitable service.

About Trinity Spiritual Center

Trinity Spiritual Center is a dynamic and growing community of people of all ages and beliefs, engaging in a broad range of learning experiences to inspire and support their own journeys of spiritual growth. It offers programs and practices that inspire and engage the greater community.

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Im blessed by the opportunity to bring the, literally, lifetime collection of my friend Denny to the world and honored to be the custodian of this legacy, tasked with finding new owners who will treasure its contents as much as he did - Richard Rawlings

Worldwide Auctioneers, responsible for selling some of the worlds more exciting classic vehicle collections, is gearing up for the sale of one of the most diverse offerings of largely pristine motorcycles to ever come to market. The Kannenberg Collection Auction is scheduled for September 10th and 11th, 2021 in Auburn, Indiana. Presented by Gas Monkey Garage and Richard Rawlings, who became the custodian of the lifetime collection of flat track racer Denny Kannenberg in 2019, the no-reserve sale will offer 160 mostly original motorcycles including racers, dirt bikes, street bikes and mini motorcycles, as well as an eclectic selection of 30 collector cars and a veritable treasure trove of memorabilia, petroliana and toys.

Denny Kannenberg earned the name the Kannonball during a racing career which ran from 1956 to 1973, when he retired to devote his full-time attention to his Sport Wheels business in Minnesota, building his astonishing historic collection along the way. Highlights in an offering full of

attention-grabbing bikes include one of the rarest of the Indian Fours, a 1942 Indian Four, fitted with an Indian sidecar with Art Deco fenders, one of just 700 approximately made. This example may be one of the very last Indian Fours ever built before the factory ceased civilian production at the outset of WWII. Also included is a true piece of Americana with known history, an as-raced 1953 Harley-Davidson KR that was successfully campaigned by Denny Kannenberg throughout the Midwest, a period example with Bates pillion pad, alloy fender, an alloy oil tank, and the rare Wiseco racing magneto. Another storied bike on offer is a 1982 Honda CX500TC, gifted by Honda to the king of drag racing, Big Daddy Don Garlits in honor of his accomplishments, with the headlight fairing inscribed and autographed by Garlits himself. With 4,500 miles on the odometer, it is obvious that the NHRA champion rode it instead of simply putting the bike on display in his museum.

Among the many untouched and extraordinarily low-mileage Japanese bikes in the collection is an infamous 1969 Kawasaki H-1, the fastest production motorcycle of the year, often nicknamed "The Widow Maker" because of its blinding acceleration and evil handling. This is an opportunity to own the most original one in the world, with just 1.7 miles on the odometer, the example that all restorations will be judged against. The Kannenberg Collection has something for everyone who ever loved anything on two wheels, with names like Moto Guzzi, Ducati, Metisse, a marque made famous by Steve McQueen, Hodaka, Bultaco, Maico and Ossa also in the mix. The entire motorcycle offering can now be viewed online at worldwideauctioneers.com and you can take a virtual tour with Richard Rawlings himself on Gas Monkey Garages YouTube channel.

Im blessed by the opportunity to bring the, literally, lifetime collection of my friend Denny to the world and honored to be the custodian of this legacy, tasked with finding new owners who will treasure its contents as much as he did, said Richard Rawlings. Its an unbelievable representation of everything that it is bikes and racing and motoring and petroliana and there will not be another opportunity like it.

The Kannenberg Collection Auction will take place on September 10th and 11th at Worldwide Auctioneers headquarters in Kruse Plaza, Auburn, Indiana, with preview days scheduled from Wednesday, September 8th up to the sale itself. Details on the full schedule and bidder registration are available at worldwideauctioneers.com or by calling 1.260.925.6789, with bidding options available to suit all comfort levels; live in-person, online and absentee by telephone.

About Worldwide Auctioneers. Worldwide Auctioneers is a US-based, boutique catalogue auction company that is unique in having principals who are owner auctioneers, wholly invested in seamlessly delivering the optimal result for every client. In addition to the acquisition and sale of classic automobiles at auction, it offers an extensive range of personalized services to the serious collector, including appraisal, collection direction and consultancy, estate planning and asset management. For those seeking to sell a car or collection privately, the companys private sales division incorporates The Salon, a 200,000-square-foot, climate-controlled and purpose-built showroom housed at its Auburn headquarters, along with a dedicated memorabilia division. Worldwides normal annual schedule includes The Scottsdale Auction in January, The Pacific Grove Auction on the Monterey Peninsula in August (next scheduled for August 2022), The Auburn Auction, held over Labor Day Weekend in Indiana, and stand-alone auctions of significant private collections.
Dwayne Reed, who calls himself Americas Rapping Teacher, is the author of the debut middle grade novel Simon B. Rhymin (Little, Brown), which he describes as an ode to his younger self. His Welcome to the 4th Grade rap video (with nearly two million views to date on YouTube) landed him interviews on local and national television shows (including Good Morning America), an Old Navy campaign, and piqued the interest of his literary agent, Elizabeth Bewley and publisher, Little, Brown. In the midst of his back-to-school preparations, Reed spoke with PW about his rapping roots, the three Rs (rhythm, rhyme, and rapping) he uses to reach his scholars, fellow educators, and middle grade readersand offers advice on how other teachers and librarians can, too.

How did you choose to become a teacher?

Im one of the oldest siblings in my family so being in charge led me to wanting to help, to lead, and to teach. Then, while I was figuring out what I wanted to do with my life, I took some aptitude tests that pointed to service jobs, and I developed a great love of working with kids. So I enrolled in classes at Eastern Illinois University, and earned my undergraduate degree in elementary education with middle school endorsements in language arts and social studies This will be my fifth year in education at Theophilus Schmid Elementary School in Chicago I recently took a position as dean of students.

While growing up, were there any teachers who inspired you?

First, there was Mr. K., my high school economics teacher. I didnt like economics, but I liked him. I was really excited to go to class! What he did for me as a student drives what I do now as a teacher. Because regardless of my scholars interest in the content, my teaching is about their character development and how I can reach them at a core level as humans.

Also, there was Mrs. Johnson, my geometry teacher. I remember once when she caught me writing rap lyrics in her class (I didnt like geometry either). She picked up my notebook, took a look at my lyrics, and bopped her head a bit. Then, she put down my notebook, and carried on with her business. To me, she was saying: Keep at it. I support this. This is okay. And, Im still rapping until this very day.

Where did your rapping roots sprout from?

Since I could remember, my family has always been musically inclined, free-styling and making up songs, bops, and ditties. My uncle Mario also wrote poems and songs to make sense of the world around him. His writing was my first encounter with rhyme, rhythm, and poetry. I thought it was beautifuland I wanted to be just like him. As early as fourth grade, I started writing my own raps to help me remember my spelling and vocabulary lists. It wasnt long until I discovered that it was something that could help me succeed in academics.

Fast forward to a few years ago, when you created the Welcome to the 4th Grade rap video for your students, which went viral. Can you tell us about the rap and others that youve created since?

I made Welcome to the 4th Grade when I was finishing my senior year of college and getting ready to student teach. I did it because I wanted to start my student teaching off with a bang! It was less about going viral and more about finding a cool way to introduce myself to my scholars and let them know the craziness that was in store for them with Mr. Reed as their teacher.

In addition to this video, Ive made about 12 others including: Stay Healthy, Little Mask, The Morning Song, Welcome Back to School, and four videos for an Old Navy campaign. I worked with teachers in Milwaukee, Seattle, and Los Angeles to create their own back-to-school videos, and produced my own Welcome Back to School.

Creating videos takes a whole lot of planning and hard work. But, if I know its going to benefit my scholars, other educators, and the people around me, its all worth it. This is my why.

You call your students scholars? Can you tell us your reason for this?

When I was little and I was bullied, and someone would call me ugly or say that I had a big head, my mom would always say I was beautiful, gorgeousthe handsomest! Those words stuck with me. They had power. They were a self-fulfilling prophecy in terms of how I perceived myself.

So, when I thought about what I would call my students, I chose scholars. With this word, I want to say, You are more than a studentyou are a scholar. You are more than test scores. You are scholarly. You excel. Youre the cream of the cropand Mr. Reed cares about you. The more I say it, the more they will start believing it.

How do you believe rapping has influenced your teaching?

Rap has become a valuable teaching tool for me that has positively impacted my lessons, and allowed me to teach bigger themes. I also think using rapsomething that I love to dohas encouraged my scholars to go after what they are interested in, and to see what is possible when you do.

On the flip side, how has teaching impacted your rap, and helped you write your debut novel Simon B. Rhymin?

When I immerse myself in my scholarsnot only how they perform academically or act behaviorally but in their interests, their stories, and what their lives look like outside of the classroomI begin to develop a familiarity and understanding of who they are. Teaching allows me to know my audience and to tailor my messages to them. It also helps fine-tune my voice and informs my rhymes and raps.

Can you tell us more about your book? How did it come to be, and what inspired you to write it?

An agent, Elizabeth Bewly, reached out to me and asked me what stories I might like to write. I said that I wanted to tell the story of a young Black boy from Chicago who is small, but big in his heart, is bullied, loves to rap, and who has big dreams. This is my actual storyan ode to my younger selfthat I wanted to put out into the world. It was around the same time the nation was becoming more aware of some of the inequities in our country that have been going on for hundreds of years. I thought about how I could tell my story without it being muddled or sensationalized, and not stray away from what truly happens here.

While writing Simon B. Rhymin, it was important for me to tackle social issues in a very honest, authentic, nuanced, and contextualized waymuch like The Chi on Showtime, but for kids. Ive also been inspired by Arthur on PBS based on the books by Marc Brown. I loved how Brown wrote the Arthur stories. I know that Arthur is supposed to be an aardvark, but to me Arthurs family, the Reads, is a Black family. I liked how they displayed a diversity of skin colors throughout the show. I wanted to do the same thing with Simon, too.

As a result, I wrote my story and the stories of some of my scholars who live on the West Side of Chicago. I have another Simon story, Simon B. Rhymin Takes a Stand, coming out next year, and a picture book, All Good in the Hood (Little, Brown) after that.

What do you hope to accomplish with your teaching, videos, and booksand as another poet, Mary Oliver, called, your one wild and precious life?

When adults and kids see my teaching videos, I hope they see that learning can be fun. When kids read Simon B. Rhymin, I want them to think that regardless of what size they are, or what odds are stacked against them, that they can do something, be somebody, and use their voice.

My hope for my life as a whole is to be a light that keeps on shining, and a wildfire of goodness and hope that you cannot contain. I am thinking: legacy change. I want lives, whole families, and entire communities to be changed for the better. Thats how I approach every video, every book, every lesson, and every day in my classroom. What I hope shines through is that I'm biggin' up my peopleI am championing them, celebrating them, elevating them, and lifting them up. I'm rooting for everyone who is Black.

Do you have any advice for teachers and librarians who might like to try the three Rs: rhyming, rhythm, and rapping?

Dont be afraid to look goofy, to sound off, or to get flustered when the rhythm isnt right. What your scholars will appreciate is that you are giving it a shot, stepping into their world and giving it a chance. Figure out what your shtick is. Mine was a Black boy who was bullied and wanted to become a rapper. Whatever it is, marry that to poetry... and youve got magic.
On August 12, Minnesota-based independent publisher Milkweed Editions announced a series of books centered on neurodivergence and what it calls different ways of languaging. The literary series, titled Multiverse, will hit shelves in April, starting with the debut of non-speaking autistic poet Hannah Emersons debut collection The Kissing of Kissing.

Multiverse editor-at-large Chris Martin said that the project came about because of his previous work with writing program Unrestricted Interest, as well as conversations he had with Milkweed Editions publisher and CEO Daniel Slager in early 2021.

Multiverse began as an outgrowth of my work with Unrestricted Interest, an organization devoted to learning alongside neurodivergent writers, Martin said. Once it became clear to me that several of the writers I worked with were creating poetry (and other writing) that was brilliant and transformative, a series began to emerge. He added that those conversations meant that the project found a perfect home.

For Milkweeds part, Slager told PW that it was one of the chapbooks previously published by Martin that piqued Milkweeds interest, rather than a foundational want to find a project that centered on disabled ways of knowing.

Had I not seen originality and profundity in the work Chris showed me, the project wouldn't have been right for us, Slager said. We did not set out on this path with Chris because of a desire to launch a project centered on neurodivergence. Rather, his work in this field has resulted in a flowering of artistry and communityor, perhaps more precisely, his discovery of a lively community of artistsand we are honored to play a role in bringing this work to light.

Emersons debut is described as a collection of poems that ...keep, dream, bring, please, grownd, sing, kiss, and listen. The second book in the series, slated for fall 2022, is by poet Adam Wolfond and titled The Wanting Way. A third book will come from a writer outside of Martins collaborators at Unrestricted Interest and at an undetermined point in the future. From there, future expansions are planned.

Even though Milkweed didnt select Multiverse solely because of its focus on neurodivergence, disability art and culture is still a part of the projects trajectory. Martin says artists and collectives like Sins Invalid, D. Allen, Tito Mukhopadhyay, DJ Savarese, JJJJJerome Ellis, and Sunara Taylor, are among the many artists who influence the project. He also pointed to his own experience as a neurodivergent poet and how that has shaped his editorial decision making.

One of the things I love most about neurodivergent community is our insistence on interdependence and complementary ways of moving through the world, Martin said. I can only offer my own viewpoint as an editor, so I want to make sure I'm including many other viewpoints, each of them connected to the material in a significant but adjacent way.
The agreement includes channels Ukraine 24, Ukraine 1, Ukraine 2, NLO TV 2, Star Cinema, Star Family, X-Sport and Fishing TV.

Oleksandr Remezovskyi, channels distribution director, Media Group Ukraine, commented: Ukrainian diaspora in Canada is the strongest and the biggest in the world We are glad of this partnership as being one of the first from the international channels to be launched means that Ukrainian content is relevant and Ukrainian subscribers are appreciated by Canadian providers.

Alexei Tchernobrivets, CEO of RiverTV parent company VMedia commented: RiverTV is excited to include the Media Group Ukraine suite of channels in our lineup. Ukrainian diaspora is certainly one of the largest ones in Canada, and we are delighted to add Media Group Ukraine channels featuring outstanding shows, movies and news events to be able to better serve our customers.
Watching President Joe Biden on Sunday struggle to spin away from his disastrous and inept withdrawal from Afghanistanleaving thousands of Americans on the ground at the mercy of the Talibanwhat worried me most isnt what he said.
If not for the chaos in Afghanistan, the threat of Hurricane Henri and the deadly spread of the COVID-19 delta variant, more attention would be paid to the standoff between House moderate and progressive factions, which is coming to a head this week. The outcome may determine the fate of Joe Bidens presidency more than any of the crises now dominating the headlines.

Earlier this month the Senate passed a traditional infrastructure bill with 19 Republicans joining 50 Democrats, then a budget resolution on a razor-thin party-line vote. The resolution sketches out the Democrats $3.5 trillion plan to invest in what Democrats call human infrastructureincluding universal preschool, free community college and subsidized long-term elder carethough it is not binding legislation. For Democrats to circumvent a Senate filibuster and pass such an ambitious bill, they must use a process known as budget reconciliation. And that requires first passing a budget resolution before drafting a reconciliation billwhich Democrats prefer to call the Build Back Better plan rather using than a musty procedural term.

Monday night, the House is expected to vote on whether to advance both the bipartisan bill and the budget resolution with a procedural vote known as a rule, setting the terms of floor debate and allowing Speaker Nancy Pelosi to bring the bills to the floor for a final vote. However on Tuesday, assuming the rule passes, Pelosi is only planning on bringing the budget resolution to the floor, keeping the bipartisan bill on the shelf for the time being. It is on these votes where the intra-party battle will be settled.

Passage of the bipartisan infrastructure bill and the budget resolution in the House has been complicated by conflicting threats made by progressives and moderates. Several progressives have said for weeks that they wont vote for the bipartisan infrastructure bill until the Senate passes a reconciliation bill. More recently, nine moderates issued an opposite threat: They wont vote for the budget resolution until the bipartisan infrastructure bill passes the House and is signed into law by Biden.

Why are they making dueling demands? To gain leverage.

With the Democratic margins so narrow in both congressional chambers, only a few moderate holdouts are needed to force the rest of the Democrats to cut down the size of the Build Back Better plan. (Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona has already said unequivocally that she wont vote for a $3.5 reconciliation bill, and in a 50-50 Senate, she has the leverage to follow through on that threat all by herself.)

But those same moderates, several of whom represent swing districts, are eager to vote for a rare bipartisan bill and inoculate themselves from being accused of excessive partisanship. So progressives have reasoned if they withhold support for the moderates prized bill, they will gain enough leverage to thwart any moderate stinginess.

The progressive reasoning may have missed a key element of the moderates predicament. They badly want to pass a bipartisan bill in part so they can tell their swing voter constituents that they helped enact a bipartisan bill. Procedurally yoking the Senates infrastructure to the Democrats reconciliation bill dilutes the bipartisan essence of the traditional infrastructure bill. The moderates wouldn't be able to sell it at home as its own bipartisan achievement because it would be covered in the media as attached to the Democrats larger agenda, thereby reducing its political value.

The leader of the moderate nine, Rep. Josh Gottheimer (pictured) of New Jersey, has also expressed the concern that passing the budget resolution first would give progressives extra leverage over one of his provincial priorities: raising the cap on the state and local tax deduction, known as SALT. He told NorthJersey.com that infrastructure projects in the bipartisan bill that hasnt passed yet could be used as bargaining chips: They are going to use it as a leverage point against us. 'You really want that Gateway tunnel? OK, then you are going to have to take less on SALT.'

So the progressive strategy hasnt checkmated the moderates. Instead, nine moderates grabbed their own legislative hostage, writing a letter to Pelosi declaring, 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 House progressives claim to have more people willing to hold out on the bipartisan infrastructure bill than nine. But that doesnt necessarily mean the progressives hold more leverage.

For one thing, the progressives have been squirrely about exactly how many people hold that position. The leaders of the Congressional Progressive Caucus said in their own letter, sent before the moderate threat was issued, that they surveyed their 96 members and found a majority of our respondents would not vote for the bipartisan bill until the Senate adopted a robust reconciliation package. But they didnt tell us how many of the 96 responded to the survey, so we cant assume the number is more than 48. Moreover, unlike the nine moderates, all those taking the progressive hard-line position havent put their names to paper. (Im not a master head-counter, but so far Ive counted 11 House progressives who have taken that position publicly.)

Furthermore, the votes needed for the moderates to block the budget resolution, and for the progressives to block the bipartisan infrastructure bill, are not the same. We know the budget resolution vote will fall along party lines. Currently there are 220 Democrats in the House, and 217 constitutes a majority, so a loss of four Democrats blocks partisan legislation.

But the bipartisan infrastructure bill is  bipartisan. More than four Democrats will be needed to block it on a floor vote. Exactly how many are willing to do so is unknown. Also, anonymous Republican sources told The Hill that up to 40 in their party would vote for the bill if it came to floor on its own. As with the progressives, most of these Republicans have not put their names on record, so we dont know if that estimate will hold. Bottom line, the progressives dont know how many of them they need to exert the necessary leverage.

What the progressives have on their side, at least for the time being, is Pelosis cooperation. Pelosi has said the Senate must pass reconciliation first, and she controls what bills reach the House floor. So long as Pelosi maintains that view, it doesnt matter how many the progressives have in their camp.

However, Pelosi is a master head-counter. If she determines that the moderates can get 217 for the bipartisan infrastructure bill, but progressives cant do the same for the budget resolution, she may be inclined to take the lone available path to 217 over letting both bills die.

Pelosi has publicly, if indirectly, lashed out at the nine moderates, reportedly saying in a House leadership conference call, "This is no time for amateur hour and For the first time, Americas children have leverage. I will not surrender that leverage. Also, Pelosi ally Sean Patrick Maloney, who heads the campaign arm of the House Democrats (and is considered to be a moderate), recently called some of the moderate holdouts to warn that control of the House is at risk if Bidens agenda is squelched. Some of the moderates told Politico they considered the call a threat to cut them off from campaign contributions. (An anonymous representative from the campaign arm issued a denial to Politico.)

Is this sufficient pressure to make the moderates cave? Its impossible to predict, but on its face, the pressure applied so far looks to be fairly gentle. While it is possible that Pelosi would not intervene to help a wayward House Democrat survive a credible primary challenge, only one of the nine moderate holdouts at the moment has drawn a progressive opponent backed by the insurgent Justice Democrats. And it is not conceivable Pelosi would cut off funding to a vulnerable swing district Democrat for the general election, because that would put the entire Democratic majority at risk. As a simple matter of power dynamics, the moderates have far more to gain by following through than folding.

And underneath Pelosis tough talk, she is the one who has quietly made overtures. She put the bipartisan infrastructure bill along with the budget resolution in the House rule. And on Saturday night she said in a letter to colleagues that her plan is for both bills to clear the House by Oct. 1, only six weeks away, which is an acknowledgement that the traditional infrastructure bill needs to become law by then or else, under current law, existing surface transportation funding will expire. She didnt delink the two bills with either move, but she is giving herself the power to delink, and pivot to the bipartisan bill and bring it to the floor. And she is providing an eventual reason to do so: to avoid interruption of transportation funds.

Notably, White House public statements have not taken a side between the House factions. On Saturday, after a phone call between Biden and Pelosi, the White House stated Bidens support for Speaker Pelosis work to advance the rule that would provide consideration of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill and the Build Back Better Agenda[.] Again, the rule itself doesnt take a side, and actually brings the nine moderates one procedural step closer to its goal. So this support for Speaker Pelosis work is really a neutral statement.

Having said that, the nine moderates have not settled among themselves whether or not to support the rule. Rep. Josh Gottheimer told Punchbowl News last week, Were not necessarily opposed to havingvotingon that rule.  The bottom line is, it doesnt change our position, [which] is lets just vote on this infrastructure package and get that win done for our country and then we can move immediately, once its in law ... on reconciliation. But on Friday CQ Roll Call reported that at least two of the nine, [Reps. Filemon] Vela and [Jared] Golden, told CQ Roll Call they are planning to vote against the rule. Others said theyre considering it.

In a Twitter exchange I had with the CQ Roll Call reporter, Lindsey McPherson, she told me that some think [supporting the rule] would just solidify [Pelosis] view that they're moveable. Still, since the rule does not prevent the nine from locking arms and opposing a subsequent vote on the budget resolution, we should not look at the rule vote as the make-or-break vote.

Could a compromise be struck? Might Pelosi be able to break the moderate nine with promises to advance individual, provincial projects and initiatives? In theory, yes, but Politicos Heather Caygle reported on Twitter Saturday night that Mods claim they havent heard from Pelosi and theyre irritated by that. Both sides continuing to communicate through letters and statements. Creative compromises and concessions cant be found without negotiations, and at minimum, they havent happened yet.

As it stands, the moderate nine have more to gain by sticking than folding. If they could prove that 217 is not possible for a budget resolution first, but is possible for the bipartisan infrastructure bill, that would leave Pelosi with the choice of either giving the moderate nine what they want, orfar less likelyallowing the entirety of Bidens spending plans to die. Whether the nine have the moxie to stick cant be known at the moment. But they have the cards.
Netflix announced Monday that its live-action version of the anime series, Cowboy Bebop, will debut on Nov. 19.

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John Cho , Mustafa Shakir, Daniella Pineda , Alex Hassell and Elena Satine will star in the show, which the streaming service describes as an "action-packed space western about three bounty hunters, aka 'cowboys,' all trying to outrun the past."

Original anime series director ShinichirA Watanabe is a consultant on the reboot, while the original show's composer Yoko Kanno also returns.

Zoo co-creator and Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol writer Andre Nemec serves as showrunner.

The original Cowboy Bebop aired in Japan from 1998 to 1999 and was followed by the 2001 film Cowboy Bebop: The Movie.
Samoa Joe won big against Karrion Kross to become the new NXT Champion at NXT TakeOver 36.

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Joe and Kross collided in the main event on Sunday. The bout was Joe's first after a lengthy hiatus away from the ring. Joe is also the first grappler to become a three-time NXT Champion.

Kross was able survive Joe's Coquina Clutch submission move and turn it into the Kross Jacket. Joe then later delivered a Muscle Buster to earn the three count and become the new NXT Champion.

The Samoan Submission machine celebrated his victory at the top of the entrance ramp as fireworks erupted and NXT TakeOver 36 went off the air.

Bitter rivals Adam Cole and Kyle O'Reilly competed in a 2-out-3 Falls Match that was kicked off by a standard professional wrestling bout.

O'Reilly earned an upset victory in the first round when he was able to counter Cole's Panama Sunrise and roll him up for a sudden three count. The second round was a Street Fight and involved the use of steel chairs, kendo sticks and a trash can.

Cole placed the trash can over O'Reilly's head and delivered a dropkick. Cole also used the kendo sticks to focus on O'Reilly's injured ribs. Cole won the second round by throwing O'Reilly onto a pair of steel chairs and performing the Last Shot to earn the three count.

The grapplers were then placed inside a Steel Cage for the deciding bout. Cole was able to handcuff O'Reilly to the cage and started kicking him repeatedly. O'Reilly then grabbed Cole's leg and applied the Heel Hook, forcing him to tap out and giving O'Reilly the overall victory.

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NXT Women's Champion Raquel Gonzalez defended her title against her former friend and tag team partner Dakota Kai.

Kai held her own at the start and was able to escape out of Gonzalez's Chingona Bomb and turn it into an Armbar submission hold.

Kai also performed the Kairopractor from the top tope, but Gonzalez withstood the attack and later landed the Chingona Bomb to remain NXT Women's Champion.

Gonzalez was confronted by Kay Lee Ray of NXT U.K. fame. Ray stared down Gonzalez after the match, setting her up as the champ's next challenger.

Other moments from NXT TakeOver 36 included Ridge Holland defeating Trey Baxter; Cameron Grimes defeating LA Knight to become the new Million Dollar Champion; and Ilja Dragunov defeating Walter to become the new NXT United Kingdom Champion.

Dragunov, whose body was bloody and bruised, ended Walter's impressive 870 day reign as NXT United Kingdom Champion.
Athens, GA (30605)

Today

A shower is possible early. Cloudy skies this morning will become partly cloudy this afternoon. High near 85F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Clear skies. Low 66F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
Greenville, NC (27833)

Today

Scattered showers and thunderstorms. High 86F. Winds SSW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Variable clouds with scattered thunderstorms. Low 68F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
The tropical storm system Henri brought heavy winds and rain to the Northeast U.S. as it began pummeling the New England coast early Sunday
The Latest: Biden warns of IS threat to Kabul evacuation

President Joe Biden is raising concerns that the Islamic State poses a threat as American troops seek to evacuate thousands of U.S. citizens and Afghan allies from Afghanistan
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Cloudy skies with periods of rain this afternoon. High 71F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Periods of rain. Rain may be heavy late. Low 56F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 2 to 3 inches of rain expected. Localized flooding is expected.
Beckley, WV (25801)

Today

Showers this morning becoming a steady light rain during the afternoon hours. High 69F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Showers early with some clearing overnight. Low 54F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
LAGOS, Nigeria (AP)  Gunmen have released 15 more students who were abducted from their high school in northern Nigeria last month, authorities said Sunday. The kidnappers are believed to still be holding 65 others taken from the school.

The students were released Saturday night, said John Hayab, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Kaduna state, whose son attends the school where the hostages were taken.

Samuel Aruwan, the Kaduna state commissioner for internal security and home affairs, told The Associated Press that the government had been briefed about the release.

He did not provide further details, but local media have reported in the past that the gunmen demanded a ransom of N500,000 ($1,220) for each student in exchange for their freedom.

Gunmen abducted the students from the Bethel Baptist High School in the northern town of Damishi on July 5. The kidnappers had previously released a group of 28 hostages and before that 34 others.

As parents of the freed students celebrated their release Sunday, hundreds of others still awaited word on their children's fates across northern Nigeria.

More than 1,000 students have been forcibly taken from their schools across six states in northern Nigeria since December, according to an AP tally of figures previously confirmed by the police.

Although most of those kidnapped have been released, some are still held by their abductors. The kidnappings have forced some state governments to temporarily close schools.

The abductors, known locally as bandits, often target schools in remote areas where there is no adequate security presence.
As Gov. Ned Lamont said on a football field in New Britain Tuesday, the effort to vaccinate high-schoolers is still a work in progress.

How bad is it? If pre-teens and teens ages 12 to 17 were getting vaccinated at the same rate as adults in Connecticut, an additional 68,000 kids would have been inoculated against COVID-19 as of Aug. 12.

To that point, nearly 72 percent of all Connecticut residents eligible for the vaccine  ages 12 and up  had rolled up their sleeves for the shots. But only 49 percent in that youngest eligible age group were fully vaccinated as of a few days ago.

Heres a look at how each town is faring based on data from the state Department of Health. Use the searchable database to find out how your town stacks up. As Hearst CTInsider reported in an analysis story, theres a wide variation and richer towns not only have more kids vaccinated, they are closer in percentage to the population as a whole.

Thompson, Canterbury and Hartford hold down the low end at 25 percent. Nine towns stand above 75 percent for youths  including Greenwich, New Canaan, Darien, Westport and Wilton.

Kids became eligible for the vaccine later than adults, starting with 16- and 17- year-olds in April, then 12to 15 in May. Only the two-dose Pfizer shot is available to them.

The higher rate of vaccinations among adults than youths is an indication that thousands of parents have chosen to take the COVID-19 shots for themselves but have not gotten their children inoculated.

julia.bergman@hearstmediact.com
Pottsville, PA (17901)

Today

Periods of rain. Rain may be heavy late. Potential for flooding rains. High 68F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 3 to 5 inches of rain expected..

Tonight

Rain, occasionally heavy, ending early. Partial clearing overnight. Low 57F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected. Localized flooding is expected.
Paparazzi have been intense in chasing Kareena Kapoor Khan and Saif Ali Khan's son Taimur over the last few years. And it has not changed much for the star couple's younger child Jeh as the little one too has come under the media scanner now. A constant in the kids' respective appearances was their nanny, and netizens seemed familiar with her.

Netizens react to appearance of Kareena Kapor's children Taimur & Jeh's nanny

People who followed Taimur's growing-up years might be familiar with the little one being held by his nanny. The bespectacled caretaker, always dressed in her uniform, had attained popularity during that time.

Right from her name Savitri, alleged salary of Rs 1.5 lakh per month, an Instaram page dedicated to her, and videos of her scolding the paparazzi for their prying eyes had all become a talking point at that time.

As Jeh made his first appearance with his face towards the cameras on Sunday, August 22, netizens also noticed that the famous nanny was back.

Many of them reacted with delight, writing that she was back and that they missed her. One recalled her scolding the paparazzi and urged the shutterbugs to be cautious this time around. While some noticed that the nanny was not changed, a netizen was unhappy about her being hired again, claiming that she had been 'rude with Taimur.'

Meanwhile, other netizens went gaga over Jeh's features and some also commented about his resemblance with his brother.

Jeh was clicked while Saif, Kareena and Taimur returned from a trip to the Maldives. They had visited the island to celebrate Saif's 51st birthday. Kareena had numerous shared pictures and one of the highlights was a family snap to wish Saif. She had then written, "Happy Birthday to the love of my life... To eternity and beyond with you is all I want."

Another reason to celebrate was about Jeh turning six months ago. Dropping an adorable photo, she had a sweet message, "Love, happiness, and courage to you always. Happy 6 months my life. "Both the posts had gone viral on social media and many celebrities had showered love on them.
Sidharth Malhotra was most recently seen in the movie Shershaah and was praised for his performance. Basked in the success of his film, Malhotra has begun shoot for his next. The actor took to his Instagram and shared that he had resumed the shoot for his next movie, Mission Majnu.

Sidharth Malhotra resumes shoot of Mission Majnu

Taking to his Instagram handle, Sidharth Malhotra announced he has begun shoot for his spy thriller film Mission Majnu. The actor shared a black and white photo of himself and wrote that his movie would be released in the theatres. He wrote, "#Mission Majnu shoot resumes. See you in theatres..." The film also stars Rashmika Mandana in the lead role and will mark her debut in Bollywood.

Sidharth Malhotra in Shershaah

Sidharth Malhotra was recently seen in the biographical war movie Shershaah based on the life of Param Vir Chakra-awardee Captain Vikram Batra. Captain Batra led one of the toughest operations in mountain warfare in Indian history. He was often referred to as 'Sher Shah' (Lion King) in the intercepted messages of the Pakistan Army. The movie also featured Kiara Advani in the lead role. Malhotra was praised for his performance in the movie and some critics even called it his best performance. The movie was released on Amazon Prime and became the highest-rated Hindi movie on IMDb. Sidharth shared the feat on his Instagram and wrote, "Feeling on the #Top of the world, literally. Thank you to everyone for making this happen. This is for all of you who are showering love and support for #Shershaah and are making it so special and memorable for us."

Malhotra also took his Instagram and shared a BTS from the sets and explained how the action sequences were shot. He wrote, "Recreating the Kargil war. This scene was particularly shot to give the audience a real-life experience of challenges faced by our Indian army soldiers while keeping in mind Vikram Batras character. We were shooting at actual locations after having done multiple drills on military gun firing and grenade handling. The feeling of breathlessness is quite natural at 12,000 ft above sea level, although the Indian army troops are stationed at a much higher peak."

Image Credit: Sidharth Malhotra's Instagram
A woman has been banned from visiting a chimpanzee at a zoo in Belgium. The Belgian woman has been prohibited to enter Antwerp zoo after the zoo officials realised that she was spending too much time with chimpanzee, reported de Gelderlander. Adie Timmermans has been a regular visitor to the zoo and has grown fond of Chita, a 38-year old chimpanzee who she has been visiting for four years.

Woman banned from zoo

Timmermans claimed that she and Chita would both be upset if they no longer are allowed to see each other. As per the report, Timmermans has stated that she and the animal love each other, reported de Gelderlander. She claimed that during the weekly meetings they both blow kisses to each other and wave through the glass of the enclosure. The zoo authorities have now banned her from entering the zoo as they think that the chimpanzee needs to socialise with other animals.

According to Antwerp Zoo authorities, the chimpanzee has been already excluded by other chimps within the group due to his contact with humans, as per the report. In a letter to Timmermans, the zoo authorities mentioned that outside of visiting hours at the zoo, the animal has to manage 15 hours in a day with the group members, as per the report. Animal care manager Sander Hofman in a letter to Timmermans has explained that if Timmermans makes close contact with Chita, she will not be allowed to enter the zoo. As per the report, Chita, a 38-year-old chimpanzee grew up as a pet but when he became unmanageable, the owners donated him to the zoo.

Last month, a heartwarming story of a dog and a human had won over the hearts of netizens. A video shared on Reddit showed a dog being adopted by a human with a prosthetic leg. The video showed how a dog's leg was amputated after a fracture. The clip then showed him getting adopted by his new human buddy. Both the human and the dog were seen walking away from the shelter at the end of the film's final shot. According to the caption that accompanies the video, this is "the perfect match."

IMAGE: Unsplash/RepresentativeImage
A video has gone viral on Twitter recently. A 13-second clip was put out which shows a horse running on the highway. The clip is 13 seconds long and shows a racehorse that had managed to escape. It was running along a highway at Evansville in Indiana. People going by in their vehicles were shocked and recorded the incident. The video was posted on Twitter and soon after, it went viral.

Bold and Bossy, loose on the interstate pic.twitter.com/Ys5CkI5L7y  HORSE RACING 100 (@HORSERACING1002) August 21, 2021

Horse ran along US-41 highway in Indiana after running away from the racetrack

The horse was eventually caught by some policemen along with some Ellis Park horsemen. They calmed down the house and secured her. As per reports, the horse was to take part in a race that day. Before that could occur, the horse bucked her rider and went on the US-41 highway. Bold and Bossy is the horse's name. According to a source, Bold and Bossy bolted from Ellis Park in Henderson only minutes before the race was set to begin because another horse reportedly began bucking and playing. Bold and Bossy collapsed as a result of the commotion and fled away without her rider Miguel Mena, according to trainer Michael Ann Ewing.

It appears Posey County Sheriff Tom Latham came to the rescue. Thats my Sheriff!  pic.twitter.com/V0ZkdWY1H7  Thomas Clowers (@tclowers23) August 21, 2021

Horse caught and secured by police; Netizens speak out for animal rights and banning of horseracing

Many then got onto their trucks to chase the two-year-old horse. However, miles later, she was caught by a couple of Ellis Park horsemen and police officers, who secured the animal and calmed her down, as per a report. Though it is not clear whether the horse would take part in another race, it was told that the horse can run. Netizens have been writing about the horse, wanting it to be free and demanding that the horse not be put back into the racing industry.

The beautiful horses are running away because they dont like to be subjected to unethical races that puts them in jeopardy of being injured, tired or beaten! That is a strong message the horse is sending! Horses are absolutely breathtaking! Be kind please! So sad!  Alexis Stevens (@AlexisStevens02) August 21, 2021

(IMAGE: @HORSERACING1002 - TWITTER)
The Sri Lankan government has asked India for help in evacuating its citizens from war-torn Afghanistan. In a statement issued by Sri Lanka's Foreign Ministry, the government stated that it was 'deeply concerned' about the situation in Afghanistan and was closely monitoring developments. Asserting that its priority was the security of Sri Lankans living in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed that it had requested the governments of USA, UK, India, Pakistan and the United Nations to assist in evacuating its citizens.

"Our primary concern is the safety and security of Sri Lankans living in Afghanistan and evacuating them to safety or back to Sri Lanka. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has requested the governments of USA, UK, India, Pakistan and the United Nations to assist in evacuating the Sri Lankans in Afghanistan, should they desire to do so," it said.

The Sri Lanka government stated that out of the total number of Sri Lankans in Afghanistan (86), so far, 46 had been evacuated, 20 were expected to return and another 20 had expressed their desire to stay back. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also stated that the Taliban has offered amnesty and promised not to harm any foreigners.

"The Government of Sri Lanka is also happy to see the pledges given by the Taliban that the women in Afghanistan can work and girls can go to school, following the Islamic tradition. The Government of Sri Lanka also takes note in the pronouncement made by the Taliban that an All Party Mechanism will be established to take the country forward," the Sri Lankan government said.

However, it urged the militant group to maintain law and order situation and ensure the safety, security and dignity of all people in Afghanistan. "The Government of Sri Lanka remains concerned of the possibilities of mass migration, extremist religious elements attempting to find a safe haven and enhanced illegal narcotic trade which can have a destabilizing effect on the entire South Asian region. The Government is keenly observing the situation on a daily basis," it added.
Mumbai, Aug 23 (PTI) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has alleged that the accused in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case recruited students from well-known institutes like Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) for commission of terrorist activity.

The central agency has made the claim in its draft charges submitted before a special court here. The NIA submitted the draft charges, naming 15 accused, earlier this month and a copy of the document was made available on Monday.

In furtherance of the conspiracy, the accused persons, being active members of banned terrorist organisation CPI (Maoist) and its frontal organisations, recruited students from various universities, including the Jawaharlal Nehru University as well as the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (whose main campus is in Mumbai) for commission of terrorist activity, the draft said.

The accused persons held training camps at various regions to recruit cadres at all levels for commission of terrorist activities of the CPI (Maoist), the anti-terror agency said.

The draft lays down 17 offences against the 15 accused, including human rights and civil liberties activists, and they have been sought to be charged under various sections of the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The draft charges alleged that the accused persons were active members of the CPI (Maoist) and arranged and managed meetings for the purpose of encouraging support for the banned terror outfit to further its activities.

The accused persons also sought and collected funds for the purposes of terrorism, the NIA alleged.

(They were involved in) organising, collecting and participating in providing funds through the banned terrorist organisation in order to cover the expenses of rebellious activities, and coordinated the Bhima Koregaon programme (held in Pune) with underground Naxalites and exploited the communal sentiments of Dalit and other minority forces and individuals across the state and provoked them in the name of caste in order to create instability and chaos in Maharashtra, the draft said.

It further claimed the accused conspired to demand and organise funds for annual supply of sophisticated weapons like the M4 carbine and other arms and ammunition through a designated supplier in Nepal.

The special NIA court is yet to frame the charges in the case. The court had earlier said it would first dispose of all applications filed by the accused persons before hearing them on the charges.

Special NIA Judge D E Kothalikar on Monday rejected the temporary bail pleas filed by two of the accused  Gautam Navlakha and Anand Teltumbde.

The accused persons in the case include activists and academicians like Sudha Bharadwaj, Vernon Gonsalves, Navlakha, Teltumbde, Varavara Rao, Hany Babu and Shoma Sen.

The Elgar Parishad case is related to alleged inflammatory speeches made at a conclave held in Pune on December 31, 2017, which, the police claimed, triggered violence the next day near the Koregaon-Bhima war memorial located on the outskirts of the western Maharashtra city.

The prosecution claimed the conclave was organised by people with alleged Maoist links. The case was initially probed by the Pune police and later transferred to the NIA by the Centre. PTI SP RSY RSY

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
In what may be called an attempt to counter Chinese dominance in the Western Pacific Ocean and to collaborate with partner nations, two vessels of the Indian Navy conducted a maritime partnership exercise with the Philippine Navy on Monday.

Philippine Navy welcomes Indian vessels

The BRP Antonio Luna (Frigate, FF 151) of the Philippine Navy welcomed the two Indian Navy ships, INS Ranvijay (Guided Missile Destroyer, D55) and INS Kora (Guided Missile Corvette, P61) and carried out a Maritime Partnership Exercise on Monday, August 23 in the West Philippine Sea.

Navies incorporate multiple operational manoeuvers

On their deployment to the Western Pacific region, the Indian vessels along with the Philippines Frigate during the exercise incorporated various operational manoeuvers. The participating ships of both the navies were pleased with the consolidation of interoperability achieved through this operational interaction at sea.

The Indian naval ships are currently deployed to the Western Pacific to reinforce India's maritime security while collaboration with partner nations. The synergy with BRP Antonio Luna was, therefore, an enriching opportunity for the Indian Navy to consolidate its bilateral relations with the Philippine Navy.

Implying with the prevailing norms of the pandemic, the exercise was conducted in a contactless manner and all necessary health and safety protocols were strictly observed. Following the exercise, the Indian naval ships are scheduled to call at Manila Port for restoration.

India and the Philippines share a strong defence and security cooperation built over several years and spanning across all domains. Both navies continue their commitment to further intensifying bilateral collaboration in the maritime domain towards a collective aim of ensuring a stable, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

Indian Navy ships reach Guam for MALABAR-21

Meanwhile on Saturday, August 21, Indian Naval vessels Shivalik and Kadmatt, as part of their ongoing deployment to several nations in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Ocean reached Guam. The ships will be participating in the annual MALABAR-21 joint naval exercise.

#INSShivalik and #INSKadmatt arrived at Guam islands, USA on 21 Aug 21 as deployment to nations in #SouthEastAsia & the Pacific Ocean. The ships will participate in the annual #Exercise MALABAR-21, between navies of Australia, India, Japan & USA. https://t.co/Z5KuRYF2Vi pic.twitter.com/sRrTdg6iuV  A. Bharat Bhushan Babu (@SpokespersonMoD) August 22, 2021

As informed by the Ministry of Defence on Sunday, Indian Naval ships which reached the island territory of the USA on Saturday are all set to participate in MALABAR-21, a joint naval exercise between Australia, India, Japan, and the USA. The annual Malabar series is a maritime exercise that commenced in 1992 as a bilateral between India and the United States. It has grown over the years and included four prominent navies in the Pacific and the Indian Ocean region.
Afghan Resistance exposes Pakistan-Taliban nexus, shares Pak ID cards found on terrorists

The Northern Alliance which has been leading the fight against the Taliban has further divulged more evidence of a direct role of Pakistan in strengthening the hostile insurgent group. The Northern Alliance has revealed an identity card found by them, purportedly of a Pakistani, amid the clash with the Taliban. This comes as yet another evidence, adding to the pile of proof of Pakistan's support to the Taliban.

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'No new govt until US soldiers leave Afghanistan': Taliban as Biden mulls delaying pullout

Shortly after US President Joe Biden hinted that the August 31 deadline for its forces to leave Afghanistan may be extended, the Taliban has announced that no new government will be formed until the last US soldier leaves Afghanistan. The Taliban had said that it will not accept an extension of the August 31 deadline for Western forces to leave the country. The extremist group has warned the Biden administration of consequences in case the US delays the withdrawal of its troops.

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China calls US 'root-cause' of Afghanistan crisis, says 'It can't just run away like this'

On Monday, August 24, China said that the United States cannot simply abandon Afghanistan. Speaking to the media, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin called the United States the 'root cause' of the Afghan-Taliban issue, and asked the Joe Biden administration to help 'maintain stability, avoid chaos and rebuild' Afghanistan. This comes at a time when Afghans' resistance forces are giving tough competition to the Taliban, as the latter is planning to form a government in the country. The announcement of a government, if they are not stopped by the resistant forces, is supposed to come after August 31, the same day the US is scheduled to formally withdraw its troops.

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As Taliban warns US to remove all forces, UK wants Biden to extend deadline beyond Aug 31

Britain is requesting the United States to prolong its rescue operation in Kabul past the August 31 deadline which has been decided, claiming that if the Americans do not do so, then the other nations would be forced to halt their own efforts to assist civilians escaping the Taliban control.

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Key MHA meeting called in Delhi; Security situation at LoC, international border on agenda

As the Taliban has taken complete control of Afghanistan, Jammu and Kashmir DGP Dilbag Singh and Jammy ADG Mukesh Singh will be chairing a key meeting with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Sources have informed Republic Media Network that the situation at LoC (Line of Control) and the international borders will be discussed in the meeting. This meeting is crucial as it comes after the Taliban's control over Afghanistan can significantly impact J&K. This key meeting will be attended by J&K DGP, Jammu ADG, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other officials of the Home Ministry.

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Owaisi counters Hardeep Puri's Afghan crisis CAA pitch; cites applicability only till 2014

Retaliating to Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri's 'necessary to enact CAA' comment, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday said that the law was just confined to 'undocumented immigrants' who entered India before 2014, and added that it would not have helped those entering the country now with proper visas. He went on to ask Hardeep Singh Puri if he had not read the law the BJP government had enacted or was just trying to mislead the people of the country with such statements.

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BJP can't resist dig as Sidhu slams Punjab govt & praises BJP states over sugarcane prices

Amid the ongoing protests in Punjab regarding the prices of sugarcane, BJP IT Cell Head Amit Malviya on Monday said that it is good to see that new State Congress Chief Navjot Singh Sidhu is admitting that the BJP governments in UP, Haryana, and Uttrakhand are doing a lot more for farmers than Congress-ruled Punjab.

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SAD wants FIR over team Sidhu's contentious remarks; demands Sonia Gandhi to clear stand

Shiromani Akali Dal General Secretary Bikram Singh Majithia launched a scathing attack on Congress over the 'anti-national' and 'pro-Pakistan' remarks made by Navjot Singh Sidhu's advisors. Asking Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi to clear her stand on their controversial statements on Kashmir and Pakistan, the SAD leader demanded an FIR against Sidhu's advisors Malvinder Singh Mali and Pyare Lal Garg.

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'Long pending step': BJP's Kavinder Gupta & J&K chief Ravinder Raina on Hurriyat G&M ban

Reacting to reports of a ban on both Hurriyat G&M, BJP leader and former J&K Deputy CM Kavinder Gupta on Monday said that it is a long pending step. While stating that the previous government didn't take any step against these "anti-nationals", the BJP leader said that India has a strong government. Those, who are behind the destruction of the valley will be acted upon, Gupta added.

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Ravi Dahiya appeals to J&K youth influenced by terrorists to remain 'faithful to country'

After his heroic performance at the Tokyo Olympics winning silver for India, wrestler Ravi Dahiya is looking forward to represent India in the upcoming events and bring more glory to the country. Ravi Dahiya became the second Indian wrestler to earn an Olympic silver medal in the recently concluded Tokyo Games.

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Jaishankar To Brief Political Leaders On Afghanistan Crisis; All-party Meet On August 26

In a big development, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will brief floor leaders of political parties on the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. He mentioned that PM Modi had given specific instructions in this regard. This comes at a juncture when the Congress party has questioned the "silence" of the Union government on the issue and demanded a clarification on India's policy vis-a-vis the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi also confirmed that an all-party meeting on the Afghanistan situation will take place at 11 am on August 26.

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Taliban vs Northern Alliance Civilians Join Northern Alliance To Fight Taliban, 300 Terrorists Killed In Andarab

In a recent development from Afghanistan, several Afghan civilians were seen taking to the streets demonstrating against the Taliban. The civilians came in support of the Northern Alliance and former Vice President Amrullah Saleh, who has challenged the terrorist group. It has been reported that around 300 Talibs were killed in heavy fighting in Andarab.

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Guru Nanak's Death Anniversary: Pak Permits Vaccinated Sikh Pilgrims To Visit Kartarpur

Ahead of the 482nd death anniversary of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak on 22 September, Pakistan has decided to allow Sikh pilgrims, who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib through the Kartarpur passage from next month. The visit will be allowed with strict COVID-19 protocols in place. It is to mention that the Kartarpur Corridor has remained closed since March 2020 amid the pandemic.

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'Deeply Concerned' Sri Lanka Asks India's Help In Evacuating Its Citizens From Afghanistan

The Sri Lankan government has asked India for help in evacuating its citizens from war-torn Afghanistan. In a statement issued by Sri Lanka's Foreign Ministry, the government stated that it was 'deeply concerned' about the situation in Afghanistan and was closely monitoring developments. Asserting that its priority was the security of Sri Lankans living in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed that it had requested the governments of the USA, UK, India, Pakistan, and the United Nations to assist in evacuating its citizens.

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Two Among 146 Evacuees Who Landed In Delhi From Afghanistan On Monday Found COVID Positive

Among the 146 passengers who reached India after being evacuated from Afghanistan via Doha, two were found positive with COVID-19. They had travelled to the Indian capital on Monday, August 23, in three different flights, including a carrier plane. Sub Divisional Magistrate Rajendra Kumar affirmed that two from the lot after their arrival from Afghanistan had been found COVID positive. "They have been sent to LNJP Hospital," Kumar informed.

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Jammu & Kashmir: Gupkar Alliance & BJP To Hold Separate 'Strategy Meetings' On August 24

The Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) and People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) will be holding separate Strategy Meetings tomorrow, August 24, in Jammu and Kashmir. The meeting called by the BJP is seen as a counter meeting to the one called by Farooq Abdullah-led PAGD. Sources of the BJP while confirming the meeting called by the party's J&K Unit for tomorrow said, Meeting has been called tomorrow at 12 PM and the venue is yet to be finalized. During the meeting, any ongoing situation be it political or security aspect will be discussed.

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Kalyan Singh Laid To Rest At Bulandshahr; UP CM Yogi, Rajnath Singh Pay Last Respects

The last rites of Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh were performed on Monday at Rajghat in Narora of the Bulandshahr district with full state honours. Incumbent UP CM Yogi Adityanath, Dinesh Sharma, and Keshav Prasad Maurya paid their last respects at the funeral procession. Union Ministers Smriti Irani and Rajnath Singh among others were also seen paying floral tributes to the senior BJP leader.

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'There Is No System Left In Maharashtra To Hear Out Farmers,' Devendra Fadnavis Slams Govt

After a farmer allegedly died by suicide outside Mantralaya, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis lashed out at the state government for neglecting farmers' issues. While stating that this is a "very unfortunate" incident, Maharashtra Assembly's Leader of the Opposition said no system is left in the state to hear out the farmers. The way the posting of officers is happening in the state is questionable, Fadnavis added.

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Navjot Sidhu Attacks Punjab Govt Over Sugarcane Farmers' Demand For Rise In SAP

Amid the ongoing protests in Punjab regarding the prices of sugarcane, Punjab Congress Chief Navjot Singh Sidhu in an attack on his own party said that the prices in Punjab are too low as a variable in comparison to other states. Questioning the Congress government in Punjab, Sidhu also sought an immediate resolution of the issues faced by the farmers regarding the prices.

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'We Urged PM Modi To Take An Appropriate Decision': Nitish Kumar On Caste-based Census

On Monday, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar along with an all-party delegation met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi to discuss the Bihar government's demand for a caste-based census. After the meeting, Nitish Kumar spoke to the media where he revealed that PM Modi had listened to the demands put forward by all members of the delegation and a decision was likely soon. "We spoke on all kinds of matter. SC, ST, OBCs, EBC, minorities, everything was raised. We said that if this is done once, we will know the condition of everyone and we will be able to make the right decisions.

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India's Evacuation Efforts From Afghanistan Continue, Over 600 Brought Back So Far

After the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, India has initiated mass evacuation operations to help bring back stranded Indian and Afghan nationals to the country. These operations have been intricately coordinated between the Indian Government and the Indian Air Force (IAF) in tandem with the Foreign Ministry's of Tajikistan and Qatar given the sensitive and volatile situation in the war-torn nation. Here is a detailed account of India's evacuation operations from Afghanistan so far.

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Suspected Drone Pushed Back To Pakistan; BSF To Send Protest Note

Thwarting another attempt of Pakistan, Border Security Force has pushed back a suspected drone that was trying to enter Indian territory in the Arnia sector of Jammu International Border. Troops of BSF deployed on International Border 25 LMG rounds after which suspected drone went back to Pakistani territory. A senior official in BSF told Republic World that BSF is going to send a strong protest note to Pakistan over their mischief time and again.

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Centre Likely To Ban Both Factions Of Hurriyat Under UAPA Over 'terror Funding' Charge

In a big move towards potentially crushing terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, the Centre is likely to ban both factions of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Founded on July 31, 1993, the conglomerate of 26 outfits including the Jamaat-e-Islami, Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front and Dukhtaran-e-Millat has spearheaded the separatist movement in J&K for over two decades. Perceived as an extension of the alliance which unsuccessfully contested in the 1987 Assembly polls, its clout has reduced in the last few years.

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Afghan 'Prez' Amrullah Saleh Warns Taliban Against Entering Panjshir After Andarab Clash

Mocking the Taliban, Afghanistan's 'caretaker' President Amrullah Saleh on Sunday, warned the Taliban to avoid entering Panjshir province as it was guarded by the National Resistance Front - led by Ahmad Massoud. Reminding the terror group of its casualties in Andarab Valley, a day ago, Saleh irked the Taliban saying 'some terrains are to be avoided'. Saleh, who was Ashraf Ghani's vice-president, is currently in Panjshir province where an anti-Taliban force is building.

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HD Deve Gowda Breaks Ranks With Oppn Over Rajya Sabha Ruckus; Takes Dig At Rahul Gandhi

Breaking ranks with the opposition, former PM HD Deve Gowda rued the fact that negligible business could take place in the recently concluded Monsoon session of Parliament. Addressing a press conference on Sunday, the JD(S) leader asserted, "I was not allowed to speak during the monsoon session due to the ruckus by members of the ruling and opposition parties. No business took place and the session was wasted".

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'US Mulling To Extend Afghanistan Evacuation Mission Beyond Aug 31': Joe Biden

Amid the Afghanistan crisis, US President Joe Biden said that the country was mulling to extend the pullout of the US troops beyond August 31. The US President stated that discussions were ongoing amongst the military and the US government over the deadline since the US was not certain over how far they were along the process. Biden also affirmed that the US was maintaining constant vigilance to disrupt threats from any source.

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Dilip Ghosh Calls WB Govt A 'disaster', Says 'people Being Held For Joining BJP From TMC'

West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party president Dilip Ghosh on Sunday slammed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led government for allegedly targeting people who switch sides to joining the BJP. Ghosh claimed that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government was arresting people on accounts of joining BJP after leaving the TMC. The BJP leader, who has been critical of the Mamata government, stated that the TMC understands "nothing apart from politics".

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BJP Backs Bihar Govt's Caste Census Proposal Day Before All-party Meet With PM Modi

According to a recent development, it seems like the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) may consider carrying out a caste census across the country. Recently, Bihar BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi has emphasized that the BJP is not averse to a caste census and has also included it as a part of the resolution passed in the Legislative Assembly.

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Srinagar: CRPF Troops Exalted As Local Girls Tie Rakhis On The Occasion Of Raksha Bandhan

On the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, local girls gathered at the Srinagar Sector of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) battalions on Sunday to celebrate the festival with CRPF personnel. The battalions of the CRPF's Srinagar Sector celebrated the event with tremendous enthusiasm as local women and girls tied rakhis on the wrists of their CRPF brothers.

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J&K 'rejected Gupkar Gang': Anurag Thakur On Mehbooba Mufti's Threat Over Article 370

Taking a jibe at former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, Union Minister Anurag Thakur said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have rejected their 'Gupkar Gang'. His remarks came after Mufti warned the Central Government regarding the restoration of article 370. While speaking at a press conference on Sunday in Hamirpur, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Anurag Thakur reacted to former J&K Chief Minister and PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti's statement.

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IMAGE: Republicworld
Lashing out at Malvinder Singh Mali's outrageous comments on Pakistan and Kashmir, Congress MP Manish Tewari on Sunday sought his ouster - not only from Congress, but from India too. Stating that such people did not deserve to live in India, he said that such comments mocks all those who shed blood for India. Tewari also urged Harish Rawat to 'reconsider' if such pro-Pak people should be part of Congress.

Manish Tewari seeks Mali's ouster

#WATCH "Do such people even have the right to live in the country, forget about being in the Party?, asks Congress leader Manish Tewari on Punjab Congress Chief Navjot S Sidhu's advisors Pyare Lal Garg's and Malwinder Singh Mali's comments on Pakistan and Kashmir pic.twitter.com/QsCt9BV9Vh  ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2021

Earlier on Sunday, Mali wrote on Twitter, "Kashmir is a separate country, and India and Pakistan are illegal occupants". Irked by his comments, Punjab CM Amarinder Singh underlined that they could prove 'potentially dangerous' to the peace and stability of the state and the country. Warning them against making such 'atrocious' comments in the future, the Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh suggested that they rather stick to advising Sidhu.

Slamming Mali, Amarinder Singh stated, Kashmir was and is an inalienable part of India. This is totally anti-national. The CM also slammed Mali for failing to withdraw his statement despite the widespread condemnation it had evoked from other parties and also from within Congress. Meanwhile, Sidhu's other advisor Pyare Lal Garg had slammed the CM for his criticism of Pakistan was 'not in the interest of Punjab'. The CM said Sidhus advisor was clearly disconnected from the ground reality.

As per sources, Garg and Mali are at Navjot Sidhus residence in Patiala for their controversial attacks against the CM and over J&K and Pakistan. Advising the Sidhu to steer clear of Mali's controversial Indira Gandhi sketch, Congress veteran Sandeep Dikshit said, "It's objectionable. I advise Sidhu ji to keep distance from him politically, he must ask him to be in his limits & stop making comments on things he has no knowledge of".

Sidhu takes charge

Recently, Punjab CM Amarinder Singh relented to rebel MLA Najot Singh Sidhu's demands after the Congress High Command appointed Sidhu as the President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee replacing Sunil Jakhar. In a bid to balance the power equation between the CM and Sidhu, Congress appointed four Working presidents to the state unit - Sangat Singh Gilzian, Sukhwinder Singh Danny, Pawan Goel, and Kuljit Singh Nagra. While Amarinder Singh affirmed that he will abide by High Command's decision, he was reportedly not informed of Sidhu's appointment. The miffed CM had demanded a public apology, refusing to meet Sidhu till then. Sidhu later, once again riled up the CM, demanding him to fulfill the 18 points promised by the Congress ahead of polls in February 2022.
Shiromani Akali Dal General Secretary Bikram Singh Majithia launched a scathing attack on Congress over the 'anti-national' and 'pro-Pakistan' remarks made by Navjot Singh Sidhu's advisors. Asking Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi to clear her stand on their controversial statements on Kashmir and Pakistan, the SAD leader demanded an FIR against Sidhu's advisors Malvinder Singh Mali and Pyare Lal Garg.

"A case should be registered against Punjab Congress chief Navjot Sidhu and his entire team for anti-national remarks. Sonia Gandhi should clear her stand on the statements of the Punjab Congress Office. If a case is not filed, the SAD will protest against Congress party and Sonia Gandhi," warned Bikram Majithia.

He also posed questions to senior Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi who appointed both advisors for PPCC president Navjot Singh Sidhu.

"The advisors' statement on J&K causes disrespect for the families of martyrs, who contributed their lives fighting terrorism. Our armed forces are continuously fighting against terrorism in Kashmir and Congress leaders are insulting our soldiers. This statement is pro-Pakistan," said Majithia.

Sidhu's Advisors stoke controversy

In a recent social media post, Malvinder Singh Mali had waded into the issue of abrogation of Article 370, which gave special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. He reportedly said if Kashmir was a part of India, then what was the need to have Articles 370 and 35A. Mali also claimed that Kashmir is a separate state. On the other hand, Pyare Lal Garg reportedly questioned chief minister Amarinder Singh's criticism of Pakistan, saying that criticizing the country is 'not in the interest of Punjab.'

Captain Amarinder has taken strong exception to the recent remarks of Sidhu's advisers on sensitive national issues like Kashmir and Pakistan. Facing criticism, Sidhu summoned Malvinder Singh Mali and Pyare Lal Garg to his residence in Patiala on Monday.

The Chief Minister has described their remarks as atrocious and ill-conceived, which were potentially dangerous to the peace and stability of the state and the country.
According to recent data released by Israel's Health Ministry, a booster shot of Pfizer's Inc's COVID-19 vaccine improves the immunity among people aged 60 or above. Meanwhile, many other countries including the USA have already announced their plans to provide the third dose to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 and the Delta variant.

Israel's Health Ministry shows the effectiveness of booster shots

Israel's Health Ministry published a recent study on its official website on Sunday. The findings show that the third doses are more effective in protecting against infection in comparison to the first two doses among people aged 60 and above. As per that, it shows that the third dose of vaccine provides five times better protection after 10 days.

This age group, which is more vulnerable to getting infected, has already been vaccinated in the month of December 2020. Furthermore, the country started providing the third dose from July 30th. Also, the eligible age for a booster shot has been revised to 40 followed by relaxation for pregnant women, teachers, and health care workers for receiving the third shot.

However, the full data is yet to be released. It was earlier presented at a meeting of the panel of vaccination experts after which it was published on the Ministry's official website.

Israel's health care provider on Pfizer's third dose

Similarly, Israel's one of the health services providers, Maccabi Health Services has also provided similar data showing booster shots being more effective against the COVID-19 infection. The study was released by Maccabi Health Services last week on Wednesday. It shows that the booster shot of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine was 86% more effective in people aged 60 or above.

However, the World Health Organization has not yet approved the third dose of vaccines for a vast population. In a speech given on August 4, WHO's Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,

I understand the concern of all governments to protect their people from the delta variant. But we cannot accept countries that have already used most of the global supply of vaccines using even more of it, while the worlds most vulnerable people remain unprotected.

(Image Credits: AP)
David Holz, a former NASA scientist, has proposed a theory to expand the distance of Earth from the Sun in order to preserve the blue planet and human species for at least 5 billion more years. According to the scientist, the planet will burn up unless humans don't 'steal' energy from Jupiters orbit. The Ph.D. scholar also proposed using giant asteroids to make the Earths orbit bigger. He said that the proposed plan would help the scientists in enlarging the distance of Earth from the Sun. Though, the former NASA scientist affirmed that the idea he is pitching is 'out-of-this-world', but claimed it would have good results if the space-related technology comes together.

Read the tweet of the NASA scientist here:

Earth burns in a billion years when the sun expands. UNLESS we steal energy from Jupiter to gradually expand Earth's orbit! We can *actually* do this by diverting a large asteroid (0.01% the size of the moon) to pass between Earth and Jupiter every 6000(!) years. pic.twitter.com/lidW1ebaoD  David Holz (@DavidSHolz) August 10, 2021

New academic papers published by NASA and other universities have elaborated about Holz idea

In order to make his idea more concrete, Holz took to the microblogging site to share a screengrab from a new academic paper published by NASA, University of California, and University of Michigan professors. The paper is titled, 'Astronomical engineering: a strategy for modifying planetary orbits.' "Earth burns in a billion years when the sun expands. UNLESS we steal energy from Jupiter to gradually expand Earth's orbit! We can *actually* do this by diverting a large asteroid (0.01% the size of the moon) to pass between Earth and Jupiter every 6000(!) years," read the NASA scientist's Twitter post on August 10 referring to a time that will come billions of years from now when the Sun reaches the end of its lifespan, at which point it will expand multi-fold and even engulf the Earth within itself, before finally collapsing in on itself due to its own gravity. The Sun, a main-sequence star, is roughly at the middle of its estimated lifespan at the moment.

Idea must be repeated after every 6,000 years: Scientist

According to him, in the coming years, the temperature of the blue planet would rise to such an extent that it becomes difficult for humans as well as animals to survive. He suggested stealing the energy from Jupiter which would be further used to expand the Earth's orbit. Also, he proposed that the idea must be repeated after every 6,000 years in order to make Earth safe.

It is worth mentioning that he is the same scientist who had proposed to build country-sized solar panels and suggested to place high above the atmosphere to block the Suns rays. This would help the scientists in adjusting the Earths temperature manually.

Asteroid bigger than Burj Khalifa passed by Earth at speed of 94,208 Kmph, confirms NASA

Recently, NASA scientists said that an immensely huge asteroid, which is believed to be bigger than the world's tallest skyscraper, Burj Khalifa, has passed by planet Earth on Saturday, August 21. The asteroid had been classified as "potentially hazardous" and has been named "2016 AJ193" by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). It is around 1.4 km wide and 4,500 feet in diameter. According to reports by the US space agency, the asteroid, which is a cluster of 1,000 rocks, will pass by Earth at a speed of 94,208 km per hour - about 26.17 km per second.

(Image Credit: Pixabay)
Officials in Kenya arrived at Jomo Kenyatta airport in Nairobi on Monday to see the first donated doses of Moderna vaccines from the United States arrive.

Principal secretary at Kenya's Ministry of Health Susan Mochache said that 880,460 doses were delivered.

She said the shipment is the first of 3.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines donated by the U.S. government.

Eric Kneedler, from US Embassy in Kenya said they were the same Moderna vaccines being used to vaccinate Americans in the US.

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Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Monday that pandemic lockdowns were unsustainable and states must open their borders once vaccination rates reach 80% of the eligible population.

Australia has successfully stamped out COVID-19 clusters throughout the pandemic, but a June outbreak of the delta variant introduced by a U.S. cargo flight air crew to Sydney has proved more stubborn.

The country's most populous state New South Wales reported 818 new infections on Monday, while neighbouring Victoria reported 71.

The Australian Capital Territory reported 16 cases and the state of Queensland reported a single case.

"This cannot go on forever, this is not a sustainable way to live in this country," Morrison told reporters in Canberra.

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she wants to focus less on the case numbers and more on increasing the vaccination rate.

By Sunday, 30% of Australians aged 16 and over were fully vaccinated.

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On Monday, Australian authorities chastised a Sydney church for defying the city's COVID lockdown by hosting a 60-people service near a pandemic hotspot. The church is affiliated with Christ Embassy, an international religious organisation based in Lagos, Nigeria, that has a history of propagating conspiracy theories about COVID.

Police fined the organisation 5,000 Australian dollars

Police raided the Christ Embassy Sydney church on Sunday after receiving a tip from residents, fining the organisation 5,000 Australian dollars ($3,600), and handing 1,000 Australian dollars fines to 30 parishioners. Gladys Berejiklian, the premier of New South Wales, said at a press conference that it is always "discouraging and disappointing" when people shamelessly take it upon themselves to oppose what the authority know works.

She also said that keeping people out of hospitals, ensuring that they are as safe and healthy as possible, is the key and they know the vaccine is having a significant impact. Stay-at-home orders have been issued for the whole metropolitan area of Sydney, as Australia's largest metropolis attempts to contain a Delta variant outbreak that has surpassed 800 new cases per day.

Residents are only permitted to leave the house to shop for necessities and for a limited number of other purposes. The church service, according to state deputy police commissioner Gary Worboys, was a "disappointing" occurrence. On Monday, videos from the church service were removed from the Christ Embassy Sydney's Facebook page.

The website of the Sydney church featured a video of Prime Minister Scott Morrison outlining in April 2020 that churches might broadcast or stream services and that anyone presenting such services should obey employment standards and social distancing procedures. Since then, the laws have been reinforced to prohibit all in-person services.

Chris Oyakhilome, a TV host is the leader of Christ Embassy

Chris Oyakhilome, a pastor, teacher, television host, and best-selling book of "Rhapsody of Realities," is the global Christ Embassy organization's leader. He is also the founder and president of Loveworld Inc, a Christian broadcasting and streaming network. In April, the British broadcasting regulator Ofcom concluded that Loveworld Ltd., which it claimed was linked to Christ Embassy, had broken the country's broadcasting code for the third time by making false and potentially damaging assertions concerning the coronavirus pandemic and vaccines.

Image- Unsplash
As a gruesome migrant crisis grips Afghanistan, Belgium has announced that it would not deport failed Afghans back to their homeland. On Monday, Belgian State Secretary for Asylum and Migration Sammy Mahdi confirmed the announcement highlighting that situation in the central Asian country was terrible and that the Belgian administration had agreed on not sending anybody back. Hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people from Afghanistan are now hoping to reach Europe in the quest for a better life and also to escape the extremists ultra-austere rules.

"The individual assessment of each [asylum] request shows that the situation in Afghanistan is terrible and you cannot send anyone back," Mahdi told the VRT public broadcaster.

No blanket ban

Mahdi also emphasized that Belgium would not pass a blanket ban on repatriations to Afghanistan because it studies every case separately. Earlier this week, other states in the European Union halted repatriation given the worsening situation in the Taliban controlled country.

Irregular migration is not a new phenomenon, said Afghanistans newly-appointed ambassador to Ankara, Amir Mohammad Ramin on Thursday, adding that they are working with Turkish authorities over the issue. While Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had made it clear that his country wasnt a roadside inn for the fleeing population, it is to mention that the country hosts around 4 million refugees and the number is expected to surge with the Taliban making sweeping advances in Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, United States President Joe Biden broke his silence on the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban on August 17 shortly after midnight IST. The head of state stood by his decision in ending the US's longest military engagement by completing its withdrawal from Afghanistan where it has been embroiled since 2001. 'I am President of the US and the buck stops with me,' Biden said, adding that he was saddened by the facts the world now faces, but that the decision was the correct one for America.

Image: AP
The Ecumenical Patriarch, Bartholomew I, shared a service on Sunday with Ukrainian Metropolitan in Kyiv in a demonstration of "unity in belief."

Both prayed for Ukrainian independence, peace, and church unity.

The prayer was held in both Greek and Ukrainian languages.

Metropolitan Epiphanius I is head of the Ukrainian Orthodox church at St Sophia's Cathedral, independent of the Moscow Patriarchate.

Speaking at the service, Epiphanius I lamented that "not all orthodoxies of Ukraine did not realise the truth" of unity of religious beliefs.

The Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine spent a silent protest against Ecumenical Patriarch's visit to Ukraine.

IMAGE: AP

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Italy flew 211 Afghans out of Kabul on Saturday, bringing the number of Afghan workers and their families who have been safely evacuated from Afghanistan by Italian missions to around 2,100, according to the Defense Ministry.

Of those, 1,100 have been brought to Italy.

Italy launched Operation Aquila Omnia in June, and has deployed 1,500 servicemen and women to operate an airbridge from Kabul to Kuwait, aboard four C130J aircraft, and to ferry evacuees to safety in Italy aboard four KC767s.

Italy has been flying groups of Afghans out at a rate of two or more flights a day, via Kuwait.

The new arrivals are tested for coronavirus and placed in mandatory quarantine, as required by current Italian health regulations.

Italy had one of the largest military contingents in Afghanistan during the two-decade NATO and US-led operation there.

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German Chancellor Angela Merkel met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday in what she described as her "farewell visit" to Kyiv as Germany's leader.

The two leaders discussed peace efforts in eastern Ukraine, where Kyiv's forces have been fighting Russian-backed separatists since 2014, issues related to the Nord Stream 2 pipe line, and reforms in Ukraine.

After meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, Merkel made it clear that she hasn't given up hope of progress on the long-stalled efforts to bring peace to eastern Ukraine, where the fighting has killed more than 14,000 people over the past seven years.

Germany and France have worked to help broker a peaceful settlement to the conflict, including a since-violated 2015 ceasefire agreement reached in Minsk, Belarus.

Speaking at a joint news conference with Zelenskyy on Sunday, Merkel advocated working to bring about a meeting at leadership level between Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France on the situation in eastern Ukraine, the first since 2019.

"That in my opinion would bring us progress, if we can work out a good agenda - our advisers should do that," she said. "I am glad that President Zelenskyy is prepared to do this; we spoke about this," she Merkel said.

Merkel's trip to Kyiv came two days after she went to Moscow to meet Putin.

The chancellor is not running in Germany's national election next month and is nearing the end of her almost 16-year-long leadership of Germany.

It's not clear exactly when she will step down, however, because Germany's outgoing government will remain in place until a new one is formed after the election.

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In order to show solidarity towards evacuees and refugees from Afghanistan, hundreds of people took to the streets of Paris, urging the French government to open "humanitarian corridors" for them. On Sunday, around 300 demonstrators, mostly Afghanis, protested at the Place de la Republique in Paris. They also held placards and banners that read "Evacuation Now" "Afghan Lives Matter'' and "Save Our Family."

Evacuation drive to follow

French Foreign Minister Jean Yves Le Drian had said that all requests made by Afghan citizens who had previously worked as allies for France would be considered for evacuation. The French army has airlifted around 600 people, mostly Afghans, in about five flights from Kabul right after the emergence of the crisis last week. On Friday, more than a thousand French women including writers, activists, and politicians, and ordinary citizens co-signed an editorial piece, which appeared in Le Parisien, calling on President Emmanuel Macron, to "welcome" Afghan women and their families "unconditionally".

Jean-Yves Le Drian also told the weekly newspaper Journal de Dimanche that "hundreds of names" had been added to the list of people wishing to flee Afghanistan in the wake of the Taliban takeover last week, and that "all requests would be considered in due course."

Protests across the world

Not just in Paris, but several other rallies and protests are being held across the world against the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan. On Saturday, July 21, demonstrators took to the streets near Hyde Park in central London to protest against the atrocities in Afghanistan by the Taliban. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he will convene a meeting of leaders from the Group of Seven nations on Tuesday for urgent talks on the situation in Afghanistan.

Hundreds of people including numerous Afghan citizens were seen protesting against the Taliban in Greece as well. They were seen holding rallies and flags demanding the removal of the Taliban from Afghanistan.

In Berlin last week, several people wrapped themselves in red, green and black Afghan flags and staged a protest outside the U.N.'s Geneva compound, demanding the EU to airlift and welcome the Afghan refugees.

(With ANI inputs)
Following the Taliban takeover, hundreds of people including numerous Afghans held a demonstration against the insurgent group in Stockholm, Sweden. According to ANI, on August 21, hundreds of Swedes and people of Afghan descent attended the protest. They chanted slogans in support of democracy, human rights, rights of women, ethnic and religious minorities.

Several local politicians also attended and spoke at the demonstration against the Talibans takeover of Afghanistan. While taking to Twitter, rights activist Saleem Javed said, One of the protesters demands was, interestingly, federalism in #Afghanistan. He added, Taliban want an absolute centralized fascist form of govt run by Emir, a religious tyranny. Even Karzai-Ghani opposed decentralization.

Huge demonstration against #Taliban in Swedish capital, #Stockholm. Hundreds in attendance, both Swedes and people with Afghan descent. They chant slogans for democracy, basic human rights, rights of women, ethnic and religious minorities. #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/WlS6APbiBQ  Saleem Javed (@mSaleemJaved) August 21, 2021

Those inside #Afghanistan dare not to speak up against Taliban, for obvious reasons and for fear of Taliban reprisals. Those in safety & outside the country continue their protests.



The intl media should not become Taliban mouthpiece by broadcasting engineered interviews. pic.twitter.com/3W6jwuNK0f  Saleem Javed (@mSaleemJaved) August 22, 2021

In a separate tweet, Javed even added that the Mass kidnappings and killings took place in southern and central provinces under Taliban influence. Taliban factions competed with each other in killing Hazara civilians in a show of brutality.

Taliban takeover

The Taliban have imposed strict restrictions on Afghans and are committing atrocities against civilians despite promising to respect women and minorities, as per ANI reports. On Saturday, 21 August 2021, thousands of people took to the streets in support of Afghanistan across Europe as well. The world is watching the unfolding situation in the war-torn country as western nations scramble to evacuate their citizens and allies from Afghanistan.

The insurgent group has stormed across the country and captured all major cities. Former President Ashraf Ghani, who fled as the Taliban advanced on Kabul, has taken refuge in the UAE which welcomed him and his family on humanitarian grounds. The Taliban has been promising general amnesty as well as assurances to all and sundry over a range of things, from women's rights to the safety of foreigners on its shores. However, fearing the iron fist leadership of the group from 1996-2001, thousands of people are trying to leave the South Asian nation.

Meanwhile, international organisations have urged countries to act quickly to safeguard those at risk in Afghanistan, urging them to expedite visas, provide emergency evacuation, offer resettlement, and cease all deportations to Afghanistan. There have been few concrete offers from European countries, which besides evacuating their own citizens and Afghan collaborators, say they are focusing on helping Afghans inside their country and in neighbouring countries such as Iran and Pakistan. Biden has also promised to help any American in Afghanistan seeking to evacuate, saying, "Any American who wants to come home, we will get you home. He said that his administration is also committed to evacuating Afghans who assisted the United States during its 20-year war in Afghanistan.

(With inputs from ANI)


Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday said Kyiv is seeking a permanent cease-fire in eastern Ukraine, a prisoner exchange, open crossings at the line of contact and to ensure Red Cross access to the conflict zone.

Zelenskyy was speaking at a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who was visiting two days after she went to Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Merkel advocated working to get a leaders' meeting between Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France on the situation in eastern Ukraine, the first since late 2019.

The fighting between Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed rebels has killed more than 14,000 since 2014.

Germany and France have worked to help broker a peaceful settlement to the conflict, including an often-violated 2015 cease-fire agreement reached in Minsk, Belarus.

Zelenskyy supported the idea of a meeting, but urged Kyiv's Western partners to exert pressure on Russia in order to achieve progress in eastern Ukraine.

Merkel also talked up the merits of a U.S.-German deal last month to allow the completion of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany without the imposition of U.S. sanctions on German entities.

Ukraine opposes the project, and Zelenskyy on Sunday called it Russia's geopolitical "weapon."

"I believe that this is a weapon and it is not correct not to see it as a weapon," he said.

Merkel said she viewed the German-U.S. agreement as a commitment by the German government to ward off President Zelenskyy's worry, namely energy being used as a weapon.

She said she takes the concern very seriously, and pointed to Germany's appointment of a negotiator to help secure an extension of an agreement for gas transit through Ukraine beyond 2024.

Zelenskyy, in turn, said Kyiv has initiated consultations with the European Parliament and the German government regarding the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.

He added that on Monday, energy ministers from the United States, Germany and Ukraine will meet in Kyiv.

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According to security sources on Monday, Egypt will close the Rafah gate on its border with Gaza until further notice. Egypt informed Hamas, the Palestinian party that controls Gaza, of the decision to close the border in both directions. The crossing was blocked for security concerns, according to Egyptian security sources, amid an escalation between Israel and Hamas on Saturday, with Israeli aircraft bombing locations in Gaza after firing over the border earlier in the day.

Rafah is Egypt's only border crossing with Gaza

Rafah is Egypt's only border crossing with Gaza, where an Israeli-led siege has severely restricted the passage of goods and people for years. In February, Egypt opened the bridge indefinitely in an effort to foster discussions between Palestinian factions convening in Cairo at the time.

In May, Egypt authorised the Rafah gate, the enclave's only non-Israeli means of entry or exit, to reopen, allowing wounded Gazans to be treated in Egyptian hospitals and supplies to be delivered. The opening came after Israel's 11-day violence of Gaza, in which at least 250 Palestinians were killed, including 63 children. Egypt pledged $500 million toward Gaza's restoration as a result of the catastrophe.

The truce between Israel and the Hamas organisation was arranged by Egypt. However, nearly three months later, the two million people living in Gaza continue to suffer severe Israeli restrictions on products entering the war-torn region, producing a severe economic downturn and making rehabilitation impossible.

After an Israeli soldier was seriously injured along the border barrier between Israel and Gaza on Saturday, Israel launched numerous airstrikes against the territory. During Saturday's events in Gaza, Israeli forces injured around 40 Palestinians, largely with live bullets.

The new escalation began between Hamas and Israel last week

The new escalation began, when Hamas launched missiles from Gaza into Israel, ostensibly in retaliation for Israel's death of four Palestinians in the occupied West Bank just hours before. The next day, Egyptian authorities were said to have made contact with Israel and Hamas leaders in an attempt to avoid further assaults. Egypt had invited Israeli officials to Cairo for "an urgent meeting," according to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, a London-based daily. Meanwhile, they urged Gaza groups to remain quiet, promising to put pressure on Israel to honour its promises.

Image- @soitiz/Twitter
Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi's nominee for foreign minister says his country will not avoid international nuclear talks if they serve Iran's national interests.

Hossein Amirabdollahian, who is set to replace Mohammad Javad Zarif this week, said he only approves of negotiations that are not "talks of attrition".

"We'll do whatever we can to render the sanctions ineffective, while trying to lift them. However, we will approve of talks that are not talks of attrition and will secure rights and interests of the great Iranian nation," he told lawmakers on Sunday.

Talks between Iran and world powers including the United States over reviving the landmark 2015 nuclear deal have stalled recently.

The new hardline government of recently-elected Raisi has said it will continue the talks.

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Iran has reported a record-breaking daily surge in COVID-19 mortality just a few days after the Iranian government relaxed all coronavirus-related restrictions. In the last 24 hours, Iran's health ministry has reported 36,419 coronavirus cases, bringing the overall number of COVID cases in the country to 4,677,114. A record number of Covid-related deaths were also reported in the country.

684 deaths in the last 24 hours

For the first time since the pandemic began in December 2019, officials reported 684 deaths in the last 24 hours. The mortality toll from COVID-19 has risen to 102,038. However, the officials have warned that these data cannot be used to judge the depth of the Covid pandemic in the census because many residents have not reported symptoms and have averted from getting their tests done.

Locals and officials are concerned, as the government has only recently eliminated all coronavirus-related prohibitions. Iran's government buildings, banks, and all non-essential enterprises were closed for six days. While all companies and stores have again reopened, officials have extended the prohibition on private car travel between regions until August 27. However, limitations were relaxed when President Ebrahim Raisi informed people that his government would prioritise combating Covid and speeding up vaccines in the run-up to economic recovery.

Raisi said that controlling the coronavirus, improving the health situation, and mass vaccination are the government's top priorities. The economy and livelihood condition is the second priority, emphasising that his team is dedicated to "justice and progress." Since late June, the country has been seeing a "fifth wave" of illnesses, which officials attribute to the spread of the Delta variant. This month, daily deaths and infections have reached new highs on multiple occasions.

Iran has failed to buy vaccines due to the US sanctions

Meanwhile, Alireza Raisi, a spokesperson for the coronavirus taskforce, said on Sunday that Iran would speed up its vaccine campaign. He stated that the country would purchase 30 million vaccine doses by late September and another 30 million by November 21. Iran began giving vaccinations in February, but the vaccine campaign has taken longer than expected. Iran claims it has failed to buy vaccines due to US sanctions that have made it impossible to move money abroad. According to the health ministry, more than 16.7 million people have received their first vaccine dosage, but only 5.8 million have received their second.

Image- @FlorenceIran/Twitter
After holding the United States responsible for not fulfilling commitments of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JOCPOA) or the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, Iran on Sunday asked Japan to immediately free frozen funds as a result of US economic sanctions on Tehran over its ambitious nuclear programme. Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi called the delaying of the release of the Islamic republics assets in Japanese banks as unjustifiable, the Iranian government website noted.

In his meeting with the visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, Raisi demanded that Tokyo remits the billions of dollars Iranian assets stuck since former US President Trumps enforced his unilateral embargo under the US policy of maximum pressure to bring Iran to its knees.

Iranian President Raisi told his Japanese counterpart that Tehran has complied with all its obligations under the JCPOA and "it is the Americans who have not fulfilled their obligations and unilaterally withdrew from the international agreement and expanded sanctions." He continued, "Naturally, a country that has adhered to its obligations should be commended, and if a country that has withdrawn from the deal and not fulfilled its obligations must be reprimanded, and the Americans must be accountable to the world public opinion." Stating that Iran holds no doubts about the principle of negotiation, Raisi asked "With what justification should the US sanctions against the Iranian nation continue?"

Japan, an ally with Iran, has been caught between the bilateral feuds between Iran and Washington since Yoshihide Sugas predecessor Shinzo Abes presidency. Even when the two countries have sought to enhance diplomatic and economic ties, and maintain friendly relations, Japan has remained unresolved about curtailing US-imposed sanctions on the Islamic republic regime.

[Iran's Raisi's first meeting with Japan. Credit: Twitter/@moteging]

Both Japan as well as South Korea are the major technology exporters to Iran and have held billions of dollars in assets since Trump warned countries, including India, against buying oil from Iran or trading unless Iran scaled back nuclear stockpiling, becoming compliant to JCPOA terms. Earlier this year, South Korea stated at a presser that it had managed to resolve a dispute over $7 billion frozen assets blocked from Iran after the US, in a more lenient approach, allowed Iran to use frozen funds to settle its debts to Japan and South Korea.

Japan and South Korea-linked firms have been permitted to receive payments from US-targeted Iranian accounts to pay for exports, the US State Department had announced in a statement in April. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken signed a waiver easing the stringent sanctions on Tehran, and extending it by 90 days as "these repayment transactions can sometimes be time-consuming," a State Department spokesperson told reporters. The waiver, although, did not allow Japan or South Korea to transfer any funds to Iran.

Iran asks Tokyo to mediate and push US to ease 'tyrannical' sanctions

As Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi arrived in Tehran for a dialogue with newly-elected Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, and Hossein Amir Abdollahian, a former Iranian deputy foreign minister to succeed Zarif under the Raisi administration on 21 August, Iran stressed for Japan to mediate and push the United States to ease the sanctions.

[President Raisi, who just took office earlier this month, meets with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi. Credit: Twitter/@moteging]

Diplomatic sources told the Iranian press that Raisi discussed US sanctions in telephone talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. He held a meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and held discussions on a range of issues including overturning what he called 'tyrannical' US sanctions. Japans Motegi, meanwhile, is on a trip to the Middle East and is also expected to visit Israel.
The world's largest organization of Muslim nations held an extraordinary session in Saudi Arabia on Sunday to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, with calls for it not to be turned into a hub for terrorism.

The secretary general of the 57-nation Organization of Islamic Cooperation,Yousef al-Othaimeen noted that "the establishment of lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan will only come through reconciliation."

He urged "against Afghanistan being used as a haven for terrorism again" and pointed to the escalating humanitarian needs in Afghanistan.

Representatives of the OIC met at the body's headquarters in the Red Sea city of Jeddah after Saudi Arabia called for the meeting.

The kingdom's representative to the OIC reiterated Saudi support for a comprehensive peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan, and called on the Taliban movement and all parties to maintain security.

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An Israeli government commission investigating a deadly accident at a holy site in April held its first day of hearings on Sunday, almost four months after the stampede at Mount Meron left 45 people dead.

The April 29 incident at the Jewish festival in northern Israel was the deadliest civilian disaster in the country's history.

Around 100,000 worshipers, mostly ultra-Orthodox Jews, attended festivities despite coronavirus regulations limiting outdoor assemblies to 500 people, and in spite of longstanding warnings about the safety of the site.

Hundreds of people bottlenecked in passageway descending the mountain, and the slippery slope caused people to stumble and fall.

The resulting human avalanche killed 45 people and injured at least 150.

In June, the Israeli government approved the formation of an independent state commission of inquiry to investigate safety shortcomings at the Lag Baomer celebrations at Mount Meron.

A panel headed by former Supreme Court justice Miriam Naor began proceedings with the testimony of Northern District police chief Shimon Lavi, the officer who was in charge of managing the event.

Lavi said the Mount Meron festivities are the Israel Police's most significant annual event, requiring extensive resources, planning and preparation.

He said that out of safety concerns "there has been no limitation on attendance at Meron, that's how it has been done for the last 30 years."

Lavi also described the scene as "incomprehensible."

"I arrived at the scene. You could see dozens of people, lying on top of each other. You saw police and soldiers, together with civilians, amazing civilians, evacuating injured people on stretchers." he said.

The site in the Galilee is believed to be the burial place of celebrated 2nd century sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai.

The tomb complex and adjoining structures is managed by the Religious Services Ministry's department for holy places.

Experts had long warned that the Mount Meron complex was inadequately equipped to handle the enormous crowds that flock there during the springtime holiday, and that existing infrastructure was a safety risk.

But April's gathering went forward this year nonetheless as powerful ultra-Orthodox politicians reportedly pressured then-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other government officials to lift attendance restrictions.

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Qatar on Sunday announced Oct. 2 as its date for the country's first election to vote for members of its top advisory panel, known as the Shura Council.

The date was announced by royal decree, according to a report in the state-run Qatar News Agency.

The Shura Council election aims to give the countrys citizens more say on how their hereditary emirate is governed. Qatar's ruling emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, has described the election as an important step for the country.

The election allows Qatari citizens to choose 30 members of the countrys 45-seat Shura Council, which are now all hand-picked by the ruling elite. The council has no substantive legislative power but advises the emir on new laws and policies.

The Gulf Arab nation, which is a close U.S. ally, is among the world's wealthiest per capita and is one of the world's biggest producers of gas. Qatar has a total population of some 2.3 million people, with foreigners and expatriate laborers making up the bulk of that figure and Qatari citizens estimated to number between 300,000 and 400,000.

It was not immediately known how many Qataris will be eligible to vote in the elections. Registration for the vote had been ongoing in past weeks.

Qatars constitution, approved in a 2003 referendum, calls for the government to hold Shura elections and subsequently expand the councils power to include the ability to dismiss ministers, approve the national budget as well as draft and propose legislation.

Other Gulf Arab nations have varying levels of limited representation but remain governed from the top by hereditary rulers. Kuwait and Bahrains parliaments are elected and wield relatively more influence.

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The German military on August 23 informed that a member of the Afghanistan security force was killed and three others were wounded in a firefight with unknown attackers at Kabul airport. According to AP, there is no further information on who the attackers were as of now. The shooting near the military side of the airport came as the Taliban sent fighters northward to face a nascent rebellion against the insurgents who seized the country over a week ago in a lightning offensive.

As per reports, the gunfire that killed the Afghan officer early Monday broke out near the airport's northern gate. Who opened fire and the circumstances of the shooting around 6.45 am local time remained unclear. However, the German military said that one member of the Afghan security forces was killed and three others were wounded by unknown attackers.

Though the security forces of Afghanistan's central government largely collapsed or fled the Taliban advance, some armed Afghanis remain at Kabul airport assisting Western countries as they struggle to evacuate those gathered there. It remains unclear whether they belong to the Afghan border forces that once guarded the airport or whether they were attached to the Western militaries as private armed guards now providing security there. It is worth mentioning that Monday's incident took place after at least seven Afghans died in a panicked crush of people trying to enter Kabuls international airport on Sunday, the British military said.

Taliban blames US for airport chaos

Meanwhile, the Taliban blame the chaotic evacuation on the US military. As per reports, one of the prominent members of the Taliban Amir Khan Mutaqi, who was also in touch with former Afghan political leaders after the insurgents captured the nation, said that America with its power and facilities...has failed to bring order to Kabuls airport. While heart-wrenching images and videos of Afghans clamouring the Kabul airport have continued to merge, Mutaqi reportedly said, There is peace and calm all over the country, but there is chaos only at Kabul airport.

(Image: AP)
After India evacuated close to 20 Afghan Sikhs, a Member of the Parliament of Afghanistan, Anarkali Kaur, who reached India on Sunday asserted that the Taliban has not changed, and even if it has, then that is for the 'worse'. Speaking to the media, the woman leader thanked the Indian government for helping them escape from the war-torn country, talking about which she added that the situation there was 'unpredictable'. She said, "You don't know what will happen the next moment there".

Anarkali Kaur and Narender Singh Khalsa were the two Afghanistan leaders India managed to evacuate from Kabul. Talking about the situation at the Kabul airport, the woman leader said," The situation there is very different from what is shown in the media. There is constant firing, and in these firings, more than 3-4 people die every day. She added, "Everyone is constantly thinking as to how they will escape the country."

'Not sure if Hindus and Sikhs will have rights under Taliban': Anarkali Kaur

Talking to the media, Anarkali Kaur also expressed her apprehensions about the treatment of the minorities under the Taliban rule in Afghanistan. Citing history, the woman leader said, "20 years ago, Taliban thought Sikhs and Hindus weren't entitled to any right as they weren't Muslim". Moving on to talk about the present situation, she added," When a Taliban spokesperson addressed media for the first time after the Afghan takeover, he didn't mention Sikhs and Hindus. It's uncertain whether they'll have any rights in future".

20 years ago, Taliban used to think that Sikhs & Hindus were not entitled to any rights as they're not Muslim. When a Taliban spox addressed media for first time, he didn't mention Sikhs & Hindus. It is uncertain whether they'll have any rights in future: Afghan MP Anarkali Kaur pic.twitter.com/k2W2WNb6Ia  ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2021

Taliban takeover, and India's evacuation efforts

After the Taliban stormed into Kabul on August 15, Afghanistan president Ashraf Ghani resigned and fled the country with his associates. Since then, at least 12 persons have lost their lives in the chaos at the Hamid Karzai International Airport with thousands of people desperately trying to flee the country.

From the beginning of the crisis, the Centre has been focused on ensuring security in Afghanistan and the safe return of Indian nationals. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has been in touch with his counterparts of various countries such as the US, the UK, Estonia, and France.

Over 40 passengers were evacuated on the first flight, the majority of which were employees of the Indian consulate, while the second flight evacuated 150 individuals from Kabul, included Indian diplomats, officials, security staff, and other stranded Indians. Later, a military transport aircraft flew 85 Indians along with two Nepalese from Kabul to Dushanbe, Tajikistan's capital. Separately, the Indian embassy in Qatar announced that 135 Indians who were evacuated from Kabul to Doha in recent days will be returned to India.
The Northern Alliance which has been leading a fight against the Taliban has further divulged more evidence of a direct role of Pakistan in strengthening the hostile insurgent group. The Northern Alliance has revealed an identity card found by them, purportedly of a Pakistani, amid the clash with the Taliban. This comes as yet another evidence, adding to the pile of proof of Pakistan's support to the Taliban.

Pakistan in cahoots with Taliban?

Pakistan's support to the Taliban is no surprise, however, it exposes the government's brazen disregard for its citizens. The Pakistan Government has been in favour of the Taliban's hostile takeover in Afghanistan, despite the fact that the Pakistani wing of the Taliban, i.e. Tehrik-e-Pakistan Taliban (TTP) had killed more than 130 Pakistani children in a bomb blast at a school in Peshawar. Moreover, in the past, the Taliban has refused to recognise the Durand line between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which Islamabad considers as the official border between the two countries.

Last week, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi claimed that the propaganda by the Ashraf Ghani administration against the Taliban is false. Defending the Taliban, Qureshi highlighted that the insurgents have announced a general amnesty across the country and are not barring girls' education. However, the situation on the ground in Afghanistan depicts is a stark contrast to the claims made by the Taliban and Pakistan. Local Afghan media has reported incidents of women being banned from entering radio stations, while the Taliban has also banned music on the radio in several places. Moreover, women in Afghanistan have hit the streets to protest against the return of the repressive Taliban regime.

Anti-Taliban resistance

Despite Pakistan's support to the Taliban, the Northern Alliance in Panjshir has been putting up a brave fight against the Taliban and civilians have also joined the resistance. Furthermore, Amrullah Saleh, who pronounced himself as the "caretaker" President of Afghanistan, has directly challenged the Taliban. As a result, movements of resistance are being witnessed from Panjshir and Kapisa.

According to Republic TV's exclusive report, heavy fighting is currently ongoing in the area and it has been reported that around 300 Talibs are already killed in the attack in Andarab. The escalations in resistance against the terrorist group have also been witnessed from Kapisa located in North-East Afghanistan. Moreover, Afghan citizens across the world have also staged protests against the Taliban's hostile takeover of Afghanistan and its atrocities in the war-torn country.

(IMAGE: AP / REPUBLIC WORLD)
Indian authorities evacuated another 75 Sikhs on Monday amid the crisis in Afghanistan. According to Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Chief of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, these evacuees are being transferred from Kabul via Dushanbe and will reach India close to midnight. As per ANI, Sirsa said in a tweet, Update from Afghanistan- Another 75 Sikhs are being evacuated today from Kabul via Dushanbe who will arrive in India late night today. We thank PM Office India and Ministry of External Affairs for their massive support." India has been operating special aircraft to rescue its citizens from war-torn Afghanistan regularly.

Earlier evacuations

Previously on three separate aircraft on Sunday, India returned 392 individuals, including two Afghan legislators, as part of a withdrawal operation of its citizens and Afghan partners from Kabul. The Afghan legislators Anarkali Honaryar and Narender Singh Khalsa, and their family members were some of the 168 individuals rescued from Kabul. A C-17 heavy-lift military transport plane of the Indian Air Force (IAF) flew 168 passengers from Kabul to the Hindon airfield near Delhi, comprising 107 Indians and 23 Afghan Sikhs and Hindus.

According to news agency PTI, A batch of 87 Indians and two Nepalese nationals were flown back from Dushanbe on a special Air India flight a day after being transported to the Tajikistan capital on an IAF 130J transport plane. Similarly, in recent days, 135 Indians who had been evacuated separately from Kabul to Doha by US and NATO planes were transported back to Delhi from the Qatari capital. As per the PTI report, India coordinated the rescue operations with the United States and several other allied nations. According to the source, a small number of Indian officials are directing the evacuation effort at the Kabul airport, and another group of Indians is likely to return to India on Monday.

Situation in Afghanistan

The scenario in Afghanistan is deteriorating, as thousands of people hurried to flee the country after the Taliban took power a week ago. The country's government collapsed on August 15, shortly after President Ashraf Ghani departed the nation. Resulting in the other nations have airlifted their citizens from the military conflict country. Likewise, the Ministry of External Affairs of India has stated that the government is responsible for ensuring the safe return of all Indian people from Afghanistan.

Image Credit: PTI
While the Taliban has claimed that it would soften the rules and respect the rights of Afghans under the Sharia law, fearing the iron fist leadership of the group from 1996-2001, thousands of people are trying to leave the South Asian nation. Countries across the globe are scrambling efforts to evacuate their citizens at the earliest especially the vulnerable people. A United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesperson has also said on Friday, The vast majority of Afghans are not able to leave the country through regular channels... As of today, those who may be in danger have no clear way out.

United States

US President Joe Biden has said that his administration might extend the deadline of August 31 for removing all US troops from Afghanistan while reiterating his pledge that all evacuated Afghan allies will be given a home in the United States. He said, We will welcome these Afghans who have helped us in the war effort over the last 20 years to their new home in the United States of America... Because thats who we are. Thats what America is.

As per New York Times report, the American military has already evacuated 28,000 people since the Taliban takeover. Biden also suggested that the military had expanded the secure perimeter around the airport for the evacuation of people. The US President said that the military officials would be looking if they would increase stay in the country beyond August 31 to complete evacuations.

Our hope is we will not have to extend, but there are going to be discussions, I suspect, on how far along we are in the process, Biden said.

Canada

Meanwhile, Canada has already informed that it would harbour 20,000 Afghans on behalf of the United States. Canada had already shut its embassy in Kabul and started evacuating its staff even before the Taliban militants entered Afghanistans capital, stated the countrys foreign ministry. The statement had reportedly added that the Canadian nationals were already on their way back home. The ministry has also stated that the embassy would open only when the conditions are normal and things become functional.

The United Kingdom

The UK has vowed that it would take in 20,000 in the long run under Boris Johnson-led governments 'Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme'. As per reports, at least 5,000 Afghans including women, children and other vulnerable people would be granted visas into the UK within the first year. Britain has said that it is deploying at least 600 troops to assist the evacuation of its roughly 3,000 nationals from Afghanistan. The travel advisory on the UK governments website, updated on August 15, stated, The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advise against all travel to Afghanistan. All British nationals in Afghanistan are advised to leave now by commercial means.

European Union

Meanwhile, the European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Josep Borrell warned on Saturday that It's mathematically impossible for the US and its allies to evacuate Afghans by August 31. In a telephonic interview with a news agency, he reportedly said that the United States wants to evacuate 60,000 people between now and the end of this month, which is impossible. Borrell also notes that Europes evacuation efforts are facing the problem of accessing the airport amid Taliban rule.

Germany

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told Bild Daily that, We are not going to risk our people falling into the hands of the Taliban. He had announced that the German embassy staff would fly out of the war-stricken nation on August 15. On Sunday, he also said, Today the top priority must be the safety of our nationals and our employees. We have decided that tonight the planes will be the Bundeswehr to Kabul set out to support the evacuations. He has previously informed that a core team from the embassy will remain on-site in order to maintain the necessary capacity to act.

Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Netherlands

On Friday, all three nations, Denmark, Norway and Finland decided to shut their embassies in Kabul in the wake of the crisis. Reportedly, Finland would provide a safe haven to 170 local staff and their families. Meanwhile, Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde noted that the countrys evacuees would include Afghan interpreters along with other local staff members. The Dutch embassy in Kabul was evacuated overnight from a makeshift airport near the office. The Netherlands had said on Friday that it would also include the Afghan interpreters and other embassy staff in evacuation.

(Image credit: PTI)
As the resistance in the Panjshir province of Afghanistan continues under the leadership of Amrullah Saleh and Ahmad Massoud, the anti-Taliban National Resistance Front has become stronger with the addition of two new members- former Vice President Ahmad Zia Massoud and Amanullah Guzar, former Commander of the Northern Alliance. Both, Massoud and Amanullah Guzar have reached Panjshir via Tajikistan, and are said to have joined the forces, which are presently fighting Taliban tooth and nail in the province, and the nearby areas such as Anadarab.

Anti-Taliban forces receiving support

Tajikistan has been continuously providing support to the anti-Taliban forces. Just today, the forces led by Amrullah Saleh and Ahmad Massoud received support from the country as helicopters imported supplies, which included military equipment like arms and ammunition, armoured cars. New helicopters also landed in the Panjshir province from Tajikistan by the air corridor.

It is pertinent to mention here that Panjshir is Afghanistan's last remaining holdout against the Taliban. On Sunday, the terrorist group had issued an ultimatum of four hours for the Ahmad Massoudi-led anti-Taliban National Resistance Front of Afghanistan in Panjshir. "If they surrender within the stipulated time, everything will be fine. Otherwise, we will punish," the group stated while sharing a video in which it can be seen moving towards Panjshir. However, the leader of the resistance force, Ahmad Massoud, has made it clear that he and his force do not have the word 'surrender' in their vocabulary.

Thereafter, on Monday, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the insurgents' forces had begun surrounding Panjshir province.

Three provinces captured by resistance forces

Earlier, the army of Ahmad Massoud and Amrullah Saleh had recaptured three districts in Northern Afghanistan. The districts included the Deh Saleh, Bano and Pul-Hesar districts of the Baghlan province, which borders the Panjshir province where the resistance by the Northern Alliance began.

While the Taliban has been making attempts to meet Ahmad Massoud and strike out a deal, the 32-year-old leader of the resistant force has made it clear that the resistance would continue 'no matter what'.
In a massive show of support for the Afghanistan Resistance rising against the Taliban, the Northern Alliance received military equipment, weapons, and other supplies from Tajikistan on Monday morning. The National Resistance Front of Afghanistan, led by Ahmad Massoud has given a bloody nose to the Taliban in several districts, forcing the terrorists to surrender.

Early on August 23, the resistance forces received first support from Tajikistan as helicopters imported military equipment, guns, full ammunition, and food supplies for Massoud's army. Pictures have emerged from Afghanistan showing Tajikistan choppers dropping arms in Panjshir. The Northern Alliance has been trying to import equipment, guns, and ammunition to fight back the Taliban.

As the Taliban have gained a stronghold on Afghanistan seizing control of the Presidential palace in capital Kabul, 32-year-old resistance leader from Panjshir valley, Ahmad Massoud has been fighting back the insurgents in coordination with former Defence Minister General Bismillah Mohammadi and the ex-Vice President of Afghanistan Amrullah Saleh, who has taken in charge of the country. Massoud, who now commands the armed militia against the Taliban in the valley was joined by the former members of the country's special forces and soldiers from the Afghan army.

Afghanistan Resistance fights back

On Friday, August 20, the Anti-Taliban forces successfully took back control of the Banu, Pol-e-Hesar, and De Salah districts in Baghlan province, while around 60 Taliban fighters were killed or injured in the fighting. Photos and videos have been circulating on social media along with reports about the apparent clashes between the Taliban and local resistance. Ahmad Massoud has said that he has sufficient forces to mount an effective resistance but urged the Western nations to supply arms and ammunitions.

In a recent development, several Afghan civilians were seen taking to the streets demonstrating against the Taliban. The civilians came in support of the Northern Alliance and Amrullah Saleh, who has challenged the terrorist group. According to Republic TV's exclusive report, heavy fighting was reported in Andarab province, killing around 300 Talibs in the attack. The escalations in resistance against the terrorist group have also been witnessed from Kapisa located in North-East Afghanistan.

The country has been facing the worst after its government collapsed and the Taliban took over Afghanistan, followed by their President fleeing the nation. Since then, people have been desperately trying to leave the country fearing the deteriorating situation under the Taliban's control.

Meanwhile, the Taliban have been imposing strict restrictions against the citizens and have committed atrocities against them despite their promises of respecting women and minorities.
Three weeks ago, when the fight with the Taliban for the capital of Jowzjan Province in Afghanistan just began, Azizillo Khudoiberdi crossed the border to start a new life in Uzbekistan.

He found a job in Termez at a construction site and planned to move his family, but he was one of the lucky few who managed to find refuge in the ex-Soviet republic in recent days - those without visas have not been allowed in.

"I'm afraid of the Taliban," he told The Associated Press on Saturday.

He added: "If we come back, we might be accused of fleeing on purpose, of being an escapee. We can be tortured, beaten. We are at risk. That's why I can't come back until there is a peace and calm with Taliban."

As the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in a swift power grab, thousands of Afghans have been looking for ways to escape what they see as a return of a ruthless fundamentalist rule.

But neighbouring Uzbekistan appears wary about a flood of Afghan refugees.

Experts note that Uzbek authorities have long maintained a tightly closed border with Afghanistan, fearing an influx of extremists, and have only accepted a handful of asylum-seekers from its unstable neighbour.

"Uzbekistan indicated that it will not allow illegal crossing of Afghan-Uzbek border," said Tashkent-based political expert Ravshan Ernazarov.

The Taliban's advances in Afghanistan in recent months made several Central Asian nations nervous, prompting authorities in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan to ramp up border security.

Afghanistan borders Iran, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and a tiny strip along China's Xinjiang region.

In August, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Russia finished joint military drills in the Tajik region of Khatlon, 20 kilometres (12 miles) from the Afghan border.

Last week, the Russian military started another exercise in Tajikistan.

China and Russia held joint military exercises last week in northwest China.

But the calm of the southern Uzbek city of Termez bears few traces of the unfolding crisis across the border.

A few Afghans in traditional two-piece garments walk down the streets but city life continues undisturbed.

Termez, a largely Persian-speaking city, has long been a town of choice for many Afghans moving to Uzbekistan.

Together with the U.N. Development Program, the Uzbek government in 2019 opened the Termez Centre for Education in Afghanistan, a place where Afghan girls facing hurdles in education could continue their studies.

Men from northern Afghanistan have also set up businesses in the city.

For the past three years, Ahmad-Zikriya Khakhany from Mazar-i-Sharif ran a construction company in Termez and made frequent round trips to Afghanistan.

With the situation getting tense at the border, Khakhany worries not only about his business, but also about the possibility to see his family.

"We always need to go back and forth and I'm slightly worried about it," he told AP.

He added: "I hope that Uzbek authorities and Taliban will reach an understanding and will open borders."

Since the fighting in northern Afghanistan intensified, there are regular reports about Afghan soldiers fleeing across the highly guarded border but they are routinely sent back.

This Friday, Uzbekistan sent 150 Afghan refugees back to Afghanistan.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
As many as 504 Nepali citizens have been evacuated from Afghanistan so far. In an official statement on Monday, the Nepal Government has confirmed that the Nepal civilians have safely returned to Kathmandu. Further coordination with other countries is underway to bring back Nepal nationals rescued from the war-torn country and are currently in refugee camps in other countries. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement, said that the government was coordinating the return of Nepali citizens who were rescued from Kabul and reached Doha, Dubai, London and New Delhi.

According to the press release issued by the Nepali government, it read, "More Nepali nationals rescued from Afghanistan are in the process of returning to Nepal. So far, a total of 504 Nepali nationals have been rescued from Afghanistan and reached Kathmandu". It further read, "Coordination and facilitation are underway to bring Nepalis living in Doha, Dubai, London, and New Delhi rescued from Afghanistan to Kathmandu. As many as 356 Nepalis have registered their details on the web portal of the Consular Services Department till 5 pm today. "

The statement issued by the Nepal govt said, "cooperation and coordination are being carried out with the rescue teams for the rescue of those who have been rescued for duplication, filling in the details from multiple places of the same person, and reaching the safe destination by verifying the details of the remaining people. The arrival and landing of a civil aviation plane in Kabul have not been opened yet". Meanwhile, all the Nepal nationals whose names are on the list are being contacted by the Nepal government, it further said.

People flee Afghanistan

Ever since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, native Afghans and civilians from other countries have been leaving the country. Nobody in Afghanistan wants to live under the thumb of the Taliban, as the people are not ready to accept their ruthless laws. The Air Force Army of different countries is consistently pulling out more and more people who have been there for more than a week. The evacuation process is going at full throttle.

Image Credit: AP
The New Zealand government has extended the Coronavirus lockdown till August 27, Friday. According to reports, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the extension of the COVID-19 lockdown on Monday. On August 17, Tuesday, PM Ardern took drastic action by putting the entire nation into a strict lockdown. She invoked strict measures after a single case of coronavirus was reported in Auckland. We have seen what happens elsewhere if we fail to get on top of it, Ardern had said during a press conference in the capital city. We only get one chance.

Health experts are still puzzled to figure out the source of infection

Further, Jacinda said that the whole country would follow the strict measures for at least three days, on the other hand, Auckland, where the infected man was found, would go for a period of seven days lockdown. Also, Coromandel, where the infected person visited a few days ago, would follow the strict lockdown, added Ardern. Meanwhile, health experts are still puzzled to figure out the source of his infection. Further, Ardern added that genome testing has confirmed the outbreak is of the Delta variant and originated from an outbreak in Sydney, Australia. Also, she asserted that the officials are investigating how the virus breached New Zealands border quarantine controls.

New Zealand Lockdown had saved the country during summer

It is expected that the infection would further boom at other places of the country, added Ardern. Earlier this week, she announced a new mandate compelling people to wear masks in supermarkets, gas stations and pharmacies during strict lockdowns.

It is worth mentioning that the country had managed to weed out the virus completely in February but the slow vaccination has again put the country in a strict lockdown. The move into the strictest lockdown underscored the vastly different approach New Zealand has taken to the virus than most other nations, which are attempting to suppress its spread rather than eliminating it entirely. According to the reports, New Zealand has also been slower than other developed nations. As of now, only 32 per cent of the population have had at least one shot and 18 per cent are fully vaccinated.

(With inputs from AP)

(Image Credit: AP)
The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said that the Philippines' Food and Drug Administration approved the single-component Sputnik Light coronavirus vaccine under the emergency use authorization procedure on Monday, 23 August 2021. Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of RDIF, stated, "the approval of Sputnik Light by the regulatory authorities of the Philippines allows for expanding national vaccine portfolio through adding another Russian coronavirus vaccine, which has demonstrated safety and high efficacy in many countries. A single-shot Sputnik Light has efficacy higher than that of many foreign two-dose vaccines and enables to vaccinate more people in a shorter time frame."

Sputnik Light is the component of Sputnik V vaccine

The first component of the Sputnik V vaccine is the Sputnik Light vaccine, which is based on human adenovirus serotype 26. RDIF noted that vaccination with Sputnik Light will assist the Philippines in drastically lowering infection rates and establishing herd immunity in a short period of time. Under the emergency use authorization procedure, the two-dose Sputnik V vaccination was licenced in the Philippines in March 2021. Sputnik V has been approved in 69 countries with a combined population of more than 3.7 billion people.

RDIF further said, "Sputnik Light is safe and highly effective as demonstrated by the real-world vaccination data in a number of countries. In particular, the data from the Ministry of Health of the Buenos Aires province (Argentina) shows 78.6-83.7 per cent efficacy among the elderly. In Paraguay, Sputnik Light is 93.5 per cent effective during the ongoing vaccination campaign according to the country's Ministry of Health."

Argentina, Azerbaijan, and the United Arab Emirates are doing studies on the combination of Sputnik Light with other vaccinations, while Russia and Belarus have given their approval. Sputnik Light has been shown to be effective against all new coronavirus variants in laboratory studies by the Gamaleya Center, and it is consistent with regular vaccine storage and logistics standards.

No long-term negative effects from Sputnik Light

Sputnik Light vaccine, according to RDIF, is based on a human adenoviral vector platform that has been shown to be safe and efficacious with no long-term negative effects. The efficacy of a single-dose Sputnik Light vaccine was found to be 79.4 per cent, which is higher than the efficacy of several two-dose vaccines.

(Inputs from ANI)

Image- ANI/ Unsplash
Following the Taliban takeover, Russia is ready to supply weapons and military hardware to its allies in the CSTO security bloc that border Afghanistan at a special low price, Russia's deputy prime minister was quoted as saying by the RIA news agency. The CSTO is the Collective Security Treaty Organization, which is a security bloc led by Russia. Moscow has called for joint action with its allies in Central Asia in a bid to prepare security threats from Afghanistan following the US exit of troops and the Talibans takeover.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that that the heads of CSTO would meet via video conference on Monday, August 23, to examine the developments in Afghanistan. A previous post by Kazakh Presidential Spokesperson Berik Uali indicated that the heads of state would discuss regional security challenges and integration processes in Eurasia.

It is worth mentioning that on Sunday, the Taliban movement - which is illegal in Russia - launched an onslaught against government forces and entered Afghanistan's capital of Kabul, where they encountered no resistance. President Ashraf Ghani resigned and left Afghanistan afterwards. Many western nations are currently pulling their people and diplomatic officials out of Afghanistan, citing safety concerns.

Dmitry Zhirnov, the Russian ambassador to Afghanistan, indicated that the embassy's operations continued as usual. In an interview with the Russian newspaper Izvestia, Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev highlighted the need to manage the situation in the country through peaceful dialogue. Putin, on the other hand, has said that the ongoing situation in Afghanistan would directly impact the security situation in Russia and he does not want Afghan militants in Russia under cover of refugees.

Putin slams Western nations

Putin on Sunday hit out at Western nations for seeking to temporarily relocate Afghan evacuees to neighbouring Central Asian countries until their visas to the United States and Europe get processed. Terming this idea as a humiliating approach towards solving the issue by Western states, Putin also asked how can refugees be sent to Russia's neighbouring countries when they themselves (the West) don't want to take them without visas? A few days ago, the Russian President had also demanded the countries to stop interfering in Afghanistan.

It is pertinent to mention here that thousands of people in Afghanistan have fled the country and many still are looking to leave after the Taliban took control of the country last Sunday, August 15. A large number of people have headed to the Central Asian nations of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, which share a border with Afghanistan, while many took shelter in Germany and the United States of America. Meanwhile, highlighting the recent incidents of targeted murders, assassinations and punishments meted out to women in Afghanistan, Fabien Baussart, the President of Center of Political and Foreign Affairs (CPFA), said that the Taliban's ideology has neither reformed nor changed in any form.

(Image: AP)


As the Taliban seized several parts of Afghanistan, lakhs of civilians have been living in a state of fear of being brutally killed or tortured by the extremist group. They are taking the air route to flee from the country. However, those who were left behind, who need urgent humanitarian support left with no options, said the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Monday. According to the WHO, around 500 tonnes of medical supplies and nutrition kits have been stranded due to restrictions at Kabul airport. It is worth mentioning that the operation at Kabul Airport is currently managed by the US. It has barred commercial flights to land at the airport to evacuate its citizens and Afghans.

'Massive humanitarian needs facing the majority of the population should not - and cannot  be neglected'

The specialized agency of United Nations responsible for international public health stressed that nearly half of the population (18.5 million people) in Afghanistan rely on humanitarian needs which are currently hindered for the last two months. "While the main focus over the past days has been major air operations for the evacuation of internationals and vulnerable Afghans, the massive humanitarian needs facing the majority of the population should not - and cannot  be neglected. Even prior to the events of the past weeks, Afghanistan represented the worlds third-largest humanitarian operation, with over 18 million people requiring assistance. However, with no commercial aircraft currently permitted to land in Kabul, we have no way to get supplies into the country and to those in need. Other humanitarian agencies are similarly constrained," said WHO in a statement released on August 22.

WHO appeals to evacuee nations for routing their empty planes to their warehouses

According to WHO spokesperson Inas Hamam, the organisation is approaching several nations which are evacuating their citizens from the war-torn country to re-route the empty planes to its warehouse in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to collect the supplies. In the first few days of the recent hostilities, both WHO and UNICEF  like all other UN agencies  prioritized the safety and security of our staff. But our work continued even when the hostilities were at their worst. We remain committed to staying in Afghanistan and delivering. We rapidly shifted gears to address the needs of millions of Afghans who remain in the country," read the statement of WHO. Conflict, displacement, drought and the COVID-19 pandemic are all contributing to a complex and desperate situation in Afghanistan. Humanitarian agencies need to be supported and facilitated to meet the enormous and growing needs in Afghanistan and make sure that no one dies unnecessarily due to lack of access to aid."

(With inputs from WHO's statement)

Image: @WHO/Twitter
Britain is requesting the United States to prolong its rescue operation in Kabul past the August 31 deadline which has been decided, claiming that if the Americans do not do so, then the other nations would be forced to halt their own efforts to assist civilians escaping the Taliban control.

The Group of Seven (G7) leaders from seven different nations namely the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom are going to conduct an emergency summit meeting on Tuesday, headed by the United Kingdom in which Prime Minister Boris Johnson intends to urge President Joe Biden about the evacuation matter.

Reasons behind the UK urging the US to stay beyond the deadline

Certain UK military commanders have suggested that even if the Americans depart, Britain should not remove its soldiers from the Kabul airport to help the evacuation mission go smoothly. However, stating a harsh truth the Defence Minister James Heappey said on Monday that the procedure which the Americans are using to support the evacuation process, there would be no international airlift without like that.

Tomorrow, whether the US can be convinced to continue the evacuation operation post 31st August or not, is a question for the prime minister at the G-7 meeting, he added. He also said that a Taliban agreement would be required for a prolongation. In the summit, the G7 group of nations will discuss mainly emphasising Afghanistan's long-term future, along with the highlights of the ongoing Kabul evacuations processes.

US remarks on the Kabul evacuations

On the other hand, Biden hasn't excluded off continuing the airlift past the August 31 date he set before the Taliban's quick seizure of Afghanistan, but he expressed hope that it wouldn't be required. Biden further said that US soldiers had increased the boundary around Hamid Karzai International Airport in order to increase the speed of the evacuation attempts and that the Taliban had agreed to cooperate in the operation.

On contrary, the UK government officials have stated that there is no definite timeline for the UK's departure, yet, it is believed that without US soldiers on the ground, the remaining coalition forces will be unable to control the region. Over 1,000 British Armed Forces, troops are stationed in Kabul.

The UK is even looking at the fact that how centres may be established in Afghanistan's neighbouring nations to assist people who have served with British soldiers in getting to the UK after aircraft out of Kabul which isn't longer viable. In the previous ten days, British soldiers have rescued more than 5,700 individuals from Kabul, mostly British nationals and Afghans, with 1,821 individuals during the last 24 hours.

Meanwhile, UK is urging the US to continue the evacuation, the Taliban warned that there would be repercussions if the US and its partners extended their stay in Afghanistan in the coming weeks. A Taliban spokesperson, Suhail Shaheen said on Sky News that If the United States or the United Kingdom wanted more time to continue evacuations, their answer is no.

(Image Credit: AP)
President Joe Biden will not spend the weekend at his home in Delaware after all.

The White House said Saturday that Biden would no longer travel to Wilmington as planned. No immediate explanation was given.

The announcement from the White House came as Biden was scheduled to meet with his national security team to hear intelligence, security and diplomatic updates on the evolving situation in Afghanistan.

The Taliban takeover of Afghans last Sunday has consumed his administration, which was caught off-guard by the development and is scrambling to evacuate thousands of Americans, Afghans who assisted the U.S. during the war, and others.

The White House also did not indicate whether the president planned to travel on Sunday.

IMAGE: AP

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U.S. President Joe Biden has invited Prime Minister Naftali Bennett to Washington to discuss Iran as well as Israel's relationship with the Palestinians.

The long-expected visit with Israel's new prime minister will take place Aug. 26 amid tensions with the Islamic Republic and Israel's fragile truce with militant Hamas rulers in Gaza following an 11-day conflict in May.

Ahead of their expected meeting, Bennet said at a cabinet meeting in Jerusalem on Sunday that he "will tell President Biden that now is the time to halt the Iranians, to stop this thing, not to give them a rescue line in the form of re-entering a nuclear deal that has already expired."

Over the weekend, the Israeli military has bombed Palestinian militant weapons sites in the Gaza Strip following a violent demonstration on the perimeter fence that left an Israeli police officer critically injured.

The army said in a statement Sunday that it struck four Hamas weapons sites in the Gaza Strip following the violent demonstration along the border.

The Gaza health ministry says at least 24 Palestinians, including a 13-year-old, were injured by Israeli gunfire.

An Israeli Border Police officer was shot and critically injured.

Bennett added that Israel "will settle the score with those who harm our soldiers and Israeli civilians," adding that the military is "ready for any scenario."

Israel and Hamas are bitter enemies that have fought four wars and countless skirmishes since the Islamic militant group seized control of Gaza in a 2007 coup, a year after winning a Palestinian election.

Separately, Bennett also said that 1.4 million Israelis got the third vaccine booster shot.

Over the weekend, anyone over 40 who was vaccinated more than five months ago was eligible to get the 3rd vaccine booster.

The Israeli Health Ministry recorded at least 5,132 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, following an rise in infections as the highly infectious delta variant spreads.

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It's a neighborhood bar and restaurant, but for two extended weekends every year, the regulars at Liuzza's by the Track include an overflow crowd of tourists grabbing drinks and settling in for meals on their way in and out of the nearby New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

Co-owner James Gonczi estimates that out-of-towners make up anywhere from 30% to 35% of his clientele during the seven-day festival each spring. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the festival hasn't happened for two years now.

It looked like the music would play this fall  organizers recruited The Rolling Stones to headline a rescheduled festival in October. But then the highly contagious delta variant exploded, forcing another cancellation.

Gonczi doesnt even want to talk about it. I dont want to be depressed anymore, he says.

Jazz Fest usually draws hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world to the city. They come for the unique food, music and culture every year, playing a major part in a tourism and hospitality industry that drives the New Orleans economy.

This industry has been hammered by the pandemic, which has forced many bars, restaurants and music venues to close or limit their operations. At one point unemployment in the city was as high as 20%, and it hasn't recovered, with a 12% jobless rate now.

It seemed like decent times, at least, would roll again last spring, as vaccinations began and visitors started coming back. Occupancy rates rose above 50% this summer in downtown hotels, not bad compared to the single digits of the summer before, said Kelly Schultz, a spokeswoman for New Orleans & Company, which promotes the city as a tourist destination. But she said it hasnt been a full rebound, with international tourists, cruise ship passengers and business travelers not yet returning.

The tourism organization paused some of its advertising through September as polling showed travelers concerned about the delta surge. Louisiana has been a hot spot for this fourth wave, with hospitalizations repeatedly hitting record highs and medical staff voicing concerns about hospitals being overrun.

Losing Jazz Fest again should be a giant wake-up call to get more people vaccinated, Schultz said: All of this is completely preventable with the vaccine.

Earlier this month, New Orleans began requiring everyone entering bars, restaurants, music clubs and even the Superdome to show proof of vaccination or a recent negative coronavirus test. Both the city and the state also require mask-wearing in stores and other indoor venues, but haven't returned to the closures or capacity limits for live music, restaurants and bars that were implemented when the pandemic began.

Many businesses are also taking their own precautions. When infections began to surge again, the Carnaval Lounge reinstalled clear shields separating the stage from the crowd. Even so, a few bands have canceled amid concerns over rising infections, owner Jennifer Johnson said.

Live music events were one of the last things to freely open last spring, and venue operators fear they'll be the first to face restrictions if hospitalizations keep climbing.

I just cant say enough how crushing it would be if live music has to shut down again, Johnson said.

Even before the mayor's announcement, dozens of venues already decided to mandate vaccines or negative coronavirus tests. Carnaval is one, as is Palm & Pine, a French Quarter restaurant mixing southern, Caribbean and Central American influences. Palm & Pine took the step because its employees have children, and they noticed how many kids were getting sick during this fourth surge.

While Jazz Fest is by far the biggest event to be called off, August has been grim. An event drawing art lovers who wear white while checking out galleries was canceled, as was the Red Dress Run, which sends thousands of revelers dashing across the city. September's French Quarter Festival, featuring dozens of artists playing at outdoor venues, was called off next. Now many worry that the pre-Lenten parades and street parties of Mardi Gras, which draws tourists from around the world, will be shut down once again in 2022.

Losing Jazz Fest means Linda Green  often referred to as the Ya-Ka-Mein Lady for her signature noodle dish known as a hangover cure  won't be putting more than two dozen people to work at two of the festival's booths.

She hasnt done a big catering event since Mardi Gras of 2020. She's found other ways to make ends meet, including pop-ups at a local music venue. But losing Jazz Fest is crushing.

I do all the festivals in the city, she said. I cant do any right now. It hurts.

Many still hope this latest surge won't get worse, and this fall's tourist season can be saved. New Orleans has a higher vaccination rate than the rest of Louisiana and neighboring states, which could be important as tourists decide where to spend vacation money.

At the Royal Sonesta Hotel in the French Quarter, the business growth that returned in mid-March is leveling off. Many guests who planned to come for Jazz Fest canceled, and new reservations have slowed a bit, said Al Groos, the hotels manager. If they can weather this surge, they still might have a very, very good fall," he said hopefully. Not based on 2019 standards, but based on 2020, he added.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
The United States president Joe Biden is scheduled to virtually meet other G7 leaders on August 24 to discuss close collaboration on Afghanistan policy, said the White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said on Sunday. According to PTI, Psaki said in a statement, "President Joe Biden is scheduled to virtually meet other leaders of the G-7 countries on August 24. The leaders will discuss continuing our close coordination on Afghanistan policy and evacuating our citizens, the brave Afghans who stood with us over the last two decades, and other vulnerable Afghans".

Psaki says the leaders would also address the plans of providing humanitarian help and assistance for Afghan refugees. He added that the virtual meeting would continue on President Biden's conversations with G7 leaders such as Boris Johnson of the United Kingdom, Angela Merkel of Germany, Emmanuel Macron of France, and Mario Draghi of Italy this week.

Previous statements of Joe Biden on evacuation of people from Afghanistan

Earlier on Sunday, President Biden said that he intended to finish the pullout from the politically conflicted land of Afghanistan by the end of this month. He even cautioned the possible terrorist strikes on the crowded Kabul airport. Regarding a dangerous environment on the land and tremendous logistical challenges, Biden stated that he hoped to finish the work by August 31, the deadline decided upon with the Taliban. While on late Sunday, the White House announced that the US has evacuated and supported the rescue of roughly 30,300 people on military and coalition flights since the Taliban accomplished their triumphant walk across Afghanistan by acquiring Kabul from the former government last weekend. Even the Pentagon has announced that it is officially pursuing airlift assistance from commercial planes to transfer Afghan refugees after leaving the nation.

Previously, in statements delivered from the White House, Joe Biden said that the US government tries to reach out to existing Americans in Afghanistan under his direction to determine their situation and intentions. Biden has stated that withdrawing Americans from Kabul is his administration's top priority. He further said that the US government is making arduous efforts to get folks out from the land as soon as possible.

On the other hand, the Taliban had announced on Sunday that dozens of its militants were marching towards the route of the Panjshir Valley, one of the few areas of Afghanistan that the Taliban does not still rule.

Image Credit: AP
Jonathan Ross says his candidacy appeared to have generated fear 'in some quarters.'

The office of the Law Society of Hong Kong is shown in a file photo.

A lawyer standing for election to a Hong Kong professional body reported intimidation and withdrew his candidacy, as the ruling Chinese Communist Party stepped up pressure on civil society groups in the city.

Law Society president Melissa Pang said in a statement on Saturday that a candidate had withdrawn from the election, citing threatening messages.

"Fairness and transparency must be safeguarded in any election. The Law Society takes a very serious view of the alleged act of intimidation and has advised the candidate to report the matter to the police immediately," the statement said.

Candidate Jonathan Ross said he was pulling out of the forthcoming election for the society's governing body over concern for his safety and that of his family.

"I fail to understand the level of fear that our candidacies have engendered in certain quarters," he wrote in a letter announcing his decision.

"It is a shameful and sad day for Hong Kong that an election for council of our honorable institution has sunk to this level."

The Society will hold its annual general meeting on Aug. 24, and elect a new board.

Ross, who was campaigning for re-election, described himself in his campaign material as an "independent and moderate voice."

He said his withdrawal had nothing to do with a five-minute conversation he held with China's Supreme People's Court judge Gao Xiaoli during a trip to Beijing in 2018, during which he said a case his company was involved in had taken more than a year to come to trial.

A complaint, the reason for which remains unknown, was filed with the Law Society in 2019, and no evidence of impropriety was found, he said.

Warned against politics

Ross' withdrawal came days after Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam warned lawyers to stay out of politics, and after his denunciation in state-controlled Chinese media.

Lam warned on Aug. 17 that if any professional body got too political, the city's government would consider "terminating the relationship."

Earlier, the CCP's official mouthpiece, the People's Daily, referred to the Law Society as a "running rat," warning it not to allow itself to get "politicized" ahead of Aug. 24 leadership elections.

The paper warned the Law Society in an editorial that it should "draw a clear line" between itself and "anti-China elements" to avoid meeting the same fate as the Professional Teachers' Union (PTU), which disbanded last week after being criticized in CCP-backed media.

In April, Lam also targeted the Bar Association, whose chairman Paul Harris has been labeled "anti-China" by Beijing officials for criticizing jail terms handed down to opposition politicians.

The Law Society said it is, and continues to be, politically neutral.

Professional bodies pressured

China has been stepping up pressure on civil and professional bodies in recent weeks, with Hong Kong's biggest teaching union, the Professional Teachers' Union (PTU), disbanding on Aug. 10, after being described as a "malignant tumor" in need of eradication by the People's Daily.

At the weekend, the Hong Kong Educators' Alliance said it was also disbanding.

"The Alliance was dissolved by a vote of extraordinary general meeting in accordance with its charter," the group said in an Aug. 21 post to its Facebook page.

"All assets will be divided equally among members after liabilities are discharged," it said.

The group was relatively small, having been set up in January 2020 in the hope of protecting teachers from dismissal during the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

It claimed around 1,000 members in May 2020.



Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Jailed Chinese citizen journalist Zhang Zhan has lost half her bodyweight since her detention in 2019, when she began an intermittent hunger strike in protest at her jailing.



Zhang, 37, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment by Shanghai's Pudong District People's Court on Dec. 28, 2020.



One of a group of citizen journalists detained, jailed or "disappeared" after they went to the central city of Wuhan to cover the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Zhang is eating very little food, rather than refusing it entirely, to avoid force-feeding by tube.



Zhang was sent for medical treatment at the end of July for malnutrition following several months of hunger strike in a Shanghai prison.



A friend of Zhang's mother surnamed Zhou said her mother is extremely worried about her health.



"She has been on a hunger strike since ," Zhou said. "She used to weigh 150 pounds at a height of 1.78 meters, and now she weighs less than 80 pounds."



"That is half her bodyweight, so she could be in serious trouble," he said. "Zhang Zhan's mother is worried that her organs could start to fail, which could mean she won't survive."



Zhou said Zhang's refusal of food was out of protest at her illegal treatment at the hands of the authorities.



"She said while she was still in the detention center that she would continue her hunger strike, then she was transferred from prison to a hospital, where they tied her to a bed ... we think they may have force-fed her, along with other treatments; it can't be ruled out."



Zhang Zhan in Wuhan, May 3, 2020. Credit: Reuters. Zhang requested a discharge back to prison, and refused treatment, Zhou said.



"She left the hospital on Aug. 11, 2021, and went back to prison," he said.



Zhang's former defense attorney Ren Quanniu confirmed that Zhang is in very poor health, but that the authorities have denied repeated requests from her family for her release on medical parole.



"The government won't release her unless she makes a concession [to their demand for a forced confession]," Ren told RFA. "They don't proceed from a humanitarian standpoint ... that's their logic."



Zhang pleaded not guilty at her trial, where she appeared in court in a wheelchair. A guilty plea is typically a prerequisite for more lenient treatment in China's judicial system under the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP).



Beijing-based rights activist Hu Jia said he had had repeated applications for medical parole turned down while serving his three-and-a-half year jail term for "subversion," starting in 2008.



He said medical parole is treated differently in political cases.



"The authorities take a transactional view of parole in political cases," Hu told RFA. "I made continual applications for medical parole ... but was turned down."



He called on the international community to continue to raise concerns over Zhang's situation, as well as that of other Chinese political prisoners.



Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
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Beyond the gloating over the U.S. failure to build a stable, democratic Afghanistan over the past 20 years, how does Moscow perceive the situation in Kabul? Mark Krutov, a correspondent with RFE/RL's Russian Service, joins guest host Mike Eckel to discuss Moscows biggest concerns.
A court in Yerevan has granted an appeal by Armenian prosecutors seeking the rearrest of a prominent surgeon charged with pressuring his subordinates to go vote in the June 20 parliamentary elections in which he ran on the ticket of an opposition alliance.

Prosecutors argued that Armen Charchian could influence other participants in his trial if he remained free.

Charchian's lawyers have said they are going to appeal the Appeals Court's decision to rearrest their client.

Charchian, the head of Yerevan's Izmirlian Medical Center, was indicted after a nongovernmental organization made public a leaked audio recording of his preelection meeting with hospital personnel.

In the recording, a man purported to be Charchian tells subordinates they must vote in the snap elections or face "much tougher treatment" by the hospital management. He was prosecuted under an article of the Criminal Code that prohibits any coercion of voters.

The surgeon, who ran for parliament on the Hayastan Alliance's ticket, has rejected the accusations as politically motivated.

A Yerevan court on June 23 ordered Charchian's arrest pending an investigation.

Hayastan's leadership, the Armenian Apostolic Church, which owns the hospital, as well as hundreds of medics have since demanded his release.

Charchian, 61, was granted bail at the start of the trial on July 19.



Charchian denies any wrongdoing, claiming that he only asked staffers to vote on June 20 and did not threaten to fire anyone.

If convicted, he risks up to seven years in prison.
Poland says it will build a fence on its border with its eastern neighbor Belarus to stem a flow of migrants that European officials say is being driven by Minsk in retaliation for sanctions against the regime of authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka.



"A new, 2.5 m high, solid fence will be built on the border with Belarus. More soldiers will be involved in helping the Border Guard. Soon I will present details of the further involvement of the Polish Armed Forces, Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak wrote on Twitter on August 23.



The announcement comes as Poland and the three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania urged the United Nations to take action against Belarus for allegedly encouraging migrants to cross illegally into the European Union.



They called Minsk's actions a "hybrid attack" on the bloc in retaliation for sanctions over Lukashenkas crackdown on the country's pro-democracy movement following a disputed presidential election in August 2020.



In recent months thousands of migrants from the Middle East and elsewhere have crossed from Belarus into Lithuania alone, but neighboring EU member states have also seen increases in illegal crossings.



Poland has said it had deployed hundreds of troops to its border with Belarus to help border guards cope with a surge of migrants.



Lithuania said it would complete a 508-kilometer fence along its border with Belarus by September 2022.



In many cases, Belarusian authorities reportedly push the migrants back toward the EU border, which Lukashenka has denied, leading to several stand-offs.

Poland's government has come under criticism from human rights advocates over the plight of a group of migrants -- reportedly Afghans -- trapped for two weeks between Polish and Belarusian border guards near the village of Usnarz Gorny.



Warsaw says that allowing the migrants to enter his country would encourage further illegal migration and would play into Lukashenka's hands.



"These are not refugees, they are economic migrants brought in by the Belarusian government," Deputy Foreign Minister Marcin Przydacz told reporters.



Meanwhile, Belaruss state-run BelTA news agency quoted Lukashenka as telling a session of the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) that "Poland created a border conflict and violated the Belarusian state border" by sending migrants back to Belaruss territory.



In a joint statement, the prime ministers of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland said that the influx of migrants had been "planned and systematically organized" by Lukashenkas regime.



"It is high time to bring the issue of abusing migrants on the Belarusian territory to the attention of the UN, including the United Nations Security Council," the statement said, urging the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to take active steps to facilitate the solution of this situation."



"Weaponizing refugees and immigrants threatens the regional security of the European Union and constitutes a grave breach of human rights," according to the four prime ministers.



They said their countries were "ready to provide all necessary protection to persons who enter our countries on conditions under the international refugee law" but would also call for "possible new restrictive measures by the EU to prevent any further illegal immigration orchestrated by the Belarusian state."

In an opinion piece published in The New York Times on August 23, Belarusian opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya called for increased support against Lukashenka, saying his autocratic regime threatens to spread chaos across Europe.

With reporting by AFP, dpa, Reuters, and BelTa
Belarusian opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya has called for increased support against authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka, saying his autocratic regime threatens to spread chaos across Europe.

In an opinion piece published in The New York Times on August 23, Tsikhanouskaya wrote that "for the good of the continent," Lukashenka must be stopped amid a sometimes violent crackdown on dissent following a disputed August 2020 election that has left 10 people dead.

She added that the recent forced landing of a European plane in Minsk to arrest a journalist and the hanging of a Belarusian community leader in Kyiv showed that "unless we contain the bandit at large in the middle of Europe, no European citizen is safe."

"Belarus is on the front line of the struggle between autocracy and democracy. International support has been heartening, but more can be done," she wrote.

"After all, it's not just about Belarus. The regime has become a security problem for all of Europe," she added.

In power since 1994, former Soviet state farm chief Lukashenka claimed a landslide victory and a sixth term in the presidential vote that millions believe was rigged, sparking unprecedented protests and a brutal clampdown that shows few signs of flagging.

Day after day for months after the election, crowds of citizens took to the streets in the capital, Minsk, and other cities and towns across Belarus to join demonstrations, displaying defiance in the face of the frequently violent tactics of the police and security forces deployed to crush them.

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.

Tsikhanouskaya noted that more than 35,000 people had been detained, nearly 5,000 of whom claim they were tortured.

The authorities have started 4,691 politically motivated criminal cases, and according to Vyasna, an independent human rights center, there are now over 600 political prisoners in the country.

Most opposition leaders have either been locked up or forced to flee, including Tsikhanouskaya, the accidental candidate who filled in when her husband, a popular blogger, was locked up on charges widely seen as bogus and barred from the election.

Tsikhanouskaya, who supporters contend would have won the election if the ballot count had been honest, now resides in Lithuania as she meets with senior officials in Europe and, late last month, with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House, to ratchet up pressure on Lukashenka.

The 38-year-old opposition leader's call came the same day that the prime ministers of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland urged the United Nations to take action against Belarus for encouraging migrants to cross illegally into the European Union, calling it a "hybrid attack" on the bloc.

Tsikhanouskaya said the "democratic community" should further develop and expand aid programs aimed at Belarusian civil society, such as Denmark's support for independent media and Germany's funding for students, along with directly targeting Lukashenka's regime by removing "any loopholes [Lukashenka] and his allies may exploit" among the current sanctions imposed on them by Western governments.

The regime should also be cut off from international funding coming from the United Nations, the World Bank, or the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and denied access to financial support from the International Monetary Fund, she said.

"What's more, the dictatorship in Belarus should be brought before international courts to answer for its crimes," Tsikhanouskaya said.

"The regime, to be sure, could try to buy time for itself -- by imitating reform and trying to trade the release of political prisoners for a softening of sanctions, as some state diplomats have suggested. The world should not be fooled. Instead, through strong and united support, the democratic nations across the globe can help Belarus step out of dictatorship and into freedom."
BISHKEK -- Border officials for Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have discussed the latest developments along the disputed segments of the frontier between the two Central Asian nations amid a fresh rise in tensions over the weekend.

Kyrgyzstan's State Border Service said in a statement on August 23 that the talks were held in the Batken region, where unknown individuals hurled rocks at two Kyrgyz private cars after reports that the Tajik side had started construction work at the Golovnoi water intake facility, which is located on disputed territory.

The Kyrgyz State Border Service statement said the construction was halted after the talks.

In late April, efforts by Tajik officials to install surveillance equipment at the Golovnoi water intake led to violent clashes that involved military personnel and left dozens of people killed on both sides.

Many border areas in Central Asia have been disputed since the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991.

The situation is particularly complicated near the numerous exclaves in the volatile Ferghana Valley, where the borders of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan meet.
CHISINAU -- President Maia Sandu says Moldova wants its relations with Russia to be based on pragmatism and will work to prevent a destabilization of the situation with regard to the frozen conflict between Chisinau and its Moscow-backed breakaway region, Transdniester.



Sandu, who defeated Russia-backed incumbent Igor Dodon in November on a ticket of closer relations with the West, called for the withdrawal of Russian troops from Transdniester in an interview with RFE/RL on the 30th anniversary of Moldova's independence from the Soviet Union, August 23.



"We want a pragmatic relationship with the Russian Federation," Sandu told RFE/RL. "First of all we want peace, we are in a complicated region, we have a frozen conflict on our territory. For me, the most important goal is not to allow a destabilization of the situation, and I will negotiate with whomever necessary to reach this goal."



Some 1,400 Russian troops are still stationed in Transdniester, which declared independence from Moldova in 1990, ostensibly to protect Soviet-era arms depots.



Moldova and Transdniester fought a short war in 1992 over fears that newly independent Moldova would seek reunification with neighboring Romania. The conflict ended with a cease-fire agreement after Russian troops in the region intervened on the side of the separatists.



Several rounds of negotiations under the auspices of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) have failed to bring the conflict to a resolution despite the involvement of the United States and the European Union in the mediation process.



In November, Sandu, a Harvard-educated former World Bank economist, called for Russian troops in Transdniester to be removed in favor of civilian monitors under the auspices of the OSCE, but the Kremlin quickly rebuffed the idea saying it could lead to a "serious destabilization" of the situation.



"Our goal is to preserve our country's territorial integrity, to preserve peace on our land and in the region; our goal is to resolve the conflict with Transdniester and have Russian troops leave the territory of Moldova," Sandu told RFE/RL.



Transdniester's independence is recognized by no country, but Moscow has been unofficially backing the separatist regime.



Sandu, 49, said that it was in Moldova's interest to see the Russian troops leave, but also noted the importance of better economic relations with Moscow and the unhindered flow of Russian gas to the country during winter.



Moldova is heavily dependent on the import of Russian gas, which Moscow has used as leverage in relations with Chisinau.



"Our goal is to solve the Transdniester conflict, to see the Russian troops leave Moldova's territory, to get rid of the munitions stored there, and to improve our bilateral economic relations," she said.



"We're seeking to reach an agreement to facilitate our exports to Russia, and an agreement on the gas exports issue, because we do need natural gas. We're trying to build alternatives, but they won't be ready overnight, Sandu said.
Thousands of Montenegrins protested in the Balkan nation's former capital, Cetinje, angered by an upcoming ceremony to install a new head of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro. Protestors say the enthronement ceremony at Cetinje Monastery is an insult to Montenegro's centuries-old struggle for sovereignty and independence. About 30 percent of the country's population of 600,000 identifies as Serb and the Serbian Orthodox Church is the predominant religious denomination in the country.
A Russian man has asked Japan for political asylum in Japan after making a treacherous trip in a rubber dinghy in the disputed Kurile Islands.

Japanese media reports said over the weekend that the 40-year-old man, whose identity was not revealed, left the Russian-administered island of Kunashir on August 17 and several days later was detained by Japanese border guards near the Japanese island of Hokkaido.

According to the reports, the man covered most of the 20-kilometer trip in a rubber dinghy before jumping into the water to swim the final part of his escape in a diving suit.

The reports also said that the man was taken to an immigration center in the city of Sapporo, where a decision on whether he will be granted asylum or deported back to Russia will be made.

Officials at Russia's General Consulate in Sapporo said that Japanese authorities had not provided them with any details on the situation.

"Despite the new details about the incident that appear in Japanese media with reference to their sources in police, Japan's official entities refuse to provide us with official information," the consulate wrote in a post on Facebook.

Russian media reports say that the man moved to Kunashir from the central region of Udmurtia three years ago via the state program on providing citizens with free land in the Far East.

Authorities in the city of Yuzhno-Kurilsk said the man worked as a tractor driver and cargo loader.

Russian police said they found Japanese posters on the walls of the man's house, while local authorities said that "he loved Japanese culture."

It is not clear if the man was a political, civil, or human rights activist.

In recent years, many opposition politicians, activists, journalists, and rights defenders have fled Russia for Europe or the United States amid the Kremlin's increased campaign to muzzle dissent.

The Soviet Union seized the Kurile Islands in the final days of World War II from Japan, which continues to assert territorial rights to the islands it calls the Northern Territories. The dispute has kept Russia and Japan from signing a peace treaty formally ending the war.

Decades of diplomatic efforts to negotiate a settlement have failed to produce a solution to the issue.
Russian authorities have detained a Ukrainian citizen on suspicion of espionage in the city of Tula, some 200 kilometers south of Moscow.

The Federal Security Service (FSB) said on August 23 that the man, whose identity was not revealed, is suspected of collecting classified data related to Russia's latest firearms technologies for Ukraine's secret services.

If convicted, the suspect faces up to 20 years in prison.

There was no immediate reaction from Kyiv.

Earlier this year, Russian authorities in Ukraine's Crimea region arrested two men in separate cases in April and June on charges of spying for Kyiv.

Russia has arrested dozens of people in Crimea and across Russia on charges including espionage, extremism, and terrorism, since it seized Crimea in March 2014, sending in troops and staging a referendum denounced as illegitimate by at least 100 countries.

Rights groups have said that after imposing its control over the peninsula, Moscow aggressively moved to prosecute Ukrainian activists and anyone who questioned the annexation.

Russia also backs separatists in a war against Ukrainian government forces that has killed more than 13,200 people in eastern Ukraine since April 2014.

With reporting by TASS and Interfax
MOSCOW -- Russia's Prosecutor-Generals Office has deemed four evangelical groups from Latvia and Ukraine as "undesirable," saying they pose a threat to constitutional order and the country's security.



"Following the examination of materials filed in the Prosecutor-General's Office, a decision was made to deem undesirable the following nongovernmental organizations: the New Generation International Christian Movement (Latvia), the New Generation Evangelical Christian Church (Latvia), the New Generation Spiritual Directorate of the Evangelist Christians (Ukraine), and the New Generation International Biblical College spiritual educational facility (Ukraine)," the office said in a statement on August 23.



The ruling effectively bans the organizations, none of which immediately commented.



Dozens of foreign nongovernmental organizations have been deemed "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 designated as such in Russia.
Volunteers in four towns, (Hopkinton, North Stonington, Stonington and Westerly) have put together a 6-point kayak/canoe trail from Potter Hill Fam to Donahue Park and beyond. The trail will celebrate a grand opening in the coming weeks.
MANSFIELD - Mind Body Align (MBA) recently hired award-winning educator Caryl Church Jesseph as a Curriculum and Education Developer and Mindful Educator.

An ODE licensed teacher for grades Kindergarten through 12, Caryl taught for 15 years in public schools in Lake and Geauga counties, where she received multiple honors, including the Northeast Ohio Outstanding Art Educator Award.

Like all educators, our lifes work is to help students be successful in life, said Julie Braumberger, Director of Education for MBA and the creator of the MBAwareness Educational Program. Caryl brings a passion for making teaching more impactful by using storytelling, visual art, movement, and play. She also nurtures ecological connections.

"She has a comforting and thoughtful manner of teaching that our school community will appreciate.

Church Jessephs education informs her work. She earned her masters degree in art education from Kent State University. She is also a published writer, exhibited artist, and certified yoga teacher. In her spare time, Caryl can often be found photographing wildflowers, writing stories, or enjoying live music.

"I am honored to join a team of talented, caring practitioners dedicated to transforming individuals' lives through mindfulness, Church Jesseph stated. I look forward to supporting the growth of the MBA community."

Caryl is passionate about creating welcoming, inclusive spaces that support people's mindful awareness and connection to self, others, and the natural world, said Annamarie Fernyak, founder of Mind Body Align. She is developing mindful SEL content that reaches every student.

"Her work embodies our mission. It is transformative.

About Mind Body Align, LLC

Mind Body Align improves lives by teaching mindful social emotional learning (SEL) and workplace programs. The SEL is proven to improve learning for 90.5% of students, including 70% of at-risk students. Mind Body Align also improves profitability of businesses by using mindfulness education as a part of employee resources.

Studies show mindfulness positively impacts academic and professional performance, focus, collaboration, and job satisfaction. Mindful MBA services are available both online and in person. Learn more at mindbodyalign.com.
MOUNT VERNON -- Larry Gibbs is the new public information officer at Knox Educational Service Center in Mount Vernon.

Gibbs has an extensive background in local media, and was previously a spokesman for Mansfield City Schools.

We recently sat down with him for a quick update:

RICHLAND SOURCE: Can you explain your role at KESC?

LARRY GIBBS: My role at Knox Educational Service Center is to help the public understand the role of the ESC. I also will work with each of our client districts -- Centerburg Local, Danville Local, East Knox Local, Fredericktown Local, Knox County Career Center, Mount Vernon City and Clear Fork Valley Local -- to generate publicity on matters of their choice.

RICHLAND SOURCE: What can you tell us about your background in educational public information and working with the media?

LARRY GIBBS: I served as public relations coordinator for Mansfield City Schools for 12 years until my retirement on July 1, 2020. In that capacity I interviewed students, teachers and administrators for hundreds of stories about what was happening throughout the district. I posted those stories on the districts website and Facebook page and shared many with local media. I provided direct support to the superintendent, including writing more than 40 of his weekly fireside chats. Also hosted more than 250 weekly episodes of Inside Mansfield City Schools on WMFD-TV.

RICHLAND SOURCE: What attracted you to this position?

LARRY GIBBS: Knox ESC had searched for several months without success for a qualified candidate to serve as its first public information officer. After a year of retirement I decided I could be effective in a return to public service, so I talked with Superintendent Dr. Timm Mackley about how we could greatly expand the publics understanding of the ESC while supporting our client districts. Knox is my home county, so I am especially excited about this work.

RICHLAND SOURCE: What is the role of KESC?

LARRY GIBBS: Knox ESC operates two districts-wide programs: Public and special needs preschool instruction for students ages 3 and 4, and the Learning Center, which provides alternative school instruction and supervision for students ages 5 through 21. The ESC also provides school psychologist services and screens and hires classroom aides, bus drivers and other employees for its client districts.

RICHLAND SOURCE: Can you outline your background in the Knox County community?

LARRY GIBBS: I moved from Indiana to Knox County in 1987 when I was selected to be the managing editor of the Mount Vernon News. Later I served as managing editor of the Delaware Gazette and city editor of the Mansfield News Journal, but continued to live in Knox County. I am familiar with Knox County issues and acquainted with many residents.

RICHLAND SOURCE: What is the most important task for KESC as the new school year is about to begin?

LARRY GIBBS: The most important role for the Knox ESC as the school year begins is to help client districts fill all personnel positions in which the ESC is involved as quickly as possible. There is a shortage of applicants for many positions, not only in Knox County but throughout the state.

RICHLAND SOURCE: Anything you'd like to add we didn't ask you about specifically?

LARRY GIBBS: Prior to my 12 years with Mansfield City Schools, I was a newspaper editor for more than 30 years and served five years as the Terre Haute district office manager for the congressman from Indianas 7th District. My entire professional career has centered on communicating honestly and effectively with the public. Thats a role I look forward to continuing here in Knox ESC.
CUMBERLAND, Ohio  The Wilds is celebrating the arrival of a greater one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) calf, who was born at the conservation center during the early morning hours of Aug. 16.

Sanya, an experienced mother, is providing excellent care to her little one and keeping the female calf close within The Wilds pasture.

The Animal Management team has been monitoring the pair and notes that the calf appears to be strong and healthy. Calves usually weigh more than 100 pounds at birth and gain a few pounds every day. An adult greater one-horned rhino can reach weights of approximately 4,000 to 6,000 pounds.

This calf is the ninth greater one-horned rhino to be born at The Wilds, and each birth is a significant achievement as the species nearly went extinct during the 20th century. Sanya, born at the Toronto Zoo in 1999, has given birth to six calves since arriving at The Wilds in 2004. This is the second offspring for the calfs father, Jahi.

Jahi was born at Zoo Tampa in 2011 and arrived at The Wilds from the Central Florida Zoo in 2017 as per a breeding recommendation through the Species Survival Plan (SSP), a program coordinated by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) to maximize the genetic diversity and increase the population sustainability of threatened and endangered species in human care. Based on an SSP recommendation, Jahi moved to an SSP Sustainability Partner facility in Florida earlier this year.

The Wilds is home to five greater one-horned rhinos and is one of only 19 AZA-accredited facilities in North America to care for this species. The Wilds is also home to 15 southern white rhinos and has welcomed a total of 25 white rhino births since 2004. The Wilds is the only facility outside of Africa with white rhinos born four and five generations removed from their wild-born ancestors.

We are extremely excited to welcome this calf into our Wilds family," said Dr. Jan Ramer, Senior Vice President of Animal Care and Conservation at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and The Wilds. "Every rhinoceros is important to the future of their species, and this calf and the other rhinos at The Wilds are wonderful ambassadors for their cousins in their native range.

"Were proud of the success of our rhino program, and we remain committed to their care while also providing our guests with the opportunity to be inspired by these wonderful animals and empowered to help make a difference,

Once listed as an endangered species, the greater one-horned rhino has seen a steady population increase thanks to strict government protection. The International Union for the Conservancy of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species now lists the greater one-horned rhino as vulnerable. According to the International Rhino Foundation, this species has rebounded from fewer than 100 individuals to more than 3,700 today in their range countries of India and Nepal.

However, these rhinos continue to face threats, including invasive grasses taking over their habitat and weather extremes like flooding caused by climate change. They are also killed by poachers who sell rhino horn for ornamental or traditional medicinal purposes even though there are no scientifically proven health benefits for its use. The horns are made of keratin  the same substance that makes up fingernails and hair.

To further protect the future of rhinos, The Wilds and Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, which manages The Wilds, have provided more than $218,000 over the last five years to support conservation projects benefiting rhinos in their native ranges. The Columbus Zoo and The Wilds currently support three rhino field projects through the International Rhino Foundation, National Trust for Nature Conservation, and Akagera National Park (Akagera Management Company).

The International Rhino Foundations project supports law enforcement, translocations, and community development to benefit the greater one-horned rhino in India, while the National Trust for Nature Conservations project supports the conservation of the greater one-horned rhino through rhino monitoring, veterinary support, and a community awareness program in Chitwan National Park.

Additionally, the Akagera National Park project supports a reintroduction effort, including providing uniforms and rations for rhino patrol units, to help the eastern black rhino in Akagera National Park in Rwanda. The Columbus Zoo is also an active participant in the AZA's Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) program for black rhinos.

The new calf may be visible to guests during either an Open-Air Safari Tour, presented by G&J Pepsi, or a Wildside Tour, presented by AEP Ohio. The Wilds is currently open daily through September and then weekends only in October.

For more information or to schedule a tour, please visit TheWilds.org and follow The Wilds social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

About The Wilds

The Wilds, one of the largest conservation centers in North America, is home to rare and endangered animals from around the world along with hundreds of indigenous species. The mission of The Wilds, a nonprofit organization managed by the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, is to lead and inspire by connecting people and wildlife. The Wilds is located at 14000 International Road in Cumberland, Ohio, about 90 minutes east of Columbus. Normal hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day from May through September, and on Saturdays and Sundays in October. For more information, visit TheWilds.org.
MANSFIELD -- A Mansfield police officer, currently on paid administrative leave after a June 16 shooting incident, has resigned from the department for other disciplinary issues.

Jordan Moore, who was suspended in 2020 for dragging a handcuffed teenager, resigned Monday afternoon, according to an emailed press release from Chief Keith Porch.

Porch said the resignation followed two separate internal complaints from May 19 and May 25, 2021, after "traffic crash reports which were not properly investigated by Officer Moore."

The chief said the internal complaints, initiated by the department's command staff, were investigated and Moore's performance was judged to be unsatisfactory.

"A pre-disciplinary conference was set (Monday), when he submitted his resignation," Porch said in the email.

The chief said neither incident is related to the June 16 shooting, which is still being investigated by the Ohio Bureau of Investigation.

"Once the shooting investigation is completed, the case will be forwarded to the Richland County Prosecutor's Office for review," Porch said, adding the prosecutor's office was notified Monday of Moore's resignation.

Moore had been suspended for 10 days last fall after he dragged a handcuffed teenager. He returned to work on Jan. 11.

The original suspension had been 60 days, but was shortened based on the results of the arbitration of a previous discipline case involving the officer, Safety-Service Director Lori Cope said in January.

In announcing the suspension last October, Porch said Moore had violated Mansfield Police Department rules and regulations pertaining to the treatment of people in custody and unsatisfactory performance.

"It was found that Officer Moore grabbed the hooded sweatshirt of a juvenile detainee without warning or instruction to comply with orders and dragged him several feet, while he was still handcuffed and in a seated position to the rear passenger side of a patrol car, in an attempt to assist the other officers with the adult arrestee," Porch said about the 2020 dragging incident.

"Officer Moores response was found to be improper which resulted in the misapplication of force used on a person that was handcuffed, in custody and offering no resistance."

A bystander recorded video of the incident, which showed the arrest of a Black Mansfield man and the 17-year-old, reportedly the man's son, who was reacting to the adult's arrest

Cope said Moore had agreed to the 10-day suspension for unsatisfactory performance and treatment of persons in custody and had also agreed to further training in subject control.

Cope said Moore, who had been suspended on Oct. 20, returned to duty on Jan. 11 and would be paid for 50 of the 60 working days for which he was originally suspended.

On Jan. 13, an arbitrator tossed out a three-day suspension for Moore for his work investigating a May 25, 2020, hit-skip accident.

Moore is a Willard native who graduated from the police academy in May 2017. He was hired by the Mansfield Police Department in July 2018 after stints at the New Washington and Sandusky police departments.
TOLEDO  The empty nest seemed on the horizon for Carolyn Kulawiak as her oldest daughter headed to college and her two younger daughters started high school.

But when her 85-year-old father died unexpectedly last year, Kulawiak found herself in another  and rapidly growing  demographic: the sandwich generation caregiver, meaning middle-aged adults who care for aging parents while still raising children. Kulawiak stepped into the role of primary caregiver for her mother, who was diagnosed with dementia after her husband's death.

"Just like when you have your first child, there's no manual for being a caregiver," Kulawiak observed.

In Ohio, more than one in three dementia caregivers are in the sandwich generation, according to new figures from the Alzheimers Association. As students return back to school, the stress on those caregivers will increase as they juggle their kids schedules and their parents needs.

On Aug. 30, the Alzheimers Association is hosting a free virtual education program, Sandwich Generation: Taking Care of Aging Parents while Raising Children. It will include topics such as developing a plan of care, learning how to tap into community resources, and dealing with stress. The program begins at 6 p.m. To register, call 1-800-272-3900.

Those topics are urgent concerns for caregivers such as Jodi Audino, who is raising two young children while helping her parents after her father's dementia diagnosis.

My biggest stress is juggling everything and prioritizing, Audino said. I'm making sure my kids get to school OK while also making sure my dad's pills are filled.

An estimated 15 percent of sandwich generation caregivers quit their jobs or retire early, according to Alzheimer's Association statistics.

It's time that employers recognize that this is becoming a major issue, or they risk losing good employees, said Melissa Dever, program director for the Alzheimers Association.

They should help their employees develop a plan to care for their parents that will allow them to stay in the workplace.

Making sacrifices has been an invaluable learning experience for her children, Audino said. They know that whatever Papa Bear and Grammy need, I am there for them, she said. They are understanding the importance of making memories as a family.

Finding time for self-care can prove all but impossible, Kulawiak said.

I have ignored things that I should take care of for myself. If I get 10 minutes to myself or if I get to do a face mask with my girls, that's my time.

Kulawiak moved her mother to a home a few miles from her own, and she coordinates around-the-clock care for her mother, managing the schedules of seven private-pay caregivers.

It's like having another child, but a child with a house and employees, Kulawiak said.

Both Kulawiak and Audino have joined a support group for adult children through the Alzheimers Association.

It's such a relief to know you aren't going through this alone, Audino said. We listen to each other and we vent, and we know we are there for each other.

Kathy Misiuk hosts a monthly support group for adult children whose parents have dementia.

In addition to sharing resources, books, and videos, she said, We give each other permission to hurt and to be angry. We share the comfort of knowing we are not alone.

Even with such a strong support network, caregivers often feel overwhelmed.

You are constantly in a tug of war, worried about who is getting the short end, Kulawiak said. You feel stretched to the max and 24 hours in a day is not enough time to take care of everyone and everything. It is physically and emotionally exhausting, but also rewarding when you know that you are helping to make your loved one's life the best that it can be.

More Information The Alzheimer's Association offers these tips for Sandwich Generation caregivers: Take care of yourself: Making sure you are healthy can help you to be a better caregiver to others. Maintain good communication: Help your partner or spouse and your children understand the demands you are facing and enlist their help and support. Seek support: Contact your local Alzheimer's Association chapter and Council on Aging or the statewide Pro Seniors advocacy group. These organizations can connect you with adult day programs, in-home assistance, companions and meal delivery programs, among many other services. Talk to your employer: Some companies offer flexible schedules or allow telecommuting. Discuss potential accommodations that can be made that will allow you to remain productive at work. Make a plan while your loved one can still make decisions: Make an appointment with an elder care attorney and hold a frank discussion with your parents about their financial situation and their wishes for their care when their dementia progresses.

About Alzheimers Association

The Alzheimer's Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer's care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's. Visit www.alz.org or call our 24/7 Helpline at 1-800-272-3900.
MANSFIELD  The South Central Local School district received a generous donation of 70 tote bags filled with school supplies, starting the first week of school back on a high note.

For the past five years, Kim Riggenbach, an independent director at Thirty-One Gifts, has collaborated with local businesses that sponsor bags to donate school supplies to their school of choice. This year, she was delighted after reaching out to Bo Lacey Construction and hearing they would rather choose a school district rather than one school.

Kevin Lacey, co-owner of Bo Lacey Construction loves to give back wherever he can, whenever he has the means. In the past year, hes seen how much people have been in need.

There's people out there that were really affected by COVID and losing their jobs, Lacey said. And we know from just when we interview people for new positions and the stories they tell us about how they lost their job. It is tough for some people right now.

Lacey and his wife, who is a school teacher, are always having conversations about how much school teachers are willing to provide school supplies for their classrooms by their own means. The Thirty-One Gifts project gave them the opportunity to put less stress on teachers at the beginning of the year.

[Teachers] spend their own money in the classroom... and I think that this is a way to give back that it's not quite so much for them to have to do. And that's a way for us to give that to the teachers, and then on to the students, Riggenbach said.

I always see that Bo Lacey is always so generous in trying to help the community out, and I wondered if he would be interested in this, and I reached out to them, Riggenbach said. And right away, they were full force, wanting to get away and give back.

Tara Carney, client success advocate at Bo Lacey Construction, helped orchestrate sponsoring the bags. Shes also helped with other philanthropic initiatives Bo Lacey Construction participates in every year with a $5,000 budget.

We just feel it's important to give back, Carney said. It's just something that the company has always done and believed in, and the timing was just right when [Riggenback] called and asked us to do it. We just jumped all over it.

Bo Lacey Construction gives back to the community in numerous ways through different nonprofit organizations including both Ashland and Richland United Way, Harmony House, the Domestic Violence Shelter in Richland County, the Salvation Army Kroc Center and many more.

Riggenbach delivered the tote bags alongside Lacey on Wednesday, and all 70 were quickly given away. Carney said on behalf of Bo Lacey Construction, they were proud to collaborate with Riggenbach.

Kim has a huge heart, and she's always giving back as well, Carney said. "So I knew when she reached out that it was going to be a perfect partnership between the two companies.
Roanoke Rapids, NC (27870)

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Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms developing this afternoon. High 82F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

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Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Low 63F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Danvers, MA (01923)

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Showers this morning, becoming a steady rain during the afternoon hours. High 74F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

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Periods of rain. Rain becoming heavy at times overnight. Low around 60F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 2 to 3 inches of rain expected. Localized flooding is expected.
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SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk claimed that his firm might be ready to fly to the Moon in the next three years.

Musk responded to a question about the timeframe on Twitter on Saturday, saying that SpaceX's lunar lander will be ready for its moon trip "probably sooner" than 2024.

In April, SpaceX won NASA's lunar lander contract, beating over Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin and Dynetics, a division of Leidos.

Artemis, a NASA program, will launch humans, including women, to the Moon in 2024. If Musk's long-term goals are achieved, SpaceX will build a reusable lander called Starship to ultimately transport humans to Mars.

Elon Musk to Send Humans to Moon "Probably Sooner" Than 2024!

In response, Elon Musk was contacted by Twitter user Everything Artemis (@artemis360_moon). This unofficial account follows news about the Artemis Program.

Everything Artemis noted that NASA began its SpaceX Lunar Lander Payments and hoped SpaceX would work quickly. Hence, the netizen asked Elon Musk if he is already preparing the Lunar Starship for its mission this 2024. Elon Musk said: "Probably sooner."

Probably sooner  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 15, 2021

ALSO READ: Elon Musk's SpaceX Orbital Stack to Roll Its 1st Orbital Test Flight 'In a Few Weeks'

The SpaceX HLS idea is a modified version of the Starship, developed at SpaceX's launch site in Boca Chica (together with the Super Heavy rocket). According to the newest mockup and earlier remarks by Musk, the HLS Starship will have a larger cargo capacity since it will not require heat shields, flaps, or huge gas thruster packs.

Musk to Help NASA Bring People to Moon

NASA is currently attempting to go back to the Moon by 2024. They'd had to rush things, reprioritize some mission aspects, and rely on contractors (namely SpaceX) to help fill in the gaps. They've teamed up with the ESA and other space organizations to see this through. In contrast, Russia and China have teamed up to establish a rival lunar exploration and colonization program.

Blue Origin contested SpaceX's victory and sued NASA, while Dynetics objected to the space agency's verdict. At the end of July, GAO dismissed the protests. On July 30, the day the Blue Origin and Dynetics objections were denied, Tesmanian said NASA paid SpaceX $300 million of the entire $3 billion contract allocation.

Universe Today said Musk offered SpaceX's assistance here, stating that they could get this other critical mission component ready sooner. Of course, there are the well-publicized delays that have dogged the Space Launch System (SLS) and the Orion capsule from the start. As a result, it's been suggested that NASA contract out the responsibility of returning the Artemis crew using the Starship and Super Heavy.

Although no launch date has been established, SpaceX is preparing for Starship to make its first orbital journey worldwide. The ship has been placed through its paces, with remarkable results, but a few early prototypes have blown up.

The Starship and its booster rocket are over 400 feet tall if assembled. If you add the pedestal, the Statue of Liberty rises nearly 300 feet tall.

RELATED ARTICLE: Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin vs. Elon Musk's SpaceX: Who Won the Space Race?

Check out more news and information on SpaceX in Science Times.
The Seattle City Council unanimously approved new restrictions on less-lethal weapons used by the Seattle Police Department (SPD).

The new limitations passed Monday come after public outcry over the use of crowd control munitions like tear gas, pepper spray and flash bangs on protesters last summer following the murder of George Floyd.

"We all remember the stories, we all remember the public testimony, the hours of calls that we received as people expressed their frustration, and many times, their surprise and shock about the response to the protests that were standing up in support of Black lives," Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda said during Monday's full council meeting. "Members of the national press, legal observers, medics have been pepper sprayed or been hit by projectiles like blast balls and launchers. We saw a video of a child being sprayed in our streets in downtown Seattle at short range in the face, and we heard the testimony of the father of a 9-month-old baby who was calling for an end to the use of tear gas in our most dense neighborhood in Seattle on Capitol Hill, the father of a 9-month-old who had woken up to their baby foaming at the mouth."

The bill, which was voted out of the Public Safety & Human Services Committee earlier in July, falls short of the total ban on less lethal weapons proposed last year. The approved legislation includes a full ban on acoustic weapons, directed energy weapons, blast balls, ultrasonic cannons, water cannons and flash bangs during demonstrations.

Pepper spray and pepper ball launchers cannot be used for crowd control, and would be limited to situations when the risk of bodily injury outweighs the risk of harm to bystanders under the new legislation. Tear gas would be also limited to SWAT officers and would again require the risk of violent harm to outweigh the risk to bystanders to justify use.

In the drafting of the bill, the Department of Justice (DOJ) expressed concerns that limiting use of less-lethal tools could lead to officers using higher levels of force. However, the legislation does not regulate non-chemical launchers such as rubber bullets.

"That's important for folks who have raised questions about what less lethal weapons are available in instances where there is a threat of property damage," said Councilmember Lisa Herbold.

During a town hall panel discussion held by the Community Police Commission (CPC) earlier in the year, many activists and community organizers criticized SPD's proposed changes to use of force and crowd control policies, arguing that they didn't go far enough.

"It sounds like extrajudicial punishment in a lot of ways that you all are making determinations about who deserves use of force punishment," said panelist Nikkita Oliver, co-executive director of Creative Justice who is currently running for Position 9 on the Seattle City Council. "We're having to negotiate our right to not be blastballed or pepper sprayed or whatever potentially other lethal weapons are in this policy."

The CPC ultimately said that it supported the legislation passed Monday as a "first step in ensuring the safety of community members when they engage in First Amendment protests."

With the council's passage of the bill, SPD is now required to draft policy revisions within 60 days. The DOJ and federal monitor will then review the revisions under the consent decree before court approval.

The council also approved a bill on Monday to move parking enforcement operations out of the police department and into the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT). The issue was originally included in a bill proposed in May  which aimed to move 911 dispatch out of the police department and into the new Community Safety and Communications Center  but was delayed due to negotiations with labor unions representing the parking enforcement officers and their managers.
Nearly 200 cats and kittens from the island of Kauai are ready to say "aloha" to new lives in Washington and beyond.

With the help of the nonprofit Wings of Rescue and jet charter Evojets, the Kauai Humane Society (KHS) is getting ready to pilot its first "Mission Mainland" flight from the island to Seattle with 200 adoptable cats and kittens onboard.

The shelter, which has accepted over 700 neonatal kittens this year alone is currently above capacity, is hoping to alleviate overcrowding and rehome some of the 400 cats currently in its care on the mainland.

"With the limited resident population in Kauai we must look beyond our island for positive outcomes for our animals," KHS Executive Director Nicole Crane said in a new release Monday. "Shelters are stressful places for animals that are waiting to find comfort in their new and loving homes."

Courtesy Kauai Humane Society

A full list of adoptable cats can be found here, and potential adopters will need to sign up to adopt by Aug. 26. All of the transport costs are covered by KHS, and adopters will just need to be at Boeing Field on Aug. 29 with a cat carrier in tow to take home their new family member.

All of the adoptable cats have been spayed/neutered, microchipped and are also fully vaccinated. They have also been given a flea and tick preventative as well as dewormer, making them ready for their new homes.

KHS is also looking for other shelters and rescues in the Seattle area to place cats from the flight on their adoption floor or into foster homes to increase the chances of rehoming.

Courtesy Kauai Humane Society

"Transferring animals to other rescues helps increase the chance our animals find new families quickly and we absolutely love seeing animals go directly into a home," Crane said.

This isn't the first time four-legged friends have come across the Pacific in search of their forever homes: over 600 pets arrived at Boeing Field from Hawaii last October as a result of overcrowded shelters amid the pandemic. The operation was one of the largest animal rescue flights in history, and the pets were rehomed throughout the Pacific Northwest and Canada.
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP)  The United States on Monday imposed new sanctions over Ethiopias deadly Tigray conflict as hundreds of thousands of people face famine conditions under a government blockade the U.S. has called a siege and fighting spreads into other parts of the country.

The Treasury Department in a statement said the chief of staff of the defense forces of neighboring Eritrea, Filipos Woldeyohannes, was sanctioned under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act for leading an entity accused of despicable acts including massacres, widespread sexual assault and the executions of boys. The statement again calls on Eritrea to remove its soldiers from Ethiopias Tigray region permanently.

The nine-month war has killed thousands of people and left observers shocked as Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, teamed up with former enemy Eritrea to wage war on the Tigray forces, with civilians not spared.

Scores of witnesses have described to The Associated Press abuses such as gang-rapes, the destruction of health centers, the burning of crops and forced expulsions. Eritreans were often accused of some of the worst abuses. Ethiopia's government denied their presence in Tigray for months.

The (Eritrean Defense Forces) have purposely shot civilians in the street and carried out systematic house-to-house searches, executing men and boys, and have forcibly evicted Tigrayan families from their residences and taken over their houses and property, the new U.S. statement said.

Eritreas foreign ministry in a statement called the accusations unacceptable and challenged the U.S. to bring the case to an independent adjudication if it indeed has facts to prove its false allegations. Eritrea shares a border with the Tigray region and is has been described by human rights groups as one of the worlds most repressive nations.

The U.S. earlier this year signaled it was also losing patience with Ethiopia, Africas second-most populous country, suspending millions of dollars in aid to a key security ally in the Horn of Africa and imposing visa restrictions on unnamed Ethiopians involved in the war.

The Tigray forces have since retaken much of the Tigray region of 6 million people, forcing Ethiopian and Eritrean soldiers to retreat and regroup. But the United States is concerned that large numbers of (Eritrean Defense Forces) have re-entered Ethiopia, after withdrawing in June, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

The Tigray forces have now crossed into the Amhara and Afar regions, ignoring calls from the U.S. and United Nations to withdraw and vowing to press as far as the capital, Addis Ababa, to end the hostilities. Hundreds of thousands of people in Amhara and Afar have fled their advance, some alleging abuses against civilians.

Meanwhile the Ethiopian government has urged all capable citizens to war, and it has again cut off the Tigray region, with phone, internet and banking services down and truckloads of humanitarian aid almost at a standstill. Just 7% of the needed aid is reaching the region and food aid inside Tigray has now run out, the U.S. Agency for International Development said last week.

On the defensive, Ethiopias government has rejected international meddling and accused humanitarian groups of arming or otherwise supporting the Tigray forces.

The U.S. sanctions represent new pressure to stop the fighting, allow unrestricted access to Tigray and engage in dialogue. But Ethiopias government has declared the Tigray leadership, who long dominated the countrys government before Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power and sidelined them, a terrorist group.

And the Tigray forces have laid out several conditions for talks, including the resumption of basic services to the region.
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A shower is possible early. Cloudy skies. High 74F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph..

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Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 58F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
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Keene, NH (03431)

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Showers this morning becoming a steady rain during the afternoon hours. High around 70F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

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Dozens of Bay Area Afghan community members and supporters gathered on the shores of Oaklands Lake Merritt on Sunday and demanded that the U.S. government deploy a safe and humane exit strategy during a chaotic exodus of people fleeing Afghanistan.

The gathering was an effort to put pressure on our local governments, our federal government, to keep the Kabul airport running in order to make sure that Afghans have a secure way of coming into America, said Liala Zaray, an organizer with Afghans for a Better Tomorrow.

Specifically, the group wants to see the U.S. government uphold strong refugee policies, expedite special immigrant visas and ensure humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, Zaray said.

The rally occurred as an increasingly urgent crisis unfurled for many Afghans and Americans in the embattled country, with thousands attempting to flee after the takeover by the militant Taliban.

In a demonstration of solidarity, many at the Oakland event waved the black, red and green Afghan flag and chanted, Hey hey, ho ho, the Taliban has got to go.

It was the second such Afghan event Fremont resident Nafisa Kakar and her sister-in-law visited on Sunday, after an earlier rally in Fremont.

Kakar, who was born in Afghanistan, has been in the U.S. since 1990 but still has extended family back in her homeland.

Were worried about them, Kakar said, underscoring the Talibans historic treatment of women in particular. Were here to raise our voices and speak for those who cannot.

Spojmie Nasiri, an immigration attorney in Pleasanton, said she came to speak out about the injustices shes seeing across the country as refugees and Americans attempt to enter the U.S.

I personally have about 50 clients  including U.S. citizens, green card holders and those with pending applications  who were tear-gassed. ... Some families six days straight were waiting at the airport to get through, she said. Todays the seventh day and I finally heard they were able to get into the airport compound. I dont know where theyre going to end up.

Nasiri stressed that the U.S. government needs to treat the situation with humanity.

Migrants who are being brought in right now are starving for days, in inhumane conditions, she said, adding that drop-off locations like Qatar often lack even the most basic human necessities. We are telling our clients right now that if you are lucky enough to get on that flight, please carry three days worth of food and water.

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.

White House officials said the U.S. military is considering creative ways to get Americans and others into the Kabul airport for evacuation from Afghanistan amid acute security threats.

President Biden said Sunday that the U.S.-led evacuation of Americans, at-risk Afghans and others from the Kabul airport accelerated this weekend, although it remains vulnerable to threats posed by the Islamic State extremist group.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan told CNNs State of the Union that 3,900 people had been airlifted out of Kabul on U.S. military flights over the last 24 hours. This remains far below the 5,000 to 9,000 that the military says it has the capacity to airlift daily, according to an Associated Press report.

British military said Sunday that at least seven Afghans have died in a panicked crush of people trying to enter Kabuls international airport.

Megan Cassidy is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: megan.cassidy@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @meganrcassidy
Good morning, Bay Area. Its Monday, Aug. 23, and COVID admissions are soaring once again at hospitals across the Bay Area. Heres what you need to know to start your day.

In the latest release of U.S. Census Bureau data from the 2020 decennial census, Bernal Heights was one of only six San Francisco neighborhoods that recorded fewer people in 2020 than in 2010.

That might seem odd, considering the neighborhood in the southeast part of the city is considered desirable, with Redfin naming it the hottest neighborhood in America in 2014. But theres at least one good explanation for the lack of growth: Since 2010, the area has constructed almost no new housing.

Read more from Susie Neilson.

Chronicle editorial board weighs in

As California residents decide whether to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom or keep him in office for another year and four months, The Chronicles editorial board shares its point of view on the matter.

The recall petition was filed back in February 2020, detailing a sprawling collection of half-formed grievances, the board writes. But while the board says Newsom does deserve to be challenged on some issues  including his handling of the pandemic and the homelessness crisis  it urges a no vote, saying theres no justification for removing him.

Read the editorial boards entire recommendation and the reasons behind it here.

More recall news:

 The campaign to prevent Newsom from being removed from office before the end of his term is increasingly driven by a strategy of instilling fear.

 From Joe Garofoli: Larry Elder could win with a sliver of support and doesnt have to appeal to a broad section of voters. Also: California will investigate whether Elder failed to properly disclose sources of income.

Coronavirus updates

Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

The latest surge of coronavirus cases from the highly infectious delta variant has sent COVID admissions surging again in the Bay Area, including at El Camino Hospital in Mountain View.

Sometimes I get home and I just sob, said Dr. Carol Kemper, an infectious disease expert who sees the hospitals most critical COVID patients.

Hospitalizations more than tripled throughout the Bay Area during the first two weeks of August compared with the first two weeks of July, mostly because of unvaccinated people. Read more about how this largely avoidable surge has exhausted hospital staff.

 Heres why these three ZIP codes have the lowest vaccination rates in the Bay Area.

 Immunocompromised people account for nearly half of the vaccinated people hospitalized with COVID-19 nationally.

 Coronavirus case counts in Bay Area schools started almost immediately as they reopened for in-person learning.

 Coronavirus in California: Live updates and latest news.

Around the Bay

Ethan Swope/Associated Press

 California wildfires: The explosive Caldor Fire tore through El Dorado County over the weekend, topping 104,000 acres, forcing numerous evacuations and jumping to the north side of Highway 50. Also: This is what happens when a national park needs to be evacuated because of a wildfire threat.

 Shifting winds: The Bay Area got a breathing break Sunday, but an air quality advisory was issued for Monday because of an expected return of smoke from major wildfires burning in Northern California.

 North Beach mainstay: Jack Hirschman, former San Francisco poet laureate, dies at 87.

 Honoring his legacy: Family, friends and fans remember hip-hop artist Stephen Zumbi Gaines, who died this month at a Berkeley Hospital.

 From Heather Knight: What its like to be one of the volunteers tasked with drawing new boundaries for San Franciscos 11 supervisorial districts using new census data.

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 hardest job in America: Its been six months since LeRonne Armstrong was sworn in as Oakland police chief. How is he doing? Also: The Chronicle examined personnel and budget data to assess whether the Oakland Police Department is underfunded.

 A noisy welcome: A fully vaccinated crowd of more than 2,200 people cheered as the lights went down at the San Francisco Operas opening night Saturday. Also: Longtime Oakland Symphony music director Michael Morgan has died at 63.

 From Justin Phillips: Since 2010, Emeryvilles Black population has actually grown while most Bay Area cities saw a net loss of Black residents.

 Native Son: Carl Nolte remembers U.S. soldiers who paid the price of war in Afghanistan aboard a flight evacuating the wounded.

 Restaurant no-shows: Concerns over the delta variant seem to be changing diner behavior, according to many Bay Area restaurant owners.

Chronicle Travel

Dodge Ridge Ski Area

One of Californias last family-owned ski areas has been sold, after being run by the same mom-and-pop owners for 45 years.

For a generation, Dodge Ridge Ski Area, an 862-acre resort in the mountains east of Sonora, has been synonymous with Frank and Sally Helm, who live in the area and have decided to retire. The resort sold last week to a new pair of owners: Invision Capital, a private investment firm in Chicago, and Karl Kapuscinski, president and CEO of Mountain High Resort in the San Gabriel Mountains east of Los Angeles.

At the top of Kapuscinskis to-do list is introducing snowmaking equipment, building out a network of mountain biking trails, and adding more snow play opportunities for non-skiers.

Read more from Gregory Thomas about the changes.

 Millions of skiers visited California resorts last year, despite the pandemic.

Bay Briefing is written by Kellie Hwang and Anna Buchmann and sent to readers email inboxes on weekday mornings. Sign up for the newsletter here, and contact the writers at anna.buchmann@sfchronicle.com and kellie.hwang@sfchronicle.com.
A large, colorful mural of Stephen Zumbi Gaines loomed over a tight Oakland warehouse Sunday as the beloved musicians eclectic, rhythmic beats engulfed the hazy room where his closest family and friends paid tribute to a man gone far too soon.

I just hope we can carry on his legacy, said Jorge Guerrero, Gaines best friend since high school and longtime music partner, and not let the world forget who he was.

Gaines was a force in the Bay Area hip-hop scene, known as a prolific artist dedicated to improving the world around him through activism and music. He was 49 when he died Aug. 13 at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Berkeley, under circumstances that his familys lawyers say are suspicious.

While initial reports said he had asthma and was being treated for COVID-19, the cause of his death is under investigation by the Berkeley Police Department.

Outside the Sunday memorial, where sage leaves burned and people from many parts of Gaines world celebrated his life, lawyers Elizabeth Grossman and Lyn Agre said some brave witnesses have come forward regarding Gaines death, but they declined to provide details. The two are conducting their own investigation of the matter for Gaines family.

We feel concerned that something really terrible happened, and we have not been disabused of that notion, Grossman said. Lets put it that way.

Bronte Wittpenn/The Chronicle

Berkeley police responded to early morning calls on Aug. 13 from Alta Bates hospital about a patient involved in a physical struggle with nurses and hospital security officers. According to spokesperson Lt. Melanie Turner, the hospitals security officers reportedly had the patient pinned down. Turner declined to identify the patient by name.

Upon arrival, officers started handcuffing the involved person and determined that he needed immediate medical assistance, Turner previously said in a statement to The Chronicle. Police began lifesaving measures until Alta Bates staff were able to take over, she said, but unfortunately and sadly he was pronounced deceased on the scene.

Turner said the circumstances that led to the altercation were under investigation by detectives.

Gaines death has brought an outpouring of grief in the Bay Area hip-hop community, where he was a prominent figure for more than 20 years. He was a father of three who was most well known by the stage name Baba Zumbi of the Oakland duo Zion I.

Bronte Wittpenn/The Chronicle

Sundays memorial, originally planned for the Township Commons at Brooklyn Basin, was moved to a small Oakland event space and limited to just close family and friends because of COVID-19 concerns. The memorial was streamed online.

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.

As she waited for the event to begin, Robyn Twomey, a photographer who collaborated with Gaines for 20 years, said he always pushed the artistic envelope. She said he was vulnerable and daring  and inspired others to be, too.

He didnt ask light questions, she said. And he was never above you. He was always right there with you.

Guerrero described his own unfathomable amount of pain and grief at the death of his longtime close friend. They had been collaborating on music since they met in high school, he said, and hes heartbroken over all that they should have had left to create together.

Its like somebody stabbed me in my heart, Guerrero said. Im proud to hear his legacy, but it hurts to hear it at the same time.

Trisha Thadani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tthadani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @TrishaThadani
Bay Area leaders expressed enthusiasm and relief that the federal government gave full approval to Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine, a milestone that could lift public confidence in the shots and inspire more vaccine mandates. San Francisco has become the first major city in the United States to require proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 for a variety of high-risk indoor activities  and Mayor London Breed has hinted at more stringent verificiation requirements. The first days of school in Oakland and San Francisco brought expected cases of COVID-19 in classrooms, sparking confusion and concern among families. Coronavirus cases and hospitalizations appear to be plateauing in the Bay Area, though they remain at worryingly high levels.

Resources on COVID-19 and Californias reopening: For detailed maps and new city-by-city Bay Area data, check out The Chronicles Coronavirus Tracker. To get regular updates on our coverage, sign up for our coronavirus newsletter.

Latest updates:

Leaked Chico State data used to promote vaccine exemption requests: The records of about 130 students at California State University, Chico who requested a religious exemption from the COVID-19 vaccine has been posted online after an apparent data breach, the Associated Press reports. The personal information was on a spreadsheet that appeared on an anonymous message board providing tips for others to claim the exemption: State purely religious reasons only, the tip read. Do not mention anything else.

California Academy of Sciences to require proof of full vaccination: Beginning Aug. 27, the Academy will require proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of a scheduled visit for all guests ages 12 and up. The policy will not apply to customers under the age of 11 who are not yet eligible for vaccination. While the current San Francisco Department of Public Health mandate does not require museums to implement a proof of vaccination policy at this time, as a scientific institution the Academy remains deeply committed to following the latest science and ensuring the health and safety of our visitors, staff, and community, the organization said on its website, adding that masks are still required for all regardless of vaccination status.

Over 180,000 U.S. children infected with COVID in the past week: There were over 180,000 new pediatric COVID cases in the week ending Aug. 19, reaching levels of the previous winter surge of 2020-21, according to data collected by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Children accounted for 22.4% of reported weekly COVID-19 cases nationwide for the same period. Cases in children have increased exponentially with over a four-fold increase in the past month, rising from about 38,000 cases the week ending July 22 to 180,175 the past week. Nearly 4.6 million children have tested positive for COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic, with children accounting for 1.6% to 3.6% of hospitalizations in reporting states.

Cruise ships are a bad place for the unvaccinated, says CDC: People not vaccinated against the coronavirus should not be on cruise ships, where they face a high risk of getting COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. The virus that causes COVID-19 spreads easily between people in close quarters aboard ships, and the chance of getting COVID-19 on cruise ships is high, the agency said in its latest guidance. The agency urges unvaccinated people and those at increased risk of severe illness to avoid travel on cruise ships, including river cruises, worldwide, regardless of vaccination status.

White House to review findings on COVID origins this week: White House press secretary Jen Psaki said during a briefing Monday that President Biden will receive a review on the origins of COVID-19 by Tuesday, but it may take a few days for an unclassified version of the report to be made available to the public.

San Francisco schools report 64 COVID cases in first week of reopening: San Francisco public schools reported 64 student cases and six staff cases in the first week, which started on Aug. 16, out of nearly 63,000 children and adults. While San Francisco reported no in-school transmission when schools reopened in the spring, its unclear whether that will hold with the highly contagious delta variant.

S.F schools to boost supply of air cleaners in classrooms: San Francisco Unified School District announced Monday that it plans to send more portable air cleaners to classrooms that rely on open windows to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, in an effort to improve indoor air quality during fire season. Pending approval from the SF Board of Education, SFUSD will purchase additional portable air cleaners for a total cost of $2.9 million. Only 10% of SFUSDs 3,000-plus classrooms currently have portable air cleaners, according to the district.

United Airlines moves up vaccination deadline for employees: With the Pfizer vaccine gaining full FDA approval on Monday, United Airlines said its 67,000 employees in the United States will now be required to be fully vaccinated by Sept. 27 or possibly lose their jobs. United had previously set a deadline of Oct. 25 or five weeks from FDA approval of any vaccine, whichever came first. It is the only major carrier in the U.S. with a mandate in place.

With a full approval for the Pfizer vaccine, Bay Area leaders say greater acceptance and mandates could follow: Bay Area leaders expressed enthusiasm and relief that the federal government gave full approval to Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine Monday, a milestone that could lift public confidence in the shots and spur more companies, universities and local governments to make vaccinations mandatory. Read the story here.

San Jose city employees must show proof of vaccination starting today: San Jose city employees must show proof of vaccination or submit weekly negative coronavirus test results starting today. Employees who do not have an exemption and do not follow the new requirement may be placed on unpaid leave. Vaccination remains the best and most effective tool in preventing COVID-19 and its harms; evidence shows that even against the delta variant, fully vaccinated individuals have substantial protection against severe illness, hospitalization, and death, the city said in a statement. Officials said about 81% of city employees are vaccinated so far.

Chevron to mandate vaccinations for some workers: San Ramon oil and gas giant Chevron said Monday that some of its employees would be required to get a COVID-19 vaccine, the New York Times reported. Workers who travel internationally, expatriates and the companys workforce in the Gulf of Mexico, among others, will be required to get vaccinated.

FDA approval of Pfizer vaccine does not make it safe for children under 12: Officials from the Food and Drug Administration on Monday cautioned against the off-label use of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in children younger than 12. Despite gaining full approval from the agency for adult use, the vaccine is still only available to people as young as 12 under emergency use authorization. We want to reiterate, it is important that the unvaccinated get vaccinated where it is indicated, but we do not have data on the proper dose nor do we have full data on the safety in children younger than what is in the EUA, Dr. Janet Woodcock, the acting FDA commissioner, said during a briefing call on Monday. So that would be a great concern that people would vaccinate children because we dont have the proper dose and we dont have the safety data, nor do we have all the efficacy data, as well. We are not recommending that children younger than age 12 be vaccinated with this vaccine. It would not be appropriate.

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.

Pentagon and U.S. military make vaccination mandatory: The U.S. military will require all service members to be vaccinated against COVID-19 following the FDAs approval of the Pfizer vaccine. Were going to move forward, making that vaccine mandatory. Were preparing the guidance to the force right now, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said at a briefing Monday. And the actual completion date of it, in other words, how fast we want to see it get done, were working through that guidance right now.

New York City to mandate vaccinations for all public school staff: New York City Mayor Bill New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a vaccine mandate for all education department staffers, CNN reported, becoming the largest school system in the country to enact such a mandate. There will be no testing alternative. All school staffers must present proof of at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by Sept. 27.

Poll suggests majority of Americans support mask, vaccine mandates in schools: A majority of Americans said they support mask mandates for teachers and students in K-12 schools, according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. About 6 in 10 Americans surveyed support compulsory mask-wearing and about the same amount said they support mandatory vaccinations for teachers and eligible students.

Pfizer vaccine gets full approval from FDA: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted full approval to the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine Monday. The approval is the first coronavirus vaccine to receive a full approval from the FDA, as opposed to an emergency authorization. The vaccine will be marketed as Comirnatyl, the FDA said. The public can be very confident that this vaccine meets the high standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality the FDA requires of an approved product, said Acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock in a statement.

Moraga cop dies of COVID: Moraga Police Department Corporal Kevin Mooney died of COVID-19 and related complications on Saturday, the police department said. He was 58 years old. Mooney joined the department in 2013 and previously worked Contra Costa County Sheriffs Deputy for 21 years. He is survived by his wife, children and grandchildren.

Benicia council to vote on reinstating mask mandate: The City Council of Benicia in Solano County will decide Tuesday whether to reimpose a mask mandate for everyone in indoor public places, regardless of COVID vaccination status. Solano is the only Bay Area county that has not put such a requirement in place, meaning only unvaccinated people are required to mask up indoors. But Mayor Steve Young told KTVU, I think the majority of the community is of the opinion that the direction the county is taking is not necessarily in the long-term health and safety interest of our community. Multiple media outlets report that if a council majority votes for the resolution Tuesday, Benicia would be the first city in Solano County to reinstate an indoor mask mandate, which would take effect immediately.

Diners ditching Bay Area restaurant reservations amid delta variant concerns: Concerns over the delta variant seem to be changing diner behavior, according to many Bay Area restaurant owners. They are reporting a significant drop in business and a rise in canceled reservations. OpenTable data shows that dining is down 16% in San Francisco compared to July, with business as low as 66% below 2019 levels. That makes San Francisco one of the hardest-hit dining cities in the country, according to OpenTable. Read the full story.

Doctors in Bay Area COVID wards battle delta, and fatigue: Driven by the delta variant and people not vaccinated against it, COVID-19 hospitalizations more than tripled throughout the Bay Area during the first two weeks of August compared with the first two weeks of July: from 302 to 1,043 average hospitalizations for the disease that many had believed would be largely vanquished by now. Cases are leveling off in the Bay Area, which means hospitalizations should stop rising soon, too. But the latest surge has hit exhausted doctors, nurses and other staff hard  especially because it was largely avoidable: Most people hospitalized for COVID are unvaccinated and are far less protected from severe disease than those who have gotten shots. Read the full story.

A look at 3 communities with some of Bay Areas lowest vaccination rates: As the delta variant fuels a new wave of infections, The Chronicle visited three ZIP codes with the lowest vaccination rates in the Bay Area to learn why fewer residents there are getting shots and what public health agencies and others are doing about it. The communities were west Antioch in northeast Contra Costa County, San Franciscos tiny Treasure Island and a southeastern section of East Oakland that includes flatlands and hills. Each place is unique, as are the reasons behind individual choices to delay getting a vaccine. Read the full story.
Bay Area health experts and civic leaders cheered the federal governments full approval of Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine Monday, a milestone that could lift public confidence in the shots and spur more companies, universities and local governments to make vaccinations mandatory.

This is good news, said Dr. George Rutherford, an infectious disease expert with the University of California at San Francisco. It removes an objection and legal obstacles to mandating a vaccine.

The approval applies to shots for people 16 and over. The Pentagon immediately announced it will press ahead with plans to require 1.4 million active-duty military service members to get the vaccine.

Chevron on Monday also announced a vaccine mandate for some of its workers, making the San Ramon-based energy giant the first major U.S. oil company to do so, in a possible early sign that this step by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration may prompt more in the private and public sector to impose vaccination requirements.

A growing chorus of public health experts have been clamoring for the FDA to act as the rampant, wildly infectious delta variant of the coronavirus has sent infections, hospitalizations and deaths upward again.

In California and the Bay Area, millions of residents were already subject to vaccination requirements by their employers, including the state, universities, hospitals, and more than a dozen cities and counties. They have moved ahead in the past several weeks, while FDA emergency authorization was in effect, without waiting on the agencys expected full approval. Employers that have yet to impose mandates  and those whose mandates are contingent on FDA approval  now will have greater ability to do so faster.

It will have a huge effect for the Bay Area because there are large swaths of California right next to us that have very low vaccination rates and our borders are porous, said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, a professor specializing in infectious diseases at UCSF.

Bay Area officials used the announcement to intensify their call for universal uptake of vaccination.

Ive heard from some folks who were waiting until full approval from the FDA to get a COVID vaccine, San Francisco Mayor London Breed tweeted. Well, today that happened with the Pfizer vaccine. Appointments are widely available and you can go get your shot today.

Before Monday, the Pfizer vaccine was in use under the FDAs emergency use authorization, a fast-track review process invoked during public health emergencies. Full approval involves a more rigorous review, including inspections of manufacturing facilities.

The formula made by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech now carries the strongest endorsement from the FDA, which has never before had so much evidence to judge a shots safety.

This approval is going to push federal agencies, workplaces and schools to mandate the vaccine, said Michael Stanton, a professor of public health at California State University East Bay. Its going to make it safer for society. Its also going to make it less of a debate. Over time, were going to hear less and less debate as people are forced to either keep their job or not get the vaccine.

Stanton said some estimates show about 5% of the U.S. population was waiting for full approval from the FDA to get their shots.

That is a huge swath of the population that is interacting with other Americans  going into grocery stores, schools and workplaces, swapping air with others, he said. Every single percent we can increase has almost an exponential effect on stopping the spread of the virus.

More than 200 million Pfizer doses have been administered in the U.S.  and hundreds of millions more worldwide  since December.

Still, many remain on the fence about vaccination. One common concern is a perception that the vaccine is still too new and was rushed. Health officials hope FDA approval can quell those concerns.

We hope this approval will bolster confidence in those whove been wavering, acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock said in a news briefing announcing the approval that comes as the U.S. battles the delta variants fierce attack, which is affecting mostly the unvaccinated.

For weeks we have watched cases go up at an alarming pace among individuals who are not vaccinated while the vaccinated are largely protected, said Dr. Tomas Aragon, director of Californias Department of Public Health. If you are not vaccinated, let this be the milestone that gets you there.

The city of San Francisco had made its vaccination requirement for 35,000 city employees contingent on FDA approval. With Mondays federal action, city workers now must be vaccinated by Nov. 1 unless they have a medical or religious exemption.

I think the overall percentage of those vaccinated in the Bay Area will increase slightly because were starting at such a high point, said Chin-Hong. But within certain communities, especially communities of color, where the rates are low, it will lead to a change in that because vaccination will be linked to the economy.

U.S. vaccinations bottomed out in July at an average of about a half million shots per day, down from a peak of 3.4 million a day in mid-April. As the delta variant fills hospital beds, shots are on the rise again, with a million per day given Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Just over half of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated with one of three options, from Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson. About 55% of Californians are fully vaccinated. The Bay Areas rates are higher, with most local counties at least 65% fully vaccinated.

Moderna has also applied to the FDA for full approval of its vaccine. J&J said it hopes to do so later this year.

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 Pfizer shot now will be known in the U.S. by the brand name Comirnaty.

This month, New York City, New Orleans and San Francisco all imposed proof-of-vaccination requirements at restaurants, bars and other indoor venues. At the federal level, President Biden is requiring government workers to sign forms attesting that they have been vaccinated or else submit to regular testing and other requirements.

Anxious Americans increasingly are on board: Close to 6 in 10 favor requiring people to be fully vaccinated to travel on airplanes or attend crowded public events, according to a recent poll by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

The FDA, like regulators in Europe and much of the world, initially allowed emergency use of Pfizers vaccine based on a study that tracked 44,000 people 16 and older for at least two months  the period when serious side effects typically arise.

Thats shorter than the six months of safety data normally required for full approval. So Pfizer kept that study going, and the FDA also examined real-world safety evidence in deciding to fully license the vaccine for people 16 and older, those studied the longest. Pfizers shot still has emergency authorization for those ages 12 to 15.

Even after hundreds of millions of shots, government tracking shows serious side effects remain very rare, such as chest pain and heart inflammation a few days after the second dose, mostly in young men.

As for effectiveness, six months into Pfizers original study, the vaccine remained 97% protective against severe COVID-19. Protection against milder infection waned slightly, from a peak of 96% two months after the second dose to 84% by six months.

That data came before the extra-contagious delta variant began spreading, but other data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that the vaccine is still doing a good job preventing severe disease caused by that mutant.

As for booster shots  which the government is planning to distribute starting in the fall  the FDAs licensure doesnt cover those. The agency will decide that separately, and already allows Pfizer or Moderna boosters for people with severely weakened immune systems. However, FDA approval does give doctors leeway to prescribe an additional shot on an off-label basis.

Both Pfizer and Moderna are studying children under 12, with data expected in the fall.

The Associated Press and Chronicle staff writer Trisha Thadani contributed to this report.

Aidin Vaziri and Catherine Ho are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: avaziri@sfchronicle.com, cho@sfchronicle.com
Jack Hirschman, a scholar and translator in nine languages who threw over a career as a college professor for the life of a proletarian North Beach poet, died Sunday at his home on Union Street in San Francisco.

With his push-broom mustache, weathered face, wild hair and outlandish hat, Hirschman was what you looked for in a bohemian, and he lived the part in a single room in the old hotel above Caffe Trieste. Even after marriage upgraded him to a cottage behind an apartment house, Hirschman still came to write every day in his room.

Hirschman was 87 and had given a reading at Foreign Cinema on Wednesday before coming down with a cold, his wife, Agneta Falk, a poet and calligrapher, said Sunday. Cause of death is undetermined.

It is devastating to the local community because Jack was a friend to everybody,  Beat Museum founder Jerry Cimino said on Sunday. Jack was too young to be considered a Beat but he knew them all, and his reach and influence went far beyond San Francisco and California. He was always approachable, and a word of recommendation from Jack could launch a poets career.

A former San Francisco poet laureate, Hirschman enjoyed a publishing career that lasted more than 50 years and more than 100 volumes, though half of them were translations.

The most important thing as a poet is that I worked for the Communist movement for 45 years, and the new class of impoverished and homeless people, he said in a 2018 interview to inform this obituary, while lying on his double bed on the fourth floor of a walk-up, overlooking Columbus Avenue.

Much of his work was put out by small publishers, often as small as Hirschmans room, outfitted with a copy machine and stapler, and a print run of 150 copies. One of my presses, he said, is this room you are sitting in.

If he was not in that room, Hirschman was usually around the corner in Caffe Trieste, his face hidden beneath a floppy hat and behind a double espresso. It was here that he wrote his first San Francisco poem, in the early 1970s, not long after hed been fired from the faculty of UCLA for antiwar activism.

He wrote a poem in Russian, then translated it to English, as follows: You are not a slave/And I am not a machine/And this aint no opium den, comrade.

On the success of that, he wrote a poem a day in Russian for 12 years, in addition to two poems in English as his daily output. The poems piled up. His best known work, The Arcanes, was published in three volumes of 1,000 pages each. Volume four is coming.

Jacks a very American voice, the late Lawrence Ferlinghetti, poet and co-owner of City Lights, once said. He certainly aims to be the voice of the people  of course, he would define the people in Marxist terms.

Though Hirschman was often labeled a Beat poet or a street poet, he preferred to think of himself as a working-class labor poet who never stopped working.

He was not at all ambitious, said Falk, but I dont know anyone who wrote as much as he did.

Well into his 80s, Hirschman was the curator of the Tuesday poetry readings at the North Beach branch of the San Francisco Public Library.

Hed always get it started by offering up a fresh poem, delivered with the nasal twang of his native New York. He read with a ferocity, as if he were still trying to get the people to rise up against the state. Following the free reading, he would lead the procession up to Specs 12 Adler Museum Cafe, where he sat at a round table with the ever-dwindling supply of North Beach poets, for pizza and beer.

Jack would hate to have his poetry classified as agitprop, said Ferlinghetti. He raises it above agitprop by the emotion he puts into it.

Even lying on his bed on a weekday afternoon, Hirschman could muster deep emotion for a reading of Path, the poem he said hed most like to be remembered for.

Go to your broken heart, he began. If you think you dont have one, get one. To get one, be sincere. Learn sincerity of intent by letting life enter because youre helpless, really, to do otherwise.

Hirschman was born Dec. 13, 1933 and grew up in the Bronx, New York. His mother would read to him The Shadow by Robert Louis Stevenson and that taught him to love the sound of words. At age 12, he wrote and sang his first poem, The Bells of Freedom. He fell hard for Hemingway and sent him a writing sample. Hemingways response was later published as Letter to a Young Writer.

I cant help you kid, Hemingway wrote. You write better than I did when I was 19. But the hell of it is you write like me. Thats no sin, but you wont get anywhere with it.

Heeding these words, Hirschman went the route of academia, attending City College of New York where he learned to speak Latin and Greek while being radicalized on the streets of Manhattan.

He claimed to have attended Dylan Thomas last public reading before he died in New York, in 1953.

Hirschman wrote his thesis on Finnegans Wake, by James Joyce, and earned his BA in 1955. He earned his Ph.D. from Indiana University, where he published his first volume of poetry, A Correspondence of Americans, in 1960.

In 1954, he married a City College classmate, Ruth Epstein, and they had two children, David and Celia.

He moved the family from Indiana to New Hampshire, where he taught at Dartmouth College, then across the country to UCLA, where he was hired as an assistant professor of comparative literature. He was let go for encouraging students to resist the draft during the Vietnam War.

I became a Communist when I was fired from UCLA, he 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.

What did it was the translation he wrote for A Rainbow for the Christian West, by the Haitian Rene Depestre. A reading from that translation is in the Pacifica Radio Archive.

Hirschman had a family to support but he left academia and never went back, retreating instead to Venice where he did nothing but write poems, translate poems and paint for four years.

Hirschman and Esptein were divorced before he moved to San Francisco, in 1972, arriving at the tail end of the prolific poetry years known as the San Francisco Renaissance. Hirschman lived first in the now-defunct New Riviera Hotel, where he began his long association with Caffe Trieste.

Like jazz musicians, Hirschman was better appreciated abroad.

They worship him in Europe, said Falk, a Swedish poet and illustrator. Fame has crept up on him.

Falk met Hirschman when he gave a reading in London. Hirschman liked to say she moved into his single room where they lived for 10 years but she said that was just talk. They lived in her larger place on Broadway, before moving to the cottage on Union Street.

In 2007, Hirschman was named poet laureate of San Francisco.

During his inaugural address, Hirschman promised to help organize a three-day poetry festival in San Francisco.

Theres a poet, as we know, behind every espresso cup here in San Francisco, he said in closing his remarks. Many write in anonymity, even clandestinely. Yet everywhere the human poetic soul knows how to deconstruct power.

Hirschman was a founding member of the Union of Left Writers of San Francisco and a member in good standing of the Union of Street Poets. He called himself a working-class labor poet and did not like being labeled a Beat. Being labeled a bohemian he would grudgingly allow.

Of course Im a bohemian, he said in his last interview. Look at this room.

He was predeceased by his son, David, who died of leukemia in 1982. Survivors include his wife Agneta Falk of San Francisco and daughter Celia Hirschman of Oroville.

Sam Whiting is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: swhiting@sfchronicle.com Instagram: @sfchronicle_art
It should have been an exciting morning for Freshta Kohgadai, whose daughter started second grade, in person, on Monday in Alameda. But as she dressed her child for school, listening to her animated chatter, Kohgadais focus was elsewhere, checking WhatsApp and Viber on her phone for updates from her family in Afghanistan.

I was trying to share her excitement but I was in fear of what might have happened to our family, Kohgadai said. I was so scared that they have been kidnapped or shot by the Taliban.

She watched in horror over the weekend as the Afghan leader, Ashraf Ghani, fled the country and Taliban leaders seized Kabul, completing their rapid advance through the provinces as American troops were drawn down. Chaotic scenes of people trying to flee Kabul, reports of the Taliban conducting revenge attacks and large images of women being painted over flowed out of the country, heightening the fears for those with loved ones in Afghanistan.

Weve not been able to sleep for the past two months, Kohgadai said. Were constantly waking up in the middle of night and checking our phones. What province got taken over? Are my family members OK? 

With the 11-hour time difference between California and Kabul, Kohgadai wakes each morning to a flood of messages awaiting her, as night falls in Afghanistan. Its the anxious reality that thousands of Afghan Americans across the Bay Area have been living these past two months.

In Fremonts Little Kabul, Najib Kohistani sat down to eat a traditional rice and beef meal after doing some shopping at the Afghan Khorasan Market. It was a taste of the country he left 10 years ago  the country where his family remains, now in fear of what could happen after the Taliban seized Kabul amid the departure of American troops.

The U.S. was there and we were feeling safe, Kohistani, 35, said Monday. But now we have nothing.

His family was one of the many who went to the airport in Kabul on Sunday hoping to catch a plane out of Afghanistan, fearing for their lives. But they couldnt make it onto a flight. He said he has slept only three or four hours in the past three days. At a volleyball game yesterday with other local Afghans, the group stopped playing early because they were so upset.

They were crying, Kohistani said.

As fears rise worldwide for the safety and well-being of Afghanistans women, girls, LGBTQ and other minority groups, President Bidens speech Monday infuriated the Afghan diaspora and those who have followed the decades-long war.

Robert Crews, Afghanistan expert and professor of history at Stanford University called the presidents speech shockingly callous. He said Biden painted a disingenuous picture where the U.S. presence in Afghanistan was akin to that of the lifeguard at the pool simply trying to keep the raucous kids from drowning.

We emboldened the Taliban, we legitimized them, we inadvertently armed them, (and) we looked away as they were allowed to be reconstructed on Pakistani territory, Crews said.

Biden repeated that the United States was not in Afghanistan for nation building. He said, It is wrong to order American troops to step up when Afghanistans own armed forces would not.

Kohgadai, 33, was livid as she listened to the president.

This is 100% not a civil war, she said. The Taliban do not belong to Afghanistan, they are being brought in by Pakistan.

When Kohgadai talks to her family members there she hears the fear, the resignation that life as they knew it is gone.

They look at me and say You have a voice, you have the freedom to amplify our voices.

Another Afghan American resident of Hayward, photographer and activist Mojghan Latify, felt increasingly frustrated as she talked to relatives in Afghanistan.

My cousin in the Balkh Province said that he has no future anymore, and I told him, Dont say that, have hope. All we can tell them is have hope, Latify said.

Yet as the weeks have passed and her relatives have become more afraid, she is running out of positive affirmations.

It gets awkward day after day talking to them.

So Latify decided to organize a protest which uses a hashtag: #STOPKILLINGAFGHANS and includes the positive message she said she wants to send: Afghans want peace.

As word of the protest spread in the local Bay Area Afghan community, she heard from many people who felt the same way she did. They say thank you for putting this together. She quickly got word out to gather on Wednesday afternoon outside Hayward City Hall. She hopes others will join in, too.

The Afghan community has been there for Black Lives Matter, for Palestinians and in return we would like to have everyones support, she said.

Rona Popal, executive director of the Afghan Coalition in Fremont, which provides social services and support to Bay Area Afghans, said families have been coming to the coalition seeking help, desperate for information or to find ways to bring loved ones to the U.S.

We are physically here, but mentally, we are in Afghanistan, Popal said.

There are fears that women and girls especially will be targeted, that they will be taken out of work or school, harassed, jailed, raped or killed, some said.

Theyre worried about their families, whats going to happen to them, said Popal, who lived in Afghanistan until 1977. They have a future, they want to live and they dont want that to be undermined.

At the Castro Valley offices of Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Dublin, people were lining up, socially distanced, to request help with visas to get family members out of Afghanistan. Swalwell said his district had a unique connection to Afghanistan, with what he said was the largest Afghan American population in the country.

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.

People are heartbroken, they are sad, theyre anxious, theyre scared.

He said his office is working to get three main groups of people eligible to come to the U.S. out of Afghanistan: Those who have filed for a special immigrant visa, those eligible and who have yet to file, and potentially American citizens who may be non-embassy personnel.

He said his staff was working to get those people connected to the U.S Department of State and to hopefully get them to the airport in Kabul, part of which is currently guarded by U.S. troops.

The ground truth is that the situation is changing every second, he said.

Many fear a new refugee crisis will spill out of Afghanistan. Halima Kazem, a lecturer at San Jose State University, came to the Bay Area as a refugee baby from Kabul in 1980. She was one of the first waves of Afghans to come to the United States, and in the decades since, due to civil war in the late 1980s, and then the first Taliban takeover, more waves of immigrants arrived. Kazem says the world should brace for a new exodus from the country.

I go back and forth between anger and sadness, she said. Seeing Kabul had fallen was devastating.

Kazem spent almost a decade living and working in Afghanistan, training women to be journalists and even writing journalism curricula for colleges there. She worries that the Taliban will target journalists and scholars, people she knows well and has worked with for years. We dont know how the Taliban will react to them and we dont want to wait to find out.

Kazem has begun to gather her colleagues at colleges around the Bay Area.

I suggested to them that we start a network for scholars at risk, professors and academics who cant get out of Afghanistan who are going to be targeted because thats what the Taliban wants  they want to drain the intellect and knowledge, Kazem said.

Freshta Kohgadai cant stop thinking about her sister-in-law in Kabul who is single.

She is trying to pretend she is married to someone, she is single and very scared, Kohgadai said.

Reports are emerging that girls over 12 and single women are being taken by the Taliban to serve as wives for its fighters.

Yet as she waited for her second-grader to come home from her first day of school, Kohgadai felt relieved for the time difference between Alameda and Kabul. Her relatives would hopefully have been asleep when President Biden spoke, one less chance to feel betrayed. Kohgadai says her family are not angry at the U.S. military being removed, but more for the manner it was done. It gave them no real chance to prepare for what was to come.

Chronicle staff writers Chase DiFeliciantonio and Andy Picon contributed to this report.

Deepa Fernandes is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: deepa.fernandes@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @deepafern
Mrinal Mohit could have lived anywhere he wanted in San Francisco. But the former Facebook senior software engineer chose Bernal Heights for a few reasons. It was quiet, but close enough to more active neighborhoods like the Mission where he could easily meet up with friends. It was also close to the highway, so he could easily commute to work in the South Bay.

And there was another, less quantifiable aspect of Bernal Heights Mohit loved.

It has that community feel, the 28-year-old, who now works for a startup, told The Chronicle. There will be weekend barbecues. ... It definitely has a feeling that in this neighborhood a lot of people know each other.

Its clear that Bernal Heights is a desirable neighborhood, for all these reasons and more. The Chronicles housing guide describes the neighborhood as a food lovers hub with a small-town feel. Redfin named it the hottest neighborhood in America in 2014.

So why isnt it growing?

Last week, the U.S. Census Bureau released its second batch of data from the 2020 decennial census, which included detailed population counts of cities down to the block level. The data shows that over the last decade, all of San Franciscos neighborhoods in the top half in income  those neighborhoods with median incomes over $125,000  saw at least a 5% growth of inhabitants. Except Bernal Heights. The neighborhood was one of just six S.F. neighborhoods that recorded fewer people in 2020, though it essentially stayed flat, dropping by just 12 people. (This is among the 39 neighborhoods defined by the San Francisco Planning Commission.)

Theres at least one obvious reason why Bernal Heights  which is bounded by Interstate 280, Highway 101, Cesar Chavez Street and San Jose Avenue, according to the Planning Commission  has not ballooned in size, and it will be familiar to anyone with a grasp of San Franciscos public policy: Since 2010, the neighborhood has constructed almost no new housing.

But Bernal Heights situation is extreme even for San Francisco. In 2019, the planning district associated with the neighborhood created fewer net housing units than any of the citys 14 other planning districts except for South Central and Ingleside, according to a report by the San Francisco Planning Commission. And from 2011 through 2019, the district built zero new buildings with more than four housing units, according to that report.

An illustrative recent example: A project to create four new duplexes in the neighborhood was finally approved in late 2019  41 years after the developer, Patrick Quinlan, had originally purchased the property.

The demographics of the neighborhood stayed relatively constant over the decade. In 2020, about 45% of residents identified as non-Hispanic white, 26% as Hispanic, 18% as Asian, and about 3.5% as non-Hispanic Black. The Hispanic and Black populations of the neighborhood declined slightly from 2010 to 2020, while the share of Asian residents and those who identify as two or more races increased. The white population stayed about the same.

Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle

Danielle Lazier, a real estate agent who has sold more than 160 homes in Bernal Heights and who lived in the neighborhood for 11 years, said Bernal Heights consists of densely packed single-family homes on small lots. This layout creates a cozy, communal village feel, she told The Chronicle.

The press that Bernal Heights got during shelter-in-place, little businesses popping up, community members helping each other, I think really (shows) that, she said.

However, the neighborhoods layout has also made it difficult to build new housing, particularly multifamily buildings  creating a shortage thats sent home prices soaring. Home values in Bernal Heights have grown by almost 240% since 2000, according to data from Zillow, making it one of the neighborhoods with the fastest appreciating real estate values in an already expensive city.

Part of the reason its so hard to build new homes in Bernal Heights is that the neighborhood has its own building code. The code, which aims to encourage development in context and scale with the established character of the neighborhood, prohibits buildings over 30 feet tall in most circumstances  making the construction of large apartments close to impossible.

It is fairly restrictive, Dan Sider, director of executive programs at the San Francisco Planning Department, told The Chronicle about Bernals building code. He added that the code includes restrictions on building depth and mass as well as height, and until recently required each new home to have a parking garage.

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.

These codes have essentially locked in Bernal Heights status quo of tightly packed, small single-family homes with some duplexes sprinkled in. This layout makes the neighborhood feel much denser than it is; multiple sources described Bernal as dense or tight, when in fact its not among the citys most dense neighborhoods.

Todd Lappin, a longtime resident of the neighborhood who used to run the neighborhood blog Bernalwood and now manages a neighborhood Facebook page, agreed that the neighborhoods housing layout may help explain its lack of growth. But he said thats probably not the only factor at play.

My hypothesis about the slight population decline in Bernal is that its about lower density within the existing housing that we have, he said.

Essentially, Lappin believes that over the last decade or so, older, larger families have been moving out more often. Younger adults, who tend to live alone or in smaller families  a couple with their first baby, say  have been disproportionately moving in.

The data doesnt necessarily support this theory. While youths under 18 make up an increasingly small percentage of San Francisco, Bernal Heights actually gained youths as a share of its population since 2010. People under 18 now make up almost 17% of the neighborhoods population, up from about 16.6% in 2010.

Susie Neilson is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: susie.neilson@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @susieneilson
Google maps

A 33-year-old man died early Sunday after his car collided with another vehicle and then crashed into a building in East Oakland, police said.

The man was driving a Toyota Prius eastbound on International Blvd at 3:13 a.m. when he collided with an Infiniti FX35 sport utility vehicle traveling southbound on Seminary Avenue, Oakland police said in a news release. The Oakland residents vehicle then struck a building before coming to rest, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
An area designated for a bust honoring Huey P. Newton, the co-founder of the Black Panther Party, in Oakland was vandalized, according to his widow.

The space at Ninth and Center streets in West Oakland currently has a sign announcing the bust will be placed there and a boulder where the bust will be installed on Oct 24. The bust will be at the intersection where Newton was gunned down in 1989, commemorating the founding of the Black Panther Party 55 years ago.

Newtons widow, Fredrika Newton, said she went to the intersection to place flowers and a candle there Sunday evening to commemorate the anniversary of his death. The street was renamed for him during Black History Month.

When she arrived to the site, both the boulder where the bust will go and the city of Oakland sign announcing it were vandalized. On the sign, spray paint read, F u. Dana King is fraud.

King is the artist sculpting the bust.

The incident comes less than year after the vandalism and theft of the Breonna Taylor bust in downtown Oakland. A ceramic sculpture of Taylors face in Latham Square with the phrase Say Her Name Breonna Taylor on a plaque vanished last December.

I was floored, Fredrika Newton told The Chronicle about the incident. I was saddened, I was shocked.

Fredrika Newton, the founder and president of the Huey P. Newton Foundation, said it felt like a violation that someone would desecrate the space.

King, an East Oakland artist and former journalist, also denounced the act.

Whoever did this, for whatever reason, is someone who doesnt understand what the Black Panther Party stood for, King said. And that was community service. To try to tear down that legacy with paint is a childish and disrespectful act.

Newton and King both said they did not call police to report the incident and dont plan to.

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.

Its just something that needs to be discussed in community, King said. This is a sacred space.

Fredrika Newton and King said they plan to move forward with unveiling the bust on Oct. 24 with a multi-block party to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the founding of the Black Panther Party.

The Black Panther Party, founded in Oakland in 1966, was controversial in its heyday. Its members openly carried weapons to monitor police brutality and got into firefights with law enforcement. The group also embraced social programs. In 1969, the group launched a program to feed children at St. Augustines Episcopal Church in Oakland. By the end of that year, the program expanded to 19 cities and served 20,000 children nationwide. The federal government later modeled its school breakfast program after it.

King finished bronzing the sculpture just two weeks ago  and said Panthers from as far as Chicago helped develop the vision for what it would look like. Thats one reason King said their group wont be silenced.

Nothing surprises me anymore, King said. It saddens me. There are people who live to divide, and if the government couldnt divide the Panthers, somebody with a spray can surely isnt going to succeed at that.

Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani
ATLANTA (AP)  Police found three people fatally shot early Sunday outside a nightclub in Atlanta, which over the weekend surpassed 100 killings this year.

The three men, ranging in age from 35 to 45, were slain at about 12:30 a.m. Sunday in a parking lot used by several businesses, including a nightclub that was open at the time, Atlanta police told news outlets.

Lt. Daniel Genson, the homicide commander for Atlanta police, did not identify the victims and gave few details about the shootings or what led to them. All of the violence happened outside in the parking lot, he said.

Currently, we are at the preliminary stages of the investigation to identify witnesses and what other evidence is available, Genson told reporters.

A few hours before the triple shooting, a man died at an Atlanta hospital after being found with a gunshot wound in a car Saturday afternoon. Police said that person was Atlanta's 100th homicide victim since Jan. 1.

Police have announced no arrests in either of the shooting incidents.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and other Republicans have seized on rising crime in Atlanta and other cities as a top issue headed into next years elections. They're trying to persuade voters that Democrats can't be trusted to deal with crime.

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, a Democrat, last month released a $70 million plan for curbing crime and violence in the city that includes hiring 250 additional police officers and installing 10,000 streetlights in area with a history of violent crime.

Meanwhile, district attorneys from some of Georgias largest counties have launched a new group to share ideas on combating rising crime. The Urban District Attorney Coalition's members include top prosecutors from Fulton and DeKalb counties, which share Atlanta between them, as well as judicial circuits that include Macon and Columbus.

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.

Atlanta police investigated 157 homicides in 2020, the highest number of killings in the city in more than two decades, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. By comparison, the department documented 99 homicides in 2019.

This June, Atlanta police reported a nearly 60% increase in homicide cases compared to the same period last year. In 2020, police reported the city's 100th homicide on Oct. 1.
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Ukraine's president on Monday vowed to do all he can to bring back the peninsula of Crimea, annexed by Russia seven years ago, and urged international allies to support the effort.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke at the Crimean Platform summit, called by Ukraine to build up pressure on Russia over the 2014 annexation that has been denounced as illegal by most of the world. Russia's relations with the West have sunk to post-Cold War lows as a result.

In his opening remarks, Zelenskyy promised to "do everything possible to return Crimea, so that Crimea, together with Ukraine, becomes part of Europe.

For this we will use all possible political, legal and first and foremost diplomatic means," Zelenskyy said, adding that Kyiv needs effective support at the international level.

Top officials from 46 countries and blocs took part in the summit, including from the United States, the European Union and Turkey. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denounced the summit as an anti-Russian event.

Zelenskyy charged that Russia has turned Crimea into a military base" and "a foothold for Russia to boost its influence on the Black Sea region. He said Moscow has tripled its military presence in Crimea.

In April, Russia increased troops near its borders with Ukraine, including in Crimea, eliciting international outrage.

On June 23, Russia said one of its warships in the Black Sea fired warning shots and a warplane dropped bombs in the path of the HMS Defender, a British Royal Navy destroyer, to chase it away from an area near Crimea that Moscow claims as its territorial waters. Britain, which like most other nations didnt recognize the annexation of Crimea, insisted the Defender wasnt fired upon and said it was sailing in Ukrainian waters.

All 30 NATO member states were represented at the summit.

Occupation of Crimea casts doubts on the effectiveness of the entire international security system, Ukraine's president said. Without restoring the trust in it, not a single state can be sure that it wouldn't become the next victim of occupation.

The summit was opened by a Ukrainian singer of Crimean Tatar descent, Susana Dzhamaladinova, known as Jamala. In 2016, Jamala won the Eurovision song contest with a song about the 1944 mass deportation of Crimean Tatars on Soviet dictator Josef Stalins order. Leaders of the Crimean Tatar community attended the summit.

We need to show the world that ethnocide of Crimean Tatars continues in Crimea, Jamala told The Associated Press. People in the world should know that we're barred from congregating even for honoring our ancestors.

Ethnic Russians, who form a majority of Crimeas 2.3 million people, widely supported the Russian annexation, but Crimean Tatars, who accounted for nearly 15%, opposed it. An estimated 30,000 Crimean Tatars have fled Crimea since 2014.

Some who stayed have faced a crackdown by Russian authorities, who banned the Crimean Tatars main representative body and some religious groups. About 80 Crimean Tatars have been convicted and 15 activists have gone missing, according to Amnesty International.

My people have once again found themselves under the rule of an occupation regime, which in many aspects is even worse than the Soviet one, Mustafa Jemilev, leader of the Crimean Tatar community, said at the summit. This forum is a ray of hope about a peaceful de-occupation for my compatriots.

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.

Top Western officials at the summit relayed messages of support for Ukraine. "Ukraine will never be alone in that Crimea is Ukraine," EU Council President Charles Michel said. "Unfortunately, Russia continues to act in ways that multiply the negative impact of the annexation. The continued militarization of the peninsula heavily affects the security situation in the Black Sea region."

The summit aims at bringing the issue of Crimea back into the global spotlight, said Volodymyr Fesenko, Ukrainian political analyst with the Penta Center think tank.

Ukraine wants to make Russia nervous and bring the Crimea card to the international negotiating table, Fesenko told the AP. Kyiv reminds both Russia and its international partners about the price Russia should pay for Crimea.

Participants of the summit signed a joint declaration, which, Zelenskyy said in his closing remarks, clearly stipulates the non-recognition of Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea and contains commitments to consider imposing additional political and diplomatic sanctions on Russia in the case of further aggression.

___

Daria Litvinova in Moscow contributed.
I have conflicting thoughts on the California recall election coming up Sept. 14. While I am not happy with everything Gov. Newsom has done, overall I would say he is at least OK and definitely does not deserve to be recalled, especially so close to an election. For that reason I will be voting no on the recall.

However, I am bothered by the way his campaign has been approaching this election. It has refused to endorse a replacement candidate even as polls are showing this recall has about a 50/50 chance of succeeding. It is as if his personal political career is more important than the state.

I find this rather Trumpian, in fact. He could be helping some wackadoo Trumpster become governor with only 15% or so of the vote!

The damage of such a result could be huge. I think, even as we vote no on the recall, we should vote for a backup candidate just in case it passes. As Kevin Paffrath seems to be the leading Dem candidate, I would suggest we all vote for him, just in case.

Andrew Long, San Francisco

Revealing look at Elder

Thank you for the illuminating article, Elder in book: Tolerate mens taunt (Front Page, Aug. 20). I suppose it should come as no surprise that the front-runner in the GOP recall crowd shares views on women that are throwbacks to the Stone Age: Women should tolerate sexual harassment in the workplace for fear of being held back in their careers and harming camaraderie; smart women should overlook boorish behavior; employers have a right to discriminate against pregnant women; and women are ignorant about politics, economics and current events.

He dismisses numerous allegations of sexual assault against Donald Trump, and is himself accused of waving a gun at his ex-fiancee. The idea that he could slip into office with as little as 20% of the vote is positively chilling and undemocratic.

John Brooks, Fairfax

Time to work together

Many of us who have been working for decades alongside San Francisco families agree with Seth Brenzel, as quoted in Heather Knights story: Theres so much work to be done, and we should be uniting and working together (Bay Area & Business, Aug. 13).

As a member of long-standing family advocacy groups in San Francisco, I am thrilled to see more families becoming active in public education and policy, but I take issue with Knights premise that effective family advocacy is new. Our organizations have collectively been involved with dozens of organizing efforts and policy wins for parents over the years. And we are concerned that rhetoric in the press and public dialog around education in our city increasingly pits families against one another, families against teachers, and city against the district. In order to truly put kids needs first, we must work across communities, listen deeply to family experiences and needs, and lift the voices of those farthest from power.

Working in coalition, we invite deeper partnerships that lean into vulnerable conversations about political, economic, racial and community differences. The work of healing is something that we must all own as part of collaborating to advance equity in our schools and city.

Miranda Martin, San Francisco

We must help Afghans

The people of Afghanistan are among the poorest in the world. Now they are ruled by the Taliban. No matter who rules that land, the people need enormous help.

The Marshal Plan of the 1950s helped defeated Germany, Italy and Japan recover. Today, we can help the people of Afghanistan not only recover economically but provide food and medical care for the poverty stricken nation. We do not have to approve of the government to help the people.

Robert Cromey, San Francisco
Last March, Isaias Cervantes, a 25-year-old with autism, mental health conditions and hearing issues living in the small Southern California city of Cudahy, became agitated and upset with his family, allegedly after it refused to buy him a snack. Unable to calm him down, Cervantes sister called 911 to request that her brother be taken to a hospital.

Instead of a crisis intervention team, however, the 911 operator sent Los Angeles County sheriffs deputies to the scene. After speaking to family members and learning that Cervantes was unarmed and not dangerous, the deputies went to the house and immediately demanded that he come outside.

When Cervantes remained seated on the couch, the deputies went inside, instructed him to stand, grabbed him, and moved to handcuff him. In response to this force, Cervantes struggled with the deputies. They then shot him, claiming that he was reaching for one of their guns. Reports suggest the deputies made little effort to talk to Cervantes upon entering the house and attempting to handcuff him. Nor did they call a mental health team to address his situation after their initial commands were ignored.

Thankfully, Cervantes survived, but there is a chance that he could be paralyzed.

This incident, appalling as it seems, is not an isolated one in California.

Police violence against people with disabilities and mental health conditions has been an ongoing concern. There are no consolidated numbers on how many people with disabilities have been killed or badly injured by police  because police departments are not required to collect and publish this data. That said, a 2016 study estimated that roughly one-third to one-half of police incidents across the country in which force is used involve someone with a disability.

These incidents often happen when a concerned person calls 911 seeking help for someone experiencing a mental health crisis. Someone in a state of emotional distress, disorientation, or other forms of mental suffering can further deteriorate when confronted by police with orders they might not be able to understand and follow.

In 2020, an estimated 9% of killings by police in the U.S. occurred during these wellness checks. Meanwhile, research suggests that only a fraction  3% to 5%  of violent acts in the U.S. are related to mental health conditions.

Law enforcement, with its focus on compliance, is often ill-equipped to handle mental health crises. Instead of the stern arm of the law, warm, empathetic and reassuring responses have been shown to be most effective.

Thats why its imperative that authorities develop alternative responses to these situations  ones that are based in the community and generally do not include police.

Californias State Assembly took an important step to address this problem when it passed the Community Response Initiative to Strengthen Emergency Systems Act on May 28. This bill, AB118, which is on suspense in the state Senate, would enable community-based organizations to provide supportive responses to nonviolent emergency calls for people experiencing mental health crises or acute emotional distress.

The Crises Act will create a grant program for nongovernmental organizations to put in place noncoercive responses to people experiencing mental health crises as well as various social problems, including intimate partner violence, community violence, substance use disorder and natural disasters.

Experts have debated for a long time what these noncoercive emergency responses should look like and what actions need to be taken to ensure proper implementation.

In our estimation, emergency response teams should focus on the persons wishes for support instead of imposing treatment. Many mental health approaches, even without involving the police, still depend on coercion  forcing those in crisis to comply. Substituting police force with non-consensual treatment by mental health professionals is not the way forward. Mental health crises that do not constitute a security risk for third parties should be consensual.

This approach demands making community-based services available. These should include respite houses, in which the person in crisis is allowed to calm down, have a meal, a shower and a place to stay for a short period. Addressing basic needs is the best starting point for recovery, as many times everyday concerns and needs  such as a safe place to sleep, food or water  and the impossibility of satisfying them lead to escalation and more acute crises.

Services need to be of high quality and be flexible enough to allow people experiencing homelessness to benefit from them. They should include harm reduction approaches to drug use, not criminalization.

Adopting AB118 is the first step toward making these ideas a reality, and toward a more humane model of addressing mental health crises.

The California Legislature passed a similar bill in 2020, but Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed it, citing concerns that the administration of the grant program fell under the Office of Emergency Services. The current bill places management and oversight with the governors office.

It needs to become law.

To help people with mental health conditions, empathy and community-based services, not the use of force, are what is needed.

Carlos Rios Espinosa is a senior disability rights researcher and advocate and John Raphling is a senior U.S. researcher, both at Human Rights Watch.
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Wildfires are making life extremely difficult at Lake Tahoe right now.

Though no fires are burning inside the lake basin, dense concentrations of smoke are blotting out the sky and surrounding mountains, making the famously sapphire-blue lake appear as a hazy shade of orange to those standing on its shores. Air sensors in the area are maxing out above 500 AQI  meaning the air is hazardous and likely to impact healthy people  and many locals are in the process of evacuating their homes even without an official order to do so.

At the same time, the parks and forests where people go to hike, camp, mountain bike and find solace are being systematically shut down because of the threat of wildfire and the heightened need to keep the few mountain roadways clear for first responders.

Instead of dropping off their 2-year-old son for his first day of preschool in North Tahoe, Mike Rogge and his wife loaded up their car Monday morning for an 8-hour drive south to Palm Springs to evade the hazardous air. Rogge, a magazine publisher, woke up with a scratchy throat and decided with his wife to evacuate  for at least a week.

Were not the first ones to leave, and I imagine we wont be the last, Rogge said. I guess this is just part of living here now. Its sad.

For the past week, firefighters have been battling the Caldor Fire (106,000 acres, 5% contained) along with the Tamarack Fire (68,000 acres since mid-July, 82% contained) south of the lake basin while Tahoe hotel operators and business owners have been fielding endless phone calls from prospective visitors about the state of the region as the Labor Day holiday weekend approaches.

The most common question of course is, is it going to be smoky on X day? Which is difficult to answer, said Andy Chapman, chief marketing officer for the North Lake Tahoe Convention and Visitor Bureau. Were telling people, it shifts and things change.

Air quality in Tahoe has fluctuated over the past month. Some days have been tolerable, with relatively clear air and blue skies. But as the Caldor Fire, which ignited Aug. 14, continues on its path toward South Lake, and wind pushes its smoke into the basin, its becoming an increasingly undesirable place to be.

The regions tourism representatives say they arent actively promoting the area to visitors but arent dissuading people from coming either. Instead, theyre filling their websites and social media feeds with pertinent information on the smoke and fire impacts.

We dont want to be in the business of suggesting whether they should or shouldnt come up because we dont know about their health conditions or how they might be affected, said Carol Chaplin, president and CEO of the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority. It changes so much. We dont know whats going to happen.

A key challenge of coping in a smoked-out Tahoe is its lack of indoor activity spaces. Its a destination for outdoor lovers with few air-conditioned venues on the scale of shopping malls or movie theaters  save for the casinos in Nevada, which are open with few COVID restrictions.

But with fires blazing out of control, the regions outdoor areas are being closed off.

Last week, the U.S. Forest Service shut down all national forests in Northern California through Sept. 6. That includes the ones surrounding Tahoe, where some of the regions most popular trails, campgrounds, lakes and backcountry areas are located.

Also last week, the California Department of Parks and Recreation banned campfires at campgrounds in the High Sierra, which includes the Tahoe and Truckee regions. The agency followed up over the weekend by shutting down its trio of popular West Shore parks  D.L. Bliss, Ed Zberg Sugar Pine Point and Emerald Bay  until further notice to help reduce traffic and visitation in the area.

Caltrans has closed a section of Highway 50, the main artery from the Bay Area into South Lake Tahoe, to assist fire crews fighting the Caldor Fire.

Rogge said the smoke, the fires and the mounting shutdowns should spell a clear message to anyone thinking about driving to Tahoe.

Please leave Tahoe alone right now, he said. All of our roads need to be used by firemen. All our resources need to go to them. I understand that this is a tourism community, but it is a community first.

In spite of the hazards, the rate of hotel cancellations isnt abnormally high, tourism leaders say. It seems that Labor Day visitors are waiting to make the call on their trips until the last minute.

Seth Reynolds of Bend, Ore., had planned to spend next week in South Lake mountain biking and attending a pair of outdoor Phish concerts with his girlfriend. However, with Mondays dangerously high air quality index and the trajectory of the Caldor Fire, hes not sure hell go. The wind and weather forecasts arent encouraging, though he hasnt given up hope of salvaging his vacation.

Im trying to be cautiously optimistic, he said. All you can do is take it day by day.

Gregory Thomas is The Chronicles editor of lifestyle & outdoors. Email: gthomas@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @GregRThomas
WASHINGTON  For nearly two centuries, the U.S. Capitol Police have been a D.C. force, protecting the marble hallways of Congress. Now, for the first time, theyre branching out, and theyve chosen to start in San Francisco and Florida.

The impetus? The level of threats in these places to members of Congress, the agency says.

The move comes amid a reckoning for the historically obscure law enforcement agency. Lawmakers have called for change in the wake of the Jan. 6 insurrection, in which a mob of Donald Trumps supporters violently overwhelmed police and stormed the Capitol building in a bid to overturn his election loss.

Officials familiar with the expansion plan, though, say it was in the works even before that watershed event, a reflection of a hyper-partisan environment that has yielded an increasing risk of domestic terror and violence, particularly from white supremacist-linked groups.

The news about opening regional offices was tucked into a news release marking six months after the riot. The office in San Francisco will be one of two initial expansions of the police force beyond D.C., the other in Tampa, Fla. More are expected.

At this time, Florida and California are where the majority of our potential threats are, a Capitol Police spokesperson said in a statement. A regional approach to investigating and prosecuting threats against members (of Congress) is important, so we will be working closely with the U.S. Attorneys Offices in those locations.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California echoed that the agencies would work in concert.

We welcome our partners in the U.S. Capitol Police into the federal law enforcement community in Northern California and look forward to working with them to investigate and prosecute individuals and groups who engage in threats or acts of violence against members of Congress, their staffs, and other related criminal activity, Abraham Simmons said.

Few details about the new mission have been made available, even to the lawmakers who represent the Bay Area in Congress and will benefit from the additional protection. It is not clear when the outpost will open or how many staff it will have.

The new office will be situated with the Northern California Regional Intelligence Center, which as one of 80 federally recognized fusion centers now serves hundreds of law enforcement agencies, local governments and the private sector by combining federal and local personnel to process threats to the region, according to a source familiar with the plans who was not authorized to speak to the media.

The Florida office will be located in a similar center in Tampa, according to the Tampa Bay Times, which spoke with a Florida lawmaker who expected that office to open in a matter of weeks.

Illinois Rep. Rodney Davis, the top Republican on the House Administration Committee, said the expansion was planned well before Jan. 6 and was a response not only to threats, but also the high travel costs incurred by staffers who must travel between Washington, D.C., and the states.

California has the biggest congressional delegation in the House, at 53 members, and is also home to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco and GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield, both of whom have full-time protective details from the Capitol Police. Many other members of the California delegation have national profiles and have become lightning rods in the political debate.

This has been something theyve been planning, Davis told The Chronicle in a brief interview in the Capitol. Theyre not talking about opening up their own individual offices. Theyre talking about working within the existing fusion centers. So its not as though theyre going to stand up an agency. Theyre going to work hand-in-hand with local law enforcement.

The Northern California Regional Intelligence Center currently has roughly 85 staff, largely provided by local and federal law enforcement agencies, said Mike Sena, the fusion centers executive director.

Many come with expertise in specialties like intelligence, threat assessment or public health, and the center also trains officials in those areas.

The idea of the fusion center is to allow agencies to cooperate and more quickly spot, assess and stop threats. Speaking generally, Sena said the Secret Service and U.S. Marshals offer an example of what the Capitol Police might be looking to accomplish, as those agencies already work with the center in their mission to protect elected and government officials nationwide.

Whether its the community that that official lives in or a community theyre visiting, the ability to identify that threat is at a local level, Sena said. Having people at a local and regional level that are working with federal, state, local law enforcement day-to-day alleviates a whole lot of bureaucracy as well as lack of communication by folks that might be in Washington, D.C., or folks on the ground locally.

Sena said that after Jan. 6, his center has sometimes processed 60 threats of harm to individuals or the public a day.

Davis said plugging into the fusion centers made sense for the Capitol Police, calling the regional offices a value add and noting the ongoing threat analysis.

Most of the Bay Area lawmakers reached by The Chronicle were aware that the Capitol Police intended to open a California office, but had not been given any details. Officials at Pelosis office said they would not discuss anything related to security operations.

Oakland Rep. Barbara Lee, who was the subject of death threats and tens of thousands of pieces of hate mail for voting in 2001 against the authorization to go to war in Afghanistan, said she had heard that the California office was a response to the level of threats coming from the state. She said she supported the plan.

Thats an important step to take, she said.

Tal Kopan is The San Francisco Chronicles Washington correspondent. Email: tal.kopan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @talkopan
The people who answered their doors knew about the effort to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom, but only with the vague awareness that comes from scrolling past a post on social media or spotting an advertisement on TV.

Even though they leaned toward keeping him, their feelings about the first-term Democrat didnt seem strong, and most had no idea that their ballots would be arriving imminently, with less than a month to return them before the Sept. 14 election.

So on a recent Saturday morning, as Jennifer Shanoski canvassed the blocks of an Oakland neighborhood near Brookdale Park, knocking on the doors of union households, her goal was to remind them  no, it was much more urgent than that  scare them into voting against the recall.

The Republican Party is trying to take over our governor position and were really concerned about what that will do to the minimum wage, to workers rights, to the right to unionize, Shanoski, a community college chemistry professor and president of the Peralta Federation of Teachers, told a janitor at one home.

As county elections officials finish sending out mail ballots to every registered voter in California, the campaign to prevent Newsom from being removed from office before the end of his term is increasingly driven by a strategy of instilling fear  fear that he could lose, fear of the consequences if he does, fear that voters arent engaged enough to care.

Jungho Kim/Special to The Chronicle

Several public polls in recent weeks have shown that, while Newsom retains the support of a majority of the heavily Democratic California electorate, the race is too close to call among likely voters because Republican enthusiasm is so much higher.

Road to the Recall This story is part of an occasional series looking at key issues for voters who will decide on Sept. 14 whether to remove Gov. Gavin Newsom from office. For all of The Chronicle's coverage of the recall election, go to sfchronicle.com/recall. See More Collapse

Daily fundraising emails warn Newsom supporters that the governor could be booted out of office, handing over control of the biggest, bluest state in the country to conservative talk radio host Larry Elder. Leading the field of 45 replacement candidates in the polls, Elder has campaigned on reversing mask and vaccine mandates tied to the coronavirus pandemic, has downplayed the climate crisis and the effects of racism, and would seek to eliminate the minimum wage.

We defeated Trump, but we did not defeat Trumpism, Newsom said during a recent campaign event, once again evoking the former president who is deeply unpopular in California.

Those themes are reflected even in an independent effort like the statewide canvassing operation coordinated by the California Labor Federation. Focus groups that the organization conducted this summer with union members, a reliable and crucial voter base for Democrats in the state, found that participants were not particularly concerned about Newsoms chances of surviving the recall; consequently, they did not feel a strong motivation to vote.

Now, volunteers like Shanoski are going to door-to-door in cities across California to spread the message that the election is a threat to union jobs, benefits and other gains theyve made in recent years. The outreach  which also included Shanoski telling voters to keep an eye out for their ballot in the mail and to return it as soon as possible  could be crucial in an off-cycle special election that many Californians were not expecting.

The Alameda Labor Council, which represents 135,000 union members in Alameda County, is walking precincts on Tuesdays and Saturdays, as well as phone banking on Wednesdays.

The message of why the recall is important is the easy part. Finding the voters is whats difficult, political director Becky Rhodes said on the morning of Aug. 14, as a few dozen volunteers gathered at the councils Oakland headquarters for training and to pick up campaign material.

Nearby, one practiced a message that she thought would resonate with longtime public employees: Remember Arnold? Its going to be much worse than that.

Over the course of three hours, Shanoski visited nearly 60 homes that dotted a map on a phone app. She couldnt reach anyone at the vast majority of them and left flyers stuffed into locked gates or unanswered doors.

The final apartment on her route had a small sign on the door listing President Trumps Coronavirus Guidelines for America. Shanoski decided to skip it, unsure how she would be received. But she ultimately spoke to half a dozen voters, which Shanoski said was a good ratio in her experience.

Its very, very minimal what I know, said Noe Vega, a 31-year-old project manager at a furniture dealership and the first voter who answered the door for Shanoski.

Vega, who cradled his three-month old baby, had seen criticism of Newsoms pandemic response on social media, but he had also read that a Republican would take over if the governor was recalled and that this wouldnt be as beneficial for California.

Your ballot should drop any day now. I got mine yesterday. And then theyre due by September 14, so send it in as soon as you get it, Shanoski said. Youve got to vote just the one question  no  and then youre done.

Vega agreed to vote no, then conceded he wanted to do his own research.

I would rather look into it a little more. My gut feeling is that, yeah, most likely I will. But to be fair, I would look into it a little more, Vega said. He added that he didnt think any of Newsoms rivals would have done a better job with the pandemic: The fact that he stayed there and kept his head high says a lot about him.

The Republicans are running this to take a seat that they cant win legitimately. So its a way to sort of take over a seat of leadership in California, Shanoski said. So as you do your research, thats our perspective on it.

Shanoski was out knocking on doors because, she said, shes scared herself. Like many of her friends, she said, she didnt initially think the recall was a real danger. Then a few weeks ago, she saw the polling data.

It was a kick of motivation for Shanoski. The Saturday morning shift was already her third precinct walk against the recall, and she planned to return every weekend until the election.

Thats more than Shanoski would typically volunteer during a campaign, because she is a single mother. Midway through the route, she stopped to call her children  a 12-year-old son and a 9-year-old daughter  to check that they were okay and had brought a grocery delivery inside.

But nothing about this election has felt typical to Shanoski. Shes concerned about the compressed timeline leading up to the vote; the labor canvassing operation is still ramping up as ballots are dropping. And a recent email query she sent to members of her union yielded only a handful of volunteers.

That tells me people arent feeling very fearful, she said. We need to talk to them, though, and tell them why they need to be fearful.

Some Democratic voters, like Concepcion Aranda, have received the message loud and clear.

Aranda, 85, a retired health educator, already knew she needed to return her ballot by Sept. 14 because of the blitz of anti-recall advertisements airing during the nightly news. She said she liked Newsom because he had done a lot of good things for Latinos.

I always vote, she said in Spanish.

Jungho Kim/Special to The Chronicle

At another home, a woman who declined to give her name said she would leave the second question on the ballot blank, declining to choose a potential replacement. The governors campaign has encouraged Democrats to adopt precisely this strategy.

Were not voting for anybody but Newsom. We do not need anything to get worse, the woman said. Then she thanked Shanoski for canvassing: Weve been trying to think of things we could do.

Talk to all your friends and just make sure they turn it in, Shanoski said. I think people dont realize.

Yes, we are going to, the woman replied. It feels dire.

That sense of gravity seemed not to have sunk in yet for most of the people that Shanoski encountered. Khalia Hom, 26, couldnt even remember whether the commercials she had seen on TV were in favor of or against the recall.

Hom said she would vote no  her mother, who works for the county, would make sure she turned in her ballot, she said.

Some people, of course, didnt like the shutdowns, masks and everything like that. But Im a nurse, so Im all for that stuff, Hom said.

She wasnt worried about the outcome of the election, because she expected health care workers would turn out for Newsom in recognition of his efforts to take care of Californians during the pandemic.

I dont think hell lose, in my opinion, she said.

Shanoski interjected.

Get worried, she said, and tell all your friends to vote.

Alexei Koseff is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: alexei.koseff@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @akoseff
Classrooms in San Francisco public schools that open their windows to curb the spread of the coronavirus may soon get more portable air cleaners to keep kids from inhaling unhealthy smoke from wildfires  a step that some parent groups welcomed but said was long overdue.

The San Francisco Unified School District on Monday announced a plan to spend $2.9 million on air purifiers, saying that only a fraction of its classrooms have them. If the school board approves the purchase, up to 3,750 machines would be distributed on a rolling basis as soon as possible, according to district spokesperson Laura Dudnick  covering all classrooms but not all offices.

Since the districts return last week to in-person learning after more than a year of pandemic shutdown, many classrooms have been opening windows to increase ventilation and reduce the risk of coronavirus transmission. The virus spreads more easily in enclosed spaces, evidence has shown. The district so far has reported 64 coronavirus cases among nearly 63,000 students and staff, but those cases likely reflect infections that mostly occurred not in schools but in the broader community, experts said.

Meanwhile, with ferocious wildfires becoming more frequent in recent years, the Bay Area has endured far more days of poor air quality. Last year, the region logged a record 46 Spare the Air alerts, when pollutants pushed the air quality index to unhealthy levels. So far this year, two such alerts have been issued, according to regional air quality officials.

According to the San Francisco Department of Public Health, schools can remain open when air quality is poor but should prioritize maintaining healthy air quality indoors by closing windows or decreasing intake of outdoor air. City health guidance also says portable air cleaners (HEPA filters) can be helpful.

With the highly contagious delta variant now the dominant coronavirus strain, Kimberly Prather, a UC San Diego professor who studies aerosols, also recommended air purifiers for indoor spaces  especially in places like schools where natural ventilation might be poor due to building age.

When outside air is clean, Prather recommended cracking windows and opening doors. With delta, you need to invoke everything you have, she said.

According to San Francisco Unified officials, about 10% of the districts 3,000-plus classrooms currently have portable air cleaners. By contrast, some other school districts in the Bay Area, including Oakland Unified, already have air purifiers in every room.

With increased concerns about managing indoor air quality in light of wildfires and COVID and given our early tests, we have been preparing to purchase even more portable air cleaners, San Francisco Unified Superintendent Vincent Matthews said in a news release.

According to San Francisco Unified, each school space with more than one occupant has at least one operable window, a portable air cleaner or mechanical ventilation. Officials said that before students returned to in-person learning this school year, a review found 160 of the districts elementary, middle and high school classrooms lacked operable windows.

The district said it has already provided 775 air cleaners for classrooms and offices without operable windows or mechanical air systems.

During the summer, officials also tested the electrical capacity of older buildings and found that they may use the portable cleaners when air quality is poor while discontinuing other electrical items that are lower priority, Dudnick said. On days with good air quality, those sites will continue to open windows.

Devabhaktuni Srikrishna, a parent of twins who attend Commodore Sloat Elementary School, said he joined forces with other parents last spring to get their childrens classrooms ready for wildfire season after it became clear the school district wasnt installing air cleaners there.

Parents at our school had to address initial doubts and concerns, navigate technical and fundraising hurdles, and work directly with the school staff to install appropriately sized HEPA air cleaners in every classroom before they run out of stock as they typically do during fire season, he said in an email.

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.

Srikrishna said parents were concerned they wouldnt be able to purchase air cleaners for every classroom, but 23 families and one anonymous corporate matching donor donated enough to make it happen.

He said the announcement that San Francisco Unified would deploy portable air cleaners throughout the district is wonderful and welcome news if it means every classroom in SFUSD will receive a HEPA air purifier of sufficient size. But he added that the decision is coming too late for our school since we already organized these purchases, and we were not informed this was under SFUSD consideration.

With (the delta variant) and wildfires surging as school has already begun, this $2.9 million ... should really have been funded and executed in the spring, Srikrishna said.

Still, Srikrishna called the move better late than never.

The school district said it will not accept donated air purifiers because they need to meet certain electrical and filtration standards, but donations can be made to Spark* SF Public Schools, the nonprofit that supports campus improvements.

Kellie Hwang is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kellie.hwang@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @KellieHwang
This article was first published on NerdWallet.com.

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The idea of anything creeping in unnoticed is enough to unnerve the bravest among us.

In the world of personal finance, its the subtle, sneaking changes in spending habits that may be most chilling. The phenomenon is known as lifestyle creep, and its one of the biggest  and most overlooked  barriers to building long-term wealth. However, once you know what to look for, there are strategies for keeping lifestyle creep far, far away.

Folks agonize over negotiating pay or maximizing their returns by just a couple percentage points, but it's lifestyle creep that kills a lot of folks, says Ami Shah, a certified financial planner in Washington, D.C., and CEO of Steward, a financial planning software tool.

What is lifestyle creep?

As income rises throughout your career, often expenses will, too. More disposable income might mean signing up for another streaming service or eating out more frequently. Or, it could mean buying a second home or a new car.

And its here, when your expenses continuously increase in lockstep with your income, that lifestyle creep can set in, Nilay Gandhi, a CFP and senior wealth advisor with Vanguard, said in an email interview.

On the one hand, its only natural to increase your spending as your income rises. After all, we work hard to buy and do the things we love in life. Its when that higher spending happens mindlessly, rather than intentionally, that it becomes problematic, says Mary Lyons, an investment advisor and founder of the Benchmark Income Group in Dallas.

Perhaps youre spending more so your lifestyle can match that of your friends and family, or because you feel its expected of you. You may even feel that by working so hard for it, youve earned the right to spend more.

However, these thoughts and feelings may be signs that your higher spending is happening automatically, rather than intentionally, Lyons says.

I think theres something to be said for living a life of design, as opposed to a life of default, Lyons says. And when you allow lifestyle creep to take over, then you end up with a life of default.

Lifestyle creep can happen to anyone, no matter their income. Shah says that when her organization asked high earners (those with salaries of $100,000 to $500,000) to name their top financial challenge, nearly half stated an inability to save enough.

This highlights an important fact: Theres no outearning lifestyle creep.

Why is lifestyle creep destructive?

One of the most detrimental side effects of lifestyle creep is that spending more inevitably means saving and investing less. This problem is particularly acute for younger savers, who have the most to gain from investing early.

Thanks to compounding, even small investments have the potential to grow significantly over a long enough period, said Gandhi, who's based in Malvern, Pennsylvania. But if your spending consistently increases with your income, theres none left for investing.

For older investors planning for retirement that's about five to 10 years away, lifestyle creep brings a different danger. These savers tend to be at the peaks of their careers in terms of salaries and bonuses, and often spend more lavishly on luxury items, such as homes and cars.

However, if theyve been earning that high salary for only a short period, their savings may not be sufficient to continue that lifestyle in retirement.

This either forces them to work longer or cut expenses in retirement  and both options can be difficult to stomach, Gandhi said.

Lifestyle creep can also lead to additional life stresses, Shah says. For example, if your lifestyle becomes dependent on a certain level of income, what happens if you want to switch jobs or careers?

Ive seen far too many people who are stuck in a job they hate because of this, Shah says.

How to prevent lifestyle creep

There are several ways to keep lifestyle creep at bay, but Shah, Gandhi and Lyons all agree the best place to start is to create a financial plan and a budget, and stick with both.

For Shah, the first line of defense is not overspending on housing, often someones highest expense. Generally, she suggests clients keep housing costs below 25% of their net income. And, if the amount theyre saving falls below 20% of their net income, that could be lifestyle creep crawling in.

Lyons suggests paying yourself a weekly allowance to remain intentional about your spending, no matter how much money you make. She recommends her clients  even those earning more than $1 million a year  set up programs to automatically pay essential expenses. And then with whats left, they decide on an appropriate budget on a weekly cadence, rather than monthly.

And what that does is really get rid of impulse spending, she says.

For example, if youre out of money on Thursday and your allowance comes on Friday, its easy to decide to put off a purchase. But if you have to wait two weeks for a paycheck, its much more tempting to charge it and pay it off later.

Earning a raise is a great opportunity to ward off lifestyle creep, Gandhi said.

He advised putting a certain percentage of the raise  75% is a good rule of thumb, he said  into a pot that will help you meet your financial goals, whether thats retirement, stock investing, saving for a down payment or paying off debt. Then, whatevers left is yours to use however you want.

This approach still allows you to reap instant gratification from every raise, he said. You have 25% to allocate to your budget as you see fit while ensuring 75% is put towards your goals.

This, he said, is one of the best ways for anyone to set themselves up for financial success while evading the subtle-yet-destructive march of lifestyle creep.

Chris Davis writes for NerdWallet. Email: cdavis@nerdwallet.com.

The article Lifestyle Creep: Eroding Your Savings, One Raise at a Time originally appeared on NerdWallet.
California's highest court has overturned the murder conviction of death row inmate Edward Wycoff, whose 2009 Bay Area murder trial turned into an infamous media spectacle.

At 4:30 a.m. on Jan. 31, 2006, Paul Rogers, 48, and Julie Wycoff Rogers, 47, were stabbed and bludgeoned to death inside their home on Rifle Range Road in El Cerrito. Two of their three children were home during the assault, and witnessed a man "dressed in black and wearing a motorcycle helmet" killing their parents.

Authorities quickly honed in on Julie Rogers' brother Edward, who worked as a trucker in Citrus Heights. According to authorities, the crime was highly premeditated, with Wycoff allegedly going so far as to get Lasik eye surgery so he could see better inside the dark home.

Once in custody, Wycoff did not deny killing the couple. At times, he boasted about how he'd improved the lives of his relatives by doing so: He griped that the Rogers were "too liberal" and complained they didn't invite him over for Christmas.

Wycoff, who was 40 when the case went to trial, served as his own attorney and subjected his nephew, Eric Rogers, to a brutal cross-examination on the stand. During the cross-examination, Wycoff told the judge, "The parents raised these kids wrong. Since the parents were eliminated, I think Eric has cleaned up his life."

Eric Rogers said life was "incredibly difficult" for him after his parents died.

In his closing argument, Wycoff bragged to the jury, "I'm a special kind of man. I choose to better everyone else around me." The jury took just 45 minutes to convict him of two counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances and 70 minutes to vote for the death penalty.

Monday's decision by the California Supreme Court overturns this conviction. In the ruling, the court said the Contra Costa County judge presiding over Wycoff's original trial failed to hold a necessary mental competency hearing.

State Supreme Court Justice Martin Jenkins wrote in the ruling that he and his six colleagues on the bench were "presented with substantial evidence of defendants mental incompetence  specifically, his inability, due to mental illness, to consult rationally with counsel  and therefore the court was obligated to initiate the competency procedures set forth in sections 1368 and 1369, which it failed to do."

If Wycoff is found competent to stand re-trial, prosecutors can retry the case, the court ruled. He has been housed at San Quentin, awaiting execution, since December 2009. He is now 52.

At the time of Wycoff's original trial, Eric Rogers said both he and his parents opposed the death penalty. "Killing and hatred is something I associate with my uncle, not my parents," he told reporters.

"I think it would be wrong for you to get the death penalty," Rogers told Wycoff while on the stand. "You, specifically, because you are mentally childish and immature for your age."
Walking up to the Devils Slide Trail from the south parking lot, youre immediately made aware of two circumstances: The pathway in front of you is, in fact, incredibly steep  and the area surrounding you is environmentally protected.

As a transplant from Texas, the Devils Slide Trail had always existed as a point of fascination, if for no other reason than its coastal vantage points. For one, its not exactly a trail, per se  its a 2.6-mile out-and-back hike along a disused stretch of Highway 1. But chief among my enchantments about the pathway was its unusual geography and history thats steeped (pun intended) in landslides.

For almost 100 years, this cliffside promenade that straddles the precipitous hills of San Pedro Mountain confounded motorists, railroads and engineers alike. Constant landslides would punish the road beneath it, forcing it to close for sometimes months at a time. The trail thousands now stroll weekly began life as an ill-fated railway  a track that had the intention of moving people in luxury as they would day-trip down the coast.

A poorly conceived brainchild of the Ocean Shore Railway Company, the initial plans included 73 miles of railroad between San Francisco and Santa Cruz. The kicker? Construction began in 1905. A year later, the 1906 San Francisco earthquake sent tracks along Devils Slide Trail plunging into the ocean. Nevertheless, building and planning went forward; the railway eventually opened in 1908, but this specific segment overlooking the Pacific coastline that I had found myself fawning over never became a part of this network. And by 1920, the contentious railroad firm, which later became immersed in lawsuits, went bankrupt and shut down  leaving the companys namesake railroad, the Ocean Shore Railway, defunct. (These infrastructure relics now dot the upper stretches of the Devils Slide Trail, should you move your gaze up the hillsides.)

Matt Charnock

There are two access points to get onto its pair of trailheads: one at the north parking lot, the other at the south parking lot. Though because its a simple out-and-back trail, and the crest of the Devils Slide is smack-dab in the middle of each starting point, it really doesnt matter which one you decide to park at or bike toward or take public transit to. Alas, because Ive become increasingly reliant on Apple Maps, I merely typed Devils Slide Trail into the app and surrendered all navigational operations to Siri.

Youll arrive at 3:32 p.m., she crooned over my cars sound system. It would be about a 35-minute drive from my TenderNob residence. (Or a 2-hour-and-10-minute bike ride, or an hour-and-a-half commute via hopscotching a few Muni lines and boarding a SamTrans bus.)

To my elated surprise, parking at either was a simple, straightforward and free affair. I had picked a glorious summer day  the sun kissing the deep blue ocean, only a collection of thin clouds blurring the horizon ahead  and there were still more than a half dozen or so spots available. If youre like me and must empty your bladder every 45 minutes, youll be happy to learn there are two public restrooms at both the north and south parking lots. Working water bottle refilling stations are included at each to help you replenish.

Matt Charnock

As history  as well as this pieces prelude would denote, the trail is calf-spasmingly steep; might I recommend doing some lower-body stretching before tackling the trail. The Devils Slide Trails dangerously craggy cliffsides are further highlighted by the reinforced aluminum railings and yellow warning markers lining the walkway. Though its tempting to rest on or even ascend over these barriers, which would then allow you to stand on small patches of level terra firma (thats susceptible to crumbling in an instant), just stay on the trail. Dont for a second entertain the idea of leaving it.

Before turning into a hiking passage, the Devils Slide Trail area was the scene of dozens of auto accidents and deaths over its eight decades as a highway, as well as the scene of at least nine major landslides. The area, too, was the backdrop of a horrible murder-suicide in 1967 involving a mother and her two children. And a man plunged to his death in 1997 after his van, carrying both him and his wife, went careening off the bluff; he was ejected halfway down the steep hillside  but died trying to descend in an attempt to save his wife after returning to the top. The rescue efforts to retrieve the bodies 400 feet below were met with collapsing granitic rock faces, the same stone found in the Sierra Nevada range.

So yes: Stay on the trail.

Matt Charnock

The trail itself doesnt elicit the need to wear proper hiking shoes. Your favorite pair of sneakers or open-toe sandals (or huaraches, as was the case for me) will suffice. When your legs and feet inevitably grow tired from walking up the paved road, feel free to plop a squat down at any one of the four or so scenic outlook posts. Benches populate those toward the peak of the Devils Slide Trail, giving you a National Geographic-like perspective of the fauna below.

Colonies of California sea lions can be seen sunbathing and generally living their best O Magazine lives atop the rocky outcrops right off the coastline. Curious and attentive bird watchers can spot seabirds  including common murres that nest along the hills and still remain sensitive to human activity  and the occasional Cooper's hawk and the sharp-shinned hawk feasting on a captured rodent.

Matt Charnock

Moreover, Devils Slide Trail offers perhaps one of the most scenic places this side of the Golden Gate Bridge to participate in some serious whale watching conducted on your own terms. Humpback, gray and blue whales comb the coast during mating and feeding seasons; observed humpback breaches are quite common here from December through May because these whales use this feat of aerial acrobatics as a means to communicate with other traveling individuals and families in their vicinity. (The science is still out as to what exactly theyre trying to say to one another, however.)

Returning to my Prius, sponging up every last inch of the panoramas in front of me, I found my prior-mentioned draw to the area satiated. I had finally made my way to this ominous, beguiling cliffside; my calves filled with lactic acid as I climbed the storied, steep saunter that overlooks a picture-perfect viewshed; and I managed to, at long last, quell my curiosities surrounding this stretch of Highway 1  and what it might feel like going up and down the repurposed roadway thats seen copious amounts of both life and death.

Find more information on location and access to the Devil's Slide Trail from San Mateo County Parks Department.
LAS VEGAS (AP)  Las Vegas police are investigating a shooting that left one person dead at a motel on the Strip.

Authorities say the shooting happened early Monday morning at a motel on Las Vegas Boulevard, near Four Season Drive.
SALEM, Ore. (AP)  Two new laws aimed at expanding voter access in Oregon are under fire from a conservative group that argues the changes will make state elections less secure.

Oregon Public Broadcasting reports people affiliated with the group Oregonians for Fair Elections have filed referendum petitions that, if successful, would ask voters to approve or reject the new laws next year. To do that, theyd need to collect 74,680 valid signatures in opposition to each bill by Sept. 24, a tight timeline that could be hard to meet as the state struggles with a resurgence of COVID-19.
BEIRUT (AP)  Millions of people in Syria and Iraq are at risk of losing access to water, electricity and food amid rising temperatures, record low water levels due to lack of rainfall and drought, international aid groups warned Monday.

The two neighboring countries, both battered by years of conflict and mismanagement, are in need of rapid action to combat severe water shortages, the groups said. The drought is also disrupting electricity supplies as low water levels impact dams, which in turn impact essential infrastructure, including health facilities.

More than 12 million people in both countries are affected, including 5 million in Syria who are directly dependent on the Euphrates River. In Iraq, the loss of access to water from the Euphrates and Tigris River, and drought, threaten at least 7 million people.

Some 400 square kilometers (154 square miles) of agricultural land faces drought, the groups said, adding that two dams in northern Syria, supplying power to 3 million people, face imminent closure.

Carsten Hansen, regional director for the Norwegian Refugee Council, one of the aid groups behind the warning, said that for hundreds of thousands of Iraqis still displaced and many more still fleeing for their lives in Syria, the unfolding water crisis will soon become an unprecedented catastrophe pushing more into displacement.

Other aid groups included Mercy Corps, the Danish Refugee Council, CARE international, ACTED and Action Against Hunger.

They warned that several Syrian provinces  including Hassakah, Aleppo and Raqqa in the north and Deir el-Zour in the east  have witnessed a rise in water-borne diseases. The areas include displacement settlements housing tens of thousands of people displaced in Syrias 10-year conflict.

CAREs regional chief for Mideast and North Africa, Nirvana Shawky, urged authorities and donor governments to act swiftly to save lives. The latest crisis comes on top of war, COVID-19 and severe economic decline, she said.

There is no time to waste, said Gerry Garvey of the Danish Refugee Council, adding that the water crisis is likely to increase conflict in an already destabilized region.

Severe water shortages have also hit Lebanon, which is mired in the worst economic and financial crisis in its modern history, where more than 4 million people  mainly vulnerable children and families  face critical water shortages in the coming days, the U.N.'s children agency warned last week.

In Lebanon, severe fuel shortages have also halted the work of thousands of private generators long relied on for electricity in the corruption-plagued country.

UNICEF called for urgent restoration of the power supply to keep water services running.

Lebanon's rivers are also heavily polluted. Activists have long warned about pollution levels caused by sewage and waste in the Litani River, the country's longest and a major source for water supply, irrigation and hydroelectricity.
MONTGOMERY, Ala (AP)  Alabama now ranks fourth in the country for the most new COVID-19 cases per capita, as medical officials hoped full federal approval of the Pfizer vaccine will persuade people to get vaccinated.

According to numbers compiled by Johns Hopkins University, Alabama ranked behind Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida,for the most new cases per capita in the past 14 days.

The Gulf states are pretty much continuing to be on fire, Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, director of the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

The FDA gave full approval to Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine Monday, potentially boosting public confidence in the shots. Alabama has one of the lowest vaccinations rates in the country, ranking slightly below Mississippi in the percentage of people fully vaccinated.

Dr. Paul Goepfert, director of the Alabama vaccine research clinic, said it will be hard to predict the impact of the approval, but added it might improve the vaccination rates by a few percentage points.

People can no longer say with a straight face that they won't take it because of lack of FDA approval, Goepfert said.

State health officials on Monday urged people to get vaccinated.

We have high levels of disease transmission in every county throughout the state. COVID-19 vaccination will help keep our communities safe and our children in school, State Health Officer Scott Harris said in a statement Monday.

The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Alabama has risen over the past two weeks from 2,829.14 new cases per day on Aug. 7 to 4,024.00 new cases per day on Aug. 21.

The Alabama Hospital Association on Monday said that 84% of adults hospitalized for COVID-19 in the state are unvaccinated.

Intensive care units, particularly in some areas of the state, are being stressed by the wave of mostly unvaccinated patients. A little more than half of all intensive care unit beds in the state are filled with someone with COVID-19.

Hospital officials as Springhill Medical Center in Mobile last week told WKRG that out of 102 hospitalized patients, seven were vaccinated.

Between breaths, they beg me for the vaccine. They beg me to save them. I just have to look at them and say, Its too late right now. We cant right now, but you keep fighting, nurse manager Abby Wilson told the station.
Arizona reported 2,632 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 but no new deaths Monday.

It's the first time in five days that the state Department of Health Services' daily tally of new cases has been below 3,000. This brings the pandemic totals for Arizona to 988,714 cases and 18,600 deaths.

The number of hospitalizations due to COVID-19 continues to go up and stands at 1,901. The last time it was that high was mid-February as Arizona was coming down from a winter surge.

Much of the U.S. is dealing with a resurgence of COVID-19 brought on by the delta variant. Hospitals and many medical professionals and some politicians are practically begging people to get vaccinated, since the vaccine in most cases prevents severe infections. School districts and states continue to butt heads over mask mandates.

Meanwhile, Monday marked the first day of fall classes at the University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University. They and Arizona State University are all requiring masks in certain indoor spaces.

University of Arizona President Robert Robbins emphasized during a weekly briefing that the campus mask requirement was not in defiance of any state law. Gov. Doug Ducey's executive order bans mask mandates at universities for unvaccinated students and staff.

We're not differentiating between vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, Robbins said.

The school will continue to encourage free testing even for vaccinated students and faculty. Robbins also said almost half of enrolled students have uploaded proof of their vaccination status.

In other developments:

 Embry Health, which oversees more than 50 COVID-19 testing sites in the state, is opening more locations by the week. Officials with the provider say demand for tests has increased tenfold. They said in a news release Monday that testing appointments went from around 1,000 on July 1 to 11,000 as of Aug. 18. They say the leap in testing parallels the spread of the delta variant.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP)  The number of COVID-19 patients on ventilators in Arkansas reached a new high on Monday as Gov. Asa Hutchinson said he hoped the full approval of Pfizer's vaccine would encourage more people in the state to get the shots against the virus.

The Department of Health said the number of virus patients on ventilators rose by 12 to 349, surpassing the previous high reached Saturday. The number of COVID-19 patients in the hospital increased by 42 to 1,411.

COVID-19 patients make up half of the state's intensive care unit beds, with 558 in ICU. There are only 22 ICU beds available in Arkansas, according to the Department of Health.

The state reported 30 new COVID-19 deaths and 986 new coronavirus cases.

Arkansas ranks fifth in the country for new cases per capita, according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University researchers.

Hutchinson, a Republican who chairs the National Governors Association, said he was pleased with federal regulators giving full approval to Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine. Hutchinson and other governors had been urging the federal government to fully approve the vaccine, saying it could help sway holdouts in their states.

Arkansas has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the country, with nearly 40% of the state's population fully vaccinated. Hutchinson has been holding town halls around the state aimed at increasing the state's vaccination numbers. The state on Monday reported 5,427 more doses of the vaccine were given.

One of the most common concerns I have heard is that the vaccines are not FDA approved, and Im hopeful todays approval will help combat vaccine hesitancy," Hutchinson said in a statement released by his office.

___

This story has been corrected to show the state on Monday said that 5,427 doses of the vaccine were given.

___

This story has been corrected to show the date doses were given.
BLACK RIVER FALLS, Wis. (AP)  A Black River Falls man killed himself during a traffic stop in western Wisconsin, police said Monday.

The Jackson County Sheriffs Office issued a news releases saying a deputy stopped 39-year-old Robert Goodbear of Black River Falls on Saturday night.

While the deputy was waiting for back-up to conduct field sobriety tests, Goodbear got out of his vehicle with a gun and shot himself while walking toward the deputy, the release said. Goodbear was taken to a hospital but died on Sunday.

The Jackson County Sheriffs Office has asked the Clark County Sheriffs Office to investigate.
Newer e-cigarettes and vaping devices appear to harm the functioning of blood vessels at levels similar to traditional cigarette smoke, a new lab study suggests.

The research, conducted in rats, also found one of the newer devices, which heats tobacco rather than burning it, delivered more than seven times the nicotine of earlier-generation e-cigarettes.

E-cigarettes use a cartridge with a liquid containing nicotine that generates an aerosol users inhale. The researchers also studied the effects of heated tobacco products and newer, ultrasonic vaping devices.

"When you inhale a suspension of particles or a mist, whether it is from tobacco or marijuana, whether it's smoke or aerosol, it all has the same effect," the study's senior researcher, Matthew L. Springer, said in a news release. He is a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine. "Our research reinforces the previous findings that vaping is not without harm, and it underscores the importance of counseling patients about the risks of vaping, because it does affect cardiovascular function."

The findings, presented this week at the American Heart Association's virtual Basic Cardiovascular Sciences Scientific Sessions, are considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Despite the popularity of e-cigarettes and vaping devices, knowledge is limited about what they do to heart health. So researchers sought to determine whether aerosols from different vaping products  regardless of flavor, nicotine amount or method of delivery  affected blood vessels in rats.

Specifically, researchers looked at how the products affected the function of the endothelium, a thin membrane lining the inside of the heart and blood vessels. The endothelium helps control clotting, blood pressure levels and immune function. Reduced endothelial function usually precedes the development of atherosclerosis, the buildup of fatty material on arteries, and it is often a predictor of a stroke or heart attack.

The study compared the effects of cigarette smoke and clean air with nine vaping products, including a "heat-not-burn" tobacco product, an ultrasonic vaping device, a previous-generation e-cigarette with free-base nicotine, and nicotine salt pods in three flavors.

After only one five-minute session of exposure, aerosols from all vaping products acutely impaired endothelial function in rats. Vessel dilation fell between 40% and 67% for all rats except the ones exposed to clean air.

The effect was comparable to the level of blood vessel impairment, 67%, caused by traditional cigarettes.

The researchers also measured nicotine concentration in the blood, finding it was 8.7 times higher in rats exposed to the heated tobacco product than in rats exposed to the ultrasonic device. The level from the heated tobacco product was 7.3 times higher than the previous-generation e-cigarette.

"We were not surprised when we saw the results for the heated tobacco products and previous-generation e-cigarettes," the study's lead researcher, Dr. Poonam Rao, said in the release. Rao is a postdoctoral fellow at the Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education at the University of California, San Francisco. "However, we were somewhat surprised to discover that the new ultrasonic vaping device also impaired flow-mediated dilation," an indicator of endothelial function and overall blood vessel health.

Rao said the new ultrasonic device has no heating coil, so theoretically it should be safer than e-cigarettes. "Yet even without the intense heating of the nicotine substance, this aerosol impaired vascular function like all of the other products."

Although the results are from an animal experiment, "it is known that e-cigarettes can impair vascular function in humans," Springer said. "If any mist or aerosol that rats inhale has this adverse effect, it will likely happen in humans, too."

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WASHINGTON (AP)  Brushing past moderates, House Democratic leaders tried to muscle President Joe Biden's multitrillion-dollar budget blueprint over a key hurdle Monday night, hoping to shelve for now an intraparty showdown that risks upending their domestic infrastructure agenda.

Tensions rose as lawmakers returned for the evening session and a band of moderate lawmakers threatened to withhold their votes for the $3.5 trillion plan. They were demanding the House first approve a $1 trillion package of road, power grid, broadband and other infrastructure projects thats already passed the Senate.

But as the evening dragged on the chamber came to a standstill and plans were thrown into flux as leaders and lawmakers huddled privately at the Capitol trying to broker an agreement.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi implored Democrats during a private caucus not to bog down and miss this chance to deliver on the promises Biden and the party have made to Americans.

Right now, we have an opportunity to pass something so substantial for our country, so transformative we havent seen anything like it, Pelosi said, according to a person who requested anonymity to disclose the private comments.

Pelosi told them it was unfortunate they were discussing the process when they should be debating the policy. We cannot squander this majority and this Democratic White House by not passing what we need to do, she said.

With Republicans fully opposed to the president's big plans, the Democratic leaders were trying to engineer a way out of a potentially devastating standoff between the party's moderate and progressive wings that risks Biden's agenda.

Pelosi's leadership sought to sidestep the issue by persuading lawmakers to vote to simply start the process and save the policy fight for the months ahead, when they will be crafting and debating details within the full $3.5 trillion budget proposal.

One by one, powerful committee chairmen urged their colleagues to move forward.

Theres a long way to go on legislative issues that are going to play out over the next month. But for the moment the argument here is about: Shall the House proceed," said Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass., the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.

It was unclear if the moderates were fully on board and as soon as one meeting broke, another private session was convened with them for further discussion. What had been a night of scheduled votes came to an unexpected standstill.

Confronting their partys most powerful leaders, nine moderate Democrats signed onto a letter late last week raising their objections to pushing ahead with Biden's broader infrastructure proposal without first considering the smaller public works plan that has already passed the Senate. Other moderates raised similar concerns in recent days.

Im bewildered by my partys misguided strategy to make passage of the popular, already-written, bipartisan infrastructure bill contingent upon passage of the contentious, yet-to-be-written, partisan reconciliation bill, wrote Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla., a leader of the centrist Blue Dog caucus, in the Orlando Sentinel. Its bad policy and, yes, bad politics.

In the narrowly divided House, every vote matters and a few dissenters could conceivably end the Democratic majority's hopes for passing any proposal.

With most of Bidens domestic agenda at stake, its unimaginable that Pelosi, D-Calif., would allow an embarrassing defeat. Thats especially true because the package is stocked with priorities like child care, paid family leave and a Medicare expansion that are hard-fought party goals, and at a time with the president already under criticism over his handling of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The $3.5 trillion budget resolution will set the stage this fall for setting further legislation directing money to be spent on the social safety net, environment and other programs over the next decade.

That huge measure is at the heart of Biden's vision for helping families and combating climate change and is progressives' top priority, all of it largely financed with tax increases on the rich and big business.

Progressives signaled early on they wanted the Biden budget priorities first before they agree to the smaller package, worried it would be an insufficient down-payment on his goals.

But the moderates want the opposite, insisting Congress quickly send the smaller, bipartisan infrastructure measure to Biden so he can sign it before the political winds shift. That would nail down a victory they could point to in their reelection campaigns next year.

The House can't afford to wait months or do anything to risk passing" the infrastructure bill, Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., said late last week. He's a leader of the nine moderate mavericks who each released statements reaffirming a desire that the infrastructure vote come first.

So far, the White House has backed Pelosi as she led her party in a tightly scripted strategy that aims to keep moderate and progressive lawmakers on board.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Monday underscored Bidens support for Pelosis plans. Psaki deemed it a healthy debate within the party and said that it was a high-class problem to have as Democrats debate the particulars of the legislation.

Republicans said the $3.5 trillion effort that Democrats are seeking to advance fails to address the crisis that American families are facing and would lead to higher inflation and deficits.

The inflation crisis, the border crisis, the energy crisis, the Afghanistan crisis  this budget only makes it worse, said Rep. Jason Smith of Missouri, top Republican on the House Budget Committee.

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Associated Press writers Alan Fram and Jonathan Lemire contributed to this report.
LOS ANGELES (AP)  A Southern California man broke into thousands of Apple iCloud accounts and collected more than 620,000 private photos and videos in an effort to steal images of nude young women, federal authorities said.

Hao Kuo Chi, 40, of La Puente, has agreed to plead guilty to four felonies, including conspiracy to gain unauthorized access to a computer, the Los Angeles Times reported Monday.
LOS ANGELES  California regulators have launched an investigation into whether recall election gubernatorial candidate Larry Elder failed to properly disclose his income sources, a spokesman with the Fair Political Practices Commission confirmed on Sunday.

Elder, like all candidates for public office, was required to file a public statement of economic interests that discloses some aspects of his personal finances, including stocks, gifts, real estate that he owns and sources of income. The document is supposed to show the public whether a candidate for office would have conflicts of interest in his or her decisions.

Elders initial filing was only two pages long and only showed income from Laurence A. Elder and Associates Inc. A Los Angeles Times article earlier this month first reported that Elder likely failed to properly disclose his finances because he appeared to own the company, meaning he was also required to report ownership in the business as well as income sources to the company above certain amounts.

After the Times story, the California Democratic Party filed a complaint with the Fair Political Practices Commission alleging that Elder failed to properly disclose the business and its sources of income. Elder, a conservative radio show host, amended the document to show that Elder owned 100% of the company and that it is worth between $100,000 and $1 million. His exact wealth is difficult to determine because the state requires disclosure in broad dollar ranges.

Elder is the leading contender vying to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom in the Sept. 14 recall election. Ying Ma, an Elder campaign spokesperson, emailed The Times the following response to the investigation: We made a simple mistake and we fixed it as soon as possible. These investigations are very common in campaign world.

Failure to comply with the disclosure requirements carries an administrative penalty of up to $5,000 per violation, according to the state Fair Political Practices Commission.

An FPPC letter sent to an attorney for the complainant said that although the watchdog agency had opened an investigation, it had not made any determination about the validity of the allegation(s) your client has made about the culpability, if any, of the person(s) identified in the complaint.

The amended document, filed Tuesday, showed that Elder collected at least $10,000 from several conservative organizations, including the Alachua County (Fla.) Republican Executive Committee and Epoch Times, a far-right newspaper affiliated with the Falun Gong new religious movement.

Elder also disclosed income from the anti-abortion nonprofit Heartbeatat22, Calvary Chapel Chino Hills, Promedev Relief Factor, a supplement that Elder has endorsed, BLEXIT, the conservative nonprofit Turning Point USA, and Salem Media Group, the media company that syndicates his national radio show.

This is not the first time Elder has run into disclosure problems. The office of the California secretary of state initially excluded him from the recall election ballot because he did not properly disclose five years of tax returns to the agency, according to court filings. Elder sued the state over that requirement, arguing in part that it did not apply to recall elections. A judge last month sided with Elder, and the tax return requirement was waived for all candidates in the race.
MADISON, Wis. (AP)  A conservative group filed a redistricting lawsuit with the Wisconsin Supreme Court on Monday, an action that comes after Democrats filed their own legal challenge in federal court less than two weeks ago.

A third lawsuit on behalf of voting rights advocacy groups was also filed in federal court on Monday. The lawsuits mean there are fights in both state and federal courts in Wisconsin over redistricting, even before the Legislature proposes a map or takes a vote on new political boundary lines.

All of the lawsuits argue that the current maps, adopted in 2011, are unconstitutional and courts should establish a plan to draw new lines because the Republican-controlled Legislature and Democratic Gov. Tony Evers will not be able to agree.

Democrats and the advocacy groups are asking the federal courts to handle the drawing of new maps, while the lawsuit filed by the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, known as WILL, asks the conservative-controlled Wisconsin Supreme Court to do it.

Adopting new legislative maps is a state responsibility," said Rick Esenberg, president of WILL, in a prepared statement. "If the legislature and governor cannot agree, it is entirely appropriate  even necessary  for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, a branch of state government, to pass a judicial apportionment plan to adopt constitutional maps.

The lawsuit asks the Supreme Court to accept the case and put it on hold until the Legislature adopts a new map. If the Legislature doesn't adopt a constitutional map approved by the governor, the lawsuit argues, then the court should adopt new maps, using the current ones as a starting point.

The current maps were drawn by Republicans and enacted by then-Gov. Scott Walker in 2011. Republicans who strengthened their legislative majorities under the maps want to use them as the starting point for redistricting this year.

The lawsuit asks the Wisconsin Supreme Court to take the case directly, rather than have it start at lower state courts and work its way up.

Republicans had previously asked the Wisconsin Supreme Court to adopt a rule requiring all redistricting cases to start with the high court. The Supreme Court in May refused to do that but said its decision didnt preclude it from taking cases directly, anyway.

It's premature for the Wisconsin Supreme Court to take the case and the court is ill-suited to litigate redistricting issues, said Sachin Chheda, director of the Fair Elections Project, a nonpartisan group promoting independent redistricting.

Chheda said the federal lawsuit filed Monday does provide a means for courts to enact fair maps.

That lawsuit was brought by Black Leaders Organizing for Communities, Voces de la Frontera, the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin and three voters. It asks the federal court to draw new legislative district boundaries if the governor and Legislature fail to do so. It does not address congressional maps.

Law Forward, a legal group backed by Democrats that was formed last year to lead the fight on redistricting, is representing the advocacy groups along with the Campaign Legal Center.

The three lawsuits were filed after the state received population data from the U.S. Census Bureau on Aug. 12, information that forms the basis for the once-a-decade task of drawing maps for legislative and congressional boundary lines.

The Democrats' federal lawsuit was filed by Marc Elias, who is leading the Democratic Partys legal fight against new voting restrictions. He did not immediately return a message seeking comment on the new lawsuit.

The Republican-controlled Legislature is seeking to intervene in the Democrats' lawsuit and have it dismissed. They argue that the lawsuit is wildly premature and an attack on the Legislature's constitutional responsibility to draw new maps for legislative and congressional districts every 10 years.

Republican leaders, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, did not immediately return messages asking if they would seek to intervene in the latest lawsuit brought by conservatives.

Wisconsin state Rep. Gordon Hintz, the Democratic minority leader in the state Assembly, said the lawsuit in state court was part of a Republican effort to work off the existing maps they drew in order to maintain their electoral advantage.

Anything they can do to disenfranchise voters in the state, is something they will do, Hintz said. The priority for them is not democracy, its political advantage and theyre going to go whatever route gives them the best shot to maintain political power.
NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP)  Cyprus on Monday sent 88 Syrian migrants back to Lebanon after they tried to reach the eastern Mediterranean island nation on two boats.

Interior Minister Nicos Nouris told The Associated Press that rescue crews continue to search for one of five men who jumped overboard after police vessels intercepted their boat off Cyprus' eastern coast. Nouris said police picked up four men, but the fifth, who was wearing a mask, flippers and a life preserver, managed to swim away.

One pregnant woman and another man who was ill were airlifted to hospital.

Coastal radar had picked up two vessels approaching the Cypriot coastline Sunday evening. Marine police vessels intercepted the boats  which carried a combined 48 men, 15 women and 25 minors 15 kilometers (9 miles) from coast.

They were transferred to a chartered boat on Monday for the trip back to Lebanon under police escort.

Cyprus signed an agreement with Lebanon last year to take back anyone trying to reach the island by boat.

Nouris said Cyprus has a right to protect its borders from such irregular migration despite criticism by human rights groups that the deal violates international law because migrants arent given the chance to apply for asylum.

More than 1,337 Syrians have reached Cyprus by sea since 2019. Many more migrants come from Turkey through the ethnically divided islands unrecognized, breakaway north. Authorities say the number of migrants who have either received or have applied for protection in Cyprus now accounts for 4% of the population.

Cyprus has asked the European Unions border agency Frontex to stem the flow of migrant arrivals from countries including Turkey, Syria and Lebanon.

Cyprus lies 170 kilometers (100 miles) west of Syria and 230 kilometers (140 miles) west of Lebanon.

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Follow all AP stories on global migration at https://apnews.com/hub/migration.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  Advocates for Ohio children cared for by adult relatives have asked a federal appeals court to hear their claims that an improper gap exists between the payments those relatives and licensed foster care parents receive.

At issue are relatives who arent licensed caregivers but are approved to care for children taken from their parents. The arrangement is often referred to as kinship care.
ATHENS, Greece (AP)  Despite strong winds, firefighting aircraft and ground forces in Greece gained the upper hand late Monday over two new blazes that broke out in areas already scarred by major wildfires this summer.

The first broke out Monday morning in the southern part of Evia, Greece's second-largest island, whose north was devastated earlier this month by a blaze that burned for more than 10 days. The second wildfire erupted in Kaza, in the Vilia area northwest of Athens where a major blaze was brought under control Friday after burning for five days.

The fire service said late Monday the Kaza blaze was on the wane and the fire on Evia was contained.

Earlier, authorities had issued an evacuation order for Vilia, 60 kilometers (37 miles) from the Greek capital. Some residents hosed down their gardens and homes, hoping to save them, while police halted traffic on a nearby highway. At least half a dozen buildings were severely damaged in the area.

The fire department sent 167 firefighters as well as 60 vehicles, 14 helicopters and 14 aircraft to fight the flames.

This month, which began with Greeces most severe heat wave in about three decades, is quickly turning into one of the countrys most destructive fire seasons, with dozens of wildfires breaking out every day. Thousands of people have been forced to flee the flames, which have devoured forests, agricultural land, homes and businesses.

But Greece's focus on preemptive evacuations of inhabited areas has helped keep people safe. Across all the fires, one volunteer firefighter was killed and two firefighters suffered severe burns.

The causes of Greeces wildfires haven't yet been officially established, but more than a dozen people have been arrested on suspicion of arson. A special prosecutor for organized crime was involved in the investigation.

Intense heat and wildfires have struck other Mediterranean countries. Recent wildfires have killed at least 75 people in Algeria and 16 in Turkey, while in southern France 1,200 firefighters have been struggling to contain a major blaze that has forced thousands to flee, killed two people and injured 26 others.

Worsening drought and heat have also fueled wildfires in the western United States and in Russias northern Siberia region.

Scientists say there's little doubt that climate change from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas is driving more extreme events.

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Nicholas Paphitis in Athens contributed.

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Follow APs coverage of climate issues at https://apnews.com/hub/climate-change
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP)  The top Republican in Pennsylvanias Senate said Monday that hearings will begin this week as he committed to carrying out a full forensic investigation of the states 2020 presidential election.

Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman, R-Centre, said he has communicated with former President Donald Trump, whose baseless claims about election fraud have propelled loyalists to pursue audits, reviews or other examinations of ballots and voting machines in battleground states where Democrat Joe Biden defeated him.

I think hes comfortable with where were heading and so were going to continue that work," Corman said on the conservative Wendy Bell Radio program streamed online Monday.

Amid clashes over how to conduct it and how to pay for it, Corman on Friday removed the rank-and-file state senator who had been the figurehead in the push for an Arizona-style audit of Pennsylvanias 2020 presidential election.

Sen. Cris Dush, tapped to replace Sen. Doug Mastriano, will begin holding hearings this week, Corman said. Dush and Mastriano both traveled to Phoenix in June to see the audit there up close.

Corman maintains the Senate's aim is not to turn Trump's defeat into victory, but to "getting to the bottom of everything that went on.

We as the oversight body of elections have to ensure that people feel confident that elections were done fairly," Corman said on the radio program. I dont think, I know they dont feel confident in that now, and we need to provide that stability moving forward and if our work leads to someone else taking that work into a court of law, and changing those results, then so be it.

In recent days and months, Trump allies have held up Corman as an obstacle, even drawing Trump's wrath on Twitter in June, saying Corman is fighting as though he were a Radical Left Democrat. Democrats, meanwhile, say Corman is too cowardly to stand up to right-wing conspiracy theories about the election.

One question Corman's office has been unable to answer is how to pay for an Arizona-style audit without private donations.

Senate GOP officials are concerned about the legality of funding the undertaking with private money, Corman's office said.

But in Arizona, Trump backers reported raising more than $5.7 million for the widely discredited and partisan election audit sponsored by Senate Republicans there.

If Pennsylvania's Senate Republicans need money, they may already have it sitting around: the Republican-controlled Legislature has long sat on reserves of more than $100 million, and the Senate alone last year reported $66 million in its reserve account.

While Corman and some other Republican senators might avoid repeating Trumps baseless election claims, they continue to perpetuate the idea that Democrats cheated and blame Democrats  not Trump  for sowing doubt in the election.

They routinely distorted the actions of state judges and officials as unconstitutional or illegal in settling legal disputes and questions over Pennsylvanias fledgling mail-in voting law in the weeks before Novembers election.

On Monday, Corman repeatedly singled out Gov. Tom Wolf's former top elections official, at one point saying she didn't allow observers to see the counting of absentee ballots in Philadelphia.

However, the Trump campaigns own court complaint, witnesses and lawyers acknowledged that its watchers were able to see the processing of mail-in ballots in Philadelphia, which was also livestreamed on video.

The Trump campaigns complaint was that Philadelphia election officials did not allow their watchers close enough to election workers to see writing on the ballot envelopes. There is, however, no such requirement in state law, courts found.

Still, Corman seemed to acknowledge some criticism of how Arizona Senate Republicans had selected contractors.

They selected a cybersecurity firm that had no prior experience in elections, never submitted a formal bid for the work and had an owner who had tweeted support for conspiracy theories claiming Bidens victory was illegitimate.

We want credibility to what we are doing, and I think its important that we get people involved that dont have ties to anybody, right? That are professional, that will do the job so that we can stand behind the results, Corman said.

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Follow Marc Levy on Twitter at www.twitter.com/timelywriter
ROCHESTER, Minn. (AP)  Igor Vovkovinskiy, the tallest man in the United States, has died in Minnesota. He was 38.

His family said the Ukrainian-born Vovkovinskiy died of heart disease on Friday at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. His mother, Svetlana Vovkovinska, an ICU nurse at Mayo, initially posted about his death on Facebook.

Vovkovinskiy came to the Mayo Clinic in 1989 as a child seeking treatment. A tumor pressing against his pituitary gland caused it to secrete abnormal levels of growth hormone. He grew to become the tallest man in the U.S. at 7 feet, 8.33 inches (2 meters, 34.5 centimeters) and ended up staying in Rochester.

His older brother, Oleh Ladan of Brooklyn Park, told the Star Tribune of Minneapolis that Vovkovinskiy was a celebrity when he arrived from Ukraine because of his size and the flickering Cold War of the late 1980s. But Ladan said Vovkovinskiy would have rather lived a normal life than be known.

Vovkovinskiy appeared on The Dr. Oz Show and was called out by President Barack Obama during a campaign rally in 2009, when the president noticed him near the stage wearing a T-shirt that read, Worlds Biggest Obama Supporter. In 2013, he carried the Ukrainian contestant onto the stage to perform in the Eurovision Song Contest.

When he was 27, Vovkovinskiy traveled to New York City and was declared Americas tallest living person by a Guinness World Records adjudicator on Ozs show. He edged out a sheriffs deputy in Virginia by one-third of an inch.

He issued a plea in 2012 to cover the estimated $16,000 cost for specially made shoes that wouldnt cause him crippling pain. At the time, he said he hadnt owned a pair for years that fit his size 26, 10E feet. Thousands donated more than double what he needed. Reebok provided the custom shoes for free.

Vovkovinskiy was born Sept. 8, 1982, in Bar, Ukraine, to Vovkovinska and Oleksandr Ladan, according to Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home, which is holding a memorial service on Saturday. His father died earlier.
WASHINGTON - An internal investigation has cleared a U.S. Capitol Police officer of any wrongdoing in the fatal shooting of Ashli Babbitt during the Jan. 6 siege of the Capitol, the law enforcement agency announced Monday.

The Justice Department previously said that the officer would not face criminal charges in the killing of the 35-year-old California woman, who was shot as she tried to force her way through a set of doors deep inside the Capitol.

Babbitt, the only Capitol rioter fatally shot by police, was praised by former President Donald Trump in a statement earlier this month. In the statement, Trump said he had questioned why the officer who shot her was "getting away with murder." White supremacists and other far-right groups have labeled Babbitt a martyr.

The probe by the U.S. Capitol Police exonerated the officer for his use of force. The department said in a news release outlining the investigation that the officer's actions were within department policy, which allows deadly force only when officers reasonably believe they are protecting themselves or others from serious physical harm.

The department said it was not identifying the officer because he and his family have been the subject of numerous and specific threats. The department interviewed multiple witnesses, and also reviewed video and radio calls, before arriving at its decision, according to the release.

"The actions of the officer in this case potentially saved members [of Congress] and staff from serious injury and possible death from a large crowd of rioters who forced their way into the U.S. Capitol and to the House Chamber where members and staff were steps away," the department wrote in the release.

Babbitt was among a mob of Trump supporters who used a flagpole, a helmet and other items to batter the barricaded doors to the Speaker's Lobby, the hallway outside the House Chamber where some lawmakers were sheltering on the afternoon of Jan. 6.

Multiple cellphone videos captured Babbitt, who had a Trump flag draped around her neck like a cape, attempting to crawl through the shattered glass pane. The officer, who was standing on the far side of the doors, fired a single shot at her, sending her tumbling backward onto the floor.

Babbitt was hit in the shoulder and later died. Her slaying became a defining moment of the riot.

The Justice Department found in April that there was insufficient evidence to prove Babbitt's civil rights had been violated and that it was reasonable for the officer to believe he was firing in self-defense or in defense of lawmakers fleeing the House chamber.

Mark Schamel, an attorney for the officer, said he would release a statement soon about the finding. He said in April that his client acted appropriately on Jan 6.

"His bravery on January 6 was nothing short of heroic," Schamel said in a statement. "He stopped the rioters from gaining entry into the Speaker's Lobby and saved the lives of countless members of Congress and the rioters. His heroism should be no surprise to those who know him."

Terrell Roberts, an attorney for Babbitt's family, said in an email that the Capitol Police should release a copy of the entire investigation so it can be reviewed by the public to determine if it was thorough, competent and fair.

"A one-sided inquiry behind closed doors proves nothing, and it certainly is not an 'exoneration,' " Roberts wrote. "The world has already seen citizens' videos of the shooting and has reached a different conclusion - one which is far from clearing the officer."

In June, Babbitt's family filed a lawsuit seeking more details about the officer who shot her and documents related to the investigation of the shooting.

Babbitt was a supporter of QAnon, an extremist ideology based on false claims, and ardent backer of Trump, her since-deleted Twitter account showed. She had tweeted support for Trump's baseless claims that the 2020 election was stolen.

Babbitt also spent more than a decade in the military, and her ex-husband said she served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
WATERLOO, Iowa (AP)  A northeastern Iowa driver was seriously hurt and her 15-year-old sister killed when their car was hit by a train at a rural crossing east of Waterloo, the Black Hawk County Sheriffs Office reported.

The crash happened Saturday along Canfield road when a car driven by Emma Michels, 18, of Maynard, entered the train crossing at the same time as the train, officials said. Michels and her 15-year-old sister Kate Michels, who was in the passenger seat, were taken to a Waterloo hospital, and Kate was later flown to an Iowa City hospital. where she died Sunday of her injuries.
ROME (AP)  An Italian-Moroccan student has been freed by Moroccan authorities after she was detained on blasphemy charges after she arrived in June to visit relatives, Italian officials said Monday.

Italy's Foreign Ministry said Ikram Nazih, 23, had been convicted of offenses against religion for having shared a satirical cartoon on Facebook in 2019. The Italian newspaper Domani, which had championed her cause, said the cartoon had transformed a verse of the Quran into a verse about whisky.
TOKYO (AP)  Japan will send three military aircraft to Afghanistan starting Monday to evacuate Japanese citizens and local staff as security deteriorates following the Taliban takeover, officials said.

Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said the planes will pick up Japanese nationals and Afghans who worked for the Japanese Embassy and development agencies.

The local situation is rapidly becoming fluid ... and we are doing everything we can to get them out of the country, Kishi said.

The area around Kabul's international airport remains filled with thousands of people trying to flee the country after the Taliban takeover.

Japan closed its Kabul embassy on Aug. 15 and set up a temporary office in neighboring Turkey two days later, but local employees at the embassy and other Japan-related organizations remain in Afghanistan.

Kishi declined to say how many people will be evacuated, citing security reasons.

He said Japan plans to finish the evacuation before the Aug. 31 deadline for the U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Earlier Monday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said U.S. troops in Afghanistan are conducting aviation controls and flights are operating safely. He said there is no sign of interference by the Taliban so far.

Japan dispatched a military transport plane to South Sudan to evacuate Japanese diplomats during that countrys unrest in 2016.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  The guard in a control room at Iran's notorious Evin prison springs to attention as one by one, monitors in front of him suddenly blink off and display something very different from the surveillance footage he had been watching.

Cyberattack, the monitors flash. Other guards gather around, holding up their mobile phones and filming, or making urgent calls. General protest until the freedom of political prisoners" reads another line on the screens.

An online account, purportedly by an entity describing itself as a group of hackers, shared footage of the incident, as well as parts of other surveillance video it seized, with The Associated Press. The alleged hackers said the release of the footage was an effort to show the grim conditions at the prison, known for holding political prisoners and those with ties abroad who are often used as bargaining chips in negotiations with the West.

In one part of the footage, a man smashes a bathroom mirror to try to cut open his arm. Prisoners  and even guards  beat each other in scenes captured by surveillance cameras. Inmates sleeping in single rooms with bunk beds stacked three high against the walls, wrapping themselves in blankets to stay warm.

We want the world to hear our voice for freedom of all political prisoners, read a message from the online account to the AP in Dubai.

Iran, which has faced criticism from the United Nations special rapporteur over its prison conditions, did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent to its U.N. mission in New York. Iranian state media in the country have not acknowledged the incident at Evin.

However, several embarrassing hacking incidents have struck Iran amid ongoing tensions over its accelerated nuclear program and as talks with the West over reviving the atomic accord between Tehran and world powers remain on hold.

Four former prisoners at Evin, as well as an Iranian human rights activist abroad, have told the AP that the videos resemble areas from the facility in northern Tehran. Some of the scenes also matched photographs of the facility previously taken by journalists, as well as images of the prison as seen in satellite photos accessed by the AP.

The footage also shows rows of sewing machines that prisoners use, a solitary confinement cell with a squat toilet and exterior areas of the prison. There are images of the prison's open-air exercise yard, prisoners' bathrooms and offices within the facility.

Much of the footage bears timestamps from 2020 and this year. Several videos without the stamp show guards wearing facemasks, signaling they came amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Though there is no sound in the videos, they speak to the grim world faced by prisoners at the facility. One sequence shows what appears to be an emaciated man dumped from a car in the parking lot, then dragged through the prison. Another shows a cleric walking down the stairs and passing by the man, without stopping.

Guards in another video are seen beating a man in a prisoner's uniform. One guard sucker-punches a prisoner in a holding cell. Guards also fight among themselves, as do the prisoners. Many are crammed into single-room cells. No one wears a facemask.

The account that shared the videos with the AP calls itself The Justice of Ali, a reference to the Prophet Muhammads son-in-law who is revered by Shiites. It also mocks Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

It claimed to have hundreds of gigabytes of data from what it described as a hack conducted several months ago. It did not answer questions about who was involved in the leak.

The account linked the timing of its leak to the recent election of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, a hard-line acolyte of Khamenei involved in the execution of thousands in 1988 at the end of the Iran-Iraq War.

The Evin prison is a stain on Raisis black turban and white beard, the message on the screens in the prison control room also read.

Iran, long sanctioned by the West, faces difficulties in getting up-to-date hardware and software, often relying on Chinese-manufactured electronics or older systems. The control room system seen in the video, for instance, appeared to be running Windows 7, for which Microsoft no longer provides patches. That would make it easier for a potential hacker to target. Pirated versions of Windows and other software are common across Iran.

In recent months, Iran's railroad system was targeted by an apparent cyberattack. Other self-described hacker groups have published details about Iranians alleging hacking on behalf of the theocracy. Meanwhile the most-famous cyberattack  the Stuxnet virus that destroyed Iranian centrifuges at the height of Western fears over Tehran's program  is widely suspected to have been an American and Israeli creation.

Evin prison was built in 1971 under Iran's Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. It housed political prisoners then and later, after the 1979 Islamic Revolution swept the shah from power.

While in theory under the control of Iran's prison system, Evin also has specialized units for political prisoners and those with Western ties, run by the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which answers only to Khamenei. The facility is the target of both U.S. and European Union sanctions.

After Iran cracked down on protesters following the disputed 2009 re-election of hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, many of the arrested protesters ended up in Evin. Lawmakers later pushed for reforms at Evin, following reports of abuses at the prison  which led to the installation of the closed-circuit cameras.

Problems continued, however. Reports by U.N. Special Rapporteur Javaid Rehman repeatedly named Evin prison as a site of abuses of prisoners. Rehman warned in January that Iran's entire prison system faced long-standing overcrowding and hygiene deficiencies" and insurmountable obstacles for responding to COVID-19.

Prisoners of conscience and political prisoners have contracted COVID-19 or experienced symptoms, with many denied testing or treatment or suffering unnecessary delays in receiving test results and treatment, he wrote.

___

Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP.
PRAIRIE DU CHIEN, Wis. (AP)  A staffer at a southwestern Wisconsin library says a Republican congressional candidate threatened her over a gay pride display.

Kerrigan Trautsch, a page at the Prairie du Chien Memorial Library, told the La Crosse Tribune that Derrick Van Orden came into the library on June 17 and complained loudly about a display of fiction and nonfiction books about homosexuality in the children's section. The display was part of the library's efforts to recognize Pride Month.

Trautsch, who was 17 at the time, describes herself as an advocate for the LGBTQ community. She said Van Orden was angry, and that he said the books offended him and that taxpayers shouldn't have to see them.

He was especially upset about the 2018 book, A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo." The 40-page book put out by John Oliver's weekly HBO news show, Last Week Tonight, tells the fictional story of how Marlon Bundo, former Vice President Mike Pence's real-life rabbit, marries another rabbit of the same sex.

The Tribune obtained a written complaint that Van Orden filed with the library calling the book's claims that same-sex marriage was illegal in the United States when it was written inaccurate. He also claimed the book was propaganda and was skewing young people to think Republicans are not inclusive.

His voice was loud, he was aggressive, he had his finger jabbing into (the book) constantly, Trautsch said. She described the situation as very uncomfortable, threatening.

Van Orden repeatedly demanded to know who set up the display so he could teach them a lesson, she said. She had set up the display but was too afraid of him to tell him, she said.

He was full on shouting at this point and he kept aggressively shoving the books around, she said.

Van Orden ended up checking out every book from the display except one a library patron was already reading, she said. She went home and told her parents that she didn't feel safe at work anymore.

I was terrified that he would be outside, that there were be a collection of people outside waiting for me, waiting for anyone else, she said. We were terrified.

Trautsch said she was afraid that Van Orden wouldn't return the books or would return them damaged, but they came back within a week unscathed.

In response to an interview request from the Tribune, Van Orden issued a statement in which he said he supports equal rights for all Americans, including members of the LGBTQ community.

It is 2021 and this should not have to be stated but there are people who continue to divide us as Americans for political purposes, he said. I will not allow them to further degrade the relationships we have as citizens.

Van Orden unsuccessfully challenged Democratic U.S. Rep. Ron Kind for his seat representing western Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District in 2020. He plans to run for the seat again in 2022. Kind announced this month that he wouldn't seek reelection after 13 terms in Washington. Brett Knudson is the only Democrat who has announced a run for the office.
SHREVEPORT, La. (AP)  A police car hit and killed a pedestrian late Sunday in Louisiana, officials said Monday.

Few details were available, but the Caddo Parish Coroners Office identified the dead woman on Monday as 48-year-old Valerie Parker. She was hit by a marked Shreveport police car around 10:50 p.m. Sunday, a coroner's office news release said.

Police did not immediately return a call Monday requesting comment.

The officer was on duty, and investigators were looking into whether the officer was responding to a call, KSLA-TV reported.

The coroners office said it will perform an autopsy on Parkers body.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP)  A Sioux City man has been charged with second-degree murder following the shooting death of his roommate over the weekend.

Robert Buel, 52, was arrested following the shooting death of 41-year-old Jason Lafferty on Sunday, the Sioux City Journal reported. The shooting was reported shortly before 9:45 a.m. at a home along 21st Street, police said.
A longtime housing advocate and attorney has been appointed a senior advisor to Maine Gov. Janet Mills to help meet the demand for affordable housing in the state.

Greg Payne will take the position starting Sept. 7, the Portland Press Herald reported Monday. Payne, 52, worked at a nonprofit affordable housing developer based in Portland and led the Maine Affordable Housing Coalition for almost 15 years.
MADISON, Wis. (AP)  Wisconsin residents who get their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in the state between Aug. 20 and Labor Day will receive a $100 gift card, Gov. Tony Evers announced Monday.

The reward being offered just as students are returning to school is the latest incentive in Wisconsin designed to entice the unvaccinated to get inoculated. As of Monday, just over 50% of the state's entire population and 61% of adults 18 and up were fully vaccinated, according to the state health department.
GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP)  Charges have been filed against a North Carolina man who is believed to have stabbed his 81-year-old grandfather after an argument, police said.

Greenville police officers were dispatched to a residence on Friday in response to a report of a stabbing, news outlets reported. Dispatchers were told Wheeler Brown, 81, had been stabbed following an altercation. Brown was rushed to a local hospital with life-threatening wounds.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP)  The bodies of a man and woman were found stabbed to death in a home in northwest Oklahoma City, police said Monday.

The bodies were discovered Saturday morning inside a home on NW 32nd Street, said police Sgt. Gary Knight. No arrests have been made.
SALEM, Ore. (AP)  Oregon was once the poster child for limiting the spread of the coronavirus, after its Democratic governor imposed some of the nations strictest safety measures, including mask mandates indoors and outdoors, limits on gatherings and an order closing restaurants.

But now the state is being hammered by the super-transmissible delta variant, and hospitals are getting stretched to the breaking point. The vast majority of hospitalized COVID-19 patients are unvaccinated.

The intensive care unit at Salem Hospital in Oregons capital city is completely full, with 19 of the 30 beds occupied last week by COVID-19 patients, the youngest only 20 years old. It's the same at a hospital in Roseburg, a former timber town in western Oregon. A COVID-19 patient died in its emergency room last week while waiting for an ICU bed to open, an event that was deeply distressing to the medical staff.

We need your help, grace and kindness, the staff of CHI Health Medical Center said on Facebook. They are reeling from the extraordinary onslaught of new cases and hospitalizations."

Oregon is among a handful of states, including Florida, Arkansas and Louisiana, that have more people hospitalized with COVID-19 than ever before.

This is really a dire situation, said Jeff Absalon, chief physician executive for St. Charles Health System in Bend. National Guard troops were deployed to the mountain town's hospital last week to assist medical workers.

Some 1,500 guard troops have been dispatched to hospitals around the state by Gov. Kate Brown, who warned of the seriousness of this crisis for all Oregonians, especially those needing emergency and intensive care.

Oregon keeps breaking records for the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients, reaching 937 on Monday. That's a 50% increase over last year's record, when vaccines were not yet available. More than 90% of Oregon's adult hospital and ICU beds are currently full.

And on Monday Legacy Health, a hospital system in Portland that includes six hospitals, said it was pausing all non-urgent surgical procedures for two weeks to create bed capacity.

Lisa, a nurse in Salem Hospitals ICU, told a small group of visiting journalists Friday that she is both frustrated and sad to see a record number of COVID-19 patients, even though vaccines are widely available. She spoke on the condition that her last name not be used, because the pandemic and how to fight it have become highly politicized.

Weve been dealing with the second wave when we thought  I guess we hoped  it wouldn't come. And its come. And its harder and worse, way worse, than before," she said. Hours earlier, a COVID-19 patient died in the ICU.

As she spoke, a patients heart monitor beeped. A mechanical ventilator occasionally added a higher-pitched tone. Fifteen of the COVID-19 patients were on ventilators. The hospital's wellness department, which normally recommends yoga and deep breathing for relaxation, recently set up a booth and filled it with dinner plates for a different kind of stress relief.

We put on safety glasses, Lisa said. And we took plates and we shattered them. And I kept going back. I kept going back, and they told me I had enough turns.

She said one advantage over last year's surge is that she's vaccinated, so she is not as scared of dying. Another improvement is that there are plenty of masks, gowns and other personal protective equipment.

Other than the beeping monitors, the ICU was quiet. The COVID-19 patients are heavily sedated and behind closed doors. Outside their rooms stand poles draped with IV bags, the tubes running through a crack in the door so nurses can change the bags without exposing themselves to the virus.

Beds outside the unit can be upgraded to ICU-level care by adding monitors and life-support machines, said Martin Johnson, the ICU medical director. A rapid-response team composed of an ICU nurse and an ICU-level respiratory therapist provide backup support, he said, stressing that the hospital can still take in patients.

After conferring on each patients medical status, ICU team members, who have spent a year and a half trying to keep COVID-19 patients alive, stand in a circle, sometimes holding hands, and try to come up with positive things to say.

Sometimes it's, Their oxygen needs are less, or their fever is gone, Johnson said. At other times, its The patient opened his eyes and squeezed my hand.

When there is no improvement, staff will instead express gratitude for each other or for the support of patients' relatives.

Oregon's early success against the virus may have helped fuel the delta variant's toll on the state, because the aggressive measures to curb the first surge left many population pockets with no immunity. And though some 72% of adults statewide are at least partially vaccinated, that number drops to less than 50% in 10 of Oregons 36 counties.

Oregons low immunity level, considering previous infection rates and the number of unvaccinated people, creates a high risk for new infections, said Renee Edwards, chief medical officer at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland.

Compounding the problem: Oregon has, along with Washington state, the lowest per-capita supply of hospital beds in the nation. The two states each have only 1.7 beds per 1,000 residents, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit focusing on national health issues. South Dakota ranks first, with 4.8 beds per 1,000.

It will be a race against time to see if Oregon's health care system can withstand the current surge before it eases off. Oregon Health & Science University predicts the peak will be Sept. 7.

___ Cline reported from Portland, Oregon. Cline 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.
NORMAN, Okla. (AP)  The University of Oklahoma's former top lobbyist is being investigated by the Norman Police Department after a woman claimed he sexually assaulted her, police confirmed on Monday.

No arrests have been made, and the investigation into 46-year-old John Woods, OU's former director of government affairs, is ongoing, said police spokeswoman Sarah Jensen. Once the investigation is complete, Jensen says the case will be forwarded to the Cleveland County District Attorney's Office for consideration of criminal charges.

Woods submitted his resignation from OU on Friday, his attorney, Steve Stice, told The Associated Press on Monday.

The woman's allegations were outlined in a petition for a protective order filed in Cleveland County earlier this month. A judge last week granted the woman an emergency protective order, and a hearing on the matter is set for Sept. 2.

We plan on appearing and defending against these allegations," Stice said. He declined further comment on the allegations.

The university said in a statement it was aware of the allegations and confirmed Woods is no longer employed with OU.

In her request for a protective order, the woman claims Woods sexually assaulted her in a parking lot on July 27 and later sent her a sexually explicit video of himself. The woman also claims Woods continued to harass her by sending her unwanted text messages. The woman filed her petition for a protective order and reported the incident to police about 11 days after the alleged assault.

The Associated Press does not generally identify victims of sexual assault.

Woods worked for three Republican speakers of the Oklahoma House of Representatives before stints as the president of the Norman Chamber of Commerce and as director of the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust. He was named OU's director of government affairs in 2018 by then-President Jim Gallogly.

The University of Oklahoma was rocked with sexual assault allegations in 2019 against its former President David Boren and one of Boren's top administrators, Tripp Hall III. Both men denied the allegations, and criminal charges were never filed.

A lawsuit filed against the university by one of Hall's accusers was settled, but the terms of the settlement were not disclosed.
WARSAW, Poland (AP)  Poland plans to build a fence along its border with Belarus and deploy more soldiers there to stop migrants seeking to enter the European Union nation.

The government on Monday also offered to send humanitarian aid to a migrant group stuck at the border for more than two weeks.

Poland and the three Baltic states  Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia  accuse Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko of sending migrants across their borders, which also form part of the EU's eastern border, in what they call a hybrid war. The migrants are mostly from Afghanistan and Iraq.

All four EU nations believe the surge in migrants is Minsk's revenge for the EU's sanctions against the autocratic regime in Belarus.

Using immigrants to destabilize neighboring countries constitutes a clear breach of the international law and qualifies as a hybrid attack against ... Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and thus against the entire European Union, they said in a joint statement Monday.

From Geneva, the U.N.'s Refugee Agency's spokesperson Shabia Mantoo said the organization has been closely following the situation.

We have been very concerned by developments at the borders resulting in people being stranded for days, Mantoo said.

The Polish government said last week that 2,100 migrants had tried to enter Poland illegally from Belarus so far in August. Almost 800 of them got in and have been placed in state-run centers.

In response to the migrants' arrival, Poland said it had deployed over 900 soldiers to the border with Belarus and was reinforcing the border with 150 kilometers (93 miles) of barbed wire. On Monday, Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said more soldiers would be sent and a fence 2.5 meters (8 feet) tall would be erected on the border.

Blaszczak said the new border fence would be modeled on the one Hungary erected against migrants years ago on its border with Serbia, which is reinforced with coils of razor wire.

We are dealing with an attack on Poland. It is an attempt to trigger a migration crisis, he said at a news conference at the border.

Noting that Lukashenko's regime has ties to the Kremlin, Blaszczak said: We will not allow the creation of a route for the transfer of migrants via Poland to the European Union.

Meanwhile, political tensions are growing in Poland over 30 migrants who became stuck on the border with Belarus. A refugee rights group says the group includes people from Afghanistan and some who need medical attention. Poland insists they are on Belarusian territory, but has still faced criticism for not allowing the migrants to apply for asylum.

On Monday the Polish Foreign Ministry said it submitted a diplomatic note to Belarus offering to provide food and medicine for the group, as well as tents, beds, sleeping bags, blankets and pajamas.

Lukashenko, who had spiked an agreement with the EU on stemming illegal migration in response to Western sanctions, assailed Polish authorities later Monday for reportedly using force to push migrants back to Belarus.

They caught 50 people heading to Germany ... and pushed them to the border with Belarus by firing shots in the air, Lukashenko claimed.

In Warsaw, about two dozen protesters chained themselves to a fence in front of the Border Guards headquarters and put barbed wire on its gates to protest the behavior of Polish authorities along the border.

Deputy Foreign Minister Pawel Jablonski said the border situation was testing how the country would react to more serious acts of hybrid warfare.

The statements and behavior of a significant number of Polish politicians, journalists and NGO activists show that a scenario in which a foreign country carrying out such an attack against Poland will receive support from allies in our country is very real, Jablonski said on Twitter.

He said authorities should use this situation to better prepare for similar threatening actions in the future."

Lithuania has seen similar tensions triggered by a surge of migrants on its border.

Lukashenko isn't only using migrants as a hybrid weapon to take revenge against the West, he is trying to provoke a division and an internal political crisis in Poland and Lithuania, said independent Belarusian political analyst Valery Karbalevich. Lukashenko is playing a dangerous game, trying to test the limits of the West's patience.

___

Jamey Keaten in Geneva and Yuras Karmanau in Kyiv, Ukraine contributed to this report.

___

Follow all AP stories on Belarus at https://apnews.com/hub/Belarus.

___

Follow all AP stories on global migration at https://apnews.com/hub/migration.
HAYS, Kan. (AP)  A western man is dead after he was accidentally shot over the weekend by a roommate, police there said.

The shooting happened around 10:30 p.m. Friday in Hays, when first responders were called to home for a shooting, police said. Arriving Hays police officers and Ellis County Sheriffs deputies found a man with a gunshot wound to his head. The man was rushed to a Hays hospital, where he later died.
Hundreds of far-left and far-right demonstrators clashed in Portland, Ore., on Sunday afternoon, firing paintballs, spraying chemicals and destroying property.

Police haven't reported any deaths or injuries. But footage from the two areas where the demonstrations had occurred showed gunshots being fired, people being shoved to the ground, and some protesters breaking the windows of parked vehicles. Images showed at least one person surrendering to law enforcement officials where the shots had been fired. Dennis G. Anderson, 65, was charged with unlawful use and possession of a firearm shortly after the shooting, police said.

The clashes came on the anniversary of similar competing protests a year ago, after the murder of George Floyd. In that incident, a far-right protester was shot and killed after demonstrators and counter-protesters clashed. An anti-fascist activist suspected of the shooting was later killed in a confrontation with police.

Sunday's violence occurred in two parts of the city, according to the Portland Police Bureau and local news reports.

At 2:30 p.m., hundreds had gathered near a water splash pad in Tom McCall Waterfront Park in downtown Portland, according to police. They were left-wing protesters, some of whom identified as antifa, or anti-fascists. They had gathered to express opposition to a right-wing rally attended by, among others, members of Proud Boys that was scheduled in Portland that same day, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported. Later in the afternoon, video footage posted online shows at least two individuals firing shots at each other in front of a pizza place nearby.

The far-right event was occurring at a parking lot about five miles northeast of the waterfront park. Video footage from the parking lot show participants wearing apparel expressing support for former president Donald Trump or hatred toward the political left.

About 4 p.m., demonstrators were violently confronting each other at the parking lot, according to video footage and law enforcement.

Just before the violence starts, one right-wing protester can be heard taunting another group of protesters: "Antifa, come on, let's play, let's play," the protester is recorded as saying, while another right-wing protester urges restraint to his colleagues, before saying: "The second they start attacking, we will unleash on them."

About 30 minutes later the scene erupts, with protesters shooting paintballs at each other, destroying a white van, detonating what appear to be small gas grenades and spraying chemicals at each other. Footage doesn't show uniformed law enforcement officials.

The city had been expecting the protests in the recent days but declined to actively intervene, citing among its reasons a lack of resources. The Portland police didn't immediately reply to a request for comment, but police chief Chuck Lovell in the past has said responding to every protest would put strains on his force's ability to respond to other emergencies.

Police haven't ruled out arrests linked to Sunday's violence, though.

"As in past such events, we . . . will make arrests when probable cause exists that specific persons committed crimes. Just because arrests are not made at the scene . . . does not mean that people are not being charged with crimes later," the police said in a statement.
The leader of the Proud Boys extremist group was sentenced to more than five months in jail on Monday for burning a Black Lives Matter banner that was torn down from a historic Black church in downtown Washington and bringing two high-capacity firearm magazines into the nation's capital days shortly before the Jan. 6 riot.

Enrique Tarrio told the court he was profusely sorry for his actions, calling them a grave mistake.

What I did was wrong, Tarrio said during the hearing held via videoconference.

Tarrio, from Miami, was arrested as he arrived in Washington two days before thousands of supporters of then-President Donald Trump  including members of the Proud Boys  descended on the U.S. Capitol and disrupted the certification of the Electoral College vote. Tarrio was ordered to stay away from Washington, and law enforcement later said Tarrio was picked up in part to help quell potential violence.

Authorities say Proud Boys members stole the banner that read #BLACKLIVESMATTER from the Asbury United Methodist Church on Dec. 12 and then set it ablaze using lighter fluid and lighters. Tarrio posted a picture of himself holding an unlit lighter to his Parler account and admitted days later in an interview with The Washington Post that he joined in the burning of the banner.

Rev. Dr. Ianther Mills, senior pastor of the church, told the judge it was an act of intimidation and racism" that caused immeasurable and possibly irreparable harm on the community.

His careless act of violence and hatred, targeted at a congregation of individuals with a lived history of social and racial injustice, had the presumably desired effect," she said. Asbury was forced to reckon with the very tangible evidence that we continue to live in a world where people radicalize hate based upon race and skin color."

When police pulled Tarrio over on Jan. 4 on the warrant for vandalizing the sign, officers found two unloaded magazines emblazoned with the Proud Boys logo in his bag. Tarrio said, according to a police report, that he sells the clips and the ones he was carrying were purchased by a customer.

Tarrio pleaded guilty last month to destruction of property and attempted possession of a large-capacity ammunition feeding device.

A police spokesman told The Associated Press in December that investigators were probing the events as potential hate crimes, but no hate crime charges were filed against Tarrio.

The judge said Tarrio deserved even more time behind bars than the three months that prosecutors had sought. Judge Harold Cushenberry blasted the Proud Boys leader for claiming that he didnt know that the banner came from a church even though there was a video of Tarrio standing near the church when it was stolen.

Mr. Tarrio has clearly  intentionally and proudly  crossed the line from peaceful protest and assembly to dangerous and potentially violent criminal conduct, the judge said.

Proud Boys members describe themselves as a politically incorrect mens club for Western chauvinists. Its members frequently have engaged in street fights with antifascist activists at rallies and protests.

Authorities have narrowed in on the Proud Boys and other extremist groups, like the Oath Keepers, in their investigation into the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol that sent lawmakers running and injured dozens of law enforcement officers.

Nearly 600 people have been charged in the Capitol insurrection, but some of the most serious charges  involving accusations of planning to block the certification of the vote  have been filed against members of the extremist groups.

About three dozen people charged have been identified by federal authorities as Proud Boys leaders, members or associates. In one case, four group leaders have been charged with conspiring to impede the certification of President Joe Bidens victory. Tarrio hasnt been charged in the Capitol attack.

It was revealed in court records recently that Tarrio had worked undercover and cooperated with investigators after he was accused of fraud in 2012. After Tarrios 2012 indictment for participating in a scheme involving the resale of diabetic test strips, he helped the government prosecute more than a dozen other people, the records show.
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CHICAGO (AP)  Civil rights leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson and his wife, Jacqueline, remained hospitalized Monday after testing positive for COVID-19, family members said.

Jesse Jackson, 79, has been fully vaccinated, receiving his first shot in January at a public event where he urged others to do the same. But Jacqueline Jackson, 77, has not been vaccinated, according to longtime family spokesman Frank Watkins. He declined to elaborate Monday.
Several U.S. senators are questioning the Food and Drug Administrations work with a consulting firm that helped businesses sell prescription painkillers during the nation's overdose crisis.

Democrat Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire and Republican Chuck Grassley of Iowa, among others, have asked the FDA about potential conflicts of interest in its work with McKinsey and Co.

The senators sent a letter Monday to the FDA noting that the agency paid McKinsey more than $140 million after hiring it several times starting in 2008.

While helping the government, McKinsey also worked for a wide range of actors in the opioid industry, including many of the companies that played a pivotal role in fueling the opioid epidemic that our country now faces, the letter said.

An FDA representative said the agency has received the letter and would respond directly to the senators.

Earlier this year, McKinsey agreed to almost $600 million in settlements with nearly every state and five U.S. territories over its work with drugmakers on prescription opioid sales.

Opioids, which also include illegal substances like heroin, have been linked to almost a half million deaths in the U.S. since 2000, a problem that has deepened during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under its contracts with the FDA, McKinsey worked with the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, the agency's main division for approving prescription opioids and other drugs, the letter states.

While working with the FDA, McKinsey also advised opioid manufacturers on avoiding oversight from the regulator, according to the letter. The consultant advised Purdue Pharma on how to soften an FDA drug safety program that required companies to communicate risks to patients, care providers and pharmacists.

The senators noted that the final program announced in 2012, was largely devoid of the restrictions the FDA had initially proposed.

The senators asked the FDA to answer several questions and provide documents by Sept. 20. They want to know how the agency checks for conflicts of interest and what its current relationship is with McKinsey.

They also asked what disclosures McKinsey made to the agency about potential conflicts and when the FDA became aware that McKinseys clients included several major opioid distributors and retailers.

Four Democratic senators joined Hassan and Grassley in signing the letter. They include West Virginias Joe Manchin, Rhode Islands Sheldon Whitehouse and Massachusetts Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey.

___

Follow Tom Murphy on Twitter: @thpmurphy

___

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.
Smoke envelops much of the area where the Caldor Fire is burning in El Dorado County, California. Crews are in the area trying to protect structures in the community of Kyburz and Strawberry since the fire jumped Highway 50, putting those homes and businesses at risk.

The Caldor Fire jumped Highway 50 near Kyburz on Saturday, and a 40-mile stretch of the highway between Sly Park and Myers was closed Friday. Residents who live between Meyers and Twin Bridges are allowed to travel on the highway but must show identification and proof of residency.

The U.S. Forest Service on Sunday said it will focus its efforts on keeping the fire east of Sly Park and away from the community of Pollock Pines, an operation expected to last through the next several days.

Cal Fire said in a Sunday briefing that they do not anticipate reopening Highway 50 in the near future as the fire still poses a threat to those traveling on that road. No new spot fires north of Highway 50 have sparked, and Cal Fire said the one near Kyburz has seen little growth. Crews are hoping to keep the fire south of the highway as they try to direct it.

As of Sunday, Cal Fire said 328 structures had been confirmed destroyed. About 13,114 structures remain threatened.

"We know this fire has done things that nobody could have predicted, but that's how firefighting has been in the state this year," Eldorado National Forest Supervisor Chief Jeff Marsolais said.

U.S. Forest Service officials said that nine national forests will be temporarily closed through Sept. 6.

Officials previously announced a complete shutdown of the El Dorado National Forest through Sept. 30 because of the fire, and the Rubicon Trail was closed as well.

The Caldor Fire, which ignited Aug. 14 near Little Mountain between Omo Ranch and Grizzly Flats, had burned at least 104,309 acres with 5% containment as of Sunday, Cal Fire said.

Low containment on the fire

Cal Fire on Sunday noted that containment remains low for the fire, which is intentional because the agency's main focus has been reducing the active threat to structures in the path of the fire's spread. Crews are also hoping to achieve a significant amount of mop-up before hoping to establish a containment line to prevent the fire from growing.

As of Sunday, fire officials said a fair amount of mop-up has been done along the southern parts of the fire, but activity remains a concern in the northeastern area due to the fire's close proximity to Highway 50.



A community almost leveled

The community of Grizzly Flats in El Dorado County, a once wooded area where roughly 1,200 people called home, is hardly recognizable now. The Caldor Fire burned through many of its neighborhoods and businesses, leaving mostly debris.

Deputies with the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the Grizzly Flats and Pollock Pines areas to patrol after receiving several reports of looting.

| VIDEO BELOW | A look at the Grizzly Flats neighborhood damaged in El Dorado County

Battling the blaze

A decrease in winds and moderate overnight humidity recovery helped prevent extreme fire activity, Cal Fire said Sunday. Multiple spot fires sparked throughout Saturday evening but down canyon breezes and a minor smoke inversion layer decreased behavior and growth in the southern parts of the fire.

Cal Fire said fire-damaged timber could easily cause more ignitions where there is very dry fuel.

More than 1,600 personnel are fighting the blaze.

Two people were seriously injured Tuesday by Caldor Fire, Cal Fire said.

An injured person from the Grizzly Flats area approached firefighters around 7 a.m. Tuesday, Cal Fire said. Crews tried giving medical care to the victim before requesting air transport for them, Cal Fire said. A second person was also injured in the Grizzly Flats area and was flown to a local hospital.

As the wildfire raged, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Aug. 17 declared a state of emergency in El Dorado County. With declaring a state of emergency, the state can pull from federal funds to help battle the blaze. The state has recently requested federal help for other major wildfires in California: the Dixie Fire in Butte, Plumas, Lassen and Tehama counties, and the Monument Fire in Trinity County.

Nearly 41,000 people  roughly 24,500 in El Dorado County alone  have been evacuated from their homes due to wildfires burning across the state, according to Cal OES.
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP)  A 45-year-old New York state trooper died while on duty at a southern Adirondack lake, police said Monday.

Trooper James J. Monda was working a marine detail on the Great Sacandaga Lake at about 4 p.m. Sunday. He went into the water at a boat launch and did not resurface, Superintendent Kevin P. Bruen said in a release.
A man who was accused of killing his stepsister in Council Bluffs in 1999 has been found not guilty of the crime, which the prosecutor attributed to poor police work at the time of her death.

Matt Kennedy, 52, was charged with first-degree murder after being arrested in October in Fairfield, Montana, in the death of Kimberly Ratliff, 22. She was found dead in a car on Jan. 12, 1999. Her throat had been slit.
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP)  Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen received her first dose of the island's domestically developed coronavirus vaccine on Monday, launching its rollout to the public.

The vaccine, made by Medigen Vaccine Biologics Corp., was given emergency approval by regulators in July using a shortcut that prompted fierce opposition from parts of Taiwan's medical and scientific community.

Taiwanese regulators bypassed the large-scale, longer term studies that are typically used to approve vaccines. Instead, they compared the level of antibodies that Medigen's vaccine was able to generate with that of AstraZeneca's vaccine, which has been approved by many governments and has undergone the full three stages of clinical trials.

The two-dose Medigen protein subunit vaccine uses a piece of the coronavirus to teach the body to mount an immune response.

The decision to give approval based on the new standard prompted an expert from the advisory committee on vaccines to resign.

Critics say granting approval before finishing full clinical trials does not provide adequate information on how effective the vaccine is in the real world in protecting from COVID-19, although initial studies may have promising results.

The level of antibodies in the blood is known to correlate with protection from the disease, but scientists do not yet know what the exact level is.

Regulators said Medigen will be required to submit real-world efficacy data within a year of the approval. They said when approving the vaccine that data provided by Medigen showed that it produced 3.4 times the level of neutralizing antibodies as that of AstraZeneca's vaccine.

Tsai received her first dose of the vaccine on Monday morning at a gymnasium at National Taiwan University in Taipei. Like other patients, she checked in for her appointment by slotting her national health insurance card into the computer system.

After a nurse gave her the shot, she flashed an OK sign with her hand.

As of last Friday, 40% of Taiwan's population of 23 million had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. The island's vaccination policy is to prioritize first shots, with only the most high-risk groups initially getting the full two doses, such as medical workers.

That's a large leap from May, when less than 5% of the population had received a vaccine.

Taiwan had remained largely free of COVID-19 for a year and half during the pandemic until an outbreak driven by the alpha variant spread across the island in May, prompting a large-scale lockdown.

At that point, Taiwan had received only about 700,000 doses of the vaccines it had purchased. However, it was able to obtain roughly 5 million vaccines which were donated by Japan and the United States.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)  Physician Jason Martin on Monday announced that he's running as a Democrat for governor in 2022, arguing that incumbent Republican Gov. Bill Lee's handling of the coronavirus pandemic prompted him to jump in the race.

As a critical care physician, I took an oath to do no harm, Martin, 46, said in an a statement. Right now, there are too many politicians out there like Gov. Lee doing more harm than good for the people of Tennessee, and Im running to change that.

Martin has been a vocal critic of Lee over the past year as the state has navigated the ongoing surges of the coronavirus throughout Tennessee.

As Lee resisted calls to implement a statewide mask mandate last year, Martin was among the various medical experts who pleaded with the governor to reconsider. The doctor often pointed to the COVID-19 patients he regularly treated to express just how extreme the pandemic has affected the state's hospitals and health care system.

Instead, Lee left the decision up to county leaders to decide whether or not to implement mask mandates. This led to a hodgepodge of mask rules across the state before many were lifted as the COVID-19 vaccine became widely available, and Lee eliminated most counties' ability to issue broad mask mandates in public places.

Most recently, Lee sparked criticism from Democratic leaders and health officials when he signed an executive order last week letting parents opt their children out of coronavirus-related mask mandates in K-12 schools.

My experience as a doctor in cities and rural communities has made it abundantly clear to me that Tennessees health care system is incompetent, our economy isnt supporting people to afford their families needs, and Gov. Bill Lee is failing our students, said Martin, who is running as a first-time political candidate.

Lee won the gubernatorial seat in 2018 against Democratic candidate and former Nashville Mayor Karl Dean. Lee has said he's running for reelection and currently only faces one other GOP candidate  Curtis Carney, owner of the Nashville-based Off The Wagon Tours.

Republicans have held the Tennessee gubernatorial seat since 2012. Republicans also control both Tennessee U.S. Senate seats, the majority of the congressional districts and have a supermajority in both chambers of the General Assembly.

Other Democratic candidates vying for the Democratic nomination include Carnita Atwater, a New Chicago community leader in Memphis, and Casey Nicholson, an ordained minister from Greenville.
SUPERIOR, Wis. (AP)  Authorities are picking up the pieces after a train smashed into an SUV in Superior.

Police said the collision occurred a little before 10 a.m. Monday. The crash caused a significant traffic delay but police described incident as minor. Paramedics determined the SUVs 80-year-old driver wasnt hurt.
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Ukraine's president on Monday vowed to do all he can to bring back the peninsula of Crimea, annexed by Russia seven years ago, and urged international allies to support the effort.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke at the Crimean Platform summit, called by Ukraine to build up pressure on Russia over the 2014 annexation that has been denounced as illegal by most of the world. Russia's relations with the West have sunk to post-Cold War lows as a result.

In his opening remarks, Zelenskyy promised to "do everything possible to return Crimea, so that Crimea, together with Ukraine, becomes part of Europe.

For this we will use all possible political, legal and first and foremost diplomatic means," Zelenskyy said, adding that Kyiv needs effective support at the international level.

Top officials from 46 countries and blocs took part in the summit, including from the United States, the European Union and Turkey. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denounced the summit as an anti-Russian event.

Zelenskyy charged that Russia has turned Crimea into a military base" and "a foothold for Russia to boost its influence on the Black Sea region. He said Moscow has tripled its military presence in Crimea.

In April, Russia increased troops near its borders with Ukraine, including in Crimea, eliciting international outrage.

On June 23, Russia said one of its warships in the Black Sea fired warning shots and a warplane dropped bombs in the path of the HMS Defender, a British Royal Navy destroyer, to chase it away from an area near Crimea that Moscow claims as its territorial waters. Britain, which like most other nations didnt recognize the annexation of Crimea, insisted the Defender wasnt fired upon and said it was sailing in Ukrainian waters.

All 30 NATO member states were represented at the summit.

Occupation of Crimea casts doubts on the effectiveness of the entire international security system, Ukraine's president said. Without restoring the trust in it, not a single state can be sure that it wouldn't become the next victim of occupation.

The summit was opened by a Ukrainian singer of Crimean Tatar descent, Susana Dzhamaladinova, known as Jamala. In 2016, Jamala won the Eurovision song contest with a song about the 1944 mass deportation of Crimean Tatars on Soviet dictator Josef Stalins order. Leaders of the Crimean Tatar community attended the summit.

We need to show the world that ethnocide of Crimean Tatars continues in Crimea, Jamala told The Associated Press. People in the world should know that we're barred from congregating even for honoring our ancestors.

Ethnic Russians, who form a majority of Crimeas 2.3 million people, widely supported the Russian annexation, but Crimean Tatars, who accounted for nearly 15%, opposed it. An estimated 30,000 Crimean Tatars have fled Crimea since 2014.

Some who stayed have faced a crackdown by Russian authorities, who banned the Crimean Tatars main representative body and some religious groups. About 80 Crimean Tatars have been convicted and 15 activists have gone missing, according to Amnesty International.

My people have once again found themselves under the rule of an occupation regime, which in many aspects is even worse than the Soviet one, Mustafa Jemilev, leader of the Crimean Tatar community, said at the summit. This forum is a ray of hope about a peaceful de-occupation for my compatriots.

Top Western officials at the summit relayed messages of support for Ukraine. "Ukraine will never be alone in that Crimea is Ukraine," EU Council President Charles Michel said. "Unfortunately, Russia continues to act in ways that multiply the negative impact of the annexation. The continued militarization of the peninsula heavily affects the security situation in the Black Sea region."

The summit aims at bringing the issue of Crimea back into the global spotlight, said Volodymyr Fesenko, Ukrainian political analyst with the Penta Center think tank.

Ukraine wants to make Russia nervous and bring the Crimea card to the international negotiating table, Fesenko told the AP. Kyiv reminds both Russia and its international partners about the price Russia should pay for Crimea.

Participants of the summit signed a joint declaration, which, Zelenskyy said in his closing remarks, clearly stipulates the non-recognition of Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea and contains commitments to consider imposing additional political and diplomatic sanctions on Russia in the case of further aggression.

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Daria Litvinova in Moscow contributed.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP)  Some members of Congress want to ensure that protections are put in place to address ongoing trauma as more information comes to light about the troubled history of Indigenous boarding schools in the United States.

A group of 21 Democratic lawmakers representing states stretching from the Southwest to the East Coast sent a letter last week to the Indian Health Service. They are asking that the federal agency make available culturally appropriate support services such as a hotline and other mental and spiritual programs as the federal government embarks on its investigation into the schools.

Agency officials said in a statement Monday they are reviewing the request and discussing what steps to take next.

Advocacy groups say additional trauma resources for Indigenous communities are more urgent than ever.

The first step we need to take is caring for our boarding school survivors, said Deborah Parker, a citizen of the Tulalip Tribes and director of policy and advocacy at the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition.

U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland has acknowledged the process will be painful. She and many others have talked about the federal governments attempt to wipe out tribal identity, language and culture through its boarding school policies and how that past has continued to manifest itself through long-standing trauma, cycles of violence and abuse, premature deaths, mental health issues and substance abuse.

Part of the Interior Department's work includes identifying potential burial sites at former schools and documenting the names and tribal affiliations of the students buried there. The agency has promised to work with with tribes on how best to protect the sites and respect families and communities.

The lawmakers in their letter described the boarding school era as a stain in America's history. They wrote that revisiting that history undoubtedly will be traumatic for survivors and their communities.

We are confident that IHS is equipped to consider ways to prevent inflicting or worsening existing intergenerational trauma, the letter reads.

The Indian Health Service noted Monday that Native American youth are 2.5 times more likely to experience trauma compared to their non-Native peers and that the agency aims to provide a "safe, supportive, welcoming, non-punitive, respectful, healthy and healing environment for all patients and staff.

Still, it will take work to ensure services are widely available, as criticism of the Indian Health Service and chronic funding inadequacies have spanned decades and numerous presidential administrations. The pandemic exacerbated health care disparities seen in many Indigenous communities.

Under the Biden administration's latest spending proposal, the agency would see a 36% increase in its annual budget for the next fiscal year. That would mark the largest single-year funding increase for the agency in decades, officials have said. About $420 million in pandemic relief funds also will be aimed at expanding mental health and substance abuse prevention and treatment services at IHS and tribal health programs.

Beginning in the early 1800s, the effort to assimilate Indigenous youth into white society by removing them from their homes and shipping them off to boarding schools spanned more than a century. According to the boarding school healing coalition, hundreds of thousands of Native American children passed through boarding schools in the U.S. between 1869 and the 1960s.

While research and family accounts confirm there were children who never made it home, a full accounting of deaths at the schools has never been done.

Some tribes and others have embarked on their own investigations.

In the coming months, researchers are planning to use ground-penetrating radar at the site of a former boarding school in Utah where tribal leaders say there may be unmarked graves. Corrina Bow, chairwoman for the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, said boarding school officials would take children as young as 6 years old and force them to work at a farm on the property.
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP)  With Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine receiving full federal approval Monday, Louisiana's universities soon will start requiring tens of thousands of students to get the shots, and Gov. John Bel Edwards intends to mandate regular COVID-19 testing for thousands of state workers who aren't immunized.

Just how many people the vaccine and testing mandates will cover and when they'll take effect in a state seeing one of the nation's worst COVID-19 surges remained uncertain, however.

University system officials said Monday they're working out the logistics of their inoculation requirements now that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave its full endorsement to the Pfizer vaccination against the coronavirus illness. The vaccine mandate may not be enforced for months on campuses, and students will be able to seek exemptions from the immunization requirement.

Meanwhile, the Edwards administration said it's crafting its testing plans, unsure when they'll be released.

The Louisiana State University, University of Louisiana and Southern University systems all have received approval from the state health department to add coronavirus vaccines to their list of mandatory shots required for students when a vaccine moved from emergency use approval to full federal authorization.

We need to fully review the approval from FDA, but plan to implement the mandate on campus, LSU spokesperson Ernie Ballard said in text messages that suggested details "should be finalized soon.

The Southern University System didnt immediately answer emailed questions Monday about next steps for its campuses.

The UL System had a Monday morning conference call with its campus leaders to discuss how the vaccination requirement will work. System spokesperson Cami Geisman said the COVID-19 vaccine will immediately be added to the schedule of immunizations expected of its 92,000 students.

But students across all of Louisiana's college campuses who dont want to get vaccinated could file paperwork to avoid the mandate.

Under Louisiana law, students can provide proof of vaccination, a doctor's note citing a medical condition that precludes getting the vaccine or a written dissent form objecting to the shot.

Students across the UL System's nine campuses will have to submit either proof of the vaccination or the required opt-out paperwork before they are allowed to register for their next semester, Geisman said, a time period ranging from Oct. 1 through Nov. 22, depending on the campus.

Students who are not in compliance will have a hold on their account and not be able to register for the next semester," she said.

Some colleges, including LSU's main campus in Baton Rouge, are requiring increased testing for students who don't get vaccinated. And leaders across all the university systems have been urging students to take the shot.

Edwards launched a program that provides $100 cash cards to college students who get vaccinated. The Democratic governor on Monday applauded the full federal approval granted to the Pfizer vaccine and said he hopes that encourages more people to raise their sleeves in a state where only 40% of residents are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

This vaccine is well researched, very safe and highly effective at preventing serious COVID illness, hospitalization and death, Edwards said in a statement.

The governor plans to require unvaccinated state workers to undergo regular testing for COVID-19  a move aimed at persuading more people to get the shots.

I think you're going to see some announcement from the governor in the not-too-distant future, said Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne, an appointee of Edwards who manages the day-to-day operations of state government.

But the Edwards administration is working through how such a requirement would work, whether it would set up specific testing sites for the workers and who would be included.

For example, the governor's Division of Administration said the testing requirement could only apply to agencies under Edwards' control, not the departments and staff overseen by statewide elected officials or the House and Senate. Also still to be determined is whether Edwards' testing requirement would apply only to political appointees or to all civil service workers  and if a requirement for civil service employees would need a separate approval from the state Civil Service Commission.

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Follow Melinda Deslatte on Twitter at http://twitter.com/melindadeslatte. Follow APs coverage of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic.
LANSING, Mich. (AP)  Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Monday proposed spending more than $1.5 billion in federal pandemic rescue funding to help boost the business climate, redevelop polluted sites and take steps such as accelerating the development of electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

The proposals are the latest offered by the Democratic governor since Congress and President Joe Biden approved an unprecedented $6.5 billion in discretionary aid for the state, half of which can be allocated now. She and the Republican-led Legislature have not allotted any of the funds. Some could be negotiated as they work to finalize the next state budget before October, though much of it may not be approved until later.

Under Whitmer's plan, about $700 million would be used to redevelop brownfield properties, rehabilitate vacant buildings, prepare sites for business development, create more energy-efficient homes and bolster regional economic resiliency plans. Roughly $350 million would go toward fostering a business environment that the governor said would be more conducive to high-tech, high-growth startups, preparing manufacturers for opportunities in emergency industries, speeding up charging infrastructure for electric cars and expanding an internship program for science, technology, engineering and math students.

An additional $456 million would boost the Going PRO program  which gives employers money to help train current and newly hired workers  help people who are almost finished with school or whose classes were affected by the coronavirus outbreak, expand apprenticeships and assist released inmates transition to jobs.

Whitmer said she is proud of the state's economic turnaround and fiscal picture more than a year into the pandemic but pointed to challenges including not enough people to fill jobs, a lack of necessary skills, a lagging entrepreneurial sector and a shortage of affordable housing. The unemployment rate is lower than the national average, but the labor force participation rate is low.

We are in a strong position to emerge from this once-in-in-a-lifetime pandemic and usher in a truly new era of prosperity and opportunity here in Michigan, said said during a news conference at Lansing's Rotary Park. But that prosperity is only possible if we meet the moment and address the big, preexisting challenges exacerbated by COVID and we do it together.

Whitmer said she will further detail her economic proposal in coming weeks. Altogether, it would total $2.1 billion when factoring in previously announced or updated facets such as expanding tuition-free programs for adults ages 25 and older and frontline workers, providing grants and loans to small businesses and temporarily helping businesses pay $15 an hour.

Among those joining the governor was Jared Fleischer, vice president of government affairs for the Rock Family of Companies, which includes Detroit-based Rocket Mortgage. He said COVID-19 has changed the economy  accelerating automation and artificial intelligence, reshaping downtowns that have smaller tax bases and fewer workers due to remote or hybrid work, and positioning Michigan to make advances in shipping and logistics.

We could not stand in stronger support. We could not believe that the investments that are being announced are more critical to our state, our future prosperity, Fleischer said.

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Follow David Eggert at https://twitter.com/DavidEggert00
RICHMOND, Va. (AP)  Democrat Terry McAuliffe urged all Virginia employers on Monday to require the COVID-19 vaccine for their workers who are eligible, sharpening a policy debate in the closely watched governor's race over how best to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.

McAuliffe's call followed a decision by federal regulators to give full approval to Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine and marked an escalation of his advocacy for obligatory vaccines as a condition of employment. The former governor now seeking a second term has previously urged Virginia health systems and school divisions to issue mandates, and required his own campaign staff to be fully vaccinated.

I have long said that the best way to defeat this deadly virus, keep our students in school and keep Virginias economy strong is by getting every eligible Virginian vaccinated as quickly as possible, McAuliffe said in a statement.

McAuliffe is facing Republican Glenn Youngkin, a former business executive and political newcomer, in the November general election. Youngkin, who is vaccinated, has consistently urged Virginians to get the shot but has said he opposes vaccine or mask mandates.

At a campaign event last week in southwest Virginia, the former co-CEO of the Carlyle Group was asked about his approach to managing the pandemic, at a time when the contagious delta variant is driving up new cases and hospitalizations.

First of all, we pray its behind us every day, Youngkin responded. My expectation is, this virus is tough. And so first thing that I would ask everybody to do is get the vaccine."

He said in a statement Monday that McAuliffe's announcement was an attempt to bully Virginians and businesses into compliance and a step that will clearly evolve into closing down businesses and locking down Virginia again.

Both candidates' have become increasingly focused on the pandemic this month, each launching recent ads dealing with the subject.

In one ad released last week, Youngkin spoke on camera, saying that data clearly show that COVID-19 vaccines save lives.

Its your right to make your own choice, and I respect that. I do hope youll choose to join me in getting the vaccine, he said in the ad.

A McAuliffe ad, meanwhile, went after Youngkin for supportive comments he made about the leadership of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, a state that has recently accounted for about one in five COVID patients hospitalized nationwide.

Bob Holsworth, a longtime analyst of Virginia politics, said McAuliffes announcement Monday draws a bright line between the Democrat and Youngkin that will become a distinguishing feature of the campaign moving forward.

Virginia will become a test case of the politics of employer mandates, he said.

Recent polling conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found majorities support certain measures intended to slow the spread of the virus, including school mask mandates and vaccine mandates for certain workers and activities.

The Food and Drug Administration's full approval of the vaccine came Monday after more than 200 million Pfizer doses already have been administered in the U.S.  and hundreds of millions more worldwide  since emergency use began in December. The FDA has never before had so much evidence to judge a shots safety.

The Pentagon immediately announced it would require members of the military to get vaccinated as the U.S., and the FDA's action was expected to open the door to other new mandates.

Democratic Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, who is term-limited, announced earlier this month that state workers will have to be vaccinated or face regular testing for COVID-19 starting Sept. 1.

Virginia recorded about 345 new cases per 100,000 people over the past two weeks, ranking 33rd in the country for new cases per capita, according to an AP analysis of data from Johns Hopkins University. One in every 524 people in the commonwealth tested positive in the past week.

About 56.3% of the population is fully vaccinated, according to that data.
CLEVELAND (AP)  More than 120 activists, scholars, pastors, students and average citizens attended the first hearing Monday of a new panel charged with redrawing Ohio's state legislative districts for the next 10 years, most advocating new maps that are more fair and representative.

Witnesses at the first of nine public hearings of the Ohio Redistricting Commission at Cleveland State University maligned the current gerrymandered maps and called the process disheartening, embarrassing, demoralizing and unfair.

My vote doesn't count," Daisie Reish, 77, of Grafton, told the panel. I call my representatives constantly and they never vote for me. They always vote the opposite.

Person after person  young, old, Black, Muslim, immigrant and people whose families have lived in the area for generations  told the panel they feel disadvantaged and unheard by their government as a result of the current district maps.

Tom Hach, executive director of Free Ohio Now, which has opposed some COVID-related business restrictions, called the hearings stacked against Republicans because they are all being held at universities. He said the majority-Republican commission was being bullied by Democrats, despite their party winning only 7 of Ohio's 88 counties in the 2020 presidential election. While the figure was correct, those seven counties are also home to almost half of the state's population.

An Associated Press analysis found that Republican politicians used census data after election victories 10 years ago to draw voting districts that gave them a greater political advantage in more states than either party had in the past 50 years. Voters in Ohio have some of the nation's most gerrymandered maps, the AP found.

Those voters approved constitutional amendments in 2015 and 2018 that created a new process for drawing both state legislative and congressional district maps this year and set up the independent commission.

Some in the audience heckled Hach as he was speaking and one man called him out for not wearing a mask, prompting a visit by security. Later, Chibuzo Petty, 31, of Middleburg Heights, though an advocate for fairer districts, said it was wrong for the group to chide Hach and that the timing and location of the daytime hearing meant it was dominated by liberal elites who are either retired or have the privilege of taking a day off work.

Christos Ioannou, 20, of Shaker Heights, likened his feeling living in a majority-Democratic area represented mostly by Republicans to a scene in Twilight Zone, where a man sees a gremlin on the wing of a plane and no one else does.

I just want you to see how messed up this all is, how disturbing it is, how undemocratic it all is, because this has to be representative, he testified. What's been going on this past decade, it's disgusting, it's abhorrent and it scares me that so many people are willing to show up today and speak out against this and odds are it stays the same or gets worse.

Participants also complained that the public hearings were only scheduled days before an initial Sept. 1 deadline. The panel must finish redrawing legislative districts by then, a feat they have admitted will be difficult to impossible.

Commissioners have blamed the scheduling issues on the delayed release of 2020 Census data. Maps loaded with the new Census data are still being assembled by experts at Ohio University.

The General Assembly has to complete a new map of the states congressional districts, which will be reduced from 16 to 15 as a result of lagging population growth, by Sept. 30. The panel would only get involved in that second process if state lawmakers cannot come to an agreement.

High-profile commission members  including the House speaker, Senate president, governor and secretary of state  sent surrogates to Monday's meeting, leaving Democratic co-chair Sen. Vernon Sykes, of Akron, to lead the hearing. State Auditor Keith Faber was the only statewide member to attend.

At an afternoon hearing in Youngstown, DeWine was criticized for choosing to attend a Cincinnati Bengals practice rather than the hearing. Spokesman Dan Tierney confirmed the Republican governor's whereabouts. He said in a text that he understands the hearings all this week to be part of a staff level listening tour and that DeWine will review all submitted materials.

Jen Miller, executive director of the Ohio League of Woman Voters, called the governor's decision a profound dereliction of duty given the fact that these maps will determine representation for voters for up to a decade.

John Fortney, a spokesperson for Republican Senate President Matt Huffman, said Huffman felt it was best to send senators from each of the areas where the hearings are being held and that was the case Monday.

The forums will continue through Friday, with visits to Dayton and Cincinnati on Tuesday, Zanesville and Rio Grande on Wednesday, Lima and Toledo on Thursday, and Akron and Mansfield on Friday.

Full details are on a newly launched website. The forums will also be broadcast live on the state-funded Ohio Channel.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP)  The West Virginia University Health System, the state's largest private employer, announced Monday that it will require all employees to be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus by Oct. 31 as COVID-19 cases continue to grow exponentially statewide.

The mandate applies to workers at all of the WVU Health System's hospitals and clinics in West Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia, and staff working remotely at home or onsite. The health system includes 20 hospitals and five health institutes and has more than 1,000 medical staff and 15,000 employees.

The move came after the West Virginia Hospital Association announced its support for hospital and health system employee vaccination requirements. And earlier Monday, the U.S. gave full approval to Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine.

Were doing this because it is the right thing to do," Albert L. Wright Jr., president and CEO of the WVU Health System, said in a statement.

Wright said the health system has "a higher obligation to our patients as well as to each other. I want WVU Medicine hospitals and clinics to be as safe as possible for our patients and staff. A fully vaccinated workforce will help ensure that safety.

More than 60% of the health system's workforce has been vaccinated for the virus, the statement said. Statewide, about 58% of residents age 12 and up are fully vaccinated.

Wright said the number of unvaccinated staff missing work due to COVID-19 is increasing and is starting to have a material impact on our patient care mission.

The number of active virus cases statewide has nearly doubled in the past 10 days to 10,543, its highest since Feb. 15. There were 3,951 new positive cases reported in the past week alone  numbers not seen since late January. The number of people in hospital intensive care units from the virus has doubled to 143 this month, according to state health data.

There have been 470 total confirmed cases of the more contagious delta variant of the virus in 46 counties, a fourfold increase this month.

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Follow APs coverage of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic.
Officials from the Governor's Office of Emergency Services will hold a press conference at 1 p.m. Monday at Cal OES headquarters in Mather, to provide updates to the state's multiple wildfire emergencies.

Cal OES Headquarters is at 3650 Schriever Ave., Mather, CA. 95655

The briefing will also be live streamed on Facebook, at www.Facebook.com/CaliforniaOES, and on Twitter at @Cal OES.The press conference is also available to TV stations on the TVu grid as "CAL_OES_SDI" and on the LiveU Matrix under "CA-Governors-Office."

The California Teachers Association, the state's largest teachers union, has launched an advertising campaign that thanks parents for working with educators to implement safety measures such as masking and hand sanitizing in schools.

The television, radio, print and online advertisements will run in every media market in the state.

The ads were recorded at Redlands High School in Redlands with area teachers and feature the Redlands High School Marching Band.

The ads celebrate the commitment to keep everyone safe and to make every school a safe place to learn, said CTA President E. Toby Boyd in a press release.

The U.S. Coast Guard grounded eight illegal charter boats operating on Lake Tahoe in the first week of August.

During a four-day operation, Coast Guard investigators conducted more than 40 boat inspections and boarded more than 60 boats verifying passenger safety, captains' licenses and alcohol testing programs.

As a result, six voyages were terminated and eight boats were issued orders to stop operating for at least one of the following violations: not having a valid certificate of inspection, not having an individual with an appropriate license, failure to have a drug and alcohol program, and not operating as a valid bareboat charter.

Vallejo police are investigating a homicide which occurred Sunday evening along Fairgrounds Drive, according to the Vallejo Police Department's official Twitter page.

Officers responded to reports of a shooting in the 1600 block of Fairgrounds Drive at about 7:24 p.m.

Arriving officers found an adult man down with at least one gunshot wound.

He was pronounced dead at the scene by the Vallejo Fire Department, officials wrote.

The Moraga Police Dept. is mourning the loss of Corporal Kevin Mooney, who died Saturday from COVID-19 and related complications at 58.

Mooney joined the Moraga Police in 2013 and rose through the ranks to serve as the small department's detective, a position the department said in a release Sunday night he "excelled" in.

The department also said Mooney earned a reputation as a fierce advocate for victims and relentless in his pursuit of criminals.

Mooney served as a rangemaster, a field training officer, and as president of the Moraga Police Officers Association. He also founded the department's holiday toy drive.

Before coming to Moraga, Mooney served in the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office for 21 years, where he worked custody, county patrol, and in the City of Orinda.

Police found a deceased person Sunday afternoon in a homeless encampment in open space between Venice Beach and Highway 1 in Half Moon Bay.

San Mateo County Sheriff's Office personnel responded to a call of a possible dead body at 12:45 p.m. After canvassing a nearby field, they found the unidentified subject in an encampment.

Investigators from the Sheriff's Office and the San Mateo County Coroner's Office were investigating Sunday evening and hadn't identified the deceased.

Anyone with information about the incident can contact the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office Anonymous Tip Line at 1-800-547-2700.

The Concord City Council on Saturday voted 3-2 to exclusively negotiate with a group of developers, including Seeno Homes, to become master developer for the massive former Concord Naval Weapons Station.

Seeno Companies, Discovery Builders Inc., Lewis Group of Companies, and California Capital Investment Group are the benefactors of Saturday's close vote. Mayor Tim McGallian, Vice Mayor Dominic Aliano and council member Edi Birsan voted for the Seeno team.

Council members Carlyn Obringer and Laura Hoffmeister threw their support behind the team of Sunset Development and Brookfield Properties.

One round of interviews last week wasn't enough to find consensus on who should replace Cameron Burks on the Lafayette City Council.

So the remaining four members will hold another special meeting Tuesday, with the three candidates they decided worthy of another go-round.

Burks resigned June 29, citing family reasons, more than three years before his term was up. Half the field of six was eliminated last week.

A $2 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency is aimed at repairing roads in the Santa Cruz Mountains that were damaged during record-breaking storms in 2017.

Congresswoman Anna Eshoo announced the FEMA grant on Friday, saying the repairs were long overdue and would ease travel through the Santa Cruz Mountains.

The federal funding to Santa Cruz County Department of Public Works stems from a FEMA declaration for severe storms, flooding and mudslides that pummeled the area in February 2017.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta will hold a press conference at 11 a.m. Monday to make a major announcement on a local police reform effort in California.

The virtual press conference will be streamed live on the homepage of the California Department of Justice, at https://oag.ca.gov/.

Media interested in covering should RSVP to agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov.

The National Weather Service forecast for the San Francisco Bay Area calls for morning drizzle along the coast Monday with highs from the 60s along the coast, to the upper 60s to mid 70s around the Bay and to the low 80s inland. Overnight lows will be in the 50s.

Onshore winds should continue to help push smoke east of the bays. Expect a gradual warming trend through the week, with chance for warmer temperatures Friday and Saturday for inland areas and higher terrain.

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.
By Rowena Gonden

Bay City News Foundation

If there's a silver lining to being young and bedbound, it's the doses of reassurance and happiness that University of California, San Francisco Benioff Children's Hospitals heap on their patients.

Ask Laura Rapp.

The Clovis resident's 11-year-old son, Mason, has cerebral palsy and underwent surgery in late April to reduce the spasticity of his muscles.

During the six weeks he was hospitalized at Benioff's Oakland site, Rapp was surprised and delighted to discover that Mason's treatment plan included a music therapist, who brought him joy in the form of a portable electronic drum set.

"He would rock out in his wheelchair," she laughed.

Not only was banging out rhythms Mason's favorite pastime, but the chance to make music on tambourines and maracas while physical and occupational therapists were working on him transformed his resistance to the sessions into cooperation.

"It was 10 times better than (watching) music videos on YouTube," Rapp said.

Every one of the patients at the Oakland and San Francisco campuses, from newborns to 21-year-olds, receives care that goes well beyond healing the body.

"I always say that our team is responsible for upholding the emotional safety of patients," said Divna Wheelwright, who oversees this holistic approach as manager of the Child Life Services at the Oakland campus, as well as at specialty clinics in Walnut Creek.

Benioff Children's Hospitals' acute care facilities have done away with the outdated model of medical care that has clinicians focusing solely on the illness to the exclusion of a patient's other needs -- now they treat the whole person, Wheelwright said.

Dispensing the wide variety of creative and customized care are Child Life specialists who assume the role of teacher, social worker, recreation director and guardian angel as they use art, music and a host of other activities to reduce youngsters' stress.

There's even a dog in the mix: Trinity the Golden Labrador has been encouraging and comforting children during their rehabilitation sessions for the past seven years, when she became Benioff Children's Hospital (BCH) Oakland's first canine companion.

The Oakland hospital, which has been providing these services since 1980, brightened the lives of children and teens over the course of roughly 80,000 in- and outpatient visits in 2020; youngsters accounting for about 40,000 visits have circulated through Child Life Services' 223 beds so far this year.

And although insurance doesn't cover this extra layer of care, families don't pay a dime. The hospital instead relies heavily on donations, which makes it difficult to expand the offerings with limited staff, and is why patients usually must have a doctor or nurse refer them to the program, Wheelwright said.

Medicinal maracas

A visitor might find music therapist Lauren Ragan easing the apprehensions of cancer and sickle cell anemia patients by strumming on a ukulele or serenading them on the piano.

Alternatively, she'll hand youngsters percussion instruments and let them rattle and thump to their heart's content.

Ragan recalls the 6-year-old oncology patient she recently tended to who had never been admitted to a hospital before and was anxious.

With maracas and small drums, the girl began singing about her fear of the unfamiliar surroundings by projecting the emotion on her stuffed animals while Ragan accompanied her on guitar. But the child also expressed assurance that her toy elephant, although sad, was taking its medicine and would recover.

The exercise gave the child an outlet for expressing her feelings and, by learning to do it on her own, she reclaimed a measure of autonomy over her circumstances and was able to calm down, Ragan explained.

"That's what we as humans need -- we need to feel safe ... to have a sense of control," she said.

A person's mental and emotional health affects his or her physical well-being, added Ragan, one of three music therapists at BCH Oakland.

"If a child is scared, their medical treatment is not going to be optimal," she said.

Fear amplifies pain as does focusing on it. Conversely, distractions can interrupt neural messages to the brain. That's why when doctors can't safely administer more pain medication, music can provide a positive distraction, Ragan said.

She chooses the music she plays according to patients' preferences to increase the chance their bodies will respond to the stimulus; depending on the genre they grew up with, selections might include hip-hop or regional Mexican music known as banda.

And while teens enjoy karaoke or record original songs on professional-caliber equipment in a lounge that doubles as a music studio, a therapist over at San Francisco's Mission Bay facility might be using music as a reward to help infants born before they developed the sucking reflex.

A speaker that's connected to a pacifier is activated when the newborns suck correctly, playing a lullaby or even the soothing sound of a parent's voice.

"Babies respond to the sounds of their mother more than anything," Ragan said.

Because music stimulates the entire brain, it can also help the child who's suffered a head injury and must learn to walk again by reestablishing neural connections, she said.

Knowing how to play it

Benioff Children's Hospitals' Child Life specialists are adept at using play to their advantage, whether as a conversation opener to learn what a youngster is thinking, to educate patients or to help them relax.

Staff members might give a LEGO ambulance set to a child who shows up in the emergency room because by watching how he or she plays with the toy they can better understand how that youngster perceives the experience, Wheelright said.

Play, like music, can also make procedures a little less uncomfortable.

ER patients can all but count on getting a needle for an IV or blood test, said Child Life specialist Rose Tandeta, adding that nasal swabs for COVID-19 are currently another standard protocol.

"A lot of kids say that the (virus) test is worse than the IV placement," she said, noting that it makes eyes water and feels like a sharp pinch.

There's also soreness from pulling off the tape keeping bandages in place and inserting nasogastric tubes to feed and medicate a patient, both procedures that are done while patients are awake.

Play is the language of young children, said Child Life specialist Hania Thomas-Adams, noting that they typically rely less on words to communicate.

As such, it's often the best way of explaining what will happen to them and why; it also gives children the chance to voice worries or questions, and their caretakers the opportunity to correct any "wildly imaginative misconceptions," she said.

Child Life specialists first might give children a doll and let them apply an actual tourniquet, swab the target area with alcohol, and then administer the needle themselves.

As a result, they are less apt to get upset when it's their turn to be poked, Wheelright said.

Thomas-Adams also has helped children overcome the intimidation factor of anesthesia masks by using a stuffed toy to demonstrate how the gas would make them fall asleep. She kept the lesson fun by letting the child pick out a scented oil from her collection, which she then dabbed onto the inside of the mask for them to smell. Kids who returned for additional surgery years later still fondly remembered those sensory experiences, she said.

Like music, play is an effective distraction from whatever's hurting.

Tandeta will help a patient relax with the guessing game "I spy," using toys that light up and play music, or by watching YouTube together on an iPad.

The Child Life specialist also used guided imagery to take a 6-year-old boy's mind off dressings that needed changing by having him close his eyes and imagine smelling funnel cakes as he walked into Disneyland with her.

Kids who must be isolated from others still can find pleasure in being able to play. Thomas-Adams once devised a creative way to accommodate a girl who loved beading and also wanted her company. She had a nurse give the youngster a string long enough to stretch from the hospital bed to the door so the two of them could do the crafts project together while maintaining a safe distance.

She also has entertained patients remotely, using Zoom to stage a puppet show. One boy was so enamored with her online poetry writing session that he insisted on continuing the fun from a gurney while staffers wheeled him to the operating room.

And the power of play made all the difference to a 4-year-old girl who had been in an accident that impaired her ability to walk. The child was frightened when she arrived, so Tandeta gave her Band-Aids and bandages to put on her dolls.

The girl plastered them all over the toys, and when she returned for additional surgeries "she wasn't fearful of coming back," Tandeta said. "She looked forward to playing with me again."

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.
Lake Tahoe is situated in the worst possible place for wildfire smoke right now: immediately downwind from the Caldor Fire.

More for you Travel The best air purifiers for California's wildfire season

According to air quality officials, the Reno Tahoe region and the central Sierra Nevada may even have the most toxic air in all of North America right now.

Since Friday, a southwesterly wind has been directing the huge plume of smoke from the Caldor Fire directly into the Lake Tahoe basin, saturating the region with thick, toxic air that measures beyond hazardous on the Air Quality Index.

On Monday morning, readings on AirNow showed a 620 AQI in Tahoe City. The Air Quality Index goes up to 500. Anything above 500 is labeled as beyond index.

Anything beyond 500, there isnt really a number that can be calculated, said Brendan Schnieder, air quality specialist at the Washoe County Health District in Reno, Nevada. Its really 500-plus. Its the worst it can get.

When the Air Quality Index goes above 300, the air is considered hazardous, which AirNow describes as a health warning of emergency conditions that affects everyone.

Ryan Salm/ Special to SFGATE

Everyone should avoid outdoor activity, Schnieder said. And even if youre inside your home, you should be doing light activity. It can cause a variety of health issues.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, wildfire smoke can trigger a wide range of health issues, from acute to very serious issues. Breathing toxic air from wildfire smoke can cause irritation in your lungs and eyes. It can reduce lung function, exacerbate asthma and heart failure. It can cause premature death. The EPA says that children, pregnant women and the elderly are especially vulnerable.

Anecdotally, many people in Lake Tahoe and Reno say that this is the worst wildfire smoke theyve ever experienced. Schnieder, who has lived in the Reno area since 2004, said he hasnt been able to see the mountains in a long time. On Tahoes West Shore, in Tahoma, longtime resident Ed Miller compares it to the smoke he experienced during 2013s Rim Fire in Yosemite. But he doesnt remember the smoke lasting for as long or with the kind of intensity as it has this summer.

Its changed our lives, Miller said. Our everyday activities. For example, we used to take our puppy swimming almost every day in Homewood. And were not doing that anymore. We just canceled an appointment in Truckee, because we dont want to go out. Its very gloomy. Its depressing. Its anxiety producing.

Ryan Salm/ Special to SFGATE

Lake Tahoe and parts of northern California and northern Nevada have some of the worst measurements on the Air Quality Index in North America right now. Schnieder said that virtually everywhere else in North America has a better AQI reading  that is to say, healthier and cleaner air  than the central Sierra Nevada, Lake Tahoe, Carson Valley and Reno area.

Sunday even set a new record for air quality in Reno: The 24-hour average for Renos AQI was at 251, said Schnieder. On a typical summer day, without wildfires, Renos 24-hour average AQI hovers around 25 to 30. Sunday was the worst day on record for particulate matter 2.5, or PM 2.5, which is a measurement of the fine particles in the air from wildfire smoke.

PM 2.5 is the more concerning of the particulates because it can coat further down into your lungs, Schnieder said.

The record-breaking measurement in Reno comes from air monitors that are regulated by the EPAs National Ambient Air Quality Standards, which Schnieder said is a separate source of records than AirNow and PurpleAir. The data for daily average on air quality goes back to the late 1990s, Schnieder said.

Schnieder also said that air quality in the Reno Tahoe region has developed a disturbing pattern that gets worse every year because of wildfires.

Since 2013, weve had wildfire smoke impacts every summer, Schnieder said. 2018 was notable. 2020 was even worse. And now 2021 is even worse than 2020. So it does appear to be this sort of pattern of more wildfire smoke-affected days. But also, those wildfire smoke-affected days are worse than they have ever been.

Ryan Salm/ Special to SFGATE

Given how bad the air is in Reno, the Lake Tahoe Basin is located in closer proximity to the Caldor Fire, and many of the residents on the south and west shores are likely seeing even worse air quality. On Monday, AirNow maps showed hazardous air quality levels for many locations around the Tahoe Basin. SFGATE called El Dorado County air quality officials for comment about the smoke in South Lake Tahoe, but the health district was not available. (Mass evacuation orders due to the Caldor Fire have been issued near the El Dorado county seat in Placerville.)

For about 36 hours last week, Tahoe saw a brief reprieve from the wildfire smoke, which has been sitting in the basin for several weeks straight. On Thursday and Friday, a shift of winds graciously cleared the air; you could actually see the mountains on the other side of Lake Tahoe. There were blue skies. Tahoe residents and visitors were finally free to be outside, to go hiking, to swim in the water.

But the taste of summer was short-lived. Winds from the southwest picked up, blowing all the smoke from the Caldor Fire into Tahoe.

Were right in the worst-case scenario spot, said Scott McGuire, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Reno, which forecasts for northern Nevada and the Sierra Nevada. Were sandwiched between the Dixie Fire to the north thats been burning for quite some time now, and then the Caldor Fire, southwest of Lake Tahoe.

McGuire said that winds are going to stay consistent, blowing from that unfortunate southwestern direction, for the first part of this week. Later in the week, he said some signs are starting to show that winds may shift. But smoke forecasts depend on myriad factors, including the fire itself.

At this point, the message is, we unfortunately are going to be dealing with some sort of smoke and haze issues for the foreseeable future, McGuire said.

In Tahoma, Miller is the president of the Meeks Bay Fire Protection District. He said hes getting many calls from fellow community members, neighbors and friends, regarding the Caldor Fire and the smoke. He has two air filters in his house and he said his street has vacated because so many of his neighbors have left their homes. The visuals caused by the smoke are apocalyptic, he said.

When you see the sun rise or the sun set, Miller said. Were known for our spectacular sunsets, and when they turn to this hazy orange glow, it looks unearthly.
Mary Altaffer/Associated Press

The threat of wildfires has forced one major airline to issue travel waivers for passengers forced to reschedule their trips.

Delta issued a press release Monday afternoon for flyers heading to Reno, acknowledging that the wildfires are "driving decreased visibility and impacting airport operations" to Reno-Tahoe International Airport. They have agreed to waive fare differences for flyers who need to re-book their flights.
You are now listening to the sounds of the New Generation. A podcast created for those who desire a new way of gaining information rather than reading a traditional newspaper. In our show we will discuss everything from sports, pop culture, politics, and local news. To stay up to date on our latest episodes every week be sure to follow us on your favorite podcast service. And dont worry, we keep it short.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP)  Texas Republicans brought back their voting bill Monday with no changes as some Democrats returned to the Capitol for the first time since ending their holdout, making it clear that the bill is on track to become law after their 38-day walkout.

Dozens of people showed up to testify before lawmakers to seize their last chance for public input on the the bill that will tighten voting rules in ways the GOP says will ensure election integrity and that Democrats say amounts to voter suppression for disabled people and minorities.

Senate Bill 1 would make mail voting a stricter process, increase liberties for poll watchers, and prohibit 24-hour and drive-thru voting, two ways Harris County  which includes Houston and where 44% of the nearly 5 million residents are Latino and 20% are Black  expanded options for voters and also offered protections against the coronavirus.

Candis Houston, who lives in Houston, said she arrived in Austin on Sunday night so she could show up early Monday to testify. She joined about 70 other people who arrived at the Capitol as the sun was rising.

Houston is against the voting overhaul and wanted to share her experience of using a drive-thru polling location with her daughters, including one who was positive for COVID-19, during the November election. Houston said she and her daughters' identities were thoroughly verified before they cast ballots, that they were not allowed to have cell phones out and that it was more convenient than having to go into a building to vote.

I had ancestors that died and marched for the privilege for us to vote, and anytime I can participate, I am going to be there," said Houston, who is Black. We should be encouraging people to vote and not limiting them by limiting where and when they can vote."

But Steve Lawrence, of the Houston suburb of The Woodlands, showed up to press lawmakers to pass the bill. Lawrence said he was precinct chairman, a partisan position that registers voters and encourages them to show up and cast a ballot. But he said he didn't trust the way the 2020 election was conducted and wanted to ask the Legislature to make procedural changes on how mail ballot corrections are managed, as well as language on forensic backups to results and system maintenance.

We are not happy with the election, and the way that there seems to be such a fight to stop any examination of the systems," Lawrence said. "I think they wouldnt be fighting so hard if there wasnt something there.

A House committee amended Senate Bill 1 on Monday to match language in the House version of the bill. The panel was expected to pass the legislation that will next head to a vote of the full House, leaving it just steps from the desk of Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who is expected to sign it into law.

Texas is the last of the big GOP-run states that has yet to pass more restrictive voting laws, largely because more than 50 Democrats in the state House of Representatives jetted off to Washington, D.C., in July to block the proposals. The maneuver kept the House from having enough members for a quorum that would allow it to conduct business. It was an escalation of a similar tactic Democrats used by walking out during the waning hours of the regular legislation session in May.

Former President Donald Trumps false claims that the 2020 election was stolen have stoked discontent among many Americans and driven the Republican Party to impose the changes. But GOP lawmakers don't frequently invoke Trump's name.

The legislative intent of the bill is the application of this code and the conduct of elections be uniform and consistent throughout the state to reduce the likelihood of fraud in the conduct of elections, protect the secrecy of the ballot, promote voter access and ensure all legally cast ballots are counted, so Texans remain confident in a reliable elections system said Republican Rep. Andrew Murr, the author of the bill. He told the House committee Monday that the language was inspired by bipartisan input.

Ending the walkout showed fissures among Texas Democrats, with some who wanted to keep holding out publicly criticizing their fellow representatives. But even Texas residents and activists who showed up to testify Monday acknowledged the end of what appears to be a losing battle is likely drawing near.

Far fewer people waited in line to speak compared to earlier in the year, when hundreds lined up. Texas' current surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations because of the super-contagious delta variant could have been one reason more avoided the crowded Capitol.

But Amber Mills, a volunteer with the nonpartisan organization MOVE Texas, which advocates for underrepresented communities, said the low turnout Monday didnt mean Texans support the voting legislation. And in her view, the fight against the bill already has had wins.

Even if lose on this bill today, or tomorrow, or whenever it happens, we are in a better position than we were last session and we know we will keep moving forward that way, Mills said.
Shippensburg, PA (17257)

Today

Periods of rain. Rain becoming heavy at times this afternoon. Potential for flooding rains. High around 70F. Winds ENE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 2 to 3 inches of rain expected..

Tonight

Rain early. Decreasing clouds overnight. Low 56F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
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Chauthaiwale, who arrived here on Sunday, had met Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and handed over a message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

On his second day in Kathmandu, he met former Prime Minister and Nepal Communist PartyUML chief K.P. Sharma Oli, former Prime Minister and Nepal Communist Party-Maoist Centre President Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda, and Mahantha Thakur, a senior Madhesi leader who had recently registered a new party at the Election Commission.

Chauthaiwale, who is on a four-day unofficial visit to Kathmandu, is the high-ranking Indian leader to arrive here since Deuba took over.

"In last 24 hours, I met four senior most leaders of Nepal, Sher Bahadurji, Oliji, Prachandaji and Mahantha Thakurji, representing the diverse ideological and political spectrum. Each one appreciated PM @narendramodi Ji's commitment to strong relations between India and Nepal," he said in a tweet, adding that each one is equally committed to the same goal and expressed desire to have continuous dialogue at party to party level.

"We had candid and open discussion on several issues," he said after his meeting with Prachanda. "We both have agreed to have continued dialogue to strengthen India-Nepal relations."

Nepali leaders said that the discussion figured around strengthening bilateral ties, improving the ties between the new government in Nepal and New Delhi, and possible areas of cooperation between Nepal and India in the future.

--IANS

ag/vd
Electric vehicle maker Euler Motors has announced that it has bagged a total order for about 2,500 units of its upcoming electric three-wheeler cargo carrier from e-commerce players, including BigBasket and Udaan.

It also includes orders from hyperlocal and business to business (B2B) delivery players for intra-city deliveries.

In a statement, the EV maker states, "The companies will deploy Euler Motors' EV (electric vehicles) across Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai to transform and strengthen their first, mid and last mile operations."

Deliveries of these vehicles are scheduled to take place in the next 6-8 months, it added.

Saurav Kumar, Founder and CEO Euler Motors says, "We are delighted to see the strong pre-launch order booking, which is testimony to the customer confidence in and the strong performance and value proposition of our product.

The capital-based firm is expected to launch its first three-wheeler cargo vehicle next quarter in the middle of the festive season.

Currently, the company said it is plying over 300 vehicles as part of a pre-launch pilot with ecommerce, FMCG companies for intra-city delivery in Delhi-NCR.

Kumar further adds, "We will soon focus on expanding our capacity and footprint to better meet our customers in more locations and in scale expectations."

BigBasket Co-Founder Hari Menon states with the exponential growth in consumer acceptance of online deliveries, BigBasket is dedicated to electric mobility and is committed to delivering smooth supply chains and enabling sustainable mobility.

Hari further states, "Euler Motors has demonstrated compelling advantages and a unique value set on these counts, stemming from superior technology, their design for Indian conditions and relentless focus on user experience. We are delighted in the partnership and look forward to compelling results.

Expressing similar views, Udaan Co-Founder Sujeet Kumar, says, "The full stack approach that Euler Motors has taken to help companies transition to electric mobility has given us a lot of comfort in day-to-day operations of our fleet."Kumar further said, "We have seen a significant rise in operational efficiency and tangible savings as their electric vehicle offers a higher payload capacity when compared to any competing ICE vehicle."

Established in 2018, is an automotive OEM focused on electric commercial vehicles. The firm also manages a network of more than 100 charging infrastructure in Delhi NCR to assist EVs on ground, the company says.
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has inaugurated Indias first smog tower at Connaught Place today. This tower would filter pollutants in the air within a one-km radius.

Inaugurating the smog tower at Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Arvind states that it has been designed using American technology which would absorb the polluted air from the top, filter out pollutants, and release clean air from the bottom.

Arvind states, This is among Delhi governments many efforts to improve the air quality of the city. We are operating this on a trial basis and teams from Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) will be monitoring how effective this is.

He further adds, If it proves successful, more such towers will be set up all over Delhi. This has been developed under the expert supervision of scientists from IIT-Bombay and IIT-Delhi, so we are hopeful that it will yield the desired results.

The smog tower, which has been constructed over the instructions of the Supreme Court, is 20-metre high and is estimated to cost 20 crore.

Senior DPCC officials states that the effectiveness of the tower would be studied for the next two years and the initial findings are expected to come out by the next month.

Alongside, such smog tower is been constructed at Anand Vihar. This is being built by the Central Pollution Control Board and is expected to be inaugurated by August 31.
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Wall Street rallied on Monday (US time), and the Nasdaq reached an all-time closing high as sentiment was boosted by full FDA approval of a COVID-19 vaccine and market participants looked ahead to the Jackson Hole Symposium expected to convene later this week.

All three major US stock indexes ended the session sharply higher, with the S&P 500 in the sessions final minutes just failing to hold what would have been a record-high close.

Wall Street has made a winning start to the week. Credit:AP

The Australian sharemarket is set to rise at the open, with futures at 6.59am AEST pointing to a gain of 10 points, or 0.1 per cent, at the open.

Surging crude prices, driven by expected demand growth, putting energy shares out front.
WENTWORTH

Series final, Tuesday, 8.30pm, Fox Showcase

After serving eight years of hard drama, Wentworth, the critically acclaimed reboot of Prisoner will slam shut its bars one last time. Its a bittersweet moment for the famously tight cast, bound together by both the physicality of the location and the intensity of the narrative.

Wentworths Zoe Terakes. Credit:Brook Rushton

As some of the biggest names in Australian drama (Pamela Rabe, Susie Porter, Marta Dusseldorp, Kate Box, Leah Purcell) prepare for release, a relatively new inmate is set to fly high. Twenty-one-year-old Zoe Terakes, who arrived in H Block as transgender man, Reb Keane, in season seven, has already appeared alongside Box on Amazon Primes comedy The Moth Effect, and joined Nicole Kidman and Melissa McCarthy on that platforms Liane Moriarty thriller Nine Perfect Strangers.

I feel very lucky to be in the position that Im in and to work with the people I have, says Terakes. Wentworth was one of the greatest jobs of my life, and I know everybody says this, but its true. It is a family and I went, Oh man, I have to say goodbye so quickly!
Australia, Indonesia and Norway all said the boat was not their problem and shifted the burden onto each other, leaving the Norwegian freighter, Tampa, and the asylum seekers floating in diplomatic limbo just outside Australian waters.

A freighter that rescued more than 400 boat people was stranded off Christmas Island last night with no country prepared to take them.

The Prime Minister ordered the Tampa back to Indonesian waters, saying: It is our view that, as a matter of international law, this matter is something that must be resolved between the Government of Indonesia and the Government of Norway.

But Norway said it was a problem for Australia and Indonesia, and an Indonesian Navy spokesman, First Admiral Franky Kayhatu, told Reuters: We cant let the boat enter our waters. If they do we will have to evict them in accordance with procedures.

The drama began on Sunday when Australian rescue authorities alerted the Tampa to a sinking wooden boat, 140 kilometres north-west of Christmas Island but in Indonesias sea rescue zone.

Three nations cast refugees adrift From The Sydney Morning Herald on August 28, 2001. Credit:SMH Archives

When the Tampas Captain Arne Rinnan reached them in large swell about 6pm on Sunday he tried to take the group back to Indonesia. But he said they threatened suicide by jumping overboard if he did not head for Christmas Island. Australian authorities had told him it was his decision where to take them.
Memo to Gladys Berejiklian from Shakespeares Coriolanus:  when the sea was calm, all ships alike showed mastership in floating. All except for the Ruby Princess cruise ship? Not to worry:  we cannot all be masters, nor all masters cannot be truly followed, as Othellos Iago so aptly put it. - George Zivkovic, Northmead We have ethical obligations to innocent victims of war Before the infamous Tampa incident in 2001, Australian governments, whether Labor or Coalition, accepted significant numbers of refugees. As Peter Shergold and Barney Glover remind us (History gifts PM a chance to do good, August 23), compassion, ethics and international diplomacy combined to decide policy. The Morrison administration has committed to accepting about 3000 refugees in the next 12 months. It can, and must, do more. Other Western nations involved in Afghanistan  including the US, Canada and Britain  have committed to much larger numbers. Like Malcolm Fraser before him, Morrison must acknowledge our ethical obligations to innocent people displaced by a war that was encouraged by Australias military intervention. It has a special obligation to the many Afghan citizens who risked their lives supporting the Western allies in the long struggle against the tyranny of the Taliban. - Roger Bell, Greenwich What did the Australian government know but wont disclose, that led to the closure of our embassy in Kabul on May 28? Now we get weasel words from the Prime Minister about our inability to accept a larger number of refugees. Whats preventing the current Coalition government from being compassionate in the current situation? Oh, thats right, we cant even grant safety to a family of four, beloved by their adopted community. - Stephen Dunn, Bonnells Bay Our PM is never proactive. In May, Australia was pulling its diplomats and staff out of Afghanistan; how were the Afghans who helped this country for 20 years going to get out, with the inevitable fall of their country to the Taliban? Like the asylum-seeking family from Biloela, it is yet another monumental failure of our supposed Christian PM to act. Shame on him. - Evelyn Palmer, Vaucluse

Shergold and Glover make an eloquent case for showing compassion and generosity towards Afghan refugees. It reminded me of a personal experience that drove home the same point. Three of us, my wife, her colleague and I decided to have dinner at an Iraqi restaurant in south-west Sydney. Two young men spotted us and rushed towards my wifes colleague and hugged her. They were Iraqi refugees, and she had taught them English. We walked together to the restaurant, where they joined some friends for dinner. We met several other refugees, all former students of my wifes colleague, now working as teachers themselves. When I went to pay for dinner, I found that the two young men had already paid for us. - George Rosier, Carlingford You have to wonder how the Australian War Memorial will spin our 20-year Afghanistan venture in its new half-billion-dollar wing. - Jeffrey Mellefont, Coogee Thank you, Patrick McGrath (Letters, August 23), for your explanation of why our right-wing politicians so love wars. As a returned serviceman, from the Vietnam debacle in my case, I couldnt have said it better. - Ian Usman Lewis, Kentucky Trees lost for greed and gridlock And so it begins: the trashing of Sydneys lower north shore by the Berejiklian government. Five hundred trees to go, unfiltered emission stacks, increased congestion on surface roads and the possible destruction of Aboriginal heritage. And for what? A mammoth shiny $14 billion toll road tunnel that monetises congestion but doesnt solve it (Devastating: more than 500 trees being cut down for Sydney motorway project, August 22). - John Berry, Cammeray

The good burghers of northern parts of Sydney rue the loss of 500 trees. This loss provides an opportunity for them to reflect on their car obsession, often large SUVs. Whilst they continue to elect representatives who build more freeways and more tunnels to feed that obsession, then they should expect no less from their Member For Willoughby. - Ian Muldoon, Coffs Harbour A bad smell this way comes Something is rotten in the state of NSW (Millions spent on consultancy fees August 23). Our government is doctor shopping, rorting and shredding itself to avoid accountability or scrutiny. Self-preservation and self-interest have become the standard against which policy is judged. As the stink rises, surely a reckoning awaits. - Deb McPherson, Gerringong The NSW Government uses, and misuses, taxpayers money for ideological and political purposes, and frequently in a deceitful and dishonest way. The selling-off of our assets, privatisation of services, gutting of the public service, TAFE and public housing, pork-barrelling, and cabinet secrecy has made the state less resilient for this and other pandemics, climate change and whatever else the future might hold. Creating shell companies, with private consultants, to try to hide their incompetence, is a new low. - Marie Healy, Hurlstone Park Bruce Stafford (Letters, August 23) states the Premier is running NSW like it was a private company. If the state was in fact NSW Pty Ltd., there would have been a broader range of candidates with far more experience than Berejiklian for the role of CEO. Similarly, a CEO performing as poorly would see shareholders demanding her resignation. We are, however, voters, not shareholders and NSW is a democracy, not a private company. Shareholders hold annual general meetings and can call extraordinary general meetings to change leadership. NSW voters get the chance every four years, the next opportunity being in 2023, which feels like an eternity away. - Mike Kenneally, Manly

There must be many under and unemployed chefs around. Treasury could give the hospitality sector a boost and get cheaper service if they took the chefs on to cook the books. - Franz Weiss, Maroubra Neighbourhood watch Kerry OBrien voices the unease of many of us regarding the gravitation towards authoritarianism in this country, exemplified at present by the sight of military personnel in our streets and increasingly heavy-handed police practices under the direction of our combative NSW Police Minister (OBrien alarmed by authoritarian drift, August 23). Yes, we are living in unprecedented times requiring tough measures for social safety, people are anxious and in need of guidance, but our government seems hell-bent on using tactics that it hopes will endear it to a majority under the guise of paternalistic protection, which reeks of political benefit and could well turn into an oppressive prescience for future control. We should be alert and well, yes, alarmed, despite everything. - Judy Finch, Cedar Party Running out of time I read with some dismay Ross Gittins revelation that the Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority (APRA) has initiated a climate vulnerability assessment for banks encompassing scenarios up to 3 degrees of average global warming, and has issued draft guidance for companies to stress-test their own finances against scenarios of up to 4 degrees warming. Australians (and clearly APRA) need to understand that the danger limit for global heating is 1.5 degrees, and, additionally, that it is now also generally acknowledged by climate scientists that 2 degrees represents  beyond question  catastrophe (Global warming too wicked to muddle our way through, August 21-22). We are currently at around 1.1 -1.2 degrees C of heating and are already experiencing the deleterious effects of intensifying climate change. If humanity fails to resolve the current climate crisis in which we find ourselves, billions of people around the world will die due to food and water deprivation because crops do not grow beyond a certain temperature (no matter how much water is poured on them). We need to act now, as the window of opportunity is closing rapidly. - Catherine McNamara, Hornsby

Ross Gittins highlights the good policy work being done by Tony Woods energy team at the Grattan institute (How Morrison can get going towards net zero emissions, August 23). Why is this work so essential? As we repeatedly see:

Reporter: Why wont you set a net zero by 2050 target?

Morrison/Taylor: We wont set a target without a plan

Reporter: Youre the government  why dont you have a plan?

Morrison/Taylor: Because we refuse to develop one.

When the brilliant Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme was developed, there was a skilled, dedicated public service team working closely with industry and social society. Presumably all long since fired. - Ian Maloney, Narrabeen Its war, boys The gloves are off. The Deputy Police Commissioners regular involvement in the 11am daily COVID-19 update is threatening my almost 53 years of married bliss. Yesterday, my beloved announced: Its no secret. I love Worboys. Time to fight back. Im petitioning the NSW Government to substitute Commissioner Fuller into the daily televised report which will have the opposite effect and thus restore harmony in this household. - Robert Baker, Chatswood Just the beginning Lets hope I got it at Bunnings doesnt soon take on a whole new meaning (Last-minute rush for Bunnings before closure bites, August 23). - Col Shephard, Yamba

Hirsute secrets What Id like to know is ... how does NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro keep his neat, up-gelled Astro-Boy hair-do so perfect when the rest of us are suffering wool-blindness (Letters, August 23)?- Kathleen Molloy, Thornleigh I recall a sign in the local barbers window decades ago that read, Boys Hair Cut $8, Mens Hair Cut $10, Home Haircuts Repaired $12. Although not possible in current lockdown conditions, I do expect to see this price structure revisited when we are all allowed out again. - Graham Bird, St Ives The digital view Online comment from one of the stories that attracted the most reader feedback yesterday on smh.com.au

Australia on verge of electric cars boom

From DavidL: Politicians dont seem to consider the fact that we import most of our petrol and diesel for cars and trucks. Fuel is our second-largest import. Vehicles running on electricity generated in Australia, even from coal, make a lot of sense economically. If this electricity is from solar and wind, its a no-brainer. Every dollar of imports cut has the same effect as an export. Not to mention the strategic and climate benefits.
Snow has fallen in the Blue Mountains and almost one months worth of rain could soak parts of Sydney in a 24-hour period, as a cold front brings to an end a record string of warm days.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued severe weather warnings for coastal areas of Sydney and parts of NSW. The rain began falling in Sydney on Monday night, with 32.6mm recorded at Observatory Hill between 7pm yesterday and 9am on Tuesday.

Rain falls in Avalon on the northern beaches on Tuesday morning. Credit:Nick Moir

BOM meteorologist Melody Sturm said the Sydney Basin had already been soaked with an average of 30mm rain and could see a further 20mm or more on Tuesday.

She said 24-hour totals of around 70-75mm were possible, particularly for the coastal fringe.
With street banners around the city greeting his arrival, Gelmetti was a natural ambassador for Italian culture, his endorsements sought for everything from furniture to pasta. Waks, who witnessed a masterclass on spaghetti carbonara, divulged his secret: One of the most important elements, apart from al dente texture, is the sparing use of sauce, of whatever type. GG explained that the sauce should just coat the pasta, which must always be the hero. Not unlike his most successful musical interpretations. Italian conductor Gianluigi Gelmetti (left) with Nathan Waks from the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at Birchgrove in 2017. Credit:Fairfax From the start, Gelmetti liked the SSOs openness to new ideas and embarked on creating what he saw as a Sydney sound  with equal balance between string sections. He increased the double basses to 12 and repositioned them at the back to permeate the whole texture, though the idea had mixed reception. Although introduced in line with his view of Verdis intentions, it was an approach that often worked best in Brahms, Beethoven and Mahler. Olding recalls a particularly memorable performance of Schuberts Symphony No. 9 in C (The Great). The best concert performances are those in which time seems to stand still for the players and the audience. Orchestral musicians will know how tiring this piece is to play and how it can feel endless when the interpretation is not optimum. Gelmetti made this performance effortless and the sound of the orchestra had a certain resonance not often achieved. A composer as well as conductor, Gelmetti sought to champion new works, giving first performances of the music of Australian Liza Lim and creating a series, The Shock of the New, in which old and new works, played without a break, were back-announced after being heard, with the audience encouraged not to read the program until afterwards.

Libby Christie, managing director of the SSO during his tenure, witnessed at first hand his interest in Australia and Australian music. He travelled extensively in regional NSW, conducting our regional tours, visiting distant communities including Broken Hill, Griffith, Armidale and Lismore among quite a few others  But while he was out and about in the bush, he didnt give up his Italian habits and was surprised to find that it was hard to find a restaurant open in regional Australia at 10pm at night after a concert! Gianluigi Gelmetti with the baton. Credit: Timothy Calnin, director of artistic planning at the SSO until 2004, recalls: He was a conductor who was very particular about adding repertoire and didnt ever take on new scores lightly. Making programs and selecting guest artists was much more difficult with Gelmetti, especially as he was wary of working with soloists he hadnt worked with before. His rather limited list of preferred soloists was almost exclusively Italian (Michele Campanella, Andrea Lucchesini, Mario Brunello, Salvatore Accardo ). SSO principal cellist Catherine Hewgill appreciated his artistic idiosyncrasies. I will never forget his attendance at auditions, which often took place the night after a performance, where he would saunter in looking like a weary rock star, his sunglasses never leaving his face. He would always arrive five minutes late for rehearsals, his assistant carrying the heavy scores on stage for him, and he would be wearing his trademark long black shirt, of which he apparently had many, but they were all the same. Although well known in Europe as a conductor of opera, the only full opera he conducted in Sydney was a supple and intriguing concert performance of Puccinis neglected late work La Rondine in 2006. Noted as a conductor of Rossini, where he conducted several works for the Pesaro Rossini Festival, his Rossini performances in Sydney were limited to concert performances, including a Rossini Gala in 2007 with a towering performance by Barcellona in the composers Stabat Mater. On one occasion, he accompanied the serenade from The Barber of Seville on guitar. A crowning achievement was the award of a Rossini dOro for a complete performance of the composers frequently cut last masterpiece, Guillaume Tell. Waks recalls a wonderful performance, with the four hours passing in a flash, with many memorable moments, including a very controlled and therefore much more exciting overture.

On arriving in Sydney, Gelmetti had compared the relationship of orchestra and chief conductor to a marriage, and by 2006 it was clear this one was starting to cool, with his announcement that he would depart at the end of his five-year contract. The end of his Sydney contract also saw the final year of his position in Rome, and in 2012 he was appointed principal conductor of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte Carlo, where he stayed until 2016. In addition to his substantial positions, Gelmetti performed regularly in Germany and across Europe, and frequently worked in Japan with the NHK Symphony Orchestra and the Japan Philharmonic and, in his later years, in Qatar. Throughout his career, Gelmetti was also involved in education, working with Youth Music Australia to create a memorable performance of Mahlers First Symphony in Melbourne in 1995. When he commenced his Sydney position he lamented that absence, bar a few luminaries, of Australian conductors both in Australia and overseas. As well as his involvement in the ABCs conducting program, he taught conducting at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Sienna and the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome. Though larger than life, his personality had complex layers. He loved applause and proudly brought his new baby daughter, Bianca Laura, onto the stage after one concert to meet the audience. Olding recalls a different side: I remember his first day at rehearsal where his opening remarks to the orchestra were full of respect for his players and reflected his Christian values of do unto others etc. He had a genuine warmth, love of life in a typically Italian way, and a love of music. Gianluigi Gelmetti at the Sydney Opera House. Credit:Steven Siewert
Sheppartons health service expects more than 16,000 people will need to be tested for coronavirus after a positive case was recorded at another school and as authorities struggled to contain a fast-growing outbreak.

The number of positive cases is expected to rise in the Shepparton cluster after 14 new cases were confirmed on Monday, taking the total linked to the regional citys outbreak to 36.

Goulburn Valley Health chief executive Matt Sharp said a positive case linked to Notre Dame College meant several thousand people connected with the school would need to be tested, blowing out initial estimates of 10,000 to 11,000 tests being required in the community.

He said the school had about 1600 students and 300 staff.
The partner of a woman who died along with two of their children in a fiery crash in Parkville last week says he has no words to describe the heartache felt by his family.

Cheltenham woman Koby Poole, her daughter Chloe, 8, and 20-month old son Harrison died when their Ford Territory hit a pole in Flemington Road and burst into flames on Friday morning.

Ms Poole and the two children could not be saved by emergency services and died at the scene.

Ms Pooles partner, Craig, said in a statement on Monday afternoon that it would take some time to process the unimaginable loss.
Former Liberal MP Craig Kelly has joined Clive Palmers United Australia Party so he can access a war chest of funds to more widely share his controversial views over the handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Mr Kelly resigned from the Coalition in February following criticism he had been sharing misinformation about COVID-19 and the treatments for the virus. He will now share his views on a national stage as the frontman for the United Australia Party and when he fights his NSW seat of Hughes. Craig Kelly has become the leader of the United Australia Party. Credit:Rohan Thomson/Getty Images The crude reality is that Ill have greater resources [with the United Australia Party], Mr Kelly said. In the last election, mining magnate Clive Palmer donated a record of more than $80 million to his party in a bid for federal parliament, with much of the money splashed on major advertising campaigns across newspapers, billboards and other media. I have been screaming this stuff from the rooftops for a long time. Its very hard to get this message through, Mr Kelly said.

We have a huge war chest, we can run television commercials, ads, we can finance a proper campaign that no other minor party or independent can, he said. Mr Kelly said his advertisements would be considered party political advertisements and in his view blocking them would be a breach of the constitution. Loading I think its important that theres more debate about the current policies and direction where the country is going, Mr Kelly said, adding that both the Labor and Liberal parties seemed to broadly agree on lockdowns, masks and vaccinations. I think the policies are all flawed. I think theyre causing an absolute disaster across the country, he said. The single-minded laser-like focus on case numbers, its as though the nation has been hypnotised. He said there was not enough focus on the damage the lockdowns cause in comparison to the benefits of reducing hospitalisations and deaths, and not enough focus on treatments. This includes malaria treatment hydroxychloroquine and parasite treatment Ivermectin. Mr Kelly was banned from Facebook after posting about these treatments as the social media sites moderators said this constituted a repeat violation of its misinformation rules. Australian health authorities do not recognise hydroxychloroquine and Ivermectin as treatments for COVID-19.
In direct language about the need to end lockdowns, Mr Morrison said the restrictions could not go on because they were taking a heavy toll on the nations mental, physical and economic health. It is always darkest before the dawn, and I think these lockdowns are demonstration of that, but the dawn is not far away and we are working towards that dawn and we are hastening towards the dawn, he said. We should not delay it. We should prepare for it. We should not fear it. We should embrace it. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews stood by the 70 per cent target on Monday and NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian promised people they would live more freely when the goal was reached. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the goal was unchartered territory and raised doubts about whether it could be met, while Western Australia counterpart Mark McGowan told people he wanted to eliminate rather than live with COVID-19 in the state.

Australian Medical Association president Dr Omar Khorshid said the plan to withstand rising case numbers in the health system was more important than the vaccination target. Rather than fighting over whether they should be opening at 70 per cent or 80 per cent, what Id like to hear state premiers and the Prime Minister talking about is how to make sure that when they make the decision to open up that we are actually ready, he said. At the end of the day, if were not ready it doesnt matter what the number is, because its still going to be a disaster. Dr Khorshid said more funding would be needed to help bolster the health system as managing more widespread cases will be an added strain on hospitals and GPs. We need to make sure the hospitals, especially the public hospitals, are in a financial position to continue to run, he said.

Every public hospital, every private hospital, and many community facilities are struggling to find enough staff, doctors, nurses. The idea that you could send large numbers of nurses to a hotspot is going to be very tricky, you have to think of the consequences of that. Labor health spokesman Mark Butler said those systems were being strained right now in NSW. The question for Scott Morrison is will he continue to push for restrictions to be lifted, even if tracing and other systems are not operating at best practice? Mr Butler said.

Because if theyre not, the Doherty Institute modelling shows very clearly there will be thousands more people put in hospital, and hundreds and hundreds more deaths. Labor leader Anthony Albanese used question time to dispute Mr Morrisons claim that modelling from the Doherty Institute showed the easing of restrictions at 70 and 80 per cent vaccination rates would work even with the high case numbers seen in NSW. Mr Morrison said work done over the weekend confirmed that the starting point, with higher case numbers than originally thought, did not change the overall conclusion in the Doherty modelling, but he declined to release the work. Mr Albanese challenged the government to release the assessment done over the weekend, saying Australians should be able to see it for themselves. A federal government source said the latest assessment was based on conversations between Doherty Institute professor Jodie McVernon and the Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Phil Gaetjens.

Loading This led the public service chief to write to the heads of departments for each premier and chief minister to convey Professor McVernons views about the impact of case loads, childhood vaccination rates and the two weeks it can take for a vaccine dose to take effect on the immune system. The advice is that these do not have a bearing of any significance on the outcomes of the modelling in respect of the 70 and 80 per cent thresholds, the source said. Mr Albanese accused Mr Morrison of evading scrutiny by ending question time sooner than usual. Doherty Institute director Sharon Lewin confirmed on Monday the groups modelling still applied with high case numbers.
More than 1.6 million people across the east coast have been paid $3.6 billion in assistance to survive pandemic-related lockdowns, prompting accusations from Labor the federal government is short-changing sick and vulnerable Australians.

In the past week, the number of people receiving help has climbed by 240,000 at a cost of $650 million.

Federal government assistance worth $3.6 billion has gone out to more than 1.6 million people since lockdowns hit the east coast. Credit:Janie Barrett

Federal data released on Monday showed one in 10 people or 882,000 people in NSW have been paid $2.5 billion in assistance through three programs: the COVID disaster payment, the $200 income support payment for welfare recipients who have lost at least 8 hours of work and the pandemic leave disaster payment for those forced to isolate or quarantine.

In Victoria, 347,000 residents have received $653 million while another $234 million has gone to 180,000 in Queensland.
Students in kindergarten to year two as well as year 11 will be the first to return to school in term four as part of a staged reopening once NSWs vaccination rates hit 70 per cent.

The second stage of the staggered return in October, which was confirmed by multiple sources who are not authorised to speak to the media, is also likely to involve year 6 ahead of their transition to high school.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says she hopes to outline plans for schools later this week. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

Health and education officials will meet on Tuesday to discuss the strategy, which is expected to go to crisis cabinet on Wednesday, when plans for easing some restrictions, probably to involve hairdressers, are also decided.

NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant told a budget estimates hearing on Monday that it was still too premature to decide when schools would return to face-to-face learning.
The playing future of controversial Canterbury forward Adam Elliott is in jeopardy after he was kicked out of a Gold Coast restaurant whilst in the company of NRLW player and friend Millie Boyle at the weekend.

The Bulldogs have stood down Elliott pending an NRL Integrity Unit investigation into an incident that occurred on Sunday night, when restaurant management asked Elliot to leave the premises when discovered with Boyle in the mens bathroom.

Bulldogs forward Adam Elliott was asked to leave an establishment on the Gold Coast. Credit:Getty

The Bulldogs board could make a decision on Elliotts future at the club as early as Tuesday. The incident emerged on the same day Canberra sacked Curtis Scott for an alleged nightclub fight and Cronulla centre Josh Dugan was charged by police for two breaches of COVID-19 orders.

Elliott told Bulldogs officials he was having his first drink in seven months on Sunday, starting with a barbecue with his Bulldogs teammates before moving on to the White Rhino, on the famous Cavill Avenue strip.
Sharks star Josh Dugan is set to face a Lithgow court in October after being charged by police with two breaches of COVID-19 directions.

Dugan, 31, was stopped in a car in Lithgow during a patrol on August 20 about 11.30pm. Its alleged he told police he and his passenger, a 30-year-old male, were moving to the area and were going to feed animals.

Dugan allegedly later told officers they were heading to a friends house for the weekend.

Police checked the pairs IDs, which revealed they were from Gymea and Alexandria. They were ordered to return home.
Singapore: Vice-President Kamala Harris has moved to reaffirm the United States commitment to allies in the Indo-Pacific after the fall of Kabul, saying events in south-east Asia will largely dictate the future of the world.

The withdrawal of the US from Afghanistan and the chaotic scenes following the Taliban takeover have prompted new questions about US foreign policy and the dependability of the Western superpower as a security guarantor for like-minded nations around the world.

Kamala Harris had an orchid named in her honour during her visit to Singapores presidential palace on Monday. Credit:Reuters

Nowhere is that issue more pressing than in south-east Asia and Taiwan as a rising China poses a threat to regional and global stability.

Harris, however, said in Singapore on Monday the Biden administrations exit from Afghanistan was no reflection of the role it intended to play in the contested Indo-Pacific.
In 1998, my family decided to leave Afghanistan for good. The Taliban had emerged four years earlier and in 1996 had taken control of Kabul, Afghanistans capital, imposing an ultra-conservative interpretation of Islamic sharia law. The Talibans rule was noted for its cruel corporal punishments, including public executions, the suppression of freedom of religion and expression, and the destruction of Afghanistans historical heritage. The year we left, the Taliban massacred 2000 Hazara men and boys in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif.

Seventeen years later, I decided to go back to live and work in Afghanistan. The Taliban had been driven from power by the US-led war on terror, but Taliban insurgents had resurfaced and organised frequent suicide attacks targeting schools, educational centres, universities, mosques, and hospitals and indiscriminate attacks on civilians.

Kabul fell to the Taliban without a formal transfer of power. Credit:AP

In 2014, I started my assignment with a foreign donor agency in the country. My return coincided with the Afghan administration and its US and NATO allies signing a new bilateral military agreement. The Taliban retaliated with intensive attacks on civilians. I vividly remember the day we had four massive explosions close to my office targeting aid workers and civilians. I was newly arrived, and it was one of the hardest days for me in Afghanistan.

Soon after, daily and weekly bombing of civilians was something I adjusted to as part of my new normal. The Taliban insurgents took direct responsibility for those attacks.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Independent Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel on Sunday said members of government need to stop with unbecoming behavior, be transparent with the public, follow its established protocols and stop trying to deflect with empty, evasive press releases. CPS protocols are in place to protect people. Leaders in this country should avoid undermining them with irresponsible actions, the MP said.

The MP was referring to Minister of VSA Omar Ottleys response to reports that he and the President of Parliament Rolando Brison attended a gathering at Lotus Night Club after the stipulated 11 pm closing time on Friday last. The MP noted that over the weekend several drips of information started to come out from the Minister as well as the President of Parliament via the media.

Firstly, MP Claudius Buncamper tested positive for Covid-19 on Thursday, August 19. By then he had exposed MPs and others. MP Brison knew he was exposed and reportedly did not quarantine himself. He instead went to the airport to welcome Anthony Davis and others and exposed everyone in the process. According to media reports, MP Brison only went to test on Friday morning and, if reports are accurate, received a negative test at 9.20 am, Friday morning.

MP Brison is also reportedly not vaccinated and a negative test does not mean he would have been released from quarantine, only that he had to take another test in a few days according to the established COVID-19 protocols by CPS. Any other behavior is contrary to what the government and CPS have officially established. MP Brison as well as Minister Ottley and another MP were seen at Lotus Night Club on Friday night after the established closing time of 11 pm and after the police tried to close the venue.

Minister Ottley responded to questions posed publicly by MP Emmanuel by stating that he did not give permission for the venue to remain open and the event to continue past 11 pm. However, the Minister did not clarify if the event actually continued after 11 pm and if he was present after 11pm at the event.

MP Emmanuel noted that Minister Ottleys Ministerial Decree regulating the current closing hours from 11 pm to 6 am states that all bars, night clubs, dance clubs, restaurants, and places rented out for parties and events, should be closed between 11 pm and 6 am. Any violation of the business hours is punishable with 4 months detention or a fine of Naf. 5,000 (art. 8).

MP Emmanuel said the type of behavior exhibited by MP Brison, Minister Ottley, and whomever else over the weekend is unacceptable and they must be held accountable for it. These are serious times. While some are fighting in SMMC and struggling in a tough economy, there are public officials acting against their own regulations just because they want to party, the MP said.

He continued: The Minister responded by saying he is disappointed with political figures who spread rumors and that these figures know where to get information. The Minister doesnt seem to understand that he is a public official and his government preaches transparency.

I am also a public official and I believe the public is owed an explanation if their government officials act in contravention to the same regulations they expect members of the public to abide by. I didnt spread any rumors, members of the public saw you. Dont respond to questions by answering just one and hoping it would suffice to cover all. He should be more disappointed in their behavior. Stop these embarrassing excuses and childish deflecting, Emmanuel said.

According to Emmanuel, several questions remain unanswered: Were Minister Ottley and MP Brison at a private party at Lotus on Friday after 11pm? Did Minister Ottley or MP Brison allow a private party to continue at Lotus against regulations? Can every club owner also pull this trick after 11pm and tell people not to go home, the event is private? Will Lotus or the event organizer be fined? Who actually organized the private party? Did the government of St. Maarten contribute anything financially for this event or any related event for persons associated with the Laker organization?
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Sint Maarten Police Force is once again asking for the assistance of the community to locate a missing minor.

Fortune Gadiel Luvie MILTON, 12 years old, has been reported missing by his mother on Sunday morning august 22nd 2021. Fortune was last seen yesterday evening while in bed. Fortune's mother does not know what he is wearing since he was asleep when she last saw him.

Fortune is slim in stature and has a dark complexion black hair and brown eyes.

If you know, or think you may know, the whereabouts of the missing teen please do not hesitate to contact the Sint Maarten Police Force at 542-2222 ext. 203/204/205, by calling the 911 emergency number or by sending the police Facebook page a private message.

Persons can also contact the mother of the missing teen: Miss Gloria A. MILTON at 586-7266.

Fortune if you are reading this, please contact the police or your mom and let her know that you are safe.

KPSM Press Release.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Since the beginning of the new school year, the St. Maarten Police Force KPSM has been assisting with traffic control on L.B. Scott Road during the early morning rush hour to ensure the free flow of traffic into and out of St. Peters/South reward area.

KPSM thanks all motorists who have cooperated with police officers during the rush hour, and for their patience.

It has become apparent, however, that some motorists are not adhering to traffic rules and regulations. Their behavior causes disturbances and even more traffic congestion at busy times.

Police officers have observed that it has become practically normal for some parents and bus drivers to stop on the main road for children to exit vehicles while impeding traffic.

Police officers have also reported that motorists are double parking close to the school areas compounding traffic issues.

Also, some motorcycle and scooter riders are overtaking rows of vehicles to create further traffic difficulties for vehicles making a left turn at the same time.

Several riders have been observed with two or more children on scooters, which puts themselves and the children at great risk.

While KPSM continues to work to ensure that the roads on St. Maarten are safe, it is a task that cannot be accomplished without the assistance of the community.

In many instances, simple precautions can be taken to avoid unnecessary accidents and injuries. Some precautions are:

- Assisting younger children to cross the road.

- Avoid stopping in the middle of the road

- Riders should wear a helmet at all times.

KPSM Press Release.
PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- The Constitutional Court of Sint Maarten, sat on Friday, August 20, in the case of the Ombudsman versus the Government of Sint Maarten in connection with three ordinances that were adjusted based on conditions from the Kingdom Government in order for Sint Maarten to receive financial support due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The case was filed by the Ombudsman against the Government on April 26.



The general conditions that have been imposed specifically for Sint Maarten, Curacao and Aruba are as follows: reduction of the total remuneration package for Members of Parliament and Minister by 25 percent; reduction of the total remuneration package for civil servants, government employees and employees in the semi-public sector by 12.5 percent; and the capping of high wage earners in the semi-public sector to 130 percent of the salary of the Prime Minister.



The legal basis for the implementation of these conditions is formulated in three national ordinances that are contested by the Ombudsman.



The ordinances are: Temporary National Ordinance COVID-19 Reduction Package of Employment Government Workers; Temporary National Ordinance Adjustment Remuneration Package Person Charged with Political Authority; Temporary National Ordinance Standardization of Top Incomes and Adjustment Package of Employment Conditions (semi) Public Sector.



The Ombudsman questions the compatibility of these ordinances with the Constitution of Sint Maarten, in particular, the conformity with articles 15 and 16 of the Constitution. The Ombudsman has also referenced to articles 19 and 61 of the Constitution.



The Ombudsman requests the Constitutional Court to annul the contested ordinances in their entirety or partially, and in the opinion of the Government this should not be honoured and should be rejected.



During the hearing, the judges of the court requested additional information from both parties. At the closing of the hearing, President of the Constitutional Court Judge Jacob Bob Wit said that the court would consider all arguments that were brought forward by both parties and present its judgement within a reasonable time.



The Constitutional Court, the only one in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, evaluates the constitutionality of the provisions of legislation. Procedures by the court can only be initiated by the Ombudsman.



The oral pleadings on behalf of the Government were handled by Attorney R.F. Gibson Jr. and for the Ombudsman, by Attorney J. Rogers. The court session last Friday was from 9.30 am to almost 3.30 pm. The Constitutional Court consists of three judges and three deputy judges which are appointed for a 10-year term and can be renewed once.



Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs stated, Government awaits the verdict and will abide by the decision of the court as our Constitution demands. Government also agreed to the conditions as long as they did not violate our laws and our constitution. The position we were in, led to this decision, whereby salaries, subsidies and vital needs of the country would be in jeopardy including the salary support for those employees who were on diminished working hours and whose employees would not be able to pay them their full or any salaries. That is the reality of it, had another option been available at the time it would have been utilized.



The wiggle room now being given to Sint Maarten to find alternative means to fill in the 12,5% personnel cost cut, was not available then and in reality, we are still seeking ways in discussion with the unions to do so, as was reported in our joint press release of August 1, 2021. Furthermore, said wiggle room only exists because of the fact that the Ombudsman took the case to the Constitutional Court; a process put into our system for this purpose - to test the constitutionality of our laws. We look forward to the verdict so that this is resolved moving forward, Prime Minister Jacobs concluded.
PHILIPSBURG:--- On August 23 - 25, 2021, a delegation from the Parliament of Sint Maarten will participate in the Interparliamentary Kingdom Consultations (IPKO), on Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean with the Netherlands as the host country. Delegations from the Parliaments of Aruba, Curacao, and the Netherlands will also be participating.

The IPKO meetings will commence on Monday, August 23, 2021, at 13.30 hrs. with opening remarks by the Chairperson, followed by words of welcome by the Island Governor of Bonaire.

The four parliamentary delegations will be discussing a number of topics that include presentations on recent developments per country; feedback on recent elections in the Netherlands, Curacao, and Aruba, better and lasting relationships within the Kingdom, advancement of cooperation /the implementation of the countries packages, and progress and challenges in the different countries concerning four SDGs related to climate and sustainability. The program also includes a working visit to Washington Slagbaai National Park.

The delegation of Sint Maarten has been preparing for the last few weeks for its participation in these meetings. The Committee of Kingdom Affairs and Interparliamentary Relations requested the necessary information from the Government in writing and subsequently met with the Government to further discuss. The Committee also met alone to discuss the topics and to establish the position of the Sint Maarten delegation on several topics.

The Interparliamentary consultations will conclude on Wednesday, August 25, 2021, with the signing of an agreement list and a joint press conference of the four delegations.

On Sunday, August 22, 2021, the delegation participated in a Tripartite meeting with delegations from the Parliaments of Aruba and Curacao. Among the topics discussed were the Dispute Regulation, the COHO and the Country Packages, and the draft Criminal Procedure Code.

The Sint Maarten delegation partaking in the IPKO and Tripartite meetings consist of the following members:

Mr. William V. Marlin, Vice Chairman of Parliament, Chairman Committee of Kingdom Affairs and Interparliamentary Relations & Delegation Leader;

Mrs. Grisha S. Heyliger-Marten;

Ms. Melissa D. Gumbs; and

Mr. Garrick J. Richardson, LL.M., ML, Secretary-General.

The plenary sessions of the IPKO can be followed live via the following link:

youtube.com/channel/UCKhNQfhalzbDvt7qHHquj7A/live
~ No finance, legal, and Human Resource expertise.~

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Corporate Governance Council (CGC) has issued advice to the Minister of VROMI on the appointment of six persons as members of the Supervisory Board of Directors to N.V GEBE.

Those persons are Dimar Labega, Emmanuel Brooks, Lela Simmonds, Sabrina Jno Baptiste, Dave York, and Anastacio Baker while the seventh member is Denicio Boasman.

While the CGC says that it has no serious objection to the appointment it did say that of the six members there is none with financial, legal, and human resource expertise among the lot.

It should be noted that while the CGC pointed out that this board lacks some basic expertise the current sitting board also does not have that expertise, even though one member of the SBOD is an attorney she does not attend meetings but has been collecting the monthly stipend. Due to this, the company has been paying thousands of guilders for legal advice for the SBOD, something that created a stir among members of the management board, especially because the SBODs legal advisor, has been submitting unspecified invoices for payment.

The Minister of VROMI decided to replace the members of the Supervisory Board of Directors when it became evident that the current board was not willing to cooperate with the shareholder and instead of supervising the management of the government-owned company they were busy micromanaging the company.

The fallout and public scandal began earlier this year when incoming CEO candidate Dr. Sharine Daniel exposed the current SBOD in several reports she penned to the shareholder. Daniel showed the shareholder how much money the company was spending on legal advice for the SBOD and conflict of interest involving the legal advisor who was representing the SBOD and other businesses that ended up have legal cases against NV GEBE.

Besides the fallout between the management board and the SBOD, the shareholder could not get the SBOD to execute basic tasks such as appointing the three members of the management board.

It is expected that as soon as the appointment is complete then the appointment of the management team comprising of CEO Dr. Sharine Daniel, CFO George Willem, and COO Meril Jimmy Timmer will also be officially appointed.

Daniel was appointed the Interim Manager from November 2020 to February 2021 when she resigned from the position due to irreconcilable differences with members of the SBOD, since then the SBOD appointed Mauricio Dembrook as the Interim Manager while Daniel prepared several reports for the Council of Ministers which were damaging.

 The first report dealt with the bleeding of NV GEBE by the SBOD for external legal counsel. Based on the reports citation and evidence were provided that showed how vague invoices were and the questionable amounts, totaling over NAF 365.000.00 in one year, said amount is way higher than what was paid to NV GEBE legal counsels.

 Second report showed how the SBOD interfered with the operations of the government-owned company that violates the articles of incorporation.

 Third report based on the negligence of the SBOD since they failed to take a decision in a timely manner that costs the company over $400.000.00 on their finances. NV GEBE was condemned to pay out the amount to another law firm.

 Another report showed the SBOD was interfering with the CLA negotiations since they are in direct communications with the union.

The SBOD was also given the same opportunity as the former Interim Manager and Chief Financial Auditor of NV GEBE to submit reports and evidence on the disagreements and alleged illegalities committed by Daniel while she held the post as Interim Manager.

Background information:

During a meeting that was held on Thursday, February 18th, 2021, with the Council of Ministers, and the former Interim Manager Dr. Sharine Daniel showed that the members of the SBOD are incompetent and bias. At least one member of the SBOD said that he felt as though he was attacked when hard evidence against the SBOD was produced, while the former chairman of the SBOD informed the Council of Ministers that he was threatened by the legal advisor and another member of the SBOD.

The SBOD placed its focus on one marketing contract as their motive to take a decision to remove Daniel from the interim managing directors position. Daniel showed documented evidence that the contract that the SBOD focused on was budgeted and was approved by the same SBOD and there was nothing unethical or illegal in reinstating the contract.

Evidence was also presented about various issues of conflict of interest involving the legal advisor to the SBOD where he allegedly represented companies that NV GEBE had court litigations with, said legal advisor is also representing the owners of Manriques and Capriles whose building is up for sale and NV GEBE is interested in the purchase of the building located next to its main office.

The former interim managing director of NV GEBE also discussed the resolution sent to the Minister of VROMI regarding the strategic plan and the intended committee that comprises members of the SBOD that wants to bill NV GEBE $100K for the writing of this strategic plan.

Other information that surfaced is the SBOD members made requests for personal items that surpassed over $20,000.00, those items include iPhones for each member of the SBOD, special order laptops, and wanting N.V GEBE to pay for their personal WIFI. Daniel also produced emails to show that the chair of the SBOD gave her directives to allow their legal advisor to assist with the operations of the company.

Dr. Sharine Daniel defended herself and the interest of the government-owned company very well and later provided the Government of St. Maarten with at least 5 reports that were backed up with evidence to show that members of the SBOD were micromanaging the company while decisions were not taken by the board, but instead by the legal advisor of the SBOD.

Another issue raised is the fact that the SBOD has an attorney that is a member of the SBOD, but this member did not attend meetings in a year but collected the monthly stipend. This issue was already reported to the Council of Ministers by the former CEO of NV GEBE Kenrick Chittick.

It is understood that Daniel showed the Council of Ministers the vague invoices that were submitted to management for legal fees which surpassed $360,000.00 in one year, compared to just over $150.000.00 for the companys internal attorneys. These invoices were not submitted on monthly basis but in fact, prorated. Evidence was also provided on the contract that was signed in 2016 after that Supervisory Board was dismissed and the settlement the incoming board made to dismiss the legal advisor. Emphasis was placed on the ethics of the legal advisor and work history with NV GEBE.

SMN News further learned that the members of the Council of Ministers were caught off guard when the hard evidence was produced that showed how members of the SBOD chose to squander the peoples money from a government-owned company. Members of the council informed the SBOD members that they were expected to provide factual information to the shareholder and not hearsay. The council of ministers also lamented that the information given by the legal advisor to at least one reporter of the local newspapers could not be substantiated in the meeting held on Thursday, February 18th with all parties.

The sources from the SBOD who spoke to SMN News on the condition of anonymity said that some Ministers could not believe their eyes and ears as to what transpired at the Government-owned company, yet they read open letters, opinions and articles in one daily newspaper that tried to defame Daniel.

While the Council of Ministers was officially informed about the conflicts with the current SBOD, it has taken them over 8 months to find candidates to replace the current SBOD. Hopefully, the process will soon finalize so that the people's business and company can be properly managed.
PHILIPSBURG:--- On Thursday, August 19, a shareholders meeting of Winair Airline was held with all shares represented as Winairs board presented the audited annual accounts for the fiscal year 2020. Present at this meeting were the Sint Maarten shareholder represented by the Council of Ministers, the representative of the Netherlands shareholder, the Executive Board, and the Supervisory Board of Directors of Winair. The report was delivered with a clean or unqualified opinion by the auditors, indicative of the boards continued commitment to high quality and timely financial reporting. As such, Winairs qualified financial statements for 2020 were approved and the Supervisory Board of Directors and Management of Winair were granted a discharge.

Due to the impact of the pandemic, Winair experienced a sharp drop in revenues compared to the prior year. Winairs board has held several meetings including correspondences with the shareholders in finding capital injection solutions to help the company not only weather the pandemic effects in 2020 but to also poise the company to go into 2021 and beyond with a stronger balance sheet as the diminishing negative effects are expected to extend up to 2024.

Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs stated, St. Maarten will do all it can to support the request for a loan with the Dutch Shareholder to maintain Winairs viability and sustainability for St. Maarten, Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Barths, and all other destinations in the region for which we remain a hub.
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Sometimes the passion for something, be it tangible or intangible, takes us to places that we only saw in our dreams. Raul Zambrano, a computer systems engineer from Tepic, Nayarit, discovered that he wanted to create a product that would become a symbol of his place of origin.

After working seven years in his professional area, this young entrepreneur ventured into digital marketing, photography and creating web pages, at this time Zambrano met a girl, who hired him to create a catalog of Nayarit products. Later, that job would take him to an international expo in Guadalajara, where he would find his passion.

It all started in 2012 when I was working with this girl and she told me 'we are going to go to an expo in Guadalajara'. I went with the posters and the canvases that we had made to decorate the stand . When we got there I realized that this stand was made of Nayarit products and it gave me a lot of emotion to see the businessmen who were there representing Nayarit , commented Raul Zambrano in an interview with Entrepreneur in Spanish .

For Zambrano, it was a pride that his state had a stand at that event, however, he realized that he wanted to feel that satisfaction of representing "his Nayarit".

When I saw them, I said, 'I want to be and do like them', that is to say, the fact of standing there in the name of my state and giving them something. And that was what motivated me. I said, I have to make a product, I have to also stop at an expo and give something to my place of origin , says the entrepreneur.

In this way Chumarones was born, corn churritos with shrimp, originally from Tepic, Nayarit. This brand has managed to position itself on the palate of the people of Nayarit and has had sales of around 350 thousand pesos per year.

Have you ever tried a shrimp squirt?

Mexicans like salty snacks, since according to a study conducted by Kantar Worldpanel , 7 out of 10 citizens consume this type of snack in the country.

Creator Family

Zambrano's first investment, now known as Don Chumaron , "was very little." According to the entrepreneur, he only spent on ingredients such as corn, a kilo of shrimp and "a small churrerita [churros maker]."

On the other hand, the young entrepreneur together with his family created the implements that he lacked. It should be noted that his father owned a carpentry and whatever the young man asked him he was willing to create.

We set up our own machines, the first was with a washing machine that had a stainless steel tub and that served as a drainer. Then with a few elements like 'iron' we made a base and created a churrera with a boat of those that they use to make snow, [in which] we made holes. We also managed to build a small mill. All this did not take more than two thousand pesos, says Zambrano.

Now the odyssey begins

Although in its early years the family brand of Zambrano, achieved sales of 600 thousand pesos per year and was shaping up to continue growing "it has been a story full of thorns."

After their success in Nayarit, they caught the attention of some investors. A friend of Raul, who had no capital, but who had a father-in-law with a well-established company in Mexico City, told him about a partnership to take the Chumarones to the next level.

The decline of 'shrimp churritos'

"And that's where our decline came because people already got in, they started with ideas and I no longer had the flexibility to make decisions," explains Zambrano.

According to the entrepreneur, the biggest failure was not having a clear business plan and starting to spend money on things they didn't need at the time. The sales of the snack fell to the point that they did not even reach 100,000 pesos per year.

We did not make a correct business plan, only the money began to be invested. That is, 'he takes care of this, he takes care of the other', they were unnecessary expenses and at the time of wanting to set a strategy and say, 'well, let's go to the supermarkets, we are going to make a distribution route', the expense had been so great that there was no money to fix the old truck that I had to go and distribute myself. There were not enough resources to pay the rent because it had already been spent on industrial machinery. A very large production plant was built, offices were built that were not necessary, 'restaurant' sales points were made for the new product that were not necessary , he says.

Raul Zambrano, lost interest and hope a bit, during 2015 and 2016, the entrepreneur dedicated himself to other things more fully, since he practically ran out of income from Chumarones.

The few results made his main investor lose credibility in him, and when he wanted to organize everything, it was the voices of four other people with whom he had to face, so they could not reach an agreement, so that partnership culminated .

I summarize it in that it was very badly planned. At the beginning, everything was painted very beautiful, but later it didn't work and when I tried it on my own, it turned out to be more fit, says Zambrano.

Here nobody gives up

Raul Zambrano's clients always asked him "Hey, do you have Chumarones?" and the young entrepreneur answered, "no, but I'll do it for you right now." In this way, the Nayarita explains that his consumers motivated him to continue with the idea and return to "take out the irons."

The first thing I did was to take out the old iron that I had and by that time I no longer had the washing machine. Here it is important to mention that my father had a carpentry shop and I told him, hey, I use this with these characteristics and he made me a stainless steel mixer that he built himself , he explains.

But, at that time he could not use the brand name 'Chumarones' since they had a license agreement for use with his previous partners, so he decided to sell his product in bulk, until with lawyers he managed to recover the name.

We started from scratch in a small 4x8 meter factory and started selling again. Little by little I began to capitalize, but that was it, the feeling of not defeating myself, says Zambrano.

Do not forget that undertaking can be a seesaw

Zambrano quickly achieved an average of sales between 200 and 300 thousand pesos per year, which he used for reinvestment in industrial machinery. "I bought stirrers, sealers, churreras, so little by little with the reinvestments that I was generating was how I started to get up."

However, then he wanted to enter a self-service store and "ventured" with a business that quickly consumed him because it did not achieve the required sales, this meant another "downturn". "At this moment was when I learned the importance of having a capital," he says.

At the moment, Chumarones is located in Tepic, Nayarit, with a sales strategy through social networks and some physical sales points in the Mexican state.

The young man comments that he began a distribution strategy with people interested in the product and in undertaking in other states of the republic, however, the pandemic hit that idea a bit, but it still stands.

A dream come true

A friend of Zambrano knew that the young man wanted to participate in Shark Tank Mexico that airs every Friday at 9:30 p.m. on Canal Sony, and he insisted until he succeeded.

Image: Courtesy of Shark Tank Mexico.

For his part, Raul Zambrano followed the program's format from its American version, and declares himself a fan of Kevin O'Leary, better known as Mister Wonderful. Likewise, he comments that when the show was released in Mexico, he also caught it and in the third season he tried to participate, but was unsuccessful since his brand was "still in its infancy."

Later, for the current season, his friend sent him the league to register and what he never imagined happened, they called him to review his application.

"I entered the tank and it was like seeing your lifelong idols, I realized that dreams do come true," he says.

Shrimp and sharks

Zambrano arrived at Shark Tank Mexico asking for 400 thousand pesos for a 45% stake in his brand. However, none of the sharks wanted to enter the project.

"Actually what I was looking for was a strategic partner, who will help me penetrate the market, find a way to enter larger self-service chains and financing from them as well, that was my intention," explains Zambrano.

At the moment, Chumarones wants to establish a network of distributors in different states, especially in the Pacific region in Mexico, "because they are people who have looked for me a lot," says Zambrano.

In the future, Raul will seek to diversify the flavor of Chumarones into products such as chips, a piece of toasted or fried corn tortilla.

You may be interested: The great fault that many entrepreneurs have, according to the new shark Braulio Arsuaga

How to surf the wave in the best Don Chumaron style?

As we have seen, the path of Raul Zambrano has not been the simplest, for this reason the entrepreneur shares some tips to face a crisis:

Learn to move pieces: "we must change variables in each step we take because probably those that you consider are not the right ones, be flexible, let your mind be willing to learn."

"we must change variables in each step we take because probably those that you consider are not the right ones, be flexible, let your mind be willing to learn." Look for your passion: if it really is your passion and it is what moves you, you will find doors or windows open to get what you want.

if it really is your passion and it is what moves you, you will find doors or windows open to get what you want. Surf the wave: "if this were a tsunami, you have two options, surf or let yourself be carried away by the wave or in this case problems."

Copyright 2021 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
The moment for Latin American entrepreneurship has arrived. There is no other region in the world that is experiencing a clearer boiling point than the Latin American startup ecosystem, since in recent months several unicorns have been created - companies that reach a valuation of more than one billion dollars-, mainly in Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Chile and Brazil .

This is because world investors are turning their gaze to Latino talent and that, for better or for worse, the pandemic has shaken many things that we believed to be true. One of them is working with seed accelerators (entities or companies that promote startups in exchange for participation in the business) from all over the world that are injecting capital into local entrepreneurs.

To give us an idea, according to data from the Association for Private Capital Investment in Latin America (LAVCA), in the last six years, investments in venture capital grew 673% in Latin America.

To learn a little more about how accelerators and investors are seeing the opportunities of the Latin American entrepreneurial ecosystem, we interviewed Andres Barreto, entrepreneur, speaker and managing director of Techstars . This accelerator invests in ventures of all kinds in their earliest stages. Typically injects $ 120,000 and has more than 50 programs around the world. Since 2007 they have supported more than 2,500 companies.

Editor's Note: The interview has been edited for clarity.

ENTREPRENEUR IN SPANISH (EN): Andres, taking into account Kavak, Trendenube, NuBank, -all these startups that are reaching the degree of unicorn this year-, how do you see the Latin American entrepreneurial ecosystem at the moment?

ANDRES BARRETO (AB): I have been part of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Latin America since 2008 and only in 2021 are we seeing the examples that you mention. The interesting thing is that most of its investors are from outside the region, which shows that the Latin American market is not only its talent but also attractive to invest from outside.

Before that we had local investors and we also had examples of companies whose market was global, but which operated from Latin America. But now we have that more and more investors from the United States and Asia are turning to the region to support more entrepreneurs.

EN : What do you think is happening with the Latin American entrepreneur? Do you think we have already reached another level of maturity?

AB : I believe that the Latin American entrepreneur has always had a maturity, even a resilience that one does not see in developed markets, such as the United States, because before it was almost impossible to carry out investment rounds. Typically we heard that businesses were financed only with friends and family and angel investors, but it was difficult to access contacts with greater capital.

I think what has matured is the ecosystem that now investors are seeing opportunities in the region and if they are putting money. What is happening this year is that these ventures that started 7 years ago reached a point where capital from much larger funds entered that before did not arrive because they were very small companies.

However, another very big opportunity also arose with the pandemic: Before, an entrepreneur from Latin America had to travel to Silicon Valley, have contacts there and invest time, knowledge and capital in raising money from there . Now a call by Zoom is enough. Geographic barriers are breaking down, for both entrepreneurs and investors. The need for "Silicon Valley" as a geographic point decreased. Access to the opportunity was made easier, within reach of a video call. Finally, we see that with the nature of remote work, an entrepreneur in Miami, Boston, Guadalajara, Medellin or Cordoba has the same access to the commercial market and capital to create products that are born global from day one.

EN: Andres, you usually talk about other geographical points besides San Francisco as starting points for Latino entrepreneurship. What would you say to those who continue to bet only on the American hub to raise capital?

AB: To the entrepreneurs who are now looking for capital, I say: They are not geographically limited . If they can raise capital in Mexico, Colombia, Chile or Argentina it is almost the same because the presentations are made by videoconferences.

In the United States, there are 900 funds that we call microfunds that manage less than 200 million dollars, that is, they are the ones that sign the small checks that will help Latino startups to get started. Those are the ones who are turning to see the opportunities in Latin America.

For example, TechStars and other accelerators are opening the doors for entrepreneurs to participate in their programs and receive that investment without having to physically relocate, because in many cases it is not necessary and in others it is simply not possible.

EN: It still seems that many Latino entrepreneurs make basic mistakes when pitching or doing their due diligence . As an accelerator, what areas of opportunity have you detected in entrepreneurs in the region?

AB: We work hard to help entrepreneurs make their capital raising efficient. We train our entrepreneurs to generate momentum ; to generate a lot of interest from investors towards your startup in a compressed time.

The trick is to gather all the meetings with the investors in the same week or in a very short space of time. That creates pressure for that nagging question investors ask of "How much have you raised in your round?" or "Who else is interested?" You may not have anyone at that time, - even if it is your first meeting -, but you can tell them Now I don't have a leader for this round, but I have 30 meetings scheduled this week and we are going to make a decision about which investors to go to. to accept in this survey by the end of the month  .

EN: You have a commitment to finance a thousand CEOs by 2026. Why that number and that date?

AB: We not only want them to be a thousand, but also to be diverse CEOs. If we are going through a time of digital and economic transformation globally, we have the opportunity to create an innovative industry that does not make the same mistakes of the first four or five decades of Silicon Valley. That is, having only white men leading investment, companies, boards of directors, or software developers. It was an industry that became very exclusive, but now that everything is changing and there is a boom in the economies in Latin America, it is time to make it inclusive and this time have participation of gender diversity, ethnicity, sexual orientation. Why not make a more inclusive digital industrial revolution?

And we set the date 2026 to have a period of five years to achieve it, but I believe that we will achieve it sooner.

EN: If you could ask for something for the Latin American region, what would it be?

AB: I want to see that more companies led by women continue to increase that money raised. There are those who assert that only 2% of the capital goes to companies led by women or minorities and that has to change. Why each program has its own goal TechStars to encourage women and minority and often minority women.

I want to see that continue to grow.

EN: Please give us 3 tips to get closer to an accelerator like TechStars.

AB: The first is that beyond the idea, the important thing is to have a good team . Having a very strong and diverse founding group, not only in skills but also in gender and ethnicity. Also this team has identified a clear problem . With these two points resolved, you must now demonstrate execution: what can you do to solve this problem.

The Techstars Boulder Accelerator was founded in 2007 as an acceleration program and has since helped 160 companies grow their business to the next level. It offers a network of contacts and mentors with significant global experience in business creation and scaling. In his program, entrepreneurs perform two-year work in the three months that it lasts.

You can apply for the new edition of TechStars Boulder until October 6. Find more information here .

Copyright 2021 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Two pandemics, just over a hundred years apart, are the focus of a new exhibition at the Stamford Art Association. 1918 Another Pandemic will be on view in-person weekends Sept. 4-26 at the associations Townhouse Gallery at 39 Franklin Street. The association is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and this is one of the first in-person exhibitions it has been able to offer this year.

While pandemics are serious, the mother-daughter artists, Susan and Dana McHale, use collage to reflect on the flu pandemic that lasted from 1918 to 1920, focusing less on tragedy but more on the day-to-day lives of people and how they coped. Certain parallels between the two pandemics emerged, and while many of the images used in the collages were historical, the artworks are contemporary and have a modern flavor.

Danas art will be shown posthumously as Susan said her daughter died in July due to epilepsy.

The two artists decamped to Portland, Maine, in March 2020 to lockdown with family members, and it was here they started making collages. A chance visit to a downtown antiques-vintage shop in Portland  Flea-for-All  offered them a trove of old Farmers Almanacs and old daguerreotype photos. While both had collaged in the past, the discovery of these historical images captivated them and sparked a desire to make collages and reflect on the current pandemic as well as the previous one.

I wasnt really thinking about having a show. We were just interested in using these old things and thinking about  and having empathy for  people in 1918, Susan said. They began the first collage, reflecting on the pandemic but it grew into a larger project. In all, they came up with 28 collages that are in this exhibition. They served, not only a way to keep busy during the lockdown, but a way to filter and process what was happening now and what occurred a century ago.

We tried to imagine the day to day lives of people during the period and to empathize with them. Some images are our own or family photos, others from Google, but repurposed or changed, cut and pasted, painted over and recycled. Making collages helped us through the darkest days of the pandemic, she said.

The collages were interesting to work on due to their abstracted nature, she explained. Unlike painting a canvas for hours at a time, the collages were best worked on in stretches. Collages are very contemporary ... You have to play with them a long time as they can be tricky, Susan said. Sometimes you put something down and you wont actually paste it and you will have to keep watching it and move it around and then you can paste it down.

The two created most of their collages in Maine, where they were until May of this year. They took several collaging classes together over the past year and enjoyed the shared pursuit of creating art.

You are collecting things and putting them together. Its a puzzle and you are kind of thinking about things ... and finding words and images that go together, sometimes accidentally, Susan said. A lot of times when you do a collage, you wont realize that something is on the other side of a piece of paper that youre going to put down and then youll say oh lets use that side instead.

For more information, 203-912-6570 or to view the exhibition digitally, 1918anotherpandemic.com.
STAMFORD  The Board of Representatives will hold its first of two public hearings to decide the future of the city's condemned former police headquarters on Tuesday.

During its Operations Committee meeting, scheduled for Aug. 24, the public can weigh in on a flurry of different options for the 805 Bedford Street property, which the Stamford Police Department moved out of in 2019.

A contractor for the city discovered asbestos in the building in 2014, triggering fines from the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration and eventually causing Stamford to build a new police station.

The entire board has until Nov. 1 to make a formal recommendation on the station's fate. But before then, Operations must hold a second public hearing where it will fine tune its guidance before passing the vote off to the larger board.

Though Mayor David Martin has publicly advocated retaining the parcel and turning it into a temporary green space until the city finds a new use, committee members have pitched a handful of ideas for the lot.

Some, including Operations Chair Rep. Jonathan Jacobson, D-12, said they want the space to be "permanently left as 'green space' for creation or development of a public park." Others wish to see the station "sold to third-party" developers and rezoned. Rep. Nina Sherwood, D-8, floated developing the station into a "new headquarters for EMS, 911 dispatch and central fire department," and language passed by the board mentions turning it into a hub for Stamford's "youth programming."

The board in June committed to demolishing the old headquarters three years after it first committed to doing so. As a result of that vote, representatives approved an environmental monitoring contract between the city and Eagle Environmental, a necessary provision for destroying the contaminated building.

veronica.delvalle@hearstmediact.com
Thane Grauel / Hearst Connecticut Media

NEW CANAAN  Police are reminding residents to lock their cars and remove any valuables after recent incidents of vehicles being stolen or broken into.

Police said last Friday afternoon a resident reported a scooter had been stolen out of the New Canaan Parish parking lot. The resident told police the scooters tire had been locked and the vehicle was covered at the time of the theft. The keys were not taken during the theft, according to police.
BOISE, Idaho (AP)  The Idaho Supreme Court has rejected a new law designed to make it harder for voters to get initiatives on the ballot, saying the legislation was so restrictive that it violated a fundamental right under the state's constitution.

The ruling issued Monday was a win for Reclaim Idaho, a group that successfully sponsored a Medicaid expansion initiative three years ago and that is now working to qualify an initiative for the ballot that aims to increase public education funding.

Idaho Speaker of the House Scott Bedke said in a prepared statement that members of the House Republican Caucus were disappointed by the ruling. He said the law would have increased voter involvement, especially in the corners of the state too often forgotten by some.

Reclaim Idaho co-founder Luke Mayville said the ruling means thousands of Idaho residents are breathing sighs of relief.

"Nearly every time in our history that our legislature attempted to eliminate the initiative process, either the governor or the courts stepped up to protect the rights of the people. Todays decision adds a new chapter to that history, and future generations of Idahoans will look back on the courts decision with gratitude, Mayville said in a prepared statement.

The high court's opinion written by Justice Gregory Moeller was unanimous in its main conclusion  that the law should be overturned  though two of the justices said they would have gotten at the same conclusion in slightly different ways.

The ability of the legislature to make laws related to a fundamental right arises from the reality that, in an ordered society, few rights are absolute, Moeller wrote. However, the legislatures duty to give effect to the peoples rights is not a free pass to override constitutional constraints and legislate a right into non-existence, even if the legislature believes doing so is in the peoples best interest.

The case pitted the rights of voters to enact and repeal laws against the power of the state Legislature to shape how ballot initiative efforts are carried out. The new law, which passed earlier this year, required signature-gatherers to get 6% of registered voters in each of Idahos 35 legislative districts within a short time span. Opponents said it made Idaho's initiative process the toughest in the nation, rendering such efforts virtually impossible to achieve. But supporters said the law would protect people with less popular political opinions from being overrun by the majority.

The new law quickly became the subject of two lawsuits  one from former Deputy Attorney General Michael Gilmore, who said the law violated the equal protection clause of the state constitution and divided the people's legislative power  and one making similar arguments brought by Reclaim Idaho and the Committee to Protect and Preserve the Idaho Constitution, Inc. The cases were combined before the Idaho Supreme Court.

The high court dismissed the lawsuit brought by Gilmore because the justices found that as an individual Idaho citizen, he didn't show that he was specifically being harmed in any different way than other Idaho voters.

But in response to the lawsuit from Reclaim Idaho and the Committee to Protect and Preserve the Idaho Constitution, the justices agreed that the the law wrongly created a dramatic check on the ballot qualification process without showing a compelling need for such a check," and noted that all qualifying initiatives or referenda are already subjected to a statewide vote.

The legislatures actions amounted to a one-two punch for groups like Reclaim and the Committee  it passed a law that made the initiative and referendum process more difficult for proponents of future ballot propositions, while simultaneously making it more difficult for those opposed to the new law to pass a referendum to repeal that very law, Moeller wrote.

The high court rejected the Legislature's claim that the law would evenly distribute power across the state. Instead, it essentially gives every district veto power over qualifying initiatives and referenda, the court found.

For example, a lone urban district in Boise could thwart an agricultural initiative with strong statewide support, Moeller wrote. If the legislature's actual goal is to prevent any initiative or referendum from qualifying for the ballot, then this is probably an effective tactic. However, this is inconsistent with the constitutional requirement of a narrowly drawn solution.

The ruling means the previous version of the law  which requires signatures from 18 of the states legislative districts  goes back into effect.
The videos are difficult to watch.

In one, a man dangles over the edge of an Oklahoma City overpass, his legs swinging in midair as police grab his arms and pull him from the brink. In another, a woman hangs high above the Los Angeles Harbor as a half-dozen officers drag her, head-first, up the side of the bridge. The panicked voices of cops cry out, We got you, we got you! just before they pin her to the ground and pull out handcuffs.

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EDITORS NOTE  This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

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The short clips were posted on official law enforcement social media accounts, part of a longstanding practice by police agencies to showcase their lifesaving efforts online  especially in 2021 as desperation grows for positive press amid accusations of excessive force and racism following George Floyds murder, and rising gun violence and killings.

But with renewed attention on officer interactions with people who are suffering from mental health issues, experts and advocates are taking another look at these posts with an eye toward whether they exploit the very victims law enforcement just saved.

Its like we were living in this tragedy with them, said Kevin Berthia, a mental health advocate who has survived his own suicide attempts. Now how is that not creating trauma for anybody else? Who else is this triggering?

The posts are easy to find on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Police departments nationwide may upload them without the permission of the person in crisis  though their identities are obscured  without a warning about contents and without consulting mental health professionals.

Debbie Plotnick, vice president for state and federal advocacy at Mental Health America, reviewed a half-dozen from around the country.

Yes, they helped get a person down and that is commendable, she said, but added: Im not seeing that this has value in helping peoples mental health.

While police say mental health is their priority, the footage appears to tell a different story. Law enforcement agencies have long tried to showcase the harrowing and dangerous work of fighting crime and saving lives, and the feeds also include officers delivering babies, acts of kindness and shows of strength.

The New York Police Department, along with images of smiling cops, often tweets detailed captions that include the exact pier someone jumped from or the number of pills they swallowed before the officers saved them. Other posts include videos from the scene.

Yet the American Association of Suicidology specifically suggests that any reporting on suicide or suicide attempts not include the method or location. The association recommends that photos and videos from the scene also be excluded, even if the persons identity is concealed.

The NYPD declined requests for comment.

Some experts fear copycats, saying such detailed posts  like the recent Los Angeles Police Department posts with body-cam footage of the woman's suicide attempt on the bridge  basically give a manual to vulnerable people.

Heres a spot on the bridge where it literally took like six uniformed police officers to drag this person back over the side, said Jonathan Singer, president of the American Association of Suicidology.

The LAPD declined to comment, but said in a statement that it does not have a specific policy in these cases. The agency said it strives to protect the individuals identity but does not typically seek permission beforehand.

In the 55-second video  posted to Facebook, Twitter and Instagram less than a month after the incident  police were called to the bridge in San Pedro after the woman was seen climbing over the side. The scene is fraught with tension  rushing wind, the woman's panicked breathing, the squawking of the radios echoing off the bridge's metal, the clicking of handcuffs.

Great teamwork resulted in her receiving the help she needed, the LAPDs posts said, with a link to the National Suicide Prevention Lifelines website. Remember, you are never alone and there is always help.

In Oklahoma City, the overpass video posted to the police departments Facebook page in May includes body-cam footage and interviews with responding officers. The mans face is blurred out, though the department did not seek his permission before posting the video.

The final clip shows the man being loaded into a police cruiser with the text: After rescuing the man, officers took him to the hospital and started the process of getting him the help he needed. The phone number of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline follows.

Master Sgt. Gary Knight, a spokesperson for the Oklahoma City Police Department, said the goal was showing residents how the actions of the officers saved the mans life during the two-hour incident.

The last thing we ever want to do is hinder somebodys recovery when theyve been in a state of crisis, Knight said. Were not out here to try to make somebodys condition worse. Thats why we showed up in the first place  to try to help that person.

Daniel Reidenberg, executive director of the Minnesota-based Suicide Awareness Voices of Education, said such social media posts may actually deter viewers from calling 911, for fear they might also get handcuffed or arrested.

Its too complex of an issue to boil down into a video like that, he said.

Ronnie Walker agrees. Her stepson died by suicide when he was a college junior, prompting her to form a now-international support group that includes an online forum for other grieving families, the Illinois-based nonprofit Alliance of Hope For Suicide Loss Survivors.

It was really devastating for everybody who knew and loved him, she said, speaking on the 26th anniversary of her stepson's death. It was as if a grenade went off in our family and everyone was wounded, each in their own way.

Looking at the police posts, Walker said, could easily be traumatizing for people who have lost loved ones to suicide.

I dont want to dismiss the heroism of the police or that they have kindness in their hearts, she said. I just dont see some of those videos as portraying that or conveying that. Its more sensational.

The police department of Appleton, Wisconsin  a city of 74,000 north of Milwaukee  took a different approach. They had discussions for nearly a month before going public in February with an eight-minute suicide intervention video that is much less explicit than others. They also sought permission from the man who had been in crisis and his family and worked with mental health organizations.

Is this going to be positive for our community? Is this actually going to cause the conversations that we want to happen around mental health? Lt. Meghan Cash said. Or is this just a video?

In recent years, officials who oversee so-called suicide hot spots like San Franciscos Golden Gate Bridge and the George Washington Bridge, which connects New York City and New Jersey, have worked to install prevention or deterrent systems.

About 30 people die by suicide annually on the Golden Gate Bridge, and another 150-plus people try to take their lives there each year. Many come in contact with the 36 members of the bridge patrol  whose captain, David Rivera, hopes new conversations around mental health, like Simone Biles discussions at the Olympics, will encourage people to get help.

Riveras department does not post publicly about suicide interventions, and instead chooses to privately honor its members and others who may have been involved in rescues, like bridge ironworkers, roadway staffers or officers from other police agencies.

We can recognize them and write up a commendation, Rivera said.

Berthia, the mental health advocate, went to the bridge in 2005 with the intent to end his life. His encounter over the railing with a California Highway Patrol officer was captured in a photograph published on The San Francisco Chronicles front page. The picture haunted him for years.

It brought me back to the day, Berthia said. It brought me back to the moment. It brought me back to the wind, and the smell."

Now, Berthia speaks nationally about suicide prevention, and says there's a long way to go on mental health awareness. Still, his message to people in crisis is a hopeful one.

I need you here, he says, I need you here. So please call or reach out, do whatever youve got to do.

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This story has been updated to correct where the nonprofit organization Alliance of Hope For Suicide Loss Survivors, an international support group that has an online forum for families whose loved ones have died by suicide, is based. It is based in Illinois, not Hawaii.

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Associated Press video journalists Angie Wang in Atlanta and Haven Daley in San Francisco contributed to this report.
As Monday marks 14 years since Jennifer Magnano was killed by her husband, her children, who have spent years fighting to broaden domestic violence laws, say many people still dont understand certain aspects of domestic abuse.

After her children say she endured years of abuse from her husband, Jennifer Magnano was killed at their Plymouth home on Aug. 23, 2007. Her estranged husband, Scott Magnano, later died by suicide.

In the years following their mothers death, Jessica Rosenbeck, David Magnano and Emily Thibeault have discovered that many people, including those working closest with survivors, do not have knowledge or training on coercive control.

Coercive control manifests in many forms. There are several strategies used in this type of abuse, from food control to micromanaging finances, speech, sexual activity and work, according to a book written by sociologist Dr. Evan Stark, who coined the phrase.

In an interview with Hearst Connecticut Media, Jennifer Magnanos children described how coercive control affected their family and still influences their lives.

They are on a mission help educate children on healthy relationships, and through Jennifers Law, prevent others in Connecticut from enduring their mothers fate.

Jennifer Magnano, who briefly fled the state with her kids before returning to avoid losing custody of them, was 42 when she was killed. Her children said Scott Magnano cut off their mothers contact with relatives and took control of the finances, slowly forcing the family to become entirely dependent on him.

Jennifer Magnanos children said they witnessed for years their mother suffer abuse, which they said at times was inflicted on them as well.

But as their mother packed up their belongings, preparing to leave for good with her children, she was attacked one last time.

David Magnano said he was 16 years old when he witnessed that final struggle that ended with his mother fatally shot on their front steps. His younger sister, Emily, was 9. Jessica, who is Jennifer Magnanos daughter from a previous relationship, was 21 when her mother died.

David Magnano said his father controlled all aspects of their lives and the children recall how disobedience was sometimes met with abuse.

I remember he used to smack me in the back of the head all the time, Rosenbeck said.

He once beat our mom over two pennies, David Magnano added. That is not an exaggeration.

David Magnano, now 29, said his mother went to the hospital on several occasions with bruising and other injuries and poor excuses for how she got them, but he said no one ever questioned it.

Somehow, no one saw the red flags, he said.

From Connecticut to California, and back

But one night, Jennifer Magnano had enough and took off with the kids while her husband was in the shower  which the family knew was a 40-minute process, according to a 2009 investigative report into the homicide by Michelle Cruz with the Office of the Victim Advocate.

A friend helped Jennifer Magnano temporarily find local lodging before she took her children on a train cross-country to California, the only place she found with a shelter that would take in the entire family. The time away allowed the children to see their mother in a new light.

It was just really nice to see her free and happy, Rosenbeck said. Even though it was very brief, getting to know her apart from the trauma and violence and anxiety, I just wish it lasted longer.  If I could return to any point in my life, that would be it.

She was a really great mom, she added. She was really funny and silly. She was a great cook and baker.  Some of her is definitely instilled in all of us  the best parts of her. And Im really grateful for that.

In California, Jennifer Magnano tried to initiate a divorce and contacted authorities in Connecticut, describing the situation in detail to Plymouth police, Cruzs report said. But no police report was initially filed after that first conversation. And no arrest was made.

At home in Connecticut, Scott Magnano argued in court his wife took away his children and was briefly granted custody of David and Emily while his wife was ordered to return to the state, the report said. She returned and was able to maintain custody of them and granted permission to stay in the family home, while her husband was ordered to leave, the report said.

Jennifer Magnano intended to pack up all of their belongings and leave again  maybe back to California.

Plymouth police accompanied Jennifer Magnano when she came home on Aug. 23, 2007. Police searched the home to ensure Scott Magnano was not there. The only place they didnt look was the basement, where Scott Magnanos mother was living and she denied police entry into the space, Cruzs report said.

According to the report, Scott Magnano attacked his estranged wife as she was packing up. The two briefly struggled, before making their way onto the doorstep outside the home.

As David watched, his father pointed a gun at his mother and fired. Jennifer Magnano was pronounced dead at the scene and her husband drove off and was later found dead by suicide.

Coercive control

Thibeault, whos now 23, and like her brother, lives in Massachusetts, said she left a coercive control relationship of her own last year.

I think people are really not aware of how much you learn from your parents in terms of how a relationship is, she said. I definitely went down that same path. I watched it all happen to my mom, and youd think that by seeing the outcome of what happened to her, I would have learned what to avoid. But it was like a moth to a light.

I found myself in this relationship that was so similar to what I feel like the beginning of what my mom and dads relationship was like, and it didnt really click in my head for so long, she added. To me, thats what love seemed like or felt like.

Thibeault said even now, more than a year later, being in a healthy relationship feels abnormal. She said she wants educational opportunities in schools for students to learn at a young age the signs of a healthy relationship.

How are people supposed to learn about it besides experiencing it and learning from their parents? she said. I saw what happened with my mom and I literally almost got myself into the same situation. ... Coercive control is the silent killer that people dont recognize.

Rosenbeck, now 35 and still living in Connecticut, said she has heard many people over the years defend coercive control relationships.

A lot of people think that its only physical violence that counts as abuse, she said.

David Magnano and his siblings said they would also like to see more intervention when it comes to potential abusers.

If society as a whole starts to flag those types of behaviors early on, it can help correct the abuser at an earlier stage where its easier to address, he said. Who knows if there couldve been help for Scott when he was younger.  Well never know now.

Jennifer Magnanos children said a lot of aspects of their mothers story often get misconstrued.

David Magnano said among the things people bring up is that their mom could have just left. But he and his siblings say it isnt that easy.

It wasnt like the first incident was a beating or a strangulation or sexual violence, he said. It started off very slow.

David Magnano and Rosenbeck recalled the verbal abuse started when they were young and escalated to their mother being strangled soon after their younger sister was born.

The physical violence didnt come until maybe the last seven or so years, Rosenbeck said. Before that, it was just coercive stuff.

Rosenbeck, who said she was sexually assaulted by Scott Magnano, said many people question why she didnt leave.

I did choose to stay, because to me, it didnt feel like a choice because I wasnt going to leave my siblings and my mom behind, she said. It sucked and I hated every second of it, but it was a bullet I was willing to take because I didnt want someone else to suffer.

Jennifers Law

In the years that followed their mothers death, the siblings have worked to educate others on domestic violence, and fought hard in Connecticut to get Jennifers Law passed this year. The law expands the definition of domestic violence to include coercive control.

The law recognized their mother and Jennifer Dulos, a New Canaan mom of five who disappeared on May 24, 2019, and has since been presumed dead by authorities.

Fotis Dulos died by suicide in January 2020 while facing murder and other charges in connection with his estranged wifes death and disappearance. Fotis Dulos ex-girlfriend and his former attorney have each pleaded not guilty to charges related to the homicide and are awaiting trial.

Rosenbeck said shes pleased to see the legislation gain approval, but wishes it couldve been around for her mother.

Maybe things wouldve turned out different, she said. You never really know, but you hate having those questions.

The Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence said the state has averaged just under 14 deaths from intimate partner violence each year since 2000. The organization said domestic violence-related homicide has not diminished in the state, instead remaining steady over the years.

Story told through art

Among the projects Jennifer Magnanos children have become involved with is a documentary that was directed, produced and written by New York filmmaker Elle Kamihira.

If she stayed, she would die. If she left, she would die. What would you do? The chilling line grabs the attention of the viewer at the end of the teaser trailer for the animated film, Jennifer, 42  which shows the evolution of domestic abuse and coercive control from the perspectives of Jennifer Magnanos children.

Kamihira said Stark recommended the Magnano case to her when she first became passionate about educating people on coercive control.

I read it (Cruzs report) and saw it was extremely problematic that the system that we built to respond to domestic violence doesnt really understand how domestic violence works, Kamihira said. I wanted to make it a deep dive into domestic violence and domestic abuse. Its a story thats local to Connecticut, but its also a universal story.

She began working on the film between other projects in 2013. She said the decision to animate it came a few years ago.

The fact that the film was animated at first was kind of bizarre to me, Thibeault said. But after seeing portions of it, it really sets the scene in a way that I dont think anything else could.

Kamihira said her team hopes to complete the film within the next year. They hope to sell the film to a streaming service and to pursue an educational distribution option.

In October, Jennifer Magnanos children plan to join Kamihira and other experts for the first international conference on coercive control.

I want to show people that you can lead a productive, successful, happy life, even though when you first come out of something like that it doesnt feel like you can, Rosenbeck said. You can be happy again. It doesnt have to define you. You can be in a normal relationship. ... We just really want to see things change so less people go through this.
Milton, PA (17847)

Today

Rain likely. Potential for flooding rains. High 66F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 2 to 3 inches of rain expected..

Tonight

Cloudy and damp with rain early...then becoming partly cloudy. Low around 55F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible.
Milton, PA (17847)

Today

Rain likely. Potential for flooding rains. High 66F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 2 to 3 inches of rain expected..

Tonight

Rain early. Decreasing clouds overnight. Low near 55F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible.
The Standing Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies, reunited on Monday, decided to summon an extraordinary session on August 24, at 10:00.

On the agenda there is an information regarding the draft law for approving a Government Emergency Ordinance (OUG) registered to the Standing Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies and which is to be approved by the standing committees in the established terms, as well as the draft law regarding the approval of the OUG no. 89/2021 for the completion of article 46 of Law no. 41/994 on the organisation and functioning of the Romanian Radio Company (SRR) and the Romanian Television Company (SRTV).

OUG no. 89/2021 states that the mandates of interim managing directors of the SRR and the SRTV, Liviu Popescu and Ramona Saseanu, will be prolonged during the period of the parliamentary recess.
President Klaus Iohannis sent, on Monday, a message on the occasion of the Day of Remembrance for Victims of Fascism and Communism, showing that the rule of law, democratic values, fundamental rights and freedoms have been won at the cost of human lives and must be defended and conveyed to the younger generations, agerpres reports.

"The infamous Ribbentrop-Molotov pact, signed on August 23, 1939, represented the start of Europe's tragedy, a moment that opened the way to fatal abuses and ripped territories through the division of Central and Eastern Europe in spheres of influence. The so-called non-aggression pact crushed the dreams and ideals of the European nation, opening the way to the Second World War, with disastrous implications for humankind. Totalitarian regimes have changed the face of humanity, leaving behind death, suffering and deep wounds. Mass deportations, crimes, famine, torture, disinformation, the blatant infringement of the law were only part of the instruments that were used in the attempt to systematically destroy European societies," said Iohannis, according to a release sent by the Presidential Administration.

According to them, the remembrance of victims of fascism and communism, of those people that sacrificed their life and freedom to defend fundamental rights and freedoms, represents an obligatory and necessary gesture to prevent reproachable developments of history."Forgetting and the truncated or deformed presentation of historical facts can at any time make possible for the mistakes of the past to be repeated. Nobody, at any time, should experiment with those atrocities stemming from a profound despise for human dignity," the President showed.He said that August 23 also evokes the "gesture full of courage" of King Michael I in 1944, the one who "was loyal to the Romanian nation and who, with responsibility and determination, together with the Romanian Army, managed to break the toxic alliance" with Nazi Germany.The President added that the present is marked, in its turn, "by complex challenges", the COVID-19 pandemic being not only a health crisis, but also "a trial of solidarity and unity, ably exploited by populist opinion leaders and politicians.""Radical ideologies, the glorification of executioners, as well as extremist currents and attempts to distort history threaten democratic societies at the global level and threaten the progress recorded so far. Ignoring these dangers will only amplify this hydra that feeds on indifference and passivity. The rule of law, democratic values, fundamental rights and liberties, as well as peace and stability have been won at the cost of human lives. Our sacred duty is to defend and convey them to the younger generations. Our democratic future depends on involvement today. Let us firmly and vigorously oppose, each of us, and, especially, all of us together, any attempt to degrade European values and abandon them," Iohannis said.The day of the signing of the Ribbentrop - Molotov Pact - August 23 - was established by the European Parliament, through a Declaration, in 2008, as the European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Stalinism and Nazism. In 2011, the Romanian Parliament, through law no. 198, declared August 23 as the Day of Remembrance for Victims of Fascism and Communism.In Romania, the date of August 23 also celebrates the Royal coup d'etat of 1944 that saw the removal of the Axis-aligned government of Marshal Ion Antonescu and Romania's joining of the Allies.
National Liberal Party (PNL) Chairman Ludovic Orban accuses "purges" among liberal colleagues who support him for the party's helm, in the September 25 elections, in which he is running against Prime Minister Florin Citu.

"This management, that I am purge those who are against me, is not specific to a democratic party and has nothing to do with the PNL. Unfortunately, many people tell me within the PNL, that such threats are made in this campaign (...)" Ludovic Orban told B1 TV on Monday.

The PNL leader gave as an example 17 colleagues from Timisoara who were suspended from the party, but also the general school inspectors from Braila, Bucharest and Arges.

"Many people who were expelled from any public position for being my supporters. This is not right, it is not normal. Colleagues of mine who consider that they are not in the PNL, but imagine that they are in the Communist Party, in which purges are made, are dead wrong. We are the National Liberal Party", added Ludovic Orban.

The PNL head specified that the current campaign in the party is taking place in an extremely strange context, but that he is convinced that a secret, free vote expressed by the delegations at this congress will certainly be in his favor, reports Agerpres.
Prime Minister Florin Citu discussed on Monday in Kiev with the Secretary of Energy of the United States of America, Jennifer Granholm, about the partnership with the USA for nuclear projects and about Romania's commitment regarding the cooperation on the energy area, during a meeting held on the sidelines of the inaugural summit of the Crimea Platform.

"We had a very good meeting with the Secretary of Energy of the United States on the sidelines of the inaugural summit of the Crimea Platform. Among other things, I discussed with Jennifer Granholm about the partnership with the USA for nuclear projects and about Romania's commitment to cooperation on the energy area," Florin Citu wrote on his Facebook page
Prime Minister Florin Citu had a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart, Denys Shmyhal, in Kiev on Monday, in which context he reiterated Romania's readiness to advance bilateral cooperation and voiced Romania's desire to ensure respect for the rights of persons belonging to the Romanian minority.

According to a Government's release, the meeting of the two senior officials took place on the sidelines of the Crimea International Platform Summit, a format which Romania has joined.

"On the sidelines of the Summit, Prime Minister Florin Citu had a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart, Denys Shmyhal, on which occasion he reiterated Romania's readiness to advance bilateral cooperation, including by organizing a new session of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Cooperation this year. At the same time, the two prime ministers expressed their desire to boost sectoral cooperation, with priority in the field of transport and infrastructure, and to open common border crossings. In this context, he voiced Romania's wish for ensuring the respect of the rights of the persons belonging to the Romanian minority," shows the release.

The Crimea International Platform is a recent initiative by Ukraine aimed at strengthening the policy of non-recognition of the illegal annexation of the Crimean Peninsula and, ultimately, facilitating the return of Crimea to Ukraine, Agerpres informs.
Romania has been and will continue to be a firm supporter of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and remains firmly committed to the implementation of a non-recognition policy of Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea, Romania's Prime Minister Florin Citu told the opening in Kiev on Monday of a summit for the release of the Crimea Platform.

"It is a pleasure to be in Kiev and take part in this in this important event for Ukraine as well as for the international community. I take this opportunity to announce that today Romania joins the International Crime Platform. As you may know, Romania has been and will continue to be a firm supporter of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. At the same time, Romania remains strongly committed to the implementation of the non-recognition policy of the illegal annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation," Citu said.

According to the prime minister, Romania supports Ukraine's aspirations of becoming a member of the European and Euro-Atlantic community."Romania was the first EU member state to ratify the Association Agreement between EU and Ukraine. Also, the NATO Summit held in Bucharest recognised the right of Ukraine to become a member of the Alliance when conditions would be met. We know from our own experience that achieving these goals requires vision, solid public support and political will. As a neighbouring country and partner of Ukraine, I strongly encourage the political leadership of Ukraine to speed up the necessary economic and social reforms in order to achieve the democratic transformation of society and its long-term prosperity. The dividends will be shared across the entire Ukrainian society, including by the Romanian minority living in Ukraine, and will help foster social harmony, stability and prosperity," added Citu.He said that the answer to the challenges to regional stability and security in the Black Sea region is to strengthen democracies in this area and to encourage dialogue and co-operation."We are acutely aware of the current challenges and threats to our values and the regional stability and security that we face in the Black Sea region. Today's summit is clear proof. These challenges can only be met by principled and consistent answers, by strengthening our resilience and deepening our cooperation. The most effective answer we can provide is by strengthening our democracies, by fully upholding the basic rights and freedoms for our each citizen, irrespective of their background, by ensuring proper functioning of the public institutions and the rule of law. Against common challenges, we need to demonstrate solidarity and encourage dialogue and cooperation," Citu said.He pointed out that Romania has made consistent efforts to develop a positive and mutually beneficial bilateral agenda with Ukraine."I am confident that differences can be solved if we approach them constructively, with openness, always having in mind that we share aspirations, strategic interests and common values. I trust this spirit for the guide of our co-operation in the future. Wishing Ukraine every success in coordinating the activities of the Crimea International Platform, I thank you for your attention," said Citu.
Prime Minister Florin Citu is paying a visit to Ukraine, in Kvyv, on Monday to attend the summit for the launch of the Crimean International Platform, in which context he will also have a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart, Denys Shmyhal, agerpres reports.

The delegation also includes the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bogdan Aurescu.

"During the Summit, the Romanian Prime Minister will deliver the national intervention and will participate in the ceremony of adoption of the Joint Declaration of the Crimean International Platform," a government release says.The source mentions that the Crimean International Platform is a recent initiative of Ukraine, aimed at strengthening the policy of non-recognition of the illegal annexation of the Crimean Peninsula and, in the last instance, to facilitate the return of Crimea to Ukraine."The event in Kvyv will be attended by heads of state and government, ministers of foreign affairs and defence, as well as high-level representatives of the European Union and other international organisations," the release adds.
Convening the Chamber of Deputies in an extraordinary session to keep the chiefs of the National Radio Broadcasting Corporation (SRR) and the National Television Broadcasting Corporation (SRTV) in office is cynical and is tantamount to public defiance, according to the opposition Social Democratic Party (PSD), agerpres reports.

"Convening the Chamber of Deputies in an extraordinary session to validate a legislative improvisation meant to keep the acolytes of power in the positions of chiefs of public television and radio is cynical and is tantamount to public defiance as the incumbents, despite the repeated pleas of the PSD refuses to include the law of the vulnerable consumer on the agenda of an extraordinary parliamentary sessions. It is a violent contrast between the mobilisation of the incumbents for their partisan interests and the indifference towards the interests of millions of Romanians," the Social Democrats claim in a press statement.

According to PSD, this is the second time in the last month that the current ruling coalition refuses to urgently discuss the vulnerable consumer law, as PSD has officially requested since July 20, adding that the Social Democrat MPs were prepared with the necessary amendments to what they call an extremely important law.In addition, PSD has prepared a bill providing aid against rising energy prices not only for household consumers, but also for entrepreneurs and companies.The Social Democrats say that they will challenge the emergency ordinance with the Constitutional Court, "as soon as possible."
The chairman of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), Marcel Ciolacu, stated that the Social Democrats will submit a motion of censure against the government at the beginning of the parliamentary session, mentioning that it will probably be submitted after the party congresses of the National Liberal Party (PNL) and the Save Romania Union - Party of Liberty, Unity and Solidarity (USR PLUS), agerpres reports.

"I will discuss (...) with my colleagues (...) I wouldn't come with the motion to overlap the political fight inside the PNL, but we will submit it when it has most chances to pass. Categorically we will submit a censure motion, this time at the start of the parliamentary session, not at the end of the session," said Marcel Ciolacu, on Sunday, at private broadcaster Romania TV.

Asked when the motion would have the most chances to pass, before the PNL congress or after September 25, the PSD chair mentioned: "I believe that after the PNL congress and after the congress - don't neglect it, even if it's a bit muted - of USR PLUS."In that context, Ciolacu warned that next year will be "much harder" than the 2009-2010 period."Who was behind Mr. Citu at... [e.n. - at the submission of his candidacy for PNL chair] Mr Boc, (...) Mr. Flutur? Aren't they the same ones that governed in 2009-2010, who slashed our income, salaries and pensions? Aren't they the same people? Now they're reformists... What reform occurred in Romania in the past two years? Can't you see the Government is incapable of reform in any domain? We buried agriculture completely. We are the only European state that did not receive money for irrigation under the PNRR [e.n. - National Plan for Recovery and Resilience], well, when the PNRR is approved...," Ciolacu also said.
On Saturday, Aug. 14, Jade Powers, assistant curator of the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art in Kansas City, Missouri moderated a discussion at The Kranzberg Arts Center with artist Ronald Young about his current exhibition The Prevalence of Ritual, which is on display by appointment on Eventbrite until Saturday, Sept. 4.
Not objective factors

Though Missouri courts have typically said that issuing conditional use permits is an administrative function, the job often falls to local elected legislative bodies tasked with applying rules that may be open to interpretation.

In Creve Coeur, there are six criteria for issuing a conditional use permit. Including adherence to the comprehensive plan and other more measurable standards such as erosion control, theres also a requirement that a proposed use will contribute to and promote the community welfare and be compatible with the surrounding area and thus not impose an excessive burden ... on surrounding or adjacent users.

The citys attorney, Carl Lumley of Curtis, Heinz, Garrett & OKeefe, which represents many of the regions municipalities, argued at trial that the court should defer to the local elected officials in interpreting those rules.

Many of the factors are totally subjective, Lumley said at trial. Does the proposed use meet the comprehensive plan? Is it good for the community in that location? Is it compatible with the surrounding area? These are not objective factors. These are things that people can disagree on.
The worlds largest operating steam locomotive is traveling through the St. Louis region starting this weekend, and you can get a good look at it Sunday downtown.

Union Pacifics Big Boy No. 4014 rolled into Poplar Bluff, Missouri, at 4:30 p.m. Friday. It left at 8 a.m. Saturday for Scott City, Missouri, then was off to Chester, Illinois.

It arrives in St. Louis at 7:45 p.m. Saturday, but there will be no public access at that point.

It will be on display 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday at Poplar and South 16th streets downtown, near the St. Louis Gateway Transportation Center, or the train station. There, visitors can have the opportunity to buy souvenirs and visit the Experience the Union Pacific Rail Car, a multimedia, walk-through experience about the Big Boy and railroading history.

The Big Boy then travels west, arriving at the train station in Kirkwood at 9 a.m. Monday and staying there until 9:30 a.m.

It continues west with stops in Pacific at 10:15 a.m., Washington, Missouri, at 11:30 a.m., Hermann, Missouri, at 1:15 p.m., and Jefferson City at 3:30 p.m.

It makes its way across Missouri and stops in Kansas City on Tuesday evening.
Plentiful bounty abounds in Missoula, nicknamed the Hub of Five Valleys. Located along the Clark Fork River in western Montana near the confluence of the Bitterroot and Blackfoot Rivers, the city sits at the convergence of five mountain ranges.

Start the day with a hike after a good nights rest at the new, modern AC Hotel by Marriott Missoula Downtown, which blends Spanish style with local art. The DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Missoula  Edgewater sits downtown and offers views of the tranquil Clark Fork River.

In downtown Missoula, the seven-mile Ron MacDonald Riverfront Trail System follows the banks of the Clark Fork River along the path of the Old Milwaukee rail tracks. Mount Sentinel, also known as the M, is the most popular hike. The 1908 landmark is a -mile walk. With another mile of effort up to Mount Sentinel, Mount Jumbo, Rattlesnake National Recreation Area and the Bitterroot Mountains come into view.

After working up an appetite, grab a canele, a French pastry with a custard-like center and caramelized crust, at Le Petit Outre. To wash down the delectable bites, head to Ducrey Chocolate Maker for hot sipping chocolate made from the 75% dark chocolate bars handcrafted in-house.

On Saturdays through October at the Missoula Farmers Market, discover the best and freshest foods of western Montana. The Good Food Store is another source for locally produced and organic foods. Procure some bread and cheese, and head to Ten Spoon Winery to sip wines made from French-American hybrid grapes and Flathead cherries.

For the beer aficionado, KettleHouse Brewing Co. offers Cold Smoke, their flagship dark ale with a coffee finish. Near their Bonner taproom, when possible, catch a concert at their new outdoor amphitheater on the banks of the Blackfoot River. Western Cider ferments spirited refreshments from heirloom apples grown in an orchard 30 miles outside Missoula.

Upon returning to town, step into the new $37-million, four-story Missoula Public Library designed by Chris Martison and Traci Lesneski.

In the evening, Wally & Buck serves up smash burgers made from local Oxbow Cattle Company beef, while Scottys Table showcases the best of Montanas farmers, growers and producers in the lower level of the historic Wilma Theatre. Afterwards, take in a movie or performance at the Wilma. Toast the days end with a cocktail back at FINN in the DoubleTree.
Campbell made arrangements through his attorney to surrender on the Florissant charges and turn over any firearms he had. Over the prosecutors objection, court documents say, Judge Mary Ott allowed bail to be $500 cash. But Campbell failed to show up by the deadline, said Keith Liberman, who was his attorney then. The arrest warrant was issued on Aug. 30, 2017, and Campbell evaded court since.

Florissant police Officer Steve Michael didnt have specifics Monday about efforts made over the years to find Campbell. In general, Michael said, We actively look for anyone whos wanted. There are definitely attempts made to locate a person, but there may not be a lot of leads.

In serious cases, the St. Louis County Police Departments fugitive unit helps out. It was not engaged in this case.

Pierce Sr. said Campbell should have been locked up for the Missouri crime.

A charge that bad, with a gun, that should have been a priority, he told the Post-Dispatch. They knew who he was and what he looked like.

In 2017, Campbell already had a felony conviction.
ST. LOUIS  A former dentist from Kirkwood accused of threatening three St. Louis County judges in 2019 will not be released from jail before trial, a federal judge has decided.

Jeffrey D. Reuter, 52, faces charges in both U.S. District Court in St. Louis and St. Louis County Circuit Court. A judge last month, after another delay in the trial on county charges of tampering with judicial officials, said Reuter could be released from jail. He's been behind bars for more than 18 months.

Reuter is accused of showing up at the homes of two associated circuit judges, Mondonna Ghasedi and Joseph L. Green, and one circuit judge, John N. Borbonus, who were involved in his bitter divorce and custody battle. Reuter had what state charging documents called an anti-government manifesto and letters demanding action by the judges, including $2.5 million, shared custody of his daughter, the purging of all cases and judgments against him, and an apology.
CARBONDALE, Ill.  A Southern Illinois University student died after she and three other people were shot early Sunday during a party near the schools campus, police said.

SIU freshman Keeshanna Jackson was pronounced dead at a hospital after being shot about 3 a.m. Sunday in Carbondale just north of the universitys campus. Police on Monday said multiple shooters were involved.

Three other gunshot victims came into the emergency room at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale with gunshot wounds as police were investigating Jacksons shooting. Police said those three victims had suffered non-life-threatening wounds and came on their own to the ER.

The shooting near the SIU campus came just after the first week of fall semester classes, The Southern Illinoisan reported.

The schools chancellor, Austin Lane, said in a statement that the campus community was heartbroken by Jacksons death.

Javiana Boyd attended a candlelight vigil on Sunday night for Jackson, who was her cousin. She said Jackson decided at the last minute to enroll at SIU and had driven her own U-Haul down from Chicago.

Boyd, whos also a freshman at SIU, said Jackson could make anyone laugh and she wanted to do everyones nails.
At drop off, parents said they were disappointed that they were not allowed to escort their children to their classrooms.

I want to meet her teacher, said Shirley Johnson, whose granddaughter is in the second grade. The pandemic has messed up everything. Im praying they have a good day at school.

Travis dad, Michael Shelton, said he was worried about the community not following COVID-19 guidelines and sending kids to school when they get sick.

Im excited hes getting the experience, but Im a little nervous, said Shelton, a security officer for BJC HealthCare.

Travis had no nerves as he showed off his new black shoes just like my daddy on the way to music class. During a pit stop at the bathrooms, he briefly wandered into the girls side before getting redirected. He also learned to hold his arms out while walking in line to keep the right distance.

If you can touch somebody, youre too close, Versen told her class.

The students will eat breakfast and lunch each day in their classrooms instead of the cafeteria. They have individual pouches filled with school supplies instead of sharing from a communal shelf.
ST. LOUIS  Abdul Saboor Amin lives in St. Louis, but his parents and siblings are still back in Afghanistan. He is afraid for them, he said, now that the Taliban have wrested control from the elected government.

They call me crying, saying, Please do something, Amin said. Everybody is crying. You cant control it ... when your country is in trouble.

Roughly 300 people, many of them Afghan immigrants, gathered on the steps of City Hall on a sweltering Sunday afternoon to pray for their country and reject the rule of the Taliban, which claimed power in the country earlier this month.

The Talibans return to power has sent scores of Afghans on a desperate bid to flee the country, fearing violence. Amin said that nobody but the Taliban believes the claims that things will be different this time.

Moji Sidiqi, one of the organizers of the event, left Afghanistan 27 years ago. For 20 years after the fall of the Taliban, she said, Afghanistan made progress. Women were learning and working again.
Some veterans have already gotten over that hurdle.

Mark Lear, an Army veteran who lives in Wildwood, was as disappointed in what happened in Afghanistan as anyone, he said in an interview Wednesday.

But he also said he felt like he did his job in preventing another 9/11 these past 20 years. And while he doesnt buy it when the Taliban say theyre going to respect womens rights now, he takes solace in the fact that they feel like they have to say it.

Theres not an ounce of me that feels like we didnt do what we were told to do and isnt proud of what we did, Lear said. And theres no way I can control what happened after.

Not everyone feels the same way.

Pete Lucier, a Marine veteran now studying law at St. Louis University, said he felt despair watching television last weekend.

But he didnt stop there. After checking in with other veterans, he found at least temporary satisfaction in working to help fleeing Afghans and aiding resettlement efforts in St. Louis.

I knew despair was not a good place for me to be in, he told the Post-Dispatch, and I knew there was an enormous need.
Several U.S. senators are questioning the Food and Drug Administrations work with a consulting firm that helped businesses sell prescription painkillers during the nation's overdose crisis.

Democrat Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire and Republican Chuck Grassley of Iowa, among others, have asked the FDA about potential conflicts of interest in its work with McKinsey and Co.

The senators sent a letter Monday to the FDA noting that the agency paid McKinsey more than $140 million after hiring it several times starting in 2008.

While helping the government, McKinsey also worked for a wide range of actors in the opioid industry, including many of the companies that played a pivotal role in fueling the opioid epidemic that our country now faces, the letter said.

An FDA representative said the agency has received the letter and would respond directly to the senators.

Earlier this year, McKinsey agreed to almost $600 million in settlements with nearly every state and five U.S. territories over its work with drugmakers on prescription opioid sales.
The total tax burden is important, but tax design also matters. Whereas Missouri and its two biggest cities (the ones with the Federal Reserve Banks) rely on income taxes for a high percentage of their revenues, the fastest-growing states and cities have taken the opposite tack. They may have higher sales or property taxes, but they dont tax personal income  knowing it is the most damaging of taxes, being a tax on work, on job creation and on enterprise itself. Texas and Florida are prime examples of the allure of being no-income-tax states. Both are about to gain a congressional seat because of big in-migrations of residents from other states over the past decade. By contrast, the two states with the highest income tax rates  California and New York  saw the largest out-migrations of residents to other states.
The $2 million contract that St. Louis County Executive Sam Pages administration signed with New York public relations firm Fenton Communications is facing well-deserved scrutiny from the County Council, but members of the public also should be concerned. In the laudable effort to educate the public about the supreme importance of getting vaccinated against the coronavirus, Pages office and Fenton have engaged in what appear to be deceptive and manipulative practices.

There are multiple problems with the Fenton contract. First and foremost is that it was planned and executed without prior County Council approval  all because the council unwisely decided in April 2020 to cede blanket spending authority to Page for $173.5 million in federal Safe Act pandemic funds. Although the councils decision helped streamline procedures during a health emergency, it allowed Page to spend as he pleased without prior oversight.
Shares is the leading weekly publication for retail investors. It is packed with investment ideas, news and educational material to help build and run portfolios and get more from your money.

Shares puts on free Investor Events throughout the year across the country. They provide an opportunity for investors to learn more about companies on the stock market and hear from a range of investment experts including fund managers and Shares journalists.
Over the last few years there have been increasing incidents of tampering with AIS (Automated Identification System) ship tracker transponders. After 2000 a series of international agreements treaties mandated that all ships larger than 300 tons, and all passenger ships, must carry and use AIS at all times. This has saved lives by preventing collisions and other navigation mishaps. Now there is a growing problem with commercial and military ships having their AIS data deliberately tampered with. A player in this game of AIS deception was recently discovered but no one knows who it is or why they are generating hundreds of false AIS signals each year. Most of these falsifications involve NATO warships, including two surfaced submarines. The most likely culprit is Russia, because the Russians have pioneered developing methods of faking satellite-based location systems and hacking the signals going to or coming from these GPS-type navigation services. AIS is different in that the signals are not encrypted and relatively easy to spoof (fake). Not all AIS signals are transmitted to satellites. For AIS users close to a major port, there are local ground-based receivers to gather AIS data and provide port authorities and offshore ships with a real-time picture of what ships are nearby, who they are and their current movements. Like all faked AIS signals the incidents of fraud can be detected via time-stamped commercial satellite photos and cell-phone photos and videos. AIS researchers found an easier way to discover the faked AIS data by examining the detailed AIS data logs. These provide a lot more information that most AIS users never use. By comparing the log detail data with the confirmed cases of AIS spoofing it was obvious that the fake signals were generated by an AIS software simulator that sent fake AIS positions from ground-based AIM receivers which in turn made that available to anyone, including several websites that provide current AIS positions of ships. This data is also used by navies and coast guards to note which commercial and military ships are operating close to their territorial waters, as in everything 22 kilometers from the coast. This has caused incidents where Russia has threatened to fire on intruding foreign warships that wont respond to radio warnings. These hostile warships were not yet within visual or radar range and when visual confirmation was sought the intruders could never be found because they were actually in a port or at sea hundreds of kilometers from their fake AIS position.

AIS was originally developed as a local (non-satellite communications) system that made it easier for ships at sea to detect each other, especially at night or in bad weather. This local AIS was rapidly adopted by most large commercial vessels in the 1990s. AIS is essentially an automatic radio beacon (transponder) that, when it receives a signal from a nearby AIS equipped ship, responds with its own identity, course, and speed. This is meant to enable AIS equipped ships to avoid collisions with each other or natural obstacles. The original non-satellite AIS only had a range of 20-35 kilometers but by 2006 space satellites were developed that could receive and distribute AIS transmissions worldwide, especially on the high seas, out of range of the land based AIS data collection and distribution equipment Commercial ships have become very dependent on AIS, which greatly reduced collisions and crew anxiety while on the open ocean.

No one will take credit for the recent AIS signal manipulation, but it is known who possesses EW (Electronic Warfare) equipment designed to jam or modify AIS signals that are transmitted to a space satellite. Russia and China took the lead in developing ways to spoof AIS signals and Iran was the first country to widely use AIS signal manipulation on a wide scale to support smuggling activities.

Russia was discovered using this spoofing regularly to hide the true location of senior officials and military units on land. You dont have to be an intel agency to notice GPS location data suddenly moving many, even hundreds, of kilometers. Intel agencies, and some commercial or non-profit organizations do monitor these signals regularly and on a large scale to detect where and when spoofing takes place. What most nations do not share is their techniques for spoofing and resisting spoofing.

All warships are equipped with AIS as a safety measure when operating near ports or commercial shipping lanes. Until 2017 it had been U.S. Navy policy to have some ships turn off their AIS transmissions and just receive those transmissions. This policy was changed in 2017 after several collisions or near-misses between navy ships travelling in bad weather or at night in areas where there was heavy commercial traffic. Navy bridge crews were supposed to be especially alert in situations like this but often were not experienced enough to handle the situation where their AIS presence was known to nearby ships that had their AIS in send/receive mode.

During wartime navy ships would have AIS turned off but a decade ago Russia and China, followed by NATO nations, experimented with ways to manipulate AIS signals and detect when others were doing so. While AIS made it practical to track all high seas commercial traffic, it was also exploited by smugglers and pirates. Some ships traveled, in violation of international law, with AIS and other trackers turned off. Usually, only criminals turned these devices off, and this was often discovered when navies spotted one of these silent (AIS not broadcasting) ships at sea. It didnt take long for some intelligence agencies, especially those with ocean surveillance space satellites and lots of ships and subs at sea, to exploit the silent AIS ploy to create better ways to track smugglers by noting when some ships turn off their trackers and then turn them on again as they are about to enter a port or some other area where AIS use is mandatory and enforceable. Some nations, like Iran and North Korea, have tankers and cargo ships that are frequently found running dark. Naturally, intelligence agencies developed methods to take advantage of this and a growing number of smugglers, usually North Korean, are detected and tracked because of AIS manipulation. Iran had an easier time concealing arms smuggling because they could use smaller ships. Actually, for getting arms to Shia rebels in Yemen, Iran used a lot of small ships that are not required to use AIS. These could be, and were, tracked by satellite but it was more difficult.

Before AIS came along most large ships carried (and some still carry) INMARSAT, which enables shipping companies to keep track of their vessels, no matter where they are on the planet. INMARSAT became available in the 1980s and uses a system of satellites which transmit AIS-like signals to anywhere on the oceans. It only costs a few cents to send an INMARSAT signal similar to an SMS text message to one of your ships, and a few cents more to receive a reply. The trackers and satellite-based navigation systems in general soon proved invaluable by preventing collisions or running into reefs, rocks, or (in bad weather) coastlines.

All ships now use GPS coordinates to record location and constantly report that back to the home office. GPS is standard with AIS equipment that uses satellite links to send its signal worldwide. Iran exploited this by having two of its ships trade INMARSAT IDs while they were near each other, leaving the U.S., or anyone else checking INMARSAT data, unable to track ships that have been switched. Well, for a while at least. Once the intel people caught onto this scam, they developed ways to counter it. This is very much a matter of move and counter-move when it comes to exploiting or creating AIS vulnerabilities.

There have been proposals to add a unique identifier code to AIS users, which would make it more difficult but not impossible to spoof AIM data. Encryption is another, more expensive and difficult to implement option. If nothing else the growing spoofing and hacking of AIS signals may lead to international agreements on AIS use to make the signals more difficult to hack.
One thing that made Chinas modernized armed forces work was an adequate supply of well-educated and eager Chinese that were capable of mastering the skills required by Chinas world-class military being produced. A critical problem is that future generations of well-educated Chinese recruits will be smaller and less eager to choose a military career. The key problem is that too many young Chinese cannot afford to marry and raise more than one child. The government has found this problem very resistant to solutions.

For example, earlier in 2021 China changed its population policy to allow couples to have as many as three children. This supersedes the 2016 law that allowed two children and is latest of many unsuccessful efforts to reverse the low birth rates, especially among the growing urban middle-class. The latest change comes in response to the disappointing results of the seventh national census, conducted during the last two months of 2020. The bad news was that annual growth rates during the last decade were only 0.53 percent versus 0.57 percent for the previous decade. Chinese population experts expect the population to show annual decline sometime in the 2020s. That puts the year of peak population somewhere between 2022 and 2027. This is worse than it looks because birth rates are not growing among the middle class. As defined by education (a college degree), nearly half the population is qualified for middle-class status. When measured by income, less than a third of the new middle class have enough income to support more than one or two children.

During the decades of the one-child policy the growing middle-class lavished money on their only child, fueling the drive for nearly all these children to receive a university degree and the highest test scores possible. Currently about 60 percent of young Chinese will attend college and get a degree. Marrying and starting a family turns out to be much more difficult. About 30 percent of graduates cannot find middle-class jobs the new graduates were educated to handle. A more difficult problem is the shortage of affordable middle-class housing in urban areas. The portion of the population living in urban areas grew from 20 percent in the 1980s to over 60 percent now. Home ownership (usually an apartment) is over 70 percent for college educated urban couples, which is higher than in Western countries. While income for middle-class Chinese with a job makes it possible to buy a home and often a car as well, it does not make educated urban couples confident that they can afford the high cost of rearing and educating more than one child.

By mid-2021 the government was devoting a lot of effort to finding ways to increase the birth rate among the educated middle-class, which is the key component for economic growth and the vital for sustaining that growth. The middle-class aspect was noted in 2014, after two children were allowed and it was found that only about 40 percent of couples expressed any interest in applying for a permit to have a second child. Worse, only a quarter of those expressing interest actually applied for official permission to do so. Applying for permission entitles the couple to some cash benefits to help with raising the child. Government surveys showed that in urban areas typical education expenses alone consume over half of family income before the child finishes high school. While basic education is free, parents typically spend a lot more for tutoring to keep their child competitive for the national college entry exam. The government cannot afford to match those costs and middle-class parents will not have a child that does not have a good chance of getting into college, as nearly all middle-class children currently do. While enough new housing was built in the last decade for all middle-class families, too much was built by corrupt officials in areas where the middle class did not want to live. This led to the infamous Ghost Cities, some with hundreds of new buildings that could find tenants for less than ten percent of the new apartments. When the government surveyed middle-class couples about interest in having a third child, hardly any were willing. That means the current huge middle-class will not be able to replace itself and will slowly decline if living costs for urban couples are not reduced or heavily subsidized.

There is not enough money available to implement the obvious solution. Recent proposals to limit the wealth of the most successful entrepreneurs run into the same problems encountered in other industrialized countries. The most economically successful families are also key to continued innovation and creating new industries. Sensing the danger, a growing number of economically successful Chinese are making preparations to get out quickly. Many have obtained foreign passports and moved assets overseas, just in case. As the saying goes, in case the Reds (communists) come back. Technically the Reds are still in charge. China is a communist police state, one that survived the worldwide collapse of communist governments three decades ago by encouraging the growth of a middle-class and a free market economy before the communist implosion began. China was economically successful but found these new Chinese are not as easy to coerce and control as the large poor and rural Chinese population the communists ruled when they took power in 1949. In part that is because the costs of the national police force and media censorship bureaucracy are about as high as the defense budget. That is a unique feature of police state survival.

The declining population is not just about the middle class. The impact of the population decline has long been visible. A general labor shortage began to show up a decade ago as it drove up wage costs. This reduced the cost advantage of producing goods in China. That led to other nations in Asia taking Chinese manufacturing jobs because they had more workers and lower wages. China knew it would have a growing labor shortage because of the one child per family program instituted in the 1980s. That policy was officially eliminated after two generations of success. As the first of the one-child generation came of age, it turned out to be more of a problem than expected. China failed to pay attention to how this worked out in other newly affluent countries. Many more affluent (than 30 years ago) Chinese women do not want to have more than one or two (or any) children and the government, like their counterparts elsewhere, have not found a way to compel parents to have more kids. This is a common problem with affluence and has already hit Japan and South Korea and every other industrialized nation that does not allow many foreigners to become permanent residents, much less citizens. China has always seen non-Chinese as lesser creatures, a designation many neighbors and adversaries do not appreciate. China has become increasingly alarmed at the impact of its one-child policy and its inability to keep things from getting worse.

Chinese leaders never discussed how they would handle the obvious demographic implications of the one-child policy. Several successive Chinese supreme leaders preferred to play political musical chairs and leave the problem unaddressed for their successors. Eventually one of those successors ends up the loser. But at least he can blame his weak predecessors for not doing what had to be done. The problem is that there are no easy or viable solutions.

The negative impact of the one-child policy caused other unexpected problems, like taking care of the growing number of elderly retired Chinese. This was another side effect of affluence. The growing shortage of workers is insufficient for taking care of the larger elderly population. In 2015 there were eleven working age Chinese for every retiree. By 2050, if not earlier, there will only be two for each retiree. At that point, retirees will comprise 30 percent of the population versus over 15 percent now. Traditionally, children cared for their parents in multi-generation households. That model is dying out, and China is faced with huge pension cost increases at the same time they expect their economy to be the mightiest on the planet. In reality the largest single government expense will be the care of the elderly, and this will impose crushing taxes on those of working age and stifle economic growth. It will be more difficult to get workers for unpopular jobs.

Even the military, especially the navy, is already having problems obtaining enough qualified recruits for its smaller but far more high-tech force. The new navy spends a lot of time at sea and most young Chinese see that as an extreme hardship.

The population shrinkage did eliminate one problem. Since the 1980s many of those couples forced to have only one child aborted a child if it was a female, because much more importance is attached to having a male heir. The result became obvious about fifteen years ago when the first one-child generation started looking for wives. At that point there were 38 million more males than females in China, and the disparity was growing. The competition for wives is causing problems. That problem solved itself as Chinese couples found daughters were more valuable than tradition long maintained. This was especially true if middle-class daughters received a college education.

Women took advantage of their scarcity, but men are also going to neighboring countries to buy, or even kidnap, young women to be wives. This is causing ill will with neighbors, where females are enticed or coerced (kidnapped by criminal gangs) to become wives of Chinese men who have no other options. Its not just brides who are moving to China, millions of workers move to China each year. Its these migrants that will become increasingly important in the next few decades for dealing with the labor shortage, but they cannot become Chinese citizens unless they can marry Chinese. China, Korea and Japan are all hostile to integrating other east Asians into their populations. It happens, but there is a social stigma for having a foreign parent or ancestor.

The government knew that once the 2020 census report was released, a lot more unwanted attention would be paid to the population problems. This will lead Chinese to take a closer look at South Korea and Japan, who enjoyed rapid economic growth a decade or more earlier than China. Japan got there first and now faces inexorable population shortages with no solution in sight. Integrating migrants into the culture is still forbidden although Japan has been forced to at least consider allowing qualified migrants to become citizens, although socially second-class ones. That will change Japanese culture, but that already happened in the aftermath of World War II and Japan thrived because of it.

South Korea is another matter, because the population decline is a decade behind Japan while South Koreans are more open to accepting qualified foreigners. Many South Koreans believe Korea will become united soon and hope this will somehow solve the population problem for a while. Unification is unlikely unless China agrees to cooperate and tolerate a unified democratic Korea as a neighbor. China does not want more affluent Koreans on its borders.

Europe and especially the former British colonies that became the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand all thrived by accepting migrants from everywhere and urging them to adapt to the new culture and become citizens. With a few exceptions, that population growth model was not widely accepted in Europe, but it was much more acceptable than in East Asia.
A sign of JD.com is seen at the China Digital Entertainment Expo and Conference, also known as ChinaJoy, in Shanghai, China July 30, 2021. Picture taken July 30, 2021. REUTERS/Aly Song

By Josh Horwitz and Akanksha Rana

SHANGHAI (Reuters) -Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com Inc on Monday told investors it does not expect any business impact from a wave of regulations hitting Chinese industry, after beating analysts' expectations for the quarter through June.

The company's Hong Kong-listed shares jumped nearly 10% in morning trade on Tuesday, setting it up to add nearly $10 billion to its market value. The broader Hang Seng Index was up 1.7%.

The company's strong results come amid a crackdown on the tech industry by Chinese authorities that has led to an upheaval in sectors such as e-commerce, ride-hailing and cryptocurrency.

Since last year, regulators have announced new policies aimed at improving privacy, data-security, and market competition and penalized companies who have violated rules.

"Undoubtedly, we believe that the introduction of regulatory policies on the internet industry recently is a good thing for the long term and healthy development of industries," said Xu Lei, chief executive of JD Retail, the company's main e-commerce division, on an earnings call.

Xu added that the company had completed a self review and rectification exercise and foresaw no major business impact due to the regulations.

Despite the ongoing regulatory tightening, the company added a record 32 million users over the quarter and delivered growth in its logistics and marketplace divisions.

"The key surprise ... came from its strong user growth," said Daiwa Capital Markets analyst John Choi. "Despite a likely weaker e-commerce industry growth in 2H21, we are turning incrementally positive on JD compared with its peers due to its prudent strategy in terms of operations and spending amid the current regulatory environment and its growing scale in (fast-moving consumer goods) and online grocery."

REGULATORY CRACKDOWN

As part of China's regulatory crackdown on tech and digital giants, it fined most notably JD.com's rival Alibaba a record of about $2.5 billion in April for anti-competitive behavior. Alibaba later missed its revenue estimates for that quarter.

In December, regulators fined JD.com 500,000 yuan for pricing irregularities.

In April, the China Shanghai stock exchange terminated a planned IPO for JD Digits, JD's fintech division, citing a request from the company to withdraw it. The pullback came after authorities abruptly blocked the listing of Alibaba's financial affiliate Ant Group

On the JD's earnings call, executives said that the company added new merchants to its platform following authorities' banning of a practice known as "two-choose-one," wherein e-commerce sites ban merchants who list on rival platforms.

They added that the company is in compliance with an upcoming data security law, and highlighted how drivers in its logistics division are employed full-time and receive social and commercial insurance.

When asked about reported changes to preferential tax policies for tech companies, executives said the company has received no notice that such policies will be retracted, and added it expects no impact should a retraction occur as none of its subsidiaries has applied to become a key software enterprise.

Excluding items, the company posted a profit of 2.90 yuan per American depositary share (ADS), compared with analysts' expectations of 2.35 yuan.

Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders fell to 794.3 million yuan ($122.48 million) from 16.4 billion yuan ($2.53 billion) a year earlier. Non-GAAP net income to ordinary shareholders fell to 4.6 billion yuan compared to 5.9 billion yuan a year earlier.

Net revenue at JD.com rose about 26% to 253.8 billion yuan ($39.14 billion) in the second quarter ended June 30. Analysts had expected revenue of 249.27 billion yuan, according to IBES data from Refinitiv.

($1 = 6.4841 Chinese yuan)

(Reporting by Akanksha Rana in Bengaluru and Josh Horwitz in Shanghai; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila, Anil D'Silva and Bernadette Baum)
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - August 23, 2021) - Braveheart Resources Inc. (TSXV: BHT) (OTCQB: RIINF) (FSE: 2ZR) ("Braveheart" or the "Company") is pleased to report on progress being made on permitting and construction activities at the Bull River Mine project (the "Project").

Braveheart continues to work closely with the British Columbia Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy ("ENV") and the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation ("EMLI") on its application to restart the Project. The Company is pursuing a Joint Mines Act and Environmental Permit Amendment process wherein the Company is requesting an amendment to the current effluent discharge permit and permission to dispose of filtered tailings in a new tailings storage facility on surface. The primary change to the effluent discharge permit will be the inclusion of additional element testing but the current discharge location will not change nor will the anticipated volume of discharge to the environment. To-date the Company has submitted an updated project description and an information reporting table ("IRT") and responded to screening responses from regulators. The Company has recently been notified of EMLI's plans to establish a Mine Review Committee and prepare for engagement with the Ktunaxa Nation Council ("KNC").

VAST Resources Solutions Inc. ("VAST") is the environmental consulting firm that is assisting the Company with the application process. Braveheart recently engaged Tetra Tech Canada Inc. ("Tetra Tech") to assist with geochemical components of Phase 1 of the mining permit submission. Phase 1 of the restart will include the initial processing of a 165,000-tonne stockpile of mineralized material currently on surface (see press release dated April 19, 2021, on SEDAR). Tetra Tech (and prior to 2010, its predecessor company EBA Engineering) assisted previous owners of the Project with assessment and characterization of geologic materials since 2006. Tetra Tech will assist the Company initially with Acid Rock Drainage and Metal Leaching ("ARD ML") related components of the application.

Ian Berzins, President and CEO commented, "We are pleased to see continued progress in the application to restart our brownfield Bull River Mine project. COVID 19 has negatively impacted the timeline to move the process forward working with consultants, regulators and the First Nations. We had originally targeted to have our application approved by Q4 2021 but based on the current rate of progress, do not expect to have approval for the Phase 1 restart before Q1 2022."

In parallel with the permitting process, the Company is continuing to complete engineering studies and construction activities associated with a restart of the Project. The Company is pleased to report progress on its hydroelectric reconnection project. A 10 MVA transformer and related switchgear that was originally purchased in August 2019 (see press release dated December 7, 2020, on SEDAR) is currently scheduled to be decommissioned in Manitoba on August 26, 2021 and transported to the mine site in British Columbia in the first week of September 2021. The Company previously reported its intent to have the transformer on site by Q2 2021 but incurred difficulties coordinating a date with Manitoba Hydro for the de-energization. Once the transformer is at the mine site in British Columbia, a commissioning and re-energization date will be confirmed with BC Hydro. AMPS Services Inc. and AMPS Powerline, based in Winnipeg, Manitoba is coordinating the decommissioning, transportation and commissioning processes.

The Company is also pleased to report that Stantec Engineering has completed a detailed design for the proposed new Tailings Storage Facility ("TSF"). The Company is proposing the development of a filtered or dry stack TSF. Once the Company has received permission from ENV and EMLI, the civil works associated with construction of the TSF can commence. Previously the Company announced an agreement to procure six refurbished Outotec flotation cells from Nelson Machinery & Equipment Ltd. To-date the Company has advanced funds to complete the refurbishment of two cells with planned completion and delivery of all cells by late Q4 2021. The Company has identified several solutions for a new filtration circuit but not yet committed funds.

Ian Berzins, President and CEO further commented, "Completion of the hydroelectric reconnection project will be a key milestone for the Company. Once connected to the grid through the 66KV power line, the Project will be de-risked from the perspective of power supply and the Project will have sufficient excess capacity to allow for future expansion. The Company will continue to make capital upgrades at the Project as funds are available in anticipation of receiving permission to restart the Project."

Qualified person

Braveheart's disclosure of a technical or scientific nature in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Ian Berzins P.Eng., who serves as President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company and is a Qualified Person under the definition of National Instrument 43-101.

About Braveheart Resources Inc.

Braveheart is a mining company primarily focused on two near-term copper production assets in Canada. Braveheart's main asset is the 100% owned Bull River Mine project (>85MM lbs of copper) near Cranbrook, British Columbia which has a Mineral Resource containing copper, gold and silver. Braveheart's newest acquisition is the 100% owned Thierry Mine project (>860MM lbs of copper) near Pickle Lake, Ontario which has a Mineral Resource containing copper, nickel, silver, palladium, platinum and gold.

Contact Information

Braveheart Resources Inc.

Ian Berzins

President & Chief Executive Officer

M: +1-403-512-8202

E: iberzins@braveheartresources.com

Website: www.braveheartresources.com

For more investor information, please contact Braveheart at:

Manish Grigo

Director, Corporate Development

M: +1-416-569-3292

E: mgrigo@braveheartresources.com

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release includes certain information that may constitute "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements about strategic plans, future work programs and objectives and expected results from such work programs. Forward-looking information necessarily involve known and unknown risks, including, without limitation, risks associated with general economic conditions; inability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favourable terms; and other risks.

Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information and the risks identified in the Company's continuous disclosure record. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. All forward-looking information contained in this news release is given as of the date hereof and is based upon the opinions and estimates of management and information available to management as at the date hereof. 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, except as required by law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this new release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/94115
VANCOUVER, Wash., Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Onboard Systems International, LLC, a leading provider of innovative helicopter cargo hook equipment, today announced that it has shipped the first delivery of their TALON LC Hydraulic Cargo Hook Swing System for factory installation at the Airbus H125 final assembly line (FAL) in Marignane, France. The new swing system was developed under contract with Airbus Helicopters and includes Onboard's hydraulic cargo hook, gimbal frame technology, and its new C-40 cockpit indicator for the integrated Onboard Weighing System.

Onboard's new equipment is available as a factory-installed option through Airbus Helicopters and was designed to be compliant with the crash resistant fuel system (CRFS) that is part of the current H125 baseline aircraft configuration. In addition, the C-40 indicator connects to the vehicle and engine multifunction display (VEMD), allowing operators to take full advantage of external and internal load performance increases including higher NR law for external load operations.

"It has been a pleasure collaborating with Airbus to provide this Onboard swing cargo hook system for factory installation on the H125, which has been requested by operators for a number of years," said Mike Fox, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Onboard Systems. "Onboard is committed listening to our customers and continuously improving our products with features that enhance safety, maintainability, and usability. This new cargo hook swing system advances the external load capabilities of the H125 and provides immediate value to Airbus customers."

Onboard's TALON LC Hydraulic Cargo Hook offers a hydraulically-activated backup quick release subsystem manufactured from braided stainless steel for maximum durability. The hydraulic cables can be routed with the electrical control cables for a cleaner installation that helps keep the lines from snagging during use. To further protect the cables, hook, and fuselage, the cargo hook system also comes with a built-in bumper and travel stops. The gimbal swing frame is designed so that each half of the swing can move independently of each other to accommodate the individual movement of the four attachment cables, reducing the stresses to both the airframe and the swing frame when transporting a load. The integrated Onboard Weighing System shows pilots the precise weight of each load they are carrying using Onboard's C-40 indicator, which provides both analog and digital displays of the load weight.

About Onboard SystemsOnboard Systems International, LLC designs and manufactures innovative helicopter lift equipment for the worldwide aerospace industry, including belly hooks, cargo hook suspension systems, Onboard Weighing Systems, and remote hook equipment. Its lightweight, high-quality products provide operators with increased safety and cost efficiencies through customer-driven designs, responsive service and support, and low on-going maintenance costs. Onboard Systems maintains a rigorous quality management system (QMS) designed to meet or exceed the strict requirements of AS9100 Revision D, ISO 9001:2015, helicopter airframe manufacturers, and aviation regulatory agencies. Founded in 1975, Onboard Systems was acquired in 2019 by Liberty Hall Capital Partners, a private equity firm focused exclusively on investments in businesses serving the global aerospace and defense industry. Onboard Systems is based in Vancouver, Washington; visit our website, OnboardSystems.com, for more information.

Media ContactSheri Gormley360-546-3072317064@email4pr.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/onboard-systems-delivers-first-h125-swing-cargo-hook-systems-for-factory-installation-at-airbus-helicopters-301359721.html

SOURCE Onboard Systems
Source: Maurice Jackson (8/23/21)

Maurice Jackson, of Proven and Probable, and Christian Easterday, CEO of Hot Chili Ltd., discuss the announcement of a new strategic partner, Glencore, and the company's evolution from exploration to now development.



Maurice Jackson: Joining us for a conversation is Christian Easterday, the CEO of Hot Chili Ltd. (HCH:ASX). Its a pleasure to be speaking with you, sir. Hot Chili Limited is having, simply put, a banner year, as throughout the year it's been one success after another. Hot Chili has released a string of successful press releases to advance the massive Cortadera Copper-Gold Project. Before we delve into the exciting news you have for current and prospective shareholders, Mr. Easterday, please introduce us to Hot Chili and the opportunity the company presents to the market.

Christian Easterday: Well, it's been a very exciting time, not just in the copper space, but for Hot Chili, as we really transform ourselves from a corporate exploration company on the coastline of Chile to a full-fledged very significant copper developer. We are now very pleased to be welcoming Glencore International Plc (GLEN:LSE) as our largest shareholder through its participation in our recent $40 million capital raising, which was just announced during the week.

None of this has been possible without the string of successes that we've had at a world-class Cortadera porphyry discovery on the coastline, which has allowed us to consolidate a major copper development hub sitting on the Pan-American Highway, right next to a port 600 kilometers north of Santiago, Chile. We are certainly hitting our straps after announcing our maiden resource last year, when I did my last interview with you, Maurice. We now have some three-quarters of a billion tonnes at about half-a-percent copper equivalent in open-pit and underground resource space.

And that Cortadera discovery, which is one of only two major copper discoveries that the world has seen since 2014, is seeing some significant growth in our drilling. We've been able to put out some further world-class intercepts as we expand that resource base, and look to take our combined asset to over a billion tons. And hopefully, we'll be looking to put that out later in the year.

Maurice Jackson: Sounds exciting, sir. You referenced the $40 million funding. Can you go through the details for us on this landmark transaction, along with your new strategic partner, Glencore?

Christian Easterday: We have been very busy in staging the next steps for Hot Chili, as we seek to align ourselves with the rest of the copper porphyry developers in the Americas. Currently, we're the only major copper porphyry player that is not listed on the TSX and TSX.V. and we're looking to dual lis, the company in the coming months over on the TSX.V in Canada. So, a very exciting time as we transform the company and look to align to a set of copper developers, which are seeing market capitalizations in the range of $500 million to $1.4 billion, with some of the leaders over there in Canada being Filo Mining Corp. (FLMMF:OTCMKTS), Solaris Resources (SLS:TSX), SolGold plc (SOLG:AIM), and several resources that they control. Obviously, Hot Chili's resource base is comparing extremely favorably.

We see a real value gap that exists with being the only non-TSX/TSX.V player in our peer space. The $40 million capital raise that we've just completed was well supported out of Australia and also overseas, with significant support seen from North America. But most importantly, when we put that capital raise together, that was all about our last real key milestone, which is the purchase of Cortadera itself. We had one remaining payment that was due in one year of US$15 million, or roughly AU$20 million. The asset has grown so rapidly, and we were really sitting on a world-class discovery here, so there was significant interest in taking out that final ownership payment, which we'll be making immediately, once we close this raise in the coming week or two. That's some color on the reason for the raising outside of the purchase of Cortadera.

The rest of the money is going in to continue our aggressive resource growth drilling program, and also to start stepping out and start testing some very exciting growth potential in what looks like an opportunity to unlock a cluster of high-grade porphyry targets in and around our two key assets at Productora and Cortadera.

Through this raising, as you well said, we've now attracted the support of one of the largest mining companies in the world, in Glencore. And, as is being announced, they're coming in now as a 9.99% shareholder in Hot Chili, which will make them the largest shareholder in Hot Chili. And we'll be shortly welcoming their support with a board member, coming onto Hot Chili's board technical steering committee. This will allow us to tap in and utilize the strong capability and experience of Glencore in developing large-scale copper assets in jurisdictions, such as Chile.

I'm looking forward to the new relationship, and our new large shareholder in Glencore. They've certainly given the company a significant endorsement of our assets. Effectively, the due diligence by the world has just been completed by one of the largest copper producers in the worldone of the largest mining companies in the worldand a really key aspect of that is where we're looking forward to negotiating over the coming months, which is an off-take arrangement for the first eight years of our targeted 25- to 30-year mine life, which we're trying to build out on the coastline. That will be for about 60% of the off-take out of our combined Costa Fuego project. We really look at that as a significant de-risker for the company in terms of actually having a partner there to take a benchmark component on the pricing of our off-take. We view this a strong hedging position: the company is putting in place with the largest global trader of copper concentrates, and now our largest shareholder.

Maurice Jackson: Having Glencore as a strategic partner is a big, big feather in your cap and puts Hot Chili in the driver's seat  I would say on the autobahn. You've really done several things here for shareholders. Just this off-take; it's something that may be minor when you look at all the successes here, but that off-take agreement as well is just another strategic step. And it just demonstrates the business acumen and the leadership here. And I have to just give you a big kudos, sir.

Switching gears, let's look at some numbers. Please provide us the capital structure for Hot Chili.

Christian Easterday: Look at the moment. Our pre-capital structure was about 3.1 billion shares. We'll come over the 4 billion mark after this raise, where we have about 1.1 billion shares that we'll be issuing to Glencore and to other institutional investors. We've also been able to give the shareholders of Hot Chili a slice of the capital rising at $0.032. I suppose that's sort of something really important from the board, that we wanted all of the shareholders to be able to participate at the same level of investment that Glencore and the institutional investors are coming in at. And that's certainly seen a very good response day one, day two, day three in the market over here in Australia.

We've not just a raising an 11% discount to our closing price pre-capital raising, but we've been able to get the stock to have a very positive lift after that announcement. We're trading at around 40% or 50% higher than the issue price for the raising. We are very pleased to be able to allow all of our shareholders to participate in a share purchase plan.

We now have a firm opportunity to rewrite Hot Chili into the billion-dollar-plus market capitalization space. And we believe that we can do that in short order, particularly with our realignment now, and being able to take Hot Chili into the North American market with a dual listing on the TSX/TSX.Vand to be able to compare ourselves very favorably with some of the names I've mentioned, the Oracles, the Filos, the Solarises, which have seen spectacular increases in their share prices in association with the lifting copper price environment.

When you have a copper price environment over $4 per pound, and you have an upper-tier copper asset that is rapidly approaching a tier-one asset, and there's very few of those available in the world to be able to leverage that value, and you are able to come into a dual listing, and now with Glencore on our registerwe believe that we have a significant rewrite ahead of the company. We now have the ability, in the market's eyes, to be able to execute and transition Hot Chili into a large-scale or major copper producer.

Maurice Jackson: In closing, sir, what would you like to say to shareholders?

Christian Easterday: I'd like to thank all of our shareholders for ensuring that Hot Chili was one of the survivors of the last downturn in copper, to support our vision, to build out a new copper player of substance globally with the project that we're positioning in the plus-100,000 tonne per annum copper production space. Very few of those are available in a world where there's very few major copper discoveries being made.

Now our shareholders, undoubtedly, will start to reap the rewards of what has been a 13-year vision by myself and our founders to build out something that you don't see very often. The last time the Australian stock market had anything in this space was, of course, Equinox Resources. And we all know knew that a real key element in the rewrite of that company from a $400 million company to a $7.2 billion takeover was their ability to be able to transition into production  and most importantly to be able to position Equinox into the North American markets at the right time.

They did that in the last copper cycle, and they were able to extract that significant rewrite in valuation. And we were simply following a very well-worn path that has already been done before.

Maurice Jackson: Last question, sir: What did I forget to ask?

Christian Easterday: I'm sure we'll have plenty of time for further questions down the road, Maurice. We've got some pretty exciting drilling results coming out of our expansion program that we'll now be able to start getting out to market, now that I'm out of a blackout period following about four or five weeks of no sleep completing the transaction that we've just announced.

But most importantly, we've got a lot of very exciting news flow in the lead-up to our dual listing on the TSX.V, which is scheduled for around late October, and then shortly to follow that, hopefully a significant upgrade at our Cortadera porphyry discovery.

Maurice Jackson: Mr. Easterday, it's been an absolute delight to speak with you today. I'm wishing you and Hot Chili the absolute best, sir.

As a reminder, I am a licensed representative to buy and sell precious metals through Miles Franklin Precious Metals Investments, where we have several options to expand your precious metals portfolio, from physical delivery of gold, silver, platinum, palladium, and rhodium, to offshore depositories, and precious metals IRAs. Give me a call at 855.505.1900 or you may email: [email protected]. Finally, please subscribe to www.provenandprobable.com, where we provide mining insights and bullion sales. Subscription is free.

Maurice Jackson is the founder of Proven and Probable, a site that aims to enrich its subscribers through education in precious metals and junior mining companies that will enrich the world.

[NLINSERT]

Disclosures:

1) Maurice Jackson: I, or members of my immediate household or family, own securities of the following companies mentioned in this article: Hot Chili Ltd. I personally am, or members of my immediate household or family are, paid by the following companies mentioned in this article: None. My company has a financial relationship with the following companies mentioned in this article: Hot Chili Ltd. is a sponsor of Proven and Probable. Proven and Probable disclosures are listed below.

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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.

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The Information presented in Proven and Probable is provided for educational and informational purposes only, without any express or implied warranty of any kind, including warranties of accuracy, completeness, or fitness for any particular purpose. The Information contained in or provided from or through this forum is not intended to be and does not constitute financial advice, investment advice, trading advice or any other advice. The Information on this forum and provided from or through this forum is general in nature and is not specific to you the User or anyone else. You should not make any decision, financial, investments, trading or otherwise, based on any of the information presented on this forum without undertaking independent due diligence and consultation with a professional broker or competent financial advisor. You understand that you are using any and all Information available on or through this forum at your own risk.

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DAYTON, Ohio (Tribune News Service)  A Dayton company has joined the fight against porch pirates, and the Air Force has taken notice.

Parcell, a Dayton-based last-mile package security startup, has executed a patent license agreement with the U.S. Air Force, TechLink announced Monday.

The agreement allows the company to place a military-grade intrusion detection technology for wireless personal area networks into Parcell's array of products, including "smart lockers" for delivery services.

Parcell offers a secure container for a home porch or other drop-off areas that can be locked and unlocked remotely with a user's smartphone. The box sends a notification to the user's device when a package is delivered or ready to be picked up.

Erica Waite is a co-founder of Parcell.

"We're offering state-of-the-art solutions for individuals that protect against porch pirates and anyone else who needs to know exactly when their packages arrive," Waite said in TechLink's announcement. "Enhancing our network security with the Air Force tech prevents any spoofing or man-in-the-middle attacks, allowing our products to be used by commercial and government users that require extra precautions."

Waite, James Mainord and Barry Coles founded Parcell in 2020. Launch Dayton is supporting the company.

Paired with the app, Parcell's smart containers include safety features including an interior manual latch in case a child accidentally locks themselves inside while playing.

Based at Montana State University, TechLink has said it is the U.S. military's sole national "partnership intermediary" for technology transfers to private companies.

(c)2021 the Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Ohio)

Visit the Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Ohio) at www.daytondailynews.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Richard E. Angle, Deputy Commanding General Operations U.S. Army Cyber Command, participates in a working lunch during the Joint Warfighting Assessment on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wa., May 1, 2019. (Torrance Saunders/U.S. Army)

FORT BRAGG, N.C. (Tribune News Service)  The 1st Special Forces Command has a new leader.

Maj. Gen. John Brennan relinquished command Aug. 12 to Maj. Gen. Richard E. Angle during a change of command ceremony at Fort Bragg.

The command is responsible for more than 23,000 Army special operations forces soldiers within its 11 brigade-level units that include Special Forces, Psychological Operations, Civil Affairs, and Special Operations Sustainment units, a news release stated.

Presiding over the ceremony was Lt. Gen. Fran Beaudette, before Beaudette's own command change from the U.S. Army Special Operations Command the following day.

Brennan, who oversaw the 1st Special Forces Command since November 2019, will take command of Combined Joint Task Force  Operation Inherent Resolve in the coming months.

He thanked the men and women of 1st Special Forces Command for what they do for the "country every single day."

"The nation owes you a great debt of gratitude, for no other organization can do what you do as the nation's only (Army special operations forces) division," Brennan said.

The new commander, Angle, previously serving as deputy commander of Joint Special Operations Command, which is also at Fort Bragg.

In that role he "assigned, attached and augmented forces to conduct special operations against threats to protect homeland and U.S. interests abroad," his biography states.

Angle has participated in contingency and combat operations in Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, the Horn of Africa, and the Philippines.

Commissioning as an infantry officer in 1991, he previously served with the 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment at Hohenfels, Germany; 2nd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group, in Fort Carson, Colorado, and commanded the 1st Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group, in Okinawa, Japan.

His other assignments included military assistant to the Secretary of the Army; as chief of staff of U.S. Army Special Operations Command; deputy commanding general of the 1st Special Forces Command and deputy commanding general of operations for the Army Cyber Command.

"I am humbled by the honor and privilege to rejoin your ranks and to be part of a remarkably unique and capable organization that, without fanfare or praise, goes about the business of protecting this great nation as consummate, quiet professionals," Angle said during the command change.

(c)2021 The Fayetteville Observer (Fayetteville, N.C.)

Visit The Fayetteville Observer (Fayetteville, N.C.) at www.fayobserver.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
An out of service missile stands as a sculpture at the main gate of Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, Mont. A new U.S. Army report says the Chinese military has improved the accuracy and range of its ballistic missile force, the worlds largest. (Robert Gauthier, Los Angeles Times/TNS)

WASHINGTON (Tribune News Service)  The Chinese military has improved the accuracy and range of its ballistic missile force, the worlds largest, according to a new U.S. Army report.

The DF-11, the most widely deployed short-range ballistic missile of the Peoples Liberation Army Rocket Force, was originally designed to hit targets out to 186 miles, but newer models have expanded ranges beyond 435 miles, according to an Aug. 9 Army publication titled Chinese Tactics released Monday by the Federation of American Scientists Project on Government Secrecy.

Accuracy has also increased, reducing the intended target point to only 32 yards, giving theater commanders a long-range precision strike capability, according to the Army publication. The DF-11 can employ both conventional and nuclear warheads. The solid-fuel rocket and mobile transporter-erector-launchers enable rapid launch and reload operations, it added.

The U.S. Army is attempting to reshape its forces from their 20-year emphasis on counterinsurgency to focus on an Indo-Pacific presence geared toward countering China in coordination with the Air Force and Navy. The new publication presents a menu of the longer-range and more accurate Chinese missiles that U.S. forces and Taiwan would face in a conflict.

In addition, the newer DF-15/16 missile has ranges of 600 kilometers to 1,000 kilometers and they employ advanced antiballistic missile countermeasures such as terminal maneuvers and decoys, the Army publication says. Early variants were not accurate enough for precision strikes, but newer models are much improved. These missiles can employ nuclear or conventional warheads, and have a significantly larger payload than most short-range ballistic missiles.

The publication, which also covers many other Chinese military capabilities, is the latest to portray the military might of a nation U.S. leaders consider the prime threat driving U.S. strategic planning and spending.

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(Logan Mock-Bunting/Getty Images)

FORT BRAGG, N.C. (Tribune News Service)  Town hall meetings to gain community input on the renaming of Fort Bragg will be announced in the coming weeks.

Col. Scott Pence, the installation's garrison commander, updated the community on the process during a meeting Wednesday that was broadcast on the installation's Facebook page.

Pence said other installations with airborne units often use the phrase "back at Bragg," which he said is synonymous with readiness, dedication to the mission, a sense of urgency and commitment to excellence.

"This Fort Bragg name represents an emotional connection for people, so we take that very seriously," Pence said.

In January, Congress passed the National Defense Authorization Act, which includes a provision mandating military installations named after Confederates to be renamed.

Fort Bragg is one of those installations and is named after Confederate general Braxton Bragg, who historians say was a slave owner who fought with subordinates and lost battles.

Despite some Fayetteville residents saying they do not support the name change and most commenters on the Facebook page saying they don't want to see it change, Congress mandated the name be changed by 2023.

The National Defense Authorization Act states that a renaming commission will research costs of changing the names of the installations, while also seeking the input of stakeholders and communities near the installations.

The renaming commission includes four appointments by the secretary of defense, two appointed by chairs of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, and two appointed by ranking members of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees.

The commission is tasked with developing procedures for renaming assets named after members of the Confederacy, along with gathering input from local communities and submitting a plan to the House and Armed Services Committee by October 2022.

In May, the commission's chair, retired Adm. Michelle Howard, said that during the summer and fall the commission would visit 10 Army installations that will be renamed, including Fort Bragg.

Fort Bragg, Pence said, is home to the 18th Airborne Corps, Joint Special Operations Command, U.S. Army Special Operations Command and would be considered the fifth largest city in North Carolina.

"So this is an installation they're particularly interested in and making sure that our community has a say in what the name changes to as we move forward," he said.

Pence said the commission will go to each installation during the next two years to assess how the community feels.

Announcements about when the town hall meetings will be held will be forthcoming on the Fort Bragg Facebook page "so you can make sure your voice is heard," Pence said.

"We're going to be very transparent," he said.

He said officials will keep a running list of the names suggested.

During the next few months, officials will meet with community members and stakeholders to ensure "that if any names are forwarded to the House or the Senate for the renaming of Fort Bragg  that it's a name that we can all get behind,"

Once community input is received, Pence said, a panel of experts will submit the recommended names to the Fort Bragg commanding general.

"It's our role and our task to make sure that anything that happens with the name is done with the full backing of the community," he said.

The commission will brief the House and Senate Armed Services Committees on its progress by Oct. 1.

It will present its final briefing Oct. 1, 2022.

(c)2021 The Fayetteville Observer (Fayetteville, N.C.)

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Gen. David Thompson, second in command of U.S. Space Force, chats with students while visiting the Aerospace program at the University of Colorado Boulder. (Casey A. Cass/University of Colorado)

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Tribune News Service)  The University of Colorado is partnering with the U.S. Space Force to team up on research and take on challenges in science and technology.

Vice Chief of Space Operations Gen. David D. Thompson and Todd Saliman, interim CU president, signed a memorandum of understanding Friday at the university's Colorado Springs campus.

CU is the second university to join the Space Force's University Partnership Program.

"The state of Colorado and the community of Colorado Springs have long been key members and supporters of the national security space enterprise, so it's fitting for the Space Force to establish a formal partnership between the University of Colorado and the Space Force," Thompson said in a statement.

The university is known for its strong aerospace engineering program and research.

"We don't know what the jobs of the future will be in this area," Saliman said, "but we do know we're the ones to provide them because we are so engaged in this sector now."

Given Colorado's large aerospace and defense economy and CU's broad array of related workforce and research capabilities, the university is excited for the opportunity to contribute, Saliman said.

"This is really a perfect example of how we can take our research and our education pipeline and turn it into big ideas that can really advance the nation and Colorado in this sector," Saliman said in an interview. "So, we see this as an incredible opportunity to create new knowledge and new ideas, but also a new workforce so Colorado becomes a hub in this area for the entire country."

Colorado has the nation's largest per capita number of private-sector aerospace employees at 33,460. Altogether, 62,270 private and military aerospace workers support an additional 170,340 workers in all industries throughout Colorado, according to a report by the Metro Denver Economic Development Corp.

Thompson said the hope is to attract talent from geographic or cultural communities underrepresented in the military. Criteria for schools chosen for the partnership include a robust ROTC program and the quality of degrees in STEM, science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Space Force is the newest branch of the Armed Forces, established within the Department of the Air Force in December 2019. In June, Buckley Air Force Base became Buckley Space Force Base. The base's control was moved to the Space Force.

Space Force is different from U.S. Space Command, which is a unified combatant command of the Department of Defense and is responsible for military operations in outer space.

Peterson Air Force base in Colorado Springs was named the Space Command's provisional headquarters in 2020. Peterson lost its bid to be the permanent home when former President Donald Trump named Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Ala.

Colorado officials of both parties have said Trump's decision was political and the former president said on an Alabama radio show Friday that he single-handedly decided to move the headquarters to Huntsville.

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In this May 6, 2021, photo, farmer Teklemariam Gebremichae speaks to a doctor, left, at the Ayder Referral Hospital in Mekele, in the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia. Gebremichae said he was shot by Eritrean forces in Enticho six months before and is still recovering. (Ben Curtis/AP)

NAIROBI, Kenya  The United States on Monday imposed new sanctions over Ethiopia's deadly Tigray conflict as hundreds of thousands of people face famine conditions under a government blockade the U.S. has called a "siege" and fighting spreads into other parts of the country.

The Treasury Department in a statement said the chief of staff of the defense forces of neighboring Eritrea, Filipos Woldeyohannes, was sanctioned under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act for leading an entity accused of "despicable acts" including massacres, widespread sexual assault and the executions of boys. The statement again calls on Eritrea to remove its soldiers from Ethiopia's Tigray region permanently.

The nine-month war has killed thousands of people and left observers shocked as Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, teamed up with former enemy Eritrea to wage war on the Tigray forces, with civilians not spared.

Scores of witnesses have described to The Associated Press abuses such as gang-rapes, the destruction of health centers, the burning of crops and forced expulsions. Eritreans were often accused of some of the worst abuses. Ethiopia's government denied their presence in Tigray for months.

"The (Eritrean Defense Forces) have purposely shot civilians in the street and carried out systematic house-to-house searches, executing men and boys, and have forcibly evicted Tigrayan families from their residences and taken over their houses and property," the new U.S. statement said.

Eritreas foreign ministry in a statement called the accusations unacceptable and challenged the U.S. to bring the case to an independent adjudication if it indeed has facts to prove its false allegations. Eritrea shares a border with the Tigray region and is has been described by human rights groups as one of the worlds most repressive nations.

The U.S. earlier this year signaled it was also losing patience with Ethiopia, Africa's second-most populous country, suspending millions of dollars in aid to a key security ally in the Horn of Africa and imposing visa restrictions on unnamed Ethiopians involved in the war.

The Tigray forces have since retaken much of the Tigray region of 6 million people, forcing Ethiopian and Eritrean soldiers to retreat and regroup. But "the United States is concerned that large numbers of (Eritrean Defense Forces) have re-entered Ethiopia, after withdrawing in June," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

The Tigray forces have now crossed into the Amhara and Afar regions, ignoring calls from the U.S. and United Nations to withdraw and vowing to press as far as the capital, Addis Ababa, to end the hostilities. Hundreds of thousands of people in Amhara and Afar have fled their advance, some alleging abuses against civilians.

Meanwhile the Ethiopian government has urged all capable citizens to war, and it has again cut off the Tigray region, with phone, internet and banking services down and truckloads of humanitarian aid almost at a standstill. Just 7% of the needed aid is reaching the region and food aid inside Tigray has now run out, the U.S. Agency for International Development said last week.

On the defensive, Ethiopia's government has rejected international "meddling" and accused humanitarian groups of arming or otherwise supporting the Tigray forces.

The U.S. sanctions represent new pressure to stop the fighting, allow unrestricted access to Tigray and engage in dialogue. But Ethiopia's government has declared the Tigray leadership, who long dominated the country's government before Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power and sidelined them, a terrorist group.

And the Tigray forces have laid out several conditions for talks, including the resumption of basic services to the region.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris arrives in Singapore Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021. Harris is on a tour of Southeast Asia, where she will attempt to reassure allies of American resolve following the chaotic end of a two-decade war. (Evelyn Hockstein/AP)

SINGAPORE  Vice President Kamala Harris met with Singapore's president and prime minister to kick off a visit to Southeast Asia focused on strengthening ties with key allies in the region, a task complicated by the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The trip, which brings Harris to Singapore and then later to Vietnam this week, is aimed at broadening cooperation with both nations to offer a counterweight to China's growing influence in the region. She is expected to address economic and security issues as well as efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Harris participated in a welcome ceremony outside the Istana, the presidential palace, where she held her hand over her heart while a marching band played the Star Spangled Banner. She then walked around the courtyard, reviewing the band, accompanied by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Loong then showed her a species of an orchid that was named in her honor, and Harris participated in a brief courtesy call with President Halimah Yacob, before heading into a series of bilateral meetings with the prime minister.

After her meetings, the vice president will participate in a joint news conference, and later visit the Changi Naval Base, where she'll speak to American sailors aboard the USS Tulsa, a combat ship.

On Tuesday, Harris will deliver a speech outlining the Biden administration's vision for the region, and meet with business leaders to discuss supply chain issues.

The trip marks Harris' second foreign trip  she visited Guatemala and Mexico in June  and will be the first time a U.S. vice president has visited Vietnam.

Singapore is the anchor of the U.S. naval presence in Southeast Asia and has a deep trade partnership with the U.S., but the country also seeks to maintain strong ties with China and a position of neutrality amid increasingly frosty U.S.-China relations.

Relations between the U.S. and China deteriorated sharply under Biden's predecessor, Donald Trump, and the two sides remain at odds over a host of issues including technology, cybersecurity and human rights.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin made their first overseas trips to Japan and South Korea. Austin traveled to Singapore, Vietnam and the Philippines last month and he vowed U.S. support against Beijing's intrusions in the South China Sea.

Harris is expected to emphasize the need for a free and open Indo-Pacific region in her conversations with Singapore's and Vietnam's leaders.

Alexander Feldman, president and CEO of the US-ASEAN Business Council, said Harris will have to be careful in her conversations with Singapore's leaders not to focus too heavily on China, but to emphasize a positive, productive U.S. relationship with Singapore and Vietnam.

"Where she could fall into a trap is really trying to pit this as a U.S. versus China trip. it should be a U.S. trip to our friends and partners in in Southeast Asia," Feldman said.

If China becomes the main focal point, he said, "that makes it harder for our friends to move forward across the region, not only in Singapore and Vietnam but beyond that."

Indeed, Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said in a recent interview that Singapore will "be useful but we will not be made use of" in its relations with both countries, and the nation's prime minister previously warned the U.S. against pursuing an aggressive approach to China.

Beijing, however, has seized on the visit, with China's official Xinhua News Agency issuing an editorial Saturday on Harris' trip portraying it as part of a drive to contain China.

Visits to Southeast Asia by senior Biden officials are aiming to "woo these countries to form a ring of containment against China. But Southeast Asian countries are reluctant to choose sides between China and the United States, and America's 'wishful plan' will end in failure," Xinhua said.

The U.S. approach is based on "outdated Cold War thinking and is intended to provoke troubles in their relations with China, create division and confrontation, and try to create a ring of containment," the editorial said.

While Harris navigates the challenging diplomacy surrounding the issue of China, she'll also face the task of reassuring key U.S. allies of America's commitment to Southeast Asia, in the wake of the tumultuous Afghanistan exit. Images of desperate Afghans mobbing American plans leaving Kabul have drawn comparisons to images from the fall of Saigon at the end of the Vietnam War.

Harris' aides have been careful to emphasize that while she remains deeply engaged on the situation in Afghanistan, the Southeast Asia trip was planned well before the recent events, and they say Harris' work in Singapore and Vietnam is important, independent of the developments in Afghanistan.

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An Afghan child sips water at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, Aug. 20, 2021. (Samuel Ruiz/U.S. Marine Corps)

CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea  U.S. military commands in the Pacific are ready to assist with the evacuation of vulnerable Afghans in their ongoing flight from Kabul but are not tasked thus far to do so, spokespeople said Monday.

Thousands of Afghans who worked for NATO, the United States, and its allies in the 20-year war against the Taliban are crowded into Hamid Karzai International Airport outside Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, seeking a way out.

Over the weekend, the U.S. flew evacuees to Ramstein Air Base in Germany, where about 5,000 men, women and children who fled Taliban rule made temporary homes. Rumors surfaced that some evacuees from Kabul were heading to Japan, where the Air Force maintains key air hubs, and South Korea, home of the largest Army base overseas.

The Red Cross and military families solicited donations of clothing and other items to give to Afghans, which further fueled speculation. But no flights with evacuees are imminent, according to the U.S. commands in both those countries.

U.S. Forces Korea has not been tasked to provide temporary housing or other support for anyone departing Afghanistan, spokesman Col. Lee Peters said in an email Monday to Stars and Stripes.

If tasked, USFK will work with the Department of State, Department of Defense and the [South Korean] government, while maintaining the obligation to provide and maintain a robust combined defense posture, he wrote.

U.S. airmen and Marines guide evacuees aboard a C-17 Globemaster III at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, Aug. 21, 2021. (Brennen Lege/U.S. Air Force)

Likewise, U.S. Forces Japan stands ready to support any transit of individuals and families departing Afghanistan, said spokeswoman Lt. Col. Brooke Brander.

But no evacuees are inbound to Japan, she told Stars and Stripes in an email Monday. Any support USFJ provides will be closely coordinated with the Department of State and the Government of Japan.

The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo had no further information available, according to an email Monday from an information assistant, Naoko Chimaru.

She referred Stars and Stripes to a recent statement by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in which he said President Joe Biden has ordered commercial airlines to provide 18 aircraft for shuttling evacuees from transit points outside Afghanistan to other destinations.

Since Saturday, about 8,000 people had left the Kabul airport on about 60 flights, Blinken said Sunday. He said about 30,000 people were evacuated on military and charter flights since the end of July. Around 17,000 people have been evacuated since Aug. 14, the Defense Department said in a Sunday news release.

Blinken said the 18 commercial airliners would help move people, not from Kabul itself, but from third-country transit points as they are processed and complete security checks.

Weve reached agreements with about two dozen countries over four continents who are now helping or are soon going to help with the transit of people out of Kabul, he said.

Denmark and Turkey are allowing Americans and other evacuees to process through there to expedite the process, State Department spokesman Ned Price said Friday.

Price said Bahrain, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Qatar, Tajikistan, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and Uzbekistan also will or have allowed Americans or other evacuees to transit their territories.

Other countries have made generous offers, he said regarding relocation efforts for Afghans: Albania, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Mexico, Poland, Qatar, Rwanda, Ukraine and Uganda.

Roughly 5,800 U.S. troops have deployed to the airport in Kabul in recent days to assist in Operation Allies Refuge. Thousands of Afghans hoping for a flight out of the country amid the Taliban advance have rushed to the airport, the last hub still under U.S. control in Afghanistan.

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby on Saturday described the airport scene as very fluid and dynamic as U.S. officials negotiate with the Taliban for the safe passage of evacuees.

Evacuees transported to military bases in Qatar and Germany are being processed to Fort Bliss, Texas; Fort Lee, Va.; and Fort McCoy, Wis.

We are committed to this highly important mission to bring American citizens, [special immigrant visa] applicants and at-risk Afghans who have worked alongside of us throughout our time in Afghanistan, and vulnerable Afghans, including women and children, safely out of Afghanistan, Maj. Gen. Hank Taylor, the deputy director of the Joint Staff for Regional Operations, said during a press briefing at the Pentagon on Saturday.

Biden on Sunday said his administration may extend the evacuation deadline past Aug. 31.

Our hope is that we will not have to extend, he said during a press conference.
Vice President Kamala Harris visits the Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Tulsa (LCS 16), Aug. 23, 2021. Tulsa, part of Destroyer Squadron Seven, is on a rotational deployment in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operation to enhance interoperability with partners and serve as a ready-response force in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (Richard Cho/U.S. Navy)

Successive U.S. administrations have pledged to pivot away from unending military entanglements and focus American foreign policy on the Indo-Pacific, where a string of nations are anxious about China's growing military clout and hungry for U.S. engagement.

A question facing the Biden administration is how far it will be able to do that  and maintain credibility among U.S. allies alarmed by the collapse of the U.S.-backed government in Afghanistan and with fresh memories of chaotic diplomacy under President Donald Trump. Vice President Kamala Harris's visit to Singapore and Vietnam this week, only her second foray internationally, is emerging as a test of Washington's ability not just to lead but counter an increasingly aggressive Beijing.

"The current narrative now is that America is withdrawing, which puts even more pressure on her trip," said Huong Le Thu, a nonresident fellow with the Southeast Asia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "[The United States] needs a win."

Harris's visit officially began Monday, when she met Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. In a bilateral meeting that lasted more than an hour, the two discussed issues including deepening economic engagement, shoring up supply chains, the launch of a new climate partnership between the United States and Singapore, and expanded cybersecurity cooperation.

"The reason I am here is because the United States is a global leader, and we take that role seriously," Harris said in a joint news conference with Lee. The initiatives, Harris added, "speak, I believe, volumes in terms of the integrity of the relationships the United States has around the world."

Harris on Tuesday is scheduled to deliver a speech on Washington's Indo-Pacific policy. A senior administration official, speaking to reporters ahead of Harris's meetings on Monday, said Southeast Asia "was important before recent developments in Afghanistan; it's important now, and it's going to remain important, as is the broader Indo-Pacific."

"We're pursuing the deepening of these partnerships for economic and security interests, and global health interests, and much more," the official said.

Singapore was one of the countries that deployed personnel to Afghanistan since 2007 as part of the International Security Assistance Force, withdrawing these forces in 2013. Vietnam, the second stop on Harris's trip, has obvious echoes of the messy withdrawal from Afghanistan but has grown closer to the United States out of shared concerns over China's actions in the South China Sea. (Vietnam fought a war with China in 1979 and has overlapping maritime claims with Beijing.)

China's state media, which has mocked the United States over the chaotic events in Afghanistan, noted that Harris's visit came at an "embarrassing" time.

"The U.S.'s hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan has triggered changes in the country's situation. This is creating a crisis of confidence among U.S. allies and partners," Zhang Tengjun, assistant research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, wrote in the Global Times.

Both countries on Harris' itinerary are looking for firm and tangible commitments from the vice president, analysts say, particularly deeper economic commitment and, in Vietnam's case, stronger defense ties.

Harris on Monday also visited Changi Naval Base and toured the USS Tulsa, a littoral combat ship, where she spoke to American sailors on board, thanking them for their service and acknowledging the emotion they must feel watching the events unfold in Afghanistan.

"At the same time, other missions continue all around the world," she added. "So you all are here in Singapore, and Southeast Asia, and the Indo Pacific, with the mission of your own, a mission that is vital to the American people."

Singapore grants the United States access to its military facilities and is an anchor for American naval presence in the region. This, however, is not a permanent base, with Singapore treading carefully in its relationships with the United States and China.

Some of the partnerships announced Monday in Singapore came without a specific start date, or were nonbinding memorandums of understanding. Chong Ja Ian, a political scientist at the National University of Singapore who studies U.S.-China competition in the region, said the developments were "incremental."

Pledges to work together on climate change and supply chains "sound nice, but it's the substance rather than the sticker and packaging that matters, especially at this moment," he said. "Think about the promises made to Afghanistan from last year."

The two leaders also discussed Myanmar, where more than 1,000 people have been killed by security forces since the military seized power in a coup Feb. 1. In the news conference, Harris said the United States wanted to see democracy restored in Myanmar.

Neither Harris nor Lee provided details or specifics on how their countries would address the situation in Myanmar, which has deteriorated into a major humanitarian crisis that could destabilize the region, already wrecked by the pandemic.

Lee, in response to questions from reporters, pushed back on the idea that the United States has become an unreliable partner. He said that his country as an ally would be deploying a multi-role tanker transport plane to help in the mission to evacuate Afghan citizens.

Countries "have to adjust their position from time to time," Lee said. "Sometimes it can be done smoothly, sometimes there are hiccups, sometimes things go awry and take time to put right."

Still, he added, "Singapore hopes and works on the basis that the U.S. will continue to . . . engage with the region for many more years to come."

Analysts, though, note the Biden administration's repeated indications that its priorities are domestic, which also colors the actions in Afghanistan. The success of the trip, Chong said, will rest on Harris's ability to prove Washington has the "political will and resources" to follow through on statements and announcements.

"Regional allies, partners and even rivals need to be convinced that the United States is able to devote time, energy, resources and attention to Asia, even as it tries to get its own house in order," he said.
Buy Photo Hikers pass the Paralympics logo on top of Mount Takao in western Tokyo, Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021. (Aaron Kidd/Stars and Stripes)

TOKYO  Japans capital city recorded 2,447 new coronavirus infections on Monday, 515 fewer cases than the same day last week, according to public broadcaster NHK.

Monday caseloads are typically the lowest of the week. However, the seven-day average remains high at 4,659.3, higher by 109% from the previous week.

Also on Monday, the Marine Corps on Okinawa in Japan reported 19 new cases of COVID-19, the coronavirus respiratory disease, according to Marine Corps Installations Pacific. No other details were provided.

The countrys prefectural governors on Friday called on the national government to take stronger measures against the rising tide of coronavirus infections.

A statement from the National Governors Association urges the government to face the current situation and take stronger measures against the explosive spread of the infection and the threat of delta variant.

They urged the government to take stronger measures, including lockdowns to control the virus spread.

We are in a critical situation where it becomes increasingly difficult for individual prefectures to take control, according to the association.

The governors singled out the Tokyo Paralympics, which begin with Tuesdays opening ceremony, as one example of large events causing large flows of people.

The central government must continue to cooperate with related organizations and do everything possible to prevent the spread of infection, according to the governors statement.

In Tokyo, the metropolitan government reported 4,392 new coronavirus infections Sunday and 5,074 on Saturday, according to its own data. About 4,000 people are hospitalized, with the number of severely ill hovering above 270.

A state of emergency exists in Tokyo and the surrounding prefectures of Saitama, Kanagawa and Chiba, along with Okinawa, Osaka, Kyoto and six other prefectures where COVID-19 case numbers have climbed in recent weeks.

Under the emergency, the government encourages bars and restaurants to curtail alcohol sales and close between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. Establishments where case numbers fall may resume selling drinks until 7 p.m. Businesses that disregard the measures could be fined.

Japans coronavirus totals continued high Sunday, with 22,364 new cases, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. It recorded 443,636 newly infected individuals and 590 deaths, so far, according to Johns Hopkins.

The death toll in August, however, is less than one-fourth the May record of 2,807, according to the resource center.

Forty percent of Japans population, or 50.5 million people, are fully vaccinated, according to Johns Hopkins.

South Korea update

Eleven people affiliated with U.S. Forces Korea tested positive for COVID-19 after arriving on the peninsula between Aug. 3 and Wednesday, according to a recent news release.

Two service members who arrived Aug. 9 at Osan Air Base on the Patriot Express - a government-chartered air service - tested positive. Seven other service members, one civilian and one family member arrived on commercial flights at Incheon International Airport between Aug. 3 and Wednesday and tested positive.

Two individuals tested positive on their first mandatory COVID-19 test, six on a test during quarantine and three on the mandatory test required to exit quarantine, according to USFK.

South Korea reported 1,418 new cases on Sunday, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency update Monday. Seoul accounted for 383 of those, Gyeonggi province, where Osan and the Armys Camp Humphreys are located, reported 392.

South Korea has fully vaccinated 22.5% of its population, or 11.5 million people. Another 26 million, or 50.5%, have received one shot of a two-dose vaccine regimen, according to KDCA.

Stars and Stripes reporter Yoo Kyong Chang contributed to this report.
An Afghan child evacuee plays with bubbles after arriving at Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily, Aug. 22, 2021. (Daniel Young/U.S. Navy)

NAPLES, Italy  U.S. Navy bases in Spain and Italy are among those that will assist U.S. and NATO efforts to bring tens of thousands of Afghan refugees to safety, officials said.

Some of the evacuees will be housed temporarily at Naval Station Rota in Spain, the base said in a statement Sunday. Others are being evacuated through Naval Air Station Sigonella in Sicily before moving on to other locations as part of Operation Allies Refuge.

This will be a major operation for this installation, and an excellent opportunity for this community to support individuals in their time of need, Naval Station Rota said on its Facebook page.

The main effort to house evacuees at bases in Europe thus far has been at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, where nearly 7,000 people have arrived since Friday, officials there said Monday. The Army will also host Afghans at Rhine Ordnance Barracks in Kaiserslautern, and at the Grafenwoehr Training Area.

Afghan evacuees disembark a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III at Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily, Aug. 22, 2021. (Daniel Young/U.S. Navy)

Fort Lee, Va., Fort McCoy, Wis., and Fort Bliss, Texas, have also been designated to house evacuees, along with Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, as part of a growing list of worldwide U.S. bases involved in the operation.

The evacuations come as thousands of Afghans and foreigners continue to clamor for access to Kabuls airport in the days before the anticipated withdrawal of foreign forces by Aug. 31. Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen, in an interview with Sky News, said extending the U.S. presence past that date would provoke a reaction.

Many of the evacuees worked for the U.S. military, government agencies or other U.S. organizations during the nearly 20-year war in Afghanistan.

The Rota posting did not say how many evacuees would be sent to the base, when they would arrive or how long they would stay. But the bases fitness center was closed starting Monday and closures of other facilities are expected to accommodate the effort, NS Rota said. Officials also anticipated the need for donations of adult, child and infant clothing, toys and infant supplies, such as bottles and blankets.

NAS Sigonella saw its first group of 140 evacuees arrive on a U.S. Air Force KC-10 Extender from Al Udeid Air Base on Sunday night. More were expected in the coming hours and days, said U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet in a Sunday post to its Facebook page.

A U.S. Navy sailor assists an Afghan evacuee at Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily, Aug. 22, 2021. NAS Sigonella is supporting the Defense Department's mission to evacuate and relocate people from Afghanistan. (Daniel Young/U.S. Navy)

Officials worked with the Italian air force and Italian government to coordinate the effort, it said. The base obtained necessities from its commissary and Navy Exchange, and asked community members for patience as items were restocked.

The people were helping are going to be joining our American family, said Capt. Kevin Pickard, NAS Sigonella commanding officer, to a gathering of U.S. military and State Department personnel before the first aircraft arrived. Were proud to welcome them with open arms.

Naval Support Activity Naples in Italy was not asked to house evacuees but base and tenant command personnel were at NAS Sigonella assisting with efforts there, said Lt. Jamie Moroney, NSA Naples spokeswoman. It wasn't immediately clear if Naval Support Activity Souda Bay in Crete also would be participating in evacuation efforts.
In this Aug. 20, 2021, photo, U.S. Marines and Norweigian coalition forces assist with security at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. (Victor Mancilla/U.S. Marine Corps)

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP)  A firefight outside Kabuls international airport killed an Afghan soldier early Monday, highlighting the perils of evacuation efforts as the Taliban warned that any attempt by U.S. troops to delay their withdrawal to give people more time to flee would provoke a reaction.

The shooting came as the Taliban moved to shore up their position and eliminate pockets of armed resistance to their lightning takeover earlier this month. The Taliban said they retook three districts north of the capital seized by opponents the day before and had surrounded Panjshir, the last province that remains out of their control.

Afghanistans security forces collapsed in the face of the Taliban advance, despite 20 years of Western training and assistance. Since then, tens of thousands of Afghans have sought to flee the country, fearing a return to the brutal rule the Taliban imposed the last time they ran Afghanistan. That has led to chaos at the airport in Kabul, the main route out of the country.

U.S. President Joe Biden has not ruled out extending the evacuation beyond Aug. 31, the date he set for completing the pullout of U.S. forces. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson plans to press Biden for an extension.

But Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen, in an interview with Sky News, said Aug. 31 is a red line and that extending the American presence would provoke a reaction.

Gunfire broke out early Monday near an entrance to the airport, where at least seven Afghans died a day earlier in a panicked stampede of thousands of people.

Navy Capt. William Urban, a U.S. military spokesman, said an unknown assailant shot at Afghan security forces at the airports northern gate, leading Afghan, U.S. and allied troops to open fire in response. He said an Afghan soldier was killed and several Afghans were wounded.

An Italian humanitarian organization that operates hospitals in Afghanistan said it treated six patients with bullet wounds from the airport.

There was no comment from the Taliban, who in recent days have fired warning shots and lashed out with batons to try to control crowds swelling into the thousands outside the airport.

The tragic scenes around the airport have transfixed the world. Afghans poured onto the tarmac last week and some clung to a U.S. military transport plane as it took off, later plunging to their deaths. At least seven people died that day, in addition to the seven killed Sunday.

The Taliban blame the chaotic evacuation on the U.S. military and say theres no need for any Afghans to flee. They have pledged to bring peace and security after decades of war and say they wont seek revenge on those who worked with the U.S., NATO and the toppled Afghan government.

Addressing a conference of Muslim clerics, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid urged them to push back against Western propaganda about the Taliban and said the U.S. was undermining their rule by sending planes and offering Afghans asylum.

But Mohammad Khalid, another Taliban official addressing the same gathering, struck a more ominous tone, saying history and Afghans will not forgive those who were trained in the U.S. and Europe and returned to kill their own people.

He said foreign countries should not interfere in education, asking the clerics if they would tolerate a young girl sitting next to a boy at school. He also praised the role of suicide bombers in forcing the U.S. to withdraw.

The divergent messages raised doubts as to whether the Taliban are fully united behind the more moderate image their leadership is projecting. There have also been reports in recent days of the Taliban hunting down their former enemies.

German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer told the Bild newspaper that the main obstacle to getting people out was the crowds outside the airport.

Asked about Taliban assurances of safe passage to the airport, she said: So far, I can say that what we need is being granted; the danger comes more from these uncontrollable crowds of people.

As the airlift continues, the U.S. government asked for 18 aircraft from American commercial carriers to assist in transporting Afghan refugees to their final destinations after their initial evacuation.

Since Aug. 14, the U.S. has evacuated or facilitated the evacuation of some 37,000 people on military and coalition flights. Those efforts are accelerating: In the 24 hours that ended early Monday, U.S. military flights ferried about 10,400 people to safety, an official said.

Tens of thousands of people  Americans, other foreigners and Afghans who assisted in the war effort  are still waiting to join the airlift, which has been slowed by security issues and U.S. bureaucracy hurdles.

U.S. special operations forces retrieved 16 more American citizens from outside the airport early Monday, according to senior military officials in Afghanistan.

Rescue missions that go beyond the airport walls require the approval of a four-star officer and are handled on a case-by-case basis, said the American officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss ongoing military operations publicly.

Meanwhile, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin ordered five men who were evacuated from Afghanistan placed under surveillance in France for possible links to the Taliban.

France is human but it is also vigilant, the minister tweeted Monday, along with a story by a French news agency quoting him about the suspicions.

Amid the evacuations, there are also concerns that a local affiliate of the Islamic State group might target the crowds outside the airport with suicide bombers or fire missiles at U.S. aircraft. Military planes have been executing corkscrew landings, and other aircraft have fired flares upon takeoff  both measures used to avoid missile attacks.

The Taliban and IS have different ideologies and have fought in recent years, but one concern about the Talibans takeover is that they could again shelter extremist groups. The Taliban harbored al-Qaida while it orchestrated the 9/11 attacks, leading to the U.S. invasion in 2001. The Taliban now say they will not allow Afghanistan to be a base for attacks on other countries.

Elsewhere in Afghanistan, the Taliban have faced limited armed resistance from fighters in Baghlan province, some 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of Kabul. The anti-Taliban fighters claimed to have seized three districts in the Andarab Valley on Sunday, but the Taliban said Monday that they had cleared them out overnight.

Khair Mohammad Khairkhwa and Abdul Ghani Mahmood, commanders of the anti-Taliban forces, said the recent fighting had caused casualties on both sides and displaced civilians.

Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman, said the groups forces have also surrounded nearby Panjshir, the only one of Afghanistans 34 provinces yet to fall to the Taliban. Several Taliban opponents have gathered there, pledging to resist any attempt to take the province by force.

Mujahid said there had been no fighting in Panjshir yet and that the Taliban are seeking a peaceful solution.

___

Faiez reported from Istanbul and Krauss from Jerusalem. Associated Press writers Tameem Akhgar in Istanbul, Geir Moulson in Berlin, Jill Lawless in London, Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and James LaPorta in Miami contributed to this report.

previous coverage Veterans groups demand meeting with Biden about aiding Afghan allies
A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle departs after receiving fuel from a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker over an undisclosed location, Feb. 2, 2021. A Strike Eagle shot down a drone Aug. 21, 2021, in the air near a U.S. military outpost in eastern Syrias Deir al-Zour province, military officials said. (Trevor McBride/U.S. Air Force)

A coalition aircraft shot down a drone Saturday flying near a U.S. military outpost in eastern Syrias Deir al-Zour province, military officials said.

The aircraft engaged and defeated [an unmanned aerial system] through air-to-air engagement near a base known as Green Village, the coalition told Stars and Stripes.

Ensuring the safety of Coalition personnel is the highest priority, Operation Inherent Resolve said in an emailed response to a query. The UAS was deemed a threat and self-defense measures were taken.

A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle used an AIM-9X Sidewinder missile to strike the drone, according to Aviation Weeks Steve Trimble, who first reported the incident.

The coalition declined to confirm the aircraft type or other details of the mission, citing policy and security concerns.

Commander of the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Brig. Gen. Christopher Sage was piloting the fighter jet, Trimble said on Twitter, citing two unnamed sources.

Although the Air Force declines to disclose the wings location in the Middle East, some of its elements are believed to be operating from Jordans Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, near the Syrian border in the eastern desert.

The wing recently conducted drills with two F-15E crews to show their ability to respond to drone threats on short notice.

Within minutes were going to be airborne shooting down that threat, said Capt. Jon Levielle, an F-15E weapons systems officer in an Air Force video of the July alert drill.

In recent months, the U.S. has ramped up defenses against drones in Central Command, where defending against such threats is a top priority.

Iran-backed militants in the Middle East have repeatedly used drones against U.S. interests and those of its allies.

In late July, an explosives-laden drone hit the commercial Motor Tanker Mercer Street off the coast of Oman, killing two crew members. An investigative team from the USS Ronald Reagan found evidence linking the drone to Iran, CENTCOM said earlier this month. British and Israeli experts concurred with the findings, it said.

Iran exports its drone technology throughout the region, though it's sometimes hard to trace, said journalist Seth Frantzman, author of the recent book The Drone Wars. The proliferation of small, cheap systems used for surveillance or like cruise missiles has left military officials scrambling to develop and deploy defensive measures.

Drone technology immediately lends itself to use  in weird vacuums, ungoverned spaces, Frantzman said. A lot of militaries are definitely behind.

In June, U.S. F-16 Fighting Falcons deployed to Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia conducted operations testing their ability to track and destroy invading drones alongside Saudi aircraft, U.S. Air Forces Central said earlier this year.

The 332nd AEWs exercise the following month was the first time crews there had drilled the procedures, an F-15 weapons systems officer said in an Air Force video.

We got up in the air insanely [faster] than I ever thought was possible, found our target and shot it down, said Capt. Dylan McKeever. Its only going to get better.
Protestors hurl stones at Israeli troops near the fence of Gaza Strip border with Israel, during a protest marking the anniversary of a 1969 arson attack at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque by an Australian tourist later found to be mentally ill, east of Gaza City, Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021. (Adel Hana/AP)

CAIRO  Egypt closed its main border crossing point with the Gaza Strip on Monday amid tensions with the territory's militant Hamas rulers, officials said.

It was the first time the Rafah crossing was shuttered during a workday since early this year. Egyptian authorities had kept it open during the 11-day war between Israel and Hamas in May.

According to the Egyptian officials, the closure was connected to Cairo's efforts to broker a long-term cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. It was not immediately clear how long the closure would last, the officials said.

One of the officials said the move was meant to pressure Hamas because of the "differences" between Cairo and and the militant group over lack of progress in both the Egyptian-led, indirect talks with Israel, and also efforts to reconcile Palestinian factions.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to reporters.

The closure came hours after Egypt's state-run news agency reported that the crossing point was opened on Sunday after its weekly closing down for the Muslim weekend, Friday and Saturday.

Iyad al-Bozum, a spokesman for the Hamas-run Interior Ministry, said Hamas had been notified of the closure. He said they were in contact with Egyptian authorities to reopen Rafah.

"The closure of the crossing exacerbates the humanitarian crisis inside the Gaza Strip," he told The Associated Press. "We hope the crossing will return to work as soon as possible."

Violence erupted on Saturday during a protest organized by Hamas to draw attention to the Israeli-Egyptian blockade of the territory. Scores of Palestinians approached the border fence with Israel, with one of them shooting and wounding an Israeli soldier. At least 24 Palestinians were wounded by Israeli gunfire, two critically.

Egypt has been a key mediator between Israel and Hamas over the years. Egypt's intelligence chief Abbas Kamel paid a rare visit to Israel last week to discuss the cease-fire deal with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. He invited Bennett to visit Egypt.

Following the May war, Egypt has allowed aid and construction convoys into Gaza to help rebuild houses and infrastructure destroyed during the fighting.

Associated Press video journalist Wafaa Shurafa in Gaza City, Gaza Strip, contributed to this report.
In this Aug. 22, 2021, image provided by the U.S. Marine Corps, a Marine with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command provides assistance during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. (Sgt. Samuel Ruiz, U.S. Marine Corps/AP)

WASHINGTON  The U.S. reached its largest number of airlifts out of Afghanistan in a single day moving 16,000 evacuees out of the country on Monday, the same day an Afghan soldier died in a firefight at the gates into the Kabul airport, according to the Pentagon.

Several others were injured in the exchange of gunfire outside Hamid Karzai International Airport as the security situation remains chaotic surrounding the airfield where roughly 5,800 U.S. troops are working to evacuate Americans and Afghans seeking special immigrant visas to enter the United States, U.S. Central Command spokesman Navy Capt. William Urban said.

The incident appeared to begin when an unknown hostile actor fired upon Afghan security forces involved in monitoring access to the gate, Urban said in a statement Monday. The Afghans returned fire, and in keeping with their right of self-defense, so too did U.S. and coalition troops.

No U.S. or coalition forces were hurt in the brief exchange of gunfire, Urban said. The surviving wounded Afghan troops are in stable condition and receiving treatment at an airfield hospital.

The U.S. troops sent to Kabul less than two weeks ago originally were intended to provide security support within and outside the airport, but so far the forces have stayed largely within the facility as hordes of evacuees swarm the airfield, said Army Maj. Gen. Hank Taylor, the Joint Staffs deputy director for regional operations.

Instead, the U.S. is coordinating with the Taliban, which has set a perimeter around the airfield with checkpoints through which those with U.S. passports or visa applications must pass to reach the airport, Taylor told reporters at the Pentagon.

Within the last seven days we've seen the ability to continue to coordinate and synchronize with Taliban checkpoints, he said. I would say if you look at the last two days, that ability with the commanders on the ground to work with the Taliban tactical commanders has allowed  the ability to control better the access into [the area surrounding the airport].

The key obstacle preventing documented citizens and visa applicants from reaching the airport is the crowds of people surrounding the airport, The Associated Press reported Monday.

German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer told Germanys Bild newspaper that what we need [from the Taliban] is being granted regarding safe passage through checkpoints, according to the AP. As a member of the coalition forces, Germany is helping with the evacuation operation.

The danger comes more from these uncontrollable crowds of people, she said, according to the AP.

Still, some U.S. passport-holders have reported difficulty passing through the Taliban checkpoints, forcing U.S. troops to use helicopters at least twice since Thursday to go out into Kabul and bring more than 169 Americans to the airport, chief Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Monday.

Yet on Monday, the U.S. achieved its largest number of airlifts out of Afghanistan in a single day since evacuations began in late July. In the past 24 hours, 25 C-17s and three C-130s military transport aircraft and 61 commercial flights have flown 16,000 people out of Kabul, Taylor said. All but 5,000 of the evacuees were taken on the military aircraft.

In total, the U.S. has evacuated about 37,000 people from Kabul since Aug. 14, and 42,000 since July, according to the Pentagon. Those evacuees are taken to secondary locations outside of Afghanistan for processing at multiple international sites, including Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Naval Air Station Sigonella in Italy, Ramstein Air Base in Germany and Naval Station Rota in Spain.

Five flights carrying about 1,300 evacuees have landed at Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C., since Sunday morning, Taylor said.

Another 1,200 evacuees are undergoing the final steps in the visa application processes on four stateside military installations  Fort McCoy in Wisconsin, Fort Lee in Virginia, Fort Bliss in Texas and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey.

[U.S. Northern Command] continues to build out capacity to ensure they are prepared to receive more flights that will come in the next few days, Taylor said.

To date, the U.S. has not committed to extending its evacuations past its Aug. 31 deadline despite the difficulty of the operation. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson plans to press President Joe Biden for an extension, according to the AP.

Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen told Sky News on Monday that Aug. 31 is a "red line" that would "provoke a reaction" if the U.S. extends passed it.

Shaheen also said the Taliban will not allow America's military presence in Afghanistan after the end of August, according to a Monday morning tweet from the official Twitter account for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, the name of the government that the Taliban plans to establish once full transition of power is completed.
Buy Photo An Afghan soldier keeps an eye on Taliban prisoners before their release from Bagram prison in May 2020. The Taliban have maintained close ties with al-Qaida despite striking a deal with the U.S. that would require them to disavow the group in exchange for a U.S. troop withdrawal, the Defense Department said. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)

The Taliban has dismissed fears that they would provide al-Qaida with a safe haven in Afghanistan, 20 years after the United States launched a war to crush the extremist network behind the 9/11 attacks.

"They are not present in Afghanistan in the first place," a Taliban spokesman, Mohammed Naeem, said in an interview with Saudi's al-Hadath TV that aired late on Sunday. When pressed, he insisted that al-Qaida now had no foothold in the country and no relationship with the Taliban  while noting there may be "family ties" between members of the two organizations.

This comes after back-and-forth comments from top U.S. officials in recent days about whether al-Qaida remained in the country nearly two decades after American troops helped topple the Taliban for their role in sheltering al-Qaida.

"What interest do we have in Afghanistan at this point, with al-Qaida gone?" President Biden asked last week, justifying the pullout of U.S. troops from the country, which critics deemed a hasty abandonment of a country where America has waged its longest war.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken later said Biden was pointing to al-Qaida's capacity to carry out another attack on the scale of the 9/11 strikes. But he acknowledged that "remnants" were still present there.

The withdrawal decision has come under fire after the Taliban swept into the capital Kabul earlier this month, seizing control of Afghanistan and ousting the government backed by Washington.

Thousands have since flocked to the Kabul airport, which is still under the control of Western forces, desperate for a spot on the packed evacuation flights. There has also been some worries of an al-Qaida resurgence.

While al-Qaida may be a shell of its former self in Afghanistan  and the Taliban has pledged to prevent attacks against the United States or its allies from their soil  expert say there are still links between the groups.

The two showed "no indication of breaking ties," a U.N. report said in June. It added that al-Qaida had a presence in at least 15 Afghan provinces, putting the number of fighters at anywhere between several dozen to 500.

Naeem, spokesman for the Taliban's political bureau, played down celebrations by al-Qaida sympathizers over the Taliban's assumption of power. "If someone, whoever it is, congratulates us and the Afghan people on this day," he asked, "what's the problem?"

He also denied that Kabul's security was now in the hands of Khalil Haqqani, who is wanted by Washington for links to al-Qaida and who, according to some reports, was greeted in Kabul with boisterous cheers in recent days.

In response to a question about the prospect of the Taliban protecting al-Qaida fighters, including from neighboring Pakistan, Naeem said: "How many times have I said that we will not allow anyone to use the lands of Afghanistan against the security of other nations? ... Anyone, anyone, anyone from any country."

At a news conference Tuesday, the Taliban spokesman said this was not the same Taliban that governed the country from 1996 until the 2001 U.S. intervention. Still, the group made many of the same professions of moderation when they came to power in 1996.
Evacuees wait under the wing of C-17 Globemaster lll after arriving in an undisclosed location in the Middle East region on Friday, Aug. 20, 2021, after being evacuated onboard a military aircraft from Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, as part of Operation Allies Refuge. (Kylie Barrow, U.S. Air Force)

WASHINGTON  U.S. military commanders have had to remove exhausted troops from work rotations to maintain safety as Kabul airlift crews on Monday flew the largest number of evacuation flights out of Afghanistan in a 24-hour period, the general who leads U.S. Transportation Command said Monday.

I won't lie to you, [our crews] are tired  they're probably exhausted in some cases, Army Gen. Stephen Lyons, the commander of TRANSCOM, told reporters at the Pentagon. I know that the leaders from time to time are pulling crews out to make sure we don't have safety issues.

Exhaustion has been well-documented as an operational risk hazard to troops in multiple recent studies on military fatigue, including in a 2018 study by the National Institute of Health and another published in June by the Naval Health Research Center.

Still, Lyons said air crews are motivated, they are fired up and they are committed to complete this mission.

Its been less than two weeks since thousands of U.S. troops were deployed to Kabul airport to help evacuate thousands of Americans and Afghans seeking special immigrant visas to enter the United States. Though some evacuation efforts began in late July as the Aug. 31 deadline for U.S. forces to withdraw from Afghanistan loomed, most of its evacuations have occurred since Aug. 14  the day before the Taliban captured Kabul, Afghanistans capital city.

The U.S. on Monday achieved its largest number of airlifts out of Afghanistan in a single day since evacuations started, with 16,000 people leaving Kabul on 25 C-17 and three C-130 military transport aircraft and 61 commercial flights within the past 24 hours, said Army Maj. Gen. Hank Taylor, the Joint Staffs deputy director for regional operations. All but 5,000 of the evacuees were taken on the military aircraft.

In total, the U.S. has evacuated about 37,000 people from Kabul since Aug. 14, and 42,000 since July, according to the Pentagon.

To sustain and improve that pace, crews are working constantly to move out evacuees as the clock ticks on the Aug. 31 deadline, Lyons said.

While President Joe Biden has not dismissed the idea of extending evacuation operations past Aug. 31, Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen said Monday that the group will not allow America's military presence in Afghanistan after the end of August.

To accomplish the task, Lyons said he has twice as many crews as there are military aircraft assisting in the evacuation, though rotating those forces is not always possible.

The idea is to keep those planes moving all the time, either by extending the crew day or preferably by swapping crews and keeping the iron in motion, Lyons said. Theres a very tight detail management system to do that.

Additionally, TRANSCOM is aiming to keep the on-the-ground time in Afghanistan to less than an hour as troops help load evacuees onto the aircraft, he said.

The faster we can turn  either load or discharge  the faster we can turn that aircraft, Lyons said. We're razor-focused on bringing down  the time on the ground to under an hour.

Even with the quick turnarounds, Lyons said the military is working to optimize the amount of people evacuated on each flight, filling each aircraft with between 400-450 passengers per flight.

The idea is we'd never want to leave Kabul airport [with] an empty plane or even a partially full plane if we can avoid it, he said.

Despite the grueling pace, Lyons said TRANSCOM is committed to continuing the evacuation efforts for as long as they are asked to do so.

Full accelerator, were not going to let up, he said. As long as theres a mission to be accomplished, well be out there.
A firefighter hoses down flames from the Dixie Fire in Genesee, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021. (Ethan Swope/AP)

PLACERVILLE, Calif.  A wildfire burning for a week in Northern California continued to grow out of control, one of about a dozen big blazes in the drought-stricken state that have destroyed hundreds of homes and forced thousands of people to evacuate.

There was zero containment Sunday of the Caldor Fire, which had charred nearly 154 square miles of trees and brush in the northern Sierra Nevada after breaking out Aug. 14. The cause was under investigation.

Firefighters hoped to take advantage of calmer weather and cooler temperatures a day after gusts pushed the fire across U.S. Route 50, threatening more remote communities in El Dorado County.

Erratic winds sent embers flying into tinder-dry fuel beds, starting new ignition points and challenging crews trying to chase down the flames in rugged terrain.

"We know this fire has done things that nobody could have predicted, but that's how firefighting has been in the state this year," Eldorado National Forest Supervisor Chief Jeff Marsolais said.

Multiple large wildfires have incinerated at least 700 homes, many in and around the Sierra Nevada communities of Greenville and Grizzly Flats. About 13,000 residences remained under threat in communities tucked away in scenic forests.

The fires have burned roughly 2,300 square miles and have sent smoke as far as the East Coast. They were burning in grass, brush and forest that is exceptionally dry from two years of drought likely exacerbated by climate change.

Nine national forests in California have been closed because of the fire threat.

To the northwest of the Caldor Fire, the massive Dixie Fire also kept expanding. In five weeks, the blaze about 175 miles northeast of San Francisco became the second-largest in state history and blackened an area twice the size of Los Angeles. It was 37% contained.

California is one of a dozen mostly Western states where 94 large, active fires were burning as of Sunday, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

Fires have intensified across the entire West, creating a nearly year-round season that has taxed firefighters. Fire patterns used to migrate in seasons from the Southwest to the Rockies, to the Pacific Northwest and then California, allowing fire crews to move from one place to the next, said Anthony Scardina, deputy regional forester for the U.S. Forest Service.
A "prone team," wearing personal protective equipment, prepares to turn a COVID-19 patient onto his stomach in a Stamford Hospital intensive care unit on April 24, 2020, in Stamford, Connecticut. (John Moore, Getty Images/TNS)

(Tribune News Service)  In a significant twist that could reshape our understanding of the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, death records now indicate the first COVID-related deaths in California and across the country occurred in January 2020, weeks earlier than originally thought and before officials knew the virus was circulating here.

A half dozen death certificates from that month in six different states  California, Alabama, Georgia, Kansas, Oklahoma and Wisconsin  have been quietly amended to list COVID-19 as a contributing factor, suggesting the virus's deadly path quickly reached far beyond coastal regions that were the country's early known hotspots.

Up until now, the Feb. 6, 2020, death of San Jose's Patricia Dowd had been considered the country's first coronavirus fatality, although where and how she was infected remains unknown.

Even less is known about what are now believed to be the country's earliest victims of the pandemic. The Bay Area News Group discovered evidence of them in provisional coronavirus death counts of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)  widely considered the definitive source for death data in the United States  and confirmed the information through interviews with state and federal public health officials. But amid privacy concerns and fierce debate over pandemic policies, the names, precise locations and circumstances behind these deaths have not been publicly revealed. That is frustrating to some experts.

"We need to sit back and really assess what was this thing, when it started, how did we handle it, did we create more of a problem than we needed to, could we have handled things differently?" said Matthew Memoli, director of the clinical studies unit at the Laboratory of Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. "There's a lot to think about here."

For instance, the far-flung nature of the deaths  in the West, Midwest and South  might suggest that restrictions on travel and social interactions should have been used in more places much earlier  and that such rapid response could be a more critical tool in the next pandemic. In January, when the United States announced it would begin limiting travel from China and other international hotspots, the virus may already have been speeding across state borders.

While California, Georgia, Alabama and Oklahoma acknowledged or didn't dispute that a death certificate in their states from January 2020 had been changed to include COVID-19, none of the states would provide further details to reporters from this news organization, citing privacy laws. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services now lists the probable COVID-19 death of a 50-59-year-old woman on Jan. 22, 2020, in its data. Kansas did not respond to a request for comment.

This new data appears to be the result of months-long efforts by so-called certifiers  the coroners, medical examiners and doctors across the country tasked with explaining when and why people die  to take a closer look at deaths that occurred in the months before the outbreak.

The Bay Area News Group first reported in April that the CDC was investigating why multiple COVID-related fatalities before Dowd's death began appearing earlier this year in state and federal records. At the time, most of those were explained away as incorrect dates and other data glitches.

But this past week, the federal agency told this news organization that it had worked with state officials to contact the certifiers in five cases  while waiting to hear back from a sixth  and confirmed that death certificates from January 2020 have now been intentionally revised to include COVID-19.

"Certifiers are reluctant to amend death certificates unless there's a good reason to do so," said Robert Anderson, chief of the Mortality Statistics Branch at the NCHS.

But what led a coroner or doctor to make such a significant and possibly historic change in these cases is unclear. Anderson, whose team collects death data from every state, said his agency isn't provided that level of detail.

When someone dies for unknown reasons, death certificates can be updated months and even years after a person has died to reflect new information. During the pandemic, a coroner who originally attributed an early 2020 death broadly to a respiratory virus might later learn the person had traveled to China, where the virus originated, or had contact with someone who had, and reach the conclusion that they had COVID-19. Coronavirus testing was not common in early 2020, but if health workers took blood at the time, a medical examiner could later test the sample for the virus or antibodies, or do a PCR test for the virus on a tissue sample if an autopsy was performed.

It's likely, said John Swartzberg, an infectious disease expert and professor emeritus at UC Berkeley, that these early cases were initially written off as colds or flus.

Dowd's mysterious death wasn't originally attributed to COVID-19. It took more than two months for tests to reveal the otherwise healthy 57-year-old San Jose woman had been infected with the COVID-19 virus when she died.

The existence of January 2020 deaths would dramatically revise the timeline of COVID-19's arrival in the United States. China first announced a mysterious viral pneumonia in late December 2019, and reported the first death from the illness on Jan. 9, 2020. The U.S. originally recorded its first case in mid-January, when a traveler tested positive after returning from Wuhan, China. The first deaths reported in the United States, in late February, were also tied to travel.

In its current death count, which reflects the six newly discovered fatalities, the NCHS now lists the country's first COVID-19 death during the week of Jan. 5-11  the first full week of 2020. The agency is in the final stages of preparing its 2020 annual mortality report, a review and analysis of all deaths in the United States last year.

Swartzberg thinks  and the new death data suggests  it's entirely possible that COVID-19 was present in the United States as early as December or even November. The time from infection to death from COVID-19 is typically around three weeks.

"I would certainly guess the virus was introduced on multiple occasions before it was identified as a problem," Swartzberg said, noting that states like Alabama and Oklahoma don't generally see a lot of travel to and from China.

Memoli of the National Institutes of Health agrees.

"I always thought it had to have been here in the U.S. well before we identified it as a big problem," Memoli said.

His team is studying thousands of people across the country and their research suggests that by July 2020, there were about five unidentified cases for every known case and possibly more. That information may also suggest, Memoli said, the virus was spreading earlier than previously thought. So too does a CDC analysis of thousands of blood samples from nine states. The samples, collected by the American Red Cross in December 2019 and January 2020, found evidence of antibodies to COVID-19 in all nine states, but there is no record of whether any of those people got sick or died.

Some states, including California, are choosing not to recognize the amended death certificates in their official COVID-19 death counts, however.

The California Department of Public Health acknowledged in a statement to this news organization that a death certificate from January 2020 now lists COVID-19 as a significant condition contributing to death. "However," the department said, "there was no laboratory confirmation of COVID for this individual and as such is not a confirmed COVID death."

Anderson, whose agency is tabulating the country's official death count, sees it differently.

"The death certificate is the permanent record for the decedent," he said. "If COVID is on the death certificate, then it is a COVID death. You can't just ignore it."

The system for tracking mortality data, he said, relies on the medical expertise of death certifiers, since the CDC compiles records on approximately 3 million deaths in the U.S. every year. In their months-long review before finalizing the data for publication, the CDC follows up on anything out of the ordinary, like these early COVID-19 deaths, to make sure there were no unintentional errors made by the certifiers or during data entry.

But experts say a deeper analysis is needed. For instance, it might be possible, depending on what evidence remains, to examine the viral characteristics in the six early deaths and determine the origin of the strains and whether they were related.

The CDC wouldn't comment on whether it was conducting such an investigation.

Memoli, for one, is convinced a closer look could inform how the United States responds to future public health crises.

"There are things about the 1918 flu pandemic we still don't completely understand and we try to dig up information from that time to try to better understand it and prepare for the future," he said. "We have a lot of work to do in trying to understand."

___

(c)2021 the San Jose Mercury News (San Jose, Calif.)

Visit the San Jose Mercury News (San Jose, Calif.) at www.mercurynews.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Randy Jimenez administers a COVID-19 vaccine to Capt. Tom Foster, executive officer of the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), on March 31, 2021. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is preparing to issue a mandate for all troops to receive the coronavirus vaccine after the Food and Drug Administration gave its full authorization for one of the shots. (Jake Vermeulen/U.S. Navy)

WASHINGTON  Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is preparing to issue a mandate for all troops to receive the coronavirus vaccine after the Food and Drug Administration gave its full authorization for one of the shots, chief Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Monday.

The FDA gave full approval to the vaccine by Pfizer, one of three manufacturers making the vaccines that have until Monday been doled out to troops on a voluntary basis while they have been under federal emergency-use authorization.

The Pentagon is now working to finalize its mandate and determining the date for when troops will be required to have had the vaccination, Kirby said.

"We're preparing the guidance to the force right now and the actual completion date of it," he said. "In other words, how fast we want to see it get done  we're working through that guidance right now."

Kirby said Austin will add the coronavirus vaccine to the militarys required immunization list, following up on his Aug. 9 promise to make the coronavirus shot mandatory by mid-September or immediately upon the FDAs licensure, whichever came first. The list also includes vaccinations against illnesses such influenza, Hepatitis A and B and Rubella.

Service members began receiving the vaccine voluntarily in January. As of Wednesday, about 1.08 million active-duty, Reserve and National Guard troops have taken the shot and nearly 245,000 are partially vaccinated, according to the latest Defense Department data.

At least five service members, including an active-duty Navy doctor, have died of the coronavirus within the past month. In total, 34 troops have died from the virus since the pandemic started in March 2020, according to DOD data.

Without a mandate, the services have had to rely on information campaigns to convince troops to get vaccinated.

In the Navy, which led the military branches in vaccination rates before the mandate, some commanding officers said they have had immunologists speak to their ship crews to correct misinformation that caused some to reject the shot.

Sailors are open to listen. They are very intelligent, and they want education before they say yes to anything, said Cmdr. Bralyn Cathey, captain of the guided-missile destroyer USS John Finn in San Diego.

Now that sailors no longer have the option to refuse the vaccine, Cathey said some of them might decide to leave the Navy over the issue.

Theres still a choice even if there is not a choice because some person may decide that, hey, my naval service is not as important as my personal belief, and that's the choice that they made, Cathey said.

The military will offer exemptions for those with medical or religious reasons that warrant avoiding the shot. Those with medical concerns will work with their doctors to receive exemptions, while those applying for religious accommodations must submit a written request to their supervisor using the process set by their service branch.

The religious-exemption processes typically include providing documented proof of religious beliefs and consultations with health care providers and commanders. Chaplains will play a key role in these processes, often conducting interviews with the applicants before a waiver decision is made, said Capt. Richard Ryan, force chaplain for Naval Surface Force Pacific.

Until now, Ryan said he hasnt handled many immunization waiver requests because sailors have typically had all their mandatory vaccinations before they are sent to ships. But now that a new vaccine has been added to the list and sailors already on the job will have to roll up their sleeves for the shot, he expects that to change.

I haven't dealt with it a whole lot because by the time they're in the fleet, they've either had their immunizations or they hadn't, and I just dont hear about it, Ryan said. But we're going to hear about it this time.
Elementary school students line up to enter school for the first day of classes in Richardson, Texas., on Aug. 17, 2021. (LM Otero/AP)

BOSTON  As COVID-19 cases surge around the country, a majority of Americans say they support mask mandates for students and teachers in K-12 schools, according to a new poll, but their views are sharply divided along political lines.

About 6 in 10 Americans say students and teachers should be required to wear face masks while in school, according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Similar shares say teachers and eligible students should also be required to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

Masks have been a point of contention as U.S. schools reopen amid rising numbers of coronavirus cases. Questions about whether to require them have caused turmoil among parents and politicians, with some Republican governors banning mask mandates even as President Joe Biden threatens legal action against them.

In a reflection of that polarizing debate, the poll finds a wide partisan divide. About 3 in 10 Republicans said they favor mask requirements for students and teachers, compared with about 8 in 10 Democrats. There was a similar split over vaccine mandates in schools.

Some of the nations largest school districts will require masks for all students and staff this fall, including in New York City. Thats fine with Budhiono Riyanto, 37, of Queens, who will be sending his 7-year-old son, Gabriel, back to school next month.

I understand personal choice, I understand personal freedom. But when it comes to public health, we should all be looking out for each other, Rivanto said. The best protection so far is to mask up and vaccinate.

Others say masks shouldnt be forced upon children.

Kim Oldfield, who lives in rural Jessieville, Arkansas, said masks are unpopular in her area. She opposes the idea of a mandate and says it should be up to families to decide. In her local school district, masks are optional this fall.

America is supposed to be the land of the free, said Oldfield, 70. And when the government starts getting into your personal life and making you do things that you dont want to do, people dont like that.

Parents are slightly less likely to support mask requirements than the broader population, the poll shows. Fifty-two percent of parents with school-age children said they supported a mandate for kids, while 28% opposed it, with a similar split over mandates for teachers.

There were also differences by race: About two-thirds of Black parents said they back mask mandates for teachers and students, compared with about half of white and Hispanic parents.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended universal mask-wearing for teachers and students inside school buildings this fall, citing the rapid spread of the delta variant.

In some areas with school mask mandates, tensions have flared in recent weeks. Protesters opposing mask requirements have filled school board meetings from Maryland to California, in some cases disrupting meetings and forcing them to postpone.

Most states allow school districts to set their own mask policies, but some including California, Illinois and Louisiana are requiring masks for students and teachers statewide. At least eight Republican-led states have moved to ban universal mask mandates in schools, including in Texas, Florida and Tennessee.

In Land O Lakes, Florida, Gail Jackson worries about sending her 12-year-old grandson to a school where masks are optional. Her grandson, Zahkai, wears a mask, she said, but some of his classmates dont.

I dont know how its all going to play out in the end, said Jackson, 74, who is Zahkais legal guardian. My prayer is that somehow or another, an angel passes over and these kids are allowed to grow and mature without finding themselves in a hospital on a ventilator.

Compared to mask mandates, school vaccine requirements have been rare. Some states and local districts have required vaccines for teachers, saying those who refuse must face regular virus testing. Some others have taken a harder stance, including Washington state, which says teachers must be inoculated or face dismissal.

Last week, the Culver City Unified district near Los Angeles was believed to be the first in the U.S. to require vaccines for all eligible students this fall. But student vaccine mandates are still uncommon, and the shots are not yet approved for children below age 12.

The poll shows 59% of Americans support vaccination requirements for teachers and nearly as many  55%  say the same for students age 12 and over, who are eligible to be vaccinated. Among parents, support was lower, with 42% backing vaccine mandates for students.

Vaccinated parents were more likely to support mask and vaccine requirements than unvaccinated parents.

Jeff Hicklin in Falmouth, Maine, said he supports mask and vaccine mandates for teachers and eligible students. He says its the best way to protect those who are too young to be vaccinated, including his 7-year-old son, Oscar.

We need to do everything we can to keep schools open and safe, said Hicklin, 40, an accountant.

In Menomonie, Wis., Erik Pederstuen has been vaccinated and plans to have his 9-year-old daughter inoculated once shes eligible. But Pederstuen, a technical college instructor, said he doesnt think coronavirus vaccines should be a requirement.

Im not an anti-vaccine person at all, Ive just never liked the idea of it being forced, said Pederstuen, 40. I think everyone should get it, but I think it should be your choice.

Fingerhut reported from Washington.

The AP-NORC poll of 1,729 adults was conducted Aug. 12-16 using a sample drawn from NORCs probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 3.2 percentage points.
Pfc. Secily Chapman, 22, was inspired to enlist in the California National Guard after her family lost their home in Paradise, Calif., to a wildfire in 2018. This month, she deployed on her first Guard mission to Greenville, where the majority of the town was leveled by the Dixie Fire. (Photo provided by Pfc. Secily Chapman. )

Pfc. Secily Chapman recalled how the Camp Fire destroyed her childhood home in Paradise, Calif. It seemed to happen in an instant, the National Guard member said.

Her family received no evacuation order, no warning calls, no indication that told them to get out.

A text from a friend warned the family of four that fire was moving closer. By morning, Chapman said she was preparing to drive to her college classes when the sky turned black and ash began to rain down.

We got a couple family photos, a bag of clothes, a couple other little knickknacks and then we took our dogs and we left, she said recently, looking back on the day nearly three years ago.

It was more than a month before the family would return to find their home in ruins from the fire, which caused 85 deaths and turned the entire town of Paradise to rubble. It was the deadliest, most destructive wildfire in California history.

For some time, Chapman said she fell into a deep depression and the fire put her entire life on pause.

[Fire] destroyed my life. Instead of letting it take me down that entire road, it led me to the National Guard, said Chapman, now 22. I have a new perspective on it, and I dont feel as helpless. I feel like I have power behind me to help others.

She knew the Guard had played a role supporting the community during and after the Camp Fire, and she liked the idea that she could help. Joining the Guard also could assist her future ambition to become a police officer, she said.

Chapman enlisted last year to serve with the military police, and two weeks ago deployed to her first mission  securing roads in the town of Greenville, a near total loss after the Dixie Fire burned through the community earlier this month.

In part from lessons learned in the Camp Fire, state officials said there have been no deaths from the Dixie Fire or any of the dozen others burning across California.

Chapman, who is assigned to the 870th Military Police Company, worked a traffic control point to make certain that only authorized personnel got into Greenville. Many people dont realize that even after the immediate danger of a wildfire passes, residents still cant always go home, she said.

Trees burn within eyesight of a California National Guard hand crew with Joint Task Force 578 during the Dixie Fire on Aug. 16, 2021, in northern California. (1st Sgt. Harley Ramirez/Army National Guard) Pfc. Secily Chapman, 22, was inspired to enlist in the California National Guard after her family lost their home in Paradise, Calif., to a wildfire in 2018. Two weeks ago, she deployed on her first Guard mission to Greenville, where the Dixie Fire burned the majority of the town. (Photo provided by California National Guard)

When Chapman delivered the news to residents, she related to their pain.

Sadly, people aren't allowed to see their home until there's been certain steps taken, and I know that's the most miserable part, she said. Sometimes we get people who are very angry and bitter about it, but I understand. I know where they're coming from. It's hard not to be angry and bitter about it.

The Dixie Fire began July 13 and has spread to more than 725,000 acres in Butte, Lassen, Plumas and Tehama counties in northern California, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Despite best efforts to fight the fire, it remains only about 40% contained and many cities have ordered evacuations of residents.

Its one of 13 named wildfires burning in the state and about 36,800 people were under evacuation orders, according to the Governors Office of Emergency Services. More than 970 California National Guard members are activated to help with operations, said Lt. Col. Jonathan Shiroma, spokesman for the states Guard.

The California National Guard service members train throughout the year to be ready for any mission it is tasked to do by the Governors Office of Emergency Services, he said. We are always ready to respond when needed to support sustained operations throughout the wildfire season.

In Greenville, Chapman said the weather fluctuated from uncomfortable heat to a fall-like chill created by heavy smoke that blocks the sun. The air is full of smoke, but shes gotten used to it, she said.

Aside from military police working security, other troops are conducting fire damage assessment in Sacramento to study and provide details on where the fire maybe moving and others based out of Riverside are doing similar work with unmanned aircraft.

Meanwhile, aircraft are dropping water in Plumas County, where Greenville is located. Helicopter operations include a medevac Black Hawk, three other Black Hawks with water buckets and two Chinooks. Those crews have flown more than 311 hours and made 1,028 drops that dumped more than 1.1 million gallons of water.

There are also five C-130 transport planes from four state National Guards deployed to help fight the fires. Theyve dropped 1.5 million gallons of fire retardant, Shiroma said.

Additional troops are training at Camp Roberts with California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection in anticipation that they might be needed at the Dixie Fire for ground firefighting operations, he said.

Outside of California, the U.S. Forest Service reported more than 100 large, active fires across western states, including Washington, Oregon, and Nevada. More than 1,360 Guard members, including those in California, are on a fire-related missions throughout the western United States, according to the National Guard Bureau in Washington, D.C. Some come from nonimpacted states including Utah, West Virginia, Wyoming and Wisconsin.

Chapman returned home over the weekend to begin classes at California State University at Chico, and she said the feeling of helping was far better than the helplessness that came with the Camp Fire in 2018.

My brother and I were both sitting there and were like, I wish there was something that we could be doing to still be with our community, or something just to be there and help out, she said. There was nothing we could do.

While the experience led her to the Guard, her brother became a firefighter.

Her family has relocated to Chico, about 30 minutes from Paradise, but they still own the property where their home once stood. After a bad day, Chapman said she likes to go there.

I just sit there and relax [and] look up at the stars, she said. It still has a very home-feeling to it, even though there's nothing there.

Rose Thayer
President Joe Biden speaks about the evacuation of American citizens, their families, SIV applicants and vulnerable Afghans in the East Room of the White House in Washington on Aug. 20, 2021. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP)

WASHINGTON  Dozens of organizations representing U.S. veterans are demanding a meeting with President Joe Biden to stress the importance of aiding Afghan allies, some of whom fought alongside American troops for 20 years.

In an organized effort Monday, 45 groups signed a letter to Biden, urging him to agree to a virtual meeting. They want an audience with Biden to ensure theres a plan in place to evacuate allies and partners from Afghanistan. In addition, theyre calling on Biden to grant humanitarian parole status to at-risk Afghans who dont have visas and theyre urging the president to grant more funding to refugee resettlement agencies to help with the influx of people.

Weremain concerned about the fates of our wartime partners, the letter reads.

The Taliban entered Kabul, Afghanistans capital on Aug. 15 and recaptured power from the Afghan government, prompting a frenzied evacuation of U.S. diplomats and civilians from the country.

About 6,000 American troops were deployed to help secure the Kabul airport as a crush of Afghans raced to the airport to flee Taliban rule. Seven Afghan civilians were killed outside the airport Sunday, including a 2-year-old who was trampled to death, The New York Times reported.

In a national address Sunday, Biden said about 33,000 people have been evacuated from Afghanistan since July, including 28,000 since Aug. 14. Though Biden has faced criticism for the chaotic evacuation efforts, he insisted the evacuation was going to be hard and painful no matter when it began. Biden vowed to evacuate the thousands of American citizens who remain in Afghanistan, as well as Afghans who assisted U.S. forces. Planes leaving from Kabul are being directed to U.S. military bases around the world, where evacuees will undergo security screenings, he said.

Once screened and cleared, we will welcome these Afghans who helped us in the war effort over the last 20 years to their new home in the United States of America, Biden said. Because thats who we are. Thats who America is.

The veterans groups that signed onto the letter Monday are concerned about Biden not fulfilling those promises. They argued if the U.S. fails to help its Afghan allies, it will harm Americas reputation abroad and erode trust in U.S. armed forces, as well as cause pain and regret for Afghanistan War veterans who promised their allies that America would keep them safe.

Failing to meet our obligations to these Afghans would not only be a national security risk it would also condemn veterans and survivors of the conflict in Afghanistan to a lifetime of moral injury, the groups wrote.

Iraq War veteran Kristofer Goldsmith, sits in a campus park after his last final exam of the semester at Columbia University in New York on May 9, 2018. (Bebeto Matthews/AP)

The groups also want to offer their help, they said. Kristofer Goldsmith, an Iraq War veteran and the founder of High Ground Veterans Advocacy, which trains veterans how to lobby Congress, said veterans are uniquely positioned to generate political support for the resettlement of Afghans.

The groups and their thousands of veteran members will commit to lobbying members of Congress to support aid for Afghans, they wrote. They also plan to publicly condemn anyone who tries to undermine the resettlement efforts.

We hope that the White House recognizes the support of our community will give them the room they need to ensure bipartisan solutions to this escalating crisis, Goldsmith said. They need us to help them gain the political will necessary to move quickly with the full force of the American government.

Among the organizations that signed onto the letter Monday were the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, Vietnam Veterans of America, AMVETS, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Black Veterans Project and Minority Veterans of America.
Martin Adler center, receives a kiss by Mafalda, right, and Giuliana Naldi  both of whom he saved during World War II  at the airport in Bologna, Italy, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. The 97-year-old World War II veteran met all three siblings  now octogenarians themselves  in person for the first time since the war. (Antonio Calanni/AP)

BOLOGNA, Italy  For more than seven decades, Martin Adler treasured a black-and-white photo of himself as a young American soldier with a broad smile with three impeccably dressed Italian children he is credited with saving as the Nazis retreated northward in 1944.

On Monday, the 97-year-old World War II veteran met the three siblings  now octogenarians themselves  in person for the first time since the war.

Adler held out his hand to grasp those of Bruno, Mafalda and Giuliana Naldi for the joyful reunion at Bolognas airport after a 20-hour journey from Boca Raton, Florida. Then, just as he did as a 20-year-old soldier in their village of Monterenzio, he handed out bars of American chocolate.

Look at my smile, Adler said of the long-awaited in-person reunion, made possible by the reach of social media.

It was a happy ending to a story that could easily have been a tragedy.

The very first time the soldier and the children saw each other, in 1944, the three faces peeked out of a huge wicker basket where their mother had hidden them as soldiers approached. Adler thought the house was empty, so he trained his machine gun on the basket when he heard a sound, thinking a German soldier was hiding inside.

The mother, Mamma, came out and stood right in front of my gun to stop me (from) shooting, Adler recalled. She put her stomach right against my gun, yelling, Bambinis! Bambinis! Bambinis! pounding my chest, Adler recalled.

That was a real hero, the mother, not me. The mother was a real hero. Can you imagine you standing yourself in front of a gun and screaming Children! No! he said.

Adler still trembles when he remembers that he was only seconds away from opening fire on the basket. And after all these decades, he still suffers nightmares from the war, said his daughter, Rachelle Donley.

The children, aged 3 to 6 when they met, were a happy memory. His company stayed on in the village for a while and he would come by and play with them.

Giuliana Naldi, the youngest, is the only one of the three with any recollection of the event. She recalls climbing out of the basket and seeing Adler and another U.S. soldier, who has since died.

They were laughing, Naldi, now 80, remembers. They were happy they didnt shoot.

She, on the other hand, didnt quite comprehend the close call.

We werent afraid for anything, she said.

She also remembers the soldiers chocolate, which came in a blue-and-white wrapper.

We ate so much of that chocolate, she laughed.

Donley decided during the COVID-19 lockdown to use social media to try to track down the children in the old black-and-white photo, starting with veterans groups in North America.

Eventually the photo was spotted by an Italian journalist who had written a book on World War II. He was able to track down Adlers regiment and where it had been stationed from a small detail in another photograph. The smiling photo was then published in a local newspaper, leading to the discovery of the identities of the three children, who by then were grandparents themselves.

They shared a video reunion in December, and waited until the easing of pandemic travel rules made the trans-Atlantic trip possible.

I am so happy and so proud of him. Because things could have been so different in just a second. Because he hesitated, there have been generations of people, Donley said.

The serendipity isnt lost on Giuliana Naldis 30-year-old granddaughter, Roberta Fontana, one of six children, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren who descended from the three children hidden in the wicker basket.

Knowing that Martin could have shot and that none of my family would exist is something very big, Fontana said. It is very emotional.

During his stay in Italy, Adler will spend some time in the village where he was stationed, before traveling on to Florence, Naples and Rome, where he hopes to meet Pope Francis.

My dad really wants to meet the pope, Donley said. He wants to share his message of peace and love. My dad is all about peace.

____

Colleen Barry contributed from Milan.
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TAHLEQUAH [mdash] Glen R. Haddock, born March 14, 1938 in Bakersfield, California to Johnny Aaron and Beulah Bea (Fredrick) Haddock passed away in his home August 24, 2021, at the age of 83 years 5 months and 10 days with his family holding his hands. Glen was the youngest of his twin sister
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Dr.Naren Distinguished - BHPian



Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Manipal Posts: 4,870 Thanked: 14,457 Times

View My Garage





Maruti S-Cross 1.6L | Garrett Intercooler Upgrade!



Few of my friends were running Chinese intercoolers in their S-Cross 1.6. There was decent drop in IAT. But, I didn't like the performance when I drove those cars. My car with stock IC had better low end and throttle response. I believe the Chinese IC had more pressure drop.



I came across Garrett intercoolers by Stellar turbo. It looked like a good option. Garrett sells only the cores, end tanks are fabricated later by Stellar. Stellar Turbo is official importer of Garrett performance parts. The Stage 3 turbo for my car was also bought from them. Mr. Binoy from Stellar Turbo is always very helpful. I had discussed with him regarding various options from Garrett.



Garrett has multiple intercooler cores with rating of 310 to 1260 HP.







I wanted to go with the entry level core as it is rated 310 HP and my car would be doing only 200 HP. But, my tuner Wolf suggested to get a bigger core (475 HP). The explanation given was that my turbo is making 2 bars of boost and IAT shoots very quick which the smaller core wouldn't be able to handle efficiently. Wolf also said the results weren't really impressive with the smaller core in T-Jet and my car would be doing lot more boost than that. Hence, I decided to go with 475 HP core. Drawback is it would be a tight fit while the smaller core would be much easier to install or even make it a drop in replacment with custom fabrication of end tanks.



Garrett core is bar and plate design while the OE is tube and fin type. Advantages of bar and plate intercoolers are they take long time to get heat soaked but they also take longer time to cool once heat soaked. Tube and fin cores will heat up very fast and also cool down quickly.



I had driven to Kochi for audio upgrade. Wolf Moto had 475 HP rated core in stock. I decided to get it installed at Red Fox.



Stock (Visteon) vs Garrett







OE: 1.9 kg







Garrett: 5 kg







Garrett core weighs heavier thanks to the higher fin density. Stellar Turbo had also improved the welding of end tanks and the design is slightly different compared to their previous version for smoother flow.



Few more pics











Installed







They made custom mounts for the new IC. Stainless steel plumbing was done post end tanks, I think they could have done a better job..not really happy with 270 degree bends. The front member was slightly trimmed to accomodate the new intercooler. I was OK with this as the member isn't really strong to protect passengers in any crash and it is meant to protect only the radiator from minor hits.







The turbo outlet hose was compressed / pinched like this. I wasn't really OK with it. But, they assured me it would work fine and requested me to test it. They also didn't use silicone hoses at end tanks. I wasn't really confident about the installation, expected it to give up anytime.



I went for a logging session with Rajiv. Peak MAF had increased by 15 g/s ans Peak IAT was lower by 15-20 degrees. The car was pulling better and I could also notice better low end and throttle response.



Snapshot from our logging session







I drove without any issues back to Manipal (~500 km). But, the bad installation had to show up and it did. I was doing back to back redline pulls and the car lost power. I could hear a loud boost leak sound and there was lot of smoke from exhaust. It was evident that one of the hoses got burst.



Thankfully I was in Mangalore and I could drive the car with minimal throttle input without much smoke. I took the car to Wagen Tunen.



Culprit







The clamp which was welded at SS pipe was broken. This might have lead to vibrations of the pipe which in turn ruptured the rubber hose at end tank. Wagen Tunen welded back the clamp and installed a hose at end tank for temporary fix.



I did back to back high speed runs and it held up well. But, I also observed that performance drops after back to back full throttle runs. The compressed turbo outlet hose was the culprit because the turbo had to work harder to maintain the requested boost. I was feeling terrible with all the issues due to bad installation at Red Fox. Red Fox offered to fix everything if I go back to Kochi. But, I wasn't comfortable going back all the way to Kochi as I wasn't really sure if they would fix it properly.



I wasn't able to fully exploit the potential of Garettt intercooler with all these plumbing issues. I even thought of removing the entire setup and go with the smaller core. I discussed the same with Rajiv and he suggested to get the plumbing fixed first by installing silicone hoses. I was running Stage 3 Wolf moto remap with stock intercooler in my S-Cross 1.6 for more than 2 years. Intercooler is a must for any stage 3 build. IC upgrade plan always got postponed due to multiple reasons.Few of my friends were running Chinese intercoolers in their S-Cross 1.6. There was decent drop in IAT. But, I didn't like the performance when I drove those cars. My car with stock IC had better low end and throttle response. I believe the Chinese IC had more pressure drop.I came across Garrett intercoolers by Stellar turbo. It looked like a good option. Garrett sells only the cores, end tanks are fabricated later by Stellar. Stellar Turbo is official importer of Garrett performance parts. The Stage 3 turbo for my car was also bought from them. Mr. Binoy from Stellar Turbo is always very helpful. I had discussed with him regarding various options from Garrett.Garrett has multiple intercooler cores with rating of 310 to 1260 HP.I wanted to go with the entry level core as it is rated 310 HP and my car would be doing only 200 HP. But, my tuner Wolf suggested to get a bigger core (475 HP). The explanation given was that my turbo is making 2 bars of boost and IAT shoots very quick which the smaller core wouldn't be able to handle efficiently. Wolf also said the results weren't really impressive with the smaller core in T-Jet and my car would be doing lot more boost than that. Hence, I decided to go with 475 HP core. Drawback is it would be a tight fit while the smaller core would be much easier to install or even make it a drop in replacment with custom fabrication of end tanks.Garrett core is bar and plate design while the OE is tube and fin type. Advantages of bar and plate intercoolers are they take long time to get heat soaked but they also take longer time to cool once heat soaked. Tube and fin cores will heat up very fast and also cool down quickly.I had driven to Kochi for audio upgrade. Wolf Moto had 475 HP rated core in stock. I decided to get it installed at Red Fox.Stock (Visteon) vs GarrettOE: 1.9 kgGarrett: 5 kgGarrett core weighs heavier thanks to the higher fin density. Stellar Turbo had also improved the welding of end tanks and the design is slightly different compared to their previous version for smoother flow.Few more picsInstalledThey made custom mounts for the new IC. Stainless steel plumbing was done post end tanks, I think they could have done a better job..not really happy with 270 degree bends. The front member was slightly trimmed to accomodate the new intercooler. I was OK with this as the member isn't really strong to protect passengers in any crash and it is meant to protect only the radiator from minor hits.The turbo outlet hose was compressed / pinched like this. I wasn't really OK with it. But, they assured me it would work fine and requested me to test it. They also didn't use silicone hoses at end tanks. I wasn't really confident about the installation, expected it to give up anytime.I went for a logging session with Rajiv. Peak MAF had increased by 15 g/s ans Peak IAT was lower by 15-20 degrees. The car was pulling better and I could also notice better low end and throttle response.Snapshot from our logging sessionI drove without any issues back to Manipal (~500 km). But, the bad installation had to show up and it did. I was doing back to back redline pulls and the car lost power. I could hear a loud boost leak sound and there was lot of smoke from exhaust. It was evident that one of the hoses got burst.Thankfully I was in Mangalore and I could drive the car with minimal throttle input without much smoke. I took the car to Wagen Tunen.CulpritThe clamp which was welded at SS pipe was broken. This might have lead to vibrations of the pipe which in turn ruptured the rubber hose at end tank. Wagen Tunen welded back the clamp and installed a hose at end tank for temporary fix.I did back to back high speed runs and it held up well. But, I also observed that performance drops after back to back full throttle runs. The compressed turbo outlet hose was the culprit because the turbo had to work harder to maintain the requested boost. I was feeling terrible with all the issues due to bad installation at Red Fox. Red Fox offered to fix everything if I go back to Kochi. But, I wasn't comfortable going back all the way to Kochi as I wasn't really sure if they would fix it properly.I wasn't able to fully exploit the potential of Garettt intercooler with all these plumbing issues. I even thought of removing the entire setup and go with the smaller core. I discussed the same with Rajiv and he suggested to get the plumbing fixed first by installing silicone hoses. Last edited by Dr.Naren : 21st August 2021 at 12:24 .
In brief: Back in July, we saw reports about Sony launching a lighter model of the PlayStation 5 digital version, with no mention of a lightweight model of the disc version. However, the new PS5 consoles shipped to Australia suggest Sony shaved off some weight from both PS5 versions.

When the PS5 disc and digital versions launched, the model numbers identifying them were CFI-1000A and CFI-1000B, respectively. Until recently, all consoles in the market still had one of these numbers, but Australia has apparently received a new batch of consoles with a more recent model number.

Looking at the new batch of consoles that arrived in Australia, the disc version consoles all came with the model number CFI-1102A. Although not exactly the same, this model number is quite similar to the PS5 digital version model number reported in July, to be featured in the new lighter PS5 digital console.

The new PS5 disc version already has the manual available (in Japanese), but the disc version doesn't. If the differences between the original and the new digital edition are anything to go by, the PS5 disc edition will be 300g lighter and will use new base stand screws.

Using new base stand screws may not look like much, but unlike the previous ones, the new screws are adjustable by hand without needing a screwdriver. Although it hasn't been confirmed yet, these new screws may be lighter than the original ones, explaining part of the console's weight reduction.

Once these lighter consoles arrive in more countries, in-depth reports about what has changed between the launch model and the new one thats coming out. Until then, we can only speculate that the 300g loss was achieved using a lighter inner frame, lighter components, or just simply removing unnecessary materials.

Images credit: Press Start
Why it matters: American financial services company Visa has joined the non-fungible token (NFT) rat race with its $150,000 purchase of CryptoPunk 7610. The digital artwork will sit alongside Visa's other collectibles as a nod to the past, present and future of commerce. In the short term, however, it could signal the continued staying power of NFTs as a whole.

CryptoPunks, for the uninitiated, are among the earliest examples of NFTs. The pixel art images, of which only 10,000 exist, were created by American studio Larva Labs in 2017 using computer code to ensure that no two images are exactly alike.

As NFTs skyrocketed in popularity this year, so too did the value of CryptoPunks. As of this writing, all but three of the top 20 CryptoPunk sales have garnered north of $1 million. The number one piece of digital pop art, CryptoPunk 7804, most recently sold for $7.57 million.

At nearly $150,000, Visas purchase of CryptoPunk 7610 doesnt even crack the top 60, but its relevant nevertheless. Cuy Sheffield, Visas head of crypto, said they felt that CryptoPunks would be a great addition to their collection of artifacts that can celebrate and chart the past, present and future of commerce.

CryptoPunks pioneered the NFT technology and wave of NFT commerce, Sheffield said. Their purchasing decision was less about the individual CryptoPunk and more about simply owning a piece of the historical project.

Sheffield added that Visa owns several other pieces of vintage memorabilia related to commerce, including paper credit cards and manual knuckle buster machines used to record transactions before electronic point-of-sale systems simplified the process.

Sheffield told The Block that Visa partnered with Anchorage Digital on the purchase, and paid for it using fiat.

Its still early days for NFTs, and it remains to be seen whether or not theyre simply a fad that will fade or perhaps the next step in digital commerce. Visa, no doubt, is leaning toward the latter.

We can envision a future where a crypto address becomes as important as your mailing address," Sheffield said.
Why it matters: Foldables were off to a rough start as the next step in the evolution of phone form factors, and Samsung has the scars to prove it. Still, after some much needed tweaking on the original recipe, it looks like the company has found a way to make Galaxy foldables more enticing to consumers.

Earlier this month, Samsung revealed the third iteration of its foldable dream, in the form of the refined Galaxy Z Fold3 5G and Galaxy Z Flip3 5G handsets that cost less than their predecessors. So far, the concept of a foldable phone hasn't attracted that many people for a variety of reasons, but now that the price has improved somewhat, it's worth looking at whether consumers are finally coming around to it.

According to pre-order data from South Korea, it looks like Samsung's latest foldables are not only the most popular takes on this form factor, but may have the potential to become the company's best-selling high-end phones in years.

The news comes via the Korea Herald, who writes that people have already placed orders for over 450,000 units of both the Galaxy Z Fold3 and Galaxy Z Flip3 in just over a week. This number represents carrier-locked devices, and is expected to climb to anywhere between 600,000 and 800,000 units throughout the pre-order window. This is in stark contrast to the first generation, which only managed to sell 400,000 units over the course of a few months.

What is even more impressive about Samsung's new foldables is that pre-orders were double the amount that was recorded for the Galaxy S21 family, and more than 50 percent over the number recorded for the Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra last year.

It's entirely possible the company's decision to skip the Galaxy Note this generation may have contributed to more attention being focused on the new foldables. However, digging deeper into the report reveals the young crowd is a major driver of this renewed interest in the bleeding edge, with people in their 20s and 30s making up 57 percent of Galaxy Z Flip3 pre-orders and 49 percent of Galaxy Z Fold3 pre-orders.

In a statement, Samsung noted that "we are thankful for the great customer response to our new Galaxy Z Fold3 and Galaxy Z Flip3. Interest in foldable smartphones is at an all-time high, with pre-order volume for Z Fold3 and Z Flip3 already outpacing total sales for Galaxy Z devices to date in 2021. Were committed to providing the most innovative experiences to our consumers."
Editor's take: Renowned hardware photographer Fritzchens Fritz has published a new batch of images that provide the most detailed look yet at the processor powering Sonys PlayStation 5. Even if you can't make sense of exactly what you're looking at, the sheer intricacy of modern chip design alone makes them worth checking out.

The chip in question, codenamed Oberon, was developed by AMD for use in the PlayStation 5. Its based on AMDs Zen 2 and RDNA architectures, with eight Zen 2 CPU cores and 36 compute units (CUs). Additional specifications on Oberon can be found over on TechPowerUp.

According to Toms Hardware, this very chip is featured in AMDs 4700S Desktop Kit, but with the graphics portion disabled. It is believed that chips that didnt pass quality control on the graphics side are being repurposed in the desktop kit.

The gorgeous die shots reveal the floorplan that AMD ultimately decided on, with the GPU cores in the middle flanked by the Zen 2 CPU cores. Toms notes that there is also clear indication of AMDs Infinity Fabric, and you can also spot the GDDR6X memory controller along the edge of the SoC.

Fritz shouldnt be a new name to TechSpot readers. Back in 2016, we featured a collection of the users homemade die shots. If you are at all interested in the subject of macro photography as it relates to hardware, Id encourage you to check out his Flickr albums for hundreds of additional examples. Theres also some very impressive infrared photography on display if youre more into general photography.

All images credit Fritzchens Fritz, Flickr
Former Apple CEO Steve Jobs's Apple II manual was recently sold for nearly $800,000 in an auction in Boston.

Besides the signature of the late Cupertino giant icon, an investor in the company, Mike Markkula also signed it.

Signed Apple II Manual Now Sold For a Whopping $787, 484

According to an updated report by CNN on Sunday, Aug. 22, the 196-page company manual has been sold for nearly $800,000 in an auction spearheaded by RR Auction.

The signed book contains an inscription that reads "Julian, Your generation is the first to grow up with computers. Go change the world! steven jobs, 1980."

In a statement of the auction house, RR Auction, the Apple promotion was underway during the time of manual signing.

Both Jobs and Markkula were in the UK for the event.

The "Julian" who was mentioned earlier was Julian Brewer, a son of an Apple entrepreneur who was tasked with product distribution in the United Kingdom at that time.

According to Brewer, he was summoned by his father when he was busy writing games in his Apple II. He grew amazed upon meeting Markkula and Jobs.

He added that the inscription has been made more memorable through its unusual signatures from prominent people.

Read Also: Rare Apple Sneakers Sold! Guess How Much These '90s Shoes Cost-- Expensive as Air Jordan!

Apple II's Brief History

Apple II was a known product that Apple created in 1977. The Cupertino firm considered this as one of the most successful launches in the history of selling.

Two years later, the tech giant even featured VisiCalc, the first computer spreadsheet in the Apple II.

In line with the Apple auction, RR Auction praised the Apple II, which was regarded to have changed the world in the field of computing.

Indianapolis Colts' owner, Jim Irsay was the lucky person who won the Apple II manual bid.

In another report by MacRumors, the Boston auction house also offered Steve Job's famous letter bearing the symbolic "I'm afraid I don't sign autographs" message. It was sold for $479,939.

Meanwhile, another Apple computer owned by Roger Wagner hit a staggering price of $464,876 while the signed Macintosh motherboard garnered $132,049.

Still, the Apple Lisa Computer had been marketed for a price of $94, 949.

If you are looking for another Steve Jobsmerchandise, another signed copy of Macworld #1 was bought for $201, 021. It was also signed by Steve Wozniak.

Jobs has also a vintage leather bomber jacket that he donned in 1983. Later, one buyer purchased Job's photo wearing it for $66,466.

Steve Jobs' NFT and Signed Magazine

The world of NFT continues to expand and many fans have been hooked by the blockchain craze.

Last month, the NFT version of Jobs' handwritten job application was sold for $1,209.75. Its original copy reached $35,000 for the highest auction bid.

Last August 2020, Jobs' signed "Fortune" magazine was bought for $16,638.

Related Article: How Much Does an Apple Vintage Sign Cost? Auction Started Bid at $12,000 for Classic Logo

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WHO (World Health Organization) announced that it would continue the study of its COVID-19 origin. Because of this, China already advised the international health agency to focus on other countries.

The Asian country reiterated that there are also earlier human and animal infections outside China, even before the massive Wuhan outbreak began.

The WHO-convened joint expert team side's team leader, Liang Wannian, explained that the next phase of the current COVID-19 origins study should be conducted in multiple countries across the world.

He explained that aside from the bat infection, which was first discovered in China, various medical experts also confirmed that there are also other animal infections in other nations.

These include horseshoe bats and pangolins. He announced his proposal after various medical researchers said that there were earlier animal infection cases in the United States and Italy.

WHO To Continue COVID-19 Origins Study

According to Global Times' latest report, the World Health Organization confirmed that it is already observing a number of countries. WHO added that these nations have SARS-CoV-2 infections way back in 2019.

Also Read: UT Southwestern Experts Devise PULSAR Radiation Therapy--It's Better Than Conventional Treatment

On the other hand, the health department said that it published a study suggesting that Italy already has asymptomatic COVID-19 infections before the first patient was identified in China.

This study of WHO was released back in 2020 by the National Cancer Institute in Milan, revealing that COVID-19 antibodies were detected in around 111 out of 959 patients, who participated in a lung cancer screening trial.

As of the moment, new studies appear, saying that China is not the origin of COVID-19. This is also why WHO, CDC, and other international health agencies should conduct more detailed research.

In other news, the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is about to get its most-awaited FDA approval. Meanwhile, monoclonal antibodies are now being considered as an additional treatment against the novel coronavirus.

WHO Wants Other Countries To Join COVID-19 Origins Study

KUTV reported that before WHO starts its COVID-19 origins study's next phase, the international agency is asking other medical groups from different countries to join the research.

On the other hand, the UN health said that once the new advisory group is created, involved medical experts should provide their independent analysis to WHO.

For more news updates about WHO and the study of its COVID-19 origin, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: UK MHRA Regulators Approve Ronapreve, the First Monoclonal Antibody Treatment for Coronavirus

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(Photo : GettlyImages/ SOPA Images ) Jeff Bezos Blue Origin

Blue Origin has lost 17 key senior engineers and leaders since Jeff Bezos flew to space last month. He has lost top talent since he came back to Earth.

Many of the engineers resigned just weeks after the billionaire's spaceflight. Others have updated their LinkedIn pages over the past weeks.

Blue Origin Engineers Resigned

According to CNBC, the departures include New Shepard senior vice president Steve Bennet, national security sales director Scott Jacobs, chief of mission assurance Jess Ashby, New Glenn senior director Bob Ess, New Gless senior finance manager Bill Scammell and New Glenn first stage senior director Tod Byguist.

It also included senior manager of production testing Christopher Payne, senior propulsion design engineer Dave Sanderson, New Shepard technical project manager Nate Chapman, senior HLS human factors engineer Rachel Forman, and New Shepard lead avionics software engineer Huong Vo.

Also Read: Jeff Bezos, Crewmates Received 14-Hour Training for Blue Origin Spaceflight

The rest of the engineers who resigned are BE-4 controller lead integration and testing engineer Jack Nelson, BE-7 avionics hardware engineer Aaron Wang, rocket engine development engineer Gerry Hudak, and propulsion engineer Rex Gu.

Most of the Blue Origin engineers transferred to SpaceX.

The engineers and leaders who announced that they were leaving the company did not specify the reason why, but frustration with executive management and a slow bureaucratic structure is usually cited in employee reviews on sites like Glassdoor.

A spokesperson for Blue Origin stated that the company still grew despite the sudden resignation of their top employees. In 2020, the company grew by 850, and they have grown by 650 more in 2021.

The spokesperson added that the company has grown by almost a factor of four over the past three years. Blue Origin plans to immediately fill out the leadership roles in quality, manufacturing, vehicle design, and engine design. The company is currently building a new team.

Some of the top engineers who left the company were part of the lunar lander program. The space firm lost its bid for a NASA development contract in April when its competitor, SpaceX, was announced as the awardee under NASA's Human Landing System program, winning a contract with $2.9 billion.

However, despite the Government Accountability Office denying the space firm's protest of NASA's decision, the firm has continued to escalate the issue, according to Fox Business.

The space firm launched a public relations offensive against SpaceX. Blue Origin also sued NADA in federal court over the contract.

A $10,000 Cash Bonus

The space firm has almost 4,000 employees around the United States. Its headquarters is located in Kent, Washington, but it also has facilities in Van Horn, Texas, Cape Canaveral, Florida, and Huntsville, Alabama.

Ten days after Jeff Bezos flew to space, the space firm reportedly gave all of its full-time employees a $10,000 cash bonus. None of the contractors received the bonus, according to NBC News.

The company also confirmed that the bonus was a way for them to say "thank you" to the employees because they were able to achieve the milestone of launching people to space.

The bonus was also perceived as the company's way of attempting to entice their talents to stay in response to the number of employees filing notices to leave the firm after Bezos' space flight.

Related Article: Elon Musk Agrees that Blue Origin Should Spend More Time on Rocket Science Instead of Protesting NASA's HLS Decisions | Alleged $900 Million Spent on Lobbying

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 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
(Photo : GettlyImages/ SOPA Images ) PS5 restock

The PS5 console may be difficult to get a hold of due to its high demand, but those looking for the next restock are in luck this week as several major retailers are reportedly selling the console from Aug. 23 to 29.

Here are the retailers that you can check out to get your hands on a PS5:

GameStop PS5 Restock

PowerUp Rewards Pro members have a better chance at getting the PS5 console because GameStop prioritizes them.

The remaining consoles are offered to non-members, but it is best to take advantage of the membership system to ensure that you get the console.

If you want to purchase online, use Apple Pay for a faster and easier checkout process, according to CNET.

Also Read: PS5 Restock 2021: Around 18 Million Consoles Coming Soon; Here's Latest Updates

Target PS5 Restock

Target goes live every three weeks and drops new stocks of PS5 consoles. The stock may drop before the end of August. You can check your local branch if you wish to purchase the console.

Walmart PS5 Restock

Walmart may restock the console on a weekly basis, but its shipping process is very slow. Several customers who ordered through Walmart's website back in July still hasn't gotten their order, according to Newsweek.

If you wish to purchase the console through Walmart, it is best to go to the physical store instead of purchasing it online.

Amazon PS5 Restock

The retail giant does not have a certain pattern when dropping PS5 stocks. Amazon also removed its PlayStation listings to prevent scalper bots from bulk buying the console, according to TechRadar.

Although Amazon has not confirmed if it will restock the PS5 console this week, it may join the bandwagon and restock the product like the other retail stores.

Antonline PS5 Restock

Antonline has been restocking the PS5 console for the past two weeks. Due to its pattern, it is safe to say that it will restock the console this week as well.

Antonline uses bundles, which means the console will cost a bit more compared to other retail stores that sell the console as a stand-alone. The retail store is into pack-in deals because it prevents scalpers from bulk buying the console.

Best Buy PS5 Restock

Best Buy may not have dropped new stocks last week, but insiders stated that the retail giant would be dropping them this week.

Best Buy will most likely restock the consoles between Aug. 24 to Aug. 26, so those who are interested can keep an eye out.

PlayStation Direct PS5 Restock

Sony was silent about the PS5 restock for four weeks, but Sony's PlayStation Direct made a huge PS5 restock last week. Then on Aug. 20, another batch of stocks was dropped.

Fans are now speculating that Sony is slowly returning to the PS5 drop game, while some are thinking that the company is just dropping all of its stocks in one week.

PlayStation Direct gives notice in advance before the PS5 restock, so fans can check their inboxes for it so they can get their hands on the console as soon as it is available.

For those looking for a PS5 restock alternative, an AMD kit is available and includes a console processor.

Related Article: Sony Direct PS5 Restock: Fastest Way to Get Console--- How to Turn-On Notifications to Receive Updates

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 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Samsung just ushered in a new era for RAM, with an absolute behemoth of a DDR5 memory module they just introduced.

The one they revealed is a massive 512 GB, 7200 MHz DDR5 module, which they say offers a 40% performance jump from DDR4 at twice the capacity for just 1.1V, reports Tom's Hardware. Samsung revealed the module for the first time at Hot Chips 33, an E3 or Computex-like event that focuses more on microprocessors and related integrated circuits.

Oh, and did we mention that the capacity is 512 GB on a single DDR5 memory stick? And Samsung managed to achieve this by using some very clever engineering tactics.

To build the DIMM, Samsung used eight-stack DDR5 dies which were interconnected using TSV, or through-silicon-via technology. Compared to DDR4 which only allowed four dies, this is an insane jump in terms of hardware. However, the DIMM isn't physically larger since each DDR5 stack measures 1 mm, unlike DDR4's 1.2 mm.

This technique allowed Samsung to reduce the gaps between the dies by almost half, reducing the height on the stacks.

High capacity, high-speed DDR5 DIMMs have been in the works at Samsung for a while now. In fact, this isn't even the first they produced. Back in March, the company announced the development of the first development of a 512 GB module, according to the official Samsung newsroom.

Read also: TeamGroup DDR5 32GB Memory Kits Now Available on Amazon, Newegg-Is it Worth It?

Samsung's DDR5 DIMM Isn't For Mere Mortals, Though

Samsung's announcement is incredibly exciting, especially for tech enthusiasts. But the problem is, you won't be able to buy the new Samsung module for, say, your upcoming Intel Alder Lake build. That's because the 512 GB DIMMs are only intended for data centers and servers. Consumer-class sticks could only top out at 64 GB per stick, much like last-gen DDR4.

And this makes a lot of sense, really. Data centers and servers need high-speed, high-capacity, extremely efficient memory to ensure a minimal risk of data loss. These servers handle a ton of data, after all, mostly in high-stakes applications such as handling the data of multi-million and multi-billion dollar companies. Samsung's monstrous memory module makes sense in this situation for a simple reason: even the failure of a single RAM stick could cause a catastrophic data loss.

The Dawn of DDR5: Who Can Get It Though?

Don't worry if you don't get the blazing-fast RAM kit from Samsung. Consumer-class kits will still be extremely good, offering speeds of around 5600 MHz during early tests. Even the fastest DDR4 kits on the planet only managed to top out at 5100 MHz. That was a kit from Crucial, which was reported on by PC Gamer.

But if you want to reap the benefits of DDR5, you'll need a platform change. Even your brand-new Ryzen 5000 series PC won't support it, because AMD plans to launch DDR5 support with their Zen 4 chips. As for Intel, you'll need to go for an Alder Lake build this time around.

Related: AMD Zen 4 News: 2022 Launch, Over 20% IPC Improvement, Super-Fast DDR5 and MORE

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The Chevy Bolt EV recall has expanded its preferences on charging, as they have assessed the "two rare risks" on the vehicle's batteries. The studies of GM and LG have pinpointed the issues on said power cells, and that a recall is necessary for the safety of the owners.

In the meantime, if a recall cannot be done or would be brought in the coming days, users would need to follow specific charging guidelines for the Bolt EV.

The Chevy Bolt EV that was released in 2016, has been a popular product since its release, with a long-range version being known for its affordable prices.

Chevrolet's Bolt EV Recall

In a recall statement by Chevrolet, the Bolt EV should be returned to the dealers to address its problems with the battery which the company has discovered.

Initially, the company has partnered with a popular battery manufacturer, LG, which is known to also be a partner of Tesla in several of its power cell ventures.

The Bolt EV recall was a known controversy within Chevy, especially as the compact electric vehicle has been the center of attention due to its power cells. It was initially said that there were Bolt EVs that have caught on fire due to their batteries, and that is what Chevrolet and LG are trying to fix now.

Apart from the recall, the vehicle manufacturer has given charging preferences for the different releases of the electric vehicle. This would help ensure that no further incidents would happen if the electric vehicle is still in possession of the owner, and not yet brought to Chevrolet.

Read Also: Tesla FSD 2 Computer and Cybertruck To Arrive By 2022; Can It Achieve 100% Self-Driving Feature?

Bolt EV Battery Charging Preferences

In the statement, Chevrolet has released guidelines on how to charge the Bolt EV's battery, which would help in avoiding any accidents or happenings that would endanger the user or their family.

It is important to follow these steps while waiting for Chevy to confirm the availability of parts and call the owners to have them brought to them.

2017 - 2018 Models: Hilltop Reserve mode set at 90 percent charging state

2019 - 2022: Target Charge Level

Charge immediately if range depletes to around 70 miles (113) kilometers

Do not leave the vehicle charging overnight

Put car outside of the home after charging

Have Your Bolt EV Brought to Its Dealership Now

Users can do the adjustments by themselves or have a dealership set it for them. In doing this, they can also have their vehicles scheduled for repair or its recall program that would change the old lithium-ion batteries, to new lithium-ion modules made by Chevy and LG.

It is important to bring the EV to the dealers now, especially if users want to be assured that their vehicle would be safe to use and bring anywhere. Users that have brought their EVs for recall can view the status via Chevy's VIN search feature.

Related Article: 2021 Chevy Bolt EV Snatches Annual EV Award from Tesla: Overall Ranking, Range, Price, and Mor

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The Hubble Space Telescope has taken a photo of a spiral galaxy that is located 68 million light-years away using its Wide Field Camera 3.

The spiral galaxy is known as NGC 1385, which can be found 68 million light-years away. The galaxy is located in a constellation known as Fornax.

Hubble Space Telescope Takes Photo of Spiral Galaxy

The 31-year-old Hubble Space Telescope is back to doing what it does best after it went offline last June.

The space telescope was able to take a photo of the NGC 1385 galaxy using its Wide Field Camera 3, according to Futurism. The Wide Field Camera 3 is "considered to be the telescope's 'workhorse camera' due to its reliability."

According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Wide Field Camera 3 was installed during the last time astronauts were able to visit the Hubble Space Telescope, which was in 2009.

NASA describes the image it has taken of the spiral galaxy as "jewel-bright."

Other Images Hubble's Wide Field Camera 3 Took Through the Years

The Hubble Space Telescope has been a witness to some of the most amazing events and discoveries in space in the past three decades. Thanks to its Wide Field Camera 3 snapping away and capturing these moments each time, we have been able to see them as well.

In 2019, the Hubble Space Telescope snapped a photo of two galaxies colliding using the Wide Field Camera 3. Five years prior, Hubble was able to take a photo of 30 Daradus, otherwise known as the Tarantula Nebula.

Related Article: NASA's Hubble Space Telescope Captures Image Of Largest And Hottest Galaxy Ever Found

What is a Spiral Galaxy Anyway?

The Hubble Space Telescope's recent photo is that of the NGC 1385, a spiral galaxy. But what is a spiral galaxy anyway?

Spiral galaxies are probably the most familiar kind of galaxies due to its shape, as its name suggests. According to NASA, spiral galaxies "have a distinctive shape with spiral arms in a relatively flat disk and a central 'bulge,' which has a large concentration of stars."

Younger stars are found in the arms of spiral galaxies while the older ones are located in the bulge.

An example of a spiral galaxy is the Milky Way galaxy, where the Earth and the solar system are located.

Other spiral galaxies that exist in the universe include the NGC 6872, which is considered one of the largest spiral galaxies and is located 522,000 light-years away, and A1689B11, which is a galaxy that is 11 billion years old according to an article by Space.

NGC 1385, the spiral galaxy whose photo the Hubble Space Telescope recently took, is located in the Fornax constellation, which was named after the Latin word for furnace by French astronomer Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille.

Also Read: NASA Hubble Space Telescope Captures Spiral Galaxy In Very Unusual Location, Has Planets With Extremely Active Centers

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Facebook has unveiled a transparency report on the social media platform's most popular posts. This comes after the company received widespread backlash for shelving it.

The report covers the most popular posts published in the United States on Facebook's public News Feed during the first quarter of the year.

Facebook Unveils Most Popular Posts Transparency Report

Facebook has revealed the previously shelved transparency report on the most popular posts made on the social media platform. Facebook has received widespread criticisms for its attempt to hide the transparency report.

The expose on the hidden transparency report was first made by The New York Times. According to The New York Times' expose, Facebook officials, including Vice President of Analytics and Chief Marketing Officer Alex Schultz, were concerned that the report would do damage to Facebook's image.

The unveiled transparency report shows that the most viewed link during the first quarter of 2021 "was a since-updated news article suggesting that the vaccine may be at fault for a Florida doctor's death," according to Gizmodo.

Per the Gizmodo report, the link totalled 54 million views during the time period.

Included in the top 20 most viewed pages on Facebook is Epoch Times, which is "a site that routinely pushes misinformation about the covid-19 pandemic and far-right conspiracies such as QAnon," according to Gizmodo.

Related Article: Facebook Updates Content Removal, Anti-Fake Accounts Actions: Other Details of FB's CSER

Facebook Policy Communications Director Defends Company

Weve been getting criticism for holding an internal report until it was more favorable for us and then releasing it. Getting criticism isnt unfair. But its worth taking a closer look -- and making note of some of the components of the story.  Andy Stone (@andymstone) August 21, 2021

Facebook's Policy Communications Director Andy Stone has posted a series of tweets regarding the unreleased transparency report on his personal Twitter account.

According to Stone, while the criticism Facebook has received is not unfair, "it's worth taking a closer look - and making note of some of the components of the story."

Stone explains that the reason why Facebook held back on releasing the transparency report for the first quarter of the year is because the company wanted to make "key fixes" to its system.

"We're guilty of cleaning up our house a bit before we invited company. We've been criticized for that; and again, that's not unfair," reads one of his tweets.

The Second Quarter Facebook Transparency Report

Though it held back its transparency report for the first quarter of 2021, Facebook did, in fact, release the transparency report for the second quarter.

Facebook's transparency report for the second quarter of 2021 shows that the most-viewed post from April to June of this year is a letter scramble. The second most-viewed post prompts people over 30 years of age to post photos of themselves.

The most viewed domains on YouTube for the second quarter include YouTube, UNICEF, and Spotify.

Other most viewed content and links on Facebook for the time period include a post by U.S. President Joe Biden, a GIF of kittens, and a thread on debating whether or not adding sugar to spaghetti is okay.

Also Read: Facebook Users Report Prompts About Extremism; Socmed Giant Says It's All Part of The Test to Combat it

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Isabella James

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
COLFAX  Mike Campbell wasnt particularly interested in getting the vaccine.

Hes lived in this central Louisiana town of 2,500 his whole life, and he doesnt feel obligated to take many precautions. Hes not around people much, except for when he goes offshore for work as an explosion technician on oil rigs. Campbell, 56, reasons that he hasnt caught COVID-19 yet, and when his father did, he only had the symptoms of a mild cold, despite only having one lung.

He is annoyed that the government is pressuring people like him to get vaccinated. I just dont like anybody forcing me to do something, Campbell said.

But there he was, climbing out of his truck on a sweltering Friday into the parking lot of the Grant Parish health unit in Colfax. He donned a blue surgical mask and ambled into the nondescript building where a nurse and some National Guard troops were giving out free shots.

Campbells company had given him a choice: get vaccinated or quarantine for five days before leaving for a job. Miller relented. Getting the shot beat jumping through those hoops.

By now, eight months after vaccines became available, health leaders hoped the U.S. would have achieved something close to herd immunity. But the effort has been anything but a success in Louisiana. Getting shots in arms is still maddeningly difficult for health leaders. And in some rural areas, the vaccination rates are stunningly low.

In Grant Parish, for instance, only 24% of the roughly 22,000 residents are fully vaccinated, the third-lowest rate in the state. And thats after the region saw a notable recent uptick in vaccinations, prompted by the delta variants rapid spread, which took the pandemic to never-before-seen levels of hospitalizations in Louisiana.

'It's stressing our health care delivery': COVID patients drop slightly but still at record levels Following two weeks of record-shattering COVID hospitalizations, Louisiana saw a glimmer of hope in its battle against its fourth and worst su

Louisianas vaccination rate is now just under 40%, well below the U.S. as a whole, where nearly 52% of people are fully vaccinated.

Residents and experts cite a variety of reasons for the low vaccination rate. Many rural areas include some of the most conservative White voters in Louisiana, the demographic group that tends to be most resistant to the shots. Low education levels can help online misinformation take deep root, and a lack of internet access can make finding an appointment difficult. Some say they dont feel like the virus is a threat because they hardly ever gather in large groups, aside from church services or high school football games.

Some people probably dont want to be told; they want to have a choice, said Don Arnold, the president of the Grant Parish Police Jury, who is vaccinated. There could be a price to pay for that.

A vaccination gap

Rural Louisianans do have a choice, of course, and most have chosen not to get the shots.

Vaccination rates in Louisianas urban and suburban areas  where about five-sixths of the states residents live  are an average of 25% higher than in the states rural areas.

In these rural parishes, officials are pleading for help to slow staggering COVID numbers With the delta variant of the coronavirus sending Louisianas public health crisis spiraling to dire new levels, officials in Baton Rouges ru

The gap in vaccination rates appears to have had tragic consequences for rural areas since the shots first began rolling out at the beginning of the year, though it remains too early to know exactly how that trend will play out in the devastating fourth wave now gripping the state.

Since January, the death rate in rural parishes has been more than a third higher than in the more densely populated areas of the state.

So far, the divide during the fourth wave  which started at the beginning of July  is not as clear cut, and rural parishes are actually faring slightly better with 559 deaths per 100,000 residents. Urban areas, which saw their cases spike earlier in this wave and thus have seen more deaths so far, have recorded about 637 fatalities per 100,000. It remains to be seen whether, in the final tally, rural areas will again see more severe outcomes from the current surge.

Like many rural places in central and north Louisiana, Colfax is economically troubled. Nearly half the population is in poverty, more than double the statewide rate. Median household income is $22,000, about half the amount in the rest of the state. Only 11% of residents have a bachelors degree.

Those economic ills have major implications for health care.

Dr. David Holcombe, the states medical director for the region that includes Grant Parish, said the region has historically had poor health outcomes, owing to low incomes, low educational levels and high rates of poverty.

That has made it hard for state health leaders to convince people of the vaccines efficacy and safety by promoting the overwhelming consensus of the medical community, and data.

It makes them very resistant to intellectual argumentation, Holcombe said. Because most of the fears and anxieties are emotional.

The more rural places, in particular, reached a point of diminishing returns pretty early in the vaccination effort. Delta has changed that somewhat, resetting the anxiety level as people saw more friends, neighbors and kids come down with COVID, he said.

Still, the uptick hasnt moved the needle nearly enough. Holcombe said while people who live in more isolated, rural areas like Grant Parish tend to have fewer interactions, it doesnt take many big gatherings  whether a sporting event or a religious service  to spread the Delta variant, which is far more transmissible than previous iterations of COVID. He worries the only way some rural places will ever get close to herd immunity is if the virus runs wild and infects most of the unvaccinated population.

The tragedy is you dont have to do that, Holcombe said. You dont have to let people get sick to achieve herd immunity.

Fear, hesitancy and misinformation

Oakdale federal prison, in rural Allen Parish, made national headlines in March 2020 when after a major COVID-19 outbreak ran through its population of about 1,900 inmates. The virus infected 689 inmates and guards, and nine inmates died.

Almost a year and a half later, about 70% of its inmates have been vaccinated against the coronavirus, according to a recent Reuters report. That number stands in stark contrast to the 34% of Bureau of Prisons staffers there who have been vaccinated, Oakdale's union leader Ronald Morris, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 1007 told Reuters.

The relatively low vaccination rate among prison staff is reflective of the broader community.

Allen Parish, with a population just over 25,000, according to the most recent Census data, is the least vaccinated parish in the state, with just 21% of the population vaccinated.

At Allen Parish Hospital in Kinder, Dr. Jacqueline Rae Costley-Reviel, the hospitals CEO, knew the fourth wave of the virus was spreading among her community in late July as more and more patients visited the hospitals emergency room.

"Still, at the moment, our beds are full," she said Thursday. "The ICU unit we created has no space left, and we are keeping patients on ventilators that we usually don't keep. I hope we are at the end of the peak."

The parish is seeing an average of 25 cases per day, a 32% increase from the average two weeks ago. LDH data shows the parish has a positivity rate of 10.4%, up from the 9.9% registered the previous week, while the hospitalizations increased by 74% in the last 14-day period.

But outside of emergency rooms and ICUs, it looks like the public-health emergency is almost over. On Aug. 12, children were back in Allen Parish schools, albeit wearing masks. Kent Reed, the Allen Parish School System's superintendent acknowledged in a recent Facebook post that keeping kids safe and healthy would be a challenge.

We are going to try our best to keep our schools as clean as possible, and sanitized, and safe for everyone involved," Reed said. "We have, and we will continue to have cases of Covid-19 to deal with."

But most businesses across the parish have resumed normal routines. The mask mandate reinstated at the beginning of August by Edwards is rarely enforced.

And in local pharmacies and drugstores, there has been a marked increase in customers.

"The situation changed for us about two weeks ago," said Liam James, manager of Oakdale Drug Company in Oakdale, the most populated town in the parish. "A lot of people are getting medicines. It got wild," he said.

But theyre not getting vaccines.

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Just saying the word vaccination in Allen parish prompts responses of fear, hesitancy, and misinformation. Some residents dont get vaccinated because their families told them vaccines are not safe. Others distrust the federal government. Still others, usually the youngest, believe theres no need for a vaccination because, in their minds, COVID overwhelmingly affects the elderly.

"It is probably lack of knowledge, lack of understanding, and fear, the three biggest things that we battle," Costley-Reviel said. "And when people just believe what they believe, nothing can change that."

When Costley-Reviel broached the subject of mandatory vaccinations for hospital employees, at least a third of the staff opposed it, some threatening to leave.

"I was already short-staffed. I could not have a third of my force quit," she said.

"You can ask 20 different people why they did not get vaccinated, and you can probably receive twenty different answers," Dr. Lacey Cavanaugh, the Louisiana Southwest Regional Medical Director of Public Health, said. "I think there is distrust in general to the government. And each community is different and has different managers who can build trust because they lived there so long, so we count on them.

Her office made almost 100 phone calls to community leaders, groups, and partners within the parish to promote vaccines and pop-up events.

"We may not be the first trusted voices in communities, she said, and for this reason, we need the help of local institutions."

To convince people to get vaccinated, the regional health officials urged the help of local community leaders, hoping residents distrust might be limited to government at state and federal levels.

Local officials, however, dont always want to be involved in promotion of the vaccine.

"I am not a medical person. If you asked me, I would recommend taking the vaccine, but I won't go out and solicit and convince people to get it," said Gene Paul, the mayor of Oakdale since 2013. He said he is fully vaccinated and ready to get the third dose, which is expected to be made available to all American adults in September.

"I am willing to do it, but I think it is an individual's right, Paul said. I think it should be left to the single person."

Meanwhile, local health care providers such as Alex Courville, a physician in Kinder, are frustrated by the increase in patients and hospitalizations.

We had the tools to avoid this wave, but we did not use them, and this is unacceptable, Courville said. This is the community where I grew up in. The people I see suffering are my people. It hurts.

His message is the same he has been repeating for months: Please, wear a mask and get vaccinated.

James believes more people will be inclined to get the vaccine after the FDA fully approves it. Mayor Paul agrees.

"I think that the people dying due to the Delta is changing some people's minds," Paul said. "But you have to wait for 100% approval for a significant increase, from what I understand."

'A lot of fertile ground'

Stephanie Bruce, who lives in Dry Prong, outside of Colfax, drove her Sheriffs Office vehicle to the health unit Friday to finally get her first shot. A deputy for the last eight years, Bruce said she was scared of the vaccine because she thought it was too new, even though she isnt generally opposed to vaccines. Deltas surge finally tipped the scales.

Its definitely spreading like wildfire now, she said.

Bre Felton, a day care worker who lives in Colfax, said she was exposed to the virus at a recent kids birthday party where the childs dad and sister tested positive. Felton still doesnt plan to get vaccinated, though many of her family members have relented.

Im concerned, but I dont have any underlying health issues, so if I get it, I think Id be OK, Felton said. I have trust in God.

Bobby Morrow, 67, retired to Colfax  a nice, quiet, peaceful place  a few years ago with his wife, Karen. Morrow said he didnt have any real legitimate excuse not to get vaccinated, other than the fact he doesnt go out much. But the Veterans Administration convinced him to get the shot, and his wifes son, a nurse, convinced her to get it.

They dont ask their friends if theyve been vaccinated, and Karen said she still social-distances at church. An unvaccinated friend of theirs is now fighting for his life in the hospital with COVID-19, she said.

The hospitals in the region are crowded with patients and are running into the same dire problems as facilities in Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

At Christus St. Frances Cabrini Hospital in Alexandria, a half-hour southeast of Colfax, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jose Zapatero said hes had to refuse transfers from smaller rural hospitals because he doesnt have the bed space.

The positivity rate of tests at the hospital has soared from 3% in early July to 36% last week, Zapatero said. Nearly 90% of COVID patients in the hospital are unvaccinated, he said.

Theres a lot of fertile ground for this virus to take off, he said.

A raft of challenges

Lana Francis, the CEO of LaSalle General Hospital, next door to Grant Parish, said she has struggled to keep enough staff on hand because so many employees are infected. The hospital has started sending sicker patients to Texas, Arkansas and Mississippi.

The latest surge of the pandemic has created huge challenges for some rural schools. A little more than a week after school started, around 240 of Winn Parishs 2,000 students were in quarantine, said Al Simmons, the superintendent. An entire sixth grade class was in quarantine.

Simmons hopes schools can stay open for in-person learning because the students need it. But he also noted: We are doing distance learning when you consider how many students are in quarantine right now.

Sharing the same building as the state health unit for Grant Parish is a federal health center that offers similar services, including vaccinations and testing. The center didnt have any vaccines scheduled Friday, but was offering drive-through testing.

Ken Humbels, a delivery driver for the states vaccine distributor, Morris & Dickson, pulled up and carried a large white styrofoam box labeled vaccines inside. He opened it to reveal a single vial of vaccines: 14 doses. Rachel Wise, the site manager, said theyd use them next week, mainly on adolescents.

Deano Thornton, who runs federal health centers in other rural parishes, said hes seeing a slight increase in vaccine requests, after hardly anyone sought them in June and July.

His board recently met to establish new protocols, requiring employees to get tested once a week if theyre not vaccinated, and to test daily if theyve been exposed. But he said hes already short of employees, and worried that if the centers mandate the vaccine, many workers will quit.

Thornton said health workers are tired after 18 months of the pandemic. Transmission in rural areas is primarily driven by schools and churches, Thornton said, and schools were largely online last year. With in-person learning, he worries the virus will run rampant.

Our fates in our own hands, it looks like to me, Thornton said. We can lead them to water, but we cant make them drink.

Staff writer Jeff Adelson contributed to this story.
Chelseas Cafe, a longtime live music venue in Baton Rouge, is coming back.

Chelseas Live is set to open at the end of the year in the 1010 Nic building between Downtown and LSU.

Chelseas owner Dave Remmetter is involved in the new business, along with Aaron Scruggs, who books talent for Spanish Moon and Mid City Ballroom, and attorney Grant Miller.

The idea to bring back Chelseas came during the pandemic.

Chelseas closed at the end of 2015 after 28 years in business, including the last 10 years of operations at the Perkins Road overpass. While the restaurant and live music venue was a Baton Rouge favorite because of its food and the national touring acts that stopped to play there, Remmetter pulled the plug on Chelseas because of difficulties in renegotiating a lease.

The building at 1010 Nicholson Drive was rezoned in May to turn it into a live music venue that sells alcohol. Chelsea's Live will be 6,300 square feet and have an outdoor patio.
Convicted Baton Rouge serial killer Kenneth Gleason, who was accused of fatally shooting two Black men and firing into the home of a Black family over a four-day span in 2017, was handed a mandatory life prison term Monday by a judge who said the "appropriate sentence" would have been the death penalty.

"There's nothing the penal system can do to rehabilitate you, Mr. Gleason," state District Judge Beau Higginbotham said moments before imposing a life sentence on Gleason, 27.

Gleason, who is White, was found guilty in April of first-degree murder in the Sept. 14, 2017, shooting of Donald Smart, 49, as he walked along Alaska Street just north of the LSU campus to his overnight shift at Louies Cafe.

Alleged serial killer Kenneth Gleason found guilty of murder in killing of Black resident Jurors found alleged serial killer Kenneth Gleason guilty of first-degree murder Monday in one of three incidents in which he is accused of ki

But to convict Gleason on the first-degree murder charge, which can be brought when there are multiple killings, the jury also had to find that he also fatally shot Bruce Cofield, 59, two days earlier, as Cofield sat at a bus stop near the intersection of Florida Boulevard and South Acadian Thruway.

East Baton Rouge Parish prosecutors decided against seeking the death penalty after consulting with Smart's family, meaning the only sentence that could be imposed on a first-degree murder conviction was a mandatory life term.

Evidence also was presented at Gleason's trial that he fired three shots into the home of a Black family on his street in the Hickory Ridge subdivision off Coursey Boulevard.

Higginbotham had ordered a presentence investigation after Gleason's conviction, and in that report Gleason wrote, "I am innocent of the crime I have been accused of," the judge noted.

+3 Alleged serial killer searched for Nazi, White nationalist topics, FBI agent says at his trial A White Baton Rouge man accused of fatally shooting two Black men and firing into the home of a Black family, all in September 2017, searched 

One of Smart's sisters, Renee McCoy, gave a heartfelt victim impact statement in court and noted that Monday would have have been her only brother's 53rd birthday.

"Happy birthday!" she said.

McCoy also said her family has forgiven Gleason and added, "We just ask that you try Jesus."

"To know Don was to love him," she said. "He never met a stranger. He was our protector."

McCoy said the life sentence will prevent Gleason "from committing this heinous crime again."

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+3 At alleged serial killer's trial, witness describes shooting of Louie's Cafe worker in a park A former LSU student testified Monday that he watched in horror the night of Sept. 14, 2017, as a man made a u-turn in front of a BREC park ju

Vincent Cofield described Gleason as "depraved and remorseless" and said his brother's slaying was "reprehensible" in a victim impact statement read in court by their sister, Lydia McGee.

Bruce Cofield graduated from Southern University in 1980 with a mechanical engineering degree and worked for a time as a research engineer in Illinois before returning to Louisiana, where he got married and had two children, his brother said. He worked at Fort Polk for eight years.

Despite his battles with drugs and depression, Bruce Cofield was a " very valued member of our family," his brother wrote. "We cannot put a price on our physical and emotional loss."

East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore III said after court that his office is hopeful that all of the victims' families "will be able to focus their energy on emotional healing, pleasant memories of their loved ones, and happier times to come."

Gleason did not speak at his sentencing.

"It is telling that in spite of the overwhelming evidence presented at trial, Kenneth Gleason still refuses to take responsibility for his actions and expressed no remorse for these senseless murders and hateful crimes of violence," Moore said.

Gleason was not charged with a hate crime, but an FBI agent testified at his trial that Gleason searched the internet between Sept. 1 and Sept. 16, 2017, for topics such as White nationalism, genocide and Nazi propaganda.

Gleason's lawyers have said he studied German at LSU, which he attended for one year starting in the fall of 2012.

Prosecutors said ballistics linked all three shootings. DNA left on shell casings recovered from the scenes of Cofields killing and the non-fatal shooting linked those two cases.

+3 Alleged serial killer's DNA found on shell casings at 2017 homicide scene, witness says Kenneth Gleason's DNA was found on shell casings recovered from the scene of a Black homeless man's slaying at a Baton Rouge bus stop in Septe

Twenty-six 9mm shell casings were found at the three shooting scenes.

In both slayings, Gleason was accused of shooting the victims from his car and then getting out, standing over them and firing more bullets.
Students at Louisiana four-year universities will soon have to show proof of immunization, a physicians certification that the vaccine is medically contraindicated, or a written dissent, now that the federal Food & Drug Administration fully approved Monday morning one of the COVID vaccines.

For the 91,500 students at the nine colleges of the University of Louisiana System that paperwork won't be needed until the next registration period. For LSU, details of how the mandate will be implemented are still up in the air.

We notified students of the expected addition of COVID-19 vaccination to the required schedules as soon as we received Louisiana Department of Health approval, which was done on Aug. 9, said UL System President Jim Henderson. "The effective application occurs at the next registration period. In Louisiana, immunization requirements are essentially a paperwork protocol."

LSU issued a statement: Now that the FDA has provided approval of Pfizer, we will be communicating logistics to the LSU community soon. We need to fully review the approval from FDA, but plan to implement the mandate on campus.

LSU Board of Supervisors in July asked LDH to add the COVID vaccines to the mandatory vaccinations list for public school students in June. LSU President William F. Tate IV, who took office in July, has said several times that the vaccination requirement on LSU campuses was contingent upon the FDA approval.

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FDA gave full approval Monday morning of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid Vaccine. The Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are expected to soon be fully approved by the FDA.

Though Louisiana's public colleges and universities could have mandated the vaccinations on their own, higher ed officials opted to wait for full FDA authorization because state law more clearly gave the Louisiana Department of Health the ability to add COVID to the list of vaccinations to enroll and attend schools.

Including two-year-community colleges, graduate and vocational schools, Louisiana has about 213,000 higher education students.

Check back for more details
LSU will forgive more than $7 million in student debt affecting about 4,000 students, officials said Monday.

In an effort to continue providing access to an LSU education, we have made the decision to clear all unpaid prior tuition and fee balances for LSU students who enrolled at any point during the COVID-19 pandemic period, said LSU Vice President for Enrollment Management Jose Aviles. We are committed to ensuring that students have every opportunity to continue their educational pursuits. Their dream is to walk across the stage and receive an LSU diploma, and our job is to do everything we can to make sure that happens.

+3 College students will need COVID vaccine proof or other option now that FDA gave approval Students at Louisiana four-year universities will soon have to show proof of immunization, a physicians certification that the vaccine is med

The school, like others, will use some of its federal coronavirus aid to finance the debt forgiveness.

The debt forgiveness will apply from the spring of 2020 to the present.

It applies to students with balances owed directly to LSU.

The debt could include an outstanding balance on tuition, fees, housing, meal plans and parking, said Ernie Ballard, a spokesperson for the school.

The average award amount is $1,816, Ballard said.

LSU, other colleges set to get $268 million from coronavirus relief bill LSU and other public colleges and universities are set to get $268 million from the latest federal stimulus bill, up 82% from what schools got

Students who qualify will receive communications from financial aid & scholarship officials in the Office of Enrollment Management with more details.

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More information is available at covidrelief@lsu.edu

The school made the announcement on the first day of fall classes.

LSU said it has provided $25 million in relief funds to students during the coronavirus pandemic.

A variety of schools statewide and nationally, including some historically Black colleges and universities, have announced student debt forgiveness programs financed with federal coronavirus dollars.

+3 College students will need COVID vaccine proof or other option now that FDA gave approval Students at Louisiana four-year universities will soon have to show proof of immunization, a physicians certification that the vaccine is med

Earlier this month Baton Rouge Community College, Grambling State University and Southern University in Shreveport announced plans to forgive student debt.

Grambling to forgive $1.5 million in student debt Grambling State University is forgiving about $1.5 million in student debt by using some of its federal aid for coronavirus relief.

Grambling officials said they are forgiving $1.5 million.
Despite pressure from House Speaker Clay Schexnayder and others, leaders of Louisiana's top school board defended their handling of last week's chaotic meeting and said there are no plans to hold a special gathering to discuss mandatory face masks in public schools.

The board spelled out its position in a statement late Sunday night from state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education President Sandy Holloway, of Thibodaux; vice-president Kira Orange Jones, of New Orleans; and treasurer Ashley Ellis, of Monroe.

They commended how the meeting was run and noted it was a bipartisan vote to adjourn.

Schexnayder, a Gonzales Republican, had a different take. "Clearly the BESE meeting last week was a disaster," he said in a statement Monday.

BESE voted 8-2 last Wednesday to adjourn its meeting when anti-mask protesters refused to put on face coverings, which are required in public buildings.

State lawmaker blasts BESE members who adjourned chaotic meeting In a blistering email, a state lawmaker Thursday accused members of Louisiana's top school board who voted to adjourn Wednesday's chaotic meet

"The vote was called after groups of protesters spent hours disrupting the meeting with shouts, outbursts, and refusing to comply with the governor's mask mandate for government buildings," the BESE statement says.

"When forced to make that decision last week, we were left with no choice but to prioritize the safety and health of those in the room over citizens who were refusing to follow the law, adhere to basic rules of order all while putting the health of others at risk," the trio said. "There are no plans to call a special meeting."

BESE was scheduled to debate whether Gov. John Bel Edwards or the board has the final say in ordering students to wear face masks.

Jeff Landry says state school board, not governor, has final say on face masks in schools Escalating a political feud, state Attorney General Jeff Landry issued an opinion Friday that said Louisiana's top school board has the final 

Edwards has issued an order that requires K-12 students to do so.

Attorney General Jeff Landry issued an opinion that says BESE, not the governor, has the final say on face mask and other safety issues. Landry's opinion was the last topic on last week's agenda, and was supposed to spark a lengthy public hearing on face mask rules.

+2 Face masks expected to spark passionate debate at Louisiana's state school board meeting Louisiana's top school board will soon decide whether to defy Gov. John Bel Edwards and let school districts decide if public school students 

Schexnayder said he has asked state lawmakers to contact their BESE members and request that they hold a special meeting.

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"This is an issue that is very important to a large number of parents and needs to be discussed," he said. "Unfortunately, many of the BESE members are not returning calls."

State lawmaker blasts BESE members who adjourned chaotic meeting In a blistering email, a state lawmaker Thursday accused members of Louisiana's top school board who voted to adjourn Wednesday's chaotic meet

"Hopefully they do the right thing and call the meeting. If not we will explore other options."

What those options would be is unclear.

Before last week's gathering 63 of the 68 GOP House members, including Schexnayder, asked BESE to consider leaving the mask issue to the 69 school districts.

The room where last week's session was held holds 274 people and many in the audience were not wearing face masks.

+7 After maskless protesters derail meeting on masks in schools, mandate will remain in Louisiana A rowdy, chaotic meeting of Louisiana's top school board ended abruptly Wednesday when opponents of face masks for public school students refu

"Just as we wouldn't allow this behavior in schools, neither will we tolerate refusal to follow the law, intimidation, bullying tactics and putting the health and safety of attendees at risk during our board meetings," BESE leaders said.

In a separate statement BESE member Preston Castille, who lives in Baton Rouge, praised the board's decision to adjourn last week's gathering and called the protesters "disrespectful, disobedient and unlawful."

"When members of the audience at last week's BESE meeting refused to comply and wear a mask while in a state building, it took courage for my colleagues to make it clear that the audience had a choice: comply with state law or we would adjourn the meeting."

"The audience refused to comply; we adjourned the meeting. It's real simple, everybody. Wear a mask. Comply with the law. Save lives."

Voting to adjourn last week were Holly Boffy, Ashley Ellis, Kira Orange Jones, Belinda Davis, Doris Voitier, Tommy Roque, Preston Castille and Ronnie Morris.

Voting against adjournment were Jim Garvey and Michael Melerine.

Holloway exercised her option as president not to vote.
Guest column: We can defeat poverty, but must choose real-world strategies to do it
Letters: The vaccines worked in our case, but we still need the masks
Pfizer, maker of a top-selling COVID vaccine, will buy all the shares of Trillium Therapeutics it doesnt own, gaining the immune cancer drugmaker for an equity value of $US2.26 billion ($3.1 billion).

Pfizer will pay $US18.50 a share for Massachusetts-based Trillium, the companies said on Monday (US time) in a statement. The price represents a 118 per cent premium to the stocks 60-day weighted average price. Shares of Trillium nearly tripled to as much as $US17.74 in late trade, while Pfizer are 2.8 per cent higher at $US50.09.

Pfizers oncology portfolio includes 24 approved drugs that yielded about $US10.9 billion in revenue last year, up 21 per cent operationally from 2019. Credit:Bloomberg

Pfizer invested $US25 million in Trillium in September as part of its Breakthrough Growth Initiative, when Jeff Settleman, senior vice president of Pfizers oncology research and development group, was named to Trilliums scientific advisory board.

Trilliums two lead molecules, TTI-622 and TTI-621, block signalling proteins involved in blood cancers, and are both in human trials across several types of disease. They target CD47, a protein found on some cancer cells that cloaks them from the normal immune response, and send a signal activating the response.
Australian electric car charging network JOLT plans to install 5000 free fast chargers across capital cities after Blackrock, the worlds largest asset manager, bought a stake in the company and pledged an initial $100 million towards building the network.

Drivers using JOLT chargers would receive 7 kWh  equivalent to about 45 kilometres of driving  for free, and be charged for power drawn after that. JOLT would also make money from advertising sold on its charging stations.

A JOLT fast charging station in operation in Adelaide.

All the power it sells will be renewable and the installation of the charging points is expected to begin in Sydney in September. JOLT operates charging stations in Adelaide.

Charlie Reid, a managing director of BlackRocks Global Renewable Power team, said for the world to reach net zero emissions by 2050, the last internal combustion car engine would need to be sold by 2035. He said this would happen globally and in Australia, whatever government policies were in place, as Australia imported its vehicles.
NSW reported 818 new local coronavirus cases on Monday, the first day of tightened restrictions across the state.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the state hit 5.9 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine after a record 730,000 people were vaccinated last week. I set a target of 6 million by the end of the month and we will be at least one week ahead of schedule, she said.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Monday. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

I am pleased everyone heard the call, the message, and is coming out to get vaccinated.

Ms Berejiklian said announcements regarding a plan to return children to schools and possible freedoms once NSW increases its vaccination rate will be made later this week.
The man who made the blank shotgun round that killed stuntman Johann Ofner during the filming of a music video in 2017 was told his ammunition would not be fired at anyone, only into the air.

Mr Ofner, 28, was shot at Brisbane basement bar Brooklyn Standard during the filming of a video for Australian hip-hop trio Bliss n Esos track Friend Like You.

Johann Ofner died after he was shot during the filming of a Bliss n Eso music video in Brisbane. Credit:Facebook

Another stunt actor fired a blank round from a sawn-off shotgun and some wadding from the round fatally wounded Mr Ofner, a father from the Gold Coast, in the chest.

The coronial inquest into Mr Ofners death was set to take place earlier this month, but due to the Queensland lockdown, it was rescheduled until Monday.
With 20 feet of water in her forward holes, and with all hatches making water, the coastal freighter Time was abandoned by the crew on Corsair Reef late yesterday afternoon.

First published in The Age on August 24, 1949

The Queenscliff lifeboat took off 42 members at 5.15 p.m. The master, the mate and the chief engineer remained on board.

Holed below the waterline and listing to starboard, the Time could not have been moved without risking the lives of her crew.

The tug Eagle and a salvage vessel stood by throughout last night. They will be joined by the tug Terawhiti this morning, when it is expected that an attempt will be made to refloat Time.

The Time, of 3322 tons, was swept on the reef, off Point Nepean, when her steering gear failed as she was passing through the Rip early yesterday morning.

The freighter lay firmly embedded on the reef all day, slowly making water in the heavy ocean swell.
Voters have swung to the Coalition and backed Prime Minister Scott Morrison on key personal measures, lifting the governments primary vote from 38 to 40 per cent amid a debate about when to end lockdowns.

The government has gained ground among voters on its response to the pandemic and management of the economy, while Labor has seen its primary vote fall from 35 to 32 per cent.

The findings are part of a new survey that shows 46 per cent of voters prefer Mr Morrison as Prime Minister compared to 23 per cent who favour Labor leader Anthony Albanese, with another 31 per cent undecided and the results barely changed over the past month.

The Resolve Political Monitor, conducted for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age by research company Resolve Strategic, finds the Coalition has recovered some support from voters on policy issues as the same time it increased its primary vote.
Scott Morrison thinks he has picked the national mood with a forceful message about the path out of lockdown and toward normal life.

He is so sure, in fact, that he is staking everything on a pledge to voters that he can lead the way even when the country is posting record coronavirus case numbers.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison wants premiers to stick to the path out of lockdown. Credit:Getty

But this is not just a big bet for the Prime Minister on the governments future and his own political fate, although it could decide his fate at the election.

It is a calculation about lives, also, and it means Morrison cannot win the argument with words alone. He will have to level with voters about the advice from medical experts that makes him so sure he is right.
Childcare and after school care services are hopeful a support package now on offer from the Commonwealth will bring the sector back from the brink of collapse and ensure it is still there for families once lockdowns end.

Centres in areas where there are lockdowns for more than four weeks or where state leaders have directed parents to keep children at home will receive 25 per cent of the pre-lockdown revenue, as well as the fee subsidies they would usually receive if all children were attending. Outside school hours care will receive 40 per cent of pre-lockdown revenue.

Childcare has been restricted to vulnerable children and children of authorised workers. Credit:

Federal Education Minister Alan Tudge said the decision by the NSW and Victorian premiers to tell parents not to send their children to childcare unless they were essential workers had completely changed the dynamics and the financial viability of the sector.

I have confidence that this [support package] will keep the childcare centres open ... that means all of them, he told ABC radio.
After a weekend of confusion with contradictory advice to parents about access to childcare, the new tightened rules have been clarified by the Victorian government.

Children can only attend childcare, kindergarten and early childhood services if at least one parent or guardian is an authorised worker who cant make alternative supervision arrangements, regardless of whether they are working from home or not.

The rule changes begin on Tuesday. Credit:Peter Braig

This is different to the rules for school-aged children. School children cannot attend if a parent is an authorised worker who is also working from home.

Here is some relevant information from the Victorian governments website. This story will be updated when new information, particularly concerning childcare fees, is revealed.
Kabul/Washington: A firefight erupted at Kabul airport on Monday when Afghan guards exchanged fire with unidentified gunmen and one guard was killed during the clash, which involved US and German soldiers, Germanys military said.

Thousands of Afghans and foreigners have been thronging the airport for days, hoping to catch a flight out after Taliban fighters captured Kabul on August 15.

US Marines and Norwegian coalition forces assist with security at a checkpoint at the Kabul airport. A firefight on Monday left an Afghan guard dead. Credit:AP

Twenty people have been killed in the chaos at the airport, most in shootings and stampedes, as US and international forces try to evacuate citizens and vulnerable Afghans.

CNN said the clash began when a sniper outside the airport fired at Afghan guards, who are mostly former government soldiers helping US forces, near the airports north gate.
Washington: The US has given full approval to Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine, a milestone that could lift public confidence in the shots and spur more companies, universities and local governments to make vaccinations mandatory.

The Pentagon immediately announced it will press ahead with plans to require members of the military to get the vaccine.

Just over half of the US population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Credit:Getty Images

The formula made by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech now carries the strongest endorsement from the Food and Drug Administration, which has never had so much evidence to judge a shots safety.

More than 200 million Pfizer doses have been administered in the US  and hundreds of millions more worldwide  since December. But up to now, they were dispensed in the US under what is known as emergency use authorisation from the FDA.
Fact check: Ivermectin is not a proven treatment for COVID-19 The claim: Ivermectin is an effective treatment for COVID-19 Several US states have logged 1 million coronavirus cases as the highly contagious Delta variant continues to wreak havoc across the country. To slow the spread of the virus, public health officials are encouraging Americans to get vaccinated. But on social media, some have hatched a different plan to treat COVID-19: using anti-parasite products designed for farm animals. Less than an hour after taking Ivermectin paste per my body weight I was mostly symptom free, reads an August 8 testimonial on Facebook. Was in bad shape until then!

The post, which includes a photo of an apple-flavoured paste for treating parasites in horses, only accumulated about 200 shares within three days. But similar posts touting ivermectin have been widely shared across platforms, and farm supply stores across the country are running low on anti-parasitics for horses, cows and pigs. [Hydroxychloroquine] and treatments like ivermectin cure coronavirus within days. Always has, an Instagram user wrote on August 4. They dont. There is no evidence that ivermectin is effective for treatment, Dr Krutika Kuppalli, an assistant professor at the Medical University of South Carolina, said in an email. USA TODAY reached out to the social media users who shared the claim for comment. One of them, Shayne Ward, said in a Facebook message that hes heard countless stories of people that Ivermectin has helped get over COVID.

Fact Check that! he wrote. Ivermectin not proven to treat COVID-19 Ivermectin has been promoted as a COVID-19 cure throughout the pandemic. Scientists are still studying whether the drug could be used as a treatment, but so far theres little data to suggest its effective against COVID-19. Ivermectin is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration to treat certain kinds of parasites and neglected tropical diseases, including scabies and parasitic worms. It is not approved to treat any viruses. Some limited studies have suggested ivermectin could help treat COVID-19. But other, more rigorous research has found little or no impact.

The reason for the interest in ivermectin is that studies in the lab have shown it can block viruses from multiplying in experimental settings  i.e. in a petri dish  and so people hoped this would mean it could help treat COVID-19 in people too, Dr Denise McCulloch, an infectious disease specialist with the University of Washingtons School of Medicine, said in an email. Unfortunately, the few high-quality studies that have been done to date do not demonstrate a beneficial effect of ivermectin when it is used in people with COVID-19. Two of the highest-quality studies available include a double-blind, randomised trial in Colombia and a meta-analysis of 14 studies involving more than 1600 participants, McCulloch said. The Colombia study found that, among adults with mild COVID-19 cases, a five-day course of ivermectin did not significantly improve the time to resolution of symptoms. The meta-analysis, published in late July, concluded that the reliable evidence available does not support the use of ivermectin for treatment or prevention of COVID19 outside of welldesigned randomised trials. Those findings have been clouded by the publication of lower-quality studies and research with potential sources of bias, experts say. One non-peer reviewed study cited widely by ivermectin proponents was posted on Research Square in November. The preprint platform withdrew the study in July due to an expression of concern communicated directly to our staff.

A peer-reviewed meta-analysis of 15 trials, published in the July/August issue of the American Journal of Therapeutics, found that large reductions in COVID-19 deaths are possible using ivermectin. But experts told PolitiFact, an independent fact-checking outlet, that some of the trials the study included were not high-quality, and some of its authors were affiliated with a pro-ivermectin group. Absent more randomised, controlled clinical trials, scientists remain sceptical about the benefits of ivermectin in treating COVID-19. To extrapolate from how much drug is needed to work in the test tube to how much is required to work in a human being against the virus makes these trials and all the meta-reviews published less than worthless  its dangerous, Dr Benhur Lee, a microbiology professor at Mount Sinais Icahn School of Medicine, said in an email. Officials say drug should only be used within clinical trials

Public health officials and pharmaceutical companies have advised against taking ivermectin to treat COVID-19. The FDA said in April 2020 that people should not take ivermectin unless its prescribed to them by a licensed health care provider and is obtained through a legitimate source. The agency reiterated that position in March. The FDA has not reviewed data to support use of ivermectin in COVID-19 patients to treat or to prevent COVID-19; however, some initial research is underway, the FDA says on its website. Taking a drug for an unapproved use can be very dangerous. The FDA warns that ivermectin products for animals can be toxic to humans due to their high concentration of the drug. ABC News reported in February that there had been an uptick in calls to poison control centres related to ivermectin. The World Health Organisation has also warned against using ivermectin to treat COVID-19, saying the drug should only be used within clinical trials. Merck, the pharmaceutical company that makes ivermectin, said in February it had found no scientific basis for a potential therapeutic effect against COVID-19 from pre-clinical studies.
Van Buren, AR (72956)

Today

Sunshine and a few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 99F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph..

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Mostly clear. Low 72F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.
Up for debate:

Live legislation tracker

Check out the latest developments on bills pending before state lawmakers in four key topics.
A "help wanted" sign is taped to a sign outside a motel Wednesday, May 26, 2021, in Wells, Maine. Americas tourist destinations are facing a severe worker shortage just as theyre trying to rebound from a devastating year lost to the pandemic.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif. gavels as the House votes 232-196 to pass resolution on impeachment procedure to move forward into the next phase of the impeachment inquiry into President Trump in the House Chamber on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019.
A "Now Hiring" sign hangs on the front wall of a Harbor Freight Tools store Dec. 10, 2020, in Manchester, New Hampshire.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy delivers his fiscal 2022 budget address at the Trenton War Memorial. The taped address was broadcast Feb. 23, 2021.
UNM's O'Donnell: Outdoor recreation alone probably won't be enough to save many rural places
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks Aug. 23, 2021, during his prerecorded "farewell address" ahead of his planned resignation in the wake of sexual harassment allegations.
A vaccination record card is shown during a COVID-19 vaccination drive for Spring Branch Independent School District education workers Tuesday, March 16, 2021, in Houston. School employees who registered were given the Pfizer vaccine.
Jacob Blake is seen walking away from Kenosha Police in a video from August 23, 2020.
Voters wait in line Nov. 3, 2020, outside a pavilion at Center Street Park shortly before the polling site opened on Election Day in Milwaukee.
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Governor Kate Brown today ordered all flags at Oregon public institutions to be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Wednesday, August 25, in honor of Oregon State Police (OSP) Sergeant John Burright.

Sgt. Burright died on May 4 after an almost 20-year fight with disabling injuries sustained on September 4, 2001, in the line of duty while he was assisting a driver on I-5; he retired from OSP in 2002 due to his injuries. OSP Senior Trooper Maria Mingano and Albany Police Officer Jason Hoerauf were killed the day of the incident. Sgt. Burrights death represents Oregon State Polices 35th line-of-duty death.

This flag order applies to the date of Sgt. Burrights memorial service, August 25, at the Salem Armory. The service is open to the public, and there will be will be an emergency vehicle procession from Albany to the Salem Armory prior to the start.

"Sergeant John Burright's service and dedication to Oregon is not forgotten," Brown said. "My heart goes out to his family and loved ones, and I extend my sincere appreciation, and the gratitude of all Oregonians, for his many years of service to the communities of Roseburg, Albany, and Salem."

Memorial Service: OSP Sgt. John Burright A public memorial service for Oregon State Police Sergeant John Burright will be held at 1 p

Procession

An emergency vehicle procession in honor of Oregon State Police Sergeant John Burright is scheduled to begin at 10:20 a.m. Wednesday, August 25.

The procession will be starting at the Linn County Fairgrounds, located at 3700 Knox Butte Road E in Albany. Members of the public are not allowed to participate in the procession but are welcome to view the procession from sidewalks and overpasses along the route.

The procession is expected to include a large number of public safety vehicles. The attached map is the exact route of the procession from the Linn County Fairgrounds past the Oregon State Police Albany Patrol Office, where Sgt. Burright spent most of his career. The procession then continues north on Interstate 5 to the Salem Armory for the memorial service.

During the procession, area travelers should be prepared for road closures, traffic congestion, and long delays along the route, especially on I-5 between Albany and Salem.

If you are planning on driving in these areas between the hours of 10 a.m. through 12 p.m. we encourage you to take an alternative route or delay traveling until the events have ended.

Members of the public attending the memorial service at the Salem Armory are encouraged to carpool, walk, or ride a bicycle. Public parking is available but limited
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Batavia, NY (14020)

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Partly cloudy skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. High around 70F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph..

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Towanda, PA (18848)

Today

Periods of rain. Potential for flooding rains. High 66F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall possibly over one inch..

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Rain ending this evening. Partial clearing overnight. Low 54F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible.
Forest City, NC (28043)

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Showers with the chance of some thunder during the morning hours, then skies turning partly cloudy during the afternoon. High around 80F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

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East Los Angeles - A man who was shot this afternoon on Whittier Boulevard was pronounced dead at a hospital. It's the seventh homicide in less than two months in East LA.

The shooting happened around 4:25 p.m. in the 4900 block of Whittier Boulevard, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

The shooter remains at large, according to Deputy Eva Jimenez. No suspect description was available.

A motive was unknown.

Anyone with information on this shooting was asked to call the LASD's homicide unit at 323-890-5500. Tipsters can also call Crime Stoppers at 800-222- 8477.

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The other recent fatal shootings:

 Wednesday, Aug. 11: A man was shot to death in what authorities say is an illegal marijuana dispensary.

 Thursday, Aug. 5: A man was found shot to death in the 4300 block of Floral Drive.

 Sunday, Aug. 1: 33-year-old Jimmie Mercadel was shot and killed in the 1200 block of South McDonnell Avenue.

 Friday, July 16: A man in his 40s was fatally shot in the 900 block of South Bonnie Beach Place.

 Sunday July 11: A man was killed in the 5700 block of Whittier Boulevard.

 Sunday, July 5: 18-year-old Diego Ortega-Reza was apparently shot at random driving home from a 4th of July party.
2 Rare White Orcas Swimming Side by Side Surprise Whale Watchers off the Coast of Japan

In what might be considered a very rare sighting, whale watchers off the coast of Japan spotted two white orcas swimming side by side, with one of them even being unknown to the crew, amid a pod of 10 orcas.

On July 24, three crew members, the boats captain, and about 40 guests were exploring a 20-mile stretch of water in the Nemuro Strait between Rausua UNESCO World Natural Heritage siteand Kunashiri Island, Mai Ogawa of Gojiraiwa-Kanko tour company explained.

I am a member of the crew [and a] guide, but actually I was working at the office on that day, 31-year-old Mai, who lives in Rausu, told The Epoch Times.

Describing the moment further, Mai said that the team were leaving the Rausu port and running offshore. When running about three miles, we discovered a pod of orcas.

Two white orcas, one older and another younger, soon became visible; judged to be a male and a female from the size of their bodies and dorsal fins.

Whale watchers were really surprised. They were excited, said Mai; Most of the guests have never seen a wild orca before they come here.

The captain and crew were more excited than the guests, she admitted, because they know white orca sightings are a very rare occurrence. Gojiraiwa-Kanko crews have previously reported a white orca in 2019, but havent seen one since, and remain unsure whether this was the same whale.

We are not sure that they [have] albinism or leucism, Mai said of the white pair. True albinos will have completely white skin and red eyes, but we [could not] observe clearly.

Albinism is an inherited trait characterized by a lack of melanin production. Leucism, by contrast, is a genetic mutation that inhibits the deposit of melanin in the skin and hair, or fur, and can appear as patches on the body.

Just before midday on July 24, said Mai, additional orca pods came together to form one large pod. Gojiraiwa-Kanko shared photos and a video of the orcas on Instagram.

In close-up shots, it is possible to see dark, visible scarring of unknown origin on the torso of the younger white orca due to the lack of pigmentation in the skin. While eye-catching to wildlife lovers, albinism and leucism may put wild animals at a disadvantage by making them more visible to both prey and potential predators.

Mai was surprised and delighted that the tour companys social media posts went global. I would like so many people to watch this video and photos, she told The Epoch Times, adding, When the coronavirus situation settles down, please come to visit here and join us!

According to marine biologist Stephanie Hayes, only around 10 white orca sightings have ever been recorded. Yet, more sightings mean more opportunities to study white orcas, their behavior, and how to protect them.

Speaking to Canadas CBC News, Hayes said, It would be really amazing to be able to answer basic questions about killer whales with leucism and just to be able to watch a wonderful pod grow.

Captain Yuki Hasegawa of Shiretoko Nature Cruise boat told The Asahi Shimbun that whale watchers are seeing more orcas in 2021 than usual. Yet two white individuals swimming side by side, he claimed, may be unprecedented in the world.

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
A car is among debris that washed up against a bridge over a stream in Waverly, Tenn., on Aug. 22, 2021. (Mark Humphrey/AP Photo)

21 Dead, Scores Missing After Flash Floods Hit Tennessee

At least 21 people were killed and roughly 20 others are missing after severe flash floods swept through Humphreys County in Middle Tennessee, authorities said on Aug. 22.

Weve experienced devastating loss of life over the last couple days, Grant Gillespie, Waverly, Tennessee, police and fire chief, told reporters at a press briefing.

Grey Collier, public information officer for the countys emergency management efforts, told The Epoch Times that there are 21 confirmed fatalities and approximately 20 other people missing. Earlier reports of 22 deaths were due to a computer error, she said.

The Waverly Department of Public Safety shared an updated list of names of the missing residents, accurate as of 6:45 p.m. ET on Aug. 22, after initially releasing a list of more than 40 names.

I would expect, given the number of fatalities, that were going to see mostly recovery efforts at this point, rather than rescue efforts, Tennessee Emergency Management Director Patrick Sheehan said.

Flood-damaged areas are shown from a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter flown by the Tennessee National Guard in Waverly, Tenn., on Aug. 22, 2021. (Alan Poizner-Pool/Getty Images)

Chief Deputy Rob Edwards of the Humphreys County Sheriffs Office told The New York Times that authorities are currently conducting door-to-door checks in the rural county and that he expects the death toll to rise. He said children were among those killed, including 7-month-old twins.

Collier told The Epoch Times that recovery efforts are ongoing.

The catastrophic flooding, which struck on Aug. 21, destroyed cellphone towers and telephone lines, with up to 17 inches of rain falling in less than 24 hours, breaking the state record for one-day rainfall by more than 3 inches, the National Weather Service stated.

The hardest-hit areas saw double the amount of rain that areas of Middle Tennessee had seen in the previous worst-case scenario for flooding, meteorologists said.

It is a devastating picture of loss and heartache, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said during a press briefing on Aug. 22.

The Republican governor had visited the affected areas earlier.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) talks with Joseph Mroczkowski during a tour of areas that suffered damage from catastrophic floods in Waverly, Tenn., on Aug. 22, 2021. (Alan Poizner-Pool/Getty Images)

The Humphreys County Sheriffs Office Facebook page quickly filled with people looking for missing friends and family. GoFundMe pages were made asking for help for funeral expenses for the dead, including the 7-month-old twins who were swept from their fathers arms as he tried to carry them all to safety, according to surviving family members.

President Joe Biden, at the beginning of a news conference on Tropical Storm Henris impact on New England, offered condolences to the people of Tennessee and directed federal disaster officials to work with the governor and offer assistance.

I want to begin by expressing my deepest condolences for the sudden and tragic loss of life due to this flash flood, Biden said. Ive asked the administrator to speak to Gov. Lee of Tennessee, right away, and will offer any assistance they need for this terrible moment.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
U.S. soldiers sit on a wall as Afghans gather on a roadside near the military part of the airport in Kabul on Aug. 20, 2021. (Wakil Kohsar/AFP)

Afghan Guard Killed in Firefight at Kabul Airport, Says German Military

German and U.S. soldiers have been involved in a firefight at Kabul airport between Afghan guards and an unidentified gunman, according to Germanys military.

One Afghan guard was killed in the exchange of fire on Aug. 23, which according to CNN began when a sniper outside the airport fired at Afghan security forces, who are assisting U.S. and international troops at the airport.

Twenty people have died in the chaos at the airport in recent days as crowds of Afghans and foreigners throng the gates and perimeters, following a lightning victory for the Taliban. Some have been trampled to death as they try to escape the country in fear of reprisals for assisting Western troops.

Two NATO officials at the airport said the situation was under control following the firefight.

U.S. and German forces were involved in the clash, Germanys military said. Three Afghan guards were being treated at a field hospital in the airport, it said.

Taliban members beat back crowds at the airport on Aug. 22, the day after seven died in a crush at the airport gates, desperate to board the last planes before the final withdrawal of foreign troops in one weeks time.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will tomorrow appeal to U.S. President Joe Biden for an extension to the Aug. 31 withdrawal deadline during an emergency G-7 meeting, according to UK armed forces minister James Heappey.

Biden has previously indicated that troops may stay past the deadline to oversee the evacuation.

A Marine with the 24th Marine Expeditionary unit passes out water to evacuees during the evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport during the evacuation in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Aug. 21, 2021. (Isaiah Campbell/U.S. Marine Corps via Getty Images)

However, the Taliban has now warned that there would be consequences if Biden delays that withdrawal.

Taliban spokesperson Suhail Shaheen told Sky News: Its a red line. President Biden announced that on 31 August they would withdraw all their military forces. So if they extend it that means they are extending occupation while there is no need for that.

He added: If the U.S. or UK were to seek additional time to continue evacuationsthe answer is no. Or there would be consequences.

It will create mistrust between us. If they are intent on continuing the occupation it will provoke a reaction.

The Taliban has begun talks on forming a government, while its forces focus on the last pockets of opposition and its spokesmen try to paint a picture of a more moderate, tolerant regime than the one of 20 years ago.

Anti-Taliban leader Ahmad Massoud said on Aug. 23 he hoped to hold talks with the Taliban, but that his forces were ready to fight in the Panjshir valley.

The Panjshir valley, a stronghold of Taliban opponents, is now surrounded by Taliban forces, which have also retaken three districts in the northern province of Baghlan, which opposition forces briefly captured.

Reuters and PA contributed to this report.
Medical support personnel help an Afghan mother and family off a U.S. Air Force C-17, moments after she delivered a child aboard the aircraft upon landing at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, on Aug. 21, 2021. (U.S. Air Mobility Command via Reuters)

Afghan Refugee Gives Birth on US Evacuation Plane

WASHINGTONAn Afghan woman gave birth on board a U.S. evacuation plane on Saturday, moments after landing at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, the U.S. Air Force said.

The woman delivered a baby girl in the cargo bay of an Air Force C-17 aircraft after going into labor and experiencing complications during the flight, U.S. Air Mobility Command said on Twitter.

The aircraft commander decided to descend in altitude to increase air pressure in the aircraft, which helped stabilize and save the mothers life, the tweet said.

The woman was part of a group fleeing the Taliban in Afghanistan and was on the second stage of an evacuation flight that had taken off from a base in the Middle East.

The mother and baby were transported to a medical facility and were in good condition, the tweet said.

By Linda So
Then-vice-presidential candidate Amrullah Saleh speaks during the presidential election campaign in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Sept. 13, 2019. (Omar Sobhani/Reuters)

Afghan Vice President Says He Is Legitimate Caretaker President, Seeks Support and Consensus

Afghan Vice President Amrullah Saleh said on Twitter on Aug. 17 that he has remained in Afghanistan after President Ashraf Ghani fled the country, and that with the absence of Ghani, he is reaching out to all leaders to secure their support and consensus as the legitimate caretaker president.

He cited the countrys constitution, adopted in 2004, as the document that was guiding his statement.

Nations must respect the rule of law, not violence, he posted to Twitter on Aug. 19. Afghanistan is too big for Pakistan to swallow and too big for Talibs to govern. Dont let your histories have a chapter on humiliation and bowing to terror groups, he wrote in a post seemingly directed at Afghanistans various tribal leaders.

Clarity: As per d constitution of Afg, in absence, escape, resignation or death of the President the FVP becomes the caretaker President. I am currently inside my country & am the legitimate care taker President. Am reaching out to all leaders to secure their support & consensus.  Amrullah Saleh (@AmrullahSaleh2) August 17, 2021

Saleh has since joined with Ahmad Massoud to lead remnants of Afghan government forces and other militia groups, including Defense Minister General Bismillah Mohammadi, in mounting a resistance to the Taliban from the Panjshir valley. The valley remains free of the Taliban.

Massoud is the son of the former anti-Soviet mujahedeen commander Ahmad Shah Massoud.

In an op ed published in The Washington Post on Aug. 18, Massoud said America and its democratic allies were a free Afghanistans only remaining hope.

There is still much that you can do to aid the cause of freedom, he wrote, seeking support from the Biden administration and its allies for more weapons, more ammunition, and more supplies.

Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai and peace council chief Abdullah Abdullah also remain in the country. They have been negotiating with the Taliban in Kabul since Ghanis flight out.
Vice President of Afghanistan Amrullah Saleh speaks during a function at the Afghan presidential palace in Kabul, on Aug. 4, 2021. (Sajjad Hussain/AFP via Getty Images)

Talibans Belief in God Is Twisted and Murderous, Afghan Vice President Says

Afghan Vice President Amrullah Saleh said on Friday that the Taliban terrorist group, which seized control of Kabul on Aug. 15, holds a belief in God that is twisted and murderous.

This is the difference between us and the Taliban, Saleh told Fox Nation host Lara Logan. We believe that God is the creator of all and everybody, and unfortunately the Taliban believe that God looks at them through one prism which is shiny and bright.

The Islamic extremist group believes God is happy with the Taliban, but looks at everybody else through a very dark window and is very angry with everybody else  and God tells the Taliban, Keep killing people, the more you kill, the wider the gates of the heaven will be open for you, Saleh said.

Saleh has remained in Afghanistan after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled Kabul as the Taliban took over the capital. He said on Twitter on Aug. 17 that he has remained to fulfill his duty as the caretaker president as outlined in the countrys constitution, adopted in 2004.

Nations must respect the rule of law, not violence, he posted to Twitter on Aug. 19. Afghanistan is too big for Pakistan to swallow and too big for Talibs to govern. Dont let your histories have a chapter on humiliation and bowing to terror groups, he wrote in a post seemingly directed at Afghanistans various tribal leaders.

He has since vowed to resist the Taliban from the Panjshir valley, together with Ahmad Shah Massoud, the son of a former anti-Soviet mujahedeen commander.

Remnants of Afghan government forces and other militia groups have gathered in the Panjshir valley, including Defense Minister General Bismillah Mohammadi, declaring the valley the last free citadel in Afghanistan.

Massoud said America and its democratic allies were a free Afghanistans only remaining hope in an op-ed published in The Washington Post on Aug. 18. There is still much that you can do to aid the cause of freedom, he wrote. [W]e need more weapons, more ammunition, and more supplies.

Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai and peace council chief Abdullah Abdullah also remain in the country. They have been negotiating with the Taliban in Kabul since Ghanis flight out.

Saleh also told host Lara Logan that the Taliban is not to be trusted. There are few differences ideologically between ISIS, al-Qaeda, and the Taliban, he said.

Ideologically, the difference between ISIS, al-Qaeda, and the Taliban is the difference between the taste of Coke and Pepsi, he said. If you remove the labels, can you say which one is Coke and which one is Pepsi?

The Taliban believe that they can conquer, and believe that their jihadist literature will prevail, he added.

As the Biden administration mulls potentially extending the U.S. presidents self-imposed Aug. 31 deadline to withdraw the remaining troops from Afghanistan, a spokesperson for the terrorist group warned early on Monday that there will be consequences for doing so.

Since Aug. 14, the military has evacuated 28,000 people from Kabul, the president said on Sunday.

Our hope is we will not have to extend, but there are going to be discussions, I suspect, on how far along we are in the process, Biden said.

Melanie Sun contributed to this report.
The empty departure drop off area at the Sydney domestic airport Qantas terminal is seen in Sydney, Australia on June 27, 2021. (Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Airport and Port Security To Be Ramped Up: Home Affairs

The federal government is tightening the rules for airport baggage handlers and port workers to bar people with criminal convictions from accessing secure areas.

The changes to eligibility criteria for people holding aviation or maritime security identification cards means serious criminals will no longer be able to import illicit goods through airports, seaports or offshore facilities.

The Morrison government will not let people in positions of trust at our airports and seaports abuse that trust to import weapons, drugs, and other illicit substances into Australia, Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews said on Monday.

Weve made sensible changes to ensure that people with serious criminal convictions are ineligible to hold an ASIC or MSIC (ID card), delivering on a key recommendation of the National Ice Taskforce.

Baggage handlers load a Qantas plane at Adelaide Airport, Australia on April 1, 2020. (Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images).

More plans are afoot to make applicants undergo criminal intelligence assessments as part of the background checks process to catch people with links to serious and organised crime groups.

Australians rightly expect that people with connections to organised crime are not given unescorted access to runways and cargo ships, Andrews said in a statement.

The changes affect workers with access to secure areas of airports, including baggage handlers, security guards and passenger screening officers.

Container trucks arrive to be unloaded at Port Botanys maritime dock near Sydney on November 26, 2008. (Photo credit should read GREG WOOD/AFP via Getty Images)

They will also impact those with access to maritime security zones such as port, port facility or port service workers, stevedores, truck drivers, some seafarers and offshore oil and gas facility workers.
A red Apple logo is seen on the Apple store on World AIDS Day, December 1, 2015 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. (Xu Kangping/VCG/Getty Images)

Apples China Censorship Sneaks Into Hong Kong and Taiwan: Report

Apples list of censored words is sneaking into their services offered in both Hong Kong and Taiwan. The revelation comes from a recent report that shows the tech giants tendency to toe the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) line is now becoming standard in regions where the regime wishes to assert its control.

Apple widely censors political content in mainland China, including broad references to Chinese leadership, Chinas political system, names of dissidents, independent news organizations, and general terms relating to democracy and human rights, said CitizenLab in a report issued on Aug. 18.

Apple offers services to engrave text, numbers, and emojis on iPhones, iPads, AirPods, and other products.

Now, the CCPs censorship bleeds into Hong Kong and Taiwan, researchers said after analyzing keywords filtering rules of engravings across six different regions.

Citizenlab, an independent research group based at the University of Toronto, said that Apple hasnt offered an explicit list of the banned phrases in the engraving service.

Researchers found 1,105 keyword filtering rules in mainland China, followed by 542 in Hong Kong, 397 in Taiwan. In contrast, the figures in Japan, Canada, and the US range between 170 to 200.

However, the differences in motivation are more noteworthy than the varying size of keyword lists, according to the report.

Blocked words in Japan, Canada, and the United States are related to vulgar, racist, or derogatory content. Government-mandated political censorship is rare, the report said.

But in mainland China, over 40 percent of the keywords refused in engraving services are politically motivated, such as the Chinese characters for freedom of the press.

The Chinese names of The Epoch Times and Voice of America are among the censored contexts.

A screenshot from apple.com, taken on August 21, 2021, shows the Chinese leaders name, Xi Jinping, is blocked in Taiwan. (Screenshot via apple.com)

Among the 458 political keywords Apple censors in mainland China, Apple censors 174 in Hong Kong and 29 in Taiwan, according to the report.

Apple censored the names of the CCPs top leadership, including current leader Xi Jinping and former leader Mao Zedong. The names, written in both simplified Chinese characters and traditional ones, were banned.

Similarly, the name Falun Gong, a spiritual practice suppressed by the CCP, is also censored in the former British colony Hong Kong and self-ruled Taiwan.

Much of this censorship exceeds Apples legal obligations in Hong Kong and we are aware of no legal justification for the political censorship of content in Taiwan, the researchers said.

Align With Human Rights Norms

CitizenLab suggests that Apple would have no obvious motivation to censor some words because the rules are applied inconsistently across the six regions.

Nevertheless, they still accused Apple of the lack of transparency in Apples content moderation policies and the unexplained extension of politically motivated moderation rules from one region to another.

The public is also concerned about the multinational companys compliance with the regimes requirements, which Apple repeatedly cites as a part of doing business in China.

Previous research indicated that the tech giant removed apps from its App Store in China according to the Regimes orders, and blocked hundreds of apps deemed sensitive by the CCP.

The new privacy protection feature Apple announced in June will not apply to countries like China.

Despite the authorities close scrutiny, Apple has seen the highest-ever June quarter revenue this year, which is driven by robust sales in the Chinese market.

While presenting a big profit, the regime would ultimately demand companies find a balance between reaching into Chinas domestic market and acquiescing to government pressures and content regulations, including those requiring the censorship of political speech, according to the report.

Companies should first and foremost align their content moderation practices with international human rights norms when faced with conflicting national and regional requirements.

The Apple logo is seen on the window of an Apple Store in Beijing, China, on Jan. 7, 2019. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

Apples chief privacy officer, Jane Horvath, said the words had been censored according to local laws, rules, and regulations of the countries and regions where we personalize and where we ship in a letter that responded to the director of the Citizen Lab on Aug. 17.

Horvath claimed there may be instances of requests being mistakenly rejected.

And we have a process in place to review and correct those situations when they occur. She said.
Beijing Says the US Cannot Abandon Afghanistan Amid Anti-American Propaganda Offensive

The Chinese regime says the United States cant simply walk away from the Afghanistan chaos, in its latest salvo directed at Washington amid an aggressive propaganda campaign leveraging the crisis.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin on Aug. 23 cast the United States as the chief root cause and biggest factor for the unfolding instability in Afghanistan, saying that the United States should not simply take to its heels but should instead provide reconstruction and humanitarian aid.

After the Talibans rapid takeover of the country, Beijing has been quick to capitalize on the crisis to tarnish U.S. leadership on the world stage.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin takes a question at the Foreign Ministry briefing in Beijing on Nov. 9, 2020. (Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images)

The Chinese regime also sees an opportunity to fill the void left by the United States in an area that Beijing considers its own backyardAfghanistan shares a 47-mile border with Chinas Xinjiang. But the regime is also wary that instability in the country could spill over to neighboring Pakistan and Central Asia and potentially make its way to the Chinese border.

Since Afghanistans fall to the Taliban, the group and Beijing have both expressed a desire to stay on friendly terms. The Chinese regime, falling short of recognizing the group as the new ruler, has previously described the Taliban takeover as the will and choice of the Afghan people. Wang, in the Aug. 23 press briefing, promised that Beijing would play an active role in promoting peace in Afghanistan and helping the nation to achieve self-development.

The Taliban last week expressed hopes that Beijing could contribute to the countrys rebuilding efforts, with a spokesperson telling Chinese state media that the group had been in touch with a Chinese delegate Beijing recently appointed to liaise with the new regime.

But ChinaTaliban relations will be more pragmatic in nature than the warm friendship portrayed by Chinese state media, analysts say.

Frank Lehberger, sinologist and a senior research fellow with India-based Usanas Foundation, said the Taliban will only exert efforts to accommodate the wishes of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) when the groups own demands are appeased; right now, the Talibans main concern is cash flow.

As long as the CCP leadership quickly pays the amounts of foreign currencies or provides all the infrastructure investments that the Afghanistan Taliban want  then the Taliban will be nice to China, he told The Epoch Times.

Taliban fighters patrol in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Aug. 19, 2021. (Rahmat Gul/AP Photo)

But if the CCP is unwilling or unable to provide the expected finances in time, or if China does anything that does not please the Taliban, then the Taliban will very fast bite the Chinese hands that feed them.

Money is also a pressing challenge that the Taliban faces in cementing its control. The United States has blocked the Talibans access to billions of dollars in Afghan federal reserves that are held in U.S. bank accounts, and the International Monetary Fund has withheld $460 million in aid. This financial pressure leaves the United States with a potential leverage point as tensions continue to surge.

Adding to the complexity, the Chinese regime has long-held fears that the country could harbor Uyghur militants who may launch attacks into Chinas far west Xinjiang region, home to Uyghur Muslims that the regime has repressed in an expansive campaign purportedly to eliminate terrorism.

The Taliban last month assured Beijing that it would never allow any force to use the Afghan territory to engage in acts detrimental to China, but it remains unclear how much control the group can exercise over the country to follow through with this pledge.
BGI staff testing for the CCP virus (COVID-19). The CCP's leading gene technology company, BGI Group, has been sued for patent infringement in several countries by Illumina, a multinational giant in gene sequencing. (STR/AFP)

BGIs Goal: Gather Genetic Data Worldwide to Build a Database for the CCPs Military (Part 3)

News Analysis

This is the third of three articles that introduce readers to the research and mission of BGI Group, Chinas leading genome sequencing company with customers around the globe. Its research involves collecting, studying, and altering human and animal genes to facilitate such things as biochemical weapons development and even customizing humans.



The media in Great Britain, the United States, and Germany have reported that BGI Group, the Chinese genetic technology leader, has been working with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and military to identify and study the genetic characteristics of different populations. This has involved the genetic testing of millions of pregnant women from around the world.

In its stock market filings, BGI says it aims to help the ruling Communist Party achieve its goal to seize the commanding heights of international biotechnology competition and accomplish the globalization strategy of One Belt, One Road.

BGI acquired its advanced genetic sequencing technology from the United States and has since expanded its sequencing and other testing services globally. This includes the establishment of COVID-19 testing labs and selling prenatal genetic testing devices in many countries to expedite the collection of genetic and biological data. BGI also works with Chinese communication technology companies such as Huawei to establish a biological/medical big-data center where the data is used to manufacture biochemical weapons and genetically enhance Chinas military.

In its 2020 annual report, BGI claimed it had established a global footprint involving more than 100 countries and had partnerships with health authorities in more than 30 countries and regions. Its COVID-19 virus detection products are being sold in over 180 countries and it now operates more than 80 Fire Eye laboratories in over 30 overseas countries and regions.

The Epoch Times contacted the BGI Group Media Department by phone and email regarding the number of FireEye labs in the United States and the number and price of non-invasive prenatal tests. BGI confirmed receipt of the email but did not reply as of press time.

BGI Infiltrates the US and Collects Biological Data in Bulk

A recent report (pdf) by the U.S.-China Economic Security Review Commission (USCC) confirmed that since 2019, and on behalf of the CCP, BGI had infiltrated the United States to collect biological data from Americans.

But the infiltration actually started prior to this. In November 2011, BGI and the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) announced a partnership to conduct genomic research using BGIs genetic sequencing technology and CHOPs pediatric bio-database. BGI also partnered with the University of California, Davis, to establish a genetic sequencing center and utilize the universitys bio-database for research.

During this early period, BGI was issued an official certificate and license to analyze the genetic data of Americans. This occurred in 2015 and 2017 when the BGI Hong Kong Laboratory received a certificate from the College of American Pathologists (CAP) and a CLIA license issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Representatives of the USCC (pdf) believe this opened the door for CCP companies to infiltrate the genetic and health data of Americans.

A report published on July 7 by Reuters confirmed that BGI has been using its prenatal testing services to collect both metrics (nationality, height, weight) and genetic information from more than 8 million pregnant women worldwide. BGI admitted they store and reanalyze leftover blood samples and genetic data from prenatal tests, which are sold in at least 52 countries. The report also suggested this information could be used by the CCP for military research.

BGIs questionable operations are upsetting more than just the Americans. On July 10, the German Ministry of Health announced it was coordinating with the German Federal Ministries of the Interior and Justice, and the European Commission to conduct a thorough investigation of BGIs testing operations in Germany.

BGI Takes Control of the Gene Industry Chain by Acquiring a US Company

BGI has established a biomedical big data industry chain including genetic testing, generating data, analyzing data, and application development.

In a summit held in September 2015, Ye Yin, then-Vice President with BGI, spoke about four key aspects of biomedical big data: first, the source used to establish a specimen and sample database; second, the use of a genetic sequencer to transform the samples into workable data; third, the analysis of that data using cloud and supercomputers to discover relevant relationships; and finally, developing the applications for the big data.

BGIs source for step one collection of big data includes genetic tests, COVID-19 tests, and prenatal tests conducted in more than 100 countries, plus large-scale screening for the prevention of genetic diseases in China.

To facilitate step two gene sequencing, BGI obtained a loan of several hundred million yuan (tens of millions) from the China Development Bank in 2010. The funds were used to purchase 128 units of sequencing machines from Illumina, a leading multinational gene sequencing company, and start large-scale gene sequencing in China.

In order to control the industrys supply chain, in March 2013, BGIs subsidiary company, Beta Acquisition Corporation, acquired Complete Genomics (CG), a U.S. genetic sequencing technology company for $117.6 million. The acquisition was successful after Illumina withdrew from the bidding process due to allegations of monopoly by BGI. This would later provide the means for BGI to build its own gene sequencer.

In 2016, BGI spun off one of its subsidiaries, MGI, a sequencer developer. MGI had begun working to reduce its gene sequencing costs to compete with Illumina and Thermo Fisher Scientific, two of BGIs largest competitors. Then in 2018, Ye, now BGIs CEO, announced their sequencing costs per genome were the lowest in the industry. This was accomplished, he said, by reducing consumable costs and developing their own sequencing platform.

Not everyone was pleased with BGIs acquisition of CG. In an article published by the San Jose Mercury News before the acquisition, two members of the USCC, Michael Wessel and Larry Wortzel, said, The transaction raises very serious national security issues. They were referring to how advances in genomic technology could allow bioweapons to target specific populations, groups, or even individuals.

BGIs step three computation and analysis of big data is done in collaboration with Huawei Cloud, which has close relations with the CCP military. BGI also uses high-speed computers from the state-owned company Sugon. Sugon is deeply involved in the CCPs public security surveillance system and in June of 2019, was placed on the U.S. Export Control Entity List.

BGI Sued in Multiple Countries for Copyright Infringement

In 2010 and 2012, Illumina sued CG for alleged copyright infringement. The two companies reached a settlement agreement in 2013. Then in 2019, Illumina sued both CG and MGI for repeated patent infringements in 11 jurisdictions, including the United States, UK, Hong Kong, Germany, Sweden, and Switzerland.

In June of 2020, a U.S. court issued a preliminary injunction to prevent BGI from marketing, selling, and distributing their materials and sequencing equipment until it could ascertain whether the technology used had been stolen from Illumina.

In January of this year, the Patent Court within the UKs High Court of Justice ruled that two of BGIs subsidiaries, MGI and MGI Tech in Latvia, infringed on four of Illuminas patents. Then in February, Illumina sued MGI in Hong Kong for the same illegal practices. Until a ruling could be provided, the court required MGI to sign an agreement saying they would immediately halt their illegal practices.

In retaliation for the attacks against them, BGI filed a lawsuit in a California District Court alleging that Illumina violated U.S. federal antitrust laws and Californias unfair competition laws. The matter has not yet been resolved.
President Joe Biden speaks during an update on the situation in Afghanistan and the effects of Tropical Storm Henri at the White House on Aug. 22, 2021. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

Biden: Afghan Evacuation Has Long Way to Go, Much Could Still Go Wrong

President Joe Biden said on Aug. 22 that his administration is hoping the U.S.-led Afghanistan evacuation will end by the self-imposed Aug. 31 deadline, adding that there is still a long way to go and a lot could still go wrong.

Speaking at the White House, Biden said there have been discussions among those in the White House and the military to potentially extend the operation past Aug. 31. But the first priority, he said, is to evacuate Americans, stressing that his administration is working hard and as fast as we can to get people out. Thats our mission. Thats our goal.

Over the weekend, the evacuation was marred by more deaths and chaos as throngs of people attempted to crowd into the Kabul airportone of the few evacuation points in Afghanistan. The UK Ministry of Defense confirmed on Aug. 22 that at least seven people died during the crush, according to The Associated Press.

Since the Taliban terrorist organization took over the country last week, Biden has faced unprecedented criticism from a number of angles on how his administration is handling the pullout and military-led evacuation. In public comments, the president has repeatedly been on the defensive and said it was necessary to withdraw from Afghanistan now, although serious questions remain about the security situation on the ground.

Again on Aug. 22, Biden mounted a defense of his administration and argued there would be no way to evacuate this many people without pain and loss. So far, 28,000 people have been airlifted out of Kabul since Aug. 14, he said.

Afghans gather on a roadside near the military part of the airport in Kabul, hoping to flee from the country after the Talibans military takeover of Afghanistan, in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Aug. 20, 2021. (Wakil Kohsar/AFP via Getty Images)

Taliban terrorists stand guard along a road near the site of an Ashura procession in Herat, Afghanistan, on Aug. 19, 2021. (Aref Karimi/AFP via Getty Images)

We are proving that we can move thousands of people a day out of Kabul, but we have a long way to go and a lot could still go wrong in handling the evacuation, he said, adding that the Taliban havent attacked any U.S. military troops in Kabul.

Any American who wants to get home will get home, he said.

Over the past week, several of Bidens comments to the media and during press conferences have been contradicted by White House officials.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told news outlets on Aug. 22 that Americans who are trapped in Kabul are having tough encounters with the Taliban. That appeared to go against what Biden said two days earlier, when he told reporters he was unaware of any circumstance where American citizens arecarrying an American passportare trying to get through to the airport in Kabul.

Also during the Aug. 22 press conference, Biden didnt address reports of Americans or Afghans having issues with getting past Taliban checkpoints or people being crushed to death at the airport. He didnt mention a warning from the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan to American citizens on Aug. 21 that they shouldnt travel to the airport due to security threats nearby, although he did say that the security situation in the country is changing and that the ISIS terrorist group might try to exploit the situation and target innocent people.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Fox News on Aug. 22 that 8,000 people have been evacuated from Kabul on 60 flights in the previous 24 hours.

The Department of Defense ordered U.S. commercial airlines to provide flights to transport people who have flown out of Afghanistan to other bases around the Middle East and Europe.
Biden Calls on Companies to Mandate COVID-19 Vaccination

President Joe Biden said on Aug. 23 that U.S. companies should impose vaccination requirements.

Today Im calling on more companies in the private sector to step up with vaccine requirements that will reach millions more people. If youre a business leader, a nonprofit leader, a state or local leader, who has been waiting for full FDA approval to require vaccinations, I call on you now to do that, Biden said.

Require it. Do what I did last month. Require your employees to get vaccinated or face strict requirements.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued approval for Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine on Aug. 23, making it the first vaccine to receive approval from the drug regulator.

COVID-19 is the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.

Agency officials said clinical trial data show that the vaccine is effective in preventing infection from the virus, as well as limiting the severity of the disease and the cases of hospitalization, in regard to breakthrough infections.

Some companies, jurisdictions, and groups have been hesitating to mandate vaccines. One motivation, some said, was that no COVID-19 vaccines were approved by the FDA, aside from emergency use authorization.

Shortly after the FDAs announcement, New York mandated vaccines for teachers and other educators, New Jersey imposed requirements for educators and state workers, and the Pentagon mandated the Pfizer vaccine for service members.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, a top adviser to Biden, said earlier this month that he expected numerous mandates to be imposed once a vaccine received full FDA approval.

Biden issued new rules last month that require federal workers and contractors to get vaccinated or submit to regular COVID-19 testing.

Vaccination requirements have been around for decades. Students, health care professionals, our troops are typically required to receive vaccinations to prevent everything from polio to smallpox, measles, mumps, rubella, Biden said on Aug. 23. In fact, the reason most people in America dont worry about polio, smallpox, measles, mumps, and rubella today is because of vaccines. It only makes sense to require a vaccine to stop the spread of COVID-19.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters at the White House that administration officials had already started in recent weeks to push businesses to require vaccination.

Youve seen a number of senior officials be more forward-leaning, I should say, about the role that private sector can play in mandating vaccines or taking steps with their own workforces, she said. That is always going to be decisions for them to make. But some may assess, and some private sector companies have spoken out about, how final approval of the vaccine may help them take that additional step. So we are here, and we are here to be a resource as they have questions. But certainly, were hopeful this will help put in place additional measures around the country.

While Bidens order lets federal workers choose not to get a vaccine, the Departments of Health and Human Services and Veterans Affairs have mandated vaccines. People can only avoid getting a vaccine if they claim a medical or religious exemption and that claim is approved.

Asked if the president would mandate vaccines across the federal workforce, Psaki said she expected action to be left to individual agencies.

While the White House supports mandates, other officials and groups have questioned them.

The American Postal Workers Union was one of a number of unions to come out against a mandate in a recent statement,

If effectiveness of the vaccine against spread of Delta is unmeasured, and if natural immunity (from prior infection) works as well or better than the vaccine against Delta, whats the scientific basis for a COVID vaccine mandate that doesnt recognize natural immunity? Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) wrote on Twitter last week.

Massie and dozens of other members of the House sponsored a bill in June to bar military members from being punished if they refuse COVID-19 vaccination. However, the bill is unlikely to pass the Democrat-controlled chamber.
A man receives a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine at a newly opened vaccination hub in Dubbo, Australia, on Aug. 21, 2021. (Belinda Soole/Getty Images)

Business Support for Mandatory Vaccinations Is Split in Australia

An Australian survey of over 700 businesses found that support for mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations in the workplace is split down the middle, making it a contentious issue.

Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) conducted a pulse survey earlier this month and found that 24 percent of the businesses surveyed said they would like mandated COVID-19 vaccinations for some or all employees.

A further 27 percent would only want a COVID-19 vaccination mandate if it came from health authorities.

[The pulse survey] found that more than half were in favour of some form of mandating, Ai Group CEO Innes Willox said.

Of the remaining respondents, 37 percent preferred to encourage optional vaccines, and 10 percent were unsure or said it did not apply to their workplaces.

Willox has previously said mandates would only be appropriate for some workplaces and not all. However, he also noted that businesses in favour of the health orders would no doubt want legal certainty to support their decisions.

However, governments do not appear to favour any significant expansion of the small number of such health orders now in place, he said.

Businesses will also be keeping a close eye on those that have already given directives for mandatory vaccinations, such as SPC and Qantas, and assess what approaches would be considered lawful and reasonable.

The empty departure drop off area at the Sydney domestic airport Qantas terminal is seen in Sydney, Australia, on June 27, 2021. (Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Employers will initially look at the issue from the perspective of how they can protect their staff and their customers, Willox said. As more businesses mandate vaccination, the question will shift to whether they will need to mandate vaccination for their own staff who visit businesses that have a mandate in place.

The Fairwork ombudsman recently updated its guidelines to outline when mandated vaccines would be considered lawful and reasonable, giving businesses some clarity.

Mandates for employees such as quarantine workers, border patrol, health care workers, and aged care workers are more likely to be considered reasonable.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has previously stayed clear of providing employers indemnity for the COVID-19 vaccines.

Well, if we were to take that step,  that would be thereby endorsing some sort of mandatory process, Morrison told reporters on Aug. 9.

Instead, the government is strongly encouraging the public to get their vaccinations through the plan of easing the existing heavy restrictions once 70 to 80 percent of the population is vaccinated.

Australian Defence Force personnel are seen outside a COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Dubbo, Australia, on Aug. 20, 2021. (Belinda Soole/Getty Images)

However, the prime minister is facing some resistance over the plan, that had been agreed upon in July, from Queensland and Western Australia state governments.

Were signed up and committed to the plan that national cabinet endorsed, but that was a plan that was endorsed before the NSW outbreak, Queensland deputy premier Steven Miles said on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Western Australia has suggested that it will continue to commit to its elimination strategy.
Canadian Painter Kathy Gilliss Pure Art and Heartfelt Promises

Online Exhibition: Pure Heart: Kathy Gilliss Oil Paintings

In 1940, full of love and the innocence of childhood, Kathy Gillis vowed to be an artist. It was a profession her mother, Doris, had once aspired to. Polio robbed Doris of the chance to fulfill that dream, as the virus later spread to Doriss brain, making her unable to function. Gillis voiced her intention to be an artist to her grandmother, Gilliss main caregiver. It was the first huge promise she made, and fulfilling that vow continues to motivate her to paint.

Canadian artist Kathy Gillis hopes that her paintings help people to pay attention to life and their surroundings. (Courtesy of Kathy Gillis)

In the intriguing virtual exhibition Pure Heart: Kathy Gilliss Oil Paintings, Gillis recounts the experiences throughout her life that have shaped herand her art.

Gillis tells us how, as a schoolgirl, she enthusiastically copied all the illustrations in Victor Perards How to Draw. And she recounts how, in the 1960s, when her children were taking their afternoon naps, she would snatch pockets of time to complete a commercial art course to eventually become a commercial artist.

In the 1970s, Gillis put herself through college. She gives an interesting overview of visual arts courses in Canadian universities at the time. The faculty consist[ed] primarily of abstract expressionist and conceptual artists. I f[ound] it easy to play their game, but [it was] not very enriching, she writes. She picked up breadcrumbs of practical experience but says essentially her time at college helped her to appreciate how her current students come to her with a lack of art skills.

A New But Ancient Vow

In the exhibition, Gillis then fast forwards to 1998, when she had been creating and teaching art for 20 years. That year she made another huge promise. She happened upon a Falun Dafa practitioner who had setup a stall at the university where Gillis was exhibiting some of her paintings. Falun Dafa is an ancient Chinese spiritual practice based on truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. Practitioners practice a set of five gentle exercises, including a meditation.

Gillis recognized the poignancy of the practice when she was being taught the second exercise. Shed seen one of the poses in several ancient artifacts that shed drawn. I knew these poses, had experienced them, and shared them with others. Somehow, I have stumbled upon an ancient practice! she writes. She vowed to practice Falun Dafa for the rest of her life.

Just a short time later, in 1999, the Chinese Communist Party began their brutal persecution of Falun Dafa practitioners in China. As a practitioner herself, Gillis was compelled to act. If I did not document this, what kind of artist would I be? she recalls on the website.

In 2003, Gillis gathered in New York with artists from around the world to create art to tell the truth about the persecution of Falun Dafa practitioners.

We rented and borrowed spaces wherever possible but there was enormous interference from the Chinese Communist Party, including bomb threats and attempted invasions. Clearly, the Chinese Communist Party is very afraid of our [art]works. Because of this I now realize the power of art.

Pure Heart Paintings

Throughout her career, Gillis has highlighted the unseen and the unnoticed phenomena in life, covering themes such as dreams and ancient wisdom. She hopes that her art helps people to pay attention to life and their surroundings; with that in mind, she included five paintings in the online exhibition.

Gillis painted Guardian in 2016. The picture is a panoramic of a young girl, a Falun Dafa practitioner, determinedly meditating, while a magnificent golden dragon keeps watch by her side. In the East dragons are often benevolent heavenly law guardians, as opposed to in the West where dragons are different beings and are seen as maleficent forces.

Guardian, 2016, by Kathy Gillis. Oil on canvas; 28 inches by 69 inches. (Courtesy of Kathy Gillis)

Overall, the exhibition is an inspiring insight into the determined effort needed to become an artist. Although its Gilliss own life experience, many people carving out a creative career may draw parallels to, and perhaps find solace in, staying true to their divine talents and, indeed, their pure-heart promises.

The online exhibition Pure Heart: Kathy Gilliss Oil Paintings runs until Aug. 29; to find out more, visit NTDCharities.com

The mission of the New Tang Dynasty Charities is to let the essence of ancient civilizations shine again through art exhibitions and educational activities, enriching and resonating with the diverse cultures of the Canadian community.
OTTAWAThe militarys special forces are operating outside the closed confines of Kabuls chaotic airport to get people on flights out of Afghanistan, Canadian officials disclosed Monday.

The officials would not provide more details, citing the sensitivity of the security situation, but they said they are having success in getting more Afghans to safety.

They said a Canadian C-17 Globemaster carried 436 people out of Kabul airport on Sunday night, including Canadian citizens and family members, as well as Afghan nationals accepted for resettlement by Canada and its alliesup from the 121 airlifted a day earlier.

We are having success getting folks into HKIA in significant numbers, which has been a significant improvement over the last few days, said one official, using the acronym for Hamid Karzai International Airport.

We made the decision to disclose that Canadas special operations forces have been and continue to work outside the confines of HKIA.

The official said the special forces personnel are working relentlessly to bring as many Canadian citizens and eligible Afghans through security gates to waiting aircraft.

The disclosure came during a briefing for journalists on Monday that was given by three senior federal officials, on the condition they not be named as per the agreements for such background briefings.

Desperate Afghans who previously worked as interpreters for Western military forces and news agencies, among others, are in hiding, fearing for the safety of themselves and their families after Afghanistan fell to the Taliban last week and exposed them to violent reprisals.

Our forces on the ground have all the necessary authorizations to do what they feel is necessary to save as many people as quickly as possible, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday in Halifax during a federal election campaign appearance.

The crisis in Afghanistan has featured prominently during the first week of the federal campaign. Trudeau said he will also be taking part in a virtual G7 meeting Tuesday that will be looking at ways to address the crisis.

When we have our G7 leaders meeting shortly, we will certainly be talking about what more we can do and must do, Trudeau said.

That includes looking at what else can be done to help other vulnerable Afghans, including women and children, as well as human rights activists, politicians, journalists and others who are now in the Talibans crosshairs for their democracy building efforts of the last two decades.

Trudeau said that while the governments focus is on helping Canadian citizens and Afghans and their families with direct connections to Canadaa group that includes interpreters and other workershe is interested in looking at ways to cast a wider net.

We are also very interested in activists and human rights leaders, journalists and people who over the past many years have fought and delivered improvements for people in Afghanistan. We know those people need to be brought to safety. And we, alongside our allies, will be doing everything we can for all the categories, Trudeau said.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is convening the meeting of G7 leaders, saying urgent talks are necessary.

Canadian officials did not immediately have a breakdown of the number of women and children who have been evacuated, including on the latest flight. Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino said on Twitter that many of the 436 people aboard the plane Sunday night were children and that Canada has helped 1,500 Afghan refugees to safety so far.

Canadian officials said that the Afghans will eventually be resettled in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia.

By Mike Blanchfield
Capitol Police Officer Who Killed Ashli Babbitt on Jan. 6 Acted Lawfully: Police

The U.S. Capitol Police officer who fatally shot a military veteran inside the Capitol building on Jan. 6 was cleared by his department and wont face internal disciplinary action.

The U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) announced on Aug. 23 that an internal investigation found the officers conduct in shooting Ashli Babbitt both lawful and within department policy.

That policy says an officer may use deadly force only when the officer reasonably believes that action is in the defense of human life, including the officers own life, or in the defense of any person in immediate danger of serious physical injury.

The officer hasnt been officially identified.

This officer and the officers family have been the subject of numerous credible and specific threats for actions that were taken as part of the job of all our officers: defending the Congress, Members, staff, and the democratic process, the USCP said in a statement.

The actions of the officer in this case potentially saved Members and staff from serious injury and possible death from a large crowd of rioters who forced their way into the U.S. Capitol and to the House Chamber, where Members and staff were steps away. USCP officers had barricaded the Speakers Lobby with furniture before a rioter shattered the glass door. If the doors were breached, the rioters would have immediate access to the House Chambers.

The officers actions were consistent with the officers training and USCP policies and procedures.

Babbitt, 35, was among the crowd that breached the Capitol on Jan. 6, interrupting a joint session of Congress convened to certify the presidential elections electoral votes. As she attempted to enter the Speakers Lobby, adjacent to the House chamber, she was shot by the USCP officer. Babbitt was soon declared dead.

A lawyer who represents Babbitts family, Terrell Roberts, said in a statement that that evidence clearly shows that killing Babbitt was legally unjustified because there was ample police manpower present in the Speakers Lobby who were ready and able to stop or arrest her.

He also noted that the USCP said that the officer potentially saved members of Congress and staffers from injury and possible death.

One cannot be shot for potentially being a threat. One has to be an imminent threata real and immediate threat, he said.

The officers lawyers have defended his actions, claiming he issued warnings, that the shooting was justified, and that he could have fired more than one shot.

Roberts has argued it was too noisy to hear any commands issued and that the officer shouldnt have shot Babbitt because she was unarmed.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced in April that it wouldnt pursue charges against the officer. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia and the DOJs Civil Rights Division jointly made the decision because there was insufficient evidence to support a criminal prosecution.

Babbitts family sued in June to make the identity of the officer public; the family has also said it plans to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
A man sandbags the entrance to an underground garage in Jinshui District of Zhengzhou, in central China's Henan Province, on Aug. 22, 2021. (Hao Yuan/Xinhua via AP)

Central China Floods Cause Damage, Knock Out Power

Torrential rains in central China caused landslides, knocked out power, and damaged houses, authorities said on Monday.

Rainstorms triggered flooding and waterlogging in the western province of Shaanxi over the weekend, inundating many roads and villages with severe disruptions, state television reported.

Heavy rains prompted authorities to close tunnels and some bridges in Zhengzhou, a major city in Henan Province, where at least hundreds died in major flooding in July, state media China News Service (CNS) said, citing officials. The actual number of casualties in Julys flooding is difficult to verify, as the Chinese regime routinely suppresses or alters information.

In one region of Shaanxi Province, 24 centimeters (9.5 inches) of rain fell over the weekend, according to CNS. It said losses to farmers and others were estimated at 450 million yuan ($70 million).

About 25 highways were closed in Henan, Shaanxi, and Sichuan in the southwest, state TV reported.

Cities including Luoyang, Hebi, and Xinxiang in Henan that suffered heavy flooding in July closed public attractions and shops, CNS said.

In Shaanxi, power was knocked out in some towns and others suffered landslides, CNS said, without giving details.

Epoch Times staff contributed to this report
A sign is posted at a Chevron gas station on July 27, 2012 in San Rafael, California. After an explosion at a major Chevron refinery in a city located north of San Francisco on Tuesday, gasoline prices spiked across California and could increase to more than $4 per gallon. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Chevron Adopts COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement for Some Employees

Chevron has adopted a COVID-19 vaccine requirement for some employees and is considering extending the mandate to its entire workforce, according to a company spokesperson and media reports.

A spokesperson for Chevron told The Epoch Times in an emailed statement that the oil giant is now requiring expatriate employees, workers traveling internationally, and employees on U.S.-flagged ships to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Offshore workers in the Gulf of Mexico and some onshore support staff will also be required to receive the shot.

Chevron is committed to protecting the health of our people, and vaccinations are the strongest safeguard against the COVID-19 virus, the spokesperson said. So, as part of our fitness for duty safety standard, workers in certain jobs are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

We will continue to carefully monitor the medical data and follow the guidance of health authorities in order to protect our workforce, the spokesperson added.

Company executives are considering expanding the vaccine mandate more broadly, according to The Wall Street Journal.

With the move, Chevron joins a growing list of major corporationsincluding Disney, Facebook, Google, McDonalds, Twitter, United Airlines, and Walmartannouncing COVID-19 vaccine mandates for staff.

The Biden administration has been pushing hard for more Americans to get the shot, with President Joe Biden recently imposing strict requirements on federal employees to either be vaccinated or comply with new rules on mandatory masking, weekly testing, social distancing, and more. Biden said he hoped businesses would follow suit with measures that would boost vaccination rates among employees.

Job postings stipulating COVID-19 vaccines as a condition of employment have risen sharply in recent weeks and have begun popping up in sectors with little interpersonal contact, according to AnnElizabeth Konkel, an economist at Indeed Hiring Lab, the research and insights division of the Indeed job site.

The share of job postings per million explicitly mentioning COVID-19 vaccine requirements rose 34 percent in the week ended Aug. 7, compared to the same period a month earlier, according to a recent analytical note by Konkel.

Employers are well aware that COVID-19, the fear of it and restrictions against it, dampen economic activity and some are not only encouraging vaccination among employees, but are now requiring it, Konkel wrote.

Firms considering vaccine mandates are likely to have taken note of updated guidance issued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which confirmed that employers can, with some restrictions, make COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory for employees.

The EEOC said employers would have to make reasonable accommodations for workers who cant or wont get vaccinated due to a medical condition, a religious belief, or pregnancy.

In a statement accompanying the updated guidance, the commission said that laws that are outside the agencys purview might place additional restrictions on employers considering vaccine requirements.

A number of states have passed laws banning vaccine mandates, with a National Academy for State Health Policy tracker of state legislatures for such bills indicating that seven states have banned state worker vaccine requirements and five have prohibited private employer mandates.

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy told Fox News Sunday that the Food and Drug Administrations formal approval of the PfizerBioNTech COVID-19 vaccine would likely encourage businesses to move ahead with imposing mandates.

Reuters contributed to this report.

*This article has been updated to reflect receipt of a statement from Chevron.
A CCTV camera on the side of a building in central London in an undated file photo. (Clive Gee/PA)

Civil Liberties Groups Demand Ban on Facial Recognition Technology in UK

A group of civil society bodies has called on the government to ban facial recognition cameras, while accusing police and the Home Office of bypassing Parliament over guidance for the use of the technology.

Thirty-one organisations including Amnesty International, Liberty, and Privacy International have posted an open letter alleging guidance allowing police, local councils, and enforcement agencies to use facial recognition across England and Wales has been given in defiance of court rulings against invasive filming.

The guidance was published last week by the College of Policing during the parliamentary recess and without any announcement by it or the government, according to The Daily Telegraph.

The groups letter says the guidance came despite a Court of Appeal ruling that the use of facial recognition cameras by South Wales Police as a pilot scheme ahead of a nationwide rollout breached privacy rights and broke equalities law.

In a democratic society, it is imperative that intrusive technologies are subject to effective scrutiny, the letter said.

Police and the Home Office have, so far, completely bypassed Parliament on the matter of LFRT (live facial recognition technology). We are not aware of any intention to subject LFRT plans to parliamentary consideration, despite the intrusiveness of this technology, its highly controversial use over a number of years, and the dangers associated with its use.

The group added it was calling on Parliament and relevant stakeholders to halt and ban the use of live facial recognition technology by the police and private companies entirely, as it poses significant and unmitigable risks to our society.

We do not believe that LFRT can ever be safely deployed in public spaces and for mass surveillance purposes.

The letter said the use of facial recognition technology represents a huge shift in the relationship between the individual and the state.

The implications come not solely from privacy and data protection perspectives, but from the larger ethical question for a democratic society permitting and seemingly condoning the rollout of such intrusive technology, it said.

LFRT also raises significant problems for our human rights, such as freedom of expression and freedom of assembly.

The groups said they were concerned LFRT may be used in a broad range of public gatherings such as sporting events, music concerts, and protests, threatening protected rights.

Further, deployments of this surveillance technology could mirror and exacerbate existing disproportionate policing practices towards minority communities, the letter said.

By Trevor Marshallsea
Conservative Leader Erin OToole speaks to the media as he launches his election campaign in Ottawa on Aug. 15, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Ryan Remiorz)

Conservative Platform Takes On Task of Countering Beijing Threat

Commentary

In this election, it is imperative that leaders show they recognize the reality of China as a rising, antagonistic superpower with which we can no longer endeavour to be partners. Also crucial is that they articulate a well-designed plan to handle Beijing as it continues to make the international order more unpredictable.

So far, the Conservative Party is the only party that has made this issue part of its detailed platform. In broad terms, the Conservatives seek to completely review and revamp Canadas approach to foreign affairs to make it more adaptable, putting the focus on protecting our society and institutions from foreign infiltration, self-reliance, and reorienting our geopolitical focus and alliances.

Lamenting that Canadians have taken our peace, security, and prosperity for granted, the Tories say their policy will help ensure Canada is ready and able to defend our national interests and protect our way of life.

In recent years it has become clearer how our servile posture toward China is often informed by influential elites with connections to Beijing that incentivize them to advocate policies of which the only long-term beneficiaries are coincidentally themselves and the Chinese Communist Party. This has allowed the CCP to deepen its influence in Canada and infiltrate Canadian institutions through partnerships with universities and other business entities.

To address this, the Conservatives are calling for the passing of a Foreign Agents Registry Act that would require individuals and companies acting as agents of foreign principals who engage in activities such as lobbying and advertising to register and disclose payments, relationships, and their activities. The platform also boldly puts forth the idea of imposing a ban on senior public office holders (prime ministers, ambassadors, deputy ministers, etc.) that would prevent them from employment or contracts with Chinas government or an entity controlled by Chinas government for five years after leaving office.

Our foreign policy would greatly benefit from such a move as entities such as the Canada-China Business Council have downgraded it with their myopic focus on economic growth at the expense of properly defining our national interests and diplomatic objectives.

Standing up to Chinas aggression in relation to the rights of persecuted groups in China and activists in Hong Kong is also a part of the Tory platform.

We must stand up to the Communist government of China. Our quarrel is not with the people of Chinapart of an ancient civilization that has contributed much to humanity, the platform states. We stand especially with Chinese-Canadians whose contributions to Canada are immeasurable and who are enduring an appalling rise in anti-Asian hate and discrimination. And we stand with Uyghur Muslims, Tibetans, Falun Gong practitioners, Hong Kongers, and Chinese Christians.

Actions include using Canadas Magnitsky law to sanction Chinas worst human rights offenders and granting asylum to mainland Chinese proponents of freedom and persecuted minorities, including Tibetans, Falun Gong practitioners, and others. The platform also vows to do everything to ensure that the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics is not a platform for Chinas global propaganda.

When it comes to national security, Canada has relied on the United States for much of its security and strategic thinking, and has become comfortable with the idea that Washington will always be there to fill in the gaps. The Tory platform calls for more self-reliance by improving our military capacity, but it also emphasizes building Canadian capabilities to contribute to foreign intelligence to address such threats as foreign interference and economic coercion.

One key aspect of the world order that the platform gets right is the importance of the Indo-Pacific as a hot spot and the need to build alliances with countries in the region. Central to this strategy would be Canadas participation in the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, a network including the United States, Japan, Australia, and India that emphasizes co-ordination to deter Chinas expansionism. This initiative, which would help expand Canadas alliances, has hitherto been ignored by the Trudeau government.

The Trudeau governments political posturing has undermined relations with India, thereby alienating an ally who will undoubtedly play a robust role in a Cold War-esque struggle with China. In contrast, if elected the Conservatives claim that deeper ties with India will be a dominant piece of their Indo-Pacific strategy. Its currently a disquieting time for India, with the resurgence of the Taliban in Afghanistan providing opportunity for both China and Pakistan to extend their influence, isolate India, and intimidate it into making concessions that run counter to its interests. Canada and the West should strengthen relations with India to provide it with more leverage and a network to resist such pressure.

This is only a sample of the ideas for a prudent Canadian foreign policy offered by the Conservative platform. Theres much more to be discussed regarding the complexities of the world in which Canada finds itself and what its specific goals and interests should be, and to this end the Conservatives also wisely suggest the establishment of a National Interest Council.

Aside from providing a refreshing and well-thought-out vision, the Conservatives platform will hopefully force Justin Trudeau to defend his record, which has, if anything, emboldened our adversary in China. When it comes to positioning Canada as a leading force in any coalition meant to contain China, the Conservatives have convincingly presented themselves as the party most prepared to take on that task.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Could Canadas Vaccine Rollout Success Show Australia the Way out of Lockdowns

Commentary

After a slow start, vaccination rates have accelerated strongly in Australia, with 6,240,640 Aussies now fully vaccinated and just over half the population (52.8 percent) having at least one jab in their arm.

But although Australians would like to hear that their uptake of the vaccine was world-leading, it is actually Canadas and Spains vaccination efforts that are currently leading the world, not Australias with Canada managing to get nearly 73 percent of its population over the age of 12 vaccinated in 52 days.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau thinks this performance will impress Canadian voters that it is worth risking an early general election to try recapture the parliamentary majority his Liberal Party lost in 2019.

Australian politicianswho face a federal election before May next yearhave more than a passing interest in the outcome of Trudeaus gamble.

But it is Canadas vaccination performance and what we can learn from it is of much more immediate interest.

It is the country we identify with most in culture, area, population and distribution, and system of government. Canadas success gives Australia hope that we can reach a critical mass of vaccination fairly soon and learn to live with COVID-19.

Locked down Australians eager to get their freedom back from governments applying extreme COVID restrictions are being told that mass vaccination is a necessary condition for freedomeven if it proves insufficient on its own.

Students wait to receive the Pfizer vaccine for Covid-19 at Qudos Arena in Sydney, Australia, on Aug. 9, 2021. (Dean Lewins/Pool/Getty Images)

Although the pace of vaccination has surged in recent weeks, it did so from a low base, and we are still a long way from vaccinating the 70 to 80 percent threshold of the eligible population. Compared with Canadas two-thirds vaccination of the population, Australia is at just under one-quarter.

This is why the daily vaccination numbers are now watched as closely as the daily COVID numbers. For example, on Aug. 21, we reached a full vaccination rate of 30 percent of those aged 16 and above, compared with the thresholds of 70 to 80 percent.

The modelling work by the Doherty Institute of Infection and Immunity that guided the national cabinets choice of these thresholds suggests that Australia could reach the lauded figures sometime between Nov. 1 and 22 this year.

The take-up rate of the AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine has increased. As a result, more of the Pfizer product has become available. The vaccination rate has increased dramatically in recent weeks from an average of 168,000 jabs per day in the last week of July to 262,000 a day in the week to Aug. 21.

All in all, vaccinations are running well ahead of the Doherty Institutes modelling assumptions, and the rollout will be opened to everyone down to age 16 from next week.

This is all very promising, but Australia cannot yet match the Canadian roll-out that saw the percentage of its population fully vaccinated rise from where we are now to the equivalent of our 70 to 80 percent threshold in just 52 days.

At that rate, we would reach the threshold on Oct. 12, and it will certainly be later than that.

The reason Canada could go so fast was that it had plenty of supply of the preferred Pfizer and Moderna vaccines from about April onwards.

It has no domestic production of vaccines but placed large orders early in 2020 for all the vaccines then under developmentsomething the Australian government failed to do. Instead, the Australian government concentrated on domestic production of the AZ vaccine, which met with some public resistance for reasons that are well known if not well-founded.

Vials with Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine labels are seen in this illustration picture taken March 19, 2021. (Dado Ruvic/Illustration/Reuters)

That is water under the bridge. Pfizer supplies have increased; Moderna becomes available in late September, and supplies of both are expected to increase dramatically from early October. It is then that we will have the capacity to match Canadas peak pace of vaccination and reach the 70 percent threshold before end-October and 80 percent by mid-November.

But what can be done is one thing; what will be done is another.

Will Australian governments have the organisation to deliver a mass, speedy rollout, whichrelative to the peak in Canadawould require 370,000 doses per day?

There are risks to both supply and demand. For example, will increased supplies of Pfizer and Moderna be delayed? Will there be enough capacity to deliver the jabs? And will vaccine hesitancy lead to demand petering out before the targets are reached?

These are all risks that need to be managed, but the greatest risk isnt that we fail to reach the October or November thresholds; but that if we do, our state governments will be ultra-cautious and will refuse to lift restrictions in line with the agreed national cabinet plan.

As is becoming increasingly clear from current outbreaks in New South Wales, Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory, and other countriesAustralia will need to learn to live with a certain degree of COVID infection, hospital admissions, and mortality, even with greater vaccine coverage.

Some state premiers do not seem ready to accept that, but as Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on the weekend, we cant remain locked down forever.

His challenge will be to lead the nation out of this zero-COVID mindset, even when it is the premiers who hold the keys that are keeping the nation locked down.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Crowds of protesters outside ITNs headquarters in Camden, London, on Aug. 23, 2021 (Nico Hogg/PA)

Demonstrators Occupy London News Headquarters Over Pandemic Coverage

A group of demonstrators occupied the entrance of the headquarters of ITV News and Channel 4 News in London, claiming that the media are misinforming people about vaccines and the pandemic.

Police were called to the ITN (Independent Television News) production studios in central London on Aug. 23, according to the Met Police, after a group unlawfully gained access to the building.

Two hours later the protesters had left, according to police.

Estimates suggest there were about 100 people in the group.

They appear to be part of a larger group of protesters in the area.

Less than a mile away, other protesters were gathering for about an hour outside the Google building in central London, where police prevented them from entering.

At around 2 p.m. the Met Police said in a statement: Officers are responding to a demonstration at a private premises on Grays Inn Road, where people have unlawfully gained access to the building. Officers are on scene engaging with building security and removing those who have gained entry.

An hour-and-a-half later, the police said that the protesters had left the building.

Videos posted to social media show dozens of protesters walking into the reception area of the studio buildings. Later footage shows dozens of police officers preventing them further access to the building. Some protesters appear to attempt to force their way further inside and are prevented by police. One video shows pushing and shoving between police officers and the protesters.

The police made no mention of arrests in their latest statement.

ITN staff were locked into the building for the duration of the protest.

According to ITV, an ITN spokesperson said: The abuse of journalists because of their reporting on coronavirus is a worrying development which ITN has been closely monitoring and actively ensuring staff are aware of precautions to avoid coming to any harm. This action resulted in journalists being prevented from being able to go about their news-gathering activities, something that ITN strongly condemns.

Few in the protest carried placards and it did not appear to be organised under a single umbrella organisation or message.

Video footage suggests they object to news reporting on vaccine safety and on other aspects of the pandemic.

A video live-streamed from within the nearby protest that went to Google, titled Anti Health Passport Rally, suggests a variety of grievances including pandemic restrictions, vaccine passports, and in particular the medias coverage of vaccines and of the pandemic in general.

A common theme among the speakers was that the media have ignored previous large-scale protests against pandemic restrictions. While smaller Extinction Rebellion protests get reported, the speakers said, their protests dont.

A video circulated on Twitter showed protesters yelling abuse at veteran news anchor Jon Snow as he made his way into the ITN building on Grays Inn Road.

Several times in the past few months, groups have peeled away from broader large-scale protests against pandemic measures to protest outside media premises. Last month, a group of protesters similarly sought out a broadcast building once headquartered by BBC News, and now used now to host other broadcasts.
Elon Musk Teams Up With Netflix to Stream SpaceX Space Mission in Near Real Time

The Netflix streaming platform will offer "unprecedented access" and broadcast in "near real time" the next space mission of SpaceX, Elon Musk's aerospace company.

September 15, 2021 is the scheduled date for the launch of the Inspiration4 mission, the first to send a ship occupied only by civilians into space. The space travel aboard a rocket from SpaceX, Elon Musks aerospace company, will be broadcast on Netflix in near real time.

This Thursday, the streaming platform announced the launch of the documentary series Countdown: The Inspiration4 Mission to Space. Over five chapters, it will offer unprecedented access to the first space flight with a crew of only non-professional passengers.

Related: Jeff Bezos Did It: NASA Suspends Elon Musks Contract With SpaceX Due to Demand From Blue Origin

The first two episodes will premiere on Friday, Sep. 6, and will focus on introducing the four members of the crew.

On Sep. 13, the next two chapters will be available and will deal with the long months of training and the final preparations before the flight. The launch will be streamed live from Netflixs YouTube channel.

The last episode will premiere in late Sep., just a few days after the mission ends, Netflix said in a statement.

This final chapter will follow the almost in real time journey from the launch of the spacecraft to its return to Earth. The platform promises unprecedented access to the mission, as it will feature images from inside the spacecraft during the three-day journey.

Related: Would You Be Willing to Die for the Conquest of Mars? NASA Is Looking for Volunteers to Simulate Life on the Red Planet, See the Requirements

The series will be directed by Jason Hehir, director of the Emmy Award-winning documentary The Last Dance.

What You Need to Know About the Inspiration4 Mission

On Sep. 15, the SpaceX Dragon capsule will be launched by a Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in Fla., United States.

Related: Grimes Shares a Rare Video of Her and Her Son With Elon Musk

American billionaire Jared Isaacman, 38, funded the project. In addition to owning a financial company, the tycoon is also an enthusiastic pilot and space explorer, so he will go aboard the rocket and offered the other places to three companions.

Those chosen to go with Isaacman into space are Hayley Arceneaux, 29, a survivor of pediatric cancer; Chris Sembroski, 41, a former U.S. Air Force officer; and Sian Proctor, a 51-year-old teacher.

The four non-professional crew members will take off in Elon Musks spacecraft, spend three days orbiting Earth beyond the altitude of the ISS and return to Earth.

The SpaceX spacecraft has already transported astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) for NASA. Also, other untrained tourists have already been in space, but were accompanied by professional astronauts. However, the Inspiration4 mission will be the first not to include any professional astronauts, and its crew will be made up entirely of civilian tourists.

Related: Why the Asteroid Psyche 16 Is Worth More Than the Entire Global Economy of Planet Earth
Failure in Afghanistan

In this episode of Counterculture with Danielle DSouza Gill, Danielle dives deeper into Americas failure in Afghanistan. What was problematic about the way the US pulled out, and what should we have done instead? Danielle interviews political scientist Victor Davis Hanson of the Hoover Institute about the long-term implications of all of this, and how this will affect the safety of Americans, those left behind in Afghanistan, but also those here at home.

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Caribou on Alaska's North Slope, with Prudhoe Bay oil installations in the background on June 22, 2014. (Monteuxs via Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 4.0)

Alaskan Lawmakers Respond to Judge Blocking Major Oil Project

Alaskan lawmakers, a former interior secretary, and environmental activists are reacting by turns with condemnation and praise for a federal judges decision to vacate approval for ConocoPhillipss Willow Project in the National Petroleum Reserve of Alaska (NPR-A).

U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Gleasons Aug. 18 ruling on the project, which was expected to produce over 100,000 barrels of oil per day and thousands of jobs, cited insufficient calculations of greenhouse gas emissions and inadequately specific mitigation measures for polar bears, among other factors.

In my personal opinion, the judge got the law wrong on the [Endangered Species Act] and the Biological Opinion, former Interior Secretary David Bernhardt told The Epoch Times. The other items were reviewed very closely by interior professionals and their lawyers before the decisions were made.

The ruling comes after the Biden administration suspended oil and gas leases in Alaskas Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in June. At the time, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland wrote that the Trump administrations approval of the leases was marred by insufficient analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act  including failure to adequately analyze a reasonable range of alternatives in the environmental impact statement.

Make no mistake, todays ruling from a federal judge trying to shelve a major oil project on American soil does one thing: outsources production to dictatorships & terrorist organizations, Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy said in a statement regarding the Willow Project ruling.

Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) and Sens. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), who collectively make up the states congressional delegation, also condemned the decision in a joint statement.

This District Court Order vacating key approvals and permits for Willow is just plain wrong, Murkowski said in the statement. In partnership with communities on the North Slope, ConocoPhillips Alaska has been responsibly producing oil from the NPR-A region for decades under the highest environmental standards and this proposed project will be no different.

Willows extreme opponents wrongly believe this decision is good for the environment. On the contrary, if we are not developing resources here at home, countries with far lower environmental standards like Russia and Venezuela will, Young added in the statement.

Young noted that Gleasons decision came after the Biden administrations Department of Justice filed a brief with the district court in support of Willow in May.

As this case proceeds, I ask [President Biden] to keep his word and to stand with the people of our great state, Young said in the statement.

The filing demonstrates that two different administrations were comfortable with the approach taken by BLM, Bernhardt said, referring to the Bureau of Land Management, an agency within the Interior Department.

Gleasons ruling hinged in part on BLMs greenhouse gas projections, which the plaintiffs argued were inadequate.

BLMs exclusion of foreign greenhouse gas emissions in its alternatives analysis in the [environmental impact statement] was arbitrary and capricious, Gleason wrote in the opinion.

BLM had argued that it could not accurately model foreign greenhouse gas emissions due to uncertainty and unreliable data on factors including energy substitutions and emissions from refineries, natural gas systems, [and] coal processing.

At some point, the question of What is foreseeable? vs. What is completely speculative? and What is completely insignificant? are important issues in terms of where you draw the line for how far you go with your [National Environmental Policy Act] analysis and what you can do, Bernhardt said. Theres a difference between something being foreseeable and purely speculative.

One of the plaintiffs in the case, an organization called Sovereign Inupiat for a Living Arctic that was formed in 2019 by three young people who wanted positive change, previously claimed that the Biden administrations May 2021 support for Willow will undermine its own climate goals and allow harm to local Indigenous communities.

Yet the Willow Project was actively supported by the president of the Inupiat Community of the Arctic Slope, George Edwardson. In a letter to Haaland, Edwardson wrote that the Willow Project would represent a durable addition to the North Slope economy and long-term sustainability for our region.

A lawyer for another plaintiff, the Center for Biological Diversity, celebrated the ruling but said the Biden administration should take additional steps to restrict oil and gas exploration in the Arctic.

This project never should have been approved, and it cant be defended, Kristen Monsell, oceans legal director and senior attorney for the CBD, said in an email to The Epoch Times. If President Biden is serious about addressing the climate crisis, he has to reject any further attempts to move this project forward and prohibit all new oil and gas activity in the Arctic.

Any reasonable, comprehensive review would show that this project would be a disaster for our climate, local communities, and wildlife, Monsell said. Arctic oil needs to stay in the ground, and the Western Arctic needs to be protected, not turned into an oilfield.

The United States as a whole is projected to produce 11.12 million barrels of oil per day in 2021, a decline of 160,000 barrels per day from 2020.

ConocoPhillips didnt immediately respond to requests for comment.
Film Review: Nine Days: How Souls Come to Have Human Life

2020 | R | 2h 4min

Its admirable that filmmakers are trying to tackle lifes massive, apparently unanswerable questions. It takes courage to contemplate that yawning void. Its happening a lot these days; Pixars Soul and A24s The Green Knight are the most recent.

But while the attempts are admirable, what of the results? What are the filmmakers intentions? Is it to nail the exact process whereby, as in the case of Soul, souls are selected to incarnate as humans on earth? To provide food for thought? It would have to be the latter, right? Because who really knows how this stuff works?

While Nine Days (filmmaker Edson Odas debut feature) is allegorical, it works fairly well in terms of adding Odas two cents as to how these esoteric occurrences might roughly take place. However, much like the recent The Green Knight, it unfortunately breaks the first rule of show business: Never be boring. This is of course subjective.

Soul Similarities

Nine Days resembles Soul more than a little, except this is not the story of a jazz musician who falls through cracks between dimensions and realities and, trying to find his way back to earthly existence, stumbles into the (highly contrived) cartoon version of the sorting process whereby souls get reborn.

Will (Winston Duke) stands in front of his lonely desert house, in Nine Days. (Michael Coles/Sony Pictures Classics)

Nine Days similarly contains the notion that a soul must have specific qualifications in order to be granted the opportunity for birth. Soul was superior in that its contrived birth-selection process served as a framework to tell a fun story, whereas Nine Days appears to be attempting to lay claim to an actual metaphysical process. Albeit by using artifices such as a guy (Winston Duke, unrecognizable from his role as the bombastic MBaku in Black Panther) in a clapboard house in the middle of the desert sitting all day looking at a bank of 1980s TVs and VCRs, and watching VHS videos nonstop to see whos got the incarnation goods.

This idea of the curtain being rolled back, Oz-like, on a rather mundane, workaday explanation of highly esoteric and ethereal occurrences is a common theme in movies. It can help to explain things in a rudimentary way, but always runs the risk of being uninspiring and  kind of sad: Like, really? Thats it? Thats how all that glory happens?

Will, Selector of Souls

Will (Winston Duke) recalls a monologue from his incarnation as a failed actor, in Nine Days. (Michael Coles/Sony Pictures Classics)

So this guy Will is occasionally visited by a friend named Kyo (Benedict Wong), but mostly hes monk-like. Wills in there all day screening candidates for earthly existence. Apparently hes not even particularly qualified; he got the job by merely having incarnated once. As opposed to Kyo whos never incarnated.

Kyo (Benedict Wong) stands in the desert, in Nine Days. (Michael Coles/Sony Pictures Classics)

Will also watches tapes of the lives of souls he green-lit for life. One of his favorites, a successful concert violinist named Amanda, commits suicide. This rocks Wills world. Of course, what Wills world actually is, is what were trying to figure out here. But, you knowwhy in this strange, fairly emotionless in-between place, is he freaking out? Anyway, in addition to rocking Wills otherworldly world and getting him to start contemplating the meaning of life, why Amanda killed herself, and how he missed the clueshe now, amidst his devastation, has to pick a replacement for her.

See, right there, thats like five million assumptions and permutations-combinations of contrived explanations of esoteric goings-on which necessitate contrived logical outcomes, all of which are kind of mind-bogglingly random.

Will (Winston Duke, L) presents Kane (Bill Skarsgard) with a hypothetical, ethical dilemma, in Nine Days. (Michael Coles/Sony Pictures Classics)

But anyway, there are five candidates: Alex (Tony Hale), a nervous fellow who prefers to stick his head in the sand regarding lifes inconveniences and would rather just chill and have a beer with Will; Maria (Arianna Ortiz), a mild-mannered woman who warms to Will; Kane (Bill Skarsgard, the terrifying clown Pennywise from It) whos got traditional manly approaches to the morally challenging hypothetical situations Will demands they all respond to; Mike (David Rysdahl), a sensitive artistic type; and Emma (Zazie Beetz), who manages to side-step all attempts to categorize her.

Zazie Beetz as Emma in Nine Days. (Michael Coles/Sony Pictures Classics)

Of these five, only one will be chosen. They have nine days to show their mettle. Those not chosen will return to whats known in Eastern religions as the primordial chi (chi or Qi is otherwise called life energy, as in, rocks dont have chi, but plants do, because plants grow).



But before they disappear forever, Will has them write down a life experience they would have most liked to have lived, and he will do his best to kindly recreate it for them, via methods similar to how, in the early days of cinema, the sound effects for someone walking on a beach was a guy stomping around in a sandbox with some other guys pointing microphones at his feet.

Will (Winston Duke) comforts Mike (David Rysdahl) after Mike experiences what walking in the ocean would be like, in Nine Days. (Michael Coles/Sony Pictures Classics)

B+ for Effort

Nine Days will have you thinking about the meaning of life, certainly, but also, similar to Thornton Wilders classic play Our Town, considering the tragedy of not living each moment to its fullest. It further questions whether human beings are inherently good or bad.

Nine Days is most likely to appeal to those who subconsciously prefer having the great philosophical questions remain unanswerable, and who greet all attempts at such explanations with a cheerful Interesting! Anyone looking for more traditional, viscerally engaging storytelling is going to find the experience on the dull side. Like, very much so. Except for Wills rousing beach-monologue at the end after two hours spent in a dingy, shadow-filled bachelor pad. From an acting perspective, its a thing of beautythe man went to the Yale School of Drama, after all.

Will (Winston Duke) recites a piece by Walt Whitman for Emma (Zazie Beetz), in Nine Days. (Michael Coles/Sony Pictures Classics)

As to the current spate of movies attempting to explain human existence and how it all goes down, Im of the opinion that anyone, provided they put in a metric ton of reading spread over decades, will find theres a blueprint that emerges. Exactly like the work of Joseph Campbell, who searched across a wide spectrum of human recorded knowledge from vastly differing cultures. He found that archetypes hove into sight. The exact same cultural myths and legends appear in New Guinea, Siberia, the Congo, the Amazon rain-forest, Great Britain, and anywhere on earthand are told in exactly the same way.

I like the idea that the big questions of life are like a jigsaw puzzle thats one mile wide by one mile long, and that its possible to put that puzzle together, but itll take a whole lifetime. But it can be done. For some, it happens faster than others. However, right at the end, there will be a few pieces permanently missing, which represent the inevitable leap of faith. But with due diligence, and when 99.9 percent of that mile-wide puzzle is put together, the shapes of those missing pieces can be seen and known by their negative spaces.

In other words, all the great mystics, druids, shamans, seers, gurus, clairvoyants, lamas, sages, saints, prophets, and wise men who claimed to see things with spiritual vision, they might hail from New Guinea, Siberia, the Congo, the Amazon rain-forest, or Great Britain  but theyre all describing exactly the same things. And so from that blueprint we can get a sense of what happens in the after-life and pre-life and see what those processes will look like, even though (like the missing puzzle pieces) we cant yet personally see them with these human flesh sensory organs.

And if you dont feel like doing all that corroborative readingbut you are someone whos begun putting the mile-wide puzzle together, you could do worse than watch Nine Days.



Will (Winston Duke) and Emma (Zazie Beetz) take in the splendor of life, in Nine Days. (Michael Coles/Sony Pictures Classics)

Nine Days

Director: Edson Oda

Starring: Winston Duke, Zazie Beetz, Bill Skarsgard, Benedict Wong, Tony Hale, David Rysdahl, Arianna Ortiz

Running Time: 2 hours, 4 minutes

Rating: R

Release Date: July 30, 2021

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at the opening of a monoclonal antibody site in Pembroke Pines, Fla., on Aug. 18, 2021. (Marta Lavandier/AP Photo)

Florida Governor Responds to APs Claim of Bullying

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday decried the Associated Press (AP) claiming his press secretary bullied a reporter who wrote a critical story about the governor.

I assumed your letter was to notify me that you were issuing a retraction of the partisan smear piece you published last week, DeSantis, a Republican, said in a letter to Daisy Veerasingham, the incoming CEO of AP, a wire service used by numerous outlets, including The Epoch Times. Instead, you had the temerity to complain about the deserved blowback that your botched and discredited attempt to concoct a political narrative has received.

Veerasingham complained to DeSantis late last week, claiming his press secretary, Christina Pushaw, engaged in harassing behavior, including threatening a journalist, that was described in the AP in an article as bullying.

Pushaw had spoken out about a piece that detailed how Citadel CEO Ken Griffin has donated millions to DeSantis and that the governor promotes a COVID-19 treatment from Regeneron, a company that Citadel has invested in.

DeSantis top donor invests in COVID drug governor promotes, the piece was headlined.

It claimed that Democrats question the relationship between DeSantis, the drug, and Citadels investments, but cited no critics in the piece.

The federal government pays for Regeneron treatments.

Pushaw called the article a hit piece and said the article could lead to some people refusing to take Regenerons treatment. She said she spoke to the reporter, Brendan Farrington, and asked him to change the headline, which she described as misleading. When he would not, she went public with criticism of the piece, sharing posts on Twitter that called on readers to drag and light up the reporter and AP.

Farrington, who made his Twitter account private, defended the piece.

For your sake, I hope government doesnt threaten your safety, he wrote in one post. Ill be fine, I hope. Freedom. Just please dont kill me.

Veerasingham in her letter to the governor said Pushaws actions constituted unacceptable behavior from a government employee.

She claimed that the press secretary wanted to activate an online mob to attack a journalist for doing his job and that her posts resulted in a torrent of abuse comments being directed at the reporter.

The incoming AP CEO asked DeSantis to eliminate this attack strategy from your press office, and assure the people of Florida that there is no place for it in their government.

DeSantis disagreed, saying in the new letter that AP framed the story in a way meant to smear him.

The AP produced zero evidence that Floridas efforts are being undertaken for any reason other than to help Floridians recover from COVID. This will have real consequences for peoples health, especially given that the Regeneron monoclonal antibody treatment has a proven track record and has been touted by both the Trump and Biden administrations, he wrote.

This story is a baseless conspiracy theory. While the publics trust in corporate outlets like the AP is at historic lows, there is no doubt that some will decline to seek life-saving treatment as a result of the APs inflammatory headline.

The vigorous pushback that AP and its staffers received is something that should be expected given the brazenness of your political attack and the fact that your false narrative will cost lives, he added.

Lauren Easton, an AP spokeswoman, told The Epoch Times in an email that AP does not have political opponents and reports on those in power, regardless of what party theyre affiliated with.

The issue here is not pushback. Its harassment. A public servant whose job it is to work with the press encouraged a harassment campaign against our journalist, and that is unacceptable, she said.
Signage warns of the closure of an elementary school amid the pandemic in Montreal on May 14, 2020. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press)

Some Florida Students Isolated or Quarantined Over New COVID-19 Protocols

As schools reopened in Florida, several parents in Flagler County received weekend phone calls saying their children were on a list because they may have been exposed to someone who may have had COVID-19. Some parents were told their children could not return to school until they passed a series of COVID-19 tests. Other children were pulled from class and placed in isolation while parents were told to pick them up immediately. The process caused confusion and raised legal questions, leaving many parents feeling very angry.

On Aug. 8, Jessico Bowmana director of the Florida Liberty Caucusreceived a call from a person who claimed she was from the health department. She would not give her name. Nor would she identify which health department she represented.

I regret to inform you that your daughter may have been exposed to COVID, the woman said.

I dont have a daughter, Bowman told the woman. I have a son.

When Bowman asked what list she was talking about the woman said it was just this list she was given and she explained that her son may have been exposed to someone who may have COVID. When she asked what she meant by may have and asked when her son was exposed, the woman said she could not tell her anything except that her son has been placed on a list.

The woman then asked if her son had been vaccinated. Bowman refused to provide that information.

The woman then told Bowman if her son could provide a vaccine card, proving he is vaccinated, he could go back to normal and return to class on Monday. Otherwise, he would not be allowed to go back to school for four days, and if he doesnt get tested, it would be eight days.

The next day Bowmans son went to the bus stop but the bus never arrived. So Bowman drove her son to school. Later that morning, the school nurse called to say her son had been quarantined and will be isolated unless she comes to pick him up. The nurse reiterated that the child had been exposed, to COVID-19 and was on a list, so, he needed to be picked up immediately.

No one will tell us what this list is and they keep telling me my son may have been exposed to COVID or may have been in close contact with someone who may have had COVID. So my son starts texting me saying you need to come get me. They have me in a COVID room and theres someone monitoring us so we cant talk to other kids.

My son felt like he was in school suspension, like he had done something wrong, Bowman said. They were very rude to him and the school has already apologized to me for that.

I completely understand your concerns, the newly appointed principal for Indian Trails Middle School Ryan Andrews replied to an email of complaint by Bowman.

Currently, your student will be excused from school until August 21st, until we hear something different from the DOH (Department of Health). Any work he is unable to complete at home may have up to the same amount of days that he was absent to turn in after his return to school. With our student ipads he will have his login to Schoology. His teachers may post work, content and resources for students to complete digitally. He and his teachers can communicate through Schoology or our school email. Let me apologize for any improper treatment of you and your son today. Our priority is the safety and security of our school so our scholars can have a positive learning experience.

Chris Bowman, the childs father, told The Epoch Times: Something bizarre has occurred where the school has relinquished control to the health department. Thats the problem and were sitting on day four now.

We still have not been contacted directly by the health department regarding whether there was a definitive COVID exposer, Chris Bowman added. The school only says that our son may have been exposed to someone who may have COVID and that our kid is on a list. Nor have we received curriculum directives or any idea how we are supposed to be educating our child. With the health department in control of our kids education, we cant navigate this because theres zero communication.

Conflicting Messages

Were not requiring vaccinations. Thats not whats happening, Flagler County Schools Community Information Specialist Jason Wheeler told The Epoch Times. The only reason a child would be placed in the isolation room for their parents to pick them up would be if they were caught in a contact trace where they tested positive. Then weve been notified by the local Health Department and until they pass the protocols established by the Health Department they cant return to school.

But the Bowmans son never tested positive for COVID-19. In fact, the Bowmans insist their child spent the entire summer at home with family.

If they were on a list thats provided to us by the health department, [its] someone who is caught in a close contact situation, Wheeler said further. Then they would have to sit out and go through the protocols established by the health department.

A Palm Coast mother told The Epoch Times she also received a call from the health department saying her son had also possibly been exposed to COVID-19. She was told to have her son tested for COVID-19 on Sunday. If Sundays test proved negative, her son would have to get a second test on Monday. If Mondays test proved negative, he could return to school on Tuesday, but then he would have to be retested on Wednesday.

That kind of defeats the purpose in my mind, the mother said, to let him come back and then go get tested again.

The paper given to her by the health department after her son was tested showed a negative result. However, he was instructed to TREAT YOURSELF AS IF YOU ARE POSITIVE.

It is unclear why none of the other students from the boys class were deemed by the health department as having been caught in a close contact situation and ordered to sit out and go through the protocols established by the health department. Furthermore, none of the other parents received a phone call saying their child had also possibly been exposed to COVID-19.

Invasion of Privacy

Alyssa Paffrath has an 11-year-old son in the sixth grade at Bunnell Elementary. He was asked by a teacher if he had the vaccine on his first day of school.

He said she sat them all down and asked by a show of hands how old the students were, Paffrath told The Epoch Times, and then she asked, who among them had gotten the vaccine. A handful raised their hands and she said Good for you. Thats great. Were all doing our part, and then she went on to read the CDC guidelines to my 11-year-old during class time. I am so upset about all of this. I dont send my kid to school for them to help him make medical decisions. I make his medical decisions. So I am beyond livid about this.

Making matters worse, Paffrath said this teacher reminds them every day that masks are recommended, except for people who have been vaccinated.

The irony is that my 11-year-old asked why does she keep saying the vaccinated dont need a mask when she read us the guidelines that says the vaccinated need masks, too? The fact that my 11-year-old can pick up the hypocrisy of this is absurd as well.

Paffrath said her son is worried about repercussions, explaining that the teacher is constantly praising the ones who say theyve gotten the vaccination. She tells her students to bring a mask every day, instructing them that, if they need to sneeze they can pull their mask out and sneeze into the mask.

And then she did a demonstration on how to properly sneeze into a mask, Paffrath said. This is so absurd to me. Im sick to my stomach that this is happening in schools. Its just absurd to me that instead of learning math and geography, this is whats being focused on.

I have several FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) requests out, Tim Sharp, Vice Chair of the Florida Republican Liberty Caucus, told The Epoch Times. Im looking for communication from the health department to the school regarding the Bowmans son, specifically what was said and where the information came from. I want to see exactly what that communication looked like, who it came from and when it was sent to see if it was a coordinated event.

According to Sharp, many other parents around town were asked about their childrens vaccination status.

Ive spoken to two other parents whose children were asked, Sharp said, adding that the common thread is every student thats being asked has as a religious exemption.

Different schools, different ages, different parts of town and thats the only commonality, Sharp said of the telling coincidence. They have a religious exemption. Somethings going sideways somewhere.

Paffrath confirmed to The Epoch Times that, like the Bowmans son, her child also has a religious exemption.

This is what my fiance got from the health department after an hour and a half wait, Wendy Maria shared on Facebook on Aug. 21. A photo showed the paper she received from the health department after her son was subjected to two rapid COVID-19 tests:

YOUR RAPID COVID TEST WAS NEGATIVE  TODAY, Please isolate yourself from everyone  Assume that if you came for a test  you MIGHT still be positive. The rapid will not show a positive unless you are symptomatic. Due to the positivity rate in the County and Country  TREAT YOURSELF AS IF YOU ARE POSITIVE. Wearing a mask is recommended. We did a PCR (specialty test) that takes 2  3 days to result. IF YOUR PCR IS POSITIVE  you will receive a call from the health department number leading with 386-562 XXXX with further instructions. Please answer the phone. While you are waiting for the health department to call you, please feel free to have your symptomatic close contacts reach out to be tested. The number to call is 386-437-7350 ext 0

What a joke, Maria posted.

It is not clear why the documents given to two separate parents by the same health department are structured and colored so differently.

My nephew was called last Saturday to quarantine, Kaitlin Larywon shared in a post, explaining that if he was negative he could return to school Tuesday. But they recommended getting tested again Wednesday (after he had already returned to school for two days).

Dont think they really know what the actual plan is, Larywon added.

Negative tests  not good enough, Casey Goff posted satirically. Please see the Health Department for the faulty PCR test that will tell you that your child is positive so that we can meet our covid numbers and quarantine your healthy child for a month.

Ridiculous, Goff added.

School Board Meeting Shut Down

On Aug. 17, the Flagler County School Board heard from a lot of annoyed parents. Some were fed up with threats of more mask mandates. Most came in support of the Bowmans son. But tempers didnt flare until Flagler County School Board General Counsel Kristy Gavin suddenly shut down the meeting and told everyone to leave the room.

A mask-clad Nicole GravesPublic Information Specialist at East Flagler Mosquito Controlhad just left the podium.

While she said she empathized with what the Bowmans son went through, she was angry because people were clapping in support of the family and those who opposed mask mandates. She was angry because one of the board members was cheering. She was angry because some people insisted on having an individual plan rather than submitting to the public plan and she angrily reminded the board that a warning had been issued, that if anyone else clapped everyone would be thrown out.

Do you remember that? She yelled. I dont understand why we cant follow the rules, including you board members who are even supporting and cheering for people. We all need to play by the same level playing field.

When Gavin ordered people to leave the room, some refused to comply. School board members paced uncomfortably behind the dais as constituents shouted shame on you, cowards, pack your bags, and you can be replaced.

Law enforcement eventually cleared the room until citizens reminded law enforcement that barring citizens from observation of a public meeting was in violation of Florida Sunshine Laws and the citizens were allowed back in.

Police lined up in front of the doors denying people entry, in violation of the Sunshine Laws, Tim Sharp, Vice Chair of the Florida Republican Liberty Caucus told The Epoch Times. They cleared the room because of clapping. There were literally 12 police cars in the parking lot and they evacuated the room because people had been clapping.

This is going to boil over, Mr. Bowman told The Epoch Times.
Freedom at Stake

Commentary

In this episode of Counterculture, Gun Control and COVID-19, host Danielle DSouza Gill explores American freedoms that are being taken away by our government little by little. She also delves into how COVID-19 and gun control are linked together. This video gives us vital information about how the government and Democrats in particular want to take our freedoms and how we can preserve them.

In a fable about a frog that is put into a pot of hot water, once the frog hits the hot water, it immediately jumps out. However, if the water is lukewarm and slowly heated to boiling, the frog will stay in the water, not realizing what is happening until it is too late. A similar situation is happening in our country, with one thing after another being taken away or restricted.

COVID-19

As COVID-19 has swept through our country, it has been used as a reason to impose more and more restrictions on citizens and businessesall done under the guise of public safety.

Masks: For over a year now, we have been wearing masks. In some places, especially states that are primarily Democratic, there are mandates requiring them in stores, theaters, airports, and even some schools. It may be some time yet before we no longer are required to wear masks.

Lockdowns: In many states, lockdowns were implemented, making citizens stay inside their homes. Events that were planned, like funerals and weddings, had to be canceled and rescheduled for a later date. Many concerts and sporting events were also canceled. The sick and elderly also suffered countless days of loneliness with no visitors allowed.

Shutdowns: In 2020, many businesses were forced to shut down or the restrictions were so severe that they were no longer able to stay in business. Many small business owners lost their whole livelihoods. Any business not deemed essential by the government suffered this fate. Some churches were even closed.

Vaccinations: President Joe Biden and his administration are pushing for everyone to be subject to mandatory vaccinations. If this is put into place, citizens may be required to show a vaccination passport to travel or enter certain places and even some states.

Just because citizens are forced to live under these restrictions doesnt mean that members of the government lead by example. The host gives a good example of this. Former President Barack Obama had a big birthday bash in Marthas Vineyard and did not follow social distancing protocols or masks. Several celebrities were in attendance and two who posted pictures with Obama, who was not wearing a facemask, were asked to take down their posts after he came under criticism. Definitely a do as I say, not as I do situation. Another example is when salons were shut down in the state of California, Nancy Pelosi was able to find a salon to get her hair done.

So, one might ask what does the Second Amendment have to do with COVID-19? Gill explains that as the government takes away more and more freedoms, there is no way to tell when it will stop, and Democrats have had the 2nd Amendment in their sights for quite some time. Every time rights are taken away for our own good, it always ends up giving the government more power.

History of the Second Amendment

The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was passed in 1789 by Congress and ratified in 1791. It states that a well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

When the United States was founded, there was not a standing army. Instead, groups of men formed militia groups with their own weapons. While this amendment was used to keep guns from being regulated by the federal government, states were able to regulate guns as they saw fit.

The host goes on to explain that Biden signed an executive order prohibiting the sale of guns that did not have serial numbers. He wants to be able to track our weapons and make it where each part is stamped with a serial number. The host states, The left even describes a massively popular organization like the NRA as being extremists. She points out that the Second Amendment was not added to the Constitution for hunting or sport but to protect us, especially from a tyrannical government. Guns help us protect ourselves and our property.

Leftists have also been calling guns racist. A professor at Emory University claimed that the Second Amendment was created to keep African Americans powerless. Leftists state that the only reason guns would be needed was to control slaves. They ignore the fact that the northern states did not have slaves so that would not have been a reason for them to own guns. They saw the need for a nation to be armed to defend themselves against tyranny, which their dealings with the British had taught them. Federalist James Madison said that owning guns is part of what makes America great and gives Americans an advantage that people from other nations do not have.

Gun Control and COVID-19 l Counterculture [Full Episode]

Watch the full episode on Epoch TV here.

The next portion of the video features an interview with Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.). She is known for being an outspoken supporter of the Second Amendment and has been seen carrying a Glock on her hip. Boebert was born in Florida but grew up in a rough part of Denver, Colorado. Her mother was primarily a Democrat and believed the lie that she could not survive on her own without government assistance. This trapped her and the family in poverty, relying on government housing and food. Then, they moved to a better area in Colorado and became part of a real community where people helped each other find ways out of poverty instead of just giving handouts. Boebert says, Politicians dont want you to look to your neighbor to see how to better yourself. They just want to maintain control and they want to be your provider. Once this happens, people feel obligated to give them their votes and support.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the government has told us that we need to stay separated from each other, even from family. However, once again they do not practice what they preach. People have waited for politicians to give them advice on what to do next, while politicians have promoted fear and isolation. When she was growing up, Boebert got her first job at McDonalds and said she remembered how empowered she felt bringing home her first paycheck and being able to help her mother. She stated, I learned at a very young age that I could do a better job of taking care of myself than the government ever did.

Boebert started a restaurant called Shooters Grill in Rifle, Colorado, where workers are encouraged to open carry. After an altercation at the restaurant where a man lost his life, she started carrying her gun, and soon thereafter, her workers followed suit. She takes firearm safety very seriously, and she and her workers have taken firearms training. She became an advocate for the Second Amendment.

She brings up an excellent point that government was created to protect the rights of the people, not to rule them in a tyrannical fashion. She is the first and youngest woman and mother who has been elected to represent the third district of Colorado and considers that a great honor. She has continued to speak up for the rights of the people while in Congress and has seen firsthand how government officials like to maintain control. She is a member of the House for Freedom Caucus, which is comprised of Republicans who work to protect the Constitution and promote liberty, safety, and the rights of the people.

Call to Action

As Gill and Boebert point out, talking about these issues is not enough. We need people to speak out against government control. She assures us that one person can make a difference, which is something she has learned by working for the people of Colorado in Congress. She says that when she gets an idea that she knows she cannot accomplish on her own, she gets excited because she knows God will put people in her path to help her and good things will come of it. She urges us to do the same. Go back to relying on each other for help and support and take back control of our rights and our country.

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Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
French President to Biden: Moral Responsibility to Evacuate Afghan Allies

French President Emmanuel Macron told U.S. President Joe Biden during a phone call last week that there is a collective moral responsibility to evacuate Afghan allies from Kabul before Bidens self-imposed Aug. 31 deadline to withdraw the remaining U.S. troops.

The head of state emphasized our collective moral responsibility toward the Afghan men and women who need our protection and who share our values, a readout of the Aug. 19 call released by the French government states. We cannot abandon them.

The Elysee said Macron, in his conversation with Biden, underlined the absolute need to ensure rapid and concrete coordination among allies on the ground to continue the evacuations.

The White Houses version of the call doesnt include Macrons mention of a moral responsibility to evacuate Afghan allies, but notes that the two world leaders lauded the tireless efforts of their personnel working closely together in Kabul on the evacuation of their citizens, the brave Afghans who have stood by us and our NATO partners, and other vulnerable Afghan nationals.

They underscored the importance of continued close coordination among allies and democratic partners on Afghanistan, including through multilateral fora, on the provision of humanitarian assistance and support for refugees, the White House description says.

White House officials didnt immediately respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment.

The call between the two leaders on the issue comes as Biden faces growing criticism amid reported chaos and occasional violence outside Kabuls international airport, ahead of the presidents deadline to withdraw the remaining U.S. troops from Afghanistan. Many vulnerable Afghans fear a vengeful crackdown by the Taliban terrorist group and are voicing desperate pleas not to be left behind.

U.S. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden depart after a service at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in the Georgetown neighborhood in Washington on Aug. 21, 2021. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

The Pentagon has said that the U.S. military will fly as many as 30,000 people out of Kabul, including embassy personnel, U.S. citizens, Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applicants, and other at-risk individuals.

Of that total, 8,000 will be transported to a third country for visa processing, with the other 22,000 headed for the United States. Advocates estimate that there are 50,000 to 80,000 Afghans and their family members applying for SIVs and evacuation, of which the Biden administration has so far evacuated only a fraction.

The SIV program was created to protect Afghan allies who risked their lives helping U.S. troops in the country.

Echoing Macrons remarks, a bipartisan group of 55 U.S. senators is urging Biden to quickly evacuate SIV applicants and their families amid the Talibans takeover of Kabul.

The Talibans rapid ascendancy across Afghanistan and takeover of Kabul should not cause us to break our promise to the Afghans who helped us operate over the past 20 years and are counting on us for assistance, the senators, led by Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), wrote in a letter on Aug. 19.

American inaction would ensure they become refugees or prime targets for Taliban retribution.

The U.S. military operation in Afghanistan was at every step of the way aided by Afghans who fought alongside us for a better future for their country.

They risked their safety and the well-being of their families to work with the United States. With the departure of U.S. forces and Taliban rule in place, the safety and security of our Afghan allies who put their lives on the line to help our service members and diplomats must be a top priority, the lawmakers wrote.

Meanwhile, Biden said during a press briefing at the White House on Aug. 22 that evacuation efforts have a long way to go and that a lot could still go wrong. The president added that there have been discussions among those in the White House and the military to potentially extend the evacuation operation past Aug. 31.

On Aug. 23, Suhail Shaheen, a Taliban spokesman, warned that there would be consequences if Biden fails to withdraw all troops by his self-imposed deadline.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announces he will resign in this screen grab taken from a video released by the Office of the NY Governor, in New York, U.S., August 10, 2021. Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo/Handout via REUTERS

Gov. Cuomo Says Storm Wont Stop His Planned Resignation

NEW YORKNew York Gov. Andrew Cuomo spent his second-to-last day in office as the state dealt with heavy rain from Tropical Storm Henri.

The Democrat, who is set to resign at the end of the day Monday, appeared at a televised briefing Sunday surrounded by top state officials involved in the states storm response.

Absent from the briefing was Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, who is set to become governor in the first seconds of Tuesday morning.

The lieutenant governor has been briefed on all of this and were in constant communication, Cuomo said.

Asked if he still planned to leave office as planned, Cuomo said Yes, my final day is tomorrow.

He said he asked his emergency management team that if any were thinking of leaving their jobs Tuesday, and not joining the new administration, that they stay in place for the good of the state until the storm crisis had passed.

Hochuls spokespeople didnt immediately respond to a question about her whereabouts. She did weigh in on the storm on Twitter, saying, My team and I are continuing to closely monitor #Henri.

Hochul is scheduled to be sworn in at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday. Cuomo announced two weeks ago that he will resign from office rather than endure a likely impeachment battle in the state legislature over sexual harassment allegations.

Cuomo has insisted he did not touch anyone inappropriately and that some of the allegations against him are either false, exaggerated, or unintentional, but he said hed concluded that continuing to fight to stay in office would hurt the state.
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a joint news conference with Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in Singapore on Aug. 23, 2021. (Evelyn Hockstein/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Harris Pledges US Leadership on Asia Trip, Countering China on Indo-Pacific

Vice President Kamala Harris reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to the Indo-Pacific on Aug. 23, as the regime in Beijing continues its propaganda attack against the United States following the tumultuous U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Harris made the remarks during a joint press conference with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong following a meeting between the two. She arrived in Singapore on Aug. 22 for a seven-day visit that will also include a trip to Vietnam. Harris also met with Singapores President Halimah Yacob.

I reaffirmed in our meeting the United States commitment to working with our allies and partners around the Indo-Pacific to uphold the rules-based international order and freedom of navigation, including in the South China Sea, Harris said.

The Chinese regime has adopted aggressive tactics to stake its claims in the disputed South China Sea, despite a 2016 international ruling that rejected Beijings territorial assertion. Those tactics have involved using its maritime militia and law enforcement vessels to forcibly drive away fishermen of other nationalities from fishing grounds in the disputed sea.

In July, U.S. Adm. Karl Schultz said Chinas maritime behavior in the South China Sea does not seem consistent to me with how the worlds best coast guards should operate and how the worlds best coast guards should act.

Singapore and Vietnam are key allies for the Biden administration as it sets out its agenda to push back against Chinas aggressive behavior in the South China Sea. Singapore, housing one of the busiest container ports in the world, is also home to a U.S. Navy logistical command unit. Vietnam, along with the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Brunei, faces territorial disputes with China in the area.

We are in Singapore to stress and reaffirm our enduring relationship to this country and in this region, and to reinforce a shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region, Harris said.

Harriss trip comes at a pivotal time for the Biden administration, given concerns about the future of Afghanistan following the U.S. withdrawal and about how China might fill the vacuum left by the United States and expand its influence in the region.

Since the U.S. withdrawal, Chinas state-run media have begun a propaganda offensive attacking the credibility of U.S. leadership. The media have further seized on Harriss visit, pushing forward a propaganda salvo that Beijing should be the better choice compared to Washington for Southeast Asian nations seeking partnerships.

In the early hours of Aug. 23, Chinas hawkish state-run outlet Global Times published an editorial saying that Harris will be viewed with suspicion during her trip. She would need to brac[e] herself to shamelessly defend the argument that the U.S. is still trustworthy.

In an op-ed published on Aug. 22, Global Times stated that Harriss visit came at an embarrassing time and the Biden administration needs to prove that its commitment to Southeast Asia will not be withdrawn suddenly as it did in Afghanistan.

Also during the press conference, a reporter asked Harris whether she was concerned about Chinas propaganda and how the Biden administration would repair U.S. credibility.

In response, she said that agreements she had reached with Lee Hsien Loong, including cooperation on cybersecurity and the global climate crisis, are evidence of Americas strength and enduring relationships around the globe.

The Indo-Pacific will in large part, I believe, dictate the future of our world, Harris said.

Lee said Singapore was grateful to the U.S. efforts in rooting out terrorism in Afghanistan during the press conference.

What matters is how the U.S. repositions itself in the Asia-Pacific, engages the broader region, and continues to fight against terrorism, because that will determine the perceptions of the countries of the U.S. global priorities and of its strategic intentions, Lee said.

According to a statement, the U.S. departments of defense and treasury, along with the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, have signed separate memorandums of understanding with their Singaporean counterparts to enhance cyber cooperation and information sharing.

Harris will also visit Singapores Changi naval base on Aug. 23, where she is expected to speak to sailors aboard the USS Tulsa, a Littoral combat ship.
As Tropical Storm Henri affects the Atlantic coast, waves pound the seawall in Montauk, N.Y., on Aug. 22, 2021. (Craig Ruttle/AP Photo)

Henri Treks Slowly Across Northeast, Threatens Inland Floods

MONROE TOWNSHIP, N.J.The slow and sprawling storm system named Henri drenched much of the inland Northeast with rain Monday, hampering cleanup efforts, and threatening further flooding in areas with ground already saturated from a wet summer.

Rains from the storm, which spared coastal areas of New York and New England major damage when its center made landfall Sunday in Rhode Island as a tropical storm, deluged areas from New Hampshire to New York City and down to New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Downpours, flooding, and even tornadoes were possible Monday in New England, where officials fretted that just a few more inches would be a back-breaker following a summer of record rainfall.

With rain still falling off and on, but with the sun finally peeking through at times, residents in parts of the Northeast turned to cleaning up any damage so far.

Emergency personnel and first responders work to help residents after heavy rains from Henri flooded the area, in Helmetta, N.J., on Aug. 22, 2021. (Chris Slavicek via AP)

The smell of sewage filled the air in Rossmoor, a senior community in New Jersey, as people returned to their soaked homes and possessions.

Roseann and John Kiernan faced throwing out their appliances, ripping up walls and carpets, and replacing their ruined car. Their house filled with nearly 2 feet of water on Sunday, leaving them without power.

Its a mess, John Kiernan said.

Dolores Hebert recalled being ferried to safety by boat with her dog and cat as 8 inches of rain fell and water surged through the streets.

I was sleeping and when I woke up, it was up to my knees, said Hebert, 76, as she stood by a front door bearing 18-inch-high watermarks.

Gov. Phil Murphy visited the community, which remains under a flood warning until midnight, on Monday morning. He also planned to visit Helmetta, where about 200 residents fled their homes, and Jamesburg, where Henri flooded downtown streets.

Matt Prue, from Stonington, Conn., walks out into the Atlantic Ocean to body surf the waves from Tropical Storm Henri as it approaches Westerly, R.I., on Aug. 22, 2021. (Stew Milne/AP Photo)

In Manchester, Connecticut, a Hartford suburb some 40 miles from the coast, Annette Landry hoped Mondays rains wouldnt repeat the flooding that left three units in her condominium complex under a few inches of water Sunday.

Firefighters said they helped evacuate 18 homes and performed several rescues after Henri dumped about 5 inches of rain in town, the highest total in the state.

It was a tragedy that this happened, because the people who live here are people who can ill afford to live anywhere else, said Landry, a 72-year-old retiree whose second-floor home was spared from the flooding from the overflowing Hop Brook. It has never been this bad. Ive lived here 40 years.

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont planned Monday to tour storm damage in Canterbury, where hundreds of homes and businesses lost power.

Parts of New Yorks Hudson Valley, north of New York City, had gotten 4 inches of rain by Monday morning and had no power and flooded roads. An additional couple of inches of rain was possible, and flood watches remained in effect.

Hundreds of customers had no power in Maine, but outages were minimal in Vermont and New Hampshire by Monday morning.

The National Hurricane Center said Henris remnants were expected to stall near the Connecticut-New York state line, creep eastward through New England and eventually push out to the Atlantic Ocean. Rainfall from 1 to 3 inches was forecast over much of the area.

The system, now a tropical depression, was moving east at just 1 mph.

President Joe Biden has declared disasters in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Connecticut, opening the purse strings for federal recovery aid to those states.

By David Porter and Ted Shaffrey
In this picture taken late at night Afghans wait outside the foreign military-controlled part of the airport in Kabul, hoping to flee the country following the Taliban's military takeover of Afghanistan, on Aug. 22, 2021. (Wakil Kohsar/AFP via Getty Images)

Historically, Afghanistan Not the Graveyard of Empires, but Site of Horrifying Shambles Today

Commentary

In addition to innumerable other untruths, obfuscations, instantly retracted briefing information, and implausible apologia for the horrifying shambles in Afghanistan, there is also a good deal of misstated history.

American television commentators who do not know anything about the history of the region toss off aphorisms about the graveyard of empires, and assure their viewers that Afghanistan has a long record of attracting great powers and destroying them like a giant geopolitical Venus fly-trap.

It is alleged that this began with Alexander the Great in the fourth century BC. In fact, Alexander besieged the king of what was then called Bactria in his mountain fortress but settled amicably by accepting Bactria as a client monarchy defending Alexanders great empire from the barbarians to the north, and Alexander married the kings daughter Roxanne for good measure.

A number of his senior officers made similar tactical marriages and Alexanders accepted legitimate heir, (though he was deprived of his inheritance), was the son that he had with Roxanne. His visit to Afghanistan was a success, and the arrangements he made with Bactria survived him.

Britain

The second grounds for lamenting the graveyard of empires requires a flash-forward of over 2000 years to the British incursions into Afghanistan in 1839 to 1842 and 1878 to 1880.

The first was an insane conception in which tens of thousands of extraneous personnel, families, and servants of officers, and huge quantities of personal effects and supplies including cattle and poultry to feed this itinerant force as if it had not left its well-stocked bases in India, joined a combat force of something over 20,000.

They had some initial successes but then were harassed by guerrilla forces and tortured by the appalling climate. The mission was a disaster and was known in Britain thereafter to be a disaster. The British lost more than a thousand dead and many thousands of loyal Indian soldiers and accompanying personnel died with them.

But the British immediately mounted a punitive expedition which entered Afghanistan, roundly defeated the Afghan army, and inflicted extensive damage in several cities for the sole purpose of vengeance and deterrence, and retired.

The second Anglo-Afghan War, which was also a response to a mistakenly apprehended Russian advance in the area, was between 1878 in 1880. While it was somewhat more successful than the first invasion of Afghanistan, it still did not achieve any serious objective, and the British retired, having on balance, more than held their own.

After the first Anglo-Afghan war the Afghan leader Dost Mohammed said that he had had occasion to note the great power of the British Empire and that he could not imagine why the leaders of such a great and flourishing worldwide imperial state would have crossed the Indus to deprive me of my poor and barren country. Answer, came there, none.

The British got a bloody nose in Afghanistan, to be sure, but it paid the obstreperous natives back smartly and gained an official right of oversight of Afghanistan to ensure that it did not tumble into the lap of the Russians, and Britain maintained that status for 65 years.

Afghanistan was no more a graveyard to the British than to Alexander the Great and they continued in the full force and panoply of their empire for nearly 70 years after their last foray into Afghanistan and the British Empire did not fail or suffer defeat. It pared itself back and granted independence to scores of countries, without any significant indignity to itself.

Soviet Union

The third candidate for an empire that foundered in Afghanistan is the Soviet Union which attempted what amounted to an occupation from 1979 to 1989. The USSR took approximately 23,000 dead compared to approximately 50,000 Afghan dead, and it cannot be said that it accomplished anything useful in the period of its partial occupation of Afghanistan.

The United States supplied the Mujahadeen guerrillas who evolved into the Taliban with extensive military equipment including over-the-shoulder anti-helicopter missiles that caused the Soviets great difficulty. The reform Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev soon concluded that the effort in Afghanistan was not worth the cost of it and was not leading anywhere likely to justify it.

With the usual face-saving formalities he withdrew Soviet forces. Civilian and vulnerable elements were withdrawn first as is the normal process for evacuations, and the military followed in an orderly retirement to and across the Soviet border. It was a failed operation as an invasion but the withdrawal was conducted without any embarrassment.

Nor can it be said that Afghanistan brought down the USSR. Gorbachevs Glasnost and Perestroika reform initiatives encouraged separatist movements in the constituent republics of the USSR, and President Reagans pursuit of his satellite-based Strategic Missile Defense discouraged the Soviet leadership at the prospect that even though they were spending approximately 50 percent of GDP on defense, they could lose their deterrent capability and cease to be a geopolitical rival to the United States.

Afghanistan was not remotely as great a fiasco to the Soviets as Vietnam was to the United States and was not the graveyard of the USSR.

Saigon and Dunkirk

Comparisons with Saigon 1975, are also false, other than visually. The United States fought to a standstill and withdrew with honor and dignity. The Saigon regime continued for two years. Only Watergate prevented the return of American air power to stabilize the country when the North Vietnamese reinvaded the south, as it had in the great North Vietnamese offensive of April 1972, when the South Vietnamese defeated the North and Viet Cong with American assistance in the air only.

There have also been some rather flippant invocations of the evacuation from Dunkirk across the English Channel of 240,000 British and 100,000 French soldiers in May 1940. It is a very tenuous comparison. The German army left the northern Anglo-French armies no choice but to take to the sea or surrender. There were no other options and there was no civilian evacuation involved.

The last-ditch French defenders and the Royal Navy and Air Force covered the retreat magnificently and in fair weather British vessels ranging from ocean liners to small launches ferried the Allied soldiers to safety. But Prime Minister Churchill struck exactly the right note: Let us not exaggerate the triumph of this deliverance. Wars are not won by evacuations.

American Withdrawal

President Joe Biden said on the weekend that history would ratify his judgment. His guess deserves the same hearing as anyones, but it is impossible to agree with it.

There was no need to withdraw the NATO forces, three quarters of them from countries other than the U.S., the war had reached a stasis with the Taliban in which NATO and its Afghan collaborators ruled the cities while the Taliban clearly had preponderant strength in much of the rural areas. Hostilities had settled down to a minimum and in the last 18 months in which the U.S. Armed Forces in Afghanistan had not sustained a single fatality, the cities of America endured approximately 2000 deaths from gunfire.

If Biden was determined simply to leave, and had accordingly advised the allies whom he has been assuring that the United States is back, an evacuation of all personnel starting with the most vulnerable and ending with the strongest military units, which would have coordinated and covered the entire operation could have been executed. The president would have had trouble defending the evacuation as a strategic step but would at least have spared himself the terminal embarrassment of the chaos, cowardice, and desertion that he has inflicted upon himself and his administration.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Homemade Granola Bars Will Power the Kids Through Class, After-School Activities, and More

As the kids head back to school, these chewy granola bars are great to have on your baking menu. Its a perfect make-ahead snack and travels well.

A quick note: Dont use quick, instant, or extra-thick rolled oats in this recipe. Rolled oats (also called old-fashioned or regular oats) are whole oats that have been steamed and then rolled. If these same oats are rolled very thinly, they are called quick oats because they cook, well, more quickly. Instant oats are cooked and then dehydrated, so they dont need any more cooking, just hot water.

Chewy Granola Bars With Cranberries and Walnuts

Makes 12 bars

3/4 cup walnuts

1 1/4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds

1/4 cup vegetable oil

2 tablespoons water

1/2 cup dried apricots

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup Rice Krispies cereal

1/2 cup dried cranberries

Adjust oven rack to the middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Make an aluminum foil sling for an 8-inch square metal baking pan. Spray foil with vegetable oil spray.

In a food processor, pulse walnuts until finely chopped, about 10 1-second pulses. Transfer walnuts to a rimmed baking sheet. Add oats and sunflower seeds to the baking sheet and spread into an even layer. Bake until oats are lightly browned, about 12 minutes.

Place baking sheet on a cooling rack and let cool for 10 minutes. While the oat mixture is cooling, reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.

Combine oil and water in a liquid measuring cup. Add apricots, brown sugar, and salt to the food processor and process until apricots are very finely ground, about 15 seconds. With the processor running, pour the oil mixture through the feed tube and process until a paste forms, about 1 minute.

Transfer apricot paste to a large bowl. Add the cooled oat mixture and stir until oats are well coated with apricot paste. Add cereal and cranberries and gently stir until evenly combined.

Scrape mixture into the foil-lined baking pan and spread into an even layer. Use the bottom of a dry measuring cup to press down VERY firmly (especially at edges and corners) until smooth and flat. Bake until granola is brown at edges, about 25 minutes.

Transfer baking pan to a cooling rack and let the granola bars cool completely in the pan, about 2 hours. Use foil to lift bars out of the baking pan and transfer to a cutting board. Cut into bars and serve.
How Does Procrastination and Perfectionism Reduce Productivity?

The legendary comic book artist, writer, and editor Jack Kirby once said, Perfectionists are their own devils. And, its 100% spot onjust like his indispensable contributions to the comic industry.

Note that the reason why that quote resonates with you is that when youre a perfectionist, youre actually a procrastinator in disguise. Yeah. You might be in denialbut its true.

How Does Procrastination and Perfectionism Reduce Productivity?

Despite the misconception that procrastinators are slackers, the reality is that you may be caught in the procrastination-perfectionism loop.

Starting a project or assignment is too frightening because you feel that it wont be good enough.

You devote too much time in the planning phase instead of getting to work. As a result, you wait until the last minute to work on the actual task since it wont align with your grand vision.

Your emotions drive your actions, such as not starting a project because youre not in the right headspace.

You prioritize easier and less intimidating tasks. In turn, this prevents you from focusing on more important responsibilities.

Once youre in this loop of procrastination and perfectionismyou can expect dire consequences.

The symptoms of procrastination commonly reflect the inability to finish tasks, meet deadlines, arrive on time, and keep promises, writes Dr. Bill Cloke. Poor concentration, negative internal messages, unrealistic expectations, and the inability to organize and work constructively are present with procrastination.

Obviously, all of the above will hinder your productivity. However, in addition to chronic procrastination, being a perfectionist can also destroy your productivity in the following ways.

1. Causes Anxiety and Depression

Is anxiety the cause of perfectionism? Or is perfectionism the cause of anxiety? Unfortunately, the answer isnt always clear. However, multiple studies have found that perfectionism can lead to a myriad of problems, such as anxiety and depression.

Its something that cuts across everything, in terms of psychological problems, says Sarah Egan, a senior research fellow at the Curtin University in Perth who specializes in perfectionism, eating disorders, and anxiety. There arent that many other things that do that.

There are studies that suggest that the higher the perfectionism is, the more psychological disorders youre going to suffer.

2. Lowers Self-esteem

Since perfectionists set impossibly high standards, they feel awful when they dont meet those standards. As a consequence, this casts a shadow of self-doubt over them. And, eventually, this causes them to engage in negative self-talk.

This might sound like hyperbole. But, because perfectionists never live up to the bar theyve set, they view themselves as failures. Without that confidence, you arent able to succeed and forge forward.

3. Impedes Innovation

Perfectionism often kills innovation. So, its not surprising that this would also impact your productivity. After all, as Calendar Co-Founder and CEO John Rampton previously wrote, innovation encourages you to continually improves and stay on top of trends so that youll remain relevant.

Heres the problem, though. You dedicate a lot of time to brainstorm ideas. But, since youre consumed by perfection, you toss those ideas into the trash like last weeks leftovers. And, that might mean that youre leaving some excellent ideas on the cutting room floor.

As if that werent enough, this can also affect your self-confidence. The reason? Because youre rejecting possible opportunities that can make you smarter, faster, better.

4. Causes Health Problems

Several studies have found that perfectionism can shorten an individuals lifespan.

The reason? Its simple. Perfectionism can negatively influence an individuals physical health.

Perfectionists may suffer from chronic headaches, fatigue, insomnia, and heartburn. Perfectionism can also lead to high levels of chronic stress, which are known to be linked to cardiovascular problems. Its also possible for perfectionists to develop eating disorders.

More concerning? Perfectionism is causing more suicides.

5. Reluctance to Make Decisions

Theres an argument that, for unimportant decisions, you should either decide quickly or outsource the decision, writes Alice Boyles for HBR.

But perfectionists have a hard time designating decisions as unimportant, she adds. They like to be in control of everything.

Why is this the case? Because imperfections bother them more than they do other people. If something goes wrong, perfectionists might feel explosive frustration or a niggling sense of irritation thats hard to ignore, and they dont want to take that risk.

Sometimes, perfectionists are so accustomed to micromanaging that it doesnt even occur to them that any decision is unimportant, states Boyles. Theyre blind to it. So instead, they habitually and automatically classify everything as worthy of their full effort.

6. Difficulty Achieving Goals

Perfection may also make it more difficult to achieve your goals. The reason being is that the fear of failure freezes you in place. Obviously, this prevents you from progressing and moving forward.

Furthermore, that nagging negative self-talk occupies the back of your mind. And, thats not exactly the best way to inspire and motivate you to pursue your goals.

And, since perfectionists have a tendency to quit easily, they often throw in the towel before the going gets tough.

7. Strains Relationships

Getting along with perfectionists isnt for the faint of heart. Perfectionists may doubt their worth as theyve convinced themselves that theyre failures. Additionally, perfectionists have difficulty being honest and transparent since they hide their mistakes and vulnerabilities. Eventually, this kind of behavior can be detrimental to relationships.

Also, some perfectionists expect others to live up to the unreasonably high expectations that theyve set for themselves. And, when not reached, this causes disappointment and conflict when others do not meet these expectations.

8. Limits Opportunities

Finally, perfectionists are obsessed with failure and chasing unattainable expectations, preventing them from trying new things and meeting new people. As a consequence, they can miss out on new and exciting opportunities that can make them more productive.

How to Beat Procrastination and Perfectionism

There is a silver ling, though. Its absolutely possible to break the dreaded procrastination and perfectionism loop. And, here are some pointers on how to make this possible;

Lower the bar. This is a process that wont happen overnight. But, you lower standards by starting small, like not making your bed in the morning or proofreading an email.

This is a process that wont happen overnight. But, you lower standards by starting small, like not making your bed in the morning or proofreading an email. Keep your tasks bite-sized. As the joke goes, How do you eat an elephant? By eating one bite at a time. Breaking large projects into smaller ones makes it feel not as daunting. And take these small steps helps build momentum.

As the joke goes, How do you eat an elephant? By eating one bite at a time. Breaking large projects into smaller ones makes it feel not as daunting. And take these small steps helps build momentum. Stop multitasking. As a reminder, the human brain wasnt designed for multitasking. To fight back against this, try strategies like time blocking, eliminating distractions, and seeking feedback.

As a reminder, the human brain wasnt designed for multitasking. To fight back against this, try strategies like time blocking, eliminating distractions, and seeking feedback. Practice self-compassion. When you need a pep talk, go back and review what you actually accomplished in the day.

When you need a pep talk, go back and review what you actually accomplished in the day. Surround yourself with positive support. Remove toxic relationships and spend more time with those who are supportive.

Remove toxic relationships and spend more time with those who are supportive. Incorporate mindfulness. By being present and not busy, you can stay grounded and reduce anxiety.

By being present and not busy, you can stay grounded and reduce anxiety. Reduce your commitments. Practice the art of saying no so that you arent overextending yourself. In turn, this encourages you to focus on whats important.

Practice the art of saying no so that you arent overextending yourself. In turn, this encourages you to focus on whats important. Reward yourself. When your complete a part of a large task, treat yourself to a walk or your favorite beverage from Starbucks.

When your complete a part of a large task, treat yourself to a walk or your favorite beverage from Starbucks. Track your time. This lets you determine when youre most productive. Knowing this, you can schedule your most important or challenging tasks at this time.

The most important takeaway? Know that youre not alone. If procrastination and perfectionism interfere with your health and well-being, reach out to a mental health professional.

By Deanna Ritchie
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo prepares to board a helicopter after announcing his resignation, in New York City, on Aug. 10, 2021. (Seth Wenig/AP Photo)

In Farewell to New Yorkers, Cuomo Says Its Unfair He Had to Resign

Update: Andrew Cuomos resignation is effective midnight, Aug. 24, 2021.

NEW YORKIn his final public remarks as governor of New York on Monday, Andrew Cuomo complained about what he called the unfairness of the state investigation that concluded he sexually harassed women who worked for him.

After two women went public with accounts of harassment, Cuomo referred the complaints in March to New York Attorney General Letitia James, as required by law, who appointed two outside lawyers to investigate. Lawmakers in the New York Assembly began an impeachment investigation.

The report released on Aug. 3 by James, a fellow Democrat, was the beginning of the end of Cuomos decade as governor.

You know me: I am a fighter, and my instinct is to fight this, because it is unfair and unjust in my mind, Cuomo said in pre-recorded remarks aired at noon on Monday. But he had decided not to, he said, because prolonging this situation could only cause governmental paralysis.

Cuomo leaves office at 11:59 p.m., whereupon Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, another Democrat, takes over, becoming the first woman to run New York.

Hochul, 62, is due to be sworn in at the State Capitol in Albany at 12:01 a.m., and has promised a change in style, saying no one would ever accuse her, as the attorney general did Cuomo, of creating a toxic work environment.

New York Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul gives a news conference at the state Capitol, in Albany, N.Y., on Aug. 11, 2021. (Hans Pennink/AP Photo)

What Cuomo will do next is unclear.

His most senior aide, Melissa DeRosa, said in a statement that Cuomo would spend his newfound leisure time with his family and that he has a lot of fishing to catch up on.

Cuomo has no interest in running for office again, she said.

There are still ongoing investigations. James is investigating whether Cuomo improperly used state resources to secure then-scarce coronavirus tests for family members and wealthy friends and to write a book last year about the COVID-19 crisis in New York. Cuomo received a $5.1 million advance as his daily briefings on the pandemic became popular nationally, but his publisher has since said it will no longer promote the book.

Although they no longer plan to impeach Cuomo now that he is leaving office, lawmakers in the state Assembly said they would still publish a report once they conclude their investigation.

The lawmakers have also investigated why the Cuomo administration withheld data showing the true extent of nursing home deaths from COVID-19, a matter also being examined by federal prosecutors.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo gives a farewell speech via online video in New York on Aug. 23, 2021. (New York Governors Office via AP)

At least five state prosecutors have requested information from James, whose report concluded that Cuomo broke federal and state laws by kissing, groping, or making unwelcome sexual remarks to at least 11 women, and by retaliating against at least one woman who complained by leaking her private records to the press.

Cuomo has at times expressed regret for making young women uncomfortable, attributing it to a generational difference and to an affectionate Italian-American upbringing. But he has denied criminal wrongdoing.

In his farewell remarks, Cuomo touted himself as a bulwark against his partys left-wing faction that he said wants to defund the police and demonize businesses.

The Associated Press contributed to this report
The Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi (R) welcomes Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi for their meeting at the presidency office, in Tehran, Iran, on Aug. 22, 2021. (Iranian Presidency Office via AP)

Iran Urges Japan to Release Billions in Blocked Funds Amid US Sanctions

DUBAIIrans President Ebrahim Raisi called on Japan to release Iranian funds frozen in the country due to U.S. sanctions, Iranian state TV reported after the president met on Sunday with the visiting Japanese foreign minister.

Iran has been unable to obtain tens of billions of dollars of its assets mainly from exports of oil and gas in foreign banks, including $3 billion of its funds in Japan, due to U.S. sanctions on its banking and energy sectors. The sanctions were reimposed in 2018 after Washington abandoned Tehrans 2015 nuclear deal with six world powers.

The improvement of ties with Japan is of great importance for Iran  Any delay in unblocking Iranian assets in Japanese banks is not justified, Raisi said in his meeting with Toshimitsu Motegi, who arrived in Tehran late on Sunday for a two-day visit.

Iran and six powers have been in talks since April to reinstate the nuclear pact, under which Tehran agreed to curb its nuclear program to make it harder to obtain fissile material for a nuclear weapon, in return for relief from sanctions. Tehran denies seeking nuclear weapons.

However, Iranian and Western officials have said significant gaps remain to reinstating the pact. A sixth round of indirect talks between Tehran and Washington in Vienna adjourned on June 20, two days after Raisi won the presidential election in Iran.

Iran and six powers have yet to announce when they will resume the negotiations. Raisi, who has presented his cabinet to parliament for a vote of confidence, is expected to adopt a hard line approach in the Vienna talks, according to people familiar with the matter.

Raisi, like Irans top authority Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has backed the nuclear talks in Vienna.

Iran has no problem with the principle of negotiation  What is the justification for keeping the U.S. sanctions against Iran in place? Irans state media quoted Raisi as telling Japans Motegi as saying.

In 2019, Irans Khamenei refused to reply to a message Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe had brought to Tehran from then-U.S. President Donald Trump, as a peacemaking visit was overshadowed by attacks on tankers in the Gulf of Oman. One of the tankers was Japanese.
Judge Allows Lawsuits Over University of Delawares COVID-19 Shutdown to Proceed

A federal judge ruled in favor of a group of University of Delaware students and their parents on Aug. 20, allowing them to press claims that the university breached its contract and unjustly enriched itself by ending in-person classes and services in response to the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic last spring.

The university (UD), like many other schools in the United States, started its spring 2020 semester with in-person learning and switched to online instruction when the pandemic hit. While the university offered a partial refund of services such as housing, dining, and parking, it refused to refund any of the students tuition or fees, including those for the gym, the student centers, and the health center, which were all closed during the time of online instruction.

In two separate lawsuits, the plaintiffs argue that the university breached contractual obligations when it failed to provide the campus experience it had promised. They are suing for partial refunds of their spring 2020 tuition and fees and are seeking to represent all UD students who paid tuition or fees that they believe should have been reimbursed.

Attorneys for the university filed motions to dismiss the lawsuits, saying that it never actually promised to hold classes in person. UD also argued that parents who paid for their adult childrens tuition and fees dont have standing to sue because they werent personally denied in-person services or forced to take the allegedly inferior online classes.

Judge Stephanos Bibas of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit sided with the students, saying that theyve plausibly alleged that university promised them in-person classes, activities, and services.

True, the school never promised them expressly. But promises need not be express to be enforceable, Bibas, a Trump appointee, wrote in his opinion (pdf). By its statements and history of offering classes in person, the school may have implied a promise to stay in person.

Bibas also noted that, even if the university was justified in breaking any promise because of the pandemic, it shouldnt be unjustly enriched in doing so, and may have to return the money it saved, if any, by shutting down the campus and moving classes online.

The judge also rejected the universitys argument that parents dont have standing in the lawsuit.

If the parents are right, they suffered a simpler injury: The school wrongly took their money. It promised to use the money for one purpose but did not, Bibas wrote. This financial harm is a classic and paradigmatic form of injury that supports standing.

Citing Delawares state law, Bibas noted that the relationship between a university and its students is a contractual one. Under Delaware law, a contract may not necessarily be a written one, but may be inferred wholly or partly from conduct.

Schools and students show their intent to contract mostly through their actions, not words: The school admits them, the students enroll and pay tuition, and the students go to class, he said. The parties did that here, and their acts plausibly created an implied contract.

University of Delaware officials didnt respond to a request for comment by press time.
Police tape is seen in this stock photo. (Carl Ballou/Shutterstock)

Nearly 2 Dozen People Hurt, 1 Critically, in Queens House Fire

By Elizabeth Keogh

From New York Daily News

NEW YORKNearly two dozen people were hurt, and one was left clinging to life, after a a fast-moving fire broke out in a Queens home Sunday morning, officials said.

The blaze broke out on the second floor of the single-family home on Hampton Street near Elmhurst Avenue in Elmhurst about 7:45 a.m., the FDNY said.

EMS took the victims to Elmhurst Hospital and Nassau University Medical Center, police said.

It took 60 firefighters about 45 minutes to bring the blaze under control.

One person was in critical condition and 22 others, including one firefighter, suffered minor injuries, officials said.

The cause of the blaze was under investigation.

2021 New York Daily News. Visit at nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Soldiers prepare spaces for Afghan evacuees near Fort Bliss, New Mexico, on Aug. 19, 2021. (U.S. Army photo by: Staff Sgt. Michael West/2ABCT)

New Jersey Military Base to Be Used to House Afghan Evacuees: Pentagon

Evacuees began arriving at another base on Aug. 22

A military base in New Jersey will house evacuees from Afghanistan as the United States works on flying tens of thousands of Afghans from the Taliban-held country.

Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, about 39 miles northeast of Philadelphia, is the fourth base that is preparing to or already has accepted evacuees. The other three bases are Fort Lee in Virginia, Fort McCoy in Wisconsin, and Fort Bliss in Texas.

The addition of the fourth site comes as the U.S. military expands its goals in terms of how many evacuees can be housed on the bases.

The top-line number, previously 22,000, is now 25,000.

With the four bases, what our goal would be is to reach the abilitynot necessarily the actual countbut the ability to build out to about 25,000 capacity, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters in Washington. We arent there yet, its going to take days and weeks, I think for all four to be able to combine to get to that level.

Officials at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst didnt immediately respond to a query about what preparations are being made and when the base will be ready to take in evacuees.

U.S. Northern Command said the base will provide temporary housing for the Afghans, who are arriving on special immigration visas.

Some Afghans arrived at Fort Lee last month. Fort McCoy began accepting Afghans on Aug. 22.

This afternoon, special immigrant visa applicants, their families, and other individuals at risk arrived here, Brig. Gen. Chris Norrie, the Task Force McCoy commander, said in a statement.

The number of Afghans who arrived wasnt made clear and the base didnt immediately respond to a request for more information.

Approximately 1,000 service members from U.S. Army and Army Reserve units are assembling at the fort to provide support for the evacuees.

Open bay barracks are being prepared for the arrival of Afghan evacuees at Fort McCoy, Wis., on Aug. 18, 2021. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Sgt. Michel Sauret/326th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

A U.S. Air Force aircrew, assigned to the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, assists qualified evacuees aboard a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircraft in support of the Afghanistan evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Afghanistan, Aug. 21, 2021. The Department of Defense is committed to supporting the U.S. State Department in the departure of U.S. and allied civilian personnel from Afghanistan and to evacuate Afghan allies to safety. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Taylor Crul)

The Fort McCoy community is proud to join U.S. Army North, U.S. Northern Command, and the Department of Defense team in supporting the State Department with this mission. We look forward to the opportunity to treat our temporary guests with the utmost respect and Wisconsin hospitality as they commence their Special Immigrant Visa process, Norrie said.

Many lawmakers have expressed support for welcoming Afghans who are fleeing their Taliban-held country, particularly those who have assisted U.S. troops since 2001. But some have expressed concern about how well the evacuees are being vetted.

I am deeply disturbed by reports that as many as 5,000 Afghans per day are headed to the United Statesmany without valid visas or even basic identity documents, Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-Wis.) said in a statement last week.

Biden administration officials have said they plan to transport many of these individuals to Fort McCoy in Wisconsinbut have declined to elaborate on how many will come, what screening will be carried out prior to arrival, or what will happen after they land here, he added. Alarmingly, the White House has also declined to say whether these individuals will be held in custody during vetting, or if we will see the same kind of catch-and-release policy weve seen on our southern border.

Major Gen. Hank Taylor told reporters on Aug. 21 that intelligence, law enforcement, and counterterrorism experts are screening and vetting all Afghan visa applicants before theyre allowed to enter the United States. He didnt elaborate.

Anyone arriving in the United States will have undergone a background check, President Joe Biden said on Aug. 22.

Evacuees arent required to test negative for COVID-19 before leaving Afghanistan, according to the State Department.
NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (Aug. 23)

The Food and Drug Administration approves the Pfizer vaccine as President Joe Biden calls for new vaccine mandates, the pressure is on to evacuate the tens of thousands of people waiting to leave Afghanistan, and the death toll from the flash floods in Tennessee is rising.
Howard Zucker, commissioner of the New York State Department of Health, and Gov. Andrew Cuomo after a press conference on COVID-19 vaccination at Suffolk County Community College in Brentwood, N.Y., on April 12, 2021. (Michael M. Santiago/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

NY Still Needs to Come Clean on COVID-19 Nursing Home Deaths Scandal: Report

The government of the State of New York still has more explaining to do and heads that should roll regarding the decision to order that nursing homes accept patients with COVID-19 last year, according one of the states leading think tanks.

The state government still hasnt released data crucial to gauging the real magnitude of the scandal. Its obvious, though, that the governors office and other officials are engaged in a coverup, according to the Empire Center for Public Policys health policy expert Bill Hammond. All of those responsible should resign, including the states health commissioner Howard Zucker, Hammond said.

The scandal revolves around an order issued by Zucker on March 25, 2020, which stipulated that no resident shall be denied re-admission or admission to the NH [nursing home] solely based on a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of COVID-19.

The order went as far as prohibiting staff from testing medically stable hospitalized clients for COVID-19 before admission.

Under the policy, more than 9,000 COVID-19 positive patients were transferred to long-term care facilities, contributing to the nearly 16,000 deaths attributed to COVID in such facilities, according to a statistical analysis by the think tank. Exactly how much the policy contributed to the deaths is very difficult to perfectly quantify, according to Hammond, who is a senior research fellow at the Empire Center.

The difficulty is compounded by the states delaying the publication of a large amount of data that it has collected on the issue. A coverup and dishonesty regarding the issue has been the most blatant part of the scandal, he claimed.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently announced his resignation, on its face value due to a separate issue of inappropriate behavior toward women. But others involved in the coverup are still holding onto their chairs, Hammond pointed out.

He called on the incoming Gov. Kathy Hochul to fire the falsifiers, in a recent op-ed in the New York Daily News.

Origins

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks at a press conference in New York City on July 6, 2020. Cuomo defended the states policy that mandated nursing homes accept residents who tested positive for COVID-19. (David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)

In some regards, Hammond said, he is willing to give the Cuomo administration the benefit of the doubt, he told The Epoch Times.

In mid-March, 2020, COVID-19 was quickly spreading in the city and hospitalizations multiplied from about 300 to more than 3,000 in less than two weeks. Expert projections were showing hospitalizations would reach as high as 110,000 in the state, about twice its hospital capacity.

It was reasonable for him to be really concerned about that, Hammond said.

Under these circumstances, there was a danger that elderly patients who were already recovering from COVID-19, but could still be infections, would be occupying hospital beds for weeks as long-term care facilities would refuse to accept them. If nursing homes were required to accept them, despite the obvious risks involved, it would have freed up some hospital capacity.

Hammond was willing to cut the Cuomo administration some slack for trying to pick what it could have seen as the lesser of two evils.

There are many things, however, for which the government should be faulted, he said.

Poorly Worded

Cuomo said the policy was based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The guidance said that nursing homes can accept recovering COVID-19 patients, but only if they can adhere to the CDCs Transmission-Based Precautions that outlined considerations for the safety of other residents.

The guidance recommended the homes set up an isolated area where the potentially infectious residents could quarantine for 14 days. The state directive, on the other hand, didnt include these precautions. It bluntly said nursing homes must comply with the expedited receipt of residents returning from hospitals.

Cuomo later argued that nursing homes always had the option, under state law, to refuse any patient they couldnt properly care for. But, as Hammond pointed out, the state directive came in a state of emergency when the government is authorized to suspend certain laws and regulations.

Since the March 25 directive invoked the emergency and used prescriptive language, nursing home officials might reasonably have assumed that it was meant to supersede normal regulations, Hammond said in his Aug. 17 report on the issue.

No Outreach

Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) wheel a man out of the Cobble Hill Health Center nursing home during an ongoing outbreak of COVID-19 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City on April 17, 2020. (Lucas Jackson/Reuters)

Another problem was that nursing homes werent consulted on the state directive, Hammond said. If there was an outreach effort, the directive could have been better worded, nursing homes could have been clearer on what they could and couldnt do, and the state could have learned crucial information, such as which homes were actually equipped to accept potentially infectious patients.

Late Reevaluation

The state directive is technically still in effect, but in practice, it was discontinued after six weeks when another directive that banned hospitals from sending COVID-19 patients to nursing homes was issued.

Six weeks, however, was too long given the facts on the ground at the time, according to Hammond.

After just one week, hospitalization data had already indicated that the hospitalization projections were grossly off-mark. One of the most prominent state-by-state projection models came from the University of Washingtons Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.

On April 1, 2020, the model was updated with additional data, but it was clear that it had little to no correspondence with the facts on the ground. The projections warned that New York would need 41,000 to 58,000 hospital beds for COVID-19 patients by April 1, 2020. But even by April 3, 2020, the state had less than 16,000 hospitalized. The hospitalizations peaked before mid-April, below 19,000, and then dropped about as quickly as they rose.

One Size Didnt Fit All

Families of COVID-19 victims who passed away in New York nursing homes gather in front of Cobble Hill Heath Center in Brooklyn, New York, to demand State Governor Andrew Cuomo apologize for his response to clusters in nursing homes during pandemic on Oct. 18, 2020. (Yuki Iwamura/AP Photo)

While some hospitals in the New York City area got overloaded during the pandemic peak, that was not the case further upstate. The impact of COVID-19 was much milder in those small-town and rural areas, but the local nursing homes were still required to accept COVID-19 patients. It is in these areas where Empire Centers statistical analysis showed the most severe impact of the state directive.

The admission of every 10 COVID-19-positive patients resulted in about six additional COVID-19 related deaths, the data indicated.

In the upstate region, facilities that admitted at least one positive patient during this period accounted for 82 percent of coronavirus deaths among nursing home residents, even though they had only 32 percent of the residents, the analysis stated.

The analysis could benefit from additional data to make its conclusions broader and more robust. But the state hasnt been forthcoming with this data. This alludes to a major problem that Hammond pointed outone thats as damning as it is indisputable, he said.

Coverup

As it became clear how COVID-19 was having a devastating impact on nursing home clients, the state directive started to draw increasing scrutiny. In response, the governor and many in his administration engaged in blatant dishonestly, Hammond documented in this report.

Theyve done nothing but spin from the very beginning, he said.

The officials tried to explain the directive away by implying that it mainly pertained to COVID-19 patients who were sent to a hospital and then simply returned back, Hammonds report said. In fact, more than two thirds of the nursing home COVID-19 patient admissions were not prior residents, he found from data released thanks to a court order stemming from the Empire Centers freedom of information lawsuit.

Another move came in early May when the state started to omit from nursing home reports any COVID-19 deaths that didnt occur in the home itself, such as those that took place after the patient was transferred to a hospital. The state acknowledged this change in its reporting in a footnote, but the fact remained that a portion of the deaths was thus hidden.

The result was to make New Yorks nursing home death toll look roughly one-third lower than it actually was, the report stated.

In an unusual move, the state also removed the March 25 directive from its website sometime in early May. Media noticed the edit several weeks later.

Probably the most outrageous part of the cover up came in July, 2020, when the state health department released a report saying the March 25 directive was not a factor in nursing home fatalities. Instead, it blamed staff members for unwittingly bringing the virus in early in the pandemic.

Emergency medical workers are seen unloading a patient outside a nursing home in Brooklyn, New York, on April 18, 2020. (Justin Heiman/Getty Images)

Although presented in the form of a scientific analysis, the [state health department] report was replete with falsehoods, omissions, errors and questionable analyses that discredited its central findings. Some of its flaws were evident right away; others came to light later, Hammonds report said.

For starters, the governments report omitted the resident deaths that occurred outside of the homes.

Most importantly, its conclusion was a non-sequitur, according to Hammond.

The report correctly pointed out that nursing home deaths peaked in early April, too early for the March 25 directive to act as the driving factor. But that hardly rules out that transfers from hospitals played a role, Hammond argued.

Residents kept dying by the hundreds per day for weeks after the peak, and certainly some of those victims could have caught the virus from an infected patient arriving from a hospital, he said.

It was later reported that, although prepared by the health department, the state report had been heavily edited by Cuomos aides.

When various groups started to demand data on the nursing home deaths, the government stonewalled them, Hammond said.

The governor and other officials consistently deflected requests for that data from reporters, watchdog groups, industry associations, and even members of the Legislature, the report said.

Zucker repeatedly claimed he couldnt provide the numbers because he needed to make sure they were absolutely accurate.

Reportedly, a Cuomo aide completed an audit of nursing home deaths in late August, but the administration withheld the data until February, after the Empire Center won a court order forcing its release.

Data accuracy isnt a grounds for blocking Freedom of Information (FOIL) requests to begin with, Hammond noted.

No large-scale data-gathering system is error-free. An accuracy-based exception to FOIL would be license to block virtually any request for records, he said in the report.

The states delaying tactics clearly violated the law, he said.

New York State Supreme Court Justice Kimberly OConnor eventually agreed.

That order, however, only pertained to data regarding deaths. To assess more accurately how much of an impact the March 25 directive had, it would also be necessary to analyze data on infections in nursing homesboth those determined by a test as well as those suspected based on COVID-19-like symptoms.

The Empire Center filed dozens of requests for this and other data sets, but the state responded by claiming its still searching for the data. This is the same delay tactic used for the death data, Hammond said.

Fallout

Hammond didnt try to determine criminal culpability by state officials. For that, he looks to the investigation led by the U.S. Attorneys office in Brooklyn. He has called for an investigation into the states preparedness for health emergencies and the pandemic response in general.

The state was caught with its pants down when the pandemic arrived. Thats partly on the governor, the fact that he was not better prepared for what happened, he said.

Notably, the state should have had contingencies in place for the eventuality that hospitals would get overrun due to an infectious disease outbreak, he said.
More than 300 mail-in ballots were found in a suspect's car in Torrance, Calif., on Aug. 16, 2021. (Courtesy Torrance Police Department)

Over 300 Mail-In Ballots Found in California Mans Car, Say Police

More than 300 allegedly stolen mail-in ballots, possibly for Californias gubernatorial recall election, were found in a mans car in a 7-Eleven parking lot last week, according to the Torrance Police Department.

The police department initially informed the public of the mans arrest in an Aug. 17 Facebook post, which said thousands of pieces of mail were found in the car, along with drugs, a loaded firearm, and multiple drivers licenses and credit cards in other peoples names.

However, internet users pointed out that the photo posted by police of the pieces of mail appeared to include a large stack of mail-in ballots.

Sgt. Mark Ponegalek told The Epoch Times on Aug. 23 that hundreds of mail-in ballots were indeed found in the car, and the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder and County Clerk (RRCC) had been notified.

We are working currently with the Los Angeles election office to get them all the names that are on those ballots [so they can] reissue those ballots, he said.

More than 300 mail-in ballots were found in a suspects car in Torrance, Calif., on Aug. 16, 2021. (Courtesy Torrance Police Department)

The allegedly stolen ballots will remain at the police department in the property room as evidence. However, Ponegalek said those ballots werent opened or otherwise tampered with.

They were completely intact, he said.

The unnamed suspect has not been charged with election fraud, but the investigation is ongoing, Ponegalek said.

The two questions are: How did the ballots end up in his car, and what was his intent with those ballots? he said.

Police will be investigating whether the man or any other individual had specific intent to steal the mail-in ballots to conduct voter fraud.

Were looking at all avenues, so if the investigation takes us that way, then were going that way. But I cant tell you one way or another if he was trying to do election voter fraud, or he just happened to steal a bunch of mail, said Ponegalek.

Regardless of the outcome, Ponegalek said this was an extremely uncommon incident for the police department.

Been a cop for 17 years, never come across a vehicle with over 300 election ballots just sitting in the back seat, he said.

The only election occurring during the next couple of months in Los Angeles County is the recall election for Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sept. 14.

Torrance police originally received a call on Aug. 16 at about 10:45 p.m. about the man, who appeared to be passed out in his car in the 7-Eleven parking lot. When police approached the vehicle, they discovered he was a felon and had Xanax pills in his possession.

After further investigation, police found the loaded 9mm handgun, methamphetamine, drivers licenses, credit cards, and mail.

The suspect was arrested for numerous weapons, narcotics and forgery charges, police said in the Facebook post.

Ponegalek said the man has since been released on his own recognizance. The police department will next be submitting a filing to the district attorneys office for charges relating to the investigation, and a court date will be scheduled.
Party Boss in Hangzhou Accused of Corruption, Alibabas Ant Group Denies Involvement

The Party secretary of Hangzhou, Zhou Jiangyong, was placed under investigation on Aug. 21, while reports on his arrest being linked to Alibabas financial affiliate, Ant Group, have been denied.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) boss of Hangzhou, Zhou Jiangyong, is suspected of seriously violating discipline and laws and is under investigation and inspection, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), announced on the night of Aug. 21.

No further details were released by the CCDI.

Hangzhou is the capital city of eastern Chinas Zhejiang Province. Its also the base of operations for Ant Group.

Hours after the arrest, Taiwanese semi-official Central News Agency (CNA) reported that Zhou, as well as two other recently surrendered Zhejiang senior officials, might have been involved in Ant Groups failed IPOs in the Hong Kong and Shanghai stock exchanges.

On Aug. 22, Ant Group denied the accusation and stated that it would file lawsuits against those behind the claim.

However, Yin Ke, an Australia-based former directors assistant of retail business for Zhejiang Ping An Banks Hangzhou branch, confirmed that CNAs report was correct and said that Zhou was also involved in taking bribes from real estate enterprises.

Yin told the Chinese-language Epoch Times on Aug. 22 that he has good relations with Zhous secretary Hu Jun, and he received information from trusted channels in Hangzhou.

A thermal imaging camera seen at the headquarters of Ant Group, an affiliate of Alibaba, in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China on Oct. 29, 2020. (Reuters/Aly Song/File Photo)

Zhou is the highest ranking among the officials caught up in the case. The other two in custody are former Deputy Leader of Zhejiang provincial rubber-stamp legislature Ma Xiaohui, who surrendered on Aug. 19, and retired former Deputy Secretary-General of Zhejiangs provincial government Zhang Shuitang, who surrendered on July 22.

The case also involves another official, former CCP Haishu District boss of the city of Ningbo in Zhejiang Chu Mengxing, as well as his wife, lawyer Hu Minchun, according to CNA.

Hu works for Chenghang Law Firm in Ningbo in Zhejiang, which was the Ningbo city governments legal consultant in purchasing, bidding, and contracts.

Chu was dismissed from his position on June 1.

CNA reported that Hu had earlier tried to gain support from Chus friendsofficials Zhou, Ma, and Zhang.

Zhang reportedly tried to have Chu released but failed, while Zhou and Ma made no effort to help regarding the matter.

Hu then reportedly gave evidence that she had collected from handling Ant Groups IPOs case to the CCDI. That evidence is said to link Zhou and Ma to acts of alleged corruption.

CNA said that Hu alleged Zhous family spent 500 million yuan ($77 million) in purchasing Ant Groupss stocks before the IPOs, and was repaid 520 million yuan ($80 million) after the IPOs had failed.

On Aug. 22, Ant Group denied that it had any connection with Hu and the allegations of bribery that she mentioned.

The four officials being investigated are being detained at separate secret locations.
A U.S. Marine receives the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at Camp Foster in Kin, Japan, on April 28, 2021. (Carl Court/Getty Images)

Pentagon Mandates COVID-19 Vaccine After Regulators Approve Pfizers Shot

The Food and Drug Administrations full approval of the PfizerBioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on Aug. 23 has set off a new round of vaccine mandates.

The decision triggered the U.S. military to make the shot mandatory, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters in Washington.

Were going to move forward making that vaccine mandatory. Were preparing the guidance to the force right now, he said during a press briefing.

Service members will be required to get the Pfizer vaccine. Two other vaccines in the United States are being administered under an emergency use authorization.

The Pentagon mandate was announced last month but was put off because no vaccine had been approved by drug regulators. Military officials havent yet determined by what date service members will need to be vaccinated.

Service members can apply for religious or medical exemptions, officials said earlier this month.

New York City officials also announced shortly after the approval was made public that all school staffers, including principals and custodians, must get at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose by Sept. 27. That mandate affects approximately 148,000 workers.

Workers can choose not to get vaccinated, but if they do, they must be tested for COVID-19 on a weekly basis.

We know this is going to help ensure that everyone is safe, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said at City Hall.

Bargaining would start immediately with labor unions on the mandate, he said.

Michael Mulgrew, president of the United Federation of Teachers (UFT), the largest labor union in the city, said in a statement that most teachers are already vaccinated.

While the city is asserting its legal authority to establish this mandate, there are many implementation details, including provisions for medical exceptions, that by law must be negotiated with the UFT and other unions, and if necessary, resolved by arbitration, he said in a statement.

New York previously mandated vaccines for entering gyms and restaurants.

New Jersey announced a mandate for educators as well on Aug. 23, with Gov. Phil Murphy telling pre-K to 12th-grade teachers and other staffers, as well as state employees, to get vaccinated or undergo testing each week.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio speaks to the media in New York City, on Aug. 3, 2021. (Eduardo Munoz/Reuters)

While a number of cities, schools, and businesses have already imposed vaccine mandates, others had indicated a reluctance to do so until one or more of the shots were approved.

You get the FDA to say its final, its approved, and I can guarantee you all the places Im involved in, if you dont get vaccinated, you will get fired, Ken Langone, a billionaire who co-founded Home Depot, said on CNBCs Squawk Box last month. Mandating the shots prior to approval risked litigation, he said.

Regulators say drugs must meet a higher efficacy and safety bar to get approved versus receiving emergency use authorization, which the three vaccines got months ago.

Health officials have said approval of a vaccine would lead to more mandates.

Organizations, enterprises, universities, colleges that have been reluctant to mandate at the local level will feel much more confident, Dr. Anthony Fauci, a chief medical adviser to President Joe Biden, said this month.

They can say, If you want to come to this college or this university, youve got to get vaccinated. If you want to work in this plant, you have to get vaccinated. If you want to work in this enterprise, youve got to get vaccinated. If you want to work in this hospital, youve got to get vaccinated.
U.S. Air Force aircrew, assigned to the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, prepare to load qualified evacuees aboard a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircraft in support of the Afghanistan evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan on Aug. 21, 2021. (Senior Airman Taylor Crul/U.S. Air Force via AP)

Pentagon: Several Thousand Americans Have Been Evacuated From Afghanistan

Several thousand Americans have been flown from Afghanistan on U.S. military and charter flights since the Taliban took over the country in mid-August, the U.S. military stated on Aug. 23.

Since the 14th, we believe we have been able to evacuate several thousand Americans, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters in Washington.

The U.S. military, on its own flights or through chartered planes, has evacuated approximately 37,000 people overall since that date.

That means approximately 510 percent of those flown out of the country by the military have been Americans.

Pressed for a more specific number, Kirby described himself as reticent to get too much more specific than that.

That prompted a reporter to ask if he was being deliberately vague.

I think Im just going to leave it at several thousand right now, because I think the number is very fluid and it literally changes nearly by the hour, he said.

Most of those being evacuated by U.S. flights are Afghan nationals, who are receiving special immigrant visas or P-2 visas for assisting U.S. troops during the decades-long war in their home country or because they may be persecuted by the Taliban if they remain there.

After staying flat for days, the pace of evacuations jumped in 24 hours, with 25 U.S. military flights departing along with 61 charter commercial and other military flights.

Some 16,000 passengers were able to leave Afghanistan.

The number of Americans on those flights wasnt given.

U.S. Air Force aircrew, assigned to the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, assist qualified evacuees boarding a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircraft in support of the Afghanistan evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan, on Aug. 21, 2021. (Senior Airman Taylor Crul/U.S. Air Force via AP)

It still isnt clear how many Americans remain in the Taliban-held country, which the United States plans to leave by the end of Aug. 31.

President Joe Biden last week pegged the number as high as 15,000, though the State Department and the Pentagon have typically estimated between 5,000 and 10,000.

At the White House, U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the number of Americans remaining in Afghanistan isnt certain because some never registered with the U.S. Embassy upon arriving in the country while others didnt deregister when they left.

In the days remaining, we believe we have the wherewithal to get out the American citizens who want to leave Kabul, he said.

The Pentagon for the first time on Aug. 17 specified how many Americans had been flown from Kabul, putting the number at 165 in the previous 24 hours. The White House that night said 1,100 had been evacuated.

Another nearly 300 were evacuated on planes that left over the past 24 hours, Kirby said on Aug. 19. And another couple hundred were evacuated the following day, he said later.

Major Gen. Hank Taylor, director of the Joint Staff For Regional Operations, told reporters on Aug. 21 that approximately 2,500 Americans had been evacuated.

Biden has vowed to keep U.S. troops in Afghanistan until every American in the country who wants to leave is evacuated.
Supporters of Maxime Bernier, Leader of the People's Party of Canada hold up a banner as he speaks to the crowd as protesters demonstrate against measures taken by government and public health authorities to curb the spread of COVID-19, in Toronto, May 15, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Chris Young)

Peoples Party Leader Maxime Bernier Denied Participation in the Leaders Election Debates

Peoples Party of Canada Leader Maxime Bernier will not join five other political party leaders in the upcoming federal election debate, Leaders Debates Commissioner David Johnson announced on Aug. 21.

Bernier said in a statement he is disappointed, but not surprised to learn that he is not invited to the leaders debates.

I do not blame the commission, whose criteria were clear and objective. Rather, I blame the political establishment cartel, which refuses to debate the crucial issues we raise and has done everything to marginalize us since the founding of the PPC.

The party leaders taking part in the debate include the leaders of the Liberal Party, Conservative Party, Bloc Quebecois, NDP, and the Green Party.

The Leaders Debates Commission was created by an Order in Council on Oct. 29, 2018 as an independent public body responsible for organizing federal leaders debates.

For a leader of a party to be eligible to take part in the debate, the party must meet one of the three criteria set out by the Leaders Debates Commission. One criteria is that on the date the general election is called, the party must be represented in the House of Commons with at least one MP. Another criteria is that the partys candidates must have received at least 4 percent of the total number of valid votes cast in the previous general election. The third criteria is that five days after the date the election is called, the party must have an average level of at least 4 percent of national support.

The commission measures the level of national support by averaging the result of most recent polls from a number of national public polling organizations. The commission found the figure to be 3.27 percent for the PPC. The stats used by the commission include figures from Abacus (3.5 percent), Angus Reid Institute (3.5 percent), EKOS Research Associates (5.2 percent), Forum Research (5.2 percent), Innovative Research Group (3.0 percent), Ipsos (0.7 percent), Leger (2.4 percent), Mainstreet Research (4.0 percent), and Nanos Research (1.9 percent).

Bernier said the polls that show the PPC receiving a low percentage of national support have a flawed methodology and do not reflect reality at all as several polls unveiled in recent days show up to 6 percent voting intention.

I can make this promise to Canadians today: debate or no debate, you will keep hearing from us! he said.

The French-language leaders debate will be held on Sept. 8, from 8 to 10 p.m. EST, and the English debate on Sept. 9, from 9 to 11 p.m. EST. Both debates will take place at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Quebec.
Polish border patrol officers guard a group of illegal immigrants who attempted to cross the border between Belarus and Poland near the village of Usnarz Gorny, Poland, on Aug. 18, 2021. (Grzegorz Dabrowski/Agencja Gazeta/via Reuters)

Poland to Build Fence on Belarus Border to Halt Illegal Immigrants

WARSAWPoland will build a fence along its border with Belarus, the defense minister said on Monday, to halt a flow of illegal immigrants the European Union says is being driven by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in retaliation for EU sanctions.

Poland and fellow EU states Lithuania and Latvia have reported sharp increases in illegal immigrants from countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan trying to cross their borders. The EU says Lukashenko is waging hybrid warfare with immigrants to exert pressure on the bloc.

A new 2.5-metre-[8.2-foot]-high solid fence will be built on the border with Belarus, Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak wrote on Twitter. More soldiers will [also] be involved in helping the Border Guard.

Polands government has come under sharp criticism from human rights advocates over the plight of a group of illegal immigrants trapped for two weeks in the open between Polish and Belarusian border guards near the village of Usnarz Gorny.

Poland says allowing the immigrants to enter Polish territory would encourage further illegal immigration and would also play into Lukashenkos hands. These are not refugees, they are economic migrants brought in by the Belarusian government, Deputy Foreign Minister Marcin Przydacz told reporters.

But some lawyers and NGOs accuse Warsaw of treating the stranded immigrants inhumanely by blocking their entry.

The Polish Human Rights Ombudsman said the Border Guard had violated the Geneva Convention by not accepting verbal declarations from some of the illegal immigrants that they wanted to apply for international protection in Poland.

The Polish Border Guard did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Lithuania said on Monday it would complete a 508-kilometer (315-mile) fence along its border with Belarus by September next year.

Lukashenko has said he will no longer hold back illegal immigrants due to EU sanctions imposed after a disputed presidential election last year and subsequent crackdown on protesters and dissidents.

By Alan Charlish and Pawel Florkiewicz
Policy Announcements Continue as Federal Election Campaign Enters Week 2

As the federal parties work to fill out a full slate of candidates, they continued a flurry of announcements in their second week on the campaign trail. Here are the highlights.

Liberals. Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau promised $6 billion in new healthcare spending on Monday to reduce wait times, and $3 billion to hire 7,500 doctors and nurses. Trudeau also pledged to train 50,000 new personal support workers for senior care, double the Home Accessibility Tax Credit, and keep working with the provinces to make $10-a-day child care available across Canada.

The Canada Recovery Hiring Program would also be extended to March 2022 so businesses could hire more workers. In addition, the Liberals would provide wage supports and help with insurance costs for the tourism, arts, and culture sectors. To mitigate climate change effects, Trudeau pledged funding for 1,000 new firefighters, money to retrofit or upgrade homes, and to lower insurance premiums.

Conservatives. Conservative Leader Erin OToole announced Monday his party will require large federally regulated employers to include worker representation on their boards of directors. If elected, a Conservative government would pay 25 percent of the salary of any net new hire, with support increasing up to 50 percent depending on how long they had been out of work.

On Saturday, O Toole announced his party aimed to build one million new homes by creating incentives for first-time buyers, simplifying the mortgage stress test, and allow mortgage terms for first-time buyers to be longer. Foreign non-residents and investors would be prohibited from buying homes, and incentives would be provided for rental housing.

NDP. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh committed Monday to eliminating subsidies to oil and gas companies and reallocating them to the renewable energy sector. He also pledged $500 million in funding to support Indigenous-led stewardship programs to advance reconciliation and protect the land, water and forests, including old growth.

To mark the ten-year anniversary of Jack Laytons death on Aug. 22, Singh tweeted one of Laytons quotes: My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And well change the world.

Laytons widow Olivia Chow tweeted her appreciation for Singh and an article about Layton he wrote for the Toronto Star. What a beautiful article. Thank you Jack was so happy to have you on the team in 2011. He would be proud of the way youre continuing his legacy of fighting with love and hope for the country and world we know is possible.

Peoples Party. In a press release, PPC Leader Maxime Bernier announced Monday that his party would cut spending to eliminate the deficit within four years, and cut taxes thereafter.

Greens. On Sunday, the Greens said the Liberal governments commitment to reduce emissions 40 percent below 2005 levels by 2030 was not enough, and it should be 60 percent below 2005 levels by 2030.

Maverick Party. The party received official status on August 20, only to find out the next day that interim leader Jay Hill will join the PPCs Maxime Bernier as leaders shut out of the upcoming election debates.

The Peoples Party of Canada and Conservatives need less than 25 candidates to contest all 338 ridings. According to the count on party websites, the PPC currently has 316 candidates followed by the CPC at 315; Liberals at 291, NDP at 239, Bloc at 64, Greens at 28 and Maverick Party at 27.
We can strive to surround our children with kind adults who will ask them questions and encourage their interests. (Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock)

Raising Children to Be More Than Peppa Parrots

Peppa Pig, a British childrens cartoon, has taken America by storm, so much so that children are absorbing the British accent its characters feature, a recent article in The Wall Street Journal explains. Parents are reporting that theyve become Mummy, Santa has morphed into Father Christmas for whom children must make mince pies, and mature phrases such as how clever pervade toddler dialects. In other words, todays children have experienced full-on Peppa absorption.

On the surface, such absorption is cute, a phase through which childrenparticularly ones who have weathered the pandemic lockdowns in front of the screenmust pass before they mature and grow up. But such absorption provides a reminder for us as adults. Peppa Pig may be harmless, but the other influences our children are absorbing often arent, and making sure our children are absorbing good influences is one of the primary roles of a parent.

The absorption approach to childrearing was promoted by political theorist W. Cleon Skousen in his 1962 book So You Want to Raise a Boy?

Its the idea that we should surround our children with the kind of adults we would like our children to emulate, Skousen said. Adults who will exhibit the love, interest, kindness, leadership, and ambition which inspire children to become like them and thereby absorb them into the exciting, wonderful precincts of the adult world.

Breaking Skousens comments into bitesize pieces creates a picture of the influences adults should seek to be, as well as place, in the lives of their children.

Love

Parents and adults who shower children with hugs and kisses immediately come to mind. While such love is good and essential, we should also balance that with the tough love that involves speaking hard truths and giving correction. The children who only receive pampering will absorb the mentality that they can do no wrong.

Interest

In a world where most people are simply interested in their phones, finding adults who will encourage a childs interests in other directions can be a challenge. Yet theyre out there. Look for influences who are excited about learning, are eager to introduce your children to good books, are avid readers themselves, and are quick to share what they read with others. Let your children absorb the influence of adults who ask questions of children and challenge their little minds to think outside the box.

Kindness

Whether parents or grown-ups in general, its easy for adults to overlook children and not take time for them. But a kind individual will do just the opposite. They wont necessarily make children their primary focus, doting on them as if theyre the only thing in the world, but theyll talk to them, share special times with them, and in general, be individuals whom children have no trouble approaching.

Leadership

Contrary to what we often see coming out of our so-called leaders in Washington, true leaders dont thumb their noses at their own rules, but are instead humble about their mistakes and are willing to apologize when they are wrong. Surround your children with influences who dont just give orders and then do the exact opposite, but who exhibit strong conviction and follow through on those convictions, even when difficult.

Ambition

Those with good ambition strive after worthy goals, rather than playing the victim. If we want our children to make something of their lives rather than just riding on the coattails of others, then we should introduce them to individuals who arent lazy, but who are willing to step up, meet the challenge, and make a difference in this crazy world of ours.

Sadly, it can be difficult to allow our children to absorb these types of influences in their lives, mainly because their time is demanded by two main sources. Former teacher of the year John Taylor Gatto described this scenario well in a speech entitled Why Schools Dont Educate:

Two institutions at present control our childrens livestelevision and schooling, in that order. Both of these reduce the real world of wisdom, fortitude, temperance, and justice to a never-ending, non-stopping abstraction. In centuries past, the time of a child and adolescent would be occupied in real work, real charity, real adventures, and the realistic search for mentors who might teach what you really wanted to learn. A great deal of time was spent in community pursuits, practicing affection, meeting and studying every level of the community, learning how to make a home, and dozens of other tasks necessary to become a whole man or woman.

The good news is that times have changed in these past few years, with circumstances adjusting so that parents can have more control over at least the schooling aspect of their childrens lives. With that in mind, lets resolve to not just allow our children to waste time absorbing influences such as Peppa Pig; instead, lets surround them with influences thatll make our children face the world with character and courage as adults.

Annie Holmquist is the editor of Intellectual Takeout and the online editor of Chronicles Magazine, both projects of the Charlemagne Institute.
San Fernando Police Seek Public Help in Search for 14-Year-Old Girl

SAN FERNANDO, Calif.,San Fernando police asked the public for help locating a 14-year-old girl who disappeared, presumably while on her way to a nearby convenience store.

Destiny Isabella Mercado, 14, texted her mother at 1:10 p.m. Saturday for permission to go the 7-Eleven store at Hubbard Street and Borden Avenue, and was believed at her home in the 1900 block of Chivers Street when she sent the message, according to San Fernando police Lt. Irwin Rosenberg. It was not known whether she was on foot when she sent the text, but she apparently did not make it to the store.

Mercados phone was found at 1:40 p.m. in the area of Hubbard and Glenoaks Boulevard by someone who claimed it was thrown from the right rear passenger seat of a moving vehicle, Rosenberg said.

A witness told police the vehicle was a light gray or silver Mazda. It was unknown whether Mercado ran away, but the circumstances surrounding the discovery of the phone raises suspicion about the disappearance, he said. She has no prior history of running away.

Police also learned she was told she could not see a boyfriend, who lives in Palmdale, and sheriffs deputies did not find her there or any other addresses in Palmdale where she has friends, Rosenberg said.

The Police Department has contacted area hospitals and conducted an area search but she has not been located, he said. A mass notification has been issued to San Fernando residents, businesses and surrounding area.

Mercado is described as Hispanic, 5 feet, 3 inches tall, 160 pounds, with brown hair and eyes. A clothing description was not available.

Anyone with information was asked to call San Fernando police at 818-898-1267.
San Jose Mayor Proposes Vaccine Mandate for Indoor City Events

SAN JOSE, Calif.San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo has proposed a rule that would require people to show proof of vaccination for certain indoor events.

Liccardo made the announcement through a press release on Aug. 18.

In a time of rising infection rates, we need to look for every tool in the toolbox to protect the health and safety of our residents, he said in the press release. The most effective way to return to a new normal is for our entire community is to get vaccinated.

The proposal states that all individuals, including staff, attending events consisting of 50 or more people at city facilities must provide proof of vaccination prior to entry.

This proposal, if passed, would apply to all events held in city-owned facilities. Such facilities include the Convention Center, SAP Center, San Joses historic theaters, and the Center for the Performing Arts, among others.

On the same day, the California Department of Public Health announced that as of Sept. 20, people will need to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours to enter indoor events of 1,000 people or more. These updated measures for the state will remain in place until Nov. 1.

However, San Joses proposal does not give the option of a negative test.

According to Santa Clara Countys health department, the county is seeing approximately 300 new COVID-19 cases per week in August and currently has 1.38 million fully vaccinated people.

The mayor also suggested a vaccine mandate similar to the one in San Francisco, where people must show proof of vaccination before going inside restaurants, gyms, and other indoor venues. However, the mayor said the city will evaluate the results of San Franciscos mandate before deciding whether to adopt it for San Jose.

His proposal received mixed reactions on Twitter; some comments were in support of his idea, while others called it discrimination, segregation, or a violation of freedom of choice.

The vaccine requirement proposal for city facilities will be heard at the Aug. 24 city council meeting.

Liccardo needs a two-thirds majority vote from councilmembers to implement his proposal.
Pudong airport workers in protective clothing help arriving international passengers as they prepare to board buses to be taken to quarantine hotels in Shanghai on Aug. 13, 2021. (Greg Baker/AFP)

Shanghai Airport Records 5 COVID-19 Breakthrough Cases

Five fully vaccinated workers tested positive for COVID-19 at Shanghai international airport, China, the municipal government said on Saturday.

It came as Chinas top epidemiologist Zhong Nanshan said that the effectiveness of vaccines against the variant diminishes six months after the first dose.

The citys Pudong International Airport recorded two cases on Friday, including a Chinese national and an Ethiopian national, both in their 40s. Authorities soon sealed off the neighborhoods where the two lived.

Local authorities then rolled out overnight testing in an attempt to halt the fresh outbreak, finding three more cases on Saturday. Some residents were woken at 3 a.m. to do nucleic acid testing, online posts show.

The five are cargo workers at the citys airport and follow the case of a nurse from a local hospital testing positive on Wednesday though also being fully vaccinated.

All these cases came from priority groups for vaccination.

The highly transmissible Delta variant has been detected in more than a dozen Chinese cities since late July.

Due to the spread of the latest strain of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, the busiest Chinese airport, by freight volume, has suspended all cargo traffic since Friday afternoon, including loading and unloading of international freight and cargo.

Shanghai had tested tens of thousands of its locals by Saturday morning, including close and secondary contacts of the five airport workers.

A medical officer prepares a dose of Chinas Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine during a mass vaccination program in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, on March 2, 2021. (Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images)

Vaccine Efficiency

Chinas top epidemiologist Zhong Nanshan said on Friday that the effectiveness of vaccines against the variant was diminished after half a year, including the China-made ones such as Sinovac.

He denied the initial shots had failed, but suggested a third dose will be needed to boost immunity.

In early August, Zhong claimed that Chinese vaccines provide 100 percent protection against deaths and intensive care admission.

But countries who had inoculated over half of their populations, largely with China-made vaccines, have failed to see a hoped-for reduction in new infections. Chile, a country relying on Chinese vaccines, declared on Aug. 5 that it would administer booster shots to recipients of the Sinovac vaccine.

Studies in the country found the vaccine less effective compared to Pfizer and AstraZeneca, and dropped in efficiency in preventing symptomatic illness months after inoculation.

China has not confirmed whether it will administer foreign vaccines as booster shots for its fully vaccinated population.

The national figure for Saturdays new confirmed cases was 32, according to the National Health Commission. China also reported 19 new asymptomatic CCP virus cases, not being classified as confirmed infections.
An Elections Canada volunteer tapes up signs at a polling station in Toronto during the federal election on Oct. 19, 2015. (The Canadian Press/Aaron Vincent Elkaim)

Social Conservatives Feel Left Behind in 2021 Election, Organizer Says

With a number of policies that are top of the agenda in the election campaign going against social conservative valuessuch as all major party leadership including the Conservatives declaring strong pro-abortion stancesa major organizer of social conservative voters says the campaign so far has been disappointing.

That has really taken the wind out of the sails of a lot of social conservatives, Jack Fonseca, a spokesperson for Campaign Life Coalition, told The Epoch Times.

Fonseca says many social conservative policies including some that concern religious freedom and free speech have been successfully passed at the Conservative Party convention over the years, but they havent been endorsed by the party leadership.

Weve managed to pass a policy that condemns sex-selective abortions. Weve passed a policy that explicitly condemns all forms of euthanasia and assisted suicide, he said. Weve helped to pass policies that defend conscience rights for health professionals to not have to perform or refer for abortions or euthanasia or any other procedure that violates their moral conscience.

But Conservative Party leader Erin OToole has embraced many non-social conservative causes, he says, including voting against the anti-sex-selective bill introduced by his caucus member Cathay Wagantall that would make it a criminal offence for a medical practitioner to perform a sex-selective abortion.

Many of our supporters are feeling like Well, I dont know if I should vote. I dont know if I should just give up on politics, Fonseca said. Thats very disappointing because weve come so far, weve come so very close, and we cant stop now.

Other concerns that are top of mind among social conservatives include the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, liberty destroying vaccination passports, and the current governments globalist agenda, he said.

Fonseca said his message to social conservative voters is to not lose hope and to focus on getting pro-life candidates from any political stripe elected, while looking ahead to future party conventions and leadership elections to change the party leadership.

As a pro-life, pro-family organization, Campaign Life Coalition is asking social conservatives right across the country to vote for their local pro-life candidate, he said.

As an organization, we are non-partisan in that we endorse pro-life candidates from any party. There are many Conservative pro-life candidates that we are endorsing. There are many PPC [Peoples Party of Canada] candidates, Christian Heritage Party candidates, and also a number of independents, including those that will be associated with Derek Sloan.

Sloan announced the creation of his True North Party just ahead of the election call, but since his proposed party wasnt approved by Elections Canada by the time the writ was dropped, he cant formally run candidates in this election.

However, the former Conservative MP says he and his supporters will arrange to have some candidates run as independents, who will then join his party if they are elected once True North is formally approved.

Fonseca said in his view, the best outcome would be the defeat of the current government and to have a maximum number of pro-life and pro-family candidates, including Sloan, winning seats so social conservative voters can continue to stand up for the values they believe in.

Looking to the future, he hopes Sloan can remain an MP and go on to grow his new party, and also that more pro-life PPC candidates will be elected as well.

I think that would be the ideal situation, so that if the Conservatives hold power, there are MPs in other parties who are truly conservative that can keep them honest and help bring them back to their roots  to drag the Conservative Party to the right again.
Deputy Premier Steven Miles speaks at a press conference at Parliament house in Brisbane, Australia, on Aug. 06, 2021 (Jono Searle/Getty Images)

State Leader Disgusted by Anti-Lockdown Protests on Queensland Border

Queensland state deputy leader Steven Miles has labelled protests against COVID restrictions on the state border as shameful and reckless, after over 1,000 residents from Coolangatta and Tweedwhich saddles the state bordergathered to protest against tighter border restrictions.

Deputy Premier Miles said the protests were very un-Queensland like.

We have gotten through this because Queenslanders do the right thing. Weve kept each other safe, he told reporters. Ive been to a lot of protests, Ive organised a lot of protests, I love a good protest, but now is not the time for protests, particularly on the border.

The border is our riskiest place right now. We have to see the situation in NSW the same way weve seen the situation in other countries throughout this pandemic, he added.

By having a protest there, they put the safety of our police at risk, they put their own safety at risk, and they put the safety of the community at risk, he said. Frankly, Im pretty disgusted.

A vehicle stops at a checkpoint on the Pacific Highway on the Queensland  New South Wales border in Brisbane on April 15, 2020. (Patrick Hamilton/AFP /AFP via Getty Images)

Residents in the region regularly cross between the state border to access services. However, new restrictions were introduced on Friday evening, a week after the whole of NSW entered into lockdown to contain the spread of the Delta variant of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus.

Most of the cases have been in the Greater Sydney areaabout 800km awaywith sporadic outbreaks in the regions. The northern NSW area, closest to the border, has no active cases except for a man and his two teenage children, who travelled to Byron Bay from Sydney last month.

The border restrictions have also stopped all individuals entering Queensland except for those deemed to be essential workers in skilled construction, farming, or healthcare. They must also prove a Queensland resident cannot do their job.

Entrants also need to prove they have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr. Jeanette Young said only those who deemed genuinely, absolutely, critically essential would get through the border.

It needs to be someone where they cant find that skillset in Queensland, she told reporters. Its very tight.

Miles stood by the Queensland governments decision saying it was a privilege to cross the border.

I think anyone who expected to be able to access that privilege should be able to get vaccinated. Its not too much to ask, he said.

The NSW government has also shut down a proposal to move the border further south, with Deputy Premier John Barilaro saying, If you move that border, that cliff edge becomes another border for another community.

If you start dividing up NSW, youll cause more problems than actually solving solutions, he told reporters.

Meanwhile, on the weekend, Australians in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, and Perth, held rallies against increased government restrictions.

Protesters are seen marching, holding banners in Melbourne, Australia, on Aug. 21, 2021. (Getty Images)

One rallygoer from Pottsville in northern NSW said the border restrictions cut her off from her job.

I was working [across the border], and now my source of income has been cut off, so Im forced to be dependent on the government, she told the ABC.

Its really, really distressing, and were angrywere angry about our government.

Tourism is a major industry in the region, with interstate travel being a key driver for businesses.

Hilary Jacobs, president of the Greater Southern Gold Coast Chamber of Commercecovering the Coolangatta-Tweed regionsaid businesses were suffering.

Last year, it was a really strong feeling that were all heading in the same direction, she told the ABC.

Team Australia doesnt exist anymorewere now building empires, and we need those empire builders to start talking to each other and remember we are one Australia.
U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy speaks during a press briefing in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House on July 15, 2021. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Surgeon General: FDA Vaccine Approval Will Likely Lead to More Mandates

Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy says that the Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) final approval of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine will likely result in more businesses and universities initiating vaccine mandates.

The full approval of the Pfizer vaccine  is important for a couple of reasons,  number one, there were some people who may have been waiting for this and who may come off of the fence, so to speak, to get vaccinated. So it may help to increase vaccination rates to some extent, but I also think that there are universities and businesses that have been considering putting in vaccine requirements in order to create a safer workplace or learning environment, Murthy told Fox News on Aug. 22.

And I think that this announcement from the FDA would likely encourage them and make them feel more comfortable in putting such requirements in place.

The FDA fully approved the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on Aug. 23, after less than a year of emergency approval. Acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock reassured the public about the safety of the approved vaccine.

While this and other vaccines have met the FDAs rigorous, scientific standards for emergency use authorization, as the first FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine, the public can be very confident that this vaccine meets the high standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality the FDA requires of an approved product, Woodcock said in a statement on Aug. 23.

Meanwhile, there has been pushback from Republicans against mandates, citing civil liberties afforded under the U.S. Constitution. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) told health officials that the FDA approval for vaccines shouldnt be rushed and appears to be for political purposes.

On Aug. 22, Johnson sent a letter to Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky, director of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Woodcock, on the FDAs decision not to hold a formal advisory committee meeting prior to full approval of COVID-19 vaccines.

I see no need to rush the FDA approval process for any of the three COVID-19 vaccines, the senator wrote. Expediting the process appears to only serve the political purpose of imposing and enforcing vaccine mandates. The observational phases of FDA approval take time because there is no substitute for time in detecting and determining possible long-term harm.

He said the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) should have been allowed to convene before the FDA approved the vaccine.

Since the FDAs last VRBPAC public meeting, in addition to the VAERS data, there have been a number of safety concerns raised by highly qualified medical professionals and researchers, Johnson wrote.

The senator said that federal agencies should take more time to observe the vaccines and provide more information to the American public about the vaccines effectiveness.

FDA officials didnt immediately respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment.
Taliban fighters stand guard along a road near the site of an Ashura procession which is held to mark the death of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad, along a road in Herat on Aug. 19, 2021, amid the Taliban's military takeover of Afghanistan. (Aref Karimi/AFP via Getty Images)

Taliban Hopes Beijing Can Contribute to the Rebuilding of Afghanistan, Spokesperson Says

The Chinese regime has played a constructive role in promoting peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan, and the Tablian hopes that Beijing can contribute to the rebuilding of the country, said a Taliban spokesperson in a recent interview with Chinese state media.

China is a big country with a huge economy and capacityI think they can play a very big role in the rebuilding, rehabilitation, reconstruction of Afghanistan, Suhail Shaheen, the Taliban spokesman in Qatar told Chinese state-run CGTN television in English on Thursday.

Previously, the Chinese regime had played a very constructive role in the countrys peace and reconciliation process, he said.

Shaheen said that the Taliban and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) had long been in contact.

He also revealed that Beijing had appointed a new official as a contact person with the Taliban.

We have contact with him. Recently, our delegation had a meeting with him, Shaheen said.

The interview comes after the Taliban took control of the country after a rapid series of advances, weeks before the U.S. forces were due to withdraw from the country. Since the takeover, the regime has embraced the group, and seized on the chaotic U.S. withdrawal for propaganda purposes.

The Chinese regime hasnt been involved in any of Afghanistans conflicts in the past century, unlike the United States and its NATO allies who tried to establish and defend democracy for 20 years, and the Soviet Union which occupied the country from late 1979 to early 1989.

But the CCP has supported the Taliban both in arms and technology, according to a report by the Population Research Institute from September 2001. As an example, the report said that Huawei, Chinas largest telecommunication company, allegedly contributed to building telecommunications networks for the Taliban, which supported Osama bin Laden and his terrorist attacks against the United States. Huawei has denied this allegation.

Waheedullah Hashimi, a senior Taliban commander, pauses while speaking with Reuters during an interview at an undisclosed location near Afghanistan-Pakistan border on Aug. 17, 2021. (Stringer/REUTERS)

After the Taliban retook control of Afghanistan on Aug. 15, Waheedullah Hashimi, a senior leader of the Taliban who has access to the groups decision-making, told Reuters that the Taliban regime would be a theocracy and have a similar power structure as per 1996 to 2001 when it then ruled the country.

Chinese foreign affairs minister Wang Yi met with Taliban leaders earlier on July 28. During the meeting, the Taliban assured Beijing that it would not harbor militants who may launch attacks into Chinas far west Xinjiang region.

Since the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan, the regime has declared its willingness to establish friendly ties with the group. It has not yet formally recognized the group.

China respects the Afghan peoples intention and choice  China will keep contact and communication with the Afghan Taliban, said Hua Chunying, spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry, on Aug. 16.

Chinas Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying attends a news conference in Beijing, China, on Oct. 9, 2020. (Thomas Suen/File/Reuters)

At the same time, the CCP regime and its state-run media welcomed the Talibans rise and exulted in the Americans defeat in Afghanistan.

[The United States] indeed is very much like a paper tiger, Global Times, a hawkish CCP-controlled outlet, commented on Aug. 15.

It mocked the United States saying that the failure of the democracy in Afghanistan shows that it is weak, and claimed that China controlled its border tightly, even a bird is hard to fly over from Afghanistan.
A Taliban fighter stands guard at a checkpoint in the Wazir Akbar Khan neighborhood in the city of Kabul, Afghanistan, on Aug. 22, 2021. (Rahmat Gul/AP Photo)

Taliban Warns of Consequences If US Troops Stay in Afghanistan Past Deadline

The Taliban terrorist group has warned that some sort of action will be taken if the United States doesnt fully withdraw from Afghanistan by its self-imposed deadline.

President Joe Biden announced in July that the United States mission in Afghanistan will conclude on August 31st.

That deadline is now being emphasized by the Taliban, which took over the country this month from U.S.-backed Afghan forces.

Its a red line. President Biden announced that on 31 August they would withdraw all their military forces. So if they extend it, that means they are extending occupation while there is no need for that, Suhail Shaheen, a Taliban spokesman, told Sky News.

If the U.S. or UK were to seek additional time to continue evacuationsthe answer is no. Or there would be consequences. It will create mistrust between us. If they are intent on continuing the occupation, it will provoke a reaction.

The White House didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

Weve seen the public statements by the Taliban spokesman. I think we all understand that view, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters in Washington on Aug. 23.

Biden, speaking at the White House on Aug. 22, said discussions are occurring among administration and military officials about extending the self-imposed deadline.

Our hope is we will not have to extend, but there are going to be discussions, I suspect, on how far along we are in the process, he said.

He also said U.S. officials have discussed a lot with the Taliban and that the group has been cooperative in extending some of the perimeter around the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, although he doesnt trust them.

In the event that allies ask for U.S. troops to stay beyond the deadline, Biden said he would tell them that well see what we can do.

Some members of Congress have urged Biden to push back the self-imposed deadline.

The Aug. 31 deadline must be pushed back. That entails risk, since I understand it was negotiated with the Taliban. But these are the tough choices confronting us, Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) said on Aug. 23.

On Aug. 22, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) called on Biden to stress to the Taliban that the United States wouldnt leave any American behind in Afghanistan.

President Biden must make it clear to the Taliban that we will not leave until every American has been safely evacuated, he said.

U.S. Marines and Norwegian coalition forces assist with security at an Evacuation Control Checkpoint ensuring evacuees are processed safely during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Aug. 20, 2021. (U.S. Marine Corps/Staff Sgt. Victor Mancilla)

Afghans gather on a roadside near the military part of the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Aug. 20, 2021. (Wakil Kohsar/AFP via Getty Images)

Crowds of Americans, Afghans, and others have been trying to reach the U.S.-held airport to evacuate before U.S. troops withdraw, fearful of the Taliban and the sharia law they plan to impose on the country.

Taliban terrorists have been captured on camera beating or killing Afghans and U.S. military officials, with it being confirmed over the weekend that some Americans have been beaten.

The United States is openly cooperating with the Taliban, claiming that its fighters are letting everybody with a U.S. passport through checkpoints to the airport.

Taliban fighters control the grounds outside of the facility.

U.S. officials havent said if the Taliban will face consequences for assaulting Americans. Biden said on Aug. 22 that he would support sanctions against them, depending on their conduct, as UK officials call for such sanctions.

There have been incidents of people having some tough encounters with Taliban. As we learn about those incidents, we will certainly go back and engage the Taliban leadership and press home to them that our expectation is that they allow our people with the appropriate credentials to get through the checkpoints, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on ABCs This Week on Aug. 22.

The U.S. military had resisted calls to execute missions into Kabul to rescue stranded Americans, but have since conducted at least such one mission. Biden indicated that others will take place.

Our first priority in Kabul is getting American citizens out of the country as quickly and as safely as possible. At my direction, the State Department continues to reach out to the remaining Americans we have identified by phone, e-mail, and other means to ascertain their whereabouts and their plans. Were executing a plan to move groups of these Americans to safety and to safely and effectively move them to the airport compound, he said.

For security reasons, Im not going to go into the detail of what these plans entail, but I will say again today that I have said before: Any American who wants to get home will get home.

To help with the evacuations, the Biden administration has activated 18 aircraft from private companies to fly evacuees from airports they were flown to from Kabul.
Texas Parents Seeking to Homeschool Increases Five-Fold From 2020 Record

The number of Texas families pulling their children out of public schools and pursuing homeschooling in one week this month is five times greater than the same time period last year, the Texas Homeschool Coalition reports.

We are literally inundated with calls and emails from thousands upon thousands of families asking how they can begin homeschooling this fall, Tim Lambert, president of the Texas Home School Coalition, said in a statement.

In the fall of 2020, the number of homeschooling families in Texas had nearly tripled from 4.5 percent in the spring to 12.3 percent by October, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, the coalition reports. A conservative estimate put the number of students being homeschooled in Texas in 2020 at roughly 750,000, a state record.

Last year, the coalition saw a 400 percent increase in requests from parents to help them process withdrawal requests from public schools. Prior to the state shutdown, between 22,000 and 25,000 Texas students had already been withdrawn from the public school system.

But then as children returned to school through virtual learning and parents observed what they were being taught or not being taught and increased failing grades were being reported, more parents withdrew their children from public schools. The coalition then published an online map reporting data related to the withdrawal of children from public schools in grades 7 through 12 based on Texas Education Agency data, which includes only those grade levels.

But 2021 numbers are now crushing the 2020 records, Lambert says.

The weekly call and email volume the coalition received last week set a new record, with more than five times more parents contacting them than during the same week last year, Lambert says. The call volume exploded after school districts imposed mask mandates and other restrictions, defying Gov. Greg Abbotts order preventing them from doing so.

Our call volume and contact volume doubled last week. We went from 300 to 500 calls to 1,000, Lambert said.

Many parents hoping to have their children return to school in person with fewer restrictions than last year said they dont want to have anything to do with school districts retaliatory policies for noncompliance or ongoing school district mandates.

Lambert told ABC affiliate KTRK TV, We are hearing parents who are saying, You know, I am real uncomfortable with the situation in the schools, I do not want my kids to wear a mask, I do want my kids to wear a mask.'

Of the parents the coalition has spoken with, 72 percent said they were going to continue homeschooling as they did last year; 19 percent said they were going to try to return to in-person instruction and 9 percent said they were undecided.

According to a survey last year by RealClear Opinion Research, 40 percent of registered voters polled said they were more likely to homeschool after their states respective lockdowns ended, meaning in the Fall 2021 term.

John Schilling, president of the American Federation of Children, said at the time, Every single family with kids in school has been incredibly disrupted by the lockdowns. With 55 million students no longer in their normal educational setting, families are clearly considering new options and many are seeing the benefits of homeschooling and virtual schooling.

Policymakers owe it to the taxpayers who are footing the $800 billion K-12 education bill to maximize their investment by ensuring every child has access to a quality education and outcomes are improved across the board.

Texas lawmakers took note and passed two homeschool-related bills during the regular legislative session. Gov. Greg Abbott signed the bills into law, The University Interscholastic League Equal Access Bill, House Bill 547, and the Learning Pod Protection Act, Senate Bill 1955, which become effective Sept. 1.

HB 547 will allow public school district students whose parents pay taxes to school districts to participate in University Interscholastic League-sponsored activities. SB 1955 exempts learning pods from local government regulatory burdens.

By Bethany Blankley
The Dark Origins of Communism: The Reign of Terror

In this second episode of a special documentary series by Epoch TV, Joshua Philipp expands into the history of communism, the foundational beliefs that catapulted such a dangerous ideology, and how this ideology continues to con people despite its horrific past and many failures.

Philipp explains that communism is a belief in the destruction of belief. It destroys religion, wherever it goes, and yet it functions almost like a religion. In communism, there are thought leaders who act as prophets. There is scripture and followers, and even fanatics. This ideology has precepts and rules. Communism holds requirements for faith in the Party, and there is punishment for nonbelievers.

However, the line between religion and cult can be very thin, and this episode reveals how communism operates more in line with an evil cult. The cult of communism lures people by preaching secular salvation and a man-made utopia. Yet these ideas repeatedly lead to dystopias, where people end up leading wretched and fearful lives.

In the episode, Philipp asks the question, who is the father of communism? Is it Karl Marx? Certainly, Marx popularized and sharpened it, but it turns out the origins go back even further.

Francois-Noel Gracchus Babeuf is regarded as the first revolutionary communist. Babeuf believed in the elimination of money. In his imagined system, people would hand over their work to a common storehouse owned by an all-powerful government, which would redistribute it back to the people. Babeuf launched an organization called the Conspiracy of Equals after the failures of the French Revolution. It was a blueprint for violent revolution against the French government. The plot failed, and Babeuf was arrested and beheaded in 1797.

One of Babeufs own conspirators, who survived, was Felipe Buonarroti. Felipe created an organization called the League of Outlaws. After Felipe came Wilheim Wietling, a German tailor, who took Babeufs ideas, added in some of his own Christian apocalypse visions into the mix and renamed the League of Outlaws to the League of Just.

In the 1700s and 1800s, secret societies were on the rise, with many of them popping up across Europe. The League of Just would eventually merge under the Blanquist Rebellion. However, the Blanquist Rebellion failed in 1839. So the League of Just again renamed themselves, this time as the Educational Society for German Workingmen in 1840.

At a congress in June 1847, the League of Just joined under the Communist Correspondence Committee, which was formed a year earlier by Marx and Engels. The Manifesto of the Communist Party would be published one year after and regarded as scripture by future communist leaders, all of whom proved to have insatiable bloodlust.

War on the Human Spirit, Episode 2 | Special Program [Full Episode]

Watch the full episode on Epoch TV here.

These movements culminated in the Paris Commune of 1871, an insurrectionary commune in France that established its own form of government. This was arguably the first communist government, and would in just over two months kill tens of thousands of people and destroy roughly a quarter of Pariss arts and cultural relics. Their work, however, would still be far from over.

France and America were both suffering under tyrannies in the late 1700s. However, the two countries took their fight against oppression in very different directions. The American Revolution fought against imperial rule to create a system that limited the power of government with a three-branch system. They fought for the idea that government is instituted among men only to protect the inalienable rights of life and liberty. Most notably, American revolutionaries believed that men received their rights from God, not from the government.

The French Revolution, however, replaced absolute imperial rule with absolute rule in a socialized system. This new system stripped personal liberties, and rather than establish themselves as one nation under God, they created one nation under a state cult. The French Revolution would be remembered for its unjust bloodshed, killing over 300,000 people. It was a period known as the Reign of Terror.

When Babeuf was alive, he was a member of the Jacobins Club, a revolutionary society in France at the time. In this club was the infamous Maximilien Robespierre, lover of the guillotine and public executions. A prime example of how communists truly view liberty for all men is shown in their treatment of those who did not fully align with their belief system. Before the Jacobins took power, they were divided between the moderate Girondins and radical Montagnards. Robespierre led the radicals, and once he attained power in 1793, the first people he beheaded were the Girondins.

One of the radical Jacobins, Louis Antoine de Saint-Just, justified this by saying, You can hope for no prosperity as long as the last enemy of liberty breathes. You have to punish not only traitors but even those who are neutral. Under communism, unless you are a devout follower of this socialized system, you will be branded a heretic and hunted down and killed, in true cult-like fashion. This also took place under the official state atheist cult, the Cult of Reason, which purged religious believers under the dechristianization movement.

The Jacobins also legally purged people under the Law of Suspects, which made guilty anyone acting suspiciously, anyone considered associating with the wrong people, or anyone who said or wrote anything considered out of line. With this law alone, the regime beheaded over 16,000 people.

Even still, they werent finished. The leaders of the French Revolution used utopia to justify violence, and labeled swathes of society as enemies of the revolution. Each new law allowed them to identify a new set of enemies. Famous essayist G.K. Chesterton once said the new socialist systems are not rebelling against an abnormal tyranny; they are rebelling against what they think is a normal tyrannythe tyranny of the normal. They are not in revolt against the king, he wrote. They are in revolt against the citizen.

What motivated these movements was a new belief, deeply rooted in naturalism and Gnosticism, which valued reason over faith and man over God. Their belief in unrestrained human nature, rather than moral aspirations, mirrored the materialist ideologies that communism would later adopt. It was the idea that if nature takes precedence, anything that springs from human nature is then correctincluding any crime and any sin.

Philipp concludes the episode by putting the pieces of this ideology together. When people sign up for communism, they think theyre signing up to create a system from the people. Instead, the system destroys the people. Time and time again, whenever communism has fallen, it simply gets back up, renames itself, and tries to con people all over again with lies of the greater good.

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This Cannot Go on Forever: Australian Leaders at Loggerheads Over Easing Restrictions

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has issued a public plea to break the cycle of lockdowns and has called on state leaders to abide by a National Cabinet agreement to ease restrictions once certain vaccination thresholds are met.

That is our goalto live with this virus, not to live in fear of it, he told reporters in Canberra on Monday.

It is always darkest before the dawn, and I think these lockdowns are a demonstration of that, he said. But the dawn is not far away. We should not delay it. We should prepare for it. We should not fear it, we should embrace it, and we should move forward together.

This cannot go on forever; this is not a sustainable way to live in this country, without those freedoms that we all cherish.

The prime minister made the public plea after state leaders from Western Australia, and Queensland publically displayed a reluctance to follow through on an agreed plan to ease restrictions once 70 to 80 percent of the Australian population were vaccinated.

In late July, the national cabinetan intergovernmental body involving the prime minister and state and territory leadersagreed on a three-stage plan to open the country based on modelling from the Doherty Institute in Melbourne.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison (centre right), together with State Premiers Annastacia Palaszczuk (left), Daniel Andrews (centre left) and Gladys Berejiklian (right), address the media in the Main Committee Room at Parliament House, in Canberra, Australia, on December 11, 2020. Sam Mooy/Getty Images)

Once 70 percent of the population is vaccinated, a state will enter Phase B, where stay-at-home orders and restrictions will be lifted. Upon reaching the 80 percent vaccination target, Phase C is triggered, and the country will begin reopening international borders.

However, last week, West Australian Premier Mark McGowan indicated his government would likely continue its zero-COVID strategy and claimed that the National Cabinets Phase C of COVID-19 rollout strategy would allow for highly-targeted lockdowns.

Further, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk called for renewed modelling before she would commit to opening borders, saying the previous research did not consider high case numbers and was premised around 30 cases in the community.

So, this is a book that has not been written. This is uncharted territory, and the best way out of this pandemic is vaccination, she told reporters. There are now what, 9,000 cases or more. Thats a lot more than 30.

We actually need to get the modelling. Yes, everyone on the National Cabinet acknowledges that the extra research needs to happen; the extra modelling now needs to happen, she added.

The Doherty Institute is due to present its updated modelling to the National Cabinet on Friday.

New South Wales (NSW) Premier Gladys Berejiklian has indicated the state will move to live with the virus once vaccination rates are reached.

Just as we tend to talk about the number of people that die from flu, when we have 80 percent double dose vaccination, thats how well treat it, she told reporters.

Meanwhile, Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has said that federal economic support will end once vaccination targets are met.

Speaking on ABCs Radio National on Aug. 20, the treasurer said that based on Dohertys modelling, at 70 to 80 percent vaccination, stringent lockdowns would become unnecessary as the transmissibility of the virus would reduce.

That is why were shooting for 70 and 80 percent targets, Frydenberg said. We need to give the public hope that at that point in time, restrictions ease. So there should be no expectation on behalf of the states and the territories that the scale of economic support that were providing will continue beyond that date.

The comments by the prime minister and treasurer come as Australias most populated state New South Wales continues to grapple with an outbreak of the Delta variant of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus.

Students wait to receive the Pfizer vaccine for Covid-19 at Qudos Arena, in Sydney, Australia, on Aug. 9, 2021(Dean Lewins-Pool/Getty Images)

The outbreak and the countrys low vaccination rates have caused the state capital of Sydney to be placed under lockdown since late June. It is scheduled to finish on Sept. 30. Meanwhile, Victoria entered its 200th day under lockdown last week.

Australia has enjoyed relatively low infection and death rates from COVID-19 by global standards; thisalong with public support for tough measureshas motivated state leaders to implement lockdowns and restrictions more readily over the past year.

However, these measures are taking a toll on the mental health of Australians, with suicide prevention hotline Lifeline Australia saying August has been its busiest month over its 58-year history.

Frustration around the lockdowns also boiled over on the weekend when thousands of Australians across Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, and Coolangatta-Tweed (along the Queensland-NSW border) took to the streets to protest against increased restrictions.

Residents say lockdowns have seriously affected their livelihoods and businesses, with some being forced onto unemployment benefits.
An emergency room nurse tends to a patient at the Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital in Houston, Texas, on Aug. 18, 2021. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Traveling Nurses Fill Gaps as Hospitals Feel Staffing Pinch

Never before have nurses been more needed than in the age of COVID-19. Hospitals are feeling the pinch of being short staffed but staffing companies are coming to their rescue.

One such company is Medical Solutions based in in Omaha, Nebraska, but which has offices all over the United States. It supplies hospitals with nurses and other health professionals such as respiratory therapists.

It all comes down to supply and demand, said Holly Bass, vice president of recruiting for Medical Solutions, who is based in Jacksonville, Florida.

The supply hasnt changed, she said. There is a very large portion of baby boomer nurses who are retiring. The demand will always be there.

Traveling nurses is not a new concept; it began back in the 1970s, she said. There is always going to be need in areas like the emergency room and intensive care units.

There are about 50,000 traveling nurses nationwide, she said. They come from all walks of life and from different areas of the country and have different specialties.

Bass explained that the typical traveling nurse will take an assignment for 13 weeks and, depending on their personal goals or needs, will opt to extend their contract or will move on to another area. She said the profile of a traveling nurse will vary, but mostly they are single people who like to travel to see new places and meet new people.

Not all traveling nurses perform the same duties and as such salaries will differ. For instance, a travel nurse practitioner is the highest paid, with an average annual salary of $107,540 per year, while a travel licensed practical nurse may earn less than half that, with an average salary of $47,980 per year.

Benefits to hospitals are cost effectiveness and time, Bass said. She explained that hospital human resource departments could save time because the nurse is an employee of a staffing agency, and the agency handles HR paperwork and payroll.

Plus, charge nurses are sometimes responsible for hiring other nurses, she said. This helps them go on with their jobs of caring for patients instead of going through stacks of applications and resumes.

Benefits of Being a Traveling Nurse

Aside from the salaries, travel nurses may receive a package including several other benefits that provide additional value. These include but are not limited to insurance coverage, retirement (401K) options and tax-free travel reimbursement.

Depending on the agency some will offer sign-on, completion, and retention bonuses. A sign-on bonus is provided when you agree to an assignment, a completion bonus is provided when the assignment is over, and a retention bonus may be provided to entice you to continue to take assignments through a particular company.

There are also free housing or housing stipends depending on the agency. These may include only housing during long-term assignments, but in some cases, could also include an apartment in the city of your primary residence.

Because travel nurses must be licensed in order to practice in all 50 states, their employers will provide them with access to free continuing education (CEUs) to help ensure they have met their licensure requirements.

If a nurse does not have the time to sit down and research all their options, they can elect to contact someone who does that for them.

Angela Hancock, spokesperson for RNVIP, based in Naples, Florida, said it her company provides nurses with direct access to travel nurse employment companies. She explained that her company will do all the research for the nurse because they simply do not have the time to sit down on a computer and do research.

We compile all of the research for them, she said. They then come to us and we present them with all of the information that will answer their questions so they can make a decision on what is the right fit for them.

Hancock also agreed that there is no shortage of nurses, but the demand is high, she said.

Licensed vocational nurse Jelisa Stewart prepares a dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for farmworkers at a County of Santa Clara mobile vaccination clinic at Monterey Mushrooms in Morgan Hill, Calif., on March 3, 2021. (Jeff Chiu/AP Photo)

According to Hancock the pandemic has caused a high demand, not just for nurses she said but allied therapy as well.

When you think about it, COVID affects the lungs, she said. Thats where the allied therapists come in and we are seeing a trend in demand in these areas.

Jennifer Gross, an RN at a Charlotte County, Florida, hospice facility that she did not wish to name, said that she has seen several trends in nursing for some time, but three stand out to her.

One of those includes hospitals looking at ways to cut their budgets.

Before the pandemic hospitals were looking at ways to save money so they designed early retirement packages to the baby boomer, and a lot of them took them up on it, Gross said.

She said that some hospitals just cant compete with the salaries of the travel nurse industry.

They work 13 weeks and make in 13 weeks what they could make in six months to a year, she said. When their contract is up they take a month off before taking the next assignment.

Some hospitals are terminating their nurses as well as other personnel if they do not want to get vaccinated for COVID-19.

If a nurse tells you they do not want the shot, she said, you had better listen to them. We do not know what the implications are going to be years down the road.

Gross said that if her facility requires her to get the shot she may have to look at something else as she said she wont stray from her principles.

South Florida Feeling the Pinch

A webinar was conducted in May between health care providers who are seeing staffing shortages.

To begin with, the stress of working in health care for the past 15 or 20 years has become quite untenable, Dr. Andrew Grose, an orthopedic Surgeon said. The pandemic is just the spark on an already dry haystack.

He went on to say that the combination of on-the-job stress and the added burden of the COVID-19 pandemic have been overwhelming and are pushing nurses either out of Florida to a better work environment, more lucrative opportunities, or out of the profession entirely.

Richard Doss, senior vice president of LifeWings Peak Performance, a company that specializes in safety practices for hospitals and other medical facilities, estimated that 300 to 500 nurses and longtime trained staff have been lost to other states.

There are massive incentives for these health care professionals to leave, Doss said. Other states are preying on South Florida and getting nurses, lab workers, and respiratory therapists to relocate for three months work for triple pay, and take the rest of the year off.

Grose agreed that on-the-job stress and competitive pay explain a few reasons why facilities across the county are losing nurses, but said there is also a communication disconnect between frontline workers and administration.

The frontline workers know a lot about the work and need to be listened to, Grose said. Leaders know about the organizational stuff and budgeting, but they have to listen to their workers.
Florida Governor Ron Desantis speaks during a campaign rally by Donald Trump at Pensacola International Airport in Pensacola, Fla., on Oct. 23, 2020. (Tom Brenner/Reuters)

Trial Over School Masks Will Begin Monday: Florida Judge

PUNTA GORDA, Fla.A Florida judge in Leon County has cleared the way for parents to have their day in court over the tussle regarding school mask mandate policies.

A lawsuit was filed in early August by parents opposed to the governors order banning school districts from imposing mask mandates without the option for parents to opt out by written statement. The judge on Aug. 19 sided with parents and said they had a legal right to sue, overruling the states arguments.

The initial complaint made by St Petersburg attorney Charles Gallagher argued that the governors order impairs the safe operation of schools. In the complaint, he wrote that the governors order took away districts constitutional powers to operate, supervise, and control schools under their supervision.

Gov. Ron DeSantis attorney Michael Abel had moved to dismiss the case, but Judge John Cooper said that the case deserved to be considered on its merits rather than dismiss it. He said he wanted to hear the evidence in the case.

This case needs to be heard and a record should be made, Cooper said during the hearing. Im dealing with a good group of lawyers who will present evidence in this caseI look forward to hearing your arguments.

The Leon County judge has set aside three days next week beginning Monday to decide whether to block the enforcement of the governors order as they hear technical evidence on both sides.

In a near three-hour meeting, the judge said, I do believe they (the parents) have a right to challenge the governorthey have the right to have their case heardI am not deciding whether they are right or wrong. Well have to see what the evidence shows.

So far, five Florida county school districts are in non-compliance with the governors order by only allowing those children with medical exemptions to opt-out of mask wearing, without consideration for the protections for parental choice as laid out in the Parents Bill of Rights.

Palm Beach, Miami-Dade, and Hillsborough voted this week to join Broward and Alachua counties in ignoring the governors order. Three other counties will be revisiting the issue of mandatory masks with no option to opt out next week and may follow their counterparts on defying the rules being enforced by the Florida Departments of Health and Education.

The judge is giving three days for evidence to be presented beginning Monday at 9:30 a.m. ET and will make his ruling on Thursday.

All I can do is promise you that I will do the best I can possibly do, Cooper said as he ended the hearing.
Trudeau: Canada Will Push for Sanctions Against Taliban at G7 Meeting

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada will push for economic sanctions against the Taliban at the virtual meeting with leaders of the Group of Seven countries on Tuesday.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called for the G7 meeting to work out a response to the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, as thousands of civilians try to flee the country after the capital Kabul fell to the Taliban last week.

Trudeau told reporters on Monday that he will absolutely push for sanctions against the Taliban at the meeting, supporting Johnsons plan to further clamp down on the group.

The Taliban are already recognized under Canadian law as a terrorist entity. When we have our G7 leaders meeting shortly, we will certainly be talking about what more we can do and must do, he said at a press conference in Halifax.

The G7 countries are Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan.

In a commentary, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair criticized Western countries for unnecessarily abandoning Afghanistan and its people and questioned whether the West has lost its strategic will.

The world is now uncertain of where the West stands because it is so obvious that the decision to withdraw from Afghanistan in this way was driven not by grand strategy but by politics, Blair wrote.

We did it with every jihadist group around the world cheering.

Trudeau did not respond directly when asked to comment on Blairs remarks and on whether the United States made a mistake to withdraw its military from Afghanistan.

Trudeau said the entire focus of the Canadian government is getting as many Afghans out to safety as possible, adding that Canada has participated in military missions and humanitarian support to Afghanistan for many years.

U.S. President Joe Biden said on Sunday that the U.S. military was potentially considering extending the withdrawal deadline of Aug. 31, but that our hope is we will not have to extend.

Senior federal officials said on Monday that a Canadian C-17 Globemaster carried 436 people out of Kabul airport on Sunday nightincluding Canadian citizens and family members, as well as Afghan nationals accepted for resettlement by Canada.

The disclosure came during a briefing for journalists on Monday, following reports of Afghans who had previously worked as interpreters for Western military forces and news agencies who are now hiding for fear of reprisals from the Taliban.

With files from Reuters and The Canadian Press.
UKs Johnson to Push US to Extend Afghan Rescue Deadline

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will urge U.S. President Joe Biden to extend the Kabul evacuation deadline beyond the Aug. 31 deadline, a government minister said on Aug. 23.

Johnson is expected to make the request to Biden personally at an emergency G-7 summit on Aug. 24, said James Heappey, Britains minister for the armed forces.

It is vital that the international community works together to ensure safe evacuations, prevent a humanitarian crisis, and support the Afghan people to secure the gains of the last 20 years. Johnson, who will host the summit, said on Twitter on Aug. 22.

While some UK military leaders have argued that Britain should keep troops at the airport in Kabul to continue the evacuation effort even if the Americans leave, Heappey said, There is a hard reality that there would be no international airlift without the way that the U.S. are underpinning it.

Britains Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace held talks with their U.S. counterparts over the weekend, trying to persuade the Biden administration to keep U.S. troops in Afghanistan beyond Aug. 31 in order to continue to secure the capital citys airport for repatriation flights.

But Biden said on Aug. 22 that he was hoping he wouldnt have to extend the deadline, which he set before the Talibans swift takeover in Afghanistan.

Asked about delaying the withdrawal of U.S. troops during a press conference, Biden said, Our hope is that we dont have to extend, but there are discussions going on about how far we are.

But even if the United States agrees to extend the deadline at the G-7 summit, Heappey said, the Taliban would also need to give its approval.

Even though they are the seven most powerful people on the planet, they dont get to take that decision in isolation. The Taliban get a vote as well, and thats why were continuing to work towards the 31st, he told LBC radio.

Even if the political will in London, Washington, Paris, Berlin is for an extension, the Taliban may say no, he said.

Brigadier Dan Blanchford, the most senior UK military officer on the ground in Kabul, said British troops had witnessed some harrowing scenes, with at least seven Afghan civilians confirmed to have died outside the airfield gates amid chaotic crowds.

Blanchford said he was proud of the work of the armed forces in Kabul who have shown professionalism and compassion in challenging circumstances.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed that 5,725 people have been repatriated since rescue efforts began on Aug. 13, with 3,100 of them Afghan individuals and their families.

On Aug. 22, 1,721 people were airlifted from Kabul by the Royal Air Force across eight flights.

PA, Reuters, and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A nurse is handed a dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine before administering it to a college student at a mobile vaccination clinic at the California State UniversityLong Beach campus in California on Aug. 11, 2021. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)

US Drug Regulators Approve Future Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccines

U.S. drug regulators on Aug. 23 approved a new COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech for people 16 and older, making it the first such shot to receive full approval in the country.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said the vaccine, which will be known as Comirnaty, proved effective in a clinical trial of approximately 44,000 people. The shot was 91 percent effective in preventing COVID-19 infection, regulators said, and also was effective in preventing severe disease and hospitalization.

The approval is only for doses produced in the future, according to FDA documents. Existing supply will continue to be administered under an updated emergency use authorization (EUA).

The trial continues in centers in six different countries, including the United States, and the data cited was gathered through March 13. Participants received either two doses of Pfizers shot or a placebo.

FDA officials said they also reviewed safety data and determined that the vaccines known and potential benefits outweigh its known and potential risks, including side effects.

As the first FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine, the public can be very confident that this vaccine meets the high standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality the FDA requires of an approved product, Dr. Janet Woodcock, the FDAs acting commissioner, said in a statement.

While millions of people have already safely received COVID-19 vaccines, we recognize that for some, the FDA approval of a vaccine may now instill additional confidence to get vaccinated. Todays milestone puts us one step closer to altering the course of this pandemic in the U.S.

The FDA issued emergency use authorization to the Pfizer shot and a COVID-19 vaccine from Moderna in December 2020. Several months later, regulators authorized a shot from Johnson & Johnson. But none until Aug. 23 had received approval, which has a higher bar than authorization.

COVID-19 is the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.

The approval affirms the efficacy and safety profile of our vaccine at a time when it is urgently needed, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said in an emailed statement. I am hopeful this approval will help increase confidence in our vaccine, as vaccination remains the best tool we have to help protect lives and achieve herd immunity.

The decision will likely lead to new vaccine mandates, as some officials have held off imposing vaccine requirements due to the lack of an approved vaccine.

Approximately 201.4 million Americans have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose as of Aug. 22, according to federal data. More than 204 million Pfizer doses have been administered.

The approval comes as studies show that the efficacy of vaccines in preventing CCP virus infection is waning. That prompted a host of officials, including the FDAs Woodcock, to announce last week that they plan, starting next month, to recommend booster shots, pending FDA authorization. Still, for now, those who get two Moderna or Pfizer shots are considered fully vaccinated.

The approval drew both support and criticism.

With six months of safety data, the vaccine is still safe, still effective, Dr. Alok Patel, a pediatric hospitalist in San Francisco, said on ABC News.

President Joe Biden said in a statement that the approval should give added confidence that this vaccine is safe and effective.

However, Peter Doshi, senior editor of the British Medical Journal, said on Aug. 23 that the FDA should have demanded controlled studies with long-term follow-up before granting the approval.

While the Delta variant of the CCP virus has been blamed for the vaccines waning effectiveness, he wrote, that may not be the true cause, since there hasnt been enough time yet to properly study the data.

Syringes with the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine are pictured ready for use at a mobile clinic in Los Angeles on July 9, 2021. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)

Adverse Reactions

While the FDA approved Pfizers shot, regulators also said they determined that there are increased risks of myocarditis and pericarditis, or heart inflammation, following administration, particularly within the seven days following the second dose of the two-dose regimen.

The observed risk is higher among males under 40 years of age compared to females and older males. The observed risk is highest in males 12 through 17 years of age. Available data from short-term follow-up suggest that most individuals have had resolution of symptoms. However, some individuals required intensive care support. Information is not yet available about potential long-term health outcomes. The Comirnaty Prescribing Information (pdf) includes a warning about these risks, the agency said.

The FDA previously added a warning about the heart inflammation to both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, which both utilize messenger RNA technology, but maintains that teenagers should still get vaccinated.

In the clinical trial that the FDA reviewed, approximately 58 percent of the participants were monitored for four or more months following their second dose. About a third of those who received the vaccine from that subset reported adverse events.

The most common side effect was pain at the injection site, followed by fatigue and headache. Some participants, 108 who got the vaccine and 151 who got a single vaccine dose or the placebo, reported that serious adverse events occurred, including Bells palsy (facial paralysis).

In the analysis of blinded, placebo-controlled follow-up, there were no notable patterns between treatment groups for specific categories of serious adverse events (including neurologic, neuro-inflammatory, and thrombotic events) that would suggest a causal relationship to Comirnaty, the FDA said in an approval document (pdf).

Approximately 3,079 people have died after receiving the Pfizer jab, according to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), a passive reporting system run jointly by the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some 15,268 people have been hospitalized after getting a Pfizer shot, according to VAERS reports. Nearly 3,900 have reportedly suffered a permanent disability.

The system is not designed to determine if a vaccine caused a health problem, but is especially useful for detecting unusual or unexpected patterns of adverse event reporting that might indicate a possible safety problem with a vaccine, according to its website.

Anybody can submit reports to the system. Health care providers are encouraged to submit reports, and vaccine manufacturers are required to report certain adverse events. Federal health officials then review the submissions.

Correction: The article has been updated to clarify that future vaccines produced under the name Comirnaty are fully approved, not current Pfizer vaccines.
A Marine with the 24th Marine Expeditionary unit (MEU) passes out water to evacuees during the evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport during the evacuation in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Aug. 21, 2021. (Isaiah Campbell/U.S. Marine Corps via Getty Images)

US Has Moral Obligation to Evacuate Its Allies From Kabul: Former Afghan Interpreter

The United States has a moral obligation to ensure the evacuation of Afghan allied personnel, including interpreters, from Kabul, says former Afghan interpreter Ahmadullah Sediqi, as President Joe Bidens self-imposed Aug. 31 deadline to leave Afghanistan nears.

Sediqi, who served as an interpreter for U.S. forces in Afghanistan for four years, came to the United States in 2014 under the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program, which was created to protect Afghan allies who risked their lives helping U.S. troops in the country. He now works with the nonprofit No One Left Behind as an SIV ambassador to help other interpreters with their SIV process.

With time running out ahead of Bidens deadline to withdraw remaining U.S. troops from Afghanistan, and the president facing growing criticism amid reports of chaos and occasional violence outside of Kabuls international airport, vulnerable Afghans who fear a vengeful crackdown by the Taliban terrorist group are voicing desperate pleas to not be left behind.

Sediqi told NTDs The Nation Speaks that the United States has a moral obligation to offer safe refuge to Afghans who assisted the United States and its allies in Afghanistan.

Its not only the interpreters, but their families, their siblings, their parents [who] are still waiting in Afghanistan. Im here, but my family, my siblings are in Afghanistan, he said. Its our moral, legal duty to help those who have risked their lives alongside the U.S. forces.

The Pentagon has said that the U.S. military will fly up to 30,000 people out of Kabul, including embassy personnel, U.S. citizens, Afghan SIV applicants, and other at-risk individuals.

Of that total, 8,000 will be transported to a third country for visa processing, with the other 22,000 headed for the United States. Advocates estimate that there are between 50,000 to 80,000 Afghans and their family members applying for SIVs and evacuation, of which the Biden administration has thus far only evacuated a fraction.

Since the Talibans takeover of Kabul on Aug. 15, Sediqi said he has been constantly receiving messages from Afghan interpreters who are so worried and asking for help to flee the country.

The current situation is scary, he said, noting that he was informed recently that two interpreters were killed by the Islamic extremist group. The Taliban are extremist and they are the same people that they were in 1996. They dont want to leave anybody. When they catch you, they will kill you.

The former Afghan interpreter warned that the Taliban most likely have access to various biometric databases and can therefore easily identify SIV applicants.

Sediqi said that hes aware of thousands of people waiting outside the international airport in Kabul, hoping to leave the country.

You might have watched all these on social media.  Kids are waiting, women are waiting. Theyre under the sun and dont have anything to eat or drink, but theyre trying to get out, he said.

In a stern message for the president, Sediqi urged that Biden take immediate action to ensure that the way that the United States leaves Afghanistan does not become a permanent stain on his legacy and on Americas legacy.

With due respect for the division  we cannot leave Afghanistan in this situation, he said. We have had great partners in the past 20 years. Thats why we asked the international communities, and the United States especially, to watch over Afghanistan, to watch over these fundamentalists.

If we dont watch over them, they will be a big threat to the United States and the international communities in the future.

Biden has defended his decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan. However, he admitted that the Afghan government fell more quickly than expected, suggesting that they lacked a fighting spirit.

After Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled Kabul as the Taliban took over the capital, the countrys Vice President Amrullah Saleh has remained in the country to fulfill his duty as the caretaker president, Saleh wrote on Twitter, as outlined in the countrys constitution.

Clarity: As per d constitution of Afg, in absence, escape, resignation, or death of the President the FVP becomes the caretaker President. I am currently inside my country & am the legitimate care taker President. Am reaching out to all leaders to secure their support & consensus.  Amrullah Saleh (@AmrullahSaleh2) August 17, 2021

He has since vowed, together with the son of former anti-Soviet Mujahideen commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, to resist the Taliban from the Panjshir valley.

Remnants of Afghan government forces and other militia groups have gathered there, including Defense Minister Gen. Bismillah Mohammadi, declaring the valley to be the last free citadel in Afghanistan.

Massoud said the United States and its democratic allies were a free Afghanistans only remaining hope in an op-ed published in The Washington Post on Aug. 18.

There is still much that you can do to aid the cause of freedom, he wrote. [W]e need more weapons, more ammunition, and more supplies.

On Aug. 22, Biden said evacuation efforts have a long way to go and that a lot could still go wrong. The president noted that there have been discussions among those in the White House and the military to potentially extend the evacuation operation past Aug. 31.

White House officials didnt respond to a request for comment by press time.

Melanie Sun contributed to this article.
File photo of a drone flying over the sky in Syria. (George Ourfalian/AFP via Getty Images)

US-Led Coalition Aircraft Shoots Down Drone Over Syria

WASHINGTONA fighter jet with the U.S.-led coalition shot down a drone in eastern Syria on Saturday after the unmanned aircraft was deemed a threat, the U.S. military said.

Coalition aircraft successfully engaged and defeated a UAS through air to air engagement in the vicinity of Mission Support Site Green Village, said coalition spokesperson U.S. Army Colonel Wayne Marotto.

The Pentagon last month said it was deeply concerned about attacks on U.S. personnel in Syria and Iraq after U.S. diplomats and troops were targeted in three rocket and drone attacks that wounded two American service members.

By Linda So
U.S. Marines stand guard at an Evacuee Control Checkpoint at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan, on Aug. 20, 2021. (Sgt. Victor Mancilla/U.S. Marine Corps/Handout via Reuters)

US Troops Engaged Gunman During Deadly Shooting at Kabul Airport: Pentagon

The Pentagon has confirmed that U.S. troops engaged the gunman who opened fire on Afghan security forces at the Kabul airport in an incident late Sunday that left one Afghan soldier dead and several Afghans wounded.

Navy Capt. William Urban, spokesperson for CENTCOM (U.S. Central Command), said in an Aug. 23 statement that no American or coalition troops were injured in the exchange of fire.

The incident took place outside the north gate of the airport, where a frenzied evacuation is underway following a rapid Taliban takeover that left only the Hamid Karzai International Airport under the control of coalition troops.

Identified only as an unknown hostile actor, the gunman opened fire on Afghan security forces who were monitoring access to the gate, Urban said.

The Afghans returned fire, and in keeping with their right of self-defense, so too did U.S. and coalition troops, he said.

One member of the Afghan forces was killed by the hostile actor; several Afghans were wounded during the exchange. The wounded are being treated at an airfield hospital and are reported to be in stable condition, he added.

Twenty people have died in the chaos at the airport in recent days as crowds of Afghans and foreigners throng the gates and perimeters, following a Taliban blitz that left all but the airport and the Panjshir Valley in the north of Afghanistan outside the control of the extremist group.

Some people were trampled to death as they tried to escape the country in fear of reprisals for assisting Western troops.

Taliban members beat back crowds at the airport on Aug. 22, the day after seven died in a crush at the airport gates, desperate to board the last planes before the final withdrawal of foreign troops by an Aug. 31 deadline.

While President Joe Biden has said he believes the evacuation will be completed by the deadline, he has not ruled out an extension, a move the Taliban oppose.

A Marine with the 24th Marine Expeditionary unit passes out water to evacuees during the evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Aug. 21, 2021. (Isaiah Campbell/U.S. Marine Corps via Getty Images)

Taliban spokesperson Suhail Shaheen told Sky News: Its a red line. President Biden announced that on 31 August they would withdraw all their military forces. So if they extend it that means they are extending occupation while there is no need for that.

If the U.S. or UK were to seek additional time to continue evacuationsthe answer is no. Or there would be consequences, he said.

It will create mistrust between us. If they are intent on continuing the occupation it will provoke a reaction, he added.

The Taliban have begun talks on forming a government, while its forces focus on the last pockets of opposition. Meanwhile, its spokesmen try to paint a picture of a more moderate, tolerant regime than the one of 20 years ago.

Anti-Taliban leader Ahmad Massoud said on Aug. 23 he hoped to hold talks with the Taliban, but that his forces were ready to fight in the Panjshir Valley.

The Panjshir Valley, a stronghold of Taliban opponents, is now surrounded by Taliban forces, which have also retaken three districts in the northern province of Baghlan.

Reuters, PA, and Simon Veazey contributed to this report.
A Marine with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command provides assistance during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Aug. 22, 2021. (Sgt. Samuel Ruiz/U.S. Marine Corps via AP)

US Troops Rescued Americans From Outside Kabul Airport Using Helicopters: Pentagon

U.S. troops have rescued Americans in Afghanistans largest city at least twice since the Taliban took over the country, U.S. military officials confirmed Monday.

Troops left the U.S.-held Hamid Karzai International Airport last week and rescued a group of 169 Americans, the Pentagon confirmed late last week. Troops used Chinook helicopters to perform the rescue from the Baron Hotel, near the airport an official later told news outlets.

At least one other rescue mission has been performed using aircraft, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Monday.

There has been at least one additional incident instance where rotary airlift was used to help Americans get from outside the airport into the airport, Kirby told a press conference in Washington.

Thousands of Americans, Afghans, and others have made it to the airport, but theyve had to brave streets patrolled by Taliban terrorists. Militants have reportedly blocked some people from the facility. They also beat some, including Americans.

As other countries carried out operations to rescue their citizens from outside the airport, the U.S. military faced criticism for not performing similar operations. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said last week that the force did not have the capability to go out and collect up large numbers of people. But the number of U.S. troops at the airport has grown since then, enabling the force to keep the facility secure and conduct rescues.

Some 5,800 troops are now at the airport.

A soldier assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division provides security at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Afghanistan, on Aug. 21, 2021. (U.S. Marine Corps/Cpl. Davis Harris)

As our capability increased, and at that 5,800 number, as youve seen, we have the capability and have executed other operations to ensure that American citizens are being brought in safely and prepared for evacuation, Major Gen. Hank Taylor, deputy director of the Joint Staff For Regional Operations, told reporters on Monday.

What the secretary said was that, where he was on last Wednesday that we didnt have the capability to do large scale, massive movements of people but he did say, if theres an incident where somebody is in extremis, and we need to get them in small numbers, we can do that. And we have been doing that, Kirby added.

And as the general said, that was last Wednesday. Over the course of the ensuing days, more capability has flown in, more troops have flown in. And so we do have the ability to help, when we can and where we can, to help Americans move towards the gates. And were not going to talk about the details of each and every one of those. But we do have those capabilities, he said.

There are no plans at this time to request additional troops to expand those capabilities, officials said.

While troops have left the U.S.-held airport to perform rescues, they have not left on a regular basis, according to Kirby.

I dont want to leave you with the idea that were somehow patrolling the streets of Kabul. But on occasion, where theres a need and theres a capability to meet that need, our commanders on the ground are doing what they feel they need to do to help Americans reach the airport, he said.

The update on missions came after Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) said Sunday that more should be done to get Americans out of Afghanistan.

We are the strongest military on the face of this planet and we should be exercising those authorities to make sure that were flexing our military muscle, especially when it comes to evacuating Americans, she said on ABCs This Week.

The Taliban needs to understand quite clearly that we have the right to get our American citizens out of Afghanistan. And if that means we need to escort them to our airport to get them out, then we will do so, she added.
US Veteran Groups Demand Meeting With Biden on Afghanistan Evacuation Effort

On Monday, a group of nearly four dozen veteran organizations requested a meeting with President Joe Biden to discuss the evacuation of U.S. partners in Afghanistan and fulfilling our commitment to our Afghan allies.

Failing to meet our obligations to these Afghans would not only be a national security riskharming Americas reputation abroad and eroding the trust in our armed forces that is critical for future operationsit would also condemn veterans and survivors of the conflict in Afghanistan to a lifetime of moral injury, the group wrote in their letter to Biden.

Forty-five organizations signed a letter to Biden, urging him to agree to a virtual meeting. The coalition wants to ensure there is a comprehensive plan to get all citizens and allies out of the country and say they want to assist in every way possible. In addition, the group wants Biden to ensure that all allies are granted emergency status to enter the United States and have access to resettlement benefits.

The Taliban seized the Afghan capital, Kabul, on Aug. 15 as the Afghan government collapsed and top government officials fled the country, prompting a frenzied evacuation of U.S. diplomats, citizens, and allies from the country.

After the closure of Bagram Airbase and withdrawal of all U.S. military troops, Biden was forced to deploy 6,000 troops to help secure the Kabul airport as thousands of Afghans flooded the airport to flee Taliban rule. Biden has faced sharp bipartisan criticism for his handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal.

Many, including veteran groups, have urged Biden to spare no resources to evacuate U.S. citizens and allies who supported the United States effort in Afghanistan. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday that Bidens top administration officials have reached out to the organizers of the letter and will meet with the coalition.

Weve been in regular contact with a wide range of veterans groups on Afghanistan and will continue to be, and were in touch with the organizers of this letter to arrange a meeting with senior White House officials to discuss this letter, said Psaki, adding, The VA [Veterans Affairs] is also working with VSOs and outside advocates on how to assist SIV [Special Immigrant Visa] applicants, which I know is a primary concern to a number of these groups, as it is to us.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan told a reporter during the same press briefing Monday that the United States is working around the clock to get people out of Afghanistan.

They [the U.S. military] have now facilitated the evacuation of more than 37,000 people out of the country since Aug. 14American citizens, third-country nationals, our Afghan allies, and Afghans at risk of persecution or worse. In the last 24 hours alone, 28 U.S. military flights have evacuated approximately 10,400 people from Kabul.
President Joe Biden gestures as he delivers remarks on the U.S. militarys ongoing evacuation efforts in Afghanistan in the White House on Aug. 20, 2021. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

US Will Boost Efforts to Counter China in Wake of Afghanistan, Experts Say

News Analysis

The United States is likely to intensify efforts to strengthen alliances aimed at countering the Chinese regime, in the wake of blistering criticism over how Washington has handled its withdrawal from Afghanistan, experts say.

The United States pullout from Afghanistan was intended to align with the Biden administrations efforts to shift its focus to Asia, where a communist Beijing has bolstered its military and economic influence in the past decade. But the United States chaotic withdrawal amid a rapid Taliban takeover of the country has raised concerns about the administrations credibility in other parts of the world.

The Chinese regime, quick to exploit the crisis, has been on a propaganda spree, calling into question Washingtons reliability in the Asian region, particularly toward Taiwan, the democratic self-ruled island that Beijing claims as its own and threatens to invade.

President Joe Biden on Aug. 20 said that he had seen no question[ing] of our credibility from our allies around the world. Members of his administration, meanwhile, have been busy reassuring allies of the United States global commitments.

You have seen us invest in NATO. You have seen us invest in the Indo-Pacific in ways that go beyond what previous administrations have done, State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Aug. 18.

You have seen us stand by our partners, whether that is Taiwan, whether it is Israel, whether it is any other country, any other entity with whom we have a rock-solid partnership and a commitment, he said.

Vice President Kamala Harris on Aug. 22 touched down in Singapore as part of a Southeast Asia trip that will also take her to Vietnam, in the administrations most high-profile visit yet to the region. The trip, announced last month, took on an added urgency in light of the situation in Afghanistan, and is meant to show that the United States is in the Indo-Pacific region to stay, a senior administration official told Reuters ahead of Harriss arrival in Singapore.

Doubling Down on Alliances

The intense heat taken by the administration over the poorly executed Afghanistan pullout will likely prompt it to work doubly hard to fortify alliances, in its bid to push back against Beijings increasing aggression in the Indo-Pacific and beyond, experts say.

Biden said the withdrawal will allow the United States to concentrate on bigger priorities, including dealing with China.

Our true strategic competitorsChina and Russiawould love nothing more than the United States to continue to funnel billions of dollars and resources and attention into stabilizing Afghanistan indefinitely, Biden said on Aug. 16.

Dong Siqi, deputy chief executive officer of the Taiwan Think Tank, told The Epoch Times that the administration will be able to focus more in the Indo-Pacific region, responding to different challenges posed by China, adding that the South China Sea is an area of particular concern.

Chinas ruling communist regime, which claims almost the entirety of the disputed waterways despite a 2016 international court ruling rejecting this bid, has embarked on an aggressive campaign to advance its claims, including building military outposts and airfields on reefs and islands and dispatching its maritime militia to intimidate fishing vessels from other countries.

One of the allies in the region that could see a boost in its relations with Washington is Taiwan, said Shen Ming-shih, associate professor at Tamkang Universitys Graduate Institute of International Affairs and Strategic Studies in Taiwan. The self-ruled island has been on the receiving end of escalating Chinese military and rhetorical threats over the past year.

The United States is likely to strengthen security cooperation with Taiwan in retaliation against China, and it is also likely to consider increasing defense assistance to Taiwan, Shen told The Epoch Times in an email.

Ian Easton, senior director at the Project 2049 Institute, a Virginia-based think tank, said the United States will learn some hard lessons from Afghanistan.

I suspect the ultimate conclusion that the Biden administration is going to make is that there is no way the United States of America can lose another friendly government, Easton said in an interview with NTD, a sister outlet of The Epoch Times.

While the Afghanistan chaos may have shaken some U.S. allies, the reality is that most are faced with few alternatives to Washingtons support, according to James M. Dorsey, a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Singapores Nanyang Technological University.

In Asia, U.S. allies such as Japan and South Korea have shown growing concern toward the Chinese regimes aggressive behavior in the Taiwan Strait, East China Sea, and the South China Sea.

Recent months have seen the two countries emphasize their cooperation with the United States to meet threats posed by Beijing, sentiments mirrored by the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue or Quad, an informal alliance between the United States, Australia, India, and Japan.

Dorsey sees a tightening of the Quad relationship after Afghanistan.

The Indians will probably cooperate much closer with the United States, because of security concerns they have in the wake of Afghanistan, he told The Epoch Times.

Beijing and the Taliban

While Chinese state media and some analysts have portrayed the U.S. departure from Afghanistan as a boon for Beijing, the picture on the ground is more complicated, according to Dorsey.

On the one hand, Beijing is happy to see the United States leave an area it considers its backyard, he said. But on the other hand, the U.S. exit has meant growing instability in Afghanistan, a country the Chinese regime has long feared could be a base for Uyghur militants to launch attacks into the far-west Xinjiang region.

While the Taliban last month assured Beijing that it would never allow any force to use the Afghan territory to engage in acts detrimental to China, it remains to be seen whether the group will follow through on the pledge. Even if the Taliban is sincere, Dorsey noted that its still unclear, at this stage, how firm the groups control is over the entire country so that such an order can be executed.

Another concern is if the militancy spills over into neighboring Pakistan and other Central Asian states, where the Chinese regime has invested heavily through its flagship Belt and Road infrastructure investment plan.

The fear is that you cant contain it [the instability], Dorsey said.

On the whole, Beijing isnt likely to act hastily to formally recognize the Taliban or pursue economic opportunities in the country.

Youre going to have a bit of a wait-and-see attitude, not only from China, but also from Afghanistans other neighbors, according to Dorsey.

The Chinese regime has expressed interest in mineral and energy projects in Afghanistan, but they wont be able to get off the ground without stability.

Theyre going to be cautious, Dorsey said. Because they dont want to be putting money into a black hole or into a situation in which the country doesnt stabilize.

Luo Ya contributed to this report.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

Cathy He China Reporter Cathy He is a New York-based reporter focusing on China-related topics. She previously worked as a government lawyer in Australia. She joined the Epoch Times in February 2018.
Violence Breaks Out in Portland; 1 Arrest Made

A rally and counterprotest in Portland, Oregon, turned violent on Aug. 22 as clashes broke out between members of the Proud Boys and Antifa.

Demonstrators and far-left Antifa members who arrived to disrupt the planned demonstration began arriving at Tom McCall Waterfront Park in the early afternoon, with several hundred people there by 2:30 p.m. local time, the Portland Police Bureau stated.

People also gathered about 10 miles northeast, in northeast Portland.

Brawls broke out in both areas.

Some individuals committed acts of violence and property destruction both in downtown Portland and in the Argay Terrace Neighborhood after some people physically challenged each other, the bureau said in a statement.

There were no immediate arrests, but detectives are reviewing evidence to determine whether charges can be brought for any criminal activity, police added.

Video footage showed known members of the right-wing Proud Boys group and the anarcho-communist Antifa network, both of which have carried out violence before, brawling on city streets.

In many cases, no police officers were in sight.

It isnt clear who started the brawls; according to one photographer on the ground, a group of Antifa members crashed a van into a demonstration and started throwing explosives, triggering a fight.

In other cases, Antifa members harassed and assaulted locals, including street preachers and a homeless man carrying a do not tread on me flag, as well as journalists, while the Proud Boys smashed vehicles and assaulted counterprotesters leaving the city.

Members of both groups carried weapons, including guns.

A van that was driven by Antifa members is pictured flipped on its side with all windows smashed after it was driven into a Proud Boys rally in Portland, Ore., on Aug. 22, 2021. (Alex Milan Tracy/AP Photo)

Members of the Proud Boys clash with counterprotesters during rival rallies in Portland, Ore., on Aug. 22, 2021. (David Ryder/Reuters)

People clash during rival rallies in Portland, Ore., on Aug. 22, 2021. (David Ryder/Reuters)

The Proud Boys attack a counterprotester in Portland, Ore., on Aug. 22, 2021. (Mathieu Lewis-Rolland/AFP via Getty Images)

Police officers detain a man who opened fire with a handgun in Portland, Ore., on Aug. 22, 2021. (Courtesy of Alix Powell @thatpowellgirl via Reuters)

Before the events on Aug. 22, officials said police officers would not intervene in street fights.

As stated before todays events, officers were not deployed to stand in between individuals intent on confronting one another. But that does not mean the crimes committed will not be addressed. Arrests do not always happen in the moment. As in past such events, we are conducting follow-up investigations, gathering evidence, and will make arrests when probable cause exists that specific persons committed crimes, the bureau said in a statement.

The agency also said that no city bureaus were involved in facilitating, supporting, or issuing permits for any of the gatherings on Aug. 22, before adding that it supports First Amendment rights.

The violence has led to only one arrest so far. A man identified by authorities as Dennis Anderson, 65, of Gresham, was booked on unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful use of a weapon before being released.

Photographs and video clips showed a white male firing a handgun downtown as people took cover behind cars.

Police later said they were seeking another shooter or shooters and that a group of people may have been pursuing Anderson before the shots were fired.

Riots have broken out in Portland repeatedly since spring 2020. The violence has primarily been fomented by left-wing groups such as Antifa.

On Aug. 22, 2020, a similar clash unfolded in front of the Multnomah County Justice Center.
A side effect is usually mild and not unexpected, like an upset stomach. An adverse reaction is unexpected and significant, such as kidney failure. (fizkes/Shutterstock)

When 2 Drugs Dont Like Each Other

Adverse drug reactions are common, dangerous, and avoidable

J.T. is a 66-year-old man with heart disease who requires blood thinners to reduce the chance of having another stroke. The last stroke was luckily a mild one, but he was found to have significant plaque buildup in his cardiac vessels.

J.T. is a very bright, successful, hard-working man and wants to stay as healthy as possible. The ads he kept seeing and articles he read said omega-3 fatty acids were a great way to help reduce the bad cholesterol and minimize plaque in his arteries. If one pill was good, then three would be better, or so he thought.

Several weeks later, he showed up in the emergency room with stomach pains and vomiting blood. His blood-clotting time was found to be too long and he has a peptic ulcer. The doctors were at first baffled, but soon realized that J.T. was taking 3 grams of the omega fatty acids, instead of 1 gram. When taken with blood thinners, this can have a bad result, and in his case, he did.

In 2020, pharmaceutical companies spent $6.58 billion on direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services estimate that prescription drug expenditures in the United States was $335 billion in 2018, and that was only for retail drugs.

J.T. had an all-too-common occurrence of drug-to-drug interaction. This doesnt just occur with prescription drugs, but also with over-the-counter drugs, including herbal medications.

There are three basic interactions when taking medications. They are drug-to-drug, drug-with-foods, and drugs-with-disease conditions. There is one study in the United Kingdom that says 6.5 percent of all hospitalizations were due to drug interactions. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says, Adverse drug events cause approximately 1.3 million emergency department visits each year. Interestingly, 40 percent of Americans over 65 take five or more drugs. This phenomenon is found quite often in nursing homes as well.

We are bombarded with daily commercials about the benefits of certain drugs. We may see an actor who praises a particular medication for a particular illness, from which he or she seems to be miraculously cured, simply by taking this medication.

The actor says that you should ask your doctor to prescribe it.

Never mind that it might cause all sorts of side effects, and thats not including drug interactions with any other medications that you may already be on. Adverse drug reactions (ADR) are fairly common and arent the same as side effects. A side effect is usually mild and not unexpected, such as an upset stomach or dry mouth. An adverse reaction is unintended and more significant, such as bleeding, a drop in ones blood pressure, dizziness, or renal failure. Many ADRs are preventable depending on the cause.

L.Z. is a 68-year-old woman who is on hormone replacement therapy. She was prescribed estrogen and progesterone. This was working quite well, but then she started having some vaginal bleeding. Bleeding in menopause isnt normal and needs to be evaluated. She had stopped taking the progesterone because it gave her an upset stomach, but continued with the estrogen.

In this instance, it was the opposite of a drug-to-drug interaction. She had to take progesterone to protect her uterus from the estrogen. Sometimes, we combine medications for a reason.

Drugs and their interactions can become confusing quickly and we often dont have a clear answer for why certain problems emerge. One solution is relatively simple, but will take time and energy on your part, the part of the doctor, and the pharmacist.

That solution is to research and understand your condition, drugs, and other therapeutics you may be inclined to try.

This is the one place I dont have a problem with Dr. Google. If its from a reputable medical site, then go for it. IBM is actually working on Dr. Watson (a medical AI) to provide such medical information. Be sure you have a complete list of all medications you are taking. Your local pharmacist should be willing to review everything you are on. Most good pharmacists know more about these possible drug-to-drug interactions than your doctor. Some of the medications you are on may have been prescribed by another doctor in another specialty of which your physician isnt familiar. You have to be aware of everything you are taking and the possible adverse interactions with those medications.

I am a huge advocate for geriatric medicine. This is a relatively new area of medicine that specializes in the aging adult. Most of us, as we get older, have multiple medical conditions which need coordination of care. We take multiple medications which can have adverse drug-to-drug reactions. Most of these reactions can be avoided if we take the time to analyze what we put in our bodies. These geriatric medicine physicians will work with your general practitioner, internist, or they can be your primary care physician. For the rest of us, just dont believe everything you see on TV about a new drug or supplement. Too much of a good thing can be bad.

Now, if you take two aspirins, make sure you dont also take four Motrins and eight magnesium tablets for that headache. You may find yourself sitting on the toilet too busy to call me in the morning.
Why Local Marketing is a Startups Best Friend

Marketing is tough for new startups, especially those that have an absence of experienced marketing-related leadership. Youre already juggling dozens of important priorities and trying to maintain a grip on your fragile customer base; on top of that; you have to review your marketing priorities and keep a balanced budget despite minimal access to capital and resources.

This is exhausting enough on its own. If youre also struggling with dominant competitors in your space, each of these problems intensifies.

Why Local Marketing is a Startups Best Friend

One of the best solutions to the marketing problem is often neglected by startup entrepreneurs because of how they perceive it  but it can support your company for years to come: local marketing.

What Is Local Marketing?

Its a bit intuitive to understand local marketing. Its a combination of marketing and advertising strategies that target a local population rather than a national one. You can choose to focus on residents of a given city, county, or state  or even launch a number of separate individual campaigns, each focused on a different area.

But wait, my brand is national! Dont worry, this applies to you, too. As youll see, the benefits of local marketing are valuable to local and national brands alike. Plus, if you get started with local marketing, youll always have the option of expanding to reach a national audience. No matter what, youll maintain your flexibility, so you can switch up your strategy if youre not satisfied with the results.

The Advantages of Going Local

So whats the big deal about going local?

There are a handful of major advantages youll find when going local.

Less competition. One of my favorite advantages of local marketing is that youre going to face less competition. Lets say there are about 100 companies like yours operating throughout the United States. On average, that leaves about 2 per state. Depending on where youre operating, there might not be a competitor within 100 miles of you. If you focus on a specific local audience, youll completely avoid clashing with a competitor focused on a national scale. Oftentimes, that means youll get a better chance of being seen, you can afford to spend less money, and you wont have to worry about your message being contested or diluted by another brand.

One of my favorite advantages of local marketing is that youre going to face less competition. Lets say there are about 100 companies like yours operating throughout the United States. On average, that leaves about 2 per state. Depending on where youre operating, there might not be a competitor within 100 miles of you. If you focus on a specific local audience, youll completely avoid clashing with a competitor focused on a national scale. Oftentimes, that means youll get a better chance of being seen, you can afford to spend less money, and you wont have to worry about your message being contested or diluted by another brand. Higher relevance. If youre focusing on one target audience, youll have more specific data to work with  and a higher chance of winning the appeal of those individuals. You can fine-tune your message to appeal to the specific people who live in this area, rather than trying to reach as many people as possible with a generic approach. If your message is more relevant and better tuned to the local population, theyre going to engage with it more strongly. In most cases, this will yield better results, dollar for dollar.

If youre focusing on one target audience, youll have more specific data to work with  and a higher chance of winning the appeal of those individuals. You can fine-tune your message to appeal to the specific people who live in this area, rather than trying to reach as many people as possible with a generic approach. If your message is more relevant and better tuned to the local population, theyre going to engage with it more strongly. In most cases, this will yield better results, dollar for dollar. Newly available outlets. Switching to local marketing also opens the door to some marketing tactics you might not otherwise consider. For example, if youre fixated on getting seen by people all over the country, you wont even think about attending a local event. But if youre focused on winning over the population of a given city, this is a perfect opportunity. If you want the best possible results, youll need every available tool in your arsenal.

Switching to local marketing also opens the door to some marketing tactics you might not otherwise consider. For example, if youre fixated on getting seen by people all over the country, you wont even think about attending a local event. But if youre focused on winning over the population of a given city, this is a perfect opportunity. If you want the best possible results, youll need every available tool in your arsenal. Lower costs. For the most part, local marketing is less expensive than national marketing. For starters, since youre going to target a smaller audience, youll typically have to pay less money. In addition, you can often take advantage of local relationships and opportunities as a way to cut costs. And on top of that, because youre focusing on a non-competitive niche, youll end up spending less money on things like targeted ads. Local marketing is the way to go. So if youre trying to make the biggest potential impact with the smallest potential budget.

For the most part, local marketing is less expensive than national marketing. For starters, since youre going to target a smaller audience, youll typically have to pay less money. In addition, you can often take advantage of local relationships and opportunities as a way to cut costs. And on top of that, because youre focusing on a non-competitive niche, youll end up spending less money on things like targeted ads. Local marketing is the way to go. So if youre trying to make the biggest potential impact with the smallest potential budget. Potential for expansion. As I briefly mentioned before, its ridiculously easy to expand a local marketing campaign to suit a national environment. You can start adopting many different cities as individual local marketing strategies in your overall campaign, gradually expanding the reach of your business. Or you can simply widen the lens of your campaigns focus and shift your attention to a broader segment.

Top Local Marketing Strategies

If youre going to focus on local marketing, rather than national marketing, these are some of the most important strategies to use.

Local SEO. If youre familiar with search engine optimization (SEO), you likely already know about the possibilities of local SEO. SEO uses a wide range of tactics all geared toward increasing your websites rankings in search engine results pages (SERPs), including writing content, tweaking the code of your website, and building backlinks. If you focus on local-specific keywords and phrases, you can avoid the dense competition at the national level and attract more local visitors to your site.

If youre familiar with search engine optimization (SEO), you likely already know about the possibilities of local SEO. SEO uses a wide range of tactics all geared toward increasing your websites rankings in search engine results pages (SERPs), including writing content, tweaking the code of your website, and building backlinks. If you focus on local-specific keywords and phrases, you can avoid the dense competition at the national level and attract more local visitors to your site. PPC ads. Pay per click (PPC) ad platforms offer you a wide range of tools to display your ads for specific audience segments. For example, it doesnt take much to change your targeting to hone in on people from a specific city  and the ads will likely be cheaper than their national counterparts.

Pay per click (PPC) ad platforms offer you a wide range of tools to display your ads for specific audience segments. For example, it doesnt take much to change your targeting to hone in on people from a specific city  and the ads will likely be cheaper than their national counterparts. Event marketing. You can also take advantage of local events if and when they occur. Depending on the nature of the event, you might be able to speak in front of a local audience, set up a booth and interact with attendees, or just network with the locals.

You can also take advantage of local events if and when they occur. Depending on the nature of the event, you might be able to speak in front of a local audience, set up a booth and interact with attendees, or just network with the locals. Loyalty programs and special offers. Never underestimate the power of loyalty programs, especially on a local scale. Incentivizing your best customers to keep coming back for more purchases is one of the best ways to generate a persistent stream of revenue.

Never underestimate the power of loyalty programs, especially on a local scale. Incentivizing your best customers to keep coming back for more purchases is one of the best ways to generate a persistent stream of revenue. Referral programs. Another way to use local marketing t0 get more sales is through a referral program  which is especially powerful at the local level. Make it clear to your best customers that youre a relatively new business looking for more customers  and incentivize them to refer you to their friends. For example, you could give them a $50 gift card for each new local customer they send your way.

Another way to use local marketing t0 get more sales is through a referral program  which is especially powerful at the local level. Make it clear to your best customers that youre a relatively new business looking for more customers  and incentivize them to refer you to their friends. For example, you could give them a $50 gift card for each new local customer they send your way. Newspapers and journalism. Working with journalists is always a great way to get some free publicity. And working with local journalists is much easier and more accessible than working with national publishers. So reach out to your local reporters and see if you can work together on an important story.

Working with journalists is always a great way to get some free publicity. And working with local journalists is much easier and more accessible than working with national publishers. So reach out to your local reporters and see if you can work together on an important story. Partnerships and relationship marketing. Dont be afraid to reach out to other business owners in the area. Chances are, you can form a partnership or exchange products and services in a kind of barter system. The more ingrained you are with the local business community, the more visibility your business will get.

Dont be afraid to reach out to other business owners in the area. Chances are, you can form a partnership or exchange products and services in a kind of barter system. The more ingrained you are with the local business community, the more visibility your business will get. Guerrilla marketing. Finally, dont forget about the power of guerrilla marketing. These inexpensive, unconventional tactics that require creativity and can be hard to pull off, but if youre successful, they have the power to uplift your brand for years to come. Tap into your creative side and see what you can come up with.

From Local to National

Almost any local marketing strategy can be altered in some way to make it national. For example, instead of focusing on local keyword terms, you can optimize your content for more generic national phrases. Instead of targeting people in a specific city with your ads, you can expand to focus on people all over the country. Of course, this isnt a shift that has to happen overnight. Still, its worth considering as a long-term move, especially as you generate more revenue and have a bigger budget for marketing and advertising.

Local marketing isnt the right approach for every startup  especially if youre focused on a national audience and you have ample funding or limited competition. But if youre struggling to promote your business or if youre worried about tight resources, it could be your best bet for early-stage growth.

By Timothy Carter
Wisconsin Jail to Call Inmates Residents to Maintain Dignity of Criminals

A Wisconsin county jail will no longer refer to those incarcerated as inmates, but instead residents or those who are in our care, authorities announced.

The change in vocabulary was confirmed by Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett during a press briefing on Aug. 16, who explained the language can reduce barriers at the time convicted criminals transition back into society.

As we serve, we want to maintain dignity and respect for all who are involved in our criminal justice system, Barrett said. We will no longer refer to our incarcerated community members as inmates. Their new title will be resident[s] or those within our care.'

We want to eliminate the barriers that those who are incarcerated face when their getting their re-entry back into the community, he added, referring to barriers with career-based employment, housing, state assistance, relationships, as well as their self-worth as a human being.

The sheriff noted that there wont be any penalties or consequences for those who dont want to change their language, but the office will prefer to hire people who reflect the departments ethics.

There is no consequence towards that, Barrett said while responding to a reporters question regarding penalties on those who refuse to comply. But if we, here as a sheriffs office, continue to hire those who reflect our core values, then those that we do have here, and currently employed, will not be bothered at all by this slight change in language, he said.

Meanwhile, officers will also refer to themselves as peace officers instead of law enforcement in addition to altering the language for those incarcerated.

The title we go by and how we view ourselves matters how we carry out the duties of our position, Barrett said. When I mean peace officer, I mean that is exactly what my goal, my philosophy and my vision, is, we are there to keep the peace.

During the Aug. 16 press briefing, Barret was joined by Wisconsin Rep. Sheila Stubbs, a Democrat, who said the change of referring inmates as residents is a step forward, explaining that she believes it as critical to recognize everyone as decent people.

We need to break down barriers that have held so many people, especially black people, behind in so many ways, Stubbs said. So, changing the name of inmates to residents gives people a sense of belonging.

From NTD News
JACKSON, Miss. (AP)  Mississippi Republican Gov. Tate Reeves stared into cameras during a news conference and said he is not advancing any political agenda in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic as the state experiences a sharp rise in new cases and hospitalizations.

There are those on the right who would like me to make masks and vaccines into a political battle, Reeves said Thursday at the Sillers state office building. There are those on the left, including most of the reporters in this room, who really want to make political hay and grow their Twitter platform because I will not issue mandate after mandate after mandate.

Let me be clear," he said. I do not give a damn about any political agenda."

Reeves was speaking to about a dozen reporters and photographers in the room, at least that many journalists on a video conference and an audience of thousands watching on a Facebook livestream.

The governor made his declaration about not promoting any political agenda only three weeks after he stood in front of a conservative audience at the Neshoba County Fair and used us-versus-them rhetoric to criticize the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for changing its guidance on masking.

Reeves spoke at the fair July 29, two days after the CDC reversed course and said that even people vaccinated against COVID-19 should wear masks indoors  a decision announced as the highly contagious delta variant of the virus was spreading. Reeves called the CDC decision foolish.

It reeks of political panic so as to appear they are in control, Reeves said of the CDC during his speech to an outdoor audience, emphasizing they."

It has nothing  let me say that again  it has nothing to do with rational science," Reeves said. In Mississippi, we believe in freedom.

According to WJTV-TV, Reeves told reporters after his speech at the fair: I dont think youre going to see any school district mandate masks in schools. I think if you start seeing them do that, the parents will erupt, and they should.

That pushback against school mask mandates has happened since then, including at school board meetings in Tupelo and Rankin County.

Since late July, Mississippi has jumped to the top of a list that makes public health officials cringe. Last week, Mississippi passed Louisiana to become the state with the highest per-capita rate of new COVID-19 cases in the United States, according to the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 case tracker.

Reeves has made clear, repeatedly, that he will not issue statewide mask mandates for schools. He said school districts can make their own decisions about setting mask mandates or requiring social distancing to try to mitigate the spread of the airborne virus.

This pandemic  much of which is a pandemic of the unvaccinated, at this time  is before us," Reeves said Thursday. There will be plenty of time for politics, but this aint it. My objective is to give Mississippians the facts, give them and their local officials the tools they need to make good decisions and then trust them to love each other enough to do it.

Mississippi has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the United States.

Reeves said that as of Thursday, about 1.1 million of Mississippi's nearly 3 million residents were fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Almost 41,000 vaccine doses were administered in Mississippi during the three days before the news conference, he said, and 71,135 doses were administered during the previous week. That was the highest total for any week since April and a 256% increase over Mississippi's lowest week in early July.

The governor was vaccinated on camera early this year.

Getting the vaccine is your choice. It is your decision," Reeves said Thursday. And as your governor, I will always defend your right to make that decision, and I will respect your decision."

He said he hopes unvaccinated people will talk to their doctors and study statistics.

I believe you as an individual Mississippian can be trusted to make good and responsible decisions," Reeves said. Good practices are a choice. Staying healthy is a choice. Keeping your neighbors and your coworkers healthy is a choice. Now, let's all make the right choices."

____

Emily Wagster Pettus has covered Mississippi government and politics since 1994. Follow her on Twitter: http://twitter.com/EWagsterPettus.
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP)  Louisiana's top school board won't hold a special meeting to discuss whether to challenge Gov. John Bel Edwards' mask mandate for K-12 schools, after the last meeting on the topic was disrupted by unruly crowds who refused to follow the face covering requirement for public buildings.

The leaders of the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education released a statement Sunday defending their decision to adjourn last week's board meeting without debating the legality of the Democratic governor's mask requirement. Hundreds of parents had packed the hearing room in opposition to face coverings.
Jessica Hill / Associated Press

With the final approval of the Pfizer vaccine by the federal Food and Drug Administration on Monday, Gov. Ned Lamont said he hopes that businesses will now consider more stringent requirements for employee inoculations for returning to the workplace.

There was some hesitancy because they wanted to wait until the FDA gave the final approval for the Pfizer vaccine and they have done that now, Lamont said during an afternoon news conference on coastal resiliency in New London. More importantly you know, for me, I think anybody who had just a little bit of hesitancy....I think that question is off the table.
MEXICO CITY (AP)  Mexicos state-owned oil company said Monday five workers were killed, two workers are missing and six were injured in a massive fire at one of its oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico.

Petroleos Mexicanos said the fire at the processing platform in the Ku-Maloob-Zaap field had been brought under control on Sunday.

The company said the blaze caused the shutdown of 125 wells in the field, which will reduce Mexicos daily output of oil equivalents by 421,000 barrels per day. The shutdown affects about one-quarter of Mexico's daily production of about 1.7 million barrels, costing the company about $25 million per day in lost income.

It was unclear what possibility remained of finding the two missing workers. The platform was badly charred. The company's director, Octavio Romero said some of the workers killed were carrying out routine maintenance and cleaning of gas lines on the platform.

Romero said the company would try to restore production as soon as possible. A replacement generator would have to be brought in to resume electricity supplies to the wells. Romero expressed hope that the wells could be brought back on in a piecemeal fashion starting today or tomorrow.

The platform is used to compress gas to re-inject it into wells to stimulate oil pumping, and to supply electricity.

The company, known as Pemex, said it was undertaking an exhaustive search for the missing. Pemex said three of the injured are its employees and three others are employed by a subcontractor.

One of the dead is a Pemex employee and the other four are from the subcontractor, Cotemar.

One of the injured working is in serious condition. The two missing workers are from another subcontractor. The maintenance work was being carried out by the subcontractors.

Romero said investigations are continuing into the cause of the accident.

This was the result not of an equipment failure, not of a lack of maintenance, but rather of planned (maintenance) work, where what occurred is known as an accident, Romero said. Why did it occur? That is something we will find out in coming days.

The administration of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has gone on a ruthless cost-cutting campaign, and critics have said that and Pemex's staggering debt loads may have affected investment, safety and maintenance.

Romero hotly denied that.

This is not due to an issue of lack of investment, as some media outlets have said, Romero said. It is an issue related to the inherent risks of the oil industry.

The accident comes less than two months after another Petroleos Mexicanos pipeline in the Gulf leaked, causing a strange subaquatic fireball that Pemex said was caused by a bizarre chain of events, including a lightning storm and a simultaneous gas pipeline leak.

A leak in an underwater pipeline allowed natural gas to build up on the ocean floor and once it rose to the surface on July 2, it was probably ignited by a lightning bolt, the company said.
EDWARDSVILLE  The citys plan commission had an eventful meeting last week as two projects came up for planned unit development conceptual workshops for affordable housing from local building developer Matt Pfund.

First is the Charles Cove development, to be located at 7074 Marine Road, at the southwestern corner of Marine and Park Drive.

Pfund described the projects as nine small, high-quality cottages on about 0.70 acres, with full, concrete basements and hardboard siding, not vinyl, that would be ideal for singles, couples and empty-nesters who want to downsize their lives after their children are grown and gone. He also pointed out that it would be a great place for someone to live who has a spouse or relative at nearby Cedarhurst Senior Living.

In the specifications he provided, four units would have a one-car, attached garage while others would not. The parking lot would contain 12 parking spaces.

His plan to build on land he already owns upset some of the adjacent neighbors in Dunlap Lake. Sixteen people from that area came to the Aug. 16 meeting to oppose his project, all with prepared remarks that talked about stormwater runoff and property values, Pfund said.

There are a couple of neighbors spreading nonsense and creating a stir, he said. [They claim the project will be] Section 8 apartments [and cause] irreversible damage to the lake. All to create panic and negativity. In the end, they dont want an affordable housing solution close to them  not in my exclusive backyard  even if they are of high quality.

Justin Venvertloh, a project manager with Thouvenot, Wade and Moerchen, (TWM), gave a precise overview of the project, showing exactly what it will do and what it is not. Now that the conceptual workshop stage is over, Pfund said one change they may make to Charles Cove is to build seven cottages instead of nine.

[Ultimately,] I think whats going to have to happen is the Dunlap Lake Property Owners Association is going to have to show some leadership and have a discussion [about this issue], Pfund said. He added that his attorneys and those for the association are researching to verify whether the project site is within or outside of Dunlap Lake. Once that is settled, Pfund said the way forward will be clear and the property will be developed.

His other project is located at 202 and 210 E. Schwarz, at the southeast corner of Schwarz and Kansas, and is tentatively called Cottage Walk. It will consist of eight, two-bedroom units on about 0.54 acres with 16 parking spaces. The buildings will be arrayed around a central courtyard facing Schwarz, with the parking lots in the rear of the property, one exiting to an alley, the other to South Kansas Street. There are no commercial or retail plans for this site, as there were in a previous plan.

Size-wise, his three latest developments, from small to large, are Charles Cove, Cottage Walk and the Pfarm at East Union. There are no other affordable housing projects like them in Edwardsville yet they differ from his Pflatts on Kansas, which have retail on the main floor, and the new Peel Pizza site, which anchors condominiums. None of the three new projects have price ranges yet, he confirmed. For now, there are no future meetings scheduled on either development discussed Monday.

Reach reporter Charles Bolinger at 618-659-5735
SEARCH AND RECOVERY  Mountains of debris strewn for miles along the flood's path in Cruso were scoured by search and rescue crews in the search for missing people. As of Aug. 27, six individuals died as a result of the flooding.
Salida, CO (81201)

Today

Cloudy skies this morning followed by scattered showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon. High 81F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 54F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Salida, CO (81201)

Today

Cloudy this morning. Scattered thunderstorms developing this afternoon. High 81F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low 54F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Sevierville, TN (37876)

Today

Cloudy with occasional light rain throughout the day. High 74F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Rain showers this evening with clearing overnight. Low 61F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
Traveling abroad can be very rewarding for students as it gives them unique experiences that can be used in professional life.
This week The Point discusses the Steelers NFL draft, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers, LaMelo Ball returns, and LeBron and teams in the playoffs.
Field work is an integral part of an anthropology majors education due to how hands-on careers in anthropology are. It provides skills and expertise that will be used in a students career after graduation.
German tourists rescued after kayak blown off Phuket

PHUKET: Two German tourists were safely rescued and brought back to Phuket after they were blown offshore by a passing storm while kayaking off Phukets east coast yesterday (Aug 22).

tourismmarineSafetyweather

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Monday 23 August 2021, 11:19AM

The couple were rescued from Koh Thanan, just offshore from Ao Yon Beach. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

The couple were rescued from Koh Thanan, just offshore from Ao Yon Beach. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

The couple were rescued from Koh Thanan, just offshore from Ao Yon Beach. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

The couple were rescued from Koh Thanan, just offshore from Ao Yon Beach. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

The couple were rescued from Koh Thanan, just offshore from Ao Yon Beach. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

The couple were rescued from Koh Thanan, just offshore from Ao Yon Beach. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

The couple were rescued from Koh Thanan, just offshore from Ao Yon Beach. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

The couple managed to land on a beach on Koh Thanan, located some1.7 kilometres from Ao Yon Beach in Wichit, where they began their journey.

Lt Col Eakkachai Siri of the Phuket Tourist Police reported that his officers were informed at about 1:20pm yesterday that the couple had gone kayaking and were unable to make it back to Phuket.

One of the tourists had called the hotel where they were staying to report their predicament. The hotel notified the Tourist Police via the Tourist Police hotline 1155. Tourist Police then contacted the tourists directly, Lt Col Eakkachai explained.

Tourist Police along with assistants quickly boarded a boat to recover the tourists from the island. As the boat neared the beach they could see the German couple  Benedikt Niklas Martin Hoppe, 22, and Franziska Marie Drews-von Ruckteschell, 22  waving at them.

Mr Hoppe told police that while they were kayaking a small storm passed through, bringing heavy rain, large waves and strong gusts of wind that pushed them to the island. They were unable to make their way back to Phuket.

Lt Col Eakkachai confirmed that both tourists had not suffered any injuries. They were brought back to Phuket safely and escorted back to the hotel where they are staying in Wichit.

The tourists arrived in Phuket under the Phuket Sandbox scheme on July 24. This is their first trip to Thailand, he added.

The dangers of being blown offshore while kayaking off Phuket has previously made international headlines following the disappearance of Polish tourist Mateusz Juszkiewicz, 26, and Werakan Siriprakon, 23, from Nakhon Sawan, in December 2019.

The couple were last seen kayaking off Yanui Beach, on Phukets southwest coast.

Despite days of searching by air and sea rescue teams, the couple were never found.

See also:

Search for missing kayak couple broadens

Search for missing kayak couple scaled down to normal work duties, as families begin their own efforts
Police arrest at least 35 protesters in Bangkok

BANGKOK: At least 35 protesters were arrested following a clash with riot police at Din Daeng intersection as anti-government protests resumed late afternoon yesterday (Aug 22).

policepoliticsviolence

By Bangkok Post

Monday 23 August 2021, 08:42AM

Crowd control police arrest protesters following a clash at Din Daeng intersection yesterday (Aug 22). Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul

Youth protesters on motorcycles who called themselves Mob Thalugaz (mob that goes through tear gas) began gathering at the intersection, which has been the focus of rallies in the past week, at 5pm.

They threw ping-pong bombs and firecrackers as they moved towards police who formed a security perimeter around the Royal Thai Army Band Department on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road.

Police halted their advance by firing tear gas, leading to a confrontation which left the the roads outbound lanes, which lead to the Sutthisan area, impassable by motorists. To disperse the crowd, police deployed water cannons and began making arrests.

At least 35 protesters were detained and their vehicles seized yesterday. Around 6:15pm, police were finally able to contain the rally at Din Daeng intersection and push back the protesters towards Victory Monument.

Pol Maj Gen Piya Tawichai, deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB), said changes to the polices tactics at the intersection yielded satisfactory results.

Police were ordered by the national police chief to adjust their tactics on Saturday to reduce the impact on nearby communities, following complaints from residents near the protest site about rubber bullets and tear gas canisters ending up on their property.

Pol Maj Gen Piya said while the police have removed all shipping containers from the outbound lanes of Vibhavadi Rangsit Road near the Din Daeng intersection and reduced direct confrontation with protesters near residential areas, more adjustments still will to be made to further reduce the impact on Din Daeng residents.

When asked if the police planned to refrain from using tear gas and rubber bullets on protesters, he said their choice of crowd control equipment is standard for such operations.

The police are also coordinating with the National Housing Authority to step up safety for Din Daeng flat residents, after suggestions were made to install nets to prevent objects thrown about from injuring tenants.

Pol Maj Gen Piya said eight police were wounded in Saturdays clash.

He also said that 13 anti-government protesters were arrested on Saturday in Nong Khaem district, where a large number of weapons, including 53 homemade bombs and catapults, were also seized.

They have been charged with violating the emergency decree and firearms laws, he said.

At least 259 people have been arrested between July and August, and more than 500 will be prosecuted for their roles in the protests.
Probe after drug suspect dies in cops extortion bid

BANGKOK: Royal Thai Police are probing a report which claimed a senior police officer in Nakhon Sawan accidentally killed a drug suspect in a botched attempt to extort him out of B2 million.

policedrugsdeathcrime

By Bangkok Post

Monday 23 August 2021, 08:57AM

Photo: Bangkok Post

An investigation was launched after the claim was made public by celebrity lawyer Decha Kittiwittayanan on Facebook.

According to Mr Dechas post, the case began with the arrest of a man and woman over drug offences by a team from the provincial police.

The officers, he said, pressed the pair into agreeing to pay B1mn to be released.

However, a senior officer, a police colonel, demanded the pair double the amount.

As they negotiated the amount, the officer put a plastic bag over the mans head to intimidate him, but he suffocated and died instead, the post said.

Before sending his body to the hospital, the senior officer instructed his subordinates to ensure the mans cause of death was listed as a drug overdose.

He then released the woman from police custody, in exchange for keeping her mouth shut.

A subordinate who witnessed the entire thing decided to lodge a complaint, Mr Decha said.

In response to the complaint, police inspector-general Visanu Prasattongosoth yesterday (Aug 22) said national police chief Suwat Jangyodsuk has ordered the investigation be sped up as it has dented the polices credibility.

Pol Gen Visanu said inspector Pol Lt Gen Chettha Komolwanna has been asked to oversee the investigation.

Provincial Police Region (PPR) 6 chief, Pol Lt Gen Apichart Sirisit, has also instructed the Muang Nakhon Sawan police superintendent to assist the investigation, he said.

Pol Gen Visanu added the Nakhon Sawan Police chief was also instructed to join.

If the allegation is confirmed, criminal charges will follow, he added.
North Penn School District CFO Steve Skrocki gives an update on the district's finances and real estate rebate program during the school board's Aug. 19 meeting
MEXICO CITY (AP)  Former presidential candidate Ricardo Anaya, who was one of several unsuccessful aspirants for Mexicos top office in the 2018 elections, has fled the country, claiming that charges against him are politically motivated.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador denied Monday that the government is persecuting Anaya. The president said the charges stem from accusations by a former official that legislators like Anaya were paid off to vote for the country's energy overhaul in 2013 and 2014..

Anaya, a former congressman who was the presidential candidate of the conservative National Action Party, said in a video posted on social media over the weekend that he was leaving Mexico. He did not say where he was going, but said he feared being jailed for 30 years on the charges.

In the era of autocrats like Lopez Obrador, exile is the only alternative to continue fighting," Anaya said. Allowing yourself to be jailed by an autocrat often means losing the battle.

Anaya had been criticized in the past for his long sojourns in the United States. He had recently been touring Mexico in an apparent bid to ignite another run for the presidency in 2024.

Lopez Obrador has never liked Anaya much. The two sparred angrily in debates for the 2018 election, with Lopez Obrador dubbing Anaya with a nickname that means little rich kid. But the president denied Monday that the charges were a political vendetta, calling that a lie, a falsehood.

However, many Mexicans have expressed concern that the ex-official who has accused Anaya and others of accepting bribes has himself been allowed to stay out of prison for alleged corruption because he agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. Some fear Emilio Lozoya, the former head of the state-owned oil company Petroleos Mexicanos, may avoid prosecution in exchange for smearing the president's opponents.

Lozoya has acknowledged bribery, but said he was ordered to commit the offenses during the 2012-2018 administration of President Enrique Pena Nieto.
Foo Fighters have been selected as this year's recipient for the Global Icon Award at the 2021 MTV VMA's.

The Global Icon Award "celebrates an artist/band whose unparalleled career and continued impact and influence has maintained a unique level of global success in music and beyond."

The award has been a prestigious prize for many years at the MTV awards ceremony in Europe, but for the first time will be awarded in the United States.
Montreal, CA (H4T1V6)

Today

Partly cloudy this morning, then becoming cloudy during the afternoon. High 23C. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Low around 13C. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
Commentary: Mistakes the US made in Vietnam were repeated in Afghanistan. We must break the cycle
MT. OLIVE  Friends of Mother Jones Museum and the Union Miners Cemetery are participating in the Blair 100 activities in West Virginia.

Loretta Williams will portray the legendary Irish firebrand Mother Jones who organized mine workers doing the mine wars in West Virginia and attempted to stop a late August to Sept. 2, 1921, march from Marmet through Blair Mountain. Dale Hawkins will portray the Illinois mine worker organizer General Alexander Bradley. Both are buried in Union Miners Cemetery.
EDWARDSVILLE  A Collinsville man faces domestic battery charges.

Donald W. Gossett III, 23, of Collinsville, was charged Aug. 20 with aggravated domestic battery, a Class 2 felony, and domestic battery (second subsequent offense), a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Wood River Police Department.

According to court documents, on Aug. 13 Gossett allegedly strangled a household or family member, and struck her in the face with his hand. He has a 2018 Madison County conviction for domestic battery.

Bail was set at $25,000.

Other felony charges filed Aug. 20 by the Madison County States Attorneys Office include:

 Nickolas D. Roberts, 26, of Alton, was charged with aggravated domestic battery, a Class 2 felony. The case was presented by the Alton Police Department. On Aug. 13 Roberts allegedly strangled a household or family member. Bail was set at $50,000.

 Dammarian D. Greene, 31, of Alton, was charged with aggravated domestic battery, a Class 2 felony. The case was presented by the Alton Police Department. On Aug. 16 Greene allegedly strangled a household or family member. Bail was set at $50,000.

 Jason A. Tolbert, 35, of Cleveland, Ohio, was charged with aggravated battery, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Collinsville Police Department. On July 25 Tolbert allegedly slapped a pregnant woman. Bail was set at $25,000.

 Tyisha Miller, 31, of Granite City, was charged with aggravated battery, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Alton Police Department. On July 31 Miller allegedly struck another person with a motor vehicle. Bail was set at $50,000.
EDWARDSVILLE  Two Missouri residents were indicted by a Madison County grand jury on multiple felony charges relating to the possession and delivery of methamphetamine and other drugs.

Timothy L. Williams Jr., 29, of St. Louis, and Kenya D. Grant, 30, of Florissant, were indicted Thursday on charges of unlawful possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, both Class X felonies, and three counts of unlawful possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, one Class X, Class 1 and Class 2 felony each.

In addition, Williams was indicted for armed violence, a Class X felony; aggravated discharge of a firearm, a Class 1 felony; unlawful possession of a stolen firearm, a Class 3 felony; and aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, a Class 4 felony.

The charges were originally presented by the Granite City Police Department.

According to court documents, on Aug. 9 the two allegedly were found to be in possession of between 15-100 grams of methamphetamine with intent to deliver, more than 15 grams of fentanyl with intent to deliver, more than 1 gram of cocaine with intent to deliver and Alprazolam with intent to deliver.

Williams was also allegedly found to be in possession of a stolen Smith & Wesson EZ380 handgun and had allegedly fired a gun in the direction of an occupied Oldsmobile Cutlass. He is accused of driving a 2015 Chrysler 200 and fleeing from a Granite City police officer, reaching speeds in excess of 21 miles above the posted speed limit.

The armed criminal charge comes from the proximity of the handgun during the commission of another felony.

Bail for Williams had originally been set at $750,000; and $500,000 for Grant.

Other indictments from the Madison County grand jury on Aug. 19 included:

 James P. Izard, 37, of Godfrey, was indicted for offenses relating to motor vehicles, a Class 2 felony; theft over $500, a Class 3 felony; and domestic battery (second subsequent offense), a Class 4 felony, in two separate indictments. The domestic battery case was originally presented by the Alton Police Department; the auto theft and theft over $500 by the Metro East Auto Theft Task Force.

On June 19 Izard allegedly grabbed a household or family member by the hair, pulled her off the porch and hit her in the face with a closed fist. He has several prior convictions for domestic battery out of Madison County.

In the second indictment, court documents allege that on July 24 Izard was in possession of a stolen 1996 Ford F-350 with an attached trailer as well as a stolen 1998 Bayliner 23500 Capri SS watercraft. Bail on the domestic battery charge was originally set at $40,000 and $75,000 for the theft charges.

 Shuntez R. Fair, 22, of East St. Louis, was indicted for aggravated discharge of a firearm, a Class 1 felony; reckless discharge of a firearm, a Class 4 felony; and aggravated unlawful use of weapons, a Class 4 felony. The case was originally presented by the Illinois State Police. According to court documents, on May 4, 2019, Fair allegedly fired a gun in the direction of a vehicle and individuals in the 600 block of Third Street in Venice. He allegedly was carrying a loaded and accessible firearm without a valid Firearm Owners Identification Card or concealed carry license. Bail was originally set at $100,000.

 Dennis J. Thomas, 38, of Alton, was indicted for aggravated battery, a Class 3 felony, and mob action, a Class 4 felony. The case was originally presented by the Alton Police Department. On Oct. 16 Thomas and others allegedly punched and kicked another person, causing several fractured ribs, a strained shoulder, a facial contusion and a strained clavicle. Bail was originally set at $45,000.
EDWARDSVILLE  More charges have been filed against two people as part of an investigation into a burglary and auto theft operation.

Larry D. Thompson, 35, of Alton, was charged Aug. 20 with seven counts of burglary  including Class 1, 2 and 3 felonies  and four counts of offenses relating to motor vehicles, all Class 2 felonies.

The case was presented by the Wood River Police Department.

According to court documents, the offenses allegedly occurred on or about July 6, Aug. 5 and Aug. 9.

In the first set of charges from July 6, Thompson allegedly entered a home in the 100 block of Linton to commit theft; entered a 2004 Dodge Ram to commit theft, damaging the vehicle; and was found to be in possession of a stolen 2008 Chevrolet Impala and a stolen 2012 Ford Focus.

In the second set of charges, he was alleged to be in possession of a stolen 2019 Ford Flex.

In the third set of July 6 charges, he allegedly entered a 2004 Chevrolet Impala, a 2005 GMC Envoy, a 2013 Chevrolet Impala, a Ford F-150 and a 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo  all at Trickeys Towing, 380 E. Edwardsville Ave.  to commit theft.

On Aug. 5 he allegedly was found to be in possession of a 2017 Ford dump truck. On Aug. 9 he allegedly was found to be in possession of a stolen 2005 Ford Escape.

Bail was set at $100,000.

On Aug. 16 Thompson also was charged with felonies from two separate incidents. Those charges included three counts of offenses relating to motor vehicles, all Class 2 felonies; criminal damage to property, a Class 3 felony; and aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, a Class 4 felony.

The three motor vehicle charges related to a stolen 2018 Chevrolet Silverado on Aug. 13, a 2015 Mazda CX5 on Aug. 10 and a 2016 GMC Sierra on Aug. 13.

Court documents also state he damaged a gate at 200 South Amoco Cutoff in Wood River and tried to flee from a Madison County sheriffs deputy, reaching speeds in excess of 21 miles above the posted speed limit.

On Aug. 13 he was charged with offenses relating to motor vehicles, a Class 2 felony. According to court documents, he allegedly was found to be in possession of a stolen 2015 Mazda CX5. Bail was set at $50,000.

He also has pending charges from several other burglaries, auto thefts and other incidents filed earlier.

Curtis L. Faust, 22, of St. Charles, Missouri, was charged with offenses relating to motor vehicles, a Class 2 felony. That case was presented by the Metro East Auto Theft Task Force.

According to court documents, on Aug. 9 Faust allegedly was found to be in possession of a stolen 2005 Ford Escape. Bail was set at $50,000.

On Aug. 16 Faust was charged with armed habitual criminal, a Class X felony; unlawful possession of weapons by a felon, a Class 2 felony; and offenses relating to motor vehicles.

Faust, who has 2018 comnvictions for unlawful possession of weapons by a felon in Madison and Macoupin counties, also was allegedly found to be in possession of an H&R Sidekick .22 caliber revolver and a stolen 2013 Ford Fusion.

The armed habitual criminal charge stems from his previous convictions and being armed during the commission of a crime.

On Aug. 13 and Aug. 16 six other people were also charged with various crimes related to burglaries and auto thefts. Police and prosecutors had said more arrests and charges were likely.
Over the past few days, I have had an opportunity to chat with several fellow veterans, service members, military family members, and Gold Star families. It is beyond the obvious in saying that the past few days have been extraordinarily difficult for those with a personal connection to our mission in Afghanistan. My wife Tiffany and I are no different.

Earlier this week, a CNN reporter broadcast from a base in Andar, Afghanistan  this was a base that my soldiers and I built, its the base where I was wounded in 2006. Seeing it on the screen brought back a lot of memories  good and bad. When we first secured Andar we were using an open space that was adjacent to the district center compound where I lived with the local governor to land helicopters. Unbeknownst to us, that open space was a cemetery.

One day an elder approaches me and says, Youre landing helicopters in our cemetery, and this is deeply disrespectful.

We talked for hours and right as the villagers and the elders were satisfied that we intended no harm, and that we had agreed on a new place to land helicopters, I heard the distinct sound of a far-off Chinook helicopter. Despite my best efforts to wave them off, two giant Chinooks landed right in front of us in the cemetery, sandblasting the entire group of gathered elders in the process, and effectively undoing all the goodwill I had just spent hours building. Every. Single. Day was like that day. Of the 847 days I spent serving in Afghanistan, it was a few steps forward, a few steps back.

In my conversations with fellow veterans, their memories are about the same. The question that keeps coming up: Was this worth it?

Unfortunately, most are having a hard time answering that question. Theres a term for that, moral injury. Moral injury is the minds response to actions or memories that are in violation of a persons values and beliefs  some might say its an injury to your soul. For 20 years the full weight of the War on Terror fell on the shoulders of less than 1% of us  2.7 million Americans voluntarily answered the call to serve, .7% of the U.S. population to be precise. 7,057 never came home, another 30,177 came home only to take their own lives.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, my generation of veterans has been fortunate to have a grateful nation behind us. I attribute this to our Vietnam and Korean War veterans, who after 9/11 were adamant that my generation received a proper welcome home and proper access to care, something many of them never received.

As we reflect as a nation on the current situation in Afghanistan and on the 20th anniversary of 9/11, I think it is more important than ever to remind ourselves of the unity that existed immediately following the 9/11 attacks. On Sept. 12, 2001, there was no doubt in anyones mind that we would prevail. There was no doubt that we were stronger together. Now, 20 years later, we should focus our efforts on those elements that unify us, those elements of our history that make us stronger and those elements that define American exceptionalism.

Pearl Harbor, 9/11, whatever the crisis, Americans have always stood up and found a way to overcome any obstacle. Despite the fear, the heartbreak and the anger we are all experiencing, we owe it to ourselves. We owe it to our fallen to be good stewards of our democracy, we must live up to their legacy and be good stewards of our communities. As we approach the 20th anniversary of 9/11, all of us must find a way to serve. We must ensure that the sacrifices made by the .7% were not in vain.

To the brave men and women who volunteered and to your families, and to the families of the fallen, the sacrifices you made were not in vain. What we are witnessing today is not our failure. This is not our burden to bear. Having had the privilege of serving alongside so many amazing Americans, and allied service members as well, quite frankly Im tremendously proud of what you were able to accomplish, and I hope you are, too. The fact is, you carried more than your fair share and you are stronger because of it.

Its OK to not be OK right now. Take some time to reconnect with old friends, remind ourselves about that time we were handed a mission, given no resources to execute the mission, and somehow figured out how to make it work. Lets take that problem-solving mindset into our next mission. Theres a lot of work to be done. Your country and your communities need strong leaders, like you, to tackle tough problems and solving tough problems is what we do best.

Adlai Stevenson II said, Patriotism is not a short and frenzied outburst of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime.

I can think of no better way to demonstrate our gratitude for the sacrifices of our service members, veteransand their families, than by reaffirming our commitment to service, to each other, to our communities, and to our nation.

Joseph Reagan is the director of Wreaths Across America Military and Veterans Outreach.
No one was seriously hurt in the wee hours of Saturday morning when a man driving a white Ford pickup truck crashed into a Collinsville funeral home.

According to Collinsville Police, the incident is still under investigation after its blatantly clear there is significant damage to the chapel at Kassly-Meridith Funeral Home.

All we know is the gentleman that did this was going north on Illinois-159 and fell asleep, and kind of jumped the curb and went airborne, and it was a perfect shot right through those doors.

It would appear that he didnt navigate that turn very well, Major Brett Boerm, a public information officer with the Collinsville Police Department, said.

Schemerhorn said the incident occurred between 3 a.m. and 3:30 a.m. Saturday.

There was significant damage to the chapel, which is all fixable, he added. The inside is fine. I have a service on Friday, and now were going to use St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church.

Funeral home owners also have locations in Highland and Lebanon should their facilities be needed.

Boerm said officers were meeting with the driver Monday.

He was transported from the scene to a local hospital for some minor treatment, he said.

Determining if the driver was intoxicated or not is also still under investigation.
Leah Daniels captures peoples truest essences while also capturing some of their most magical moments.

As the owner and founder of Leah Daniels Photography, the Clarks Green resident snaps pictures of couples for their engagements and wedding days while making sure each couple feels comfortable and confident in front of her camera. Daniels not only shoots photos of couples locally but also captures the moments of bliss at various locations nationally and internationally. She caught the bug for photography and travel at an early age and eventually combined those passions into a fulfilling career as a wedding photographer.

I was always kind of interested in (photography) as a kid, she said during a recent afternoon at Adezzo in Scranton. My parents got me a Polaroid camera when I was in, like, fifth grade, and I would just burn through the film really fast.

Daniels went on to learn traditional photography in high school and continued her pursuit of the craft at Marywood University. Her time in college influenced her career even further when she had the opportunity to study abroad in Galway, Ireland, for a semester.

Just being in different places is just kind of inspiring and refreshing. ... When youre a creative, you get lit on fire by seeing new places. So being able to photograph couples in those places is like magic, she said.

She got her start documenting weddings in 2007 when her cousin asked her to shoot his big day, and Daniels fell in love with wedding photography. She went on to earn a masters degree in photographic and electronic media from the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore and then started Leah Daniels Photography in 2013.

Daniels eight-year journey as a small-business owner has presented its fair share of challenges, especially in the beginning. It was a little difficult getting started, she said, as she was learning how to run a business while also figuring out how to manage couples on one of the most important days of their lives.

Also, you know, in the beginning, youre also just trying to build your portfolio, Daniels said. So, as Ive grown through the years, Ive learned what I love to work with, who I love to work with and how to manage a day properly, (and) how to set up a correct timeline. ... I feel like you dont learn that stuff in school. You learn it by being out in the field.

Early in her life, her parents supported her to pursue her passion for photography. She also has a good support system in her husband, Ryan, who grew up close to Daniels in South Scranton, as well their friends, all of whom assist Daniels in balancing her career, alongside raising two young sons, Judah and Micah. She also started a travel planning business, LEDA Destinations, a few years ago.

In addition to taking photos, Daniels goes above and beyond to make sure each couple has a seamless and stress-free wedding experience. This includes doing extra work, like buttoning a dress for someone, to make sure couples are ready to go on their big day.

I feel like knowing the path that they need to take for the entire day is really, really important, she said. So, setting up a timeline about two weeks ahead of time is really helpful for them because theyre able to see like an (hour-by-hour) playbook, almost. So, it kind of eases their mind because I know what were gonna doSo, just taking care of that for them is really important to me because I didnt have that on my wedding day and I wish I had known to do it.

Daniels hard work and engaging personality have not gone unnoticed. She has received positive reviews from both couples and colleagues alike. Amanda DiPierro, the owner and lead planner of Electric City Event Co., said she and Daniels have worked together for about four years and feed off each others energy on wedding days.

I think that (what) I really like about her is, you know, No. 1, she gets very, very invested with the clients, DiPierro said. She knows a couple, she knows who they are, you know, she knows what they like, she knows what their style is. So, she doesnt come in as, you know, an outsider. She comes in as your friend. And then on the day of the wedding  shes there for whatever it is the client wants. Shes there for their style.

DiPierro added that Daniels truly cares about the couples that they work with and wants to make sure their day goes perfectly.

Blaire Wilkie and her husband, Mike, worked with Daniels for their wedding that took place in June after it was postponed because of COVID-19. The couple, who heard of Daniels through DiPierro, met Daniels during their engagement photo shoot and instantly felt her warm, welcoming presence.

We had no idea what to expect. Leah gave us hugs as soon as she met us and basically described her process. She told us not to be nervous, and we were just going to have a fun day together. She was totally right, Wilkie said via email from her honeymoon in Hawaii. She had us running, jumping (and) laughing, and the photos showed our personality.

Daniels, who will head into a busy fall season where she will shoot around 16 or 20 weddings, feels most proud of learning how to get genuine smiles from couples through the years as well as making emotional connections.

She knows that I made one of the most special days of their lives that much  better.

And its just really nice to get that, she said. So I feel like just having that little extra pat on the back is nice because I feel like I helped them out.
London, KY (40741)

Today

Cloudy. High around 75F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 58F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
Westerly, RI (02891)

Today

Periods of rain. High near 70F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Showers and thunderstorms likely. Low around 60F. Winds E at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 2 to 3 inches of rain expected. Localized flooding is expected.
Westerly, RI (02891)

Today

Occasional rain. High near 70F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Thunderstorms - some locally heavy downpours are possible, especially late. Low near 60F. Winds ESE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 2 to 3 inches of rain expected. Localized flooding is expected.
Port Allen, LA (70767)

Today

Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 90F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Partly cloudy. Low 73F. Winds light and variable.
Former Royal Navy submarine commanders have become the latest experts to sound the alarm over Advent International's 2.6billion takeover of Ultra Electronics.

FTSE 250-listed Ultra makes highly sensitive kit for the Navy  including critical submarine-hunting sonobuoys.

Senior public figures have warned that Britain could lose access to this technology if US private equity titan Advent takes it over.

Concern: Ultra makes highly sensitive kit for the Navy  including critical submarine-hunting sonobuoys

Ryan Ramsey, who commanded attack submarine HMS Turbulent, said that as a frontline operator he found the deal 'concerning'.

He told The Sunday Telegraph: 'The real focus is not on the here and now, it is about the future.'

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has ordered regulators to assess whether the deal poses a security threat.

Paul Blythe, who commanded submarine HMS Vanguard, said that 'even with the best will and assurances about safeguards, we don't know if Ultra could be sold on if the safeguards are watered down'.
Global dividends are set to get back to 2019 levels by this time next year as companies rebound from the Covid crisis.

Payouts to investors will reach almost 1trillion by the end of 2021, according to figures from Janus Henderson.

Boost: Payouts to investors will reach almost 1trillion by the end of 2021, according to figures from Janus Henderson

This is just 3 per cent below the pre-pandemic total. Within 12 months, the payouts should be on a par.

In the second quarter of 2021 UK payouts rocketed by 60 per cent compared with last year.

However, they were still 27 per cent down on the same period in 2019  compared with a global drop of 6 per cent.

The drag on the UK has been driven by cuts made by Royal Dutch Shell and BP.

Shell recently raised its dividend by 40 per cent but is still handing back around half the amount it was paying before Covid.

Jane Shoemake, of Janus Henderson, said: 'Households have record savings and there is pent-up demand to spend which should be good for company profits.'
Regulators could call in the proposed 7billion takeover of Morrisons by US private equity giant Clayton, Dubilier and Rice (CD&R) over concerns about the number of petrol stations the group would own.

Officials at the Competition and Markets Authority are tracking the bumper deal closely, City sources said, and are on alert to potentially launch an investigation.

The news comes as Sainsbury's is tipped to become the latest firm to fall prey to private equity predators.

Fuelling concern: Morrisons bidder Clayton, Dubilier and Rice owns Motor Fuel Group  the UK's largest petrol station retailer

The UK's second-largest supermarket is being sized up by groups including America's Apollo, according to reports.

CD&R  which is being advised by former Tesco boss Sir Terry Leahy  agreed a 285p-per-share offer with the Morrisons board last week. Debate over the takeover has revolved around the price of the bid and company culture.

CD&R outbid a rival consortium, led by Softbank-owned Fortress, which is expected to put forward an even higher offer in the coming weeks.

Morrisons' share price is trading above 285p  indicating that traders also believe another is on the way.

But if CD&R is successful, regulators will be keen to assess whether the tie-up will spell bad news for UK drivers.

CD&R owns Motor Fuel Group  the UK's largest petrol station retailer. It bought Motor Fuel Group for 500m in 2015 and has 900 stations  more than Shell, Euro Garages and BP. Morrisons has around 335, giving combined control of more than 1,200 forecourts. There are more than 8,000 petrol stations either operating or in development.

A source close to the situation said: 'The question is will CD&R amalgamate the Morrisons forecourts with Motor Fuel Group. If they do then the CMA is likely to step in.

'If they keep them separate then there is a case for giving CD&R the green light.'

Similar concerns were raised when the Issa brothers bought Asda for 6.8billion. The Issas own EG Group, which has almost 400 petrol stations while Asda has 323. In June, regulators forced them to sell 27 petrol stations to get the deal across the line.

Another source said there were 'likely to be some overlaps and potential disposals' but that these were expected to be 'small' in the overall scheme of the deal.
Shares in Sainsbury's shot up to the top of the FTSE 100 leaderboard today after speculation that Britain's second-biggest supermarket was being circled by private equity predators.

Major American buyout group Apollo, which missed out on the takeover of Asda last year, is thought to be among the firms eyeing up Sainsburys, according to reports in The Sunday Times.

The news sent shares in the FTSE 100-listed grocer rising to their highest level in more than seven years today.

Takeover target: Sainsbury's is reportedly being circled by private equity bidders

Shares hit 338p at one point today, the highest since March 2014. They were up 14 per cent, or 41p, to 336p shortly after the London stock market close.

The stock has had a good run over the past couple of years, having risen by around 75 per cent in the last 12 months and by 60 per cent since just before the start of the pandemic.

The rumours come amid a bidding frenzy for UK supermarkets. Last week, Morrisons agreed to a 7billion takeover by US private equity giant Clayton, Dubilier and Rice.

This gazumped an existing 6.7billion deal with a group called Fortress  although Fortress has indicated it could put in an even higher bid.

Shares in Morrisons were little changed at 291p, which is around 6p above the latest CD&R offer, suggesting that investors bet there is more to come.

Potential suitor Apollo last year missed out on a takeover of Asda, which was instead bought by billionaire petrol station tycoons the Issa brothers and their private equity backers for 6.8billion.

But it still remains in talks to join the Fortress-led consortium bidding for Morrisons and any involvement in that deal may preclude a move for Sainsbury's, according to the report.

A swoop on Sainsbury's could mean three of the 'Big Four' supermarkets - Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and Asda - would be owned or joint-owned by private equity firms.

Sainsbury's is now worth around 6.9billion, although many think it is undervalued. It has 189,000 employees and 1,400 stores.

Neil Wilson, an analyst at Markets.com, said: 'Sainsburys is undeniably a good target for private equity with a considerable store estate, with the company having more than $10bn in property assets  more than its current market cap by decent margin.

'The Argos tie-up is another long-term growth lever and provides further scale, while profits are on the up again in the wake of the pandemic, and net debt has come down.

'Its hard to beat those reliable cash flows  even without a big sale & leaseback plan the supermarkets are generating the kind of yield that is hard to get elsewhere.'
Shaftesbury has predicted the return of office staff to central London in the coming months, as grim figures show West End visitor numbers are still only half of pre-pandemic levels.

The landlord is banking on the areas army of office staff opting to come back to their desks in the early autumn, following the easing of restrictions in July.

They are seen as key to the local economy, bringing extra spending to businesses during the working week.

Shaftesbury, which invests in London's West End (pictured), is banking on the area's army of office staff opting to come back to their desks in the early autumn

But so far they have stayed away, with Shaftesbury admitting that visitor numbers to the West End are still only 50-60 per cent of pre-Covid levels.

The firm said there has been a strong recovery at restaurants, cafes, pubs and hotels since the lifting of lockdown and social distancing measures, but shops are lagging behind as consumers save their trips for the weekend.

Separate research found the recovery in High Street visitor numbers has been unequal, with big cities lagging behind other areas due to the slow return of workers to offices.

A Mail survey revealed that the vast majority of big firms are not forcing their employees to come back in the autumn, raising fears for jobs at businesses that depend on commuters for custom.

Brian Bickell, chief executive of Shaftesbury, said: The momentum of the last four months is providing a sound platform for the continuing revival of the West End in the important months ahead, leading up to Christmas and into the new year, and the prospects for a return to pre-pandemic patterns of life and activity.

Shaftesbury said the nascent recovery had led to improved rent collections  but the measure still remained lower than before the coronavirus crisis, when the company did not even see the need to report the figures.

In the three months to June 30, the firm collected 51 per cent of contracted rent, compared with just 40 per cent between January and March this year.

Meanwhile, at the end of July, it said 4.6 per cent of its sites stood vacant, also an improvement on March.

It blamed the delay of the Governments Freedom Day reopening from June to July for holding back a summer recovery and predicted visitor numbers will also improve once more international tourists can visit London again.

Around one quarter of retail spending in city centres comes from local workers such as office staff, according to a report from property company Savills.

However, four fifths of office workers want to work from home at least two days per week  meaning cities are set to miss out on spending from those who used to commute every day.

Savills warned that city centre locations continue to lag behind due to the lower numbers of office workers and tourists visiting.
Shares in Sainsbury's rocketed yesterday amid speculation it could be gobbled up by private equity.

New York-based buyout firm Apollo is said to be circling the supermarket and is weighing up an offer worth more than 7billion or 300p per share.

Apollo has been in the market for a UK supermarket for the past couple of years and last year lost out to the Issa brothers and TDR Capital in the battle for Asda.

New York-based buyout firm Apollo is said to be circling Sainsbury's and is weighing up an offer worth more than 7bn or 300p per share

Sainsbury's is attractive to US bidders due to the supermarket's large property portfolio in the South-East.

The grocer built up the property empire under John Sainsbury, who during the 1970s and 80s went on a buying spree across the Home Counties.

Clive Black, analyst at Shore Capital, said: 'The property portfolio is to die for in the South-East. The deals under John Sainsbury were fantastic.'

Another private equity house understood to be circling Sainsbury's is CVC Capital.

Back in 2016 CVC, the Qatar Investment Authority and Canadian property group Brookfield drew up detailed plans to make an offer for the supermarket.

The plans reached an advanced stage and former ITV chairman Archie Norman was pencilled in to be chairman had the takeover gone through.

The fresh takeover talk sent Sainsbury's shares up 15.4 per cent, or 45.3p, at 340p, although some were quick to pour cold water over a possible deal.

Apollo remains interested in Morrisons, which is being fought over by CD&R and Fortress.

Apollo wants to join forces with Fortress and form a consortium for the supermarket.

City sources said discussions between Fortress and Apollo for Morrisons are ongoing and that they remain the number one priority for Apollo at this stage. 'Apollo won't pivot until we know what has happened to Morrisons,' the source said.

A deal for Sainsbury's could also be complicated for Apollo. Earlier this year Vesa Equity Investment, the firm co-founded by Czech entrepreneur Daniel Kretinsky increased its stake in Sainsbury's to 10 per cent.

Other major shareholders in the business include Qatar Holdings, which has a 14 per cent stake.

Convincing them that the company should go private would not be straightforward. The interest in Sainsbury's comes amid a frenzied year for private equity, which has been snapping up under-valued UK assets since the pandemic began.

Fresh data reveals that over the past 12 months US private equity funds have made 65 acquisitions in the UK, up 57 per cent.

James West, partner at law firm Mayer Brown, said: 'US groups have huge amounts of cash to deploy and they prefer the UK when targeting deals as it has a similar culture and regulation to the US.

'UK central government and local government don't have the reputation amongst investors for intervening in commercial decisions of businesses that some countries in the EU have.'

Nevertheless the Government is increasingly starting to show its teeth, particularly in the defence sector where Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has launched a probe into the takeover of Ultra Electronics by private equity firm Advent.

Kwarteng has ordered the competition regulator to examine the deal after warning that foreign investment 'must not threaten national security'.
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AOH, LAHO honor Lady of Knock at St. Patrick's with Mass of the Golden Rose
Safety for students, staff and their families is our number one priority. We will continually adapt as we learn more about ways to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.  Webster University President Julian Schuster
ALBANY - IBM unveiled a new high-powered computer chip developed in Albany that it says is the first-ever designed to efficiently use artificial intelligence to perform high-volume, complex tasks such as banking transactions while simultaneously scanning them for fraud - before the transactions are completed.

The new chip, called the IBM Telum Processor, was developed with Samsung of South Korea, IBM's manufacturing partner, using 7 nanometer architecture.

IBM says Telum has a built-in accelerator for so-called "AI inference," which means the chip uses artificial intelligence, or what is also known as machine learning, to predict and prevent potentially fraudulent activity.

The chip is the first-ever to be rolled out by IBM's $2 billion artificial intelligence lab at Albany Nanotech, which received $300 million in state subsidies when it was announced in 2019.

The Telum is designed for use in IBM's high-powered servers that are used by companies to operate their websites and process online transactions and data collection.

IBM said Telum would be ideal for not only bank transactions, but loan processing and credit checks, risk analysis, stock trading and for detection of money laundering.

"This could lead to breakthroughs in combating fraud, credit approval, claims and settlements, and financial trading, with systems that can conduct inferencing at the speed of a transaction," IBM said Monday after unveiling Telum at the Hot Chips conference in Silicon Valley, which was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Telum will be available commercially in IBM's Z servers and mainframe computers starting in 2022. IBM sold off its chip factories to GlobalFoundries several years ago and contracts with GlobalFoundries and now Samsung for its manufacturing.

The release of Telum comes as upstate New York and Albany Nanotech have become the epicenter for computer research and manufacturing.

Earlier this year, IBM announced it had developed the world's first-ever chip using 2 nanometer architecture, which references the size of some of the features on the chip such as the size of certain parts of the transistors that move data around the processor.

The reduction of the size of transistors on each new generation of chips is at the heart of what the industry calls Moore's Law - a theory that says that chipmakers can essentially double the power of chips every few years while driving costs down at a similar pace.

However, scientists expect that the industry may soon reach the point where chipmakers will not be able to keep shrinking the size of transistors, resulting in an end to Moore's Law.

IBM and others believe they can make other innovations to chips that are not dependent on shrinking transistors such as adding more processing "cores," to the chip or stacking multiple chips on top of one another. The Telum is actually two chips in one and has 22 billion transistors. It is embedded with 19 miles of wire and is made of 17 metal layers.

With more cores, the chip can respond to instructions more quickly without hesitation, which is known as latency.

Several of the world's top chip manufacturers, including Samsung, are seriously looking at upstate New York for sites to build new chip factories. Intel, the world's largest chipmaker, and GlobalFoundries, which employs 3,000 people at its Fab 8 factory in Saratoga County, are also looking to build new factories in New York.

The surge in interest in building new fabs is being driven by plans by Congress to fund a $52 billion federal subsidy program to encourage the construction of new chip factories to combat the growth of China's chip manufacturing capacity.
ALBANY  At a special meeting on Thursday, New York's ethics commission is expected to vote on whether to revoke its staff's approval of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's lucrative book deal last year.

Gary Lavine, a Senate Republican appointee to the Joint Commission on Public Ethics, plans to introduce the motion revoking Cuomo's permission to write "American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic," which was published in October 2020 and recounts the governor's early handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lavine believes that JCOPE staff never had the authority to approve the outside income request without seeking JCOPE commissioners' approval. In addition, Lavine says that Cuomo's special counsel, Judith Mogul, made material misrepresentations by promising that Cuomo would not use his government staff to help produce the book, when in fact, Cuomo had already been doing so when she sought the approval in July 2020. If the motion passes, JCOPE could try to force Cuomo to return the millions in proceeds from the $5.1 million publishing deal.

Lavine is also planning to introduce a motion on Thursday seeking a criminal investigation by the state attorney general's office into the apparent 2019 leak of confidential JCOPE information to Cuomo. While a similar motion failed by two votes in June, the dynamics on the panel may be different with the governor no longer in power. Cuomo was set to leave office Monday night.

A JCOPE spokesman declined to provide a copy of the meeting's agenda, which would provide more information about the reasons for the special meeting outside the agency's normal monthly schedule.

While generally pliant to Cuomo, JCOPE may now be more prone to taking action when he's out of office  especially since JCOPE faces a greater threat of being eliminated by critics, who say its been ineffectual.

One factor that could shape JCOPE's actions going forward is whether Cuomo's six appointees to the panel will remain.

In a letter written to incoming Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday, Republican state Sen. Anthony Palumbo called on Hochul to seek the resignations of the Cuomo-appointed commissioners.

"Under its current structure, the governor exerts outsize control on the decision making and operations of JCOPE," Palumbo wrote. "Your comments regarding cleaning up the toxic environment in the governors office leads me to hope that you are more amenable to revamping JCOPE than your predecessor ever was. As such, I would encourage you to seek the resignations of the commissioners appointed by Andrew Cuomo and replace them with your own."

One Cuomo appointee, JCOPE Chair Camille Joseph Varlack, had already announced her resignation. (It's not clear whether Varlack, who had been planning to resign Aug. 15, will attend Thursday's meeting.)

As for the other five Cuomo commissioners, Hochul does not have the authority to replace them. Under state law, JCOPE commissioners have fixed, five-year terms, and could only be removed by Hochul for "substantial neglect of duty, gross misconduct in office, violation of the confidentiality restrictions" or "inability to discharge the powers or duties of office."

The two motions Lavine is putting forward on Thursday will be voted on in public, and only require eight commissioner votes to pass. If all eight legislatively appointed commissioners vote in favor, votes from the Cuomo appointees will not be needed.

But for any confidential investigations into Cuomo that the panel might pursue, the voting rules may be more complex.

When Cuomo was governor, it was difficult for an investigation into his administration to move forward.

Under state law, two of the three Democratic commissioners appointed by Cuomo had to vote in favor of opening a full investigation into the governor. A similar rule applied for imposing any penalties upon Cuomo.

If the same rule applies with Cuomo out of office, then conceivably, the two remaining Cuomo-appointed commissioners on the panel  Daniel Horwitz and Rob Cohen  could remain, and block any JCOPE investigations into Cuomo.

According to state law, when the subject of a JCOPE investigation "is a statewide elected official," at least two of the person's appointees, who are also members of the same political party, must vote in favor for a full investigation to proceed.

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The law does not address, however, whether the same rules apply to former statewide elected officials.

If the Cuomo commissioners remain, the public may never know how these questions will play out. If investigations are killed, it will be done in closed-door, confidential votes.

Meanwhile, JCOPE has a time limit for pursuing investigations: In order for JCOPE to retain jurisdiction, the subject of an inquiry must be notified of an alleged violation within one year of having departed state government.

There are an array of Cuomo-related areas JCOPE could investigate, as referenced in Palumbo's letter: They include the alleged "cover up" of COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes, sexual harassment allegations and attempts to retaliate against an accuser, misuse of state resources to produce the book, and special access to coronavirus testing for Cuomo friends and family. JCOPE is already investigating a round of political calls made by Cuomo's "vaccine czar."

On Sunday, the Times Union also reported on Cuomo's alleged use of State Police to perform personal tasks related to his daughters, a possible misuse of state resources, which bears similarities to a 2006 ethics case brought against ex-state Comptroller Alan Hevesi.
Police in Dutchess County reported a spate of vehicle break-ins across the county in the Town of Union Vale, Village of Millbrook and the Town of Washington.

Vehicles are being stolen or entered in part because victims have kept their vehicle unlocked, with the keys in it, according to New York State Police in Troop K in Dutchess County.

The recent break-ins continue a trend that started last summer, when police from across the region called on the public to take preventative measures against not only break-ins but car theft as well.

From March to July 2020, New York State Police reported that more than 400 vehicles were stolen in Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess and Rockland counties. Last summer, New York State Police asked for the publics assistance to help curb the recent increase in car theft in the lower Hudson Valley. At the time, numerous arrests had been made and some vehicles had been recovered.

The area is believed to be most affected by vehicle break-ins because of its proximity to Connecticut, said Abdul Weed, Senior Investigator for the State Police at the Poughkeepsie barracks, in a phone interview.

In Connecticut, a State Police Auto Theft Task Force was created last summer to address the problem with a large-scale investigation.

Its easy for people to just come across over the state line, commit a crime, and then make their way back over, said Weed.

At the end of May this year, the Dutchess County Sheriffs Office reported several larcenies from vehicles as well as thefts of actual vehicles themselves. In each case, the perpetrators targeted vehicles that were unlocked with the key fobs inside.

Police advise locking your car doors even in your own driveway, and especially overnight as vehicles are usually targeted during early morning hours. Additionally, leave all the windows and sunroofs closed, park in well-lit areas, dont leave valuables in your car, and never leave your vehicle unattended while it is running.

The public is leaving their vehicles unlocked with valuables and keys inside of them, said Weed. It makes their vehicles an easy target for someone to come through and take their belongings and even their vehicle.

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The recent cases are still open, although Weed said they are working on a few leads.

The State Police in Poughkeepsie are requesting that anyone with home surveillance cameras check footage from Aug. 17 between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m., especially if you reside on Hoofprint Road in Union Vale, Fountain Place in Millbrook, Weatherford Lane in Millbrook, Horseshoe Road in the Town of Washington, Verbank Road in the Town of Washington, Maple Hill Road in the Town of Washington, and Rodrigo Court in the Town of Washington.

Anyone with information pertaining to these break-ins is asked to contact Inv. Melilli at SP Poughkeepsie at carmelo.melilli@troopers.ny.gov or by calling (845) 677-7379.
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP)  Kathy Hochul became the first female governor of New York at the stroke of midnight Tuesday, taking control of a state government desperate to get back to business after months of distractions over sexual harassment allegations against Andrew Cuomo.

The Democrat from western New York was sworn in as governor in a brief, private ceremony in the New York State Capitol overseen by the states chief judge, Janet DiFiore.

Afterward, she told WGRZ, a Buffalo television station, she felt the weight of responsibility on her shoulders.

Ill tell New Yorkers Im up to the task. And Im really proud to be able to serve as their governor and I wont let them down, she said.

Hochul's ascent to the top job was a history-making moment in a capital where women have only recently begun chipping away at a notoriously male-dominated political culture.

Cuomo left office at 12:00 a.m, two weeks after he announced he would resign rather than face a likely impeachment battle. He submitted his resignation letter late Monday to the leaders of the state Assembly and Senate.

On his final day in office, Cuomo released a pre-recorded farewell address in which he defended his record over a decade as New Yorks governor and portrayed himself as the victim of a media frenzy.

Hochul was scheduled to have a ceremonial swearing-in event Tuesday morning at the Capitol, with more pomp than the brief, legally required event during the night.

She planned to meet with legislative leaders later in the morning and make a public address at 3 p.m.

For the first time, a majority of the most powerful figures in New York state government will be women, including state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Attorney General Letitia James and the chief judge, DiFiore. The state Assembly is led by a man, Speaker Carl Heastie.

Hochul will inherit immense challenges as she takes over an administration facing criticism for inaction in Cuomos final months.

COVID-19 has made a comeback, with new cases up nearly 1,370% since late June. Hospitalizations are climbing even as schools prepare to go back into session.

Big decisions lay ahead on whether to mandate masks or vaccines for certain groups, or whether to reinstate social distancing restrictions if the states latest wave of infections worsens. Hochul has said she favors making masks mandatory for schoolchildren, a contrast with Cuomo, who said he lacked that authority.

The economy remains unsettled. Jobs lost during the pandemic have been coming back, but unemployment remains double what it was two years ago.

New York has also struggled to get federal relief money into the hands of tenants behind on their rent because of the pandemic, releasing just 6% of the budgeted $2 billion so far. Thousands of households face the possibility of losing their homes if the state allows eviction protections to expire.

Hochul also faces questions about whether shell change the culture of governance in New York, following a Cuomo administration that favored force over charm.

Cuomos resignation comes after an independent investigation overseen by state Attorney General Letitia James concluded there was credible evidence hed sexually harassed at least 11 women.

In his farewell remarks, Cuomo struck a defiant tone, saying the attorney general's report that triggered his resignation was designed to be a political firecracker on an explosive topic, and it did work."

There was a political and media stampede," he said.

Cuomo also touted himself as a bulwark against his partys left wing, which he said wants to defund the police and demonize businesses, and boasted of making government effective in his years in office. He cited his work battling the COVID-19 pandemic, legalizing same-sex marriage and hiking the minimum wage to $15.

I tried my best to deliver for you, Cuomo said.

Some critics jumped on Cuomos remarks as self-serving.

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Assemblymember Yuh-Line Niou, a fellow Democrat, tweeted he had a hundred million opportunities to improve as a leader and Chose himself every time. Goodbye, Governor Cuomo.

Cuomos top aide, Melissa DeRosa, released a statement saying the governor was exploring his options for his post-gubernatorial life but had no interest in running for office again.

Cuomos resignation wont end his legal problems.

An aide who said Cuomo groped her breast has filed a complaint with the Albany County Sheriffs Office. Separately, Cuomo was facing a legislative investigation into whether he misled the public about COVD-19 deaths in nursing homes to protect his reputation as a pandemic leader and improperly got help from state employees in writing a book that may net him $5 million.

The switch in leadership was happening in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Henri, which narrowly missed Long Island on Sunday but dumped rain over the Catskill Mountains and Hudson Valley.

Hochul will need to quickly build her own team of advisers to steer the administration for at least the next 16 months.

Hochul, who said she didnt work closely with Cuomo and wasnt aware of the harassment allegations before they became public, has vowed no one will ever call her workplace toxic.

I have a different approach to governing, Hochul said Wednesday in Queens, adding, I get the job done because I dont have time for distractions, particularly coming into this position.

She announced the planned appointments Monday of two top aides: Karen Persichilli Keogh will become Secretary to the Governor and Elizabeth Fine will be Hochuls chief legal counselor.

She plans to keep on Cuomo-era employees for 45 days to allow her time to interview new hires, but said she will not keep anyone found to have behaved unethically.

Hochul, who has already said she plans to run for a full term next year, is expected to pick a left-leaning New York City politician as her lieutenant governor. Hochul once represented a conservative Western New York district in Congress for a year and has a reputation as a moderate.

State Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs praised Hochul as formidable.

Shes very experienced and I think shell be a refreshing and exciting new governor, he said.
ALBANY - If you think political corruption and prison dont make for good musical comedy themes then youve never seen the annual Legislative Correspondents Show, where reporters roast and spoof politicians from governor to local assembly members.

That longstanding tradition, which has been interrupted by the pandemic, may have some competition now from a true insider.

Political consultant Hank Morris who served more than two years behind bars on corruption charges involving pension fund investments a decade ago, has produced a show which fictionalizes his story but in which Andrew Cuomo is the one of the main characters.

This isnt some spur-of-the-moment lambasting of Cuomo now that hes being forced from office under his own cloud of scandal.

Morris wrote A Turtle on a Fence Post under the pen-name name Prisoner 11R0731  his prison ID  while in state prison.

He spent a bit more than two years behind bars after he pleaded guilty in 2010 for his role in pay-to-play corruption under former Comptroller Alan Hevesi, who also went to prison.

Morris had accepted fees for steering investments to the pension fund that was overseen by Hevesi. In addition to his prison term and forfeiting the money he was barred from state government and securities work.

The prosecutor was none other than Andrew Cuomo when he was still attorney general.

Now on the cusp of being released in an off-Broadway theater in New York City, Morris is hoping the show is successful enough to eventually bring to Albany. The middle of the legislative season, he figures, would be a good time for the show.

The show, he says, has a universal message, about politics, lifes ups and downs and the idea that people create their own prisons but can free themselves if they want to.

It takes place primarily in a comedy club and in prison.

As the protagonist, Morris character is a comedian, who not only gets heckled by reporters who visit his club, but ends up getting sent to prison after being railroaded by Cuomo.



The principal antagonist is Andrew Cuomo, he said.

The title, Morris explained, came from a favorite saying of former President Bill Clinton. If you see a turtle on a fence post, the former president likes to say, you know it didn't get there by itself, said Morris.

The fact that its coming out in October, just over a month after Cuomos resignation, may be a bit of good luck.

Still, Morris says the show isnt all payback to the outgoing governor, although he does draw similarities.

I went into the state system in a corrections bus. That was a miscarriage of justice. He is leaving in a truck, I saw, a U-Haul, Morris said, referring to the photos last week of movers emptying Cuomos belongings from the governors mansion.

He believes Albanys role as the state Capitol and the history of the LCA show makes the city a perfect venue for his show, where he figures lots of pols, insiders and journalists would relate.

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In his earlier life as a Democratic consultant advising Hevesi and running campaigns for marginal or at-risk Assembly members, Morris has himself taken a hand in a previous LCA show.

He said he wrote the script for a skit that former Assembly Majority Speaker Sheldon Silver was supposed to perform, but who backed out at the last minute. Silver, of course, has also been ousted and convicted in his own scandal involving the granting of state funds to law firm clients.

And while maintaining he has felt no schadenfreude in witnessing Cuomos abrupt downfall, Morris says hes not surprised his career has come to this.

I knew that the emperor did not have any clothes a long, long time ago. I feel sorry for him, he told the Times Union.

Morris said he believes Cuomo struggled in the wrong sort of way to get out from under his father Mario Cuomos shadow.

He was tortured with the Socratic method from the time he was two years old and he didnt know how to handle it, he said.

A Turtle on a Fence Post, will be directed by Gabriel Barre, known for The Wild Party and Amazing Grace, with choreography by Kenny Ingram of Emojiland.

Musical arrangements are by Steve Orich, of Jersey Boys.

The show is scheduled for a 10 week run at Theater 555, on 555 W 42nd Street, New York City. Previews will begin in October with opening night set for Nov. 14.

rkarlin@timesunion.com 518 248 6070 @RickKarlinTU
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP)  A firefight outside Kabuls international airport killed an Afghan soldier early Monday, highlighting the perils of evacuation efforts as the Taliban warned that any attempt by U.S. troops to delay their withdrawal to give people more time to flee would provoke a reaction.

The shooting came as the Taliban moved to shore up their position and eliminate pockets of armed resistance to their lightning takeover earlier this month. The Taliban said they retook three districts north of the capital seized by opponents the day before and had surrounded Panjshir, the last province that remains out of their control.

Afghanistan's security forces collapsed in the face of the Taliban advance, despite 20 years of Western training and assistance. Since then, tens of thousands of Afghans have sought to flee the country, fearing a return to the brutal rule the Taliban imposed the last time they ran Afghanistan. That has led to chaos at the airport in Kabul, the main route out of the country.

U.S. President Joe Biden has not ruled out extending the evacuation beyond Aug. 31, the date he set for completing the pullout of U.S. forces. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson plans to press Biden for an extension.

But Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen, in an interview with Sky News, said Aug. 31 is a red line and that extending the American presence would provoke a reaction.

Gunfire broke out early Monday near an entrance to the airport, where at least seven Afghans died a day earlier in a panicked stampede of thousands of people.

Navy Capt. William Urban, a U.S. military spokesman, said an unknown assailant shot at Afghan security forces at the airport's northern gate, leading Afghan, U.S. and allied troops to open fire in response. He said an Afghan soldier was killed and several Afghans were wounded.

An Italian humanitarian organization that operates hospitals in Afghanistan said it treated six patients with bullet wounds from the airport.

There was no comment from the Taliban, who in recent days have fired warning shots and lashed out with batons to try to control crowds swelling into the thousands outside the airport.

The tragic scenes around the airport have transfixed the world. Afghans poured onto the tarmac last week and some clung to a U.S. military transport plane as it took off, later plunging to their deaths. At least seven people died that day, in addition to the seven killed Sunday.

The Taliban blame the chaotic evacuation on the U.S. military and say there's no need for any Afghans to flee. They have pledged to bring peace and security after decades of war and say they won't seek revenge on those who worked with the U.S., NATO and the toppled Afghan government.

Addressing a conference of Muslim clerics, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid urged them to push back against Western propaganda about the Taliban and said the U.S. was undermining their rule by sending planes and offering Afghans asylum.

But Mohammad Khalid, another Taliban official addressing the same gathering, struck a more ominous tone, saying history and Afghans will not forgive those who were trained in the U.S. and Europe and returned to kill their own people.

He said foreign countries should not interfere in education, asking the clerics if they would tolerate a young girl sitting next to a boy at school. He also praised the role of suicide bombers in forcing the U.S. to withdraw.

The divergent messages raised doubts as to whether the Taliban are fully united behind the more moderate image their leadership is projecting. There have also been reports in recent days of the Taliban hunting down their former enemies.

German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer told the Bild newspaper that the main obstacle to getting people out was the crowds outside the airport.

Asked about Taliban assurances of safe passage to the airport, she said: So far, I can say that what we need is being granted; the danger comes more from these uncontrollable crowds of people.

As the airlift continues, the U.S. government asked for 18 aircraft from American commercial carriers to assist in transporting Afghan refugees to their final destinations after their initial evacuation.

Since Aug. 14, the U.S. has evacuated or facilitated the evacuation of some 37,000 people on military and coalition flights. Those efforts are accelerating: In the 24 hours that ended early Monday, U.S. military flights ferried about 10,400 people to safety, an official said.

Tens of thousands of people  Americans, other foreigners and Afghans who assisted in the war effort  are still waiting to join the airlift, which has been slowed by security issues and U.S. bureaucracy hurdles.

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U.S. special operations forces retrieved 16 more American citizens from outside the airport early Monday, according to senior military officials in Afghanistan.

Rescue missions that go beyond the airport walls require the approval of a four-star officer and are handled on a case-by-case basis, said the American officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss ongoing military operations publicly.

Meanwhile, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin ordered five men who were evacuated from Afghanistan placed under surveillance in France for possible links to the Taliban.

France is human but it is also vigilant, the minister tweeted Monday, along with a story by a French news agency quoting him about the suspicions.

Amid the evacuations, there are also concerns that a local affiliate of the Islamic State group might target the crowds outside the airport with suicide bombers or fire missiles at U.S. aircraft. Military planes have been executing corkscrew landings, and other aircraft have fired flares upon takeoff  both measures used to avoid missile attacks.

The Taliban and IS have different ideologies and have fought in recent years, but one concern about the Taliban's takeover is that they could again shelter extremist groups. The Taliban harbored al-Qaida while it orchestrated the 9/11 attacks, leading to the U.S. invasion in 2001. The Taliban now say they will not allow Afghanistan to be a base for attacks on other countries.

Elsewhere in Afghanistan, the Taliban have faced limited armed resistance from fighters in Baghlan province, some 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of Kabul. The anti-Taliban fighters claimed to have seized three districts in the Andarab Valley on Sunday, but the Taliban said Monday that they had cleared them out overnight.

Khair Mohammad Khairkhwa and Abdul Ghani Mahmood, commanders of the anti-Taliban forces, said the recent fighting had caused casualties on both sides and displaced civilians.

Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman, said the group's forces have also surrounded nearby Panjshir, the only one of Afghanistan's 34 provinces yet to fall to the Taliban. Several Taliban opponents have gathered there, pledging to resist any attempt to take the province by force.

Mujahid said there had been no fighting in Panjshir yet and that the Taliban are seeking a peaceful solution.

___

Faiez reported from Istanbul and Krauss from Jerusalem. Associated Press writers Tameem Akhgar in Istanbul, Geir Moulson in Berlin, Jill Lawless in London, Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and James LaPorta in Miami contributed to this report.

___

More AP coverage of Afghanistan: https://apnews.com/hub/afghanistan
ALBANY  Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday announced that two women with deep experience in government policy will become key senior members of her administration.

Hochul, who is scheduled to be sworn in as governor at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, said the appointees are Karen Persichilli Keough, who will be secretary to the governor, and Elizabeth Fine, who has been appointed counsel to the governor.

Karen Persichilli Keough and Elizabeth Fine bring the depth of knowledge, leadership, and experience that it will take to meet the challenges New Yorkers face, Hochul said in a release. "As governor, I will assemble a strong team to turn the corner on the pandemic and serve the best interests of New York, whether its defeating COVID, getting more people vaccinated, or strengthening our economy."

Keough is from Long Island and attended Stony Brook University, where she received a bachelors degree in social work.

She later obtained a masters degree in social work from Columbia University.

Keough has served as a senior staff member for several high-profile politicians, including former U.S. senator and presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.

She worked as campaign manager for Clintons 2006 Senate re-election bid.

Most recently, Keough was in charge of $2 billion in global philanthropic investments as head of global philanthropy at JPMorgan Chase & Co., which she joined in 2010, taking on the role of managing director and head of state and local government relations.

Fine will leave her position as an executive vice president and general counsel at the New York economic development agency, Empire State Development, where she has managed legal representation, guidance and policies.

She has extensive experience working in public service at local, state and federal levels. Fine spent seven years at the U.S. Justice Department, where her roles included serving as counsel to former Attorney General Janet Reno.

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In 1993, Fine served as special counsel to President Bill Clinton. She also served as a counsel for the Gore-Clinton campaign.

She holds degrees from Brown University, New York University School of Law and Georgetown Law School.

The announcement came less than two hours before Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo was set to address New York for the last time as governor.

Hochul will become New Yorks first female governor, and has pledged to run for governor next year. She still had not announced her pick for lieutenant governor by Monday, but is expected to make that decision public on Tuesday.

Cuomo resigned after an attorney general's investigation confirmed he had sexually harassed multiple women.
ALBANY  I was almost the victim of a rental scam, but they messed with the wrong woman.

I was days away from moving to the Capital Region to start working at the Times Union when the apartment I was moving into fell through. Fearing Id have nowhere to stay, I rushed to find a new place to call home.

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A listing I found on Realtor.com  a reputable realty site  seemed perfect, and more than I needed. It was a beautifully remodeled home at 24 Belvidere Ave. in Albany listed for rent at $800 a month with all utilities included.

The listing described three bedrooms and bathrooms accompanied by what looked like professionally taken photos showing bright, airy rooms full of natural light. It seemed too good to be true.

I contacted the property through realtor.com and received an automated response that said someone would get back to me soon, and waited.

The scheme unravels

The next day I received a long-winded email riddled with poor grammar from a Gmail account named Trust God. A person who identified himself as the homes owner said he taught at several universities in Michigan and Illinois and was currently working at an organization called Warriors Ascent, helping veterans and first responders cope with post-traumatic stress disorder; he said he'd be living in Texas for the next three years.

He and his wife had failed to sell the house, he said, and were looking for someone to take care of it in their absence. They strayed away from working with an agent or property management firm and said they were taking time out of their busy schedule to find the right tenant. They sent over an application.

Under pressure due to my lost housing, I hastily applied  in part because the information the form asked for was generic and not too intrusive. But there was a red flag: They asked how much I would be willing to put down if I had to buy the house. This didnt sit right with me but, I ignored my instinct and figured I would ask about it when I saw the house in person.

The next day, the person emailed me again with another laughably long message telling me theyd accepted my application.

My wife and i have thought about you and we are so much excited to accept you as our new home tenant because you really sounds like kind of person that we are looking to rent our home, he wrote.

The strong discomfort I had with his turnaround time and atrocious grammar made my gut scream This is wrong." I ignored the email and decided to cut ties.

The person sent me a text the next day from a 712 number  an Iowa area code, as opposed to Michigan, Illinois, Texas or New York  about renting the house. Just for a giggle, I responded.

Hi, before choosing to rent it, I would like to see it, I replied. Can that be arranged?

The person never answered. I looked up the home again and found a Zillow listing that showed it was for sale by a local Realtor, Bryon Phelps. Phelps had no idea about the scam until I contacted him.

He and his partner, Matt Baker, bought the home in August 2020 and listed it for sale this month, according to property records.

Its horrible," Baker said. "Its unfortunate that we have people in our world today that are just out there looking to scam people, take their money."

Baker and Phelps did not, in fact, try to rent the home out.

I later called the 712 number; it went straight to an automated voice that said it could not confirm my call and hung up on me. I emailed the Trust God address and told the person I was a reporter working on a story about the rental and a potential scam. They never answered.

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The darling Belvidere home is now under contract by Phelps, and the mystery poser is in the wind and maybe realizing the jig is up.

Real estate scams are more common than you think

Warriors Ascent, the small, Kansas City-based nonprofit this person claimed to work for, is a real organization. Christy Cook, its operations director, said she had never heard of the man who was trying to rent out the home. But the scheme wasnt totally unfamiliar to her.

Cook said she has received calls from all over the country about a person scamming people, identifying as a Warriors Ascent member. People have forwarded their emails from the scammer, but so far the group's attempts to identify the person have hit dead ends.

Its extremely frustrating, Cook said. We are trying to save the lives of veterans and first responders suffering from PTSD, and someone using that to try and gain peoples trust is wrong.

The New York State Department of Consumer Protection has received about 239 real estate complaints since 2018. Department spokesperson Erin McCarthy said the schemes are executed in different ways but have the same goal: bilk consumers out of as much money as possible.

The scammers take legitimate rental postings and re-post or advertise them with their own contact information, often at enticing, lower rates than the original advertisement, McCarthy said. The transactions are generally conducted by phone or email with the scammer asking for a wire transfer, prepaid debit card or method of payment that is not traceable.

Jennifer Vucetic, president-elect of the New York State Association of Realtors, described it as a long-time Craigslist scam thats been going on for forever. She hears of a real estate scam at least once a week, which makes her think its happening more frequently.

People fall for it all the time because theyre so desperate to get into a rental, Vucetic said.

A Realtor.com spokesperson agreed, deeming it a common problem the site faces. The site obtains rental listings from third-party data feeds, and its site terms note Realtor.com is not responsible for confirming the accuracy or reliability of listings; users agree to release it from all liability in such cases.

Officials and Realtors alike urge prospective renters and buyers to stay abreast of scams and report any they find. The state provides resources on classic signs of a housing scam and how to report them.
A Greene County man was hospitalized after crashing a stolen car in Saratoga County during a police chase, the second car he had allegedly stolen within the hour, State Police said.

Saratoga County Sheriff deputies were called to a home on Allen Road in Greenfield shortly after 6 a.m. on Monday. The caller said a man had broken into his home, physically assaulted him with a weapon and then tried to steal his car. When the suspect couldnt steal that car, he went to a neighboring home and allegedly stole a different car, troopers said.
The risk of flooding in the Capital Region subsided Monday but meteorologists said heavy rain from Henri caused minor flooding Monday along the Schoharie Creek and fueled sporadic downpours in isolated spots around the region and the Hudson Valley.

The National Weather Service in Albany reports Middleburgh was drenched with 3.2 inches of rain after the storm hit upstate New York on Sunday and there was minor flooding of the creek near the Gilboa Bridge in Gilboa.

The dying remnants of the storm popped up in isolated spots Monday. Tannersville was hit with a downpour that dropped an inch of rain at midday and spurred worries about flooding of streams around the Greene County community. More than 7 inches of rain fell in Tannersville before the storm retreated into New England. Residents of southern Rensselaer County were warned about possible flooding after a storm cell hit the region later in the afternoon.

The Schoharie Valley and the Catskill Mountains got a serious soaking from the storm on Sunday and Monday, but the Weather Service canceled a flood watch in the Albany area where rainfall was more modest.

Henri, which came ashore Sunday in Rhode Island as a tropical storm only to be downgraded to a tropical depression when wind gusts diminished, spared the Capital Region from the heavy wind and some of the rain that was predicted. Few power outages were caused by the storm in the region or the Hudson Valley.

Officials feared the combination of saturated soil and wind would bring down trees and power lines in the Albany area but the absence of powerful winds limited the damage.

Albany received about 0.69 inches of rain and Troy measured 0.91 inches. South Berne in southern Albany County received 2.25 inches of rain and Spencertown in Columbia County got 2.16 inches, according to the weather service.

How much rain did we get? Check rainfall totals

The storm delivered heavier rain downstate and in Connecticut and northern New Jersey. The town of Cranbury in New Jersey received more than 8 inches of rain as the storm's western bands swirled.

"Thankfully, we were spared that much," said Tom Wasula, a meteorologist with the Weather Service's Albany office.

Rain was still falling Monday morning in the New York City area as well as in its closest northern suburbs. The storm was expected to produce periods of heavy rain, especially in the mid-Hudson Valley, northwestern Connecticut and in the Berkshire Mountains in Massachusetts.

Most areas in the Hudson Valley received a baseline of one months worth of rain in 48 hours, while some pockets, mostly in Orange County, received nearly 6 inches of rain, the equivalent of nearly two months worth of rain in the same period.

With this particular storm, because it hit well to the east off of Long Island, the unique feature for the Hudson Valley here was enormous amounts of rain, said Michael Schlacter, a climatologist and meteorologist from the lower Hudson Valley. Rain can be on either side of the storm, but in this particular case north and west of the storm.

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Schlacter explained that Henri wasnt working alone. There was an upper level low, where a cold pool of air resides at a high altitude, that was occurring in the Pennsylvania and New Jersey area. That helped produced extra moisture for the region.

They merged and combined forces, said Schlacter. Thats why there was not only a lot of cumulative rain, but we also had periods where it was quite torrential rain starting Saturday night, periodically on Sunday and even early this morning.

That moisture is not done, he said. If we get a little bit of sunshine, clearing or warmth, that can jack up the instability in the atmosphere, and we might get bands of classic summertime thunderstorms.

He expects it wont be until late Monday that the aftershocks of the storm will be in the rearview.

The remnants of the storm remained near the New York-Connecticut border Monday morning but the storm was expected to eventually move east across New England before heading out to sea on Tuesday.

Henri dropped drenching rain across a huge swath that stretched from eastern Pennsylvania to Cape Cod, leaving more than 140,000 homes and businesses without power. It cut its path across Connecticut before stalling over the New York border.

The flood watch remained in effect in Columbia, Greene, Dutchess and Ulster counties where meteorologists were watching for localized flooding as well as Hudson River flooding in Dutchess County.
ALBANY  In 2011, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo took office and vowed to run the most transparent and accountable administration in history.

But after a slew of records documenting his time as attorney general were sent to the State Archives, as required, one his top aides and confidantes, Linda Lacewell, spent almost eight hours in the library pulling files that were made public in error, according to a Times Union article published at the time. Her visit occurred after Cuomo's office was made aware that several Times Union reporters had taken steps to begin inspecting the files.

Still, there was apparently no law stopping Lacewell from doing so.

As Cuomo departed Albany last week, U-Haul in tow, questions remain about the preservation of his official records, all of which become personal property once he leaves office. That is arguably a gap in legislation experts say is hugely problematic, given the numerous scandals targeting his administration.

Richard Azzopardi, a senior adviser and spokesman for the governor, did not immediately respond to questions about where the governors papers will be sent or what would be included in the collection.

New York law states that the governors papers are not automatically made property of the State Archives, leaving the Executive Chamber with discretion as to what documents are seen by the public and which are kept hidden.

Last week, state Sen. Daphne Jordan, R-Halfmoon, introduced legislation that would make the Executive Chamber retain all records, including emails and electronic metadata, for at least two years; five years if theyre expected to be a part of litigation or two years after litigation is no longer anticipated.

The bill defines litigation as civil matters, criminal matters, impeachment matters and investigations by law enforcement or legislative bodies.

Cuomo faces investigations from local, state and federal authorities regarding an alleged cover up of COVID-19 nursing home death data, his directing preferential COVID-19 testing for family members  including CNNs Chris Cuomo  and delegating state resources to help produce his book "American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic."

The governors office and members of his staff have received subpoenas from law enforcement agencies for records that include emails and telephone calls. Those may have included preservation orders, which would forbid the destruction of records relating to an ongoing investigation.

The Legislature is not due back until January, meaning that, if it is even taken up and passed, its unlikely that Jordans bill would apply to Cuomos administration. Democrats control both the Senate and Assembly. Jordan has six Republican Senate cosponsors for the legislation.

But its unclear if theres bipartisan support for its enactment.

New York is one of the few states that doesnt require an outgoing administration to send their papers to the State Archives. Gov. David Paterson vetoed legislation in 2009 and 2010 that would have required governors to do so, as did Gov. George Pataki during his time in office.

The governor could hire a dumpster and dump all the stuff if they wanted to, said Brian Keough, head of the M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives at the University of Albany. But they usually dont do that.

UAlbany is home to over 50 collections of records from state and federal lawmakers, including former U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner.

Still, state and federal laws governing the retention and disclosure of public records largely exclude Congress and New York's Legislature, which is not subject to the same rules as state and local government agencies.

Emails, legislative reports, position papers, a lot of those things arent going to be available, Keough said. If [historians] are writing only based on public statements and press releases, thats not really going to give you any historical context.

Transparency laws are typically created in reaction to scandal, instead of as precautionary measures, said Sarah Lamdan, a law professor at City University of New York, specializing in government information, access and transparency.

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We tend to not address transparency problems until its clear that theres shady government activity going on, Lamdan said.

In 1974, Congress passed the Presidential Recordings and Materials Preservation Act in response to President Richard M. Nixons resignation. The law placed his administrations records, including the White House tapes, in federal custody, preventing their destruction.

The recordings are stored at the National Archives.

Four years later, Congress enacted the Presidential Records Act, giving the public ownership of presidential records, even after a presidents term ends. Presidents are entitled to several restrictions for up to 12 years after their time in office, according to the law.

A particular point Lamdan labels as troublesome is the lack of oversight for a governors emails. Oftentimes, the most concerning and most critical types of records are email records because thats how we convey so much information, she said.

While members of Cuomo's administration used emails to communicate, he was known to rarely use electronic mail. The administration also used BlackBerry "pin" messages to communicate. That meant many of their electronic messages were not kept on computer servers because BlackBerry pins are relayed by cell phone towers and the only record of those may be on the devices or with the Canadian software company that is known to resist U.S. subpoenas.

Still, there is evidence of a multitude of records kept by the administration. The recent investigation of Cuomo by the office of Attorney General Letitia James included a review of roughly 70,000 records for a recently released 165-page report that concluded Cuomo a serial sexual harasser. The evidence included emails, texts and pictures.

After Lacewell, one of Cuomo's top aides, removed many of Cuomos attorney general documents from public view, reporters were allowed to see a condensed set of materials, hindering in-depth examination of his time as attorney general.

Keough said that any transparency law targeting the governors records would need to implement non-partisan archival procedures, but that getting a law in the books is definitely the first step.

When asked if hes expecting to receive Cuomos records, Keough said, Wed be more than delighted to take them in. I could start working with them on Monday.

But, he added, I dont think that would happen.
SARATOGA SPRINGS  Citizens opposed to a GOP-supported appearance by anti-Muslim activist Scott Presler will gather for a vigil on Wednesday evening in Congress Park.

The 5:30 p.m. No to Hate in Upstate, No to Fascist attacks on Democracy event, organized by Joe Seeman, will coincide with Preslers voter registration drive in Gavin Park in Wilton.

Hes a fascist, said Seeman who ran for state office in 2020. Does he wear a white robe and a Nazi symbol? No. But he is a far-right radical who promotes conspiracy theories and the Jan. 6 insurrection.

Seeman said nearly 100 people have signed up to be at the vigil that is meant to send a strong message that racism and fascist attacks on our Democracy have no place in Saratoga County, New York State or the United States of America. He said organizers decided not to appear at the Presler event, co-sponsored by U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik and the Saratoga County Republican Committee, as it would likely lead to "a shouting match," which his group wants to avoid.

Presler, of Virginia, has been described by Stefanik, who announced his appearance in a tweet, as an American Patriot. She also tweeted he will be joining #TeamElise and "everyone is excited to meet you."

Stefanik is not expected to attend the Presler event.

Presler, a supporter of former President Donald Trump, was at the Jan. 6 rally in Washington, D.C., that ended with the storming of the U.S. Capitol.

In 2017, the Southern Poverty Law Center listed Presler's efforts in its HateWatch. They described him as an Act for America organizer who put together March Against Sharia in 18 states. The nonprofit Law Center, which monitors hate groups around the country, noted that the Facebook page for these marches has racist and violent content directed toward Islam and Muslims.

Preslers group, the Law Center also noted, is recruiting the services of anti-government groups to act as security for the rallies. Those include anti-government groups like the Oathkeepers, the Proud Boys and the 3 Percenters.

In a joint statement, the dozen chairs of the Democratic Committees in Stefaniks 21st Congressional District are condemning her and the Saratoga County GOP for their support of Presler.

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In the statement released Monday morning, the signers, including Saratoga County Chair Todd Kerner, express our outrage that she has welcomed a leader of the insurrection that overwhelmed the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021 to a rally in Saratoga County. This is not what the North Country residents want or support.

Scott Presler, is not only an insurrectionist who was a leading voice in the Big Lie Stop the Steal movement that led to the insurrection, he has a history of close affiliation and leadership with an organization, ACT for America, that the Southern Poverty Law Center has classified as a hate group, the statement read. He peddles wild anti-Muslim conspiracy theories and led a nationwide series of March Against Sharia rallies. The hatred he spews, like these Charlottesville-style events, is not welcome here.

They called on Stefanik and Saratoga County Republican Committee to renounce Presler.

Carl Zeilman, the chair of the county GOP, said that Democrats simply want to distract from "their own failed policies."

"They are threatened by Republicans historic support in upstate and all of America," he said in a statement. "We will be meeting to door knock as was planned and continue to register Republicans at a 2-1 advantage in NY-21 over the Democrats."
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP)  When four people facing eviction arrived at a Virginia Beach courthouse in early August, they never had to stand before a judge, a process that for many can be stressful and humiliating.

Instead, an attorney representing landlords told them their housing woes were being resolved: each tenant had either caught up on rent or qualified for Virginias $1 billion rental assistance program.

For the most part, landlords and tenants are working together to get the rent paid, said the attorney, Michael Hipps.

The scene contradicted the image of a state that, up until a few years ago, was considered a civic embarrassment for its staggering rate of evictions. Five of Virginias cities ranked in the national top 10, according to a 2018 report from the Eviction Lab at Princeton University.

Three years later, Virginia is offering stronger protections and assistance to tenants whose lives have been upended by the coronavirus pandemic. The state has even become a national leader in distributing federal rental assistance dollars, while evictions have fallen.

Its thanks in part to the glaring spotlight of Princetons data, which appeared in The New York Times. The unwanted publicity put lawmakers, housing advocates and landlord groups on a path that began well before the virus spread.

It was very embarrassing to be in the national news for something so terrible, said Del. Marcia Price, a Democrat from Newport News, which was ranked fourth nationally for evictions.

I dont want to say the conversations started with that, but it definitely helped amplify the work and the voices of those who were speaking up, said Price, who has authored eviction-related legislation. Everybody knew something had to be done.

Lawmakers ramped up attention on possible solutions, many of which came to fruition during the pandemic.

For instance, the state is temporarily requiring landlords to give tenants 14 days instead of five to make payments on late rent before landlords can file for eviction. The extra time is crucial for people who are paid every two weeks, housing advocates say. Some lawmakers hope to make the provision permanent.

Virginia also was one of the first states to create a statewide rent relief program using federal coronavirus relief money.

From January through May, Virginia distributed more dollars than any other state from the first round of the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, according to U.S. Treasury figures. By the end of June, Virginia ranked second only to Texas.

Virginia also distributed a higher percentage of those ERA funds  about 43%  than any other state, according to U.S. Sen. Tim Kaines office.

As of late July, Virginia has spent more than $335 million in rental relief funds and assisted more than 51,000 households, according to state figures.

Behind that large percentage was a state requirement that landlords tell tenants about the money and apply for it on their behalf, said Christine Marra, director of housing advocacy for the Virginia Policy Law Center.

That, more than anything, has kept tenants housed, Marra said.

The mandate expired June 30. But it was reinstated last week. Virginia is also funding a campaign to make tenants aware of the money and help them apply for it.

Taneka Calloway, a personal care aide from Norfolk, is among those who've received aid.

Because of the pandemic, she lost work visiting clients. Her daughter was also suffering from a brain tumor, while her dad was sick with COVID-19.

They sent me an email saying that I was approved for $10,000 to cover the months from February into the end of my lease, Calloway told The Associated Press in late June.

Tiara Burton said the state relief program is also helping her.

Burton works as a customer service agent for a health insurance company. She lost her second job as a nanny with the pandemic, got into an accident and started falling behind on rent.

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Fearing eviction, Burton showed up at an Aug. 2 hearing in Virginia Beach, only to be told by her landlord's attorney that the aid was approved.

Virginia's efforts, combined with a federal eviction moratorium, have helped reduce evictions, housing advocates say.

During 2021's first quarter, eviction filings were at 22% of what they were during pre-pandemic levels, according to Virginia Commonwealth Universitys RVA Eviction Lab.

Second-quarter filings were similar. But they're expected to rise as more data comes in, pointing to the growing risk of eviction for thousands of households, the lab said.

The rise in filings may have been landlords anticipating the expiration of some tenant protections as COVID-19 cases declined during spring, said Marra, of the Virginia Poverty Law Center.

But Patrick McCloud, CEO of the Virginia Apartment Management Association, cited other possible reasons. For instance, some tenants have refused to cooperate with landlords in applying for assistance, he said.

McCloud pushed back against Princetons report, saying it counted court orders  not actual evictions  and therefore wasn't accurate. But he agrees it spawned change.

He credits Virginias Rent Relief Program with keeping many renters in their homes. And he said the industry supports keeping it in place once federal relief funds run out.

But for all of its efforts, Virginia is still behind many other states on tenant protections, said Eric Dunn, director of litigation for the National Housing Law Project.

For instance, Washington state requires landlords to have good cause to evict someone, he said. And that person has a right to a lawyer.

Theyre kind of in the middle of the pack now, Dunn said of Virginia.

Kathryn Howell, co-director of the RVA Eviction Lab, said the real challenges lie ahead. They include tackling more structural problems such as affordable housing and inequality. Black women, for example, are disproportionately evicted.

The low-hanging fruit is what weve done, Howell said. Its a step in the right direction. The next step is harder.
New York Army National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph Landy of Spiegletown, an Iraq war veteran, has received a Legion of Merit Medal for his 38 years of exemplary duty before retirement. Landy was recognized during a retirement ceremony that marked a career of significant military accomplishments.

He most recently served as the senior enlisted leader for the 106th Regional Training Institute at Camp Smith Training Site near Peekskill. The unit conducts military occupation specialty and other training for National Guard soldiers.

Landy enlisted in the New York Army National Guard in 1983. He has served as an infantryman, a rifle squad leader, platoon sergeant, and eventually a company first sergeant in the 105th Infantry.

He later served as an operations sergeant for the 501st Ordnance Battalion (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) and also served as the Headquarters Detachment first sergeant before being promoted to the battalion command sergeant major.

Landy deployed to Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn while assigned to the 501st Ordnance Battalion. He was also part of the New York National Guard response to the attacks on the World Trade Center of Sept. 11, 2001. He was later assigned as the command sergeant major for the Camp Smith Training Site, the New York National Guard's training area in the Hudson Valley, before moving onto the 106th Regional Training Institute.

As a civilian, he works for the Capital District Transportation Authority.

Landy earned an associate degree in business management from Excelsior College. He also is a graduate of the Army's Sergeant Major Academy and other Army noncommissioned officer schools. He earned a Bronze Star Medal, a Meritorious Service Medal, an Army Commendation Medal, an Army Achievement Medal, and an Army Presidential Unit Citation.

Landy and his wife, Carole, have a son, Joe, and a daughter, Victoria.

Superior graduate

New York Army National Guard Lt. Col. Mark Frank of Cohoes has earned the distinction of being the Superior Graduate upon graduation from the Army War College in Carlisle, Pa.

The Army War College provides graduate-level instruction to senior military officers and civilians to prepare them for strategic leadership assignments and responsibilities. Frank completed the rigorous two-year-long distance learning program and earned a master degree in strategic studies.

Frank currently serves full-time as the New York Army National Guard personnel officer at the Joint Force Headquarters in Latham. He began his military career in 2000, when he graduated from St. Bonaventure University as a Distinguished Military Graduate and received a commission as a second lieutenant aviation officer.

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Frank deployed to Afghanistan in 2002 for a seven-month rotation in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Additionally, Frank deployed to Kuwait and Iraq in 2003 for an11-month rotation in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

He has also earned a bachelor of arts in political science from St. Bonaventure University, and a master in public administration from Webster University.

Frank is a graduate of the Aviation Officer Basic Course, the CH-47D Aviator Qualification Course, the Engineer Captains Career Course, the Human Resources Management Qualification Course, the Battalion Pre-Command Course, the Command and General Staff Officer Course (Intermediate Level Education Common Core and the Advanced Operations Course), the Airborne School, and the Air Assault School.

He has earned a Meritorious Service Medal, an Air Medal, an Army Commendation Medal, an Army Achievement Medal, an Army Aviator Badge, a Parachutist Badge, and an Air Assault Badge.

Frank and his spouse Kristin have four children; Jacob, Clare, Maria, and Lucy.


NORTHAMPTON  State Police are investigating what they are calling the accidental drowning death of a veteran trooper on Sunday at Great Sacandaga Lake in Fulton County.

Trooper James J. Monda, 45, a Princetown-based member of a marine patrol unit since 2017, went into the lake wearing dive gear for reasons that are under investigation, State Police Superintendent Kevin Bruen told reporters during a late afternoon briefing at Troop G in Latham.

Monda went into the water at a launch on Bunker Hill Road at about 4 p.m. and did not resurface. He was pulled from the water and taken to Nathan Littauer Hospital in Gloversville where he was pronounced dead.

He is survived by his fiancee and his parents

Its tough. Were all hurting right now, Maj. Christopher West, the commander of Troop G, told reporters. He said Troop G, the largest troop in the state, is like a family.

Monda, who joined the State Police in 2002, spent most of his career in Troop G. West said he remembered Monda from when the trooper was in training in 2002. West was a sergeant at the time.

He was well-liked by his classmates then, and it continued out into the field now all these years later, West told reporters.

West described Monda as a conscientious hard worker who was selected for some of the most sought-after State Police assignments, such as the State Fair and the marine patrol assignment, which is separate from the State Police dive team.

He did an outstanding job up until now and Im sure he would have continued doing a great job, West said.

Monda was a native of the Rotterdam area.

He was well-liked in the area. A lot of people in the area knew him, said West. He joked around a lot that when he would stop people and see people (he knew) that he knew more people in the area than me, just a funny joke between us.

West added: Hes going to be missed  he was well liked by a lot of us here. All of us.

West was joined by Bruen and State Police Col. Steven Nigrelli.

The superintendent said an autopsy ruled out any medical emergency being responsible for the trooper's death.

We need to conduct an investigation into exactly how this occurred, Bruen said.

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Bruen said investigators would look into a number of things, including the equipment that the trooper used, the actions of the people involved and possible training issues.

Its a dangerous occupation, Bruen said. The entire occupation is dangerous. Troopers families live with it every day that when the trooper leaves the house they may not come back.

We have an obligation to make sure that when we have a situation like this that its thoroughly investigated, he said, and that if there are training deficiencies with our procedures that need to be changed or modified or equipment needs to be changed or modified that we do it.

Bruen did not want to speculate why Monda suited up and got into the water.

New York State Troopers Police Benevolent Association President Thomas H. Mungeer said the PBA would be assisting with the funeral arrangements.

Trooper Monda selflessly dedicated his life to protecting and serving the public, and we will never forget his ultimate sacrifice, he said in a statement.
CANBERRA, Australia  Australia's prime minister says Australian and New Zealand officials evacuated more than 650 people from Kabul Airport over Monday night.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that Tuesday five flights had left the airport in the busiest day of Australian involvement in evacuations since the Taliban took control of the country.

Morrison told Nine Network television that the evacuated people included Australians, New Zealanders and Afghans.

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MORE ON THE CRISIS IN AFGHANISTAN:

 Deadly gunfire at airport; Taliban insist on US pullout date

 UK struggles for influence as Afghan crisis strains US ties

 Kabul airlift is accelerating but still hampered by chaos

 When the music stops: Afghan happy place falls silent

 For Afghan refugees in India, hopes dim for returning home

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 Find more AP coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/afghanistan

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HERES WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:

CAIRO  Egyptian state media say the government has evacuated more than 40 of the countrys citizens from Afghanistan.

The official MENA news agency says a military plane carrying Egyptian citizens from Afghanistan landed in Cairo late Monday.

The 43 evacuees include the staff from the Egyptian Embassy in Kabul and clerics from Al-Azhar, which is the Sunni Muslim worlds foremost religious institution.

A local TV station showed footage for the returnees carrying Egyptian flags as they landed in an airport in Cairo. They were received by military and health officials.

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BOCA RATON, Florida  Senior U.S. military officials in Afghanistan say U.S. Special Operations retrieved 16 American citizens from outside the Kabul airport early Monday morning.

The military officials would not detail where in Afghanistan the Americans were rescued from but they said it was about two hours outside the Hamid Karzai International Airport. The Americans were brought back to Kabul for evacuation processing.

The officials, who commented only on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations, said the rescue missions that go beyond the walls of the Kabul airport require the approval of a four-star officer and are handled on a case-by-case basis.

On Monday, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby confirmed that the U.S. military had launched at least one additional rescue by helicopter but declined to offer further details. Its unclear if Kirby was referring to Mondays special operations mission or a separate flight.

On occasion, as needed, our commanders have the authority they need to use their assets and their forces to help assist Americans who need to get to the airport, get to the airport, on a case-by-case basis, said Kirby.

The Associated Press first reported on the sortie flights outside Kabul airport on Friday. The officials would not detail where these airlift sites were for security reasons.

In a video conference last week, President Biden and White House officials spoke with commanders in Afghanistan about sortie flight missions outside the Kabul Airport. The president said he wanted to avoid a Black Hawk Down incident, according to U.S. military officials on the conference call and briefed on what was said.

U.S. military officials described President Bidens demeanor as calm and pleasant during discussions about the progress that had been made in evacuating both Americans and Afghan nationals. Biden negatively commented on how quickly the Afghan government fell apart and told commanders he wanted them to be focused on beefing up security at Hamid Karzai International Airport.

On Sunday, the AP reported that potential Islamic State threats against Americans in Afghanistan are forcing the U.S. military to develop new plans to get evacuees to the airport in Kabul. U.S. Central Command on Monday said an exchange of gunfire at the airport broke out at the north gate of the Kabul Airport. No U.S. or coalition forces were hurt, but one member of the Afghan security forces was killed. The Pentagon said they do not know at the moment if the gunman was a member of the Taliban or ISIS.

Last week, the Defense Department publicly disclosed that three Army chinooks picked up 169 Americans just outside the walls of the Kabul Airport. The AP also reported that a helicopter from the 82nd Airborne Division airlifted Afghans from Camp Sullivan, near the Hamid Karzai International Airport.

 By James LaPorta

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PARIS  French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin has ordered five men who were evacuated from Afghanistan placed under surveillance in France for possible links to the Taliban.

France is human but it is also vigilant, the minister tweeted Monday, along with a story by the French news agency quoting him about the suspicions.

One man in particular slipped through the cracks during the chaotic evacuations in Kabul but admitted working for the Taliban. He arrived over the weekend with three of the other men now under watch. According to a ministry official contacted by The Associated Press, the mans wife and children also were on the flight, but not under suspicion.

The man admitted to belonging to the Taliban and to bearing arms at a blockade in Kabul that was under his responsibility, Agence France-Presse, which saw the ministers written decision, reported.

Even if this person very widely helped in the evacuation of the French Embassy, we think this person may be linked to the Taliban, the minister was quoted as saying. It was not immediately clear if his responsibilities went beyond manning a blockade. The French Embassy has served as a holding area for evacuees waiting to make the trip to the Kabul airport, where the French ambassador and a reduced staff now work.

Given the extremely tough difficulties of making security checks of people to be repatriated, French authorities accepted to board this person and his family, the minister said. The security checks were done, instead, in Abu Dhabi, where the French have transferred evacuees before the onward journey to Paris. The other men were not, for now, directly suspected.

The fifth person concerned came on a separate flight but had links to the family, Darmanin said.

The five men are currently under surveillance in a hotel in the Paris region where they are in quarantine, like all evacuees who arrive in France without having been fully vaccinated, the Interior Ministry official said. He was not authorized to speak to the press so could not be identified by name.

Darmanin, clearly seeking to assure the French about potential risks concerning arrivals, said in his tweet that the government will continue to take all needed measures to ensure the security of the French.

By Tuesday, 2,000 people will have made the journey out, mainly Afghans, Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Monday during a visit to the base in Abu Dhabi with Defense Minister Florence Parly.

 By Elaine Ganley

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GENEVA  A top World Health Organization official says the agency only has a few days left of supplies for Afghanistan and wants help to ferry in 10 or 12 planeloads of equipment and medicine for its beleaguered people.

Dr. Rick Brennan heads WHOs eastern Mediterranean region that includes Afghanistan. He said from Cairo that the U.N. health agency is negotiating with the U.S. and other countries to help efforts to replenish strained stockpiles.

We estimate weve only got a few days left of supplies, Brennan said, alluding to a distribution center in Dubai that has whats needed. We have 500 metric tons ready to go, but we havent got any way of getting them into the country right now.

Brennan said U.S. and other authorities have encouraged WHO and partners to look to other Afghan airports than Kabuls, which is facing a crush of thousands of people trying to get out of Afghanistan after a Taliban takeover.

He said those authorities have suggested that itll be too difficult a logistics exercise and security exercise to bring supplies into Kabul, where teams would be required to unload planes and allow in trucks to carry out the supplies  which could complicate the evacuations.

Needed supplies include emergency kits and essential medicines for treatment of chronic diseases, like diabetes, WHO said.

Were cautiously optimistic that we might need to get something done in the coming days, Brennan said, before adding: We need a consistent humanitarian air bridge into the country ASAP.

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BERLIN  German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas says the majority of local staff who worked for his country in Afghanistan havent yet been evacuated.

The German government has granted about 10,000 local staff and family members in Afghanistan the right to come to Germany, but so far only about 1,800 have made it out.

We dont currently know how many days we can keep flying (people) out, so we want to use those days effectively, he said Monday.

Maas called Tuesdays G-7 meeting on Afghanistan very important for discussing international access to the Kabul airport beyond Aug. 31, the day when the U.S. plans to pull its last troops out of Afghanistan.

Coordinating aid for migrants from Afghanistan would be another key issue at the meeting, he said.

Maas said the firefight overnight at Kabul airport showed once more under what dangerous conditions our soldiers and the embassys core staff on the ground are working.

The situation around the airport had become more chaotic in recent hours and he said Germany doesnt currently recommend that anyone make their own way to the site, he said.

Germany will continue to fly out as many people as it can, said Maas, but added that we know the current evacuation operation isnt open forever.

Among the measures being pursued and discussed with the Taliban is the possibility of enabling civilian flights from Kabul once the last U.S. troops leave the country, he said.

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WASHINGTON  White House officials say every Afghan being newly granted admission to the United States is undergoing biometric and biographic security screening at stops overseas before arrival in the United States.

The officials spoke Monday on condition of anonymity to brief reporters on details of the processing. From the single arrival point of Dulles International Airport, new Afghan arrivals were going on to military bases around the United States for further processing. They do not include U.S. citizens, green card holders or their families.

Each person was undergoing a COVID-19 test on arrival in the U.S. and officials were working on arranging COVID vaccinations for those who want them. Each new Afghan arrival was being connected to a refugee organization that would help them resettle in homes around the United States.

 By Robert Burns

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MADRID  The Spanish government says it has evacuated more than 800 Afghans from Kabul, among them more than 100 Afghans who have worked with the United States and who will stay in Spain temporarily.

More than 550 Afghans have arrived in Spain so far, the statement from the prime ministers office said Monday, with a flight of 260 more due to land at the Torrejon de Ardoz air base near Madrid in the next few hours.

Around 560 of the arrivals, including those on the arriving flight, are Afghans who worked with Spain in their home country, while 150 were attached to the EUs External Action Service. A hundred worked with Americans in Afghanistan.

On Saturday, President Joe Biden thanked Spains Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez for the assistance in temporarily housing Afghans at risk who are bound for the United States.

According to the El Pais newspaper, hundreds more Afghans who worked with U.S. military and diplomatic outfits in Afghanistan are expected to arrive in Spain in the upcoming days.

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ISLAMABAD  Pakistans foreign minister has urged the Taliban and other leaders in neighboring Afghanistan to try to reach an inclusive political settlement as soon as possible.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi issued the appeal Monday at a news conference ahead of his upcoming visit to several regional countries.

Qureshi will leave for Uzbekistan on Tuesday on a trip that will also include stops in Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Iran to discuss the situation in Afghanistan. He said he had already spoken with officials in China by phone.

Qureshi said it was a good sign that the Taliban were already talking to some other Afghan leaders, including former president Hamid Karzai. Qureshi said Pakistan will continue to play its role for a peaceful and politically negotiated solution of the Afghan issue.___

MADRID  Spains defense minister says there is a real risk of a terror attack against Western troops helping to evacuate people at Kabuls international airport.

Defense Minister Margarita Robles said Monday the hasty withdrawal of military forces from Afghanistan has been an unmitigated failure."

Both the U.S. troops and our soldiers are reckoning on that (threat of attack), because it exists, she said.

Robles said in an interview with Spains La Sexta television channel that both NATO and the European Union should learn lessons from their 20-year presence in Afghanistan.

She recalled that 102 Spanish troops had given their lives during NATOs operation.

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MILAN  The Italian charity Pangea says all of its dozens of female activists and over 200 family members have reached safety inside the Kabul airport, and some have boarded planes for Italy.

Pangea says they all were in the airport by dawn Monday.

The activists of Pangea are strong and resisted. They fought like lionesses to enter in that airport, the charity said in an Instagram post.

Pangea founder Luca Lo Presti has been working for a week to evacuate the activists and their families, saying their work to provide microloans to female-run businesses was a direct threat to the Taliban.

The women identified themselves to Italian military at the Kabul airport by writing a P on the palm of their hands as a password. Video posted by Pangea shows some of the women boarding a military transport filled with men, women and children, some strapped into seats but many more seated on the floor.

Pangea said in all some 30 activists and over 200 family members were being evacuated.

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BERLIN  Germanys top military commander says he believes that about 5,000 people are waiting at the Kabul airport to be flown out.

Gen. Eberhard Zorn said Monday the figure has declined from about 7,000 at the weekend. He says: We are now trying internationally to reduce this number as far as possible to make room for others  and above all, ultimately to cushion somewhat the precarious accommodation and waiting situation there.

Zorn said he couldnt say what proportion of people at the airport are children or families. But he said on Germanys flights, about 50% of the Afghans evacuated were women.

Germany flew in supplies Sunday in an effort to help improve the situation inside the airport. Zorn said they included diapers, pacifiers and cuddly toys for small children, as well as food for children. More supplies are in the pipeline.

The situation in front of the gates remains difficult, Zorn said. I would also call it dramatic, because the accumulation of people interested in getting into the airport grounds is enormously high (and) additional potential for violence is arising on the ground in this group.

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PARIS  Frances foreign affairs and defense ministers have arrived at a military air base in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, where French planes are carrying people evacuated from Kabul.

Jean-Yves Le Drian and Florence Parly are to meet with diplomats, soldiers, police officers and other staff involved in evacuation operations, the ministries said in a statement Monday.

More than 1,000 Afghans, almost 100 French and more than 40 people from other nationalities have been evacuated by France over the past week, authorities said.

A seventh plane landed in Paris airport Monday, carrying 246 Afghans and five French.

The ministers trip is also aimed at praising the support of the UAE, where France has a permanent military base, the statement said.

Le Drian and Parly are to meet with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Abu Dhabis crown prince, to have talks over the situation in Afghanistan and how to preserve the regional security and stability.

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KABUL, Afghanistan  The Talibans longtime spokesman has urged imams in Afghanistan to give assurances to Afghans about their security and safety.

Zabihullah Mujahid said Monday at a gathering of clerics in the capital Kabul that they are responsible for keeping their constituents calm.

He also urged them to clear the baseless propaganda he says is being disseminated by the U.S. about the Taliban.

He says: Imams, keep your people calm, we should indoctrinate people to support the Islamic government and Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan.

Mujahid said government employees will soon be able to return to work and Afghans will remain safe under a previously announced amnesty.

The Taliban have pledged amnesty to those who worked with the U.S., NATO and the toppled Afghan government, but many Afghans still fear revenge attacks. There have been reports in recent days of the Taliban hunting down their former enemies.

___

AMMAN, Jordan  Jordans Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it will allow 2,500 Afghan nationals fleeing the Taliban takeover of the country to transit through its territory en route to the U.S.

Ministry spokesman Ambassador Daifullah Al-Fayez said Monday the decision was made for purely humanitarian reasons to help with the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

He said arrangements for the transit of Afghan citizens who are evacuated through Jordan have been agreed upon with the U.S.

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ROME  Some 662 people fleeing Afghanistan have arrived at the U.S. naval air base in Sicily. The U.S. is working to ramp up evacuations following the Taliban takeover of the country by using overseas military bases as temporary transit points.

A U.S. Air Force KC-10 Extender, followed by two C-17 Globemaster III, arrived Sunday at the Sigonella air base from Qatar, according to a statement from the U.S. base. Located on Sicilys eastern coast near Catania, Sigonella is home to an Italian and NATO base as well as the U.S. Naval Air Station, the U.S. Navys only overseas air station.

The U.S. statement said Sigonella was being used as a transit location for evacuees before they are transferred elsewhere and it quoted the base commander, Capt. Kevin Pickard, as saying the Afghans will be joining our American family.

The evacuees for now were being housed in two barracks on the base, where anti-COVID-19 measures are being followed, and are being provided with medical care, Halal food, religious and recreation areas, the statement said.

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BERLIN  Germany says it has evacuated 2,725 people from Afghanistan as of Monday  1,787 Afghans, 282 Germans and the rest from elsewhere. The people it has evacuated come from 43 nations in total.

Two more flights, with 198 and 180 evacuees on board respectively, left Kabul on Monday afternoon, the military said.

The government said it cant say precisely how many Germans are left in Kabul because there is no obligation for Germans abroad to register with their countrys authorities, and also no obligation for people evacuated by other means -- or who are also citizens of another country -- to inform German authorities.

But Foreign Ministry spokesman Christofer Burger said we believe at the moment  this is an estimate  that a low three-digit number of German citizens is still in Afghanistan.

Interior Ministry spokesman Steve Alter said there have been a few cases  fewer than 10  in which people have turned out on arrival in Germany to have been on polices radar.

___

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MOSCOW  Russia says it will not interfere in the stand-off between the Taliban and their opponents in Afghanistan.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that leaders of the Collective Security Treaty Organization member states discussed the standoff and its implications of another civil war in Afghanistan. He says that, Of course, no one is going to intervene in these events.

Taliban spokesman said Monday the groups forces have surrounded Panjshir, the only one of Afghanistans 34 provinces that has not yet fallen to the Taliban. Several Taliban opponents have gathered in Panjshir.

They include Amrullah Saleh, the vice president in the toppled government who claims to be the acting president, and Ahmad Massoud, son of the slain commander of the Northern Alliance militias that partnered with the U.S. to drive the Taliban from power in 2001.

The Collective Security Treaty Organization includes Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

Moscow fought a 10-year war in Afghanistan that ended with Soviet troops withdrawal in 1989 and has made a diplomatic comeback as a mediator, jockeying with the U.S. for influence in the country. It has hosted several rounds of talks on Afghanistan, most recently in March, that involved the Taliban  even though Russia has labeled them a terrorist organization.

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COPENHAGEN, Denmark  A 23-year-old man who had been deported from Denmark because of several criminal convictions, managed to sneak back on an evacuation plane from Afghanistan by pretending he was his brother.

Danish broadcaster DR said the man, who was not identified, was recognized by police for being member of an outlawed criminal gang, and arrested on arrival in Denmark. He is faces preliminary charges of violating an entry ban.

The man who was sent back to Afghanistan in July, was among the last people to have been deported from Denmark, DR said.

The BT newspaper said the man arrived in Denmark on an evacuation plane on Sunday and was arrested then. The DR and BT reports said he faced a pre-trial detention hearing on Monday.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Monday that Denmark has evacuated some 650 people from Kabul.

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ISLAMABAD  Pakistans interior minister says the Taliban have assured his country they will not allow the outlawed Pakistani Taliban  a separate militant group from the one in Afghanistan  to use Afghan soil for attacks against Pakistan.

Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said on Monday that his ministry has information that amid the Taliban sweep across Afghanistan, some of the leaders and members of the Pakistani Taliban, or Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, were freed from Afghan prisons.

Ahmed said Islamabad was in contact with the Taliban over the matter.

The Pakistani Taliban have claimed responsibility for several past attacks, including the 2014 deadly attack on a Peshawar school that killed 154 people, mostly schoolchildren.

Islamabad alleges the Pakistani Taliban have been hiding in Afghanistan for the past several years, after fleeing military operations launched against them inside Pakistan.

Ahmed also said that since last week, Pakistan has helped more than 2,000 foreigners and Pakistanis leave Afghanistan by air and land routes. Pakistan is issuing visas upon arrival to all diplomats, foreigners and journalists seeking to leave Kabul over security concerns.

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THE HAGUE, Netherlands  Dutch authorities say that a temporary accommodation center for Afghan evacuees at an army barracks in the northern Netherlands is full and a second location is being opened.

The government agency that houses asylum seekers said on Monday that the camp in the remote village of Zoutcamp reached its capacity on Sunday night, with the arrival of 178 Afghan evacuees.

A new accommodation center is being opened to house more Afghans at another military barracks in the central town of Zeist.

The Dutch defense ministry says it has completed nine flights out of Kabul to airports in the region since the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan. Six flights carrying evacuees from Afghanistan have arrived in the Netherlands carrying a total of more than 800 people. That number includes Dutch nationals, Afghans and citizens of other countries.

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BEIJING  China is once again criticizing the United States over Afghanistan, saying America cannot simply abandon the war-torn country.

The United States is the root cause and the biggest external factor in the Afghan issue, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Monday. It cannot just run away like this.

He called on the U.S. to help maintain stability, avoid chaos and rebuild Afghanistan.

I hope the U.S. side can match its acts with words, take on its responsibilities in Afghanistan and put into practice its commitments to Afghanistan in terms of development and reconstruction, and humanitarian assistance, he told a daily briefing.

China has expressed readiness to work with all parties in Afghanistan, including the Taliban, to rebuild the war-torn nation.

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WARSAW, Poland  A deputy foreign minister says Poland has so far evacuated over 400 people from Kabul, including Poles and Afghans who worked for Polands diplomatic mission or pro-democracy efforts, with their family members. More flights are planned.

Marcin Przydacz said on Polish Radio 24 Monday that the situation at the Kabul airport was getting ever more tense, adding further pressure on the evacuations.

The International Monetary Fund thanked Poland for a successful evacuation of its staff from Kabul, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Twitter, following a phone call with the IMF managing director, Kristalina Georgieva. Poland is also to evacuate some 300 staff working for NATO in Afghanistan.

Seven planes have already brought evacuees to Poland and another one, with some 70 Afghan evacuees, was expected in Warsaw on Monday, according to Morawiecki's top aide, Michal Dworczyk.

Dwroczyk said the plane was delayed in Uzbekistan for several hours due to problems at the site, which he did not describe.

Another passenger plane is on the way to Uzbekistan, a stopover on the evacuation route. Evacuees from Kabul are brought there on military planes and then flown to Warsaw by the national carrier, LOT.

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LONDON  Britain is urging the United States to extend its evacuation effort in Kabul beyond the current Aug. 31 deadline, saying without the Americans other countries will have no choice but to stop their own operations to help people fleeing the Taliban takeover.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson plans to press President Joe Biden at an emergency meeting of Group of Seven leaders on Tuesday convened by Britain.

Some U.K. military leaders have said Britain should keep troops at Kabul airport to continue the evacuation effort even if the Americans leave. But Armed Forces Minister James Heappey said Monday that there is a hard reality that there would be no international airlift without the way that the U.S. are underpinning it.

He said that whether or not the U.S. can be persuaded to stay is a matter for the prime minister tomorrow in the G-7 meeting. He said that an agreement from the Taliban would also be needed for an extension.

Biden has not ruled out extending the airlift beyond the Aug. 31 deadline he set before the Talibans swift takeover in Afghanistan, but he said he hoped it would not be necessary.

Britain says its forces have evacuated more than 5,700 people  chiefly U.K. citizens and Afghans  from Kabul in the last 10 days, 1,821 of them in the past 24 hours.

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UNITED NATIONS  The U.N. agency for children expects the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan to worsen due to a severe drought, the onset of winter and the coronavirus pandemic.

UNICEF says 10 million children in Afghanistan already survive on humanitarian assistance and around a million are expected to suffer from life-threatening malnutrition this year. It says some 4.2 million children, including 2.2 million girls, are out of school.

Afghanistan was a poor country, reliant on international aid, even before the Taliban took over earlier this month.

UNICEF director Henrietta Fore said in a statement on Monday that this is the grim reality facing Afghan children and it remains so regardless of ongoing political developments and changes in government.

She says the agency is committed to remaining in Afghanistan and is scaling up its operations. UNICEF hopes to provide aid in areas that were unreachable because of the ongoing war.

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KABUL  Frances envoy to Afghanistan says French special forces backed by the U.S. army have helped 260 Afghans who worked with the European Union delegation to get to Kabul airport.

Ambassador David Martinon said in a tweet early on Monday that they have been welcomed at the French Embassys waiting area prior to boarding. Bravo to the EU.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell says around 400 Afghans who worked with the blocs delegation are to be granted protection in Europe. Theyre being sent to Spain for screening before being shared out among EU countries willing to grant them visas.

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BERLIN  The German military says a firefight broke out at the Kabul airports north gate early on Monday between Afghan security forces and unknown attackers.

The military said in a tweet that one Afghan security officer was killed and another three were wounded in the early morning incident. It said that U.S. and German forces then also got involved, and that there were no injuries to German soldiers.

Later, the German military clarified that the Afghan officer was a member of the Afghan army  Afghan troops who are involved in securing the airport as part of the multinational operation.

There was no further information and it wasnt known who the attackers were. The Taliban, who are manning the outside perimeters of the Kabul airport, have until now not opened fire on NATO or Afghan troops within.

Mondays incident took place after at least seven Afghans died in a panicked crush of people trying to enter Kabuls international airport on Sunday, the British military said. Thousands were still trying to flee the country in a chaotic exodus a week after the Taliban takeover.

The German Defense Ministry said Monday that the countrys military has evacuated more than 2,700 people from Kabul since the evacuations started, with people of 38 nationalities among those taken out. German A400M transport aircraft are shuttling between Kabul and Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

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COPENHAGEN, Denmark  A plane with Norwegian citizens from Afghanistan, others with links to Norway and also other foreign nationals landed in Oslo on Monday, the fourth flight in the past days to have landed in Norway.

The Scandinavian countrys foreign ministry declined to say how many were on the plane or give details for safety reasons, the Norwegian news agency NTB said.

In neighboring Sweden, Foreign Minister Ann Linde said Monday that more than 170 people have been evacuated from Afghanistan. I am pleased that we can now welcome local employees, at the same time as we continue to work to evacuate more local employees, she said.

Denmark too has been active in evacuating people from Afghanistan. Finland said that so far the total number of its evacuees was at 110. They include citizens from Finland and people with permanent Finnish residence, along with other persons who have been working for Finland, the EU and NATO, together with their families.
ALBANY  The problem was clear. The state's budget was bloated with the expressed needs of agency heads and filled with a patchwork of legislative pork, including money for every elected official's district. It was filled with "extravagance, waste and irresponsibility."

"We cannot expect economy in the future unless some one man will have to lie awake nights to accomplish it," Henry L. Stimson, chairman of New York's Constitutional Committee, said in 1915. "The only way to stop waste is for the people of the state to know exactly whose fault it is if waste occurs, or if the cost of government steadily rises without compensating increase in service rendered."

Stimson was a Republican Wall Street banker and went on to become secretary of state to President Herbert Hoover. He led the country's war efforts for years, but before then, he shaped New York's budgeting process that, more than 100 years later, has led critics to call foul in perhaps their loudest cries to date. It coalesces with the toxic Executive Chamber that a bombshell report from the attorney general's office attributed to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who will resign Monday shrouded in controvsey.

Critics of Cuomo's, and moreso, the state's budgeting process  which places the power in the hands of the governor and not the Legislature, the opposite process seen in Congress  say that while the three-term governor committed egregious abuses of power, it was the state's budget system that gave him the ability to abuse his authority in the first place.

It was the abuse of power, misuse of funds and the cloak of secrecy that Stimson, quoted in the New York Times in 1915, said he looked to avoid. "In the last confused moments of its session," Stimson said, the Legislature "jams through an appropriation bill drawn in committee behind closed doors. The result is an inexact, uneconomical, extravagant expedient of the people's money."

John J. O'Connell, the New York County Chairman of the Progressive Party, debated Stimson, according to the Times.

"He said that it brought about a concentration of power, but not a concentration of responsibility," the New York Times wrote about O'Connell's argument. "He admitted the need of a budget system, but said the one proposed was dangerous."

The dangers have been actualized and the lack of responsibility have become acute to reformers who are looking to seize on any potential bipartisan political momentum in the wake of the Cuomo saga, which nearly ended with an impeachment.

"I dont think we should shy away from dealing with the pattern of abuse by this governor," Assemblyman Phil Steck said.

Steck, a Colonie Democrat, has called for a return to legislative budgeting in recent years and says the moment to act has arrived. "To me, this is less about the persona of Andrew Cuomo, but moreso getting some control on his imperial government we have."

It wasn't until 1927 that Stimson's proposals, about a decade later, were adopted by the state. They came in the midst of an era of reform and Steck said it came on the backdrop of the executive wanting to limit the money legislators would try to give to the poor, especially as waves of immigrants arrived.

Nearly a century later, lawmakers harangue the Executive Chamber for not ensuring eviction moratorium relief dollars are effectively doled out to the state's most struggling constituents, some of whom were once deemed essential workers through the coronavirus pandemic; or others out of work from the restrictions to stop the spread of the deadly virus.

"Albany and state government has centralized too much power among too few people and because of it, from time to time, good things can get done, but most of the time, it is by victimizing people, including taxpayers," said Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, a Republican who ran unsuccessfully against Cuomo in 2018. His platform included policy proposals to scale back the powers of the executive. "If we dont, we not only embolden this bad behavior, we accept it."

The issue of budget reform has widespread support among Democrats and Republicans. Those interviewed for this story are in agreement with it, at least in the sense of the abstract. Many doubt whether it is logistically possible, especially with how long it could take to get through costly constitutional amendment and convention processes.

"Im not very optimistic that that would happen," Siena College Political Science Director Leonard M. Cutler said.

A constitutional expert, Cutler worked for the state Senate for 25 years and then Gov. George Pataki for 12 years.

"Even my former boss, George Pataki, took advantage," Cutler said of the executive budgeting process. "These are models of governors who have built upon their predecessors."

It was under Pataki in which the powers of the executive's budgeting process broadened under a landmark court case, Silver v. Pataki. In the cases that pitted the state Assembly against Pataki, in 1998 and 2001, there were debates on the extent the Legislature can add to the governor's budget and how much the policy and legislation the governor may insert into the spending package.

The Court of Appeals, the state's highest court, ruled in favor of Pataki. The courts noted that Stimson called the governor the "constructor" of the budget and the Legislature the "critic." The governor was supposed to be the one that made decisions and those decisions were supposed to rest with the executive, for the voters to decide whether the decisions were acceptable, Justice Robert S. Smith said in a decision.

"That was the whole point," Smith said.

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Nonetheless, Smith acknowledged that the governor could put forward a budget bill that was essentially void of budget purposes, which is "in theory, a troublesome issue." It's a power that Smith said the court recognizes as "susceptible to abuse."

Chief Justice Judith Kaye, in the dissent, pondered an example from Pataki, where he included substantive policy decisions, typically to be debated on the floor, in his budget.

"Is the Legislature's only choice to accept the governor's proposed significant amendment of the Education Law or defund the public schools?" Kaye wrote, pointing to the court's earlier opinion that the Legislature, as the "critic," could only vote the entire appropriation request down or up.

Lawmakers point to this power that the executive holds as the key to the muscle they have in the process.

"People complain about 'three men in a room,'" Steck said. "But thats unique because of the tremendous power that the governor has. Its very difficult if its the governors budget, and we cant add to it."

State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins was the first woman in the room where the Assembly and Senate leaders negotiate with the governor for a budget that ultimately the executive controls. She told the Times Union in February 2020 that the governor has an "extraordinary amount of power in the budget process."

"As last year's budget shows we have never been shy about asserting our power to pass our priorities during the budget process and we will continue to look for ways to assert that power while working with the new governor as a partner," Mike Murphy, the Senate Democratic majority's spokesman, said in a statement.

Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, who is scheduled to be sworn in on Tuesday as governor, held off answering questions on her view of the budgeting process recently. She will have "more to say on this and other issues when she officially becomes governor and gets through the transition process," spokeswoman Haley Viccaro said in a statement.

Sen. Pete Harckham, a Westchester County Democrat, said earlier this month that the Legislature needs to "assert our power as a co-equal branch of government." Harckham, who once had a strong relationship with Cuomo, a former constituent of his, recalled what happened when he asked the Executive Chamber about what state transportation projects were slated for respective districts. "Silence," he said.

The process for substantial reform was not something that seemed politicially plausible in years past with the power that Cuomo wielded, he said.

"There was this feeling that if we did that in prior years, then the governor goes to 'DEFCON 7' and all hell breaks loose," Harckham said. "But if its the right thing to do, its the right thing to do. I think well see more of that happening."

State Sen. Michael Gianaris, the second-ranking Democrat in the Senate, said the executive's strengths have "gone too far."

"But for someone to say that this is the moment to deal with it," Gianaris said. "You tell me, in November of 2023, whether people will still be voting to change the powers based on what happened to Andrew Cuomo in 2021."
ALBANY  Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who has been staying with one of his sisters in Westchester County in the final days of his third term, recently has asked staff members at the Executive Mansion if anyone would like to keep his dog, Captain, who has remained at the state-owned residence after the governor moved out last week.

Two State Police sources told the Times Union on Saturday that the governor had recently asked mansion staff members if anyone would be interested in caring for the dog. Captain  a high-strung mix of shepherd, Siberian and malamute  has nipped a few people since Cuomo adopted him in 2018, the sources said, and a mansion staffer recently took the dog home for a few days but decided he was too much.

Richard Azzopardi, a senior adviser and spokesman for the governor, lashed out at the allegation that the governor has been looking for someone to care for the canine. He said the arrangement was only "temporary" because the governor, who is scheduled to resign from office at 11:59 p.m. Monday, is planning to take a vacation.

Azzopardi also said that he and the governor had more important things to deal with as the tropical system Henri was bearing down on southern New York and New England.

"Captain is part of the governor's family and for your nameless ill-informed source to imply they've been trying to give him away is untrue," Azzopardi said in a statement Saturday. "Someone offered to watch him for a few days while the transition was ongoing but for that to be weaponized and morph from a game of telephone into the pages of your paper is absurd  now excuse us we're preparing for a major storm."

In an earlier conversation, Azzopardi had said: "He wants to go on vacation. They love that dog.  That's not what he asked: He didn't ask to give away the dog.  This nameless source is crazy. ... I can't believe this is what I'm dealing with right now, when I'm dealing with a major storm."

Azzopardi's statement that Cuomo was looking for someone at the mansion to care for his dog apparently means the governor could have tasked a state employee with caring for the animal after his resignation as governor became effective at the end of Monday.

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But a State Police source said they were told "he tried giving the dog to the (a mansion employee).  Apparently (the employee) took the dog home and it didn't work  the dog walks him, he don't walk the dog."

The source, in an interview on Saturday, also said the dog had nipped at "several State Police members" as well as staff members, "and the governor would just laugh.  The dog remains at the mansion."

Cuomo first introduced the dog, then 14 weeks old, in 2018 to a delegation from the state Conference of Mayors when they visited the Executive Mansion.

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Cuomo, who struggled to control the dog during that public introduction, said his daughters had suggested getting the dog but were "nowhere to be found now."

"He will only urinate indoors," Cuomo said three years ago. "He has some kind of climate sensitivity that overpowers his bowel movements."

UPDATE: In a tweet late Monday night, Cuomo posted a photo of himself on Twitter holding Captain's face, and saying they were reunited, as members of his family looked on.

"Yes, I was downstate monitoring storm response for a few days, but Captain and I are a man and his dog," Cuomo said. "He is part of our family and that's the way it will always be."

The photo Cuomo posted on Twitter is from a magazine article published more than a year ago. The dog was picked up from the Executive Mansion on Monday by an Albany-area canine trainer whose facility also offers boarding.

One of the State Police sources who provided the information to the Times Union stood by the account Tuesday, saying: "He planned on keeping that dog as much as he planned on living over his big sister's garage at (age) 63."
Farmington, WV (26555)

Today

A steady rain this morning. Showers continuing this afternoon. Potential for flooding rains. High 68F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Slight chance of a shower throughout the evening. Low 54F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.
Farmington, WV (26555)

Today

Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. Potential for flooding rains. High 69F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Slight chance of a shower throughout the evening. Low 54F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.
Pictured is the new Ridgway Sanitarium, rebuilt after it burned down the first time. A trolley can also be seen, which would run from Hydetown to Titusville.
From left to right: Titusville Police Officer Zachary Erdman, Dan Covell and Chief Dusin LeGoullon stand together in the police station. Covell dropped off a check to the department to help with the return of a K-9 to Titusvilles police department.
August 23, 2021





Are you an emerging business professional in search of the perfect laptop? When you go take a sneak peek at the market, you can find a slew of laptop choices available. Infact, with so many options to choose from, it is natural for shoppers to remain confused and undecided, even after skimming through hundreds of user reviews. However, when you talk about a laptop that is most popular for business purposes, only one name pops in the mind of thousands of professionals- Lenovo (News - Alert) ThinkPad.







Wondering what makes Thinkpads the most popular choice for business purposes? Well, there are many features ranging from its robustness to durability, that makes Lenovo ThinkPads as the top choice of many professionals when it comes to getting work done. Here is a list of some reasons that will make you understand why ThinkPads are most popular for business purposes and you can find the best laptop offers near you in the article below.

1. Shows Reliable and Productive Performance

The Lenovo ThinkPads are designed exclusively keeping in mind the comfort of business executives and professionals, who simply need to get things done. Much emphasis is placed on important factors such as performance for productivity, security and reliability by the Lenovo designers and engineers. Lenovo ThinkPads stand apart from the rest of the laptop crowd in regard to reliability and practicality. This product was crafted almost 26 years ago by IBM (News - Alert) and its vision is being taken forward with newer lineups consistently!

2. Incredible Durability and Longevity

First developed by IBM, ThinkPad was taken over by Lenovo in 2005. Its longevity and durability are two major factors which make Lenovo ThinkPads as the number one choice of hundreds of business professionals. It was the only laptop which was certified for use aboard the International Space Station, back in the year 2003. This achievement, in itself speaks a lot about the quality of this range of laptops. You will also be delighted to know that each ThinkPad has undergone MIL-SPEC testing against extreme conditions, to test its durability. Hence, you can be rest assured that this device is built to last, unlike the usual laptops which normally have an average 3-year lifespan.

Note: MIL-SPEC or MIL-STD is the U.S. Military Standard that meets the standardized objectives of the Department of Defence.

3. Ability to Survive in Harsh Conditions

Like we mentioned earlier, Lenovo ThinkPads have been tested to last longer than your general laptops. However, you may not know that the Lenovo ThinkPads series are designed to survive in the harshest of conditions. For instance, Lenovo ThinkPad T Series, is one exemplary set of laptops that have been known to function properly in acute condition places such as the arctic wilderness, deserts, Mt. Everest and even outer space. Hence, you can now believe when people say that ThinkPads, in general, are designed to endure even the roughest environments and conditions. You dont have to worry about water spills, accidental drops, or similar disasters, because your Lenovo ThinkPad can overcome any hardship!

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Lenovo ThinkPads are not just sturdy, reliable and durable, but also highly innovative. Designed for the business traveller, the ThinkPad X series boasts of an impressive battery life while maintaining minimal carbon footprint. You will also be amazed to know that the latest X series ThinkPad models are powered up to 10th Gen Intel (News - Alert) Core i7 processor, high speed SSD storage, robust memory, power packed speed, and more. When it comes to innovation, the Lenovo team is not hitting brakes anytime soon. It is the teams persistent hard work and dedication that led to the invention of ThinkPad X1 Fold, which is the 1st of its kind of laptop to sport a foldable display. Expected to hit the markets soon, ThinkPad explores several features which eases out the work pressure of thousands of business professionals.

5. Keep your Data Safe with Robust Security

Apart from good performance, durability and reliability, another thing that a business professional seeks from their laptop is robust security. The Lenovo ThinkPad with the inclusion of ThinkShield combines innovation from Lenovo and Microsoft, thereby coming up with the most comprehensive end-to-end security. With the number of cyberattacks increasing every day, business professionals need an assurance that their assets will remain safe against prying eyes. Hence, the security is further enhanced with the double protection of Secured-core which makes sure that your data remains safe under the multiple layers of security against firmware attacks. ThinkPad merges software and hardware solutions to bless the business professionals with a fully integrated and secure PC.

6. Showcases one of the Best Keyboards

Among back to back meetings and approaching-deadlines, the work pressure is already stressworthy. As a business professional, you wouldnt want to add the worries of a poor keyboard on top of that. Hence, rely on ThinkPad. Featuring one of the best keyboards in comparison to any other laptop, it is no secret why ThinkPads are considered most popular for business purposes. With the higher travel distance, the ThinkPad keyboard makes typing much easier and quicker than other shallow keyboards. Secondly, the ThinkPad keyboard also features a tactile rough surface and Ark, therefore the typing experience on a ThinkPad is unparalleled. The only laptops that can beat the ThinkPad keyboard are the gaming laptops, which are however, unsuitable for business environments with glaring LEDs and loud fans.

7. Features The Trackpoint

The top choice of many working professionals, Trackpoint is one of the exceptional features of the ThinkPad. The ThinkPad Trackpoints is one of the navigational devices that are included in the keyboard. This trackpoint serves both a mouse as well as a pointing device. However, the trackpad is most commonly used for scrolling documents and spreadsheets because it makes the job much easier and quicker than any other inbuilt scrolling mechanism. The trackpoint can even act as a secondary or a backup mouse, in case your touchpad fails. Users can use it to point your cursor in any direction and even click icons. Always remain sure with a ThinkPad!

8. Cost-Effective Laptop

If you are just beginning your business trajectory or are under tight budget, then also Lenovo ThinkPad proves to be an efficient and full-proof choice. With ThinkPad, you get to enjoy a range of exceptional features in a completely budget-friendly way. Lenovo understands how ThinkPad is considered as the top choice for business purposes, and hence often initiates several exciting deals and discounts on the range. Currently, under the Lenovo ThinkPad sale, users can redeem up to 67% rebate on the purchase of ThinkPad laptops.

In the end, one can say Lenovo ThinkPad is an extraordinary blend of exceptional technology, no-nonsense design, robust security and reliability. After going through all these pointers, it is no secret why ThinkPads are most popular for business purposes. No matter, whether you are in the initial stages of your business, are planning to expand your company or are working as a freelance professional, the incredible performance of a Lenovo Thinkpad can be trusted by all.
[August 23, 2021] 128 Fairfax County-Based Firms - and 85 More in Northern Virginia - Make 2021 Inc. 5000 List of Fastest-Growing Firms

Fairfax County is home to 128 firms that made the just-released annual Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest-growing companies, with five firms placing in the top 500. An additional 85 companies that are located elsewhere in the Northern Virginia Economic Development Alliance made the 2021 list, which is widely recognized as a barometer of the vitality of a business community and especially its ecosystem for entrepreneurs, startups and high-growth firms. These 213 companies account for 69 percent of Virginia's 310 companies on this year's Inc. 500 and 64 percent of the 331 companies on the list from around the Washington, D.C. area. Annandale-based PingWind is ranked highest in Fairfax County, at no. 75 on the list. It also is the third fastest-growing company in government services, and the third-fastest growing company in Virginia, with 5,118 percent three-year growth. "Moving our corporate headquarters to Fairfax County in 2019 has put us in a fantastic ecosystem to support growth including access to tremendous employees and resources, such as the Virginia Procurement Technical Assistance Center at George Mason University," said Aaron Moak, CEO and co-founder of PingWind. "We look forward to expanding our footprint in the county and leveraging our connections here to fuel future growth." Four additional Fairfax County companies are in the top 500 of the list: Centurion Consulting Group; Black Bear Technology Solutions; Kreative Technologies; and Old Dominion Strategies. "The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority congratulates all the Fairfax County and Northern Virginia firms on the Inc. 5000 list this year," said Victor Hoskins, president and CEO of the FCEDA. "These companies represent a wide array of industry sectors and are excellent examples of the kind of success that businesses of all kinds and sizes can achieve in our region."



The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority promotes Fairfax County as a business and technology center. In addition to its headquarters in Tysons, Fairfax County's largest business district, the FCEDA maintains business investment offices in six important global business centers: Bangalore/Mumbai, Berlin, London, Los Angeles, Seoul and Tel Aviv. Follow the FCEDA on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube. The FCEDA is a member of the Northern Virginia Economic Development Alliance, which promotes and markets Northern Virginia outside the region and conducts activities and events to build the regional business community. Other members of NOVA EDA are the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership, Arlington County, City of Fairfax, City of Falls Church, Fauquier County, Loudoun County, City of Manassas, City of Manassas Park and the Prince William County Department of Economic Development.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210823005075/en/

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[August 23, 2021]

2021 Taiwan Gourmet Food Festival runs in Thailand

TAIPEI, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- 2021 Taiwan Gourmet Food Festival featuring 30 specialty gourmet food brands from Taiwan is landing in Thailand, according to Department of Commerce, Ministry of Economic Affairs. Currently enjoying hot sales on PChome Thai, a Thailand-based e-commerce platform, are the much sought-after Taiwanese delicacies including "Top selling instant noodles", "Premium coffee for your home", "Popular tea brands on the internet" and "Blissful desserts". We hope to help Thai consumers acquire a taste for all flavors from Taiwan's signature delicacies, be it sweets, savories, solids or drinks.

The 2021 Taiwan Gourmet Food Festival runs from August 16 to September 30. Packed with authentic Taiwanese gourmet food, beverages and gift packs, the e-commerce platform has a user-friendly Thai interface with a speedy local delivery. For instance, costumers can find on PChome Thai the popular Sheriff Tea Eggs; ITSO Tea with an enduring aftertaste; aromatic HWC Roasters coffee; MAZENDO's spicy appetizing noodles; and Ah-Tsung Shih Pastries that are fit for state banquets.

Additionally, any purchase of Baht $800 or more will be entitled to promotional discounts. Dear Thai friends, come and surrender to Taiwanese goodies galore in those moments of feeling peckish (For more details, please visit https://reurl.cc/1Y5kq8).

SOURCE Department of Commerce, Ministry of Economic Affairs
[August 23, 2021] After a Year Like no Other, Kansas Virtual Academy is Ready to Help Students Succeed in the New School Year

Kansas Virtual Academy (KSVA), a full-time, tuition-free public school is ready to start the new school year and give students throughout the state an education option designed to help them reach their full potential. KSVA students and teachers will prepare to start the 2021-2022 school year August 25, 2021. For most families, the new school year comes with cautious optimism. Many families realized during the pandemic that attending school online is a safe alternative that allows them to focus on their child's future. According to a recent survey by Stride, Inc., 91 percent of parents agree that it's important for their children to have multiple school options, including full-time online or a hybrid model that blends online and in-person learning. And almost two-thirds of parents would consider full-time online public school after their 2020 pandemic-driven virtual education experience. Staffed by state-licensed teachers, KSVA offers students an individualized approach to learning with engaging curriculum designed for students who seek alternative pathways to getting an education. Despite ide-spread evidence of a "COVID slide" of learning loss for students in the U.S. during the pandemic, Stride K12-powered schools like KSVA reported lower learning loss rates than those reported in national studies. And in some cases, students enrolled in Stride K12-powered schools experienced learning gains.



"Students choose online learning for a variety of reasons, including advanced learning, a bullying-free environment, and the flexibility to support extracurricular pursuits or medical needs while maintaining a focus on academics," said KSVA Head of School Cassie Barton. "ISKS's online platform gives students the opportunity to pursue their academic goals in a supportive environment." Visit ksva.k12.com to learn more about KSVA and how to enroll, or download the Stride K12 mobile app for iOS and Android (News - Alert) devices - where families can enroll, get ready for the first day of school, and monitor their students' academic progress throughout the school year.

About Kansas Virtual Academy Kansas Virtual Academy (KSVA) is a full-time online public-school program of the Spring Hill School District that serves Kansas students in kindergarten through sixth grade. As part of the Kansas public school system, KSVA is tuition-free, giving parents and families the choice to access the rigorous curriculum provided by K12 Inc. (NYSE: LRN), the nations' leading provider of K-12 proprietary curriculum and online education programs. For more information about KSVA, visit ksva.k12.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210823005003/en/

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[August 23, 2021] Amid the Uncertainty, Missouri Virtual Academy is Ready to Help Students Succeed in the New School Year

Missouri Virtual Academy (MOVA), a full-time, tuition-free public school program of the Grandview R-2 School District, is ready to kick off the new school year and give students throughout the state a consistent education option designed to help them reach their full potential. MOVA students and teachers will open their laptops to start the 2021-2022 school year tomorrow, August 24, 2021. For most families, the new school year comes with cautious optimism. Many families realized during the pandemic that attending school online is a safe alternative that allows them to focus on their child's future. According to a recent survey by Stride, Inc., 91 percent of parents agree that it's important for their children to have multiple school options, including full-time online or a hybrid model that blends online and in-person learning. And almost two-thirds of parents would consider full-time online public school after their 2020 pandemic-driven virtual education experience. "Despite all the uncertainty and challenges we have faced through these unprecedented times, we are confident that we can help our students reach their fullest potential during another incredible school year," said MOVA Head of School Steve Richards. Authorized by the Grandview R-2 School District, and staffed by Missouri-certified teachers, MOVAoffers a personalized approach to learning, delivering rich, engaging curriculum designed to assist students who seek alternative pathways to education. Despite wide-spread evidence of a "COVID slide" of learning loss for students in the U.S. during the pandemic, Stride K12-powered schools like MOVA reported lower learning loss rates than those reported in national studies. And in some cases, students enrolled in Stride K12-powered schools experienced learning gains.



Students who attend MOVA also have the opportunity to look to the future. High school students can participate in the Career Prep Program and enroll in classes that will help them discover and explore potential careers in Business and Information Technology (IT). Students can also earn college credits while still in high school, giving them a head start in their state and potentially saving them thousands of dollars in college tuition costs. Students choose online learning for a variety of reasons, including advanced learning, a bullying-free environment and the flexibility to support extracurricular pursuits or medical needs while maintaining a focus on academics. MOVA's online platform gives students the opportunity to pursue their academic goals in a supportive environment and at an appropriate pace for their learning style.

Missouri Virtual Academy is still accepting enrollments for the 2021-2022 school year. To learn more about MOVA and how to enroll, visit mova.k12.com or download the Stride K12 mobile app for iOS and Android (News - Alert) devices - where families can enroll, prepare for the first day of school and monitor students' academic progress throughout the school year. About Missouri Virtual Academy Missouri Virtual Academy (MOVA) is an online public-school program of the Grandview R-2 School District, serving students across the state of Missouri. MOVA is tuition-free, giving parents and families the choice to access the engaging curriculum and tools provided by Stride, Inc. (NYSE: LRN), the nation's leading provider of proprietary K-12 curriculum and online education programs. For more information about MOVA, visit mova.k12.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210823005002/en/

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[August 23, 2021] Anndy Lian Joins the EG Association as Non-Executive Chair

BERN, Switzerland, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The EG Association , a social impact-driven organization leveraging the power of blockchain technologies, is pleased to announce that Anndy Lian will be joining their leadership board as a Non-Executive Chairman. His core duties include providing leadership and advice to the board, effectively supporting the goal to maintain a decentralized and functioning board governance structure. The EG Association is a non-profit organization that serves to bring and influence social impact activities to all regions of the world. The establishment of the organization was a response to the need for the cryptocurrency ELONGATE to effectively deploy its social impact initiatives on the ground. With a mutual working structure, Elongate shall provide the technological solutions for theEG Association's global initiatives. The association's mission is to leverage community action and blockchain technologies to grow a global movement that defies the status quo and makes profitability intrinsically linked to positive social impact. This means that the EG Association acts as the real-world gateway  governing social impact activities on the ground such as donations, sponsorships, social entrepreneurship, and community action  effectively empowering the blockchain-based efforts of Elongate and its crypto community. Within its first few months of operation, Elongate has donated over $3,000,000 USD to charitable partner organizations as well as achieved full incorporation of two legal entities.



As the President of the EG Association, Lorenzo Andree says on Anndy's appointment: "Besides his subject matter expertise, Anndy is an amazing human being who supports social impact in local communities. His thought leadership will be of essence for our journey, and we are beyond excited to drive social impact together in the next few months." Anndy Lian is a seasoned business strategist and an intergovernmental expert with over 15 years of experience in Asia. Currently acting as the Chief Digital Advisor to Mongolia's national productivity agenda, he is also the Chairman for the Korea eSports Industry, BigONE Exchange and was previously an Advisory Board member for Hyundai DAC. He has provided advisory across a variety of industries for local, international & public listed companies. Anndy has played a pivotal role in nonprofit and quasi government linked organizations. He is an early blockchain adopter and experienced serial entrepreneur, a best-selling author of the book Blockchain Revolution 2030, an investor, board member and keynote speaker. Anndy brings all of his experience and expertise to the EG Association and will play a key role in advising the current board members on blockchain as a real-world utility with a special focus on the Asian market.

"With Elongate providing the technology to connect the blockchain and its enthusiasts to charitable giving, we can bring social impact globally. We are excited to show the world what we've constantly been working on. Building schools, providing relief to challenged communities, and educating about the positive impacts of blockchain, are just some of the initiatives we intend to share with everyone soon. In closing, Anndy said: "The EG Association shall always use the blockchain for good. To bring modern social impact is to ignite a revolution that leverages the power of the digital era, and we shall do it one country at a time." SOURCE EG Association

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[August 23, 2021] Aptean Announces Keynote Speaker for 2021 Food and Beverage Global Symposium

ALPHARETTA, Ga., Aug. 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aptean , a global provider of mission-critical enterprise software solutions, released key details and speakers for its upcoming 2021 Food and Beverage Global Symposium. The event, which will be held virtually on October 5, 2021, will focus on how trends in data, innovation, sustainability and humanity (DISH) are forming the foundation of the future for the food and beverage manufacturing industry.

Highlights of the conference will include a keynote presentation by Danielle Gould, Founder and CEO of Food+Tech Connect. Ms. Gould will be speaking on the topic of understanding conscious consumers and how to create a culture of sustainable innovation. Event attendees will also have the opportunity to receive a report detailing the results of a new, proprietary research study showcasing how digital transformation is rapidly changing the way in which food and beverage companies are using data to improve their products, productivity and efficiency. Kevin Prouty, Group Vice President at IDC, the global research firm commissioned by Aptean to conduct the study, will present intriguing new insights and statistics tat are pertinent for all symposium attendees.



"As a leader in creating software for specific industries, Aptean recognizes that the food and beverage manufacturing industry has unique technology needs, said TVN Reddy, Chief Executive Officer of Aptean. The pressure for the industry to provide fresh, healthy and affordable products in more sustainable ways has never been greater. Bringing together industry leaders who share this commitment to exchange ideas and best practices is critical in this dynamic and challenging marketplace. This is the second year that Aptean has brought leading manufacturers from the food and beverage industry together to focus on key trends and how technology can help to address evolving needs in food production.

To register for the 2021 Aptean Food and Beverage Global Symposium, click here. About Aptean

Aptean is one of the worlds leading providers of purpose-built, industry-specific software that helps manufacturers and distributors effectively run and grow their businesses. With both cloud and on-premise deployment options, Apteans products, services and unmatched expertise help businesses of all sizes to be Ready for Whats Next, Now. Aptean is headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia and has offices in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific. To learn more about Aptean and the markets we serve, visit www.aptean.com. Aptean is a trademark of Aptean, Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated. For Media Inquiries Please Contact

Nicole ORourke

Chief Marketing Officer

Nicole.Orourke@aptean.com

(770) 715-0362



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[August 23, 2021] Calabrio Hires Kristin Gaarder as First Chief Human Resources Officer

Calabrio, the customer experience intelligence company, has brought on Kristin Gaarder as its first chief human resources officer. This important addition to the executive team comes as Calabrio (News - Alert) continues to strengthen operations in analytics-based customer service and workforce engagement management and builds a workforce highly dedicated to its own customer satisfaction. Named by the Star Tribune this year as a Top Workplace for the eighth year in a row, Calabrio will look to Gaarder to lead and evolve efforts to enable organizational growth. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210823005044/en/ Calabrio Hires Kristin Gaarder as First Chief Human Resources Officer. (Photo: Business Wire) "As human centricity becomes increasingly more important in the contact center industry, Calabrio is focused on providing our employees with a dynamic wok experience so they can concentrate on flawlessly executing this for our customers," said Tom Goodmanson (News - Alert) , president and CEO of Calabrio. "Kristin's experience and focus on people-first practices will be an asset to Calabrio as we continue to grow along with this ever-changing industry."



In this role, Gaarder and her team will support more than 700 current employees as well as lead Calabrio's expansion to a team of over 1,000. She will oversee human resources, including recruitment and talent retention, leadership development, benefits, employee relations, diversity, belonging and inclusion, and the many employee-development programs offered by Calabrio. Gaarder has more than 20 years of experience marrying brand promises with human resource initiatives to better support an engaged employee population. Prior to joining Calabrio, Gaarder served as the SVP of Human Resources & Corporate Services for Amplifon. She was also the general manager and VP of Human Resources for Nilfisk High Pressure Washers. Gaarder is on the board of the HR Executive Forum and was recognized as a Top Woman Leader in Minnesota. Through these and other previous roles, Gaarder witnessed firsthand and helped guide organizational transformation.

Gaarder commented, "Looking back on the experiences I've had at companies across multiple industries, I've found that the key to business success always comes down to one element: human connection. Whether with your employees, customers, prospects, or everything in between, the path to growth lies with building and strengthening one-to-one connections. I'm excited to collaborate alongside Calabrio's seasoned leadership team who also hold these same core values. We will work together to create meaningful experiences for employees, develop their talents and continue to deliver to our customers the excellence they expect." Earlier this year, Calabrio's growth trajectory charted new territory as the company became the fifth Minnesota-based technology unicorn when private equity firm, Thoma Bravo, acquired Calabrio from KKR. The acquisition is not only a testament to Calabrio's growth but its strength and innovation as a global team over the past few years, values which continue to expand across the organization. About Calabrio Calabrio is the customer experience intelligence company that empowers organizations to enrich human interactions. Through AI-driven analytics, Calabrio uncovers customer behavior and sentiment and derives compelling insights from the contact center. Organizations choose Calabrio for its ability to understand customer needs and the overall experience it provides, from implementation to ongoing support. Find more at calabrio.com and follow @Calabrio on Twitter (News - Alert) . Calabrio, Calabrio ONE and the Calabrio logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of Calabrio, Inc. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210823005044/en/

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[August 23, 2021] Century Park Capital Partners Announces Sale of Covercraft

Century Park Capital Partners ("Century Park") is pleased to announce that it has completed the sale of Covercraft Industries ("Covercraft") to Audax Private Equity. Covercraft is a leading branded manufacturer of custom vehicle protection products including automotive covers, seat covers, front end masks, dashboard covers, window sunscreens, RV covers, boat covers, and other products that "protect the things that move you". The company focuses on custom-fitted covers with a library that includes more than 300,000 patterns for distinct automotive, marine and outdoor protection products. Covercraft was founded by Bob Lichtmann in 1965, who established the company as a leading brand in the custom automotive accessory market. His son, Marty Lichtmann, served as President and CEO when the family sold majority control of the company to Century Park in 2015. Marty Lichtmann partnered with Century Park through a rollover investment and remained active in the business by serving on the board of directors. Century Park developed a Value Creation Blueprint to accelerate the company's growth and improve its margin profile by establishing a direct-to-consumer channel while also expanding into new product lines, both organically and through acquisition. Since Covercraft launched its direct-to-consumer website in 2016, sales through that channel have grown organically nearly sevenfold. In addition, the company completed five add-on acquisitions, expanding Covercraft's product assortment, distribution channels and manufacturing capabilities. Through this combination of organic growth and acquisitions, Covercraft's earnings grew nearly eightfold under Century Park's ownership. The investment was led by Guy Zaczepinski, Managing Partner with Century Park, who commented, "Covercraft has become a leading player in custom vehicle protection, with strong market share across the automotive, RV and marine categories. The company's product lines - in seat covers, automotive covers, marine covers, dash covers, and window sunscreens - are best-in-class. We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to the entire Covercraft workforce; they have worked tirelessly, especially in this most challenging environment, to keep building products. What the team has achieved is impressive, and they are only getting started; the future for Covercraft is very bright." Adam Zacuto, Vice President with Century Park, added, "It has been a privilege working with Matt Jordan and the rest of the Covercraft management team, who have done a tremendous job growing the business both organically and through acquisitions. We are proud to have partnered with such an iconic brand and played a role in the company's success." Matt Jordan, CEO of Covercraft, said, "The Lichtmann family started Covercraft with a focus on creating the best vehicle protection products possible - and did so with a huge emphasis n integrity and quality. Century Park was an outstanding partner and well-aligned to build on that foundation: opening up the direct-to-consumer channel, expanding into new segments like RV and marine, and further growing the seat cover category. By tapping into the skills and dedication of the people on the Covercraft team, we have added to the legacy of a company that stands for protecting the things that move our customers. I'm terrifically proud of what we've accomplished and look forward to taking the next steps on our future path with our new partners at Audax."



Marty Lichtmann concluded, "When you relinquish control of your 50-year-old family business you hope your new partners will respect the traditions, the culture, and the team you have created. My association with Century Park has been everything I could have hoped for and more. It has truly been an honor and a pleasure to work with Guy, Adam, Matt, and the rest of the board, plus the management team put in place to shepherd Covercraft's growth through this exciting time. They have done an outstanding job creating value and positioning the company for the future with our new partners." Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated ("Stifel") served as financial advisor and Winston & Strawn LLP served as legal advisor to Covercraft in this transaction.

About Covercraft: Covercraft Industries, LLC is a leading branded manufacturer of vehicle protection products including automotive covers, seat covers, front end masks, dashboard covers, window sunscreens, RV covers, marine covers, patio furniture covers and other products that preserve and protect the things that move you. The company focuses on custom products with a library that includes more than 300,000 patterns for distinct automotive and outdoor protection fitment. Covercraft operates manufacturing locations with Quality Management Systems that are certified to ISO9001 and IATF16949. In addition, the Covercraft Environmental Management System is certified to ISO14001. Founded in Southern California in 1965, Covercraft is headquartered in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma with additional manufacturing facilities in California, Colorado, Texas, South Carolina, Montana, and Mexico. For more information, please visit www.covercraft.com. About Century Park Capital Partners: Century Park Capital Partners is a Los Angeles-based private equity group established in 2000 that invests in family businesses, owner-operated firms and corporate divestitures with the purpose of accelerating growth and transforming these companies into leading industry players. We specialize in acquiring strategically well-positioned yet under-resourced middle market companies with identifiable potential for value creation. We leverage the domain expertise of the Century Park Executive Council to work with management to implement a Value Creation Blueprint for our portfolio companies. We further support our investments with proven operational and best practice initiatives, led by our Operating Team, including buy-and-build acquisition integration programs and infrastructure additions. For more information on Century Park, please visit www.centuryparkcapital.com. About Audax Private Equity: Audax Group is a leading alternative investment manager with offices in Boston, New York, and San Francisco. Since its founding in 1999, the firm has raised over $30 billion in capital across its Private Equity and Private Debt businesses. Audax Private Equity has invested over $7 billion in more than 140 platforms and over 1,000 add-on companies, and is currently investing out of its $3.5 billion, sixth private equity fund. Through its disciplined Buy & Build approach, Audax Private Equity seeks to help platform companies execute add-on acquisitions that fuel revenue growth, optimize operations, and significantly increase equity value. With more than 250 employees, Audax is a leading capital partner for North American middle market companies. For more information, visit the Audax Private Equity website: www.audaxprivateequity.com or follow us on LinkedIn. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210823005624/en/

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[August 23, 2021] CIVCO Radiotherapy to Exhibit In-Person and Virtually at ESTRO 2021

CORALVILLE, Iowa, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CIVCO Radiotherapy, the leading global provider of high quality, innovative, patient-centric radiotherapy solutions, will return to in-person exhibition, August 27 -31 in Madrid, Spain at the ESTRO 2021 (European Society for Radiotherapy & Oncology) meeting, booth 210. CIVCO RT will also participate in the annual congress with a virtual booth to support attendees who choose not to travel onsite. "We are excited to be back live at ESTRO 2021 to have face to face conversations with our providers and to continue demonstrating solutions for improving patient care and outcomes," said Nat Geissel, President of CIVCO Radiotherapy. "The pandemic has deeply impacted the world and we are anxious to personally thank those that continued to focus on the mission-critical treatment of cancer patients during these difficult times." CIVCO RT's current innovations and solutions focusing on improving patient comfort, wellness, and outcomes, before, during and after treatment will be available for demonstration. Solstice SRS Immobilization System: Offers unique corrective pitch capability and positioning flexibility. It features customizable components that create a comfortable head and neck immobilization system to improve patient setup during hypofractionation treatment. Innovations in MR compatibility and thermoplastic for shoulder immobilization and reproducibility will be displayed. Body Pro-Lok ONE SBRTImmobilization System: Features the only bridge on the market that allows variable height adjustment, and lateral and tilting offset, enabling the bridge and respiratory plate to adapt to the patient's natural posture and body type. A respiratory belt is available to provide pneumatic compression and immobilization to the abdominal region.



Comfort Marker 2.0 Patient Marking System: Brings a new level of comfort to the patient's radiotherapy treatment by applying reference points in a shallow manner to the upper dermis layer of skin, resulting in less pain to the patient. The reference point(s) may fade over time or can be removed easily with a laser treatment. Universal Couchtop ProForm Head & Neck Immobilization for Proton Therapy: Features geometry that allows for direct access to effectively treat CNS patients. A homogeneous treatment area and soft gradient edges reduce beam degradation. The extension is quick and easy to attach and retains all the important benefits that the Universal Couchtop offers, including a rails-free treatment area. Many thermoplastic options will be displayed.

Adaptiiv Medical Technologies Inc .: Provides a regulated 3D printing software solution to create patient-specific medical accessories that is fully validated for use in radiation oncology. Patient-specific accessories reduce air gaps and hotspots, provide a superior fit compared to traditional methods, and improve treatment accuracy. Adaptiiv's solution eliminates the guesswork in plan verification because it is the only solution that integrates directly with the clinically commissioned TPS, allowing users to verify their plan against the patient-specific bolus prior to printing. About CIVCO Radiotherapy

CIVCO Radiotherapy has over 35 years' experience developing, manufacturing and providing high-quality, innovative, patient-centric solutions in radiotherapy. These solutions include advanced patient immobilization and positioning hardware and consumables, fiducial markers, couchtops and overlays, software, patient care products and advanced 6DOF robotic patient positioning. Corporate information is available at www.CivcoRT.com. For further information, please contact:

Shelli Locklear, Sr. Marketing Manager, at +1 319.248.6619 or Shelli.Locklear@CivcoRT.com COPYRIGHT  2021. CIVCO IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARKS OF CIVCO MEDICAL SOLUTIONS. BODY PRO-LOK ONE, PROFORM, SOLSTICE, AND UNIVERSAL COUCHTOP ARE TRADEMARKS OF CIVCO. ALL OTHER TRADEMARKS ARE PROPERTY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS. ALL PRODUCTS MAY NOT BE LICENSED IN ACCORDANCE WITH CANADIAN LAW.

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[August 23, 2021] CSC is the #1 Top Workplace, Led by CEO of the Year, Rod Ward

CSC (News - Alert) has been named the #1 Top Workplace this year by The News Journal, and has been honored as a Top Workplace for 15 consecutive years. The list is based solely on anonymous employee feedback gathered through a third-party employee engagement partner, Energage, and measures various culture drivers, including alignment, execution, and connection. "At CSC, we're driven by a strong purpose and mission," says CEO Rod Ward. "More importantly, we are an enduring company, built by our employees, through their tenacity, agility, and integrity. They're the reason we're the #1 Top Workplace this year. They deserve the credit, and I'm honored to serve them every day as CEO. During one of the most challenging years in the history of our company-and of the world-CSC was able to thrive because of our close-knit entrepreneurial culture and resilient spirit. That culture and spirit are the foundation of our success." Almost simultaneously, Rod was named CEO of the Year by Delaware Business Times for the large for-profit business sector. In an awards ceremony in July, Rod was honored for his forward thinking, open and honest updates that create a culture in which CSC continues to thrive, and for putting employee health and wellness first during a tumultuous year for the world-all while being instrumental in doubling the value and number of employees of CSC globally over the last five years. "People often ask what makes CSC special and different from others. CSC is more than a company, it is a community of people coming together to take care of each other and our customers," says Jackie Smetana, executive vice president, CSC Global Service Operations and Human Resources. "We are privileged to be named #1 Top Workplace and are so proud Rod has been honored with the CEO of the Year award from Delaware Business Times. His leadership is kind, consistent, and inclusive. Despite his modesty, this award couldn't have gone to a better CEO." Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware since 1899, CSC has 46 offices in 14 countries. We offer employment opportunities around the globe, inluding positions in information technology, sales, customer service, account management, marketing, and management. Apply at cscglobal.com/careers.



About CSC | We are the business behind business. CSC is the world's leading provider of business, legal, tax, and digital brand services to companies around the globe. We are the business behind business. We are the trusted partner for 90% of the Fortune 500, more than half of the Best Global Brands (Interbrand), nearly 10,000 law firms, and more than 3,000 financial organizations. Learn more at cscglobal.com.

About Energage | Making the world a better place to work together. Energage is a purpose-driven company that helps organizations turn employee feedback into useful business intelligence and credible employer recognition through Top Workplaces. Built on 14 years of culture research and the results from 23 million employees surveyed across more than 70,000 organizations, Energage delivers the most accurate competitive benchmark available. With access to a unique combination of patented analytic tools and expert guidance, Energage customers lead the competition with an engaged workforce and an opportunity to gain recognition for their people-first approach to culture. For more information or to nominate your organization, visit energage.com or topworkplaces.com. About Delaware Business Times Delaware's first dynamic business publication designed from the ground up with the power of three-in print, in person, and online-is keeping Delaware's business and civic leaders "in the loop" with essential news, information, trends, insights, and leads that impact the business community. Delaware Business Times-a division of Today Media-publishes a bi-weekly statewide newspaper, website, and social media. Today Media is a multi-platform communications company which also offers custom communications solutions. In print, online, and in person, Today Media delivers content that readers always look forward to. Visit delawarebusinesstimes.com/ceo. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210823005008/en/

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[August 23, 2021] Dottid Unveils New User-Friendly Interface and Features for Superior Office, Retail, Industrial Leasing & Asset Management Platform

DALLAS, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Dottid, the commercial real estate (CRE) SaaS technology platform for asset management and leasing transactions, announced today it has successfully launched a new User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) offering streamlined access to Dottid's services, allowing office, retail and industrial property owners, brokers and tenants the ability to gain real time insights into occupancy, deal activity, upcoming lease expirations and vacant suites. Dottid's platform  the most collaborative and data rich environment  facilitates both leasing and asset management. The company's new UI/UX enables and promotes collaboration between users and third-party consumers, allowing privacy and permissions customization, depending on the users' role. Dottid's collaborative tools promote teamwork and provide the ability to generate joint-effort opportunities, tag users in comments, assign tasks and requests in real time. Dottid is the first and only platform in the field to provide this type of user experience, with specific tools and windows for industrial, retail and office properties and portfolios. The new and enhanced UI/UX pays attention to the importance of data. Dottid's platform provides users with the ability to capture and harness a range of information, making it not only visible and easy to access but actionable. While competitors focus on visibility, Dottid is about going further; taking data and focusing on what to do with it, weaving information and opportunity seamlessly into the platform. Dottid has now been implemented in tens of millions of square feet of office and industrial properties nationwide. "We are incredibly excited to roll out the enhanced version of Dottid's new UI/UX design," said Dottid CEO and Founder Kyle Waldrep. "Dottid is putting clients' needs front and center and offering them a smoother, easier way to manage their assets. The new dsign provides a unique space to come together in an easy-to-manage environment, rich with visual tools to track every square foot and transaction from vacancy to offering, tour to deal signing, and build-out to move-in. This is just the beginning as we continue to expand product offerings, the Dottid way  simple, smart, and effective."



Dottid was introduced in January of 2020, with a unique, custom platform that was developed based on four years of input from CRE leasing and asset management professionals to offer an exceptional user experience and design simplicity. It is the first and only platform to track every moment of a leasing transaction  from managing inventory of space through offering, negotiation, tenant improvements, and occupancy. Dottid Industrial, a custom extension of the original Dottid offering, was introduced in 2021 and designed with new feature sets to bring all parties together and drive business value for a high performing and often tech underserved asset class. "My experience with Dottid has been phenomenal, with nothing but positive feedback from outside brokers as well," said Mark De La Torre, vice president of Holt Lunsford Commercial Investments (HLCI), a Dallas-based commercial real estate company that acquires and develops industrial and office buildings. "Deal flow efficiency and collaboration are key in commercial real estate transactions. Dottid provides a platform where I can access all of my leasing info and related documents in one location, increasing productivity, and creating a place where different teams can come together and collaborate to move deals forward."

"It's exciting to see customers interacting with a technology that confirms the immediate benefits of a platform built specifically to facilitate deal-making, track all details both pre-lease and post-lease, and provide needed transparency and vertical integration for real estate teams," added Dottid Chief Product Officer Alex Hibbard. "Our team has brought tremendous attention to detail, offering a visual experience that stands out, prioritizing ease of use and efficiency. Dottid simply can solve everyday problems for owners, asset managers, brokers, and all parties pertinent to a transaction." About Dottid: Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Dottid provides a digital process management solution that drives commercial real estate leasing transactions designed by and for CRE professionals. Dottid aims to revolutionize the CRE industry through the use of technology and streamlining the leasing transaction process, allowing owners, brokers, and tenants to close more deals faster and with lower costs, ultimately creating a better customer experience for the tenant. Media Contact: Great Ink  212-741-2977 Roxanne Donovan  317151@email4pr.com

Eric Gerard  317151@email4pr.com; Francisco Miranda  317151@email4pr.com; Eric Nizguretsky  317151@email4pr.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dottid-unveils-new-user-friendly-interface-and-features-for-superior-office-retail-industrial-leasing--asset-management-platform-301360046.html SOURCE Dottid

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[August 23, 2021] DSS's Impact BioMedical Reports Positive Test Results for its 3FDB "DEET Booster" Technology

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Aug. 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Impact Biomedical, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Document Security Systems, Inc. (NYSE American: DSS), along with its scientific research partner Global Research and Discovery Group Sciences, GRDG, announced today encouraging results from clinical tests of its 3FDB (DEET Booster) technology. These results suggest that 3FDB can boost the effectiveness of mosquito repellants, specifically DEET.

Daryl Thompson, Director of Scientific Initiatives at GRDG, stated, These tests represent an important development in addressing mosquito borne diseases and could signal a new frontier of protection strategies. Mosquitos, host to a variety of diseases, including Yellow Fever, West Nile, malaria, dengue, Zika and others, are responsible for more than one million deaths worldwide annually, according to the National Institutes of Health. Working with an independent lab, GRDG conducted three tests involving the mosquito (Aedes aegypti). First Test:

The first test examined 3FDB / DEET concentrations (1% 3FDB with 0.5% DEET) that could be suitable for use in fragrances, shampoos, soaps, and detergents. The mixture was tested against an untreated control group and a group treated with DEET (0.5%) alone over three-, five-, and eight-hour periods. The lower concentration mixture outperformed DEET alone. After three hours, the lower concentration mixture had a 74% repellency rate, while the DEET alone had a repellency rate of 38%. After 5 hours, the 3FDB mixture had a repellency rate of 39%, compared to 22% for DEET alone. After 8 hours, the 3FDB mixture scored a repellency rate of 47%, compared to 15% for DEET alone. As was observed from these tests, adding the 3FDB/DEET mixture to everyday household items increased the protection against mosquito bites over various periods of time, said Thompson. The creative application of this type of technology allows for new, unobtrusive ways to repel mosquitos. Second Test

A second test comparing shirt fabric impregnated with 3FDB and untreated shirt fabric, demonstrated that 3FDB impregnated fabric provides better protection compared to untreated fabric. After 15 minutes, the 3FDB fabric repelled 93% of mosquito landings, while the untreated fabric repelled only 14%. The impregnated fabric stopped 100% of the probes, compared to 17% for the untreated fabric. Probes occur when a mosquito finds a host and probes for a blood vessel. In fact, throughout the testing, which included measurements after six hours and eight hours, the 3FDB impregnated fabric continued to repel 100% of mosquito probes. The untreated fabric only repelled 14% of landings and 12% of probes after six hours. After eight hours, the untreated fabric scored negative percentages, which represented an increase in activity. In other words, after eight hours, the untreated fabric seemed to attract mosquitos instead of providing protection. Third Test

The final test tested higher concentrations of 3FDB for a longer duration. A mixture of 10% 3FDB with5% DEET appeared to increase the effectiveness of 5% DEET alone at the 3-, 5-, 8-, 12-, 15-, and 18-hour marks. After three hours, the 3FDB / DEET mixture had a repellency rate of 98%, compared to 85% for DEET alone. After eight hours, the 3FDB mixture had a repellency rate of 95%, compared to 62% for DEET alone. After 18 hours, the 3FDB mixture remained strong, having a repellency rate of 78%, compared to 53% for DEET alone.



GRDG Chief Scientific Advisor Dr. Roscoe M. Moore, Jr., United States Assistant Surgeon General (Retired) and former Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) Officer at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that he believes these tests are encouraging. The flexibility of the 3F technology allows us to rethink our strategy in the fight against the transmission of disease via mosquito, he said. About 3F Technology

The desire to lower the number of mosquito-borne diseases around the world led GRDG to study orchids from around the world before concentrating on the Florida Everglades and the elusive ghost orchid, which produced a chemical that inhibited the mosquitos ability to find them. The GRDG team was able to identify and, eventually, reproduce those chemical compounds.

These test results are the product of a creative process that focuses on real-world problems and provides safe, real-world solutions, said Frank Heuszel, President of Impact Biomedical, Inc. We will continue to make unique products from botanical sources that serve consumers in their everyday lives. In June 2021, Impact Biomedical and GRDG announced it had received a U.S. Patent for 3FDB (US 10,966,424), a Functional Fragrance Formulation, that increases the effectiveness of current mosquito repellants through a light and delightfully fragrant compound derived from botanical oils. Thomas Meyer, Vice President, Innovation & Sustainability at Chemia Corporation, the fragrance company that has exclusively partnered with GRDG to formulate 3F-Fragrances, believes this will change the personal care market. Major brands will integrate this technology into everyday products, he said. About Impact BioMedical, Inc.

Impact BioMedical, Inc. ("Impact BioMedical") is a wholly owned subsidiary of DSS and a unique technology source, developer, and business partner in addressing unmet needs in human healthcare and wellness. For more information on Impact BioMedical visit http://impbio.com/. About Document Security Systems, Inc.

DSS is a multinational company operating business segments in blockchain security, direct marketing, healthcare, consumer packaging, real estate, renewable energy, and securitized digital assets. Its business model is based on a distribution sharing system in which shareholders will receive shares in its subsidiaries as DSS strategically spins them out into IPOs. Its historic business revolves around counterfeit deterrent and authentication technologies, smart packaging, and consumer product engagement. DSS is led by its Chairman, Mr. Fai Chan, a highly successful global business veteran of more than 40 years specializing in corporate transformation while managing risk. He has successfully restructured more than 35 corporations with a combined value of $25 billion. For more information on DSS visit http://www.dsssecure.com . Investor Contact:

Dave Gentry, CEO

RedChip Companies Inc.

407-491-4498

Dave@redchip.com Safe Harbor Disclosure

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements related to the Company's intended use of proceeds and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those projected. These risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, include: risks relating to our growth strategy; our ability to obtain, perform under and maintain financing and strategic agreements and relationships; risks relating to the results of development activities; our ability to attract, integrate and retain key personnel; our need for substantial additional funds; patent and intellectual property matters; competition; as well as other risks described in our SEC filings, including, without limitation, our reports on Forms 8-K, 10-K and 10-Q, all of which can be obtained on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made and reflect management's current estimates, projections, expectations, and beliefs. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations or any changes in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law.



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[August 23, 2021] First-ever Cloud Travel EXPO in Taiwan: Log-in Now to Enjoy the Charm of All-natural Taitung

TAITUNG CITY, Taiwan, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Get creative to get through the epidemic and keep on enjoying Taitung's beautiful scenery. The Taitung County Government upgraded their prior in-person travel exhibition, which was organized in Singapore and Malaysia, to an online cloud travel expo. The press conference for the "2021 Cloud Travel EXPO - Taitung Taiwan" will be held on August 23. The main EXPO will take place from August 24 to August 27. The expo will share the best restaurants and destinations with foreign media personnel from Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand. Taitung County Magistrate April Yao, will launch the "2021 Cloud Travel EXPO - Taitung Taiwan" and announce that the new official website has gone live at the press conference. A website introduction will be provided on-site to introduce the features of the cloud travel expo. There will be many exhibitions at the cloud travel expo, which will focus on gifts, hotels, hostels, the arts, and handicrafts. The EXPO aims to share Taitung's best restaurants and attractions with the world. Foreign suppliers can talk with local suppliers through the Live Mall and Online Conference. They may also acquire the latest information regarding tourism and travel in Taitung on the official website. After downloading the "Taitung Travel" App, you can experience 360 immersion technology from a first-person perspective. This will give you a novel perspective of Taitung. Furthermore, an interactive hot air balloon game is available. You can participate in the event's sweepstakes if you pass the challenge.



"Taitung County is the first place to organize a cloud travel expo in Taiwan," said Taitung County Magistrate April Yao. "It is also the first being organized by a local government anywhere in Taiwan. The Taitung County Government wants to promote local tourism through a cloud expo to overcome disease prevention related restrictions. The cloud travel expo will integrate overseas promotion and online activities. Moreover, Taitung local suppliers can overcome the challenges posed by the pandemic through the Live Mall. This service will provide suppliers a better channel for online marketing as well as more opportunities to reach more buyers. The cloud travel expo was organized in response to the challenges of COVID-19 as well as to make preemptive preparations for the post-pandemic era. This opportunity will allow the county government to continue marketing Taitung. It will preserve connections with foreign suppliers and travelers. Most importantly, it will make Taitung the top travel destination for international tourists after the pandemic."

Two sessions of the Live Mall will be held daily during the "2021 Cloud Travel EXPO - Taitung Taiwan". Nearly 20 Taitung local suppliers and foreign streamers, as well as travel experts, will cooperate to promote the tourism industry in Taitung on a streaming platform. Three overseas influencers will introduce Taitung from the perspective of international tourists. Taitung County Deputy Magistrate Wang Chih hui will also be a streamer during the Live Mall on August 26 to market Taitung. Moreover, she will have a real-time chat online with Bom along with 2 million fans that will improve the atmosphere of the stream. Travel and accommodation suppliers in Singapore and Malaysia were invited to attend online conferences on August 24. They will watch the stream in Taitung of merchants with buyers. The vast array of tourist attractions and cultural aspects of Taitung as well as agricultural and special products will be promoted internationally through real-time streaming. The stream offers domestic and foreign tourists as well as suppliers to log in and enjoy the natural charm of slow travel in Taitung. Information related to the event: Cloud Travel Expo/ Live Mall

8/25 (Wednesday) - 8/27 (Friday) One session at 13:00 and 19:00 every day. Online Conference

8/24 (Tuesday) 13:00-16:00 Apply for the Press Conference/Online Conference: https://forms.gle/ysvjPyQ83meMpV9J6 Please refer to the official website for more information: https://taitungtravelfair.com/ Campaign video of the event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vNhk4IlysM Taitung Start-Scenes & Food & Play: https://youtu.be/glxL8JIlL4s Website: https://www.taitung.gov.tw/en/Default.aspx SOURCE The Taitung County Government

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[August 23, 2021] Greenspring Media Announces New Editor of Minnesota Monthly Magazine

BLOOMINGTON, Minn., Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Greenspring Media, parent company of Minnesota Monthly magazine, welcomes Amy Nelson as the new Editor for Minnesota Monthly magazine. Nelson, formerly Managing Editor of Cambria Style Magazine and a Master of Arts graduate from the University of Minnesota's School of Journalism, is a well-known editor, writer, and journalist in our state. She held a variety of roles in her 20 years at the St. Paul Pioneer Press, including as Features Editor, as the newspaper's first Social Media Editor, and as Editor of Spaces Magazine before it ceased publication in 2020. Nelson will lead the strategic content development for Minnesota Monthly magazine in both print and digital forms, effective immediately. "We're thrilled to have Amy join our team as Editor," said Tammy Galvin, Publisher at Greenspring Media. "Her extensive experience with content curation and engagement in print and digital mediums to meaningfully engage and grow all of Minnesota Monthly's loyal, robust, and large audiences will no doubt be indispensable to our team." Amy Nelson, Editor





anelson@greenspring.com

612-371-5858

@amykaynelson Greenspring Media is a 55-year-old multi-platform communications company specializing in the creation and distribution of lifestyle content that connects readers and viewers to advertisers and marketing partners. Greenspring Media publishes over 18 publications, including Minnesota Monthly and Midwest Home; a full service suite of digital services including Google Display and Programmatic Advertising, Paid Social Media Advertising, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Search Engine Marketing (SEM), Website Remarketing, Video and OTT Advertising, and more; custom publications for the best tourism bureaus, non-profit organizations and key clients; and produces the region's most targeted and qualified eventsall of which bring loyal readers and subscribers to clients who understand the value of 360-degree marketing programs in print, digital and face-to-face environments.

Media Contact

Arthur Morrissey, Minnesota Monthly

amorrissey@greenspring.com

O: 612-371-5811

C: 612-310-8972 View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/greenspring-media-announces-new-editor-of-minnesota-monthly-magazine-301360239.html SOURCE Greenspring Media

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[August 23, 2021] Hanger Foundation Announces 2021 Diversity Scholarship Recipients

As part of its ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion in orthotics and prosthetics (O&P) and its pledge to help recruit underrepresented students of color into the profession, The Hanger Foundation today announced the 2021 recipients of the inaugural Hanger Foundation Diversity Scholarships. Six graduate students from three universities were each awarded a two-year scholarship to help supplement the cost of their Masters of Science in Prosthetics and Orthotics (MSPO) programs. In addition to receiving the scholarship, all recipients will be offered a two-year mentorship, with the option of pursuing a residency at Hanger Clinic. Congratulations to the following recipients: Taushima "Shima" Nixon (Alabama State University)

Kayla Tillman (Alabama State University)

Felicia Farrar (Northwestern University)

Althea Fordyce (Northwestern University)

Juan Argueta (University of Hartford)

Isabella "Noelle" Medina (University of Hartford) "I am proud to accept the Hanger Foundation Diversity Scholarship," said Northwestern University student and scholarship recipient, Althea Fordyce. "This scholarship affirms that I am accepted into a space where, historically, few African American women venture." Each scholar was selected by their respective university for displaying remarkable academic achievement, community service, and a passion for diversity within the O&P profession. "As the only Historically Black College and University (HBCU) with a P&O program, Alabama State University (ASU) plays a crucial role in addressing the lack of diversity among certified practitioners in the field," said Scott Bretl, Department Chair for Prosthetics & Orthotics, College of Health Sciences at ASU. "We are excited to award the scholarships to two Black/African American women as they continue their educational pathway towards clinical practice. Certified ractitioners in the field of P&O are currently only about 28% female, with a small percentage being Black/African American. The stark differences between demographics of practitioners and patients are most obvious in the South, so it is fitting that ASU's program seeks a shift that would positively impact health disparities and inclusive patient care. Both of our scholarship recipients (Taushima "Shima" Nixon and Kayla Tillman) demonstrated in their application a unique perspective and acute awareness of this representation gap and what it means for them and a significant portion of our patient population. We are happy to have them begin our program this fall and engage in relevant conversations throughout our curriculum."



In September 2020, Hanger, Inc. committed to take tangible actions to help address nationwide systemic racism, interrupt bias, and ultimately create a more inclusive profession. One of the five areas of focus was attracting more diverse candidates to O&P graduate programs. The Hanger Foundation Diversity Scholarship program was established in January 2021 through a founding donation from Hanger, Inc. "It is an honor to align with the Hanger Foundation on the important work of increasing access to the MSPO degree, with the ultimate goal of ensuring O&P clinicians better represent the patient populations they serve," said Hanger President and Chief Executive Officer, Vinit Asar. "We are proud of these six outstanding individuals, who are the future of our profession, and look forward to having their unique perspective and talents within the O&P industry as we help build a more inclusive profession to better serve all."

The mission of the Hanger Foundation is to advance our communities by supporting organizations that help people with physical challenges live life as fully as possible. To learn more about the scholarship program, our Empowerment Grants, and how you can get involved, visit: http://www.hangerfoundation.org. About the Hanger Foundation The Hanger Foundation was founded in 2009 by Hanger, Inc., a leading provider of orthotic and prosthetic patient care services and solutions. Hanger's heritage of charitable giving began over 160 years ago. For many years, Hanger clinicians and employees consistently and generously donated millions of dollars in care and financial contributions to a variety of causes, including hardship cases in their own communities. In 2009, Hanger formalized and increased its philanthropic work by establishing a non-profit organization, the Hanger Foundation. For more information, visit: http://www.hangerfoundation.org. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210823005654/en/

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[August 23, 2021] ICOA Issues Corporate Update

Las Vegas, Nevada, Aug. 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ICOA Inc. (OTC PINK: ICOA) a national provider of wireless and wired broadband Internet network support for broadband access installations in high-traffic locations across the United States including, quick-service restaurants, hotels and motels, travel plazas, marinas etc. is pleased to issue the following corporate update. The Company is currently in the process of completing the financial and disclosure statements to be uploaded to OTC Markets in order to achieve Pink Current Status. The Company plans to be compliant with rule 15C-211 by completing the required disclosures and issuer attorney letter and uploading them to OTC Markets before the end of the month. The Company recently updated its OTC Markets profile to reflect the new social media account used to communicate with the shareholders. A new website will be announced on the Companys social media account as well as on its OTC Markets profile. Twitter: https://twitter.com/icoa_inc The Compny will be undergoing a reorganization in order to facilitate a new direction and the implementation of a new business plan to create new value for shareholders. More details will be shared with investors as developments take place.



ABOUT ICOA INC. ICOA, Inc. is a national provider of wireless and wired broadband Internet network support for broadband access installations in high-traffic locations across the United States including, quick-service restaurants, hotels and motels, travel plazas, marinas etc.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT This press release contains forward-looking statements that can be identified by terminology such as "believes," "expects," "potential," "plans," "suggests," "may," "should," "could," "intends," or similar expressions. Many forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results implied by such statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, our ability to continue to enhance our products and systems to address industry changes, our ability to expand our customer base and retain existing customers, our ability to effectively compete in our market segment, the lack of public information on our company, our ability to raise sufficient capital to fund our business, operations, our ability to continue as a going concern, and a limited public market for our common stock, among other risks. Many factors are difficult to predict accurately and are generally beyond the company's control. Forward-looking statements speak only as to the date they are made, and we do not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made. Signed.

/S/ George Strouthopoulos, CEO For more information, press only: CONTACT: Kim Halvorson

Email: info@icoamail.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/icoa_inc



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[August 23, 2021] ISW Holdings Reports Financial Data on 3 Months Ended June 30, Provides Corporate Update

LAS VEGAS, Aug. 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via InvestorWire  ISW Holdings, Inc. (OTC: ISWH) (ISW Holdings or the Company, transitioning to BlockQuarry, pending name change), a Nevada-based portfolio company with primary commercial-stage operations in cryptocurrency mining, is pleased to announce the filing of the Companys financial performance data for the three months ended June 30, 2021. Our primary mining equipment was not installed and switched on until about two weeks before the end of Q2, so the bulk of the impact will show up in Q3 data in terms of topline numbers, commented Alonzo Pierce, president and chairman of ISW Holdings. That said, we have significant equipment now running and just received another large delivery of miners, so we are now cooking at a pace of well over $5 million in annual revenues on a monthly basis, with substantial growth ahead over coming months. We are also proud of material gains in assets while dramatically reducing our liabilities, including derivative liabilities, as we implement our new shareholder-friendly initiative announced several months ago.



Financial Highlights for Three Months Ended June 30, 2021 Net Cash increased by over 2,600% on a 6-month basis to over $2.3 million

Total Assets increased 2,657% on a 6-month basis to over $4.9 million

Total liabilities decreased 58%, and total derivative liabilities decreased 96% to under $750k

Booked initial cryptocurrency mining revenues beginning during final weeks of quarter Operational Highlights for Three Months Ended June 30, 2021 Received, installed and switched on initial equipment to begin active cryptocurrency mining operations

Entering Q3 with new partnerships, including partnership with Bitmain Technologies

Minerset now confirmed as new shareholder, with incentives built in for more mining equipment as shares gain value

Reached nearly $5 million in total assets

Reduced liabilities from derivatives by over 96% and implemented new initiatives to prevent future dilution The three months ended June 30 represent a period of powerful growth in underlying value for the Company, driven by a large increase in assets paired with a large decrease in liabilities. The period is also meaningful because it represents the launch of active operations in cryptocurrency mining with the installation and switch-on in Pennsylvania. However,management believes that the progress the Company has made in Q3 has been substantially more important to demonstrating tangible financial gains and the Company's capacity to drive top and bottom-line growth. This progress has been highlighted by the Companys recent partnerships with Bitmain Technologies and Minerset, which will provide for significant material gains in both mining and hosting activities.



The Company looks forward to further discussing its growing operations in its Southeastern U.S. hosting sites, including total mining capacity that could reach 5.32 EH/s once all 200+ MW are active across all pod units. Pierce added, We received our initial primary tranche of miners by mid-June. By June 30, we had mined only $19k. However, this was achieved with only minimal mining capacity up and running. Other minor obstacles included refitting our pods for s19s given that the pods were designed for s17s. Another 250 Avalons arrived last week, and we are now in process of installing the remaining miners needed to reach a hashrate of 54,000 TH/s, which will produce nearly 12 BTC per month, or a little over $6 million in annual revenues at current pricing. However, that doesnt include new equipment gains on the way or our upcoming growth in hosting revenues, which should surpass $10 million per month once we fully implement the terms of our Bitmain 200 MW agreement, as recently discussed in Company communications.

About ISW/BlockQuarry ISW/BlockQuarry Corp is quickly becoming one of the largest Mining and Hosting providers in the digital currency space in North America, as we seek to transform the financial markets of the future. Our complement of cutting-edge technologies has enhanced the Bitcoin/Cryptocurrency ecosystem, enabling our customers to take advantage of real-time cost savings. At the same time, our customers can feel confident that their digital transactions and assets are entirely secure. Our company utilizes a scalable blockchain infrastructure to convert unique identifiable assets (UIAs) into interchangeable digital assets such as Bitcoin and other fungible digital assets. We offer immediate liquidity in the form of fast, confidential transactions, as well as the issuance of assets in the traditional capital markets.



Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements relate to future events or our future financial performance. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology including "could," "may," "will," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential" and the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. While these forward-looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and reflect our current judgment regarding the direction of our business, actual results will almost always vary, sometimes materially, from any estimates, predictions, projections, assumptions or other future performance suggested in this report. Except as required by applicable law, we do not intend to update any of the forward-looking statements so as to conform these statements to actual results. Investors should refer to the risks disclosed in the Company's reports filed from time to time with OTC Markets ( www.otcmarkets.com ). Company Contact:

info@ISWHoldings.com



Public Relations

EDM Media, LLC

https://edm.media Corporate Communications:

InvestorBrandNetwork (IBN)

Los Angeles, California

www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com

310.299.1717 Office

Editor@InvestorBrandNetwork.com



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[August 23, 2021] Jackson Names Carrie Chelko Executive Vice President, Future General Counsel and Secretary

Jackson Financial Inc.1 (Jackson) today announced that industry veteran Carrie Chelko will join Jackson as an Executive Vice President on August 30, 2021, and will be based in the company's corporate offices in Lansing, Michigan. Chelko will assume the role of General Counsel and Secretary upon Jackson's completion of the previously announced separation from Prudential plc (Prudential), which is expected to be completed on September 13, 2021, subject to Prudential shareholder approval. Chelko succeeds Julia Goatley, who has been serving as interim EVP, General Counsel and Secretary since February 2021 and will return to retirement upon completion of the separation from Prudential. Chelko joins Jackson from Fidelity Investments where she served as Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer and led regulatory compliance for businesses within Fidelity Personal Investing. She was also responsible for proactive engagement with regulators and partnered with the business to support new business lines, product growth, regulatory change management and agile transformation. Prior to Fidelity, Chelko served as SVP and Chief Counsel for Lincoln Financial Network, Lincoln's retail wealth management business, and Lincoln Financial Distributors, the wholesale distributor of Lincoln's manufactured annuities, insurance and retirement plan products. "I am pleased to welcome Carrie to the Jackson team," said Laura Prieskorn, Chief Executive Officer, Jackson. "Carrie's insights and expertise will be an outstanding complement to our already strong capabilities as we become an independent, publicly-listed company. Her wealth of experience working closely with industry regulatorswill be critical to our success as we further position Jackson as a leading provider of U.S. retirement income solutions."



"I am delighted to join the Jackson team at such a pivotal moment in the company's history," said Chelko. "I look forward to working with this purpose-driven team as Jackson continues to execute against a focused strategy to drive growth, deliver value to our stakeholders and help Americans grow and protect their retirement savings and income." Prieskorn added, "I would like to thank Julia for her important contributions during her more than 17 years at Jackson, especially as she stepped in as the interim General Counsel to oversee Jackson's transition to becoming a public company."

ABOUT JACKSON

Jackson is committed to helping clarify the complexity of retirement planning-for financial professionals and their clients. Our range of annuity products, financial know-how, history of award-winning service* and streamlined experiences strive to reduce the confusion that complicates retirement plans. We believe by providing clarity for all today, we can help drive better outcomes for tomorrow. For more information, visit www.jackson.com. *SQM (Service Quality Measurement Group) Contact Center Awards Program for 2004 and 2006-2020. (To achieve world-class certification, 80% or more of call-center customers surveyed must have rated their experience as very satisfied, the highest rating possible.) Jackson is the marketing name for Jackson Financial Inc., Jackson National Life Insurance Company, and Jackson National Life Insurance Company of New York. SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT

This press release may contain certain statements, other than those relating to historical facts, that constitute "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by their use of terms such as "anticipate," "estimate," "believe," "expect," "could," "forecast," "may," "intend," "plan," "predict," "project" "will" or "would" and similar terms and phrases, including references to assumptions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, are subject to a number of assumptions, and are inherently susceptible to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions. There can be no assurance that management's expectations, beliefs or projections will result or be achieved or accomplished. Any forward-looking statements reflect Jackson's views and assumptions as of the date of this press release and Jackson disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. 1 Jackson Financial Inc. ("JFI") is a U.S. holding company and the direct parent of Jackson Holdings LLC ("JHLLC"). The indirect, wholly-owned subsidiaries of JHLLC include Jackson National Life Insurance Company and PPM (News - Alert) America, Inc. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210823005084/en/

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[August 23, 2021] Laura Burke Named Chief Communications Officer for Santander US

Santander Holdings USA, Inc. ("Santander US" or "Santander") announced that Laura Burke has been named Santander US Chief Communications Officer, reporting to Jennifer Mathissen, Chief Marketing Officer for Santander Bank, N.A. Burke also joins the Santander US leadership team, headed by Santander US CEO Tim Wennes. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210823005057/en/ Laura Burke, Santander US Chief Communications Officer (Photo: Business Wire) In this role, Burke is responsible for all executive and corporate communications, crisis and issues management, employee communications, brand communications, public relations, and social media strategies for the portfolio of Santander US businesses. She will oversee the promotion of Santander's mission, vision, and brand to both internal and external stakeholdr audiences.



With more than 20 years of experience in corporate and public relations agency settings, Burke joins Santander from Prudential Financial where she served as Head of Corporate Brand & Communications and Chief Operating Officer, Communications. In this capacity, she held enterprise-level responsibility over financial, policy & regulatory, crisis, employee, and executive communications as well as the financial, talent and technology operations for the Communications department. Previously, Burke was an executive vice president at the global communications firm Edelman (News - Alert) and held leadership roles at FTI Consulting and Hill & Knowlton. "I'm excited to welcome Laura to Santander as we move into the next chapter of our growth and transformation," said Mathissen. "Her financial services knowledge, broad communications experience and strategic storytelling ability will help us to shape our narrative and to deepen relationships with our stakeholders. Under Laura's leadership, we will expand our efforts to promote Santander's global brand, businesses and community commitment in the U.S. market."

Burke earned a B.A. in political science and government from Tufts University and an MBA in finance from the New York University Stern School of Business. Santander Bank, N.A. is one of the country's largest retail and commercial banks with $89.5 billion in assets. With its corporate offices in Boston, the Bank's approximately 9,200 employees and more than 2 million customers are principally located in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware. The Bank is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Madrid-based Banco Santander, S.A. (NYSE: SAN) - one of the most respected banking groups in the world with 150 million customers in the U.S., Europe, and Latin America. It is overseen by Santander Holdings USA, Inc., Banco Santander's intermediate holding company in the U.S. For more information on Santander Bank, please visit www.santanderbank.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210823005057/en/

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[August 23, 2021] Louisiana Native Receives Hurricane Recovery Help

Brenda Collins has lived in Monroe, Louisiana, her entire life and has enjoyed every second of it. But, she had a tough time after the 2020 hurricanes destroyed her roof. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210823005645/en/ A Disaster Relief Assistance subsidy from Origin Bank and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas funded home repairs for a Louisiana resident. (Photo: Business Wire) Origin Bank and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) partnered to assist Ms. Collins by providing a $10,000 Disaster Rebuilding Assistance subsidy to make critical repairs to her roof. "I would be putting out buckets every time it rained to keep water from flowing into my house," said Ms. Collins. "If I had not received this funding, I would still be saving up for the repairs. Nobody knows how much I needed this, and it has just been the biggest blessing." Disaster Rebuilding Assistance provides funds for the repair and restoration of owner-occupied housing affected by a federally declared disaster within FHLB Dallas' five-state District. Even repairing art of the damage can enhance a homeowner's quality of life, said Shelia Grayson, vice president, CRA and community development officer, at Origin Bank.



"After working with Ms. Collins, I have seen the positive affect the Disaster Rebuilding Assistance has on homeowners," Ms. Grayson said. "Even repairing just part of the problem can lift a huge weight off their shoulders, and I'm so glad we can play a role in the impact these repairs have had on Ms. Collins." FHLB Dallas set aside $500,000 for Disaster Rebuilding Assistance in 2021. The funds are disbursed through member institutions like Origin Bank on a first-come, first-served basis, one homeowner at a time.

Helping members support their community's recovery after any natural disaster in the area was just the right thing to do, said Greg Hettrick, first vice president and director of Community Investment at FHLB Dallas. "Our members come first at FHLB Dallas, so what is important to them is also important to us," said Mr. Hettrick. "We heard first-hand accounts from our community bankers of the devastation Louisiana experienced last year, and we wanted to set aside money to help homeowners and community organizations involved in the recovery efforts." About Origin Bancorp, Inc. Origin is a financial holding company headquartered in Ruston, Louisiana. Origin's wholly owned bank subsidiary, Origin Bank, was founded in 1912. Deeply rooted in Origin's history is a culture committed to providing personalized, relationship banking to its clients and communities. Origin provides a broad range of financial services to businesses, municipalities, high net-worth individuals and retail clients. Origin currently operates 44 banking centers located from Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston, Texas across North Louisiana and into Mississippi. For more information, visit www.origin.bank. About the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas is one of 11 district banks in the FHLBank System created by Congress in 1932. FHLB Dallas, with total assets of $58.6 billion as of June 30, 2021, is a member-owned cooperative that supports housing and community development by providing competitively priced loans and other credit products to approximately 800 members and associated institutions in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas. For more information, visit our website at fhlb.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210823005645/en/

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[August 23, 2021] MEXC Global Joins Avalaunch in Bolstering the Avalanche Blockchain Space

Singapore, Aug. 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MEXC Global is proud to join forces with Avalaunch to improve the efficiency of the Avalanche blockchain . The two entities aim to provide a medium for prospective projects to thrive. MEXC and Avalaunch strongly agree that the Avalanche network has a bright future.

Avalaunch , powered by the Avalanche blockchain, is a multi-featured launchpad. It harbors several features that include providing fair fundraising services. Moreover, it is easy-to-use and comes with world-class Initial DEX Offering services. Avalaunch Uplifts the Avalanche Network Avalaunch has garnered interest from several international communities worldwide. As revealed on Twitter, Vietnam is the latest addition to its international following. Others who joined the launchpad's journey earlier include Turkey, Japan, and China. This week, Avalaunch plans to launch its first IDO with tutorials to guide investors. The event places Avalanche and Avalaunch's token $XAVA on the financial world's notice. A Future Destined for Greatness Avalaunch is by far the most promising launchpad within the Avalanche ecosystem. The platform puts investor's interests first. It has high-end features, i.e., stable and dynamic pools, several auction types, with a wide range of crypto assets, including stablecoins. MEXC's consistent growth and vast experience in incubation services and IEOs have made it into more than just a trading platform. By partnering with Avalaunch, the exchange alidates its character as a true advocate for innovation. Moreover, MEXC Global has an extensive digital asset listing and huge trading volume of above $500M+. These facts surely ascertain investors that Avalanche's future is as bright as the sun.



As Avalanche aims to grow into one of the best blockchain networks, it needs an unshakeable foundation. MEXC brings its extensive resources to propel the network by providing liquidity for projects at their most essential stage of development. Avalaunch's IDO coupled with MEXC's IEO spells success for any project leveraging Avalanche. MEXC Global also plans to incorporate its platform with Avalanche's C-Chain. This will raise Avalanche's status on the blockchain space, with the network having access to MEXC's enormous client base.

Expressing his excitement towards the collaboration, Avalaunch's founder Mark Stanwyck said, "we are thrilled to be partnering with MEXC to help incubate the early Avalanche ecosystem. Every step of the way, the MEXC team has been genuinely interested in learning about the technology and community that makes Avalanche unique, which, as an accelerator, is incredibly important to us as well. We are confident that by combining networks, and leveraging MECX's tremendous reach, we can help bring attention and mindshare to this truly special platform." About Avalaunch Avalaunch allows new and innovative projects to prepare for launch, focusing and emphasizing fair and broad distribution. Gracefully powered by the Avalanche platform, it has its values deeply rooted in the early Avalanche community. Leveraging Avalanches scalable, high-throughput, and low-latency platform, Avalaunch is built by users, for teams, to help grow strong communities. Projects are thus interconnected with confident and informed users, who are properly aligned with the long-term goals of the rapidly expanding application ecosystem. To learn more about this great project, visit their social media pages: Website , Twitter , Telegram . About MEXC Global MEXC is a world-leading crypto exchange, the best one-stop trading solution. It provides projects and investors with trading, token circulation, and time deposits, among other benefits. The platform supports over 850 cryptos and tokens and has the most certificates for global compliance. To directly interact with its continuously growing community, and to learn more about this tremendous global exchange, visit their social media pages: Website , Facebook , Instagram , Telegram , Twitter . Media Contacts -

Contact Name  Alson, CMO

Email  alson.liu@mexc.com

Company  MEXC Global Source Link



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[August 23, 2021] Opportunities and Risks in the Chile Cards and Payments Market to 2025 - ResearchAndMarkets.com

The "Chile Cards and Payments - Opportunities and Risks to 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The report provides detailed analysis of market trends in the Chilean 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 (2017-21e). 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 (2021e-25f). It also offers information on the country's competitive landscape, including the 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 details of regulatory policy and recent changes in the regulatory structure. This report provides top-level market analysis, information and insights into the Chilean cards and payments industry, including: Current and forecast values for each market in the Chilean cards and payments industry, including debit and credit 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.

Ecommerce market analysis.

Analysis of varios market drivers and regulations governing the Chilean cards and payments industry.

Detailed analysis of strategies adopted by banks and other institutions to market debit and credit cards.



Report Scope: Following the announcement of new regulation in April 2019, the Chilean government opened up its merchant acquiring and processing space for new entrants. Since 1989, Transbank had been the single acquiring and issuing processor in the Chilean payment market. The new regulation intends to end Transbank's monopoly in this space and increase competition. As a result, multiple acquirers have started entering the Chilean market. In May 2019, acquiring solutions provider EVO Payments entered the market in a 10-year joint venture with Banco de Credito e Inversiones (Bci).

The growing ecommerce market is encouraging banks to enter this space. In December 2020, Santander launched Tienda Santander, a digital marketplace allowing its credit card holders to purchase Apple (News - Alert) products in up to 24 interest-free installments. Going forward, Tienda Santander will add new products and benefits on an ongoing basis, from everyday essentials to travel packages and gastronomic experiences. In June 2021, Banco Bice launched its online marketplace, BICE Store. Customers can use any credit card to make purchases in up to 24 interest-free installments.

Card payment acceptance among Chilean merchants is likely to increase due to the gradual reduction of merchant service fees. Currently, the merchant service fee for credit cards has been set between 0.05% and 2.40%, while for debit cards and prepaid cards it is 0.05% and 1.15%. These rates are applicable to business establishments that join the payment card system operated by Transbank, which operates domestic card scheme Redcompra. Previously, in April 2016, Transbank reduced merchant service fees on debit card payments from 1.61% to 1.49%. Key Topics Covered:

Payment Instruments

Card based Payments

Ecommerce Payments

Alternative Payments

Job Analysis

Payment Innovations

Payment Infrastructure and Regulation Companies Mentioned BancoEstado

Banco de Chile

Banco Falabella

Banco Santander

Banco de Credito e Inversiones

Banco Bice

Banco Ripley

Coopeuch

Redcompra

Transbank

Visa

Mastercard

American Express

Ripley

Magna

Google Pay

OnePay

MACH (News - Alert) Pay For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/jawhqc About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210823005358/en/

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[August 23, 2021] Pluribus Technologies Inc. acquires Pathways Training & eLearning Inc.

TORONTO, Aug. 23, 2021 /CNW/ - Pluribus Technologies Inc. ("Pluribus") announced today the completion of the acquisition of Pathways Training & eLearning Inc. ("Pathways") in Toronto, ON. Founded in 2006, Pathways is an agency that supports its blue-chip clients through the design and programming of learning technologies, including live action video, eLearning, mLearning, gaming, animation and simulation along with traditional instructional design, corporate training and change management.

Richard Adair, CEO of Pluribus Technologies states, "Pathways represents our fifth acquisition in the eLearning vertical and brings an impressive client base of Fortune 500 companies. As one of Canada's leaders in the provision of gamified mobile learning and virtual reality enabled 360 video, we are excited to introduce these leading-edge offerings to the Pluribus customer base."

Pathways has always strived to be at the forefront of training in the Canadian marketplace, including being the first in Canada to offer virtual reality enabled 360 video for learning.

"We are thrilled to join the Pluribus team." says Kurt Tiltack, Managing Partner of Pathways. "It will be wonderful to witness Pathways current client offerings both support and be amplified by the amazing companiesin the Pluribus portfolio. Our collective capabilities will ensure learning successes for our clients now and into the future."





Duff & Phelps Securities Canada, a Kroll business, acted on behalf of Pathways.



About Pathways Training and eLearning Inc

Pathways Training and eLearning Inc. (Pathways) is a Toronto-based learning and development agency. Pathways specializes in the design of learning technologies and traditional classroom programming, including eLearning, animation, simulation, gaming, live action video and 360 virtual reality. For over 15 years, Pathways has had the pleasure of working alongside some of North America's most celebrated brands, as their trusted learning and development partner. For additional information, visit www.pathwaystrainingandelearning.ca About Pluribus Technologies Inc.

Pluribus Technologies (named from the Latin term meaning "from many, becomes one") was founded in 2018 with the goal of consolidating the smaller players in the B2B software industry. Pluribus helps entrepreneurs exit their businesses by providing them with a liquidity event when they are seeking a succession plan. The management team of former owner-operators builds upon the legacy created with loyal customers and employees, taking businesses to the next level of success. For additional information, visit www.pluribustechnologies.com For Further Information:

Diane Pedreira, Chief Operating Officer, Pluribus Technologies Inc.

Email: info@pluribustechnologies.com View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pluribus-technologies-inc-acquires-pathways-training--elearning-inc-301360245.html SOURCE Pluribus Technologies Inc.

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[August 23, 2021] SK Capital Announces Acquisition of the Monomers, Polymers and European Businesses of Deltech Holdings LLC

Funds advised by SK Capital Partners, LP ("SK Capital"), a private investment firm focused on the specialty materials, chemicals and pharmaceuticals sectors, today announced the acquisition of the Monomers, Polymers and European businesses of Deltech Holdings, LLC ("Deltech" or the "Company"). SK Capital has acquired a majority interest in the Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based business. Bob Elefante, one of Deltech's original founders and current President and CEO, is retaining a significant ownership stake in the Company and will remain actively involved in the business, including serving on the Board of Directors. "Deltech is a world leader in the production of high-performance aromatic monomers and specialized crystal polystyrene," said Mario Toukan, a Managing Director at SK Capital. "Deltech offers an attractive product portfolio with leading market positions in niche technologies. Their portfolio includes vinyl toluene (VT), divinyl benzene (DVB) and para methyl styrene (PMS), in addition to their specialty crystal polystyrene. Deltech's products deliver critical attributes to products across a diverse set of end markets, including coatings and adhesives resins, ion exchange resins, insulation and molded composites, to name a few." Bob Elefante stated,"SK Capital is the ideal partner given its track record of successfully supporting the growth of entrepreneur-owned businesses in the specialty chemicals industry. We have a shared vision for the future of Deltech, built upon the Company's unique product portfolio and long-term commitment to serving our customers."



"Deltech's superior service and delivery, combined with their high-performance products, have made the Company a preferred supplier to key global customers," added Jonathan Borell, a Managing Director at SK Capital. "Their knowledge of specialty monomers manufacturing and applications is unmatched. We look forward to partnering with Bob and the Deltech management team to expand the commercial applications for their highly specialized monomers and polymers." Deltech employs 135 people across its Baton Rouge headquarters and manufacturing facility, its additional manufacturing facilities in Troy, Ohio and Haverhill, United Kingdom, and its global field operations.

About SK Capital SK Capital is a private investment firm with a disciplined focus on the specialty materials, chemicals and pharmaceuticals sectors. The firm seeks to build strong and growing businesses that create substantial long-term value. SK Capital aims to utilize its industry, operating and investment experience to identify opportunities to transform businesses into higher performing organizations with improved strategic positioning, growth and profitability, as well as lower operating risk. SK Capital's portfolio of businesses generates revenues of approximately $11 billion annually, employs more than 16,000 people globally and operates 153 plants in 28 countries. The firm currently has greater than $5 billion of assets under management. For more information, please visit www.skcapitalpartners.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210823005035/en/

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[August 23, 2021] Tyler, Texas to be a Gigabit City with 100% Fiber Optic Network from MetroNet

MetroNet today announced a plan that will connect residents and businesses in Tyler and surrounding communities to an ultra-high speed 100 percent fiber optic network delivering fiber TV, phone and internet service. Evansville, IN.- based, MetroNet is the largest independently owned, 100 percent fiber optic platform in North America. MetroNet will fully fund the project to provide residents and businesses with symmetrical, Gigabit speed internet service. MetroNet expects construction to begin this fall, with the first customers coming online in the spring of 2022. "Tyler is excited to welcome MetroNet to be a part of our community. Our residents and businesses will have access to a 100 percent fiber optic network that will improve their quality of life and ease of being online," said Mayor Don Warren. "We look forward to seeing the impact that MetroNet will make in our community." MetroNet is one of the fastest-growing providers of fiber optic high-speed broadband services in the nation. The company expects its network to be available to more than 1 million residential households and business locations in the near term, bringing broadband competition to hundreds of communities. Tyler marks the third MetroNet build in the state of Texas, joining the hundreds of other MetroNet markets in 12 states across the U.S. Known for superior customer service provided through a strong local presence, MetroNet delivers affordable, symmetrical speeds of up to 10 Gigabits with no long-term contracts to homes and businesses. "We welcome MetroNet to Tyler. With dynamic, robust growth, companies like MetroNet recognize our community as a profitable business location. Broadband access and fiber connectivity are critical for economic growth," said Scott Martinez, Tyler Economic Development Council President and CEO and Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce CEO. Residents and businesses that are interestd in MetroNet services may visit MetroNetInc.com to indicate interest and receive updates on construction throughout their community. MetroNet plans to have a storefront location in Tyler to serve as the command center for customer service and sales.



"Texas has been a state full of growth potential for MetroNet and we are proud to soon make Tyler a Gigabit City," said John Cinelli, MetroNet CEO. "By providing a choice, MetroNet's future-proof fiber optic network will be an asset to the businesses and residents that make Tyler a unique and forward-thinking community. We appreciate the support we've received already from Tyler and city leadership." In new MetroNet markets, residents receive communication by mail about construction activity in their neighborhood 30 days prior to starting and the company provides additional messaging, such as yard signs, to let residents know when the temporary construction process is beginning in their neighborhood. MetroNet crews are marked by ID tags and branded vehicles.

Additionally, MetroNet plans to hire local sales, customer service and service technicians to support the Tyler area. For those interested in joining the MetroNet team, visit metronetinc.com/careers to search available positions and submit applications. About MetroNet: MetroNet is the nation's largest independently owned, 100 percent fiber optic company headquartered in Evansville, Indiana. The customer-focused company provides cutting-edge fiber optic communication services, including high-speed Fiber Internet, full-featured Fiber Phone, and Fiber IPTV (News - Alert) with a wide variety of programming. MetroNet started in 2005 with one fiber optic network in Greencastle, Indiana, and has since grown to serving and constructing networks in more than 100 communities across Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, Texas, and Wisconsin. MetroNet is committed to bringing state-of-the-art telecommunication services to communities - services that are comparable or superior to those offered in large metropolitan areas. MetroNet has been named in the top 50 small and medium companies on Glassdoor and has been honored with a Glassdoor Employees' Choice Award recognizing MetroNet among the Best Places to Work in 2020. MetroNet has been recognized by PC Mag as one of the Top 10 Fastest ISPs in North Central United States in 2020 and Top 10 ISPs with Best Gaming Quality Index in 2021. Broadband Now has recognized MetroNet as the Top 3 Fastest Internet Providers and Fastest Fiber Providers in the Nation in 2020, and #1 Fastest Mid-Sized Internet Provider in two states in 2020. In 2020, MetroNet was awarded the Vectren Energy Safe Digging Partner Award from Vectren. For more information, visit www.MetroNetinc.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210823005184/en/

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[August 22, 2021] Flex Technology Group Achieves Unprecedented 12 Consecutive Years on the 2021 Inc. 500|5000 List of Fastest-Growing Companies

PHOENIX, Aug. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Flex Technology Group (FTG) has once again been included in Inc. magazine's annual list of America's fastest-growing private companies for an unprecedented 12th consecutive year, with a ranking of #2273 for 2021. Making this prestigious list becomes more challenging each year as the company's starting base revenue grows, so this truly marks another extraordinary milestone for the FTG. While tens of thousands of companies have applied to the Inc. 5000 over the years, only a finite small fraction have made the list more than once. Even more impressive, it's estimated that only .001% percent of the nation's private companies have matched FTG's 12 consecutive appearances on the Inc. 5000 list. "An incredible 12 consecutive years on this list is a true testament to the proven value proposition we continually deliver to our clients and the overall strength of our company. This can only be accomplished year after year through the hard work, innovation, and dedication of our great employees at FTG," states Frank Gaspari, CEO of Flex Technology Group. "It's for this reason that I'm beyond grateful, to have an opportunity to work with all our talented people. This unique achievement serves as another opportunity to celebrate our people who have built this magnetic culture that we have at FTG. I'm grateful for our people and for the opportunity to continue building this legendary company together." Not only have the companies on the 2021 Inc. 5000 been very competitive within their markets, but this year's list also proved especially resilient and flexible given 2020's unprecedented challenges. "The 2021 Inc. 5000 list feels like one of the most important rosters of companies ever compiled," says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. "Building one of the fastest-growing companies in America in any year is a remarkable achievement. Building one in the crisis we've lived through is just plain amazing. This kind of accomplishment comes with hard work, smart pivots, great leadership, and the help of a whole lot of people." Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000. About Flex Technology Group (FTG) Flex Technology Group is a privately held corporation headquartered in Mesa, Arizona, with offices across the United States. Since its founding in 2015, FTG has achieved unparalleled growth within the office technology industry. The company provides customized office technology solutions for national and leading-edge regional companies. They focus on print, document management, document production, and workflow solutions, representing industry-leading suppliers such as HP, Canon, Ricoh, Konica Minolta, Lexmark, and various software solutions. FTG proudly services over 35,000 customers nationally. For additional information, please visit www.FlexTG.com.



Flex Technology Group now consists of several companies, including FlexPrint, Laser Options, ProCopy, Cannon IV, Action Imaging Group, Caltronics, Infincom, Flo-Tech, FTG Texas, FTG-GO, Century, Shamrock, CBE, Millennium, Laser Technologies Service, and Ultrex. Related Images

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Flex Technology Group Achieves Unprecedented 12 Consecutive Years on the 2021 Inc. 500|5000

This unique achievement serves as another opportunity to celebrate our people at FTG View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/flex-technology-group-achieves-unprecedented-12-consecutive-years-on-the-2021-inc-5005000-list-of-fastest-growing-companies-301360252.html SOURCE Flex Technology Group

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[August 22, 2021] I Squared Capital Invests in AG&P City Gas

I Squared Capital, through its ISQ Global Infrastructure Fund III and ISQ Growth Markets Infrastructure Fund, has invested approximately US$200 million as a first tranche of a US$300 million equity raise in AG&P City Gas. AG&P City Gas is a Singapore-based company that is developing twelve city gas distribution networks, or concessions, in India under the brand name AG&P Pratham, across 280,000 square kilometers, an area approximately the size of Italy. AG&P City Gas was previously owned wholly by the Atlantic, Gulf & Pacific Group (AG&P), a Singapore-based downstream LNG business. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210822005034/en/ In its twelve concessions, AG&P City Gas is responsible for developing and operating Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations for vehicles, piped natural gas to homes, and the distribution of Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) to industrial and commercial customers. City gas projects benefit from marketing exclusivity in their designated areas for eight to ten years and construction exclusivity of related infrastructure for 25 years. "Along with AG&P, I Squared Capital was one of the early foreign institutional investors in the Indian city gas sector and is committed to helping the country achieve its target of having 15 percent of natural gas in its primary energy mix by 2030. We plan to deploy up to $1.3 billion in Capex to build out the distribution networks," noted Gautam Bhandari, Managing Partner at I Squared Capital. "Natural gas is one of the cleanest hydrocarbons and an important part of the energy transition to lower greenhouse gas emissions. Over the next 25 years, the concessions have the potential to reduce CO 2 up to 37 million tons by displacing fuels such as diesel, petrol, liquified petroleum gas, coal, and heavy fuel oil. Uing natural gas for cooking also reduces indoor pollution, which is a leading cause of lung diseases in India."



"AG&P is privileged to partner with I Squared Capital to expedite the roll-out of these vital gas networks being developed in India by AG&P City Gas. Over the coming years, the AG&P City Gas network will continue to grow to serve millions of customers in their homes with clean, affordable, safe fuel as India's middle-class advances in size and purchasing power. AG&P City Gas will simultaneously continue to build 1,500 CNG stations so that cars, taxis, and buses can transition seamlessly to run on clean fuel. AG&P City Gas will give the opportunity for small and large local companies to use cleaner and more affordable natural gas, mostly for the first time, a big competitive advantage for the Government of India's ambitious Atmanirbhar (self-reliant) India program," commented Joseph Sigelman, Chairman and CEO, AG&P Group. "I Squared Capital, which has extensive experience in this area and a robust management system, is a great partner for us." "The transaction builds upon I Squared Capital's experience in developing city gas infrastructure in India through its THINK Gas platform. The concessions cover some of the fastest growing cities in India such as Jodhpur, Kanchipuram (including what is Southern Chennai), Mysore and Thiruvananthapuram (otherwise known as Trivandrum). AG&P City Gas and THINK Gas are geographically complementary and will operate as independent companies with separate management teams," said Harsh Agrawal, Partner at I Squared Capital based in Singapore. "These two companies form one of the largest private city gas portfolios in India with eighteen concessions serving approximately 85 million people across nine states with a planned capital expenditure of over $1.3 billion for AG&P City Gas. I Squared Capital will employ the same global best practices and smart technologies that we used for the rapid and successful development of our THINK Gas platform over the last four years."

"We see AG&P City Gas as playing a critical role for India. Transitioning to natural gas will reduce pollution and foster a healthier environment for all of us, including our children, while supporting our growing manufacturing base by creating jobs," said Abhilesh Gupta, Managing Director, AG&P City Gas. "We have a lot to do and look forward to working with the team at I Squared Capital in this mission." About I Squared Capital: I Squared Capital is an independent global infrastructure investment manager focusing on utilities, digital infrastructure, transport, energy, and social infrastructure in North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia. Headquartered in Miami, the firm also has offices in Hong Kong, London, New Delhi, and Singapore. About AG&P Group: Atlantic Gulf & Pacific (AG&P) develops LNG import and regasification facilities as well as downstream city gas networks. AG&P also provides engineering and project management services for LNG and other infrastructure. AG&P is part-owned by Osaka Gas, JBIC (the Japan Bank of International Cooperation) and Asiya, a publicly-traded Kuwait fund, as well as its management. About AG&P City Gas: Operating under the brand of AG&P Pratham, AG&P City Gas is one of the largest private City Gas Distribution (CGD) companies in India. The company is developing CGD networks across 12 concessions in the Indian states of Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka. and Kerala. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210822005034/en/

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[August 22, 2021] Anycubic's Photon Ultra, the New DLP 3D Printer, Launches on Kickstarter

SHENZHEN, China, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Anycubic, the established 3D printer brand known for its high-quality and affordable printers, is coming to Kickstarter with a world premiere: the world's first affordable, high-precision DLP 3D printer for consumers. The Anycubic Photon Ultra features an exclusive debut of Texas Instrument's latest DLP technology, which brings many advantages to users, such as: low to no maintenance, extremely high-resolution prints, and much lower power consumption. DLP printers are superior to LCD based 3D printers in printing small and narrow models, but have always been prohibitively expensive, until now. Anycubic is aimed to solve this problem and fit the needs of its customers. Main benefits of Anycubic Photon Ultra High-precision printing Although the specified resolution of this DLP printer Anycubic Photon Ultra is rated at 720p, its print quality is even better than that of 2k/4k monochrome LCD screen printers. This is because DLP printers use a different technology to project light compared to LCD printers. DLP printers use a projector that reflects all the light to a pixel via a micromirror, therefore, there is no light convergence, achieving crisper black-white contrasts. LCD printers converge all the light to a pixel, which can cause bumps and shadows on the edge of models. When displaying thin lines and small-size texts, DLP printers are clearer than LCD printers with purer colors and richer layers, resulting in more delicate texture and sharper corners of models.



Longer durability

LCD screens are a consumable, which need to be replaced every 3 to 5 months. The Anycubic Photon Ultra does not have an LCD screen and the internal projector enables the printer to be used for more than 20,000 hours. This means the average user saves about $600 on LCD screen replacements. With a Kickstarter price tag of $399, most people will have more money saved than they spent on the Anycubic Photon Ultra! Energy saving The fact that the Anycubic Photon Ultra doesn't require high maintenance LCD screens is already a big step forward in creating an environmentally friendly 3D printer. The machine is also much more energy efficient, which further improves its impact on the environment. The Anycubic Photon Ultra DLP printer operates at 40% light efficiency, which is 15 times higher than the 2.5-3% that LCD printers usually operate at. It uses far less energy and is rated at 12W with an average power consumption of 8.5W. The printer consumes between 0.017 - 0.034 kWh to print a 100mm high model, Whisper quiet printing Lower power consumption equals less heat, which means the Anycubic Photon Ultra doesn't need any cooling fans, making it truly whisper quiet. Smooth edges With 16 x anti-aliasing the edges and corners of prints are smoothed out, reducing layer lines and post-processing time. Fast print speed Anycubic Photon Ultra's print speed is about 1.5s per layer, comparable to LCD printers like Photon Mono X, whose speed is 1.5 - 2s per layer. Compared to SLA's point light source printing, its speed is up to 5 times faster. Wide range of resin options Anycubic Photon Ultra has options for adjustable UV power, which makes the printer suitable for use with a wide range of resins, giving users endless possibilities and creative freedom. Better adhesion The print bed has been laser engraved for enhanced platform adhesion and evenness, ensuring prints have a higher success rate and better stability. User friendly interface The Anycubic Photon Ultra debuts printing settings to be modified directly on the printer via the color touch screen, making it easier to adjust and optimize without a computer. Price & Crowdfunding details The Anycubic Photon Ultra is making its worldwide debut on the crowdfunding website Kickstarter, where it will be available at just $399 for the first 100 backers and $499 for normal price. After Kickstarter, Anycubic Photon Ultra's price on Amazon will be over $599. Anycubic Photon Ultra is launching on Kickstarter on September 15th, 2021, where it will be available for pre-order in a worldwide exclusive. We are using crowdfunding to match the innovative spirit of our customers, who are trailblazers in the creative community, always embracing the new. Our campaign will last for approximately one month, offering many benefits, discounts and special promotions to our early supporters. After Kickstarter, backers will be the first in the world to receive their Anycubic Photon Ultra, and later in the year it will become available via the regular Anycubic distribution channels at a slightly higher price. About Anycubic Anycubic is a leading company in the 3D printer industry, which specializes in 3D printer R&D, manufacturing and sales. We provide many affordable, high-performance and smart printers for different kinds of customers, consumers, hobbyists, schools and product designers. Since its establishment in 2015, we have been committed to propelling 3D printing technology so as to enable people from all walks of life to unleash their creativity and turn their imagination into reality. SOURCE Anycubic

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[August 22, 2021] Bioh Kim Joins YES Senior Executive Team as President of YES Korea

FREMONT, Calif., Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- YES ( Yield Engineering Systems, Inc. ), a leading manufacturer of process equipment for semiconductor advanced packaging, life sciences and "More-than-Moore" applications, today announced that Bioh Kim has joined its management team as President of YES Korea. Based in the YES Korea office in Dongtan, he will be responsible for establishing the regional business structure and growing the company's presence in Korea. Bioh is a highly experienced executive with strong technology, business, and management credentials in the semiconductor and display industries. Prior to joining YES, he served in various executive roles for over a decade at leading equipment manufacturers, including Vice President of the ECD business unit and worldwide sales & service for TEL NEXX (Tokyo Electron US), Managing Director of packaging field technology for Applied Materials, and General Manager for APEVA (a subsidiary of Aixtron). Bioh started his career at Samsung in Korea after earning his BS and MS degrees in Maerials Science and Engineering from Seoul National University. He then spent 20 years in the US semiconductor industry, returning to Korea in early 2020.



"We are very pleased to welcome Bioh to our senior team," said Rezwan Lateef, President of YES. "His track record of successful business development, coupled with his understanding of our customer base in current and emerging markets, will be valuable resources for YES as we continue to expand our business in Asia." First on Bioh's to-do list will be the establishment of YES's new office in Dongtan, enabling a closer relationship with the company's longtime key customers in the Korea region. "Our company's mission is to be the preferred provider in the markets we serve," said YES CEO Rama Alapati. "As our systems have become increasingly critical to our customers' operations, having physical proximity enables us to be more responsive to their needs, and better able to anticipate and address their roadmaps. We have high expectations for this new chapter of YES's ongoing global growth."

About YES YES (Yield Engineering Systems, Inc.) is a preferred provider of high-tech, cost-effective equipment for transforming surfaces, materials and interfaces. The company's product lines include vacuum cure ovens, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) systems, and plasma etching tools used for precise surface modification and thin-film coating of semiconductor wafers, semiconductor and MEMS devices, and biodevices. With YES, customers ranging from startups to Fortune 100 companies can create and volume-produce products in a wide range of markets, including Advanced Packaging, MEMS, Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality and Life Sciences. YES is headquartered in Fremont, California, with a growing global presence. For more information, please visit www.yieldengineering.com. Media Contact Victoria Barnes Director of Communications YES (Yield Engineering Systems, Inc.) 510-954-6723 direct VBarnes@yieldengineering.com SOURCE Yield Engineering Systems, Inc.

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[August 22, 2021] CSS Corp Employee Headcount Crosses 10,000 on Strong Growth Momentum

Headcount grows 2X over the past 2.5 years BANGALORE, India and DALLAS, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CSS Corp, a global customer experience and technology services provider, announced crossing the 10,000 employee-mark this month. In the last 2.5 years, CSS Corp has doubled its workforce despite the pandemic-induced disruption in the industry. The headcount addition was spread across India, Costa Rica, Philippines, China, and the US. The company plans to add an additional 2,000 people globally by the end of FY22. This year also marks another significant milestone for the company as it is celebrating its silver jubilee year. The company, whose controlling stake is held by Capital Square Partners, has been outperforming its peers on revenue growth and profitability over the last 2 years. It also announced investment from Morgan Stanley Private Credit and Onex Falcon last quarter. The investment represents a strong vote of confidence in CSS Corp's premium service offerings and differentiated value proposition which proactively solve clients' critical business problems. This transaction will enable CSS Corp to continue its industry leading organic growth and expand its capabilities and geographical footprint through strategic initiatives. Sunil Mittal, CO at CSS Corp, said, "We are proud to have grown to a family of 10,000 employees. Our commitment towards attracting, retaining, and elevating talent has been key to achieving this milestone. We are confident that our passion for nurturing talent, providing innovative solutions, and creating business value for customers, will continue to drive robust growth."



CSS Corp has stood out in the industry with its growth trajectory, empathetic workforce engagement, innovation, and resilience during the pandemic. The company was among the few in the industry to proactively implement a 100% WFH model as early as March 2020, placing a priority on employee safety and wellbeing. The company's CHEER (Communicate, Highlight accomplishments, Energize teams, Engage employees, Recognize achievements) framework has helped drive empathetic employee engagement and positivity. This year the company has introduced several employee-friendly initiatives under the umbrella of their SAFE (Support, Awareness, Facilitation, Emergency) framework. This includes an intra-company COVID-19 app, a Doctor-on-Call (24/7) helpline service, 24X7 multi-channel, multi-lingual telemedicine support and vaccination drives. "The unwavering spirit of 10,000 CSS Corp family members has helped us navigate these disruptive times and deliver world-class services to our clients, a clear testament to the fact that perseverance coupled with passion can do wonders," Sunil added.

About CSS Corp CSS Corp is a global customer experience and technology services provider, disrupting the industry with a unique intersection of industry-leading proprietary solutions, resilient operations, and innovative business engagement models. The company is a digital transformation partner of choice for its clients, which include the world's top innovators across industries, from mid-market players to large enterprises. Its diverse team of over 10,000 customer-centric thinkers, collaborators, and co-creators across 19 global locations, is passionate about helping clients succeed through intelligent automation-led outcomes. To know more, please visit https://www.csscorp.com Follow CSS Corp on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1519375/CSS_Corp_Logo.jpg

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[August 23, 2021] HiDubai.com concludes The Impossible List contest with 14 winners taking home AED 50,000

DUBAI, UAE, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- HiDubai.com, an initiative by Dubai Economy (DED) and Dubai SME, concluded "The Impossible List" Contest by giving away 14 cash prizes worth AED 50,000. The prize distribution ceremony was held in the presence of, Mr. Yousef Al Shebani, Manager  Raffle Draw section, The Commercial compliance & Consumer Protection Sector, Dubai Economy "The Impossible List" Contest began on 18th April 2021 and was open to residents and visitors of Dubai. Users had to create a list of businesses that they like on HiDubai and share it on social platforms to gain followers. The listed businesses get higher visibility with added authenticity, as they are recommended by users. Speaking on the occasion, His Excellency Abdul Baset Al Janahi, Member of Board of Directors of Tejuri Com LLC, that runs HiDubai.com said "The contest benefited 11,871 businesses across Dubai giving them increased exposure and growth as well as an online platform hat provided users with an easy access to reach out to them. Dubai is the first city in the world to take all the businesses online and offer them free digital presence. The Department of Economic Development lead this initiative through HiDubai."



The Impossible List Contest attracted 1826 participants who listed their favorite spots across Dubai and got a total of 92,542 followers. The lists comprised of 11,871 companies that reached over 1.06 million users on HiDubai. The 1st cash prize winner, Mr. Irfan Hazari, walked away with AED 15,000 for his list that had 22,687 followers. He said "It really was impossible to select some business enterprises among the many and this prize is unbelievably huge! Thank you HiDubai and DED for this opportunity."

Myrell Gonzales was the 2nd winner of "The Impossible List Contest" who took away AED 10,000. The rest of the 12 winners are Karen Franco and Hajira Niloufer who won AED 5,000 each, followed by Alvin Eugenio, Mrinali Bhatia, Kavita Khira, Dhanishta Bhatia and Sanjay Ashok who took away AED 2,000 each. Carol Mathias, Aamenah Habeeb, Omer Zaheer, Mohammed Mustafa and Younus Hussain took home AED 1,000 each. About HiDubai.com HiDubai is the region's #1 Business Discovery Platform with the objective of providing a digital presence for SMEs and large businesses in Dubai. The platform lists accurate business information of over 153,000 companies from Dubai helping B2C and B2B users discover those businesses and engage with them. The platform generated 3.04 million leads for businesses in Dubai during the past 36 months via phone, email, WhatsApp and by driving users to company websites. The platform gets over a million visits a month from 138 countries. Visit hidubai.com, follow @Officialhidubai on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Tiktok Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1597336/HiDubai_First_Prize.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1597337/HiDubai_Logo.jpg Press Contact

Maryam Pervez

pr@hidubai.com

+971 55 4698 238

+971 4 391 3777

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[August 23, 2021] World Entrepreneurs' Day celebrated at MIT-ADT University Pune to recognize entrepreneurs, innovators, and business leaders

PUNE, India, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- World Entrepreneurs' Day recognizes and celebrates the efforts of individuals who start a business venture. MIT Art, Design & Technology University Pune celebrates World Entrepreneurs' Day on August 21 every year. The purpose of World Entrepreneurs' Day is to create awareness for entrepreneurship, innovation, and leadership among the stakeholders. MIT-ADT University believe in providing the wings to generate innovative ideas and nurture our students to establish their start-ups through promoting their entrepreneurial spirit. Entrepreneurs must reflect on lessons learned throughout the current Covid epidemic on World Entrepreneurs' Day 2021. The once-in-a-generation epidemic served as a wake-up call, but it also taught us to accept the new normal. Institution's Innovation Council at MIT-ADT University Pune has organized four exclusive sessions on How to Build Your Start-up from The Ground Up, Building a Resilient Innovation Ecosystem, Building a high-speed Start-up & experience as a Founder and Let's Hang-out with Campus Start-up Guys in association with AIC-MITADT Incubator Forum and MIT Centre for Future Skills Excellence (MIT-FuSE). Today's world economy is being driven by innovation led entrepreneurship. Indian youth aspire to create new-age start-ups that solve problems of the mankind. MIT Art, Design and Technology University Pune is a new age University for aspiring Innovators & Entrepreneurs. The name of the University synthesizes Arts with Design, Design with Technology and Art with Technology to create a generation that sets a specimen of future Leaders, social transformers, and winning personas. Recently, MITADT University established Centre for Research & Innovation for Young Aspirants (CRIYA) to create adept individuals to solve societal problems by thinking outside the box. CRIYA intends to cultivate scientific temper among students by motivating them to understand and innovate in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and design. MIT ADT University is at the forefront in promoting and encouraging entrepreneurship development amongst students and therefore Atal Incubation Centre has incubated around 27 incubatees across domains like healthcare, biotechnology, agritech, social innovation, & IT For transforming their ideas into viable products. The vision is to produce first-generation entrepreneurs who will be capable of replicating the model of Facebook, Google & Microsoft. Mr. Yogiraj Konde Deshmukh and Mr. Uday Bhore, Alumni Entrepreneur of MIT School of Food echnology shared their experience on how they started their journey as an entrepreneur and difficulties as well as challenges they faced during their stint. Mr. Yogiraj completed his masters from University of Leeds, England & returned India to set up his own food processing unit & bakery. They have also provide their insights on how one should proceed for setting up their own venture.



During the session on Building a Resilient Innovation Ecosystem, Dr. Jagadeesh - CEO & Co-Founder, Dr. Manoj Nimbalkar - MD & Co-Founder, along with Mr. Harshad Baviskar from DareToStart.org Munich, Germany wonderfully explained how the mindset of an individual help him/her achieving entrepreneurial goals and how it is important for a start-up to have a mentor or the incubator and disadvantages of not having one. And they shared their experiences of their journey and the whole process they went through and how they got the idea of founding such great start-up initiative for Indo-Europe Connect & collaboration.

Mr. Akshay Mehrotra - CEO and Co-Founder at EarlySalary.com. proudly mentioned that EarlySalary.com has already disbursed 1.8 million loans worth Rs.4000 Crores to salaried professionals in the country in the past five years. EarlySalary is India's largest consumer lending application for salaried individuals that helps them with easy line of credit, instant cash loans, buy now pay later and salary advances. EarlySalary has become the preferred line of credit for every digital India. Young professionals and job beginners experience month-end cash crunch and due to the lack of credit-score knowledge, they are also unable to borrow money from the traditional credit facilities available. And he shared his journey of how the whole thing started and motivated our audience to work on their startups and entrepreneurial journey. Mr. Akshay Mehrotra said, "We are determined to build a larger organization, stand tall in the mind and heart of every customer with a product for every credit need. We are a profitable start-up and want to build a large financial model." He appreciated the efforts & endeavours by MIT-ADT University Pune to create robust framework & ecosystem for innovation & incubation. During concluding session, three proud alumni entrepreneurs shared their experience at AIC-MITADT Incubator Forum . The panel discussion was driven by Mr. Ganesh Thorat - Founder Cerebrospark Innovations, Mr. Rishabh Gupta- Founder Weavers, Mr. Rishabh Naik, Co-Founder & Designated Partner, Knowform LLP. And they have shared their interesting journey of how they have built a successful start-up right from scratch & completed legal compliances with the help of support & guidance from AIC-MITADT Incubator Forum . It was very well received by the students on how these students overcome challenges of getting started with their ventures. The session has created a spark & encouraged students to take on their dreams to get transformed & impact tomorrow's' economy. Dr. Mohit Dubey, CEO-AIC MITADT Incubator Forum further added that how Incubation Centre is helping young and budding entrepreneurs irrespective of their ages and giving them a working space to work for their venture. He also mentioned about how the start-up culture is getting a new trend worldwide and the benefits of having your venture. Prof. Dr. Virendra Bhojwani, President IIC-MITADT University gave his insightful remarks & views on how an idea of a venture or innovation can be protected from getting stolen through IP Filing. He further described the process of registering the firm with various Govt. of India initiatives. Prof. Suraj Bhoyar, Project Director MIT Centre for Future Skills Excellence (MIT-FuSE) summarised the gist of the sessions which were conducted throughout the day. He explained the purpose & intent of celebration of the World Entrepreneurs' Day. He said, "It's better to work on start-up during college days only. Come up with an idea. Figure out your value proposition. Build something people want & You will succeed". And he further added that how individual can achieve anything he/she wants just with the hard work and dedication. Last year, MIT Art, Design and Technology University, Pune has been Ranked 26th for ARIIA 2020 by the Ministry of Education, Govt. of India. And even Institution's Innovation Council - MITADTU Received 5 Star rating for exemplary performance by the Ministry of Education's Innovation Council, Govt. of India. MIT Art, Design & Technology University prepares students for the future through its cutting-edge programmes and grooms them for their prospective workplace through a holistic education that is imparted at the university. Thus, increasing the learning agility and resiliency of students who are empowered to meet the ever-evolving needs of the world; Project/Problem-based learning approach has been adopted by the University through semester projects using design thinking curriculum & exposure using the state-of-the-art infrastructure viz. makerspace, 3D Printing Labs, Fab Labs, etc. nurture innovative minds for transforming into products. Media Contact : Prof. Suraj Bhoyar, suraj.bhoyar@mituniversity.edu.in, +902-848-3286, Project Director, MIT ADT University Pune Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1599363/MIT_ADT.jpg

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[August 23, 2021] Prodigy's IDVerifact partners with BioConnect to verify identity across physical, IOT and digital applications

TORONTO, Aug. 23, 2021 /CNW/ - Prodigy Ventures Inc. (TSXV: PGV) ("Prodigy" or the "Company") today announced an agreement entered into between its wholly-owned subsidiary, IDVerifact Inc. and BioConnect. As part of the agreement, IDVerifact will integrate BioConnect's Trust Platform, including multi-factor Authentication (MFA) and endpoint security solutions into its advanced digital identity platform. "IDVerifact's mission is to provide the most comprehensive platform of digital identity and trusted digital asset solutions to our enterprise clients. BioConnect is leading in the provision of digital and physical biometrics solutions. BioConnect's functionality allows us to expand the passive and passwordless capabilities for our clients providing IDVerifact with expanded flexibility when solving unique step-up and access use cases. Providing the ability to remove friction in existing identity validation and confirmation processes to our clients is essential in today's digital world," said George Colwell, SVP Digital Practices at IDVerifact. The BioConnect Trust Platform is a modern security solution that connects your existing systems with the latest generation of biometric and mobile security. It is designed for large enterprises with complex infrastructure and security requirements, who need to reduce the risk of fraudulent digital transactions or access (for e.g., Financial Institutions), as well as those seeking to secure physical assets or facilities and increase regulatory compliance. "The integration of BioConnect's Trust Platform with Prodigy's IDVerifact will deliver identity assurance and adaptive authentication through mobile based multi-factor biometric authentication for digital transactions to meet enterprise customers' security needs, compliance requirements and to prevent fraud," said Mark Brady, VP Strategic Markets at BioConnect. To learn more, visit our websites, https://prodigy.ventures/ and https://idverifact.com/.

To learn more about BioConnect and the services it provides, visit: https://www.bioconnect.com/. About IDVerifact Inc.

A Proigy venture, IDVerifact provides the ability to combine and access a complete suite of leading digital identity providers to meet any business use case. With IDVerifact, organizations stay ahead of fraud, quickly identify risk, and ensure compliance while optimizing their ability to grow revenues and improve client experience with digital transactions. Providing solutions for identity proofing, KYC, AML, zero proofing and risk proof management. To learn more about IDVerifact, visit https://idverifact.com/.



About BioConnect

BioConnect offers solutions to the toughest security problems that the enterprise faces. We help to increase security and identity assurance for any access event, no matter the deployment. Enabling trust in the connected world, BioConnect provides enterprise biometric authentication & a security platform to establish stronger trust in unifying a person's identity across physical, IoT and digital applications. The result is exact identity assurance, advanced cybersecurity and protection of the most valuable company assets; their people, data and IP. By innovating on the breadth of authentication options, BioConnect provides a level of trust that does not yet exist in the market today. The company is based in Toronto, Canada and is passionately powered by the brightest and most forward-thinking minds. With over 60 BioConnectors, we are quickly growing and scaling towards the future. To learn more about BioConnect and the services it provides, visit: https://www.bioconnect.com/. About Prodigy Ventures Inc.

Prodigy delivers Fintech innovation. The Company provides leading edge platforms, including IDVerifact for digital identity, and tunl. for open banking and customer chat support, coupled with seamless integration of our partners best-of-breed Fintech platforms. Our services business, Prodigy Labs, integrates and customizes our platforms for unique enterprise customer requirements, and provides technology services for digital identity, open banking, payments and digital transformation. Digital transformation services include strategy, architecture, design, project management, agile development, quality engineering and staff augmentation. Prodigy has been recognized as one of Canada's fastest growing companies with multiple awards. For more information on Prodigy Ventures visit https://prodigy.ventures.

Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements

Certain information set out in this news release constitutes forward-looking information. Forward looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe" and similar expressions. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, and that information obtained from third party sources is reliable, they can give no assurance that those expectations will prove to have been correct. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements included in this document, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which the forward-looking statements are based will occur. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not occur, which may cause actual results in future periods to differ materially from any estimates or projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, risk factors set forth in the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, a copy of which is filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive. These statements are made as at the date hereof and unless otherwise required by law, the Company does not intend, or assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE Prodigy Ventures Inc.

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[August 23, 2021] SK GLOBAL SOFTWARE Achieves the Microsoft Business Applications 2021/2022 Inner Circle award

HOUSTON, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SK Global Software, a Microsoft Dynamics ISV offering specialized Add-in Solutions for the Microsoft Dynamics 365 / Dynamics AX ERP platforms, has achieved the prestigious Microsoft Business Applications 2021/2022 Inner Circle award. Membership in this elite group is based on sales achievements that rank SK Global in the top echelon of the Microsoft's Business Applications global network of partners. Inner Circle members have performed to a high standard of excellence by delivering valuable solutions that help organizations achieve increased success. 2021/2022 Inner Circle members are invited to the Inner Circle Summit in March 2022 as well as virtual meetings between July 2021 and June 2022, where they will have a unique opportunity to share strategy and network with Microsoft senior leaders and fellow partners. This recognition of Inner Circle for Microsoft Business Applications coincided with Microsoft Inspire, the annual premier partner event, which took place July 14-15, 2021. Microsoft Inspire provides the Microsoft partner community with the opportunity to learn about the company's road map for the upcoming year, establish connections, share best practices, experience the latest product innovations and learn new skills. "In a year of deep business transformation for every company and every industry on the planet, it is extremely rewarding to be able to recognize Microsoft Business Applications partners from every corner of the world that accelerated our joint customers' digital transformation and drove unsurpassed customer success," said Cecilia Flombaum, Microsoft Business ApplicationsEcosystem Lead. "Our Inner Circle members are chosen based on their business performance as well as capabilities as an organization, whether that's creating IP, developing solutions, or having an industry leading focus on digital transformation. Microsoft is honored to recognize SK Global for their achievements this past year, their dedication to our customers, and their innovation around the Microsoft Cloud."



SK Global Software is dedicated to empowering finance and treasury teams around the world to operate more efficiently, using solutions that offer added security and automation. By collaborating with the teams at Microsoft, SK Global maintains a strong expertise of the Microsoft platform to provide innovative solutions, strong services and unparalleled value to their customers. SK Global is proud to be certified for Microsoft Dynamics 365, a recipient of the annual Inner Circle Award for the past five years, a member of the Presidents Club for over 12 years, and a Microsoft Gold-Competency Partner. SK Global Software provides implementation, training and consultation worldwide for small, midsize and corporate businesses using business enterprise applications. SK Global specializes in Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Microsoft Dynamics AX ERP Platforms, to develop and deploy solutions, such as Banking and Treasury Automation Suite, that help leading global companies across all industries, get to market faster and achieve continued success.

About SK Global Software

Founded in 1995 with a global re-branding in 2015, SK Global Software is a software development company known for bringing valuable enhancement to the Microsoft Dynamics channel, with our primary focus on global banking and treasury automation. Our customers and partners are our highest priority, and it is our mission to deliver unparalleled software and support services. We work hard to build and maintain high-quality software and respected, long-term relationships with the Dynamics user and partner communities. For Additional Information:

Kelly Kosinski

713-882-8581

kkosinski@sksoft.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sk-global-software-achieves-the-microsoft-business-applications-20212022-inner-circle-award-301359930.html SOURCE SK Global

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[August 23, 2021] Superior Essex to Lead a Panel Discussion on the Latest PoE Technology for Smart Buildings at BICSI Fall Conference

Brian Ensign, Vice President of Marketing for Superior Essex Communications, will lead a panel discussion on the latest Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) technology for smart buildings during a BICSI (News - Alert) Fall Conference session set for Wednesday, Aug. 25, from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. (Pacific time). The presentation, "Enabling the Sustainable Intelligent Building through 90W PoE and Beyond," also will feature Don Schriner and Bob Cicero of Cisco (News - Alert) and Luis Suau of Sinclair Digital. The PoE delivery and cable design experts will discuss intelligent building enablement through the deployment of 90-watt capable PoE that supports multiple applications. "It's an exciting time in the design of intelligent buildings and the technology that's available to operate and optimize their systems," Ensign said. "Our presentation will help those attending understand what's possible today, and what's coming tomorrow, to make smart buildings even smarter." Superior Essex, the leading manufacturer and supplier of communications cable in North America, also will co-exhibit in Booth 6228 with Legrand, the company's partner in nCompass Systems. nCompass offers a streamlined suite of high-performance copper and optical fiber structured cabling and connectivity products for communications. With a global market projected to hit $960 billion by 2023, fulfilling the structured networking needs of sustainable intelligent buildings will heavily drive decades of work for building and technology designers. With stricter sustainabilty requirements than buildings of the past, they will need to know how to spec and design for these structures to win future work.



The BICSI fall conference will be held both in person (in Las Vegas) or online August 24-26 (with master classes August 22 and 23). For more information or to register for the event, visit the conference home page. ABOUT SUPERIOR ESSEX COMMUNICATIONS

Superior Essex Communications is the leading manufacturer and supplier of communications cable in North America. It is on the forefront of innovation through Power over Ethernet, Intelligent Buildings and Cities, 5G Fiber infrastructure including Hybrid and Composite solutions, as well as technological advancements being made at its Product Development Center. Superior Essex Communications is also setting the pace on sustainability by being the first and only company with a Zero Waste to Landfill Certification at its Hoisington (KS) plant; the first wire and cable producer to contribute points to LEED certification, and the first to offer verified sustainable cables in over 55 products. Superior Essex Communications is Everywhere You Live and Work. Additional information is available at http://superioressexcommunications.com. ABOUT BICSI Building Industry Consulting Service International (BICSI) is a global professional association supporting the advancement of the information and communications technology (ICT) community. We are headquartered in Tampa, Florida, USA, but our membership spans nearly 100 countries. Additional information is available at https://www.bicsi.org/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210823005011/en/

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[August 23, 2021] Lexia Learning Launches Customer Advisory Board to Deepen Educator Insights, Relationships, and Collaboration

Lexia Learning, a Cambium Learning Group company, today announced the formation of its customer advisory board, a group of key customers who will support the company's goal of helping more learners read, write, and speak with confidence. "It is extremely important to find more ways to foster meaningful conversations with customers so we can better understand their priorities and learn how we can directly address their needs," said Lexia Learning President, Nick Gaehde. "We now have support from a group of outstanding educators who will help determine how we can best serve present and future customers and enable us to build stronger, deeper relationships with our customer base." The Customer Advisory Board consists of school district leadership from across the United States: Lynmara Colon is the director of English learner programs and services at Prince William County Schools in Virginia. She was named in the NSBA 20 to Watch for Innovative Practices and co-authored "Empower Our Girls: Opening the Door for Girls to Achieve More." Amy Denty is the assistant superintendent of teaching and learning at Wayne County Schools in Georgia. She was the 2000 Georgia Teacher of the Year and served as president of the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE), Georgia's largest education association. Dr. Mary Grace is the assistant superintendent for education services at Anaheim Elementary School District in California. She leads the planning, development, implementation, delivery, and evaluation of instructional programs for all students in prekindergarten through grade six. Dr. Karen Henery is the director of ESOL/multilingual services at Little Rock School District in Arkansas. She works extensively with classroom teachers and building administrators on the delivery of high-quality instruction for English Learners. She also works at the district level on programming and services for English Learners and their families. Marie Morse is the elementary manager of school leadership & instruction at Worcester Public Schools in Massachusetts. Previously, she was the principal of Union Hill School Elementary in the district. Under her leadership, the school rose from one of the lowest to one of the highest rankings in the state. Dr. Eddie Ruiz is the Florida state director for Charter Schools USA. Under his leadership, the CSUSA Florida schools network has been designated "A-rated" by the Florida DOE for the first time since 2012. Ernesto Saldivar is the director of Language Acquisition and Literacy at Bloom TWP High School District 206 in Illinois. Befoe that, he spent 18 years as an English teacher and an assistant principal for Chicago Public Schools.



Kasey Webb is the associate superintendent of academic excellence in the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Before that, as the dean of instruction and blended learning at Seton Education Partners, she enabled St. Gertrude Catholic School in Los Angeles to exceed growth goals on NWEA MAP (results were 30% higher than national average). Nyree White is the director of digital learning at Achievement First Schools, which are in Connecticut, New York, and Rhode Island. She leads the research, development, and implementation of integrated digital curriculum, instruction, technology tools, and strategies to enhance student learning and build teacher and administrator skills.

Rhonda Zajac is the director of English Language Arts at Syracuse City School District in New York state. After teaching preschool and middle school, she led district level groups for a large-scale curriculum writing initiative. She was then promoted to supervisor and later to director of English Language Arts for grades K-12. The board's inaugural meetings occurred on July 20 and 21. Members discussed Lexia's future strategic direction. "Among the many ways that the board will support Lexia is by helping us better understand the ways our customers think about a variety of topics," said Gaehde. "The customer advisory board will ensure that Lexia's products and services continue to meet and exceed the expectations of district leaders and educators while delivering improved outcomes for students." About Lexia Learning Lexia Learning, a Cambium Learning Group company, is the structured literacy expert. For over 35 years, the company has focused solely on literacy, and today, provides a full spectrum of solutions for both students and teachers. With robust offerings for differentiated instruction, personalized learning, assessment, and professional learning, Lexia helps more learners read, write, and speak with confidence. For more information, visit www.lexialearning.com. About Cambium Learning Group Cambium Learning Group is the education essentials company, providing award-winning education technology and services for K-12 markets. With an intentionally curated portfolio of respected global brands, Cambium serves as a leader in the education space, helping millions of educators and students feel more universally valued every day. In everything it does, the company focuses on the elements that are most essential to the success of education, delivering simpler, more certain solutions that make a meaningful difference right now. To learn more, visit www.cambiumlearning.com or follow Cambium on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Medium. The Cambium family of companies includes: Cambium Assessment, Lexia Learning, Learning A-Z, Voyager Sopris Learning, ExploreLearning, Time4Learning, and Kurzweil Education. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210823005396/en/

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[August 23, 2021] New Research Reveals Complexities and Direction of Current Oracle EBS Market

DENVER, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Spinnaker Support, the world's highest-rated provider of Oracle, SAP, and Salesforce support services, and the Oracle Applications & Technology Users Group (OATUG) today announced the publication of a new research report, "Oracle E-Business Suite: Customer Plans & Perspectives." The paper provides the latest analysis of the global Oracle E-Business Suite (EBS) market and offers exclusive insight into the concerns and ERP strategies of these Oracle customers. Thousands of organizations worldwide use EBS to run their key business operations and processes. In recent years, Oracle's strategic product roadmap has shifted to focus on Cloud-based products and services. Consequently, popular on-premise products like EBS see a slowing of development and a shift to downgraded support for most versions. As a result, customers are rightly concerned about the future of their critical enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. To better serve its EBS customers and prospects, Spinnaker Support launched a benchmarking study to gather much-needed insight into this ERP market. The company worked with OATUG to survey nearly 500 user group members and EBS customers. These individuals represent EBS implementations of all sizes from a wide range of industries and geographies. The research found that: A clear majority of EBS customers are satisfied with EBS, while 39% of respondents expect to e using EBS "indefinitely."

Many customers plan to upgrade to the latest release (12.2) in the near future, a decision driven by concerns about software obsolescence and access to security patches.

One-third of all responses were dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with Oracle's existing support program, especially concerning the cost and lack of coverage for customizations.

To deal with the complexity of the EBS ecosystem, many organizations are actively using one or more external vendors.

The pandemic had minimal impact on the organizations' EBS roadmap, although larger and more global organizations did slow down some initiatives.



Dave Bass , Vice President of Oracle Application Global Support Services at Spinnaker Support. "The combination of high IT costs, changes to support structures for older releases, and Oracle's pressure to migrate to cloud products or cloud infrastructure have organizations engaging in frank discussions about their EBS options. This research captures the details of this critical moment and provides readers with data-based insights and strategic recommendations." For OATUG, the publication of the research report represents a continuation of its decades-long commitment to facilitate the exchange of insights and perspectives among Oracle customers.

The results above, plus additional insights, are available for download from the Spinnaker Support website. About Spinnaker Support Spinnaker Support is a leading global provider of third-party support, managed services, and consulting for mid-size to Fortune 100 global enterprises. Oracle, SAP, and Salesforce customers benefit from more responsive, comprehensive, and affordable services for their enterprise applications and technologies. Whether you need immediate help for high-priority issue resolution, ongoing monitoring and development, or project-based consulting, we have you covered. Since 2008, our exacting standards and unparalleled expertise have earned us the trust and loyalty of more than 1,300 organizations in 104 countries. For more information, visit: https://www.spinnakersupport.com/ About OATUG The Oracle Applications & Technology Users Group (OATUG) is an independent, not-for-profit organization serving the Oracle user community 1990. Members represent a wide range of industries in the private sector, public sector, universities, non-profits and beyond. Ours is a truly global community, with members in more than 30 countries. While we started as an organization for Oracle EBS users, today we also serve Oracle customers using EPM (Hyperion), Oracle Database, and the wide range of Oracle Cloud Applications and technology solutions. For more information, visit: https://www.oatug.org/ CONTACT: Michelle Wilkinson, mwilkinson@spinnakersupport.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-research-reveals-complexities-and-direction-of-current-oracle-ebs-market-301360068.html SOURCE Spinnaker Support

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[August 23, 2021] Kellie S. Chaloupka Promoted to Vice President of Claims within Summit

Summit Consulting LLC ("Summit"), a leading provider of workers' compensation insurance coverage in the southeastern United States, announced today that Kellie S. Chaloupka has been promoted to a vice president of Claims. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210823005053/en/ Kellie S. Chaloupka has been promoted to Vice President of Claims within Summit. (Photo: Business Wire) Ms. Chaloupka joined Summit as a field claims adjustor in 2005. She transitioned to an agency executive in the Sales department in 2011 and returned to the Claims department in 2018. Ms. Chaloupka has held roles of increasing leadership, most recently serving as assistant vice president of Claims for Summit's Southeast Region. "I am extremely pleased to announce that Kellie will be assuming more responsibility for this important part of the organization," says Carol Sipe, Summit's president and CEO. "With an extensive knowledge of claims, sales experience and strong leadership skills, I am confident in her ability to guide this critical area." "Kellie's expertise will serve her well as she helps move our Claims operations forward," says Darin Grimm, vice president of Claims and Medical Management. Her focus on building relationships and operational discipline, along with her true care and concern for people, will help with the organization's continued success."



Ms. Chaloupka earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Central Arkansas. Her professional designations include Associate in Claims (AIC) and Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC). She also served on the board of directors for the Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame from 2015 to 2017. About Summit

Based in Lakeland, Florida, Summit is a leading provider of workers' compensation insurance coverage in the southeastern United States, and is a member of the Great American Insurance Group. Summit manages the day-to-day operations of five workers' compensation insurance companies that include its two affiliates, Bridgefield Employers Insurance Company and Bridgefield Casualty Insurance Company, and three non-affiliates, BusinessFirst Insurance Company, RetailFirst Insurance Company and Retailers Casualty Insurance Company. Summit provides its comprehensive workers' compensation insurance services to businesses in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. Summit, has offices in Lakeland, Florida, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Gainesville, Georgia. For more information, visit www.summitholdings.com.

About Great American Insurance Group

Great American Insurance Group's roots go back to 1872 with the founding of its flagship company, Great American Insurance Company. Based in Cincinnati, Ohio, the operations of Great American Insurance Group are engaged primarily in property and casualty insurance, focusing on specialized commercial products for businesses. Great American Insurance Company has received an "A" (Excellent) or higher rating from the A.M. Best Company for more than 110 years (most recent rating evaluation of "A+" (Superior) affirmed January 28, 2021). The members of Great American Insurance Group are subsidiaries of American Financial Group, Inc. (AFG), also based in Cincinnati, Ohio. AFG's common stock is listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AFG. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210823005053/en/

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[August 23, 2021] Breef, the First Platform to Source and Fund Agency Projects, Secures $3.5 Million in New Investment Led by Greycroft

Breef (www.breef.com), the world's first online marketplace for high-value, high-consideration transactions between brands and agencies, has announced $3.5 million in funding led by Greycroft. With prior investment, this round takes Breef's total funding to $4.5 million. Founded in 2019 by Emily Bibb and George Raptis, Breef is reimagining the future of work by taking the agency online. The company's platform is democratizing connections between well-known brands and boutique agencies. Breef simplifies the planning, scoping, pitching and paying process for projects, bringing efficiency to agency relationships and empowering users to transact high-value business over the internet. "Breef, prior to Covid, identified the growing demand for a distributed workforce and the need to streamline business transactions within the digital and creative space," said Will Szczerbiak, Partner at Greycroft. "We feel strongly that Breef will continue to redefine access to quality work, and shift the paradigm on how brands think about growing their workforce." To date, Breef has grown a community of over 5,000 vetted boutique agencies in 20 countries. With more than 40 project types from Brand Creative and Public Relations to Digital Marketing and Web Development and Design, Breef users save an estimated 32% in project costs compared to the traditional agency model. Brands such as Spotify (News - Alert) , Brex, Shutterstock, Bluestone Lane and Julianne Hough's Kinrgy, are propelling Breef's success, with millions of dollars in projects being created on the platform each onth.



"We are constantly seeking partners to fuel our growth. Using Breef, we found the right agency within a matter of days, replacing the lengthy search process," said Bryan Smith, COO at Kinrgy. "Breef has helped us completely reimagine our agency relationships and now all of our external partners are sourced through the platform." The company's co-founders are passionate about advancing the creative economy, championing small agencies through a digital-first ecosystem of online tools, streamlined connectivity to brands, and proprietary payment technology to encourage financial growth. Bibb has been at the forefront of digital marketing and brand building for high-growth startups like POPSUGAR, VSCO and S'well. Raptis was on the founding team at fintech company Credible.com, which was listed on the Australian Stock Exchange in 2017 and acquired in 2019. Both founders experienced similar challenges sourcing agency partners, and recognized the potential for technology to replace a traditionally slow and offline process.

"Our backgrounds in marketing and fintech gave us unique insight into the challenges associated with high-value, high-touch transactions," said Bibb, Co-Founder of Breef. "The agency model was broken. In light of the shift towards remote work, Breef is empowering businesses to work more efficiently by simplifying connections and accelerating payments." With this new investment, Breef will continue to grow its global community and product offering, formally launching its project funding service -- Breef(pay) -- to help simplify payments to agencies, and reduce the impact of cash flow challenges that growing businesses often face. Alongside Greycroft, additional investors in Breef include Rackhouse Ventures, The House Fund, John and Helen McBain, Lance Armstrong, 640 Oxford Ventures and Laurence Holyoake. To learn more about Breef or get started on the platform, go to www.breef.com. ABOUT BREEF Founded in 2019 by Emily Bibb and George Raptis, Breef (www.breef.com) is redefining the future of work by taking the agency online. The company's technology is the first of its kind to streamline the agency outsourcing process and facilitate high-value, high-consideration projects. Breef's proprietary platform allows brands to manage and service all agency projects, pitches and payments, facilitating efficiencies within today's distributed workforce. The platform hosts more than 5,000 vetted agencies and is used by hundreds of world-leading brands, transacting millions of dollars in projects each month. Breef operates from its headquarters in New York City and Aspen, Colorado. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210823005158/en/

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[August 23, 2021] Destinations Career Academy of Colorado Ready to Help Students Navigate These Uncertain Times in Education

Destinations Career Academy of Colorado (CODCA), a full-time, online public-school serving students in grades 6-12 throughout the state, is ready to kick off the new school year and give students an education option designed to help them reach their full potential. CODCA students and teachers open their laptops to start the 2021-2022 school year today, August 23. "Last year was rough for a lot of Colorado families, it was a very challenging year. CODCA can provide that consistency parents need for their child's growth and education," said head of school Teri Cady. "And we can help give your student a leg up on their next level of work or education too!" Students who attend CODCA have the opportunity to look to the future. High school students can participate in the Career Prep Program and enroll in classes that will help them discover and explore potential careers in Agriculture, Business, IT, Health & Human Services, and STEM. Students can earn college credits while still in high school, giving them a head start in their state and potentially saving them thousands of dollars in college tuition costs. For most parents, the new school year comes with cautious optimism. Many families realized during the pandemic tht attending school online is a safe alternative that allows them to focus on their child's future. According to a recent survey by Stride, Inc., 91 percent of parents agree that it's important for their children to have multiple school options, including full-time online or a hybrid model that blends online and in-person learning. And almost two-thirds of parents would consider full-time online public school after their 2020 pandemic-driven virtual education experience.



Students choose online learning for a variety of reasons, including advanced learning, a bullying-free environment, and the flexibility to support extracurricular pursuits or medical needs while maintaining a focus on academics. CODCA's online platform gives students the opportunity to pursue their academic goals in a supportive environment and at an appropriate pace for their learning style. CODCA is still accepting enrollments for the 2021-2022 school year. To learn more and how to enroll, visit CODCA, or download the Stride K12 mobile app for iOS and Android (News - Alert) devices - where families can enroll, prepare for the first day of school, and monitor students' academic progress throughout the school year.

About Destinations Career Academy of Colorado Destinations Career Academy of Colorado (CODCA) is an accredited, full-time public-school program of the Julesburg School District that serves Colorado students in grades 6-12. As part of the Colorado public school system, CODCA is tuition-free, and gives parents and families the choice to access the curriculum provided by provided by K12, a Stride Company (NYSE: LRN). Stride offers learners of all ages a more effective way to learn and build their skills for the future. For more information about CODCA, visit codca.k12.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210823005001/en/

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[August 23, 2021] Rentible, Decentralized Proptech Platform, Set for Commercial Release in Q4 2021

LONDON, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The innovative developments and growing adoption of blockchain technology, and all it represents, undoubtedly pass as history in the making, just like sharing economies did in the previous decade, and developers and entrepreneurial ventures are advancing this technological evolution by utilizing blockchain tech into new mainstream platforms and services. Birthed in the second quarter of 2021, Rentible , a nextgen proptech platform making it possible for tenants and landlords to send and receive rent payments in different cryptocurrencies, has gone on to make groundbreaking progress and is set for its most significant achievement of the year yet. In Q4 2021, the Rentible platform and its proprietary dApp will be released for commercial use, introducing numerous groundbreaking features made possible through trustless smart contracts and decentralized-economy principles. This upcoming commercial release further demonstrates the venture's vision of bringing decentralized-Proptech to a broad mainstream audience, following the public release on GitHub of its Deposit Smart Contract . The recent upsurge in global interest in cryptocurrencies is a major contributing factor and an advantage that aligns perfectly with Rentible's long-term vision. Seeing that the platform will feature, among other industry-disruptive functionalities on its dApp, a way for landlords and tenants to make rent-related payments in different cryptocurrencies intuitively, securely, and privately, it addresses not only the tech-savvy crowd but also functions as a gateway into crypto for any "Joe Schmoe" or "Plain Jane" out there that are looking to get into crypto but don't know where to start. The plethora of challenges in the Proptech industry The property market is a multi-trillion USD space and one of the world's largest markets, with the number of rentals all over the world passing a billion annually. Such a large volume of transactions necessitates a more secure and streamlined method for payments, record keeping, and the organization of internal property-rental processes, such as deposit releases, landlord/tenant disputs, fraudulent transactions or multi-signature contract signing across borders. While property technology offers numerous innovations to ease transactions in the property market, challenges , mainly within the mid-to-long term rentals sector, are widespread.



Incidents of fraud in the online property market are rife, with the Annual Fraud Indicator report showing that the loss due to private rental property fraud in the U.K alone was a staggering 918 million in one year. High fees, due to intermediaries, centralized control, and plain unfamiliarity with the market by international students or expatriates renting abroad, are another significant issue that can be resolved through decentralization and a move towards a more sharing-economy business vertical. The extent of these can be seen in the outrageous commissions charged by agents, amounting to hundreds of USD per rental which further contribute to the already high living costs in major cities around the world, or too high fees in the case of centralized platforms such as Airbnb, which charges up to 17.2% from tenants and landlords per bookings. Other frequent pain points in the market that can be remedied through decentralized applications are the withholding of tenants' deposits by agents or landlords unjustly, as well as the manipulation of private data by corporates or its susceptibility to hacking.

Evolution of Renting Platforms: Cheaper, Leaner, Crypto As a potential first-mover in this massive multi-trillion USD market and a leader among the future wave of nextgen proptech ventures, Rentible aims to disrupt the norm by utilizing blockchain principles that offer mainstream easy to understand real-life usecases and broad scope appeal. As a state-of-the-art nextgen rental platform for the upcoming blockchain era, Rentible brings decentralized-proptech to the fingertips of the regular person, enabling tenants and landlords to transact seamlessly with cryptocurrencies while removing redundancies from the process through a simplified web and mobile dApp experience, focused on mainstream ease of use. By establishing a decentralized global rental hub for the mid-to-long term rentals sector, Rentible seeks to eliminate the vulnerability to online scams and fraud, loss of privacy, data theft and its manipulation, and to serve as a gateway for rent-related payments in cryptocurrencies. In addition, through smart employment of DeFi protocols, users across Rentible's ecosystem will gain access to community loans and benefit from rewards for their contributors through staking. The deployment of autonomous, safe from manipulation trustless contracts and tamper-proof records ensure the streamlining of the rental process and lowering of fees. To keep the ecosystem neutral and to benefit from enhanced rewards and discounts as a form of incentivizing the community, the access to smart contracts (such as its first smart contract protocol for deposits that was released on Github in July 2021), and other advanced features on the Rentible platform is done through the ecosystem's utility token - RNB. The RNB Token Built on the Ethereum blockchain, RNB has a total limited supply of 3.5 million tokens, currently trading at $0.50, and can be exchanged on Uniswap, Bittrex Global, and Bancor, which recently whitelisted RNB on its DEX, with a 100,000 BNT (~$400,000) co-investment by Bancor DAO. This rare achievement by such an early-stage startup with a tiny MC to be whitelisted on Bancor, further cements Rentible's (and its native token RNB) long term potential for an explosive mass-adoption growth. What to expect next Rentible is founded by a team of seasoned Proptech developers and blockchain experts, and aims at an early beta release of the platform to the Rentible community followed by an official launch during Q4 2021. Rentible will operate in the highly lucrative mid-to-long-term rentals market, and as a first-of-its-kind proptech management dApp for this sector of the market, it is set to position itself as a first-mover among the next-generation Proptech ventures that are sure to follow into this massive, yet untapped space, constituting part of a huge $3.2 trillion market, with 1.12 billion rentals, and projected revenue of $335B for shared-economies by 2025.

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[August 23, 2021] Landis+Gyr Signs Contract with Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company for Advanced Metering Infrastructure and IoT Network

CHAM, Switzerland, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Landis+Gyr Technology Inc., a subsidiary of Landis+Gyr Group AG (SIX:LAND) signed a five-year agreement with Louisville Gas and Electric Company (LG&E) and Kentucky Utilities Company (KU) to provide a comprehensive advanced metering and smart grid infrastructure. The contract, which covers both operating utilities, includes 930,000 advanced electricity meters and 300,000 gas modules, in addition to network equipment and software. Both utilities will deploy Landis+Gyr's Gridstream Connect solution, which links the electric and gas advanced metering infrastructure endpoints to an IoT network capable of supporting a variety of intelligent devices for managing energy distribution systems. "Installing this technology across our customer base has been a goal of ours for some time and we're pleased full deployment of advanced metering infrastructure was approved in June by the Kentucky Public Service Commission," said David Huff, Director of Advanced Meter Initiatives at LG&E and KU. "Once installed and operational, this technology will enhance the safe, reliable service we provide our customers and will better enable them to save energy and money through access to their granular energy use." Landis+Gyr's Gridstream network provides utilities with the information and access needed for planning, maintenance, and improving system reliability. Beyond energy consumption information, the network can interface with load management and analytics platforms to provide actionable intelligence for utility operations. "Landis+Gyr is excited to be part of this grid modernization effort and we look forward to implemening technology that enables the goals that LG&E and KU have defined for the future of energy in Kentucky," said Prasanna Venkatesan, Landis+Gyr's Executive Vice President of the Americas region.



About LG&E and KU

Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company, part of the PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) family of companies, are regulated utilities that serve more than 1.3 million customers and have consistently ranked among the best companies for customer service in the United States. LG&E serves 332,000 natural gas and 425,000 electric customers in Louisville and 16 surrounding counties. KU serves 564,000 electric customers in 77 Kentucky counties and five counties in Virginia. More information is available at www.lge-ku.com and www.pplweb.com. About Landis+Gyr

Landis+Gyr is a leading global provider of integrated energy management solutions for the utility sector. Offering one of the broadest portfolios, we deliver innovative and flexible solutions to help utilities solve their complex challenges in Smart Metering, Grid Edge Intelligence and Smart Infrastructure. With sales of USD 1.4 billion in FY 2020, Landis+Gyr employs more than 5,000 people in over 30 countries across five continents, with the sole mission of helping the world manage energy better. For more information, please visit our website www.landisgyr.com.

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Christian.Waelti@landisgyr.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/landisgyr-signs-contract-with-louisville-gas-and-electric-company-and-kentucky-utilities-company-for-advanced-metering-infrastructure-and-iot-network-301360759.html SOURCE Landis+Gyr

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[August 23, 2021] C3 Risk & Insurance Services Creates New Construction Division with Addition of Industry Veterans

C3 Risk & Insurance Services (C3), a San Diego-based specialty insurance brokerage, has hired four insurance industry veterans to establish new construction and surety divisions. C3 (News - Alert) , which uses a discovery-based risk approach to provide a wide range of comprehensive products, will draw from these new hires' decades of expertise to tackle the unique challenges faced by this foundational industry. C3 welcomes the following new team members to the new construction and surety divisions: Paul Heidemann, Managing Director: Heidemann has more than 25 years of experience in the insurance brokerage industry. His expertise includes risk management and brokerage services for medium to large construction companies; environmental and remediation contractors; homebuilders and residential development. Rich Hallett, Director of Surety: With over 25 years of experience obtaining surety credit for national and international contractors and developers, Hallett is responsible for the management of C3's contract and commercial surety practice. Over his career, he has underwritten and managed surety programs in excess of $750 million. Teri Porlas, Client Consultant Executive: Porlas has over 35 years of experience working as a dedicated insurance professional providing creative and comprehensive coverage programs. Her expertise resides in the construction and real estate industries handling complex exposures for sophisticated businesses. Doug Shea, Construction Practice Leader: ??Shea is a commercial property and casualty insurance broker specializing in construction and real estate. He began his insurance career more than a decade ago, and his expertise includes providing risk management and brokerage services to medium to large construction companies; environmental and remediation contractors; and homebuilders and residential developers (OCIP/CCIP Programs). "We're formalizing our construction and surety divisions so we continue enhancing our capabilities to service an array of risks," says Jamie Reid, co-founder and chairman of the board, C3. "The construction industry is a backbone to America. We're confident with the addition of these four specialty insurance experts, this new division will not only have a different approach to the toughest insurance callenges, but also meet clients' needs with sophisticated expertise and intimate knowledge of the industry."



C3 believes insurance can be a colorful, collaborative experience Under the leadership of Reid and co-founder Gabe Erle, C3 is disrupting the insurance industry by including clients in the process. Clients participate in writing the narrative that impacts their insurance cost and coverage through colorful insurance commercials that are submitted to underwriters. This unique approach breathes life into the special risk factors associated with the company that draw the attention of preferred underwriting. Established in 2017, the company now has nearly 70 employees boasting 500 years of combined experience, covering every aspect of the insurance world. C3 is licensed in all 50 states, and currently serves over 5,000 clients in the U.S. and worldwide.

C3 offers several lines of insurance, including workers compensation, professional liability, general liability, privacy liability, inland marine, commercial property, business auto, garage liability, accident participant, and many more along with specialty divisions including trucking, life science and construction and surety. In addition, C3 works to change the insurance game by including non-insurance elements for its clients, including video production services, online brand alignment with internal culture, claim cost containment and client technology portal. By giving clients 24/7 virtual access to their agents, C3 ensures customers receive the best advice possible for their situation at any time of day. Even medical emergencies don't wait until the next day to be reported, thanks to the company's nurse triage. C3 also knows the key to success is working in close collaboration with clients to come to agreeable decisions. To do that, employees must be able to work to their full capacity. To this end, Reid and Erle are dedicated to investing time and money to get to know their clients better than anyone else and give employees what they need mentally and emotionally to give their clients top quality service. C3 employees enjoy a unique, fun, and professional work environment with plenty of opportunities for mobility, and benefits including profit-sharing, flexible schedules and wellness initiatives. "Our team promises our clients the best service possible, and in order to do that we need the best people," says Erle. "The insurance industry has been in a box for years, and our new construction and surety divisions will continue our mission of disruption through business relationships solidified by empathetic listening, divergent thinking and unprecedented resolve." ABOUT C3 RISK & INSURANCE SERVICES C3 is shaking up the insurance industry by redefining the privately held insurance brokerage firm. Founded in 2017, C3 is locally owned and headquartered in San Diego. While young at heart, the breadth of experience spans decades. C3 inherently takes a different approach to managing the risk of companies from startups through multinational firms. Its unique business model and dedication to employees and clients has been a catalyst to C3 becoming one of the fastest growing insurance firms in the country. Learn more by visiting c3insurance.com, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or by calling 619-233-8000. Photos for preview and download. Credit - Courtesy: C3 Risk & Insurance Services / No password necessary. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210823005528/en/

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[August 23, 2021] Building Hope's Second Partnership With Alturas Transforms Former Sears Building Into International Baccalaureate World School

Building Hope - a non-profit foundation dedicated to identifying and financing viable facilities so that all students have access to a quality K-12 education - and Alturas Preparatory Academy (APA) - a new International Baccalaureate World School in Idaho Falls - today announced a public open house Wednesday, Aug. 25, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Idaho Falls. With the help of Building Hope, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing facilities, financing and services to charter schools so more students have access to quality K-12 education, APA was able to transform the former Sears building at 2280 E. 17th Street for its facilities. The new school building, which is adjacent to the Grand Teton Mall, will be open to the public for the first time at the ribbon cutting and open house event on Aug. 25. The school will serve 6th through 10th grades when it opens for the upcoming school year on Aug. 30 and will add 11th and 12th grades in subsequent years. APA will follow the same model that its sister school, Alturas International Academy (AIA), has used in its K-8 school since opening in 2016. Students are taught in small groups according to their instructional levels, rather than large lectures according to grade level. APA will seek authorization as an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School for the Diploma and Career-Related Programs. AIA is authorized for the International Baccalaureate Program for the Primary Years and APA is authorized for 6th through 10th grades in the IB Middle Years Program. The IB high school curriculum focuses on critical thinking and community and global stewardship. AIA and APA are currently the only authorized IB WorldSchool in Eastern Idaho.



Alturas leadership, with the help of Building Hope, selected the 73,000-square-foot former Sears building for its price, central location and proximity to the College of Eastern Idaho. Building Hope also partnered with Alturas and the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Family Foundation to purchase and renovate its AIA campus, which is located in the former O.E. Bell Building on Ridge Avenue. "We are proud to partner with Alturas again as it expands to offer more opportunities for students in Idaho," said Building Hope Real Estate President Dru Damico. "This project gives new life to an existing building that will be an asset for the entire Idaho Falls community."

The leadership of Alturas Prep will continue with Michelle Ball as the Executive Director for both APA and AIA and Brian Bingham, the former principal of AIA, will serve as APA's principal. Alturas has been working with Pocatello-based Pro Builders. APA houses 30 classrooms, science labs, common areas, an art room, drama room, music room, gym, wide hallways, abundant natural light and an outdoor recreation area. In a unique twist, each classroom features large overhead doors - in addition to regular man doors - that allow the rooms to open into larger collaborative spaces. The school is completely closed off from the mall. APA is open to any student living in the boundaries of Idaho Falls School District #91, Bonneville School District #93, or Shelley School District #60, or by application. There is no charge for admission. Enrollment will be determined by a lottery system, with priority given to APA students and their siblings. No preference is given for academic performance and/or financial resources. The school will begin the academic year with 302 students and 168 on the waitlist. APA received state approval at a meeting in August 2020. Upon receiving state approval, the new school was awarded a grant from the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Family Foundation to help fund the purchase and renovation of the building. Representatives from Building Hope, the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Family Foundation, and Bluum, an Idaho nonprofit that supports charter schools and has awarded grant money to both APA and AIA, will attend the open house. For more information about how Building Hope helps charter schools nationwide with facilities, financing, and operational services, visit www.buildinghope.org. About Alturas Preparatory Academy Alturas Preparatory Academy promotes academic distinction, while empowering students to be principled and intellectual leaders as they explore, create, investigate and analyze in a safe, engaged, collaborative environment that inspires them to make a genuine difference in their local and global community. Relevant learning opportunities for high-quality education through community partnerships and engagement helps students develop attitudes and knowledge to succeed in a technologically advanced world. 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/20210823005554/en/

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[August 23, 2021] GrowthGenius Secures $2.3M in Funding to Scale Sales Prospecting Automation Platform

GrowthGenius, an all-in-one sales automation platform, today announced the close of a C$2. 3M (News - Alert) investment round led by FirePower Capital's private equity arm. The new funding, which will be a mix of term debt and equity, aims to accelerate the nearly 200% annualized revenue growth since the beginning of the year. "We built GrowthGenius to help great companies succeed by never having to worry about sales again," noted Brandon Pizzacalla and Will Richman, co-founders of GrowthGenius. "With our recent funding, we will continue improving our core product and drive more value for our hundreds of customers." GrowthGenius was founded in 2016 to help companies automate sales prospecting so that the people at those companies could focus on more valuable work. GrowthGenius operated for 3 years as a tech-backed sales agency before launching its sales prospecting automation software publicly in 2020. "GrowthGenius combines the power of sales automation technology with the insights and perspective of sales consultants to provide a highly effective offering," said the founders. Two of FirePower Capital's leaders, Anthony Lipschitz, Partner, Private Equity, and Sebastien Douville, Partner & COO, will join the board of directors. Anthony brings over 2 decades of experience in sales, investing and executive leadership at technology companies, including StubHub, ThinkingCapital, and BrightSpark. Sebastien contributes 15 years of management consulting, operational, financial, and M&A experience, having helped build FirePower Capital from the ground up, nd with previous experience at Oliver Wyman (News - Alert) .



"I speak for the entire FirePower team: we are extremely excited to partner with the GrowthGenius team whom we have known for some time. They have consistently pushed the boundaries of what was thought possible in top-of-funnel sales activities. They are poised to continue to take advantage of a massive change for the sales function across most sectors," pointed out Anthony Lipschitz. Since the launch of GrowthGenius' software platform in June 2020, the customer base has grown to over 500 companies. Marketing agencies, sales agencies, and professional service firms have had the highest success with GrowthGenius, though the company has worked with customers across nearly every vertical. In the last year, GrowthGenius has generated over 90,000 sales conversations and over $350 million in qualified sales pipeline for its customers and clients.

To learn more about GrowthGenius and start a free trial of the sales prospecting automation platform, please visit www.growthgenius.com. About GrowthGenius: GrowthGenius is an end-to-end sales prospecting automation company. GrowthGenius' sales prospecting software allows customers to access over 550 million global prospect profiles, schedule multi-channel sales campaigns, and set the sales prospecting process on autopilot. GrowthGenius' expert sales consulting team helps clients get more sales meetings, faster. About FirePower Capital:

FirePower Capital is the private capital and M&A advisory firm built for Canada's entrepreneurs. Its team of 40+ deal professionals helps their mid-market businesses complete mission-critical transactions, by investing in their companies directly or by advising them. For more information please visit www.firepowercapital.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210823005572/en/

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[August 23, 2021] ForgeRock Files Registration Statement for Proposed Initial Public Offering

ForgeRock, Inc. (ForgeRock), a global identity leader, today announced that it has publicly filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ( SEC (News - Alert) ) relating to a proposed initial public offering of shares of its Class A common stock. ForgeRock intends to list its Class A common stock under the ticker symbol "FORG" on the New York Stock Exchange. The number of shares of Class A common stock to be offered and the price range for the proposed offering have not yet been determined. Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC are acting as lead book-running managers for the proposed offering. Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Mizuho Securities USA LLC, and HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. are acting as joint book-running managers for the proposed offering. BTIG, LLC, Cowen and Company, LLC, Piper Sandler & Co., Truist Securities, Inc., and William Blair & Company, L.L.C. are acting as co-managers for the proposed offering. The proposed offering will be made only by means f a prospectus. When available, copies of the preliminary prospectus relating to the proposed offering may be obtained from: Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Attn: Prospectus Department, 180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor, New York, New York 10014; and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, by telephone at 866-803-9204, or by email at prospectus-eq_fi@jpmorganchase.com.



A registration statement on Form S-1 relating to these securities has been filed with the SEC but has not yet become effective. These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. 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 ForgeRock ForgeRock, a global leader in digital identity, delivers modern identity and access management solutions for consumers, employees and things to simply and safely access the connected world. Using ForgeRock, more than 1,300 organizations around the world orchestrate, manage, and secure the complete lifecycle of identities from dynamic access controls, governance, APIs, and storing authoritative data - consumable in cloud or hybrid environments. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210823005653/en/

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[August 23, 2021] European Intermodal Terminal Operators Convinced of Nexxiot's Kingpin Monitor Efficacy and Reliability

Agora Intermodal, Europe's largest consortium of intermodal terminal operators, has issued a strong statement of support for Nexxiot AG's proprietary wireless Kingpin Monitor sensors designed specifically for cargo shipping containers, saying they are convinced by the efficacy and reliability of Nexxiot's game-changing technology. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210823005658/en/ A field test of Nexxiot's wireless Kingpin Monitor sensor takes place in Hamburg in June. Photo credit: VTG AG. Agora Intermodal comprises truck and rail intermodal terminal and transport operators from Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy and The Netherlands, and represents about one-third of central European handling volume. The consortium is named for the ancient Greek marketplace, representing its members' exchange of ideas and technology. In June 2021, Nexxiot presented its proprietary Kingpin Monitor in collaboration with VTG, the largest private railcar company in Europe. The Kingpin maintenance-free sensor set is designed to improve safety in intermodal transport activities. When semi-trailers are being loaded onto railcars, the display's LED lights provide employees with a clear visual indication of the loading status. Representatives of AGORA Intermodal Terminals were given a detailed impression of the Nexxiot innovation during a trial loading under working conditions at the DUSS terminal in amburg-Billwerder. The participants were particularly convinced by the excellent implementation of the display and the easy handling of the Kingpin Monitor system.



Antje Falk, founding member of AGORA and Managing Director of Baltic Rail Gate GmbH, said: "We were impressed by the excellent readability of the Nexxiot display. Due to the unique angle at which the display is mounted on both sides of the railcar, the LED on the display can be seen even in direct sunlight and from a great distance. This feature is especially important for crane operators who have to move the semi-trailers. We would like to see this display become a European standard in the future as well as being able to be activated remotely." Kristian Kolsche, also Managing Director at Baltic Rail Gate GmbH, added: "Safety is a number one priority at the terminals. It must also be guaranteed if more goods are transported by rail in the future. Therefore, we welcome any technological innovation, such as the Nexxiot Kingpin Monitor, that brings more safety to operations."

Stefan Kalmund, CEO of Nexxiot, said: "For us, external validation from the industry and independent organizations is very important in the development of new solutions. Our sensors are the first of their kind and are intended to make work at the terminal easier and bring more safety and transparency to all processes. That's why the feedback from AGORA Intermodal Terminals encourages us as we roll out the Kingpin Monitor." He added: "The field tests are almost completed. Therefore, we are confident that we can start the roll-out this November, as planned." The handling of semi-trailer cargo containers on railcars requires great diligence. Adverse conditions, such as high winds or other extreme weather conditions, or an incorrectly placed kingpin, can compromise loading safety if not checked carefully. Nexxiot's Kingpin Monitor solution uses technology to address these challenges. The Kingpin sensor detects whether the kingpin is engaged and whether the hitch status is open or locked. This provides real-time information on the status of the semi-trailer to employees on site as well as to dispatchers and decision-makers who have access to the data via the Nexxiot Logistics Cloud. About AGORA Intermodal Terminals: The AGORA Intermodal Terminals Working Group was established in 2011 as a result of an EU project. The approach of the working group is to bring together terminal operators in order to promote the exchange of information and ideas and joint learning with regard to "good practices" in terminal management, increasing terminal capacities and improving interaction with cargo terminal operators, rail transport companies and other cargo terminal stakeholders. The current 18 member companies operate more than 40 cargo terminals with a total capacity of about 5 million loading units. AGORA terminals achieved a handling volume of around 3.8 million loading units in the "Corona year" 2020 and expect a further increase in traffic in 2021. The office of AGORA is managed by KombiConsult GmbH, Frankfurt am Main. https://www.intermodal-terminals.eu/ About Nexxiot: Nexxiot is a driver of the TradeTech solutions of tomorrow. An industry leader in the digitalization of asset and cargo transportation, Nexxiot empowers global shipping companies and suppliers to harness the power of their data through proprietary, cutting-edge technology and integrated data solutions to track, find and protect cargo from more than 167 countries around the world and across 450 network roaming partners to ensure accountability, security and efficiency. Headquartered in Zurich, Nexxiot operates throughout Europe and the U.S., employing people from 22 countries. The company's secure, industry leading Cloud comprises data from over 2.5 billion travelled miles. Committed to sustainability through corporate and social responsibility, Nexxiot's goal is to enable a five percent reduction in worldwide carbon dioxide emissions in the logistics industry by increasing cargo transport efficiency and eliminating waste caused by empty runs and inefficient routes. https://nexxiot.com/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210823005658/en/

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[August 23, 2021] MedX Announces Board Changes

MedX Health Corp. ("MedX" or the "Company") (MDX - TSXV), announces that at the Annual and Special General Meeting of shareholders held on August 16, 2021, Rob von der Porten retired as a director, thus creating a vacancy on the Board. Mr. von der Porten had been not only Chairman of the Board, but also acting as Chief Executive Officer during the last fifteen-month period that MedX was conducting a search for a new CEO. Ken McKay has been appointed as Chairman of the Board. In addition, Sylvain Desjeans, recently promoted to President and CEO of MedX, has been appointed to the Board to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Mr. von der Porten. "The Board thanks Rob for his service and leadership during a period of over seven years, during which time the Company has developed into being a leading medical device and software company. During his tenure, MedX completed the development of its SIAscopy on DermSecureTM Telemedicine platform." stated Mr. McKay "I am proud to have worked with my MedX colleagues who are so committed to the development of the SIAscopy technology and the DermSecureTM Telemedicine platform," said Mr. von der Porten. "It represents a significant leap forward fo early detection of skin cancers as well as the assessment of other skin conditions with the addition of its high-definition camera. I am confident that the Company will leverage its technology across North America and internationally to achieve great commercial success" he continued.



About MedX MedX, headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, is a leading medical device and software company focused on skin health with its SIAscopy on DermSecure telemedicine platform, utilizing its SIAscopy technology. SIAscopy is also imbedded in its products SIAMETRICS, SIMSYS, and MoleMate, which MedX manufactures in its ISO 13485 certified facility. SIAMETRICS, SIMSYS, and MoleMate include hand-held devices that use patented technology utilizing light and its remittance to view up to 2 mm beneath suspicious moles and lesions in a pain free, non-invasive manner, with its software then creating real-time images for physicians and dermatologists to evaluate all types of moles or lesions within seconds. These products are cleared by Health Canada, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Therapeutic Goods Administration and Conformite Europeenne for use in Canada, the US, Australia, New Zealand, the European Union, Brazil and Turkey. Visit https://medxhealth.com.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This Media Release may contain forward-looking statements, which reflect the Company's current expectations regarding future events. The forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210823005667/en/

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NASHVILLE, Tenn.  Since March 2020, the Soldiers and Airmen of the Tennessee National Guard have been working alongside and supporting the Tennessee Department of Health, Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, and various other state and local agencies to combat the spread of COVID-19.

Thousands of Tennessee Guardsmen have volunteered to help during the pandemic. Over the last 17 months, anywhere from 250-700 Guardsmen have been actively supporting the testing and vaccination efforts across the state. This has resulted in Tennessee Guardsmen supporting the testing of more than 920,000 Tennesseans and the vaccination of over 1 million.

Currently, there are more than 580 Soldiers and Airmen providing support to 58 counties in Tennessee by helping with testing, vaccinations, and administrative support to health care providers.

Earlier this week the Tennessee National Guard began staffing support to various hospitals at the request of the Tennessee Department of Health. Starting on Aug. 20, the Tennessee National Guard sent 20 Guardsmen to Baptist Hospital in Memphis and two Guardsmen to Lafollette Healthcare in Campbell County to expand our COVID-19 support. The Guardsman are capable of working in many types of hospital units and are able to help with administrative tasks.

The Tennessee National Guard is also providing five support personnel to Nashvilles Mid-Cumberland Regional Hospital Office to assist in the schools call center.

Over the course of the pandemic, Soldiers and Airmen have also established temporary testing sites in focus areas, tested vulnerable populations at long-term care facilities, county and state corrections facilities, public housing, and many other locations across the state. They established Infectious Disease Teams that visit hospitals and alternative care centers to help develop plans and processes that prevent and decrease COVID-19 transmissions within the facilities. Guardsmen have also provided administrative and medical assistance to hospitals, collected and distributed Personal Protective Equipment, and conducted various other task as requested through TEMA.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the Tennessee National Guard is prepared and ready to support any request for assistance through TEMA.
On Saturday, August 21, 2021 the several counties in Middle Tennessee experienced catastrophic flooding and flash flooding from the line of rain and storms that moved through the State. The primary counties affected were Dickson, Hickman, Houston, and Humphreys, with the City of Waverly being heavily impacted. This page offers resources for those recovering and will be updated regularly.

Federal Disaster Assistance

On August 23, 2021, President Joseph R. Biden declared a Major Disaster for the state of Tennessee as a result of severe storms and flooding that occurred on August 21, 2021.

This declaration makes federal funding available in Dickson, Hickman, Houston, and Humphreys counties. Impacted individuals in these counties can apply for FEMA's Individual Assistance (IA) program. News releases for the disaster declaration can be found here.

If you have a homeowners policy, file your insurance claim immediately before applying for disaster assistance. Get the process started quickly. The faster you file, the faster your recovery can begin. Take photos and videos of all damage before you start cleaning up.

To apply for assistance, visit DisasterAssistance.gov or call 800-621-3362 (800-462-7585 TTY), multilingual operators are available, press 2 for Spanish. The toll-free numbers are open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. CDT, seven days a week.

You will need the following to apply for assistance:

 Social Security number;

 Daytime telephone number;

 Current mailing address and address and zip code of the damaged property; and

 Insurance information, if available.

Multi-Agency Resource Centers (MARC) are now open for those who would like to speak in person about disaster assistance. Representatives from local, state, and federal agencies will be available to discuss programs and assistance with flood survivors. Locations are open in Dickson, Hickman, and Humphreys counties:

Dickson County

Dickson YMCA

225 Henslee Dr, Dickson, TN

Monday - Saturday 9am to 7pm, Sunday 4pm-7pm

Hickman County

Nunnelly Community Center

1400 Hwy 230 W, Nunnelly, TN

Everyday 9am to 7pm

Humphreys County

Cumberland Presbyterian Church

109 North Church St, Waverly, TN

Monday - Saturday 8am to 7pm, Sunday 12pm to 7pm.

The U.S. Small Business Administration is currently operating two Business Recovery Centers to support all businesses with one-on-one assistance in submitting a disaster loan application.

Dickson County

Dickson County Chamber of Commerce

205 S. Main Street

Dickson, TN 37055 Hours: Monday  Friday from 8 a.m.  4:30 p.m.

Closed: Saturdays and Sundays Humphreys County Waverly City Hall

101 E. Main Street

Waverly, TN 37185 Hours: Monday  Friday from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Closed: Saturdays and Sundays

Fact Sheets: Individual Assistance Program, Individuals and Household Programs

Crisis Cleanup

A Crisis Cleanup service is in place for Tennesseans who need help with debris removal and home cleanup from the recent flooding. All services are free, but service is not guaranteed due to the expected overwhelming need. Individuals needing assistance should call the hotline at 615-338-7404.

American Red Cross

The American Red Cross continues to serve those affected by the recent flooding. Emergency assistance is available to individuals whose homes were destroyed or majorly impacted. For more information, please contact the American Red Cross by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Give

In times of disaster, financial donations are the best way to aid those in need. Cash can be used immediately in response to a crisis, and allows disaster relief organizations to purchase exactly what is needed, when its needed. Cash gives relief organizations the means to procure supplies near the affected area, which cuts down on transportation time and cost. Monetary contributions also support local economies and ensure that businesses can operate when relief supplies diminish.

The Tennessee Region of the American Red Cross: https://www.redcross.org/local/tennessee.html

The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee: https://www.cfmt.org/

Nashville Community Resource Center: https://crcnashville.org/

Salvation Army: https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/

United Way of Humphreys County: www.unitedwayhumphreys.org/

Volunteer

A significant cleanup and recovery effort is underway in Humphreys County and many organizations and individuals are volunteering or providing volunteer personnel and resources for this effort. Individuals and organizations who want to volunteer should call (931) 888-8011 or (931) 888-8012, or go to the Dollar Tree, 505 W. Main St., in Waverly where many response agencies are located.

Volunteers can also connect with Tennessee Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster through TNVOADs website or by email tnvoad@nvoad.org.

Please work with established non-profit organizations to volunteer as part of an organized effort. This way the appropriate safety, training, and skills can be provided and utilized for the effort.

Faith-Based Organizations

Churches of Christ Disaster Relief: disasterreliefeffort.org

Waverly Church of Christ: Text "Give" to 931-288-4887

Pets

The Humane Society of Dickson, https://humanesocietyofdickson.com/, is taking donations to help Waverly Animal Shelter as its in need of drinking water, large kennels, dog and cat food and cleaning supplies. Waverly Animal Shelter is also trying to get animals currently in the shelter into foster homes. Those who would like to to foster a lost pet can call the shelter at 931-296-7319 or visit the facility at 108 Young Road in Waverly.

Tennessee Statewide Crisis Phone Line

Call 855-CRISIS-1 (855-274-7471) to speak with a caring, trained mental health professional, 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week, if you are experiencing a mental health emergency. You can also text TN to 741741.

The Centerstone Crisis Line is also available at 1-800-681-7444 for disaster crisis counseling.

SAMHSAs Disaster Distress Helpline provides 24/7, 365-day-a-year crisis counseling and support to people experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters. The Disaster Distress Helpline, 1-800-985-5990, is a 24/7, 365-day-a-year, national hotline dedicated to providing immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster. This toll-free, multilingual, and confidential crisis support service is available to all residents in the United States and its territories. Stress, anxiety, and other depression-like symptoms are common reactions after a disaster. Call 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 to connect with a trained crisis counselor. https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/disaster-distress-helpline

Disaster Unemployment Assistance

The Tennessee Dept. of Labor and Workforce Development announced today that Disaster Unemployment Assistance is now available to Humphreys County workers impacted by the recent flooding.

Workers can apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance by visiting the American Job Center, 711 Holly Lane, in Waverly. Those with computer and internet access can also apply at Jobs4TN.gov.

Laundry Services

Tide's Loads of Hope mobile laundry service is available to families, individuals and first responders in need of personal care items, cleaning products or laundry services in the wake of the flooding in Tennessee. The team will collect laundry from 9 a.m.  5 p.m. at Walmart Supercenter located at 275 Walton Dr., Waverly, TN.

Well Water Testing

The Tennessee Department of Health is offering free well water testing is available to flood impacted residents. For more information, please call 615-426-0216.



Mosquitoes

Flooding can cause an increase in mosquito populations. Protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites by wearing long-sleeved shirt and pants and using EPA-registered insect repellents. More info here.

Avoiding Scams

While many people seek to help during times of disaster, unfortunately there is also an increased risk for scams and fraud. Watch out for upfront fees to help you claim services, benefits, or get loans. The Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs can be reached at 615-741-4737 or online at www.tn.gov/consumer.

Report Misconduct

The Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance licenses many of the professionals who play a role in rebuilding, including contractors, home inspectors, and insurance agents, among others. If you witness unlicensed activity or other potential violations of laws and rules involving our licensees, visit www.tn.gov/commerce to file a complaint.

Filing Insurance Claims

After a disaster, file your claim as soon as possible. Call your insurance company or agent with your policy number and other relevant information. Your policy may require that you make the notification within a certain time frame. Save all receipts, including those from the temporary repairs covered by your policy. TDCIs Insurance Division can be reached at 615-741-2218 or online at www.tn.gov/commerce.

Hiring Contractors

Before hiring a professional such as a contractor, consumers should first verify that the individual is properly licensed to work in Tennessee by visiting www.verify.tn.gov to conduct a license check. Keep a record of your property damage and any repairs made to your property.

If you are dealing with a company or person who promises to remove debris from your property, ask them to list the services they will provide in writing. The Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors can be reached at (615) 741-8307 or online at www.tn.gov/commerce.

Always buy from a licensed seller and do your due diligence before you buy. The Tennessee Motor Vehicle Commission can be reached at 615-741-2711 or online at www.tn.gov/commerce.

Reconnecting to Electrical Power

Before power can be restored to a flooded home, a certified electrical inspector working with the Tennessee State Fire Marshals Office must conduct visual inspections of locations impacted by floodwaters to assess potential damage. If it is determined that floodwaters did not reach electrical equipment, it will be left to the local power company to determine if electrical service may be turned back on. If minor damage from floodwater is observed, the replacement of receptacles and switches will be necessary to ensure the safe operation of electrical equipment with no need for further inspection.If the electrical inspector determines that floodwaters rose to a level that affected electrical equipment, the Tennessee State Fire Marshals Office advises that the property owner work with a licensed electrician to determine what components need to be replaced or repaired. In this event, a subsequent electrical inspection will be conducted before the property is re-energized. Homeowners insurance may help cover the cost of replacing appliances and other personal belongings and property that has been damaged. Questions? Consumers are urged to contact your insurance agent and/or company to discuss any available assistance and questions about your coverage.

Generator Safety, Avoiding Carbon Monoxide Poisoning:

With the loss of power due to the flooding, many people may rely on portable fuel-powered generators which are potential sources of carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas created when natural fuels burn incompletely. Breathing high levels of carbon monoxide can cause loss of consciousness or even death. Never use a gas generator inside a home, garage, carport basement, crawlspace or outside near a window, door or vent. A generator should only be used outdoors and at least 15 feet away from buildings. It is dangerous to use a gas or kerosene heater inside a home or other building.
Let's talk about Kansas City friendship amongst progressives.

To wit . . .



COUNCIL LADY MELISSA ROBINSON THROWS HER CONSIDERABLE WEIGHT BEHIND COUNCILMAN BUNCH AMID HIS RECALL BATTLE!!!

In her latest tweet she's referencing an editorial from The Call and offering advice for 4th District voters.



Check-it . . .



However . . .

There's no offer of financial support given that help with cash for lawyers is what Councilman Bunch desperately needs most.



And whilst the tweet garnered more than 100 likes . . . It's not clear how many of those social media denizens will pony up any political donations.

Just like Golden Era Hollywood . . . Kansas City is a place where a person can die from encouragement.

Fact is . . . The accolades from the anti-police 3rd District politico might garner even more support for recall petitioners.



Meanwhile, TKC appreciates The Call for weighing in on this story that www.TonysKansasCity.com broke FIRST and AWESOMELY with the help of our KICK-ASS BLOG COMMUNITY.

Developing . . .


As we prepare for the work week . . . Here's a peek at the new rules for laborers both middle-class and lower on the food chain.



An important peek at the rules . . .



"The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced earlier this year that U.S. employers can require that all workers physically present in the workplace be vaccinated against COVID-19."

Real talk . . .

The dearth of employment protections in Republican-controlled red states help employers hold a tremendous amount of power over the lives of their workers. Don't look for the GOP to crackdown on corporations and small biz any time soon and as midterm donation campaign season approaches.



On the bright side, this might be yet another benefit for higher-level executives and consultants to stay at home and pretend to work their b.s. jobs.



To be fair, even Prez Trump is now encouraging his followers to take the vaxx to no avail . . .

Alabama crowd boos when Trump encourages Covid vaccines Donald Trump was booed by crowds in Alabama at his "Save America" rally when he recommended they get vaccinated against Covid. The former president told his supporters: "I believe totally in your freedoms, I do, you've got to do what you've got to do. But I recommend take the vaccines."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news link of this local story identifying a trend . . .
Johnstown, PA (15901)

Today

Cloudy with periods of rain, some heavy early. Potential for flooding rains. High near 65F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected..

Tonight

Showers early, then clearing overnight. Low around 50F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Johnstown, PA (15901)

Today

Periods of rain, heavy at times early. Potential for flooding rains. High 67F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected..

Tonight

Showers early, then clearing overnight. Low 51F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
CLINTON - Vernon Lee Kispert, 84, of Clinton passed away August 30, 2021. He was born on April 27, 1937, to Bernice and Elwood Kispert. Vernon is survived by his loving wife Ginny and daughter Shawna Kispert; stepchildren: Wayne (Nancy) McClara of Blanford, Bob (Judy) McClara of Mena, AR, Ma
I thought it might be useful to share our experience as others have done.

We took the 11.45am flight from Heathrow yesterday. The flight was on time and we arrived in Bridgetown at just after 3pm Barbados time.

It took no longer than 20 mins to get through Heathrow security. BA checked only the passports and boarding pass. Personally I think it is wrong of them not to even ask about PCR tests or vaccination certificates as it is a long way to fly to be turned back, but they didn't. To contrast, when we flew to Madeira in July Easyjet checked everything before we got on the plane.

The plane was about two thirds full. Everyone that I could see was wearing a face mask. On the plane we filled in the customs form.

on arrival in Bridgetown we were allowed off the plane in small groups and put on buses to the main building.

It took about an hour and 15 mins to complete security and do the test. Print everything out as noone looks at the BIM Safe app. They even wanted the printed QR codes, which luckily we had done.

Make sure you have your paperwork in order as there is a lot of showing of it to do. They certainly check fairly rigorously. They ask if you administered your PCR/test yourself and whether you have been in any other countries in the last 21 days. NB you must have a proper PCR test which has not been administered by yourself, otherwise like one family in our hotel who had done a home kit, you get an orange wristband and have to quarantine in your room before the airport test results come in.

Happily we are double vaccinated and had the proper PCR test certificate so we were given a green wristband and we got our pre-arranged transfer to our hotel.

Obviously we were confined to the hotel last night but we could use the restaurant, pool and gym. Not a big deal. We did what we always do on the first night - drank to much and crashed early! The curfew, incidently, means that last orders are at 9pm.

We woke early - effects of jet lag - to find my husband's negative test results had already come through at 3am. Mine, also negative, took a bit longer but arrived at 6.30am (probably another of the negatives in having a surname beginning with Z!)

The staff at the hotel are great. We emailed front test the results and they cut our wristbands off. Sadly we were not allowed to keep them. They were a fetching shade of green with 'Welcome to Barbados' printed in jolly black letters on them.

It is 8am here and we are free to roam.

I don't want to undermine the negative experiences that have been posted on here, there are undoubtedly risks and we know we could yet test positive when we test to go home. However, I think it is important to share positive experiences as well.
Bahamas postal service requires all international packets be sent with an appraised value. There is no need to have an appriasal done -- just declare a dollar value on the form. It's really not difficult, but sounds like the resort isn't willing to take the responsibility. Fair enough.

Bahamas postal services are basically hopeless, so I'd never use them for a package. If you're willing to pay the DHL/UPS/FedEx fee, that would be the best way to do this.

Otherwise, you're going to hope a kind soul will be willing to put it in the US mail for you on return to the US. I hope you find such a person! Good luck.
Hello friends,

At the time of writing, the Gov.UK website is still saying the PCR test is 'advisory' for people traveling to /returning from the UK (I will be returning/I am double jabbed).

I understand that people seem to still be able to board planes with a negative lateral flow test result - but to avoid a major hassle I plan to try to take a PCR test while in Spain within three days of my flight. (I would be very interested to hear from any recent traveler just using a lateral flow - especially if using Ryanair).

So far I have been unable to locate / book such a test and wondered if anyone could advise/link me to any resources.

I will be staying with my family iun North East Spain - near Figueres/Girona.

Many thanks
Hello!

I will be traveling to Athens and, after a few days, onward to Egypt. Egypt is currently requiring a QR code on vaccination certificates or PCR test results for entry into the country. Unfortunately, the USA is issuing only paper vaccination certificates and also the local testing centers do not have a QR code on their results.

Can anyone tell me if PCR test results from Greece (ideally the airport testing location or somewhere near Syntagma Square) have a QR code on the results? (I am vaccinated, so I think I can enter Greece with my USA paper vaccination card.)

Thank you!
Arriving in Washington, DC this property is close to the airport and its an inexpensive taxi ride. The location is excellent if you wanted to visit the major tourist attractions like the Washington Monument, US Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, White House, and both the National Museum of African American History & Culture, and the US Holocaust Memorial Museum. All of those are within walking distance if you like walking or a short Uber ride. US Capitol Update: Fences were taken down but you still could not go into the US Capitol at the time of this writing. Tip: Rent bikes and tour the National Mall on 2 wheels!



The front desk was friendly and professional. They immediately recognized my Bonvoy Gold Elite membership and upgraded us to the 9th floor with a great view of Pennsylvania Ave and the surrounding Federal buildings. They also was very courteous regarding my late checkout request.



The room was standard size with 2 double beds, table, lounge chair, and HDTV. The bathroom was standard size with bathtub and great shower. The beds were comfortable and the pillows a little soft and frumpy.



The hotel is walking distance to a good selection of restaurants from kid friendly to formal. During our stay they had blocked off the adjacent hotel for an important dignitary visit. The Metro station was a less than 10 minute walk which you can easily take to go anywhere in the city.



At the time of our stay, the most amenities like the 1331 Bar was open, and the cafe was available for breakfast. There was even a Starbucks at the lobby :)



OverallI would recommend staying here especially if you are traveling with kids that are ready to enjoy what Washington, DC had to offer from an educational perspective.
Hi,

Armenia is one of the places I'm thinking about coming because there is a good deal on a flight from Egypt where I am right now.

But on TravelBans.org it has something like this:

'Armenia Latest News: Services suspended at Gyumri Shirak Airport from 15 July until 15 September (Aysor, 07.06.2021).'

I'm just wondering if the airport is open with international flights and if I'll be okay to come with a negitive PCR test?

I think the airport thing could also mean services ie resturants at airport, not flights themselves.
is it possible for Saudi expat/resident (Pakistani National) to have a round trip to Iraq via Kuwait by road/land (Saudi-Kuwait-Iraq-Kuwait-Saudi). I am Electrical Engineering technician by profession. What is the best route and procedure. Need guidance please. Thanks in Advance.
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FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP)  Kentucky was hit with record numbers of COVID-19 patients in hospitals and intensive care units as cases are driven up by the fast-spreading delta variant, Gov. Andy Beshear said Monday.

More than 20 Kentucky hospitals are confronting critical staffing shortages, and some hospitals are converting space to treat the influx of ICU patients, the governor said.

Our hospitalizations have been doubling just about every two weeks," Beshear said at a news conference. "And folks, that means we are getting really close to every single bed across the entire commonwealth that we can staff being full.

Beshear presented grim statistics to show the severity of the surge. The state had 2,596 new COVID-19 cases  a pandemic high for any Monday in Kentucky  and 17 more virus-related deaths.

More than 1,890 virus patients were reported hospitalized in Kentucky, including 529 in intensive care units, he said. A record 301 Kentucky virus patients were on ventilators.

The surge comes as the Republican-dominated legislature assumes considerably more control over Kentucky's response to COVID-19. The state Supreme Court on Saturday cleared the way for laws limiting the governor's emergency powers to take effect.

The Democratic governor acknowledged the shift in power Monday.

Up to now, Ive carried the football," making the "tough, unpopular decisions, Beshear said. Based on the court's ruling, those policy decisions now will be made by lawmakers, he said.

I certainly hope that they will ... make the very best and sometimes courageous decisions that are necessary, the governor said.

He brought up one contentious issue, saying Kentucky is reaching the point where a statewide mask mandate would be needed in response to hospitals filling up. Beshears options include potentially calling lawmakers into a special session to deal with pandemic issues.

I think in the very least, we can hopefully come to agreement on some basic tools that were using to fight this," he said. "And then maybe it will take deeper conversation for the others.

State Senate President Robert Stivers said lawmakers will be ready if reconvened by the governor.

We have been formulating for quite some time things that we think would be effective, he told reporters. "And if the governor decides to call us into special session, well be prepared to roll those things out. Hopefully well do it in collaboration with the governors office.

Stivers stressed that COVID is very real and that we need to do everything we can do to give incentives for people to get the vaccinations.

The best way to deal and cope with it is getting as many shots in arms as possible, he said.

Meanwhile, the governor wielded some of his authority on Monday, announcing that National Guard personnel will provide logistical and administrative support starting Sept. 1 at some Kentucky hospitals. Receiving the initial assistance will be The Medical Center at Bowling Green, St. Claire Regional Medical Center at Morehead and Pikeville Medical Center.

Beshear also said he was submitting a request to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for additional health care professionals to help where they are most needed.

Kentucky would receive eight teams comprised of eight registered nurses and two certified nursing assistants if the request is granted. The teams would travel to Kentucky hospitals experiencing staffing and resource shortages. The request also would include two certified Emergency Management Services strike teams to transport patients if they need care and the hospital where they seek it is full or under-resourced.

As he's increasingly done in recent weeks, Beshear turned over part of his briefing to frontline doctors and nurses to discuss the virus-related hardships in their hospitals.

Steve Haines, nursing director of critical care services at Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center in Danville, said the latest surge has been pretty horrific.

Prior virus escalations occurred gradually, he said, but this time, it was like the door opened" and the virus "just kicked it in. We were immediately overwhelmed.

In a video, Haines talked of virus patients being scared and fighting to breathe.

We put all their families on FaceTime," he said. "We let them have maybe their last conversation with their family member and we put them on a ventilator. Its horrible.

The hospitals small morgue has been overwhelmed by the virus surge, he said. When a patient dies, housekeeping comes in, cleans the room and were putting somebody else in there, Haines said.

In one hopeful sign, nearly 32,000 Kentuckians were vaccinated against COVID-19 since Saturday, the governor said. Overall, 56% of the state's population has received at least one vaccine dose.

___

Follow more of APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic.
CANTERBURY  Gov. Ned Lamont showed up in sunglasses Monday morning to observe damage from Tropical Storm Henri to one of the hardest hit towns in the state.

It was a sunny morning, a much different scene than 24 hours earlier in the eastern Connecticut town of just over 5,000 residents that stretches across 70 miles of roads, almost most of them lined with trees.

When Lamont arrived in Canterbury, more than 500 residents were still without power. This is the town that had 95 percent of their power off and today almost everybody is on and everybody, Ive been promised by Eversource, will be on by the end of today, he said.

Republican First Selectman Chris Lippke was among the more than 2,000 reported households without electricity. He was at his office when he received a call from his wife around 11 a.m. Sunday telling him that the power had gone out. Their lights came back on early Monday morning.

I told Eversource you were coming to town. Ive never seen so many trucks in Canterbury, Lippke quipped to Lamont.

In a matter of minutes Sunday, most residents in Canterbury lost electricity, which Lippke attributed to a lot of strategic trees coming down all in the wrong places.

The town has taken down over 1,000 dead, diseased and decaying trees on town-owned property, including rights of way along the road edges, he said. And while thats been significant, a gypsy most infestation and drought in recent years - despite a lot of rain this summer - have left many weakened trees in the wooded town.

Educating residents on how to identify and what to do about dying trees on their property, including assistance with removal, could help remedy the problem, Lippke said.

Monday brought an impressive arsenal of political power to a town that has rarely if ever seen it. In addition to Lamont and other state officials, U.S. senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy joined the tour with local officials, while measuring the power companys response to the storm.

A utility crew working on power lines on Brooklyn Road in town was surprised by the governors presence Monday morning. One worker, whod traveled from New Hampshire to help out, said he was not expecting Lamont, who he did not realize at first was the governor. His reaction: It certainly added a bit more pressure to the job.

Lamont spoke with the state emergency operations team and said Red Cross is closing down shelters. After last summers bad experience with storm Isaias, the state helped to make sure the utilities were prepared for the worst this time, he added.

I think they stepped up, Lamont said about both utilities, Eversource and United Illuminating. They had twice as many folks on the ground ready to go this time as last time and thats the way weve got to do it. Lets make this the norm.

Lippke said he was in regular communication with Eversource throughout the storm. He suggested one area of improvement: more feedback from utility crews in the field to the Eversource liaisons assigned to towns so municipal leaders are more aware of the extent of the damage.

Something that looks like a small issue could be more involved in terms of equipment that needs to be replaced, he said.

Blumenthal said the pressure on Eversource has led to an increase in the utilitys responsiveness and he vowed to keep it up. Murphy said the senators need to make sure Connecticut receives money to help repair damages from the storm.

Obviously we dont have the kind of damage we thought we were going to have so well very carefully monitor damage assessments, well talk to all the towns as to how much money theyve expended and well make sure to bring every dollar to Connecticut that we are allowed under federal law, Murphy said.

He reminded people to stay vigilant as rains from the storm continue.

Canterburys Town Hall offices remained be closed for the day but the building was open during business hours for residents to charge devices and receive drinking water for animals. Most roads reopened and no damage to town property was reported.

julia.berman@hearstmediact.com
Tucson, AZ (85741)

Today

Mostly cloudy skies this morning will become partly cloudy this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 87F. Winds light and variable..

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Partly cloudy skies. Low 71F. Winds light and variable.
Tucson, AZ (85741)

Today

Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms during the morning. High 87F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Low 72F. Winds light and variable.
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Over the past day, August 22, five ceasefire violations by the armed formations of the Russian Federation were recorded in the Joint Forces Operation area in eastern Ukraine.

In particular, the enemy opened fire from grenade machine guns and heavy machine guns near Luhanske (59km north-east of Donetsk); small arms and heavy machine guns  outside Marinka (23km south-west of Donetsk); hand-held antitank grenade launchers and under-barrel grenade launchers  in the area of Pisky (11km north-west of Donetsk). Outside Pivdenne (40km north-east of Donetsk), the armed formations of the Russian Federation delivered POM-2 landmines, the press center of JFO Headquarters posted on Facebook.

In Luhansk region, an Orlan-10 UAV was spotted flying over the line of contact.

A Ukrainian serviceman received a fatal gunshot wound in the enemy shelling.

Ukrainian troops fired back in response to the enemy attacks.

The Ukrainian side of the Joint Control and Coordination Center (JCCC) informed the OSCE SMM about all violations by the Russian-occupation troops through the established coordination mechanism.

As of 07:00 on August 23, no ceasefire violations were recorded.

"Ukrainian soldiers control the situation in the Joint Forces Operation area to repel and deter the armed aggression of the Russian Federation," the JFO Headquarters stressed.

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What the ambassadors of Azerbaijan, China, EU, France, Germany, Japan, Lithuania, Turkey, and the USA said about Ukraine.

On the eve of the 30th anniversary of Ukraine's Independence, Ukrinform asked foreign diplomats working in the country three questions:

1. Whats interesting to the world about Ukraine today?

2. What experience of your country could be useful to Ukraine in the process of strengthening the state and increasing its resilience to existing challenges?

3. What mistakes would you like Ukraine and Ukrainian society to avoid in the future?

There have been many similar opinions in the ambassadors' replies. They express deep respect for the history and culture of the Ukrainian people, for their struggle for freedom and independence, for their will to find their place in the world. But they also kindly advise that the country do everything possible to consolidate the nation, develop democracy and the rule of law, maintain mutual respect and understanding, and develop leadership qualities in people. There is an idea in every wish: the path to success isnt easy, sometimes you have to take a step back before taking two steps forward, so you need to learn to overcome challenges and, nevertheless, pursue your goal. A fresh look at the Ukrainian present, past, and future through the eyes of representatives of other nations gives an opportunity to discover something new in Ukraine.

Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Ukraine Elmira Akhundova

1. Its an experience of building a new independent state in difficult conditions of political instability, economic recession, military-political confrontation with a neighboring power. Its am instructive experience of peaceful coexistence of dozens of ethnic groups and nationalities within a single country. Its an interesting experience of developing democracy and freedom of speech in a country that was absolutely not free in this regard.

As for Azerbaijan, we are interested both in bilateral and regional cooperation with Ukraine and in supporting the positions of our countries within the framework of international organizations in almost all issues and spheres: first of all, protecting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of both countries, fighting the pandemic, pollution, as well as protection of cultural heritage, and military-technical cooperation. Also, its a mutually beneficial geographical location of our two countries, contributing to building up a strong economic and transport connection between the countries of the Caspian Sea and Black Sea basins and beyond; the development of cooperation in nanotechnology, and, of course, cooperation within GUAM.

2. Its sustainable development of the national economy by attracting foreign investment, creating medium-term programs for the socio-economic development of regions, ensuring political stability and building a strong centralized government. Its national consolidation around a single idea of ensuring the country's territorial integrity and sovereignty. Its about building a multicultural tolerant state. Its about creating a strong modernized army capable of completing the most ambitious tasks. Its about enhancing the country's influence and prestige in the international arena by pursuing a multi-vector policy equidistant from political centers of power.

3. I wish you succeed in avoiding political confrontation in your society, that excessive politicization, which leads to frequent changes in the supreme power and lack of political and economic stability in the country. It should be kept in mind that all revolutions, no matter how good the intentions of their leaders are, throw a country many years back. Only the continuity of power, only consistent forward movement can lead a state to progress. That, in fact, we saw on the example of Azerbaijan in recent years, where a strong, self-sufficient, and consolidated society has been built.

May Ukraine, the country friendly to Azerbaijan, live and prosper!

Ambassador of China to Ukraine Fan Xianrong

1. Ukraine enjoys an excellent geographical position, significant natural resources, and has a good foundation and remarkable conditions for economic development. Considering the land area, population, development conditions, or any other factors, Ukraine can be called a worthy European power. Being the worlds third largest grain exporter, it has gained a reputation of Europes granary. The centuries-old history of Ukraine, its magnificent culture, beautiful landscapes, hardworking and wise people  all these are wonderful business cards of the country Ukrainians can be proud of. Over the past 30 years of independence, the Ukrainian people have achieved significant success in various fields of activity, including politics, economy, and culture. The bright path to independence, self-sufficiency, democracy, and freedom has been conquered. Id like to congratulate the Ukrainian people on the 30th anniversary of independence and express my most sincere and heartfelt wishes.

2. Due to objective differences in history, culture, politics, economy, and other industries, the development paths of different countries are also different; it is simply impossible to totally copy and repeat them. But since the peoples in all countries live on one planet Earth and are very closely related to each other, they, naturally, constantly borrow each other's experience. This is an important factor in accelerating the development and progress of all humankind, including every country and its people.

China is currently developing at a fast pace. The Chinese people have finally tackled absolute poverty, while China has become the worlds second largest economy. In terms of average per capita income, China can be classified as a middle- and high-income country. China is the world's largest state in terms of trade and the largest trading partner for more than 120 countries and regions. Over the next 10 years, it will import more than $22 trillion worth of goods and its connection with the world will become even closer. China pursues its own, independent and peaceful foreign policy, adhering to the principles of equality, mutual benefit, justice, and universal development, also becoming a friendly partner for an increasing number of countries across the world. In developing science and technology, education, culture, health care, and defense, China is showing tremendous vitality. Peaceful, friendly, developing and prosperous China is good news for the peoples of all countries, as well as a positive factor for promoting the development of Ukraine.

China has come a long way of development; a lot of research has been done and a significant amount of experience has been accumulated in all areas, and the most fundamental experience is the development of a strong leader-chief, able to unite and lead large masses. Only under this condition will everyone work in one direction, be able to focus on a common task, and move forward together. In addition, the people should remain in the spotlight of attention, so all work should be based on their aspirations and well-being, seen as the main initial goals. Finally, we must attach great importance to economic development because without development, everything loses its foundation, like water without a water stream and a tree without roots.

I have noted that President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky is making significant efforts in these areas. Continuing to persist, you will certainly achieve new successes!

3. As they say: "Whether the shoes fit or not, only the one who wears them knows." On whether a country's policy is right or not, only its people have the right to reflect. The Ukrainian people are a wise nation, capable of constantly drawing conclusions, adjusting, and revising development policies in order to constantly improve their country. In fact, the development path of any country cannot be unhindered, because at every stage of development, the country will always face various internal and external challenges and problems. This is an objective natural process. And the main thing here is to keep up with the times, constantly analyze, improve, change, and regulate policies in line with the peculiarities of the era and peoples will for a better life. The key factor that determines quality of a country's policy is whether it contributes to the development and strengthening of the country, uniting broad masses of people and ensuring social stability. We are glad to see how Ukraine is continuously developing and progressing in these directions.

Head of EU Delegation to Ukraine Matti Maasikas

1. This year Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of its Independence. It is a unique country with immense potential and a vibrant civil society, rich culture and history. The people of the country determined its direction toward European and Euro-Atlantic integration  now enshrined in the Constitution of Ukraine. This comprehensive geopolitical shift, which we have been witnessing since the Revolution of Dignity, is irreversible. It makes Ukraine a priority partner for the EU.

With the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area signed in 2014 and in force since 2017, our relations have achieved an unprecedented level of closeness, and dynamism. The Association Agreement also acknowledges the European aspirations of Ukraine and welcomes its European choice.

This partnership has its tangible dimensions, it influences the lives of people, delivers real benefits  and there are many success stories, such as visa-liberalisation, the growth in trade, the EU becoming the biggest trading partner of Ukraine, as well as an unprecedented array of technical and financial assistance to help Ukraine to succeed on this reform path, decentralisation, public administration reform and others.

As part of a ground-breaking media reform, a modern public service broadcaster  Suspilne - was established 4 years ago - and the EU generously supported it. According to independent monitoring, public trust towards public broadcaster has been growing particularly during COVID crisis, when disinformation has been on the rise, and during recent local elections.

Bearing in mind how much effort has been invested into establishing independent public broadcaster, it is one of the treasures that Ukraine should protect.

All this provides us many thing to admire. And looking back to where we started, one would notice that we indeed are moving forward together.

2. In the EU, we often recall the quote of Jean Monnet, one of the EUs founding fathers, who said that noting is possible without people, nothing is lasting without institutions. Lasting, efficient, strong institutions free from any type of interference would definitely contribute to the resilience of Ukraine  both to internal and external challenges, current and future.

Transparent and effective anti-corruption and judiciary systems both lay the foundations for building stable institutions. A strong rule of law, incessant fight against corruption will not only advance the socio-economic development and investment, but also help make all other important reforms, where Ukrainians expect improvements, a success.

Strengthening national broadcaster which provides information and content as a public good will contribute to Ukraine moving closer to the EU  in the broadest sense of the word.

3. Of course it is for Ukrainians to take stock of its mistakes and successes. It is absolutely clear that reforming your country is not a one-day task. This process is not linear, requires patience. Ups and downs, mistakes, one step back and two steps forward walk is sometimes inevitable. But it is crucial to keep going, to complete the reforms to make them last. And on this uneasy path, the EU remains Ukraines most reliable partner.

Ambassador of France to Ukraine Etienne de Poncins

1. Ukraine is full of riches. In fact, it is a vast country, with a strong culture, and various traditions, including gastronomy, music, costumes, art, and much more besides. Ukrainian culture deserves to be known and recognized all around the world! Its history, of course, is also a major point of interest, something everyone should be interested about. Hence, Ukraine has much to offer to the world, as I was able to see for myself when I visited and discovered this beautiful country, and I hope I will continue to do so!

2. This is an important question, and indeed the 30th anniversary of Ukraine independence is a good moment to reflect on the recent past and on perspectives. Sharing experience, I believe, is always of great help, and this is by the way one the missions of diplomats. As far as France and Ukraine are concerned, I would like to share two ideas: the first one is the importance of the Rule of Law, which is a very Cartesian principle, so very French, and is to me the basis of a solid and democratic State; the second one is the importance of unity, which in my view works thanks to fraternity, equality, and freedom, the three core values of the French Republic, and despite or, should I say, thanks to diversity, and here we come to the core value of the European Union, which obviously we deeply share. Of course, this cannot be achieved in one day, and it is never perfect, believe me. The way is long, difficult, and in a sense never ending. But there should always remain ones intangible aims, if one wishes to secure a resilient State. And I am convinced this is Ukrainians dearest wish.

And, on this 30th anniversary of Ukraine independence, I would like to recall that Ukraine could always rely on Frances, as EUs, strongest support towards these goal, on this path. My country was standing next to Ukraine 30 years ago, when it re-gained its independence. France is still standing by, 30 years later, supportive, as a friend. This the message the minister of Foreign Affaires Jean-Yves Le Drian will deliver in person in Kyiv on the 23rd and 24th of August. More than ever, in these difficult times, we defend Ukraines independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. A democratic country, complying with our common European values.

3. Building a democratic State and consolidate a Nation are two very difficult tasks, that put you on the edge, because you need to find your own way, to build while walking, not to lose track of the objectives while many will try to make you shake. And the risk is always here, very close, to change the direction, and go to the extreme The extreme of ideologies, forgetting that a country is always diverse, and the extreme of ruling, because power can be dangerous, which is by the way the reason why democracy relies on checks and balances.

But on this 30th anniversary of the independence of Ukraine, I first and foremost want to wish the Ukrainian all the best on their way towards an ever stronger democracy, and to enhance unity. Slava Ukraini!

Ambassador of Germany to Ukraine Anka Feldhusen

1. Ukraine is an incredibly interesting country in the center of Europe. Now there are quite a lot of events developing in politics and other areas. Much has happened in politics over the last 30 years, the Revolution of Dignity has changed the country, and numerous reforms have progressed since then. Besides, Ukraine is just a great place to travel. There are impressive landscapes, countless fields and lakes here, while Kyiv is a colorful and radiant metropolis with a creative club and fashion life.

2. We in Germany are still convinced that it is extremely important to have an honest and controversial discussion about our own past. This is especially true of the understanding of National Socialism, as well as the period of division in the country, which shaped Germanys recent history. This experience has shown us that, despite the protracted conflict, every opportunity must be taken to build bridges between people. This is the only way to create a common understanding in society, write a common history where citizens are also able to find their place. And this creates trust: both between members of society, as well as in the country and its political institutions.

3. The word "trust" is also very important here. In a strong democracy, citizens must to be engaged at the local level and have a sense that there is some progress, that their issues are being addressed positively. And they need to be confident and aware that their rights are well protected by courts. That is why we seek to strengthen cities and communities, and that is why judicial reform is so crucial. If there are clear structures that everyone supports, other reforms will move forward at a higher pace.

Ambassador of Japan to Ukraine Takashi Kurai

1. For the world, development of the geopolitical situation of and around Ukraine. Ukraine is located in a very sensitive but important area of the world politics. We believe that the world is looking very closely at any step taken by Ukraine with a view to looking to the future of the strategic environment of European region.

For the business circle of Japan, IT is the one in which the people are becoming to be more interested. We know that Ukraine is a country of so many excellent IT engineers.

For the people of Japan, the immediate interest is in the athletes success of Ukrainian national team during Paralympic Game in Tokyo which starts 24 August. Ukrainian team is very strong and we are looking forward to seeing excellent results in the Paralympic Games and how they have won their own success in life.

2. First and foremost, to strengthen the cohesion of the people. After the Second World War, Japan was devastated and people were so poor, and could not help being united and looking forward. In the parliament conservatives merged into one in 1955 and it still is a ruling party of Japan. Economic development would not have been possible without shared and strong aspiration of the united people to bring about it, we believe.

Second, cooperation with the international community. Japans post-war development was possible, among others, due to the efforts of the people of Japan, as we believe it. However, those efforts would not have borne fruit without effective cooperation with international community. We have paid special attention to pacta sunt servanda through the effective and long-lasting cooperation with international community.

Third, focus on basic science, research and development. It does not produce immediate results but great in the long run, and Ukraine is a country of so many excellent scientists based on long history of academic education. In many cases, technological invention can be created through completely unfettered thought of scientists or people who work in laboratories of companies. It is not always easy to create environment where those people could work freely but it has been proved important.

3. The most important for Ukraine to avoid, I believe, is any policy or movement of political, social or cultural nature, which could lead to undermining the cohesion of the Ukrainian society. Ukraine has a huge potential and the source of its power is in the Ukrainian people united.

In economic term, what should be avoided is to pay attention only to large enterprises and take little care of SMEs. In Japan, SMEs consist of 99.7% of all the enterprises and we do believe that the SMEs are the very source of technological invention and big enterprises in fact are supported by SMEs.

Ambassador of Lithuania to Ukraine Valdemaras Sarapinas

1. Ukraine is dynamic and very promising European country. With rich history and diverse culture, vast territory and rich in natural resources, well educated and enterprising population. For Lithuania Ukraine historically has been a strategic partner and best friend.

2. The challenges facing Ukraine are in many ways unique and your nations heroic resistance against the Russian aggression is widely admired. The key to Ukraines ultimate success lies in making sure that the ongoing reform processes in the security, defence and other key sectors are profound and irreversible. Successful implementation of reforms will help Ukraine to build prosperity, resist external pressures and advance on the path of Euroatlantic integration. You can trust that Lithuania will be with you all along the way.

3. Time tested long term strategy of integration to Europe is best for Ukraine. Had Ukraine earlier not hesitated with the reforms and integration to the European and Euroatlantic institutions there is a chance that we would be in the EU together now.

Ambassador of Turkey to Ukraine Yagmur Ahmet Guldere

1. Ukraine is going through a dramatic transformation. Judiciary, economy, law enforcement  Almost all fields and institutions are parts of this ambitious reform process. To double the challenge, Ukraine is going ahead with these reforms under very difficult circumstances. I think the most interesting thing for the world about Ukraine is how successful this process will be.

2. One area where Turkish experience could be especially useful for Ukraine is the Turkish type industrial zones. Many Turkish towns with moderate economic output became true powerhouses and export centers with our very successful organized industrial zone concept. This concept rests on incentives at both government and local administration levels to attract investments. I think that Turkeys public-private partnership experience, which is the foundation of many multi-billion dollar projects such as Istanbul Airport, mega-hospitals that can treat thousands of patients or infrastructure projects like dams and bridges, constitutes a great example for Ukraine.

3. We commend Ukraine for its ambitious reform agenda and the concrete results. However, it is important to remember that conducting a long term reform agenda is not an easy task. There will always be internal and external challenges, as well as difficult trade-offs. At those rough times, remember the wise words of Lesya Ukrainka: Away, dark thoughts, dark clouds / A golden spring is here.

Charge dAffaires a.i. of the United States Embassy in Ukraine, Kristina Kvien

1. The world is keenly interested in Ukraines story. Thirty years ago, Ukraines Verkhovna Rada made a courageous choice to seek an independent and democratic future for this country, one founded on European values and based upon a profound belief that democracy, open markets, and the rule of law can improve the lives of citizens.

There have been ups and downs as Ukraine has pursued this dream, of course, but when you step back, you can see that the steady forward arc of Ukraines progress toward its Euro-Atlantic future has been clear and dramatic.

Despite Russias aggression, including in Crimea, the Donbas, and Ukraines territorial waters, as well as efforts by corrupt internal forces to claw back reforms or undermine confidence in Ukraine's historic choice in favor of Western integration, Ukrainians can be proud of their achievements. The courage and sacrifice of the Ukrainian people in making these changes over the long term are inspiring.

2. The world is keenly interested in Ukraines story. Thirty years ago, Ukraines Verkhovna Rada made a courageous choice to seek an independent and democratic future for this country, one founded on European values and based upon a profound belief that democracy, open markets, and the rule of law can improve the lives of citizens.

There have been ups and downs as Ukraine has pursued this dream, of course, but when you step back, you can see that the steady forward arc of Ukraines progress toward its Euro-Atlantic future has been clear and dramatic.

Despite Russias aggression, including in Crimea, the Donbas, and Ukraines territorial waters, as well as efforts by corrupt internal forces to claw back reforms or undermine confidence in Ukraine's historic choice in favor of Western integration, Ukrainians can be proud of their achievements. The courage and sacrifice of the Ukrainian people in making these changes over the long term are inspiring.

3. Ukraines 30th day of independence provides a great opportunity for Ukrainians to reflect upon the hopes and dreams that founded their country. Ukraine took the enormous risk by choosing in 1991 establish a democratic, sovereign state where the rule of law and open markets would bring a better life to all citizens. We know there are external and internal forces that do not want this for the country. We know that reform, step by step, is incredibly difficult and often politically costly, often requiring personal sacrifice in order to obtain long-term gains. But it is worth it!

When I look around and see Ukraines vibrant, innovative businesses, speak with youth who are so talented and speak multiple languages, or meet dedicated officials, civil society activists or journalists, I sincerely believe that Ukraine can and will succeed.

Our belief in an independent Ukraine animates the strong support the United States has provided to Ukraine over the last 30 years. We truly believe that Ukraine will achieve its Euro-Atlantic goals and will succeed in beating back the forces seeking to undermine it, be they corrupt internal forces or aggressive external forces. Slava Ukraini!

Nadia Yurchenko, Kyiv
Its important to distinguish between the discussion with partners and the fight against the enemy and the aggressor. Numerous conscious and unconscious attempts to inflame anti-Western sentiment in Ukraine today play up only to Russia's interests.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Prime Minister of Ukraine in 2014-2015, expressed such an opinion on the day of Angela Merkels visit to Ukraine on August 22.

He noted that Merkel had visited Ukraine for the last time as the head of the German government and thanked the Federal Chancellor for all the good she has done for our countries relations and in support of Ukraine.

History will put everything in its place. Angela Merkel's role in defending our state is of fundamental historical importance, Yatsenyuk wrote.

As the ex-Prime Minister stressed, this does not mean that there have been no disputes or disagreements in his cooperation with Angela Merkel or German partners: I have been and remain convinced that Berlin's attempts to understand Putin are futile, Nord Stream 2 is a strategic trap for Europe, and the implementation of all sorts of formulas that treat the victim and the aggressor equally in the peace process is doomed to failure.

But I also clearly distinguish the discussion with partners and the fight against the enemy and the aggressor. Numerous conscious and unconscious attempts to inflame anti-Western sentiment in Ukraine today play up only to Russia's interests, he wrote.

Yatsenyuk believes that whatever the disputes, Kyiv must maintain and protect its friendship with Berlin and vice versa. Merkel did her best to follow this formula. All the best that our bilateral achievements have must be taken into the future and moved forward, he summed up.
In her video address, the First Lady of the United States (1993-2001), U.S. Secretary of State (2009-2013) Hillary Clinton greeted the participants in the ongoing Kyiv Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen.

We, first ladies and gentlemen, have a unique position that is sometimes accompanied by unmatched challenges. We live under a magnifying glass and our life is subject to great scrutiny. This is not easy, as I know from personal experience. At the same time, we have an unprecedented opportunity to serve our country, use resources and relationships to undertake important projects, and contribute to the [preservation of] health and well-being of our society, Clinton said, Ukrinform reports.

Recalling her personal experience, Clinton said it had been very useful to work in such areas as health care, promoting the rights of women and girls, providing all children with the opportunity to fulfill their potential. Communication with other first ladies and gentlemen was also inspiring and important, she added.

Hillary Clinton congratulated everyone on the 30th anniversary of Ukraine's independence.

The Kyiv Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen is attended by ten first ladies, including the wives of the heads of Latvia, Lithuania, Serbia, Israel, Germany, Croatia, Costa Rica, Brazil, the European Council, and the daughter of the President of Lebanon. The event is held in a hybrid format: some participants were unable to come to Kyiv due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and joined online.

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The international community must ensure that Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea never becomes legitimized.

At the inaugural summit of the Crimea Platform, President of the European Council Charles Michel said that he had arrived to confirm the EU's position on non-recognition of the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol.

"We will continue to pursue our non-recognition policy and will continue to oppose any violations of international law. Such illegal actions will pose a threat to trust and peace Our goal is to ensure that illegal annexation never becomes legitimized, the President of the European Council said, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

He stressed that the issue of the occupied Crimea should remain high on the international agenda.

"We show our continued political support for this. We want to respond to the threat to the international order in this way. It is absolutely necessary to preserve the world order, and for this, we must attract the widest possible international support for the preservation of the territorial integrity of Ukraine and non-recognition of the annexation of Crimea," Michel emphasized.

He also expressed concern about the militarization of occupied Crimea.

"This should be reversed. We must also counter Russia's attempts to forcibly integrate the peninsula into its borders," Michel said.

As reported, the inaugural summit of the Crimea Platform  Presidents initiative for the de-occupation of Crimea  is held in Kyiv on August 23. Forty-six delegations take part in the summit.

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The Crimea Platform participants begin to write a new chapter in the history of Ukraine  the history of the de-occupation of Crimea.

I am very glad that we launched our site. Ukraine together with you, our friends, international partners, Crimea Platform participants, we begin to write a new chapter in the history of Ukraine, in the history of Ukrainian Crimea. It is a chapter about de-occupation. De-occupation is my ultimate goal, the ultimate goal of our state, the daily work of the Crimea Platform. The synergy of our efforts must force Russia to negotiate the return of our peninsula, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said at the inaugural summit of the Crimea Platform, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

The President noted that Ukraine needed effective support at the international level. He expressed confidence that joint efforts would help stop Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine.

"We have not returned Crimea to Ukraine yet. The temporary occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea began on February 20, 2014, and has been going on for 2,741 days. To be honest, too much time has been wasted. We must not lose a day from now forth, the Head of State added.

As reported, the inaugural summit of the Crimea Platform  Presidents initiative for the de-occupation of Crimea  is held in Kyiv on August 23.

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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The United States supports Ukraine and the Crimea Platform and will keep sanctions on Russia in place until it ends its occupation of Crimea and its aggression in eastern Ukraine, U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm has said.

She said this in her speech at the inaugural summit of the Crimea Platform in Kyiv on Monday, August 23, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"We will keep sanctions on Russia in place until Russia ends its occupation of Crimea and its aggression in eastern Ukraine. We will continue to reiterate that Russia must uphold its commitments under the Minsk agreements and work in good faith to end the conflict. And we will continue to support the Crimea Platform, keeping true to our long-held view that Crimea is Ukraine, will always be Ukraine, and that Russia must be held accountable for its aggression," Granholm said.

She said that the United States was proud to participate in and support the Crimea Platform.

"Let me be clear -- we stand with Ukraine and with all you in condemning the illegal annexation of Crimea," she said.

Granholm also said that the United States is proud to have stood with Ukraine throughout three decades of Ukraine's independence.

"Our partnership will be solidified even further next week when our two presidents meet in Washington D.C.," she said.

On behalf of President Biden, Granholm reaffirmed U.S. support for Ukraine in its efforts to advance reforms, to achieve its Euro-Atlantic aspirations, and to deliver a better future for all Ukrainians, "and that includes your fight against corruption and your broader fight against Russian aggression."

"I also want to affirm and reinforce that our support will remain concrete and substantial. We have provided some $4.9 billion in security and development assistance to Ukraine since 2014 alone. This support will certainly continue, as will security assistance for Ukraine's Armed Forces -- including lethal defensive weapons that Ukraine needs to defend itself against Russia's aggression. At the same time, we will continue our diplomatic efforts with allies and partners to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine," Granholm said.

The Crimea Platform summit started in Kyiv on Monday, August 23. It is attended by 46 delegations.

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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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Ukraine has the strong support of the international community, and the Crimea Platform has been successfully launched.

The head of state told journalists on the sidelines of the Crimea Platform summit in Kyiv on August 23 that the ultimate goal of the Crimea Platform is the deoccupation of the peninsula, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"Ukraine has the strong support of the international community. Despite all the difficulties and challenges, the Crimea Platform, I think, has been launched very successfully. Its ultimate goal is the deoccupation of the sovereign Ukrainian territory - the Crimean peninsula," Zelensky said.

According to him, the initiative of the Crimea Platform has returned Crimea to the international agenda, and this issue is a priority for Ukraine's partners and the international community today.

Zelensky said that so far representatives of more than 40 countries had joined the Crimea Platform, and each country would have a responsible official for further cooperation with the newly established Crimea Platform office.

He noted that the result of the current summit was the adoption by all participants of the declaration of the Crimea Platform.

"It [the declaration] clearly states the non-recognition of the illegal annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation, the obligation to consider additional political, diplomatic, restrictive sanctions against Russia in the event of its further aggression, joint efforts by all participating states of the platform to strengthen security and stability in the Black Sea region," Zelensky said.

In addition, he stressed that the declaration states that in accordance with the norms of international humanitarian law, Russia must immediately stop human rights violations in the temporarily occupied Crimea and provide unimpeded access to Crimea for international humanitarian and human rights organizations.

"I thought how to describe this summit and the adopted declaration as briefly and accurately as possible. I think four words are enough: Crimea issue isn't closed. Or even three words: Crimea is Ukraine!" Zelensky said.

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The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, has adopted a resolution calling on international organizations to adopt resolutions in support of the Crimea Platform and to support the establishment of the Crimea Platform Interparliamentary Coordination Council.

According to an Ukrinform correspondent, 283 MPs voted for resolution No. 5775 "On the appeal of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to the United Nations, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, the BSEC Parliamentary Assembly, the European Parliament, on strengthening international cooperation within the Crimea Platform to counteract the aggression of the Russian Federation" at an extraordinary meeting of the Verkhovna Rada on August 23.

"The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine [...] calls on the UN General Assembly to adopt a resolution to support the Crimea Platform as a tool to consolidate international efforts aimed at deoccupying the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol and restoring Ukraine's territorial integrity, as well as to call on UN member states to join the work of the Crimea Platform in all dimensions," the appeal reads.

The Verkhovna Rada also made a similar appeal to the PACE and the European Parliament.

The Ukrainian parliament also emphasizes the importance of developing a unified and consolidated position of the international democratic community in counteracting Russian aggression against Ukraine and calls on friends and partners of the Crimea Platform to initiate the establishment of the Crimea Platform Interparliamentary Coordination Council.

It is expected that it will coordinate efforts at the interparliamentary level in the field of development and compliance with the policy of non-recognition of the annexation of the Crimean Peninsula by the Russian Federation; exercise parliamentary control over the imposition of sanctions against the Russian Federation as the aggressor state and the occupying power, its officials, individuals and legal entities involved in the illegal occupation and attempted annexation; coordinate the positions and steps of the participating states of the Crimea Platform within international organizations, at international conferences, forums and other events during the consideration of issues of deoccupation and restoration of the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

According to Ukrainian lawmakers, such a coordination council should strengthen the interparliamentary community and unite efforts to protect the rights and freedoms of the civilian population in the temporarily occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol. It is expected that it will facilitate parliamentary control over the implementation of projects aimed at overcoming the economic and environmental consequences of the Russian occupation of part of Ukraine.

The Verkhovna Rada also calls on the parliamentary institutions of international organizations and foreign parliaments to strengthen interparliamentary cooperation within the Crimea Platform in order to consolidate efforts and exert international political and diplomatic pressure on the occupying power - the Russian Federation - to protect democratic ideas and values.

At the same time, Ukrainian parliamentarians call on the international community to refrain from supporting the actions and initiatives of the Russian Federation, directly or indirectly aimed at counteracting the activities and development of the Crimea Platform.

The appeal also emphasizes the importance of maintaining the international policy of non-recognition of the Russian Federation's attempt to annex Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, preventing the violations by the occupying power and its occupation administrations of international law, fundamental rights, freedoms and interests of Ukrainian citizens, and guaranteeing security in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.

It is emphasized that the Verkhovna Rada condemns coercive passportization by the Russian Federation of Ukrainian citizens in the temporarily occupied territories, does not recognize Russian passports issued there and calls on foreign partners not to recognize these documents and increase pressure on Russia and demand that it stop illegal passportization.

The Verkhovna Rada also calls on foreign partners to increase their political, diplomatic and economic pressure on the Russian Federation in response to violations of international law, as well as to find ways to overcome the criminal activities of the occupying power and its occupation administrations in military, political, economic, environmental, cultural, and religious spheres of the region.

The Verkhovna Rada in its appeal expresses support for the implementation of domestic projects aimed at ensuring the deoccupation and reintegration of the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, protecting and restoring the rights of Ukrainian citizens living in the temporarily occupied territory or forced to relocate to other regions of Ukraine, as well as strengthening the resilience of the southern regions of Ukraine.

The Ukrainian parliament again demanded that the Russian Federation fulfil its international obligations in full and withdraw its armed formations from Ukraine, including those over which it exercises direct or indirect control, withdraws arms and military equipment, cease the criminal practice of changing the demographic population of the temporarily occupied territories of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, systemic human rights violations, including the violation of the rights of indigenous peoples, including the right to preserve cultural heritage and freedom of religion, as well as ending war crimes and crimes against humanity and returning to Ukraine full control over its territory within internationally recognized borders.

Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Dmytro Razumkov must immediately send the text of the Verkhovna Rada's appeal to the UN, PACE, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, the BSEC Parliamentary Assembly, the European Parliament, and the governments and parliaments of foreign states.

The speaker has also been instructed to take measures to establish the Crimea Platform Interparliamentary Coordination Council.

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All NATO countries are aware of the political and practical significance of the Crimea Platform.

NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana said this at a meeting with Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov in Kyiv on Monday, the NSDC's press service reported.

Geoana stated that NATO shares the position of not recognizing the temporary occupation of Crimea and parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The Crimea Platform is an important tool to keep the Crimean issue on the agenda of the international community, he said.

During the meeting, both parties discussed Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic aspirations.

Danilov said Ukraine would continue its strategic course for gaining full membership in the European Union and the North Atlantic Alliance, defined and enshrined in the Constitution.

Geoana noted that in the issue of Ukraine's joining NATO, there is a need for reforms on the part of Ukraine and a consensus on the part of the Alliance. In this context, he praised the efforts of President Volodymyr Zelensky in the fight against corruption in Ukraine.

Geoana also praised the contribution of the National Security and Defence Council to the development of the security and defence sector, noting that this year's NATO summit in Brussels decided to hold annual meetings of security officials, and Poland had already proposed holding the first meeting on its territory.

The inaugural summit of the Crimea Platform is being held in Kyiv on August 23.

Photo: NSDC
The United Kingdom is ready to make every effort to ensure the success of the Crimea Platform as a tool that will bring Russia to justice.

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for European Neighbourhood and the Americas Wendy Morton said this in her speech during the inaugural summit of the Crimean Platform, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"The International Crimea Platform is an important tool for holding Russia to account. We are committed to supporting the platform to succeed. On the eve of Ukraine's 30th anniversary of independence, we stand together in solidarity with all Ukrainians, from the west to the east and from the north to the very southern tip. Crimea is Ukraine," Morton said.

She said that Britain would never recognize the annexation of Crimea and considers it necessary to campaign against human rights violations on the peninsula.

The United Kingdom considers Russia's behaviour in Crimea hostile and irresponsible, she said.

Morton also expressed the UK's support for Ukraine and its readiness to sign documents that will help build the Crimea Platform.

On August 23, Kyiv hosted the inaugural summit of the Crimea Platform - 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 of de-occupying Crimea and restoring Ukraine's sovereignty over the peninsula.

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On Monday, August 23, Ukraine celebrates National Flag Day.

The holiday was established "in honor of the centuries-old history of Ukrainian statehood, the state symbols of independent Ukraine and to foster citizens' respect for the state symbols of Ukraine" in accordance with the Presidential Decree of August 23, 2004, Ukrinform reports.

In 2009, the decree was amended to establish the annual official flag raising ceremony on August 23 throughout Ukraine.

Among the Kyiv Rus flags, the red color prevailed as the most convenient one for signaling during battles. However, the national (state) flag in its modern sense appeared during the existence of the Cossack state. The combination of blue and yellow colors on the national flag can be observed from the middle of the 19th century.

The approval of the blue and yellow flag as the national one took place with the proclamation of the Ukrainian People's Republic. Then, the Soviet Union imposed the red flag with hammer and sickle, and people were jailed for blue and yellow flag colors.

In recent times, the national blue and yellow flag was first officially hoisted at the town hall of Stryi, Lviv region, on March 14, 1990. In Kyiv, the flag was raised over the city hall later, on July 24, 1990.

On August 23, 1991, a group of MPs brought the blue and yellow Ukrainian flag into the Verkhovna Rada session hall. Already on September 4, it was solemnly raised over the parliament building.

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MIT ADT University Atal Incubator Forum selected for startup India seed fund scheme

Pune, Aug 23 ( UNI) AIC-MIT ADT Incubator Forum (AIC-MITADT) hosted by MIT ADT University, Pune has been selected for a very prestigious Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Govt. of India.

AIC-MITADT is a non-profit section-8 company supported by Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog. It is the First private university backed incubator across Maharashtra to be selected for the scheme. An Expert Advisory Committee (EAC) consisting of various Govt representatives and Industry Experts evaluated the Incubators across the country and results were announced on 18 August.

Under SISFS financial assistance, a start-up can leverage upto Rs. 20 Lakhs as Grant-in-Aid for validation of Proof of Concept, or prototype development, or product trials and upto Rs. 50 Lakhs of Investment for market entry, commercialization, or scaling up through convertible debentures or debt or debt-linked instruments.
Proud Boys and anti-fascist protesters spray bear mace at each other during clashes between the politically opposed groups on Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021, in Portland, Ore.
Over the low hum of traffic, even inside busy buildings, the deep roar of a 77-year-old Flying Fortress winging over Walla Walla could be heard from miles away.

It would have been a frightful sound nearly 80 years ago, when hundreds of B-17s, the United States primary heavy bomber during World War II, came lumbering into view over the horizon.

The visitation last week at the Walla Walla Regional Airport and the skies over the Walla Walla Valley was more about history and excitement than fear, however. The Sentimental Journey, a craft in the Flying Legends of Victory Tour, was in town for tours and rides.

During WWII, however, while British bombers often conducted night missions against Axis targets, Americas B-17s often flew in broad daylight, blotting out the sun as they slowly moved en masse over their target.

Capable of hauling 4,500 pounds of ordinance on missions that could stretch for days and 2,000 miles round trip, the B-17 dropped more bombs during WWII than any other American plane, around 640,000 tons in all.

Nearly 13,000 were developed during the war, and they earned their nickname as the Flying Fortress due to the deadly M2 Browning machine guns they used to defend themselves on all sides, as well as their legendary ability to limp back home with only one engine or with a tail shot off.

But the daytime missions their crews were assigned to were still incredibly deadly, and more than half, 8,000 in all, were shot down over the fields of Europe or another theater of war.

Today, only five are still flying. Which means that, this past week, 20% of the worlds supply of active B-17s was flying over Walla Walla.

A Sentimental Journey

On Monday, Aug. 16, the B-17G  a final version of the Flying Fortress, which had more guns and optimized gun station designs  named Sentimental Journey landed at the Walla Walla airport.

She was built in 1944, delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force for service in March 1945 and flew missions in the Pacific Theater. The plane was used to map out islands in the Pacific and flew with instruments during the atomic bomb tests near Bikini Atoll to measure the nuclear blast at a distance.

After the war, the Sentimental Journey was used for rescue missions, testing and training flights, before being sold as a fire bomber, dumping tons of retardant from its cargo bay onto wildfires. In 1958, it was retired and eventually ended up in the hands of a private owner.

But then, in 1978, it was purchased by the Commemorative Air Force.

Twenty-one years before, the CAF got its start after a small group of ex-service pilots pooled their money to purchase a P-51 Mustang, the agile fighter plane that eventually came to the defense of the beleaguered B-17 during WWII.

Not long after, the group acquired a pair of F8F Bearcats, and their mission became clear: to preserve in flying condition one of every aircraft that flew during the Second World War.

The mission was vital  no one else was systematically preserving the countrys warbirds, and within 15 years, many of the thousands of remaining planes had been stripped of their parts and decommissioned.

More than 50 years later, the CAF claims around 13,000 members and a fleet of over 175 aircraft representing 60 different types of planes.

Units operate across the country, including a 500-member volunteers that make up the Arizona Commemorative Air Force Museum, the CAFs largest unit and the steward of Sentimental Journey.

The AZCAF has toured the U.S. and Canada for more than 30 years, one of the few organizations offering Living History Rides, which allow people to pay to fly in preserved warbirds.

The organization flies its B-17 and B-25 bombers, C-47 cargo transport, SNJ/T-6 Texan, Beechcraft C-45 and other historic planes over around 40 towns and cities each year.

Prices for those flights range from $95 to $850, which go to support the nonprofits mission of introducing a modern public to the military planes of yesterday.

Seats on the Sentimental Journey started at $425 for a waist compartment seat, and ranged up to $850 for a bombadier or navigator seat up front, making them some of the most expensive flights available.

The cost isnt without reason  operating a B-17 costs around $2,000 per hour, $1,000 of which is in fuel alone, said AZCAF loadmasters Bill Croutch and Mike Strentz. Overhauling just one of the planes four engines can cost up to $95,000, Strentz said.

But the mission is worthy, added John Deveau, another member of the Sentimental Journey flight crew, who said the Living History Rides help educate the public on the sacrifices of those who flew 80 years ago.

Connecting with Living History

Oh gee, thats neat, said gleeful resident Stephen Peck after landing from a short flight Friday, Aug. 20.

A ride in the Sentimental Journey was an exhilarating 75th birthday present for Peck, who was born just two years after that plane was manufactured.

These are the kinds of planes that were flying around when I was a small child, and I always had a fascination with airplanes, Peck said. That was really special.

The iconic warbird brought veterans, pilots and enthusiasts to Walla Walla. Aaron C. Rhodes, a photographer who travels across Washington to document military planes in flight, posting them to airfighters.com, drove an hour to seize a rare opportunity to capture a Flying Fortress in flight.

Beyond the historic significance, the B-17 is also simply an interesting plane to look at. Its a glacially slow plane, traveling around 160 mph, and its four, hulking engines are audible before the plane was visible amid the smoke from nearby wildfires. On the inside, it looks like its made out of tinfoil, Peck noted.

But its structurally highly engineered, minimalist stuff that has the capability of carrying 4 tons of bombs. Try that with a roll of tinfoil, Peck said with a chuckle.

Peck served in the Navy from 1966-70, working on optical instruments from gun sights and range finders to binoculars from the USS Piedmont, a destroyer tender tasked with servicing combat vessels. His father had served in the Navy in WWII, a gunnery officer on the legendary USS Enterprise, and his fathers father served in WWI.

While in the air, Peck reflected on the generation who won the Second World War.

That generation came home, built the hydroelectric dams, built the interstate highways and fathered a bunch of people that didnt understand, Peck reflected. And then theres present generation thats even worse off.

But some members of the younger generations were also in attendance Friday, including 13-year-old Michael Warren, who was just old enough to fly in the back of the plane.

Michaels great-grandfather was a pilot himself, and all six of the elder Warrens children had their pilots licenses before they were 16 years old, said Deanne Warren, Michaels grandmother. Michaels grandfather, whom he is named after and who passed away earlier this year, was also a commercial pilot, Deanne Warren added.

Now, as the teenage Michael looked up at one of Americas most iconic planes, a fourth-generation of Warren is also considering a career in the skies, he said.
Hugh Oscar Walton, 71, of Gray, and formerly of Sparta, passed away Friday, Aug. 27, 2021. Graveside services for Hugh Walton will be conducted on Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021, at 11 a.m. in the Sparta City Cemetery. Hugh was born on Jan. 20, 1950, in Greensboro, Ga. to the late James Thomas "Sl
Whether youre just getting to know campus, you're just months away from graduation, or somewhere in between, Chancellor Joanne Li and Student Body President/Regent Maeve Hemmer want to hear from you.

Please join us for a Student Town Hall next week on Monday, Aug. 30 from noon to 1 P.M. in the Nebraska Room at the Milo Bail Student Center. This is a great opportunity for you to ask any questions you have about campus and express how UNO can best support you in accomplishing all your goals!

We will have free lunch available on a first come, first serve basis for anyone that RSVPs to attend in-person.

Cant make it to the town hall in-person? You can catch a livestream on Zoom.

No matter how you plan to join us, please register online and submit your questions in advance.
London, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd Aug, 2021 ) :PayPal on Monday said it will this week begin to allow users in Britain to buy, hold and sell cryptocurrency through the online payment platform for the first time.

The expansion into the hot digital money trend follows similar moves by the payments giant in the United States earlier this year.

The US firm said its new service would allow UK-based customers to choose from four types of cryptocurrency: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin and Bitcoin Cash.

They will be available both via the PayPal app and its website, with the expansion set to start this week and be available to all eligible customers within the next few weeks.

A new cryptocurrency tab will be added to its platform, showing real-time Currency prices, PayPal said.

"The pandemic has accelerated digital change and innovation across all aspects of our lives, including the digitisation of money and greater consumer adoption of digital financial services," said Jose Fernandez da Ponte, of PayPal.

He added the firm hoped the new offering would "help people in the UK to explore cryptocurrency".

"We are committed to continue working closely with regulators in the UK, and around the world, to offer our support and meaningfully contribute to shaping the role digital currencies will play in the future of global finance and commerce."In April PayPal owned mobile payments service Venmo began letting users in the US buy, hold or sell cryptocurrency using its app.

That followed PayPal itself in March allowing people there to use cryptocurrency to make purchases from millions of merchants that use the financial platform for online transactions.
New Zealand reported 35 new community cases of Delta variant of COVID-19 on Monday, among which 33 are from Auckland and two are from Wellington, bringing the total number of cases in New Zealand's community outbreak to 107

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd Aug, 2021 ) :New Zealand reported 35 new community cases of Delta variant of COVID-19 on Monday, among which 33 are from Auckland and two are from Wellington, bringing the total number of cases in New Zealand's community outbreak to 107.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told a press conference that the country will remain at the top level 4 national lockdown for an additional four days until midnight Friday. The alert level will be reviewed again on Friday.

The country's largest city Auckland will remain in alert level 4 until Aug. 31, Ardern said.

New Zealand has moved to the top level 4 national lockdown from midnight Aug. 17 after the first COVID-19 Delta variant case in the Auckland community was identified.

Under the Alert Level 4 lockdown, businesses and schools are closed except for essential ones such as supermarkets, pharmacies and service stations.

All of Monday's new community cases have been or are being transferred safely to a managed isolation facility, under strict infection prevention and control procedures, including the use of full PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), according to the Ministry of Health.
AL AIN, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 23rd Aug, 2021) Zaki Nusseibeh, Cultural Advisor to the UAE President and Chancellor of the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) met this week with Professor Hasan Selim, Director of the universitys Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL), to celebrate CETLs success in receiving the 2021 Blackboard Catalyst Award for Leading Change.

The award honours those who have developed and implemented high-impact educational strategies through the innovative use of Blackboard solutions.

Professor Ghaleb Al Hadrami, Acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Mohammed Hassan, Acting Provost and Professor Ahmed Murad, Associate Provost for Research were also present to offer congratulations.

Nusseibeh commended CETLs achievement, noting that it represents the dedication of Professor Selim and his team to delivering outstanding educational experiences and effective practices that will become a reference for institutions across the globe.

He said, "The UAEU continues to invest in the latest educational technologies to ensure that faculty are best supported to succeed in their mission to provide students with an optimal learning experience. Our longstanding efforts in this regard served to our advantage at the onset of the pandemic because the university had the immediate capacity to transform the educational experience online.

We are grateful for the sustained pioneering efforts of Professor Selim and his team because they prepare us for continued innovative advances into the future."

"UAEU is the nations oldest university with over 71,000 alumni and is continuously focused on the future-readiness of our graduates. It is an innovative, socially-conscious university that places the student at the heart of what we do. Its mission is to ensure that each graduate has the skills, attitudes, knowledge, and spirit of entrepreneurship required for positions of leadership in social, economic, and cultural development, nationally and globally. Our faculty are distinguished scholars and academic leaders in the comprehensive range of disciplines offered by our nine academic colleges and 10 specialist centres of advanced research. Their active research programmes ensure undergraduate and postgraduate curricula address the latest developments in their fields and involve doctoral students in cutting edge-techniques and international research collaborations."
Kabul, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd Aug, 2021 ) :Western security forces were involved in an exchange of fire with unidentified gunmen Monday at Kabul airport, as US President Joe Biden sought to speed up the chaotic evacuation of tens of thousands of people from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

One Afghan was killed and three others were injured in a dawn firefight that according to the German military erupted between Afghan guards and unknown assailants.

German and American troops "participated in further exchange of fire", the German army said in a statement.

This was the latest episode in a chaotic operation overseen by the US army that has seen about 30,000 people evacuated from Afghanistan since the Taliban marched into Kabul on August 15, taking effective control of the country.

The Taliban's victory ended two decades of war as they took advantage of Biden's decision to withdraw nearly all US troops from the country.

Biden, who has redeployed thousands back to Afghanistan to oversee the evacuations, has insisted he wants to end the US military presence and the airlifts by August 31.

But with the European Union and Britain saying it would be impossible to get everyone out by then, Biden is under pressure to extend the deadline.

Speaking at the White House, Biden said Sunday he hoped the airlift would not be extended, but said talks were underway to explore that possibility.

"There's discussions going among us and the military about extending," Biden said.

He acknowledged the tragic scenes at the airport, which have also included babies and children being passed to soldiers over razor-wire fences and men clinging to the outside of departing planes.

But he said they were part of the cost of departure.

"There is no way to evacuate this many people without pain and loss and heartbreaking images you see," he said.

In an effort to ramp up the airlift, the US government ordered six major commercial airlines to fly back to the United States those who have been evacuated from Kabul to US bases in the Gulf and Europe.
A study by teams led by top Chinese epidemiologist Zhong Nanshan shows that two shots of Chinese inactivate vaccines are still effective in preventing the Delta variant, based on its 59 percent efficacy in preventing symptoms caused by the variant during the outbreak in South China's Guangzhou

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd Aug, 2021 ) :A study by teams led by top Chinese epidemiologist Zhong Nanshan shows that two shots of Chinese inactivate vaccines are still effective in preventing the Delta variant, based on its 59 percent efficacy in preventing symptoms caused by the variant during the outbreak in South China's Guangzhou.

The study, results of which were published in the journal Emerging Microbes & Infections, said two shots of Chinese inactivated vaccines were 70.2 percent and 100 percent effective in preventing moderate symptoms and serious symptoms, respectively, Global Times reported.

It is reportedly the first real world data report on the effectiveness of Chinese inactivated vaccines against the Delta variant.

The report is based on real world data of 153 confirmed cases and 475 close contacts collected during an outbreak in Guangzhou (Guangdong Province) between May 18 and June 20, which was caused by the Delta variant.

Among the confirmed cases, 105 had moderate symptoms while the other 16 had serious or critical symptoms. None of the serious or critical patients were given the vaccines, according to the reports.

Among the vaccinated cases, 61.3 percent accepted two shots of Sinovac inactivated vaccines and 27.5 percent accepted two shots of Sinopharm's. Another 10.4 percent were given a mix of vaccines from both companies.

The study showed that, based on limited samples, a single shot of inactivated vaccines only showed 14 percent efficacy in preventing COVID-19.

It said that a two-shot procedure of Chinese inactivated vaccines was 72.5 percent in people aged 40-59. The vaccines were even more effective in females than males as it showed 70.4 percent efficacy in preventing mild symptoms in men and 79.1 percent in preventing moderate symptoms in women.
(@FahadShabbir)

Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States, Asad Majeed Khan, has disputed a claim by a US lawmaker that Pakistani military strategy led to the defeat of the Afghan Army at the hands of the Taliban, telling him that Islamabad and Washington have in fact been working together towards an inclusive political settlement in the war-torn country

WASHINGTON, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd Aug, 2021 ) :Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States, Asad Majeed Khan, has disputed a claim by a US lawmaker that Pakistani military strategy led to the defeat of the Afghan Army at the hands of the Taliban, telling him that Islamabad and Washington have in fact been working together towards an inclusive political settlement in the war-torn country.

"Our two countries share a fundamental interest in ensuring that Afghanistan would never again become a sanctuary for terrorist groups," he said in a letter addressed to Republican Congressman Mike Waltz, a former US Army officer who served in Afghanistan.

The Pakistani envoy was responding to a letter Congressman Waltz wrote to President Joe Biden ahead of the fall of President Ashraf Ghani's government in which he had claimed that Pakistan's military strategy was dictating the Taliban advance in Afghanistan and called for penalizing Islamabad.

Noting that while events have overtaken some of the recommendations that Congressman Waltz had made, Ambassador Khan said it was "unfortunate that your letter mischaracterizes Pakistan's role in Afghanistan." "The contention that Pakistan's 'military strategy' was somehow the decisive factor in the defeat of the 300,000-strong Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDS)  trained and equipped at the cost of at least $83 billion to the American taxpayer  does not square with the U.S. government's own assessments about the issues of low morale, desertions, and 'ghost soldiers' that had long plagued the ANDSF," he said.

"As the (US) Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction had been reporting (until it was barred from doing so by the Pentagon), the Afghan government had been steadily losing territory to the Taliban for many years, Ambassador Khan said, adding that the final collapse of the Afghan government was thus shocking but hardly surprising.

"As someone who has served his country in uniform and with distinction, you know that demoralized soldiers do not fight for a corrupt, kleptocratic leadership that will bolt at the first hint of trouble", he wrote to Congressman Waltz.

On its part, he said Pakistan's leadership has consistently made it clear that it no favourites in Afghanistan and would work with any government in Kabul that has the support of the Afghan people, pointing out Pakistan had joined the United States, China, and Russia in explicitly opposing any effort to impose a government by force in Kabul.

"We continued to urge both the Afghan government and the Taliban to show flexibility and engage more meaningfully in order to secure a political settlement and a comprehensive ceasefire," the Pakistan envoy's letter said, adding, "Unfortunately, neither side was in any mood to listen." "Even after the fall of the Ghani regime, we have continued to support the formation of a broad-based government in Kabul that represents Afghanistan's ethnic diversity and preserves the impressive social and democratic gains it has made since 2001.

"It may interest you to learn that on the very day that President Ghani abandoned his people and fled abroad, Pakistan was hosting a diverse group of Afghan politicians  including leaders from the former Northern Alliance  as part of its continuing efforts to promote a common understanding on Afghanistan's political future," Ambassador Khan added.

"The swift collapse of the Afghan government has, if anything, proven the futility of investing more effort and money into finding a military solution to a political problem." Recounting some of the efforts Pakistan is making in evacuating Americans and Afghans from Kabul, he said the Pakistani embassy in Kabul issuing visas.

"Our doors and borders are open to the Afghan people who still look to Pakistan as their first port of call in moments of distress  notwithstanding the erstwhile Afghan regime's deliberate campaign to poison relations between our two countries".

Pakistan International Airlines, he added, has been ferrying foreign diplomats, journalists, and international aid workers out of Afghanistan, and that Pakistan has also been working closely with U.S. authorities on the ground in Kabul and in Islamabad to support the safe and orderly evacuation of Americans and Afghans from Hamid Karzai International airport.
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd Aug, 2021 ) :Sweden has thanked Pakistan in facilitating the evacuation of the staff of its embassy from Kabul.

Swedish foreign minister Ann Linde in a telephone call to Foreign Ministet Shah Mahmood Qureshi expressed deep appreciation for Pakistan's assistance in the process of evacuation.

Foreign Minister Qureshi apprised his Swedish counterpart of Pakistan's perspective on the latest developments in Afghanistan.

He mentioned that in the last few days, he had been in touch with several European and other foreign ministers to exchange views on Afghanistan.

Qureshi underlined that no other country wanted a peaceful and stable Afghanistan more than Pakistan.

He said Pakistan had consistently advocated for an inclusive political settlement in Afghanistan as the best way forward and had been supporting efforts in that direction.

He emphasized that the immediate priority was to ensure safety, security and protection of rights of all Afghans.

He said that as a responsible member of the international community, Pakistan was fully facilitating several European countries, international organizations and media agencies to evacuate their nationals and employees and others from Afghanistan. Pakistan's efforts have been widely acknowledged.

Foreign Minister Qureshi highlighted the importance of international community's sustained engagement with Afghanistan, both in areas of humanitarian arena and economic sustenance.

Foreign Minister Qureshi informed FM Ann Linde of his upcoming visit to neighboring countries of Afghanistan to consult them on the developing situation.

Both the foreign ministers expressed the resolve further to strengthen bilateral relations in all spheres especially in trade, education and innovation.

The foreign minister extended an invitation to his Swedish counterpart to visit Pakistan at an appropriate time.

The two foreign ministers agreed to remain in contact.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd August, 2021) Two space tourists could head to the International Space Station (ISS) on board the Russian Soyuz spacecraft after 2023, Deputy Director General for International Cooperation of Russian space agency Roscosmos Sergey Saveliev told Sputnik.

"We have commercial customers, I think we will announce them this fall," Saveliev said, adding that the tourists, who are non-Russian citizens, will likely be presented during the International Astronautical Congress in Dubai in October.

According to Saveliev, an agreement will be signed with the two space tourists in the near future but they will only be able to go to space after 2023, since up until then all the seats on Roscosmos spacecraft are already taken.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd August, 2021) The Afghan resistance, dislocated in the northeastern Panjshir province, the only one remaining outside the Taliban's (a terrorist group, banned in Russia) control, delivered arms to the area from Tajikistan, local media reported on Monday.

Earlier today, the Taliban said that Panjshir was besieged in an attempt to negotiate the conflict resolution peacefully.

Telegram channel Herat Times said, citing its source, that this was the first time when the resistance forces helicopters transported weaponry, ammunition and other essentials from the neighboring country.

On Sunday, the Taliban said that the operation in Panjshir is aimed at uniting Afghanistan under their rule. The movement also gave four-hour ultimatum to Ahmad Masood, the local resistance leader to capitulate. However, Masood responded that his forces will not surrender the province to the Taliban, saying its inhabitants are ready to resist.

On August 15, the Taliban completed their takeover of Afghanistan by entering Kabul. Ashraf Ghani resigned as president and fled the country to prevent what he described as bloodshed that would occur if militants were allowed to storm the city.
LA PAZ (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th August, 2021) The Bolivian government on Monday qualified nine foreign companies to begin lithium extraction tests in the country's salt flats located in Altiplano as part of the competition for a state contract.

"Following the process launched in April to search for the best technology for the Direct Lithium Extraction (EDL) project, nine companies will soon move on to the pilot testing phase in the Uyuni salt flat," Energy Minister Franklin Molina Ortiz was quoted as saying in a cabinet's statement.

The Names of the companies in question have not been unveiled in the statement.

The Bolivian cabinet has previously hinted that a set of enterprises communicated interest in competing for the state lithium exploitation contract, but chose not to disclose its investment projections, production goals, or other details.

Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom said it was among the bidders.

"With the EDL technology, Bolivia could shorten the deadlines to start industrial production of cathodes, lithium carbonate, and finally lithium batteries for electric vehicles," Molina noted.

Bolivia tops the list of countries with the world's largest lithium reserves, which are mostly located in the Uyuni, Coipasa, and Pastos Grandes salt flats in Bolivia's southwestern highlands.
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A car bomb explosion injured at least three civilians in northwestern Syria on Monday, a security source said

AZAZ,SYRIA, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd Aug, 2021 ) :A car bomb explosion injured at least three civilians in northwestern Syria on Monday, a security source said.

Security forces believe the PKK/YPG terror group might be behind the terror attack that also damaged some vehicles and businesses in the center of the Azaz district, said the source on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

The terror group, operating from Syria's adjacent Tal Rifaat and Manbij regions, often carries out attacks in Jarabulus, Azaz, Afrin, and al-Bab.

In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK  listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and the EU  has been responsible for the deaths of at least 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants. The YPG is the PKK's Syrian branch.

Since 2016, Turkey has launched a trio of successful anti-terror operations across its border in northern Syria to prevent the formation of a terror corridor and to enable the peaceful settlement of residents: Euphrates Shield (2016), Olive Branch (2018), and Peace Spring (2019).
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Croatia is ready to assist Ukraine in implementing an integration model for the "occupied territories" based on its own experience, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said at the Crimean Platform summit in Kiev on Monday

KIEV (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd August, 2021) Croatia is ready to assist Ukraine in implementing an integration model for the "occupied territories" based on its own experience, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said at the Crimean Platform summit in Kiev on Monday.

"Croatia knows very well how difficult it is when a country is faced with an ongoing conflict and part of its own territory under occupation. We can understand you a little bit better than those countries who did not have this experience. We have a very good model of peaceful reintegration of a Croatian Danubian area that ended the occupation of part of our territory back in 1998 through an efficient mission of the United Nations, perhaps the most successful one on the territory of Europe in the last 70 years.

We are willing to offer you all the assistance to apply such a model without any casualties and with the ambition for co-existence and the rule of law. We believe that Crimea should be high on the agenda of the international community together with your efforts to re-integrate the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts [regions]," Plenkovic said.

The process of a peaceful re-integration of the Croatian Podunavlje Region after the military conflict on the territory of former Yugoslavia was guided by a special UN mission, the UN Transitional Authority in Eastern Slavonia, from 1996 til 1998.

Earlier in the month, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has branded the summit as a "coven" where "neo-Nazi, racist sentiments of the incumbent Ukrainian government" are harbored.
HELSINKI (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd August, 2021) The Estonian parliamentary delegation departed to Ukraine to take part in the Crimean Platform summit, which organizers claim is dedicated to the restoration of the territorial integrity of Ukraine, the parliament's press office said on Monday.

The delegation includes Marko Mihkelson, the foreign affairs parliamentary committee chairman, Mati Raidma, the Estonia-Ukraine parliamentary group head, and Raivo Tamm, a member of the delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid is also embarking on an official visit to Ukraine that will last until Tuesday.

"Even on the 30th anniversary of restoring independence in Ukraine, the international community should continue keeping a sharp eye on the situation in Crimea, and condemn the illegal annexation of the region by Russia... The Platform gives the democratic community the opportunity to come together in support of the restoration of the territorial integrity of Ukraine," Mihkelson said as quoted by the press office.

The lawmakers will also participate in the celebrations of Ukraine's Independence Day on Tuesday as well as visit Ukraine's marine border near Mariupol on Wednesday, the press office added.

The Crimean Platform summit will take place in Kiev on Monday at the initiative of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The event is aimed at gaining support from the international community to return the Crimean peninsula, which reunited with Russia in 2014, to Ukraine.

Russia repeatedly criticized the idea of convening the summit. Earlier in August, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov labeled the Crimean Platform as "another coven" for the nurturing of "neo-Nazi, racist sentiments of the incumbent Ukrainian government."
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TASHKENT (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd August, 2021) EU Special Representative for Central Asia Terhi Hakala has arrived in southern Uzbekistan to learn about the situation at the Afghan border in the wake of hectic developments in the neighboring nation, the EU mission in Tashkent said on Monday.

The EU envoy's official visit to Uzbekistan is scheduled from August 20-26, the mission said in a statement.

"In relations to the latest events in Afghanistan, Ambassador Hakala went to [southern Uzbek city of] Termez on 21-23 August to get acquainted with the situation at the border. She met there with the Hokim of Sukhandarya region, Tura Bobolov and visited the Center for training Afghan citizens as well as the International logistics center 'Termiz Cargo Center,'" the mission said.

The EU envoy is also scheduled to meet with senior Uzbek officials, including government members and lawmakers, as well as with the representatives of local diplomatic missions and international organizations, the statement read.

"The visit reflects continuous interest of the European Union to further develop the positive relations with the Republic of Uzbekistan and to maintain a fruitful and open dialogue in all spheres of cooperation between the European Union and Uzbekistan," the mission added.

The Taliban (designated terrorist by the UN and Russia) entered the Afghan capital on August 15, causing the US-backed civilian government to fall. This has forced thousands of people to seek escape from the country for fear of reprisals from the militants. Many countries have since begun evacuating their diplomatic missions and citizens from Afghanistan

With the security situation deteriorating in Afghanistan, Uzbekistan has become an intermediate evacuation point for Afghan nationals seeking escape to foreign countries.
Thousands of climate change demonstrators thronged central London on Monday, as environmental activist group Extinction Rebellion held its latest round of protests, promising two weeks of disruption

London, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd Aug, 2021 ) :Thousands of climate change demonstrators thronged central London on Monday, as environmental activist group Extinction Rebellion held its latest round of protests, promising two weeks of disruption.

Protesters were greeted with a visibly heavy police presence as they converged on Trafalgar Square in the heart of the British capital, where they rallied with a marching band and speeches.

The latest action -- branded the "Impossible Rebellion" -- saw participants block roads leading to the square, deploying a large pink structure with the slogan "come to the table" written on it.

"What are you waiting for? Your local area to flood, or your street to get blocked with rubble and cars?" Extinction Rebellion's UK branch said on Twitter.

"The #ClimateEmergency is happening now, and the rebellion for life is happening now." The group, formed in Britain in 2018, is a network of climate activists who use civil disobedience to spotlight inaction on global warming.

Since holding its first protests in London that year, activists have repeatedly brought parts of the capital and other cities to a standstill with carnival-like demonstrations.

They have also targeted individual businesses and premises in London for direct action, including newspapers' offices and energy companies' headquarters.

The rallies have spread to many countries around the world.

Police at previous UK protests have arrested hundreds of participants, but have also faced criticism for being too lenient.

Maddy Hayley Thomas, 33, was among those rallying at the first day of the demonstrations in the British capital.

"What is extreme is the fact that the government, huge corporations, all of our system is allowing the devastation to our planet, to the global south," she said.

Extinction Rebellion's latest action comes as the UK government gears up to host the crucial COP26 United Nations climate summit in the Scottish city of Glasgow, in November.

It is set to draw thousands of delegates -- and demonstrators -- from around the world.

Global leaders are under renewed pressure to agree radical policy changes at the summit following the publication this month of a UN climate science report called "terrifying" by campaigners.

It warned the world is on course to reach 1.5C of warming around 2030, much sooner than once predicted, and set to cause dire fallout impacting every continent.
NEW DELHI (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd August, 2021) Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has discussed the situation in Afghanistan with German Chancellor Angela Merkel over a phone call on Monday.

"The leaders discussed the unfolding security situation in Afghanistan and its implications on the region and the world. They emphasised the importance of maintaining peace and security, with the most urgent priority being the repatriation of stranded people," the Office of Indian Prime Minister said.

Modi and Merkel have also discussed issues pertaining to the bilateral agenda.

"They exchanged views on issues of multilateral interest such as the forthcoming COP-26 meeting and the Indian initiative to promote a dialogue on maritime security at the United Nations Security Council.

They emphasised commonality of perspectives between both sides on promoting inclusive cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region," the statement read.

Germany and India are among the countries which chose to evacuate their citizens and diplomatic personnel from Afghanistan after the Taliban (designated terrorist and banned in Russia) took over and caused the US-backed civilian government to collapse.
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MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd August, 2021) Moscow hopes that Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi can come on a visit to Russia once the coronavirus situation permits, Russian Ambassador to Iran Levan Dzhagaryan told Sputnik.

"As you know, before the start of the pandemic, our presidents regularly met in Russia, Iran, on the margins of various international events.

...We hope that as the epidemiological situation normalizes, the right conditions will emerge for it [the visit] to take place," Dzhagaryan said.

Raisi won the June 18 presidential race in Iran with nearly 62 percent of the votes. Iran's previous leader, Hassan Rouhani, served the maximum two terms in office.

Ebrahim Raisi was sworn in on August 5.
Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev held a phone conversation with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, the Russian Security Council said on Monday

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd August, 2021) Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev held a phone conversation with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, the Russian Security Council said on Monday.

"Nikolai Patrushev and Jacob Sullivan discussed issues of Russian-US cooperation in the field of security. Special attention was paid to bilateral cooperation in the field of cybersecurity. In addition, an exchange of views on the situation in Afghanistan took place," the statement says.
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Reports claiming that helicopters of the Afghan resistance, located in the northeastern Panjshir province, delivered arms to the area from Tajikistan are false, a Tajik security source told Sputnik on Monday

DUSHANBE (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd August, 2021) Reports claiming that helicopters of the Afghan resistance, located in the northeastern Panjshir province, delivered arms to the area from Tajikistan are false, a Tajik security source told Sputnik on Monday.

Earlier in the day, Telegram channel Herat Times reported that resistance forces delivered arms to Panjshir from Tajikistan. The Taliban (banned in Russia) has said that Panjshir was besieged in an attempt to negotiate conflict resolution peacefully.

"The helicopters of the Afghan resistance forces did not arrive in Tajikistan and did not receive weapons and ammunition here," the security source said.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd August, 2021) Russia may start negotiating hydrogen supplies with the European Union in the future, since the trend is shifting towards alternative energy sources, the Russian Foreign Ministry's Department of Economic Cooperation Director Dmitry Birichevsky said in an interview with Sputnik.

"I think that Europe will need Russian energy resources for a long time. At the same time, the emphasis can be shifted from some types of energy to others. I believe we will start negotiations on hydrogen [supplies] in the future.

This is also a highly promising area of cooperation with the EU and with our Asian partners," Birichevsky said.

The Russian government is working on boosting hydrogen production and export. In October, a roadmap for Russia's development of hydrogen energy for the period until 2024 was approved, which stipulates that Russia should become one of the global leaders in hydrogen production and export and be exporting 2 million tonnes annually by 2035.
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The United States imposed sanctions on Monday on a senior Eritrean military leader for engaging in "serious human rights abuse" during the conflict in Tigray

Washington, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd Aug, 2021 ) :The United States imposed sanctions on Monday on a senior Eritrean military leader for engaging in "serious human rights abuse" during the conflict in Tigray.

The US Treasury Department said forces under the command of General Filipos Woldeyohannes, chief of staff of the Eritrean Defense Forces (EDF), are responsible for "massacres, looting, and sexual assaults." "The Treasury Department will continue to take action against those involved in serious human rights abuse around the world, including in the Tigray region of Ethiopia," said Andrea Gacki, director of the department's Office of Foreign Assets Control.

"Such acts further exacerbate the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis," Gacki said in a statement.

"We urge Eritrea to immediately and permanently withdraw its forces from Ethiopia, and urge the parties to the conflict to begin ceasefire negotiations and end human rights abuses," Gacki said.
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MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd August, 2021) The United States may purchase a seat on the Russian Soyuz in the spring of next year, as a precaution, in case of any issues with commercial US spacecraft, Roscosmos Deputy Director General for International Cooperation Sergey Saveliev told Sputnik.

"The Americans are leaving this opportunity [acquiring a Soyuz seat in the spring of 2022] as an option, counting on help and assistance from Russia, but I can't say anything more particular yet," Saveliev said.

In June, a space industry source told Sputnik that NASA could purchase a Soyuz seat to send an astronaut to the International Space Station (ISS) in the spring of 2022.

In April, a Soyuz spacecraft brought two Russian cosmonauts - Oleg Novitskiy and Pyotr Dubrov - and NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei to the ISS.

Since 2006, the US has purchased over 70 seats on board Russia's Soyuz spacecraft.
Purple Heart quiz - answers

Purple Heart History Quiz Questions & Answers

1. Why did General George Washington use the color purplefor the heart-shaped figure in his Badge of Military Merit?

Answer: According to Peter Bedrossian, program director of the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, in New Windsor, N.Y., the color purple signified royalty: Purple dye was expensive  the average person couldnt afford a purple garment  and so purple would signify an elevation of your status above those around you.

Source: https://www.winknews.com/2018/08/07/the-history-behind-purple-heart-day/

2. Who was the only U.S. President to have received the Purple Heart?

Answer: President John F. Kennedy, who served in the Navy during World War II, is the only U.S. president with a Purple Heart. He sustained a back injury when a Japanese destroyer collided with his patrol torpedo boat near the Solomon Islands.

Source: https://www.uso.org/stories/2276-8-purple-heart-facts

3. This decorated World War II soldier earned his Purple Heart after being wounded in combat in the Philippines. He later became an award-winning screenwriter, playwright, television producer, and creator of The Twilight Zone.

Answer: Rod Serling (1924-1975) also earned a Bronze Star and the Philippine Liberation Medal, among other military decorations.

Source: https://www.medalsofamerica.com/blog/22-famous-people-who-have-been-awarded-the-purple-heart/

4. Which former Secretary of Veterans Affairs, a retired Four-Star General and Army Chief of Staff, was twice wounded in Vietnam and received two Purple Hearts?

Answer: Ret. Gen. Eric K. Shinseki received his first Purple Heart while serving with the 25th Infantry Division in Vietnam in September 1966; he received his second Purple Heart medal three years later while in command of Troop A, 3d Squadron, 5th Cavalry Regiment. He stepped on a landmine and lost part of his foot.

5: Name two other Secretaries of the Department of Veterans Affairs who received the Purple Heart.

Answer: The late Jesse Brown, a Marine Corps Veteran, who died on August 15, 2002, and is interred at Arlington National Cemetery, and Dr. James Peake, who retired from the Army in 2004, as a lieutenant general.

Sources: and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Peake

6: Which former Secretary of State, a retired Four-Star General and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was awarded a Purple Heart following his first combat tour in Vietnam?

Answer: Ret. Gen. Colin I. Powell earned a Purple Heart while serving with the 23d Infantry Division in Vietnam.

Source: https://armyhistory.org/the-purple-heart-the-story-of-americas-oldest-military-decoration-and-some-soldier-recipients/

7: This United States Senator from Illinois and former Department of Veterans Affairs Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs was the first female double amputee from the Iraq War, where she served as a U.S. Army lieutenant colonel. She received her Purple Heart at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Answer: Sen. Tammy Duckworth sustained severe wounds during combat in Iraq when the helicopter she was piloting was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade fired by Iraqi insurgents. Despite her wounds, Sen. Duckworth obtained a medical waiver to continue serving in the Illinois Army National Guard, from which she retired as a lieutenant colonel in 2014.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tammy_Duckworth#Military_service

8: During World War II, this Army soldier received three Purple Hearts and all of the Armys combat awards for valor, including the Medal of Honor, for single-handedly holding off an entire company of German soldiers in France, and then spearheading a successful counterattack. He later became a successful actor and died in a plane crash in 1971.

Answer: Audie L. Murphy (1925-1971).

Source: https://www.medalsofamerica.com/blog/22-famous-people-who-have-been-awarded-the-purple-heart/

9: She was the first woman to receive The Purple Heart as a result of combat while serving at Hickam Field during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. She was later awarded the Bronze Star.

Answer: 1Lt Annie G. Fox (August 4, 1893  January 20, 1987). According to her Purple Heart citation, she received the medal, not for having been injured, but for her outstanding performance of duty and meritorious acts of extraordinary fidelity during the attack on Pearl Harbor. The requirements for the Purple Heart were changed after Pearl Harbor.

Sources: Women Medal Recipients (aug.com) and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annie_Fox_(nurse)

10: During which conflict were the most Purple Hearts awarded?

Answer: World War II, with an estimate of just over one million Purple Heart medals being awarded to service members.

Source: https://www.medalsofamerica.com/blog/a-guide-to-the-most-purple-hearts-awarded-in-each-conflict/

(All sources updated/retrieved August 6, 2021)
Valdosta, GA (31601)

Today

Partly cloudy early followed by scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. High 88F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 73F. Winds light and variable.
The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has called on Catholic politicians to make a difference in the Nigerian political sphere.

CNSNg.org  Enugu, Nigeria.

President of the CBCN and Archbishop of Benin-City, Archbishop Augustine Obiora Akubeze, made the call on Saturday in an address during the Bishops interaction with Catholic politicians of the Province of Onitsha in Enugu at the ongoing CBCN second plenary.

Catholic politicians can make a difference

Archbishop Akubeze stated that the main reason for the meeting is that the Catholic Bishops in Nigeria recognise and believe that Catholic politicians can make a difference in the Nigerian political sphere.

We strongly believe that if you allow a well-formed conscience guided by Catholic Social Teachings to lead you in decision making, you will put Nigeria on a progressive pathway to development and eradication of corruption, said the Benin-City prelate.

He said the Church must create more opportunities for robust interaction with Catholic politicians in order to know some of their challenges and pray for their success.

Work for the common good

The CBCN President noted that although politics is often called a dirty profession, there is nothing intrinsically dirty about politics. We are the ones that make it dirty. Nigerians are looking up to the political class to work for the good of everyone.

The Archbishop identified one of the challenges Nigeria is having as the inability to get elections right.

Once the system is set up in such a way that the votes of the people truly determine who leads us, then our political class will know that they are hired and paid for by those who voted for them, said Archbishop Akubeze.

Reforms and renewing trust in elections

He called on Catholic politicians to lead in the area of electoral reforms and the education of the people, stressing that the apathy towards election is because people have lost trust in the system.

To you, our respected Catholic politicians, we have not called you here to lecture you, but to let you know that you have great resources on how to form your consciences to be good Catholic politicians. The Social Teaching of the Church provides you with materials on engagement in politics, said the Archbishop.

A handbook for Catholic politicians

He further disclosed that the Catholic Theological Association of Nigeria had produced a handbook to guide Catholic politicians. He urged the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria to make copies available to all Catholic politicians.

From the Catholic Social Teaching, we discover ways to resolve many of our conflicts. The document deals with the common good for the entire people; rights of states or nations, rights of individuals to private ownership of property, obligations of a nation towards the poor and equitable sharing of responsibilities and rights, explained Archbishop Akubeze.
At least eight people have been killed and three are still missing, after Hurricane Grace hit Mexico twice in two days, causing widespread damage, flooding, and landslides.

By James Blears  Mexico City

The international tourism gem of Tulum, in Mexicos south, was the first to feel the fist-like brunt of Hurricane Grace on Thursday, after it had already smashed into Jamaica and then earthquake-stricken Haiti.

Done with them, it retreated back to sea, re-gathered its strength, and returned, making lethal landfall in the south-eastern Gulf coast state of Vera Cruz.

Deadly rainfall

There it caused severe flooding, pulling down power lines, plunging more than half a million people into darkness, and killing eight people.

Six of the dead came from a single family, as their home collapsed along with another due to mudslides. Others are missing.

The state capital of Xalapa is severely flooded as River Acopan burst its banks and coursed into residential areas.

Closer to the coast and not that far away, lighter boats were dragged on to land by prudently anxious fishermen. Pleasure boats followed suit, while bigger, heavier vessels were sailed and chugged into harbour.

Weakened, but still packing a punch

Mercifully Grace is weakening over land, lessening to a tropical storm category two and now one, but it still carries the venom of real danger.

Some flights in Mexico City International Airport have been cancelled and the capital, plus its surrounding outlying areas which is home to more than twenty million people, is bracing itself for high winds and torrential rains.

The storm is expected to hit the capital late Sunday afternoon, as leaden skies overhead prepare to unload, dumping heavy, sweeping belts of rain.

Worsening hurricane season

This ominous season in the Americas has always contained its unwelcome share of annual hurricanes.

But over the past few years, theyve tended to start earlier and last longer, with greater intensity, as the polluted global climate alters, and for the worse.
Despite being generally aligned with Communist China, totalitarian North Korea has long tried to keep its citizens from venturing across the countries shared border for work and opportunities to defect to South Korea.

To retain more people, the ruling Korean Workers Party aims to complete a bulletproof concrete wall and high-voltage electric fencing along the boundary by Oct. 10  in time for the Partys founding day celebrations  but a lack of supplies and food is delaying the effort.

According to a source cited by DailyNK, military officers have sold much of the supplies intended for the wall so as to feed the soldiers who are supposed to be working on it.

So many supplies need to be sent to different sectors of the peoples economy, the source told DailyNK, which reported the story on Aug. 18. This means that the authorities arent properly supplying the construction work along the border.

The source believes that the military has only been provided with 40 percent of what was needed for the construction, and what they have received is being sold in order to buy food for the mobilized soldiers.

According to DailyNKs source, personnel from the Korean Peoples Army construction, engineering, and road bureaus have been deployed to the effort. The number of troops deployed would be enough to complete the work were there enough materials; instead, progress has been extremely slow.



Work teams are refashioning the materials left over to complete as much of the project as possible.

Starving soldiers rob civilians, get beaten to death in retaliation

Due to its strict isolation and repression, North Korea is a chronic victim of famine and malnutrition. Even soldiers cannot have their rations guaranteed, especially with severe floods, African swine flu, and the COVID-19 pandemic hitting the country in recent months and years.

Soldiers becoming bandits and robbing civilian communities for their food has become a frequent phenomenon in parts of the country outside of the capital, Pyongyang. According to the source who spoke with DailyNK, soldiers sometimes kill locals when caught in the act; others are captured instead and set upon by angry villagers, then beaten to a pulp.

Both central and local governments, as well as the higher leadership of the military, have failed to care for malnourished soldiers, whose bellies are swollen and their limbs stick-like.

Under these circumstances, North Korean logistics units have often taken matters into their own hands to keep soldiers from starving or breaking the law.

Logistics officials who are tasked with feeding the troops have nothing, and theyre getting no help from either the localities or from Pyongyang. So theyre [selling] rebar, cement and sand and buying freshly harvested potatoes or corn to feed the soldiers, said the source. Nobody is coming to check, so they are secretly pilfering the supplies and using them to feed the troops.

The construction materials are typically bought up by the donju, the word for North Koreas black market entrepreneurs (officially, almost the entire economy is run by the state).

According to DailyNK, the military men are ignorant of the market value of what they are selling, allowing the donju to profit greatly.
A third dose of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine has significantly improved protection from infection and serious illness among people age 60 and older in Israel compared with those who received two shots, findings published on Sunday by the Health Ministry showed.

The data were presented at a meeting of a ministry panel of vaccination experts on Thursday and uploaded to its website on Sunday, though the full details of the study were not released.

The findings were on par with separate statistics reported last week by Israel's Maccabi health care provider, one of several organizations administering booster shots to try to curb the delta coronavirus variant.

Breaking down statistics from Israel's Gertner Institute and KI Institute, ministry officials said that among people age 60 and older, the protection against infection provided from 10 days after a third dose was four times higher than after two doses.

A third jab for the older than 60-year-olds offered five to six times greater protection after 10 days with regard to serious illness and hospitalization.

That age group is particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 and in Israel was the first to be inoculated when the vaccine drive began in late December.

In recent weeks, the health ministry has said immunity has diminished over time for seniors and younger people as well. Most vaccinated people who fell severely ill in Israel were older than 60 and with underlying health conditions.

Israel started administering the third shot to those older than 60 on July 30. On Thursday it dropped the age of eligibility for a booster to 40, and included pregnant women, teachers and health care workers below that age. Third doses are given only to those who received their second shot at least five months ago.

The United States has announced plans to offer booster shots to all Americans, citing data showing diminishing protection. Canada, France and Germany have announced booster campaigns.

Fighting an outbreak of the delta variant since June, Israel presently has one of the world's highest infection rates per capita. Close to 1.5 million people out of the country's 9.3 million population have taken a third jab.
Opposition Movement for Democratic Change Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa, has arrived in Zambia for president-elect Hakainde Hichilemas inauguration, a week after he defeated then president Edgar Lungu in a landslide victory.

In a tweet, Chamisa, who was invited together with several other opposition party leaders in Africa and African heads of state and government, said, Lusaka here we come! Thank you Zambia  A New Dawn!!

This is the first time that Chamisa has been invited to attend the inauguration of an African president.

In a tweet, MDC Alliances vice president, Tendai Biti, said the invitation was an indication that soon there will be social and political change in Zimbabwe.

Change will occur in Zim. Sooner rather than later. Change is the only constant variable. That change will be part of a new consensus. A new United Vision that will establish a sustainable democratic great Zimbabwe in which all are free to pursue justice, prosperity & happiness.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is attending the same event.

Hichilema, who beat Lungu by almost one million votes, is expected to tackle Zambias ballooning internal and external debts.

In a tweet, he said, Friends, we have assembled an incredibly competent economic team that is analysing Zambia's debt position and putting in place appropriate mechanisms for dismantling it and transparently engaging with our creditors.

He will be sworn in as Zambias seventh president on Tuesday.

In a farewell message posted on his official Facebook page, Lungu said, This is a momentous occasion for our country, and we all must be proud for letting the torch of our democracy to shine for the world to see. We must all be happy that even after a highly contested election on August 12, it is the Zambian people who won; it is peace and unity that triumphed.

I'm personally proud that our transfer of power has been smooth; adding to our enduring legacy as a democratic country, which started with our founding president, Dr Kenneth Kaunda, in 1991. Zambia, tomorrow you welcome your new President and open a new chapter for the country, and my prayer is that this new chapter will be filled with hope and fulfill the aspirations of all citizens, building on the foundation we laid.

He said he is leaving office with a sense of pride due to many achievements that his government scored in the past 10 years under the leadership of the late President Michael Sata, and when he took over the reins.

Most of these achievements are cast in concrete and cannot be erased now or in the near future. Posterity will look at the infrastructure we have built across the country with gratitude. That is a legacy we leave with you. Today I look back at our 10 years in office with satisfaction, our failures notwithstanding. Yes, there are things we could have done better, but Im happy that in many aspects, we leave behind a better country.

And my heart is filled with a deep sense of gratitude to the Zambian people who entrusted us with the huge and honourable responsibility to administer the affairs of this country. I took this as a God-given mandate and He be the best and fairest judge.
Gunmen who kidnapped more than 100 students from a high school in northwestern Nigeria have released 15 more of the hostages after collecting ransom, a representative of the families said on Sunday.

Scores of assailants stormed Bethel Baptist High School on July 5 on the outskirts of Kaduna, the capital of Kaduna State, abducting 121 students who were sleeping in their dorms.

The Bethel abduction was part of a string of kidnappings by armed gangs known locally as bandits who have long terrorized northwest and central Nigeria, looting, stealing cattle and kidnapping for ransom.

Around 1,000 students have been kidnapped since December after gangs started to target schools and colleges. Most have been released after negotiations, but scores are still being held in forest camps.

"Fifteen students were released last night after ransom was paid," the Reverend Joseph Hayab, a local church leader and representative of Bethel parents, told AFP.

Hayab declined to say how much was paid as local authorities say they are opposed to ransoms and have threatened to jail those who make payments.

So far 56 of the kidnapped Bethel students have been released or escaped from their abductors.

"We still have 65 more of our students with the bandits and we are working to see they can be freed," Hayab said.

Last week, nine pupils of an Islamic seminary were also seized by motorcycle-riding attackers in Katsina State, the second such incident in as many months.

Kaduna State security commissioner Samuel Aruwan said on Friday that intelligence reports indicated nine bandits had been killed in a gun battle between rival kidnap gangs, possible over disagreements about ransom cash.

"The cause of the fratricidal face-off is yet unclear but was said to revolve around a disagreement over sharing of accumulated ransoms, during which one of the groups felt cheated," his statement said.

Many hostages remain captive, including more than 136 children abducted in June from an Islamic seminary in Tegina in central Niger State, four of whom have died in captivity.

On Friday the gangs asked the seminary to send clothing for the schoolchildren who have been in the same clothes for months, according to one of the parents.

"They phoned the head of the school and told him to ask parents to send the children new clothes as the ones they have been wearing are in shreds," Maryam Mohammed, whose seven children are among the hostages, told AFP.

The violence in northwestern and central Nigeria is rooted in clashes between nomadic cattle herders and local farmers over land and water. But the security crisis has spiralled into widespread tit-for-tat attacks, mass kidnapping and banditry.

Kidnap gangs are driven by financial motives though there are signs of increasing ties between them and Islamist militants fighting a 12-year insurgency in the country's northeast. That conflict has killed around 40,000 people and displaced more than two million from their homes.

Nigerian jihadists also carried out mass abductions in the past, including the abduction of more than 300 schoolgirls from a remote village of Chibok in 2014. Some of those girls are still in captivity.
The Taliban are dispatching hundreds of fighters to the Panjshir Valley, 150 kilometers north of the Afghan capital, Kabul, to try to stamp out an emerging resistance movement led by the son of a warlord who defied them the last time they ruled Afghanistan 20 years ago.

The deployment comes hours after forces aligned with Ahmad Massouds National Resistance Front, comprising remnants of regular Afghan army units and special forces and local militia fighters, clashed with the Taliban in Andarab  a southern district in Baghlan province.

Last week, in the first stirrings of serious resistance, anti-Taliban fighters secured three districts neighboring Andarab, all near the Panjshir Valley, Massouds redoubt. The Taliban on Monday claimed to have recaptured the three districts.

Ahmad Massouds father, Ahmad Shah Massoud, nicknamed the "lion of the Panjshir, blocked Soviet forces in the 1980s and the Taliban in the 1990s from conquering the narrow and almost impenetrable valley It has in effect one main road in and out. His 32-year-old son, who was trained at Britains military academy Sandhurst and was taught war studies at Kings College, London, hopes to emulate his father.

"Talibs have massed forces near the entrance of Panjshir a day after they got trapped in ambush zones of neighboring Andarab valley & hardly went out in one piece, tweeted Amrullah Saleh, Afghanistans former vice president, who midweek declared himself the countrys caretaker leader after President Ashraf Ghani fled the country. Saleh has thrown in with the National Resistance Front, although his status as president is not recognized by the National Resistance Front, Massouds advisers told VOA in a phone call.

Ready to fight

The Taliban gave Massoud four hours Sunday to surrender the Panjshir Valley, saying they were deploying forces after local state officials refused to hand it over peacefully. Ahmad Massoud has been holding negotiations with the Taliban since the Islamist movement seized power in Kabul a week ago, but one of his advisers told VOA that the talks were stalled and appeared unlikely to advance.



There has been no progress, Ali Nazari, Massouds spokesman said. The talks have mainly been conducted in Pakistan via emissaries, including Ahmad Massouds uncle. The Taliban said it will establish a centralized government and will not be holding elections. To end his nascent resistance, Massoud is demanding elections, decentralization of government, with regions and provinces allowed semi-autonomy, and for the Taliban to guarantee civil rights.

On Sunday, Massoud told Reuters that he did not want war. We want to make the Taliban realize that the only way forward is through negotiation," he said by telephone. He said his fighters are ready to fight. They want to resist any totalitarian regime, he said.

His spokesman, Nazari, talking from an undisclosed location, told VOA that the resistance movement has sufficient strength to keep the Taliban out of the valley, near the Hindu Kush and home to more than 100,000 people, including Afghanistans largest concentration of ethnic Tajiks. He said Massoud had opened negotiations with the Taliban much as his father did in 1995 in the hope that bloodshed could be avoided.

FILE - Men prepare for defense against the Taliban in Panjshir, Afghanistan, Aug. 22, 2021. (Aamaj News Agency via Reuters)



Last week in an article in The Washington Post, Massoud appealed to the West to back his resistance. The Taliban is not a problem for the Afghan people alone. Under Taliban control, Afghanistan will without doubt become ground zero of radical Islamist terrorism; plots against democracies will be hatched here once again, he warned. He added that the military stores and equipment his Front has amassed could be depleted quickly without resupply from outside powers.

Massoud has been storing arms and material for the past two years, since the U.S. opened talks with the Taliban. His local militia has been boosted, his aides say, with an influx of a few thousand former Afghan army soldiers, including members of special forces units, and volunteers from other militias from northern and western Afghanistan.

FILE - Humvee vehicles from the Afghan Security Forces are pictured in Panjshir province in Afghanistan on Aug. 16, 2021.

The Afghan army remnants brought with them half-a-dozen helicopters and other equipment and the National Resistance Front has a dozen or so Soviet-era tanks, anti-Taliban sources say. They also have Russian BM-21 Grad rocket launchers.

Nazari told VOA Massoud is fairly confident that he can sustain the resistance until wintertime, when the fighting would decrease, and inclement seasonal weather would halt a Taliban offensive. The Taliban will be less mobile in winter, he said.

So, we believe that we can sustain the resistance up to winter. But again, it's difficult to say. It will come down to the intensity of the fighting, he added. If the fighting intensifies in the coming days or weeks, there might be a short window of opportunity for the West to support the National Resistance Front, and that window could shut much sooner than we expect, he conceded.

Looking to the West



Nazari said Massoud has not asked anything from neighboring countries, including Tajikistan, which helped his father. His focus has been on Western powers. While there had been no response yet from the Western governments, U.S. lawmakers have been in contact. Last year, Massoud met in Paris French President Emmanuel Macron, a meeting arranged by the French philosopher Bernard-Henri Levy, a longtime friend of Massouds father.

Nazari said: We believe that the Western countries should stay engaged because of the threat of terrorism. Terrorism still exists. International terrorism still exists, and it will strengthen itself and will be stronger compared to 2001. You'll have an emboldened al-Qaida, you have ISIS [Islamic State]. You have other splinter groups. You have a much powerful Taliban now. So, it's very important to keep an ally inside Afghanistan. It just doesn't make sense for the Western world to abandon natural allies, people who could fight terrorism, who can resist the rise of terrorism.

This all has eerie but perhaps heartening echoes of the situation during Taliban rule before the 9/11 terror attacks, says Toby Harnden, author of "First Casualty: The Untold Story of the Battle That Began the War in Afghanistan."

The Panjshir Valley was the CIA's vital foothold in Afghanistan before 9/11. Its mountain flanks along with Ahmad Shah Massoud fighters, many veterans of the mujahideen war against the Soviet army, made it a redoubt the Taliban could not penetrate, Harnden added.

Without outside support, military experts say it is hard to estimate how long Massoud can keep the Taliban out of the valley, and resupply will be difficult. The Panjshir has no airport and the Taliban in theory now surround the valley Nobody can answer the question how long? Too many variables, a former CIA officer, who knows the valley well, told VOA. The Soviets never really got in; and the Taliban the first time around made just a few inroads into Panjshir, he said. And it is not clear, he added, how quickly the Taliban will be able to mount a major offensive.

FILE - Ahmad Massoud (C) son of late Afghan commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, arrives to attend and address a gathering at the tomb of his late father in Panjshir province on July 5, 2021.



Massouds advisers say they believe the Taliban has a lot of weaknesses. They are not as a strong military force as we're seeing them being portrayed in the media, says Nazari. They have a shortage of men and are overstretched. They lack popular support. They have 75,000 fighters to control a country of 38 million, he adds.

A key risk for the Taliban with the resistance in the Panjshir is the unraveling of local surrender pacts the Islamists struck with tribal elders and local warlords, says another Western intelligence officer who served in Afghanistan. They paved the way for the Taliban all the way to Kabul, he adds. Many of those pacts were clinched because tribal elders and others assumed the Taliban would be victorious, and if the impression gains ground, they can be challenged, then other groups may decide to resist. Remember the Afghan saying: you can hire me, but you cant buy me, he adds.
Britain, which deported 14 Zimbabweans a month ago, is on Wednesday expected to send back to the southern African nation at least 20 more people with criminal records.

Pardon Tapfumanei, an attorney representing some of the Zimbabweans targeted people, said the deportations are part of an agreement made by the President Emmerson Mnangagwas government and the United Kingdom for the forced return of people who committed crimes in Britain.

Tapfumanei said, Those caught will be sent back home and everything depends on the status of their cases. Most of these peoples cases have been exhausted. They would have been rejected by the courts and gone through the court system two three or five years ago.

They are filing new evidence in their cases with the intention of showing some change in circumstances of their cases. Each case will turn on its facts. Those that have been exhausted are submitting fresh evidence. You can make a new injunction. The British Home Office is looking into their submissions quickly. The decision usually its refusal.

Tapfumanei has already submitted fresh evidence in cases involving some of the people that were also targeted for deportation last month.

One of the clients did not go last time. We submitted new evidence and that saved him. The other one tested positive for COVID-19. Indications are that they are not deporting him. For this particular client, I have enlisted the services of the local MP (Member of Parliament) to ask the Home Office to defer his removal. He (client) once dealt with drugs and had to commit offenses to pay for the drugs  Some of the cases have to be relooked at by the courts. We are doing injunction and judiciary review  Approaching the high court to stop the Home Office from removing them.

The Home Office did not respond to inquiries over the latest deportations with indications that the United Kingdom is determined to deport a large number of Zimbabweans with criminal records.

In a tweet recently, the Home Office said there is no room for criminals in Britain.

The Home Office said the deportees were sentenced to a combined total of over 75 years in prison for various crimes, including rape and murder.

The British government, which has deported 7,985 foreign criminals from the United Kingdom since January 2019, says it wants to keep its communities safe from criminals. Indications are that the country is planning to deport at least 150 Zimbabweans per month, especially those that have committed serious offences and failed asylum seekers.

According to the Associated Press, some of the deportees had stayed in Britain for decades and forced to leave families behind to face an uncertain future back home.

Rights groups and politicians in Britain have mounted pressure to stop the deportations, arguing that the deportees are at risk of persecution in Zimbabwe.

The United Kingdom says it has a right to deport foreigners who commit serious crimes after they serve out their sentences.

Zimbabwean authorities have dismissed fears that the returnees would be persecuted.

A Zimbabweans Foreign Affairs official told the state-controlled Herald newspaper on Monday that the returnees are part of the first batch of locals who were supposed to be sent home last month.

Constance Chemwayi is quoted by the newspaper as saying that the individuals concerned have been in quarantine at holding centers waiting for removal.

Although there are no exact figures, scores of thousands left Zimbabwe for the UK, the former colonial power, to escape a biting political and economic crisis at the turn of the century.

Many Zimbabweans whose bids for asylum were rejected by Britain also face deportation.

The Associated Press also contributed to this article
Funeral Announcements A daily list of current funeral annoucements as heard on KXRA 1490 AM/100.3 FM

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Breaking News The big news. Sent only as it happens.
John Cho, space cowboy. Photo: GEOFFREY SHORT/NETFLIX

We know better than to try and fence in this space cowboy. Netflix has uploaded a first look at live-action series Cowboy Bebop, based on the classic 1998 Japanese anime by Sunrise. John Cho stars as Spike Spiegel, a gun-slinging bounty hunter (called cowboys) among humanitys space colonies in the year 2071. In the first look, Cho has gravity-defying anime hair and carefully crafted abs underneath his suit and loosened tie. Theres also a shot of the entire crew of the Bebop spacecraft, including Ein, played by a real-life corgi. Hes joined by a gang of misfits, Jet Black (Mustafa Shakir), Faye Valentine (Daniella Pineda), and Ein, a genetically engineered data dog who can answer the phone, drive, and analyze situations better than most, as they hunt down the galaxys most dangerous criminals  for a price. Not shown are Elena Satine as Spikes love interest, Julia, and Alex Hassell as his former partner and current nemesis, Vicious. Gren, a soldier turned saxophonist, will be a nonbinary character played by a nonbinary actor Mason Alexander Park. (Whether or not Edward, a hacker and highly intelligent 13-year-old girl, made the film has yet to be announced.) Netflix shared the images on social media, with the caption: See You Space Cowboy. Cowboy Bebop arrives November 19. Bang.

See You Space Cowboy.



Meet Spike Spiegel (John Cho), Jet Black (Mustafa Shakir), and Faye Valentine (Daniella Pineda) in Cowboy Bebop. Premiering November 19 pic.twitter.com/7vRtZvYjYM  Netflix (@netflix) August 23, 2021
Doctors and health leaders in Alabama are urging pregnant women to get the COVID vaccine now as the Delta variant rages on.

In August, UAB admitted 39 pregnant women, 10 of those women are currently in the ICU, 7 are on ventilators and 2 have died.

UAB says they were all un-vaccinated.

WAAY-31 spoke with an expecting mom on her concerns and the message she has for others.

"I can't imagine being separated from my family and especially a newborn, I just gave birth to. That is so heartbreaking and so awful," said Kelsey Hunt.

Kelsey Hunt is in her second trimester and she told us it's crucial to be vaccinated, if you can, right now.

Especially if you're pregnant.

"Because pregnant women are, relatively speaking, immunocompromised they tend to have a worse illness than you would expect for their age when they're pregnant," said Dr. Scott Harris.

Dr. Scott Harris is the state of Alabama's health officer.

He and other doctors across the state are pleading for pregnant women to get the COVID vaccine as soon as possible.

He knows there's a lot of misconception out there on what the vaccine can do to your baby, but he wants to assure you, the vaccine helps more than hurts.

"They do not cause harm to the baby and in fact, protect the baby at least somewhat, after being born because maternal antibodies can be on board at the time a baby is born to protect the baby as well," he said.

Hunt already had a high-risk pregnancy because she has PCOS, a hormonal disorder that can cause infertility.

She stayed in contact with her doctor and once they said it was okay for her to be vaccinated, she went for it.

Hunt says everything has been smooth sailing ever since and now, she's hoping others will do the same.

"I'm so glad because it's not just me anymore. I am growing something in me and I am growing a baby and I want to protect that baby as much as possible," said Hunt.

According to the CDC, only 23% of pregnant women across the country are vaccinated.
The search to find the driver of a hit and run that left a teenager dead continues.

Mason Cozelos was 16 years old when he was killed late Thursday near East Limestone and Nick Davis Road in Athens.

Since the news broke, several communities are aiding in search efforts to try and find the vehicle the suspect was driving.

WAAY-31 spoke to an old family friend about how these efforts are impacting so many people.

People in Madison and Limestone County are sharing information across social media to get the word out about that missing driver.

An old family friend told us seeing everyone come together, is a beautiful in such a tragic moment.

"It's not just a tragedy for the family. It's a tragedy for all of us," said Candice Lloyd.

Candice Lloyd is just one of the thousands of people who have shared information on Mason's killer.

Right now, authorities are looking for a dark-colored car with damage to the front and side.

Lloyd told us her daughter went to school with Mason in 5th grade and he's always been the sweetest kid.

"He was just so sweet and I talked to my daughter when this happened and she just remembered him being so funny, like the biggest smile and so kind and that's how he's remembered," she said.

Lloyd told us it broke her heart to hear what happened to him, but says she feels the area where he was hit is not the safest, because people speed all the time.

"It's just unsettling watching people drive like that through there. I've been run off the road before in that area and it really scared me and it's like, why are you driving like this," she said.

Even through tragedy, Lloyd says seeing so many people come together for one cause gives her hope, and now, she's hoping to help give something back that Mason's family lost.

"It's my prayer that we find this person and bring that family some sort of comfort," she said.

Alabama State Troopers ask if you have any information connected to this case, to call them or the Limestone county sheriff's office.
Decatur, IL (62521)

Today

Sunny. High around 80F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Clear skies. Low near 55F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
Decatur, IL (62521)

Today

Abundant sunshine. High around 80F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Clear skies. Low around 55F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
Calenda proposes one-stop Ancient Rome Museum on Capitoline Hill to improve tourist experience.

Carlo Calenda, one of the main candidates in the race to become Rome's next mayor, has launched a radical idea to create a single, giant museum dedicated to ancient Rome.

Under Calenda's plan, the city hall offices would be moved from the Campidoglio, with the vacated Palazzo Senatorio becoming part of the adjoining Capitoline Museums complex to form the 'Museo Unico per la Roma Antica.'

The new space would be used to merge treasures from several museums in Rome whose collections are in the hands of both the city and the state, including Palazzo Altemps and Palazzo Massimo (state-run) and the Museum of Roman Civilisation (city-run, located in the EUR suburb and long closed for renovation).

The Capitoline Museums, in addition to being the oldest public museums in the world - dating back to 1471 - is the jewel in the crown of Rome's municipal-run museums.

However Calenda claims that it is "not a museum, in the modern sense of the term, but a collection of collections exhibited in a confused and unintelligible way."

Carlo Calenda

The mayoral candidate for the liberal Azione party says his plan would create a "complete, modern and usable museum itinerary that becomes the natural destination for those who want to learn about Roman history."

Calenda argues that, as it stands, tourists keen to understand the history of Rome must "visit seven different museums, located kilometres from each other" under a system that is both "unattractive" and "difficult" for visitors.

"It takes 20 minutes to go from the Capitoline Museums to the National Roman Museum in Palazzo Massimo" - he says - "It would take 47 minutes to go from the Capitoline Museums to the Museum of Roman Civilisation, the only one with educational content, which has been closed for years.

Calenda also says that "unlike all the other European capitals, Rome does not have a large public museum representative of the city", citing Paris, London, Stockholm and Amsterdam as examples.

He asserts that the new complex could become "the largest museum in Rome, surpassing the Vatican Museums and considerably approaching the size of other large international museums such as the Louvre."

As part of the shake-up, he proposes to merge the Capitoline Museums' collection of paintings (including works by Caravaggio and Guercino) with that of Palazzo Barberini (the national collection of ancient art) "in order to concentrate the pictorial works of international importance in a single site."

Furthermore Calenda proposes to entrust the entire archaeological area of the Forums and the Palatine to the national superintendence", in addition to preparing "an ambitious excavation plan."

Reaction

Calenda's plan has aroused interest among the general public but has been roundly slammed by experts from the world of culture who accuse him of wanting to "cherry pick" or "loot" treasures from other museums.

Art historian Tomaso Montanari, wrote on Twitter: "He wants to merge museums, erasing history and the first public museum in the world. Like installing glass and a roof on the Colosseum, because it is so old, broken and uncomfortable."

Flaminia Gennari Santori, director of Palazzo Barberini, described the proposal as "senseless, so absurd that it's laughable."

Art historian Rita Borioni said: "The reason why the Capitoline Museums cannot have the same appeal as the Vatican Museums is not due to its size but rather the fact that it doesn't have Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel, Raphael's Rooms, the Lacoonte."

Not everyone is against the idea, however, with Calenda's plan described as "excellent" by prominent art critic Vittorio Sgarbi.

For his part Calenda says he "was expecting the controversy", adding that it is "interesting to hear other points of view", while inviting experts to engage with him on the matter in an open debate.

Municipal elections will be held in Rome on 3-4 October 2021.
Businesses are the private property of their owners, whose liberties should be violated only to advance compelling social interests. It is appropriate that the law prohibits a cafe from turning away customers because of their race. It is also appropriate for the same business to be free to turn away customers wearing shorts and T-shirts. Sure, masks can be annoying. But the same could be said for neckties, and I am unaware of any efforts to impose government bans on office dress codes or school uniforms in the name of personal liberty.
Biden entered office in 2021 arguing that its not Americas burden to rid Afghanistan of the Taliban and that the price of remaining was too high given the odds of success; by then the U.S. had incurred about 2,400 fatalities and spent about $970 billion on the conflict. Biden officials had encouraged negotiations between the Taliban and the government of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in an effort to end the fighting before U.S. forces departed, but the talks faltered. In April, Biden announced that all U.S. forces would be withdrawn from Afghanistan by the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, saying its time to end the forever war. In mid-August, with the Taliban at the gates of Kabul, Ghani fled the country.
Pluto is also really dark, because the sun is much farther away than it is here on Earth. In fact, NASA has a handy website that allows you to catch a glimpse of what scientists call Pluto Time. With an adult, simply enter your location and the website will tell you to look outside at a certain time of the day, usually right at dusk, when the light here on Earth looks almost exactly like it would on Pluto at noon, or its brightest time of the day.
A State Department spokesman said the United States is working to get as many American citizens and Afghan nationals at risk of Taliban reprisals out of Afghanistan as quickly as possible. Between Sunday morning and Monday morning, 10,400 people were evacuated from Kabul on military flights, and 5,900 people flew out on commercial airlines recruited by the United States for the effort, the spokesman said. They are expecting to evacuate several thousand more Afghan refugees and U.S. citizens in coming days.
The Silver Spring photographer is perhaps an unlikely person to chronicle go-go. For starters, hes White. And he didnt come up in that scene. Py had been shooting a lot of local shows  including, frankly, the shows of a lot of old White guy bands  when he realized any chronicle of D.C. music would have to include go-go.
On Monday, prosecutors asked for another Jan. 6 defendant who had been released to be incarcerated again, saying he has continued to consume false political information. According to the court record, Douglas Jensen confronted U.S. Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman in the Capitol because of his belief in QAnon. He was released after his attorney said he had come to understand it was a lie.
Mr. Tarrio does not seem to have yet fully accepted responsibility, Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul V. Courtney told the judge Monday. Now he denies knowing that the banner came from a church at all, even though there is video that shows him standing on the churchs lawn . . . at the time other members of the Proud Boys were stealing and marching with the banner.
The probe by the U.S. Capitol Police exonerated the officer for his use of force. The department said in a news release outlining the investigation that the officers actions were within department policy, which allows deadly force only when an officer reasonably believes they are protecting themselves or others from serious physical harm.
David struck Sigala with his hands, dropping him to the floor, then got on top of Sigala and smashed his head into the floor multiple times, according to police allegations filed in court. David was taken to the county jail, but officials in the case have indicated that he probably will be moved to a locked hospital or some other type of facility.
Two of the people identified on the pages were indeed confidential informants or cooperators working with federal law enforcement, the FBI said in the search warrant. One of them engaged ratsofbmore1 in a private conversation, in which the owner of the account requested $75 to remove the information. But the user did not tell the informant how to make the payment.
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The fall of Kabul and the plight of those Afghans who adopted the ways of modern civilization are truly tragic, and it is our hope that as many as possible will be rescued. But this tragedy is not Mr. Bidens, and it is disgusting to see all those who are far from blameless themselves piling on at a time when we need to support our president, our military, our diplomats and all those who are trying desperately to mop up the mess Mr. Biden inherited.
During World War II, she joined the French Resistance. Amid other missions, she collected information from German officials she met at parties and carried messages hidden in her underwear to England and other countries, using her star status to justify her travels.
More recently, Jackson, despite being diagnosed with Parkinsons disease, has been a fixture at demonstrations in support of voting rights and other issues. He spoke at protests in June and early August led by the Poor Peoples Campaign at the U.S. Capitol and was arrested in both instances.
Students arrive for the first day of school in Greensboro, N.C., on Monday. (AP)

Only a few months ago, it seemed that September could be a turning point for a return to normal in the United States. Instead, it has become a renewed period of anxiety. For many Americans, this is fast becoming the I dont know economy.
Xi has put the nations wealthy on alert this year, pushing a common prosperity campaign to decrease income inequality in the country. Major high-tech companies have been a particular target, with the Chinese Communist Party concerned about the enormous amounts of data and influence they have amassed. The official response has prompted scrambles in Chinas tech industry to get on the good side of regulators, who are more closely scrutinizing any potential ill-gotten gains.
A question facing the Biden administration is how far it will be able to do that  and maintain credibility among American allies alarmed by the collapse of the U.S.-backed government in Afghanistan and fresh memories of chaotic diplomacy under President Donald Trump. Vice President Harriss visit to Singapore and Vietnam this week, only her second foray internationally, is emerging as a test of Washingtons ability not just to lead the way but also to counter an increasingly aggressive Beijing.
Batubara was the second Cabinet member arrested for alleged graft in less than two weeks in December. Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Edhy Prabowo, who has since resigned, was arrested on suspicion of taking bribes in connection with exports of lobster larvae and allegedly used the money for a luxury shopping spree in the United States.
But some opposition figures say the best option now is for former government officials who have remained in Kabul to secure a political agreement with the Taliban. This is the only hope we have, said negotiator Fatima Gailani, referring to the talks underway in Kabul. Gailani, who was part of the team that represented the Afghan government in peace talks before the Taliban seized Kabul, said a political settlement was crucial to maintaining international aid and preventing Afghanistan from descending further into poverty.
Marilyn Sue Lents, 84, of Washington, passed away at 10:58 a.m. Monday, Aug. 30, 2021 at Ketcham Memorial Center. She was born Sept. 1, 1936, in Washington, Indiana, to the late Icel and Mary Kirk. Marilyn married Carol "Chick" Lents on Aug. 4, 1995, and he survives. She enjoyed tending to h
Trusted local news has never been more important, but providing the information you need, information that can change sometimes minute-by-minute, requires a partnership with you, our readers. Please consider making a contribution today to support this vital resource that you and countless others depend on.
In June 2017, months after General Motors beat Tesla to market with an affordable, long-range electric vehicle, it took out full-page newspaper ads touting how long its Chevrolet Bolt could travel between charges. The tagline: Begin a long-distance relationship, now.

Four years later, the long-distance relationship between GM and its battery partner, LG Energy Solution, is being tested like never before. At issue: who will pick up a roughly $US1 billion ($1.4 billion) tab.

73,000 Chevy Bolt vehicles are included in the latest recall. Credit:AP

GM last week recalled Bolt EVs for the third time in nine months because of risk their batteries could catch fire. The Detroit-based company will replace modules in more than 73,000 additional vehicles and said its trying to get LG to pay for the fix. LG, headquartered some 10,600 kilometres away in Seoul, said the expense will be divvied up depending on the results from a joint investigation into the root cause of the problem.

At stake is what has looked like one of the most promising partnerships in the burgeoning world of EVs. CEO Mary Barra is betting GMs future on going electric, setting a goal in January to sell only zero-emission vehicles by 2035. LG Energy is pursuing a stock listing after splitting last year from South Koreas LG Chem and can ill afford to lose such a big customer.
Australias benchmark index ended a five-day decline to close higher on Monday, but still faced a rocky reporting season as companies struggled with medium-term forecasts.

Reliance Worldwide delivered strong results, but no guidance, closing 1.5 per cent lower.

Health insurer nib dropped 11 per cent after warning about catch-up claims once lockdowns were lifted.

The ASX 200 added 0.4 per cent on Monday to halt a five-session slide. Credit:Jim Rice

Markets were likely to be jittery this week as central bankers converge on for their annual Jackson Hole conference later this week.

The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 had a weak morning but ended Mondays session 0.4 per cent higher at 7489.9 points

So far, some striking attributes of the earnings season have been an avalanche of dividend payouts and a rush of share buybacks announced by several blue-chip players, said Kalkine Group chief executive Kunal Sawhney.

It will be interesting to see this week if the companies will continue to reward shareholders with dividend hikes and buybacks or Delta variant concerns will prompt them to keep shareholders returns limited.

He noted commodity prices were on tenterhooks waiting to see if the worlds biggest materials buyer, China, had the Delta strain of COVID-19 under control or if it would have to enforce more lockdowns.

On the ASX corporate activity continued with Ampol announcing a $1.9 billion bid for dual-listed New Zealand fuel refiner and retailer Z Energy. Ampol closed 4.8 per cent lower at a three-month low of $26.22 after its full year results missed expectations, while Z Energy jumped 14.5 per cent on the All Ords to $3.31 .

Commonwealth Bank gained 0.9 per cent, while the other big banks were flat. ASX gained 3 per cent despite a damning report into last-years outage.

Nickel miner Western Areas jumped to a 19-month high of $3.16 after it emerged Fortescue founder Andrew Forrest had taken out a 5.3 per cent stake. Meanwhile, Mr Forrests attempt to buy fish farmer Huon Aquaculture hit a snag, with the company revealing he under-bid Brazilian giant JBS several weeks earlier.

Iron ore prices bounced 8 per cent on the weekend to $US139.55 per tonne, but were still well below recent peaks.

This saw Fortescue Metals close below $20 for the first time since March, falling 4.3 per cent to $19.49. BHP Group snapped its red-run to close 0.3 per cent higher at $44.46 while Rio Tinto dropped 0.5 per cent to an eight-month low of $106.69.

Pilbara Minerals gained 11.4 per cent.

Dominos Pizza closed at an all-time high of $146.90, up $30 so far this month. And technology stocks outperformed with a 7.1 per cent rise in Appen, 6.9 per cent gain in Nearmap, and 4.7 per cent rise in Nuix.

Afterpay recovered last weeks losses to close 2.7 per cent higher at $133.
Actress Jennifer Coolidge has been the target of persistent teen ardour in American Pie, pity in Legally Blonde and punchlines in 2 Broke Girls  but thanks to the black comedy television series The White Lotus, she is now the object of fashion adoration.

Jennifer Coolidge championing the caftan wearing Camilla in The White Lotus. Credit:Mario Perez/HBO

From playing the original statuesque MILF in the American Pie franchise, Coolidge has evolved into a zaftig FILF (Fashion Influencing Legendary Female), wearing oversized Longchamp sunglasses, towering wedges and countless kaftans as Tanya McQuoid, a woman with plenty of money and even more neuroses, in the series.

In a moment timed perfectly with COVID-19 fatigue, Coolidge has given permission for women of all ages to transition from sweatpants to voluminous sequinned silk kaftans, driving sales and earning social media support from the likes of designer Isaac Mizrahi and supermodel Martha Hunt, and spawning countless memes.

Sales of our keepsake kaftans have gained momentum, and weve heard a chorus of her fans desperate to know what prints and pieces shes wearing, said Australian designer Camilla Franks, whose voluminous, embellished designs feature prominently in the six-part HBO series, streaming locally on Foxtel.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size The loud rattle of gunfire echoed through Abduls suburban Perth home as the screen of his mobile phone filled with bursts of white light. A middle-aged blindfolded man collapsed on the ground, pierced with bullets, as a voice announced the hostage was in the hands of the mujahideen. He was a chief police commander in one of the provinces, Abdul said in a whisper, holding the device in front of my eyes. The violence gripping Abduls native Afghanistan is thousands of kilometres away from the quiet white-picket-fenced street he lives in, but for the first time since he resettled in Australia in 2014, it feels dangerously close. WAtoday has chosen not to use Abduls real name, to protect his identity and that of his family in Afghanistan. Abdul is one of hundreds of Afghan nationals who worked as interpreters in the frontline for Australian Defence Force personnel during the countrys 20-year-long involvement in Afghanistan, often with little safety training. Like many others before him, Abdul joined the coalition forces looking for a sense of national pride at a time when hope for a better future swept through the country of almost 40 million. He longed to be part of the change. After two years of service, he was granted a humanitarian visa as part of a drive to re-settle 500 at-risk local contractors in Australia in 2013 and 2014, but his large family stayed behind in Kabul.

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Now, as the Taliban settle in the chambers of the presidential palace and look to consolidate their grip on power, Abdul fears his role as an interpreter could get his relatives killed. The Taliban had vowed not to take revenge against those who worked for foreign forces, but Abdul doesnt trust it will last. Reports have begun to emerge of insurgents knocking on doors looking for blacklisted Afghans, including interpreters and journalists. A few days ago, Abdul was sent a photo of a fellow interpreter beheaded in Kandahar. With border crossings to neighbouring countries shut, the only way out is on board a flight out of Hamid Karzai International Airport, but the Taliban have cracked down on Afghans trying to escape the violence, using tear gas, whips and guns to control the crowds gathering around the airport. Evacuees sit in a German Bundeswehr airplane in Kabul. Credit:AP US officials estimate 12 people have been killed in and around the airport over the past week, most dying from gunfire or being trampled. Abdul has sent desperate emails to government agencies and MPs, pleading for his familys safe passage to Australia, but he says he has been ignored. Im an Australian citizen, but sometimes I feel like Im less Australian than other people because Im not a white Australian, he said.

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I worked with the Australian forces in uniform. I helped them. They searched houses to find the Taliban. Now the Australian soldiers have pulled out and the Taliban are searching houses to find the family of interpreters. Last Sunday, as the first images of Kabuls fall to the Taliban began to roll on television Abdul broke down in tears, fearful of his familys future. Then the panicked texts from relatives began to flow. Im about to die, read a message from his niece, a first-year medical student at Kabul University. Abduls family has gone into hiding in a Hazara neighbourhood in western Kabul, too scared to leave their home in case it gets looted, or they are stopped by the Taliban in the street. Loading His brother can only muster enough courage to roll up the shutters of his grocery shop a few inches. If passersby want to buy food, he hands them the items underneath the roller door in exchange for a handful of Afghanis. His other brother, a government worker, is too worried to leave the house at all.

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The Taliban keep telling everyone to go back to the workplace, but he says no, if I sit on my chair theyll come back and get me, Abdul said. Another one of Abduls siblings is blacklisted for working with the United States Agency for International Development, the American governments foreign aid and development assistance arm. Abdul believes his family members, who belong to the Hazara ethnic minority and suffered immensely under Taliban rule in the 1990s, are in danger and should be given visas to join him in Australia. So should the families of other interpreters that aided Australian troops. And quickly. To date, Australia has reserved 3000 spots within its humanitarian intake of 13,750 people for Afghans fleeing the Taliban, but the move pales in comparison with the commitment of other countries like the UK and Canada which have pledged to take up 20,000 Afghan nationals. Authorities transport people arriving from Afghanistan to the Hyatt Hotel in Perth. Credit:Getty Abdul is critical of Australias role in Afghanistan. He believes troops were untrusting of local interpreters, despite following strict vetting procedures and putting themselves in danger, making them second-class servicemen. They needed us. They did not trust us, he said.

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The Health Departments exposure site list exceeded 700 late on Tuesday night as the department added tier 1 sites in Epping and Altona North, two more residential towers in Melbournes north and in West Melbourne, additional sites in the northern Victorian city of Shepparton, a new site at the Queen Victoria Market and a bus route.

The department also added new sites in Altona North, including a tier 1, near the community where much of the recent outbreak was seeded.

Woolworths Millers Junction at Altona North was listed as a tier 1 exposure site on August 18 from 2pm to 11.30pm, August 19 from 11.30am to 11.59pm and August 20 from midnight to 3.50pm.

Several new sites at Altona Gate shopping centre in Alton North were also added late on Tuesday, including Saccas Fine Food, The Butcher Club, Coles and the shopping centre itself, all tier-2, on August 21.

The Queen Victoria Market, pictured on August 12, was quiet as states lockdown was extended. Credit:Scott McNaughton

The tier 1 site at Epping, Melbourne Market Warehouse 4.1, 55 was exposed on three separate days - August 20, 21 and 22 at different times. Anyone who was at this location during the times listed must get tested immediately and quarantine for 14 days from the exposure.

Authorities say the Queen Victoria Market was exposed by a positive case on August 22 from 1pm to 3pm. It is now listed as a tier-2 site.

An apartment building at 23 Blackwood Street, in North Melbourne, was exposed on August 17 and 18, making it the third new apartment complex listed on Tuesday and is considered a tier-2 site by authorities. Sites at the complex had been previously listed.

Another apartment building at 33 Jeffcott Street, West Melbourne, over six days from August 19 to 24 between midnight and 11.59pm. It is listed as a tier 2 site but some residents may be classified as tier 1 and will be contacted by the department

Several sites in Shepparton were also added as the outbreak makes it way through the community in northern Victoria.

A Coles was exposed early in the morning on August 22 and is now a tier-2 site. A Woolworths on the corner of High and Archer Streets was also exposed on August 20, alongside the SPC Factory Sales Shepparton, the Fernwood Fitness Shepparton, and the Westpac Bank in Shepparton, which are all tier-2.

Another Coles, at shopping centre Oakleigh Central in Melbournes south-east, was also exposed on August 20, and is now a tier-2 site.

Authorities also added a petrol station in Lara, which sits on the northern edge of Geelong and which is the site of a new outbreak where six people have tested positive in one house. The Shell service station on Forest Road was exposed on August 22 and is now a tier-2 site.

Another tier 2 site was added at Little River - a BP service station on August 19 between 5.45pm and 6.15pm

Authorities added a single site in Carlton, in Melbournes inner north, at an EzyMart on August 21 from 6am until 3.30pm.

Also listed as tier 2 sites were a Caltex Woolworths in Glen Waverley on August 23 from 5.45pm and 6.02pm; Green Apple Fruit and Veg in Roxburgh Park on August 21 from noon to 1pm and Mainview Oval, Truganina in August19 from 6pm to 7.35pm

A Woolworths in Lygon Court, Lygon Street was listed as a tier 2 site on August 21 from 11:30am to 12.22pm, but the department said some individuals would be tier 1 contacts and would need to get tested immediately and isolate for 14 days.

Several tier 2 sites were added after 10pm on Tuesday night, including a bus route and a train line; several locations at Tarneit Central Shopping Centre, more sites at Altona North, a KFC and 7-Eleven at Truganina, a Fort Knox Self Storage at Coburg North and a Hunky Dory fish and chip outlet in Oakleigh.

Victorian health authorities are also urging everyone in the state to keep a close eye on the growing list of sites, which can be viewed here.
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Western Sydney University provides the most generous student refugee scholarship in the country, to reciprocate the commitment our students have made to Australia. Most recently, we provided more than $350,000 in assistance to an Afghan medical student who will graduate with high distinction and work in our community. The scholarship is so large because it compensates for the lack of Commonwealth support for asylum seekers. The Prime Minister could change this with a stroke of a pen. We ask the government to grant Afghan asylum seekers access to Commonwealth-supported university places and income-contingent loans. It will be a nation-defining decision.

Two more of our scholarship recipients, both Afghan asylum-seekers, were released from detention to attend their graduations in social work and teaching. They want to contribute too  if they can be granted the opportunity.

Many of our refugee and asylum-seeker students have studied with us while in detention, or without income support, or while working multiple jobs, volunteering and caring for their communities. All give back tenfold. As graduate doctors and nurses, and in other professions, they make freedom and democracy worth fighting for. Why would we  how could we  ever deny them the chance to do that?

Hawkes heartfelt commitment to Chinese students came little more than a decade after Liberal prime minister Malcolm Fraser took in waves of Vietnamese refugees fleeing circumstances not dissimilar to those in Afghanistan  people who have proved a great asset to our region and our nation. Those communities are among the most resilient in managing the travails of hard lockdown. They are great assets to our region and our nation, just as the Syrians, Lebanese, Assyrians and so many others who call our shores home are.
An international ship carrying 16 crew members suspected of having COVID-19 has docked in Fremantle.

A Health Department statement said a plan for the management of the vessel would be made after test results were received on Tuesday.

WA Premier Mark McGowan must deal with another ship suspected of carrying COVID-19. Credit:Peter de Kruijff

Bulk carrier Ken Hou, which is sailing under the flag of Panama, came from Thailand, not Indonesia like previous COVID-infected ships.

Thailand has been scrambling to curb the spread of the Delta strain of COVID-19 in the community since April after faring reasonably well compared to other Asian countries during the earlier months of the pandemic.
One of Perths most prominent watering holes is offering cash incentives for patrons who are fully vaccinated.

Subiaco Hotel publican Dane Oddy said on Friday his customers could win $500 every week until the end of 2021 when they spent $10 or more at the pub.

The incentive comes as Western Australia joins a national push to encourage more people to get vaccinated as doses increase across the country.

We thought we would encourage as many people as possible to get the vaccine for COVID-19, he told Radio 6PR.
The grieving family of a man who died from coronavirus while travelling overseas for work last year has won what is likely to be the first round in its battle to have the NSW workers compensation scheme cover his death and treatment costs.

It is the first known workers compensation dispute relating to COVID-19 to go to a tribunal in Australia, in part because of the amount at stake: a $834,000 death payout and potentially $11 million in medical expenses.

NSWs Personal Injury Commission rejected iCares argument that Georges Saras illness was not the result of his work, but could perhaps have been contracted while socialising. Credit:Kate Geraghty

Georges Sara, a dental entrepreneur from Sydney, went to New York in July 2020 to oversee the setup of an American facility he hoped would help keep his Australian employees in jobs.

After arriving on July 15, Mr Sara spent a few days working and seeing contacts in the dental industry, including at a dinner. By July 19, Mr Sara, who the tribunal heard disliked masks but sometimes wore one, was complaining of a cough and fatigue and stayed in his hotel room until July 23, when an ambulance took him to NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.
Scott Morrison has a formulation he falls back on when challenged: I am the Prime Minister. He has used it in responding to journalists, most famously Anne Connolly when she asked him about aged care. Julia Banks has said he used it to respond to her when she was one of his MPs.

And Julie-Ann Finney, whose son took his life after serving with the navy, said she asked Morrison why he wouldnt call a royal commission into veterans suicides (he later agreed to do so).

Well, Julie-Ann, I am the Prime Minister, he reportedly said. As Finney observed, this was not a reason. It was, however  in each of these cases  a striking assertion of authority. Whatever his challengers had said was supposed to fall away in the face of his title.

Scott Morrison enters Parliament earlier this month. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

I was reminded of this last week when Morrison was challenged several times on whether he should have done a better job rescuing Afghans who had helped Australian troops. Of course, it is a complicated situation. But, by Morrisons own admission, he knew this moment was coming and so one of his answers stuck out: I know that support wont reach all that it should. On the ground, events have overtaken many efforts. We wish it were different.
Australians are being urged to prepare for life after lockdown when the nations vaccination rate climbs to 70 and 80 per cent, in a new message from Prime Minister Scott Morrison that life cannot go on under the current restrictions.

Mr Morrison, speaking at a press conference in Canberra on Monday, said the lockdown rules were not sustainable and had to end under a deal with Australians agreed by state and territory leaders in national cabinet earlier this month.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison doesnt want states crab walking away from nationally agreed targets. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

In his most direct language about what it will mean to live with COVID-19 in the community for the long-term, Mr Morrison said Australians should embrace rather than fear the future.

If not at 70 per cent and 80 per cent, then when? he asked in response to concerns from state and territory leaders that the targets were too low to relax any lockdowns.
More than 200 NSW children aged nine and under were diagnosed with COVID-19 over the weekend ahead of the state government revealing plans for when schools will open despite primary students being unable to be vaccinated.

As case numbers surpassed 800 on both days of the weekend, there were 204 cases of the virus reported in children aged 0-9. There were also 276 young people aged 10-19 who contracted COVID in the same period.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard says NSW is surging ahead with vaccinations. Credit:Renee Nowytarger

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she would this week reveal the governments plans for what schools looks like in term three and four, as well as what restrictions can be eased when the state hits its 6 million jabs target. As of Sunday, NSW had administered 5,868,974 jabs.

The lockdown extension, announced on Friday, is not due to end until the end of September, with September 17 the last day of term 3.
There have been many mistakes, in many countries, that have hindered efforts to control the COVID-19 pandemic. None has been more counterproductive than the premature easing of public health containment initiatives. Time and time again, premature easing of restrictions has breathed new life into infections by the SARS-Cov-2 virus. This is especially so when dealing with the Delta variant.

By this week, NSW will have delivered six million jabs into arms, to have 31 per cent of the adult population fully vaccinated and 56 per cent partially vaccinated against COVID-19.

Mohinder Kaur gets her vaccination at the Sikh temple, Gurdwara Sahib, in Glenwood. Credit:Janie Barrett

Premier, there is no modelling anywhere that suggests this achievement should trigger an easing of any restrictions. Please abandon your plans to do so, especially given new cases of community spread are increasing. Only 55 per cent of people over 70 in NSW have been fully vaccinated. Tens of thousands of people over 70 remain highly vulnerable.

In Britain, where the percentage of vaccinated adults is twice as high as here, that achievement triggered the removal of all public health restrictions as the country embraced the freedom associated with the decision to go forward living with COVID-19. The result? Hospitals in crisis, with about 800 admissions each day for COVID-19 and an average of 90 deaths a day.
Beijing: In the US departure from Afghanistan, China has seen the realisation of long-held hopes for a reduction of the influence of a geopolitical rival in what it considers its backyard.

Yet, it is also deeply concerned that the very withdrawal could bring risk and instability to that backyard  Central Asia  and possibly even spill over their narrow, remote border into China itself and the heavily Muslim north-western region of Xinjiang.

In July, Taliban co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, left, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi pose for a photo during their meeting in Tianjin, China. Credit:AP

The Talibans takeover could certainly present political and economic opportunities for China, including developing Afghanistans vast mineral riches, and Beijing has said it is ready to help rebuild the impoverished nation. But stability will be required to reap most of those benefits, and the immediate result of the American withdrawal has been more instability, not less.

I think Beijing will play up the narrative of American fecklessness and decline of Empire, painting this as evidence of why Beijing will be a better steward for the Eurasian heartland, said Raffaello Pantucci, an expert on the region at the Royal United Services Institute in London.
Wilmington, DE (19810)

Today

Cloudy skies early then heavy thunderstorms developing this afternoon. High 79F. Winds ESE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 2 to 3 inches of rain expected. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Heavy thunderstorms this evening will give way to steady rain overnight. Low 63F. SSW winds shifting to NNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected. Localized flooding is expected.
Reporter

I cover a range of stories for WDRB, but really enjoy tracking what's going on at our State Capitol. I grew up on military bases all over the world, but am a Kentuckian at heart. I'm an EKU alum, and have lived in Louisville for 30 years.
Local

Johnson Creek

District expands 'domes'

daily times / Pam Chickering Wilson This repurposed high school art room, formerly was the combined band and choir room. daily times / Pam Chickering Wilson The new elementary main entrance is awaiting signage and paint. daily times / Pam Chickering Wilson The new elementary school gym will be ready by the start of the school year. daily times / Pam Chickering Wilson The Johnson Creek School Districts existing middle/high school exterior domes connect to the as-of-yet-unpainted elementary dome. daily times / Pam Chickering Wilson The Johnson Creek Elementary School hallway has built-in benches and shelves. The Johnson Creek Elementary School makerspace. daily times / Pam Chickering Wilson The new Johnson Creek Elementary School office area.

JOHNSON CREEK  Johnson Creek is completing its transition to an all-domes school district with the anticipated completion of the new Johnson Creek Elementary domes in time for the first day of school, Sept. 1.

The Johnson Creek schools dome construction, unique in the area, was selected for its comparatively low construction costs, energy efficiency and flexibility.

The high/middle school was constructed first, the dome design marking the first successful school building referendum in five tries for the rural crossroads district.

The $18.9 million middle/high school domes complex opened in 2016 on the west edge of town along County Highway B. Even at that time, long-term district plans called for the elementary school to eventually move out to that site as well.

Athletic facilities were not included in the high/middle school price tag, and the district relied on donated community funds to construct all of its fields and related outdoor athletic facilities.

All of these facilities are already in use, though a portion of the community funds have yet to be raised. The district is covering the amount in the interim. For the athletic facilities, only a small amount of landscaping, counters and final details remain to be done.

The $15 million elementary referendum passed in April of 2020  somewhat of a surprise to school planners who thought district voters might hold back due to the pandemic which had just begun and its unknown economic impact.

Garvey noted that in the Johnson Creek district, its rare for a referendum to pass on the first try, let alone during a time of pandemic and unprecedented job loss. The comparatively low tax impact of 38 cents per $1,000 of property value was a selling point, however.

In addition, Garvey said, the district was able to get extremely favorable financing rates which it continues to take advantage of, refinancing the debt from the middle/high school as well.

Construction on the new elementary domes began in 2020, and the project is currently in its final phase. The district is currently in the process of applying for a name change for the full complex, which will be referred to as the Johnson Creek Public School.

Last week, district officials have been checking over the final punch list with the construction managers, Maas Brothers of Watertown.

We are in the last two weeks of scheduled construction, said Michael Garvey, Johnson Creek superintendent.

We expect to start classes in our new building, he said, We expect to be able to open when the school year kicks off for the rest of our students  Sept. 1  although that will be a game-day call.

The elementary extension to the linked Johnson Creek School campus added three new monolithic domes.

The first will have the prekindergarten and first-grade classrooms, administrative offices and elementary music and art rooms.

The second will contain the second- through fourth-grade classrooms, flexible learning and Makerspace area as well as the elementary library.

In the center will be the new (dome) gymnasium, which will double as the elementary cafeteria and serving kitchen.

Garvey noted that since the middle and high school moved out to the domes, the main kitchen has been at the new dome complex, leaving the old elementary school with a warming kitchen only.

Since the new kitchen in the elementary domes is within the same complex as the middle/high school kitchen, the elementary kitchen will be used for serving only.

Along with the move of elementary facilities to the County Highway B site, the new domes construction has also allowed for some updates to the middle/high school, with a few rooms added or repurposed to address specific needs.

The former agricultural room at the middle/high school has been repurposed and the agriculture department has moved to a different area, next to the new aquaponics and hydroponics lab. Those in turn replace the old high school greenhouse which was brought over from the former building.

A new greenhouse, built after the high school opened, is already in use at the edge of the domes site.

In addition, the new construction addresses noise issues related to the old band/choir room for the high school.

Garvey related that while the combined band/choir room walls were soundproofed, the sound traveled through the high domes ceiling and could be heard in other areas of the school.

Thus, in conjunction with the new elementary addition, the district built a new band room and separate choir room which eliminate the noise issue.

Meanwhile, the former band/choir room will be used by the art department for dry arts like drawing. Wet arts like ceramics will be done in another room.

Were taking advantage of the incredible natural light in that room, Garvey said.

The district is also repurposing the old instrumental storage room for classroom supplies, which had formerly been kept at the old elementary school.

Meanwhile, all elementary classrooms will be equipped with huge Prometheus touchscreens, which are interactive like Smartboards but dont require a projector or the annual bulb replacement. They also allow more than one student to work on the screen at one time.

We tested these in the middle school last year and were very pleased, Garvey said. Eventually, well be transitioning to these in all of our classrooms.

In this final two weeks of construction, workers are in crunch mode, Garvey said.

Already, furniture to be repurposed from the old elementary school has been moved over, while additional new furniture will be arriving next week.

Also arriving next week is new playground equipment.

Garvey is looking forward to opening up the new school year in the new facility.

The outside will not be completely finished by the start of year in terms of painting, but we know that paint color on the outside doesnt improve reading scores on the inside, Garvey said with a smile.


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...FLASH FLOOD WATCH NOW IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM EDT THIS MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING... The Flash Flood Watch is now in effect for * Portions of New Jersey...and Pennsylvania...including the following areas...in New Jersey...Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Somerset, Sussex, and Warren. In Pennsylvania...Berks, Carbon, Delaware, Eastern Chester, Eastern Montgomery, Lehigh, Lower Bucks, Monroe, Northampton, Philadelphia, Upper Bucks, Western Chester, and Western Montgomery. * From 8 AM EDT this morning through Thursday morning. * The remnants of Hurricane Ida will pass through the region today and tonight. Periods of heavy rain and scattered thunderstorms associated with this low will result in widespread rainfall totals of 3 to 6 inches, with locally higher amounts possible. Much of this rainfall may occur in a short period of time, exacerbating the flooding threat. Combined with wet antecedent conditions, this will lead to numerous instances of flash flooding, some of which may be significant. * Flooding of creeks, streams, urban areas, and poor drainage areas is likely in the areas of heaviest rain. Water is likely to cover the roads, especially in low-lying areas. Moderate to major flooding is possible along some main stem rivers, and roads and structures near these rivers may be flooded. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should Flash Flood Warnings be issued. &&
Allentown, PA (18103)

Today

Cloudy and cooler with periods of rain, some heavy at times. Watching moisture associated with Ida which could lead to flash flooding..

Tonight

Overcast with occasional rain, heavy at times, which will likely lead to flash flooding. Also stay alert for a strong or severe storm tonight and overnight.
Williamson, WV (25661)

Today

Cloudy early, then off and on rain showers for the afternoon. High 74F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower throughout the evening. Low near 60F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
Willmar, MN (56201)

Today

Sunshine to start, then a few afternoon clouds. High 78F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low near 60F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.
Winchester, VA (22601)

Today

Showers and thunderstorms likely. Potential for flooding rains. High 72F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 2 to 3 inches of rain expected..

Tonight

Becoming partly cloudy after some evening rain. Low 54F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
CHARLOTTETOWN - Prince Edward Island's education minister has released a back-to-school plan recommending students and staff continue to wear masks until at least October.

Natalie Jameson, education and lifelong learning minister as well as minister responsible for the status of women, signs documents during a swearing-in ceremony in Charlottetown on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021.THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Morris

CHARLOTTETOWN - Prince Edward Island's education minister has released a back-to-school plan recommending students and staff continue to wear masks until at least October.

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Natalie Jameson said today in a news release the measures being taken this school year support student achievement and the continued well-being of students and staff.

She says masks are recommended for students when they are moving inside school buildings but not when they are seated inside classrooms.

Masks are also recommended for students and staff on school buses and for staff inside kindergarten to Grade 6 classrooms when physical distancing is not possible.

Other measures include enhanced cleaning and regular handwashing.

Chief public health officer Dr. Heather Morrison says the goal is to have students return to school under as normal conditions as possible, adding that vaccination remains the most effective way to reduce the risks of COVID-19.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 23, 2021.
HALIFAX - New Brunswickers who aren't fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will be treated like travellers from outside the Atlantic region and must isolate upon entering Nova Scotia, premier-designate Tim Houston told reporters Monday.

Dr. Robert Strang, chief medical officer of health, provides an update on health system preparations in Nova Scotia for the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, in Halifax on Friday, March 6, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

HALIFAX - New Brunswickers who aren't fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will be treated like travellers from outside the Atlantic region and must isolate upon entering Nova Scotia, premier-designate Tim Houston told reporters Monday.

Houston made the announcement alongside chief medical officer of health Dr. Robert Strang in the premier-designate's first COVID-19 briefing since his Progressive Conservatives won a majority mandate in last week's election.

"We expect this to impact a very small number of people," Houston said of the border measure, which begins Wednesday. "The reality is being cautious has kept this province safe and we will continue to be cautious."

Houston cited rising cases in New Brunswick as the reason people coming from that province with just one dose of vaccine will have to isolate for a week and produce a negative test. Unvaccinated travellers, meanwhile, will face two weeks of isolation upon entering the province.

The policy is the same as the one already in place for travellers coming from provinces and territories outside Atlantic Canada.

Premier-designate Tim Houston, left, attends his first COVID-19 briefing with Dr. Robert Strang, chief medical officer of health, after the Progressive Conservatives won last week's provincial election, in Halifax on Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

"New Brunswick has seen a recent rise in cases and some of our cases in the last week are directly linked to that province," Strang said. "This is about a small percentage of people who are travelling for recreation or leisure and are not yet vaccinated."

Health officials in New Brunswick on Monday said they had identified 58 new cases of COVID-19 since Saturday, and 85 per cent of them involved people who weren't fully vaccinated. The province has reported 340 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since July 1.

On Monday, health officials in Nova Scotia reported 17 new cases of COVID-19 since the last update on Friday.

Houston and Strang said New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs and that province's chief medical officer of health, Dr. Jennifer Russell, had been advised of the new border requirement.

Officials also announced that the final phase of Nova Scotia's five-step reopening plan is set to go into effect Sept. 15. as long as 75 per cent of the province's population is fully vaccinated. Houston said the province is on track to have about 72 per cent of its population fully vaccinated by the end of August, although he said about 100,000 people still haven't had a first dose.

"If we hit the (75 per cent) target sooner, we will work with public health to change the (September) date accordingly," Houston said.

The final phase of the reopening will mean restrictions such as masking, physical distancing and gathering limits will no longer be necessary, Strang said.

"It's time to start living more with COVID even if we see rising case numbers that would have previously meant provincewide restrictions," he said. "Our vaccine coverage means we can carry on with only border restrictions and maybe if necessary, targeted local restrictions."

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With public schools scheduled to reopen Sept. 7, officials also released the province's back-to-school-plan. It will initially require masks to be worn inside school buildings or buses at all times except when eating, drinking, participating in physical activity and for breaks where people are physically distanced.

As the province enters Phase 5 of its reopening plan, schools will be allowed to transition to optional mask use. Schools are asked to create "supportive environments" for those who choose to continue wearing masks once Phase 5 begins.

Non-essential visitors will be allowed in schools, although virtual meetings and visits will still be encouraged, and if restrictions are required, students will move to at-home learning, although the government didn't set specific infection levels that would trigger schools to close.

In a news release, the Nova Scotia Teachers' Union said it supported the mask order for students across all grades and would consult its members about other aspects of the province's plan over the coming days.

"The NSTU has always felt that until this pandemic is over, every student that can, should be required to wear a mask in school to prevent the spread of COVID-19," union president Paul Wozney said. "It's important this policy will continue moving forward."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 23, 2021.
BEIRUT (AP)  Millions of people in Syria and Iraq are at risk of losing access to water, electricity and food amid rising temperatures, record low water levels due to lack of rainfall and drought, international aid groups warned Monday.

Trash gathers in the heavily polluted Litani Rver, in Saghbin, Bekaa valley, eastern Lebanon, June 20, 2021. Millions of people in Syria and Iraq are at risk of losing access to water, electricity and food amid rising temperatures, record low water levels due to lack of rainfall and drought, international aid groups warned Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. Activists have long warned about pollution levels caused by sewage and waste in the Litani River, Lebanon's longest and a major source for water supply, irrigation and hydroelectricity. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

BEIRUT (AP)  Millions of people in Syria and Iraq are at risk of losing access to water, electricity and food amid rising temperatures, record low water levels due to lack of rainfall and drought, international aid groups warned Monday.

The two neighboring countries, both battered by years of conflict and mismanagement, are in need of rapid action to combat severe water shortages, the groups said. The drought is also disrupting electricity supplies as low water levels impact dams, which in turn impact essential infrastructure, including health facilities.

More than 12 million people in both countries are affected, including 5 million in Syria who are directly dependent on the Euphrates River. In Iraq, the loss of access to water from the Euphrates and Tigris River, and drought, threaten at least 7 million people.

FILE - This Oct. 31, 2007 file photo, shows a dam in Mosul, 360 kilometers (225 miles) northwest of Baghdad, Iraq. Millions of people in Syria and Iraq are at risk of losing access to water, electricity and food amid rising temperatures, record low water levels due to lack of rainfall and drought, international aid groups warned Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. The drought is also disrupting electricity supplies as low water levels impact dams, which in turn impact essential infrastructure, including health facilities. (AP Photo/ Khalid Mohammed, File)

Some 400 square kilometers (154 square miles) of agricultural land faces drought, the groups said, adding that two dams in northern Syria, supplying power to 3 million people, face imminent closure.

Carsten Hansen, regional director for the Norwegian Refugee Council, one of the aid groups behind the warning, said that for hundreds of thousands of Iraqis still displaced and many more still fleeing for their lives in Syria, the unfolding water crisis will soon become an unprecedented catastrophe pushing more into displacement.

Other aid groups included Mercy Corps, the Danish Refugee Council, CARE international, ACTED and Action Against Hunger.

They warned that several Syrian provinces  including Hassakah, Aleppo and Raqqa in the north and Deir el-Zour in the east  have witnessed a rise in water-borne diseases. The areas include displacement settlements housing tens of thousands of people displaced in Syrias 10-year conflict.

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CAREs regional chief for Mideast and North Africa, Nirvana Shawky, urged authorities and donor governments to act swiftly to save lives. The latest crisis comes on top of war, COVID-19 and severe economic decline, she said.

There is no time to waste, said Gerry Garvey of the Danish Refugee Council, adding that the water crisis is likely to increase conflict in an already destabilized region.

Severe water shortages have also hit Lebanon, which is mired in the worst economic and financial crisis in its modern history, where more than 4 million people  mainly vulnerable children and families  face critical water shortages in the coming days, the U.N.'s children agency warned last week.

In Lebanon, severe fuel shortages have also halted the work of thousands of private generators long relied on for electricity in the corruption-plagued country.

UNICEF called for urgent restoration of the power supply to keep water services running.

Lebanon's rivers are also heavily polluted. Activists have long warned about pollution levels caused by sewage and waste in the Litani River, the country's longest and a major source for water supply, irrigation and hydroelectricity.
PHOENIX (AP)  The delivery of a report on the 2020 vote count to Arizona state Senate Republicans was delayed yet again Monday after the Donald Trump supporter hired to lead the effort and several others involved contracted COVID-19 and are quite sick, the Senate GOP leader said.

PHOENIX (AP)  The delivery of a report on the 2020 vote count to Arizona state Senate Republicans was delayed yet again Monday after the Donald Trump supporter hired to lead the effort and several others involved contracted COVID-19 and are quite sick, the Senate GOP leader said.

Republican Senate President Karen Fann said she still expects to receive a portion of the report Monday. She did not give a date for delivery of the full draft.

It's the latest delay for the unprecedented partisan review, which has so far taken more than double the 60 days it was originally supposed to take.

The report was commissioned by Senate Republicans and funded mostly by Trump allies promoting his unsupported election fraud narrative. It will not immediately be made public. Rather, two senior Republican senators will review it along with their lawyers and advisers to decide whether the findings are supported by evidence.

Fann said anything lacking sufficient backing will be removed.

We want to see their proof, their documentation, everything to make sure that the report that goes out is fully accurate," he said.

Cyber Ninjas, the small cybersecurity consultant with no election experience that Fann hired to run the review, was originally supposed to deliver its findings in May but has pushed back the timeline several times.

Election experts have been highly critical of the review, which Fann launched late last year as Trump and his allies hunted unsuccessfully for reasons to block the certification of Democrat Joe Biden's victory on Jan. 6.

Election experts say Cyber Ninjas and its subcontracts are biased and incompetent, and they're using bizarre, ever-changing procedures that could not produce reliable results. Cyber Ninjas owner Doug Logan has spread false conspiracy theories about the election, and his review has been funded almost entirely by Trump allies active in the stop the steal movement.

Real audits, legitimate audits are done under a time frame, Jennifer Morrell, an expert in post-election auditing and a consultant to elections officials, said Monday. There is a defined start time and stop time. Theyre done publicly."

None of that is the case for the Maricopa County review, Morrell said.

Fann released few details about the COVID-19 outbreak among the team leading her review but indicated the symptoms are not mild.

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The team expected to have the full draft ready for the Senate today, but unfortunately Cyber Ninjas CEO Doug Logan and two other members of the five-person audit team have tested positive for COVID-19 and are quite sick, she said in a statement.

A spokesman for Logan, Rod Thomson, declined to comment.

Fann said she will meet Wednesday to review the initial portions of the Cyber Ninjas report along with Republican Sen. Warren Petersen, the Judiciary Committee chairman; Ken Bennett, a former Republican secretary of state who was Fann's liaison to the auditors before being locked out; and Randy Pullen, a former Arizona Republican Party chairman who also was a liaison. Four lawyers also will be involved, she said.

The team will meet again when the rest of the report is ready, she said, and the findings will be publicly presented to the Judiciary Committee, which includes Republicans and Democrats.

Meanwhile, senior Democrats on the U.S. House Oversight and Reform Committee again demanded Logan turn over a wide range of documents related to the audit. An attorney for Logan, Jack Wilenchick, sent 336 pages of documents, much of which had been publicly released. Most of the committee's demands were overbroad or covered by attorney-client and legislative privilege, Wilenchik wrote on Aug. 9.

If your company, which purports to be acting in a lawful manner pursuing the public interest, continues to obstruct the Committees investigation, the Committee will be forced to consider other steps to obtain compliance," U.S. Reps. Carolyn Maloney of New York and Jamie Raskin of Maryland wrote to Logan on Monday.
TOLEDO, Ohio (AP)  A piece of metal that flew off the worlds second-tallest roller coaster and hit a woman in the head while she stood in line came from the back of the ride's train and was about the size of a fist, an amusement ride safety official said Monday.

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP)  A piece of metal that flew off the worlds second-tallest roller coaster and hit a woman in the head while she stood in line came from the back of the ride's train and was about the size of a fist, an amusement ride safety official said Monday.

It's not known yet what caused the accident a week ago on the 420-foot (128-meter) tall Top Thrill Dragster roller coaster at Cedar Point, said David Miran, head of Ohio's amusement ride safety division.

FILE - This May 1, 2003 file photo shows the green train on Cedar Point's Top Thrill Dragster in Sandusky, Ohio. The world's second-tallest roller coaster won't open again this year, Friday, Aug. 20 2021, after a person standing in line was hit in the head by a metal object that flew off the ride last weekend at Cedar Point amusement park. (Daniel Miller/The Sandusky Register via AP)

Authorities and amusement park officials have not released the condition of the victim, who is a 44-year-old woman from Swartz Creek, Michigan, according to an accident report released by the state.

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She could be heard screaming on body-camera footage released by police. She was treated at a hospital near the park in Sandusky before being moved to a hospital in Toledo.

The metal L-shaped bracket that hit the woman on August 15 was attached to the back of the train and hovers above the track, Miran said. It's part of the sensor system that tells the coaster's computer where the train is on the track, he said.

The coaster train was nearing the end of the ride where it slows down when the metal plate broke, park officials said. It's not clear how far the piece flew before hitting the woman, Miran said.

A report released by the Ohio Department of Agricultures amusement ride safety division said the roller coaster was inspected in May. It showed no structural issues.

The coaster, which opened in 2003, launches riders on a straight away at 120 mph (193 kph) before it climbs a hill and then comes back down. The ride lasts less than 20 seconds.

A year after its debut, four riders were slightly injured when metal shavings sheared off the coasters launch cable.
ATHENS, Greece (AP)  Despite strong winds, firefighting aircraft and ground forces in Greece gained the upper hand late Monday over two new blazes that broke out in areas already scarred by major wildfires this summer.

A firefighter tries to extinguish the fire in a house during a wildfire in Thea area some 60 kilometers (37 miles) northwest of Athens, Greece, Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021. A major wildfire northwest of the Greek capital devoured large tracts of pine forest for a third day and threatened a large village as hundreds of firefighters, assisted by water-dropping planes and helicopters, battled the flames Wednesday. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

ATHENS, Greece (AP)  Despite strong winds, firefighting aircraft and ground forces in Greece gained the upper hand late Monday over two new blazes that broke out in areas already scarred by major wildfires this summer.

The first broke out Monday morning in the southern part of Evia, Greece's second-largest island, whose north was devastated earlier this month by a blaze that burned for more than 10 days. The second wildfire erupted in Kaza, in the Vilia area northwest of Athens where a major blaze was brought under control Friday after burning for five days.

The fire service said late Monday the Kaza blaze was on the wane and the fire on Evia was contained.

Earlier, authorities had issued an evacuation order for Vilia, 60 kilometers (37 miles) from the Greek capital. Some residents hosed down their gardens and homes, hoping to save them, while police halted traffic on a nearby highway. At least half a dozen buildings were severely damaged in the area.

The fire department sent 167 firefighters as well as 60 vehicles, 14 helicopters and 14 aircraft to fight the flames.

A firefighter tries to extinguish the fire in a house during a wildfire in Thea area some 60 kilometers (37 miles) northwest of Athens, Greece, Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021. A major wildfire northwest of the Greek capital devoured large tracts of pine forest for a third day and threatened a large village as hundreds of firefighters, assisted by water-dropping planes and helicopters, battled the flames Wednesday. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

This month, which began with Greeces most severe heat wave in about three decades, is quickly turning into one of the countrys most destructive fire seasons, with dozens of wildfires breaking out every day. Thousands of people have been forced to flee the flames, which have devoured forests, agricultural land, homes and businesses.

But Greece's focus on preemptive evacuations of inhabited areas has helped keep people safe. Across all the fires, one volunteer firefighter was killed and two firefighters suffered severe burns.

The causes of Greeces wildfires haven't yet been officially established, but more than a dozen people have been arrested on suspicion of arson. A special prosecutor for organized crime was involved in the investigation.

An aircraft drops water over a a wildfire in Vilia area some 60 kilometers (37 miles) northwest of Athens, Greece, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. Greece's fire department scrambled firefighting aircraft and ground forces as at least two new blazes broke out in areas already scarred by wildfires this summer, with strong winds complicating efforts to contain them. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Intense heat and wildfires have struck other Mediterranean countries. Recent wildfires have killed at least 75 people in Algeria and 16 in Turkey, while in southern France 1,200 firefighters have been struggling to contain a major blaze that has forced thousands to flee, killed two people and injured 26 others.

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Worsening drought and heat have also fueled wildfires in the western United States and in Russias northern Siberia region.

Scientists say there's little doubt that climate change from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas is driving more extreme events.

A firefighter tries to extinguish the flames at a burning house in Vilia area some 60 kilometers (37 miles) northwest of Athens, Greece, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. Greece's fire department scrambled firefighting aircraft and ground forces as at least two new blazes broke out in areas already scarred by wildfires this summer, with strong winds complicating efforts to contain them. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

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Nicholas Paphitis in Athens contributed.

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Follow APs coverage of climate issues at https://apnews.com/hub/climate-change
ROME (AP)  An Italian-Moroccan student has been freed by Moroccan authorities after she was detained on blasphemy charges after she arrived in June to visit relatives, Italian officials said Monday.

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ROME (AP)  An Italian-Moroccan student has been freed by Moroccan authorities after she was detained on blasphemy charges after she arrived in June to visit relatives, Italian officials said Monday.

Italy's Foreign Ministry said Ikram Nazih, 23, had been convicted of offenses against religion for having shared a satirical cartoon on Facebook in 2019. The Italian newspaper Domani, which had championed her cause, said the cartoon had transformed a verse of the Quran into a verse about whisky.

A lawmaker with the right-wing League Party who had brought Nazihs case to Parliaments attention, Massimiliano Capitanio, rejoiced over her release. He said he had taken up the case not only because Nazih is an Italian citizen from Vimercate, a Milan suburb he represents, but because a 23-year-old young woman cannot be incarcerated because of a Facebook post.

Our young people have the right to a future of freedom and serenity, he added in a Facebook post.

Domani said Nazih, who was born to Moroccan parents and is a student at the University of Marseille, had been detained upon arrival in June after she travelled to Morocco to visit relatives. It said she had been convicted June 28 and sentenced to more than three years after a religious group in Morocco had lodged a formal complaint against her for the Facebook post, which she had cancelled.

The foreign ministry thanked Italy's ambassador in Rabat for his efforts, which it said were aimed solely at Nazih's well-being in full respect of the work of Morocco's institutions and judiciary."
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  The guard in a control room at Iran's notorious Evin prison springs to attention as one by one, monitors in front of him suddenly blink off and display something very different from the surveillance footage he had been watching.

In this undated frame grab taken from video shared with The Associated Press by a self-identified hacker group called "The Justice of Ali," guards drag an emaciated prisoner, at Evin prison in Tehran, Iran. The alleged hackers said the release of the footage was an effort to show the grim conditions at the prison, known for holding political prisoners and those with ties abroad who are often used as bargaining chips in negotiations with the West. (The Justice of Ali via AP)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  The guard in a control room at Iran's notorious Evin prison springs to attention as one by one, monitors in front of him suddenly blink off and display something very different from the surveillance footage he had been watching.

Cyberattack, the monitors flash. Other guards gather around, holding up their mobile phones and filming, or making urgent calls. General protest until the freedom of political prisoners" reads another line on the screens.

An online account, purportedly by an entity describing itself as a group of hackers, shared footage of the incident, as well as parts of other surveillance video it seized, with The Associated Press. The alleged hackers said the release of the footage was an effort to show the grim conditions at the prison, known for holding political prisoners and those with ties abroad who are often used as bargaining chips in negotiations with the West.

In one part of the footage, a man smashes a bathroom mirror to try to cut open his arm. Prisoners  and even guards  beat each other in scenes captured by surveillance cameras. Inmates sleeping in single rooms with bunk beds stacked three high against the walls, wrapping themselves in blankets to stay warm.

We want the world to hear our voice for freedom of all political prisoners, read a message from the online account to the AP in Dubai.

Iran, which has faced criticism from the United Nations special rapporteur over its prison conditions, did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent to its U.N. mission in New York. Iranian state media in the country have not acknowledged the incident at Evin.

However, several embarrassing hacking incidents have struck Iran amid ongoing tensions over its accelerated nuclear program and as talks with the West over reviving the atomic accord between Tehran and world powers remain on hold.

Four former prisoners at Evin, as well as an Iranian human rights activist abroad, have told the AP that the videos resemble areas from the facility in northern Tehran. Some of the scenes also matched photographs of the facility previously taken by journalists, as well as images of the prison as seen in satellite photos accessed by the AP.

The footage also shows rows of sewing machines that prisoners use, a solitary confinement cell with a squat toilet and exterior areas of the prison. There are images of the prison's open-air exercise yard, prisoners' bathrooms and offices within the facility.

Much of the footage bears timestamps from 2020 and this year. Several videos without the stamp show guards wearing facemasks, signaling they came amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Though there is no sound in the videos, they speak to the grim world faced by prisoners at the facility. One sequence shows what appears to be an emaciated man dumped from a car in the parking lot, then dragged through the prison. Another shows a cleric walking down the stairs and passing by the man, without stopping.

Guards in another video are seen beating a man in a prisoner's uniform. One guard sucker-punches a prisoner in a holding cell. Guards also fight among themselves, as do the prisoners. Many are crammed into single-room cells. No one wears a facemask.

The account that shared the videos with the AP calls itself The Justice of Ali, a reference to the Prophet Muhammads son-in-law who is revered by Shiites. It also mocks Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

It claimed to have hundreds of gigabytes of data from what it described as a hack conducted several months ago. It did not answer questions about who was involved in the leak.

The account linked the timing of its leak to the recent election of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, a hard-line acolyte of Khamenei involved in the execution of thousands in 1988 at the end of the Iran-Iraq War.

The Evin prison is a stain on Raisis black turban and white beard, the message on the screens in the prison control room also read.

Iran, long sanctioned by the West, faces difficulties in getting up-to-date hardware and software, often relying on Chinese-manufactured electronics or older systems. The control room system seen in the video, for instance, appeared to be running Windows 7, for which Microsoft no longer provides patches. That would make it easier for a potential hacker to target. Pirated versions of Windows and other software are common across Iran.

In recent months, Iran's railroad system was targeted by an apparent cyberattack. Other self-described hacker groups have published details about Iranians alleging hacking on behalf of the theocracy. Meanwhile the most-famous cyberattack  the Stuxnet virus that destroyed Iranian centrifuges at the height of Western fears over Tehran's program  is widely suspected to have been an American and Israeli creation.

Evin prison was built in 1971 under Iran's Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. It housed political prisoners then and later, after the 1979 Islamic Revolution swept the shah from power.

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While in theory under the control of Iran's prison system, Evin also has specialized units for political prisoners and those with Western ties, run by the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which answers only to Khamenei. The facility is the target of both U.S. and European Union sanctions.

After Iran cracked down on protesters following the disputed 2009 re-election of hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, many of the arrested protesters ended up in Evin. Lawmakers later pushed for reforms at Evin, following reports of abuses at the prison  which led to the installation of the closed-circuit cameras.

Problems continued, however. Reports by U.N. Special Rapporteur Javaid Rehman repeatedly named Evin prison as a site of abuses of prisoners. Rehman warned in January that Iran's entire prison system faced long-standing overcrowding and hygiene deficiencies" and insurmountable obstacles for responding to COVID-19.

Prisoners of conscience and political prisoners have contracted COVID-19 or experienced symptoms, with many denied testing or treatment or suffering unnecessary delays in receiving test results and treatment, he wrote.

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Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Pentagon said Monday that it will require service members to receive the COVID-19 vaccine now that the Pfizer vaccine has received full approval.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby, accompanied by U.S. Army Major Gen. William Taylor, Joint Staff Operations, left, speaks during a briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, Friday, Aug. 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

WASHINGTON (AP)  The Pentagon said Monday that it will require service members to receive the COVID-19 vaccine now that the Pfizer vaccine has received full approval.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is making good on his vow earlier this month to require the shots once the Food and Drug Administration approved the vaccine. He said guidance is being developed and a timeline will be provided in the coming days.

Austins decision reflects similar moves by governments and companies around the world, as nations struggle with the highly contagious delta variant that has sent U.S. cases surging to heights not seen since last winter. And hospitalizations and deaths are increasing among the military. Over the past month, the number of service member deaths jumped from 25 to 34  more than a one third increase.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby with U.S. Army Maj. Gen. William Taylor, Joint Staff Operations, listens to a reporter's question about Afghanistan during a briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

In a memo Aug. 9, Austin said he'd seek the presidents approval to make the vaccine mandatory no later than mid-September, or immediately upon FDA licensure whichever comes first. The Pentagon has said that the military has enough vaccines to meet the requirements. The shots would be mandated for active duty and National Guard troops. There are more than 1.3 million on active duty and close to 800,000 in the Guard and Reserve.

Kirby said the steps Monday to make the vaccine mandatory are an effort to ensure the safety of service members. Concerns about the virus are especially acute in the military, where service members live and work closely together in barracks and on ships, increasing the risks of rapid spreading. Any large virus outbreak in the military could affect Americas ability to defend itself in any security crisis.

In a message to the force earlier this month, Gen. Mark Milley said medical professionals recommend the vaccine, and that getting the shot is key to maintaining a military that is prepared to defend the nation. At the bottom of his message, Milley scrawled a handwritten note: Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is a key force protection and readiness issue.

Members of the U.S. military are already required to get as many as 17 different vaccines, depending on where they are deployed. The requirements  which include shots for smallpox, hepatitis, polio and the regular flu  also provide for a number of temporary and permanent exemptions for either medical or administrative reasons.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby with U.S. Army Maj. Gen. William Taylor, Joint Staff Operations, speaks about the situation in Afghanistan during a briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Permanent exemptions include serious medical reactions to the vaccine, immune deficiencies such as HIV infection, and evidence of existing immunity by a serologic antibody test or documentation of previous infection or natural infection presumed.

There also are administrative exemptions, including one for religious reasons. The religious exemption is granted by the military services based on their policies, and it appears to be relatively rare. The decision is made by commanders based on consultation with medical personnel and the chaplain.

The Navy and the Marine Corps said they have had zero religious exemption requests for other vaccines in recent years. The Air Force said it did not have specific data on religious exemptions, but said it has granted 336 overall administrative exemptions, which include religion. The bulk of those exemptions were for troops who are within 180 days of retirement or separation from the service, and did not involve religion. The Army did not provide an answer to the question about religious requests.

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Troops may also get temporary exemptions for up to a year if they, for example, are pregnant, seriously ill, or if there is a lack of vaccine supply.

The regulations also note that any exemption may be reversed if a medical condition changes or if it is determined that the risk of acquiring the disease is greater than the risk of vaccine exposure.

An AP-NORC poll released Friday found that 56% of Americans are in favor of requiring members of the military to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, compared with 20% opposed.

As of Aug. 18, more than 1 million active duty, Guard and Reserve service members were fully vaccinated and nearly 245,000 more had received at least one shot, according to the Defense Department. Just over half of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated with one of the countrys three options, from Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson.

Kirby said the Pentagon decision is only for the Pfizer vaccine.

Moderna has also applied to the FDA for full approval of its vaccine. J&J said it hopes to do so later this year.
CHICAGO (AP)  Civil rights leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson and his wife, Jacqueline, remained hospitalized Monday after testing positive for COVID-19, family members said.

FILE - In this Friday, Jan. 8, 2021 file photo, Rev. Jesse Jackson receives the Pfizer's BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine from Dr. Kiran Chekka, Covid Administration Physician at the Roseland Community Hospital in Chicago. The Rev. Jesse Jackson and his wife, Jacqueline, have been hospitalized after testing positive for COVID-19 according to a statement Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021. He is vaccinated against the virus and publicly received his first dose in January. According to a statement released Saturday evening, the Jacksons are being treated at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. He is 79 years old. Jacqueline Jackson is 77. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)

CHICAGO (AP)  Civil rights leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson and his wife, Jacqueline, remained hospitalized Monday after testing positive for COVID-19, family members said.

Jesse Jackson, 79, has been fully vaccinated, receiving his first shot in January at a public event where he urged others to do the same. But Jacqueline Jackson, 77, has not been vaccinated, according to longtime family spokesman Frank Watkins. He declined to elaborate Monday.

The couple, married nearly 60 years, were admitted to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, family members announced Saturday, with their age as a factor. A day later, their son Jonathan Jackson said both parents were resting comfortably at the hospital and responding positively to their treatments.

The status of my parents has not changed, Jonathan Jackson said in a Monday statement. We are ever mindful that COVID-19 is a serious disease and we ask that you continue in prayer for my parents, as we remain prayerful for yours.

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Jacqueline Jackson is also a civil rights activist who has traveled worldwide to advocate for causes. The couple has five children together.

FILE - In this Monday, Aug. 2, 2021 file photo, Rev. Jesse Jackson speaks to the crowd during a demonstration supporting the voting rights, on Capitol Hill, in Washington. The Rev. Jesse Jackson and his wife, Jacqueline, have been hospitalized after testing positive for COVID-19 according to a statement Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021. He is vaccinated against the virus and publicly received his first dose in January. According to a statement released Saturday evening, the Jacksons are being treated at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. He is 79 years old. Jacqueline Jackson is 77. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)

Jesse Jackson, a protege of the Rev. Martin Luther King, has remained active in calling for voting rights and other issues in recent years, even after disclosing a Parkinson's diagnosis in 2017. During the pandemic, he has encouraged others, particularly Black people, to get COVID-19 vaccines. Vaccination rates among Black people have lagged behind white people.

After Jackson got his first dose in January at a community hospital on Chicago's South Side, the crowd applauded.

Take the vaccination," Jackson said. "Now.

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Follow Sophia Tareen on Twitter: https://twitter.com/sophiatareen.
Several U.S. senators are questioning the Food and Drug Administrations work with a consulting firm that helped businesses sell prescription painkillers during the nation's overdose crisis.

FILE - This Feb. 19, 2013, file photo shows OxyContin pills arranged for a photo at a pharmacy in Montpelier, Vt. Several U.S. senators are questioning the Food and Drug Administrations work with a consulting firm that helped businesses sell prescription painkillers during the nation's overdose crisis. Democrat Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire and Republican Chuck Grassley of Iowa, among others, have asked the FDA about potential conflicts of interest in its work with McKinsey and Co. The senators sent a letter Monday, Aug. 23, 2021 to the FDA noting that the agency paid McKinsey more than $140 million after hiring it several times starting in 2008. (AP Photo/Toby Talbot, file)

Several U.S. senators are questioning the Food and Drug Administrations work with a consulting firm that helped businesses sell prescription painkillers during the nation's overdose crisis.

Democrat Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire and Republican Chuck Grassley of Iowa, among others, have asked the FDA about potential conflicts of interest in its work with McKinsey and Co.

The senators sent a letter Monday to the FDA noting that the agency paid McKinsey more than $140 million after hiring it several times starting in 2008.

While helping the government, McKinsey also worked for a wide range of actors in the opioid industry, including many of the companies that played a pivotal role in fueling the opioid epidemic that our country now faces, the letter said.

An FDA representative said the agency has received the letter and would respond directly to the senators.

Earlier this year, McKinsey agreed to almost $600 million in settlements with nearly every state and five U.S. territories over its work with drugmakers on prescription opioid sales.

Opioids, which also include illegal substances like heroin, have been linked to almost a half million deaths in the U.S. since 2000, a problem that has deepened during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under its contracts with the FDA, McKinsey worked with the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, the agency's main division for approving prescription opioids and other drugs, the letter states.

While working with the FDA, McKinsey also advised opioid manufacturers on avoiding oversight from the regulator, according to the letter. The consultant advised Purdue Pharma on how to soften an FDA drug safety program that required companies to communicate risks to patients, care providers and pharmacists.

The senators noted that the final program announced in 2012, was largely devoid of the restrictions the FDA had initially proposed.

The senators asked the FDA to answer several questions and provide documents by Sept. 20. They want to know how the agency checks for conflicts of interest and what its current relationship is with McKinsey.

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They also asked what disclosures McKinsey made to the agency about potential conflicts and when the FDA became aware that McKinseys clients included several major opioid distributors and retailers.

Four Democratic senators joined Hassan and Grassley in signing the letter. They include West Virginias Joe Manchin, Rhode Islands Sheldon Whitehouse and Massachusetts Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey.

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Follow Tom Murphy on Twitter: @thpmurphy

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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.
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP)  Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen received her first dose of the island's domestically developed coronavirus vaccine on Monday, launching its rollout to the public.

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP)  Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen received her first dose of the island's domestically developed coronavirus vaccine on Monday, launching its rollout to the public.

The vaccine, made by Medigen Vaccine Biologics Corp., was given emergency approval by regulators in July using a shortcut that prompted fierce opposition from parts of Taiwan's medical and scientific community.

In this photo released by the Taiwan Presidential Office, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen poses for a photo at the Taiwan University Hospital where she received her first shot of the island's first domestically developed coronavirus vaccine made by Medigen Vaccine Biologics Corp. at the in Taipei, Taiwan on Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. The vaccine was given emergency approval by regulators in July using a shortcut that prompted fierce opposition from parts of Taiwan's medical and scientific community. (Taiwan Presidential Office via AP)

Taiwanese regulators bypassed the large-scale, longer term studies that are typically used to approve vaccines. Instead, they compared the level of antibodies that Medigen's vaccine was able to generate with that of AstraZeneca's vaccine, which has been approved by many governments and has undergone the full three stages of clinical trials.

The two-dose Medigen protein subunit vaccine uses a piece of the coronavirus to teach the body to mount an immune response.

The decision to give approval based on the new standard prompted an expert from the advisory committee on vaccines to resign.

Critics say granting approval before finishing full clinical trials does not provide adequate information on how effective the vaccine is in the real world in protecting from COVID-19, although initial studies may have promising results.

The level of antibodies in the blood is known to correlate with protection from the disease, but scientists do not yet know what the exact level is.

Regulators said Medigen will be required to submit real-world efficacy data within a year of the approval. They said when approving the vaccine that data provided by Medigen showed that it produced 3.4 times the level of neutralizing antibodies as that of AstraZeneca's vaccine.

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Tsai received her first dose of the vaccine on Monday morning at a gymnasium at National Taiwan University in Taipei. Like other patients, she checked in for her appointment by slotting her national health insurance card into the computer system.

After a nurse gave her the shot, she flashed an OK sign with her hand.

As of last Friday, 40% of Taiwan's population of 23 million had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. The island's vaccination policy is to prioritize first shots, with only the most high-risk groups initially getting the full two doses, such as medical workers.

That's a large leap from May, when less than 5% of the population had received a vaccine.

Taiwan had remained largely free of COVID-19 for a year and half during the pandemic until an outbreak driven by the alpha variant spread across the island in May, prompting a large-scale lockdown.

At that point, Taiwan had received only about 700,000 doses of the vaccines it had purchased. However, it was able to obtain roughly 5 million vaccines which were donated by Japan and the United States.
HANOI, Vietnam - HONOLULU  Hawaiis governor is urging residents and potential visitors to limit travel to the islands to essential business while the state struggles to control outbreaks of the delta variant of the coronavirus.

People ride on a motorcycle through a quiet intersection in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. Vietnam's largest metropolis Ho Chi Minh City has ordered a strict lockdown to help curb a worsening outbreak of the pandemic. (Bui Van Lanh/VNA via AP)

HANOI, Vietnam - HONOLULU  Hawaiis governor is urging residents and potential visitors to limit travel to the islands to essential business while the state struggles to control outbreaks of the delta variant of the coronavirus.

Gov. David Ige wants to curtail travel to Hawaii through the end of October. In his words, It is a risky time to be traveling right now.

He says restaurant capacity has been restricted and there is limited access to rental cars.

But Ige is stopping short of last years strict travel rules that required quarantining and essentially shut down Hawaiis tourism industry. He notes the CDC says fully vaccinated people can travel domestically.

Hawaiis seven-day average of new daily cases hit 671 on Monday, more than triple the level four weeks earlier.

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Members of the Korean Health Workers Union wearing protective suites hold warning letters during a rally to call for an increase in the number of nurses assigned to Covid-19 treatment wards and for better treatment of medical personnel in front of the Seoul City Hall in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. The signs read "Pls announce Covid-19 manpower standards." (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

MORE ON THE PANDEMIC:

 Lockdowns or vaccines? 3 Pacific nations try diverging paths

 U.S. mask, vaccine conflicts descend into violence and harassment

 Pandemic fiction: Fall books include stories of the virus

 The Rev. Jesse Jackson, wife Jacqueline, hospitalized for COVID

 Hurricane Henri thwarts Central Park concert hailing NYC virus rebound

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In this photo released by the Taiwan Presidential Office, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, center, receives her first shot of the island's first domestically developed coronavirus vaccine made by Medigen Vaccine Biologics Corp. at the Taiwan University Hospital in Taipei, Taiwan on Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. The vaccine was given emergency approval by regulators in July using a shortcut that prompted fierce opposition from parts of Taiwan's medical and scientific community. (Taiwan Presidential Office via AP)

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:

WELLINGTON, New Zealand  New Zealand has reported 41 new coronavirus infections, which is the countrys highest daily total since an outbreak of the delta variant last week prompted the government to put the nation into a strict lockdown.

Health officials said Tuesday that they are confident the country remains on track to quell the outbreak.

Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield says most of the new cases appeared linked and officials arent seeing an exponential rise in infections.

New Zealand is scheduled to remain in lockdown until at least Friday, while the city of Auckland where most of the cases have been found will stay in lockdown until at least the end of the month.

ARCHIVO - En foto de archivo del 29 de octubre de 2020, estudiantes, profesores, administradores y consejeros escuchan al director Malik Lewis, segundo de izquierda a derecha, ofrecer una clase de historia en la escuela secundaria West Brooklyn Community de Nueva York. (AP Foto/Kathy Willens, archivo)

The outbreak is the first in New Zealand in six months.

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SYDNEY  An Australian state leader is indicating that a slight easing of pandemic restrictions is coming for Sydney after achieving a vaccination milestone.

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said Tuesday she will announce before the weekend a new freedom for fully vaccinated people now that 6 million vaccine doses have been administered across the state. She said that equates to 60% of the population having at least one dose of Pfizer or AstraZeneca and 32% being fully vaccinated.

Australias most populous state is in lockdown because of the virus outbreak, as is Victoria, which is the countrys second most populous state.

Government leaders hope the lockdowns will end in October once 80% of people 16 years and older are fully vaccinated. Only 24% of the Australian population is fully vaccinated.

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FILE- In this Oct. 29, 2020, file photo, students, teachers, administrators and counselors listen as principal Malik Lewis, second from left, teaches them a history lesson at West Brooklyn Community High School in New York. All New York City public school teachers and other staffers will have to get vaccinated against the coronavirus, officials said Monday, Aug. 23, 2021, as the nation's largest school system prepares for classes to start next month. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)

FRANKFORT, Ky.  Kentuckys governor says a flood of COVID-19 patients is stressing the states hospitals and intensive care units.

Gov, Andy Bashear said Monday that more than 20 Kentucky hospitals are confronting critical staffing shortages and some hospitals are converting space to treat the influx of ICU patients.

Beshear says Kentucky reported 2,596 new coronavirus infections Monday  a pandemic high for any Monday so far. He says there were 17 deaths related to COVID-19.

More than 1,890 patients with COVID-19 were in hospitals, including 529 in intensive care units. A record 301 virus patients were on ventilators.

The surge comes as the legislature assumes considerably more control over Kentuckys response to the pandemic. The state Supreme Court on Saturday cleared the way for laws limiting the governors emergency powers.

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SAN RAMON, Calif.  Chevron Corp. is requiring some of its employees to become vaccinated against the coronavirus as the oil industry struggles with rising infections among its unvaccinated workers.

President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the full FDA approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine, in the South Court Auditorium on the White House campus, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

The oil giant is requiring its workers who travel internationally, live abroad or work on its offshore platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, as well as some onshore support staff, to be vaccinated.

A spokeswoman for the San Ramon-based oil and gas company said Monday that vaccinations are the strongest safeguard against the virus, and the company will continue to carefully monitor medical data and guidance of health authorities to protect its workforce.

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OLYMPIA, Wash. -- The head of Washington states wildfire response is urging federal agencies to require coronavirus vaccinations for their wildland firefighting forces.

State Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz also called on Monday for the deployment of federal resources to make vaccinations available at all fire camps on federal land.

The Washington Department of Natural Resources is making vaccines available within its jurisdictions at fire camps amid the rapidly spreading delta variant. Franz on Monday directed all his agencys employees including firefighters to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 18.

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FILE - In this March 2, 2021, file photo, pharmacy technician Hollie Maloney loads a syringe with Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine at the Portland Expo in Portland, Maine. The U.S. gave full approval to Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File)

HONOLULU  Honolulu's mayor says he will restrict indoor gatherings to 10 people and outdoor gatherings to 25 in an effort to control the coronavirus as the highly contagious delta variant spreads in the community.

Mayor Rick Blangiardi says the rules take effect Wednesday and will cover weddings and other events.

The citys emergency management director cites a mathematical modeling tool from the Georgia Institute of Technology to illustrate risks the community faces from large gatherings.

The modeling says there is a 20% chance that someone in a group of 10 will be infected, based on the number of cases on Oahu now. It says that in a group of 100, there is a 90% chance someone will catch the virus.

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SPRINGFIELD, Mo.  One of Missouris biggest hospital systems says it require its employees to get vaccinated against the coronavirus now that the FDA has given full approval to Pfizers vaccine.

CoxHealth has several hospitals in southwestern Missouri and it said hours after the FDAs announcement Monday that its workers will be required to have at least one dose of a vaccine by Oct. 15. CEO Steve Edwards says in a statement that careful consideration will be given to requests for exemptions for religious or health reasons, and that anyone granted an exemption will be required to undergo regular testing for the virus.

A woman wearing a mask against the spread of the coronavirus passes a billboard shows a world map in Belgrade, Serbia, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

CoxHealth officials say about 70% of its employees are already vaccinated, including more than 90% of its physicians.

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VICTORIA, British Columbia  The Canadian Pacific coast province of British Columbia is bringing in a vaccine card for residents to get access to restaurants, clubs, sporting events and other activities.

Premier John Horgan says the card will give people the confidence to attend events and businesses knowing that others are protected around them.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says starting Sept. 13 a new order will require proof of having had a single dose of a vaccine to access certain social and recreational activities, as well as businesses. After Oct. 24, Henry says entry to the same settings will require those 12 years and older to be fully vaccinated.

The French-speaking province of Quebec already announced a similar measure while Ontario, Canadas largest province, has declined to introduce a vaccine passport.

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An Israeli soldier conducts a COVID-19 antibody test on a boy in Hadera, Israel, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. Ahead of the opening of the school year on Sept. 1, the Israeli army's Home Front Command is conducting serology tests on children age 3-12 who have not yet tested positive for coronavirus and are not yet listed as recovered, to see if they have antibodies. If a child tests positive for coronavirus antibodies, they can be issued a "green pass," allowing them to attend classes in-person. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

RICHMOND, Va.  Democrat Terry McAuliffe urged all Virginia employers on Monday to require the coronavirus vaccine for their workers who are eligible, sharpening a policy debate in the closely watched governors race over how best to deal with the pandemic.

McAuliffes call followed a decision by federal regulators to give full approval to Pfizers vaccine and marked an escalation of his advocacy for obligatory vaccines as a condition of employment. The former governor now seeking a second term has previously urged Virginia health systems and school divisions to issue mandates, and required his own campaign staff to be fully vaccinated.

McAuliffe is facing Republican Glenn Youngkin, a former business executive and political newcomer, in the November general election. Youngkin, who is vaccinated, has consistently urged Virginians to get the shot but has said he opposes vaccine or mask mandates.

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SIOUX FALLS, S.D.  South Dakota House lawmakers have tried to pressure Gov. Kristi Noem to call a special session to pass a ban on employers requiring COVID-19 vaccinations even as virus cases climbed on Monday.

Several Republicans in the House of Representatives have circulated drafts of bills that would stop employers from mandating vaccinations against the virus, stepping up pressure on Noem to call a special session for them to approve the bills. But she has resisted those calls, saying there is not widespread support for a special session.

The issue has Noem, who has carved out a nationwide following for her hands-off approach to the virus, being pushed from the right to intervene on the states largest employer, Sanford Health.

Running from room to room, emergency room director Mark Kellar, right, barely puts one foot down as he hurries between patients at Our Lady of Angels Hospital in Bogalusa, La., Monday, Aug. 9, 2021. (Chris Granger/The Advocate via AP)

House Speaker Spencer Gosch said late Friday he wanted the governor to call a special session as he released a draft of a bill that would make COVID-19 vaccination status strictly confidential medical information that would be off-limits to employers.

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PORTLAND, Maine  Some emergency medical service workers in Maine spoke out against a coronavirus vaccine mandate because of concerns it will lead to ill-timed staff shortages.

The Maine Board of Emergency Medical Services held a public hearing on the subject Monday. Gov. Janet Mills announced new rules earlier in August that require all health care workers to be vaccinated against the virus by Oct. 1.

More than 600 people participated in the virtual meeting, and most who spoke were against the mandate. A common concern among the speakers who opposed the mandate was that would exacerbate emergency worker shortages.

Mills has said the health worker mandate is about protecting health care workers, their patients, including our most vulnerable, and our health care capacity.

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Running from room to room, emergency room director Mark Kellar, right, barely puts one foot down as he hurries between patients at Our Lady of Angels Hospital in Bogalusa, La., Monday, Aug. 9, 2021. (Chris Granger/The Advocate via AP)

BATON ROUGE, La.  The announcement that Pfizers coronavirus vaccine received full federal approval triggers new vaccine and testing mandates in Louisiana.

Louisianas universities will soon start requiring tens of thousands of students to get the shots. Gov. John Bel Edwards intends to begin mandatory, regular COVID-19 testing for thousands of state workers who arent immunized.

But just how many people the vaccine and testing mandates will cover and when theyll take effect remains uncertain.

University inoculation requirements may not be enforced for months on campuses, and students will be able to seek exemptions.

Meanwhile, the Edwards administration said its crafting its testing plans, uncertain when theyll be released.

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WICHITA, Kan.  Debates about mask mandates and vaccine requirements are intensifying in Kansas as the delta variant sends cases soaring.

In the Topeka area, board members for the Auburn-Washburn district voted 6-0 Sunday to approve a mask mandate, effective immediately, for all students, staff and visitors inside district facilities.

Meanwhile, Sedgwick County Commissioners on Friday voted down a mandate along party lines after a heated debate in which an anti-mask activist said that he and other opponents would show up outside commissioners homes with megaphones if they passed the measure.

More companies, universities and local governments are expected to require vaccinations now that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has given full approval to Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine.

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WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden is celebrating the full FDA approval of Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine and is urging the unvaccinated to go get their inoculations.

Biden on Monday addressed those who were waiting on the full approval and declared it is now happened, the moment youve been waiting for is here.

He also used the moment to call on private companies to require their employees to get vaccinated. The president made clear: its time to get your vaccination and warned that the highly contagious delta variant of the coronavirus was causing COVID cases to rise nationwide.

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The FDA had previously approved three vaccines  Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson  under an emergency use authorization. Pfizer is the first to receive full FDA approval, which Biden dubbed the gold standard.

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JACKSON, Miss.  Mississippi Poison Control officials say they are receiving an influx of calls from people trying to treat COVID-19 by using anti-parasite medicine purchased at livestock stores.

At least 70% of recent calls to the Mississippi Poison Control Center have been related to ingestion of livestock or animal formulations of ivermectin purchased at livestock supply centers, Mississippi Department of Health officials said.

Some of the symptoms associated with ivermectin toxicity include rash, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, neurologic disorders, and potentially severe hepatitis requiring hospitalization.

No hospitalizations have been reported. Most callers  85%  have had mild symptoms, according to the Department of Health. One individual was advised to see a physician because of the high dosage they reportedly took.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The U.S. gave full approval to Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine Monday, potentially boosting public confidence in the shots and instantly opening the way for more universities, companies and local governments to make vaccinations mandatory.

FILE - In this March 2, 2021, file photo, pharmacy technician Hollie Maloney loads a syringe with Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine at the Portland Expo in Portland, Maine. The U.S. gave full approval to Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File)

WASHINGTON (AP)  The U.S. gave full approval to Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine Monday, potentially boosting public confidence in the shots and instantly opening the way for more universities, companies and local governments to make vaccinations mandatory.

The Pentagon promptly announced it will press ahead with plans to force members of the military to get vaccinated amid the battle against the extra-contagious delta variant. The University of Minnesota likewise said it will require its students get the shot, as did Louisiana's major public universities, including LSU, though state law there allows broad exemptions.

More than 200 million Pfizer doses have been administered in the U.S. under emergency provisions  and hundreds of millions more worldwide  since December. In going a step further and granting full approval, the Food and Drug Administration cited months of real-world evidence that serious side effects are extremely rare.

President Joe Biden said that for those who hesitated to get the vaccine until it received what he dubbed the "gold standard" of FDA approval, "the moment youve been waiting for is here."

"Please get vaccinated today," he said.

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla called the FDA's action "an important milestone that I think will unlock some of the more skeptical minds."

Pfizer said the U.S. is the first country to grant full approval of its vaccine, in a process that required a 360,000-page application and rigorous inspections. Never before has the FDA has so much evidence to judge a shot's safety.

FILE - In this Feb. 5, 2021, file photo, the Pfizer logo is displayed at the company's headquarters in New York. The U.S. gave full approval to Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

The formula, jointly developed with Germany's BioNTech, will be marketed under the brand name Comirnaty.

Moderna has also applied to the FDA for full approval of its vaccine. Johnson & Johnson, maker of the third option in the U.S., said it hopes to do so later this year.

Just over half of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated. Vaccinations in this country bottomed out in July at an average of about a half-million shots per day, down from a peak of 3.4 million a day in mid-April. As the delta variant fills hospital beds, shots are on the rise again, with a million a day given Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Full approval of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine means it meets the same "very high standards required of all the approved vaccines we rely on every day," said Dr. Jesse Goodman of Georgetown University, a former FDA vaccine chief. That should help "anyone who still has concerns gain confidence" in the shots.

Earlier this month, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he would seek the presidents OK to make the vaccine mandatory by mid-September or once the FDA grants final approval, whichever comes first. On Monday, after the FDA acted, the Pentagon said guidance on vaccinations will be worked out and a timeline will be provided in the coming days.

The approval also opened the way for swift action by colleges to require vaccines and solidified the legal ground for hundreds of universities that have already issued mandates for students and staff.

The public university systems in Louisiana and Minnesota had been waiting for FDA action before making vaccinations mandatory. Louisiana has become a COVID-19 hot spot, repeatedly breaking records for the number of people hospitalized with the virus. But certain other states forbid universities to require shots, including Texas and Florida.

"Mandating becomes much easier when you have full approval," said Dr. Carlos del Rio of Emory University. "I think a lot of businesses have been waiting for it."

President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the full FDA approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine, in the South Court Auditorium on the White House campus, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

On the same day the FDA decision came down, New York City announced that all public school teachers and other staffers will have to get vaccinated.

The delta variant has sent cases, deaths and hospitalizations soaring in recent weeks in the U.S., erasing months of progress. Deaths are running at about 1,000 a day on average for the first time since mid-March, and new cases are averaging 147,000 a day, a level last seen at the end of January.

Elizabeth Nichols, 18, of Akron, Ohio, said she felt "a rush of relief" after hearing the news of the FDAs approval. She already was on her way to get her first vaccine shot Monday morning after months of hesitation.

"I had an internal battle of whether I should get the shot or not," Nichols said in an email. "It can be scary subjecting yourself to something that is unapproved." But she added: "The authorization proves how safe it is."

The FDA, like regulators in Europe and much of the rest of the world, initially allowed emergency use of Pfizers vaccine based on a study that tracked 44,000 people 16 and older for at least two months  the time period when serious side effects typically arise.

Thats shorter than the six months of safety data normally required for full approval. So Pfizer kept that study going, and the FDA also examined real-world safety evidence.

Pfizers shot will continue to be dispensed to 12- to 15-year-olds under an emergency use authorization, until the company files its application for full approval.

Normally, doctors can prescribe FDA-approved products for other reasons than their original use. But FDA's acting Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock strongly warned that the Pfizer vaccine should not be used "off-label" for children under 12  a warning echoed by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Both Pfizer and Moderna have vaccine studies underway in youngsters, and they are using lower doses than those available for people 12 and older.

Pfizer's Bourla said he expects study results from 5- to 11-year-olds by the end of September, but data for those younger than 5 will take a couple of months.

Also, Woodcock said health providers are offering COVID-19 vaccines under agreements with the government that should preclude using Monday's approval as a pretext for offering booster shots to the general population.

Currently, the FDA has authorized third doses of either Pfizer's or Moderna's vaccine only for certain people with severely weakened immune systems, such as organ transplant recipients. For everyone else, the Biden administration is planning for boosters starting in the fall. But the FDA is evaluating that question separately.

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In reaching Monday's decision, the FDA said serious side effects remain very rare, such as chest pain and heart inflammation a few days after the second dose, mostly in young men.

As for effectiveness, six months into Pfizers original study, the vaccine remained 97% protective against severe COVID-19. Protection against milder infection waned slightly, from a peak of 96% two months after the second dose to 84% by six months.

Those findings came before the delta variant began spreading, but other data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows the vaccine is still doing a good job preventing severe disease.

___

Associated Press Reporter Jonathan Lemire contributed to this report.

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.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he will convene a meeting of leaders from the Group of Seven nations on Tuesday for "urgent talks on the situation in Afghanistan."

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he will convene a meeting of leaders from the Group of Seven nations on Tuesday for "urgent talks on the situation in Afghanistan."

Johnson revealed the plan in a statement posted on Twitter.

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He says it's "vital that the international community works together to ensure safe evacuations, prevent a humanitarian crisis and support the Afghan people to secure the gains of the last 20 years."

The U.K. holds this year's presidency of the G7 nations, which is also made up of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States.

There was no immediate word from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's camp on whether he would take time away from the election campaign to attend the meeting.

Trudeau has faced criticism in recent days for not acting fast enough to evacuate Afghans who supported Canada's military and diplomatic efforts in the war-torn country.

So far, three Canadian planes have carried evacuees out of the chaotic Kabul airport.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 22, 2021.
OTTAWA - On the eve of a special G7 leaders' meeting, Canadian officials disclosed Monday the military's special forces are operating outside the closed confines of Kabul's chaotic airport to get people on flights out of Afghanistan.

A Taliban fighter stands guard at a checkpoint in the Wazir Akbar Khan neighbourhood in the city of Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Rahmat Gul

OTTAWA - On the eve of a special G7 leaders' meeting, Canadian officials disclosed Monday the military's special forces are operating outside the closed confines of Kabul's chaotic airport to get people on flights out of Afghanistan.

The officials would not provide more details, citing the sensitivity of the security situation, but they said they are having success in getting more Afghans to safety.

They said a Canadian C-17 Globemaster carried 436 people out of Kabul airport on Sunday night, including Canadian citizens and family members, as well as Afghan nationals accepted for resettlement by Canada and its allies  up from the 121 airlifted a day earlier.

"We are having success getting folks into HKIA in significant numbers, which has been a significant improvement over the last few days," said one official, using the acronym for Hamid Karzai International Airport.

"We made the decision to disclose that Canada's special operations forces have been and continue to work outside the confines of HKIA."

The official said the special forces personnel "are working relentlessly" to bring as many Canadian citizens and eligible Afghans through security gates to waiting aircraft.

The disclosure came during a briefing for journalists on Monday that was given by three senior federal officials, on the condition they not be named as per the agreements for such background briefings.

Desperate Afghans who previously worked as interpreters for Western military forces and news agencies, among others, are in hiding, fearing for the safety of themselves and their families after Afghanistan fell to the Taliban last week and exposed them to violent reprisals.

"Our forces on the ground have all the necessary authorizations to do what they feel is necessary to save as many people as quickly as possible," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday in Halifax during a federal election campaign appearance.

The crisis in Afghanistan has featured prominently during the first week of the federal campaign. Trudeau said he will also be taking part in a virtual G7 meeting Tuesday that will be looking at ways to address the crisis.

"When we have our G7 leaders meeting shortly, we will certainly be talking about what more we can do and must do," Trudeau said.

That includes looking at what else can be done to help other vulnerable Afghans, including women and children, as well as human-rights activists, politicians, journalists and others who are now in the Taliban's crosshairs for their democracy-building efforts of the last two decades.

Trudeau said that while the government's focus is on helping Canadian citizens and Afghans and their families with direct connections to Canada  a group that includes interpreters and other workers  he is interested in looking at ways to cast a wider net.

We are also very interested in activists and human rights leaders, journalists and people who over the past many years have fought and delivered improvements for people in Afghanistan. We know those people need to be brought to safety. And we, alongside our allies, will be doing everything we can for all the categories, Trudeau said.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is convening the meeting of G7 leaders, saying urgent talks are necessary. There is widespread speculation that U.S. President Joe Biden will face calls from his allies to extend the Aug. 31 deadline he has set to withdraw U.S. troops from Kabul airport.

British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has called that deadline, set by the U.S. in a deal with the Taliban, a mistake and has urged the Americans to extend the mission for several days. The Taliban has warned that any extension would be viewed as crossing a "red line" and would provoke a reaction.

A senior British official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment on the record, said the G7 talks would encompass "immediate co-operation on the evacuation effort from Kabul and longer-term planning on future engagement in Afghanistan, as well as the humanitarian response and support for refugees."

The official said Johnson would be looking for commitments from his fellow leaders on ways to protect the rights of women and minorities, and to work toward Afghanistan not becoming a terrorist haven once more.

Canadian officials did not immediately have a breakdown of the number of women and children who have been brought out of Afghanistan, including on the latest flight.

The head of the Canadian branch of the organization Save The Children called Monday on world leaders to do more to streamline their processes for evacuating young people from Afghanistan.

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"Though Canada has already announced a resettlement program, it is important that evacuation efforts are not hampered due to bureaucratic red tape as the situation demands urgent action," said Danny Glenwright, the organization's president.

Canadian officials said that about 300 Afghans have finished their quarantine and will eventually be resettled in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia.

In all, officials said Canada has evacuated about 1,700 people on 13 flights, which includes four that resumed as of this past Thursday after Canada and its allies managed to secure the Kabul airport after the Taliban took power the previous weekend.

That also includes dozens of personnel from the 12 other countries participating in the American-led air bridge.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 23, 2021.

 with files from The Associated Press
CONTRECOEUR, Que. - A 37-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder in connection with a Montreal-area shooting on Sunday that left five people injured, including a nine-year-old.

A Quebec provincial police vehicle is shown in this Thursday, Jan.16, 2020, file photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

CONTRECOEUR, Que. - A 37-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder in connection with a Montreal-area shooting on Sunday that left five people injured, including a nine-year-old.

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Yves Martin Larocque appeared in court Monday in Sorel-Tracy, Que., about 80 kilometres northeast of Montreal, and was charged with seven counts, including one of attempted murder and two counts of aggravated assault. He also faces charges related to firearms and criminal negligence.

Larocque is scheduled to return to court Wednesday to issue a plea and will be held in detention until then.

Provincial police say a car carrying four people was targeted by a shooter around 7:30 p.m. Sunday before the driver skidded into a ditch.

Police said the boy was hit by a bullet as he was standing outside a home in Contrecoeur, Que., northeast of Montreal. The boy's life is not in danger.

The four people inside the car were injured and transported to hospital, and police said the driver's injuries are serious. Police said the suspect hid inside a nearby residence and was arrested around 3 a.m. Monday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 23, 2021.
OTTAWA - As the federal election campaign entered its second full week, the Liberals painted themselves as the trusted guardians of universal health care and the New Democrats promised to be true environmental stewards by ending fossil fuel subsidies.

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau departs Ottawa on Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021, en route to campaign in Atlantic Canada. The main federal party leaders are in central and eastern Canada as the election campaign enters its second full week. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

OTTAWA - As the federal election campaign entered its second full week, the Liberals painted themselves as the trusted guardians of universal health care and the New Democrats promised to be true environmental stewards by ending fossil fuel subsidies.

While Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau and the NDP's Jagmeet Singh played to traditional strengths, Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole took a somewhat unexpected turn with an appeal to average workers buffeted by pandemic turmoil.

In Halifax, Trudeau said Monday the Liberals would spend $3 billion over four years starting in 2022 to hire 7,500 family doctors, as well as tax and student loan incentives for health professionals who open offices in rural or remote communities.

He also pledged an extra $6 billion to help reduce wait times.

"This is our moment to rebuild a health-care system that works for all Canadians and that our kids can be proud to inherit," Trudeau said.

Working closely with the provinces during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Liberals have heard their calls for the federal government to provide more funding to ensure people get better care, he said.

"So that's exactly what we're going to do. Wait lists have grown and grown, and not just because of COVID-19. We're going to eliminate the backlog that has been building for years and reduce wait times for you and your family."

However, Trudeau found himself on the defensive after a tweet from his deputy prime minister attempting to portray O'Toole as a supporter of private health care was labelled "manipulated media."

Twitter flagged the tweet from Chrystia Freeland, who is seeking re-election in Toronto, after she posted spliced-together clips of O'Toole answering a question about private, for-profit options in universal health coverage.

O'Toole said in the video from the Conservative leadership race that he wanted to find public-private synergies.

In Ottawa, OToole reiterated his support for a universal public health-care system without saying what he thinks could be improved through privatization.

The Conservative leader pointed to his election promise to inject an additional $60 billion into provincial health transfers. But when asked to specify what services or areas he believes could benefit from privatization he didnt directly answer.

Singh accused the Liberals of foot-dragging on the move to renewable energy sources. He said in Montreal that immediately ending the flow of federal funds to fossil fuel enterprises is "exactly what we need to do" to fight climate change.

The NDP leader committed to reallocating subsidies to oil and gas companies toward the clean, renewable energy sector, as well as cutting Canada's greenhouse gas emissions by more than half by the year 2030 with projects such as electrified public transit.

O'Toole said a Tory government would require federally regulated employers such as banks and railways with over 1,000 employees or $100 million in annual revenue to include worker representation on their boards of directors.

In a bid to attract votes from card-carrying union members, the Conservatives said too many decisions at major corporations are being made without the people who helped build the company at the table.

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There's an opportunity to ensure Canadian workers go back to better jobs following the pandemic, the party said.

Singh quickly retorted that O'Toole's record shows he is no friend of Canadian workers, alleging he had sided with Trudeau on shielding the ultrarich at the expense of others.

Bloc Quebecois Yves-Francois Blanchet proposed several reforms aimed at bolstering integrity in federal politics, including giving the ethics commissioner broader powers and making the process for appointing judges more impartial.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 23, 2021.

 With files from Stephanie Taylor and Jordan Press

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. An earlier version incorrectly reported that the NDP would cut greenhouse gas emissions by more than half by 2020. In fact, the target year for the promise is 2030.
Montreal is not renewing the state of emergency that has been in place since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

People are shown next to a COVID-19 vaccination sign in Montreal, Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Montreal is not renewing the state of emergency that has been in place since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The city said today in a news release that starting Friday, it will instead be in "alert mode."

It says high vaccination rates and the soon-to-be imposed vaccination passport will allow it to plan and carry out its emergency orders without depending on the "exceptional powers" granted by the state of emergency.

That order allowed the city to do things such as create emergency shelters to support people experiencing homelessness.

The Quebec government has said that starting Sept. 1, Quebecers will need to show proof of vaccination to enter non-essential businesses such as bars and restaurants.

Montreal's administration called a state of emergency on March 27, 2020, and renewed it for 17 months.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on Aug. 23, 2021.
OTTAWA - Erin O'Toole entered the second week of the federal campaign continuing his efforts to redefine what it means to be a Conservative leader by appealing to workers and promising progress on all the calls to action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

OTTAWA - Erin O'Toole entered the second week of the federal campaign continuing his efforts to redefine what it means to be a Conservative leader by appealing to workers and promising progress on all the calls to action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Speaking from an empty stage at the party's virtual broadcast studio in downtown Ottawa, the Conservative leader pledged an O'Toole government would require federally regulated workplaces earning more than $100 million in yearly revenue and which employ more than 1,000 people to have worker representation on their boards of directors.

Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole speaks to the media at a drug rehab centre Sunday, August 22, 2021 in New Westminster, BC. On Monday, O'Toole said he will develop an action plan to tackle all the calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Canadians will vote in a federal election Sept. 20th. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

The party says the measure would apply to more than 100 corporations, such as those in the airline and oil and gas sectors, and mean boards must have at least one voting board member that represents workers starting in 2022.

O'Toole's campaign promise to give workers "a real voice" reflects his attempts to play for the votes of union members  something he set out to do after winning last August's leadership race.

The Canadian Labour Congress criticized his announcement as "short on details," questioning how board CEOs would be held accountable to take such a step, while New Democratic Party Leader Jagmeet Singh slammed O'Toole as being "no friend to Canadian workers."

O'Toole also spoke Monday about his party's commitment to reconciliation with Indigenous people and its plans for the Truth and Reconciliation's calls to action.

The Conservative party's platform only commits to a plan to implement six specific items that deal with the deaths of children in residential schools and the sites where they were buried.

The issue was catapulted into the spotlight this spring after First Nations in British Columbia in Saskatchewan located hundreds of unmarked graves at former residential school sites using ground-penetrating radar.

The Tories have pledged to fund investigations at all former residential school sites where unmarked graves may exist, including where those have already been discovered.

But many more of the commission's 94 calls to action are directed at the federal government, and when asked about them on the campaign trail Monday, O'Toole said he would partner with First Nations and Indigenous leaders to come up with an action plan and set priorities based on their needs.

"All the calls to action are important and we will have an action plan to tackle them," he said.

"We're going to make progress on the TRC calls to action because they're very important and they should be beyond politics."

O'Toole attacked Trudeau for making big promises on the recommendations that came from the commission, which looked into the abuses committed against Indigenous children who attended residential schools, without delivering on the followup.

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Indigenous people are among those the Conservative leader has said he wants to reach as he attempts to broaden support for the party.

O'Toole recently described reconciliation as not being about tearing Canada down, while he railed against decisions by some communities to cancel last month's Canada Day celebrations in the wake of the discovery of unmarked graves.

Those comments reflect how he ran as the "true blue" candidate in last year's leadership race, in which he spoke out against so-called cancel culture and the destruction of statues from Canada's colonial past, including the country's first prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald.

Implementing the commission's calls to action wasn't mentioned in the Tory's 2019 election platform and former leader Andrew Scheer also rejected a finding from a federal inquiry that found Canada's treatment of Indigenous women amounted to genocide.

It was former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper who apologized for Canada's role in the residential school system in 2008, but it was also under his leadership that the Indigenous-led Idle No More movement took off across the country.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 23, 2021.
NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C. - A Conservative government would continue to allow supervised consumption sites even as it would shift away from harm reduction and toward recovery, federal party leader Erin O'Toole said on Sunday.

NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C. - A Conservative government would continue to allow supervised consumption sites even as it would shift away from harm reduction and toward recovery, federal party leader Erin O'Toole said on Sunday.

The more progressive approach marks a change from the last Tory government's moves to block the sites, but appears to draw the line at decriminalization.

Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole speaks to the media at a drug rehab center Sunday, August 22, 2021 in New Westminster, BC. Canadians will vote in a federal election Sept. 20th. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

O'Toole stopped short of a pledge to exempt possession of small amounts of illicit drugs from Criminal Code provisions, a request made to Health Canada by both the city of Vancouver and the province of British Columbia.

"We want recovery and treatment to be at the core of a national program that recognizes harm reduction," O'Toole said Sunday at a campaign stop in the Vancouver suburb of New Westminster.

"People with addiction should not be the focus of the criminal justice system. People that are dealing and that are preying on people with addiction should be the focus," he said.

Asked whether that view should be etched into federal policy by decriminalizing simple possession, O'Toole stressed "judicial discretion" grounded in compassion.

"I don't think someone with an addiction should be punished. I think they should be helped," he said.

The fresh Conservative stance emerged at an addiction recovery centre, where O'Toole said he will approach Canada's opioid epidemic as an "urgent health crisis" rather than a criminal scourge.

The Tory election platform would invest $325 million over the next three years to create 1,000 residential drug treatment beds and build 50 recovery centres across the country.

O'Toole has also pledged to enhance treatment and prevention services in First Nations communities and partner with the provinces to provide free overdose-reversing Naloxone kits.

Health Canada is currently working with Vancouver on the citys request for exemption from criminal provisions on simple possession of small quantities of drugs.

Vancouver has been the epicentre of an opioid crisis that saw B.C. record 1,176 illicit drug overdose deaths in 2020  the highest ever in a single year  and more than 7,000 deaths since a public health emergency was declared in April 2016.

The Liberals aimed to cast doubt on the new, friendlier face the Tories are presenting on addiction.

"The Conservatives record is one of banning safe consumption sites and fighting them in court. The Conservatives record is one of punishing Canadians battling addiction," Liberal party spokesman Thierry Belair said in an email.

Former prime minister Stephen Harper's government fought the expansion of safe injection sites, passing legislation in 2015 that tightened criteria for groups seeking a Health Canada exemption  required under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act to establish a new site.

Peter Julian, the New Democrat candidate for New Westminster-Burnaby, said the NDP has been "crystal clear" on its support for decriminalization of simple possession.

"He doesn't seem to be very clear on that," Julian said of O'Toole, minutes after crossing paths with him outside the Last Door recovery centre and encouraging him to "keep up your energy." They both agreed the election set for Sept. 20 was "very irresponsible," in Julian's words.

In the short term, the federal government should declare the opioid crisis a public health emergency and address safe supply, he said.

Ottawa also needs to "take on Big Pharma" by launching an investigation into the opioid epidemic and seeking compensation for its victims.

"Seventeen Canadians die every day as a result of this crisis," Julian said. "Without those two measures, it's window dressing."

Jared Nilsson, executive director of Last Door, which provides residential recovery services for male users, said recovery comprises one facet of a comprehensive approach to addictions.

"The problem with just decriminalization is you keep people just stuck where they are," he said. "You can't just have decrim, you have to have a full model done: treatment, recovery, consumption sites, harm reduction."

Chris Esnard, a 49-year-old father of three who has lived at Last Door since 2019, said the recovery centre has been critical to getting his life back on track amid a debilitating cocaine addiction.

"The biggest piece was connection," he said. "Journaling every day and hanging out with the guys.

"You get to a point where you're just lost, like you don't even realize what you're doing and how you're doing it  it's five o'clock in the morning, driving to find some," said the former food service worker.

"You can put as many police as you want on the street. If I want to find my drugs, I'll find them."

Garth Mullins, a representative of the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU), said the Tory approach marks an improvement from Harpers tough-on-crime stance, but he believes a focus on recovery and abstinence is "misplaced" as it misidentifies the crux of the crisis.

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"That always sort of says, 'We want to do this instead of worrying about people's lives," Mullins said, stressing safe supply and expressing skepticism in the new promises.

"They may slightly nicer things in their policy, but Conservatives in action just want to come down hard on drug users," he said.

Canada's 39 supervised consumption sites  where users can inject or inhale pre-obtained drugs under the supervision of trained staff  saw 3,000 visits per day between 2017 and 2019, amounting to about two million visits in total, according to Health Canada.

The vast majority of those sites have opened since Justin Trudeau's government took power in 2015, Belair noted.

In February, the Liberals tabled a bill to repeal mandatory minimum penalties for certain drug offences, but it died on the order paper after Trudeau triggered an election.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 22, 2021.
MIRAMICHI, N.B. - Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau took to the East Coast on Sunday to shore up support for his party and avoid bleeding more seats in the region.

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau departs Ottawa on Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021, en route to Atlantic Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

MIRAMICHI, N.B. - Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau took to the East Coast on Sunday to shore up support for his party and avoid bleeding more seats in the region.

The Liberals swept the 32 seats in Atlantic Canada on their way to a majority government in 2015, only to see a rollback in results in 2019 as they bled four seats to the Conservatives and one each to the New Democrats and the Greens.

The party has since flipped Jenica Atwin in Fredericton, depriving the Greens of a seat outside of British Columbia, but the Liberals have a handful of retiring MPs whose seats could be threatened.

Unlike during the first week of the campaign where he largely hit ridings the Liberals want to win over, Trudeau's schedule on Sunday took him into Liberal-held ridings, including two with departing MPs.

First he looked to rally the faithful, gathered under a hot New Brunswick sun and seated in lawn chairs and picnic tables  a few huddled in the only shade by the only shrubbery in sight  in the New Brunswick riding of Miramichi-Grand Lake.

Lisa Harris, a three-term provincial politician, is looking to keep the riding red as MP Pat Finnigan retires.

Trudeau was also to campaign Sunday in Charlottetown where the Liberals are hoping to keep their electoral stranglehold on the province of Prince Edward Island, including in the riding of Malpeque.

Long-time Liberal MP Wayne Easter has represented the riding since 1993, but the Liberals watched their share of the vote drop in the 2019 election as the Greens saw a surge in their support.

At an evening event near Charlottetown, Easter said he wasnt worried about Week 1 for the party.

He said the first week of any election is always a little bumpy for the governing party seeking another mandate, and was confident of a majority mandate on Election Day.

"We're only in the first week, starting the second, Easter told reporters before the event, which included the four Liberal candidates on the Island.

"Just wait. Don't be too anxious. The policy will roll out. No worries there."

Speaking to reporters earlier in the day, Trudeau said he was "very optimistic" about his party's chances in Atlantic Canada, flanked by Harris, long-time New Brunswick MP Dominic LeBlanc, and Anita Anand, the procurement minister who represents a Greater Toronto Area riding but has roots in Atlantic Canada.

But Trudeau faced questions about why voters in the region should back his party, exactly what the Liberals are offering as far as a "big idea," and the calls Radio-Canada reported Trudeau is making to candidates in search of one.

Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole released his party's platform last week. The New Democrats laid out their list of proposals before the official launch of the campaign, and the Bloc Quebecois unveiled theirs on Sunday.

"There is no shortage of ideas," Trudeau said in French.

"We will be able to deliver a campaign and a platform, and above all a vision of the future, that will contrast greatly to the smallness of Mr. O'Toole's approach."

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Asked for a timeline about when the full Liberal platform would be out, Trudeau said in French that he is outlining elements of his plan daily, adding a fully costed platform would soon be available.

O'Toole's party is equally eyeing seats in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, P.E.I. and Newfoundland and Labrador, targeting one east coast Liberal minister with an attack on Sunday.

The Conservatives questioned nearly $285,000 in spending for furniture and renovations for the office of Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan, as well as a new car.

The Liberals said the work, which included renovations for the deputy ministers office and those of associated staff on the floor, was started during the 2019 federal election before Jordan became minister.

Similarly, they argued the department didn't have a car for the minister and needed a new one.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 22, 2021.
Some days when Maria Moores is volunteering, the hours fly by without her noticing and she gets a lot done. Other days, she can barely make it through an hour doing a simple task.

Opinion

Some days when Maria Moores is volunteering, the hours fly by without her noticing and she gets a lot done. Other days, she can barely make it through an hour doing a simple task.

Moores lives with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), a complex disease that impacts multiple body systems. Symptoms vary in form and intensity, and can include unrelenting exhaustion, debilitating sensory sensitivity, cognitive impairments, and muscle and joint pain. Symptoms worsen following even minor amounts of cognitive or physical activity, such as taking a shower.

Moores, who lives two hours southwest of Winnipeg in Manitou, Man., brings her experience with the disease to her volunteer work with Manitoba ME/CFS Support Group Inc. The organization provides support and information to Manitobans living with ME/CFS, and aims to educate the public about the many issues associated with the illness.

The 26-year-old credits her Christian faith with her desire to volunteer.

"God can use me to help others and make a path so that others can have an easier time than I did," she says.

About 600,000 Canadians live with ME/CFS, 25 per cent of whom are housebound or bedridden. There is no cure or approved treatment, and getting properly diagnosed is difficult. That means that people suffering from the disease are often subject to discrimination, marginalization and trauma.

Moores developed the disease in 2007, but it took doctors around seven years to formally diagnose her. There were years when medical professionals told her it was all in her head, and only her family believed her when she said that something was wrong. The experience left her with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Moores joined the Manitoba support group in 2014. Today, she volunteers  often from bed  as a board member, advocate, grant writer, support group facilitator and social media co-ordinator.

"The thing I enjoy most is being able to be useful," Moores says. "When you get somewhere, you turn around and help the next person. Thats just what a person needs to do, so its nice to be able to do that. Maybe I can help the people who are getting ME today to feel better."

More than 75 per cent of people with ME/CFS acquired the illness following an infection from which they never recovered. Many people with Long COVID are now meeting the criteria for, and being diagnosed with, ME/CFS.

This prompted Moores to write a letter to her local paper last May.

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"It is critical that anyone with lingering symptoms post COVID-19 infection listen when their body tells them to STOP any activities that cause them to feel worse, REST whenever they feel they need to and PACE themselves so as to avoid future worsening of their condition," she wrote.

Moores desire to do what she can in spite of the challenges she faces is admirable, says Bev Friesen, who co-ordinates the support group.

"Maria is dedicated, compassionate and caring," Friesen says. "She shows that you can be bed bound and still give back tremendously."

Moores invites people who have been diagnosed with ME/CFS, or who suspect they might have the disease, to connect with the support group on Facebook at Facebook.com/mbmecfs or by emailing mbmecfs@gmail.com.

"We can help you learn to cope and give you the peace of mind knowing its real and not in your head," Moores says. "There are people out there who have experience and who want to help."

If you know a special volunteer, please contact aaron.epp@gmail.com.
About 50 people from Winnipegs Mennonite community gathered Sunday at a TD Bank at the corner of Notre Dame Avenue and Sherbrook Street to protest the banks funding of the Line 3 pipeline replacement.

About 50 people from Winnipegs Mennonite community gathered Sunday at a TD Bank at the corner of Notre Dame Avenue and Sherbrook Street to protest the banks funding of the Line 3 pipeline replacement.

As rain pelted down on a canopy of umbrellas, one man cut his TD Bank card into pieces while the crowd cheered. After some minutes of song and prayer, the group took non-permanent markers and wrote messages over the windows of the bank.

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS About 50 people gathered outside a TD Bank at Notre Dame Avenue and Sherbrook Street Sunday.

"Stop fossil fuel funding," one man wrote on the door. The red ink ran in long streaks from the rain down over the banks hours.

Organizer Steve Heinrichs said he drew inspiration from Indigenous communities leading protests in Minnesota.

"Its the work and the witness of Anishinaabe water protectors down at Line 3, who have been sacrificing hard trying to resist this pipeline for a number of years, not only for the sake of their own communities, but for us all," said Heinrichs.

He said Indigenous people are often at the forefront of climate action and non-Indigenous people need to "do our part."

Heinrichs said Christian churches have strayed from their roots, and he hopes his church and others can learn from land and water protectors and rediscover a "deep love and respect for creation."

"Thats why were doing this specifically around faith communities," said Heinrichs. "Were saying: Hey, weve been missing in action  weve got to step up."

The events other organizer, Allegra Friesen Epp, said the courage of Tara Houska, an Ojibwa lawyer and anti-pipeline activist who police in Minnesota shot by rubber bullets, helped spur her to action.

"Honestly, it makes my heart hurt," she said. "Its a reminder to me that some of these actions come with a cost, and that its often Indigenous people who bear that burden firsthand," she said.

Friesen Epp said she hopes her church can engage more in this sort of activism. She believes that is an important aspect of her religion and that somewhere along the line, the church deviated somewhat from it.

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"This shouldnt be radical, out-there work for the church; this should be the centre of the churchs work," she said. "So this is one small way that were trying to reprioritize and recentre ourselves in the good work of Christ."

Gilbert Detillieux, the man who cut up his bank card, said learning TD Bank was the pipelines biggest funder made him rethink his 30 years banking with the company.

"It was kind of the final straw," he said. Detillieux said he hopes more people will follow suit and cancel their accounts with the bank.

Recently, protests have largely been focused in Minnesota, where the Line 3 replacement project will be finished. Activists in the U.S. have run email campaigns to inundate the mailboxes of other large banks, such as JPMorgan, with calls to defund the pipeline. Another group of activists recently blocked a bridge in Duluth, Minn. to protest the issuing of permits.

About 80 per cent of the approximately $9 billion project is already done. The pipeline will stretch 1,660 km and is expected to transport more than 120 million litres of crude oil each day from the Alberta tar sands through Saskatchewan and Manitoba and as far as Wisconsin.

cody.sellar@freepress.mb.ca
Indigenous people have had a long connection to the land on which our city is built. Traditional place names were descriptive of the land and practised through a complete and meaningful understanding of locality. The names reflected the animate tendencies within Indigenous languages, which were illustrative of nature.

Opinion

Indigenous people have had a long connection to the land on which our city is built. Traditional place names were descriptive of the land and practised through a complete and meaningful understanding of locality. The names reflected the animate tendencies within Indigenous languages, which were illustrative of nature.

When colonialism forcibly displaced Indigenous people, Indigenous lands and their names were either modified or removed. Places were renamed after settlers, or assumed names taken directly from Europe to reflect the settlers own culture and history. Names were altered from Indigenous languages to English or French adaptations, such as in the case of Winnipeg, which derived from the Cree word "Win-nipi" or "murky waters."

The loss of Indigenous place names contributed to the loss of Indigenous languages and traditions, including oral histories.

Today, the reclamation of space, land, culture and language has risen for Indigenous people. Histories and contributions of Indigenous people within our city are moving toward being recognized and restored. Additionally, the city has begun to acknowledge the hurt caused by place names and monuments that represent colonial figures who advocated for the erasure of Indigenous people.

Calls for their removal have been propelled by the revelations of unmarked graves at Indian Residential Schools across Canada. One example is Bishop Grandin Boulevard, named after Bishop Vital-Justin Grandin, who advocated for residential schooling and believed First Nations people needed to be "civilized."

Also in the discussion is the Wolseley neighbourhood, along with Wolseley Avenue and Wolseley School, which celebrate General Garnet Wolseley, who led a campaign to incite displacement and violence toward Indigenous peoples, specifically Metis peoples.

History is a permanent point within our past, witnessed in history books. A monument or place name can serve as an act of celebration for individuals who committed repeated injustices and violence; its removal doesnt equate to an "erasure of history," as some critics state. Nor should such markers, as some argue, remain in place as a method of "education" on their action; instead, it should be their removal that educates the public about their violent legacy.

The continuing presence of such names within our city instils harm and fear for Indigenous peoples who are continuously reminded of the intergenerational tragedy. Removing them creates space for the resurgence of traditional place names. It makes room for a celebration of Indigenous people who have contributed to our community and the revival of Indigenous knowledge and languages.

The new initiative "Welcoming Winnipeg: Reconciling Our History" guides the city in making decisions regarding requests to create, add to, or remove/rename historical markers and place names to address the absence of Indigenous perspectives, experiences and contributions in the stories remembered and commemorated.

"Welcoming Winnipeg" is defined as achieving a balanced perspective and story, honouring Indigenous people while promoting Indigenous reclamation of land, space and/or language. Moreover, it offers an educational opportunity and supports telling the complete history of Winnipeg.

The committee has been reviewing requests since early 2021, many of which have taken the approach of commemorating Indigenous people or shedding light on names that continue to cause harm.

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Rooster Town was a community of Metis families that settled on land in the Grant Park area. The city forcibly removed them from their homes in 1960, displacing Metis people and appropriating their land. Rooster Town should be reclaimed and commemorated by renaming Pan Am Park, where the community initially stood.

Papoose Park, located in the Niakwa neighborhood, carries a racial connotation in its use of "Papoose"; an effort is being made for it to be removed and renamed.

Many applications seek to honour Indigenous people who have contributed to our community. Sgt. Tommy Prince, Canadas most decorated Indigenous soldier, advocated for Indigenous rights and should be celebrated with a historical marker. Theodore Fontaine, an Indigenous leader who attended the Assiniboia Residential School in the River Heights community and dedicated his life to bringing awareness to Canadas Indian Residential Schools, is proposed for recognition and commemoration in Wellington Park, which is currently named after Arthur Wellington Ross, who was associated with Indigenous dispossession.

Although the renaming of streets is not part of the Welcoming Winnipeg agenda, the committee was consulted to advise on a process to rename Bishop Grandin Boulevard.

The initiative is the beginning of the process of commemorating Indigenous peoples in our city.

Reanna Merasty is an architectural intern at Number TEN Architectural Group, and the chair of Welcoming Winnipeg.
Doctors Manitoba is pushing for mandatory vaccinations for all health care workers and is urging all workplaces to at least strongly consider requiring employee vaccinations.

Doctors Manitoba is pushing for mandatory vaccinations for all health care workers and is urging all workplaces to at least "strongly consider" requiring employee vaccinations.

"When you consider the threat posed by COVID-19 compared to how safe and effective the vaccines are, requiring employee immunization is a necessary next step," said Dr. Kristjan Thompson, president of Doctors Manitoba, in a news release. "This must be a requirement in health care, where it is all workers duty to protect the health of their patients.

"Physicians also recommend other employers strongly consider this policy to keep their staff and the public safe."

Thompson singled out schools, universities and correctional facilities as high-risk public sectors he hopes will adopt this policy. In the private sector, he pointed to manufacturing and food production.

"Weve seen organizations like True North already adopt a policy like this for their staff. Weve seen the teachers union come out and ask for a policy like this," said Doctors Manitoba spokesperson Kier Johnson. "Its not a decision to make lightly; its something that needs to be thoughtfully considered, but its certainly something physicians have been thoughtfully considering for a while."

The organization said 86 per cent of physicians it surveyed support a vaccine mandate in health care.

Johnson said physicians believe the matter is urgent.

"Theyve seen vaccine uptake slowed to a trickle, and theyve seen the fourth wave starting to ravage other jurisdictions. And considering it can take about six weeks to get their first dose, second dose and become considered fully immunized, this is the time to do it."

With delta variant cases spiking in neighbouring provinces, Johnson said the organizations physicians felt they needed to speak out.

"What theyre trying to do here is offer a medical opinion about the situation, weighing the risks and benefits  the risk of public transmission against the benefits of how safe and effective vaccines are," said Johnson.

The organization said any workplace that implements a vaccine mandate must also consider those who cannot be vaccinated for "legitimate reasons." For these people, Doctors Manitoba recommends frequent testing, continued use of protective gear and physical distancing or barriers to separate them from other workers.

Those who could get the vaccination but choose not to may simply have to deal with the consequences of their actions, said the organization in the press release.

"No one should be forced to accept any medical intervention, and that includes a COVID-19 vaccine. When that choice risks other peoples lives, however, it should come with repercussions," said Thompson.

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The spokesperson said Doctors Manitoba isnt calling for unvaccinated people to be terminated, but rather for workplaces to take additional precautions to protect everybody in the workplace.

"Exposing other employees or exposing the public to somebody whos unvaccinated is a risk," said Johnson.

Beyond that, Johnson said physicians would defer the details of such policies to legal experts.

Doctors Manitoba said theyre also calling for broader use of the immunization card "to create more low-risk opportunities for fully immunized individuals to gather."

cody.sellar@freepress.mb.ca
NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C. - A Conservative government would continue to allow supervised consumption sites even as it would shift away from harm reduction and toward recovery, federal party leader Erin O'Toole said on Sunday.

Conservative Leader Erin OToole speaks to the media as he makes an announcement on help for people living with disabilities, in Edmonton, Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021. Canadians will vote in a federal election Sept. 20th. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C. - A Conservative government would continue to allow supervised consumption sites even as it would shift away from harm reduction and toward recovery, federal party leader Erin O'Toole said on Sunday.

The more progressive approach marks a change from the last Tory government's moves to block the sites, but appears to draw the line at decriminalization. O'Toole stopped short of a pledge to exempt possession of small amounts of illicit drugs from Criminal Code provisions, a request made to Health Canada by both the city of Vancouver and the province of British Columbia.

"We want recovery and treatment to be at the core of a national program that recognizes harm reduction," O'Toole said Sunday at a campaign stop in a Vancouver suburb.

"People with addiction should not be the focus of the criminal justice system. People that are dealing and that are preying on people with addiction should be the focus," he said.

Asked whether that view should be etched into federal policy by decriminalizing simple possession, O'Toole stressed "judicial discretion" grounded in compassion and treatment programs.

"I don't think someone with an addiction should be punished. I think they should be helped," he said.

The fresh Conservative stance emerged at an addiction recovery centre in New Westminster, B.C., where O'Toole said he will approach Canada's opioid epidemic as an "urgent health crisis" rather than a criminal scourge.

The Tory campaign platform, unveiled Monday more than a month ahead of the Sept. 20 election, would invest $325 million over the next three years to create 1,000 residential drug treatment beds and build 50 recovery centres across the country.

O'Toole has also pledged to enhance treatment and prevention services in First Nations communities and partner with the provinces to provide free Naloxone kits, which reverse overdoses.

Health Canada is currently working with Vancouver on the citys request for exemption from criminal provisions on simple possession of small quantities of drugs.

Vancouver has been the epicentre of an opioid crisis that saw B.C. record 1,176 illicit drug overdose deaths in 2020  the highest ever in a single year  and more than 7,000 deaths since a public health emergency was declared in April 2016.

Peter Julian, the NDP candidate for New WestminsterBurnaby, said the NDP has been "crystal clear" on its support for decriminalization of simple possession.

"He doesn't seem to be very clear on that," Julian said of O'Toole, minutes after crossing paths with him outside the Last Door recovery centre and encouraging him to keep up his "energy."

In the short term, the federal government should declare the opioid crisis a public health emergency and address safe supply, Julian said.

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In the medium term, Ottawa needs to "take on Big Pharma" by launching an investigation into the opioid epidemic and seeking compensation for its victims.

"Seventeen Canadians die every day as a result of this crisis," he said. "Without those two measures, it's window dressing."

Jared Nilsson, executive director of Last Door, which provides residential recovery services for male users, said recovery comprises one facet of a broader addictions treatment approach.

"That's the problem with just decriminalization is you keep people just stuck where they are," he said. "You can't just have decrim, you have to have a full model done: treatment, recovery, consumption sites, harm reduction."

Garth Mullins, a representative of the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU), says the Tory approach marks an improvement from former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harpers tough-on-crime stance, but believes a focus on recovery and abstinence is "misplaced" as it misidentifies the crux of the crisis.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 22, 2021.
One of the Liberals top targets in the ongoing federal election sits in west Winnipeg, but you wont find the campaign headquarters for former MP Doug Eyolfson anywhere.

One of the Liberals top targets in the ongoing federal election sits in west Winnipeg, but you wont find the campaign headquarters for former MP Doug Eyolfson anywhere.

A hidden address for the partys Charleswood-St. James-Assiniboia-Headingley campaign is among the pandemic adjustments Winnipeg candidates are making. Eyolfson is vying to recapture the seat for the Liberals after he was defeated by Conservative Marty Morantz in 2019.

ALEX LUPUL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Paul Brault, campaign manager for Doug Eyolfson, who isnt publicizing the location of his campaign office and is holding court with voters at a distance.

Parties have modified their door-knocking routine, are debating over whether to hold events and will be pushing voters to mail in their ballots or get to the polls early.

"We still are able to interact with the voters, but only in the safest manner possible," said Paul Brault, Eyolfsons campaign manager.

Candidates across Winnipeg have reported a distanced door-knocking procedure, where they place a pamphlet into a mailbox, knock on the door or ring the bell, and then immediately step back.

"Obviously, we want to talk to voters; we want to know whats on their mind. But we want to do that in a way that doesnt make people uncomfortable," said Daniel Blaikie, the NDP incumbent for Elmwood-Transcona.

"Theres no one generally accepted answer, to all these questions."

Last week, Elections Canada said it expects 2.3 to 5 million special votes to be cast by mail or a new drop-off option, based on how bad the fourth wave gets.

In past elections, only about 5,000 Canadians voted by mail in their own riding, plus 45,000 from another riding or abroad.

Elections Canada also says its still scoping out and signing leases for polling locations, which will include a higher than usual number of church basements, community centres and even hotel ballrooms.

Thats because some provinces like Manitoba have blocked the agency from setting up polling stations in schools, saying theyd rather preserve space to distance kids.

"Every election is unique in a number of ways, but this one might be a bit more unique than others," Stephane Perrault, Canadas chief electoral officer, told reporters last week.

"Polling places are a controlled environment, where we can apply safety measures in a way that is rigorous and ensures the safety of everyone present."

His agency will require voters to wear a mask, and provide one to those who lack one, unless they have a proof of medical reason not to, in line with provincial rules.

As always, voters will be able to mail in a special ballot, but will only have their vote counted if their ridings returning office receives it on time (unlike some U.S. states, Canada does not peg this to when a ballot has been postmarked).

This year there will be drop-off voting, where electors can submit their special ballot, or have someone else do so, at a box inside their ridings returning office.

Staff will gather ballots until polls close, at which point they will have to verify each special ballot envelope. That means checking the unique barcode, signature field and address to weed out any voter who had submitted both an in-person vote and a special ballot.

That barcode will also allow people to check online whether their ballot had been received.

Its only after that verification that votes will be processed, which is why its quite likely Canadians will not learn who won the election on the evening of Sept. 20.

"In some districts, it could take as long as five days, depending on the volume and the distribution," said Perrault.

However, electors will be able to see how many ballots have been counted and how many remain, as well as an interim result. And campaigns will be able to monitor the count, as usual.

"The prime minister decided to call an election in a pandemic, so it really puts 38 million Canadians in a very, very awkward position," said Marty Morantz, the Conservative incumbent for Charleswood-St. James-Assiniboia-Headingley.

At the doors, Morantz said its often hard to have a conversation while wearing masks, yet it remains the best way to make a connection with voters.

"Theyve been locked up during COVID for so long; they havent been really able to have much social interaction," he said. "When I show up at the doors theyre actually kind of happy to see their politician there."

His team is trying to inform voters of the various options, such as voting by mail, or in the four days of advanced polls.

Blaikies campaign office is requiring masks, proof of vaccination and taking down visitors numbers. Theyre also co-ordinating a virtual phone bank, meaning volunteers are ringing voters from their own home.

"It makes for a very different feel; one of the joyous things about the campaign is how people come together and often bring food. Were not allowing that in this campaign," he said.

Eyolfsons office has similar requirements, except volunteers working phones will sit two metres apart from each other without masks, in rooms that are separate from the campaign staff.

Those knocking on doors meet at an intersection, instead of the usual practice of gathering at the campaign office for coffee. The campaign isnt knocking on doors at apartment buildings.

"Were making sure were following common-sense protocols," said Brault.

As of Friday, Blaikie and Morantz campaign staff had not planned any events, but are deliberating if they can safety gather outdoors without people feeling uncomfortable.

Eyolfsons campaign is planning spaced-out events in parks, though a horde of masked Liberal supporters did crowd around Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last Friday during his visit to the riding.

"It is important to follow public-health measures which is why we are wearing masks we need to continue to be vigilant," Trudeau said moments later, when asked whether his campaign was setting a bad example.

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As for election day, Blaikie, Eyolfson and Morantzs team are all sorting out their get-out-the-vote strategy. A key campaign tool is usually offering supporters free rides to the polls.

This year, they might have a protocol such as making sure volunteer drivers are vaccinated and masked, and leaving their windows opened based on the weather.

Some campaigns might go around picking up sealed special ballots and dropping them off at the returning office.

Blaikie said that all depends on Canadians actually wanting to cast a ballot as kids go back to school and a fourth wave hits different provinces.

"Its hard because youre competing for peoples attention  which is one of the reasons why we really shouldnt have had an election," he said.

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca
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He said the conversation needs to include factors such as language barriers. He said there was a lack of interpreters in 1980, and much of the refugees personal information was lost in translation. He said decades later refugees were still dealing with inaccurate health and criminal records and misspelled names.

Granados said refugees will need assistance after they leave Fort McCoy, such as job training.

There is a period of five years when you need to continue support, he said.

Roll said another issue in 1980 was finding sponsors. One refugee was convicted of killing his sponsor in her Tomah home.

There was so much pressure to find sponsors that there were some bad matches, Roll said. It was all done on the fly.

Despite the homicide and other reports of refugees escaping Fort McCoy and wandering onto private property, Roll said people who dealt face-to-face with the refugees were more open to their presence. More than 14,000 refugees passed through Fort McCoy.

One of themes from the stories we collected was that people who were directly involved with the Cubans tended to be more sympathetic, he said.
Posters represent folk, rock, reggae, religious, rap and those classified as American Independent.

A lot of alternative rock is probably the biggest genre, said Jeanne.

It doesnt fall under country. It doesnt fall into classical. Its just, you know, good music, added Chuck.

Artists include Michael Franti, Jared & the Mill, Red Wanting Blue, Mat Kearney, Welshly Arms, Melodime, Brendon James, Country as Folk, Mercyme, Gaelic Storm, Magic Giant, Rocketboy, Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors, The Brevet, Carbon Leaf, Andy Grammer, Liz Brasher, Hundred Plus. Bronze Radio Return and The Hall Sisters.

And the list goes on.

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Weve gone to see concerts with nine and more groups featured  many of which are our favorites, said Chuck. We get autographs and pose for selfies with the artists. We go all out and have a really great time.

He continued, We saw Michael Franti and he signed a shirt for me, which I havent worn yet. Hes from Wisconsin  he was adopted  and his mother still lives in Bayfield. When we saw him at Red Rock, (Colorado) he came out and we got our picture taken with him, and it showed up on his Facebook page!
Adams County and Wisconsin continue to experience an increase of COVID-19 cases driven by the highly infectious Delta variant, which is now widespread in all parts of Wisconsin and the nation. The Delta variant is much more contagious than the original strain of COVID-19. As the spread increases, so does the risk that new, variants that are potentially more dangerous will develop.
There's a small delta in Alaska's 372,000-acre (150,500-hectare) Kachemak Bay reserve and Alabama's Weeks Bay reserve is within the extensive Mississippi River delta region, she said Friday.

But the dominance of that system in Louisiana is unlike any other, she said.

Estuaries are brackish bodies of water usually found where rivers meet the sea. The research reserve system is currently is made up of 29 estuaries in 23 states and Puerto Rico. It includes Great Lakes coastlines as well as those along the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Kachemak Bay is the largest and Old Woman Creek in Ohio, at 573 acres (230 hectares), the smallest.

Twenty-one are participating in a study of what climate-driven water level increases are doing to marshes, Gore said.
One year after Kenosha was struck by unrest following the shooting of Jacob Blake, the criminal case against Kyle Rittenhouse is still waiting in the wings.

Rittenhouse, now 18, is scheduled to go to trial Nov. 1 on homicide and attempted homicide charges for shooting three men, killing two, during protests in the city. The case has come to reflect the political fault lines that are dividing the nation  at least in part because of the publicity-seeking decisions of two civil attorneys once involved with the case  and Kenosha is unlikely to be able to come to terms with the events of August 2020 until the criminal case is decided.

Rittenhouse, who was 17 last August, is charged with first-degree reckless homicide for the shooting deaths of Joseph Rosenbaum of Kenosha and Anthony Huber of Silver Lake, and attempted first-degree intentional homicide for shooting and severely injuring Gaige Grosskreutz of West Allis. Hes also charged with carrying a dangerous weapon as a minor.

Theres no question that Rittenhouse shot the men  the events were captured by video and widely shared on social media nearly immediately, and Rittenhouse admits the shooting. In one widely shared video, he is seen standing over Rosenbaums body before running away while talking on the phone saying I just shot somebody.
A Servant to the youth

Im that person that if you want someone to work with in assisting students, people just think of Lucy.

Founder of Adopt a Student During the Pandemic Lucy Khofi is living her dream of giving back to the community, one student at a time.

I had this idea that I want to give back to communities in one way or another. So when I came to Joburg in 2008, and even before I started with my term in the SRC, I would normally assist students where I can and I think from there, thats when students decided to nominate me for the Student Representative Council, says Khofi.

This resolve was tested in 2020 when it became clear that the lockdown was negatively impacting students and Khofi sprung into action.

I still remember when the president announced the lockdown for the first time. I was still in the SRC and a lot of students were sending me WhatsApp messages and emails. They were so confused, especially the first years, they didnt know what they were going to do or how they were going to study, says Khofi, then a Gender and Transformation Officer in the Wits SRC and a Masters in Medical Anthropology candidate.

It was then that the Adopt a Student During the Pandemic initiative was born says Khofi, who was recently featured under the health category of the Mail & Guardians 200 Young South Africans, a list of under 35s to look out for and making an impact in society.

The initiative assisted over 300 students at Wits University and an unknown number of students from other universities at the beginning of the 2020 lockdown, with food and data. It also organised industry focused mentorship programmes and mental support using the Counselling Careers and Development Unit and the South African Anxiety and Depression Group.

During the start of the 2020 lockdown universities nationwide had not yet made data or laptop arrangements for students and there was still confusion as to how the academic year was going to continue.



Khofi and a team of postgraduate students who had connected mostly through Twitter availed themselves to assist struggling students whether it was organising food parcels, buying data for students, housing or administration - some financed using money from their own pockets.



Celebration church located in Midrand, is one of the organisations that reached out to Khofi to donate food parcels at the start of the initiative. They really assisted so many students who were left behind and didnt have food to eat, especially those who were in private accommodation, she says.



Khofi recalls that at the beginning of the initiative it was still scary for people to go outside because people were still very frightened by Covid-19 and did not yet understand the nature of the virus. For her, ventuing out despite the fear was about helping someone who might go to bed hungry.



She also received assistance from the Wits Consortium, the Wits Development and Leadership Unit, the office of the Dean of Students and Study Trust where she is currently employed as a Wits Campus Coordinator.

Khofi says the operation was more of a collective effort and she used her knowledge and networks to connect students to relevant partners in the different organisations for the necessary support.



Some of the students still keep in touch with Khofi to share their progress and academic transcripts.



Yonela Zatshikile, a second-year biomedical engineering student at Wits University and a mentee at Adopt a Student During the Pandemic credits the initiative for what could have been a disastrous 2020.

I went through a lot last year and the programme has really helped me academically and mentally, having someone to talk to has been great and it was one of the best things to ever happen to me, who still receives mentorship from the programme.



The feedback and impact of the initiative has motivated Khofi and the rest of the team to continue with the initiative and are currently working on an expansion.



We want to take as many students as possible and this time we want to make it very different because we will have sponsors and be able to assist students on a higher level, says Khofi.
ROME, N.Y.  Rome Police Department is investigating after a 15-year-old was stabbed on North Madison Street early Monday morning.

Police say the stabbing happened around 2:30 a.m. on the 100 block. Residents in that area who have home surveillance cameras are asked to review their video for any suspicious activity around that time.

Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Galluppi at 315-339-7716 or leave an anonymous tip with Mohawk Valley Crime Stoppers at 1-866-730-8477 or www.mohawkvalleycrimestoppers.com.
WAMPSVILLE, N.Y. (UPDATED)  The state of emergency for southern Madison County was lifted Monday at 5 p.m.

The advisory covered the towns of DeRuyter, Georgetown, Lebanon and Eaton.

Madison County Board Chairman John M. Becker issued the emergency declaration due to flooded roadways, and asked drivers to avoid traveling in those areas for most of Monday.
Members of New York State Police are mourning the death of one of their own.

The New York State Police Troop G office confirms the death of Trooper James J. Monda, 45, who was working as part of a marine detail on the Great Sacandaga Lake on Sunday.

Police say Monda was working marine detail, and around 4 p.m., he went into the water near the Fulton County boat launch and never resurfaced. He was taken to Nathan Littauer Hospital where he died.

Monda was a member of state police for 18 years serving Troop G and Troop B during that time.

He is survived by his fiancee, mother and father.

He was from Schenectady County.
Re-start, Re-think, Re-imagine.

Highlights

All videos produced by Vid Monster Productions

Watch the whole 2021 livestream here!

Artwork and geodes made by 2021 IFBG participants



Resources to Explore from IFBG 2021

2021 Speakers

Matt Gosnell

Outreach Coordinator, AppHarvest

AppHarvest.com

Matt Gosnell grew up in Kentucky and has led business and land development efforts in five countries. Prior to joining AppHarvest, Matt worked in municipal finance in Chicago, management training and conflict resolution in South America, and most recently as project developer for a U.S. Department of Defense office responsible for reducing costs through renewable energy programs. Matt received a bachelor's degree in finance from the University of Kentucky and a master's degree in international affairs from the Universidad Externado de Colombia.

Learn more about App Harvest and AgTech:

Inside App Harvest

President David Lee on Company's Growth

Technology: The Future of Agriculture

Ag Tech: A Great Investment for the Future

AgTech Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Growth

Frankie Lewis

Designer, Frankie Lew Organization

frankielew.com

Frankie Lewis was born and raised in Louisville. In 2014, after receiving her BS in theater arts from the University of Louisville, she started her first fashion label, Ann DeEvelyn Clothing Company. Her work was featured in EXTOL Magazine, Louisville Magazine, and KMAC COUTURE  Art Walks the Runway, and was mentioned in British and Italian Vogue. In 2018, Frankie was selected to compete with 15 other designers on season 17 of Project Runway. She currently lives and works in Los Angeles, California, as a freelance tailor for Michael Schmidts Studios and as owner of the Frankie Lew fashion house.

Learn more about Frankie Lewis:

An Interview with Frankie Lewis

Inclusivity in Fashion

Meet the Louisville fashion designer starring on Bravo's 'Project Runway'

Janessa Unseld

Finalist, Breakthrough Junior Challenge

breakthroughjuniorchallenge.org

Janessa Unseld is a senior and community developer at The Gatton Academy for Mathematics and Science in Kentucky. Her love for exploring diverse perspectives has led her to many an extracurricular, including sitting on her school's literary magazine editorial board, engaging in her local philosophy club, and cofounding Project Unite, a group focused on promoting cultural awareness. She feels that anything worth articulating is worth articulating well, and thus always works to develop her communication skills. A three-minute video she created exemplifies this attitude: it details the practical limitations of quantum computers and is now a finalist in the 2020 Breakthrough Junior Challenge.

Learn more about Janessa Unseld and careers:

Watch her Breakthrough Junior Challenge video

Watch her winning Poetry Outloud performance

Take an Interest Profiler to discover possible fields for you

2021 Virtual Minds-on, Hands-on Activities

Art with Brianna Harlan

to contact Brianna, use her contact form at BriannaHarlan.com or through Instagram @_briannaharlan

More on rubbings/frottage

High Musueum of Art

Hammer Museum

Brianna's talk at IFBG 2019

Computer Science/Coding

with The Kentucky Science Center

Design

Time-lapse video of Andee drawing the mural insoired by your designs

PDF of the mural for you to color

Geology

to contact Shelby, email her at shelby.rader@gmail.com or shtrader@iu.edu

More on geodes

geology.com

desertusa.com

Shelby's talk at IFBG 2018
TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI)  The Tippecanoe School Corp. Board voted 6-1 Monday morning to enforce a mask mandate.

The vote happened after Board President Patrick Hein called an emergency meeting amid rising student quarantines. During the meeting, he said the issue could "get out of hand quickly."

TSC, the lone holdout on mask mandates among the county's public school corporations, now requires masks inside schools and other buildings. Mask-wearing was previously optional.

School board member Julia Cummings cast the lone vote against the mandate while parents on both sides of the debate turned out.

"We've been pushing for a mask policy right from the start," says TSC parent Brent Jesiek. "I know there's a lot of division on this issue but I think masking the kids up and keeping them safe is really what we're happy to see here."

"I'm just about letting everyone do what they feel is best for their family," says TSC parent Sarah Johnson.

"I'm not really surprised, I'm disappointed," Johnson says of the board members who voted for the mask mandate, "especially with the ones that seemed to hold the views of freedom and personal choice."

The main topic of discussion: 388 students quarantined in the first eight school days. Board member Jacob Burton noted it's the same amount of instructional time lost as 17 students missing a full school year.

Johnson's son, a student at Harrison High School, is one of those quarantined students. So would a mask have kept him in school?

"Potentially, but I don't know how many times my kids were quarantined last year with masks," she says.

Board members noted more than 6,000 students were quarantined last school year. They also discussed CDC and state guidance on more stringent contact tracing for unmasked students.

Unmasked students are considered a close contact if they are within six feet of a positive case, rather than three feet for masked students.

One positive case this year at TSC, for example, reportedly sent 40 students home.

"I'm a little troubled by some of the comments about a lack of evidence around the efficacy of masking because I think there's a lot of really good evidence," Jesiek says.

Johnson is considering home schooling her high schoolers or transferring them to a different school. She says friends, family members and fellow parents are doing the same.

"I think that they're going to see a lot of kids being removed," she says.

This year's mask mandate takes effect Wednesday. As News 18 previously reported, the board voted down a similar measure earlier this month.

"It's just really critical not only to keep our kids safe but really to keep the whole community safe," Jesiek says.
PERU, Ind. (AP)  Residents and local officials are fighting plans for overhauling a U.S. 24 intersection in northern Indiana, saying they dont believe it will improve traffic safety.

The Indiana Department of Transportation has proposed building a so-called J-turns at the intersection of U.S. 24 and Indiana 19 just north of Peru. Agency officials cite 26 crashes involving two deaths there over the past decade as the reason for changing traffic patterns, the Kokomo Tribune reported.

The J-turns would allow only right-hand turns only entering or exiting U.S. 24, with a dedicated lane for drivers to make U-turns after passing the intersection to go the other direction.

Miami County economic development director Jim Tidd said he worried the J-turns wont provide safe crossing for the number of semitrailers traveling to and from the nearby Peru Industrial Park.

The state highway department backed off plans to build six J-turns on U.S. 31 in the area after widespread local opposition. The agency said in December it was reevaluating how to modify the intersections toward a long-term goal of eliminating traffic lights on U.S. 31 through northern Indiana.
Supporting homeless students through a pandemic: COVID relief funds expand the impact of Project Hope

In a normal year, from a small office tucked on the second floor of the W&M School of Education, Project HOPE-VA administers the statewide program for the education of homeless youth using a budget of just under $2 million annually. These funds support a network of school divisions that receive homeless education subgrants and liaisons in every school division in the state, with the aim of identifying and supporting students experiencing homelessness.

Our goal is to find them, get them enrolled in school and keep them there, says Pat Popp, state coordinator for the program and clinical associate professor. Once they are in school, we can provide not only academic support, but everything from mental health services to food assistance.

But with school buildings closed due to the pandemic, many of those threads of support became severed, leaving students and families cut off from vital services.

In the three years preceding the pandemic, about 20,000 K-12 students across the state were identified as homeless, defined as the lack of a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. Last year, that number dropped to about 14,000, despite widespread economic turmoil and data showing that overall homelessness in the state was reaching historic levels during the pandemic.

While schools were closed, families didnt think about reaching out to our school division programs for assistance. says Popp. Despite the efforts of our local homeless education liaisons in each school division, we know we lost touch with more students than we have in the past. Finding these families and students is a critical priority for the coming academic year.

And while the first relief packages, including the CARES Act signed in early 2020, provided support for education, they did not specifically earmark money for students experiencing homelessness. Advocates ensured that the American Rescue Plan of March 2021 did, resulting in an unprecedented $800 million dedicated to supporting the needs of students experiencing homelessness during the pandemic.

For Project HOPE, that meant an additional $13 million in funding and an urgent charge from the U.S. Department of Education to provide immediate relief to families across the state  many of whom had scattered without a forwarding address.

With the increased funding, the department also provided more flexibility in putting those dollars to work. In the past, funding was limited to activities directly related to the education of students experiencing homelessness, for instance transportation to keep students in their school of origin, tutoring, and school supply costs. The guidelines for the new funding are broader, allowing for the provision of wraparound services such as short-term temporary housing, internet access, trauma-informed care and mental health services.

It opens the door a little more to support families, says Popp. And it means our partnerships with community-based organizations are more important than ever. I get invited to a lot of tables and I try to sit at as many of them as possible to increase awareness of the needs of students who face homelessness.

Evaluation and accountability are high on Popps list of priorities as Project HOPE moves forward. We have to find simple ways to evaluate the difference the additional funds make, she adds. How are students benefiting?

About a quarter of the funding was disbursed in April and went directly to previously identified subgrants actively working in the hardest hit areas of the state. The increase in funding will mean that school divisions that hadnt previously been awarded subgrants will have an opportunity to expand their programs as the remainder of the funding gets distributed.

Much of Project HOPEs work revolves around training school staff to work with students experiencing homelessness and keep them continuously enrolled in school. Those training efforts have moved online during the pandemic, allowing even more educators from across the state to participate.

Popp initiated biweekly Zoom meetings with division-based liaisons that she calls Charlie Check-Ins. During these meetings, staff can ask questions, share information and discuss current challenges. Guest speakers have included advocacy lawyers to discuss eviction protections and Department of Health staff to address health issues. Another webinar was devoted to the topic of human trafficking to ensure that school staff can identify the warning signs that children are being moved illegally or otherwise exploited.

With these new funds, Project HOPE also plans to expand services for preschool children and students in higher education. They have been working with the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia (SCHEV) and are developing professional development for university staff from Virginia universities that currently host GEAR UP programs to establish single points of contact on their campuses for students facing homelessness.

In addition to building relationships with other agencies and developing learning opportunities for school staff, Popp and her team are focused on monitoring current efforts and evaluating all the new ideas that have arisen.

Were constantly asking ourselves: How do we take these ideas, evaluate them and then put them to work helping families? And how do we make them sustainable so that were supporting children and families long after the pandemic has passed?
Pupils have a calligraphy tutoring class as a daycare service during summer vacation provided by Xiaobeilu Primary School in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, July 19, 2021. [Xinhua/Huang Guobao]





BEIJING, Aug. 21 (Xinhua)  This summer vacation, Guo Qile, a third-grader in east China's city of Shanghai, attended classes almost every day. Despite this, Guo enjoyed it a lot.

"The teachers are so nice, and I have many friends here to play with. I'm having so much fun!" Guo said.

What Guo attends is actually a daycare program initiated by a local community. In Shanghai, these programs are offered in the entire city this summer vacation.

In 2021, with the support of the Chinese government, summer vacation daycare is booming. Many students went back to school during this summer vacation  not for regular classes but for activities such as watching films, group games, and painting.

Favorable Policies

Summer vacation daycare, a new option for busy parents, became a trend this year after Chinese education authorities mobilized to offer more choices for school-age students during their summer vacation.

In early July, the Ministry of Education issued a notice asking local authorities to encourage qualified schools to provide these childcare services.

Solid progress was made in many places, including Shanghai, for example. From July 5 to Aug. 13, 543 daycare programs were set up across the municipality, benefitting nearly 40,000 students. Among the programs, 407 were held on school campuses.

Similar programs have been in place for years in many areas with encouragement from local education departments.

Since 2017, the Jiyang District of Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, has set up public welfare summer childcare courses. The courses have been well received by parents, many of whom are migrant workers with no time to look after their children, said an official with the district's education bureau.

Addressing Parents' Needs

"Small children aren't able to look after themselves, and we parents find it unnerving to leave them alone at home," said Li Yan, a parent from Shandong Province.

From Li's perspective, daycare programs provided by schools are a great solution for parents who have such worries.

To meet the needs of more parents, the scale of the childcare program in the Jiyang District has expanded year by year, with the number of students participating increasing from 600 in the first year to more than 2,600 this year.

The country's education authorities have stipulated that daycare programs ought to be, in their nature, a public service that doesn't create financial burdens for parents. Organizers across the country have strictly adhered to this principle.

For instance, in Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi Province, a summer vacation daycare service is provided at a reasonable price of 50 yuan per day. Students from families with financial difficulties can attend daycare courses for free.

Pooling Efforts of Society

With daycare programs gaining popularity, daycare program organizers are pooling society's efforts to boost the quality of the services they provide.

In Shanghai, this summer, more than 12,000 college student volunteers were recruited, and each of them attends to no more than five children. Thus, all children can receive adequate attention and care.

For the future development of vacation-time daycare services, there is still room for improvement, experts said.

"Organizers of daycare programs should be familiar with the traits of students at different ages and understand what they need most," said Yao Zongling, the headmaster of a middle school in Tai'an, Shandong Province.

Yao proposed dividing children into different groups based on their age and abilities and design courses accordingly, instead of organizing one-size-fits-all activities.

In the meantime, having their children attending daycare programs doesn't mean parents are free of responsibilities, said Lyu Yugang, an official with the Ministry of Education. He called on parents to balance their children's daycare hours and leisure hours.

(Source: Xinhua)
BEIJING, Aug. 23 (Xinhua)  Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the China-Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Forum on the Digital Economy Industry and the Smart China Expo 2021, which both opened Monday in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality.

The world has entered a period of rapid growth in the digital economy, in which new technologies, business patterns and platforms such as 5G, artificial intelligence and smart cities have sprung up and greatly influenced scientific innovation, industrial structure adjustment and economic and social development across the globe, Xi said in the letter.

In recent years, China has actively promoted digital industrialization and industrial digitization to push for deep integration between digital technologies and economic and social development, he noted.

On the occasion of the 20th founding anniversary of the SCO, China is willing to, together with other SCO member states, carry forward the Shanghai Spirit and get deeply involved in international cooperation on the digital economy, Xi stressed.

Digitization, networking and intelligence shall provide more momentum for economic and social development, he said, calling for breaking new ground in digital economy cooperation.

(Source: Xinhua)
The Frontier is a nonprofit, independent news source based in Tulsa. Frontier content is republished in The Transcript through a special content agreement. For more information on The Frontier, visit readfrontier.org.
Missouri Independent is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a public charity. It can be found at missouriindependent.com.
Sika will sell its European industrial coatings business to Sherwin-Williams, having main location and manufacturing unit in Vaihingen, Germany. The product range encompasses anticorrosive and fire protection coatings. (Representative Image/File Photo)

BAAR, SWITZERLAND: Sika has agreed to sell its European industrial coatings business, based in Germany, to The Sherwin-Williams Company, the US-based global leader in paints and coatings. In 2020, the business segment generated sales of approximately CHF 75 million. The transaction is expected to close in the beginning of 2022.

Sika has taken the strategic decision to divest its European industrial coatings business. The business offers a wide portfolio of innovative products and solutions primarily sold to specialized customer groups such as steel construction companies or anticorrosion experts. These customer segments provide little synergy potential on a group-wide level and the business has remained a specialized niche within the Sika Group. The transaction includes the European industrial coatings business with the main location and manufacturing facility in Vaihingen,

Germany. The product range encompasses anticorrosive and fire protection coatings which are mainly sold in Germany, Switzerland, Poland and Austria.

With Sherwin-Williams, Sika is convinced to have found the right long-term owner for the European industrial coatings business. Industrial coatings is a core competence for SherwinWilliams and the acquired business an important strategic opportunity to drive growth and support the expansion of its market position in Europe.

It is of great importance for Sika to have found a good strategic owner for the European industrial coatings business that will continue to invest in the further development of its people and products. Customers can continue to rely on the availability of high-quality products and technical support in the future. Sherwin-Williams is a strong, growing company with the strategic focus on coatings and paints. Within this organization, the industrial coatings business along with its employees will be in an ideal position to develop and grow to their full potential, said Ivo Schadler, regional manager EMEA.

 Worldofchemicals News
10k grants available to help fill empty shops in North Wales towns  including in Wrexham

Empty premises in North Wales high streets could soon be filled thanks to an innovative grant scheme.

Up to 10,000 funding packages are available through the Welsh Government Town Centre Entrepreneurship Fund for entrepreneurs who are keen to open a business in Wrexham, Bangor, Rhyl, or Colwyn Bay.

The Town Centre Miwtini start-up programme  a collaboration between Enterprise Hub @M-SParc and Wrexham Enterprise Hub  wants to hear from interested parties with business ideas that could lead to them occupying a unit in one of the struggling retail districts.

One-day courses will be held on each of the following dates with key information on themes including guidance on the fund, lease guidance, finance, marketing, customer service, and Smart Towns, urban areas that use different electronic methods and sensors to collect data, which in turn is used to shape decision-making and manage services and resources more efficiently.

September 8: 29 Conway Road, Colwyn Bay  https://miwtinitowncentrecolwynbay.eventbrite.co.uk

September 15: Costigans, Rhyl  miwtinitowncentrerhyl.eventbrite.co.uk

September 22: Kyffin Cafe Deli, Bangor  miwtinitowncentrebangor.eventbrite.co.uk

September 29: Enterprise Hub, Wrexham  https://miwtinitowncentrewrexham.eventbrite.co.uk

A recent report by the Welsh Retail Consortium revealed nearly one in five shops in Wales is empty and the country has the second highest vacancy rate of any UK region behind the North East of England (20.6%).

Enterprise Hub Manager Sara Roberts said this is a great opportunity for anyone with an idea for a venture and looking for commercial premises to take it to the next level and reverse this national trend.

We would encourage people to capitalise on this funding, especially anyone who has started a new business from home in lockdown, she said.

We want to help breathe life into the high streets of Wrexham, Bangor, Rhyl and Colwyn Bay as like other town centres nationally they have struggled with the challenges of the pandemic and the rise of online shopping  they need to bounce back.

Miwtini will be on hand with support and advice on a range of subjects to get you started, and these one-day courses will cover pivotal topics to lay the foundations for success.

Sara added: The packages could provide a spark for entrepreneurs to take their small business forward long-term, so please get in touch or attend one of the events to find out more.

Backed by the European Regional Development Fund, the initiative forms part of the Welsh Governments Transforming Towns programme, which earlier this year released an additional 24m package of support to revitalise town centres and encourage companies to relocate to urban areas in a bid to bring derelict sites back to use.

For more information, visit www.hwbmenter.cymru/en/mutiny. Alternatively, call 01248 858070 or email post@hwbmenter.cymru. The Enterprise Hub is part Funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government.
Antibody testing programme to be launched for adults in UK who test positive for Covid

Thousands of adults a day will be given free access to antibody tests through a new national surveillance programme launched by the UK Health Security Agency.

For the first time, the programme will offer antibody testing to adults in the UK who test positive to help improve the understanding of immunity against COVID-19 from vaccination and infection.

From Tuesday, anyone aged over 18 will be able to opt in to take part when booking a PCR test through NHS Test and Trace. Up to 8,000 people who opt in and then receive a positive PCR result will be sent two finger prick antibody tests to complete at home and send back to a lab for analysis.

The UK Health Security Agency will work alongside NHS Test and Trace testing services in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to monitor levels of antibodies in positive cases across the UK.

The data collected will help estimate the proportion of those who got COVID-19 despite developing antibodies as a result of having a vaccine or previously catching coronavirus.

The initiative could also provide insight into any groups of people who do not develop an immune response. The UK Health Security Agency will use the data to inform our ongoing approach to COVID-19 and provide further insight into the effectiveness of the vaccines against different variants.

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Sajid Javid said: Our new national antibody testing will be quick and easy to take part in, and by doing so youll be helping strengthen our understanding of COVID-19 as we cautiously return to a more normal life.

Im proud to see all parts of the UK uniting around this new initiative and working together to arm ourselves with even more valuable insights into how COVID-19 vaccines are protecting people up and down the UK.

Our phenomenal vaccination programme continues to build a massive wall of defence across the country  already preventing around 24 million infections and more than 100,000 deaths in England alone. I urge everyone across the UK to get both vaccinations as soon as possible.

All adults interested in the study are encouraged to opt in.

Anyone taking part must take their first antibody test as soon as possible after receiving a positive PCR result, before the body has had time to generate a detectable antibody response to the current infection.

The first test will determine the level of antibodies a person had before their current infection.

The second test should be taken 28 days after testing positive for COVID-19 and will measure antibodies generated in response to the infection.

By comparing the two antibody test results, the UK Health Security Agency will be able to see how well vaccinated individuals boost their immunity when they are infected and how this might vary with different variants.

Testing positive for antibodies does not mean someone is immune from COVID-19 and people must continue to follow the rules, get tested if they have symptoms and self-isolate if positive or are a contact of a positive case and have not received both vaccine doses, to prevent the virus from spreading.

Chief Executive of the UK National Health Security Agency Dr Jenny Harries said: We are rolling out antibody testing across the UK to gain vital data into the impact of our vaccination programme and on immune responses to different variants of COVID-19.

This has been made possible thanks to the incredible British public who continue to come forward for testing when they develop symptoms and the millions of people who have had their jabs.

The best way to protect yourself and those around you is by getting vaccinated. I encourage anyone who has not yet come forward to book their first and second jabs.

The NHS has guidance on what you can do to look after yourself and treat any symptoms you may have following a positive PCR result.

It remains vital people continue to get a PCR swab test if they have symptoms and self-isolate when asked by NHS Test and Trace. Individuals should not change their behaviour based on an antibody result.

Antibodies are part of the bodys immune response to help fight off infection and are generated either after being infected or following vaccination.

Secretary of State for Wales Simon Hart said: The UK government has launched a new antibody test to those who opt in when booking a PCR test in Wales, which will enable us to deepen our understanding of COVID-19.

Im proud that Wales, along with the other three UK nations, are collaborating on such an important programme and I urge everyone to opt in and take advantage of the testing available.
WAVERLY, TN (WSMV) - 22 people are now confirmed dead after devastating flooding in Humphreys County this weekend, according to the Associated Press.

As of Tuesday morning, at least 12 people are still missing.

22 dead, 12 unaccounted for after flooding in Humphreys County Search and rescue efforts continued Monday as Waverly and Humphreys County attempt to pick up the pieces after Saturdays deadly flooding.

"Today, we are trying to get a good evaluation picture," Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis said.

The catastrophic flooding happened Saturday after 17 inches of rain fell on the town of Waverly in less than 24 hours, setting a new one-day rainfall record for Tennessee.

Davis said many of the people still missing were in the area most impacted by the flood waters.

"The ones we have missing are mainly from the area of the greatest impact of the watcher when it first came up," said Davis. "From children to elderly is what our deceased is ranging from."

Waverly Department of Public Safety Director Grant Gillespie said the number of missing went down from 40 to at least 20 after posting a list of names on social media.

Gillespie also said there had been an arrest on Sunday for looting. Someone was caught trying to steal from a business that was damaged from the storm.

Humphreys County Schools announced classes would be canceled this week because of the flooding. Three schools were impacted by the flooding.

Davis said that they are having issues with notifying victims because of the infrastructure issues in the county.

Humphreys County releases names of missing residents after flooding Humphreys County first responders have released a list of names of people who have been reported missing after Saturdays deadly floods.

Now, search efforts are underway as families search for missing loved ones. Emergency officials have reopened the reunification center at McEwen High School and it will remain open until 5 p.m. The mission of the center is to help loved ones get information from those searching.

Davis asks onlookers to avoid Waverly if possible. Power still remains out in much of the community and several businesses were damaged by the torrential flood waters.

"If you don't have to come to Waverly, stay home. We'd rather ask you not to come into Waverly if you don't have too," the sheriff told News4 on Sunday morning.

The 8 p.m. curfew in Waverly and Humphreys County will remain in place on Sunday.

There is also a boil water advisory in effect for the Waverly water system.

Crews assessing damage after devastating floods WAVERLY, TN (WSMV) - Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis said 10 people were dead and 31 missing after flooding on Saturday.

Anyone seeking shelter in Humphreys County is advised to go to the following locations:

YMCA Dickson County, 225 Henslee Dr., Dickson

Fairfield Church of Christ, 1860 Tennessee 100, Centerville

Waverly Church of Christ, 438 W. Main St., Waverly

Waverly First Baptist Church, 300 E. Main St., Waverly

The Red Cross has setup an online resource, so flood survivors can register and let family and friends know they are safe. To access this resource, click here.

Red Cross open shelters, to begin surveying flooded areas on Sunday American Red Cross disaster responders from across Tennessee are beginning to provide shelter, relief items and comfort for people impacted by floods in Hickman, Humphreys and Dickson counties early Saturday morning.

However, the Humphreys County Sheriffs Office advises people to avoid travel unless absolutely necessary. Drivers are being told "not attempt to cross flooded roads or walkways. Turn around, dont drown."

TEMA released their fourth Flash Report before noon on Sunday, highlighting the following:

A Reunification Center for flood survivors is open at McEwen High School from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday.

The American Red Cross has set up a Flood in Tennessee online resource at www.safeandwell.org where flood survivors can register and let family and friends know they are safe.

The State Emergency Operations Center is activated and supporting local assistance and resource requests in the storm-impacted counties.

Search and rescue operations, and missions to support human needs, will remain ongoing today.

Flood waters are receding and river levels are being monitored.

You can read the full report here.

Storm Impacts Multiple bridges and roadways  SR1/US70, SR230, SR48N  remain closed today from flooding and debris impacts.

Telecommunication services in the area, particularly in Humphreys County, are limited as AT&T and Verizon move resources to the area to improve voice, data, and internet access for the public and responders.

Boil water notices are in effect for the cities of Waverly and Bon Aqua, with Waverly reporting its water treatment facility is down.

More than 10,000 customers in the impacted counties remain without power.

Search and rescue teams performed more than 20 rescues and evacuations yesterday, with searches conducted in approximately 100 homes and 25 businesses.

Open shelters reported 89 occupants overnight.

Humphreys County reports three impacted schools.

Neighbors should check in on the elderly and any people living alone. People should also monitor radio and television broadcasts for information and instructions as well as charge any electronic devices in case of loss of power.
A parent with two small children sent the World Socialist Web Site the following letter opposing the Ontario governments decision to reopen schools amid Canadas rapidly surging fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The parent is a supporter of the Cross-Canada Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee (CERSC). The CERSC is fighting to mobilize educators, students and parents to close schools to in-person learning, suspend all nonessential production, and secure workers full financial compensation so they can shelter at home and look after their families until the pandemic is brought under control. To attend the CERSCs next meeting on Saturday, August 28, at 1:30 p.m. EST, please email: cersc.csppb@gmail.com

***

As parents of two small children, my wife and I are feeling very uneasy as the school year fast approaches in Ontario. We are very concerned about what the next few months will look like. The Delta variant is causing alarming increases in infection rates already, even before the calendar changes to September. New scientific information is telling us that children under 12, who will not be vaccinated when school starts, are vulnerable to increased risks of severe illness, Long COVID, significant cognitive decline and death. But this knowledge will be of little comfort for parents who are locked into an in-person learning model as the school year begins.

Announcement of last April's inaugural meeting of the Cross-Canada Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee (CERSC)

A lot has changed since schools closed in June. Parents across the province had to declare by last June whether their kids would be enrolled in remote learning for this September. We had little knowledge then of the severity of the Delta variant. Only now is a clearer picture emerging of how dangerous it can be to unvaccinated children under 12. Although the province maintains that parents have a choice between in-person and remote learning, that choice is limited and does not even exist in many parts of Canada.

Some school boards will not allow you to pull your kids out until January 2022. The earliest time to transition to remote learning in more fortunate school zones is a window in October.

In early August, my wife and I began to have second thoughts about sending our children back to in-person learning. We called our school board and requested a change to remote learning. We were told that we could not change and that the time had passed to choose remote learning for September. We raised concerns about the inadequate return-to-school plan and the emerging data on the dangers of the Delta variant. We were told that no one was working at the board office, and that we would have to contact our principal in early September to request a change to remote learning. The earliest that change could be implemented was the late October window.

When my wife and I made it clear that we did not want our children in school at all in September, I was told that if my children missed 15 consecutive days of school, they would be withdrawn from our neighbourhood school and that child services would be contacted since my wife and I would be breaking the law. We are appalled and livid with that response to our legitimate safety concerns. We are not looking forward to the September discussion with the principal.

Despite all the reassurances and talk about a safe return to in-class learning from politicians, school boards and the chief medical officer in Ontario, I do not trust, nor do I believe that a safe return to full in-class learning is possible. My skepticism does not stem from any conspiracy theory or superstitious beliefs. Rather, it is informed from what I see already happening around the world where children have returned to school. Kids are already getting sick. Parents are losing their children to the Delta variant as we speak in the United States; yet the alarm bells are not ringing in Ontario. We are walking with our eyes closed into a hurricane.

The reality is that classrooms will not be safe for a full return to school in two weeks time. Every classroom in Ontario will not have HEPA filters. Ventilation systems will not be upgraded in every school in the province. Cloth masks will not be effective against Delta. Children will not be issued K95 masks. All this talk of having mandatory vaccinations for every adult around our children in some kind of protective invisible wall will not work. The Delta variant will find itself into crowded classrooms, and infection will spread like wildfire.

Schools are vectors for transmission. They are not isolated islands apart from the community. Children will get infected, many will get sickened, and sadly families across Ontario will lose children. The province and school boards are taking a tremendous risk bordering on criminal negligence. It is sheer lunacy that we are willing to gamble with the lives of unvaccinated children!

Everyone wants their kids back in school. Who doesnt want to see children thriving, playing, learning in front of a live teacher in a classroom with their peers? No one can deny the importance of socializing with their friends. Yes, remote learning was brutal. Mental health is a concern no doubt. Parents want to go back to normal. How many of us have said that we just cant do this anymore? We love our kids, but we are not all meant to be stuck in the house together all day, every day. Enough!

But how is my mental health going to be for the rest of my life if I send my children to school during the most dangerous phase of the pandemic, and I lose them? How will that impact their brothers and sisters? What will it do to their grandparents? How will my wife and I go on? To put it bluntly, the back-to-school plan is a not a plan at all. It does not inspire any confidence that my two young children will be safe in elementary school. They will not be vaccinated, and they will be vulnerable to becoming infected from a highly contagious Delta variant that is a fundamentally different virus than the original COVID-19.

So, what is the solution? I honestly have no clue. We are trying to figure this out as we go. Parents have limited options. How many of us can afford to stay home and watch our kids? How many of us have family that we can turn to for support?

Yet deep down inside, I know my wife and I cannot be the only ones feeling this uncertain and anxious. We need to find other parents, teachers and concerned workers and act. We need to demand that schools stay closed until all our children are vaccinated. Why are none of our leaders talking about eradicating this virus once and for all? Short-term pain, long-term gain. How can China contain this virus, but we cant in our advanced Western societies? Is it all about money and the stock market? Do our kids need to be sacrificed for the sake of the economy? What kind of world do we live in!

All the talking heads in the media keep telling us our children face little riskthat they need to be in school, that the vast majority will only suffer minor symptoms, that its important for their mental health, and that Ontario has a safe reopening plan. On the other side, I see kids dying and getting sick. This should not be happening, period! Finally, we have Ontarios chief medical officer saying we need to normalize COVID-19 and that schools will not close unless a catastrophic situation arises.

Kids getting sick from COVID in schools should never be normalized. Ever! My wife and I cannot allow our children to be a part of an experiment this fall. Will they suffer academically? Maybe. Will their mental health suffer? Perhaps. But at least we are trying to do whatever it takes to keep them alive and safe until the fourth wave is over.

Like-minded parents, teachers and other workers need to come together and demand that all our kids are vaccinated before we send them back to in-person learning as the bare minimum. We cannot accept anything less. Never mind changing the damn air filters and wearing ineffective cloth masks! In a war you never leave anyone behind on the field of battle. The government and the school boards are leaving all children under 12 behind in the war against COVID. We cannot afford to lose the most precious thing we have. We need to protect our children at all costs. The children are our future. Only we can protect our future.
With COVID-19 infections rapidly spreading across most Australian states, the World Socialist Web Site has reached out to health care workers, whose situation is largely hidden from the population. The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) is fighting for workers to establish rank-and-file committees in every workplace and community to fight for adequate resources to tackle the pandemic. We urge workers to contact the SEP and let us, and other workers, know what is happening in your workplace.

Recently, the WSWS spoke with a Sydney-based medical specialist. At that point, 373 people in New South Wales (NSW) were hospitalised with COVID-19, with 62 in intensive care and 29 on ventilators.

Blacktown hospital, in Sydneys western suburbs, had begun shipping their intensive care patients to Wollongong. Secondary hospitals, such as Wollongong and Hornsby hospitals, were being set up to take excess COVID patients. The Hornsby hospital was establishing a secondary intensive care unit in its recovery ward.

WSWS: What impact is COVID having? What is the physical impact in the hospitals?

Specialist: Hospitals are having to reorganise their care setups. Generally, what happens in a hospital is that there is team-based care. That is being reorganised into what is called ward-based care.

Instead of having ongoing continuity of care through one team, all patients are cared for on a rostered basis by different specialists or different doctors. What that does is free up the other medical staff to do other medical jobs.

Liverpool Hospital [Photo credit: Sydney South West Area Health Service]

In this particular case, it will be to manage COVID patients. So you have doctors who are not particularly specialised to run critical care of infectious diseases patients being redeployed on a needs basis, to care for infectious diseases patients like COVID.

Last week, two urgent emails were sent to all specialist staff, asking them to conduct urgent ward rounds to discharge as many patients as possible, to create more bed space.

So that is the broad overview of where we are at in terms of COVID.

The numbers are starting to get quite worrying. Im sure you know that the replication coefficient (Reff) is currently calculated by the epidemiologists at 1.2. That means every COVID infection is transmitted to 1.2 people. That puts you on a track to exponential growth.

If you get a Reff of 1.2, and we currently have around 350 cases each day, by the end of August we will have about 700 cases per day.

If they can get the replication rate down to 1.1, it means we will have about 700 cases per day by the end of September. Either way, it is mathematically looking pretty bad, unless they do something pretty drastic. This is not sensationalist, it is simply mathematics.

We were predicting this when Berejiklian didnt do hard lockdown immediately, back in June and July. We said that with the Reff at such a level, we predicted that by mid-August we would have about 350 per day and we are a bit early. Unless something changesunless they do somethingat the current rate, the patient rate will be 700 per day, by either the end of August or the end of September, depending on whether they get the rate down by point one.

Unless the government gets the rates down, the hospitals will become overwhelmed.

For the last three or four decades, capitalists have ripped billions of dollars out of public health. We now have the chickens coming home to roost. You simply cannot rip that much out of health and expect a well-functioning system.

Ill give an example. The other day there was an elderly COVID-positive patient who had fallen out of bed, and a young nurse, who was wearing the personal protective equipment (PPE) mandated by the health department, was struggling to get him back in the bed.

She had been asked to give him intravenous drugs, but no medical staff were available to sight it, and she wasnt accredited to do it herself, and so a specialist just wandering by, quickly donned a whole lot of PPE and went in to help her put a cannula in. She was in tears, because this poor bloke was sitting on his bed, possibly with injuries, COVID positive, unable to receive his medication, and here was a nurse trying to do her best by her patient. And you think to yourself, this is not an isolated incident. This is every single day.

I was talking to colleagues at other large hospitals across Sydney, and they say going into a hospital now is like going to a war zone. The hospitals are on a sort of battle footing.

You dont know what each day brings. We are being asked to do extra shifts at short notice, we are being asked to do overtime, to work overnight, and these decisions are made without consultation with the people who have to do the work. For the wellbeing of the people of NSW Im happy to help outof course I ambut it would be wonderful if, A, we had been listened to in the first place, and B, we were consulted further about what we were going to do.

WSWS: The fact that COVID seemed to be eliminated in Australia was really more by accident than by policy. Do you have a comment on that?

Specialist: Because the whole thing has become politicised [NSW premier] Berejiklian couldnt shut down the city because it went against everything that she had become famous for. Every time you dont shut down, it is essentially like pulling the trigger when you are playing Russian Roulette.

So what happens is, because of the nature of the replication coefficient, sometimes the virus will peter out. However, when you play Russian Roulette often enough, you blow your head off, and thats what shes done now. The lady who is really in charge here isnt Berejiklian, it is Lady Luck. And we havent grabbed our good luck and run with it, we have actually screwed it up.

Now we have too many cases and we are not vaccinated. So, instead of being in a position where we had very little COVID and could have been rapidly expanding our vaccination rate, we have an outbreak of COVID and we are not set up to deal with it.

WSWS: How long will the hospital system cope if we have 700 COVID infections per day by September?

Specialist: Not as long as youd think. If we are getting 350 cases today, you can assume that about 10 percent of all the new COVID cases will require hospitalisation. And about one percent of the total will require ICU. Of those in ICU, about half will require intubation for a period of time. So, if you are getting 400 per day, 40 per day will require hospitalisation, and one every other day will have to go to ICU.

If you take it to 700 per day, that means 2 ICU admissions every day, just for COVID, and about 70 to 100 hospital admissions per day. The biggest hospital in the southern hemisphere has 1,000 beds, so you would fill that in about a week. This is simply mathematics.

WSWS: What is the feeling among specialists?

Specialist: The discussion among the specialists tends to be on the numbers, the rates of viral propagation and infection. What we are talking about at work is, Why didnt they implement a ring of steel, as [Victorian premier] Dan Andrews suggested?

Im no fan of any of the political parties currently in government, but at least more restrictive measures would have meant no transmissions to the regions.

There are now cases in Dubbo, Tamworth, Armidale, Byron Bay, Albury. There is one in Broken Hill that is not being discussed. There are cases in Wollongong, Hunter Valley; and the mental health unit at Nepean Hospital is being shut down. So why wasnt the shutdown organised much harder and faster?

The second thing being discussed among specialists is the messaging from (health minister) Brad Hazzard.

He refers to these communities in southwest Sydney in a racist dog whistle. What everyone at work is saying is, Yes, the problems are in southwest Sydney and that is because these people are poor. It has nothing to do with their ethnicity, it has to do with the fact that if they dont go to work, they dont eat.

There is a big shift [and colleagues feel] that Hazzards comments are abhorrent, disgusting. He is appealing to every racist element in Australian society. I think he is trying to defend the indefensible by blaming ordinary people.

WSWS: Do you have enough resources?

Specialist: Do we have enough PPE? Probably. Do we have enough effective PPE? That is a different question, and we dont really know the answer to that. We dont really know what the right level of protection is. Thats the honest truth.

It seems most clinicians dont get COVID from their patients, most clinicians get COVID from their colleagues in tearooms or exchanges on the ward.

The SARS-CoV-2 is airborne transmitted; it was thought to be droplet transmitted. All the strains are airborne spread, which partly explains the failure of hotel quarantine, which was the failure to recognise the biology of the virus. So whether PPE is effectivethe PPE we are given relates to droplet spreadthat is different to airborne spreadwhere the virus itself can spread through the air, independent of the little droplets.

A lot has happened to health since the eighties, when the economic rationalists took over and started scrapping a whole lot of public service jobs. They said that this would have no effect on frontline workers, so the clerical and administrative jobs were taken out.

Now all the administrative work becomes the work of the frontline people. So critical care workers, nurses etc., have to do a lot more clerical work than they used to. There is a lot less time to actually care for patients.

I find myself doing more and more paperwork for every patient. The average amount of time spent with patients per clinician has fallen. It has halved or even quartered over the years. Are we adequately resourced? No, it is a system issue.

WSWS: What do we need in the health system?

Specialist: We need to reorganise the whole way things are done. We need worker-based organisations that say, these are our requirements on the ground. We need coordinating committees representing those committees to advocate for the resources required and for that to be communicated to the people of NSW.

I dont think people want to pay less tax; what people want is fairness. I think people would be happy to have a slightly smaller tax return and have great services. We have to get a message out that social spending is a good thing. The media at large have been good at painting socialism as a swear word.

We need a greater number of nurses. When we talk about hospital beds, it doesnt actually mean physical beds, it means nursing staff to accommodate those patients. If a hospital has 1,000 beds, that means theres a certain quota of nurses that can staff a bed 24 hours per day.

We need a radical expansion in the number of beds because, at the moment, we have bed block at every stage in the hospitals, and that is being made worse by the COVID pandemic. If we had someone recovering from heart bypass surgery, they might sit in recovery for many hours, or several days in the recovery unit, because there is no bed available for them on the ward.

We have a policy of trying to get patients out of the emergency department so that new patients can come in, but they are blocked because there are no beds to which the patients can go. The primary thing we need is a greater number of nurses and an expanded nursing pool.

Next, we need a more ready supply of drugs from overseas. If Australia doesnt make these medications, we need to have a consistent supply of them. Im talking about many anaesthetic drugs. We have critically low shortages of some drugs in Australia. We have shortages of other pain killers like fentanyl, which is a drug that treats pain very effectively. We have shortages of thiopentone which is a drug used when people cant have other induction agents for anaesthesia. So there are shortages of specific drugs.

We have shortages of some types of antibiotics. We are asked to use second tier or less effective antibiotics because other drugs are not available. We need increased drug supply and increased drug supply security. This has been going for several years.

WSWS: Has this been influenced by the pandemic?

Specialist: It has not been made easier, but I dont know that it has been made worse. Supply chains of medicines have certainly been influenced by the pandemic.
Otelo Saraiva de Carvalho, the Army captain who organised the military coup on April 25, 1974, that overthrew 48 years of dictatorship in Portugal died on July 25 in a military hospital in the capital, Lisbon, aged 84.

In official discourse Carvalho is portrayed as the intransigent leader of a left-wing faction in the military intent on social revolution. But this persona was largely fostered by the combined efforts of Stalinism, social democracy and the pseudo-left, which all opposed an independent perspective for the working class and promoted the bourgeois Armed Forces Movement (MFA) he co-founded as the guarantor of the Carnation Revolution, which erupted after the coup.

Otelo Saraiva de Carvalho in 1976 (courtesy, Wikimedia Commons)

Carvalho went on to play a major role in suppressing the revolutionary struggles of the working class, maintaining public order through the 5,000-strong special military intervention force known as COPCON that he commanded. He provided a breathing space to Portugals ruling elite to cobble together a bourgeois republic to preserve its rule.

The response to Carvalhos death

On learning of Carvalhos death, Portuguese politicians and the media were quick to acknowledge his role in the overthrow of the dictatorship but insisted any deeper examination of the events that followed be left to a future date. To do so now in a spontaneous uncontrolled reaction to Carvalhos death could, amid an insoluble, international crisis of capitalism, raise questions about how the working class was betrayed and how the very real possibility of a socialist revolution in Portugal was defeated.

The Socialist Party (PS) government has already created a special commission to prepare events for the 50th anniversary of the April 25 coup, in 2024, claiming it will cover the entire historical cycle. It will promulgate the official narrative that the only possible outcome was the transition to bourgeois democracy and that the struggle by the working class for socialism was futile.

PS Prime Minister Antonio Costa remembered Carvalho as the operational coordinator who ended the longest dictatorship of the 20th century in Europe.

The strategic and operational capacity of Otelo Saraiva de Carvalho and his dedication and generosity were decisive for the success, without bloodshed, of the Carnation Revolution [and] became, therefore, and rightly so, one of its symbols, Costa added.

Right-wing Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa called Carvalho the top protagonist in a decisive moment in Portuguese contemporary history but stressed that people had to be aware of the deep cleavages that his personality created and evokes in Portuguese society.

It is still too early for history to appreciate him, he declared.

The Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) issued a perfunctory press release, saying, Otelo Saraiva de Carvalhos role in the military uprising of the 25th of April must be recorded in essence. The moment of his death is not the occasion to record attitudes and positions that mark his political path.

Left Bloc national coordinator, Catarina Martins, praised Carvalho as one of the workers of the 25th of April, recognized as the strategist of the coup that gave us freedom back, who deserved to be remembered as one of the liberators of our country.

The Salazar dictatorship

Carvalho was born in 1936, the son of a postal service official in the Portuguese colony of Mozambique, a decade after economic and political instability (eight presidents and 45 governments took office between 1910 and 1926, the period of the First Republic) and a revolutionary movement of the working class inspired by the Russian Revolution had led to the right-wing military coup of May 28, 1926.

Portugal dictator Antonio de Oliveira Salazar. (Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

Two years later, economics lecturer Antonio de Oliveira Salazar was appointed finance minister and then prime minister. In direct response to continuing working class struggles that peaked in a five-day insurrection in 1934, Salazar declared his fascist New State (Estado Novo). The most important function of Salazars regime for Portugals ruling elite was to brutally suppress the impoverished working class at home and the growing demands for independence in the colonies.

A 1965 Amnesty International (AI) report on prison conditions in Portugal gives a glimpse of life under the police state. Salazar ruled the country on a virtually one-man basis in order to repress or prevent the formation of any opposition party. No organisation could be set up without approval, and publications were subject to such rigid censorship that practically all criticism of the government was excluded. Virtually all opposition was driven underground, and pursued as subversive.

Every worker had to be a member of an official syndicate and anyone who went on strike faced up to eight years imprisonment. AI noted that due to rising unrest among students, the year 1965 has so far been notable for the number of student arrests and trials.

The secret police, the Policia Internacional e de Defesa do Estado (PIDE) was modelled on the Gestapo. It could search virtually anyones home at will and detain them indefinitely and repeatedly. Those arrested were brought before kangaroo courts and dispatched to political prisons, or the Tarrafal concentration camp on the Cape Verde Island. The AI report records countless horrific examples of abuse, torture and killing.

Rising opposition in the military

Salazar not only faced rising opposition from workers, students and intellectuals but from the military. It was a sure sign that the regime was fracturing.

When General Humberto Delgado (who had participated in the 1926 coup and praised Hitler in 1941) contested but lost, through ballot rigging, the presidency in opposition to the official candidate in the 1958 presidential election, he was able to rally the entire democratic and Stalinist opposition around him. The PIDE assassinated Delgado in 1965.

In 1959, several military and civil figures launched an unsuccessful uprising in Lisbon, known as the Coup da Se, with the aim of overthrowing Salazar. Another attempted coup was launched by a group of liberal officials, led by the Minister of Defence, General Botelho Moniz, in 1961.

Portugal and the international situation

The rising opposition that would lead to the Carnation Revolution unfolded against the backdrop of the end of the post-World War II boom and the eruption of a systemic crisis of capitalism. In country after country, the interaction of economic contradictions with working class struggles produced political upheavals, and a significant growth of left-wing and socialist movements.

The most significant events included Khrushchevs secret speech, the Hungarian Revolution, the outbreak of a massive wave of anti-colonial struggles (i.e., Vietnam, Egypt, Algeria, the Congo), the establishment of the Castro regime in Cuba, the US intervention in Vietnam and the subsequent eruption of the massive worldwide student protest movement, the counter-revolutionary massacre in Indonesia of 196566, the Cultural Revolution in China, the French General Strike of MayJune 1968, the collapse of the Bretton Woods system in August 1971, the overthrow of Allende in September 1973, the Arab-Israeli War of October 1973, the victory of British miners over the Tory government in March 1974, the Portuguese Revolution in April 1974, the collapse of the Greek Junta in July 1974, the resignation of Nixon in August 1974, the defeat of the United States in Vietnam in May 1975, the Iranian Revolution of 197879, the coming to power of Thatcher and Reagan in 1979 and 1980, and the subsequent initiation of a process of social and political reaction, (David North, The Political Origins and Consequences of the 198286 Split in the International Committee of the Fourth International, 3 August 2019)

The liberation wars in Africa

During this period in almost all of Portugals African coloniesMozambique, Angola, Guinea, Sao Tome and Principe, and Cape Verdeindependence movements emerged, leading to guerrilla warfare beginning in Angola in 1961.

This was a major reason for the growth of an oppositional movement within the military, convinced that the liberation or colonial war was unwinnable and expensive in terms of lives and the economy. Some 9,000 Portuguese, mainly conscript, poorly paid servicemen and 70,000 African guerrillas and civilians would die before the end of the conflict. Nearly half of Portugals budget was spent on the decade-long war.

The Salazar regime refused to negotiate. When Indian independence was granted by the British in 1947, Portugal refused requests from India to hand back its colony of Goa. The Indian Army duly invaded unopposed in 1961 and annexed the territory.

United States opposes Portugal

The election of the John F Kennedy administration in 1961 also put pressure on the dictatorship. Faced with the upsurge in the anticolonial struggle that had just led to 17 new African nations gaining independence, and the Soviet Unions overtures towards them in the context of the Cold War, the US adopted a new African policy supporting self-determination and independence. It recommended the urgent adoption of reforms in the Portuguese colonies in return for substantial aid.

Salazar rejected any thought of Portugals complying with the United States suggestion and criticised Kennedy for failing to understand the events as part of the Communist assault on the Portuguese position, not only in the Overseas Provinces but also in the Iberian Peninsula, with the aim of weakening the Western position and provoking a situation which might be propitious for the intervention of the forces of international Communism. ( About-Face: The United States and Portuguese Colonialism in 1961, Luis Nuno Rodrigues, University Institute of Lisbon-Center for Contemporary History Studies, 2004)

Portuguese-American relations deteriorated further when the US voted, despite Portugal being a NATO member from 1949 and providing a vital mid-Atlantic air base in the Azores, in favour of a UN resolution condemning Portuguese colonialism in Angola.

When Salazars successor appointed in 1968, Marcelo Caetano, continued the colonial war and it became obvious that even the US, the worlds greatest superpower, was near defeat in Vietnam, sentiment increased in the military for a negotiated settlement. This was expressed most openly by General Antonio de Spinola, the armys second in command, in his popular book, Portugal and the Future, published in February 1974 and appearing in three more editions before April 25. He called for a gradual transition to a presidential regime in an orderly and disciplined fashion and the cultivation of a moderate black elite in the colonies opposed to the liberation movements and prepared to negotiate some sort of federation along the lines of the British Commonwealth.

Carvalho and the colonial war

Carvalho lived through the collapse of the Portuguese empire first-hand. His military experiences and the lessons he learnt in Africa would serve him and the Portuguese ruling elite well during the Carnation Revolution.

Carvalho had enrolled in the Military Academy in Lisbon in 1955, at the age of 19 and was dispatched to Angola as an artillery lieutenant in 1961, just as the armed liberation struggle erupted. In 1963 he was appointed instructor of the Portuguese Legion, the fascist militia created by Salazar tasked with defending the spiritual heritage of the nation and combating the communist threat and anarchism. It acted as the brownshirts for the PIDE, breaking up demonstrations and shutting down organizations considered subversive.

Carvalho served again in Angola from 1965 to 1967, becoming one of the heads of military intelligence there and then in Guinea-Bissau between 1970 and 1973. He was stationed at the headquarters of the Chief Command, reporting to Spinola as head of the Broadcasting and Press Section of the Civil Affairs and Psychological Action Department. Psychological Action was a counter-insurgency hearts and minds campaign promising better living conditions and resettlement in new villagessurrounded by barbed wire to reduce contact with the guerrillas.

Carvalho later said that his personal experiences enabled him to get in touch with the reality of fascist corporatism and its support among small officials and convinced him of the moral and political injustice of the colonial wars. He is supposed to have had a sneaking admiration for the liberation movements and had contacts with some of its leaders.

However, it was something closer to home that finally sparked off the formation of the Movement of the Captains, the predecessor organisation to the MFAa 1973 government decree, which sought to promote less qualified soldiers as captains or majors. The decree was revoked but the Movement was already launched.

The MFA programme

Carvalho and the Movement of the Captains prepared plans for a coup for April 25, discussing them with General Spinola and General Francisco da Costa Gomes, who had recently been dismissed as Chief of the Armed Forces for refusing to swear loyalty to Caetano.

Spinola put the finishing touches to a programme for the MFA. It declared that after thirteen years of struggle in overseas lands, the current political system has not managed to define, concretely and objectively, an overseas policy that will lead to peace among Portuguese people of all races and creeds. It called for the immediate removal of the president of the republic and the current government and political power to be handed over to a National Salvation Board (Junta de Salvacao Nacional, JSN) until the formation of a provisional civil government tasked with drawing up plans for a National Constituent Assembly.

Following the coup, Spinola became JSN President and Gomes his deputy. Carvalho was made a brigadier and placed in command of the special military Command for the Continent (COPCON). Its mission, inscribed in law, was to intervene directly in the maintenance and restoration of order, in support of the civil authorities and at their request [and] when internal situations threaten public peace and tranquility.

Carvalho later revealed that he was offered the post of president but thought that for the revolution to be recognized all over the world we had to have generals, and with the greatest possible prestige. Caetano, on his arrest, demanded that power be handed over to Spinola, so that power did not fall to the street.

Although Spinola wanted to limit the coup to a simple renovacao (renovation), it brought the masses onto the streets. Workers began taking over factories, offices, shops and farms demanding more radical measures including the arrest of officials and supporters of the old regime, especially those in the hated PIDE secret police. Half a million marched through Lisbon a week later on May Day.

May 1, 1974 demonstration under the banner of Long Live the Alliance of the People and MFA in Barreiro, a town near Lisbon. (courtesy of Ephemera Library and Archive of Jose Pacheco Pereira)

Previously banned parties emerged from underground or exile, including the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) with some 2,000-3,000 members led by Alvaro Cunhal and the Socialist Party (PS) with just 200 members led by Mario Soares.

The role of the PCP

The PCP was to play a critical role in politically disarming the working class and rejecting an independent programme. It described the struggle against Salazar as a democratic and national revolution, with the socialist revolution consigned to some unspecified future in line with the Stalinist two-stage theory of revolution and in order to oppose actual social revolution.

This Stalinist two-stage theory was a wholesale repudiation of Marxism and the critical lessons of the Russian Revolution. The success of the Bolsheviks in 1917 had been a powerful vindication of Leon Trotskys theory of permanent revolution. It insisted that, in the context of the world economy, the democratic tasks once associated with the bourgeois revolution could only be completed under the leadership of the working class, drawing behind it the rural masses, as a component part of a socialist revolution that must be completed on the global arena.

Leon Trotsky

It was on this basis and with the help of the Communist International (Comintern), that the PCP was formed in 1921. However, the subsequent evolution of all the worlds communist parties was shaped by the rise to power after Lenins death of a bureaucratic caste within the USSR under the leadership of Joseph Stalin. The theory of socialism in one country unveiled by Stalin and Nikolai Bukharin in 1924 provided the ideological justification for the abandonment of the programme of world socialist revolution and the subordination of the international workers movement to the Stalinist bureaucracys defence of its own material interests.

Massive defeats for the working class followedmost devastatingly with Hitlers accession to power in Germany in 1933, following which Trotsky concluded that the Soviet Communist Party and its satellite parties in the Comintern could not be reformed and called for the founding of the Fourth International to carry forward the struggle for world socialist revolution.

Trotskys warnings of the bloody counterrevolutionary role of Stalinism were tragically confirmed in the Spanish Civil War that broke out in 1936. Workers were told to support the ruling Popular Front alliance of liberal bourgeois, social-democratic, Stalinist and anarchist forces. Independent workers organizations were dissolved and anti-fascist militias subordinated to the capitalist state.

To be continued
Maria Rivera, leader of a group known as the International Workers Movement (MIT), the Chilean section of the Morenoite International Workers League-Fourth International (LIT-CI), is being promoted by the mainstream media under conditions of a volatile political and social situation.

Rivera, who won a seat in the Constitutional Convention running as an independent in the motley anti-party Peoples List, has been given an extraordinary amount of airtime over the last two months, appearing in several debates and on talk shows, something that would have been unheard of prior to the anti-capitalist demonstrations in 2019 and the political chasm that it has laid bare.

Screenshot of Maria Rivera on Mentiras Verdaderas broadcast on La Red

She has appeared in a debate with right-wing and Social Party constituents on CHV Noticias, and she appeared in Mentiras Verdaderas of the television platform La Red. Rivera appeared on Aqui se Debate transmitted by CNN Chile. She gave a three-quarter-page interview to the arch-conservative El Mercurio, spoken to La Nacion, the left El Ciudadano and several other periodicals.

Behind this media attention are the calculations of the Chilean bourgeoisie as it tries to rebuild legitimacy for the thoroughly discredited capitalist state through the establishment of the Constitutional Convention. New political forces are being created and others strengthened to deal with the electoral annihilation suffered by the old and deeply hated political caste that emerged in the transition from military to civilian rule three decades ago. All of the state institutions and the traditional political parties remain deeply unpopular.

This crisis of rule has only sharpened since the COVID-19 pandemic, as the coalition of right-wing parties of Sebastian Pineras administration have done next to nothing to alleviate the pandemics impact upon the working-class sectors amid the worst health, social and economic crisis in decades.

With the old center-left coalitionwhich included the Socialist Party, the Christian Democrats, the Radicals and the Party for Democracyalso in tatters, the bourgeoisie is actively promoting a gamut of so-called independents and non-party-aligned forces that emerged to hold a strong position in the constituent assembly. Many have become involved in politics for the first time as a result of the historic protests and the horrific crackdown that followed. Untested and relatively unknown, these elements are being sized up by the ruling class to determine which will be useful in ensnaring the working class back into parliamentary politics.

This is especially urgent because the working class has to date abstained in large numbers from the electoral process. There was an average turnout of only 22 percent in primaries held in July in the runup to this years presidential elections.

The Frente Amplio (FA), or Broad Front, formed an electoral alliance with the Stalinist Communist Party (PCCh) and advanced two candidates in the pseudo-left primaries. FA ran Gabriel Boric, former student leader and a deputy in the lower house, who received one million votes to the 692,862 obtained by Daniel Jadue, PCCh member and mayor of Recoleta, a community in Santiago.

Within the right wing, the Chile Vamos coalition held primaries on the same weekend in mid-July. Not one of the four candidates matched either Borics or Jadues votes. Sebastian Sichel, a relatively unknown who served as Pineras Minister for Social Development, came the closest winning 659,570 ballots.

The FA coalition is itself an unstable and ever-changing amalgam of middle-class radical, feminist, ecological and libertarian parties that emerged from the student rebellions of the last decade. Many of its student leaders have since integrated themselves into posts in academia, the union bureaucracy, the civil service and the legislature. Hence their significant vote among a more well-off constituency, predominantly made up of the young, professional middle class.

The primaries also demonstrated the Frente Amplios flagging support in poor and marginalized working-class sectors of Santiago. While the upper middle class eastern communities of Las Condes, Vitacura, Lo Barnechea registered between 40 and 55 percent participation in the July primaries, in the working-class Santiago communities with multidimensional poverty of up to 25 percent, less than a quarter voted. This class divide is repeated across the country.

This was also revealed in a publicity stunt that could have ended much worse than it did. At the end of July, Boric visited anti-government protesters languishing in the Santiago 1 penitentiary for up to 22 months either awaiting trial or serving hefty sentences. The pseudo-left presidential candidate intended to take advantage of growing demands for an amnesty for thousands of predominantly working-class prisoners detained on trumped up charges for participating in the 2019 protests.

Rather than being treated the hero, Boric was heckled and jeered by the relatives of the framed-up protesters. Undaunted, he proceeded inside the jailwithout being invitedand was accosted before guards interceded and got him out. The following day a group calling themselves Political Prisoners of the Revolt leaked a communique rebuking the candidate.

We prisoners were not informed of his visit. It seems to us a profound lack of respect that a person, who played an active part in the enactment of repressive laws and the hardening of penalties associated with the social outbreak, visited, the prisoners declared.

The aggression (Boric suffered) is a consequence of his actions and his political dilettantism that has led him to make pacts that have led to the terrible living conditions that forced the people to rise up against so much injustice, among them: the Agreement for Peace, the anti-barricade law, anti-sabotage law.

The student protests initiated in October 2019 over public transport fees became a mass anti-capitalist movement involving millions of students, youth, workers and the middle class against decades of extreme social inequality, police violence and, in particular, as a reaction to President Pineras authoritarian crackdown. A state of emergency was called for the first time since the military dictatorship, with armed forces patrolling the streets.

The protests became increasingly confrontational as the entire repressive apparatus was unleashed against workers and youth, with dozens killed or disappeared, hundreds suffering severe traumas, injuries and mutilations. Cases of beatings, sexual violence, rape and torture began to be committed with impunity34 cases of which are today based on charges of crimes against humanity presented at the International Criminal Court by the crusading Judge Baltasar Garzon against Pinera and civilian and military authorities.

It was under these conditions that Boric and a number of other FA congressmen joined with the parliamentary extreme right, centre and left parties in an Agreement for Social Peace and a New Constitution, as a cynical means of diffusing the situation and sidetracking anti-capitalist sentiment into calls to reform the authoritarian charter. In the same breath, these pseudo-left forces also lent their support to a series of authoritarian bills criminalizing social protest.

The MIT lends its support to the capitalist state

Maria Rivera of the Morenoite MIT is a lawyer and founder of the defense group Defensoria Popular involved in providing legal defense to framed up prisoners from Maoist guerrilla outfits, such as the Movement of the Revolutionary Left (MIR) and the Manuel Rodriguez Patriotic Front (FPMR), as well as several anarchists. Previously a member of the MIR herself, Rivera was captured and tortured by the secret police before being exiled to Argentina in 1983. There she joined the Morenoite Movement for Socialism (MAS), then part of a popular front coalition with the Stalinist Communist Party of Argentina, before returning back to Chile in 1990 with the transition to civilian rule. She has remained in the LIT-CI ever since, forming the MIT as its Chilean section.

In other words, this is a person with a long track record in Latin American centrist and national opportunist politics that masquerades as socialism. Politicians of her stripe use revolutionary sounding phraseology and claim to belong to the Trotskyist Fourth International, but their historic function has been to tie the working class to various forms of petty-bourgeois and bourgeois nationalism.

In its 70 years of existence, the political tendency identified as Pabloism, along with its Latin American variant Morenoism, has sown illusions in bourgeois nationalist caudillos such as Juan Domingo Peron or bourgeois reformists of the Salvador Allende type. It has swung from backing petty-bourgeois Castroite guerrillaism to entering Popular Front-style coalitions with Stalinists, both with disastrous results. Its principal function is to keep the working class subordinated to bourgeois nationalism and the capitalist state in Latin America, which has led to bloody defeats time and again.

By participating in the Constitutional Convention, Riveras actions demonstrate that the Morenoites will once again attempt to tie the working class to the capitalist state. That is why her services are in demand.

In November 2019, the MIT claimed it was opposed to the Peace Accord, called for the downfall of the Pinera administration, made appeals to expropriate Chiles wealthiest families and filed a suit against Pinera for crimes against humanity in the Chilean courts.

We will not be in any constituent process while the prisons are filled with young people from the front line (of the social protests), Rivera claimed. She called for the immediate release of all political prisoners, adding that the mission was to defeat the Pinera government.

A year later in a statement in the MIT press, Rivera was saying that it is important to participate in the Constituent Process.  It is crucial to have candidates who represent the revolution and who refuse to sell false promises, but rather are clear in saying that the only way we can change our lives is through struggle.

Six months later, in May of this year, the MIT was writing: We are going to the Constituent Assembly to use this front more to fight, not to negotiate agreements with the same old (parties)

Yet to Resumen she said: There is no possibility of negotiating with the traditional parties, as long as they do not adopt these demands; it makes no sense, at least I am not willing to negotiate the freedom of political prisoners

And to El Mercurio: If we achieve that a popular majority makes a mobilization, a general strike, we can demand the Convention decree the release of political prisoners by the means discussed. For us this is a relentless fight. With this political prison I assure you that Chiles problems will not begin to be solved.

By the second day of the Constitutional Convention in July, Riveras incendiary proclamations vanished like a puff of smoke.

I regret that in the speech (of president of the convention, Mapuche leader) Elisa Loncon did not remember to reject or repudiate the repression and to demand the freedom of political prisoners.  Otherwise it is a progressive speech; besides it talks about deepening democracy. The truth is that this state of things must be changed and not deepen the miserable democracy we have.

For all the revolutionary bravura, the fact is that Rivera, the MIT and rest of the pseudo-left are as terrified as the entire capitalist state is to the unchartered waters they are entering. The call for the release of the prisoners of the social revolt is an attempt to dissipate a volatile situation that can easily erupt and that they may not be able to control.

In opposition to this type of reactionary petty-bourgeois politics, the genuine Trotskyists of the International Committee of the Fourth International fight to forge the political independence of the working class through the fight for a socialist and internationalist program and to make workers conscious of their immense social power and historic mission, which is to overthrow capitalism and the nation-state system.
This past Friday, August 20, Reuters published an exclusive report citing four anonymous current and former law enforcement officials either directly involved or briefed regularly on FBI investigations into January 6, who claimed that scant evidence has been uncovered that there was an organized plot to overthrow the election of president Joe Biden by Trump accomplices and fascist militia groups.

Rioters try to break through a police barrier at the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)

This bogus claim is contradicted by the ongoing prosecutions of fascist militia members who are closely tied to the Republican Party and particularly to Trumps closest supporters, like ultra-right operative Roger Stone. The central purpose of this obvious lie is to downplay the significance of the attack, and cover up for the role of state agencies, including the FBI itself, in facilitating it.

The most important quote cited by Reuters is attributed to a former senior law enforcement official with knowledge of the investigation. The unnamed law enforcement official refers to leading Trump co-conspirators, long-time crony Roger Stone and the fascist Alex Jones of InfoWars.

Speaking of the over 579 people charged in connection with the January 6 attack the former federal official notes that, Ninety to ninety-five percent of these are one-off cases. Then you have five percent, maybe, of these militia groups that were more closely organized. But there was no grand scheme with Roger Stone and Alex Jones and all of these people to storm the Capitol and take hostages.

The organized fascist militia groups played the leading role in the attack on the Capitol and both groups, specifically the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys, have close and ongoing ties with the Republican Party and Stone and Jones in particular. The naming of these two men by the official is noteworthy given their central role in whipping up Trumps paramilitaries and supporters in support of Trumps stolen election lies, which he continues to propagate to this day.

Stone is a long-time Republican political operative going back to Nixon administration. He avoided prison after being pardoned by Trump last July for lying to congressional committees and to Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Stone is a frequent guest on InfoWars. During a September 10, 2020, appearance on the program, he stated that the only way Trump could lose would be if the election was corrupted and therefore Trump should invoke the Insurrection Act and seize mail-in ballots, likely to be heavily Democratic, in battleground states.

Stone has previously admitted in court documents that he maintains close relations with the Proud Boys militia group, allowing high-ranking members access to his home, phone and e-mail accounts, and using them as bodyguards in public appearances.

At a rally December 12, 2020 in Washington D.C., Stone, flanked by Proud Boys chairman and admitted FBI informant Enrique Tarrio and sergeant of arms of the Seattle Proud Boys chapter Ethan Nordean, tells the assembled that the election isnt over until we say it is!

Nordean, a bodybuilder and street brawler, is one of at least 38 Proud Boys who have been charged in connection to January 6. In addition to facing charges of obstructing an official proceeding, aiding and abetting, violent entry, disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, destruction of government property, obstructing of law enforcement, Nordean is one of at least six Proud Boys to have been charged with conspiring to obstruct the certification of Joe Bidens Electoral College victory. At least 40 Oath Keeper, Proud Boy and Three Percenter militia members have been charged with conspiracy, i.e., an organized plan, to overthrow the election.

According to encrypted communications seized by the government and recounted in prosecutors briefs, Nordean was given war powers leadership over the 200-plus Proud Boys who spearheaded the attack on the Capitol on January 6. A March court filing notes that Nordean and other Proud Boy leaders had specifically planned to whip up normies, or normiecons (normal conservatives) on January 6 in order to incite and inspire them to burn that city to ash today and smash some pigs to dust.

As for Jones, who previously hosted Nordean as well Oath Keepers founder and leader Stewart Rhodes on his InfoWars program to spread fascistic lies about the election, the Wall Street Journal reported in January that Jones pledged $50,000 of his own money in exchange for a speaking slot at the January 6 Stop the Steal rally in Washington D.C., where Trump sent the crowd marching down Pennsylvania Avenue to storm the Capitol. Jones ended up speaking at a Stop the Steal rally the day before, while video taken the day of the attempted coup shows Jones leading Trump supporters with a bullhorn to march on the Capitol.

Videos taken on January 6 show Jones marching with InfoWars producer and co-host Owen Shroyer. The same day the Reuters article appeared, Shroyer was charged by federal prosecutors with illegally going into a restricted area on the Capitol grounds and disorderly conduct.

Significantly, the Reuters report indicates the ongoing complicity of the Democrats in covering up Trumps coup: Senior lawmakers have been briefed in detail on the results of the FBIs investigation so far and find them credible, a Democratic congressional source said.

This is only the latest example, following the truncated impeachment, the joint bipartisan Senate cover-up report and the last months House Select Committee hearing, to demonstrate that the foremost concern of Democratic investigations is not to expose the deep support Trumps coup had within the capitalist state and among congressional Republicans. They serve to defend the institutions of the state and preserve unity with their Republican colleagues. Both are essential to the defense of bourgeois class rule.

The so-called credible Reuters report has been hailed by leading Trump co-conspirators and fascists, including Alex Jones, who said Friday, claiming there was no coup attempt, Wed have had guns if that was our plan. On the social media site Gab, Stone wrote, based on todays news reports I would say that the FBI investigating January 6 determined that Roger Stone STILL did nothing wrong!

Former OverStock.com CEO and millionaire propagator of Trumps stolen election lies, Patrick Byrne, likewise hailed the Reuters article, which in his words showed, There was no organization behind January 6, no Republicans. He characterized the article as ...a very politically strong report.

Somebody in the FBI yesterday, did something heroic, they came out with this report. And I want us all to applaud them, added Byrne.

Byrne has been the main sponsor of the sham forensic audit in Arizona. Byrne created a non-profit dubbed The America Project, which has provided over $3.25 million to facilitate the audit in Maricopa County, Arizona and has produced a book and movie called The Deep Rig which purports to show evidence of election fraud.

Joining this noxious crew was libertarian journalist Glenn Greenwald, who likewise cited the Reuters report as proof that nothing of significance happened on January 6.

The only thing more deranged than claiming Russia had taken over control of the US through blackmail is calling January 6 an Insurrection, he tweeted, adding that January 6 was simply a 3-hour riot that got put down.

Greenwalds approach to the FBI is somewhat selective. In this case, he accepts FBI propaganda, laundered through Reuters, as good coin, because it reinforces his complacent view that there was no significant threat to democracy on January 6.

Last month he denounced the World Socialist Web Sites exposure of his defense of the fascist militia members arrested for conspiring to murder Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, falsely claiming that the WSWS article defended the FBI.

What is consistent here is that Greenwald downplays the threat of fascist violence, either, in the case of Michigan, claiming it was FBI entrapment, or, in the case of January 6, citing the FBI whitewash as proof that there was no real danger.
The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) held its biennial convention this year between August 1 and August 8. The meeting was notable above all for the complacency and banality that prevailed throughout, which conforms to the character of the organization as an appendage of the Democratic Party and the trade union apparatus.

Since the DSAs last convention in 2019, a global pandemic has killed more than 4.4 million people, according to official figures, including nearly 650,000 people in the United States. The previous Trump administration sought to overturn democratic forms of rule, culminating in the attempted fascistic coup of January 6.

The Biden administration has come to power and is continuing, in all its essentials, the policies of the Trump administration, particularly on the pandemic. With the assistance of the trade unions, the Democratic Party is spearheading a campaign to reopen schools, even as the Delta variant of the coronavirus has led to a sharp rise in new COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths among children.

Photo of the Democratic Socialists of America Conference in 2019. (Photo: Steve Eberhart, The Nation)

The DSA convention did not attempt to address any of these developments or, in fact, discuss seriously anything at all. As the WSWS has previously analyzed, the DSA draft platform for the convention, which was adopted by unanimous consent, makes no criticisms of the Democratic Party, barely mentions the pandemic and does not contain a single reference to Trumps efforts to overturn the results of the election. The convention followed along the same lines.

Aside from Socialist Labor Organizing Through the Pandemic, there was not a single session that even mentioned the pandemic in its headline, and it was the exception that proved the rule. The session was not devoted to a review of the homicidal policies of the ruling class that have produced and continue to produce mass death, but rather promoted the DSAs close relations with the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE) and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU).

Under conditions in which workers are attempting to break free from the control of the trade unionsas in the recent Volvo Trucks strike, where workers established a rank-and-file committee to oppose the joint conspiracy of the UAW and the companythe DSA is doing everything it can to bolster the corporatist unions.

Using Elected Office to Build Socialism and Electing Socialists: Waging and Winning Class Struggle Campaigns featured the various DSA members and DSA-backed candidates who are in local and national office as representatives of the Democratic Party. Several sessions were used to promote racial politics, including Building a multiracial socialist movement and a session on the abolitionist strategy of the DSA.

Sara Nelson, the head of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA and a DSA member, was due to speak at the opening session but cancelled at the last minute. Nelson had been rumored as a possible successor for Richard Trumka, who died on August 5, in the middle of the DSA convention. On Saturday, the AFL-CIO announced that it was selecting Liz Shuler, the current secretary-treasurer, as president.

The resolutions adopted were largely aimed at more firmly committing the DSA to promoting the Democratic Party. One resolved to make electoral politics a priority for the next two years, and reaffirmed the DSAs commitment to running and supporting candidates on the Democratic ballot line. An amendment to commit the DSA to a dirty break with the Democratic Partya fiction promoted by factions of the DSA aligned with Jacobin was rejected.

In his own comment on the convention (Reflections on the 2021 DSA National Convention), David Duhalde, one of the main political leaders of the DSA and vice chair of the DSA Fund, praised the delegates for rejecting any, even meaningless verbal commitment to eventually breaking with the Democratic Party. As the new DSA matures, he wrote, a consensus seems to be building that emphasizing a break with Democrats per se can be alienating to voters we need to win over and put DSA-backed elected officials in a difficult position.

Duhalde added, If DSA had asked elected officials to not endorse [Biden in the 2020 elections], this likely would have alienated the organization from officeholders rather than producing non-endorsements. This spells out the real issue fairly. The DSA is not concerned with alienating the organization from voterswho are increasingly disaffected with the entire political structurebut alienating itself from officeholders, that is, with capitalist politicians.

The complete unseriousness of the whole event is significant in itself. At one session, a panelist was drinking beer throughout. Another session was organized around a telethon, complete with the fundraisers pretending to talk on the phone. Every session was led and conducted at the lowest possible level.

One panel, From the Embers of the Old: Why the DSA Surged and How it Can Grow, gives a sense of the convention and the organization as a whole. Hosted by Jacobin magazine Editor Bhaskar Sunkara, it featured Duhalde; DSA National Director Maria Svart; Bill Fletcher, Jr., a longtime Stalinist and supporter of Barack Obama who recently joined the DSA; and Beth Huang, a DSA member in Boston.

While supposedly about the history of the DSA, almost nothing was said on this topic. At one point, Sunkara declared that he didnt want to stick too much in the past, because as they said in The Sopranos, Remember when is the lowest form of conversation. Any actual examination of the DSAs history would have to address the failure of its entire perspective of reforming the Democratic Partyfrom Michael Harringtons close relations with the Johnson administration through the DSAs promotion of Bernie Sanders, who is currently chair of the Senate Budget Committee and one of the chief promoters of Biden.

Politically, Sunkara aligned himself most closely with Fletcher. This conforms to the pro-Stalinist politics of Jacobin, which has taken recently to promoting the Communist Party USA and glorifying the role of the Stalinist executioners in Spain. In the months leading up to the convention, a number of leading members of the DSA posted tweets celebrating the 1940 assassination of Leon Trotsky by an agent of the Stalinist GPU.

The session, as with so many others, was dominated by discussion over various political realignments, devoid of any principled political foundation. There is a conflict within the DSA over whether and how they orient to various other left groups, including Stalinists and Maoists, as well as Socialist Alternative, which recently had several of its leading members join the organization. At one point, Fletcher said that the DSA had to appreciate the centrality of the United Front and cultivate its relations with others on the left, or otherwise you are building a big cult.

This conflict is purely tactical, however, as all the groups in and around the DSA share its basic political orientation: support for the Democratic Party. Svart, the organizational leader of the DSA, had nothing to say in response to Fletchers warning that the DSA would become a big cult, suggesting only that she agreed with many of his points.

The DSA also voted to integrate itself more closely with nominally left capitalist governments in Latin America. A resolution from the International Committee of the DSA was passed to formally affiliate the DSA with the Sao Paulo Forum, an organization set up by the Brazilian Workers Party, which under Lula Da Silva and then Dilma Rousseff governed Brazil and implemented austerity measures from 2003 to 2016.

The Sao Paulo Forum includes parties that are presently in power in 10 countries in Latin America, including Argentina, Bolivia, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela.

While there are young people and workers who may temporarily find themselves in the DSA due to a mistaken belief that it is a socialist organization, the DSA itself is controlled by upper-middle-class functionaries, a sort of lumpen affluentsia, who neither want to nor are capable of speaking to the working class. The more extreme the crisis, the more the DSA turns to the state and the ruling class, and the more it is exposed as an organization without a serious past, without a perspective for the present and without a political future.
The Georgia state legislature is moving to take control of the electoral system in Fulton County. This is part of the Republican Partys national efforts to advance the lie of mass election fraud during the 2020 election and to create legal systems that will effectively disenfranchise millions of people.

Fulton County Georgia election chief Rick Barron talks to reporters as workers scan ballots during a presidential recount in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Ben Gray, File)

Fulton County is the largest in the state, encompassing much of Atlanta. During the 2020 election Joe Biden carried the county easily, winning more than 380,000 votes, about 73 percent of the total. As a stronghold for the Democratic Party in a state in which Donald Trump lost by just 12,000 votes, Fulton County is a prime target for the Republicans in their efforts to undermine voting rights.

As part of Georgias new election law, SB 202, the state legislature has appointed a state election board with a Republican majority. The board has the authority to replace local superintendents if it finds that they have demonstrated nonfeasance, malfeasance, or gross negligence in the administration of the elections.

Last Wednesday the election board took a step forward in this process by appointing its own committee to conduct a performance review of Fulton Countys election system. The members include Republican Ricky Kittle, chairman of the Catoosa County elections board; Democrat Stephen Day, a member of the Gwinnett County elections board; and Ryan Germany, general counsel for Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.

The review and suspension process could take up to a year, but this will be plenty of time to replace local officials with partisan superintendents ahead of the 2022 mid-term elections. If this occurs, the imposed superintendent will have the authority to disqualify voters, move polling locations, and challenge the results of the election, possibly even refusing to certify the election results.

Georgia is among several other states which have either passed or may soon pass laws with similar provisions. In 2021 so far, 389 restrictive voting bills have been introduced to state legislatures in 48 states according to the Brennan Center, a voting rights advocacy group based at New York University. Of these, 22 have been signed into law and a further 61 are moving through legislatures in 18 states. The ability of Georgias voting law to enable one-party control over the electoral process will undoubtedly set the tone for future legislation across the country.

Faced with this crisis over voting rights, the Democratic Party has all but completely fled the field of battle. It was in Georgia itself that Democrats refused to mount any serious resistance to SB 202, deflecting popular opposition behind phony boycott campaigns and appeals to corporations to pressure Republican lawmakers.

For months, Democrats lauded their federal election bills: the For the People Act (SB1) and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (HR4). SB1 was filibustered by Senate Republicans earlier this year and HR4 is expected to meet the same fate this fall. Using the resistance of Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema to altering the filibuster as political shields, the Democratic Party is spending its efforts on gutting these bills of any actual democratic content, capitulating to the demands of the fascistic Republican Party.

The reactionary Manchin, through his shameless appeals for collaboration with the same Republican Party working to destroy voting rights, has earned himself the right to decide what goes into these bills and what comes out. Providing the public a glimpse of what to expect from future iterations of the bills, Manchin published his own proposed version of SB1 in which he removed most of the provisions that would expand voting access, replacing them with a national voter ID mandate.

The surrender at the core of the Democratic Partys position on voting rights is best exemplified by Georgia Senator Raphael Warnocks proposed Preventing Election Subversion Act. This bill would do nothing to stop the Georgia election board from removing local officials, but would instead create a legal framework whereby deposed local officials may sue the state government for reinstatement.

This is a patently pathetic proposal. Warnock would have election officials engage in a protracted court battle while Republican politicians have their way with the electoral process. Not only this, but he appears to have neglected the fact that SB 202 already allows for local officials to challenge their removal in court, and that the US Supreme Court has a 6-3 conservative majority, presiding over federal circuit courts packed with Trump-era appointees.

What does this bill do to stop Republicans from removing unfavorable election officials? Absolutely nothing! In fact, it enshrines in federal law the authority of state governments to do so. Warnocks bill would grant state legislatures and federal judges the authority to remove local election officials on the grounds of inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.

Democratic politicians have spoken extensively against the Republican bills, with President Biden declaring them the new Jim Crow and the most dangerous threat to voting in the integrity of free and fair elections in our history. Yet the Democratic Party has done nothing to oppose it, refusing to make any popular appeal to the millions whose right to vote is now under threat.

Instead, the Democratic Party has consistently turned to CEOs, judges, and Republican politicians, begging them to halt the assault on voting rights, to no avail.

This is because the Democratic Party, as a capitalist party, fears the working class more than it fears the erosion of democratic rights. If the working class were to take action against the Republican bills, it would quickly expand to broader social issues. Democratic rights are invariably connected to inequality, police brutality, the destruction of social services, crushing poverty wages, and the murderous handling of the pandemic by both political parties.

Under the control of the Democratic Partythe party of Wall Street, big business and the upper-middle classthe fight to defend democratic rights cannot advance. As long as the working class is trapped within the straitjacket of the two capitalist parties it cannot defend its own rights and interests. The working class must break free of their political control and wage an independent political struggle for the defense of democratic rights as part of the fight for socialism.
Ivermectin, a medication better known for treating parasite infestations, when it comes to the unfounded treatments for COVID-19, is perhaps the stepchild of the drug Hydroxychloroquine, which had been touted by then-President Donald Trump for its supposed ability to prevent and mitigate COVID-19 disease.

However, unlike the ignominious end to the controversy over Hydroxychloroquine and COVID-19, the still unproven use of Ivermectin has persevered, especially across Latin America, where in the midst of unchecked coronavirus transmission, people desperate for any remedy have flocked to purchase the over-the-counter drug, which has been used for decades to treat farm animals and people infected with parasitic worms.

Over the weekend, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned that Ivermectin was not an anti-viral drug, ahead of its call giving Pfizers mRNA COVID-19 vaccine full authorization. The drug remains unproven in preventing or reducing the risk of developing severe COVID-19. In an official tweet, the FDA wrote: You are not a horse. You are not a cow. Seriously, yall. Stop it.

The packaging and a container of veterinary ivermectin is seen in Johannesburg, South Africa, Friday Jan. 29, 2021. (AP Photo/Denis Farrell)

The FDAs cautioned against Ivermectin use on the heels of a statement released by the Mississippi State Department of Health after reports surfaced that an increasing number of people had turned to use the drug to prevent COVID-19 infection. One man was recently hospitalized in the state for ingesting livestock Ivermectin from a feed store. The state, which has only managed to vaccinate 37 percent of its citizens fully, has recently been battered by a massive wave of infection with the Delta variant.

Ivermectin was discovered in 1975 and came into medical and veterinary use in the 1980s. It is one of the essential medicines on the World Health Organization (WHO) list and has FDA approval as an anti-parasitic agent. Though the drug, prescribed by a physician for appropriate indications, is fairly free of toxicity, it can be neurotoxic in large doses, leading to seizures or suppression in a persons ability to breathe, possible loss of consciousness, coma and even death.

During a press briefing, Dr. Thomas Dobbs, a Mississippi health officer, warned: There are potential toxicities [with Ivermectin]. So, its something, you know  some people are trying to use it as a preventative, which I think is really kind of crazy. So, please dont do that! Despite evidence of safe and effective vaccines widely available, it has found appeal among those opposed to the vaccines and public health measures.

The Department of Health issued an alert that they have been receiving reports about rising incidents of Ivermectin poisoning: The Mississippi Poison Control center has received an increasing number of calls from individuals with potential Ivermectin exposure taken to treat of preventing COVID-19 infection. At least 70 percent of the recent calls have been related to ingestion of livestock or animal formulations of Ivermectin purchased at livestock supply centers. Eighty-five percent of the callers had mild symptoms, but one individual was instructed to seek further evaluation due to the amount of Ivermectin reportedly ingested.

Early in the pandemic, scientists and physicians were repurposing every medicine sitting on the shelves that could potentially stem the severity of COVID-19. Like Hydroxychloroquine, Ivermectin had demonstrated in vitro (an experiment conducted in a culture dish outside a living organism) inhibition of the ability for SARS-CoV-2 to replicate.

Australian researchers published their data in the journal Antiviral Research in June 2020, demonstrating that a single treatment could affect a 5,000-fold reduction in viral RNA at 48 hours. However, the concentrations required to produce this effect would be impossible to achieve in vivo and prove highly toxic to humans. Spurred further by unreliable and later retracted studies compounded by lack of any substantiated benefit from any other pharmaceuticals, in Latin America, as the journal Nature noted, Ivermectins reputation was already cemented.

Ivermectin is commonly used in South America to treat river blindness, lymphatic filariasis and neglected tropical diseases. Despite the lack of evidence to support its use in a clinical setting, news of its potential benefit spread quickly. In May 2020, northern Bolivias health care workers passed out more than 350,000 doses to residents. The same month in Peru, 20,000 bottles of livestock grade Ivermectin sold on the black market were confiscated by the police. By July, the University of Peru announced it would increase production to bolster the countrys supply.

Quickly and in succession, countries in the region like Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, Venezuela and Brazil, facing massive waves of infections and death, began implementing public health policies for the use of Ivermectin for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19.

Proponents argued that its safety profile and several decades of experience with the use of the medicine, in light of the lack of any benefit from other pharmaceuticals, warranted adding it to their guidelines for treating coronavirus infections. Bolivias health minister, Marcelo Navajas, went as far as acknowledging, during a press conference on May 12, 2020, that the drug does not have scientific validation.

Dr. Carlos Chaccour, a Venezuelan researcher at the Barcelona Institute of Global Health in Spain, working to eliminate malaria, told Nature, I do not judge a doctor who has a dying patient before him and, desperate, tries anything [to save them]. The problem is when non-evidenced-based public policies are made.

In Brazil, where the death toll is approaching 600,000, fascistic President Jair Bolsonaros Ministry of Health has promoted a cocktail of unproven drugs known as tratamento precoce (early treatment) that include Ivermectin, Chloroquine, Azithromycin (an antibiotic), blood thinners, and an assortment of vitamins and zinc. Espousing policies based on utter pseudoscience, the Brazilian government spent millions on social media promoting quack concoctions to absolve themselves all criminal responsibility for the death of its people.

Dr. Jesem Orellana, an epidemiologist at Fiocruz Amazonia based in Manaus, where the Gamma variant first exploded, told NPR, Its not because they believe it works, but because it is a way for them to escape their responsibility for controlling the pandemic.

In February 2021, the US National Institutes of Health issued a COVID-19 treatment guidelines update, stating, Despite [the] in vitro activity, no clinical trials have reported a clinical benefit for Ivermectin in patients with these viruses, adding that there is insufficient evidence for the COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines panel to recommend either for or against the use of Ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19, citing the urgent need for adequately conducted studies to address the pressing question.

A month later, a randomized controlled trial published in JAMA on March 4, 2021, comparing Ivermectin to a placebo, found no benefit in treating mild COVID-19. This was followed by an announcement by the W HO , based on a comprehensive review by a panel of experts, that the evidence on the use of Ivermectin remained inconclusive and that, until more data were available, its use should be used be limited to clinical trials.

They wrote: The group reviewed pooled data from 16 randomized controlled trials (total enrolled 2,407), including both inpatients and outpatients with COVID-19. They determined that the evidence on whether Ivermectin reduces mortality, need for mechanical ventilation, need for hospital admission and time to clinical improvement in COVID-19 patients is of very low certainty, due to the small sizes and methodological limitations of available trial data, including small number of events.

In a blow to promoters of Ivermectin, just last month, a significant study purporting the safety and efficacy of Ivermectin to reduce mortality, which had been placed in a preprint on Research Square in November 2020, was retracted over revelations of plagiarism and widespread flaws in the data. The editors wrote,  we were presented with evidence of both plagiarism and anomalies in the dataset associated with the study, neither of which could reasonably be addressed by the author issuing a revised version of the paper.

Jack Lawrence, an independent journalist and British medical student with a masters in biomedical sciences, was the individual who had raised these concerns with Research Square. His report detailed the findings of this investigation. Dr. Ahmed Elgazzar from Benha University in Egypt, also the chief editor of the Benha Medical Journal, has yet to provide responses to questions posed to him.

According to the Guardian, The study found that patients with COVID-19 treated in hospital who received Ivermectin early reported substantial recovery and that there was a substantial improvement and reduction in mortality rate in Ivermectin treated groups by 90 percent. Nick Brown, a data analyst affiliated with Linnaeus University in Sweden, told the Guardian: The main error is that at least 79 of the patient records are obvious clones of other records. Its certainly the hardest to explain away as innocent error, especially since the clones arent even pure copies. There are signs that they have tried to change one or two fields to make them look more natural.

The need for a scrupulous and principled approach to the conduct of trials and investigations cannot be understated. In concluding, it is worth noting that last week, Dr. Didier Raoult, the French scientist who had been discredited for his promotion of Hydroxychloroquine treatment of COVID- 19 , is being forced out of the Marseille-based infectious disease institute that he had founded on concerns over his role in promoting conspiracy theories and the unethical conduct of his studies. However, he is receiving support from Marine Le Pens former campaign director, Florian Philippot, and a broader constituency of the far-right fascistic elements.
On Wednesday, a Hawaii judge declined to pursue charges against three Honolulu police officers involved in the fatal shooting of a 16-year-old Iremamber Sykap in April, preventing the case from going to trial. In a ruling from the bench, District Court Judge William Domingo said there was no probable cause to bring murder and attempted murder charges against the officers involved.

Honolulu Police officers Zackary Ah Nee, left, Geoffrey Thom, and Christopher Fredaluces during a preliminary hearing for the officers accused in the fatal shooting of Iremamber Sykap on Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021, in Honolulu. (Jamm Aquino/Honolulu Star-Advertiser via AP, Pool)

A grand jury previously decided not to indict the officers in the killing of Sykap, but state prosecutors sought their own charges, arguing that the officers use of deadly force was unnecessary, unreasonable, and unjustified under the law.

According to the Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Steven S. Alm, on April 5 Sykap was shot eight times through the rear windshield of a white Honda that police suspected had been stolen and used in a recent series of crimes.

Honolulus chief medical examiner testified that Sykap was hit by eight shots, including one to the back of the head and a fatal wound in the upper back, which tore his aorta. Sykap died later after being taken to a hospital and his brother, Mark Sykap, was shot twice but survived the shooting.

Prosecutors charged Officer Geoffrey Thom with second-degree murder for reportedly firing the shots that killed Sykap without provocation. The prosecution said Thom fired 10 rounds at Sykap through the rear window of the car after it stopped at an intersection. Officers Zackary Ah Nee and Christopher Fredeluces, who also opened fire on the vehicle the brothers were in, faced second-degree attempted murder charges.

Judge Domingo refused to bring charges against the officers on the grounds that the officers had no way of knowing two teenagers were in the car they opened fire on.

All we had was a white Honda speeding away, trying to avoid being arrested, Domingo said at the end of the weeks-long preliminary hearing.

If there was no pursuit in the beginning, and there were just people in the car and officers just came up and started shooting from behind without any type of provocationbut thats not what we have here, Domingo said.

Police claimed the three officers fired at Sykap after he weaved in and out of traffic at speeds up to 80 miles per hour as he led police on a high-speed chase. The vehicle came to a stop at an intersection after being surrounded by police cars. Officers surrounded the car with their weapons drawn and ordered the occupants to exit the vehicle.

The reasonable person would think, well, you know, is it over? And its not over at that point, Domingo said. Officers said the car started moving again, putting officers and others in danger, and thats when Thom opened fire into the white Honda.

A police evidence specialist testified officers found a pellet gun that looked like a real firearm in the Honda Sykap was driving. Police said they also found a magazine of real ammunition and one that was empty. However, no real firearms were found in the car. Police also claimed they found a backpack several blocks away from the shooting that came from a suspect who fled the vehicle. The backpack only had a blank-firing revolver, similar to those used as movie props or at track-and-field events.

Thomas Otake, the attorney who represents Ah Nee, told CNN that he was not surprised by the grand jury and the courts decisions.

This was clearly a case of officers acting to protect themselves and the public. It was not even a close call, Otake said in an emailed statement.

Thoms attorney, Richard Sing, agreed with Otake.

The rejection of the prosecutors misguided accusations by both the grand jury and then by the courts, all within 2 months of each other, means that the charges were utterly without merit or cause, Sing told CNN in a statement.

Fredeluces lawyer, Crystal K. Glendon, said that justice prevailed.

Both attempts failed because they were without merit, Glendon told CNN in an email. A case that never should have been charged was resoundingly dismissed not once, but twice.

Malcolm Lutu, the president of State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers, said in a statement that the police union was pleased that the legal system ruled in favor of the officers for a second time.

Today isnt a day of celebration, rather, it proves that the officers decision making was justified. It does not take away from the tragedy of what happened and the impact that it has on many families, he said.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Christopher Van Marter countered claims that officers were in danger at the time of the shooting. Van Marter said body camera video, which has not been released to the public, contradicted the officers claims that Sykap attempted to use the car to ram them. Marter admitted Sykap was not complying with officers demands to exit the car but stated he did not pose a threat to the lives of the officers at any time, according to the criminal complaints filed against the officers.

Van Marter said Thom displayed a breakdown in judgement, restraint and discipline in that there was no reason for him to start blasting 10 rounds into that car.

Were talking about taking a persons life with a gun. A government employee. Hes supposed to be disciplined, exercise restraint, only do something if necessary, Van Marter said.

Since 2015, police in Hawaii have killed 36 people according to a database maintained by the Washington Post. Five people, including Sykap, have been killed so far this year.

Three Honolulu police officers shot and killed Lindani Myeni, a black South African rugby player, on April 14 after he entered a home he apparently mistook for a public temple. Body camera footage shows that the officers did not identify themselves until after they engaged Myeni in a struggle and shot him four times. Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Alm announced on June 30 that the officers would face no charges after determining the shooting was justified.
Amid an accelerating COVID-19 epidemic and deteriorating economy, Malaysias Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin resigned last Monday. He was replaced on Friday by Ismail Sabri Yaakob, a member of the right-wing United Malays National Organisation and deputy prime minister in the previous government.

Malaysia's incoming Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, left, receives documents from King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah before taking the oath as the country's new leader at the National Palace in Kuala Lumpur. (Khirul Nizam Zanil/Malaysia's Department of Information via AP)

Ismail is the countrys third prime minister in less than four years. His installation will do nothing to end the political turmoil and instability that followed the defeat of the UMNO-led coalition at the 2018 national election. UMNO had been in power continuously since formal independence from Britain in 1957, through a gerrymander, autocratic methods of rule and domination of the media and state apparatus.

UMNO was defeated in 2018 by an electoral alliance between an opposition coalition led by Anwar Ibrahim and the United Malaysian Indigenous Party (Bersatu), a UMNO breakaway led by former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. In 1998, amid the Asian financial crisis and bitter disagreements over economic policy, Mahathir sacked Anwar as finance minister, expelled him from UMNO then jailed him on trumped-up charges.

As part of the opportunist electoral arrangement between the two political enemies, Mahathir was installed as prime minister with Anwar due to take over in 2020. The political tensions within the ruling coalition, which were evident from the start, led to its collapse as the time for Anwars installation as prime minister approached.

In March 2020, Muhyiddin Yassin, who had served as interior minister, split from the coalition with most Bersatu members, and cobbled together a government with the support of UMNO and the Islamist Parti Islam se-Malaysia (PAS).

UMNOs defeat in 2018 had been the result of widespread popular discontent over social inequality, entrenched corruption, and autocratic methods of rule. That opposition has only intensified as a result of the Muhyiddin governments gross mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Malaysia now has one of the highest infection rates and deaths per capita in the world. Daily new infections have more than doubled since June when a partial lockdown was imposed and hit a record 23,564 last Friday, bringing the countrys total to over 1.5 million cases. The death toll stands at more than 13,000.

The pandemic was initially contained after the Muhyiddin government imposed a strict lockdown shortly after coming to power and by July 2020 announced that the country had zero cases. However, as restrictions were eased, the number of infections and deaths rapidly escalated out of control.

In January, Muhyiddin secured the support of the king for the declaration of a state of emergency. That was driven more by his governments growing political crisis than the need to contain the spread of the virus. The measures that contained the pandemic between March and July last year had not required emergency powers.

By June, the daily number of cases hit 7,000, when Muhyiddin declared a total lockdown which was described by critics as half-baked. The government permitted 18 manufacturing centres to continue to operate, mainly at 60 percent capacity, transforming factories and workers crowded dormitories into major transmission sites for the virus. This dangerous situation was compounded by the lack of financial support, forcing workers to go to work just to survive, and an inadequate testing and contact tracing regime.

The failure of the government to contain the virus, together with the worsening economic and social crisis, has fuelled opposition, including protests by young people and a strike last month by grossly overworked junior doctors. The hospital system has been overwhelmed by COVID cases and lacks beds, staff and equipment.

Al Jazeera reported last month: Social media has been awash with harrowing photos and videos One video showed bodies kept in what appeared to be a hospital storeroom while the neighbouring ward was so full, patients were sitting in wheelchairs or on benches dragged in from corridors outside. Others have shown people queueing for hours at COVID-19 assessment centres following positive tests and crowded and unsanitary conditions at government-run quarantine facilities.

An Australian National University survey of South East Asian countries found that 49 percent of respondents in Malaysia were very worried they might fall ill or die. Some 41 percent were very worried the pandemic would affect their financial situation and their childrens education.

With the economy stagnating and expected to grow by only 3-4 percent this year, UMNO seized on the mounting political crisis to pull the plug on the coalition government. Muhyiddin was forced to step down after key UMNO figures left the ruling coalition. The installation of Ismail Sabri Yaakob, a longstanding UMNO member and defence minister in the previous government, effectively puts UMNO back in power.

Bridget Welsh, a South East Asia expert with Malaysias Nottingham University, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC): Malaysia has a new PM, with essentially the old politics and players. Its back to the past: UMNO is now in PM seat, returning to power through elite bargains despite being booted out for corruption in 2018.

Ismail is a particularly zealous proponent of UMNOs racialist politics of favouring ethnic Malays, who constitute about 60 percent of the countrys population, over its large ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities. In 2019, while UMNO was in opposition, he reportedly called on the Muslim Malays to wage a jihad against the ruling coalition and accused it of being anti-Islam.

Ismails record of ethnic Malay chauvinism is a warning that the new government will resort to the stock-in-trade of UMNO politiciansdivisive racialism and police-state methodsto deal with the widespread popular opposition that will inevitably develop.

His government is reliant on a disparate coalition for its slim parliamentary majority and will be seen by much of the population as simply a continuation of the previous Muhyiddin administration that failed to control the pandemic.
A photo of a Florida woman experiencing painful COVID-19 symptoms went viral this week after she was discovered lying on the floor of a monoclonal antibody treatment facility in Jacksonville. The widely circulated picture produced shock and outrage as the state continues to grapple with an unprecedented spike in infections, hospitalizations and deaths from the coronavirus.

A nurse enters a monoclonal antibody site, Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021, at C.B. Smith Park in Pembroke Pines. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

The photo was taken at a downtown library which has been converted into a treatment center to support the scores of sick patients that have overfilled every hospital in the city, leading to a grave shortage of beds and ICUs for critically ill cases. The woman was found by her husband, who took the photo, lying on her stomach in a near-fetal position and semi-conscious while awaiting desperately needed medical attention. Another patient who posted the picture on Reddit says she saw people crying in pain, while waiting for treatment.

Woman lies on the floor of a monoclonal antibody clinic set up for COVID-19 patients at the Jacksonville, Florida library.

One of the original posts with the picture carried a caption describing how appalling conditions had become for the ill. The poster said that her husband, who was vaccinated but still tested positive for the virus, had been waiting for more than two hours just for monoclonal therapy and expressed shock over the number of people waiting for help. He has never seen people so sick, the post read. Sick patients were seen all around the facility moaning, crying, unable to move.

Florida has become the third state in the US to reach 3 million confirmed cases of COVID-19, a total surpassed by just 15 countries worldwide. COVID-19 patients now account for approximately 30 percent of all hospital patients in the state, the highest total on record. There were 17,235 people hospitalized for COVID-19 on Saturday, an uptick of 37 from the day prior.

Although total reported cases in the state fell very slightly last week, 150,740 compared to 151,764, deaths rose sharply, an indication that the gap between the tsunami of hospitalizations across the state and recorded fatalities is beginning to diminish. The state saw 1,486 deaths last week compared to 1,071 the week before, the highest weekly death toll recorded since the pandemic emerged. The weeks deaths were nearly 15 percent above the previous record of 1,296 deaths during the pandemics second wave in January.

After the photo of the Jacksonville woman went viral, supervisors at the site urged residents who are suffering from severe COVID-19 symptoms to seek hospitalization and oxygen therapy in hospitals for the disease. In an effort to dissuade the general public from seeking the antiviral drug, health officials have stressed that such treatments are only designed for people in the early stages of their sickness or immediately after contracting the disease.

The newest wave in the pandemic has led to a nationwide growth of such pop-up sites for monoclonal antibody therapy, a treatment that has been championed by politicians like Florida Republican governor Ron DeSantis and some health experts as effective in reducing the lethality of the virus.

Monoclonal antibodies are intended to prevent future hospitalizations and are usually administered to high-risk patients, like those with kidney disease or diabetes. They are laboratory-made proteins that were introduced last year by the biotech conglomerate Regeneron Pharmaceuticals to treat mild-to-moderate cases of COVID-19. DeSantis and other right-wing opponents of vaccines, lockdowns, social distancing and masking are touting the antiviral drug as the best solution to the health crisis.

DeSantis has held up the example of former President Donald Trump, who was treated with the Regeneron antibody cocktail while recovering from coronavirus last fall. In several recent speaking events held throughout the state, the governor has openly dismissed the superiority of taking the vaccine to trumpet Regeneron. At one event he proclaimed, I dont think its an either-or issue of which works more efficiently. DeSantis has boosted monoclonal antibodies as a cure for the relatively large numbers of those still unvaccinated, while he has been one of the central proponents of anti-scientific propaganda and disinformation which has fueled public skepticism over the vaccines.

Moreover, another justification put forward for promoting monoclonal treatment is the increase in vaccinated individuals who are testing positive for the virus.

What is left out is the fact that such breakthrough infections are only possible because the Biden White House and the Democratic Party have ruled out scientifically-guided health measures that would eradicate COVID-19 and end the pandemic--universal testing, contact tracing, the safe isolation of infected patients, the imposition of strict travel restrictions, and the shutdown of all schools and nonessential workplaces.

This is expressed in the Biden administration's push for the full reopening of schools, which serve as major vectors for rising child infections and spur community transmission.

Governor DeSantis is among the most reactionary proponents of the policy of herd immunity that has defined the bipartisan ruling class response to the pandemic. In May his administration codified into law a prohibition on COVID-19 vaccine passports, blocking any business or government entity from requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination. The bill also grants the governor blanket authority to invalidate any local emergency order, even if approved by health experts, if it restricts individual rights or liberties.

In recent weeks DeSantis has spearheaded an anti-mask crusade against school districts statewide, enacting legislation banning district officials from authorizing mask mandates to protect students and teachers. The state government has gone so far as to threaten localities with fines and reduced funding for schools that defy the undemocratic law.

In their insistence that workers and parents return to unsafe workplaces to pump out profits for capitalism, the ruling class and its lackeys within the political establishment and corporate media are doing everything possible to promote insufficient panaceas in order to avoid taking the necessary public health measures that can save lives and halt the spread of COVID-19.

DeSantis has been among the most vocal of the promoters of the antiviral drug, which has sprung up in health facilities all across the state. In one public statement, the governor said Regeneron has proven to radically reduce the chance that somebody ends up being hospitalized for the virus. He called reducing hospital admissions a top priority, declaring further, if you reduce those admissions, people dont go to the hospital to begin with, you know theyre going to recover and so thats a really important thing.

These conceptions have elicited scathing reactions from doctors who have highlighted the dangers in thinking treatments for COVID-19 patients should override prevention procedures such as vaccinations and masking. Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and professor at George Washington University, told CNN in response to the governors comments, Its totally backwards to say that we should be focused on treatment instead of emphasizing prevention.

Meanwhile, health officials are already warning that the efficacy of monoclonal antibody treatments is being undermined by the Delta variant.

This was spelled out by infectious disease specialist Dr. Wesley Willeford in an interview with 6 WBRC in the last month. The problem is that the Delta variant is just different enough that these antibodies arent really binding the way that they need to target it, he explained.

In fact, scores of doctors have spoken out against DeSantis to emphasize that Regeneron treatment is not a substitute for vaccinations. The treatment was promoted initially as helpful in the early phases of a patients positive case and effective for several weeks after infection. However, the Delta variant increased the speed at which infected patients become sick, making the window for such drugs to alleviate symptoms much shorter than previous variants.

The Delta variant, which has become the dominant strain nationwide, has proven resistant to many antibody infusion treatments. Some of them have been pulled off the market because they are not really working the way they did early on in the pandemic, Willeford said. Dr. Willeford stressed that without proper mitigation and prevention measures, above all vaccines along with masking, the continued spread of COVID-19 will give more people a chance to go on and get more severe disease.
The flooding disaster in Humphreys County, Tennessee over the weekend has so far killed at least 21 people, including two toddlers, with another 45 still missing. The flash floods were the result of a storm which dropped 17 inches of rain on the region on Saturday evening, likely a new state record.

Firefighters work at the scene of forest fire near Kyuyorelyakh village at Gorny Ulus area, west of Yakutsk, in Russia Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021. (AP Photo/Ivan Nikiforov)

Early imagery shows whole communities devastated, with scores of houses simply gone as if a hurricane, tornado or wildfire had blown through. Rescue efforts are currently underway from multiple agencies, including the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, the state Department of Transportation, the Tennessee National Guard, the Tennessee Highway Patrol and the Tennessee Department of Health.

The deadly floods in Tennessee, as well as those that have occurred in Michigan, are not, however, just natural disasters. As with wildfires, hurricanes and polar vortexes, floods are becoming more frequent and severe extreme weather events because of human-induced climate change. This causal relationship was definitely established by the most recent report from the United Nations Panel on Climate Change, which declared that, It is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land, which are in turn connected to observed changes in extremes such as heatwaves, heavy precipitation, droughts, and tropical cyclones.

The same report also directly linked climate change to specific recent events, including floods across Europe, wildfires in the western United States, droughts in various parts of the world and stronger hurricanes, such as Hurricane Henri which made landfall in Rhode Island on Sunday and has caused power outages across New England.

Other recent extreme weather events linked to climate change include:

 A record heat wave in Greece which reached 116.8 degrees Fahrenheit and which triggered multiple wildfires across the country that have so far killed 2 people, injured 20 others, burned down several homes and an estimated 482 square miles, and forced the evacuation of thousands. Similar to the UN, the World Meteorological Organization has linked the wildfires to the impacts of climate change and global warming.

 Mountains in the Tizi Ouzou region of Algeria have been scorched by more than 100 forest fires in the past two weeks, with heat from the fires reportedly washing over mountain ranges. Hundreds of square miles have burned and the towns of Larbaa Nath Irathen, Beni Douala and Ait Mesbah have been turned to ash, causing more damage than all the fires from 2008 to 2020 combined. Ninety people have so far died fighting the flames.

 Wildfires in Bolivia have burned more than 580 square miles of land in the countrys Amazon and Chaco regions. The areas include large populations of South Americas indigenous peoples as well as a variety of plant and animal life. The region is also one of the most important areas on the planet for capturing and storing carbon from the atmosphere, one of the many natural processes that reduce the amount of freely circulating greenhouse gases.

 The largest wildfires on Earth are currently in Siberia, where hundreds of fires have burned more than 62,300 square miles of land since the beginning of the year, an amount comparable to the catastrophic 2019-20 Australian bushfire season. The fires have been in part exacerbated by record high temperatures reaching 118 degrees Fahrenheit over the summer. Smoke from the fires has blanketed the sky for 2,000 miles from east to west and 2,500 miles from north to south, reaching all the way to Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, as well as for the first time reaching the North Pole.

 Heavy rainfall in Turkeys Black Sea region caused flash flooding that has so far killed at least 82 people. These deaths follow the July floods in Europe, during which more than 230 people were killed across Germany, Belgium, Romania, Italy and Austria. Further severe and deadly floods have occurred in China, the United States, India, Pakistan, Japan, Afghanistan and New Zealand, which have killed thousands and impacted the lives of hundreds of millions.

In another indication of the worlds changing climate, rain fell on Greenlands summit on Saturday for the first time since records began. Temperatures rose above freezing for the third time in less than a decade, allowing the abnormal rainfall to occur. The rain follows a significant melting event in July when more than 8.5 billion tons of surface ice melted in a single day. That rate of melting is similar to what occurred in 2019, when a hot spring and July heat wave caused Greenland to lose 532 billion tons of ice in a single year, causing global sea levels to permanently rise by 1.5 millimeters.

Many other metrics of the dangers posed by climate change could be mentioned. As the geographical breadth of the above examples indicates, there is no country that isnt experiencing the deleterious effects of extreme weather events caused by climate change.

The scope of the disasters also exposes the bankruptcy of capitalism and its complete inability to deal in any meaningful way with the ongoing climate crisis.

In a 1982 internal memo that was given wide circulation to Exxon management, it was made clear that global temperatures would increase sharply as more CO2 was released into the atmosphere. The memo at the time predicted an increase of atmospheric greenhouse gases and global temperatures seen today and also predicted that global temperatures would exceed an increase of 1.5 degrees Celsius before the middle of this century and 2 degrees Celsius sometime around 2060.

Similar reports had been shown to the administrations of Democrat Jimmy Carter and Republican Ronald Reagan, which warned in the 1980s that the increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere as a result of burning greenhouse gases and resultant increase in global temperatures would eventually cause catastrophic environmental consequences for the worlds population, such as glaciers melting, sea levels rising and whole coastal regions being submerged under tens of meters of water.

More recently, the 2017 Carbon Majors report showed that just 100 corporations worldwide now produce about 90 percent of all global greenhouse gas emissions each year, and are responsible about half of all greenhouse gas emissions caused by human activity since the industrial revolution. That same presentation also noted that if the trend in fossil fuel extraction and release continues for the next quarter century, global average temperatures would be on track to reach an increase of 4 degrees Celsius by the year 2100.

Such a sharp rise in global temperatures, for which the world is currently on track, would be only the precursors of much more devastating storms, longer heat waves, dryer droughts and nonstop wildfires. Along with sea level rise and drowning every coastal city on the planet, coral reefs around the world would likely die off, eliminating a cornerstone of the food chain and threatening the survivors of the mass flooding with mass starvation.

There is also the increasing danger that Earths climate will enter a qualitatively different stage, one where the positive feedback effects of the current stage of global warming ultimately decouple Earths climate from human industrial activity. Under these conditions, other geophysical processes such as the mass release of methane from permafrost melting threaten to warm the planet far more than even the burning of fossil fuels is capable. Such a scenario would be exponentially more difficult for modern scientific techniques to contain.

For the capitalist class, however, stopping civilization-ending cataclysms is far less important than preserving their profits. As has been the case for decades, ExxonMobil, BP and other major fossil fuel corporations, as well as the hedge funds and Wall Street banks that own their stocks, are most concerned that coal, oil and gas continues to be mined and sold to further enrich themselves and their fellow oligarchs. If Earth will be poisoned and burned in that pursuit, so be it.

A parallel must be drawn to the coronavirus pandemic. Just as the worlds politicians and media figures have either ignored or actively sought to spur on a deadly contagion to protect corporate profits, to the tune of at least 4.4 million dead, they are actively driving the destruction of the environment. The objective need to increase the rate of profits drives the accelerating exploitation of the worlds resources and has led directly to the current (and future) ecological disasters.

Workers and young people must draw the lessons of the sustained inaction that has caused the ongoing crisis. The struggle to stop climate changelike the struggle against the pandemic and the threat of warmust become political. It requires the revolutionary mobilization of the international working class against capitalism. It requires that workers understand that their social interests are objectively and diametrically opposed to those of the capitalists and the private ownership of the means of production. It requires a fight for the socialist transformation of society.
On Friday, July 30, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other local groups filed a complaint with the U.S. Treasury Departments Inspector General alleging that Riverside County, California misused over $4.6 million in CARES Act funding, spending it on the sheriffs department for items unrelated to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ACLU complaint states that $1.3 million was used to upgrade key cards and surveillance cameras, $669,000 was spent on bulletproof windows and security improvements, and $2.7 million on office furniture.

This blatant misuse of funds was unanimously approved by all five members of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors and has been callously defended by Undersheriff Dennis Vrooman and Sheriff Chad Bianco.

Robert Presley Detention Center (source: riversidesheriff.org)

Commenting on the $2.7 million used for new office furniture, Vrooman stated that, If we replace them [office furniture], its less likely that we have the spread of disease and things like that in those facilities for both inmates and staff.

Upon learning of the complaint filed by the ACLU, Bianco sent an emailed statement declaring, three completely anti-law enforcement (and particularly) anti-Sheriffs Department ...organizations have made more frivolous complaints and are counting on anti-law enforcement media to fuel their demands for social justice.

It bears recalling that Bianco made national headlines last year when he publicly refused to enforce lockdown measures during the 2020 holiday season, just as rising cases and hospitalizations swept the Riverside County area.

This garnered him the approval of far-right, anti-lockdown groups and conservative news organizations such as Fox News and One America News Network.

Bianco has also publicly stated that he will refuse to take the vaccine, despite two of his employees having died from COVID-19 during the onset of the pandemic.

In response to the multi-racial, anti-police protests that erupted after the murder of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, Bianco directed his deputies to use tear gas, pepper balls and rubber bullets on protesters immediately after a city-wide curfew went into effect.

As county officials use pandemic aid to splurge on themselves, Riverside County residents are experiencing an upsurge in infections as students return to school for in-person instruction amid the spread of the more infectious Delta variant.

According to county data, Riverside County has seen a six-fold increase in infections, reporting 6,840 positive cases in July 2021 compared to 1,005 in June 2021.

The $4.6 million snared by the Sheriffs Department is in glaring contrast to the underfunded and overcrowded hospitals in the Riverside County area.

Just last year, nurses in SEIU local 121 at the Riverside Community Hospital went on strike in order to fight back against the lack of proper safety equipment and the low staff-to-patient ratios that were endangering patients and the community.

As always, the ruling class and their political lackeys claim that there is simply not enough money to meet the pressing material needs of workers, but this recent scandal in Riverside County has exposed this bold-faced lie.

Adrienna Wong, ACLU Southern California senior staff attorney, who helped file the initial complaint against Riverside County, is asking the federal government to recover the $4.6 million in CARES Act money to be used for actual COVID-19-related expenses.

But it bears noting that Wong is pleading with the very same federal government that has used trillions of dollars in order to bail out the financial aristocracy during the pandemic, accepted the murderous policies of herd immunitywhich has led to 600,000 plus deathsand has actively floated an already disproven Wuhan lab leak conspiracy, in order to deflect blame for the governments criminal mishandling of the pandemic onto China.

Biden announced in June that states and localities could funnel any amount from $350 billion allocated in COVID-19 relief through the American Rescue Plan, enacted in March, to fund police departments, including the hiring of more officers.

Only the working class armed with a scientific program and socialist perspective can eliminate COVID-19 and bring the pandemic to an end.

We urge workers in health care, education and elsewhere to form your own rank-and-file safety committees, independent of the two pro-capitalist political parties, in order to fight for and implement socialist policies that will direct funds to where they are needed the most, which is away from police departments that enforce social inequality and class rule and into the hands of teachers, nurses and everyday workers that will use such funds to end the pandemic once and for all.

For assistance in creating a rank-and-file committee in your workplace, contact the WSWS today!
The more Australias COVID crisis spirals out of control, with increasing infections, hospitalisations and deaths, the more vehemently are state and federal government leaders insisting that the population must live with the virus and its continuing spread.

Long lines of cars at inner-west Sydney COVID-19 testing station [Photo: WSWS Media]

This policy, identical to that being advanced by governments in Britain, the US and elsewhere, is a declaration that working people must accept death and illness on a mass scale in the interests of corporate profit.

Over the past three days, as daily Australian infections have approached 1,000 for the first time since the pandemic began, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and New South Wales (NSW) Premier Gladys Berejiklian have stepped up a campaign for the imminent lifting of safety restrictions and an end to lockdowns for all time.

Both have described a roadmap to reopening the country as an unbreakable pact with the Australian people. In reality, it was worked out behind closed doors, without any public discussion, and was adopted in July by the national cabinet, composed of the state and territory leaders, most of them from Labor, and the federal Liberal-National Coalition government, in meetings whose content remains secret.

According to the roadmap, lockdowns will become highly unlikely once 70 percent of the adult population is fully vaccinated. In phase three, triggered by an 80 percent rate, COVID will be treated like the flu in preparation for a return to normal. The modelling upon which the plan is based acknowledges that it will result in mass infections, as high as the hundreds of thousands, along with thousands of hospitalisations and deaths.

This was all known when the state and territory leaders signed off on the program.

As the current outbreak has worsened, however, some Labor premiers and chief ministers have made mealy-mouthed criticisms of the Berejiklian government, which has allowed the unchecked spread of Delta in Sydney, the countrys most populous city. They have warned that a full reopening, with case numbers rapidly increasing, could result in a health catastrophe.

The comments are motivated, above all, by fear of the growing opposition among working people to the subordination of their health to corporate profit interests.

In response, Morrison has given his most explicit statements outlining the federal government's homicidal herd immunity policy. In a press conference this morning, he declared that our goal is to live with the virus, not to live in fear of it. It was necessary for the population to adjust its mindset, and to recognise that infection numbers would not be the issue once we get above 70 percent vaccination.

Morrison warned against those who would seek to undermine the national plan, as well as those who may fear it and have concerns. Our goal must be to help people overcome these fears and not give in to them, he said. They could not be allowed to obstruct the immediate lifting of lockdowns once the 70 percent target was reached.

These comments are nothing short of a declaration of war on all workers and youth seeking to protect their health and lives, from nurses and doctors, to factory workers, postal staff, teachers and students. Already, there is mass opposition to the criminally-negligent response to the Sydney outbreak, widely-reflected on social media.

Morrison and the other government leaders know that this will grow. The prime minister today said that infections would increase substantially, once the roadmap began to be implemented. He and federal Health Minister Greg Hunt chillingly stated that they had ensured intensive care capacity would be sufficient to cope with the surge in hospitalisations that would result.

Virtually identical statements have been made each day by Berejiklian and other representatives of the NSW state government. When NSW cases exceeded 800 on Saturday, the first time that benchmark had been reached by any Australian jurisdiction, Berejiklian said that of greater significance was the uptick in the rate of vaccination, because this was the path to freedom.

The government is predicting that vaccination targets for the lifting of the lockdown will be met in early October. It has dispensed with any pretence of seeking to curb transmission, much less end the present outbreak, which Berejiklian and other ministers now state is impossible.

In the space of the past three days, almost 2,500 infections have been reported, the vast majority in the working-class areas of western and south-west Sydney. The bulk of the cases are being reported each day as unlinked, meaning the authorities do not know the source of transmission, while most of the COVID-infected individuals have been in the community for all or part of their contagious period.

Outbreaks are also occurring in regional and rural areas, including in the western NSW town of Wilcannia, one of the poorest in the state, with a population that is primarily indigenous and at high-risk of succumbing to the disease.

The state is on track to exceed one thousand daily infections by the end of the month, while some epidemiologists have warned of cases reaching three to four thousand in September. On July 31, there had been 3,190 infections since the beginning of the outbreak on June 16. Less than a month later, the figure now stands at 13,022.

Under these conditions, the state government is foreshadowing the lifting of some of the inadequate restrictions next month, based on the arbitrary figure of six million vaccine doses having been administered. This would be followed by the beginning of stage two of the roadmap in October, including a possible full resumption of face-to-face teaching when term four begins.

Year 12 students outside of 12 local government areas in the west and south-west of Sydney are already permitted to attend school for two hours per day, four days a week, in preparation for a broader reopening.

As has been the case internationally, a complete resumption of in-person teaching threatens a health catastrophe. Over the weekend alone, 204 children under the age of nine contracted the virus in NSW, along with 276 aged between ten and nineteen. Throughout the outbreak, children and teenagers have accounted for at least a third of all cases. There is not yet an approved vaccination for children, meaning they would be completely unprotected in the event of a return to classroom learning.

Berejikian has blithely dismissed the dangers. This morning, she was asked by a journalist if her government had factored the situation in Israel into its reopening plans. There, almost 80 percent of the population is inoculated, but a reopening has resulted in a surge of infections, which stand above 6,000 per day in a country whose population size is comparable to NSW. Hospitalisations are also rising. The premier brushed the question aside, and later insisted that there was no ceiling of infection numbers that would overwhelm the states health system.

Hospitalisations are already increasing rapidly. At the end of July, there were 203 COVID patients in NSW hospitals, 53 in intensive care. The number has grown to 586 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 100 people in intensive care, 32 of them requiring ventilation. All of Sydneys major hospitals are reporting intense strains on capacity, with over a thousand staff in the city isolating at any given time due to potential COVID exposure.

A health worker at Westmead Hospital, one of the largest in the country, informed the WSWS that as of today, the facility has 166 COVID patients, accounting for 17 percent of available bed space. The hospital is treating 41 pregnant women, eight of them as inpatients, who are COVID-positive.

As case numbers continue to rise, this is what the ruling elite has in store for millions of workers and young people. That is why the police and the military are being brought to the centre stage. A major state mobilisation is underway against residents of the working-class suburbs of western and south-western Sydney where conditions increasingly resemble martial law.

Anti-lockdown rallies were met with a massive show of police force over the weekend, including a complete shutdown of the central business district. The target of this operation was not the handful of right-wing agitators spouting similar talking points to Berejiklian and Morrison. Rather, the events were seized upon as a dry-run for a police confrontation with a movement of the working-class.

The situation on every front underscores the crucial importance of the formation of rank-and-file safety committees in all workplaces and communities, to fight for a program that prioritises public health over the profit interests of the banks and big business.
25 years ago: Strike wave in Latin America

President Juan Carlos Wasmosy of Paraguay, left, with President Carlos Menem of Argentina in 1996

In a three-day period beginning August 28, 1996, walkouts, food riots and general strikes took place in five Latin American countries. In several countries, these events were among the first actions of sections of the working class after the collapse of longstanding military dictatorships.

Public school teachers in Uruguay started the wave of protest actions when they declared a 48-hour strike in primary schools and universities and a 72-hour strike in secondary schools, in support of students who had occupied 25 secondary and technical schools demanding more education funding.

There was rioting and looting in the Caribbean port city of Limon in Costa Rica on August 27. One man was shot and killed and three others were wounded, as gunfire broke out between police and city residents. The fighting began when the police tore down barricades erected by shipyard workers protesting a government decision to privatize the port facilities.

In Paraguay, the countrys major unions and peasant associations staged a nationwide eight-hour strike August 27, demanding a 26 percent pay raise for workers and land grants to the peasants.

The strikers also demanded a halt to the planned privatization of old-age pensions and the Yacyreta hydroelectric dam. The strike was the fourth since President Juan Carlos Wasmosy came to power in 1993, each more violent than the last. More than 10,000 police were deployed in Asuncion, the capital city, but public transport was halted and mass demonstrations held despite the crackdown.

Tens of thousands of hospital workers in Chile walked out August 27, shutting down the countrys public health system for 13 hours. The government of President Eduardo Frei Montalva declared the strikes illegal, giving itself the authority to fire workers at will. Other strikes were set to begin by miners at the Salvador copper mine and by school teachers.

Finally, on August 28, more than 1 million public school employees carried out a 24-hour protest strike in Venezuela, shutting down offices of the federal government, the 22 state governments and 330 municipalities. The strike was called over the governments failure to pay a promised bonus to offset the devaluation of the national currency, the bolivar, and against the firing of 70,000 public employees over the previous three months by the government of President Rafael Caldera.

50 years ago: Marcos assumes emergency powers after Plaza Miranda bombing

Richard Nixon, left, and Ferdinand Marcos in Manilla, 1969

The week of August 23, 1971, Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos issued a proclamation giving himself emergency powers, including suspension of the writ of habeas corpus. Days earlier, on August 21, three grenades had been thrown onto the stage of a Liberal Party campaign rally, killing nine and injuring nearly 100 more. The week would see police raids and mass arrests targeting Marcos political opponents, and left-wing groups in particular.

The Plaza Miranda bombing and the declaration of emergency powers by Marcos presaged his declaration of full martial law one year later. The establishment of what was essentially a dictatorship under Marcos, backed by the United States, destroyed the myths of independence and democracy that had been cultivated after the US nominally ended colonial rule in 1946.

The Miranda bombing set off an immense political crisis in the Philippines. Initially, many suspected that the bombing was the result of a plot orchestrated by Marcos himself to both directly attack his opponents in the Liberal Party and to provide the justification for martial law and his effective abolition of the fragile constitutional democracy.

While this was the end result, recent research by Dr. Joseph Scalice has found that it was not Marcos who orchestrated the bombing, but the Stalinist Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). The bombing was a desperate and deranged attempt by the CPP to shift public opinion against Marcos and toward their supposedly progressive ruling-class allies in the Liberal Party.

Stalinist leader Jose Maria Sison also believed that any crackdown from Marcos would benefit the CPP. Sison in fact welcomed the police-state measures, having on many occasions declared his belief that fascism and martial law are good for revolution.

The plan backfired miserably. Marcos used the political confusion caused by the CPP to brutally suppress all political opposition. Marcos would rule the Philippines until 1986.

For a detailed review of the bombing and its political ramifications readers are encouraged to watch Scalices lecture, Three Grenades in August: Fifty Years since the Bombing of Plaza Miranda in the Philippines.

75 years ago: Political assassination sparks peasant uprising in the Philippines

Hukbalahap soldiers

On August 24,1946, Juan Feleo, a longtime political activist and peasant leader, was stopped by a group of armed men near the Filipino city of Gapan, before being dragged away and murdered. The killing was widely viewed as a political assassination commissioned or endorsed by landlord groups, and possibly ordered by Philippines President Manuel Roxas. The murder sparked a rebellion that would last almost a decade.

Feleo had been a leading member of the People's Army Against the Japanese, known by its abbreviation in Tagalog, the Hukbalahap or Huks. The organization had engaged in guerrilla warfare against the Japanese occupation of the country during World War II, mobilizing peasants and others in Central Luzon. The Huks were politically-dominated and controlled by the Stalinist Communist Party of the Philippines.

During the war the Huks had an uneasy relationship with the American military, with whom they allied against the Japanese. After the war, the US immediately moved to disarm the Huks, as it sought to secure its renewed dominance over the archipelago. After May 1946 national elections, six Huk and Communist Party leaders who stood on the Democratic Alliance platform were blocked from assuming their seats in the House of Representatives, on the basis of trumped-up allegations of voter intimidation and fraud.

Roxas, who won the presidency, presided over a sham handover of power from the US authorities to the local Filipino elite. The American government retained de facto control over the countrys foreign policy and was granted far-reaching military basing rights. Roxas was closely identified with the landowners, and had pledged to crush ongoing unrest among the peasants and the Huks.

Feleo and other Huk leaders, in line with their Stalinist program of orienting to the Filipino capitalist class, agreed to support government pacification negotiations aimed at stemming ongoing peasant unrest. Feleo was on his way to Manila from one of these efforts when he and his security detail were accosted and killed by the unidentified armed men. The attack prompted a number of Huk leaders to return to their base of operations in Central Luzon and to prepare a rebellion that would continue, with brief interruptions, until 1954.

100 years ago: British install king in Iraq

Coronation of Faisal I, king of British-controlled Iraq

On August 23, 1921, Faisal I was installed as the king of the newly created state of Iraq, which was under mandate from the League of Nations to the British Empire.

The British authorities had decided in March that Faisal would be a better choice than ruling the territory directly because he was both conciliatory to imperialism but had a reputation as a nationalist leader. The former Ottoman territories which comprised the modern states of Israel, Palestine, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, which the French and British had divided among themselves in the aftermath of World War I, were seething with anti-imperialist nationalist sentiment.

Faisal had been the titular head of the government in the short-lived, nationalist-inspired Arab Kingdom of Syria in March, 1920, which had been suppressed by French and British forces.

Faisal was encouraged to campaign among Iraqis, to whom he was virtually unknown, by imperialist figures such as T.E. Lawrence and the archaeologist Gertrude Bell, who, some have argued, was the real power behind Faisals throne. (Bell was partly responsible for leaving the Kurdish population of Iraq, Syria and Turkey stateless.) Faisal became king after a plebiscite voted in his favor by 93 percent.

Iraq was an artificially created entity that was founded for the convenience of the British rulers. The nationalist intelligentsia among the Arab population was for the most part Pan-Arabist, a sentiment that Faisal was to play to over the next 12 years of his rule. Faisal gave advice to the French during the Great Druze Revolt in Lebanon and Syria in 1925. He supported Jewish immigration to Palestine but opposed, at least publicly, the formation of a Jewish state. During his coronation the official band played the British anthem, God save the King.
WABASH VALLEY, Ind. (WTHI) - The U.S. Department of Education recently announced they're canceling student loan debt for borrowers with severe disabilities. This was efforted by President Biden. The U.S. Department of Education says its waiving 5.8 billion dollars total for more than 300,000 people.

Andrea Reed is a college graduate that was born and raised in Terre Haute. She was born with a disability.

"I have a spinal deformity called Scheuermann's Kyphosis."

She says it's like a cousin to scoliosis, resulting in her having a humpback.

"When I hit puberty the vertebra in my spine started instead of growing normal formed a wedge shape which caused me to bend over at more than a 90-degree angle and I had my spine fused in 2009."

Reed says this caused challenges for her when she went to college.

"It almost stopped me from graduating college. I was already in college when I had to have surgery. I took a break but I pushed myself to finish because I wanted my kids to know I didn't quit."

She says she's been a part of several programs before that aided her in student loan relief because of her disability. Now she is debt-free.

"I was able to go through that program prior to Biden even taking office."

But many others aren't as lucky, according to CBS officials Americans currently owe more than 1.6 trillion in debt.

"It's outrageous we have the highest cost of college and secondary education in the world. It's crazy, it's unnecessary."
WABASH VALLEY (WTHI) - Many of us are dealing with seasonal allergies. You might be wondering if cough or headache is seasonal allergies or possibly COVID-19.

The Indiana State Department of Health is working to help you understand the differences.

They created the following chart to help sort it all out:

By looking at the chart, you can likely tell there's a lot of overlap between the two.

Health officials urge you to get tested for the virus. Many places require appoints. To learn how to schedule those, click here for Indiana and here for Illinois.
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Community members cruised around town in an effort to raise money for local children.

The Riley Children's Miracle Ride made a pit stop in town this weekend.

This is the 27th year for the ride that covers the whole state of Indiana.

Over 27 years its brought in more than $6.5 million in donations for Riley Children's Hospital.

This is the first year the ride has started its journey here in Terre Haute, and American Legion Post 104 had the opportunity to sponsor the riders.

Organizers say all bikers are very generous people, and they care deeply for this cause.

"When you go riding down and you go riding past Riley...I don't care how tough you are there's a tear that gets in your eye with the children that are there," ride representative Tom Kingery said.

The event is all done by volunteers, and the admission is $50 per person.

The best part of all-100 percent of the money raised goes to the hospital! To see where they're headed next click here.
WAVERLY, Tenn. (AP)  Search crews are working through shattered homes and tangled debris in Tennessee, looking for dozens of people still missing after record-breaking rain unleashed floods that killed at least 22 people.

Saturdays flooding took out roads, cellphone towers and telephone lines in a rural area northwest of Nashville, leaving people uncertain about whether family and friends survived.

Emergency workers are still searching door to door in neighborhoods where the water rose the fastest.

The National Weather Service says up to 17 inches of rain fell in Humphreys County in less than 24 hours Saturday, tripling the forecast and shattering the Tennessee record for one-day rainfall.
Charleston, WV (25311)

Today

Overcast with showers at times. High 71F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Some clouds. Slight chance of a shower throughout the evening. Low 57F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
Charleston, WV (25311)

Today

Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain for the afternoon. High 71F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Slight chance of a shower throughout the evening. Low 57F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
Clarksburg, WV (26301)

Today

Periods of rain. Potential for flooding rains. High near 70F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Cloudy early, becoming mostly clear after midnight. Slight chance of a shower throughout the evening. Low 53F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.
The Daily Show correspondent Jordan Klepper visited a recent anti-vaccine mandate protest in New York City for the latest installment of his man-on-the-street series Jordan Klepper Fingers the Pulse.

Normally when Im in search of an angry mob of people screaming anti-science, deep state, vaccine microchip conspiracy jazz, I head to the Heartland of America, Klepper says, introducing the segment. But it turns out I could find those very same people in my very own backyard.

The segment was filmed at an August 15 protest at Gracie Mansion, the home of Mayor Bill de Blasio. The protesters assembled to voice their outrage at the citys recently imposed vaccine mandate. It was a mix of hardcore anti-vaxxers, people who are okay with vaccines but hated the mandate and then, of course, some people who put together a Joker costume once, loved the attention, so now thats pretty much all they do, Klepper says in the video.

The segment is the latest in The Daily Show series Jordan Klepper Fingers the Pulse, which sees the correspondent visiting right-wing gatherings across the country. Recent installments include visits to the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, Donald Trumps COVID rally and the Million MAGA March.

The full-length special The Daily Show With Trevor Noah Presents: Jordan Klepper Fingers The Pulse  Into The MAGAverse was recently nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Writing For A Variety Special.

Read original story The Daily Show Star Jordan Klepper Confronts Anti-Vax Protesters at NYC Mayors Home (Video) At TheWrap
The summer of celebrities lavishly boating around Italy all loved up with their significant other lives on  Gabrielle Union and her hubby Dwyane Wade being the latest Hollywood couple to jump on the bandwagon (or ... boat?).

The Bring It On actress had fun in the sun while also staying in style, wearing an upside-down bikini, one of the summer's hottest trends. She posted photos from her and Wade's trip to Instagram showing off the tiny black bikini from swimwear brand Triangl.

Video: Gabrielle Union changes her hair

In a few of the photos, Union and Wade looked to be enjoying each other's company (and a glass of wine) atop a giant flamingo raft along the Amalfi Coast. Another photo in the series showed Union climbing up the ladder of the boat, wearing the terrycloth suit, her smooth skin glistening in the sun, abs on full display. She paired the chic suit with waist-length braids sectioned off into pigtails.

Gabrielle Union

Gabrielle Union/Instagram

RELATED: Gabrielle Union Says the Entire Family "Borrows" Her Flawless Hair Products

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She captioned the post with flamingo, waves, and Champagne emoji and the hashtag "#WadeWorldTour2021." In another post, theFlawless founder posed in Ponza, Italy, wearing a matching green-and-blue mesh crop top and sarong set with oversized, square-shaped sunglasses.

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"Ponza Princess  #wadeworldtour2021," she wrote alongside the series of photos of her posing on a dock. The Italian coast is truly the Summer 2021 gift that keeps on giving.
Tarek El Moussa 40th birthday

Allie Marion Photography

The surprise 40th birthday party Heather Rae Young threw for her fiance Tarek El Moussa was far from a flop  and we've got all the details on the lavish affair!

The Selling Sunset realtor, 33, planned and hosted a scaled-down soiree for the Flip or Flop star's close friends and family on Saturday night  the day of El Moussa's 40th birthday  at Twenty Eight Restaurant and Bar in Irvine, California, close to Newport Beach, where they live.

El Moussa appeared truly surprised when he walked into the event hand-in-hand with Young, who was dressed in a baby-pink sequined mini dress. He laughed in awe and gave her a few sweet smooches when he took in the scene and realized what she had planned.

RELATED: Tarek El Moussa Celebrates 40th Birthday with Fiancee Heather Rae Young and Kids: 'We Love You'

Tarek El Moussa 40th birthday

Allie Marion Photography

Guests included El Moussa's parents and sister, Young's parents and sister, and Young's Selling Sunset costars Jason Oppenheim, Mary Fitzgerald and Romain Bonnet.

Tarek El Moussa 40th birthday

Mary Fitzgerald/Instagram

The guest list also appeared to be adults-only, as El Moussa's two kids  daughter Taylor, 10, and son Brayden, 6, whom he shares with his ex-wife and HGTV costar Christina Haack  did not appear to be in attendance.

Tarek El Moussa 40th birthday

Heather Rae Young/Instagram

When it came to planning, Young went all out on the decor with the help of Southern California event planners Pure Lavish Events. Together they decked out the restaurant with dark and moody, nature-inspired decor, including plenty of hanging greenery, wooden embellishments, lanterns and a moss-covered "40" sign hanging on the wall. It's unclear what if any COVID safety protocols were in place.

Tarek El Moussa 40th birthday

Allie Marion Photography

For drinks, a bartender was on site pouring four signature drinks: a fresh strawberry margarita, a blackberry vodka cocktail, an old-fashioned and an "After Dinner Night Cap." The bartender also had a blow torch and piece of wood at the ready to make drinks extra smoky.

Story continues

Tarek El Moussa 40th birthday

Allie Marion Photography

According to the menu, there were two meal options available: one vegan, and one not. (Young has been vocal about being vegan for many years.) The vegan main course was a roasted cauliflower dish, while the other had the choice between a striploin steak or Chilean sea bass. Both meal options ended with a "Sweet Finish" of coconut panna cotta.

Tarek El Moussa 40th birthday

Allie Marion Photography

Perhaps the sweetest treats, however, were located at the front entrance of the party: A stack of sugar cookies printed with a photo of El Moussa as a young boy. "My hunny," Young captioned a photo of the cookies she shared to her Instagram Stories Saturday night.

Tarek El Moussa 40th birthday

Heather Rae Young/Instagram

Cupcakes and a sparkler-topped birthday cake decorated with black-and-white marbled fondant also added to the dessert portion of the night.

Tarek El Moussa 40th birthday

Allie Marion Photography

El Moussa shared several photos of the event to Instagram on Sunday, thanking Young  whom he proposed to in July 2020  for making him feel loved on his birthday.

RELATED: Heather Rae Young Reveals She and Tarek El Moussa Scrapped Original Wedding Plans, Changed 'Everything'

"A birthday for the books," he began the post. "Thank you to my love @heatherraeyoung for making my whole weekend so special. Started with a morning with the kids, then a surprise day on our boat, then a surprise birthday dinner with all of our closest friends and family, and is ending with a getaway to our favorite hotel in Montecito I don't know how she did it all, and so perfectly too, but I'm a lucky man."

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He continued: "Thank you for the most thoughtful weekend, @heatherraeyoung- I couldn't have asked for a better way to celebrate my 40th birthday."

RELATED VIDEO: Tarek El Moussa and Heather Rae Young Have Been 'Inseparable' Since the Day They Met: 'When We're Together the World Stops'

Young also posted photos from the party, writing, "40 has never looked so good. Happy birthday baby and cheers to a lifetime together. I love you."

Earlier this month, El Moussa and Young revealed that they were adding another member to the family: a black pug puppy named Bugz.

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In an Instagram post, El Moussa wrote of the sweet pup: "Our family feels full with her in it."

The new addition comes as the pair are busy planning their wedding, a pending affair they recently started replanning after "switching up" the location and design.
Frenzied evacuation from Afghanistan continues

The U.S. has evacuated thousands of people from Afghanistan but has a long way to go, President Joe Biden said on Sunday. With thousands of Americans remaining in Afghanistan, Biden said his administration is in talks about extending its Aug. 31 deadline for the full removal of U.S. troops, but said the administration hopes it will not have to extend it. "We have a long way to go. And a lot could still go wrong," Biden said. It's been a week since the Taliban entered Afghanistan's capital city and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled the country. The U.S. is continuing to evacuate Americans and Afghan people with special immigrant visas, with 17,000 people sent out of Afghanistan in the last week.

The scene at Hamid Karzai International Airport remains frenzied as crowds attempt to leave the country. A NATO official told Reuters on Sunday that 20 people have died in the last week at the airport amid the evacuation.

18 airplanes were activated Sunday to assist in evacuation efforts out of Kabul. The planes will not fly into Hamid Karzai International Airport. Instead, they will be used for "the onward movement of passengers from temporary safe havens and interim staging bases," said Pentagon press secretary John Kirby. It is only the third time that civilian aircraft have been activated.

A U.S. Air Force loadmaster, assigned to the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, assists evacuees aboard a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft in support of Operation Allies Refuge at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan, on Aug. 20.

At least 21 dead, dozens missing as floods strike Tennessee, North Carolina

At least 21 people were dead and dozens more remained missing Sunday after record-shattering downpours triggered flooding across parts of rural Tennessee and North Carolina. Authorities fear the death toll could rise. Between 25 and 30 people were missing missing in Tennessee's Humphreys County alone, Sheriff Chris Davis said. Parts of Tennessee saw as much as 17 inches of rain fall in less than 24 hours, breaking the state record for one-day rainfall by more than 3 inches, the National Weather Service said. In Haywood County, North Carolina, the death toll rose to four from flooding wrought by Tropical Storm Fred last week after two bodies were recovered Saturday.

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Tropical Storm Henri makes landfall in New England

Tropical Storm Henri rolled across Block Island before making landfall on the coastal Rhode Island town of Westerly on Sunday, blasting much of the Northeast with high winds and heavy storm surge. Henri had weakened earlier in the day from hurricane status but remained an imposing threat, driving sustained winds of 60 miles per hour and producing 19-foot waves in some places. "Storm surge, rainfall and wind hazards will extend far from the center," warned Daniel Brown, senior hurricane specialist. "This is a life-threatening situation." Henri is forecast to slow down and possibly stall near the Connecticut-New York border Sunday night, followed by an east-northeastward motion across northern Connecticut and southern Massachusetts on Monday. Slower forward speed means the storm will linger longer, dumping excessive rain as it passes.

Real quick

Pfizer vaccine could win full FDA approval soon

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine could win full FDA approval as soon as Monday, multiple media outlets report. The New York Times, citing people familiar with the planning who were not authorized to speak publicly, said the approval might come a day or two later if parts of the review need more time. U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy told ABC's "This Week" that he "wouldn't be surprised" if the FDA soon issues full approval of the Pfizer vaccine. Pfizer's vaccine is being made available under an emergency use authorization and would be the first COVID-19 vaccine to win full FDA approval. Murthy said full approval could persuade more Americans to get vaccinated, prompt more companies and organizations to mandate vaccinations, and help curb the dangerous spread of delta and other variants.

COVID-19 booster shot for Pfizer, Moderna vaccines will be available Sept. 20.

Poll: Americans back tough rules on vaccinations and masks

As a fourth wave of the coronavirus surges, Americans say protecting the common good is more important than ensuring personal liberty when considering whether to require individuals to get a COVID-19 vaccination or wear a protective mask. An overwhelming 72% of those surveyed by USA TODAY and Ipsos called mask mandates "a matter of health and safety," not an infringement on personal liberty. By 61%, they endorsed requiring vaccinations except for those with a medical or religious exemption. The debate is reverberating across the country as school districts prepare to reopen in the next few weeks and businesses begin to bring back employees. Last week, the Biden administration threatened to cut off federal funding to nursing homes that didn't require staffers to be vaccinated.

P.S. Like this roundup of stories? Sign up for "The Short List" newsletter here.

This is a compilation of stories from across the USA TODAY Network. Contributing: Associated Press.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tropical Storm Henri, Tennessee floods, Afghanistan: Weekend's news
The Real Philly cream cheese schmear

@perrysteaddairy

Philadelphia cream cheese was invented in 1872, named in a deft marketing move to associate the soft cheese bricks with Philly's high-quality dairy farms. Despite its enduring branding, though, the grocery store staple was never made in the City of Brotherly Love. Now, nearly 150 years later, Philly can finally claim its own version.

Cheesemaker Yoav Perry recently introduced The Real Phillytechnically a schmear, since it's made with whole milk instead of cream. Perry crafts the spread, along with a host of other interesting, innovative, and downright delicious cheeses, from Pennsylvania milk at Perrystead Dairy in the heart of the city's South Kensington neighborhood.

Calling himself Philly's first urban cheesemaker, Perry opened earlier this year, much to the delight of neighbors. When he tells people what he does, "the only thing that would make them more excited is if he said he was an astronaut," said his wife, Rhalee Perry. "Their whole faces light up."

The cheesemaking journey started in New York City, where Perry and his family were living before moving to Philadelphia. He couldn't find yogurt in the grocery store without thickeners and stabilizers. "Yogurt is just milk and cultures and nothing else," said Perry. "So I started making yogurt at home."

Homemade yogurt was the gateway to making labneh, and finally, cheese. "The minute I made it, I was just taken aback," he said. "It was total magic."

Perry's education came, at first, in the form of online cheesemaking forums, cheese-making manuals, and trial and error. In the beginning, he couldn't find a diverse enough range of bacterial cultures and tooling, so he imported from France, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. Then he started a business selling them to a community of cheesemakers hungry for more interesting and varied offerings, eventually shipping to about 35 countries and 700 professional producers and hobbyists.

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Perrystead Dairy cream cheese schmear

Jaime Alvarez

Eventually, the cheesemaker sold ingredients to Eleven Madison Park in Manhattan, which led him to show off samples of a Fromage Faissellea ladled version of fromage blancto some of the kitchen staff. "It's more custardy, it's beautiful and decadent, and they sell it in a farmer's market in France." Perry's cheese was a hitit was slated to stay on the restaurant's menu for one season, but remained for three seasons, about nine months.

If impressing the team behind Eleven Madison Parkconsistently listed among the world's best restaurantswas any indication, Perry is good at making cheese. But when he considered opening a dairy, the financial numbers didn't make sense in New York. Perry and his family moved to Philadelphia in 2016, eventually opening Perrystead Dairy inside a warehouse in South Kensington.

In the neighborhood, the cheesemaker found a robust maker community, filled with a growing roster of breweries, distilleries, and a new urban winery. He also found a steady stream of prime milk. "The dairy in Pennsylvania is absolutely incredible," he said. "The quality is enough to justify making world-class cheese right here."

Intergalactic cheese

Di Bruno Bros. Intergalactic cheese

That world-class cheese includes a seasonally-rotating roster of varieties like the Atlantis, washed in Atlantic Ocean seawater and six kinds of edible seaweed, and Intergalactic, a floral, cow's milk cheese coagulated with thistle renneta tradition dating back to the Roman Empire. (At a recent food maker's market Perry hosted at the dairy, the crowds were raving about these beautiful little wrinkly-rinded cubes of buttery perfection. It's set to get a wider distribution outside of Philly, throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and California.)

It also includes Perry's Real Philly schmear, a loose rendition of what he made for Eleven Madison Park. The fluffy, probiotic-infused cheese is made with only three ingredients: cultured milk, enzyme, and salt.

"This is not a lab experiment," he said. "It highlights the amazing milk here. You cannot do this with crappy milk." He points out that making a product with so few ingredients means there's nothing to hide behind. The process involves a slow fermentation that creates active, microscopic carbon dioxide bubbles inside the curd, which translate to silky spread. Incidentally, the Real Philly goes well with some of the city's best new bagels, or anything else worthy of its tangy decadence.

For Perry, the inspiration behind making the Real Philly schmear was to make an American-rooted cheese. "Cream cheese is the only thing out there that's American original," he said. Cheddar hails from England, Brie from France. Even "American" cheese originated in Switzerland.

On the whole, Perry's focused on making original cheese that aren't a mimic of Europe's regional cheeses, and on showcasing high-quality milk, which injects much-needed resources into Pennsylvania's struggling dairy farm industry.

If you see the Real Philly, or any Perrystead cheesessold at Philly's famed cheese institution DiBruno Bros., and Riverwards Producesnag them now, because he's probably already working on something new.

"I don't have to make the same cheese over and over again," Perry said. "You can build a brand where [customers] know they get a high-quality product that is creative and interesting and approachable and not esoteric. It's just fun and absolutely delicious."
Corrections/clarifications: This story originally mischaracterized the increase in armed protests. The number of armed protests increased from February to June; the proportion doubled.

Armed protests are six times more likely to turn violent as protests where no guns are present, concludes a new study that analyzed more than 30,000 public demonstrations in the U.S. over the past 18 months.

After peaking last summer, the number of armed protests on the nation's streets has started to rise again, according to the study from the advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety and researchers with the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project.

After a cooling-off period following the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, the proportion of protests at which people are armed doubled from February to June, and more are planned for the rest of the summer.

"This is the first time since our coverage began at the start of 2020 that weve seen such a continuous increase for so many months in a row," said Roudabeh Kishi, director of research and innovation for the armed conflict data project. "The last time we recorded a steady rise in armed demonstration activity like this, it culminated in the attack on the Capitol."

Armed protesters pardoned: Missouri Gov. Mike Parson pardons St. Louis lawyer couple who waved guns at protesters

Virginia gun rally: A jittery nation days before Inauguration Day; gun rights caravans roll into Richmond, Virginia

The study examined 560 instances in which individuals  whether the protesters themselves or people who opposed them  brought firearms to demonstrations. In roughly one of every six of those demonstrations, violent or destructive activity ensued, the researchers found. At protests where no guns were present, one out of 37 turned violent.

Violent or destructive acts were carried out by armed and unarmed protesters alike, the researchers said.

Demonstrators raise their fists during a "Sit Out the Curfew" protest in Oakland, California, on June 3, 2020, after the death of George Floyd, who was murdered in Minneapolis while in police custody. It was the ninth straight night of protests around the country, with thousands chanting against racism and police brutality. (Photo by Philip Pacheco / AFP)

Violence and property destruction occurred after political rallies of all types at which arms were present, including Black Lives Matter protests, the researchers found. Kishi said 94% of Black Lives Matter protests, hundreds of which occurred around the country, were peaceful.

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"In contrast, demonstrations involving right-wing militias or militant social movements such as the Proud Boys, Oath Keepers or the Three Percenters, among others  have turned violent or destructive over twice as often, or nearly 14% of the time," she said in an email.

Even so, Black Lives Matter protests were far more heavily policed than demonstrations in support of former President Donald Trump or rallies against coronavirus lockdowns, Kishi said.

Fractured skulls, lost eyes: Police break their own rules when shooting protesters with rubber bullets

A spike in armed protests last summer

Last summer, as protests erupted over the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis and police violence against people of color, there was a marked increase in the number of armed protests in states where carrying guns in public is legal.

The three months after Floyd's death accounted for more than half of all armed protests in the 18 months studied.

Armed protesters typically werent aligned with the Black Lives Matter movement. Rather, in cities from Kenosha, Wisconsin, to Tyler, Texas, groups of armed vigilantes faced off against those protesters. Nearly 85% of the armed demonstrations that took place at the same time as Black Lives Matter protests were in opposition to those marches, the study found.

A volunteer holds a firearm while working security at an entrance to the so-called "Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone" on June 10, 2020, in Seattle, Washington. The zone includes the blocks surrounding the Seattle Police Department's East Precinct, which was the site of violent clashes with Black Lives Matter protesters.

The consequences were often violent and sometimes deadly, with protesters on both ends of the political spectrum engaging in violent or destructive activity, the study found.

In August in Kenosha, 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse shot three people at a Black Lives Matter protest, killing two. In Portland the same month, a protester with the far-right group Patriot Prayer was shot and killed by a counterprotester who identified with the anti-fascist movement.

The crux of this phenomenon and report is simple: When firearms are involved, demonstrations are more likely to lead to bloodshed, said Justin Wagner, director of investigations at Everytown for Gun Safety, which pushes for tighter gun laws.

We can see how easy access to firearms, particularly for far-right extremists and white supremacists, have continued to put our First Amendment rights in jeopardy, he said.

Rittenhouse is charged with homicide, attempted homicide and four other felonies. The shooter in Portland was killed by federal agents who were trying to arrest him.

Taking over government buildings

The Jan. 6 insurrection is the most prominent example of a takeover of a government building. On a smaller scale, protesters, often armed, have gathered in shows of force at government buildings across the country, the report found.

More than 100 of the armed protests studied took place at government buildings, including statehouses, vote-counting centers and the U.S. Capitol. Twelve of those protests turned violent, researchers found.

Members of a small group of protesters in front of the Oregon Capitol on Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021.

In December, the state Capitol in Salem, Oregon, was overrun by armed protesters after a Republican lawmaker allowed them into the building. Pro-Trump, anti-mask protesters fought with police and pepper-sprayed officers and journalists. Four people were arrested in the riot.

Capitol protest tracker: What happened when protesters showed up at state capitols after the Jan. 6 insurrection

The findings show the chilling effect of guns on the democratic process, said Arjun Sethi, a law professor at the Georgetown University Law Center who was not involved with the study.

Armed groups at government buildings, overwhelmingly made up of white males, send a threatening message to marginalized members of the community, Sethi said. It's a message of intimidation and harassment, and in some ways discourages minorities and other marginalized communities from actively participating in democracy.

That's the point, said Sarah Vinson, a forensic psychiatrist and associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Morehouse School of Medicine.

It harkens back to the context of white men not getting what they want and being violent, Vinson said. When people come to city centers or capitals and they do that, theres a level of boldness that can be concerning to people whove been on the receiving end of violence from that same demographic.

Legislatures taking action

Local and state governments can take action to limit armed protests and minimize violence and disruption, Wagner said.

In Virginia, the state Legislature passed a bill this year prohibiting the carrying of firearms within Capitol Square and the Capitol building, which had been the site of massive pro-gun rallies.

In January, the Michigan State Capitol Commission voted unanimously to prohibit the open carry of weapons in the Capitol building. That followed a 2020 incident in which dozens of armed protesters took over the Capitol to demand an end to coronavirus stay-at-home orders.

Neither turned violent.

These armed demonstrations in public spaces  particularly state capitols  are dangerous and clearly an attempt to intimidate lawmakers, Wagner said. The good news is that we can stop this armed intimidation by simply following the lead of Virginia and Washington and passing common-sense laws to prohibit firearms from public spaces and government buildings.

A member of the Boogaloo Bois attends a protest outside of the Michigan State Capitol building in downtown Lansing on Sunday, January 17, 2021.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: US armed protests are increasing, more likely to turn violent: Study
Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine was granted full approval by the Food and Drug Administration. In the wake of a sexual harassment scandal, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is set to resign at the end of the day. And a U.S. Capitol Police officer was cleared in the fatal shooting of Ashli Babbitt on Jan. 6.

 Hey y'all! It's Laura. Here's all the news you need to know Monday.

But first, this house is definitely haunted.  They said it had good bones, but I don't think they meant it like this: An Illinois couple bought a 125-year-old house with plans to renovate it. Then they found the box of human bones in the attic.

The Short List is a snappy USA TODAY news roundup. Subscribe to the newsletter here or text messages here.

The Pfizer vaccine is FDA official

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine became the first to win full approval by the Food and Drug Administration on Monday. The FDAs decision to fully license the vaccine is expected to trigger more vaccination mandates and allow company marketing of the shot. Now that the companies' detailed, so-called biologics license application has been granted, many more companies, schools and other entities are likely to require vaccination. And it may launch a race for booster shots, allowing doctors to prescribe extra Pfizer-BioNTech shots "off label" to anyone they think should get one.

Wasnt the vaccine already approved? Not fully. Pfizer's had been approved for emergency use in the USA. Now it has the full stamp of approval.

What about Modera and J&J? Moderna has begun the process of applying for a full license, and Johnson & Johnson  which makes the other COVID-19 vaccine authorized for emergency use in the USA  plans to apply this year.

More buy-in? Some people reluctant to take a vaccine authorized for emergency use may be willing to get a vaccine that has full approval, Anthony Fauci told USA TODAY's editorial board this month.

Student Rose Jean-Mary, 19, receives a shot of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine from registered nurse Isabel Ruiz at St. Thomas University on Aug. 20 in Miami. The university offered a pop-up vaccination site for students on move-in day in preparation for the first day of school Aug. 23.

What everyone's talking about

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US Capitol officer cleared in fatal shooting of Ashli Babbitt on Jan. 6

The U.S. Capitol Police officer who fatally shot Ashli Babbitt Jan. 6 during the insurrection was cleared Monday after a review concluded the action may have spared the lives of lawmakers and staffers who had barricaded themselves inside the building. "The officers actions were consistent with the officers training and (U.S. Capitol Police) policies," the agency's inquiry found. Some who supported the Capitol siege cast Babbitt as a martyr to the conservative cause. Former President Donald Trump described Babbitt as "innocent." Babbitt, 35, from San Diego, was trying to climb through a barricaded door near the House Speaker's Lobby when the officer fired.

Timeline: How the storming of the US Capitol unfolded Jan. 6.

'This is how I'm going to die': Officers detail harrowing attacks, beatings.

A man outside the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus on Jan. 17 protests the death of Ashli Babbitt, 35, who was fatally shot during the riot at the Washington Capitol on Jan. 6.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign at end of the day

Marking an ignominious end to his decade-plus as New York governor, Andrew Cuomo, whose last full day in office is Monday, aired a defiant prerecorded farewell address. In the video, he highlighted his accomplishments and suggested he's the victim of a "political firecracker" that derailed his career. After Cuomo, a Democrat, resigns, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul will become the state's 57th governor at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday. Three weeks ago, an investigation by New York Attorney General Letitia James concluded Cuomo sexually harassed 11 women while in office, including nine current or former state employees. Cuomo, who denied the accusations, repeatedly suggested the investigation was politically motivated and designed to defame him.

Who is Kathy Hochul? What to know about Cuomo's lieutenant governor.

Cuomo put in for retirement. Here's how much his pension could be.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo prepares to board a helicopter after announcing his resignation on Aug. 10, 2021, in New York.

Real quick

Northeast lashed by historic storm; dozens missing after Southeast floods

Tropical Depression Henri inched across the Northeast on Monday, a record-setting storm that knocked out power to more than 100,000 homes and businesses and drenched parts of New York City with more than 8 inches of rain. Henri, centered about 60 miles north of New York City, was expected to begin sliding east later in the day. Flood watches were in effect across eastern Pennsylvania, southeast New York, New Jersey, Long Island and portions of New England.

After deadly floods in Tennessee, search-and-rescue teams frantically picked through the saturated ruins of dozens of homes Monday, holding out hope that missing loved ones would be found alive. At least 21 people were killed when walls of water powered by up to 17 inches of rain roared through rural Humphreys County, home to about 20,000 people 70 miles west of Nashville. Dozens of people were missing Monday, authorities said.

Emergency personnel and first responders help residents Aug. 22 after heavy rains from Henri flooded Helmetta, N.J.

A break from the news

This is a compilation of stories from across the USA TODAY Network. Want this news roundup in your inbox every night? Sign up for The Short List newsletter here.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, Ashli Babbitt, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Tropical Storm Henri, floods in Tennessee. It's Monday's news.
WASHINGTON  As the Biden administration scrambles to get Americans and Afghan allies safely out of Afghanistan, its quest for a quick exit has clashed with on-the-ground reality: The U.S. has little leverage against the Taliban, the Islamic militant group now in charge of the country.

They are in control of Kabul  thats the reality that we have to deal with, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday on CBSs Face the Nation.

The U.S. has taken steps to try to speed the evacuation of Americans and put pressure on the Taliban after the group's stunning overthrow of the U.S.-backed government last weekend.

The Biden administration has blocked the Talibans access to billions of dollars in assets Afghanistans central bank holds in the Federal Reserve and other U.S. banks, according to an administration official. Barring access to those assets deprives the Taliban of crucial financial resources as it tries to establish a new government.

Appearing on NBCs Meet the Press, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan would not rule out sending in additional troops to help U.S. forces already on the ground.

Sullivan said the U.S. has "sufficient forces" in Afghanistan. But every single day the president asks his military commanders, including those at the airport and those at the Pentagon, whether they need additional resources, additional troops, he said. So far, the answer has been no, but he will ask again today.

'Its just rubbish': Experts doubt Taliban's promises on women and girls

A Taliban fighter stands guard along a road near the site of an Ashura procession which is held to mark the death of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad, along a road in Herat on Aug. 19, 2021, amid the Taliban's military takeover of Afghanistan.

Analysts said the U.S. has few other options available to pressure the Taliban as it tries to enforce the evacuation of remaining Americans and Afghan contractors.

The Taliban "have us in a corner, because we cant risk our responsibility to get everybody out who really need to leave, said Phil Mudd, former deputy director of the CIAs Counterterrorism Center and the FBIs National Security Branch.

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Ryan Crocker, who served as U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, said the Taliban may look to exact revenge on those who have worked against them.

"I'm very much afraid that this is going to get worse," Crocker said. "The chaos may subside, but as it does, I am terribly worried you're going to see the Taliban start to methodically take care of those they consider their enemies. We will be in no position to help them."

Turmoil and violence

Kabuls international airport, now one of the only routes out of the country, has seen days of turmoil and sometimes violence since the Taliban entered the capital Aug. 15. Thousands poured onto the tarmac last week, and several Afghans plunged to their deaths after clinging to a U.S. military cargo plane as it took off.

The British military said Sunday that at least seven Afghans died in a panicked crush of people trying to enter the airport.

Blinken, appearing on "Fox News Sunday," said about 8,000 people had been evacuated on 60 flights in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 30,000 on military and charter flights since the end of July.

Anti-Taliban fighters, meanwhile, claimed to have seized three mountainous districts, and a prominent militia commander in the only province not yet under Taliban control pledged to fight back if attacked.

Anthony Cordesman, who has been a consultant on Afghanistan to the defense and state departments, warned that the evacuation could become more chaotic if violence erupts on the ground.

All it takes is one violent confrontation between the U.S. and Taliban to alter the security situation at the airport, said Cordesman, who is Arleigh A. Burke chair in strategy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

If were lucky, it will go relatively smoothly," Cordesman said. "If were not, it could turn into either chaos or a considerable crisis almost without warning because of an action that nobody really planned or called for.

'A state of whiplash': Will turmoil in Afghanistan hurt Biden campaign to repair U.S. reputation?

'Threat of terror' in Kabul

The threat of terrorist attacks in Kabul on civilians headed to the airport and on American forces has forced changes in planning for the evacuation, according to two U.S. officials.

Commanders halted evacuation flights for a time Saturday in part because of the terror threat, one of the officials said. The other official acknowledged the terror threat from from ISIS-K and the group's drive to mount a spectacular attack.

The second official, however, attributed the suspension of flights more to the limited capacity at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar to handle the flood of American citizens and Afghan refugees.

To speed the flow of refugees, the Pentagon announced Sunday that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had invoked the military's authority to use 18 civilian airliners to ferry passengers to the United States and other destinations after they have been evacuated from Hamid Karzai International Airport as part of the Central Reserve Air Fleet, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said in a statement.

Financial sanctions have already begun cutting off aid to Afghanistan through the International Monetary Fund and other organizations. But the U.S. lacks any authority to impose sanctions on the local economy and every facet of life the Taliban controls, which adds to difficulties in getting the Taliban to carry out the evacuation, Mudd said.

They will be selling the countrys minerals to China, and there is no way to sanction opium sales, he said. The informal economy is going to be huge for them.

Crocker said he fears what the Taliban will do going forward.

"I am afraid that as the Taliban gains more control, as they settle in a bit more, they are going to go after all of those in Afghanistan who have spoken the truth then in the media, who have represented the institutions of this young democracy and certainly those who have helped us directly like the interpreters," he said on "Face the Nation."

U.S. military has limited options

If the evacuation becomes more violent, a military response could be ineffective, analysts said.

There really arent very good options because you cant bomb the Taliban into moderation for effective government, Cordesman said.

The U.S. continues to hold diplomatic talks with the Taliban, and military commanders remain in frequent contact with Taliban militants at the airport.

Sullivan said the U.S. will have a swift and forceful response if the Taliban disrupts the evacuation. The U.S. hasnt offered the Taliban anything in return as part of the militant groups agreement to not interfere, he said.

This isn't some kind of quid pro quo. We haven't made any commitments, Sullivan said. We have laid out our expectations. We have explained to them that the United States of America intends to evacuate any American who wants to leave, as well as Afghans at risk. We intend to follow through on that. And we intend to ensure that they follow through on that.

But analysts question whether any agreements with Taliban commanders would hold much sway with insurgents on the ground.

The nature of Taliban  they are not the Pentagon  runs the risk that a 17-year-old with an AK-47 can throw this effort into more chaos, Mudd said. The risk is incredibly high. They have learned how to speak but not how to act. You have to be incredibly mission-focused.

James Dobbins, a special representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan during the Obama administration and acting U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan during the George W. Bush administration, said the evacuation does face the risk that a lack of coordination could allow unintended clashes to escalate between Taliban and the limited number of U.S. troops.

Dobbins said the peril for the U.S. increases if troops are required to move outside the wire.

Its pretty risky, he said.

At the same time, Dobbins said, there may be a motive for restraint as the Taliban seek international recognition.

Interference with the exodus means interference with more than the U.S., Dobbins said. The British, French and Germans all have interests. Its a pretty big cost if the Taliban dont cooperate.

Biden's dilemma: For Biden, fallout from the Afghanistan withdrawal abroad complicates agenda at home

Taliban risks recognition if it acts aggressively

A looming threat is that the Taliban could basically take Americans hostage, as happened in Cuba after the Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961 or in the Iranian revolution in 1979, Cordesman said.

If they do that, they risk a lack of recognition and future problems, Cordesman said.

A key will be what kind of government the Taliban forms, Cordesman said. Revolutionary governments often evolve for years as fighters who won the battle are replaced by political figures, he said.

Once you have some kind of stable Taliban structure, presumably you can negotiate with them, Cordesman said. Right now, you dont have it and you dont know when youre going to get it, whether its days or weeks.

The uncertainty extends beyond the thousands of Americans and more than 100,000 vulnerable Afghans seeking evacuation to the 36 million who will continue to live in the country, Cordesman said.

This crisis isnt going to go away even once you pulled back out of the airport, he said. In many ways, its almost certain to be going on for a couple of years.

In some ways, we havent been honest enough about what we cant control.

Contributing: The Associated Press; Matthew Brown and Joey Garrison, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: In Afghanistan withdrawal, US lacks leverage over Taliban
On June 19, Zack Weiner, then a candidate for New York City Council, released an unusual statement on Twitter. A video of him participating in a sex act with a past partner had leaked online, and Weiner was left to manage the aftermath. In his statement, composed on the iPhone Notes app, Weiner explained the situation. But rather than express apology or shame, he said there was nothing wrong with what hed done and urged voters to look past this distraction to policy.

The first couple days, I was especially scared, and definitely kept thinking  What have I done here? Weiner tells Teen Vogue. He had not considered the prospect of this particular video leak, but the thought of other social media posts resurfacing during his campaign did worry him. It's really hard with the digital footprint; there's going to be a lot thats embarrassing," Weiner says. "I cringe when I look at my Facebook Messenger.

A 2018 Pew Research Center survey found that 45% of U.S. teens report being online nearly constantly. All of this activity means were creating a permanent record of our lives  every passing opinion, embarrassing photo, and protest attended. For young people who grew up on the internet and later decide they want to go into politics, digital footprints can become ticking time bombs. Opposing candidates  or just random Twitter critics  have a huge trove of potentially compromising material at their disposal. So what happens when old posts meet new aspirations? And how can young candidates reclaim their past?

Alison Dagnes, a political science professor at Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania, tells Teen Vogue how the cultural shifts associated with digital media affect politics. All of this has changed so dramatically that it has changed the way we think, the way we communicate, the way we process information, and the way we understand the world around us to include politics, she explains.

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The line between personal and professional is blurred as individuals share intimate moments of their lives more freely than ever before. Says Dagnes, "I imagine those scandals are going to continue to kind of level up, as we are trying to figure out what to litigate and whatnot in terms of social media past.

Juliana Bennett is a rising senior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the citys District 8 alder. Unlike most college students, her social media posts are public record  a new territory Bennett navigates with candor and care. When I post something, I always think, Am I okay with this being in anyone's hands? If that passes the yes test, then I post it, because once it's out there you can't take it away, Bennett tells Teen Vogue. It just makes it a bit more weird. But I try to just remain true to myself."

Elected in April, Bennett is the youngest member of the Madison Common Council. She says she felt compelled to run for office after spending the summer of 2020 organizing for Black Lives Matter, and sat in on a council budget hearing about whether or not to approve a police grant, which she says ran over six hours. I was just sickened that we had to spend this long discussing an issue that, to me, seems like a pretty straightforward answer, if we want to meet the demands of the community, Bennett recalls.

I was mad. I was so tired of the status quo  the status quo that did not want to address the issues that mattered, Bennett continues. I [thought], If not now, then when? And if not me, then who? So I decided to run.

Bennetts policy platform includes affordable housing, reimagining public safety, and sustainability. One priority is working to restore affordable housing units and making them more accessible to college students.

But, she says, shes not always taken seriously because of her age and identity. I'm constantly being questioned or looked down upon as if I'm just some young kid, Bennett says. I'm a young person, I'm a Black woman, I'm a queer Black woman and my voice is f*cking important.

Bennett says her social media activity also comes under heightened scrutiny because shes a young Black woman in politics: Using my personal accounts, I genuinely wonder what kind of interaction I would get if I were white. And it's something we thought about even during the campaign.

Former congresswoman Katie Hill knows the dangers of digital media in politics better than most. Hill resigned in 2019 after nude photos of her were leaked and she admitted to having a relationship with a staffer. Shes since written a book and become an advocate for women running for office.

Hill tells Teen Vogue that women often bear the brunt of political scandal and are unable to restore their public image the way men do. With Matt Gaetz and over and over and over again, we basically see men who have [allegedly] done really horrible things, and just don't really have to pay any consequences for it, she says.

Hill has found solace in recognizing that our old social media posts do not define us, and that we can choose how we view our own stories  even if theyre made public in a way we wouldnt choose. You have to have this awareness that this can happen, right? That the worst can happen," she says. "And, you know, I say, I am pretty much the worst-case scenario, right?

The ubiquitous presence of social media in the lives of young people means most future politicians will likely have a virtual shadow. Political scandals are not felt evenly or fairly, and it is up to future generations to change the conversation around judgment and shame and determine which politicians have constituent interests at heart.

Hill describes the importance of owning yourself and owning your past and being able to say, Yes, I may have done stupid things when I was in college or whatever, but this is who I am now, and if someone tries to weaponize something about my past that has nothing to do with my ability to lead or my policy priorities or anything like that, then Im not going to let them use that.

Says Hill, The biggest tool that we have is being authentic and talking about our stories, and making sure that more women feel empowered to share their stories and call attention to the double standard.

Want more from Teen Vogue? Check this out: Katie Hills Resignation From Congress Over a Sex Scandal Played Out Unfairly

Stay up-to-date with the politics team. Sign up for the Teen Vogue Take

Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue
Putin says he's worried that Afghan 'militants' might try to enter Russia 'under cover of refugees'

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during the joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel (not pictured) after their bilateral meeting at the Grand Kremlin Palace on August 20, 2021 in Moscow, Russia. Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images

Putin criticized the US and Europe on Sunday for placing Afghan evacuees in Central Asian countries while processing their visas.

Putin said he was concerned Afghan "militants showing up here under cover of refugees" might enter Russia

It was reported earlier this month that the US was in talks with countries to temporarily house Afghan refugees.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday he was concerned that Afghan "militants" posing as refugees might try to make their way into Russia from the Central Asian countries where they're currently being housed.

Putin said he did not want Afghan "militants appearing (in Russia) again under the guise of refugees," reported Reuters.

Putin criticized the United States for asking Central Asian countries, including Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan - to temporarily house up to 9,000 Afghans fleeing Kabul - especially because Russia has no visa restrictions with some of these countries.

"We share common borders, but there are no visa restrictions. Imagine that refugees entered any of these countries. Who is among these refugees? How do we know," Putin said, according to TASS.

He called the approach of Western countries placing Afghan refugees temporarily in Central Asian countries while their visas were being processed "humiliating."

"They think they can send them without visas to our neighbors [Central Asian countries], but refuse to receive them in their own countries without visas," Putin said at a meeting with the United Russia party members, reported Russian news agency TASS, adding " What a humiliating approach to solving this issue is it?"

It was reported earlier this month that the US was in secret talks with countries to temporarily house Afghan refugees who worked for the US government, per Reuters.

And as early as July, the Biden administration had asked three Central Asia countries - Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan - to temporarily house as many as 9,000 at-risk Afghans who worked for the US, reported Bloomberg.

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Russia appears to be casting a blind eye to the chaos in Kabul.

"The situation is peaceful and good, and everything has calmed down in the city," Russia's ambassador to Afghanistan Dmitry Zhirno told Moscow news station Ekho Moskvy last Monday, a day after the Taliban took over, reported Reuters.

However, since the Taliban's takeover of Kabul a week ago, there has been chaos and violence at and around Kabul's airport. There have also been reports that the Taliban executed a blindfolded Afghan police chief and set a woman on fire for "bad cooking."

In the last week, Russia has taken a pragmatic and calculated approach to the Taliban. It has not yet recognized the Taliban as the new government of Afghanistan, but did take meetings with leadership from the group within 48 hours of its takeover, reported the BBC.

Read the original article on Insider
Emirates airline Boeing 777-31H(ER) takes off from Los Angeles international Airport on January 13, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.

Aaron P./Bauer-Griffin/GC Images

If you get pre-flight jitters, you're not alone. Many travelers experience some anxiety when flying, whether it stems from a fear of heights, concerns about germs, or worries that something will go wrong mid-flight. Of course, others are most anxious about plane crashes and overall airline safety.

Related: More airline and airport news

To70, an aviation consulting firm, examines accidents among large, commercial passenger planes in its civil aviation safety review each year. In 2020, there were 40 accidents around the world  five fatal  resulting in 299 deaths. These accidents happened in Iran, Turkey, Pakistan, India, and the U.S. (the U.S. incident resulted in one fatality after a person breached security and was hit and killed by the airplane as it landed). The year before, there were 86 accidents  eight fatal  resulting in 257 deaths. Fatal plane accidents are not common  just think of the thousands of flights that happen every day without an issue  but they can be anxiety inducing nonetheless. Thankfully, there are plenty of carriers with great safety records, so you can give yourself some extra peace of mind by booking your next trip on one of the world's safest airlines.

An Air New Zealand aircraft and an Qantas aircraft on the arrivals apron at Kingsford Smith International airport on July 26, 2021 in Sydney, Australia.

James D. Morgan/Getty Images

AirlineRatings.com analyzes 385 airlines, taking into account their safety, in-flight product, and now, COVID-19 procedures, to rate them according to a seven star system. To determine the safest airlines, the site considers crashes, serious incidents, the age of the airline's fleet, and audits from governments as well as aviation associations and governing bodies. Using its safety rating tool, you can compare airlines to see how they stack up (or find the airlines ranked as the least safe so you know which have had more fatal crashes or other incidents in the past).

Here are the world's safest airlines this year, according to AirlineRatings.com.

A Delta Air Lines Inc. plane departs Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., on Wednesday, April 7, 2021.

Elijah Nouvelage/Bloomberg via Getty Images

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World's Safest Airlines

Qantas Qatar Airways Air New Zealand Singapore Airlines Emirates EVA Air Etihad Airways Alaska Airlines Cathay Pacific Airways British Airways Virgin Australia/Virgin Atlantic Hawaiian Airlines Southwest Airlines Delta Air Lines American Airlines SAS Finnair Lufthansa KLM United Airlines

A Lufthansa (r) and United Airlines passenger aircraft stand on the apron of the airport.

Boris Roessler/picture alliance via Getty Images

Qantas, the popular Australian airline that has operated for over 100 years, was ranked this year's safest airline and has consistently received high ratings for its safety. These top-ranked airlines offer more than just safe flights, too  many were also among Travel + Leisure readers' favorite international airlines in the 2020 World's Best Awards, commended for their outstanding service, tasty in-flight meals, and comfortable seats. Singapore Airlines topped our list, followed by Qatar Airways, Emirates, EVA Air, and more.

Cathay Pacific Boeing 777 aircraft as seen on final approach flying and landing at the north runway of London Heathrow International Airport LHR EGLL in England, UK.

Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Alaska Airlines was the only U.S. carrier to crack the top 10, but Hawaiian Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and United Airlines followed in the top 20. AirlineRatings.com also identified the top airlines for COVID-19 compliance in January of this year, listing (in alphabetical order) Air Baltic, Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, All Nippon Airways, AirAsia, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, Etihad Airways, EVA Air, Japan Airlines, JetBlue, KLM, Korean Air, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Qatar Airways, and WestJet. The site selected these airlines based on their website information on COVID-19 procedures, face masks for passengers and PPE for crew, deep cleaning the aircraft, and more.
Casona Sforza, boutique hotel in Oaxaca, Mexico

Alex Krotkov (@alex.krotkov) for Casona Sforza

If you're on a lifelong quest to visit the world's most beautiful hotels, let us add one more to the very top of your list: Casona Sforza.

Casona Sforza, boutique hotel in Oaxaca, Mexico

Alex Krotkov (@alex.krotkov) for Casona Sforza

Located in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, Mexico, along the stunning Pacific coastline of La Barra de Colotepec, Casona Sforza is a sustainable luxury hotel that you simply can't take your eyes off of. Its main concept, the hotel explained in a statement, "places center-stage the value of being aware, contemplating and understanding the beauty of an environment in balance."

Casona Sforza, boutique hotel in Oaxaca, Mexico

Alex Krotkov (@alex.krotkov) for Casona Sforza

Designed by Mexican architect Alberto Kalach of TAX Architects, Casona Sforza was built to reflect its "ecological commitment, revaluation of roots, and development of the local community." Conceived by the entrepreneur Ezequiel Ayarza Sforza, the hotel is made up of several billowing arches made out of golden brick and local materials, using ancient techniques to place them. The hotel is made up of a mere 11 guest suites all within their own golden arch, each looking out into the gorgeous landscape around.

Casona Sforza, boutique hotel in Oaxaca, Mexico

Alex Krotkov (@alex.krotkov) for Casona Sforza

Casona Sforza, boutique hotel in Oaxaca, Mexico

Alex Krotkov (@alex.krotkov) for Casona Sforza

Each suite comes with a bohemian aesthetic and a neutral color palette thanks to the use of tropical woods, natural textures, and the blue reflection of the nearby sea, which is visible thanks to the floor-to-ceiling doors that open out. Guests will find this same laid-back vibe throughout the common spaces, which also come with rich wood furnishings and hammocks by local artisans, rattan lighting, a glittering circular pool beckoning guests to take a dip on a hot day, and cozy seating areas for the ultimate relaxation.

Casona Sforza, boutique hotel in Oaxaca, Mexico

Alex Krotkov (@alex.krotkov) for Casona Sforza

While staying at the property, guests can also dine on farm-to-table meals, head out for yoga and surf sessions, book a holistic massage, and take part in other natural activities that allow them to venture further and deeper into the destination.

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Casona Sforza, boutique hotel in Oaxaca, Mexico

Alex Krotkov (@alex.krotkov) for Casona Sforza

Want to book a stay and take so many photos your fingers go numb? See booking options, availability, and rates here.
WASHINGTON  In the early months of her tenure, Vice President Kamala Harris stepped on to the world stage to deliver a powerful message: "The status of women is the status of democracy."

"Not only because the exclusion of women in decision-making is a marker of a flawed democracy, but because the participation of women strengthens democracy," she told the United Nations in March, both highlighting her historic election and reinforcing a Biden administration priority.

It's a message that rings prescient, as the Taliban's takeover in Afghanistan has left women reeling over fears of a return to a repressive regime, and one human rights advocates are hoping Harris will spotlight during visits to Singapore and Vietnam this week.

Harris, the first female, Black and South Asian vice president, has long championed women's rights as a prosecutor, senator and later a presidential candidate. But the highest ranking U.S. female official has been noticeably quiet on concerns for the future of Afghan women and children, human rights advocates say, and her high-profile trip is an opportunity to amplify the message at a politically perilous moment for the administration.

Melanne Verveer, executive director of the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security and a former U.S. ambassador for Global Womens Issues, said ignoring the chance to speak out for women's rights would be a "grave omission."

"She is a symbol, and an extraordinarily powerful symbol for the United States," Verveer said. "To just ignore the reality of this, given her position, would be to not acknowledge the important role she could play in moving this agenda forward."

Harris, who arrived in Singapore Sunday and will visit Vietnam later this week, has so far used the trip to bolster U.S. partnerships in the region to tamp down on concerns over China's growing military presence. Following meetings with Singapore President Halimah Yacob and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, the U.S. announced a series of accords with Singapore on tackling cyber threats, climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic. The two countries also announced agreements for closer cooperation on trade, defense and space exploration.

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On Tuesday, Harris delivered a foreign policy speech laying out her vision for the Indo-Pacific region, in which she criticized China's actions in the South China Sea.

"We know that Beijing continues to coerce, to intimidate and to make claims to the vast majority of the South China Sea," she said.

The vice president offered to have the U.S. host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in 2023.

More: Taliban's Afghanistan takeover deals a harsh blow to Biden's 'America is back' foreign policy promise

Senior administration officials have emphasized the trip was planned before the Afghan government's collapse and that the region is strategically and economically important for the U.S.

"We can do more than one thing at a time and we're going to do more than one thing at a time as we focus on these two huge priorities for the United States," one official who briefed reporters ahead of the trip said on condition of anonymity.

During a press conference with Singapore's prime minister, Harris briefly acknowledged the U.S. commitment to human rights by saying the pair spoke about the role the international community must play in the crisis in Myanmar, where a military coup in February has led to a brutal crackdown on media.

Asked about Afghanistan, Harris largely echoed the White House defense of the withdrawal and said the focus remains on the U.S. evacuations push.

"There's no question there will be and should be a robust analysis of what has happened, but right now there's no question that our focus has to be on evacuating American citizens, Afghans who worked with us and vulnerable Afghans, including women and children," she said.

'Betrayal of the promises made'

The Taliban regime was known for particularly violent enforcement of Islamic law, including barring women from leaving home without a male chaperone and prohibiting them from working or going to school. Women seen in public without a male relative have been raped, abducted and forced into marriage.

The militant group has sought to quell fears that gender-based violence will again surge, vowing to uphold women's rights within the framework of Islamic law. But experts remain skeptical of those promises. The Biden administration and the UN Security Council have warned that any recognition as a legitimate government and international aid would require the Taliban to not only disavow any connections to terrorist organizations but also uphold human rights, specifically for women and girls.

'No possible life' under Taliban rule: Afghan women fear murder, oppression after US withdrawal

Advocates say time is running out to evacuate at-risk women who assisted the U.S. mission in Afghanistan or helped nonprofit organizations benefiting women. Administration officials are under mounting pressure to complete the withdrawal by the scheduled Aug. 31 deadline, a date the Taliban said U.S. troops needed to meet or risk facing "consequences."

Nilofar Sakhi, a lecturer at the International Affairs at the George Washington University who has been involved in the Afghan peace process since 2010, said she's received daily calls from panicked women in tears looking for assistance in fleeing the country.

While some women have managed to leave the country from Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport, others fear the journey to the compound, ringed by heavily guarded Taliban checkpoints, is a matter of life and death, according to human rights advocates.

'It's just rubbish': Experts doubt Taliban's promises on women and girls

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris visits the USS Tulsa in Singapore, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021.

Laurie Adams, CEO for Women for Women International, a global organization dedicated to working with female survivors of war, said the U.S.'s hasty retreat from Afghanistan is a "betrayal of the promises made" to Afghan women.

"We've made a promise to Afghan women that they had a brighter future. We invested millions of aid in providing education. We spent decades encouraging women to speak out and claim their rights, and they are now vulnerable because of that increased hope that we allowed them to feel and actively supported," she said.

Women for Women International was among a group of prominent women's rights activists and groups that penned an open letter calling on the Biden administration to provide direct evacuation flights for women, expand the Special Immigrant Visa program to include a category for at-risk women, raise the refugee cap, provide more assistance for resettled women, and invest in resources and support for women who remain in Afghanistan.

"As a woman, as someone who has been discriminated against because of their national and ethnic origin, she understands that better than most," Adams said of Harris and the plight of Afghan women. "I really hope that she will be able to take that passion that I know she has for women's rights and that commitment that her administration has made to advancing women's rights and fulfill that with practical, concrete commitments, such as protecting and investing in women who remain in Afghanistan."

Ravi Verma, director for International Center for Research on Women Asia, said he was surprised Harris had not been a stronger voice for Afghan women and children but expects her to "lead from the front" in the crusade against oppressive measures that are expected to unfold in Afghanistan.

"This entire exit of U.S. forces from Afghanistan has damaged women and children more than anybody else," Verma said. "All the gains they made in the last 20 years will go down the drain if nothing urgent is done to address it."

Harris' moment

The vice president, for her part, appears to understand the magnitude of her foreign trip. She's had to juggle questions about America's reliability in the wake of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan while focusing on a broad range of priorities including trade, security and climate change.

Harris aides said she'd never shied away from highlighting the plight of women, pointing to her maiden trip abroad in June to Guatemala and Mexico, where she met with female entrepreneurs and labor leaders about economic opportunities and tackling the "root causes" of migration to the U.S. That trip, too, was overshadowed by criticism of the administration's handling of an influx of migrants at the U.S. southern border.

Afghanistan adds a new wrinkle to her historic visit as the first female U.S. vice president to visit Vietnam later this week, where she is likely be confronted with comparisons of the withdrawal in Kabul and the U.S.'s dramatic exit from Saigon in 1975. Harris and other administration officials have brushed off questions about whether the Afghanistan crisis has undercut American credibility among allies.

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, left, stands next to Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong before their bilateral meeting at the Istana in Singapore Monday, Aug. 23, 2021.

"The reason I am here is because the United States is a global leader, and we take that role seriously," she told reporters in Singapore Monday.

In preparing for the diplomatic balancing act, Harris spoke to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, who both recently traveled to the region, before leaving for Southeast Asia. She also turned to two former high-ranking U.S. female officials  Secretaries of State Hillary Clinton and Madeleine Albright, according to her chief spokeswoman Symone Sanders.

Harris' comments to the United Nations in March evoked Clinton's famed 1995 speech in Beijing as first lady, in which she declared "women's rights are human rights," defying calls within the administration to soften her remarks.

Verveer, who served as the then-first lady's chief of staff and later as the first U.S. ambassador for Global Womens Issues when Clinton was secretary of state, said both Clinton and Albright had moments where they "really went out on a limb talking about how critical these issues were" at various times when their administrations had probably hoped they would stick to the message of the day.

"I think it's is important for (Harris) to seize this moment and to see the important role that she has at this time," Verveer said. "She has to be her own person."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: As women flee Taliban, Harris urged to speak out on SE Asia trip
Leona Maguire will become the first Irish player to compete in the Solheim Cup after being handed a wild card by European captain Catriona Matthew.

Matthew also selected AIG Womens Open contenders Madelene Sagstrom and Nanna Koerstz Madsen for the biennial contest against the United States from September 4-6, along with Matilda Castren, Mel Reid and Celine Boutier.

Anna Nordqvists victory at Carnoustie secured the three-time major winner a seventh consecutive Solheim Cup appearance alongside fellow qualifiers Georgia Hall, Emily Pedersen, Sophia Popov, Charley Hull and Carlota Ciganda.

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Maguires tie for 13th on Sunday was her ninth top-15 finish of the season and Matthew said: Leona has had a fantastic year this year.

Obviously she was world number one amateur for a couple of years and its maybe just taken her two or three years longer than perhaps others to settle I think as a pro.

I think shes got that real grittiness. I think shes a really good match player, has a great record from the Curtis Cup and played well in the match play (event) in Vegas. I think shell be a solid, one of these never-give-up type players.

Its the first Irish player, the first Finnish player (Castren). I think its great to see other players from different countries getting on the side.

Irelands Leona Maguire reacts to a putt on the 18th green, during day three of the AIG Womens Open at Carnoustie (Ian Rutherford/PA)

Sagstrom bogeyed the 72nd hole to finish just a shot behind Nordqvist at Carnoustie, while Madsen was tied for the lead with her playing partner until making a double bogey on the last.

It was tough telling her (about the wild card) afterwards because you could tell she was so disappointed with her finish, Matthew added.

Hopefully looking back, I think after a couple of hours, shell realise she had a great finish and it was her first time really up there with a real chance of winning. The boost of getting into Solheim will hopefully help.

Nanna Koerstz Madsen shanked her bunker shot on the 18th during day four of the AIG Womens Open at Carnoustie.

Finlands Sanna Nuutinen began the AIG Womens Open in the final automatic qualifying place on the European points list and was just two shots off the lead after 54 holes, but a closing 76 meant she was overtaken by Hall.

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She was unlucky, she was playing well coming into it and played well this week. She just maybe didnt quite finish it off (on Sunday), Matthew said.

Theres one or two who you know are really close to making the team and it is obviously a difficult conversation. But she was very good about it.

World number one Nelly Korda and Danielle Kang had already secured their place on the United States team and were joined by Ally Ewing, Austin Ernst, Lexi Thompson, Jessica Korda, Megan Khang, Lizette Salas and Jennifer Kupcho.

US captain Pat Hurst will announce her three wild cards on Monday afternoon.
The Refugee Paralympic Team (RPT) believe their presence at the Tokyo Games can provide hope and solidarity for people being forced to flee Afghanistan.

Thousands of Afghans have scrambled to leave their home nation after the Taliban seized back control of the country.

The surge in numbers comes on top of the 2.2million refugees already in neighbouring countries and 3.5m people left homeless within Afghanistans borders.

Members of the British and US military are engaged in the evacuation of people from the Afghan capital Kabul (MOD/PA)

RPT chef de mission Ileana Rodriguez, who will lead a team of six athletes in the Japanese capital, expressed her support for those affected by the ongoing conflict and political instability.

Certainly its very sad whats happening in Afghanistan and our heart goes out to all the people of Afghanistan, said the former Paralympic swimmer.

We are here representing the people of the world who are refugees, so all of us have been working very hard to send a message of hope and make sure that this team shows that.

I am sure these athletes are going to give all of what they have during these Games to really support all the refugees out there and make them feel hopeful and the same message goes to the people of Afghanistan, for sure.

Rodriguezs current team already includes one Afghan refugee, swimmer Abbas Karimi.

He is joined by Iranian refugee Shahrad Nasajpour (discus), Burundian refugee Parfait Hakizimana (taekwondo) and Syrian refugees Anas Al Khalifa (canoeing), Ibrahim Al Hussein (swimming) and Alia Issa (club throw).

Issa, who suffered brain damage after contracting smallpox and will join Karimi as a flagbearer at Tuesdays opening ceremony, will make history as the teams first female member and aims to inspire other women in similar situations.

I never believed that I would be the first woman refugee Paralympian. Its a big honour for me to be in this team. Im a little nervous about it, said the 20-year-old, who lives in Greece.

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I want to share with women around with disabilities: dont stay at home. Try every day with sports to be outside in the world. I hope that I am the first example to follow.

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I want to be an example for all the refugees to follow their dreams.

A press conference to introduce the team was preceded by a letter of support from Bayern Munich and Canada star Alphonso Davies.

The footballer was born in a refugee camp in Ghana to Liberian parents who fled the civil war in their home country.

Bayern Munichs Alphonso Davies, right, was born in a refugee camp (Adam Davy/PA)

Not everyone understands the journey you have been on, but I do and thats an important part of what made me who I am, read his letter.

You are role models now with the power to inspire others; make no mistake, what you are about to do in Tokyo will change peoples lives.

There will be refugees who through watching you succeed will believe they can too.

Japans own poor record of accepting refugees was also questioned.

The host nation has a significantly lower rate of accommodating asylum seekers than other developed countries.

Cuba-born Rodriguez, who left for the United States when she was a teenager in the hope of finding better treatment for a malformation of the spine which left her paralysed, wants the Games to be a catalyst for change.

Were very grateful for the countries that home refugees and we encourage countries that can support refugees to do it, she said.

We hope that thats a strong message that we can leave with the people of Japan as well.
Yankton, SD (57078)

Today

Partly cloudy skies. High 79F. Winds SE at 15 to 25 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 65F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph.
Yankton, SD (57078)

Today

Abundant sunshine. High around 80F. Winds SE at 15 to 25 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 65F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph.
Today

Mostly sunny. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 100F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph.

Tonight

Clear skies. Low near 80F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.

Tomorrow

Sunny. High 101F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.
Some antitumoral drugs can damage the heart, but a long-term follow-up of children and young adults who had Doxorubicin ( Adriamycin ) treatment for bone tumours suggests that the damage gets progressively worse as the years go on.In a study, published in the Annals of Oncology, researchers at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, say that all patients treated with drugs known as anthracyclines should have life-long cardiac monitoring.Their study followed 22 patients, who had been treated with moderate or high doses of Doxorubicin for osteogenic sarcoma or malignant fibrous histiocytoma, for a median time of 22 years ( between 15 and 27.5 years ). It is believed to be the longest prospective follow-up to evaluate heart function in children, adolescents and young adults treated with anthracylines.The researchers found over a quarter had systolic dysfunction and nearly half had diastolic dysfunction and that this was a further deterioration in heart function compared to an earlier follow-up when fewer than one in ten had systolic dysfunction and less than a fifth had diastolic dysfunction.Lead researcher Inge Brouwer said: " We undertook this long-term study because  since it's known that overt heart failure has been found in up to 5% of cancer survivors treated with anthracyclines  it was possible that subclinical abnormalities might be even more frequent. The natural course of subclinical abnormalities was largely unknown and it was unclear whether we could expect progressive cardiac deterioration."There were 31 long-term survivors in the original group of patients treated between 1977 and 1999. Most were children and adolescents but the age range was 10 to 38. All had cardiac assessment nine years after treatment. Twenty-nine were re-assessed 14 years after treatment, and 22 in the present round of assessment. Of the original group, one died from congestive heart failure; one from a second cancer; two  who were already known to have an abnormal heart function  were excluded because they had received thoracic radiotherapy for a second cancer; one had a terminal neurodegenerative disease and four refused to take part.In addition to a physical examination and medical history the assessment involved blood tests and blood pressure measurements, Doppler echocardiography, a static ECG and 24-hour ECG monitoring during normal activities. Systolic and diastolic function tests showed how well the heart's left chamber was pumping ( systolic function ) and relaxing ( diastolic function ).Brouwer said: " We found progressive impairment of systolic and diastolic function. We also found a deterioration in heart rate variability ( HRV ) in the 19 of the 22 patients whose HRV we were able to evaluate. HRV is the alteration in the beat-to-beat rate of the heart and reduced HRV is a marker for potential heart problems." Forty-five per cent of the 22 long-term survivors, whose median age is now 39, had diastolic dysfunction compared with 18% in 1997 and 27% had systolic dysfunction compared with 9% in 1997. The six patients with impaired systolic function also had abnormalities in the motion of the heart wall with suggestions of ischaemic heart disease in two of them. In addition, we knew that three of the nine patients who did not take part in this latest assessment, have or had cardiac dysfunction."She said that other studies involving moderate term follow-up of anthracyline-treated cancer survivors had produced conflicting results with some showing progressive abnormalities, while others showed no further deterioration. " We also found unchanged systolic function at our moderate term follow-up and now subsequently a further decrease, but our study, although small, has a 22-year median follow-up, which is considerably longer than most others, which have been about 13 years."" Our results suggest that after treatment with anthracyclines there is an ongoing deterioration of cardiac function and it is possible that this deterioration will continue, although we don't know if and when there will be further progression. For this reason regular echocardiography seems important to monitor heart function. Most doxorubicin-treated survivors with cardiac abnormalities that show up on echocardiography have no cardiac complaints. We need to keep checking them and be ready to start medication to stabilise their heart function in order to prevent further cardiac deterioration and development of cardiac complaints. It is important to be ready to treat cardiovascular risk factors  for example, high blood pressure or cholesterol  and to encourage patients to make helpful lifestyle changes such as stopping smoking, reducing their weight if necessary and taking exercise."Brouwer added that cardiotoxicity from anthracycline treatment is an issue in all cancer survivors that used this treatment, not just bone tumours. Although some studies have found younger people to be more at risk of heart damage, their study has not found young age was a factor. They are to continue their follow-up and expand their ongoing study to include all childhood cancer survivors treated at the University Medical Centre in Groningen.But, she concluded by stressing that Doxorubicin was a highly effective treatment and the cure of cancer was still the first priority. Patients now also tended to receive lower doses of Doxorubicin although there were still some who needed high doses. If there is was a deterioration in heart function during treatment, doses were normally reduced. Furthermore, there were cardioprotective drugs, such as Dexrazoxane, which were not available to earlier patients.Source: European Society for Medical Oncology, 2006Medicine2006
A 76km running competition crossing from Hungary to Slovakia and over three rivers will be held for the first time on September 11, a government official told a press conference on Monday.

State Secretary Bence Retvari, the regions MP, said the race was the first of its kind in the region, organised by companies operating around the Danube bend.



The race will start from Veroce, north of Vac, and will cross the River Ipoly to Slovakia and turn north to cross the river Hron (Garam).



Competitors will then return to Hungary across the Danube bridge between Sturovo (Parkany) and Esztergom, and will cross the Danube again via a service tunnel near Visegrad to Veroce.



A 12 km race will also be held between Veroce and Visegrad.



Photo courtesy: Northfoto.com
The opposition Democratic Coalition (DK) has slammed the government for refusing to spend 40 billion forints (EUR 112m) on replenishing the water of Lake Velence, in central Hungary, where large parts of the lake have dried up and the remaining water quality has deteriorated due to recent construction on its shores.
The woman soon remembered vague details that led her to believe that she had been assaulted  pushing a man away, the driver asking if it was her time of the month, her fingernails hurting, as if she had clawed someone. She went to an emergency room. DNA tests filled in the rest.

Before imposing the sentence, Burns gazed out into the gallery until he found the woman. He took issue with a notion that a prosecutor relayed: that the woman was kicking herself for being so drunk that night.

I want to make sure you understand you are blameless, Burns told her. The sexual assault is totally and 100% the doing of Mr. Avitso. The only person to blame is Mr. Avitso.

Avitsos attorney, Jeff Courtney, urged the judge to place Avitso on probation and not to penalize his client for taking the case to trial, even in the face of overwhelming DNA evidence. Courtney said a probation officer told Avitso that judges dont look kindly on defendants who go to trial.

I assured him that this court would not punish him for exercising his constitutional right to a jury trial, Courtney said.

The real person being punished, Keane said, is the victim. In the past two years, the woman has battled the fear and feelings of vulnerability that come with such attacks, Keane said.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during her meeting with Infosys MD and CEO Salil Parekh has asked the software major to resolve the issues faced by the taxpayers on the Income Tax e-filing portal by September 15.

Sitharaman held a meeting with Parekh here in the afternoon to convey the deep disappointment and concerns of the government and the taxpayers about the continuing glitches in the e-filing portal of the Income Tax Department, even after two-and-a-half months since its launch, which was also delayed.

The Ministry of Finance emphasised that there is a need for putting in more resources and efforts on the part of Infosys so that the much-delayed delivery of agreed services is ensured.

Parekh was also sensitised on the difficulties that the taxpayers are facing and the problems that are arising on account of the delays in the functioning of the portal, said a Finance Ministry statement.

Parekh assured that the software major is working expeditiously towards ensuring a glitch-free experience in the income tax e-filing portal.

According to the statement, the minister sought an explanation from Infosys for the repeated issues faced by the taxpayers.

The Infosys CEO explained that he and his team are doing everything to ensure the smooth functioning of the portal.

He added that over 750 team members are working on this project with Pravin Rao, the COO of Infosys, personally overseeing it.

The new income tax e-filing portal developed by Infosys was launched on June 7 in a bid to ease the tax filing process and expedite the refund issue.

However, taxpayers have been facing several problems in using the portal since its inception.

In July, the Finance Ministry asked the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) to constitute a seven-member task force to look into the technical issues facing the new Income Tax e-filing portal developed by Infosys.

In line with the directive, the ICAI constituted a team to analyse the issues.

During the recent Monsoon Session of the Parliament, Minister of State for Finance, Pankaj Chaudhary, said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha that Infosys has been paid a total of Rs 164.5 crore under the project.

He had said that the government has launched the new income tax e-filing portal as part of the Integrated E-filing and Centralised Processing Centre 2.0 Project.

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Jodhpur: In a shocking incident, a 12-year-old girl, raped by two minor boys in her village school, has delivered a baby in a Jodhpur hospital, an official said on Monday.

The girl delivered the baby on Sunday night after she was admitted to the hospital by her parents, Rajasthan's Child Welfare Committee President Dhanpat Gurjar said, adding both the girl and her baby are fine.

The girl's parents had first taken her to a hospital near their village in Balesar subdivision following the complaint of acute stomach pain by their daughter, he said.

After coming to know of the pregnancy at the hospital, the girl's parents wanted the doctors to abort the fetus there, but the local hospital found the case too complicated and referred the matter to the Jodhpur hospital and also informed the police.

At the Jodhpur hospital, the girl told police and doctors that she had been raped by two boys in her school, said the CWC chief.

Though the police remained tightlipped on the case, the department sources said the two boys, named by the girl, are being interrogated by them. After coming to know of the case, CWC members met the girl and her parents on Monday and assured them of all possible help in the matter.

The Rajasthan State Commission for Protection of Child Rights too has taken cognizance of the case and its Chairperson Sangeeta Beniwal too will be visiting the girl and her parents at the hospital.

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New Delhi: India on Monday brought back 146 of its nationals in four different flights from Qatar's capital Doha, days after they were evacuated from Afghanistan by NATO and American aircraft in view of the deteriorating security situation in the war-torn country.

People familiar with the development said the Indians were flown back to Delhi as part of India's mission to evacuate its citizens and Afghan partners from Kabul following its takeover by the Taliban over a week back, they said.

It was the second batch of Indians to be brought back from Doha after their evacuation from Kabul. A total of 135 Indians were flown back to Delhi from Doha on a special flight on Sunday.

146 people evacuated from #Afghanistan arrive in Delhi on various flights One of them Sunil says, "We left on Aug 14. A US Embassy's flight took us to Qatar where we stayed at Army base. US Embassy spoke with Indian Embassy after which people from Indian Embassy came to take us" pic.twitter.com/MMWNbvN5AN  ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2021

Out of the second batch of Indians who returned home from Doha, 104 people were brought back in a Vistara flight, 30 by a Qatar Airways flight and 11 of them returned by an Indigo flight. One person returned by an Air India flight, they said.

India on Sunday brought back 392 people including two Afghan lawmakers in three different flights under the evacuation mission amid a continued scramble by various countries to rescue their citizens from Kabul. The total number of people evacuees included the first batch of 135 Indians who were flown back from Doha.

It is learnt that the Indians evacuated to Doha from Kabul were employees of a number of foreign companies that were operating in Afghanistan and they were flown out of Kabul by NATO and American aircraft.

The Taliban seized control of Kabul on August 15. Within two days of the Taliban's capture of Kabul, India evacuated 200 people, including the Indian envoy and other staffers of its embassy in the Afghan capital.

The first evacuation flight brought back over 40 people, mostly staffers at the Indian embassy, on August 16. The second aircraft evacuated around 150 people including Indian diplomats, officials, security personnel and some stranded Indians from Kabul on August 17.

The Taliban swept across Afghanistan this month, seizing control of almost all key towns and cities, including Kabul, in the backdrop of the withdrawal of the US forces.

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New Delhi: Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has said that developments in Afghanistan are the reason why enactment of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) is necessary, while referring to the evacuations from the crisis-stricken Afghanistan.

Puri made the comments after a special Indian Air Force (IAF) repatriation flight ferrying 168 people from Kabul landed at Ghaziabad's Hindon air base on Sunday.

Sharing his anguish on social media, the Union Minister tweeted, Recent developments in our volatile neighbourhood and the way Sikhs and Hindus are going through a harrowing time are precisely why it was necessary to enact the Citizenship Amendment Act.

After Taliban control over Afghanistan last week, People have been rushing to leave the country. Countries have been striving hard to urgently evacuate their citizens from the war-ravaged nation. The Kabul airport is witnessing a chaotic situation as a large number of desperte people have congregated there to catch a flight to leave the country.

Notably, the provisions of the Act state that people belonging to these communities who arrived in India till December 31, 2014, due to religious persecution in these three countries will not be treated as illegal migrants but will be provided with Indian citizenship.

The Opposition parties and several groups earlier protested against the implementation of the CAA saying that the law coupled with the National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise targets the minorities in India.

Meanwhile, another BJP leader N Ramchander Rao on Monday said that the Afghanistan crisis has exhibited the importance of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in the country.

Rao told ANI, "They have to leave their homes. Where will they go if not India? Looking at the situation in Afghanistan, we can see how important CAA is for our country," adding "People of India will now realise that this step taken by the government will help all these Hindus and Sikhs who are being thrown away from Afghanistan."

The BJP leader further stated that the government will ensure to evacuate all Indians stranded in Afghanistan. Rao`s statement on CAA came in the wake of Union Minister c`s tweet earlier on Sunday.

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New Delhi: The central government has invited parliament floor leaders of all parties on August 26 for briefing them on the Afghanistan crisis.

The all-party meet will happen in the Main Committee Room of Parliament House Annexe in New Delhi at 11 am on August 26 (Thursday).

Floor Leaders of Political Parties would be briefed by EAM @DrSJaishankar on the present situation in Afghanistan, on 26th August, 11am in Main Committee Room, PHA, New Delhi. Invites are being sent through email. All concerned are requested to attend, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi tweeted.

Floor Leaders of Political Parties would be briefed by EAM @DrSJaishankar on the present situation in Afghanistan, on 26th August, 11am in Main Committee Room, PHA, New Delhi. Invites are being sent through email. All concerned are requested to attend. https://t.co/iBX9NRd0qq  Pralhad Joshi (@JoshiPralhad) August 23, 2021

The development comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi instructed the Ministry of External Affairs to brief the floor leaders on recent developments in Afghanistan.

In view of developments in Afghanistan, PM @narendramodi has instructed that MEA brief Floor Leaders of political parties. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs @JoshiPralhad will be intimating further details, EAM S Jaishankar said in a tweet.

In view of developments in Afghanistan, PM @narendramodi has instructed that MEA brief Floor Leaders of political parties. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs @JoshiPralhad will be intimating further details.  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) August 23, 2021

The government's briefing is expected to focus on its evacuation mission in Afghanistan as well as its assessment of the situation in that country.

Notably, the Taliban swept across Afghanistan this month and seized control of almost all key towns and cities, including Kabul, a development that came following the withdrawal of the US troops from the country.

India has so far evacuated and brought back over 700 people including members of the Afghan Sikh and Hindu communities.

India on Monday brought back 146 of its nationals in four different flights from Qatar's capital Doha, days after they were evacuated from Afghanistan by NATO and American aircraft in view of the deteriorating security situation in the war-torn country.

On Sunday, 392 people including two Afghan lawmakers were evacuated in three different flights under the evacuation mission.

India on Monday brought back 146 of its nationals in four different flights from Qatar's capital Doha, days after they were evacuated from Afghanistan by NATO and American aircraft in view of the deteriorating security situation in the war-torn country. On Sunday, 392 people including two Afghan lawmakers were evacuated in three different flights under the evacuation mission.
New Delhi: As the scare of a possible third wave of coronavirus spread in the country, Dr Renu Swarup, Secretary of Department of Biotechnology, Government of India on Monday (August 23, 2021) said that the third wave will come if "invited" by the human behaviour.

"The virus` behaviour, we know, mutates. We don`t have control over that. The more it gets into a larger number of infections, there is more the transmission. Human behaviour is in our control, which involves adopting Covid-appropriate behaviour, i.e. maintaining hygiene, wearing a face mask, following social distancing," said Dr Swarup in an interview with ANI.

Over the past few weeks, many scientists and epidemiologists have had expressed concerns over the third wave of COVID-19 in the nation as more virulent variants of the coronavirus, like Delta Plus, circulate.

"If we continue to do follow COVID-19 protocol and break the chain of transmission, we do not allow the virus to go from one host to the other," Dr Swarup added.

Additionally, the latest report by the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) warned of a third COVID-19 wave which could peak in October. The NIDM report was sent to the Prime Minister`s Office. But as per Dr Swarup the third wave is completely avoidable if COVID-appropriate behaviour is strictly followed by the individuals.

"There is clearly the human behaviour will overtake the virus behaviour, and I think if we allow it to be controlled, no way is the third going to happen," said Dr Swarup.

Meanwhile, the government on Monday also said that it has a pipeline of vaccines and the country's own mRNA candidate was likely to move into phase-3 trial soon. "We have a pipeline of vaccines - EUA (emergency-use approval) given for the DNA vaccine, our own MRNA candidate likely to move into phase-3 soon," Dr Renu Swarup added.

"We are now looking at developing a vaccine that can be pan-corona so that if any other virus comes in then the vaccine can respond to it," Dr Swarup said.

The country has so far administered nearly 58 crore doses of three Covid-19 vaccines - Covaxin, Covishield and Sputnik V. Earlier this month, Johnson & Johnson`s was given emergency use approval in India for its single-dose Covid-19 vaccine, whereas Zydus Cadila was given a nod last week.

(With ANI inputs)

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Raipur: The Chhattisgarh government on Monday (August 23) issued amendments in the COVID-19 entry restrictions allowing fully-vaccinated air travellers from other states to enter without negative RT-PCR test reports.

RT-PCR test is not mandatory for those carrying certificates of being fully vaccinated with two doses, the government said.

For others it will be mandatory to show negative RT-PCR report within 96 hours, the government added.

Chhattisgarh's COVID-19 tally mounted to 10,04,144 on Sunday as 27 more people tested positive for the infection, while one fresh fatality took the toll to 13,553, a health official said.

The number of recoveries reached 9,89,728 after eight patients got discharged from various hospitals, while 52 others completed their home isolation during the day.

The number of active COVID-19 cases in the state stands at 863, the official said.

Also Read: COVID-19 unlock: TN announces relaxations, here's what's allowed and what's not

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New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday granted time to the Election Commission to file reply on a petition seeking to debar campaigners and candidates from campaigning in assembly elections for repeatedly violating the mandatory guidelines, including wearing masks, issued by the poll panel in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The EC submitted that the petition is now infructuous as it was regarding campaigning in the assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry which got over in April. A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh granted time to the EC to file its response to the petition and listed the matter for further hearing on October 18.

The court was hearing a petition by Vikram Singh, the former DGP of Uttar Pradesh and also the chairman of think tank Centre for Accountability and Systemic Change (CASC), contending that despite the orders and guidelines of the Centre and EC, "election campaigning is going on in full swing, without any regard to the COVID-19 regulations".

Advocate Virag Gupta, appearing for the petitioner, said the poll panel cannot say that the petition has become infructuous and his application is also pending in the matter.

Advocate Siddhant Kumar, representing the EC, said the petitioner was seeking fishing and roving enquiry as no elections were being held in Delhi where the plea has been filed. He further said the EC cannot supplant state government and it was only concerned with holding of free and fair elections.

The Ministry of Home Affairs, in its reply filed in the petition, had earlier said that it had in March this year asked all state governments and union territories (UTs) to ensure compliance of COVID-19 appropriate behaviour in all gatherings.

In the affidavit filed through central government standing counsel Anurag Ahluwalia, the MHA had said that it has made provisions in the guidelines issued to states and UTs under the Disaster Management Act 2005 for enforcement of COVID-19 appropriate behaviour and strict adherence to standard operating procedures (SOPs).

The petitioner had told the court that while announcing the elections, the EC in its notification mandated that ?every person shall wear a face mask during every election related activity?, but the same were "flouted with impunity" by the political parties, their leaders and campaigners during the rallies, public meetings and roadshows conducted during the ongoing pandemic.

He, subsequently, moved two more applications, through advocate Gaurav Pathak, seeking directions to EC to take action like imposing penalty and lodging FIRs against "star campaigners" and leaders of all political parties for allegedly violating COVID-19 norms during the assembly polls in West Bengal and for ensuring that masks are worn mandatorily by everyone involved in poll campaigns during the elections in various states and union territories.

Singh, in one of his applications, has also sought directions to EC to widely publicise the guidelines issued by it and the ministry.

The plea has further contended that "the lackadaisical action of EC in implementing its own guidelines and non-cancellation of permission given for roadshows and rallies is evident from the number of campaigners catching COVID".

"The Election Commission had guidelines for conduct of general elections/bye-elections during COVID-19 published in August 2020, but failed to implement the same," Singh has said and sought prosecution of ECI officials "who failed to enforce their own mandatory COVID guidelines".

The assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry were held in various phases. The polls started on March 27 and concluded on April 29.

The petitioner has claimed that there is an "indirect discrimination" against the general public as fines are collected from them for violating COVID-19 norms, but no action is taken against politicians.

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New Delhi: Radical Islamists around the world are celebrating the victory of the Taliban in Afghanistan. Terror groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba who operate against India have got a major boost. This is certainly a cause for concern for India.

Zee News Editor-in-Chief Sudhir Chaudhary on Monday (August 23) discussed how certain terrorist outfits celebrating the Talibans victory in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir can pose a future threat to India.

The first attempt to make Kashmir like Afghanistan was made in the year 1947 when 50,000 tribals attacked Kashmir and also occupied half of it, which we know as Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Today, the terrorists of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed celebrated the Talibans victory in PoK. These terrorists took out rallies after their return to PoK from Afghanistan and welcomed each other with garlands. All this happened at a distance of only 80 to 90 kilometers from Srinagar.

These terrorists were in Afghanistan for the past month. After coming back, they now want to establish a rule like the Taliban in PoK. For this, these terrorists are threatening the people there and asking them to follow Sharia laws.

Earlier this month, former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani had said that about 10,000 terrorists from Pakistan had entered Afghanistan. The information turned out to be absolutely correct.

It is unfortunate that at a time when the airports and borders have been closed for the common people of Afghanistan, these terrorists are free to move anywhere.

A strengthened Taliban could mean the direct entry of terrorists into Kashmir through PoK. The border of Badakhshan province of Afghanistan is just 400 km away from the border of Jammu and Kashmir.

If Pakistan takes the help of the Taliban in increasing terrorist activities in Kashmir, then the latter would have little difficulty in sending their terrorists to Kashmir or supplying arms. Pakistan had done this before when the Taliban formed their government in Afghanistan 25 years ago.

Pakistan's dream is that what is happening in PoK will happen in Kashmir one day. These terrorists, who came after learning cruelty from the Taliban, are now only a few kilometers away from the border of India and they also have the support of Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan, who had praised the Taliban a few days ago saying that the Taliban broke the shackles of slavery in Afghanistan.

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has also compared Kashmir with Afghanistan, saying that if the people of Kashmir lose patience, no one will be able to stop them. She warned the Indian government to take lessons from the Taliban's occupation of Afghanistan.

These are certainly worrying development happening very close to Indian borders. India will have to be prepared for any future threat.

Read more about Taliban here: Taliban's History

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Sukma: A `Durga Fighter` force comprising 32 female staff has been constituted to combat Naxalism in the Naxal-affected Sukma district. Speaking to reporters, the Superintendent of Police of Sukma, Sunil Sharma said the new recruits will be trained for a month.

"We are happy to inform that, on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, Chhattisgarh women commandos met the officials to constitute a District Reserve Force (DRG) team for them. The proposal has been accepted and the team will be called `Durga Fighters` which will have 32 female staff. They will be trained for commando duty for a month. They will perform all active duties," he said.

Chhattisgarh | On #Rakshabandhan, women commandos form 'Durga Fighter' force in Sukma to combat Naxalism. "Durga Fighter has 32 female staff. They will be trained for commando duty for a month. They will perform all active duties," says Sunil Sharma, Sukma SP pic.twitter.com/oyhKyxQZ7P  ANI (@ANI) August 22, 2021

The Sukma SP said that the idea behind an all-women force is to promote gender equality.

"Women are equal to men," he added.

Asha Sen, captain of `Durga Fighters` said that the force has pledged to make Sukma a `Naxal free region`.

"Today, we all have pledged to make Sukma a `Naxal free region`. Just like brothers and sisters promise to protect each other on Raksha Bandhan, we all have pledged to protect the people of the Sukma region from Naxalites. We now feel equal to men as we have been given a place in District Reserve Guards (DRG) team," she said.

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Udhampur: Fahim Nazir Shah is walking to Delhi from Srinagar, hoping that his around 815-km journey will get the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and he will get an opportunity to meet him.

"I am a very big fan of Prime Minister Modi," the 28-year-old, who works as a part-time electrician in Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar, said as he reached Udhampur on Sunday after walking over 200 km.

Taking short breaks on his journey, which started two days ago, Shah, a resident of the Shalimar area in Srinagar, believes that at the end of this arduous journey his dream of meeting the prime minister will be fulfilled.

"I am on my way to Delhi by foot to meet him (Modi) and I hope to attract the attention of the Prime Minister. To meet the prime minister is my cherished dream," he said, adding that his previous attempts to meet the PM did not fructify.

Shah said that he has been following the Prime Minister on social media over the past four years, and his speech and actions have "touched my heart".

"At one time, when he was delivering an address at a rally, he stopped suddenly on hearing the ''azaan'' (Muslim call for prayer) leaving the public astonished...that gesture of our prime minister touched my heart and I became his ardent fan," he said.

Shah said that over the past two and a half years, he has made several attempts to meet Prime Minister Modi in Delhi. "During the PM's last visit to Kashmir, security personnel did not allow me to meet him," he said.

"This time I am sure I will get a chance to meet the prime minister," Shah said.

Asked about the change in Jammu and Kashmir after its special status was abrogated and made into a Union Territory from a state in 2019, he said the change is visible as Prime Minister Modi has his focus on Jammu and Kashmir.

"There is a change in the situation, the development activities are taking place at a good pace and the Union Territory is marching forward," he said.

Shah said he would like to discuss the problems of the educated and unemployed youths with the PM and developing the industrial sector in the Union Territory.

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GURUGRAM: A woman was gang-raped by an auto driver and his accomplices when she was on her way home in a sharing auto, the police said. Based on the complaint, the Palam Vihar police station has registered a case. The police said that two accused involved in the crime have been arrested and hunts are on to nab the third criminal. The victim, originally from Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, told the police that she lives in the Palam Vihar area in Gurugram.

On Sunday, she had gone to Jharsa village to meet her friend and from there she reached the city bus stand late in the evening and got into the sharing auto to return home.

It is alleged that three people including the driver were sitting in the auto. A man got down on the way and when she reached near the village Dundahera, an accused called his friend. After this, the trio held her hostage and took her to a secluded place where they raped her in turn and threatened her with dire consequences if she disclosed the matter to anyone.

The woman informed the police about the incident and also provided the number of the vehicle to the police. "Based on information, the police arrested two culprits identified as Vikram alias Mahendra Pratap, the auto driver and Manoj while the third accused Arif is still absconding," the police said.

A case of gang-rape under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code was registered at Palam Vihar police station.



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Guwahati: The Guwahati High Court granted bail to an IIT student accused of a rape case nothing that being a talented and bright student, the accused is the state's future asset.

High Court Justice Ajay Borthakur observed that there was a 'prima facie case' against the accused and an offence of rape has been made under sections 376/328/307/120B of the Indian Penal Code.

"However, as the investigation in the case is completed and both the informant/victim girl and the accused are the state's future assets being talented students pursuing technical courses at the I.I.T., Guwahati, who are young in the age group of 19 to 21 years only and further, they are being hailed from two different states, the continuation of detention of the accused in the interest of trial of the case, if charges are framed, may not be necessary," remarked the Court while granting him bail.

The prosecution intensely opposed the bail application. Reading out the accuseds bail order, the court said, A perusal of the list of witnesses too, cited in the charge-sheet, this Court finds no possibility of the accused tampering with their evidence or influencing them directly or indirectly if released on bail.

According to the FIR, the accused called the victim to the premises of Aksara School on the evening of March 28 for discussing her responsibility as the Joint Secretary of the Finance and Economic Club of the college and forcefully asked her to drink alcohol. He allegedly raped her after she fell under the influence of alcohol and was unconscious.

The accuseds counsel said that the accused cannot tamper with the evidence since the investigation was already complete and that prolonging his detention for the purpose of the trial would amount to causing further damage to his brilliant academic pursuits.

The prosecution argued that the offence was serious in nature and one that was against society as a whole and the release of the accused would certainly hamper the trial and cause gross injustice to the victim.

Justice Ajay Borthakur allowed the bail application on conditions that the accused shall continue to appear before the court on all dates fixed from time to time; shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threaten any witness or person acquainted with the facts of the case; and shall not leave the territorial jurisdiction of the court of learned Sessions Judge, Kamrup at Amingaon without prior written permission from him.

The High Court order can be accessed here.
New Delhi: India saw its lowest single-day rise in 160 days and recorded 25,072 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Monday (August 23, 2021). India's active caseload has now also declined to its lowest in 155 days and currently stands at 3,33,924. The health ministry said that the active cases account for 1.03% of total cases, which, notably, is the lowest since March 2020.

There were also 44,157 recoveries and 389 deaths in the last 24 hours. With this, the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country has increased to 3,24,49,306, of which, 3,16,80,626 have recovered while 4,34,756 have died.

Also, 12,95,160 coronavirus tests were conducted on Sunday, taking the cumulative tests conducted so far to 50,75,51,399. According to the health ministry, the daily positivity rate is now at 1.94 per cent and has been less than 3 per cent for the last 28 days, while the weekly positivity rate stands at 1.91 per cent and has been below 3 per cent for the last 59 days.

This is to be noted that India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the one-crore mark on December 19, 2020, two crore on May 4 and three crore on June 23.

On the other hand, the overall vaccination coverage has increased to 58.25 crores.

Meanwhile, a Home Ministry panel of experts has warned the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) that there is a looming threat of the third wave of COVID-19 that could peak around October. The committee of experts constituted under the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) has also said that the third wave will affect children who might be prone to similar risks as elders.

The expert panel, while highlighting that the paediatric facilities across the country to deal with such situations are inadequate, also called for ramping up the medical infrastructure and boosting healthcare facilities.

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Srinagar: The Indian army today (August 23) celebrated 23 years of homecoming of the 23 boys who were brought back from the clutches of militants in 1998. Army in its outreach program to felicitate these 23 individuals tried to send across a message to the youth of the Kashmir valley to shun the path of violence and come back to the mainstream.

On August 23, 1998, a group of 23 young Kashmiri boys was rescued while they were attempting to cross the LoC in the Gurez sector of Bandipora district.

Army said that these young boys were compelled by a fellow Kashmiri named Abdul Hamid Gada alias Bambar Khan, a resident of Ganderbal for joining terror outfits.

''The army is observing the 23rd anniversary of the homecoming of 23 boys who were forced to pick up arms but were rescued by the army in the Gurez sector and handed over to their families later. Today, I am glad that these 23 men are living a happy life back home with their families. I am sure all these 23 men will be satisfied with the decision they took 23 years ago. We have seen how families of young people are pleading with them to come back. It's heartbreaking to see this happening and we make all our efforts to ensure that we seek surrenders and facilitate surrenders even when we are in the midst of operations. We want youth to come back to the mainstream, said Yogesh Kumar Joshi, General officer Commanding-in-Chief (GoC-in-C) of the Army's Udhampur-based Northern Command.

The boys were with the militants for over a period of 10 days from August 4 to 14 in 1998. On 23rd, someone informed Brigade Headquarters that a large number of youths were seen in the jungles near the Kishenganga River. An operation was started, led by then Captain J S Budhwar.

23 is a very lucky number. It was on 23rd August that 23 boys were rescued by us. Again after 23 years, we are meeting. The area where this operation took place was just 2 km from the LoC. We had the information. I remember it was about to sunset and we managed to reach the area and cordon it. We had no clue whether they were going to Pakistan or coming from there. But we had info about the presence of children. I had told my jawans to hold fire as I saw a movement of a small boy. We approached that boy as he was terrified and he told us there are many children like him who were being taken to Pakistan. We managed to rescue the whole group, said Budhwar, Brigadier Indian Army.

These rescued men are now leading normal lives as no cases were registered against them at that point of time. They are not only an inspiration to their own children but to the youth of the Kashmir valley.

Those days everyone wanted to pick up guns and we also thought the same. Ultimately, we were rescued by the Indian army and handed over to our family. We were kids and now everyone is happy in their lives. Peace is the best option, said Showkat Ahmad Bhat, one of the individuals rescued.

Another rescue, Muzaffar Ahmad, said he wants the youth to know that there is nothing (good) in the path of violence. He went through the worst and doesn't want anyone else to go through it.

''When we left home there were four of us - one of my cousins and two others from nearby villages. We reached Ajas. We kept roaming on the mountains for a long time. We reached the launching pad in Gurez. I was 15, another was 12 and my cousin was 10. We told our guides to leave us for a bit as we wanted to drink water. We rushed to the water stream close by. We drank like animals. We saw the army personnel on the other side of the river and they rescued us. If we see the situation in today's times, it's different now. I am the victim and I went too but I didn't find anything which was worth it, said Muzzafar Ahmad.

The Indian army appealed to the local youth to shun the violence and join the mainstream.

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Bengaluru: As the schools in Karnataka reopen for classes 9-12 from Monday (August 23), student we seen attending classes under strict adherence to the COVID-19 guidelines. Schools in Karnataka reopen c from today. Visuals from a school in Kalaburagi.

A student from Kalaburagi, Shakia, told ANI, "Online classes used to be interrupted due to network issues. Here we can get our queries solved directly. Mask, sanitiser and social distancing is compulsory."

Schools in Karnataka reopen for classes 9-12 from today. Visuals from a school in Kalaburagi. A student, Shakia says, "Online classes used to be interrupted due to network issues. Here we can get our queries solved directly. Mask, sanitiser and social distancing is compulsory." pic.twitter.com/hb0HWgvxxH  ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2021

As the schools in the state reopened from Monday, Karnataka Chief Minsiter Basavaraj Bommai interacted with students at Government Pre University College in Malleswaram.

On this occasion, the Chief Minister personally went to government Pre University College and interacted with the students. He told the students about the safety precautions to take against the COVID-19 during school hours.

CM Basavaraj also encouraged them to maintain social distancing and hygiene in the school.

Earlier on Sunday, the Chief Minister tweeted, "All safety measures have been taken as suggested by the experts. I appeal to parents to encourage their children to attend physical classes & follow covid appropriate behaviour."

Bommai also urged his cabinet ministers to visit the campuses in their districts to encourage the students and teachers and review the precautionary measures taken for the safe conduct of physical classes.

Meanwhile, schools in Tamil Nadu would also start functioning for Classes 9 to 12, as the state is gearing up to welcome students.

A guideline of the schedules would also be prepared with the possibility of shift classes being implemented in the state.

Education department officials told IANS that a schedule for opening of schools would be put in place this week itself. This would ensure that the schools are adhering to the standard safety norms and Covid-19 standard protocols.

(With Agency Inputs)
Bulandshahr: The mortal remains of former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh, were cremated at Narora Ghat on the banks of the Ganga River on Monday (August 23) with full state honours.

Union Ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and Smriti Irani, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Chauhan, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Uttar Pradesh BJP president Swatantra Dev Singh and former Union Minister Uma Bharti were among those who paid tributes to the departed leader.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had remained with the mortal remains of the leader since it was brought from Lucknow on Sunday. Several UP ministers were also present on the occasion, apart from thousands of supporters and followers.

The final rites were done by the departed leader`s son and MP Rajvir Singh, who was accompanied by his son Sandeep Singh, a minister in the state government.

Kalyan Singh, who was also the former Governor of Rajasthan, died in Lucknow after a prolonged illness.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday paid his last respects to Singh. Modi said that Singh was a valuable personality and a capable leader who became a symbol of faith for the common people.

"This is a moment of grief for all of us. His (Kalyan Singh) parents had named him Kalyan Singh. He lived his life in such a way that he fulfilled the name given by his parents. He lived his entire life for the public welfare. He made 'jan kalyan' as the mantra of his life, and dedicated his life for the BJP, Bharatiya Jan Sangh family, for an ideology and for the bright future of the country," the Prime Minister said.
Lucknow: The Allahabad High Court has refused to allow a suspended Muslim policeman to keep a beard while in service, saying it violates official orders and he can't seek protection under Article 25 of the Constitution.

The Lucknow Bench of Justice Rajesh Singh Chauhan passed the order on a writ petition filed by police constable Mohd Farman, who was suspended in November last year for maintaining a beard despite being told to shave it.

The state DGP had issued a circular on October 26, 2020, prohibiting policemen to keep a beard.

The constable had approached the court against his suspension, seeking that he be allowed to keep a beard, citing Article 25, which deals with freedom of religion.

Passing the order, the HC Bench said not shaving a beard despite being given directions by higher officials is a violation of the circular by the Director General of Police and as such is not only a wrong behaviour but also the misdemeanour, misdeed and delinquency of the cop.

Observing that keeping a beard by a member of a disciplined force may not be protected under Article 25, the Bench held, "This is a domain of competent authority to issue guidelines in respect of wearing proper uniform and keeping the appearance in a manner required for the members of a disciplined force and no interference should be done."

Rebutting the plea that maintaining a beard is a fundamental right of the petitioner, the Bench said Article 25 of the Constitution of India does not confer absolute right in this regard.

"All rights have to be viewed in the context and letter and spirit in which they have been framed under the Constitution. As a matter of fact, rights guaranteed under Article 25 of the Constitution of India have inbuilt restrictions," it said.

Dismissing the petition on August 12, the Bench directed the authorities to conduct and conclude the departmental inquiry against the petitioner in accordance with law.

Also Watch: Viral Video: Muslim man thrashed for selling bangles by changing name in Indore

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New Delhi: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar met Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with a team of 11 political leaders from the state, including RJDs Tejashwi Yadav, on Monday (August 23, 2021) to discuss the issue of a caste Census.

After the meeting, while talking to the reporters, CM Nitish Kumar said, The prime minister listened to all members of the delegation on caste census in the state. We urged the PM to take an appropriate decision on it. We briefed him on how resolutions have been passed twice in the state assembly on caste census.

People in Bihar and the entire country are of the same opinion on this issue. We are grateful to the PM for listening to us. Now, he has to take a decision on it, CM Nitish Kumar added.

Delhi | People in Bihar and the entire country are of the same opinion on this issue. We are grateful to the PM for listening to us. Now, he has to take a decision on it: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on meeting with PM Narendra Modi over caste census pic.twitter.com/8e2F0LYoNo  ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2021

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav also spoke on the issue. "In the interest of the nation, it will be a historical step, all the poor will benefit. When animals and trees are counted, then why not castes. When the government has no scientific data on the population, how can it make welfare policies?" Tejashwi Yadav said.

"When states will have caste data, then only it will be able to include castes in the state OBC list. If caste Census will lead to unrest, then the same logic applies to religion as well," Tejashwi added.

Earlier, Tejashwi Yadav also had written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the demand for a caste-based census. However, the Central government has so far refused to accede to the demand.

On July 20, in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai had said, "The Government of India has decided as a matter of policy not to enumerate caste-wise populations other than SCs and STs in the census."

Additionally, BJP leader and former deputy CM Sushil Modi in a series of tweets said that his party is not against such an exercise. BJP was never against caste-based census, we have also been part of resolutions passed in the legislative assembly and council in its support. The delegation that will meet PM Modi also includes a BJP representative," Sushil Modi wrote on Sunday.

When the then government conducted a social, economic and caste-based assessment, there were shortcomings in data. The number of communities ran into lakhs. That report was not made public because of the errors. It was not part of the Census," he said in another tweet.

(With Agency inputs)

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New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday (August 23, 2021) said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has instructed the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)) to brief the floor leaders of the political parties on the development in Afghanistan.

Taking to Twitter, Jaishankar said, "In view of developments in Afghanistan, PM Narendra Modi has instructed that MEA brief Floor Leaders of political parties. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi will be intimating further details."

In view of developments in Afghanistan, PM @narendramodi has instructed that MEA brief Floor Leaders of political parties. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs @JoshiPralhad will be intimating further details.  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) August 23, 2021

The government's briefing will mostly focus on its evacuation mission from Afghanistan as well as its assessment of the situation in that country.

This is to be noted that the Taliban swept across Afghanistan this month and seized control of almost all key towns and cities, including Kabul, a development that came following the withdrawal of the US troops from the country.

India has so far evacuated and brought back over 700 people including members of the Afghan Sikh and Hindu communities.

Departure.. have safe journey pic.twitter.com/gJmBVb1faV  India in Qatar (@IndEmbDoha) August 22, 2021

India on Monday brought back 146 of its nationals in four different flights from Qatar's capital Doha, days after they were evacuated from Afghanistan by NATO and American aircraft in view of the deteriorating security situation in the war-torn country.

On Sunday, 392 people including two Afghan lawmakers were evacuated in three different flights under the evacuation mission.

Jubilant evacuees on their journey home ! pic.twitter.com/3sfvSaEVK7  Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) August 21, 2021

The Taliban had seized control of Kabul on August 15 and within two days, India had evacuated 200 people, including the Indian envoy and other staffers of its embassy in the Afghan capital.

While the first evacuation flight brought back over 40 people, mostly staffers at the Indian embassy, on August 16, the second aircraft evacuated around 150 people including Indian diplomats, officials, security personnel and some stranded Indians from Kabul on August 17.

(With inputs from agencies)

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CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Directorate of Government Examinations (TNDGE) declared the Tamil Nadu Class 10th Result 2021 at 11 AM on Monday. All the students who have appeared in the SSLC Class 10 examination have been declared pass.

The TNDGE, however, did not release a merit list of toppers list this year.

Now that it has been officially announced, students can check their SSLC Class 10th Result 2021 on the official websites- tnresults.nic.in and dge.tn.gov.in. Students are required to fill in their application or registration number to access the SSLC Class 10th Result 2021.

According to a notice issued on 25th February 2021 the temporary mark sheets of class 10 students can be downloaded from August 23 (from tomorrow) until August 31. Students can download it from the government website- http://www.dge.tn.gov.in by entering their roll number and date of birth, the DGE TN has earlier informed candidates.

It may be noted that the TN CLass 10th SSLC exams were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Students are required to secure a minimum 35 per cent of marks to pass the Tamil Nadu Class 10th exam 2021. Around 9 lakh students await their SSLC results this year.

Students have been evaluated on the basis of new evaluation criteria developed by the board. They will be assessed using an 80:20 formula. 80 per cent weightage will be given to quarterly or half-yearly exams or tests and 20 per cent weightage will be given to the attendance of a student.

Importantly, this year, the marksheet will not mention marks obtained by the students, but it will carry his pass or fail status.

Last year, the results were announced on August 10. A total of 9,39,829 students had registered for the Tamil Nadu class 10 examination last year. All of them were promoted based on their half-yearly and quarterly exams.

Students will be assessed using an 80:20 formula. Elaborately, 80 per cent weightage will be given to quarterly or half-yearly exams or tests and 20 per cent weightage will be given to the attendance of a student.

TM SSLC Class 12th results were announced in July. A total of 8,16,473 students appeared in the Class 12th examination and out of which 8,18,129 students qualified for the examination. No student secured full marks - 600/600.

How to check TN SSLC 10th Result 2021

-Go to the Tamil Nadu Directorate of Government Examinations websites, tnresults.nic.in and dge.tn.gov.in.

-Scroll towards the link that reads SSLC Result 2021 link

-Enter your registration number or roll number and date of birth to login

-Tamil Nadu SSLC Class 10 Results will be displayed on the screen

-Check and download TN SSLC 10th Result 2021

-Take a print of the mark sheet for future reference

Alternative ways to check Tamil Nadu Class 10 SSLC result

Students can alternatively check the TN SSLC 10th result 2021 on mobile applications and third-party websites. Candidates can check their scores on Digi Locker and SMS too. Students need to type TNBOARD10 their registration number and date of birth and send it to any of the official numbers of the TN Board including 09282232585, or 09282232585. Students will get their results as a reply to their SMS.

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Mumbai: After a farmer allegedly died by suicide outside Mantralaya, Maharashtra Assembly`s Leader of the Opposition Devendra Fadnavis slammed the state government for neglecting the issues of farmers. "This is a very unfortunate incident. There is no system left in Maharashtra to hear out farmers. The way the posting of officers is happening in the state is questionable. Later, these officers do not even care about issues of farmers and poor that come in front of them and they do not have any time for them," Fadnavis said.

He accused the government of ignoring the farmers of the state and not taking any decisions for them. Adding that the farmers` suicides were increasing in the state, Fadnavis demanded that government should probe the case of farmers` suicide outside the government office and provide compensation to his family. A 48-year-old farmer, who was admitted to GT Hospital here after he allegedly consumed a poisonous substance outside Mantralaya, died on Sunday during treatment, said sources.

Subhash Jadhav (48), a farmer from Pune had allegedly attempted suicide by consuming a poisonous substance outside the gate of Mantralaya on Friday. According to sources, Jadhav had come to meet Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil in Mantralaya. But, he was not allowed to enter the Mantralaya.

Sources further said, "Some people had captured Jadhav`s land in Pune. He had complained about the matter at the nearest police station. But the police station there did not take any action. Jadhav then reached Mantralaya so that his matter would be heard."On the statement of Jadhav`s son Ganesh, the Marine Drive police station registered a case against eight people under sections 306 and 34 of IPC and transferred it to Manchar Police Station in Pune.

(With agency inputs)
NEW DELHI: A Home Ministry panel of experts has warned the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) that there is a looming threat of COVID-19 third wave that could peak around October.

The committee of experts constituted under the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) by the Home Ministry has further stated that the COVID-19 third wave will affect children who might be prone to similar risk as elders.

The expert panel, while highlighting that the paediatric facilities across the country to deal with such situations are inadequate, has called for ramping up the medical infrastructure and boosting healthcare facilities.

In its report to the PMO, the panel warned about the lack of medical facilities, lack of doctors, staff and shortage of equipment like ventilators, ambulances to deal with such situations. It said that the existing medical facilities are nowhere close to what may be required in case a large number of children become infected, as per media reports.

The report titled Third Wave Preparedness: Children Vulnerability and Recovery deals with the likelihood of third-wave affecting children and the strategies required to tackle the pandemic.

The expert panel report stresses the vaccination of children with comorbidities and those with disabilities. The report warns that COVID third wave may peak in late October despite several preventive measures.

Dr VK Paul, one of the key members of PM Modi's COVID management team, had earlier said that there's no evidence to prove that children will be affected in the Covid third wave.

He had said adults should take jabs to shield children. However, Paul has now suggested preparing 23 hospitalisations for every 100 positive cases in a future COVID-19 infection surge.

Referring to a question about the possible third wave, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said the Centre is fully ready to tackle a possible third wave of COVID-19.

He added that a provision of Rs 23,123 crore has been made for this purpose. Thakur said the special emphasis is being given to strengthening paediatric care amid apprehension that the third wave may affect children more than others.

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New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday (August 23, 2021) asked the Centre to find a solution to the blockade of roads due to the farmers` ongoing protest against the three agriculture laws.

A Bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul said the protestors have a right to protest at a designated space but cannot block the outflow and inflow of traffic.

"The solution lies in the hands of Union of India and state governments," said a Bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul.

"You have to find a solution, they might have the right to a place to agitate, but the roads cannot be blocked like this," the Bench told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta who was appearing for the Centre.

The top court was hearing a plea filed by a woman resident of Noida seeking direction to ensure that the road between Noida to Delhi is kept clear so that the passage is not affected.

The apex court adjourned the hearing of the plea for September 20 saying time granted to the Centre to look for solutions on this and report back here.

Justice Kaul told Mehta, "You now have enough time. Please work out something.

"The Uttar Pradesh government in its affidavit had said it is making all efforts to make farmers understand that their act of blocking roads is causing grave inconvenience to travellers.

Earlier, the apex court had asked Uttar Pradesh and Haryana governments to file their responses on a plea.On the last date of hearing, the Bench had said public roads should not be blocked in protests and there should be free flow of traffic on roads.

The court had made it clear that it is not concerned about the larger issues of the farm laws, which can be decided judicially, politically or administratively but limited to clearing of roads blocked by farmers.

The Bench had also emphasised that in its previous judgments, the apex court had made it clear that roads should not be blocked.

Noida resident Monicca Agarwaal alleged that her travel to Delhi is taking two hours instead of the normal 20 minutes.

She contended that despite the various directions passed by the apex court to keep the to and fro passage clear (the road), the same had still not happened.Being a single parent who has some medical issues, Agarwaal said that it has become a nightmare to travel to Delhi. The plea said she stayed and worked in Noida, but since she had a marketing job she had to travel frequently to Delhi.

"It is her say that she is a single parent and also has some medical issues and it has become a nightmare to travel to Delhi where it is taking two hours instead of normal 20 minutes. She contends that despite the various directions passed by this court to keep the to and fro passage clear (the roads), the same still does not happen. We did put to her if it is so, it is an administrative failure as the judicial view has already been propounded by us," the Bench had noted in its order.

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New Delhi: Megastar Amitabh Bachchan and his daughter Shweta Bachchan Nanda was spotted outside Lilavati Hospital on late Sunday night.

Although, the exact reason of their visit to the hospital is yet to be ascertained.

The duo was spotted in an all-white outfit and was seemed in a rush and didnt bothered to pose for the shutterbugs.

Although there are no specific announcements made regarding their visit but it was also speculated that the father-daughter duo could have visited the hospital or regular check-up or COVID vaccine.

On the workfront, Big B will be next seen in Ayan Mukerjis Brahmastra which will also star Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt in lead roles. The film also has Nagarjuna Akkineni, Dimple Kapadia and Mouni Roy in pivotal roles.

He also has a part in Nag Ashwins untitled next starring Prabhas and Deepika Padukone in the lead roles.

Then he will be also seen in Rumy Jafrys Chehre co-starring Emraan Hashmi and Rhea Chakraborty in lead roles.
Washington: The late Chadwick Boseman was recently honored by his wife Simone Leeward and 'Black-ish' actor Anthony Anderson during the Stand Up to Cancer fundraising telethon event on Saturday.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, intended to celebrate 13 years of cancer research, the event included performances and appearances from familiar names in Hollywood such as Chris Evans, Paul Rudd, Bradley Cooper, Cecily Strong, Jennifer Garner, Ed Helms and Tony Hale.

"Many of us were devastated to learn of Chadwick Boseman's tragic passing after he privately grappled with cancer for several years," Anderson said during the show, which was streamed on YouTube.

He further added, "The world lost an incredible artist and a true hero. But before he was a public figure, he was a person like you or me, a son, a brother, uncle, cousin, friend, colleague, husband.

Many of us are all too familiar with the fracture a dearly loved one's passing leaves in the lives of those who love them."He later introduced Boseman's wife Simone, who performed 'I'll Be Seeing You', a song about living with the reality of loss. The lyrics included, "I'll be seeing you in all the old, familiar places that this heart of mine embraces.

"The Black Panther actor died of colon cancer last August at the age of 43. 2021's Stand Up to Cancer telethon was co-hosted by Anderson, Ken Jeong and his wife, physician Tran Ho, who shared the story of her own breast cancer diagnosis and Sofia Vergara. Performers included Stevie Wonder, Common and Brittany Howard, the latter of whom dedicated her performance to her late sister Jaime. As per The Hollywood Reporter, Matthew McConaughey was among those who appeared in the telecast, sharing a personal story of losing a beloved friend and mentor to cancer, which he referred to as "this damned disease." Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth executive produced the event.
New Delhi: After months of becoming 'Bigg Boss 14' winner, actor Rubina Dilaik has now expressed her views about her husband Abhinav Shukla's eviction on the show.

For the unversed, ahead of 'BB 14' finale in February, Abhinav got evicted from the house. His eviction was done by the connections (family members and friends of contestants), who entered the house during that time. Abhinav's elimination was criticised by many.

Opening up about the same, Rubina, on Monday, took to her Instagram account and penned a lengthy statement, saying the eviction was "unfair".

"I have been asked so many times, what was that one thing you regret doing or not doing in BB14 House!! Then I didn't have clarity of thoughts, had mixed emotions, and was overwhelmed with so much happening! Now when I look back, and one thing that hits me hard is the visual of the day Abhinav was eliminated! Fate of His BB14 journey was handed over to a bunch of 'less competent members who were not even in the race and had clear Ulterior motive and I didn't even Protest," she wrote.

Rubina also took a dig at the less deserving contestants who went ahead of Abhinav.

"I was so soaked up in the pain and anguish that I couldn't see it for what it was I wish I had WALKED OUT with him for his UNFAIR Elimination (NOT by Bigg Boss ) by them who could not Justify their own journey and existence on the show. Had an epiphany! This remains my biggest regret," she added.

Rubina's post has garnered a lot of comments from netizens. Abhinav, too, responded.

"And baby you are a winner because you did not give up, the kind of pressure, tirade, and rebuke you endured without wavering is a victory, you finished my battle," he commented.

Abhinav also passed a witty remark upon the less deserving contestants.

"Life is unfair, Big Boss is a great social experiment, whenever you feel its unfair smile and eat an apple..but 2-minute silence for those who got spent like a used cartridge emptied all they had and still got voted out," he added.

For the unversed, Rubina defeated Rahul Vaidya, Aly Goni, Nikki Tamboli, and Rakhi Sawant to win 'Bigg Boss 14'.
Mumbai: Actress Mahika Sharma, expressing her sadness over reports that the Taliban are torturing women in Afghanistan, tweeted on Sunday that she would tie rakhis to them so that they learnt to respect women.

She says: "The Taliban never got love from their mothers or sisters, that is why they have become criminals. They cannot be changed by punishments or war. I will tie them a 'rakhi' and will become their sister. Thereafter, I will teach them how to respect women. I feel this way I can save the Afghan people from the Taliban."

The actress, who has appeared in TV serials such as 'F.I.R.' and 'Ramayan: Sabke Jeevan Ka Aadhar', added: "I have learned that love can change anyone and bring them on the right track. In our history many stories have taught us how love changed even dacoits and made them good men. I'm worried about Afghan women and I want to raise my voice for them, their democracy. Everyone should unite for the Afghan people and save them from Taliban rule."

The actress at once drew mixed reactions. 'They will kill you,' said member of the Twitterati. Another tweeted the sexist comment: 'The Taliban are looking for some beautiful girl like you.' Mahika also drew respect. 'To come out with such an idea needs power. India will love you, sister.'
New Delhi: The Finance Ministry has announced revised rates of Dearness Allowance (DA) to the employees of Central Government and Central Autonomous Bodies continuing to draw their pay in the pre-revised pay scale/Grad Pay as per 6th Central Pay Commission with effect from July 01, 2021.

In an Office Memorandum, issued by the Department of Expenditure (Ministry of Finance), the revised rates of the Dearness Allowance (DA) has been hiked from the existing 164 percent to 189 percent of the basic pay with effect from the above mentioned date. The changes in the DA are as per the 6th pay commission.

The rate of Dearness Allowance admissible to above categories of employees of Central Government and Central Autonomous Bodies shall be enhanced from the existing 164 per cent to 189 per cent of the Basic Pay with effect from 01.07.2021. The increase subsumes the additional instalments arising on 01.01.2020, 01.07.2020 and 01.01.2021. The rate of Dearness Allowance for the period from 01.01.2020 till 30.06.2021 shall remain at 164 per cent, the office memorandum said.

Notably, in July, Union Cabinet approved the restoration of the dearness allowance hike for Central government employees and employees in a meeting on Wednesday (July 14). Union Minister Anurag Thakur had said that the Dearness Allowance (DA) for Central government employees and pensioners has been increased from 17 per cent to 28 per cent. He also noted that the revision in DA will be applicable from July 1, 2021.

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As the Income Tax website faces glitches, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) is said to have planned to further extend the deadline for filing income tax returns (ITR) for the financial year 2020-21 (AY 2021-22).

According to a report, earlier the last date was supposed to be September 30 and now it seems that the filing of ITR will be extended as the websites glitches have not been fixed yet. Many users reported complaints about the glitches on social media.

The new IT website was unveiled on June 7 by the Income Tax department to make ITR filing smooth and hassle-free. From pre-filled income tax return forms to quick refunds  the new portal has tons of new features to provide a modern and seamless experience to taxpayers".

But right after the launch, it faced several glitches as people said that it took a long time to file an income tax return, taxpayers and tax professionals had faced many issues on the new portal.

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman will now meet Infosys managing director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO) Salil Parekh to discuss the technical glitches on the income tax portal that is yet to be resolved.

Ministry of Finance has summoned Salil Parekh, MD&CEO @Infosys on 23/08/2021 to explain to honble FM as to why even after 2.5 months since launch of new e-filing portal, glitches in the portal have not been resolved. In fact,since 21/08/2021 the portal itself is not available," Income Tax Department said in a tweet. Later in the evening, Infosys said that it has started working on the new income tax portal.

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New Delhi: Quoting of Aadhaar card is increasingly becoming mandatory for a host of services. From filing income tax, to linking with pan cardAadhaar is becoming the most important proof of identification.

The 12-digit biometric number also comes very handy while you are employing someone --like a driver, a household help, a care taker to name a few. However, if you are wondering on the authenticity of the Aadhaar card being furnished by these employees to you, dont fret. You can check whether an Aadhaar card is genuine or Fake by visiting the UIDAI website.

This will help you regarding the authenticity of the Aadhaar produced to you by any associate, tenant, driver, domestic help etc.

Here is how to verify Aadhaar number in just 5 simple steps

1. Visit UIDAI website

2. Go to Aadhaar Services. Alternatively, you can click this direct link

3. Click on "Verify an Aadhaar number" option

4. Punch the Aadhaar number, captcha code

5. Now, click "proceed to verify" button

If the Aadhaar number furnished to you is correct, then you can see "Aadhaar verification completed" in the screen. Thus, Aadhaar number can be verified to ascertain if the Aadhaar number is valid and is not deactivated.

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Come October 1, the Narendra Modi government is coming with a lot of changes in the rules of labour law. This new rule states that the employees working hours are going to be increased from 9 hours to 12 hours in the new labour law.

Besides that, the in-hand salary will also change after the new law is implemented.

According to the new draft rule, the basic pay will be 50% or more of the total salary. This will also change the salary structure of most employees, as the non-perks part of the salary will be less than 50 per cent of the total salary. Similarly, other allowances in the total salary will also change, i.e. it will be more.

The increase in basic salary will further increase the PF which is based on basic pay. An increase in the basic pay will increase the PF, which means that there will be a cut in the take-home or hand-to-hand pay.

With the increase in contribution to gratuity and PF, the amount received after retirement will increase. The highest-paid officers will see the most change in their pay structure and will be affected the most. With the increase in PF and gratuity, the cost of companies will also increase. And now the companies will also have to contribute more to the PF for the employees.

In the new draft law, a proposal has been proposed to increase the maximum working hours to 12. The draft rules of the OSCH Code provide for extra work between 15 and 30 minutes to be counted as overtime for 30 minutes. Under the current rule, less than 30 minutes are not considered eligible overtime. The draft rules have prohibited any employee to work continuously for more than 5 hours and it also included instructions to give half-an-hour rest to the employees after every five hours.

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CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has cautioned the advisors of the newly appointed state Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu to avoid making statements on sensitive issues.

According to media reports, the Chief Minister is upset with two advisors of Sidhu after they made atrocious and ill-conceived" remarks on sensitive national issues like Kashmir and Pakistan".

The Chief Minister has, according to reports, asked Sidhus advisors to stick to giving advice to Punjab Congress chief and not to speak on matters which they are not fully aware of.''

The Punjab Chief Minister had asked them to think about the implications of their comments" before making such statements.

Captain Amarinder Singh is believed to be very upset with Sidhus advisor Pyare Lal Garg questioning his criticism of Pakistan and another controversial statement made by advisor Malwinder Singh Mali on Kashmir.

Expressing shock" and displeasure over the remarks made by the two advisors, who were recently appointed by Sidhu, the Chief Minister said those remarks were totally misplaced and antagonistic to the stated position of India and the Congress party on Pakistan and Kashmir.

The Chief Minister also urged Sidhu to rein in his advisors before they end up "doing more damage to India's interests". This was the second time in four days that Captain Amarinder Singh rebuked Team Sidhu for making insensitive comments on Jammu and Kashmir.

Mali had courted controversy by saying that Kashmir was a separate country and both India and Pakistan were its illegal occupants. The other Sidhu advisor, Pyare Lal Garg had reportedly questioned Capt Singh's criticism of Pakistan.

It may be noted that despite strong objections by Amarinder Singh, Navjot Singh Sidhu had taken over as the new chief of the Punjab Congress last month.

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NEW DELHI: Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu has summoned his newly appointed advisors - Malwinder Singh Mali and Pyare Lal Garg  for clarification after a bitter political storm over their objectionable comments on Kashmir and Pakistan.

The two men in question have been summoned to Navjot Sidhus Patiala residence, reports said. Mali had also posted a sketch of the late PM wherein she is seen standing near a heap of human skulls, holding a gun with a skull hanging on its muzzle.

Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu summons both his advisors Malwinder Singh Mali and Dr Pyare Lal Garg to his Patiala residence to discuss their recent comments on Pakistan, Kashmir and the controversial sketch of late PM Indira Gandhi posted by one of them on social media pic.twitter.com/j3jPhmIMOo  ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2021

Top Congress leaders have also strongly condemned the two advisors of Navjot Sidhu for making very distasteful comments, not in line with the party's stated position on Kashmir and Pakistan.

#WATCH "Do such people even have the right to live in the country, forget about being in the Party?, asks Congress leader Manish Tewari on Punjab Congress Chief Navjot S Sidhu's advisors Pyare Lal Garg's and Malwinder Singh Mali's comments on Pakistan and Kashmir pic.twitter.com/QsCt9BV9Vh  ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2021

Earlier, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh had cautioned the advisors of the newly appointed state Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu to avoid making statements on sensitive issues.

The Chief Minister is reportedly upset with the two advisors of Sidhu after they made atrocious and ill-conceived" remarks on sensitive national issues like Kashmir and Pakistan".

The Chief Minister, according to reports, has asked Sidhus advisors to stick to giving advice to Punjab Congress chief and not to speak on matters which they are not fully aware of.'' The Punjab Chief Minister has asked them to think about the implications of their comments" before making such statements.

Captain Amarinder Singh is believed to be very upset with Sidhus advisor Pyare Lal Garg who had questioned his criticism of Pakistan and another controversial statement made by advisor Malwinder Singh Mali on Kashmir.

Expressing shock" and displeasure over the remarks made by the two advisors, who were recently appointed by Sidhu, the Chief Minister said those remarks were totally misplaced and antagonistic to the stated position of India and the Congress party on Pakistan and Kashmir.

The Chief Minister also urged Sidhu to rein in his advisors before they end up "doing more damage to India's interests". This was the second time in four days that Captain Amarinder Singh rebuked Team Sidhu for making insensitive comments on Jammu and Kashmir.

Mali had courted controversy by saying that Kashmir was a separate country and both India and Pakistan were its illegal occupants. It may be noted that despite strong objections by Amarinder Singh, Navjot Singh Sidhu had taken over as the new chief of the Punjab Congress last month.

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Amazon has unveiled its Grand Gaming Days sale and it is giving attractive discounts and offers on gaming laptops and monitors to accessories and peripherals. Customers can get many discounts along with No Cost EMI payment options and exchange offers during the sale. This sale is already live and ends on August 24.

Corsair K55 RGB Pro Gaming Keyboard: The Corsair K55 RGB Pro gaming keyboard comes at a discounted rate of Rs 3,899.

Lenovo G-Series 27-inch FHD IPS Gaming Monitor: This budget monitor is available at a discounted price of Rs 18,499. It comes with a 27-inch Full HD IPS panel, a 144Hz refresh rate, a response time of 1ms, and AMD FreeSync support.

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In the biggest development, Bitcoin reached a $50,000 mark after several months of disappointments.

Bitcoin topped the $50,000 level after recovery of almost 3 months with other tokens including Ether and Cardanos ADA also seeing a rise. In May, Bitcoin was above $50,000.

Bitcoin is getting nearer the higher end of what I expect as a new trading range in the low-$40,000s to low-$50,000s, Rick Bensignor, chief executive officer at Bensignor Investment Strategies, wrote in a note.

In April, Bitcoin reached almost $65,000 due to a high tide of liquidity, fast-money bets and growing demand from institutional investors.

However, in recent months the prices of Bitcoin fell down due to environmental concerns. The crackdown on cryptocurrency in China also affected the sentiments and it fell below $30,000 after Mays rout.

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KathMandu: Nepal Government has confirmed the safe return of 504 Nepalis to Kathmandu from Afghanistan and affirmed that it is further coordinating and facilitating to bring back other Nepalis nationals who were rescued from Kabul and are in other countries.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement outlining that the government was coordinating the return of Nepalis who were rescued from Kabul and reached Doha, Dubai, London and New Delhi.

"More Nepali nationals rescued from Afghanistan are in the process of returning to Nepal. So far, 504 people have been rescued and have returned to Kathmandu, the statement said.

As many as 356 Nepalis in Afghanistan have registered their whereabouts on the Department of Consular Services web portal.

The Task Force formed to facilitate the rescue of Nepali nationals from Afghanistan also said it was coordinating with other nations that are conducting rescue flights to and from Kabul to bring back Nepali migrants.

The evacuees are tested for COVID-19 on their arrival and are put under isolation centers.
New Delhi: An Afghan woman on Saturday (August 21, 2021) gave birth to a baby girl onboard a US evacuation flight from Kabul. The mother and her family were then helped by the US Air Force upon landing at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany.

The Air Mobility Command of the US Air Force shared the pictures of the medical support personnel helping the Afghan mother off a US Air Force C-17, moments after she delivered a child.

"During a flight from an Intermediate Staging Base in the Middle East, the mother went into labor and began having complications. The aircraft commander decided to descend in altitude to increase air pressure in the aircraft, which helped stabilize and save the mother's life," the Air Mobility Command said in a tweet.

During a flight from an Intermediate Staging Base in the Middle East, the mother went into labor and began having complications. The aircraft commander decided to descend in altitude to increase air pressure in the aircraft, which helped stabilize and save the mothers life.  Air Mobility Command (@AirMobilityCmd) August 21, 2021

"Upon landing, Airmen from the 86th MDG came aboard and delivered the child in the cargo bay of the aircraft. The baby girl and mother were transported to a nearby medical facility and are in good condition," they added.

Earlier on Friday, US President Joe Biden had called the evacuation mission in Afghanistan one of the 'largest and most difficult' airlifts in US history.

Since the Taliban seized power in Kabul on August 15, people have been scrambling to get out of the crisis-stricken Afghanistan.

ALSO READ | Conflict, displacement, drought and COVID-19 contributing to desperate situation in Afghanistan, say UN agencis
Kabul: A firefight at one of the gates of Kabul's international airport killed at least one Afghan soldier early Monday (August 23, 2021), German officials said, the latest chaos to engulf Western efforts to evacuate those fleeing the Taliban takeover of the country.

The shooting at the airport came as the Taliban sent fighters north of the capital to eliminate pockets of armed resistance to their lightning takeover earlier this month. The Taliban said they retook three districts seized by opponents the day before and had surrounded Panjshir, the last province that remains out of their control.

Afghanistan's security forces collapsed in the face of the Taliban advance, despite 20 years of Western aid, training and assistance. Tens of thousands of Afghans have sought to flee the country since, fearing a return to the brutal rule the Taliban imposed the last time they ran Afghanistan. That has led to chaos at the airport in Kabul, the main route out of the country, where some Afghan troops are assisting Western evacuation efforts.

Gunfire broke out near one of the airport's gates, where at least seven Afghans died a day earlier in a panicked stampede of thousands of people. The circumstances of the shooting, which occurred around dawn, remained unclear.

The German military tweeted that one member of the Afghan security forces was killed and three others were wounded by unknown attackers. It later clarified that it was referring to members of the Afghan army involved in securing the airport.

Emergency, an Italian humanitarian organization that operates hospitals in Afghanistan, said it had treated six patients with bullet wounds from the airport, none of whom were in life-threatening condition.

The U.S. Military and NATO did not immediately acknowledge the shooting. There was no comment from the Taliban.

The tragic scenes around the airport have transfixed the world. Afghans poured onto the tarmac last week and some clung to a U.S. Military transport plane as it took off, later plunging to their deaths. At least seven people died that day, in addition to the seven killed Sunday.

The Taliban blame the chaotic evacuation on the U.S. Military and say there's no need for any Afghans to flee. They have pledged to bring peace and security after decades of war and say they won't seek revenge on those who worked with the U.S., NATO and the toppled Afghan government.

But their fighters have violently suppressed protests and beat people with batons as they try to control the crowds outside the airport perimeter. There have also been reports in recent days of the Taliban hunting down their former enemies. It's unclear if Taliban leaders are saying one thing and doing another, or if fighters on the ground are taking matters into their own hands.

As the airlift continues, the U.S. Government asked for 18 aircraft from U.S. Commercial carriers to assist in transporting Afghan refugees to their final destinations after their initial evacuation. The request fell under the Civil Reserve Air Fleet program, which was born in the wake of the Berlin airlift and can add to the military's capabilities during crises.

Early Monday, a Delta Air Lines flight landed in Dubai and later took off for Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, where evacuees are crowded into hangars. A steady stream of military transport planes continue to fly people out of Kabul to airfields across the Mideast.

Since Aug. 14, the U.S. Has evacuated or facilitated the evacuation of more than 30,000 people on military and coalition flights. Tens of thousands of people, Americans, other foreigners and Afghans who assisted in the war effort, are still waiting to join the airlift, which has been slowed by security issues and U.S. Bureaucracy hurdles.

U.S. President Joe Biden said Sunday he would not rule out extending the evacuation beyond Aug. 31, the date he had set for completing the withdrawal of U.S. Forces. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson plans to press Biden for an extension.

But Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen, in an interview with Sky News, said Aug. 31 is a red line and that extending the American presence would provoke a reaction. There are concerns that a local affiliate of the Islamic State group might target the crowds outside the airport with suicide bombers or fire missiles at U.S. Aircraft. Military planes have been executing corkscrew landings, and other aircraft have fired flares upon takeoff, both measures used to avoid missile attacks.

The Taliban and IS have different ideologies and have fought in recent years, but one concern about the Taliban's takeover is that they could again shelter extremist groups. The Taliban harbored al-Qaida while it orchestrated the 9/11 attacks, leading to the U.S. Invasion in 2001. The Taliban now say they will not allow Afghanistan to be a base for attacks on other countries.

Elsewhere in Afghanistan, the Taliban have faced limited armed resistance from fighters in Baghlan province, some 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of Kabul. The anti-Taliban fighters claimed to have seized three districts in the Andarab Valley on Sunday, but the Taliban said Monday that they had cleared them out overnight.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the group's forces have also surrounded nearby Panjshir, the only one of Afghanistan's 34 provinces yet to fall to the fighters.

Several Taliban opponents have gathered there, including Amrullah Saleh, the vice president in the toppled government who claims to be the acting president. Ahmad Massoud, son of the slain commander of the Northern Alliance militias that partnered with the U.S. To drive the Taliban from power in 2001, is also in Panjshir.

In interviews with Arab media outlets over the weekend, Massoud said his fighters would resist any attempt to take the province by force but were open to dialogue with the Taliban.

Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman, said there had been no fighting in Panjshir yet and that his group is seeking a peaceful solution to the standoff.

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KABUL: Panjshir Valley will not be handed over to the Taliban and resistance fighters will be ready to fight back if the extremist group tries to seize it, the son of one of the main leaders of Afghanistan's anti-Soviet resistance in the 1980s.

"We confronted the Soviet Union, and we will be able to confront the Taliban," Ahmad Massoud, the son of Ahmad Shah Massoud, was quoted as saying by Al Arabiya.

The Taliban told Massoud he had four hours to give up Panjshir Valley, north of Kabul, where the 32-year-old and Vice President of Afghanistan Amrullah Saleh is holed up.

Massoud said he would not surrender areas under his control to the Taliban. However, he told Al Arabiya he was ready to forgive the Taliban for killing his father if the conditions for peace and security in Afghanistan are met.

His father was killed just days before the September 11, 2001 attacks on the US by al-Qaeda militants who enjoyed Afghan sanctuary under Taliban rule. Ahmad Shah Massoud's name continues to carry huge weight both in Afghanistan and around the world.

In a Washington Post editorial, Ahmad Massoud said members of the Afghan military had rallied to his cause ahead of the Taliban's seizure of the country "because we knew this day might come".

"We have stores of ammunition and arms that we have patiently collected since my father's time," he said in the editorial, adding that some of the forces who had joined him had brought their weapons.

"If Taliban warlords launch an assault, they will, of course, face staunch resistance from us," Massoud said.

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Washington: The United States airlifted 1,700 people from the Kabul Airport in Afghanistan on Sunday, a White House official said. In addition to this, 39 coalition aircraft took off with approximately 3,400 passengers, the official further informed.

"From 3:00 AM EDT to 3:00 PM EDT, 8 U.S. military flights -- 7 C-17s and 1 C-130 -- evacuated approximately 1,700 passengers from Hamid Karzai International Airport. In addition, 39 coalition aircraft took off with approximately 3,400 passengers," the official said.

With this, the US, which has taken control of Kabul airport last week following the collapse of the Afghan government, has evacuated and facilitated the evacuation of approximately 30,300 people on military and coalition flights.

The official said that since the end of July, `we have relocated approximately 35,500 people. The US, which has stationed thousands of troops to secure the airport, has set a deadline to complete the evacuations by August 31.

But there are up to 15,000 Americans and 50,000 to 60,000 Afghan allies who need to be evacuated, according to the Biden administration.

US President Joe Biden on Friday termed the evacuation from Afghanistan the `most difficult and largest airlift` ever in history.

He had assured to get all Americans and allies out of the war-torn country. "Kabul evacuation is among the largest and most difficult airlifts in history," Biden had said.

In an effort to speed the evacuation, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III ordered six commercial airlines to provide passenger jets to help with the growing U.S. military operation evacuating Americans and Afghan allies from Kabul. President Biden said Sunday that his administration may extend his August 31 deadline for removing all American troops from Afghanistan, and he pledged that all evacuated Afghan allies will be given a home in the United States after they are screened and vetted at bases in other countries.

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Kabul: The Taliban has said that hundreds of its fighters are heading for the Panjshir Valley, which is currently the center of the resistance in Afghanistan.

Hundreds of "mujahideen" are heading towards the state of Panjshir to take control of the province from where the resistance is being held, Sputnik reported citing a news agency.

The Taliban entered Kabul last week after a months-long offensive, prompting the civilian government to collapse.

After the fall of the Ashraf Ghani government, Panjshir remains the epicenter of the resistance led by Ahmad Massoud and Amrullah Saleh, the first vice president from Ghani`s cabinet.

According to the Russian news agency, members of the Taliban are waiting for an order to attack the holdout Panjshir province northeast of the Afghan capital of Kabul.

Earlier on Sunday, the Taliban offered Ahmad Massoud, the leader of the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan, to surrender.

Meanwhile, Massoud said that they would not surrender and that the locals were ready to fight.

Massoud also said that he and his supporters wanted a peaceful solution and were ready to negotiate an inclusive government with the Taliban, but the group declined the offer.

"If the Taliban try to seize control of Panjshir valley, resistance fighters will be ready to resist, the son of Ahmad Shah Massoud, one of the main leaders of Afghanistans anti-Soviet resistance in the 1980s," Ahmad Massoud told Al Arabiya.

He added that he wants to bring the conflict to an end.

(With inputs from news agencies)

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Colombo: Sri Lanka's medical experts on Monday said the Delta variant of the Covid-19 which is spreading across the country has acquired four mutations due to the high transmission rate but did not have any effect on vaccine efficacy.

Head of the Department of Immunology and Molecular Sciences of the Sri Jayawardenapura University, Professor Neelika Malavige said while the four mutations were found following gene sequencing, there was no urge to panic until the implications of the mutations were established, reports Xinhua news agency.

"One of the Delta mutations (A-222V) is seen in many countries, another (A-1078S) is found in Sri Lanka and Malaysia, while the other two (A-701S and R-24C) are only found in Sri Lanka. These are just mutations in the virus and that does not make these viruses new variants," Malavige was quoted by a local newspaper as saying.

"We had identified many other mutations in the previous Alpha variant and in our variant of the Sri Lankan lineage (responsible for the second wave), which were of no significance. Therefore, although some of the Delta variant viruses seen in Sri Lanka might have certain unique mutations, there is no reason to be alarmed," Malavige added.

Malavige said that these mutations were highly unlikely to have any effect on vaccine efficacy and requested people to get vaccinated against Covid-19.

Sri Lanka is presently facing a rising wave of Covid-19 infections, suspected to be caused by the Delta variant with authorities declaring a nationwide quarantine curfew since August 20 which will be lifted on August 30.

Hospitals are exhausted with rising admissions while oxygen dependency has also risen among the patients.

The country has recorded over 7,000 deaths and 390,000 Covid-19 infections.

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New Delhi: Last week, the entire world witnessed one of the major humanitarian crises as the Taliban insurgents captured Afghanistan's capital Kabul. The fear of a brutal Taliban regime led to desperation among Afghan citizens and foreigners residing in the war-torn country, who have been either fleeing or trying to leave the country ever since the insurgents made a rapid advance across Afghanistan.

There have been gut-wrenching images and videos of people trying to escape, with some even falling to death from a plane while trying to flee. Pictures have also gone viral that show parents handing over their baby to the US troops over the perimeter wall of the airport in Kabul.

However, as the world hung its head in shame, there was no sign of remorse in the US, which, in a way, was a coldhearted betrayal by Washington that should have weighed heavily on its conscience.

Here is WION Executive Editor Palki Sharma Upadhyay giving more details about what happened in Afghanistan was a collective failure of generations of US Presidents, policy-makers, and military commanders that helped create this monster called the Taliban.

Role of America in supporting Afghan warlords

The role of the US in supporting the Afghan warlords or the Mujahideens who went on to form the Taliban has been a closely guarded secret. In December 1979 when the Cold War was at its peak, the Soviet Union had decided to invade Afghanistan under the pretext of upholding the 1978 Soviet-Afghan Friendship Treaty. The America couldn't help and flung itself into the conflict and supported the Afghan Mujahideen to safeguard its interests, which is the story that is being told officially.

However, at that time, the Americans didn't not that their government along with the British Secret Service - the MI-6, has begun training and funding the Islamic extremists, including the 9/11 mastermind Osama Bin Laden. Many people dismiss this as a conspiracy theory, but, it's not.

Osama Bin Laden was a product of a monumental miscalculation

In 2005, a British Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook, had admitted in writing that Osama Bin Laden was a product of a monumental miscalculation by Western security forces. Cook also claimed that Osama was funded by the CIA and armed by America's western allies to fight the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.

These claims were then reiterated by slain Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and Saudi Arabia's Prince Bandar bin Sultan, who had publically acknowledged that Osama Bin Laden was a product of American spy agencies. The US helped Osama and his fighters and the western media then sang praises of his operations. It, notably, was around the same time when the concept of Jihad or holy wars had found its way into the global world.

ALSO READ | The Afghanistan crisis: Children at the centre of the disaster - in pics

The media reports at the time had backed the Mujahideens and had portrayed the Soviets as Christians who were trying to defile Islam. The term 'Mujahideen' itself translates into an 'Islamic struggle', a struggle that was supported by the US which wanted to turn Afghanistan into Soviet Union's Vietnam.

Operation Cyclone

If we talk about the Soviet Union, their occupation in Afghanistan had lasted for over ten years and throughout this period, the CIA kept expanding its program under the code name - 'Operation Cyclone'. The US helped the mujahideen with millions of dollars with the help of Pakistan. By 1987, the annual aid by the US to mujahideen had reportedly reached $ 630 million. Talking about weapons, this is to be noted that initially, America was against supplying weapons, however, in March 1985, US President Ronald Reagan's national security team decided to switch its strategy and started providing mujahideen with the stringer anti-aircraft missile. Pakistan helped the US and used to look after the distribution of these weapons.

By 1989 when the Soviet Union had lost its control over Afghanistan, American had given the aid of $ 20 billion to Afghanistan in arms and ammunition. Subsequently, the Soviet Union disintegrated and with it, America's appetite for funding the mujahideen also ended.

Emergence of Taliban

Following the US' departure, Afghanistan became the very picture of chaos as the mujahideen started fighting each other. It resulted in civil wars and destroyed most of Kabul. With this, a young group of the mujahideen emerged in Kandahar who portrayed themselves as an army of Robin Hood and said that their purpose is to restore peace and justice. They called themselves the 'Talibans' which also meant 'students' in the Pashto language. They then moved to Pakistan to study in seminaries.

The US played no direct role in the formation of the Taliban, but the Taliban flourished mainly due to the environment created by the Americans, an environment that justified the cause of Islamist extremists, of picking up arms to protect their faith and country.

ALSO READ | Conflict, displacement, drought and COVID-19 contributing to desperate situation in Afghanistan, say UN agencies

Why Afghans embraced Taliban?

The Afghans were tired of mujahideen fighting and embraced the Taliban when they first came to the limelight. The Afghani people relied on the Taliban to restore peace and wipe out corruption. This eventually allowed the Taliban to gain power and implement the Sharia law and from here, things went downhill as they took Afghanistan to the stone age.

US wakes up

The US which had helped create this monster simply watched on and only woke up when it struck home. Osama Bin Laden, with the protection of the Taliban, carried out one of the biggest and the most horrific terrorist strikes - the 9/11 attacks in 2001, which took over 2,900 lives. America then asked the Taliban to hand over Osama and when the terror group refused to do so, Washington invaded Afghanistan with the then US President George W Bush giving an open warning "Now, the Taliban will pay a price."

The US dethroned the Taliban to eventually replace it with the Taliban after 20 years of war and spending $ 3 trillion and losing 2,300 US soldiers. Even after all this, the US could not root out the Taliban, could not dismantle the terror network and could not even rebuild Afghanistan.

ALSO READ | Troops withdrawal from Afghanistan was a 'logical, rational and right decision', says US President Joe Biden
New Delhi: The military planes of countries evacuating people from Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover are using combat tactics fearing attack from ISIS missiles.

The planes are dropping flares and making combat landings as they conduct the rescue operation in Kabul.

A video surfaced on Sunday showing a French aircraft dropping flares to disguise as heat-seeking technology.

Watch the video here:

French Air Force A400M dispensing flares as it departs #Kabul Airport #Afghanistan

pic.twitter.com/9C2UM9BcwO  Intel Air & Sea (@air_intel) August 21, 2021

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden termed evacuation from Afghanistan the most difficult and largest airlift ever in history.

He assured to get all Americans and allies out of the war-torn country. "Kabul evacuation is among the largest and most difficult airlifts in history," Joe Biden said while addressing the press at the White House.

France is concerned about the August 31 deadline set by the US to pull out of Afghanistan, with more time needed to complete evacuations.

Biden has said the US troops might have to stay beyond August 31 to oversee the evacuations.

Also Read: Afghanistan crisis: India brings back 146 of its evacuated nationals from Doha

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New Delhi: US President Joe Biden on Sunday (August 22, 2021) spoke on the evacuation operation in Afghanistan and expressed that there is no way to evacuate people without pain and loss. Biden said that the evacuation of thousands of people from Kabul is going to be hard and painful no matter when it started and when the process began.

"There is no way to evacuate this many people without pain and loss, of heartbreaking images you see on television. It's just a fact. My heart aches for those people you see," he said while briefing on the Afghanistan situation.

Tune in as I provide an update on my Administrations response to Tropical Storm Henri, as well as an update on the evacuation of American citizens, SIV applicants and their families, and other vulnerable Afghans. https://t.co/82f8s2zi0h  President Biden (@POTUS) August 22, 2021

Biden said that his administration is working hard and as fast as they can to get people out.

"That's our mission. That's our goal. And our determination to get every American citizen home and to evacuate our Afghan allies is unwavering," he said.

Evacuated nearly 28,000 people

Biden informed that they have so far evacuated nearly 28,000 people since August 14 on the US and coalition aircraft, including civilian charters. He informed that the total number of people they have evacuated since July has now increased to approximately 33,000. "Altogether, we lifted approximately 11,000 people out of Kabul in less than 36 hours. It's an incredible operation," he said.

Security environment is changing rapidly.

The US President stated that the security environment in Afghanistan is changing rapidly. "There are civilians crowded at the airport, although we have cleared thousands of them. We know that terrorists may seek to exploit this situation and target innocent Afghans or American troops," he said.

He added that the US is maintaining the constant vigilance to monitor and disrupt threats from any source, including the likely source being ISIS-K.

"I said on Friday, ISIS-K is a sworn enemy of the Taliban, and they have a history of fighting one another. But every day we have troops on the ground, these troops and innocent civilians at the airport face the risk of attack from ISIS-K from a distance, even though were moving back the perimeter significantly," Biden said.

August 31 evacuation operation deadline likely to be extended

On being asked about being nine days away from the August 31 deadline for the evacuation operations, the US President said that there are discussions going on among them and the military about extending. "Our hope is we will not have to extend, but there are going to be discussions, I suspect, on how far along we are in the process," he said.

Joe Biden to meet G7 leaders

US President Joe Biden is scheduled to hold a virtual meet with G7 leaders on August 24 to discuss the Afghanistan policy and evacuation process. They will also discuss plans to provide humanitarian assistance and support for Afghan refugees.

This is to be noted that the Taliban captured the Afghan capital Kabul on August 15, a development that sent civilians and Afghan military allies fleeing for safety. Now, many fear a return to the austere interpretation of Islamic law imposed during the previous Taliban rule that ended 20 years ago after the US troops landed there.

ALSO CHECK | The Afghanistan crisis: Children at the centre of the disaster - in pics
London: Ahead of an emergency G7 meeting on Afghanistan, the Taliban on Monday warned that there will be consequences if the US and UK sought an extension to the August 31 deadline for the US-led troop withdrawal from the war-torn country. Speaking to 'Sky News' in Doha, Qatar, Taliban spokesperson Dr Suhail Shaheen stated that the month-end deadline was a 'red line', as any extension would imply an extended occupation of the country.

He said the timeline had been laid out by US President Joe Biden and threatened 'consequences' if the US and UK sought an extension to that deadline. "It's a red line. President Biden announced that on 31 August they would withdraw all their military forces. So if they extend it that means they are extending occupation while there is no need for that," Shaheen said. "If the US or UK were to seek additional time to continue evacuations", the answer is no. Or there would be consequences. It will create mistrust between us. If they are intent on continuing the occupation it will provoke a reaction," he said.

The warning came as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson convened an emergency G7 meeting on Tuesday in his role as current Chair of the Group of Seven countries, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States and the UK. On the agenda for the world leaders is expected to be a push for the US to seek an extension of the August 31 deadline, as time is running out for the evacuation of foreign nationals from the Taliban controlled region. On the issue of desperate scenes at Kabul airport as people risk their lives to flee the country for fear of Taliban reprisals, the spokesperson termed it as economic migration.

"I assure you it is not about being worried or scared. They want to reside in Western countries and that is a kind of economic migration because Afghanistan is a poor country and 70 per cent of the people of Afghanistan live under the line of poverty so everyone wants to resettle in Western countries to have a prosperous life. It is not about [being] scared," claimed Shaheen. And, on reports of door to door knocks to seek out former government workers, he added: "All fake news. I can assure you there are many reports by our opponents claiming what is not based on realities."

On the issue of women's rights, the spokesperson claimed that women under Taliban rule would have the same rights as elsewhere as long as they wear a hijab. "Women are required to have the same rights as you have in your country but with a hijab," he was quoted as saying. "Now, women teachers have resumed work. Lost nothing. Female journalists they have resumed their work. Lost nothing," he claimed.

There have been widespread fears of reprisals and attacks in Afghanistan on those perceived as supporting the US-led NATO operation in the country and a regression in women's rights under the Taliban, which believe in upholding a very strict interpretation of Islam.

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New Delhi: As numerous world leaders call for an extension of the US troops withdrawal deadline and the reports of Biden administration mulling over it, the Taliban has issued a stark warning against the move.

In an interview with Sky News in Doha, the Taliban spokesperson said that if the US or the UK seek any additional time to continue evacuations of the people, the answer is no. He also went on and said that there would be consequences.

Taliban spokesperson Dr Suhail Shaheen said, "It's a red line. President Biden announced that on August 31, they would withdraw all their military forces. So, if they extend it that means they are extending occupation while there is no need for that."

"If the US or UK were to seek additional time to continue evacuations - the answer is no. Or there would be consequences. It will create mistrust between us. If they are intent on continuing the occupation it will provoke a reaction," the Taliban spokesperson added.

The statement comes hours after reports suggesting that United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson is about to ask United States President Joe Biden to extend the deadline for withdrawal of US troops to allow more people to flee the Taliban rule.

Meanwhile, amid the chaotic evacuation operations, a firefight at one of the gates of Kabul's international airport killed at least one Afghan soldier early Monday, German officials said, the latest chaos to engulf Western efforts to evacuate those fleeing the Taliban takeover of the country.

The shooting at the airport came as the Taliban sent fighters north of the capital to eliminate pockets of armed resistance to their lightning takeover earlier this month. The Taliban said they retook three districts seized by opponents the day before and had surrounded Panjshir, the last province that remains out of their control.

(With Agency inputs)

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Washington: Amid the deepening crisis in Afghanistan, United States President Joe Biden defended his move to withdraw troops from the country, saying history will record this as a "logical, rational, and right decision".

The Joe Biden administration has come under criticism from some quarters for the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan as the Taliban captured power, resulting in chaos and deaths. However, he stood by his decision. "I think that history is going to record this was the logical, rational, and right decision to make," he told reporters in an interaction at the White House.

Indian-American politician and former US envoy to the United Nations Nikki Haley said earlier in the day, "They (the US administration) have surrendered the American people and actually withdrew our troops before they withdrew the American people. They have abandoned our Afghan allies who kept people like my husband safe while they were overseas deploying. So, no, there was no negotiating. This was a complete and total surrender and an embarrassing failure.

Biden said the Taliban has to make a fundamental decision. "Is the Taliban going to attempt to be able to unite and provide for the wellbeing of the people of Afghanistan, which no one group has ever done?" he asked. "And if it does, it's going to need everything from additional help, in terms of economic assistance, trades, and a whole range of things," he said.

"The Taliban has said -- we will see whether they mean it or not -- they're seeking legitimacy. They're seeking legitimacy to determine whether or not they will be recognized by other countries. They have told other countries, as well as us, they don't want us to move our diplomatic presence completely. All of this is all just talk now, said the US president.

He said that so far, the Taliban has not taken action against US forces, by and large following through what they said in terms of allowing Americans to pass through, and the like. "I'm sure they don't control all of their forces. It's a ragtag force. And so, we'll see. We'll see whether or not what they say turns out to be true," Biden said.

Biden said that in a 36-hour span, the US has lifted about 11,000 people out of Kabul. "In a little over 30 hours this weekend, we've evacuated an extraordinary number of people, as I will detail in a minute: about 11,000 individuals. That number will change day to day as the air and ground operations in Kabul vary,' he said.

The first priority is getting American citizens out of the country as quickly and as safely as possible, he said.

"At my direction, the State Department continues to reach out to the remaining Americans we have identified by phone, e-mail, and other means to ascertain their whereabouts and their plans," he added.

The US is also evacuating the citizens of NATO allies and its partners, including their diplomats, their embassy staff who remain in Afghanistan and to get them back to their homes as well.

"As we do this, we're also working to move our Afghan allies, who stood with us side by side, and other vulnerable Afghans such as women leaders and journalists, out of the country," he added.

"As of this morning, we have evacuated nearly 28,000 people since August the 14th, on both US And coalition aircraft, including civilian charters, bringing the total number of people we have evacuated since July to approximately 33,000 persons," he said.

"In one 24-hour period this weekend, 23 US military flights -- including 14 C-17s, 9 C-130 flights -- left Kabul carrying 3,900 passengers. We see no reason why this tempo will not be kept up. During the same period, our military facilitated another 35 charter flights carrying an additional nearly 4,000 evacuees to other countries that are taking them out," he added.

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The US health regulator on Monday gave full approval to Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine, a key milestone for public health that can instill further confidence in consumers and also spur authorities to make vaccinations mandatory. The US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) had earlier in December 2020 given emergency use authorisation (EAU) for the vaccine, developed by US-based Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech.

More than 200 million Pfizer doses have been administered in the US, and hundreds of millions more worldwide, since December.

"Today the US Food and Drug Administration approved the first COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine has been known as the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, and will now be marketed as Comirnaty, for the prevention of COVID-19 disease in individuals 16 years of age and older," the US health regulator said in a statement.

The vaccine also continues to be available under emergency use authorisation, including for individuals 12 through 15 years of age and for the administration of a third dose in certain immunocompromised individuals, it added.

"The FDA's approval of this vaccine is a milestone as we continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic," Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock said.

While this and other vaccines have met the FDA's rigorous, scientific standards for emergency use authorisation, as the first FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine, the public can be very confident that this vaccine meets the high standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality the FDA requires of an approved product, she added.

"While millions of people have already safely received COVID-19 vaccines, we recognize that for some, the FDA approval of a vaccine may now instill additional confidence to get vaccinated. Today's milestone puts us one step closer to altering the course of this pandemic in the US," Woodcock said.

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said in a statement he hopes the decision "will help increase confidence in our vaccine, as vaccination remains the best tool we have to help protect lives."

Comirnaty contains messenger RNA (mRNA), a kind of genetic material. "To support the FDA's approval decision today, the FDA reviewed updated data from the clinical trial which supported the EUA and included a longer duration of follow-up in a larger clinical trial population," the FDA said.

Specifically, in the FDA's review for approval, the agency analysed effectiveness data from approximately 20,000 vaccine and 20,000 placebo recipients ages 16 and older who did not have evidence of the COVID-19 virus infection within a week of receiving the second dose.

The safety of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine was evaluated in approximately 22,000 people who received the vaccine and 22,000 people who received a placebo 16 years of age and older, it added. "Based on results from the clinical trial, the vaccine was 91% effective in preventing COVID-19 disease," FDA said.

More than half of the clinical trial participants were followed for safety outcomes for at least four months after the second dose. Overall, approximately 12,000 recipients have been followed for at least 6 months, it added.

The vaccine is effective in preventing COVID-19 and potentially serious outcomes including hospitalszation and death, the US health regulator said.

US vaccinations bottomed out in July at an average of about a half-million shots per day, down from a peak of 3.4 million a day in mid-April.

With Delta variant cases on the rise, the pace of vaccination has increased, with a million jabs a day given on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Just over half of the US population is fully vaccinated with one of the country's three options -- Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson.

Moderna has also applied to the FDA for full approval of its vaccine. J&J said it hopes to do so later this year.

The FDA already is allowing emergency use of a third dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine for people with severely weakened immune systems.

For everyone else who got those vaccinations, the Biden administration is planning for boosters starting in the fall, if the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention agree.

This month, New York City, New Orleans and San Francisco all imposed proof-of-vaccination requirements at restaurants, bars and other indoor venues.

At the federal level, President Joe Biden is requiring government workers to sign forms attesting that they have been vaccinated or else submit to regular testing and other requirements.

Anxious Americans increasingly are on board -- close to 6 in 10 favour requiring people to be fully vaccinated to travel on airplanes or attend crowded public events, according to a recent poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

The Delta variant has sent cases, deaths and hospitalisations soaring in recent weeks in the US, erasing months of progress.

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New Delhi: Afghanistan's first female Sikh MP Anarkali Kaur Honaryar, who reached Delhi on Sunday expressed concerns over the developing situation in her country asked the international community to support and speak up.

Speaking to our Principal Diplomatic Correspondent Sidhant Sibal in Delhi, she said, "The world is silent, why? Are the people of Afghanistan not human, aren't they supposed to be safe? Every 15 years or so, or 20 years, we become a refugee, why Afghans built their homes, only to be destroyed."

Anarkali reached India on an IAF plane from Kabul, a week after the Afghan national capital fell to the Taliban. She broke down while giving the interview and said, "Country is the motherland, and in her lap is the love (Vatan, Desh Maa hai, unki godh mai pyar hai). I hope things will get all right, we will go to our country.".

Anarkali is a doctor by profession and is the first non-Muslim member of the Afghan National Assembly. A pass out of the Kabul University, she was a member of the Afghan Independent human rights commission and was awarded the UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence. She spoke in Hindi and below is the translated English version.

Sidhant Sibal: You left your country and you're in a different country. How have things changed for you?

Anarkali Kaur Honaryar: I never thought that one-day situation be such that I will be in a different country, that too in a matter of one week. The situation has changed so much for us. We always thought the peace process that is happening will bring out good result. We thought that the Taliban that fought with the government will be one, one day. The peace process will bring out good result that will give rights to women, minorities, the Hindus and Sikhs will have rights. Take for example last week or just 10 days ago, where were we. I was in office, then things (Halat) changed so fast, and Taliban entered the city. No one would have thought.

Sidhant Sibal: WION has started a campaign for women in Afghanistan. Do u think, problems will increase for women under Taliban rule?

Anarkali Kaur Honaryar: The activities, women rights, human rights, they were in politics that will change. We had told the international community before things can go wrong, they should help. No one listened. They all said Taliban has changed, don't worry. Now everyone is saying Taliban never changed. Forces left Afghanistan, but they now feel it was not right. In last 20 yrs we saw support, monetary support by US, India, it was taxpayer money of these countries. Kabul airport was well developed, but when I saw the airport earlier, when I was leaving, it was not looking same. We worked in last 20 years. People of Afghanistan think that we have gone 100 years back. Now situation is like, everyone is in depression, people in Afghanistan and I am depressed, I am not well. I am safe but my thoughts are with the people who are in bad situation back home. People are looking at ways to leave Afghanistan, women rights activist, political, different people. My thoughts are in Afghanistan and while we are safe, what we can do for them, the people there. Our hope is that situation in Afghanistan improves, we can go back to our country. Right now, situation is bad.

Sidhant Sibal: What would you say to the Indian govt?

Anarkali Kaur Honaryar: Indian govt, PM Modi, ministry of external affairs, Indian Air force and especially Puneet Singh Chandhok, he was in contact 24*7 with me. I want to thank, Puneet, he found every way to get us back. His contacts helped. We were in a very bad situation, so bad, days when we didn't have food as well, we were not able to sleep. He was there with us, day and night, and responded every time we called. We were brought back with Indians, many Afghans, many Hindus and Sikhs were evacuated. We left Afghanistan in one cloth, we had no luggage, when I came to hotel on Sunday, they asked us our luggage. We had no luggage, we left everything like this. Many Afghans are leaving the country and the world knows the situation around the airport. They fired around our vehicle as well, we had to miss a flight. We left at 12 am and stayed at around 10 am. We had kids with us. We had an advantage that we had a vehicle, there were many without vehicle. People waiting outside the airport, hoping as soon as doors open, they enter inside. Many Afghans working with US, and other forces were leaving, documentation. Many didn't had passport, ID card but they want to leave. People of Afghanistan are scared, and we never thought this will happen. Every 10 to 20 years, Afghanistan sees a change, it's in Afghan history. When Afghanistan is stable, then there is fight, govt changes and no guarantee what kind of government comes. Right now, also, no guarantee if there will be peace in Afghanistan. It will be soon clear, how situation in Afghanistan develops.

Sidhant Sibal: Do you hope to go to Afghanistan soon? Have u been offered Indian citizenship?

Anarkali Kaur Honaryar: The situation in Afghanistan is such that we had to leave. I don't know how we will stay here, on visa or citizenship, it's in realm of speculation. We dint had visa, our Sangat had visa, but my family had no visas. My brother's passport had expired, and I have given all the information to Puneet Singh Chandhok and he said there is no problem, you will be given visa and no issue about that. We were lifted from Afghanistan, we were given visas here, my brother's documents were expired by MEA gave visa and I thank them. Country is motherland, and in her lap is the love (Vatan, Desh Maa hai, unki godh mai pyar hai). I hope things will get all right, we will go to our country. It has been 2 days since I left the country, but I am scared that it might be 100 years that I might not see the country. I love my country, i studied there, I worked there. It is our right to save the country, but we have nothing in our hand. I would have never thought I had to leave the country in such condition. I had to save my life, so that I can do something for my country, from outside the country. I have hope that things will be normal, and I can see my country soon. Can't guarantee about the future, but will try, what we can do in our capacity. Can't forget and will work for country.

Sidhant Sibal: Who do you think is responsible for your country?

Anarkali Kaur Honaryar: Let things go normal, things will come out. Everyone knows about the reason of crisis in my country. Countries who support the fight in Afghanistan, for so long, we all know. We were born even as the country was in a fight, we are in a fight and no guarantee that fight will stop. The world is silent, why? are people of Afghanistan not human, arnt they supposed to be safe. Every 15 years or so, or 20 years, we become a refugee, why Afghans built their homes, only to be destroyed. I ask questions, why? why is world silent. I was at international conference; I asked the members not to leave Afghanistan, Taliban hasn't changed, it's all recorded. Support Afghanistan and don't leave us, no one heard us. Our fight is not fight of Afghanistan itself now, but soon this fight will reach around the world.

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